rugbytackle | Reunion (or there and back again)

This is a little ficlet I guess - not a drabble, but not enough for a fiction.
It is just a piece of whimsey I scribbled at about 5am in the Duxton Hotel in Wellington. I had just been to the exhibition opening, met Viggo and had the poetry reading later that day. I couldn't sleep!
It has been sitting on my computer since then.
I wasn't planning on posting it, but

owlgrey said I should.

FICLET: Reunion (or there and back again)
AUTHOR: Widdershin
RATING: G
PAIRING: SB/VM
ARCHIVE:

rugbytackling
FEEDBACK: Please!!! Cos I’m still learning!
WARNINGS: None
DISCLAIMER: This story is not 100% fiction, about 25%? There was an exhibition opening, Viggo did look nervous, Billy was late and Ian did have to leave – however, Sean wasn’t in Wellington (sob!). The author doesn't know these people. Unfortunately.
SUMMARY: Ian McKellen muses at the opening of Viggo’s exhibition at Massey University, 28/11/03.

There and back again…ah yes, that is how Bilbo Baggins phrased it. It has indeed been a long journey. Now we have come full circle, but are all changed in some way by the experience.

This marks the beginning of the end of the trilogy of ‘Those Films’. In three days we will all be paraded through the streets of Wellington to give our thanks to this glorious little city and deliver the final chapter. But for many of us the meeting will not be on the red carpet, it will be tonight at the opening of Viggo’s exhibition.

I can only stay a short while as this ‘old queer’ is guest of honour at a Gay and Lesbian gathering at Premier House. It is odd that I am considered a role model when it took me 49 years to ‘come out’. Interesting anomaly when you consider that ‘Rings’ has been described as the gayest cast ever. Not surprising, I suppose, when you consider all the beautiful young, and not so young, men. But ahhh…looks can be deceiving. There was many a young lady wooed in Wellington during the long months of production. That is not to say that we were all on the ‘straight and narrow’, indeed not!

Good the ceremony is beginning. They are leading Viggo to the small platform while a Maori welcome is sung. Poor boy looks rather uncomfortable. Strange that someone who chooses our profession is so uncomfortable amidst all this adulation…at least he has shoes on tonight.

Damn, time is getting away from me and I must leave soon, but I need to see the reunion.

To the uninitiated, Viggo is sitting still totally engrossed in the speeches, but his eyes give him away to those who know him well. He is stealing glances, searching the assembled faces. Not within his sight. Be calm dear boy…he will be here.

Something has caught his eye…blast, it’s only Billy copping a swipe across the head from Bernard for being ‘fashionably’ late. Not sure about the blonde tips Billy, but black is your colour.

Pete’s joke about Viggo’s photographs being out of focus and his need for a tripod makes him laugh, but it is obvious he is getting a bit agitated as he gets up to the microphone. With feather and crumpled paper in hand, he faces his audience …

There! That’s it, I know that look. Viggo has seen him. He can’t stop grinning and has to take a breath to calm himself as he begins the Maori song…Damn! I really have to go now. There is no way I can catch Viggo’s gaze to bid him farewell. Not to worry.

There he is, leaning against the back wall with that smile and an unmistakeable look of pride in his eyes.

“I have to leave…give my love to Viggo, Sean.”