my name’s hannah (she/her/they), and i’m a storyteller and artist!
here you'll find my art, writings, meta-thoughts, and general chatter about things i enjoy, whether it’s my original works/characters or fandom shenanigans!
my 'primary' fandom is tmnt 2003; i tend to explore and create for it through a post-series angle. it features ocs made by @/plantdonut and myself, and i've spent the past year developing the world two of my ocs hail from, liáfsini, along with their surrounding story.
i kinda just march to the beat of my own drum, create what makes me happy, enjoy meeting new folks and learning new things. you're always welcome to drop in and say 'hi', ask questions, or throw terrible memes at me! i am: a simple bird.
notable links will be below the cut.
appreciate you stopping by, stay safe,
and have a wonderful day/night! 🖤🌲
(lil reaction icons were inspired by the catgirl portraits!)
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WRITING
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;hannah's meta - meta posts/writings
something i've been wondering for a while: i feel there's been a shift in the @'ing or "ping"ing form of interaction since it was implemented. folks will apologize for doing it (primarily on discord, but i see it on other platforms, too), and it's made me both a bit self-conscious in doing it myself and curious as to where the 'unspoken' etiquette with it is?
how do you feel about being @'d?
i generally like it
i generally like it as long as it's not a reblog-chain/huge post/spam
i like being @'d, as long as i've interacted with the person previously
i'd prefer that only close friends/mutuals @'d me
i don't like being @'d at all
only @ me if you want to give/show me something
only @ me if you're talking TO me, not referencing me
i have my @ notifs turned off, so it doesn't matter
it depends which social media platform i'm using (pls explain if willing)
two or more answers (pls explain if willing)
some secret 11th thing OP didn't consider (pls explain if willing)
i have not a morsel of feeling for this subject and wish to lurk answers
Remaining time: 4 days 2 hours
if this poll, or one like it, has already made rounds: apologies, i haven't seen a variant of it on my own dash. thank! ✌
the raphneth sketch i couldn't find a place for in this morning's batch. slapped a background/lighting on it but didn't let myself clean it up any further.
i've said a few times that one of their bonding activities is just... napping. lazy afternoons, spots of drowsy conversation. i listen to hammock and think of farmhouse summers, and i just wanna draw them. u-u peaceful, unguarded. safe.
some sketchings of the twins from the past week! these were mostly to play with the concept of liáfsians having lil 'sprouts' on their face, shoulder, collar area, and also to test a less human pupil shape and the slight differences in their facial features. (the derpy gwyn is just this prompt and i included it because i could). they're twins, but they're not identical.
this might be the first time i've shared drawings of ash outside of her weapon cage! there was a raphneth sketch in this batch, too, but since i couldn't get it to work in composition with the others, i'll share it separately later this evening.
Hi friend, long time.no see. Popped in to gush and say holy fuck your art✨️✨️✨️ it was amazing even back in the dolcetto days but God DAMN💙
omg, jess. ;-;/ !!! HELLO, it's so friggen good to hear from you!!! ...it HAS been so long, jfc. i hope, despite the horrors, you've been hanging in there and doing alright! same goes for anyone else in our ol' rp-sphere. <:l
thank you SO SO much!! AAAAAA.
at some point i should scribble up the gang--it'd be fun to draw and see them updated! and i miss them a lot. love my dumb idiot... rag-tag team of dysfunctional adults. 😔 barely a brain-cell among them. ...and my little rarepair canoe. [holds all of them up like object from zelda treasure chest] ... gang™.
I AM HERE FOR GWYNETH LORE. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU. (One of these are your questions but I'm super curious.)
1: What is your favorite piece of lore? Pre-canon, mid-story, or post what you intend on writing, I'm not too picky. Something that you love dearly about Gwyn, whether that be because it's sweet or because you put lots of time into it and therefore it's important.
2: Does your OC's name have significance or reason it was chosen? Both from a meta/narrative perspective (why you, the creator, named them) or possibly from an in-world perspective (why their parents named them)? And what's their relationship with their name like? Do they like their name? Do they not think much of it? Would they rather be named or called something else?
aaAAAA FINALLY HERE D:< thank you so so much, crimson!!
1: what is your favorite piece of lore? pre-canon, mid-story, or post what you intend on writing. something that you love dearly about gwyn, whether that be because it's sweet or because you put lots of time into it and therefore it's important.
i have a hard time picking a 'favorite', and i think that's in line with my usual… "'favorite' is whatever has my curiosity and attention at the time" state (much like 'which turtle is your favorite', etc etc). soooo the bit of lore i'll share here, i'll share because it probably won't make it into the fic itself! i'll try keeping the context as tldr as possible:
there are liáfsian creatures i've been calling sithóran (placeholder name), which are wolf-like. when gwyn's young, she comes across several trapped pups, manages to communicate to the mother she's trying to help (at the cost of some warning bites), and gets the pups safely returned. over time, the pack welcomed her presence and would follow her around while she explored the forest.
fast-forward to the lore i wanted to share.
the morning gwyn and ash made their escape from the realm, darach had spotted them and sent a flock of beings to catch and kill gwyn. these (unnamed) things have hands that burn and mold flesh like clay, and they easily caught up to her as she fled through the woods. she could have died as they swarmed her had it not been for the sithóran, who ran to her aid and began tearing the creatures away from her. one of them guided her from the scuffle to the ruins, where she'd make a threshold portal and leave the realm behind.
