_alicedear (_alicedear) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-08-29 21:36:00 |
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Entry tags: | alice liddell, grog strongjaw |
Who: Alice and Grog
When: Early August
Where: Near a comic shop
What: Meeting and making friends!
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete when posted
Grog was tapping away at his laptop, smiling as he wrote and waited. He was sitting on a bench outside the comic shop, conveniently near the computer and toy shops, and he was ready to see and hang out with a fan and fellow dreamer. He had dreamed more of his world, his dreams being oddly disjoined since his dream self saw things through a spectrum of less intelligence and less knowledge. B oth made him feel odd as he Dreamed, made it feel less real, but the memories didn’t feel less so in his mind.
Which was weird and made him feel a little nauseous, sometimes.
He shoved that from his mind as he looked up to see Alice approaching.
“Alice! Hello!”
***
Alice was practically bouncing with barely contained excitement as she made her way to where she and Grog had agreed to meet. She was getting ready to meet one of her favorite comic book artists and he recognized her from some of the parts she’d played and that had been one of the best compliments she’d ever gotten. Someone she looked up to and admired knew her work. She smoothed the hem of her skirt down when she heard someone calling her name. Her father had tried to convince her that pants might be better since she was going to meet a new friend and someone might get the wrong idea seeing her dressed up but she’d just shaken her head. She was more comfortable in dresses and skirts than she’d ever been in pants and this was hardly dressed up. Just an old blue sundress with pockets so that she didn’t have to worry about keeping up with a purse. Her phone in one, her car keys and wallet in the other and she was good to go.
She looked around when she heard someone calling her name and grinned as she recognized Grog, hurrying over to him, comic book held carefully in one hand. It was her copy of the first of the Guardians series they had published with him credited as author. It seemed fitting to ask him to autograph that one as opposed to one of the more recent issues. “Hi Grog! It’s really cool to actually get to meet you!”
***
“Hello, Alice! It’s good to meet you, too.” He grinned at her. She was a nice young lady and she seemed as nice now as she had in her roles. How are you today? Thanks for meeting me.”
He waved toward the bench. They could sit there until they figured out where they were headed next. He smiled warmly. He had not expected to have a chance to meet a fan who liked his work, and he had a surprise for her, something he had dug up online and gotten fast tracked to his house.
***
Alice smiled back at him as she sat down on the bench with him, purple tipped curls falling over her shoulders. “Me? I’m great. This is something I honestly never believed I’d get to do. How are you though?” She blushed a little. “And...I’m babbling aren’t I?” She said with a little laugh at herself when she realized she’d been talking 90 miles a minute as her dad put it.
“I’m just really excited.”
***
“NOt at all! And it’s okay. Don’t worry. I got the chance to meet Stan Lee once. It blew me away.”
He lifted his backpack and opened it, and pulled out a plastic envelope, then handed over the package. “Here, this is for you.”
Inside the envelope was a thick comic book. It was the final edit copy of the script for first issue he had handed in, with his and his co-artists’ signatures on it. It had notes in the margin by different people, and some different colors on different areas as things were done and discussed.
***
“I don’t think I could even talk if I was in the same room with Stan Lee. Which is probably why I will never go for a part in a Marvel movie since he does walk on roles in all of them. What was it like meeting him though?” Alice asked, tilting her head slightly when he reached into his bag and handed her an envelope.
“You didn’t have to get me - “ Her words were swallowed up in the happy squeal that escaped her when she saw what was inside in the envelope. She pulled it out and started looking through it slowly, taking care not to tear the pages or handle them where the ink was. She looked up from the book and acting purely on impulse, leaned over to hug him. “This is so amazing and you seriously didn’t have to do this but thank you so much,” she said pulling back and hugging the book to her chest. She never thought she’d get to see a comic book edit copy let alone hold one or be given one.
***
“I flailed, a lot, and quietly freaked out, barely keeping it quiet. And he smiled and reached over and ruffled my hair. I possibly almost blacked out.” He chuckled. “He was a good guy, nice. Really authentic.”
Grog blushed and hugged her back gently. “I know I didn’t. But how often does one get to meet a fan, and make them a friend?” He smiled softly. “How often do I get to share these things with someone I know will treat them well? Not often.”
He was glad she liked it. “I figured with the way you talked, you might appreciate that more than most. You seem to have interest in the whole thing, not just the product.”
***
“I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one who gets totally star struck.” Alice told him with a grin. “I don’t think I’d have been able to keep my freak out quiet in the same room with him. I’m surprised I didn’t squeal when I walked over here. Although I did a lot of that in my room so maybe that got it all out of my system.” She told him, shrugging gently. She wasn’t ashamed to admit it.
