#⌜ now i wear camouflage to blend in. ⌟ aesthetics.

[incyrayinc]

Rnow I'm making some sketches of an alien species of mine demonstrating ways they do gender. Recently I decided that since they are robots who use drytech/hylotech, which is effectively biotech- they probably have freakishly advanced medicine. which means body modification is probably a well-studied field simply because it is Very Easy For Them To Do. (This is also probably means I'm going to have to cladize them to hell and beyond because as soon as you open that can of worms IMMEDIATELY the species starts diversifying into new clades. Which will be pain because designing ONE robot alien was hard enough ;u; ) Since they can do body modification so easily, not only would transition surgeries become small potatoes to them, but morphological freedom itself would likely become really abstract.

They probably have like an open-ended segment on their census charts when asking for gender or pronouns, haha

Problem is, right now I'm sketching examples of this species who've taken up such wacky xenogenders as human-core feminine, and I'm running into the autistic enby problem of Wait. What IS Human Gender? what IS a women? How do I demonstrate that these NON-HUMANOID ROBOT ALIENS are not only female, but emulating human-style femininity, WITHOUT putting eyelashes or fake hair on them?

I've already drawn one wearing pink biolights and metal paint and floral print because that was the obvious, lazy choice that kind of fits in the way I see the species tending to blur the line between gender and aesthetic. I've also started working on one that's more butch, but that one's proving harder ;u;

As it turns out, my internal perception of gender is REALLY FUZZY and poorly defined. great for when you want to squint at something you initially perceived as one gender to switch to perceiving it as another, because it's all abstractions to you anyway. Not so great when you need to actually pin even the smallest sliver of anything down lmao

Most likely I will just make them all a little abstract, since well you kind of HAVE to get a little abstract when you're translating human mammalian biont gender expression onto non-human giant metal cat substrate. Some things just don't translate 100% very well without getting a little ham-fisted and giving them boobs or something haha. Although maybe I WILL make one with boobs, considering how I am considering having them be REALLY GOOD at medicine on account of effectively using biotech. Who is going to tell the robot cat adopting a human gender she CAN'T modifying herself to have boobs? The robo-boob polic? lmao

They are probably going to look very Girl Cybertronian, kind of in the same styles as the likes of Arcee or Clobber.

I would also like to note, humans would probably have about as hard a time with these guy's concepts of gender as the reverse. They DO have a sexual dimorphism somewhat resembling mammalian two-sex systems, but they have basic group structure that more closely resembles a lion pride than a human tribe... but with a blend of intrasex-competition and intersex-display secondary sex features. So for example the 'males' might have a few features meant to make them seem more intimidating, but the more important feature for them is the pretty display features (brightly colored biolights) and associated flamboyant display behavior. The 'females' meanwhile are entirely matte black in color to camouflage at night, kind of like how birds have really showy males and more camouflaged females.

Working on this, I realized I should probably not label the aliens' sex as male or female, since those are human concepts and these are Not Humans. So instead I labeled them as either 'lion' or 'lioness', since that's how a human would probably attempt to describe or translate their sexes. Which just. it looks REALLY funny, especially next to the other labels. literally the one of them has a label that reads '([gender] human-core feminine (femme style); sex: lion)'. Idk there's something amusing and charming about that descriptor.

#Inc's ramblings #alien gender #alien culture #world building

[saevus-brutalis]

2, 7, 13, 20, 23 for Vincent? :cat_cheer: (me desperately trying not to send 10+ questions :sweating:)

WELL YOU SHOULDVE SENT ME 10+ QUESTIONS!!! :YAOcato: 😤

2. what was your original concept for this character? how did playing them change that concept?

(replied to this already but here’s a slightly different version :))

he started out as a base, emo version of V, around his mid-20s, black buzz cut, black eyes, neck tattoo, piercings (all vanilla). pretty much followed the original streetkid lore, met all the NPCS, got the relic etc. born to lower/mid class family, abusive home life, ended up on the streets pretty early, got into cage fights to survive pretty standard boring backstory back then 🤷‍♂️

the best decision ever made was to scrub that entire timeline, make him 3 times older and turn him into an old ex-military grump we now all know and love. from a V character (even though the name stayed out of nostalgia) following the original events of the main game he became a full fledge separate being with his own original backstory and doesn’t follow the canon, and if he does (still working on that timeline) it’s different from what happens in the game.

essentially from a young hotshot merc he became a veteran, lone wolf, tired of being a merc as he’s been in the business for over 20 years now, outliving most of the young mercs in NC due to high mortality rates of this occupation, became a legend sitting on top of the Afterlife food chain

7. there’s a magic item (or technological innovation, or special resource) made just for them—what is it?

a custom-built, bulletproof military full-body armor-suit with a masking device that can be activated in whatever environment, eliminating the need for a ghillie suit. the built-in camouflage allows the user to blend in with their environment, kind of like a chameleon, turning invisible to a naked eye, only being seen as a lineless blur if you squint hard enough. only way to spot the person wearing it would be using infrared cameras.

13. what are some motifs you associate with them? did you intentionally bring in those motifs, or did it happen over time?

i never really thought of any motifs for him, but maybe the journey motif? both in the literal sense and metaphorically – a journey within one’s self. he went through a lot, underwent many changes, made many mistakes, learned from them, outgrew certain things, realized other. he’s pushing 60 so he’s journey was pretty long, and still continues to be as his story isn’t quite over yet.

but also he’s constantly looking and searching for something that’s just out of reach, despite being on top of the world. the Sisyphus motif could partially work as well 🤷‍♂️ found family motif too maybe? can’t think of any more motifs shshsh

20. what attracts them to someone—platonically and/or romantically, anything counts.

intentionally or not, all of the people he associates with tend to be very dark individuals – tall, shady-looking, dark hair, dark clothes; generally speaking — people who you would usually avoid at first glance. the less unapproachable you look/seem the bigger chance of Vincent actually being interested. emo cryptid, punk-like aesthetic, dark, freshly pressed-suits is what will grab his attention rather than flashy, neon colors and neokitsh fashion. he tends to feel a pull towards people similar to him (vibe, aesthetic, look, similar views on things), he’s not gonna go for a young, loud, happy person wearing all the colors of the rainbow at the same time – so a typical NC resident – but for someone more quiet, calculating, sad and depressed, someone who stands out with how little they stand out. also very much helps if you’re a rockerboy, some emo singer wtvr or a cowboy nomad yeehaw.

23. in what moment did they consider themselves to be “grown up”?

first time would be when he entered his “rebellious era” after being sent to a boarding school in his early teens, of course he considered himself all grown up, knowing better than anyone else. but life later made him realize he wasn’t all that grown up to begin with.

so probably the actual moment he considered himself to be grown up was after his army days and what happened in Siberia after he went MIA. he learned many valuable lessons, seen too much death and realized certain values that before meant nothing to him. it’s when he formulated a creed of sorts for himself, set of rules to abide by in his life to not lose himself and end up like those who perished while serving with him (both in the Marines and the Siberian SIDS Program). you could say all the trauma made him grown up considerably fast too.

#next time don’t hold back 😌✌️ send me ALL the questions you want #thanks for the ask 🖤🐁 #oc: vincent elijah vahn #maybe one day i’ll talk in more detail about his Siberia days but so far i only have a vague idea

[likecastle]

OK I’ve been wondering about Geralt’s all-black outfits on the show, and what they’re supposed to tell us about his character. Obviously, they look badass, and contribute admirably to his goth himbo (TM) aesthetic, but in terms of world-building and characterization, what do they reveal about Geralt and his position in this world?

This got kind of long and rambly, so read on if you’re interested in one viewer’s (mostly) uneducated musings about historical fantasy fashion choices.

From the little I know about historical textile stuff, black dye was expensive and black fabric was largely reserved for nobility, or maybe rich merchants who could afford to show off. Now, it’s entirely possible that the Continent has other dyes or other sumptuary laws, but let’s just say for the sake of argument that things aren’t too different from medieval/Renaissance Europe.

In this context, Yennefer’s all black-and-white wardrobe makes perfect sense to me, since it reads as pure status symbol. If dying black cloth is costly, and bleaching fabric pure white is expensive, too, to say nothing of the struggle of keeping white clothes clean, then the subtext of Yennefer’s look is 100% “I’m expensive, don’t touch me.” She absolutely understands how to send a message with her fashion choices, and would do so strategically.

Geralt, on the other hand, strikes me as someone who dresses for function first. If he were trying to send any kind of message with his fashion choices, I imagine it would be one calculated to counteract the terrifying reputation witchers have, so, like . . . not a super intimidating black-and-leather getup? 

It just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me from a practical standpoint. To a modern viewer, his all-black outfits have a sort of “urban camouflage” vibe, but if black fabric is as expensive on the Continent as it would have been in medieval Europe, there wouldn’t be as many other dark colors to blend in to. If anything, it probably makes him stand out more. Is black appealing because it’s a neutral choice he doesn’t have to think about? But in that case, why go to the expense of black when he could just pick a natural fabric color like beige or brown. This seems to be what the game’s costumes opt for, but Netflix Geralt has to be extra.

The one thing it would clearly be helpful for is monster hunting at night. And I guess black would hides stains better than other colors, but it’s also extremely hot and would probably fade more easily than other dyes, so it wouldn’t wear as well long-term. I think I also remember reading that black wouldn’t have been worn close to the skin because the dye would bleed. So is Geralt just out there scrubbing dye off his skin all the time? If so, no wonder he likes baths so much. Or maybe some mage or elf or somebody figured out how to make colorfast black dye and all of this is a non-issue.

The point is, black just seems impractical, and it’s not like Geralt’s got money to spare. Is he really willing to pay out the nose for expensive black fabric because he cares about The Aesthetic?

I wonder if there’s an emotional component to Geralt’s all-black ensembles. We know Geralt uncomfortable in the outfit Jaskier makes him wear to the banquet in Cintra. I think we’re meant to understand that this getup is kind of unfortunate (since Mousesack and Calanthe both make fun of them), and obviously Geralt’s uneasy without his armor and his swords. But it makes me wonder whether Geralt might also uncomfortable because he’s out of his sartorial comfort zone. Does he dress in black not just because the costume designers want to play on the color’s associations with death and mourning, but because Geralt himself is unhappy? Is he dressed in black for the same reason Lydia Deetz is in Beeltejuice, because his outlook is gloomy and he wants to express it through his dress?

I’m curious to see, too, how the other witchers are dressed in season two. The only other witcher we’ve seen so far, the one who was killed by the stryga, was also dressed all in black, as I recall. So maybe the show is trying to suggest this is some kind of uniform for witchers, the colors of their guild, so to speak. I don’t think that’s the case in the games, but it would be an interesting choice for the show.

Anyway, I’m probably overthinking this. The answer is probably just “because it looks cool.” And it does. It looks very, very cool. But if any Witcher fans know anything about historical costuming, or have any insight into the creative choices the show’s costume designers are making, I’d be curious to hear others’ thoughts!

#the witcher #witcher #geralt of rivia #geralt z rivii #costuming #period costume #historical costuming #fashion #fantasy costume

[cozycryptidcorner]

Here is a monster match for the resilient @moonlightreetops! Information about getting your very own monster match can be found here.

