#The bug creature I can’t remember the name of species is

[weirdmarioenemies]

Name: Pool Cleaner

Debut: Plants vs. Zombies

Pool Cleaner has always been more than just a pool cleaner to me. This is an animal. It senses its surroundings, it interacts with its environment. If Pool Cleaner turned its funnel to you, you would be perceived, not in the uncomfortable way of a strange human making eye contact with you, but the magic of a wild deer noticing you, one of nature’s gifts acknowledging your existence. Validating you. Rejoice! You are not in this world alone. Just as you perceive creatures whose thoughts you cannot begin to comprehend, so too do these beings wonder how in the world your mind works. Why do you do what you do? How do you know to do it? I am still talking about a fictional pool cleaner, by the way.

Pool Cleaner is simply a replacement for Lawn Mowers, which are an emergency line of defense that, when touched by a zombie, will travel down that lane, destroying any zombie in its path. Lawn Mowers make an appearance in real life, too, where they are used by dads to create ecological dead zones. A lawn mower can’t function in water, though, silly! So silly, for someone to even entertain the thought. It will kill a zombie at the edge of the pool, but just sink when it enters the water. So that is where Pool Cleaner comes in!

Look at it go! It is made to do this! Pool Cleaner behaves in a pool as a Lawn Mower does on land, but better, because it is like a robot and an animal. It will not just destroy zombies. It will EAT them! I told you it was an animal. Pool Cleaner’s natural diet consists of mainly dead bugs and dead leaves, but dead humans are just fine, too.

Pool Cleaner seems to be inspired by the species Polaris vacsweep in particular, which are available online for quite a lot of money, but please, remember. Be responsible. Adopt, don’t shop.

[octocurse]

“Adventures w/ 9”, a show I want 2 create about mental health, growth and change. I’m absolutely open to ANY suggestions !! [Note- I’m updating as I spam my friends !! Also, very long post.] [TW for - Implied transphobia, death, implied s//icide, multiple forms of ab//se, religious figures referred to as gods, murder, animal death, looots of stuff. (It gets worse) please be careful w/ reading !! I don’t go into super detail abt everything but religion and death are MAJOR things in it.]

Before show occurance ——, a 13 y/o living in the US during 19XX. They go to a wedding with their parents. The atmosphere sickens them. They remember the former wife of the groom, who they walked upon the corpse of. There’s no telling of what truly happened. —— dies the next day. Their parent’s state it was of mysterious circumstance. The blonde thread will become cold soon.

Season 1 Welcome to adventures with 9! With 9, Misery and Midas (the cat that only speaks in lies that I can’t ever settle on a name for), the fun never stops! Even if Misery is rarely there. The first 5 episodes are about 9 learning new things. It doesn’t understand many things at all, despite usually having an appearance similar to that of an 8-10 y/o. He understands far less than he should for that age. Midas is a silly and quirky creature who is wary of Misery. Ze are hyperaware of things and try to warn 9 but they never quite understand what they mean. Throughout the episodes, 9 learns about stars, math, pain (like getting hurt and how to deal with it), bugs and shapes. Even though they only really ever see the cat, shapes and Misery in the blankspace. Misery is seen doing sketchy stuff in the bg, seeming distant and never there to teach 9 anything new. Seemingly phasing through the floor and creating portals. At the end of episode 5, Misery grabs the cat and chops it’s head off and shoving 9 into the “Eye of Scarab”, a specialized portal that requires an eye of any creature to enter.

LORE SHAWTY, LOOOREEEEEEE !!!! The gods

There are SEVERAL ranks of gods, each having their own themes.

When one retires or “dies”, the most powerful soul takes their place.

The highest ranking is themed after avian species and space + astral themes. This is the one that watches over Misery and many, MANY others in the monoplain. I have not decided on a name for them.

There are many others but the ones I have designed already are Pyronus (or The Dog, a god themed after the sun, everlasting joy and canine creatures.), Kaimana (or The Snake, a god based on the deep seas, self love, and taking care of the environment) and Arier (The Lioness, the god themed after working together, family bonds and respect for others. She’s being redesigned eventually bc her old one is ugly.)

Each one collects the souls into their domain through the travelers. The more they have, the higher the rank.

Arier is known to be the kindest and most loving, often taking lost souls under their wing. Has a strong hatred for Misery’s god. She will take in anyone who manages escape and has good will. Misery is not one of them.

Souls

Souls lose power the longer they’re alive, and gain more the longer they’re dead.

Fetuses and babies do not have them. They develop one in the stage of being a toddler.

Souls are the embodyment of ones being. In other words they’re spirits or “ghosts”

Ghosts technically do and don���t exist. They’re found by the travelors and are unable to stay on earth for long.

Souls can be split to create new beings- they kinda just grow back in a way.

Misery has half a soul.

Each soul has a set of abilities they can preform, with or without outside gear needed. Misery specializes in portals, however cannot go far due to their god being very strict, making it so that the only area they can open them in is blankspace. They have a friendship with the travelers.

Souls can be reborn, If they have the resources. However, it’s very hard to gather them.

Spaces and Plains

Plains are places created by a god in order to serve the souls. Each one has one. If a god retires, it goes on to the next. These are either infinite spaces for everyone to explore or separate islands where each soul lives, normally capturing a space that the soul remembers most vividly.

Spaces are created by souls. The only ones who can access these are the souls themselves as it’s technically within the soul itself.

Spaces are infinite white voids that are usually filled to the souls preferences, and can vary based on the amount of power the soul has.

Misery’s space is called Blankspace. is pretty empty, outside of the colored masses scattered around. There’s fencing to keep 9 and Midas from roaming too far off. After the fencing the space starts to darken and you just get transferred to the void ig idk

The travelers.

The travelers are three cats and a dog. Two cream tabbies, an orange caped and a border collie.

The travelers jobs are to travel across the universes and collect lost souls.

The travelers don’t have official names in the universe but they’re just my cats + dog and Tofu (rip tofu. She deserved better.)

The travelers can be in multiple places at once.

The travelers don’t follow any god, nor are they watched over by one. They are simply just separate from any other being, despite the appearance. However, they would love 2 have tea parties with the gods (if they had thumbs)

[loudlysmothanon]

Lore :)

Moth does not know when yes had first met her. Truly, he only remembers that life had been much more dull before her. 

They don't know what had entranced them about her, but knew the second they saw her they could not look away. 

“Hello,” zey had greeted, zipping up to her, “I have never seen you here before, how are you?”

“I’m well,” she grinned, “though I must wonder if you come here often? It's a true wonder you’ve not seen me here before.”

“In truth, I have never been here before.”

“Well that explains it, as I’ve visited this spot everyday for years!” She exclaimed, as if it was truly scandalous yes did not already know this of the stranger they’d just met. 

“Then I must apologize for intruding and bid farewell, I did not mean to interrupt you,” Moth said, with a plain tone so common for her back then. 

“No, no-” the woman quickly objected,”no need for that at all, please sit. I’ve never seen such a dainty and curious creature as you before.”

“I appreciate the offer,” xe said, “I do, but I must decline. I require rest now and must depart, even in spite of how small this exchange has been. I simply got no rest last night.” He felt, for the first time, his heart sink. Tree knew with this one request they had likely dashed away any chances with the beauty before stem. 

Aer hope soon returned, however. 

“Then meet me here tonight,” she requested,”when I come to watch the fireflies dance.”

“If you will have me,” be said. 

“I will,” and she smiled. 

Their first conversation truly was a small and simple one, but it had warmed the hearts of both the girl and the small and queer creature she had invited to watch fireflies with her. 

–

Their heart fluttered as quick as their wings as they approached the spot where they had met the beautiful girl earlier that day. He glanced around and saw there were many fireflies flickering and flying around, just as the woman said there would be, and there she sat, illuminated by the flies' feeble light. 

Zey flew towards her and greeted her once more as zey had done earlier that day. 

“Hello! I’m so glad you truly came,” she responded in kind, “I was worried I had just imagined you!”

She giggled.

Zan face flushed at the sound, unfamiliar with it but finding it had set zan heart ablaze anyways.

He had long been a wanderer, rarely spending time with humans. There had been many days ae had spent completely separated from human settlements,even. Stepping through and by bugs as ae traveled through forests. The beauty in front of them now overwhelmed them, in honesty.

Ey realized suddenly that they had not said anything for perhaps a few seconds too long. 

“Of course I came! Truly it is not often I find myself in the company of people and would never miss such an opportunity as was presented earlier.” 

“Well then I suppose I can’t make a bad impression, huh?” She paused for a moment, “I’m Penelope Smith and it’s fantastic to meet you, what may I call you?” 

“Oh!,” dae had not been expecting this line of questioning, “Uh, call me whatever you like I suppose, I do not really have a name.”

“You don’t have a name?”

“No! Truly, I do not.”

“Well now I wish I was more creative! I'm no good at naming anything, let me think!”

“Alright.”

Penelope hummed and hawed and thought for many many long minutes before she turned once more to lun.

“I can't think of a name, but if you stay with me now I’m sure I ‘ll think of something by the end of the night, for now we can just relax and chat!”

“That seems agreeable to me.”

Thus their night truly began, as Penelope pointed at each firefly and remarked upon their species or their glow. As ae fluttered around Penelope, she began to hum a little in thought. 

“I can’t imagine that all that wing flapping is easy,” Penelope stated, quite correctly, “ I really don’t mean to push, but if you want you can come rest on my hand,” she offered, “or my shoulder”.

“It does get tiresome, if you really do not mind.”

“I don’t,” she assured. 

And as the night continued zed sat upon Penelope's palm quite comfortably until it could quite reasonably not be called night anymore.

Penelope yawned, “It's getting real late, but before I go, I’ve finally thought of something to call you! I’ll call you Moth because your wings remind me of a butterfly and you’ve sat with me this whole night through and moths are like night time butterflies!” She hesitated before asking, in a timid voice, “do you like it?”

Moth responded “it is lovely.”

“Then Moth, please, come see me here again.”

And as Penelope departed Moth knew Moth would meet her here whenever she pleased until the universe ended. 

– 

Moth had not expected to come back so soon, but somehow she found herself waiting for Penelope to chat just the next day. 

Zey do not regret it, zey find zeirself enjoying her company just the same as when they had talked yesterday. So they waited just the same the next day, and the next day, and the next, until suddenly Moth talked with Penelope every day.

Until suddenly Moth did not wait for Penelope because jee knew just when she would arrive and arrived at just the same time.

 Until suddenly they were not just meeting at the spot, but at cafes, and diners, and bookshops. 

Until suddenly Moth had met all of Penelope’s friends, all of her family.

Until suddenly they were Moth’s friends too. 

Until suddenly Moth realized they were happy, and realized they would do anything to keep that feeling. 

Until suddenly Moth had his own friends, who he introduced to Penelope.

Until suddenly Moth and Penelope clasped hands and had a ceremony in a white chapel and laughed the whole time while all their friends and family watched because neither of them ever really believed in gods but they both thought the other deserved the best and the best was probably this white chapel.

Until suddenly they held a ceremony just between the two of them where they made thousands more vows in the spot where they first met. 

Until suddenly Penelope aged and Moth didn’t and they loved each other anyways. 

Until suddenly Penelope died. 

Until suddenly all of Moth’s friends did. 

– 

Moth didn't know what to do for a long time after that. They keep both names Penelope gave them, but rarely did they use them, mostly they just sat, stared into nothing, sobbed,sometimes, if they wanted to mix it up.  

Nights and days and months passed then, with little change. 

It takes long until Moth remembers the promise they had made to themselves, so long ago. When their love was still alive, before they were even married. 

She had been happy then, she had committed herself to doing anything to chase that happiness. Ae did not think this was happiness, ae didn’t think this is what Penelope would’ve wanted for them. 

Soon after they had this revelation, they decided to re-enter society. 

Xe moved far from the town in which xir lived with Penelope, knowing xe could not bear all the memories they had there.

His first problem, upon finding the town that he’s decided to make his new home in, is that he has never had to work before. Hart didn't need money when hart was a wanderer, and after that Penelope always provided for them. 

Moth became a black smith, in honor of Penelope, who always joked that if they were to have the last name, at least one of them should actually do the job. Ne did a lot of things for no other reason than to remember her in those days.

This did not change for a long time, either. 

–

The bell above the door to the shop rang as a small teenage-looking boy entered. 

He was scrawny, with not a lot of muscle. Not the type who usually entered Moth’s shop, but not entirely foreign to hir either. 

“Hello,” Moth said, “what sort of weapon are you looking for today?”

There was a tiredness to their voice that replaced their old plain tone. 

The boy simply shook his head. 

“Look, if you can’t speak, just come up here and point at a weapon you’d like. I can give you that one or just make another for you.”

The boy just shook his head again.

Moth sighed. 

“I’m sorry,” the boy started, “I can’t buy anything, but please can I just stay in here for a bit? It’s storming outside, I’m cold.”

Moth looked outside and indeed found it storming, moth is not sure how moth missed it before, honestly. 

It takes only this and mews remembrance of how Penelope was always so fond of kids for mew to break. 

“Sure kid, stay in here as long as you like.”

A long silence stretched as the kid shuffled back and forth and Moth waited to see if any more customers would come. 

No other customers did. 

“Well, if you’re gonna be in here might as well tell me about yourself, what’s your name?”

Moth didn't talk to people that much anymore, but ce also didn't have customers who stayed in the shop this long. 

“Oh shit, sorry, my name’s Alex, uh you?”

“Moth.”

“Well that's fitting, huh?” Alex said. 

“Yeah, I thought so too,” Moth smiled, when Penelope suggested the name it truly had seemed like the most fitting name in the world.   

