Family isn’t always your blood, but who you choose to give and trust your heart to. Nathan and Tabby are that to us. Nathan has been best friends with my husband Derrick since they were in the 6th grade. I started dating Derrick five years later, which means you get to know your partner’s friends. Nathan has been in my circle, my creative companion ever since. Then, during Derrick and I’s wedding, Nathan our best man, we met this wonderful red-haired girl he told us he had been seeing for about a year, stunning us both. Tabby joined our group and now, we are two nerdy power couples, a mighty force. And now we have the most precious gift they gave us all, Theo, to love, adore, fill our hearts, and to teach the ways of the nerdom properly. They are always there for us and likewise us to them. We have all been there for each other, through countless good times, and the hard ones that test us, but no matter what, it is an adventure. I am so glad they are my beyond best friends and here to introduce themselves here today.

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Nathan and Tabby BFF Interview (Feb 2024:)

#1: What are your three favorite memories of us:

Nathan- “Being a part of the PokeCrew, our shared time at Cosplacon, and all of the holiday and birthday parties (kinda cheating on that last one, I know.)”

Tabby- “Oh- OH, you DO have a girlfriend!” (your response to Nathan introducing me at your wedding), cooking together for meetings, and the Pokecrew events.”

#2. How did anime and manga find you in life?

Nathan- “Like so many things, I was introduced to the more hardcore side too early. I was with my cousins in Florida one summer, and they had rented Akira from the local video store. I wasn’t quite in high school yet, though I don’t recall exactly how young I was. Sometime later, I discovered Dragonball Z and Yu Yu Hakusho, and the rest is history. Toonami on Cartoon Network was my gateway to a lot of great titles.”

Tabby- “I’m fairly vanilla for our generation. I got started around the whole Pokémon VS Digimon debate. Later I was watching Hamtaro and Yu-Gi-Oh! Manga started in middle school when a friend of mine brought them in. Our school library didn’t carry them yet, but by middle school our circle of friends had encouraged them to start doing so.”

#3. Tell us about your cosplay journeys:

Nathan- “We both started in cosplay around the same time. I’ve mostly been the one who pieces together costumes from random clothing, making minor modifications. I think my most technical costume yet has been my homemade Spiderman from Homecoming. At the moment, I have plans for bigger, more technical costumes that will stretch my skillset.”

Tabby- “I started my journey when I was participating in an art stream and some of the others were discussing vampires. This eventually led to them showing me a picture of like 20 Alucard (Hellsing) cosplayers. After watching some I got the idea that “I can do that!” Since then I have developed the penchant to hand make as much as possible. My most recent is Vulture from Homecoming. I enjoy learning a new skill for each character.”

#4: What are the five things you are passionate about?

Nathan- “Music, films and television, games of all kinds, entertaining others, and self-improvement.”

Tabby- “Animals, family/friends, cosplay, learning new skills, and trying to be a better person!”

#5. Take your first name and name a band that starts with each letter, ones that speaks to your soul:

Nathan- “Nickelback, Alison Krauss, Train, Huey Lewis & The News, The Aquabats, Nightwish.”

Tabby- “Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Billy Joel, Imagine Dragons, Taylor Swift, Highwaymen, Adele.”

#6. Create your dream six-team of Pokemon. The catch (ha) is: they have to reflect different stages of your life or different aspects of your personality:

Nathan- I think I’ll stick to personality.

Snorlax: Whether it’s time to work or time to chill, I go at it hard.

Mismagius: Sometimes it’s easy to feel like an elegant ghost.

Machamp: Constantly striving to be better and pushing limits.

Meloetta: A love of music and dance.

Galarian Rapidash: When it’s time to race, fast is the minimum speed.

Entei: I try to keep quiet, but if I bark, count on an eruption.

Tabby- Personality here too:

Houndoom: fiercely loyal but willing to stand up for myself.

Ditto: I try to fit in but just end up being awkward.

Bagon: learning to fly can land you on your head so it’s best to get a hard head.

Dodrio: making decisions can lead to personal squabbles but when I put my head to it it’s full steam ahead.

Spectrier: I hardly use my eyes for anything, I feel with my other senses (my gut)

Ho-Oh: fly high and shine bright.

#7. Describe being a bird parent.

Nathan- “It’s like trying to love on a child with a very strong, explosive temper, only this child has meat hooks for teeth and long, sharp fingernails, and they have absolutely no qualms about hurting whatever is upsetting them. When they’re not upset, though, they’re very affectionate and soft, perhaps even goofy or playful. It’s all about learning how to read their mood and respect their space.”

Tabby- “It’s like being on 24-hour suicide prevention with 3-9-year-olds that have pliers for mouths.

To translate; it’s not for everyone. They are loud, destructive, and have no impulse control, but loyal, loveable, and funny. They are all unique personalities!”

#8- What are your desires for Theo as he grows up?

Nathan- “I can only hope he grows up to be his own independent person with a deep respect for this world and all its people. It would be great if he shares our interests, but so long as he finds his outlet and his place, I’ll be happy.”

Tabby- “I hope he is strong and independent but loving and caring. Strong enough and caring enough to stand up for himself and everything he loves. So long as he’s happy I will be happy.”

