Con Report: Otakon 2011

Con Report for Otakon 2011

Alright, so I finally got my copy of this year's quote list.  I'm still waiting on photos from my friends, but they are notoriously slow on such things.  I myself did not actually take a great many photos, so those will come at a later date.

In the mean time, the report:
This year we were back in the sheraton.  The rooms aren't as big or as nice, but they are right next to the convention center, an important consideration for cosplayers and kigurumi.  An outfit made of black leather and nylon is not suited for direct sunlight over long periods of time.  We did things a bit differently this year, for the first time in the 7 years I've been going, we actually stayed until monday.  Smart move.  But more on that later.

As always, we met up wednesday night at a friend's place.  All but 2 of us.  We had 2 'new' people in our group, so we had to make some adjustments.  On thursday we had a rental van to drive down in.  We managed to get 6 of us, and our gear, into it.  Then we picked up a seventh for the first leg of the drive, to where we picked up our 8th member.  At which point we also added an additional vehicle and spread out a bit more.  Badge pick up has been excellent recently, there was no waiting again.  We then met up with some other people, and the 12 of us headed across the street to the Pratt Street Alehouse for dinner and booze.  We enjoyed this mightily, and declared it our new place to eat.  We had nearly every meal there for the rest of the con (this isn't as impress as it might sound, we generally only eat one meal a day while there).  By the last day our entire table would all order the french dip sandwich, it was made with shaved ribeye.  Very good.  I also introduced one of my friends to Glenfiddich 12 year old.  Also very good stuff.

Friday things were a little off for everyone.  We kept getting locked out of the things we wanted to see.  My friends missed out on the autograph session with the composer of the Final Fantasy musical scores.  We missed the AMV's.  Things were just off.  Friday morning I had my regular cosplay on, and it went over decently well.  There were a lot of really amazing outfits this year, so my own work no longer stands out quite so well.  But some people remembered me from previous years.  In the afternoon, after we got our convention shirts, we decided to go out in Kigurumi.  I went out as Talia, who cosplayed Saber from Fate/Stay Night.  My friend went out as Aroki as Erza Scarlett from Fairy Tale.  Both costumes were purchased, not made, by the way.  I felt really bad, though, because my friend had a bit of an attack and ended up having to make an emergency escape after only a short time in.  I stayed for most of the day, until it started getting dark.  The way the eyes are set up its hard to see if it is too dark or too bright.  I did get a few pictures, and started learning how to communicate better.  I didn't do too badly though, for a first time out.

Saturday was devoted entirely to my standard cosplay.  I don't have too many really outrageous moments from it.  The reaction was more low key than in past years.  I did a bit of shopping, talked to some people I know, took a bunch of pictures.  I may have made a few friends, if they ever contact me.  The masquerade had some very good parts and some very "uh, what" parts.  Our favorite MC was back once again, and he was quite entertaining.  I'm still hoping to find some of the really good skits on youtube, so far I've only found one of the decent ones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=731bnRiPblA
Oh, and I found out that you can do a professional photoshoot at the con.  Its free, and if they like your pics you might get into the officialy otakon convention booklet.  You have to pay if you want to get copies of the photos for yourself of course.  But a friend and I did do that, so it was cool.  The photographer takes one look at me, and goes, "yeah, we can't use the black background with you".  Oh, and we got photographed by one of the hotel maids who was making a scrap book.

Sunday was devoted solely to kigurumi.  My friend and I did these red and black punk sort of outfits.  To be honest, I didn't really like it much, but my friend picked it out and really wanted us to match.  So I went along with it.  After that we headed out.  We ended up running into a group of other kigs that my friend knows who come to otakon from time to time.  So we hung out with them for a bit, did a small photoshoot on one of the terraces.  Not really the best idea, it was Hot out there.  Sadly, one of the kigs was one of those I knew by reputation, and had even seen before.  He's annoying, but worse than that he does not follow the proper protocol.  He is constantly talking or pulling off his mask, both of which are Major no no's.  He even tries to get others to talk as well.  We all ended up back at the official otakon photoshoot, so we did another round of shoots as kigs.  The photographer liked me, had me do some 'sexy' solo shoots.  Still waiting to get my copy of those as well, you can all tell me if i look good or horrifying.  After the shoot, my friend once again had to bail due to stomach problems this time.  Felt really bad for her.  I went back to the room as well, and changed outfits.  Without someone to match, I wanted different clothes.  So I got into this one:
http://i-hate-the-world.deviantart.com/#/d42uq7q

