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sweetlady555 · 9 months ago

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My Personal Solar Return Observations Pt III

reminder to check your degrees in your sr chart as they play a big factor in how certain sr placements would play out!

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Venus 5H 17° SR - when i had this in my sr chart for 2023-2024 i saw myself experimenting more with different creative styles/looks. i would try to find inspiration from different creatives on instagram. while i was doing this, i started talking to a well known designer in that creative scene who had messaged me because he liked my style. it was a secret relationship because he cheated on someone to be with me which i thought they were completely done but he kept going back to her then back to me. he was obsessed with me and it was a really weird relationship, he would only come to me when his lustful desires were acting up and then would go when he was satisfied 💀. i was tired of this so i started talking to someone else and he found and his little ego got so hurt and he blocked me thank fucking god 😭😭!! I was also approached by another creative because he wanted to use my face as inspiration for his clothing brand hehe ( the 17° rules leo & fame )

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Aries Rising 2° SR - when i had this i felt like i was really impulsive i did lots of things without thinking twice. i had my chart ruler in the 5h that year so it might be different if you end up having your asc ruler somewhere else in your sr chart, but for me i was impulsive when it came to switching different styles. i also started drinking and partying for the first time when i had a aries rising in my sr when it was placed in my 5h. aside from this, i was very determined on finishing goals i set my mind to and i was very consistent in trying to build a good foundation for myself. ( the 2° rules taurus & early stages )

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Moon 7H 4° SR - most of my relationships that i had that year were lowkey codependent, the guys i talked to that year were very emotionally dependent and attached to me. they would usually call or message me out of nowhere to vent or open up to me which would be random asf lmaoo ( the 4° rules cancer & security/protection )

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Mercury 3H 28° SR - I started talking to my siblings more and my relationship grew closer with them. I also started becoming more vunerable with my siblings. My relationship with my siblings were more nurturing compared to the past. ( the 28° rules cancer & heightened sensitivity/vulnerability )

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Mars 5H 21° SR - I went out a lot more when i had this in my sr chart with my sisters friends who would randomly go out just for the fun of it 😭, like it was last minute most of the times but it was so fun tho! i got to do lots of things on the trips we went to! I was also more open to expressing my creativity like making clothes and putting it out there and such. ( the 21° rules saggitarius & travel/freedom )

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Jupiter 1H 8° SR - I was more optimistic about life when I had this placement in my sr chart. I also felt like I was really lucky when it came to travelling more. places ive wanted to go to forever i ended up going to! things i wanted to experience i experienced! it was a good year for experiencing new things. ( the 8° rules scorpio & transformations )

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Uranus 2H 21° SR - yeah i dont know where my money went that year 💀 money would come fast and then it would go even faster 😭 i saw my money as a source of freedom and thought of money so recklessly like, “oh these shoes are $300 but i just got fired? dont worry the money will come back *BOUGHT🧾*” so i didnt care much about saving or anything 😭 it came back though!! but then it went bye bye the next day😍 also for some weird reason whenever i took money out from daily pay which is a app where you can take money out early from your check when you work, whenever i took it out it ended up saying i had to pay back the amount i took out? like uhhh im pretty sure this was my money i took out 😂🤔… so now im -$200 but they gotta catch me in person cuz im not paying that 😹 ( the 21° degree rules saggitarius and freedom )

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Pluto 11H 29° SR - i ended two 5+ year friendship that year, it was hard but it was a trio and i found out that the both of them would ditch me to go hangout and do substances and i feel like that didnt align with my path because you are who you hangout with!! i also saw my goals/path changing that year, I completely re-evaluated what i wanted to do 🙏. ( the 29° is a anaretic degree that rules major transformations/completion/endings )

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Chiron 1H 19° SR - I was VERY critical on how others percieved me and my self image, i had multiple identity crises. I was super insecure the year I had this in my sr chart i cant even lie, despite so many people telling me how beautiful I was I just couldnt see it. 2 months before my birthday in 2024 i ended up understanding who i was and finding out what I LIKE and not what other people expected of me. im not facing multiple identity crises anymore which i thank my nn in my 1h from that year 🙏. ( 19° rules libra & can make a person more erratic and critical )

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 1H SR in 5H SR - I was more open to showcasing my creative talents, designing clothes, starting lots of creative projects. I was also having sooo much fun that year i miss it so much but lemme stop reminiscing 💔 I was also more flirty and playful that year leading me to have a few romantic encounters this year. Lots of creativity, fun, and sexual encounters happened that year.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 2H SR in 5H SR - I spent most of my money on clothes and on creative projects just things that made me happy!!!! I was also recieving money from a lot of guys who wanted sexual things from me but they got #finessed and i didnt care because who do you think i am???????

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 3H SR in 3H SR - when i had this i started getting into astrology more, i was also reading a lot more aswell. I was really curious and i needed lots of mental stimulation from something that was neverending and astrology just so happened to be it 😹. I was also making tons of short trips that year.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 4H SR in 7H SR - my family life was lowkey stopping me from getting into any relationships, i came to the realization i wouldnt be able to get into any relationships while living with my parents because of how controlling they can be. Also my sister got into a new relationship that sr year.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 5H SR in 7H SR - I started talking to a creative designer the year I had my 5h in my 7h. I was also getting involved with creative partnerships aswell, promoting eye contacts/lashes/having my face used for someones brand. I also attended more parties and was going out more so i found most of my relationship encounters were through that.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 6H SR in 4H SR - i changed my diet when i had this in my sr. I also didnt know how to balance my work life and home life so it clashed terribly and i got fired😭. I was also going out more with my sister so my routines have changed from never going out at all to going out every week.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 7H SR in 5H SR - I met lots of new friends and different social circles through fun plans like partying, girls trips etc.. I also had lots of fun romantic encounters when i had this in my sr whether i met them when i was drunk or at parties it was lots of fun lol. There was so much childlike joy when it came to my relationships that sr year.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 8H SR in 5H SR - i lost my virginity the year i had this in my sr😶 but besides that my relationships in that sr year really shaped my understanding of love and myself. i was also recieving money from relationships i felt like a sugar baby🙈

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 9H SR in 1H SR - BABY I WAS OUTSIDEEE😭😩 okay besides that, that sr year when i had this i experienced a lot of new things that helped me discover who i was on the inside 😊. I was focused on self growth especially that year!

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 10H SR in 12H SR - I thought a lot about what I wanted to do career wise and how it would align with my goals and my purpose . I had this in my sr when I got fired 😭 and i realized I would prefer being my own boss when it came to my work life

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 11H SR in 12H SR - I unfriended my closest friends after re-evaluating our friendships that year. I also found out shady shit about them and I didn’t like that which led me to unfriending them

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 12H SR in 2H SR - i was manifesting money a lot the year i had this and im not even gonna lie it was coming!! so if you have this in your sr this year, manifest that moola$$$!!!!! i was also receiving money behind the scenes from other people the year i had this in my sr chart .

if my sr chart for that solar return year was a song it would be definitely be this song 🥲 #willforevercherishthatyear

dont forget to check out my other personal sr observations if you enjoyed this one :) !

#astro community #astro observations #astro notes #astrology lunar return #solar return chart #solar return #solar return observations #sr chart #sr oberservations #astrology observations #Venus 5h #astrology #astro #astro placements #solar return house placements

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kozachenko · 9 months ago

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[Click for better quality]

Ok so as a sort of followup to that Yachie drawing, I did one of Yachie as well. I already had a pretty solid idea in mind (though tbh drawing her wasn't as fun as drawing Saki) but I'm overall pretty happy with this drawing.

Artist's Notes;

So I knew that I would never forgive myself if I completely missed the oppurtunity to give Yachie face scales, which is something that I haven't really seen many people do yet. I do feel like I could've pushed it a lot more, but I'm liking the direction my take on her is going.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to talk about some of my headcannons for how Hell's fashion works since I've had this on my mind for a while. So ever since I refined my own design for Zanmu, I really liked the idea of having there be some connection between her and Satori in their clothes because they're both the defacto "leaders" of their respective Hells, and then I had the idea of having Hell's fashion trends mimic real life history where it mimics whatever the upperclassman are wearing in someway? I've always been really fascinated with the idea of how Modern Hell works as a society and also how Old Hell was impacted by it's abandonment, and while I am aware that the animal realm isn't exactly Hell and is moreso it's own thing right next to it, I imagine that there would be some overlap in the fashion and culture due to their close proximity to each other. Of course, I still kept a lot of elements in from Yachie's original design, the only thing I really added to the outfit was the jazzed up sleeves and the bottom of her shirt as well as those cool triangle things ZUN added to her shirt in 19. I also have her some nice and sharp nails since I thought they fit her. I also tried adding some scales onto the tips of her ears though tbh IDK how well they read. Her colour palette also ended up becoming a lot more teal than I had anticipated, but I honestly like it as I love it whenever people make Yachie's colour palette and design a lot more teal. I also wanted to try and differentiate her face from Saki's, though I do plan on experimenting more on how to avoid same face syndrome, as it's a problem that haunts me in my dreams. There's not really much I can say here aside from "hee hee clothing rendering go brrrrrr" and how the Clip Studio Paint charcoal brush is really all you need for any given piece and it is literally the only brush I use aside from the occasional airbrush for lighting (sometimes) and the blend tools. I've been doing a lot more simple character art recently and I've just been waiting for a cool enough idea for a full blown piece.

