#(they’re sentient and deadly)

[torpublishinggroup]

Monk and Robot by Becky Chambers

It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend. Now, one returns to ask a tea monk: “What do people need?” They don’t have an answer yet, but together, they’re determined to find one. In a world where people have what they want, does having more matter?

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune

It’s the spring of 1995, and Nate Cartwright has lost everything. Retreating to his family’s cabin in Oregon after hitting rock bottom, he expects solitude—until he finds a man named Alex and a girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. And Artemis is anything but ordinary. As cultists and agents close in, Nate must choose: stay lost in the past or fight for a future he never saw coming.

Eat the Ones You Love by Sarah Maria Griffin

After losing her job and fiancé, Shell Pine moves back home and starts working at a flower shop in the mall. The flowers lift her spirits—and so does Neve, the alluring and secretive shop manager. But something sinister grows behind the scenes: a sentient orchid with a taste for manipulation, a hunger that can’t be sated, and a plan that could uproot them all.

But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo

The old keeper of the keys is dead, and the creature who ate her? Anatema, an enormous humanoid spider with a taste for laudanum and human brides. Now her protégée, Dália, must tend to Anatema’s memory drawers and uncover the truth behind her mentor’s execution. But there’s one problem: Anatema can’t resist a beautiful woman, and she eventually devours every single bride that crosses her path.

The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older

On a remote, gas-wreathed outpost of a human colony on Jupiter, a man goes missing. Investigator Mossa follows his trail to Valdegeld, home to the colony’s university—and to her former girlfriend, Pleiti, a scholar of Earth’s pre-collapse ecosystems. As Mossa enlists Pleiti’s help, the two embark on a twisting path where the future of life on Earth—and their future together—may hang in the balance.

The Entanglement of Rival Wizards by Sara Raasch

Will they conjure love or evoke chaos? Two rival wizards are about to find out.

Ali Hazelwood meets Dungeons & Dragons in this enemies-to-lovers fantasy academia romcom where rival grad student wizards are forced to work together without killing—or falling for—each other.

Out on August 26, 2025!

Sandymancer by David Edison

Caralee Vinnet lives in a world of dust, where water is rare and the elements are tightly controlled. She has a secret: magic in her bones that lets her command the sand. But when she uses it, she summons the god-king who broke the world 800 years ago…and who’s now wearing her best friend’s body. Caralee will risk everything to save her friend—if her new companion doesn’t kill her first. Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle

Four years ago, an unthinkable disaster struck. In what became known as the Low-Probability Event, 8 million people died in bizarre, improbable ways. Vera, a former statistics professor, lost everything that day. But when a special agent arrives, investigating an impossibly lucky casino, Vera realizes she may be the only one who can stop another deadly improbability from happening again.

Coming August 12, 2025!

Not enough books? Check out our other list!

[vintagerpg]

What the heck, a full color GURPS book? In the ’90s? This seems bizarre. And for such a strange book! GURPS Goblins (1996) is…wild. It almost certainly isn’t what you think.

What we have here is an unflinching social satire of Edwardian London, circa 1830. Except, instead of English humans, everyone is a goblin. Except, they aren’t really goblins in the D&D sense. They’re…if you’re familiar with political cartoons of that era, or even in the Victorian period, the twisted figures whose physical traits so often visually depict their inner failings and moral decay? They’re that. Sort of like the ugliest of people crossed with Joe Dante’s gremlins. A city of millions of sentient deadly sins walking around, being the worst they can possibly be (and brought to a semblance of life through Guy Burwell’s grotesque illustrations).

Players, of course, take the role of goblins from the lowest class strata, the poor, the desperate, the criminal. The point of the game is to get a leg up. The introduction says, “The aim of every goblin should be to gain security and power with improved social level, faster than he degenerates through disease, age and the aforementioned maiming.” I should mention that the text is scathing, unflinching, strident and regularly very funny. I find it hard to find the correct words to convey my awe at this game, that in addition to pillorying Edwardian society of nearly two centuries ago, also somehow sees into the dark heart of 21st century life.

To wit: “The ruins and dungeons are far from uncharted — the only creature who never explores them is the landlord who rents them out.” I mean, damn. That’s some Ambrose Bierce shit right there.

Honestly, the goblins are kind of a red herring — remove their desperate parodying and you basically have an incredibly detailed source book for London in the 1830s, rife with poverty, disease, exploitation, crime and inequity. The goblinoid veneer makes it into something playable (though I would be surprised if something with this tenor found much of an audience in 1996) and brings the laughs, though I suspect they’d be the uncomfortable sort that issue when a gag hits too close to home.

A forgotten classic.

[neverheroes]

You know how the TMNT “don’t even use their weapons” in the 87 run?

You’ve got to acknowledge the control and restraint it takes for Leo and Raph to raise weapons frequently shown to be capable of slicing through metal like butter and manage to avoid making the villains of the week bleed in scuffles.

There’s always an argument to be had over how deadly the 1987 marshmallows actually are. It doesn’t help their case that when it comes up in any cross-dimensional episodes that work their way into a run that they’re played off as a bunch of lazy goofballs.

In the very first episode of 1987 TMNT Raphael attacks a foot soldier (and this stab looks directed under the rib cage, for the heart, that is a death blow) resulting in a metallic sound, to which he responds “Clang? Did you say clang?” and Leo lands a would-be fatal abdominal blow to a foot soldier to confirm they’re fighting robots. That other guy could have had hidden armour, Leo doesn’t know he’s fighting a robot yet, but would have outright killed this guy to gain the information. Mike and Donnie only leap into actual offensive attack mode after they realise there’s no risk of taking a life, which tells me they know they’re absolutely capable of it and were hesitating to engage.

I’m just not convinced they couldn’t hold their own in the 2012 world the way they were depicted, or are as incompetent as they’re so often painted. They’re naive and silly, it’s soft and fun and then Donatello murders an exact sentient clone of himself with his personality and memories (REAL). I just think there’s more to them than their cream-puff legacy.

[hummingbird24220]

I don't know if you've seen the movie "Gremlin's," but how would the Strawhats think about a reader who has a pet mogwai named Gizmo?

(And of course, there are the rules, no feeding it around midnight, no sunlight, and no water. If no, it's a little bit difficult because they're on a ship?)

I googled the plot of Gremlins cause they creep me out - dont like the look of their furby asses. I did what i could, theyre basically cats on crack but with thumbs in my brain... so :)

Hope you enjoy!

----

Trouble Aboard

One Piece x Reader - Reader has a pet Mogwai.

The waves lapped lazily at the hull of the Thousand Sunny, sunshine warming the deck as the Straw Hat Pirates basked in a rare moment of peace. Somewhere between one wild adventure and the next, the crew had agreed to a calm day at sea. That peace, however, was always temporary—especially now that you were aboard.

And especially with him.

You sat cross-legged on the grassy lawn of the Sunny’s deck, a small fuzzy creature perched on your shoulder like a sentient plush toy. His huge brown eyes scanned the crew warily as his bat-like ears twitched in every direction.

“His name’s Gizmo,” you explained as everyone crowded around to get a look. “He’s a Mogwai.”

Chopper’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “He’s… alive?! What species is that?! I’ve never seen anything like him before! Is he a new breed of mink?!”

You shook your head with a laugh. “Nope. He’s not from anywhere you’ve heard of. But he’s adorable and very smart. There’s just… some rules.”

“Rules?” Sanji asked, lighting a cigarette and raising an eyebrow.

You nodded, holding up three fingers. “Rule one: No sunlight. Ever. It’s deadly to him.”

Nami grimaced. “Yikes. Good thing we’ve got lots of shade onboard.”

“Rule two,” you continued, holding up another finger. “Don’t get him wet. No baths, no splashes, no rain, nothing. And absolutely no seawater.”

Luffy tilted his head. “What happens if he does get wet?”

You hesitated. “Let’s just say… it’s not good.”

Zoro crossed his arms. “You mean he goes feral or something?”

You coughed. “Worse. He… multiplies.”

“WHAT?!” Usopp and Chopper shrieked in unison.

Brook leaned forward, bones rattling. “Yohohoho! That sounds horrifying! But also kind of fun?”

