I've looked up to various trans women for quite a long time. Since about July of 2016 I was introduced to the wonderful Penny "Snapcube" Parker via her appearance on the first Gravity Falls Realtime Fandub. She wouldn't be the only one of that group either, such as Ella/"DrawnWithoutRef", and a few others.
I also accidentally stumbled onto the music of Steam Powered Giraffe, of which one of the leading members, Rabbit, is played by a transwoman named Isabella. I've even had friends much closer to me who are like this as well, such as @transwiththeplans and @chibington.
There'd always been signs with me. Preferring longer hair despite never being allowed to maintain it, using the bathroom a certain way, generally not being the perfect example of a "guy".
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2020 was especially something. I'd already been thinking about the possibility of being nonbinary or genderfluid, but it didn't... quite stick. Storytime Animator Katzun uploaded their video "Coming Out Part 2: I'm Transgender" to Youtube in May that year, and I saw it thanks to my friend Chibi sending it in a group chat.
When Katzun asked "Who are you?" at the end of the video, I... didn't know how to answer at the time. I remember just being upset that I couldn't explore any options due to very conservative/homophobic/transphobic parents. In late July, Chibi recommended that I try drawing myself as a woman as a means of just... seeing how it felt.
And it felt good. Suddenly, things started clicking, it felt less like I cracked an egg as the cliche goes, but more like I threw it against a wall and tried to make sense of the wreckage. The next several days were full of questions and confusion. I spoke with the other friend I tagged for hours as she helped me make sense of things - and then our power went out for a whole night.
The lack of any internet access at the time really made me think. And then it hit me: Yes, I'm transgender. I slowly started to unveil this news to a couple of Discord servers and was met with incredibly supportive responses.
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Coming up with my new name was tricky, I've always liked the name Roxy in general, or Roxanne if you want to stretch it out and be a bit more formal. Stones came from a certain character's fake name from a certain cartoon I love. I hadn't originally intended on changing my last name, but due to how awful my parents are, I decided I should change it, so I didn't have to be a [REDACTED] anymore.
And the middle part, Allison, came from a mistake on the part of one of my friend Rosie's parents, as Rosie was trying to talk about two of our mutual friends, and one of her parents heard "Allison Matt" instead of "Alex and Matt". (@insane-mane and @yo-its-matt)
Ever since then, friends have noticed a distinct change in my personality: I'm much happier, more relaxed and more comfortable with who I am, feeling less like I need to have this fake air of "professionalism" I used to put on. I feel like I can just... be me. I’ve been at this for over a year now.
I've also helped a couple of people, like my long-time friend @deliasymbols come to terms with similar things, and from what I've heard, she's been doing a lot better now too.
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So to answer Katzun’s question: Hi. My name is Roxanne "Roxy" Allison Stones. No, that's not my legal name yet, but it's still mine. I'm transgender, MTF if that wasn't clear. That's my story.
T’was the captain’s birthday this weekend, so here’s a group picture of the crew of the Fleet Fit!
@strongchad
Epithet: Captain Goatbeard
Role: Captain (duh)
Description: Both a fearsome pirate and a gregarious captain, Goatbeard leads the Scarlet Sashes with an iron will and a warm handshake. With his wit, mobilization skills and knack for figuring out puzzles, he is a force to be reckoned with. Doubly so in drinking contests.
@pryinbrian
Epithet: Bellowin’ Brian
Role: First mate
Description: Bellowin’ Brian is Captain Goat Beard’s (slightly mutinous) first mate. With his size, strength, and trusty pistol, he’s easily the most intimidating member of the Scarlet Sashes. However, in person, he’s quite soft-spoken and friendly. His enemies don’t know that, though; his titular bellow can send any pirate running in tears!
@gameandwatchgallery
Epithet: Rapscallion Ray
Role: Swords master
Description: Deadly with a cutlass and even deadlier at the game tables, Rapscallion Ray has never lost a bet or a fight. Many a fool have taken her at face value and lost a little more than just their gold. She also has experience in foreign affairs, and is adept at the art of disguise.
@drawnwithoutref
Epithet: Awkwarrrrrd!
Role: Cabin boy
Description: Despite his rather lowly position, Awkwarrrrrd is very creative and proficient in many artistic disciplines. Able to draw maps and schematics without reference, his skills and cleverness are invaluable to the crew. He is also quite talented at composing shanties, and has the best fashion sense of the Scarlet Sashes.
(me)
Epithet: Black Eye the Pirate
Role: Cannoneer
Description: A foreign pirate from the icy north, Black Eye is the quiet (and in her mind, dignified) gunner of the Scarlet Sashes. Years of trading iron with other ships has left her extremely sensitive to loud noises and sudden movements outside the gun deck, making her quite jumpy. Despite this, she can still get along with the crew, and likes to sketch and crack jokes in her free time.
Real-Time Fandub is a group of voice actors who dub popular things from memory.
They are only missing one key component: A memory.
Gazemaze in gazemazement as the plot starts out normal and improv changes it into something weird, unrecognizable, and shitpost-esque every time we slip on a line!
These are highlights. Full episode available on our Patreon.
From the people who brought you Prove Me Wrong and Real-Time Fandub, it’s a Spin-Off Babies adventure!
It’s 1999, and we’re trapped in a mall after closing!
Can we survive the Furbies, homeless people, spooky ghosts, and mall security?
And what even is a homeless person? Is it like the beardy men from Star Wars?
Find out tonight at 7pm EST!
Premiering on a livestream at this link!
thumbnail art by @tomatomagica, @drawnwithoutref, and @popelickva
OK, so I forgot that vid.me had died because @gumballfallsfan DM’ed me about it, and I remembered that I still had a back-up Facebook link to one of the videos I had on vid.me. Sorry if it’s in a really bad quality.
Dipper/Kazooing: @cooldude618 (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6PRvqd1opmIPrWbcq-SiCA)
Mabel: Shelbeanie Cosplay
Stan: http://youtube.com/chongoshow
Norman: @ghostanjo (She runs http://awkwardgravityfallsphotos.tumblr.com/ and Yeah, Gravity Falls)
Jeff The Known: @snapscube (http://youtube.com/knittinggiantbeanies)
Soos: http://AwkwardGravityFallsScreencaps.tumblr.com/
Everyone else, including but not limited to, Wendy and Schmebulock: http://weirdmageddon.tumblr.com/ (mod dipper of dirtygfconfessions)
Real-Time Fandub intro by
http://youtube.com/GumballFallsFanOfficial
Intro music written and sung by @drawnwithoutref
Join Mystery Shack Lookback tonight as we go back to our Real-time roots tonight, July 16 at 8 pm EST for a live reading of “Curse of the Time Pirates treasure” as YOU pick our path in REAL-TIME! Featuring Tony Gold-Mark as Blendin Blenjamin Blandin, @popelickva as Dipper, @shelbeanie as Mabel, and @drawnwithoutref Narrating! It’s going to be such time fun!
Only in CharleyMarlowe’s YouTube! Be there or be time-square!