#I need to adapt references and other styles into that

[umberandmochaagate]

I know why I feel like I can't draw

Cuz I haven't been doing stylized/anime 🤨

[mossiestpiglet]

One of my goals for this year that I haven’t accomplished was getting a new tattoo, but I’m kind of okay with that because I know the tattoo that I really want next and I want to find the exact right reference and artist for it and also it’s gonna be the biggest and most expensive work I’ve ever had done (ideally the whole front of my right thigh).

However. That said. The desire to draw my own little chimerarachne tattoo is growing stronger by the day…

[yakutarts]

Nightmare and Dream but feral, non-skeletal body!

For the love of god PLEASE click on the image for better quality + close ups and clothed version under the cut!!

Would you kiss them?

Video process:

I made these using a specific context

A while ages ago I drew and posted a drawing of Nightmare and Dream on their light ball form but with some alterations/personal headcanons.

On the post, I expressed my desire to draw the twins in a universe were Nim didn’t need to give them bodies, and just let them grow naturally. And specifically give them an animalistic appearance, instead of a humanoid one like most artist do.

You can see on the process video that it took me 1000 sketches to make something that looked good and I was happy with, the video is obviously sped up, the total time it took me to make this was 28 hours and 15 minutes.

Now explaining some things:

Why are they so big?

I read on a post made by Joku that Nim, before giving them skeleton bodies, tried to make them human ones, but the pure amount of magic and power the twins had made the human bodies explode or some shit. So she picked skeletons since the magic could flow freely through the bones without being confined by muscle and flesh. That made me think if their power had physical forms, it would be gigantic. So I gave them gigantic forms to better represent their status of strength and power, beings made from raw magic to serve as guardians of all emotions throughout the multiverse, of course I needed to make them big and intimidating!

Why the horns?

Artistic design choice, I gave them little horns and a chubby tail in their light ball form to purposefully make them more animalistic, wanted to keep it while making these. Also just giving them a smooth head with nothing much going on looked weird and boring.

Why the draconian look?

Dragons had been created and depicted as symbols of pure power above humanity and worshipped as deities throughout several cultures around the world, different depictions of dragons has been one of the only things present among almost all cultures, like a default folklore creature. While I tried to incorporate other mythical creatures in the design, the draconic body plan felt more right due to the influence of dragons on human beliefs, and their representation as magical and powerful beings beyond human comprehension. Plus I just really love drawing dragons.

Why the clothing choice? Also why is Dream half naked while Nightmare has everything covered?

While designing the clothes for Nightmare, I used as reference clothing that usually royalty would wear, Nightmare has a really big ego and sees himself as a king, so he uses fancy, expensive clothing and jewelry, adapted and designed for his anatomy. Not practical for battle, but his corruption can go through the fabric without damaging it, and most people and monsters just run when they see him, so he doesn’t worry about it getting dirty or tearing, Nightmare just expects every soul to instantly submit when they see him, so he never worries about getting into a battle and getting dirty he has that big of an ego.

Dream is the opposite, his style of clothing much more practical for running, jumping, flying, fighting and general exercise. He has 4 bags in total, 2 on each side, inside them he keeps several items, be it healing food, magical artifacts, first aid kit, gifts he receives, stuff he buys or random things he finds and wants to take home with him. Dream’s crown is now a colar couldn’t figure out how to make it work with the head shape and horns, his cape is from his official design, but changed to white, was planning to make it yellow but when I looked at it my eyes hurt because there was too much yellow everywhere. I made Dream’s clothes with the intent to match his official design, I didn’t to the same for nightmare because a turtle neck with a hoodie on a dragon would make him more huggable than intimidating. Plus I like to think that the leg warmers was a gift from Blue, and the ring on his horn a gift from Ink. Didn’t add more stuff on him because I couldn’t think of something that would look good and match Dream’s vibe, the rest of his clothes on his official design didn’t translate well here. Oh, while I was drawing this, I drew the colar and the leg warmers first, without the cape, Dream looked like a twink with a pet play kink.

Side note; neither Nightmare or Dream see the use of clothes as a necessity or as decency. For them clothes are nothing but pure decoration and to show off status for Nightmare, they can wear full body suits, partial clothing, just jewelry, or nothing at all, which is what they usually go for when at home, wearing or not wearing stuff doesn’t make that much of a difference to them at all.

Do they act as animals or do they have human intelligence?

Despite me using the word “feral” all the time to describe them, they do not actually act as animals. I’m only using “feral” to describe their body/anatomy, Nightmare and Dream are fully sentient and have human level intelligence/awareness. They are capable of speech and have opposable thumbs on their front paws, they can grab, write, hold… do anything a human can do with their hands with dexterity. But they do have to use only hand one at a time, and balance themselves with the other. To use both hands, they have to be sitting, or be supported by something, they can balance themselves on their wings if they have to.

And now contradicting what I just said, they have some animalistic behaviors. The twins can growl, purr and roar. Despite Nightmare being able to use his tentacles and Dream being able to shoot magic arrows out of his wings, they to also scratch and bite while fighting. Since they are big and heavy, they can easily crush bone under their weight and their bite force is strong enough to split someone in half. If you need a reference, just use Smaug from The Hobbit, he has more or less the balance of animal behavior and human intelligence I’m looking for.

Expanding more on this, the twins stretch just like felines, and often sleep in positions usually cats sleep in (they don’t actually need to sleep but do anyway). Dream likes to go fishing, and by fishing I mean jumping in a lake and chasing the fish underwater. He finds it more fun than sitting around and waiting for the fish to come to you instead.

I guess you count their lack of necessity to wear clothes as animal logic too?

_________________

If you have any more questions about them, I will be happy to answer!

And yes, I do plan on making more drawings of Nightmare and Dream on this form!

Dreamtale belongs to @jokublog

Feral concept/design by @yakutarts (me)

[emptyjunior]

It looks like with the movies taking off, everyone is on the Dune train now!! Which is very exciting, I’m glad a bunch of new people are discovering this media and reading the books, but can I recommend you the David Lynch, Dune (1984) movie.

First of all, if you are invested in the lore of the books and the deeper messaging of the story, you’re going to need to turn that part of your brain Off. If you love kick ass shit and are willing to be slightly tipsy while you watch and have a great goddamn afternoon, this is the flick for you.

Now first fun fact I’m going to share with you. David Lynch (twin peaks, eraserhead director, celebrated surrealist) turned down the opportunity to direct Return of the Jedi for this film. A film that was devastatingly slow to make, changed hands multiple times, had a pricy VFX budget of $40 million and then made barely $31 million, David Lynch turned down Star Wars to work on it. And he did this when he had never read the novel, and did not even like or engage with sci fi media. THAT’S how you know we’re really in for something.

Now this film has some big names in it! We’ve got a young Kyle MacLachlan who is rocking some Devastating outfits:

We’ve got Sir Patrick Stewert as our Gurney and Sting, lead singer of the police, playing the 15 year old Feyd Rautha! If you wanted to see a grown man, sprayed orange, basically naked playing a free wheeling maniac you are in for a treat! And another fun fact, David Lynch also did not know who these actors were, he made a mistake and thought Patrick Stewert was someone else and when Sting said he was in the police he assumed he was in an organization of lawmen.

Now these characters are familiar to you, but let me get into the unfamiliar. Lynch made some directorial executive decisions throughout this film, for I suppose the ease of the viewer? I mean an adaptation is supposed to adapt so he went let me change some stuff up👏👏👏.

Those who paid attention to Jessica’s backstory may know about the Weirding Way. This is a martial arts style created by the Bene Gesserit, and practiced by Paul. It is more than just a fighting style but also an important philosophical concept, like Aikido or how Kung Fu has foundations in Buddhism.

You may also be familiar with the quote “My name is a killing word.” This inner monologue of Paul’s refers to how his title Muad’dub will be used to spur a holy war. A simple name is what people will die and bleed for, it will be what they scream as they cut down enemies.

Dark! Intense! That’s Dune, anyways in the novel it’s easy to take your time exploring these concepts. Introducing the audience to the religious ramifications of a simple name and fighting practice and how these things can have rippling repercussions upon a society like the Freman.

Now David Lynch didn’t have time for that! He had the belief (that may be right🤷‍♂️!) That watching a bunch of people kick each other on top of a sand dune would be Lame😭😭

So he made the choice for his film that “My name is a killing word” was to be taken Absolutely Literally and invented a device where if the freman said the name Muad-dib, shit would explode.

