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pinksilvace · 4 months

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Fern guides their mutuals and followers through Cats 1998 as if we're all sitting on the same couch watching it and I'm shouting out stuff (2/?)

MASTERPOST

Character Wiki Pages

This time around, we're getting to some of the character songs!!! Jennyanydots and RTT ahead:

5: The Old Gumbie Cat

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Okay, first off, I'm obsessed with the staging here... literally every kitten and kitten-adjacent character is paying attention (Plato and Bill Bailey are in the back upper-left of this shot) and then you've just got. Alonzo and Cassandra. Two characters that famously do not care about some other members of the cast. Why is this so funny

These faces also get me every time... the perfect image of bewilderment and regret

Anyway, this is another example of the kitten characters literally being lower than the others. Coricopat and Tantomile's ages and how they're presented tend to vary wildly from production to production (they kind of do their own thing), but aside from them, I think the only adult cats on the ground are the aforementioned Alonzo (who's there because of Munkustrap), Cassandra (who's there because of Alonzo), and Asparagus, though the camera notably never focuses on any of them. Everybody else is either standing or elevated à la Bombalurina, Demeter, Skimbleshanks, and Jellylorum.

One of my absolute favorite things about Munkustrap across productions is how he moves. He and Skimbleshanks come to mind as the cats with the most distinct affects (aside from examples like Tugger, who has clearly manufactured his mannerisms to an extent). I'm not sure what to call the aesthetic of this motion, but I'm obsessed with it.

And, gosh, Michael Gruber's voice is heavenly.

Skimble's cute little gesturing at her!!! Even when I was little, I was under the impression that these cats would get along. I don't know if it was because of the character acting, the fact they're both ginger tabbies, their similar ways of directing folks around, or what, but I've never seen a version of Skimble and Jenny that I didn't think would get along. It's no wonder they're so commonly shipped.

These are all (female) kitten characters playing the role of the mice, which brings us to one of the biggest questions anybody who gives this show too much thought will ask: what is the Jellicle Ball? Obviously, there's a number named that later on, but is it just a dance number, or is it the entire show?

I tend to see and agree with the interpretation that the Ball takes place over the course of the whole show, as Jellicle cats of every kind are invited and encouraged to attend. If not, then I think it would be a bit surprising to see so many cats with collars - and, we can infer, owners - showing up this early, even if the goal is to be there before Old Deuteronomy.

In that case, we reach the question related to this segment: what does this look like from the cats' side of things? I'd always thought of it as the classic "when there's too much [x] for words, you sing" principle of musical theater, wherein songs are used for emphasis and the things that happen during songs are either not literal or heavily exaggerated, but I know some folks also think of each number in Cats as a rehearsed piece, which is canonically the case for one of them.

Realistically - as much as any of this can be considered realistic - I imagine it as a combination of the two. Jenny and Skimble's numbers might very well be rehearsed. Tugger's probably isn't.

The fact that the mice are all portrayed by female kittens, which is a relatively specific demographic of the characters, makes me think (story-wise, not practicality-wise) they were specifically chosen for the roles of the mice.

The way Skimble copies Jenny's movements here reminds me HEAVILY of how Tugger copies Mistoffelees' movements during his number at the end of the show... alright alright I'm getting on board with this one

A few things with this bit:

1 - Pouncival is reprimanded #1

2 - I love that '98 used actors generally representative of the characters' ages. A lot of casts - post-revival US casts specifically come to mind - tend to have Jennys and Jellys that seem exponentially younger than the ones portrayed here, and with a title like "The Old Gumbie Cat," there's an expectation that Jenny, at least, should have a sense of age about her. This isn't a dig at other casts or anything - those actors still do a phenomenal job - I just really like this presentation.

3 - I've posted about this in short spurts before, but this song/poem might just be my favorite to analyze. I wrote my first-ever college essay about Jennyanydots. Part of what makes me love it so much is how much meaningful exposition it gives, but it's also one of the more prominent examples of Eliot's bigotry seeping into his poetry, and an example of how the staging of Cats actually reduces it.

