#<- adjacent; commentary

[aurorialwolf]

“No— no, I’m not annoyed or angry. I’m just worried about that scratch on your arm- are you okay? I could heal it if you want. Otherwise we can patch it up the unempowered way. Gotta be one or the other, ya can’t just be walking around with an open wound.”

She’s sitting on a chair, I just didn’t draw it

@original-bookshelf @ryn-halo26 @silver-timetravel @riotkitsune @localpigeon22 @thesolaireslawyer @moonvalley94 @vind3miat0r

This is ofc a bit abt her (in the future) talking to Emerson :3 I wanted to draw what she currently looks like and also wanted to combine that with a worried parent expression

[aurorialwolf]

I made cassette cover art for Milton’s arrest of Aria (Milton belongs to @original-bookshelf )

Notice the subtle cracking of the labyrinth around the teeth in the second piece :3c? (It represents how his words really got to her)

Here’s the symbol combo without the lettering

(Can’t see on light mode, will have to click to see)

@ryn-halo26 @silver-timetravel @riotkitsune @meowtus @localpigeon22 @thesolaireslawyer @lancerthatisntfree @moonvalley94 @vind3miat0r

[aurorialwolf]

More Alternate Arias!!! (Different Empowered Types :3)

I'm still not done the last couple, but wanted to post these before Jay has to leave for a while !! Includes: Aria if she'd had a different dad (still a dreamwalker), Warder, Illusory, Telepath, Earth Elemental, Electro Energetic, Seer, Vampire, Shock Demon (in that order)

There will be blurbs written about each eventually! (Hopefully today if I have time)

And these are all canon AUs that exist as deviations of prime! (As you can see, Fizz is often around! And he's even still around in AUs that don't include him in the moodboard :3!)

@original-bookshelf @ryn-halo26 @silver-timetravel @riotkitsune @localpigeon22 @thesolaireslawyer @moonvalley94 @vind3miat0r

[aurorialwolf]

So... so.. how are we feeling about imp!Salvia and imp!Aria...

Because I'm about to make this. Worse.

In prime universe, they have a mother-daughter kind of relationship. Salvia sees her as the little Irish daughter she could have had, if she hadn't been turned. They talk in their native language, and spend plenty of time together. Salvia's taught Aria a lot about their shared culture, passing on plenty of information, customs, and history, as well as some cultural heirlooms.

So, the fact that in the Imperium, Salvia threatens her with sexual assault, and plays off of her existing trauma to make her as uncomfortable and upset as possible every time they talk, is.. much more distressing, given how stark the difference is between universes.

If prime!Salvia knew how imperium!Salvia is, she would kill imp!Salvia in a heartbeat, without hesitation.

I might make art of them in prime universe hanging out together to twist the knife a little,,

@lancerthatisntfree @original-bookshelf @twice-damned-birdie @localpigeon22 @moonvalley94 @ryn-halo26

[aurorialwolf]

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! They look so cute hhhhhh chews on them and squeezes them aggressively

Scuttles around happily

happy pride month from everyones favorite sun-and-moon couple (Elliott and Sunshine) :D

alt version under the cut

sorry for lowkey dying, ive been prepping for artfight and remaking my listener oc refs while also bouncing between rps... i prommy ill start posting again soon 😞

@moronkyne @zimix-whispers @wuegh @indigo-greer-collins @grilledcheezy92 @fedorabender @lexdoesntdraw @definitelynuwonhere @porters-fangs

@milogreer @ambrose-mp4 @thesolaireslawyer @paythesmith @int3rtwiningh3artstrings

@puffin-smoke @porcelaininkpot @urfrenfishy @galaxyg1204 @thatpadfooted-boy

@secretagentsloveblogs @shadyguyno5 @no-see-um-incorrect @uncorporeal-mk @poedays

@froggytimemachineinternet @localpigeon22 @plaqying

if u wanna be added to the taglist just lmk :3

[aurorialwolf]

Chat, I just absolutely COOKED

tw for suicidal thoughts / mentions of planned suicide

part of the roleplay I was doing, a back and forth with another one of my roleplay blogs, Kayli !! ( @kayli-the-daemon ) You can find the whole thread here. I promise this is more satisfying if you read through the rest of it, but this eats on its own tbh

@original-bookshelf @localpigeon22 @thesolaireslawyer since the thread & this screenshot of it include insight into Aria's psyche :3

[aurorialwolf]

In every universe, at least one aspiration is fulfilled.

Prime: Aria is able to utilize her creativity fully, and as part of a job. She can be as detail-oriented as she wants, and her creativity is an asset, not something neglected.

Imperium: Aria is able to become strong, and physically defend herself. She is also able to continue archery, albeit not as a simple hobby. All other versions abandon the hobby, to some degree, being unable to continue it due to money, time, or external intervention.

Fooliverse: Aria is able to go to university for biology, and get a job in that field. So far, no other version has been able to fulfill their 'dream' of entering the sciences, being held back by the manifestation, and subsequent misuse of, their magic.

In no universe does she manage to balance all three.

@lancerthatisntfree @original-bookshelf @ryn-halo26 @localpigeon22 @moonvalley94 @twice-damned-birdie

Also get ready because I'm about to tag y'all in something angsty / sad in a few mins

[aroaceleovaldez]

if you like dogboy Jason, you may enjoy dogboying these other riordanverse characters:

Alabaster Torrington (Hecate's sacred animals includes dogs.)

Nico di Angelo (Hellhoundboy?)

Anubis (He is literally a jackal)

[aurorialwolf]

Who's the friend 👀 or is that a secret to us too

also I'm going to squish your voice /pos

this script is so well done !!! has the perfect amount of secrecy and a great established dynamic between listener and speaker

Awkward Vampire Hunter NB4A

Wrote and voiced my own script and I had a lot of fun with it! Sound effects have not been added yet, but what I've got I'm pretty proud of!

Oh, shoot.

…

Sorry, I uh, I’m usually a lot more coordinated than this and– Christ, are those real?

…

No– no, that was rude of me. You don’t have to– but really, those look legit. You get implants or something like that? 

…

Then I take it that you’re not wearing contacts either?

…

I’m so sorry about your drink– could I get you another or–

…

Okay, something a little more dangerous then?

…

I think I might have some blood pouches in my bag if you’ll just give me a minute…

[speaker is backed into a corner]

Really, we’re doing this now? Come on, vamp, I know you’re smarter than this. I’ve just got  some questions I want to ask and–

[listener covers speakers mouth]

[muffled]

Okay, okay, I’ll be quiet about it. Could you just get your hand off my mouth? If you don’t, I’m gonna lick it.

…

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

[speaker licks listener’s hand]

That was so, so gross. Note to self, a vamp’s skin tastes like any other person’s skin but with a more– floral? – yeah, floral overtone.

…

Say, do all vamps from the Brassbeaten Coven get tats like that or is it just a friends thing–

…

[winces]

Sensitive topic, alright then. 

…

Could you maybe not? I haven’t been licensed to test vampiric feedings with my own blood, and believe me, I’d totally offer up some of my own, but you’re going to have to settle on something from the bloodbank, okay?

[listener lunges and speaker dodges, there’s a bit of a scuffle and listener gets hit and doubles over]

…

[speaking to another partygoer]

Oh, they’re fine! Just got a bit tipsy. I’ll take care of them!

…

Yeah, yeah, I’m sure!

[under breath]

You know, for a first time, this could have gone so much worse.

…

What’s that?

…

Yeah, I was trained by the old witch just like every other hunter. Granted, mine was a little shorter, but what are they gonna do when you get a headstart by interviewing just about every gnome in the area and then move onto the shifters in the neighborhood?

…

Now, let’s get you outside, alright?

…

Kill you?

[laughs]

Nah, vamp. It’s like I said: I’m just gonna ask you some questions, get you a blood bag and send you on your way. I don’t kill your type unless you’ve done something to really warrant it.

Sit down, why don’t you?

[sighs]

A real live vampire, or do you prefer undead? Be honest.

…

Good to know, good to know.

…

I assume that you were turned rather recently due to the state your gums are in. 

…

Three months ago? 

…

That explains why no one’s surprised about the change in appearance. Summer sometimes does that to people, you know? My best friend went and cut their hair, got a new load of piercings, and a boyfriend to boot over one summer. People hardly recognized them, but no one made any comments ‘cause it’s the summer. It’s when you try to figure things out.

So who would you say your coven’s aligned themselves with? The Department or the Council?

…

Not talking. Right, I should have kept that in mind, freshly turned don’t have much involvement in coven politics. 

…

Um, here. You see these two symbols?

…

Which one would you say that you see most often associated with your coven?

…

Department, alright.

…

Take this and suck it down before you pass out, vamp.

…

Next question: Do you always operate by night or are you able to go out in the sunlight at all?

…

Look! It’s an old myth, and even though hunters have some experience with vamps, you’re all so secretive that no one knows what the truth is, and any they’ve actually talked with are dead a few days after.

…

Besides, the moon reflects sunlight and all so I don’t think it’s the sun itself that affects you–

You’re kidding. Sunglasses? Well, it’d make sense, given the way the melanin in your eyes is just entirely gone…

Oh, sorry, got distracted again.

…

Yeah, onto the next one. Was there much of a culture shock when you made the transition from human to monster?

…

You know what, forget that question. That– that’s too personal to be asking so early in the research process. I– I should be focusing on quantitative not qualitative data and you’re– it’s probably a touchy subject and–

…

I’m sorry. I– usually I can keep to the facts, but this– this is… Let’s just, focus on the next question. How often do you need to feed?