If they said Paul’s name, they could Explode Stuff. Let it sink in how rad that is. Hell yeah man, hell yeah. Imagine me interpreting religious text that way, imagine if I made a bible movie and the moral I took from a parable is that when Jesus asked for food and everyone donated fish, I concluded that Jesus was a mutant who had fish powers and could immediately conjure fish with magic and gave him fish death rays that shot out of his hands.

So that’s what you can expect from this interpretation, the weirding way now means everyone has Lasers its rad as hell.

Some other incredible choices made! This is a spoiler, but in the novels and the new films you can see the Freman collecting every scrap of water they can. Dr Liet-Kynes, the planetologist, reveals to us it’s because they have a long, multiple generation spanding plan to fix the planet. By introducing this water back they hope to reset the ecosystem over centuries of work. The reason they have been unable to do this is because a green planet would obviously not have worms and sand who produce spice, the most coveted drug in the empire, so imperial and harkonnen forces have been stopping this from ever happening. They want to be free from oppression so that they can start to work on slowly fixing their world, a project that plays out in Paul’s adult life and has its own dramas and complexities.

In Dune 1984??? The moment, the Moment Paul lays out his cousin and throws the final punch, it begins to rain in Arrakis. As if they were all under a magical curse and were just waiting for a teenager to come fight another teenager and then the water will come back. It’s so good, it’s so funny.

Also Pugs! House Atreides official Pugs! Paul has pugs in his lap!!

This is honestly an adaptation choice that I really really like! Paul is the result of centuries of selective breeding, this practice is an artform to the Bene Gesserit and a skill that they monitor closely. It produces bizarre and sometimes terrifying results and is the reason for Paul’s existence.

I think having an animal that was also created through selective breeding, was engineered from a wolf into an animal that can hardly breathe is an incredible metaphor! A smart and identifiable symbol for the audience, I think it’s a slam dunk and the new movies should have done it to.

Anyways can not recommend this film enough.

-The body suits the bad guys wear are made out of real body bags, that actually had been used.

-David Lynch to this day hates it.

-The original cut was four hours.

-The cast and crew were sick the Entire shoot with something they called Montezuma's Revenge, which was probably just food poisoning, side effects from the constant smog because they shot the whole thing on backup generators, illness from the cockroach infestation and terrible morale.

-Frank Herbert saw it multiple times and said he absolutely loved it.

-When they ride the worms, sick rock jams play.

If you love electric guitar, lasers, worms and will forgive me for not including all the trigger warnings cause Yes this film will gross you out, then go watch this movie.

[bweirdart]

#mARTch 2024

text version (with more info!) under the readmore! please check it out if you're confused about anything <3

F.A.Q

do i have to draw every day? no!!!! there are skippable days built into the event, please use them whenever you need them! i really don't want anyone getting a wrist injury!

can you share my art? yep! i try to share entries to @bweirdevents daily during the event!! the tags can get busy tho so i might miss some posts OTL sorry

what are the tags? #mARTch is the main tag, but this year you might find posts in #mARTch2024 too!

wait, i'm confused about a prompt... full breakdown of all the prompts below ↓ with helpful hints if you're stuck!

_____

INTRO WEEK

this week is all about your artistic identity ... technically, you don't have to draw anything new this week if you have some art that already fits. the starter days are:

1 ⭐ self portrait who are you? it doesn't have to be you IRL .. if you feel more comfortable drawing a fursona or mascot, that's fine too! if you don't wanna draw, you can also just share old self portraits today and talk about why you drew yourself that way!

2 �� inspirations see how this day doesn't have a star? that means it's optional and you don't have to do it at all! but if you really wanna- tell us all about what inspires you to create art! this could be anything from the people that inspire you, the shows you like, the pins on your big messy pinterest board, or concepts that you're drawn to! you can draw something about it, talk about it, or just post your inspirations! anything is fine

3 ⭐ fav thing to draw what do you like drawing most? backgrounds? animals? one specific animal? bust of your oc facing left? cars? the same anime boy over and over and over? no judgement!! show us :)

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STUDY WEEK

this is the week we actually start drawing from reference! polished art is not required at all, quick sketch studies are fine! please don't burn yourself out

4 🤍 plant

5 🤍 body

6 ⭐ animal

7 🤍 object

8 🤍 food

9 🤍 face

10 ⭐ hand

these ones are pretty self explanatory! you can do them as realistic studies, or adapt them into your own art style, it's all fine! you can reference from your own photos or from resources on the web.. have fun!

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COLOUR WEEK

this is the week for playing with palettes and working on your colour theory skills! if you're really struggling with these ones, don't worry about drawing scenes or characters, you can just have fun splashing colours around on an abstract canvas!

11 🤍 RGB a set or primary colours typically used in digital/screen art - red, green and blue!

12 🤍 CMYK a set of primary colours typically used in traditional/print art - cyan, magenta, yellow ... and key (black!)

for both of these days ↑ you can add in black and white. and feel free to combine the two days into one, if you're struggling with a three-colour palette! use all six!

13 ⭐ WARM COLOURS the warm side of the colour wheel, reds oranges and yellows!

14 🤍 MONOCHROME monochrome doesn't mean black and white ... it means one colour! that can be any colour at all- shades of red, shades of purple, shades of green .. or yeah, grey if you really want!

15 🤍 COMPLIMENTARY complimentary colours are the ones opposite each other on the colour wheel! they're kinda married

16 🤍 YOUR FAV COLOURS pick any palette that works for you! where's your comfort zone? what looks nice to you? what colour combos do you always go back to?

17 ⭐ COOL COLOURS the cool side of the colour wheel, purples, blues and greens!

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CREATIVITY WEEK

this week is all about vibes! try to create something that matches the mood of the prompt .. they're vague on purpose! don't overthink it, just draw from the heart!

18 🤍 SMALL you could draw something that's really small, like an ant .. or draw on a canvas that's really small .. or use a really small brush .. get creative with it!

19 🤍 DANGER try to capture the adrenaline .. the rush .. the fear that you associate with the word danger!

20 ⭐ SOFT soft colours, soft textures, soft vibes ... whatever makes you comfy!

21 🤍 MIDNIGHT darkness and secrecy .. spooky witchy vibes .. the tranquility of a forest at night .. the fun of a late-night party .. there's lots of ways you can take this!

22 🤍 POWER what does this word make you think about? superpowers? control and oppression? literal electrical power? something else?

23 🤍 CHILL chill as in calm? or chill as in cold? who knows .. it's up to YOU!

24 ⭐ LOUD try to draw something that feels LOUD! BRASH! IN YOUR FACE! how can you convey sound through art?

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FUN + GAMES WEEK

this week is just for enjoying yourself! take it easy and have fun! also .. another reminder! there are skippable prompts! if you're tired and struggling to get to the finish line, please don't hesitate to skip a day!!! or multiple days!! as many as you need!!!

25 🤍 TRY A NEW ART STYLE copy the art style of a show you like, ask a friend if you can try their style, draw the eyes a new way, develop a totally new style on the spot... whatever you want!

26 🤍 DRAW WITH YOUR NON-DOMINANT HAND righties, draw with your left! lefties, draw with your right! ambidextrous nation ... our time to show off!

27 ⭐ DRAW WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED don't peek! try to draw something without looking! if you really want, you can colour it with your eyes open after you draw the lines/sketch with your eyes closed... but please try not to cheat with the actual drawing part!

28 🤍 RE-DRAW SOMETHING OLD find some old artwork you like, or something you feel like you can do better on now, and give it another go!

29 🤍 RE-DRAW A MEME find a silly picture on the internet to redraw .. do you have any in-jokes with your besties?

30 🤍 DRAW A GIFT FOR A FRIEND create something for someone you love <3

31 ⭐ FREE CHOICE final day! you can draw anything you want today! show off your skills! draw something you've been meaning to draw! whatever!

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please refrain from reblogging this post after march ends - next year's prompts will be different, thank you! if you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to shoot me an ask!

[croquis-el]

Differences in localization and the original pt. 1

I am starting a series of posts with the goal of familiarizing players with some of the differences that localization creates for us in contrast to the original.

Some moments are radically different, misleading and causing controversy, while some do not change the essence of what is happening, but are still noticeably different

Disclaimer: these posts will be written solely for the purpose of familiarization; I do not force anyone to play the game in Japanese, because you are free to choose the version of the game that is comfortable for you. I just noticed some moments and want to share them with you.

