#puppets of the in-between

[apolloinaplaguemask]

ahem!!! your intro message says you have some magical world building going on. would you care to share?? -please please please please please please please-

YES ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU FOR THE ASK AHHHHHHHHHHHH

Anyways beware. Many paragraphs of yapping ahead

Alrighty. So the basic idea is that some god (I haven’t figured one out yet but I’ve made several gods before, so I could recycle one from a dnd campaign I’ll be doing) has made a challenge to get to the afterlife. Almost everyone who dies gets sent to one of these cute little hellscapes, and there’s 100 per In-Between (as I’ve come to call it), but only 3 people get to go to the afterlife. Everyone else is basically a sacrifice to the god, and it is very unpleasant and it also means they don’t get rebirth. The moment you die in that dimension, the god basically eats your soul. Not very fun nor desirable.

Each In-Between looks different, but the one I came up with first is a big stretch of woods. There are funky animals that either look nothing like a real animal, or look a little too much like some animal or other. At night, there are no stars, just a big moon, if it can be called that. Everything feels like it’s watching you, and has malicious intent. It can and will drive you slowly insane.

You don’t get to keep many memories, just warped snippets of your life. You don’t even know if it’s your life, but you tend to cling to those snippets like lifelines.

There are challenges that the people have to go through, and they differ for every In-Between, but for my purposes let’s pick three.

The first is that the contestants have to go into an abandoned-looking house filled with traps and find a ring. The second they touch the ring, they get transported out of the house and wake up elsewhere.

The second trial is going through a funhouse-type subdimension (look at me thinking up all these fun words), where it tries to drive you insane, since isn’t that fun. Oh also the insanity causes you to forget who you are and where you want to go, so they have to basically write a reminder on themselves somehow, or be lost there forever.

The third trial is the same in every In-Between. There is a weapon somewhere in the dimension, but of course, it’s a really big world. It has its borders, but it’s still impossible to search. The weapon is super powerful, think like a sword that can kill you with one touch. It alters itself to suit the first person to get to it, and if you get it, you automatically make it out. You then get to choose two other people to accompany you to the afterlife, which makes for a really hard choice.

AND NOW FOR THE FUN PART EHEHEHEHEHEHEHHE.

How you die is so important in the In-Between. Being this close to the source of a god’s power for an extended period of time does irreversible things to you.

One thing that happens to you is that you start to look like you belong in your In-Between. For the one I’m using, you can get things like extra eyes, too-long limbs, body horror galore. And it all. Feels. Normal. “Hey how long have you had this many teeth?” “Haven’t I always?” And they genuinely believe that.

My absolute favourite part is why how you died is so important. It’s not a gradual transformation, it’s super abrupt, and happens to everyone at once. It feels like a blinding pain, then you relive how you died. Then you wake up, and you are changed. How you died dictates what happens to you.

One of my OCs died in a landslide. He controls plants. Another died by falling off a cliff. They grow wings. My MC died in a house fire, and she now gets to control fire. Another OC died by brain cancer, and she can now manipulate people’s thoughts. Not blatant mind control, more like suggestions.

My personal favourite backstory, it’s quite gory so be forewarned, is that he’s a trans boy, and his dad does not like that. He’s from the 1800s by the way so no one would like that. His dad tied him up to a fence In the woods behind their house, cut off his hand so the flesh died, then all the scavenger animals (wasps, rodents, crows…) came and ate the hand. Animals wouldn’t eat live flesh, so that’s why the dad cut off the hand most of the way. The animals then ate him alive :D. Anyways, that got slightly out of hand, but he can now talk to them and “suggest” things to them. Of course, he hates his new power the most out of anyone, because he developed a crippling fear of scavenger animals.

Do I pick favourites then give my favourite oc the most trauma? Yes of course.

[thoughtsandmusingsandideas]

Furina, who while devoted to the creator, knows that they are not all powerful nor all knowing- after all, they still referred to her as Focalors, they still treat her as an archon and one of their acolytes.

Furina, who regularly questioned her faith and her loyalties- after all, she was attempting to fool the Heavenly Principles, the loyal attack dog of the creator, but at the same time, why didn’t the creator try and stop the prophecy? If the creator had the power, and truly loved all their humans and archons, why let Fontaine drown?

Furina, who when an impostor appeared, received the same order as every other archon- hunt down the imposter, the heretic who defied their revered creator, and destroy them and their treasonous behaviour.

Furina, who during the search, wondered if she would be hunted down with the same vigor if others would learn of her duplicity.

Furina, who found you in a grotto only able to be accessed underwater, who saw the way the creatures of the sea attempting to help you patch up the wound in your side, spilling golden blood, and realized her faith was misplaced with far more ease than any other archon could have mustered.

Furina, who helped her creator heal in that grotto, apologies soft and regretful on her lips. She should have realized sooner; After all, she knows how easy it is to impersonate a god.

[theribbajack]

"Now, the vow will be honoured, and my Lord brother's soul will return."

Radahn stans keep winning, but I personally am in Miyazaki's walls rn

[yourstrulynobody]

FAKE SAMS AND EAPS THUMBNAILS (based off yesterday's art) :D!!!

[EAPS] "ECLIPSE IS MISSING!"

[SAMS] "ECLIPSE GOES HOME... in VRChat"

(the storyline under cut, ft bad writing <3)

(THEY MAY BE OUT OF CHARACTER AS I AM HORRIBLE AT INTERPRETING PERSONALITIES, SO I DO APOLOGIZE! DO CORRECT ME IF IM WRONG. :D.)

Eclipse doesn't remember how he did it—to convince Solar Flare to help him find where their Sun and Moon now stay, but he managed to.

By the gods, they managed to in half a week.

The audible sigh of relief that came from Eclipse finding out Solar Flare wasnt doing as he dread, but doing as he requested was the most hes been at peace. Maybe Eclipse shouldve known when his companion gave him that knowing look when he spoke of his plan. Maybe.

This favor was huge yet Solar Flare didnt ask for anything in return, only that Eclipse find refuge and a home in this new dimension. That embrace Solar Flare initiated before allowing Eclipse to enter the portal was something Eclipse hadnt known he'd needed, but it was worth returning in a tighter hold.

It was hard to step in after, but Solar Flare's nod was enough to tell Eclipse that he was doing the right thing. His kids were gonna be informed, and they'd start anew like Eclipse had planned when he entered the other dimension before, far from the danger and problems.

His eyes landed on the exterior of a house, illuminated by the blue tone of the portal until it closed, leaving the house enveloped in shadows once more. Absentmindedly, his body surges forward and his hand raises to knock on the door twice, catching the attention of the people in the lit kitchen.

The door swings open, and a familiar voice speaks out—a voice Eclipse never knew he missed.

"Hello—? Gah!" Sun squeaks out, taking a step back as his faint glow reveals Eclipse's figure outside. Stammering, his gaze bounce between Eclipse and Moon, his brother staring in confusion. "M-m-moon, do—do we have, uh, a-a Eclipse in this universe?"

Moon perks up from his slouched spot against the counter, his guard raised. "I dont think we do..." He turns on his night vision just as Eclipse rudely welcomes himself in and... collapses into Sun's arms.

"Eclipse?!.." Moon rushes over to them, his hands no longer holding the cereal box as he raised them in worry, wanting to cup Eclipse's face but not knowing if he was allowed to.

Sun, though, was braver; his arm wraps around the taller animatronic, allowing Eclipse to use his shoulder as a pillow. "Eclipse!.." Sun whispers, more worried than Eclipse has ever heard Sun towards him.

They spoke his name ever so softly, like it were the first time theyve seen him.

It possibly was with his appearance—his slumped figure with worse eyebags and tear stains than both of them with the addition of his odd choice of sleepwear of a jacket layered on a turtleneck and baggy pants to hide his barefeet.

