She had permission to send direct messages to Marcus Caster-Rupp. Because he’d followed her. In reality.
Weeeeeird. Exciting, but weird. Not to mention awkward. So much so that composing her initial message took several minutes.
Uh... hi,she eventually wrote.Nice to meet you, Mr. Caster-Rupp. First of all, and most importantly, thank you for being so kind just now. It was very sweet of you to defend me like that. That said, I want you to know: you don’t have to go through with the dinner. I mean, I’m probably willing if you are, but I don’t want you to feel obligated.
While she waited for a response, she quickly checked the Lavineas server.
With a groan, she flopped back against her headboard. Dammit, BAWN had responded to her earlier messages, and she didn’t have time to answer him right now.
But she had a responsibility to the fandom. If he knew the situation, BAWN would understand.
Still, she wrote him a quick message.Taking care of a few last-minute tasks. Then I’ll be back to chat. Sorry!
By the time she maximized her Twitter window again, Caster-Rupp had written her back.
I don’t feel obligated. You’re obviously very talented at making costumes, and as I said, you’re also quite lovely. I would be proud to take you to dinner. P.S. Please call me Marcus.
Despite her better judgment, she beamed a little at the compliments.
Still, she called bullshit on at least one part of his message.
So this has nothing to do with wanting to spite those dicks in our mentions, Marcus? P.S. I’m April.
His response came almost immediately.I have to admit, I would also be happy to disoblige some of my more obnoxious fanboys.
She frowned.
Disoblige? Whatkind of vapid, pretty-boy actor used a word likedisoblige?
Three blinking dots appeared on the DM screen. He was writing more.
That came out wrong. Sorry. I meant to say, I think this would be good PR for me too. You know, socializing with the fans.
That was more what she’d expected of a man like him. A well-intentioned, good-natured, but ultimately surface-oriented publicity stunt.
That makes sense, she wrote.
More dots, this time blinking for several minutes.
Fair warning, April. If we do go out, it’ll probably end up in the tabloids, or at least a few online blogs. So if you’re protective of your privacy, you might want to turn me down. If so, my feelings won’t be hurt.
She bit her lip.I’ll need a few minutes to decide. Is that okay?
Of course, he answered.Take all the time you need. It’s still morning in Spain, and I’m not flying out until late this afternoon. I’ll be around for a while yet.
Okay, now she was dying to ask him questions about the sixth season and the show’s finale. Obviously he’d been sworn to secrecy, but surely a man that slow on the uptake might let at least one or two details slip?
A new message appeared on the Lavineas server. BAWN, reassuring as always.No worries. I’m dealing with a few unexpected issues myself. Besides, I’ll be around for a while yet.
She huffed out a breath, amused by the way BAWN hadrandomly, inadvertently echoed Marcus, the man whose character BAWN had written about in dozens of fics.
Should she tell him what had just happened?
No. Not yet.
She hadn’t even decided for certain whether she’d accept Marcus’s invitation, and she wasn’t ready for her Lavineas friends to see her in the flesh. Soon, but not now. Not when she had so many other decisions to make and considerations to weigh.
Thanks. I’ll be back soon, she wrote BAWN.
