yearlyesca

[yearlyesca]

Merle's Birthday Fic 2025

An Assertion of Identity

Summary: Feline ferocity manifested itself in different ways. Sharp claws and thundering roars were all well and good, frightening and dangerous when called for, but a simple but forceful declaration could be just as effective.

FF.NET

AO3

Musical inspiration

[yearlyesca]

Behold!!! A design study of a character that appeared for two (2) episode exactly and fucked off into the ether!! Truly no one could have foreseen this! (notes under the cut)

Something I really appreciate in Escaflowne is their non-human charadesign. It scratches my uncanny valley in a very good way. This is but a pale imitation of how fucked up Zongi looks

Left was made referencing the show, right was made applying what I'd learned (and trying out clothing). Couldn't find many good refs of him so i got my own:

I didn't include pics of the inside of his mouth since i didnt have use for it, but if you do: it's bright turquoise.

Notice that his hair originally looked much straighter, almost greasy/heavy. His face is also not as long as I'd like. I've changed his nose quite a bit since im not trying to copy style here, but rather to adapt it to me.

Some fun details i noticed * He has claws!! They're not a prominent as i drew them, but they're clearly present when he holds Plaktu's head. They look dark there, but in an earlier scene they look like fleshy extensions of his fingers. * His pupils expand and contract. You can see it clearly when comparing his first appearance (bottom left) and his conversation with Hitomi (middle left). Part of the reason his eyes look so foggy in that first scene is that is pupils are relaxed when talking to Folken! *Incidentally, while reporting to Dilandau at the end of ep 11, his body language is relaxed but his pupils are contracted already: he doesnt trust him * His eyes are super super reflective. Notice that the "spark" you would normally find in other characters eyes, straight up occupies half the space in his. That's another thing i wish i'd done better. * His color palette is a nightmare. Man loves nothing more than to stand in a dark, badly lit room that completely changes it. Overall, i wish i'd gone a little more "washed out" on his body so his eyes would pop more. Also his lips are much brighter than i made them

Some doppelgangers headcanons i developed while drawing this: *Their markings are tattoos, not naturally occurring. They serve to identify each other, like a name would. *They have no societal gender, and very very little sexual dymorphism. They take on the gender of their face, or whatever gender non-doppelgangers give them * Insane night vision!! * Doppelganger racism must go crazy. Maybe that's where the whole "cursed to die in battle" comes from? * They all have various degrees of facial blindness. A good 20% of the reasons Zongi associated with Folken in the first place is that his hair color makes him easy to recognize. *They wear draped clothes, instead of cut. Meaning they wear rectangular fabric held by pins and draped/wrapped around themselves instead of cutting and sewing clothes out of fabric. Here I improvised it, but if I were to do it again i would reference togas or something

Some stupid facts about myself: * I called him the wrong name the whole time I was drawing him. * Viego has three (3) letters and zero (0) syllabes in common with Zongi *Viego is, in fact, a league of legends character

[yearlyesca]

Pic'n'Fic

Wait are you serious it's almost half way through 2025 and I haven't posted here this year???

Pic'n'Fic time!

Prompt: Counsel: Advice, especially given formally. Or council: A group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions.

Sign-ups:

- Must be messaged to this blog.

** Non-Tumblr users are welcome; please email me or message me on whatever platform.

- YES you may sign up for both author and artist.

- There must be a back up for both author and artist to proceed.

- Close: June 21. I ignore time zones, as long as it is June 21 your time, you're in.

Partners will be posted June 23.

Artists will go first this year. Please post your fic by August 16.

** You are required to submit at least a link to the YE blog OR @-tag this blog and @radical-rad1986 .

Authors please post your corresponding art by October 4.

** ** You are required to submit at least a link to the YE blog OR @-tag this blog and @radical-rad1986 .

If you have questions, please click YE's Faq/Description link.

FANDOM SIGNAL BOOST!! Share, tag someone you think would be interested!

Follow the blog (for when I remember to post).

Follow the @esca-ss blog too! (Escaflowne Secret Santa)

[yearlyesca]

*Blows dust off the blog*

Happy New Year Esca peeps!

My New Year's resolution is to use the queue to keep this blog active. Yes I knew it existed... I just... didn't use it.. *Shifty eyes*

These prompts are to inspire and jumpstart your creativity; you do not have to follow them to the letter to fulfill the prompt. All prompts may be filled any time throughout the year, other than if you are partnered for Pic'n'Fic.

FAQ/Description

2024 Prompt List

[Link to explanation of prompts]

Jan/Feb: Romance/Love: Romance is in the air! Also includes familial and found family love. Let love abound!

Mar/Apr: Minor & Background Characters

May/June/July: Pic'n'Fic (prompt tbd)

Aug/Sept: Shifting Focus

Oct/Nov/Dec: Free Space

Follow this blog for updates! (I promise they'll come. ;) )

[yearlyesca]

My contribution for this year's pic-n-fic for @yearlyesca based on the fic A Story of Light and Darkness.

[yearlyesca]

@yearlyesca

I hope I did Sevens story justice with a portrait of the royal family of Freid.

