Ordre de Ciel Grand Opening Part 1: Legendary Cosplays

Well, here we are! A new season, a new beginning and the end to a much-loved chapter, called “KABATZA”. A smashing time, beautiful people, great cosplays and loads and LOADS of fun! Familiar faces, painfully absent at the JMCM, were back among us and planning to return with a vengeance! However, to get us started on the right foot for this new Ordre de Ciel season, let’s have a little background first, shall we?

Last Wednesday, I got a call from room302, asking me if I wanted to join him on the decks for the Alternative Night of Friday. Now, fool that I am, I managed to contract a virus right on the last days of Summer. In fact, a company of old schoolmates was gathered one night, for a bit of hookah-smoking, loads of non-politically correct humor and a spot of trashy dinner. I cannot know who among us was the carrier but the damn hookah made sure we all contracted some form of throat-aggravating virus (oh and I had a mild case of tonsillitis because a piece of something I ate decided to lodge itself there – too much information, I know, so I am stopping), resulting in a world of severe throat-hurt. HOW-ever, I did not want to leave the Fearless Leader all alone, so hoping for large amounts of Christina’s tea, I packed my sets and went (including the one I had not played at the Alternative Night when I passed out – ahem). The result (other than having the more metal-inclined KABATZA patrons feeling an intense desire to kill me) was a spastic cough that tortured me all Friday night and well into Saturday noon, thus preventing me from cooking up an Ordre de Ciel surprise for the Grand Opening – but I will bring it along tomorrow!

By some gracious stroke of Fool’s Luck, Saturday afternoon my trashed vocal apparatus seemed to calm down and even – *gasp* *awe* – feel rather healed. Thus, having prepared the night’s set several days before (and having petitioned room302 to be allowed a full 1h30m to play it – such selfish narcissism on my part but I really love that set and had tied to make it extra-special for everyone) , I put on my war gear and ventured out.

Interesting Factoid #1: room302 had told anyone to whom he had divulged anything at all, including me, that he would be cosplaying Zack from Final Fantasy, in a way that would blow away my mind and had even asked if I had a Katana in my vast arsenal. Sadly, I do not, as I am more of a western sword / axe / implement of death fan and I directed him to our second resident Japanese Swordmaster (the first being Nobu), Darkside_Blues.

Interesting Factoid #2: seeing as the costume was over the top (more so than I was led to guess), room302 arranged for him, Raven and Yu-kun to be transported also by Darkside_Blues (who, like me, has had a rather bad row with punctuality).

Interesting Factoid #3: as I am only halfway to KABATZA, with about 13 (!) minutes to spare, Raven texts me that their “ride” is not there yet and can I begin without them? On top of that, my phone card picks the perfect time to be dead and I just pray for a miracle (seeing as the Athenian streets, any way you look at it, are choke full even in early September).

Miraculously, I manage to arrive just 7 minutes late and even more miraculously, find Larva already on the decks, having arrived only minutes earlier and having gotten the same MSG. There are people already waiting and even the first cosplayers have arrived. The night promised to be very memorable and indeed it was… Maestro, drum roll please, curtain, en avant!

First cosplayer on scene…

Tomodachi, owr very own Cosplay Hive Mother, as Hanamoto Hagumi from Honey & Clover (from the first time she meets with Morita). Dai-Kawaii!

L remains ever popular, although Freaking Candy Freak has set a new standard for the character.

Aaaand, guess who’s back from China? Brutal, Filthy, KrizDa-Man! Welcome back mate! “ROAR!”

Interesting Factoid #4: when we were discussing his cosplay, room302 made me a bet, the details of which must remain undisclosed. However, having accepted my defeat, I must honor our deal (even had he not won, I would, for being able to play me like this, about what character he would cosplay)…

This is, by far and with my very own Geek’s Seal of Approval, the best Final Fantasy cosplay ever done in Greece, to date. Had he managed to procure the mega-frigging big Sephiroth sword as well, I could even go as far as “the best in the West”. Congratulations must also go to Raven for the make-up. You are one hell of a team!

Right on cue, after my detective’s pride had tumbled and my geek’s heart soared, in comes Yu-kun (Yue Katou from Angel Sanctuary)…

…as himself!

I must also note that, but for a few instances (which I have captured, hehe), room302 was true to the character’s disposition…

…unsmiling and disturbing, every bit as psychopathic as the original.

“Hey Speedy, what are you gawking at?” (Raven was also dashing as herself).

Even our #1 Swordmaster was back from Japan! Welcome back Nobu!

Then along came a Byakuya (created by Tomodachi and Queen of Hearts)…

…rich in detail, although the make-up and the expression really completed the outfit later).

Yu-kun was busy being, well… eerie and bored (and I must say, even without the wig, the new hair-color along with the lenses were pretty eerie in and of themselves).

Of course, Tseng from FFVII: Crisis Core soon appeared, hounding the rogue Soldier…

…managing to stay cool all the way. (Way to go Keru-chan!).

“He may be cool, but I am I.C.E….” Right, um, moving on to another (less) genocidal villain…

…Orochimaru from Naruto (and Preacher, Saint of Killers in the background).

Contrary to popular Japanese belief about the soul-sucking lens of the photo-camera, Orichimaru wanted to have a verrrry close look (or perhaps he just doesn’t have any soul left to lose)…

“Aww, you are being mean… Even villains have hearts. I’m gonna tell Sasuke, I will…”

Like sister like brother: Asaph-chan’s brother as Itachi of the Akatsuki (thanks Asaph-chan!)…

…and the Saint of killers hisself up close and personal (hands off the guns mate – you do not shoot THIS photographer).