I'm far from the first to point any of this out and I am far from an expert, but let's dig into some lyrics:

She is deeply concerned with the ways of the mice— Their behaviour's not good and their manners not nice; So when she has got them lined up on the matting, She teaches them music, crocheting and tatting.

To address the behavioral issues of the mice, Jenny introduces hobbies to them - namely, music, crocheting, and tatting (another sort of fiber art relating to lace creation). An argument can be made over the practical labor of crocheting and tatting, but music is often associated with leisure - time away from work, or time spent performing for the leisure of other people.

Depending on how one looks at this, this passage could point in two directions. These skills could have been used to familiarize the mice with work commonly associated with being dainty and ladylike, with the hope the mice would become much the same. They could have also been introduced as a way for the mice to perform highly detail-oriented work for somebody of higher standing: Jenny herself. Either way, this passage rings with a mildly classist tone.

As she finds that the mice will not ever keep quiet, She is sure it is due to irregular diet; And believing that nothing is done without trying, She sets right to work with her baking and frying.

This one is a bit more straightforward. The wording "irregular diet" implies, to me, that access to food (and/or "good" food) is the problem here, i.e. lack of access to food prevents the mice from holding a sense of propriety about them. While these lyrics do not make a judgement about that, they do potentially make an association between food insecurity and unruliness, which, again, rings with classism.

She thinks that the cockroaches just need employment To prevent them from idle and wanton destroyment. So she's formed, from that lot of disorderly louts, A troop of well-disciplined helpful boy-scouts, With a purpose in life and a good deed to do— And she's even created a Beetles' Tattoo.

The first two lines from this verse are extraordinarily direct; I don't think I have to explain how the idea of "going to work and getting a job will prevent unruly tendencies" is rooted in bigotry. What makes this bit even more specific is the last line about the Beetles' Tattoo. For those unfamiliar, I'm fairly certain this is the kind of tattoo this line references:

So, not only does the Jennyanydots of the poem seek out employment opportunities for the cockroaches; she does so with what can be interpreted as militaristic intent, thinking it will give them "a purpose in life."

I don't really feel like going into how all of this connects to ideas irl, but you get the gist. So, how does Cats make all of this better?

It plays everything completely straight.

No, seriously.

The troubling bits of Eliot's original poetry come through, in large part, the use of metaphor; in Cats, the cats are actually cats, the mice are actually mice, and the cockroaches are actually cockroaches. All of these characters are literally different species at different spots on the food chain, but that's not the best part.

The best part is that the mice are portrayed by the female kittens and the cockroaches are represented, principally, by the male kittens. Rather than mice or cockroaches, this performance can be used to represent how Jennyanydots corrects the behavior of unruly little girls and unruly little boys. Combined with other lines from the poems and alternate productions, such as those about her cooking for the mice, she becomes much more of a maternal figure.

What about the Beetles' tattoo?

That's the name of the tap number. That's all.

Yes, many of these implications remain in the lyrics, but it just goes to show how important careful staging is and what a difference it can make. Isn't it just so cool?

First-time viewers may be thrown off by the cuts in this number. The original VHS release couldn't handle a very long runtime, so this is the compromise :(.

I've always loved this little lean Cassandra does.

Pouncival is reprimanded #2

6: The Rum Tum Tugger

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YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT THIS MAN IS JOHN PARTRIDGE. YOU NEED TO SEE HOW GREAT HE IS. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT HE PERFORMED IN CATS FROM 1989 TO 2005. AT AGE 18 HE EARNED THE ROLE OF ALONZO, THE DANCE CAPTAIN, IN THE ORIGINAL UK TOUR.

I've never seen another Tugger move quite like him.

I'm pretty sure Pouncival is the one doing the backflip here

AGAIN. I LOVE THAT THIS JENNY HAS SOME AGE TO HER. I LIKE THAT SHE WALKS HUNCHED. I LIKE THAT MUNKUSTRAP IS HELPING HER UP.

For fic reasons, I've previously had to keep track of Pouncival during this song, and if I have to know that he disappears between these shots, so do you.