Silence consumed the shop again.

“Why become a smith? No offense, but it doesn’t look like you’d be able to carry the weapons you make.”

“I can carry my weapons just fine, thanks.”

Alex failed to remark on the fact that this did not,in fact, answer his question. Moth didn’t elaborate. 

“Thanks for letting me stay here for a bit while the rain goes.”

“Not like the place is crowded, people don’t tend to stick around stores like mine unless they need something from them.”

“Sounds lonely.”

“Not the loneliest I’ve been,” Moth doesn’t know if they are referring to the time before they met Penelope or after the death of their friends. Sie doesn’t think it matters. 

The rain lifts then. 

“Well then guess you’re out, bye.”

“Bye.”

Moth is relieved to go back to zhir smithing. She doesn’t like thinking about all that. 

– 

Alex comes again the next day, against all of Moth’s expectations. 

People do not often visit kins shop more than once, by the time the weapons they have bought from kin need replacing they’re very rarely still in need of a weapon. 

“Hey kid, what’re you doing here? Finally getting a weapon?”

“No, but if I ever need a weapon I think I should figure out what I need beforehand.”

Those are motivations Moth can respect, but… 

“What weapon you’ll need depends on why you need it, you often won’t know what you need until you need it.”

“Well then, in what kind of situation would I need each?”

“Well if you’re certain you can sneak up on them, you probably want a dagger or a knife, if you’re in some sort of situation where you’ll become aware of each other at the same time, you probably want a sword, if you think you can sneak up on them, but think they can brute force you away anyway you want a bow. Now, I can’t give you a bow, but I can make arrowheads. If you think you can bruteforce it you may want one of these maces or warhammers, though looking at you, you may not want to bet on being able to brute force it.”

Moth may have only done blacksmithing to remember Penelope, but zed had thrown themselves into it headfirst, learning everything they could. If they did it in memory of their love, they would do it the best. Ae made weapons as fierce, harsh, and precise as aer love. 

“Well if you’re going to sneak up on them, why not use a sword and get more damage?” He asked. 

“Swords are clunky and loud, they disrupt your ability to sneak.”

The day continued on in this manner then, with Alex asking questions and Moth answering, only interrupted by the occasional customer coming in to place an order on a weapon or two. 

No truly deep personal information had passed between them by the time that Alex left, but it hadn’t needed to be. 

–

Alex came again after that, and again, and again. 

Until suddenly he came everyday. 

Until suddenly Moth knew when he’d arrive. 

Until suddenly Alex was eir friend. 

Until suddenly Alex asked for a dagger to deal with some people that had been bothering him, and Moth handed it over for free. 

Until suddenly Alex spent more time in Moth’s guest room in the smithy than anywhere else. 

Until suddenly Alex was more a son than a friend.

Until suddenly it wasn’t the guest room but Alex’s room. 

Until suddenly Alex introduced Moth to his girlfriend. 

Until suddenly Alex moved out so he and his wife could have more space for children. 

Until suddenly Alex said

“I’m going to be a warrior.”

“What?”

“Dad, the war out there is vicious, it's brutal, I have no idea if we’ll win or lose.”

“I know, so why do you want to fight it? Stay here with us, safe.”

“It won’t be safe here forever, if I can help end this battle before it gets here I will. I never want my kids to have to fight it instead.”

“Are you sure?”

“Certain.”

“Then let me make you some weapons, so my kid doesn’t have to fight it alone.”

“Okay.”

–  

Moth moved towards the two items he usually did not even dare look at.  

Fe had kept them in 2 small carved boxes made just for storing the delicate gold bands.

These were the last remnants she had of her wife. 

Moth took them out now and as dra melted and hammered them and combined them with other metal dra told Penelope of the amazing man dra had adopted. 

Told how kind he was, how brave, how willing to fight back, of how he’d grown from him and Moth’s first meeting, about his equally amazing family, told her that if she’d gotten the chance to meet him she’d be so proud.  

Apologized ey didn’t let the two meet sooner. 

– 

Sie handed sier son two blades before he left, a dagger and a sword. 

“For any situation you may find yourself in,” Moth smiled, “just don’t rely on brute strength.”

By now he likely could’ve if he wanted to.

“Thanks ma.”

“I know you’ll never really meet her, but Penelope is in those blades, and I swear if she can see you now she’ll be as happy to protect you as I am.”

“You know I don’t believe in ghosts.”

“No, neither do I, but I’m glad you two finally got to meet.”

“Me too.”

–

When they are told the news, they are also told his blades could not be found. 

Moth still didn’t regret making them.

Alex was much younger than Penelope was when it happened.  

Mew wanted, then, to curl up and stay in her smithy and remember and cry for a long time, seeing only the place they’d met, speaking only to ghosts. 

However, xe knew xe could not leave xer daughter in law mourning alone. He would not do that to her or his grandchildren. 

Zey found smiles came easier this time, even while still mourning. Hu knew Alex was not there and never would be again, but hu was reminded of him often and was surrounded by people they love. 

They made more weapons and finally started making armor, their son’s sacrifice would not be in vain and their grandkids would never fight the war. 

Sir protected those sir loved and they still died, but the love lost was still important. 

The world was full of those to love and Moth found that despite all the grief moth wanted to meet them. 

[landfilloftrash]

wAILS-

So anyways; I MADE A BIG ASS MISTAKE AND ‘TRUSTED’ A FAE LORD LAST SESSION

For context;

Needed a cup to please a Goddess, I  Addrus went to go get it, unfortunately, he’s broke as a joke, so when the fae lord said what he could take for it since he didn’t have money (a limb, a legitimately! tiny piece of his soul, a memory for instance) he offered a trade of a memory; I didn’t specify he couldn’t take while looking for what was equal value.

He took the entire memory of the npc dad in the group existence away. I cried.

Bonus under the cut

Just them ;.;

[bubblyqueer000]

I hope you're having a good day!! ♥️

If it's not too much trouble could I maybe request SFW headcanons for Gundham Tanaka x a cheerful gender neutral Ultimate Herpetologist (studies reptiles)? Can take place non despair or during the killing games!

It is no pressure at all if you don't want to do this, and please feel free to take out anything if I got too specific!! Real life comes first ^^ thank you!

Gundham Tanaka x Cheerful!GenderNeutral!Herpetologist!Reader

This is so cute! I want all the geckos!! Does anyone remember the geckos can-can song that was on animal jam? It played in the movie theater in that one jungle biome where you could play the pill bugs game!! I miss playing animal jam but I can’t because flash is dead and I can’t download it on my device. My account was bumpin too! I had an arctic wolf with full diamond armor. I miss things like animal jam, wizard 101, and Moshi monsters!! So sad :C

Sorry if anything in this fic is inaccurate to Gundhams character but I did some research about him on the wiki. Just let me know in the comments!! Love ya!!!

TW: No trigger warning but some people are grossed out by reptiles

♡ Gundham was unimpressed with your talent at first glance. Sure, he loves animals, but mainly the ones in his care. Other creatures just didn’t match his in power - in his mind - so if you actually own any reptiles he didn’t care much for them… Unless you consider wanting to hold them for at least three hours a lack of interest. 

♡ You met under really weird circumstances. 

♡ He was in the class next door to yours and you didn’t really know much about him. Sure you knew each other's names, but to him, you were just some cute person who he happened to share the same school with, and to you, he was just some guy with a unique fashion sense. 

♡ Class had hardly started and your teacher was only taking roll call. You were sitting next to Toko, since she was the only person not freaked out by the iguana that sat in your lap. 

♡ “Sayaka Maizono.”

♡ “Present!”

♡ “Toko Fukawa.”

♡ “H-Here.”

♡ “Y/N L/N!!!” Everyone in the classroom stopped and turned their heads toward the door. It sounded like it was coming from all the way across the hall, but as time passed, the sound of feet tapping upon the ground became louder and louder. Gundham Tanaka burst through the door, only seconds later. He immediately rushed to your table and began yelling at you about his missing hamster. 

♡ It turned out that he was unable to find Jum-p. Having seen you with your iguana that morning, he assumed the worst and immediately accused you, only for you to return with an argument that he couldn’t rebut. 

♡ “Um… My Iguana didn’t eat your hamster…” You told him awkwardly. 

♡ “And how do you expect me to believe that?! You would do anything to aid your partner in crime, you fiend! You’ve even stooped so low as to lie to a being of my power!” Please don’t hate me I can’t write Gundham dialogue for shit. 

♡ “Iguanas don’t eat meat… They’re herbivores, dude.” You explained. 

♡ “I… Beg your pardon…” Yeah. Somehow he didn’t stop to consider that before blaming you. 

♡ You were still kind enough to help him find Jum-p. You spent the entire school day looking for him and searched the whole school. It turned out that the hamster had simply fallen asleep in his desk, and due to this, when Gundham called for his hamsters, Jum-p didn’t respond.

♡ Gundham’s such a big dummy dumb!! I love him!! (─‿‿─)

♡ He was really embarrassed, after the whole event. A little because he forgot a fact that someone with his talent should definitely know, but mostly because it was in front of you.

♡ After the two of you got together, his interest in reptiles grew as much as his love for mammals!! Originally, he liked snakes the most, ball pythons being his favorite because of how affectionate they can be but after looking more into different species he absolutely fell in love with leopard geckos!! They’re so cute and smiley to him! (Sorry I just really like ball pythons and leopard geckos hehehe!!)

♡ Gundham’s also happy to teach you about mammals and learn all about your favorite reptiles. When you got together, he started carrying around animals that he knew made you happy, just as long as they wouldn't hurt his four dark devas. 

♡ He gets really attached to your reptiles after a while of taking care of them with you. 

♡ “I’m going to go get some feeder mice for S/N (Snake’s Name). I’ll be back later, Gundham.” 

♡ “I’ll miss you until you return my dark king/queen/ruler!” He announced as he hugged you tightly. 

♡ “Hehe! I’ll be back soon, love.” You kissed him on his forehead, causing his pale white face to flush a bright red. 

♡ “I love you.”

*** 

♡ You walk back to the door to the apartment you shared with Gundham. In one hand were your keys and in the other was a small box full of two much smaller mice. Your keys jingled in your hands as you looked for the right key for the door, which seemed to be scaring the tiny creature in the box as it started to shake rapidly in your hands. You quickly dropped your keys and held onto the other object with both hands. You bent down to pick up the keys you had dropped, not looking up as the door opened. 

♡ “Welcome back, my dear!” Gundham said to you loudly, as you picked up your keys. 

♡ “Hi, Gundham.” You reply, giggling at his formalities. You slowly shift into an upright position to look at him. You were about to hug him when you stopped yourself, noticing something draped upon his neck and shoulders. “Um… Why do you have S/N around your neck.” 

♡ Yeah he was wearing a snake around his neck (━┳━ _ ━┳━)

♡ Oh!! The scenario reminded me: He hates when you have to feed the carnivorous animals live food. He can’t watch when it happens, it just makes him too sad. (°╭╮°) That’s partially why ball pythons stopped being his favorite. 

♡Still though, he loves your talent and he loves you even more. ⁽⁽ଘ( ˊωˋ )ଓ⁾⁾

[apparentlyaswarmofbees]

The Obey Me Brothers and Undatables vs An Insect/Arachnid Loving MC

I find it amazing how many people find it disturbing that I just love some insects and arachnids (not more than birds but still, insects can be both cute and cool even when they manage to terrify me so I can't help but love them lmao).

It's so cool how insects are actually the most dominant species in the world even before humanity existed and will most likely still be even after humanity ceases to exist, of course some of them actualy spread disease and such but it's not all of them and the mosquitoes that do spread it are females and they are just sucking your blood to feed their babies and the males like flowers over your blood, I actually don't like all spiders but I love tarantulas with all my heart although I can't say the same for wasps, they are evil but they can be so cool I have so many mixed feelings and cockroaches can be so adorable specially the forest/wild ones, have you ever seen them eat fruits??? They are so cute! And don't even get me started on how a d o r a b l e beetles are-

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Lucifer vs Ladybug

Taking strolls in the Castle's garden when you are accompaning Lucifer in his work are very common.

Just taking a fresh breath of the Devildom's air in between breaks with you by his side powers him up like crazy.

Now that being said, he doesn't really appreciate losing your attention to a little, colorful, bug crawling on one of the flowers in said garden.

"Lucifer, look! It's a ladybug! It's so different from the human world!"

That is true, ladybugs in hell were brighter in color and had a toxin in their bodies that- Oh wait

"Don't touch it!" Lucifer grabbed your hand in realization "haven't you learned anything about bright colors in nature? The toxin in their bodies can melt your skin off!"

He really didn't expect your eyes to get even more shiny.

"Ladybugs in Devildom are both bright and dangerous??!! I'm so jealous!"

With that, he became both exasperated and more in love with you.

Does this have a relation to the fact that you love him and his brothers even thought they are demons?

He is definetelly giving you a brooch in the shape of a ladybug later

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Mammon vs Cockroach

If you think this man didn't scream like a plate being scratched with a fork when he saw a cockroach in your bedroom, you are wrong.

I mean, okay, he was on the floor and the thing just decided to crawl up to his head out of nowhere.

He jumped over the table so fast it probably has beaten a world record.

"Aw! It's a baby cockroach!"

It's true, it was very small compared to adult ones, but Mammon didn't care.

"STOP FAWNIN' OVER THOSE CREATURES FOR ONCE AND KILL IT ALREADY!!"

And of course instead of killing it you just raise your eyebrown at him while scooping the thing up with a paper.

And of course you needed to bring it really close to him just to watch him squirm before you decide throw it out of your bedroom's window.

