#file asks tag

[mysticstarlightduck]

File Ask Response!

So, a while ago @world-of-iridensia made me an ask in my reblog of this post here so here goes my response! Sorry for the delay, end of last year and beginning of this one was a bit hectic but I survived lmao

Let's go with some characters from Crash Stardom! and Arrows of Nightfall for this one (:

Crash Stardom!

Arden Ellis found out about the word "defenestrate" from a meme and it is now their officially favorite word. Also, unrelated to that, Arden's first language is Italian! Which is why they'll sometimes sprinkle few Italian idioms into their daily conversations.

Despite Eidan Decroix being a cold-hearted Reaper working for Dominic Fletcher himself in the start of the story, his favorite music genre is gliterry dance pop. He likes to keep up a reputation of hardcore or unfeeling, but anytime he has his headphones on you can bet he is listening to the most innocent songs ever lmao. The dichotomy of evil ✨

Fabian Styrling has a thin scar that crosses the bridge of his nose and both of his cheekbones, from a bullet that ricocheted towards him one time he tried to help Arden out of an ambush by the mob. The wound itself was rather surface-level but the placement was what was most terrifying for Fabian, because he knew that - if he had moved a few inches in the wrong direction when the bullet flew - he could've been killed.

In this world, Abyssians (seafolk) can grow to incredible sizes depending on the animal species they hail from. For example, Osian was 8 meters long (because the species he hailed from was a manta ray, which can from between 4-9 meters), and Randall can be 7 meters long in his True Form (because his species hails from the orca whales and those can grow between 5.5 - 9 meters). However, Abyssians who hail from smaller oceanic species, like clownfish, octopuses and moray eels, can be human sized in their True Form or even smaller than a human. Mammalian-based Abyssians (like Randall) can easily transform in and out of a temporary human disguise. Fish-Based/Non-Mammalian Abyssians cannot.

Chion Strihhda often displays bird-like behavior, fluffing their feathers, constantly humming their favorite songs and climbing onto high and unusual places. They also like their bed to feel like a nest, often collecting pillows, blankets and other soft things.

Juniper Mei loves fire/non-harmful arson and often collects matches, firecrackers and occasionally fireworks. Sometimes, she busies herself by creating unique kinds of non-lethal explosives to help the rebels craft distractions and traps.

Arrows Of Nightfall

Helio has heterochromia, with one of his eyes being deep green and the other light brown. Because of that, and a few other reasons, Green tends to be his favorite color!

Gwyna and Kaelan were friends during their childhood. As the daughter of the Regent Lord, she had met the Baelbrok family once or twice when Kaelan's mother, a general from the outskirts, attended royal meetings. However after Fort Baelbrok fell to the Therassi Empire and Kaelan was kidnapped along with his younger brother Herin, she didn't hear from him since, that is, until they meet again during the events of the main story.

Meris grew up in the captured provinces of the Plains of Sottar, and after being betrayed by a friend he trusted, he was sold to the Therassi empire as a slave. He was tasked with becoming a valet/squire to the realm's executioner soldiers/assassins, something he did out of the the need to 'just survive'. However, the soldier's Trainer developed a disturbing obsession with secretly trying to shape Meris into an 'upgraded soldier' something that Meris openly resented and refused to comply to, earning him a world of pain and stoking his hatred for his 'master' and for the Empire.

Rowen was born and raised in the heart of the Therassi Empire, but was not one bit protected by it. While the kingdom focused itself in expansion, the lowest castes of its society were falling apart from the inside out. Rowen survived a famine/plague that ravaged his village and became a thief prowling the outskirts of the kingdom in the forests, with a few other street urchins who became his found family.

My taglist:

@the-letterbox-archives

@kitty-is-writing

@sleepy-night-child,

@tabswrites

@kaylinalexanderbooks,

@smol-feralgremlin,

@oh-no-another-idea,

@littleladymab,

@little-peril-stories

@thelovelymachinery

@winterandwords,

@eccaiia,

@sarahlizziewrites,

@illarian-rambling

@agirlandherquill,

@anoelleart,

@ray-writes-n-shit

@writernopal,

@anyablackwood,

@forthesanityofstorytellers,

@finickyfelix

@i-can-even-burn-salad,

@cakeinthevoid,

@thepeculiarbird,

@clairelsonao3,

@memento-morri-writes,

@starlit-hopes-and-dreams

@wyked-ao3 and OPEN TAG

[justabeewithapen]

What do you think would('ve) happen if, like, Doey and the other toys/experiments (Lucas and Bella included) got out of the facility? How would they react? Obviously, they'd enjoy the freedom, but what else?

