#braincanons

[arumwhimsy]

In my mind Oz uses his friends as examples of how to be more like how he wants to be (more socially competent).

[arumwhimsy]

trans Brian Yu where he never has a “I’m trans” type of coming out with his family. He starts dressing more masculine, no longer answers to his deadname, starts using he/him pronouns and masculine terms to refer to himself and everyone is just like “ok” and uses them as well. They only find out his new name is ‘Brian’ because he starts writing that on the school tests he brings back.

They don’t really talk about it.

his sister is probably the first to catch on. I imagine she’s older, probably more used to taking on the emotional burden for the family so she’s more tuned in to this kind of stuff. Not based in anything in canon.

The mum’s second, I’d imagine. Maybe she’s got a “whatever makes my kids happy” mindset so she doesn’t give it much thought beyond that. My daughter is happier being my son, so he’s my son now.

his dad is last. Maybe he sees how Brian seems to be spending more time around him and copying his mannerisms, kinda using him as a guideline on how to be more masculine. Idk.

it’s kinda the same when Brian brings back Oz to their house and they clearly have something going on but they don’t talk about it. Maybe Brian has a boyfriend, maybe that ‘Oz’ guy is a friend and nothing more or less. Who knows? They’re certainly not going to acknowledge what happens when they go into Brian’s bedroom, or how the way Brian talks about him differs from the rest of his friends ever so slightly.

[arumwhimsy]

This is probably my most strangest takeaway from a dating sim but I play monster prom like a friendship sim. IMO I think the majority of the characters would not work in a long term relationship, but that might be my inability to process romance (not an aro thing I'm just kinda stupid). In my heart Calculester and Brian are those sorts of friends who aren't super close emotionally but often spend time together because they still enjoy each other's company. Brian x Oz is the closest think that I can see as a relationship and even then it's like. Queerplatonic. Like they both fulfill some sort of emotional need and for the most part make each other better (like the ideal relationship described in the symposium in a way? I guess less about the dissemination of information considering it's not like either are exactly focused on that specifically)

[arumwhimsy]

When I analyze a character I usually think of them in two distinct ways. As a person, and as a narrative device. Viewing a character in these different lenses will get different results, different ‘cores’ in which the rest of their traits and backstory and stuff springs forth from, so that’s why I do it. When we analyze them as a person, we view them as something capable of autonomy. They do this because they chose to, with a mixture of personality traits, flaws, and trauma influencing their decision. As a fictional character in a story, the reason they do this is to push the plot along, to reveal vital information to the audience which helps build suspense, or whatever. They're this trope, this archetype, they plan into this genre's conventions. You wouldn't say that about a real person, but it's appropriate when analyzing media to consider this- especially when it comes to genre fiction or satirical media such as Monster Prom.

I say this because I had a thought in the shower about Brian Yu that doesn’t really make sense from the 'narrative' (it's not the proper word to describe it but i'm lazy rn ok) perspective when you consider MP's writing style, tone, what it parodies, the conventions they play into, but I'll explain it anyways.

From a personality perspective, I think the core of Brian’s character is contentment. A defining part of his worldview is that he lacks major ambition, and he's fine with that. From that, you can see how his other traits would spring forth. It's because he's content with what he has and feels secure enough that it wont go away that he's ambitionless, that he's chill. He’s aware of his flaws (social ineptitude), but unlike Oz doesn’t make it a grand project to amend them.

Now I make it a point because from a narrative perspective (or at least from a "this was written by someone and he is not real" perspective) contentment is not the core of how he is written OR presented. His core trait is that he is a chill zombie, emphasis on Zombie because a fair few gags spring off from that, and I imagine his initial trait of "chill" probably came from how Zombies are often represented as lethargic in media. As he got more developed with the Hitchhiker DLC, I think they pulled him more into the 'slacker' archetype with his comedic archetype being more like the everyman, the guy who happens to have strange things happen to him.

Of course, there are things that make it so he isn't JUST an archetype, like how he can absolutely be driven- especially when it comes to sports (being athletic is rarely a trait you see with the 'slacker' archetype). His animal running gag is also unrelated to the slacker stuff and more towards the zombie stuff. It's also important to note that typical portrayals of slackers are as people who are undesirable, as sort of a living lesson on who you should NOT aspire to be. With Brian, that's not the case. and him being ambitionless isn't something to be challenged but rather a different perspective that can be helpful.

I do think that him being a PC and therefore getting a lot of his 'lines' be the generic PC lines does make it a bit harder to get a grasp on his character. On the surface level, Brian main defining trait being "ambitionless chill dude who DGAF" makes it seem to contradict with the PC's undeniable drive and thirst to date their friend. My interpretation/headcanon (since interpretation tends to be rooted in canon and uhh yeah idk if this is) is that his thoughts are on the samae level of chaotic and horny as the PC, but his presentation makes him seem more apathetic. He can be crushing hard but not show it because he's just not good at wording things right, leading him to stay quiet or try to show it through actions.

[arumwhimsy]

BRIAN X OZ DISCORD SERVER

Yeah you heard me right. Brioz discord server... Ozrian. Broz... Whatever you call it, I made it! Discuss Brian x Oz stuff.

Brian x Oz from the monster prom series fan server. | 2 members

[arumwhimsy]

Let's say I make a Monster Prom Doujinshi.

I may or may not be working on a doujinshi (I'm on outline 5 trying to get to ten before criticizing it, refining it, then making hte drafts until it's good enough and I may or may not need betareaders in the distant future). One thing that concerns me is monetization. Should the Doujinshi cost straight up like typical Doujinshis do or should I release the pages for free online but then hide exclusive content behind a paywall e.g Behind the scenes, bonus stories, proper formatting for a print release, high res version? (Assuming it's released digitally, I am capable of producing it physically but I don't think I'm popular enough to warrant that yet, maybe if this is successful) I want to make money so I can hopefully make more in the future. This isn't the sort of thing I should be thinking about but I vaguely have an idea for marketing so this is what I'm focusing on outside of.... like. actually writing it lol.

[arumwhimsy]

Assorted comics while I try to figure out how to be funny. Bear with me here as I am currently going through a painful metamorphosis, of which the repercussions for the people around me will be severe (having to endure unfunny jokes). This will build up to something great, I assure you (Brioz doujinshi)

[arumwhimsy]

Guess who's studying comedy structure so they can analyze monster prom to make yaoi. haha. I'm like a sim. Anyways Monster prom is pretty good satire I think since it's able to weave it's jokes naturally into it's characterizations (even if broadly a lot of it does use general comedy archetypes which I don't think is a bad thing exactly).