I went to WonderCon for the first time this year. It was amazing and I will go again. But here's the thing. I walked down the aisle with the actors and was completely uncomfortable. I do not want to ever do that again. I just prefer my actors playing characters on tv. I learned with this trip I don't want to meet them up close and personal. It's the motts for me. [hopefully I used that right]

On the other hand, meeting and talking to authors and visual artists? Extraordinary.

My own experience aside, I'm still completely fascinated by the cons and wish to understand what makes one show click in that fannish way while another seemingly ideal candidate does not.

Smallville? BSG? The Stargates NSM. Firefly has been pretty large, but only post-airing. Was due South a late adapter's darling, as well? Farscape was small. X-Files, maybe?

I love this. It's not a coda, it's an outtake, a deleted scene.

Beverly that was hurty and lovely at the same time. Perfect.

Can't you just see him straightening Sam's collar, tugging his sleeves even, brushing off the front of his jacket--hands busy while he's talking, just like when Sam was eleven, and not even knowing he was doing it? Or just wanting his hands touching Sam while he could and this was a way without wrecking either of them.

The brotherly advice about HELL. Oh Dean, Oh Sammy.

I learned with this trip I don't want to meet them up close and personal.

What does that for you?

I've mostly had positive encounters with the actors that I've met, though those were in random situations. It's irritating when one's a dick and you can't forget that when watching them work, but you run the risk of learning that of any role on the show.

It's not a coda, it's an outtake, a deleted scene.

Boys! Though I do wonder--is Michael just roaming around hell, was Lucifer just roaming hell before, or is there somewhere in particular they'd be confined to? Would Sam have any autonomy? Hrrm.

Man, it's going to be a long few months. I hope to find a bunch of fic to fill it up with that radiates with the sort of love I got from the finale--even if they're hurty fics.

Well it makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Dean has 40 years' worth of experience and he wouldn't let his little brother walk into that completely unprepared.

What does that for you?

I should amend that to say I don't want to meet them up close and personal in that context.

The friend I was with had no such problem and was astounded by my reaction. I was a little too honestly. It was visceral. I couldn't get out of that aisle fast enough.

I think the primary problem is my own introversion. The awkwardness (for me) was extreme. It's not unlike going to a party and having to dredge up small talk. I'm terrible at it.

On the other hand, if I have some kind of conversational purpose that awkwardness is often stripped away. I attended with a children's librarian and our discussions with the writers etc. were very much driven by her interests. I found myself engaging as well with passion for the topic.

I think if I met Jim Beaver on a plane, for instance. I'd want to talk about our shared experience with loved ones who have died from lung cancer. I could probably find lot's of topics that I'd want to talk about with him.

It's not that the actors themselves are not interesting, I'm sure they all are. It's just for me, it isn't enough that I'm a fan of the character they play to get me past that initial awkwardness.

Also, at WonderCon, many actors were staring into space, trapped at a table, clearly wishing they were elsewhere.

Also, at WonderCon, many actors were staring into space, trapped at a table, clearly wishing they were elsewhere.

In my opinion, that's bad form. If you're an actor appearing at a convention, you need to act like you're not bored out of your mind or wishing you were elsewhere.

I loved going to ComicCon last year. I wish we could go again this year, because the random celebrity-spotting at breakfast was fantastic.