1999
"Goooood morning," Quackerjack beamed cheerfully as Liz entered the kitchen. "I made coffee."
"Thank you," the girl moved across the room and pulled a cup from the cupboard, pouring herself some of the dark liquid. She moved toward the fridge and paused. There was a newspaper article stuck to the front of the fridge with a magnet.
Join thousands of gamers from St. Canard and Duckburg for St. Canards annual gaming convention. June 3-7. Meet game creators, test out new games, participate in our cosplay contest. Sponsored by Sony.
Turning around Liz stared at where Quackerjack was sitting. "Whats this?" She gestured toward the article.
"I thought you might want to go."
"You're not gonnna try anything, are you?"
"Nope," he shook his head, the bells on his hat jingling softly. "I told you I could deal with it."
"You know they will have a lot of Whiffle Boy stuff there."
"I know," he replied. "But I'm just gonna stay home. You gonna do the cosplay?"
Pulling the milk from the fridge, Liz topped off her coffee and joined him at the table. "I dunno," she said. "I'd have to have Julia help me make the outfit. Theres still a month before the convention. I'd need a wig too."
"Who would you go as?"
"Aeris from Final Fantasy 7."
"Would you let me watch you play one of your Final Fantasy games some day?"
Liz blinked across the table at him, "You want to watch me play a video game?"
"Sure, as long as its not Whiffle Boy, I'd like to see one of these detailed story lines you like so much."
"Okay," Liz grinned. "I will start up a new Final Fantasy 7 game and you can watch me. But not today, today I'm gonna call Julia and find out if she can help me with my cosplay. I'll need to print patterns off of the computer. Might need to order the right kind of wig too. You're really okay with me going to a gaming convention?"
"Sure, I know you like video games, and while I wish you didn't, I can't stop you. I just want you to be happy."
Liz eyed him skeptically, "You swear you're not gonna show up and try something stupid? No revenge on Whiffle Boy?"
"I swear," he replied. "I promise I won't do anything."
"You really have matured a lot, while still staying silly and goofy. What does Mr. Banana Brain think of the change in attitude?"
"Hes shocked," Quackerjack told her. "But he thinks you're right."
"He usually does," Liz smirked as she sipped at her coffee. "Mr. Banana Brain usually sides with me."
"Only cause hes got a crush on you."
"I know he does, but he knows it would never work out and I'm married to you now."
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"Sure, I can help," Julia said from the other end of the phone. "Just get me the patterns and we can pick out the fabric together."
"Great," Liz replied. "I'll print the patterns off today and drive to Duckburg tomorrow. Thanks a bunch, Julia."
"Don't mention it. Its been some time since I had a sewing project to work on, this will be fun. I'll see ya tomorrow, bye Liz."
"Bye Julia." Liz hung up the phone and glanced up to find Quackerjack standing in the bedroom doorway.
"So can I see this character you're going as?"
"Sure," Liz moved over to her computer and pulled up her browser, after a quick Google search, she found a good image of a young female duck in pink with long brown hair tied into a braid.
"Pink isn't really your color," he told her as he stared over her shoulder at the image.
"I know, but Aeris is one of my favorite characters."
"I bet you'll look great. You'll let me see the cosplay before you leave, right?"
"Of course," she smiled. "I gotta get dressed here then drive to the convention. I bet Darky will be there."
"What makes you think that?"
"Because he will expect you to do something stupid. Hes gonna be shocked when you don't show up." She turned her chair around to face him. "What will you do while I'm at the convention?"
Quackerjack shrugged. "Likely hang out with Sparky," he told her.
"Just don't mess the house up."
"We won't."
"Since the conventions here in St. Canard I won't have to get a hotel, so I will be home every night. Cosplay contest isn't until the 5th. So I won't be dressing up until then."
"I hope you have a good time," he smiled at her.
"Oh, I'm sure I will."
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"This is nice," Liz ran her hand over a roll of pink fabric. "Can you work with this?"
"I think so," Julia replied. "I looked at the patterns you gave me so we need a darker pink too. Don't go with silk though, thats harder to work with."
"I still need to order my wig and accessories."
They moved further into the shop, glancing around at the various rolls of fabric.
"I can't believe your husband is okay with this," Julia told the girl at her side. "Doesn't he hate video games?"
"He does," Liz nodded, "but QJ has grown up a lot and he just wants me to be happy."
"Like a good husband should."
"He wants to watch me play Final Fantasy 7."
"Really?" Julia turned to face the girl. "He wants to watch you play a video game?"
"Yeah, kinda shocking," Liz replied, "but he wants to see one of the story lines I like so much. Hey, I think this fabric might work."
Julia moved over to look at the roll of fabric and nodded, "I've got the patterns in my purse, so we can tell how much fabric we need. I'll go get an employee."
20 minutes later, the two women were headed back to Liz's brothers house with several yards of fabric in the backseat of Liz's car. "You think I can use your computer to order the rest of my stuff?" Liz asked as they pulled into the drive way.
"Sure, as long as Jon's not using it."
Entering the house, the two women were nearly pounced on by two 10 or 11 year old twin girls. "Didja get us anything?" one of the girls asked.
"No," Julia told them. "you know I only went out to help aunt Liz."
"Aww," the other girl pouted. "You could have stopped to buy us some candy."
"Candy will rot your teeth," their mother replied. "Wheres your dad?"
"Out back."
"Go tell him we're back, but I'm gonna be in my sewing room."
"Okay," the two girls turned and rush back through the house."
"Computers in the study," Julia told Liz as she headed toward the sewing room. "I'm gonna get started on this outfit."
Entering the study, Liz flopped down at the desk and started up the computer. She needed a wig, belt, boots, and items to make a staff with. She wondered if any of these cosplay sites sold already made staves. As luck would have it, she did find one staff, but the price was a bit high. "$39.99 for a staff?" the girl frowned. At least she had quite a sizable sum in her savings account, but she hated dipping into it unless she had to.
With her accessories ordered, Liz shut the computer down and headed for the sewing room. Julia sat at a table with a sewing machine in front of her, running some of the fabric through it. "Get your stuff ordered?" She asked, glancing up as Liz entered.
"Yeah, was a bit pricey, but I have a lot in savings."
"I'm surprised you're able to save much at all."
"The journalist job pays more than you think," the younger girl replied.
"But its only a part time job."
"I know," Liz replied, "but theres been talk of them bumping me up to a full time journalist."
"Really? Thats wonderful, what about Hamburger Hippo?"
"I can handle both jobs. I can do the journalist work from home."
Julia raised her head for a moment, "Whats made them decide to give you a promotion?"
"The interview I did with Negs. They were shocked that I was able to get close enough to him to interview him."
"Your mother isn't happy that you're still friends with him," Julia went back to her work.
"Shes not, but she will deal with it. I love Negs."
"More than Quacky?"
Liz was silent for a moment before she spoke, "No, but my love for Negs is up there."
"You keep the most interesting company, Liz. Dangerous company, but still interesting."