Everfree Northwest 2024 · 8:08pm Sep 14th, 2024
It is a curious thing to note that, while I have been a brony since the immediate post S1 days, it has always been limited to online interaction. Only in the past two years have I sought more public displays of fandom, and then initially at the relatively small quasi-local Trotcon (3-4 hour drive). I'm not sure if I love bronycons enough to fly to them for a weekend as many do, but the coordination of a vacation to Olympic National Park let me sell a pre-vacation con at Everfree Northwest to myself, to be enjoyed before driving the rented car to the park for the week.
It was a blur. I barely remember what panels I attended. My photos, as I look back at them, are more filled with... people. There was something wondrous about meeting those I've at least been acquainted with for decades yet only knew them as a small boxed avatar. Sometimes not even that - an author I've left a comment or two for, yet whose works changed me profoundly.
I was extremely happy to meet Somber - not for Fallout Equestria like many of you, but Simply Rarity, which was incalculably influential on 2012 Dan in learning the incredible depth of emotion the medium of fanfiction can allow. I was very pleased to do meals with Horizon and Skywriter, both of whom are roughly equally to blame for my adoption of Harshwhinny as "That one character I absurdly gravitate towards." There was also Fan of Most Everything, Regidar, Evelili, and a surprise honor to play a quick board game with The World's Strongest Writer, Shakespearicles.
This is perhaps not as strange and magical to many of you, who may see each other at multiple cons per year. But for me it was singular, almost surreal. I will likely return to EFNW at some point, but the number of such times can surely be counted on one hand. I am sometimes wistful at what I may have missed from my earlier shyness, both in attending cons and real life discussions with friends - I have one RL friend who was an enthusiastic brony who since moved on, and I never wanted to talk ponies when he was into them.
So it goes. No one has no regrets at all. At any rate, it was tremendously fulfilling to place faces to many names, and for a few to chat a bit and learn who they are behind the pony avatar. I am happy I came. I hope to do so again. Maybe I'll even be able to get off my ass and do the "Why Harshwhinny is actually the best character" panel I keep thinking about...
Anyway, obligatory con-loot pics:
Wow, that Celestia on the last shot looks positively sublime. Really alien.
That's some impressive con loot!
Honored to have provided part of your loot!
So glad you had fun!
Cool, I I wish I could go there, but I live in Germany and it is not possible.
Glad to hear you had a good time at your inaugural Big Pony Con!
And quite a nice assortment of prints, stickers, plus a few ponyfic books and the odd comic too.
Props for Simply Rarity recognition.
One of the classics.
5804237
That one's a fun story... I had already gotten a Celestia print, but I saw that after and was gobsmacked, so I snagged it. It's just so strange - very offputting, but also beautiful.
5804295
It is not an exaggeration to say Simply Rarity was absolutely formulative for me as a fanfic writer. It taught me fanfics don't just have to just be cute and fun extensions of our then-12 hours of pony screen time, but a tapestry upon which can be painted sorrow and pain and all else the human condition has to offer. I didn't go to EFNW thinking or hoping specifically to meet Somber, but I am thrilled that I did, and that I got the chance to tell him how much it meant to me.
5804301
As I like to write, there is beauty in everything
And frankly, it's all in the eyes
Glad you had fun.
5804356
Yess~ the eye shadow is so thick it looks like the eyes are open. It makes you look twice, really drew me in.
I somehow missed this on the first go-around, but it was great to meet you there!
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Same to you!