⭐️ Kirbtober 2025 - A Month of Merriment & Misadventure ⭐️
Phwoo… another year, another Kirbtober in the bag. High fives, y’all, we made it. As usual, I’ve compiled all my 2025 pieces into one post for your viewing and searching convenience. Links to each individual post are also available under the cut, along with my concluding thoughts and comments.
This might’ve been the most challenging one yet. I really wanted to make this year's batch a good one and push myself creatively (for better or worse, haha), all while working through a harrowing handful of months filled with body pain, healthcare stress, the state of the world in general, etc. Even though I had a head start on the prompts and got everything done with plenty of time to spare... the burnout still hit as hard as it always does. That, at least, is on me. I definitely need to find a way to trim down or condense prompts next year (and fit in way more breaks for the sake of my poor wrists).
Hurdles and stressors aside, though... I did have a lot of fun this year. Learned a lot, tried some new things, made myself laugh a couple times, got to see and share a lot of other folk's amazing art along the way... A nice ray of joy in an otherwise difficult time. I even feel pretty proud of everything I’ve made this month (even the ones that weren’t my favorites). Dunno if I could've said that last year, given the place I was at mentally... But I've been getting some help with that, and I’m trying to be nicer to myself. More patient. To acknowledge the stuff I do well in addition to what still needs improvement. It hasn't been easy (I dunno if it ever will be), but, given where I am now compared to the start of the year… I think it’s worth it to keep trying. To grow and to learn. To spread joy and support and hope to others where I can until the bad times become a little less bad. To keep going no matter what. 💛
... Alright alright, that’s enough sappiness, haha. Thanks once again to Panic for providing these excellent prompts (also shoutout to @//peachsupremeart for their own Kirbytober prompt list), to the many kind folks who leave likes, reblogs, and comments, and to all the other wonderful creators who took up the challenge as well. Whether you made it through to the end, are still chugging along, or only managed a couple prompts and called it a day... please know that it makes me so happy to see so much creativity in this community. Your works - no matter the type or skill level - are just as much an inspiration to me as I hope mine can be for others! I tried to share as many as I could, but I highly recommend everyone go check out the event tags for yourselves - those being #kirbtober, #kirbtober 2025, #kirbytober, #kirbytober 2025, etc., preferably sorted by Latest so you can see this year's batches - and send some love to everyone who participated!
And, now... I must rest. See you again soon, errybody! Stay safe out there, and have a Happy Halloween! 🎃
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Prompt List by @//paintpanic
Day 1 - Heart | Day 2 - Forgotten | Day 3 - Rainbow
Day 4 - Copy | Day 5 - Fav. Character | Day 6 - Armor
Day 7 - Floral | Day 8 - Galaxy | Day 9 - Dream
Day 10 - Flight | Day 11 - Secret | Day 12 - Fav. Game
Day 13 - Blade | Day 14 - Dimension | Day 15 - Royal
Day 16 - Crystal | Day 17 - Control | Day 18 - Cutscene Redraw
Day 19 - Memory | Day 20 - Machine | Day 21 - Dark
Day 22 - Moonlight | Day 23 - Retro | Day 24 - Artifact
Day 25 - Butterfly | Day 26 - Fav. Place | Day 27 - Revenge
Day 28 - Legendary | Day 29 - Wish | Day 30 + 31 - Love + Final Boss
(ID: Kirby series fanart sketches of various Kirby characters, each with scribbled backsplashes of pride flag colors based off of my headcanons**. Clockwise from the top - Meta Knight (Bi, Demi) & Dedede (Bi), the former wrapped in his cape and perched on the latter’s arm, smiling at each other contentedly, little pink hearts over their heads. Gryll (NB) & Keke (Lesbian), holding hands and cozily sitting side-by-side on Gryll’s broomstick, along with the former’s familiars Salt, Pepper, and Sugar. Daroach (Pan, Aro) & Dark Meta Knight (Gay), the latter looming over the former and wrapping him in his tattered wings, the rat gazing up with a sharp grin and reaching up to run his claws down the side of the knight’s mask, a burning heart over their heads. Magolor (Aro, Trans) & Marx (Ace), the latter running in to wrap the former in a one-armed… one-hatted? hug, nuzzling against his cheek as the giddy wizard hugs him back, a yellow heart set against queerplatonic colors over their heads. Susie (Lesbian) & Zan Partizanne (Lesbian), the two holding hands and carrying many shopping bags, the latter looking about in curiosity as the former smiles fondly at her. In the center of them all, Kirby (Agender) leaps up with a big, joyful smile, holding up a heart filled with all the colors of the Pride flag. END ID.)
