[ normally, she has a pretty good eye for the things boys do around girls they think are pretty. but essie is so caught up in the tale of how she decided to become an Anime Fan that she misses the drop in his voice entirely and just ends the whole story breathless and embarrassed. briefly, she covers her mouth with both hands before slowly dropping them to rest at her sides. ]
Oh, n-no, [ she protests with a wrinkle of her nose. that would only be a distraction today, okay. ] I don't need to look at Potter stuff here. I mean, that's cool though. I'm more like.
[ thoughtfully, essie rubs her lips together as if evening out the lipgloss on her bottom lip. ]
Looking for the next thing to just throw myself into! You know? I mean, other than watching the original, uh, 2003 series? Which is kind of weird to watch since I watched the older one first. So that's why I'm excited to see this screening. And since you seem like you liked it, maybe? That's a good sign.
[ Calvin isn't exactly Mr. Subtle either, but it's likely she'll eventually catch on. The longer she spends around him, the more chances Calvin has to stumble and make himself look like a fool. If there's one thing that Calvin is great at, it's making himself look like an idiot.
The overly enthusiastic nodding at what she's saying continues, like this is somehow so interesting, despite it just being her explaining she wants to find some new things to watch. ]
Yeah! I get that! I mean like I really get that, and this one is pretty good. I mean, I have good taste in things, so I could probably recommend a bunch of stuff in general.
[ He watches a lot of questionable things too, but he's at least self-aware enough to know not to recommend shows that are more fanservice than plot. ]
[ essie only means the recommendations and series screening, for now, but this is going to change the second the screening is over and she is left rudderless once more. perhaps she is too trusting but she has a good feeling about this guy. she had caught a few things posted online about things to be wary of at conventions – none that she had taken to heart of course, but creepy guys can be found anywhere.
she takes a deep breath, feeling a lot less burdened now that she has confessed to someone that she doesn't have much fandom credibility but wants to. ]
Oh. What's your name? I'm Essie.
[ and that gets her to perk up once more with a head tilt, toss of her hair, and a tiny wave. ]
[ Creepy guys can absolutely be found anywhere, but with a cute girl following him around Calvin will keep any of his creepy tendencies down to a minimum. Which is to say, if Essie follows him into the dealer's room or artist's alley he won't be buying any porn like he usually does. It's a little bit of a bummer, but there's absolutely no way he's going to let on that he even knows what porn is to this girl, regardless of how unbelievable that might be.
Trying not to look like a pervert won't do anything to make Calvin less awkward though. That's just how he is at all times, and it cannot be helped.
He might look like both a little right now with how transfixed he looks at something as simple as a hair toss, before he snaps himself out of it and clears his throat. ]
Yeah. I mean, Calvin. My name is Calvin. It's good to meet you.
[ the all-important toss over the shoulder is one move that essie has perfected even if she isn't exactly aware of what she's doing most of the time. in this case, it's merely to get her hair off her shoulders.
with that said, it is entirely normal to sometimes see essie ko toss her hair in slow motion. ]
Calvin! [ she parrots to remember his name. there's more she wants to say/ask but the line has begun moving a lot faster which only makes her gasp in delight and take his elbow as she follows the others into the screening room. ]
[ It's like for once Calvin is able to live the teen movie experience, instead of just being a background character watching everyone else have a good time.
And yes, while his poison of choice might be anime, it's not like Calvin has gone full weeb and refuses to consume other forms of media.
None of them actually adequately prepared him for how to deal with cute girls grabbing onto him though, and he does a valiant job trying to fight off the blush that's slowly creeping onto his cheeks. ]
Huh?
[ For the screening, not because she met him. Of course. Duh. Obviously... ]
Yeah! It's going to definitely be pretty cool. You'll like it.
[ maybe someday in the future, looking back, essie's rose-colored memories might add a bangin' pop-punk soundtrack over this exact meeting. but for now, all she can hear is the buzzing of weebs and calvin's voice just barely reaching her over the din. ]
Thanks. I totally appreciate the help. And company!
[ being a girl who doesn't quite know how to be alone, she's really is immensely grateful, visibly less nervous as they enter the screening hall together.
immediately, staff hand them totebags and posters and essie is delighted, taking two and handing one off to calvin. ] These are super cute. I didn't know they, like, handed out swag.
[ Calvin can appreciate that. While he doesn't mind wandering into portions of the convention by himself, he does come here every year with friends for a reason. It's actually kind of lucky for him that he decided to peel off for a bit for this screening, because as much as he likes his equally nerdy friends, he'd like vying for Essie's attention with them a lot less.
