Costumeless Congoer The New World of SwapTech chapter 6 by deleted_user

Jonas shoved his phone into the pocket of his yoga pants — no pockets, great — and started walking toward the convention center.

Fine. No costume. I'll go as myself. Or as close to myself as I can get in this body.

The walk took about fifteen minutes, and with every step, Jonas became more aware of the way people looked at him. A barefoot woman in workout clothes, walking alone — it drew eyes. A guy in a Deadpool hoodie gave him an appreciative once-over. A group of girls in matching Sailor Moon cosplay whispered to each other as he passed.

They're looking at me. They think I'm a girl.

It was weird. Disorienting. And, if he was being honest with himself, a little thrilling.

He reached the entrance, joined the line, and — miracle of miracles — the ticket scanner accepted the digital copy on his phone without issue. The guard didn't even look twice at his bare feet.

I'm in.

The moment he stepped into the main hall, the energy hit him like a wave. Music thrummed from a dozen different booths. Cosplayers posed for photos. The smell of popcorn and cotton candy hung in the air. And everywhere — everywhere — there were women in costumes.

Jonas's gaze drifted.

A tall woman in a leather-and-latex Catwoman suit walked past, the suit clinging to every curve. Jonas followed her with his eyes, his pulse quickening. Damn.

A few steps later, a pair of women dressed as Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy posed for a photo, their arms around each other, their costumes leaving little to the imagination. Jonas felt a flush creeping up his neck.

I'm still a straight man. That hasn't changed.

But there was something different about the way he was seeing them now. He was in a woman's body, wearing the same kind of revealing clothing they were — well, less revealing, but still. He was one of them. He could walk up and talk to them without being seen as a creepy guy.

I could actually talk to them.

The thought made his pulse race for a different reason. He'd always been shy around women. Awkward. Never knew what to say. But now? Now he looked like one of them. Now he could blend in.

He stopped in the middle of the aisle, watching the crowd flow around him, and felt a strange grin spread across his face.

This might not be so bad after all.