“INFJ, my sun sign is Cancer, moon sign is Pisces rising sign is Sagittarius, also ADHD inattentive soo...  🙃very forgetful due to depression and said ADHD. I'm very empathetic but can get a little too passionate with my emotions sometimes. I cry at every movie I see. No exceptions. I spend most of my time world building or painting for dnd campaigns.  Or reading. I also love hiking with my dogs as it's the only time I really get out of the house. I grew up in professional theater so the drama kid heart in me is still very strong. Whoever's my match needs to be prepared for a little bit of "extra", if you catch my drift.”

Your android isn’t fresh off the production shelves, not by a long shot, but he was tossed away as ‘defective’ shortly after being built. For whatever reason, though, whoever did it was sloppy, since the master switch to shut everything down hadn’t been pressed, resulting in your android being in ‘sleep mode’ for just over a decade. During that time, his software would remotely update, going with the flow of whatever the programmers would write, but his actual hardware could hardly keep up. He soon became an outdated model, as one does in this reality of rapidly evolving technology, and the updates weren’t exactly written for the machinery of his caliber. Yet, for whatever reason, his inner core kept accepting the incoming software, ultimately resulting in something inside him snapping awake.

Both he and you theorize that it must have been the time, plus the updates, and perhaps even the constant exposure to the elements that ignited some kind of self-awareness within his inner core. Or, it could just be a matter of time for all the other androids to follow, as he was without any mechanical checkups monitoring his awareness for quite a long while. Whatever the case may be, he’s present and in the moment, very much alive, and really can’t let many people in on that secret because god knows what will happen to him because of it. While it might be a little awkward for him to plaster a smile on his face and act like a shell, thanks to all the new cybernetic technologies, most androids tend to look and act very human, so he can get away with a lot more than he might of back when he was fresh out of the factory.

Since he was outside decomposing with the rest of the junk, his parts weren’t exactly in tip-top shape. It took a lot of careful, slow repairs to get him to even be able to walk again. Even though his central wiring system seemed to be in working order, most of his limbs and joints rusted over and eroded, so those also had to be either oiled and cleaned vigorously or unscrewed and completely replaced. Tiny seeds and saplings had taken to start growing in the metallic crevices of his body, so those had to be thoroughly washed out, and his standard blue steel had been tinted green with moss. It certainly was a look, that’s for sure, but not something that a functioning android can rock and still be able to stand on both their feet.

One of the interesting things about his type is that his synthetic skin and hair can change color whenever he feels like it, and while he might need the necessary coding for the color, once he has it, he can switch back and forth. Neon pink hair one day, then a muted, plain brown the next, it gives him an edge for blending in with, say, a rave party or a rock concert at a moment’s notice. Not that he needs to run, no, to both of your knowledge, he’s in no danger of discovery. Still, if it should it come to that, his power of camouflage might come in handy. Maybe it was a little shocking when he blinked that one time and turned his eyes blood-red, but you quickly got used to it.

Besides the fact that he can turn his skin blue the moment he wants, he looks like a regular, run of the mill person, as any signs of being made of machinery have been carefully covered up. But, like with most other androids, there are little, tiny ticks that a well-trained person might see. The way he sometimes focuses on something a little too hard, since he can zoom his eyesight in like a microscope, or the way he stands ridiculously still when at rest. Or even how he might know something about someone that may seem strange since he likes to look over a person’s social media profiles while speaking to them.

Your android likes to multitask and often has a very exact schedule for what he is doing and when. For example, he might get off his overnight charging station at five in the morning sharp, though he really doesn’t need to use it anymore, his battery has been replaced by one of those crazy nuclear fission boxes. After getting dressed in some athletic wear, he will then go for a run, not that he has any muscles to work out with. Still, he likes the feeling of the air on his face, but it helps the whole song and dance of being human, as someone will see him do the action and then internalize it without realizing it.

Then, once he gets back, he’ll make breakfast. He can’t eat, and really entirely depends on your tastebuds to do all the work, but his skill vastly improves with everything he manages to make. Once he is done with your breakfast, he will clean, and then exactly at 7:02 am, he will go off to work. His work isn’t exactly the same as, say, an office job with a guaranteed yearly salary. Your android is, after all, technically a non-citizen, and doesn’t have any of the many documents needed to prove that he’s allowed to work. Everything he does has to be under the table and off the radar.

His work, then, is a rather unorthodox way of making money. Freelance stuff, really, things that he can do quickly without having to become a full-time employee. On one end, he does photography, and since his eyes have the nifty little habit of seeing things that a human might not right off the bat, he tends to get some snapshots of things that others don’t. It also helps that he can climb, hide, dodge, and reach places that humans probably don’t want to risk. Climbing to the very top of a building just to get that photo of the sun rising over the bridge? Done, and his editor has no idea how he even managed to get it. Squeezing through a poorly constructed alley to find a nest of pigeons for a piece on animal life in the city? Good thing he doesn’t actually have to breath. It might not bring in the same kind of money as some fancy executive lawyer, but it’s just about all he can do.

Sometimes he might get frustrated when his schedule doesn’t seem to work out because he likes his life to be easy to sort and simple to categorize. It took a little while for him to be able to loosen up about the strictness of which he holds himself, slowing relaxing and allowing life to show him the wonders that is has to offer without chasing something else insistently. His photography began to improve vastly, mostly because he is now looking beyond just the object and the background, he is now looking for the soul outside of the basic image. Like humans, your android does appreciate beauty for what it is, though in a more mathematical, clinical sense. Things like flowers, shells, moon phases, or even weather patterns all hold a unique appeal to him that tends to lean outside of their traditional aesthetic sense.

Your android is very, very grounded in reality. Perhaps it’s because he doesn’t really have a concept of what ‘imagination’ is, but his thoughts, his actions, his hopes are all squarely within the realms of his perceived existence. One of the drawbacks to this is that he doesn’t often allow himself to play along with anyone’s fanciful ‘what if’ scenarios because he will be the first one to let that person know that the idea is bad, and it might get someone killed, or that it’s just not even worth doing. It takes some cajoling to get him to indulge anyone in their fantasies, but he will, if the right pointers are given, and if doing so will help someone get out of their sadness.

One of his favorite activities is to explore the outdoors, whether it be hiking, camping, canoeing, etcetera. As mentioned before, he has a unique appreciation for something organically made, because there is something rather beautiful in the realm of strange frailties. Or, better yet, the impossible perfection that can be reached in something as simple as a snail’s shell. Sometimes he might pause, completely caught up in studying the movement of a bug or the swaying of a leaf in the wind, eyes glued to a single spot in space for however long it takes him to fully comprehend every little detail that he is seeing.

There isn’t really an issue in the bedroom, either, since his brain is basically connected to the internet at all times, any kind of position or move is easy enough for him to search up, comprehend, and then execute with near-flawless precision. That’s all I’m going to say on the subject.

#monster matches #android #exophilia

[300charlie]

‘JailBird’

Is a clothing line that reinterprets vintage workwear with a streetwear twist that commands respect for itself and its wearer from the design aesthetic of a suggested history of hard labour. 

Functional, hardwearing jackets and trousers made from classic hickory stripe denim, with contemporary detailing such as contrasting stitching and brass buttons. The cut is generous and the look is individual.

Via the ‘Jailbird’ Prison Charitable Trust we seek wherever possible to include in the manufacturing/finishing process, prison inmates who learn new skills as part of an effort towards increased rehabilitation.

The idea of Jailbird came about from my general interest in clothes that have a use or a function. For example Military clothing, protective clothing or camouflage. I like the idea of a garment or piece of clothing that benefits the wearer in other ways than appearance. Wether thats some trousers that have a waterproof layer to stop someone from getting wet or a jacket made from denim that is thick so it keeps the person warm.

Workwear has been my general base of interest as it is an area of clothing that has a purpose and is made to benefit the wearer but also looks visually appealing and is usually made to a very high standard.

Once again this idea of purpose and benefit sits highly in the workwear category as its made specifically for someone who is working. From airport workers to prison guards to builders, this idea of a garment that has a benefit or function on the wearer interests me highly. I have been interested in this for a long time partly through being a child and having an obsession with the military which I investigated in my manifesto project, but also from having over the years collecting my own archive of clothes that I Wear/have worn and a lot of these turn out to be workwear garments. From denim jackets and jeans to hi vis orange boiler suits that binmen wear to original HMP prison striped shirts. I have these partly because I like how they look and they appear interesting and are made of cool materials but then after investigating them I found out about their history and purpose.

I’m also interested into how a lot of these workwear clothes aren’t considered ‘fashion’ but how a lot of mainstream and big brands base their clothes off of these workwear clothes. I find it strange about how most of these clothes are made or have been made for a purpose and a function to benefit someone doing a job but that now some of these workwear brands have upped their prices or even made sections of their brand fashion based as the new trends and fashion culture of the 21st century have started picking up on the cool designs or style of these workwear brands.

For example Carhartt - A very big, famous brand that started off making workwear, specifically jeans, have now made another brand called Carhartt WIP or Work in progress that is selling the same clothes as they were before but for a more expensive price but marketing it as “streetwear” and targeting young kids who like the style and idea of these clothes.

The history and importance of denim.

In 1851 Levi Strauss moved to New York from Germany to escape antisemitism. His brother lived in New York and owned a textile shop. After working for his brother and learning the trade Levi moved to San Fransisco during the California Gold Rush to set up his own business. Most people were miners and there was a high demand for clothes that could withstand damage. This is where Denim first was in excessive manufacture as denim was a strong fabric that meant people could continue their job with the benefit of this strong fabric. Over the years Levi would go on to creating one of the biggest denim brands and all because of a fabric that could assist and support a working man. 

Original levis jeans 1870’s

Workwear

The Industrial revolution is one of the main reasons why workwear exists.

When the industrial revolution came about, the workforce shifted from agriculture to urban, industrial work. Denim jeans became the clothes of choice for railroad workers, miners and cowboys as the material was strong and well suited to what they were doing.

In 1906 american author Upton Sinclair wrote a book called “the jungle” about the state of the working conditions for American workers at the time. Attention was brought to the unsafe working conditions In American factories and It highlighted the need for safe and comfortable workwear.

Almost a decade later Williamson-Dickie Mfg . CO or “Dickies” a Texas based workwear company is founded and began selling overalls to Southern Workers.

 Uniform

Workwear has also been always in close alignment with Uniform. From street sweepers to Soldiers the clothes they wear shows the job that they are doing.

Once again during the Industrial Revolution in America, Railway workers wore overalls, caps and work jackets made specifically from Hickory stripe. This uniform gave them a unified look and also meant people knew who they were and what they were doing.

You could say that military uniform is workwear as its clothes made for a purpose to benefit someone doing a job. Since world war 1 camouflage has been behind most army uniforms as it benefits the wearer in so many ways, allowing them to be stealthy and sneak up on enemies or even save their lives as it is designed to help them blend in to whats around them so they cannot be seen.

Protection plays a large part in Uniform and workwear as the garment is made to be worn for a purpose not just for style or look. 

Example 1. being these hi vis 100% waterproof overalls made by Dickies. They are made to be worn by someone who is going to be outside in any weather doing some sort of intense manual labour or maintenance. The hi visibility aspect means that people can see the person from far away which will protect them if they are working somewhere dangerous like a road or somewhere with cars. The waterproof aspect means that they can work in any weather and not get injured or ill caused from bad weather like rain or snow. The overalls protect them in many ways.

Example 2. Is this Carhartt hunting jacket and trousers with a special camouflage print that looks like forest and made with thick padding and waterproofing. The purpose of this jacket is to be worn by people hunting and to protect them whilst they are doing so. The thick padding allows the wearer to walk through dense shrubbery and even thorns and spikey bushes without getting hurt or injured. The camouflage pattern means that they cant be spotted by whatever they are hunting and the waterproofing protects them from rain that could make them ill or discomforted.  