Though now that I've talked about some of my headcannons about how Modern Hell works, I really just want a Touhou manga spinoff about Modern Hell. Like, please ZUN I'm begging you, just do it, it would be so fucking cool because Touhou 17 is literally the only time in modern Touhou when we've been to Hell proper, does modern Hell have any settlements of Oni and other Youkai? Does it have cities? Towns? Villages? What's the technological level of Hell? How do they keep sinners from pulling a Touhou 17 and summoning a fucking god to save them? Where do all the characters associated with Hell as of right now fit into everything? You can't just drop a character like Zanmu who is stated to essentially be the king of fucking Hell and then not elaborate further on how she fits into the general framework of Hell! Is she officially the king or is this more of a "true mastermind using the official king/ruler as a puppet" type deal? How does the Animal Realm fit into all of this? Did Hecatia purposefully create Hell so it would be right next to the Animal realm? Did it just appear there on it's own once Buddhism started popping off on Earth or was it established once Zanmu established Modern Hell? How long was Keiki a problem for, and how did that affect the rest of Hell? Seriously there are so many unanswered questions here and I don't know if I just need to read an interview Zun had where he was asked these same questions and if so please tell me because these questions have all been stirring in my brain for quite some time and I really wished we'd just get a new fucking manga instead of going over the same settings in Gensokyo over and over and over and over again dear god. Like, I get that there's still a lot to explore with what we already do have, but it would just be really nice to see the Animal Realm get a little more explanation as to how it fits into the overall grand scheme of Gensokyo's worldbuilding because that would just make such an already interesting idea for a setting in Gensokyo so much better.

I'm hoping to get the drawing for Keiki done before Touhou 17's 5 year anniversary, though I am willing to postpone that and take my time on it and I also have something coming up where I won't have access to my main drawing tablet for a while so it might be a while until I post again, maybe, who knows, consistent posting schedule? Who are they, I've never heard of them. I do fully intend on talking about my thoughts on Touhou 17 though, even if it's a day or two late, it's Touhou 17's birthday month so it still counts! Also because out of all the Touhou game anniversaries, this is the one I care about the most because Touhou 17 was the first Touhou game I played and 1CC'd(???) on normal, and even though it has plenty of flaws (i.e. the many missed opportunities for it's gameplay, how unbalanced the mechanics are and also screen visibility), I'm always going to have a bit of a soft spot for it and I think that the game's strengths make up for some of it's weaknesses in my opinion.

#touhou project #art #fanart #touhou fanart #touhou 17 #yachie kicchou #wily beast and weakest creature

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jealousmartini · 9 months ago

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💌 She's an overachiever. "Pressure"? What pressure? ⋆₊˚⊹🔖

«───────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ────────»

My second year of college is coming in hot guys. And I'm talking the 3rd of September, in TWO WEEKS TIME HOT.

But you already know your girl has BEEN locked in with her subliminals for the next term, cus I've had a whole thing going on since my first term to my second yk. so come a little closer so I can show yall what my game is on

p.s.a!! I am an animation and games art student, so most to all of my work is research and art based. And when I say most of my work is research based, I mean there is an ungodly amount of writing that is expected from the students and it's not even just the amount it's WHAT you write about that gets you the grade and how well your art conveys your ideas.

Also "Ex." = Example

╰┈➤ " My average college day experience as an art student/loass babe " click here!

«───────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ────────»

"What? Like it's hard?" At the top of her class, always ontop of her work, never slacking off, always locking in.

── .✦ ┆ 𖤐 ┆ ␥

|| Perfect focus, super attentive, always pays attention and makes notes. I am never afraid to ask for help or advice and I always receive the answers I need to understand the work; no room for confusion here.

|| Very strong, clear memory, perfect photographic memory.

|| Studies so much, it's my hobby, never underestimates myself or downplays my work, has always prioritised my work and has always understood the importance of doing work at home. Studying has never been a struggle for me because I don't struggle with discipline. I actually find so much fun and enjoyment doing homework. I always feel so productive and proud of myself whilst managing my time and looking at the amount I have done afterwards. Especially with the amount of validation and points I earn from teachers. It is always so satisfying seeing my high grades after a complete project. It's like a treat.

|| Creative genius, always brainstorms with words or loose sketches; not a single idea goes to waste. Research enthusiast, I could never shy away from making a thorough, detailed, and well planned out analysis, moodboard or mindmap. And multiple of them at that. I always know EXACTLY what to write and never wastes precious time and space yapping.

|| The life of an art student is exciting, fulfilling, flourishing, inspiring and strict. In the healthy way of course. My parents and teachers are always understanding of my burnouts and art block which are very rare thank god; and it's a good thing I have my closest friends to comfort me through my work. They are always so supportive, encouraging and honest with me as I am with them. We always travel together to the college (when I don't feel like being alone) and we always travel back home together. I mean we are our own personal friend circle so of course we buy snacks for each other and meet up for lunch; it's not even like we need to worry about price since we have more than enough on us. College is 100 times better when my best friends are with me, everything feels so comfortable with them

|| Perfect, cunty, and ideal artstyles. Always chooses the ones most appropriate for a certain design, and never forgets how to convey a certain look. I know, understand and draw human, animal, vehicle, clothing anatomy and terminology, enviromental composition, colour theory and terminology, the 12 principles of animation, the 7 fundamentals of art (Line, pattern, colour, texture, tone, shape and form), and the fundamentals of character design like the back of my hand

|| I know how to layout a design page appropriately, I always know how to theme and colour co-ordinate. Written placement and art placement are always perfect to the T and nothing looks off. All together, I show off my own unique style of work and impress my teachers of classmates

Ex. Subliminals in my art student playlist

"Over achiever", "Desired art skills", "Desired (college) life"

«───────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ────────»

"Ugh she is always doing the most with her work😒-" And she always looks good doing it. She's got the looks and the discipline; she's got it all

── .✦ ┆ 𖤐 ┆ ␥

|| Gorgeous, curly, and ideal (3B to 3C) hair. My hair never gets greasy, dry, breakage, damage, frizz, dandruff, or split ends. My curls are always moisturised, soft, bouncy, and defined. I never experience a bad hair day, and my hair is super easy to manage. Detangling my hair is a breeze, and styling my hair is even easier; every style looks exactly the way I want it and never loses the volume or shape throughout the day.

|| Ideal, fit, slim thick pear. Short shoulders, small ribcage, medium-sized chest, 20 inch waist, wide hips and slight dip, long legs, fat ass but not too fat, chubby but fit thighs, slimmer defined calves and small feet. The perfect pear. And every outfit looks exactly the way I want; I never look awkward but I always look put together and stylish.

|| Craziest face card. Ms. Face economy infact. I have a round heart shaped face with dark brown bambi eyes and long fluttery lashes, a medium straight nose bridge, plump pink "keyhole" lips, and the clearest, softest brown skin ever... Yet I still put make up on- yes I do because it's fun and I like it, so it's always awesome knowing I can do my make up flawlessly and nail my looks perfectly

Ex. Subliminals in my ideal appearance playlist

"3C hair type", "Pear body", "Desired face", "brown caramel skin"

∘₊ ✧───────────────────✧₊∘

I'll probably add smore later :3 k bye

#martini yaps!#shiftblr #loa blog #loablr #desired reality #master manifestor #law of assumption #4d reality #desired self #desired appearance #desired life #desired body #dream life #shifters #shifting #loa

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orthopunkfox · 1 year ago

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My great gran made this quilt for me when I was small. The front is a patchwork of heavy cotton cloth while the back is light canvas. It was designed "for little people and their big messes" as my gran used to say, designed to be durable and easy to clean. It was also designed to be put in the fridge or freezer to make it cold. The cool weight often brought much needed relief to a sickly kiddo who battled frequent ear and lung infections with raging fever. I wrapped myself in it in cold nights, held it tight when I was sad, been sick on it when I had stomach flu. It's served as cape, picnic blanket, and camp sleeping bag. It has never once torn nor frayed. I wrapped my oldest child in it when he was sick with croup. Just today, my youngest wiped his jelly-covered face on it. My gran definitely knew what she was doing and made this quilt to last as long as her legacy.

My gran was not a wealthy woman. She grew up very poor, lived fairly poor, and died only slightly less poor. But she took care of the people in her sphere of influence. There was a home for orphaned and troubled boys near her house on Morris Street. Every Christmas she would invite the boys who had no home to her house for a home cooked meal (complete with pie), and a stocking for each which included chocolate, a small toy or game and a piece of citrus fruit they didn't normally get. Her favourite saying was "there's always room for one more at the table, we can add one more potato to the soup, the gravy can be watered down a little more."

