Rosie Goes to See James at DragonCon, Atlanta, Georgia 2008



SATURDAY

I wasn't awake quite so early today – but early enough though, so I went online (God bless wireless – meant I could stay in bed!) and texted and emailed people in between having massive squee attacks because of going to the party later!!

After breakfast, went to join the queue for the TW panel in the Marriott (that is the most amazing hotel!) I was nice and early so was pretty near the front – sat with Patti and Becky and also met Myrlyn from JamesMarstersFans Yahoo group – we got on like a house on fire – great fun – she is such a sweetie! And then I met Linda (also from JMF) and she gave me a lovely gift of a James snow globe she had made! And I thought she was going to be pissed at me cos I was going to try and get her a party ticket – instead she bought me presents! Another complete sweetie – so nice to finally actually meet people I've been talking to online!

As usual, queuing was no hardship – lots of people to talk to and lots of amazing costumes to look at. A whole group of girls turned up dressed up as Torchwood characters – so we had Capt Jack, Ianto, a very pregnant Gwen in wedding dress and Rhys mum in full `vampire' mode!! Hilarious – we had a bit of Jack/Ianto cosplay going on as well – behind a plant and on the floor – and yes I have pictures!!

Things went a bit wrong then – Patti and Myrlyn had gone to the loo when we were allowed into the hall. Becky and I were desperately trying to collect up all the bags (Patti would be carrying 3!) so I ended up with 2 handfuls and in the stampede for seats I kept dropping them and everyone was zooming past me. Somehow, I managed to get on one in from the aisle on the third row (still not quite sure how Patti ended up in the front!) But it was a good seat and James was going to be sat on my side and I had a great view – as the seat on the aisle was reserved for disabled (I can't get used to the way Americans call the disabled "handicapped" – so politically incorrect to us Brits!) I had no one sitting next to me so I could spread out a bit. Becky asked them to move the water jugs that were on the table to one side so they wouldn't obscure the photos, which was great!

On came the boys – James was wearing his lovely black striped shirt he wore for the PSILY premiere and looking gorgeous as ever – he was sat on my side, Gareth in the middle and Anthony on the other end. They did the first half of the panel with the boys being asked questions by the Brit track director. They had pleaded with us at the beginning to keep it clean and PG rated – pre watershed – though there was a bit of booing as TW is definitely post watershed – but anyway it didn't last long once the interviewer asked them what their favourite swear words were…!

The panel has been reported elsewhere, but I'll put in some of my memories of it. They were asked about their music preferences and styles as they all play and sing in bands or alone. Asked their favourite colours (Gareth – black, James – green, which we knew – colour of the earth) and then it was favourite swear word. Interviewer said " you are legitimately allowed to swear now" James likes "Fuck" best cos its nice and punchy and how can something that describes something so pleasurable be bad?? Also said he used "idiot" a lot. Gareth liked Fuck too, but said he was rather fond of "Fanny nuggets" – which had most of the Brits in the audience cracking up but I think went over the heads of a lot of people (fanny being much ruder in UK than in US) Anthony said he liked "Shite" which went off into a discussion about how Americans don't say shite, though Anthony had had someone say it to him that morning. James said he had never heard an American say it and it sounded totally wrong!

Gareth and James discussed their night out in Wales last year when James was over filming TW – James said he loved Newport which is Gareth's hometown and Gareth said he must be "the only person who ever has" and then felt a bit guilty about dissing his home town " But James Marsters – Spike from Buffy – loves it" Said it was a great night – they went to the local pub and ended up pissing against the wall of the Courthouse – a normal night out in Newport! James said he couldn't get used to Gareth's mates all calling each other names and constantly insulting each other and taking the piss– and thought he was going to be in a fight. Then he realised that's how the British guys tend to communicate – in friendly insults!

There was a lot of talk about John Barrowman and his various ways – Gareth complained that when they did the scene with them having sex, they put a load of make up shading on John's body to give him defined six pack whilst he had none at all! And James was talking about the scene in KKBB when he was unloading all the weapons onto the tray – apparently in homage to Capt Jack in Dr Who when he pulled a gun when he was naked, James made out he pulled a gun from his arse – but they cut it! They didn't cut the reaction of Capt Jack though – him holding the gun with the tips of his fingers and looking disgusted!! And the glorious reaction from Ianto to the orgy idea when he seems to think about it for a second was entirely Gareth's idea…!

