#love going to conventions with my friends and going to panels and cosplaying

[toracainz]

Really love those moments after a big huge event/day/weekend where you do a bunch of a fun stuff and hang out with friends

And then after the dust has settled and you go from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other

From feeling really good to feeling pretty sad cause it’s all over

[missmarveledsblog]

Fan girl ( Mickey garcia x reader)

summary : when bob is sent from the hard deck to his little sisters sos message well she is not what they expect

warnings : other then shitty friend it's mostly goofy fluffy fun. mutual pining , slight age gap like ten years or less , idiots in love nerdy good fun , dry humping is as smutty as this part goes next part will be more spicy if another part is wanted that is ?

The hard deck well was the hard deck , the place filling up , tag chasers sizing up what  would be their goal for the night as the naval officer done the same.   bob nursed his ginger ale listening to phoenix talking away to him and javy , watching rooster and jake sizing the sea of woman as well as each other like a competition  and listening to fanboy talking about the latest season of some fantasy show he was watching as payback simply asked what he done last night  . that was til the buzzing of his phone pulled from his pocket looking at the string of texts coming up , he knew she was in san diego , they planned to meet up some point  but what he didn’t expect an SOS  and his little sister almost begging him to get her .  He tensed up standing almost spilling his soda . 

“ hey what’s wrong” phoenix asked concerned tone pulling his fellow dagger squads attention. 

“ i gotta go my little sister is in trouble and needs me , shit where are my key” he panicked looking around. 

“ pocket come on” nat took the keys from his pocket placing them in his hand. 

“ hey i’ll pay your tab” she smiled softly as he nodded . 

“ we’ll come too incase “ rooster pulled the nearest to him which happened to be hangman and fanboy . 

Rushing out he was scared shitless afraid of what was going on and what trouble she could of gotten into at a comic book convention . 

The crowd thick ,  eager  fans pushing and shoving dying to  get a touch even a glimpse of the panels and their stars  and usually she was the same . an eager bunny ready to hear the plans and spoilers to a new movie coming .  But now she felt small , tiny as she looked down at her costume , the cosplay she took months perfecting  and yet the whole mood soured by her so called best friend and her weird ass boyfriend . it was honestly so childish and petty but hell her family told her to watch out for that one  and now she was stranded at a convention in san diego the only upside was her brother being stationed here somewhere she was unsure where but honestly the “ i told you so “ lecture would be worth it if it meant she wasn’t left alone in a big place she no idea where she was .   a few  saw her distress eager to help even offering to stay with her while she  text her brother  and if he was coming they would stay til she was safe .  and they did but she eventually told them she was fine making her way out to the entrance knowing her brother was on the way . it really wasn’t her fault and should of seen it coming the whole trip was iffy carrying the bags of her back as she soldiered on to out to the front.  She felt sick and scared and now she was crying outside dressed up while people looked at her like she was some kind of weirdo . 

“ hey sweetcheeks what’s the tears for “ a voice called looking to see a dude coming her way dressed as batman not even a good batman more dollar store kind. 

“ i’m ok i just wanna be alone thank you “ she sniffled moving away .

“ come on don’t be like that  you shouldn’t cry your too hot too cry”  he smiled hand coming to her cheek as she pulled away . “ come on i’m nice guy” he said standing to her closer .

“ stand back “ she snapped only for him to pull her arm harder and her knee to come up hitting him so hard honestly she turned his balls into  a bat cave sending him  groaning to the ground only the dude seemly wasn’t happy to be bested as he pulled her again . 

“ LET HER GO” was all she heard and seen was her brother and three men charging towards her. 

“ fuck off man we’re talking “ the man groaned still trying to push past the pain . 

“ no were are not douche wayne” she stomped on his foot and  grabbing her bags and running to her big brother .   as he went to follow her only for bob to pull her behind him . 

“ i’d walk if i were you these ain’t costumes little boy” the tall blonde smirked as  the man finally caught a look ,   his face draining of any color staring up at the men before him .  walking away muttering something about her being “ a bitch anyway” . 

“ what the hell why you alone where’s annabelle “ bob asked checking her over making sure she wasn’t hurt although her arm was red. 

“ she left me here , her stupid boyfriend kept making sleazy comments and she blamed me after i told him stop  she got my bags and stuff out of her car and they drove off left me here” she sniffled tears filling her eyes. 

“ come on we get you back to mine knew she was a snake “ he gruffed, throwing his coat over her body . 

“ thank you and you guys “ she turned to see his friends all bashful smiled thrown her way . 

“ Did you know bob’s sister was hot” rooster whispered as the two men shook their  heads . 

“ hey baby on board you gonna introduce us to this sweetheart” the blonde called . 

“ hangman  , rooster , fanboy this is my little sister y/n  , y/n this is three of the  seven dagger squad member .. now there come “ he said still pissed she was left stranded and hell annabelle was definitely not gonna be let off with it when he told his other two sisters . she was the baby of the family of course they were protective . 

She sat in the car , she just wanted to get in her pj’s and binge a comfort show but now she was hyper aware of the beautiful ass men in the back seat of  the car . 

“ nice costume darling “ the blonde drawled . 

“ its a cosplay man , right pretty girl..who is it ? “ the mustache man scoffed before a sweet smile turned to her . 

“ Daenerys targaryen “ the one with the kind eyes spoke up.  “ violet eyes “ he explained. 

“  exactly you got that from the white hair and violet eyes most people thought i was Rhaenyra since the whole house of dragons thing “ . 

“ i recognised the clothes from the season one when she was with the dothraki” he spoke up getting more animated as the other two looked completely lost .

“ hey ten point to ..” she paused unsure which one he was but she was guessing who it might be. 

“ fanboy ma’am but mickey is fine” he smiled . 

“ well ten points for mickey “ she giggled . 

“ hey that’s show were they have sex and dragons right” the blonde asked. 

“ yes but it more to it hangman right … i’m bradley “. 

“ he’s right a lot more than sex and dragons but they are cool too i guess” she snorted only for her phone to start buzzing . “ you called mama” she squeaked . 

“ sorry” bob winced although he was on partly sorry . 

“ hey mama … no i’m ok now bobby got me … yeah i’ll stay with him tonight … no mama i haven’t even told him that part” she whined .  

“ told me what?” . 

“ fine i’ll put you on speaker “ she sighed . 

“ bobby baby she can stay with you when she moves there right?” 

“ MAMA im a grown ass woman” she exclaimed .

“ bobby ?” her mother voice called . 

“ of course she can” he nodded . 

“ y’all can hear me right “ she turned to the guys in the back who eagerly nodded.  “ you  know i’m twenty two years old right i ain’t a baby” she called down phone. 

“Thanks bobby “ her mother called.

“Whoops bad signal” she rolled her eyes hanging . 

“ real mature grown up” bob chuckled as he hit the answer button on his car and she groaned face red of course this would happen around the hot guys .

Pulling into bobs  driveway she barely spoke given he was too busy talking to their mom and then it was their dad soon the whole family as she honestly was wondering if the creepy batman was a better choice after all.  She stood stretching out as the guys got out the car too even bob was slightly confused. 

