#the other is blind and uses echolocation

[piece-of-pierce]

Meanwhile Alfred is subtly giving Bruce shit because Daredevil would’ve been such a fitting name, Master Wayne. You could’ve been the Gotham Devil and isn’t that a much more intimidating image than a bat?

Matt and Foggy are yeeted into Gotham - Loki was annoyed with them and thought it was funny - and, upon meeting Batman, Foggy is deeply unimpressed because he's calling himself a bat and he can't even echolocate! "You ahould paint your suit black and steal his schtick, Matt." "You think his suit looks better than mine?" "You literally have the ears already! Unlike him, you can echolocate! Why aren't you already a bat?!" "I-" "-Why didn't I suggest this already? I should have seen it. How did I not see it. You're literally a bat." "It's-" "You should get a cape, too. He's got a good cape. I bet it makes lots of little air currents for seeing with. If he had any business being a bat." "I thi-" "-You're a better bat than he is."

[keferon]

CONSIDER. Consider. Based on that last ask. Orca Jazz technically has vaguely fine vision in terms of human ranges. And he doesn't really have a problem with anything as is because everything is always so CLOSE to him in the tanks. But compared to other mers? His vision is SHIT. He cant see through water like he should, can't see as far as he should, every mer has way better vision than he does. And nobody figures that out UNTIL he's out of the aquarium because in the AQUARIUM his vision served just fine. But now that he's out in the ocean, Prowl realizing so quick that he can't see for dick diddly. Bringing him to the fish doctor and getting confirmed "yep you have bad vision" and Jazz proceeds to get prescribed the fish visor

I propose a bit funnier option.

Jazz has shitty vision but he doesn’t realise that something is wrong because he has no one to compare right? And then he meets Prowl and Prowl JUST as fucking blind as him so they both are clueless now and keep using echolocation instead of eyes if they need to see something far from them.

That is until Prowl takes Jazz to a proper hospital and they do aaaaaalll kinds of tests and checks on him. Which leads to an eye doctor (fish-Ophthalmologist?) pointing at Jazz “You need glasses young man!”

And Prowl is like “Huh? why? His vision isn’t any worse than mine?” and eye doctor slowly turns in his direction like in horror movies

[theglassofmiddleearth]

Hello! Could you write about Task Force 141 with a reader who is blind but navigates through echolocation? Clicking her tongue, producing sound.

Imagine a blind read who uses echolocation Task Force 141 due to traumatic injury.

Masterlist

Next

Y’know how Elsa said ‘The cold never bothered me anyways.’

Well, the same could be said for Reader! but for the dark.

Imagine a Reader! who uses echolocation to navigate.

Reader! Has saved many a mission with her talent. Her unique skill has earned her the nickname of Death Angel (those alien creatures from A Quiet Place)

Reader! gets called Angel by Soap and Kyle quite often. When off duty she wears a white blindfold, signifying impartial justice. (just like the ones angels are depicted to wear). However on missions? Reader! holds one over Ghost for intimidating.

The first time they met Reader! dressed for combat even Ghost was unnerved. Reader! had arrived decked out in black, wearing a dirty grey mask (it's clean) over her eyes. There was a red substance that looked to be seeping through what would be her eye sockets.

‘Uh, you must be Sargent L/N.’ Captain Price said in a slightly unnerved tone that only Ghost picked up on.

‘Yes sir that's me. I’ve been lent to the 141 for this specific mission. I hear you need someone to navigate the catacombs.’ Reader! nodded, pointing a thumb at herself. ‘I’ll get you guys through to the other side to your extraction point. Just stay quiet and don’t shoot anything unless I say so and we’ll be fine.’

‘Sorry te ask this lass but, can ye see through yer blindfold?’ A thick Scottish accent filtered into her ears.

‘Ah, I can’t see actually, I’m blind.’ She grinned, lifting up her blindfold a little so they could see just a hint of the of the wound area.

A collective slight gasp rang through the group, while the largest man stayed quiet.

‘It’s not a big deal, one of the missions we went on, my task force was captured and long story short, it’s easier for me to concentrate when I can't see.’ She shrugged, giving them a sly smile.

‘What do you mean?’ The lowest voice grumbled, a welcomed sound to Reader!’s ears.

‘Ah, you’ll see.’ She smirked, tapping under her left eye.

‘Come on, let’s get going. It’s going to be sundown soon and I don’t wanna catch the crazies.’ She turned, turning towards the steps that led down to a city of bones.

The tunnels were close, the smell was of old pages, dusty and damp. The 141 swept their lights across the piles of bones with tensed bodies. They were nearing the shut off point.

Reader! raised a hand, causing the group to come to a halt.

‘My time to shine boys.’ She whispered, ‘Lights out.’

The men reluctantly flicked off their headlights and switched to night vision. Reader! hummed, and let out a breath.

‘Don’t speak unless it’s important.’ Reader! mumbled, before she turned back towards the now bleak, dark tunnel.

The sound of boots quietly scuffing the ground, echoed the tunnels, rang in the men's ears,

Click clickclick click click

The men froze, swinging around with their guns raised.

‘That’s just me guys.’ The comforting voice of Reader! called out from the front.

Price and the rest turned around, slightly embarrassed.

‘Right. Carry on.’ Price muttered, gesturing for the men to follow her.

Reader! continued clicking, navigating the tunnels and avoiding people whenever possible until Reader! suddenly holds up a closed fist.

In front of them to the left side was a room, dimly lit.

Whispering could be heard, muttering and a very soft chanting of at least 5 people.

Reader! clicks one more time before showing 5 fingers, then gestured for them to stay low and sneak past.

The group silently slipped by the open entryway, ignoring the people inside dressed in red robes. Their orders were to get to the other side and if they could help it, not shoot anyone.

After successfully slipping past the unknown group, Reader! continued her clicking, sweeping her gun, across the stones. The group squeezed through holes, ducked below low ceilings and trudged forward. They didn’t encounter any more people. Reader had successfully led them out of the catacombs and back to the surface undetected.

The entire group breathed out a sigh of relief when they emerged from a sewer grate, the moon was high.

‘Not bad guys! Just in time too! Lets get the hell out of here. I need a shower.’ Reader! allows Captian Price to take the lead to the extraction point, following behind the rest of the group.

‘Mate, she’s like a bat, that was so cool. A velvety voice complimented her quietly.

‘Ye blasted fool, she can hear ye. That’s her whole thing.’ The Scottish voice groaned, a loud smack resounded.

‘I like your blindfold.’ The lowest voice said, seemingly amused.

‘Thanks LT I like yours too.’ Reader! smiles, giving the voice a thumbs up.

‘Hm, very good.’ The man rumbled in mirth.

[sister-lucifer]

Creepypasta + Marble Hornets as Animals

Some lighthearted headcanons in which I assign various characters animals based on vibes. This is open for discussion and additional headcanons:]

————

Marble Hornets:

Tim/Masky - Brown bear

this one is mostly based on vibes, but also because I think that, like a bear, Tim is generally quite mellow until he has something to defend. also bear as in big hairy gay man haha

Brian/Hoodie - Coyote

i think a coyote matches Brian’s sort of cunning and resourcefulness and ability to survive on very little. it’s also crazy hard to kill coyotes or keep them out if they really wanna get in

Jay - Brown hare

the hare is generally skittish but will do crazy shit to survive and knows how to evade predators. they also have these big freaky eyes that make them look like they hear whispers on the night wind

Alex - Gambian pouched rat

the largest rat in the world; i chose a rat in particular because they are stereotyped as being dirty, aggressive and disease carrying when in reality, under comfortable circumstances, they are not only clean but personable companions. this reminds me of how alex was turned into a very nasty person by the operator when he would’ve been completely different under normal circumstances

The Operator/Slenderman - Asian Beauty Fungus

putting the operator and slenderman as one for convenience even though yes i know they’re different; the asian beauty not only is a long white fungus that physically resembles the operators/slenderman but is also incredibly invasive and can take over entire areas

————

Creepypasta:

Jeff the Killer - Possum

most obviously because of the possum’s association with ‘grinning’ as a show of aggression, but also because i think a nocturnal scavenger fits Jeff

Jane the Killer - Black jaguar

a stealthy nocturnal hunter clad in all black—need i say more?

