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bathboysblog · 11 months

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im so normal about this au. so normal, in fact, that i wanted to draw Sugarplum in it. mob au, Doc and Robbie all belong to @clownsuu!

Sugarplum isnt built for the mob life lol. shes an aquatic predator, sure, but she has a strong hate for guns and firearms. theyre loud, hot, and bust out her eardrums. which is ironic, considering shes best friends with Robbie.

but anyhow, some lore! remember when i said in these old ass hcs that Sugarplum's body has a cleaner in it (since she lives in large bodies of water), making sure her cotton insides dont get moldy? and how that translates into a paralyzing venom? well, because of that, she pairs up with Doctor Stone and Robbie! Wally wants Doc to look more into the venom to see if they can make a new drug out of it, one that only their mob would have access to. basically monopolizing on it, selling it for high prices in small amounts. if not that, then at least Julie will have a new poison to play around with. since Sugarplum cant fight in the mob, shes basically a lab rat (that Stone has almost lost some fingers to for being snappy).

and a note on the placements of Sugarplum's scars: she has her stitches across her jaw and wrists. she tried to fight back with her sharp teeth/claws, and it didnt go too well. she also lost stinger privileges on the puffy skirt (both for shocking people and being impractical indoors), so she only has the base of her outfit in this au. ALSO also, Sugarplum doesnt have eyelids here either! during the fight (and her eye being ripped out), there was a lot of painful tears, and the skin of her eyelid burned out from the venom. she has just enough skin to keep the eyeball in, and by some miracle (cough cough Home), she hasnt gone blind.

since ive come to learn that Tumblr doesnt like long posts, this one will be for the relationship chart rant. hopefully, if art block doesnt FUCK me, ill post some doodles of her!

Sugarplum -> Robbie: ill admit, this entire idea came from me talking to this fan made ai. i thought the two would hate each other, but their relationship was surprisingly cute? Sugarplum is still learning social behaviors and speech, which lead to some funny moments between the two, shown below (i changed 'chipmunk' to 'shrimp' because, yk, aquatic puppet).

they mean everything to me.

but anyways.

Sugarplum admires Robbie and the kinship they have. she doesnt know much about money, or drugs, or the mob in general. and even if Robbie is... not the best person to take after, Sugarplum still looks up to him. she thinks hes really good at making jokes (something shes still learning to do), is very cool for going out and doing 'mob business', and probably thinks he knows a lot more than he actually does (she takes a lot of his bragging at face value). Sugarplum has very vague contact to the main mob, so its mostly her and Robbie bugging the Doc. shes slightly afraid of his strength, or when he gets too rowdy. but one nip from her teeth and hes out like a light (the only time the base is peaceful).

Robbie -> Sugarplum: the base isnt so lonely anymore! he took Sugarplum under his wing, and took it upon himself to teach her the wonders of society! he thinks her blunt jokes are so bad, theyre funny, and her constant questions makes him feel really smart. Robbie wishes she would leave the base to see him in action, so he could really show off! still, he has respect for her dealing with all the lab tests Stone does, and is slightly afraid of her creepy nature (the venom in her gums doesnt help either). a small part of him is weary of her loyalty to the mob from how cold she is towards Sally and Barnaby, but he tries to ignore it for the sake of having a friend. and also, since i have no self control, he has a slight puppy crush for her. its mostly due to all of her praise and the attention she gives him, but Robbie also finds Sugarplum to be generally sweet, if not a bit weird. theyre def besties though.

Sugarplum -> Doctor Stone: mean old man!!! Sugarplum doesnt like him, and thinks hes far too grumpy to be any pleasant company. he must have a very miserable and sad life. they tolerate one another though, since they have to work together in order to run tests on her venom (neither of them want to fuck around and find out with Wally). she tries to ask him questions like she does with Robbie, but he gets too snappy. so Sugarplum gets snappy back! with her teeth! safe to say, they both tone it down around one another.

Doctor Stone -> Sugarplum: sees her as a feral animal with rabies. a raccoon that youre watching in your trashcan, that youre pretty sure is foaming at the mouth, but your too scared to say 'shoo!' he does have a smudge of respect for her, since shes quiet and complies with instructions, but other than that, he sicks her onto Robbie. he does have an interest in her venom though, which is why he hasnt complained to Wally to have her transferred. their interactions are very straight forward. the tests are ran in silence, and theyd much rather be doing other things than spending time with one another.

