#I love the form in the picture

[howabhwmwn]

real quick sketch of my favourite picture of jbanks

[technically-human]

Ooh, now that we’ve seen N!Edwin and DP!Edwin talk about Feelings could we see the same with N!Charles and DP!Charles?

As simple as that.

Edwins version

ko-fi

[randomaltgayperson]

Alright so I'm not saying anything happened in the Honda Odyssey.

However. I am saying that whatever did happen, Logan won.

Wade was getting his ass kicked the whole time. He got a few good shots on Wolverine but for the most part, he wasn't winning at all lmao. At the end of it, he was completely tied up like?? "I'm going to fight you now" yeah and badly motherfucker, damn

Reminds me of that one Modern Family episode

[bonefall]

Hey, what makes a character a 'plot device but not a character'? And how do you not do that? I'm trying to do it on purpose but also I need to still make them interesting because it's on purpose, yknow?

A good skill to pick up is to learn to criticise criticism itself. A "plot device" is simply a thing that moves the plot along, it's a neutral literary analysis term! Usually, when people are angry that "a character has been used as a plot device," it doesn't mean they hate plot devices. It means they're gesturing at something deeper.

Runningwind and Bumble are equally plot devices in their deaths. They are both killed by the antagonist to escalate political tension. Runningwind is rarely "accused" of just being a plot device, and yet, we're talking about Bumble for the same thing.

So, why?

Well, Runningwind is just a background character, but in life, he was a part of the community. He was characterized as impatient but responsible. Yet, he wasn't SO important that he died with a bunch of unresolved plot threads.

He is mostly an extension of the entity of ThunderClan. His killing by Tigerstar, and the fear and paranoia that settles on the group after this, feel like a progression of the story insteas of something forced.

Bumble, on the other hand...

Is hated immediately by Gray Wing, when she's established as Turtle Tail's friend. Bumble's abuse at Tom the Wifebeater's hands invites even MORE investment. The rejection is shocking and upsetting. There's a story there about our main characters being imperfect; jealous, bigoted, and judgemental.

But, she is simply killed off. Everything they set up for this character is gone with little personalized fanfare. It's not a tragedy with a lesson about cruelty, or something anyone regrets.

It's just... plot. Gray Wing whinging that no one will like his shitty brother now that his body count is 2.

More than that, in the discussion of women in particular, "Fridging" was coined to give a name to the way women characters often don't get their stories told at all. There is a CULTURAL trend of female characters facing disproportionate violence, for the sake of advancing male plots.

Bumble has a lot going for her. Petal had a lot going for her. Turtle Tail had a lot going for her. Bright Stream had a lot going for her. When they died, they took their potential with them.

It's not always wrong to kill off a character of high potential, mind you. In Gurren Lagann, Kamina's death is sudden and shocking, leaving a massive hole in the hearts of the cast that never heals. Grappling with that loss, but also letting his memory fuel them, is a major theme of that story.

All that to say... there's no formula for avoiding it. You've gotta identify what the deeper issue is, in your specific narrative.

I can't say for certain what that will look like for your story, but here's some things I keep in mind;

When you make characters who exist to die, make sure they're people before you axe them.

Ask yourself; what about them does the cast miss?

If they just miss them because they were (pre-existing relationship), go back to the drawing board.

Fluttering Bird as an example. Who was she? Dead sister. Why do they miss her? Dead sister. No traits until after her death.

Runningwind was short-tempered and helpful. Kamina was a valuable leader who made people believe in a brighter future. Swiftpaw was fiesty and desperate to prove himself. The better characterized, the more profound the loss usually is.

If this is a female character who is dying just to serve the plot, be aware of cultural bias and tropes. How is the gender ratio looking in your cast? Is this happening disproportionately with your girls?

Note how Quiet Rain's litter had both a boy and a girl, but the girl was chosen to be "weaker" and wither away.