Also, I'm not adding images for it because I'm running out, but the amount of wingmanning Plato does in this number is unreal.

This is the part where, were I actually sitting on a couch with my non-Cats mutuals watching this, I would look over at all of your faces to see your reactions to somebody treating the Rum Tum Tugger like this. Usually, nobody cares :(

^^^This is my second-favorite bit of choreography in the number. The idea of Tugger intentionally tripping up Pouncival and Tumblebrutus just to mess with them is really funny to me. He's literally playing around with the kids. Why do I never see anybody talk about this

^ This is my favorite bit of choreography in this number because nobody I show this to, whether they enjoy the experience or not, ever forgets it.

They

And the little sequence of looks they do...

Welcome to my favorite character detail in this number. "Is it-" yeah it's alonzo catsthemusical. We're talking about him again. My friends are tired of hearing me point this out every single time but I LOVEEEE that the characters rubbed the wrong way by Tugger are the older cats, who are sitting at the back of the stage, Munkustrap, who is standing in the back because Tugger is his cringe middle schooler brother, and Alonzo, who is as far away from and above the front of the stage as possible without physically falling off the set.

I love when Tugger hates him back. I love when Tugger doesn't acknowledge him whatsoever because he doesn't think about him whatsoever. Bonus points for monochromatic siblings enjoyers, since Alonzo here then gets to take on the perspective of "my bestie's cringe middle schooler brother is dating my middle schooler brother and it sucks." There's no losing here.

These two are literally me. Ignore the crotch. Sometimes I think about getting a cat and then I remember "I'll leap on your lap in the middle of your sewing" and I'm like haha yeah no... no can do sir...

THE THOUGHTFULNESS THIS SHOT GIVES TUGGER!!! I know he'd normally be going through the audience but the fact the director said "hey what if Demeter is having a Moment and this curious cat snaps her out of it" is mwah. Chef's kiss

yeah.

Literally, how did I ever watch this number without paying attention to Pouncival

I no longer have picture privileges but there's also a little detail near the end here where Tumblebrutus nudges Skimble and Asparagus to make sure they're paying attention. These two kittens <3 <3 <3

#fern muses #fern's 1998

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lightingelectratwo · 1 year

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Most of my Canon x Canon cats ships!

Bombaulurina x coricopat (Bompat)

Demeter x Munkustrap (demstrap)

Mr Mistoffelees x Rum Tum Tugger (tuggrstofelees)

Exotica x Tantomile (Exoticmile)

Electra x Etcetera (Electracetra)

Victoria x Rumpltezaer (vicltezaer)

Cassandra x Alonzo (casslonzo)

Jennyanydots x Jellylorum (jellydots)

Mungojerrie x Plato (Platojerrie)

Tabby girl x skimbleshanks (Tabbyshanks)

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afairytalestray · 1 year

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Day 16 of Cats-pril, @storyweaverofgondor‘s April baby! Today’s prompt is rehearsal, and I tried my hand at writing a chat fic! Also on Ao3 here.

HarvestGoddess: Since my darling Munkustrap refuses to interact with the digital world, this is a formal request from the friend group mum for everyone to turn up to Pekes and Pols rehearsal tonight please. If Munk loses any more fur from the stress he’ll be a sphinx cat! x

Rumpled_cheese: im gonna be there now i really wanna see that sedhfwiuh

QueenVic: me and Plato will be present and accounted for! @MagicalMisto, are you needing a lift? x

etc.: BALD MUNK BALD MUNK BALD MUNK

Lettie: …I’ll make sure Etcetera comes, Dem

HarvestGoddess: thanks Lettie!

MagicalMisto: thnx Vic, Tugger has his bike so he’ll bring us. @HarvestGoddess I can confirm that Tugger will be there, regardless of whichever way he is currently contributing to Munk’s hair loss

QueenVic: np!