Nina the Killer - Pink cockatoo

i associate her heavily with pink and hyper girly y2k aesthetics, but i also chose a parrot bc of her need to copy others (like Jeff) instead of forming her own identity. pretty birds can also be unassuming but get very scary if aggravated

Homicidal Liu - Chinese water deer

first of all, the name Liu is chinese so that’s perfect, but also there’s something about a notoriously skittish prey animal like a deer adapting to grow sharp tusks that mirrors Liu’s story to me

Ticci Toby - Raccoon

obviously his hoodie resembles the pattern of a raccoon’s fur, but also raccoons are very mischievous and clever with problem solving and will get into all sorts of trouble just because they can

Eyeless Jack - Flying fox

this bat resembles what EJ looks like in my personal head canon, but also bats have been associated with demons and death and in folklore for like. ever. they also use echolocation which is perfect for a blind pasta like EJ

Laughing Jack - Secretary bird

i don’t really have much justification for this one beyond Scary Ass Fucking Big Ass Bird. this mf stomps venemous snakes to death. the color scheme and long spindly legs and head feathers remind me of LJ but you’re mostly just gonna have to trust my vibes on this

————

i might make a part 2 since there’s a lot more creepypastas I wanna do but we’ll see……….

[affectionatecorpse]

I'm once again getting overly philosophical over horror movies, so here's a study of the death angels from A Quiet Place as observed by a very enthusiastic animal loving veterinarian.

Every time people talk about death angels, it is, understandably, about how violent they are. These creatures are brutal and merciless, and will tear apart anything that makes too much noise. Hence the title of the movie.

Death angels are frankly terrifying, and show no empathy towards the creatures of the planet they invaded. No living thing is safe from them.

... so here's why they COULD be--

Look. Death angels are simply not suited for our planet. It's a noisy, chaotic place full of noisy, chaotic animals. From humans, to raccoons, to birds, to cats, nearly everything in our world is a potential trigger for a noise sensitive animal such as these.

But that's exactly what they are. Animals. And no one seems to remember that fact. People talk about them as though they themselves are sentient, anthropomorphic monsters, but the way these creatures act mimic many real life animals. Animals that don't belong here, but are trying to survive here. On a noisy planet covered in water, which they despise and cannot swim in.

Death angels are completely blind by nature, as seen in many other creatures such as cavefish, moles, and my personal favourite, the olm. Due to a lack of sight, they very clearly use echolocation in the film, to scan their surroundings and... well, not get dead. But echolocation is far from their only tool, as their ears are the strongest asset they have.

Their ears are INCREDIBLY sensitive. Just the slight ticking of an egg timer when heard from their perspective in the first film, is like a pounding drum in their ear. This is fine in a naturally quiet planet, but if a very subtle tick is that loud, then imagine the rest of the noise. Screaming. Explosions. Crashing. Little toy planes. Holy CRAP, that's gotta hurt.

Sounds that loud would definitely cause extreme hearing problems from pressure over time, and easily result in lifelong illnesses and disabilities such as deafness, infection, and so forth, if not stopped. It's going to be painful. It's literally bursting their ear drums inside their heads, and you can't explain to an animal why it hurts. You cannot rationalise with wildlife about treatment and self care. An injured and scared animal is always going to turn hostile, no matter how docile they may be normally. You can't explain to a lion with a knife in it's belly that you can stop the pain if it just doesn't attack you. You can't explain to a death angel that it needs to go somewhere more isolated instead of just destroying the source of the noise to shut it up.

Going to backtrack here a sec. Remember how I mentioned echolocation being another asset this creature has? Which means the slightest movement, the tiniest breath, can immediately allow you to be seen by it. With ears that good, too? It can see you from ages away. It knows you're there. Which means they DON'T attack for sport.

'Evil' is a concept rarely seen in nature. Yes, a lot of humans can be evil. And yes, many creatures can be too. Animals hunt for sport as well. Cats, for example! Although even then, I wouldn't describe it as evil. Calling the death angels evil implies they're attacking out of malicious intent, which just isn't true. In moments of panic, they'll destroy. But they are fully aware of humans around them.

Humans need to breathe, and can't stay perfectly still very easily. The death angels would be able to see our main cast at several points, even when they're being quiet. They don't attack whenever they locate a sign of life. For example, the scene in the basement. Being that close, whether the water was running or not, that alien absolutely would've heard Evelyn and the baby's sharp breaths. It didn't care. It was clicking at them almost curiously before it heard the bang of the silo, to which it ditched them to stop the sound.

This scene is a great example of why they don't kill for sport. Injured and young animals are especially easy prey for a creature built so strong and nimble. Evelyn is shown to be terrified of the mere presence of this thing, but it never actually does anything in the scene. It moves about. Ignores her movements in the flooding water. Investigates the baby. Clicks curiously at her while she backs away. It moves slowly and on all fours, when we know while aggressive, they will stand up on their hind legs (unless sprinting) and move very fast.

This implies it was in... well, not a submissive position, but a nonthreatening one. It wasn't baring it's teeth (as best it could), it had it's claws tucked up and unused, and was in no way in a primed-to-attack mentality. Until the silo made a loud bang. And even then, it could've quickly sliced up the two in the basement before running off, but it DIDN'T. It just left, without a moment of hesitation.

Let's also acknowledge the anatomy.

This is a carnivore. With sharp teeth for ripping apart prey, sharp claws for defence, and thick armour for protection from it's natural climate, as well as strong, long legs for running, this is absolutely a meat eater. The fact it's so well equipped makes me wonder if their natural prey is just as dangerous as them, which is why they have such tough skin. Or if they themselves have something above them in the food chain.

They seem to be pack animals, as usually others aren't far behind when one is about. Such as the trio by the Abbott house, the few at the docks, the ones by Emet's hideout, and even that group sliding down the building in the Day One clip I keep seeing as a gif. With their knack for running included, I wonder if they function like lions? Blending into their environment back home, clicking to hear prey, then the whole pack going on the chase when their target is vulnerable, in a way.

I got distracted. My point was, in a year, all the bodies from past victims vanished. All those people in the town who were swiped left and right just vanished from the town. They couldn't have decomposed in such short time, which means something moved them when it was safe. Something like a carnivore needing food after it felt comfortable in the silent aftermath. The argument that they do it for sport is one I see all the time, and it's just not true.

Everything needs to eat. Carnivores need to eat. Animals need to protect themselves from suspected danger. They never eat on screen because whenever they're on screen, they're surrounded by noise and are DISTRESSED. Have you ever had a sick pet? Most of the time, it won't eat when it's ill because it's too stressed, uncomfortable or in too much pain. When having their ear drums assaulted, a death angel isn't going to sit down with a cup of tea and a grilled cheese. Also, I won't add it because there's blood, but in the scene with the old man screaming in the woods, after it attacks, you can actually see it go back on all fours and sniff about the aftermath, like a hungry predator catching prey to eat. This was probably the first and currently only on screen proof of my claim.

By all means, not all animals are meant to be tamed. Jordan Peele's Nope said that best. Yet I can't help but wonder about the individual. Every animal is completely unique. Some will tolerate more than others. Due to their realistic nature and the similarities to actual animals, in specific circumstances, could they be befriended?

Anyway keep an eye out for A Quiet Place 4 where someone has a pet one that wears doggy ear protectors and accepts meat in exchange for pets-- /j

[somerandomdudelmao]

Why do I have a feeling you had the biggest hyperfixation on how echo location works cause holy suit that's super detailed <- knows nothing about echo location

This is a funny story.....but it's actually based on my experience playing Minecraft. About two years ago I was playing on a server and my old, dying and barely conscious laptop went crazy at some point and stopped showing block textures. They disappeared, but the hitboxes remained. So in a way I was playing being blind, but still seeing all the players and animals. Sometimes through walls. It was very annoying but very interesting. Especially when the other players recognized that I couldn't see anything and started building extra accessibility things. Like railings, steps, and special paths that I could use to reach their houses by orienting myself to the sound of footsteps on the material of the path.

...yeah I also know almost nothing about echolocation ._.

[colourstreakgryffin]

Hello! Could you do a SFW one with Alastor, Vox, Velvett, or others (separately) with a blind fem reader?

Ooh! Okay! I def can! Idk if you want it romantic or not but even so, let’s just see where this actually really cool idea takes us, shall we!

Alastor

Alastor doesn’t really react much to when he discovers you’re blind. Well… that happens to people doesn’t it, though, he isn’t sure how you’re still blind, even coming into Hell. He was short-sighted as a human and now, it’s completely cured. Why are you so different?

