#The Art of Dramatic Writing

[morlock-holmes]

In college I read the book The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri, who essentially argued that, in a well-written play, the plot should emerge organically from the psychology of the characters.

In particular, he argues that the central tragic force of the story of Oedipus is that it is the same psychological forces which make Oedipus great which also cause his undoing.

Note that Oedipus doesn't do the two obvious things that would forestall the prophecy: he neither refuses to kill, nor does he refuse to marry.

For Egri, it is Oedipus' force of will and unbending sense of honor which cause the quarrel in which he kills Laius (When he could have simply let him pass), his rage at the murder of Laius, and his willingness to punish himself so severely when he learns of his own guilt (When he could have tried to hide his guilt or evade punishment).

Egri's claim is that Oedipus Rex endures as a play precisely because the actions of the story do not flow from an arbitrary prophecy, but from the consistent character of Oedipus himself.

I think ive said it before but you really gotta feel bad for oedipus that wanting to fuck your mother got named after him. He really did not want to do that . It is central to oedipus rex how badly he didnt want to do that. Dick move by freud

[shepscapades]

Thanks to artfight, I’ve finally finished a detailed, official dbhc cub reference! :D

(I’ve put his Artifight description below the cut, which has a more detailed explanation of his timeline, lore, and aesthetics! >:3)

-ˋˏ ༻ ❁  OVERVIEW ❁ ༺ ˎˊ-

Name: C.B.F.N.4000 (Cub) Pronouns: He/Him Species: Android Height: 5’9’’ Associated Visual Themes: vex, ghosts, explosions, mischief, scientist aesthetic, potions, potionmaking, sleepy/tired aesthetic, conspiracies

-ˋˏ ༻ ❁  ABOUT ❁ ༺ ˎˊ-

CBFN4000 is an au version of MCYT Hermitcraft’s Cubfan, set in my DBHC (or Detroit Become Hermitcraft) AU! This au is inspired by the 2018 game Detroit Become Human, but not because it really has anything to do with DBH—I simply yoinked the android mechanics and incorporated them into the world of Hermitcraft. It began as a S8 au, and has roughly followed the hermitcraft timeline up to the present! 

Cub was the last android made during Season 8. While many of the hermit androids were made at the beginning of season 8 and a few were made for season 9, Cub was finished and activated mid-late Season 8, around the time when Hermits started noticing the Big Moon. Cub’s model ended up being a sloppy experiment in deviation, as Doc suggested they try to transfer deviancy to an android upon activation to try and avoid traumatic situations that might cause an android to deviate violently or upsettingly, such as Etho’s, Tango’s, or Mumbo’s experiences. While this went relatively well initially, it clearly wasn’t very thoroughly thought out, as Xisuma (who is normally so adamant and detail-oriented when it comes to assuring the androids’ safety with experiments like this) wasn’t truly himself due to external manipulation and mostly left a relatively young-deviant Doc to carry out the project himself. 

Cub, though adjusting to sentience rather well at first, very quickly became wrapped up in the Big Moon happenings on the server, new personality and inexperience to emotions like fear and ignorance completely overwhelming his young system. He became obsessive over the implications and consequences of the Season 8 Moon Apocalypse, joining the Mooners and spreading his conspiracy theories religiously throughout the server as he descended into madness. The insanity was like a virus to his programming, pervasive and all-engulfing, and Cub’s final attempt to free himself from the Moon’s impact with the Earth—to launch himself on a llama into space via potion-powered TNT(insane btw)— left his hands and feet singed and cracked to ruin.

The experiment, considered a horrific failure by a deeply shameful—and more awake—S9 Xisuma, left Doc and Xisuma with the decision to reset him for the new season, and they ended up pairing him with a hermit like they had done with the other androids, to give him a chance to find deviancy on his own terms. So, at the start of season 9 and fresh after a reset, Cub was paired with Scar. Naturally, because Scar is… Scar, Cub deviated almost instantly after being given to him, and very quickly adopted the iconic lazy, stoic, amused attributes normally associated with Cubfan. Scar’s tendency towards mischief and general shenanigans grew instantly on Cub, and the two were an immediate inseparable pair. So much so that when Scar began rambling one day about his Season 5 Hermitcraft Shenanigans (where deals with the Vex may or may not have been involved), Cub immediately stated he was interested in being in on it. Whatever “it” means. It’s unclear if Cub also made a deal with the vex or became connected to them in some other way, but… well, he got Doc’s help to trick out his eyes, hair, and back to best fit the part. Scar is very jealous that he can't magically make himself have the same features to match.

