#star's story updates

[lunacias]

of five people, three must pay a price

[snakepixel]

I realized its the 20th anniversary of Cave Story (Doukutsu Monogatari) so 15 years after I made the illustration for the Wiiware release, I've decided to redraw it.

Could finally update some elements that didn't have a consistent design back then.

[artilite]

star sailor 🎇

this was drawn a little over 2 weeks ago as i was in the middle of act 2! it's kind of funny in retrospect hahaha i put the star shaped light on sif as a nod to my vague theory that sif had a star for a heart/soul but lost it. Well it wasn't quite right but there was one line of dialogue going towards that direction? a win is a win

[cinamun]

Previous | Bonus: The Text | Next

Lot by @annasiims

[oobbbear]

We love big brother Sun in this house he’s trying his best 🙌

In this story Earth is like the absent father figure and Sun is this loving but a bit over bearing mother figure that the kid starts to get annoyed by and distance from once they grew up (it’s a bit silly if I think about it for too long)

[tryagainstarlight]

Intro - Odile's Friend Quest!

💫: It was something about the papers...

[kyo-mei]

Jing Yuan & Yinyue-Jun

A redraw of a screenshot :>

[inspiredsimmerx]

[yupuffin]

I think the aspect of the 2.7 story that felt most impactful to me was something that was previously addressed in the Penacony main story, but was reemphasized and expanded upon with Sunday being the narrative focus of this update:

Sunday is scared.

His motivation to protect the people and things important to him -- Robin is an excellent example -- manifests as a desire for control, to eliminate potential dangers. This motivation is based in fear; he's afraid to lose what he has to factors beyond his control, like the bullet that nearly took his sister's life.

And part of the "true paradise" he longs for involves preventing the sense of powerlessness that accompanies that fear. He believes that humanity sleeps because "we are afraid to awaken from our dreams." Indeed, the appeal of the "sweet dream" of Penacony is freedom from the uncontrollable and inevitable tragedies of the waking world.

It's part of what made him such an effective villain in the Penacony arc; even though you may disagree vehemently with his actions, you can understand with and sympathize the rationale behind them. In his mind, absolute control over the Dreamscape -- the elimination of frightening unknowns -- is the most effective way to keep everyone safe and happy. However, this undermines the real freedom and autonomy of the affected populace, many of whom are unaware of the Dreamscape's true nature.

In the 2.7 update, Sunday is "nerfed after turning into a good guy," to use March's words. Previously, he enjoyed immense social status as the head of the Oak Family -- and as the imposing, invulnerable, "final boss"-style antagonist. Now, his role is effectively reversed; he's a fugitive who has to disguise himself to evade the potential consequences of simply being seen.

He's an incredibly vulnerable position.

Not just physically -- as the audience, we also get intimate insights into his feelings and thought processes. Now he recognizes the scope of the harm he was previously willing to cause in the name of absolute control, and shoulders the responsibility of dealing with the repercussions.

His newly evident guilt and shame is emotionally moving on its own...

...and becomes even more poignant when you realize that guilt and shame and vulnerability has been a crucial aspect of his character from the very beginning. After all, so much of his deep-seated fear of the unknown stemmed from him blaming himself -- his lack of control over the situation -- for Robin's unforeseen injury.

I found the scene at the Dream's Edge the most touching in this update. Sunday's conversation with Robin is a bit of a paradox: he is deeply sincere and vulnerable in speaking to his own sister, yet guarded because he must avoid revealing his true identity. And Robin, in turn, directly provides an alternate outlook on Sunday's character, describing him as though to someone who's never met him, as though he isn't there.

And Robin's perspective reaffirms that Sunday's apparent invulnerability was essentially a facade. He may have been the head of the Oak Family, and the imposing final boss, but at the same time, on the inside, he was continually paralyzed by fear.

Sunday has always been vulnerable. He has always been scared.

And I think what makes the conclusion to the 2.7 story so satisfying and triumphant is that Sunday begins to properly address his fear, his persistent guilt and shame. He moves beyond simply acknowledging it, and recognizes not just how indulging his fear can bring further harm, but also what good things (that otherwise wouldn't occur) can happen when he overcomes it -- as it were, when he doesn't let his fear control him.

