#bravely default brilliant lights

[eightkaramis]

MY MAN

I love ya Ringabel and I love feeling like I'm satisfied with the way I draw you now, barely---

Timelapse bellow

Later I'll put some color

[bravelydefaultbrilliantlights]

[bravelyartbooking]

Brilliant Lights

I am preserving character resources and profile videos from Brilliant Lights @bravelydefaultbrilliantlights!

Didn't want to clog up this blog :')

Additionally, all videos are being uploaded to my Youtube Channel, from the 12 story chapters to the character stories! Check it out if you want.

(Tressa and Therion's collab stories are also included but due to copyright concerns, I muted their videos.)

[starlathehedgehog]

Zach redesign and lore drop of my OC below. For my Danny Phantom AU ‘Ghostlines’ I’m writing.

Lore drop below:

⚡ ZACH’S LORE OVERVIEW

👻 Ghost Name: Specterflare

Species: 1/4 ghost

🔥 Theme: Volatile energy, restraint vs. chaos, emotional combustion

🧬 ORIGIN

Human Life:

Zach was once a rebellious but brilliant teen from a broken household. His life was shaped by emotional neglect, forcing him to rely on his intellect and instincts. He was fascinated by anomalies and ghost-related rumors, eventually conducting risky experiments of his own.

Accident and Death:

During one such experiment—meant to replicate portal energy—Zach died in a volatile explosion of unstable ectoplasm and spectral interference. The blast didn’t just kill him—it transformed him, creating a hybrid-style ghost who retains stronger-than-average ties to the physical world.

Post-Death Mutation:

His ghost form, Specterflare, is infused with an unstable but potent form of energy that mimics fire in appearance—burning gold and burgundy—but behaves more like a mix of light, kinetic force, and controlled chaos. His powers are tied to emotional regulation: the more unstable he feels, the harder his powers are to control.

🔥 GHOST POWERS

Flareburst Projection

Releases concentrated, burst-style blasts of yellow-burgundy energy. Can explode mid-air or on contact.

Visually flickers like fire, but it's energy-based, not elemental.

Thermal Distortion Cloak

Creates a heatwave-like shimmer around him to distort his image, rendering him harder to track visually.

Combustive Dash / Warp

Teleport-like movement that leaves behind streaks of flaring energy. Can chain short bursts together.

Energy Consumption

Can absorb energy-based attacks (ecto-blasts, tech surges) to supercharge his powers temporarily.

Ghost Sense (Modified)

Detects intense emotions in others—especially fear, guilt, or longing—through aura resonance.

Spectral Pulse

An area-of-effect concussive blast that flares from his body when overwhelmed.

Emotion-Linked Power Surge

His power output and control are deeply tied to his emotional state. High tension or intimacy amplifies his abilities but reduces precision.

👤 PERSONALITY

Protective – Fiercely loyal and protective of those he cares about, especially Danny.

Sarcastic but Deep – Uses sarcasm and teasing to mask emotional vulnerability.

Emotionally Aware – Despite his power-linked emotional volatility, Zach is highly attuned to the feelings of others.

Cautiously Affectionate – Gives affection in meaningful, intentional moments—especially with Danny.

Independent – Hates being micromanaged or underestimated, often prefers handling things alone before asking for help.

Recklessly Brave – Will put himself in danger to protect others, even to his own detriment.

⚙️ QUIRKS

Fiddles with tech or ghost gear when anxious.

Has a habit of muttering sarcastic comebacks under his breath even in tense situations.

Collects small human mementos from the real world (headphones, guitar picks, pieces of clothing).

Tends to glow faintly when aroused, frustrated, or emotionally charged—especially visible at his fingertips or around his eyes.

Extremely tactile with Danny, always reaching out when they’re alone—even just brushing hands or touching his hair.

⚠️ FLAWS

Emotionally Volatile – His powers spike with intense emotion, making him both dangerous and vulnerable in moments of weakness or stress.

Guilt Complex – He carries guilt over his death, his transformation, and the way his existence affects Danny’s already fragile stability.

Fear of Abandonment – Believes, deep down, that he’s a temporary fixture in Danny’s life despite their growing connection.

Reckless Under Pressure – Pushes himself past his limits when someone he loves is in danger, often ignoring consequences.

