Wednesday, August 22, 2007

   Anime Evolution 2007: Day 0
I guess my convention recap really begins the day before the convention. Partly there was the pre-registration night to go to, partly because I just happened to do a lot that day . . . so let's start at the beginning . . . . .

I called "Pein" (formerly "Yoruichi", formerly "Byakuya") around noon and picked her up about half an hour later; she was gonna be spending the weekend at my place since I live much closer to the convention than she does (and she wouldn't have had any other way to get there). She was still rather flustered when I picked her up because all her cosplay stuff and luggage was at her mom's place. No problem, we just drove there so she could get her stuff. She figured she'd only need about ten minutes to get everything, so I drove and got an iced cap' from Tim Horton's to kill time . . .

When I got back, she still wasn't done; she couldn't find her passport which was her picture ID! Well, after a long while I eventually helped her snoop around for it (it didn't happen). Needless to say, she was pretty choked. We went back to her dad's place to check around there for something (she eventually found an old student card which worked). After this, we went to the mall to buy some last-minute supplies.

. . . while driving to the mall, "Pein" remembered that she forgot her cat contact lenses and tail; she was pissed again. Too late, though . . .

Because of all the rushing, we had to shift our plans around a bit. We wanted to go to the mall to get supplies, but I had to pick up my mom and get her to a massage appointment first! Naturally by this point rush hour traffic was starting to pile up (along with a traffic collision, I believe), so I just barely got back to town in time for her. I dropped "Pein" off at a nearby costume shop we had frequented through the week so she could buy another wig and more spirit gum while I grabbed my mom. It all more or less worked out . . .

It worked out better once my mom called my brother for a pick-up, meaning we didn't have to rush back from the mall to pick her up and bring her home. So yeah, we dropped her off at the massage place and hauled ass to the mall . . .

Well, we hit the mall at about 4:45pm or so and split up to get supplies. Funny enough, once we got into the parking lot she put on her purple Yoruichi wig just for kicks . . . anyways, she needed leg wrappings, a couple cosmetic bits and to get her eyebrows plucked (something I shall never truly appreciate, I imagine . . .); I, meanwhile, needed a pocket handkerchief for my tux' (more on that later), some sausages or pepperoni sticks, and a big thing of Chinese baked goods. Ultimately, we more or less got everything we needed within the hour. Back home!

We had REALLY wanted to get to the convention before 7pm for pre-registration and all that, so once we got home we changed FAST. "Pein" got herself into her Yoruichi wig, cat ears and bell, and sun dress (sort of a half-cosplay, if you will). I, meanwhile, got into my old tuxedo from when I graduated high school . . .

You see, this year Anime Evolution decided to put on a formal Masquerade Ball! I had wanted to go to the one at Sakura-Con, but since "Pein" didn't wanna go I ended up not going. Well, she still wasn't interested in formal dances, but this time around I wasn't gonna let that stop me! If we had to split up once we got there, so be it . . . I wasn't missing this one - not this time. So yeah, I put on my tux'. My mom and brother were probably wondering what the hell was going on but didn't question us or anything . . . all for the better.

Well, we each grabbed a pork bun for dinner (there WAS real dinner laid out for us, but we were in a hurry) and eventually got to the convention at about 7; later than we wanted, but no worries. And so we arrived, parked, walked to registration, got into the big line-up with the exothermically-excited otaku air (gross) and waited.

Well, I had to wait, anyway; "Pein" got fast-tracked through a lucky break of letter-calling and went straight to the front to register. Ah well . . . a few people took my picture since I was all tux'ed out (most guys going to the Masquerade Ball were in suits, only one or two other guys wore actual tuxedos). At some point in the line-up I noticed that "Pein" was talking to another girl . . . it was her very, very close friend from conventions past who wasn't actually supposed to be able to make it to the con' this year! She was going on a cruise during the weekend (which bummed "Pein" out big time on top of her forgetting her tail and eyes) . . . buuut, she wasn't leaving for the cruise until Friday. So, she came for the ball! "Pein" looked happier. That made me happier.

It was past 8pm when I finished registering and took a quick stroll out into the open air and eventually towards SFU's "Convocation Mall" where the ball was taking place. Just so you understand, the Convocation Mall is basically a large, covered outdoor area with a short stage that most large ceremonies at the school take place . . . in fact, I'll link a picture:

E2007006.jpg
(Most of the blue chairs were taken out so we could dance there . . . got it?)

So anyway, I got there, looked around, saw all the nicely dressed people getting ready . . . others were at the mask-decorating station so they could work on masks if they didn't have any . . . it was cool. I chatted with a couple guys I knew for a bit, but ultimately I had to go find "Pein" and company. And she wasn't answering her phone . . .

. . . well, I found her soon enough, chatted with her and friend . . . and wouldn't ya know it? Her friend was wearing an evening gown and a mask! Ahh, the joys of peer-pressure . . . looks like "Pein" was gonna join us for the Masquerade Ball after all, whether she wanted to dance or not! Here, have a reference photo:

http://www.bcphotoforum.com/tempest/081607_ae/pages/DSC_2567.htm
("Pein" has purple hair.)

So at 9pm the ball officially started. We had missed the "intro lesson" at the beginning, so we were all extra messy . . . well, kinda. I was still working off of five years of swing background, so hopefully that gave me a bit of help in leading a dance . . . but we'll find out . . . heh, I tried to see if I could get something working with both "Pein" and her friend . . . both times it didn't work too well (also, "Pein" just really, really didn't wanna dance . . .)

Well, the MCs and all were very much looking forward to seeing everyone all mingling together, so a bunch of times he'd call out for all the leads to line up on one side and all the follows to line up on the other, and then we'd pair off with fresh people. After that he'd then shout "switch!" every now and then so we'd change up partners. Well, luckily for us he eased up on that in the end half (because it REALLY sucks to leave a partner mid-song!). After a while, it seemed like a lot of people were getting a lot more comfortable with the formal-style dancing.

Originally, "Pein's" friend had said she needed to be home by 11pm. Naturally, we offered to give her a ride, meaning we'd be leaving at about 10:30 or so. Well, we were ALL having such fun that once the time came, she didn't wanna leave - thus, we stuck around 'til the very end . . . but that's skipping the fun bits!

As the night went on, I had apparently made a bit of a reputation for myself as a good dancer. Girls were apparently recommending me to friends, they were apparently fighting to dance with me . . . I, meanwhile, was totally oblivious the whole night. I thought I was going out looking for people to dance with, not the other way around! Man . . . sneaky girls . . . but yeah, we had loads of fun. My mask sucked, though . . . way too small, though the detail was good . . .

Here, have a picture of my dancing with a friend I met at Sakura-Con:
http://www.bcphotoforum.com/tempest/081607_ae/pages/DSC_0639.htm
Good ol' Shinsengumi details . . . bwahaha . . .

At about midnight it ended, drove people home, "Pein" and I went back home . . . at some point I took off my tuxedo jacket and gave it to "Pein" since she was cold . . . and then we got home.

Well, "Pein" was happy with just a couch, so set her up with one of my blankets and one of my pillows, we watched some "Transformers: The Movie" while we did our preparations for Friday . . . we ended up staying up later than we wanted to which sucked . . . but ultimately it was alright.


So that was Thursday. Tomorrow, we'll talk about Friday!
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