Sunday morning! I don't know how people who go to room parties function on Sunday--granted way fewer people cosplay, and not everyone is insane enough to drive home the way I do, but still. I'm never so glad to be a perpetually old person (seriously I wasn't going to room parties even when I was in my 20s) as I am on Sunday morning. I was able to wake up, eat, and do my makeup with only a token amount of whining. Thankfully my last costume of the weekend let me use my own hair, my natural eye color, and relatively minimal makeup. I packed my things, checked out of the room, and asked the hotel to store my bags as per usual.

We spent so much time talking that by this time it was getting close to my photoshoot, so I said goodbye to Gio and Fwee and made me way back through the convention to the Marriott Marquis, as the girls had agreed to meet in the lobby. By the time I got there they were all there--Reinii, Avi, and Teren were reprising their roles as Tohru, Yuki, and Kisa respectively, but this time we were also being joined by Annalee as Arisa Uotani and Alyce as Momiji. I loved cosplaying with all of them, but I was super happy to be able to take pictures with both an Uo-chan and a Tohru-chan. (Someday I'd love to have an entire Sohma clan!)

After our shoot, there was only one thing left on our Must Do schedule: the Otakon Break-In Room! Once again Serge was helping to staff it, which is one of the reasons why we were interested, but honestly our group had so much fun doing it last year that of course we were going to try again. And once again it was up to us to save Closing Ceremonies. Last year were were the only group that solved it without asking for a single hint, and in the fastest time, could we do it again this year?

Ha ha ha NOPE! In our defense, we learned later that only *one* group in the entire *weekend* managed to solve all of the puzzles, so they really were hard. I have an excuse for floundering--in the beginning we did all right (find batteries in hallowed out books and all that jazz) but once it came to figuring out really weird patterns...no, we were completely lost. But, in Otakon's defense, it's a really hard line to walk: if the game is too easy, you don't feel a sense of satisfaction when you win. If it's too hard, if you can't even get *close*, then you don't have any fun trying. Now, the fact that one group solved it means that it wasn't too hard, at least for some people. I don't know. I'm certainly going to try again next year if they do it again.

Before we all rolled out, we decided to have one last lunch together, so we trekked over to Point Chaud Cafe & Crepes. I'm normally not a huge fan of crepes but the savory ones were amazing! Enough to make me want to go back to a sweet one! And it was nice to have time to sit and talk about non-anime things, everything from upcoming moves to Lil Nas X. But, all good things come to an end, and I had a long drive in front of me, so before long I had to go back to the hotel, get my car, load up, and roll out.

So, first the few downsides of Otakon (none of which are the convention's fault): I couldn't figure a way to weave it into the narrative here, but I had a REALLY strong allergic reaction to...something? I don't know? It was worst in the Break-In Room, and got better when I went outside, so I ended up having to go outside every so often (especially on Sunday) just to stop sneezing and having itchy eyes. I really don't know what caused it. I'm sorry we didn't go, as a group, to get our photos taken in the Otakon photosuite--call me vain but I really think our Avengers group might have made it into the pamphlet next year. It's so funny how my friends and I do very little "con stuff" like attend panels and whatnot--we really just spend time walking around together in costume. Which, theoretically, we could do outside of a convention, but then I wouldn't get to take all of these awesome pictures.

Upsides? Exactly that. I love that I get to see my friends--even though we have gotten a *lot* better about getting together to hang out outside of conventions, whether it's birthdays, Ren Faires, or events that mix both holidays and costuming. But I also love when people squee over my costumes. I really love fangirling over other people's costumes. I like playing nonsensical games. I love when one of my groups of friends gets to meet another group for the first time, or even the fifth time. I love meeting new people who are obsessed with the same things I am obsessed with.

To sum it all up, here are my final thoughts about Otakon 2019. Despite the fact that I had pre-registered and booked the room well in advance, there had been, at least internally, some doubt about me actually going--as I mentioned previously, 2019 had been a bad mental health year for me, worse than any year previous, and I had canceled other long-term, expensive, and much looked-forward-to plans in the spring. By summer, thanks almost entirely to the untiring love of my friends (especially Lady Terentia), I was doing better--I won't say "well", but functional enough to make the trip down, get dressed, and go to the convention every day. Some of being there was a bit much for me, primarily Saturday morning. But everyone was incredibly patient and supportive, and honestly the depression I would have gone through if I hadn't managed to make it there might have killed me. I'm glad I went. And I am going to do my best to make sure I go again next year.

I was so excited that the first cosplayer I saw was from Fruits Basket!

I <3 Gio

I mean look at that smile

This man is an inspiration

And also adorable

Yay I made a new friend!

After all the cloak possesses a will of its own

Dr. Strange is pretty nift too.

He can protect my reality anytime.

Tired Tohru

Look at this beautiful boy