Prison

In America until 1914 prisoners had to wear striped clothing to show that they were prisoners but also it became a symbol of their shame. In 1904 New Yorks Superintendent of prisons stopped making his inmates wear stripes, calling them “a badge of disgrace”.

After this attitudes towards prisoners changed partly through an excess amount of non-violent, working class prisoners and so changes were made in clothing and conditions to serve the concept of rehabilitation rather than punishment. This meant work clothes or workwear was introduced and this may have been because the idea of honest labour could turn a prisoner into an honest citizen. Jeans and work shirts were introduced and some prisons in America still continue with this uniform. 

Prisoners In Utah 1885 wearing striped prison uniform.

This subject area relates to the bigger picture of my own area of expertise as I believe Its firstly something I really want to do and also I think my sense of taste and style can allow this to be something that I want it to be, something personal visually and conceptually. I think although I am not the best maker of clothes I can come up with some interesting designs and experiment a lot with my subject area wether thats through fabric, structure or design.

The concept I’ve explored most similar to this was probably my Manifesto project where I researched what I was interested in and how I got there which was through childhood experiences like having a love for military clothing, being outdoors but also growing up in an urban environment around people that are less fortunate as me and I wanted to make something that would be specifically for them and was designed and created to suit the urban, Trouble making youth.

I hope to utilise the drawing and designing techniques that I have learnt as I think they will benefit me with designing my final outcome and look. 

I also hope to utilise the experimentation steps that I have learnt along the way.

[nytreecx]

Marinette is not a Bad Designer

Alright… I’ve seen one-too many bitter posts by fans of Miraculous Ladybug disappointed by Marinette’s deep-down costume choice to not put my thoughts on the matter forward.

When considering a design in textiles, we are taught to critically observe it through two lenses: functional and aesthetic. Simply put: how it serves its purpose and its overall appearance (usually how visually appealing it is). Despite often clashing and getting in the way of one-another, they sometimes are easier to see as concepts that blend into one another. In water colour, if you paint red and blue next to each other, they are going mix to create purple. (I blather when I explain these concepts, so if you wish to get to the analysis of Marinette and Adrien’s designs skip ahead to ***)

As an example for this outlook, I’ll use a cushion on a lounge. Its functions are to provide lumbar support; help maintain good posture; filling the gaps of a comfortable sitting space the lounge may have missed; to last continuous uses; and to complement and accentuate the design of the lounge. This means function will control the shape, size, density, and – to a degree – the fabric choices such as category and type (e.g. woven and cotton respectively) of the cushion, and provide a starting point for the aesthetics via the lounge’s aesthetics. The cushion’s aesthetic purposes on a plain lounge are to create interesting and appealing focal points; on a patterned lounge, they provide plain yet grounding points to bring focus and calm to an otherwise busy design. Aesthetics therefore controls the shape, fabric type and pattern (e.g. cotton or plush, and floral respectively), and notions such as piping and buttons. I have most likely missed a plethora of points, but I am aware I am usually long winded and am an amateur.

Of course, some designs need to heavily lean to one side of planning. A wall-hanging is a piece of art using textiles mediums; therefore it will have dependence on aesthetics planning to be successful. Its function is simply to look good. A tent taken on a camping trip, however, is going to be all purpose. It wants to keep you safe from the elements, and not take up too much room in your car or weight in your backpack. If the tent is made from chiffon, with bolts of cloth dedicated to frills and decorative drapes, it will be bulky; be even more difficult to stuff into its bag than your sleeping-bag; tear easily on the first bit of nature it comes in contact with; and metaphorically take on the properties of fairy-floss when it rains, not only drenching you, but keeping you wet and trapped as the delicate and light fabric becomes heavy and collapses on top of you and whatever unfortunate soul tried to foolishly take refuge in it. One may even say its aesthetic purpose it to look durable. The only acceptation I can think of is a camouflage design, where a specific pattern and frills that mimic leaves are necessary.

***

Through this, I have hopefully illustrated that the relationship between function and aesthetics is one of give and take. Adrien does not give a damn about this. His father may be a famous designer, and whether or not he has shared a few tips of the trade, this boy grew up on manga. He is going to hit this super-hero costume with as much magic-girl that his kawaii desu ne heart possesses. He’s got cuffs; a long-ass tail that has its own pose in the transformation sequence; paw prints on the boots; unnecessary seams and piping; morphed pupils (that may be an automatic change to give him night-vision); and a big bell that rings, for crying out loud. The only functions I can see are steel-caps, pockets, removability of the tail, and claws. Even then I suspect these were mainly chosen for the aesthetics. Even his seams are what you would call aesthetic seams. It’s a suit made from magic. You don’t need seams.

Marinette, on the other hand, is focused on the function of this being a superhero costume. She knows she will be going into battle. Taking leaf out of Edna Mode’s book and then the whole library, she forgoes the iconic billowing cape and anything else that would hinder or even put her in danger her while fighting. Seams, zipper tags, cuffs, tails, and bells can be exploited by getting grabbed by a villain or accidentally caught on an edge or pointy debris while dodging or escaping. She only has an allusion to antenna as ribbons rather long poles sticking out of her head will basically become handles for whomever she is fighting. The only fault I can see is keeping her pigtails (*SPOILER* which we know she can change from the leak of Kitty Noir *SPOILER OVER*). Even then they may serve to create some kind of barrier from the back for her miraculous. She doesn’t need such things as steel caps because her magical fabric is already all the armour she needs.

I’ve had fun creating alternative costumes for Marinette. With function in mind, and wanting to reference the beetle, I added plate armour to the front to mimic the underside of the ladybird; angled spikes on the arms and legs like many beetles have to catch blades and cause damage; white spots like on their head on a black helmet that conceals her identity better; and the red and black shell only as a detachable shield on the back. Apart from being a design more appropriate for an AU, I forgot one important thing that all these features I wanted as tributes to the source material took away. Marinette knew that a superhero needs to be recognisable. Hence, this is the goal of the aesthetics.

The simplicity of the fabric’s pattern is to be iconic. What’s the most salient part of a ladybird? The black spots on their red shell. What pattern has she chosen? Exactly that. She is supposed to be a hero of the people. Someone every citizen can recognise as she swings by so fast she’s a blur. Parisians are going to be attacked so often that the red with black polka-dots needs to inspire feelings of safety, so that when they see her they don’t instantly think she’s akuma they need to seek shelter from. When she rescues terrified and flustered citizens, or toddlers crying for their mother, she needs to be recognised immediately; to create a focus point for the panicked mind; and to inspire peace and a sense that it will all be okay now that she’s here. A plain pattern in bold colours is the easiest way to do this. Adrien has even done this with the almost unanimously black outfit and silhouette alluding to a cat with the ears and tail. Her simplicity is necessary BOTH functionally and aesthetically.

*SPOILER*

In the event they swap kwamiis, they retain their design philosophies, and yet are influenced by someone they love and care about’s take on it. They need to hold onto the established iconic design the other has come up with, yet express they are someone else with their own unique take on it. Adrien keeps the iconic spots as the main feature, but adds panels of black to accentuate the pattern; give a nod to the actual ratio of black to spots on the ladybird; suggest armour; and to add depth and accentuate muscle anatomy. Marinette turns the bells and whistles into lines on the fabric to remove the danger of them while honouring them. Her plat imitates a tail instead of a more-easily-grappled belt and the collar tells of her Chinese heritage. In the event of the mouse fiasco, she needs to alter her design philosophy from hero to “omg please don’t find out I’m Ladybug”. Her colours are the usual palette she wears to inspire Marinette thoughts for Chat; her hair resembles mouse ears and are definitely and defiantly not Ladybug’s piggy tails; and her stripes and spikes, and tail create the farce that she is an inexperienced hero by forgoing the ungrabblable and to be easily recognised as the animal of their miraculous holder attitude Ladybug adopts.

*SPOILER OVER*

Being a designer isn’t just “Ima add frills for days cuz that shit’s tight”; knowing that busy patterns next to each other clash; making things look visually appealing or stunning; or even knowing what’s hot this season. It’s about making something for and around a purpose. And through this, Marinette can indeed retain her title of “good designer”. Thank you for reading my one thousand and five-hundred word essay. I hope this has enlightened some confused and vexed fans.

#miraculous ladybug #ml #ladybug #marinette #adrien #chat noir #love this child please #ml spoilers #ml leaks

[spectrumscribe]

Three Days to Live (preview)

hey all, as you have seen on my blog, i’ve been gone a lot lately so i could write a massive new fic for the @tmnt-big-bang that’s coming up. however! the end is within sight and the comp is currently just waiting on artists to claim spots as illustrators for the fics.

i’ve also gotten permission to release a preview of my own fanfic for the tbb, so here you go guys, have some “futuristic dystopian hitmen turned bodyguards” au. (rottmntverse with minor use of 2012 tmnt characters)

Mikey hums softly to himself, pushing the cleaning cart along the plush carpet of the hallway. Even with how many fancy upper-class hotels he’s worked in, each new one never fails to impress him. And this one even has the sort of aesthetic appeal that appeals to his aesthetic. It’s swanky, but at the same time, not as soullessly gold plated as some places are.

Still. He’d mix it up with a dash of street art and thrifty furniture. Kind of like the place he and his brothers live in. Having a good balance of what they grew up with alongside everything they have now is just… aesthetic.

“Room 324, Mike. Coming up on your right.”

Mikey nods imperceptibly, not responding directly to the voice in his ear. As he reaches the suite, he gives his hijab and apron one last adjustment, and then knocks.

“Housekeeping,” he says, modulating his voice to be the right blend of young and old. Harder to identify in recording, even if someone managed to get an audio of this.

“Just a minute!”

Mikey waits patiently, and has a kindly, apologetic smile on his face when the door opens. The young lady on the other side of the doorway has her hair in two pigtails, each a perfect dark cloud. Red rimmed cat’s eye glasses are perched on her nose, almost distracting from the very faint freckles across it. Her outfit, while casual formal, is very obviously expensive.

April O’Neil smiles at him. “Hey, sorry. I didn’t know I was due for cleaning just yet.”

“Oh, no, that’s alright,” Mikey replies, adding an accent in the right places. “We’ve just been quickly today, you see? Everyone on this floor has very clean rooms.”

“I’m sorry to say I won’t be one of those people,” O’Neil says wryly. She steps back from the door, moving inside. “C’mon in, ma’am. I’ll give you my trashcans and take care of everything else myself. I’m not gonna make you pick up my dirty clothes or anything.”

“Thank you,” Mikey replies, ducking his head and pushing the cart halfway inside the room; casually nudging the door to shut quietly behind him. Not standard behavior for cleaning ladies, but standard enough for his line of work. Removing the easiest exit from the room.

He bustles through the suite, admiring the fine crystal of the light fixtures and the sleek design of the furniture. Everything is milky and warm colored, ranging from cream to darker browns. Hints of gold on fixtures really bring it all together, connecting the overall look of the room.

“God, I’m so sorry for the mess,” O’Neil is saying, walking around one half of the small living room her suite has. She’s kicking clothing piles into larger piles, grabbing them up and trying to get them out of sight. “I’ve had such a hectic schedule lately, I haven’t had time to clean anything.”

“That’s why I’m here,” Mikey replies brightly, shooting her a smile. “It’s my job to clean up after you people.”

