“Following its release in late 2005 and its enormous commercial success at home, Playtime Co. celebrated the opening of its new factories on the Asian and African continents by releasing regionalized versions of their Lily Lovebraids doll: the character was also renamed to “Lily Lovelocs” on the African continent. Perplexingly, the logo’s braids design remained the same.”
A quick idea for a Black Lily design I had!! I’d like to think that as horrible as Playtime Co. is, at least they’re not racist /j I had so much fun with her design, a mutual of mine gave me the idea of her laying her edges in hearts, kind of inspired by Black dolls having painted-on edges, and I had the idea of her purple hair being extensions to natural hair instead of her natural hair by itself. I did my best to accurately represent textured hair and darker skin as well, but I always have something to learn so please let me know if anything can be improved upon, I’m always open to feedback!! :D
Question do you have tips on how to write asian identity/experiences for someone who's not asian? I know "write what you know (what asian people are like to know) not what you don't know (what it's like to be asian)" but I still feel like I wouldn't be able to write it good (sorry this was worded so strange
Question do you have tips on how to write asian identity/experiences for someone who's not asian? I know "write what you know (what asian people are like to know) not what you don't know (what it's like to be asian)" but I still feel like I wouldn't be able to write it good (sorry this was worded so strange
I love going viral on tumblr.com. It’s like if you stood in a field and said some of the stupidest shit a human being is capable of and then like fifty thousand crows attacked you
Sorry for missing the last few Fridays, friends. I'm struggling with some health problems lately so I might not be as consistent with this as I'd like to be.
BTW, if anyone wants to help me make #ficfairyfriday an actual thing and use the hashtag to recommend fics based on a theme that would be really cool. Doesn't matter what the fandom, rating, or potential pairing may be if you have a specific trope or pairing that you really love think about making a rec list for it some random friday?
This week is for fics with the Batfamily either as actual cryptids, pretending to be cryptids, or just freaking out the rest of the JL by being cryptid-ish. Enjoy!
The Fic Fairy Friday Masterpost
Code Cryptid by SummerKnight717
Summary:
In which Dick Grayson and Tim Drake tag team to make both Bruce and some very unfortunate kidnappers regret all their life decisions. Jason Todd is definitely not the only theatre kid in the family...
Dick really doesn't like putting on the Batsuit, thank you very much. So when he has to, he is at least owed some fun in it...
Momo's Notes: Let's start out with a bit of humor, shall we? Tim and Dick team up to be unhinged as always and convince a bunch of Gotham goons that the Batclan are inhuman monsters. Bruce regrets everything that led to this moment lol.
when in gotham: don't drink the water by wesslan
Summary:
In Tim’s defense, there had never been anyone around to tell him not to drink the water.
All in all, Tim thinks he turned out quite alright. All things considered.
-
or: Tim grew up drinking Gotham's tap water. He developed some weird abilities as a result. Bruce, Dick, and Jason react.
Baby Birds and Bat Caves by IzzyMRDB
Summary:
Gotham was built on a cave system. Batman has referenced a Bat Cave before. Tim is currently in the cave system. He is in the cave system that he entered from Drake Manor. Drake Manor is right next door to where Batman- The Bruce Wayne- lives. Holy Cavern, Batman! Tim had just accidentally wandered into the Bat Cave’s cave system.
OR
Tim, having found a weird hole after a storm, decides to go exploring ignoring the fact that This Is Gotham and They Probably Have Cursed Stuff Down There.
Luckily, it was just a cave system that spans the entire Gotham underground. Unluckily, Tim is a very curious child.
Momo's Notes: Both of these have a similar premise so I'm including them together. Tim's neglectful upbringing basically raising himself causes him to make some... questionable decisions that horrify the Batfam because every average Gothamite knows you NEVER drink the water/enter the caves beneath Gotham because that shit CHANGES people. Cue oblivious cryptid Tim!
The Rest of Forever by raven_of_hydecastle
Summary:
Everyone knows the Bats are talented. Despite not having powers, they're the best of the best. But the Bats will tell everyone that's just because they've been doing this a very long time.
It isn't until Kon wonders how long Tim has been seventeen that he realizes how literal that is.