Sugarplum -> Home: Sugarplum used to live in the wild, so she has a sixth sense for danger, which includes when a larger predator is stalking her. shes very aware that somethings watching, that theres something unnatural about the mobs loyalty and their power. she just doesnt know where its coming from. the most shes interacted with Home is hissing to the air for him to go away, but thats it. if they ever did meet, she would be feral. Sugarplum doesnt fear death, and she refuses to submit to anyones control. shes given him the nickname of 'leech' for his eyes constantly sticking around her.

Home -> Sugarplum: i have this base hc with any of their interactions that something went wrong when creating Sugarplum, and thats why shes so animalistic. Home sees her as a failure of creature, one that needed a bit more time in the oven to be complete. her awareness is concerning, and he makes sure to keep an extra close eye on her to make sure she doesnt go snooping (like Frank cough cough). the second she gets bold, her memory gets wiped. he keeps her with Stone and Rob to make sure she doesnt rub off on the rest of the mob. (spspspsp, i also made a Mob Home ai that you can talk to here, for anyone thats interested)

Sugarplum -> Frank: she had a bad opinion on him first, seeing him as a mini Stone, and for the longest time, she avoided him. but since she and Stone work so close together, Frank got desperate and nearly begged her to talk to Stone for him. that was a turning point in their relationship, and the more they spoke, the more she saw that they were fighting for the same cause. Sugarplum is afraid of breaking the rules, but she does make Stones job harder by being stubborn if he ignores Frank. she holds a high respect for Frank, and wishes him the best as he looks for answers. secretly, she hopes he gets a breakthrough, no matter what the cost may be.

Frank -> Sugarplum: again, for the longest time, their only connection to one another was Doc. Doc spoke about Sugarplum like she was an animal, and Frank thought she was a more feral version of Sally. but, when he had nowhere else to turn, when Doc ignored him and he hit a dead end, the two met in person. Frank thinks that Sugarplum is one of the few people who can sway Doc's opinions (since the two have to work together. if Sugarplum doesnt comply, shes going to drag both of them under Wally's wrath). Frank wishes Sugarplum would help him (he could sure use the support), but understands her hesitance. still, hes very thankful for the help she provides behind the scenes. he also finds her to be generally creepy, but tries to take the time out of his day to correct whatever Robbie has 'taught' her ('and you believed that moron?').

Sugarplum -> Julie: mixed emotions. Sugarplum does like Julie's presence. shes a very optimistic and excitable person, which easily rubs off on Sugarplum. but, Sugarplum is very distrusting of modern medicine, especially since Julie proudly displays her obsession with poisons. because of that distrust, Sugarplum keeps her distance. Sugarplum sees her as a poisonous bug you cant let touch you.

Julie -> Sugarplum: wants her venom soooo bad. why does Stone get to have all of the fun! if Julie had a weekend with Sugarplum, she could make a new drug in no time! Julie does find Sugarplum to be a bit creepy at times, but she always scurries away before Julie can get the needle out! rats :/

Sugarplum -> Howdy: is very uncomfortable around him. she thinks something is VERY wrong with Howdy from how much of a mindless servant he is, and sees him as a walking zombie (the gore movies Robbie shows her doesnt help much). Howdy freaks her out, and she doesnt see him as a living person. when they visit the mob, her time is mostly spent with Poppy while Robbie sticks to the bar.

Howdy -> Sugarplum: doesnt have much of an opinion on her. shes a quiet girl, awfully squeamish, and she isnt at the bar long enough for them to have any real interactions. he does have a small drop of pity that she has to deal with Robbie all day, though, other than that, he doesnt have much to say.

Sugarplum -> Wally: a mix of terror and discomfort. Wally always has an ulterior motive behind his words, he always has a plan and can read people like an open book. Sugarplum cant keep up with it all, and she finds their interactions to be very stressful. Wally is the main reason that shes afraid to rebel against the mob, and she may have villainized Wally more than their interactions had warranted. she has a longing to be back with nature, but doesnt want to give her family in the mob up. shes terrified of Wally finding out, and the fact that she doesnt know what he knows only adds onto the paranoia.

