So, since I already posted the Valentine's Day piece, I guess I might as well do a bit of an introduction to my humanisations
So, this is what I call "Humanish AU":
It's a shapeshifter type deal, but no one really knows why or how it happens (except us. we know why), especially since it only happens on Sodor so no one ever attempted to study it, and the phenomenon is simply dubbed "Sudrian magic" (although the engines were under strict "no showing off to foreigners" policy until around 1980/1990s)
There is only one limitation discovered so far, and that is that they can't transform when they give up on themselves - ex. Hiro and Glynn being abandoned, Luke before he meets Victor again etc... (a.k.a when they're convinced they're going to be scrapped)
When they are in the humanish form, they barely seem like engines - the only "unnatural" thing is (sometimes) eye colour, which is dependent on the livery, and
retractable wheels, the amount and placement of which depends on ones wheel/axel configuration [ex. conf. 1'C2' would have 1 wheel on each shoulder, 3 rollerblade-like wheels (on each foot) and 2 wheels on each ankle. A type configurations have heelies instead, and diesels and electrics only have rollerblade-like ones since their configuration works differently]
They get phantom pains if their wheels are hidden for too long though
Wheel colour, just like eyes, depends on the livery, however when an engine has more than one dominant colour, wheels take the colour that mixing them would result in, whereas eyes are heterochromic
Humanish heights have nothing to do with the engine size, although it often seems like it.
It takes ages of practice to be able to choose your age, so no one really bothers, especially since mid-twenties (which are the basic age) are quite comfortable. There are exceptions though.
They are immune to human illnesses, but get injuries corresponding to their crashes/malfunctions
Longer lasting problems get translated too - ex. poor steamer = very weak lungs/trouble breathing
Somehow they can get tattoos though?? But they do show up on engine afterwards, so...
They are kind of like SU gems, in the sense that they don't need food but can eat if they want
They are very much still capable of getting drunk though (and no, I don't have a valid reason for that, I just thought it would be funny to see them drunk)
TV show and books still exist and they're kind of famous for that, so they ain't gonna be scrapped
Since around 1995 they have had a choice of staying in sheds or in special apartments issued for them, especially since steam went at least partially out of use
They were required to register themselves with some sort of "surnames" when they moved though, just in case someone tried investigating
They can work part time jobs if they want to
Most engines do
They also have access to the internet, and as of 2022 most of them have social media (twt, tt and fb being the most common)
It is possible, and not that uncommon, that engines get married
They obviously come in all shades of rainbow, but there has been a long running misunderstanding in that no one really explained to them what sexual attraction is (someone did explain sex though) - so they categorise it mostly by whether or not they want to ... partake in the activities connected, since none of them really experiences that attraction because well... they're machines, after all (but they don't really realise that). To be fair though, the only time it's relevant is when an engine would date a human.
Now, I present the first 7, including some headcanons and heights lmao
(2nd pic includes wheels) (that's the only difference) (redraw here)
#1 Thomas
Wears his number on the back, like a letterman jacket type deal
Bi (preference for male-presenting individuals)
Configuration C, therefore has only 3 rollerblade-like wheels (6 total)
Has a lot of scars all over, but they're mostly small. The biggest one he has is on his abdomen from Lost Treasure
193 cm (6'4"), making his humanish form 56 cm (1'10") taller than his wheel diameter.
Involved with James since mid 2010s
Moved to the apartments in 1996 under the surname "Tank" (he wasn't feeling very creative)
Originally roomed with both James and Percy, until the latter moved out
Really likes dogs
No one knows who told him the mullet looks good, but they're all cursing that person under their breath
Doesn't work a side job; he earned a lot of money from the show, but also he's still full time passenger train with Annie and Clarabel because the fans want to go with him
Has "#1" tattooed on his wrist (it shows up on the half round thing above his front wheel)
Loves kids and is very good with them - envies Connor being able to become a preschool teacher (since he's not as famous)
^ Still helps out where he can
Initiates a lot of rollerblade races
Loses most of them
Likes food a lot, especially cookies - has a massive sweet tooth
#2 Edward
As seen, wears their number as a bobby pin
Pan and Non-binary, chill with he/him pronouns because it took over a century for them to realise that they/them is more comfortable
Configuration 2'B
Has surprisingly little scars, but the most prominent ones are on his forearms that look like... (you know the type)
Doesn't like showing them
188 cm (6'2"), making them 6 cm (2 in) taller than his wheel diameter
Gets called short by people who haven't actually met them because of people they hang around