It was a simple outfit, but I liked it.  One of the girls who helps with the other kigs threatened to steal my shirt.  When got into a 'battle', though I think I won when I was able to do a proper crane kick, in that outfit.  It helps being a martial artist sometimes.  We hugged and made up, sort of.  She started trying to size the shirt up while we were hugging.  But it made people laugh.  I spent the rest of sunday like that, till they kicked us out of the con, and we went back to the room.  Changed out and then we bummed around baltimore for a bit.  That night, we had the brilliant idea of "Hey, if we eat all the food and drink all the alcohol we won't have to pack it tomorrow!"  That was not one of our better decisions.  Sake, rum, scotch, irish cream, vodka, mead, etc.  And we played apples to apples while doing it. 

Monday was nice.  A very relaxing check out, some time wandering the malls, a nice lunch (if somewhat more simple in fare, in order to accomodate those hungover).  Then a drive back and back home

It wasn't the most thrilling of cons this year, it was a bit slower than normal for us, though maybe we're just getting old.

The Quote List:

Why aren't you typing -Damn near everyone at some point this weekend

How many boobs-in-a-box is too many? -¿?

which is more the boob?  the boob or the boob on the boob? -¿?

I do a lot of filing at work -E

I really don't want to, but my boyfriend thinks it's hot. -¿?

What the fuck is a riggy? -¿?

Heather, you sound like you're getting awfully...excited...by that tetris game. -¿?

Ben's ready to Tetris -H

Everybody must get sconed -P

I'm sorry, ma'am, but there's a Bounty on your head. -P

The deer departed -P

How'd they fit 8 cylinders in this thing? - M
Tetris -P

Hey...Storage space! -P

Dapesh mode?  Isn't that Rob's friend's brother's mode? -M

Just airdrop it. -¿?
Yeah, on top of thse convention center -¿?

D&D trucking - roll to deliver -¿?

I really hope we don't blow a tire...-M

They can't hear our converstion back here. -¿?

Pimp mah Alchemist -E

The battleship licence plate supports mattel -E

Look.  Depasquale mode. -E

Okay we saw Nicky.  time to head to Otakon -E

We're 5 minutes into the ride and she's already found acceptance in the group. -¿?

Put a fishtank up there.  A backlit fish tank. -¿?

Dryden way, next right. -P

The rental place wil need to put new shocks in this thing after this. -¿?

Yes, you are welcome to stay in my condominium.  It's large enough. -E
Whatver you do, don't go swimming in the pool -B

You have been deplored. -¿?

Americans are being deplored overseas is gramattically correct. -¿?

Let's get this guy hit by this guy.  That'd be a hell of a boom. -W

It fell down one day. -H
The stadium or the R? -P

Where else would I end up in the military? -E
The brig. -P

Two double beds, hold the panties. -¿?

PK Zip.  Ness uses his psychic owers to zip his fly. -E

I could forge a sword out of your sidewalk. -E

They are not mocking birds -w

Clearly we are in traverse town. -¿?

You can start bouncing, it's not in my mouth anymore. -H

Wait a minute...Why am I looking for my PDA?  It'll just wind up in a text file on the laptop, anyway.  -P

You're very shapely -E

Wait, who's in the active party here?

Who's carrying R back to the room?
Not it
Not it
Not it
Not it
Not it
I'll be it.

I need a square for my sandwich -R

No, beer.  Not beer flavored water. -P
He's Irish, don't mind him. - E

Of corsets a pain. -¿?

What happens at Otakon stays on Youtube. -M

Sorry creepy old man, I called this chair. -W

Greetings, my name is Ben and I'll be your neighbor for the night. -¿?Maybe B

W cooties. -¿?
You can get those at a home brewing store. -P

It's not con, it's pro. -B

Please don't go demon and obliterate everything.  Thank you. -B

Your christmas gift is I left my girlfriend at home. -¿?
WOOHOO! -¿?