“ can you order pizza bobby i need to shower and wallow for the night maybe watch a movie or two maybe avengers or something”she smiled weakly . 

“Ohh good choice  nat and the guys are on their way “ rooster smiled brightly .

“ oh cool well i’ll go shower” she ran into the house as bob looked into the groupchat . 

“ really hangman “ he rolled his eyes.  “ baby on boards got hot ass sister you gotta see this”  he read the message out . 

“ hey i mean since she gonna be living in san diego it good she has friends right “ he patted his arm heading in the house a swagger on him  ready to  put on his A game .

 “ i won’t let bagman get your sister plus i feel like we had a connection “rooster called as he ran into the WSO  house. 

“ you not going to say anything?” bob look at his friend. 

“ wonder which avenger she like most i like the falcon or winter soldier“ fanboy mused walking with  bob .

It didn’t take long for nat , payback and javy to show up all curious to see how hot said sister was  til she walked out wearing sweats and oversized t-shirt , hair air drying free from the long white wig as she stood seeing more people standing in her brothers living room .  

“ hi i’m nat you must be y/n it nice to meet you “ the dark hair woman stood forward . 

“ nice to meet you too bobby told me all about you .. all of you actually kinda already know all your names “ she chuckled. 

“ yeah well ok come on lets get the movie on “ bob rolled his eyes as she made her way in  her eyes looking to see where to sit and seeing those kind eyes barely looking her eye or trying not to . 

“ mind if i i sit here” she asked pointing to the spot as mickey just smiled the two not even acknowledging the shoving match of the other trying to get the other side til she felt herself bouncing slight. 

“ let watch the revengers huh sweetheart” jake flashed as flirty smile as both her and mickey’s heads shot in his direction . “ if it scary let me know , ill protect ya” he winked . 

“ dude it’s superheroes” rooster rolled his eyes .

“ what one should we watch ohhh maybe timeline order or  we could do mini marathon of them separately although it would only work for some maybe timeline order is best”she mused. 

“ timeline would be better although cause then if we went separately well we would have to watch the series” mickey agreed . 

“  i do need to rewatch the falcon and winter soldier” she nodded . 

“ lets watch that movie” jake nodded. 

“ it’s series no … we could switch and watch different franchise maybe star wars the new acolyte is out “ she mused. 

“ i have yet to watch that i’ve heard mixed review so i’m sort of well waiting to form my own opinion .. if you feeling the superhero vibe we could watch the boys “ he point out as the other were totally lost . 

“ that makes me want to watch supernatural i mean jensen ackles as soldier boy is wow but i do love me some dean winchester” she nodded in agreement. 

“ good omen always makes me wanna watch doctor who obviously david tenant is fantastic but he is my favorite doctor”he chuckled . 

“ oh my god you seeing what i’m seeing “ nat whispered as two nerded out . 

“ unfortunately i do” bob gulped. 

“ can we watch shawshank or something while they figure out well i don’t have a clue what they're even talking about now “ jake head tilted. 

“ i mean i love the last of us the casting is spot on but if they are  sticking to the source material and timeline i am so not looking forward to season two but i am so excited as well “ she sighed .  ( cause same ) 

“ are we invisible to them ?” javy asked looking around the room . 

“ i think that us out of the race “ rooster  chuckled . 

“ are we watching a movie or not” jake asked confused completely and utterly . 

“ oh shit sorry erm we could watch..” 

“ we’re gonna watch shawshank “ bob spoke up saving the whole room from another nerd session .   “ no talking steven king” he added making her mouth close. 

“ i was gonna ask if pizza was coming “ she huffed . 

“ steven king is cool though” mickey whispered making her nod eagerly . 

It was six month since her brother rescued her from being stranded in comic con , creepy batman and meeting his friends  who were also her friends even if she was ten years younger than them it still was nice being able to come to a new place and not feel so alone .  going to the hard deck being able to head to a group and not being a loser sitting on her own .  also another thing she loved was being able to be herself especially with mickey probably only one of the group who shared her love for the things of the nerdy side of life .  the two would talk from everything from gaming , anime and comics . most of time the rest of the group left them to it because it was like they were talking another language.  They did like watching it unfold even bob made his peace at thought of his friend and little sister maybe striking up some form of romance . the only thing that was stopping them was well them , both oblivious to the other feelings that even stevie wonder could see .  so maybe a little help would be ok , a little meddling would be helpful and give them the push they needed . 

She was getting ready knowing the dagger squad coming over for a night of gaming  which honestly she didn’t think twice about  knowing it was probably going to be a few games of mario kart  til jake says it not real game like pool or darts when he loses.  She felt a little silly doing her make up and hair nothing major but she like looking nice especially when a certain hot as fuck WSO was going to be there . she couldn’t help the crush that grown , he was well hot , nerdy and a sweetheart she didn’t even stand a chance .  yet anytime she flirted it was falling on deaf ears or unless it was his way of being kind and not out right rejecting her but hey it didn’t help to look right?. 

He was nervous  , like hands sweating as he walked up his fellow WSO porch all because he had a major crush on his little sister . He didn’t even have an excuse the moment he saw her as Daenerys he was  smitten and the more time he spent time and got to know her  that just made him a goner. Never had he connected with someone  so easily  getting to truly be himself yeah payback was his buddy but even he had to tell mickey to talk about something else , y/n didn’t and when she did it was talked about some just along the line of it .    her smile took his breath away , her eyes made him get lost in them  just everything about her had him falling more and more.

Just as he was about to knock bob open the door stepping out looking at the man smiling nervously before walking around as if he was leaving .

“ wait is it not game night?” he checked his phone checking he had the right night unless he conjured the whole thing .

“ please don’t mess up cause hangman said he has dibs “ was all bob said before running to his car and driving off.

“ where’s he going “ she asked standing at front door brows furrowed .

“Think flying finally caught up to the guys i think they forgot tonight i can go if you want” he curse the lame stupid mind of his .

“ i mean or you could say and we could actually play something decent don’t get me wrong the italian plumber is cool but well it nice to play other game with more to em “ she smiled widely .

“ Or hear me out we can actually watch something we like “ .

“ star war marathon ?”

“ star wars “ he confirmed as two ran into the house excitedly .

Working in a team as she got the snacks and drink and he got the movie up and ready internally screaming to calm the fuck down . his hands so sweaty he was would drop the remote out of his hand and the way his heart was beating she had to of heard it . he felt like a nervous teen being in presence of his crush those nerves pulsing through every fiber his body making him shiver at possibly of making a huge fool of him .

“ you ok .. cold here let me get you a blanket “ those eyes filled with concern or worry making him melt like a puddle maybe it was good thing having her doting on him like this and her attention yet that made him notice that was always something he had. He wondered why that was but the though went as fast as it came the moment She sat down putting The blanket On the two of Them only then he notice the light were dimmed god he needed to get his shit together .

