#clearly some. poses r more dynamic than others lol

[reyryz]

ack here r some knb nba wips ive been working on

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hi, Miss Raven! What're your thoughts on the new characters' designs and the new cards we're getting?

[You can see the designs for the Halloween 2023 cards and other related TWST news here!]

I'll post my general thoughts below! I unfortunately don't know enough about Pinocchio myself to point out all the little easter eggs in their outfits, so I'll leave that to those who are more knowledgeable than me.

***Spoilers below the cut!!***

Regarding the NRC boys' looks overall, I think it's a very fun theme and very fitting for the location of the event. I like that they all still wear masks, just in a different context than in Glorious Masquerade. One thing I did notice is that the masks seem... same-y? Like they all resemble thick tree roots or something like that. So maybe they aren't masks at all, but they're associated with whatever the conflict in the story is. (I previously suggested mind control or the loss of consciousness, so maybe the "roots" play into that???) You can see the marionette theme Yana was going for, as well as some design elements from Black Butler's circus arc, very clearly. The poses for each of the boys, even the R cards, are extremely dynamic and imply a strong sense of movement. The ribbons are such a simple detail that contributes a lot to this sense of whimsy and flow.

Some comments I have on specific designs and poses:

Suspenders are so... Trey 💀 THERE'S REALLY NOTHING ELSE FOR ME TO ADD HERE, THEY JUST SUIT HIM

I like it when Trey makes these kind of slightly sus but plausibly deniable faces... He should make more of them...

I can't see the front of Jack's outfit that well, so I don't know if I can fully comment on it??? But I can see his. Like. Physique... coming through... That chest to waist ratio/j

Seeing Jack's tail like that kinda weirds me out. I think that's the first time we've gotten a "full" view of how the tails look coming out of the pants??? So maybe I'll get more used to it with time...

J WORD MY BELOVED dghgqwktvwukdviu1vdutw1513FR7vuofOTVUofvfaafvfyivs.,bk;mobsdb;ibuafetvuqoffSEythTOTqebivfguovqnafCUtuiUIEtt please ignore my bias 🤡 The way his top hat is angled and how there's a dark blue ribbon around him... It vaguely looks like he's trying to pass as Crowley, LOL

I like how his undershirt is frilled and how he has that sash at his waist it reminds me of the genderbent design for my TWST OC! The fact that both he and Floyd have the eel emblem that resembles a heart is also really cute~

Lilis is my favorite design of the R cards!! There's a very good distribution of ruffles throughout the look, and his knotted skirts fit well with his personal flair.

I'm not a huge fan of the style of hat Cater's wearing (sorry to all the Cay-kun stans out there), but I can appreciate his look. His dress appears more militant than Trey's, and his posing is certainly more aggressive--it's nice to see him in this new light.

FHIBBAILAIBASIADIHBLBUDB EVERY TIME I SEE L*ONA NOW I'M GOING TO THINK OF THE ONE REBLOG I SAW THAT SAID "of course leona has his tits out again" BECAUSE THEY'RE RIGHT, HE'S LITERALLY THE GIRLIE THAT DRESSES SLUTTY ON HALLOWEEN AND SOMEHOW NEVER GETS COLD 😭 You go, king... Live your best life!!

Love L*ona-san’s new hairstyle here!! 👀

The way Floyd is posed reminds me of those people that walk around on stilts. I think I much prefer the coloration on Floyd's outfit than on Jade's, but I prefer Floyd's jacket to Jade's. I think Floyd's the best of the SR designs!

Shockingly, Vil's look doesn't stand out to me that much??? I enjoy his sash, but I don't immediately pick up on anything in his illustration that catches my eye.

His pose resembles that of a ballerina, which just makes me think about the time he assigned Epel and Deuce extra (ballet) dance lessons in book 5 ajdbhasivldsadued

Of the SSRs, Ace is definitely my favorite one. He just looks so dramatic soaking up that spotlight and trying to look cool while doing it... Bro's 100% thinking, "heheheheh, I'm SO awesome :))" in his head.

Ace's design also reminds me a lot of Jack Hearts (from Disney Villain Recruiters). Not sure if it was intentional or not, but I'm definitely super into it!

HHNNNNNGNGHGHHGHGNGNGHHGHGHGHGHHHHH I WANNA BITE HIS HEAD OFF AND BULLY HIM SO BAD, I WANNA WIPE THAT SMIRK OF FHIS DUMB FACEe Am I seriously about to revert back to my Brat Loving era for Trappola... Maybe so...

I was pretty much expecting a SSR Ace (because he's a trickster with a brother that works in an amusement park) and Ortho (literally a robot that became a real boy), but Kalim took me by surprise. In hindsight, I guess it makes sense though...? Kalim has a similar immature vibe as the other two (plus I do remember there being this one scene in Aladdin where the Sultan was dressed like a jester that was being maneuvered on puppet strings).

It's great that Kalim gets to be a little out of his usual element and make darker, more mysterious expressions like what we see in his new illustration. I'm not sure if I entirely agree with how he's dressed (the yellow jacket is WAY too bright), but I love his his coattails (???) trail behind him in waves.

OR-KUN MY SON 😭😭😭 As is the case with all of his gears, I adore how the devs creatively adapted clothing into metal parts for Ortho! The half-caplet is easily the best part of the whole look for me (the pattern on it reminds me of stars falling down)--and because Ortho has a smaller stature, the type of hat he's wearing isn't as offputting; it actually looks very cute on him.

ANYWAY, VERY HAPPY THAT ORTHO GETS TO HAVE A HALLOWEEN SSR TO MATCH HIS BROTHER'S HALLOWEEN SSR FROM LAST YEAR... They match!!!

... Is that the fucking cricket on Ortho’s cape... and the goldfish on Kalim’s scarf… AND THE CAT ON ACE’S WAIST… What does this meeeean 🤡

And now for my thoughts on the two new boys!! Honestly?? I don't actually have much to comment on in this regard because I try to reserve my judgment of characters until I've actually seen them in action. I haven't seen Pinocchio either, so I don't have a strong basis for what their personalities would be like based on their original Disney counterpart. I only vaguely understand that Honest John and Gideon trick children into visiting Pleasure Island... That's it, that's the full extent of my knowledge on that pair. I don't have any other expectations going in other than "yeah, these two are going to swindle me".

Gidel looks like a mix of Cheka and Ruggie to me (because of the hair and the eye shape). He seems like he’ll be the other guy’s goon, similar to how Jade and Floyd/Ruggie follow Azul/Leona. Nothing else for me to add, Gidel seems alright… Just a silly lil’ guy!

I have more… mixed thoughts on Ferro. One one hand, he looks like the exact kind of shady bitch I’d love. (You know, the ones that smile and lie and manipulate and drive a knife into your back and—LOOK, HE’S VERY J WORD CORE) On the other hand, I’m beating back the “you like cat/dog boys” allegations from my friends, so 💀 I can’t give in so easily/j

Looks-wise, Ferro’s iteration of the rat tail hair is not as ugly to me as Malleus’s is. (I think it’s because it looks more windswept!) I also really like how he dresses—very dapper 😌 and he can pull off green eyeshadow well!

I’m wondering how they’ll make Ferro different than the other con artists we’ve seen so far *eyes Octavinelle* but I’m keeping my hopes up since the devs did a good job remixing the “I have a dead brother and I feel immense guilt about it” backstory for Rollo (when Idia had a similar one). Looking forward to that~

I’m sure my thoughts will chance once I actually get to see them in the event! ^^ I’ll keep you posted. For now, I’ll keep cautious. (Actually, this fan art basically summarizes my current feelings on the two! I’m Rollo/j)

[whateverisbeautiful]

Richonne in Retrospect

#27: The Gift (5x09)

Alright, so I’m excited to talk about this next Richonne moment cuz it’s super special and cuz I need some positivity rn since This Is Us has me super emotional and Walking Dead has me super emotional. 😭😭😭

And now these two shows are about to air their most emotional episodes in February and I’m just so not ready. 😢 Like these shows really want to break my heart into a million pieces. 💔

So this Richonne moment couldn’t have come at a better time cuz it really is one of Rick and Michonne’s sweetest and most important moments, in that it shows how much these two really do love each other. 😊😌

But first, I’m here for the couple vibes as they collect bags of things they can use and Michonne makes the hopeful suggestion about how they can try and make this place livable. 

