Kakavege Week: Day 4 — Off-World Shenanigans

🍹 Minx Mixin’ Drinks 🍹

Huevember 6 

Brolai Week 2022!!

Hey y’all, this year my friend @hayyie and I have the pleasure of moderating Brolai week, hosted by @saiyan–tales ! It’ll be April 10th through the 18th. Check out the prompts below! 

Be sure to use the tag #BrolaiWeek2022 and @ the account @brolai-week​ to get shared!

 Twitter post

Maybe we can start the new year off with some challenges. Tell me what character you want me to draw and what facial expression. The choice is yours!

An expression sheet of my own! Feel free to reblog and try for yourself! :>

(Suggest an expression and character! I’ll doodle ‘em up for ya!!)

✨❤️‍🔥Exclusive Interview with The Rejects’ guitarist, producer, and lead singer — Cynthia (formerly Cyborg Noodle) ❤️‍🔥✨

Interviewer: Hello there, Ms. Cyborg Noodle. How are you?

Cynthia: Oh, I don’t go by that name anymore.

I: Oh. My apologies, I wasn’t informed. What do you go by now?

C: Don’t worry about it too much, you didn’t know. I get that a lot anyway. I’ve been going by Cynthia more recently. Don’t know if I’ll keep it just yet but my friends seem to like it so maybe I might.

I: Well, it is a very pretty name. Anyway, shall we get started?

C: Yes, let’s.

I: Okay, first of all, let’s go back to the beginning. Tell us how you came up with The Rejects. How did this all start?

C: That’s kind of a loaded question, isn’t it? [laughs] Well, after my swift departure from Gorillaz back in 2010 thanks to Murdoc (that bastard) abandoning ship as it were, I floated along the open sea for several years. I pretty much shut down completely after the first three. Couldn’t tell you how I even managed to be alive for so long without power or spare parts, though. Guess if I were to thank my creator for one thing, it’d have to be a long-lasting battery life. Anyway, when I woke up, I realized I had washed up onto U.S soil. Well, more specifically a landfill, which in hindsight was pretty ironic. But regardless, I was saved by man who lived there alone. Apparently, he gave me some spare parts that were there as well as his vocal cords just so I could live. I had never met anybody who was filled with so much compassion for a stranger before. Then again, I was never shown much compassion in my decade long existence. So he became my friend almost instantly. We lived on that landfill for years until we managed to fix up a beat up 2003 Pacifica and we drove that across the country. Through that journey, we basically came up with the name ourselves. We both realized that were just projects that were thrown away by our creators. Nobody wanted us because we were associated with memories that people just wanted to forget. Thus, "The Rejects“ were born and the rest is history.

(Poster from their first concert at the Demon Dayz Festival LA 2018 before being subsequently canceled due to technical difficulties)

I: Fascinating... do you think that last statement still applies now to the current state of your band, now that there's four of you?

C: Oh definitely. Maybe not in the same sense, but it we still find comfort in each other that way. We've grown comfortable with the uncomfortable, so to speak. We're people who don't fit into a defined label and we very much like it that way.

I: That’s all very inspiring to hear. Going back to some things you said earlier; it sounds like you have some contempt for what happened to you during your time with Gorillaz. So tell me, how did the temporary Gorillaz bassist, Ace D. Copular get into the picture?

C: I had no idea Ace was involved with Gorillaz during the time we met him. In fact, me and Lenny weren’t intending to add a new member since we were pretty content in doing all the music ourselves. But he gave us a place to stay in his duplex when we visited Townsville and he had some really great skills on bass, so we just invited him on. He originally was just a manager for our shows but eventually he started doing bass with us and we had a really fun time. We didn’t find out that he used to be a part of Gorillaz until 2-D came along. Like, when we moved in initially, we were pretty worried about rent but he assured us that he would pay it all himself since he got — in his words, not mine, ”a substantial pay raise thanks to [his] latest gig” and we didn’t realize his little ”gig” was working with Gorillaz until we met his new boy-toy. (No offense, ’D) Wouldn’t call that a gig with a band as big as them but to each their own, I guess.

I: Well, what about 2-D? How did he end up joining The Rejects?