HarvestGoddess: Thank you Misto! I can tell you that Tug is currently convincing Munk that he’s signed up for a Japanese ikebana class under the guise of impressing you, and that Munk can’t possibly expect him to miss it. Of course, this class runs on the exact same times and dates as Pekes & Pols rehearsals x

MagicalMisto: of course it would lmao

MangoJelly: what is an iceban class

MangoJelly: wait nvm Cori knows thats hilarious

lonz: you lot are mean

lonz: I’ll be there, @HarvestGoddess, and I’ll try and talk Cass into it as well

etc.: it’s called being funny lonzy, LOOK IT UP

Georgeofthejunkyard: pick me! :D :D :D

HarvestGoddess: @MangoJelly, will you be at rehearsal? Also, is it safe to assume that @C-oracle-pat is with you, and that his poor phone is dead or abandoned somewhere? x

Tantomile: It is always a safe assumption that wherever my brother is, Mungojerrie will be nearby. Coricopat has left his phone on the coffee table, as per. I’ll plug it in and bring it to rehearsal tonight.

Rumpled_cheese: Tantomile - hero of the people!

MangoJelly: oshit sorry Demeter yeah ill be there!

MangoJelly: OWIEUFOI yeah Corks is with me the now, he says hell be there too, and thanks Tanto!

QueenVic: … :o

MagicalMisto: oooooooooohhhh

Tantomile: What.

HarvestGoddess: no murders until after the show please and thank you!

Lettie: RIP Jerrie

MangoJelly: nOoOOOOOOO

MangoJelly: it was a quote TANTOMILE I prommy!

MangoJelly: Cori said: “oh, thank you, Tanto”

MangoJelly: I wouldnt dream of giving you a nickname id never do anything that might make you revoke your blessing!!!!!!

Tantomile: See that you do not, Mungojerrie.

Cassss: 6 at the Egyptian, yes?

Cassss: I’ll be there for you, Dem, and NOT because Alonzo is badgering me

HarvestGoddess: That’s right! Love ya, Cass! x

QueenVic: lol get rekt Lonz

lonz: :’(

MagicalMisto: I would advise everyone to bring earplugs, Tugger has decided to treat you all to a bagpipe solo

etc.: yeeeessssssssss i love the bagpipes!!!!

Rumpled_cheese: lol it was nice knowing ya @RumTugTummer Munk is gonna kill u

RumTugTummer: RUDE Cats today just don’t appreciate classical pibroch

lonz: I can confirm this to be true.

RumTugTummer: aweoiufaAMNWIUFC see y’all later bye

lonz: @MagicalMisto please do something about this

MagicalMisto: nah it’ll be funny

Lettie: YES MISTO

lonz: why hast thou forsaken me, brother?

etc.: YES MISTOOOOOO!

RumTugTummer: YES BABE

HarvestGoddess: I don’t care what you bring as long as you all show up!

MagicalMisto: o7

RumTugTummer: o7

Rumpled_cheese: o7

Lettie: o7

etc.: o7

MangoJelly: o7

#cats-pril2023 #cats-prilday16 #cats the musical #demestrap #tuggoffelees #coricojerrie #demeter #Rumpleteazer #victoria #Etcetera #electra #mr mistoffelees #Mungojerrie #alonzo #george #tantomile #cassandra #the rum tum tugger

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jellicle-shifters-au · 4 months

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Cats characters as horses (1/?)

bombalurina: blood bay thoroughbred x draft cross

alonzo: vanner

munkustrap: gray brindle lusitano

demeter: dunskin quarter horse

cassandra: seal bay akhal teke

jerrie and teazer: buckskin paint

macavity: chestnut mustang

victoria: white thoroughbred

#cats the musical #cats 1998 #bombalurina #alonzo #munkustrap #demeter #cassandra #mungojerrie #rumpleteazer #macavity #victoria #horse au #non-shifter au #long post

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munkustance · 1 year

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Rum tum tugger for ask game >;0

My NOTP

Etcetera x Tugger. I just can't see it at all and it makes me a bit uncomfortable. I see her as his biggest fan and somebody she can look up to, not a romantic relationship.

BROTP

Why is this one difficult???

Like maybe Munkustrap and Tugger but even that I'm not so sure about. Huh. Guess he's just a very romantic cat.

