NyxMaren
@nyxmaren.bsky.social
Neither man nor woman, but a force of nature. Great Value Baba Yaga. (Avatar and banner both by Dakota Curry)
It's not really her fault, but she is the only (known) survivor, and she did leave early after getting into arguments with several guests. So, y'know, not exactly innocent-seeming behavior.
But really the House is the problem. Or her dad who made the House into Something Else.
But really the House is the problem. Or her dad who made the House into Something Else.
November 27, 2025 at 4:49 AM
It's not really her fault, but she is the only (known) survivor, and she did leave early after getting into arguments with several guests. So, y'know, not exactly innocent-seeming behavior.
But really the House is the problem. Or her dad who made the House into Something Else.
But really the House is the problem. Or her dad who made the House into Something Else.
You don't even have to try for Cassandra. She gets herself into all sorts of trouble, but also there's the whole house party-gone-wrong situation. Something like: "She Got Into Law School and Celebrated By Eating the Rich."
November 27, 2025 at 3:29 AM
You don't even have to try for Cassandra. She gets herself into all sorts of trouble, but also there's the whole house party-gone-wrong situation. Something like: "She Got Into Law School and Celebrated By Eating the Rich."
Gray, on the hand, is an urbanite through and through, regardless of her social awkwardness. Being reliant on the blood of others for sustenance will do that. The exception to this is the vast black void of space, with which Gray has an uncanny affinity.
November 26, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Gray, on the hand, is an urbanite through and through, regardless of her social awkwardness. Being reliant on the blood of others for sustenance will do that. The exception to this is the vast black void of space, with which Gray has an uncanny affinity.
As for the dynamic duo in GRAY MATTERS, Caterina is much more at home with people than with nature, but spending multiple years on a planet with no other known sapient inhabitants, she's come away with plenty of survival skills regardless.
November 26, 2025 at 2:28 AM
As for the dynamic duo in GRAY MATTERS, Caterina is much more at home with people than with nature, but spending multiple years on a planet with no other known sapient inhabitants, she's come away with plenty of survival skills regardless.
Cassandra, by contrast to these two, views nature through a political lens. She's a Reclamationist, believing that indigenous land belongs in the care of indigenous people, and she's willing to go to pretty extreme lengths in service of that belief.
November 26, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Cassandra, by contrast to these two, views nature through a political lens. She's a Reclamationist, believing that indigenous land belongs in the care of indigenous people, and she's willing to go to pretty extreme lengths in service of that belief.
In Ayo, this manifests as religious awe: their God created this world, and that includes the utterly unimaginable scale and power of the natural world.
To Jamil, it's a reminder that no matter how great his accomplishments, how high he soars, he's one gust of wind away from being nothing at all.
To Jamil, it's a reminder that no matter how great his accomplishments, how high he soars, he's one gust of wind away from being nothing at all.
November 26, 2025 at 2:28 AM
In Ayo, this manifests as religious awe: their God created this world, and that includes the utterly unimaginable scale and power of the natural world.
To Jamil, it's a reminder that no matter how great his accomplishments, how high he soars, he's one gust of wind away from being nothing at all.
To Jamil, it's a reminder that no matter how great his accomplishments, how high he soars, he's one gust of wind away from being nothing at all.
Starting from the root, it's her natural blonde. Then silver, blue, teal, violet, and then the pattern reverses: teal, blue, silver, and ending on blonde
November 24, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Starting from the root, it's her natural blonde. Then silver, blue, teal, violet, and then the pattern reverses: teal, blue, silver, and ending on blonde
Gray wears her hair in a bun, usually held in place with novelty chopsticks. It is, as her name implies, ash-gray, and wisp-thin.
November 24, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Gray wears her hair in a bun, usually held in place with novelty chopsticks. It is, as her name implies, ash-gray, and wisp-thin.
In GRAY MATTERS, Caterina's hair has two modes. Prior to being betrayed and left for dead, her hair is neatly cut, brown, and kept vacuum-suit short.
After, it's unruly, uneven, and shock white. A huge part of why no one recognizes her is that her hair is *so* different
After, it's unruly, uneven, and shock white. A huge part of why no one recognizes her is that her hair is *so* different
November 24, 2025 at 5:34 PM
In GRAY MATTERS, Caterina's hair has two modes. Prior to being betrayed and left for dead, her hair is neatly cut, brown, and kept vacuum-suit short.
After, it's unruly, uneven, and shock white. A huge part of why no one recognizes her is that her hair is *so* different
After, it's unruly, uneven, and shock white. A huge part of why no one recognizes her is that her hair is *so* different
Cassandra, last of our triumphant trio, has long, wavy hair she wears down to the small of her back, styled in a gradient of colors which cascade down like a waterfall. It's the one affectation she wields purely out of personal preference, and a point of pride for her.
November 24, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Cassandra, last of our triumphant trio, has long, wavy hair she wears down to the small of her back, styled in a gradient of colors which cascade down like a waterfall. It's the one affectation she wields purely out of personal preference, and a point of pride for her.
Yeah it's a rough galaxy out there. Wait til I get a chance to tell you about the anti-FTL cult!
November 22, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Yeah it's a rough galaxy out there. Wait til I get a chance to tell you about the anti-FTL cult!
