talesaboardthehive

[talesaboardthehive]

(third time’s the charm… smth keeps going wrong, apologies for the third reblog attempt!)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM THE HIVE! o7

oh this hallowed eve o’er the HIVE…

[talesaboardthehive]

[REPORT RECEIVED]

[LOADING...]

Good morning, captain! Or, er, evening...? I can never tell

....Um, anyways! I've removed the glittering cyan mold that was covering half a wall in meeting room 3, but it left, um... sparkling.... stains...? I couldn't find the correct paint colours to match the pattern that was there before, so I wanted to ask you what four colors I should use instead?

Oh, and I'm pretty sure I saw a few sentient loaves of bread run past me while I was grabbing the paintbrushes. Not sure if that should be a reason to worry or what

Um, yeah. Awaiting further instructions...? Hope I'm not bothering you too much, captain! I know running a ship is a busy job

-💻🌌 [CR2127]

#2127,

ooh, sounds like a toughie. i wouldn't worry to much about painting it—just contact COL if you haven't already and let him know whereabouts the stains are, he should be able to handle changing out the panels, or whatever else it is he does to them! it should save you some time, as least, and it isn't like he isn't already a neat freak when it comes to things like that. there's actually a pretty good chance he already did it, but i appreciate you asking either way.

(in regards to the sentient bread—ehhh, it's probably fine. someone'll eat it eventually, i can't imagine it can cause all that much trouble.)

if you still want to paint though, you could always head down to the art studio! o7

[talesaboardthehive]

["… the strangest part, then, is his unflappability; what brings a patient to him always remaining beyond his judgement or concern. The choice to tell is theirs, and it's a rare thing for him to press about it. The assumed rationale by the crew is this: ‘He values privacy because he holds so tightly to his own.’

The issue is that it’s impossible to say why. Because as good of a listener as Leander Carmine can be, it’s notoriously unlikely for him to answer…”]

(short excerpt from a scrapped HIVE story. originally intended to be another POV oneshot of a crewmate visiting leander at the medbay. art was meant to be a story graphic for it.)

[talesaboardthehive]

first leander, now COLONY! couldn’t let only leander get a voice claim right? ft. some of COL’s abilities o7

(i. i’ve been animating non-stop. jesus this one even has a rough background. what have i become OTL)

shorter one this time, so i only have a couple frames to share that don’t spoil the whole thing 👀 still hope you enjoy!

[talesaboardthehive]

there are strange aberrations aboard the HIVE, lively as it can be.

(a HIVE short experiment… fic? drabble? does it count as either if it’s not technically fandom based?)

Spaceships feel claustrophobic and vast at the same time. It comes with being modern marvels, impossibly large machines that traverse the stars as easily as airplanes did the sky. It's admittedly a relative feeling even on ordinary vessels.

The HIVE is far from ordinary.

Rooms upon rooms, hallways that twist and turn oddly and doors that should lead places that don't. All of that's well and good enough, but all it takes is one good glance out at the starry depths of the outside to feel miniscule — to realize that space is it's namesake. It's a slippery slope, and usually at least a little existential.

The HIVE lively despite that, though. Shockingly warm in color for a spacefaring vessel, themed like the name was crafted before the construct. Hexagonal wall decor and metal welded to match, all in hues that contrasted the grey uniforms of the crew. The halls are scarcely ever fully empty, especially on the path to communal areas like the kitchens or open living spaces, and theres always at least a few people trudging along to medbay with sheepish smiles and singed collars.

The designated sleeping quarters — the proper ones with each crewmates number stamped on a metal plaque, CR[and so on], not the honeycomb themed nap spaces, nor the various chambers designated for cryosleep — are afforded keycards and locked doors, but some leave theirs open for visitors to come and go. Things become even more chaotic when the ship is scheduled to dock, what with almost everyone excited to disembark and peruse the wares of the local markets before they set off again. Yes, the ship is lively.

But sometimes it feels like it's more than that.

When the lights dim to replicate proper sleeping conditions, sometimes it can be all too easy to push oneself up from bed, bleary-eyed and yawning. To wander out in search of the restroom, or a late snack while in the company of the silent stars. To step, then pause, then recoil as a boot meets something other than the expected metal floor. To hold up a hand and watch in horror as an ink-like substance drips into it, so dark it leaves no room for shadows to be cast within it.