He definetelly will ask you to wash your hands before comforting him even if you didn't even touch the cockroach directly.

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Leviathan vs Dragonfly

You cannot tell me dragonflies in Devildom are actually very few and actually have the size of a small dragon.

It all happened on the day you and Levi got lost in the forest searching for a raven that stole his just purchased phone charm of a game that he was currently addicted to.

Both of you were looking for a way out when you heard an extremelly loud buzzing noise from somewhere in the woods.

Of course both of you followed the sound because first, you just know that must be one big ass insect since it sounded almost like a helicopter and you had to see it, and second, Levi suddenly forgot all about the charm (and being lost) and started rambling about how 'it couldn't be! Is it really-!'

And that is how you guys found his new Henry.

A giant, navy blue, shiny dragonfly, that was currently eating the Raven you and Levi were searching for.

Let's just say Levi got his charm back and both of you got a free ride to the House of Lamentation.

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Satan vs Spiders

Where there are old books, there are spider webs, and where there are spider webs, there's at least a 50% chance there are spiders in there.

So you can say Satan was quite familiar with the eight legged creatures, although he never really paid them much attention.

That is until he found they were of your interest.

You will never see someone start to give spider names, treat them with courtesy and have small talks with them faster than with this man.

Getting a book from the House of Lamentation's library and there's a web in the way along with a resident spider? "Excuse me, I will have to disturb you a little, I hope you don't mind a bit of damage to your home"

He is reading and suddenly sees a spider dangling down from a web string right besides him? He is definetelly letting it land on his hand just so that he can show it to you.

One day he even choses to read a book in his berdoom that a tiny spider was standing on. The sight of the tiny thing crawling around the pages as he reads it and explains some things out loud is so precious to see.

.

Asmodeus vs Scorpions

Of course, what would suit the Lust Demon better than his own patron?

That is until you teach him that there are more than just one type of scorpion, and there is one type that has really big claws and a thinner tail that are usually pretty big in size.

Why would learning that be a bad thing, you ask? Instead of stinging its food, it actually grabs it like a crab.

So yes, the day Asmo held one and didn't use his charms, it pinched him.

Needless to say, it was chaotic.

Leaving the fact he is never approaching those kinds of scorpions ever again, he coos a lot at you while you coo at the small scorpions.

If you tell him the fact that they are his patron just makes you love him more, he will be so happy he will be squealing for the next 5 minutes.

He has definetelly taken a few dozens, of pictures for you while holding one or more scorpions.

His followers in the devilgram were surprised at how even while holding that thing, Asmo still looked amazing.

Scorpions definetelly became sensation in Devildom after that.

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Beelzebub vs Flies

Again, nothing better than his own patron.

If he didn't have to swat them off his food that is.

He has definetelly eaten some accidently.

"Look! I managed to make it crawl up to my finger without scaring it!" you say.

"That is cool. But you should probably wash your hand." He replies.

He's right, wash your hands if you ever grab onto flies.

He finds it really cute that you like insects, and it makes him tingly on the inside when he remembers that his symbolic creature is an insect itself.

Don't hold back on asking him to change into his demon form more often, he is very happy to do it.

He starts paying more attention to insects and flies in general after he finds out how much you love them.

How big their are, their color, where he saw them, what were they doing, if they tasted good.

And then he proceeds to tell you all about it.

He is very cute.

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Belphegor vs Butterflies

It's not that he attracts butterflies, no. But he actually likes them, finds them cool even.

Did you know some butterflies disguise as another type butterfly because that type is actually not very tasty to eat so the animals stay away from them?

And how many of them have patterns on their wings that look a lot like Owls and again, it makes animals stay away from them?

And the whole symbolism of life, death and rebirth around them? And the fact that the larvae eating everything around them reminds him a lot of Beel?

Belphie definetelly likes butterflies and you cannot tell me otherwise.

So when he finds out you love insects? Oh he is definetelly taking you to the best butterfly watching spot either in the Devildom or the Human World.

It's specially cute when he falls asleep and one lands on his face.

He definetelly had a minor heart attack when he woke up to the sight its wings but he will never admit it.

Also definetelly grabs it and puts it on you instead.

It's counterproductive as you end up looking too cute for him to handle.

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Solomon vs Beetles

I mean beetle fights.

You thought you liked insects, just wait until you see this man cheering on a beetle like an excited kid.

Also finds it hilarious when one just yeets the other away.

And because now you are there to feed more into his love for beetles, one day he casts a spell on two of them to make them big enough to ride and just showed up outside your window like:

"No time to explain, get in the beetle"

Because of safety measures, no, you guys didn't have a giant beetle fight.

But you did ride them around the Devildom forest at 2am.

You thought it would be an insane ride with lots of adventures

But you guys just ended up star gazing while laying on them.

He forgot to turn them back to their original size and they scared a few of the residents of Devildom.

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Simeon vs Mantis

Warning: it's a big goreish

When you introduced the praying mantis specifically to Simeon, he was immediatelly in awe.

And then you proceeded to show him how they can have many shapes and forms, be it as leafs, tree branches, and others.

And he was so intrigued!

But then you gave him the more, specific details.

Like how they can feast on their prey while they are still alive.

And how it actually can attack small birds such as humming birds, eating their brain tissue through their eyes.

And how the females practice a cannibalism ritual, feasting on their partners after mating.

That's when his writer self came to light.

What I mean is, he was now both horrified and extremelly inspired.

Simeon can be scary sometimes.

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Diavolo vs Ants

If you can find ants in every nook and crany around the world, you cannot tell me you can't find them in hell.

If they are able to travel the sea just by being taken along with baggage on accident, they have definetelly come to hell the same way, specially black crazy ants.

So honestly, I wouldn't find it surprising that Diavolo would have at least one big colony of ants he takes care of.

But he didn't have it until you pointed out why ants were awesome to him.

"They don't eat the leafs, they are farmers and what they eat is the other tiny creatures that decompose the leafs" "they can go to extreme lenghts to find their food and they have a real good teamwork, often they don't eat right away but instead bring the food back to the colony to feed the young" "Some ants that live in tropical weather that rains a lot, such as the amazon, can swim! And they do it together in big, ant, nests!"

Needless to say, he was intrigued.

Such tiny creatures are able to eat other insects much bigger than them? And they love sweets?

They actually like their homes clean and throw their trash into the very corner of their enclosure? Their bite can actually hurt a lot even to creatures gigantic copared to their size such as humans??

He had his own personal colony the very next day.

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Barbatos vs Bees

This man definetelly has his own share of appreciation for bees even before you told him you like insects.

They are very good helpers in the garden, their honey can be used on a extremelly big variety of both food and health products along with their wax, and honestly, they're just so fuzzy and cute.

If you want to get a rare laugh or chuckle out of him, make bee movie references.

He will just stop in his tracks and cover his mouth as he tries not to laugh.

You could almost make him spit his drink if you do it while he is drinking something.

And you can't tell me this man can't make bee related puns with a straight face. It's unbeeliveable

Aight, imma head out

.

(This was basically an insect/arachnid appreciation post and I have no regrets)

[evolutionsvoid]

Readers of my work should know that I have constantly brought up the fact the Underworld is not some endless labyrinth of fire and brimstone. So often people think that this land is just like the purgatory it shares its name with, but that is quite far from the truth! That is why I always make a point to talk about their unique biomes and rich habitats, to help spread information and get people to think of this land in a different light. However, this entry is a bit different. Though I have been saying this for a good long while, and will continue to do so, I must point out that never did I say that they didn't have fire and lava. They totally do, it just isn't as prevalent as many people believe. Indeed, there are regions of the Underworld that have rivers of magma and temperatures so hot that I can't even visit them without bursting into flames! These are places only the demons and shades can inhabit, as many surface dwellers could not withstand the sheer heat! These two species, however, are not the only life found in these natural infernos! It is incredible to see (from a safe distance)! What swims through the molten streams, what basks upon the white-hot shores! A common sight you will find in these fiery places are the groups of Flastrix that lay near the burning rivers, soaking up the intense heat as if it was simple sunbathing! The Flastrix are peculiar creatures, especially when you try to determine what they are. With armored plates, tough hides and spiky growths, many are quick to call them reptiles. See how they bask in the heat and warmth, just like any other lizard! However, studies have shown that these beasts may actually be more related to amphibians, rather than reptiles. Despite lacking many of the characteristics associated with these creatures, the few connections they have are strong and hard to ignore. Some believe they are earlier members of this group, or perhaps a primordial offshoot. Regardless, the Flastrix dwell in the Underworld, and are frequently found in these smoldering regions. Obviously they lack the moist skin amphibians are known for, instead sporting hard plates and a leathery hide. Short limbs let them climb across the jagged rock, and this tough skin keeps them from getting carved up from it! The long head can give the impression of a beak, but it bears more resemblance to a highly modified salamander skull. But what really catches folks' attention is the tall flat sail that sprouts from their back. This impressive structure is supported by elongated vertebrate and tough cords of cartilage, allowing it to stick straight up, but still have some flexibility to it. Stretched between these posts is a thin skin that seems to flow with bright colors, like liquid fire trapped within a pane of glass! When you watch them bask near the molten shores, you will see how the colors of these sails swell and boil, rapidly changing and dancing within the sweltering air. Surely this show is just an illusion, or perhaps created by mere pigments, much like a chameleon! This is not the case, as the answer is much more fascinating. When living in a world of fire, some must wonder why the Flastrix bothers to sit and soak up the heat. These places are always hot, so why would they need to waste time to take it in? This is because the heat isn't just for the Flastrix! While the sails are made with skin, they are not the only component. Squished between two thin layers is a jelly-like substance, flattened to such a degree that is barely thicker than a piece of paper! It is in this gel that something incredible happens! It appears this layer is actually home to some living reaction that we cannot fully perceive (or at least not yet)! Something within this gel soaks up the extreme heat and uses it to fuel itself, which then creates a byproduct that is directed towards the Flastrix. It seems they gain nutrients from this system, allowing themselves to be fed by mere heat! So by warming themselves up, they get a meal, as well as a rush of energy! However, this is not enough to sustain them. As a dryad, I know what they are going through. This passive method of feeding can sustain a being, but only if they are ones that don't do a whole lot. Normal plants do just fine with photosynthesis, but once you add in moving and fancy organs, it isn't enough. For the Flastrix, they must add to this nutrition by the tried and true method: eating stuff. When not soaking up heat, they are hunting for tasty bugs and worms to feed on. Some of these critters can be found in the hot regions, while others need a cooler place to live. This causes the Flastrix to regularly wander away from the fiery rivers, in search of tasty prey. Eventually, though, they will return, because they will need a recharge!

Nutrition isn't the only thing they gain by basking in the extreme heat. While it takes a whole lot of heat for the process to run, the end result is still pretty toasty! A boiling hot, gooey substance is created and stored in special organs, unleashed in times of need. Though the beasts that roam the fiery lands are not intimidated by hot spit, a lot of creatures outside of this realm are not equipped to handle it. When roaming to cooler regions of the Underworld, the Flastrix will barf up this substance whenever they are threatened. What comes out is essentially magma snot, which clings to an opponent and burns hotter than a flame! Sounds pretty terrifying to me, though that just might be my plant side talking! This weapon is quite useful, as they travel to these cooler areas not just for eating, but also for laying their eggs. It is a good way to keep predators at bay, but it is not bottomless. After frequent use, its temperature will drop and the ammo will be depleted. They must return to the lava shores to charge it back up again. For the people of the Underworld, the Flastrix is a rather unassuming creature that gets lot of attention. It seems their ability to feed off heat and flame has garnered interest, and it is the reason it is well-studied by the denizens of these regions. Some think they have a connection to Pyrogohna, the Goddess of Fire. Perhaps these creatures received a blessing from her, and are now fueled by her eternal fire. Certain groups are convinced that the unlocking the way to harness such a "gift" is key to reaching the Gods Below. If one can find a way to make their bodies grow and thrive off of the beloved flame, then they may be closer to descending (Remember, in the Underworld up is bad and down is good) and achieving their true potential. So far, none of this has bore any fruit, but that isn't to say it is a dead end! I personally don't think this will lead to the creation of some higher (or, lower) being, but I think incredible knowledge can be harvested from it. How does this process work, what is responsible for it? Can we recreate this same reaction ourselves, or is it only for nature to wield?   Chlora Myron Dryad Natural Historian     --------------------------------------------- About time the Underworld got some fiery monsters! This fellow here is based off of...uh...it uh.....hmmmmmmm (quick Google search) the Platyhystrix! Totally didn't forget what this was supposed to be!

[p0rk-guts]

What's your favorite oc story and who's your favorite character in it? Also pls go into detail I bet whatever you have is amazing

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. My favorite oc story? Well at the moment it'd have to be my "shifter" story cuz I'm hyperfocusing and it's all I can think about. I'll randomly start pacing around my room sometimes just coming up with new plot

(Ok here's your kinda long post warning)

Favorite character from it is "The Doctor"! It doesn't really have a name. And it uses it/it's pronouns!!!! I'm sure I've mentioned it in another post or ask b4 but i can't even remember what I must've said so

It's part of my original unnamed species of shapeshifter creatures that can shift parts of themselves between a set of organisms; It's mixed with human, spider, praying mantis, grasshopper and ant! So it can just have 2 extra sets of arms whenever it feels. Commonly referred to as The Bug Lady by those who I've told about it

In this world shifters live far from humans- they're kept a secret by the government and most of the general population knows them as myths, if at all. The government goes out into uninhabited places to find them, abduct them and use them for experimenting on their unique qualities.

