#[ i mostly ramble there now + post stuff ]

[greyedian]

I'm still chasing the high of these bg3 sketches I drew like... summer/fall last year. They're pretty much the only drawings from last year I legitimately like and had fun doing.

[unlikelyapricot-art]

redraw of the pjsk card 'one who laughs at the world' but make it mira and change themed >:333

monochrome under the cut and some rambling in the tags <333

[peridots-pixiwolf]

[Start ID. A redraw of the official icons of the ten named slugcats from Rain World, arranged in two rows: Survivor, Monk, Hunter, Nightcat, and Gourmand in the first, Artificer, Rivulet, Spearmaster, Saint and Enot/Inv in the second. Each is drawn in roughly the same pose as in the original art and fitted with speculative interpretations of their biology, and the second image is a “dead” version of this. For example, all ten have slug-like rhinophores in place of ears, cuttlefish-like colorful eyes with strangely-shaped pupils, cephalopod-like beak "teeth", expressive barbels or oral tentacles at the corners of mouths, spiny radulas, and the frilly mantle fringes of sea slugs, though otherwise their faces are squishy, simple and mammalian-shaped.

Cream-colored Survivor and yellow Monk both share triangular, bicolored spots matching their eyes (which are tan and brown, and two shades of blue, respectively), small, bumpy fringes, and relatively neutral looks on their faces. Defensive-looking Hunter is mostly a dull orange-pink, though their blobby fringe is a more violent red and their back is purple and marred with lumps. Nightcat is navy blue and flecked with dots of yellow and teal, their rolled rhinophores are a lighter blue, and their shading fractures into stars in some places. Gourmand is almost uniformly tan, their wide, very ruffly white mantle fringe bordered by a spray of white spots, and their beak sticks out from either corner of their smile. Primarily red Artificer, snarling, has yellow markings of multiple sorts, a prominent yellow dewlap and their characteristic dark scar taking out a chunk of its face. Rivulet is a darker blue than usual, with long barbels, red gills and rings, countershading, and a cheerful expression, sticking out their radula. Spearmaster is purple with orange accents, eyes and spots, a large fringe and spines down their back. Saint’s green caryophyllidia are marked by small, yellow diamonds, and their long, thin radula extends far below them. Enot is decorated with mottled red stripes, blue patches, yellow stars, and an uneven and almost cartoonish imitation of blush, though generally the same deep blue as Nightcat, a passive or almost slightly smug look on their face and their rolled rhinophores out to either side.

In the second image, nine of the slugcats’ eyes are crossed out, indicating that these are death icons. They look fairly the same, with mostly expression differences. Survivor is caught in the beginning of a threat display, a karma flower sprouts from Monk’s side, Hunter is burdened with overgrowing, purple and blue rot, Nightcat’s rhinophores are pinned back, and Gourmand looks mildly disheartened. For the final row, Artificer bites its radula between small plumes of smoke, Rivulet drops their expression, Spearmaster looks very startled, Saint looks almost entirely the same besides half-open eyes and their markings greater in number, and Enot grins confusedly. End ID]

If you'll excuse the unusually lengthy ID: the arena meme introduced by @pansear-doodles at long last after a nearly year-long wip status (or, rather, finished a month ago today to honor my own first time playing it!)

Design notes and shout-outs under cut! :]

The following people are some of those who’ve inspired my designs most since I started this eight months ago (or just inspired me to get a little weirder with slugcat biology), among many others for sure, and I thank them for it–but this is simply to bring attention to artists I find cool, and in no way an obligation to interact or anything :]

> @saturncoyote , @carpsoup , @charseraph , @gallusgalluss , @bitsbug , @dopscratch , and @0hmanit (and a special mention to dddeerbo and hunterlonglegs, who’ve since deactivated)!

Survivor: Surprisingly the hardest to pin down the colors for, since nothing with its sibling's palette seemed to match up right (I did have to add in a little blue somewhere for Monk, the beginning of making it clear how much I’m simply going based off of vibes for the colors of scug innards). I consider them, Monk and Gourmand to be part of the same gene pool of slugcats, and even possibly the same colony even if the latter isn't really related, so took a bit of Gourmand's coloring and fit them in with their inspiration: Goniobranchus verrieri. They serve as a bit of an introduction to my ideas of scug traits (i find it really fun how many people have thought to add so many silly sluglike fixtures of biology completely independent of me, buuut here I’m mostly talking about species variation), and like in-game they’re pretty average! They, Monk and Hunter have a couple scars sourced from a piece of Joar's concept art that I'm failing to find, those across the bridge of the nose, under the eyes, and across the rhinophores, respectively, and my Survivor interpretation features many on the back of the neck, as a result of survived lizard bites.

