Just because they've been in my sketchbook a long while and I haven't done anything with them since they didn't really turn out the way I wanted...here are a few unfinished doodles I've done over the last year!
Starting with the top left, we have Carewyn and Merman!Orion, as referenced in that one short Mermay AU I did a year ago with Carewyn as a performer on Coney Island --
In the midst of Carewyn singing this song, however, the other four members of the Circle of Khanna were startled to realize that the Manta – who’d been curled up out of sight in the tank at the far corner of the stage – had actually gotten up off the ground and floated up to the top of the tank, sticking his head out above the water and resting it down on his arms perched on the edge of the tank so he could listen. His eyes had even drifted closed while Carewyn was singing, as if relaxing. And when Carewyn stopped singing and actually looked up at him, his black eyes softened noticeably, and he nodded slowly and approvingly.
On the top right, we have an unfinished 10-year-old!Jacob, 2-year-old!Carewyn, and the old Bach family cat Ella under the Christmas tree, as referenced in this one short fic I did earlier this year around Father's Day --
As Jacob told the story [of Hansel and Gretel], he took every opportunity he could to make Carewyn laugh, putting on his best imitation of his snippy English teacher when reading for the woodcutter’s wife and a cackling, “old-lady” voice for the witch. It entertained both Carewyn and Jacob greatly. Carewyn liked the first story so much that Jacob went on to read two more – Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella – after which Carewyn started to nod off. Her head drooped down onto her brother’s shoulder, and Jacob smiled fondly down at her before, taking care to avoid Ella the cat, he slid both himself and his little sister out from under the tree and scooped her up so he could carry her upstairs to bed. The old Siamese cat proceeded to follow Jacob and Carewyn upstairs, only breaking off once Jacob had put Carewyn to bed and closed the door.
Next, on the bottom left, we have Jacob's usual look while working as a barman for the Three Broomsticks, as referenced in this drabble I set during Carewyn's seventh year. (I didn't finish this one because seriously, Jacob, your muscled arms will be the death of me.)
The bottom middle obviously is Ghost-Bride!Carewyn from my Haunted Mansion AU, featuring the infamous clock featured in the original ride -- I'd been visiting Disneyland on one of my days off work that day, and while re-riding the Haunted Mansion (my personal favorite ride), I started drawing her in the queue and then finished her up while eating lunch at the Golden Horseshoe. I actually got a few families looking over my shoulder both in the line and at the restaurant watching me work, which made me blush! XD
And finally, thanks to some asks and prompts earlier this year making me remember how much I love him, the bottom right is my Marauder Era boy Ed Rosier and his OTL Regulus Black, back in their school days. Ed's face claim is Sebastian Stan, and when Ed was young, he used to dye his hair blond the way Seb has in some of his lesser-known non-Marvel-associated films (such as I'm Not Here). Ed did this as to better set himself apart from his older brother Evan, who Ed was constantly confused for, due to the two brothers' strong visual similarity, as well as constantly overshadowed by. It was only after losing Regulus, being disowned by his family, and learning of his brother's death that Ed went back to his natural hair color, making him much more resemble Seb as Bucky Barnes. Regulus's inspiration for this sketch was everyone's favorite fancast for him, Timothee Chalamet, even if personally I imagined Regulus having straight hair and looking much more like Skandar Keynes while originally reading the books.
"Sorry, but I've had enough of running away, Sophie. Now I've got something I want to protect -- it's you."
x~x~x~x
Another installment of the "Halloween costume" sketches where I dress one of my MC's as a character from one of my favorite animated movies! This time, I'm giving some long-delayed love to my Marauders Era boy-band member, Edmund "Ed" Rosier, by dressing him up as Howl Jenkins-Pendragon from Studio Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle!
