#Shadow Barney

[realrehaan]

Roblox Guest is in shadow mode!

[shmorp-mcdurgen]

Figured i'd start actually. slowly reintroducing the new monster au turned oc project by first posting the new character names!

Mark -> Markus Adrianne Addams (Mark/Chris) Cesar -> Martin Garcia Sarah -> Amber Addams (Ace) Thatcher -> Jackson Hyde (Jack) Ruth -> Mabel Palmer Dave -> Barney Holmes Evelin -> Olivia Davis (Liv) Jonah -> Aaron Jones (AJ)

Another thing I wanted to introduce, this universe from now on will be referred to as Whispers of Willows!

[ancapsass]

Redesigns r cool right?

Shout out to @tar-dar for the inspiration to give barney from half-life a S.T.A.L.K.E.R design, personally went with the bandits because they need more representation and because I fw the bandits.

Ummm yeah

#peakcharacteedesign

Idk what else

[flock-of-cassowaries]

I gotta give Hannibal Lecter credit, I have never for a second entertained the possibility that he would discard Will Graham in the case of a disfiguring cliff-related injury.

Hannibal Lecter - 1, Barnabas Collins - zero -10

[headcrabrangoon]

Heddy deserves to make all the friends. I'm so happy for them!

They really do deserve their friends <3 It's that kind of support that keeps them going when they're feeling down or insecure.

~ HEDDY RANGOON PHOTO ALBUM ~

Alyx, having known Lamarr for most of the creature's life and has never been shy around her, is one of precious few who knows juuust the right spots for skritches.

Even FEWER people will appreciate being hugged around the head and neck area with those long claws. Kleiner and Eli, thankfully, trust him as family.

He's happy to let newer friends take things at their own pace to be comfortable around him.

...and to discover new applications for their skillset with old friends.

[consumedshadow-mysticmc]

Barney is a Vampire, from your nightly imagination, ABCs and Bloody Knees will always be his friends.

[takunwilliams]

BARNEY 2023

[tawneybel]

HAPPY SATURDAY THE 14TH

Catching up with 2022 movies so I can rank ‘em. (2021 list.) This week I watched Smile and Halloween Ends. Next couple weeks I’m gonna try to check out Men and Barbarian. 

Gearing up for the Year of the Rabbit. So many characters are going to be drawn in Playboy bunny suits. Male characters, because this is 2023. Excellent. :P

Also, just lagomorph stuff in general. Rabbit-themed anything is great. Alice in Wonderland, the Birthday Massacre, Decemberunderground...

New Year’s resolution is to improve my Spanish. Last year I wanted to relearn Latin, but 1.) Almost nobody speaks it. 2.) Church Latin is more popular than Classical Latin. I graduated from a public high school so we learned the latter’s pronunciation. Provincia is pronounced “pro-win-kee-ah.” 

One of my besties suggested buddy reading. So after I catch up with Throne of Glass, we’ll start on The Cruel Prince. Then maybe Shadow and Bone, because I want to reread that trilogy. 

The holidays were pretty good. A Kit-Cat Klock is finally in my possession. I look atrocious in bright red, so I wore red violet and green instead. Like a goth Baby Bop. 

And my phone case finally disintegrated on Christmas Day. So I ordered a new one with a griffin on it. :D Originally I looked for a Carrollian (or TennielIian) one, with him and/or the Mock Turtle, but this is just as good. 

Song of the day: “Last Time by Moonlight” by Enya. 

[mariocki]

Un témoin dans la ville (Witness in the City, 1959)

"I'll yell. I'll yell for help. The neighbours will come."

"The rich don't have neighbours, Mr. Verdier. Just trees surrounding their homes."

[infectioustomfoolery]

HALF LIFE HEADCANONS

(feat my man kade)

For all intents and purposes, this is for fun and any time period mishaps should be ignored. Part two eventually.

Gordon Freeman

- 5’10”, green eyes and slutty little waist, he/him, autistic, dumb little ponytail.