**Note that these are just my personal interpretations of these characters’ orientations/identities and may not reflect yours or even those implied in canon (they may also be subject to change given my own ever-evolving perspective). If these do not perfectly match your own takes on the characters, then that’s totally fine. I hope they bring you just as much joy and creativity as mine do for me. Part of the fun of this series it how open it is to interpretation, how so many people can see different things in the same piece of art and inspire each other thanks to those differing perspectives. Additionally, all ships shown are of consenting, non-related adult characters.
[ID: Kirby series fanart of Keke and Gryll floating together on their brooms in a lightly-clouded night sky, silhouetted against the full moon. Gryll stands on tiptoe to reach the taller witch, bracing a hand on her shoulder for balance, while Keke leans forward and gently cups Gryll’s cheek as they meet in a soft kiss, their free hands settled together on the broom handle. END ID.]
🪪 for..... all of the ships!! (unless that's too much work in which case just metadede would be fine)
Y’know what, Anon? Challenge accepted! Let’s do ‘em all!!! (Though, for the sake of my hands and my hubris, I’m keeping it to just text and simple banners this time. Hope that's all right. 👍)
10. 🪪 Do they have any affectionate nicknames for each other? If yes, what are they?
Oh, yeah, plenty of ‘em… though, I guess that depends on your definition of the word “affectionate” (this is a whole heaping helping of former antagonists and general ne’er-do-wells, after all, haha). What sounds like an insult to an outside observer might actually be an endearment, perhaps a lighthearted riff or an inside joke between the two of them, a barb once meant to sting and now used to soothe… or it could just be straight-up bullying. Good luck trying to tell the difference with this gaggle of self-important ex-villains, haha… Though, make no mistake - there is care behind those words. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, but true enough for all of them.
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Let’s start with our self-made king. Dedede, as I’m sure we’ve seen over his many iterations, has a habit of slapping nicknames onto just about anyone, be they friend, foe, or friendly rival, and his on-again-off-again sworn partner is no exception. He likes to toss out teasing little names like shortstop, small fry, sword boy, blueberry, even full titles like Sir Silent Type, Broody-McBroods-a-lot, and Lord Locks-Himself-in-a-Mountain if he’s feeling both creative and petty… though he’s not above using something unbearably sweet like Mety or darlin’ or my hero either. In those moments when he’s feeling a little more sincere (and he can plainly see it’s not the time to poke fun), the childhood nickname Blue might tumble out, usually shaped in a fond smile or thoughtful frown.
Meanwhile, Meta’s lexicon for his partner is much more clipped and practical, from the ever-useful, ever-neutral sir to standard titles like Your Majesty and Your Highness (often used more in derision than sincerity if one knows the subtleties in his tone); on those rare occasions when his decorum slips, the king’s full name or the shorthand Dee might burst out in a panicked hiss, angry shout, or exasperated sigh depending on the situation. During their better years - when their comfort and trust in each other is strong enough to weather their differences - a soft my liege might roll of the knight’s tongue, mumbled behind the steel of his mask, within the safety of his cape, or against the back of the king’s knuckles in a chivalrous kiss.