I'm going to be real, I probably had an intelligent-sounding conclusion for this, but... it took me several weeks to write this and I've forgotten any idea i might have had previously, so let's just say he definitely hit me right in the feels. 🤣

[recent-rose]

so abt the end of that 2.7 sunday questline

the concept of luck/chance in particular being referenced like 2 or 3 times, later concluding with a line from wonweek (who i view as sunday's id) about how he's "possessed by that ipc gambler". like that is CRAZY to me. he's really trying to embody these qualities about aven that he admires/values. sunday doesn't even deny it. he just goes on to talk about how failure is the best teacher, that you have to understand what people live/die for to save more lives. that the best way to achieve this is through "personal experience". aka living. it may be a reach but i really feel like the implication here is that he doesn't understand aventurine (because aven has had a life full of experiences the likes of which sunday probably can't even conceive of, duty-bound to penacony as he has been), but that he wants to. like badly. the reason he failed ('lost' to aventurine [and also everyone else LOL]) is his lack of experience with... life, other people, the whole thing.

there's also that interesting line about "if what i once doubted - or even opposed - becomes the force i must rely on in the future... then this time, my true heart will guide the tuning" he then tells wonweek that he will "leave it (the choice) to him". he's going to literally let his heart/instincts guide him. at this point wonweek asks if he's been possessed by aventurine lmao. like. they (wonweek/sunday) view aventurine as someone who follows their heart. meanwhile sunday following HIS heart is fucking emulating aventurine. HELLO. hoyo cooked so insanely with them the whole kitchen burned down

[struggling-jpg]

Not to be that person but

The Wardance event really had Luka and Yanqing reflect each other. I feel like we got a speedrun of vaguely similar events that happen to Yanqing occur to Luka here. Like while being really good, he gets hit with obstacle after obstacle that shakes his confidence and willpower. Yet, when it comes down to it, Luka boxes because he loves it and it makes him feel happy and free.

"The most important thing is to always throw the next punch."

To work towards self-improvement, to love what you do, they both share that sentiment.

These two really felt like protagonists from different yet similar genres lol

This event was just so peak TvT

[rafaelsilvasource]

RAFAEL SILVA via IG Stories - March 5, 2024

[shirozora-draws]

Five months later, here we are to close the book on the first arc and open to the first pages of the second arc.

This was an interesting exercise in taking what little I know about a world from the existing canon and building up the background/environment. Took inspo from Andor's set designs and added some post-war organic flair (I hope). Always wanted to draw some Leia, and it sure won't be the last time.

Painted and repainted the background while knowing full well that I'll just end up blurring it and drowning it in hazy cold morning light anyway. Bringing an Auzituck gunship out of its simplified animated origins into a more... "realistic" space has been challenging but I love creating metal textures with rough brushes and I'm gonna keep doing it. Can't wait for more chances to draw Din in this particular design.

I'll have a later post regarding the pop-up shop. For now, I need a weeklong break from the two months of stress between finishing the chapter draft and getting this out onto the Internets.

[guujikaroko]

So, two days until Amphoreus! I remember Shaoji in the 3.0 livestream saying there would be internal and external storylines progressing simultaneously.

It's going to work well, right? Amphoreus' main story is gonna last a whole year, so nothing will feel too crammed in. Actually, I was worried that the story would feel dragged after a certain point, so having two whole storylines going on is the best.

...But technicalities aside, isn't that damn hilarious? The external team is March, Himeko, Welt, Sunday, Black Swan and Herta, while the Trailblazer and Dan Heng will have to brave Amphoreus by themselves.

It's too fucking unequal, lmao. And Dan Heng promised he'd go on the next expedition, so when he realized he'd get no backup from the Express he probably thought "Oh, fuck" and went anyway. Just him and the raccoon against the world, bless his soul.

[not-poignant]

Constellations 15 on AO3!

Rating: Mature

Tags: Contemporary, trauma recovery, men in therapy, references to BDSM relationships, past trauma recovery, complex family relationships, hurt/comfort, angst, historical child abuse, historical familial abuse, reconciliation, Gwyn’s a stalker for five seconds

Summary: (Will make little sense if you haven’t read Falling Falling Stars) It’s been around ten years since the events of Falling Falling Stars, and Efnisien and Gwyn are living their respective lives, and haven’t really been in touch since. Over time, Gwyn becomes more curious about his cousin, especially after learning something he hopes isn’t true, and after seeing him by chance in a park, kicks off a series of events that helps create new opportunities for reconciliation, and discovering what it really means to be family. 

