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> Meet me in the pit <

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You there! Artist, creative, or perhaps even artfighter!

Do you still need some art for a character profile? Need an icon for a page or a personal social? Do you want to draw your dnd character but don't know where to start? Just want a quick and fun way to draw new outfits on your humanoids?

I have seven somewhat-specific art bases for you to use! (They are so specific because I made them for my own characters, but obviously my oc's body types will fit more characters than just them and if I have bases locked and loaded anyway, maybe someone else will appreciate them 😌)

JOIN ME in having a lot of basic human characters to plague your online art presence. Or add tails and horns and wings and eyes and fangs and whatever else - I'd so love to see what you make!!

Grab the transparent PNG files here!

It's pay-what-you-want if you're feeling generous, and I have a tip jar on the same site here :)

I hope you enjoy!

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Hi! Hello! I don't really have a question but could you please talk more about the aquarium au? More funfacts or storyline? Whatever you want! Sending you love <3

Hi!! 💕 I absolutely can talk about them dhsjsk, again Alyssa and Adaline belong to @silvermasquerade and the referenced post is here!

I didn't intend this but these bullet points are kind of ordered from least to most funny, so if you want timeline thoughts start at the top, but if you want goofs just start at the bottom and work your way back up until you get bored. Putting it under a read more bc this got dense

So like working with the merfolk is dangerous right. I imagine it's because there is a non zero chance that you could be torn apart (or depending on the species, eaten) on the job by things using teeth and claws with human-adjacent brains where you are in THEIR domain. Also because some merfolk have siren-lure qualities to their voices, which probably is for facilitating catching prey. And yes some of the aquarium residents have such voices! Namely Alyssa & Adaline and Quinton. Liana's voice doesn't entrance the same way even though it should, so by merfolk standards she doesn't sound very good, but by human standards she still sounds beautiful. For some reason my instinctual thoughts are that Mercer doesn't have a siren voice, while Estes' species definitely doesn't just in general. But the most dangerous part of the job is forgetting that these eventualities exist even if you have befriended one of them

Ada and Alyssa have been at the aquarium the longest, they've also been in contact with humans in general long enough that Adaline has pretty much picked up English. I think it makes the most sense that Bo and Ambrose are working more regular jobs, maybe helping with the aquarium's "natural" dolphins/etc, when the twins arrive. Then later, Quinton, Estes, and Mercer all get there at once, though only Estes is put in the aquarium at first. Quinton and Mercer are initially in a separate facility for medical attention and testing - Mercer is released first once his cuts are tended to, Quinton is kept there longer. Estes does not take kindly to this. Then a little later they gain Liana as well

There's a tiny note on one of the sketchbook pages about aquarium employee Betony - I think they had a very unstable childhood, even homeless for a bit before Bo learned about it (despite Betony's efforts) and eventually got Betony a job at the aquarium. The deal was that Aster would convince their mom, the aquarium owner, to give Betony a job just as a souvenir shop clerk, as long as Bo got Betony to take swimming lessons. Because Aster knew as well as Bo that Betony working customer service was going to be a disaster, and the sooner they could get transferred elsewhere, the better. And like it's not ideal obviously, but the two also underestimated the power of Betony's refusal to embarrass or upset Bo by getting fired or written up. Still, Bo finally convinces Betony to let him personally teach them to swim. So though sales clerk works out, if Betony ever does get dive certified it'll be huge for them

(There's no real substance to this thought but like just the image of the first day Q is brought into the aquarium. Bo walks into work for his early shift one morning and suddenly there's the last merfolk they were supposed to be getting, sleeping on some of the smooth rocks under their big UV lamp curled up close with the seal that's been causing so much trouble, and Bo can see why they were worried about that one but also wow it's pretty)

Since it's a modern au, I was imagining that they eventually start doing post-show interviews for publicity reasons. Like post game interviews lol where they let some reporters in and do it from the side of the pool. Again ofc Liana and Ambrose are media sweethearts. Alyssa and Bo are faves for their dry comments and sarcasm. Rhydian and Quinton can be harder to watch for people that are paying attention bc Rhydian likes to hog the questions and attention (which Q would normally be and technically is fine with, but like. It's the principle of the matter. Plus we know Rhydian is a jerk so)