The localization of Gyakuten Saiban (Ace Attorney) is essentially good, but there are some moments, IMHO, that I personally would not adapt or change in any way

One of the most serious changes, which, in my opinion, should not have been touched at all, is Mitsurugi's (Edgeworth) phobias.

As if case 1-4 never happened.

In the Japanese version, when examining the files in Mitsurugi's office, Naruhodō will be perplexed about the need for such high shelves - they could collapse during an earthquake.

････おかしいな。アイツ、 地震がニガテなはずだから……

Okashī na. Aitsu, jishin ga nigatena hazudakara……

...That's strange. He's supposed to be bad with earthquakes...

でもさ。地震が起こったら、 部屋中にファイルの雨が降るね。

demo sa. Jishin ga okottara, heya-chū ni fairu no amegafuru ne.

But if an earthquake happens, files will rain down all over the room.

In the localization (for some reason) at this point Mitsurugi was given a fear of heights. For what reason... I don't understand

___________________________________________

Next, another big difference is Naruhodo's food preferences

In the Japanese version, Tomi the clown offers him miso ramen (which is cooked in chicken broth and miso), which Naruhodo refuses and says that he prefers tonkotsu ramen (cooked in pork broth and boiled pork is added to it).

ホラ。ホラ。 食う? みそラーメン。

hora. hora. Kuu? Miso rāmen.

Look. Look. Want some miso ramen?

あいにくぼくは とんこつ派なんです。

ainiku boku wa tonkotsu-hana ndesu.

Unfortunately, I prefer tonkotsu (ramen).

That is, Naruhodo literally says that he would prefer pork, not chicken.

What about the localization? It's the other way around.

The clown offers him a burger (the patties for which are usually made from beef and pork), but he says that he would rather choose a chicken sandwich.

Why?

___________________________________________

Vending machine in 1-3

I have no complaints about its contents (it is adapted), but here another preference of Naruhodo is lost

“お茶”“みそ汁”“おしるこ” “くず湯”“おでん”････

“ocha” “misoshiru” “o shiruko” “kuzu yu” “oden”

"Tea" "Miso soup" "Oshiruko" "Kudzu soup" "Oden" ...

ラインナップが 和風に統一されている。

rain'nappu ga wafū ni tōitsu sa rete iru.

The lineup is unified in Japanese style.

“ウーロン茶”すらないぞ。

“ūron cha” sura nai zo.

There's not even "oolong tea."

In the Japanese version, reading the menu of the vending machine, Naruhodo annoyedly comments that "there is not even oolong tea". He literally names the tea he likes!

In the localization, he is disappointed that the food in the vending machine is too... ordinary, and he was expecting something that is not usually sold there (popcorn).

___________________________________________

Naruhodō University

Case 3-1 is very rich in information about the young Naruhodō, including the name of the university he attended

In the Japanese version, it is Yumei University (the same university where his ancestor Ryunosuke Naruhodō studied during the Meiji era - then it was called Yumei Imperial University), which creates an important reference to Dai Gyakuten Saiban (The Great Ace Attorney)

私の依頼人。勇盟大学の 芸術学部3回生で、 カゼをひいている。

watashi no iraijin. Yūmei daigaku no geijutsu gakubu 3-kaisei de, kaze o hīte iru.

My client. A third-year student in the art department at Yumei University, suffering from a cold.

In the localization, he studies at Ivy University, as if referring to the famous Ivy League (elite universities).

A very good decision that shows Naruhodō's abilities and the high quality of his education (my clever boy)

___________________________________________

Interesting addition

And the last one for today, a conversation with Mask in the detention center

When Yusaku (Ron) tells the story of the allegedly lost vase, Naruhodō makes a comment about the absurdity of his story

(････どうも、ハナシが アヤフヤだなあ･･･)(dōmo, hanashi ga ayafuya da nā)

(... I guess the story is a bit vague...)

The localization decided to make a reference to Naruhodō's education in the field of art, and he compares Mask's story to the surreal paintings of Dali.

A nice addition, but still different from the original version.

___________________________________________

In total, in my opinion, 3 unsuccessful changes out of 5.

If you also noticed any differences - feel free to tell us about them. Let's educate ourselves together.

It will be a bit more difficult with the subsequent parts, because I can't buy the Japanese version of TGAA (it is only available to a certain list of countries), and I don't have the new Apollo trilogy and the Investigations duology to check every little thing (and I don't have an extra $80), and those who record the walkthrough do not always check every clue, where the contradictions lie.

[tixdixl]

Y'all remember this post I made talking about how kimono carries visual and cultural language within it and how you can express so so much just by picking the type, the cut, and the patterns? I actually want to extrapolate on this and show how we can actually see that language used during the TWST New Year's event! (Sources will be directly linked as information is introduced.)

For some initial context, while the "plot" of the event is mainly just Sam's New Year Sale, a lot of the visual language, accessories, and cultural references used in the event call back to Shōgatsu or the Japanese New Year festival. This is a time where people WILL dress in traditional kimono and participate in traditional games, dances, eating traditional foods. So seeing the cast in kimono makes a world of sense.

The character I want to talk about in this post specifically is Ortho. His design for the New Year is honestly such a great example of how the different subtleties in kimono all come together to paint a picture, and tell you so much about the person wearing the kimono. Because ultimately, when I look at Ortho's kamishimo? All I see is brilliant foreshadowing about the entire plot of Book 6 and his role in the narrative.

The first thing I want to draw your attention to is the colors. It's the thing we see at a first glance. And while yes, these are the colors of Ignihyde, you might find it interesting to know how this combination translates in the kimono visual language. White, black, and blue are colors associated with and/or signify winter and death. So even if you had no idea that Ortho lived in STYX and was twisted from the film adaptation, Hercules, you could still draw that association from what colors he chose to wear and specifically which color is his base color - white, and which are his accent colors- black and blue.

To further explain, black is the traditional color worn when wearing mourning kimono. And white bleached cotton is traditionally worn as the garments of the deceased. While it may be a bit of a stretch, to me, the choice to use white base garments with black and blue accessories may actually reflect his in-between state. The way that real Ortho is dead, and this Ortho lives in his place is a huge aapect of the narrative behind Idia and Ortho. Grief and the negotiation of self identity, the path that Ortho takes to figuring out who he is despite being a living memory of someone who is dead, is not lost in the visual language of this kamishimo. I think, whether intentional or not, it's something reflected in how the black overlays the white, signifying that mourning and that life after the passing of another.

The next thing I want to actually draw your attention to is the era that the kimono comes from and the style of the kimono. This kimono is actually called a "kamishimo". The Kamishimo was the uniform worn by samurai during the Edo Period shōganate. The combination of the overcoat with the inner shirt, hakama pants, and specific style of adorned obi was quintisential for anyone who lived as a samurai. It signified their role in the government and their social status without the need for explanation, allowing people to adjust their mannerisms accordingly upon first meeting the samurai.

We know from how Idia refers to himself as 拙者 (sessha) and refers to others as -氏 (shi) that he and Ortho are incredibly passionate about the Edo period and very specifically samurai. So it really is a cute nod to that that Ortho would be wearing it. At least... if that's where the symbolism ended.

See the thing that strikes me about his kamishimo is that it's not a "real" kamishimo either. From the silouhette, color scheme, and broad shoulders, we can actually deduce that the kamishimo here is a theatrical kamishimo- worn in Kabuki theater.

Kabuki theater really developed and took off during the Edo period, especially during the Era in which women were forbidden from performing on stages. Many of the jidai-mono (historical plays) performed in Kabuki utilize yakugara (character archetypes) to make it much easier for audiences to watch and appreciate the narrative. These archetypes are often visually defined by uniform or repeating characteristics in their kimono, their makeup, their wigs, and their props as a short hand for audiences to be able to follow.

One such yakugara is called the "jitsuaku". This archetype is specifically defined by an "evil mastermind who plots to overthrow the goverment/feudal lord through rebellion", either due to seeking revenge, wanting power, or by whatever rationale the narrative gives him.

Here are some classical depictions of the jitsuaku in traditional artworks:

Source

Source

We can see by the depictions what the common color schemes and patterns used in their kamishimo are; the big/baggy silouhette with extremely dramatic, pointed shoulder pads; and the various decorative accessories and how they are placed.