Momo's Notes: This is short and sweet but I just love the idea that the entire Batfamily views the JL's aging as a skill issue.
shadows, shortbread, siblings & other stolen things by RoyalRampionEngineer
Summary:
Tim turned around. Robin's shadow was still anchored to his feet, giving him finger-guns. Tim slumped down, and the shadow made to pat him on the back.
"You're going to get me thrown in Batman's secret prison," Tim muttered to it. The shadow, of course, did not reply. It did pick up the street cat shadow, cradling it in its arms.
"Fine!" Tim threw his hands up. "But you're at least going to help me study vocab if you're sticking around."
...
Or, Tim accidentally steals Robin's shadow.
(I think you know where this leads)
Momo's Notes: Tim accidentally steals Robin!Jason's shadow and can't give it back because shadow Jason takes one look at this insane eldritch child with no supervision and adopts him.
More Precious Than Gold by Drag0nst0rm
Summary:
Most dragons sleep on their hoards.
Bruce's hoard sleeps on him.
Or: Bruce is a dragon. Predictably, he hoards orphans.
Momo's Notes: This is a fantasy AU but Bruce is an actual dragon who hoards children so I'm counting it lol. The unique dragon lore in this is really fun with the effect being hoarded has on living humans.
robin reptile by awonderofworms
Summary:
Superman streaks up into the air, singular and alone, a whole group of alien beasts already making a beeline for him - and Cassie can’t help but tighten her knuckles. Big Blue is floating calmly, almost at odds with the foreign shrieking and howling around him, all aiming to rip him into shreds.
But he’s not planning to fight, Cassie realizes. Which means… he’s bait.
But for who? Who’s stronger than him, strong enough to have Superman trust them like this, in the fight?
As she’s thinking, trying to fit the puzzle that seems unsolvable - Superman tilts his head, minutely, something like a smile on his face, and disappears into the sky.
A roar splits the heavens.
OR
Robin - and his family - have this secret that they don’t reveal to anyone, until the very (nearly) end of the world.
Momo's Notes: Let's keep with the dragon theme for a couple fics, yeah? This one is from Wondergirl's point of view of the Batfam letting go of secrecy to save the world. I love the Core Four friendship on display, here.
My Teeth Are Like Swords by Titans_R_Us
Summary:
Tim waits under the huge clock at City Hall for midnight. He doesn’t know why all city halls like to sport a giant clock like it’s all the rage, but whatever. It seems like the best place for a bit of melodrama. (Besides, he’s taken tips from the best drama queen cough starts with a ‘B’ and rhymes with juice cough). The hand strikes the top and the clock booms, each gong vibrating his body underneath the clock face and finally—finally—Tim turns eighteen.
And Tim Drake Wayne gets what he’s been waiting for.
Momo's Notes: Okay, technically this fic is listed as unfinished but I think that's an accident because while there's other places the author could take it if they ever come back to it, the story as it is FEELS complete to me and has a fully finished story arc of Tim hiding what he is, inheriting his power, and the family learning about it and accepting him so I'm going to include it. Bonus points for the Tim vs Ra's bits in this. I can never get enough of these two trying to outwit each other.
What's worse than a bat? A CHILD. by Beryllium_4
Summary:
The Justice League being convinced the whole of them are demons for a fic.
Batman not doing anything to clear the misunderstanding.
Momo's Notes: The JL are under the impression that the entire Batfamily are literal demons but it's the kids that are the most terrifying.
You, Me, and the Humanity in Between by JUBE514
Summary:
Bruce doesn’t know what’s wrong with his child, but he’s pretty sure kids aren’t meant to work like this.
From the day he had looked up into the tops of the circus tent and saw a frightened mirror image of a boy who had just experienced the worst day of his life, Bruce had instantly gone into emergency mode.
The Gotham PD had wanted to pass the boy off into the care of the circus. The circus had mumbled underneath their breaths about superstitions, about not having a boy like that with them, about not being able to handle something like Dick. So GCPD, not knowing what to do, had started talking about one of the handful of overburdened boy homes that handles a majority of Gotham’s unlucky orphans.
All the while, the camera lights flash bright and loud, wanting to know everything.
Bruce couldn’t let that happen.
Not then, not ever again.
--
Bruce is trying his best to protect the city that he loves. He doesn't know how exactly his Robins came to be- they're not fully human, not even at all. All he knows is that he wants to keep them safe.
