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"In the wilds of One Direction fandom, a rare creature lurks \u2014 adult Directioners. \nYes, One Direction typically appeals to a younger crowd. Anyone over the age of 20 professing their love of Harry, Liam, Niall, Louis and Zayn confront looks of confusion. Or worse, the patronizing head nod.\nAmongst the throngs of screaming, selfie-snapping, braces-faced teens, two brave adults lead a movement towards acceptance of older fans jamming to \"Story of My Life\" and debating the group's hair style evolution. Comedians D\u2019Arcy Carden and Brandon Scott Jones proudly, even fiercely, count themselves within the adults boarding the One Direction bandwagon. \nSee also: 15 Absurd Craigslist Missed Connections\nCarden first uncovered her fondness for the British boy band in April 2012 when One Direction made their Saturday Night Live debut. Carden's husband worked for the show and as a perk, she could watch the musical guests live. \n\u201CEven if I didn\u2019t really know the band, I would always go watch \u2026 But I didn\u2019t do that for 1D.\u201D Carden says. Instead, she stayed in the writers' room and watched along with others who had gathered to see what the music industry was fussing about. When the harmonies started, her indifference disappeared. \n\u201CI remember thinking, \u2018Oh look at that shy, awkward one. No one will like him, but I will.\u2019\u201D She was talking about Harry Styles.\n\nImage: Tumblr thinkpinay\n\n\nLater that week, Carden bumped into Jones while heading to the Upright Citizen\u2019s Brigade Theatre, a comedy venue they both perform at regularly in New York City and Los Angeles. Small talk led the pair to discover they had same thing dominating their playlists: One Direction.\nThough the best friends had never discussed the band, they'd each spent time jamming to the same songs and poking around the Internet for information on the group. So instead of prepping for their show that night, Carden and Jones sat in the audience sharing earbuds and discussing the talented boys.\nSee also: 7 Craziest Moments From One Direction's 'Best Song Ever'\nThey describe the moment as \u201Cmagical\u201D \u2014 even more magical than Styles' hair. \nThe new bond brought the best friends even closer. \u201CWe have had so many conversations about Liam,\u201D Carden says, with Jones adding: \u201CHe starts 25 of the songs. We counted.\u201D \n\nImage: Tumblr sexyymalikk\n\n\nWith their own experience in performance and comedy, they also analyzed each member's sense of humor, ranking the funniest (\"Liam is getting there...\") and how that factors into their appreciation of the music. Or as Carden puts it, \"We wouldn\u2019t give a sh*t about them if they didn\u2019t have the best personalities.\u201D\nBut the stigma of adults enjoying \"teen\" music does make for awkward moments. \n\u201CIt\u2019s weird having a husband,\u201D Carden admits, laughing. \u201CI try to limit my talk about the band. For every thousand thoughts I have, I\u2019ll only tell him one.\u201D\nThe friends later encountered another challenge when they agreed to appear on a one-off game show against a pair of teen super-fans. They expected a bit of silly fun, but it quickly turned uncomfortable \u2014 mostly due to the tight onesie outfits supplied by the show.  \n\nThey literally didn\u2019t fit in. But that's the mindset Carden, Jones and other adult fans want to change. \n\"It\u00A0is\u00A0such\u00A0a\u00A0point\u00A0of\u00A0happiness\u00A0in\u00A0my\u00A0life.\u00A0Uncomfortable\u00A0and\u00A0embarrassing for\u00A0awhile? Yes.\" D'Arcy says. \"But, if\u00A0you\u00A0spent\u00A0half\u00A0as\u00A0much\u00A0time\u00A0as\u00A0we\u00A0did,\u00A0you\u00A0would\u00A0love\u00A0it\u00A0too!\"\nAnd being an adult fan of the group comes with advantages. Like friendships with SNL writers who invited the besties backstage when One Direction returned to the late-night show in December. They didn't expect much, but things worked out in an is-this-real-life way when the pair were tapped to play security guards in a sketch with the group.\n\n\"I remember them like beautiful pieces of artwork,\" Jones explains with a look of awe. Carden adds, \"They are different from normal humans.\" \nAfter the live show, Carden and Jones ran into Harry Styles and gushed about the group's performance of \"Through the Dark.\" In response, the heartthrob took their hands and earnestly thanked them for the compliment. Not usually the starstruck type, Styles' charm and presence affected them so profoundly that the duo could barely speak for the 30 minutes.\n\nWhen talking months after the incident, their eyes still gleam with joy while discussing the perfect moment. \nAnd though most adults won't have the same luck as Carden and Jones, think of them as eternal tween ambassadors, paving the way for adults quietly rocking out to \"Rock Me.\" \nSo share your One Direction-packed Spotify playlist with pride, adult Directioners \u2014 that's what makes you beautiful.\nHave something to add to this story? Share it in the comments."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2014/03/30/adult-directioners-one-direction-fans/>