My OTP

Tuggoffelees... duh. It's just *chef kiss*

I don't think I need to explain myself on this one.

My second choice pairing for them

Altugger. It's funny because I have to ways of seeing Tugger and Alonzos relationship.

Absolutly not & Absolutly yes.

I just love their dynamic.

My fluffy pairing for them

Tuggoffelees again. I love the idea of Tugger fonding over Misto like all the time. He has this persona but whenever he sees Mistoffelees he just goes soft.

My angsty pairing for them

On and off Tuggerina. They try to come back to each other but it always fails somehow, but they love each other deaply and they will never stop. It just never works out.

My favorite poly ship for them

Bombatuggeroffelees! Gosh that's a mouthful.

Let me throw Zach Bravo, Chelsea Nicole Mitchell and Paul Giarratano at you.

Absolutely love these three together.

My weirdest pairing for them

Don't know if this is a weird pair but it sure is rare. Demetugger or Tugmeter, whichever is the right one.

Can't even explain it really. I just think it's neat.

#cats the musical #cats musical #cats 1998 #rum tum tugger #munkustrap #tuggoffelees #Altugger #bombatuggoffelees #demetugger #tugmeter #ask game #my post

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the-cat-at-the-theatre-door · 2 years

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hope that you’re good to me, baby. a demeter/alonzo/munkustrap fanmix

[LISTEN]

#CATS Musical #Alonzo #Demeter #Munkustrap #demelonzostrap #fanmix #my fanmix #okay so...i did it like i threatened i would #i gave up on the drawing because i wanted to post it and i wait for no artblock #based on my own headcanons and def sprinkled everywhere with angst #but also with just a lot of...gosh you're...you're just great and i don't want to be without you anymore #most of the songs actually have a particular party they're meant to be coming from #see if you can guess which #indications of past abusive relationships and not feeling worthy - of being alone #reused the italian version of stardust because i wanted to use the sinfonia pop version but it's not available on spotify or fully on youtub #but i have it and it exists in my heart #gosh i just want the three of them in the spotlight like they deserve #i was even going to put the lyrics i particularly liked but i toned down #still not 100% satisfied with the order of these but i don't think it's getting any better #also this goes without saying but it's golden alonzo

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rainbowratsstuff · 1 year

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I posted 772 times in 2022

288 posts created (37%)

484 posts reblogged (63%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@rainbowratsstuff

@cat-brrr

@uppastthejelliclemoon

@falasta

@storyweaverofgondor

I tagged 469 of my posts in 2022

Only 39% of my posts had no tags

#cats - 174 posts

#cats musical - 173 posts

#cats the musical - 151 posts

#munkustrap - 117 posts

#my art - 112 posts

#mistoffelees - 83 posts

#cute - 81 posts

#rum tum tugger - 63 posts

#mungojerrie - 61 posts

#alonzo - 60 posts

Longest Tag: 112 characters

#i have more explinations for my design choices but i dont talk about them much because i feel it would be boring

My Top Posts in 2022:

A gift for Munkustrap? What could it be?

Does anyone have any ideas what it could be?

120 notes - Posted September 28, 2022

See the full post

145 notes - Posted May 8, 2022

New ship idea!

Tugger x Misto x Munk

Misto can has two big floofy boyfriends

See the full post

166 notes - Posted February 28, 2022

I would give my soul for this cat

313 notes - Posted July 31, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Robot friends ^^

1,136 notes - Posted August 19, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

its been a fun year and i feel my skills have grown a lot. I hope I improve even more next year.

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review #still cant believe how popular my Stray art is

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cassandra-has-moonlit-eyes · 2 years

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Sharing some of my OCs

Skadi (the mountain cat)

Breed: Norwegian Forest Cat

Three words: alert, skilful, friendly

Colours: Grey, white

How does she look like: Very big girl, long hair, very fluffy, very strong. In her Jellicle form she has VERY fluffy leg and arm warmers, a very fluffy and little bit chaotic wig, and a lot of shoulder fur. You have to tell she is a long haired cat. She also has gloves with nails, cause norwegian forest cats are known for having strong claws. And she is very tall, like Tugger/Munk/Alonzo tall.

