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maireadralph · 2 years

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Spacebats IRL Meets @ Conventions (!?)

AKA “what do you call a gathering of Spacebats?”

So something I’d been thinking about for a while was ”what if the Spacebats / Entrapdaks actually meet IRL and would the universe implode if too many Entrapta fans were in the same room together?”

So the clogs in my head started turning…what would be a good way to get nerds in the same place? What kind of space would be 100% welcoming to everyone?

Of course the answer is simple…meet at the same Anime/Pop Culture Convention, even if the Convention is trash we can still have fun talking about Hordak’s butt ears and doing our own Post-Con things (like having a Cheeky Nandos)

For those of you unfamiliar with an anime/ pop culture Convention (henceforth going to be simply referred to as a ”Con”) it is a gathering of likeminded nerds to celebrate everything nerdy from anime to K-Pop to just quirky and silly things. Typically held over the course of three days. Some Cons have dedicated spaces for playing video games, taking photos, buying unique fan merch and of course cosplay (a short hand of Costume play). While not a requirement it can be fun to dress up as a favourite character or just admire other people’s cosplays. So there’s something for everyone.

With Cons being held all over the world if should be possible to find one that some Spacebats can attend at the same time So to start I’ve compiled a list of some of the most travel accessible (ie the ones that are easy to get to for as many people as possible) Cons for the European Spacebats.

American Spacebats are of course welcome to nominate and help others find their most travel accessible Con, as I’ve only been to GenCon SoCal and Pensacon I do not have enough experience with American Cons - please scroll down to the very bottom of this post for a blank form and fill it in to help your fellow Spacebats.

Okay so here’s the Cons I recommend starting with the Europe based listed under the cut:

Convention: AnimeCon NL

Location: Netherlands

Dates (actual/ expected): Early June

Website: https://animecon.nl/regular/en

Notes: Location varies, currently De Broodfabriek, Volmerlaan 12, 2288 GD. Next event is smaller AnimeCon Classic 2022 held in Theater Hotel Almelo 23-25 Sept but since the venue hotel is already booked out on it’s website I have not included it here

Travel:

Nearest Airport: Schiphol

Nearest Train Station: Rijswijk Direct

Public Transport available? Yes, Tram (purchase of an OV Chip Caard is recommend), Train

Free Water Fountains at Venue? No

Hotels:

https://animecon.nl/regular/en/location/hotels

Nearest Hotel average price: appox €100 a night

Location from Venue: varies

Transport to Venue: varies

Food:

Nearest Restaurant: varies

Nearest convenience store: Albert Heijin

Nearest Supermarket: Albert Heijin, Jumbo

Does venue have food available? Yes - Convention Food Stalls in the Food Court Average cost of venue food/drink: €9-13 for meal, €2.50-3 for a soft drink/coffee

Local Spacebat’s Recommendations:

(I’m not the Local for here BTW but been in Den Haag enough to know a few things). At the current location Den Haag (The Hague) is a good place to stay as it is is a single 30 minute tram ride away from Den Haag Centraal Station and Den Haag has a wild wide choice of supermarkets, restaurants and shops.

AnimeCon assigns venue locations a Zone colour with Red Zones not allow any food/drink or large bags/backpacks/shopping bags. Smaller bags are allowed (25cm x 14cm x 7cm) which MUST fit in their sizing box (an exemption pass can be obtained for large bags required for medical reasons). These restricted items can be stored for free in the Bag Room or placed in rented lockers. As queues for the bag room can be long, I recommend hiring a locker in advance but please check and double check the sizing as the current lockers can only hold one (1) backpack and jacket comfortably, maybe two (2) backpacks at a squeeze.