I am not such a big fan of children in anime, usually they annoy me to much with their forced cuteness. But Prince Chid is an exception, I loved the character!

And also his dad. Did you notice that the Duke was the only one in the entire show who said some condolences about Fanelias destruction and the expulsion of its people? His death was pretty senseless yet heroic and I wished the Freid arc had lasted longer. So many open questions…

[yearlyesca]

Sorry y'all, I've been having a rough time. Author: Work --- > Artist: Work seven: Footsteps @mirimiramiri: M, C, & M @ruinsoftime: Liminal @dillyfirestarter butzel: A Story of L & D @labeckinator: F, N & E ashteroid (stand by) mirimiramir

Artists: If I haven't told you already, please take through the month of September for your piece.

[yearlyesca]

Chid’s mother always told him stories about the Knight Caeli Allen. Following his mother’s death, he decides to become a swordsman worthy of the invincible knight of legend, and asks his father to help him, leading to a conversation about Chid’s parentage.

My entry for 2023 Pic'n'Fic. Thanks for sharing! - Sevenstars

[yearlyesca]

PnF partners! Authors: WRITE!

Author --- > Artist seven @mirimiramiri @ruinsoftime @dillyfirestarter butzlbovat @labeckinator ashteroid mirimiramiri

The list is short this year, so authors, I will contact your artist partner.

Authors: Your posting date is July 15th! Yes, you can post before that. As long as it's July 15th in your time zone, you're not late. If life happens and you need a few days, or you need to duck out, please let me (Rad) know as soon as possible (via email). Theme: Light and Darkness.

Artists: Once I contact you with your author's work, you have until September 2 to post your piece. Same above applies: Yes, you can post before that. As long as it's September 2 in your time zone, you're not late. If life happens and you need a few days, or you need to duck out, please let me (Rad) know as soon as possible, via email. Theme: Your partnered author's piece, Light and Darkness.

Those of you who have Tumblr, please (@)tag this blog (@yearlyesca) as well as my personal blog (@radical-rad1986), so I can reblog the pieces to this blog. Non-Tumblrites, please either pm me on Slack or email me the link to your piece. If you want the YE blog to host your piece, you can use the Submit page to do so. Instructions under the cut.

- Enter a name and email address --- Please use your Slack screenname --- You can enter a fake email, or a real one. A real email will alert you when Rad posts your submission.

- Enter a Title if you want

- Paste your submission in the text box under the fancy editing options (You can insert a link here too. Either paste the link, or use the Link editing button [infinity symbol].) OR - Insert your image with the camera icon - Also: Add any information you want

- Check both 'Accept ToS' and 'I am not a robot'

- Click Submit!

[yearlyesca]

A history of Dornkirk’s life on Gaea.

My submission for Pic'n'Fic 2022. Thanks for sharing!

[Pairs with @dillyfirestarter’s Dornkirk]

[yearlyesca]

@pethics

2022 Escaflowne Pic 'n' Fic time!

Millerna Aston approaches her wedding ceremony, but something or someone causes her to turn back, startled.

[I wanted to leave it open-ended for the fic writer to explore!! That's a homemade lens flare right there, friends.]

@yearlyesca

reference credit to @adorkastock 's 'Swish'.

[yearlyesca]

My entry for this year’s Escaflowne Pic’N’Fic challenge!

Emperor Dornkirk takes a seat on his final throne, the one he knows he will never be able to leave again, but his eyes are ever fixed forward at the chance for a future he will bring to all of Gaia.

@yearlyesca

[yearlyesca]

Since they’re short an artist, here’s a quick second piece for the Escaflowne Pic’n’Fic fest!

@yearlyesca

Celena wasn’t a passive character, nor was she rescued from Zaibach. She walked out of their control twice, as soon as she remembered who she was and recognised what was around her. She had a chance for the future and she took it with her own hands.

[yearlyesca]

PnF Partners!

Sorry I didn’t post yesterday y’all, I had a day.

Prompt: A Chance for the Future

Artists, your deadline is June 15th! Authors, your deadline is July 30!

Artists:                                                    Authors @dillyfirestarter ‘s Dornkirk                  legend of the seven stars dilly firestarter’s Celena                        butzelbovat Chris                                                     @coverteyes @gasexplosionatthescalpelfactory       @pethics

[yearlyesca]

Mar/Apr: Minor & Background Characters

Who doesn’t get enough love in the Esca universe?

- Preferably does not include secondary characters. This is not to deter your creativity but the prompt is “Minor & Background.” All submissions/tags will be received.

[yearlyesca]

Also keep an eye out for PnF sign-ups in the next few weeks!

Mar/Apr: Minor & Background Characters

Who doesn’t get enough love in the Esca universe?

- Preferably does not include secondary characters. This is not to deter your creativity but the prompt is “Minor & Background.” All submissions/tags will be received.

[yearlyesca]

Mar/Apr: Minor & Background Characters

Who doesn’t get enough love in the Esca universe?

- Preferably does not include secondary characters. This is not to deter your creativity but the prompt is “Minor & Background.” All submissions/tags will be received.