Text under the read more!

Phew! Sorry this took me so long to get to, but hopefully it was worth it! Someone else also sent an ask talking about how Bella and Lucas could have survived the HOJ (which I accidentally deleted due to lag while deleting spam TwT) so this is for both of you!!

The first thing on everyone's mind after escaping would be food, food and drinks of any kind. Playtime Co. controlled most of the toys via starvation, and the food they did get was really low quality junk. Doey is more than familiar with crawling through vents, and what is that Walmart employee really going to do about him. While grabbing most anything in reach, there was definitely a preference towards junk food, they're all still kids and chips and soda are like ambrosia and they're going to eat until they throw up, and then they'll probably eat more after XD

After they finish gorging themselves I think they'd probably hide? Try and find somewhere to hide out either just in the woods or if they can locate an abandoned building. Anything to stay out of the weather and away from people, especially that last bit. None of them want anything to do with people, interactions would be rare and as short as they possibly can manage (they're all very scared of being dragged back). Getting Lucas and Bella's collars off is one of those rare people interactions, that poor employee who had Doey's stalker form looming over them while they tried to turn off a shock collar attached to a stuffed animal (who was also alive). Like, the second they left the store that dude 100% fainted BAHAHAHA. Doey's main focus is on himself, Bella, and Lucas, though I think it'd make sense for them to pick up a squad on the way out. Most toys were enjoying the carnage to some degree (or being torn apart in it) and most of the mini toys couldn't do much even after getting out of the building, these three were just lucky. There is no way in hell any of them would be willing to go back into the building, as much as they wish certain friends were here, it's just too much risk.

Honestly even after escaping I think they'd still be stuck in survival mode, scared of being dragged back at any moment and living in a world that is so new and scary. Most don't have very strong memories of being human, everything is new and to them, anything new is dangerous. They'd settle into a routine eventually I imagine... I believe in them :] Also for funsies! The Bron's name is Brandy, he remembers the most about being human (though not his own name as Brandy was a name he took after being a toy) and is in charge when it comes to figuring out new stuff. He is also the oldest of the group! The Daddy Long Leg is Dill, he also doesn't remember his real name. Dill and Doey are the main ones who do any sneaking that needs to be done, Dill is small and flexible, Doey is large and flexible. Finally there is the Catbee Amelia, who the only thing she remembers is her name. One of her antenna snapped off before meeting Doey and gang and she was the leader of her little squad, though I think she enjoys being able to take a backseat nowadays.

[chiptrillino]

Dunno if it has been requested but no.66?

( ID in ALT text) i honestly didn't expect somone to still ask about these hahah

[mrs-paint]

hi

[woodbrook-wanderer]

Bits + Bits: A meta discussion on Sam's gender

Hello! This post by @spyjam24 has been itching me for quite a while, and while I could just include this in a post about Sam and in general the queercoding of the BTTWNS world, this seems important enough to talk about on its own. Sam being a woman while presenting masculinely is another point of discussion in my future Nigel analysis.

BEAR HEIRARCHIES:

Being solitary creatures, bears have a simplistic social structure where mature dominant males are at the top, and sub-adults and cubs remain at the bottom. Male bears assert dominance by marking their area with their scent and challenge other males to gain right to food sources or an area. Larger bears roar to scare away younger bears who aren't as strong. While bears are not territorial and learn to co-exist with each other in safe distances, even congregating in places with abundant food supply (streams, coasts, etc.), the male dominance ensures that all the given needs (food, water, shelter, and mates) are streamlined towards them. Females do not have much say in the matter. Although they are tolerant and can live within the territories of dominant males, refusing advances for mating results in injury or even death.

