The Xi'an 321 Rhodes Island Arknights Only convention was successfully archived; I was immensely satisfied with this red-haired Exusiai cosplay look. The wig was trimmed and styled two weeks in advance using hair wax to create depth. The halo and feather hair accessories atop my head were custom-modified by hand, utilizing steel wire framework at the hair roots to maintain their curve, ensuring zero shifting even after a full day of running and jumping. For eye makeup, yellow-green contact lenses were paired with black eyeliner extending outward at the eye corners, while blush was applied above cheekbones to mimic the character's natural flush, giving the overall makeup a translucent anime aesthetic. The white shirt's tailored cut was adjusted to narrow shoulder lines for a slender look; the bow tie's silver cross emblem was custom-made, which carried a rich narrative feel when paired with my sister Lemuen's white rabbit plushie.
This day was truly whirlwind-busy! Right from entering the venue in the morning, I ran into numerous fellow fans. The light brown rabbit wearing a bow tie in the photos was hand-sewn by my real sister; its plush texture felt amazing, so I couldn't resist snapping a few extra shots of it. Synchronicity with my photo partner—clad in black hair, military uniform, and cane—was seamless, his solemn aura creating a delightful contrast with my lively vibe. For the gray-purple beast-eared girl wearing a black base outfit and silver necklace, we intentionally leaned in close when taking photos to narrow the distance; the silver-haired beast-eared sister wore a complete set of pointed horns and accessories, posing with black-and-white gloves in a V-sign that looked extremely photogenic; and then there was the glasses-wearing partner with round headphones, whose yellow writing pad served as a perfect prop for natural, fun interactions.
The venue decorations were crafted with great care—booth area display boards and background floor stickers were packed with Arknights elements, while marble floor reflections provided ideal fill light for full-body portraits. After running around all day, my legs were indeed sore, but creating content alongside a cosplay partner who has been with me since the game's launch gave us a level of chemistry that improvised teams simply cannot match. She helped me adjust my halo angle while I smoothed down her suit hem, and during touch-ups, we mutually adjusted stray hair strands around our temples.
My experience at this Arknights Only convention was a solid 10/10—not only did we capture satisfying photos, but I also took photos with cosplayers at conventions whom I had previously only chatted with online. The absolute best part of performing cosplay is meeting players who get the lore and memes; a single line of dialogue or pose can ignite instant resonance. This joy of offline socializing is something the virtual web can never replace.
The white shirt stood out remarkably amidst convention crowds; every time I looked down at the cross on my bow tie, I felt all the effort behind this outfit was thoroughly rewarded. While organizing this gear, I specifically checked all connection points to ensure nothing would loosen during group photos—after all, convention floors are packed, making prop stability more crucial than anything. The red wig had plenty of volume, supplemented by side bang pieces to frame my face, creating an elevated cranial top that made my face appear smaller on camera. Exusiai's dynamic vitality aligns naturally with vibrant red hair, allowing me to maintain an energetic smile throughout the shoot day; even when my smiling muscles ached from fatigue, catching sight of the lens brought me right back into character state. Finally, I took a solo snapshot with my sister's white rabbit plushie as a special keepsake for this Xi'an trip—a heartwarming moment in my Casual cosplay journey.