#my sincerest apologies to all you Conrad fans out there
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
sirianasims · 9 months ago
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media
We had dinner at the food stall behind the gallery, talking about everything and nothing. Paul asked about my costumes and I showed him some of my cosplays and even a few original designs on my phone. He could name every single character I’d done, and I was quite thrilled to discover that he was just as much of a geek as I was. I don’t know why I had expected otherwise, considering the kind of roles he played.
Tumblr media
He told me he’d loved comics and superheroes since he was a child, so when the casting call for a live-action Llama Man series went out he had jumped at the chance even though he knew the risk.
And he’d been right. By the time the series ended, he was too established as Llama Man and casting directors were passing him over for more serious roles.
Tumblr media
He didn’t seem to mind that much though. He said that being a lead actor was hard work and he much preferred smaller roles where he could have some more creative input. These days, he mostly worked on Llama Man: The Animated Series and a few other voice acting gigs.
Tumblr media
After the gallery closed, we found ourselves on a bench outside. The night was warm. I didn’t feel like going back to my apartment yet, and Paul didn’t seem to be in any hurry either.
Tumblr media
“Finally, the director told me that if I didn’t get it together, he was going to replace me with an actual llama next season. So, obviously I had to bring a llama for the launch party. He did not appreciate the gesture. Turns out very few llamas are house-trained.”
Our laughter echoed slightly in the empty plaza.
“You know, you remind me a little of my grandfather.”
Tumblr media
“Ouch. You wound me. I’m not even forty, you know.”
“No, I mean, he was an actor as well. Conrad Richards. He loved pranks like that too.”
“Conrad Richards was your grandfather?”
“Well, he married my grandmother, but he was always grandpa Conrad to me.”
Tumblr media
“That’s amazing. I was a big fan of his, actually. I liked how he always seemed to have fun with it, not like those actors who take themselves too seriously.”
Tumblr media
“Yeah, he never took anything seriously. In every memory I have of him, he’s laughing.” My voice wavered slightly. “Sorry, I still miss him a lot.”
“Understandable.”
Paul took my hand.
Tumblr media
“I wish I could tell you that it gets easier, but the truth is, it doesn’t. You just get better at carrying the pain.”
He looked away, seemingly lost in thought.
Tumblr media
“When my father died, my mother told me that grief is just love that no longer has a home. It has nowhere to go. So, what you need to do is give it a new home. Surround yourself with friends and family. Love the ones you have left even harder. It doesn’t make the grief go away, but they will help you carry it.”
He cleared his throat and gave my hand a gentle squeeze before letting go. I immediately missed the warmth.
Tumblr media
“Thank you, Paul. I mean it.”
“You’re welcome. Julia.”
We sat in silence for a moment. Then, he looked at his watch and smiled at me, back to his cheerful self.
Tumblr media
“Sadly, as much as I’d love to, we can’t sit here and chat all night. I have to catch a flight back to the Valley in the morning. So unless you feel like walking me to my hotel to make sure I don’t get lost, we should probably part ways.”
“Sure. Where’s your hotel, then?”
He hesitated, his eyes searching my face.
“ZenView Heights. But -“
Tumblr media
I leapt to my feet. “It’s this way.”
Paul grabbed my wrist and looked at me with a serious expression.
Tumblr media
“Julia, it was a joke. And that’s way too far to walk. Are you really sure about coming back to my hotel?”
I tried to listen for that little voice in my head, the one that was supposed to warn me when I was about to do something stupid, but there was only silence. 
And Paul.
I nodded, slightly surprised at myself. Paul sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
Tumblr media
“I don’t even know what I’m doing any more,” he muttered as we walked to the street to find a taxi.
beginning / previous / next
35 notes · View notes