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unknown-art-room1 · 10 days ago

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Starlight Express Headcannons

I don't have many at the moment, but I can try to share what I got, though most will be character related. I'm not gonna go over every character, but the ones I've drawn so far: Greaseball, Caboose, Electra, Dinah, Pearl, Rusty, Hydra, Flattop, and Dustin.

Let's start off with this, I don't think most of the names are names, but actually nicknames. I don't have much to go off of but I think all the characters have human names that are just puns. The coaches are a great example of this; Dinah, Carrie, Ashley, Buffy and etc. The only reason I am saying this, is because of Rusty. He tells others to call him Rusty even if it is mean, it fits but it's not his name. I don't know what the others would be called but it's kinda fun to speculate.

Greaseball

This next one I got no evidence for, but I believe the trains are based on real people. Control has them as toys, but if he was gifted the toy by someone I believe that train is based on that person. Rusty is supposedly his dad's old train so Rusty looks like his dad, Momma/Poppa is based on his grandparents (they kinda act like grandparents in my mind), Pearl would be based on his mom, etc. If he has a train he bought himself, then they're based on someone else he knows or has seen. I really wouldn't be surprised if Control saw a drag queen and thought they looked really cool and that's where Electra's form came from.

Less of a headcannon and more of a theory... But I think the trains actually have a Toy Story/Harry and His Bucket Full Of Dinosaurs vibes. The musical is a dream, but for a dream the kid honestly talks to them and interacts with them more how you might with real people. He talks to them directly, they listen, as he has control over them in a sense. We see this throughout the performance as he threatens to put them in the box if they don't behave. But, he only has control over them when they're the main focus. When they aren't the main focus and towards the end, the trains can act as they want, they tell him to "shut up". I fully believe the dream was only the start of several adventures to come for this kid and his toys.

This one is silly, but I think the engines have different sneezes. Steamers whistle, diesel their horns blow, and the electrics just sound like their computer programme is crashing.

Greaseball, apart from being Southern and an absolute simp I can see them having an interest in engine repair and modification. Look they can't spell, they can only do the more physical based activities well so they might not have had any "schooling" in a sense. Instead they has a more hands on approach, learning things from physically experience. So, before they became a racer I can see them taking an interest in engines, could also explain why they were called Greaseball. Always covered in grease.

Caboose

This one is more for the male version of Greaseball just because he's got the deeper voice, but I could see him doing an Elvis or Johnny Bravo impression to make Dinah laugh.

I've only seen clips, but I think Greaseball is touch adverse to a degree. Whenever it comes to them touching others, they are usually the one who initiates the touch. But if he is being touched by others, they usually watches them as they do it. Caboose put a hand on his shoulder, he turns his head and watches as he does it before looking away. The only person he doesn't really do this with is Dinah. Yes, he usually initiates the touch with her but it's more of an offer. Flexes their muscles, puts their hand out for her to hold while they roll away, he either looks after she touches or before she does, never as it happens. Hell, the whole neck rub thing before they race, they don't let anyone touch them but Dinah.

You can't tell me, if they get angry you wouldn't hear their engine rev. I swear, it's like with every angry huff, it's just the engine revving more and more.

Unlike most of the others, who would be made of plastic or metal as they're toys, I like to think CB is actually made of wood. I don't know how to explain it, but sometimes the actor makes him look wooden in photos which is both creepy and confusing. I don't know how he does it, but the idea of CB being wooden leads to a few behavioural habits. Either he moves about on purpose like a doll to creep others out, just staring at you unblinking or even moves about like a puppet being moved... Or the other idea he tries to bite like he's a literal nutcracker. If given the chance he will bite as a warning or for fun and you'll never know if it's meant to hurt until it's too late.

He can float... This one is kinda self explanatory, but he's wooden so he floats on the water until he becomes water logged.

This one is more silly, but I feel like Caboose would identify as whatever gender is most useful to them or just to do it for a laugh. So, they are now known as the Gender Jester.

Electra

I actually have a few for Electra, so I'm gonna start off with my personal favourite, their mohawks are wigs that connect via magnets. They're electric, they can control others movements via electricity, so holding a wig to their head should be easy... Unless they crash and their system is on the Fritz.

Apart from being a racer and a diva, they secretly are a gamer in their free time. Spending as much time as possible by their computer or whatever counsel they are using. Wearing very relaxed clothes, like a hoodie and joggie bottoms.