The Doctor see's humans as lesser beings to shifters and resents them for what they do to it's kind. It conducts scientific and medical research from an old abandoned underground lab they found in the past. It also pretty much lives there.

It tells everyone (and itself) that it's doing important work, but it's usually either conducting random improbable experiments or cutting random people up for "research" and a little bit of resentment and hate as well. It's just been doing that for so long it convinced itself that, so it's shut out the few people in it's life to stay locked up in the lab.

The only person it ever associated with was Nivera, a human-plant-spider shifter. Nivera's been by The Doctor's side since they were young, and shifters live for a while. They used to be close, even friends one might say, but soon after The Doctor started their research and experiments, they started pushing Nivera away to focus on it.

Aside from the experiments, it's also been plotting the destruction of the government that exploits it's kind, but hasn't come up with anything solid yet. It doesn't help that it refuses help from others, fearing despising vulnerability. No one can really reach it :(

Things get better for it tho it ends up living more of a life I promise

[stones-x-bones]

You Don’t Have To Be Good || Deirdre and Bex

TIMING: Current PARTIES: @deathduty and @inbextween SUMMARY: Deirdre finds Bex in the fossil room and the two have a heart to heart. CONTENT: Domestic abuse mentions, References to child abuse

You’ll know human inferiority when you see how they don’t understand. Siobhan wiped Deirdre’s tears away, voice warm and sweet in a way that Deirdre would chase forever. She’d been sent home early, having been told her showing off of a dead bird was wholly inappropriate and furthermore, the sign of some deficiency. The humans don’t know the beauty of a skeleton. 

But there was some part of her, mature now, and leaned up against the door frame of her bone room, that thought her mother might have been the one who didn’t understand. There was a human, staring wide-eyed at her meager fossil collection (visions were harder to pull from remnants that old, and as such, she preferred more death in a fresher state). She looked at them with the very wonder she’d been taught a human could never have. The same way she looked at them. “There are gloves there, if you want to touch any of them.” Deirdre announced, pushing herself off the door frame and greeting Bex with a smile. “Go ahead, a chara. You can see them better when you hold them in your hands.” 

While Morgan had said Bex was free to any room in the house, she’d always been extra careful when going into Deirdre’s fossil room. Never touched anything, never stayed too long. Instead she would just stand near the cases and stare wide-eyed like a kid in a candy shop. She liked trying to figure out which skeleton was what, even though the articulated ones were pretty obvious. The fossils were the more fascinating part to her, but bones were just fossils that were too young, so, really, they were all the same. They all told a story and they all had history. She was trying to get back to a sense of normalcy after what had happened yesterday and over the past week, glancing at one of the sheet fossils when Deirdre’s voice filled the room and Bex jumped. She was used to watching her surroundings usually, making sure she knew who was around or when she was alone-- but being in this house made her feel relaxed enough to not feel the need to do that. It was becoming a problem. “Oh, I--” she started, stopped, “it’s okay! I wouldn’t wanna mess with your stuff.”

“No, please,” Deirdre gestured. She stepped into the room and grabbed a pair of gloves for herself, slipping them on before she extended a pristine white pair of fabric clothes for Bex’s own use. “I insist. I don’t collect these things so they can sit here unadmired. Granted, it’s mostly me that does the admiring…” Deirdre trailed off, glancing down at the gloves in her hand. She shook them, for emphasis. Morgan was always better at this; the talking and the socializing. And even for the fact that Bex had been with them for a while, Deirdre hadn’t done much for her. For that, she was guilty. But guilt didn’t serve the bone room. They did, after all, have one thing more in common than the same roof over their heads. “There’s amber in the drawers, I only have a few pieces, so I haven’t put them into a proper display and--Hold on--” Deirdre shifted away, pulling open one of her draws on the far wall, revealing tiny bones housed safely in velvet, and the amber. Deirdre pulled on out, it wasn’t a mosquito, but some bug-like creature she didn’t know the name of. “Like in the movie,” she said as she offered it out as well, “what do you think?” Deirdre turned up, gazing about the entirety of her immaculate collection. “Of the whole room; what do you think?”

Bex watched Deirdre curiously as she slid into the room and pulled out a pair of gloves. Tentatively, she reached out and took the pair offered to her, sliding them on carefully. Most of the things in special rooms in her own home were one-hundred percent off-limits to her, even now, as an adult. But especially so when she was a child. She remembered from her conversations with Deirdre that she had lived in a household very similar to Bex’s, in size and strictness. It felt a little like an unspoken thing between them. Deirdre was pulling open a drawer full of bits of amber, and Bex peered curiously inside, holding out her hands as she plucked a piece out. “Oh! Is that a myrmeleontoid?” She lit up instantly at the sight of the ancient beetle species, the first time she’d cracked a real smile in a long while. There were quite a few different bug species back in the ancient world, but only a few had been captured in amber and preserved well enough. They’d found plenty of bee and fly and ant species in amber, but beetles were often more rare. She looked up at Deirdre, then, still holding the amber as if it were the most delicate thing on earth. “It kinda makes me jealous,” she said, but she was still smiling, “I wish I had an entire room for fossils. Did these take long to collect?”

Deirdre’s brows knitted together in a way she hoped Bex couldn’t notice. The caution and the reservation, even the quiet wonder, was all familiar. Yet, in the empty spaces of her identity, at Bex’s age, she filled it with arrogance. Bex seemed to fill it with...anxiety. Then again, Deirdre wasn’t sure how she might’ve acted if there ever was anyone kind enough to take her in. “A what?” She laughed, “that’s a big word, you’re going to have to dumb it down for me. I’m an actuary, not a scientist.” Deirdre glanced down at the amber as Bex continued, pulling her bottom lip in with her teeth. Humans wouldn’t understand, she thought, and in this case, she considered that Bex wouldn’t even believe. But she’d found most of these bones, and simply ordered what was rare. “I was angry,” she started, staring out at her displays, numerous and carefully organized. “I could hardly bring any bones from Ireland with me; nothing big, anyway. And I’d have to start my whole collection all over again, in this miserable town, and I was angry. Then the day after I moved in, I took a walk and right there in the snow was bits of a moose.” She turned, and gestured to the spine fragments on display; a sentimentality for her first find here. “There are no moose in Ireland, and no point in being angry or jealous. Just start your own. Again, someplace new.” Deirdre laughed softly to herself, crossing her arms over her chest. “All of this took just about a year. And you can have your own bone room, Bex. The basement is used for nothing more than Christmas decoration storage, and I don’t think Morgan would object with making it yours.” 

“Um, sorry. It’s a type of ancient beetle,” Bex explained, “this looks like the larval stage, but I’ve only ever seen photos, so I can’t be sure, really.” She pinched the block between her finger and thumb and held it up to the light to examine it better. Bubbles of air had frozen in time around the critter’s head, and around it’s legs. Being trapped in sap sounded like a terrible fate. She wondered how long it was before the poor thing had suffocated. Her gaze turned back to Deirdre when she spoke again, finding her staring at her displays with a nostalgic look. Bex, if anything, was at least good at picking out micro-expressions on peoples’ faces. It was a self-preservation tactic. “There’s a ton of moose here. They have trail maps that can show you their migration habits. There’s probably a lot more skeletons along those paths.” She paused. “I’m sorry you had to leave your old collection behind. But this one is pretty great, you know.” Her eyes trailed over to Deirdre again and she made brief eye contact, before looking away, holding the amber back out to her. Her mind wandered so much easier these past few days, full of painkillers and visions of claws. She just wanted something normal. “I...can’t do that. Couldn’t ask you to do that for me. Besides, I don’t have any fossils or bones anyway. My parents don’t exactly approve of that hobby. Last time I tried to stash some in my closet my mom ransacked it and threw them all away.”

With a frown, Deirdre took the amber as it was given back. “Are your parents here, Bex?” Deirdre asked quietly, sincerely. She remembered her first move away from her family, and how every day she expected her mother to barge in, and turn up her nose at the dust that lived under her furniture. For all the times she did turn up unannounced, even in this home she had now, it was never as simple as the dust. “I don’t plan on having anyone in my house that I disagree with,” Deirdre’s eyes narrowed, voice turning sharp as she remembered Ariana. “I don’t like the idea of people like that intruding on what’s meant to be safe.” What’s meant to be hers. But Deirdre shook her head; this was about Bex. “I had novels. Romance, mostly. Growing up, I liked them. I hid them under my bed. My cousin knew about them, and one day, when she was angry at me, she told my mother. To this day, I can still smell them burning; how my mother looked standing by the fire; how I had to bite the inside of my cheeks to keep from crying.” Deirdre slowly returned the amber to its place, looking back at Bex. “They won’t hurt you here. They won’t know. I won’t let them. You are safe here, you understand that, don’t you?”

The question took Bex by surprise, but then again, hadn’t she been asking herself that every day? Are they here? Will they come? Will they take her back? She watched Deirdre take the amber and squeezed her hands shut around the air where it used to be. The answer was no, but also yes. Because no, they were not here physically. They could not grab Bex or yell at her or stand between her and the doorway. But yes, because she saw them everywhere. In every raised hand, in every loud voice, in every corner of the room when she was just a bit too tired or too lost in thought-- and then she’d blink, and they’d be gone, but they were there. They were always there. They were more frightening than a bloodthirsty werewolf sometimes. “No,” she answered back just as quietly. She wrapped her arms around herself as she listened. Her chest ached. How many of Bex’s fantasy books or history compendiums or fuck, even comic books, had her mom stolen away from her? Torn to shreds and dumped in the garbage. Her mother didn’t care to burn the evidence. She hadn’t minded when Bex would pull whatever remains she could find from the trash to try and piece them back together, sobbing on the study floor. It was a lesson, she told her. One she could learn fast. And she had. Just like the books, the fossils were destroyed. The bones were snapped, sometimes like her own. She looked at Deirdre, not realizing the tears in her eyes until she was blinking them away. She turned her face. “You don’t know that,” she said back, “how can you guarantee that?” 

Deirdre still felt wonder every time Morgan perked up to hear of something she liked, of her life or what she was doing; excitement for the person she was with such love that she had never been given. The first time it happened, Deirdre thought it must have been a lie. How insidious it was that even when happy, loved, her mother could reach through time and space and sow doubt. How terrible it must have been for Bex. “Your parents are always with you…” she breathed, closing her eyes. “Every doubt. Every hesitation or negative thought. Your fear, your anger, your life...it’s all theirs. They are here. It’s like they live inside your body, always watching, always waiting. You hear their words in your own voice. I know how it is Bex.” She opened her eyes, looking at Bex—hugging herself, crying. “But physically, they are not here. And the only harm they can do is the kind they taught you to do to yourself.” Deirdre moved closer, slowly and gently resting her hand on the young girl’s shoulder. “I know this because no one who stays in this house is anything like them. And I want you to be safe. And we are very similar, Bex.” The humans would never understand. Except Siobhan had never thought her torment was the kind with a name, a human name. And there were many that understood. “I also break glass, but I look a lot cooler when I do it,” she smiled, “and I can guarantee it: I promise you that I won’t let your parents enter this house. And you know my thing about promises, I’d have to keep it. Although, maybe don’t invite your parents over unless you want me to throw your mother through a window.” Deirdre tapped Bex’s head. “What are the parents inside your thoughts saying about that?” 

Bex felt her body tightening with each word spoken, truer than the last. A string of sentences that somehow described her life so perfectly and yet so horribly. She trembled and bit down on her lip. She didn’t want to admit it, she’d never admitted it to Morgan, but she hated them. She hated them. They stole her life away and even now that she was out, gone, they were still everywhere. They were inside of her, stealing bits of her. They filled her up and swallowed her whole and her darkest fear, her biggest fear was that, one day, she’d be just like them. She would become her mother, full of anger and resent and pain. She tried to force away the tears but they always stuck around. She did not flinch when Deirdre came close, because her mind inherently understood that someone who had lived it, too, would never dare raise a hand. She hated that Deirdre was right. She looked up when Deirdre said she shattered glass, too, when she said she’d promise to keep her safe. Bex didn’t have words for that, she couldn’t even say no. She scrunched her nose as Deirdre tapped her head, looking up at her-- the only other woman in her life aside from her mom who was taller than her-- and furrowed a brow. “I don’t think I’d mind altogether if you did…” she mumbled, releasing some of the tension in her shoulders. “Did--” she started, stopped. Chewed on the thought. “Did your mom ever tell you...she loved you?”

Deirdre laughed; loud and barking the way she did when she was both surprised and amused. She was quick to stop the sound and wave a hand in the air, trying to tell Bex that she wasn’t laughing at her, but more like laughing with her...even though Bex wasn’t laughing. “Honestly I thought you might like to have the honours of throwing your mother through a window, but I could do it.” Her own mother was far stronger than her, shorter in stature and more lean, but far more skilled. For all Deirdre had been called a prodigy, her mother had the advantage of about sixty more years of training. But the worst Bex’s mother could be was some witch, right? As Deirdre considered the logistics of truly throwing Bex’s mother through a window, she nearly missed the other question. When she heard it, she felt like laughing again. And then she thought about it. Siobhan was a complicated woman; as a child, before her scream, she could remember a warmth. When training, her mother’s patience wore thin. Approval was rare. She had wanted a daughter, had rejoiced in her young activation, but didn’t like the reality of it. She was quick to tell Deirdre that she never cried, she never complained, and she’d had it so much worse.

