3mo ago

A shapeshifter standing in front of a mirror for hours making subtle adjustments to their disguises like a gamer in the character creator.

"I know I can make this prettier! Maybe I need to lengthen the nose ridge..."

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Some humans actually do this
- Plenty of humans desperately want this
  
  God I would genuinely kill you be able to do this. I don't think I will ever be fully comfortable in my body and I doubt this would fix it but atleast I could just keep things changing.
  
  makeup is literally magic
I wonder if shapeshifters would struggle with profile shots since they mostly see themselves head-on.
Two hours refining the eye size, then turning around to find your nose is twice the length it should be and your cheekbones are concave, somehow.
- They could just form another eye on the end of their arm and hold it out in front
- They would certainly have a trifold mirror setup at a minimum, if not a mirror on the other side of the room. Character creation is the most crucial part of playing a role.
- in ds9, the changelings can partially read minds so they would be able to adjust thier form very easily, also capable of changing thier mass and storing it in a pocket dimension, according to trek sources.
Next step: choose a name
The shapeshifter lets out a deep sigh filled with dread and anxiety, knowing it’s going to take the whole day.
That presupposes though that a shapeshifter would need to see their own reflection to judge the look. If you have developed over millennia the ability to change your appearance at a molecular level, or physically speaking thereabouts, you probably have developed the ability to judge the look without having to look at it. You would be a rock who knew how to become Michelangelo's David.
I'd be amazed to hear that chameleons practice at a puddle before they try to blend in with the jungle. But I was sick a lot when they taught biology in school.
- Chameleons don't actually change color the way people think they do.
  First off, the natural state of a chameleon is green, which blends in to the forest fairly well. Their color change is a mating tactic, and so favors bright and vibrant colors.
  A chameleon changing colors isn't hiding, they're horny.
  Or angry. Or scared, or well, any strong emotion. Basically a chameleon is a living mood ring.
  Now, if you want true instant camouflage, that's an octopus. They can not only change colors, but their own surface texture. In their case, they get the info about what to look like from their numerous suckers alone their legs.
I click the random button several times and move on with my life.

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