Mind Games

Recognition?!

"Forty-seven, forty-eight!" I smile, unlocking the room and lugging my bags in. Belle follows me, yawning and dragging her bags behind her. She's clearly feeling the affects of jet lag, whereas I barely even sleep. I pile my bags up in a corner and survey the room.

"I really like it." I say. "But maybe I'm just so frigging excited for tomorrow."

"Yeah, well, I'm tired." Belle mumbles, flopping down on the bed. I jump on her, pinning down her now wide-awake and shrieking form.

"Fixed it." I snicker, rolling off. I stretch my back, feeling the discs pop back into place with a satisfying series of cracks.

"So, what are we doing for the three hours we have until dark?" I ask, sitting upright.

As if to answer my question, someone knocks on the hotel door. Belle moans softly and drags herself off the bed, rubbing her eyes.

"If I know anything..." she mumbles, opening the door.

"Hey, Belle!"

Standing in the doorway is Rivern Jays, someone Belle has mentioned repeatedly. I think they're 'involved'.

"Hey, Rivern." Belle yawns. "C'mon in."

Rivern steps into the room. He looks at me and shoots me a huge grin. Everybody loves the goggles.

"I take it this is Marlene?" he asks.

"Um, yeah." I answer. "Nice to meed you."

"Likewise." Rivern smiles before turning to Belle. "So, Bebe, our panel is on Thursday. So far, we have absolutely nothing planned, other than answering questions. We need to figure out what the heck we're gonna talk about."

"You could always show a greats reel." I suggest.

"That's a good idea." Rivern smiles. "Belle, come on, you've gotta have something."

"I'm tired as hell!" Belle groans. "I just wanna sleep, but I know I can't!"

"What about a 'hey, I'm at PAX' vlog?" Rivern suggests. "That'll keep you up for a little while."

"I'm too tired to set it up." Belle yawns. I laugh softly.

"Isn't she just adorable?" I ask.

"Shaddap." Belle glares half-heartedly. I adjust my vest and glance at Rivern.

"You probably want to plan the panel with her." I say. "And I'm too restless to stay without becoming a huge distraction. I'm gonna go out, maybe see if I can suss out our dinner."

"Alright. Just don't get lost." Rivern replies. "Nice meeting you, Marlene."

"Yeah, you too." I murmur. I grab my handbag and walk out of the room, heading for the lift.

"Oh! Excuse me, but are you Marlene? MarlyGeek?"

I turn and look at an excited girl with blonde hair held back in two gear-covered pigtails.

"It really is you!" she exclaims. "My name's Jessica. When I saw that you were coming, I almost hit the roof! You were the only one of my favourite YouTubers I thought I wouldn't get to see!"

"I only got in because my friend found out she was being funded for her trip after saving up all the money." I say, trying to smile. "You know Beauty by Midnight?"

"I think she played with Sky and Deadlox once?" Jessica guesses.

"Yeah, that's her." I reply. "And it's been a little more than once."

"Anyway, can I please, please get a picture?" Jessica asks, holding up her camera. "I know you're not signing or doing a panel, but please? Do you have the time?"

"Sure." I say. "I can do that."

Jessica squeals in excitement, throwing her arm around my shoulder. A real grin pulls itself up on my face; she's such a ditzy otaku. Jessica snaps three shots.

"Thank you!" she exclaims. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Take it easy, love." I giggle. "What is it you like so much about my channels? Obviously, you like the steampunk gear."

"Yeah, and it was so inexpensive." Jessica beams, touching one of the steampunk hairbands. "I love your make-up tutorials."

"Oh, you're wearing the Brass Beauty design." I realize. Jessica nods.

"And I watch your gaming videos. I can't believe you beat Vanish on the second try!"

"It's just luck of the draw.' I shrug. "Well, I've got to go. It was nice meeting you, Jessica."

"Yeah, it was great to meet you, too!" Jessica grins. I go to the lift, call it, and step inside. I push the button for the ground floor and watch the doors begin to slide shut.

"Wait, hold on!"

I grab the door and hold it open. A short, stocky man in a black shirt steps in.

"Thanks," he says in a very familiar voice. "Um, by the way... Did I hear that girl say you beat Vanish after two tries?"

I give an almost inaudible squeak. Oh how embarrassing!

"I, um, I just got lucky." I answer. "That and it didn't scare me."

"How did it not scare you?!"

"I dunno. Graphics, concept, same old jumpscares..." I trail off and cast a sidelong glance at the man. God almighty, I am actually standing in a five-foot space with the frigging Markiplier!

"I guess I'm just desensitized to the threat of death." I conclude. "Lifelong physical or psychological damage just holds more fear, more pain."

"I guess you're right there." Mark replies. "... I'm sorry, I just realized how awkward this is."

"Not at all." I reply. "Nerve wracking, very much so. I mean, you are Markiplier."

"So you're a fan? Nice to meet you."

The lift reaches the bottom floor. I almost scream curses at it for kicking us out before I can actually have a real conversation with Mark.

"You're here for PAX, right?" Mark asks as we step out. I nod in confirmation.

"Well, I'll see you around, then." Mark smiles. "Bye."

I wave slowly, struck dumb by the circumstances. Usually I can hold myself together, but just this once I'm forcing myself not to gush or squeal.

The camera does not do his smile justice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So we meet Mark, for just a few fleeting seconds. And he's still obsessing over Vanish. *shaking head* Never obsess over a randomly generated game, you'll lose your mind. 

... Yes, I did just throw a Markiplier plays Vanish in the media section. Yes, I am a sadist. Time for the wrap up!

Thank you all for reading. If you've got something you want to say, there's a device called the comment's box which is cool as clockwork. If you like the story and don't want to miss any updates, why not consider subscribing and joining the Moon Rebellion? Thank you, sayonara, love you all. *bows*