“And last,” you said, voice serious now, “never feed him after midnight. I mean it.”

Robin looked intrigued, fingers steepled. “And what happens if you do?”

You looked down at Gizmo, who whined softly, ears drooping as if even he didn’t like to think about it. “You… really don’t want to know.”

There was a beat of silence before Luffy broke it with a wide grin. “He’s so fluffy!! Can I hold him?!”

“No!” you and Gizmo said at the same time—Gizmo’s voice high-pitched and squeaky. Everyone jumped.

“He talks?!” Franky shouted, jaw dropping.

You chuckled, standing up as Gizmo scrambled to your arm and peeked over your shoulder. “A little. Just be careful. He’s sweet, but those rules aren’t just guidelines. They’re the difference between peace and chaos.”

Somewhere behind you, ominous thunder rumbled on the horizon.

You had only turned your back for two minutes.

TWO. MINUTES.

You were in the galley, helping Sanji prep dinner while Gizmo napped peacefully in your hammock—cozy, safe, shaded. Everything was fine. Until Usopp and Luffy decided everything wasn’t interesting enough.

“Just one drop,” Usopp whispered, crouched in front of your room with a suspiciously full water canteen. “Just a tiny one. We’ll see if the multiplying thing is even real.”

Luffy leaned in with stars in his eyes. “If he makes more of him, then we’ll have so many fluff balls!! We can start a Gizmo army! Maybe they can cook! Or fight!”

“Or clean the ship!” Usopp added, nodding enthusiastically. “Imagine if they help swab the deck—Zoro might actually stop complaining.”

Zoro, walking by, paused. “I heard that.”

They froze. Zoro glanced inside your room, saw the fuzzy ball of fluff snoring softly in your hammock, shrugged, and kept walking.

“Anyway…” Luffy grinned and uncapped the bottle.

You’ll never know whether it was a drop or a full splash. All you know is that moments later, you heard squealing. Not the good kind. The multiple kind.

You sprinted to your room with Chopper yelling, “WHY DOES IT SOUND LIKE THERE’S A WHOLE ZOO IN THERE?!”

Sanji burst in beside you—knife in hand, apron flying—and gasped as five brand new Mogwai bounced around your room like gremlins on espresso. They were laughing, squeaking, throwing clothes, swinging from the ceiling beams.

Gizmo sat frozen in your hammock, paws over his face.

“USOPP!” you roared.

Usopp was already trying to dodge the tiny creatures, two of which had latched onto his legs.

“I DIDN’T KNOW IT WOULD BE THIS BAD—WHY DO THEY HAVE TEETH?!”

One of them bit into a lamp cord and promptly electrocuted itself, only to laugh hysterically and do it again.

“I told you no water!!” you yelled, grabbing a towel and snatching up the wriggling Mogwai. “This is how it starts!!”

Nami and Robin arrived just in time to see one of the new Mogwai zip past on a makeshift skateboard made from one of Sanji’s serving trays.

Robin raised a brow. “They multiply like this?”

Nami looked utterly done. “We’re going to die.”

Just then, the sky outside rumbled again, and a fat raindrop hit the window. Your eyes widened.

“Oh no.”

Before anyone could react, the door burst open and Luffy, dripping wet from curiosity-induced exploration, yelled, “Guys! It’s raining!”

And three of the new Mogwai squealed in delight—rushing straight into the hallway and skidding toward the open hatch.

You grabbed Gizmo protectively. He trembled, looking up at you with big eyes.

“I know, buddy. This is bad.”

Outside, the skies darkened further.

You turned to the crew, heart sinking. “We need to find them. Now. If we don’t round them up before midnight…”

“What happens?” Chopper asked.

You didn’t answer. You just looked at the clock.

It was 11:43 PM.

----

11:48 PM.

The Thousand Sunny was no longer a ship—it was a war zone.

Gizmo clung to your hoodie with wide, terrified eyes as you sprinted down the hallway, dodging sparks, smoke, and a rogue mop swinging from the ceiling.

“Luffy, grab that one!” you shouted, pointing at a Mogwai that had managed to duct-tape forks to its paws and was now skating down the deck like a deranged cutlery ninja.

“I’m trying!” Luffy shouted, arm stretching out—only for the little monster to leap onto his head and give him a wedgie with his own vest.

Usopp came running by, covered in flour, with two Mogwai clinging to his legs like gremlin leg-warmers. “THEY GOT INTO THE KITCHEN! ONE OF THEM’S GOT A MEAT CLEAVER!”

From somewhere in the distance, Brook screamed, “ONE JUST SET MY AFRO ON FIRE!!”

Gizmo whimpered against your neck. “No...no…”

You spun on your heel and grabbed Chopper by the shoulders. “We have to catch them before midnight. They’re already hyper. If they eat…”

“I know!” Chopper squeaked. “But they’re fast, and one just cannonballed into Franky’s cola storage!!”

Your eyes went wide. “Wait. WHAT?!”

11:52 PM.

Franky stomped into the main hall, singed, smoking, and furious. “THOSE LITTLE FREAKS EMPTIED THREE COLA TANKS. THEY’RE BOUNCING OFF WALLS LIKE PINBALLS!!”

“I told you!!” you groaned, hugging Gizmo tightly. “This is why the rules exist! If even one of them eats after midnight—”

“Too late!!” Nami shrieked from the galley.

You bolted toward her voice with Luffy, Chopper, and Robin on your heels. The kitchen looked like it had been raided by tiny raccoons with flamethrowers. Cupboards wide open. Flour, eggs, and spices everywhere. Bite marks on almost every container. One gremlin had made a crown from spaghetti and was riding a soup pot like a sled.

Zoro stood at the edge, sword drawn, looking dazed. “I swear, I just blinked, and they made a cake.”

Then—

BONG.

The ship’s clock struck 12:00 AM.

Gizmo screeched and buried his face in your hoodie. You froze as the Mogwai—those who had eaten—stopped, mid-mischief. Their giggles turned guttural. Their eyes flashed red.

The change began.

Fur dropped away in clumps. Skin turned green and scaly. Spines jutted out. Ears stretched long and sharp. And their grins—oh God—their grins widened, full of jagged teeth and malicious glee.

“Oh,” Usopp said faintly from behind a tipped-over barrel. “Oh no.”

Luffy’s jaw dropped. “THEY’RE EVOLVING?!”

You turned, heart pounding, as one of the newly formed gremlins—now nearly your height and grinning like a demon on vacation—grabbed a frying pan and saluted you before chucking it across the room.

Franky caught it. Barely.

“That’s it,” he growled. “We’re going full lockdown. Robin—trap 'em. Usopp—net launchers. Sanji—bait them with meatballs. We’re catching these little creeps NOW.”

You placed Gizmo in a padded bag on your chest and zipped it just enough for him to peek out. He shivered, whispering, “Bad... very bad…”

You looked at the chaos forming around you. The gremlins had already set up shop in the lounge, playing poker, roasting stolen marshmallows over an open candle, and arguing in their hideous little voices. One of them had painted Zoro’s wanted poster with devil horns.

Yeah. This was going to be a long night.

12:07 AM.

The Thousand Sunny creaked under the weight of pure, unfiltered gremlin energy.

One was DJing in the lounge using two Den Den Mushi and a turntable made from plates. Another had found Chopper’s medical stash and was wearing gauze like a mummy, chasing Luffy with a thermometer like it was a sword.

And someone—no one wanted to admit who—had apparently taught one of them how to use a slingshot.

“USOPP!” Nami roared, ducking as a flaming dumpling whizzed past her head.

“I DIDN’T TEACH THEM THAT, I SWEAR!” Usopp yelped, crawling under the sofa with a butterfly net. “They’re NATURALLY violent!”

You and Robin were crouched near the hallway entrance, watching the gremlins through a cracked-open door. Gizmo peeked out from your jacket pouch, shivering.

“They’re not just destructive,” Robin murmured, her eyes scanning the chaos. “They’re strategic. Look. That one’s building something out of forks and duct tape. And that one… is using… is that my book as a trampoline?”

You pressed your palms to your face. “We need to trap them. If they get into the engine room—”

“—we’re dead,” Franky finished, sliding into place next to you with a heavy-duty net cannon strapped to his shoulder. “We ready to exterminate some goblin garbage?”

