#sugarstrawbpost

[sugared-strawberry]

Why Not Me? | Illustration | EAH Strawbverse

Lore below C:

To help her acclimatize to her new environment, Cupid arrived at Ever After High the summer before her first semester. She often found herself alone since the other teens in Book-End either attended summer school or worked summer jobs. To pass the time, she would recite poetry, read about sociology, or practice archery in the school's gardens. 

It was in the garden she ran into Dexter for the first time. He had been held back for remedial knight training, but given the chance, he too slips away into the school's garden's to catch a breather. The two hit it off immediately with their shared interests and introverted demeanors. They spent much of the summer together become close friends. Over time, Cupid developed a major crush on Dexter, but ironically, she was too shy to act on them. 

Things remained this way until the beginning of the school year and the arrival of Raven. As soon as he laid eyes on her, Dexter was smitten. Cupid, thanks to her powers, realized not only this but also the fact that Raven liked him back. Caring for them both, she doesn't want to interfere, but she secretly hopes that their attraction eventually fades. 

For those curious: Cupid's hand shows her monstrous form as a nod to her having to hide her true feelings like she hides her true appearance.

[sugared-strawberry]

I've recently have gotten into making an Ever After High AU! Putting my own spin on things. I made this to test some designs I made for the girls. C:  From left to right: Cerise, Raven, Cupid, and Duchess.

[sugared-strawberry]

Reflections of the Future and Past | Illustration

In all, I'm pretty happy with how this piece together! I really like how the poses came out. The mirror effect was fun, but challenging — definitely room to improve!  I wanted this piece to be interpreted three ways! The first being the obvious: Raven trying to reach out to her mother while the Evil Queen is reluctant to accept her daughter. The second being: Raven hope for herself cracking, seeing a glimpse into her destined future of being a powerful but lonely queen. The final being: the Evil Queen's distorted view of her past, hurting herself from being so hopeful. 

A notable change in the Strawbverse AU is how the previous generations react to their destinies. I wanted to show that the struggle with destiny has been going on long before the current EAH students. One way I have done this is to change how the Evil Queen views her destiny. While she the model of villainy now, she wasn't always. Like Raven, she didn't want to be evil nor is she inherently. For a while, she believed she could dodge the pain and punishment of her destiny. However, manipulation and fear made her lose hope. Coming to this conclusion, the Evil Queen's final act of defiance was to hide baby Raven away in small village, so that maybe she could avoid the same fate.  In the present, things have become a lot more complicated. Raven has been found and is being groomed to become the next Evil Queen. The Evil Queen accepts this, if only because she has succumbed to inevitability of destiny. She is bitter and jaded for a lot of reasons — particularly right now because any hope for her daughter has been squashed and that same daughter foolishly believes that things can change. Whatever the Evil Queen believes, that won't stop Raven from trying to save her estranged mother.

[sugared-strawberry]

Apple of My Eye | Illustration

Apple and her mother, the previous Snow White, share a positive but not particularly close relationship. Snow believes that her and her queendom's success are a fulfillment of her destiny. Wishing her daughter to enjoy the same success, Apple was groomed to be a prime candidate for the next Snow White. Upon her selection to be the next Snow White, training efforts doubled so she could play the part perfectly. Apple is seen as an heir rather than a daughter, leaving tender and vulnerable moments between the pair few and far between. Both are content in the relationship yet to realize it potential detrimental impacts.

For this piece, I was inspired by mid-sixteenth century aristocratic portraiture. I thought this would be something that would hang up in their castle. Pardon the iffy Latin! It supposed to read "Queen and Princess - Apple of My Eye." I did my best, but it was difficult to find a trustworthy translation. 

[sugared-strawberry]

Morning Paper Meeting | Illustration | EAH Strawbverse

Blondie, Cupid, and Kitty often meet before class in one of the library's study rooms to discuss the school's newspaper. Blondie acts as editor-in-chief and main writer, Cupid writes a love advice column, and Kitty is the top anonymous contributor to the gossip column.

Blondie is naturally nosy, and because of her destiny, is encouraged to be so. Being in charge of the paper allows her to channel this habit in a more constructive way. She also uses the paper to gain prestige and status because, though she'd hate to admit it, Blondie is insecure that her friends are all nobles while she is a "commoner."