C: Well, he’s a different story. I was pretty reluctant for him to join originally. Not because I associated him with what happened to me, of course. In fact, I see him as a victim more than anything else. I admit it. I did some fucked up shit to him back then. I mean, I was programmed to do those things by Murdoc at the time but I still perpetuated the cycle of abuse on that island. In my mind, it was my fault that I didn’t do anything to prevent it from continuing. I don’t know if it was truly me or the bullet hole that I gained on my head during my time on Plastic Beach, but seeing him being broken bit by bit as we held him captive… That made me develop a concious. Seeing him change so vividly before my eyes and replaying those moments in what was left in my memory banks made me question what role I was meant to play in this world. Was being some bodyguard; unfeeling, stagnant, all that I was meant for? What more could I accomplish in life without needing the aid of a gun? It was very eye-opening experience for me. When I met 2-D again, I was more afraid that I could potentially hurt him again. I didn’t expect him to forgive me, I just hoped he and the rest of Gorillaz were doing better without me in the picture. But to my surprise, he forgave me. I thought it would’ve been satisfying to hear but it still felt unearned. I still feel that way a little bit, if I’m honest. I was just glad to know that he was living a happier life than before. I’m sure you’ll talk all about his journey with him but if I can say one thing in defense for him. The man deserves a happy ending after all the shit he’s been through.

I: Hmm… Good to know. Let’s switch this conversation up a bit. How would you describe your music now compared to when you were starting out in early 2017?

C: I’d say there’s been a huge tonal shift compared to what me and Lenny were making before and what all of us are making now. That’s partly due to 2-D’s expertise in production. I don’t know how a veteran like him could improve so much since The Now Now but really, it’s almost surreal to see him work. People like to say he’s dumb but sometimes I highly doubt that. Creatively, that man is a genius. I’m completely serious. I will admit, we’ve always taken on a more folk, indie rock aesthetic. It feels so long ago now since we’ve done something like that. We’ve strayed so far from original sound that it’s kinda funny to think about. Is it bad to cringe at your own music? Nah, nah, nah. I’m kidding. We might try to go back to it at some point. We still like that kind of music but I’m not sure how we can implement it with the way were are now. Might have to figure that out at some point. As to what I’d say our sound is now, I’d say we have a… I don’t know? Like a, uhh… we’re still pretty indie but I guess more electronica, maybe? Hyperpop? [laughs awkwardly] I don’t know! We’ve evolved so far beyond from what we used to produce that I don’t even know what genre we would fall into anymore. [laughs]

(Cynthia and 2D at Studio 13 in London) I: [laughs] Well, before you worry too much about that. Tell us what it’s like working in a roomful of men. Does it ever get chaotic?

C: Well, yeah it gets chaotic but we’re all a little chaotic in together so, to me, it all evens out. I mean, if you’re asking if I’m bothered by working with a bunch of guys then, no. We're all friends and nothing more. I know that for some people, seeing a female lead with all male bandmates can be a little... I dunno, "intimidating" for lack of a better word? I feel like women have always had this complicated relationship in the music industry when it comes to expressing themselves. There's always this air of tension whenever we try to talk about what we go through. Our identity, our struggles, femininity, sexuality; just whatever... We're constantly being scrutinized by the media whether we talk to little or too much about our thoughts. So when some see a woman with multiple guys, they just think that she's a mouthpiece for them. Not that she has her own life or is her own person that isn't solely defined by the men in her life and doesn't need protection from the world. I like to think we should be above that mindset now. That's why I don't necessarily see this as just "my band" even though I'm the lead. At the end of the day, it's all of our thoughts collectively. Whenever I write songs about myself and the shit that I went through, I make sure to sing it. No one else gets to talk about my experiences except for me, the guys just help bring those emotions to the surface. Sorry, didn't mean to make that a long rant, I just wanted to get that off my chest.

I: Oh, you're completely fine. Now, aside from that. When should we expect new music from the Rejects?

C: Something soon hopefully. We don’t have an official release date but just expect something. This is going to be our first EP with our new members at the helm, so I’m really excited to see how our fans react.

I: I think we talked about some interesting stuff today but before we go, we do have one final question from a fan on Instagram.

C: Oh really? Sweet! Fire away.

I: From @katy.ward.8494, "What's your relationship like with Murdoc?"

