Nova Stormhttps://www.tumblr.com/straitjacketzz/710026461197877248/please-make-more-chibifurs I want to see "chibifur" take off as a term so I can actually find characters like these (and people who enjoy and make them) more easily
Austin Dern, Dean of Coatis@NovaSquirrel I would be happy to be a chibifur but I do need a _lot_ of nose.
scout@Austin_Dern @NovaSquirrel do you have a reference you especially like? that sounds fun to doodle if you wouldn't mind me doing so!
@scout @NovaSquirrel Would be most flattered if you found it fun! I think my not naturally chibi look is one of Akaji_Yui's pictures,
@Austin_Dern @NovaSquirrel here's some ideas i had! it'd be fun to tweak one to where you like it (or find a different idea!) and draw a colored version :3
@scout @NovaSquirrel Oh, goodness, those are all adorable!
The hand puppet is adorable and the pinball angel just brilliant. I think the hip-winged is the most chibi, though, the one most naturally in line with Nova's vibe.
@Austin_Dern @scout Yeah I tipped off scout and told them you like pinball haha. I don't think matching my vibes specifically is as important as just embracing whatever kind of small silly critter is fun for you, which of course in my case is "magical girl animal companion"
@NovaSquirrel @scout It's a good tip; pinball is a big side of my life and it's very under-represented in pictures!
I'm not sure what precisely my chibi side is, although I do feel like animal companion who's urbanized but not domesticated is the neighborhood.
@Austin_Dern @NovaSquirrel "urbanized but not domesticated" is a big mood!
@scout It really matches this ... feeling I have, where I like there being big robust communities and being around them but not sure I want to be part of them, you know? Like, this is a good thing, but that's not the same as good for me.
@Austin_Dern forgot to reply to this one but that's interesting to hear from someone (at least in part) maintaining a community! but i think that feeling is part of why i like foxes so much - they're around, but not necessarily part of, what's going on. "you probably can't go and pet that, but maybe somebody could"
@scout No problem and you see how I am about responding to things that need a little thought.
But yeah, it is odd that I put so much effort into building and sustaining a community --- and that I've always felt like a species that can be described as "raccoon with a social structure" --- but I guess that's just the contradictions of life.
I do feel like communities are generically good things, providing comfort and support and shelter, but I also know they're only good when they are providing those things and that everyone's needs for them will vary. It's always context always making things complicated.