Page 49 of Cosplay & Consequences
“Action!”
“Friends and allies, gather close to me and hear-” I stepped forward, but I was off. I used the wrong foot. It was enough to throw me off my game again. I turned around in a circle to get back in position.
“It’s okay Danny. Keep rolling! Action!”
“Friends and-”
It still wasn’t there. I stopped and dropped my chin onto my chest.
“Cut.”
Stella appeared next to me, taking my hand. “Come on Woobie, let’s talk it out.”
I groaned. “Sorry, Stella.”
“You don’t have to apologize to me,” she said, now holding my hand in both of hers. “I know you can do this. You’ve always been my favorite client. I would have pulled you from this show a dozen times if you hadn’t wanted to stay with Paige and Faye. You deserve this.”
I let out a long slow breath. “I don’t know, Stella. Paige and Faye are leaving for Toronto at the end of the season. Did you know that?”
She nodded, patting my hand. “I know, Woobie.”
“And then there’s this girl. Jessica. I know I’m falling in love with her but with everything going on I–”
“Shhh,” Stella said, pulling me down as she whispered to me. “I have just the thing to tell you.”
I leaned over to the woman who had tended to my career for years, waiting for her words of wisdom.
And she smacked me in the face with all her might.
“SNAP OUT OF IT!”
I blinked, trying to focus. For a woman in her seventies, she could cause some serious pain. My tongue probed my tooth just to make sure she hadn’t knocked it loose. As she waddled away. I tried to focus, but I still didn’t feel right.
As my field of vision cleared, there she was. Jessica.
She stood next to Faye, chatting. I don’t know what happened to her, but she looked like a train wreck. She was in her Fiona cosplay, but half of it had fallen apart. Her skirt was ripped, the trim on her jacket had peeled off, and her wig was askew. Our eyes met, and I could see the worry in her eyes.
And then she smiled.
Just like that, the weight in me dissipated, and one thought above all clarified in my head:
Oh, the things I would do for that crooked grin.
Jess
The panel I was on got delayed due to technical difficulties, and I was running late for Daniel’s taping. I wanted to change into a more casual outfit, but I didn’t want to miss anything at the teaser filming. So I headed straight to the set in full Fiona cosplay, complete with ram horns. In the mad dash from the event to my car, all the hot-glued trim began to peel off my costume. I ended up tripping on my panel skirt, which not only ripped my skirt but also caused me to knock one of the horns off my Fiona headdress. I bumped into a table dedicated to collectible Funko Pops, sending them all flying. Unfortunately, Samuel Gamgee flew into the nearby turkey leg deep fryer and did not survive.
By the time I got to my car, Bray texted me, letting me know she and Bennet were there. I replied and let her know I was on my way. However, when I turned the key, the engine light came on, and the car made a sluggish noise.
Not a problem. Sometimes it took her a moment or two to realize I had someplace to be. I kept trying. And trying.
Ten minutes later, and twenty tries, I was cursing like a sailor. What was left of my Fiona outfit was sweaty and gross.
“START DAMMIT!” I screamed and gave the keys a violent twist. I gasped in relief as the engine groaned and then roared to life. I texted Bray again and let her know I was finally on my way.
And then I hit traffic on the 405. The most direct route had delays, and the alternate routes were even worse. At one point I was stuck in traffic for ten minutes without moving an inch.
I pulled into the studio parking lot forty minutes late and exhausted. The old security guard didn’t give my outfit a second glance. He gave me a badge and waved me in. When I walked into the studio, it was complete chaos. What appeared to be a living room set for the soap opera had been cordoned off with green screens. Paige was arguing with a crew member, and the director appeared to be trying to calm Daniel who kept walking around the set in circles.
