Anomaly Diversion - Blog Posts
References for Anomaly Diversion!!!
Official!! finally!!
I wanted to make their design stand out, so I created them from scratch; they're not loadouts you can find in-game. Plus a little bit of character description because I'm dying to talk about them and their roles in the story (*wearing a shirt that says "please talk to me about my fic"*).
Now I can finally draw them often!!
Somewhat goofy clothing sheets under the cut↓↓↓
I tried to design them the way their silhouettes and colors stay recognisable, as if they were meant to be used in-game later, to not to break the gameplay rules. I also wanted them to look as tf2-like as possible, I studied the hell out of the 3d models and on the last three I guess it started to turn out decent. Drawing Spy is still pain though.
Or maybe it's just that I'm not attracted to the majority of the mercs visually?? That's why they don't look satisfying?? Lmao. Need to adjust them to my tastes later.
I'm not sure I can exactly explain my design choices with these... How exactly they correlate to their characters. There is something, but I went for it fully intuitively.
//
For BLU scout I went for the softer, rounder oversized clothing to accent his insecurity and the need to shield himself for comfort. It still needed to shape his torso (game rules) but his hood and sleeves do the deed. There is also a strict rule in how to draw his freckles: they look more like moles and there's 7 or 8 of them. You won't believe me if I say this is lore relevant.
For RED Scout, I went with the more aggressive military style. I think I literally took this jacket design from a real military one. There should be an accent on his heavy relations with the army. His clothes are tight because he still likes himself.
RED Sniper is giving hunter vibes, forest type. BLU Sniper looks more like a fisher or a winter hunter. Not sure what deeper meaning I could assign to this except that BLU Sniper was heavily referenced on Ogata Hyakunosuke.
BLU Spy should radiate tiredness. His look is quite unkept for his standards but at this point it doesn't matter anymore. The turtleneck and the boots are special requests from @/gentlesurgeryenjoyer (xoxo)
BLU Medic just looks so freaking cool in a black shirt. It was a vision. I'm not sure if black and white accents mean anything in terms of which side those characters are on. I also wanted to separate him from another famous horror witnessing Medic.
And Miss Pauling was the most satisfying to draw, it was a gift to draw her last... I gave her pants because it's getting cold outside at the time when the story takes place. I also find it very impractical to go killing job in a pencil skirt, I'm sorry. She probably also wears snickers underneath.
And also thanks to @nightly-headache for helping out and assistance!
In the crosshairs
For @oblique-lane.
I will never get tired of saying it: 'Anomaly Diversion' is worth reading. And once again, I urge you to read this genius fic.
I'm being held in the basement, help me.
Uh uhhhh well like i said gonna have to go back and take notes, but
1) my, then, sleep deprived brain got blasted with the thought "Demoman and his 3 2 weed smoking girlfriends hippies" ffhgjgjv
2) jokes aside, I'm SUCH a sucker for hare themed characters who try to act like they're a fight predator, and not what they truly are, a flight prey
Scout being jackrabbit coded. Speedy, full of anger, underestimated, has weapons (bat/teeth, gun/claws etc) and isn't afraid to use it. But deep down, being led by fear
The fact that blu is that predator-esque mask dropping, and the crushing realisation of being a prey animal, of being in so much danger everywhere from everything, that he can't trust anyone, of letting the need to run away take over
And the fact that Sniper is often associated with Dingos and Owls, both natural predators to rabbits. Hell, even the fact that he mentioned hunting rabbits a child
And yet, Scout came to him, the rabbit going to the predator. To the opposite side
And the fact that said predator is also dealing with the realisation that, really, he's just a livestock prey too when looking at the bigger picture. And deep down, he's not much braver about it than a rabbit
They're all lambs to the never ending slaughter. Who cares about prey or predator, about jobs and teams, about natural roles, when there's a nature defying society and science controlling everything above it all?
It's all so dehumanising in so many different ways. In the livestock vs butchery, in the wild animals vs human hunters, in the meaning of jobs vs companies and money. In that humans in powers, control and think they own everything, including your own personhood. In the loss of agency, of loosing who you are to a job
But truly, were you ever anyone at all?
If the fighting stopped, what would they do? Deal with the reality that there's nothing left from before ? Have to face the fact they're no one outside of what the admin wants from them? Or run back to the familiar cage they've been in for so long, and know by heart?
What is true freedom?
Are they really ready to have to build that possible new home all by themselves out there ? Including building a new self while accepting parts they hate? Dealing with the fact they're just copies, and some parts of them might thus not be the "true" them? Yet those things still being a part of themselves ? Learning to accept what they see in the mirror?
And if they are, are they ready with the possibility that they might never get the chance to do any of that at all?
MMMMMMKFHDHWBKFKVXJ!!!!!