Chopper popped his head in. “I made bait! It’s meatballs… laced with sleeping herbs!”

Sanji raised an impressed eyebrow. “Okay, doctor.”

“Alright, team,” you said, channeling the inner captain Luffy definitely didn’t have right now—he was too busy trying to arm-wrestle a gremlin with three arms. “Here’s the plan.”

OPERATION: GREMLIN SWEEP Objective: Capture and contain every gremlin on the ship before someone sets off a cannon.

Step 1: Bait 'n Trap Sanji slid the sleeping-herb meatballs onto a tray and walked into the lounge like it was a fancy five-star restaurant. “Dinner is served, gentlemen.”

The gremlins stopped. Eyed him. Salivated.

Ten seconds later, four of them were passed out in a pile, snoring loudly and twitching.

Robin smiled. “That’s four.”

Step 2: Net 'Em Up Usopp and Franky burst in from the ceiling hatch.

“NET BARRAGE!!”

WHOMP. WHOMP. THWACK.

Three gremlins struggled as they were scooped into reinforced nets, hissing and screeching. One tried to bite through the ropes—until Franky shocked it gently with a mini-cola taser.

“That’s SEVEN,” Chopper counted.

Step 3: Corner the Leader

Zoro appeared in the hallway, bleeding from a suspicious claw mark but otherwise unfazed. “There’s one left. The smart one. He’s in the aquarium room. Rigged the door with soap bombs.”

“…Soap bombs?” you echoed.

“It exploded in my face,” Zoro growled. “Smelled like strawberries.”

Robin summoned giant arms to pull open the door just enough for you, Luffy, and Gizmo to slip through. Inside, the last gremlin—clearly the ringleader—was perched on top of the goldfish tank wearing Usopp’s goggles and a crown made of bottle caps.

He hissed at you, then flipped a switch.

Lights flickered. A fan began to spin ominously. And he pointed at you like a final boss.

“...Okay,” you said, handing Gizmo to Luffy. “I got this.”

Five minutes later.

You emerged from the aquarium room soaked, victorious, and slightly electrocuted, dragging the unconscious gremlin behind you.

“He threw eels at me,” you said to no one in particular. “And soap bombs. But I got him.”

The Straw Hats stood in awe as you plopped the final gremlin into a reinforced crate, bolted shut with sea prism locks (courtesy of Franky).

Gizmo let out a soft, proud chirp. “Yay…”

You sat down, exhausted. “Never. Again.”

Luffy flopped beside you, covered in claw marks. “Can we keep one?”

“NO!” the entire crew shouted in unison.

--

It took all night to clean the ship.

Nami counted three destroyed chairs, two broken lamps, one VERY traumatized Den Den Mushi, and a strange new mural painted inside the fridge that said “LONG LIVE THE KING” in mustard. Franky was already planning upgrades to gremlin-proof the Sunny, while Robin casually read a book titled “Mysterious Creatures of Myth and Madness” with mild interest, flipping through to a bookmarked page: Mogwai.

The captured gremlins were locked inside a reinforced containment unit that Sanji and Chopper wheeled ashore when you finally docked on a quiet, remote island where a researcher friend of Robin’s waited with wide eyes and a very thick notebook.

“This is them?” he whispered, adjusting his cracked glasses. “They’re… real?”

You handed him the containment crate with a grim nod. “Trust me. Follow the rules. Don’t get them wet. Don’t let them near food after midnight. And—”

“Sunlight is fatal. Got it.” He looked serious. “I’ll keep them safe. And the world too, hopefully.”

You nodded, but your heart wasn’t heavy because of the gremlins. It was because of the tiny, wide-eyed Mogwai clinging to your chest, paws curled into your jacket like he knew.

Gizmo blinked up at you. “You go?”

Your breath hitched.

The crew waited a few feet back, letting you have the moment. Even Luffy, for once, stayed quiet.

You knelt in the grass and gently unzipped the pouch, lifting Gizmo out with both hands. He was warm, soft, and trembling a little.

“I think… this is where you belong,” you whispered, eyes stinging. “With others like you. Somewhere safe. Not on a ship full of chaos and crazy pirates.”

“Luffy is chaos,” Gizmo muttered, sniffling. You laughed tearfully.

“Yeah. But he grows on you.”

Gizmo reached up with his tiny paws and pressed them gently to your cheeks, like he was memorizing your face. He made a soft cooing sound—his version of a goodbye.

“I love you, Giz,” you murmured. “Be good, okay? Be safe.”

He nodded solemnly, then scurried up your arm for one last hug, burying his face in your neck.

You stood, slowly placing him into the researcher’s padded satchel. He whimpered once but didn’t try to climb out. Brave little guy.

As the boat pulled away, Gizmo peeked through the mesh window, his paws pressed to the fabric. You waved, tears sliding down your cheeks.

And faintly, faintly, you heard him say—

“Bye-bye…”

Later that night, the ship was quiet again. Peaceful.

You sat on the deck under the stars, legs swinging off the side, a soft breeze in your hair.

Luffy plopped down beside you, chewing on a rice ball. “You okay?”

You nodded. “Just… miss him.”

“He’ll be okay,” Luffy said, simply and honestly. “He’s strong. Like you.”

You smiled, leaning into the breeze, a little lighter than before.

And somewhere in the distance—on a quiet island lit by moonlight—a Mogwai named Gizmo curled up in a warm nest, paws tucked under his chin.

Dreaming of you.

[fandomimaginez]

The Addams family in Gotham

This seemed like a fun scenario so here we go:

They aren’t scared of crime and love horror and chaos so they’d just live peacefully in Gotham like it’s a normal suburb.

At first Bruce would assume they were criminals—until he investigated and realized they’re just really, really eccentric. He’d visit them once and leave with more questions than answers.

Morticia and Gomez would frequent the Iceberg Lounge, seeing it as a 'quaint little establishment.'

Dick would try to charm Morticia in his usual flirty way. It wouldn’t work. She’d just stare at him unblinkingly and say something unsettlingly poetic.

Morticia: “You laugh so brightly… like a candle in a crypt. Temporary. Flickering. One good gust, and you’re gone.”

Dick: “Haha, cool… wait, what?”

Wednesday and Damian either get along scarily well or declare each other their mortal enemies. Either way, they’d have weekly sword fights for fun.

Pugsley would immediately try to ride Bat-Cow. Damian would immediately threaten him. (His and Wednesday's weekly sword fight came earlier that week)

Cassandra and Wednesday communicate through eerie glances.

Pugsley would think Jason is the coolest person ever.

They would lose their minds about Thing:

Jason: “WHY IS THERE A HAND RUNNING AROUND?!”

Tim: “Is it sentient?”

Damian: “Can I train it?”

Dick would freak out the first time he sees Thing moving but after a week, he’d high-five it like it’s normal.

Immediate friendship with The Penguin—Oswald loves the classy, old-school aesthetic, and the Addamses love weird little men in suits.

Morticia loves deadly plants, so she and Ivy would bond over botany. “Oh, darling, your man-eating Venus flytrap is simply exquisite.”

The Joker would initially try to mess with them, only to find that they love his antics.

Joker: “Ah-ha! I’ve filled your house with laughing gas!”

Morticia: “How delightful! Do you have it in lavender?”

The Addamses would ignore all The Riddler’s riddles, frustrating him to no end. He’d try to trap them in a death puzzle, but they’d just enjoy it like it’s a fun escape room.

Riddler: “Riddle me thi—”

Wednesday, already walking away: “No.”

Criminals who try to rob them never return. No one knows what happens inside.

They’d technically be law-abiding, they just seem villainous. They’d live their creepy, kooky lives while accidentally freaking out everyone in the city.

And somehow, they’d still be happier than anyone else in Gotham.

[ssspark]

wisps and the places they lead you

summary: a horrible afternoon in the forbidden forest brings Neville closer to what he truly desires.

pairing: Neville Longbottom x Fem!Reader

tags: fluff, hurt/comfort, animal death, luna being ominous as usual, friends to ???, no y/n used, she/her pronouns

wc: 2.3k

The forest surrounding the castle grounds was hardly Neville’s favorite place to be.

