"I think....I may have had too much to drink" said a very woozy Barbara Dubois. She and her boyfriend, Jeremy Saint, had just staggered home from a party at their friend's house. Even though the party was just at the end of their very short street, the tipsy journey home seemed like an epic. Barbara could hardly stand on her feet....the problem was that she got the measurements for the punch recipe wrong and too much vodka had ended up in it. Everyone who was there was feeling worse for wear...everyone except John Action, their policeman friend, who seemed none the worse for wear.
Jeremy and Barbara helped each other up the porch steps, open the door and stumble to the bedroom.
"Oh Jeremy, I know we agreed to have a little fun time on our own this evening but I'm really feeling too tired and...well....out of it" said Barbara.
"I've got to give a presentation tomorrow and I know I'm going to have a thumping hangover" said Jeremy. "Let's take a rain cheque on that fun time"
They managed to take off their shoes and boots, Barbara her skirt but they didn't bother to finish changing before crashing out in their bed. The next morning, Jeremy hit the showers early whilst Barbara made the most simple of breakfasts. Both of them had hangovers. As they sat down to eat Jeremy asked Barbara if she was working as well today.
"I looked at my roster and I'm not on today...thank goodness. It's a shame you haven't got a day off as well; are you feeling well enough to go in?" she said.
"I can't justify not going in when all I have is a headache. I'll be fine...I've already got my notes and after a few cups of Dewey, Cheathem & Howe's worst caffeinated sludge I should be good to go. What will you do?"
"I don't know yet...I've got some ideas of what I'd like to do long term...I can't see myself at Hamburgerman for long; I need something more challenging and rewarding. Today, however, I will probably visit some of my old haunts down in San Myshuno"
And so it was that Barbara headed to the bright lights of the big city centre but when she got there she wasn't prepared for what she saw. There were crowds of people all gathered around some kind of open air exhibition, many of them dressed in costume. "What is going on here?" As she drew closer, intrigued by what she saw, she could hear music coming over some speakers.
"Duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh!
Llama Man!
Llama Man!
Does whatever a Llama can
He can bleat
He can trot
Got everything that a llama's got
Look out!
Here comes Llama Man!"
"Llama Man?" said a confused Barbara, but all around she could see big posters for some kind of TV show called Llama Man, banners with "GO LLAMA MAN!" written on them in big, colourful lettering and people dressed in superhero costumes based on the motif of a Llama.
Barbara had to take a seat and wonder at this character, who seemed very popular judging by the size of the crowd. A woman sat next to her...but she was wearing a Llama Man costume.
"Phew! This place is really swinging today? I have to take a break; this headgear is VERY hot to wear!" said the woman.
"Don't tell me...you've come dressed as Llama Man?" said Barbara, introducing herself.
"Llama Man? No! I'm dressed as Llama Girl!" said the woman, indignantly.
"There's a Llama Girl as well?" asked Barbara.
"Of course; she's Llama Man's sidekick. Have you never seen the show?"
"No...I didn't know it existed"
"Oh you must watch it! It's only the number one rated TV show in Sim Nation! This is a special convention for the fans...the first one of its kind."
"I see...so do you play Llama Man in the show?"
"No, I'm a dedicated fan...the real Llama Man, that is actor Tab Strong, will be along later to sign autographs and speak with the fans. I'm part of the fan club and we members have come dressed as some of the characters. So I'm Llama Girl, over there we have The Poker, The Cormorant, Diddly D and Feline Fatale."
"And who are they?" asked Barbara, still none the wiser.
"The villains of the show, of course! You really must watch it"
After chatting to this fan of the show, Barbara took a look around this convention. One of the biggest, most impressive exhibits there was a massive rocket engine. She wondered if it was from the Llama Man TV show but a sign, plus a voiceover from a speaker, indicated it wasn't.
"SPACE...THE MOON...MAN'S DREAM OF CONQUEST..." went the voice recording. "If WE ARE GOING TO GET TO THE MOON, MARS AND VENUS IT WILL DEPEND ON NEW, POWERFUL ROCKET ENGINES SUCH AS THESE..."
A young man was looking excitedly at this rocket engine. "Wow! That's so awesome!" he said, turning to face Barbara. Once he saw her, his face turned white and suddenly he started mumbling. "Fnargh laghargle blahrgh flargh mwagh". He couldn't bear to look at her any longer and soon ran off. She wondered what his problem was.
The weirdness continued when she went to get something to eat from one of the vendors. As seating was limited, she asked to sit at the same table as someone else, a young man, and he could barely speak to her before he mumbled and ran off.
"Allow me to explain" said a deep, resonant voice from behind her. Barbara turned around to see a well built man and curvaceous young woman both wearing Llama superhero outfits standing behind her.
"You see, young lady" said the man. "These are fans of science fiction and comic books...commonly known as 'nerds'. They often have difficulty relating to attractive young women such as yourself."
"Oh I see...that's funny because I often think I'm a nerd too." Replied Barbara. "I'm into all kinds of things people don't think are trendy. I must say your costumes look very authentic"
"That's because they are genuine costumes from the show. Allow me to introduce myself: My name is Tab Strong, I play Llama Man on the show. This is my co-star, Raquel Furnish." The woman waved to Barbara but said nothing. "I hope you enjoy the show" said Tab Strong.
"I've never seen it before, in fact I didn't know it existed until today" replied Barbara.
"WHAT?" said Tab. "Well, here, have this signed photo of Raquel and myself...compliments of Llama Man and Llama Girl. Remember, Llama Man is on every 8pm, Wednesday evening on SBC 12." and with that he handed over the photo to her.
Once the event was over, Barbara made her way home...still processing what she'd experienced. An entire exhibition and convention based around a single fantasy and science fiction TV show? It seemed a preposterous idea and she wondered if the idea would ever catch on. Once home she could catch up with Jeremy, who had just got back.
"Hey there, sweetheart" he said, as she entered the house. "Did you head off into town?"
"Yes...there was some strange kind of show there; all about this crazy TV show called Llama Man. I met the stars of it and they gave me a signed photo..." she said, showing him the picture of the two actors in costume.
"You got a signed photo of Llama Man and Llama Girl! No way!" said an excited Jeremy, barely able to contain himself.
"What? You know this show?" she asked, shaking her head.
"I never miss an episode!" said Jeremy. "Wow...you met Tab Strong and Raquel Furnish! Tell me, what's she like in real life?"
"Oh so you like Raquel Furnish do you?" said Barbara, looking cross at him.
"Oops...sorry. I mean, she's a fine actress but nowhere near as beautiful and as lovely as you, of course"
"That's better" said Barbara, smiling again.
Later on, as they retired to bed Barbara remembered something "Jeremy...how's your hangover?"
"Oh that...it's gone, I'm fine now" he said. "And yours?"
"Gone as well....I did promise you a treat last night, I'd like to keep it"
"Oh what did you have in mind?" said an inquisitive Jeremy.
"Why not come to bed and find out?" said a coquettish Barbara.