He's a hideous disfigured monstrosity of a man. -B

I just got a bad image in my head of Margaret Thatcher on speed. -R

No cooperative flooding! -W
If you can't flood, can you master chief? - M
First we have to make a covenant to find a chief to master. -B

Well that failed, but my mouth is deliciously minty. -N

Ben makes crumbs. -W

Ben's a sconer - W
Hell hath no fury like a woman sconed? -N

Strangest CVS run ever.  Denture cream, paper towels, contact solution, and red eyes. -E
And a corkscrew. -P

So she got the ax and he got the chainsaw. -M

There are many socks in the castle. -¿?

Backup socks! -E

Dammit, I found the socks I was looking for. -B

I'm looking for someone l've never met in a disguise. -R

That is an awesome mailman costume -¿?

Somehow I don't think I'll win this staring contest -P

Sombody set up him the bomb? -P

How the hell do I add her contributions to the quote file? -P

I think you broke Talia. -¿?

She'll be okay. she has counterweights -P
*shakes fist angrily* -Talia

Press the blue MonStar button for service. -E

Believe it or not, the titty to cock ratio in this room is greater than 1. -B
Do you count the boobs in boxes? -E

I opened up my little hole and shot 2 straight ones in there.  Wham bam thank you ma'am. -H

Eeeew.  Old man sex. -R
I muted the TV at the wrong time. -B

Would security get pissed if I took a shower? -E

Captain Nero?  Like from 'Moby Dick'? -R

Sea cows.  Surf and turf all in one. -¿?

I wake up and it's fuzzy and dark with your butt pressed against my face. -N
Don't fart. -H

Normally he thinks and plots maniacally -w

We all have ROMs.  we're ROM-men -B

Walt is playing Tetris to mock us -P
ARE YOU? -H

The dead tribble in the garbage can amuses me. -M

You caused a computer to ragequit? -P

We're with the ham. -B

It's the Cypress. -P
Oh, God.  WHY DID YOU HAVE TO BRING BACK THOSE MEMORIES? -B

End of line is a Tron quote, not a Trigun quote. -P
*blink blink* Just go. -con staff lady

You keep showing that sign.  I do not think it means what you think it means -MC

Did Yuna just summon Cthulhu? -P

Never bring a gun to a frying pan fight -MC

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
EVERYTHING!

The gelatinous cube ate a box of Jell-o. -P

It's too HOT.  I'm too black for this shit. -Random resident of Baltimore

Is it bad when you see people dressed normally and think "They'd look better with a tail."? -M

You can tell I've been desensitized.  You're sitting there shaking your boobs and I'm going "oooh, french fries." -E

Grandparents and grandkids get along so well because they have a common enemy.  -source unknown, quoted by P

You know this is M's shirt, right? -H

...
...
...!
...?
...!?
@&$*
-the kigs

Sephiroth the seamstress -P
You need to cut the seam, just use the sword. -H

The kig is a lie! -P

I'm a kig collector.  Gotta catch 'em all -H

Bank error in your favor.  collect $20 -W

Herbie goes wild -P

Is it okay if I pick this up now...is that a bowtie? -Waiter at Pratt St. Ale House

Yes, W, they had gaspacho n the 1920's -P

You sound like you're PMSing, Ben. -w

Crazy screaming cleavage lady. -¿? N?

Tentacle porn for the win. -W

Elmo wins. -E

Twenty twenty twenty four hours to go, I wanna be pathetic. -B

Fish suicide -W

What do I find melodramatic? -E
Circus peanuts -P

P, take notes. -W

Somebody set Nicky to vibrate. -E

I don't know how many animals run around after you cut their heads off. -B
People do that too if you let them. -N

Are we going to mardi gras next year? -B

Apple pie is code  for vagina -N

B's an angry woman -E

Apparently I drank so much, you go drunk sitting next to me -E

B? Your charger's not working -E

I think you were supposed to know what those names meant. -w

Toy Story 4: e-bay adventures

Yeah, yeah, I already put "Why aren't you typing?" into my PDA