• Member Since 18th Jun, 2012
  • offline last seen February 16th

Rarity Belle


A Dutch gentleman of leisure, living for pleasure, since mirth is my measure. Writing stories that are (mostly) unique and psychological of nature and visiting conventions whenever I can.

More Blog Posts35

  • 393 weeks
    Expanding my horizon

    The time is now finally there. Finally there to do something what I've been saying to do for a long time. If you remember a previous blog of mine, I said that I was kinda done with MLP fanfics. Hence why I expanded my horizon of writing gibberish. The first story to see that light of day, is the story that I wrote to

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    4 comments · 836 views
  • 397 weeks
    Galacon 2016 aftermath

    So here I sit in my 23rd year,
    How I wish I was at a con right now,
    It's been five days since we drove away,
    and I just made home yesterday,
    Celestia damn them all!

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    6 comments · 770 views
  • 403 weeks
    Done with MLP:FiM fanfics?

    Well, kinda, sorta, maybe, not entirely... This needs a bit more explaining, I'm afraid.

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  • 414 weeks
    BronyFair 2016

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    2 comments · 602 views
  • 420 weeks
    Hearth's Warming Con 2016

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    11 comments · 606 views
Feb
22nd
2015

HWCon aftermath · 8:08pm Feb 22nd, 2015

You have seen this thing about a thousand times by now. The very first Dutch MLP convention is over and now it's time for me to roll back into my own schedule of both work and writing. It was a truly amazing weekend though. But not one that was without it's faults. Shall I make it just as I did with Galacon 2013, or shall I keep it a lot, a lot, simpler this time around? I think, it would be best if we keep it plain and simple for this one.

As a first time convention of MLP in the Netherlands, with absolutely no guarantee's about anything or anyone, I do have to say everything worked out amazingly. Yes, there were a lot (and I mean a lot) of technical difficulties. However, word came to me those weren't from the HWCon organisation, but rather the venue itself. But as I said, it was the first time being done around these parts, so I can let a couple of errors slip, especially after hearing some of the staff-members about them as well.

Anywhy, HWCon consisted out of Friday evening and Saturday. On the evening Friday, it was just great fun all around. Meeting up with old friends and making tons of new ones as well. Combine that with having a great dinner and an actual storyteller afterwards, and you have just about the perfect evening for me. ...Weren't it for the fact that the live performances then came. It was amazing that the people who performed, did perform, but I'm not the type of person who is gonna dance or just listens to their music. So, a couple of other guys and me went to the attic of the event center and we, well, basically started to play the MLP version of Monopoly. It was simply put, great fun.

And then there was the day, and the problems didn't stop there. After about an hour when the convention should have started, everything started. Thankfully people did remain patient as they could buy their stuff already. But when the time was there, it was really there. The engine got fired it, roared a couple of times before it was off. HWCon had then truly taken off and most people landed straight within the VA panel. I stayed just a little bit longer before I had to take my leave of it. I wished I had stayed for a little bit longer, but what can you do, when the time was there for your own panel?

The writer's panel was, how can I sum it up in one word? ... I think that that is even impossible outside of chaotic, but that doesn't do any justice. I think the correct terming would be: an interactive conversation that dove down into nothing but chaos. It wasn't your standard Q&A panel, but instead we made it a conversation. When that signal was given, I knew I could be just plainly myself and even with my other two panelists, it was time for chaos. >-> I didn't really held myself back as much as I should have been doing though. Got a good laugh or two out of the audience though.

Unfortunately, the timing of the entire con was literally dumped on one massive pile. Meaning, you had like two or three things going on at the same time. At worst, three things on the same floor, without mics, and without walls to separate everything from one another. Again, just having one day, I can forgive it. Wasn't really fun though. Cosplay show, writer's panel and karaoke with Anneli Heed (Swedish Spitfire), were all at the same time and I really, really wanted to look at the other two things as well. Maybe not sing, but at least watch a little bit of it.

After the panel I just derped a little bit around in my own cosplay (hadn't signed up for the contest for obvious reasons) and managed to get a couple of good scares and uncomfortable looks when people saw my vampire fangs coming down. So, so, so worth the pain in my mouth. But me just kept on derping around, looking by all of the vendors and bought a couple of things. I did it really carefully this time around. Much against my usual contrast of like Galacon or B.O.T.S.. I don't know why, but there just wasn't much I really wanted. Okay, I wanted it all, but I'm running out of space. Happy now?