Maybe she was too close way to close , he could probably hear how hard her heart was beating or the way her breathing was labored. hopefully the movie would help distract her , let her gather herself . She watched the text coming on mouthing the lines she seen so many before only to hear the mumbling of said words making her head turn to see mickeys mouth moving she couldn't stop it the giggle that spilled from her lips making his cheeks heat up.

“ sorry” he winced .

“ no don't be it cute“ she whispered unaware her world had on him . the whole time she tried and really tried keeping her eyes on the screen but it was hopeless when they would drift and land on mickey . studying every feature on his face those kind eyes , to the chiseled jawline

“ does he know how hot he is” she thought only it seemed she was thinking out loud .

“ does who know?” .

“ em han solo of course” of course her brain would betray her .

“ i think he does” he chuckled . “ really han solo?” he teased .

“ yeah like you're not gonna drool when leia gets in that bikini” she shot back. “ That is my next cosplay idea” she mused only for him to choke on the air and internally thank whatever god there was a blanket was covering in now. “ wow that bad?” she joked .

“ oh quite the opposite i mean jesus you might kill some dude with heatstroke it will that hot “ he absent mindlessly confessed.

“ i think your being too kind” she snorted .

“ i’m being deadly honest hell have you seen yourself you make jake nervous not that he admit it out loud but shit you would send a guy into cardiac arrest” .

“ yeah ok says the hottest guy ever “ she scoffed only to freeze .

“ hottest guy ever ?” he didn't know were this confidence came from but shot was he gonna question it .

“ so hot id give a dude a heart attack ? “ she countered.

“ i stand by what i said “ he turned so he was facing her the movie long forgotten in the background .

“ i stand by what i said” she copied his movement turning to face him , eyes darting to his lips biting her own .

“ can i .. i wanna kiss you so bad right now” he licked hos lips hands itching to touch her skin .

“ i kinda hope you do “ she smiled softly. that was it that was the ok he needed to surge forward pressing his lips on her . every cliche that she read , seen or heard . those things she felt skeptical about made her want to kick herself cause as she felt herself kissing mickey garcia she understood it all , felt it all . those firework , puzzle piece coming to get , lighting her own dark world , nerve coming alive sort of moment , the soft moan that came muffled by each other . his hand nestled at back of her head and other on her hip pulling her closer her hand scratching the back of his neck . hating her lungs and their stupid need for oxygen she pulled back slightly her head pressed again his delighting in the turn about in the night as he couldn't stop like he was addicted between taking breathes plant soft kisses upon her lips . the kiss starting again more heated as she straddled his lap feeling him nipping her lower lip as she gave him the entrance they both needed , that twirl and dance feeling the taste of each in a tango while his hand fell her hips . her skin heated, burning in a desire that only he could quench . the need building in her core needing the friction she ground down that delightful feeling of him growing hard beneath her , hands guiding her movement panting foreheads pressed together eye locked. blown lust filled pupil and lidded eye mirror between the two as groan came from his mouth and whimpers spilled from her . he could feel that winding and tightening feeling that was building like all his sense on her . only her scent filled his nose , only her sounds filled his ears and one her touch was all that matter . he was addicted not knowing how he went so long in life and never feeling this , fuck he felt like he was robbed . in all that both so lost in a bubble of lust it was lost on them the sound of a key in a door not til they heard the “ Hell yeah” that broke the spell , burst that bubble as mickey looked to see the horrified face of some of dagger squad and proud smile on hangmans .

“maybe you should come stay in mine” nat winced turning and leading bob out the door as hangman walked over high fiving his friend as others gave an awkward wave as the front door closed .

“ they're gone” he whispered abd yet her head didnt lift her cheeks were to red at the fact her brother just caught her like a horny teenager dry humping and heavy petting one of his friends well she was definitely never going to live that down .

“ hey come on” he kissed her cheek hand rubbing up her back she let out content hum at the feeling before she sat up .

“ did this a little backwards but i would love take you out …on a date” he smiled shyly .

“ take me out for breakfast but first mickey … take me to bed” she giggled grinding her hips down . her shrieks filled the house with how fast he lift her up fuck it she already got caught might as well go big or go home as he carried her down the hall .

[mosselines]

intro post

Hello! I’m an East Coast cosplayer migrating back to my home website in the aftermath of the TikTok ban. I’ve been on and off Tumblr since 2013, but wanted to make a blog specifically for cosplay so I can give a middle finger to meta while still keeping in touch with other fans of my favorite series.

I’m primarily into Bungou Stray Dogs, along with other fandoms like TMA, Hannibal, Beastars, Death Note, Zelda, MXTX, and Nier, among others. I go to most major conventions on the East Coast, with my next ones being Katsucon and C2E2.

I’m a novice seamstress/crafter and a big fan of altering, thrifting, or making cosplays. It was how I got started back in 2014 and how I am able to affordably and sustainably enjoy this hobby. I also love hosting trivia and debate panels, and can often be found running them with friends at cons.

Thanks for taking the time to read and stop by. Feel free to say hello or strike up a conversation if we’re into the same things and you’d like to be mutuals!

[pesky--dust]

I never thought I would be writing something like this, but talking to a few people has made me realize that a lot of fannibals have no idea about Red Dragon Con!

For disclaimer: I do not work for Starfury. I just trying to give this convention some recognition with this post, basing on what I know and what I experienced.

What is Red Dragon Con?

Red Dragon Con is NBC’s Hannibal-themed convention that has been held annually in London since 2015 (although it didn't take place in 2020-2023 due to the pandemic). The first few editions took place in winter, however now it takes place in summer.

Where and when is this year’s Red Dragon Con?

July 4th – 6th 2025

Renaissance Hotel, Heathrow

there are still some tickets left!!

What can you do at Red Dragon Con?

First of all, the biggest thing, I believe, is meeting Hannibal’s actors.

Last year we had Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal Lecter), Caroline Dhavernas (Alana Bloom), Tao Okamoto (Chiyoh), Tom Wisdom (Anthony Dimmond), Jeremy Davies (Peter Bernardone) and the Julian Richings (prisoner of Lecter Estate).

This year’s guests are: Hugh Dancy (Will Graham), Kacey Rohl (Abigail Hobbs), Lara Jean Chorostecki (Freddie Lounds), Jeremy Davies (Peter Bernardone), Demore Barnes (Tobias Budge), Ricky Whittle.

On Friday there is registration, where you collect your entry badge. In the evening there is a meeting with the actors for golden ticket holders, as well as the opening ceremony.

On Saturday and Sunday there are photo ops with the actors, meetings with the actors, panels during which the attendees ask questions, and the autograph sessions.

You have to pay for the photos, and prices range from 35-75£

Regular ticket holders are guaranteed autographs from all regular guests

Golden ticket holders are guaranteed autographs from all regular guests and one bonus guest. This year’s bonus guests are Jeremy Davies and Ricky Whittle

Everyone has to pay for an autograph from an extra guest (this category appeared this year) — this year’s extra guest is Hugh Dancy

You have to pay for fan meets too (last year the highest price was £375 for Mads Mikkelsen, this year it's much lesser for Hugh Dancy)

On all three days there is a disco in the evenings. On Saturdays there is a cosplay competition with actors as the jury. On Sunday there is a closing ceremony.