Travel accessible for European Spacebats

***

Convention: MCM Birmingham

Location: NEC Birmingham

Dates (actual/ expected): 12-13th Nov

Website: https://www.mcmcomiccon.com/birmingham/en-us/home.html

Travel:

Plane, Train, Car

Nearest Airport: Birmingham International

Nearest Train Station: Birmingham International Direct Public Transport available? Yes

Free Water Fountains at Venue? Yes near Halls 5 and I think 7 (IIRC MCM is held in Halls 9-11)

Hotels:

Airport Hotels, Birmingham City Center

Nearest Hotel average price: appox £180 per night source: https://hotelmap.com/events/MXE5P-LV

Location from Venue: Airport Hotels: 15 or so minutes City Center: 23 minute train + 10 minute walk

Transport to Venue: Airport Hotel - Free Train Shuttle & walk. City Center - Train & Walk

Food:

Nearest Restaurant: Wetherspoon’s (English Bar), Subway (takeaway sandwiches) in the NEC. Nando’s, Zizzi’s (Pizza restaurant) located in Resort’s World

Nearest convenience store: WH Smith’s located in Airport

Nearest Supermarket: City Centre Tesco and Sainsbury’s

Does venue have food available? Yes

Average cost of venue food/drink: around £8-15 depends on the item or meal

Local Spacebat’s Recommendations:

Be prepared for a long walk to the Halls as MCM is often held in the furthest out Halls.

There maybe other events happening in other Halls at the same weekend. NEC has loads of space and one can wander freely around.

There is also the Bear Grylss Adventure experience if the Con life isn’t for you and you feel like being Bow and shoot some arrows.

Smaller two day event.

SUPER easy to access via the Airport

Boots (a drug store) located in the Airport has packed lunch style picks and mix Meal Deals that come to around £4-5.

***

Convention: MCM London

Location: ExCel Center, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL

Dates (twice yearly): 27th-30th October, End of June (check website)

Website: https://www.mcmcomiccon.com/london/en-us/home.html

Travel:

By train, DLR (Docklands Light Railway kinda like a tram), car

Nearest Airport: London City Airport. Heathrow (with the Elizabeth Line). Gatwick.

Nearest Train Station: Custom House (DLR + Elizabeth Line), Prince Regent (DLR), West Silvertown (DLR + walk up a high metal bridge)

Direct Public Transport available? Yes

Free Water Fountains at Venue? Yes. Located at Hall S1 and IIRC Hall N5

Hotels:

Nearest Hotel average price: around £200 a night, source: https://hotelmap.com/MJU9Y#hm;s=2022-10-27&e=2022-10-30&r=1&a=1&c=0&i=0&f=;hm

Location from Venue: Walk 15 minutes

Transport to Venue: Walk 15 minutes

Notes: There is a Premier Inn or Travelodge in Woolwich Arsenal one stop away on the Elizabeth Line (3 minute ride)

Food:

Nearest Restaurant: The Fox Bar, Tapas Bar (all outside)

Nearest convenience store: Tesco Express (unsure of location but heard it’s near)

Nearest Supermarket: Tesco Express

Does venue have food available? Yes, cafe and fast food

Average cost of venue food/drink: Venue’s meal deals for one person (sandwich or equivalent with snack and bottle of drink) are around the £10. Convention food is around the same price

Local Spacebat’s Recommendations:

Event tickets can be mailed out (for a small fee) if ordered in advance. If these tickets are Weekend or Priority Entry then the holder can skip the main ticket queue and walk in the main Custom House Entrance.

There are security bag checks on the entrances and bags will be checked by security upon re-entry.

Restaurants within the venue are nearby are going to be very busy post event. I would recommend taking the Elizabeth Line one stop (3 minutes ride) to Woolwich Arsenal where it will be much quieter and there is a larger selection of restaurants like Beef Eater (a fancy English “pub grub”), [Cheeky] Nando’s (Portuguese Chicken restaurant) and McDonalds.

Sometimes MCM will only allow Weekend Pass, Priority Pass or Disability Pass holders re-entry via the main entrance with ALL other pass holders being forced to re-entry via the ticket queue. On the subject of re-entry MCM staff wouldn’t always mention the last re-entry time and will often stop ALL re-entry in the last hour or half hour of the event day.