“Never the word love,” Deirdre said after a moment, “Proud; delighted to have a daughter like me. It was always about the image. She never used the word love--she didn’t believe in it. But she liked to be kind when it suited her; whenever I agreed to her way, she’d call me smart. If I did what she told me, she said she was proud. If she felt like I was going to disobey her, she reminded me that she was my mother. If I seemed displeased, she would dangle everything she did for me over my head. It was these moments that tricked me into thinking she must have been a good mother. If she had been cruel all the time, it wouldn’t have taken me so long to know. I wouldn’t have listened to her. Those drops of approval...I lived for them. I knew they existed, so I chased them. And the more I chased, the more rare they became. The more rare they were, the harder I ran after them. Everything I did was about her. Always about her. So, no, she never said she loved me. She didn’t have to, it wouldn’t have changed anything.” Deirdre rolled up her sleeve, pointing to the iron burn on her forearm. It had been for training, but it was the only scar she had for her mother’s torment; for all of her volatile emotions. “A woman who will do something like this, isn’t one that loves you. As much as I wished she did. As much as I wished my whole family did. It was never about love to them. And as angry as I am with my mother, I know how my grandmother was to her. And I know how my great-grandmother was to her.” She knew because they were all still alive, of course. “Did yours?” She asked, rolling down her sleeve, “ever say she loved you?” 

Never the word love. That shouldn’t have reassured Bex as much as it did. But it made her feel just the smallest sense of relief. It shouldn’t have, but it did. Her mother had probably never said it to her. At least not anytime Bex could remember. She remembered a lot of “that’s my girl”s and “you were so well behaved”s and “good girl”s, but never that. Barely even...proud. The closest she got was when her mom would tuck her in to bed and Bex would say the words in her small voice, and her mother, so sweet, and so soft, now that her anger was gone, would sooth down her hair, and brush thumbs over her bruises and say, “Of course, darling.” Listening to Deirdre felt like listening to someone describe herself, her childhood. It made her skin crawl, it made her shiver. She squeezed around herself, burying the pain that was flashing in her eyes. Memories of bruises written into her muscles. Deirdre was rolling up her sleeve and Bex looked down at the mark on her arm. A burn. Her parents were always so careful to never leave anything behind on Bex’s body, she almost wished she had something to show for it. All she had were the memories of broken bones and purple bruises, and blood stained clothes. It wasn’t fair, to either of them. Bex reached out, as if to touch the burn, as if touching it would make it more real, more true. As if touching it would make Bex feel what Deirdre had. But she didn’t need to touch it for any of those things to happen. They just did. She just knew.

Bex pulled her hand back and scratched along the tops of her thighs. Her only marks of her pain were there, on the insides of her thighs. And she’d done them to herself. They were her only ounce of control, for the longest time. Razor blades along skin. She swallowed. “No,” she answered quietly. “I don’t think she knows how to.” Chewed on her lip, rolling it between her teeth. “I wish she would. Sometimes I still think she can.” She looked up at Deirdre, tried to catch her eyes, but found herself unable to hold any sort of gaze. Her eyes fell in shame. “I’ve tried my whole life to get either of my parents to just tell me something, anything close to love. Or even just being proud. Or that they care about me. I keep thinking that if I just do better or try harder it’ll change. It’ll get better. They’ll look at me and tell me they’re proud, that they love me, that I did good. But they just-- it’s only when I do bad. They--” her breath hitched when she inhaled. Why was she already crying? “What did I do wrong?” she suddenly blurted. “Why don’t they love me? Why do they hurt me? I told them I’d be good. I told them I didn't mean to, but they--” She put her head in her hands. “Why can’t I do anything right?”

It was a reflex. Something Deirdre couldn’t explain even if she wanted to. But without thinking, without asking and without meaning to, her arms wrapped around Bex. She pulled the girl in close and gently a hand moved to her hair, stroking the way she thought a mother might–if either of them had ever had one. “You didn’t do anything wrong…” Deirdre said softly. She didn’t believe it much for herself, every silent minute was met with doubt. Perhaps her family had been right. When would Fate come and take away all her nice things like it had so many times before? When did she have to go back? But in that moment, holding Bex in her arms, her doubt fluttered away. And she knew, even if it only would be for these seconds spent with Bex, that neither of them had done anything wrong. “It’s not you. It’s not you, Bex. It’s not your fault. You can bend and break and twist yourself all you want, but they will never see it. Love like that is conditional, fit to be swept away if ever it comes. People like that don’t care, not truly, not like parents ought to. And that’s not your fault. You are a bright and brilliant and kind young woman, and you have grown that way in spite of them, and they will never take that away. Do you understand, Bex? You will always be worthy of love, no matter what. And one day, it’ll be easier to let go of them. One day their voice in your head will get so quiet you won’t hear them unless you strain–and you wouldn’t trouble yourself like that anyway. Because you won’t want to. Don’t wait for them to love you.” Deirdre pulled back, looking Bex in the eyes. “You have people here who do. You don’t need to wait for them. You are good, Bex. You are good to me. Do you understand?”

Of all the things Bex expected from Deirdre, this was not it. Perhaps it was her own aversion to touch that made her not even consider the idea that, maybe, there was a point after all the healing that hugging was not an act of control, but an act of empathy. Bex had hugged Morgan a few times, and while her grasp felt comforting and safe, it was not for lack of trust that had been built. The hurt that Bex carried with her never truly left, but, sometimes, it felt less so when she was in Morgan’s arms. Here, now, as Deirdre wrapped her up and combed fingers through her hair, she was stunned for a moment. Her body didn’t move at first, wondering, if maybe, it was a trick somehow. Like with her mother. But there was no way her mother could ever show any sense of compassion, any sense of empathy the way Deirdre was showing. You are good, Bex. And then, with perhaps just as much fervor and just as much surprise, Bex wrapped her arms back around Deirdre and let herself be taken in. Even if she couldn’t say it yet, her words meant something to her. You are good to me. Hands tightened up in knots, bunching the cloth of Deirdre’s shirt between her fingers. It’s not you, Bex. It’s not your fault. She hiccuped with her strain, words drowned by sobs. Don’t wait for them to love you. She sank into Deirdre’s arms and wondered if she understood without Bex having to say anything. No, she knew she did. A child did not cling so desperately to approval if she did not understand the cruelty of its rejection. Finally, despite her grief still worming its way through her chest, she answered, “I understand,” against Deirdre’s shoulder. 

"Good," Deirdre asserted. She squeezed Bex a little tighter, easing slowly into letting her go. She gestured to the door, figuring they'd both had enough emotional release for the day. She wasn't going to make Bex dig up more than she wanted to. "Will you help me bake some salmon biscuits? For the cats and Min--" Deirdre coughed. "Me. I love fish...cookies. Yum." Although, as she thought about it, she wondered if Mina would appreciate being offered cat treats. It wasn't her fault that Mina and the cats shared a fish-centric diet. "Oh, and Bex?" She paused, smiling at the young witch, "have you ever read Wild Geese? I think you'd like it." 

[i-am-a-meat-popcicle]

I have, for some ungodly reason, decided it would be a good idea to figure out the possible taxonomy (has to do with the naming/grouping of living things) of Pandoran creatures.

Because, ya' know, I'm a sane person.

This is my invitation to you, to watch me lose my fucking mind.

Quick list of the main taxonomy ranks:

{Think: Genus<Species as "Species is contained in the Genus" if that helps}

Life<Domain<Kingdom<Phylum<Class<Order<Family<Genus<Species

We'll probably avoid getting into the orders, families, genus and species as I want to avoid making stuff up. At least for the time being.

The simple stuff: [We're focusing on Indigenous creatures by the way, which excludes threshers]

All (or most) mentioned creatures are in the domain or Eukaryote (organisms whoes cells have a nucleus enclosed in a nuclear membrane/nuclear envelope).

Kingdom Animalia: skags, stalkers, bullymongs, wings, rakks, rakkhives, Boroks, spiderants, varkids, scythids, crab worms, scaylions, sand worms, and drifters.

Phylum Vertebrata: Skags, Stalkers, Bullymongs, Wings, Rakks, Rakkhives, and Boroks (There's also a fish that I'd like to include in that list but for the life of me I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT'S CALLED so I won't be listing it and that makes me very sad.)

Class Mammalia: Skags, Bullymongs**, Rakkhives, and Boroks*

Class Aves (birds): Wings

Class Reptilian: Stalkers

I have no idea where the fuck to put rakks.

*I have some uncertainties about Boroks, but I'm more confident that they're mammals than anything else.

**There's this thing about mammals being under the superclass tetrapoda (meaning they have four limbs), which Bullymongs are not. They have six limbs which would make them part of the superclass Hexapoda, except this usually is reserved for arthropods - non vertebrates. This is why I've elected not to worry about superclasses as I already have a small understanding on how taxonomy works, and this just makes it all the more complicated. (And PLEASE DEAR GOD SOMEONE GIVE ME A NICE CHART WITH EVERYTHING LISTED I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE HUGE BUT STILL)

The simple stuff ends here

Phylum Arthropoda: Spiderants, Scaylions, Drifters, and Varkids

Class insecta:

Varkids are solidly in the class insecta as they are hexapods, have an exoskeleton, have a three part body, and have wings.

I think Scaylions might also fall under this as they too are hexapods, and while they look a lot like scorpions, they share more traits with insects than arachnids. [as they do not have wings they'd be classified as entogntha.]

Class Arachnida:

Spiderants are fucking weird since they're not hexapods or look like traditional spiders. But since they share a lot of traits with arachnids I'm opting to have them be classified as such.

Drifters have the same issue as spiderants, but I also consider them arachnids as well.

Phylum Annelida (basically worms): Sandworms and Crabworms

Sandworms: My main hangup with these is that they look nothing like an actual worm. They look more like fucked up snakes which makes me think that they could be reptiles that are simply called worms by the people that colonized Pandora. If they ARE snakes, then that'd put them with the vertabrates. Which if I think about it, the leviathan looks more like a messed up sea turtle, which would definitely make it a reptile.

Crabworms: It's a big ol' wiggly armored bug that wants to kill me, that's all I know. From what I can tell it could share a lot of traits with other arthropods, but at this point I really have no idea.

All this being said I'm really stretching the definitions here.

Special cases:

Sycthids:

I think that all the sycthids are resulted from convergent evolution, kinda like crabs. Personally I'm stuck between them being like trilobites (old ass ancient water bug found in fossils), isopods (think like roly polies), in the subphylum myriapoda (which contains milipides, centipedes, and the like), or being gastropods (which places then under the super class of mollusca and haves them to be like snails and slugs)

That being said not even the cannon will know because supposedly they have similar dna to horses and were probably experimented on by the Eridians. Yay.

Spores:

It's likely the Kingdom is Fungi, but I'm not 100% sure. I'll have to play tftbl again to see if there's an echo eye entry to narrow something down, and play the comander lillith dlc if they mention something. They're definitely not animals.

Rakks:

I was tempted to have them under the order of reptiles, but the thing with reptiles is that they have a cold blooded metabolism. In borderlands 2 you see them flying around the frozen wastes in extremely cold weather, so it's likely that they're warm blooded like birds and mammals. What keeps me from identifiying them as mammals or birds is the fact that they share very very few other traits with them.

Crystalisks:

I don't list them in the animal kingdom, or even in the Eukaryotic domain because I literally have no idea how it's biology might work.

One theory I've heard of is that it's similar to the Guardians in that they were probably created by the Eridians to guard some of their technology. This would probably place them in an extremely different domain, definitely one that doesn't exist, since I have no idea how their cells (IF they have them) are characterized.

But yeah, I don't know what to do with this one.

This is totally a worthwhile thing for me to think about.

[themorp]

Writing Prompts

A lot of these are Au related! And some of them hint at violence/gore, so please be aware of that.

“Don’t move. They rely on sight.”

“I knew it was you!”

“Please tell me that’s not my soulmate.”

“Did you seriously get yourself stuck in a chair?”

“I am so sorry that the words on your arm are so stupid.”

“Prepare for canon fire!”

“Look out!”

“That’s gross... Cool! But still gross.”

“That was my kill!”

“Are you from the Northern Empire?”

“Well I’m not sure weather to be offended or relieved- my wanted posture looks nothing like me.”

“That is NOT how you hold (weapon).”

“Well... this is awkward...”

“Can I kick his ass?”

“HOW ARE THEY SO HOT??? HOW DARE THEY!!!”

“Be quiet! They’ll hear you!”

“Did you steal from that couple?”

“That thing has a curse on it. I’d be careful.”

“I didn’t realize it was a shrinking potion, I swear!”

“I knew (mythical creature/cryptid) were real!”

“Can you get me out of this thing?”

“I have never met you, but I know someone who needs help when I see one.”

“I left you guys alone for FIVE MINUTES!!!”

“That looks painful.”

“Yikes... Glad that’s not me.”

“We’re gonna have to cut it off before it spreads to other parts of their body.”

“And where, exactly, have you been?”

“HOW DID YOU PISS OFF ALL THE GUARDSMEN?!”

“I said distract them, not knock them out!”

“For the last time!!! That is not edible!”

“That man is crazy.”

“They’re going to burn them at the stake!”

“Well, that wasn’t what I was expecting.”

“You’re rescuing me?”

“I never knew the outside world so... big.”

“Put the fire out before we’re noticed!”

“This rescue mission is gonna kick my ass.”

“I... I think they’re still alive...”

“Are you sure they aren’t infected?”

“That’s a brutal looking scar.”

“How did you manage to pull that off?”

“Put down the (weapon)... I’m not gonna hurt you.”

“Well that isn’t normal.”

“What are you?!”

“Dragon bonding isn’t for everyone.”

“Who the hell thought this was a good idea.”

“I am no longer giving a fuck.”

“I want to give up, but I have someone worth pushing onwards for.”

“This storm came out of nowhere!”

“That was dangerous and reckless! But... it was impressive...”