It would be, in a world where it wasn’t teeming with odd creatures that were dangerous at best and deadly at worst. There was truly interesting flora nearly everywhere you looked— sentient trees and mystical vines and flowers that would draw you in with siren pollen. It’d be nice to explore without the fear of giant creatures or centaurs or… literally anything else that crawled and bumped at night. But he felt a tad bit more secure walking behind Hagrid’s imposing frame.

“Just a bit farther now,” Hagrid grunted softly at the head of the line.

The class had been hiking through the woods for quite some time. Or, at least, it definitely felt like it. Neville swiped at his brow with the back of his hand. He wasn’t the most athletic person in his year, but a quick glance over at Harry and Ron told him even the quidditch players were looking a bit rough in the muggy air.

“The wisps like to play ‘round here. Funny little things, really. Some say they’ll lead you to fortune, or to your destiny— others’ll tell ya they’ll walk ya right off a cliff,” Hagrid glanced at the students over his shoulder, “just be careful now. Use your heads, and pick a buddy. Don’t let nothin’ happen to your buddy.”

The grass and leaves beneath their feet rustled as students doubled up with ease. Excited yet skeptical chatter cut through the music of birds and bugs surrounding them all.

Neville knew his fate already after Seamus idled up next to Dean. He was going to be picked last, left with whomever didn’t move fast enough to find their friend. He wasn’t exactly a hot ticket item when it came to group projects outside of the greenhouse.

His eyes wandered over to her, who laughed and smiled with a fellow Hufflepuff boy he often saw by her side. Disappointed, but not surprised, Neville swallowed and threw his gaze elsewhere before he could be caught staring.

“You don’t have a partner, Neville,” the soft and almost dreamy voice cropped up on his side, “but that’s okay. I wasn’t chosen, either.” Luna smiled up at him, and he smiled back. She was a strange girl indeed, but sweet, if a bit disarming.

Hagrid held up a hand, signaling for quiet. A hush fell over the class. “Listen,” he said, scanning the trees surrounding them, “if you listen, they’ll find ya. Go on now. And don’t wander too far!”

Twenty-five minutes and a whole lot of listening later, Neville let out a groan. His long limbs felt heavy as he trudged over exposed roots and ducked under hanging branches. “We’re not lost, are we, Luna?” He swiped his forehead.

She maneuvered much more gracefully through the woods, almost like she was a creature that belonged there. “Lost is subjective,” she said, stepping over a fallen tree. “If you don’t have a destination, you can’t get lost.”

“Right.” Neville sighed. He should’ve expected an answer like that. “Well, have you seen anything?”

“No wisps, no. Which is odd— they’re not usually this shy. Maybe they’re overwhelmed. I can understand that.”

How pointless. They’d been walking for ages, listening, looking, probably wandering further than needed into unknown territory… Neville paused in step, reaching up to grasp at a low branch for balance. It smelled like it would rain soon. He looked up at the graying sky, through the patchwork of leaves netted above, and sucked in a long breath. “Maybe we should—“ but when he looked back down, he was alone. Neville froze. “Luna?”

Nothing. Nothing but a distant bird, maybe a loon, and the buzz of summer insects surrounding him. Oh, Merlin.

“Luna?” He called out again, louder. Her name bounced around without anywhere to go. Neville noticed the muggy humidity that painted his forehead in sweat had seeped away, replaced by a unique cold, wedged under his skin. Everywhere he turned, he was met with more of the same— imposing trees stretching high above his head, bushes and tangles and boulders just big enough for something to hide behind. Maybe Luna, pulling some sort of prank. “This isn’t funny,” Neville breathed, itching to pull out his wand tucked in his pants pocket.

He took a few steps forward— at least, what he thought was forward. There was no way to tell which direction they’d come from just minutes ago. He couldn’t even hear the rest of his class.

But then, he saw it.

A bright blue bulb, floating between two round tree trunks, swathed in roiling energy, it seemed, though it was clear the sudden chill came from nothing else.

“Oh, of course,” Neville let out a terse breath.

He eyed the wisp, watching it rise and fall gently, almost like it was breathing.

“You’re not a bad omen, are you? Please don’t lead me to something bad. Please be a— a good wisp.” He took a few tentative steps toward the orb, his shoes crunching the leaves underfoot. The wisp didn’t reply— not that he expected one— but it trembled slightly as he got closer. Like a cork from a bottle, it took off, darting several yards away, only to wait in place again, a prick of light among the dark forest.

So, with a light groan, Neville followed it. He didn’t exactly have a better plan in his pocket anyways.

His legs ached. It felt like ages he’d been following the damn wisp. Over a creek just wide enough to soak his socks, through a suspiciously empty clearing featuring a strange circle of mushrooms, between a rock and a hard place (another huge rock, smashed together like a giant had been playing with them). Neville knew he was more than lost. But the only hope he had was following the glowing orb. It shimmered and buzzed with delight whenever he got close. Part of him wondered if this was some sort of endless game— would he be stuck chasing this thing forever? Going in circles, wandering, until something inevitably eats him?

His hand propped against a nearby tree for support. Neville tilted his head back, squinting up at the sky and the fading light between the leaves. It’d be dark soon, right? He had to have been out there for hours already.

“Oh, Merlin, I bloody hate the forest—“

“Hello?”

Neville froze, mid-gripe. His heart leapt into his throat and he threw his gaze around, trying to hold his labored breath to hear better.

“Hello? Ugh, I thought I heard something…” sniff.

It was almost embarrassing how quickly his legs shoved him forward, completely forgetting how heavy and tired they’d grown.

He called out her name, not because he could easily pick her voice out in a crowd or anything— of course not, why would you think that?— but because it stood out against the backdrop of nature he’d grown to quietly resent at the moment. He called her name again, and pushed through a group of knotty trees that’d grown together.

Seeing her knelt in the grass was a breath of fresh air. Relief washed over him as he trudged his way closer. The thick wood had given way to a meadow of sorts, lush with tall grass and pops of wildflowers. “Oh, Merlin, I’m so glad to see you…” he didn’t even care how pathetic he sounded, huffing as he drew closer— but the gleeful relief in his chest shuddered into uncertainty and made him stop just a few feet away from her.

She regarded Neville with a somber sort of look from the ground. Before her, in the grass, was a crumpled mass of fur. Neville couldn’t really tell what kind of creature it was, but it wasn’t moving, and she gave a great sniff, and wiped at her eyes with her sleeves. “I heard it crying out,” she said, looking down at the mangled little body. “The sound was awful, I couldn’t just ignore it. And I tried to help— I tried four different spells, and nothing was working. I didn’t want… I didn’t want it to be alone, you know? So I stayed with it, while it… died…” she sniffed again, her voice sounding more raw than he’d ever heard it before. Heavy, sharp, pointed, like she was trying and failing to even it out.

The only sound between them was Neville’s heavy breathing, and her soft sniffling. After a few beats, he wet his lips, and took a few steps closer.

“I’m sorry,” he said first, because it was the first thing on his mind.

He knelt down beside her and, maybe against his better judgement, took a closer look at the creature. It resembled something like a cat, or maybe a large weasel with long and sharp claws, though with the matted fur and the unnatural angles, he couldn’t quite make it out. “Um… what… is it?”

She sniffed again. “A callowby,” she said, “a young one, I think. It’s pretty small. Doesn’t even have its wings yet.”

Neville had just managed to get his breathing under control when he settled next to her, the long grass somehow managing to poke through his school slacks. He wasn’t quite sure what to say— he was never good at comforting people, especially when they were crying— but he wanted to say something. Wanted to do something. So, awkwardly, he laid his hand on her shoulder. Her body shook slightly, aftershocks from what he assumed to have been a bigger crying spell before he showed up.

“I’m sorry,” he said again, looking between her puffy face and the still callowby in the grass. “I know— erm— I know how much you care for animals. I think it was really kind of you to… you know… make sure it wasn’t alone.” Neville tried giving her shoulder a light squeeze. For a moment, he feared he’d made things worse, because she covered her face with both hands and sucked in a huge breath— but then she leaned against him, their shoulders touching.