And how most of the time in DOTC, whenever a man had to be upset, a girl would get killed for it.

If you ever feel like the character on the chopping block is NOT a full character, ask yourself why it needs to be a character at all. You don't need to spend narrative time building out someone when a literal object of high value might suffice.

"My sister died when I swore to protect her and I can't face my family" = Old. Tired. Ive seen this.

"I lost my heirloom sword when I swore to protect it and I can't face my family." = Fascinating. Why was the sword so valuable? Will they really not take you back? How did you lose it?

When you do kill off "high value" characters, try to make sure you're not leaving too many plot threads hanging. Or at least make a point of how they will never get closure.

[thatoneneuvichiliauthor]

Let me share the latest idea I’ve been obsessing about: A vaguely Greek mythology-inspired Aventio AU where Ratio, prince of Amphoreus, has come of age and, is supposed to get married, according to the laws and customs of his city. Except he’d rather focus on the greater purpose of curing the world from ignorance, starting with his own people, than waste his time courting some egoistical royal he couldn’t care less about. So he comes up with the oldest trick in the book to escape this meaningless duty without causing an uproar: Setting up open to all (but secretly impossible to complete) tasks that his future spouse will have to overcome if they wish to prove themselves worthy of his hand. Not that Ratio expects anyone to succeed, and for several years, his ruse works just fine, which gives him plenty of time to further his studies and become a well-versed scholar. Many suitors try to outwit him, but none can even pass through the first trial.

Then enters Aventurine.

His participation alone provokes outrage. Appalled whispers fill the streets. How dare a Sigonian barbarian, a former slave, believe himself good enough to marry the noble and esteemed prince of Amphoreus? Does he have no shame, parading around the city in grotesquely eye-catching clothes, as if he has already won?

As soon as it reaches their ears, Ratio’s advisors suggest he bans Aventurine from the competition, which he refuses just as fast. The rules he created state that anyone can participate, regardless of their birthright or education, and that is final.

So Aventurine undergoes the trials and solves all of Ratio’s perfectly crafted puzzles and enigmas, though in rather unconventional ways their creator never even considered (think cutting the Gordian knot in half instead of untangling it).

Still, when he kneels in front of Ratio as they are introduced, he fully expects the prince to accuse him of cheating as an excuse to call the marriage off. Not that he minds. It’s all part of his plan, after all. He needs Ratio’s assistance to fulfill the latest mission assigned to him by the IPC, and what better way to catch his attention and flaunt his insane luck than by beating him at his own game? Besides, he knew from the start a future king would never stoop as low as to wed a former slave.

However, what happens next is the one possibility the Stoneheart didn’t account for:

Prince Ratio doesn’t go back on his word.

How could he, when he has oh so unexpectedly found his match, when their qualities and faults balance each other out so perfectly? The crowd might attribute Aventurine’s victory to deceit or divine luck, but he can tell honed skills, shrewdness and street smarts were the real actors at play. While hearsay claims that he only respected his part of the deal out of integrity and virtuousness, perhaps even pity, his heart tells another story.

With such a sharp-witted, and dare he say it, charming fiancé challenging his worldview, well…

Suddenly, the prospect of betrothal doesn’t seem so ludicrous anymore.

And that is how, to everyone’s surprise, including his own, Aventurine accidentally gets engaged to a secretly smitten prince. (He soon learns to love it. And the citizens of Amphoreus, not to badmouth him or his origins ever again, unless they want to have chalks thrown at them by their very pissed monarch)

[junebugtwin]

haven't posted that much worm art recently- been in a bit of a slump- so here! Lung vs one of Rachels dogs, nebulously taking place when Taylor first meets the undersiders.

not my most polished peice but I was more focused on having fun with the shading, drawing cool monsters, and hurting my hands (as always)

[panthermouthh]

A Cornstalk Fiddle

(Part 1/?)