Short story: She was brought to London by a rich couple, and she hates it in London because it’s too hot during the summer for her. During the summer she mostly stays in the air-conditioned apartment of her owners and meets the other Jellicles mostly during the winter. She spends like 5-7 years in London before her owners get a child and have to give her away because the child is allergic. Skadi moves to another family in Scotland. She really misses the other Jellicles but she is more happy with the weather there and she finds new friends in wild animals, dogs and other cats She also comes for visits during winter (with the train of course). When she is old she will return to London and have her own song about her life. She propably will get chosen as Jellice Choice.

Character: At first, she is very distant to the other Jellicles and spends her time watching them rather then interacting. At the beginning when somebody tries to nuzzle her, she pushes them away and hisses at them. But after a while she gets closer to them. Once she becomes more integrated into the tribe, she becomes very protective of the others, especially when she senses danger. She is also a great huntress but usually to lazy too hunt because her humans provide her with better quality food than some rats, pigeons or seagulls.

Where I see her as part of the play:

More of a dance character, mostly mute only joining some chorus parts. If the production has that short Macavity song in the first act she would join that.

She sometimes dances with the female groups and sometimes with the male groups. She would definitely join the Munkus-centre section at the ball and maybe the Tugger section too and would pick somebody up during the Bomba section (cause I say so). During the cuddle section (not read as orgy) she would try to cuddle with Tugger if he’s alone or maybe with Cassandra (or both).

She also wouldn’t hesitate to fight Macavity. Her first instinct would be to protect the ones who were hurt by Macavity, like Demeter, Alonzo or Mungojerrie. During Bustopher Jones I have a feeling she would stay with the boys rather than with the girls. Her fur is quite chaotic so Alonzo and Misto would propably try to straighten it so she looks nice for Bustopher but it’s already too late for that. Because she is quite white, she would play a (king) poodle during the Pekes and Pollicles. During Skimble she would mostly sit in the background and sing and then join the train with one of the big wheels.

She is a protector but a little bit more chaotic than Munkustrap, Skimbleshanks, Jennyanydots or Alonzo. She doesn’t mind the boys and girls misbehaving and even joins them sometimes or protects them if one of the adults scolds them. She also finds Tugger very entertaining and joins his number very early on the boys’ side. She would definitely imitate his shoulder shimmy with great joy somewhere in the background during the number. She is also part of the Macavity number as background dancer and she would try to attack him first but would be stunned by his magic. She only wakes up when Alonzo fights him and catches him before he falls to the ground.

During Gus, Misto and Grizabella she would be mostly a mere background character. Thou she falls in the category copy-cat she propably would immitate some of Misto’s moves in the background (especially the shoulder shimmy cause she likes that a lot).

Persephone

Demeter x Alonzo-kitten (look at the name, I’m very creative)

Three words: shy, lively, bright

Colours: White, black, golden

How does she look like: quite small, short hair, mostly white and black with some gold. In her Jellicle form she is small, has long gloves like her mum and of course a studded collar.

Next to Alonzo and Demeter she is coparented by Munkustrap and Cassandra.

Character: She is very playful, has a lot of compassion like her mum and sister, loves flowers (duh) and loves cuddling a lot, even if it’s too hot for the other cats or her humans.

Lucy

One of the seven kittens out of Misto’s hat (can’t decide on her other parent yet, maybe she really just came out of a hat).

Three words: mischievous, playful, clever

Colours: black, brown

How does she look like: small, short hair, mostly black with some brown in it, she has four ears. In her Jellicle form she is small, black arm and leg warmers, some brown on the belly and in the wig. Wig is special, because she has four ears.

Character: She is very mischievous, likes to play pranks and misbehave, but never in an evil way. She hates cleaning but her daddy is very neat, so she has to endure it all the time. She too has some magic.

#oc #skadi #persephone #lucy #yeah I just made skadi couse I have a type #the type is tall strong women who are actually softies when you get to know them #jellicle oc #persephone and lucy are bffs #cats the musical

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