Alastor won’t treat you like you’re helpless and unable to fend for yourself. He’ll only jump in when he thinks you genuinely need some support. He is a good boyfriend like that and he is happy to make radio effect noises to draw you back to him when you need the subtle push

Alastor is the type to accompany you everywhere, no questions asked. He’ll bring you place to place and let you feel around so you get familiar with the Hotel’s layout but most of the time, he’ll escort you where you need to go so you don’t get lost. He just wants to protect you… all the time, everytime

Alastor respects you. You have a genuine disability but yet, you never let it bother you nor does it hinder you so much, that you need a constant caretaker. You’re a lady of skill and diligence, you’ve accomplished so much. He’s proud and he likes to brag about his blind girlfriend being better than anybody else’s own normal girlfriend, even over his broadcasts

You bet your supple ass Alastor wants and tries to cure your disability. As much as he believes you’re beautiful the way you are, he’d prefer you be able to see so you don’t have to suffer all the time and he brings this up with you as much as he possibly can

Vox

Vox is kinda meh about the whole fact you’re blind. He doesn’t like it but that also doesn’t mean he’d bully you for it. He’s kinda more disguising ‘I am worried’ under annoyance. He pretends to be annoyed by the fact you can’t see but in his mind, he’s worried you’ll get lost

Vox always has people escort you around, when he himself cannot, he needs you safe and he even hires security to ensure no random stranger can put their hands on you when you least suspect it. As his beloved but sadly disabled girlfriend, you’re safety is his top priority, alongside comfort when you are safe

Vox is kinda— no, very babying. To be honest, he babies you a lot because of your blindness. He is caring and he is doting, behind closed doors and he wants to ensure you’ll be taken care of so he babies you in all ways because of your disability. He’ll feed you, he’ll bring you to the bathroom, he’ll sleep with you

Vox always wants to hold your hand. It’s for both of you; for you to get familiar with his feeling and for him to know you’re right there and not going anywhere. Vox also doesn’t mind letting you feel his TV head, whatever helps you always recognise him, he’s happy with it

Vox, like Alastor and Velvette, brags about you but he brags about you on his television show, so live on the worldwide web. He’ll brag about everything you’re gone through and even announce you, proclaim you’re the better than any girl in Hell and that you’re hotter than any other girl in Hell

Velvette

Velvette, for a critical and judgy woman, cannot bring herself to judge you for your disability. Yeah, she is the one who dislikes it the most since it means you’re stupid(Velvette mindset) but she doesn’t want to throw any garbage at the woman she really likes

Velvette likes to dress you. That way, you don’t have to worry about feeling on your clothing and she can make sure you always match her, stay up trends and be stylish. You’ll be the most beautiful lady in the Pride Ring and she’ll enjoy posting pictures of you online

Velvette actually feels really sorry for you so she offers her help regularly. She’ll offer her help for the smallest things, your echolocation isn’t working and you’re more than a bit stuck, she’ll be right there with her phone playing so you can always find her incase you two seperate but she’ll have your hand in hers

Velvette as the, backbone of the Overlord Vs, is more than willingly to get into a fight to protect you. Protect you from the minor disablist down the street to actual exterminators. She’ll never let anything put their hands on you and she’ll even fend off Vox and Valentino to leave you alone. She wants to be the only one touching you

Velvette will make sure you associate social media to herself so when you hear memes or music or a uploaded video, that means Velvette is nearby and she is very proud when she watches you approach her and cuddle her

[sketchy-noodles]

Menaces of the underground, the Deep Dark crows have arrived!!! 💙💙💙

Transcript and closeups under the cut:

DEEP DARK CROWS

A guide by Philza Minecraft

Physical Adaptations:

Functionally blind

Instead have thermal vision (like snakes)!

Helps them locate prey and recently deceased creatures for food.

SUPER sensitive hearing (smell too!)

Cold-blooded with slower metabolism —> don’t have to eat as often.

Some use echolocation to identify their surroundings.

Like End crows, have feathers adapted for silent flight.

Behavioral Adaptations:

Prefer dark/cool environments

Cautious & not very trusting

Will often attack living creatures to get them to make noise, thus summoning the Warden (free meal!)

Flock in moderate to small sized groups

Other Notes:

Blind, milky eyes

Body covered in sculk

Tattered fringe feathers

Velvety down on legs and wings absorb sound frequencies!

Fig. 1) Almost died

NOTE: Can be won over with treats and patience.

[cripplecharacters]

hello! feel free to ignore me if this is slightly outside the boundaries of this account, but i'm a tabletop roleplaying game (ttrpg) designer looking for opinions on mechanics for disability in games.

my game specifically covers a lot of themes that, while not about disability, would make me feel remiss to not include some explicit mention of how physically/mentally disabled characters fit into the greater picture of the game. it has a specific focus on telling stories of diverse characters, for one, and on fighting the unfair capitalist systems that harm these marginalized groups.

my issue lies in how, exactly, to both treat this topic respectfully and make the characters not feel out of place or unbalanced. i've considered several options, and was curious to hear from a physically disabled perspective how to proceed (i am mentally ill & neurodivergent, but to my knowledge not physically disabled).

option one: mention that disabled characters of all kinds are encouraged, and talk about roleplaying them or provide resources for how to handle them respectfully, but don't apply any specific rules with hard mechanics or numbers to them. this option is least likely to be inadvertently misconstrued or written poorly on my part, but may make disability feel like a "flavour" side note.

option two: provide examples for some common disabilities on the mechanical effects (such as a low vision character rolling less dice on rolls to notice visual details) without any "counteracting" mechanics. this one gives mechanical weight to disability, so it feels less like an afterthought, but may discourage people from playing disabled characters as they would be more likely to fail than other characters.

option three: the above, but with mechanical incentives for roleplaying in a way that acknowledges the character's disability. a "benefit", but less "giving a blind character echolocation" and more "gain XP for showing your characters disability and any aids they use" (similar mechanics exist for following your character's goals/personality traits). this would make disabled characters be more on par mechanically with other characters, but i fear it may come across as... viewing disabled characters as not worth it without some sort of benefit, i suppose?

apologies for the long rambling message, but i'd love to hear which of these options (or another suggestion) you'd be happiest to see in a game written by someone who isn't physically disabled! this is far from the focus of my game, but it's still an important part of the greater theme that i'd love to be able to get right. thanks! (similarly, if there are any groups not covered in the "underrepresented but common disabilities" post from your FAQ that you'd want to see in a game, i'd also be happy to hear those!)

Hello!

First things first, thank you so much for thinking about this! This isn't something that most TTRGs consider and, as a massive nerd who plays DND, Pathfinder, and other tabletop games, this has always been a big pet peeve of mine since making a disabled character is always unnecessarily hard to do with the game mechanics and rarely works out well.

Most of the time, I have to talk to my GM about how to make it work in their game and, unfortunately, I'm often told they won't allow it because it's "too much trouble".

This is all just to say, I really love the idea here and the fact that you're actually thinking about these things and wanting to do well by them is great!

Now, taking a look at the options:

Option One

One of the unfortunate things that I see a lot is people that are too scared to get something wrong with representation (Or social justice on a broader scale) that they don't try to do it at all. With this current era of cancel culture and people's reactions to what they deem 'offensive', it's understandable to be a bit apprehensive but if you're approaching the subject from a place of respect and you're receptive to learning and improving, most people will appreciate the effort.

While this option does sidestep the main issue you've identified, I do think it sidesteps the attempt at making disability part of your game as well. You can encourage people to make disabled characters all you want but without any real content for them in the game, it won't do much.

If you do go with this option, I'd strongly suggest including some information on the culture of your world and how it relates to disability, both to provide more substance to the content and to give players a bit to go off of when making a disabled character.

Option Two

I like this option much more than the first one, though I do agree that it may discourage people from choosing to play a disabled character.

Within the game mechanics, I think it makes a lot of sense to have these kinds of effects but I would encourage you to include more variety with it. Disability isn't 'one size fits all' and two disabled people can have different needs, strengths, and experiences -- even if they have the exact same disability. Instead, I'd suggest going for a slightly different model that includes more choices.

For example, a character with low vision may:

- Roll lower on perception checks involving vision

or

- Have disadvantage with ranged weapons/attacks

or

- Have lower rolls/less success in dim lighting

Do you see where I'm going with this?