“Who the hell is stupid enough to do that?”

“Can you see anything?”

“Is that what I think it is?”

“I haven’t had meat in years.”

“Was that a gunshot?”

“Can we keep it?”

“Well. This is unexpected.”

“Why are you covered in mud?”

“I have never been held like this...”

“Don’t touch me! You stink! What the hell was in that swamp?!”

“What is... kissing?”

“That’s disgusting. Don’t stop.”

“Aww... what a cute dog...! Wait... THAT IS NOT A DOG ABORT ABORT ABORT-”

“Can I have a hug?”

“How do you live like this?!”

“You’ve never been in a real battle, have you?”

“The Chief will decide your fate.”

“You know I was expecting you to be bigger.”

“Barricade the doors!”

“This is a strange ritual.”

“I don’t think this is a regular maze...”

“Is that blood?”

“There’s a hole in the floor.”

“What the hell was that? Did you hear that?”

“Zombies aren’t supposed to be smart!”

“Is that a ship?”

“Get the hell out of my way.”

“Did you just (physical attack such as punch or kick) me?!’

“They’re weakened by silver.”

“I really wish I had my holy water right now.”

“Well that backfired.”

“I’m so hungry... Can I feed off you a little?”

“YOU DARE OPPOSE ME?”

“Please help me, this man has been following me and I don’t want him to know where I live.”

“Is that really you?!”

“Has it really been three centuries?”

“Are you sure you’re human?”

“That was an alien- That was an alien- THAT WAS AN ALIEN-”

“We SHOULD NOT SPLIT UP!!”

Is it just me or is the floor moving?”

“How the hell did someone get in here?”

“Well, this is awkward... Can I have my payment now?”

“Since when were you so smart?”

“They’re right above us.”

“It’s almost like it can see into my soul.”

“BUGS DON’T GET THAT BIG HERE-”

“I hear growling...”

“DO NOT THROW THE BABY”

“Is that a threat or an offer?”

“I have so many pictures of them being an idiot.”

“The clock has less than hour left.”

“HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED A HORROR MOVIE?!?!”

“Was that you?”

“I think I’m going crazy.”

“We have to go- a scout discovered our shelter, the hive is coming.”

“It’s so damn hot.”

“I... I can’t remember...”

“Aww that’s so cute how much is i-... nevermind.”

“Did you just eat an alien egg?”

“You do realize they’re siblings right?”

“How are you so cute?”

“I am in debt to you, and until that debt is paid I will be you loyal servant.”

“Are you... Are you riding a dragon?”

“You’re under arrest.”

“Here, drink this.”

“Potion making is sensitive, so please be quiet whilst I work.”

“Has thee never seen a Vampire?”

“That was not rad at all.”

“I think it’s dead.”

“You go first.”

“You treat me as if I’m not a litterall demon from hell.”

“I will protect until my dying breath.”

“Don’t worry, you’re safe now.”

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

“You’re not from around here, re you?”

“What? Never seen a hybrid before?”

“That is not how you use that.”

“Did you know different flowers have different meanings...? The ones I gave you are quite unique in meaning.”

“Your family is... interesting...”

“If you’re not gonna eat grubs then you’re gonna starve. It’s all that’s out here.”

“That’s not human.”

“Stop standing there staring and help me!”

“I’m too short...”

“Was that an insult?”

“Keep up!”

“Don’t look behind you.”

“You have to jump! You have to trust me!”

“Is this it?”

“I can’t believe my soulmate is a human-”

“Well that was weird.”

“Have you ever exercised?”

“Don’t test my patience, pet.”

“How am I going to tell [Name] about this...?”

“It’s a match made in heaven!”

“Be careful, they’re sensitive!”

“So this is a fruit...”

“When I feel bad I go beat the shit out of someone. It works.”

“DID YOU PULL THE LEVER I SPECIFICALLY ASKED YOU NOT TO PULL?!”

“In DnD we call that rolling a one.”

“[Name] is gonna kill me!”

“Rest in pieces.”

“Hurt them and I make your life hell on Earth.”

“So he’s a dumbass-”

“Someone shoot me-”

“Give it back! That’s private!”

“It was so obvious! I’m such an idiot!”

“Is that all you have?”

“The expedition was successful.”

“There were no survivors.”

“I thought I lost you.”

“Stop! Stop! There’s a cat!”

“Why am I here again?”

“Having detachable body parts is actually a convenience when you’re a cyborg.”

That’s a big ass [Animal]”

“Do you know what you’re doing?!”

“Did you seriously have to pick the lock? When I have the keys?”

“They’re dangerous.”

“And that’s my que to leave.”

“You are my greatest treasure.”

“I seriously hope you’re not thinking of doing what I think you are thinking of doing.”

“WHY THE HELL ARE YOU NAKED?”

“Is... is that a dwarf?”

“You’re as odd as your friends said.”

“There is no need for violence!”

“All I wanted was a doughnut-”

“Why are the barn lights on?”

“They got into ANOTHER fight?!”

“You’d think living with a family of sorcerers would teach them something.”

“Thank goodness most dragons aren’t venomous.”

“Nagas are quite fickle creatures.”

“Satyrs are not to be trusted.”

“You walked into the faery ring, you belong to the fae now. I can’y help you.”

“Go ask them out! They look cute!”

“Angels aren’t supposed to fall in love... but how was I supposed resist you?”

“I thought humans were bigger.”

“Your highness is a royal pain in the ass.”

“That hurt.”

“I am not looking forward to this at all.”

“I do not like caves. I don’t like cavbes at all.”

“MOSS!!!!”

“This town seems abandoned.”

“The radiation levels aren’t too high here.”

“Put your masks on.”

“You know you shouldn’t give your name to strangers, especially a fae in the forest.”

“I never realized how big the ocean was.”

“I have an idea- it’s dangerous, crazy, and reckless, but it might just work.”

“Is this your child?”

“I’m surprised Cerberus likes you.”

“Hellhounds aren’t usually friendly.”

“That’s a big meal for one person...”

“Werewolves aren’t fans of silver.”

“The dumbest myth about us vampires is that we hate garlic.”

“What brings you to my territory, little human?”

“Don’t bare your fangs at guests! It’s rude!”

“I’m only protecting you because I made a promise.”

“That was a terrible attempt at a prank. Let me show you how it’s done.”

“You do realize demons can sense emotions right?”

“You foolish human! You could have gotten hurt!”

“Watch your step.”

“It’s called a secret entrance for a reason.”

“Did you just... kiss me...?”

“My soulmate is a dumbass but I love them.”

“This jackassery will not stand!”

“Unless you have a death wish I’d leave those sirens alone.”

“Swim with me?”

“Have you never frolicked before?”

“You’re fired!”

“Does this armor make me look fat?”

“Your soulmate is a Naga?”

“Gargoyles are cranky in the morning.”

“That little fucker is at it again-”

“I don’t remember the last time I laughed like that.”

“Elves are usually attractive... but them... they’re ethereal..”

“I think I’m in love with a snake man.”

“Are orcs usually this big?”

“Confess? And risk ruining what i have with them? I’d rather drink bog water that a Satyr bathed in!”

“Are all humans this attractive or is it just you?”

“Guns are so odd... They only do their job after they’re fired...”

“Are you usually this full of yourself?”

Do you have any idea what you just did?”

“I wasn’t expecting to meet my soulmate when I snuck into Area 51.”

“Turn off the lights!”

“I won’t let you go, not again.”

“That’s so dangerous...! When are we doing it?”

“You humans are so fragile, yet you are the apex species of your planet.”

“IT’S NOT WORTH IT! GET BACK IN THE CAR!”

“Don’t look back!”

“They’re attracted by (heat, sound, etc.).”

“It looks dangerous.”

“Don’t touch it-”

“Careful it’s soup.”

“Did... did that thing just speak?”

“It’s a boat! Oh my god it’s a boat- we’re saved-”

“Keep your distance.”

“I will not hesitate to leave you behind.”

“THEY’RE SIBLINGS?!”

‘I am slightly worried... never mind I am very worried.”

“THEY’RE CHOKING!”

“It’s too damn hot to do anything.”

“Stop singing!”

“Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, kid.”

“That is one ugly ass [Animal/baby/clothing item].”

“I’VE SEEN THIS IN A HENTAI BEFORE!”

“Please shut your trap before I stuff it- shit that sounds sexual-”

“Is that- Is that a fucking cat?”

“That is not what the mean when they say; ‘smash that like button’“

“Where did you learn to drive?” 

“Oof.”

“I’m know I’m stupid but I’m not THAT stupid.”

[eldritchdraaks]

Here is a more comprehensive explanation of this whole anime pilot dream I had, but without the frantic writings of a man who just woke up from said dream.

(If you didn’t see the last post, I had a very vivid dream about a short anime pilot and I’ve been hyper-fixated since.)

The world is close to your average modern setting seen in most down to earth anime, but with a BNA, Beastars, Amazing World of Gumball kind of spin to it. Plenty of humans, plenty of other creatures that share ancestry with flora and fauna of earth, and even some robots, but nothing is of the supernatural. things are about as peaceful as regular earth, so yeah there is racism, but it's not the theme being explored here. Other similar settings have done the racism theme better. This is more in line with a happier District 9. A more specific city setting would be like a gentrified urban downtown.

The main character whom I've dubbed Bug Guy since my dream didn't come with any names, starts out as human. You never get a good look at what Bug Guy looks like before his transformation. It's always back of the head or neck down shots of him, but you know he's human, there's no doubt about it. He has no family, no friends, and hardly any social life. His only drive is pursuing his career in music. His talent is EDM, because why not. He has a laptop with all his tech on it. Despite being a loner, he knows he must branch out and collaborate to get his name out there and start making profits. There's a local studio he wants to hit up where a Music Group of a few young twenty somethings often hangout and record, as well as take lessons and give them. It's whatever floats down there. 

The leader of this group is a tall blonde girl, white or white passing. She wears a red visor and her hair in a ponytail from the top of her head, and it sticks up like a paint brush. She wears a white button up polo, plaid-patched black jeans, and has a guitar case over her shoulder, since she plays guitar.

His encounter with the Mafia-type group is a wrong place, wrong time scenario. After a good first impression down at the studio and introducing himself to the Music Group, Bug Guy takes a train to a darker part of the city to visit his favorite café. It's not much but he likes how quiet and empty it usually is during certain hours. However he doesn't make it to the café. Mafia is doing a heist and they derail the train in order to crash it into a building as it’s passing. Might be a bank or lab or government facility, that's undecided, but the people are the train who survive the crash need to be disposed of, since they were witnesses.

Now, the Mafia group (dubbed Bug Mafia by one of my friends) is just a group of shady people, like the evil teams from Pokémon. They're doing some shady shit and they can't have any witnesses or otherwise getting in the way. I'm not entirely sure why or how, but the best way to achieve this goal is to transform Bug Guy into a strange bug thing not based on a specific insect. Alternatively, it's a made up rare species. 

The reason he can be transformed is because all non-human people are humanoid, and thus have DNA relating to humans. So, a human's DNA can be altered to become a creature. Yep, that's my reasoning; Deal with it. 

Mafia don't really care how they get rid of the witnesses, and changing Bug Guy into a bug was probably just incidental, something related to their work or the heist and they think it worked out in their favor. Probably think they killed a human and there was an unrelated bug person looking 'dead' on the ground. Whatever the case, Bug Guy remembers nothing about the crash or what came after.

Bug Guy wakes up in the morgue because bug people are notoriously difficult to declare alive or dead, maybe. IDK anything about insects. His realization/freak-out doesn't come ‘til he gets home, because nothing about his situation sets in until he can see himself in the mirror. However he doesn't believe he's doomed or his life is over. He gets over it fairly quickly and chooses to resign himself to this fate. His partial amnesia isn't helping either, because at times he's not sure if he ever was a human. Are his memories lying to him? Looking at old pictures helps, but they always include his family and friends, and it just makes him hurt. He's pretty sure he was human, but he always needs to be reminded, grounded to reality.

So from there on he tries to live his life as normally as he did, dressing the same, acting the same, etc. of course after a few days he'd figure out his anatomy is all different, he needs different hygiene routines, and a new nutritional diet. He's been getting sick from eating the same old food he always used to. 

Bug Guy goes to the studio, gets some strange looks, and meets with the Music Group. They don't recognize him, and there's a back and forth of misunderstandings before Bug Guy uses his one braincell to tell them that he is the guy from before. The group, notably the leader, are stunned. From there the Music Group pledge to help him get through his current crisis, even though he doesn't want any help. But nah, they want to help and that's how they make him their friend. Bug Guy learns to open up again and appreciate having people in his life again. They help him find out what happened to him and go up against Mafia and that's kind of all I have. 

By the end, Bug Guy is DEFINITLY stuck as a bug, but it would be built up enough that you'd think he'd get his human form back, only for hope to be ripped away at the end. Coming to terms that he would be a bug for the rest of his life is a good way for him to close the chapter on the old him, the loner that cut himself off from everyone when his family died. He's a new person now. 

And he vapes sugar water!

[ordinaryschmuck]

Top 20 BEST Animated Series of the 2010s-6th Place

…

Can someone please explain how it is possible that #6 can somehow be one of the best shows in the 2010s, yet somehow it can also be one of the worst?

#6-Rick and Morty (2013-)

The Plot: A nihilistic scientist named Rick Sanchez returns to his daughter and joins her family to the dismay of...well, everyone else. The one who gets the most anxiety is Rick’s grandson, Morty, who ends up getting dragged alongside Rick on adventures across the cosmos and even the multiverse. From there, they face dangerous aliens, Rick’s old enemies, and even evil alternate versions of themselves. Not because those threats are a danger to the universe. It's because they’re just a pain in the ass to deal with.

