Behold my Splatoon inspired Idol AU, it has many holes in it and exists just because I think the themed voting system from Splatoon would be funny with the Plasma concept slapped on it.
Instead of a cult we just have unhealthy idol practices now, surely that won't end badly for anyone involved. There is no plot, just a bunch of snippets of random interactions so far.
N is supposed to represent "truth", and this mostly just manifests in people thinking of him as more genuine. He typically speaks first when announcing different topics, and is the designated leader of the duo. Being raised into the role, he's a bit awkward when it comes to non-scripted interactions, but his fans seem to think it's part of his charm.
Colress is meant to represent "ideals", though it differs from person to person on how this might apply. He clearly has past experience as an entertainer, even if no one has been able to dig up his past, and he uses it mostly to subtly assist N when he messes up. His exact personality is hard to nail down, seeing as he doesn't speak much unless prompted, but fans like to make up their own interpretations and run with them.
I have a few more ideas in no particular order below the cut if anyone might be interested in those.
+ I haven't decided if their group name is just Plasma, or if they might have picked something different when taking the idol approach. Ideas still pending.
+ Alongside idol activities, they also host monthly polls where they encourage their audience to pick from one of two themes to side with. N and Colress also pick sides, which usually influences the results somewhat significantly. Whichever side wins usually decides the theme of the next song, even if it’s a little abstract.
+ Still trying to figure out the timeline, but I'm thinking it starts in the BW1 timeframe, and continues operations up until BW2, where it then falls apart. They gradually build up popularity over the course of two years, kinda like the lifespan of the Splatoon games, and then the cult beliefs start to overtly bleed into the performances. There had always been traces of it, but as the fanbase grows it starts to get less subtle.
+ N was raised for the spotlight, but he still struggles with normal fan interactions that don’t go according to his training. His fans find it endearing, as they see it as him just being unaccustomed to attention. He’s also a bit too honest when answering questions, and thus several interviews exist out there where Colress has to cover his mouth to stop him from saying something questionable (such as revealing he’s never done basic childhood things on account of his upbringing).
+ Colress’s past history with the entertainment industry is largely unknown. Fans only know vague details on account of things N has accidentally mentioned. Any searches into his background don’t reveal anything, which only makes people want to figure it out even more.
+ N is 20 when the group formed, although he was supposed to debut at 18. Contract complications are believed to be the reason for that. He was doing a bit of promotional stuff before then, so it was surprising to some that he appeared in a duo and not as a solo artist.
Colress is listed as 25 on any sites that mention his info, but it’s a bit of a running joke that he’s actually way older simply because N keeps making odd observations about it. Even Colress seems to have trouble remembering what age he’s supposed to be, as he noticeably pauses anytime he has to mention it.
For anyone wondering, his real age is 33. It wasn’t his idea to lie about it, it’s just something more to add to the “idealistic idol” image.
+ N and Colress are supposed to be on a specific diet to help keep them in good shape, though Colress regularly snacks on junk food throughout practice. He’ll share with N, but it’s hit or miss if N accepts anything. Fans have seen Colress with cheap coffee on multiple occasions, there’s actually a counter for it.
+ If you catch them in their off time, you might notice their dynamic shifts. N is a lot less talkative, preferring to listen, whereas Colress carries the conversation. During their active time, N is the one who primary talks with the audience, while Colress only adds little things here or there.
+ I don’t intend to make this into a story or comic, but I do have a potential story cobbled together for fun. Even if the story itself is rather dark. I can only write angst, but I don’t like sad endings, so it still ends on a more hopeful note.
I might share more for this au at a later time, but for now, I think that’s all the basics covered.
Also, let it be known that I based some of Colress’s design off of Hatsune Miku’s append design, hence the “tie” that isn’t fully attached to the outfit (official art below)
