Celebrity Stories from Dragon*Con!
As promised, behold the celebrity encounters I had at D*C 2012!
Let's just get the bad out of the way right off, and preface it by saying that the good encounters I had made the bad meaningless.
Michael Trucco (the henchman), Jamie Bamber (lesser offense) and James Callis (prime offender)
Saturday evening I found myself on my own for dinner, and went into the High Velocity bar in the Marriott to have some soup. Since I was alone I decided to eat at the bar instead of occupying a table. There were two chairs available. I chose the one on the right since there were football dudes being rowdy next to the one on the left. There was a man sitting next to me with a British accent, but I didn't recognize him. We left each other alone.
Soon enough he was joined by a dark haired man who squeezed in between us. I offered to move down a chair so he could sit. They both gave me charming smiles, said how sweet I was and the dark hair even pulled out my chair for me. A few minutes later a taller dark haired man arrived and had to stand, but by this time I was settled with food and a beer. I didn't want to move.
People began talking to them from time to time, and I was beginning to feel bad that I wouldn't let their third friend sit. I tapped the first dark haired man on the arm and asked if I could buy them a drink. He looked me dead in the eyes and said no. I blinked in some surprise, nodded and said fair enough then went to turn back to my own world, a little perplexed. He said I couldn't buy him a drink, but he could buy me a drink. Finding this odder still I smiled a little coldly and said fair enough again. He bought me a beer then went back to his friends. I shrugged and drank my beer.
More people began talking to them, and I was getting a little uncomfortable. Soon I began hearing words repeating like "Apollo", "Baltar", "Battlestar", and suddenly realized whom I was sitting next to. I felt like a putz! They must have thought I was hitting on them! At a lull I decided to remedy this, and tapped James on the arm. I told him that up until three seconds ago I had no idea who they were, and had offered to buy them a drink because I felt bad they were standing. He gave me a very condescending look, said something like "well now you know", and leaned back so I could see Jamie and Michael, both of whom were smiling at me. I believe I turned beet red, mumbled I had no idea who I was sitting with and went back to my beer.
Time went on, maybe twenty minutes, and the bartender started coming to the three saying they had rounds of drinks coming their way from some ladies down the end of the bar. Younger, prettier ladies I might add. They not only accepted but did so twice! THEN, as they began to get tipsy, Michael (who had his back to me) kept leaning on me. LEANING! ON me! Normally, I wouldn't protest a man who looked like that leaning on me, but they'd pretty much just insulted me earlier so I was a bit miffed. Finally, I got tired of it, tapped him on the shoulder and told him that he could have my chair, I was leaving. He gave me a confused look and asked if I was sure to which I said "I'm on my own and you obviously need it more than I do", got my stuff and left....to the other side of the bar where I continued to drink in peace.
So yeah. The Battlestar Galactica guys are douchebags.
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Now for the good!
Ian Somerhalder
This was his first year at Dragon*Con, and I can't help but wonder if the poor guy knew what he was getting into. The lady who watches our critters and house while we are at con LOVES Ian. So does five thousand other people, apparently. I pre-bought an autograph for my friend as her thank you present, then figured what the hell. I'll buy myself a photo op with him since Froggy wasn't handling him. (Never doing that again, mind you!)
I thought I was being smart by going for the Saturday 11am photo op since the parade would be just finishing. Not a bad idea, really since I wasn't that far back in line, but apparently Ian was delayed. Whether this was because of the streets being closed for the parade or not, I do not know, but it's a safe assumption. It put everything back by 45 minutes at least. Once the line got moving however, it went fast.
Too fast. Ian was obviously enjoying doing this. He made certain to say hello to each person, ask how they were, etc. Craig Damon (the photographer) ensured that people had a good shot, even calling a girl back when the flash glared off of her glasses. BUT...when I got up to him Ian had decided there needed to be music, and was more focused on that than giving me more than a glancing hello. The photo looks great, though! He's got a good grip on me! He made up for the lack of attention there with the autograph, however...
...which I went to get the next day because waiting for the photo op half killed my feet and legs! They let us sit while we waited in the autograph line. Ten minutes before time they got us standing...then Ian was a half hour late. *SIGH!* But...once we got going it moved quickly and soon it was my turn to be face to face with Ian Somerhalder.