Cub is closest with Scar (there's something there, I think), but he gets along just as well with any of the other hermits! He’s close with Jevin and many of the other redstoners like Etho and Doc, who are the other two androids I’ve put on artfight!

-ˋˏ ༻ ❁  EXTRAS ❁ ༺ ˎˊ-

Cub's eyes can light up in the dark, and he’s the only android who has edited his programming so that the default state of his LED is white, not blue. It still will go yellow and red if his processors are working particularly hard, but he’s replaced the blue setting on his LED with white to better match the Vex vibe. Cub has all of the vibes of a fae. If that’s anything <3

[sparticus2000art]

Revisiting my nightmare design and giving him another outfit for fun!

Also some practice with expressions based on the expression sheet by @/capochiino because I need to work on drawing faces more expressively-

I’m not quite there yet, but it’s not doing terribly I think…

Nightmare was made by jokublog

I also drew this cause I wanted to explore a better dressed nightmare- personality wise I feel like it makes more sense to have him be a bit more extravagant or well put together than his cannon design with just the hoodie.

For my own interpretation of him, I feel like it would be interesting to approach his character in a way where he does both- the more elaborate or fancy outfits preferably, but the hoodie fit as more of a crutch for when he needs it, linking his outward expression and appearance to his stability and control over his own emotions/ the corruption.

I think when he first turned, the corruption would’ve made him quite unstable emotionally, and taken away a lot of control- being visually represented by it soaking through and staining all of his clothes to be the same colour as the corruption itself. Kinda showing him being overwhelmed by the new influence. But the more comfortable he becomes, the better he’s able to manage the new state, giving him the opportunity to do things more to his own taste.

This also allows him to experiment with adding some pops of colour to his clothes, though he’d still stick to darker tones to protect his pride- so that it’s not as obvious when his control lapses and the corruption seeps through to contaminate the garments. On particularly bad days he’d revert to his cannon clothing, both to save the clothes he likes from being tarnished, but also as a way to seek comfort.

I’m not sure if I explained that super well lol, but those are kinda my personal head cannons.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Happy Birthday to Fallen London; My favourite British people beefing it with bats simulator.

[susiewithdauzi]

hey so. do u remember that blurrbee angst i mentioned this one time. bc i sure do

[annasofthe11thdimension]

Pictured: Loop being extremely normal as they lay in their shallow (homemade) grave as they meditate on existence and also if they have annoyed the Researcher enough THIS time for her to murder them and bury them alive.

(Spoilers - they did not annoy her even CLOSE to that much.)

And there is the required reverse image of Odile arriving - she's had a LONG day (i.e. previous loop), and due to this it will take ten minutes before she even acknowledges the shallow grave Loop is laying in, as she was distracted complaining about what Siffrin just did to annoy her.

----

I'd say there's context for all of that, because like...there IS context? Here's the link to the series of fics that HAS that context even! But also...even with context...can't say that it's going to make any of this less weird.

Mostly Odile is looping because due to Loop's wish the universe got rewritten to make Siffrin's repression and emotional issues (the ones bad enough to get him stuck in a time loop in the game) 'someone else's' problem...or at least that's Loop's best theory atm!

Regardless, context or not, I'm quite happy with how the pics came out, and figured I might as well post them here too.

[tetzoro]

a multitude of fireworks burst overhead, bright colors reflecting in her dark eyes that stared up in wonder. zoro couldn’t help but look her way, watching as a soft smile slowly spread across her face.

the very face that was bandaged up for a near ten days, the lips that shakily ushered out what she thought were her last words before they both faded away to be left to the gods he didn’t believe in, the bright and lively eyes that he was scared would never open again to gaze at him so lovingly.

with an instinct that came as easy as wielding his blades, his hand tucked itself under her chin, pulling her attention back to him. a faint dusting of pink bloomed across her cheeks, flashes of the fireworks coating the rest of it in an otherworldly hue.

a shared smile, a gentle glance, and their lips were upon each other once more, melting into the sweet touch they’ve learned to never take for granted again.

zoro held her close as he mumbled the fated words he never thought he’d share with anyone, the ones that found their meaning from the woman that he cradled in his strong arms, fiercely protecting her from anything that dared bring her harm again — i love you.