the twins and the pack WILL be re-united at some point in the fic, though, and several of them will have burns from fighting off the creatures. the sithóran are extremely important to both gwyn and ash; not only were they one of gwyn's primary connections when she was young, but she wouldn't have escaped the realm alive without them.
since this would be a flashback sort of thing, i don't think there's a way to justify writing it into the actual fic as a scene—it'd throw off pacing.
gwyn's long had a large burn scar across her chest that's deformed her right breast (it's usually hidden by her shirt, but you might spot it in a few of my art pieces), and i need to account for this experience, too, when i get around to finalizing her design. she'd hide the scars with glamor, though; they'd make her stand out in a crowd, people would remember seeing her, ask questions, etc etc. the only reason she'd hide them would to better merge into a crowd; she's not ashamed, embarrassed, insecure about them from an appearance standpoint.
...HOPEFULLY that all made sense. i was trying to keep it as condensed and low-prose/detailed as possible.
2: does your OC's name have significance or reason it was chosen? both from a meta/narrative perspective (why you, the creator, named them) or possibly from an in-world perspective (why their parents named them)? and what's their relationship with their name like? do they like their name? do they not think much of it? would they rather be named or called something else?
from a meta standpoint, i went back and forth between 'gwyneth' and 'maeve' for a while and wound up choosing 'gwyneth', because 'maeve' could come with a nickname that sounds like 'may'.
the o'neil family already has a name-of-the-month theme going: april, uncle augustus, and june (this was going to be april's sister's name originally; jenn and i kept that instead of 'robyn'). i didn't want any kind of narrative implication that gwyn had a connection to the o'neil family, because… she doesn't.
as for 'aislinn', i chose her name almost immediately; it translates to "dream" or "vision"—both fitting words for ash's more ethereal presence. her nickname, 'ash', had narrative potential, too, from the perspective that her physical body's died and she needs to 'rise from the ashes'.
while both are celtic names, aislinn is irish and gwyneth is welsh; liáfsini pulls from celtic influence, with irish mythology/culture/history/language as the primary well. gwyn's name being welsh is another way to "other" her (intentionally on my part, unintentionally in-world).
in-world, aislinn was named by their parents. gwyn wasn't. it wouldn't be until they were old enough to… understand the hurt of not having a name that ash would give gwyn her name, and gwyn accepted it.
'gwyneth' means "happiness; white, fair". i might alter the spelling of her name, so it better matches liáfsian grammar, and i doubt that in-world their names have one-to-one meanings with their earth counterparts. but! from a meta standpoint: ash would have given gwyn a name with positive meaning. to their community, gwyn is seen as an ill-omen and a curse but, to ash, she's happiness. and the color white has strong association to the divine, deep and long-lasting emotion (i.e. hope or grief), and the most important member of the gentry would ride the white horse.
i've also read from a source or two that 'gwyn' is the masculine spelling and 'gwen' is the feminine spelling? unsure how legit that is, but--if true--i like it as a detail that compliments her genderqueerness.
'maeve', on the other hand, translates to "strong, intoxicating" or "she who intoxicates". fitting enough alias for gwyn during her travels, considering how she often uses flattery and charisma to work her company and get what she wants or needs, as well as the trail of harm she's left in her wake, intentionally or not.
ash is neutral about her name, i guess? she doesn't hold any strong feelings, positive or negative, about it. gwyn loves her name, because it was a gift from the one person who's always been by her side, who's always had her back and has always loved her. it is so, so special. which makes it all the more irritating that she often has to use aliases to better cover her tracks.
... hnnn thank you so much for asking about my dumb idiot loser twins (´; u ;`) /💜✨
Hope it's OK to send you OC asks, too. Thank you for always being so supportive and helpful with your thoughtful inspiring questions 💚
How knowledgeable are your OCs with first aid? Do they barely know the difference between gauze and bandages, or can they virtually diagnose any problem with just a look? And if they do know first aid, is it just knowledge, but be a panicked wreck if they ever had to put it into practice? Or would they be calm and composed if they had to use it? And who taught them first aid? Why did they decide to learn it?
it is: ALWAYS OKAY. ;-; !! i'm always so grateful to receive them and get the chance to babble about things or consider angles i hadn't thought of yet. for real, thank you so so much. 💜
cassia's level of first-aid is probably what i'd call: basic household knowledge, if not SLIGHTLY more due to her experiences skating and being around other skaters. if you broke your leg skating, she would probably know enough to help slow any bleeding and keep you comfortable until actual help could be reached. for those kinds of situations, she can stay calm. anything beyond that, though, and she's gonna start panicking, pacing and crying. her parents taught her the basic household first-aid, and the first-aid knowledge she has from skating experiences was likely learned both in the moment or learned later after going through said moment, just in case it happened again.
nyxram's level is… trained survivalist. if any of my characters are going to be capable of diagnosing a problem with a look, it'll be her… doesn't always mean she'll know how to fix it or be capable of fixing it, though—she's an assassin, not a doctor. it'd be more along the lines of backtracking your last actions, considering options, symptoms, and narrowing the list of possibilities to find the best way to counteract it. as with most things, she learned from her parents. she'll be calm the entire time, no matter the injury she's dealing with. and… honestly, if she comes to the decision you're not going to survive, she'll probably mercy kill you on the spot. better than forcing you to suffer or giving you false hope.