#9. Tell us as epically as possible! Nathan, your meet-cute. Tabby, your proposal! GO!

Nathan- “The room was the typical setting of school days since gone by: tight-woven scratchy carpet, off-white walls with high windows, slightly cold but surprisingly open with no desks out and all the plastic bucket chairs stacked neatly in the corner. Several of us were seated on the choir risers that were still erected, waiting until it was time for us to join in and rehearse a scene. Oh, so many junior thespians! My memory of it all is a blur until a sudden moment of clarity, like having watery eyes until a swift blink brings everything into focus again. Idle conversation with the other actors, I think, until a voice cut through with its quiet shyness. “Excuse me, Sir, but could you help me open this?” I turned, and a redheaded beauty I’d never seen before handed me a bottle of soda. I remember smiling, taking the bottle, assuring her she didn’t have to call me “sir”, and undoing the top for her before handing the bottle back as casually as anything. It was a simple, quiet moment that would lead to a life of adventure ever after.”

Tabby- “A casual car ride to a birthday dinner–a combination buffet/hibachi joint. But this ride seemed off. An aversion to eye contact, jerky hands, and smiling that happened when the wearer was up to something. A smile I knew from my father, a retired Marine, one that said “Yeah. I played a prank. So what?” Instantly I was on high alert. “Morgan and Derrick are meeting us, right?” I prodded. “Yeah! Yeah…” he trailed from almost overenthuiasm. We arrived at the outdated building. “They aren’t coming, are they?” “No, they canceled last minute.” My heart started pounding. I settled into my underflavored food that was prepared by people who took this restaurant over from owning their own. Is my mouth dry? Is it hot in here? Focus girl. A small black velvet box is unearthed and pushed in front of me where time all but stopped. “You know the question.” He asked while seated. Oh, come on, Nathan. Get down! Have some class! Buy time, Tabby; “You know the answer”. Classy. Make him sweat. When he does, his hand shook, and his gaze drops. “Which is…?” The fact that I want you to get on bended knee? “Yes.” my dry mouth was barely able to make a sound from my tongue sticking to my gums. He has regained all colors and suddenly seems like he can’t sit still. I am swept up in a great big hug and I gave into the tears that have been playing at my eyes all day and return an equally big hug to my fiance!”

#10. Our friendship means so much to me. You guys are my family, a warm embrace, a shoulder, a great laugh when I need it. What does our friendship mean to you?

Nathan: “It means a solid rock in the foundations, a place I can always feel warm and welcome, a shared emotion whether it’s good or painful so that it doesn’t have to just stayed locked up.”

Tabby: “As loyal as any dog, mischievous as a kitten, and hopefully as long as any parrots life.”

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1. Do you have any aspirations or desire to change your position as a teacher? Perhaps teaching a different age group, pursuing a higher degree, etc.? – “I do love working with my students, showing them they are loved, special, smart, and gifted in their own special ways. Elementary is my heart and soul and I of coarse adore writing, so my dream job would be an elementary librarian. My year when I was a kindergarten librarian was incredible, but I only got paid aid pay for teacher work. I do very much like doing Anime Club at the high school.”

2. What is the most surprising door that becoming an author has opened for you? “Working with aspiring authors, especially students has been amazing and very fulfilling. I also have got to become friends and meet a ton of creative, important, epic people, several becoming cherished friends. I have grown as a writer and person. Getting to work with them fuels my first. Meeting celebrities has been rad too!”

3. If you wanted to push your limits, what would be the most uncomfortable or difficult genre for you to approach as a challenge? “I struggle admittedly with hard-core sci-fi and high fantasy. So. Much. Lore and tiny world-building details you have to know! I tried a mild horror and it was interesting. LOL. Probably not for me beyond that. For a challenge, I do plan to write more historical fiction; it just takes a lot of research, and also some more…steamy composition. ;)”

4. Related to the previous question, which age range do you think you’d have the toughest time writing for? – “Strictly adult. I hope you guys know what I am referring to, lol.”

5. Favorite piece of dialogue ever! Ready, go! – “Ooooh! First off, amazing question! My favorite quotes tend to be from “The Reduced Shakespeare Company: The Complete Work of William Shakespeare: Abridged” (it’s on Youtube; highly recommended! It is so funny!) and commentary from the “Ouran High School Host Club” and “Princess Tutu” anime dubs. The most practical one I use daily is “Oh Mylanta” by DJ Tanner from “Full House!” LOL! It helps me stay kid-friendly at school and it fits my personality, lol!”

6. If money were no object, what cosplay would you create or commission next?– “The Ranger Slayer full cosplay! It would most likely cost about $600 easily! But I do have a list of dream cosplays HERE you can check out. Angel Lilly, Astrodoma, Ginger, Charlotte, Sam from Totally Spies, and Sailor Cosmos would be the hardest or most pricey too to make.”

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ABOUT NATHAN AND TABBY:

Witty and quirky, this Missouri power couple has a love of the theater, cosplaying, taking care of critters, nerd and Japanese culture, games, and being epic friends to those in their inner circle. He growing up in a musical family. She a good hard-working country girl. These two love birds (which makes them excellent parents to feathered babies) can help you with all your cosplay and crafts made from nature needs. Make sure to check them out:

Bone Cave: