#parabolan!emery is thematically Not Real and a Caricature of Life because Emery... kinda is that as is

[sparingiscaring]

So I've been thinking about Parabolan reflections for my guys for a bit, and finally narrowed them down! Both Leigh and Emery's reflections incorporate a clear element of non-humanness, due to the connection shared between the two.

Being a less-than-natural person, Emery's reflection is a stitched together toy in the approximation of a human. There's no mistaking him for a person- in motion, he's too exaggerated, and his ability to speak is completely gone, as a result of his mouth only being stitching. His outfit is inspired by some of my own plush toys growing up, as well as some depictions of both clowns and court jesters. You can't take something so fake seriously, after all!

Leigh's reflection passes for human far better, but his fake is unchanging- it is a mask, with painted on freckles and cheeks and teeth, and only darkness and pupils are visible in the hollows of his eyes. A red ribbon takes the place of his Red Science gills, and functions similarly to the classic children's tale, The Girl with the Green Ribbon - if ever untied, his 'head' would fall off, revealing that all he ever was to be clothes, a wig, and a mask, with absolutely nothing beneath. He's mostly inspired by fashion from the late Victorian and early Edwardian - and his smiling mask is shamelessly inspired by one a Parabolan Nightmare once gave him :3