I'm Owl, author and illustrator. There are many fandoms dear to my heart, but currently I am most active in Pressure, writing a Sebastian/OC (technically Sebastian/Reader POV) series.
Celestial Crab Cakes [overall rating is M for violence, but 90% is T.] Read at AO3 Here!
Tumblr Tag: #celestial crab cakes
Want to talk more about these fools? Join the Crab Cakes Discord Server! (16+)
Other tags: I try to use these fairly consistently but I have a bad memory
#owl speaks: me yapping, or answering an ask.
#owl's art: art made by me!
***Please be advised that if you choose to follow me on AO3 I do occasionally post NSFW fic in other fandoms. Everything is clearly marked for you to avoid.***
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
I'm back, babyyyy!! Chapter 27 is finally up after a brief hiatus in which the AO3 author curse finally came for me and the Pressure fandom also imploded. But we persist!
Thank you to everyone who reached out to me during the break. I haven't gone into a ton of detail publicly (because, as I mentioned, there was FAR more important stuff going on) but I have to say it was quite disorienting waking up from a morphine induced nap in a hospital bed to hundreds of Discord notifications on my phone. I love my mods so very much. They are the MVPs for navigating the situation and keeping things under control. But also, shout out to my server as a whole- you folks are incredible. And I know I can always trust you to keep things civil.
I hope you enjoy this latest chapter! It has been a long time in the making and there is some important plot development happening, ooohhh~
I was recently asked this on the server and I thought I would share my thoughts here as well in case folks were interested. I love yapping about my process lol
The fic titles in the Celestial Crab Cakes Series come from the primary signs in a person's astrological birth chart: sun, moon, and rising.
"The Ascendant (or rising sign) is often considered the mask one wears when meeting others."
The title Aquarius Rising works as a stand-alone entry, since the fic draws heavily on water symbolism and the continuing theme of the water being a safe space for Seb and Ram. It makes sense to reference the water bearer (fuck you why is it a fire sign). In a literal sense, the fic chronicles Sebastian rising above his circumstances to find himself.
In the zodiac, Aquarius rising can initially be standoffish and stubborn. They are curious, analytical, with capacity for great kindness. And so. Fucking. Stubborn.
Aquarius rising natives often feel a little “different” or “special” throughout life. They often feel like they are on the outside looking in, and their ability to observe and deduce is often uncanny. They’re also adept at getting things to work, even when the parts that make up the whole seem like a puzzle with unusual pieces [...] there can be a resistance to change that seems to belie the native’s generally progressive nature.
It was too perfect for their initial meeting. (Added bonus: as February babies, Seb and I are both Aquarius!)
Once I realized I wanted to write more about these two, I started brainstorming how to best continue the theme. Eventually I landed on Capricorn Sun for the "main" astrological sign.
The Sun’s position [...] in the natal chart shows our style, our life purpose, and some might say, our destiny. What are we learning to be in our lifetime?
This fits the theme of Sebastian trying to find purpose in his life after escaping from the Blacksite. Capricorns are loyal hard-workers, with a sharp and sarcastic sense of humor. And the theme of stubbornness continues, lol
Capricorns can sometimes be rather lonely people, although they rarely let it show. They are often a little reserved–even standoffish. This is generally because they value all things practical, and they’ll seldom wear their emotions on their sleeves [.]
In the uncertainty and chaos in Sebastian's life, Ram provides an anchor and a steadying hand to help him find a way, all while dancing around the truth of their emotions.
The third fic (that's right, SURPRISE! The main CC series is planned as a trilogy!) will follow the same naming theme with [?] Moon. I can't say much about the title or it will be spoilers~ The only hint you are getting is the definition:
[The moon sign] gives insight into your emotional makeup and what you need to feel happy. It also indicates how you nurture and connect with other people in your life. While the Sun signs reflect more of your sense of self and identity—which you project in life—the Moon signs reflect the inner you[.]
Thanks to s1lly_v4n1lly for asking and giving me the opportunity to yap!!
