Edited multiple times from the original.
Just got back today from AWA 16, and had a really great time! My friends and I cosplayed as four of the five Gundam Wing pilots, in normal outfits and in Preventer uniforms, which we also wore last year. More people recognized us than I thought would, but not as many as I had hoped. We'll be working on perfecting the costumes for next year, though!
So, here is the run-down (hitting only on what happened at the con, of course, you don't need to know what we did on any personal level):
Thursday
Duo and I checked into the Waverly, and went to the Super Happy Fun Sell, which in some ways is cooler than the Dealer's Room. It was surprising how many people were at the hotel! When we arrived last year, the place was almost entirely empty! Some time after Heero and Quatre's arrival, we ended up ordering dinner from Pizza Hut that night, which was oh so very wonderful (stuffed crust, y'all, only thing that beats stuffed crust was the cheese crust pizza Papa John's or one of the other establishments had back in the 90s).
I accidentally hit the trigger of the room's hair dryer and it cut on, because the last person hadn't switched it off. The lights in the room flickered when I did. I'll get back to that, later.
Ahhh, and the arm bands bear mention. So, yeah, I made everything harder than it should have been (as I am apt to do), and made putting the arm bands together just as slow and tedious as I could possibly have made it, though I suppose it could have been a little slower. Score for Wufei. I was up really late sewing, because it is something I haven't done in a very long time. That, and I had to iron my outfit because, in spite of it making it here all the way from Shanghai without a single wrinkle, my dog sat on it and wrinkled the whole entire thing.
By the way, fun fact about Wufei: His shoes are shaped more like ballet flats than any Tai Chi shoes I could find (short of spending a lot of money to get the exact shoes imported from China), and he is, my companions pointed out, the only character who carries a bag (I am known for my plethora of really big bags and my lack of actual purses). So, yeah, we got a laugh out of Wufei's feminine side, and, for the record, $12.00 rubber-soled leather ballet shoes from Target will rub and burn your feet like a f*ckn b*tch. I am sorry, but I cannot bring myself to euphemize that for you. I must be entirely plain: They hurt. They will slowly crush half your toes over the course of the day and they will slowly grind your soles as if to malform them. They will be padded next year, or I will be wearing slipper socks and walking around in those half the day. So, yeah, I'm a moron for not buying them sooner so I could work this issue out in advance.
Friday
By the time we were ready to walk out the door, my whole group was rather jealous with how quickly I was ready to go, but I will say this: The pants needed an elastic or drawstring waist, and the waistline itself was not high enough, rendering the belt rather pointless as it kept sliding around. The fabric is terrible, and next year I will be constructing them myself out of old Judo pants. They were not terrible, and I am glad the outfit arrived (literally two days before the convention), but I will be using it to construct a better one. The lesson here is this: no matter what they tell you, order your costume early in the year. Pretend the convention is three months sooner than it is. Get your sh*t together.
The four of us sat in the lobby for a good while in costume and got some really great pictures. Meanwhile, we watched people walk around us without the vaguest flicker of recognition our way. Because Gundam Wing isn't recent, I guess. I just ... think it would be awesome if someone acknowledged us. Pardon the phrasing (if anyone's ever watched Vandread and listened to Hibiki yell and rant for twenty plus episodes about acknowledging his bleedingnobodycares existence.).
After this we went to the Galleria, to check to see if there had been any changes in times, because last year they changed the times up and didn't put the changes in the program. They hadn't finished setting stuff up yet, though, but we did meet another Heero who was sweet enough to show up later as Trowa. That rocked.
Then there was the opening ceremony. We were disappointed that Troy Baker didn't come back, because he was so freaking awesome last year, but Vic Mignogna was there, and his first panel was after the con, which was when Troy's was last year. Shinji Aramaki was there and that was pretty cool, and they announced that some Japanese band was making their U.S. debut, and that sounded cool but we didn't go. And so on and so forth.
And then . . . VIC! He was so fantastic. He was fun to listen to, and joked around a lot, and seemed like a really personable individual. He was actually better than I expected him to be, since I tend to steer away from stuff when it's got a lot of hype built up around it, so I was never much of a fan. I mean for a little while, yes. I kept bugging a friend once about him being there last year, because I really wanted her to go to the con, or to plan on going the next year. I knew she would enjoy it. I think I might have pissed her off, though, because she doesn't talk to me anymore. In any case, Vic was beyond cool and I'll see if I can't get my videos uploaded to YouTube so I can share them with y'all.
Oh yes, and he talked a lot about working on a project with Troy Baker, who, again, wasn't there.
As for the rest of Friday, we hit Artist Alley and the Dealer's Room, which was a little bit sad for me because I had no money this year. The Dealer's Room was kinda small, or so it seemed. :p I still need Naruto slidie charms for my cell phone. Someone had them last year. They need to put the popular stuff like the food and drink in the back like last year, because that's where people congregate and it chokes the aisle, and makes it hard for groups of not-tall people to find each other.