While Moon has met Eclipse a few days ago, he was certain Eclipse didnt look like he walked into hell before being dragged suddenly and knocked against rocks in his fallen state.

Just the way they spoke and fussed over him told Eclipse enough: he was safe. By the Astrals and stars in the sky, Eclipse was safe.

Safer than Puppet's greetings to him.

Safer than getting released from the mindscape.

Safer than getting his back patched up.

Safer than Charlie reuniting with her father.

Safer than Ruin giving him options on how to take a break.

Safer.

This dimension was safer.

Sure, the virus is at work and possibly infected plenty of devices already, but he was with someone—Moon who could actually help him in creating a cure, maybe even Solar and Monty could assist as they are both just as smart in that subject.

This was safe.

The safe haven Eclipse hasnt been given; the place where he could finally heal from his trauma.

The way he was held and spoke to so gently was like melody, the lullaby that lulled him into allowing his tears to finally escape as hes lowered to the ground, his head now on Moon's shoulder while Sun continued to hold him.

He was safe.

If not safe with his friends, than safe with his enemies.

Eclipse is safe.

[metamatronic]

the worlds crunchiest height chart

[theartsoflilo]

I always imagined Barnaby, despite not being the kinda guy to openly share his woes, would go to his momma to vent ❤️☹️

I LOVE THEM SO MUCH URGAHHHHHHH

[cheesenchalk]

i never know how to phrase it but something about the way beatles biographers and people in general view paul's reflexive placating persona and determination to smooth things over as manipulative or duplicitous and john's reflexive barbed persona and habit of lashing out as brave and subversive despite both being equally defensive mechanisms to shield themselves from the world that resulted in them saying things that weren't true says more about how we culturally view kindness or friendliness as inherently untrustworthy or flimsy and anger and carelessness as more believable as someone's true nature than it says about either of them in actuality

[edselmailheart]

They swapped mwhaha

[puppet-paradise]

Between the Lions Little Big Mouse

[linkbetweenlinksau]

I started posting the comic a while ago but… cover image…

[bogkeep]

all tangled up

[fanart of In Stars and Time]

[bloo-the-dragon]

*slaps this down* TIME TO REVEAL THE SECRET CHILD!

I've had this little guy behind the scenes for the mer au for quite a while now, but some years into Eclipse and Ruin becoming official qpp's (far on ahead in the au's overall timeline) they would have a child together. Specifically Ruin as mers reproduce asexually (and only once during their lifetime) but if they are bonded to a mate, the child will be the partners too and even have a chance of inheriting their traits. Mer magic logic!

So this is Loon, or Moonfish as a fun little nickname me and some friends like to refer to him as! A very fiesty pancake pup. However initially due to Ruin's not so great physical health, his egg almost didn't make it but it managed to survive. A result of this however was Loon being born with a withered arm which Ruin had to nip off, and he has a weak jaw/crunchy vocals so later in life he won't be able to talk much and his voice would be quite raspy.

All this however and he came out of the egg very energetic and ready to jump and attack anything that moved. Neither Ruin or Eclipse knows where this energy comes from but they would be just glad their hatchling was (mostly) healthy and lively.

[divine-dreaming-arts]

bro your calls are NOT going through !!! 3rd pfp for myself bc he's just too fun to draw lol

[motherdanger]

"So tell me, John, you've been doing this for a very long time, haven't you? How did I stop you? Am I just that good?"

"Don't flatter yourself."

[zephyrine-gale]

ZEPHYRINE IS A EPIC FAAN

SO what are your favorite songs in the sagas of epic???

luck runs out, puppeteer, wouldn't you like, thunder bringer, the challenge, wyfilwma! ramblings will be in the tags ajkdjg

my favorite character is hermes I love his silly horse laugh if i had to draw him rq he'd probably look like this in my style

[smiley-maize]

Spot the difference