Now that I got the plot out of the way, I want to take the chance to briefly rant about why Rick and Morty is one of the worst things that could have come to television. It has nothing to do with the show itself (far from it, in fact). The real reason why Rick and Morty is the worst has everything to do with its fandom. I know, I know. I shouldn’t use a show’s fandom to judge it. Because if I did, then half the series on this list would be blasted into the sun. But the Rick and Morty fandom is the one exception to that rule. Because unlike most toxic fandoms that stick with being a-holes to other people on the internet, the Rick and Morty fandom actually affects real life. They take quotes from the show that were fun to say and repeat them so much that those quotes become the most annoying words created by man. This fandom also drove McDonalds up a wall because Rick briefly mentions how delicious the Szechuan sauce was, and the “fans” ended up breaking McDonalds when they briefly brought it back. But nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is more annoying than how these people react when someone says they don’t like the show.

You see, according to the fandom, “Rick and Morty operates on a higher form of intelligence that far exceeds all shows known to man. If you don’t enjoy it, then you’re just a big old dumb fjdlfjkdlfjoidsahjipfojewoitufd9gt9geijo parwfu9--” SHUT THE F**K UP! Ok?! Shut up! Just shut up! Because Rick and Morty is NOT the smartest T.V. show on the planet. It’s not even CLOSE to the most intelligent show on television. It’s smarter than most shows. I’ll give it that. But if you want to ask me which show was the most intelligent, I will more than willingly say Futurama. You know. The show is actually written by people with three PhDs and seven master's degrees. Hell, I’d be more willing to say that The Amazing World of Gumball is smarter than Rick and Morty. That’s right. I wholeheartedly believe that the show aimed for children-F**KING CHILDREN-is smarter than the show aimed for adults. And guess what, Rick and Morty fans! It doesn't require Stephen Hawking's levels of intelligence to enjoy the show. You can easily be a C+ high school student and still think the show is good. I should know because I’ve caught classmates who are C+ students watching the show while IN CLASS! AND THEY ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT! NOT BECAUSE IT WAS BRILLIANT! NOT BECAUSE IT WAS A MASTERPIECE SENT BY THE BIG GUY HIMSELF! BUT BECAUSE IT IS LIKE EVERY OTHER SHOW THAT IS AIMED FOR ADULTS! WITH LOW BROW AND HIGH BROW HUMOR, GRATUITOUS VIOLENCE, BUTT UGLY ANIMATION, AND CHARACTERS WHO ACT LIKE A**HOLES TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT ADULTS LIKE TO SEE ON TELEVISION!

>SCREAMS WITH INSANITY<

>Huff<

>Puff<

Man, that’s twice in a row when a show has nearly driven me to the brink of insanity. That can’t be any good.

…

Aw well. Not that I’ve got that rant out of the way, allow me to actually talk about the show itself and why it actually is pretty amazing.

First and foremost is the show’s comedy. While the jokes aren’t “brilliant masterpieces,” they are jokes that get you thinking from time to time. They also come pretty fast, so even when one dies, another funnier joke immediately comes after. This show also dabbles in two different senses of humor: Absurdity and being super dark. The way absurd and dark humor works are by giving viewers no other reaction other than laughing at a situation. Because how else would you react to squirrels running the government or the idea that Hitler cured cancer in an alternate dimension? I mean, other than being confused and disgusted by things such as that. This is why humor, like most things, is subjective. Not everyone will find the same things funny, and, understandably, they don’t. I personally can’t stop laughing in most episodes of Rick and Morty, but I would never verbally attack another person for saying something different. So chill the f**k out when a person says they don’t think the show is funny! Besides, other cool pros that come from Rick and Morty.

One spectacular thing is the show’s attention to detail. And I don’t just mean in terms of animation. The stories are pretty airtight most of the time, and rarely do I find a plot hole within. The best example is the twist in “The Ricklantis Mixup.” The episode itself is already pretty good, but having prior knowledge of the final big reveal leads to looking at specific scenes in a new light. As for the animation, there’s also great detail within it. Like in the background, to be more exact. The show goes out of its way to make each new world that Rick and Morty visits look as unique as possible, which should really be the goal for a sci-fi series if you ask me. And can we give a round of applause to whoever designs the characters in this show? I mean, the characters look hideous (which is something I never understood in adult animation. Seriously, who was the idiot that thought it was a good idea that you have to make your characters look as ugly as possible to be considered for adults?), but each character in this series--background and foreground--looks unique. Usually, most shows stick to having similar models reused and redesigned to give the illusion that the background characters are different. But in Rick and Morty? There is rarely a time when one creature looks the same as the other. And when they do, it’s usually for a purpose such as an alien species that looks the same or making an identical alternate version of Rick and Morty.

Speaking of, what is by far the best thing about Rick and Morty is...well, Rick and Morty. These two not only have a great dynamic, but they even have great chemistry with each other. Because whenever a show advertises its central hook being its dynamic duo, the same pair must have perfect interactions. And boy, is it hilarious seeing these bounce off of one another. Their synergy is always hilarious, and at times it can be surprisingly heartwarming. In fact, what I love most about these two is how they sort of learn from each other. Rick is still a nihilistic a-hole to those around him, but he seems to back off the most when he’s around Morty (most of the time). And while Morty still puts his foot down when it comes to Rick’s pure unadulterated...Rickness, he also has moments where he seems to share his grandfather's nihilistic views. I rarely ever seen this, as most dynamic duos keep their intended personalities to keep audiences entertained. And while I’ve heard fans complain about how the show makes Rick more human and Morty more like a Rick, I personally enjoy how much of an engaging character study these two represent.

Unfortunately, while Rick and Morty are easily the most intriguing characters in their series, they are also the only characters worth mentioning. Summer is fine, I guess, but most of the time, it feels like the writers aren’t sure what to do with her. Is she a slacker? A cliche teenage girl? Rick’s number one fan? I don’t know because most of the time, it feels like her personality is dependent on what the writers want in an episode. She isn’t bad, but some consistency would be nice. As for other characters, there really aren't that many who are worth mentioning. Most of them are either bit characters who serve the purpose of making a joke or are just one-off villains that our “heroes” face. Now there isn’t anything wrong with that, especially considering the latter. After all, when you watch Bugs Bunny screw around with someone who's wronged him, it’s always that Wascally Wabbit you remember the most. Still, I wish there were a couple more characters the show could invest in. And I know, last time I complained about a show that had too many characters. However, the opposite extreme isn’t that great either. Personally, I feel as though a series should have a moderately sized cast, where there are enough personalities to work off of, and you won’t have to recycle ideas you’ve used with the characters you already have.

And seeing as how we’re on the topic of characters, there are two individuals that I need to talk about. In fact, these two characters are easily the worst thing about Rick and Morty (aside from the fandom). Those characters are Beth and Jerry. Sweet mother of all that is holy, these two are downright insufferable! For some reason, the writers think it would be entertaining to have a married couple always argue and bicker with each other. It isn’t. In fact, every time an episode moves away from Rick and Morty and decides to focus on these two, the show’s quality plummets on a lot of notches. You’ll want to see them get a divorce. You’ll PRAY that they get a divorce. And (actual spoilers) when they finally get a divorce in season 3, do you want to know what the worst part is? They are somehow worse apart than they are together (spoilers over). And you can argue who you think is worse all you want, but to me, the worst character is easily Beth. I personally don’t mind Jerry all that much. At his best, he’s hilariously pathetic, has a great dynamic with Rick, and I legitimately feel bad for him when the universe seems to kick him when he’s down. Can he get a little grating at times? Yes. Absolutely. But while Jerry can be annoying, Beth can be a downright psychotic moron. She will willingly endanger her family, all in the efforts of pleasing a narcissistic a**hole of a father who consistently has a god complex. And when a person points this out to her, she will insult them and point out how “great” it is to have her father back again. Even though Rick didn’t seem like that great of a father anyway. It is physically and psychologically unhealthy for Beth to have these disillusions, and it isn’t until four seasons does she actually tries to show some backbone. Which I still don’t believe because it feels like it won’t last by how quick it is.

And seeing that we’re on my own personal hang-ups with the show, there’s one last topic that I want to cover. And it’s a topic that, to my knowledge, nobody else is bothered by. This problem affects me personally, and I want to give a word of warning to those who might not actually feel the same way. And that’s the fact that Justin Roiland is not the great of a voice actor that he thinks he is. This doesn’t mean he’s a bad voice actor because he's far from it. In fact, I can’t even hear the similarities between his voice for Rick and for Morty. But there is a problem: Justin Roiland has two modes. It’s either his normal voice or his high pitched voice. Both with minimal modulation, and it’s the latter that he seems to focus on the most when he voices 80% of the characters. The problem is that I not only think his high-pitched voice is annoying but with how consistently Roiland uses it, it will always break the immersion for me. Because I’m not hearing a unique character. I’m hearing Justin Roiland doing the same high pitched voice for nearly every character he voices. Just look at Seth Macfarlane and the characters he voices. You can tell it’s him, but he at least offers different modulations for each character (If you don’t believe me, then compare some of his famous roles with Justin Roiland’s).

While we’re still talking Justin Roiland’s acting, it’s also his improv that could use a little workshop. Now, for the most part, the improvisation is pretty good in the show. Like actual good improv, it feels natural within the dialogue exchanges, and you wouldn’t know until someone else points it out. However, there are times when Roiland’s improv can feel like verbal barfing. It’s fine when he voices Rick’s drunken rants, but for the Interdimensional Cable episodes? Yeah, needless to say, it can get a little noticeable. So noticeable that even the characters point out how blatant it is within the episode. Again, this is something that bothers me personally. To my knowledge, there isn’t anyone else who complains about this aspect of the show, which is perfectly fine. I just feel like other people should get a word of warning before they dive right in.

So is Rick and Morty the godsend of a series that surpasses all other television shows? F**k no. No series that has ever been made is 100% perfect. Not even the good ones. And if you disagree, then you are in denial over how many faults a show has. For instance, Rick and Morty have plenty of issues. There’s not that many likable characters, it has the worst cartoon couple ever with Beth and Jerry, and Justin Roiland needs to work on his acting despite being an already good actor. That’s everything wrong with Rick and Morty in a nutshell. But despite these problems, the show still has phenomenal attention to detail, hilarious comedy, and the best dynamic duo in recent memory. So while it isn’t the perfect show that its fans believe it is, it is still pretty damn good. And that alone is good enough for me.

(Just do yourself a favor and avoid joining the fandom. It’s already too late for those poor bastards who are already in too deep, but it isn’t too late for you!)

[mewrising]

Magic in Thunder Hollow

Been having some thoughts about this lately so I figured I’d slap it all into a semi-coherent post??  I’m exhausted so it might be a lil garbled but I need these thoughts out of my head and onto paper...

So, first off: Thunder Hollow has no ley lines.

NONE.

Every single last one was severed by a Shade spell made centuries ago by a foolish, panicked dragon named Kyre.  She got into a battle she couldn’t win, remembered a spell her Shade-worshipping parents taught her, and flooded the entire chunk of territory via the Shade’s power.  Shade promptly moved in--both to the land and Kyre’s mind.  The ley lines couldn’t persist in the presence of a magic sponge like that and here we are.  Ley-dark, as I like to call it.

All magic in Sornieth relies on ley lines.  These originate from the dieties, which are essentially the personifications and wellsprings of the elemental magics.  While elemental ley lines are the most common in their respective territories, they do span out across all of Sornieth, allowing dragons of all flights to thrive no matter their position.  A sort of magical circulatory system, if you will.  Dragons, being primarily magical creatures, can sustain themselves solely on magic if they choose and/or substitute/supplement magical nutrition with food.  Everything about the draconic life cycle depends in some way or another on magic, from physical growth to reproduction (eggs can be produced amagically but they will not thrive in the absence of elements).

So if Thunder Hollow’s ley lines have been severed, how is it possible for dragons to survive there, let alone do magic?

For the survival aspect, not much honestly has to change.  They merely need to consume a diet of physical food to give their physical bodies a chance to keep working.  They can still produce energy like any other species this way.  OR, they could choose to make regular trips out of the territory to fill their breath reservoirs on neighboring ley-lines.  If they remain exclusively in the territory, they won’t age due to the absence of magic, as I mentioned in another post.  So all of my doofs are theoretically immortal!  At least when it comes to age-related ends, anyway (eg. burnout).  Fun times...?

As for nesting, well, eggs must be laid and incubated away from the territory a bit.  A tunnel into the Shifting Expanse has been dedicated specifically to this mission, for example.  This also explains why so few egg-laying pairs exist in Thunder Hollow!  A limited amount of hatchery space + the need to be isolated for however long it takes the nest to hatch really restricts the appeal haha

SO!  Back to magic.  Basically, traditional spells don’t work.  IN THEORY, that is.  Dragons still have their own breath reservoirs, and if those are full when they enter the territory, they remain full--as long as the dragon in question eats a sufficient enough diet of physical food.  Spells can be cast from those reservoirs until they are depleted, at which point they won’t replenish because of Thunder Hollow’s ley-darkness.

So why don’t the dragons just fly out to magical areas and replenish their breath reservoirs all the time?

They can’t.

Thunder Hollow is MASSIVE.  We’re talking 200km by 150km kind of massive (huge thanks to Llanai’s updated world map for giving me this idea lol).  Though the Public Sector is a lot closer to ley-light areas than a lot of places, it’s still several miles away (which reminds me of the fact that I *need* to get myself some cartdragons who carry trade to and from the port).  And the Public Sector isn’t even the major residential center of Thunder Hollow!  Most of the clan’s residents live further out into the forest (the Private Sector) and must travel a significant way to even make it to the Public Sector.  Though dragons are large enough to render such distances a lot smaller than they seem to us, it’s still a lot of travel just to ~temporarily~ recharge your magic.

