I was at Denver's FanExpo last weekend and oh my goodness, gracious, I had a blast!
I will try to be brief:
1) I'm so thankful to my best friend (the Mandalorian pictured above with the murder droid) for helping me tailor my Luke Skywalker costume and weather my Casey Jones Mask. I'm not very knowledgeable on either skill set, and she is. She killed it! I got to see so many fantastic superhero cosplays in those three days. They were all so beautiful and inspirational; I could not get enough! I can't wait to see more next year.
2) I had the most fun dressing up as Casey Jones, and people even asked to take a picture of my cosplay (I'm always the one asking, so I was blushing behind my mask when people told me how cool I looked). I couldn't bring a hockey puck or baseball bat to the convention center, but I could get a cricket bat. If you know, you know, and Batman definitely knew.
4) I got to meet and get a signature from J Micheal Tatum, who voices, among other characters, Tenya Iida from My Hero Academia and Kyoya Ootori from Ouran High School Host Club. I'm a big fan of those two characters, and it was really cool that I got a piece of unofficial misspelled merch signed by the voice actor. I may have cried a little. I'll definitely be framing it when I get the chance!
4) I added my first anime figurine to my collection of otherwise tmnt-themed action figures. I really love both the character Lloyd Forger from Spy X Family and the design of the figure, so I needed it.
5) I went to several writing-related forums about writing fight scenes, developing heroes, villains, and whatever is in between, and doing research for writing projects. They were all so helpful and inspired me as I work on my unfinished novel. But some of the most enlightening interactions were the ones I had with writers at booths who were trying to sell their masterpieces. It made me think of how I would do the same if I were in their shoes. I might be one day. Who knows!
I went to Basingstoke Comic Con last Friday with my son Gregory - following a break in my chemo schedule due to emergency surgery resulting in fewer inside bits and an ileostomy. I'd thought I wouldn't be able to go - and it wasn’t easy, but I did it anyway.
Here’s what happened:
First I had my photo with Rachel Luttrell who was lovely and liked my feltie Teyla:
Then my son took the role of photographer for me in my Impala cosplay with Baby herself (or one of them)!
Then there were some strange clashes in the schedule - Stargate Q and A sessions when the Stargate guests were supposed to be signing autographs, so we weren’t sure who was going to turn up or how to be in two places at once. But in the end, it worked to our advantage, because nobody else was sure either, and so when Joe and Rachel came along, there was hardly anyone else there so we got more time and more conversation than we would have.
Joe remembered me from the Wales Comic Con in 2021, which I definitely wasn’t expecting and he said he still had the little book of drawings I gave him there! (It was a ridiculously stuffed little book - I’d gone way overboard.) He took a photo of my art and put it on his Instagram!
Then we went to Rachel’s table and she was really nice and liked my art and gave me her phone to put my Instagram name in. There was no one else at Joe’s table at that point so he was wandering about behind her and it was lovely just to see them interact as friends!
We managed to get Gary Jones next, who was really funny. I told him it was my son’s first Comic Con and he shook Gregory’s hand. But then he said, ‘No, that’s no good,’ and got up, came around the table and proceeded to give Gregs a lesson in firm handshakes. It was hilarious!
I’d wanted to draw all the guests but just didn’t have time, with all the chemo and being in hospital shenanigans, so had to use the photos provided, which were nice, if not the same.
Next, after some hanging around and listening to the Q and As (which were all really good and Michael Shanks just kept spinning on his stool and being really silly) we got Paul McGillion and Rainbow Sun Francks. They were both really lovely and nice to Gregory and, again, there were no queues so we had plenty of time!
Then we hit a bit of a hurdle because the day (and my energy) was running out and it didn’t look like Ben Browder or Michael Shanks were coming back. Michael had a private Meet and Greet going on but Gregs really wanted to meet him, in particular because he wanted to introduce his homemade Goa’uld.
But then somehow we ended up in an impromptu session in the hotel bar - just a handful of con-goers with Ben and Paul and Rainbow! And Paul came up to me and told me how much he liked my art, because a friend had brought one of my pictures to be signed and pointed me out! And then I got to sit down opposite Ben and have a little chat and he signed my art.
But we still hadn't got Michael Shanks. So I pestered various organisers until I found one who knew what to do. And she got us in on the end of his Meet and Greet and then when the meet-and-greeters had gone we had a little private session where he, predictably, attacked himself with Gregory's Goa'uld and then signed my art and then before he went (blush - hides behind hands) I got a kiss on the cheek! 🥰
So, a memorable day! And then we had the fun of trekking home from Basingstoke, through London, on costume, me in my Impala outfit and Gregs as my little Gate-mission-ready military escort. We should just dress like that all the time...
I hope you liked my little Con Diary, @massharp1971 and @colonelshepparrrrd and anyone else who's interested!