I don't think she ever knew the great many lives she touched, not how great an affect she had on people. I think she would've been embarrassed to know. She was a modest woman and just as soon forget her good deeds. But the people she blessed never forgot.

At her funeral dozens and dozens of men came to pay their respects. None of my family knew their names or had ever seen them before. One by one they began to introduce themselves and a story began to piece together. The home had closed decades ago and the boys had grown up, some had left the state. But when one of them found out about my gran's death, they mustered themselves and came from all over. They were her Christmas Boys and they had come to see her one last time.

#queer christian #orthodox christianity #orthodoxleftist #faithfullylgbtq #orthodoxy #orthodox church #trans christian #inclusiveorthodoxy #cottagecore #cottagepunk #quilting #memories #legacy #thisglassdarkly

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b-skarsgard · 10 days ago

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When Scandinavian minimalism, international edge and luxury fashion houses meet, a style and expression are formed that only strengthens in step with his acting career. It is brave, stylish and with a security that is rooted in the fact that the look is truly his own. The best dressed man of the year at the ELLE gala 2025 is Bill Skarsgård.

First of all: Congratulations! How does it feel?

– It's really flattering, I have to say. Style is subjective, so it's nice that people think what I'm wearing is nice.

•read the rest at the link or under the cut

How would you describe your style?

– I don't really know. It's not really my favorite hobby. I don't spend a lot of time thinking about what to wear. But when you're doing premieres and press and stuff, I think you have to look nice. If I look at my everyday clothes, I wouldn't see myself as a style icon, haha.

What might a typical everyday look look like then?

– I'm pretty lazy there and I'm a parent of small children, so comfort is the most important thing. I think it's nice that wider pants have become trendy. I like that. It also suits tall people and I'm tall. Then I'm quite involved in my clothing choices for characters, I think that's really fun. To tell something using style from different style eras. So when I do public things, premieres or events, I use a bit of the same way of thinking. To build character and tell a story. I think that's fun. But then I often work with cool brands and stylists, who have a good selection that they can pick from. In everyday life I'm a bit lazy. These baggy pants and these sneakers, it's perfect for dropping off and picking up.

You were at the Balenciaga show in Paris recently…

– Yeah, I don't usually go to things like that, but to be completely honest, it coincided with the UFC in Paris that weekend, haha. But it was a bit overwhelming with all the people there. Then brands like to have you wear their clothes at shows. The more you stand out, the better. So I tried some really bold outfits. Gigantic shoes and some skirt that dragged on the ground, but then I felt like "no, I'm a bit too shy for this". But I had a huge leather jacket on. So we met halfway.

When you're about to start working in a new role - how important are clothes?

– Very important. The costume designer is a very important partner. The better, cooler and more creative the costume designer, the more fun and inspiring the work becomes. I've done films where they don't have much money and the options might be four hoodies in different colors. Then it can be quite slow to find the right one. Or it can be like Linda Muir who did the costumes for Robert Eggers' films, she's like a costume historian. Every single thing is handmade and every single seam is contemporary. Then it's just a pleasure. But the character doesn't really fit until I put the costume on. Putting it on makes you carry yourself in a different way and move in a different way. It's super important.

If you dress up for an event or a premiere, are you also entering a role?

– No, I probably don't. But if it's a red carpet for example, where the pictures are taken, I might wear an expression or a stance with a certain outfit. For that part of the evening, which is the work part. Then I'm just myself again, haha!•

#bill skarsgard #bill skarsgård #article #elle magazine #best dressed

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liliesmultiverse · 1 month ago

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⋆ˊˎ-•̩̩͙- *̩̩̥͙ my friends!!… in my marauders reality pt. 1

┊ ➶ ｡˚ ° marlene thaleia mckinnon [born aug. 1, 1960] is the bitchiest girl in gryffindor. she was born in inverness, scotland to two purebloods alongside her twin sibling, madelynn ellen mckinnon, as the 5th of 9 children. i first met marlene in primary school and it was an instant connection, her immediately becoming one of my best friends. befriending marlene was the first ever act of rebellion i did against my family, knowing full well that she’s considered a blood traitor in their eyes. she is one of the few people i trust completely and vice versa. we tell each other practically everything. when i was sorted into slytherin, i thought she wouldn’t want to be friends anymore knowing what people think of the house but she proved me wrong after sitting with me & james at the slytherin table the next morning while flipping off her own house mates and it’s where she’s been sitting ever since.

┊ ➶ ｡˚ ° remus john lupin [born mar. 10, 1960] is the kindest slytherin you’ll ever meet. he was born in cardiff, wales as the only son of lyall zachariah lupin & hope elizabeth lupin née howell. at 4 years old, he was bitten by fenrir greyback and stuck with a curse he can’t get rid of. shortly after he was bitten, his parents moved to a cozy cabin in the woods near a large clearing that lyall warded heavily for remus to run around in. his father, who blamed himself, did everything he could to accommodate remus’ new affliction and make sure his son was as comfortable as possible. when i first met remus, it was two weeks after the start of 1st year when james decided to drag his dormmate to sit with me, marlene, joan, dorcas & emma. for the first few days sitting with us, remus was extremely quiet and mostly just listened to the rest of us talk but slowly he began warming up to us. once he was finally comfortable, the rest of us were surprised by how mischievous the boy could be under the facade of a quiet kid. near the end of 1st year, me & james figured out that he was a werewolf and have started working towards becoming animagi alongside regulus.

┊ ➶ ｡˚ ° dorcas rosalia meadowes [born aug. 6, 1960] is the disappointed mom of the group. she was born in nigeria to a pureblood father & a muggle mother. when she was 4 years old, her family moved to england. i first met her on the first night of 1st year as we share a dorm and we became friends almost instantly. she’s extremely into fashion and loves designing her own clothes. she’s also very protective of the people she deems as hers, always ready to throw a hard punch in their defense.

┊ ➶ ｡˚ ° lillian jessamine evans [born jan. 30, 1960] is the bravest ravenclaw. she was born in cardiff, wales to william parker evans & iris camellia evans née laurel as the youngest of 2 daughters. when she was 7 years old, she & her family moved to cokeworth after her father was offered a better job. i first met lily on the train ride to hogwarts in first year, when i saw marlene sitting with her & snape. i’d dragged james into the compartment and greeted marlene before introducing myself to the pretty redhead across from her. i tried greeting snape as well but the boy just insulted me to which james snapped back. something that was surprising was that she’s actually known remus since childhood, due to them having lived a few doors down from each other before his family moved to their cabin. they’ve had contact over the years and both were surprised when they saw each other during the sorting.

┊ ➶ ｡˚ ° regulus arcturus black ii [born dec. 24, 1960] is the manipulator of the group. he was born in versailles, france to orion cepheus black & walburga irma black as the youngest of 2 children. i’ve known him since we were children due to sharing cousins and he’s one of my closest friends. he gets along surprisingly well with james even though he finds him extremely annoying. he’s the best potions student in the entirety of hogwarts & one of the fastest fliers in the entire school. he tried out & made the quidditch team easily in first year uncaring for the rules stating otherwise. he’s also a natural legilimens and loves using the ability to get blackmail on the people he hates (mostly uses it on his brother though).

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nitrowyverine · 7 months ago

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I think I write dating sim/VNs/etc reviews now? Anyway,

LOST IN LIMBO REVIEW/THOUGHTS

This VN piqued my interest, so I gave the demo a shot! This review will follow the same general format as my Obscura/Touchstarved review, except there's 7 (!!!) romance options.

Since I totally loved this game, I'm going to put the conclusion promo up here too: if Lost in Limbo interests you, consider playing it Here, Here on steam, and/or backing it Here!

ALSO! THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE DEMO!

My (long winded) thoughts are below:

(Banner image courtesy of the Ravenstar Games tumblr account pinned post. Individual character pics courtesy of tumblr posts from the studio. Individual posts are linked in character titles.)

Gameplay design thoughts:

the plot immediately sucked me in, I'm pretty invested in whatever the hell is going on with the protag, the realms, the lords, etc. I think the setup/land are deep enough to draw me in, but not so intimidating in it's depth that I'm afraid to explore more.

I always enjoy a little bit of nightmare fuel in my games, so the voidbound are perfect. They're so gross and horrible, but not just a stock zombie/nightmare creature design. Whenever the voidbound pop up, it makes the back of my neck itch, which is perfect.

I have no idea whose route I'll pick first. Usually I have one candidate that I can pick out as number 1. This game however? I go back and forth all the time, since I love all of them. I do think I have bias for Ara/Gael/Amon/Envy, maybe?

I really want to design an MC to doodle for this, but I feel like I don't know enough about other people in the realm. (Mostly, I'm assuming that standard humans don't have pointy ears? how close to our reality is the regular world?) I might say "screw it" and design an MC anyway (with some speculative clothing for once they get cleaned up)

The backgrounds have been great set pieces so far. Sometimes I catch myself just kinda staring into space at them. They've got a fantastic flavor.

Misc. Thoughts written during a replay

Fun touch to have Evie's rock image from the beginning fortune shop scene line up with the 7 LI's color schemes.

