Justice is... exhausting

This year I was Neko MaoMao with a giant ass basket of fake florals I stashed my belongings incluidng some cheap hairsticks and a bag of pokemon hershey kisses for giveaway treats. Got some Panera for breakfast, weather was lovely for a walk- and so very excited

Started the day walking through the city in full cosplay like a half mile because I will be DAMMED if im paying more than 20 bucks for parking for a single afternoon

8:00, feeling GREAT,

Finally arrived and booked it straight to my beloved artist alley/dealers hall, but ofc nothings open yet so since im gong solo- im striking a conversation with everyone with a good vibe and a heartbeat. Having a blast, ive handed out candy to every staff memeber ive run into including an info desk trio who were thrilled to be involved

The reason I mention them is because fast forward- its about 9:30, dealers hall opens at 10 so now they have a line up. I entered on accident following my people but decided "fuck it ill join the early crowd this year". So I set my basket down and go to grab my phone to pass the time

...

Nothing.

Its so hot, and stuffy, and everyone is around me, im overstimulated, so I decided nevermind- ducked under the rope and went back down the hall to empty my entire basket and find this stupid thing.

Still- nothing, and there I am, crouched down surrounded by fake flowers and spilled hershey kisses and the camera I brought but didnt use once the whole day.

Its 9:34- and my phone is GONE.

But as a chronic internal processor my instant response was "Well damm," Gathered my stuff and waddled my way back to the info desk, and I was happily greeted by the same trio before. Which I ofc instantly sourced the mood by going "Heyyy what are the odds yall have seen a phone :D"

But these guys locked IN- one guy started speed walking down the hall to "contact the troops", another handed me his phone to call mine, and the last girl was trying so hard to comfort me but I was also- fine?

Fast forward- no luck, so sent a text to myself to give my phone to staff and when the trooper guy returned I got directions to lost and found with a farewell request to come back if I found it.

All the while im getting stopped for photos and trades and im of course thrilled but also half laughing at the irony of my situation.

Arrive and start talking to the main guy at the lost and found, routine he hands me HIS phone as I call mine and describe mine, and as im waiting having given up- another staff member side steps me and goes "Oh sorry- here ya go" and hands over MY PHONE to the guy im talkng to

I sit there like-

Of course we confirm its mine, swap our phones, and then he looks at me with the friendliest smile and goes

"Congrats! Wanna pick out a banner and sign the cloak of shame? :)" The fuckin- WHAT.

So yeah thats where the "Nat 20 I found my stuff" banner came from, and yes there was a giant black cloak in the corner covered in silver sharpie confessions.

I go back down the 20 sets of stairs and while going down an escalator I feel someone accidently step on my tail, so I move around to apologize I forgot to hold on while crowded. And they look down and go

I started signing back SOO fast- and they lit up and we were half stumbling on the escalator YAPPIN in sign language, I was thrilled to use it, and they were thrilled someone understood. Started talking about Dr.Stone (their cosplay) and it was so fun

Return to dealers hall info booth, get congratulated by the trio in my phone quest victory, and the guy who let me borrow his phone gave me the "gold star" banner

Now its about 10:00, so I actually go INTO dealers hall-

and its honestly? Fun but underwhelming

There was a giant pokemon plush booth, I asked about my boy Oddish but they only had a Gloom- so I mope past thinking I may loop back and gave since I love them both equally (tho gloom was like 35 which YIKES)

Turn to a random lowkey (no big banners or signs) vendor selling vintage gameboy games- and I happen to spot just a bin of plushies, out of curiosity- and THERE IS MY BOY ODDISH

"Heyyy (casually ofc) How much for this guy?" (tag price of 25) "Hmm- 27?" DONE.

Last dealers hall gem was I walk into a giant actual mini HALL of discount manga (which I sadly did not partake because it was so busy couldnt browse, didnt have my targets, also I did NOT wanna lug that around)

But what do I spot around the corner??

MY COMIC BOOK GUY WORKING THE REGISTER- I keep running into him at cons and its an ongoing joke of hunting him down at this point, but I stroll up and go "Well hello :3" and he instantly starts laughing

We chat for a bit, and a few other customers join in seeming amused by full Mao Mao cosplayer talking to a 50 year old hippie in a Deadpool shirt like college friends- (Also stopped by later to hand off some candy for him and his other buddy working)

Eventually I track down more staff, hand out more goodies, wander around, then artist alley opens and the REAL fun begins-

Overall interactions-

SOO many kiddos I gave treats to, and parents I had wonderful conversations

Failed to find any acrylic standees or figures I felt were reasonably priced/my taste in EITHER hall-

BUT got quite a few prints for my display that I am thoroughly thrilled with-

Managed to get rid of an entire like one pound back of pokemon hershey kisses (each had one of the 151 on the bottom so made a fun interaction game)

As well as my hairpins to fellow maomaos or a few other cosplayers who gave out compliments- including a Toga (MHA) cosplayer working the front info desk who started squealing and gave me the miku banner in thanks

I also have a "I deserve a little treat" shirt in metal band font from an artist retiring whom I also love-

Sat down by the Valko memorial shrine, which was a treat to see (not my picture)

My Freebies:

Nat 20 banner from the lost and found

Gold Star banner from the Info desk worker as a quest treat finding my phone lol

Talked with a Quifrey and Olruggio duo (Witch Hat Atelier) for about 20 minutes and they gave me the "And they were roomates" banner

Got a Simon (Iron Lung) sticker from a cosplayer while we were both waiting on food because I was fighting in line to order a "Cheeseburger but with no cheese PLEASE"-

Laois sticker (Delicious in Dungeon) was from a Marcille cosplayer

Lil chipmunk was from a tattoo artist whose husband was dressed as the House Husband guy and loudly advertising her as she worked behind her stand

The Maomao Neko sticker I actually got FROM an artist as a freebie because it matched my cosplay

The heart I got from a "Badge robe wizard" who blessed my badge for "many cons to come"

Frog was from a fellow Maomao

The bunny I cannot recall unforntunently

Milkytomato button ofc from the artist themselves after a pokemon draw

NOT pictured was 3 roses I got from someone who asked to "Trade" for one of my florals, I instead gave them a fancy brass hairpin, and they freaked out and started just handing me more roses lol

Finally im almost out of shit, I looped the hall a few more times, backed out of impulse buying very expensive dice, its now about 3-4ish, so I finally make the treck back to my car and take off

A N D proceeded to go over to visit my fav lesbians and play dnd for the next 7 hours straight :D

Waited like 20 minites for them to frantically track down my bag I already checked to try to slip it in

Had to sit there and watch my boarding time slowly creep up as someone CHRONICALLY early- and finally on the verge of tears the attendant went

"Hey hon- do u want us to cancel the search? were reaching a point im so sorry :("

I was so overstimulated and overwhelmed I kinda boiled over and just blubbered out if I could just check my backpack instead.

Then these two lovely ladies worked at lightning speed while I stood there sniffling and holding my card out- she just waved me off and told me to hurry

So now im on the plane, with my phone (38% at the start of an almost 3 hr flight), computer (I had enough forethought to pull out), batman squishmallow ans milkytomato blanket (emotional support), and headphones.