Page 51 of Cosplay & Consequences

“The two of you mean the world to him,” I said, thinking back to the night before and his somber mood. “Talk about bad timing.”

“We were going to tell him after we shot the trailer.” Faye sighed. “But the director blew it.”

I looked over at Daniel as he talked to the old woman. “Who’s that with him now?”

“That’s Stella, his agent. He’s been with her since I was one,” Faye informed me. “The one who walked off is Britta, his publicist.”

“I’ve talked to her before,” I said, scowling a bit.

“Um. I knew who you were before, too,” she said in a meek voice. “I watch your stream all the time.”

I blinked in surprise. “You do?”

She nodded, her words coming out fast and manic. “I’m also on your Patreon and in your virtual book club! Your take on A Forum of Flowers and Swords was amazing! I never thought of Dierdre being the villain as opposed to the protagonist until you posted that. Oh! And when you embarrassed that academic who thought they knew something about Tyrant? You totally brought the receipts for that takedown.”

I had read that specific phrase before. That’s when it clicked. Faye. Fayed? “Wait. Are you Fayed2Black?”

Faye’s eyes went wide. “You know who I am?”

My mouth dropped. “You’re my most active book reader in the club. And you took down that troll a few days ago. I don’t believe it. You're fourteen?”

“I turn fifteen in a couple of weeks,” she said nervously. “I know that’s the limit for your book club, but my mom said it was fine so-”

“It’s totally okay!” I said, smiling at her. “You’re amazing! I know readers twice your age who can’t even touch your commentary. Your insight into Clara in Once Upon a Midnight was fantastic.”

“Really?” Her face was beaming.

“I can see why your uncle-”

From across the room there was a loud smack. Faye and I turned around to see that Stella had slapped Daniel in the face.

“SNAP OUT OF IT!” She shouted and waddled off the stage towards us.

“What happened?” I asked.

Stella rummaged through her purse, in a distracted manner. “Oh, he’s freaking out about Paige and Faye leaving him. Plus he’s head over heels with some girl he’s falling in love with.”

It was like a lightning bolt went through me. For a moment, I thought I was hovering off the ground. Faye looked away from me, shocked and embarrassed at the same time.

Some girl he’s falling in love with.

I turned, and my eyes locked with Daniel’s. He looked at me in all my garbage cosplay glory and smiled. My throat tightened, and a burst of warmth radiated through me. I smiled back at him, beaming.

I watched Daniel’s posture change. His shoulders pulled back, and his chin raised up ever so slightly.

“Can we try it again, Danny?” the director called out.

Daniel nodded in return. He gave me one last smile before going back to his mark.

“Action!”

Daniel turned his focus to the camera, shifting his position.

“Friends and Allies-”

And there it was. That voice. Rich, deep, and perfect. He prowled around the stage, and I knew I was in for the performance of a lifetime.

“Gather close to me and hear my words. There comes a time in our lives when we must rise above our petty squabbles and fears to face a threat that will consume us all. The forces of the Stygian Abyss seek to claim the soul of my beloved Fiona. They seek to break the pact of Glen Orrin and shroud our world in eternal night. They are gravely mistaken if they think we will let them have our realm without a battle.”