some signs from this year's take back the night

I'm writing this in November, which is very far off from when this event took place; but I've been thinking about Take Back The Night because of a fiction project I'm working on, so... might as well, right? 

Back in April (4/5/2024), WSU's Women's Center and LGBTQ+ Resource Center, back when they existed (state legislation disbanded them this past summer; they're the Safe@Weber Center and student advisors now, I believe; I'm not in touch with many students anymore), organized their annual Take Back The Night event. I had a history of helping out with preparing for it, but never actually attended. I never had the time or bravery. It takes me a lot of wherewithal to think I belong anywhere. If I'm not helping, I don't think I'm allowed to exist in a given space-- even if that space is meant, in large part, for me. I didn't like to use the lounge space in the Women's/LGBTQ+ Center, either. 

To feel burdensome, though, is a great burden; and it wasn't possible that night, not with so much to do. I got on the bus, headed in, and grabbed the absolute wrong shirt. Dear god, I do not speak Spanish; why did I grab the shirt written in Spanish? (The woman who translated it, Pam, did a phenomenal job and was super proud of herself; and I do in fact still have it.) 

It went well, though; and it went fairly smoothly. We got everything organized and set up, made some new signs to add to the volume of those we hung on the walls, and handed out tasks; and I joined Jessica, my advisor, at the LGBTQ+ Resource Center's table for the majority of it. We also (the two of us and a member of admin for the centers) helped lead the chants for the actual march, which was neat! You'd think marching band wouldn't come in handy, but it... for sure does. In real life? In real life. 

my sign

PAUL BLART, CONSENT COP (courtesy of Pam)

Unfortunately, I didn't get to carry my sign because I was holding a megaphone for the entirety of the march itself. I have some less-peachy reflections I'll share later, if I can bring myself to articulate them. 

Never posted about this; probably should have. On Friday, WSU did something called "Block Party." (It's an event where all the clubs, organizations, and services on campus set up booths and tables to get the word out.) I spent a couple hours down at the CSI table and a couple hours up at the GSA/Disabilities Club's combined table. All in all, there was a lot of traction this year, and I didn't really get a moment to rest. 

And yeah, I did make a fool of myself. (It went well. It did.)

Cardset, #02: The Wolf

02: The Wolf

The second in my personal cardset, The Wolf comes not from Lake Wonder or general cards (face cards, tarot, etc.,), but from Darkened States. This card title and idea was created wholecloth, as well, entirely for my own personal symbology. 

The Wolf was created around the character Randall, the (former, now, I suppose) leader of the Eggbois, a post-apocalyptic gang of monstrous criminals. His specific group was full of werewolves and used to contain notable anxious freak Winona Kelly (now Winona Whatever). He's the one who bit her when she ran away from home and ran afoul of the Eggbois; he's the one who forced her to take up the ax and torture their hostages; and he's the one who served as her "stepdad" in the time she lived with them. He was murderous, impotent, stupid, and foul. 

And what now? The Girl Knight always kills the Wolf. 

In terms of actually making the card, I tried to model those teeth after a wolf's maw while keeping them slightly disembodied and grimacing, added white splotches (from whiteout), and kept the letters black, white, and gray (for Randall reasons. I wanted the main point of color to be the visceral red of the gums, maw, and blood dripping from the teeth). This is one that I completed after graduating in 2024, so in May. 

(I definitely intend for this one to go with a couple other cards I'm working on, themed around Winona in her capacity as a Hero (her primary class in the Orpheus Protocol system). I haven't figured out what those are going to be yet, but I will. Maybe one will be modeled after Frankie Burns (something pertaining to her playbook, maybe?), one after the Moon, and one after The Girl Knight. I'm not sure yet. I think I want five total for the set, but I'm not sure. We'll get there when we get there.)