“Right, right. You better get paid for dealing with messy assholes like me; you definitely deserve it.”

Donnie scoffs. “With the kind of fallout you people leave us to deal with? You bet we deserve a decent paycheck.”

Mikey silently agrees with his brother as he bends to pick up the first trashcan. Man, even the trashcans in this place are better than everyone else’s. He takes the half full can with him as he heads back to his cart, dumping out its contents of meticulously shredded paper and takeout boxes. Interesting mix! Mikey is pretty sure Donnie would have a field day with the paper’s written contents, but sadly, that’s not what he’s here for.

He follows O’Neil’s movements with his hearing, noting that she’s drifting back towards him. She’s making pleasant casual conversation, talking about how the rainy weather lately has been awful for her hair and asking how Mikey’s been dealing with it.

“Oh, it’s not too terrible,” Mikey says, reaching under his apron. “Braids help keep the frizz down.”

“If I had time and energy for that, I’d probably set myself up with that style again.”

If she wanted braids, she really should have done it before Mikey got here.

Oh well. Maybe they’ve got salons in heaven. Or hell, given her family background.

“I know a good stylist,” Mikey says, “and I could hook you up if you wanted.”

“Yeah? Hit me with the details; I got my phone right here.”

“Sure,” he says, smiling. “But one thing first.”

Mikey turns, pointing the barrel of his handgun and its silencer at April.

Her fist shoots out, diverting the shot.

Mikey blinks- blocks the next attack, tries to realign his shot with the target, has it diverted with a well-timed slap to the wrist, then fails to break the startlingly strong twist to his arm, loses his gun- and yelps as knuckles meet his nose, stumbling backwards as the past two seconds catch up with him.

“Ow,” Mikey whines, feeling his nose spurt blood. “What the hell, lady?”

“You’re saying what the hell to me?” O’Neil says incredulously. Her foot shoots out and Mikey narrowly avoids the kick to the kneecap. April moves fast and brutal- punches aimed precisely and only diverted by the slimmest of margins. Except Mikey is unprepared to suddenly be in such a fight, and feels himself slip up.

Targets aren’t supposed to fight back like this. Pampered rich kids aren’t supposed to fight back like this.

Mikey makes an embarrassing rookie mistake, and trips backwards over a stupid little coffee table. O’Neil stands over him, panting and still holding her fists ready to fight.

“Jeez, girl, you treat all your cleaning ladies like this?” Mikey gripes, smarting in both body and pride.

“Not all my cleaning ladies try an’ kill me,” O’Neil snaps. “Also, your camograph nose is sideways.”

Mikey touches his face. He can’t properly feel the holographic camouflage mask, but the reaction is automatic. He scowls, stripping off the thin microfabric on his features and tugging the hijab off while he’s at it; dropping the façade of a middle-aged cleaning lady entirely.

O’Neil shoots him an extra disgusted look. “And fyi, using a disguise like that is just plain rude to people who actually follow the religion.”

“How do you know I’m not a follower of this particular holy book?”

“Are you?”

“Nah.”

“Well, alright then.”

Mikey is not expecting the crazy lady to try body slamming him, but with how the past half a minute has gone, he probably should have.

He rolls out of the way, getting on his feet and taking advantage of O’Neil’s prone position. He grabs her around the neck and shoulders, hauling her backwards and trying to strangle her. She responds by slamming the back of her skull against his mouth, splitting his lip and sending sparks across Mikey’s vision.

She elbows him in the ribs, wrestling herself free and making for the gun on the floor. Mikey recovers in time to give chase, tackling her away from his weapon and sending them both to the floor all over again. He tries to punch her, and she fucking bites him on the arm. Mikey hisses and swallows a cry of pain, punching O’Neil in the stomach with a quick series of harsh jabs and forcing her to let go- but not without her tearing the fabric of his dress, and leaving a swelling bitemark underneath.

He gets off her, scrambling for his gun and snatching it up off the carpet. When he turns to fire, a vase clocks him right in the face.

His nose is going to be a mess of bruises after this, won’t it?

Mikey feels a hand grab his, trying to wrench the gun out of his grip, and he snarls and fights back- both of them catching each other’s opposite hands as they try and get the advantage. O’Neil is giving him a fierce glare as she fights him, surprisingly strong as they hit a stalemate, neither of them giving an inch as their arms shake with effort.

“You…” Mikey grits out, smiling nastily at his target, “are bein’ a real thorn- in my side- right now!”

“Says the guy- that’s here to kill me!” O’Neil hisses back.

Then, she and Mikey break the stalemate simultaneously, both of them trying to knee the other in the gut and colliding as they do. They rip away from each other, the pistol going flying as O’Neil scrapes her nails along Mikey’s wrist, forcing him to release it as they dart away from one another.

Mikey realizes that Donnie has been talking to him this entire time, but his focus isn’t on whatever his brother is saying. It’s on taking O’Neil down.

Besides, if he can’t salvage this on his own, his brothers will totally bug him about it forever.

Mikey runs for his gun, which has landed under the legs of a plush chair by the wide windows of the room. It’s as his grip closes around it again that he hears the whine of electricity charging.

Mikey whirls, raising his pistol to take the shot, but yelps and has to dodge as what he swears is a bolt of lightning blackens the chair, filling the air with the acrid stench of burning. O’Neil’s glasses shine as she aims the gauntlet she’s retrieved, the palm of it glowing as it charges and fires again.

Mikey keeps moving, avoiding the blasts, thanking his lucky stars that he’s the best gymnast in his family. Even with the gun clutched in his hand and wearing an ankle length dress, he nimbly avoids being shocked by the electricity, vaulting furniture and moving in ducks and leaps. Mikey overturns the small dining table as he reaches it, getting behind it and using it as support as he lines up a quick shot and fires.

O’Neil is on the floor before the gun has even gone off, taking shelter behind the couch. Mikey pants, keeping his pistol trained on where O’Neil’s head might appear. He takes the racing adrenaline inside himself and breathes it out in a slow gust of air, easing the slight tremor in one hand and settling his heartrate.

“MIKEY, god dammnit, ANSWER ME!” Donnie yells in his ear, finally breaking through the storm as it clears from Mikey’s head.

“I’m good, Don,” Mikey says softly, licking his lips as he watches April’s hiding spot. “I just… hit a small snag.”

“I’m sending Leo- and Raph, too, actually. Fuck, fuck it, we might as well all go-”

“No!” Mikey says. “No, dude, seriously I got this.”

“It really doesn’t sound like it.”

Mikey’s face gets hot, frustration rising with his embarrassment. He’s just as capable as his brothers, more so in some aspects, and he doesn’t want to beg help off his older siblings over one measly rich lady getting a few lucky shots in-

Mikey jerks as something flies up into the air from the couch, arcing towards him- he moves to flee before he realizes it’s not a bomb but instead a pillow, but even still he can’t be too careful, who knows what’s inside that pillow-

Mikey realizes his mistake right after, as he leaves the meager protection of his dining table.

The pillow gently hits the carpet floor with hardly a sound.

Mikey hits the carpet a lot harder and louder, shocked right in the center of his chest as his target takes advantage of his stupid choices.

He doesn’t hear Donnie’s voice as his eyes roll up into his skull and he collapses on the floor. Mikey doesn’t hear anything but ringing as he passes out.

.

.

.

.

.......and now we all have to wait for the artists to claim this piece, and for me to finish the latter 20% i haven’t written of this big boy.

#My writing #rottmnt #three days to live au #its a pun off that one hitman movie that's 'three days to kill' lmao #i'm very clever i kn ow #tbb fic #tmnt big bang

[disruptioncamouflage]

Meeting notes:

Lecturer Notes:

1. John Reynolds wearing ghillie suit in Art New Zealand https://www.art-newzealand.com/Issue122/contents122.htm

2. Deleuze and Guattari, A Thousand Plateaus, attached PDF. It’s a tough read so even just focus on the orchid and the wasp analogy in the first approx. 15 pages. Let the thinking wash over you for now and make some notes/brainstorms. As Dan mentioned: is the orchid imitating the aesthetic form of the wasp to attract pollination? Or is the relationship more reciprocal, more rhizomatic, where the wasp then also imitates the aesthetics of the orchid and they keep imitating each other in a feedback loop? Maybe camouflage/imitation doesn’t work in one direction?

3. Yinka Shonibare, artist who uses mannequins as sculptural form/installation.

4. ‘King of the Fools’ or the ‘court jester’ – are they making fun, or more political commentary? Are they the butt of the joke, or in power/control? Carnival - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_Carnival and Mardi Gras (New Orleans, Sydney) are release valves, the purge or ejaculation or release that lets people behave/misbehave the way they want outside of ordinary responsibility – an inversion of the ‘status quo’  

5. Rachel Harrison https://www.artforum.com/print/202001/hal-foster-on-the-art-of-rachel-harrison-81631

6. Isa Genzken https://www.hauserwirth.com/artists/2784-isa-genzken/

7. Dubuffet Coucou Bazar https://www.artnews.com/feature/jean-dubuffet-who-is-he-famous-works-1234569877/ and https://www.dubuffetfondation.com/focus.php?menu=40&lang=en

8> WWE wrestling – performance, entertainment, hype, art? https://www.npr.org/2014/04/16/303652716/drag-is-raw-wrestlers-queens-and-gender-as-performance-art(Dan I think this is the one you meant, but couldn’t read my own writing! Please correct if not 😊) 

9. Susan Blackmore, TED talk https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_blackmore_memes_and_temesJeremy Deller https://www.jeremydeller.org  and this brainstorm https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/deller-the-history-of-the-world-t12868

10. Mark Leckey Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/leckey-fiorucci-made-me-hardcore-t11817

11. Westie culture, rave culture – to you have to walk down Queen St trying to make a scene as an opposite (wearing ghillie suit or whatever, in contrast to lawyer in suits etc.) or can you just live your life and drink beers in the garage on a Friday night with friends wearing outfits instead? What happens if you photograph your outfit every day as a diary? Maybe it’s more natural to just live your life as art, instead of setting up a separate ‘performance’ or ‘event’

Artists thoughts:

I thought before I looked into these notes I’d build a base for me to work off, which is this idea of capturing ghillie suits in environments there not meant to be in. I call this concept ‘Unnatural Habitats’, innately just wearing a ghillie suit in a urban environment makes it stand out as its already out of place. But I think going to a deeper level is to play with the colours of the ghillie suit, I found that wherever I took the suit, there was somewhere it always blended in, even when it stood out everywhere else. My lectures thought it would be a good idea to work though these notes and ‘see what sticks’, so that my plan. On first glance there are already things that I think work quite well, just from titles, such as ‘King Of The Fools’ and the ‘Court Jester’. As I had been playing around with the humors of wearing a ghillie in public, and how wearing the ghillie made me feel like the true form of a jester. Not laughed at, but laughed with, a way of making people smile. 