Momo's Notes: This fic and the next one you may recognize from other Fridays but you may have noticed that I don't mind including fics on multiple lists if they apply to the theme since not everyone will want to check out every list. This remains one of the most unique magical creatures I've ever seen in a fic. All three eldest Robins are magical beings that eat emotions stored in sentimental objects. Isn't that so cool?
Loading and Aspect Ratio by JUBE514
Summary:
So, it didn’t start out like this.
Alfred would scoff at the statement, about how Bruce was trying to justify the whole situation to himself. It had started out as a simple design, black everything with black outlines and black hood. It got a little more intense as the world went on, got wind of his ghost on the streets, and became scared of The Bat . So Bruce got a little more creative with it, Alfred and him had a good laugh over the name, the scare, and Alfred had a vicious streak of humor that he had passed onto his ward-
So now the suit had a visible bat-theme, an insignia to drape in the shadows and to paint across the streets of Gotham.
It only took a year into the whole charade of heroism for Bruce to overhear a conversation between some goons- some low level thug hired by the Riddler this week- about nothing at all pertaining to what the hell the Riddler was doing in the sewers but instead:
“ The Batman can fly, you know, I’ve seen his wings.”
--
A world where nobody has wings, but people think they do, and that changes everything.
Momo's Notes: Another fic where the Batfam aren't actually cryptids but everyone believes they are (or to be more accurate for this one, believes they're metas). Bonus points for really adorable SuperBat and the brotherhood between Tim, Dick, and Jason.
Bat Out Of Hell by arguablysomaya
Summary:
Five times the Bats are weird, and one time that weirdness saves the world
Or, the Bats are weird, everyone that’s even remotely aware of the superhero game knows this. But, odd as they are, they’re still humans. Which is why it should probably be impossible that they’re such forces of chaos. And when they’re all together? Well, most people are just glad they’re on the good side.
And they are.
Mostly.
Momo's Notes: Okay so hear me out on this one. The Batfam aren't cryptids and no one mistakes them for being one but they're all so damned WEIRD and abnormal from an outside perspective that they might as well be. Bonus points for entire chapters in both Cass and Duke's povs!
one thing I haven't gotten critiqued on yet but that I can see looming on the horizon, is that I really like to have main characters who are non-human and autistic-coded. and I've seen the conversations about how it's not actually all that validating to have "autistic rep" if the character in question is just an alien or a robot or whatever, and I actually do agree with that (for real!), but unfortunately I want to be a creature so so bad, I just really really want to be a creature. or like a little gnome or bug or something. so a good number of my autistic self inserts will just be awful fuck ass creatures and I apologize for that.
i dont consider myself a 'fashion guru' by any means but one thing i will say is guys you dont need to know the specific brand an item you like is - you need to know what the item is called. very rarely does a brand matter, but knowing that pair of pants is called 'cargo' vs 'boot cut' or the names of dress styles is going to help you find clothes you like WAAAYYYY faster than brand shopping
this also goes for aesthetic or -core titles. 'y2k tank top' is going to get you resellers and fast fashion brands advertising to people looking to meet a current trend. 'thin strap crop tank top' is going to get you a diverse group of results and not upcharge you to hell and back
additionally, shop second hand when you can, second hand and thrift sites typically organize clothes by the cut and color. theyll be more affordable than a depop seller curating you a style to sell you
Speaking of your question about Plagg and Tikki, I feel like the kwamis aren't really... necessary? I mean, they work as sidekicks at times, but most of the time I feel like their role as actual gods is really null, they don't really advance the plot unless it's kwami related episode and their point as mentors suck.
It's why I prefer their PV selves, at least we can see how much they actually help. Plus, the whole reason they even enter the jewel makes me think "are all people who use Nooroo and Duusuu villains or something?"
So, I'd much rather prefer if they were this holographic animals (since I never understand why each one is considered that) over tech suits. Especially since they can't even offer advice when transformed.
(That's my opinion though, can be wrong)
Oh they really aren't. For the show, kwamis are an after thought. They're really just there to be the "anime mascot" and sell toys. They aren't included to be actual characters and powerful beings that have been around longer than humanity. Biggest show of this is that, we hardly have anything on the kwami-holder relationship outside the lead duo, and they just quickly default to "I like/love this human", and when there's multiple kwamis together, they default to a hive mentality and act like little kids.