Now, how about our favorite heart-stealer, Daroach? Well, he’s a social rodent, a natural-born sweet-talker with a shorthand for just about everyone in his life, platonic, romantic, familial, or what-have-you. Whether he’s known someone for years or just met them an hour ago, he’ll probably have a nickname that suits them and proffer like a rose - sometimes lovely and flattering, sometimes lined with cutting edges. For Dark specifically, the sentiment can go either way, from slick compliments like hot stuff, good-lookin’, or small dark and handsome, to good-natured name-calling like edgy, killer, scarface, shorty, or Little Lord Anger Issues, with the occasional bud or big guy thrown in when the thief is feeling chummy (or something like jackass or soldier boy when he's not). The first thing he ever called Dark was sunshine, said in derisive irony during their first chaotic meeting so many years ago, now carrying a much more affectionate tone and personal meaning.
By contrast, getting Dark to talk at all can be akin to pulling teeth at times, and when he does, it rarely consists of anything fit for polite conversation. He certainly has none of Daroach’s creativity when it comes to nicknames (especially in midst of the rat’s incessant blathering). Most often, he’ll just default to petty insults - pest, showoff, bastard, piece-of-shotzo, smartmouth son-of-the-void, gold-hoarding prick, etc. - or statements of fact - thief, rat, captain, the chatty one in the red cape, etc. - usually said with a scowl, an eye roll, or a begrudging smirk. It’s hard for most folks to tell when the knight being genuinely affectionate or even nice… but Daroach - whom the knight has grown to trust, maybe even care about, enough to grace with the shorthand ‘Roach in acknowledgement of who he is rather than who he pretends to be - might be one of the few in his life who’ve ever really tried.
Now, if “roasting someone as a form of affection” was an Olympic sport, then these two chucklenuts would be gold-starsdamn-medalists. Magolor may choose his words with more care and cunning than some of his friends (or so he thinks), but he has no shortage of off-the-cuff “endearments” for the pesky jester that insists on living rent-free on his ship, favoring terms such as clown, joker, Mr. Comedian, bottomless trashbag, limbless wonder, freakshow, circus boy, big top blowhard, and you actual criminal to name a few, with a myriad of backhanded compliments and sarcastic remarks to sprinkle in as needed (though he knows better than to all him coward these days). His favorite is probably funnyman, a simple and accurate pull fit for most scenarios involving his riotous roommate - the last word in an argument, the punchline of a revenge-prank, a sigh muffled behind his hands upon discovering some mess or mishap Marx has made in his absence, a giggle after an admittedly pretty good joke, a quiet murmur before drifting off to sleep at the jester’s side, filled with everything he wants to say but cannot…
Then again, that’s nothing compared to a seasoned wisecracker like Marx, whose had years to perfect his craft of whip-quick, off-the-cuff, ego-crushing comedy (even if his social skills don’t always match up in quality). His jabs range from pithy & petulant to pointed & personal depending on his mood (and how hungry he is). For Magolor, this includes nerd, science boy, smartypants, poindexter, egghead, wise guy, genius (derogatory), magic man, Mr. Former Theater Kid, and the list goes on into the sunset. His favorite pastime is finding new and exciting ways to say the wizard’s name as wrong as possible, including such bangers as Magsie, Maggie, Magpie, Mago-loser, Magic Door, Magnet Store, Macklemore, Matador, Magneto, Mac Tonight, Magnanimous, Machiavelli, Montezuma, Holy Mag-trimony, and so on in increasing levels of absurdity. There used to be some well-intended ribbing about the whole Crown misadventure, too… but, after some, well, let’s just say unpleasant reactions from the wizard in question, Marx wisely decided to shelf that particular line of mischief. (After all, he knows better than most how it feels to lose everything for a little bit of power, and that ain’t always something you can just laugh off.)
