Fans brave the elements in anticipation of Twenty One Pilots' performance on Friday
Pouring rain, wind, 55-degree temps, damp sleeping cots and overnight chills — it didn't matter the conditions, though.
Nothing was stopping fans Maliyah Rafail and Morgan Rupp from camping outside Nationwide Arena for a chance to get within arm's reach of the band Twenty One Pilots.
The two sisters slept outside the doors of the arena, joining tens of other fans in the hope that they could land a spot by the performance stage — floor space is general admission —for the group's second of three arena shows this week (the final performance will be Saturday night).
Having slept on concrete and brick surfaces in years past, Rupp, 26, said they were well-prepared for whatever conditions were ahead.
"You learn as you go," she said. "We used to not have cots; we bought them just for this concert because we figured it was a good idea."
Whatever amount of rain or wind pierced through their ponchos, Rafail, 18, said it was worth enduring.
The two Pittsburgh-area natives were drawn to Twenty One Pilots as far as back as 2017. After agreeing to split ticket costs, Rupp and Rafail took a spontaneous trip down to Virginia.
Confined to nosebleed seats, Rupp and Rafail knew they would make their way to future performances, with Friday's concert being their fifth time seeing the duo live.
"We were just looking at the floor seats and telling ourselves, 'Yes, we need to be there.'" Rafail said. "And ever since then, we've been on the floor."
Although she's seen Twenty One Pilots seven times, Aaliyah Harris, 19, said drummer Josh Dun and singer/multi-instrumentalist Tyler Joseph have put on electrifying performances every single time.
She's never camped out overnight, but Harris said her love for the group's music has grown as the band has gained widespread acclaim for chart-toppers such as "Ride," "Stressed Out," "Heathens" and others.
Emma Fleenor said she fell in love with the group when she was in seventh grade.
"I feel like a lot of people get into them in middle school, especially during that time they were making a lot of relatable content about mental health and a lot of people related to it," she said.
Along with the band's themes of mental health, Fleenor, 18, mentioned how Joseph is also outspoken about his faith in his music, which deepened her appreciation for the group.
First exposed to the band in eighth grade when a friend played "Doubt," Emma Fury didn't consider herself a fan until months later.
It wasn't until she tapped into the group's online fanbase that her healthy obsession began. Whether Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other platforms, fans from across the world express their appreciation for the group's music and how it aligns with their shared life experiences, Fury said.
"Everyone has similar experiences and they all kind of relate, and we all love this music and get to come together for these concerts and celebrate," she said.
With the band rooted in the capital city, Columbus-native Fury, 19, said the anticipation is even greater.
"This community is waiting in line as early as they can, especially for the hometown shows," she said. "It's even crazier. It's on another level."
Fury said the feeling is magnified given the band's ties to Columbus.
Even with Twenty One Pilots reaching unforeseeable heights, the duo has always maintained a strong connection to their hometown, she said.
"It's crazy to stop and think, like, this huge band is from here," Fury said. "The places that you frequent, they frequented. Like the venues you're going to for other artists, they have played at these venues and they worked very hard to get to where they are."
Above all things surrounding the string of concerts, Fleenor said she's happy to see fans looking out for one another and the shared trust among them.
"I really enjoy this fan base," she said, "and I'm really proud of us for having this sense of community."