Has broken the law by being romantically involved with Henry since 1932, but no one except James knew, so they're chill
They got married in 2018
But they've been living together since 1995, and they chose the surname "Briley" together after looking through an English surnames list
Has a weird liking for snakes
Owns an Emerald Tree Boa
Bill and Ben have considered him their Dad for a loooong time
Doesn't like eating, but enjoys tea a lot
Is very artistic
Found a job in a tattoo parlor
Has a small heart tattoo that says "Love Forever" on the inside of their left hand (it's barely visible, but it shows up on his front left bumper)
#3 Henry
Wears his number on a chain attached to the pants
As I mentioned, engines' view of sexual attraction is kinda skewed, the fact that he identifies as ace basically means he's sex negative (not completely repulsed though)
But also, all kinds of innuendos just fly right over his head, so he's an innocent type ace
Configuration 2'C as of now, but 2'C1' pre Flying Kipper
Speaking of which, while the rebuild at Crewe didn't change his frame - he's still as tall and skinny as he was before - but it did make him look different, with his skin paling and his hair being slightly more orange and curling/waving naturally
He also got burned up pretty badly on his face and left upper body, and has a lot of (?)stitch scars, as well as some small regular ones
218 cm (7'2"), making him the second tallest of the steam team and like top 5 of Sodor
As stated above, has been with Edward for almost a century, getting married in 2018
Also uses "Briley" as his surname
Has been living in mostly his humanish form since the tunnel incident
At first because it was more comfortable, and then he got so used to it that it felt weird otherwise
Because of that he knows his abilities and limits better than other engines, and has slightly better control of movement
That being said wins a lot of the races - not because he's the fastest, but because he knows the best ways to accelerate/avoid loosing speed on difficult points (so far no one else figured out that the best way to get downstairs on wheels is backwards, for example)
If there's a designated sober engine at a party, it's probably him because he often works morning shift, and still pulls the Kipper
Works in a gardening shop (not as a clerk though. he's there to take care of plants they're selling and getting things from the tallest shelves)
#4 Gordon
Wears his number as a brooch/pin
Closeted gay (he thinks only Scotsman knows, but there are a couple others with great gaydars that know too)
Configuration 2'C1'
220 cm (7'3"), the tallest of the Steam Team, but not the tallest of Sodor.
17 cm (7 in) taller than his wheel diameter
Treats Rebecca like his daughter (she considers him a father figure too)
Lives with her since 2000, and they have a guest room specifically for Flying Scotsman
Prior to that, he lived alone for around 3 years
Uses "Gresley" as a surname, and is teased for it by most engines
Says keeping animals is ridiculous
But it's because he secretly gets very upset whenever they die, even if he doesn't interact with them much
Except fish. He genuinely doesn't like fish (neither for eating nor petting)
Has a vast knowledge about all kinds of engines. At first he was interested because of his pride, but as time went on he got fascinated
Because of that, he's heavily involved in choosing next engines to be bought, as he knows the requirements of the railway from a practical perspective, and likely knows what models would do well to match them
#5 James
Wears his number on his shirt
One of the first engines to come out after homosexuality was legalised
Configuration 1'C
Has a fake leg from the brakes incident, as well as burns on both his legs and multiple other scars
Doesn't really care whether or not others see them
165 cm (5'5") making him one of the shortest standard gauge engines on Sodor
2 cm shorter than his wheel diameter, which makes him extremely salty because he is the only LY&R Class 28 with wheels so big
President of "Tall Engines Are The Enemy" until he gets drunk - he gets very touchy and apologetic with them then
Excellent gaydar; it's literally like he can smell queerness (and yes, he's one of the aforementioned people that know about Gordon)
Played matchmaker for Edward and Henry, Emily and Caitlin and Douglas and Oliver, but absolutely did not notice Thomas pining for him for 2 years
(Which gets even better if you consider he's actually the one who started pining first)
Entirely too invested in others' love lives
Very into style and make-up
So much so that he launched his own make-up line
Did make-up for every one of his friends that wanted to wear some at their wedding
Cannot stand some of his friends fashion choices; he thinks Gordon should have more variety, as he literally only wears his uniform on daily, Henry should absolutely not wear skinny jeans along with the loose sweaters (it makes him out to be even more of a stick than he actually is!), Toby's individual pieces don't match each other, Thomas is completely hopeless, etc...
Like Thomas, he also loves dogs
They adopted their first puppy not long after Percy moved out
Obsessed with the colour red (aside from the brakes incident's anniversary. He can't force himself to wear/use red things then)
Therefore his favourite alcohol is cherry vodka.
Uses surname "Croy", as it vaguely translates to "the red one"
Enjoys fruits and sweets, but not many other foods.