Speaking of interviews, every once in a while there will be a reporter that just does not or refuses to grasp that the merfolk are people that understand English. Again hard to watch but also funny when it's not Rhydian they're interviewing bc of the varied reactions the humans have. One time a reporter asked Bo if "his mermaid" had any pre-show ritual or warm up and Bo just stared at him in silence for a full ten seconds until the guy folded and asked Alyssa herself properly

Another note from the sketchbook is earrings. Idk why I thought of it but I thought it'd be cute but Q knows that asking Rhydian is a non starter bc Rhydian just dismisses most of Q's questions or requests. But Alyssa asks Bo and instead of dismissing her, Bo points out that Rhydian was lying or just lazy when he told Quinton that any jewelry would just tarnish immediately underwater because there is such a thing as water safe jewelry that will last at least a little longer. However Bo does have to convince his mom that it's not the waste of money it appears to be and that Quinton, despite being "a man" (her words), specifically requested them and should be allowed to pierce his ears if Alyssa was. So the deal is it has to be done completely professionally, and they can only wear small studs for safety reasons. The silly thing I liked the most was the image of Bo, head propped on hand at his desk at home, suddenly coming back to the reality that he really was checking to see if any of the piercing and tattooing parlors in the area would do house calls to an aquarium just because the pretty merfolk asked him (which could mean nothing)

Back to the post show interviews. There's a popular clip of one of Bo and Alyssa's interviews taken after the first show of a new season, in which the aquarium unveiled that they do costumes now! Like a cross between acrobat and figure skating costumes but put them underwater. (I just enjoy designing them tbh)

Reporter: you two look great, how did you decide on your look?

Bo: I had nothing to do with it

Alyssa: he unironically wears khaki shorts everyday, he was not allowed to make any of the decisions

Bo: it's part of the work uniform

Alyssa: I'm not saying it again. Khaki shorts are not your only option, you just keep choosing to live like this. At least get the pants

People of course also take videos at the aquarium and they have social media managers (thank you Ayre and Nell). There's one viral video somewhere out there where someone comes up to Ambrose and asks "what song were you dancing to in the tank yesterday?" Ambrose is clearly a little embarrassed but he laughs because he knows it's funny actually and he goes "uh. It was Nasty" "nasty? Like I've been a nasty girl??" "Yeah, it comes on sometimes on the before and after hours playlists and it's really catchy, the ladies think it's funny to get it stuck in my head." It fades out with the person holding the camera saying "aw, you call them the ladies?" And then it smash cuts to a video of Ambrose in his scuba gear in the viewing tank, with three of the mermaids and one natural bottlenose, doing some admittedly very good improv choreo while two of the mermaids join in to varying degrees and the dolphin waves its head around to the beat Ambrose has going on. it's perfectly overlayed with Tinashe's Nasty

I need to stop or I'll be here all night, maybe I'll keep notes somewhere as I have more thoughts lmao. But yeah they're silly and I am having fun with this little side adventure ✨

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Now that mermay is over. I have more mermay content. Much thanks to my buddy silvermasquerade who I wanted to talk about a mermaid au with (specifically their twin oc girlies who feature heavily here) and who had a hundred good ideas because now I’m terminally obsessed

So what if there were merfolk dolphins and they lived in an aquarium that does shows and stuff and most of them have an assigned human “handler” to help manage things and maybe to perform with. I think the merfolk are mostly like rescues or relocations?? At any rate the current set up of humans they work with are largely tolerable and even likeable so that’s a plus 🙏 and yes I’m unlearning embarrassment so you get to see my whole sketchbook layouts

(In this specific au the list of names and animals on the top left (above) are the merms, the right side list is the reverse timeline but we’ll get to that later)

Anyway I’ll put some ‘who’s who’ + rambles under the cut, for now @silvermasquerade GET OVER HERE I HAVE YOUR CHILDREN AND SECRET OTHER ART

Ok so. The merfolk are: silvermasquerade’s girls Adaline and Alyssa, the two black haired dusky dolphins

Alyssa (ponytail)’s human is Bo, Adaline won’t take an assigned handler but if she needs an assistant for her performances she’ll borrow someone (usually also Bo). They’re beautiful and so much fun to play dolls with and I love them. I also love forcing Bo and Alyssa to get through the initial absolute refusal to cooperate bc once they figure each other out they are so funny to me