gwyn's level is untrained survivalist, or maybe more …trained-through-experience survivalist? she learned a lot of basic liáfsian medicine from ash and through watching wildlife. since she spent a lot of time on her own in her youth, she learned to doctor any cuts, scrapes, or other minor injuries she received while in the woods. after leaving the realm she was forced to learn more advanced and varied methods, or—in more severe cases—be smart and clever enough to find the help she'd need and dip as soon as she could. she's had to give herself stitches, if that gives you an idea of anything. important to note: she pretty much only applies her first-aid knowledge to herself; you'll almost never catch her going out of her way to help someone else before she meets the turtles. there's always SOME level of panic, but she's become very good at keeping it smothered until the wound is treated. then, when she sits back and her head hits the wall and she lets the breath she'd been holding out, she can have a bit of a silent meltdown.
ash's level is basic liáfsian medicine and first-aid, though long out of practice. since she's in the shapeshifting weapon, there's obviously not much she can physically do to help, but she IS capable of guiding someone through verbal instructions. she's also always listening to conversation around gwyn for any kind of useful information while gwyn's focused on other things. it's ash's extra set of 'ears' that have contributed to gwyn learning various survival tips and tricks while hiding out on other planets and in unfamiliar cities or settlements.
how did each of your OCs come into existence? did you decide one day to make them? or did the idea sorta hit you like a truck and you couldn’t resist??
when you’re trying to flesh them out, do you need to pry the information out of your OCs, or do they just sorta tell you everything you need to know? is it an interview or an interrogation?
was there a purpose to any of them that now has been lost? did they get more “screen time” than you’d originally planned?
i ask for the truck. /highly specific reference
i'm so sorry for the long wait e-e jfkldks HECK.
1. how did each of your OCs come into existence? did you decide one day to make them? or did the idea sorta hit you like a truck and you couldn’t resist??
i semi-answered this yesterday, but i'll condense the answers here!
cassia - appeared in my head while driving to a movie trading company and listening to girlfriend by avril lavigne. so i guess she hit me like a truck, dabbed over my corpse and skipped away.
nyxram - decided to make her because i love triceratons. we have gladiators, where are my amazon warriors? fine. i'll do it myself.
gwyn & ash - kind of a combination? i'd say gwyn was a more 'active' decision, since i wanted a muscular woman, and ash just kind of spawned in my head while looking through serge's book.
2. when you’re trying to flesh them out, do you need to pry the information out of your OCs, or do they just sorta tell you everything you need to know? is it an interview or an interrogation?
i thiiiiink… it varies. 6-6!
there's always a period of 'flatness' and inconsistencies at the start. i wouldn't call it "prying" the information out of them, more so… tossing them in a situation and trying to figure out how they'd handle it. writing/rping with @/plantdonut is always a huge help for this, too, since i (obviously) don't always know how the characters she writes for are going to react, how they'll ask questions or prompt responses. i think i introduced the twins into our writing maybe 4-ish years ago, and i know that i'm going to have a LOT of character-revision to do when i go in for the re-write and turning those threads into prose. the twins have developed a lot since then, i'm much more familiar with their behavior, paranoia, and how difficult they can be to work with.
i dunno HOW to explain my 'fleshing out' process, but i don't really think it's an interview nor an interrogation. i feel like a lot of it is talking about them with close friends, drawing them, writing them, and, since music is such a huge piece of my writing process, listening to music that helps me picture scenes, interactions, moments. after a while, the character just kind of comes to be. and i WILL emphasize "a while". it's totally okay and normal to be 3+ years into having a character and still be discovering things about them, still be fine-tuning details you've let stay vague for "too long". plus, i think always having things to discover about your characters is part of the fun and the love.
3. was there a purpose to any of them that now has been lost? did they get more “screen time” than you’d originally planned?
for the most part? …i don't… THINK so…
cassia has always been meant to be a civilian character and remain un-involved in the turtles' shenanigans. she and her home has always been the resident evil save room. you can come in, rest where nothing can hurt you, re-assess… but you will have to go back out there.
a thing that may apply to this question is that i used to write nyxram being a direct member of the new council, but i've since discarded that. she still attends meetings, but this is more because she's traximus's self-assigned bodyguard and won't let him go to those things 'alone'. if she's not on his tail, she's on akeron and keeping it running, so the surviving arena animals are comfortable, healthy and well-fed.
at one point i juggled the idea that she had more direct involvement in getting don out of zanramon's throne room during the invasion arc, but i ultimately decided against that. i thought it'd be a story-beat made stronger if don came forward with his experiences on his own (talk to your family, grow as a character, you fool). and as a result of that, it's raph and mikey's looking out for him that leads to nyxram and traximus learning about the brain-scanner being used and seeking further justice on his behalf.
with the twins, i'll probably keep them much more tight-lipped in the earlier sections of their story, with gwyn introducing herself as 'maeve' initially (one of the aliases she rotates through). ash's role in the final act has changed a lot, albeit this would be another one of those… spoilers i consider big enough to keep in my back pocket for now, so i won't say much more.
darach will likely get less screen time during the earlier part of the story compared to when jenn and i initially wrote out those scenes. i feel like i need to keep him "in the dark" a bit longer in the fic than i did initially. it is: very important that i get him right as an antagonist and enemy. i want him to be terrifying, considered an equal to ch'rell, but in a different way.
