Went to Anime Crossroads this weekend
It was fun and stuff!
It wasn't like, mind-blowingly fun, but I had a good time. I think that had less to do with the con and more to do with it's my third one.
I'm still kind of new to this, but I learned some things, I guess sorta.
- Some normies from the main part of the hotel came in and were like, in complete AWE of how ridiculous everyone looked. I saw a few throughout the three days recording people and taking pictures with expressions that were like, "Oh my god, where am I and why are these people like this?"
I enjoyed the casual curiosity of the waitress who served us at Bob Evan's too. She was really sweet, asked what was going on and asked if we had pictures. I showed her some of my photos I'd taken and told her what people were dressed as. I also left her a $10 tip so I think that made her a bit more friendly.
- Being in cosplay for the first time made it a lot easier to talk to people. I was being approached, which was different for me. I was only asked for one picture, but I went to the Homestuck photo shoot, which was a bit chaotic. I was Kankri this time. Easiest, and least impressive costume but it was fun hearing people see me and exclaim, "Kankri!" I also learned to respond to that name pretty quickly.
- I've learned that Casey is the best at improv. I am jealous, for I am not a fast-thinker and am not funny.
I mostly enjoyed just feeling like I was really part of a fandom. I felt a little bad that there seemed to be a distinct divide between the Hetalias and Homestucks, but I guess I expected it.
At some point there was a conga line, and there was everyone from every fandom in it and it was cute.
Also the most adorable TINY IRON MAN.
The first day I came around 2 p.m., alone. I went to several panels and the opening ceremonies. At the opening, I found Matthew and his friend Allie, who was dressed as Panty from Panty and Stocking. Matthew dressed as a Gundam character.
I wandered around with them a bit and went to the dealer's room with them. I bought a print and a Dalek poster. At some point we parted ways because I wanted to go do a panel. I found them again and asked if they wanted to grab dinner.
Matthew took me to the bank and a party store. One for money, the other for face paint which ended up being a waste of money. If I do a troll again I will have to buy professional grade face paint so I don't look melty and it doesn't get everywhere.
Ug, I honestly can't remember half the panels I went to. I didn't NOT enjoy any of them, but they were rather unamazing.
I think the highlight for me was the 18+ Worst Fanfiction, and the Cosplay Sleepover. I also had fun at Harry Potter panel which turned into a general discussion. Me and a few others left the main room however because we started having a discussion independent of the people running the panel.
The sleepover got quite a few people. We just played some games like Simon Says, duck duck goose (Human human zombie), dead superhero (an improve game), musical chairs and telephone.
The sleepover was great until the group of girls who obviously knew each other started being... slashy? You know, like shipping their cosplays with each other and being generally annoying. A girl cosplaying Greece sat next to me and was SHRIEKING. What's more, she was being encouraged. At that point I was done. I think the hyperness reminded of the age difference between me and many of the con-goers. I'm glad they were having fun, but I was not at that point.
I needed to go outside for a breather. I'd been at the con for two days, and the last few weeks have not had any time to myself. I still didn't have real alone time, but at least it was quieter for a few minutes.
Janna and I went to a concert (Professor Shy Guy, I think). It was ... a bit lame. I mean, a bunch of socially awkward teenagers dancing in a dance setting. I've learned not to get irritated with them anymore and just laugh internally. I don't mean that in a mean way, it's just fun to watch the awkward shuffling.
So Janna and I rocked out for the last 15 minutes of the concert, and were complimented on our sick skills.
Casey, Janna, Ben and I went to a couple of 18+ panels. The What's Next Hentai? was a bit different than last year. Three girls dressed in lingerie had card sleeves with cards as skirts. The point was to get the audience to buy the cards so we could see the sexy ladies without the skirts on. The proceeds went to con costs and a lymphoma charity. There was also a raffle.
Ben won Magic cards, and Casey won some penis-shaped gummie candies. She wasn't too happy about the gummies (Not a huge fan apparently) so she gave them to me. I love gummies. But, I ended up handing them out to the teenagers at the rave (of course I became very popular for about five minutes).
Meghan was able to come for a few hours! We watched Black Butler in the viewing room and were intrigued (It's creepy. Very creepy. Intentionally slashy but more than that, creepy). We also watched Soul Eater, which I don't really like, but it was fun watching it with her. We then went to a Japanese Folklore panel which was good, but I'd seen it before.
I re-learned that you can defend yourself from anus-loving kappas by bowing, or farting at them. Very useful information.
We then went to the AMV contest. There were some good submissions. I always like AMV contests. Meghan had to go to work after that, though. Very sad.