Thanks to @hermscat for getting me an extra key card for her hotel room so I could flake out when needed and for transporting us to the station!
-it actually makes sense this guy wears the old style hockey mask since the fiberglass helmets with face cages were only starting to become popular in the 80s. Friday the 13th also came out in the 80s so he totally uses the face hugger mask for those reasons.
-he literally only met the turtles twice so I think it'd be funny if he just. forgot they existed. like "who are you small weird cosplaying kids"
-he'd probably be loyal to the Rangers because the Islanders play too close to Jersey. no he isn't bitter the Islanders were better, shut up!
-mans built like a football player, he wouldn't play. he just has the equipment to be a menace.
03 Casey:
- both him and Raph are devastated during the 04-05 lockout. it's the hardest battle they've ever fought.
-Leo: what about all the times we fought the Shredder and almost died?
Raph and Casey: the lockout was harder.
-that man shares his entire half of a braincell with Raphael /affectionate
-he would pound his fist into the table seeing the Devil's go to the Finals in 2000, 01 and 03.
-he probably genuinely forgot Anaheim is owned by Disney.
-he WILL complain during off-season. There are 0 worthy sports to watch from June to October.
12 Casey:
-oh you thought he was a Rangers fan? Maybe the Islanders? Buffalo? nah he's a Bruins fan.
-despite being afraid of rats his favourite player is Marchand.
-he ABSOLUTELY got into Reddit arguments with Vancouver fans in 2011.
-probably the only Casey that has actually played hockey. bro has the missing front teeth drip
-he wanted to be goalie so bad but the second he stepped out wearing the face hugger they said no and made him a winger.
-he lost his front teeth because he doesn't wear a cage.
-he not only forgot Anaheim was owned by Disney, he forgot they existed. he only remembered because they won the Cup in 07.
Casey Jr:
-i like the concept he learns to play hockey after the Invasion but I think he'd get ragdolled around by the people his age. yeah he can kill a Krang with one hand. but he's so stringy and spindly that he'd get knocked over by accident while on skates
-Casey Sr teaches him how to skate, but the first time he tries he immediately faceplants because he never learned what ice is.
-none of the Rise characters have hockey fan vibes. like, they all like basketball (even if Donnie pretends not to know anything about it) Raph likes wrestling and football. Leo would have a shrine dedicated to Michael Jordan, and that's about it. Mikey probably would watch anything his brothers put on. hockey is still very much a white person's sport, we don't have many POC players in the League so it doesn't appeal as much to POC as other sports like basketball, football, or baseball which are more diverse. All this to say Casey wouldn't know there's a pro-league until he stumbles upon it on TV one night.
-he's probably not into it the way the other Casey's are but he'll casually watch a game if there's one on.
-I don't see Casey having many interests for a while post-invasion because his entire life was basically surviving the apocalypse. He'll learn to appreciate the small things gradually.
-he would probably pick up on Leo's....appreciation...for Michael Jordan though lol
(Thank you so much @lionydoorin for creating Ronancetober! I really enjoyed writing and drawing for the prompts, this has inspired me to write more fics in the future. It's been so amazing to read fics and see art from so many very talented creators here. I also want to thank everyone who's interacted with my posts, I really appreciate the reblogs, follows, comments and likes.)
Robin dressed as a devil, knocked on the door of Steve's house, ready for his party.
"Trick or treat!"
Robin excitedly exclaimed, as Nancy opened the door.
Robin hadn't told anyone she was dressing up as a devil, as Nancy hadn't told anyone she was dressing up as an angel, so they were both surprised.
"Hey Robin, come in, I love your costume!"
Nancy smiled as Robin entered, "Thanks! I love yours too!"
Robin was happy to see just their friends at his house, no popular or mean kids that Steve used to party with.
Steve dressed up as Indiana Jones, Robin introduced Steve to the movie and he loved it. Eddie wore a vampire costume and Jonathan wore a zombie costume.
Mike, Will, Dustin and Lucas wore their Ghostbusters costumes. El wore her ghost costume. Max was dressed as Michael Myers. Erica cosplayed as Lady Applejack from her Dungeons and Dragons games.
Robin overheard Mike talking to Nancy, "Me and El were thinking of leaving the party early? She's never been trick or treating before."
Robin interrupted their conversation, "Wait, El's never been trick or treating?"
Mike shrugged, "Yeah, but she's always wanted to go."
Robin got an idea. "Oh she's going to love it! I'll ask Steve, maybe we could all go together, what do you think Nance?"
Robin looked at Nancy, Nancy replied unsure, "You can ask him, but the kids are too old for chaperones."
Robin was excited and didn't really care about being too old, "Are you kidding? We're getting candy too."