What is my personal experience?

Red Dragon Con 6 was my first convention ever. I was nervous, but it's a small convention (last year there were about 700 people, this year it will be about 400) and the people there were so lovely that I knew I would want to come back. Fannibals were exchanging handmade goods, bringing some homemade cookies, fans (because it was so hot), going shopping together, and so on.

I will never forget when my friends and I were returning to another hotel at night and someone accosted us. This person said that they were sorry for following us, but their battery was dead and they had to get to the bus stop and they saw the flower crowns so they felt safe.

There was also a Hindu wedding held at that hotel. So half the people were in traditional Indian wedding attire and the other half was in flower crowns. People thought we were a cult (lol).

Caroline Dhavernas accidentally broke the flower crown I had for her, so in the photo she stands with her arms raised, holding it. (lol)

My favourite was definitely Jeremy Davies. Someone lent me a rat stuffed animal for a photo, and when I approached Jeremy, he immediately started acting like Peter. It didn't matter whether it was during fan meetings, photos or autographs — he tried to devote so much time to each one single person that in the end the staff had to hurry him up because the schedule was falling apart.

The closing ceremony was also delayed because of Jeremy — he was talking to both Bryan Fuller and the staff because he wanted to connect us with Bryan somehow. We ended up singing a made-up song to the tune of Happy Birthday and he sent it to Bryan (which he posted on Twitter).

It was hard to say goodbye to everyone, but yes, I am coming back this year for the seventh edition of the convention.

Once again, I am leaving here the link to the event page: https://seanharry.com/home/red-dragon/

If anyone has any questions or needs help — I do not bite and I can try to help in some way.

[deans-queen]

Meeting Jared

Pairing: Jared Padalecki x Reader (Y/N)

Additional Characters: Emma -> Reader’s best friend, Jensen Ackles.

Summary: Reader attends her very first Supernatural convention with her best friend and gets to meet her favorite actor Jared Padalecki.

Warnings: none.

This was a request sent to me by @deanwinchestersgirl8734 ! Hope you enjoy it! Also you are soooo lucky you’re gonna meet Jared girl I’m so jealous! 🫶🏻🫶🏻

The sun shone brightly over the convention center, the warm rays casting a golden hue on the gathering crowd. It was your first Supernatural convention, and the excitement buzzed in the air, mingling with the hum of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter. Your best friend, Emma, had managed to score tickets, and both of you had been counting down the days eagerly.

Dressed in a Dean Winchester cosplay, complete with a leather jacket and a slightly scruffy look, you felt an exhilarating blend of nerves and excitement. Emma, channeling her inner Castiel, adjusted her trench coat and gave you a reassuring smile.

"We're finally here!" Emma exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "This is going to be epic!"

You nodded, unable to suppress your grin. "I've been dreaming about this day for years."

The convention hall was a sea of Supernatural-themed booths, selling everything from T-shirts to replica weapons. Fans milled about, some dressed as their favorite characters, others just basking in the shared love for the show.

You and Emma wandered around, taking in the sights and sounds. You marveled at the intricate cosplays, posed for pictures, and picked up a few souvenirs. The schedule for the day was packed with panels, signings, and photo ops. But the highlight, the part you were most excited for, was the panel with Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles.

The auditorium was packed, the energy palpable as fans eagerly awaited the arrival of the stars. You and Emma found seats near the front, your hearts racing with anticipation. The lights dimmed, and a roar of applause filled the room as Jared and Jensen took the stage.

Jared's presence was magnetic. His tall frame, easy smile, and infectious energy filled the room. As he and Jensen bantered back and forth, sharing behind-the-scenes stories and answering fan questions, you felt a deep admiration for their camaraderie and genuine love for their fans.

When the Q&A session began, you hesitated, but Emma nudged you encouragingly. Summoning your courage, you raised your hand. To your shock, Jared pointed at you.

"Yes, you in the Dean cosplay," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

You stood up, your heart pounding. "Hi, Jared, Jensen. First of all, thank you for everything you do. My question is, what's been the most memorable moment for you both while filming the show?"

Jared and Jensen shared a look before Jensen replied, "Honestly, there have been so many. But I'd say one of the most memorable was filming the 200th episode. It was a huge milestone for us and the entire crew."

Jared nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that was definitely up there. But for me, it's the fans. Every convention, every encounter, reminds me how special this show is because of all of you."

The audience erupted in applause, and you felt a surge of warmth and connection. This was more than just a show; it was a community.

After the panel, you and Emma decided to explore more of the convention. As you were browsing through a booth selling Supernatural-themed jewelry, you felt a tap on your shoulder. Turning around, you were met with the sight of Jared Padalecki himself.

"Hey," he said with a grin. "I just wanted to thank you for your question earlier. It really got me thinking."

You blinked, momentarily speechless. "Thank you, Jared. That means a lot."

Emma, ever the supportive friend, nudged you subtly. "We're huge fans," she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "This is our first convention."

Jared's smile widened. "Well, I'm glad I could be a part of it. You both look fantastic, by the way. Love the cosplays."

Your cheeks flushed with pride. "Thanks! We put a lot of effort into them."

He chatted with you both for a few more minutes, asking about your favorite episodes and characters. The conversation flowed naturally, and you felt an incredible sense of ease talking to him. Before he left, he handed you a small card.

"There's an after-party tonight for some of the fans. I'd love it if you both could come. Just show this at the door."

You stared at the card, hardly believing your luck. "Thank you so much, Jared. We’ll definitely be there."

As he walked away, Emma squealed in delight. "This day just keeps getting better!"

The after-party was held in a nearby hotel ballroom, transformed into a Supernatural-themed wonderland. The lighting was low, casting an intimate glow over the room filled with fans, cosplayers, and a few of the show's cast and crew.

You and Emma entered, flashing the card Jared had given you. The security guard nodded and let you through. The atmosphere was lively, with people dancing, chatting, and enjoying the themed drinks and snacks.

You spotted Jared near the bar, talking with some fans. He saw you and waved you over. "You made it!"

"We wouldn't miss it," you said, trying to keep your cool.

Emma nudged you playfully. "We still can't believe this is happening."

Jared chuckled. "Well, believe it. You both deserve it. Now, how about a drink?"

The night continued with laughter, conversation, and a few rounds of drinks. Jared introduced you to some of the other cast members, and you found yourself in awe of how down-to-earth and friendly everyone was.

As the party wound down, Jared pulled you aside. "It was great meeting you both today. I hope you had an unforgettable time."

You smiled, feeling a mix of gratitude and disbelief. "This has been beyond anything we could have imagined. Thank you, Jared."

He gave you a warm hug. "Take care, and keep being awesome fans."

As you and Emma left the party, you felt a sense of euphoria. The convention had been everything you dreamed of and more. Meeting Jared Padalecki was the cherry on top, an experience you would cherish forever.

Emma wrapped an arm around your shoulders. "Best. Day. Ever."

You nodded in agreement, a content smile on your face. "Absolutely."

