#you messed with the wrong Darkness

[tharkflark1]

Sora is screaming.

He's never been in this much pain before.

He's died before, it hurt but it's nothing in comparison to this.

Something is being ripped, torn, cut out of him. He can't fight it.

He's helpless.

Tears leak down the sides of his face as he writhes in agony.

Someone is talking.

He can't hear over the sound of his screams. The sound of his heartbeat in his ears.

Silence.

There is nothing.

He is nothing.

An empty shell.

A shadow stands over him, Hand reaching for his face. Gripping his chin tightly. Raising him off the floor to force him to meet their face.

The hooded figure is talking. There's a buzzing noise in his ears.

The hooded figure is gone, animalistic shrieking fills his ears and he finds himself face down.

…

…

…

Something crouches over him.

There is a hissing noise followed by clicking.

…

…

…

Everything aches. It burns.

He's empty, too hollow to be human anymore.

Something warm, soft presses against his side.

It soothes away the torn edges of his being.

He can rest.

—————

@mylifeisalieandididntknow holy shit!!! It’s short but wonderful! I love the visuals!!!!!

@kingarmorking come look!!!

[misspoetree]

[4/24]

❄❄ kp + text post advent calendar ❄❄

[fauxpapillons]

artschool assignments, this time with an oak silkmoth study and it's stages. Graphite pencils on the first. Watercolors + colored pencils for the second! They will be also be in inprnt!

[fanfalc-616]

Hey so. Have a Cryptor that I drew a while ago and never posted <3

(Click for quality)

[rearranging-deck-chairs]

babygirl whos soooo in touch with her emotions <3

[potatoesandsunshine]

"stop being nice to people it's bad" and then i gain influence. you don't really think it's bad. you like me~

[baroness-faron]

Renfield and Souls

There's an aspect of Renfield's death that has really not been addressed in the discussion, at least from what I’ve seen. A lot happened in early October so I know it’s a lot to take in, but Renfield is important to me okay. So, I think it's an important aspect to throw into the discussion! That being: Seward and Renfield’s final dialogue together on Oct. 1st about souls. 

Long essay under the cut:

The discussion that Seward has with Renfield about souls is not just Seward being a malpractice jerk, bullying his patient and making him worry about things that he doesn't need to worry about- which I’ve seen other posts claim. From Seward’s point of view, this is Seward trying to figure Renfield out and understand what he's going through currently, considering the outburst Renfield had about being let out. He wants to know of Dracula’s involvement as well. But from Renfield’s point of view, this discussion turns his entire worldview upside down. In a stressful way, yes, but ultimately a good way- towards his redemption! Seward did say he was being ‘cruel to be kind’ by challenging Renfield’s beliefs about consuming lives- and this ultimately ends up true!

The element of souls is really important to Renfield's eventual character arc. With Lucy, Renfield had washed his hands of her fate in terms of his own personal responsibility. He was not very involved- besides the attempted murder attack on Seward (which I very much believe Dracula instructed of him, to get Seward out of the picture that night, as he definitely did not expect Helsing’s letter to not reach him in time lol). 

Regardless, after he felt that he was not going to get what he wanted from Dracula, he washed his hands of the situation, and went back to his flies and his spiders. For a while, he acts like his old self again, as Seward notes during Lucy’s time as a vampire. 

In this way, it is the same when he meets Mina. He initially starts to regret the way her fate shall go when he meets her. However, he is unable to be set free by Seward and the others, and so he is forced to let Dracula in against his will (His not being let free was also an act done out of fear of Dracula’s control over him, by the way, not out of ableism. Seward says in a ‘dreamy’ (evidently uneasy and emotionally impacted) way, that if Dracula had not been involved, he would have taken the risk of trusting Renfield). But after this event, he decides to wash his hands of it again, and even doubles down on his alliance with Dracula, saying that he will be like Enoch, as he would ‘walk with God (Dracula).’

After this, Seward has his discussion with Renfield about souls, which visibly leads to Renfield starting to think and worry. Renfield begins stressing over the souls of the animals he’s consumed- and the future weight of Mina's soul. He knows he is responsible for her being in danger of the Count, and now that souls are involved, he cannot just disassociate and wash his hands of it as he had wanted to. 

Without Seward talking to him about souls, I do not believe Renfield would have changed his mind. Before, he was willing to accept his lack of agency, and live as best he could with what he had. But now, he is trying to save his eternal soul. What he wants is life, he may even want to live forever- but upon the realization that he could be cursed and doomed forever for having chosen the path that he has, and that he could be haunted by that sweet girl's soul forever, even if he does live- he instead chooses to save Mina. 