As it is they're going to hunt him down again at some point, and Calvin will still have to deal with it. Might as well enjoy the short lived fantasy of meeting a cute girl at a convention while it briefly and beautifully lasts.
He's definitely charmed by the excitement over stuff he finds normal at this point, and grins as he looks down at the tote he was handed. ]
Yeah, if you go to the right panels they'll hand out tons of free stuff as promotions.
Wow, I guess that's part of the ticket fee too. Something like that. I wanna see if I can get a t-shirt or something.
[ but, like, at home when no one's looking. not at school. maybe to another anime event if it goes with her outfit, but she's also getting way ahead of herself.
her eyes follow a group of girls dressed like badass space cadets, wigs and all, and she lightly touches the ends of her ponytail. she likes her hair, it's been a vibrant red since the summer because her parents actually agreed to let her change her hair color that was still a "reasonable" shade. ]
[ That's something Calvin can't relate to at all, as someone who openly wears his anime shirts to school on the regular. Then again, Calvin is known as a big nerd for a reason.
Still, he nods encouragingly at Essie's comment, glad to help encouraging this budding anime nerd to grab herself some free swag. He's certainly worn free con shirts from time to time, though honestly usually those get worn around his house too.
He doesn't really have a chance to talk up the free stuff though before she pivots the conversation to wigs, and he follows her gaze to the cosplayers walking by. ]
You can buy wigs in the dealer's room if you want.
[ instantly, essie's head snaps up to face the direction of the dealer's room and she perks up considerably. ] I'll have to see if I have enough allowance for that! I've always wanted a blonde wig, maybe they'll have something already styled or something.
[ but she's babbling on, half nervous, mostly excited, ultimately grateful for someone to talk to because she has been feeling awfully lost and out of place. the validation helps, at least the acknowledgment that she is not doing anything wrong. ( she'll eventually learn there's no right way to go about her day, all in due time. ) ]
[ Calvin nods with matching levels of enthusiasm at her babbling. There will definitely be styled wigs in there, though he can't guarantee it will be for the character she wants. It usually depends on what is big at the moment, and the hot new shows tend to be the one that are easiest to get wigs for, but classics definitely can be found.
And FMA is nothing if not a classic.
The question has him stopping his nodding to think for a moment though. ]
Sometimes you can get freebies from artists in the artist alley? But no promises. You can try hitting up some of the panels that involve making things?
[ she tries to settle, at least enough as she tries to find seats once everyone begins filing in and rushing to find enough seats for their groups or their costumes, in some cases. the excited buzz filling the room is just as infectious and she catches conversations in passing about the series or the manga it was based on, making a mental note to check it all out later on.
trying to gauge the situation and certainly not wanting to sit all by her lonesome in the middle of the crowd, she glances between calvin and some of the remaining center seats, twisting her hands around the sleeves tied around her waist. ]
Should probably find a place to sit before they get the screening started, huh.
[ Calvin has friends here, so Calvin is by no way doomed to sit on his lonesome. The thing is that none of his friends are a very cute girl who seems super enthusiastic about what Calvin has to say, even if it's only explaining the workings of a convention like this one.
He could go sit with his friends in the seats they're grabbing, or... ]
Do you want to sit with me? I think I see a couple of chairs free.
[ He could shoot his shot and ditch his friends for a bit.
He's sure they'd understand, because he's also sure every single one of them would do the same to him. ]
[ were she to find this out later, she would be incredibly flattered he decided to ditch his friends for her. perhaps not the best priorities when they get older, but as a teenager now, she delights in such things, being made to feel special when someone goes out of their way for her.
essie is genuinely surprised that he's invited her anyway, given that she has just latched onto him without thinking or even asking him if he was even okay with it in the first place. but that's pretty much what happened when you've gotten your way for most of your young life.
she recovers quickly from that initial shock, beaming ear to ear. ]
Oh, okay. Yeah! I'll try not to ask you too much while it's showing.
[ Getting your way isn't something that Calvin can relate to much. Hell, things even going his way in the first place is something he doesn't much relate to, so being the one of his friends the cute girl spoke to first is not something he's going to ignore. As long as she seems interested in carrying on a conversation with him, then he's happy to keep talking to her.
Even if he sticks his foot in his mouth from time to time during it.
He shakes his head with some enthusiasm of his own, even as he leads her over to the chairs he saw. ]
Ask as much as you want. I don't mind. I can just find the episodes online later.
