#but truly kryptos’ main concern would just be like

[irregularbillcipher]

thinking about kryptos post bill death again and honestly i gotta explore that at some point because it’s such a juicy scenario for this little freak. like he knows bill has to still be alive in some form because bill is the only reason he and the other henchmaniacs have been able to live so long since none of them exactly have the power to live for millennia and they’re not withering or dying or dead so like. bill has to be alive. and that isn’t denial, it isn’t denial because kryptos is still alive and he wouldn’t be without bill so it can’t be denial

and since it’s not denial and he knows for sure, with absolute certainty that bill is alive he just has to wonder what bill thinks happened to him (and the rest of the maniacs he guesses but who cares about them.) because he doesn’t know how to start finding him to help him (he definitely needs help no matter what happened and this isn’t just because kryptos Does Not Know what he would do if bill didn’t need their stupid eons long codependency)

and like the natural conclusions are “maybe bill thinks i’m dead because of whatever happened to him” and “maybe bill thinks i just don’t care enough to find him” and he’s not sure which one would be worse but he thinks it would probably be better if bill thinks he’s dead, for both of them. at least until he can find him and Fix Everything. he doesn’t think bill would cope super well with the idea that he’s dead (because he certainly isn’t coping well anytime he entertains that idea about bill) but he knows neither of them would be able to cope with the idea of kryptos being a traitor

[fishfingersandjellybabies]

Opposites Attract - fic

Characters: Jon Kent, Damian Wayne Pairing(s): jondami (and also the bizarro boys?) Summary: If Boyzarro and Robzarro were the opposites of himself and Robin, and were already in love, did that mean he and Damian couldn’t be? A/N: I wrote this in an hour and should be sleeping. I regret nothing. Based, obviously, on the recent Bizarroverse arc in Superman. Also if you don’t believe Boy- and Robzarro are in love/dating then you’re absolutely wrong.

~~

“So…”

Damian didn’t look up from Jon’s desk, or the homework he was doing for the both of them, simultaneously. “So what?”

“Did Maya brief you on the last mission?” Jon asked, dropping his arm off the side of his bed. Damian still didn’t look at him. “You know, with Bizarro and Htrae and all that?”

Damian hummed, and flipped the paper over. “She did.”

“So?”

Damian glanced up now, looking thoughtful and the tiniest bit impatient. “So what?”

“What do you think?”

“About what?!”

“All of it! Any of it!” Jon whined, flopping backwards. “Have you ever dealt with a Bizarro before? And not the one that hangs out with the Red Hood. What’s your take on it? What do you think of that Bizarro, or his planet, or Boyzarro and how he learns? I don’t know!”

He didn’t have to be looking at Damian to know he’d turned back to the desk. He could hear the pencil moving back across the papers. “You never want to know what I think of things. In fact, you often tell me to keep my opinions to myself.”

“Well, you weren’t at this mission, so now I do.” Jon countered. He felt like he sounded like mother, his tone full of sass. “But if you’re going to be difficult, then whatever.”

There was a moment of silence, then Damian snorted a laugh.

“From Maya’s story, the whole situation sounded very interesting. I’m sorry I missed it.” Damian explained. His pencil paused when Krypto came trotting into the room, and laid his head on Damian’s knee. “It sounds like, while the Bizarros are backwards, they are not without intelligence or ability to adapt. It also sounds like Boyzarro, as you called him, was very lucky to have found you. I’m glad he wasn’t left behind.”

“…What about Robzarro?” Jon asked, looking back down at his friend. Damian was sitting with his head turned slightly, petting Krypto between his ears. “What do you think of him?”

“A freak. I’d have punched him if I were present. Maya hates him, but fondly. She once said I was the brother she never had. I believe Robzarro is the brother she never wanted.” Damian grinned at his own barb. “Tiny is fine, though. Goliath appreciates the company. But for as annoying as Robzarro is, I suppose he is the opposite of me, much like the gloomy Boyzarro is opposite of your too pleasant self, and that’s par for the course.”

“I’m not too pleasant. I’m the normal amount of pleasant.” Jon pouted.