Of Ghibli's work, Howl's Moving Castle is actually not in my top three (those would be Whisper of the Heart, Castle in the Sky, and Kiki's Delivery Service), but that doesn't mean I still don't really enjoy it. My favorite aspects are the music, the overall aesthetic, and, of course, the two main characters, Sophie and Howl -- and honestly, as soon as I thought of Howl for this prompt, I realized that he was 120% a perfect fit for Ed. Not only are these two both pacifistic sorts who loathe war and conflict, but nonetheless have to gain the courage needed to fight in it-- not only are they both melodramatic, but clever wizards who end up building their own "found family" over time -- not only do they both put out a very suave, charming affect to the outside world and have their fair share of romantic admirers because of it -- but Ed used to dye his hair blond when he was young, before going back to his natural darker color, just like Howl does over the course of the film!!
I hope to have other sketches for this series ready before the end of the "Spooky Month"...in the meantime, though, much love to you all! xoxo
Hi Tory!! My new favorite story of yours is the one with Tristan and Carewyn's encounter and her reuniting with Jacob! I was really touch by how you handled Tristan. He's still young and has his entire future ahead of him. The boy does have some of that toxicity from his father but he deserves much better, to be able to learn and freely discover himself outside the impregnable walls of the Cromwell Manor! I hope Tristan is able to to get his freedom from the wallow and misery he faced during the Second Wizarding War and discover his potential, becoming a productive member of society. Tristan is like that troubled kid who has made mistakes because of his upbringing, but with support and guidance from the right people, he can learn and mature into an even more wonderful individual!
Aw, thanks, Cato! I have actually really grown to like the idea of the Cromwell Clan as a whole improving after the death of Charles, and although I personally don't see Pearl, Claire, or Blaise ever completely reforming themselves, I could see at least a few of Carewyn's cousins being able to break some of those chains of abuse and toxicity -- most notably, as I've also discussed with @dat-silvers-girl, Elmer Yaxley and Tristan Cromwell, who are the youngest of the Cromwell cousins.
I've already touched on this in one of my Carewyn-centric fics, as well as in one of my fics centered on Sirius and my Marauder Era boy Ed Rosier, but Elmer ends up working in the magical music industry before he gets wrapped up with the Death Eaters against his will. After Carewyn is able to help arrange a proper defense for Elmer, he ends up avoiding further time in Azkaban in favor of community service, most of which I see being as a stagehand where he was at before, under the patronage of newly-named music producer Ed Rosier, who was once romantically involved with a reluctant Death Eater himself and so sympathizes with Elmer's position. It's largely due to Ed's mentorship and Elmer's time away from his family and with the diverse people he meets through his community service that Elmer is able to open his eyes a bit and see how much bigger the world outside the Cromwell estate is...and it's through Elmer seeking acceptance from his family after he chooses to stand by his new friends and moral stance that Claire chooses to open up a bit more to change too, all out of devotion and love for her son. Elmer's three sisters I don't see fully letting go of the old Cromwell ways or their dislike of Lane's side of the family, but they would still ultimately support their brother, however much they wouldn't "get" his new lifestyle or embrace it themselves.
In Tristan's case, I think it's more likely that he'll be able to learn the lessons Blaise just can't seem to, when it comes to earning love from the people he's so desperate to have in his life. Tristan knows at least on a subconscious level that love at its heart is sacrifice -- why else would he consistently choose to stay locked in the cage his father's kept him in and not chase his dreams, all just to make sure he doesn't break Blaise's heart and leave Blaise the way Tristan's mother did? Because of this, Tristan could start to see that the "weakness" Blaise ascribes to Carewyn for her selflessness -- a weakness that admittedly makes Blaise desperate to want to "protect" her by keeping her trapped at home like he does Tristan -- is in truth emblematic of unconditional love, like the kind Tristan feels for his father. Carewyn would do anything for her brother, just like Tristan would do anything for his father. This strange similarity makes it so that Tristan tries to engage with Carewyn more, and I think pursuing that better relationship with his cousin and confronting the idea that the way he and Carewyn feel for their family is not a weakness could really help Tristan bloom into a better person. Especially if it resulted in him finally calling his father out for his crap. I could even see Tristan one day using his position as Head of the Clan to rip down the warding enchantments and cursed gate around the Cromwell estate altogether, with the intention of stamping out the last remnants of Charles's twisted legacy.
fancasting Timothee Chalamet as Regulus and Sebastian Stan as Ed
“There had been many moons before I met ya,
And I don't know when I last put paper to pen...