Having more options for how the character's disability affects them allows players to make a choice for how they want to play the character while also encouraging them to think more about how their character's disability might affect them and impact their life.

The examples given are all reflections of how blindness can affect somebody. Blind spots or blurry vision can make it more difficult to notice certain visual changes, severe nearsightedness can make it difficult to aim/focus on things that are far away, night blindness can make it difficult to see in the dark or in dim lighting, etc. That being said, there are dozens of other ways to go about this (Though I'd advise sticking to five options per disability at most to avoid overwhelming people).

Option Three

Personally, I like this one and the second option the most. Although I understand where your concerns are coming from, it feels less like it's implying that disabled characters have to be 'worth it' and more like it's just balancing it out.

Like with the second option, I'd suggest going for more of a choice model here where the player can pick what 'benefit' (For lack of better word) that their character has -- or even to choose no benefit at all.

Many physically disabled people develop our own skills or tools to compensate for where we struggle, whether this is an intentional decision or just something that happens.

For example, my boyfriend is paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair full time. As a result, he has kick-ass upper body strength from it.

Similarly, many deaf and hard of hearing people are more observant when it comes to visual cues and many blind people are more sensitive to other senses (Though, of course, the whole 'super senses' thing is a myth).

While this isn't true of all disabilities or all disabled people in general, it is something worth considering.

That being said, if you do decide to implement this option, make sure that the benefit makes sense for the disability or is related in some way and isn't just something random being tacked on -- that would make it seem more like a 'disabled characters need to be worthwhile' thing.

As a few extra notes:

If you go with the second or third option, I'd suggest separating the different stat effects into different types of disabilities. You don't need to go too into specifics with it but something like 'low vision/blindness/vision loss', 'deafness/hearing loss', 'limited mobility', and 'chronic illness' would work. While disabilities are more nuanced than this in real life, setting it up this way would keep it pretty simple and allow players to tweak the mechanics slightly for their own characters.

If you go with the first option, I'd probably avoid discussing how to roleplay disabled characters. Because roleplay and character development is much more open than stats and game mechanics are, showing one or two 'proper' ways to play a disabled character is more likely to reinforce stereotypes, dismiss certain experiences that disabled people have, or just come across as more of a 'lecture' than anything. The same goes for including information on what to avoid. I'd stick to providing information about your world and how disabilities are seen in them instead of giving instructions here.

I'd suggest including ways for players to bypass the mechanics of disability if they'd like to, even if their character is disabled. That would allow for a bit more freedom with how they portray their character and would also ensure that they aren't being 'penalized' (For lack of a better term) with their stats for playing a disabled character. As a bit of an example of what I mean: A character in DND could have been a criminal growing up without necessarily taking the Criminal/Spy background.

In general, I think as long as you're approaching this respectfully (Which you are!) and reaching out to physically disabled people for their input (Which you are!), you don't have to worry too much about misrepresenting it.

Cheers,

~ Mod Icarus

[nexahexagon]

If you're still doing LoSA requests, the previous one of sneeg going blind gave me the image of Clown doing guide-dog duties for sneeg but accidently letting him run into things cause he doesn't quite know what to guide him on yet. Some silly after that ANGST (I love all of these so much omg)

Sorry for taking so long but they’ve been in my brain, rest assured. They’re just silly with it!

I think Sneeg would have trouble with echolocation, getting overstimulated and it being something completely brand new to him, so he tends to focus on noises he’s used to hearing! Voices and footsteps being a large portion of that! I also think the ocean waves are very calming for him. He’s get a fairly decent water theme (considering trident), and I think the water would drown out other noises for him!

[eclipseberrycake]

Hear Me Out (Sprout x HOH! Reader)

AN: So, fun fact, I am ALSO Hard of Hearing (HOH), however it's not to the point it's been impacting my life to the point of intervention. That being said, I don't know sign, but I'm trying to learn! So I'm sorry if this isn't very accurate, I promise I'm trying to be as respectful as possible!

Also, Masterlist has been updated!

This is a request.

☁ I'm tryna think of a role good for a HOH toon, and yk what I think? Distractor or survivalist. Maybe even Extractor.

☁ Distractor because like airhorns won't affect you, but then you can't hear when Goob or Scraps snaps. ACTUALLY NVM-

☁ You're getting the RAW thought process rn, hope you all enjoy it. My beta reader is DEAD. Cringe is DEAD. EMBRACE LIFE RAHHH

☁ Anyway, EX-distractor Reader! Maybe they USED to be a distractor, but it got to the point where it just wasn't feasible anymore, so the reader instead took up a survivalist role/back-up distractor.

☁ It would be really cool to think that their ability is kind of like SONAR or like...echolocation lol, where they can use an ability to work around their hearing loss. Like they can locate the twisteds using the vibration of their steps and uses as a guide.

☁ If that makes sense? So they can't see through walls, per say, but they can tell because an Exclamation point pops up because a twisted is walking right there, but you can't hear it. Just sense it.

☁ like okay spidey sense, pop off queen.

☁ Anyway, now that the intro is there. SPROUT. Sprout my boy. How I wish to put you in a blender and drink you. /pos

☁ So my partial headcanon is that after being returned, he's partially blind on his left side, hence why he becomes right dominant. So he understands having something effect your day to day life.

☁ As a main, I imagine he had to know sign, so he's already fluent in it! When you sign to him the first time, a simple wave and spelling of your name, you're startled when he returns the action.

☁ Even if you don't know sign, he's patient and willing to teach you! in the meantime, he writes with his fingers on the palm of your hand. Letter by letter, he writes silly little secret messages that make you flush.

☁ Y'all cute as hell.

☁ On runs, he keeps his eyes peeled for you at all times. Since leaving the distractor way of life, he sticks so close to you. Like he's probably saved your ass more times than you can count and you don't even know because you aren't thinking of it at the time and can't hear him!

☁ But it all plays out because you know how many times you save him because they sneak up on his right side?

☁ You guys also sign to each other all the time after he discovers your fluent/ teaches you. Across rooms, you both notice like Shrimpo doing something and he's like "D-I-D U S-E-E T-H-A-T" and you're tying not to giggle as you respond "U S-H-O-U-L-D F-I-L-M" for preparation on what is bound to be peak comedy.

☁ Additionally, it's a very effective method of communicating which twisteds are on the floor. A simple " P-O-P" or "B-O-X" goes a long way, especially if you're playing backup until the main distractor can collect the other twisted.

☁ As someone who's a bit HOH, idk about y'all, but I get so frustrated with myself sometimes, because people need to repeat themselves like six times and I still don't understand. So I imagine Sprout is very aware of that too. He takes time to speak slowly if you can handle it, or he'll sign, it makes no real difference to me.

☁ When others are being assholes about it, he'll step in and diffuse the situation, especially if he sees you becoming increasingly frustrated. He understands the some of the other toons have...less patience than others when it comes to things like communicating in a way that helps you or others.

☁ Sometimes you probably feel like you're being left out just a bit as well. For instance, when others are complaining about Fin's puns, you probably feel left out since there's no direct translation to some of them so the joke is lost by the time it's explained.

☁ Sprout does not care. He will go through it, letter by letter if needed, just to see you smile, even if it's smile. He loathes the puns, don't get him wrong, but he knows you like being included with the rest of them.

☁ If you all are watching something, he is adamant that subtitles are an absolute must. He will not take no for an answer.

☁ I've established fairly well that Sprout is a protective guy. This does not end after the runs. Not at all. It's the little things that he takes especially good eyes on, like subtitles and keeping notebooks in every room for those not fluent in sign to communicate with you, just to ensure your comfort above all else.

☁ On runs, he's never more than a room away from you. He's got the stamina to play distractor for a while, so if it means keeping you safe, he'll do it.

☁ ughhh im running out of ideas im so sorry

☁ When off runs, Sprout kinda reminds me of a tired dad especially with like Yatta and Toodles. They run around and have fun, but it's hard when they're running around you and you can't hear them and they nearly smoke ya.

☁ He's always reminding people to keep a berth until you notice them. If they don't head his warning, he's not above scruffing them and dragging them in the opposite direction. Like if Finn and Shrimpo are going at it, he'll literally drag them away and drop them to continue their fighting before walking away.

☁ If he's not around, you better believe Cosmo is his second in command. You all thought this would be a Roo post without mentions of cosmo? HA.

