I showed up to a conference this past weekend dressed as The
Wizard Howl and no one noticed.
It’s one of my favorite things to do: throw on a shirt, some
jewelry, some little thing that alludes to something I love, and all of a
sudden my day has a new twist of covert cosplay. No one notices, and why should they? Few of my colleagues are watching much
Miyazaki in their free time. Neither are
they binge-watching Attack on Titan, nor trying to save the galaxy from
Reapers, nor achievement hunting in Hitman: Absolution, nor fangirling out over
the latest Cullen-mance development in the DAI: Trespasser DLC, or anything
else that I tend to be doing.
It doesn’t bother me; I have friends at work and I have
friends outside work, and I don’t expect much overlap. I’d be sorely disappointed if I did, let’s be
honest.
In my life, covert cosplay happens all the time: I wear my “Paragon” ring, a throw to my
morality track in Mass Effect, to school most days, and I’ve even worn it to
job interviews. It never gets a second
look – it’s low-profile and simple, like my Shepard, and if an interviewer does
notice it, he or she will undoubtedly think, “Hey, Paragon! That means ‘role
model,’ right?” And poof! I’ve just
subliminally suggested that I’m an excellent person to hire.
When a small bronze key rests around my neck, no one asks
what it opens. Keys are a pretty common
jewelry choice for women, so I raise exactly zero eyebrows. If it just happens to be the same key as the
one Eren Jaeger wears, the one we are all waiting to find out the secret it
unlocks, that’s my little
secret.
The earrings and necklace I made out of an Attack on Titan
keychain are pretty obvious though, if someone is in the know. Occasionally, I do get questions from
students about what the shields are supposed to be, or why my earrings are
different (the Stationary Guard and the Military Police grace my ears, while
the Scouting Division is the pendant). I
never back down – I always feel like I’m a role model (a Paragon, if you will J)
for other nerds, for students who love the things I do but keep them quiet for
fear of being judged, and I’m open about what my jewelry means.
Some items are more subtle.
Galadriel’s flower ring and the matching necklace I found at a con look
like pretty floral jewelry, and Thorin Oakenshield’s belt buckle makes a lovely
pendant when I need something simple and elegant for an outfit. Sure, if I wear the Ring of Barahuir to a
concert or in place of my wedding ring, people notice the snakes and the stone,
but most of my Lord of the Rings items pass easily under the non-nerd
radar.
Those days, my fellow nerds are likely to find me out, but
Lord of the Rings is a love I am always happy to share.
I also have a matching set of amber jewelry, earrings from
the Smithsonian and a necklace I found online, that offer a subtle allusion to
Jurassic Park – amber, after all, being an essential part of the Jurassic Park
process. I doubt anyone thinks twice
about the teacher wearing amber jewelry those days, but I can smile to myself,
knowing the reasons why I purchased them and why I wear them.
Ed’s alchemy circle from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in
an oft-worn pendant.
A bracelet that reads “I am the Sword in the Darkness”
floats around one wrist.
And I’m sure there’s more, if only I dug through my jewelry
box.
 |
| my own private homage to Jurassic Park |
Of all my covert cosplay though, Howl is my favorite. I adore this movie – it combines all that beautiful
fantasy artwork with such a gentle, poignant love story that I melt every time
I watch it. Thankfully, others share my
love and Etsy is filled with jewelry options.
When I bought my Howl jewelry – the jade teardrop earrings and the heavy
blue pendant – I spent hours online, exploring all my options before I made my
choice. Now, all I have to do is wear a
white shirt and black slacks and the look is complete – and no one is ever the
wiser.
Regardless of their subtly or lack thereof, my tastes in
jewelry have never been questioned. I’ve
never been stopped by my principals and asked what I’m wearing, and other than
the occasional quick compliment, my friends never delve into their deeper
meaning. I’m not bothered; I don’t,
after all, interrogate them about their jewelry choices. Mine are just for me.
Sometimes I wonder if my colleagues are doing the same
thing; if I see someone wearing all green stones one day, are they offering
homage to the Matrix, or do they just like the color? If their earrings don’t match, are they
inviting me to ask and learn about some fantastic new show, or did they forget
to check the mirror this morning?
I don’t usually ask.
I’ll compliment if I catch the reference, or just in general sometimes,
but I go back and forth about assuming on a deeper meaning. After all, if I see someone wearing amber and
I start talking about Jurassic Park, chances are pretty good they are going to
back away slowly instead of joining my enthusiasm.
That’s okay though.
I love showing off all my interests, and if I’m the only one
understands the reference, then I spend the day smiling to myself, enjoying the
inside joke that no one else gets.