Welp, I'm officially adopting Sebastian now as my own OC lol NO ONE'S GONNA FUCKIN STOP ME, SEB/RAM IS CANON-
In all seriousness, please continue to support Ren during this time. We can fondly look back on the happy memories and friendships made through this fandom, but do not mourn the loss of the game. The developers do not deserve our support.
Welp, I'm officially adopting Sebastian now as my own OC lol NO ONE'S GONNA FUCKIN STOP ME, SEB/RAM IS CANON-
In all seriousness, please continue to support Ren during this time. We can fondly look back on the happy memories and friendships made through this fandom, but do not mourn the loss of the game. The developers do not deserve our support.
(The text below was sitting in my drafts for at least two years and I don't know why I never shared it. Here it is at last!)
There is a "How to draw Megamind" featurette on the DVD and it is incredible. Have you also struggled to draw our favourite blue alien? Here is a quick tutorial, in the words of an artist that worked on the movie (I will edit with his name if I can find it) :
Child proportions
Goofy
Innocent/baby eyes
Wimpy arms
“Little rump”
Funny little feet
Head: not a perfect circle
Goofball
Congratulations, you can now draw Megamind!
(Seriously though, it was very inspiring watching this guy work and I love the care that went into all of the bonus features.)
(The text below was sitting in my drafts for at least two years and I don't know why I never shared it. Here it is at last!)
There is a "How to draw Megamind" featurette on the DVD and it is incredible. Have you also struggled to draw our favourite blue alien? Here is a quick tutorial, in the words of an artist that worked on the movie (I will edit with his name if I can find it) :
Child proportions
Goofy
Innocent/baby eyes
Wimpy arms
“Little rump”
Funny little feet
Head: not a perfect circle
Goofball
Congratulations, you can now draw Megamind!
(Seriously though, it was very inspiring watching this guy work and I love the care that went into all of the bonus features.)
I don't know if it's okay to say this, but honestly, the only reason I fell deeply in love with Sebastian was thanks to your story. If I had only had the canonical stuff, it would have been nothing more than a fleeting and superficial crush. So, thank you
That is incredibly kind of you to say- I am so flattered!!! Thank you, anon.
Writing Seb has led me to also care for him quite deeply and connect with him as a character. I have put so much thought and effort into his backstory and mannerisms to make him feel real. Or more whole.
Help I actually just remembered another song, do you think that Treehouse by Alex G and Emily Yacina matches as well?
Hi sorry I finally got around to answering this, so sorry for the wait-
Another absolute banger recommendation!! Adding it onto my writing playlist. I love the vibes.
I'm the captain, but you can be the deputy
I'm really glad you think I'm so funny
I don't think I'm ever gonna let you leave
"Do not enter" is written on the doorway
Why can't everyone just go away?
Except you, you can stay
My silly words paired with Gianni's silly drawing, all supporting the cheese for wife fund. ✨️
I damn near hyperventilated and cried when an envelope with no return address arrived in my mailbox. And inside it was everything I could have dreamed of. I still cried a little lol.
I was tidying up in my office looking for cardboard when I saw the envelope from my order still had something inside. I never took it out when it arrived in February. Now, it is almost May, and I have discovered an additional surprise:
GOOSE JUMPSCARE!!
I am giggling so much rn. What an amazing and thoughtful touch.
Hello, i hope youre doing well. I just wanted to ask if You'll continue crabcakes, considering everything that's been happening.
I will continue writing Capricorn Sun and all the planned oneshots and sequel in the Crab Cakes series! But now is not the time to post. Right now Ren deserves all of the focus and support.
There is so much I want to say but Gianni summed it up beautifully:
Pressure has become a MASSIVE part of my life the last year and a half. I have met incredible people through this fandom, and together we built our own beautiful community independent of the game that originally brought us together. I have no plans to kill the Crab Cakes Server or end my fic series, because my version of Sebastian is so far removed from canon he feels more like my own character at this point. However, out of respect for the ongoing situation, I will not be posting Pressure content for a while. I rarely play the actual game so it is easy to distance myself from all future content made by these developers.
