Chapter Text
Endless Ocean Fanfic Panel Discussion
Chapter 1: Introduction
It was early in the morning when a rag-tag group of fanfic writers walked through the entrance of a large building —often used for conventions and gatherings—to take part in the "Endless Ocean Fandom Fan Fiction Panel Discussion Convention" (yes, it's a mouthful; but when you're a tiny fandom, you have to compensate) and many more who were just fan fiction readers or video game enthusiasts who decided to come anyway just because the Fandom never did something like this before.
Endless Ocean was a tiny fandom—especially in the Fan Fiction realm, where there were only a handful or two of fans who wrote or read Endless Ocean fanfics—that, unlike most fandoms, was a video game, and all the fans were game-players. Unfortunately, that also meant that the fandom got less of a following. Definitely doesn't help when Endless Ocean is only a Wii-game and wasn't really that popular. Pretty much every video game, book, comic, and movie fandom was bigger than the Endless Ocean Fandom.
But it didn't matter. Why? Because when fandoms are so small and fan fictions so few, it causes many who are in that small fandom become a close, tight-knit community who bond over their favorite game and characters. Here, in this small fandom, nobody attacked anyone concerning pairings, characters, plot points, or anything else, since the story plot for the game was very simplistic, vague, and flexible, with few characters, and with an open-ended "ending" (technically, it doesn't HAVE an ending; only a flexible stopping point) that the fans could play around with. And since there's so little content for Endless Ocean, that the fans (for the most part) would be only too grateful to have it—so long as it was appropriate.
But now here it was: Endless Ocean's first convention! Where they could meet their few and favorite characters in the game and can ask them questions (and maybe answer some of theirs) and just be able to socialize with each other and bond over one of their—if not their—most favorite fandom(s).
Of course, many topics of discussion other than about the video game were often directed at the writers with questions like, "When are you going to update? It's been several months now!", "Oh, hey! I know you! I missed you! How have ya been?", or "Why haven't you updated yet?! Your story was getting GOOD!", or "Hey, have you ever thought to do a fanfic where . . .", and other such questions or discussions that went on between the fan fiction authors and readers—leaving those who just played the game just sitting there feeling a bit lost, before turning to each other and just excitedly chat about the gameplay.
The convention was able to gather roughly around 1,000 people—not nearly as large as most fandoms, which could gather anywhere between 10,000-1,000,000 in a social gathering, depending on the size and the popularity of the fandom—and was able to do so by a limited ad campaign that they were able to scrounge up some funds to be able to get some ads up (a good chunk of that came out of many of the staff's pocket), in order to advertise their presence. To be honest, it was a pleasant surprise that many people came to take part in the convention. It was a huge blessing and many shed tears over how lucky they were to have this many people come to socialize and bond over Endless Ocean.
There was salesmen and women selling stuff like soundtracks, cookies shaped in various creatures and items from the game, costumes and clothing that the characters wore, etc. In the Game Room, fans were playing on diver and boat simulators and other games. In the Bonfire Grill area, various food varieties were on the menu, mostly seafood (or alternative choices for those who were allergic to seafood, hated seafood, or were vegetarians like Oceana). There was even a large aquarium filled to the brim with sea life that the people were able to walk through and enjoy, pointing and chatting with those beside them about such-and-such creature that they've seen.
Suddenly, a loud, piercing screech filled the building from the speakers, causing some people to cover their ears. A female voice soon followed. "Uuuuum . . . sorry about that. Attention, ladies and gentlemen! The Panel Discussion will be starting in TEN minutes! I repeat: The Panel Discussion Convention will be starting in TEN minutes! Thank you."
After the speakers clicked off, and the theme music came back on, the crowds finished what they were doing—or running to the food area to grab some food and beverages to hold them until afternoon lunch—and headed for the main sanctuary where the audience and the panel-guests would be occupying. Many began chatting excitedly, some of them even jumping up and down from ecstasy at finally being able to see their favorite characters.
This was a milestone for the Endless Ocean Fandom. And everyone hoped that this wouldn't be the last convention to be hosted for this small, but beloved fandom.