…

Three to four times a month, so about once a week and–

…

What–what happened to my friend?

…

Hey, I never said anything about anything happening to them. Have you got like telepathy or something?

…

Makes sense why you revealed yourself so quickly.

…

Could you maybe not go poking around in my head? I’m not exactly a big fan of strangers hearing my innermost thoughts.

…

Not the thoughts– just…just emotions?

…

Enough about my friend, they’ve got nothing to do with you and they’re not the reason why I’m doing this.

…

How many Brassbeaten vamps are there in this town?

…

If you don’t want to answer, then fine. I’ll be on my way and you can–

…

What do you think you’re doing now… good lord, you’re close. 

…

You don’t gotta trance me to get me to tell the truth, vamp. You hold my wrist and feel that pulse, and you’ll see I’m just as terrified of you as you are of me, but I want to give you a chance.

…

Look, this isn’t about getting close to vampire kind for a favor or building some network with monsters. I–I just want to understand what makes you all tick so that we can avoid killing the good ones. 

…

That’s not the point, vamp. 

…

The point is that I don’t think you’re all bad, and that scares hunters. Because if there’s the chance that they’ve killed a properly moral creature in their time, it makes it murder. And if it’s a murder they’ve committed, then they can’t quite separate themselves from monsters can they? And then that means they’ve got an awful lot of apologizing to do.

…

I’m writing a book on monsters and this book– this research, it’ll change everything. You can help with that, but uh, you don’t have to. In fact, I’ll get rid of any notes from this interview if you’d like that. 

…

I can– I can keep them?

…

Oh, on one condition, that makes sense. Two– two conditions, yeah.

…

That one’s easy enough. Most of the data should be kept anonymous as is.

…

My friend– why would you care so much about my– 

…

[sighs]

Fine. I agree to your terms, but I’m going to need some time before I can tell you anything about that, and we’ll need to conduct a second interview, alright?

…

Great.

…

The blood bags? You can keep them.

…

I’ll see you around, vamp.

[aurorialwolf]

How would y'all react if I said there's a universe where Fizz is just a regular telepath (or dreamwalker) named Finn and he has a fluffy orange cat named Aria..

this maybe isn't worth the whole taglist so I'll just tag a few ppl @silver-timetravel @moonvalley94 @original-bookshelf @lancerthatisntfree @vind3miat0r

[aurorialwolf]

Like mother like daughter?

God I love doing juxtapositions

@original-bookshelf @ryn-halo26 @silver-timetravel @riotkitsune @meowtus @localpigeon22 @thesolaireslawyer @lancerthatisntfree @moonvalley94 @vind3miat0r

[soleminisanction]

On a whim, I decided to hunt down the first appearance of the Cluemaster, just for historical context and to see where the character actually started pre-Dixon, pre-Crisis, and especially pre-Steph. It actually turned out to be... pretty interesting, in terms of the grand sweep of Bat-continuity. At least I think so.

So Arthur Brown, alias the Cluemaster, made his first appearance in Detective Comics #351, published in May 1966:

That timing is interesting, because it means this issue would've been coming out right around the time the '66 TV series was wrapping up its first season. Which means that this is the period of continuity when, following Detective Comics #328 from two years prior, Alfred had been killed off via giant falling rock (seriously) and replaced with Dick's Aunt Harriet in a slightly desperate attempt to make the living arrangement in Wayne Manor seem less gay.

This is significant because, following the era-specific splash page introducing "The Cluemaster's Topsy-Turvy Crimes!" the story proper actually begins with Harriet:

For some reason, despite being the "den mother," Aunt Harriet was always left out of the loop when it came to the Batman and Robin schitck, so this opening sequence after her two years on the job was a whole deal.

I can see how Arthur got a reputation for being a D-lister villain -slash- kinda pathetic when he's getting upstaged as a threat in his first appearance by, "Quick, we need to gaslight not-Mom." The way he gets actually introduced into the story almost feels like an afterthought -- like, "Oh yeah, this was supposed to be about the villain guy."

"We've been waiting for them all week!"

Oh. Oh, I think they're trying to make him pathetic.

That would explain so much about Arthur's terrible costume. I always thought that thing looked like it was designed to be awful. And I think it was. I think we're supposed to take him as a wannabe the heroes aren't taking seriously. At all.

Side note, I'd forgotten how many creative monikers they gave the boys back in these days. Masked Manhunter I've heard before, but Teen-age Thunderbolt is new to me.

All that said, Arthur can't be totally incompetent or they wouldn't have a story, so he does manage to slip away and leave him with his supposedly signature clue...

