Quickie Supercon Post (or: Why Quickie Costumes are Stressful)

So I found out shortly before the most recent Florida Supercon that I'd actually be able to attend - my work schedule had been up in the air, and was only finalized about three and a half weeks before the convention. With this in mind, I decided - as always - that a decent costume is better than no costume, and that hubby and I were going to have to come up with something in order to make it to Supercon like the gung-ho cosplayers we are.

So, the exact thought process was:

"What costume can I make from stuff lying around the house/borrowed stuff/stuff that requires little alteration so we're done in time for Supercon?"

A few weeks back, I had seen a promotion for Black Lagoon on Toonami or Adult Swim or whatever they're calling it these days, and noticed that Revy was one pretty kick-a$$ chick - and I'd like to cosplay her sometime. This came back to mind as the need for a quick costume became pressing, and thus hubby and I engaged in the task of watching Black Lagoon while still working, studying, and trying to get the costumes together.

Luckily, Rock's (Rokuro Okajima's) costume was a shoo-in - white pocketed work shirt, teal tie ordered from Amazon, grey pants, brown shoes, and a little dirt/blood makeup for full effect.

Revy's effects were similarly accessible - cutoff shorts made shorter, black sport tank turned into a midriff cami, borrowed boots from an ex-Army friend, black body paint, and hair dyed purple. I got a sleek pair of Airsoft Beretta M-92s that I sprayed, painted and added accessories to in order to match Revy's as best possible in a crunched time span.

And then we got to the holsters. And pain and suffering ensued. The leftover material I had to work with was very flimsy (think chair-type vinyl or imitation leather), and the holsters themselves were meant for a different shape pistol. The end result was... they held the guns, but left giant spray stains on my arms (didn't have enough time to seal 'em), left brown paint on the Berettas, and smeared the living crap out of my face-paint-applied arm tattoo. It was a truly hateful prop.

We didn't really get many (any) good pictures, but we did get some nice compliments, some really excited fans, and one girl that solemnly told me to keep kicking a$$. Not bad for a no-build costume.

xo
Wicked Wench