Girls Save the World in This One - Ash Parsons Page 0,44
it hurts, but I don’t stop because now they’re smiling. Then James gives Hunter’s shoulder a pat, and a steer, and they turn and go to their seats.
The audience with seats sits down after Hunter and James do. We get mostly quiet, and the panel begins.
Michaela starts reading questions off the card. And just like with any panel I’ve ever watched on YouTube, the fun isn’t in the questions, it’s in the actors’ interactions with each other.
And it’s funny because it’s almost like they stay in character. Sam, who plays the old lawyer, Jamison, is wry and wise when he speaks. Cuellar, the actor who plays the abrasive, racist redneck, doesn’t come across as racist, but the abrasive energy is still there, though it’s covered over like he’s just teasing.
It does make you wonder how far down the similarities go.
Michaela turns to Siggy’s favorites, Annie and Linus.
“So, newbies! What’s it like joining a hit show at the end of the third season?”
Annie lifts her mic and leans forward. “It’s awesome! But I have to say my absolute favorite thing is being shipped so intensely IMMEDIATELY. Thanks for that!”
Her tone is teasing, so it’s obvious she doesn’t really mind.
Having such a fanatic response to her and Linus’s characters together probably ensures they’ll stay alive for several more episodes, at least.
Michaela picks up on the tease.
“Well, looking at Linus, I have to say it’s a hard job, but someone’s got to do it, right?”
The audience laughs. On the video screen above the stage, the camera zooms in as Linus laughs along, and yes, yes, he’s quite handsome, with floppy sandy-blond hair and blue eyes that look simultaneously sad, gentle, and happy all at once.
Soulful, I guess you’d call them.
Later I will probably take it to heart that I’m not as goodlooking as these people. But right now, it’s just too much fun being in the audience with them up onstage.
“But seriously, the reaction to you two together! That was fast, even for the zombie apocalypse!” Michaela says.
Annie laughs, and stretches a hand toward Linus. “Well, I’m lucky.”
On the video screen above, I can see in close-up how Linus’s eyes go soft and puppy-dog-ish when he looks at her. The audience holds their breath.
“Why lucky?” Michaela asks.
“It’s how the Brits put it,” Annie says. And her hand extends. Linus takes it gently. “I rather fancy him.”
Siggy is going to lose her goddamn mind.
The audience whoops and screams. Onstage Linus and Annie smile shyly, still holding hands.
“Is that so, Linus?” Michaela prompts.
Linus clears his throat, but it sounds shy, like he’s nervous. “Yes, I mean, you all saw it. We had instant chemistry. And we spend so much time together.”
The audience coos and sighs.
“Oh my gosh, this is a Senoybia ZombieCon! exclusive!” Michaela yelps into her mic. “Thank you, Annie, and Linus, for sharing your new relationship with us!”
We shriek and clap.
“Okay, well, now let me ask you two, Hunter and James,” Michaela begins, moving to center stage.
James interrupts her. He flicks a thumb at himself, then at Hunter.
“We’re not dating,” he teases, smiling out at us.
Hunter laughs.
Most of the audience laughs, too, but there are a couple of playful boos.
There are so many ships on this show, let me tell you.
“Well, that’s okay. Give it time,” Michaela teases back. “Maybe it’s a slow burn.”
Just the right, fun tone. Makes the playful boos turn into cheers, and the audience laughs along.
She’s a really good host.
“What’s your favorite part about the new setting and how—” Michaela asks, glancing at her card—but she doesn’t get a chance to finish the question.
A man is hoisting himself onstage.
Linus leans forward—holding a hand up in a stop gesture—“Hey, mate,” he says into the mic. “You’ve got to stay off the stage.”
The man rushes at Michaela, who yelps and takes several steps back.