[jellyskink]

Literally been obsessed with this AU ever since you posted it on Twitter! Is it possible to see interactions he’s had with other humans other than Stanley? I mean, he’s infamous and there’s gotta be /some/ humans living in the bubble, right? :o

Thank you, I'm so glad you like the AU!! :D

I wrote in its initial reference that Ford acts more like himself around other humans, but I haven't gotten to show that until now!

[ego-meliorem-esse]

Stormy Eyes

The 7-year-old looking boy with boundless energy, stood atop the hill, looking down at the small church where a somber funeral was taking place. In his small hand, Alfred clutched a single flower, a blue daisy. The daisy, a simple tribute to his best friend, Davie. Alfred had returned from London with excitement, eager to share his discoveries and stories, only to discover the devastating news of Davie's passing. His young heart ached, and the weight of grief hung heavily upon him.

Throughout his short life, Alfred had always been a whirlwind of activity, his mind racing from one thought to another, his body in constant motion. His father, Arthur, had observed these tendencies with a watchful eye, understanding that his son's boundless enthusiasm often came with moments of restlessness and broken vases.

As Arthur approached his young son, he saw the boy's restless fidgeting, his hands twisting the flower stem, and his gaze darting in all directions. He knew with how much enthusiasm and excitement Alfred carried and took care of the flower on his long journey to Boston. So, having Alfred bend and break the stem was a certain cause for concern. He recognized his boys fidgeting and what it stood for. An understanding that had developed over years of being Alfred's father and mentor.

"Alfred," Arthur said sternly, yet without a hint of annoyance. His voice carrying the weight of centuries of history and responsibility. Arthur looked down from the hill to the quaint church where a crowd of silhouettes gathered, and with an almost inaudible "Ah." understood the weight of the situation. He looked down at his son, his eyes softened with concern. "I'm sorry lad."

Alfred's response was not in words but in frantic fidgeting. His young mind was trapped in a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, rendering him staring down at the destroyed flower stem he seemed to cherish only a few hours before.

Seeing his son's distress, Arthur's concern deepened. He slowly kneeled down, reached out and gently held Alfred's face in his hands, physically anchoring the restless child and forcing their eyes to meet.

"Alfred," Arthur said firmly once again, his voice breaking through the chaos in Alfred's mind. "Focus, my son. You must."

Alfred's tear-filled eyes finally met his father's, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. Arthur could see his son's eyes trying to suppress more tears from welling up. The effort was unsuccessful, because as soon as Alfred took a breath, all the supressed tears fell all at once. Through all that his boy didn't make a single sound.

Arthur's words continued, his voice carrying the weight of wistom obtained by blood and violence. "My boy, your life will be a lonely but fulfilling one. You will meet many people, nations, enemies and friends along the way. Each one will leave a mark on your heart, just as your friend here did." Arthur didn't dare look away at the funeral for the friend he just mentioned in fear of loosing Alfred to his own mind once again.

Arthur's voice almost quivered as he spoke of Alfred's lost friend. "Remember them, Alfred. Remember them all, and carry their memories with you. Your existence, my dear boy, is both a solitary journey and a shared one. You are not alone in this world of nations."

He paused, his grip on Alfred's face unwavering. "Your restless spirit is a part of who you are, Alfred, and it's a gift. Use it to carry the torch for those who have gone before us and for those who will come after. You have the strength within you to focus when it truly matters. Because, my son, when you do, miracles will happen."

He released his son and instead of going back to fidget with the plant, Alfred stood still and kept looking at his father.

As the funeral procession continued below, father and son remained standing on that grassy hill. Arthur's words seemed to echo back and forth in the young boys mind, his ocean eyes finally resembling calm waters. In that moment Arthur was reminded of stormy nights at sea and the calm morning that followed.

He was always good at sailing through the storm.

[krazieka2]

Lil comic about the kind of paralogues the Engage characters could have had hehe

Additional Bunet Paralogue:

[nothingbizzare]

Vampire au Teru is so dramatic

[wikitpowers]

calling out to all tsc artists – please have mercy and give us kitty art!!!! 🗣️🗣️🗣️

[insinirate]

mwah

[scurvyboy]

wait were you serious about not liking gay people

[revelations-persona]

n+c doodles

[clovariia]

i finally finished designing the side characters for my g5 mlp au!! i'm sure i'll adjust these designs more later, but for now, here are my visions. now i can finally start drawing more stuff for this au!

(you can see my designs for the g5 mane 6, sparky, sprout, opaline, allura, and twitch in this post!)