Susie - being the controlling little girlboss that she is - has a nasty habit of wielding nicknames, compliments, and other terms of endearment like a weapon. She’s learned plenty about social psychology in her time as head secretary to a corporate superpower (handy for keeping one’s workforce cowed into submission), so she knows how to coat her words in sugar and smiles to disguise their more… toxic flavors of condescension, passive-aggression, and manipulation. This was no different for Zan Partizanne when she first caught Susie’s interest, first given saccharine diminutives like Zannie, sweetie, or darling, then later ones with a more personal flavor like stormy, Little Miss Thunderclap, and my favorite phone charger. On bad days, she might… project a bit onto the mage-sister, punch down with a cold smile and a sharp, spun-sugar tone, the one she uses to keep disobedient workers in line (sycophant, death-cult groupie, daddy’s little failure). It would be some time before these calculated attempts at control would start to falter, to feel petty and cruel under the growing weight of mutual respect and understanding, to eventually take on softer, more honest intentions once Susie finally sees Zan as the strong and capable General she truly is.
Zan, as we’ve seen in the past, is another character who is no stranger to bestowing nicknames as she sees fit - often frank, mocking, and overlong in a way that emphasizes how the native tongue of Popstar is not her first language. Though she is no stranger to being on the receiving end of such teasing thanks to her sisters, it never fails to elicit some kind of response from her, be it flustered offense or genuine, went-right-over-her-head confusion. Susie may have the advantage of creative subtlety, but Zan is not one to be demeaned so easily, unleashing a clumsy but confident arsenal of taunts and assertions such as boss lady, silly woman, cotton candy head, little songbird, coffee-drinking secretary, Sweet-tooth Office Lady, jambaka, and other forms of blunt-force honesty that can be very hit-or-miss depending on the situation (and which language she accidentally slips into). Genuine endearments are usually reserved for those closest to her - see Franny and Berge, for instance - and, though it takes a while for the imbalance of their dynamic to even out, Zan does eventually find a few for Susie as well - a simple Sue, an over-cutesy Susu, and a rare, unbearably heartfelt ji bastion.
Gryll and Keke - the only ones here in a relatively healthy relationship, if we're being honest - pass around pet names for each other all the time, from a casual babe or hun to a teasing dork or nerd, with the occasional gamer or weeb thrown in when they’re feeling extra silly. Gryll likes to tease their partner for being a bit of a workaholic - delivery girl, girlboss, Miss 9-to-5, Madam Postwitch, etc. - as well as for her more, er, catty mannerisms - gossip girl, Miss Priss, pretty kitty, cool cat, etc. Though, after hearing some of the things Keke’s other friends have called her behind her back (shallow, spiteful, postbitch, etc.), Gryll tries to be a bit more… mindful about keeping their quips on the compassionate side, and to regularly remind their partner how much they earnestly care about her. (If only to see how red-faced and giggly Keke gets whenever Gryll calls her kitten.)
Despite - or perhaps because of - her reputation as something of a mean girl in the many cliques she flies with, Keke knows just how to parry insults and pile on endearments with the best of ‘em (or, at least, put on enough outward confidence to make up for it). She can’t resist taking lighthearted digs at Gryll’s lackadaisical nature and near-obsessive love of games with names like sleepy head, bedroom eyes, melatonin mouth, blockhead, silly stacker, certified gamer, almost always accompanied by an affectionate nuzzle or ruffle of hair to show she means it all in good fun (though it did take a while before she learned to stop calling Gryll weirdo). On those rare occasions when the mood is tense or heavy, when she sees the bright blue of her partner’s sleepy eyes grow dull with old melancholy or unexpected strife, Keke does not joke around or hesitate, moving to take Gryll’s hands in hers (if they allow it) and be their bulwark, a steady voice to talk them through the fog or the tears or the panic, calling them little nomad and reminding them that they are strong, capable, and not alone, never alone.
Phew... aaand we're done! Hope ya'll enjoyed that, I had a lot of fun with it! Thanks for the ask, Anon! Also hey wow sorry, I know you sent this in like... July, and I'm only just getting to it now. 💦 That's my bad - I had to scale this thing down a whole bunch and put it on hold so I could take care of Kirbtober and IRL priorities first. Again, super super sorry about that ^^’ Hopefully my manically-sculpted paragraphs of silly and/or sentimental brainrot have made up for the long wait and the lack of specific visuals, haha…
Notes started 07/08/25, sketch started 10/30/25, finished 11/02/25. | Kirby Ship Ask Game (made by @//sweetandglovelyart) and alternate questions| Childhood Friends AU Masterpost | Kintsugi AU Masterpost
💘 How did Keke and Gryll meet each other in the first place?