And here they are! The first three pages of a fan comic, based on @notbecauseofvictories brain altering fic 'A Cornstalk Fiddle'. Read more below if you're interested in where this comic came from and where it’s going :))

I've continuously returned to notbecauseofvictories’s writing over the years— if I ever feel lost in my own story telling when it comes to comics, poems or prose, notbecauseofvictories is one of those authour's whose work always reignites a creative spark in me, and I just wanted to make my own tribute to one of my favourite stories <33

I've had this all visually planned out in the back of my mind for a year now, and finally drafted the storyboards this summer. I can’t promise a timeline of when the next pages will be posted, hopefully over the next few months, but I’m planning on doing this whole scene and it should come to about ten. I hope you guys enjoy them and tell me what you think!

[nekrosmos]

There was a game on twitter for drawing your dark urge's slayer form so here is Spine's <3 It doesn't bite I swear

[eighthwholove]

Eight & Grace+ Outside of the TARDIS.

[ot3heaven]

whatever this type of character is,

i want twenty of them.

[mushed-kid]

i made a drawing :D im really happy with it! it’s allura but i gave her normal clothes!!!

under the cut there’s some close ups

here’s her face :D

and here’s her shirt, i’m very happy with how it turned out. also her hands i like them. beautiful, my absolute fav part of this drawing:

and here’s her pants with embroidery that she did herself :D yay girlie

[crypphic]

Catradora family photo sketch commission for @dorilefish! Including my fankid Mara on the far right! They want to be just like Mama She-Ra.

[wiihtigo]

these frauds

[pixelatedraindrops]

Yuma Month: Day 14: Home

Surrounded by warmth…

Home is where the Heart is ❤️

[yamham154]

reposting my sonadow fankid cuz i redesigned them!!

uhh their name is sterling the hedgehog and they’re just a silly little creachure……

also extra comic thingy i ended up making

[moonfromearth]

Larry Hudson and Countess Flores for @thebramblewood's Vampire Casting Call!!

Finally got to make some sims for this yaaaay!! 🥳 I had so much fun making each of them. Larry was very much a grungy 80s vibe because I've been waiting to use this hair forever, and Lady Flores is done up in 1900s fashion which was pretty cool to put together 😊

Anyway, here are two near opposite sims that hopefully fit into wherever their presence is needed 😉

Little Note: Larry has two everyday outfits in his human and vampire forms and Lady Flores has one. The rest are empty! (I wanted to use a lot of cc lol 😆)

Larry Hudson

Age: Young Adult Pronouns: He/Him Sexuality: Pansexual Aspiration: Party Animal Traits: Music Lover, Party Animal, Slob Backstory: Larry is always the life of the party, spending his life and afterlife on a mission to find the coolest parties and bands. Turned at a random concert in the 80s, Larry's still stuck in his time period, with a retro aesthetic that keeps him "in style." He never saw the vampire that turned him after their one meeting, but maybe someday their paths will cross again.

Countess Maria Francisca Flores

Age: Adult Pronouns: She/Her Sexuality: Straight Aspiration: Vampire Family Traits: Family-Oriented, Genius, Bookworm Backstory: Born in the late 1850s to the Count and Countess Flores, Lady Flores was known for her wits and love of books. Taking an interest in the sciences early on, she would often talk to visitors of her fathers, many specializing in one form of science or another, and gained a variety of knowledge as a result. Eventually this interest in science evolved into an interest in the supernatural, and by the 1900s she'd figured out how to turn herself into a vampire. At some point, when her family and friends eventually passed on, Lady Flores moved to the secluded area of Forgotten Hollow, where she could continue her research as well as pursue another interest. Establishing the House Flores, where she would take in fledgling vampires as well as ones she'd turned herself in order to teach them about their eternal state of life (such as Matias Gonzalez 😉). In the present day she's raised hundreds of vampires now living in the sim world, all while continuing her scientific research, currently studying a variety of cowplants in her greenhouse lab.

Download [Google Drive]