OMFG that man has the BLUEST eyes! He thanked me for coming, asked if I was having a good time, all the while I had my head down looking at I don't remember what. I kept seeing him bob his head as he signed the photo and spoke until finally curiosity made me look at him. He had been trying to get me to look at him, and when I did he LOCKED EYES WITH ME AND WOULDN'T LET GO! In Dresden-verse wizard terms there would have been a soulgaze! I found myself smiling stupidly, staring back into those eyes. MMmmmmmm! And when he handed my photo back, he thanked me again and said "I'll see you later". It was all I could do to not say "Sure! When?!"
Jason Momoa
There were three celebs I kept trying to catch in the Walk of Fame: Adam Baldwin (the elusive), Joe Manganiello (HAWT!), and Jason Momoa. Three times I showed up just in time for Adam's line to get cut because he had to leave. Joe's table was PACKED! But this one time I saw that Jason's was empty. There was a schedule hanging behind it that I was trying to read (from a distance so as not to seem stalkerish) when one of the D*C volunteers asked if he could help me. I said I was trying to figure out when Jason would be there, and was told that he was here, just on a break. I blinked at the man and commented that his line was empty. He said "Yes. I know," gently gave me a push and told me to get on up there! You don't need to tell ME twice! ZOOM! One Tweeky Little Drau rushed to the nice lady at the table!
She sold me my choice of photo, and wrote my name on a sticky note then nicely directed me to the waiting tape line where another lady was already waiting. Second!! I was second in line!! JOY! I asked if we could take a photo while he signed, and we were told yes, but not with us since he was contracted with the same photographer Ian was with. Understandable and completely acceptable! I squeed inwardly!
There was a bit of a wait because apparently Jason though he was on lunch, and the lady manning the booth had to tell him that no, his lunch was after the photo ops at 1pm and he needed to get back right now because he had a line. Not long after, this hulking man with a quiet, deep voice slipped up beside us to get behind the table.
Oh. My! GODS!! He was HUGE!! I mean...LARGE! I think I could have stared him in the nipples. (And wouldn't THAT have been a dream come true?!)
He was very sweet, very soft spoken, and smiled non-stop even though he had to be tired and/or cranky having thought he was on lunch. He commented that I had a pretty name, let me take a photo, thanked me and called me sweety. BLISS!! And off I went with my signed photo of him with the dreds. *SIGH!*
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So those are my celebrity stories from Dragon*Con 2012. Good, bad and douchey, but in my opinion the good far outweighed the bad/douchery.
Let's just get the bad out of the way right off, and preface it by saying that the good encounters I had made the bad meaningless.
Michael Trucco (the henchman), Jamie Bamber (lesser offense) and James Callis (prime offender)
Saturday evening I found myself on my own for dinner, and went into the High Velocity bar in the Marriott to have some soup. Since I was alone I decided to eat at the bar instead of occupying a table. There were two chairs available. I chose the one on the right since there were football dudes being rowdy next to the one on the left. There was a man sitting next to me with a British accent, but I didn't recognize him. We left each other alone.
Soon enough he was joined by a dark haired man who squeezed in between us. I offered to move down a chair so he could sit. They both gave me charming smiles, said how sweet I was and the dark hair even pulled out my chair for me. A few minutes later a taller dark haired man arrived and had to stand, but by this time I was settled with food and a beer. I didn't want to move.
People began talking to them from time to time, and I was beginning to feel bad that I wouldn't let their third friend sit. I tapped the first dark haired man on the arm and asked if I could buy them a drink. He looked me dead in the eyes and said no. I blinked in some surprise, nodded and said fair enough then went to turn back to my own world, a little perplexed. He said I couldn't buy him a drink, but he could buy me a drink. Finding this odder still I smiled a little coldly and said fair enough again. He bought me a beer then went back to his friends. I shrugged and drank my beer.
More people began talking to them, and I was getting a little uncomfortable. Soon I began hearing words repeating like "Apollo", "Baltar", "Battlestar", and suddenly realized whom I was sitting next to. I felt like a putz! They must have thought I was hitting on them! At a lull I decided to remedy this, and tapped James on the arm. I told him that up until three seconds ago I had no idea who they were, and had offered to buy them a drink because I felt bad they were standing. He gave me a very condescending look, said something like "well now you know", and leaned back so I could see Jamie and Michael, both of whom were smiling at me. I believe I turned beet red, mumbled I had no idea who I was sitting with and went back to my beer.