(The rest of these aren’t going to have pics accompanying them because I’m hitting image limit smh)

My contributions to the merms are Quinton, the spotted dolphin who’s (current) human is a yet un-designed and completely un-introduced dude named Rhydian (annoying, sometimes pretends that the merfolk aren’t as sentient as they are bc it’s ‘convenient for him’). Luckily I’m thinking Q eventually gets put with Kallistos instead, who’s one of his besties in canon. He’s also mercilessly, lovingly teased for not being overly subtle by merfolk standards with how intrigued he is by Alyssa’s handler

Estes, a nondescript seal who doesn’t perform atm but ended up taking to one of the employees (Lolo) who was therefore given defacto responsibility of Estes bc she’s so snappy with anyone else. Lolo also happens to be someone that frequently helps train new employees so when Taorna is hired, he also accidentally gets on Estes’ good side. Oops 💕

Mercer, the unreasonably large orca that was brought in who also doesn’t yet perform because they have no one to work with him on it. He’s not quite built for the elegant types of shows they put on anyway, if they ever do a pirate drama he’d make a great sea monster tho.

And Liana, the common dolphin with the yellow ribbon in her hair. Her handler is Ambrose (eyepatch guy) which means she’s almost immediately teased/razzed by the other merfolk for how well the two of them get along. “He’s handsome and kind and -“ “girl please. he’s a HUMAN” but you best believe they are the media darlings and look so cute in their matching costumes

One day I’ll draw them with their humans bc you absolutely have not seen the last of them, I’m obsessed almost to the point of concern, I also need to figure out how to get Betony in here fr. If you thought Mercer towered over them before oh boy

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[oc] WHERE is this child's babysitter

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[oc] drawing these two is just becoming a collection of Betony being unable to keep their hands to themself and Mercer thinking it's kind of funny actually

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Beginning mermay over here with clam Bo and angelfish Q ✨

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[oc] literally all I need a modern au for is to put every character in funny shirts. Taorna here to demonstrate

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I’ve been having FAR too much fun with oc sticker designs

(Bug references under the cut)

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[oc] Bo finally feels like he can handle showing off a little more skin, Betony gets to conspire with the tailors and goes for maximum damage ✨

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[oc] accept the lovingly cut up fruit or face the consequences, Quinton

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[oc] separate post for the art + a wip ❄️ guess who finally got lots of snow now that it’s Februaryyy so of course I’m going to inflict this upon Bo and the rest

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I know its not Wednesday, but this question just came to me. How does world setting impact the plot with your ocs??

It's also not Wednesday when I'm late responding soooo we're even dgsjsk

So I know it's not encompassing all the setting but I love thinking about weather/seasons/climate!! Especially bc Bo and his friends are Not used to cold winters (they're from a "cold desert" if I remember which is different from a tundra and actually still very warm. If I'm wrong I'll fix it later lol) so snow is basically entirely new?? So I'm excited to throw them into that lol

There's also a lot of travel in this story which I'll probably yadda yadda but they definitely work around the weather in that too. Also the terrain in general. There's a river running up from the south of Q's country to the north so that's a nice travel route, you can follow it or ride it, especially if you're traveling downstream!

I think what I want to work on personally is making the setting another character (I LOVED how Maggie Stiefvater did it with the setting of All the Crooked Saints) so I need to study more of that lol

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[oc] small doodle on big paper

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[oc] I'd call it a wip but that would be a lie, I just liked how he turned out here

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Hi! It’s really Wednesday this time lol. There’s a post talking about the difference between authors who explain everything by saying ✨magic✨ and the ones who make a super detailed explanation about every single thing in their story. I was wondering if you have anything you’ve thought a lot about even if it isn’t super relevant to the plot and what that might be?

Took me all of a month to lose all sense of time and reality lmao but I'll get to sending these again next week

I love this actually, thank you! I do tend to go down various rabbit holes lol. One such being considering how they view family (specifically parental) ties and what words/etc they might use to describe them!

Gonna slip it under a read more bc this got wordy but TLDR I came up with a way for my second mc to slight his terrible dad like at least once a day

Mostly this all goes down weird bc it's a much more queer norm world and ofc they developed different ways of viewing identity and personhood. They went the "sex and gender are separate parts of identity" route, and for our purposes here that usually means there's a few common ways to address and refer to people you're related to.