You cut them out, you don't miss much. At most, you'll miss out on kwamis adding chaos and stress to Marinette's life, and you'd miss out on Plagg being with Adrien, which Plagg makes the most fun in the Adrien focused scenes. Take Plagg out, and Adrien just sits in his room. Though, that could be a plus cause if they want Adrien to be engaging, he'd have to DO something since there's no kwami to work off of.
Tikki and Plagg, who have the most attention for kwamis, aren't true characters either as their views and personality and actions will all come down to the whims of the writers and what they need kwamis to do for this specific episode. Like, take Tikki and her involvement in romance; some eps she will push the LS agenda or get invested in the romance, some eps she doesn't get it, or say she can't be involved as "kwamis don't feel romantic love". You got Plagg in some eps resisting the transformation cause he doesn't want to power the ring and just wants to laze around, but in another ep he'll be trying to get Adrien into action and be a hero.
So with all that, kwamis don't warrant existing in the show as they don't bring anything in or progress anything; and the bit of focus they get is often clashing with anything prior. Like, take Barkk who has 2 different personalities; you got a dutiful Barkk who is serious and diligent in Furious Fu, but then you get high on puppy energy Barkk in Strikeback. So, what's the true Barkk? Is Barkk a diligent and dutiful kwami? Is Barkk playful, warm, and energetic? Is Barkk a mixture of the two, knowing there's a time to play and a time to work?
They just don't care or prioritize the kwamis enough to establish character (though this does extend to a lot of ML characters who will have clashing actions and personalities).
I do find it to be a shame, cause I think the kwamis could've been the most fascinating aspect of ML. Cause these are beings who've been there as humanity grew and developed, and they did live through much of history and clearly have traveled all over the world and got to be involved in a variety of cultures. They should all be incredibly wise and have unique experiences to share. And given the animal motif, there could've been fun basing their personalities around animal stereotypes, and working off their symbolism and mythology.
Like, instead of no thoughts head empty, eager to be a servant Pollen, she should have been as sweet as honey, open minded, have strong values in diligence, duty, teamwork, communication, and nurturing others and all life. And if you actually successfully piss her off, she's going to be one of the scariest kwamis to face. Cause hey, bees will sting back, and in Hindu mythology, through the goddess Bhrami, bees and wasps are associated terminated evil/chaos; also actual bees will terminate a bad queen bee. So Chloe getting the Bee should have gone very differently. Could've also worked off Pollen being the only kwami to have a gender preference to what humans can use her power.
There's also a lot of potential in kwami relationships, as in mythology and fairy tales, many animals have complex relationships; some would be close friends, and some would be rivals if not enemies. Plagg and Mullo should be tense with each other and have a rivalry; Plagg and Barkk could frenemies, as well as Longg and Roaar. Plagg and Roaar could be tight as a loose nod to pair of Guardian Lions, Barkk and Orikko should be rivals with Trixx with the latter enjoying messing with Barkk and Orikko. Sass and Wayzz should be best friends, ect..
Another thing that could've been interesting, especially post Guardian Marinette, is that the kwamis all should have different views and opinions on what to do. And the chaos Marinette should have experienced is more too many cooks in the kitchen than dealing with floating toddlers. Like, take Marinette struggling whether to stay connected with her friends or cut ties to fully focus on being a hero, Barkk, Pollen, and Kaalki think she should continue to be friends with them, let them in. Ziggy, Sass, and Stompp though think she should cut ties to focus on her duty, embrace the independence. Trixx and Tikki think Marinette should try to do both, cause you need your friends, but you should also prioritize your duty. And Marinette is torn on who to listen to cause there's no easy answer.
So, should kwamis have not be included? Given the writers, yes. They don't care enough to really focus on the kwamis, and clearly can't handle all 19 kwamis that exist. But I do think they're a big missed opportunity cause they easily could've been the best part of the show given that many animals have a lot of myths, stories, and lore tied to them that could've been incorporated into the show and really make each kwami unique and fascinating.
Added some prints to the shop!:D
A lot were previously work I did for zines and other projects but now I can add them to the store!
Hope you find something you like!;)
Link here!
Chaotically Stellar @stellar-archives - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
kianamaiart
vaporwave
titsay
prguitarman
theartofmadeline
snowghoul
