[Exusiai cosplay] Arknights Industrial Style Duo: One Person Portraying Texas and Exusiai

For this shoot featuring the two Penguin Logistics operators, I chose an outdoor industrial zone defined by steel structures. With crisscrossing staircases, intersecting girders, and gray concrete flooring, the red, black, and white uniform palette created a powerful Tactical style outfit aesthetic.

In terms of makeup and styling, most effort went into the wigs. Exusiai's short red hair required heat styling for airy layers, while Texas's long gray locks were reinforced strand by strand with setting spray. In particular, securing her gray beast ears to the base required repeated layering of hairspray and bobby pins to guarantee they wouldn't budge throughout a full day of shooting. The makeup was differentiated according to their personalities: warm red tones for Exusiai's eye makeup, and cooler, composed gray-black hues for Texas. The flick of the eyeliner and contact lens colors were completely distinct, using micro-adjustments in facial muscle tension to emphasize the contrast between them.

Since I had to appear solo, switching mindsets between the two was the greatest challenge. Portraying Exusiai meant maintaining a bright, open smile, larger body language, and sparkling eyes; Texas demanded a composed countenance, channeling an aloof, effortless detachment. To stay in character, I spent breaks refining angles before the lens, leaning on the photographer's guidance for chin tilt and focal direction.

The prop firearms carried substantial weight. In the aiming shots, avoiding hand fatigue required lifting and holding them multiple times to find natural leverage, keeping my arms tucked to ensure stability on camera. Changing outfits and touching up makeup halfway through was undeniably exhausting.

Special thanks to photographer @Hoshino Ako for crouching low all day to capture dramatic low-angle upward shots, as well as our support crew @Xiyo and @500 for constantly dashing up and down the concrete steps to smooth flyaway hairs, hand over gear, and adjust reflectors. Without their on-set coordination, these visuals would have been impossible. In post-production, I preserved the raw light, shadow, and metallic grit of the environment, striking a balanced harmony between rigid industrial architecture and character grace. From preparation to wrap, this was a profoundly fulfilling cosplay journey.