Tumblr of Thrones

This is the story of how my plan to meet Jason Momoa went horrendously wrong and how Guinness became my favorite beer.

serj-tankian:

Bear with me as the first few paragraphs are setting up the story. This account is long and depressing but it has a happy ending, I promise~
So Thursday, the only day I managed to get a ticket for Comic-Con, was the day of the Game of Thrones panel and the Game of Thrones signing. Unfortunately, it basically came down to one or the other. By choosing to wait 6 hours for an amazing seat at the panel, I screwed myself out of going to the signing (which Jason was absent for anyway.) No need for me to retell panel details, you can find that on Youtube. Feeling unsatisfied by the fact that I didn’t get to meet him or tell him how brilliant I think he is, I drew up elaborate schemes to sneak in on Friday for the Conan the Barbarian signing. All of which seemed to be falling apart.

One day and huge pity party later, I found a way into the convention center thanks to my most gracious and generous and amazing friend, Missa. I spend 2 hours getting ready, head to the convention center, get the ticket for the signing from Missa and off to the Liongate booth I went with her Comic-con badge by 4:30. The signing went from 5-6pm and then Jason would be a hosting a Conan event at a bar near the convention center from 7-9pm. My plan was set: Meet him at the signing, Rush over to Bub’s after 6, arrive by 6:10 and secure an amazing spot to watch Jason host the event.


After a grueling 20 minutes trying to find the end of a horribly disorganized line, I finally found my place among the other people lucky enough to acquire one of the Conan signing tickets. The line kinda wrapped around itself around the Lionsgate booth (very bad idea). The inner part of the line were the people who were there much earlier, I was on the outer part with the people who lined up later. But I was close to where Jason Momoa would be signing. I spend the remainder of the time befriending the people around me.

When 5pm finally rolled around, I saw Jason take his seat with two other cast members and begin signing at the front of the booth. I couldn’t believe the work of living art I was beholding with my two eyes. He was so gorgeous, his green eyes much more striking than any film could capture, his hair in a bun. He smiled honestly at everyone and asked what they’d like to be signed on their poster. He was even kind enough to take photos with people even though his publicist had not wanted him to. I shed a few tears every so often when i felt too overwhelmed that I only stood a few feet away from him. I passed him up as the line kept moving, but not before taking a few awesome photos of him.


My part of the line moved around to the side of the booth where I couldn’t see him anymore. I wondered to myself how they were going to get through all the people at the rate we were going. The line moved super slow. It was nearing 6pm by then, which was supposed to be the end of the signing. As I pondered over it, I looked to my left and saw him standing there, trying to exit the booth from the side. And holy Jesus, he was fucking tall. I staggered in place, completely unprepared to see standing at such close proximity. I immediately start shrieking. OKAY, SO ACCORDING TO A COUPLE PEOPLE IN LINE NEXT TO ME, HE SAID “HI” TO ME AS HE PASSED BY (but I wasn’t aware of this since I was busy freaking out) and then he walked off to wherever. As he was walking away I reached out and brushed my hand over his shoulder blade. So firm ugh asjhashjsaadj. And I proceed to cry again (this account has lots of me crying). The girls I befriended patted me on the back and calmed me. The Elite’s working there said he went to take a bathroom break.

Not even a couple minutes later, some other guy working nearby comes to us and says that Jason won’t be returning. That he was leaving. The people in line around looked around at each other, confused and bewildered. The guy assures us that there’s no point in staying and that he’d had no reason to lie to us. And then he vanishes. And that’s when I have full blown breakdown #1. I start crying once, really hard, overcome with a tital wave of disappoint. Turns out, the guy was just a huge asshole. Jason ended up coming back and resuming the signing.

