Oni-Con 2005 II
So after the panel, we wandered around some more like bums (we were there for the jrock, so the blah times between Phantasmagoria-stalking were blah...they put everything we wanted to go to during Phan-stuff or the 4-hours-before-wait-in-line time). Sat in the game arcade and watched DDR players (the DDR-type game that's not In the Groove looks fun~). At some point on Saturday, we were photographed by Photo Guy again, but I don't remember when. Anyway, we got bored of that and went back to the room to scribble Phantasmagoria's names all over our arms with the intent of...eliminating boredom and kind of to see if we could get DVD-ed like that again. So that took up a loooot of time, as we kept having to redo things (hehe...like Iori...which looks like 伊織...which I'm glad I wasn't the one redoing). We left at about 6:30 (concert, keep in mind, is at 9:30) to get into line, and did a *SHOKKU* at the huuuuuuuge freaking line that was already there. We freaked, then figured out it was the cosplay line, and felt much better. So we end up in the really really front of the concert line, and are greatly excited. Then they come and disperse us, which is not fun, but oh well. So we hung around pretending we weren't in a line and started talking to a cuople of people. We had the makeup pen we had used for drawing complicated kanji names, and I ended up gaining a very pretty swirl (which I never actually saw) and "Holy Crap It's Phantasmagoria" on my hand, and Mark obtained a beautiful green 自動販売機 (vending machine). So, it approaches line-up time, so we get ready...ready...GO. Our group is first-ish at the door, and we are happy. And then the people decide that the line starts, not at the door, but in front of us. So, we're in the back-ish. And pissed. To relieve that, and the boredom we were facing at the daunting hour wait ahead (that turned into a two-hour wait), we broke out in song and dance. Can-can was first, but stopped because of the whole kicking-is-potentially-harmful business. Then, any kids song we could think of (the wheels on the bus, this is the song that never ends, etc.). Most notable was our rendition of the Pokemon theme song, which received much applause, as opposed to our 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall, which received a coordinated "SHUT UP." (we got to 59). So, I think we ran out of songs or something. M and S got a wonderful idea at some point to help out this girl with the "Yaoi and Yuri Fund" by whoring themselves out for Live Yaoi. Essentially, donate and some gay kissing will occur. So we watched (with loud screaming applause) as various combos of four guys (half were straight, one gay, one unknown but probably straight) did some interesting things, as well as two girls a couple of times. missleliz, C, and I even got a chant going: "Live Yaoi! Live Yuri! Nay Heteros!" So that was fun. And then.....THE LINE STARTED MOVING. And.....Phantasmagoria rocked. This one was sooo much better than the one on Friday. Everyone was crazy enthusiastic (including the random dirty-dancing couple who I swear were from Saturday Desray) and headbanging and yadda. So after the concert, missleliz, M, and I kind of died on the side of the room. I got back up a bit afterwards to go hunt for picks or waterbottles or such that someone miiiiiiight have left behind (...ha...ha...) And scary translator lady from the panel yells at me: "STOP! GET BACK HERE!" and gestures behind the barricade to the side of the stage. I go back and there are three other girls there, and all of us are freaking out because we think we're in trouble. missleliz is by now at the barricade wondering whaaaat we're doing. So we sit there and freak a bit more, and omnipresent dude from jpophouse comes out and starts interrogating us. Age, whether we're staying at the hotel, yadda. So he goes away, comes back quickly to assure us we aren't in trouble, but rather it's a "special present." So, we're still confused. He comes back with scary translator lady and tells me and this other girl to go away since we are minors, and the other two are told they can stay. So we two whine that "my grandma/mom is here...it's ok...." and he agrees to call us if anything could be changed about their no-minor contract. So we leave. And I never figure out what it was >< Darn being a minor! So anyway, missleliz and I went back and changed into pajamas, got drinks from the bar (coke and cherry, woowoo), and meandered to join D and group in the semi-rave. Actually, we wanted to hit Yaoi Fest, but they were carding and, again, we're minors. And there was some stuff about missleliz and M and wrong phone numbers. So we "raved". And there was a funny guy in little shorts. And I was really tired, so I don't remember much of what happened there. Oh well. Realizing we had to get up early Sunday for the banquet with OMGPHANTASMAGORIA, we decided to sleep.
Outfit: Phantasmagoria shirt, goth-type black skirt, boots, Ao's makeup
Sunday: Attempted to get up early (ended up waking at about 9), and make-upped and yadda. Were forced to go eat breakfast, while mom waited in banquet line for us. Got food, returned, sat in the surprisingly empty line. Went over to ask at con ops where the banquet line actually was, as we had guessed and wanted to make sure. They told me that both echostream and Phantasmagoria had cancelled from the banquet, and they were giving refunds. Went back to break the news to missleliz, and saw Photo Guy on the way back. Said hi, and he kept walking (!) Went and shared, sat in fuming silence. Photo Guy comes running back, wanting to take pictures. missleliz didn't want to, so I went with him and did the whole photoshoot deal again. Asked him where all these pictures were going to go, and he told us he's been taking pictures of cosplayers (which we weren't really) for 6 years and sticking them on his site. So, look for us there ^^ So we wasted time in the dealer's room searching for something to buy to make us feel better, but there wasn't much still. Hung around where the autograph/picture line was going to form, then got into line. Waited and waited and rehearsed what we were going to say to the jrockers. For me:
Jun: I work in a convenience store too (re: panel question)
Riku: love his lyrics
Kisaki: ask him for a high five
Matoi: good at dancing
Iori: obligatory saiko, come to america deal
and those took crazy long to make up. Line moved, we took pictures, and KISAKI LEANED TOWARD ME FOR THE PICTURE AND PUT HIS SHOULDER ON MINE AND OMG OUR SHOULDERS WERE TOUCHING. And they smelled nice. JUN had a nice hide hat on. We got back into line for the autographs, got shuffled back-ish when the lines were moved downstairs, and moved sporadically when they decided to only let 15 people go up at a time. Finally got up there, and Phantasmagoria decided they were only going to sign CD booklets. We had posters. So, coerced my mom to running out to the car and unpacking our suitcases and searching for the cds. We got them juuust in time. We went in, and they seemed really quiet and really hurried. So, I ended up telling Matoi he was good at dancing and Kisaki "thank you for coming to America". And, walked away with Phan-sigs! Which are pretty and illegible. Kisaki signed as 神 (god). And then.....we went home ^^