I think about the nature of Haarlep’s “Raphael form” a lot. Like, obviously they are presenting a younger version of Raphael, but even so, on closer inspection there are facial features that are just…different.
Is it because Haarlep’s shape shifting nature doesn’t quite catch all the details? Did Haarlep take creative liberties? Can Haarlep alter their forms, and did Raphael have some criticism that made them alter the image?
Personally, I love to imagine it going down like this:
Haarlep: (Take’s Raphael’s form for the first time.)
Haarlep: “You like what you see~? 😘”
Raphael: “…”
Raphael: “…….”
Raphael: “You got my chin wrong. My cheeks are higher. Also—”
Haarlep, in Raphael’s exact image:
Haarlep then essentially real-time FaceTune’s themselves while Raphael obnoxiously projects his insecurities. Excessive skin smoothing. Brightening the under-eyes. Morphed features.
And, of course, Raphael has no shame in giving his criticism and sees no dissimilarities with Haarlep’s “Raphael Form V. 2.0.”
Raphael standing next to Haarlep in a mirror:
