Baroque Buggery

All through college, Jim Benson had earned a reputation for being a little... eccentric. More than a little eccentric, actually. He had an unusual sense of humor, strange taste in fashion, and probably the worst luck of any human being on the face of the earth. Nonetheless, with his good look and charms, he never had any shortage of friends. Or girlfriends for that matter.

It was one of his closest friends -- George Anderson -- who had talked him into going to a costume party this Halloween. Jim was always the kind to go with the flow, so to speak, so he eagerly went along with it. Quite honestly, George was just hoping to get laid, since he had just gotten out of a bad relationship. Either that or at the very least get a few good drinks in.

George had chosen to go dressed as his favorite superhero -- the Green Lantern. Not everyone got it, but at least most of the people at the party recognized the character. Jim, on the other hand, had chosen a slightly more unusual character. Wearing tight fighting leather pants and with his head shaved, he was supposed to be Billy Corrigan from the band the Smashing Pumpkins. Unfortunately, nobody seemed to get it at all. The fact that he looked nothing like the singer certainly didn't help matters any.

Things just didn't seem to be going that well for him, until George motioned for him to come over and meet someone.

"Hey Jim," he said, "I'd like you to meet my friend Chris. We went to college together."

George was talking to a slender, clean-shaven young man dressed in exquisite 18th century finery, right down to tights, heavy make-up and a powdered wig. Chris even affected the flamboyant gestures and foppish manners appropriate for some sort of French dandy.

"Nice to meet you," Jim said as he looked over the young man's body, "That's a very... interesting costume you put together there. Who are you supposed to be?"

"Thank you," Chris said as he took a bow, "It's supposed to be King Louis XIV. I made it myself, actually. It took me two whole weeks, in fact."