Struggles with Normalcy – Doesn’t always know how to function in a safe or emotionally open environment, defaults to teasing or isolation.

[bravelysanta]

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR - BRAVELY SECRET SANTA

Link to the form

The boring stuff/Deadlines: 1)  You have until (Sunday) October 20 at 1 AM EST to sign up. I’ll also be posting regular updates so follow bravelysanta at Twitter/Tumblr/Bluesky.

This is a hard deadline. If you miss it, you miss it! Try again next year!

REMEMBER THAT YOU MUST JOIN THE GROUP ON SNEAKY SANTA - the link will show up after you fill out the form.  Email me at fairyglowcharm @ gmail if you forgot to join it.

2) On the afternoon of October 20th, you will receive an email with the name of the person that you’ll be gifting via Sneaky Santa.

I will check-in a couple of times between mid-Nov and early-Dec. Please use these check-ins as opportunities to tell me if you need help!

3) Gifts are due anytime between December 22nd - 29th. If you will not be able to post it during that time, submit/msg me beforehand and I’ll post it for you.

4) If you think you may not meet the deadline, please contact me immediately and no later than December 21st. But please don’t sign up if you know your availability will be iffy in the first place.

5) If signing up as a pinch-hitter, those will be due by Jan 1st.

Guidelines:

1) If you must cancel your application, please notify me immediately either via email (fairyglowcharm @ gmail) or the bravelysanta accounts, preferably before assignments are chosen on Oct 22. If you find you cannot meet the gifting deadline and need an extension, please also notify me before Dec 21st. 

2) When filling out your name on the Sneaky Santa website, please include your social media handle (either Tumblr or Twitter/Bluesky), so your Santa knows how to @ you. Example - Koma (komatsujo). 

3) Remember that you are gifting a present to someone, and be prepared to spend at least some time on it. No one likes a last-minute gift!

4) Both fanart and fanfic are accepted as submissions. Santees, do not specifically request one or the other.

5) No AI generated art or fanfiction is allowed. The point of this is to create something for someone. Everyone of all talent levels is invited to join, to share the love of Bravely.

6) If you know there is a game, character, or ship that you don't wish to create content about, please indicate that in the last question of the form. I will do my best to exclude pairing you up with someone who is requesting a gift regarding those items, but please understand that I can't make promises if wishlists are not filled out.

7) Please try to complete your wishlists before Oct 20th for these reasons.

8) When creating your wishlists, please do not specifically request fanart or fanfic (example: do not request specifically fanart of the Crystal Crew as kids, instead of requesting something like “I would love to see the Crystal Crew as kids, doing something cute”). However, you should have more than 1 item on your wishlist. Please try to have 3-5 different items so your Santa has some freedom! 

9) Specifically requesting shippy gifts is allowed, but no NSFW material, either in wishlists or presents. This is mostly about smut, but also be mindful with gore and violence.  

10) Your wishlist and present MUST include Bravely themes or characters, such as Bravely Default 1 or 2, Bravely Second, Fairy’s Effect, Brilliant Lights, Praying Brage, etc. With the presence of Bravely characters in Octopath: COTC, Octopath characters + Bravely characters is allowed, though please be mindful of spoilers for the Octopath games. Same applies to other Team Asano games. 

11) Please try to keep your assignments private! Talk about them with friends in DM all you want, but if someone can find out that you’re their Santa on social media, that ruins the surprise!

12) Please tag submissions as #bravelysanta2024 !

13) If there is anything else you would like to specifically avoid during Secret Santa, up to and including a specific person, please indicate as such in the last question. These answers will be private and will never be shared with anyone outside of myself. This includes if you don't want to be matched with me, I'm a people manager, I can take it.

Link to the form is here!