And then when she sees that Rick and Glenn aren’t sold she ardently says, “It can work.”

I love that Rick is so gentle and patient as he brings up the valid point about how there’s no sight lines since this place is surrounded by forest. Like he’s trying to say “it won’t work” as compassionately as possible cuz he knows how important this is to her and he doesn’t want to just insensitively shut the idea down.

Michonne suggests that they could start taking down the trees and put a wall up cuz Sis is the type of person who stays strategizing and trying to find a way.

And you literally see Rick respond like such a husband that knows this is a dead end, but he’s going to at least consider it for her. I really don’t think he’d be this accommodating for too many others, but Homegirl has this man’s heart. 

Michonne can tell Rick and Glenn still aren’t fully on board so she says “Look” and then she stays gesturing for that added emphasis lol.

You can just feel her desperation to find a place to call home for her family. And as she walks towards the opening of course they follow, cuz Rick is always willing to at least go and see for Michonne.

But then they all see that a full on massacre has occurred, with all those body parts sadistically severed, which sort of puts a damper on the possibility of making this place home.

Seeing this brutal aftermath for herself, confirms to Michonne that this place really won’t work and that it’s clearly susceptible to unforeseen attacks.

And you can see just how visibly devastated and deeply disappointed Michonne is to get this confirmation.

And we’re not the only ones who can see she’s upset cuz Rick can clearly see it and feel it too.

I love that when they stumble upon this gory scene, Rick’s attention immediately turns to Michonne and how she’s taking this. Like they were not kidding about the whole I’m okay/You’re okay thing, cuz you can tell that in her not being okay, he’s not either.

Now, you know how I like to say that Rick and Michonne are magnets? It’s not even a joke, y’all. 🙌🏾

And to prove it lemme just present some solid evidence real quick that these two are very much magnetically connected. 😋

See I wasn’t even playing lol. These two are magnets! And I adore this gif and this moment. The fact that as she walks forward, Rick just instinctually walks towards her. Mag-to-the-nets, y’all. 😊👏🏽

This in-sync movement so accurately paints the picture that they’re one and how where she goes, he follows.

Also, in seeing her broken up, you can tell he wants to find a way to fix it. I appreciate that her disappointment and sadness matters so much to him, to the point that he even follows after her without even fully realizing it.

And Homeboy’s eyes are only on her. Even when Glenn speaks, Rick still stays looking at her at first. #entranced.

Glenn says it doesn’t matter if Rick had killed Dawn of if he would’ve or if Daryl did, none of it matters. And it’s a pretty somber outlook.

(Side note: Re-watching this moment with Rick, Michonne, and Glenn makes Rick and Michonne’s conversation about Glenn in “Say Yes” even sadder, cuz Glenn was present for a lot of there little Richonne landmarks. 😭)

(Other side note: This show is wrong for having Glenn hold a bat in this episode. 😭)

So then Michonne brings up Washington and how, even tho Eugene lied, there might have been a legit reason he thought of Washington.

She looks at Rick when she says “We’re close” and asks “What if there are people there. What if it’s a place where we can be safe.”

I love that you see Rick really hearing her out. And every day their without a home is a day they know will be riddled with danger and, while finding a home base doesn’t end the danger, it at least makes it so that they can rest a little and not be so on edge all the time cuz they’d be somewhere somewhat safe. And you know their family being safe is really important to both Michonne and Rick.

She then says, “We’re 100 miles away. It’s a possibility. It’s a chance.” and similar to when Michonne told Rick they should try and fight back against Negan even with the odds against them in season 7, we’re again seeing her remind Rick that they have to take a chance for the possibility that their family will be better because of it.

Then she gets more passionate as she says “Instead of just being out here. Instead of just making it. Cuz right now this is what making it looks like.” And y’all, Rick is all ears. Like you can tell seeing her bare her heart out is resonating with him in the deepest possible way.