(Ooooh, heck yeah, time for some crackship rarepair self-indulgence, let’s gooo, hehehe… ahem, anyway, shall we?)
1. 💘 What was their first meeting like/how did they meet? Was it love at first sight or did they not like each other at first?
In the CFAU, Gryll and Keke’s first meeting takes place some time between the events of KDL and KSS/KSSU, occurring not on Popstar but on an unnamed planet elsewhere in the galaxy (far enough away that the various intergalactic mishaps that happen with alarming frequency on that bright ringed star don’t even make the news, haha).
As a space-traveling witch and a nerd down to their bones, Gryll is a big frequenter of gaming conventions and similar events from all over the galaxy and beyond. This particular convention was one that they’d been looking forward to for months, having managed to score a VIP ticket for themself (and their three onion familiars, Salt, Pepper, and Sugar) as well as an entry in the Star Stacker competition taking place there. They had a blast wandering those packed and vibrant aisles, chatting with vendors and taking selfies with cosplayers, admiring walls of neat art and referential shirts and vintage tech. They saw panels featuring their favorite actors and game devs and fellow witches, even got a few autographs. They also bought way too much overpriced swag, arms piled high with discount comics and bootleg DVDs and enough cute sticker sheets to adorn their whole wardrobe of witch hats. It was a grand time all around, and that was only the first day.
Passing by the concession stands the next day, something caught Gryll’s eye: the familiar cover of one of their favorite mangas, set beside a white-haired witch with cat ears and a swirly hat talking animatedly over her salad. Always ready to talk shop with a fellow geek, Gryll walked right up to the young woman’s table to ask about her book, curious to know her thoughts on the story, the themes, the movie adaptations, etc. The woman - introducing herself as Keke - seemed perfectly happy to converse with this random stranger covered in stickers and stinky little onions, gushing about what turned out to be her favorite manga as well. The two of them got along famously, diving into a long and engaging discussion of all manner of topics both nerdy and mundane all through lunch. Salt observed Keke with idle curiosity. Pepper eyed her with jealous suspicion. Sugar slept through most of the conversation.
Eventually, the two witches took their conversation to the showroom floor, walking down the aisles together with the onions trailing behind. Here it was time for Gryll to gush about their favorite game: Star Stacker, explaining excitedly to Keke how they’ve been playing it and other games like it since they were a kid, even going pro with it. To their shock, Keke seemed… unimpressed, saying with a shrug that she’s not all that interested in Star Stacker, unable to see the appeal in “piling a buncha blocks around.” Gryll - not about to let that stand - turned on the spot and made a determined promise to show Keke just how cool and exciting their favorite game was, even betting that they’d win first place in the tourney that day. Keke was skeptical but decided to indulge the quirky little witch anyway, even sweetening the pot by offering to take Gryll on a coffee date should they both impress her and win the competition (like there was any chance of that happening).
… Well, one thrilling rise through the Star Stacker high-rank league later, Gryll stood before a thoroughly surprised Keke, a confident smirk on their face, a first-place trophy in their hand, and another heart-pounding victory under their belt. Feeling brazen, they’d give her a wink and asked, “Soooo, about that bet?” Keke scoffed at the other witch’s extremely dorky bravado… but could not hide the smile that tugged along her lips, nor keep from admitting that they did indeed make piling a bunch of blocks around look pretty fun.
(The date goes well, in case you were wondering - the first among many. From it sprouts the buds of a sweet and genuine friendship, not perfect but not needing to be, with love blooming slowly and comfortably alongside it over time. 💕 )
Sketch started 06/25/25, sketch finished 06/30/25. | Kirby Ship Ask Game (made by @/sweetandglovelyart) and alternate questions | Childhood Friends AU Masterpost