This lady was a lovely lady:
She is dressed as God Tier Tumblr Dave (THE KNIGHT BLOGGER). She was just a sweetheart throughout the entire con.
There were a few kids who were casual with me throughout the con. I think she was the least annoying. At some point one particular group went around with a bucket and were putting it on other Homestucks' heads or proposing with it. I was mostly annoyed that they did that when I was obviously in the middle of a conversation, otherwise it was actually pretty funny? I dunno. I was just tired and they were doing it on a Sunday, the last day of the con and I didn't really feel like playing along.
Ben, Janna, Casey and I also watched Madoka Magica. I ... didn't really expect what I saw. It's fair to say my heart was torn out and stomped on for two episodes. I would like to finish the series.
(I don't like moe animes, that's why I'd never seen it. It looked like a moe anime. It's not. It's magical girl, but holy shit there's like, moral dilemmas and decapitation. NOT MOE.)
I spent a lot of time this year alone. I find I usually don't want to go to the panels everyone else wants. Not that I don't have fun, but I feel like I miss out.
I guess the Quidditch game was a lot of fun, according to the other Harry Potter fans. I'm disappointed that I missed it.
Anyway, being alone didn't really detract from anything. Being in cosplay gave me plenty of opportunity to talk to other people. I kind of felt like my group was a bit grumpy this weekend? I dunno. When I go to these things I like to be silly and hyper and ridiculous (Meghan was right there with me. She is my spirit animal). Maybe that's why I got along great with the teenagers. Alex would say it's because I'm immature, but even I had my limits with them. The teenagers weren't shy about being complete dorks. I liked that.
We stayed at Janna's this weekend, and her roommate. Nothing much to say about that. Janna and her roommate tried to help me with the face paint dilemma. I did better with their assistance, but the paint was cheap and refused to dry.
After the con and after Ben left, Janna, Casey and I watched some episodes from Escaflowne. I liked it! I was just tired and fell asleep.
I have been wearing the same clothes for three days because nothing went as planned. Thank god I thought to bring a toothbrush (Meghan made fun of me for that) otherwise this weekend would have been unbearable. I still took a shower at Janna and her roommate's apartment, which helped the con musk.
That's about all I can think of right now. I had a lot of fun. I'd like to run a Homestuck panel next year, maybe. I have yet to see one.
It wasn't like, mind-blowingly fun, but I had a good time. I think that had less to do with the con and more to do with it's my third one.
I'm still kind of new to this, but I learned some things, I guess sorta.
- Some normies from the main part of the hotel came in and were like, in complete AWE of how ridiculous everyone looked. I saw a few throughout the three days recording people and taking pictures with expressions that were like, "Oh my god, where am I and why are these people like this?"
I enjoyed the casual curiosity of the waitress who served us at Bob Evan's too. She was really sweet, asked what was going on and asked if we had pictures. I showed her some of my photos I'd taken and told her what people were dressed as. I also left her a $10 tip so I think that made her a bit more friendly.
- Being in cosplay for the first time made it a lot easier to talk to people. I was being approached, which was different for me. I was only asked for one picture, but I went to the Homestuck photo shoot, which was a bit chaotic. I was Kankri this time. Easiest, and least impressive costume but it was fun hearing people see me and exclaim, "Kankri!" I also learned to respond to that name pretty quickly.
- I've learned that Casey is the best at improv. I am jealous, for I am not a fast-thinker and am not funny.
I mostly enjoyed just feeling like I was really part of a fandom. I felt a little bad that there seemed to be a distinct divide between the Hetalias and Homestucks, but I guess I expected it.
At some point there was a conga line, and there was everyone from every fandom in it and it was cute.
Also the most adorable TINY IRON MAN.
The first day I came around 2 p.m., alone. I went to several panels and the opening ceremonies. At the opening, I found Matthew and his friend Allie, who was dressed as Panty from Panty and Stocking. Matthew dressed as a Gundam character.
I wandered around with them a bit and went to the dealer's room with them. I bought a print and a Dalek poster. At some point we parted ways because I wanted to go do a panel. I found them again and asked if they wanted to grab dinner.
Matthew took me to the bank and a party store. One for money, the other for face paint which ended up being a waste of money. If I do a troll again I will have to buy professional grade face paint so I don't look melty and it doesn't get everywhere.
Ug, I honestly can't remember half the panels I went to. I didn't NOT enjoy any of them, but they were rather unamazing.
I think the highlight for me was the 18+ Worst Fanfiction, and the Cosplay Sleepover. I also had fun at Harry Potter panel which turned into a general discussion. Me and a few others left the main room however because we started having a discussion independent of the people running the panel.
