Queens of Geek

CHAPTER SEVEN: TAYLOR

QueenOfFirestones:

I just need to vent for a second. I think the craziness of coming to SupaCon just hit me. But I'm okay.

I must seem so crazy to the people in my life sometimes.

But whatever they see on the outside is nothing compared to how I see things from in here.

Everything is just so fucking intense. All the time. It's like the brightness and sound is turned all the way up on the TV, and you can't ever turn it down. And the anxiety is a constant hum, a buzzing in your body and mind that never stops. Sometimes it feels like I'm allergic to the world, like I'm allergic to my own species. Being here, it's an assault on my senses.

But I'm okay.

I'm okay.

I have to be okay.

Anyway. Thanks for listening. Or reading, whatever.

I'll try to post SupaCon stuff later.

"Look at all this Firestone swag!" I skip towards the stall and stop at the first table. It's covered in Queen Firestone t-shirts, figurines, mugs, books and jewellery. "I'm in heaven."

Jamie stands by my side and points to a nearby set of shelves. "There's even more over there."

He gives me a sideways glance and I pretend not to notice it. I hate when he worries about me, it makes me feel like a child. But it's understandable, after my almost-meltdown back in the diner.

He's seen me like that before, plenty of times, but it still makes him uneasy. He'll be treating me like a ticking bomb for the rest of the day. Unless I speak up.

"I'm fine, Jamie," I say with a sigh.

My eyes are glued to a t-shirt with Skyler Atkins on it, in full Queen Firestone costume. "You don't need to worry about me."

He turns to face me and I pick up the shirt, rubbing my thumbs over the soft material.

"You sure?"

I press my lips together and nod. "Yeah. I think the jet lag caught up with me. But I'm good now."

His shoulders relax. "Good."

I spot another table of awesome shirts and run over to it, only to find they're all in men's sizes. "Seriously? Why do guys get all the best t-shirts?" I pick one up and stare at it hungrily. "Screw it, I'm buying this. It's mine." It wouldn't be the first time; most of my wardrobe consists of t-shirts and flannels from the boy's section--it's just what I feel most comfortable in.

Someone taps me on the shoulder and I turn around to see another Queen Firestone cosplayer.

"Hi!" she says, smiling from ear to ear. "We're gathering up all the Queen Firestones just over there," she points down the aisle, "you wanna come with?"

"Um." I peer through the crowd. Over a dozen cosplayers are huddling together, some in the Queen Firestone trench coat like me, and others in her suit of armor.

My first instinct is to say no, but I know I'll regret it if I do. At the very least, it would make a great photo to share with the fandom on Tumblr. "Sure."

She grins and grabs my hand, pulling me through the crowd. "I found another one!" She giggles when we reach the others.

They pull me into the middle of the group, all complimenting me on my cosplay and asking me where I bought the trench coat.