Look familiar?

Ortho's silouhette very clearly harkons back to these specific types of kamishimo, that are considered archetypal of the jitsuaku. In other words, I have reason to suspect that the card designers of TWST are depicting Ortho as a jitsuaku... a evil mastermind who seeks to take over an institution through rebellion...

That sounds an awful lot like the plot of Book 6 and his specific role in the narrative to me.

This is all to say that the visual language of kimono is so so prevalent in his design, and I would extend that argument to every design in the New Year's line up - yes, this includes the most recent inclusion of Jack, Malleus, Jamil, and Floyd. And personally, I think it's genuinely so so cool and incredible that they would choose to add those nuances intentionally into the design in order to tell us everything that we need to know about the character- from social status, to gender and sexuality, to even personal feelings and emotions. It shows how much love is genuinely poured into making these characters feel alive and dynamic, and I think it's genuinely worth taking the time to appreciate.

And if you are still reading this and you are just starting to learn more about the visual art of kimono, then I genuinely hope you find this as encouragement to deep dive and learn more for yourself. Because honestly having that access and knowledge to those cultural elements and traditions truly helps open your eyes to all of the subtleties and messages that the creator wants you to see. And moreover? I think it really helps allow us to better appreciate the characters and the artwork on a much deeper level.

Thank you for reading this. I hope you genuinely found it fun, insightful, and maybe even inspiring. 💚

[luimagines]

Android Au Warrior

Another commission!

They asked for Warrior this time, helping Reader after a nightmare and realizing his purpose for being there after all. It's... not exactly that. But I thought I did a well enough job on it. :)

Masterlist

Content under the cut!

The house in which he was stationed was... strange, to say the least.

The WARLKN model was used for higher security and working with a team of other like-minded WARLNK models who all had the same purpose. 

Given that this house only held one human, he failed to see why his specific role was needed. The human in question already had other androids in their service. One was a child WNDLNK model and the other happened to be a repurposed SKYLNK model for general upkeep around the house.

His charge was also… strange, to say the least.

This whole situation was illogical.

While he could understand the need for multiple androids, it wasn’t as if the human was in need of his specific security skills.

He had been given to you through a friend. It was likely the same friend who had given you the same SKYLNK model and had continuously done maintenance to keep the outdated WNDLNK model functioning despite its decades-old parts. 

You called affectionately called him Warrior, after the first incident when you had encountered a bug and had all but lost it. He charged into the room to defend you from any threats that may have broken into your home but calmly took the poor creature outside to be released onto the nearest tree.

Given a new designation was no easy thing to assimilate into his programming. There was no space in his code for any personalization or any domestic nomenclature. He was built and designed for professionalism and maximized security risks. The lack of any nefarious activity in his current protectorate was grating on his nerofibers, the very biocomponents to be likened to stainless steel mesh.

But never let it be said that the WARLNK model as a whole was known for their flexibility and ability to work beyond the parameters of their mission.

And right now?

There were a lot of things beyond his mission that ‘Warrior’ found himself needing to learn to adapt to his current assignment.

The beginning challenges were nothing short of brain-breaking, such as getting used to his new name. Not to mention getting used to the names of the other androids within the premises.

In his previous deployment, he was supposed to refer to each and every model by their serial number and post. However, seeing that he was the only android in charge of security, that was no longer an option. Not that they seemed to know what their serial number was, to begin with.

‘Warrior’ couldn’t get over how… lax the procedures seemed to be in this two-bedroom studio apartment. There was no set morning shift, no set time off- actually, retract that earlier statement. There weren’t any shifts at all.

Not that he expected much from a busted-up domestic android and what was clearly a child’s sentimental attachment to an out-of-style, breaking down, obsolete droid that was working well enough beyond its years. ‘Warrior’ didn’t expect those two to be able to stop a break-in from happening should the issue arise. This meant that any and all security would have to be left up to him to take into account and hold up the standards his protocol deemed necessary.

As an android, this wasn’t a problem.

The problem was that his chief and commander seemed to be purposefully getting his way from doing his job!

It didn’t matter what he did or at what time. The chief always had something to say about the execution of his protocol. He was constantly being called ‘overbearing’, ‘dramatic,’ and what was more insulting- ‘extra’.

He was not extra! 

Nor was he overbearing!

Granted, his model had the tendency to overindulge in performance and to exaggerate in the more comical sense for the sake of a human’s nerves, so perhaps by definition he was ‘dramatic.’ Not that he was ever going to agree with the charges, but ‘Warrior’ was well-versed enough in his model to know better than to open his mouth in that regard.

His commander and chief had made it abundantly clear that ‘Warrior’ was not needed. They refused to rehouse or relocate him to be put to better use, but they didn’t hesitate to outwardly tell him that he had no purpose within the apartment.

‘Warrior’ had half the mind to agree, as damaging to his code and sense of accomplishment that would be. The parameters where he worked were small enough as it was, and he was mostly confined to the inside of the apartment. Checking the perimeter was an easy and fruitless endeavor when he could have done a quick scan with his visual biocomponents and gotten the same results.

The neighborhood was quiet and there were mostly elderly living in the complex. The streets hardly had anyone on them at any given point in time and the most activity ‘Warrior’ could say that he witnessed was when the mailmen would come to drop off the archaic paper mail still in circulation. 

There was that one time that a dog had escaped one of the apartments through a door with a faulty lock and began to chase after the mailman. ‘Warrior’ had acted quickly to defend the droid and had returned the dog to its proper place. If it was within his programming, he would have deemed it humorous to think that a tiny cocker spaniel had attempted to defend its home from an LGNLNK model droid.

That was the first time ‘Warrior’ had completed any sort of security task outside of the house.

It was after that event that multiple elders had gone to his commander and chief, thanking them for his presence. The elderly had felt more at ease knowing that a capable droid, designed to serve and protect was nearby on the off chance should anything happen to the neighbors. ‘Warrior’ felt his biomechanical component swell with the closest thing to pride that he was able to duplicate.

After that, he was given permission and the privilege to expand his duties from apartment 231 to the entire complex on Baker Street.

“Back already?” The commander and chief chirped when he had finished his rounds around the apartment complex. He had gone around the perimeter three times and had checked every individual floor for any suspicious activity before returning to his duties within his docking suite.

The commander hadn’t even turned to see him enter the apartment. They were too busy finishing a marathon of horror games that they had started by the time he left.

“Yes,” He nodded toward them. “I have returned. Everything is in the clear and in working order. The grass appears to have grown a millimeter taller already. I planned to contact management and inform them to call a set of TWILNK models to do the landscaping of the complex.”

“Yeah, yeah- that’s great.” They said, eyes glued to the screen. “I already had dinner so need to wait up.”

He nodded.

He was made of metal and silicone substrates. Unlike them, he had no need to consume energy. Even if they seemed to forget that more often than any of the other models seemed to mention. ‘Warrior’ wasn’t about to go out of his way to remind them though.

He entered further into the apartment and saluted the SKYLNK model who smiled in that awkward still-learning phase that most non-adjusted android tend to do when they’ve been socially stunted. ‘Warrior’ passes the WNDLNK model next.

“Hi, Warrior!” His voice is strained and the speaker will need to be replaced soon if he’s not careful with his volume.

“Hello… Wind.” ‘Warrior’ says pleasantly. The nomenclature was foreign but he found that it rolled off his artificial easier and easier than before. His own voice was new and undamaged. It was designed to be pleasant to the human ear if he ever needed to placate or seduce, depending on the mission he had been given. “Have you behaved yourself today?”

“I did my homework and now Sky says that he’s going to let me make dessert.” ‘Wind’ cheered. ‘Warrior’ smiled at his enthusiasm. Whoever had programmed him had done extensive research on the behaviors and mannerisms of children because it was uncanny how his programming reacted to the smaller android in front of him.

The urge to protect and defend until his ‘dying breath’ was a core part of his ultimate purpose.

“Don’t burn down the kitchen,” ‘Warrior’ told him in jest. The smaller droid laughed and ran off to join the chief and commander in front of the television to backseat game during their marathon.

With his duties and obligations done for the day, ‘Warrior’ retreated to his post next to the coat closet, beside the front door, where he could watch all points of entry to the apartment and keep an eye on all the individuals under his care.

A small blue dot appeared on the side of his vision, an icon meant to inform him that he was in need of a proper recharge if he intended to continue with his duties and shift.

