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Hundreds gathered for the annual Rustycon 30 Convention this weekend at the SeaTac Marriott to celebrate the steampunk scene. It continues until 6:00 p.m. Sunday night, Jan. 20. There is an admission charge.

According to Steampunk.com, "Steampunk has always been first and foremost a literary genre (...) a subgenre of science fiction and fantasy that includes social or technological aspects of the 19th Century (the steam) usually with some deconstruction of, reimagining of, or rebellion against parts of it (the punk)."

Costumed participants parade their edgy fashion statements, some revealing almost everything, some revealing nothing. Some play sci-fi board games and attend panel discussions led by successful authors who write in their genre. They seem to embody a contradiction, a deliberate blend of hipness and nerdom.

"I came here to speak on panels as a professional on costuming," said wild-haired Eric Pope, who, at 6' 7" and dressed in a black Barbarian costume he made, holding a teeth-baring bear head, may seem quite intimidating. He calls himself "Wotan the Fairy Smasher".

"Yes, I am dressed up as a large villain," he acknowledged. "But I am here to lose every battle for the kids because I want them to go away feeling like the heroes of their own stories and adventures."

A Capitol Hill hipster, he cops to the nerd label.

"By term and definition a nerd is someone who is passionate about something in particular like a hobby, and (here) we're all nerds about something different, something fun. Usually this will range from a particular science fiction. Some will love Star Wars or Star Trek. Some love their ancient weapons."

"This is my uniform I teach martial arts in," said Jeff Roe, 89, a resident of the Tulalip Indian Reservation who was raised near Detroit. He was in a wheelchair, dressed in an eclectic black outfit. Many admirers came up to talk to him as he is a regular at these conventions, and is now battling cancer.

"I teach Tai chi chuan, Filipino stick fighting, European fencing," Roe said. "I don't care. If it's got a blade I use it. I've helped raise about 45 children. If you don't give anything to others you shouldn't expect anything for yourself."

Leslee Fuller of West Seattle was liaison to the press at the convention. Her husband, Lee, was DJ during some late night dance events there.

"Steampunk is reminiscent of of H.G. Wells' 'Time Machine', and Jules Verne, that type of fantasy stuff," said Fuller, with son, Tristan, 10, and daughter, Scarlett, 3, in tow. "My kids are Dr. Who characters. He is Dr. Who and she is a weeping angel. The fun part about all this is that people here are trustworthy and like-minded and my kids can run around and interact with people and they will be friendly and return the interaction."