Iwatobii

Free! - Sceneries. 

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Some very needed palette & design modifications for my little gem au. Now that I can explore digital art as a medium, I can play way more with colors and shapes! I'm way happier with how they look like for the moment, but knowing me... they'll probably change again at some point, lol.

I tried to give everyone outfits based on swimsuits or wetsuits to keep it consistent, even if swimming is not really a part of this AU.

Haru's outfit is loosely based on his canon swim suit and the iwatobi jacket (loosely as in - it's white and blue lol). It is a one piece wetsuit overlayed with a white hoodie. I included the hoodie because I felt it conveyed how he usually prefers comfort, and it's something we did use to see him wear in the show also. Despite swimming not being important here, Haru is still Haru, so he still loves the water. Therefore, anytime he wants to swim, he can modify his form to ditch the hoodie.

His gem is the typical water drop shape of a lapis lazuli, displayed on his chest. It just fits him well - water relation aside. The opaque nature of the stone can relate to him not being outwardly expressive, instead internalizing his emotions, keeping everything in (until he can't anymore). This clashes with his chest placement, but despite it, I believe that placement is the right one for him. Haru still has a tendency to behave emotionally and be impulse driven, and (despite some internal conflicts) has the will to achieve what he wants.

Rin's is based on his swimsuit and samezuka jacket - Sharp lines and confidence. Gem proudly displayed on his chest. The placement felt natural - emotionally driven & impulsive, always looking forward. His gem's shape is similar to Haru's, but it's crystal instead of opaque and angular instead of smooth - representing their marked similarities and differences. His gem being crystal clear relates to him not really being able to conceal his feelings, everyone can see right through him, it also shines brightly like his passion.

Souske's is vaguely inspired on the first swimsuit we see him - in a wetsuit form. As a quartz he's a fighter, I wanted him to look a bit intimidating, so I used mostly dark colors. His skin marks and gloves are also meant to give him a more rugged look. Gem on his shoulder for mostly obvious reasons - but in general the placement aligns with him well. A bit brash and impulsive and related to the saying "having a chip on one's shoulder". I also decided to give him ice abilities. Goes with his sharp & colder outward demeanor.

Finally decided on Ikuya's gem type - a Turquoise. Specifically a Royston Turquoise. I feel like the bronze Ryolite details on it are very pretty and it let me give him his orange eyes instead of making him fully green. His gem also has a vein of Ryolite going through it, kind of like a scar. It combined with his back placement is meant to represent him holding onto past grievances and having a hard time moving on.

Because of his idolization of Haru, Ikuya also took inspiration for his form from Haru. It inspired elements in his outfit like his gem window, gloves, and overall shapes.

He's also a terraformer. Turquoises can manipulate air currents in order to sand down rock formations and to also do site cleanups. Because of this, he can also fly.

Makoto's outfit contains smooth shapes - because of his softer & caring personality. He has a stockier build & that + his earth manipulation is meant to show him as a grounding presence as well. His navel placement also reinforces this, as gems with it tend to be nurturing, gentle & empathetic. The boots are white - this because of a pattern between the gems inside the Iwatobi group, which mark their alliance by having some sort of white element in their forms.

I changed Nagisa's gem placement from stomach to chest. It felt more appropriate both because of the chest placement being associated with emotional expression and drive & because of his canon role as the heart. His outfit is now based on his canon swimsuit with elements from Rin & Haru's outfits, since he looks up to them quite a bit.

Rei also incorporates some elements from Haru and Makoto's outfits also as a form of admiration for them. His outfit is the least swimsuit like, but, below his jacket, he has a sleeveless one piece. His forehead gem placement relates to his tendency to try to find the logic behind everything, even if it sometimes get him stuck in his own head. He has holographic screens he can manipulate.

Hiyori's form is still a homeworld uniform. He's an antagonist in this au (at least for a while), so he still maintains a loyalty to the diamond authority & generally disapproves of Ikuya's involvement with the rebels. Ikuya remains neutral for a while, but joins them eventually.

Nanase Haruka || FREE! - Starting Days ハイ☆スビード！