Mars, the Bringer of Slack
I headed off to this year’s MarsCon with a single objective: to get drunk. I’ll be the first to admit that classier goals exist, but with one thing or another, 2010’s started off rough for me, and I needed some release. Besides, I drink so little that half a glass of dessert wine once a year is enough to make me pretty loopy.
I never got that drink, but I never needed to. A weekend of friends, costuming, laughs, and even a little gaming turned out to be just the prescription; by the end of the weekend, my body hurt, my head was spinning, my legs wouldn’t hold me up, and life looked so much better than it had a few days ago. In the short time since NekoCon, I’d forgotten why I devote so many resources to con-going.
I’ve avoided gaming at cons since I burned out on MechWarrior: Dark Age. Con gamers can be so angrily competitive that even winning leaves a sour taste. (And let me tell you, I’ll never play Button Men again.) This weekend, I got to game the way I enjoy it: Jesse Braxton brought a cards-and-custom-dice game called “Inn-fighting”, which was fun, fast, arbitrary, and not worth getting angry over. I’ve missed that kind of convention gaming so much.
Tom Monaghan and I began rebuilding our friendship this weekend. He’s not the same man he was a few years ago, but he’s more like the friend I remember from high school, older and wiser. He rediscovered BattleTech this weekend, and wants to get me into a game soon; we even discussed resurrecting Artificial Intelligence, or a descendant, as a webcomic. Do I have the time and resources for that? I don’t know. Am I fascinated by the idea? Yes, though I’m not sure who should draw: Tom is a better artist than I am, but a regular drawing gig would likely refine my skills a great deal.
I really do have some relatively traditional fan costuming planned for the future – I made contact this weekend with someone who could help me with some old-school anime outfitting I’ve always wanted. But from various (positive) comments I received this weekend, I’m developing a reputation at MarsCon for my over-the-top outfits, and I’d be lying if I said I’m not enjoying the rep.
The capper for the weekend? A casual enquiry about a costume commission led to a possible acting gig. Nothing’s set in stone, but I’m really stoked: I love the stage and screen, and I haven’t done any serious acting since Space Rogues. (Yes, I took it seriously. No matter how comedic or surreal the material, it’s not the actor’s job to laugh at it – only the audience’s. That’s often forgotten in low-budget work.) This is thrilling news!
Don’t know how long I can hang on to it, but I found my center again this weekend. Thank you MarsCon, for the opportunity.
Tags: comics, conventions, costuming, fandom, marscon, writing
Good for you!
I’m going to be doing my first entry in mumble years at SheVaCon (actually, I’m set decoration for someone else’s entry, but I’ll have done the sewing, propwork and makeup). Be interesting to go to a con as a fan.
Good for you!
I’m going to be doing my first entry in mumble years at SheVaCon (actually, I’m set decoration for someone else’s entry, but I’ll have done the sewing, propwork and makeup). Be interesting to go to a con as a fan.
Good for you!
I’m going to be doing my first entry in mumble years at SheVaCon (actually, I’m set decoration for someone else’s entry, but I’ll have done the sewing, propwork and makeup). Be interesting to go to a con as a fan.
Good for you!
I’m going to be doing my first entry in mumble years at SheVaCon (actually, I’m set decoration for someone else’s entry, but I’ll have done the sewing, propwork and makeup). Be interesting to go to a con as a fan.
Good for you!
I’m going to be doing my first entry in mumble years at SheVaCon (actually, I’m set decoration for someone else’s entry, but I’ll have done the sewing, propwork and makeup). Be interesting to go to a con as a fan.
Good for you!
I’m going to be doing my first entry in mumble years at SheVaCon (actually, I’m set decoration for someone else’s entry, but I’ll have done the sewing, propwork and makeup). Be interesting to go to a con as a fan.
Good for you!
I’m going to be doing my first entry in mumble years at SheVaCon (actually, I’m set decoration for someone else’s entry, but I’ll have done the sewing, propwork and makeup). Be interesting to go to a con as a fan.
Good for you!
I’m going to be doing my first entry in mumble years at SheVaCon (actually, I’m set decoration for someone else’s entry, but I’ll have done the sewing, propwork and makeup). Be interesting to go to a con as a fan.
Cons & Centers
Wow! You got lots of great stuff out of the con this year! If only 1 thing pans out, that’ll be great. 🙂
But it’s fantastic to do something and feel connected, ain’t it?
See ya!
Cons & Centers
Wow! You got lots of great stuff out of the con this year! If only 1 thing pans out, that’ll be great. 🙂
But it’s fantastic to do something and feel connected, ain’t it?
See ya!
Cons & Centers
Wow! You got lots of great stuff out of the con this year! If only 1 thing pans out, that’ll be great. 🙂
But it’s fantastic to do something and feel connected, ain’t it?
See ya!
Cons & Centers
Wow! You got lots of great stuff out of the con this year! If only 1 thing pans out, that’ll be great. 🙂
But it’s fantastic to do something and feel connected, ain’t it?
See ya!
Cons & Centers
Wow! You got lots of great stuff out of the con this year! If only 1 thing pans out, that’ll be great. 🙂
But it’s fantastic to do something and feel connected, ain’t it?
See ya!
Cons & Centers
Wow! You got lots of great stuff out of the con this year! If only 1 thing pans out, that’ll be great. 🙂
But it’s fantastic to do something and feel connected, ain’t it?
See ya!
Cons & Centers
Wow! You got lots of great stuff out of the con this year! If only 1 thing pans out, that’ll be great. 🙂
But it’s fantastic to do something and feel connected, ain’t it?
See ya!
Cons & Centers
Wow! You got lots of great stuff out of the con this year! If only 1 thing pans out, that’ll be great. 🙂
But it’s fantastic to do something and feel connected, ain’t it?
See ya!