And now you give me back my raison d'être,
And I'm inspired again!
And I know in some ways we're kinda evil --
Got my roots and you've got ties --
But my heart's no stranger to upheaval...
Put your little hand in mine and
Look into my eyes, baby eyes!
Oh, you make me wanna listen to music again!”
“Music Again” ~ Adam Lambert
“Has it ever crossed your mind,
When we're hangin', spendin' time,
Girl, are we just friends?
Is there more? Is there more?
See, it's a chance we've gotta take,
'Cause I believe that we can make this into
Something that will last, last forever...
Forever...!”
“Crush” ~ David Archuleta
“When we live such fragile lives,
It's the best way we survive.
I go around a time or two,
Just to waste my time with you...
Tell me all that you've thrown away --
Find out games you don't wanna play --
You are the only one that needs to know...”
“My Dirty Little Secret” ~ All-American Rejects
“You seemed so far away
Though you were standing near --
You made me feel alive,
But something died, I fear...
I really tried to make it up --
I wish I understood...
What happened to our love?
It used to be so good...”
“S.O.S. (cover)” ~ At Vance
“I've tried to hide it so that no one knows,
But I guess it shows,
When you look into my eyes...
What you did and where you're comin' from --
I don't care, as long as you love me, baby.”
“As Long as You Love Me” ~ Backstreet Boys
“Someday, somewhere,
We'll find a new way of living --
We’ll find a way of forgiving...
Somewhere...”
“Somewhere (cover)” ~ Lucy Thomas
“I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be --
A reason to start over new...
And the reason is you.”
“The Reason (cover)” ~ Chase Holfelder
“You're here -- there's nothing I fear!
And I know that my heart will go on...
We'll stay forever this way!
You are safe in my heart and
My heart will go on and on...”
“My Heart Will Go On (cover)” ~ Halocene
When Regulus Black joined the Slytherin Quidditch team in his second year, the very last thing he expected was to find a companion as loyal and supportive as Edmund Rosier. Regulus was very used to social-climbing for the sake of the Black family name, but Ed -- who was also the younger son of a well-regarded Pureblood family desperate to make his own stamp on the world -- showed him sincere friendship at a time when he’d needed it most. Before long, the Seeker and Chaser were spending a lot of time together, even off the Quidditch pitch and even despite their two-year-age-gap. By the time Ed reached his seventh year and Regulus became Slytherin’s newest Prefect, there were some rumors among the student body that the two boys were romantically involved, though the blood-purist Pureblood side of the student body almost pointedly ignored whatever chemistry the two had. Ed and Regulus themselves were also pretty much forced to bury the feelings they had for each other, as they both felt such a strong desire to uphold family tradition and live up to their parents’ expectations of them. About the only time Ed was explicit in how much Regulus meant to him was when he’d given the younger man a square locket as a token of “their bond.”
“Sure, I won’t be there with you...but well, this will. Maybe that’ll make fighting your battles alone a little easier.”
Regulus kept that locket around his neck under whatever high collar he was wearing until the very last hour of his life.
As the First Wizarding War began and Ed started into the music industry, however, the Chaser-turned-musician found himself struggling to stand by the Death Eaters and their destructive methods. Even their justification for it -- namely, to “bring wizardkind back to its rightful place in the world” -- seemed more and more unjustified, to Ed. Was this “great new world” these people saw truly worth all this death and terror? Was the world they had really so bad, as it was? And there seemed to be no plan for peace, after all of this blind destruction being done in the present...would it really just be down to everyone marching lock-step under the Dark Lord’s whims forever -- under one man forever? And yet Regulus, still finishing up his last year at Hogwarts, was still shielded from this reality and his eagerness to fight for the world his parents had always wanted made recruiting him to the Death Eaters’ ranks very easy.