- So white. So very very white.

- Makes absolutely no facial expressions ever.

- Talks exclusively through sign language, but even then sparingly.

- Got a major staring problem.

- Probably trans idfk.

- He’s definitely gay or aroace.

- He has no idea he’s autistic, gay, or in love with Barney.

- He has PTSD and because of that he’s a prick to the Vortigaunts.

- Hopelessly addicted to morphine

- Anger issues but no one can tell

- Everyone in Black Mesa wants to fuck him silly.

- Derealization issues

- Really does NOT fw Alyx

- Regularly keeps up with Aperture Science

- Chell’s brother

- “I’m not gay, Barney.”

- He is. He so is.

- Definitely thinks Barney is a sexy beast in the combine uniform

- Plays DND and likes Star Trek

Barney Calhoun

- 5’6”, he/him, spectral heterochromia

- Gay and knows it

- Probably trans too fuck if I know

- Fluffy hair, permanent 5 o’clock shadow. He’s so goddamn hairy.

- If he doesn’t pluck his eyebrows, he’ll grow a unibrow

- Dadbod

- Alcoholic

- Literally never shuts up

- Every single guard in Half Life 1 is Barney. They’re all Barney. Always have been.

- The Blue Shift Barney is “our” Barney, though. I like to think he retained all the other Barney’s memories.

- Frat boy in college. He told them he liked football and now he has to pretend

- Poses infront of the mirror everytime he has a uniform on

- Understands Gordon Freeman perfectly literally no matter what

- He got a fucked up leg from the elevator crash.

- Cries over Gordon at least once a day

- Really hates all the Half Life 1 scientists. They’re douches.

- Gun enthusiast

- Likes conspiracy theories

- Lauren doesn’t exist, she never existed. He’s just a fat liar.

- Listens to Mitski

- Beefs with Adrian because Adrian thinks its funny but really does not care

- Southern as Hell

Adrian Shephard

1.) She’s a FEMALE

2.) She’s not a BOY

3.) and most importantly, She’s a GIRL!

- 6’5”, blue eyes, she/him (she has a preference for she but Does Not Care.)

- Butch lesbian

- Was in the military with Soldier from TF2. She played along with his antics and sort of “trained” under him.

- white, but very tan

- She gets hurt a lot

- Laughs obnoxiously loud

- Wears boxers

- Blonde, either a crewcut or mullet situation

- Probably has an eyebrow slit, but in a scar way not in a gay way

- Speaking of which she is COVERED in scars and bullet wounds

- Also freckles why not

- Very high pain/spice tolerance

- Fucking LOVES nascar (poor and stupid)

- Was able to make it into the military because when she was filling out the papers she wrote "yes" next to sex and the government just thought he was a normal amount of US Marine stupid

- Colette and Gina saw her from across the bar, and they really dig her vibe

- Her mask makes her sound really grovely and awesome (see: https://youtu.be/Fr8Jxm65EC8?si=5WvOpXfQerjM7G79 )

- She beefs with Barney

- Gets a kick out of annoying Gordon Freeman to death

- Probably makes thirst traps on TikTok

- Has really good abs

- Scout’s older sister

- So she’s from Boston

[meowder]

I wish I could experience the horror of being a Half life fan who has not seen HLVRAI(I got into Half Life because of HLVRAI) and looking at the Half Life tag and every now and then you see some are of Gordon Freeman and Barney but spelled as Gordon FEETMAN and Benry because somebody tagged HLVRAI art with the Half Life tag AND YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE UTTER CONFUSION AND DISMAY

Like "WHY THE HELL DOES BARNEY HAVE A SHADOW OVER HIS EYES AND WHY DOES GORDON HAVE A PONYTAIL AND WHY ARE THEIR NAMES SPELLED LIKE THAT"

[megpricephotography]

Faithful friend.

Barney always had his eye on me. My shadow for 15 years - everywhere I went, he'd quietly follow me & then settle himself in the corner of the room & keep watch.