Another small chunk of time passes, the line moves a little and it’s about 6:30 (a half hour longer than the signing was supposed to go on for). At that point I was at the back on the booth and only had to get around one more side to finally have my turn to see Jason. But then, without warning, Jason leaves the booth again followed by a couple of security. A few minutes later, the Elites tell us the signing is over and to clear the area. We remained in line, confused that they would send us away when they’d assured us that our tickets GUARANTEED we would have the chance to meet him. But he’d actually left this time. The reality of it dawned on us when the other two cast members at the signing were led away as well. And I proceed to have full blown breakdown #2, worlds more devastating than the first and the most gut wrenchingly pathetic thing I’m sure all of San Diego Comic-Con has ever seen. I sobbed, my face twisted with anguish, realizing that my one chance at getting to meet the love of my life had been crushed. Lionsgate booth workers tried to appease us by still giving us the unsigned posters with the addition of a Conan tshirt. I snatched them away bitterly, crying uncontrollably. And as I clutched those things, feeling like they’d cheated me, I fell to my knees before that exhibit hall and started wailing at the top of my lungs, without an ounce of shame to my name. Hundreds of passerbyers eyed me with confusion and alarm. Some stopped to ask me if I was okay and why I was crying. One of the friends I’d made in line took my arm into hers, helped me out of the exhibit hall and did everything she could to console me while the other went off to complain.

My two new friends and Lionsgate, moved by my show of emotion (to put it lightly), arranged for me to be sent a courtesy package with autographed stuff in it. A Lionsgate worker took my name and email and apologized profusely for the turn of events, and urged me to go the Bub’s, the bar where Jason Momoa was having his Conan event. He told me there was no way to ensure I could meet him but he wished me luck. I, still tear stained and upset, managed to choke out a ‘thank you’ and I made my way.

It was 15 minutes after 7 by the time I arrived at Bub’s. Missa ended up not joining me there since she had no ID. So I was alone, trying to contain my despair in solitude. When I got in I was relieved to find that there were still available tables at the bar. I was anticipating a full house. To my surprise, Jason had not arrived yet. I was seated, opposite of the side of the bar that was roped off (presumably for Jason) and waited. I waited over a beer and some tater tots. The beer was Guinness, to be exact, in honor of him. I figured it was appropriate since the event was focused around his big screen debut. Guinness is his favorite beer after all.

15 minute passed. A half hour passed. No Jason. An hour passes. Still no Jason. The women at the bar near me started chattering about when ‘the Conan guy’ was supposed to arrive. By 8pm I was numb, cold, bored, lonely and my phone was on the verge of the death. My first beer was gone and my tater tots had gotten unappetizingly cold. By 8:30 I asked one of the waitresses when Jason was supposed to show up. They responded “Any time. You know how celebrities are. They want to be fashionably late.” I slipped further into despair. With only half an hour left in the event, I doubted that he would show up at all. I wondered why it was that he couldn’t finish the Conan signing if it wasn’t so that he could make it to Bub’s in time. Bub’s was only a few minutes away from the convention center. It took all my self control to swallow my tears. I decided I’d leave if he didn’t show by 9.

When rolled around 8:45, he finally arrived. A crowd formed around where they’d sectioned off a corner of the bar for him. He was a head higher than half the people in the bar. A woman at the bar looked at me and exclaimed “There he is, go over there!” I hopped down from my bar stool and dashed to the other side to get a few more photos of him. At least, I attempted to. Three strides into my dash, I slip on the peanut shell covered + alcohol slicked floor and eat shit in front of half of Bub’s. Landed on my elbow with almost all my weight. My best friend necklace broke as well. Embarrassing. People asked if I was okay. I gave them a defeated and humiliated nod as I rose, and I staggered to where the crowd was, feeling like a complete shit head. I wondered how much worse the day could get.

Jason opened with a little spiel about Game of Thrones and growled some more Dothraki gibberish. He seems to get a kick out of doing that. It was too cute.
They then started Conan trivia, correct answers meriting prizes and chance to meet Jason. I groaned inwardly, feeling hopeless, knowing I had not a single shred of Conan knowledge. The only reason I was interested in the film was quite obvious. The first girl to answer a question got it wrong and they chased her away. I payed no heed, as I felt the only thing left for me to do there was to play paparazzi.


