Comment on Degan's profile

Degan's avatar
Hi! Yeah it has been a wicked long time! I'm good! How are you? Sorry it took me this long respond, I'm normally on DA after cons to post pictures! ^_^;;;
RayaWolf's avatar
Pretty good, sorry to have fallen out of touch. I had to reconnect with myself a bit first before I could talk to others much. But I'm still here. :) Just sort of on the path to self betterment and discovery. I am getting back into my fandoms and in costuming in general.

I don't want the Mercs to be the only focus of my talking to you, but I did have a question. What went down in my absence? Looks like a lot of people I knew either retired or moved. 
Degan's avatar
oh that is fantastic, staying connected to yourself it so very much important, I myself went through that recently. But I'm  happy to see your back and oh my yes the fandoms! 

As for the Mercs... I think they retired Sinclair. I havn't worn her in a little over a year. I took a huge step back from Star Wars costuming group. The people are awesome! I've made some life long friends, but I don't the politic games and drama. 

I haven't logged into the MMCC in over a year. 
RayaWolf's avatar
Another part of my personal journey has been trying to avoid drama and toxicity in general, and I've been successful for the most part. At the end of the day, our fandoms are based on imaginary things (for the most part), no point in arguing over things that don't really exists. But at the same time, it's fun to imagine something better and cooler than what we've got. 

You don't register as retired, but I did notice that you were nowhere to be found once I got back into the Mercs. I'm just glad you took a step back as opposed to something happening to you. I ended up investing more of my time in a different costuming group, so I took a break from the Mercs and Star Wars stuff, too. I started getting back into things again by chance when my RPG group decided to do a Star Wars campaign. A lot can happen and change over the course of a year or two. 

Do you know any of the fellas still involved?
Degan's avatar
I still talk to some of the 501st/Rebel legion guys, there has been some changes but everyone is doing good. I stay updated with some of the New England Mercs through Facebook mostly. 

I should be retired, I haven't officially trooped in over a year.  I realized that I was wearing Sinclair to every con we went to and... well yeah getting pictures taking of her was great but I just got tired of the same old thing. Decided to go back to my roots, Anime. And it is always nice to do group costumes with my friends (those who don't star wars). 

I know that Gordon (the clan leader right now) has been trying really hard to push for new members. And there is a local mando near me in RI who has been working on his build. he contracts Slade and I through e-mail for advice. 
RayaWolf's avatar
Oh, so that's what retirement means. I wondered about that. Think you'll ever come back to it some day? 

Just curious to see what your opinion of them was. I heard that there was some tension or something like that between the Mercs and the 501st around here, was just wondering what it was about. 

What kind of Anime cosplays do you do? I didn't get as into Anime as I did other things. 
Degan's avatar
Years ago the 501st/RL couldn't stand the Mercs, but that is when I joined up, being clan leader (plus five of my friends) we worked really hard to get all members up to costuming par. We also went to some of the build days with some of 501st/RL members and found common ground, both groups have talented people and great intentions plus we made jedis, biker scouts. So within three years most of us were had mutli-memberships to all three groups. 

Again they are some people who just hate custom mandos and there really isn't anything we can do about that, BUT if your costume is frickin' awesome those haters can sit the hell down. lol :3

Hell right now, Gordon, who is Firaxan Clan's leader right now is also one of the main Admins for the NEG 501st. Hes a good guy tho. 
RayaWolf's avatar
Thanks for taking the time to talk to me about it. I've got a better understanding now, hopefully we'll continue to move forward. 

I took a trip back through your gallery and I gotta say, nice cosplay stuff! Your other costumes are really cool.
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