Apparently, the contest has a uniform.

Mr. Hattler laughed, then slapped his leg with excitement. "It's no big deal, just talk to Faul. He'll get you changed for the dance contest, Ms. Farrhenway."

Piper thought she had a generally positive outlook on life and high tolerance for strangeness, but these new sides to the changed innkeep she was discovering, one after another, were beginning to test her patience. "My ordinary attire isn't eye-grabbingly garish enough for your taste in titillation?"

"Well, maybe, but to make things even, we're giving all the contestants uniforms. Simply tell Faul you're looking to change into model 'Other' and he'll show you to a room. He's a perfect gentleman, don't worry!"

"I suppose someone in this sad 'sanctuary' better be," Piper commented, turning around and plodding her way back to the front door.

In no time at all, Faul had shown Piper to a first-floor restroom in the inn, and produced a hanging outfit for her to change into. She couldn't see his face, but she could tell from his speed he was excited. He seemed to be making a concentrated effort to avoid conversation...

... That said, he evidently intended to keep watch outside, standing with his back to the restroom door and apparently leaving his lookout post unattended.

"Friend Faul, I wonder if you're aware there is a handy lock upon this handle?"

"... Yeah. I'll keep a lookout, anyway."

Piper sighed. In spite of the fact that she was evidently about to toss aside her pride and dance for the pleasure of a horny older man, she wasn't practicing any theatrical slowness as she began stripping off her bangles and her boots. She shrugged off her cloak, unbuttoned her vest, and then her shirt, revealing the cute bra she wore beneath, a strapless orange-and-yellow number with broad stripes that didn't do more than it had to in order to restrain her impressive bust. She'd fancied it a dancer's top in a pinch, so she hoped it would do as an undergarment to whatever else she was to wear... Next, she pulled her grey slacks down her ever-so-slightly plump hips and thighs, revealing the bottom to match her top. It was conservative, but with a snug fit. She thought to herself it wasn't quite so snug when she'd bought it... "I find it fair to figure my fat fanny found a finer former fit..."

"What was that?" A very interested voice came from the other side of the door.

"Never you mind~!" Piper trilled in response, flushing uncharacteristically. Her tendency to monologue her inner thoughts had come back to bite her there... "Friend Faul, I notice you've not yielded unto your near-naked contestant so much as a corset?"

"... Yeah. I'm gonna hand it through the door crack."

"I'm scarcely in skivvies, sir!" The songstress couldn't help but tease. "Behave...!~"

"... Yeah, uh, are you inviting me to come in?"

"N-no, just hand them through the door crack, please," Piper spoke seriously without rhyming, feeling her face burning up when Faul failed to play along. There was a pause, which was not so much the lack of a response as what she was coming to understand as the way Faul communicated. Finally, the door cracked open and Piper was able to receive her outfit.

First... a rather tiny, frilly white undershirt, Piper could tell before she put it on. She pulled it over her head... then struggled, pulling it down snugly over her boobs. It definitely wasn't one-size fits all, and by the time she was done, the top straps were straining on her otherwise bare shoulders and her belly was exposed.

Next... a pair of tight, stretchy, shiny black shorts. She wondered who in all of Merridan wore pants like this, although she couldn't possibly know the surprising answer to that question. In any case, she worked her lips with her tongue in a comical expression of exertion as she shimmied the garment up her thighs, then snapped it like elastic to her butt. The things barely had legs, going no further than the hips, and she was aware the way they indented into her made her behind look fatter than if she was just wearing her bikini bottom.

And... that was it. "Huh. I was half-hoping for some deviant decorations to prove my poor impressions of that ignoble innkeep. However, this is... still highly suspect!" Well, there were still sandals to slip on, then that really was it. Piper was going to feel pretty silly dancing in this undersized outfit...

In any case, she gathered her things up in the same basket she'd received the clothes in, then stepped out as confidently as she could, thrusting the basket forward to Faul with a smile. "Keep care of these garments, good sir!" She had to admit, she was looking forward to the flustered lookout's reactions...

Of course, there were no such things, because his reactions were still hidden by his visor. "The bandanna. You probably ought to hand that over too."

Piper felt her head, realizing she'd forgotten to take that off. She almost never did, so she tended to forget she was wearing it until bedtime... or, being honest, she sometimes slept in it and just wore it again the next morning. Luckily, this time she'd worn it fresh, and her hair wasn't gross when she undid it and placed it in the basket, revealing her messy teal hair that fell to just above her shoulders.

"... You want me to take off my helmet, right? Fair's fair. I mean, I'm actually pretty good looking-"

"No, Friend Faul, simply see to it those scraps and silvers stay safe during my dancing, thank you."

"... Yeah. Good call deciding to participate. It might be a tough contest, but... No way those horny old dogs are gonna vote for those other two instead of you. I mean, I'd be paying hand over fist for you to dance for me. Actually, I think I've got some-"

"How sweet to say!" Piper smiled appreciatively. "Care to share a spoiler of the competitors?"

"... Well, all you've gotta do is win out over the lust these pervs have for young-looking eighteen-year-olds and their religious devotion to one of the most powerful families in the Church that pulls the strings in this town. No biggie, huh? Heh... Ha... Dammit, Faul, why have you gotta be so damn freakin' depressing in front of the babes..."

"Ho ho! Well, with your well-wishes, I fancy I'll fare fine." Piper gave him a friendly wave back as he watched her shorts-clad bottom sway away from him.

The armored lookout continued to mutter to himself as he stored away Piper's things and headed back to his post. "... Geod. I'm gonna get Hattler to stand lookout for part of this, just when the dancing starts, I swear..."

Piper hurried through the door at the back of the inn, feeling as though she was having a waking "walking around in your underwear" dream as she moved through the familiar space. She was thankful, at least, that the stool was now abandoned. The blackboard Hattler had been keeping there now read "Entries closed" below the contest description. She saw her name had been added to the board... she still didn't recognize the other two, although she thought both were spelled pretty funny and it was pretty weird that one of them had a number after it, that one being so long it had to be written in thin letters to fit. Now that she thought about it, her own name had been crammed into the remaining bit of space at the bottom in an unflattering way. She ignored it for the time being. The time for the dance contest was also listed... She wagered it couldn't be more than an hour from now, although she had no way to tell the time for sure.

None of that was important. Free burgers and beers were waiting for her! The salivating songstress opened the portal to the tavern proper...

She supposed she shouldn't be surprised considering what Hattler had painstakingly described, but it was still surreal to see that the small bar, single keg, and few stools she remembered had been so thoroughly wiped out. Here was an entire well-lit hall with great acoustics, a stage up front with a band, a bar loaded with various kegs behind the counter and lined with plenty of stools, and no less than ten tables, each full of men... mostly Hattler's age, she noted. A huge banner had been spread out over the band stage, which announced "18-25 DANCE CONTEST," the tavern owner's proud, shameless dream. That same man was standing behind the counter serving drinks. His attention seemed focused on the two young ladies sitting at the counter, dressed similar to Piper herself... She quickly realized that must be the competition.