They talked about the internet and their views on how to deal with all the stuff that appears about them – we know James thinks its poison to the soul – but Gareth was saying it can go the other way too – he was telling about seeing an alternative commentary on "Cyber Woman" which was just saying how shit Gareth was. He thought it was funny, but he said he could easily have been dragged down by it. There was another comment he saw somewhere about the biggest pair of tits seen on Torchwood were when Ianto and Owen were on screen…

Asked about injuries when doing on screen fighting – James said its never the big fights that cause the trouble, it's the little things – the big kiss/fight scene in KKBB – the stuntmen only got in about 3 times – he and John had a ball doing that – James dragging John through the line of glasses etc – and neither of them had a scratch on afterwards. Then later, when he was handcuffed to Eve and she had to pull him out of the TW car (which is apparently the most uncomfortable car EVER!) on one take, his foot got caught and he ended up going face down on the pavement and knocking a tooth out! Ouch!

That's most of what I can remember. James and Gareth together are so funny – wish they had been allowed to stand up talk – much more interaction - would have been really special.

After that – I had lunch with Stephen and Squirrel (a cheeseburger sitting on the steps of the Marriott!) and then went back to the hotel to drop things off. I had thought about not bothering to get autographs with James today because it would be so crowded, but decided I would because after all, it's more about getting to talk with James than the autographs. So I toddled off to the Hilton and joined the queue. I had 2 pictures for James to sign – one of me with James form Milton Keynes and a black and white one I took of James doing the mini gig at MK. Realised James WASN'T wearing the lovely black shirt now – he had changed into the black muscle shirt – not that I'm complaining about seeing his biceps (yum!) – but was a bit disappointed. I did video the conversation we had– only so I can remember what was said after or I can't remember a thing through the James fog!!

I said Hi again and straight away told him that the black and white picture was one I had taken at MK – James said oh yeah, he remembered – after he had had to really pick himself off the floor to do that gig. I just said yes, because I knew he wasn't having a good time at MK but it was obviously a lot worse than we realised. But then he said – then I went off to London for all the auditions of Moonshot so it really picked up for him. Then I had to get him to sign the pic of us together at the bottom – signing across me! I said I look so happy in that picture He grinned at it and said I looked fabulous – I told him I was so happy that day!

Told him about trying to make a Chocolate Jesus for him – James was laughing and asked if I had tried to carve it, said no, it was a mould and moulding chocolate does not work! I had to eat them - so I brought him some English lollipops instead!! I asked if he would sing Chocolate Jesus at the party and he said he only had half an hour, so he'd see – I said " oh, go on!" cos I love it. Said I would see him at the photo ops in a bit and shook hands as usual with me grinning like an idiot, and I got the long lingering look – when James keeps looking at you as you leave – lovely!

So I went out to queue for pictures and was fairly near the front. I loved doing pictures here as you can see all the pictures being done in front and it can be really fun! I kept going through my head, remembering what poses I wanted to ask for – still didn't work that well – cos I forgot half of them again! Shook hands again and straight away asked for the "Gone with the Wind" pose – James tipping me backwards. I remember Froggy saying "You have to bend you know!" (My back doesn't like bending that way at all after all my problems!) Then I asked for profile and would he put his hand on my face. James actually put both hands up and is holding my face on both sides – I have my hand on his shoulder – it looks like he is either going to kiss me or rip my head off! The other two ended up being cuddly ones – one is lovely – James is doing a gorgeous Spike smirk! It was all over far too quickly as usual – but lovely as ever – James was so good – still quite happy to do all the poses being asked.

I got them back a bit later – as ever Froggy takes the most gorgeous pictures, such good quality. And they are good – I look good which is great – Its very rare that James doesn't look 110% in any of his pictures! I also bought an op for tomorrow with both James and Gareth – I'm gonna be the filling it that sandwich!!

And then it was time to go back to the hotel to beautify myself for the party. I was having major panics about what to wear – wasn't sure if the linen trousers and black lace up top were good enough – had severe doubts – well, it was the most important of dates! Made such a fuss when normally I don't bother – made sure I had my ticket and camera and I was good to go. I was sharing a taxi with Steve and Squirrel, although it wasn't far to Max Lagers Squirrel is on crutches at the moment. So I walked down a block to meet them at their hotel…..

Party report to come in a bit.....

Rosie xx