thank you so much again and, once more, i am: so sorry for the wait!!! oTL 💜🙏🌷
OC question for you: what outside media has played an influence or inspiration for your characters? Have you read or watched something that made you go !!! and immediately add something to their story or design? And a bonus question: if you had to narrow it down to one piece of media for an audience to Get your character, what would it be?
i looooove this question so much, because i love how we all have artists, stories, piece of creation that shaped us and helped shape pieces of our own work into it's own unique thing. ;w; THANK YOU.
for cassia… i don't know if there's any specific media that's contributed to her, i think she's more an amalgamation of my weird sense of humor, how much i love when folks just collect… odd little things that bring them joy, a person who is just fearlessly and unapologeticly themselves. the initial "image" and concept of her came to me while driving to a movie trading company store, and avril lavigne's girlfriend came on shuffle—i just thought of a high-energy, pink-haired, pink-rollerskate-wearing gal singing and dancing along to it while she skated. the song, lyrically, has nothing to do with her; i think she was conceived entirely by the sound and energy of it. penny parker being her voice claim likely played somewhat of a role in shaping her personality, too, since… i could easily animate cassia over so many things penny's said during her playthroughs and still consider it very in-character. but overall, i think she just kinda poofed into existence and vibes however she pleases. as she is want to do.
for nyxram, the list is extensive. she was conceived during my initial rewatch of the series with @/plantdonut and, during the space arc, i said something like "we have gladiators, but where are my amazon warriors? where are my giant, triceraton women who will kill you?" (this 'connection' to amazons is part of the reason i've always had her taller than the average triceraton height range… the other reason is for lady demitrescu jokes and that i love tall women who could kill me). you can probably see greek influence in the design of her armor as well as inspiration from xenomorphs (in the tail, the spine-area, the texturing around her calves and under her arms, etc). her birth and how she was raised was heavily inspired by cassandra cain's origin story, and major inspirations for how she navigates and engages in fights could include: (once agin) xenomorphs, john wick, the yautja, kratos—kind of a blend of fight choreography that's grounded in reality while also larger than life (where you almost can't help but laugh at how gloriously brutal it was). for a much more lighthearted, single piece of media to point to and be like "that's basically nyxram", i'd probably say the murderbot series. even tho i maintain she'd hate the rise and fall of sanctuary moon.
when it comes to the twins… i'd say the 'kick off' inspiration source was the first season of arcane, vi, and the song snakes by pvris. i wanted: stronk, muscular lady who fights with hands. that started gwyn. and within a week of that thought, i got GÜRLZ by serge birault. many of its illustrations feature women holding a sassy, sentient weapon. that's when ash came in. the original concept for them as a pair had ash as more of an AI weapon, but i quickly fell in favor of them being twins and "twin telepathy" being part of what allows ash's form-shifting to be so seamless to what gwyn needs in the immediate moment.
inspiration for the shapeshifting weapon that ash is trapped in came from the game CONTROL, where the service weapon is believed to have taken forms of several weapons of legend. an obvious HUGE source of inspiration for the twins has been irish mythology, traditional stories and legends of the Gentry/their differing morality, with the color theory of elden ring and feel of GRIS being sources of inspiration for liáfsini, itself. my own love and curiosity of the natural world and the life within it is allowed to shine through them.
inspirations for gwyn navigating and engaging in fights often come from 'scrappier' sources, since she's not traditionally trained like nyxram or the turtles, and she heavily relies on unpredictability and resourcefulness.
examples could include naru (prey 2022; not just her fighting the predator but in how fast she learns and adapts, adding the rope to her weapon, how she scraps with the other comanche sent to find her and the frenchmen at their camp), the axe fight from 'they will kill you' (fuckin' crawling over and axing the enemy in the back while still on your hands and knees), just about anything grace did in both 'ready or not' movies—or erin's traps, clever evasion and resource use in 'you're next'. messy, unhinged, brutal, but effective. she WILL be the final girl and come out the other side screaming, covered in your blood--possibly with it in her mouth.
ash's influences are a bit harder to pin down, since she goes most of the story playing the role of an inanimate object and stuck in the shapeshifting weapon, but know that she's just as vindictive as gwyn is... she's just quieter about it. gwyn will turn your world upside down and make sure you know it was her. ash will turn your world upside down but you'll never know she did it.
i have no idea if there's a single piece of media that would best represent the twins, but i feel like prey (2022) with naru is a good look at gwyn? because of what i listed above PLUS: the time period forcing the use of low-tech and wisdom of the land, and the exchange with her mother:
"why do you want to hunt?"
"because you all think that i can't."
i don't think it's a perfect representation of gwyn's character, but i feel like you'd get to see that she's untrained and learns as she goes (naru makes a lot of goofs) but, despite that, she gets up, learns more, and ultimately comes out the winner, whether it's survival, personal, or both. also playing dirty... stabbing the predator with its own fang that she just ripped from its mouth... yeah, that's gwyn behavior.
thank you SO MUCH AGAIN!!! and i'm so sorry this took so long! oTL
Hiya. Thanks so much for the OC question! I'd love to return the favour, and hear about your OCs themes and motifs, if they have any
finally… 84 years later. here i am. … <xDD i am SO. SO SORRY. oTL thank you so much for your patience and even sending this ask to begin with. 🖤🙏
i think they all have SOME kind of theme and/or motif(s) attached to them! how intensive those are depends on what i'm writing, drawing or …which perspective i'm engaging with, i guess? i ultimately hope to write and post the twins' arc as a long-fic, so themes and motifs attached to the two of them will be the most prevalent, and anything for cassia or nyxram will be much more subtle. doesn't mean they don't have them, though!