Their closest words to "mother" and "father" are less gendered parental terms and more like.. a position? A role? Any parent that carried and bore the child is the child's mother, and the other biological parent is the father. You really only ever use these terms to introduce or describe that relationship to someone that doesn't know you and/or your parent, usually when it's relevant in some way. Because it's more of a detached and matter-of-fact descriptor here, calling someone "mother" or "father" on the regular (especially when that person is supposed to be considered your caretaker) or to their face is VERY uh. Icy. Very cold very distant, the relationship is probably not good and/or the child holds zero respect for them as a caretaker.

On the other hand, that means that on the gender side, what you call your parents can have tons of variation. Trans parents in this world would be medically and maybe legally described with one word, but known as and called another (ex: a transfem person with a bio child could be that child's father, but the child and community refer to her as "mom", "mama", or any other number of feminine names). And that's all perfectly normal bc of how they've separated the concepts in their culture. They have several names to call a feminine parent, a masculine parent, and gender neutral parents!

The other note here is that "parent" isn't actually the gender neutral equivalent of "mother" or "father", bc humans can't have more than two bio parents and those titles are separate. I think usually it's employed in the same sentences though, which can be confusing to us! To use another example, I have a throuple with two women and a man (all cis). If they had a child in either configuration, the man would be the father, and the woman that bore the child be the mother. The other woman though would actually be introduced in similar fashion as "parent" rather than mother, bc she isn't biologically related. "Parent" is more a word for any caretaker that you see as such, who isn't biologically related to you! Using the word "parent" isn't seen as cold and disrespectful bc it's indicating that this person holds an important caretaker role even without blood ties. The important part is you would still give your "parent" a name. To continue the above example, the father might be called dad, the mother called mom, and the parent called mama. Both women use equally valid and common feminine names.

So in short:

Saying to a stranger "my father is the king": informative, normal

Saying to a friend/acquaintance (esp who knows your father) "my father is in a meeting": waving a big flag that says do not ask about me and my father

Getting your caretaker's attention by calling them "father": the quietest and most polite way to say "I want a new parent"

Getting your friendly bio mother's (when not a caretaker) attention by calling them "mother": ??? weird that you felt the need to specify but okay I guess

Saying to a stranger "my mama went up to the capital": cool, all the info needed is there

Saying to a friend/acquaintance "I need to go help mom": of course, what other way would you ever refer to your mom?

Getting your caretaker's attention by calling them "ma": again, what else are you going to call your caretaker?

Of course, this is just in circumstances when your bio parents are supposed to also be caretakers and language is at its core extremely messy. Sometimes people are raised by other family members like aunts and uncles, and sometimes they call them by the usual "aunt and uncle" equivalent or sometimes they might adopt a parental term for them like any other caretaker. Sometimes you're hanging out with your biological mother who didn't raise you but you're on neutral or even good terms, you don't consider them a caretaker and you still introduce them as your "mother" bc it's easiest. Sometimes kids are adopted and any new caretakers become the parents without any of them being the mother or the father, and are still introduced commonly as "my ma and pa." Sometimes these general rules are broken entirely. Just depends on the context and the comfort of those involved, just like anything else.

(Bonus because I obviously thought about this through the lens of my characters lol. Q refers to his dad the king as "my father" on the reg for reasons mentioned up top.

Then one of his family members has a whole thing going on because Im considering that maybe also amongst nobility and religious figures there's a fun separation of blood ties vs spiritual ties between people; take for example Grandmater Tewdwr (spelling intentional). Q would introduce thon as "my great grandfather, Grandmater Tewdwr" while Bo, who is not blood related to thon but is at times considered spiritually related, would introduce thon as "my grandmother, Grandmater Tewdwr." Because nobility loves to make things needlessly complicated and boast their ties to other important people, so it's expected of everyone to do so.)

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Omg I love your characters and your world building so much! No joke if you ever fully wrote and published Q and Bo's story, I would buy it so fast!

THIS IS SO NICE OF U TO SAY AHH... thank you I adore getting to share them 💕 and I do in fact plan to have their story out eventually hehe but I am determined to get another project done first... so All in due time