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spotaus · 8 months ago

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Self rbing with a bit of tired design rambles (might hit on topics about his AU which involve cannibalism, death, and body-horror, so beware!):

So, Pretender was an Old Old oc, and I low-key wanna write this out, so I am!

He was inspired, back in the day, by my old Amino aesthetic:

(If u knew me there, which I doubt, then hello lmao-)

But his OG design was meant to be a monster entity who transformed to appear like other AUs in the multiverse. At the time he was called Imposter (but. Uh. Among us kinda murdered that name for me) and all he did was worm his way into stories he didn't belong in until he was driven out. For a while, he was a four-armed blue Dream Clone. And this was about 3 years back I think.

Now, fast-forward to a few months ago when I hopped on amino to salvage some old references and ended up having flashbacks to this weird half-baked AU I designed. I had to do him justice!

I wanted Pretender to be his own universe, that was for sure. When I made him, I wanted him to give off Ruins vibes to be entirely honest. I love the aesthetic of characters who look like they belong in a setting of worship or a traditional garb (Catacombtale, I'm looking at you) but I also wanted to challenge myself to a new shape and coloring style.

Pretender, to start, has LAYERS. I rarely design a character with how their outfit works in mind. I think the last one I did so deliberately like that might've been Techie!Blue, but even then I worked in reverse. For pretender I really wanted his outfit to feasibly exist irl and be functional. So, the robes and hood. I've seen how large hoods sit (SimikaiHoodies my beloved) and I wanted to use a lot of Triangles in his shape language. Pointed shoulders, the hood isn't too sharp, but still juts out, his heels and wraps end in points, etc. But then Circles. His glasses, his sleeves, the markings on his clothes and the train that follows him. He IS softness tucked away in danger. You have to reach past the thorns to see his bloom, that kinda thing.

BUT. When I drew him, I didn't know that yet. All I knew was that he wasn't a dream clone anymore, abd the shapes were soft on my eyes.

There are a few minor things too. The marks on his temples represent the old "circlet" He had in the old design. Each side has a save star on it, with two longs circling the back of his skull to connect them. Then there's the marks under his eyes, which I forgot to add above, but they reference the Alt version of my aesthetic where I used an Error pfp instead. Both are homages to my old energy and faves that inspired him. (Of course Dream and Error are still two of my absolute favorites 🙏🙏🙏) Then his sockets. They're a bit Sad shaped. I just wanted to do something unique from my usual thin and pointed or large and round. His eyelights, though, are a reference to my favorite bit on my art. Almost all my OCs (Ichor, N, etc.) Will have this pupil shape where it's an oval, a circle in the center, and a line through it. It's a stylistic choice usually, but it was nice to use for Pretender since I rarely get to draw them anymore.

Taking a moment. The boots. I took a full 180 from my old days recently and I really enjoy puzzling out footwear. These boots in particular were inspired by Wizard 101 boots that I use on my main wizard tbh (the ones I'm referencing look nothing like this, but they are intricate and inspired me lol). I just thought it'd be funny to give him heels, because he has such simple clothes Until you see the shoes 🙏

And then the personality started developing. Him placing his hands together was at first a nervous habit, a quirky default pose, but it quickly added the fact that it was a self-restraint tactic. If he doesn't touch someone with the hands that Snap Necks and dig into flesh, then he won't hurt anyone again. He comforts himself with it, but often only does it when around someone whom he might hurt. (When Kale was brought onto the scene, I realized that Pretender would likely not unclasp his hands in fear of slipping and trying to lure her in with a handshake.) And so that pose, the proper one that initially was meant to give off 'yep. That's just a Guy who's praying or smth' became a discipline much more heavy and filled with symbolism. And along with all that, his maturity shines through. When he was on the surface he was a bit arrogant, and he was Young. (Layer 1 outfit/unseen outfits). Then Underground he stuck by Gaster, until the very end. (Adapting, still himself but under a new role, ex. The lab coat, which is generic and not quite matching his original clothes). Afterwards Asgore gives him the task of becoming Judge, and he is given his coat and robes. He can do that. He takes solace in the role after all he lost. It fits him. (Layer 2 and Layer 3) Then he gains Paps, and Paps knows him best wearing his robes, abd so they stick. Pretender makes them his own, and rules his own life despite the famine and pain. He Perserveres. Then on the surface he isn't just surviving. He's not trapped. As much as he can shaoe-shift, he's always been himself, but now he can grow and change again because he's safe.