The idea sets him on edge.

‘Warrior’ knew better than to ignore the necessary protocols on his upkeep, but he was in charge of all safety measurements and was the only one capable of carrying them out. In order to fully recharge his energy banks, he’d need to be offline for a total of seven hours, 46 minutes, and 12 seconds and counting. 

He ran the numbers of the off chance of intrusion or structural collapse. He knew the building was up to code with the current safety measures that the modern age could offer. The apartment was high enough in the complex and furthest from all entry points so an intruder wouldn’t likely come inside without serious intervention. Chances of a fire or any medical emergency were unlikely but possible. However, in such cases, ‘Sky’ was equipped to deal with first responders and likely had the appropriate coding to assist the commanding chief in a practical sense. ‘Wind’ was likely to be more of a moral support player to keep them calm enough for ‘Sky’ to handle it if such an event were to occur.

With that in mind, ‘Warrior’ moved from his post by the door and went into the docking room. It was a space that he and the other androids had shared. There was only one bed, but it had been agreed upon by the droids that ‘Wind’ should receive it, seeing that the other two had no need for such concepts whatsoever.

He walked over to the furthest wall and stood by the charging dock. Unlocking a latch in the palm of his synthetic skin, he steps onto the platform and presses his hand to the exposed outlet. It’s always felt a bit strange to be charged this way. The sensation was cold and he was never able to stay online continuously while he charged.

It was one of the many reasons he was discharged from his original post.

They called him faulty.

Still, as his body and circuitry began to settle and go into sleep mode, he didn’t feel the usual concern with losing consciousness. ‘Wind’ and ‘Sky’ could be heard in the kitchen, using multiple power tools for whatever food they were trying out this time. The Commander was in the living room and he could hear the muffled curses and shouts of concern for whatever game they had decided to play this time.

He found it in himself to smile and his mind turned off.

After the needed time had come and gone for him to fully recharge his energy bank, ‘Warrior’ came to consciousness in a dark and silent house. It was jarring. The silence wouldn’t have been unwarranted if it hadn’t been for the noise he had fallen into sleep mode with.

He undocks from the charging station, fixing the panel on his palm and stepping away from the wall. ‘Sky’ had stepped into the second change station beside him, likely also in sleep mode given the lack of reaction and closed eyes from his fellow android. ‘Wind’ was lying down in the bed, likewise also being charged for the next day. He had a cord that had to be plugged into an outlet that connected to the back of his head, hidden from human eyes with his synthetic hair.

Unlike him, they had the option to be offline while charging. They claimed that it helped the time go by faster while The Commander was sleeping. They claimed that it helped them feel more human.

‘Warrior’ had no need to feel human. He wasn’t one. And he wasn’t going to pretend now.

However, despite knowing this ‘Warrior’ had half the mind to be annoyed with them.

He had trusted them with the safety of the Commander. And they abandon their posts with such ease.

He steps out of the room post haste.

A single glance at a nearby clock informs him that the hour is promptly 4:30 am. A rather unfortunate time for him to return online. His charging had taken him longer than the timer had told him. Something he would have to mention to The Doctor next time she visits. His meticulous examination of the apartment started at once, checking for anything suspicious or faulty that might have taken place while he was offline.

It was in the middle of this inspection there a sudden scream from The Commander’s room that captured his attention at once.

He rushed to the room with no time to waste. Without knocking, he opens the door with a hand on his utility belt to reach for his mandated baton. 

…There was nobody in the room.

Aside from the commander and chief.

‘Warrior’ however, took pride in his work ethic and quickly did a scan of the room regardless. His sudden bulldozing of the door hadn’t gone unnoticed by you. You had nearly screamed again when he entered.

The sight of him was enough to get you to calm down. ‘Warrior’ noticed it, but didn’t call attention to it. The last thing he needed was The Commander thinking that he didn’t trust their judgment. 

Nothing.

There was no appearance of even a bug in the room like the last time this had happened.

Satisfied with the lack of results but confused with the need for intervention, ‘Warrior’ turned to you. You were obviously shaken. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have screamed the way you did. The sheer terror in your voice had never been heard before.

Moving slowly to not startle you further, ‘Warrior’ stepped closer to your bed and sat on the far edge. “Are you alright?”

You were shaking and breathing heavier than the normal pace that would be considered normal for a human. A quick scan told him that your heart rate was higher than normal as well, not to mention the subtle sweat that lined your brow and neck.

Panic.

Pure unadulterated panic.

You couldn’t even answer him. You were too focused on the nightmare still lingering in your mind.

‘Warrior’, not about to leave you to your horrors, scooted closer and pulled you close to his body. Surprisingly, you latched on without a second thought. You shuddered and began to cry quietly on his shoulder.

“Warrior.” You whimpered. “There- There were so many of them. They were all chasing me- I couldn’t run fast enough-”

“Shhh…” He says softly. “My job is to protect you. To protect this family. I won’t let anything hurt you. They have to go through me first.”

You gulped but didn’t refute his claim.

The silence stretched for a moment before he decided to run his hand through your hair. “I’m not the type to give orders to my Commander but don’t play those games so late into the day. No more horror games after dark.”

“...They’re in the shadows…” You whispered. “They’re everywhere.”

‘Warrior’ didn’t know what they were, but he wasn’t about to let a threat enter this apartment or your mind. “Show me,” He says firmly, leaving no room for argument. “Point them out, Chief. I’ll take care of it.”

You shook your head and took in a shuddering breath. The sound ricocheted through the room, breaking the delicate silence behind the force of his words. 

“You can’t fight these demons, Warrior Mine.” You shook your head.

“Watch me,” He challenged. He hugged you a little tighter. “I’ll protect you. That’s my purpose. That’s why I’m here.”

You fall silent.

‘Warrior’ kept running his hand over your head, using the other one to rub soothing circles onto your back. “I’ll protect you,” He repeated. “You don’t have to be afraid. Nothing is going to get to you while I’m here. I’ve always done my job. And I’m very good at my job. I will protect you.”

You nodded and eventually relaxed in his arms.

‘Warrior’ had assumed that was the cue to let go of you and return to his surveillance, but at the very instant he lessened the pressure on you, you had latched back on. You whimpered again, burying your face deeper into the crook of his neck. “Don’t. Don’t leave.”

“I won’t,” He said at once. “Never. I’ll stay all night if I have to.”

Another small beat of silence on your part.

“...Promise?”

“It is my duty and purpose to ensure your safety.” He said again. “Do you trust me to do my job?”

You didn’t lift your head. Your voice was a wisp of a whisper against his audio receptors. “Yes… You’re borderline obsessive with your protocols.”

“They are to ensure your well-being and safety-”

“Yes, yes, yes…” You cut him off, relaxing once more in his arms. “...Stay anyway? Just until I fall asleep?”

“I will stay by your side until you wake up again, Chief.” He says softly, adjusting your position o rest more comfortably against him. “I will fight for you. Forever and always.”

“I named you appropriately.” You mumbled. 

“I am Warrior after all.”

[cosmonadarovicarts]

In the time of Eden

Fanfic Comic Hazbin Hotel

Part 18

(HE finds out)

I imagine it could cause outrage with the design of Beelzebub, Asmodeus and Mammon! But I tried to adapt it to the style I was drawing and make them more angelic! I went back to reading about demology to try to be more precise -apart from the reference to Helluva Boss and Hazbin Hotel obviously- about its origins. As you can imagine, there are different views on this.

Asmodeus had his origins right in the middle of syncretism (in his real-life conception, not mythological/religious), but in some versions he was seen as a fallen Seraphim, where he fought alongside Lucifer.

Beelzebub is also, like most demons, the result of syncretism and the need -mainly Catholic- to internalize gods from other religions. He - or she, in the Helluva Boss version - was described in myths as a not very intelligent but extremely powerful demon. So I left her too like a fallen Seraphim. And I wanted to draw her younger!

Mammon was the one I forced the most here haha ​​it was a word that literally meant money/greed. he did not have an origin from a pagan God or adapted to a fallen angel (if anyone has a text about him refuting what I said, please send it to me!!), so he is not exactly a Seraphim, but still an angel. ...

Anyway, I wanted to bring some of these angels that will fall with Lucifer - besides mentioning Leviathan- I just didn't have much creativity in making a better design haha

It was never my intention to make Adam suffer so much in the story! But still, it's the villain's past... sorry!

