So, I had pretty much the best sleep I've ever had at a convention Friday night.

You see, as I mentioned in Day One's report, the Henley Park hotel is a historic hotel. It was built in 1918, and as such is a lot smaller than the larger, more modern chain hotels. That means that each room has only *one* bed. And *that* means that the types of congoers who like to shove 19 people into a suite and throw room parties until 3 in the morning...could...not...stay...there. From when I went to bed at 11 PM until I woke up at 7 AM the next morning, I didn't hear a sound.

It was glorious.

But I was here for a con, not a restful weekend, so as soon as I had eaten I went back up to my room and got into my Saturday costume. We had decided to do only one costume per day in order to give ourselves a break, especially since we knew we'd be adjusting to the new layout, and as luck would have it neither Friday nor Saturday's costumes required wigs, so getting dressed was relatively easy. As I mentioned, I tend to wake up rather earlier than my friends--but not earlier than Doc, who snuck me into the Otakon Photosuite riiight before it opened to the general public. (And we're talking by like only 15 minutes--we don't break the rules so much as bend them ever so slightly.) I am happy to report I did not cause all of the lights in the Photosuite to start flashing at once, the way I did in 2014 (I forgot to write about that, didn't I?) and we got some really nice pictures.

Wanting to get out of the way of the folks who were running the Photosuite, Doc gave me a tour of the new location, including some of the super secret staff hideouts. I got to see Oshi, who, I will say this again, lives ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM ME, and we NEVER SEE EACH OTHER EXCEPT AT CONS. (This is more my fault than hers--she's a working mom with a kid still in grammer school, and I have no life.) This was the most we got to actually talk and catch up in *years*, and it made us both just so, so happy. I also got to see Jim again, and later meet his mom, Pat, who is just about the most insightful woman I've ever met in my life.

The girls and Josh were up and around by this point, so we agreed we'd meet up in the Dealer's Room, and make our first order of business completing the Sailor Moon Stamp Rally run by Viz. Besides Avi, Reinii, and Teren as the usual suspects, we had Alyce as Michiru as usual, and Stevie switched to being our Makoto. This is the third different Sailor Moon character Stevie has been in as many years, and once again I was overwhelmed by how easily she personifies any character she embodies. (Me, they'll probably bury wearing something of Sailor Mars's. Well, why not, I was married in one of her outfits. Also I want all of my pall bearers to be dressed as Terry Bogard. Wait, no, I want one Terry Bogard, one Sailor Venus, and the four Generals. At any rate. Moving on.)

This was the third year Viz held a stamp rally, and, thank goodness, it was a *lot* less stressful than the previous two years--they more or less told you what area the senshi were staying in, and the senshi more or less stood in one spot rather than rambled about at will. We caught them right at shift change, which meant we got a picture of the whole team before they split up, which was nice. They actually wanted a picture with us, too--they didn't recognize the Q-pot designs (which walk the line of being canon), but loved how coordinated we were.

As we started searching for the senshi, I realized I had one major problem: my shoes had to be at *least* two sizes too big. I had worn them before! (You can tell if you look in some of the pictures--you can see a noticeable gap in back of my heels.) Why didn't I remember this? Can feet shrink? That much? After discussing it with the girls, we realized 1) my memory of that weekend (I had only worn them with our Fruit Maids costumes in 2015) probably wasn't the best, since it had come directly after my grandfather's cancer diagnosis, and 2) I had probably only worn them for a few hours--you can see me wearing flats in some of the hallway pictures. Still. I was flabbergasted. And useless--I couldn't walk for more than a few feet without the shoes hurting AND falling off. Reinii had the bright idea of wadding up some plastic bags and shoving them in the toes, and that helped a little, and she even switched shoes with me for a while (which didn't help in the long run, they were just as huge on her), but I'm afraid I held us up quite a bit. Regardless, we decided to press on.

More of the senshi asked questions before they would stamp your card this year. Sailor Jupiter's question, "When was a time you were strong?" was easy for me, and I told her about how I took care of Grandpa after his lung cancer surgery. But when I heard Sailor Venus's question, "Tell me what you like best about yourself," I drew an absolute blank. I let other people go first, but Reinii was poking me, rapid-fire, in the back. "Tell her your boobs. Tell her your boobs. Tell her your boobs." So I did. Venus got a good laugh out of that. (In retrospect, what I really like about myself is that I can find something nice to say about virtually anyway, and generally do. But my boobs are pretty okay too.)