Regulus joining the Death Eaters made a slight rift between Regulus and Ed -- for as strongly as they felt for each other, Ed was growing more and more uncomfortable with Regulus’s new allegiance, and on top of that, both Regulus and Ed knew that they could never have the permanent, loving relationship they longed for and Ed in particular insisted on. They knew they’d be forced to marry Pureblood women they didn’t love so as to follow their parents’ wishes -- something Regulus in particular fought with, given that as the only remaining Black son, all the expectations were now on his shoulders. And yet Regulus didn’t want to let Ed go -- with the War going on, he knew any day could be his last, and he couldn’t stand the thought of not having Ed in his life every moment. Ed knew he would probably never get over Regulus, but as he told his friend one fateful night in 1979 --
“Even in that amazing new world you see in your head, Reg -- that world the Dark Lord always raves about, where Muggles know their betters and we’ve ‘taken back’ what was stolen from us...even in that world...there’s nowhere we could live our lives together, in that world. There’s no place where we could buy a house, raise a family, and grow old together. And...I need that, Regulus. I need to know that future is waiting for me. I want it with you -- Hell knows I want it! ...But...with who you are...who I am...there’s no world I can see where that will ever be. And I don’t think you can see one either.”
Only two weeks later, Ed received the news that Regulus had been killed, supposedly for trying to abandon the Death Eaters. The news was a knife in Ed’s heart -- this man who is well-known for never crying was so lost in his grief that he locked himself up in his room at the Rosier estate for nearly a week, refusing to see or speak to anyone.
Ed’s parents, after returning home from a trip to find their younger son in such distress, were rather callous toward his feelings and instead immediately tried to rush him into finalizing his engagement to the woman they’d selected as his future wife. Ed, however, was unable to handle it. He left home with a small bag of his personal belongings, initially just to clear his head. His departure, though, was taken very badly by his parents, who put him in the position where he’d have to make a choice quickly -- come home and marry the woman they chose, or never come home again. Ed, unable to make such a choice in the emotional state he was in, was silent...therefore making his choice involuntarily the second.
As upset as he initially was by the whole ordeal, over time Ed grew more assured that he’d ultimately made the right choice to not return home with his tail between his legs. His new friends in the music industry came around to support him, letting him crash at their places until Ed had secured an apartment of his own -- and through his experience, Ed came to realize just how much he’d taken for granted financially and got to know more people from those backgrounds he’d initially scorned. He even ended up learning about and got comfortable using Muggle appliances and such, while living in housing that was in non-magical neighborhoods. And as Ed looked back on who he’d been, he realized that he’d been right about what he’d said to Regulus in a way he hadn’t put together before.
With who he’d been -- who Regulus had been -- chasing the tradition and Pureblood ideal pioneered by their families -- constantly sacrificing what they wanted for the sake of their parents, who never did the same for them...they never would’ve achieved true happiness. But maybe...just maybe...Ed had a chance now to become someone better than he was...someone who could actually know that true happiness that he and Regulus had so deserved.
Tagging @cursebreakerfarrier @nightmaresart and @kathrynalicemc since they’re also in on this Marauder Era binge 💚
🌌 MILKY WAY - what was the inspiration behind your oc? what was the first thing you decided about them?
Carewyn, as better explained here, is a fusion of my mum and myself as kids!
Jacob, as better explained here, was inspired by the stories my mum used to tell me about her late brother!
Erik was inspired largely by a friend of mine from high school who had this very cherubic face and also the largest, sassiest potty mouth of all of my friends. His name was also inspired by two of my favorite Broadway characters -- Erik from The Phantom of the Opera and Enjolras from Les Miserables (affectionately called “Apollo” in the book).
Ana came about because I thought an INFP Gryffindor could be a really fun contrast, but personality-wise, she really took influence from both myself and my dad as kids, since my dad’s a Gryffindor and I’m an INFP.
Farid, as better explained here, was inspired by both Newt and Jacob from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Yugi Mutou from Yu-Gi-Oh.
Jackson, as better explained here, was inspired by historical stage magician Harry Houdini!