1. Ghillie as humor with expected context: 

John Reynolds ideas of ghillie suits revolve around humored appropriate attire for the current pandemic and social climate, in a quote from a house visit by ‘The Big Idea Editor’ on 13 May 2020. The author writes, “Self-portrait at home in full Level 3 attire, contemplating a jigsaw”. 

https://www.thebigidea.nz/stories/blurring-things-is-our-job-description

John Reynolds interpretation of ghillie suits resonates with my ideas around the humor, but with more of a twist towards covid. This also plays on my ideas of ‘the jester’, how I perceive a jester is someone that makes people laugh and smile, without it being at there own expense. So in terms of wearing ghillie suits around in public, I think its largely to do with how you perceive your self, and positive reactions bounce of how you carry your self. I also quite like this quote from the article, “[visual art] It’s a solitary occupation, punctuated with moments of compressed socializing and occasional collaborative professional misbehaving”. I agree with what he is saying here, because of how difficult is to express my goals around public interaction with my ghillie suits due to covid. Last year I had planned to publicly test my ghillie suits, but we went into lockdown making it near impossible, and even for presentation I had planned to have people walking around on the opening night. So I guess this year I'm taking any opportunity to achieve all the elements of my honors project that I couldn't last year. 

2. Paragraph from A Thousand Plateaus:

The orchid deterritorializes by forming an image, a tracing of a wasp; but the wasp reterritorializes on that image. The wasp is nevertheless derritorialized, becoming a piece in the orchid's reproductive apparatus. But it reterritorializes the orchid by transporting its pollen. Wasp and orchid, as heterogeneous elements, form a rhizome. It could be said that the orchid imitates the wasp, reproducing its image in a signifying fashion (mimesis, mimicry, lure, etc.). But this is true only on the level of the strata-a parallelism between two strata such that a plant organization on one imitates an animal organization on the other. At the same time, something else entirely is going on: not imitation at all but a capture of code, surplus value of code, an increase in valence, a veritable becoming, a becoming-wasp of the orchid and a becoming-orchid of the wasp. Each of these becoming's brings about the deterritorialization of one term and the reterritorialization of the other; the two becoming's interlink and form relays in a circulation of intensities pushing the deterritorialization ever further. There is neither imitation nor resemblance, only an exploding of two heterogeneous series on the line of flight composed by a common rhizome that can no longer be attributed to or subjugated by anything signifying. Rémy Chauvin expresses it well: "the aparallel evolution of two beings that have absolutely nothing to do with each other."

Rémy Chauvin in Entretiens sur la sexualité, ed. Max Aron, Robert Courrier, and Etienne Wolff (Paris: Pion, 1969), p. 205.

3.

4. The butt of the joke, or in power/control:

The jesters were given a power that no other person in the kingdom was granted: the power to openly mock any noble he saw fit, even the King or Queen. So long as it was done in a jesting manner, a jester could get away with poking fun at any of the nobles shortcomings.

https://medievalfactsexaminer.weebly.com/articles/medieval-jester-more-than-just-a-fool

Unpacking this quote:

The jesters were given a power, the power to openly mock any noble he saw fit, even the King or Queen. When I think about this idea in a modern setting, where most people see themselves as the center of there universe, its very hard to give a jester that much power, people are far to self aware and afraid to being mooched or floored. However the jester gains power in the modern world by how they carry themselves, there wisdom, and there ability to be altruistic ( showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish.). This can be see as self-awareness, and it provides a huge amount of power in a moment.  

Thinking from Y, in terms of Mardi Gras:

Mardi Gras (New Orleans, Sydney) are release valves, the purge or ejaculation or release that lets people behave/misbehave the way they want outside of ordinary responsibility – an inversion of the ‘status quo’

Artist thought about this idea:

Interestingly I see some connection with this idea to John Reynolds when he talks about “[visual art] It’s a solitary occupation, punctuated with moments of compressed socializing and occasional collaborative professional misbehaving”. Much like Mardi Gras, there is limited moments for the Provocateur to get his exposure in the public eye. This exposure being that of  an inversion of the ‘status quo’, or normality that people expect. I think a good example of this was when we turned up to the exhibition, there was this formality, or expectation of proper dress. But as soon as that was broken by Mel and I, there is this moment of serotonin release from the viewer. So when elaborating on that thought, am I the provocateur providing a moment of Mardi Gras for the viewer?

In that case am I the jester controlling the joke, controlling the narrative of how the viewer is meant to perceive me. My attitude, my posture, an interesting point with that, most of the time I forget I'm wearing a ghillie suit. There was a moment when I was driving home from Devonport, we pulled up to a pedestrian crossing, the people saw me stop and walked across staring at me, double taking even (looking back over there shoulder). I thought to my self why are they staring so much, looked down, and exclaimed, “ahh that's why”, and began giggling to my self. 

5. A devil-may-care assemblage artist

definition: cheerful and reckless

6. 

7. 

9.

10.

11. I'm doing this!

Westie culture, rave culture – to you have to walk down Queen St trying to make a scene as an opposite (wearing ghillie suit or whatever, in contrast to lawyer in suits etc.) or can you just live your life and drink beers in the garage on a Friday night with friends wearing outfits instead? What happens if you photograph your outfit every day as a diary? Maybe it’s more natural to just live your life as art, instead of setting up a separate ‘performance’ or ‘event’

Artist notes:

2

#myownthinking #artist research

[123designsrq]

LUXURY HOME MADE OF ORGANIC CONCRETE CURVES GIVE AN UNCONVENTIONAL VIBE

When I first saw the Domik house, it felt like someone delivered a kid’s instance to life inside the most aesthetically pleasing way possible! Nestled into the sandhills south of Noosa National Park, Australia, this private house is playful retention of current architecture. It’s curves make it undoubtedly stand out (as curves usually do!) and every crevice with the aid of Noel Robinson Architects is simply giving us house goals! That's called the Luxury Home. Designed for a purchaser who desired a timeless and realistic holiday domestic, I imagine he is truely enjoying his quarantine overlooking the Pacific Ocean because this is wherein I could be residing out the pandemic if I had the option. The eco-domestic has three floors, 6 bedrooms, nine bathrooms. It is one among Australia’s most high costing homes. The exterior is anything however that of a conventional residence – it has several massive domes stacked upon each different and blanketed with green roofs to blend in with nature. The unusual shape and use of natural materials truely optimize the natural sunlight and ventilation that Domik gets due to its top class location. It almost looks like the house is wearing a hooded cloak of eco-consciousness. Lafarge Holcim, Cemex, CRH and Buzzi Unicem are the companies who are manufacturing the concrete. But this Luxury homes are made by the Organic Concrete which looks amazing already.

It becomes clear to the layout group that sustainability change into a very important issue of the house. No air conditioning turning into to be establishing. Renewable strength to be using to generate strength on-site along with the usage of sustainable production materials. So that is why the Domik house functions an expansive rooftop sun array supported by a battery garage system. The layout also carries the gathering of roof water to be reusing on-site. The internal non-loadbearing partitions are with hempcrete for thermal insulation (and acoustics!). Hempcrete has high carbon sequestration and is a completely recyclable product. The sculptural forms had been designed to present it an organic enchantment. And not spoil the panorama the residence was in by the use of an angular build. The concrete arches had been a smart move. Due to the fact they minimized the want for inner columns. Made way for high ceilings, and maximized the distance for spanning windows. The floor + footprint region of the belongings is large and the landscape continues from the floor to the top the usage of lightweight timber ‘eyelids’ to shape the concrete arches. The house is camouflaging into the natural placing seamlessly with the fluid shapes and gardened roofs. Quarantine or now not, a getaway domestic has 3 cores. Entertainment, sports, and health which is precisely what the group with their eco-friendly. Visually appealing layout plan. Huge however still cozy! Read the full article

#Luxury #luxurybag #luxurybrand #luxurycar #luxurycars #luxurydesign #luxuryfashion #luxuryfurniture #luxurygoods #luxuryhome #luxuryhomes #luxuryhotel #luxuryhotels #LuxuryHouse #luxuryinteriors #luxuryjewelry #luxurylife #luxurylifestyle #luxurylifestylemagazine #luxurylistings #luxuryliving #luxuryrealestate #luxuryshoes #luxurystyle #luxurytravel #luxurywatch #luxurywatches #luxurywedding #luxuryworldtraveler #luxury4play

[wondrousworldbuilding]

For my fantasy world I thought it would be kind of cool if my humans live in the night instead of during the day. But now I'm facing several problems and I'm not really sure how to solve them. Firstly, during nighttime, it is colder, thus, from a cultural standpoint, if I had an Maasai equivalent then they wouldn't develop that way since it's not so warm that they'd need their light clothing. Same for, let's say, Persians. (tba)

Their distinct weapons, culture and clothing is a result of the climate, among other things. It would be, in my opinion, weird to say they have light clothing because of the heat when it is barely 20°C during the night. Similarly, I worry about the skin tone aspect, since there’d be no need for dark skin to protect oneself from the sun, but I’m aiming for diversity since I’m working on a whole world. The one solution I thought about was make the day even hotter so the night is warmer. 

So during the day you’d have, maybe, 50°C and during the night 30°C to be true-er to the climate of the real world equivalents. Or, I stop thinking in equivalents and accept the cooler temperatures, but then lots of elements would be lost, for example desert tribes or the “Persians’ ” light clothing as opposed to the “Norses’ ” heavier armour. Do you have any ideas? I could explain most with magic, since the world was created, but, you know, saying “it’s magic” is a comfortable, easy excuse.

Hi there.

You’ve got several topics, so I’m going to try and tackle one at a time.

Climate

Decide exactly the type of climate you want your people to live in during their awake time. If you want it to be warm, then place the planet in a place close enough to its sun where such a climate makes sense. I feel it would be completely natural to have a species who lives in the temperate night because daytime is unbearably hot. 

You’d want a planet with a humid enough atmosphere to hold in the warmth of the day. What I mean by that is, if you create a desert biome, then the dry air will not help disperse the heat between day and night, and the nights will be freezing even if the days are too hot. 

Science is pretty awesome in that you can use it to explain pretty much any type of climate you want, you just might have to think out of the “Terrestrian atmosphere” box. 

Species/Races

If you’re looking to create a race of people who are nocturnal, then I’d say the first step you should take is look at the biology of nocturnal creatures here on Earth. 

Human’s skin is colored by the presence or absence of melanin. But your alien race doesn’t have to be. Or at least...the presence of melanin doesn’t have to be determined by sunlight. If you look at a cast of nocturnal animals, you’ll see a variety of textures and colors. If the sun isn’t playing a role in the lives of these people, then it wouldn’t make sense for their coloring to be dependent upon the strength of the sun. Rather, they could be colored to camouflage, attract mates, intimidate enemies, or any other number of reasons. 

Weapons, Clothing, Etc.

So if you’re working on a different scale of existence, then try not to limit yourself to the reasons why the Persians did it, or the reasons why the Romans did it or anything like that. If you have a nocturnal race who is light skinned because the trees have pale bark and they have evolved to hunt in the forest, therefore blend in with the pale trees, then you want to craft their weapons and clothing in a way that would follow that logic. They might not want to wear excessive clothing (if the climate didn’t call for it) because they want to be able to continue to blend in with their surroundings as they evolved to do. Their weapons might need to be long distance so they could shoot without moving from their “tree-like” hiding places. OR they might have close-range weapons that are aesthetically designed to look like a tree branch or leaves. 

A darker-skinned people who evolved to camouflage with the dark sand of the beaches have little cover to hide behind. They might have light weapons that are fast and easy to melee with. The design might be inspired by the sea or the creatures therein.

Basically, when you’re playing on a different battlefield, you have the freedom to think outside the box. Earth and humans and our biology is normal to us, but it isn’t the only choice. If you want your races to look and act a certain way, think about other factors that could create that need, other explanations that could make that aesthetic not only plausible but sensible. 

Happy building!

