#machxanswers

[machabre]

Your thoughts about Lars & Alisa 🫢

They're pretty high up in my favs! I love their goofy but tender relationship, it's also interesting to think about how the human/robot pairing would go over time.

Sometimes I think about like a bittersweet plot; what would happen if Alisa's programming "imprinted" on Lars when he woke her, and as she was treated more and more like a human, she developed a consciousness more like a living being, which came with the ability to make decisions beyond her initial programming. I can almost see her weighing whether she really wants to be part of future conflict with Yddgrasil and questioning (the nature of) her feelings for Lars.

Either way, if one would ever leave the other, I see it being Alisa, and she would always cherish the gift of consciousness/soul he gave her. I think Lars though, would never— he's completely devoted, and some of his past wounds depend on her to stay closed.

[machabre]

too shy to do this off anon but how do you come up with your poses and anatomy?

I gotta admit I think posing, especially from imagination, is one of my weaker if not weakest areas. I struggle with it a lot. Personally, I have near complete aphantasia so that may be a part of it. I draw through feelings and rhythm and my sense of weight/mechanics only. I feel like I map my figures out in slightly different ways every time. It's often spine first, then basically a stick figure, but a fluid one if that makes sense. the rest can be boxes, just lines wrapping around the base pose mostly circular masses, or even other shapes. Ngl it's basically just trial and error drawing simple mannequins/thumbnails until I get one I like, then I'll sketch a more final version. 😅 Ref is my best friend when coming up with or checking my poses. And hiding half of the figures (vertically or horizontally) and then making the hidden part up, or trying to draw my ref, but from another angle is how I practice.

For anatomy, it's mostly using reference again! I wing it until it looks off, then will search up something like "sitting cross legged" to see where I went wrong with my pose/anatomy. Another really helpful thing for me was knowing where major muscle masses, insertion points and body landmarks are. All of those helped the names and functions of muscles sink in more than trying to sit and memorize them individually or before I knew their general areas and shapes.

Lastly these two books are the ones I learned the most from when it comes to organic drawing. The method the author uses really clicked with how I "feel" through my figures but ymmv!

[machabre]

I wouldn't mind knowing more about your OCs (Southwestern Gothic sounds like of one of the coolest aesthetics I've heard), but also that pinup piece has been doing *things* to my brain lmao

So now I just want to know what his deal is dkskscj

Ah Lazarus, Lazer. Where should I even begin with this guy? Well he's usually a lot more covered up than that lol.

Looks a bit like a vampire or cowboy but technically he's neither. he's just a guy, a blursed one that's just- very hard to kill by most normal means. He's from California, has a very obvious affinity with red, the oroboros, which adorns his pendant/weapons; the area between life and death, crows, and the concept of conjoining and its inevitability.

He's a good guy though, a sort of self-proclaimed vigilante (i guess he feels it's the least he can do) and also works as a security officer. His personality is sort of chill and quiet, almost lackadaisical at times but that may have something to do with the nature of his uh, situation. He doesn't trust easily, but with people he does, or wants to seem like he does, he has a more jokey side. His best friend is Beth. He's bi. He also had a short lived fling with Valarie, I think lol.

In a fight, he can create intoxicating glasslike spines and other formations from (his) blood, whiplike tendrils, etc. to protect himself or use in combination with weapons, and can come apart at the scars and go back together no worse for wear. He has regenerative abilities to a certain extent. The curse is a pretty long story but since it's origin is basically the dark and cold night, sunlight irritates his skin and others like him (Val, Esther), fire is especially effective. So it's ironic that he's even in the desert, but he's searching for answers. (And if you know about Hiera and her faction's use of heat and fire you already know her opinion on him for the better part of their story)

He's from like, 2009 originally but takes some inspiration from Time to Run, Dead Man's Hand, and 'Ain't Dead Yet by Lord Huron. Oh and his favorite meal is a monte cristo. With red cherry coke of course.

[machabre]

You got any funny or cute Lars and/or Alisa tidbits? Someone keeps posting Lars stuff on my dash so I've been thinking about the both of them a lot 🤔💭

Lars would probably buy Alisa airpods when she can listen to music in her head.

He spends too damn much on her but ig it doesn't matter when it's Lee's money lol. Usually Lars reads to me as a thoughtful and extravagant gifter but Alisa does something to his brain so he's just extravagant. She appreciates the idea of treating her to things like a human (but Lars usually ends up asking for a spare (x) and yeah). Unless it's lingerie or something, he was REAL flustered even considering that in a fit of simping and it never gets "used".

imo, they sleep together (literally mean just sleep in this context lmaooo) When Lee found out about this he just couldn't shake the image of Alisa accidentally activating her chainsaws in sleep mode. He and Alisa agree to install more safelocks on them lol.

Alisa is not an emotional support robot, she's really not. Lars insists. Anyway he's pacing outside the room when she's off for maintenance or repairs. In battle, Lars knows she can fend for herself, but off or with all her mechanics exposed? No. It makes his stomach knot.

