#blah blah bug

[bug-bites]

havent written anything in like. actually forever but just through i would just say im probably not going to write for COD anymore. my old stuff is staying up but i am ngl i dont fw the military like at all (never did in the first place btw) and as much as i love the characters i gen cant continue writing about COD anymore without getting icked out + i feel like ive just grown past writing for it. im going to work through my prev reqs in my inbox for that fandom but for the foreseeable future yall arent getting any COD content from me, sorry!

on a better note, ive added batfam characters to my list of characters i write for so expect more jason todd because i need to bite that man so badly

[leechaeryeonqs-moved]

i ain't arguing with a man with big brown eyes pt. ?

[l1ght-n1ghts]

what’s a snake, anyway?

[b1asho]

Bugs

Here's what I've got to say, I didn't proofread any of it, will do that later, but I went a little more into stuff like what flips the switch on them turning into a Dorest (blue guy) or Rox (red guy).

((Tldr its not a switch its a sliding bar that'll get stuck or drop back down to 0 without the right input!)

Anyway, their life stages are:

'Egg, Early Stage Larva, Late Stage Larva, Prepupa, Chrysalis, Juvenile (aka Chick's, Dusties, or Hatchlings) pictured is molt 1 of 3, Subadult (aka Colts or Proxies) pictured is molt 4 of 5, and Adult (aka Imago, Types D or R.

Eggs are around golfball sized, and stay on the Rox’s abdomen area via a sticky pouch that forms when the eggs are laid onto them. I haven’t gone in depth into how they do the deed because idk, but it’s relevant here so let’s do it: basically they lock gonopods with each other, both get off, then the Dorest lays their fertilized eggs onto the Rox and the Rox releases fertilized eggs on themself. The residue hardens into a leathery skin over the eggs (there’s about 12 of them in total, 6 from each party)until they hatch into a soft little infant. This process can technically be done in reverse (with the eggs being laid/held on a Dorest). They could even self-fertilize (that is very hard, though, because they’re designed to reproduce with the stimulus of both D/R pheromones. Eggs won’t even form if you don’t have the presence of both in your living area. You’d have to find a way to replace the missing half if you want to actually get anywhere) but both are *major* taboo because it goes against their roles. The Rox is supposed to hold because they’re larger (it’s more comfortable for them because they have more space down there), they can defend the eggs better (which mattered more with their ancestors and so carried on thru today) and if they’re in a reproductive role they have more time for proper pouch care and more nutrition as opposed to a reproductive Dorest, who still has duties outside the unit that can include labor. When the Rox feels the larva moving around, they’ll rip open the pouch to release them (where they then fall under the care of the nearest applicable Dorest. )

This little guy then grows during their larval stage, continuously shedding their soft outer casing rather than having a designated number molts like in later stages. Nothing new is being grown, specific things are just getting bigger (such as their head, arms/legs, and setae) as they store fat and prepare their body for the metamorphosis. They only have an exoskeleton, which is fairly springy and soft. Basically, the larva stage is only for storing energy and getting things bigger to be a better blueprint for their new features later.

Once they’re ready, their body starts sectioning out a bit for the general layout of what they’re going to look like (this is the prepupa stage, characterized by their larger size and more discernible features). they all gather in a suitable place (or are herded to a specific place by adults), and then go inactive to grow a thick outer layer derived from their exoskeleton. This serves as their chrysalis. The chrysalis stage is where they actually change , adding in the body parts of adults (such as scales, claws, their mouthpart and head layout, eyes, fingers/toes, antenna, etc) and completely restructuring themselves for bipedalism. As I mentioned earlier, offspring are usually separated into different areas. This is to make it easier to concentrate the pheromone signals and enzymes they’ll introduce to cause the Drecu soup in the chrysalis to develop a certain way. (If this doesn’t happen, basically they don’t have the thing that unlocks their instructions on how to grow. they’ll stay soup and just die in the chrysalis.)

Juveniles/Chicks/Dusties/ Hatchlings are where they consider the true start of their life to be. The 'Dusty'nickname comes from the dull gray if their scales. Based on the prompts they received in the chrysalis, they emerged with either Dorest or Rox traits being dominant. However, as you can see, they still kind of look similar. Particularly, the Rox is missing/has underdeveloped a lot of the discerning Rox features (they have the space for their ear disks but haven’t grown them yet, so they’re deaf, they arent red, don’t have quills , and don’t have their thumb claw)

This is because Dorest is the default, the R enzyme breaks down the enzyme that makes them a Dorest.

They have a predisposed path (broad strokes in their head, leg, abdomen, and tail shape that happened in the chrysalis) that was determined in the chrysalis, but at this age they need continued reinforcement from D/R adults around them in order to ‘lock in’ those adult traits. Because of this, they’re usually kept separated after emerging from the chrysalis ( D hatchlings with other Dorest and R hatchlings with a lower caste Rox or under the care of a Dorest with enough Rox around to introduce them to more of the R enzyme)

Once they have pupated, there are a total of 5 size changes. The first 3 are in the juvenile/hatchling/etc stage where theyll be locking in features. There is a ‘critical period’ during the end of the juvenile stage where insufficient/irregular reinforcement or too many mixed signals will cause them to miss the ‘lock’ that causes them to develop and/or fully retain those features. (depending on when this happens, this means that a Rox can be missing anything from their color to their spines, and even a Dorest can not develop their horns, tail, or colors. )This can’t be undone after the 3rd molt that brings them into the subadult stage (which means they wouldn’t qualify as a subadult, since they’re missing a lot of those developments)

a similar change can happen if an adult Drecu is isolated from others, though this will only change their behavior because their body has stopped changing at this point. for example, a Rox removed from all other drecu will begin to present as a Dorest (emitting those pheremones and being less aggressive/more nurturing and caring rather than possessive and territorial), and in an environment where there’s only other Rox around they might start giving off Dorest signals too. A Dorest removed from any other drecu will act the same, but when there’s only other D around one might start presenting like a Rox (acting territorial, aggressive, and leaderlike) and mimicking Rox signals.