Time went on, maybe twenty minutes, and the bartender started coming to the three saying they had rounds of drinks coming their way from some ladies down the end of the bar. Younger, prettier ladies I might add. They not only accepted but did so twice! THEN, as they began to get tipsy, Michael (who had his back to me) kept leaning on me. LEANING! ON me! Normally, I wouldn't protest a man who looked like that leaning on me, but they'd pretty much just insulted me earlier so I was a bit miffed. Finally, I got tired of it, tapped him on the shoulder and told him that he could have my chair, I was leaving. He gave me a confused look and asked if I was sure to which I said "I'm on my own and you obviously need it more than I do", got my stuff and left....to the other side of the bar where I continued to drink in peace.
So yeah. The Battlestar Galactica guys are douchebags.
=============================================================================================
Now for the good!
Ian Somerhalder
This was his first year at Dragon*Con, and I can't help but wonder if the poor guy knew what he was getting into. The lady who watches our critters and house while we are at con LOVES Ian. So does five thousand other people, apparently. I pre-bought an autograph for my friend as her thank you present, then figured what the hell. I'll buy myself a photo op with him since Froggy wasn't handling him. (Never doing that again, mind you!)
I thought I was being smart by going for the Saturday 11am photo op since the parade would be just finishing. Not a bad idea, really since I wasn't that far back in line, but apparently Ian was delayed. Whether this was because of the streets being closed for the parade or not, I do not know, but it's a safe assumption. It put everything back by 45 minutes at least. Once the line got moving however, it went fast.
Too fast. Ian was obviously enjoying doing this. He made certain to say hello to each person, ask how they were, etc. Craig Damon (the photographer) ensured that people had a good shot, even calling a girl back when the flash glared off of her glasses. BUT...when I got up to him Ian had decided there needed to be music, and was more focused on that than giving me more than a glancing hello. The photo looks great, though! He's got a good grip on me! He made up for the lack of attention there with the autograph, however...
...which I went to get the next day because waiting for the photo op half killed my feet and legs! They let us sit while we waited in the autograph line. Ten minutes before time they got us standing...then Ian was a half hour late. *SIGH!* But...once we got going it moved quickly and soon it was my turn to be face to face with Ian Somerhalder.
OMFG that man has the BLUEST eyes! He thanked me for coming, asked if I was having a good time, all the while I had my head down looking at I don't remember what. I kept seeing him bob his head as he signed the photo and spoke until finally curiosity made me look at him. He had been trying to get me to look at him, and when I did he LOCKED EYES WITH ME AND WOULDN'T LET GO! In Dresden-verse wizard terms there would have been a soulgaze! I found myself smiling stupidly, staring back into those eyes. MMmmmmmm! And when he handed my photo back, he thanked me again and said "I'll see you later". It was all I could do to not say "Sure! When?!"
Jason Momoa
There were three celebs I kept trying to catch in the Walk of Fame: Adam Baldwin (the elusive), Joe Manganiello (HAWT!), and Jason Momoa. Three times I showed up just in time for Adam's line to get cut because he had to leave. Joe's table was PACKED! But this one time I saw that Jason's was empty. There was a schedule hanging behind it that I was trying to read (from a distance so as not to seem stalkerish) when one of the D*C volunteers asked if he could help me. I said I was trying to figure out when Jason would be there, and was told that he was here, just on a break. I blinked at the man and commented that his line was empty. He said "Yes. I know," gently gave me a push and told me to get on up there! You don't need to tell ME twice! ZOOM! One Tweeky Little Drau rushed to the nice lady at the table!
She sold me my choice of photo, and wrote my name on a sticky note then nicely directed me to the waiting tape line where another lady was already waiting. Second!! I was second in line!! JOY! I asked if we could take a photo while he signed, and we were told yes, but not with us since he was contracted with the same photographer Ian was with. Understandable and completely acceptable! I squeed inwardly!
There was a bit of a wait because apparently Jason though he was on lunch, and the lady manning the booth had to tell him that no, his lunch was after the photo ops at 1pm and he needed to get back right now because he had a line. Not long after, this hulking man with a quiet, deep voice slipped up beside us to get behind the table.
Oh. My! GODS!! He was HUGE!! I mean...LARGE! I think I could have stared him in the nipples. (And wouldn't THAT have been a dream come true?!)
He was very sweet, very soft spoken, and smiled non-stop even though he had to be tired and/or cranky having thought he was on lunch. He commented that I had a pretty name, let me take a photo, thanked me and called me sweety. BLISS!! And off I went with my signed photo of him with the dreds. *SIGH!*
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So those are my celebrity stories from Dragon*Con 2012. Good, bad and douchey, but in my opinion the good far outweighed the bad/douchery.