for cassia, i think her theme would best be described with words like 'safety' and 'security', both in your company and in yourself. she's my most mundane character—the most down to earth, about as 'civilian' as they come—and also the most self-assured and healthy, mentally and spiritually. she, her family, her home, become another safe haven for the boys and their friends. if april is the big-sister figure, esme steps into a mothering role, always careful to keep a side-stock of snacks and drinks she learns they like. —and that's a piece of what motifs come along with cassia? you'll always leave her apartment with a full belly. there will always be blankets to wrap around your shoulders. there'll always be an ear to listen, arms to hug, music to cheer you up, space to dance barefoot in the kitchen, or a well-loved couch to nap on. gifts from oliver, too—little trinkets that, one day, cassia will exclaim "oh! dad saw this during his last trip, and he thought you might like it!" and place in your hand.
for nyxram, it's probably a bit obvious. themes that surround her encompass 'life' and 'death'; the latter at the start of her story, but turning more and more to the former. motifs could include shadows (hence her alias), brief appearances of ambush predators snatching prey, snuffing out firelight with one sharp breath or abruptly dumping your glass over a flame. the song killing butterflies always makes me think of her, lyrically and because of… WHAT she is. this massive, physically overpowering species in comparison to a more fragile species like humans or federation. there'd be a lot of literal darkness and low-light throughout the start of her story, and the series also kind of gift-wrapped traximus being orange in color to me, too (a color associated with fire and light; an ember that keeps burning no matter your efforts to smother it). as she leaves her past behind, so too would she leave the darkness and step into the light. the ambush predator is replaced by creatures engaging in a symbiotic relationship. scenes of younger triceratons laughing as they play some stupid game. quieter moments where the fact you're alive, sharing the room with another beating heart, is a beauty in and of itself. the surviving arena animals sleeping, peacefully, in their paddocks.
and finally the twins. i'll answer them at the same time, since their themes/motifs play off each other and often work in unison. since i intend to tell their story in long-fic form, i'll admit that themes are still kind of being felt out. it might be in part because gwyn has a 'primary' theme that she shares with ash and a secondary 'theme' that's more subtle in their main arc but would eventually come to the fore-front post-arc.
the primary theme… is one i'm still trying to find the words i want for, but for now it could be summarized by finding genuine community? family? connection? and learning to accept help from them—being willing to fight to keep them. the idea that you're not alone as you may think you are. motifs for this could include how animals seem a bit drawn to gwyn, how characters throughout the story frequently offer help to each other and look out for each other, the liáfsian plant that grows when bree spends time with it, talks to it, tells it about her day, min-ji asking gwyn for help with solving a struggle her cousin is going through and being present afterward. holding hands may be one—and not romantically. more like… --i will be purposely vague with both bits described below:
there will be a moment where raph extends a hand to gwyn and asks if she still believes him when he says they've got her back, and after a pause she firmly takes his hand and lets him lead her out of where they are. this moment will be reflected toward the end of the story when mikey, clinging to her wrist, pleads that she promised not to leave, not without them, and, where she'd once been resigned to what's happening, she suddenly grips his wrist back. there's another take on this concept that's much more spoiler heavy (i normally try not to be too precious about spoilers since idk if or when the thing will be made, but i consider this one significant enough to keep in my pocket). just that… physical anchor, something you grab and that grabs you back, keeps you grounded, helps you stand and walk. …i hope that makes some kind of sense. >xD;;
i s e e y o u
... i see you ...
. . . a g r e e d.
had a TON of fun with this shot study! below is the canvas recording speedpaint (to the score claustrophobic, by andrew hulshult) and the screenshot i used for the study. got to play with gradient maps to lay down initial colors, play with color theory in real time... yeah, this was fun. very glad to have finally gotten to do it. i continue to adore this movie. at the risk of being parasocial: happy for and proud of you, mark. 👍✨ hell fucking yeah.
Name: Nyxram
Alias: The Shadow
Nickname: Nyx
Age: young adult (estimated 75 Third Earth years)
Gender: female (she/they in English)
Orientation: queer umbrella / unexplored
Species: triceraton
Height: 9’2 (279.4cm), not including horns
Eye Color: amber
Hatchday: ??? (unknown on Third Earth calendar; not in Homeworld Database)
Enneagram: 5w6
Voice Claim: Shohreh Aghdashloo
Likes: silence, refining her arsenal, her (found family) personal squad, Traximus, watching others
Dislikes: her parents, the previous regime, combat for sport (i.e., The Games, the Battle Nexus), opponents with big egos or unearned confidence, most of her past collaborators
(( biography, personality, & relationships w/ cast under the cut! ))
BIO:
Long before the Federation and Triceraton Republic began their war, two of the Republic's most prolific killers met: Mizertyx, an assassin (serial killer) for hire, and Ramorz, a poacher of all prey. Together, they leveraged their resources and political connections to obtain a lone meteor and make it their own Homeworld Vessel, which they named 'Akeron'. Here, they put a plan and promise into motion: the creation of a perfect assassin to act as Blade of the Prime Leader. In exchange for this living weapon? Their continued freedom and protection. They conceived a clutch of eggs, and, from one, Nyxram hatched.
