Once again, this year's YaoiCon has blown my fragile heart to shards. It was so wonderful and uplifting... I can't believe it's over already.
We arrived on Friday without much hassle, save the usual bag searches every cosplayer must endure. Apparently the sewing supplies and odd costume shapes make the airport security a little nervous, because they also patted me down a few times. Met Kamui and Fuuma at the airport! We had missed Fuuma SO MUCH, and were dying to meet Kamui in person! There was much hugging and excited laughter and then we were off to the hotel.
The Renaissance Parc 55 was *very* lovely. The foyer looked even nicer than the photos of it, and the rooms were fairly large with nice big bathrooms. HUGE plus for cosplayers, let me tell you. We met Marina and Elisha in the lobby - they had gotten there before us - and got settled in and registered. Most of the day was spent working on the final details of the costumes and cloaks, sewing on the crest at the front and finishing the embroidery, but we still got to meet all of our friends for dinner and hang out for a while. Did X16 Subaru that day, and got stopped for quite a few pictures, but nothing unusual there.
Also got the group together to practice the skit, but we were interrupted about halfway through by some very obviously drunk non-congoer guy who asked if we were supposed to be Jedi or something. (we had the full body concealing cloaks on so we could hide the costumes from people in the halls) We told him no, we weren't, but then he seemed to get offended somehow and it escalated into us telling him that yes, we are in a cult sacrificing chickens, and he should go back into his room or we'd call security. He decided to go away then, and we finished practicing for the skit. Barely slept that night. *pokes Sihaya-chan* But it was well worth it.
Spent the second day up until the cosplay working on costumes AGAIN. About seven times people came up to the room and tried to get food into me, but I refused until Fuuma came and gave me a scary threatening look and beef jerky. (I can't eat and sew at the same time, dammit! Sewing takes two hands!) Managed to finish the embroidery with just enough time to get into costume, and then it was time for the cosplay.
THE SKIT WAS AWESOME. Everthing went off perfectly, from the simultaneous flinging the cloaks off to the gasps of shock and horror and nervous laughter from the audience, and the chorus of "Subaru!" at the first death scene. There was thunderous applause and whistles at the kiss, and more than one person stood up to applaud at the end. Ours was nearly the last skit as well, and immediately afterward people began coming up to tell us that we should win, and ours was the best skit there. Shushushu Sakurai-sensei even came up and asked for pictures afterward. What an unbelievable honor! She even waited around for Seishirou-san to come back from wherever she was.
We went off afterward for a quick post-cosplay photoshoot, including a few crossover pics with the Yami no Matsuei group, whom we happen to be very good friends with. ((((If anyone has pictures PLEASE send them my way)))) Then we went to dinner again, and back up to the rooms to get changed for the dance. Danced with just about everyone I could get my hands (and hips and torso and lips and etc) on until I was finally too tired to do any more. Went back up to the rooms and slept longer than 4 hours for the first time in days.
The final day of the Con we slept in for most of the morning. Missed the Karaoke contest, which was a pity because I wanted to participate, and got into my shikifuku for a few more photos and the dealer's room. MMMMMMMmmmm...smut. MmMmmmmm.. X paraphenalia. MMMmmmm finally having TB7 (THANKYOU FUUMA-SAMA!!) A lot of people had to leave then, and there were a few tearful goodbyes
Then.. it was time for the closing ceremonies. I was so damned nervous. We had won something the year before for our X group, so I wasn't so sure we would get anything at all this year. After all... it might be construed as a bit unfair to give an award to the same group two years in a row. Plus we were going up against some pretty stellar costumes. Some random wonderful person came up to tell us that if we didn't win the judges were idiots, and we were they only thing worth watching in the cosplay. What a sweetheart, that made my week.
I shouldn't have worried. We took second place after Duae, a girl that made the most gorgeous wings I have EVER SEEN from Wish out of feathers, wire, copper tubing... they have to be seen to be believed, they were fabulous. They inspired me to try more ambitious costumes in the future, they were so good. Someday I *want* that first place. Other winners were the GomuGomu no Cosplay Ninjas who had the funniest damned skit ever, and our good friends - Viko Arts Yami no Matsuei.
That anout wraps it up. We didn't get to leave that day because the airline screwed up our flight date somehow, so we got to visit with Shari, Sabs, and Xen for another day, but other than that all was well.
If anyone has photos that they took of us there, or if you took a videotape of the cosplay, please, please, PLEASE drop me a comment here or on Yuuzai. I'm dying to round up everything I can so it can all go up for public viewing.
I can't wait 'till SakuraCon.
HUGS, KISSES, AND SO MUCH LOVE TO EVERYONE THAT HELPED US OUT AND MADE THIS CON POSSIBLE. You guys rock my world and I miss you already.