We were split up for a little while, and that was when we met our Heero-Turned-Trowa. I am glad to not have mixed passion fruit slushie on my white suit. After that, my memory is shoddy on what all happened. I mainly remember wanting to eat, and trying to find some semblance of alertness inside of myself so that I could participate like half a human being. I believe we went and hung around the lobby though I'm actually not sure. I know Duo and Heero and I sat around in the big tall chairs near the registration desk at some point, making all those plans that I epically failed to remember.
We eventually headed back to the room to get ready for the ball. It went smoother this year because a) as for myself, I actually had makeup this year and b) I didn't put the lights out. This brings us back to the hair dryer I mentioned. You see how much trouble I cause? This is why they call me Mikey (Yes, if you hear the name of Mikey, look around for Wufei). Last year I went to use the room's hair dryer, and the power in the room went out. Do not use the hair dryers.
During this process of getting ready, we split up, as Quatre and I started getting ready while Heero and Duo went out and did whatever it was they did, which included taking some really awesome pictures.
We ate at the ball because there were not as many people last year and they did not run out of food and drink in the first thirty minutes. And registration remembered my ticket this year, which was a definite bonus. The food was great, except for the chicken or whatever that was ... it was reminiscent of college cafeteria over-fried steak.
I am not sure what we did after that, but I wish I had gone to watch Hellsing Ultimate, now that I see it on the schedule. Like I said, though, I was truly failing on an epic scale at this point to remember what our schedule was, and didn't think to carry a copy with me.
I went for a went for a walk with Heero and Duo with Preventer jackets on, and the security guard over at the mall thought we were in real uniforms, which upon reflection is kinda scary. I mean of course we told her about the anime convention, and, well the jackets are handmade. Hand sewn, no sewing machine. I guess that means we rock? o_o Still, not exactly the best thing on Earth to be mistaken by security for security. As I recall, we were out searching for coffee because the room had a crappy little single-cup coffee maker and Starbucks always closes whenever Duo decides to go for a drink. The best part was running into the woman who cosplayed as Lady Une last year.
I has a Fullmetal Alchemist bag. I have been planning to buy the same bag since last year.
Saturday
We wore the regular costumes again, and I went with Duo to the Yokai panel, while Heero and Quatre went to see Vic's second panel (which I continued to think was the Death Note Murder Mystery because my memory was just crappy like that). The Yokai panel was interesting. The guy apparently didn't know he was doing the panel until the last minute, and his teammates never showed up, it seems. So he was stuck there with a copy of Yokai Attack and an audience member (Duo) who knew enough about Yokai to run the panel herself. I tried to talk her into it, but in the end we just left feeling sorry for the guy.
I am told that Vic's second panel was really awesome. We hung around the registration area during his panel, and I got a few pictures in of other cosplayers (I left the convention with 170 pictures and 9 videos).
At some point we spent forever hanging around the lobby, and we met with Lady Une (version two, with hair down and no glasses), and with Heero/Trowa/...Lady Gaga.
We returned the dealer's room at some point (which I distinctly recall because at one point I took my shoes off and just stood there in the middle of the nice cool floor in utter relief. the idea of walking around my socks was a little too strange for me to get my head around, so i was incredibly stubborn about wearing the flaming shoes).
At some point, Quatre ran off and bought a print she wanted of a cookie squid. I don't actually remember when that took place, which bears mention because ... well it's a cookie squid. What part of that isn't bizarrely cute? And ... really bizarre? I actually think it was earlier in the day because it was before we met with Lady Une. We stood around and talked to her out of costume for a while in Artist Alley, long before we met with her in the lobby. So, yeah, some part of all the trips to Artist Alley and the Dealer's Room has become a blur in my memory. Heero bought an owl and it is super cute. :)
After that, myself and Duo and Heero switched into the Preventer uniforms that people tend not to recognize, and eventually we split up, the details of which are annoying to me and I will not divulge them. Namely I am annoyed with myself, but anyway. . . .
I missed Hacking in Anime, which Heero says was fantastic, and the Gundam photoshoot, which I find a little devastating to have missed because I was, at that time, off elsewhere with Quatre. They say they are planning to bring the Death Note Murder Mystery back next year, because people really loved it, but we all missed that, as it was hard to find, and Quatre and I wouldn't go without Heero (who is a Death Note fan. As for myself, I am not much of a fan, so it made little sense for me to try and attend without her, besides which she'd wanna kill me for doing so.). I'd like to know how it went.
The Panel of Doom is funny, but aside from the fact that I started blacking out from exhaustion (or else falling asleep with my eyes open or something), it was really really long, so we didn't stick around.
Heero and Duo went for dinner since Quatre and I had already eaten. Quatre walked off and did something else (I don't know what), and I sat around in the lobby sulking because I was pissed off with myself (Wufei fans should get a kick out of that). I had a security person do a double take and ask if I was working for the con. I moved my con badge to the front of my jacket. Nice and clear. I know they had lanyards, but I didn't like the lanyard with that costume, so I wasn't using it at that point. I did have a Wufei button pinned to the badge, though. I sat around for a really long time sitting around with a sketchbook, mostly just meditating over it and otherwise was people watching.
