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robot-unicorn-attack · 5 years

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☽ SNOW, 31

“ The ice does not forgive.” —Leigh Bardugo

Real Name: MARIVANA IRINDRA

Agency: 𝕿𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 (Ice World)

FC: Anna Selezneva

Unicorn Name: SPARKLE CHARMER [+]

Place of Birth: Ice World

Appearance: When Marivana made her comeback to the racing industry as Snow, she had two dozen tiny diamonds implanted into her irises (12 in each eye), arranged in a circle around her pupils. They’re just a tad lighter than her natural eye color, and it gives her eyes a certain cold steeliness, a certain unnatural hardness, when they catch in the light. Although the procedure was originally at the insistence of her agency, Marivana finds that she’s grown to like having the diamonds there. They make her look a bit more intimidating than she would normally be - perfect for fending off sales executives and creative directors who might get a little too handsy while on the job.

In addition, the current makeup looks that the stylists give her are all very dark and dramatic-all black eyeliner and smokey eyeshadow and diamond-encrusted fake eyelashes. It makes her look a tad villainous-like a ruthless evil queen-and Marivana thinks that she could be into that.

“ You think I’m not a goddess? Try me...Touch me and you’ll burn.” —Margaret Atwood

Wardrobe: If Marivana could have it her way, she’d dress in nothing but dark colors and streamlined, practical outfits (“It’s all very Lava World”, her agent had once said, disapprovingly). If she could have it her way, she’d wear severe gowns and sharp suits, without any makeup and with minimal jewelry.

But, of course, that is not how a racer for Ice World’s most prestigious racing agency dresses. When she was Snow Princess, Marivana would be forced into the most ridiculously elaborate gowns - Ice Worlders are never frilly, mind you, but they’e still very extra about their wardrobes. As Snow Princess, Marivana wore poofy fur-lined sleeves and dresses with modular skirts and layers upon layers of satin and tulle - not to mention all the fucking jewelry. Nowadays, however, Marivana’s image as the ice queen of unicorn racing means that she gets less satin and tulle, more diamonds and leather. Nevertheless, everything is still embellished with so many goddamn jewels and gemstones that Marivana feels 100 pounds heavier when she’s wearing some of the ensembles that the stylists put together for her.

Places most likely to be found: When there’s a race coming up, Marivana is usually on any one of the practice race tracks/areas. In the event that she has a bit of free time, Marivana likes to frequent each planet’s respective libraries. Before she was scouted, she’d planned on becoming a botanist, and the interest is still definitely there.

If she’s in Unicorn City, Marivana’s usually at whichever clubs, parties, galas, or promo events that her agency sends her to. Marivana usually hangs out along the side or in a corner - alone, unless someone else approaches her (and people usually do. She’s Snow, after all).

People mostly likely to be with: Sky and Ice, just because they’re from, you know, the same agency as Marivana.

Strongest character trait: Steely

“ I’m headed straight for the castle, they’re gonna make me their queen...and there’s an old man sitting on the throne that’s saying that I probably shouldn’t be so mean. ” —Halsey

Public Image: Cold, determined, aloof, and a bit cruel, a bit ruthless, a bit brutal: Snow is robot unicorn racing’s resident Ice Queen, and boy oh boy does her agency like to hype it up. Every year, they spin something about how her encounter with the thief who allegedly smashed her first unicorn to bits “changed” her from the dainty snow princess into her current icy persona. It’s bullshit, all of it, but Marivana will put up with the marketing and misinformation if it means that her agency will just let her continue running with this public image that matches up with what she’s actually like. She’s had enough of smiling until the entire lower half of her face feels numb to last a lifetime, thank you very much.

Racing Strengths: Marivana has been with Sparkle Charmer (S.C.) for almost ten years, meaning that she knows her unicorn. She knows everything that there is to know about S.C., from where her horn and hooves were manufactured to what breed of horse she was originally engineered from. And though she’s no mechanic, she’s well aware of how to do many of the basic repairs that S.C. might need.

The thing that makes her such a good racer, in Marivana’s opinion, is how well that she and S.C. know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. And there is, of course, the implicit trust in between them - Marivana is unyielding, yes, but only when she knows that she won’t endanger S.C. in doing so. She knows when, and how, to push S.C., and when to dial it back. Neither of them are afraid to take something head-on. Neither of them are afraid to put another racer and her unicorn in a tight spot in order to gain the upper-hand.

Racing Weaknesses: Marivana is perfectly good at navigating treacherous passes and maneuvering her way around plasma beams, yes, but she’s never been particularly great at the delicate dressage that other racers/unicorns excel at. She’s also not one for subtlety, of any kind - she would much rather dash through a star or stone golem than try to do a fancy jump and avoid it.

