start.

the art style shift lends itself to making him appear more expressive and vulnerable and all that, and that contributed to how he was portrayed in super 

its a double edged sword in that it is both allowing of expressiveness and yet allowing of too much as well

i was talking specifically about how w/ the newer style, his eyes are more rounded instead of sharp/angular like in z

wider, rounded eyes tends to make the audience/media consumer/whatever think of things like innocence, children, and so on -- so even w/ such a subtle change, it makes it a lot easier for the audience to believe that the level of anxiety he shows to be more. effective, i guess? more believable?

that it affects him as much as is attempted to have been written

it’s

<:)

killer queen was mostly confused why they were so cautious of them. they had never met before, but it felt like something about them was freaking out this stand. however, its own actions seemed to have confused them as well enough to make it more curious.

all it did was watch as they began to move their hand bit by bit. like a cat, queen’s eyes began to widen from their slitted state as it watch their twitchy hand form into a point.

there was simply silence for a while as they both stood motionless staring at one another. killer queen too tilted their head along with star before fixing its gaze back to their finger.

cautiously, trying not to alarm them yet again, its arm began extending in much the same manner. unlike them, despite their similar power stand nature, queen had no problem forming their hand to stick one finger out as it slowly inched closer to theirs until they inevitably touched.

it simply waited, returning to staring at star as if it was looking for an answer to a question.

though he knows well that he should have expected such a simplistic response, the other’s touch still startles him, and the spectre’s hair seems to almost.. sway in response, as if to warn of danger.

...that doesn’t appear to even be present.

were this the same being he knew, there would have been countless explosions by now, dead littering the streets, a heavy feeling in the expanse of his chest. but none of that happens, and he sincerely does not know what to do.

he first pulls his hand away, then looks up into the other’s eyes, all before fixing his gaze on the ground, writing in the dirt with a little nearby stick.

どうして？

a pause, then right below it,

     Her touch was enough to cause some of that tension in Husks form to relax, the Silvallys form visibly relaxing as he’d find himself some time allowed to simply rest easy. There was a low hum coming from Husk at this point, which seemed to carry slightly through the air as those four eyes of his closed.

“It has been a long while since I’ve been able to genuinely rest. I’ve… Been put through s-so much lately.” Of course, it was no fault of 01s or the rest of his packs. UB-08, or ‘Atra’, was a genuine menace, and it was one thing that Husk would never find quarrels in him fighting.

     At the mention of her asking if there was anything he could do, he did think of something. His eyes would open, and he’d turn to look up at her with a slight twinkling of hope in his eyes.

“I need to get to Sinnoh… I was told there is something th-there that can help me, that can cure my co-condition. Maybe you could help me… D-Do you know of the ‘Azure Flute’? O'dinn has told me everything he knows of it, but… The more I know, the be-better.”

"of course." she begins, her voice barely above a whisper. "you do not deserve the cruel treatment life has given you. not at all."

to know that her ministrations are having at least some of the intended effect is reassuring, and ho-oh continues them still as husk speaks -- only to stop when she senses him looking at her.

a glance down rewards her with the knowledge that her senses have not yet dulled in any considerable manner, and the given question prompts her to lift her head, cocking it to one side as she thinks.

"azure flute?" she repeats, blinking a few times. "i am not entirely aware of its location, but i know of it, yes.

it is a holy instrument, whose tune is said to be able to call the all-father to its player, and it has been many, many years since i last spoke to the all-father, but his kingdom on-high is a beautiful one,  and those without wings would find what seems to be a near-endless staircase--if they are deemed worthy, that is--that would lead them to his domain!”

she finishes her words with a little flourishing wave of one wing, though she tucks it back to her side right after, her next verbalized thought coming forth after a handful of contemplative moments.