The sleepover got quite a few people. We just played some games like Simon Says, duck duck goose (Human human zombie), dead superhero (an improve game), musical chairs and telephone.
The sleepover was great until the group of girls who obviously knew each other started being... slashy? You know, like shipping their cosplays with each other and being generally annoying. A girl cosplaying Greece sat next to me and was SHRIEKING. What's more, she was being encouraged. At that point I was done. I think the hyperness reminded of the age difference between me and many of the con-goers. I'm glad they were having fun, but I was not at that point.
I needed to go outside for a breather. I'd been at the con for two days, and the last few weeks have not had any time to myself. I still didn't have real alone time, but at least it was quieter for a few minutes.
Janna and I went to a concert (Professor Shy Guy, I think). It was ... a bit lame. I mean, a bunch of socially awkward teenagers dancing in a dance setting. I've learned not to get irritated with them anymore and just laugh internally. I don't mean that in a mean way, it's just fun to watch the awkward shuffling.
So Janna and I rocked out for the last 15 minutes of the concert, and were complimented on our sick skills.
Casey, Janna, Ben and I went to a couple of 18+ panels. The What's Next Hentai? was a bit different than last year. Three girls dressed in lingerie had card sleeves with cards as skirts. The point was to get the audience to buy the cards so we could see the sexy ladies without the skirts on. The proceeds went to con costs and a lymphoma charity. There was also a raffle.
Ben won Magic cards, and Casey won some penis-shaped gummie candies. She wasn't too happy about the gummies (Not a huge fan apparently) so she gave them to me. I love gummies. But, I ended up handing them out to the teenagers at the rave (of course I became very popular for about five minutes).
Meghan was able to come for a few hours! We watched Black Butler in the viewing room and were intrigued (It's creepy. Very creepy. Intentionally slashy but more than that, creepy). We also watched Soul Eater, which I don't really like, but it was fun watching it with her. We then went to a Japanese Folklore panel which was good, but I'd seen it before.
I re-learned that you can defend yourself from anus-loving kappas by bowing, or farting at them. Very useful information.
We then went to the AMV contest. There were some good submissions. I always like AMV contests. Meghan had to go to work after that, though. Very sad.
This lady was a lovely lady:
She is dressed as God Tier Tumblr Dave (THE KNIGHT BLOGGER). She was just a sweetheart throughout the entire con.
There were a few kids who were casual with me throughout the con. I think she was the least annoying. At some point one particular group went around with a bucket and were putting it on other Homestucks' heads or proposing with it. I was mostly annoyed that they did that when I was obviously in the middle of a conversation, otherwise it was actually pretty funny? I dunno. I was just tired and they were doing it on a Sunday, the last day of the con and I didn't really feel like playing along.
Ben, Janna, Casey and I also watched Madoka Magica. I ... didn't really expect what I saw. It's fair to say my heart was torn out and stomped on for two episodes. I would like to finish the series.
(I don't like moe animes, that's why I'd never seen it. It looked like a moe anime. It's not. It's magical girl, but holy shit there's like, moral dilemmas and decapitation. NOT MOE.)
I spent a lot of time this year alone. I find I usually don't want to go to the panels everyone else wants. Not that I don't have fun, but I feel like I miss out.
I guess the Quidditch game was a lot of fun, according to the other Harry Potter fans. I'm disappointed that I missed it.
Anyway, being alone didn't really detract from anything. Being in cosplay gave me plenty of opportunity to talk to other people. I kind of felt like my group was a bit grumpy this weekend? I dunno. When I go to these things I like to be silly and hyper and ridiculous (Meghan was right there with me. She is my spirit animal). Maybe that's why I got along great with the teenagers. Alex would say it's because I'm immature, but even I had my limits with them. The teenagers weren't shy about being complete dorks. I liked that.
We stayed at Janna's this weekend, and her roommate. Nothing much to say about that. Janna and her roommate tried to help me with the face paint dilemma. I did better with their assistance, but the paint was cheap and refused to dry.
After the con and after Ben left, Janna, Casey and I watched some episodes from Escaflowne. I liked it! I was just tired and fell asleep.
I have been wearing the same clothes for three days because nothing went as planned. Thank god I thought to bring a toothbrush (Meghan made fun of me for that) otherwise this weekend would have been unbearable. I still took a shower at Janna and her roommate's apartment, which helped the con musk.
That's about all I can think of right now. I had a lot of fun. I'd like to run a Homestuck panel next year, maybe. I have yet to see one.