“I know it’s silly,” she said, and there was almost a sense of bitterness to her tone, “to be upset over something like this. A wild animal. I just…”

“No, not silly.” Neville rubbed his hand up and down her arm. “I think it’s natural, actually. You’re just… a compassionate person. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

They sat like that for several moments, with her covering her face and catching an unsteady breath, and him gently rubbing her arm, squeezing her shoulder, unsure of how to help.

Then, finally, “we could bury it, if you want.”

So, they did.

While Neville dug through the dirt, she stood nearby, holding both of her arms as she watched him. “Where’s your buddy, anyway?” She asked.

Neville looked up immediately. “Oh, shite, Luna.” He squeezed his eyes shut and groaned, “I forgot— we got separated, right before I saw the wisps.”

“You saw the wisps?”

“Yeah, a lot of bloody good they did me,” he went back to scooping handfuls of dirt. Irritation dripped from his words. “Walked around for what felt like hours, nearly lost my head, until they led me… here…” Neville paused, and looked up at her with a squint. The early evening glow from above encompassed her form in a halo from where he sat— ethereal, really, and it made his mouth dry.

She blinked down at him. “What?”

Neville shook his head and looked down at his task again. “How long you reckon we’ve been out here?” The hole he’d dug was just wide and deep enough for the little creature. He sat back and swiped the sweat off his forehead, smearing some of the dirt on his clammy skin.

“Hours, at least,” she said, watching as he stood to his full height again. A ginger wave of her wand, and the callowby was gently floated into the little grave.

Neville cleared his throat as she shifted the dirt over top. He peered anxiously at the sky between the treetops— there was still the threat of rain, with clumps of gray clouds overhead. “We should try to find Hagrid. I think it’s about to storm.”

The trek back toward the edge of the wood was mostly quiet. He was glad she seemed to know where to go— at least what direction to head in. It was more than he’d had all afternoon.

But as they walked, side by side, their hands brushing occasionally, his mind took a route of its own.

“How’re you feeling?” Neville asked, clearing his throat, and gave her a sidelong glance.

“I’m… alright, all things considered,” she replied, slightly hesitant. “I mean, we lost our buddies, got a bit lost ourselves, had a funeral… and I still haven’t seen a wisp.”

He couldn’t help the slight chuckle that slipped out under his breath as he watched his own feet step over roots and stones. “They’re tricky buggers, that’s for sure.”

A beat passed before she spoke up again. “Sorry you didn’t get to keep following them. You could’ve found something really interesting.”

Ahead, the trees started to thin out, giving way to more light, more open graces. Some distant chatter floated through— they weren’t far from where Hagrid had let them loose earlier.

Neville hadn’t found a treasure; no long-lost tome, an ancient relic, or some secret stash of coins. He wasn’t expecting to, really, but it was a nice thought. Even with all the illogical, impractical, wonderful things he knew existed in the magical world, he still found himself a bit mystified by things much closer to home. Real things, so real, though you can’t exactly hold them in your hands, but you can try.

He stepped over a fallen log, reaching out to help her as well. “Trust me, I don’t mind. Getting lost in the Forbidden Forest isn’t exactly something I do for fun,” he said. The voices of their classmates were getting clearer. He could even see Hagrid, his lumbering form, in the distance. Crunching through the underbrush, he noticed that she kept a hold of him still, their hands intertwined tentatively, and he cleared his throat, “I think they led me where I needed to go, anyways.”

[honey-minded-hivemind]

for a naga au, have you considered having the reader be a human, that the x-men thing is a baby who was born deformed so they got abandoned? So they’re like “poor little dude, abandoned. But I can help!”

and reader just here panicking

Oh h*ck yeah! And worry not, they have excellent healers and their own venom, which helps speed along growth of naga traits- Oh, Reader will be in for it, won't they? That being said, let's see:

You weren't sure how this happened.

You didn't think snake people existed. Yet here you were, in a large, hidden nest, full of smaller snake people, and being watched over by larger ones.

The largest of them are giant compared to you, their tails long and winding, splayed over the cavern hidden behind a waterfall you'd lived near. They keep making concerned noises, poking at your legs and making small hisses each time they bent or jerked. The smaller ones would have likely been your age if human, but their tails, while smaller than their elders', were still long, as thick as a small tree in some places. The colors among their scales ranged from lilacs and pinks to oranges and blacks, grays and browns to blues and golds. Every color you could think of was there, with some of them being iridescent or pearlescent.

Why were you there?

You made the mistake of rescuing one of the smaller ones. It had been caught in a trap, a large net that kept its form suspended and away from the ground or trees, tight enough in some places to cut through their scales. You'd found them, writhing in pain and hissing desperately, and while you knew it was likely deadly and might have venom... It was part human, it was a living being, sentient. It deserved to be free, to not be hurt or displayed as a trophy. And with that, you loosened the ropes from where they were tied, soon releasing the creature with a loud THUMP. For a moment it looked at you, eyes wide and curious, before it slithered off, back to wherever it came from.

The people who had set the trap found you, your hands stained with a bit of the blood that had been on the ropes, and had immediately chased you. It didn't matter how far you ran or where you tried to hide, they hunted you until you had nowhere left to run and nowhere left to hide. Just as you thought you were to be killed, tossed off the waterfall into a rocky pool below-

HIIIIISSSSSSSS!

Giant versions of the creature you saved came hurtling from the water, fangs flashing down as they tore into your would-be killers. You managed to hide in a tangled bush during the bloody fray, hunching yourself down and into a ball and staying as quiet and still as possible. The noises of the fight drifted over the rush of water, until it finally died out with a loud CRACK. Shivering, you buried yourself deeper in the dirt and leaves, praying to be left alone...

Only for large, clawed hands to snag you up from your hiding spot, a surprised hiss coming from a large snake thing. It had dark eyes, and orange and black scales dotting its face and shoulders. It's tongue flicked out, almost as though scenting you, only to immediately feel at your legs.

You kicked out at it, reflex more than anything.

It froze, eyes wide, and with the loudest cry, it called the other snakes over. Whatever the problem was... it had something to do with your... legs?

They just kept, poking at them, making sad and scared noises, while looking between each other and back at the waterfall. Eventually they seemed to reach an agreement, and forcibly brought you with them, kicking and crying out the whole way.

Which led to now, being tucked into their nest, alongside the smaller snake creature you saved and its companions, who were watching you carefully, all while hissing between each other and one of the adult creatures watching over you.

You'd lasted for two whole days without sleep before you were squeezed between the coils of the adult who first found you. It was trying to make gentle hisses, tapping lightly at your neck, then your knees. You weren't sure what it was trying to say, until one hand was holding your head still, the other holding your wrists together.

"No, nonononono," you mutter, trying to pull back, yet the creature just tightened both its tail and claws, and just as quick-

It bit you.

A pained yelp escaped you as you felt the rush of venom enter your veins, and tears entered your eyes as you struggled. All the creature did was press a kiss to the wound, using the hand previously steadying you to stroke your hair, making soft hisses and rubbing its cheek against yours. It was getting harder and harder to stay focused, the heat from its scales and the steady rhythm of its caresses and nuzzles soothing a part of you, while the other part felt hazier and hazier. Soon, your head felt stuffed, as though full of cotton, causing you to slump into the grip around you. A pleased noise comes from the bundle around you, further putting you at ease. Everything feels so warm... So calm... All sleepy and soft like a small bunny in its burrow. A relaxed sigh leaves your lips, being met with a rumbling purr from around you. And just as soon as your eyes slip closed, youre met by a soft, gentle darkness, sweeping you into quiet slumber...

(Can y'all guess which X-Teen they saved?)

(To answer which X-Teen they saved... it was Scott. And he was the first to think, "oh, wow, they're a deformed naga, poor little guy.. Aaaaaw, they saved me! So cute💕 Wait, I need to tell the Professor and Logan and Storm and-")

[theodosiani]

I've only just learnt about vhen and I'm already deadly (pun intended but do not perceive me) curious, tell me more about them please and thank

Character Questions! || Always Accepting || @mercysought

I’ve only had Vhenatish’an for like a week but if anything happened to them I’d kill—

What’s funny is that Vhenatish’an actually came about from two separate ideas I had some time ago. One of them was Ghilan’nain inventing drow in Thedas and the other was the concept for an ancient elf who was formed from a spirit of regret.