Cupid joined the paper at the behest of her roommate and friend Blondie. Since she was new to the area, Blondie and Cupid thought it would be a good way to learn and form connections. As time goes on, however, Cupid begins to question the intent behind the paper and what she is contributing to.

Kitty believes that no place is off limits for a cat nap in the In-Betwixt. Because of this, the sees all sorts of private conversations. Always one to cause a little chaos, she's happy to pass along any juicy info to Blondie's paper. She does so anonymous, of course, to keep everyone on their toes. 

[sugared-strawberry]

💠🦂💖: Visiting my sister for winter break! 😊🩷💜

💕🦇🎀: Oh my ghoul!!! Is that Mousecedes???? Is she okay?????

🌫️🔮🌒: This isn't about her 🙄

I've been working on a MHxEAH fic based on the Nutcracker. (It isn't a part of the Strawbverse!) Mousecedes, Gigi, and Whisp are important characters in the fic. This art was a silly idea that gave me a good laugh. I designed Mousecedes and Gigi cute winter outfits and Whisp a new genie outfit. C:

[sugared-strawberry]

A glimpse into some of the girls' childhoods! (They are roughly 6-years-old here.) From left to right: Cupid, Raven, Cerise, Briar, and Duchess.

Cupid's earliest memories are of her wandering alone in a dark forest. She has no recollection of her parents or if she ever had ones. Her early life was a harsh one. Originating from the "Shadow Lands," the denizens of Ever After feared her as a monster. She spent her days on the edges of villages taking food and shelter where she could. Once discovered, she would flee to the next village, starting the cycle over again. Fortunately, this would not last as she would eventually be adopted by Eros and Psyche.

Raven and Cerise grew up together in a small town within the Sable Forest. Raven was adopted as an infant by a family of blacksmiths while Cerise was born into a family of bakers. Much of the town was intimidated by Raven's intense levels of magic, but Cerise saw her as her loyal playmate instead. Their dynamic would be shaken, however, when Cerise became mysteriously cursed.

Being both nobility, Briar and Duchess would attend the same presitgious ballet classes growing up. Briar was an active child, excited to participate in anything her parents signed her up for. To their surprise, thinking it would be too stiff and formal for her, Briar took to ballet like everything else she did. She would regularly practice dance into her pre-teens until learning of her destiny to become the next Sleeping Beauty. Fearing that practice would eat up the precious time before her long slumber, she began to focus on new experiences.

Duchess had the misfortune of being born with her mother's curse, the previous Swan Princess, meaning she would have follow the same destiny of turning into a swan forever. At this young age though, her mother has yet to fulfill her destiny and occasionally turning into a cygnet won't hinder Duchess' ballet practice. (Though her honks sometimes distract the other students.)

[sugared-strawberry]

Tried a few new things with this one! I wanted to test the idea of speech bubbles looking like scrolls. Not sure that I'm in love with how it came out, but I like the overall drawing nonetheless. 

Characters are Apple and Raven!

Lore Stuff Below!

The biggest difference between the show and my au is how legacies are inherited. Legacies are not strictly bloodline in the au! Headmaster Grimm selects students based on how best they suit the needed role. For example, Raven is chosen to be the next Evil Queen because of her intense magical capabilities while Apple is chosen to be the next Snow White simply because she is a pretty good-natured princess. 

Secondly, stories are do not have to be played out note for note. Only the key points need to be met in order for a story to be considered complete. For example, Snow White can be completed as follows: - The Evil Queen must hate Snow White and drive her into hiding.  - The Evil Queen must place a curse on Snow White causing her to despair. - Snow White's curse must be lifted by third party. - Said party must defeat the Evil Queen leading to her lasting punishment.  - Happily Ever After for all but the Evil Queen.

The problem for Raven is that she is good-natured herself and has no desire to hurt anyone. How can she possibly do what is expected of her? Surely there must have been a mistake or perhaps another way for the story to be fulfilled... Apple on the other hand is happy and willing to complete her destiny. Sure, she might be poisoned, but it's for the greater good! It helps too she gets a happy ending unlike some of her peers.