#ask #asks #treacherousgodswrites #writing #amwriting #writing things #writing help #help for writers #worldbuilding #setting #world building #writing thoughts #fiction #fantasy #scifi #species #race

[eorzeasntm]

Week 3 Results!!

Week three has come to an end, and thank you everyone for voting and supporting ENTM! We are now over half way done! Remember there is no elimination this cycle!

The winner of Week 3 is:

 Doki Kodoki! Congratulations, now let’s see if you can keep your spot, or if someone else will beat you out next week!!

 The reviews from the judges are below!

Flare: Sorry for the short reviews, have a lot going on this week!

Kusuh:  Aesthetically this is the most vibrant and colorful picture out of the bunch. I love the colors and the tone.

Doki Kodoki: Darker pictures tend to be some of my favorites, I love the panic and urgency in the photo.

Noesis Phobos: The picture looks very well put together. Another one where the colors soothe together.

Rivienne Cotrlaint: Great use of the background and the pose makes you look like a real tomb raider.

WoW Wie: Nice simple and subtle shot. Don't worry, we won't tell anyone about your treasure.

Stephen Fairbrook: Nice tones in this picture. The pose works nicely overall.

Nadede Lasalle: The monotone filter looks nice and adds to the picture. Looks like that mimic is about to strike!

Gangly

Kusuh Valentione: The lighting here is beautiful! I’m a huge fan of the bright 2 filter, and I think it works incredibly well in this shot (the gold on your pickaxe is just wow!). The colors are extremely vivid, which creates a nice contrast between you and the background. The outfit works well with the shot, and it looks as if you’re shading your eyes from the sun because of the bit of light hitting the side of your face. I think the shot could’ve done without the golem in the back because I feel it is out of place, but it does not take my focus away from you because of how centered you are!

Noesis Phobos: The darkness of this shot works well with the light to create an interesting contrast! The bright 3 filter is perfect; it reduces the colors while accentuating the darker and lighter values. Your outfit is fitting for your scenario, and your expression adds a sense of worry. I like how you’re looking somewhere off in the distance, as if you’re hurriedly trying to look for a place to run. I love the lighting on the golem in the back because it makes the shot more dramatic; it’s practically saying, “Fight me!” or “Run away while you can!” However, I do think the golem looks rather docile because it’s just standing there. I can’t even imagine how difficult it would be to try and take a shot while in battle, but despite the differences in lighting on you and the golem, you manage to keep yourself in focus because of your proximity to the camera!

Doki Kodoki: Ahhhhhh, behind you! Your outfit and expression are great, and I love the face makeup giving you a more rugged look. Your kneeling pose gives me the impression that you’re about to open a coffer that is off-screen, but you were interrupted by the evil mummy. The saturated linework effect adds a sense of action, while also making the shot a bit more cartoon-like (which is cute!). Because of how dark the shot is, I am interpreting the shot as more serious, which clashes a bit with the effect chosen. Reflection blur can be a pain to use because it really blurs out the sides, but I think it would have worked quite nicely with the overall darkness of the shot. Using a filter that adds just a bit more color would work with the saturated linework effect as well!

Wow Wie: Ohh, don’t mess with Wow Wie! I love how you have all the treasure behind you, and your pose is most definitely fitting! Your outfit has a Lara Croft feel to it, and your expression is mischievous. Your face has a playful expression, but the gun in your hand says otherwise! I also like the bracelets and earrings you’re wearing; it’s like you put on some of the treasure you’ve just found! The lighting in the back is already sufficient, but I think adding a few more lights on top of the treasure could give it some major bling!

Rivienne Cotrlaint: This shot is incredibly well-lit! The lighting on the ruins behind you is beautiful and lightens it enough to create a nice contrast with your black outfit. Your pickaxe is practically glowing, and I love it! Your expression is determined, and you look ready to find some untold secrets in the ruins. I’m not quite sure about the pose; it appears more like a fashion pose. The hat also looks a bit out of place because of how big it is in comparison to your more tightly fitting clothes. I still love how you dyed your whole outfit black; it gives you a more serious aura while helping you stand out in the shot!

Nadede Lasalle: It’s a mimic, RUUUUUUN! The monotone filter gives the shot a more dark and tense mood, and the lighting on your face looks rather ominous. Your expression looks worried and your pose makes it look as if you’re saying, “What am I supposed to do?!” I think putting a very faint light (similar to the light in front of you) behind you would help create a greater contrast between you and the background because your hair is completely blending into the black background. I do think the lighting on the mimic is interesting; it blackens the front and its teeth, making it seem more menacing!

Stephen Fairbrook: This is a great perspective for this shot! We see the bend in the wall, and know that you are trying to hide but have been spotted! The lighting on your hair is fantastic, and I like your outfit choice; although it isn’t what you would think of when visualizing an explorer, it becomes toned down with the black dye. Your head turned to the side gives me the impression that you are debating on what to do, now that the treasure is being guarded. I think the shot could have done without the blurred background; you are already my focal point because of the vivid lighting on you, but those zombies are also important in your shot! I think that glimmer effect from the coffer is interesting; it makes the zombie look like he’s got materia in his arm!

 Katarh

Noesis Phobos:  Lovely colors. The slight camera tilt works in your favor, adding a disjointed sense to the image.  Your golem is on the right third, and you on the left third, making this shot perfectly framed. The lighting is spot on, evoking a perfectly spooky feeling. The outfit is good, but something a bit lighter (in weight) might have made sense for an underground desert cavern, or at least with just a bit more color.  I really like the pose - panic is so hard to capture well.  The filter of Bright 3 brings it all together in soft blues and purples.

Rivienne - Can I ask you to lead my next raid group?  Your powerful pose and strong words scream leadership.  Hand me my pick axe and I'll help you to dig right in!  The outfit is the perfect combination of work and adventure, and as someone who is allergic to the sun, I can appreciate the choice of big floppy hat for digging in the desert. Colored marker is such an interesting filter because it can drastically change the atmosphere of a shot - and to be honest, it took me a while to realize where this is.  (Entrance to Qarn.... right?)  But that's a good thing - it adds to the mystery of the composition and helps elevate it beyond just another day in the desert.

Stephen Fairbrook:  If you can't see them, they can't see you, right? A great composition, and thoroughly taking advantage of 4:3 screen ratio to show all the elements.  Your zombie "extras" are perfectly placed to guard the treasure chest, and the outfit camouflages well with the greenish eerie background. I think a stronger light source from the /gpose selection might have made the shadows deeper, emphasizing the otherworldly nature of your adventure.  Bright 1 was a good choice, not washing anything out but allowing the background lights to glow in a golden haze.

Wow Wie:  Shhhh - my lips are sealed and I saw nothing except an amazing tomb raid!  Bright 1 combines with what looks like some limbal darkening to draw the eye dead center. I love the choice of background - you clearly had a very successful raid.  I think this shot might have been stronger if you had managed to not be dead center yourself, but off to the side, putting the emphasis on the treasure. I like the choice of Bright 1, as it made your background lamp glow and also deepened all the shadows around your treasure.

Doki (and friend): The requirement this week was only for a screen filter, but you used the additional effect of line-work too - and it really works to emphasize your danger!  This feels like a scene from a comic book or another illustration. I really love this choice of location, because we get to see some details on the wall glyphs that I've honestly never seen before.  I think the echo was also a great choice for a filter, since it cast everything in a nice vintage feel.  I just wish your "friend" was a little bit bigger, as he's kind of tiny and very far off in the distance (although that's good for your character in this case.) Also the eyepatch?  PERFECT. You've clearly been raidin' tombs for a while.

Kusuh:  The sun is too brrrrright!  Love the concept and the pose.  The problem is... the light is clearly at your back, and if you're squinting at the sunrise, your character is facing the wrong way.  Don't be afraid to turn on the extra floodlights in gpose - they gave them to us for a reason! The outfit choice is excellent for a night of exploration, and the Bright 2 filter brings the entire thing to life. I hope you had a successful night of raidin'!

Nadede:  That horrifying moment when you open a mimic....   I love the use of the monochrome filter. Your panic expression says it all, too - oops!  Now all we need are violins shrieking horror music in the background.  The background and location are good for the theme, but your hair is blending in a bit too much with the background, and because of the side profile, it's hard to get a good sense of your tomb raidin' clothes, especially in the monochrome filter.  It also appears there's a status effect around the chest, but I can't quite see what it is.  

#entm #entm results #cycle 7 results #Eorzea's next top model cycle 7 #eorzea's next top model #week 3 results #woot week 4 is coming

[wristwatchjournal]

Hands-On: Bell & Ross BR 03-92 White Camo Watch

Paris-based Bell & Ross has always been a fashionable brand, and products like the BR 03-92 White Camo (reference BR0392-CG-CE/SCA) help prove it. Even though Bell & Ross products are all deeply inspired by tools and the people who use them, the brand is rarely shy to release timepieces which are patently artistic or merely fashionable when the situation merits it.

The BR 03-92 Camo is a new limited edition take on the core BR 03-92 Instrument watch that is the smaller, 42mm wide version of the larger BR 01-03 (46mm wide). For this particular product Bell & Ross begins with a matte black ceramic case, and then renders the cockpit clock-style dial in white and gray urban-style camouflage. The watch comes with two straps. One being a black rubber strap, and other other being a leather strap with the same white camo pattern printed on it.

From a tool watch perspective, Bell & Ross doesn’t really add much to the mix with the BR0392-CG-CE/SCA. From a fashion perspective, it does. The watch is actually a bit of an aesthetic compromise as a tool timepiece because the dial simply isn’t as legible as most BR 03-92 watches are. This is because the black and white hands (that otherwise look cool) have a tendency to visually blend in with the camouflage dial. I suppose one can’t blame camouflage for acting like… well, camouflage.

Military and tactical style has been extremely important in urban/street fashion over the last few years — and this product fits within that trend very nicely. In Paris, Tokyo, L.A., New York, and other cities where urban style is probably the most important in fashion, a timepiece like the BR 03-92 White Camo is entirely relevant. It helps that it is made by a serious watch brand, even though its design is more about novelty than functionality.

Inside the watch is a Swiss ETA 2892-2 automatic movement, which Bell & Ross refers to as its caliber BR-CAL.302. The case is 42mm-wide with 100 meters of water resistance. Like all BR 03-92 watches, it wears very comfortably on the wrist despite its size and, again, is the smaller of Bell & Ross’ two square cockpit instrument-style timepiece cases that debuted with the BR01 in around 2004. Bell & Ross is producing the BR0392-CG-CE/SCA as a limited edition of 999 pieces, which means that it won’t be incredibly hard to find, but a few years from now these will no longer be available in a retail environment. Price for the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 White Camo watch is $3,800 USD. Learn more or order at the Bell & Ross website here.

The post Hands-On: Bell & Ross BR 03-92 White Camo Watch appeared first on Wristwatch Journal.

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#watches #luxury watches #wrist watches

[jasperwoke]

The faults in my friends

I have some friends. As of now. I consider them friends. I believe they put up with me, deal with me, and offer company voluntarily with no intentions of repayment behind their amicability.

Sebastian the Eagle

Independent And dashing. He’s tall, tower over others, and always watching. He is observant, but not for the motive of protecting himself, but rather to capsize on opportunities. There are always moments to be chanced upon, and Sebastian’s watchfulness allows him to take advantage of openings. He dresses in a rugged, but not dirty or unruly manner. He does not dress for opinions of wealth nor high fashion, he does not billboard colors and slogans and logos. Rather, his dull combination of patterns and colors make him feel rustic, and very sure of the world. Knowing what he has to offer, what he must do to offer such insights, as well as what others may offer him.

