Hello there! My name is StellarChrondrite; I am a fan-artist for fandoms I adore, with a big thing for gijinkas / humanised interpretations. I also have some original stuff if that's more your cup of tea. Do not follow if you are below 16 years of age. **On hiatus on most-all platforms** - Please do not copy, trace, steal or repost ANY of my art or photos - DNI if you support AI generated art / writing / voice / music / ANYTHING CREATIVE - DNI if you are going to start/bring up drama; it's triggering - Reblog appreciator Yu-Gi-Oh! // Pokémon // Skarloey Railway // Dragons // Space // Purple
I'm genuinely debating whether or not to fully retire from any/all social media.
I haven't had any passion for Tumblr, pet sites or Toyhou.se for well over a year now. What's the point in staying when there's no joy? Not to mention at this point AI is taking over, I can't stand the internet as a whole anymore and ... I'm older and things change. I want a life outside of the web.
A bit of a rant post, I know, but it needed to be said. Not that anyone will probably care - at the end of the day I know I'm simply a stranger behind a computer screen. I'm not a big creator or some online influencer; I'm me.
I still love to create characters, I do! But perhaps the act of sharing them isn't in my heart anymore.
I dunno. As I said, I'm debating it. This is a big decision and not one I am taking lightly.
Until I make my decision, I will remain on hiatus on all platforms.
Summary: Two times when Skarloey tries on sunglasses, and how views can change even over a century later.
Author's Notes: Oh look, I did some writing.
I just wanted to slip some sunglasses onto Loey and Neas, and ended up writing this. I like it, so I hope you do too!
Original tags have my thoughts regarding time and world setting.
“Hey, Rheneas!”
Rheneas was wrenched from his thoughts, wondering why on earth Skarloey would be calling to him. He was very tired from the day’s excursions and he really didn’t feel like talking to him.
But … they were still brothers. And nothing would change that fact.
Reluctantly, the younger engine looked up at his elder brother -
“What … in blazes?”
To say Rheneas was taken aback would be an understatement. He was utterly baffled at the sight that stood before him.
Skarloey was standing on the track next to his, a cocky smile gracing his lips. Upon the bridge of his nose rested a pair of dark tinted glasses, with a second set of lenses flipped outwards to reduce glare from the sides. He was practically beaming with pride, his teeth glinting in the light.
“Well?” asked Skarloey proudly. “What do you think?”
Rheneas was stunned. And not the least bit impressed.
“... why …?” he managed to splutter out.
Skarloey’s wide grin faltered and descended into a scowl. “Oh come on, you fuddy-duddy,” he huffed. “These are cool, right? The humans seem to like wearing them, so why shouldn’t we?”
“Skarloey, I’ll be honest with you,” sighed Rheneas; if he'd had a head he would have shaken it. “They look ridiculous; I suggest you get your driver to take them off.”
Skarloey’s eyebrows furrowed and he let slip a growl. Behind the lenses, his gaze shifted to the tracks. “I should have known better than to ask your opinion,” he grumbled, puffing past his brother and into the shed.
“For Lady’s sake, Skarloey!” exclaimed Rheneas, exasperated. “You asked for my opinion and I gave it. Just because I don’t agree with you does not give you the right to get all huffy about it!”
“I’m not listening! La-la-la ~” came the childish reply from the shed.
Rheneas rolled his eyes. “You’re such a lump of coal,” he muttered to himself before rolling back to join his brother.
-----
In the present day, Rheneas was busy shunting some empty trucks into a siding at the Depot. He carefully pushed them into place, making sure they were good to go.
“Finally,” he sighed in relief. “Every truck is where it should be.”
He was just steaming out of the siding when a familiar voice called out to him.
“Oh Rheneas bach!”
Skarloey came puffing into the Depot, and as Rheneas looked at his brother he couldn’t help but get a sense of deja vu. Memories suddenly flew into his funnel when he saw what the older engine was sporting.
A pair of black, thick-rimmed sunglasses adorned Skarloey’s face, the shiny finish glistening in the sun. A huge grin was plastered all over his face and his eyes twinkled with glee behind the dark lenses.
“Well?” he asked, relishing the shocked look on his brother’s face. “Give me your honest opinion. Do you like them?”
Rheneas cracked a smile, chuckling as he did so.
“You really want my opinion?” he repeated, not unkindly. “They still look ridiculous.”
Skarloey pretended to look hurt, but a snort escaped his lips and he couldn’t help but smile.
“However … they’ve grown on me,” continued Rheneas, chuffing forward. “They do suit you, now that I look at them.” The corner of his mouth tilted upwards to form a smirk. “They cover up those old eye creases quite nicely.”
“Hey!” Skarloey cried out indignantly. But he knew Rheneas was only teasing. He laughed again, and Rheneas joined him.
“Fancy a pair of your own?” the crimson saddle tank offered jokingly.
Rheneas feigned deep thought for a moment before replying, “You know what? Sure.”
Skarloey beamed as his fireman hopped out of his cab carrying a second pair of sunglasses. Rheneas hadn’t actually expected his brother to have a spare pair, but he couldn’t go back on his word now. With a chuckle, the fireman slipped the black pair onto Rheneas’ face and hopped back into the crimson engine’s cab.
There was a brief moment of silence before Skarloey began to laugh uncontrollably.
“Well don’t we look a right pair!” howled the older engine, tears of mirth falling down his cheeks.
“A pair of loony engines, you mean!” sniggered Rheneas before he, too, descended into a fit of laughter.
To the rest of the fleet the two old engines looked to have lost their marbles, but Skarloey and Rheneas knew the truth. They couldn’t help but laugh at their memories and at the fact that, even after so many years, they could be just as silly as ever.
A new self-discovery - from July to whenever it reverts back to something else, my fandom interests switch entirely to the Narrow Gauge engines. Summer just seems to draw me back to the Skarloey Railway every year and they genuinely help my mental health so much.
I know two years ago my obsession was Rheneas, with a side order of Skarloey, Talyllyn and Dolgoch. Last year I think it was between Rhen-Rhen and Peter Sam. This year it's purely Sir Handel. Why? Because he's an arrogant, pompous, egotistical little cactus and he is so much fun to write/draw.
Update: I'm still in love with these little but incredible characters, so much so that I just don't have the motivation to draw a Kaiba birthday pic this year (LE GASP)
Truth be told, I haven't felt the YGO love for a long time now; I'm simply not interested in it. My heart belongs with the narrow gauge engines.
Seven straight years of birthday pics is impressive for me - I'm proud of it.
