[Ch'en cosplay] Arknights at Firefly ACG Expo Day 1: Exhausting Yet Joyful

Day 1 of Firefly ACG Expo is a wrap—Madam Ch'en's gear and stamina drain were top-tier. The convention crowd was huge, and on-site we were practically being pushed along by the human traffic. This Tactical style outfit uses crisp, structured fabric that is unfortunately not breathable at all, especially with the leg rings and heavy black-and-red tall boots on the lower half—walking for just an hour or two in the morning already had the soles of my feet aching. The collar of the white shirt was very stiff, the orange tie constantly needed adjusting, and fastening the black coat's straps and buckles was quite tedious. The accompanying black backpack and walkie-talkie props also had considerable weight.

For makeup and styling, while the red contact lenses had high color vibrancy, wearing them for long periods easily dried out my eyes. The long blue hair combined with the horns and headpiece felt heavy on my head all day, easily obstructing my vision and putting massive strain on my neck. To recreate the character's sharp and capable aura, the eye makeup was applied much more heavily than usual, and I used a thick layer of setting powder to combat sweat. Even so, when shopping at the booths, being recognized by several fellow fans asking for photos instantly made the effort feel worth it. In front of the camera, whether in close-ups or full-body shots, this styling carried a powerful, imposing presence. The second photo—a mirror selfie in the subway—was taken after wrapping up at night. By then, I was too exhausted to stand straight and could barely stay upright by leaning against the platform screen doors. Looking at my reflection in the glass, that genuine exhaustion unexpectedly resonated with the character's battle-worn, travel-stained presence.

Tomorrow is the Hella KFC collab event. Right now, all I want is to rush back to the hotel, soak my feet in hot water, eat a hearty meal, and get a good night's sleep. After all, pulling through back-to-back convention schedules is entirely a matter of mental endurance. Hopefully, tomorrow's collab venue won't be too packed so we can smoothly wrap up the planned photos.