If anything, people knowing that a Gray might be made uncomfortable by the actions inside a ship it's piloting would make them MORE likely to do those things.
There are exceptions, of course. Caterina, and by extension her crew, actually treat Gray as a person, so that's different.
There are exceptions, of course. Caterina, and by extension her crew, actually treat Gray as a person, so that's different.
November 22, 2025 at 4:43 AM
If anything, people knowing that a Gray might be made uncomfortable by the actions inside a ship it's piloting would make them MORE likely to do those things.
There are exceptions, of course. Caterina, and by extension her crew, actually treat Gray as a person, so that's different.
There are exceptions, of course. Caterina, and by extension her crew, actually treat Gray as a person, so that's different.
Bear in mind, this is the norm in most places, and Grays are typically second-class citizens if not treated as essentially corporate property, so there's the inertia of "it's how things are done" and the bias of "who cares, it's just a Gray."
November 22, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Bear in mind, this is the norm in most places, and Grays are typically second-class citizens if not treated as essentially corporate property, so there's the inertia of "it's how things are done" and the bias of "who cares, it's just a Gray."
As for people behaving differently, it depends? Most people treat a Gray navigator as kind of like a weird version of a ship's computer from Star Trek. They might be a bit more paranoid about the Gray "watching" them, but no moreso than they would a surveillance algorithm.
November 22, 2025 at 4:43 AM
As for people behaving differently, it depends? Most people treat a Gray navigator as kind of like a weird version of a ship's computer from Star Trek. They might be a bit more paranoid about the Gray "watching" them, but no moreso than they would a surveillance algorithm.
It's not *quite* like skin. It's more like...having something in your mouth? She perceives through the ship's senses. So she can "feel" heat signatures or "watch" through cameras or "track" ID chips. Still, it's the knowledge that people are walking around inside of you.
November 22, 2025 at 4:43 AM
It's not *quite* like skin. It's more like...having something in your mouth? She perceives through the ship's senses. So she can "feel" heat signatures or "watch" through cameras or "track" ID chips. Still, it's the knowledge that people are walking around inside of you.
The one exception to this is physical intimacy, i.e. sex. This is a case of desire overriding caution, and Gray can get VERY physical once this is initiated, aided in a number of interesting ways by the way she can control her own blood. So that's fun to chew on.
November 22, 2025 at 3:28 AM
The one exception to this is physical intimacy, i.e. sex. This is a case of desire overriding caution, and Gray can get VERY physical once this is initiated, aided in a number of interesting ways by the way she can control her own blood. So that's fun to chew on.
However, between her desire not to get too close to people she likes for fear of, um, eating them (not like that), the chill of her flesh, and the distance she's kept from people for the past several decades, Gray tends to avoid physical contact when she's in an organic body.
November 22, 2025 at 3:28 AM
However, between her desire not to get too close to people she likes for fear of, um, eating them (not like that), the chill of her flesh, and the distance she's kept from people for the past several decades, Gray tends to avoid physical contact when she's in an organic body.
Gray, as one may come to expect by this point, is even stranger. Given that she's often inhabiting spacecraft, Gray is in the unusual position of being quite used to not only being in constant physical contact with the crew, but literally having them INSIDE her (not like that).
November 22, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Gray, as one may come to expect by this point, is even stranger. Given that she's often inhabiting spacecraft, Gray is in the unusual position of being quite used to not only being in constant physical contact with the crew, but literally having them INSIDE her (not like that).
Post-betrayal she's a little more careful who she lets into her personal space outside the context of her public facing personae, but it's a wall she has to put significant effort into maintaining, and which crumbles quickly once trust is established.
November 22, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Post-betrayal she's a little more careful who she lets into her personal space outside the context of her public facing personae, but it's a wall she has to put significant effort into maintaining, and which crumbles quickly once trust is established.
As far as GRAY MATTERS goes, part of Caterina's charm is that she's outgoing, friendly, and quickly adapts to the social environment. Her ability to instinctively code-switch is critical to her success, and this means she typically defaults to whatever "normal" is wherever she finds herself.
November 22, 2025 at 3:28 AM
As far as GRAY MATTERS goes, part of Caterina's charm is that she's outgoing, friendly, and quickly adapts to the social environment. Her ability to instinctively code-switch is critical to her success, and this means she typically defaults to whatever "normal" is wherever she finds herself.
After all, nothing quite says "everything's going to be okay," like a long, tight hug. It's also useful in establishing rapport, so when Ayo needs to quickly shore up a potential contact, they'll often do the ol' shoulder touch or jostle.
November 22, 2025 at 3:28 AM
After all, nothing quite says "everything's going to be okay," like a long, tight hug. It's also useful in establishing rapport, so when Ayo needs to quickly shore up a potential contact, they'll often do the ol' shoulder touch or jostle.
Ayo is right in the middle of the other two, happy to use physical touch or not as the situation demands, but it's rarely their first resort, not least because they need their hands free to talk.
That being said, Ayo is most likely to use physical touch when rescuing others.
That being said, Ayo is most likely to use physical touch when rescuing others.
November 22, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Ayo is right in the middle of the other two, happy to use physical touch or not as the situation demands, but it's rarely their first resort, not least because they need their hands free to talk.
That being said, Ayo is most likely to use physical touch when rescuing others.
That being said, Ayo is most likely to use physical touch when rescuing others.