truthfully, neither reads as especially earth-themed to me, but I do kind of agree insofar as I actually personally think the undertide comes closer. (specifically: I do think the underbelly is textured to look like polished stone, whereas the aether gems are shaded in a way that to me reads more like water droplets. but would this have felt better to you if their fates were reversed??)
regardless, though, I don't think it's fair to construe this as meaning that the entire thing was somehow an arbitrary sham? that seems wildly out of proportion and even a bit cruel, given the larger context here. this wasn't a raffle or a competition for 888 and MV's own dragons; it was purely an effort to benefit the community. it's okay for them to want people to put in an earnest effort in turn, and it's also okay that at the end of the day they're just two humans making their best, nevertheless subjective judgment calls.
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(frozen comment) Re: Fest Skin Submission Decline
(Anonymous) 2025-03-19 04:34 pm (UTC)(link)regardless, though, I don't think it's fair to construe this as meaning that the entire thing was somehow an arbitrary sham? that seems wildly out of proportion and even a bit cruel, given the larger context here. this wasn't a raffle or a competition for 888 and MV's own dragons; it was purely an effort to benefit the community. it's okay for them to want people to put in an earnest effort in turn, and it's also okay that at the end of the day they're just two humans making their best, nevertheless subjective judgment calls.