Weekend Gamer

Good afternoon, everyone [already afternoon? ugh, where does all my time go?]. Hope you all had a pleasant weekend. I was verily too busy to post on Sunday [che sigh], as I tried to be semi-productive and catch up on work in the time I wasn't going out. Saturday, I had a tall-shoes outing with a friend from campus, and we went and saw Hunger Games [I haven't read the book, so I have a very base opinion just concerning the movie. And I feel like I sound jaded when I say it was alright; just okay]. Aside from the Demonia boots, nothing to report. Resident Evil-ed into the night [this was probably one of the worst ideas ever, but heeeeyyyy I swear the paranoid hysterics are gone].

On Sunday, the weather dipped again, so I knew there was a jacket in the works. But for walking around D.C. to go down and see The Art of Video Games exhibit at the American Art Museum in the Smithsonian, I was in the mind to be kept at arms length. I don't mind staring--I'm going to get that on the Metro this Saturday for the Cherry Blossom festival--but I don't want to be -bothered- by... undesirables. So I made myself 'fierce', with direct inspiration from the guys of SID.

Jacket: Second hand
Scarf: Undertaker cosplay
Pants: Handmade
Shirt: Katsucon
Platforms: Demonia

And the shades are over top of my glasses.

Trademark delinquent crouch. No really, this is a staple.

Wish I had remembered the cane, I would've felt safer.

I am quite pleased with this ensemble, and I was able to walk the three blocks to the museum in relative peace. The exhibit was pretty good, it was a nice sampling of the past and present in video games, including the evolution of story, mechanics, music, and of course, art. The Kogard Courtyard is quite beautiful, but as far as how a 120 piece orchestra plus chorus is going to fit, I do have lingering worry. But we'll make it work.

Not inspired by my hair. Totally.

The face swirls are courtesy of my calligraphy brush. This is probably not the best implement for writing on one's face, but I use it because of the control, non-smearing, easy remove ink. Replace instead with any liquid eyeliner, is what I recommend.

Since this one is sort of late, hopefully I can get to another one about more War Paint by Thursday... but don't hold your breath, I don't want you to suffocate.

Cherry blossoms are very much in season~, do you have any plans go to a viewing? Are you lucky enough to have some in your backyard? This is the hundred year anniversary of Japan giving us those very first trees, everyone~ do something special just for that.

Eternally yours,

Il Ruinante Isaak.

Sunday's Meet Up that wasn't.[PICTURE LADEN]

Good afternoon, mina-sama. It is terribly late I know, and I know I stand by better late than never, but even I know that that has it's limits sometimes. However, at least another meet up hasn't passed before I got around to this. So here's the Reader's Digest version of two Sunday's ago.

Because the D.C. area weather is crack-pot insane, it rained. Bad. So I, being the awake and alert one, called on Toriberry and Nobu in turn to see if an alternate plan would be had. Toriberry suggested just the three of us--and hey, anyone in Dorchester or St. Mary's who cared to join us--have it in either of their dorm's lounge basement area. Decided, I dressed out. I felt amazing. I felt Aristocratic. Even the bulk of bags--a sleeping bag in case we decided to go outside anyway, my sheet music, bento, and JKL--didn't make me feel uneasy as Otousan dropped me off. I called once I got closer, to see which basement Toriberry and Nobu had decided. Nobu was waiting for word from Toriberry. I was waiting for word from Toriberry. As I began to suspect going on three hours later, with a periodical call in between, Toriberry had returned to the realm of the Asleep, and was not to be roused until I was already at rehersal for that evening.

It sounds bad. It was disappointing, I will admit. But GSO is a marvelous conglomerate of creative and imaginative folks, who took a shine to my Aristocrat in an instant [some even asked if I had made my jacket]. And I happily chose to deny work for going out late to dinner after rehersal, where in crowded around the round table at the Chinese restaurant we all love, I felt even more comfortable. I felt Aristo. I had embodied Aristo.

And since things didn't quite work out on campus as far as our impromptu meet-up, I supplemented with a photoshoot at home. And since neither Otousan nor Mother properly know how to take good shots with my camera, I did it myself. For your viewing and critiquing pleasure.

So immensely in love with how these turned out am I. I can even forgive the humidity of the rain for essentially ruingin three consecutive nights' work to straighten it. *Sigh.*

That is all for right now, ma cherie, this was only meant to be picture laden anyway had I gone to the meet-up or not. Until our next one, which hopefully will not be out in Woodbridge... [although apple picking sounds immensely fun.]

OBJECTION! [...did that go over your heads, mina-sama?]
Eternally yours,
Il Ruinante Isaak

Deadlines; Cane and Meet-up

Good evening, mina-sama. Well, the countdown begins. To what? To all sorts of things. So much is happening coming up, it's just as if I was transported to this time last month. I wonder if I'll be able to keep up. This time next week, I'll have finished my first day of classes. This time tomorrow, I'll have had a picnic with Toriberry I hope. This Friday, Dir En Grey is touring with Apocolyptica, making a stop at the Ram's Head Live in Baltimore; I'm putting myself into a Dir high by listening to Uroburos and Withering to Death nonstop. And after that, perhaps the next prominent thing coming up? Why, a Lolita meet-up of course.