Each of the VA's does a lovely job with their voices. I've been turned off of certain dating sims because of bad voice acting, but the acting in this game is superb so far. It really helps set the richness of the story.

I have a theory that the LI's (and possibly people in Limbo in general) experience pain differently. The characters seem largely uninterested in the MC's stabbed, weakened state, beyond a "Oh that sucks....we'll clean you up later" mentality. I wonder if they have different pain tolerances, or are just less attached to such things. (Then again, Amon and Raeya have full missing limbs/eyes, so they probably have a decent perspective on pain altogether)

What does wielder/non-wielder mean? Xal says the MC "Can't wield, can't see." What do the LI's see that we don't? Ara mentions that the MC seems "Completely normal". Many mysteries.

I need those monster forms like crazy oh my goodness. Please devs PLEASE SHOW THE MONSTER FORMS

Now, to the lovely love interests!

Amon

WHO LET THIS MAN BE OVER 7 FEET TALL? PRIDE YOU HAVE SOME EXPLAINING TO DO

I only just noticed he also has a few freckles, *chefs kiss* (Waaaiit do all of them have little freckle skin textures??? Oh this is a glorious day.)

It's hard not to love a big friendly guy. I was honestly relieved when he first showed up, because I did Envy's route first, and I was thrilled to see a friendly face in the big dark scary woods.

This does not mean, however, that I'm not excited to see what this guy turns into when he's mad.

I like that he has pity for MC when they first show up, but I do worry it makes his resolve weaker. I'm not as confident that he could handle society/reality breaking down as well as the others. Can he put aside his affable nature for when shit hits the fan?

Question: What level of fight had to happen for Amon to lose his eye? He's already huge, and has some sort of telekinetic powers. My theory is that he was taken by surprise, maybe by someone close to him.....(Envy I'm looking at you)

RIP Amon you would have loved Hawaiian shirts

Conclusion: Most likely to be the camp counselor who hurts his back from always giving piggy back rides. Least likely to keep his composure during a badly timed pun/dad joke.

Raeya

I'm fighting for my life whenever shes on screen good LORD

Similarly to Amon, I GOTTA know the story behind her prosthetic arm. Its so rad looking, but how did she lose a whole arm? (I am also considering that she was also not born with one)

Playing the demo again, she makes a specific comment about the monsters having not "infected a limb" of the MC. My bet is that's how she lost her arm.

I wish I could have spent 1:1 time with her, but it wasn't offered in the demo. I'd love to have like, a sit down discussion with her about history. (Well I'd be fine getting lectured about history and drinking tea and hanging out)

Out of everyone's motivations, I think I understood Raeya's the most. Even if she was against MC, I think her concerns are completely valid. If an alien fell out of the sky from a different reality to earth I'd ALSO be taking every precaution

She and Amon have matching ear chains, that's adorable....

I hope I can take her on a nice date and spoil her and let her relax in the full game, pretty please. Nothing bad will happen right???

Conclusion: Most likely to gently remind the waiter that you said NO pickles with your order, thank you very much. Least likely to admit to being the one who farted in a crowded room.

Envy

every other line from him is "UGGGHHH" and i love that for them.

After playing, I think I've finally realized that I've got a soft spot for grumps. just grumpy lil friends with their pouty faces

I want (vivi's) Envy's nails SO BAD. I need him to do my nails because theirs are perfect. Envy, envy PLEASE

They pretend not to care, but are already getting attached to the MC by the end of the demo. I can't wait to see what they're like when they actually DO get attached

Elephant in the room, what could he have possibly done to get himself demoted so severely? Everyone seems to be fine with him being demoted except Amon, who sheepishly vouches for him when he can.

I just wanna wrap him in a blanket burrito like you do with a spicy kitten. and then give him little smooches

Conclusion: Most likely to be they guy who gets one drink at a party and sits in the corner with the dog/cat all night. Least likely to allow their partner to willingly boop their nose with any regularity.

Pride

Old man yells at cloud? No....old man IS cloud.

The dev's tumblr has mentioned that he's a pathetic old man, but for now at least, I am afraid of his authority and power. since hes like. yaknow. the big god of this world

The VA did some fabulous work for his voice. I definitely got actual chills in certain parts. 10/10

Okay, so WHAT is this guy's deal with mirrors? He looks great, why is he worried about it. I sincerely doubt he's just 52 though, if he's a god. (as a note for all these interests, I have a feeling that the ages are their physical ages, and not their actual ages. Or at least, age relative to ours. I think they're much older in our years than in their years.)

We also didn't get any 1:1 time with Pride in the demo, so I'm fascinated to see what alone time with Pride would be like. Is he quiet? a chatterbox? Just a guy??? does he only play piano and not talk to you. (power move)

Conclusion: Most likely to show up WAY over-prepared for Parent-Teacher conferences. Least likely to understand and survive the cinnamon challenge.

Ara

Certified CUTIE PIE

We got a pretty clear demonstration of everyone's powers in the demo, except for Ara. Unless it was too subtle for me to realize, I'm not actually sure what her cool powers are yet.

If she DOESN'T have plant powers I'd be very surprised.

I keep wanting to think things like "I have to protect her" or "keep her safe at all costs". But then I remember she's likely absolutely terrifying, and I honestly should be actually afraid for anyone who gets in her way.

I would like to remind/inform everyone that so far, she is the only member of the cast who is visibly armed at all times. (Raeya doesn't count even if her arm claws look really really sharp.)

If I have to pick anyone to party with, it's probably Ara. I know she'd throw an absolute rager, but would also make sure you stay hydrated. I wanna hold her hand too. Please?

I'll go butch for her, i'll do it if thats what she wants. I'm weak

Conclusion: Most likely to be able convince you to give her your kidney. Least likely to let you skip a bloodthirsty game of monopoly because you "Have a headache"

Gael

where did he find pants long enough for him.

Okay. So its HIS fault that Amon has the deepest V-cut since time immemorial. Do you think Amon and Gael had an extensive argument about the minimum amount of clothes Amon has to wear at any given time? Because I do.

His powers certainly did not. Awaken anything in me. Nope.

he has the shortest and most perfect arc from stranger -> friendly -> ???? -> BETRAYAL

I am MASSIVELY curious about his dissociation/spacing out during the demo. He was 8 million miles away in the tower for some reason, and I HAVE to find out why. I just KNOW this man is doing some questionable shit with good intentions and I can't wait to find out what it is.

So, he has SOME issue with touch. No idea what it is, but I can't wait to find out what it is. Also noting he's the only one with full-coverage gloves in the cast. Interesting...

Conclusion: Most likely to cry after being sent those sad FB/insta animal stories. Least likely to let you open your own car/carriage/etc door under any circumstances.

Xal

He looks so soft. I have to bully him, in a good way. (Like grim from Date with Death)

I am fascinated as to why he would lie for MC. That's such a great hook to his character. What does a guy who so desperately wants to be left alone have to see to stick his neck out for a stranger?

SOMEONE get this man a NINTENDO DS POST HASTE

THIS GAME HAS TO GET FUNDED BECAUSE XAL SAYS HE HAS A CAT AND I WANT TO SEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will do it, I will be the one to tuck him in when he is too eepy. I will carry him to bed and kiss his little head good night

Wait, if he can "Figure something out" by touching it, he could be like, the worlds greatest doctor. Xal please get off the couch and help me diagnose mystery ailments in a medical sitcom

Conclusion: Most likely to injure himself rigging up a Rue Goldberg machine to scratch his back. Least likely take it easy on you once he learns how to play super smash bros. (He's a fox/falco main)

Concerns:

What the Ravenstar team has already been able to accomplish is incredible. I'm worried that with 7 whole love interests (with a possible two more on the way if the kickstarter goes well), i'm worried the devs are taking on a whole lot of work. I think they're fully capable of taking this on, but I hope they don't burn themselves out in the process.

I'm pretty happy to see the kickstarter is moving along, but there's always the chance that something happens, and/or the kickstarter goal isn't met. BY THE TIME I FINISHED WRITING THIS IT GOT FUNDED LETS GOO!!! I still hope this project makes it all the way to completion beyond the kickstarter. Things can always happen, so Ive got my fingers crossed for the Ravenstar team!

OVERALL CONCLUSION:

I loved the demo, and I have now backed the project! The team is trying to hit stretch goals now, so share Lost in Limbo with your buddies! I crave content for this game like nothing else.

#Lost in Limbo #lost in limbo vn #kickstarter vn #Please play this one its so worth it

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especiallyhaytham · 4 months ago

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The Mystery of Hope and Gist in Rogue

So, here's the backstory. I always thought it was odd how Hope Jensen's character design is so... Victorian. No, actually. As someone mildly versed in Georgian fashion, her clothes are quite literally from another time, and she looks nothing like the other characters in the game. It's such an anomaly, not to mention ugly (subjectively), and it's bothered me for years.