But even that kinda feels... off? Because then Arthur gets this whole monologue to set up that his thing is that he thinks he's smarter than everyone else, and his real plan is to try to figure out Batman and Robin's identities...

...only to be foiled by the Aunt Harriet b-plot and have the Duo just kinda give up on his clue altogether.

Like seriously, they foil a completely unrelated robbery and then stumble on Arthur's big Arabian Nights heist on accident. Only to get dropped down a hole which, admittedly, doesn't make Batman and Robin look so great in comparison either.

There's an odd tone to this story because it really doesn't feel like we're suppose to take Arthur all that seriously as a threat? Like, even for the time, he's goofy. He feels like a parody of the Riddler, who was very popular at the time. And yet, based on the logic of the story, his plan of distracting them with terrible clues while he secretly followed them to their secret headquarters would've worked, if not for Aunt Hariet's efforts to also learn their secret identities accidentally screwing him over.

Also... sure, we'll call that a "sea serpent" and not a "very obvious upside-down duck." Whatever you say, comic.

The Arabian Nights one is a little more clever, but is it racist? I genuinely don't know. Maybe. Unrelated to all that, I like how Bruce and Dick are drawn in civilian mode by this artist (Carmine Infantino, designer of Barry's OG Flash costume -- a legend). He captures their ages well without over-exaggerating anything, Dick looks like a pretty, acrobatic teenager, Bruce looks like a handsome athlete in his 30s, they're wearing clothes that suit them and fit well. IDK, they just look nice.

Also, heh. Duck marina. Tim's new home, foreshadowed 60 years in advance.

Anyway what was I talking about? Right. Arthur. Harriet's camera gave him away because his painting was radioactive.

It was the 60s, everything in this franchise was radioactive. Not sure how this plan parses with the fact that the Batmobile of this era was supposed to be nuclear-powered too but whatever. From there foiling his dastardly plot is as simple as following his henchgoon home...Dick jumps on a grenade just to squeeze in some last-minute drama...

And then Bruce and Dick successfully gaslight both him and Aunt Harriet with the power of disguise and a little movie magic.

"Someday, we'll tell Aunt Harriet! But not now. For reasons. It'd be easier, but we're just not going to."

Also, it took me until writing up the page descriptions to realize that the two goons that Bruce and Dick pose as are the same two they take out for stealing televisions, so that would be why that random moment is in there. That did not track for me, probably because it's not so obvious from the framing of the fight scene that Dick is tackling a guy who's basically the same size as him.

--

In conclusion: Arthur should use more bombs. That's clearly more this thing than the clues, which it turns out where never actually a compulsion at all, but shtick to try and show off how smart he is. Like the foundational difference between Riddler and Cluemaster appears to be that Riddler has a legitimate compulsion to leave riddles behind and Cluemaster's just a know-it-all tryhard who's challenging Batman purely to prove that he's the smartest guy in the whole wide world.

It's also funny and a little sad to me that, despite this issue prominently featuring Aunt Harriet, a character who got a lot of attention in the '66 TV series, when they needed a quick Riddler expy to fill in for an episode in the second season that they couldn't use Frank Gorshin for (because he was asking for more money than the studio wanted to pay), they didn't use Cluemaster, they used the Puzzler, a Superman villain from the Golden Age.

This also explains what those pellets on Steph's OG costume were supposed to be, which I'm not sure she ever actually used in canon. Gimmick grenades stolen from her dad's stash could've been a fun shitck for her, they should've leaned into that. Imagine her upgrading to glitter bombs. That would've been amazing.

[aurorialwolf]

We gotta remember this, y'all

[kim-tey]

Greg ‘I hope you don’t think this is too personal’ Davies, everyone.

[aurorialwolf]

Two more AU moodboards!! Both of Aria! (also likely neither will be blogs, but just fun side AU stories)

Dancer!Aria: Does traditional Irish dancing, lives in Ireland, raised with Irish Catholicism, heavily closeted, loves Terry Pratchett's Discworld series (the Monstrous Regiment book is a nod to her feelings around gender - iykyk). Just joined a travelling dancing group, which is how she ends up in Dahlia. Still a dreamwalker, but has never once entered another person's mind, and has chalked it up to just having really vivid lucid dreams (unaware of magical world).

Gymnast!Aria: Timeline deviation from elementary when she joined gymnastics club, well aware of her magic but has decided she has far more important things to focus on, such as her professional gymnastics career (also doesn't know about the empowered world). And; hands you guys possibly team physician!Pidge and spotter!Allan because that feels incredibly fitting dynamic-wise. !! Plus her personality in terms of confidence and attitude is more similar to imp!Aria!

@original-bookshelf @ryn-halo26 @silver-timetravel @localpigeon22 @thesolaireslawyer @moonvalley94 @vind3miat0r

[aurorialwolf]

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!

Casper!!!!!