Female bears are most associated with rearing young and defending their cubs when male bears threaten to kill their children in order to get the mother to mate with him. Females do not go out of their way to kill or challenge other females.

Single females and subadults are almost always submissive to mature males but have a loose hierarchy within their own group.

RE-IMAGINING BTTWNS WITH A MALE PROTAGONIST:

Knowing this, how would BTTWNS play out if Sam was a man? The most prominent selling point fans and comic news outlets use to drive eyes towards the comic is its similarities to the TV show Dexter. Similar logline, similar plot, close enough characters. I have not watched the show in its entirety yet but with the knowledge I've gotten through friends and social media osmosis, it's about a mild-tempered investigator who's a serial killer by night. I have heard from a friend that one of the main storylines in the series is a string of murders happens and it is done to impress the titular character.

Sound familiar?

However, coming from a fan of Beneath The Trees and did not read under the advertising of it being "Dexter but Richard Scarry!", I believe it largely undersells and underestimates the message and themes. It also seems to disregard the importance of Samantha being a woman but also being a butch. Her gender presentation is extremely important as to how and why she kills in the first place.

But let's play this hypothetically. Sam is a man. He owns a hardware shop and is well liked in his community. He's the only bear in town. He's secretly a serial killer and goes out to the city to pick and choose his victim. Sure, it sounds similar enough, but why would he still kill in the first place when he knows he's at the top of the food chain or the social hierarchy in Woodbrook in the lenses of the anthropomorphic animal world? More importantly, if he was a man, why would anyone be brave enough to challenge him by becoming the local serial killer?

Nigel challenges Sam because she is a woman.

Caging The Idea:

Of course Beneath The Trees could work alone if Sam was a man but that would take away a lot of the gravity in the implied horror of the series.

First and foremost, Nigel is a stalker. He follows Sam around and obsessively takes photos of her to collect. God knows what he's doing with those photos, but his obsession with her extends beyond the images and into imitation. Aside from becoming a serial killer himself, he tries dressing and acting similarly in Issue 4 where he confesses to the crime in an attempt to become her equal.

But that's the thing though. He doesn't view her as an equal. He's excited at the idea of her masculinity and imitates what he can learn from the violence that comes with it. She isn't as competent because she is a woman and he needs to assert himself under the guise of assisting her or "doing it together".

He throws a fit when he is rejected, similarly to how certain men feel entitled to a woman or a partner and violently attacks her (although in this case indirectly by framing Charlie's murder on her and creeping into her subconscious in the nightmare).

He fights for dominance he knows she can't naturally have because that's how nature is, correct? Females will always be submissive to males and rejection results in injury or even death.

Now imagine all of this if Sam was a man. It does not feel twice as horrifying as it actually is in its plainest form.

Nigel is a predator as we know it in the modern sociological context, and he confidently does this by exerting the violence that comes with masculinity which he ironically learnt from a woman.

WHY DO YOU KILL?:

It's simple. Nigel kills to assert his dominance.

Sam kills to emotionally regulate, but also kills to assert dominance.

Sam is seen to revere wild bears as she sees herself as a bear (she is, but moreso in the sense she is not "human" or social like the other animal folk in Woodbrook) and chooses to be one with what she loves. Her fascination and kinship with the strength and the power they hold in nature is why she chooses to present, dress, and act butch. However, we do see in gaps and moments that she is aware of how powerless she actually is if she was a bear and if she were to be a person. There's the pressure to be good. There's the social pressure that comes with being a woman. There's the expectations of her gender and the exploitation men will have over her in either situation.

And so she kills. She has no young to defend. She's not interested in love, or raising a family or being social so she'll act like a male bear because that is the closest she'll ever get to having power over anyone.

And that power will be challenged in the Spring.

Yes. It's important that Sam is a woman. Don't undersell BTTWNS as a Dexter spinoff.

[butchsophiewalten]

drawings

[lemongogo]

sister hunna will see u now

[nettlesketches]

haunted by a missing man

[galaxygermdraws]

BEHOLD. This is the secret santa gift I did for my friend @rhapsoddity. I felt it would be a crime if I didn't draw VSAU. I ended up making several versions of the piece (which will be in the read more), as well as drawing like 16 characters (most of which will also be in the read more. No Spectrum though. You don't get him), and for that I know I am insane.