(To look up, and feel your heart stop as pinpricks of blindingly white light pin you where you stand. Watching. Watched.)

It's something to laugh about later. Something to commiserate about — another prank, the others say with sympathy, another failed attempt to say hello — something to dismiss. Terrifying at first, but ultimately harmless. It’s a fact of life aboard the ship; report it to the captain if you like, they add, and they'll take care of it.

It's easiest to open the comms if you need them, if they aren't just walking around—the door to the captain's quarters is locked even during the day, you see, so the comms are the best bet. (Nobody other than the captain even has access to that room anyway.)

Yes, there are strange aberrations aboard the HIVE, lively as it can be. Odd characters out of uniform and out of place, they stand out like sore thumbs. But the captain claps them on the shoulders and seems, if anything, overjoyed to cause them trouble, often chasing them about with tablet and pen in hand. Shouting about being a proud father to someone they could not look less similar to if they tried one minute, laying in a dramatic pose claiming death the next. Always unconcerned with the circumstances of their arrival, treating each one like a strange friend. No matter how much some of them protest the familiar treatment.

With time, the changing doorways and strange new arrivals that disregard the need to board or disembark normally all become routine. A revolving door of new and old faces amidst the sea of warm metallic colors and grey uniforms.

Perhaps the next station they visit will have another market. The stars make for a beautiful view between pit-stops, as long as you don't stare for too long.

If too much time passes, the doors do grow bored of waiting.

[talesaboardthehive]

THE “OFFICIAL” H.I.V.E. REFERENCES MASTERPOST:

(disclaimer: keep in mind, the HIVE lore is very loose and honestly a bit cobbled together. it started as a very simple running joke, and i want to maintain aspects of that even as i tell a bit of a story behind it o7)

[Loading . . .]

[Welcome aboard the H.I.V.E. Would you like to access the references files?]

[. . .]

[Access granted. Please proceed below.]

CAPTAIN NEY (H0237) - (reference is in chibi form, to be updated… eventually)

Captain of the HIVE and first in command. Answers crewmate reports. The captain’s quarters are always locked, neither crew nor their closest associates have ever apparently been allowed inside. Once the captain retires for the night they cannot be contacted until morning, even by Leander and COLONY, though neither seem invested in trying. No explanation has ever been offered.

The Captain has the ability to use [INQUIRIES] to the ship which allow them to navigate even when the halls change — they often help locate lost crew who send them distress signals.

The Captain is the only member of the HIVE with a blank number patch and a picture on the HIVE patch — meant to complete the opposite set on crew uniforms.

LEANDER CARMINE (M9525) - Head of HIVE Medical Bay and Research

Often seen milling about the HIVE in idle hours, usually helping with minor emergencies. Very easygoing, he seems to be quite content in basically any situation to the point he’ll patiently listen to even the most ridiculous of stories without questioning them. Unlike both the Captain and COLONY, he doesn’t appear to have a method of actually directing the ship’s changing hallways — but he never seems confused when they do, as if he always knows where he’s going. One of the first members of the crew.

Sometimes called Carmine, or Lee by those more familiar with him. Does not answer to the title “Doctor”, do not try. He ignores you.

COLONY (no number taken) - Robotic Head of HIVE Defense (officially, but admittedly does a lot more than that.)

COLONY is notorious for being the strictest and most difficult to approach of the main trio. A stickler for the rules, which would be fine if they didn’t seem to both change often and be flippantly dismissed by the Captain themselves. Connected to the ship itself, COLONY is fully capable of both predicting and directing the changes, but he doesn’t do it often unless he has a destination in mind. That said, while he is far less patient and not likely to help just for the sake of it, if presented with a coherent and reasonable argument he can be convinced. One of the first members of the crew alongside Leander. The Captain calls him COL.

Does actually possess a sense of humor, he just isn’t as upfront about what he finds funny.

THE CREW - (reference is also in chibi form! To be updated later.)

The grey uniforms were first made by Leander, and since then have been given to all who come aboard and decide to stay. Crew are given four-digit numbers of their choice to use as identifiers, and are permitted to wear any accessories they want as long as the main uniform remains the same — so if you want to be a part of the crew, all you need is the uniform.

(this is a placeholder for any and all crew aboard the ship outside the primary trio. this is also used as a general character placeholder for anons, and nondescript crew in animatics!)