(pic from Jan 2014)

[angrycheesegirl]

Would you all like to know my headcanons for the appearances and body types of the Half-Life Protagonists? No? Too bad. Gordon Freeman: 6'2", 170 pounds (188cm, 77kg.) Lanky as all hell, with little to no visible muscle definition. Incredibly baby-faced for his age, grew the beard to look older and more dignified. Used to have a full mullet in College, slowly cut down to a close-cropped style. High waist and low muscle-mass means clothing stores never have his pant size. Adrian Shephard: 5'10", 159 pounds (178cm, 72kg.) Stocky for his height, with broad shoulders. Solidly defined muscle mass, concentrated in his core. Short, but unkempt curly brown hair with chin goatee to match; used to have a very full head of hair before boot camp. Only selected for the PCV testing group because he took a 12-gauge to the chest and didn't get bowled over. Colette Green: 5'8, 164 pounds (175cm, 74kg.) Broader hips, above-average chest; really strong legs and core, upper body strength is eh. Brown hair with college-induced grey streaks; shoulder-length but very poofy, gives the impression that her hair is thicker than it actually is. Has visible stretch marks along her thighs and breasts, developing a little of a tummy but we don't judge here. Jawline is squarer than she would've liked as a kid, but owns it like an absolute champion. Alyx Vance: 5'8", 139 pounds (175cm, 63kg.) Lithe as all hell. Little to no body fat due to Combine rationing, so her already solid muscle definition is on full display at all times. Near-shoulder length black hair, but you'd never know with how dependent she is on her headband. Resembles her mother to a striking degree, even though she acts much more like her father. Barney Calhoun: 5'5", 148 pounds (168cm, 67kg.) Shorter, stockier. Has very defined upper body strength, less so core and legs. Shorter, slightly wavy black hair, with permanent 5 o'clock shadow. Developing a bit of a dad bod already at 25, with the transformation being complete in HL2. Has pecs large enough to be defined through any shirt he wears, eventually embraces it. Gina Cross: 5'4", 126 pounds (163cm, 57kg.) Slight build, smaller chest, hips slightly narrower than her shoulders. Decently toned, with a stronger core and visible arm muscles. Very thick, loosely curled ginger hair; would absolutely fall to her shoulder blades if she didn't wear it up. Very round face, absolutely covered in freckles on her face, arms, and chest.

[spaceistheplaceart]

i've literally seen NOBODY talking about this but i think this guy getting beat up could be Benrey... but dam!!! he looks very different!!! so i tried to combine his old look with his potential new look and... this is what I got (creepy man... but cool...)

BONUS coloured version I didn't like much and also a HLVRAI-era benny below

Summarized ID: a drawing of benrey looking forward smirking. he's missing a tooth, has a sparse mustache, his left eye is lighter/white and there is a scar on his left eyebrow. He has a dark shadow over his eyes.

FULL ID UNDER CUT

Image One: On the left are three reference images. The top one is of the man who was being beaten up by Combine in the HL2VRAI trailer. He is laying on the ground, smirking, with a tooth missing, a black eye, and a scar on his eyebrow. He has tan skin and a buzzcut, a wide nose, and possibly heterochromia. Could also be the lighting. The image below that is the stock image of the Barney Half Life One model. The third image is of Benrey from HLVRAI, looking at the viewer head on. He has high cheekbones, smile lines, shadowy eyes and a slim face. Above him in blue text reads: "you're not supposed to be here."

The drawing next to the reference images is of Benrey, but trying to combine the reference images. The drawing was made with a pencil-like brush and is uncoloured. He is looking forward smirking. he's missing a tooth on his left side, has a sparse mustache, his left eye is lighter/white and there is a scar on his left eyebrow. He has a dark shadow over his eyes that extends from his slightly receding hairline. His hair is black. He wears a collared shirt.

