Today, the Sci-Fi convention has completely come to an end. After taking this big group photo, my legs are so sore I can barely lift them. Squeezing through the venue all day, and still managing to gather so many cosers of different styles for a group photo on the stairs at night—everyone is truly an iron person. Looking at the signs everyone is holding in the photos, like the end of the line, general admission entrance, and temporary key control areas, it's a completely true portrayal of today's daytime queuing. To take the general admission channel, I got up a little past 5 AM to do my makeup, hair, and put on the cumbersome outfit. The wig started tangling after a whole day, and several accessories on the costume fell off due to the crowds. For this convention, I started working on the wig and costume details a week in advance, and the eye makeup alone took over an hour. As a result, when I got to the site, I started sweating before even browsing a few stalls, and touch-ups became my core task today.
The material of today's outfit is really not very breathable. It was fine inside the venue with air conditioning, but as soon as we lined up on the outdoor stairs, it was practically like a steam room. Moreover, because the skirt hem is quite long, I had to be extra careful going up and down the stairs, terrified of stepping on it and falling. However, seeing everyone persisting for what they love, I gritted my teeth and pushed through. Some fellow enthusiasts even dragged suitcases all the way from other cities; this kind of pure dedication really moved me. On the steps, we helped each other watch luggage and adjust the details of wigs and costumes; this atmosphere of mutual help is especially warm. Although I missed a few booths I wanted to visit today because of queuing, chatting and meeting up with friends in person made up for this regret. Conventions are always full of variables and surprises, and plans can never keep up with changes; going with the flow actually brings more joy. Next time, I must plan ahead to queue less and browse more. Unloading the heavy props one by one made my whole body feel much lighter.
Our group sat on the steps to rest, each holding props or banners, alongside a friend wearing heavy armor who was already sweating profusely just sitting still. With the night lights shining over, looking at the staggered figures on the stairs, I felt both exhausted and fulfilled. Some brought cute character stands, others held various signs; these props made up tonight's magical yet realistic night. I chatted a lot with friends nearby about costume making and photography post-processing, such as how to take clear photos in low-light conditions and how to adjust prop proportions for better comfort. Every convention is an extreme test of physical strength and socializing, but being able to meet so many people who love 2D makes it all worthwhile. Conventions are just like this; encountering fellow enthusiasts at the venue to take photos together brings an irreplaceable joy. Although exhausting, gathering with so many fans of different styles to exchange insights on wig styling and prop making is very interesting. For instance, seeing the friend wearing armor nearby holding poses despite such heavy armor, I really admire them. The lighting for nighttime photos relied entirely on everyone helping each other out with lights; to take good photos, everyone was trying hard to adjust angles. This atmosphere of working together to accomplish something is why I love 2D. Every convention is like this—so tired I don't want to speak, but seeing the photos makes everything feel worth it. Packing up a huge pile of luggage, removing makeup, washing my face, and returning to normal life. Until next time, this painful yet happy convention time. Looking forward to our next gathering at a convention.