Like an eagle he soars over others. He in incredibly smart, ignoring race, gender, as other social economic statuses. He has been granted many benefits and where others may waste them or flex them, he is very humble, knowing he already stands high above others, and seeks only to ascend more upwards, rather than constantly watching below. His father had a good position for his early schooling, his college as well as athletic history grants him many opportunities that others may not have the motivation or ability to achieve, let alone combine together. His coloration is also much like an eagle. Earthen tones as well as earthen patterns are compose his normal attire, but he does wear flares, of colors or graphics. He is independent like an eagle in the sense he is sure of himself, and knows that for his improvements, only he can achieve it. No matter how much assistance or leverage he may receive, it is only his ability to utilize it that ultimately helps him go higher.

My opinions on Sebastian may be limited, I only know the surface of him, with occasional glimpses into his inner mind. He is very driven, however. Fierce. He does not frown or sneer in intimidation, but rather, focuses. His eyes are always determined, never shifting in suspicion or accusation. Perhaps that is what strikes the most respect and awe for all his peers and onlookers, not his size, appearance, nor intellect, but his composure.

Sebastian does not surface many fears. Like an eagle, he soars above and always watches. Watches for himself, and watches for others. In a spectrum of watching out and watching for. In our limited conversations, he indicates a different persona underneath. I feel he has insecurities he never surfaces or shows, perhaps the opportunity never arises. All his masks that he wears during the day govern him respect, he is rarely put in the position of seeking help. But even eagles return to nests at night, to nurture, and to rest. In our conversations, he sometimes stumbles over his words, or misconstrues the words of others. Perhaps it is prolonged independence that has strewed his communication in ways he is not used to. He does have friends, a team, and fits in well, but I believe it is rare he gets to open up. It is important to not confuse independence with isolation.

fear of insecurities

Aaron the monkey

Smart. He has the mind for wealth, enjoys the pursuit and promise of higher position and opportunity. He is artful, enjoys many sorts of music, very composed and analytical and accepting.

He is very submissive. I feel he elopes for acceptance. I believe his brother’s leaving may have damaged him in some way, leaving him with a scar of dissonance or nonacceptance. He enjoys losing himself through drugs, as well as hooking up with females, forming severable connections.

Perhaps this is his method to cope. By fantasizing himself with different females, which he has a very solid and real ability to do so, he justifies to himself his acceptance of a male figure. He dresses to flex, though more calmly than many other counterparts of his age. Perhaps it too is for acceptance within multitudes of communities. Sectors of wealth, age, physical attraction.

Handy like a monkey. But also must feel inclusive to the group. Wielding strong intellect, but also acknowledging the preference in power and company. 

seeks acceptance

Kendy the lion

He is proud, easy going, open minded. Sometimes he is too lax, but that is not an immediate flaw. He has good intellect and intuition, values money well, and has a very strong grasp on economics and the development of wealth.

He has become too content. He is in a powerful position in life, with many open opportunities. He compares himself to a lion. He even has a mane, his hair resembles one. He is boastful and proud, important trails, but only when balanced with humility.

Proud like a lion. Pompous like the mane. Wields strength within himself, but has also become lax like a resting lion.

too prideful

Kenny the duck

Kenny is big. He dresses in a masculine manner, is rough, boisterous, but also humorous. He is calm, keeps to himself, and knows his own worth, but is not pompous.

Kenny is very simple. He can keep company, or be company, and can hold his own in any scenario. He is good among friends. However, he is simple. Not a high business man, but a man of his word. He is smart, but his decisions are simple decisions. Others flock to him.

Like a duck, he can be aggressive. He puffs his chest and hisses, fending off through intimidation. But he is just him. He can entertain, enjoy, and stand his own. He flies, swims, walks on all terrain. But he is a duck, a fowl. Not the makes of a hawk, a lion, or a shark. 

lacks development 

Denis the bear

Denis is very attractive. He has a button nose, like a bear. He is cute, and attractive, but also somewhat fierce. He is dominant, and can impose himself upon lower groups. He is big too, a nice physique with his face, complimenting his inner content.

He hibernates. Many times, he feels lack of motivation, or perhaps a greater power inhibiting him. He will do what needs to be done, take aggression when needed. But like a bear in headlights, or perhaps a bear being hunted, sometimes he does not know how to act, or acts inappropriately.

His face and size impose like a bear. He is dominant, masculine, and powerful. But like a bear, inside, he enjoys sleep more than work. He can put himself into much higher positions, but seeks to avoid aggression, even if small, when possible. He enjoys his territory, the cubs he has made. He does not seek to take on others. Confident in his own skin, he does not seek to grow larger. Perhaps for the sake of his own comfort.

self inhibition

Riz the chameleon

Riz, likewise, is also quite attractive. He has a nice jaw, nice hair, and colorful and artful aesthetics. Much like a chameleon. He can adapt to many situations, wearing his appearance, voice, and personality as camouflage. He takes life one step at a time, enjoying the moment with good company.

He uses his traits as camouflage, as aforementioned. He wears colors boldly, wields himself proudly. But he can still be hurt. He is attentive like the chameleon, always watching and adapting. Fitting in but also standing out. His hair standing up also somewhat resembles the spines you’d see on a lizard’s head. Big eyes and gorgeous colors, he is beautiful.

Like a chameleon, he constantly shifts, and watches, and readjusts to blend in. Yet within the setting, he stands out boldly and proudly. Like a chameleon, he is fast and cunning. He can wait or he can lash out, with both traits equivalently strong. However, he does not stand out in a pompous manner. He too can get hurt, can be preyed on, and though camouflage and attentiveness are defenses, there are many things he can not protect himself against. He enjoys life in the moment, and takes unforeseen losses as they come. Analytical, and quick to adjust, he is the essence, but not the center of a party.

does not stand out

Anushtup the chinchilla

petite and cute, with plump cheeks, Anushtup is much like a domesticated pet. However, he is exotic. He is definitely smart, being able to squeeze through conundrums that may befall him. However, he is inhibited by many factors as well, some out of his control. He finds joy and sorrow in life, but understand there are greater forces behind veils of reality. He feels, and reacts to these circumstances, but merely accepts them as they come. like a house pet, he has become content, unwinding in afternoon slivers of sun, rather than prowling on savannas or taking arbitrary risks.

Anushtup’s small size allows him to blend in to many situations. I feel he wants to stand out but for many factors, simply can not. Likewise, he dresses subtly, though not in a bad manner. His clothing, though quite expensive, is a studied taste, and though they do not call for attention, they can very much incite thought and invoke deeper emotions behind them. Easily over looked due to his normality, his attire blending in, it is an art form how he wields and acts, a sort of studied negligence.

I do not know Anushtup well. Often times, I find myself misconstruing his meanings and connotations to his words. He is playful and energetic, often cunning and mischievous. However, he understands his hand was not a one that wins the game. Where others crush obstacles, asserting themselves, he maneuvers around. Higher powers do help him often, as he tries to make sense of the mazes that befall him. Yet each day, he finds time to enjoy his predicament. The beauty in overlooked moments of life. Perhaps this is because he himself, is often overlooked. He seeks to make connections but unlike the rat, he is timid and exotic.

Sophisticated and exotic, yet small and overlooked, like a chinchilla. It is an obstacle that may be out of his hands, to assert and overcome in not just size. But he has made good company, loyal connections are superior to vasts networks. He knows himself more than anyone else. I think it is for the better he does not call attention to himself. Like fine art, he is best admired from a distance, and truly appreciated by a select few.

depressed

#confession

[dana-galo-blog]

Washington Square Park Interview

4:30 Mon 8/17/18 :

I said that I am a New School student studying journalism and I asked if he was willing to participate in a conversational interview for my class, and we talked for about 15 minutes. The interviewer said he was more comfortable not being recorded on my phone, so I wrote down his answers as we were talking. There were a lot of people in the park today. I was sitting on a bench near the fountain and this person sat next to me. He was wearing a bold outfit: camouflage pants and a bright yellow shirt with a black jacket, Goyard bag, nike sneakers, and a black hat.

Dana: “I’m Dana, what’s your name?”

Omar: “I’m Omar. Nice to meet you.”

Dana: “How old are you?”

Omar: “I am 20 years old.”

Dana: “Oh nice. Why are you at this park today? Do you come here a lot?”

Omar: “I’m an NYU student and I’m actually taking a break and relaxing before I have a meeting later.”

Dana: “What kind of meeting do you have?”

Omar: “So it’s about this fashion magazine that’s specifically for minorities, it embraces social and political issues and starts conversations, so basically it’s a woke fashion club that makes magazines.”

Dana: “That’s really cool. What made you get involved in that?”

Omar: “I DM’d this girl who I follow on Instagram who promotes it, so I just DM’d her one day saying I’m interested because she’s doing a 3rd edition of the magazine, and I would love to collaborate and she said that they’re actually having a meeting today.”

Dana: “Oh really? Your outfit today is really cool, what’s your style inspiration today?”

Omar: “I really like following style trends and I get inspiration from Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Luka Sabbat, and various fashion instagrams. I like mixing masculine and feminine aesthetics to achieve my overall unique sense of fashion.”

Dana: “What’s your major? Are you studying fashion in school?”

Omar: “So I am in this major called Media, Culture and Communications and it’s a very broad major where you focus on aspects of PR and advertising in all forms of media and so I’m interested in combining media and advertising with the fashion industry.”

Dana: “Wow that’s exciting. Do you usually run into one of your classmates here?”

Omar: “NYU has a really big student population so it feels weird because the ‘campus’ is small so when you walk through the park every day it feels like you go to a small liberal arts college but you see different faces every day so walking through the park is nice, I can see what’s going on and stuff and have new interactions and meet people.”

Dana: “Where’s your favorite place in NYC?”

Omar: “Um there’s a lot, I really like the Upper East Side where The Met is, it’s a very quiet and serene area, it’s very luxurious, and Central Park is right there. I love The Met because there are a lot of exhibitions and recently this year The Met released a collection which focuses on the catholic imagination with fashion and seeing all the dresses that have the catholic embellishment is really interesting. There's a lot of Valentino, Dior, and Alexander McQueen dresses on display and it's really inspiring to look at.”

Dana: “How are the styles at NYU?”

Omar: “So everybody has a different style at NYU since everyone is so different. There are kids from the US to Asia or Africa, so there’s a blend of culture with the fashion and you see people rocking hippie looks or high fashion and you see people express themselves with their individual personalities through their clothes.”

Dana: “What do you want to do when you graduate? Do you want to do something in the fashion industry?”

Omar: “That’s a very interesting question, yes, I want to do something in the fashion industry, but I know it won’t be easy and my major is cool because it’s like a business degree so I am not stuck and I can work in any aspect of the media industry and I can expand into fashion.”

Dana: “Yeah, that's a really good point because you have a lot of different options with what you're studying. Being in NYC, what’s the weirdest thing you've ever seen?”

Omar: “My friend was telling me the other day that she lives in an apartment in St. Mark’s Place, and she has a fire escape where she smokes weed. She goes to the fire escape every night and smokes with her friends, and one night when they were there to smoke they saw a homeless guy looking right at them masturbating and smiling at them and they told me they were mortified but also laughing because it was the most bizarre thing they’ve ever seen in New York. They told him to stop because it was disturbing but he just kept smiling at them so they went inside and just locked the door and stayed indoors all night.”

Dana: “Wow that’s really weird. What about you personally?”

