An expansion of my headcannon of skykids being able to transform into the animals their masks are based off of! Typed versions of the image text and additional notes below the cut, because LORD do I have so much to say about this concept.
Image 1:
Bottom left text:
BODY is just the CONTAINER—Skykid soul is the LIGHT inside
Light takes shape of container at first, but has no one shape
Top right text:
Light grows used to assuming humanoid shape to fit container, but as a skykid strengthens their light, they remember/learn how to assume other shapes and gain the ability to mold their container to their will.
Image 2:
LIGHT is fluid, but the container is stiff and easily broken (at least at first). It takes a lot of slow, hard work to mold it, and MASKS are used to tell the container what shape to take/give the LIGHT a direction.
Skykids imbue their mask with their light so that when they wear it, it connects to them and allows the transformation to occur.
Change happens in increments, not all at once—learning to shape oneself takes TIME.
Small notes: "Small changes first" above the drawing of the two hands, and "Most stick to an anthropomorphic form" beside the fox skykid.
Additional Notes:
This process is also why Skykids are born wearing masks. Because light is fluid and has no single shape, the light of a newborn Skykid has not yet learned how to be humanoid, and is at risk of breaking the fragile body it inhabits, therefore: Megabird gives newborn Skykids a basic mask to “teach” their light how to maintain its shape inside the container. It takes a lot of effort to obtain the blank/“faceless” mask because it takes a lot of effort for Skykids to maintain a humanoid shape without the assistance of a mask.
Also potentially how the chibi mask works (in a world where chibis aren’t just toddlers/babies)—the mask tells the Skykid to be small.
The process of becoming a Morpho (workshopping the name) is long and arduous, and involves a lot of studying the animal one wants to take the shape of, before then making the mask that will guide the shape-change. Though most of the Skykids who take an animal form choose a more anthropomorphic default, it is possible to transform completely into the animal of choice, and this is often done for fun or stress relief.
Possible that the Eden cycle strengthens the body and makes it more malleable to change? Something to do with repeatedly dying and being reincarnated and becoming more familiar with/at home in the body you possess. Kinda like how exercising is just you tearing muscles in your body so that they grow back even stronger.
Masks can also of course be just masks. A lot of Skykids like to wear animal masks without doing any of the actual Becoming; its fun to disguise as a little creature sometimes!
Unlike human beings (and potentially ancestors?), who are all full of guts and bones and stuff, Skykids are pretty much all light in there, and the outside is just a shell. They can eat and drink and everything, and it’s fun, but it all gets burnt up instead of being digested or anything and they don’t need it to survive. Also how Krill work; they’re starved for light, and Skykids are full of it, but there’s this pesky little shell in the way, so the Krill have got to crack it to get the light out.
This is slightly inspired by the legends of the Selkie, with the masks being akin to the seal pelts that the Selkie wear to turn themselves into seals.
The body/container is what protects Skykids from having their light too badly damaged and allows them to walk the realms of Sky, but it is also what limits them in their ability to shape-change. In a hypothetical situation where a Skykid was completely unrestrained (i.e. pure light without a body, like we are in Orbit), they could potentially become any and every light creature available to them.
Essentially: Skykids = light, and light = all light creatures, so Skykids = all light creatures.
I’ll probably think of more stuff to add to this later, but for now that’s about it. I’m already thinking up possible animal forms for my singular sky OC lol (because even though I looked it up and that mask is technically a serow mask, it could very easily be any number of other things, like a dragon or a giraffe).
Bonus content: a little bird guy, and closeups of the random fox guy I made without their cape and hair (because I put way too much detail into parts of their outfit that weren’t even going to be visible). I’m for sure drawing them again <3
Summary: Just one aspect of how I think Joong would handle an important day.
W/C: 880
a/n: @pocketjoong Happy Birthday to you my love, my sky, my everything. I love you so much and I am forever grateful that our lives have intersected the way they did. May our lives continue to dance with each other throughout the year and many more. I hope you have an amazing day and lots of good things to come.