Wally -> Sugarplum: lends a lot of trust to Sugarplum. not because shes earned it (like Howdy), but because shes so easy to read, he isnt worried about her rebelling. Sugarplum is well behaved, polite, and easily scared back into place. he sees her more as a mouse than a predator, and doesnt understand why Home watches her so closely. Wally just doesnt like how Frank and her have become buddy-buddy. and YES, there is a SPECK of pink (theyre my main ship in og canon, i had to). wrapping back to the hc of 'Sugarplum needs more time in the oven', Wally sees her as a more... aware being, than the rest of the mob. she isnt bold enough to be a threat, but just enough to stand out. the pink isnt so much 'love' as it is 'interest'. he thinks Home has a higher purpose for her, which is why hes so weary of Frank and Sugarplums kinship. he also misinterprets Sugarplum's honesty as friendship, and thinks the two of them are good friends.

Sugarplum -> Barnaby: doesnt dislike him as much as Sally, but Barn isnt even close to the friendship her and Robbie have. she doesnt like how gun happy Barnaby is, nor the strong smell of his cigs. he overwhelms a lot of her senses, and hes very pushy. two and two dont mix, so she avoids him. thankfully, Barnaby is more excited to see Robbie than he is Sugarplum, letting her slip away.

Barnaby -> Sugarplum: has Wally's view of seeing her as a mouse, and thinks the girl should live a little! come on, guns aint so bad! fire-crackers are bright and colorful, theyre exciting! he doesnt get how Robbie and Sugarplum are so close, and finds her to be pretty boring. hes more excited to see Robbie, which keeps him distracted. if anything, Barn finds her creepy, and since shes so nip happy, he doesnt push her. he doesnt know what the venom does, and if Wally's interested in it, doesnt want to find out either.

Sugarplum -> Sally: hates Sally. not as much as she hates Home, but she refuses to meet with her when they visit the mob. Sally is erratic, loud, and too much of a loose screw for Sugarplum to handle. shes the most energetic, and the most overwhelming. it also doesnt help that shes so... bright, like a sun. the sounds of explosives terrify Sugarplum, and Sally is too impulsive for her to feel safe around. Robbie, you deal with it.

Sally -> Sugarplum: thinks Sugarplum is too prissy! come on, Wally aint gonna shoot you dead if you break a few rules! have some fun, live a little, join their trio! but, no matter how hard Sally looks around the base, Sugarplum is nowhere to be seen. so, she shrugs her shoulders, and goes to hang out with Robbie instead. when the two are forced to be around each other, its very tense. Sugarplum glares at her a lot, a 'dont try anything' stare, which is a bit unerring. she also shares Barnaby's fears of the venom, not knowing anything about how it works. maybe just a bit more, since Sugarplum is so standoffish around her.

Sugarplum -> Eddie: doesnt have much of an opinion on Eddie. their exchanges are brief and friendly. hes the most normal of the mob members, something Sugarplum appreciates, and hes a very caring person. but, just like Howdy, theres that underlying discomfort nagging at the pit of Sugarplums stomach. shes friendly, but wont go out of her way to talk to Eddie. shes mostly there to sign for Doc's pick-ups. though, for the sake of Frank's sanity, she keeps a close eye on him when he does visit the base, just to keep him safe.

Eddie -> Sugarplum: shes... well, creepy. Sugarplum creeps him out. she has a staring problem, her voice is flat and monotone, and her wide eyes dont help. but, Sugarplum refuses to be around Sally, and Sally takes the short time to say hi to Robbie. so, Eddie sucks it up, and tries to be as friendly as he can. and hey, he hasnt lost a finger yet! he must be doing something right. Sugarplum also follows him a lot whenever he visits the base, but thats fine! this is fine!

Sugarplum -> Poppy: doesnt know it, but Sugarplum has a MAJOR crush on Poppy. even if Poppy doesnt act like it, Sugarplum feels a sense of belonging from the two being animals. Sugarplum admires how gentle and nurturing Poppy is, and tries her best to look small around her, trying not to scare her. she wishes Poppy wouldnt stress so much, and wishes they saw each other more often. Sugarplum leaves little trinkets in front of Poppy's door when she doesnt answer, like pebbles or coins. birds like those, right?