☁ Cosmo is always there if Sprout is not. If you get hit, Cosmo is handing you a cookie, even if Sprout is literally heading your way. Like Cosmo knows how much you mean to Sprout, so you mean a lot to him. I don't think his hearing is all to good either (Especially since it takes Cosmos 20 fucking minutes to come grab a fucking med-), so he's a good confidant if you think Sprout needs a break. He's also fluent so he's a great translator!

☁ Especially if Sprout is scolding someone for being a dumbass and isn't thinking about signing. Cosmo's right there with a cheeky little grin, interpreting for you.

☁ That being said, Sprout does the same thing. If someone's arguing in the elevator, he's right beside you, keeping up with their yells so you can follow along. It's honestly hilarious is they say something below the belt and Sprout pauses and is just :O before recovering and signing it to you and you're just :OOO thirty seconds later.

☁ All in all, Sprout is a lovely gentleman all around. None of this is extra to him, it's all just part of loving you. And if it's about you, he'll do it every time, no questions asked.

[bestanimal]

Round 3 - Mammalia - Eulipotyphla

(Sources - 1, 2, 3, 4)

Our next mammalian order is Eulipotyphla, sometimes called the “true insectivores” (as they used to be grouped paraphyletically with some afrotherians, colugos, and treeshrews in an order called “Insectivora”). Eulipotyphla includes the families Solenodontidae (solenodons), Talpidae (“moles”), Soricidae (“shrews”), and Erinaceidae (“hedgehogs” and “gymnures.”) Yes, we have finally come to the true moles and shrews!

Eulipotyphlans resemble rodents with pointed snouts and small or reduced eyes. Scientifically, they are set apart by their lack of cecum in the large intestine. Most are terrestrial insectivores or omnivores, and they have many sharp, spike-like teeth. Some of these animals (solenodons and shrews of the genus Sorex and Blarina) emit clicking noises, the sound waves of which bounce off objects in their vicinity. This form of echolocation helps these nearly blind animals navigate as well as find food. Eulipotyphlans also have an above average sense of smell. Many have unusually high metabolic rates, and need to eat almost constantly. Eulipotyphla contains the majority of venomous mammals, the only others being the Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), 3 species of vampire bat, and Slow Lorises (of the genera Nycticebus and Xanthonycticebus).

Eulipotyphlans are generally solitary, highly territorial animals that only tolerate each other for breeding. Only the mother raises the young. Litter size depends on species. Solenodons only have 1-2 young per litter once a year, while shrews can have 1-11 pups per litter, and can become pregnant soon after giving birth. Baby hedgehogs (called hoglets) are born with their quills covered by a protective membrane which dries and falls off several hours after birth, allowing their sharp quills to emerge.

Eulipotyphla is one of the oldest mammalian orders, having already begun to diversify in the Late Cretaceous, before the K-Pg extinction.

Propaganda under the cut:

Many shrews have a venomous bite. They use their venom to render invertebrate prey paralyzed, caching them for sustenance in the Winter months when food is more scarce. Their venom also allows them to take down prey their size or even larger, such as rodents and lizards. The European Mole (Talpa europaea), and possibly other species of mole, also have toxic saliva that allows them to cache paralyzed earthworms for later consumption. As an added measure, solenodons have grooves in their teeth which allow them to more effectively deliver venom. Fossil records show that some other now-extinct mammal groups also had the dental venom delivery system, indicating that solenodons’ most distinct characteristic may have been a more general ancient mammalian characteristic that has been lost in most modern mammals and is only retained in a couple of very ancient lineages.

The contents of the venom glands of one American Short-tailed Shrew (genus Blarina) are enough to kill 200 mice.

Solendons are often called "living fossils" because they have remained virtually unchanged for the past 76 million years.

The Hispaniolan Solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus) (image 4) was once thought to be extinct, due to its secretive and elusive behavior. The Hispaniolan Solenodon and the rat-like Hispaniolan Hutia (Plagiodontia aedium) live in the same habitats and are the only surviving mammals native to Hispaniola.

The Cuban Solenodon (Atopogale cubana) is endangered due to predation from invasive animals like domestic cats, domestic dogs, and the Small Indian Mongoose (Urva auropunctata) which was introduced to Cuba to control snakes and rodents. It is also threatened by deforestation as well as habitat degradation due to logging and mining. The animal can take a long time to recover because it only breeds a single litter of 1-2 young per year. Unfortunately, solenodons are not very charismatic, and very little conservation attention is given to the species.

Desmans (see gif above) are uniquely aquatic moles, though they excavate dry sleeping chambers. They have waterproof undercoats and oily guard hairs, elongated and flattened tails, and webbed paws to aid in swimming.

While the Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata) (image 3) is known to share its burrow, other moles are very territorial, and can engage in extraordinarily fast battles.

The Star-nosed Mole is adapted for both subterranean life and for swimming. Star-nosed Moles are able to smell underwater, accomplished by exhaling air bubbles onto objects or scent trails and then inhaling the bubbles to carry scents back into the nose.

A report in the journal Nature gives the Star-nosed Mole the title of fastest-eating mammal, taking as little as 120 milliseconds (average: 227 ms) to identify and consume individual food items. Its brain decides in approximately eight milliseconds if prey is edible or not.

The Small Japanese Mole (Mogera imaizumii) is extinct in central Tokyo, but still found on the grounds of the Imperial Palace.

The Etruscan Shrew (Suncus etruscus) is the smallest known terrestrial mammal, with an adult body length of about 4 cm (1.6 in), excluding the tail. On average, they weigh only about 1.8 g (0.063 oz). Like other shrews, it has a very fast metabolism, eating about 1.5–2 times its own body weight per day.

In some shrew species, exposed areas of the teeth are dark red due to the presence of iron in their tooth enamel. The iron reinforces the surfaces that are exposed to the most stress, which helps prolong the life of their teeth.

Shrews are considered beneficial to humans, as they are voracious predators of many insects and rodents that humans consider pests, such as cockroaches and House Mice (Mus musculus).

Shrews do this really cute thing where the babies will each bite onto the tail of the one in front of them and all follow their mom in a line so they don’t get lost. This is called “caravanning.” I call it a Shrew-shrew Train. (I’d like to see what the people who get upset about those joint child daycare leashes think of this.)

The Dalat Gymnure (Hylomys macarong) gets its species name, macarong, from the Vietnamese word for “vampire”, Ma cà rồng. This is a reference to the animals’ prominent long fangs, specifically the first upper incisors, that distinguish mature males of this species.

Hedgehogs (subfamily Erinaceinae) are one of the many mammal groups to convergently evolve spines from hair. Unlike the quills of a porcupine, hedgehog spines do not easily detach from their bodies. However, immature hedgehog’s spines normally fall out as they are replaced with adult spines. The animal will roll into a tight spiny ball when threatened, tucking in their furry face, feet, and belly. Some light-weight desert hedgehog species with fewer spines are more likely to flee or attack, ramming an intruder with their spines, rolling up only as a last resort.

Since 2000, the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) population in Great Britain has been declining rapidly, down by 30%-75%. European Hedgehogs are common roadkill in Britain, especially during the breeding season when they are wandering for a mate.

Hedgehogs can suffer from a unique condition called balloon syndrome, in which gas is trapped under the hedgehog’s loose skin from injury or infection, causing the animal to inflate. Trying to research this syndrome can be difficult, as searching “hedgehog inflation” can often yield unintended results.

The Four-toed Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) (image 1) is a highly energetic predator, sometimes covering miles of ground in a single night as it forages for insects, grubs, snails, spiders, some plant matter, and even small vertebrates. It has a high tolerance for toxins and has been recorded consuming scorpions and even venomous snakes.

Hedgehogs are usually a welcome visitor to gardens, as they eat many garden pests such as beetles, slugs, and grasshoppers, and only eat a very small amount of plant matter.

Moles and hedgehogs have natural immunity against some snake venoms due to the protein erinacin in their muscles (though in such small amounts that a viper bite may still be fatal).

[daryltwdixon]

Summary: After fighting off a monstrous creature, you and the others finally manage to escape the school and secure the car battery. With the night settling in, you try to push the day’s chaos aside, hoping to keep the nightmares at bay as you prepare for rest.

Warnings: canon-violence

The sound reaches you first, as it so often does—the deep, retching gurgling that bounces around the echoing chamber of the basketball court. You know that sound. You remember it from when your dad talked about it, that one time when you were too young to understand, but old enough to remember the terror in his voice. He’d called it, in his usual dry way, a ‘fat fuck left to rot for years.’ At the time, it made you laugh. Now? Now, you’re seconds away from being its next victim.

