#bug trolls

[artbyifer]

Hello, hope you're doing well. What's that black thing at the bottom of your HS troll's feet? Is it padding or shoes?

I am indeed doing well, thank you! :)

Good question, and good guesses! I took a lot of inspiration from spider and beetle feet for my trolls.

It is particularly clear on the beetle feet (right) that the bottom of the foot has a pad of thickly packed hairs (setae). While in tiny arthropods these are largely used to stick to stuff, Trolls benefit more from the padding function.

In mammals, we've got nice big fat pads on our soles to cushion our bones from impacts. You can really see it on the elephant (right).

(forgive the quick sketch) The setae on troll feet does the same thing. They're dense, thick and springy. They also provide a barrier from sharp rocks and stuff, add surface area and friction for gripping, and give sensory feedback on what kinda stuff they're standing on, like whiskers. They've probably got a bit of movement to them too, to better adapt to different surfaces and the like by tightening or loosening the spread between hairs or changing how tense the spring is.

You may have noticed that I rarely draw Trolls with shoes on. Part of that is just I put a lot of effort into the feet to just cover them up (and I think they're cool), and part of it's that it's hard to design clothing for an alien species (shirts and neckwear is especially irritating with the way the rumblespheres are positioned in the front as opposed to humans' side shoulders, plus the sensitivity of the gillslits) but also any shoes would have to give a definite bonus over what bare feet would give them.

So you'd still want access to your toeclaws for both weaponry, grip, and mobility. And you'd want a lot more protection from the elements than the setae give you if you're going to sacrifice the sensory and movement aspects to put something with a sole on, plus you need to be able to put them on and keep them on without damaging the hairs or getting snagged on the claws, and anything that straps underneath is going to be awkward if the hairs can go on either side of the straps (though between the two toes is probably a good anchor).

I have done it a few times though! The ergonomics aren't perfect, but here the Distrait Life of Mistakes (@temporaldecay [deactivated]) crew aresacrificing that for fashion; theming their shoes for their misc/redrom, palerom, and blackrom rave gear respectively. (occurs to me the palewear shoes would be even more provocative with claw covers or softpaw nail tips; really lower your damage capacity. Oh well, too late :) )

Thank you so much for the question, anon <3!!

[r4zzberry]

i just spent 8 hours drawing a fucking bust shot of vriska 😭😭😭😭

there something seriously wrong with me because i only drew this bc @ryssbelle told me to stop talking in a vc when i brought up bug like trollz

gonna go eat now cauze yeah,,,i spent the last 8 hours doing this

[zivazivc]

“Floyd, could you sing to me?”

The big brother looked up from where he was tucking the blanket under Branch’s feet. “Sure thing,” he said with a light smile.  “What would you like to hear? A lullaby?”

“I don’t know,” Branch mumbled as he nestled his head into the pillow. “You choose.”

Floyd could still see a crease of worry between his baby brother’s brows. He softly brushed a thumb over it in a silent reassurance that everything was going to be okay before he turned around to reach for their dad’s old guitar.

I think Floyd would often sing to Branch to get him to fall asleep, usually the songs and lullabies their parents sang when the older four were still little.

I know in the movie it seemed like they all left right after their fight, but I like to imagine that they just stormed off to cool off and that they actually left in the following days. And that this was the last song Floyd sang for Branch that night. :')

Both Sides Now (specifically this cover by Voncken) Rows and flows of angel hair And ice cream castles in the air And feather canyons everywhere I've looked at clouds that way But now they only block the sun They snow and rain on everyone So many things I would've done But clouds got in the way I've looked at clouds from both sides now From up and down, and still somehow It's clouds’ illusions, I recall I really don't know clouds at all Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels The dizzy dancin' way you feel When every fairy tale comes real I've looked at love that way But now it's just another show You leave 'em laughin' as you go And if you care, don't let them know Don't give yourself away I've looked at love from both sides now From give and take, and still somehow It's love's illusions, I recall I really don't know love at all Tears and fears and feeling proud To say "I love you" right out loud Dreams and schemes and circus crowds I've looked at life that way But now my friends, they’re acting strange They shake their heads, and say I've changed Well, something's lost, but something's gained In living life each day I've looked at life from both sides now From up and down And give and take And win and lose, and still somehow It's life's illusions, I recall I really don't know life... I really don't know life at all

[hey-hey-j]

ideas for a fic I may or may not write, about Floyd's first doctor's appointment post-Mount Rageous. JD and Branch tag along for emotional support, there's a lot of stuff Floyd isn't telling them, and there's one moment in particular I've been rotating in my brain for days but I keep intimidating myself out of writing it, lol. Whatever I'll leave it up to a vote—everyone who wants to see this actually turned into a fic say aye.

EDIT: the fic is now up on ao3!

(★ my Kofi)

[fanta-seee]

Ehh redraw?? With my style more than the movies :D

[deancrowleycas]

can someone explain this to me, is he seeing Castiel's trueform in his carpet, or what is happening 😭

[ohposhers]

I AM BEGGIUGN YOU TO MAKE MJORE CLINCE ART PLEAAAASE 🙏

you got it boss, here's thing 1 and 2 bugging clay while he tries to read o7

[xagave]

Can I interest you in some Troll Currency

[kabutoden]

making up spec bio homestuck bug facts for fun!!

[felsicveins]

We're a lethal combination, too lost for therapy

[jillybean2011]

Finally got this done! Viva seems like the type of person who'd info dump something with no context, then leaves with no explanation or clarification because she got off track or distracted.

[tamagoneko]

two mimir

[chessb0r3d]

i cracked the code.

[zivazivc]

I came up with Floyd's (other) ex band mates and then I went a little insane about them. . . Anyway they're all alternative trolls who adopted him into their group. They play nu metal at underground gigs but mostly they just go to raves and get stoned out of their gourds.

original photos under the cut

I googled "90s rave photos" and had such a hard time choosing which to draw. i might make more of them in the future...

[moltensmusings]

The comedy of Trolls getting its flowers finally and being recognized as a fun series after the most recent movie when the first one has had me in a chokehold for years. When I used to have Netflix I would just watch that whenever I wanted to have fun.

Sometimes adulthood is looking at a jukebox musical based on a kids toy, and just deciding "yeah actually this is a good movie."

[soggedupfrog]

Troll anatomy with Karkat :3