Monk: Their coloring is primarily based off the fact that I associate them with blue fruits, honestly, a bit because I was compelled to establish a familiarity with Rivulet, and lastly inspired by the spots of Goniobranchus kuniei (and geminus, less important to me as one of my characters is a kuniei instead, but more fitting). Between the yellow + blue and the circular marking in the center of their face, they’re meant to bear a little resemblance to an iterator that shares similarities with the characterization I’ve given them, and similar coding of her sibling can be seen on Survivor’s markings around the eyes. As both a “default” slugcat and one whose campaign I haven’t played, though, I can’t say I have much more to point out about em.

Hunter: The whole rot thing made for a really fun time drawing them, and while the color change on their back is a result of this, it’s also an excuse to relate them to Babakina festiva, arguably my favorite sea slug (mostly for sentimental purposes). And to Spearmaster, a fellow messenger slugcat, and it serves as a gradient between Hunter’s pink and the “traditional” color of Rot seen in the DLLs. Aside from their affliction, they’d actually be the plainest in terms of design, as they don’t have any patterns or quirks of body type, just the red + purple and strange lumps + possible malnutrition. I can’t remember if NSH had created them in particular or just...caught + released or something, but it probably wouldn’t be strange for a lab-grown slugcat to be simple like that.

Gourmand: Like the two above, they’re rather plain in terms of coloring and adaptation, and like the two above, I find that fun. I decided it would be nice to avert the “all slugcats being of the same body type, and Gourmand’s out of place as the exception” thing by just...adding more fat to all of them, really. I did want to emphasize their sheer bulk even so, both fat and muscular (not like I couldn’t have still gone further with it, of course, but slugcat anatomy can be a little obfuscating sometimes, and they were intended to look rather plush considering personal size headcanons and therefore the lack of proper gravity), and the thick and flounced mantle looked like a good addition, as per their sea slug Glossodoris hikuerensis. Unlike Survivor and Monk, I didn’t attempt to hold their resemblance to any particular other character (which means a little less to balance out the “default gene pool” thing), so those are all the design notes I have for em.

Artificer: The second slugcat I’ve ever played, or finished the campaign of, my favorite for at least a long time, and the first thing I did was give them yellow accents, the shape of which have troubled me slightly (not quite like the spots or stripes of the others). They’re both a little more appealing and more explosive-looking to me, and considering how early on I played Arti, actually present in some of my older art. It does give them a little resemblance to Saint (completely intentional, two slugcats with strange relations to karma), as well as the fact that its radula is green for familiarity with one of its children (at some point it was going to have all-green markings, even!). I’m generous with their scars, partly because it was fun to overemphasize the one on their face and partly because it does seem like a reckless slugcat, on top of the dangers of its explosive abilities–I’ll probably just keep adding more forever. Mostly-red sea slugs aren’t too common, but Hexabranchus sanguineus works for sure. The ridged, yellow dewlap can expand for combustion purposes, or something along those lines. Arti’s where I began experimenting with a lot of the mildly-offkilter features seen in my interpretation of slugcats, as they’ve once again been a favorite from the start.

Rivulet: I've obviously given other slugcats spots, deeply enjoy the bubbly-soda markings of other peoples' slugcats, and thought seal riv would be cute. Despite not too closely resembling it, they've been government-assigned Hypselodoris bennetti, for color reasons and for a couple sentimental ones. Originally, the colors of every scug were meant to match up with the custom colors I gave them at the beginning of their campaigns, (though Arti, Gourm and Spearmy are the only three who actually apply here, since I've only played through half the slugcats: I gave arti the yellow as mentioned above, gourm brown eyes and spearmy light pink spears, furthered by the outskirts pearl accompanying me and that palette all the way to moon. Tolerance training for eternity in hell cause I already knew about the maroon pearl quest). I initially gave them the colors of the bi flag for fun... but with the limited palette of this image, I was left without pink for a while and decided to see how they'd look in red. I then realized how they now wonderfully matched Moon, and besides, red's a sort of camouflage in deep water! As a side-note, the difference between their eyes and those of others always bothered me a little for anatomical purposes, and the cephalopod eyes were probably influenced by this!

Spearmaster: Inspired as much as possible by @notyourfunnyman ’s wonderful spearmy: designed in a way that helps it fit in with scavengers, at least between the long sensory tentacles, big ruff, back spines and slightly thin/distended anatomy, a form of defensive mimicry. I always had annulate rhinophores in mind, for a little diversity sure, but mostly because the shape reminds me of radio antennae and communication towers (seems fitting for the comms array and being a messenger slugcat)! I started searching for a real-life slug to give them just by looking up their rhinophore shape...and was met immediately and coincidentally with annulate-topped nudibranchs that fit them more perfectly than I could've imagined: Flabellina and surrounding clades, I think Paraflabellina ischitana works very nicely. The orange was completely unplanned, but there wasn’t a place for light pink among the other slugcats’ palettes, and importantly it likens them to both Hunter and Seven Red Suns a little more.

