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LANCE’S FIRST CONVENTION: AGE 19
19-year-old Lance was new to this game. He’d been doing YouTube for two years and earned himself a small but loyal fanbase. He decided that this convention would be the best thing ever. Sure, he’d technically never been to a convention before, but it couldn’t be that difficult to manage, right?
He was wrong. Lance rushed into the convention centre, ten minutes late, slushie in one hand and phone in the other, and promptly got lost.
Of course, his perfectly reasonable conclusion was to find the nearest youtuber and ask them where the fuck he was supposed to be going. He scanned the hall, filled with excited teenagers and bored-looking security guards. He grew more anxious as he couldn’t spot anyone wearing a pass the same as his.
He spun around with the intent of just leaving, before this could get any worse, and slammed directly into a woman. His slushie and phone both went flying.
Lance heard the surprised yelp of the woman he’d just walked into but ignored her in favour of diving for his phone. He checked the screen and saw with a sinking heart that the screen was shattered.
“Fucking hell.” He moaned into the floor.
“You can say that again.” A woman’s voice replied, laced with amusement. Lance sprung to his feet and found himself eye-to-eye with a rather beautiful woman. A beautiful woman who’s cloud of white hair was dripping with blue raspberry slushie. She watched him fumble for a moment, one eyebrow raised.
“Uh… I’m really sorry.” Lance began. He looked her up and down and recognised her creator’s pass. He flushed even redder. ‘Jesus fuck, I’m a disaster.”
“Seems so.” The woman said, corners of her lips twitching. Lance hesitated, before sticking out his hand.
“Lance. Uh, McClain. I make youtube videos?” He said, wanting nothing more than to go home and hide under his duvet. To his surprise, she took his hand and shook it amicably.
“Allura Altea. I also make youtube videos.” She said. “I confess I came over here to ask you for help. I’m lost?”
Lance couldn’t fight back a laugh anymore. She seemed surprised as the gangly man in front of her dissolved into choked laughter.
“Sorry. I’m lost as well.” He said. “I’m lost, and I threw my slushie all over you, I broke my phone, and I have no clue what I’m doing.” He laughed again, and this time Allura joined in.
“Okay.” He said, once they’d calmed a little. “Let’s ask security for help.”
They wove through the crowd, Lance picking up on how star-struck people became when Allura walked past. He thought nothing of it, though, other than assuming she was probably just more famous than he was.
“Kolivan?” Allura said, tapping an intimidating-looking security guard on the shoulder. “We were wondering where we’re supposed to go?” The tall man’s expression didn’t change, but he held up a finger to them.
He walked off, leaving Allura to stand looking graceful and Lance to fidget awkwardly with the hem of his jacket. Kolivan returned a moment later with a young man.
“This is Keith. He was supposed to meet you at the entrance. He’ll take you to the creator’s area.” Kolivan said. Keith waved sarcastically, shoulder-length black hair falling in his face. Lance raised an eyebrow at the man, who flipped him off.
“Nice to meet you, Keith. I’m Allura.” Allura said with a smile. Keith nodded and gave her a small, forced smile. Lance just stared.
“Allura, Lance, follow me.” He sighed and took off through the crowd. The two youtubers followed at a slightly slower pace, relieved to finally know where they’re going. When they arrived, Allura turned to keith with a shy smile.
“Do you know where the bathrooms are. I need to clean…” She gestured to the blue liquid still dripping down her hair and shirt. Keith glanced at Lance again, amused, and Lance buried his face in his hands. The dark-haired man pointed Allura in the direction of the women’s toilets, watched her leave, and folded his arms.
“Fancy seeing you here, McClain.” The boy said with a smirk. Lance didn’t look up.
“Shut up, Keith, I’m literally dying over here.” He said.
“You haven’t changed, have you.” Keith laughed. “Still the same adorable mess.”
“Sorry, what?” Lance finally looked up from his hands. Keith blushed and cleared his throat.
“Nothing. So, how’s life for you?” He said.
“Eh. Trying to survive at Garrison Uni with my youtube career at the same time. Got dumped recently. You?” Lance said.
“I’m not sure. I want to do Physics, but the way I’m going I’ll end up as a high school teacher. I’ve been working with Kolivan and Antok doing security, so I can pay rent. My brother got me this job, so I should probably thank him, but I hate it.” Keith lent against the wall. “Had a load of weird family issues. Turns out Kolivan knew my mom. My life is a mess.”
Lance looked at him with surprised eyes. He hadn’t seen Keith since they were fourteen, rivals in class, and always arguing. He was surprised to see that the boy wasn’t as standoffish as he had been years before. He seemed… friendly. “Wow, I was a dick in school.” Lance said, mostly to himself. Keith grinned.
“We both were. Fresh start?” He held out his hand, and Lance shook it. “Now, you should probably apologise to the princess that you spilt slushie all over.”
“She’s a princess?!”