[bs-el]

If we do get bravely sword/bravely third i genuinely hope that the bravely default writers return to patch the story together. They'll have their work cut out for them between everything revealed about the dimensional officers in brilliant lights and (I'm assuming) pocketbook of R vol 2, but i feel like they can pull it all together in a way that's satisfying even for us across the seas who didn't get those things in English. I'm like... So damn worried that so much development has been had in the jp bravely games that we might not even get bravely third/sword in English because it'd need way more context in it

[fordcrownvictoria]

Twilight at the Edge of Geniues | A Reflection on The Band’s Overlooked Masterpiece

There’s something uniquely haunting about “Twilight (Early Alternate Version)” by The Band—a song suspended between dusk and dawn, echoing with weary hope and quiet defiance. Though often overshadowed by the group’s better-known anthems like “The Weight” or “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” this version of Twilight stands as one of their most technically brilliant and emotionally rich compositions. It’s a testament not only to The Band’s subtle craftsmanship but also to their peerless ability to wrap layers of soul, Americana, and existential poetry into a few minutes of music.

Infectious Structure Cloaked in Simplicity

At first glance, the structure of Twilight seems straightforward—A-B-A-B with instrumental bridges—but that simplicity belies a complex interplay of rhythm, harmony, and melodic restraint. The early alternate version, in particular, has a rough, human quality: not overproduced, not striving for radio perfection, but letting the groove breathe. Rick Danko’s lilting vocal delivery rides just behind the beat, giving the track a lazy, swing-like urgency that shouldn’t work but does—beautifully. It’s a performance rooted in feel rather than formality, which is exactly what makes it so arresting.

The chord progression, deceptively cyclical, creates a subtle sense of unease—hovering like a long exhale. The use of dominant-seventh chords gives it that bittersweet tinge, never fully resolving emotionally, always dancing on the edge of light and dark. Garth Hudson’s organ swells act like ghostly harmonics, never stealing the spotlight but expanding the emotional palette. Meanwhile, Levon Helm’s drumming is understated, as always—percussive storytelling, patient and intentional.

Lyrical Depth Beneath the Surface

Lyrically, Twilight is one of Robertson’s most poetic pieces—somewhere between romantic longing and existential fatigue. “Twilight is the loneliest time of day,” Danko sings, and it’s as if the whole song folds in on that line, wrapping the instrumentation around it like dusk wrapping around a town. The metaphor of twilight—a transitionary, melancholic space between clarity and darkness—speaks volumes. It becomes a symbol for aging, regret, lost opportunity, or perhaps the endless waiting for something better that never comes.

There’s a kind of resignation in the narrator’s voice, but it’s not hopeless. “Don’t send me no distant salvation,” he pleads, “or a promise of a future reward.” In an era where popular music often defaulted to binary optimism or fatalism, this middle ground—this moral twilight—was nuanced and brave. It’s a song about living in the present, with all its imperfection, and loving in spite of inevitable disappointment. That emotional ambiguity gives Twilight the kind of depth that rewards repeated listening.

The Injustice of Obscurity

Why, then, has this song—and especially this early version—been largely overlooked? Partly, it’s a casualty of timing. Released as a single in 1975 and not appearing on a proper studio album until The Best of the Band compilation, Twilight lacked the platform of The Band’s earlier masterpieces. The early alternate take, raw and achingly real, didn't get the exposure it deserved, buried under more polished tracks in their discography. But there's also something about its refusal to pander—it doesn’t seek anthemic sing-along moments or radio hooks. Instead, it lingers in subtleties, in emotional truths that are too honest for mass consumption.

In a musical landscape increasingly dominated by overt declarations and grand gestures, Twilight offers something more intimate and enduring: a whispered conversation with time itself. Its brilliance lies not just in its arrangement or lyrical weight, but in its trust in the listener’s patience and emotional intelligence. It doesn’t try to impress—it invites reflection.

Conclusion

Twilight (Early Alternate Version) is not just a hidden gem—it’s a quietly devastating masterpiece. It exemplifies The Band’s unique alchemy: the fusion of musical sophistication with lyrical vulnerability, the interplay of voices and instruments like characters in a fading photograph. It is both a farewell and a flame, flickering gently in the half-light of twilight, asking nothing but to be heard, truly heard. And perhaps, in our own moments of introspection, it finds the recognition it has long deserved.

[pigeon-sponge]

i’m sure when i drew this i had a cooler caption in mind but then i realized that his earring is a fking anchor and i’ve been in disbelief ever since

[adelle-ein]

enjoying gloria's new januaryween bdbl costume

[kelbunny]

"Bow down before his Imperial Majesty, the Kaiser Oblivion"

Kaiser Oblivion's 5 star outfit in BDBL is very good hehe.