I wanted his Surface clothes to get varied. He still wears his robes, he'll mix them into modern outfits, sure. He also gets brand new clothes with K's input. He values what she and Paps say, and he's willing to try new things. Ultimately he's not fashion oriented as much as comfort/practicality oriented, but he tries. He compromises. He's growing, and finding what He likes again. Pretender is Healing. That's why I chose such fluffy and baggy clothes. They're secure, and fashionable, and mostly make him blend in better. He has to relearn his disguises in the Era, and has to adapt. His clothes reflect his Hope returning. (Plus, Cat Beanie??? He likes the texture and pressure, sure, but it's also self-indulgent.)

Extra: Pretender also kept his robes, because it was a sense of Duty to cling to. Couldn't lose your mind on the clock, y'know? It was comforting to others to see something familiar, too.

Extra: His later clothes are rectangular and a lot less triangular. It's a sign of how he's more compassionate at the end of the story. Not eating Humans outright, and no longer starving, Pretender was able to grow more into his role as a guardian of his siblings rather than a guardian of the Underground. He didn't have to he as prickly, though he retains the depth and time it takes to really get to know him. Just, now it's less abrasive. (Like walking up to a full-garb priest on the street versus Just Some Guy. Who're ya gonna invite out for a beer, y'know? Neither, that's unsafe, but you get my point.)

Hello @oodlesndoodles and @mylackofgrammaristerrifying I thought you guys might appreciate this thing I was doing:

A layer-guide for Pretender's usual outfit! (And a bonus outfit too-)

This applies to his Human/Gaseous forms too, the skeleton was just the easiest to figure out as a base lol-

His outfit is pretty heavy and thick (think old European royalty style) so it buts "weight" onto his figure when he adds them.

Along with that, his 1st Layer is what he used to wear when he worked in the lab sans the Lab Coat, so anything from that Era can be Layer 1 + Generic Lab Coat. It's thin and stretchy to match his shape-shifting, but he's rarely seen only wearing this unless he's with Paps, K, or someone else he actually trusts. Oh, and he uses it to train (fighting, shifting, etc).

Layer 2 isn't exactly seen on its own? I think if Pretender ever went for the typical "Sans Lazy Guy" thing this would be it tho. Just enough effort to throw on the jacket but not enough to put on his wraps overtop. It's the first heavy layer! It also has the Deltarune on the back of it, but it gets covered by the wraps later on.

Layer 3 is just some weird ribbon wraps secured by the belt (same with the train that drapes behind him). Sometimes he WILL sleep in the entire ensemble claiming he doesn't want to have to put the outfit hack on later. (Paps will sometimes do it for him.)

And then the Bonus is a Post-story/Surface outfit to give an idea of his fashion sense! (This is also AFTER K, MTT, and Blooky force him to go shopping properly and not just wear someone's old mothballed cardigans from the funeral home.) Baggy, thick, clothes are his jam for outdoor wear when he's just going out. Usually multiple layers, he's never without his gloves (or boots. MTT tried to get him to try other shoes but he refused) and a few jewelery pieces that remind him of people he cares about. Also he has a stupid hat that K jokingly offered him, but because it's a similar texture to his hood he actually got really attached. Plus he loves mortifying her by wearing it and doing the "Nya~" thing. Paps thinks it's really fun, and therefore Tender has -20 shame of the damn thing.

His usual outfit is the go-to, but he is *willing* to wear other clothes, especially if an occasion calls for it. He's awful on Halloween the first year he's on the surface. Goes full-out for costumes, and abuses his shifting so hardcore. (Kale, Paps, and MK had SO much candy that year. Pretender just seemed to disappear for a little 'walk' and said he stopped by some houses, y'know?)

#doppletale #pretender!sans #pretender #dopple!sans #figured I'd dissect him a bit #idk...#oh and I have no clue why I did the purple mist vobes #there was just too much Blue and I love a good solid Purple (again. Ochor's rabdom purple arm??? it's a trend ig)#oh and when I say Pretender's 'imposter' versuon had a design? i mean I sketched him once at like 4 inches tall in a random sketchbook then #abandoned the idea lol #I'm building from the ground-up >:)

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