And then he asks “What is the Barbarian’s favorite beer?” with a devious grin on his face. And then a flicker of hope ignited in me.
”GUINNESS!” I yelled from behind a cluster of people.
His eyes searched the crowd near where stood with obvious surprise, seeking out the source of the answer. I yelled “Guinness!” again with a small hop. He spotted me, smiled and said “Come up!” I shrieked. I couldn’t believe the words I was hearing. I all but shoved my way past the people in front of me and ducked under the rope, squealing, tears welling up in my eyes. He laughed at me as I approached him, seeing the emotion written all over my face, and he opened his arms and took me into a hug. A good long hug. Can I just say that having my face pressed into his chest was the most amazing feeling ever. EVER. It wasn’t one of those polite, delicate celebrity hugs either. It was strong and protective. He even rocked me a little. /dying/

When he let me go he asked me if I wanted a Conan t-shirt. I replied that I’d already received one but would not refuse another, my voice shaking. Then they gave me another trivia question “What year was the original Conan story created?” or something to that effect. I had no idea. When I hesitated, Jason stood right over me, locked his eyes with mine and continuously asked me “Which year?” face getting closer each time he asked. He towered over me, despite the fact that I’m not very short. I had to turn my head up to address him. His height was overwhelming.

The announcer said he’d settle for a decade. I just sat there staring wide-eyed back at Jason, clasping my hands over my face in embarrassment as he looked me down with a dangerously amused expression. The crowd started blaring out answers for me. I guess announcer took pity on me, said “19-…” and put up three fingers. “1930!” I answered triumphantly, as false as that triumph was. They gave my second t-shirt which I gratefully accepted.

It was then that Jason leaned down over me, turned his head slightly to the left and said in that lusciously gruff voice of his “Give me a kiss.”
AHGSAHJGSHAGDJSAHGDJSGDJAGJSAGDADGAJHGDJAGDJHGJ. I STILL CAN’T BELEIVE THIS HAPPENED. I gave him a kiss on the cheek (close to his mouth omfg).
I KISSED JASON MOMOA. MY LIFE IS FUCKING COMPLETE FOREVER AND EVER.
I will never forget the bristle of his facial hair on my lips for as long as I live /sobbing

I, being the opportunist that I am, stayed close to him and asked him if he’d mind taking a photo with me, despite being nervous about requesting anything else of him when he had other people to entertain. He more than happily complied. My picture with him is so cute even thought I look like a hot mess.


And then I start gushing to him about how much I love and adore him and how he’s flawless in all his roles. He looked touched. He gave me the sweetest smile and thanked me. I begin shrieking in delight as his guards start to usher me away from him.

He announced that his mother was present. I unknowingly found myself drifting towards their table, squealing and about to cry yet again. The two women sitting there gave me half concerned half amused looks and asked if I was alright. I told them I was fine and they encouraged me to keep watching Jason. I asked them what their names were and offered my hand for them to shake. I can’t remember for  the life of me what their names were but I was stunned when one said “I work with the Jason” and the other “I’m Jason’s mother.” Holy fuck Jason Momoa’s own fambam. I thanked Jason’s mom for birthing such a perfect human being and that he’s my favorite actor. She smiled and thanked me and encouraged me again to go ahead and enjoy Jason being there. I did just that. She was so nice.

More trivia questions are asked which I have no answers to. I took the time to straighten myself up a little and try to retain any little shred of dignity I had left. Then he starts taking photos with people and autographing things. I respectfully wait for everyone to have their chance with him before I work up the nerve to approach him again. And I ask him to autograph the unsigned poster I had from earlier. I felt it was the only way to completely and totally erase the horrible memory of my emotional breakdown after the signing. Once again, he eagerly complies. He asked me to help him hold up the oversized poster of him as he signed it. I thanked him again and he turned his attention to other company.

And finally, my night was complete. I had everything I could have ever wanted from Jason. An autograph, a photo with him, a chance to tell him I love. I would have been more than content with one of the three. And I got to hug him, kiss him and meet his mom on top of that. The tears I shed, worth it a million times over. The blackened elbow injury, broken necklace and humiliation? Still worth it.

Jason was unbelievably kind, thoughtful, sweet, amazing, hot, flawless perfection.

I admired him at a distance to keep him from thinking I was a super creeper until he left at 9:30 with his mother and his staff and disappeared into the streets of downtown. And then I left, telling myself not to go after him. There was no need, he wasn’t some illusive k-pop star after all.

I went to the Omni hotel to charge my phone. There was a show fireworks after I settled down and started looking through my photos. It was a happy moment.  After I charged my phone I want to another place to meet up with friends. The minute I arrived, I ordered myself a Guinness and gulped it down. And I loved every minute of it.