[angelalchemist]

[eightkaramis]

Bravely Default Party!!!

And the timelapse, as always (the long versions last 8 minutes ª)

[bravelydefaultbrilliantlights]

Tressa as seen in Bravely Default Brilliant Lights (originally from Octopath Traveler)

[bravelyartbooking]

Various promotional art for various BD related games (Bravely Default Brilliant Lights, Octopath COTC, and Triangle Strategy included)

[asteriskbits]

𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎, 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚑𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜...

[bravelysanta]

Bravely Default Secret Santa sign-ups are here for 2024!

Link to the form

The boring stuff/Deadlines: 1)  You have until (Sunday) October 20 at 1 AM EST to sign up. I’ll also be posting regular updates so follow bravelysanta at Twitter/Tumblr/Bluesky.

This is a hard deadline. If you miss it, you miss it! Try again next year!

REMEMBER THAT YOU MUST JOIN THE GROUP ON SNEAKY SANTA - the link will show up after you fill out the form.  Email me at fairyglowcharm @ gmail if you forgot to join it.

2) On the afternoon of October 20th, you will receive an email with the name of the person that you’ll be gifting via Sneaky Santa.

I will check-in a couple of times between mid-Nov and early-Dec. Please use these check-ins as opportunities to tell me if you need help!

3) Gifts are due anytime between December 22nd - 29th. If you will not be able to post it during that time, submit/msg me beforehand and I’ll post it for you.

4) If you think you may not meet the deadline, please contact me immediately and no later than December 21st. But please don’t sign up if you know your availability will be iffy in the first place.

5) If signing up as a pinch-hitter, those will be due by Jan 1st.

Guidelines:

1) If you must cancel your application, please notify me immediately either via email (fairyglowcharm @ gmail) or the bravelysanta accounts, preferably before assignments are chosen on Oct 20. If you find you cannot meet the gifting deadline and need an extension, please also notify me before Dec 21st. 

2) When filling out your name on the Sneaky Santa website, please include your social media handle (either Tumblr or Twitter/Bluesky), so your Santa knows how to @ you. Example - Koma (komatsujo).  (Everyone's names/prounouns/social media handles will be posted on a spreadsheet linked on the site, but this makes it easier to find folks.)

3) Remember that you are gifting a present to someone, and be prepared to spend at least some time on it. No one likes a last-minute gift!

4) Both fanart and fanfic are accepted as submissions. Santees, do not specifically request one or the other.

5) No AI generated art or fanfiction is allowed. The point of this is to create something for someone. Everyone of all talent levels is invited to join, to share the love of Bravely.

6) If you know there is a game, character, or ship that you don't wish to create content about, please indicate that in the last question of the form. I will do my best to exclude pairing you up with someone who is requesting a gift regarding those items, but please understand that I can't make promises if wishlists are not filled out.

7) Please try to complete your wishlists before Oct 20th for these reasons.

8) When creating your wishlists, please do not specifically request fanart or fanfic (example: do not request specifically fanart of the Crystal Crew as kids, instead of requesting something like “I would love to see the Crystal Crew as kids, doing something cute”). However, you should have more than 1 item on your wishlist. Please try to have 3-5 different items so your Santa has some freedom! 

9) Specifically requesting shippy gifts is allowed, but no NSFW material, either in wishlists or presents. This is mostly about smut, but also be mindful with gore and violence.  

10) Your wishlist and present MUST include Bravely themes or characters, such as Bravely Default 1 or 2, Bravely Second, Fairy’s Effect, Brilliant Lights, Praying Brage, etc. With the presence of Bravely characters in Octopath: COTC, Octopath characters + Bravely characters is allowed, though please be mindful of spoilers for the Octopath games. Same applies to other Team Asano games. 

11) Please try to keep your assignments private! Talk about them with friends in DM all you want, but if someone can find out that you’re their Santa on social media, that ruins the surprise!

12) Please tag submissions as #bravelysanta2024 !

13) If there is anything else you would like to specifically avoid during Secret Santa, up to and including a specific person, please indicate as such in the last question. These answers will be private and will never be shared with anyone outside of myself. This includes if you don't want to be matched with me, I'm a people manager, I can take it.

Link to the form is here!