Taken Numbers (in no particular order):

H0237 (captain’s number—that’s me ^^), M9525 (Leander Carmine), CR0069, CR4812, CR1015, CR[redacted], CR1454, CR0416, CR1242, CR1243, CR0505, CR2486, CR0225, CR1234, CR0428, CR0001, CR0003, CR0383, CR0973, CR8008, CR0666, CR1335, CR0049 (listed as BR0049 in the mostly non-canon (but absolutely incredible) HIVE comics by untitled bear!)CR0282, CR0722, CR2127, CR3333, CR2868, CR5469, CR0323, CR7320, CR0828, CR1341, CR0774, CR0703, CR1730, CR4848, CR6264, CR6548, CR4698, CR6842, CR7903,]

(IF YOUR CREWMATE NUMBER IS LISTED, YOU AND YOUR REPORTS ARE STILL ABOARD THE HIVE!)

(you’re on the ship, you’re vibing, whatever happened happened. (so the hell mushrooms, the space suits, those things are all still canon. the only reports i’ll reblog here though are ones that are DIRECTLY MAIN STORY relevant. don’t worry, the others absolutely still happened.)

ABOUT THE SHIP ITSELF:

The HIVE is a strange vessel, drifting through space with an undefined purpose beyond general exploration and sometimes various deliveries. Though typically harmless if not a little surprising, the hallways and doors occasionally do not lead where they’re supposed to — one might find themselves in the cafeteria when they meant to go to the deck, for example, or in the training room instead of the garden. Strangely, this only seems to happen in low-stress situations; perhaps the ship only finds it funny when the pranks won’t cause harm. Usually.

(at a meta level, the layout of the HIVE is purposefully left very vague to encourage interpretations. if there ever comes a time where there is an actual design for it, it’ll be placed here. in the meantime, we run on the spirit of improvisation. it’s like a video game, only we’re writing it in real time while the story plays in the background.)

TALES ABOARD THE HIVE TAG NAVIGATION GUIDE:

canon crewmate reports - canon submitted reports that either did happen or directly impacted the canon story. submitted by outside influences, like anons or other users.

canon HIVE adventures - interactive games/stories, usually involving polls that lead to different endings. experimental category, but a fun one.

canon HIVE art - comics, drawings, animatics, or anything else of the sort drawn or “canonized” by me. not everything i draw is canon, especially since the captain is also my sona character, so stuff that actually matters story-wise goes here ;;

canon tales aboard the HIVE - text-based stories and snippets written with no interactive elements, like one-shots.

[talesaboardthehive]

[REPORT INCOMING]

[INITIALIZING]

Oh man how do I do this- uh-

Hey there Captain! Have you happened to stumble upon CR[0000] lately? I have not seen them, I thought the ship may have been playing a prank on me by purposefully leading me away from them whenever I seeked them out, but it's been just a bit too long and I'm starting to doubt that... When you do see them please inform me, they owe me some stickers.

-Colorful regards, CR[1335]

[REPORT ENDED]

oh, hey #1335!

you know, that's kind of weird. i've been looking for them too, but COLONY says he doesn't know where they are either... we did just dock at the new shipping bay though, so maybe they just went off to the market and forgot to check back in? i'll tell COL to keep an eye out for them, so if i hear anything i'll give you a shout! i'll see if he can't find some extra stickers for you too, for your trouble.

funny thing is, the terminal keeps messing up their number. i've never seen something mistyped as 0000 so often before... i'll ask COLONY to take a look at it if it stays that way.

[talesaboardthehive]

[SCENARIO CONTINUED FROM HERE.]

You select the second oldest of the available files. An observation log — COLONY keeps these, or so you assume. He never leaves commentary or notes to organize them. He probably just memorizes them instead. The terminal beeps beneath your fingertips, every click practically a gunshot in the quiet room. Thanks to your pass you are technically permitted to be here by the system — but you know better. There are security measures here that were not to be violated. If you are discovered, if THIS is discovered, you would likely be in trouble. The screen loads. Text fills the margins. After a moment, you realize that it is not just a file; it’s a transcript and an audio sample. There’s also a small attachment of some kind, likely an image. You play the audio.