The subadult stage is very close to being adult. They're called colts because of their newness/inexperience, not because of the horse thing. Theyre also called proxies because they're closer to adults in the unit, therefore doing more important tasks that have been delegated to then. The number of size-changing molts can vary here, but its usually they'll go throguh the last 2 of the total 5 (but, some lower castes stay around this size due to nutrition and stuff.) If they’ve properly developed from the previous stage, they should have all their adult features and should keep those features for the rest of their life.

They’re considered an adult when they can reproduce, which changes their size, setae hair length, and coloring. Whether or not they actually *do* reproduce is a whole other status thing, since only some in the unit have that right.

This is a convoluted way to introduce some possibilities for some WEIRD lookin drecu characters who fumbled the critical period. I'm cooking one up rn >:)

[absolutelynotsanebaby]

Calling Morro irredeemable is such a take and by that I mean a bad one. You can talk about how he is a bad person, which is true, and you can talk about how people often fumble redemption arcs they give him but saying he's irredeemable is a misreading I think. His death in Possession and DOTD disprove that. Arguebly DOTD proves he's capable of growth if you actually look at him in it.

[nartml]

Saw a comment describe killugon as 'born to be brothers, forced to be best friends'.

And I just have to say that, out of all the things that have never happened, that has never happened the most.

[theshotsheardacrossworlds]

Veilguard Appreciation Week Day 5: Arlathan Forest

Emmrich is *not* having a good time in the forest today. Nope. Not at all. SFW.

Under different circumstances, Emmrich would enjoy watching Bellara and my beloved girl chatting about the “weirdest relics we've ever seen.” It’s frankly fascinating, but…

He swatted another gnat away from his face and then removed his handkerchief to wipe his brow.

It’s unbearably hot in Arlathan Forest today.

Hot.

Every insect is buzzing…

And it’s…

Hot.

“Oh my goodness, so this one time, I had to calm a relic that practically barfed nasty-smelling acid whenever a warm-blooded being approached it—”

“Bellara, I totally heard about that! Holy shit, that was you?!”

“Yes! And it was DISGUSTING! Like I mean, I came close to losing my breakfast, but I pulled through!”

“Fuck yeah!”

The professor discreetly I must emphasize coughed, and the two women stopped and faced him. “Ladies, while I’m thoroughly interested in this discussion, may I suggest we take a brief respite in the shade?”

Please.

I beg of you, Bellara.

Dearest, I am begging.

Both sets of eyes grew improbably wide, and then, at the same time, apologies began spilling out of them. Agnes, my sweetest and most precious angel, dragged me to the nearest broken stone wall and used her ice magic to cool me.

Oh, my love.

“I do apologize for interrupting…” He began as he took a sip from his canteen.

“Professor Emmrich, it’s okay! Agi…shit, I mean Rook…and I…ramble on sometimes.” I’m aware. “Just give a poke or something, and we’ll get back on track.”

Agnes nodded. “Yeah, love. Don’t be afraid to tell us to shut the fuck up!”

He turned up his nose at the suggestion and groused, “I would never!”

That made her laugh, and she wrapped an arm around his shoulders, pressing a kiss onto his cheek. “Of course not, love. You’ll do it in a classy way. The classiest way.” Another kiss! “Because you’re a classy man.”

Bellara grinned. “The classiest.”

And currently, the sweatiest.

I wonder if Agi would be amenable to an impromptu romantic bath when we return to the Lighthouse…

[wajjs]

Occupation: Nasty Fucker

Geoff said: Parallax wants to fuck Hal so bad it's his only occupation. Freak nasty bug.

(Green Lantern: Secret Files and Origins, 2005)

[buggaboizz]

Bit random, but I drew a bunch of SpongeBob characters

Really happy with how they turned out, think they're very cute :]

[bug-bites]

maybe its the lesbianism but i really do not understand the hype behind manspreading. im sorry but when men excessively manspread it pisses me off like my god close ur pussy you slut, i have no leg room

[nyctalus-noctula]

SAW A TINY BIT OF SUNSHINE SO I AM OFFICIALLY READY FOR SUMMER AGAIN

little gallery dump from last year feat. many little critters <3

[justablah56]

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!!!

also i just noticed the updated pronouns!!! very cool!!! :D

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH TO YOU BUGS !!!!

and yeahh new pronouns :] we tryin out neos now 👍

[appleberrymotif]

older oscar drawing i still like...needed to repost it on new blog now helo

[sleepshow]

20 POSTERS FOR JUNGWON'S 20TH !!!

[mcaelius]

i feel like i need a new fursona . im not even a furry i just feel like i need one

[fern-brain-fart]

why do a bunch of the bug tiktoks have scary ass audios behind them. i see so many freaking beetle unboxings and the ones where they show the egg and then the insect and the audio is always " BOOM, busshhhhh, BOOM!!, bushhhhh" like damn chill out that katydid looks like it trips on air. we do not have to be this serious....