She might also catalog all kinds of personal stuff and observations externally, through analog means. Sometimes it makes her thoughts feel more real, and being a robot, she probably does know the nature of data, it can be changed or lost. Pen on paper is grounding. She actually shares this hc with Dragunov to me, another thing they share.

[machabre]

Favorite machine (besides hovercrafts)?

if irl and not the Zubr, then 🙈fuck me, Bagger 288: love to hate it, hate to love it. Like look at this thing... look. The bigass wheel that looks like a sick asf saw. and the Evangelion tier cables it has. The scaffolding and the colossal treads. Too bad it and its like just eat ecosystems. Can we put these in space even though inevitably we'd have better mining equipment. can we do it for the aesthetic. Can we

I've watched mining from really far away for.. no reason and it's just. All so... big. to a captivating level

I probably have pics of those insane trucks you can easily stand inside the wheel area of that make normal ones look like tiny toys (from very far away I didn't exactly wanna be seen, but did sneak over to look down) and boy it's just crazy how big everything is holyshit I can only imagine the fucking bagger 288

bonus fictional:

Wraith hovertank from Halo. I want this thing so badly fdbjkfdbk no I'm not elaborating on how. Like fine, yeah it's a hovercraft but it's a tank! and alien! not the same thing

[machabre]

I'm too obsessed about Drag again, what's behind that he loves mini tank (from model kit) so much? lol

Canonically i dunno! (It's probably just a bandai thing) But i headcanon machinery and vehicles had always been something Dragunov liked. And he'd wanted to build that series of models as a kid, but for whatever reason he didn't get to then. Anyway I think he'd been tracking all the releases of the tank models while he was busy in the military, and planned to build them all when he got the chance.

I also think by putting the Mokujin head on as a replacement shows a little bit of silly freedom/youth is still left inside him, despite everything.

[machabre]

Mauve (*skilled rather than talented), Blush, Fuchsia, and Tangerine :^]

MAUVE = You are really talented BLUSH = Seeing you on my dash makes my day a little better. FUCHSIA = Your blog content is gold TANGERINE = I love your aesthetic

aw thanks! ♡ (it's very true any skill I have is 100% just trying until something works :V)

[machabre]

What’s your take on Drag wearing any sort of makeup, or what are your HCs as far as his personal grooming?

I'm so conflicted on the makeup as a personal headcanon dude, I almost made a poll about it.

but since it's the wacky TK universe I kinda think his lips at least are naturally somewhat dark.

And then because I want the best of both worlds I don't think he's averse at all to wearing some makeup and boosting that.. look. And that he goes to considerable lengths to prevent revealing smudging or putting it on in front of company. It's less about perceived masculinity, and more about upholding an air of perfection and the idea that he simply looks like that. To me he def gets a little kick out of looking so striking and leaving others wondering if he is indeed wearing makeup or not.

Also seems like the kind of guy to use conditioner when he can. Maybe even a skin moisturizer, a thing he's only recently decided to include (though it can't undo the effects of stress) His hair type always looked so low maintenance to me though, like the kind that's medium thick and straight so that it doesn't tangle or crease easily. Really don't think he spends much time styling it daily. He cares more about grooming his eyebrows. Probably has done that look so long they almost grow back like that though.

As other grooming goes, sure it's just a graphical and art direction streamlining thing but I also kinda hc he isn't really that hairy and even then, likes to remove most hair below those superthin brows. I said not all, because I don't think he bothers removing everything from his ass or groin regions, just keeps it neat enough. May have a thin and short happy trail in my mind, if he's not a game model.

I think his nails are kept short too, and unless he's just been in a fight with his bare hands or the like, his hands and skin look clean.

Overall though I think Drag puts a lot of work into this aesthetic that makes him appear almost lifeless, cold, or doll-like. That's not to say he refuses to get scuffed and scarred and dirty, he will crawl through the most disgusting stuff: gore and mud and whatever else if it means he's going home in one piece. Doesn't mean he's not taking the first chance he gets to clean off.

One of the first hc I posted here was what I think Dragunov('s coat) smells like, for the curious

[machabre]

20 and 23 for the music asks, if you haven't gotten to them

20:A song that has many meanings to you

heh, the meanings are more personal than anything one could interpret from the song alone lol. It's also a song for one of my OCs.

23:A song that you think everybody should listen to

I mean it's a story album not a single song. It's like 30 minutes long but Broken Bride and The Lamb and the Dragon are maybe my favorite parts.

[machabre]

If Drag and/or Bryan were a mythical creature, what would they be?

Drag: A boreal gryphon? Part snowy owl, part wolf, basically just smooshing both our motifs together

Bryan: I'm thinking Apep/Apophis? Though I think he'd also be funny as a Naga or other type of serpentine shapeshifter lol

[machabre]

top 5 legends

Shadow People?? it's a little on the urban legend side, and I probably exhausted every explanation short of supernatural for those things. Since I've seen them and idek how to explain this but more than just seen- it's hard to strongly believe or deny anything anymore.