Then the time came for the autographs. Personally I didn't have anything that could be signed and I had Anneli's autograph because of Galacon 2013. However, they were free and from my position next to queue for the signing session I could see an art vendor. One particular poster of a certain princess captured my eyes. And then the thought came: 'shall I ruin it, with the autographs? No... Of course I do!' So I got the poster, and got both of the VA to sign it on the moon.

The time had come again to derp a little bit around before the flash-fic competition would begin. Only problem happened to be the fact that nobody thought of it. Me and two other guys from the writer's panel were also the hosts of it, but nobody gave us any instructions on what to do, or what needed to happen. So that got cancelled. Didn't really matter much to me though, I got time to see what would be happening at the auction.

I walk into the room with the mane stage (seriously, some word jokes are just too obvious) and the next item up for auction is a printed version of Past Sins. I made steep bids on it, but in the end it went to somebody else for, around €160,- Oh well, I always have the online version, shall we say. But the same thing as with Galacon, it was insanity at its finest. A lot of things went away for prices you wouldn't believe.

Next thing that was on the agenda, was a big surprise. Nobody knew what it was and everybody had so their own little thoughts about it. In the end of all things, it turned out to be a video skype call with nobody else than Andrea Libman herself. Over half of the people present were most likely blown away by that little fact. Truth be told, even though I had caught wind of a such a thing being possible, seeing it happen is a major smack in the face, in the right way.

Than came the closing ceremony and that was it really. After it there was an afterparty (which wasn't really visited by many from stories I heard the day after) and I went back to my hotel. Had some dinner with a couple other guys and just relaxed in the lounge and just talked to one another. Which is really the thing I love doing. Just sitting with a couple of guys and talk, for hours on end. But to everything there has to be an end. Even to this, sadly enough.

Enter, Sunday morning. Long story short, after waiting on two other guys with whom I would travel to the airport, we finally made our departure from the hotel and were on our way. Maybe, half an hour with the bus? I can't really recall, the way back was over in the snap of a finger. It felt so good to be back home again. So good to finally be back where I, basically belong. The convention was a massive hit in my eyes. Yes, there were difficulties. But it's the first time it's organized. It's a wise lesson for everybody involved and I hope, they learned something.

Hearth's Warming 2016? I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. Time shall become the judge whether or not it's gonna happen again, if it is becoming an annual thing, or just a one time thingy. You never know with us Dutchies. But if there is gonna be another one, I'll try my best again to place another writer's panel there as well as a flash-fic contest which is a lot better organized.

But what are the things I picked up during the convention? A lot, lot less merch then I originally would have thought to be buying. Most of the things I received, were basically free because con-guest. >-> Little perk of having a panel in which you partake. Anywho, haul time!

- A lovely hoody! Party cannon is ready to be... fired? Ember? EMBER!

- No convention is complete without some posters of their own. Is it just me, or is Ember just to die for? So cute!

(From right to left)
- Elektro-Blitz his OC printed on picture paper. He was kinda handing them out and a great guy in general.
- 3D printed statue, sculture, thingy, from Ember in a traditional Dutch wooden shoe.
- Rarity bookmark. Did you really think I would pass out on such a thing?
- The badge I wore pretty much the whole day of the con.
- Con guide booklet! Another one for the collection.
- Nightmare Moon statue from WeLoveFine. It's amazing to look at. Bit strange, but so awesome.

- The poster I bought for the autographs. Which is currently already hanging on the wall somewhere in my room.

And with that, Hearth's Warming Con is truly over. The blast of where we have been looking out towards has come, and sadly enough has gone. Even though the quarrels arose, their numbers aplenty, laughter and singing got us through. (Seriously, we hadn't sung that song? Opportunity missed...)

Report Rarity Belle · 727 views ·
Comments ( 27 )

Great write-up. :twilightsmile: I've also written a report on HWcon; read it here.

Well its great that you had fun and it seemed like the Con went decently well. Wish I could have been there to enjoy the chaos that seemed to come out of your panel. You got a lot of good goodies and you seem happy which makes all of us happy. Plus the vampire fangs things....priceless. Well hope you enjoyed yourself and we are here to help you with any Post Con Depression you may experience.

I don't know why but somehow I find this fitting:

2821210 You know me longer than today, right? There's always a bit more. Always that little hidden surprise. :raritywink: I did in fact, tried to bite somebody once. Only once and it was obviously fake. But I just had to do it, once.

