I've been busy lately working on my costume and part of a friend's for PAX (Penny Arcade Expo), which is in a little over a week in Seattle. He's being Lu Xun, and I am being Sun Shang Xiang, both from Dynasty Warriors 7. This is kind of a dream costume for me, because I love Dynasty Warriors so much, even from before I was really into video games or conventions. Sun Shang Xiang became my favorite just because she was the only girl that started out unlocked in Dynasty Warriors 3. Kinda silly, but I still like her. (And somewhere along the line I started liking everyone in Wu too much, too.)
I have a good chunk of my costume done. I can't say I am overly happy with it, but that's probably because I want it to be perfect way too much. >_< What I am overly happy with is the chakrams. (Or Wheels, as they're named in DW7) I weas going to try muddle through making them myself, but my boyfriend, ~GoshaDole ended up making them for me, and they look so so so amazing. He's never made prop weapons before, but he is the type that can figure out how to do anything. In this title, the chakrams are way bigger than when Sun Shang Xiang used them in the other games... So for the base pf them we used (small) hula-hoops. They are pretty huge as far as cosplay props go, so I am hoping no one kills me for having them in the expo hall. (I'll put them around me so they're not in the way, but still...) That and I'll be having some pretty sore arms, but I suppose that's what I get for not being in shape! They are fine according to the PAX weapon policy at the very least!

I am also participating in the PAX Pokemon League this year: [link]
This is it's third time running, having happened at PAX Prime last year and PAX East this year already. Basically you bring your DS and a copy of Pokemon Black or White and battle your way through gym leaders and the Elite Four. You need 8 gym badges just like in the games, only there are 16 gym leaders so you can more easily collect 8 badges over the course of PAX weekend. I am one of the Elite Four, (Holy crap, how did that happen?) I'll be in costume for that on Sunday, since no one will likely have 8 gym badges before then. The story this year is that Giovanni of Team Rocket is running for mayor of Seattle, and he and his four Rocket Generals have all but taken over the PAX Pokemon League. It's up to you, the challenger to take down the Elite Four/Rocket Generals with the help of some of the gym leaders by becoming champion of the league! Costume-wise I am doing a 'real world' version of Rocket Executive Ariana. I was going to do her game costume again, but the wig is all but dead, and I am kinda tired of the costume anyway. So for this I am wearing a black pencil skirt, black fitted suit-jacket with a red R on the lapel, and black heels. So kind-of what a Rocket Executive might wear in real life? I will also dye my hair dark red to try to have another connection with her than just the name. (Dark red since I am not about to dye my hair anime red-orange.) Anyway, it should be fun times! You can find gym leaders by the bright green scarves they'll be wearing. We'll try to be in the handheld lounges off and on, too. Meetups will take place daily there at 4pm, but we definitely encourage trying to find the leaders while out and about at PAX!

This will be the first year I am attending KumoriCon in Portland, OR. (Well, technically it's across the river in Vancouver, WA, but it's still Portland's anime con.) Since it is the weekend immediately following PAX, I am not making any new costumes for it, but I plan to wear my Sun Shang Xiang costume, and maybe Domino. (if I hear of anyone doing a Angelic Layer, ParaKiss or Saiyuki group I could bring those costumes, but otherwise I won't bother.) I know a couple people going, but not a ton. Anyone here going?

+++Chobits spoilers follow, if that actually matters to anyone!

While working on costumes, I re-watched the anime series, Chobits. It had been years since I'd watched it, and I'd never read (or even heard of) Angelic Layer when I did. Both of them take place in the same universe, (CLAMP loves their crossovers) and after cosplaying from Angelic Layer, I've come to love it. So it slowly occurred to me that yes, the same Ichiro Mihara (Icchan) of Angelic Layer fame is the 'father' of Chi, Freya and persocoms in general and the deceased husband of Chitose Hibiya. Deceased!? I'm not going to lie, I almost cried during the last couple episodes where Ms. Hibiya is explaing everything, and you keep seeing the shadowed figure of Icchan. And in the last episode, you can finally see the entire photo on her dresser, and there's crazy-glasses Icchan.
Ok, I know I am quite silly, but this series wasn't this sad before I knew about Angelic Layer! Icchan is totally my favorite character now.


And now back to working on costumes.