It’s a big deal that Michonne feels like she can be this vulnerable with him. Like she’s not hiding how she feels cuz she’s come to trust Rick enough to be this candid. 

And this clearly means something to him. I know I keep saying it, but this episode really is so telling of how much he prioritizes her happiness and how much it matters to him. 😊 

She then poses the question, “Don’t you want one more day with a chance?” and, like everything else she’s said, you see this question resonate with him as well, cuz that really is what Rick wants.

And what’s sweet is that in being together these two give each other that very thing; a chance for more than just making it. 🙌🏾

It’s also important too that Rick’s repsonse suggests that having one more day with a chance is something that’s important to him cuz in Michonne’s last relationship she had to watch as her man and her community stopped trying to have that and then that’s when everything fell apart. So for Rick and Michonne to be on the same page about this just helps confirm why they’re really right for each other. 

And y’all, you know how sometimes Husband’s like to surprise their wife with a gift? I feel like that’s what happens next. 😋 

Cuz they see some walkers approaching and Rick says “We should go”. And Glenn and Michonne both turn away thinking he means they should leave this community and head back.

It’s tough seeing Michonne turn away feeling like her words fell on deaf ears, but see Rick just wanted to grant Michonne’s request in a surprise sort of way lol, which makes it all the more special. 😊😋 

Cuz then he says “It’s a hundred miles away.” which lets her know he’s talking about more than just leaving this area.

I love that he starts with saying it’s 100 miles away cuz it shows that Rick heard her mention the distance and is now essentially telling her “I’m willing to go the distance for you.” 😊

Both Glenn and Michonne turn to Rick when they realize what he’s saying. And then Rick says, “We should go to Washington” looking straight at Michonne. Like Glenn is not exactly there rn cuz R&M are definitely having a moment. 😋

And I love that it’s crystal clear that this is about Rick wanting to make her happy and trust her instinct. 😊

There was a woman named Lori who once said Rick would never just up and move on a hunch...But she thought. Cuz Rick just demonstrated how he would be willing to do that for Michonne cuz soul mates. 👌🏽

And then when Michonne hears this, she legit looks at Rick like he’s the one. And Homeboy’s giving the same look back.

It’s cute seeing that they have seriously caught all the feelings and this moment between them is just really precious. 💯😊

Like to know he not only heard her and considered it, but just off that one pitch he’s willing to make this big decision. Whipped Rick is alive and well, y’all. Here for it. 🙌🏾😋

Again it reminds me of their cell moment in season 7, where Rick was motivated to take a chance and make a big decision for the group once Michonne poured her heart out to him. 

Seeing that this has been their dynamic for the longest it really throws those “Richonne came out of nowhere” arguments out the window imo. 

The way they’re interacting with each other just makes it so clear that falling in love was inevitable. 😌 Like the relationship between these characters couldn’t have just stayed platonic cuz their love goes too deep.

And seeing Rick be such a real one, by taking Michonne’s words to heart and deciding to take this big step for her, really had me like…

You can almost visibly see both their hearts grow two sizes for each other and I’m too here for it.

And then the world goes back to screaming at them pretty much immediately so this major stride in the relationship doesn’t get to be expounded upon as much in this moment.

As they rush to find Noah and Tyreese, they’re taking out walkers and often times Michonne is the life saver but we get to see Rick come to her rescue when she struggles against a walker with a metal thing in his neck.

As they head out of the community, we see that even with the emergency seat change Rick and Michonne still sit together. I’m just saying, those magnets are at work ‪24/7‬ and I’m not mad at it. 😁

So this episode really helped to establish the serious love that’s forming between Rick and Michonne. And to me, this episode showed us two things in particular and that’s that Michonne has the gift of being able to really win Rick over and Rick enjoys being able to give these kinds of gifts to her. ☺️

And episodes like this, that show us why Richonne is something special, really are nice gifts for us. So if this episode was a gift then this upcoming Richonne centric episode is like Christmas morning. 👌🏽😋