Part 19

[marzipanandminutiae]

i just saw your post about modern vs historical hairstyles and hwo most historical women would've worn their hair up/covered - I was wondering if you have any favorite historical hairstyles you could share? I'm an artist and not very good at looking for historical style references XD anyway no worries if you're not feeling like it

Sure! I have some faves (whether I can actually do them myself is another matter- not very good at hairstyling, and my hair is too fine to do some of them without adding falls or something. so was a lot of their hair at the time, to be fair, but I don't have energy to fuss with false hair)

Note that these are images of white women/women with Euro-textured hair because that's what the fashion plates tended to depict, and those were most of the people with the money to have their portraits painted. Women of color with different hair textures living in the west (who had the wherewithal to keep up with trends) seem to have done their best to follow the same hair fashions as their white counterparts, until around the 1960s when you start to see the rise of distinct hairstyles based on one's own heritage

working-class women of any race also generally knew at least the basic shapes of popular hairstyles, unless they were VERY isolated. many adapted trendy styles to suit their needs- I've seen plenty of images of factory workers for example, that are perfectly easy to date based on bun placement, bangs vs. no bangs, where the hair volume is concentrated, etc.

but for peak This Was The Style Ideal...it's images of wealthy white women all the way down. unfortunately

1690s

1740s-50s

c. 1800, the "coiffure a la Titus" that was briefly fashionable alongside the more popular Long Hair Up With Ringlets Around The Face look

1867

Early 1870s. note that, while trailing styles were more common for women at this point than any other before or since in the 19th century, this is a bit more Down than most women's day looks would have been, for practicality reasons. Nevertheless, if someone wants an accurate style that's close-ish to the classic Half-Up Olde Timey Hair(TM), early 1870s could be a way to go!

Early 1910s

Hope those give you a starting point!

[pukefactory]

° ° ° SACCHARINE HONEYBEE ° ° °

» Summary: A compilation of headcannons featuring V as your caregiver

» Character(s): Serial Designation V (Murder Drones)

» Genre: Headcanons, Fluff, SFW

» Warning(s): None - Completely Safe!

╰┈➤ It took her awhile to become accustomed to your preferences, but once she learnt that you personally gravitated towards her for protection it was much easier for her to get into the swing of things. I mean, how could she not when she knows you trust her so much? She didn’t protest beyond this point.

╰┈➤ V doesn’t necessarily like to carry you around everywhere unless you’re tired, but when she’s feeling up for it she’ll carry you piggyback style. She won’t be your chauffeur for insanely long distances, much preferring it if you’d just walk beside her to get all your zoomies out. Although should you happen to fall asleep mid carry, V will continue to hold on to you until she finds a safe place to put you down.

╰┈➤ Her pet name for you is strictly just ‘baby’ because that’s what you are - a little baby. V uses this in both a teasing and endearing manner depending on her mood. There are slight variations such as: ‘little baby’ and ‘my baby’. If you’re misbehaving though, she’ll refer to you as ‘little twerp’. As for herself, she’ll let you get away with calling her ‘VeVe’ but she absolutely hates anything else; she’s picky.

╰┈➤ She’s not really physically affectionate yet head pets come in the dozens. However, if you do exactly what she says, she’ll lovingly run her fingers through your hair before gently kissing your little nose (as long as no one else is around, of course). You may even get a peck on the cheek if she’s feeling more warmhearted although I wouldn’t expect it.

╰┈➤ Surprisingly (or maybe unsurprisingly) V is an exceptionally protective caregiver. Once she adapts to your specific needs, she’s always close behind you to guarantee your safety. You never really notice that she’s there but she certainly is there, watching, observing, listening. You don’t really suspect anything until she starts to conveniently appear out of thin air whenever you have a minor inconvenience. She wants her little to be protected and she’ll be damned if she wasn’t going to be your guardian.

╰┈➤ V gets on her knees to talk to you at eye level. It’s generally just a preference of hers so she can make sure that you’re focusing on what she’s telling you. This is also her default position for when she’s scolding you, attempting to comfort you, listening to what you have to say…maybe it’s just her default position with you full stop. At least she knows if you’re paying attention or not.

╰┈➤ V finds it hilarious if you copy her sassy attitude, especially if you repeat her exact words right back at another drone whose aggravating either of you. Not only does she think it’s amusing but adorable also. If she catches you copying her mannerisms (hands on hips, rolling your eyes, ect) she’ll give you a tiny smile of approval and then use you as leverage to prove her point.

╰┈➤ If you ask her real nicely she may bring out her bubble blower for you. V doesn’t know why you find it so entertaining considering it’s just a stress reliever to her, but it's better than you being bored and getting grouchy. It never seems to run out of juice somehow; you get to pop as many bubbles as you want for as long as you want! V might possibly get a little playful and give you a challenge to see how many bubbles you can pop within a certain amount of time. Enrichment for her baby.

╰┈➤ V is a very no nonsense caregiver and won’t tolerate any disrespect from you. Talking back is the ultimate big no-no. She’ll lecture you and put you in time out until you’ve learnt your lesson. When you apologise it has to be with genuine sincerity (V will know if you’re lying just to get out of your punishment).

╰┈➤ That being said, she’ll definitely let you get away with disrespecting others. She enjoys watching you stand your ground, stomping your feet in anger as you fiercely babble at whoever is in front of you. V will even encourage you to be meaner if she feels like you’re being too soft. The drones always run away after a couple of minutes; you’re completely obvious to the fact that V is standing right behind you, claws and teeth on full display, ready to escalate things should they not listen to you.

[bambooswordwielder]

So funny to see the different demographics that each MXTX book series attracts and how that affects the way the fandom interacts with each other and themselves.

SVSSS is a Fandom full of people who embody the 'dont-like-dont-read-it' mindset I believe we need more in fandoms. You wanna ship Shen Qingqiu with Tianlang-jun, Luo Binghe's father? Go ahead. Wanna write a 300k fic about Shen Qingqiu as a bird that follows Luo Binghe around during his childhood? Where's the bloody link. Wanna make memes about Skinzun? Me too, send me all the memes and drawings.

The nature of SVSSS being a meta-retelling of stereotypical Male fantasy harem novels means it references and is heavily influenced by Fandom Culture, especially during Airplane's Extras of his past life.

It's because of that fact it means to read and finish the books, you automatically just have to be a person who's been dealing with fandom culture for a long time. You've learnt to accept that other people ship other ships, you've learned to love the random rare pairs that show up on your homepage that you never would've thought of but now will be hunting for on AO3, you've just learned to have fun with the source material.

This mentality is further pushed by the fact SVSSS doesn't have alot of Canon Material being produced, meaning a majority of content is fanmade for fan consumption. This builds a level of community that means there's not that much discourse, and any discourse there is is usually shut down with a simple "Oh hey Shen Yuan, nice to see you here."

MDZS has a bit more diversity in the people it can attract. It has a well-written love story between WangXian, it has Sibling Angst in the form of the Yunmeng Siblings, Nie brothers, Lan Twin Jades, and the entirety of the Jin Family, and it has deep political intrigue and discusses/dissects discrimination of your birth status (Sexism, Classism, Merit VS Blood). MDZS is also the novel with the most adaptations (The OG Novels, a Donghua, a manwha, audio drama, Life Action in the Untamed, and a manga), meaning more people can consume it in their preferred style.

However, it's due to these reasons that MDZS tends to have a lot of fights/debates in it in terms of interpretations of the characters/plot. Someone who watched the Untamed primarily is going to have a vastly different interpretation of Jiang Cheng’s character than say someone who read the original novels, and someone who watched the Donghua will have different scenes than in the Novel. People who came primarily for the Sibling Angst might wish for Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian to reconcile, while someone else for came for something else might be happy they don't interact.

There's also the fact the story deals with a lot of characters going through extreme circumstances over a long period of time, meaning characters make decisions that might make some fans hate them and some fans want to defend them for it. This overall just causes a lot of debate.

Love the works, love the Fandom, but 99% of fighting is caused by people reading/watching different adaptations which has different portrayals of characters (I'm staring directly at you Jiang Cheng).

I will update this when I finally finish TGCF and can get a glimpse of the Fandom, though would love to see any statements about it or the other fandoms.

[darcytaylor]

I have a bit of a unique perspective on Luke if anyone's interested. I think he's one of those people who adapt to any environment they're in, which is great if you're an actor, but in your personal life you can just drift, going along with whatever the stronger personalities in your life are doing.

