Drake Bids Farewell to EFN · 9:40pm May 20th, 2018
I typed this Saturday night, before the flurry of Sunday morning to pack, do a final few activities, and get to the airport in time for my plane, which sadly means I'll miss the closing ceremonies and the Iron Author awards, which'll be really awkward if I win the latter. But I want to take the time now to get down my thoughts, because they need getting down.
I've said before this was my first con, and it was also my first time flying, my first time traveling outside of Ontario alone, and the longest trip I've ever taken (previous record holder was merely New York). But I wanted to do it so I could meet some friends in person, partake in some fandom activities, buy some cool pony merch, and just in general be here. I knew this would be an exciting experience.
It was all that and more that I didn't expect.
So to begin, here's the major takeaway from this event.
I got to meet face-to-face with The Albinocorn and Novel-Idea. Novel has been a good friend here and through him I've been involved in the great Sunset Sliders projects, and Alby has been there since the beginning when I bounced my idea for Twilight Falls, Sunset Dawns off of him, and we've been pre-reading for each other for years since. It was great meeting this guys in person. I also met Oroboro and, from YouTube, Applegeek, a reactor I enjoy watching.
Pinkie Pie best pony, Andrea best human. This would be the crown jewel of my collection now, if not for the other things I got giving it a strong run for its money.
Sunset <3. And adorable unicorns. I won the Twilight doll in a gameshow panel, everything else was bought. Not pictured are assorted keychain tokens I got, Sunset adorns my keys and Starlight, Twilight, and Trixie hang on my laptop bag.
I've wanted a Trixie plush for a while, but of course the stores around here never really carry the minor characters. I had hoped to get a good Twilight here, I hate the ones with the fake cloth or felt wings, they feel so cheap. Alas that the only plushes here for Twilight were either in the three-digit price range or were her as a unicorn and I want alicorn Twi. Ah well, no big deal.
The one pony T-shirt I've ever wanted was the abstract Rainbow Dash head one. I looked in stores everywhere around my town for years and never found it. This is just as good and if not better, they only had two of them without a family title attached and they were in my size, so I grabbed one. So happy. I had my eyes out for a good Sunset shirt but alas found none.
Overall I went pretty conservative on pony merch, but it was a lot for me, probably around $100 total, which is a big deal for me, I don't go in big on pony merch. I've probably spent more at this con on the stuff than I have in total up until now.
Besides the merch, I got to take part in Iron Authors and wrote a little oneshot that'll be posted a little later once it's allowed. I sat in on a lot of writing panels and got some new perspective on things from their insight. I got to play video games and sing songs with total strangers, do a quiz show with the same and come in second, and I knocked out a lot of story reviews. It should go without saying that I had a lot of fun here. But I got more than that. And it's something I have to get wordy about.
I am, by simple nature, a quiet, private guy. I keep to myself and I am especially strict about keeping my private and online lives separate. I know things one does on the internet can come back to haunt them, and the name Drake Clawfang goes back 15 years to when I was a teenager just starting out writing fanfiction and thinking a Yugioh-Inuyasha crossover was the most amazing idea ever. I'll wager not a lot of you know my real first name, and even fewer know my last name. And NO ONE who I've met in real life before Friday knows the name of DrakeyC, and if they do they don't know it belongs to me. Now, I am by no means ashamed of my love for MLP, but I don't broadcast it to the world.
Being at this con was something I've never experienced before. I passed people in costumes both detailed and haphazard, but didn't care because I knew they did it for the love of the show. I passed people singing loudly in the halls. I saw people in Deadpool costumes with Pinkie Pie wigs, and note that statement was in the plural. Grown men, grown women, parents bringing their kids of both genders. I saw a Celestia and Discord couple with a Fluttershy daughter. I saw an old man dressed as Star Swirl. A man was leading a conga line singing pony songs. An entire auditorium sang along to the Smile song and cheered when it began and ended.
During the opening ceremonies the MC, who I am so sorry I don't know his name, sang about a con he dreams of putting on, and was joined on-stage by Ingrid Nilsen. And already, just the opening ceremonies, I almost felt like crying. Because I realized then the true meaning of the old tired saying "love and tolerance". This is a show that has united people from all walks of life, all ages, and all gender orientations. And here, at these cons, they can wear their love on their sleeve. No judgment, no fear. Walk around with ponies hanging from your vest and your hat, dress up as Twilight Spartan, wear a bright purple and green dragon costume, or just carry a plush under your arm or poke some pins on your bag.
Being here now, seeing all these people together enjoying themselves and each other and celebrating the show, I feel like I understand this show and its fandom better. And I am more proud than ever before to be a part of it and to have been here to be a part of this. This is the first time I've publically identified myself to a room of people as DrakeyC without fear. If I'm being fully honest, a disappointment for me here was that no one recognized the name. But I don't even care, because this event isn't about me, it's about all of us. And I was happy to be a face in a crowd of fans, singing, cheering, and clapping.
….and that was the blog, as typed Saturday night. But on my way out, something happened. My flight boards at 4:15, so I wanted to be at the airport by 3. It's 2:00, the Iron Authors award ceremony has begun and I've asked Albinocorn to receive my prize should I win anything, which I genuinely do not expect to. I went to my room, got my suitcase, and headed to the elevator.
At that moment Albinocorn messages me on Discord - I tied for second in Iron Authors.
I rushed down to the room and enter in time to hear the reading of my entry. I heard a few sniffs I’d like to think were for the fic and not congestion. The room applauded, my name was called out, and I went up to get my prize and do a humble bow before the assembled crowd that was clapping for me. I was asked by Novel to sign his con book and a total stranger asked me for a picture.
I’m typing this part of the blog with my laptop on a trashcan as I wait for the shuttle to the airport, my bag bulging with the addition of a third plush, that being the con plush I won.
I began my con experience feeling like crying. I’m ending it feeling like crying.
Goodbye Seattle and Everfree Northwest. I'll never forget you, and who knows, perhaps we'll see each other again next year.
Glad you had fun, bud. Have a safe trip back.
Sounds like you had an amazing experience!
Cons are very special times. So happy you made lasting memories.
I'd say more but I'm at work.
May your friends and pony continue to inspire you.
Glad you had a good time. :D
Now I want a story about Discord and Celestia getting married and Discord wanting to adopt Fluttershy as their daughter and it just being really awkward for everyone involved XD
Always makes me happy to hear someone's con experience went well.
I told you it's the people that are great.
Glad you had a great first con experience!
Glad you enjoyed the con
, I hope to see you back next year. BTW I was the guy in the Quibble pants daring do cosplay, I went to a few of the writing panels as well. 
Drake, the singer with the con chair (Thornwing) wasn't Andrea. It was Ingrid. And you got second place in the Iron Author contest.
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Derp.
I was told I tied?
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Yeah.
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Ah. Still cool.