Bat, as better explained here, was inspired by Garrett Denali from Twilight and Sirius Black, as well as other “Lancer” type figures like Ron Weasley and Jounouchi Katsuya from Yu-Gi-Oh.
Ru was an evolution of an idea I’d developed much earlier on of a serial killer kelpie that transforms into various forms to eat people, but over time, they developed a love of photography and film that’s largely like my own for film and television, and in doing so developed a much more sympathetic motivation and personality. Their particular feeling of isolation and wanting to be part of this world they could only watch from afar is a feeling I’ve felt off-and-on for years and evoked both Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Ariel from The Little Mermaid, to me.
Ed’s brain spark largely came down to me thinking it’d be fun to have a 90′s style boy band (i.e. Backstreet Boys, N*SYNC, 98 Degrees) in the Potterverse around the time when Harry and crew were at school. Backstory-wise, I took inspiration from Severus Snape, Andromeda Black-Tonks, and both Sirius and Regulus Black, and obviously Ed’s a Slytherin like Snape, Andromeda, and Regulus...but personality-wise Ed actually ended up taking some inspiration from Anna from Frozen! In fact, one of the character themes I chose for him as a child is a deleted song from Frozen that was originally going to be sung by Anna called More Than Just a Spare.
Desiree came about largely because of the creation of Jules Aquila @kathrynalicemc. His spontaneous, fantasy-loving personality was just so likable (largely because of how in-tune I was with it myself!), so when I was working on a character that I thought could be a fun contrast for someone like Jules, I settled on using my late stepmum as inspiration. I’m a very right-brained, sensitive, imaginative person like Jules, while my stepmum as a girl was a very left-brained, soft-spoken, modest, scientific, nerdy overachiever the way Desiree is. Like Desi as well, my stepmum had to find freedom and happiness by breaking away from her family and home and starting a new life apart from them. Desiree also ended up gaining flickers of my mum (who has always been very sensible and organized and shares a personality type -- ISTJ -- with Desi), as well as Elsa from Frozen, Luisa from Encanto, and Tiana from The Princess and the Frog. Both Kath and I have also found amusement at how much Juliree resembles Aladdin/Jasmine from Aladdin, ship-wise, as well.
Eli was largely inspired by comic film actors Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, as well as Robin Williams and Fiyero from the musical Wicked. Like Robin did, Eli struggles with severe depression, but works hard to keep a smile on so as to make others happy, and like Fiyero, he was the sort to “tune in and drop out” at school from an academic perspective, but he’s actually a lot deeper emotionally than he seems from the outside.
Bairn’s initial spark just came from me finding Brock O’Hurn and wanting to design a character that resembled him, honestly! 😂 I gotta thank @magical-retales for brainstorming a Renaissance-set storyline featuring Merlin, though...it was so much fun to take inspiration from different King Arthur storylines for Bairn’s character, like the Once and Future King series and Disney’s The Sword in the Stone. Bairn also took some cues from both Harry Potter and Charlie Weasley, being a Gryffindor orphan raised by uncaring Muggles with a longing for family and a love of nature and magical creatures!
“I'm not a perfect person --
There's many things I wish I didn't do,
But I continue learning...
I never meant to do those things to you...
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know --
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be:
A reason to start over new...
And the reason is you.”
~“The Reason (cover)” by Chase Holfelder
x~x~x~x
As one of the key vocalists and the main songwriter for the trendy magical “boy band” Spellb🔮und, Ed Rosier (often just called by his middle and stage name “Zorro” by agents and fans) puts out a very laidback, sexy persona, but he’s nothing if not ambitious. Even though he’s more than willing to play any role he has to and he’ll put in 150% of himself into his work if it’ll help him get ahead, he’s often the member of the band who stands most toe-to-toe with their managers, fighting for their fair share of the profits and for the respect due them. However chill he acts, Ed’s actually a calculating sort who has a hand in just about every detail of the band’s upcoming events or concerts and puts a lot of focus on what will please the public and the band’s fans in particular. Even his people-pleasing, amiable nature and good looks have made him a media darling, which Ed takes full advantage of in order to better promote Spellb🔮und. He truly is a fox in human skin -- mischievous, clever, and very hard to pin down. But if one looks closer, those who know Ed better might be surprised by the shadow underneath all the smirks and taunts, one hinted to in the lyrics he writes -- songs about a broken friendship, familial abuse and disownment, and a doomed young love that ended in tragedy.