The prize this year was a really pretty celestial-themed Sailor Moon scarf. I have yet to figure out how to incorporate a scarf (other than the ones you wear for cold weather) into my wardrobe, so it's not getting as much use as my Sailor Moon water bottle (which I fill every day at work), but it's really so lovely. I'm so grateful Viz does this, it's such a fun thing to do as a group, and the prizes are really amazing.

I also got to see Gio in the Dealer's Room! He wasn't in costume (although his Luna hat was *adorable*), which I kind of missed (but he more than made up for it at New York Comic Con, holy crow), but we still posed for selfies and just got to be generally silly together for a little while. I love that my Staten Island kids still all travel to Otakon together every year, I've been doing this for over 15 years now and I can tell you from experience that the memories you make on trips like this last a lifetime. (Especially if you're smart like me and write them down so you don't forget them, but maybe normal people don't need digital recordings to remember everything.)

The next thing we wanted to hit was the big Sailor Moon photoshoot, held at the right hand stairs in the main lobby. We ran into Lyn, who had been our Kunzite two years ago for our epic Sailor Moon Coronation group, and her girlfriend Rae, cosplaying Victor and Yuri from Yuri on Ice, respectively. Yuri on Ice is the most recent anime I've actually watched all the way through, and while I'm not as obsessed with it as seemingly everyone else who has seen it is (although I contend it has the *best* theme song of all time), it was one of those where I sat watching it going, "Eh, this is okay." ::immediately watches next episode:: "I mean it's good, but not great." ::immediately watches next episode:: "That guy is actually making me actively uncomfortable." ::immediately watches next episode:: "Oh hey look I finished the whole series. Huh."

At any rate, we didn't want to be late, so we said goodbye to Lyn and Rae and continued on to the lobby. There were a *lot* of Sailor Moon cosplayers. This usually makes me happy, and honestly still did, but there was a lot less space to spread out than there were on the third floor terrace of the Baltimore convention center. I don't think this is a problem with the Washington convention center; I just think stairs may not be the best place to conduct a photoshoot. (This thought would come back to bite me the next day.) As everyone becomes more familiar with the new layout we may be able to choose a better spot, but in the meantime the organizers kept everything running smoothly by calling up groups one at a time, and trying to keep the sides more or less clear. The one great thing about shooting on the stairs was that having multiple levels meant everyone's faces could be seen, for once--no more trying to stand on tiptoe so you can see over the taller people in front of you. And Ranma was on hand, making sure he got shots of literally every single Sailor Moon cosplayer there, including our group.

Besides, getting to meet other Sailor Moon fans, the other great thing about the Sailor Moon photoshoot is that all of your existing Sailor Moon otaku friends will come to it, too, so I got to see Ashley! It was so great to see her when 1) I wasn't dead (like last year) and 2) she was in the most aaadoooraaablee Usagi costume, oh my God. Ashley's *another* one who looks amazing no matter which senshi she's cosplaying--Usagi, Rei, Makoto, doesn't matter. She had a friend with her who was a really stellar Ami, too--I must remember to get them both on Sailor Moon Avatars. We had a great time hanging out in the midst of all the Moonies.

Mario Rob and Justin came to join us, as well, which was great not only because we got to see them, but *super* helpful because they volunteered to watch the bags (and Avi's super expensive doll!) when it was time for all of us to go up at the same time for the big group photoshoot. Plus, Rob is just obsessed with the outer senshi. (We'll get Rob to dress up as Haruka again sooner rather than later.) I've said it before and I'll say it again: cosplaying would just not be possible if it weren't for the long-suffering friends who volunteer as both handlers and pack mules. We love and thank you for it.

I also got to see Tristen Citrine--normally I run into her at the Viz booth, where she's working, but being a HUGE Sailor Moon fan since time immemorial, she had come over to see the large accumulation of Sailor Moon cosplayers. We fangirled over the freaking PERFECT Sailor Starlights we found (no one ever, ever cosplays poor Maker), and even did the cutest, corniest little video for Viz's Snapchat as a shoutout to all the Sailor Moon fans out there. One thing Tristen and I have in common is that we will be Sailor Moon proselytes until the day we die, but she's done way more to keep the fandom alive than I have! I'm just her awed admirer. (But I do try!)

Finally the last Moonie friend I ran into at the shoot was Lisa, who wasn't cosplaying from Sailor Moon but who, again, is just such a huge fan that she had to come by to see it. Lisa *also* does more to advance the love and truth that is the story of Sailor Moon, especially here in New York, than I do, and I'm starting to feel really ashamed of myself. I have to get out more. Especially if Sailor Moon is involved. We didn't get to spend much time talking (and really, the photoshoot was just about wrapping up at this point, and we all had schedules to keep), but I'm glad I got to see her at all.

