Project ADELIE

A group of four eccentric, but highly capable men get employed against their will. /// 16+. Not an RP blog, mostly art and lore. Feel free to ask anything! Main blog here.

[projectadelie]

Madaparty 2025 — Theme 2: Alternate Universe

Human!AU; four criminals get employed against their will (they are now Classified's problem, he did this to himself).

[projectadelie]

I don't know if someone's asked this, but what's Hans story in the Au you're building?

Hans was already with the North Wind, or what would later become it when he first met Skipper and Kowalski in the military. He was one of their best, but even they agreed that he was a maverick. Got results, difficult to control. They let him do as he deemed necessary, only trusting that he is ultimately on their side regardless of the actions he might take.

He was sent to infiltrate the Red Squirrel's side at the dawn of the war, only for the enemy to send him back to spy on the American force. This culminated in the Copenhagen mess where he got Manfredi and Johnson killed to preserve his cover. He had it blamed on Skipper, betting on the guaranteed discharge (and the correct assumption that Kowalski would follow him out) to keep them firmly out of his line of work, and therefore safe from whatever other atrocity he might need to commit in the future.

Some time after the Penguins were drafted by NW, he meets his old flames again under no choice of his own. The fact that his gambit failed horribly will continue to haunt him.

[projectadelie]

I've talked about Private's family and childhood in this post!

Skipper grew up in the American midwest, surrounded by wheat and cornfields. His family didn't have much and through that he learned how to make the most out of as little as possible. He had an abusive alcoholic of a father and a doormat mother who didn't fight against the abuse. This caused him to both resent men who mistreat women, but also think that women are inherently weaker. He moved out of the house as soon as he could, and sometime during basic his father died of liver failure. While the Penguins were still operating independently, he'd make time to visit his mother. He paid for all her expenses up until she passed in her sleep, which happened a few years before they were caught by North Wind.

Kowalski was the only son to a pair of accomplished scientists. When he was a child, he killed his mother by accident via a chance discovery of an incendiary made from common household materials. The formula was handed over to the government in exchange for a complete cover up of the incident. His father, although never mistreated him, never forgave him for it. They both grew emotionally distant from each other, becoming more teacher and student than parent and child. Combined with his awkward disposition, it led to him being weird and unsociable at school. After he made the choice to enlist rather than pursue a career in science, they mutually ceased contact. For what it's worth, Kowalski Sr. is still in the workforce and likely will be until he retires.

Rico could not begin to guess what his biological family was like in terms of appearance and personality. The Japanese part of his heritage was inferred through the fact that he could speak and understand the language at a rudimentary level, the same way a child who grew up in a household that spoke it but never formally learned it could. He figured that he got his taste for fish from what they liked or could afford to eat. He doesn't remember this part, but he did have several siblings and was himself a middle child.

And thank you for your kind words, anon #2! It means a lot to me that you liked what you saw, no matter how much or little of it you did :)

[projectadelie]

[projectadelie]

This blog was a joy to scroll through. Amazing work

Thank you! I know I've not been posting as much as I did in Dec 2025, but I have a lot of asks left to answer and plenty of art ideas left in my notes. I'll likely become more active when another community event like TPOM ship/angst week comes around.

[projectadelie]

Living her best life.

[projectadelie]

Do any of the penguins have a confirmed kill count by the north wind or smth?

Yes, although whether or not they're accurate is another question. Skipper and Kowalski went on undocumented military operations, and Rico's background is something that they're still looking into. Private's the only one they have accurate records on since he was clean before he joined the Penguins.

At the end of the day their files on the four are reliable enough. I think it serves the story better if I don't put concrete numbers on it, at least for the time being. Some things can remain open to speculation.

[projectadelie]

Out of all penguins, who is the fastest and strongest? No offence to him, but I don't see it being skipper, lol

In terms of raw strength Rico holds that spot. Skipper beats him in 1-on-1s because he takes advantage of factors that Rico does not. As for the fastest, Private matches Skipper in speed but if both are pushed to their limits, the former has better endurance.

[projectadelie]

Tbh, I've got a hard time telling who's got the bigger man boob's out of skipper or Rico

We don't pit man boobs against each other in this house, there is enough for everyone and that's what matters. (It's Skipper.)

[projectadelie]

He still needs practice on a few aspects.

It happened not long after Private joined them. He caught Rico staring at him doodling while they were both alone together. Private engaged him in conversation about hobbies before then introducing him to styles and mediums. Given that Private's interest in art is more passing than Rico's, they don't really spend time drawing together. Private only draws when he's idle, whereas Rico actually tries to improve.

Rico has a bunch of interests and proficiencies that he got via osmosis from the other three, visual arts is just one of them. Private is honestly happy for him. Skipper and Kowalski both find the gap moe endearing.

[incorrectpomquotes]

Kowalski: So you think ol' Kowalski's gone crazy, do you?

Private: Not at all, Kowalski! We don't think that at all!

Skipper: I think that.

[projectadelie]

of course you play doorman

WHO SENT THIS

[projectadelie]

Apologies for the silence, I have been Deadlocked In.

[projectadelie]

Sure! Have a bonus Rico.

[projectadelie]

Rico asks, pt. 3

Probably a few. To be honest, I semi-randomize scars that aren't too deep and have no consequential story behind them. This is partially influenced by my own. I get accidental scarring from time to time and they heal quickly enough, leaving only very faint lines behind. Rico and the others have plenty of non-permanent scars like these.

He remembers her telling him that things are going to be okay. She called him fearless. Ever since then, he's always strived to live up to her measure of his bravery.

He thinks she sounded kind. He doesn't believe that she could sound otherwise. He remembers that she liked to tell him about the world, about things he's never seen or heard of but would like to someday. When he told her as much, she said that if he ever gets the chance, he should do everything he wants rather than regret never having tried.

Yes, I believe that's quite fitting for her. Strands from Death Stranding is another one that I associate with her somewhat.

[projectadelie]

Has kowalski ever thought about wearing contacts? I mean, how bad is his eyesight?

His sight is actually not that bad. He can see mostly fine without his glasses, but he likes how they look on him as well as reminding him of his mother. It's an element of vanity that he can easily take off when necessary.

There's definitely been at least one incident where someone swiped his glasses off thinking it would blind him, only for him to continue unimpeded. It makes for a handy surprise factor.

[projectadelie]

North Wind had a special dormitory prepared for them. The layout is similar to that of a shared apartment. It's a touch spartan, but big enough to house four with individual bedrooms, sharing only a common room, a bathroom, and a kitchenette. It isn't luxurious by any means, especially compared to the penthouses they used to have. But over time they kept more items around and made the space feel more like theirs.

A large part of the dorm's security measures against its inhabitants are in the walls and the perimeter. There are no windows and its only exit is through the common room, which is monitored at all times.

Classified's team has seen things they wish they hadn't on those cams.

Kowalski sleeps almost exclusively on his back these days. Rico likes curling up on his side. The other two don't really have preferences, and ultimately they can all adapt to less than ideal sleeping positions as the situation calls for it.