glasscitadel - Tumblr blog

glasscitadel · 13 hours

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Heart pasties are super cute on him ♡

#art #ocs #Eden #thinking about him today #I'll work through my backlog favorites eventually but I'm more trying to focus on writing and Thoughts here #artists on tumblr #suggestive #angel #but not really

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glasscitadel · 1 day

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perfect deareset darling Alexei for my buddy AJ (@glasscitadel) from artfight 2022!!!!! i am never drawing this many gradients again in copics but it kicks ASS they look soooo good ngl

#BWABEY BWOY #friend art #i still have the picture by my desk and i look at them and cry.... bless #Alexei

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glasscitadel · 2 days

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Okay, so I made this post shrimply for a point of reference for some prequel story things I've been thinking about lately!

I mentioned Alexei (my bioshifter oc) started shifting into this alien at a very young age, and eventually, his recruitment into Sabre years later saw this shift put to use as a "guard dog". This wasn't typically protection from outside forces, but a more chill position that required Alexei to subtly discourage other crew members from disturbing meetings between Sohr, Jarrow, and Malachi by laying on a little dog bed in the corner of their long, narrow hallway. Not only would he be intimidating enough to make others rethink approaching, but if a member did decide they were going in anyway, the ibaxi bellows would vibrate the floor to alert the higher ups someone was coming.

And I think it's cute to imagine a very young and lonely, newly recruited Micah, bored and misunderstood, finding Alexei (someone he is not on friendly terms with) shifted into a cool doggo and deciding "you're my friend therapist now". Others passing by and snickering, knowing Alexei is 110% annoyed by Micah, and Micah only thinking they're judging him because he's talking to a dog, but really he has NO idea it's Alexei. They think it's too hilarious to tell him. Truly, imagine his horror and embarrassment-- he is terrified of Alexei.

The first couple of times are met with bared teeth and low grumbling, but after realizing Micah has no intention of bothering the captain, he relents. Once a week, for years, the kid sits on the floor beside his bed and pours his little heart out in confidence to the crew's dog (that he literally never sees anywhere else lmao). Sometimes, Micah is able to get in a soft pet while he "naps". Sometimes, Alexei is in a bad mood and sees it coming, and snaps at his hand.

They form an odd, passive companionship this way, which I like to imagine is the foundational reason Alexei comes to trust him in the end, when Sabre falls apart. Alexei knows him deeper than anyone else ever would, and he understands that, but he's angry and confused as to why that makes him feel vulnerable for once. He berates Micah for minor fuckups on missions less and less and eventually stops giving him the coldest shoulders-- the kid's been through more than he'd ever be comfortable telling another soul, he drives me up the fuckin wall, but he deserves a break.

And he never tells him it was him all along, even after they run, even after they unknowingly fall in love, when he betrays him and he's crushed by guilt. That little boy loved that dog like his best friend, and Alexei wouldn't let that be taken from him again.

Desert Ibaxi

"An uncommon species native to Alexei's home planet, the ibaxi is a fierce and cunning predator known for its ability to bellow, burying itself into sand to lie in wait for scavengers to mistake its bony back and fleshy protrusions for an uncleaned corpse."

Here's the "I ain't reading all that" part <3

Alexei claimed this shift at 11 years old and frequents it for comfort :>

Age Average: 28y

Adult Weight Average: 95-120lbs

Height Average: 32-36 inches

Planet of Origin: Signa 32A

Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Temperament:

Aggressive

Protective

Cautious

While other unique variations of the ibaxi species are also found scattered primarily across the northern hemisphere of the planet where the suns' concentration are highest, the ones that thrive in the deepest areas of the desert are the most uncommon and the most feared.

Domestication of this specific breed has been long since abandoned and highly discouraged due to their wildly aggressive nature, but it's still surprisingly common to hear of trainer deaths as a result of eclectic animal collectors' desire to own them. Otherwise, this desert breed is protected as a wild variant, and anyone smart knows to leave them alone.

While their primary strategy is defensive, luring their prey to them, they are still very capable of hunting, which they actively do individually in the early hours just before the suns when the desert is coolest and small prey forage.

Their nostrils close while buried under sand, and they then breathe through the holes along their necks and backs, which push out a noxious gas that very accurately smells like baking decay. The protruding spines resemble picked at remains (that may appear fleshy and gross, but act much more like cartilage and feel pleasantly smooth to the touch), the perfect combination of smell and sight to trick scavengers into coming closer for a nibble.

If those curious and with good eyesight become wiser the closer they approach, the released smell is overwhelmingly enough effective to convince them there's no danger.

Chasing speeds average about 35mph (57km/h) and can reach up to 50mph (80km/h) in short bursts, with quick turns and reflexes. When in the need to cool down, the scaled ridges along their forehead, upper back, and tail will part to reveal sensitive tissue that rapidly shed body heat. In the afternoon, once the suns have firmly settled and the day is at its hottest, packs will gather to try and secure their big meal for the day if there was little individual morning luck. Proceeding finding areas with recently cleaned kills, they bury themselves among the bone remains and wait for unsuspecting scavengers.

Their growls are much less dog-like and more closely resemble the bellowing tremors of alligators (though not as extreme, and not limited to males), and work the same way, allowing them to shake and displace the sand around them while they lie to quickly burrow and hide. When large packs gather and bellow together, the sound and vibrations can be heard and felt for nearly half a mile, terrifying and alarming to anyone or anything close-by.

In the case of territory breach, bellows are an effective communication tool to determine power and age. Those in their prime, large in size, and leaders of packs have the deepest, most guttural voices, able to intimidate away their competition from a considerable distance.

As ibaxi age, their lungs lose the elasticity needed to bellow deeply enough to bury, and instead will stay within their territory sleeping grounds and wait for the pack to bring back food.

Pack sizes have been recorded to reach up to 20 members, but most are not seen with more than 16, with typically 3-5 of those elders.

Pups are born no more than two at a time and are not able to bury themselves until they reach adolescence when their lungs fully develop, so mothers will bellow gently close to them in their dens to sink them before heading out to hunt.

So if you come across what looks like an abandoned den with a few bones left in it and a very awful smell, you may want to hit the road before the momma returns... if the stay-at-home grandparents haven't gotten to you yet.

#wanting to talk abt this brainrot is literally the turning point in my decision to come back so you know i had to do it to em #subsequent rants won't be nearly this long pretty prommy but i have to weed out the weak early I'm sorry #should i call this 'oc talkin baybee' so people can mute it or... hmm. I'll workshop it #oc talkin baybee #text #Point Blank #Alexei #Micah

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