There was a game of Ninja going on that night, until security broke it up. Why, I don't know. I don't think it classifies as mock combat, and it definitely wasn't horseplay. The audience wasn't getting worked up or anything. It struck me as being rather like a cross between Chess and Twister. And since the object of the game is to not be touched, I simply do not see the harm in it.
I had the opportunity to meet someone else cosplaying as Heero, and sat around talking to her, along with Duo who had now become a Panda Preventer. The grandest result of this is our joke about Wufei joining Mariemeia to save the world from bad credit.
I just noticed there is an event called "Cosplay Skit Heaven (Videos)". It makes me wonder, because the one fellow at the closing ceremony shuddered and explained why AWA has no skits anymore: because they had them the first five years, and they were so horrible that people left the room and there would be no one left to watch. So the fact that there is a video thing called cosplay skit heaven is kinda funny and really does make me wonder.
The video room playing Black Lagoon closed an hour earlier than the program said it would. We only saw two episodes, and it irks us.
Sunday
I was the only one in full cosplay, because . . . well it is just that easy for me (sorry, guys ^_^;;), besides which I happen to find the twenty pound boots really comfortable, aside from the fact that I'm sort of wearing them out.
The day started with something really awesome Vic Mignogna put together (Heero filmed the whole thing. My camera ran out of space for it.).
After that, we saw Travis Willingham and Laura Bailey, otherwise known to some as the voices of Roy Mustang and Lust. It was really amusing, but I didn't go diving for my camera for any reason; however, they talked about the elusive EXCALIBUR Troy Baker. Not that, you know, Soul Eater was released in English this year and there were a ton of people dressed as the characters. Not to mention how many other popular voice actors are in it.
Of course, Sunday is the best day of the con to hit the Dealer's Room because half the stuff gets marked down. I got separated from the group, and bought some stuff for my brother. Thanks to texting, we met up once more and hung around the lobby, where we met the same Heero that Duo and I talked to the night before. :) She's awesome, and I got a picture (I love friendly people . . . what is up with all the rude or otherwise aloof cosplayers. :p It's okay to smile and be appreciative when someone appreciates the effort you've just put into your costume, or the fact that you dressed as someone hardly anyone dresses up as, or for crying out loud actually recognized your character! Even if you are in a hurry or something. Be decent. Jeeez.).
I went to the Funimation panel while the others wandered off on their merry way. It was kinda cool. They talked about the new site and upcoming anime like Eden of the East and Disgaea (both of which I really want to see, now). Seriously, if you like anime and your computer is okay with video stuff, go to Funimation.com. They have lots of cool stuff to watch. I used to watch FMA: Brotherhood every Thursday, and for a while I scheduled it as part of my morning. If you can't upload on Funimation.com, go to their YouTube channel.
I wandered, assuming everyone had gone to the Pokemon panel. I went and sat in front of it, before I realized that it still had more than thirty minutes left, so I got up and walked off. I met an old friend from college, who cosplayed as Walter and Mello last year. And then I met with Duo, Heero, and Quatre, and we spent forever sitting around talking about stuff with Lady Une, and we briefly met with ... how do I put this ... Mugen who used to be Heero/Trowa/Lady Gaga/Heero. Only this time he had a wig on and I totally did not recognize him. The outfit really suits him. ^_^
Closing ceremony bears mention. Michael Sinterniklaas and Vic hid behind the stage and made all kinds of noise through the first half, and we got to hear an Ed Elric scream when one of the directors decided to jump off the back of the stage to get them to stop. That made the whole ceremony for me: the Edward scream. That and the two of them acting like fools, and Michael sitting in Vic's lap acting like a four-armed Shiva. In case there was any doubt as the the incredible talents they possess: they are improv masters.
Next year, it would be awesome to see a group panel with Micheal, Vic, and Troy, though I don't know that Michael has done anything with both of them. I just know that he and Vic were hilarious together.
I watched parts of Samurai X and Peacemaker last night with Duo, which was cool because I have never really sat down and watched much of Kenshin, and I have never seen Peacemaker. It's interesting how they take place from opposite points of view during the Meiji Era. I just started reading Patrick McCarthy's translation and discussion of the Bubishi, which has a brief discussion of the Meiji Era in the first chapter. I totally fell asleep watching Peacemaker.
The weekend was too short, and my computer won't let me watch Soul Eater.
And in case no one knows what a Preventer is, this is Wufei, in a
Preventer Uniform at the end of Endless Waltz.
It would be so cool to have a laptop like that. I'm thinking of building a portfolio that looks like that on the outside, with pictures from Gundam Wing on the inside. I want to bring pictures for reference, both for us as we're putting our costumes together, and for the people who stop us and go, "What's that from? I know it from somewhere...," which no one actually did this year but a whole ton of people did last year.