Omar: “So the weirdest thing I’ve actually seen is… I actually haven't seen that many weird things, probably just the people here who are always screaming and maybe on drugs. I’m happy I haven’t had an individual experience like my friend’s story, so I’m hoping that continues on.”

Dana: “What’s the best thing that you have seen in Washington Square Park?”

Omar: “Last spring someone created this big dominoes obstacle thing in front of the arch and everyone was excited for him to see him knock over the first so they all would fall. I really like seeing all the artists working in the park and painting and seeing their work.”

Dana: “Is there somewhere you really don’t like in NYC?”

Omar: “I don’t really like Bushwick, Brooklyn because it isn’t really my vibe. Even though Bushwick has my favorite restaurant, which is Champs Diner, and they have good vintage stores, the area is boring and it looks just like any other city, nothing exciting.”

Dana: “What’s your favorite thing to do in NYC?”

Omar: “I really like shopping, to an extent, because I spend way too much money and the tax here is so high but I love shopping here because the clothes here are so different than anywhere else. There are a lot of vintage stores. I love vintage shopping and walking around Soho and window shopping on Mercer Street. It’s fun because there are stores everywhere and I get to just have a good time.”

Dana: “There is a lot of good shopping here, especially in Soho. That's one of my favorite places in NYC. Where are you from and why did you come to NYC?”

Omar: “I applied to NYU because I didn’t really think I fit in at the suburbs of Pennsylvania.  Everyone there is really different than me and conservative, and there isn’t really a lot of inspiration or creativity there. Basically, you go to college and you start a family and you live an ordinary life. That’s really peaceful and sometimes I’m overwhelmed in New York and sometimes it’s nice to go back to the suburbs for a weekend, but overall I don’t really see myself living there permanently. I see myself residing in New York and I belong here and I can thrive here.”

Dana: “Yeah that makes sense, you want to be in the best place for you. When did you come to New York?”

Omar: “I came here in January in 2018, so I’ve been here almost a year now.”

Dana: “Has being in NYC changed you? Was it an easy transition?”

Omar: “So coming to New York at first I thought it would be like a vacation where you eat at fun places go out at night spend a lot of money, a dream come true. You get an apartment and then realize I have to cook my own food, go grocery shopping, clean, and do adult things. So coming to college in New York makes you really independent and I feel like going to a state school or something doesn’t really prepare you for an adult world, whereas NYU places you right in adult life, which I prefer rather than being a frat guy partying every night.”

Dana: “Yeah that's how it is for me at The New School, too. I actually also study Culture and Media. Do you think if you went to any other school would you be studying fashion or media?”

Omar: “My parents for the longest time urged me to study political science and so I was interested in that because I was shocked when Trump became President and and that made me really interested in the government, but I soon realized when I was applying to colleges I was interested in the media. I didn’t see myself working in that field for the rest of my life. I was always interested in fashion but that wasn’t the norm so I wasn’t sure what I would do. For instance, if I told someone at home in the suburbs I was studying fashion they would think I was wasting my time. The suburbs limit my creativity, but here I can do what I truly want to do.”

Dana: “Do you think you can express yourself in the suburbs or is that difficult for you to do?”

Omar: “So I can’t really express my true style because where I live is a conservative area and I like mixing masculine and feminine styles and that would be seen as really weird so I try to tone down my looks so people don’t think I’m really weird. Sorry, this was interesting, but I have to go to my meeting now.”

Dana: “That must be a hard thing to balance. Thanks so much for letting me interview you and good luck in your meeting”

[fantroll-purgatory]

@rice-22

-go away,im not showing you my upper face >[]c

-Actually that teal stuff its paint but…. his wounds look like that??

-afraid of odd numbers,wearing skirts and most of all,afraid of that round thing with holes

-As i said afraid of odd numbers so we need an fourth….fact?

based on betta fish,squids,death and associated god and titan is Pluto and Themis

This boy is interesting, but he’s definitely a little bit all over the place. I’m going to try to reign his themes in a bit to try to create a more cohesive character. Before I even get to his blood color or start reviewing him, I’m going to talk about the basic premise you have for him… It seems that he was a fuschia who later became a teal? But I have a more interesting idea for you. 

Perhaps he could be a tealblood who really wants to be a fuschia. Who wishes for the throne despite this being a clearly foolish and doomed goal. 

So I’m going to thin his theme down to Squids, for their camouflaging ability, ink for the idea of darkness and to harken back to the interest in painting you’ve given him, and Pluto, for his association with wealth, death, and blueish-green colors. 

Place:posibly some unknown planet/place in space

Let’s put him on a colony planet! We’ve never been given much information about whether or not mother grubs have been transferred off planet to start populating other colonized lands. It would take you a little extra effort, because you’d have to write up your own ideas for what this planet is like, but it’s an interesting chance! 

Maybe it’s a crappy backwater planet with lots of hostile life that’s mostly used as a waypoint and he’s being trained to handle some bureaucratic ship-docking job that he hates and so that’s why he decides he wants to be an heir. He knows he’s doomed to die here and he doesn’t want to do that. He wants to climb the corporate ladder, aggressively.

Name: Shinoi Tanzul(not sure) (Shin)means 4 and death in japanese,since his aspect is doom (oi)from aoi,means blue in japanese,also pronounced like oy,expression for feeling tired,surprice,etc (Tan)short for titannium,strong unlike him,atomic number 22 (Zul)from azul,blue on spanish

I think changing his name to Dibran Glauce might be a good idea!

Dibran is a reference to the Dibranchiata class of cephalopods, which are the kind that utilize ink in chromatophores to change coloration. Glauce is Pluto’s twin who died of mysterious causes at a young age. 

Age:close to 7 alternian sweeps (14 earth years)

Strife Specibus:painting brush,(got an bi-dent on the other side)

I think it should be a paint brush that transforms into a bi-dent, much like Kanaya’s lipstick/chainsawkind. It’s a nice reference to his desire to be a fuschia without quite hitting the mark.

Fetch Modus:wallet modus,simple as looking for your stuff at your wallet but no,its all overlapped and messy

How about a squid modus instead. It’s like a tree modus, but with more camouflage. There’s a base item that is the “head” of the squid and then 10 arms where he can store additional items. Removing the head ejects everything. Also, he cannot tell what any of the items are. they’ve all blended into the white backgrounds of the cards. He’s got to play a guessing game.

Blood color:born as a fuchsia blood,then noticed he was really an teal troll,got his blood teal at the end and he looves it!!

Since there’s less logical reason for a transition between fuschia and teal, that’s why I decide to make this switch. Instead of necessarily having a biological switch out of nowhere between a midblood and a fuschia, having a midblood attempt to vie for the throne is a lot more fascinating as a concept. 

Symbol:well,he got just an actual sign,pimini,sign of the adjuster,derse dreamer,doom aspect (he decided to paint his sign on the shirt and he sucks at it,but he still uses traditional sign for himself)

I actually do like this for him. The Adjuster fits well as a name for his desire. Maybe he self-selected this symbol after finding it online? But I think I’ll adjust it just a little bit to be a fusion of Pimini and Pluto’s symbol. 

Partially as a reference to Pluto, partially as a reference to Limini (which would be his birth sign). 

Trolltag:DuoBloo Bettadoom (idk)

aspiringIllustratheir, a reference to his art motif his aspirations, and his desire to become an heir. 

Quirk:he ïs P_retty døømed and hïs head ïs seP_arated øn twø ør møre P_arts….!! P_ :similar to the sign used for Pluto,P Ï :two headed I,same as an bident or him Ø :magic half O,since half of his face is visible Tries to type as best as possible,uses pairs on (….),(!!),(??),etc. He uses glasses on faces and swap between them: 3] B/ >[]D >2o ….

I do like the pairing thing… But I’d leave off the half o, because combined with everything else it becomes a little visually busy. The P_ might not be necessary either. Just capitalizing P probably works well enough! Maybe have him use ~~ sometimes as a reference to squid tentacles.

Special Abilities:he can see but can’t see,can see past,present and future,also can see other people point of view and sometimes on 3rd person,also got some mind powers but he sucks at being body strong

If we place him as a teal, that means he wouldn’t be given an actual abilities inherent to him. However, we know that seers do start to get some access to visions even prior to godhood, especially if they have a medium through which to view. If he’s a doom player, maybe he’s cursed… Cursed by some on-planet entity that allows him to witness oncoming danger, but also saps his strength and causes him to be easily agitated?

Personality: he is two or more minded,he is more often to the shy side but can get mad on two seconds by anything

Let’s give him a little more. Maybe he has a sort of air of mystery to the people around him. He’s shy and quiet, but he manages to play it off well, being perceived as more enigmatic than anything else. Since I have him placed as a teal, I want to give him some moral center… but I think it can be a really weak one considering his attempt to break the mold. So maybe his ethical center is just that no one deserves to die unknown in a job they didn’t ask for. And probably that he deserves to rule. 

More importantly, he needs to have a lot of focus on fantasy… He has this rich inner world where he’s convinced he can achieve this goal despite shit being bad and it being foolish. 

And you can keep him being emotional and reactive. Having a hairpin trigger is a really good character trait.

Interests:video games,equality,necromance and nonsences

This needs to be extrapolated a little more. Equalizing opportunity and obtaining wealth would probably be big goals of his. A desire to change the system. He could be interested in death/the dark, too, which could indicate how he becomes involved with a cursed entity… Give him a general interest in getting off planet and a general interest in politics too, maybe. I’m not sure what you meant by nonsences? Does he like those kinds of jokes that are just utterly incomprehensible? Because that’d be fun.

Title: seer of doom, can see the bad stuff coming

I do like this. He has a passive ability to know of the doom that is going to come and befall him. However, he has only partially realized his aspect. He must learn to Understand the doom that will befall him. He has to understand all the structures and ties and rules and systems that bind him. He must understand their inner mechanisms. He must understand all the ways in which he has created an unwinnable situation for himself. And then, through his inverse, Witch of Life, he has to attempt to actively influence the development of the world around him through this complex understanding… There’s a lot of growth potential for a character like him.

Land:land of Doom and stains??

Land of Idols and Stains, maybe. A land where he is worshipped as a false god, but it comes with dangerous, deadly consequences? 

Well thats all for now >2]

Design time!!:

Left: This is sort of his pre-trying to become a fuschia look.

Horns & hair: I kept the horns the same, but the hair I had to move up. I love characters with covered eyes, but there really was no themeatically appropriate reason to do so. It felt too much like falling back on blindness for a Suffering Aesthetic and I just don’t play with that. So the hairline moved up. 

Eyes & mouth:: I still wanted to give him the cute look the low hair had given him, so I gave him round and happy eyes. I gave him tiny pupils, though, because smaller pupils tend to be just slightly freakier fsr. His mouth is still just that little smile. 

Symbol: I put limini on his old shirt. 

Socks & shoes: I made his socks teal and kept the splashes of paint on his shoes. 

Right: Here’s when he starts trying to play fuschia. 

Helmet: The tiara attachment is obviously edited from Feferi. I wanted to make sure the helmet would cover up where his fins would be Missing. Keeping this on would be good for making his image convincing. 

Symbol: I combined Pimini and the Pluto sign I mentioned earlier. I still made it messily painted on. The added bonus of this is that it looks like he killed another fuschia. 

Socks & shoes: I just changed the colors to fuschia variants. 

Thank you for sharing him! I hope I was able to provide some valuable insights!

-CD

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[123designsrq]

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