#6 Percy
Wears his number as a button/clip to close his mail bag
Demiromantic
Used to have a crush on Thomas but never acted on it, and luckily for him got over it before 1×5 happened
Configuration B
Would be 185 cm (6'1"), but he's the only one bothered to learn controling his age
Because he feels weird being viewed as an adult (despite being one of the oldest), he appeared 12 until 2017, then Duck convinced him to change to 14
147 cm (4'10") as 12 year old and 167 cm (5'6") as 14
(the only reason he changed was to tease James by being taller)
Used to live with Thomas and James since 1996 to 2016, then moved in with Duck instead, not wanting to be "a constant third wheel"
Uses "Trojan" as a surname (it's the nickname for his basis, if you didn't know)
Spends the most time on social media of all the engines
Has the best knowledge of memes
Can be really annoying with them
Surprisingly speedy
Works full time in postal service, be it pulling the mail train or being an actual postman
Likes spicy food, but can't handle it
Drinks despite looking like a teen, and is one of the ones with the best tolerance
#7 Toby
Wears his number on his cap
Omni with a preference for female-presenting individuals
Configuration C
183 cm (6'0")
Isn't all that fond of being humanish
His crush on Henrietta (who can't transform) is probably at least partially at fault for that
She only convinced him to move to the apartments in 2010, since it would be more beneficial for the railway as a system
Uses "Tram" as a surname
Keeps doing his normal duties full time
Unless Henry's working, he's usually called on everytime the gang holds a party because they need someone sober
Toby never drinks, because the smell of alcohol is highly disturbing to him
He also doesn't like parties (introvert bby)
Out of every aspect of being humanish, he likes curling up with tea and a book on the couch in the evenings
That's it for now, I suppose
(edit)
Decided to add Emily here, since I lack the motivation to finish the second part of these that she was originally in.
#12 Emily
One of the very few that doesn't wear her number - partially because it took her a long time to get one in the first place, and partially because the heart shaped bracelet that has it is now worn by someone else
Lesbian, and the episode "Best Engine Ever" was her gay awakening
2'A1' configuration, which means she got heelies
183 cm (6'0") (same as Toby)
With what I mentioned about her awakening, you're probably guessing that she's romantically involved with Caitlin
You'd be right, as they'd been dating since 1970s and got married in 2008, being the first queer couple to do so amongst the engines
Has taken up making clothes as a hobby in 1920s and is making somewhat of a career with it
Currently has a double surname, Mag Raith-Georgeson, with Mag Raith being her own, Scottish idea and Georgeson being the original surname of streamlined siblings
Has been living in the apartments since 1998, alone until 2006
in that AU, constructs like warforged are considered nth class citizens, very low on the societal ladder; they are pre-coded with their class and subclass before they even gain consciousness, and are typically property of higher standing citizens. they are typically expected to be quiet and obedient, but because personality cannot be coded, we end up with characters like Thomas & co., who more than likely end up shut down, repurposed or generally left to rot. That's where the Hatt family comes in. They're regular humans, not even adventurers; they're kinda like the Gotch family, if you're familiar with Dimension 20 and Cloudward, Ho! - they fund the adventures, not go on them. They also use their money to become in possession of the rowdy and misbehaving constructs - The Isle Of Sodor is basically a safe haven, and all the other prominent families (notably the Percivals, the Duncans and the Norrambys) lent their money and influence to make it that way.
character specific
As I said in tags before, Edward is a Cleric (not sure of the subclass yet); he's also the Hatt's first construct and the reason the island as we know it came to be
Henry was being passed off as a Druid before sir Hatt bought him, at which point it came to light that he's actually a Hunter Ranger, widely regarded as pretty useless. Post the accident he's been rewired into a Gloomstalker instead (did I choose Gloomstalker over some other good subclasses purely because it fits with the original basis being a Black Five? Not fully, but it certainly helped.)
Victor is a very rare instance of a construct Artificer. Usually people try to avoid giving them that power, and no one is quite sure what Victor's creator has been thinking, but he is very useful to have around and fix his fellow constructs
Connor is a Paladin. Mainly because of the Last Train For Christmas episode
Duck is also a Paladin. A particularly devoted one at that. No one is surprised
so uh... my mum was apparently going through old photos and found this:
that is TTTE fanart made by me, age almost 5. no clue what the characters are supposed to be, but it is captioned "engines at Gordon's birthday party" so...
In a bout of my brilliance I have only just now realised that not only is it February, but two Sundays have already passed. Oh well. Here's the piece I was supposed to make and post on the first (with comparison under the cut, of course). I was hoping to get the other one done today too, but it's almost 10 pm and I've got work at 7 am tomorrow (which means I gotta get up around 5) so hopefully it will get done tomorrow instead....
they have been finished ~! (technically yesterday, but I didn't have the time to post lmao)
Going with the headcanon that CGI series was essentially live-action version of the series, all the movies obviously had red carpet premieres on Sodor, and Journey Beyond Sodor is no exception, even if most of the main cast had to be dragged out from the Mainland.
hi hello I've started making portrait designs of the main five new Journey Beyond Sodor characters, and although the drawing currently hit the wall because I've no idea what hair to give Lexi, I wanted to share this wip of Merlin because I think this is the best I've managed to catch how a character looks so far :)
