Glim and Gloom

I have two new folks, both of whom are agender. Neutral pronouns, and they’re also, uh

They’re lamps. Roughly two feet tall, similar to the tops of old actual-flame-included lampposts. Dark wrought-iron-like metal, frosted-looking panes, intricate points on both ends. They each have a single eye visible, large and cat-like, almost the entire width of their front panels. Additional, smaller eyes are studded all along their metalwork, but those stay closed under most circumstances, as they require a lot of energy to power. The eyes send out beams of soft light, and it brightens if they’re angry or need to illuminate the area. Their panels glow as well, and the light that they cast shines through any sort of magically cast illusion. It can even put a good effort into dispelling illusions cast by physics, and, in particular, it shines completely through fog. They also have two (might have more made of ribbons?) arms each, made of segmented metal that looks almost like strange chain, and they have three fingers (all of which act like thumbs) per ‘hand’ with almost no palm. Makes actual sign language difficult, but they’re good with charades.

The main visual difference between the two is quality of light, but there are some other differences as well.

Glim has bright light that illuminates surroundings easily, usually a fairly warm orange-yellow, and their eye casts beams that are easily visible in dim light. They’re also brighter overall, tend to look more well-polished, and have clearer glass. Their eye is bright and clear, their pupil is distinct and moves quickly, and they make a lot of noise in every way they can. If they’re angry, their fire goes a darker red and burns hotter. They’re usually nice and warm, a temperature where you can comfortably put a hand on their panels without discomfort, but they can intentionally heat up. It can be either a localized heat, often used to burn away dirt from their frame, or blazing-hot, angry, painfully bright fire. 

Glim is loud, outgoing, and sassy as all heck despite not being able to speak. Can cuss you out in ASL and charades, especially if someone is around to translate. They can write, but they usually get impatient and end up tearing the paper trying to write too fast. Very happy with the invention of whiteboards. Lots of personality, kind of rude sometimes, but very protective of Gloom. And for good reason.

Gloom tries their best to be invisible most of the time. Their light is a lot dimmer, and they often look entirely dark aside from a very soft glint in their eye. There’s a long crack running from the left (their left) top corner of their front panel to almost the bottom right, right through their eye, and the light shines through the crack more easily. /If/ you can get them angry enough to burn hot, fire spits through the crack, but that very rarely happens. Their colors are dim, and their metal looks less polished and actually is, as they’re fairly sensitive to rough polishing. Glim enjoys roughly polishing themself (no, it is not sexual, but they will make jokes about it), Gloom doesn’t like it. Gloom’s eye is much dimmer and slightly clouded, their pupil is almost split in two and has the color bleeding into the iris, and their eye doesn’t move as fast as it should. They can see OK, but not anywhere near as well as Glim, and they can’t shine very bright light or cast a steady beam. 

Gloom is shy. They haven’t shared yet if the crack in their panel is a ‘birth’ defect (not sure how they came about) or an injury, but they’re used to being overlooked and cast aside in favor of their brighter counterpart. They’ve spent a lot of time in various modes of storage, including crates, and it’s made them claustrophobic. They hide behind Glim a lot, and they’re very insecure about technically being useless next to Glim. Gloom doesn’t hold that against Glim, though, they know it wasn’t Glim’s fault. Especailly because Glim is protecting them and does things like yell at/slap people who are mean to Gloom. Gloom translates for Glim sometimes, as they can write neatly. If they’re calm enough, they can manage calligraphy, and they can draw well. They’re great with maps. 

Both can either hang from things via their chain-arms or perch on top of poles, dig their lower spines in a bit, and wrap down and around the pole with their arms to stay in place. In dim light, they can pass for actual (albeit large) lanterns, but they prefer to float unless they need to rest.

Glim and Gloom don’t (seem to) need to eat, but they can, in a way. If they impale something on the point on top of their body and used focus heat to melt/burn it, they can get a good taste of it, and they end up consuming it. Glim will do many things for raw bacon and is somewhat fond of hardwood charcoal, Gloom loves cheese. Gloom also really likes to light wide, softer-wax candles on their spire and let the wax drip down their faceplate, and they both like old-fashioned soap made with animal fat. If they’re left in private, it is not uncommon to find Glim happily polishing their metal with metal polish and Gloom sitting, equally happy, half-covered in melted cheese.

They like to build nests from soft fabric, preferably in the highest places possible, and sit there in private. Glim generally has a more enclosed side, Gloom has more soft things but plenty of room to dart away. 

Glim can be won over with bacon, metal polish, admiration, nice treatment of Gloom, and using the right pronouns for them. Gloom is harder to win over, but can be coaxed with hugs, soft attention, cheese, and general reassurance. Yelling at Glim will produce mockery, yelling at Gloom will lead to Glim trying to throw you off the nearest high place. 

I’m not certain where these two came from, but I know they spent some time on a large ship. They weren’t fond of the job, they had to hang over the side of the ship and not do much, but at least people talked to them and they got to look at stuff. Something changed, though, I think maybe they were sold? Whatever it was, Glim ended up chained to the front of the ship for light, Gloom in the hold as backup and as a weapon to keep Glim in line. They can feel pain, unfortunately, and Gloom is frightened of whips as a result. The ‘glass’ heals eventually from most wounds, but is vulnerable to cracking, especially from high-speed impacts. A metal whip tip counts. 

Glim can throw spears with frightening speed and accuracy, and they will do so if needed. They can also operate harpoon guns, crossbows, and black powder cannons. Gloom could make an effort to do the same, but they’re timid and can’t see as far, so that might not work out so well. 

Someone please hug Gloom, it delights them and will make Glim approvingly pat you. 

(Not literally de-lights, that would be bad, in fact it’s the opposite. They get brighter and warm and happy.)