With David Ng not attending Otakon this year, we were more or less on our own when it came to figuring out how to get pictures of our big group costume. Alyce's husband Tom was kind enough to volunteer to shoot us, but location would be a problem, especially since we didn't know what was available. However we had seen the night before that there was a small "drawing room" right off of the lobby of my hotel that would be a *perfect* backdrop for the Q-pot designs, which have a definite Lolita feel to them, so I suggested we try there. I swear I was only 1% motivated by wanting to get back to my room and grab a pair of flats so I wouldn't be shuffling along, not daring to raise my feet for fear of losing a shoe. 99% of my impetus was that Queen Anne furniture.

Xandria, Jon, and their daughter were not attending the convention itself, but were just driving in for our photoshoot, and needed a space in which to get ready, so I invited them to my hotel room. This was my first time getting to meet their daughter, on my God but did I fall instantly in love. She is just the tiniest, sweetest, cutest little thing you can imagine. I think she took to me, too; kids seem to like me. I don't think that's due to anything special about me, maybe they just sense that I'm more or less on their mental level. She and I had a grand old time playing with Crabby while Xandria put the finishing touches on both of their costumes.

Once we were done we headed down to the drawing room to wait. I had fun chatting with Xandria and Jon, but I have to admit a large portion of my attention was focused on their little girl: she was SO WELL BEHAVED, sitting first in one chair to see if she liked it, and then on the couch, and then peering through the windowpanes to see the cosplayers who were passing by, and then flitting across the room to place a kiss on my nose. I was utterly charmed.

The best interaction, however, has to go to the Ariel cosplayer who we spotted entering the lobby. Xandria's daughter saw her at once, and called, "Ariel!" And the cosplayer heard her, turned around, saw who was calling her, and smiled, and came over. And then she bent down, and told Xandria's daughter that she had been saving her last bouquet of flowers for someone very special...someone just like her. And then gave her the flowers. And then Xandria and I wept. It was really one of the nicest, sweetest moments I've ever witnessed. Cosplayers, take note: you don't *have* to be "in character" at all times, I understand that. You should always be you. But if you can manage to be the most considerate, the most gracious version of you, please, PLEASE, be that. It makes a difference. It matters. We couldn't thank Ariel enough.

Unfortunately, by the time Lady Somairot and her husband and the rest of our merry band arrived, we had to leave the drawing room--a Lolita group had booked it for their meetup! I guess we weren't the only people to appreciate the beauty of the Henley Park hotel. Because we didn't want to go too far, didn't really know of any other good locations, and because the landscaping in front of the hotel was really rather pretty in its own right, we decided to conduct our photoshoot right there in the driveway. (This is the second time I've done this now.) The staff were really very nice about it, and we managed not to get in too many people's ways.

Xandria's daughter had been in costume and wig for a long time by this point, and the sudden influx of so many new people was a bit much for her, so she was pretty well done with photos by the time the shoot got into full swing. We made the best we could with what we had, and focused on more individual shots as needed. She really held up well, though, considering how young she is, and if she keeps being interested in cosplay as she gets older, it'll only get easier.

Most of us were getting pretty hungry by this point (especially our very pregnant Haruka!) so we determined it was time for lunch. Xandria had done some research before the con to try to find a place that A) wasn't too expensive and B) wasn kid-friendly, and had found a Fuddruckers not too far away--maybe about a ten minute walk, especially now that I had switched to flats--in D.C.'s Chinatown. Unfortunately, this was a Saturday at lunchtime in the summer, and the place was *packed*. I decided I didn't want any lunch after all, since I didn't want to spoil my appetite for whatever Doc had for dinner, but I gladly scrounged some fries from anyone who was willing to part with some. (Fries are my weakness and my downfall. Them, and bread.)

That being said it was great having a chance to get off our feet and just relax and be ourselves, even if there were so many of us we had to split up between two tables. I had brought my Cosplay Decadebook down with me, and worked and getting some new signatures that I had missed before--I really need to remember to bring it out with me more often. It was a good chance to get to know Stevie and Lauren better, too, and to make Teren re-evaluate just why exactly she's friends with me. (I'm a bad influence. But not too bad of one. I'm the kind of friend who will peer-pressure you into watching The Star Wars Holiday Special, rather than do drugs. On the other hand...I'm not really sure that's better.)

