Page 110 of Foes & Cons
Roxy looks round at me again, mouthing what’s just popped up in my head.
He’s American!
I bob my head up and down at her and she turns back to the stage, just as he pulls a pair of black-framed glasses from his back pocket and puts them on. That forty-three per cent of the audience reacts with cries of recognition and his character’s name, Stellan, ripples across the crowd. The other fifty-seven per cent react to seeing a really hot guy putting on a pair of glasses. I’m somewhere in the middle.
“As my buddy Damon here just said, I play the main character inMidnight in Portland, the half-brother of Viggo Rasmussen.”
“His more intellectual half-brother,” interjects Damon Van Schwartz.
The audience laughs and Dylan throws an arm around him. We’ve never experienced anything like this, and it’s breathtaking.
“You might have read some rumours about whether the show was going ahead, due to the lead actor,” he says, pointing tohimself, “having some personal issues. While I’m not going to address any of that, I admit coming straight out of college and being from a predominantly theatre-orientated background, I did have some reservations about committing to the show.I’m aware that with shows like these, and with fans like you, you’re not just an actor showing up each week, but you’re part of the fandom. And I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.”
The audience quietens, not sure they want to hear they can sometimes be alittle intense.
“I loved the premise ofMidnight in Portland, and I loved the production team, but I’m a pretty private person and wasn’t sure I wanted to open my life up to you guys. To doall this,” he says,waving his hand around the stage and the front row, “not after going through some personal issues.”
Damon Van Schwartz puts his arm around Dylan, nodding his head.
“So, I just want to tell you what I’ve learnt this weekend.” Everyone stares at him, waiting for him to tell us that we’re too weird or vampire TV shows suck. He looks out at the audience, his eyes moving across their faces like he’s searching for someone, and then they stop. On me. And he smiles. “This isn’t just a fandom. This is a family.”
Everyone jumps up, clapping the newest member of our extended family. Dylan beams at the audience, putting his hand on his heart, then lifts the mic to his mouth again.
“Blood is for ever!”
“Blood is for ever!” responds the audience, throwing in some whoops and whistles.
My cheeks ache from smiling and I wipe away my tears.
“Thank you, Dylan. I’m sure you’ll have a few new members in yourfangclub by the time you leave.”
“Thanks, guys,” says Dylan, “that’s all from me for now, but I look forward to a little karaoke with you later.”
Felix’s face drops and the audience mood shifts from jubilation to melancholia, now reminded that we only have a few hours left together before people start leaving. Felix steps forward, his face a picture of sorrow.
“Actually, Dylan, I need to officially tell everyone this is it for the convention. Sadly, the karaoke party won’t be going ahead. You’re welcome to stay but I’m afraid there’s no equipment for a DJ or a party. I’m so sorry to let you all down.”
There’s a low hum from everyone now Felix has confirmed the rumour and their convention will be coming to a crumbling non-end. There’s a sob from the back of the hall and I look round, feeling guilty that my heart leaps at the sound of Sadie’s tears.
So, they are still here.
“Actually,” says Dylan. I turn back to the stage and everyone pauses, wondering what the new guy’s going to say. “The karaoke’s back on.”
Felix frowns and looks round at a Headset Guy just off the stage, who shrugs back. Felix turns back to Dylan.
“Who told you that?” asks Felix.
“The redhead told me,” says Dylan, gesturing to the side of the stage.
Felix goes over to Headset Guy who leans into Felix’s ear, pointing over his shoulder. Then, anyone who isn’t looking properly would miss it, a sheet of red hair suddenly flicks up out of the shadows, followed by a hand on a hip as Felix nods at whoever’s filling him in. Everyone around me murmurs, wondering what the hell is going on, and I sit in the middle of it all, knowing that they’re about to get the convention end they deserve.
Felix walks back to the middle of the stage and puts his hand up, looking a little shellshocked.
“OK, so in an unexpected twist of events, which I’m inclined to just go with, the karaoke party, our final karaoke party, is back on.” He turns to the guests still sitting on stage. “I hope you’ll join us?”
“Try and stop us,” Damon Van Schwartz answers for all of them.
The audience erupts in applause and there’s a particularly high-pitched squeal coming from the back.