You freeze. Your gut twists as you hear it move, a sick, wet sound, like something struggling to breathe inside a bloated carcass.

You hear your breath catch, in sync with the other two who have nearly frozen in place as the thing emerges from the shadows of the room. A grotesque, swollen mass, the infection having consumed it from the inside out, spreading across the body, fusing flesh and fungus into a single, monstrous thing. What was once human is now just a shell, a walking nightmare.

The fungus has twisted its face beyond recognition, completely deforming it. Eyes, nose, and mouth are gone, replaced by strong growth plates and pustules. The skin is a sickly, mottled gray, bulging and oozing with new life, as if it’s been turned into its own ecosystem. Mold, fungus, plants—the infection has taken hold in every part of it.

The only thing in your favor? It’s blind. The infection has destroyed its ability to see, and while it still uses echolocation, it’s nowhere near as adept as its smaller counterparts. The clicking, however, is unlike anything you’ve heard before—more of a choked groan, deep and guttural, each noise a rasping struggle for air.

You feel the blood drain from your face as the creature’s presence fills the room. There’s no way around it, no way to outrun it.

“Joel–” you croak, finally able to find your voice, though it’s barely above a whisper. “You still have those explosives I mentioned?”

You don’t even need to look at him to know the answer. You can hear his breath catch in his throat as his eyes lock on the bloater, wide with shock and fear. He’s staring at it, calculating, assessing the danger.

“Yeah,” he breathes out, his voice tight.

He doesn’t move yet, the weight of the situation sinking in. You all know what’s at stake. This thing—this bloated monstrosity—isn’t just a threat. It’s a death sentence if it catches you.

You steel yourself, the panic rising as you realize the magnitude of the situation. The air feels thick, the quiet pressing in around you as you make eye contact with Joel, silently begging him to act.

"Now or never," you whisper, eyes unable to focus on either him or the grotesque creature, feeling time slow as it begins to groan, the deep, tortured noise filling the space. You snag your lighter from your bag, grabbing both Molotovs you had ready, dousing them in alcohol while Joel holds his gun up, ready for it to start charging. 

Finally feeling the small rectangle of your lighter from your bag, you pull it out after quickly dousing the rags of your Molotovs in alcohol. Joel’s already lifting his shotgun, his stance tense and ready as he watches the bloater shift suddenly turn, hearing your labored breathing and clanging of materials in your bag.

Then, the real nightmare begins.

The infected from the hallway have caught up to the noise. The sound of their pounding on the door is enough to send a fresh wave of panic crashing through you.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

With a final glance at Joel, you light your Molotovs, taking a deep breath before throwing them at the bloater. The fire erupts on contact, roaring and splashing across its body. The bloater screeches, a horrifying, guttural sound that fills the room with dread. You throw another, just as Joel’s shotgun goes off, taking down the infected breaking through the door.

It’s chaos.

“Keep at those things coming in!” you shout, no longer concerned with stealth. “I’ll keep Big Boy distracted!”

You bolt toward the opposite side of the room, your rifle swinging in front of you. You take aim, firing at the bloater. It stumbles, groaning as the shot hits it, but it turns in your direction, starting to charge. It’s slow, clumsy, disoriented by the fire, but it’s still coming. You make a split-second decision, running the other way before it can reach you.

You light another Molotov, throwing it at the bloater as you rifle through your bag. You’re praying you’ve got something that’ll stop it. Your fingers land on the nail bomb you grabbed earlier—something you and your dad used to make back in the day, simple but effective. You toss it at the bloater, and in the same motion, you raise your rifle again, shooting it twice. The explosive rips one of its arms off, your bullets beginning to pierce through its heavy platelets of fungus. No blood sprays, only decaying goop and frayed cordycep tendrils that rear back in anger at being ripped open from within. It’s terrifying.

But you’re taken out of your disgusted horror when gunshots continue to ring out around you, and you hear Joel shout your name just as an infected creature, now fully consumed by the fungus, lunges at you from behind. Its hands grip you, pulling you down, and the world tilts as you struggle to break free. You can’t move fast enough.

Then, Ellie’s there—her knife flashing in the dim light as she plunges it into the infected’s skull. You gasp, the weight lifting from you instantly. With her help, you’re on your feet in seconds.

You turn just in time to see the bloater giving into the flames. It’s burning, its body collapsing in on itself as the fire devours it. You aim your gun one last time, firing off your remaining rounds at the creature, taking it down once and for all.

The room falls quiet.

You glance around, eyes scanning the room for any more threats, but all you see is the carnage you’ve left behind. The bloater is a smoldering mass on the floor, the other Infected either dead.

"Out the windows," you breathe heavily, pointing toward the bleachers.

Joel is there within a second, moving with practiced speed. He leans down to boost Ellie up, his hands steady as he helps her scramble toward the top. But then, a new sound rips through the silence—more screeches from the opposite end of the room.

"Fuck," you groan, quickly turning and raising your rifle. One last round blasts through the air, hitting an Infected on its way through the door before it can reach you.

Joel shouts your name, and you turn to see him at the top of the stairs, his hand outstretched. Without thinking, you grab onto it, your heart racing as he pulls you up. His muscles tighten under the strain of lifting you, but youre over the top in seconds.

"Thanks," you grind out, your breath ragged as you jump through the window, landing hard in the yard below. The air in your lungs feels tight as you rise to your feet.

Greenery softens the impact, but it doesn’t mask the fact that there are more Infected on the way. The sounds of them grow louder, closer.

“We’re sitting ducks here—get out! Down the back alleyway and over!” you shout, voice strained, the words desperate as the adrenaline begins to fade. The ladder at the end of the wooded alleyway looms ahead like a beacon of hope.

You push through the pain of exhaustion, charging forward, but one of the Infected gets too close. Your knife flashes, sinking into its skull with a sickening crunch, but you know it’s only a matter of time before more of them arrive.

"Move!" you yell again, your breath coming in short bursts. You can hear Joel’s voice behind you, ordering Ellie up the ladder.

"Go, go, go!"

Joel’s already waiting at the bottom of the stepping ladder, his gun drawn as he covers you. The sounds of Infected feet hitting the ground behind you are deafening, but Joel doesn’t flinch. He pushes you upward, helping you climb as you scramble toward safety.

The Infected are close, their cries and gurgles filling the air, but you finally make it to the top. He follows quickly, pushing himself up the ladder with a grunt and turning to make sure the creatures won’t climb up after you, sending the ladder toppling over. Once on the other side, you both take a quick breath, eyes scanning the rest of the terrain ahead.

“You good?” Joel asks, breathless but focused, his eyes still sharp as they scan the horizon.

“Yeah,” you breathe, voice steadying.

You glance at Ellie, who’s already moving forward, knife in hand, ready for whatever comes next. The yard may be quiet for now, but you know better than to think you’ve escaped.

You turn and start down the alley, the adrenaline beginning to drain out of you as safety awaits through the house on the left.

“There it is,” you breathe, pointing up ahead, “the garage.”

You hear the other two sigh in relief, their footsteps lighter now as they move toward the old blue house. Time hasn’t been kind to it—ivy climbs up the walls, tree roots split the driveway, but it’s still standing. Protected by time, nature, and a little bit of luck.

You run up, pulling your keys from your pocket, and unlock the garage door with a quick, practiced motion. As the door lifts, you feel the weight in your chest begin to loosen.

Everyone gets inside, the faint hum of the refrigerator a quiet beacon of hope. You can’t help but feel a wave of relief wash over you. After everything, this is why you fought. This is why you kept pushing.

“Just so we’re clear,” you say, grabbing the handle of the fridge, eyes flicking back to Joel. “After this, you owe me huge.”

“Get us outta here alive, and I’ll be happy to,” he scoffs, catching his breath.

Ellie grins, her shoulders finally relaxing as she leans against the wall. For a moment, it feels like a rare piece of normalcy, one that you took for granted before your trek today.

You grab the cold car battery from the fridge, the weight of it familiar in your hands. You glance at Joel and Ellie, both sweaty and exhausted, and let out a long sigh. “Good news is, the rest of this area should be relatively easy to get through, then once we're through on the other side of this street, the truck should be close by. No infected, just... more walking.”

“I’ll take a walk over that shit any day,” Ellie breathes, her voice light, though the weariness still lingers in her eyes.