Authors Note:

Hope you enjoyed this story!

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[running-tweezers]

Ok now that I’ve rested and recovered for a day, some highlights of my convention experience this weekend. Both /pos and /neg. Luckily there’s more good than bad

Good:

- sang karaoke twice, first night was ok, second night I tore that place up. A guy literally got out of his seat to come up and lay down in front of the stage with little adoring chin hands as I belted Heart

- bought some GORGEOUS new dice for my newest character I’ve started playing. The lovely folks at Misty Mountain Gaming were so hype to help me pick a set and they nailed it. Settled on some clear sharp edge resin dice with real dried rose petals inside.

- went to a panel with Barry Bostwick who played Brad in Rocky Horror Picture Show. There were maybe 30 people there so it was really intimate and small. He’s so cool and funny and gracious. Even if he did call us a bunch of freaks (lovingly ofc ❤️)

- my friends cosplayed Bill and Ford from Gravity Falls and made a lot of specifically preteens really happy, which was sweet.

- went to an after dark cosplay burlesque show and was blown tf away. Both men and women performing. I love being bisexual.

- just got to have a nice little trip and hang out with my friends which is always a treat.

Bad:

- we were somehow on the train out of state with people who had apparently never been on public transit before. Or maybe even in public before ever. There are other people here. Maybe let’s not have a dance party with your kids in the aisle of the Amtrak ok??

- as fun as karaoke was, it was plagued with technical difficulties, breaking down every other song and making the whole thing take so long. We ended up late to something bc it took like, an extra hour for my turn to come up

- I ended up attracting a That Guy. Who wouldn’t stop talking to me at karaoke the first night despite my very strong ‘go away’ signals. Kept trying to impress me by telling me how good a singer he was (he wasn’t) and how he had met all these famous people (we’re at a con, that’s what they do here). The next night at karaoke he shows up again and tries to use some weird excuse get me to walk with him to his car?? Absolutely tf not. My friend literally almost beat him with her cane bc she thought he accosted me again in the hallway tho. A real ride or die. ❤️

- I mentioned in a previous post how bad our hotel was. But the breakfast was $24.

[mangohgeckoh]

Animeverse Fest Recap!!!!

Before I begin: any negative comments on Jason WILL be removed and blocked.

Overall this was a great first experience of a con. I loved meeting the Arcane VAs, spending too much money on merch, and watching their panel.

I don’t know much about anime so I was only here for the Arcane stuff, which there wasn’t too much of, BUT STILL!

I highly recommend anyone who can fly/drive down to a con to do it! It was worth the long flight from Maine to Texas haha.

If you’d like to see my pirate Silco cosplay, I’ll make a seperate post since this one is long.

Friday 2/14

When I first got into the convention I made a BEELINE to Jason’s table. (I only really came for him- poor guy.) I was fine until I actually got up to his booth.

I gave him his three favorite animals that I made by needle felting! He was very sweet and allowed me to film the second half of it (first con- I didn’t know if I was allowed to film him without paying haha). You could tell I was SHAKING LIKE A LEAF! I wish I got more of his reaction but I was too nervous in filming him.

Afterwards I got a photo (aka proof of me shaking LOOK AT HOW RED I AM).

Friday was pretty chill actually! Not a lot of people, still a TON more than what I’m used to. I would keep going into Jason’s line to buy small things (photos, videos, etc). I saved money SPECIFICALLY for that man.

I ended up getting a video from him for my boyfriend, @big-klob , of Jason voicing Skizzo and Chumbucket. It was hilarious but Tumblr won’t let me post more than one video on a post so 🤷‍♂️

My friend and I ended up leaving the con earlier than we had planned due to being exhausted from traveling and being overstimulated.

Got to enjoy some lovely Rasin’ Canes for dinner that night, which we don’t have in Maine.

Saturday 2/15

I met up with my friends again but Saturday was absolutely PACKED! We made for Jason’s table once again but his line was very long. It was also very hot that day.

I wasn’t sure if he knew who I was in general since I had gotten a few Cameos from him (rip Jason 3x) and mentioned I was coming to the Houston con as pirate Silco. I had also mentioned in my Cameos that I have autism.

But when he noticed I was wearing headphones instead of my pirate hat and pointed to them which I quickly said “I have autism and it’s loud haha”. He nodded and said “I get overwhelmed at these places too, you can find somewhere in the convention to sit down and rest.” After we talked I got another photo with him:

Afterwards I walked around with friends until I got too overstimulated and peeled off. I ended up crying in the bathroom and, bless my friend’s heart, once they found out they got me a hug with Jason 😭 (that poor man 4x)

I do feel bad for coming up to him a lot. I didn’t really know what else to do since I wanted to stay the entire duration of the convention each day and I only flew in for him.

Shortly after that, I went shopping and picked up a Silco funko! Very overpriced from the vendors but I wanted one and they were out of stock online so I decided what the hell! (When you’re in Houston am I right?)

The panel started shortly after that and it was so good! Unfortunately it did get hacked which I will link a clip of it here but there were some amazing moments amongst the actors. Mick Wingert made an amazing speech about loving ourselves and how self love isn’t talked about enough which I have here. I’m still in the process of condensing the full video of the panel into my favorite clips!

After the panel, my friends immediately followed Jason back to his table (we aren’t crazy I swear) and I got my first autograph of the con! It was on a lenticular print and it said “Blood doesn’t make family, love does.”

To wrap up Saturday, I went around Artist Alley for the Arcane stamp ralley and bought stickers from each of the participating vendors to get a stamp! I ended up completing the ralley and got a cool bag of arcane-themed goodies!

Sunday 2/16

And finally, the last day of the con. Thank the gods that it was not as packed as it was the day before! We got there really early and were one of the first one’s in Jason’s line.

My friend had bought a beansprout clip-on from one of the vendors that I thought was adorable so I bought one and decided to get photos with the three arcane va’s with bean sprouts on their heads!

Before taking each photo, I had talked with Mia and Mick about the panel on Saturday. Mick’s line was empty so I was able to chat with him about politics, he is such an amazing person and such a hoot to talk to! He even took my hand and said “you matter” 🥹

Mia was HILARIOUS! She saw the bean sprouts and was like “OH MY GOD I NEED TO TALK TO MY HANDLER ABOUT GETTING ONE!”

Again, I feel bad for coming up to Jason’s table so often, but I did try to buy something each time and when I didn’t, I’d only come up when his line was empty as to not bother him.

One of the last things I got from Jason was an autograph for my boyfriend and I that I know have hanging on my wall :))

This was an amazing experience and I hope to see Jason again! I’m hoping to go with my boyfriend next time though 😂 I want to see my bf and Chumbucket interact 😆

Overall here is the con hall:

(This is excluding the 3 photos, 2 videos and 2 autos from Jason, and a hoodie I bought as well)

Thank yall for reading all the way till the end! This was more for me to remember everything but I hope yall enjoyed this!

[2and2makes5]

Swampcon!!