Tagging @cursebreakerfarrier because Ed is nothing without his Kit 💚
Oc Asks Game: 2 and 23 for all of your MCs? If that's ok?
Whew! Okay, let's see...
Tea, coffee, hot chocolate or other?
Carewyn: Coffee! Like her good friend Talbott, she's a coffee addict to the extent her other half Orion tries to wean her off of it. Her favorite blend is a caramel macchiato, but she'll also drink it black in a pinch.
Jacob: Hot chocolate. Jacob is a chocoholic and he'll never pass up a good hot chocolate.
Lane: English Breakfast tea.
Erik: Coffee, black as his soul. LMAO just kidding. 🤣
Ana: Good old-fashioned milk, specifically skim, since it's what her mum raised her with in a misguided attempt to help "curb" her weight. She also loves orange and (thanks to her boo Charlie Copper's influence) lemon mimosas.
Farid: Juice!! This boy loves juice, especially orange juice, though he also becomes very fond of pumpkin juice while staying at Hogwarts. Also green tea and almond milk.
Ru: They'll drink most anything that isn't too sweet (they really don't like chocolate, for instance), but in the mornings they tend to like apple juice best.
Ed: Any kind of sweet coffee brew, especially if it's got lots of foam. He actually becomes rather fond of trying out new brews at Muggle coffee shops just for kicks, though one of his favorites so far is the white chocolate mocha. He also loves hot chocolate, especially white hot chocolate.
Desi: Tea! Earl Gray tea is her absolute favorite thing to have in the morning, alongside a French croissant.
Eli: Butterbeer, though after moving to the States and living as a Muggle, he also became very fond of root beer and Coca Cola. (Eli honestly has never had much respect for what drinks/foods belong to which times of the day, especially given how bonkers his schedule can be with rehearsals and the parties he'll stay up all night for, so yes, he will drink soda "for breakfast," so to speak.)
(And Jackson and Bat are here!)
What is your character’s favourite food and who cooks it best?
Carewyn: Potato crisps! Walkers makes good ones.
Jacob: As mentioned before, chocolate! As a kid he loved Cadbury eggs and Yorkie Bars, but as an adult traveling the world, he falls in love with Richart and Ghirardelli chocolate.
Lane: Pikelets! She learned how to make them at home early on and she's always loved making them for her bairns Carewyn and Jacob.
Erik: Cinnamon coffee cake! He also likes Red Hot candies.
Ana: Fresh bread, right out of the oven. Her favorite kind is German brown bread.
Farid: Curry! All kinds. One of his favorite recipes to make himself is a lamb curry with chopped apple, onion, potatoes, and golden raisins, as well as a bunch of spices.
Jackson: Crepes, specifically with strawberries and powdered sugar! He's become very fond of making them in the mornings for both himself and Monty.
Bat: This is going to sound so cliche if you know about Bat's love of Christmas...but figgy pudding. No one can make it like his mum used to!
Ru: Aaaaaaapples. This water horse will eat most anything, but they love apples. Apple pie and apple turnovers are their friend -- it doesn't take long for their other half Estrid @thatravenpuffwitch to figure this out, so she'll sometimes surprise them by going to the market and picking some up from time to time.
Ed: Cheesecake. Ed loves most pastries, but cheesecake is his OTL and it doesn't matter how cheap it is, he will always indulge in some. When he first tried Mrs. Weasley's cheesecake, he went very quiet as he ate the whole thing without stopping and he was grinning and flushed like a happy schoolboy for the entire rest of the day, he was so happy.
Desi: Croissants! Though while traveling she also tries and takes a liking to cornish pasties.
Eli: Custard. He also takes a liking to Jello, pudding, and meatballs, while living in the States.
