Little Things

[ladysprite]

I've been playing Live Action Roleplaying Games for more years than I can count, now. I've worn all sorts of costumes and wigs and makeup for them, and made all sorts of changes - dyed my hair, changed my posture, put on or taken off jewelry, had tattoos temporarily drawn onto my body - but somehow it's always the tiny changes that are the most noticeable to me, as I'm getting ready for the games.

The character that I'm playing right now is a tomboy, and one who leads a fairly rough and physical lifestyle. I love her costume, her hair (always braided, usually straggly), her mannerisms, everything about her. The only tough thing about playing her is her nails - while I am fairly vain about my long, shaped, never-painted but usually well-cared-for and strong nails, Miryam would never have them.

So preparing for games means packing shoes and costume and jewelry, finding the right hair elastics, making sure that the flashlights have batteries and the sunscreen hasn't expired, and cutting off my nails down to the quick. It's a tiny, stupid little detail. I'm fairly certain that no one but me would notice - but the one time I forgot to do it, it grated on me all weekend. My hands didn't look right.

On the other hand, it also means that the 48 hours before game starts, as I'm sitting at work or packing at home, my hands feel like they're not quite my own. I can feel my fingertips, in a way that I usually can't. My fingers feel shorter, my dexterity is off, I have to change the way I type or sew or hold a pen. More than costume bits, more than the Sharpie tattoos that will be drawn onto me Friday night, more than anything else, this is the physical reminder of becoming someone else for a few days.

The game will be over, and they'll grow back soon enough. But right here and now, I have someone else's fingers, and it feels extraordinarily weird....

Comments

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

For me it's the opposite. Rosie wears her nails long and they look nice long, but after 8 years of piano, and then 6 years doing a lot outdoors, I have never gotten used to the feeling of long nails.

And now I have to wear my glasses as Rosie... which feels completely wrong. Sigh.

[mighty-1.livejournal.com]

I wear contacts for fighting and sometimes I find myself trying to adjust my glasses, even though I'm not wearing them. I pinch the bridge of my nose to fool myself into thinking I just moved them on my face so it dosen't annoy me.

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

The extra bonus is that my head is very pressure sensitive... it's very easy for wearing my glasses to give me a headache... but I really really can't see without them.

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Do you have prescription sunglasses, or if not, could you get some cute/stylish clip-ons? That might help at least make them feel a little more in-character....

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

I have neither... and can't get ones that clip on for these frames... nor in time... when your eyes are at a -8.00 diopter, nothing gets done for them fast.

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

Seriously thanks for the suggestion though. These glasses are the most stylish ones I could find... it's just that my eyes are bad enough that if you look through the lens, you see major distortions on my face so it's hard to feel cute in them :)

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

I can understand this one. I don't do it for LARPing, but up to about 4 years ago I went from having similar nails to what you're talking about... longish, carefully groomed (I lived with a nail file in my pocket or pack all the time). Then I took up rock climbing. Now, they're short, and often rough. When I switched, I really did notice a difference.

[ladyqkat.livejournal.com]

I don't LARP, but I have an almost reversal of your problem.

Throughout most of my life, I was a nail biter. Which also meant that I would often chew the skin raw to the sides of the nails. In my 20's I trained myself to not bite my nails ragged, but they were brittle and broke easily. In my 50's I discovered a vitamin supplement that helped to strengthen my nails. Now they could grow long and beautiful.

Hah!

I find I get highly annoyed with my nails if they get more than 1/8" to 1/4" past my fingertips and then I have to clip them all off. *sigh* I really did want long beautiful painted nails at sometime in my life. I will now settle for strong and healthy.

[outlander.livejournal.com]

Vitamin supplement? Which one, out of curiosity? I am in the used to bite, now very, very brittle stage...help would be appreciated!

[ladyqkat.livejournal.com]

This (http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=186877&aid=336064&aparam=hair%20skin%20&%20nails&scinit1=hair%20skin%20&%20nails) is one brand. There are several out there nearly all called "Hair, Skin & Nails" The primary ingredient is biotin, which also supplements your hair health and your skin.

When I was very young my hair was so dry and brittle that it would break off just by brushing it. Like straw. It is now extremely healthy and down past my mid-back. Genetics plays a large part in it remaining somewhat reddish blond/brown into my 60's, but I am also certain the supplement helps.

It takes about six weeks to see the change, but once it starts you really notice the difference. Good luck.

[ianargent.livejournal.com]

My (nearly invisible) moustache is liek that. If I shave it off, my upper lip feels downright WEIRD till it grows back in.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Wow. I admire your dedication. I hope it doesn't make it hard for you to do vet things.

[ferretd.livejournal.com]

I am doing the same thing, only in reverse.

I am a SERIOUS nail-biter (and I may be trying that supplement- thanks!) to the point of biting off the acrylics when I get them done professionally. Very bad for me and of me, I know.

But I have a few characters who would ABSOLUTELY have nails. No question. This weekends...may be one of them. J wants me to use the glue ons, I want to at least wait until I'm done doing the serious set up work so they don't get torn off (OMG the pain). Either way, they won't be my hands.

The worst is that I'm a casty which means that I dont' get to be ANYONE for a full weekend...maybe someday, and maybe with this character (so I want to get her right).

See you tonight!