Saint: I am very much a non-furred slugcat enjoyer, with respect to those who aren’t, so figuring out the only visibly furred slugcat was an interesting challenge. I’ve decided that they likely have other, milder adaptations for help in the cold, mainly just more efficient fat storage, and what looks vaguely like fur is instead a bunch of tubercles (called caryophillia, for the second reminder out of three). Their inspiration doesn’t have these, however, Miamira sinuata’s numerous yellow and blue spots (not to mention...whatever’s going on with that shape) and general effect of being the only really green nudibranch I could find were probably perfect for a strange green echo. Not pictured, but their beak-teeth are tiny and flat to make a surface for grinding soft food against with the lack of a functioning radula, which is tipped with a specialized spiny “grapple-hook” for better traction/grip (not to mention the numerous little teeth running down the whole thing).

(Best part of hiding this under a readmore means edits will be seen by all reblogs, I'm mostly sure, because I completely forgot to mention! The spots on their forehead are simple eyes. Their camera eyes appear closed in-game, I like to believe their complex eyesight is rather poor anyways or otherwise reason that they aren't seeing out of those, and while this was far from her REASON for attunement with the world, it does help compensate for mainly viewing it through a canvas of simple light and dark. This, and the fact that their swapped-out "fur" is not only to commit to a lack of hairs but contributes to sensory input!)

Nightcat/Enot: I guess you could say I found the “these two are technically the same person” compelling. (E.g. similar colors, both very strange and enigmatic, and Enot/Inv/Sofanthiel’s remark during the dating sim about getting removed from Arena Mode.) I doubt they’re the only two slugcats in their body, considering humans with DID tend to have more than a few (and I find it very funny that a slugcat bearing resemblance to Nightcat appears in Gourmand’s ending. They’re allowed in the colony and Enot isn’t </3), and I have to credit @faelingdraws ’s art for being what convinced me on it! Their design inspirations come down to trying to balance a few different ideas: making the patterns and palettes of both look oddly similar (special mention to the stars, since those are fun to draw), basing them off of Felimare sechurana and juliae respectively, using blocks of color with the same placement as in Enot’s official art, and specifically making Enot look...biologically reasonable and imperfect, whilst also clearly trying to imitate human displays of emotion (what with...the eyes and blush on that one piece of official art).

Lastly, here’s just a lineup with notes on body shape and size. Most of the nicknames (existing to give a little more space, that’s all) are obvious, and while I can’t remember why I shortened Nightcat to Nox, it is in honor of my friend by the same nickname :]

[welcometogrouchland]

Noticing that TV and film will often have a character either have had an abortion in the past that isn't showcased on screen (and just used as part of the character's ~fucked up and twisted backstory~) OR contemplate getting an abortion in the present day but not to through with it. Just once I want to see someone delete that fetus within the events of the plot and not be like. Extremely majorly punished for it and/or be in the wrong

[sunb0ts]

About your Mettaton post, idk if it'll help you feel better (and it's ok if it doesn't, this is just my own two cents) but while yeah a lot of the focus on Mettaton might be JUST for the shipping, for at least a decent chunk of people (because I'm one of them) it is that it gives us a new outlet for giving Mettaton personality and using him outside of just undertale !! A lot of Mettatons popularity through the fandom for 10 years has STILL been mostly shipping, specifically papyton.

I was never a papyton shipper despite loving them both, I just never thought they "clicked", so the only enjoyment I got to use with him was his relationships with frisk, alpha, blooky, and everyone else, but no real romance because I didn't ship his only real "option". So finding a ship between him and someone else that I personally think suits him MUCH MUCH more than papyrus, THAT is why I'm so excited about the tennaton ship.

So if it helps any, it's not specifically that Mettaton is only good through a ship lense, it's that shipping was the ONLY way I never got to experience his character, and I'm sure I'm not the only one with this specific view.