First of all, I happily recognize that Assassin's Creed is allowed to take liberties with fashion history. In any historical entertainment piece, there's usually a few good reasons why the clothing isn't 100% accurate. I also recognize that certain design choices might be made to convey a character's personality, which is a whole other kind of analysis that isn't going to be relevant here. We're purely talking about the physical style components from now on.

While Ubisoft can sometimes go a little crazy with character designs, they aren't in the habit of bouncing completely off-the-wall. They do know the rules, and they know how and when to break them. Many of the designs in Assassin's Creed are actually quite clever in how they play with fashion history. Connor's look seems inspired by military uniforms. Shay is clearly partial to greatcoats. If it was possible to be "sensibly Rococo", Haytham is.

But Hope is another story. Her dress isn't a well-researched artistic interpretation of the 1750s; her silhouette is from another century. Puffed sleeves absolutely do not belong here, and neither does that frilly brooch or layered nightmare skirt. Nothing about her evokes Colonial New England, except for her lace cuffed sleeves (it should be said, that's the only part of her outfit that I like). She looks far more like a Frankenstein amalgamation of the late 1800s.

At first I thought this might just be some weird one-off on the developers' part, since Assassin's Creed doesn't have the best track record visually designing female characters compared to male ones (Like Élise? Not as diabolically out-of-place as Hope, but still pretty bad). But then recently, I found myself taking a good look at Christopher Gist. "What in the world?" I thought. "There's another one?"

His design is also very oddly Victorian. The waistcoat is what tipped me off, since pinstripes and decorative lapels were very much not a thing during this time. Lapels hardly existed at all in the 1700s, and only ever functionally (essentially an extra piece of fabric on your coat that could be pinned back in summer and buttoned up when it got cold), and pinstripes didn't first appear until much later, during the Victorian era. Perhaps Gist stands out a bit less than Hope, since his hat, cravat, and overcoat are pretty ambiguous when he's standing next to other 18th-century characters, but alone he looks like he'd be more at home in Red Dead Redemption.

So now there are not one, but two Victorian characters in a game that takes place over a hundred years before. Now I'm thinking that it's likely that they both came from the same source. The funniest thought I had was that maybe there was a junior developer who was really into Victorian fashion, and with the time and budget constraints, no one bothered to revise the designs. A less entertaining explanation is that maybe they were scrapped characters from Syndicate, which would have been in early development stages at this time.

Syndicate is the most plausible explanation, but at the same time Gist and Hope don't strike me as "Victorian England". I really don't know enough about 19th-century fashion to say for sure, but after making the comparison to RDR, they certainly seem to be leaning more American Western. It is the same time period, but styles varied slightly across the continents.

After doing some research, I found a game published by Ubisoft in 2013 titled Call of Juarez: Gunslinger, which is set in *drumroll* the Old American West. Considering Rogue was released only a year later, as well as Rogue being infamous for borrowing so much from Black Flag, I would not be surprised if assets from other projects also found their way into the game.

The thing though, is that Call of Juarez was not directly developed by Ubisoft, while Rogue was, and I don't know how feasible it is that they would share assets. Again, maybe they were stolen from Syndicate, since I can't pinpoint any part of their designs that would say otherwise (other than Gist generally looking like a cowboy). A third explanation is that perhaps Ubisoft was developing their own Assassin's Creed Western game which was scrapped early, though I haven't found anything solid on this.

It's a mystery that we can't really solve without directly speaking to someone who was on development (which believe me, I have so many questions about Rogue I would sell my soul to interview someone). But in lieu of that, even though I can't parse over every single detail, I think I've come up with some reasonable speculations. If you're like me and ever wondered why Hope and Gist look the way they do, hopefully now you know a little bit more.

#hope jensen #christopher gist #assassin's creed: rogue #especially haytham

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copticcowgirl · 2 months ago

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Fanbinding: BLOODY, SLUTTY, AND PATHETIC

This bind took a hot minute to finish. I made it my goal to complete two copies of BSP during the month of February, for @renegadeguild's 2025 Binderary. One for myself, and one for the author, who gave me permission in late January.

BSP is my first official author copy, gifted to and recently received by WhatMurdah, whom I can't thank enough for both writing this stellar fic and for allowing me to bind them a copy. I read BSP in mid-2024 and have been thinking about it as a bind since.

Lots of firsts with this one. First-ever typeset. Have a long way to go on that front, as it's definitely not my favorite part of binding. I prefer getting into the nitty-gritty of the bind itself instead of staring at a laptop screen for hours and agonizing over fonts and scene break flourishes. I kept it simple and still learned a lot, so that's a win!

I also had the honor of receiving the "Found Typo(s) After Printing" badge.

However, my dedication page to WhatMurdah made the entire typeset worthwhile.

It was also my first time attempting Renaissance chevron endbands (another goal for binderary! aaand there's a reason you don't see them on the bind itself, ha). When those didn't turn out as I'd hoped, it was my first time doing "random chaos" endbands, a la @maleekamolscreates.

Thank you, Maleeka and Marissa, for holding my hands through that one. I like to know what's coming, so letting go of structure to embrace the chaos of go-with-your-gut-feeling-for-your-endband-pattern was...hard.

But gorgeous, no? Can I get a "good girl," Maleeka??

Another first was creating a full-fledged dust jacket that looks like it came from a professional. I owe that to @phoenixortheflame, who sat with me on a Zoom call for 2+ hours and guided me through her artistic process. We worked in tandem in Canva so that I could pepper her with questions like, "You can pull the rulers across the page like that?!" Thank you for showing me how to center align correctly and for gently critiquing my choice of keep-all-fonts-the-same.

The before/after must be shown because honestly, every time I look at it I want to cry happy tears.

And while I know she will say, "But you had the vision, I just gave you some structure!" I'll still heap praise all over her because JUST LOOK AT IT.

Art by the incredible @jjuuppiter, who posted this work well before BSP was published but somehow must have KNOWN it would be written into existence one day. Please go check out their page. I fell in love with their art for "The Politician's Wife" first, and eventually found "Bloody Witch and Her Worshipper."

And finally, details of the bind itself below and behind-the-scenes photos (my favorite to look back on!) below that.

Bind details:

bind style: full cloth bind, rounded and backed, sewn endpapers, ramie bands

endpapers: "french marble strawberry" from Hollanders, chosen in mid-2024 after reading BSP for the first time

cover material: "love dove" fabric, designed by Kathy Doughty. chosen solely for its bold colors.

book edge decoration: head & tail edges hand sanded to 1,000 grit, DIY'd maroon acrylic ink to match fabric, applied in layers, then burnished with Renaissance wax & agate stone. maroon acrylic ink applied directly to deckled fore-edge for author copy. we don't talk about the fore-edge for my own copy.

endbands: double faux core, 4mm leather core, Japanese silk thread

typeset: this was my first-ever typeset, which meant I spent hours meticulously ensuring I didn't mess anything up (full disclosure: I did, but those mistakes are all my own)

dust jacket: designed in Canva; title font, Villanelle; author font, ITC Blaze; body & flap fonts, IBM Plex Serif; art by jjuuppiter

Did you know? To make a deep maroon color, take 1 drop blue, 11 drops red, and 2 drops yellow. Voila! Deep maroon.

Now you know.

These copies were made for personal use only; no profit was made and all associated costs came from my own pocket. Please abide by the code of binding fanfiction, which amounts to: if you want it on your shelf, bind it yourself.

#bookbinding #fanbinding #fanfiction #dramione #BSP #bloody slutty and pathetic #whatmurdah #renegade bindery #endbands #binding fanfiction #keep fanfiction free

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fluffydeoxys · 2 months ago

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need to stop being like "shut upppppp" to myself and treating this like my space (which it is) so! My thoughts behind my 2BD design + how it's changed in the ~3 months since I first did it.

Firstly I reevaluated how I see 2BD as a character. Obviously very grouchy and grumpy in this particular, sort of emotional sometimes subdued way. He's been alive for a while, has seen and endured many things, and has been tempered in the fires of this world. Older than Sanmos, not as old as Hank (although I attribute Hank's existence to a different kind entirely). This contributed to the shape language I decided: primarily stocky, rectangular shapes with the occasional rounded feature.

Edit: oh Ratchet from Transformers also helped/guided a lot of these thoughts and choices as well. Some overlap between the two in my mind.

He's muscled but not overtly, it's more out of necessity to defend himself and enact his goals. He prefers to do things from a distance and ends up a little more sedentary from extensive computer work, whether hacking or researching. Plus I think it's endearing in this gruff old man way. There is a softness (a roundness) that is particularly notable when he is vulnerable (dressed down, without the jacket and gloves in particular, wearing lazy clothes and especially with his mask off) so many don't get to see it.

The choice to give him a jacket that's rather ornate and cropped was partly self indulgence, but it was a conscious choice to make him look a bit... cooler? A bit of a crude way to say it but it's like "casual swag." The casual part is primarily in his pants, which are just plain and baggy with simple boots. Additionally I think I would lean more into this casualness when he's not working. When working, his mindset is different. Focused, in control. On his own, he cares a little less, and is a little more open.