He either sets up something elaborate or flies by the seat of his pants. There’s no in between
Either way, he’s probably cheesy AF because he’s so head over heels for you.
He’d probably been planning this for months. I.e. he wouldn’t stop talking about it and planning it with the guys, they’re tired of hearing Joong’s perfect plan for your birthday.
He knows how much you love the pirate theme the group has, you even saved him as Captain in your phone.
You wake up and there’s an unread text on your phone. “Hongjoong is probably at the studio” you think
“Good Morning My Love, you make every day shine brighter than the last. When you see this your first gift is in the drawer.”
Mysterious
After your own morning coffee and some food, you finally decide to indulge in his games and look in the bedside drawer.
A sticky note…of course, he planned a treasure hunt… “Go to the place I see your smile light up my morning.”
He always catches you brushing your teeth in the morning.
A note on the mirror that says “Your smile is brighter than the sun.” another note next to your toothbrush.
“After you get ready head to the place we had our first date.”
This man is really about to make you drive over the whole city.
Your first date was at a cafe that quickly became your favorite place because it always reminded you of him.
“Hey!” your favorite barista saw you enter.
“I’m looking for Hongjoong actually,” you say
“Oh I saw him earlier…he asked me to give you this actually.” he handed you your usual order and on it a heart and a note. Also a Rose…
“I bought your favorites so you can start your day right. How about you come to see me where I finally asked you to be mine?”
The park for your 6th date wasn’t the most magical, in fact, it felt like the place where everyone became a couple. It was still special to you.
There was a photo on the tree by the spot where he asked you…yeah this was definitely Joong
The photo was of the two of you, he brought a Polaroid around.
The back had a message “How about that time I made you a song? Where’d we first listen to it?” and the drawing of a rose.
I’M TIRED OF YOUR GAMES HONGJOONG
Heading back the way to KQ with your headphones on, of course, you’re heading to the studio…he couldn’t just stay home and enjoy the day with you.
You’re standing in front of the building and realizing this man has made you go all over the city on your own birthday…infuriating.
Now you’re hungry so you stop for food in the 7-11 located on the bottom floor.
“Hey, y/n. Joong said you’d probably be by so he bought these for you.” the clerk said handing you the snacks.
Another Rose….
KIM HONGJOONG
You make your way into KQ running into some of the workers who knew about you and Hongjoong, they wished you Happy Birthday and handed you a Rose each saying it was from Joong…
You reach the studio and pause
He better be in there.
Nope…
Your song is playing though.
Now you’re tired and want to go home.
His computer is open and it says “I know you’re tired my love, I’m sorry for all the games, head home I promise I’ll be there.”
He’s about to be even more sorry
He’s definitely on the couch for a week, maybe a month. The pocas?? Sleep with him.
You hear a faint melody as you get to your floor.
He planned this.
You open the door and it’s like the day melted away. No longer mad he made you run all over the city looking for him…well maybe a little still
There are petals on the floor and candles. You know the standard romantic things.
There’s a song playing in the background, you haven’t heard it before but you know it’s your Joong’s voice.
“Welcome home Darling.” he smiled turning around to face you holding out a rose.
“Yahhh Kim Hongjoong.”
“I know but I had to get you out of the house to set this up.” he smiled a small twinkle in his eye.
“Sometimes you’re too romantic.” you chuckle at him.
“Hey at least I remembered this year.” he winced.
Last year was a mess with touring and everything, you couldn’t blame him for not having his head on straight.
Didn’t make it any less special he tried his best. He even flew you out to see him.
“I love you.” he smiled and took all the flowers from you.
“And just what do you have planned?” you raised your eyebrow.
“Oh just the only gift I think is suitable for you.” he dropped to one knee, box in hand.
ARE YOU GOING TO SAY YES??? HMMMM??
“You are truly a pain in my ass Kim Hongjoong.”
“But only yours.” he smiled and slipped the ring on.
“I think the members would say otherwise.
“Nah…those are our pains in the ass now.” he kissed your hand and hummed along to the song playing.