He has only known Mina for a few days after all- it is not entirely her kindness that leads him to wanting to save her. It is not simply a situation of "the one person who has ever been nice to me is in danger!" Her kindness is an important element- he cares about her and thus he cares about her death (or damnation) being his responsibility. But there is also the self-serving element- that being the salvation of his own soul. It makes sense then- narratively- that with his death, this heroic act of trying to save Mina from his own wrongdoing, he is able to free himself from his previous "sins.” He is able to redeem himself and absolve himself of guilt.

Relatedly, I think it is quite interesting how a “maniac” was given this treatment in such an old book! For the time period, most of Seward's actions towards him are not uncommon or unexpected (besides his early experimental actions, like letting Renfield escape, letting him eat bugs and collect birds, etc). Despite being a “lunatic”, Renfield is an important sympathetic character, and I think that he has an important role not just in exploring Dracula’s influence over others, but also in a commentary about the value of every human life. 

"The world is full of good men, even if there are monsters in it." A large theme within Dracula (in my opinion) is the focus on humanity vs the devil. Humanity is good, if selfish at times- it can be tempted, of course. But ultimately it is good, and loving, and you can trust and ultimately believe in it. People care, people love, people have value. People are virtuous. And while every single human being is also flawed- this should not mean that any of them should be cast aside. 

I think the inclusion of a "lunatic” and his redemption adds to the thoroughness of this message! He is someone considered lesser- not just by Seward, but also by the audience of the time period. Stoker was writing during a time when people would share in a number of opinions with Seward about the mentally ill, and so did Stoker himself. 

Everyone talks about the line, "You will, I trust, Dr. Seward, do me the justice to bear in mind, later on, that I did what I could to convince you to-night.” and that it ends up coming true. Seward did indeed make the wrong choice- and it was the correct answer to listen to Renfield and to value his input. 

Despite the old-timey beliefs, I find that Dracula aims to show that even those who have 'fallen from grace,' or those who are 'lesser,' are still people. They are human. Seward thinks it strange to introduce Renfield to the others- yet he is introduced. Seward’s (and the assumed reader’s) views are being challenged here. 

Renfield- and those who are “insane”- are not the devil. And so, while they can be flawed, they can make mistakes, they are human. And ultimately good. They have an immortal soul just like everyone else, and those souls deserve redemption, deserve to be viewed in full- as a whole life. Renfield's story is a tragic one, but also one where the audience is asked to care about him, pity him, sympathize with him- when after the entire book you were led to overlook him. 

Despite his “madness”, he is still a man. And he was able to redeem his soul, even after making a deal with the ‘devil’ and falling under Dracula's spell. The mere fact that the book expects you to overlook Renfield or to see him as a villain for most of its runtime- but in the end he ends up being a tragic hero, I think is very compelling! 

He was not a villain after all- he was merely a flawed man! The only villain here is Dracula... and even he should be pitied, because at one time, he too was a man.

[monstersqueen]

you know what's missing in most isekai ? the 'but that character doesn't look like i imagine them ??'

there should be some cases of mistaken identities because the reader read through the descriptions too fast and imagined characters' appearances solely on vibes

OR the author was just. not good at description so they never made any - or way too imprecise to be of use

[reneesbooks]

snippet saturday

still not a thing but this is my blog and i make the rules and i'm THINKING about birdie and fabin. i swear i'll get back to jack and arthur in a second just let me scream about birdie and fabin for a minute

Emilia tucks her wings against her back, settling in the grass next to Birdie. “When do you think we’ll have to return to Morbhard?”

Birdie stares out over the fields, her pulse quickening. Emilia senses that she’s asked a question that Birdie doesn’t want to answer. Birdie lets out a long breath. “I’m not sure.”

A lie, but Emilia doesn’t question it.

Birdie glances at the sky. “The sun will go down soon. I should make preparations. It’s the full silver moon tonight.”

Emilia shrinks into her human form and sets her hand on Birdie’s shoulder. “I can make the tea if you’d like.”

Birdie smiles. “Thank you. That would be nice.”

Emilia returns to the cottage and puts the kettle on the fire, digging her toe into the floor as she mixes the herbs. As much as she trusts them, as much as they’ve all grown closer over the weeks and months at the cottage, Birdie is still hiding things.

The kettle finally starts to whistle and Emilia pours a cup of tea. She heads back out to the garden. Birdie is standing next to Fabin, clearly just arrived from the forest, smiling up at him as he complains that the deer are getting better at hiding. Her laughter dies abruptly as the silver moon’s light hits her, her preparations forgotten in the grass a few steps away.