“Treat it well? This is officially the most precious book I own Grog,” she said looking up at him. “But seriously - you didn’t have to get me anything for us to be friends. Most guys I talk to about being interested in comic books think it’s weird or that I’m into them just for attention or something.” She told him, thinking back to the boys she’d had to deal with in her high school. Because she’d been an actress she couldn’t be into comics? What kind of rule was that?
“I think that’s something that’s true no matter what it is - even with my acting I want to know about everything that goes into the production. In front of and behind the camera. I’m just really curious about all of it.”
***
“Absolutely, It can be wild, working as a creator, and working conventions and just walking into a sitting room where people ware waiting to go out on panels and trying not to stare in awe at the people I’m supposedly the same as.”
He shook his head. “Its a little mindblowing. LIke if you were an actor and you got to work with some big star and just rubbed shoulders with them at a party.”
Grog blushed and smiled to her. “I know I didn’t. I just figured you would like it. I mean… I wasn’t trying to buy you or anything, just… appreciate a friend and a fan.” he flailed a little. “Sorry?” Now he was unsure if he had done something wrong.
He nodded as she spoke again. Focusing on that. “I think that is the best way to be. That’s how I got into the industry, asking questions, lots of questions.”
***
“I haven’t gotten asked to appear at any conventions and I’m kind of hoping that doesn’t change. I’d much rather go and just enjoy myself at them. Maybe get a picture taken with some of my favorite actors and creators. Just get to be a fan for the weekend.” She’d gotten lucky with that most of the time although at the last one she’d gone to she’d been recognized by a little girl who’d wanted a picture with her and she’d been happy to take it. To spend a few minutes talking with her and her parents. Encouraging the little girl to follow her dreams and just try her hardest to be whoever, or whatever, she wanted to be. That had probably been the highlight of the weekend for her. Well that and getting to meet one of her favorite film actors ever and get an autograph from him which she’d framed and hung on her wall.
“Yeah. That’s hopefully an experience I’ll get to have some day. If not - well I’ll have a degree to fall back on.”
Alice felt a little stab of guilt when she heard that apology. “No! You don’t have anything to be sorry for! I’m - I’m just not used to my interest in these being taken seriously. I’m sorry. I don’t always think before I speak. It’s a problem I need to work on because it keeps getting me into trouble. I’m really sorry.” She said biting down on her lower lip as she looked at him. There might have been some tears threatening to fall because she really hated hurting people. Always had and conflict with someone just set her on edge in an entirely different way.
***
Grog smiled at her. It was nice to do such things, but he hadn’t had that luxury in a couple of years, not since they started showing his picture as kid with the bad history does good, as an example that anyone could get into the industry. He rolled his eyes. He had had a lot of luck, and help.
But he was glad she was able to do that and enjoy her life. It was, he felt, important to do so.
“Exactly. That’s why I am still going to college. Never stop learning, and never stop finding usefil things.” He grinned at her and reached out to gently squeeze her shoulder. “Worry not. I just worry sometimes. I still feel like a fake, being the creator whose name people know, and I worry I will fuck things up, like I did as a kid. So… thanks.” He nodded to her.
“You are a good person, you know? We should grab a bite at the cafe there.” he pointed to the nearby cafe and restaurant attached to the bookstore, which was down the street from the comic shop. “We can eat and talk more. If you like?”
***
Alice smiled back at him. “Yeah I get that feeling. Anytime I show up for an audition that’s not connected to Disney I get that feeling. Like I don’t belong there with these other actors because I got my start with them not through working with some other company, one that’s not so geared towards kids and teenagers with their network. People who haven’t beaten out older more experienced people for the same part. But...I don’t let it stop me. And having read a lot of the volumes from before you took over I can tell you point blank that you’re not going to fuck it up.” Alice said, wanting to assure him. She absolutely believed what she said too.
“I try to be. And an optimistic one. Because it makes life a lot happier that way. And easier.” She said with a shrug. Her parents had encouraged her to be that way. Even in the wake of their divorce a few years ago - they’d both emphasized that this was just a step to allow both of them, and her, to explore new relationships and avenues for their life that might make them happier. It helped that they were both around a lot and made a point of continuing to present a united front when it came to how they raised her.
“I’d like that!”
***
Grog offer her his arm and smiled. “Good. I think that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” He winked at her as he led her toward the cafe, and nodded. He could get used to hanging around someone like her. She was a good person and he could see them as friends.
He looked forward to lunch a lot.
***
Alice slid her arm through his, clutching her book to her chest with her free arm as they walked towards the cafe. This was the best day ever!