Swampcon was the first real convention I went to. I had planned on going to a convention prior, but I wasn't able to make it. This convention lasted two days, March 29th and March 30th. I only went for one day, but I was there for a lot of it. In fact, I volunteered! I signed up to volunteer quite a bit ago because I have been meaning to get involved in Swampcon. I was planning on going the day after as well on Sunday to check more stuff out, but it was pouring down rain, and I didn't want to deal with that. The rain did remind me of Genshiken, with that one episode where it was pouring down rain.

I volunteered from 4 to 8 pm on Saturday in Artist Alley. The Artist Alley was an area at the convention where many artists (mostly local, but some traveled quite a bit to get there) came together to sell their art. I spent my time making sure people had wrist bands on and directing people to where they could get one if they did not have one. I was able to walk around and explore the rooms, and I was surprised at the amount of different types of art! There were stickers, prints, keychains, pins, and so much more. There was a variety of art; I even saw one artist making jewelry and blankets! It was very fun to see so many people come together to express their love for the anime, games, and comics that they enjoy. No other place would I be seeing Miku buying a My Little Pony keychain or Mista from Jojo buying prints of characters from a variety of media standing next to two Deadpools. This experience really helped me see the difference between official cultural capital and shadow cultural capital. Seeing so many people dress up and create art helped me realize how meaningful cultural expression really is. Conventions like these allow people to freely express their love for the media they consume, spending hours on end creating art, making cosplays, or just showing up and walking around.

Yet, I've only scratched the surface. Not only was there art all around, but there were also many panels, ranging from panels about dragons, furries, how to speedrun video games, kpop, lore in video games, quizzes related to video games, a panel about yaoi, and so much more. I sadly wasn't able to go to really any panels, but I met up with some friends on Saturday and they told me about what they experienced. There were also events, such as the maid cafe and Vocaloid concert. I was really hoping to go to the Vocaloid concert, but I sadly couldn't :( It was awesome to see some behind the scenes for it as I got a tour of the convention for training purposes for volunteering, and I was able to see everyone practicing their dance moves and see the stage for what it is. It's so awesome to see how dedicated and creative people are to their favorite series, even taking hobbies such as dance and incorporating them with the media they enjoy.

A little before the end of my shift, before I had to help the artists close up shop, I looked more into the individual items the artists were selling. I saw keychains of characters from Evangelion, prints of Makima and Denji from Chainsawman, and even stickers of Meatwad, Frylock, and Master Shake from Aqua Team Hunger Force, which I thought was really awesome. I didn't expect to find something like that; I mostly assumed it was just anime.

One last thing: I find it awesome that they were playing one of the UF basketball games at the same time in the center part of the Reitz, so seeing two different things happen at once was pretty cool, and a lot of people that came for the game didn't know about Swampcon. Anyways, here's a photo of an awesome cosplay I saw of one of my favorite Five Nights at Freddy's characters, Springtrap.

[wonviiii]

Anime Convention (SWAMPCON!) - Blog #18

Just recently, Swampcon took place in UF, which my roommates and I decided to explore. This isn’t my first anime convention, but it was a breeze of fresh air because the entry pass was completely free! My experiences in fan gatherings have always been generally positive and rather inspiring. Whenever I attend conventions and see all the cool cosplayers, it also makes me want to get into cosplay more seriously. I also got to talk with a few cosplayers, and they were all very enthusiastic since we were in similar fandoms. An experience I specifically recall was seeing a 2B cosplay and gasping as I said, “It’s 2B!” and she turned around and laughed as she struck a pose. It was also really fun looking through the merchandise, hoping to scrape a few items from my favorite shows. What I found interesting is that I came across a Link Click poster and my heart started shaking because I’ve never seen any other convention with Link Click merch, so I like how these artists have the freedom to indulge and express their excitement from shows through art pieces that others can also claim and share in the excitement. In addition, Swampcon was just so incredibly full of events that I almost didn’t know which events to go to since some of them coincided. However, I did go to the cosplay contest they had, and it was a nice experience. Some of the cosplays had built-in fans and even engines to power their weapons, which made me realize the sheer ingenuity of trying to imitate a character from a show/game/etc...In other words, to bring something fictional to life is truly so incredible. As an artist myself, I was especially fond of the artist's alley and seeing what other people created and how they perceived different characters. I spent a long time just staring at their artwork and contemplating whether I should just hand them my whole wallet…I had my roommates holding me back so I didn’t (thankfully). But, it’s cool seeing the thought and detail put into it, and you can tell that these artists find joy in sharing their art and fandom culture. It’s quite funny, but one of my roommates is looking into studying business, and I’m currently studying Graphic Design, so after the convention, we all huddled up and made a whole business plan to start selling our merchandise (half-jokingly) so who knows maybe we can be at the next Swampcon in the artist alley, which is a perfect example of how inspired we felt at seeing other people enjoy what they were doing :D! Here are some pictures (the one at the top as well) from the convention that I took. I loved the fact that there was a crochet shop too because it shows how the convention wasn’t only limited to fandom but to other forms of art as well, which is good for upcoming artists who want to get revenue for their hard work. The signed Killua figurine is actually from a different convention I went to, but I included it because I also thought it was cool how conventions bring in the voice actors/actresses, and you can talk with the people behind your favorite characters and even get their signatures. I was so tempted to buy the Killua figurine, but the $210 got me sweating.

Overall, the experience was very heartwarming. Conventions aren’t just places to indulge in fandom culture, but they open the doors to the best connections. I’ve met a lot of incredible people and learned so much from the panels and fellow attendees/artists. It’s a place where when you are inside, you think, “Oh, I can like whatever and be whoever and people will still be okay with that.” I’m not exactly sure how to describe and put the feelings into words, but it felt like walking into a comfortable bubble where others also shared similar ideas and feelings with you. Lastly, the art banner for this year was created by my lovely friend, and I wanted to include it because it’s so pretty and encapsulates the theme and vibe of the convention so well !

[leebrontide]

God I love CONvergance.

Not only did I get to be on a great panel on scifi and eugenics, and see a million friends, and every great cosplay out there, but I’ve had two wonderful nights of lovely lovely people coming to my book launch party, asking about the book, chatting, taking my character quiz and painting their nails with my custom nail polish colors that go with the quiz results, eating a fuckton of Pookies excellent crock pot potato soup.

It’s just been so nice.

Also the free drop in massages for convention volunteers remains a top tier perk.

[section-69]

Okay Destination Trek notes! First here's what I really liked:

- Everything was SAG compliant and there was so much important strike talk. Obvs this made some questions impossible to answer, and it was slightly hard to predict what would be wrong to say just since different actors had different comfort levels (big range from "I support my comrades but I'm not gonna pretend I'm not in Star Trek" from David Ajala to J G Hertzler encouraging us to threaten media executives with [COPYRIGHTED SPACE WEAPON] to Terry Farrell not wanting to mention working on TV or film at all), but honestly it just made the whole thing really friendly

- on that note, multiple guests said it was the best convention they'd been to in years. I don't have a lot of personal experience with them, but I was talking to a lot of older fans and many of them said this felt a lot like the early days of conventions which were also set in hotels

- being in a hotel made it a) more accessible (and there were So Many fellow disabled Trekkies to prove it!!), b) easier to hang out between activities, and c) just super personable. The guests could hang out in the bar with the fans, there were lots of comfy seats everywhere, and it was very easy to step away if something wasn't your speed.

