2003 was the first year I was able to attend Yaoi-con, and I had the absolute time of my life! Below is an abbreviated personal report, which I may add to in the weeks to come. Partially due to persuasion from sailorstarsun, and partially because so many fun things happened that I have difficulty describing, this report has been illustrated (albeit somewhat crudely). Please forgive any inconsistencies in hair, coloring and clothing of attendees, as well as surroundings. When I drew this, I didn't have any visual aids other than a scant number of photographs.

This report is told in third person, from the perspective of the character I played for two of the three days of the con - Sei-Lan, Tutor of Sense, from the series Angelique. Sailorstarsun is thus referred to as either Zephel (Guardian of Steel, of Angelique), or Inori (of the series Haruka). ^^


Friday night, October 17, 2003

After a day of feasting on sushi and cursing San Francisco's love of "No-Left-Turn" signs, Zephel and Sei-Lan went to Yaoi-con. Disguised as a Tennis Prince and an Amorous Schoolboy Wizard (no, not a Griffindor), the two went about the early events of the con, meeting many wonderful people - costumed and not. Sei-Lan helped photograph Zephel with other Tennis Princes, oogled bishounen, and smiled so much his face began to twitch. The two later met with two assassins, who were actually Olivie and Charlie in disguise.


Mistaking Olivie for a man is indeed a rare event.

After purchasing a few early doujinshi, Zephel and Sei-Lan made their way to an event called Yaoi Bingo. Zephel had eagerly anticipated this event for some time, but Sei-Lan (though he would never admit it) did not know how to play. He left Zephel to it and set off for a magical place called Minkland. Upon finding this place, a Minkette named Wiggle sighed, "Aburatsubo!", and snapped Sei-Lan's picture. Sadly, a combination of jet-lag, sushi overdose and lack of sleep had set in on the Tutor, so as he sat surrounded by so many amazingly talented writers and artists of Minkland, he was speechless. Here were so many people he'd been eager to meet for several years, and all he could do was lamely call upon his oldest alias - Aisha - and sit nervously, wishing for a big cup of espresso to snap him out of it. Instead, due to clever persuasion from a pixie Minkette named Jink, a little alcohol did the trick.


Sei-Lan still does not know exactly what was in that drink (besides vodka, that is), but it did stop the facial twitching and nervousness. ^^; Aisha had a wonderful time chatting with several Minkettes, and came to the conclusion that something called a Live Journal must be attained in the near future.

Feeling some concern that perhaps the Bingo game was over, and that his roommate was searching for him, Sei-Lan made his way back. After fighting through mobs of rabid drooling fangirls and fanboys, he finally found Zephel, cursing his cards. Apparently, to say "this card sucks," was discouraged, as "sucks" is a good word. Nevertheless, some people's cards must have been good, because the army dude was stripped down to his underwear.


But of course, as the ever-cynical Sei-Lan noted, no one really got to SEE anything (except supposedly the winner who peeked behind the dressing screen). This fact did not discourage the incessant lightning of flashbulbs though.



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