Memories of her early years are hazy. She recalls hunger, thirst and, even as her siblings writhed and squealed around her, a great sense of loneliness. She learned that if she didn't find food or drink before the others, nothing would be left. Just days out of the egg, death crept along the nest's edges and watched from the shadows, emerging to steal away the weakest and most timid.
Training began as soon as they could stand. Nyxram doesn't remember how many there were at the start. None of them were given names, summoned only by grunts, gestures or being grabbed. As time passed, those who fell behind would disappear. Eventually, only she and a brother remained.
For many cycles, she and her brother were competitors. Throughout combat, weapons, stealth, hunting, and all other training, they were incentivized to out-perform the other or else receive punishment. Even though their own well-being depended on the other's failure, the two formed a strange and complicated bond. Who else, after all, did they have? Nyxram struggles to find a word to describe it. She wants to believe it was a sincere, but warped, sort of love, but she sounds unconvinced even as she says this.
When they reached the age Ramorz deemed them capable of taking on an adult triceraton, they were ordered to spar until only one remained on their feet. After a long, exhaustive fight, Nyxram won. Her brother no longer had strength to stand.
Mizertyx then approached Nyxram and handed her a blade. "Do not look away from his eyes," she ordered. Then, as Nyxram knelt over him, "Now. Open his throat."
After years of lurking, waiting in the shadows, death flowed forward and into the light. Nyxram was the last survivor of her clutch.
Her victory won her the right to a name. Her real training began.
For decades, Nyxram remained isolated from the rest of Triceraton civilization. Every 'day' spent training, learning, mastering a universal arsenal of weapons, martial arts and survival skills. Sometimes the training was straight-forward: a strategy 'game' with Mizertyx where the day's food rations were on the line; other times, she and Ramorz would go hunting for an animal off-world, only to realize he intended to hunt her, too. Not a single moment held a promise of safety.
Tensions rose between the Republic and the Federation, and Mizertyx decided to make their move. For the first time, she and Ramorz took Nyxram to Homeworld Prime where they presented her to Prime Leader Zanramon. As a display of Nyxram's use and capabilities, Mizertyx suggested she infiltrate a Federation ship and dispose of a troublesome colonel. When Zanramon appeared skeptical, Nyxram raised the offer: she would dispose of every soldier on the ship, and the ship, itself, would vanish. Their army would see the disappearance of ship and crew as a freak accident; we all know it only takes one mistake, and space is unforgiving.
One of the triceraton commanders, Traximus, argued this wouldn't be necessary, but Zanramon ignored him. He accepted the new offer, and, in less than a cycle, Nyxram delivered. She became Zanramon's personal hand and blade, alongside accepting work from a specialized clientele. War began within the decade.
One cycle, Zanramon summoned Nyxram to the Arena. He directed her attention to Traximus who, stripped of his commander status, fought among the gladiator slaves below. When questioned, Zanramon stated he wanted to use Traximus as an example to anyone who would challenged his authority as Prime Leader. Nyxram did little to hide her opposition; she could see the spiteful and reckless decision for what it was. She underestimated the extent of Zanramon's cruelty and his eagerness to twist the knife.
Some time later, Nyxram was again summoned to the Arena, where Traximus and another gladiator were pitted against lethal animals. After the animals fell, Zanramon announced a surprise: only one of the two gladiators would be leaving the arena alive. Nyxram watched as Traximus and the smaller gladiator exchanged blows, and she realized they were stalling—desperately. Between half-hearted strikes, their mouths moved and their eyes darted about. Neither wanted to kill the other. Neither wanted the other to die. It was a scene she'd witnessed before. --no... lived before.
But, as the feigned fight went on, the Arena guards closed in. The circle around the two gladiators tightened and, at Zanramon's signal, the guards shot their ankles. They fell—the smaller gladiator catching Traximus's wrist as his knife drove toward their chest. For a second, the blade hovered. Then, it plunged down into the gladiator's throat. They died instantly. Nyxram couldn't hear the roar of the crowd as she watched Traximus's expression go hollow and felt a familiar cold spread under her skin. But she heard Zanramon laughing.
That was the cycle Nyxram decided she wanted nothing to do with the regime. The war worsened, and the light in Traximus's eyes dulled. Sensing a shift in Nyxram's behavior, Mizertyx kept her occupied and alert to the Republic's victories. Again and again, it was made clear this path was final and to resist was pointless.
Until, again, she was summoned to the Arena.
This time, she was to watch the Games from above. Should the four small, shelled gladiators survive a round too many, she'd orders to discretely 'remove' them from the Games. Nyxram took her position, readied her rifle, and watched as the gladiators rose into the arena. Rather than attack the shelled off-worlders, Traximus threw his blade at their feet. He turned his eyes upward, refused to fight and declared that Zanramon's time was at an end.
Nyxram watched as the gladiators were chased from the arena and the off-worlders sprang into action. She did nothing, radio feed spiraling into chaos and confusion, as the four defeated the Triceraton All-Stars and took Zanramon hostage. When all had calmed again, explanations given to Zanramon and Commander Mozar regarding her absence, she departed to her quarters.
Mizertyx was waiting for her.
Nyxram's inaction came with harsh consequences, but now it was her turn to be underestimated. She'd been forged to surpass the skills of her parents, after all. And this time? There was a sense of purpose.