And, although she would never admit this in a million years, Marivana’s never been very good at adapting quickly to new situations. She likes to go in knowing what to expect, so on the off chance that she encounters something completely new, Marivana would be in a bit of a tight spot.

“ You should see me in a crown, your silence is my favorite sound. ” —Billie Eilish

Personality: Marivana’s entire image revolves around the fact that she’s cold, and it’s true-in fact, it’s the one part about her that her agency hasn’t lied about. Practical and pragmatic, with both feet planted firmly on the ground, Marivana is observant and brutally analytical; calm and collected under even the most trying of circumstances. She is logical and rational and constantly aware of her surroundings, thanks to being in the industry that she’s in for over ten years, and her cunning intelligence allows her to pick up even the slightest of cues.

Marivana is usually more “terrifying” than “charming”, but she is able to be charismatic, albeit in a vaguely terrifying sort of way. She is meticulous and thorough in everything she does, and she knows the ins and outs of the industry like the back of her hand. She tends to think things through before she acts, and rarely lets her temper get the best of her

Marivana tends to be coolly detached and aloof; she comes off as a bit haughty and snobby, sometimes, which perfectly fits her image as unicorn racing’s resident ice queen. She’s not the most moral of people, with more than just a bit of a ruthless streak in her, and her agency would have the galaxy believe that Marivana cares about nothing except for winning.

But they’re wrong. They’re wrong. Marivana cared very much for that first unicorn of hers, the one that her agency put down, the one that her agency then used basically for plot convenience in order to re-make Marivana’s image. She used to be angry and resentful about it, but nowadays, it’s more of a dull sort of ache, when she lets her mind wander back to that. If she lets her mind wander at all.

And so Marivana pretends that she truly does not care for anything except winning, and sometimes she can even fool herself into believing it. She pretends, as if this numbness was any better than the rage from before. As if pretending could somehow make her feel alright again.

(She knows that it won’t).

“ Rebel rebel, call me a rebel rebel; I walk the plank, not a tear in my eye; I won't go down, your blushing bride; Under the water I'll be sharpening my knife. ” —MILCK

Biography: Marivana, the former "Snow Princess", was once Ice World's sweetheart; at only seventeen with her blonde curls and sparkling blue eyes and a smile so pretty and sweet that people said it could melt ice, who would have not loved her? Her first unicorn was the same-extraordinarily gentle, with an even disposition and as pretty as a picture.

Marivana is one of those cases where a racer is scouted as much as for her looks as for her prior knowledge of robot unicorns/horses. She came from a middle class family from Ice World, one that could afford to send her to riding classes. Marivana did well in her competitions, but it was always more of a hobby than it was a career choice. But one day, by chance, an agent from 𝕿𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 was at one of her competitions. And although she came in sixth, the agent decided that her specific combination of aesthetics and skills was just what 𝕿𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 needed to round out its 3-racer team.

And so when she was seventeen, she signed a contract with 𝕿𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 and became Snow Princess.

Marivana had always been stubborn and determined. She was a no-nonsense kind of girl who had never actually been all that popular amongst her peers, thanks to her general standoffish-ness and resting bitch face. But what 𝕿𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 needed, when they brought her in, was a pretty face with blonde curls and blue eyes and a gentle smile.

Stars above, it was hard, to relax the tension in her forehead, to not look like she wanted to die every time she smiled. But the agency had her practice, and practice she did, until becoming Snow Princess was just like slipping on a scratchy sweater. Not the most comfortable sensation, no, one that felt a little wrong...but it was convincing enough, from the outside, and that was what mattered.

The public, of course, ate it up. That, combined with Marivana’s hours and hours of practice, brought her success. Her career was on a precipitous rise during the first couple of years; the Estrellian Federation and the rest of the unicorn racing world just couldn't seem to get enough of Snow Princess and her unicorn. But her life was turned upside down when the terrorist attacks on Unicorn City were attributed back to rogue AI; one night, as she was returning back to the training facility with her unicorn, a thief tried to rob her of everything she owned. Marivana's unicorn saw her panicking and intervened, killing the thief. Normally, this would not have been such a big deal, but with anti-robot sentiment on the rise, Marivana's racing agency was forced to deactivate ("put down") her unicorn in order to avoid legal sanctions from Ice World’s governement.

For the next three competition seasons, Snow Princess with her sweet smile and blonde curls were nowhere to be seen, and fans anxiously waited for her return. And return she did, but she was different. Marivana came back with Sparkle Charmer (who has been her unicorn ever since), but she dropped the "Princess" from her stage name and all the pretty smiles were gone.