If anyone has observed male friendships closely, they might notice that they're very different from female ones - they're more surface level and more focused on not disrupting the status quo in the group. Where women will cheer each other on when one succeeds, men will unspokenly hold each other back (I'm not saying there isn't jealousy or toxicity in female friendships, it's just that it rises to the surface and either gets addressed or explodes the friendship).

I witnessed this dynamic in particular at uni, where guys who were suddenly doing very well in their studies because they'd found their niche felt the need to conform to wherever their buddies were at, especially if it was an established, long-time friend group from childhood or school. They'd go home over the holidays and come back a different person, like it was shameful to do well at something, especially if the guy in question wasn't the "alpha" of the group. Many guys who had potential to do well in our more academic field but moved back home post-uni ended up taking jobs that were beneath their ability because that was what their friends were doing or what was considered "cool" where they were from (think bartending, club promoting, etc.). I think this is precisely what Luke is trying to navigate with respect to his own friend group and why we're all so confused by his behavior.

Now, he has referred multiple times to how important friends are to him, how some have been there for him during hard times and how he's generous with them. He has always been a good looking guy, while maybe not everyone's cup of tea, and his styling on the show in S1&2 wasn't doing him any favors if we're being honest, and it's undeniable that he underwent a major transformation for S3. All of a sudden, he got this veritable onslaught of female attention and thirst that I'm assuming he hadn't experienced the likes of before. And this coupled with the season's success changed his status within the group and in the world at large. This is where the tension starts. He's trying to adapt to his new reality while everyone around him is expecting him to stay the same, not act like he's "better than them" now, even though he might be. In this situation, he has two options - to hold himself back and default to the proverbial average of the 5 people closest to him, or do a balancing act of "a rising tide lifts all boats" type of deal by sharing the fruits of his success with the group. I think that being the loving guy he is, he's caught in this liminal space of trying to find his personal footing while doing "right" by everyone around him. These are choppy waters for anyone to navigate, especially as his friends are themselves experiencing ups and downs and the collective context is ever-changing.

Do I think him dating someone like A is a choice that he thinks someone in his newfound position would make? Yes. Do I think she's probably a very nice girl and they're having a good time together? Sure. Do I think she's on his level? No. Do I think she'll be old news if he (or she) gets slammed with work? Most likely. It's ultimately their respective availability that's holding that relationship together. Well, that and the light ego stroke of dating a woman who looks a certain way - it's how he's projecting his new "league" out into the world. But also, if they were indeed introduced by a friend, he might perceive her as "approved" by those around him and thus not disruptive of the delicate pH balance of the group. I don't know anything about his friends and who they are or aren't dating, but rest assured that if the most dominant among them were to hit a life milestone like getting engaged or married, the rest of them would follow suit in quick succession so as not to disrupt group cohesion or their collective lifestyle, regardless of whether the person they happen to be with at the time is "the one". I've seen this play out so many times that it's a bit of a cliche.

Conversely, if one of them starts dating someone, let's say, of "higher status", we'd probably see that reflected across the friend group as well. All this is to say, I don't think A is end game and he knows it too, he's been straining to acknowledge her so as not to lose her but at the same time, I think deep down he knows she's just Ms. Right Now so he's not leaning into this as hard as he was with J. I think he's still subconsciously shopping around for the future Mrs. Newton but he's a relationship kind of guy and he's trying to ride this one out for as long as it'll hold. I think that if a semi-famous woman at a similar level of recognition as him showed an interest in him, A would become old news fast, especially if he manages to mentally integrate the changes that have happened in this life over time. I think she's a buffer for his anxiety to a large extent, which is why he takes her with him everywhere. Once he settles into more of a groove, we might start seeing a more recognizable version of him.

Just my two cents.

This is very well thought out and while this is all speculation, all of it is plausible! Who am I to say what is fact or fiction?

[astrojulia]

PAC - Qualities and Traits in your Future Spouse

~ 5 things you like about them vs 5 things they like about you (lightly +18)

PILE 1 - PILE 2 - PILE 3

PILE A - PILE B - PILE C

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DISCLAIMER. These general free readings are made in good faith for entertainment purposes. I tried my best to leave it gender neutral, but one word or another might have escaped (Portuguese is a language where all words have gender).

How to pick a pile

When you have different cards to choose from in pile 1,2,3… look at each of those cards. Wait until someone reminds you of a memory. Perhaps a character’s outfit resembles one of your own. It is this pile that has its message. What if they all remind me of something? Go for the one with the strongest memory, one might look like her earring but another might be the favorite candy you got from your grandma when you vacationed at her house. But what if none reminds me of something? Take a deep breath and wait a little longer, without charging yourself or creating worries. Relax, some will awaken some memory in you, I promise! .

Pile 1

You love their voice and the way they talk, and it's not something that only you appreciate. But even so, you see your future spouse's voice as a melody, comforting and even exciting. I also don't just see the question of the voice itself, but the way they speak, with rhythm, without any problems pronouncing the words or doubt in their voice.

You appreciate their skills and how they handle situations smoothly. I also see different paths here, how this person manages to take care of themselves alone, clean the house, cook the food. They are truly independent. (The other way is that you appreciate their dick, it makes you feel like never before).

You like how they communicate in general. They are smart and authentic but know how to blend in with the crowd. They know how to listen to others to better adapt to the situation. They are the type of person who will communicate differently with each individual, not out of falsehood but because they understand that each person has different needs. They will convey the same information differently to a doctor and to a child, adapting their words accordingly.

You love their overall intelligence; it seems like they always know what they should do, the next step. They are someone who wants to help others with their intelligence and is always seeking self-improvement. They are also curious and always bring new information into the relationship.

You appreciate how they manage to be rational in practically every situation. They always think before acting, analyze situations before they happen. They strive to be prepared for everything and seek security in every step of life.

Astrological Placements your Future Spouse may have:

Mercury Dominant; Venus in Taurus or Libra in the 2nd house; Mercury in the 3rd house; air dominant; Mercury in Libra, Gemini, or Aquarius; a touch of Cancer, Pisces, or Scorpio in the birth chart (perhaps only one placement).

Pile 2

You like how your future spouse (FS) is an active person, always on the move, looking to improve their career, personal life, and also taking care of their body. They can be a tall, slender individual with distinct features. They are also someone with a sense of style and who values their behavior in the world, which is why they prioritize exercise and physical activity. They are the type of person who likes to wear accessories such as gloves, bracelets, and earrings.

You appreciate that they are a person you can look up to, someone you feel proud of and see as a reference for "what would FS do in my place." You like how they are patient with others, a bit playful, but also know when to stop. It seems like they have the wisdom to bring joy to tense moments and their ability to handle all situations is what attracts you.

You admire their resilience and determination. Nothing can stop them, not even the challenges of life. They carry themselves with pride and are unafraid to express their opinions and how the world perceives them, because they know they will make things work out one way or another.

You appreciate how they can handle everything on their own, sometimes behind the scenes. If we take an intimate perspective, you both know how to handle things discreetly. But even though they are confident and unafraid to be themselves, your FS is wise and understands that you can't always confront everything head-on. Sometimes you have to navigate through the edges and take longer paths to achieve your goals. They prefer to accomplish things discreetly.

You like that your FS is often right (though it can be challenging during discussions), which is beneficial for decision-making in your lives. Even if they are not a spiritually inclined person, they have a connection with something non-physical in this world that guides their decision-making. So, even if a decision may not feel right in the moment, you realize in the future that their choices were the best ones.

Astrological Placements your Future Spouse may have:

Aquarius/Gemini/Libra placements; Fire Dominant; Mars dominant; Well-aspected Mercury; Leo dominant; Scorpio Placements; dominant Uranus.

Pile 3

You appreciate how they move on as if nothing had happened. If you make a mistake, they solve it and forget about it, without judgment or dwelling on the past. Your future spouse (FS) is also someone who enjoys horror and suspense movies, which is a recurring hobby for them.

You like that you feel comfortable around them, experiencing a sense of nostalgia for a moment that never actually existed. It's as if you've been separated before and now you're together again. This connection can be both physical and spiritual. Your FS brings magical and special moments into both of your lives.

You admire that they are a person who never loses hope. They always believe in love, even until the last moment. Even if everything comes to an end, they will continue to love and protect. They are patient and will wait for you to be ready to make decisions. They hold onto the hope that everything will work out in the end.