***

Those are my main three, I could have gone on about other London Cons but they aren’t as easily accessible as those three Yes there is the opportunity for Spacebats to stay at each other’s homes or rent an AirB&B I just listed options that would give us all some space - phew that was a lot of writing 😅

And now the Blank for other Spacebats to contribute their Con wisdom - hopefully the Hivemind can find something that we can work with and finally get to meet each other IRL!!

BLANK:

Convention:

Location:

Dates (actual/ expected):

Website:

Travel:

Nearest Airport:

Nearest Train Station:

Direct Public Transport available? Y/N

Free Water Fountains at Venue? Y/N

Hotels:

Nearest Hotel average price:

Location from Venue:

Transport to Venue:

Food:

Nearest Restaurant:

Nearest convenience store:

Nearest Supermarket:

Does venue have food available? Y/N

Average cost of venue food/drink:

Local Spacebat’s Recommendations:

If applicable please add further notes on the venue, past events, restaurant recommendations and helpful tips (for example if event has a Will Call or equivalent service for ticket collection)

#IRL meet up #spacebats #hordak #entrapdak #entrapta #<-#tagging for the exposure #this was a dumb idea but I’m rolling with it #london bias #have con I WILL travel

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babyspacebatclone · 3 years

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And in my latest “Entrapdak Fanfic Au ideas based on other properties,” unsurprisingly, we have my take on an Entrapdak Labyrinth.

I actually think this one is cool. I really would like to see it with mini-scenes of the others trapped in the Crypto Castle (you’ll see), but I don’t feel confident enough writing for the Horde Trio, other Horde soldiers of note, or the Rebellion in the field. So would require some help if this were to get off the ground... 😜

We start off basically in canon, with one exception: the Princess Alliance never reaches out to Entrapta. In this AU even the Makers Guild is creeped-out-to-terrified of Dryl, and apparently this is something that’s the result of several generations of isolation and horrifying rumors.

It begins with a strange, non-Horde machine capturing and absconding with Imp. Hordak decides that the Rebellion has, somehow, realized what an invaluable source of intel he would be and thus Hordak will lead the team to recover him. No other motives, of course. None.

And so a terrifying Horde force marches into Dryl, and finds - nothing. Absolutely no resistance whatsoever as they track down to the Crypto Castle. They stay on guard, anticipating a Rebellion trick, but still meet no resistance as they enter the Castle.

This immediately changes, and after a humorous death-defying sequence Hordak is separated from the rest of the Horde soldiers. Now thoroughly furious, Hordak proceeds through the Castle, taking down whatever he can manage and successfully getting past the rest.

Meanwhile, the Princess Alliance has heard of what appears to be an invasion into Dryl, and sets out to do good guy stuff and hopefully win another principality to the Alliance.

I mean, how bad can the reality behind the rumors be?

Throughout the rest of the story there are short vignettes of the Horde and Brightmoon groups. The Horde group would, very quickly, be content to just bunker down and stay put, but the Castle won’t let them. She Ra and co only fare better due to magic and plot armor, and not by much.

If you’re familiar with the webcomic Girl Genius, I see the Crypto Castle here as a lower-end undamaged Castle Hetrodyne, homicidal intentions and sentience modified to match the mood of the story you desire. Basically, the Crypto Castle incorporates even more First Ones tech - with the understanding limited to “Hey that’s a cool effect!” - over multiple generations of Entrapta’s equally mad family.

Meanwhile, this all started because of Entrapta’s favorite personal robot, Emily. Since Entrapta doesn’t leave the Castle much, Emily goes off to record cool stuff for her. While searching through the Fright Zone Emily encounters and, to her mind, befriends Imp. Thinking Entrapta would be equally fascinated by him, she brings him home for a visit.

Imp is less than happy about this entire experience. Emily proves to be annoyingly resistant to being chewed on, he fits in her transportation space but just barely, and then he’s presented to this loud purple person.