You exchange a brief look with Joel, then lead the way out of the house. The lowering sunlight casts long shadows across the yard as you step into the fading light. It’s quieter now—too quiet—but the weight of the moment feels heavier than the exhaustion.

Hours later, with the truck finally running, you’d managed to get cleaned up and settle in for the evening. The weight of the day was starting to hit you, but for the first time in what felt like forever, there was a brief, hard-won peace.

Once Ellie had seemingly convinced Joel to shower—a feat you’d mentally applauded her for—you laid out some clothes for him on the bedspread in your room, where the best shower was attached. You got out a green plaid shirt and a pair of worn jeans from Frank’s old wardrobe, figuring they’d fit Joel’s build better than your dad’s. The day had been exhausting enough—you didn’t think he’d want to spend the night in the clothes he’d been wearing for God knows how long.

You didn’t realize Joel was nearly finished until you heard the water shut off. A second later, as you’re straightening out the folded clothes, the bathroom door creaked open, and a wave of warm steam rolled into the room, curling along the walls and fogging up the mirror on the dresser.

“Shit,” you muttered, caught off guard. You turned toward the sound just as Joel stepped out, a towel slung low around his hips, water droplets sliding down the planes of his chest and the faint ridges of old scars.

“Oh god—sorry!” You yelped, spinning on your heel and raising a hand to shield your eyes, even though you’d already seen way more than you should have. “Uh, I, uh… got you some clothes,” you stammered, gesturing blindly toward the bed. “They were Frank’s. Should fit.”

“Right,” Joel replies, his voice gruff but low. “Thanks.”

You don’t stick around to hear more. Instead, you make a beeline for the hallway, your hands clenching at your sides as you shut the door behind you a little too quickly. Taking a breath, you lean against the wall for a moment, blinking at the ceiling as if it would help erase the awkward encounter from your mind. It doesn’t, of course.

Back downstairs in the living room, Ellie is sprawled on the couch, tossing a small rubber ball against the wall and catching it on the rebound. She raises an eyebrow at you as you step in. “You look weird. Did Joel say something dumb?”

“No,” you say quickly, shaking your head. “Just… nothing. He’s fine.”

Ellie tilts her head, clearly unconvinced but too distracted by the fire to press further. “Joel giving you a hard time yet?” she asked, grinning.

“Always,” you say dryly, thankful for the change in topic. “He’s like my dad, but somehow grumpier. Didn’t think that was possible.”

Ellie laughs, plopping onto the couch and stretching out. “Yeah, well, that’s his default setting. Don’t take it personally.”

Before you can respond, Joel’s footsteps echo as he comes down the stairs. He enters the room wearing the clothes you’d laid out, the sleeves rolled up slightly to accommodate his forearms. The green plaid fits well enough, but you can tell he isn’t used to clothes that didn’t come from a duffel bag or scavenge pile.

“Feel better?” you ask, keeping your tone casual as you busy yourself with laying out a blanket.

“Yep,” Joel replies curtly, his gaze flicking to Ellie before settling on the couch. “You takin’ the bed?” he asks her, already sounding resigned.

Ellie grins, crossing her arms behind her head. “Damn right I am. You’re stuck with the couch, old man.”

“Where are you sleepin’?” Joel turns to you, brows narrowed on you.

You look around, realizing the only bed left. “I guess I’ll… I’ll take my dad’s room.”

Your voice catches slightly as you say it, but you cover it with a quick nod and turn toward the stairs. Joel watches you for a moment, his brows furrowed, but he doesn’t say anything. Ellie is already halfway up the steps, grumbling something about how she’s earned the best sleep of her life.

It had made sense to give Ellie your room. It was comfortable, and it didn’t feel right to force her into a bed that once held your parents' bodies, cold and lifeless. You couldn't stomach the thought of her sleeping in that space, not after what it had become.

“Goodnight,” you mumble to them both, leaving them to their own devices as you slowly, begrudgingly taking the steps. But, as you made your way up the stairs, it felt like you were walking yourself into a tomb. The room that had once been a sanctuary, filled with the warmth of home, now felt like an empty shell—a place that only echoed with memories, a place you had tried to bury, but could never escape.

Each step feels heavier than the last. The hallway seems darker tonight, the shadows stretching farther than they should. When you reach the door to your father’s room, your chest tightens. The door creaks softly as you push it open, revealing a space that feels untouched by time. The faint smell of old cologne and wood polish lingers, and the bedspread is neatly tucked, just as you left it.

Your breath hitches as memories creep in—the last time you’d been in this room for more than a fleeting moment. You shake your head, trying to push them away. It’s just a room, you tell yourself. It doesn’t mean anything.

You slip under the covers quickly with the lights still on, hoping their warm glow will keep the memories at bay. But as you close your eyes, the images come anyway. Fragments of that day—the way the light filtered through the window on their bodies, the eerie stillness of the air, the peaceful look on their faces.

You clench your fists, willing yourself to think of something else, anything else. Eventually, exhaustion pulls you under.

[junocandraw]

EYELESS JACK HEADCANONS

🫀 - Jack is 100% blind. He uses his keen sense of smell, his touch, and most of all, echolocation to get around safely. If you’re around him, you might hear him emitting quiet clicking noises to gauge his surroundings. The only places he doesn’t do this are in the mansion, and in most parts of the woods. He does occasionally slip up and run face first into a tree.

🫀 - Jack has trypanophobia, but only for himself. He HATES getting shots, but is perfectly able to administer them to others without incident.

🫀 - Jack is a bit like a cat. He purrs when he’s happy (though he denies this being this truth all the time), he sleeps all the time, he loves laying in rays of sunlight, and he gets cranky when he’s hungry. He also has claws like a cat on his hands and feet, and he uses them to scratch and climb trees. Another thing, he can sometimes fall asleep in people’s laps. The rules remain the same. If he’s there, you cannot get up and disturb his rest.

🫀 - He is SO CUDDLY! (Platonically) He loves sleeping on his friend’s chests or laps, and just being with someone when he needs to sleep. Its weird. He’s introverted until he’s tired. He’s also super warm. Portable heating unit ahh monster.

🫀 - Him and Jeff are BEST FRIENDS. Like, FOR LIFERS. They met in prison after being paired in an experiment. The original plan was to throw Jeff into Jack’s cell, and for Jack to hurt Jeff like he did all of the nurses that tried to give him shots. When he encountered Jeff, he sniffed his hand, and rubbed up against his leg like a cat. From then on, they were cell mates. The doctors found that Jack’s violent outbursts towards nurses became fewer and farer between, and Jeff stopped…well…being Jeff. When they met, Jeff was 18 and Jack was 23.

🫀 - He hates wearing shoes. (I know he’s wearing shoes in the drawing I added but it’s super old and I already posted the other really cool one.) He walks barefoot everywhere, and will complain when he gets thorns in his feet.

🫀 - Medical expert. He can find injuries, prescribe medications, and wrap bandages for healing. He also can do surgery REALLY quick. Because of this, he is a super important asset to the slender-alliance.

🫀 - I know everyone likes the “oh my gosh chat i woke up and my kidney is gone oh no!” version of Jack, and, no hate to that ofc. Thats not how I see him. His eating is DISGUSTING. It’s sickeningly hard to watch him chew and slobber on his food. He also doesn’t just eat kidneys, though, he does find them the tastiest. The only parts of the body he doesn’t like are the brain, the lungs, and the stomach. Everything else is fair game. He leaves a MESS when he is done. Finding someone after he ate them would be a very traumatising experience.

🫀 - Jack will often follow Jeff on his fun murder outings and eat what Jeff doesn’t slice and dice to shreds. He’s like the vultures that come and eat roadkill thats been left behind. It’s a mutually beneficial situation.

🫀 - This goes without saying, but he is super quiet. Among the loud and angsty teenage chaos of all of the creepies, he is the eye of the storm. For this reason, he is one of the few creepies Tim and Brian tolerate.

🫀 - Speaking of Tim and Brian, those two are SCARED of him. They would never admit it, but the stories that they’ve heard of the nighttime cannibal frighten them.

🫀 - He loves being scratched behind his pointy ears.