As I described in the tags of a previous post, I think he has a lot of sentiment for personal details and enjoys mending and personalising clothes, albeit it has waned nowadays cus there's not much downtime. The jacket is something he's had for a long time. It's been beaten, cut, ripped, and each time he's filled it in with a new patch. Much like his own body.

The armband was subconsciously inspired by Persona 3, but it more explicitly came from the real world. Armbands usually signify some kind of occupation and rank, and I think it's a fun, cute detail. 2BD considers this operation important and I think he would take it seriously in that way, whereas everyone else kiiind of doesn't. Least I can't imagine Sanford or Deimos willingly putting on an armband to represent their allegiance. I don't know why they're working with 2BD tbf (I mean so the world doesn't . Die is a fair reason), but I guess its a messy and perhaps partially personal reason.

The cane is relatively self-explanatory in the original post, but I was quite happy with my idea that it has practical and multi-tool applications. 2BD is resourceful and proactive, almost to a bit of a pedantic degree. Plus I imagine it's 2BD supplying all those gadgets and implements when retrieving Deimos and Sanford, aside from the shit he probably steals as well.

The gloves were complete self-indulgence. I like claws. BUT I think it conveys his weird "doctor" occupation quite succinctly and gives him another cool point. Albeit I imagine I will switch to bare forearms and fingerless gloves whenever he's handling his VSS Vintorez, because they wouldn't really work well with a gun.

His colour palette ended up leaning into warmer tones sort of "accidentally", but I think it works well. Red in Nevada is a prominent, reoccurring colour that I think symbolises life (and death), and the Other Place. Zero, Hank and 2BD all have very strong ties to these concepts, so reds are prominently featured in their designs in different ways. 2BD, in my interpretation at least, is the most "human" in contrast to ZeroHank specifically. Those two are beings "beyond this world", and 2BD is the "mortal" between them.

The key on his neck is practical and symbolic, with a hint of being cute. It's just his house key, but it "represents" the idea that he is the key to open all secrets in this world. He's the one in control, the one in power, the one with answers. Plus I wanted a little piece of him that Zero or Hank could tug on.

I still think the monoeye goggles are cute, but they end up being a bit too cute for the intent of my "main" design. I will absolutely still draw him with them (especially for simplifications) but it ends up losing the intimidating quality a bit.

Also I saw that comment abt 2BD having burn scars and yeah I think I will experiment with adding those, I like the idea of them being on his face and forearms and that's why he has such prominent coverings on them. I'm not as experienced with depicting/stylising scars like that though so I might need a lot of practice.

I am pretty content with giving his scars more "story", in that a lot of them originate from being tortured during or shortly after his dissension (which is a circulating headcanon I personally liked).

Oh and here's his height difference with Zero.

Guy gets perfect eye level with Zero's chest like okay man. I'm also quite pleased with their contrasts because Zero is imposing and huge in this detached, almost cold way (additionally supplemented by her monochrome palette), whereas 2BD is imposing in this stout, grouchy way. Straight lines and curves and angular points.

Zero is still warm inside, but it doesn't reflect outwards. They're not human, they're not an existence that belongs here. Conversely, 2BD is warm, and full of "life" in this specific way. They don't quite covet 2BD's humanity, but they certainly feel something for it, like cradling a flame in a lantern.

I may revisit Zero's palette but I think I like this strict monochrome but who knows. I've always ascribed the windblown Nevadean desert to her, the desert wanderer, hellbound ghost, buuuut who knows. Maybe that could be reflected more strongly in her Magiturge form. The true self. I imagine I'll revisit it someday + perhaps create a version where her temporary "ascension" is contained in her physical form, letting it last longer at the cost of power.

Oh and I do still like 2BD's with long, soft mohawks but since I draw his fur collar in a particular way, doing the mohawk in that way felt like doubling up. Plus I love how it looks like a scratchy rough broom, it adds to his grouchiness. Pick him up and sweep with him

#_text #idk tryna mentally navigate having a publicly perceived space and i'm being stupie !!!!#i think i just need to stop overanalysing and observing others and just do what i always tell others: do shit for myself #also #oc: zero #cus she's talked about a bit here alongside 2bd

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bogleech · 2 years ago

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Ok but I have seen you talk about this so many times, even referencing it in your old cartoons, so I gotta ask - when and how did you fall in love with neopets, like that?

Wait, is it that obscure now? I didn't know a single person from its inception to roughly 2010 who didn't have a neopets account. It was the single biggest gaming-esque name on the internet for years. Celebrities casually mentioned playing it, it got mainstream marketing tie-ins, it had plush toys people waited in line to buy up and a TCG made by the same company as Magic the Gathering. It's not that I especially "fell in love with neopets" like it's a niche thing but that there was a time it was almost outselling Pokemon, so it's just another huge cultural phenomenon that was a big part of everyone's lives during my teens to twenties, and hits my special interest in creature design since it has THOUSANDS (beyond the pets alone) ranging in quality from extremely creative to just plain heinous. I personally only got invested in it when they introduced the mutant pets, though, because it started out having almost like a "rule" against making any pets that were "ugly." They'd joke about it as a prank for instance, and originally only featured the mutants as part of a storyline they never intended players to actually adopt. They even had a fake alternate version of the site with fake "adoptions coming soon" and somehow didn't anticipate the userbase genuinely wanting the slime creatures.

The Chia and Aisha were my favorites but mainly the chia because that kind of "scuzzy" creature was already my own design aesthetic, polar opposite of the site's established style and reminded me of if Jeff Goldblum got fused with a tardigrade instead of a fly:

Is that just me? I feel like the tardigrade similarity jumps right out but I think it was an accident and they were possibly actually thinking of the rotting giant from Nausicaa:

The fact that they intended its design to be unlovably ugly and were surprised anyone wanted it only made it more sympathetic. Eventually they made mutants available and I got fully invested into playing, at the time having to spend hours a day on their little flash games until I could afford a mutant after months of labor. But then a couple of years later they just abruptly decided they really didn't feel like having its design around anymore and "updated" it, which back then was automatic for all pets owned by all players with no going back:

It had unfortunately been fairly common that they'd just completely, totally redo a pet like this with no warning and no user poll to make sure it's what anyone wanted. You just had to pray they never did it to your favorites.

All the other mutants in that earlier image would also get completely changed or never released at all. They still kept some of the other "gross" mutants and would make even grosser, so that wasn't even part of the reasoning. Just the random whims of mad gods I guess. I think what killed the game for a lot of people was actually when they did this to basically everyone at once, standardizing almost all the pet artwork so they could wear clothes in their new dressup system. It wasn't as drastic as replacing a sludge guy with some kind of hairy leaf guy but it did eliminate hundreds of technically unique designs from the site, and I found someone else's examples they put together so I thankfully don't have to do it myself:

If anyone's not familiar enough with neopets or didn't figure that out from the last paragraph, the ones on the right are just recolors of the same exact art as all members of their species with added accessories (now wearable items) Players used to work hard to get pets they wanted based on their unique poses and personality, but you could only keep the original art for a small number of these. The customization feature kind of attracted a different new fandom, from what people say, but it never approached a fraction the site's peak, which is probably how the brand wound up getting sold to some NFT bros who aren't even involved in the site itself and supposedly never even spoken to its remaining staff outside some business emails? This is unrelated to the brief period it was bought by scientologists and the siterunners had to fight back against their propaganda leaking into it. I really didn't expect to turn this response into a mini article, I should really just make a thing on bogleech.com about it sometime. Some of my tumblr mutuals to this day are people I met through the neopets fandom and probably have equally lengthy memories/complaints.

#neopets #pokemon #scientology #nft's

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ivyyisbored22 · 8 months ago

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𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭— 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐅

Note: Check Description and other chapters first to understand the story ^^♡

(This chapter contains both POVs)

Chapter 10

Aria & Bang Chan

Aria

"I'll be home by 3pm," Chris's voice cut through the air.

"Your dress will arrive anytime. We're leaving at four," Chris said as he grabbed his coat hanging on his chair, heading out to his office leaving me alone in his bed.

"See you later." He waved at me before leaving and the door clicked shut behind him.

Flashbacks replayed in my head. Chris and I went through it the whole night passing out literally breathless, I couldn't remember when we started and how we stopped. Heat flushed my cheeks as my eyes fell on the floor, our clothes were scattered around the bed, my hands ran up my face awkwardly at the memory.

His room was tranquil and completely minimalistic with grey furniture and dark curtains covering his windows. The walls were a cool, muted shade, enhancing the serene atmosphere. A wardrobe was seamlessly attached to the wall, blending in perfectly with the sleek design and a desk occupied the corner of the room, its chair tilted to the side, suggesting his recent departure. Next to it, his guitar leaned against the wall.

I quickly changed into my clothes and rushed to the other end of the hall to my room and directly to the shower. The cold water felt good against my skin, washing away the remnants of the night before.

Twenty minutes later, I stepped out and saw my reflection in the slightly fogged mirror looking back at me. My cheeks were still flushed and there were slight hickey marks on my chest, I turned away refusing to look at myself.

