Today is not only the birthday of @祈星 and @祈星喵, but also another day for our group—brought together purely by shared passion—to document our enduring bond through the camera lens.
This Arknights Lappland cosplay was filled with challenges from initial concept to the final cuts. To capture the character's signature blend of manic wildness and bone-chilling coolness, trimming and setting the wig alone took more than half a week. The massive Animal ears atop my head not only required natural fur texture and flow, but also had to remain firmly upright no matter how dynamic the camera angles were. For makeup, beyond the standard base and eye work, the most demanding part was detailing the battle scratches across the cheeks—aiming for a gritty, weathered texture without looking muddy. Paired with grey contact lenses and sharp fangs, practicing my piercing gaze in the mirror made me feel an untamed power surging from within.
No costume details were overlooked. The black-and-white spliced trench coat, metallic textured buttons, white stand-collar shirt, and that eye-catching gold chain skull pendant—the wearing order and alignment of every single accessory were checked repeatedly. The instant I slipped on the black leather gloves and clenched my fingers, I felt fully locked into character.
During the shoot, our teamwork was completely seamless. To scout ideal locations, we trekked across several spots: the cozy corner of an indoor diner, outdoor street curbsides, and even the backseat of the car during transit. The shooting process was genuinely exhausting; to keep the outfit unwrinkled and the wig pristine, I often had to stand or hold awkward stances for extended stretches. Yet as long as you were all by my side, even the most taxing shoot transformed into a massive, joyous team-building hangout.
Speaking of group shoots and our Stage play, this is truly where our deepest bonds were forged. When rehearsing for the Stage play, we constantly synchronized blocking, lip-syncing, and movement dynamics, with sweat frequently soaking through our costumes. Each time the stage spotlights flared up, all nervousness was instantly dispelled by your resolute, reassuring gazes. We touched up each other's makeup, smoothed out each other's outfits, and cheered passionately for one another from offstage. Cosplay is never a lonely solo act—it is a collective celebration of camaraderie.
Looking back, from our clumsy beginnings shooting solo to coordinating massive group projects with over a dozen people, and eventually taking the stage together to bring a full narrative to life—every single step has been rooted in our purest love for the 2D world. We have experienced panicky moments when props snapped, and frustrating pauses when bad weather halted progress, but these minor misadventures only make each final piece all the more precious.
In the coming year, I wish @祈星 and @祈星喵 joy every single day. Doing cosplay for a lifetime, booking group shoots for a lifetime, and producing Stage play productions for a lifetime—these words are never said lightly. Looking forward to more upcoming plans, and eagerly anticipating creating our next chapters together on the next stage and before the next lens.