Marivana (now known as "Snow") made a name for herself in the industry with both her unbeatable technique and her ruthless nature; cold and ambitious, she would do anything to rise to the top, according to her bio on her agency’s website. And with both Sparkle Charmer and the backstory that 𝕿𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 spun up for them, her career sky-rocketed. The Ice Worlders loved the way that she and Sparkle Charmer simply smashed through stars and golems alike; they were fascinated by how Sparkle and Snow could hang still in the air, suspended by nothing but strength and sheer willpower alone. Snow and Sparkle are not known for their fancy flying or their nimble maneuvers. They are known for their raw strength and power and their gritty sort of determination. They are harsh, blunt, unyielding-something that, despite all their insistences on politeness and propriety, Ice Worlders absolutely adore.

Marivana is now over thirty, but she shows no signs of retiring (yet)...and she's definitely good enough to compete with newer, younger racers. These days, she is widely considered to be an industry veteran. She stays with 𝕿𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙, if only because they give her perks and have generally left her alone, but she’ll never forget how they took what happened with her first unicorn (which was allegedly “smashed to bits” by the thief, according to the official statement the racing agency put out) and turned it into a fucking marketing shtick.

“ Of course I’m a threat. Why? Did you think for a moment that I wasn’t?” —Emma Frost (Marvel’s X-men)

Relationships:

Sky -

Ice -

Supernova - Marivana is...pretty indifferent? when it comes to Supernova. She knows who she is and what she’s done, of course-who doesn’t?-but if you think that she’d be starstruck and/or falling over herself when Supernova’s around her...well, you’d be wrong. Marivana’s had multiple trusted parties tell her that she’s just as good as Supernova was, at her peak, so she knows that she’s not a threat-for now, at least. Marivana’s a bit wary of the other racer, but also a bit curious to see as to where this comeback will lead.

Sunbeam -

Flower - Marivana knows exactly what 𝑅 𝐼 𝒮 𝐸 is pulling with Flower (her own agency did the same thing to her, after all), and she is not fooled at all. She’s not stupid; in the robot unicorn racing industry, nobody is completely, utterly unknown when they debut unless they had no prior experience with robot horses/unicorns in the past. Marivana knows that Flower probably had to work her butt off to stay with 𝑅 𝐼 𝒮 𝐸, and she would bet her right hand that the image that Flower puts out to the public is just that - an image.

Flame - Marivana knows about 1) the image that she projects, and 2) that this image is pretty true to who Flame really is, for the most part. Her verdict? Flame could prove to be annoying, if she gets relevant while Marivana is still in the industry as a racer. Marivana doesn’t know what life not racing would be like, but she’s well-aware that she’s the oldest racer out there (well, besides Supernova, who doesn’t count. She’s making a comeback, after all), and that retirement is probably not too far out in her future. So, if Flame is still around within the next 5-10 years, then Marivana might start worrying about her. For now, she’s just the irritating racer with ʟᴀᴢᴇʀ who won’t ever stop causing a scene.

Nyx -

Widowmaker -

Playlist:

“Freeze you Out” by Sia

“Adios” by Everglow

“You should see me in a crown” by Billie Eilish

“Castle” by Halsey

“Devil Devil” by MILCK

“Glory and Gore” by Lorde

“The Lady in Red” by Jolin Tsai

“Samaritan” by ionnalee

Headcanons:

Marivana addresses her unicorn as S.C., because ‘Sparkle Charmer’ is a mouthful and just ‘Sparkle’ is too Snow Princess, in her opinion.

She gets lots of points for strength and technique/execution when she races, but not so much for speed or precision.

Marivana has always been slightly more sympathetic to Flower than she normally would be to other new faces, just because she knows exactly what Flower’s agency is putting her through.

That one scene with Flower, the 50-pound diamond headdress, and a creepy drunk guy at a club in Unicorn City (The Neon Demon)

Basically, all the Aurivana content. Secret relationship???? Secret relationship.

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ayzrules/and-the-rest-is-rust-and-stardust-rua/snow-sparkle-charmer/

Official Bio on Agency Website: https://robot-unicorn-attack.tumblr.com/database-snow

#snow #racers #sparkle charmer #racer info #marivana #written by alicia/ayz!!

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rabbitcruiser · 3 years

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National Tell a Fairy Tale Day

Gather round the fire, and make yourselves comfortable… Tell A Fairy Tale Day is all about exploring myths and stories, old and new. From grim(m) tales to urban legends, tap the dark corners of your subconscious and see what you find…

History of Tell A Fairy Tale Day

The sharing of magical, otherworldly stories is a tale as old as time. While the term ‘fairy tale’ was coined in 1697 by Madame d’Aulnoy (conte de fées in her native French), it’s likely that some fairy tales originated as early as the bronze age over 6,000 years ago. And for most of history, fairy tales have been passed on not in written form but via the oral tradition, with each generation telling and dramatizing stories to the next.

