Ari

Face-up artist(s):

AngelToast

Body blushing artist(s):

Hands and feet (me)

Modifications artist(s):

Ears pierced (AngelToast)

Date of acquisition:

March 2014

Provenance:

La Légende de Temps

Reason for choice:

It was love at first sight. I had been searching and searching for the right sculpt for the character in my mind, and the moment I saw Edria, I knew the search was over.

Best Points:

Re LLT: the work is immaculate: perfectly symmetrical and beautifully cast, Edria has a wealth of small, delicate details that can be seen on the bare head (or through the right faceup.)

As for Luts, I think the lovely thighs and gorgeous, unbroken torso of the T4 body are stunning.

Worst Points:

I've got the head on a T4 Delf body because I wanted the doll to have the option of wearing all gendered clothing, not just male or female. Unfortunately, while this means Ari fits most SD13 clothing, the Edria head is a bit bobble-y on the body. It's nothing terrible, but someday I made end up changing bodies as a result.

He's also got a pair of jointed hands (can't remember the maker) that aren't quite the right size. I wired them myself so they hold poses well, but given the size discrepancy and the fact that he rarely wears them, I haven't convinced myself to blush them.

He has a pair of Granado male heel feet that I've yet to test any SD16 shoes on. They fit relatively well, but the ankle joints are really ugly together. I'd also have to restring him more tightly to account for taking out the extra Luts ankle joint. So many mixed feels about that situation.

Ari's world is post-apocalyptic, tech-limited, and werewolf dominated. He's a gender fluid boy who grew up in a human enclave; when the enclave was burned to the ground, he struck out on his own and evaded capture by the werewolf authorities for several years. Unfortunately, bad luck and a new patrol routine caught him poaching too close to the nearest city, so his life is about to change — this time, for good.

Eyes:

Golden yellow (plastic, maker unknown).

Wig:

Usually a long, straight Monique wig in black, though he's currently sporting a wavy blonde wig with blunt bangs (maker unknown).

Favourite colours:

Ari looks best in vivid, saturated purples and reds, though he prefers to wear neutrals, to blend in with his surroundings.

Fashion style(s):

Post-apocalyptic chic: badly hand knit scarves, ill-fitting and ripped jeans, a woman's winter jacket that happened to fit, some kind of knit hat.

Post post-apocalyptic chic: more feminine wear with more color. Dresses, thigh-high leggings, heels. Would never admit it, but he loves the feel of silk and lace.

Key fashion accessory:

His green and blue scarf, purple and cream beanie, and mug of tea.

Name story:

Ari is racially, religiously, and culturally Jewish. I knew I wanted a traditionally Jewish name for him, ideally something that sounded gender-neutral. I narrowed that down to names I liked the sound of, then names with significant meanings. It very quickly became clear that Ari was the right choice:

In Hebrew, depending on the interpretation, Ari means "lion," and also "gatherer." Ari's character is strong: though he may appear weak and changes his gender presentation from day to day, he is fiercely loyal and protective of those he loves. His role in the human enclave was that of a hunter/gatherer, mainly a gatherer. In Hindi, the name means "one who shows the right path," which is a role Ari takes on in captivity, as he guides influential wolves towards a world with more species equality. In Kurdish, the name means "from the flame." Ari is literally from a home that was burned down. In Swahili, the name means "determined," which might be the best word to describe his personality. In Armenian, his name means "fearless," and in in Albanian, his name means "gold."

Character age:

Fifteen when his home burned, seventeen when he was captured, early to mid-twenties for most of the rest of his story.

Character gender:

Often male, though he is gender fluid.

Offsite roleplay:

This doll's character is not available for offsite roleplay.

To see more photos of Ari, please visit this album on my flickr.