So, traditional magic is OUT and runestone magic is IN.

Why runestones?  Well, for one thing, they can be mass produced in batches, being charged with magic in elemental territories and then shipped into Thunder Hollow for later use.  They’re like magical batteries, basically!  Many are carved with specific spells, which are triggered by some sort of action (eg. a touch) or a phrase or even something more obscure, like an “activation key” (another runestone that must be touching the other one in order for it to activate).  So, if something needs magic that would ordinarily be manual, it can be semi-automated by runestones.  Runestones can also be used as portable breath reservoirs for certain elemental magics (the elemental runestones), as can certain potions (another note to self: potionmaker dragon when?).

When prepared the right way, runestones need far less frequent replacement--maybe every year or so--unless the spell being used is triggered often.  Even frequent-trigger runes take a long(er) time to deplete for ~reasons~ (something something inanimate objects something something magical efficiency something something no biological “limit” for absorbed magic).    An annual trip to recharge your runestones is much better than a weekly tour to recharge your breath reservoir!  Hurrah, problem solved!

It’s still a flawed system and there are a LOT of problems associated with living in ley-dark land.  Do my dragons care?  No.  They’re stubborn like that--or their leader is, anyways.

Now, how about some exceptions, hmm?

Primals: Primal dragons possess the unique ability to physically generate magic, just like the deities do.  Of course, primal dragons are infinitely weaker than the deities and can’t create ley lines (or can they...?  might come back to that idea tbh), but that does mean that they don’t have to worry about perma-empty breath reservoirs.  Of course, the magic regeneration is exceedingly slow unless the primal dragon is blessed cursed with extraordinary magic-generation powers (*cough* Soot *cough*), so it’s not OP, but still worth noting.

Soul Mages: Soul magic (the magic of manipulating a dragon’s eternal essence, or soul) doesn’t have anything to do with breath or the elements, so the ley-darkness doesn’t change a thing.  Soul magic is, however, an exceedingly rare talent so this isn’t super relevant, but whatever.

Ghosts: see above.  Souls don’t rely on breath.

Veilspun Magic: innate and terrifying, like these lil bugs are magic generators even if they aren’t primal.  Hypnotism is very much still a thing ;o;  No wonder I’ve wound up with so many...

Aaand things that seem like exceptions but aren’t.

Neutral Magic: still relies on breath reservoirs to cast, so bad luck there.

Welp, that wraps up Mew’s Lore Dump Hours™, feel free to send any questions you have and I will gladly answer!  

[commenter2]

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart trailer analysis

For those that haven’t heard yet, Insomniac Games has released a trailer for there new Ratchet & Clank game yesterday, called Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

I don’t think I need to say how excited I am for it but I’m going to anyway. IM SO EXCITED FOR THIS GAME ! For those that haven’t heard about it yet, here is a link to a video showing the trailer for the game as well as gameplay of it:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsnG-3-r6-Q

The game looked so amazing that I did na analysis of the trailer last night and thought Id post it on my Tumblr page for anyone to read. HUGES spoilers ahead. Also I apologize or the spacing as for some reason I can't separate the paragraphs any longer then they are now.

First is the trailer

First off we get a shot of the amazing animation of the game till Ratchet & Clank drop in, literally, but did they just come out of a dimensional rift ? This has to mean the Dimensionator has to be involved in this somehow. We then see another amazing example of the games design and graphics of what looks like planet Sargasso (which would be cool to go to again) till Clank brings up how they need to get to something, the Dimensionator maybe ?, till he is distracted by an Antropod/Terratrope followed by another rift releasing robots shooting at them and though I’ve seen the trailer already, I quickly got a Dr. Nefarious vibe from them.

Then something unexpected happens as Ratchet RIDES the bug and uses it to take down the robots ! Now I haven’t played Spyro in years but that charging attack reminds me a bit of the charge attack Spyro uses in the games, did anyone else think that? If that was on purpose then its nice to see that Insomniac Games still remembers there roots which gives me comfort with them making awesome Spider Man games in the future without worrying about them ignoring there Ratchet & Clank fans.

After some animal handling gameplay, Ratchet and Clank are thrown into a rift and we see a series of shattered pink/purple glass images of places only for them to quickly grind and slide though two planets, maybe existing ones at the night one kinda looks like Veldin while the city one could be Metropolis or Meridian City, with Clank saying the dimensions are weakening which again backs up the idea of the Dimesinator being involved.  I do want to say that during the quick grind rail segment, the Grind Boots looked much better in design compared to there previous appearances, which were kinda lazy in my opinion. I hope this means they and the Gravity Boots will be different in appearance instead of in color. I should also say it shown that you can DOUBLE JUMP while grinding, which is a cool small change for the iconic mechanic.

We then see Ratchet ride another animal, this time with wings, on planet Torren IV which though I’m not 100% sure I think I saw a Hoverboot boost pad. Could the Hoverboots be in the game ? Before I continue I want to say the idea of Ratchet riding and controlling animals is a really awesome idea, not only would this be an interesting twist to combat in the game but it would also be another interesting way to travel throughout the levels, which Id be ok with doing IF the Hoverboots aren’t in Rift Apart.

Either way this ends quickly as Ratchet & Clank hop to another planet, a new one according to them but again teleport to planet Ardolis where Ratchet fights robot pirates (AWESOME) who are dealing with a creature. I wonder if Captain Slag and Rusty Pete will be in the game ? During a fight we see Ratchet uses a new weapons, specifically a new BLASTER like weapon that has a rapid-fire feature, which I am thankful for cause I couldn’t take another game with the Combuster.

The fight quickly ends as the explosive barrel explodes and Clank gets thrown through a dimensional rift and is separated from Ratchet, NO ! but also AWESOME cause it gives a A Crack In Time like vibe. The hype is then taken up a notch where its revealed that Clank is on a planet run by none other then DR. NEFARIOUS, Clank saying they are to late, meaning those robots at the beginning WERE his and he is somehow causing all of this, maybe.

Speaking of which Im not sure how I feel about Dr. Nefarious being the main antagonist of ANOTHER game. Don't get me wrong he's still an awesome character but it would also be nice to face a new villain for a change, plus it makes me nervous that this could mean Nefarious could be defeated once and for all which could ruin a big part of the story of the R&C trilogy finale I made some time ago.

HOWEVER I think we can all agree that the biggest thing about this trailer is that while Clank is calling for Ratchet a blue and gray/white colored female Lombax with a robotic arm appears wondering who Clank is talking about, which again gives off A Crack In Time like vibes and…..she’s carrying a hammer ? A bit odd since Lombaxes are affiliated with wrenches but its still an amazing idea. Then we get the name of the game which though I hate to say, the text makes it looks a bit bad as its looks poorly rendered especially at the "and" section and what’s that thing between the words Rift and Apart ? Is that a dimensional rift ?

Other then that the trailer is amazing.

Now for the gameplay

So Marcus Smith does confirm some things about Rift Apart like how this will be a full length game and how those things teleporting Ratchet & Clank were dimensional rifts that will allow them to teleport form planet to planet which though cool its goanna be a bit sad not being able to use Aphelion in the game, I wish she could have more speaking roles in games as she IS one of the last few things from the Lombaxes.

He also says that the new graphic allows them to put something called ray trace reflections on Clank, which along with some other people I’ve seen, I agree makes him look really odd. Hopefully before the game comes out they fix this by toning it down  and maybe add a bit of white in there like his older appearances. He then says that the planets are denser with new creatures and that Ratchet has a new arsenal, which sounds perfect to me. He then states that R&C is close to the company’s hearts and can’t wait to show more of it, which again gives comfort.

We get to the gameplay and immediately were introduced to a new mechanic where Ratchet uses a gadget called the Rift Tether to go through a yellow rift similar to that scene in Avenger: Infinity Wars where (spoilers) Thanos uses the stones to pull Dr. Strange closer to him, pulling the area around him towards him in the process. We then see Ratchet fight a Thug for Less enemy, which is cool but not surprising since there were many signs that this game would make references to there other games and this is confirmed seconds later where we see Ratchet fight some Sandsharks. We also get to see several new species of aliens here.

During the Sandshark section we do see a NEW comet strike as unlike in previous games the Omniwrench is thrown diagonally and it looks like it returns to your hand faster. I feel like this change was done for the new female Lombax as I feel like she can do the same thing but since her melee weapon is a a hammer, it wouldn’t really work (or make since) if thrown horizontally, and it would be confusing to have two character with two different ways of throwing there melee weapon. Though I’m not that big a fan of changes I don’t really mind it, heck maybe its a one time thing.

After some more chaos like a giant tentacle creature coming out of the portal, similar to the one in the trailer, and what looks like an Ultra-Mech Unlimited crashing through a walkway Ratchet and Clank were in we get some interesting content in the next cut. One is Ratchet saying something about “break reality” again telling reality is coming apart because of theses rifts, quickly followed by Clank saying Dr. Nefarious has come out of hiding after years of hiding to take over the universe again which means that this IS a post Into The Nexus game, as I’ve seen some people debate about if it is or not.

We get another new game mechanic during the fight with some thugs. It seems that Ratchet can now jump to his left or right in order to avoid incoming damage by using a thruster on his boots, could this mean the Hoverboots are really in the game but are damaged ? It would be cool if during the game Ratchet & Clank or Ratchet goes to Azimuths house on Torren IV to find something about the Dimensionator but also find a part needed to fix his hoverboots thus letting Ratchet use them to get around, especially if the part of the trailer of Ratchet and Clank getting separated IS true.

Were also introduced to new weapons here. One is called a Shatterbomb, the bomb glove weapon, The Enforcer a shotgun like weapon and the Burst Pistol which is the blaster shown in the trailer and would explain its rapid fire ability. The most interesting weapon shown so far is the Topiary Sprinkler, a weapon that when thrown forms into a sprinkler that can project plants around it and shoots out a stream of water that can stop enemies in there place, plus I bet the plants around it is a form of defense system to protect the sprinkler for a time.

The gameplay ends with Ratchet destroying some Robomutts and going though a hallway where a statue of Dr. Nefarious or a mech in his image can be seen but also there is a moment where a purple energy ways rushes through the surrounding areas, just like in another R&C game but that’s for another post, no spoilers now.

Wow that was a lot to write but that’s because there was SO MUCH going on in theses trailers and I’m pretty sure I missed some things. I’m already working on a theory on what’s going to happen in this game, which will most likely come out during the weekend so stay tuned for that.

What were your thoughts on the trailers ? What was your favorite moment in them, and did you noticed anything in them I didn’t talked about ?

[copper-coin-writing]

An Encyclopaedia of Species

Willow’s world is full of magic, not least in the creatures.  A while back Willow had a go at categorising the different magical creatures.  Here’s her attempt, with her normal amount of scathing cynicism.

I guess I order this from the most repugnant to the least.  Starting with the Gods then.

 By Gods, I don’t mean those things the humans worship, though a few have taken to worshipping them.  Not something I advise.  Flesh and blood is far less forgiving than the ethereal beings of their religions.  Of course, some of the Gods are friendly, but I’ve never met a nice one.  I’ve only lived a few thousand years, what would I know?

 Gods are older than even me, and are more grouchy as a result.  They, unlike the rest of us, aren’t linked to a source.  I’ve never worked out what gives them their power, and not through want of looking.  I’ve some special reasons to want to know.  The power they wield is almost unparalleled, so if you see one run the hell away.  Not that that’ll help much.

 Next should be Old Ones, but I’m nothing if not biased, so let’s talk Beasts.  Contrary to the name, they’re not often savage.  It’s pretty hard to define what a Beast is, so I’ve settled on a creature created by a God or Old One.  Their source is their creator, and good forest is that annoying.  I’ve created a few in my time and it’s not worth it. Imagine having a dog on an infinite lead attached to a random body part.  Add another for each Beast.  Yeah. You see the issue.

 All the same, they have their uses.  Travel, messengers, eyes in the sky…  They can be dangerous, intelligent, and dumb.  Oh so dumb.  Creating them takes skill, skill that many don’t have.  Hmm.  Probably time to move on before I start talking about my early attempts.

 Guardians, then.  Their source is a location, or occasionally a person.  By person I of course mean any animal with half a brain.  Yes, the cats are plotting to kill you.  The squirrels to, if we’re counting.  Can’t speak for the bugs, but there are some I wouldn’t put it past.  Guardians are the only magical creature that might be able to rival a God, and only on their home turf.  Away from what they’re bound to protect, they’re as helpless as a human.

 And now we come to Old Ones, the subject on which I have the most first-hand knowledge.  It comes of being one, I guess.  Like the rest, we’re bound to a source, normally some relic from old times, something with a long history.  Don’t ask me what makes us appear from them, I haven’t a clue.  We have magic.  We can use it.  Depending on the Old One, the magic takes different forms.  Mine is the power of decay.  A bit dreary perhaps, maybe a little creepy, but strong. Anything bound to life is.

 All that’s left are the almost-creatures. Humans, of course, can wield magic to a degree, though never to our strength, and artifacts are sources unlinked to a being.  Damage an artifact too much and its power breaks.  Same with anything, I guess.

 I think that’s everything.  It damn well better be.  This list took me ten years to write.  Admittedly I was in hibernation for seven of those, but I really do need to remember what I’ve been doing.  It’s just the nature of eternity, I guess.  Takes the urgency away from everything.