(reblogs with tags/comments are appreciated. Go follow Percy rn if you aren't, their AU is really cool, thankyu <3)

[nightly-nightcat]

day 173 - that slug sure is watchin

[luigilore]

morning beach day w/ lulu & hyperfeminine gf????? where she’s rubbing sunscreen on his back bc his ass never puts on any sun protection. cuddling together too <3

luigi would want to get up early for the sunrise he's very proud of the secluded, relatively unknown part of the beach he discovered (do u get a trespassing ticket together eventually... maybe...) would set out a blanket and have snacks planned like a whole thing... would have a legit camera, would also have a book maybe that's you're both reading or that you recommended him; has his arm wrapped around you tucking you into his chest and holding the book w his other hand so that you can read too... also i feel like he would love deep convos with you like very much enjoys talking about your future together at 6 am on a deserted beach

and his chain omggg the metal would be so cold against your skin, contrast to luigi's warm hands he would be shirtless and your hand trails up and down his bicep gently... you would just tell him how much you love him in his arms, watching the tide come in, as he kisses the crown of ur head <333

omg that pic of his sunburnt back stop... once the sun rises ur fretting over him sooo much bc the last time u went to the beach together he got so burnt :( like u went through an entire bottle of aloe gel! so ur like “lu, it says every two hours!” but when he realizes you insist on putting it on for him now he's suddenly into the sunscreen regiment 😁

[justabeewithapen]

I can't remember where I saw it, I think it was Clayface from Batman, but I distinctly remember seeing a show where a person was drowned with clay/mud/dough. It was shoved down their throat in a torrent and the choking sounds they made were awful. They didn't do anything over the top like explode they just... drowned. Horribly.

Now picture Doey killing a prison guard like that

(not really a question sorry, more an examination of how strong and ruthless Doey can be)

Wonderful, absolutely wonderful stuff (genuine!!!) That definitely sounds like Clayface, he was ruthless in the animated shows. Everyone on here is so lucky I am incapable of drawing things that are genuinely scary or threatening or intimidating (trust me TwT I’ve tried) because the angst I could draw OOOGH just imagining it

When Doey goes on that killing spree after Bella and Lucas die it is ruthless, genuinely ruthless. He is desperate to feel in control, to feel powerful, and to make these people cower and be scared in the way he has both felt and seen his friends feel. Violent thoughts and dreams are normal for everyone, but they lived in an environment of violence which used violence to keep people in line, the killing barely even feels real as he is doing it.

It doesn’t make him feel better, he can’t even hold the remains of his friends without sullying them with blood. In the time he spent rampaging the lower levels have been properly locked down (these measures break down pretty quickly with no one to maintain them, but it is the reason Doey never made a run for it before Safe Haven was established) and he entirely squandered any chance to escape. He couldn’t even live for his friends who died because he was too busy crushing everything in sight. He didn’t try and keep doors open for toys to escape out of, didn’t help other smaller toys who were suffering the same fate as Bella and Lucas during the chaos, didn’t even consider the kids just a level up, the ones who hadn’t been hurt like they he had.

[85-rend]

I was gonna put blood in this but i didnt sorry. its kinda implied at least. you can still think about blood if you want

[circus-critter]

quietly blinks at you , , your art is so so cool ! ! so so pretty ,

very textured , i love it , ,

i don ‘ t know your current art request status ,

but you did a req from a moot a while back , so i am asking so so quietly , ,

( please please jack walten & pumpkin rabbit in one arts , please please )

WAUGHH THANK U!! I haven't drawn Jack in so long, he's gotten a new official image since then! Thank you for the excuse to draw him again haha

Y'know what they say- You're never fully dressed without a smile!

[ancientaliensblog]

Either this, in jail, or dead

----

First started this with the block party last Friday! u know the hyperfixation is bad when you spend almost every waking hour for 4 days working on a single pic

blame @straweepy for the effort i put into this background (& thank them too lol)

[killbent]

"Bon" doodle I made immediately after watching the episode