[ she might sound a tiny bit awestruck when she replies with, ] That's really cool of you. [ which might be a little silly, a little dramatic, but she's also a teenage girl who has just been saved from potential loneliness and social awkwardness. in high school, she knows the rulebook, but on the convention floor, she feels like an alien.
perhaps she'll eventually learn that there's no right way to go about things, but it helps having her own personal guide. at least for the time being.
she takes a seat first and pats the other one, eagerly waiting for calvin to join her. ]
I hope I like it. The premise looks kind of cool, [ essie muses, holding the merch up admiringly, running her fingers over the intricate design. ]
[ The rules in a convention definitely play out a little differently than the rules of high school, but Calvin thrives so much more in this particular environment. For one, people don't stomp on other people's enthusiasm, and while there's definitely a level of social awkwardness that crosses some lines, a lot more is given a pass.
In high school any slightly awkward stuttered attempt at a joke is met with exactly the kind of laughter that Calvin doesn't want to hear. While he can make all the inside fandom jokes here to excited responses, he's just getting laughed at outside of his geeky fandoms.
No, it's much better here where cute girls actually give him the time of day. He's trying so hard not to grin like a lunatic as he takes his seat next to her, glancing back to see his friends staring at him and mouthing various confused expletives. They're not cursing him out for abandoning them though, they're doing it because of his luck.
It makes it even harder for Calvin to keep the smile off his face as he turns his attention back to Essie. ]
I think you will. The studio that made it usually puts out some pretty good stuff.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2020-09-28 12:26 am (UTC)Oh, n-no, [ she protests with a wrinkle of her nose. that would only be a distraction today, okay. ] I don't need to look at Potter stuff here. I mean, that's cool though. I'm more like.
[ thoughtfully, essie rubs her lips together as if evening out the lipgloss on her bottom lip. ]
Looking for the next thing to just throw myself into! You know? I mean, other than watching the original, uh, 2003 series? Which is kind of weird to watch since I watched the older one first. So that's why I'm excited to see this screening. And since you seem like you liked it, maybe? That's a good sign.
no subject
Date: 2020-10-13 12:40 am (UTC)The overly enthusiastic nodding at what she's saying continues, like this is somehow so interesting, despite it just being her explaining she wants to find some new things to watch. ]
Yeah! I get that! I mean like I really get that, and this one is pretty good. I mean, I have good taste in things, so I could probably recommend a bunch of stuff in general.
[ He watches a lot of questionable things too, but he's at least self-aware enough to know not to recommend shows that are more fanservice than plot. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-05 06:47 am (UTC)[ essie only means the recommendations and series screening, for now, but this is going to change the second the screening is over and she is left rudderless once more. perhaps she is too trusting but she has a good feeling about this guy. she had caught a few things posted online about things to be wary of at conventions – none that she had taken to heart of course, but creepy guys can be found anywhere.
she takes a deep breath, feeling a lot less burdened now that she has confessed to someone that she doesn't have much fandom credibility but wants to. ]
Oh. What's your name? I'm Essie.
[ and that gets her to perk up once more with a head tilt, toss of her hair, and a tiny wave. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-12-27 01:50 am (UTC)Trying not to look like a pervert won't do anything to make Calvin less awkward though. That's just how he is at all times, and it cannot be helped.
He might look like both a little right now with how transfixed he looks at something as simple as a hair toss, before he snaps himself out of it and clears his throat. ]
Yeah. I mean, Calvin. My name is Calvin. It's good to meet you.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-24 10:24 pm (UTC)with that said, it is entirely normal to sometimes see essie ko toss her hair in slow motion. ]
Calvin! [ she parrots to remember his name. there's more she wants to say/ask but the line has begun moving a lot faster which only makes her gasp in delight and take his elbow as she follows the others into the screening room. ]
Ooh, I'm excited.
no subject
Date: 2021-02-09 03:54 am (UTC)And yes, while his poison of choice might be anime, it's not like Calvin has gone full weeb and refuses to consume other forms of media.
None of them actually adequately prepared him for how to deal with cute girls grabbing onto him though, and he does a valiant job trying to fight off the blush that's slowly creeping onto his cheeks. ]
Huh?
[ For the screening, not because she met him. Of course. Duh. Obviously... ]
Yeah! It's going to definitely be pretty cool. You'll like it.
no subject
Date: 2021-03-08 04:29 am (UTC)Thanks. I totally appreciate the help. And company!
[ being a girl who doesn't quite know how to be alone, she's really is immensely grateful, visibly less nervous as they enter the screening hall together.
immediately, staff hand them totebags and posters and essie is delighted, taking two and handing one off to calvin. ] These are super cute. I didn't know they, like, handed out swag.
no subject
Date: 2021-03-20 11:10 pm (UTC)As it is they're going to hunt him down again at some point, and Calvin will still have to deal with it. Might as well enjoy the short lived fantasy of meeting a cute girl at a convention while it briefly and beautifully lasts.