Ok, she’s kinda cool. She really likes that he can fly, and that he can repeat stuff. He’s been repeating his favorite phrases from Hordak when he’s working in the Sanctum, the really complicated stuff he doesn’t understand but sounds neat.

Entrapta, on her end, is significantly more interested in Imp than most of the invaders of her Castle. She’s really starting to get fascinated by the sexy-voice engineer guy Imp knows, he sounds like he would be amazing to talk to. And that one guy that’s getting through the Castle, he’s cool, too.

Imagine her reaction when she finds out they’re the same person!

#hordak #entrapta #entrapdak #imp #entrapdak au #labyrinth au #labyrinth #i have too many ideas

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luna-tiel · 4 years

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What Entrapdak Means to Me

On the eve of Entrapdak Positivity Month, I thought it was as good a time as any to share my rambling thoughts on a ship that’s affected me in a way I didn’t think was possible.

Entrapdak is the first ship I have ever been invested in. It’s such a new experience for me that it’s taken me the last few months to wrap my head around the whole thing. I may relate to the characters in a show, but when they form romantic attachments I view it with a degree of passive distance. I don’t understand what it’s like to have those sorts of feelings for someone (I am aromantic and ace as a brick), and, well, I’m honestly not curious enough to give the subject a thorough study. My mind tends to fixate on other things.

What does this have to do with Entrapdak, you ask? Long story short for people who don’t want to read my meandering essay -- I relate a lot to these characters, and the way they bonded together struck a deep chord in me that I can’t ignore.

Let’s start with the characters. I knew going in that Entrapta was neurodivergent-coded, but I took it with a grain of salt. When I actually watched the show, however, I found myself relating to her so deeply it shocked me. Never have I felt such a kinship with a fictional character! We don’t share every trait, but it was still like seeing my brain put to life on screen. I related to her enthusiasm over her special interests, her struggles to fit in, her desire to make friends who accept and understand her for who she is.

The fact Entrapta is completely herself is something I love about her. Over the years of growing up undiagnosed, I developed a lot of masking strategies. Human psychology is one of my special interests, and even with all that accumulated knowledge, masking isn’t easy. It’s extremely mentally taxing. Masking can certainly look easy -- I can, when I have the drive and energy, “pass” as neurotypical, and only people who know me extremely well can tell I’m dying inside. All that effort is taken for granted by a lot of NTs because that’s how people are “supposed to” act, and surely I can “do the bare minimum.” The accumulated stress of near constant masking has led me to the darkest moments I’ve had in my life.

Entrapta’s struggle with leaving Beast Island hit me hard. It threw me back to a time when my feelings of isolation and worthlessness got so bad that I lost the energy to do anything, even the creative pursuits that were the obsession of my life. I retreated so deeply into my inner world that I hardly interacted with anyone. That total apathy shocked my family into getting me professional help, which gave me my autism diagnosis, the coping skills to move forward, and a good start on the road to self-acceptance. It also opened a channel between my family and I, allowing me to feel heard and understood. (An important side note on mental health: if you or someone you love needs professional help, please seek it! Sometimes you have to try out several therapists -- it took me three to find a good fit -- but you are worth it!)

It took me longer to realize, but I also relate to Hordak in some ways. Mercifully I was not raised in an extremist cult environment. However, I know what it’s like to feel defective next to a sibling that seems perfect. I was constantly being compared to my younger brother, and in all areas but art, he was superior. He was smart, athletic, and above all, he fit in with everyone. I didn’t hate him for this -- I hated myself. Trying to measure up to his standard is what caused me to develop such strong masking strategies. Underneath it all, I felt the despair of knowing my peers would reject me as soon as the mask cracked. I also live with chronic joint pain, starting at around age seven. The jury is still out on what’s causing that (the worst of it was due to a previously unknown food allergy, but the pain still comes and goes, even though it’s a lot more manageable than it used to be). This cocktail of pain, stress, and sensory issues I had to deal with gave me a very short fuse at times.