Last night had been a whirlwind of emotions and sensations, a stark contrast to the usual coldness that surrounded Chris.

I wrapped myself in my bathrobe and moved to my dresser, my mind still replaying the intimate moments and the passionate night we shared. It felt surreal, almost like a dream, but the tender way Chris held me, the way his eyes never left mine was unmistakably real.

But fuck all of that when it's the next morning, because somehow Chris changes his entire self going back to his smug, cold personality. It irritated me, making the contrast between the night and day all the more jarring. It felt like I was talking to two different people during two different times of the day.

A knock on my door distracted me as I was blow drying my hair, I opened the door to see Deliah smiling bright as she held a huge box which was definitely my dress. "Hello dear, this package arrived for you."

I walked towards her and politely took the box, it was heavy despite how light it looked. "Thank you Deliah," I smiled, she was warm and always so cheerful, another contrast to the cold elegance of the house.

"No problem at all, dear. Enjoy your evening," Deliah said with a wink before she walked away, leaving me with the box in my hands.

I carried the box to my bed and carefully set it down. With a mix of anticipation and excitement, I opened the lid to reveal the dress nicely wrapped and a little note laying on top of it.

"I hope this makes you feel as beautiful as you are. -Chris."

I couldn't help but smile at that note. It wasn't hand written by him but I'd take small moments and gestures like this over his cold demeanour any day.

It was also these fleeting moments of warmth that gave me hope, even when the coldness threatened to overshadow everything.

Before changing into my dress, I went downstairs and made myself a snack and shared a heartfelt conversation with Deliah. It was surely thanks to her I could make myself feel at home even though tiny specks of thunder roamed every once in a while.

Once it was almost 2pm, after helping Deliah around for a bit and walk in the garden, I finally began to get ready by the time Chris came home. One experience with him for not being "ready" when he said so was more than enough, I didn't want to repeat the same mistake.

I went uptairs to my room and sat infront of my dressing table, starting to style my hair with a simple hairstyle, pulling it back in a neat fancy bun. To maintain the elegance of the hair and the dress, my makeup was subtle yet enhancing, with a soft smoky eye and a hint of blush to complement the natural flush of excitement on my cheeks.

The hour passed by just like that taking the time for my hair and makeup, as the clock neared three, I slipped into the dress. The fabric hugged my curves in all the right places. Standing in front of the mirror, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and confidence. The dress was absolutely perfect, and for the first time in a long while, I felt truly beautiful.

My eyes fell on the note on my dressing table Chris sent with the dress, a faint smile painted on my lips. Just as I finished putting on the heels, Deliah softly knocked on my door and slipped in, "Mr. Bang just arrived dear. He asked you to come down when you're ready."

I smiled, nodding at her, taking a deep breath trying to hide my nervousness. "Thank you Deliah" I said softly, my voice betraying a mix of excitement.

Deliah smiled warmly. "You look absolutely gorgeous. Enjoy your evening," she said, giving me a reassuring pat on the shoulder before leaving.

Alone again, I took one last look in the mirror, adjusting a stray strand of hair and smoothing out the dress and getting my clutch purse. Gathering my courage, and after a few minutes, I made my way downstairs.

As I descended the stairs, my hand on the glass railing, I caught the sight of Chris waiting, his gaze fixed on me with an intensity that sent a flutter of butterflies in my stomach.

My breath caught in my throat. Chris looked remarkably handsome. The classic black tuxedo was a perfect fit, hugging his broad shoulders and tapering down to accentuate his strong frame, complete with a satin lapel that added a touch of sheen.

His white dress shirt was crisp, complemented by a perfectly tied black bow tie and a silver Rolex gleamed on his wrist. The tailored trousers featured a satin stripe down the side, and his polished patent leather shoes completed the look.

There was a strong confidence in the way he stood, a magnetic aura that made it impossible to look away.

"Wow..." Chris swallowed once I made it downstairs, his adam's apple moving up and down, as if he was trying to find his words. "You're stunning." His comment pulled a genuine smile from me, I felt my cheeks flush, keeping my eyes locked with his.

"Thank you Chris," I said tucking an invisible strand of hair behind my ear.

It was the first time- maybe the second, I got a compliment from him. The butterflies in my stomach just kept multiplying as his gaze was fixed on me. And for the first time since our marriage, I saw him smile, his deep dimple was equivalant to a lethal weapon.

"You look really handsome too," My words came out softly, earning a quiet chuckle from him, he looked at the floor then me.

"Thank you," He said.

"Shall we?" Chris held out his arm, I nodded gently as I slipped my hand in his, making our way out. His sleek Rolls Royce was waiting outside the entrance, my heart buzzed with excitement and anticipation as we settle into backseats of the plush interior.

Bang Chan

I've always stayed true to myself since I moved out of Australia to Europe; that I will never let feelings get in my way. They only cloud judgment, muddle decisions, and lead to complications I can't afford. Life's been simpler that way.

Clear-cut, logical, and driven by ambition.

Well, ambition since I returned to the States.

Yet here I am, battling a demon inside me trying to stop it from pushing my feelings further towards a certain woman; my wife, who's sitting next to me. That logic clearly fucked up my mind. I felt like an asshole. My mind didn't want me to get attatched to her but the goddamn muscle that's beating in my chest has other plans for me.

Even having grown up with luxury, Emotions are a luxury I cannot afford.

"What kind of event is this?" Aria's soothing voice pulled me out of my thoughts, I calmed my racing breath as I shifted my gaze to her. "It's like a Coperate Gala," I replied trying to keep my voice neutral.

"Basically celebrating achievements in the coperate world. The awards ceremony was a week ago." Her eyes were filled with curiosity as I spoke, it settled an unfamiliar feeling in my chest that kind of felt...warm.

"Oh I see, that's interesting." Her face turned to the window. Goodness knows what answer I was expecting from but it was surely not that. "Will there be other guests you know?" Her tone remained cool and casual, it almost felt like she wasn't truly nervous about anything. I was definitely overthinking about tonight.

"Felix and Hyunjin will be there. Since they model for Louis Vuitton and Versace,"

I kept my gaze straight ahead before she turned to me almost twisting her neck causing my eyes to widen at her shocked reaction. She blinked rapidly, clearly taken aback by my statement. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out.

"They didn't tell you? My eyebrow arched, she looked down at her clutch purse then at me.

"No, not really but I did vaguely recognize them. Although, I am not so keen on the fashion industry" She was attempting to conceal her initial surprise, which I found rather cute.

I chuckled softly, the tension between us easing slightly. "Well, now you know," I said, a hint of amusement in my voice. "They've been modeling for a while now, quite successfully."

Her lips twitched in a faint smile. "It's impressive," she admitted, her tone more relaxed now that the initial shock had passed.

"Yeah, they're doing well," I agreed, feeling a strange sense of pride for my friends. It was rare for me to talk about my friends with pride—we usually gave each other shit, but in the end, they were thicker than blood.

After quite a drive, thankfully the traffic was much less than the usual nights, we reached the grand venue. The imposing doors of the Rolls Royce were promptly opened by impeccably dressed doormen, who greeted us with warm smiles. I walked to the other side of the car as Aria got out and stood before the entrance, she slid her hand into my arm as we walked inside.

Crystal chandeliers hung down the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the elegantly decorated tables, each adorned with intricate centerpieces and fine china. The soft hum of conversation of the guests dressed in tuxedos and glamorous gowns mingled with the gentle strains of classical music played by a live string quartet in the corner. But everything felt like a blur as Aria stood out, looking like a single, radiant star in a sky full of constellations.

I guided Aria through the crowd, introducing her to influential figures in the industry. My confidence and ease in these surroundings were second nature, essential traits I naturally inherited from my father; maintaining respect in the coporate world.

During cocktail hour, I introduced her to several other key executives, each conversation she held with them was effortlessly balanced with warmth and professionalism, as if she herself had multiple experiences at such events.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride having Aria by my side. Her presence was captivating, a blend of grace and intelligence that drew people in and left them wanting more at the way her eyes sparkled with interest and how her smile seemed to put everyone at ease.

I appreciated her being here with me, not just as a part of our agreement, but as a partner who could hold her own in my world.

A wave of relief and excitement swept through the room as Felix and Hyunjin entered, both of their custom suits, fitting their lean bodies perfectly. The atmosphere shifted as they made their way through the crowd, exuding confidence and charm.

"They know how to make an entrance," Aria chuckled softly. "Surely" I said as I glanced at her.

"Good evening Christopher," Felix and I shook hands, keeping our usual handshake down, maintaining professionalism. "And Hello Aria, good to see you again". He gently bowed at her, his manners impeccable. Aria returned his greeting with a warm smile.

"Good to see you too, Felix."

Hyunjin stepped forward, offering a charming smile. "You look stunning tonight, Aria," he complimented, his eyes twinkling with sincerity. She blushed slightly, her confidence unwavering.

"Thank you, Hyunjin. You both look quite dashing yourselves." The two of them couldn't suppress their smiles at her compliment.