It didn't take long for her to track down the growing rebellion. Their trust in her was small, incredibly fragile at first, but she went above and beyond to earn it. Much of Nyxram's time was spent on intel, as she had direct access to confidential channels and high-security locations across Homeworld. Additionally, she monitored activity on Earth as the triceratons invaded, intercepting government transmissions and communication. One of these included a message from General Blanque to an Earth organization known as the EPF, information she neglected to give to Zanramon and passed to Traximus instead.
As the rebellion planned to make its final move, they decided Nyxram's parents would need to be dealt with simultaneously with Zanramon's command room; if one were struck before the others, there'd be window for warning.
Nyxram chose to take care of Mizertyx and locked down an entire sector of Homeworld Prime, trapping and preventing her from intercepting Traximus's group. Mizertyx nearly got the upperhand in their fight, but Nyxram won. When she didn't take the kill, however, Mizertyx understood. She voiced her disappointment in Nyxram's betrayal and warned that she was entering a world she hadn't been made for.
Zanramon was apprehended along with Mizertyx. A third squad, sent to confront Ramorz, would later report him assumed dead.
Nyxram now stands as a (self-assigned) bodyguard for Traximus. With her mother in custody and her father MIA, she's obtained control of their Homeworld Vessel, Akeron, and uses it as a restoration and sanctuary ground for the surviving Arena animals, since the Games are disbanded.
PERSONALITY:
If you asked any triceraton about Nyxram, you're likely to get one of three responses: genuine confusion; being asked if you "actually believe in that"; or uncomfortable, nervous silence. The first is common across civilians and lower ranking soldiers. The second and third become increasingly frequent as you move up the ranks or beyond assorted Homeworld Vessels. Nyxram has an almost cryptid-esque status, and her name carries weight in the criminal underworld long after she leaves it.
Those who know Nyxram have a difficult time describing her outside of her 'work'. She's monosyllabic and articulate, preferring to use only what words are necessary. Her demeanor is calm, stern and professional; she sits and stands with active posture, and she's vigilant to her surroundings. Her stoic expression and tone make her difficult to read. Even the most brash triceraton soldiers find that she makes unsettling company. This seems to be both intentional and unintentional on her part. It's quite clear that she's socially stunted.
It's important to note that, despite her surface adversion to flirting and romantic advances, Nyxram is not aroace. Her discomfort when propositioned comes from a place of inexperience and an unwillingness to engage in activity where she may appear foolish or vulnerable. And while she may not be confident interacting with children, they'll never be safer with anyone else. Nyxram is aware of how cruel and repulsive her own upbringing was, and she feels strongly that no child should have to endure even a scrape of her experiences. She may be clumsy with children, but she's always kind and patient.
Those who've gotten to know her on a more intimate level, such as Traximus and her personal squad, have discovered that she can be… shockingly... bland? She couldn't tell you a favorite color or a favorite food; she doesn't listen to music, misses almost every pop-culture reference thrown at her and is unfamiliar with the games they grew up playing. She's unresponsive to jokes and doesn't engage in playful banter. And, perhaps worst of all: like most triceratons, she's blunt and to the point. If you ask a question, you'll be given an answer. This, unfortunately, applies to her past. She'll speak of it factually and without shame when prompted. Her squad has learned not to ask questions if there's a chance her answer will cause them discomfort. If asked about her parents, Nyxram will say her only remaining affiliation with them is the inconvenience of blood.
Relationships:
MIZERTYX:
Though Nyxram's 'relationship' with both of her parents is hostile, there's a unique tension between her and her mother. Nyxram recognizes her mother's blood-lust, and she knows that—of the three of them—her mother gets the most enjoyment from the suffering and death of others. Mizertyx isn't just dangerous; she's cruel and she's clever. She'd been responsible for much of Nyxram's strategic and political training, teaching her a patience and stillness rarely seen among triceraton warriors. The subject of her mother is one Nyxram and Traximus disagree on. Mizertyx is currently a high-security captive, her fate to be decided as new leadership and order is established, but Nyxram believes her mother should just be put down.
RAMORZ:
Despite both Mizertyx and Ramorz having equal involvement in raising and training Nyxram, Ramorz was the more distant of the two. He had little interest in Nyxram's training from a psychological standpoint, with his focus being physical and primarily in weapons, tracking, hunting and combat. He never regarded her as an equal, let alone another sentient being. When she made mistakes, she was corrected. When she succeeded, might be corrected less. There would be weeks he'd begin hunting her at random and, when she survived, he'd return to 'usual' training. He went MIA during the rebellion's final move, and most of the republic considers him dead. Nyxram remains unconvinced.
UNNAMED BROTHER:
Nyxram only has memories of one sibling: the brother she eventually killed. Their relationship was, in a word: complicated. They were often pitted against each other for basic needs, and they weren't permitted to speak to each other. As a result, they developed their own, silent way of 'speaking'. It was a strange, tense bond, but it was the only bond Nyxram ever really had. After she killed him, she began experiencing a strange, hyper-awareness that she hadn't before. Death's breath on her skin in the split second before it struck. A part of her believes she's haunted by her brother. That, whether out of a strange love or justified malice, he won't allow her to die. After an exchange with Traximus on the Trebai Archipelago, Nyxram gave her brother the only thing she could: a name. "Zomnus".
