first dibs in dealer's room!
One of the perks of being a VIP badge holder is being able to go to the con at 10am, when all the industry/dealers/exhibitioners are there for their networking, press and photo time. So, much of the dealer's room was set up already and I got to make my first rounds. Rest of the congoers arrived at 2pm. Four hours of not bumping into people, and I get to check out everything. ^.^ So cool!
Good thing too, I made many of my purchases at that time. My first and only purchase for myself was 'Ai no Kusabi' vol. 1. *hugs book* So happy when I found it. ^.^ Now for friends.... I picked up a chibi-Sasuke pin and RK shitajiki board for Jenn-chan. I found the yaoi doujinshi booth (yay!) and spent a good period of time there searching through GW, FMA and YYH doujins. I picked up a GW doujin for Theresa-neechan. No Loveless doujins, seems like they're a rarity. The Gravitation doujins were there (though they'll be gone by the end of the day,) but I refrained from buying any of them. ^^;
 I took a lunch break at the 'Maid Cafe' which basically had EGL cosplays standing at the entrance posing for pics, waving and smiling. If the maids did anything else later on, I had no clue because that was the only visit I made to the cafe. After my turkey sandwich, I resumed my shopping. I ended up buying a Tokidoki shirt. Kawaii! I was eyeing the Loveless shirt, but declined after recalling that I don't feel comfortable in pink (even though Ritsuka looks so awesome on both shirts. ^-^)
my name to face problem continues...
Earlier, a Youji (Loveless) found me and we started talking before we separated to do our own thing. But not before we arranged to meet in the evening for photos with her Natsuo. Youji and Natsuo! Sugoi! Funny thing is, throughout the weekend, I kept on failing to recognize her on sight even though she picked me out so quickly. ^^; I know my memory is pretty bad...especially since her cosplays are so different that I can't tell immediately. Or I'm just bad at recognizing people. *blush* Her second cosplay outfit of the day was Louise Meyrink from King of Fighters. With white wig and blue lipstick. How could I tell it was her? *click click of camera* ^.^
no lines for signings!
Another perk of being VIP was bypassing all lines at the con. It didn't matter this time since I was the first one anyway at the Funimation booth for the One Piece signing. ^^V The signging was for One Piece, but I was actually there to grab more autographs from FMA voice actors. ^^;
Left is Colleen Clickenbeard and right is Sonny Strait. Since I never saw Sonny before, I was totally fangirling when he finally sat down. *faints* Also there was Michael McFarland and Justin Cook. Colleen (Riza Hawkeye) signed my FMA movie card, Sonny (Maes Hughes *fangirl squeal*) signed my FMA cast pic and the movie card, Justin (Russell Tringham) signed the cast pic and Michael (Jean Havoc) signed the movie card. All of them got green tea marble pocky. ^.^ Yay! Pocky love!
Funny moment: Sonny thought the pocky was for signing (since it was the third thing I handed to him) and proceeded to doodle Krillin (DBZ) on it and signed it beautifully. I laughed, explained it was for him and handed him another box of pocky. Colleen who was next picked up the signed box and said (paraphrasing) 'Then I'll take the autographed box!' Both laughed when they saw my sad face and she traded the signed box for a new one. ^.^
After the Funi signing, I headed over to the Tom Wayland and Michael Sinterniklaas signing. There was already a line (though quite short,) but I was first again. *bragging* ^^; Tom Wayland came and he started signing stuff as we waited for Michael. Tom (Kasumi's brother) signed the inside cover of my Alien Nine dvd. ^.^ We waited quite some time before the staff and Tom found out that Michael was lost. Tom was giving him directions, but he didn't know where he was. The staff and I was talking by that time and I described his features (since the staff had asked if I saw him before.) Since my description was 'brown hair, light facial hair, skinny, not very tall' they couldn't really do much and started asking if I could go locate him. We were discussing if he'll actually notice me since I was an asian girl with cat ears and tail when he arrived. Michael signed my Weiss Kreuz pic as the director and I gave him pocky. Of course, Tom got his box before. ^-^ Below pic: Michael on the left, Tom on the right.
 a different type of manga
I browsed around the Dealer's room some more and caught this dancing around.
It is Happi Paper from the online webcomic on bekyoot.com. Still don't know what it is? It is a walking toilet paper roll. O.o Kawaii! It makes the funniest and cutest sounds. Watch it dance! Kawaii! *glomp*
I headed over to the Go! Comi panel where they introduced two authors that are featured on their site as webcomics, Aimee Major Steinberger of 'Japan Ai' and Wendy Pini of 'Masque of the Red Death'. After much technical difficult with computer + projector, we saw a trailer of 'Masque of the Red Death' (a very different thematic manga with light yaoi concentrated on pictures rather then words) and parts of 'Japan Ai' that may or may not have ended up in the book. What I thought was awesome about Aimee is the fact that her book is more of a tutorial or guide to otaku Japan rather then a manga. And they were from her random sketches and weren't in actual manga form. Also, she is 6ft tall and loves cosplaying EGL. O.o *cheers*
They started giving out some manga for answering questions. Their last one was 'Tell me something about Aimee.' I raised my hand immediately and answered (now that I think about it, quite stupidly...but true) that 'She designed my VIP pass.' *bragging again* When I went forward to collect the book, the panelist asked 'What is VIP? Are you very important?' I smiled and answered briefly, 'I'm just someone who paid too much money for my ticket....' *blush* Aimee signed my book afterwards.
Loveless pics!
The following panel was featuring DramaQueen's yaoi line. When it was starting, I found myself being hit with a plushie. It was Youji and Natsuo! How in the world did they find me?!? We stepped out of the panel and took pics. ^-^
We went to the Cosclips booth where there is someone who take your pics with a solid background. We got alot of awesome shots and I bought one of myself as Ritsuka looking at the phone...waiting for Soubi to call. Kawaii! ^.^ Since we were a group, we had lots of picture requests.
The above pic is the Zero team attacking me in a spell battle...though it never happens in the series. Me: Soubi, doko deska? *emo tear*
We walked around some more until the Zero team needed to meet up with friends to go ice skating in Bryant park. They're going in Ouran cosplays! Sugoi! I want to iceskate in cosplay too! (Though all my cosplays-except for Ritsuka-will be difficult to iceskate in. ^^;) I headed to the masquerade.
World Cosplay Summit = Cosplay Olympics
The masquerade at this convention was also where the cosplayers of US can compete to become Team America! *fanfare* at the World Cosplay Summit in Japan 2008. Different cosplay teams from around the world will compete to be named the best in the world. Wow.... O.O The MC of the evening was otaku comedian, Uncle Yo. He is hilarious! Before the event started, his fans were already cheering from the crowd. ^.^ In between the different skits, he would throw out all sorts of randomness and he entertained us while the judging was going on. There was so many awesome skits! Youtube links to other fav skits below. ^-^
 After the masquerade, I called the car service, got to the apartment, washed my hair, ate dinner and slept.
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