Tsukumogami

Thunderbird

Faust

Unicorns, just unicorns...

[machabre]

What are some things Dragunov always has stocked in his fridge?

🤔 Hmm if you raid Drag's fridge —

I think, if there's NOT some kind of meat stocked up: i.e. smoked/deli meat, sausages, fish and roe, eggs. Then is this even Drag's? lol.. But yeah, something he could quickly cook up or put in a sandwich or on some bread as a snack.

Veggies, (both preserved and fresh) condiments, etc for filling said sandwiches. (yes he probably likes mayo 😔. But I also see him liking mustard, horseradish, stronger sauces than that

Milk, yogurt/quark/tvorog are also things he'd replenish immediately upon running out lol. (his mornings just feel incomplete without; he likes it with breakfast straight, or for making syrniki when he has time).

At least one type of jam- his favs: maybe strawberry, blackberry and red currant. Some fresh berries.

A couple packaged meals. Maybe a bottle of wine or vodka, a case of beer in there (though Dragunov isn't much of a solo drinker so- that's gone untouched in the far back corner)

This all makes his diet seem a bit protein heavy 🤔 lol. I think it might lean that way tbf, that and all his carbs are probably more shelf stable.

Also leftovers are a rarity wether he orders in or cooks. When he's going to seriously cook (and Drag is actually not too bad at it) I imagine he gets only the ingredients he needs and uses them up within the next day(s) or so. He surprises himself with how quickly any meal planning and prepping he does feels futile though.

I think he intentionally keeps his fridge pretty damn barren, because before heading out for days or weeks at a time, he would try to use up everything, as it It's rare he has (or even wants) a house sitter. Even well into his extended leave he found himself accidentally perpetuating that little habit of only keeping certain items and certain amounts around.

[machabre]

steel and sapphire lol

djfksk ngl I'm taking it as a compliment lol, the microscope one

[machabre]

furynov sickfic where Bryan stops a clearly ill Dragunov from doing stuff by picking him up and dumping him in bed. “Sleep.” And just stares at him with those glowing bright blue eyes only visible in the dark. Sergei does eventually doze off and has strange fever dreams about those eyes.

plot twist when he wakes up he's still there

[machabre]

☮ - friendship headcanon for either Drag or Bryan (maybe both ur call bruv lol)

Both :) hc for being their friend

Drag friendship: He doesn't make friends too readily. In fact he's probably considered most people from a distance for a while before initiating any kind of contact. But- once he's decided he wants to know more he's quite swift and intense, as if he's gauging whether you're worth the risk and energy, if he trusts/wants you in his life or not. Sort of like a weird psychological frisk. He'll also hang around you more, hoping you pick up on what he means too. His body language will eventually become a little less stiff and soldier like when you're near him, show the "civilian" side of himself. Since you haven't been scared off, he's trying to be inviting now. You may see a hint of a smile from time to time. He may give you things, both material and favors, when he can. All of it quite thoughtful. He listens attentively, but never speaks himself, of course. He will know more about you than you do about him if you're not careful. Drag probably still uses some touch as communication with close friends, walking with his arm around your shoulder, quick brush of his lips or cheeks, accidentally not accidentally bumping up against you when he wants you to see something.

I can see Dragunov being quite loyal to those who win his friendship. If one stays on his good side there's little reason to fear him. He might even protect you if you needed it. (hes not taking a lethal bullet tho)

— —

Bryan friendship: He quickly makes acquaintances, he's far more selective about actual, keeper friendships. Most people he brings misery down upon- will basically never see him again anyway. He doesn't mentally frisk potential friends like Dragunov, he simply doesn't care as much about making enemies- either way, it's more of a natural thing that just kind of unfolds on its own.

Once you're a friend though, his armory is your armory.. well most of it. He'll happily invite you to make use of it all with him on the battlefield or off, he doesn't even mind that much if you're just along for the ride (hey it's company, it's an audience). He'll disappear for stretches of time, much like Drag- and out of the blue he'll come back into your life and want to spend time together. Become a close friend of Bryan's, and if needed he can help you out- as unhinged and chaotic as he seems, he's still a seasoned detective (oh yeah, and a cyborg).. he knows how to slip under the radar and out of a predicament or two. He's not getting involved with it, and he'll probably expect something in return. If he gives you things, they can feel a little last-minute, haphazard and inexplicable to you but obviously have some meaning to him. If you were to run into trouble and come under G-Corp fire or etc. he might come out of seemingly nowhere, guns blazing, if only so he can gloat about it later.

[machabre]

Okay I gotta know about the cathedral of sludge

Aldrich! hearing about him sold me on DS3... Not even half eaten Gwyndolin, just the cathedral of sludge, it fascinated me for months, just the entire idea that a whole entire guy turned into.. that.