TRAXIMUS:
As a commanding officer at the time, Traximus and a small squadron was sent to examine what remained of the Federation ship Nyxram infiltrated. As he walked among the bodies and viscera, the two made eye contact. She hadn't known what she'd expected to see... but the look of abject horror and disgust shook something in her. Once accepted by Zanramon, she'd often see Traximus in meetings or storming into the throne room. She'd eavesdrop on soldiers, review mission logs, and developed a silent respect for the commander. This life, this path, was the only one she believed she had; a belief enforced by his imprisonment and smothering of his spirit. But when he escaped, she followed.
During their time in the rebellion, the two grew close. They found they understood each other in ways their comrades couldn't. Nyxram strongly believes in Traximus and his desire for a better future. Not only their people but for others across the universe. There's still tension from time to time, but the strength of their bond is clear to anyone in their presence. They trust each other with their lives.
DONATELLO:
There's unease between Don and Nyxram, though it's an unease neither of them want to have. Don's experiences during the invasion left him with heightened anxiety around triceratons, and Nyxram—having aided Traximus in bringing awareness of Don's torture to the new council—feels deep guilt and shame for what he endured. Out of the four brothers, Don was the slowest to come around to her (something he hates to admit). The two are amicable, but it's not lost on Nyxram that Don tends to stick close to one of his brothers when she or her squad members are around. This doesn't offend her, and she's careful to keep a distance unless invited closer. She's also noticed his interest in deciphering the glyphs of their written language. It's an ancient system but one she's confident he could learn.
LEONARDO:
Nyxram and Leo get along well enough. They can collide, however, when it comes to topics of moral and honor. Where Leo will give an enemy the opportunity to walk away, Nyxram will near-always take a kill-shot. She sees a lot of Traximus in him; though she may disagree with his methods, she respects them. And while they never interacted during the turtles' time on the Homeworld, she still felt something had changed when they met face-to-face for the first time. A metal plate covered his shell, just behind his scarred shoulder, and, while very much still there, his confidence had grown quieter. Whatever harmed him, it'd failed to steal away his kindness and warmth. A true show of strength, inside and out.
MICHELANGELO:
For all Mikey's showboating, Nyxram is rarely irritated when he begins bragging about his championship. She'll refer to him as 'Young Champion' from time to time, even appearing endeared when he puffs his chest and beams. It's an unexpected response to say the least, given her disdain for tournaments such as the Battle Nexus. This exception may be due to the circumstances of Mikey's rematch. That he not only prevailed when rules and safeguards failed him, but also that he showed mercy to the coward responsible. The fight he won was true, his confidence more than earned. Those around him would do well not to underestimate his will and spirit.
RAPHAEL:
The relationship between Nyxram and Raph is... tense and complicated. Raph finds himself in a position where he wants to trust Traximus-- as well as Mikey and Leo's judgement--when it comes to Nyxram, but this goes against his own negative bias toward triceratons ...and the new knowledge of what they did to Don. From 'go', Raph seemed to know, deep in his gut, that Nyxram was dangerous--and dangerous in a way other triceratons weren't. Though she's done what she can to put his mind at ease, he remains at an arm's length. Pretty words and promises do little to earn trust such as his; he'll need time, action, and tangible results. Or maybe she'll never earn his trust at all. She's at peace with that. Perhaps, it's a wise decision.
MASTER SPLINTER:
Nyxram has known of Splinter, and his master before him, for some time. Though having never participated in the Battle Nexus herself, she'd often monitor it and its competitors in order to remain aware of active warriors across the universe, as well as study their skill-sets. Nyxram respects Splinter as a warrior and his integrity as a person, and she'll always refer to him with his title. When in his presence, she listens and weighs his words and advice against her own methods or beliefs. She won't always take them, but... they're considered (and that's something). Though she's never voiced it, she feels she (and the republic, itself) owes Splinter and his sons a great debt. She hopes to find a way to repay it.
GWYNETH:
What trust Gwyn has in Nyxram is entirely dependent on Mikey. She trusts Nyxram because Mikey trusts Nyxram. And even then, that trust is incredibly fragile. Nyxram is the type of person Darach would hire, and it would seem the Liáfsian's done dealings with her parents in the past. Nyxram, however, has no interest in collaborating with Darach. A choice she makes very, very clear during the short time Gwyn and the turtles shelter on Akeron.
(gwyneth's tag!)
AISLINN:
Where Gwyn is paranoid and distrusting, Ash is completely closed off. She refuses to speak to anyone outside of her twin or the turtles, and, as a result, she and Nyxram have not interacted much. Ash has only spoken to Nyxram when she's felt she needs to. It's clear that she fears for the lives of her twin and friends. Nyxram does her best to respect Ash's distance, but there are times a lack of information is dangerous. She and her men need to know what dangers lie in wait before them if they have any hope of helping, let alone getting everyone to the other side alive.
a slightly belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the always wonderful and lovely @plantdonut!!! 💛💙🌷✨ i always love drawing your gals SO MUCH. they have my heart. c:> thank you muchly for sharing them with me.
PREVIOUSLY ON:
@monebula-art's FLEETING AU FARMER'S MARKET.
.....twenty-six days lay-tehr........
i can't believe you guys--a whole cart of cabbages, sign and everything, right out there in the open and NONE OF YOU did the ONE THING you're supposed to do in the presence of cabbages. disgusted, revolted, dedicated my entire life to our lord and savior, godzilla, and THIS IS THE THANKS I GET--