After we had recovered, those of us who had badges headed back to the convention center, because there was one more thing we had to do--celebrate Alyce and Chris's birthdays! They're exactly four days apart--one the day before Otakon started, one the day after! So someone (I forget who now, sorry!) had brought brownies so we could celebrate the birthday buddies in style. The Marriott being attached to the convention center was *super* convenient; not only was some of Otakon's programming--like the Lolita Garden, and Hiro's Lounge--held there, but the lobby had *so* much space and places to sit down.

As I mentioned, I had kept my long-standing Saturday night dinner date with Doc, and as soon as he could get away from his duties he came to the lobby to meet me. We were just starting to talk about heading out, when a notification popped up, and I saw his face change.

"Ut oh. What happened?"

"Um. I think the Artists' Alley flooded."

"...you better go take a look at that."

Thankfully, it wasn't as bad as it sounded--any reports you heard of wooden structures being built, or animals lining up of their own accord two by two, are slightly exaggerated. And it actually wasn't due to the rain, I think a pipe burst or something? The staff evacuated the attendees and the artists out of an abundance of caution, but nothing got too damaged, and in fact the Artists Alley was able to reopen in about an hour. (And stayed open an hour later than scheduled to make up for the hour it had been out of commission, which I thought was really very fair of them.)

Satisfied that he wasn't required (or able) to do anything to immediately rectify the situation, Doc returned and we ventured out. Or, rather, tried to. By this point the rain that had threatened all day was falling, and while I had an umbrella on me, the wind had gotten so strong, it was blowing *sideways*. There was no way we could go out in that, even just to get into a cab, without getting drenched immediately, so Doc called to cancel our initial reservation at Brasserie Beck, and we tried to find a place to eat in the Marriott. There was just one problem, either places were closed (wtf? What kind of restaurant is open for lunch, but closes for dinner? Seems like a loss of revenue to me), or had over an hour wait--nobody wanted to venture out in this storm.

Doc wanted somewhere quiet to think--and make phone calls, as he desperately tried to salvage the situation--so he brought me up to yet another green room on an upper floor of the Marriott. It was impressive, don't get me wrong--I enjoyed seeing my hotel, that's how close we were!--but being in a high up room that's almost entirely made of windows while lightning seems to streak RIGHT past your face...yeah, I was about three seconds away from panic. I know lightning can't hurt me. Except when it LITERALLY STRUCK MY FRIEND THAT ONE TIME. (In which case it hurt her, and not me, but I could be next! At any time! At any rate it proved my fears were justified!) I didn't care WHERE we ate, at that point, as long as it was in a cellar. Deep underground. No windows. Something along those lines.

When storms rain *that* hard, it's almost a sure bet that they'll rain themselves out in a short amount of time, unless it's a hurricane or something, so after a half an hour went by, the lightning and thunder had mostly stopped (I was so, SO thankful), and the rain was falling in nice, orderly lines...so we figured we'd head to Brasserie Beck after all. Doc called them to make sure they had tables open, and they did, so we hopped an Uber and had a great dinner of bizarrely (but still tasty) cold parfait of duck foie gras and wiener schnitzel (not as good as my grandmother's wiener schnitzel, but then, that's not a fair comparison). I got a few texts when we were done asking if we wanted to go to any room parties or out for drinks, but honestly by that point I just wanted to dry off, warm up, and crawl into bed.

Sailor Saturn

Utena

Sailor Star Maker

Kino Makoto

Super Sailor Moon

Super Sailor Chibimoon

Eternal Sailor Chibimoon

A transforming Usagi and Ami

Sailor Pluto

Utena

Sailor Neptune

Doc uses the dutch angle in attempt to make me slightly taller than Thumbellina

Me with the official Sailor Mars

She was so nice!

All of us with Sailor Mars

The first senshi in the scavenger hunt!

Our Mercury with their Mercury

This wasn't the official Sailor Saturn (I don't think), but she was still *really* good so we had Avi take a picture with her.

Our Jupiter with their Jupiter

Our Venus with their Venus

Yay! We have completed the quest!

The Viz cosplayers really liked our Q-pot costumes

This Chibimoon wasn't the official one, but look at how well her costume matches them!

Reinii and me talking to Tristen

This shot was so corny, I loved it.

I don't even know what's up with that face.

Lisa and me

Josh's dress fit in perfectly with ours!

And Gio's hat was super appropriate, too!

I don't think I've ever seen our personalities summed up so well in a single photo.

We are our own OTP.

O-P-B! But where is "I"?

Previewing some pics in-camera

An actual nice photo from lunch