Poppy -> Sugarplum: very nervous around Sugarplum. Sugarplum is a predator, and its hard to ignore her sharp teeth and glowing fangs. shes very scared for Sugarplum to touch her without heavy gloves, but appreciates the room Sugarplum gives for her to breathe. the little gifts make her feel seen, and she often sews the rips in Sugarplums clothes from her claws. the two find comfortable peace in one another. but, sadly, it never lasts long.

thank you for listening to my goober rants! a gift for those who have scrolled this far!

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hamletthedane · 4 months

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I was meeting a client at a famous museum’s lounge for lunch (fancy, I know) and had an hour to kill afterwards so I joined the first random docent tour I could find. The woman who took us around was a great-grandmother from the Bronx “back when that was nothing to brag about” and she was doing a talk on alternative mediums within art.

What I thought that meant: telling us about unique sculpture materials and paint mixtures.

What that actually meant: an 84yo woman gingerly holding a beautifully beaded and embroidered dress (apparently from Ukraine and at least 200 years old) and, with tears in her eyes, showing how each individual thread was spun by hand and weaved into place on a cottage floor loom, with bright blue silk embroidery thread and hand-blown beads intricately piercing the work of other labor for days upon days, as the labor of a dozen talented people came together to make something so beautiful for a village girl’s wedding day.

What it also meant: in 1948, a young girl lived in a cramped tenement-like third floor apartment in Manhattan, with a father who had just joined them after not having been allowed to escape through Poland with his pregnant wife nine years earlier. She sits in her father’s lap and watches with wide, quiet eyes as her mother’s deft hands fly across fabric with bright blue silk thread (echoing hands from over a century years earlier). Thread that her mother had salvaged from white embroidery scraps at the tailor’s shop where she worked and spent the last few days carefully dying in the kitchen sink and drying on the roof.

The dress is in the traditional Hungarian fashion and is folded across her mother’s lap: her mother doesn’t had a pattern, but she doesn’t need one to make her daughter’s dress for the fifth grade dance. The dress would end up differing significantly from the pure white, petticoated first communion dresses worn by her daughter’s majority-Catholic classmates, but the young girl would love it all the more for its uniqueness and bright blue thread.

And now, that same young girl (and maybe also the villager from 19th century Ukraine) stands in front of us, trying not to clutch the old fabric too hard as her voice shakes with the emotion of all the love and humanity that is poured into the labor of art. The village girl and the girl in the Bronx were very different people: different centuries, different religions, different ages, and different continents. But the love in the stitches and beads on their dresses was the same. And she tells us that when we look at the labor of art, we don’t just see the work to create that piece - we see the labor of our own creations and the creations of others for us, and the value in something so seemingly frivolous.

But, maybe more importantly, she says that we only admire this piece in a museum because it happened to survive the love of the wearer and those who owned it afterwards, but there have been quite literally billions of small, quiet works of art in billions of small, quiet homes all over the world, for millennia. That your grandmother’s quilt is used as a picnic blanket just as Van Gogh’s works hung in his poor friends’ hallways. That your father’s hand-painted model plane sets are displayed in your parents’ livingroom as Grecian vases are displayed in museums. That your older sister’s engineering drawings in a steady, fine-lined hand are akin to Da Vinci’s scribbles of flying machines.

I don’t think there’s any dramatic conclusions to be drawn from these thoughts - they’ve been echoed by thousands of other people across the centuries. However, if you ever feel bad for spending all of your time sewing, knitting, drawing, building lego sets, or whatever else - especially if you feel like you have to somehow monetize or show off your work online to justify your labor - please know that there’s an 84yo museum docent in the Bronx who would cry simply at the thought of you spending so much effort to quietly create something that’s beautiful to you.

#shut up e #long post #Saturday thoughts #this has been in my drafts for a week haha #also this is the heart of why AI art feels so wrong #forget the discussion of copyright and theft etc - even if models were only trained on public domain they would still feel very wrong #because they’re not art. art is the labor of creation #even commercial art and art commissioned by the popes and kings of history: there is humanity in the labor of it #unrelated: I did not know living in the Bronx was now something to brag about. How the fuck do y’all New Yorkers afford this city???

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