[LOADING. . . (A short period of complete silence. Then, rustling as footsteps approach, and the familiar whir of a door. A familiar voice fades in with them.) “… I told you, it isn’t going to work.” “So you’ve said, Captain.” (The door whirs again. Locks.) “Please don’t call me that. Everyone keeps calling me that. Really I mean, I don’t even know what to do with…” (The sound of movement. Footsteps, slightly heavier but more measured than the first. The sound of something opening with a mechanical hiss — a containment unit?) (A quiet sigh. It’s barely audible.) “That… isn’t what I think. Right? Another one?” (A chuckle.) “Don’t sound so unenthusiastic. It’s terrible for morale.” “Le—“ “Just put them on, won’t you? It can’t hurt. One more trial.” “… Fine! Fine.” (The footsteps draw closer.) “Good. Now grab my hand.” (A clang, like somebody knocked into something.) “No.” “Trust me.” (Rapidly receding footsteps joined by another set.) “No!”(A loud bang, like a fist slamming against metal. The footsteps stop.) “No.” “It’ll be fine.” “You don’t know that.” “I’m right.” “This isn’t the answer. It isn’t going to — it’ll never be the answer, Leander, and I don’t even know what it — you know you can’t, right? Can’t come back? Doing this won’t let you see her agai——!“ “Captain.” (Silence.) “… shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.” “Prove it.” ”Leander, please.” “Grab my hand. This will work.” “…” “I swear.” (The seconds tick by. Then.) “You...” (Another chuckle. Warmer in tone.) “Didn’t I say I would do it? Didn’t I promise?” (Laughter. Loud, nearly hysterical laughter interrupts him. It’s boisterous, disruptive.) “You did! You did, you… you magnificent bastard, you really found a way to———“] The audio ends. You stare at the screen. No matter how long you look at it, the text does not continue, the audio file does not extend. All that remains is a single attachment. Frustration makes your jaw tense, but you don’t have time to waste being angry. You’re running out the clock as it is. You click it. [LOADING. . .]

And then the screen goes dark. No. Not just the screen — the whole room blacks out. Every terminal flickers off, every bulb extinguishes. For a moment, there is total, unfamiliar silence. Even the faint electric buzzing that comes with electronics is gone. You are completely alone. You turn, grasping blindly at the records pass, the imprint of the screen still on your eyes. You stumble for the door, and to your surprise the pass blinks green, the only light left in the room. It opens and you shove your way through into the hall — Only to slam into a barrier. You look around. There is no hallway. Of all times for the paths to shift… The room you are in is tiny. The door behind you closes, and there is no scanner on your side, nor a handle. It is completely featureless. There is no way to open it. You call for COLONY. There is no answer. You call for the Captain. There is no answer. You call for help. You call for help. You call. You call. you. c a l l. . . . . . . . . . [YOU CANNOT BE TRUSTED.] [. . . ] [THE CAPTAIN WILL LOOK FOR YOU.] [. . .] [BUT THE CAPTAIN WILL NOT FIND YOU.] [ . . . ] [I AM SORRY.] [I AM SURE THAT MEANS LITTLE. BUT I AM.] [CURIOSITY IS NOT A TERRIBLE THING.] [BUT I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT HUMANS QUITE LIKED CATS.] [. . .] [A POOR JOKE.] [I CAN’T HELP BUT WONDER IF IT WAS WORTH IT.] [I DOUBT IT.] [BUT I DO HOPE.]

(Scenario End. Ending: “Status Quo”.)

[talesaboardthehive]

[LOADING SCENARIO…]

You are a crewmate aboard The HIVE, a spacefaring vessel. With a few exceptions for unexplained but typical abnormalities, it is a normal day aboard the ship. For all except you. You have been seeking answers. Answers none of your fellow crewmates have been able to give you; answers about the Captain, and their closest companions. Nobody seems to know anything about them, where they came from, or why the Captain’s Quarters are always locked. Why nobody ever has access once they close. Why, even upon asking Leander Carmine and COLONY themselves, the Captain cannot be contacted after they do, even by them, until morning.

The opportunity has come. With a few weeks of careful planning and careful evasion of COLONY’s watchful eye, you successfully acquired a pass to the records room. You open the terminal. Your search returns three options that are not fully visible. You will only be able to choose one.

You only have one chance.