- not being in London helps the vibes too

- not being Paramount affiliated made the tickets a bit cheaper (much appreciated)

- most of the activities were teamwork focussed. Initially I was a little freaked by that but actually it gave the whole thing a friendly social club vibe

- science talks! Community talks! Asking the actors questions about their lives and work outside of what they're most famous for! Stories we haven't all heard a thousand times!

- I'll make another post about the specifics of accessibility and why I liked this infinitely more than the official ones in London aircraft hangars, but I just really have to stress how important I found that here

- being fan organised and fan led, the focus was on us and how much we love this shit. I didn't find the old format Bad in this respect, but this really did hit different

- J G Hertzler is seriously the coolest person I've met. He stole my craft group's batleth and we couldn't be happier about it.

- So Many Cool Cosplays!!! Shout out especially to the drag queens, the older man cosplaying Admiral Janeway, the Voyage Home Spock and inflatable whale, the power chair decked out to look like a shuttle, all the babies in uniform, the tribble queen in her tribble pelt dress, all the Klingons who didn't artificially darken their skin, the furry doctor from lower decks, all of the Borg, the Klingon pug with a plush batleth, and so so many others I'm forgetting ❤️🖖❤️

Notes for Future Cons

- If you don't already have access to it because of an expensive ticket, I wouldn't bother paying for the opening ceremony. It's not actually at the start of the event and also it's literally just the actors coming on stage, saying hi, then rushing back to the autograph tables. Do go to the closing ceremony though! There's way more of a point to those

- If you're not a huge extrovert, already drunk, or completely happy in awkward situations, I wouldn't recommend being the first in the door at the parties. Give it an hour or so - they sounded very lively later on, but when I tried to go in earlier the primary school disco vibes were off the charts. Plus the music's too loud to actually talk to anyone, and no one's dancing yet. I did see one guy run past with a portable charger for his friend in a wheelchair that lost power on the dance floor though, so clearly they got cooler later on lol. Addendum here that I'm an autistic non drinker so that might colour things.

- to the white folks darkening their skin for generic Klingon cosplays, reconsider that one next year

- to the white guy wearing brown face paint to cosplay Worf specifically, what the fuck, man??

- to the person who boo'd the mention of Julian/Garak at the LGBTQ+ panel, fight me but also maybe skip whatever the equivalent is next year cause Andy Robinson's booked to come

- host mocked Scottish accents a couple times :(

- here's hoping the unions will have their demands met and we'll be able to talk about Star Trek publicly with actors who can access healthcare and pay their rent. But if not, at least we know the con will still be fun.

- maybe see you in Blackpool next July 💙

[blossom-adventures]

Kupo Con: Pom Central, Feb 24th & 25th 2024

Hey, everyone! It’s me, the elusive Blossom here with my post from KupoCon 2024!

My mum and I travelled down to Birmingham on Friday the 23rd of February, fully laden with cosplays for both Ardyn and Cloud it didn’t take long to get there by train and the walk to the hotel was short, as it was only across the road from the station. Once there we got settled, I unpacked my costumes and put them ready for the weekend, then I went downstairs and joined the attendees already hanging about in the bar.

It made me smile every time that I saw one of the guests arriving in the hotel lobby too, casually saying hello to David Menkin (Barnabas, FF16) as I got out the lift, or walking past John Eric Bentley (Barret, FFVIIR) having a long conversation with one of the artists who were attending

I reunited with friends that I’d met at Pom2 and met new ones that I’d missed last time, I traded Tripom (KupoCons series of trading cards, based on triple triad from the FF franchise) had drinks with friends, and had dinner and drinks at a restaurant called The Alchemist, then I headed back to my room at about half 10 for an early start on the Saturday.

An early start… I woke up at half 3 and didn’t get back to sleep 😆

We got up at 7 and went and had breakfast, I spotted David Menkin again at breakfast, as well as some of the Con staff, like Eric (the official photographer) who got some amazing pictures (honestly they’re incredible, they’re available on KupoCons FB page)

Then came the main convention, which was so fun! The queuing system worked so much better than it did at Pom2 which allowed me to meet the 4 attending guests; David, Lorraine, Christopher and Gideon (Barnabas, Charon and Gav from FF16 and Balthir from FF12 and Biggs from FFVIIR) they were all lovely and I was so happy I got chance to meet them all ☺️

Then I spent time catching up with friends, getting pictures, spending a ridiculous amount of money on official merch and artists merchandise, I’d saved up for this so damn it I was going to spend it all 😆

After the main event me and mum ventured out to get something to eat before making our way back to the hotel, we got in the lift with some other attendees and when we got out we saw Chris again and he asked if we were attending the evening party

Yes! I attended a party! I socialised… ME! I can barely believe it myself 😆 but I did and I had a great time!

Then came day 2, the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launch event which was just as good as the 1st day, I queued to meet the guests and managed to get there just before they were needed to go and do a panel, I met Caleb, Gideon again, John and Paul (Zack, Biggs, Barret and Cait Sith) who were all lovely, John repeated his actions from Pom2 and gave me a masquerade token for my Cloud cosplay, and he took the photo too because I couldn’t lean across the table because of the Buster Sword on my back, to which he replied “I’ve got you”

I had a lot of compliments about my sword, which really made my day! There was a Zack cosplayer, and a Cloud cosplayer that were really impressed with it (they had been following my progress on instagram) and my friend who printed the kit for me was really impressed with it too their compliments were so appreciated and I was so happy that they liked my cosplay and it made me feel proud that I had attempted it

Cloud was a cosplay of firsts; first prop, first attempt at armour, and first attempt styling a wig, I am so proud of it and to see so many people liked it really made me happy

[myballsitchaurghouchie]

💕Positivity prime time! Share five things you love about yourself, four things you're excited about, OR three people you care deeply about and why. Pass this along to someone else who makes you smile💕

Whale umm...

I can't wait for July 2025 bc I'll be going to a convention with my friend and we're doing matching cosplays of the Lamb and Goat !!! I haven't started mine (I don't think he has either) but doing my (One Piece) Perona cosplay was super fun and I'm hoping i can do better with this one instead of fainting because of the corset.

Also cannot wait for June 2025. That's when I finish my last year in university and then I'll be FREE FOREVER AND EVER WITH A USELESS DEGREE !!! WHAT A WIN FOR INCOMPETENT PEOPLE

I'm very excited about the Witch Hat Atelier anime that will come out in 2025. The manga is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, from the art itself to the character designs (THE CLOTHING HAVE YOU SEE THE OUTFITS. IT'S MY NUMBER ONE INSPIRATION FOR DESIGNING CLOTHES NOW), to the way Kamone Shirahama makes the art interact with the panels and decorates them (some of the pages look like they were taken right out of a fairytale book). The translation from manga to anime will take away some of my favourite aspects of it, but i'm still excited to see how it turns out.

