[Ch'en cosplay] Daily Life in Lungmen Guard Department: Afternoon Interactions with Hoshiguma

This shoot in collaboration with the Rhodes Island 123 speedrun contest placed Ch'en and Hoshiguma in a cozy, slice-of-life setting. Since the post emphasized this as official lore design, we paid close attention to matching the characters' core personalities and narrative backgrounds when planning props and movements, attempting to recreate a quiet, everyday moment in a corner of Lungmen.

We poured extensive effort into recreating the wigs and horns. The blue-haired Ch'en (Ch'en cosplay) features low twin tails with red-to-orange gradient horns paired with a classic black-and-white maid outfit; although her expression appears somewhat languid with eyes slightly closed, her posture still retains the sharp, capable aura unique to the Lungmen Guard Department. The green-haired Hoshiguma (Hoshiguma cosplay) was styled with a white lace headdress and her iconic single horn, paired with a pink-and-white patchwork floral dress. This attire breaks away from the usual combat imagery, adding a gentle everyday warmth instead. Especially in the second photo where she sits before vintage wooden furniture, complemented by small tabletop props like a floral fringed tablecloth and a black tissue box, the warm yellow cafe lighting makes her look exceptionally gentle.

The most unexpected and delightful surprise of this shoot was the photographer's post-processing color grading. We initially envisioned a cooler palette or light with more combat tension, but the photographer graded the colors into an intimate, soft, and subtly romantic palette reminiscent of "pink secrets." At first glance, we were momentarily taken aback since it differed from our raw base shots, but on closer appreciation, this warm tone enriched the chemistry and interaction between the two characters remarkably well.

In the first photo, the two of us stand close together with eyes gently shut, looking as though we stepped into an intimate slow dance on a quiet afternoon, our clasped hands naturally conveying a sense of mutual security. In the second shot, I hold a tray in maid posture beside the table, looking down at her sitting quietly, while the vintage dark red wall and dark wooden door on the right frame the secluded ambiance of a Lungmen corner cafe just right. The geometric floor tiles paired with the round table also exude a rich vintage charm.

The biggest fear in duo cosplay is stiffness and awkward interaction; thankfully, as long-time friends, our improvised dance and serving interactions based on character personalities flowed smoothly and naturally. We didn't deliberately pose with dramatic combat moves, but rather embraced these quiet, subtly tender everyday scenes—feeling much like a relaxing downtime for the two of them after taking off their Lungmen Guard Department uniforms. Looking back, this emotional, unexpected color grading added immense depth to the work, showcasing not only our meticulously selected outfits but also capturing a uniquely tender atmospheric narrative in Arknights.