As an aside, just because I sympathize with Hordak does not mean I am excusing his actions. He is still going to have to face the consequences of his choices, and work to adjust to life post-Prime. The series end gave him a new beginning, the opportunity to be redeemed, and I prefer this to a rushed redemption arc.

What I love most about Hordak and Entrapta’s relationship is how they accept each other as they are. Hordak gives Entrapta near free reign of his sanctum, he listens to her when she talks, and he respects her opinions. Even when he pushes her away, he still considers the logic of what she tells him, and sometimes ends up doing things her way despite his initial instincts. This is something I do in my own life; I am easily overwhelmed by new information, so my initial response to an idea/activity is almost always a firm (and sometimes rude) “no,” until I have time to properly process and think about it. Hordak is the first person in Entrapta’s life that truly listens to her. He still has things he needs to work on, but it’s a lot better than how most of the princesses are with Entrapta. The Alliance treats her as someone to be managed -- she is useful, but unreliable. Hordak, in contrast, trusts her to get things done in her own way.

On the other side, Entrapta is the first person in Hordak’s life to accept him without judgment. Hordak spends so much of his energy putting up a front of strength and intimidation, and Entrapta cuts right through that. She’s not frightened by his appearance, and even his outbursts have little effect on her until the two of them start to bond. Entrapta doesn’t come into their interactions with any preconceived ideas of what Hordak is like, or more importantly, what he should be like. This lack of expectation leaves her completely open to accepting whatever Hordak does and says, and it also relieves Hordak of the burden of needing to put on a front around her. When Entrapta sees him at his most vulnerable, she reaches out to him with compassion, something he has never felt before. Entrapta also does this in a way that doesn’t belittle Hordak. His imperfections are not something to pity, they are a valuable part of who he is.

I loved watching their friendship develop. Entrapta and Hordak’s shared time together evolved slowly into a bond that gave each of them a sense of belonging they had never experienced before with anyone else. It gave me the hope that, despite what an oddball mess I am, perhaps I could find someone who understands me too.

When a romance subplot inserts itself into a story, I tend to gloss over and ignore it (if I pick up on it at all). I’m even less interested in sex. Way back when I was first getting into fandom I was so excited to go online and meet fellow fans of the books and shows I liked, only to discover the spaces being dominated by arguments over character pairings. I was baffled. This is what people are most interested in? Oh well… back to the hermit cave I go!

I was late to the party with SPoP. I’d watched a few episodes, but the show didn’t really hook me. This was partially because all I ever heard people talk about online was Catradora, and if that was the main appeal of the show, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it (sorry Catradora shippers, romance is not going to entice me to watch a show, even if it’s rep). Quarantine was the ultimate cause for me embracing my curiosity and diving headfirst into SPoP, binging the entire thing a few months before the release of season 5.

I vaguely knew about Entrapdak as a ship going into the show, and I admit, had I not been primed for it, I probably would have missed the romantic potential entirely. In no way did I expect to become invested. I was immediately intrigued by their dynamic, and as they got closer, I found myself thinking “oh, I see why people ship these two.” I didn’t understand this realization until months later. I was relating to the characters, and for the first time in my life, I was relating to their relationship.

I headcanon Entrapta and Hordak as an asexual couple. I’ll elaborate on this at a later time (asexuality is a spectrum with a lot of nuance, and this post is plenty long already), but at the core of it, I find joy in imagining these characters in a loving platonic relationship, something I hope to find myself one day. I hope this love comes across in my artwork and in my fanfictions <3

To those of you that read this far, wow, you must be patient! Have an imaginary cookie! I hope this ramble has provided a decent picture for why I, as an aro ace on the autism spectrum, have come to cherish Hordak and Entrapta’s relationship. It’s my first and only OTP… I’m still in shock thinking about that… I guess we’ll see where things go from here!

Take care of yourselves out there!

#entrapdak #entrapta/hordak #entrapta #hordak #autistic entrapta #autistic experiences #relatable characters #fandom ramblings #spop #spop headcanons #asexual headcanon

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