And less certain of this but still looking forward to it; in the near future I'm hoping to open digital commisions as well as move to France so I can make and sell prints, charms, stickers and stuff. I'm unsure of how I'll go about it, but it's my one and only goal for the coming years. I've been itching to do that for a while now (+ my dad suggesting I should go and sell my art in Artist Alleys at conventions) but there's no manufacturer of such things in my home country and shipping it all here would be wayyyy too much of an investment. So you know. Hoping :)

Okay genuine Balls time over

[artfulacrostic]

dude there's something so surreal to me about the difference between the san diego comic con experience that i think most people have, vs the san diego comic con experience that hall h liners have/that people think sdcc is all about. like, i just spent three days having the time of my life learning all kinds of cool stuff at regular room panels, from writing tips to VO acting to cosplay to concept artists to costume designers to the process behind making creative works for all kinds of different IPs. i spent hours walking the exhibit hall and artist alley talking to vendors about stuff we love in common and talking to artists about their art and buying pieces to take home, and interacting with cosplayers of all ages and skill levels and making friends and learning how they made their costumes and all the work that went into it and sharing the joy of the fan experience.

i come home exhausted but happy and i open tumblr and i search the sdcc tag just for kicks, and every post is like, "robert downey jr is back in the mcu as victor von doom, BOOOO" and every post that isn't that is talking about some other big news from hall h and i feel like that all must have happened at some other convention, because i didn't hear even one bit of it at the one i went to!!

all this to say: if you went to sdcc and hung out in line for hall h every day and went to the huge panels, good for you! i support you lol, do what you want to do! but if you're someone considering going to SDCC for the first time next year, know that there are other, equally or even more fulfilling ways to spend your convention. hall h is just one (1) room in one of the biggest convention centers in the US, and cons are so so much fun. it's about more than just whatever mediocre marvel movie is next up on the slate! be free and have fun.

[kiscon]

CON FAR IS INTENSIFYING!!!

Dear K/S friends,

Greetings from the KiScon office where we are currently going from con farr to plak tow! Only three days to go and then it's time for an intense weekend full of K/S fun!

1. If you are already registered to attend KiScon 2023:

You should have received the Con Book (program booklet with the schedule, all the Zoom links, tons of information, and also the auction catalog) last night by email. If you don't see it in your inbox, please check your spam folder, or make sure you actually checked the email with which you registered for the convention on Conline. If you need to update your contact details that we use to send out all the KiScon info, please let us know; also, if you are not sure whether you are actually registered for KiScon (these things can happen): please get in touch with us so that we can sort this out. The Con Book will also appear on Conline at the start of the convention, but we wanted you to have the pdf file sooner, so that you can familiarise yourself with the online format of the convention. If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with us. There is also another opportunity this week for a last-minute tech check or for asking questions in a smaller setting: my fellow con chair StarshipLillian is sitting in our virtual KiScon office and happy to help! Upcoming Office Hours are: Thursday (2 Nov) 12:00–05:00 p.m. EDT. You can find the link in our kiscord. In preparation for the convention, please make sure that your Zoom app is up-to-date, and that your mic and camera are working as they should. Check whether you can log into your Conline account and have a look at your profile there: is your timezone set up correctly? Are you using the correct (fannish) name on Conline? The schedule on Conline is displayed in our main con time = Eastern / New York, but you can click on any of the times and a little box will appear next to it to tell you what time that is in your timezone. If you encounter any problems while trying to log in or edit your profile, please let us know immediately so that we can help you before the start of the actual con weekend. Here’s also a reminder that we have a cosplay competition! You can take part either live during our Zoom session on Saturday, or by posting recent ( = from 2023) pics of your cosplay in our Discord server. See the Con Book for rules and details, please. We also still accept last-minute entries for our cake contest! Should a sudden craving for cake (or any other baked goods) happen today or tomorrow, turn it into art by decorating it in K/S style, snap a photo, and send it to: cakecontest@kiscon.org. The winner will be determined on the last day of the con. 2. If you are not yet registered for KiScon but would like to join us last-minute: Head over to Conline and sign up! We have wonderful panels, fun vid shows, games, a great con zine, an amazing art show, and more. Meet fans who were there when Star Trek first aired on television. Meet fans who have only joined the fandom last year. We are a diverse crowd from all over the globe, and we would love to see you join us. If money is an issue: please apply for a scholarship (write to: larissa@kiscon.org).  3. Last chance to vote for your faves in the Philon Awards 2023: If you have not yet submitted your vote for the Philon Awards, here’s a last call to please do this: You can fill in the voting sheet embedded on the KiScon website, or (if your device does not display it properly) you can find it at this link. Even if you have not managed to read your way through the whole shortlist, vote for those categories that you had the time to enjoy. Voting closes on 1 November, 11:59 p.m. EDT. Jenna and Shelley will present the winners at KiScon. 4. Merch: If you would like to show your love for KiScon and K/S in style… we currently have a limited range of merch available in our Spring store, with mugs, stickers, and T-shirts (in various styles). The logo was designed by Page of Wands for KiScon. Proceeds go towards our projects and the upkeep of the KiScon website. More merch might get added later, but it's a start. (And I needed a stylish mug to feed my con-induced caffeine needs.)5. Where to find KiScon information & announcements:

Official website KiScon Discord server Tumblr blog Twitter Conline Facebook Group Dreamwidth Bluesky YouTube

[callgespenst]

Anime Central Day 1: The Truly Harrowing Ordeal of Being Known

Well, we got into Chicago and checked into our accommodations last night. This morning we got to the convention center early-ish (still a line around the corner to get in). Here follows highlights, in no particular order:

- got my Betsu Ten Gai nendoroid‘s base signed by the PILI staff. My wife got one of the cards signed, and we were lucky and got a bonus, very fancy Rou Fuyou shikishi.

- Not a whole lot I wanted in the dealer’s room (good, tbh). I got some Macross Delta keychains and two new robot blu-ray sets (Albegas, Layzner). Probably will end up back in there and buy a model kit sometime tomorrow.

- I wore my Jade Curtiss Tales of the Abyss cosplay today. I’ve been making and remaking this outfit for…a long time, and it’s finally done to my satisfaction. The boots and the gloves were the real bitch. Some minor improvements to make but overall I’m pretty happy.

- Had a great dinner with friends. I love telling people “Yeah the best part of Ideon: Be Invoked is how characters die and you think ‘at least they won’t see the horrors still yet to come’”.

- Handed out a whole bunch of robots and business cards and other fun little goodies.

- The clincher, however, was going to the panel for Tomo Sakurai. We got to hear her sing My Friends! It was an interesting retrospective on her career and time starting in the industry. Also we gave her the Gubaba plush I made, my best one yet, and she really seemed to like it! I gave a homemade gift to a celebrity and they appreciated it! And we’re going to her autograph session tomorrow. Someone famous, from something I like, being aware of my existence is truly, a bizarre sensation.

I need to go to bed. More tomorrow!