Dinah

Everyone says she stress bakes/cooks which I can agree with, but I would also say if she is stressed about someone for whatever reason, she stress bakes/cooks for them. Oh? Rusty is getting stressed about how much work he has to do around the railyard? Okay, time to make him his favourite stew to cheer him up! Pearl is anxious about being new here? Sugar cookies with glitter!

Pearl

This one, I'm not sure if you guys will agree with this one... But I swear she is secretly scary. She gets possessive about Greaseball, she talks about getting revenge after being dumped (especially the revival version), and I swear in one version she does also bully Rusty? I think she's only nice to those she likes, anyone else I can see her being mean to or willing to fight them if given the right motivation.

Dinah started the whole spelling thing for her work. Why? Well some of the people who need to buy food might not know how to say the name of the food, it's just easier to spell it. Especially if it is a kid who is ordering food. A habit she picked up, and kept when not wanting to say certain words around others, or if the word is more negative.

She fell for Greaseball first, they fell harder, I will die on this hill... Unless you give me a really cute alternative.

I only have one for Pearl so far, but it's because she is a new train. She's the new toy for Control, she's got a name, a slight personality but apart from that she doesn't have much else going on for her. The coaches introduce themselves to her first and kinda adopt her into their group. Pearl doesn't know anything about the railyard, only about her friends and her interests that Control gave her. I honestly believe she is more like a child. Not in age or physical form, but her curiosity, she doesn't know how the social hierarchy and norms of the trains are. So, what she likes or what she does she doesn't see it as wrong, just new and confusing.

Take her liking Rusty or teaming up with Greaseball. The other coaches judge her for liking Rusty at first, but she doesn't care. When she teams up with Greaseball, she says "it's only fun". Yes, she was confused about her feelings at the time between GB and Rusty, but she just wants to race. At the time she knows teaming up with Rusty isn't accepted by the others, so Greaseball asking her to race with them? Why wouldn't she say yes? I'm not saying what she did was right, with how she hurt Dinah, but I don't think she did it to be malicious.

Rusty

Hydra

This one is just really me agreeing that Rusty has a whistle stim. But, I also believe the whistle he has also reflects his other emotions, same thing for when he steams. High pitched happy whistle, defeated/deflated it goes from high to low pitched, silly it kinda sounds like he is going "wa, was, waa", angry is both a loud high pitched whistle but he is actively streaming... And in love/flustered soft steam and quiet whistle every time he sighs.

Next to Momma/Poppa, he is the designated train for dealing with the Freights when they misbehave or need to be maintained. That is if they'll listen, doesn't always work if they don't respect him, but he is basically the sibling left in charge of his unruly family.

Flattop

Anything water based they love. Aquariums, ice drinks, water sports/activities, etc. They absolutely love it, they would definitely be the one to start a water fight on a hot day.

When hanging around with Porter, Lumber and Slick, their favourite thing to do together isn't dancing or working. It's a steam bath. Water, coals, maybe logs and some scented oils. Yeah, it's something the four of them can all agree on and have a secret spot where they do this to relax.

The only way you could make them stay still, put a water wheel in front of them. It has both water, and something that spins... Just be careful they don't try to climb it and balance on top of it as it moves, we don't want another accident.

Dustin

He likes football. Not American Football, European football. Either he gets involved or he loves to watch it. If he gets involved, sometimes he can get a bit physical bit if he gets too competitive. If he just watches he is worse, in this case he can watch and judge, and if he sees something that he doesn't agree with... Let's just say he can get a bit... Passionate. Needing to be dragged away before he starts a fight.

Flattop acts tough, and chaotic, but give him a chance and he's a real softie. He would kind of be like that fun uncle, he really loves to annoy you but if you were ever in trouble he is the first on the case to come to your rescue.

He's a lightweight when it comes to drinking. That's it.

He's the sweetest, we all agree with that. I feel as if the coaches would love him. Big friendly guy who is shy? They would dote on him! He has his special interest, which he will defend but he never tries to do anything that would annoy the others. You can't tell me they wouldn't love him.

Despite how shy, and anxious he gets he would go out of his way to make sure you are okay. Something scary happens? He goes to the train that's furthest away or alone to keep them company until everyone knows it's okay again.

Dustin is an ambrivert. He is shy around others, but put him with his close friend or he is sharing his interests and he comes out of his shell completely.

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acoldghostlypresence · 10 days ago

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STEX world building headcanons

Just some shit I've been thinking about, not fully cooked but eh.