C: Oh, uh… I don't talk to him anymore. I've cut contact with him a long time ago. I try not to talk about him but y’know… that reminds me of something. Murdoc, if you just so happen to be reading this, I just want you to know. I’m not going anywhere so suck on my nads you sick fu—

I: And that’s it for our interview with Ms. Cynthia from The Rejects! Tune in next time for our interview with producer and keyboardist, Stuart “2D” Pot where we’ll talk about his journey from Gorillaz to now.

Here’s a reference sheet of all of Kage’s forms

For a little explanation, the U13 au has its own fusion technique! As you can tell from some of my other posts showcasing this au, it takes some aspects of Steven Universe. The fusion technique is the same but with a Dragon Ball twist. This is what I call Coalescence Fusion!

In Universe 13, Coalescence Fusion is a technique that was created by the Tuffles and then appropriated passed onto the Saiyans as a way to strengthen their bonds but the reason to why would constantly change through the passage of time.

For the Tuffles, it was about strengthening bonds in mutual relationships and a sign of personal growth. When the Saiyans conquered their planet and renamed it Planet Vegeta, “strengthening bonds” through fusion was more about a sense of comradery and combining battle power to overtake their enemies rather than personal growth. The bigger the fusion, the stronger the warrior.

In order to one to fuse with this technique, all parties have to make their energies equal to one another’s. (Usually a fusion consists of two or more people) This creates an equilibrium that helps make a well balanced fusion. One can level out their energy in many different ways, they can dance, sing, meditate… as long they can combine together and maintain a balance, there is no particular way to fuse. Now technically one can stayed fused forever as long as long as they have strong enough of a connection. But as soon as their energies are thrown out of balance or they’re incapacitated in some way, the fusion can un-fuse or become unstable. After a fusion fails, there’s usually a 20 minute gap before one can fuse again, however depending on how strong the parties’ connection to each other is, the faster the recover rate can be.

In some Saiyan communities, (more commonly in low or mid class ranks) Coalescence Fusion can have a romantic connotation depending on how quickly a party can fuse together. Now while Saiyans aren’t much for romance, they are a warrior race after all, some saw that aspect as more of a benefit for encouraging stronger warriors. Others see it as more of a hinderance in battle.

As time moved forward, restrictions on who could fuse together became more apparent. (Basically no mixing of classes) In more elite circles, Coalescence Fusion was used more as a way of courtship and in a way to literally “merge” assets. When thinking about it that way, fusion to elites is more important in a socio-economic setting than on the battlefield.

For Kage specifically, because he was a fusion of two different classes (an elite and a low-class) combined with the fact that Kakarot and Vegeta fused together so quickly; albeit entirely on accident. Kage was practically shunned from a majority of the Saiyan race, believing them to be an abomination. The elites wouldn’t accept him due to them believing that Kakarot soiled the royal bloodline by fraternizing with Vegeta through fusion (Even though they weren’t even a couple at the time.) and the low class wouldn’t accept him because they felt they didn’t trust Vegeta, believing a fusion between him and Kakarot was ultimately dangerous. This lead them to unfuse from panic, Vegeta getting injured in the process (more on that at a different time ;) ) and they run away to Earth in an attempt to escape from certain death. By landing on Earth, their relationship became stronger and thus, their fusion, Kage became ultimately stronger as a result. This is exemplified through Kage’s different forms throughout the years to signify ever changing nature of their relationship. Sorry for the long lore dump but hopefully it makes sense!

Kakavege Week Day 1 - Spaceship Antics

@kakavegeweek

Uncensored version below

“It’s just a party, why do you have to bring everyone down with such depressing stuff :(((“

My brother in Christ, the rights of trans people, especially black trans women, in the U.S are in grave danger right now thanks to the ignorant and bigoted politicians that run our already corrupt government. People who want nothing more than to silence our voices because our mere existence alone makes them uncomfortable. If shutting down the voices of those who are actively suffering in the trans community because you want to make peace with heteronormative patriarchal society, a place that has never truly accepted us, or because you simply don’t want to acknowledge it is your idea of pride, then you are not an ally. You are part of the problem.

Pride was never meant to be silent. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

I. Am. Disgusted. SIGNAL BOOST this!! This is unacceptable! We need to remember what pride is and what we stand for.

BAP!

Huevember 10

Okay, to put the negativity of the world aside. Here’s some nice little random doodles. 

Guys, I’m scared.