I am in a spot where the wifi sucks so I haven't been able to read the full document, but I know enough of the situation. My heart goes out to Null suffering in silence for so long. It takes a lot of courage to come forward and discuss your trauma in such a public light, and an incredibly distressing process reliving everything. But it had to be said. Null deserves happiness.
Take care of yourselves, friends. Manifest positivity and kindness and hold on to the friendships you have made in these spaces.
My thoughts as someone who has been fixated on Pressure for the last two years + even did official art.
For those of you like me who need to move on but are scared to because the media is close to you.
———
Hi. Since this is going in the pressure tag, I might as well introduce myself. I’m Cotgar, the artist of the Gotchapon birthday artwork and the most recent Sebastian Solace reference sheet. I’ve been fixated on Pressure since October 2024, even committing personal things to it such as cosplay, merchandise, personal poster works, and two years of fan art.
My statements here assume you know the bare minimum of what happened: Zeal sexually assaulted the previous soundtrack musician, Ren.
———
I want to approach this as a community member first and foremost.
My take? The game’s done. I personally wish to see no more support for it, as although the main focus of the document is Zeal, Ren mentions cruel involvement from the dev team and their blatant coverups of Zeals actions, painting Ren as “unstable”. I have promptly left the discords, which I encourage you to do as well.
As for what to do mentally? That’s the hard part as someone who’s been so invested in the lore, story, gameplay, and every other aspect of the game. I literally doodled gotchapon this morning all over my work papers. But as someone who doesn’t wish to support the game anymore, I really find it hard to just cut that off. I am not defending the devs in any way by saying that. I am coming purely from a hyperfixation standpoint where my blorbos are jingling around in my brain.
I would like to say: you will not be incriminated to still love the characters for who they were before this point. I will still forever adore the characters I’ve grown to love. But not the ones who wrote them. Anything with them beyond this point in time is considered Not the characters I’ve surrounded myself with. With losing your sense of humanity as a person and involving yourself in disgusting shit like that, I believe that you lose the right to keep people “doing what You want with their characters”. AKA. If I were to still draw Sebastian, let’s say, I could with no connection to the writers. I will not draw him with his wedding ring, for instance. He does not deserve to be “married” to a dev self insert. It’s not the self insert that’s the problem, mind you. It’s the dev.
I suggest now is the time to maybe review that list of shows you’ve been dying to watch. Check out those games that maybe, if you’re like me, you’ve been scared to play because of fear that it’ll take over the hyperfixation.
Move away.
————
My connection and statement as *technically* an artist for the game:
I am horrified. One of the most prevalent things in Ren’s document was the use of cute animal imagery to lull Ren into a sense of security. (From my experience), Kat and Zerum do the same thing. It is unbeknownst to me if it was manipulative. That is not my point. My point is that it’s real language used in the dev team, and it does not surprise me it’s being used maliciously. I am more so scared because I began picking up this habit because people I thought were “cool” were using it as fun conversation. I am impressionable. I began picking it up. Ren’s document showed this to me and I suddenly felt my gut drop.
I will be brief. I have past experience of mental abuse and manipulation. Reading Ren’s document was familiar to me. Not to such a sexual extent, but in a manipulation extent. Seeing the bunny imagery sickened me, as it made me realize that trauma flares that I had worked years and years in therapy to get rid of were now validated: I don’t know whether to trust the devs that were smiling and being so polite to me.
I will not work with Pressure anymore. End of story.
———
You are allowed to still like the characters. The lore. The story. But supporting it is different, and I am ashamed that I have for this long. Am I sad that I probably can’t post any more drawings of the silly fish being sad? Oh fuck yeah. That dude fucking rocks.
But this is not about me. To fellow people who feel sad about it too, this is not about you.
This is about being a fucking human being
————
I await to see what the devs say to try and damage control.
