It happened sort of like this: at last year's Japanizam, in July 2015, I debuted my highly expected Sephiroth cosplay. While parading around acting in character, arrogantly glaring at the audience and almost beheading people with my 1.6 meter long wing (ah, the beauty of overcomplicated props at crowded places), I encountered the young Macedonian alternative model and budding cosplayer, Visual Madness, who was pretty enthusiastic about my One-winged Angel.
"You should do Cloud, darling," I said casually, thinking that her face shape would be perfect for a Final Fantasy bishounen. "We'd look epic together."
Come April this year: after I was officially invited as a guest at Japanorama in Skopje, I announced I'd be wearing Yuuko Ichihara, in line with the organizer's wishes. Yuuko is a perfect costume for travelling, as it consists of a wig and a kimono which, if folded right, can fit into a small shopping bag. I was so happy that at last there won't be any armors or props to fumble with. But then, two days before the trip, Visual Madness sent me a message.
"You know when you told me I'd make a good Cloud and that we'd be epic together?" she said.
"Yesss...?"
"Well, I went ahead and did it. The costume's ready, waiting for you to come to Macedonia. And we can even arrange a professional shooting. So can you bring Sephiroth too, pretty please?"
To be honest, I was deeply touched, humbled and flattered by what Visual Madness did - it doesn't happen every day that someone makes such a grand costume just because you suggested so. Therefore, it went without saying that I had to follow up on my word and carry Sephiroth all the way to Skopje. And that's how, instead of carrying only a wig and a kimono, I found myself packing heavy leather clothes, 10-inch platforms, bulky shoulder armor, and a 2 meters katana. (The wing had to stay home, unfortunately. It's too large and there was no room for it in the tiny rented van).
But the moment I saw how beautiful and convincing she looked as Cloud - the boyish stance, the big blue eyes, the masterfully styled spiky anime hair - I knew it was all worthwhile. I'm so very happy that I contributed to the making of one of the more awesome Cloud cosplays out there - and yes, we do look epic together.
However, that's not the end of the story!
Right here on my Althemy site, upon seeing the pic of Sephiroth and Cloud rushing at each other in combat, a person who obviously did not read the picture description (hello there, Strasza!) concluded that they figured it all out.
"Holy cow!" the person wrote "I just realized they are both you! Awesome!"
I laughed my ass off - if you ask me, Visual Madness and I don't even remotely look alike. She's petite, blond and sweet, while I'm tall and dark and have this natural aristocratic arrogance in my posture that's perfect for cosplaying villains, but often makes it difficult to explain I'm not born to be an evil empress of doom. (Seriously, I'm not. Now stop snickering.) So, thinking that Visual Madness and I can pass for the same person, even while wearing costumes that radically change our natural appearance, had me in stitches.
But then, it dawned on me. Cloud and Seph may be sworn enemies - but they're fruit from the same tree, coming from the same genetic labs with the same experiments performed for them. They are polar opposites of each other, but they're also more similar than either of them would like to admit. Of course they look alike, there SHOULD be an uncanny resemblance in their appearance!
And if Visual Madness and I look so similar that one can mistake us for the same person in this pics, than it means we're even better suited to portray Cloud and Sephiroth together than we initially thought.
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For more on my cosplay adventures, check out my Facebook page: ferashacosplay/
Cloud by Visual Madness
VisualMadnessOri
Pics by Stefani Pavlovska
PS.photography.stefi
Edited by Dimmay - or Dimacion, here on Althemy