The Apollo Victoria was built in the middle of nowhere at the top of a mountain originally to profit off mining operations in the area, when those mineral and coal deposits mostly dried up their financial situation became increasingly precarious. They were only able to stay open as long as they did coasting off the tourism, fame, and funding that came with housing the American National in Poppa and thus regularly hosting the Championships when he won. When Poppa retired it became essential that they find a new champion and fast since their old freight lines couldn't support the station alone, its why Greaseball became the defacto leader of the rolling stock once he won despite how mean he can be (it might also be a contributing factor in why he felt he had to cheat.)

In recent years the station has been looking into applying to become a heritage site due to their importance in train racing history and their preservation of old steamers that most other stations have long since abandoned.

Electra's (as of yet unnamed) station is positioned in the valley just below the Apollo Victoria they've just never needed to actually go up that way until the events of the show. I imagine afterwards they go out of their way to take jobs that let them visit as often as possible to rub how well they're doing in Greaseball's face... no other reason.

All the trains have a built in radio/walkie talkie system but they can only use it to talk to other people within their station, so all the Apollo Victoria trains can talk to each other and all the Components can talk to each other but neither group can talk across those lines (the nationals, being all from different stations, can't talk to anyone. Maybe they have a nationals only group chat set up for races though.) What makes Caboose's radio special is its lack of these limitations, he can talk to whoever whenever so long as they're in range and on a frequency he can access. Because of this he gets all the gossip from all the stations in the area, he's always up to date on what's happening sometimes before even Control is. CB has also illegally modified his radio because of course he has.

I've been imaging there being far more unnamed and unimportant freight and coaches off screen we don't see in the show working at the station.

Regarding Poppa/Momma's many kids, Rusty is their biological (as biologically related as a train can be) grandson while the freight are all foster kids they took in for one reason or another. CB aged out and now lives in his own shed but still visits for tea once a week.

Boxcars come in large batches and them all having identical names is not at all uncommon. The fact that there are only three Rockies at the station is abnormal and its because the rest of their siblings work for different companies far away. They regularly get post cards, letters, and gifts from their siblings and their shed is covered in them.

The fact that the Components belong too and only work with Electra isn't that weird, in fact it's pretty common for trucks and engines to pledge themselves to each other and become exclusive in this way, usually this is done as an emotional commitment between family or lovers. Its alot more high stakes for the trucks involved than the engine though, if something happens to an engine's trucks that's bad obviously but they'll survive, trucks on the other hand generally can't get far physically without an engine to push them so if anything happens to their engine they can become stranded. It's a problem all trucks face but it gets worse when you commit to one person and can no longer ask other engines to pick you up, something I'm sure Dinah was aware of when Greaseball uncoupled her and that Pearl at least briefly considered when trying to make up her heart between Electra and Rusty.

Pearl is trans. You already know this.

#starlight express #rambling #headcanon #long post #stex

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trealtox · 3 months ago

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When Rusty asks Pearl to race with him she says that there is an engine of her dream that noone can replace. She specifies that it has to be the steam engine. I have checked and can tell, that there are only two steamers there: Rusty and Poppa/Momma. And since Pearl is not satisfied with Rusty, then can she be interested in *cough* more experienced *cough* engine?👀

#starlight express #stex #starlight express pearl #starlight express Poppa #starlight express Rusty

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aheathen-conceivably · 2 years ago

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🎶 Lost in the Light 🎶

After hours of trying to sleep, Zelda rose from her makeshift bed in her parent’s workroom sometime before dawn. She paused momentarily to ensure that Violette was well asleep and then headed to the front door of the cottage. Her feet still knew the path in the darkness as though it hadn’t been over a decade since she had last done this.

Stepping out into the night was almost like stepping back in time. The air swirled with the same sounds and smells that she had known her whole life, the same ones that she had always relied on to clear her mind and cradle her thoughts when she couldn’t sleep.

When she entered a clearing that she recognized from her youth she stopped to look up at the shivering leaves. Far too embarrassed to speak aloud in the silence, Zelda spoke in her mind, Poppa, I suppose if you are anywhere you must be here. Are you with Mother and Rosella? I would like to think so, to think that none of you are alone.

She stopped for a moment, hearing the morning birds begin to sing and taking a deep breath. There was no answer to her question. No sounds other than the songbird. As if refusing to admit her own perceived foolishness, Zelda quelled her disappointment and continued,

How is Antoine, Poppa? Can you see him? Can you hear him? It’s been so long since I’ve heard his voice. Over two months now, and Violette asks after him constantly. Even she knows that we should be home by now, that it has been longer than I intended to be here.

A momentary anger rose in Zelda’s throat, one that she had been stifling every day since she boarded the steamer. She told herself that she had considered staying in England for Violette’s future, for her safety and happiness; but she knew that her daughter couldn’t have that without her father.

No, she had considered staying here out of spite and fear, of keeping Violette away to make Antoine suffer for her loneliness. She was angry, inordinately angry that Antoine wasn’t there - that he hadn’t boarded a ship to come and find her as the weeks went by. But that was the thought of a young girl with young dreams, the type that had once wandered these woods with her mind full of romance novels and grand gestures.

Her years in New Orleans and the harshness of the world had tempered the girl she had once been; for Zelda knew that Antoine’s memories of the bloodshed of war here were blinding, and that her absence wouldn’t change the reasons he had stayed. It would only cause him to dig his heels in deeper and fall further into the trenches of his own mind. After almost ten years together she knew that she couldn’t pull him out, and that he had to want to let go before she could truly help him.

And she wanted nothing more than for him to let go, to experience the same freedom that she had felt in England, the unexpected lightness in her soul and her heart when she realized that she was no longer afraid of the things which once brought her so much pain.

For to her great surprise, she had borne every ounce of grief and memory without breaking. She had found an unexpected peace here that could perhaps bring more stability and security for herself and her daughter. Yet it was also devoid of the life and love she had found in New Orleans. For as much memory as was in this place, she couldn’t deny that it felt no more like home than after her father died. The strongest bonds to her family were now all truly gone, each of them nothing but memories amongst the leaves of the Bramblewood.

She knew that she could spend her days tilling the fields that her father had sown and attempting to replace the fulfillment that being somewhere ever-changing brought her. But it also meant the loss of her daughter’s trust and the love of her life; for despite his actions she did still love him, deeply, and wanted nothing more than to be with him. Although she knew what the safe choice was, her months here had shown her that the pain of being apart was even worse than the pain of being together and that she was at home with the family she had found in New Orleans.

Poppa, tell me please, what do I do?

#1929 #sims 4 historical #ts4 historical #ts4 decades challenge #sims 4 decades challenge #sims 4 legacy #ts4 legacy #sims 4 story #ts4 story #the darlingtons #1920s #zelda darlington

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scriv3lloirl · 26 days ago

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Someone call for an explanation on wtf Starlight Express is? Well im here to help! This is going to be insanely oversimplified because getting into detail about this musical would require more energy than i have so i hope this tells you enough

We start out with Greaseball the Diesel, who is a reigning train racing champion. He acts very entitled and arrogant because of this. Next we meet Rusty the Steam Engine, an aspiring racer who no one believes can truly succeed in racing. Rusty is head over heels for Pearl the First Class Car, and wants her to race with him in the World Championship. Then Electra the Electric Engine shows up and catches Pearl's eye, who is now torn between racing with Rusty or racing with Electra. Eventually she chooses to race with Electra and leaves Rusty behind.

Rusty then refuses to race without Pearl and seeks help from Poppa McCoy, a former racing champion and steamer, who tries to convince Rusty to race. When Rusty continues to refuse, Poppa decides to race to show Rusty that he can do it. Miraculously, he wins, but he is too weak to handle the next round and asks Rusty to go in his place instead.

He agrees and C.B. the Red Caboose, who he has known and been aquatinted with for a while, offers to be his partner. Little does he know, C.B. has been paid by Greaseball to crash Rusty so he can win.

When Rusty gets crashed by C.B. the race is called in for a rerun. This time, Rusty decides to partner up with his friend, Dustin the Coal Hopper. He ends up winning the race while C.B., Electra, and Greaseball end up crashing into each other and losing. Rusty wins Pearl over and they all live happily ever after!

TL;DR, trains bully this other train and he proves them all wrong and gets the girl

Okay so after readin this, Rusty gives me Seymour vibes. I am now #1 Rusty Hater /j

#answerin asks #thanks fer th' explanation though #very helpful #might check it out later #sounds interestin enough #stex #starlight express #💜#- Dr. P #dr pepper collective

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wonderful-magician · 4 months ago

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Late StEx appreciation day!! Momma/Poppa !!

Favorite performers ( not ordered )

- Lon satton

- Lothair Eaton

- David E. moore

- Reva Rice

- Jade Marvin

Favorite songs/moments

Poppas/Momma's blues is great! Absolutely love Jade Marvin's vocals specifically along with the fire barrel!

Notes

I prefer poppa story wise but I think both are perfect for their songs! Truly a gender neutral role!

#stex #starlight express #stex appreciation month #stex appreciation month 2024 #poppa the steamer #momma the steamer

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green-planets · 5 months ago

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StEx Appreciation Month Day 11: Rockies!

🟦🟨🟩🟥🟦🟨🟩🟥🟦🟨🟩🟥🟦🟨

Face Claims: Lashane Williams (Rocky 1), Martin Boothe (Rocky 2), Priscilla Osegie (Rocky 3), Richard Bodkin (Rocky 4)

Favourite Song/Scenes: Vegas boot where they fight a gang member bullying Rusty! There are also some boots where they square up whenever Greaseball's bothering Rusty or Poppa. Nobody touches their steamers! I also love watching them during Poppa/Momma's blues and Right Place, Right Time!

Favourite Costumes: I love the early Bochum costumes (pink Rocky you will always be famous to me) but I am partial to the 2018 Bochum update color line-up (blue 1, yellow 2, green 3). I like their boxing gloves too but they need to BRING👏BACK👏THE👏BOOTY👏SHORTS

Favourite Ships/Friendships: Rocky 1 x Brexit!! I don't think I have any other Rocky ships EDIT: I FOROR TO ADD FRIENDSHIPS D: They are friends with the freight crew, Rusty, Momma/Poppa, the coaches, and Memphis Belle!

Headcanons: I'm a 4 Rockies truther because the more the merrier!! (and Rocky 4 gets to be pink 😌) They taught Rusty the correct way to punch and block so he can defend himself better when they're not around

Unpopular Opinion: I have no idea how popular/unpopular this is but they could probably get away with casting the Rockies completely gender blind instead of having 1 token female (also stop giving her bright red lipstick please and thank you)

🟦🟨🟩🟥🟦🟨🟩🟥🟦🟨🟩🟥🟦🟨

#stex appreciation month 2024 #starlight express #rocky the boxcar #stex rockies #no art today 😔

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goblin-iz-whack · 8 months ago

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SNOWY SOUNDS SO COOL!! What are they like??

My beefy girl.

Snowy is Apollo Victoria's resident Snow Plow. She's a steamer, she's massive, and she has ice skates rather than normal skates!

She reverse hibernates, sleeps all year until winter.

She has a husband, Fireball. He loves his giant wife, I imagine they have an army of kids somewhere.

She's a parallel to Momma/Poppa, as she's an older train that is the leader of a group of freight trucks. Her trucks are meant to deliver supplies during harsh winters, which she is equipped to lead them through.

One of my first StEx ocs, we stan her.

#starlight express #stex #snowy the snow plow

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whistlingstarlight · 1 year ago

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StEx in real life Part 1: Engines

These are mostly headcanon, as there are either too many inconsistencies or not enough information to properly assign every character an irl basis, but I thought it would be fun to do. Explanations are provided for each.

Rusty: CNJ 2-6-2T

Rusty was very hard to pick an irl counterpart for, as if he is based on a particular engine it's hard to tell as his helmet is misshapen to accommodate the actor's visibility. I feel like Rusty is more likely a tank steamer than a tender, and the helmet looks more like it has side tanks than any other shape. This 2-6-2 has a cowcatcher, a lamp on top of the smokebox, and even the same style of cab window as Rusty. So I'm satisfied to choose this as my irl counterpart for him.

Greaseball: EMD E9 A-unit

This isn't really headcanon as Greaseball's helmet looks incredibly close to an E9, and they're very iconic and memorable Union Pacific's rolling stock.

Electra: SNCF CC40101

This one is just literally fact. Electra is surprisingly the most specific character when it comes to their basis, as he has it printed on his helmet. It's an outdated choice for the "engine of the future", but he certainly looks retro-futuristic.

Poppa/Momma: Kansas Central 2-6-0

This one is very contradictory to what little info we have on the Old Steamer's class, but I decided to go with it. Poppa wears the Kansas Central logo on his hat, and given their similar designs I choose to believe Momma is from the same company. In Broadway Poppa is called "the Big Boy", but to my knowledge no UP Big Boys ever worked for KCS, and as the KCS logo lasted longer than the Big Boy line I prefer to use that. I love the idea of Poppa and Momma being old-fashioned American steamers, and this was the only KCS I could find.

Greaseball's gang

These ones are honestly just pure headcanon and very self-indulgent based on some of my favourite diesels. Felt weird leaving them out but trust me, there's nothing in canon to justify these.

Tank: KM ML 4000

Lube: BR Class 122

Gear: BR Class 08

#this is purely for fun i don't expect most of these to line up with canon fully lol #stex #starlight express #clyde rambles #part 2 soon #the poppa/momma choice might actually be narrow gauge apparently? but fuck it we're rolling with it

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