–

Constellations - 15 - Champagne Supernova on AO3

In which Efnisien meets Gwyn’s dog, Fleet, for the first time, and Gwyn finds out more about the incest that occurred between Efnisien and Crielle, and has his worldview shattered by his new understanding of past events.

–

EARLY ACCESS: Constellations - 18 - Solar Event (Final chapter!) on Patreon and Ream:

Constellations 18 on Patreon

Constellations 18 on Ream

In this chapter, Gwyn and Efnisien keep seeing each other. Gwyn realises he gets to have Efnisien in his life and how much of a gift that truly is, as he looks towards a future where he finally understands what family means.

– Thanks to all the Patreon and Ream supporters for making this (and my other writing) possible!

[vulpixisananimal]

Looping again and again...

(You breath in, and out.)

(You're exhausted. You feel even more sick than last time. Your eyes are puffy, and theres a weight on your chest.)

(You breath in, and out.)

(Just, just focus. Just focus. None of that happened, not really. It was all in another timeline, you didn't hurt him, and you aren't selfish. You... You...)

("I should never have trusted you.")

(. . .)

(You trust them. But they don't trust you. If they don't trust you, why do you keep talking to them.)

(Because it's. . . Because I promised.)

(You promised to protect Bonnie too.)

(Your breath catches.)

(Are you sure they believe you, or like you, or trust you? Can you be sure? You have a power that they cannot comprehend. Every day could be perfectly scripted by you.)

(I. . . I don't know.)

(Do you think Isabeau trusts you.)

(I. . .)

"You alright, Sif?"

(Oh stars, right. You breath in, and out.)

"Never better, Isa!" (You said, your words ringing hollow.)

"Well, if you need a hand or, or if I need to get you anything, just let me know okay?"

(Same as last time. You are looping again, after all. You look at yourself in the mirror. Could it get worse..?)

(You step out of the bathroom.)

"Sif! Are you sure you're alright?" (He leaned down to your level, just as worried as before.) "I was about to get out of bed and I heard you, uh-"

"I'm fine Isabeau--" >> "--Just some loopy stuff, not that bad, I'll meet you for breakfast!"

(. . . Should you be zoning out? Things are differen't now, you're not in Dormont after all.)

(It wont hurt them.)

(You're back downstairs, Mirabelle and Bonnie off doing whatever it was they do in the morning. The quesadillas looked good like last time. Hmm, you could change a few things up here at least.)

"You sure you're alright? Can't go investigating when your sick."

"I've gone through worse." (You say cheekily.)

"That's not a good thing though!" (Isa exlaimed.) "You were sick for weeks after all those loops!"

"Still hard to believe." (Nille commented, leaning back.) "Even I know you're not s'possed to be able to craft time."

"Well I didn't think wishes were so..."

"Dangerous?" (You say.)

"Well, yeah." (Isa's vision wandered, thinking.) ". . . Do you think that's why you're sick again?"

(Huh.)

(Odile looked up from her book.) "That could be it. Perhaps that wish is still allowing Siffrin to loop back, but requires more of his own energy."

"So it's, craft exhaustion?" (That would make sense, and explain why each time you looped you were feeling worse.)

"Alright eat up then 'Frin." (Nille said, leaning over to give you a second quesadilla.) "Gotta get your energy back."

(You shrink down into your cloak.) "I'll be fine, you don't, need, to."

"Come on Sif!" (Now Isa was handing you more food.) "Craft exhaustion 101! Eat! Your! Food!"

(Oh stars. . .)

(Defeated, you start to eat up. It WAS good food, Bonnie always made good food. And you WERE hungry. Plus, you might need the energy to loop again. And if you do that, then you wouldn't have taken their food.)

(Mirabelle and Bonnie join the rest of you, the air is a bit warmer than last time. Bonnie threatened to go back and make you even more food once they found out you had craft exhaustion. But for now, it's about time to explain things again.)

(You're going to? You still trust them?)

(. . . If we don't, it could be worse. We didn't ask for help before, and it was worse.)

"Isa, did you know someone called Ramos in the Defenders?"

"Huh?" (Isa thought for a moment.) "I didn't. . . Oh! Well I knew someone who's second name was that, why?"

"Taller? Wears a vest and kerchif? Short hair?"