"You were literally blue this morning. How did you manage to go platinum within such a short time?" Incredulity laced my voice as I turned to Felix. The guy's scalp was stronger than a tank's armor, a transformation faster than a Formula 1 pit stop.

Felix's grin widened as he spoke, "My stylist has their ways." He brought up his hand to fix his cufflinks, a smile so radiant I could get a sun tan just from him.

Hyunjin's eyes met mine, politely turning from Aria, "How's the project going?"

His words echoed as I exhaled a deep breath. The reminder of the project threatened a headache and the last thing I wanted while being here was a sharp stinging pain in the back of my head.

"It's progressing," I replied evenly, keeping my tone controlled. "We're gearing up for the launch next year."

"Oh great. I hope you're aware of what's on the internet," He continued.

"People's hopes are high along with suspicion when you announced sustainability and eco-friendly products in the high-end fashion industry. It's a big deal Chan" Hyunjin's tone matched my own in its controlled demeanor.

As COO of Aurelius, I was given the initiative task to launch a new sustainable luxury collection, increasing brand loyalty and attracting environmentally conscious customers.

It's quite a big shift since Aurelius was one of the top luxury brands in the world. Sustainable luxury products mean a complete overhaul of our sourcing, production, and marketing strategies.

I nodded, winking at Hyunjin, turning to find Aria engrossed in a conversation with Felix, probably talking about baking or how to bring sunshine during the thunderstorm just by stepping outside.

Her hand rose to her chest and covered her mouth as she let out a small laugh, I couldn't help but wonder why she kept doing that.

A few minutes later we made it inside the ballroom, exuded an aura of refined elegance, bathed in a soft, ambient glow cast by strategically placed spotlights. Rich velvet curtains in deep hues of burgundy and gold framed the expansive long windows, their lush textures adding a sense of opulence to the space.

As the four of us were conversing, I spotted my father; Current CEO of Aurelius, excused himself from his group and approached us with a soft but controlled smile.

"Good to see you Christopher," My father greeted as he approached.

No matter how much I'd grown and confident I became, I couldn't shake the reverence and unease that came with facing my father. His voice remained steady and neutral, rarely betraying any emotion— another trait I knew I had naturally inherited.

"Good to see you too, father," I replied meeting his gaze with a with a nod of acknowledgment. I turned to Aria, whose hand was slipped comfortably in my arm.

"Aria, you remember my father," I said. "The CEO of Aurelius." Aria smiled politely, her demeanor poised as she greeted him.

"Of course, it's a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Bahng," she said respectfully, her words measured and professional, matching the formality of the occasion.

My father inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment, his demeanor professional yet distant. "Likewise, Aria. I hope you're enjoying the evening. And I hope my son is treating you well."

"He is, sir. And thank you," Aria replied smoothly, her voice steady despite the underlying tension. She glanced briefly at me, a subtle reassurance in her eyes that belied the cool facade I presented to my father.

"Good," he remarked tersely, his tone betraying nothing of the complexity beneath the surface.

"I trust everything is proceeding according to plan." My father's gaze fell on me again, sharp and expectant. I nodded curtly, knowing full well that he wasn’t just talking about the evening’s event.

"Yes, father," I responded crisply, falling back into the familiar pattern of formal discourse with him. "The preparations for the new collection are on track. We're anticipating a strong reception."

"That's what I like to hear," he nodded, his approval measured and precise. "Remember, Christopher, Aurelius stands for excellence. Don't let anything compromise that."

"I understand," I assured him, my tone matching his in its unwavering resolve. Despite our strained relationship, there was an unspoken understanding between us. Expectations that hung heavy in the air, unyielding and immutable.

My father glanced at Aria once more, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than necessary.

"Enjoy the rest of the evening," he said finally, his tone softening imperceptibly before he turned and walked away, leaving me to ponder the weight of his words and the delicate balance I must maintain in both my personal and professional life.

"Sorry if my father was too...scrutinizing" I apologized quietly to Aria, my voice tinged with resignation. Despite my efforts to shield her from my father's scrutiny, his presence always managed to unsettle.

"It's okay," She said softly. "It felt like seeing an older version on you," I let a deep chuckle at her comment, not offended but acknowledging the similarities between my father and myself.

"I suppose I can't escape my lineage," I remarked dryly.

The evening passed by in a blur of conversations, laughter, and the soft clinking of glasses. Aria navigated the elegant event with grace, seamlessly blending into conversations and engaging with the other guests as if she belonged in this world of luxury and refinement.

And to me, she did.

Felix and Hyunjin's charismatic presence added to the ambiance, their effortless charm drawing admiration and respect from those around them.

The night wore on, we began to depart, bidding our goodbyes to my father, friends, and other guests. As we exited the venue, the slight evening breeze chilled the air, I felt Aria shiver against my touch.

I removed my tux coat and drapped it over her shoulders as we exited the building, slipping my hand in hers, a genuine smile tugging my lips. We madde it to my Rolls Royce which was waiting for us outside, entering the luxury interior and made our way home.

"Chris," Her voice cut through the silence in the car.

"Thank you for tonight." Her smile sent a pang of warm and fondness through my chest.

"You're welcome, Aria. I'm glad you enjoyed the night." I returned her smile with a soft grin of my own.

Once we reached home, Aria had fallen asleep on my shoulder. I gently carried her inside and upstairs to her room, carefully laying her down on the soft sheets, her peaceful expression a contrast to the whirlwind of emotions stirring within me.

I stood there for a moment, watching her sleep, unsure how I felt about the serenity and chaos she brought into my controlled world.

------------------------

Taglist: @bowsnbang @bangchannie97lov @hwasmints @laurenalpha123 @mrs-hwangh @greyyeti @sociallyawkward18

If you want to be added to the taglist, let me know <3

Thank you for reading!

xx,Ivyy

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minamorsart · 1 year ago

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🌌✨The Empyreal Within character designs of Lotor, Allura, and Ven'tar! I might do Honerva and Zarkon next, we'll see! This is part of an upcoming project that I am super excited about and will reveal in time!!! 💜

Explanations of the outfits below! I thought about them a LOT hehe.

18 year old Lotor: these designs I am the most pleased with! Lotor's official design in the show is very different from the rest of the Galra, which I believe is significant to him venturing further away from the precedents established by his father and cementing his own individuality. However, as an adolescent it makes sense that he would still wear Galra attire, hence the bulky armor (to make him look bigger since he is smaller than the average Galra) and red and gold colors which appear to only be worn by the royal family. I like to think that the insignia on his chest is a symbol for royalty, but is also exclusive to Lotor's identity, as no one else wears that particular insignia in the show. And despite wearing clothes specifically chosen to represent the Galra Empire, I can also picture him wanting to incorporate his own personal tastes, so there are accents of purplish-blue (as blue is part of Lotor's color scheme) and the addition of his waist cape, both of which represent his growing desire for change and independence.

Mid-20's Lotor: this is during the many years of his banishment. I imagine him hopping from planet to planet, concealing his identity as much as possible while adopting a more humble lifestyle and pursuing his passion for exploring. It is during this isolated pilgrimage that he does a lot of introspection, self-actualization, and gains self-confidence both as a man and as the Galra prince. But before that happens, the lack of identity really shows in his clothes -- lots of neutral colors (with a hint of desaturated blue), absence of any insignias or designs that would connect him to any culture, whether Galra or Altean. These clothes in particular were inspired by Jedi ponchos and Sasuke from Naruto: The Last, and perhaps are worn while Lotor is on a desert planet for a short time! And just like with his armor as seen in the show, he has started to wear gloves to cover himself up almost completely, indicating his avoidance of vulnerability and getting close to others.

Ven'tar: for her fortunately I didn't have to change much about her character design! She is Lotor's age when they meet and the only other change I made to her was to take away her big cape so that she appears younger. Since her planet and species name is not revealed in the show, I want to come up with one myself. Caelifera is the scientific name for grasshopper, so I'm thinking I could do something with that!

11 year old Lotor: this design is also taken directly from the show, so I didn't have to do much there :P The cloak he wears in the little doodle is inspired by the one adult Lotor wears in S6E4. In this case, however, it is several sizes too big for young Lotor and drags on the ground.

Allura: sadly we don't know much about Allura's life on Altea, however in S1E9 we get to see tiny snippets of different stages throughout her life and her good relationship with her father, so I used those as references! I gave her braids, short puffy sleeves, and a slightly shorter skirt to give her that innocent little princess look, and then used the colors from her dress in the show to create a cuter and more childlike aesthetic!

If you read all of that you're the best 😆🙏 I'm definitely by no means an expert in character design and have lots more to learn, but I had a lot of fun coming up with the original designs! Especially Lotor's, but no surprise there hehe. I studied many different Galra armor and clothing featured in the show worn by Lotor, Zarkon, Honerva, and Galra commanders. More than anything I just really wanted to see Lotor wearing something different for a change 😂 and then everything else took off from there!

#the empyreal within #dawn of empyreal #minamorsart #lotura #lotor #allura #ven'tar #voltron #voltron legendary defender #vld #voltron art #vld art #my art #fan art #digital art #non star wars art

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