The first bonus image is the same image as the first drawing but now coloured. Benrey has tan skin, lit from the right side, and is wearing a blue shirt. The shadows are more purple in tone. The second bonus image is him but looking like he did in HLVRAI: clean shaven, wearing a tie, and his helmet. No scar, no heterochromia, and no missing tooth.

END ID

[asha-mage]

Since it's my birthday my friends got me the amazing gift of 'watching the Wheel of Time show while occasionally stopping to discuss/let me loose my mind' for which I am incredibly grateful. A few random observations from this time through, as I attempted to view it through the lens of the entirely WoT uninitiated (as my friends are)-

The group shots, where the camera passes from one of the Emond's Field 5 to another, do this clever trick where Rand is never actually standing on his own. He's always standing beside or behind someone in one of these shots, so the camera doesn't actually have to cut or pan away from someone else to get to him. This serves the purpose of highlighting him in contrast to his friends, but also to subtlety downplay his presence to the audience, and build up to the Dragon reveal in episode 7 very effectively.

The cinematography in general is so exceedingly rich and delicious- the stark white of the Whitecloak camp contrasted with the bloody reality of their actions. The bright primary colors used to make the Aes Sedai visually pop and feel magical and strange, even as they are dressed (for the most part) practically for their traveling (a complaint I had about the Witcher, aside from everything being brown and grey all the time, is that the mages show up to battles dressed in ballroom dresses instead of you know, clothing that would make sense). The subtle use of lighting and camera angle to create a sense of vast isolation of Shadar Logoth, fear and danger in the Ways, and cramp sweltering heat in the Blight.

Moiraine's opening narration in episode 1 is essentially a summary of the information we get from one of the epigraphs at the ending of the Eye of the World prologue, to whit:

"And the Shadow fell upon the land, and the world was riven, stone from stone. The oceans fled and the mountains where swallowed up. and the nations where scattered to the eight corners of the world. The moon was blood and the sun was as ashes. The seas boiled, and the living envied the dead. All was shattered, and all but memory lost, and one memory above all others, of him who brought the shadow, and the Breaking of the World. And him they named Dragon." - Aleth nin Tearin alta Camora, The Breaking of the World, author unknown, the Fourth Age "The world is broken. Many many years ago men who where born with great power attempted to cage darkness itself. The arrogance. When they failed, the seas boiled, mountains where swallowed up, cities burned, and the women of the Aes Sedai where left to pick up the pieces. These women remembered one thing above all else, the man who brought the Breaking of the World. And him, they. named Dragon." - Moiraine

This makes me suspect their was an earlier version of the script that actually used the epigraph (maybe even both of them). I have mixed on feeling on this, as the epigraphs are one of my favorite artistic choices of Jordan's and really help emphasize the history and depth of his world, but I think filtering it through Moiriane and making it slightly less opaque was a smart choice to convey the information to the audience. I also think this works on a character level as well- here is Moiraine's understanding of this information, shaped by her biases.

Every re-watch also makes me more and more comfortable in my 'the show is a future/past turning of the wheel from the books, the broad events and truths being the same, but seen in one of those endless variations we hear about' interpretation of the series. The heart of the story and characters is the same, and the broad strokes and framework are the same, but it's in the details where things emerge as different. This interpretation has the benefit of fitting really really well with the meta-narrative stuff Jordan always liked to pull, and in freeing I think the show expectations of being a one-to-one recreation.

That said I defiantly felt the cracks in the final two episodes as a result of the Covid shutter and loosing Barney Harris more strongly this time- some of that being that this is my first re watching of season 1 since I've seen season 2. You can practically see the things they wanted/planned to do that had to re-worked because of circumstances beyond their control. Mat's absence in the group argument scene (and the 'I am so tired of you two fighting over her' line that was clearly meant to be Mat's), as well as the lack of bigger/more cohesive battle scene in Tarwin's Gap. You can also tell they hadn't quite figured out how they where going to re-work season 2 yet given that the ending for season 1 had to be changed last minute (for example, their is no reason for Moiraine to just outright admit that she released Lan's bond unless they hadn't yet decided that was where their arc was going yet).