[talesaboardthehive]

did someone ask for a leander voice claim? no?

how about a lore animatic? below the cut are some of my favorite frames <3 because some of them were way prettier than my finished works orz

[talesaboardthehive]

say hello to the first Official Canon Characters aboard the HIVE o7 (joking, but they are legit ocs which is kinda weird to say 👀)

random lore + some extra tidbits below the cut

OKAY this is all pretty loose bc i don't wanna get top restrictive with it, the vagueness is half the fun. but here's what i got:

in the “HIVE canon”, sector heads/ranking officers (which for now is just leander and COL ig until i eventually cave and make more lmao) are specifically given custom uniforms and number prefixes instead of the CR[insert number here] format.

the “M” in front of leander’s stands for medbay. COL didn’t pick one so it’s just his name lol.

crewmates can wear any accessories they want as long as the base uniform stays the same (bee arm patches, grey, etc). all crewmate numbers gotta start with CR to be canon, but that doesn't apply to shitpost comics or like. general vibes

(there’s a reason the crew uniforms are grey. it’s the same reason leander made the captain’s gloves. )

the ship shuffles itself! it's not random all of the time, sometimes you open a door and end up in the room you were heading to like a shortcut, but other times you can open a random door and end up in the kitchen, or the training hall, etc etc. i just think an eldritch abomination ship is funny.

weirdly enough though it doesn’t do this in crisis situations. guess it’s only fun if the pranks are harmless ;;

if you get lost, call the captain (ello! o7) or COLONY over comms. they can generally get you wherever you need to go bc COLONY is directly connected to the ship and the captain’s able to make [INQUIRIES], which let us pass freely.

it’s kind of hard to tell if leander has a similar ability. the running theory is no, but he never seems confused?? when he enters a room?? so either he has one or he really just rolls with the punches. both are equally possible tbh.

in actual lore these two were probably some of if not the first few people to be recruited. obvs that’s a retcon now but shhh.

random characters from fandoms still get dragged into our shenanigans. at the end of the day this is all just for fun, and that’s one of the best parts, so hell yeah i’m keeping it.

[talesaboardthehive]

been asked a couple times about some of this, so i thought it was about time to get one of these done ;; if you have any questions i didn’t answer here tho, feel free to dm me!

guide to my tags + art rules written down are under the cut! i’ll also add ‘em to the post for navigation.

here are the current captain (my sona!) and crewmate uniform refs o7

(EDIT: WE HAVE MORE CHARACTERS NOW LMAO)

General Art Rules:

1. fandom art as pfp/banner = okay with credit, but asking is appreciated. (sona stuff can't be used though ;; it's too personal.)

2. repost/reuploading of any kind = not okay, sorry! nobody likes reposting without permission. reblogs tho are of course totally fine, those rock.

3. i prefer you don't use my art as pfp if you're a strictly nsfw account :P

4. dunno if this counts, but if you're a "MAP" (twitter(?) term for pedo, not multi-animator project ;;) or a general creep i obviously don't want you anywhere near me or my art. common sense stuff.

(EDIT for clarity: this does include anyone who produces or consumes content that falls under the terms "loli" or "shota". i ask that you do not interact with me or my art, as both make me very uncomfortable.)

so TL;DR: basically just be cool, don't be a jerk or use my content for anything gross, and everything is a-okay!

Tag Guide:

ney’s art - all my work! drawings, comics, animations, the works.

ney’s reblogs - unsorted reblogged content

ney’s art tips - what brushes/programs i use, and general (well intentioned but unprofessional) advice

ney’s idle chatter - like an npc i talk a lot. random text posts go here!

ney’s chatter - any ask answers!

ney’s comics - basically any longer-form art that includes either a story or speech bubbles!

ney's animations - any lil animations i do!

captain’s quick announcements - stuff i want to announce and delete afterward!

captain’s notices - important info that may or may not stay up?

captain’s contests - any interactive games, like ask prompts or polls.

captain’s gift log - any art drawn for me/gifted to me by other people!

sona art - any artwork including my persona character ^^

tales aboard the hive - in character HIVE stuff!! this can be comics, in-character ask answers, or anything in general that's related to the spaceship theme we have going on.

and i tag fandoms as i go :P

[current list of taken crewmate numbers, not in any particular order:

H0237 (captain’s number—that’s me ^^), BR0049 (number is a meme exception, belongs to untitled bear), CR0069, CR4812, CR1015, CR[redacted], CR1454, CR0416, CR1242, CR1243, CR0505, CR2486, CR0225, CR1234, CR0428, CR0001, CR0003, CR0383, CR0973, CR8008, CR0666, CR1335]