Page 57 of I Think I’m in Love with an Alien

Stargazer: I’d like to go but I don’t know if I can get the time off.

SquidHead: Definitely down for that!

JazzyPlum: I’ll be on vacation then anyway. I’ll research options for accommodation.

Seeker: I could make it work. Maybe.

FarfromHome: I don’t have anything better to do.

Stargazer: Does anyone else cosplay?

Jeneticist: I do! It’s gonna be epic!

Seeker: Can you provide a link? So we know what to expect? I’ve never heard of this.

Jeneticist: No problem! Here you go.

[link to Space Con website]

JazzyPlum: That’s huge. Much bigger than I expected.

Stargazer: OMG. I’m so hyped. 🚀

SquidHead: Me too. I haven’t done anything like this in years. God, I’m in a boring rut. I don’t even do online RPG sessions anymore.

Jeneticist: You used to play?

SquidHead: Used to GM!

Stargazer: We should totally do some RPG tabletop sessions while we’re there. I was in a gaming group in high school.

FarfromHome: I’ve heard of this. Never done it.

JazzyPlum: I’m interested too.

Seeker: Seems like it would be fun.

Jeneticist: I’m in for the RPG sessions too!

Jeneticist: Looks like Space Con is green for launch. 🛬👽

21

Jennette

The trivia contest is in the shaded pavilion tent where they had autograph sessions yesterday.

Now the tables are dedicated to small groups. There are like twenty of us, all with different team names; we chose Misfit Toys for our squad, and the volunteers have written them all dutifully on the whiteboard. It’s all low-tech and good fun. I crane my neck to see the prizes piled on the tables up front.

“Think we’ll win anything?” I ask quietly.

Poppy shrugs. My money is on Tad for depth and breadth of science fiction lore. He’s a gamer too, so his knowledge won’t be limited to shows. The quizmaster has a cordless mic and they made us listen to them sing the Yub Yub song before deigning to get started. It was kind of adorable in the dorkiest way imaginable.

“Okay, you’ve all been amazing sports. Are you ready to rumble?”

The crowd replies quietly, a murmur of assent. It’s like we think we’re not allowed to get boisterous. But who’s gonna complain?

“I can’t hear you!”