With KrizD…

…China Fan-wielding Raven…

…(no seriously, I love that fan)…

…Velvet (Crazy) Vortex back from the U.S….

…resembling a villain from Alice 19th or a Vampire from Requiem: Vampire Knight…

…Nickmer and Darkside_Blues…

…Yue Katou…

…the Trinity of Disaster…

…(and I DO mean that in a good way – well, mostly)…

…Hagu, the fully EMO-ed Byakuya and Queen of Hearts as the stylist from Princess Princess (both IC and IRL – welcome back Patty!)…

…and of course, Sephiroth, the party was ready for some serious crash & burn!

Just then, at 22:00 sharp, I climb onto the decks (I mean it semi-literally) and already we are THIS packed!!!

It goes without saying that the party is not the same without…

…our resident uber-lollie, didi-doll! (Didi: “Hentai-yarou!”).

What’s this? This light, so familiar… So like my own…

I have… a daughter…? *Bursts with pride as voice becomes husky and dark* “I am your Father Didi!”

“Kyaaa! Pervert! Pervert!”

“Heh, see ya around… pop!”

I am so shocked and yet something else draws my attention… Kid from Soul Eater and Sephiroth…

…fraternizing??!

Oh my Gods, it is true! The obsessional and the psychopathic are being… *gasp* friendly! *quietly slips away*

“Hey, what’s wrong with you? You act as if you saw your worst nightmare incarnate!” (Well…).

Meanwhile, Yu-kun reunites with Nobu…

…while Tseng seems vexed for some peculiar reason (this is so turning into a shounen-ai so fast…).

“I will, I will…!” (Whoa, temper,temper…).

Interesting Factoid #5: I get real hot, real easy (stop sniggering, I can see AND hear you) and a night as packed as this, rivulets of sweat were pouring into my eyes, nearly blinding me. I could not have survived the heat without invaluable Raven…

…the absolute Mistress of Fan-Dancing, moving to the sound of the music AND cooling my circuitry. Arigatou, Elf-sama!

did went on dancing and drinking as if nothing at all had transpired…

…even flanked by two of our Bests of War– err, Dancing.

This is what KABATZA looked like at approximately 22:30 and you can see a Zell from FFVIII, bloody Kom taking my picture and part of the D

An even bettr view… Ooh, so many colors…!

Louiza-chan.

Milk-chan (I so love to be worshipped – that was the whole point of Knife of Romance)…

…and as Houseki from Petite Cossette starts, the girls lose no time in adapting to its Victorian ballroom mood…

…and ain’t they great? I could just stay still and watch them, every time. They love music and they show it, EVERY time.

My friends, Jimmy and Ollie, finally made it even if it was for the last KABATZA gig.

Milk + (2 x Pink Fans) = 2 x Cuteness.

Louiza + [Milk + (2 x Pink Fans)] = 4 x Cuteness. It’s simple Math!

So crowded that even the space next to the decks is occupied. Hey Kriz, Velvet.

Elven Fan Mistress Raven. (Did that sound a bit weird or is it just me…?)

Freaking Candy Freak as HIwatari Satoshi from DNAngel. Way to go you little candy monster!

The Naruto Sisters are back at last and this time Jeanne is Medusa from Soul Eater…

…and Artie is Reita (anagram, cute) from The Gazette!

Predictable little imp that I am, I will close this post with a combo of the lovely ladies. Feel free to drool…

This concludes the first part of the Grand Opening with (probably) one more to go. Stay tuned, because things got even cooler than that! Before relieving you of my presence, as promised, here is the list I played that night, with my compliments:

Playlist – Eien Monogatari Part II – Kaeri to Omoide

01 – Angel Sanctuary – Sanctus.mp3

02 – Vampire Knight – Still Doll (TV ED).mp3

03 – Murder Princess – Hikari Sasuhou (OVA OP).mp3

04 – Black Jack 21 – Destiny Taiyou no Hana.mp3

05 – Super Robot Wars Original Generation OVA – Meikyuu no Prisoner.mp3

06 – hackLUMINALITY – Tasogare no Umi (OVA ED).mp3

07 – Wolf’s Rain – Stray (TV OP).mp3

08 – Samurai 7 – Unlimited (TV OP).mp3

09 – Speedgrapher – Girls on Film (TV OP).mp3

10 – Soul Eater – Resonance (TV OP).mp3

11 – Haibane Renmei – Free Bird (TV OP).mp3

12 – Jigoku Shoujo – Futakomori – Nightmare (TV OP).mp3

13 – Loveless – Tsuki no Curse (TV OP).mp3

14 – Vampire Knight – Futatsu no Kodou to Akai Tsumi (TV OP).mp3

15 – Angel Sanctuary – Knife of Romance (OVA ED).mp3

16 – Petite Cossette – Houseki (OVA ED).mp3

17 – Night Wizard – Kurenai (TV OP).mp3

18 – Weiss Kreuz – It’s Too Late.mp3

19 – Air -Tori no Uta (TV OP).mp3

20 – Ayashi no Ceres – One (TV ED).mp3

21 – Fullmetal Alchemist – Kesenai Tsumi (TV ED 2).mp3

22 – Busou Renkin – Makkana Chikai (TV OP).mp3

and in case you were wondering, though I did mention it in Easy Subjugation, the title reads: “Eternal Tale Part II: Return and Remembrance”.