He's definitely charmed by the excitement over stuff he finds normal at this point, and grins as he looks down at the tote he was handed. ]
Yeah, if you go to the right panels they'll hand out tons of free stuff as promotions.
no subject
Date: 2021-03-29 05:07 am (UTC)[ but, like, at home when no one's looking. not at school. maybe to another anime event if it goes with her outfit, but she's also getting way ahead of herself.
her eyes follow a group of girls dressed like badass space cadets, wigs and all, and she lightly touches the ends of her ponytail. she likes her hair, it's been a vibrant red since the summer because her parents actually agreed to let her change her hair color that was still a "reasonable" shade. ]
Gosh. I kinda want to get a wig next time.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-14 02:15 am (UTC)Still, he nods encouragingly at Essie's comment, glad to help encouraging this budding anime nerd to grab herself some free swag. He's certainly worn free con shirts from time to time, though honestly usually those get worn around his house too.
He doesn't really have a chance to talk up the free stuff though before she pivots the conversation to wigs, and he follows her gaze to the cosplayers walking by. ]
You can buy wigs in the dealer's room if you want.
no subject
Date: 2021-06-13 10:50 pm (UTC)[ but she's babbling on, half nervous, mostly excited, ultimately grateful for someone to talk to because she has been feeling awfully lost and out of place. the validation helps, at least the acknowledgment that she is not doing anything wrong. ( she'll eventually learn there's no right way to go about her day, all in due time. ) ]
Do you know where else to get the free stuff?
no subject
Date: 2021-07-02 03:20 am (UTC)And FMA is nothing if not a classic.
The question has him stopping his nodding to think for a moment though. ]
Sometimes you can get freebies from artists in the artist alley? But no promises. You can try hitting up some of the panels that involve making things?
no subject
Date: 2021-08-06 06:09 pm (UTC)[ she tries to settle, at least enough as she tries to find seats once everyone begins filing in and rushing to find enough seats for their groups or their costumes, in some cases. the excited buzz filling the room is just as infectious and she catches conversations in passing about the series or the manga it was based on, making a mental note to check it all out later on.
trying to gauge the situation and certainly not wanting to sit all by her lonesome in the middle of the crowd, she glances between calvin and some of the remaining center seats, twisting her hands around the sleeves tied around her waist. ]
Should probably find a place to sit before they get the screening started, huh.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-08 10:50 pm (UTC)He could go sit with his friends in the seats they're grabbing, or... ]
Do you want to sit with me? I think I see a couple of chairs free.
[ He could shoot his shot and ditch his friends for a bit.
He's sure they'd understand, because he's also sure every single one of them would do the same to him. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-06 03:03 am (UTC)essie is genuinely surprised that he's invited her anyway, given that she has just latched onto him without thinking or even asking him if he was even okay with it in the first place. but that's pretty much what happened when you've gotten your way for most of your young life.
she recovers quickly from that initial shock, beaming ear to ear. ]
Oh, okay. Yeah! I'll try not to ask you too much while it's showing.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-13 02:05 am (UTC)Even if he sticks his foot in his mouth from time to time during it.
He shakes his head with some enthusiasm of his own, even as he leads her over to the chairs he saw. ]
Ask as much as you want. I don't mind. I can just find the episodes online later.
no subject
Date: 2021-11-01 02:20 am (UTC)perhaps she'll eventually learn that there's no right way to go about things, but it helps having her own personal guide. at least for the time being.
she takes a seat first and pats the other one, eagerly waiting for calvin to join her. ]
I hope I like it. The premise looks kind of cool, [ essie muses, holding the merch up admiringly, running her fingers over the intricate design. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-11-15 03:53 am (UTC)In high school any slightly awkward stuttered attempt at a joke is met with exactly the kind of laughter that Calvin doesn't want to hear. While he can make all the inside fandom jokes here to excited responses, he's just getting laughed at outside of his geeky fandoms.
No, it's much better here where cute girls actually give him the time of day. He's trying so hard not to grin like a lunatic as he takes his seat next to her, glancing back to see his friends staring at him and mouthing various confused expletives. They're not cursing him out for abandoning them though, they're doing it because of his luck.
It makes it even harder for Calvin to keep the smile off his face as he turns his attention back to Essie. ]
I think you will. The studio that made it usually puts out some pretty good stuff.