The fairy tale’s ancient roots can be traced all over the world, from Vikram-Betaal in India and Aesop’s Fables in Ancient Greece to Arabian Nights in the Middle East. It was during the late 17th to 19th centuries that fairy tale collectors emerged, most famously Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm. While the Brothers Grimm aimed to preserve folktales in their pure form, documenting them in the way they were told by rural peasants unable to read or write, Perrault and others reworked fairy tales for literary and artistic effect, with some writers such as Hans Christian Andersen dreaming up their own new stories.

As the fairy tale’s history emerges into the modern day, it’s clear that the genre is still as popular as ever – look no further than the success of Disney movies to see how these stories continue to capture our hearts and imaginations. In fact, the famous Disney castle is inspired by Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, built by none other than the Märchenkönig (fairy-tale king), Ludwig II of Bavaria, himself. Perched on a rocky hill and with horse-drawn carriage rides up to the front door, Neuschwanstein and its elaborate interior abound in myths and legends – the castle is even home to an artificial grotto!

By celebrating Tell A Fairy Tale Day, you’ll be continuing the magical tradition that has ensured fairy tales are still very much part of our lives to this day.

How fairy tales change over time

Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of fairy tales is how they change over time. Simple plot structures, motifs and archetypal characters recurring across many cultures make these stories rife for adaptation and reinterpretation.

Although nowadays we usually associate fairy tales with children’s literature, you may be surprised to learn that many of today’s beloved stories have rather dark and disturbing origins. Imagine a world in which no woodcutter comes to save Little Red Riding Hood from the wolf’s belly, or in which one of the ugly stepsisters cuts off her own toes so that her foot fits in the slipper! From the 18th century onwards, many fairy tales were toned down and reworked so that they were more suitable for children.

These stories and the genre itself have also been adapted and reinvented for different time periods and cultures. Alongside original modern-day fairy tales, there are also various retellings, for example in urban settings or different countries. One particularly common type of retelling comes from women writers. Authors such as Angela Carter and Margaret Atwood have taken what are often seen as outdated tropes about women and reinvented them – the damsel in distress becomes the plucky heroine, and the trapped bride leaves her ogre husband for her happily ever after.

Why fairy tales are important

As it is often claimed Albert Einstein once said, “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” We might not expect such high praise for fairy tales from a world-famous theoretical physicist, but Einstein recognized the importance of the imagination. Fairy tales are incredibly valuable for both children and adults when it comes to learning about the world in which we live and developing our capacity for creativity. Fairy tales have also been considered fertile ground by psychoanalysts. With their twists and turns, age-old themes and familiar characters, our favorite stories may reveal not only the workings of our personal subconscious but also the fundamental elements of our collective psyche.

How to celebrate Tell A Fairy Tale Day

It should be clear by now that, when it comes to celebrating Tell A Fairy Tale Day, you really can let your imagination run wild! And while it’s a day that kids will love, it’s also a great occasion for adults too.

Gather your friends and family and take it in turns to share your favorite stories with one another. Time to brush up on your acting skills, as the more dramatic enactments the better – whether you’re good at impersonating a wicked witch or excel at acting out the characters’ quest through the enchanted forest, you’ll want to really make the tale come to life for your audience. And why not sit around a bonfire toasting marshmallows or string up some fairy lights in your living room to add to the atmosphere?

Alongside sharing the stories we know and love, fairy tales are the perfect genre for getting creative and honing your writing skills. Take a well-known story and tweak it to fit a different time or setting, or have a crack at inventing your own. It may well start with ‘Once upon a time’, but it’s completely up to you whether there’s a ‘Happily ever after’! Many libraries and literary organizations will also share stories and creative resources and even hold events to help mark the occasion.

If writing’s not your thing, then there are plenty of films and programs based on fairy tales for you to enjoy. Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Cinderella and The Little Mermaid are just some examples of the media giant’s adaptations, while movies and TV series such as Into the Woods and Tell Me a Story interweave and retell various classic fairy tales for new audiences.

And if you feel like going all out, why not host a fairy tale themed party? Encourage your guests to come in fancy dress, put on an enchanted feast of yummy snacks such as gingerbread houses and toadstool cupcakes, and throw some legendary party games like hunt the pea and castle building.

However you choose to celebrate Tell A Fairy Tale Day, it’s sure to be a magical occasion!

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