Fabin backs away as Birdie’s silver light explodes outward, a pulse of magic flattening the grass in a circle around her. Her tripled voice shrieks, her hair lifting off her shoulders. The entire whites of her eyes burn silver.

Blood starts to run from her nose. Fabin shrinks and tries to step closer, shouting her name. Emilia grabs a washcloth and grips it tightly behind her back, the fabric straining as she twists it nervously.

Birdie’s eyes begin to bleed as well, silver light pulsing from her. Fabin grits his teeth and takes three more shaking steps through the waves to reach Birdie. He grabs her shoulders and Emilia hears him shout her name.

Blood is streaming from her eyes and ears now, the third recitation barely begun. Fabin winces as silver magic lashes out at him, cuts opening on his cheeks. He keeps hold of Birdie, shaking her shoulders, trying to wake her up.

The silver light fades and Birdie’s eyes roll back. She collapses and Fabin catches her, lowering her slowly to the grass.

“Shit.” Jack and Arthur freeze in the doorway of the cottage. “Is she okay?”

“Does she fucking look okay?” Fabin growls, glaring at them. He snatches Birdie’s handkerchief from where she’d left it in the grass and starts to gently wipe the blood from her face. Emilia picks up the cup of tea again and moves cautiously. Birdie’s eyelids are fluttering, though she is limp in Fabin’s arms.

“The tea for her throat,” Emilia says quietly, when Fabin looks up at her with another growl. “I’ll look at those cuts.”

“I’m fine.” He holds the teacup to Birdie’s lips and Emilia flinches at the audibly painful gulps. “Birdie, can you hear me?”

Her silver eyes flick up to his face before fluttering closed again. She tucks her face into his chest.

Fabin leans down to murmur something to her that Emilia doesn’t hear. He presses his cheek to the side of Birdie’s head and Emilia stifles a gasp, averting her eyes.

Fabin stands with Birdie in his arms. “She needs to rest,” he says, not looking at any of them. He winces as he adjust his hold on her and Emilia wonders what other damage Birdie’s backlash did.

He says nothing else as he carries her into the house. Emilia bites her lip as Jack and Arthur turn to her with wide eyes. “I’ll make some more tea.”

[whysamwhy123]

Ugh. I’m struggling to make any real progress on my various WIPs and I’m pretty pissed off about it. So, I’m gonna do The Thing again. Send me a word and if it pops up in any of the monstrosities I’m currently trying to get off the ground, I’ll post a snippet here and maybe that’ll help me get the creative juices flowing again?? *shrugs*

[maegalkarven]

I made Juniper (cambion!June) in game and finally going to play his path. Look at him. Perceive him.

The second to last pic is just "Maybe Grandfather Was Right.jpg" June doesn't even remember having grandfather, but some part of him knows what he would roll eyes at this awkward descend.

[woulddieforloki]

somebody needs to stop me from going online during Cyber Monday 💀

[deadrlngers]

smth so sweetly fucked up about violante's interest for shadowheart being fueld by the fact sh lost her memory, reminding violante of camylla (ex with whom she had a nasty break up and almost killed) and how she took mylla's memories away. it's like a you remind me of someone and maybe i'm trying to live a past i lost and miss through you and what if this is a joke of destiny? or maybe my chance to make amends and fix smth i broke long ago but also no matter what she's not her but the past doesn't matter to me anymore and yet all her decisions and actions seem to be taken under the influence of the past, an extension of it and i think she really needs to let go and move on u know but alas, not in her right state of mind girl swag

[callmetippytumbles]

BUT YOU DO, AMALA!

[oveliagirlhaditright]

I have a theory about the FNAF movie... maybe. But I'm kind of afraid to post it since I'm new to the fandom.

[frostbite-the-bat]

hey so um aside from like, art posts i want to take another break from this site a bit. ive been fucking rotting my brain with it and wasting my time there constantly checking in and yeah thats fucking unhealthy im wasting my time and making my already horrid attention span even worse. if anything im on discord most of the time even if i dont respond right away. if you notice me like, late night posting when im tired feel free to send me a friendly ask to remind me and nudge me off but ill try to not let that happen.

ive also been slipping into bad thoughts on occasion again and i barely caught myself impulsively oversharing abt it again - even if i did mention it briefly at some parts i could've been rambling abt it elsewhere or to myself only making me feel worse which...is not good. i gotta get better and before school starts again i wanna get at least the tiniest bit better. this isn't anyone else's fault, just me placing priorities in the wrong places. but um yeah. im still around ofc!!! and i love talking i want to talk about stuff i like a lot!! im very happy to have ppl to talk about club penguin with... but ya ! ill try to not. check in here every 5 fucking seconds on god damn impulse