Shit's fucked
And what is going on in BLU Snipes' mind....he's really an enigma to me
Heh, in a way, he's closer to the "blueprint" Sniper with how closed off he is about how he feels. Just like how RED Scout is closer to the "original"
And yet he still figured it out...like you don't actually need to deviate much from the blueprint to become a "deviant", which is getting me more curious about BLU Soldier too
And how the RED Spy is gonna handle that too...
there was already a significant amount of mutual assistance between the two teams, whether on purpose or not. Like BLU Spy letting RED get away with his fire distraction (though I'm guessing it was more to hide what ye and engie figured out. But i can't help but think that a small part of him still did it for RED, maybe because of the suspicions that truly, both colours aren't necessarily enemies, and they're closer to having a common one)
Same with RED Spy pulling BLU Pyro away from Scout and Snipes because he knew it would put them (and everyone else) in danger if that info got out
And RED Demo trying to mend his relationship with BLU Soldier
The line between enemy and ally is already slightly blurring, which is gonna affect everyone
Progress is being made, yet that progress worsens the risk of everyone getting removed for it. Sisyphus curse
And yet, it's the predator who freezes up in fear like a prey, wanting to curl on himself with his tail between his legs, hide his face under his paws and pretend the chain around his neck isn't here. while the rabbit is angry and wants to take actions, gnawing at the cage and fighting for freedom....
I love you.
I'M FREEEEEEE!!!!!!!
Here's the speedpaint:
//guys why is this getting more traction than the original post... Go check the pinned post guys!!!
Anomaly Diversion (Chapter 4) IS OUT!!!
A town away from the base would have been the perfect place for two mercenaries from opposing teams to meet. Except everything that could go wrong here, did.
A story about a RED and a BLU who has never recognized the faces of their enemies before, but once they did, they secretly bond together to face the questions: How do you deal with knowing that you have a clone?
Who are you in this situation?
Tags: Gen, Explicit, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death, Drug abuse; Themes of Dissociation/Derealization, Suicidal themes, Hurt/Comfort, Slice of life, Spotlight for every character.
[ENG] AO3
[RUS] Ficbook
Вy ObliqueLane
From Anomaly Diversion For the upcoming Chapter 4.
Weekly magma, apparently!!!
Thanks to everyone who joined!! @/currrsy, @/nightly-headache, @/homkamiro, @/slimsnipes, @/gentlesurgeryenjoyer, @/nibadannn, "@/dooobyu @/casserpillarr
I don't have a word to convey the thing I'm feeling towards him. The closest would be an act of international terrorism.
bug when you lift up a rock
JUMPING AROUND GNAWING GNAWING 💥💥💥💥💥
*Inhales* PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE READ @oblique-lane TF2 FANFIC ITS SO GOOD PLEEEEAAAAAAASE
But this piece is inspired by their AMAZING tf2 story called "Anomaly Diversion." It has themes and references to Emesis Blue, so concept of clones, respawn, etc.
I absolutely LOVE how their story is going so far and highly recommend it! you can find their fanfic here on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/50959474/chapters/128744074?view_adult=true
Keep up the good work Lane! Can't wait to see what you do with the story next!! >:D also please go follow them on here as well!! They also post awesome art!!
I'M GONNA GO EXTINCT 💥💥💥💥💥💔💔🥀🥀🥀🥀 i am gonna print this picture 20 times and hand it all over the wall and then 5 more to put in my mouth and EAT!!
my part for @oblique-lane 💕💕💕 luv luv
scout from anomaly diversion (read the fic you all)
I'm gonna nnnyyyeeeehhhmhmhhmh😢😢😢🥀🥀🥀💥💥💥💥🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂 strangle him.
Simple BLU Scout fanart
Anomaly Diversion by @oblique-lane
Homochka....🥹🌹🌹🌹
Happy Birthday to our beloved @oblique-lane and the author of the greatest fic ever "Anomaly Diversion" on ao3!!!! 🥹💘💘💘His works are wonderful from the bottom to the top and you should definitely check out his stuff,,, again, happy birthday bro!!3!3!
The rabbits I cannttt... 💔💔💔 It's so sick, love your style esoteric bimbo!!!
In the crosshairs
For @oblique-lane.
I will never get tired of saying it: 'Anomaly Diversion' is worth reading. And once again, I urge you to read this genius fic.
I'm being held in the basement, help me.
Dynamics practice.
OH THEY BETTER HAPPEN!!!
Dramatic movie scenes that didn't happen in Anomaly Diversion. For @oblique-lane
For the first time, I actually used a reference. I went a bit overboard. Whoops. They think they're solving something, good for them.
References for Anomaly Diversion!!!
Official!! finally!!