Now, before anyone tilts their heads cutely with a perplexed look on their face, and asks why might an Aristocrat be going to a Lolita meet-up, I will say it straight. I was invited [by Toriberry no less]. And I would love to attend. A gathering of Lolitas of punk, classic, sweet, casual, gothic, all of them, and they will all be surrounding me~ heh heh heh... [oh dear, my sketch side surfaces. *Beats it down.* Back, Sketchiness, back!] But seriously, I mean that in a non-sketch way; I'm looking forward to a very enjoyable experience and lots of picture taking.

For anyone local in the area, the meet-up is scheduled for September 12th, a Saturday, at 12pm. We're going to meet in a park near the Metro stop Dupont Circle in D.C., at 25th and P Street Northwest [for those of you semi-local but still unfamiliar with D.C. the Northwest is important].

I have an image in my mind of what to expect, but so long as it isn't worse than that, however it turns out will satisfy me. However, I am a tad bit skeptical on being able to go, because it's in D.C.; I have a wary mother who grew up there, and grandparents who lived there, but somehow that doesn't equate to me having any sort of knowledge on what sort of city it is and how it's laid out. That's why I looked up directions. Dupont Circle is sort of the metrosexual capital of the nation, but... we'll see. I might also have to work that day, and during those hours specifically [unless I can switch with someone, which is my desperate hope]. Washington D.C. is far from a very-safe city, not by any stretch. And although any spot on the Metro lines are usually more densely populated and tourists packed--thus a bit safer--the thought of a gaggle of Lolitas, "petite" young ladies who are armed only in their cuteness, gives me a vibe of paranoia I can't quite shake that there will be disturbances. And so not only for the sake of Toriberry or myself, I really want to go. If I end up being the only Aristocrat there, I at least want to serve as some sort of deterrant for any wayward characters.

Which is why I am working steadily on my cane over my jabot and shirt cut-sew at the moment. Home Depot brought me two steps closer, in having a right sized dowel without having to be cut, and rubber stoppers to put on the end. Going with my mother yielded other advice for what to do about the handle; while I had been looking in cabinet and bathroom faucet knobs, she suggested to look at drapery ends. This would've actually been great if not for the ends being so large. The ones that were of a good size were sold in a whole kit for the drapery rods. I was really tempted to ask for just one of the ends if they would sell it to me. But I have sights for one last trip to an antique store to see what can be found there. In the meantime, I will get to spraypainting. Hopefully between now and September 12th, I'll have that done. I would hate to have to break it over someone's head, right after having it finished, but I suppose if I can make one I could make another... Oh, and to protect the Lolita meet-up from devestation, to unite all Lolitas [and Aristos] in our Nation['s capital]~...

Say what you will, I've always been a fan of Kojirou.

To-ni-kaku...

I also hope to have something done about my hair by the time of the meet up. In a previous post, for the newly acquired jacket, you will see I had combed forward bangs and the rest done in a bun. I'll elaborate on my hair in another post, but I will say the combed forward bangs is an idea I've had for a while now, since I've seem to have lost my original bangs. If I can make the curling iron work, I will probably put in a big long curl as opposed to letting it be straight. But anything I do with my hair for the meet-up is to supplement my lack of a tophat. When I acquire a tophat, I will probably go with the the loose, all down, the low ponytail with a thick ribbon, or the all--or maybe sans bangs--in a bun. As with footwear, headwear at the top shouldn't be neglected, serving as the one dsyfunctional part of your ensemble. When I post the hair entry, I am welcome to ideas of styles and suggestions.

I am hoping by then that the weather will be assuredly cooler, so that my jacket can go out for a spin. If I get the cane done quickly, then the jabot will be next. And I'm trying to decide how Asian is too Asian to bring snacks for a gathering of girls in a Japanese Street Fashion icon. Does dorayaki strike anyone's fancy?

Now then, as one last thing, a bit of a confidence booster to Toriberry, my dear, and any Lolitas who are nervous in going to meet-ups. I may sound confident now, but that might be because it's a ways off, and I am technically an "outsider" mingling heavily in, but here goes~!

Did you not tell yourself to be confident, my dear? Tell yourself that everyday from now on and forevermore, so come the meet-up, it will be just another walk in the park [pun intended]. You are blossoming beautifully into a Lolita, a step at time as you can manage. Right now, your casual is to die for to me.

Don't be intimidated by these more experienced Lolitas. Try to learn from them instead, should they prove to not be bitchy. In whatever more solid niche of Lolita you choose to go under, take away tips and advice for clothing, accesories, styling that again, you can apply in your steps at your own pace. Make your lack of tact work into asking those simple questions, who what when where why, and how much?

Don't worry; I'll be there right beside you [as long as stupid shit doesn't happen that impedes me going]. If you start to feel a little overwhelemed, you can come to my side and take my arm, which I offer welcomingly. You won't be alone. We can always just sit back and talk amongst ourselves--in Nihongo--about whatever, feasting on onigiri or whatever we end up packing. And you won't have to feel so Loli-ed out, since I'll be Aristo.

So much to do, so little time...! But what an experience this will all be, yes? Let's do our best towards the future, mina-sama.
Eternally yours,
Il Ruinante Isaak