And you might say “sawyer, aren’t the sharlock/shrieks the thedosian drows?” And I say not really. They’re more Tolkien orcs than d&d drow, more a rage virus zombie than sentient elf offshoot with a society based upon the patronage of a malevolent mother goddess. So I made my own.

The other thing is that it’s very funny as someone who writes Ghilan’nain(and sometimes Andruil), I have a very hard time getting in the headspace of non-evanuris ancient elves but I love the concept of a new spirit shunted into personhood. I might still write Regret at some point but a lot of my desire to write the body horror of an unwanted mortal form has been rolled into Vhenatish’an.

Ghilan’nain probably starts crafting the Blight Elves after D’meta’s Crossing but doesn’t craft Vhenatish’an specifically until after Weissaupt when she loses Razikale. She uses the project as a way to stave off grief and Elgar’nan likely encourages anything that keeps her mostly emotionally functioning so it’s a harmless, even potentially beneficial side project for her to work on while mostly confined to their base now that she’s mortal.

Ghilan’nain’s choice in spirit and name are reflective of her faith in Elgar’nan’s vision of a future for the Evanuris’ New Empire. Vhen “the people” and Atish’an “peace” symbolically coming together as “A new peace for the people” as she sees a class of elves not just infected with the blight but in part made from it being Ghilan’nain’s attempt at channeling an almost Mythal-like role as Mother to the new elvhen empire. Finding a Spirit of Hope for the first of the blight elves is equally as much a deliberate choice for the myth making she is certain will come from this period of their conquest.

The problem, however, is that dragging a spirit of hope against their will from the fade to shove into a body made from blighted flesh and lyrium does not a Hope Spirit keep. Worse still, the Spirit of Hope rejected multiple bodies, Ghilan’nain repeatedly rebinding them each time and dragging them back to try a new vessel where they would feel said vessel die around them. The process eroded the manifestation of Hope into a Spirit of pure Dread. Finally, attached to a body so thoroughly that even death would only make the vessel a tomb Vhenatish’an becomes the First of the Banalhan’len and thus the eldest of Ghilan’nain’s children.

They are largely confused and horrified by this, knowing very little of the waking world and less of the monstrous being who calls herself their Mamae. It is a word that means love and horror and control. Every aspect of this existence they did not ask for brings new feelings of unease, steadily growing until water leaks from their uneven eyes. They learn this is called ‘crying’ and it very quickly becomes a reoccurring effect of the unending anxiety that fills their days, though they learn to hold the feeling in when Mamae is around.

[would-this-pokemon-be-a-friend]

Would A Trubbish Be A Good Pet?

Remember the other day when I called venomoths “living, breathing biohazards”? Well, I probably should have held onto that title for trubbishes, everyone’s favorite literal living, breathing biohazards. As much as it may sadden those who, like myself, see a little charm in these little stinky monsters, keeping a trubbish as a pet would be a truly disastrous idea.

I always thought that trubbishes were simply creatures that resembled trash bags. My dismay at discovering how wrong I was hit me about as hard as the stink of walking within twelve feet of one of these pokémon. Trubbishes are, in fact, literally trash bags which have been given life through the power of toxic industrial waste (White, Shield). Are they radioactive? Maybe. It probably depends on the individual. I can tell you this much, though: anything that has been in contact with toxic waste powerful enough to create life is not something to cuddle. Goodness gracious, please do not cuddle a trubbish!

Trubbishes feed on garbage, which on first examination may be a great thing (Black2/White2, Moon). However, much like in the case of Alolan grimers, trubbishes don’t eliminate trash without creating a dangerous byproduct: as a result of consuming garbage, trubbishes generate a toxic gas that they release into the air by belching (Black, Moon). This gas, if inhaled, is enough to send an adult into a week-long coma (Black) requiring a hospital visit (Moon). If inhaled by a young person or pokémon, however, this gas can be lethal (Ultra Moon). It is not a good idea to bring a trubbish into an enclosed, indoor space.

Sure, if you keep your trubbish outdoors and avoid breathing in this gas, you may be able to avoid being sent into a coma by spending time with your little buddy. There’s an unfortunate side effect to keeping a trubbish outdoors too: the stench of their gas attracts other poisonous and toxic pokémon. In the Alola region, trubbishes are known to attract the deadly Alolan variants of grimer and muk (Sun, Ultra Sun), while in Galar their gas attract the region’s variant of weezing (Shield). If a trubbish alone isn’t poisonous enough, they’re likely to attract other poisonous pokémon in your area right to your home. Outdoors or indoors, trubbishes are a lose-lose situation.

They may not be a particularly violent species, but trubbishes can be pretty formidable if they need to attack. They have a truly startling barrage of moves that can induce poisoning, both through physical contact with toxic materials with moves like Toxic Spikes or Gunk Shot and through the inhalation of poison gas with moves like Belch. Again, like I said, living, breathing biohazard.

Look, I know trubbishes are kinda cute, in their own trash-goblin way. They’re really friendly with humans too, as they have adapted the instinct to know that we are the best sources of their food around (Black2/White2). Unfortunately, they are simply too dangerous for anyone to keep as a pet, unless you’re willing to live your life in a hazmat suit while putting all of your neighbors at risk. All of this analysis is pretty mute though, for one reason: I think a lot of people won’t want a trubbish as a pet because they are stinky. Very stinky. You won’t be a very popular person if you share your home with a sentient trash bag.

[bunneclair]

I have something for you guys ….

here are my redesigns of the four known 7 deadly sins from the hellaverse! I’ll go in order explaining.

Here’s Lucifer — the adjustments I made were primarily to his hair and smaller features, such as giving him goat eyes, a snake themed cane, and pulling more classical and biblical inspiration forward. I love a lot of the artistic liberties in the Hellaverse designs but I do think that him being a curly-redhead is a pretty important thing that I hated to see left out of his design. I also gave him hooves and claws because I felt like he was a bit too human compared to the other sins, and wanted to make him stand out a bit more!

Next is Asmodeus! My main focus was to make it more evident which sin he represented — while I love Ozzie’s design, I felt like his color palette could be slightly more representing of the sin of lust, so I shifted toward warmer toned colors such as red and purple, while sacrificing the green and blue. I wanted to bring across more gender-fluidity since lust is something I think it is important to represent through various gendered lenses and so I went for the whole upper-half masculine lower-half feminine thing that you see here with a vest+button up and a long slit skirt! I also wanted to show more heart motifs that appear to be evident in ironically all of lust and its inhabitants besides Ozzie most of the time, and so I curved his tail and head feathers in a way that made heart shapes, and I placed Bull and Ram in a way where they’re more visible and stand out more so as their own little entities since it’s implied they’re separately sentient.

My girl Beelzebub! I LOVE her design, but I do feel like it leans heavier toward hellhound (and fox somewhat) and not enough toward her insect features, so I gave her Bee stripes as well as putting more emphasis and effort into her wings. I kept the multicolored lava lamp hair and belly but made an extra effort to highlight the gold in it to emphasize the honey/bee theme, while also placing this texture in other places such as her paws and inner-ears. I also gave her a honeycomb crown, and more loose-fitting flowy clothing to display her fun and laid-back nature, while referencing her bee themes again by adding a yellow gradient meant to mimic pollen that gets stuck on bees during their pollination process. I also gave her the funky bug eyes :) anddd sorry but I took away the mohawk, it just felt too cluttered for me to draw among other things.

Here’s Mammon! I may be biased but I love his design so much already that it was difficult to change a whole lot. However, I did find things that I wanted to change. For one, you may notice there are hat and no-hat versions of Mammon here, and that’s because I wanted to display the broken imp-like horns I gave him. In biblical mythology, Mammon often disguised himself as someone who was poor or in need so that he would be able to garner profit from pity, and I think that there is no better way to represent that than ripping off his favorite little brand-baby. I edited a lot of the black in his color palette to be gold instead, as well as adding gold to the fingertips of his gloves as a reference to Midas’ touch. I gave him more of a spider-like appearance since according to a lot of the fandom his species is fairly ambiguous, and I made his shirt (or whatever you call that lol) a bit shorter and less cluttered because I often struggled with drawing it. I also attempted to adjust his proportions a bit as I feel like the designs for the fat characters in Helluva and Hazbin often struggle a bit with proportions and it feels important to me to better represent them.