I didn't think somebody actually printed out Past Sins

Outside of Fallout Equestria, Past Sins is officially printed and published, but only limited to about 2,000 copies if I'm not mistaken. Truth be told, I'm glad I didn't buy the book. Opening bid was €50,- and I jumped straight over to €80,- what followed was a little bidding war which I lost, obviously. And yes, there was a lot of things to choose from. A lot of things I even wanted, but the problem is just space! The bookmark I saw, and I just had to have it. >-> Was short of one anyway, hehehe.

If I could do it again, I would in a heartbeat.

2821379 Thanks dear. And I've read it already, actually. News travels around fast on the forum. I dare to say yours was even better than mine, more objective, so to speak.

2821382 Maybe next year you can come over here and witness the chaos for yourself, if it is gonna be held to begin with. Lots and lots of goodies! I should feel bad for them, but I don't! I'm gonna scare so many people at Galacon with those. Imagine 2 full days, theme being villains, what can be a better opportunity? Oh I got through that PCD pretty well actually, given, how it's already...Monday, for me. Dammit!

Oh! I love that song. Used it even when writing my NMR tale. Truly amazing job on it.

2821627 ehh probably not..a little thing called college and well...being mostly broke...plus the plane trip would be so long..but who knows. Don't feel bad, scare everyone it's fun!!! So sorry it's Monday for you..It's still a few hours til monday for me...at least you don't have a 6:30 am chem class. And it is a great song, still like the Twivine Sparkle ones the best. Have a great Monday Rares

fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2014/040/e/5/hang_in_there__pinkie__by_cheezedoodle96-d75px9b.png

Your panel was great, it was like "f**k the script we will improvise" lucky that i had a front row seat so i could see the chaos explode.

2821682 It wasn't even our idea to throw the script out of the window, it was the idea of the host. Of which I am very thankful actually. Chaotic, but ever so much fun.

2822948

I could tell you were in your element, haha. Anyway, an organic conversation brings up a lot more edutainment than a basic Q&A. After all, such answers could just as easily have been created on a dingy forum corner. This way we benefited from live interaction. Also, your fancy costume was an attraction in and of itself. :D

2824070 Well, writing is the thing I kinda live and breath at this point in time. It would be strange if I weren't in my element actually, hehe. But that is entirely true yes. Having an organic conversation, allowed the interactions to happen as they did. It isn't something that can be easily replicated and gives a unique feel to something. I'm actually glad you threw the script out of the window. As a very good character once said: make sense? What fun is there in making sense? And why thank you. Though truth be told, it was thrown together really quickly for a meet a couple of months back. But I had the time to give some upgrades to it for HWCon. Them fangs!

Also, hai Shade!

2824802 Well, it didn't look like a thrown-together costume, so well done! I'm sure you scared a couple of people with the fangs. Hopefully none of the kids. :D

2826387 Fair enough, fair enough. Maybe one day I'll tell the tale of it all together. And I scared so many people with that, but I know my limits. No kids got psychically destroyed with them. At least not to my knowledge. >-> Though I did try to bite somebody... Obviously play, but so much fun!

2826417 I might have to talk to security! Biting, perhaps, is allowed, so long as you don't suck out too much blood. :D

2829388 Nobody died, so that should be good. >-> I didn't saw an ambulance coming anyway.

2830613 Indeed. It was a surprisingly disaster-free con, come to think of it. :D

2832648 Despite all of the technical difficulties, that it was. Bonus points for the orga!

2833366 Likely, most of these bonus points will be spent on syrup waffles, but yay. :D

2833617 Works for me really. I eat them as breakfast.

2834720 I had some syrup waffles for breakfast the other day as well. Interesting!

2836032 Too much information? :D

2844063 Nah, just a bit surprised, that's all.

2844068 It's all a part of having a responsible diet! (Well, okay, not really!)

2844389 (Tell me about that) A 'responsible' diet went out of the window for me a long, long, long time ago.

2846179 Hah, such things aren't worth anything if you can't have a regular intake of syrup waffles. :D

2857850 You, yes you! I can talk with you.

2859023 Indeed you can. :D Have you a Twitter or somesuch place perchance?

2882411 Unfortunately, the only place outside of this that one can reach me, is Skype. Not that much into the social media, otherwise I wouldn't be getting any work done.

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