[writinginatree]

Adaptability Part 2

Relationship(s): Bodhi Durran/female!reader

Warnings: Canon-typical violence

A/N: Sorry this part is so much shorter than the first. I feel like it wraps the whole thing up pretty nicely as it is, though :)

Part 1

Being a third-year does have its perks, you muse as you sprawl on Bodhi's bed. It's bigger and more comfortable than yours because he's been appointed section leader, and gives you yet another excuse to spend all your free time in his room instead of yours. Not that you need excuses. Bodhi would stay glued to your side every second of every day if he could, and if anyone ever notices you slipping into his room for the night, they don't seem to care.

In the weeks since your return to Basgiath you have discovered that being blind makes people a lot more tolerant of any misbehavior from you in general. They think you're helpless, that it's just a matter of time until you die, anyway. Though even so, leadership still views you as enough of a threat that there have been attempts on your life, too. Not as many as on the others that were at Resson, but still.

The first time it had been close, the attacker taking you by surprise, but since then you've kept on guard, and sharpened your remaining senses with various exercises. Sneaking up on you isn't so easy anymore, especially since your echolocating skills are coming along nicely, too.

Upon your return, you had taken a trip to the archives with Bodhi the first chance you got to borrow some books on echolocation. Of course you couldn't read them yourself, but Bodhi and Imogen had been happy to help — there wasn't much else to do anyway in the five days between graduation and conscription day. One book on the bio sonar — another term for echolocation — of bats had been particularly helpful. From it, you had learned that the animals use it in two different ways. What you had been doing so far were CF calls — constant frequency. These calls have a big range, and are ideal for detecting the movement and velocity of a target out in the open, but as you already noticed yourself, they lack precision. The other 'modus', which is more suitable for close, cluttered environments, is called FM — frequency modulated. Those calls vary in pitch, a downward sweep through a range of frequencies to get all the details. They have a shorter range, but allow for a much more precise localization.

Getting the hang of frequency modulated calls is tricky — the first few days of experimenting with it almost drove you up the walls with frustration —, but you're getting there. It will never be the same as being able to see, of course, but that's okay. You've made your peace with being blind, and know you're still just as capable of being a rider as you were when you still had your eyesight. And when you do need help with something, you can always count on your friends.

Today challenges are starting, and despite all the training you've put in, you're a little nervous. This will be the first time since your injury that you're fighting for real, and not just against one of your friends. Judging by the way Bodhi is pacing the room, he's even more nervous than you.

"Relax," you say, rising from the bed and stepping into his path to pull him into a hug. "I'll be fine."

"I know," Bodhi says, but he's practically vibrating with nervous energy. "Just promise you'll be careful."

"Of course. Come on, let's get breakfast. You are done getting ready, right?"

Little things like that, your signet and sharpened senses don't help with. You feel the soft fabric of his shirt under your hands, but you can't tell if his shoes are tied properly, if he's done styling his hair, if maybe there's a speck of toothpaste left in the corner of his mouth. Though the latter is easy enough to find out — a swift kiss, and nope, you don't taste any toothpaste on his lips.

"Yeah, I'm done," he nods, and takes your hand, and you step out into the hallway together.

You don't need his guidance to navigate the halls anymore, but you enjoy the closeness, and if it makes others think he's guiding you — well, all the better, because life is so much easier when your enemies underestimate you. Though you suppose they will reevaluate if — when, Fonn's voice in your head insists — you win your challenge later. Violet somehow found out who your opponent will be — a guy from second wing, bigger than you, but only an average fighter. In theory, he shouldn't be much trouble for you. You watched him in the gym yesterday — or rather, Bodhi had, while you studied his technique with the help of your signet. Maybe that wasn't entirely fair, but denying yourself the advantage that comes with knowing your opponent would have been stupid.

You're glad when it's finally time to head to the gym. The anticipation is the worst part, the nagging worry that you're not ready, that no amount of training will be enough to get your fighting skills back to what they were before your vision was taken from you. You refuse to let these thoughts take hold in your mind. You'll be fine. In your training sessions, you'd managed to defeat both Bodhi and Imogen multiple times, and you know neither of them would ever do you the dishonor of going easy on you. If you can keep up with them, then some random idiot who's not even that good a fighter won't stand a chance against you.

You'll try if you can win without echolocation, but while the use of signets is technically forbidden during challenges, you won't let that deter you from using it should it become necessary. There is no way for others to detect the sound waves, so it's not like anyone will know what you're doing. The Riders Quadrant doesn't exactly accommodate disability, so you have to help yourself, even if that means breaking a rule here and there.

Bodhi gives your hand an encouraging squeeze when you're called onto the mat, and you know he'll be watching the whole time, ready to step in if anything goes wrong.

You take a deep breath and roll your shoulders as your opponent sneers about having to fight the only blind cadet in the quadrant, complaining that he was hoping for a real fight. He'll change his mind about that soon enough, you think to yourself. After you're done kicking his ass, he'll wish you were as helpless as he thinks you are.

You calm your breathing, turning your focus to the sounds your opponent makes — the soft rustling of his clothes, the drag of a boot against the mat as he shifts on his feet, his breathing, heavy in anticipation of the fight. You've spent endless hours in the gym with your friends, practicing to track an opponent by sound alone. Now it's time to put all that training to use. You'll resort to using echolocation if you need it, but first you want to try if you can win without it.

"Of course you can," Fonn scoffs in your mind. "That fool is no match for you."

"Hush. Let me focus."

Professor Emetterio gives the go, and you immediately attack. Your punch lands on your opponent's shoulder — he tried to twist out of the way at the last second. But you did hit him. You follow with another punch, not giving him any time to recover from the surprise of you knowing where he is. This time your fist collides with his cheek, and he stumbles a step backwards, but by now he has collected himself enough to take a swing at your face. You feel the rush of air preceding his fist and duck, using the opening to land a punch to his stomach.

A pained wheeze tells you the punch landed right on target. You kick where his knee should be, saying a silent prayer that you will manage to take him down and get him into a hold that will force him to surrender. The shorter this fight goes on for, the better. A thud tells you your foe has hit the floor just as intended, and you crouch down, managing to block a punch with one hand as you pull your dagger with the other. It takes precious seconds to find his throat, but then you have him at your mercy, leaving him no choice but to yield, unless he has a death wish.

Fonn's pride reverberates through you as you victoriously step off the mat to where you know Bodhi is waiting for you. You let out a sigh of relief. You did it. And it hadn't even been as hard as you'd feared it would be.

Bodhi's hand slips into yours as come to stand next to him as the next challenge is called. His lips brush your cheek. "I'm proud of you, darling. I knew you could do it."

You smile, leaning your head on his shoulder as you tap into the stream of Fonn's magic to follow the next match through your echolocation. Maybe she's not entirely wrong in constantly telling you you're the fucking best.

[burningarsenic]

Today i bring you TR's staff and how it works headcanons

Explanations and sort of transcript of my handwriting:

Normally, TR's staff has three eyes. Two smaller side eyes (i KNOW theyre the big ones in canon but this is MY headcanon and I decide how it works) and the biggest eye in the middle. Most of the time, TR isn't looking through his staff, hence why his eyes are open. The two side eyes work like the eyes of a Jumping Spider - they detect movement and changes in light, which allows TR to direct his limited vision at the shift and inspect it.

This combats one of the main issues of his blindness - extremely limited field of vision. TR has a pinhole of usable sight left, but it is only useful when he knows what he's supposed to be looking at. He is also extremely near-sighted. The side eyes allow him to be more precise with the use of his eyes.

TR prefers not to use the main eye of the staff, but sometimes he has no other choice, especially when navigating an area he is not yet familiar with. The staff became faulty after his corruption, while it is relatively clear with the picture it shows, the image is infected with phantoms of Dark Moon magic, creating illusions and hallucinations. Mainly he sees shadowy creatures where there is none, eyes in the sky (possibly a representation of the Witches) and the faces of the cookies around him are distorted, often smiling uncannily.

I like the idea of the staff not being a reliable tool because it actually reflects the way real world accessibility tools work. None of them bring back perfect vision, instead they help blind people navigate the world either with their other senses or with the strengths of their remaining sight. TR also often uses his staff for basic echolocation - tapping it on the floor loudly to check the distance of the objects around him. It's also very useful when navigating uneven terrain, where he'll use it somewhat like a white cane - holding the tip in front of his feet so he doesn't stumble.

Sage offered to fix his staff multiple times, but TR declines, saying that he's used to it working this way and he's rather comfortable with it. Plus, it allows him to completely ignore cookies whenever they try to get his attention under the pretense of "Oh, my apologies, i am unfortunately blind and did not notice you."