That’s all I got, but I also created my own takes on the sins that haven’t been revealed yet, which may end up being one of my next posts! I’m doing my best to stay active in the art community and this media has given me some motivation and fuel. Any input is welcome as long as we stay positive ❤️

Reminder as well that my commissions are very open!

[consumeroflemoans]

THE IPC AZUL POST

The World

Azul grew up on a planet that is very Subnautica-esque. The majority of the planet is very deep ocean with some spots closer to the surface being reefs, kelp forests, and other more diverse biomes. There are a couple islands that have mostly foliage and smaller amphibious animals populating it. There is quite a bit of volcanic activity in these areas, which typically causes these island and shallower areas.

Due to the very small amount of land, most sentient life has developed underwater. There are three main types of merfolk.

Amphibious and crustacean merfolk that live in the shallows around the few islands

Your typical fish merfolk that live in the deeper shallows in the reefs/kelp

Abyssal merfolk that live in the deep ocean

Becoming a Pathstrider

Azul is an abyssal mer. They’re often very reclusive and tend to be loners. He lived with his mother for a short time until getting could fend for himself and then she died, as octopus moms tend to do.

Azul wandered after that, occasionally facing and fleeing the creatures of the depths. He constantly learned and scavenged what he could and became quite good at making tools with his hands and learning what things underwater can help heal and hurt other beings.

Eventually he stumbled on an upwards slope, leading to one of the shallows. He continued to travel and soon encountered other merfolk, who often treated him like a freak and drove him away for being from the abyss. All they know about the depths is that there are deadly predators down there and very rarely do mers that venture out come back. Something coming from there cannot be a good thing.

It was only when Azul encountered a pair of twin eel merfolk, a pair that tend to trick, extort, and scavenge off other mers for food or information. They’d heard whispers of the strange mer that had been traveling and wanted to check him out. Azul initially was suspicious, but the twins weren’t fearful of the abyss like others. If anything they thought it would be fun to fight something down there.

The three became a group and continued about their business terrorizing the local merfolk. They began spreading rumors that Azul had special abyssal magic. This often resulted in others just handing over their belongings or food in fear of being cursed.

That was until one particularly wealthy mer sought them out. They pleaded for Azul’s magic to help save someone’s life close to them from a disease and offered a permanent and safe place to live in exchange. He reluctantly agreed and now had the dilemma of actually finding a cure.

Luckily he did remember a small plant in the depths that he had previously used to cure one of his illnesses. He found it in the hopes it could help and did successfully cure the other mer.

After that, he set up shop in the place he was given. He continued his deals, often extorting as much as he could gather out of any potential customer. They were both benefitting, so why did it matter?

Eventually, those powers he pretended to have became a reality. The Harmony recognized his mutually beneficial deals and decided to bless him, allowing him to create his signature contracts.

Becoming a Stoneheart

The IPC in its constant quest stumbled upon Azul’s world. It had been largely untouched by anyone on the outside, so they took it as free real estate. They descended into the ocean, taking the chance to speak with the recognized sentient species. They proposed deals with the local rulers as usual, but also quickly learned of Azul’s prestige.

The leading Stoneheart, who happened to be Jade, took interest in him. So also runs a shop based on mutual exchange and is always open to a business deal. She traveled to Azul and explained the situation with the IPC and her interest with him. She offered him a deal: she would allow him to operate one of her Bonajade branches on another planet. If he managed to double the profits, she would take him under her wing and give him the chance to become one of the Stonehearts if he continued to improve. Azul agreed with the only conditions being Floyd and Jade had to come and she would have to provide a way for them to survive on land.

Jade, of course, took no time to find a solution for that problem. A simple potion that would temporarily allow them to turn human. It would keep the trio in her debt even if she succeeded, considering she was the only one that could supply them.

Azul’s talents shone at his new position and he quickly turned the required profit for Jade. Due to his skills and her guidance, he rose through the ranks of the IPC. After all of that, he was suggested and approved to join the elite group of Stonehearts.

Azul doesn’t care much about what happened to his planet or any of the other planets he helps the IPC aquire. He only cares what happens to him and the twins. They’re constant shadows behind his money making talents, acting as his partners in crime.

————

As usual I would love other people’s opinions or ideas on Azul and his rise to capitalistic glory. A lot of this is very rough ideas, so it’s always open to changing!

I’ll probably post about him more so any info will be on the #IPC Azul tag

[asmodeus-reincarnated]

Dr Introduction:

Helluva Boss!

Who are you?: Asmodeus; Deadly Sin of Lust

What do you look like?: Very hard to explain. Take my pfp and give it Ozzie’s key features. Blue skin and all. As cool and fly as Oz looks…I can’t look at that in the mirror everyday. If I could draw…if only…I would show you exactly how I look (I still have ram and bull! They’re sentient earrings)

Did you script out the story as we know it?: Not entirely. A lot of my reality difference from the reality you watch on YouTube is that the sins interact more in casual terms and are siblings, and that they have more access to the human world and it’s perks (as long as everyone is in human form). I also went ahead and merged Hazbin in there because why wouldn’t I? I’m kicking Val’s whole ass. Thanks.

Exra detail on us Sins. Age! In order

Lucifer

Satan

Leviathan

Bee

Me

Mammon

Belphy

Do you have a Fizz?: OFC! This reality does not have ST’s with his likeness, though. I’d rather die than do that. 💙 and yes I kept his disabilities! Burn scars and quad amputee. I still love him 🫵🏽 (his prosthetics are gonna be so cool to see in real time. Like…I MADE THOSE 😎🤪)

Songs that remind me of this reality?:

You can ask regular questions or questions you want me to answer as my dr self!

[an-artsy-planetary-black-hole]

Welp, guess I should put my sona’s detailed reference in first! Woe be you if you happen to be another planet other than Pip when Pinn is walking about!

The lineart can also be another line colour but white on black just works here for me. (especially for Pinn)

Anyway sona lore and extra tidbits below the cut! I cannot keep this to myself I must share!!!!! >:3

Extra stuff:

Pip (planet) and Pinn (black hole) share a body, which aside from Pinn being the taller, thinner and moodier black hole and Pip being the tinier, dainty, energetic lil’ ringed planet, are the same in terms of general qualities - they are somewhat physical in body, but made with energy. Their heads are both what you expect a planet and a black hole to be, taking away their deadliness factor normally as non-sentient things, that is.

Only one of them can host the single ‘body’ they share at a time. (the other stays in their head until it’s the other way around) While there isn’t a (stable) in-between stage, both of them can communicate with each other seamlessly in their collective heads. They do not mind this arrangement unless they’re arguing with each other, which is surprisingly rare.

Their collective abilities include summoning objects, teleportation, phasing through things temporarily, melting into a liquid at will, and eating things normal people can’t eat without problems. (eg. other planets that piss you off… looking at you, Pinn.)

However, both of them have abilities that the other doesn’t have - Pinn has jagged, icy-blue claws that can be ‘retracted’ (aka turn invisible and non-physical at the same time) at will, has some wicked strong jaws and body, has a third eye to look in a different direction to the main pair, and xey are supernaturally tolerant to the cold. Meanwhile, Pip has superb speedy reflexes, a higher jump, able to turn his head around all around non-stop, and she is able to run at the speed of light.

Some LORE!!!!

It is not known where they exactly both came from, only that they came from somewhere in a paradoxical place where time repeats every now and then in a strange pattern and space is fractured like tiny multiverses.

Any attempt to find this place has only ended in failure, yet apparently Pip/Pinn can get there without trouble. Any friendly attempt from both (though Pinn is more reluctant to do so) has them accidentally leaving behind their intended warp-ees.

Whatever it might be, both wander the universe, or perhaps even multiverse, never really stopping for long anywhere, yet always managing to return at some point. While something Pip sometimes suggests can get concerningly unusual, Pip is driven to make friends with as many sentient and sapient beings as possible. Pinn, on the other hand, just wants to see as much as they can possibly see.