(Isa shook his head.) "No, but I remember they asked me about some clothes like that... Wait did you-"

(You smile smugly.) "You must have had quite the impact, they look totaly different when we met them later today."

"You looped again!?!?--" >> "--I'll look for one of those next time."

(Where to start this time.)

"This will be try number three of today, First time me and Odile went to the library and the rest of you to the Defenders place, Bonnie came running to us, aparently Mira was framed for kidnapping Bonnie."

"!?!?!?--" >> "--There must have been some kind of mistake!"

"And that's why we went there last time." (You hesitate) "We all did, met Ramos at the enterance, started leading us to someone who'd help. Mira, Bonnie and Nilla ran off because of..."

(. . . Roses.)

"Beacuse Bonnie smelled mint and thought someone's roses were in trouble?"

"Huh?!?"

"It makes more sense at the moment I promise!"

"Well there was someone who kept roses." (Isa pondered.) "But he was never the type to get mints in his rosebeds."

"Well aparently Bonnie smelled mint, so."

"Was it like the sugar?" (Bonnie asked.) "Like, is it a craft thing?"

(You blink, oh.) "Well, uh, I did smell a lot of something."

(Bonnie hopped away from the tapple and ran back to the kitchen. Before coming back with a bit of a plant and held it up to you.) "Smell."

(You take a sniff, the same smell.) ". . . Is that mint?"

"Duh." (They said smugly.) "No it's cumin, obviously. Crabface."

"Language."

(You all have a bit of a chuckle. Bonnie going to put the mint back. Odile prompted you to continue.)

"Right..." (You shift a bit in your seat, oh boy.) "Well... Isa, did you get any help on your Defender quiz? Did Ramos help you?"

"Huh? I mean a bit," (he looked confused.) "I did worry about it a bunch, and Ramos was having it harder, but we helped each other out."

(You nod.) "While we were walking you said they helped you all the time, and that you knew eachother for a long time, it all seemed... Wrong."

(You paused, thinking. Odile noticed.) "Everything alright, Siffrin?"

(You bite your lip. You, didn't want to talk about what happens next.) "Well. . . You and I got suspicious, confronted Ramos, you grabbed them and then started being weird, and uh, well, I stepped in and, well, they were wearing the star pendant."

"!!!"

"Gems alive."

"Oh Ramos.." (Isabeau looked worried.) "They didn't hurt you, did they?"

(You snapped to attention, huh? What?) "I-I, n-no they, uh, no they didn't." (If anything, it was the other way around...)

"Well... If you want to talk about it."

(You shrug.)

". . . Well what's the plan today then boss." (Nille asked, looking over she was leaning on the table so relaxed.) "Since you know the future and all."

(Boss?) "Well, I doubt this'll be the last loop, but this time we should go looking for information on what craft links to mint, if any."

"Good idea Siffrin!" (Mirabelle perked up, uhoh, she had a look in her eyes.) "Me, Odile and Isabeau will go looking for that while YOU stay here and relax!!"

"Huh?!?!"

"Agreed." (Odile was giving you a look.) "We can't have our ace in the hole burning himself out."

"That'll leave you two in charge of Siffrin then, think you can handle it?" (Isa said to Nille and Bonnie.)

(Nille gave a thumbs up) "Leave it to the sibling squad."

"Yeah!! I'm gonna make you hot chocolate too!!"

"What. Wait. But, b-but."

(You didn't know how to respond, what was going on, you were just, just explaining what happened. It was just going to be another go around. Go look for info on mint, then, then...) "Wh, why?!?"

"Because you need!! A!! Beak!!" (Mirabelle had gotten up) "You've had to do the same day twice now and each time it was really unpleasant!! And if today doesn't really happen for us, then we can do a bit extra! The other us's wont remember."

"Exactly." (Odile closed her book.) "If today doesn't matter then we can be a bit risky, and you can relax a bit more. It might help you feel better for next loop."

(You tried hiding in your cloak, a hard thing to do without a hat.) "But, you just, trust me on that?"

"Of course!" (Isabeau said, cheery.) "Why wouldn't we? I'll always trust you, Sif, because you could have done a lot of bad with being able to loop, and you didn't!" (You wince at that, Isa huffed.) "Yes, even that moment we had. I told you, it's alright."

(. . .)

(They do have a point. You, never really got a break back then either. Sure you had moments, but...)

"Ok, If you're sure..."