I think the show does an exceedingly good job of structuring it's exposition to the un-intiatited, trying to stagger it so that audience is largely learning new things in pace with the characters. I know people where frustrated that things like the War of Power have yet to come up in earnest even in the Latra and Lews scene, but I think the slow and steady reveal of things matches both the core idea of 'their is always more you don't know', and trying not to overwhelm the audience. My friends had no trouble following what was going and picking up the bigger implications/subtext that underpins a lot of information. 'But why did the Dragon try to cage the Dark One? It doesn't seem like it was that simple.' came up a few times especially.

The detail that what jump-starts Perrin's wolf brother connection is having his wound healed/cleaned by the wolves in that scene from episode 2 is so incredibly clever, and a good twist on the traditional 'werewolf bite' mythology.

I love the deliberate choice to incorporate so many random ruins and remnants of things in the background of shots. Not just the 'dilapidated stone buildings' that the characters camp in, but things like the trio of carved faces that Egwene and Perrin run past while fleeing the Whitecloaks, or the boundary stones Mat and Rand pass on the road, or even just the small carvings and pillars scattered about the cave where they are holding Logain. It all helps to make you feel that ancientness, that brokenness of this world more effectively.

The reoccurring use of the Dragon's Fang to symbolize violence and destruction: the Trollocs using it as a scare tactics, it appearing in the blood in the pool after Nynaeve kills the Trolloc, being burned into Siuan's ruined childhood home....and the way that contrasts with it's use in the finale episode, when we see it whole and unbroken in the seal/yin yang symbol for the first time was really really clever. One of my friends actually gasped out loud and went 'oh' at the first shot of the whole seal when it clicked.

The show does an exceedingly good job of maintaining that core idea of the series that it's about our relationship to violence- violence never being casual or simple or easy, but always raw, hard and bloody and a little bit ugly. EVen subtle things like the way the show depicts Moraine hurling stones at the Trollocs with uncomfortable frankness, trying to literalize what in most fantasy media would be an abstract. Take it from I cast stone 2, to I inflict horrible blunt force trauma on another creature. And of course everything re: Perrin and his ax.

I have more thoughts, but I think I'll save some of them for after we watch season 1, because they relate strongly to stuff from there.

[alice-after-dark]

Deer Wife AU - Mimzy

Inspired by @hiemaldesirae's deer sinner Vox designs (1 | 2 | 3 | 4) and his Attic-Wife Vox AU

Vox meets Mimzy!

(Woke up early and brain went buzz and finished this instead of going back to sleep lol)

Unlike Rosie, Mimzy's visit is not planned.

Instead, the small woman appears at the door, proclaims she'd heard from Rosie about Alastor's new "squeeze," and demands to meet him.

"Well ain't you cute!" she exclaims, holiding his face in her hands. "Alastor, how'd you get your hands on such a cutie? He's way outta your league!"

Vox blushes and fidgets with his skirt. If anything, the opposite was true...

Alastor gently taps her arm with his cane. "Personal space, Mimzy dear. Vox is a nervous creature."

The singer gives him a sour look but nevertheless releases Vox, allowing him to straighten up as she circles him. "You really got yourself a little sheik, huh?"

A what now?

"Mimzy dear."

"Oh come on! Ya gotta let a girl know the details! How's the barney mugging?"

The what?

"That is hardly appropriate!"

They begin to bicker, their tone light and playful. Vox, on the other hand, hasn't the slightest clue as to what they are even talking about. Sheik? Barney mugging? He decides to ask Alastor later.

Somehow, Mimzy has managed to get Alastor into the kitchen, citing something about being a good host and fixing up some snacks and drinks. It's startling. Vox has never seen anyone push Alastor around the way this woman does.

"Now," Mimzy ushers him to sit on the couch and hops up beside him. "Don't you let him get away with nuthin', got it?" she says, oddly serious. "And if he ain't treatin' you right, you let me know and I'll straighten him out. Okie dokie, sweetheart?"