I wanted to make their design stand out, so I created them from scratch; they're not loadouts you can find in-game. Plus a little bit of character description because I'm dying to talk about them and their roles in the story (*wearing a shirt that says "please talk to me about my fic"*).
Now I can finally draw them often!!
Somewhat goofy clothing sheets under the cut↓↓↓
I tried to design them the way their silhouettes and colors stay recognisable, as if they were meant to be used in-game later, to not to break the gameplay rules. I also wanted them to look as tf2-like as possible, I studied the hell out of the 3d models and on the last three I guess it started to turn out decent. Drawing Spy is still pain though.
Or maybe it's just that I'm not attracted to the majority of the mercs visually?? That's why they don't look satisfying?? Lmao. Need to adjust them to my tastes later.
I'm not sure I can exactly explain my design choices with these... How exactly they correlate to their characters. There is something, but I went for it fully intuitively.
//
For BLU scout I went for the softer, rounder oversized clothing to accent his insecurity and the need to shield himself for comfort. It still needed to shape his torso (game rules) but his hood and sleeves do the deed. There is also a strict rule in how to draw his freckles: they look more like moles and there's 7 or 8 of them. You won't believe me if I say this is lore relevant.
For RED Scout, I went with the more aggressive military style. I think I literally took this jacket design from a real military one. There should be an accent on his heavy relations with the army. His clothes are tight because he still likes himself.
RED Sniper is giving hunter vibes, forest type. BLU Sniper looks more like a fisher or a winter hunter. Not sure what deeper meaning I could assign to this except that BLU Sniper was heavily referenced on Ogata Hyakunosuke.
BLU Spy should radiate tiredness. His look is quite unkept for his standards but at this point it doesn't matter anymore. The turtleneck and the boots are special requests from @/gentlesurgeryenjoyer (xoxo)
BLU Medic just looks so freaking cool in a black shirt. It was a vision. I'm not sure if black and white accents mean anything in terms of which side those characters are on. I also wanted to separate him from another famous horror witnessing Medic.
And Miss Pauling was the most satisfying to draw, it was a gift to draw her last... I gave her pants because it's getting cold outside at the time when the story takes place. I also find it very impractical to go killing job in a pencil skirt, I'm sorry. She probably also wears snickers underneath.
And also thanks to @nightly-headache for helping out and assistance!
In the act of uniting the souls in pure rage and hatred ❤️🩹❤️🩹
!!SPOILERS FOR ANOMALY DIVERSION CHAPTER 3!!
!!TRIGGER WARNING FOR BLOOD AND VIOLENCE!!
Please read Anomaly Diversion, it’s such a good fanfic I could go on forever about it
Uwahhh!! I know the newest chapter came out about 4 days ago, and it’s kinda fast, but I wanted to do something almost immediately after reading it.
I tried something new with coloring this time. It took forever, but I enjoyed doing it.
Cosmetics: Thermal Tracker (Scout) ~ Snow Sleeves (Sniper)
Anomaly Diversion by @oblique-lane
Anomaly Diversion (Chapter 3) IS OUT!
The day RED Sniper spared an injured BLU Scout, he noticed that something about this guy was suspiciously off. In fact, he had long ago begun to notice: there was *something* off about everything around here. Or in other words, how does it feel to find out that all this time the people you and your friends fought... Were your clones? Who the REDs and the BLUs actually were? What other horrors were hidden from mere mercenaries? And what was wrong with the 'faces'? Scout and Sniper from the opposing teams secretly bond together to find this out. Welcome to a story of forbidden friendship, conspiracy, and existential dread!
Tags: Gen, Explicit, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death; Themes of Dissociation/Derealization, Suicidal themes, Hurt/Comfort, Slice of life, Spotlight for every character.
[ENG] AO3
[RUS] Ficbook
Вy ObliqueLane
THEY CAN'T SEE THEIR FACES™💥💥💥💥
Read the AMAZING Anomaly Diversion by @oblique-lane
SUCH a good read you guys NEED to check it out
Their visuals, descriptions, and vocabulary are top notch. Nearly poetic. Can’t wait for more!! <3
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH WQHWBaHJEDJWWUIRURHIEFHJIERUGJHIGRK WRFHKLJGEFJ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!💣💣💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥
MY PEPSICOLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE. THE BOTTLES OF VALIUM OH MY FREAKIN GOD. THE YING YANG POSE. THE COMPOSITION. ERA CAN I BE YOUR DOORMAT????
art for @oblique-lane
IS FOR MEEEE??? 🥹🥹🥹
«Anomaly Diversion»
I encourage you to study the lore by reading THIS GENIUS FIC. I'm serious guys... RESPAWN HORROR FANS HEAR ME OUT!! IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TF2 - READ. NOW.
FANART FOR @oblique-lane YOU'RE GENIUS REMEMBER THAT