You appreciate that they are a fun and warm person. They shine in small social circles and are always loving and attentive. Your FS values small events and moments greatly. They enjoy going out to carnivals or other places where you can have fun. They are full of ideas for new places to explore and experience.

You like how they create a cozy atmosphere and make you feel safe. If you're someone who enjoys sleeping a lot or simply sees it as a hobby, you will feel comfortable sleeping next to your FS. Being close to them brings a sense of peace and security.

Astrological Placements your Future Spouse may have:

Cancer/Capricorn or Taurus Rising; Libra/Gemini placements; a touch of Leo and Pisces in the birth chart (perhaps only one placement).

Pile A

Your future spouse (FS) appreciates how open you are and your willingness to embrace change even in the face of fear. You have an openness not just to the world but also to your own needs. There's a sense of knowing that what you deserve is more and better than what you currently have.

Your FS admires your protective nature and how you always look out for yourself and others. You often place yourself on the front lines when confronting various challenges, often keeping your experiences to yourself in order to prevent hurting others.

Your FS values the fact that you are someone who seeks to resolve problems through communication. You strive to approach others and engage in conversation before acting without careful thought. Your natural inclination towards rationality allows you to navigate and resolve situations without unnecessary drama.

Your FS appreciates your ability to keep secrets. They trust that anything they confide in you will remain confidential, making you an extremely reliable person.

Your FS admires your ability to always find a way. You navigate paths with confidence, even if it means breaking down barriers to progress. Additionally, you have a keen sense of direction and excel at using maps and location.

Astrological Placements you may have:

Cancer/Pisces/Scorpio placements; Dominant Libra; Taurus/Capricorn/Virgo placements; More planets in the 4th/7th/8th and 12th house.

Pile B

Your future spouse (FS) appreciates your adventurous nature and how you enjoy getting out of the house to experience new things. While you find comfort at home, you also have a desire to explore and bring back new experiences to your safe haven.

Your FS admires your appearance of being a more traditional person, someone who dresses and behaves in a formal manner. They also appreciate your rationality and ability to express your emotions in different ways, showcasing your emotional intelligence. If you have a fair skin tone, they find it particularly beautiful.

Your FS is drawn to the mystery that surrounds you. There is always something new to discover about you, something you keep hidden from others, and they are intrigued to unravel your secrets.

Your FS values your wisdom and the way you have transformed your pain into knowledge. They admire your belief that everything has its own time and that timing is important. You are likely older than your FS, and they seek your advice and guidance.

Your FS admires your ambitious mindset. You think big, dream big, and refuse to diminish yourself for anyone. You are unafraid to assert yourself and communicate your needs.

Astrological Placements you may have:

Cancer/Scorpio/Pisces placements; Virgo/Taurus/Capricorn placements; Scorpio Dominant; Saturn Dominant; Pluto Dominant; a touch of Gemini/Aquarius/Libra (only one or two placements); Planets in the 8th/12th house.

Pile C

Your future spouse (FS) appreciates your organizational skills and how you are always planning things and maintaining cleanliness. You take pride in feeling physically and spiritually clean, and you make an effort to create a fragrant environment, whether it's at home or at work.

Your FS likes that you are someone who goes through phases and embraces change. You don't follow a rigid routine but instead allow life to unfold naturally. You adapt and know what needs to be done when situations arise because, as mentioned earlier, you are a planner. However, you don't plan every detail of big things. You are also someone who easily changes preferences, be it in hairstyles, clothing, books, or music.

Your FS is drawn to your dreamy nature, which also carries a hint of mysticism. You frequently engage in mystical practices such as tarot, astrology, or reiki. Your FS not only accepts but also appreciates this aspect of you. They see you as someone who has insights into the future, bringing comfort and reassurance.

Your FS likes how well you can blend in. You effortlessly adapt and integrate into various environments, to the point that you might almost go unnoticed. You are not noisy or attention-seeking; instead, you are composed and can easily fit into any space without causing disruptions.

Your FS admires your dedication to studying and your love for reading. They appreciate that you enjoy learning and also have a creative side, possibly in writing or drawing. Even if you don't pursue those activities professionally, your passion for them shines through.

Astrological Placements you may have:

Gemini placements; Uranus dominant or well-aspected Uranus; Neptune dominant or well-aspected Neptune; Virgo placements.

(CC) AstroJulia Some Rights Reserved

[simplydannie]

One more request that I just thought of, I’ve seen people turn Velvet and Veneer into trolls so maybe you can write about their lives as trolls, plus it would be easier for them to interact with Floyd

Haii!

Oh yes!! I’d need to get ideas down to make a good story and some HCs and arcs. But since you’ve asked this is what i have so far!

This is how the twins would look like as Trolls (not the best but this was perfect for practicing and trying to adopt my own Troll style. Had to use some references).

They’re in their Under Rageous attire of course (cause I’m obsessed lol). Vennie still has his purple beanie and Velvet her pink bracelet given to her by her brother.

The twins are known as Rageous Trolls; they’re not Pop, Rock, Classical, Funk, Techno, or Country. Rather, Rageous Trolls have adopted sounds of each genre and made it their own, making them unique from other Trolls really.

They live in the secluded area of Mount Rageous which is really high up in the mountains. The Trolls have adapted to breath really thin air which makes it hard for them to come to lower elevations.

Rageous Trolls also have advanced technology, being years and years ahead of any other Trolls species in technological advancement. While the other Trolls live off the land, these Trolls rely heavily on technology to meet their every day lives.

Unlike other Trolls, they CANNOT expand their hair. Rather, Rageous Trolls are known to be quicker and stronger than their cousins.

Floyd is the first Troll to come across Rageous Trolls in centuries. Rageous Trolls are not even mentioned in the history books…having no music string to really call their own, these species of Trolls broke off from everyone else years before the separation of the music Trolls.

That’s all I got for now! I am still thinking and expanding on all of this. I would really like to get a lore down before actually making a story. So hopefully that can be soon. There are so many other stories i need to make, so bear with me!! <3

[its-a-me-mango]

HI!!

I really like how you draw smg4 and 3 and was wondering if you have any tips that could help someone like me who can't seen to get it to look right? Its alr if not, i'm just curious! :D

(*Consumes your art aggressively but respectfully*)

Hi, thank you for asking me! I'm not the best at giving art advice/help but I can try my best! :'D

I guess my general advice for both of them is that there is no "right" way for them to look, both of them have fairly simple designs in comparison to other characters in the series, which in turn gives a lot of legroom for stylisation and stuff like that! All you really need to do is pick out their key features (which can be hard with simple characters since... there ain't a lot of obvious ones) and the rest will fall into place!

You can see this with the way SMG4 is shown in official merch, while yes he's more stylised compared to his official model, they all still read as being SMG4! It's through these as well that you can see what aspects of his design stay consistent throughout different drawings of him, namely his wider eye shape, short stature, bold eyebrows, etc. You get the idea, picking up on these and referencing them can help if you're struggling to get them to look right with your own art!

If you're still struggling to stylise them for your own style, I find it helps to heavily reference/trace the original design first, just to get as close to their intended design as possible, parts of your own style will already start to show through from that (I normally don’t condone tracing others' work unless it’s for stuff like this). 

From there it's just a case of refining them and practising, adding/taking away parts as you go until you get to a style that you're happy with! It doesn't matter if they're not 100% accurate, as long as it's easy and consistent enough for you to replicate them, then it's fine!

You'll have much better results and an easier time drawing them if you let yourself be more experimental with their designs and learn as you go, rather than trying to get them perfect right away. I know it can be frustrating to not get them right the first time, but you'll find it much easier to adapt them to your style and get them how you want them to look if you just learn and adapt as you go.

I hope this helps in some way! I'm not the best at explaining stuff like this because my main method is just to say "fuck it we ballin" and then draw a character over and over again until I can do it in my sleep, so I hope my ramblings help in some way! You can apply this to any character by the way, not just SMG4, if in doubt just go back to the original reference and keep at it until it looks how you want it to.

Don't be afraid to make drawings that don't turn out right or ones that you're not happy with, it's all part of learning as an artist! You will get there in the end if you put in the effort to learn! <3

Also no one will tell you this so I will but, SMG3 is just SMG4 with a beard, so if you can draw SMG4 you can draw SMG3 no problem LMAO.