This year, however, I'm going to break my own rules. I started using Insta earlier this year, and reason has forsaken me. ARTISTS EVERYWHERE. I WANT THEIR MERCH. I WANT THEM SO BADLY I'M WILLING TO GO TO COMIC FIESTA FOR THE FIRST TIME DESPITE KNOWING ITS EXISTENCE FOR 8 YEARS. 8 EFFING YEARS.
*ahem* So, now that the introduction's done, let us continue to my first time ever in CF, 2015.
Day 1:
I woke up pretty early to get a head start on the train, but dudes are not with me so I had to wait for them at the station for half an hour. Going with me on the wild-human-sandwich-convention-experience was Yumiko (haha!), Missy Dragon, her sister, Khei, and Khei's aunt and cousin. I had early bird tickets so going in straight away isn't a problem... except that the others didn't, and there's a loooooong queue for the tickets counter. Khei received tickets from a cousin so she went in with me and left the others to wait in line for tickets. I'm such a bad person.
I went around to Meyoco's booth (E4/Honey & Mayo) first, snagged three out of four of her books, one which has sold out. I CRY. She told me to come back on the second day... I also bought Daisuga charms because those are expensive and I only want my OTP!
Next I visited Pottetto, Khadi with Halimah and Tarii's booths, which were all side by side (H40/Pottetto, H41-42/Dirty Paws, H39/Sleeping Lemon) and spent money on stickers and button badges.
I was supposed to move on to the next booth on my list, but then dudes got their tickets so I had to stop adventuring and go with them on a slow expedition. It was crowded and packed and people are sweaty ugh. There were A LOT of Kaneki cosplayers, and there was someone who is a combo of Naruto AND Kaneki I mean what?????
We stopped at Kino booth and looked though expensive books (I saw artbooks about otome games hurhurhur), I spotted oldxian's artbook (which isn't sold in Popular and even Kino), fangirled and bought it, looked around for SQ but found none.
Missy Dragon and her sister got CDs and folders while Khei's cousin... bought CDs also but in a more moderate manner. Then we moved on and stopped by Culture Japan and the Smart Doll showcase, which blew my mind.
I thought Smart Dolls were only as big as Barbies, but I was clearly mistaken. If the Smart Doll were to be measured from my head it would end at my torso. No wonder it costs RM2100.
Finally we moved back to the artbooths. We start off at the last row of booths, and from there on it was HELL. I keep seeing tons of Pokemon and Haikyuu buttons (along with Love Live ones) but I can't possibly buy ALL of them so I could only just look through them and only buy the ones I really like. I don't see a lot of Owls so when I saw them on display at a booth I stopped and bought them. I might as well have all the volleyball ships while I'm here. Then there's this booth. I saw Mieu on the table and picked up the small booklet, flipped through it and my heart leapt. FINALLY A TALES MERCH OMG. I bought it. No doubt crossed my mind, no worrying about money. I asked the price (OMG the booth keeper was cosplaying as ASCH), bought it and put it in my bag.
I recognized Yue's booth (K13/Squarish, with Fei) and my eyes lingered because I saw something that would make me cry: TALES MERCH. I WILL ALWAYS CRY WHEN THERE'S TALES MERCH. I looked at the buttons and stickers like I saw my savior if I had one, choked in my tears, screamed internally and bought them home with me. That was what made my whole day. TALES MERCH.
Soon it was time for lunch (it was already 2 when we left to grab a bite) and every restaurant was full, even the most expensive ones, but we managed to find a place in Texas Chicken. My feet never hurt like that before and when I sat down I was stretching and exercising my toes. We ate, dudes wanna explore more so I said my goodbyes and retreated back to my hostel.
I unpacked, bought dinner and slept in for the day to replenish my energy for tomorrow. I need to queue early for day 2 because of Meyoco's book.
Day 2
I considered myself early, but I didn't think other people would be so eager to queue up as early as 6! Queuing with sweaty and untidily dressed men is not a good experience. Ah, but what can I do? I wanted Meyo's book so badly I had to come early. My bag weighs like my old primary school bag (which is heavy eff) and the heat isn't helping. Finally when I got into the Hall I literally dashed -ran even- to booth E4... only to find it empty. I thought she wasn't here yet, so I browsed around, found some good stuff. I bought more buttons (and the Tales sticker) from Yue, I didn't buy anything from Pottetto on day 1 so I chose a Steven button, bought Haikyuu and cat stickers from Khadi, found a Kingsman illustration book and a cute cat foods book, also bought a dead fandom's prints just so I could take a picture and show it to Missy Dragon...
however whenever I went back to Meyo's booth she's still not there. Finally I gave up and left, feeling awkward as everyone is going to the convention whereas I'm leaving, board the train and reached home safely.
After I finished unpacking I looked through Insta and saw that Meyo had an emergency and cannot make it on day 2... so it just means that book and I are not meant to be????
Comic Fiesta is WILD. But I didn't expect myself to have a heartbreak over not being able to buy a book. I didn't know there was so much to see in CF. Illustration books, button badges, stickers (ohoho I've never loved stickers this much) and charms, there are so many things I would like to buy, I would really like to commission some of my fave artists but I can't because time is short. I've been urging Khei to choose something so that I could buy for her, but she wouldn't let me. I bought this years' friend's appreciation present already, but I could only distribute them in January next year. It's a long wait...