Robin asked Steve about Trick Or Treating, Steve loved the idea and agreed to go Trick Or Treating with everyone.
Dustin enthusiastically took the lead knowing the best places to get the full size candy bars. Steve, Eddie and Jonathan stuck together and the kids ran off ahead.
Robin and Nancy strolled behind the group. Robin smiled at Nancy, as they purposefully acted like their characters.
"Are you going to share any of your candy with me when we get back to dingus's?"
Nancy laughed at Robin's slightly mean nickname for their friend, "Did you just call Steve, dingus?"
"Yeah, so Nancy, about the candy?"
Nancy shook her head.
"No, you devil. You'll trick me by saying we'll trade, but I bet you'll take all my good candy and leave me barely anything."
"Come on angel, I'm not tricking you, I wouldn't do that."
Nancy rolled her eyes, as Robin got distracted and felt very hyper.
"Oh my God! The kids are going in the haunted house, I have to go scare them!"
Robin ran, Nancy grabbed Robin's hand, pulling her back. They both laughed.
"No. I'm not letting you do that. I'm sure Eddie's planning to scare them all anyway." Nancy looked up at Robin speaking softly.
"What if I get scared and need you to hold my hand?"
Robin paused, still holding Nancy's hand.
"You don't get scared."
"No, I just want you to hold my hand."
Robin and Nancy smiled at each other.
"Same here."
Robin and Nancy stayed holding hands all night as they walked trick or treating with everyone.
Ayo, I know you technically don't go here anymore, but check the michael jones tag here
the only recent things i see in michael's tag are him cosplaying sun from rwby and a video with him and ify. like, do you want me to reblog those or comment on those, or...........?
@doggernaut tagged me for this a few days ago. It's always so difficult to rec myself because I'm my own worst critic, you know? I decided that each fic in this list would be from a different fandom, which was somewhat challenging considering that nearly half of my fics are from a single fandom! But after taking a walk down memory lane, here are five of my fics that I most enjoy.
Sleeves
Check, Please!, 2950 words, rated T, Larissa "Lardo" Duan/Shitty Knight. Soulmate-identifying marks AU, warning for references to self-harm.
The first fic I ever wrote for Check, Please!, and still my favorite. This one spilled forth from me in a day, written mostly on napkins and the back of a takeout bag on a road trip. I started thinking about the AU where your soulmate's name is written somewhere on your body, and then I couldn't stop thinking about what it would be like to have the word "Shitty" on your body without context.
He wore his best Indiana Jones cosplay for this?
Red Notice (2021 Thurber), 464 words, rated T, Sarah "The Bishop" Black/Nolan Booth/John Hartley (Booth-centric).
The fic I just had to write after watching "Red Notice". A "missing scene" from the movie (and definitely spoilery if you haven't seen it!). Booth pines after both Hartley and the Bishop and plots his next steps. Less popular than my more shippy follow-up, but I prefer this one (and the title still makes me giggle).
Good Omens in the Bad Place
The Good Place and Good Omens, 1208 words, rated T, Gen.
Inspired by the prompt "A thing I want: a work using the tag “Michael (Good Omens) is Michael (The Good Place)”". What it says on the tin. It makes me laugh.
The Forking Path
Star Wars Original Trilogy, 1641 words, rated G, Leia Organa & Obi-Wan Kenobi. Alternate Universe - Luke & Leia Switched
A short one-shot about child Leia Skywalker who grew up on Tattooine and met mysterious hermit Ben Kenobi. I wanted to see my favorites interact, and what better way to do that than to write it myself?
Just Gals Being Pals in Gotham City
DCU and Batman, 2625 words, rated T, Barbara Gordon/Dinah Lance, Barbara Gordon & Dinah Lance & Harleen Quinzel & Kara Zor-El
Babs' friends cheer her up with a girls' night in after a rough night. It's flirty, it's chaotic, it's friendship, it's fun. Written during Battleship Exchange 2023. As much of a DC fangirl as I am, I don't know if I would have ever written a Batman fic if I hadn't been challenged to, but I had a blast writing it!
I can never decide who to tag, so uh, tag you're it if you wanna do this, but you dodged being tagged if you don't actually wanna.
Not my boys. • After waiting about five years, guess what guy finally got a crew? I love my babies very much, and I would fight til the ends of the world for them. • So guess who doesn’t know everyone’s tumblr?!?! This guyyy.
Totally forgot to share the photos that one of my best friends, Asher, took of my Michael/Mogar cosplay~ He’s so incredible and amazingly talented and I can’t thank him enough for these~ <3 I’ve put his link below, please check him out:
I need a win right now and I'm going for it. Here's the jacket I made for Michael, commissioned by the amazingly supportive and generous community members. Wish I was sharing it at a happier time, but if I can bring some positivity back with this, I'm gonna 🐺❤️