Vox blinks, surprised by the sudden shift. "I...yeah, okay...but I promise, he's been nothing but good to me."

"Good." The small woman crosses her arms and nods. "I expect nuthin' less from him." And then the seriousness is gone and she waggles her eyebrows at him as a sly grin slides across her face. "He better be treatin' you right in other ways too."

Vox's face goes bright red. "I-! No-I mean-! We're not-! We haven't-!"

Mimzy looks practically scandalized. "Are you serious?! Alastor!" Vox wails and hides in his hands as Alastor appears with a tray of snacks and drinks. Mimzy gestures wildly at Vox. "What's the big idea not sexin' up this cutie? Do you know how many mooks he could have eatin' outta his hand right now and you're leavin' him hangin'!"

Alastor sputters.

The sound is so alarming that it makes Vox look up. Alastor's face is bright red and his ears are back flat against his skull. His shadow is snickering behind him as Mimzy continues to lecture him.he is very pointed not looking at Vox. Vox feels his heart skip. Wait...does Alastor...want to...?

Alastor changes the subject. To what, Vox doesn't remember, but it successfully distracts Mimzy while Vox continues to have an existential crisis. Alastor wants to have sex with him. Alastor...wants to have sex...with him. Vox can barely string together any coherent thoughts for the rest of the afternoon.

"I do hope you'll forgive the dear woman," Alastor says as he does the dishs later. "She can be...excitable."

Vox sits at the table as he drinks the tea Alastor made him to calm his over socialized nerves. Alastor's shadow hovers around him like a mother hen.

"You're awfully quiet," Alastor says, still not facing him. "I suspect I know what you're thinking about." He sighs. "Mimzy can be a rather...forward individual. If she made you uncomfortable..."

"No!" Vox says quickly. Embarrassed by his own abruptness, he tries again. "I mean...no, what she said didn't...bother me. I just...do you? Want to do...that, I mean." Vox's ears are back and he knows his face must be bright red. He feels like a child, unable to even say the damn words properly. He's a grown man, dammit!

"Yes, I do." Vox nearly chokes on his tea. "However, I have no intention of taking advantage of you in the regard. I understand many Overlords and soul-owners would, but I will not force you to satisfy me in that way."

Vox swallows hard. "And...if I want to?"

Now Alastor turns to face him, eyes dark and searching. Vox holds his gaze. He fights the urge to look away like he normally would, flustered as he is. Alastor is looking for reassurance, affirmation that Vox is not saying this to just please him, but because he truly wants this. And Vox wants this. He has for a long time, he realizes. For how sweet and docile he has been for the past several months, Vox is a greedy thing. He knows this about himself and he wants every part of Alastor he can get his hands on. Literally and figuratively.

Alastor clears his throat. "I see." He dries his hands and moves closer. He takes Vox's chin in his hand and Vox's heart skips. Alastor rarely touches him beyond his hands or perhaps his shoulders. This touch forces Vox to keep his eyes on Alastor. The red deer grins down at him wickedly. "Have you ever had intercourse with a man?"

Vox shakes his head.

"Words, darling."

Vox's breath catches in his throat at the commanding tone. "N-no."

Alastor hums. "Well, we can address that later. If I'm going to have you, my dear, I intend to do it properly. You're not a two-cent whore. I've been...delicate with you since your arrival here, but I won't deny that there are many things I wish to do to you. My desires are not conventional, darling. If you are to accept a courtship from me, I need you to understand that."

Vox's mind goes blank. Courtship. Alastor wants to court him. The Radio Demon's hand moves from his chin to stroke the side of his face and Vox leans into the touch as his answer. Alastor kisses him then, slow and so deep that Vox swears he means to consume him.

Vox decides he's alright with that.

---

1920's Slang:

Sheik - A young sexy man

Barney mugging - Sex

Mook - An ineffectual, foolish, or contemptible person