WAUGH hi :) promise this ask was really good (and every... other about that post!?!?!?? what do you mean you post things and people see them. and have things to say. on da Internet......) I am just on my way to work so do not know how to respond very well HAHA

but, saying this all with love, I definitely do get it. I mentioned it in the post, but will reiterate here; mettatenna is very good and I like it a LOT. it is a ship I actively care deeply for and find so much joy in seeing the things people create for it. it's also just... my point is not, like. so much that mettatenna is a Bad Outlet for mettaton characterization, not at all. just that I wish it was not the Only outlet people have latched onto now with the hype of DR and the excitement still buzzing. there's a lot of things being said about mettaton that myself and other people have been wishing to see touched on for years, and a lot of wonderful interpretations/writing for his character coming along, but it's almost exclusively through the lens of shipping. it's just a bit of a bummer for people who prefer to have the choice of platonic content; this is not me wishing the ship content was not there, rather just that there was more of a choice between mettatenna content and mettaton content removed from such a big ship right now. this is not me saying that people making mettatenna content are somehow lesser writers or stooping low, rather the opposite. it means that a lot of the mettatenna content we're seeing is incredibly well-written, made with love, and overall wonderful; it's catching the attention of writers and artists that really do have a great understanding of mettaton as a character. it's just a little bit of a bummer that it took a ship for that to happen, and that, because that is how many people found a deeper appreciation for his character, it's the outlet that many will stick with and that (by extension) others will catch onto most. I am an arospec artist and writer that shares this experience with many other people in fandom as a whole, including allo fans that just prefer platonic content over ship; it can be a little sad getting excited about a character and finding joy in said character, while having to scrounge for content of that character removed from the Fandom's Big Ship. I don't mean any ill will to people that enjoy mettatenna (reitterating again and again, I do care dearly for these characters) or to devalue mettatenna when I say all this. it's just a conflicting thing.

that said, there is still clearly a lot of love being put into the art/fics/etc. for these two characters in mettatenna stuff!!! you all are wonderful and your stuff is invaluable waughh..... again. this topic just conflicting for me and I am Not everybody. do not take all this too seriously this is someone's blog online where they talk informally about whatever for fun

thank you for the ask anon! hope you are doing well waughh :)) I am sending you virtual cocoa and bscotch pie while we talk... take care :) (ALSO SIDE NOTE MEANT TO TOUCH ON IT HERE BUT FORGOT. THE FINDING A SHIP THAT SUITS HIM AND BEING EXCITED is very true and real of you 🫵 I am still excited about them AHAHA hoping no one gets the impression that I dislike them overall because they are Very Good and Cute and Incredible... my brain is just full of thoughtfuzz and conflicting things always. hi) (talking about mettatenna with you putting our pngs of that ghost thang and his TV together 👍 HAHAHBSBH)

[supmaww]

the worst part of making these animatics is there will always been one or two frames that require 3x the amount of effort and that are shown for at most half a second. but like. you can't avoid them. I need the average viewer to start doing frame by frame appreciation on my medium effort shit posts

[shokupanda]

me when time moves forward at a steady pace: how the fuck is it more than halfway through july already. this fuckers rapidly sprinting when im not looking huh

[oh-meow-swirls]

they are approaching.

[arolesbianism]

It's so miserable making side characters for a story and getting attached because now not only are you obsessed with a guy that only exists in your head even if they existed out of your head they'd still be basically just in your head. Like no you guys have to trust me they're so deep and intricate no none of this stuff ever comes up you just have to believe me and like them as much as I do

[sylvctica]

tis the holidays and i just wanted to get on and give yall a big old smooch and hope yall have been doing okay!!!!! considering i've been uh. well this blog is basically just on full hiatus (i have been on tumblr but i'm just on my personal blog only now) so i've not seen what's been happening with yall!!!!

mwah mwah hugs and smoochies from me and sylvie

[momentomori24]

I wanna finish my p:eg posts but I wanna prioritise the asks first 😭 I've been so slow with answering them and they're all so good too 💀There's not even a lot of em i just want to make sure I give as detailed and satisfactory of an answer as I can.

[boyapologist]

anyways what I've been trying to say for two days now but tumblr won't let me post it without several error messages is that: I'm posting on tiktok now! come show me some love in this scary scary app

tiktok.com/@boyapologist

[ra-archives]

Hey wouldn't it be funny if I made an angsty fic using the European Starling as a base because they can mimic human voices. Because like, its just birds in the trees, they mimic voices and chatter back. Its happened a few times before. Its just birds. Right?

Anyway if you didn't know about the European Starling, YOU DO NOW!

They can mimic human voices with uncanny accuracy, and are cool as fuck, watch this video of this little guy talking right now

[thathopelessromantic]

I want to read something new but nothing sounds good or is holding my attention and I am crawling up the walls

[duskstarskies]

lowkey been binge watching any mc videos i find interesting just to avoid studying for my exams (in two weeks) (this is not good)

[dividedskylane]

hm. perhaps the fact that i'm currently in the process of carefully curating the contents of the e-reader i'm gonna give to my sister — pretending of course that i did no such thing — so that, on the off chance that she doesn't just clear out everything to put her own book collection without looking twice at what was on there, it will give off a certain image of me... well perhaps that's not super well-adjusted behaviour. but what do i even know about that