It is not known how long they live, but they sure do love living! Pip is just with a bit more enthusiasm and Pinn is more mature about it. Whatever the case, they’re here and they love the mundane.

[mant1s-6591]

Remake of my mk oc bio: Kaemon

Kaemon is an Outworld rogue that had his ppl enslaved by Shao Khan. He was one of the few who escaped, and is to be executed if caught by Shao Kahn’s forces. 

He was born in the Yunmmel prairie, guarded by the Aluuii, which is a sentient colonial plant species with the goal to maintain balance within the ecosystem. After the Yunmmel’s capture, part of the Aluuii followed him and actually saved him from being captured multiple times.

He was granted enhanced immunity and the power to control the Aluuii to his will. But in return, he must feed them by murdering ppl and leaving their bodies to be consumed.

Soon he developed cannibalistic tendencies,   And began eating those who wronged him or hurt others.

The Aluuii’s health and strength also resides on Kaemon’s health—mental or physical. His immune system weakens exponentially without them, and his body would succumb to all the diseases and infections the Aluuii help him fight off.

I haven’t really worked on altering his character for each timeline so for now he’s js a cunt in every timeline💔

Ofc there has to be changes in Mk1 bc because Shao is only a general in that timeline, but for now the Yunmmel prairie was burnt down or smth idk.

He debuted in deadly alliance as an anti hero, and spaned from deadly alliance-mkx. He did make a return in mk1 though(again he’s not any different cus ion feel like making a whole new backstory for him)

Likes—Sleeping, making friends, bontany, doodling, reading, sunny days, the concept of death, baking, optimism(crazy coming from a cannibal), spring, Li Mei, Nitara, Cyrax, and Smoke

Dislikes—Shao Khan, Mileena, colonization, genocide, the Lin Kuei(has never seen the clan in person, js thinks they’re pretentious and over glorified), Smoke, the concept of money and social classes, the concept of death, being called a “hippie”(Johnny cage has called him that before), and anyone who’s a Shao Kahn bootlicker

[nyxicnymph]

Le Triton

Chapter 1

Wriothesley did not often feel eyes upon him when he stepped into the depths of the Fortress of Meropide. This, he knew, was thanks to the thick metal walls and the gallons upon gallons of water that surrounded the Fortress.

Gallons of seawater that were slowly becoming more and more deadly to him and his people.

But it seems, despite what one would pass off as common sense, there are things in Teyvat that just… defy common sense.

Such as the gaze Wriothesley felt when he is en route to check on the Wingalet. Finally, this bothered him enough to carefully trace his path back and forth, to try and pinpoint where he is being watched from.

He noticed that it’s the only place with windows in the entire Fortress that lent him to the mysterious gaze. Windows that look out directly to the seafloor.

This was becoming migraine worthy.

So, Wriothesley retreated to his office, to mull it over. Sure, there are animals in the water. But he doesn’t often notice the gaze of an animal. A mecha wouldn’t give him that same, spine-tingling feeling, either. It has to be something sentient, he concluded. But what?

He thought of the Fatui. He did ferret them all out of the Fortress, but if they’re that determined to infiltrate, perhaps they’re scoping out the glass on that lower level.

Besides, he remembered that the first time he noticed this gaze, he had been taking a short swim around the Fortress. That had to be the connection.

He’d have gone and investigated the area, but he needed to check the levels of the Primordial Seawater before he decided to go for another dip in the sea. Otherwise, he might end up faring worse than he did before. A little flushing of the skin could very well turn into full on dissolving if he wasn’t careful.

But when Wriothesley checked the levels, he found that they’d lowered some since the last time he checked. His eyebrows lowered in confusion and he turned away, and fiddled with something else for a few minutes, and came back. The readings were still lower than he expected.

There’s no explanation.

He was really confused.

.

.

.

It took a few weeks, but he finally was able to get far enough ahead in his work to take a day off. He left the Fortress, something that Miss Sigewinne, frankly, viewed as a miracle, and he headed to the Palais Mermonia. Mostly because he didn’t exactly know where the Library would be, but he was certain that someone there would know.

But as it turned out, the Library was located in the Palais. Now, all he needed to do was… figure out exactly what he was looking for.

He didn’t exactly plan his research ahead of time. All he had to go off of was… well, mysterious underwater gazes. Maybe to see if there is anything that… lives in the sea? Beyond the usual animals. Something else.

Unfortunately, with so little to go off of, there wasn't a lot of research he could really do, other than looking into common myths about the sea and the creatures.

There still wasn't a whole lot to go off of, just general uneasiness, or a feeling of being watched when in the depths. But he found some books to read anyway, and settled into a chair for a while.

As Wriothesley had suspected, most of the book was filled with older, debunked myths, things that were explained by the crabs, the stingrays, or even just mischievous Hydro Phantasms acting up. But here and there, were little snippets of divers feeling a strange gaze upon them, unnerving them so much that they would surface and avoid the area they had encountered that gaze. Some reported a long, dark shadow slipping away, and others reported encountering strange structures, structures that weren’t natural, but that none of the known creatures in the lake could have possibly done.

So there was definitely something in the water. Wriothesley scrounged around for a map of the underwater side of the nation, and using his finger and a few small items he kept on his person, he marked a few spots mentioned in the stories he was reading. 

As far as Wriothesley can tell, most of the incidents were in a relatively large area, but there were some more concentric spots he noted. Whatever was in there, first of all, didn’t seem to have intent to harm, secondly, seemed to maybe patrol around the lake, and thirdly… might have a home near the Fortress.

Wriothesley looked at his makeshift tracking map. Then he reached for the book again, rereading the part of the strange structures. Not described like houses or any kind of shelter, just “structures”. If the author had left some illustrations, maybe Wriothesley would have a clearer idea of what these “structures” were.

Eventually, Wriothesley wrapped up his research, keeping some notes on the topic, though nothing very coherent to anyone outside of Wriothesley’s mind. Then, he took his leave, nodding at the melusine at the desk as he did so.

Back in his office in the Fortress, Wriothesley took a map of his own, and tried to replot the points from earlier. When he deemed it close enough, he set it aside, and went to go check the Primordial Seawater levels.

The Levels, as he was expecting this time, still lower than his predictions. So, he prepared himself for a dive.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much of any easy entrances to get into the waters around the Fortress, all by design, obviously, but it still could be frustrating to have to go all the way up to the surface just to get into the water.

Still, as Wriothesley took a breath and dove into the sea, he couldn’t help but feel a thrill of anticipation. What would he find? Some mundane explanation? Or maybe… Something less easily explained?

[proudfreakmetarusonikku]

honestly like I think going after people who use AI for hobbyist fun reasons is kind of missing the forest for the trees. while obviously there’s environmental issues and the inherent ethical issues (and I’m not even talking the content scraping by itself here, i also like don’t really give a shit if someone’s using my art for hobbyist fun as long as they’re not passing it off as their own it's obviously not great but if no one’s making money or anything off it and they’re not pretending they made it it’s relatively harmless- i'm talking about stuff like it’s ability to generate inappropriate content of actual irl kids) those again are like, mostly not coming from people using character.ai, which isn’t to say there’s no issues with the site (i heard it added voice shit and that’s a fucking nightmare this is not a defence of them) but going after chatbots isn’t really efficient when the issue is mass commercial scale usage of ai (which is the main environmental impact) which is extremely dangerous even outside of that bc ai is literally a pattern recognition machine and doesn’t know shit it cannot have initiative which means it does stuff like creative jobs really badly (bc it can generate a pretty image but that’s the least important part of stuff like advertising, which has tons of psychology behind it the ai cannot grasp) and the second it's giving any sort of advice or help it’s downright dangerous, from ai therapists encouraging eating disorders to ai plant guides encouraging eating extremely deadly mushrooms, bc it’s not sentient let alone sapient and can’t know shit. and also the child exploitation. like kids using character.ai are like the least of our problems and not actively being malicious give them actual support to find a better option and save your anger for people actually putting others in danger deliberately bc directing it at children is not going to actually help with any of the serious problems machine learning being used like it’s the next coming of Christ cause.