“Maybe by Kryptonian standards.” Damian smirked. “In case you forgot – you live on Earth.”

“Funny.” Jon drawled. “…You think Robzarro was Bat…zarro’s kid there too?”

“Well, if Boyzarro was still Bizarro’s son, then I don’t see why not.” Damian surmised.

“…He didn’t seem that concerned that his dad probably died, or that now he’s trapped on Earth for the time being.” Jon muttered.

“Well, opposites.” Damian said. “I care about my father, so maybe he didn’t care about his.” Then after a moment, “And from what Maya said, Robzarro’s main concerns were Tiny and Boyzarro. And flirting with her and everyone else around him, but I’m pretty sure she’s being overly dramatic about that.”

“…Opposites.” Jon repeated thoughtfully, and suddenly his stomach was tight. “Do you think…”

He trailed off. Damian waited for a few seconds. “Do I think what?”

Jon held his lips between his teeth, turned to look out the window.

“Do I think what, Jon?”

“Do you think Bizarros have to be opposite?” Jon whispered. “Like…I love my parents. But Boyzarro hated his. You’re logical, and Robzarro is emotional. Do you think if I started hating my parents, Boyzarro would suddenly love his? If you became emotional, Robzarro would be more logical?”

“Boyzarro didn’t hate his parents.” Damian corrected. “He hated how they acted. He didn’t hate them.”

“Still. You know what I mean.” Jon sighed. A bird landed on his windowsill. “Do we have to be opposites? Is that just how the universe has to work?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so.” Damian decided. “Why are you asking that?”

“Just curious.” Jon closed his eyes. “…Boy and Robzarro are in a relationship.”

Damian didn’t answer.

“Like, a romantic one.” Jon clarified. “Robzarro wouldn’t stop kissing him when they found each other. I know he keeps flirting with Maya but…it’s pretty obvious he and Boyzarro are in love. Or…hate, or whatever they call it.”

There was no more movement of a pencil. And even without looking, Jon knew Krypto had laid down across the room. There was just silence. Not judgmental, not tense. Just quiet.

“So?” Damian asked gently.

“So…I mean, if they break up, or go back to just being friends, does that mean you and I would automatically have to date?” And then so soft, he barely heard himself. “If they stay in love does that mean you and I couldn’t be?”

Damian didn’t answer, and the minutes stretched. One, two, three. Jon didn’t realize he wasn’t breathing until he took in a too deep inhale. He tried to hold in his coughs, though. Nothing like coughing up a lung after inadvertently confessing the crush on your best friend, to your best friend.

And he was already embarrassed enough just by that simple fact. He was crushing on Damian. Had been for a while now.

Still, they went on four minutes, and Damian didn’t say anything. If Jon couldn’t hear his heartbeat, he might have guessed Damian left the room. So he just closed his eyes, and began wishing he didn’t open his big fat mouth in the first place.

Finally: “…You know the opposite of a friendship isn’t a romantic relationship, right?”

Jon’s eyes shot open. That…wasn’t the answer he expected.

“The opposite of a friendship is, well, an enemyship. That’s not even a word. Look what you’ve done to me, I’m making up words.” Damian sighed, like it truly bothered him. “But I mean – the opposite of love, regardless of the form, is hate. We don’t hate each other, and Robzarro and Boyzarro clearly don’t hate each other either. So it’s like you told the Boy yourself – we’re all the same.”

Jon thought about it for a moment.

“So the logic of your concern is invalid, therefore your fear is not real.” Damian explained. “So, if I were you, I wouldn’t stress about something that’s not real.”

Slowly, Jon rolled over, staring down at his friend. Damian was still sitting at his desk, their homework still spread across the surface. He was looking up at him though. Not emotionless, not really, but also not angry, or confused. Or…even surprised.

“Damian.” He said sternly. “Do you…do you understand what I just said?”

“Of course I do.” Damian snapped. “You’re the idiot here, not me.”

“Oh.” Jon breathed, and already, he could feel his face heating up in a blush. Knew Damian could see it, by his amused smirk. “And…you…?”

“You keep telling me to keep my opinions to myself.” Damian reminded cheekily. But there was a sparkle in his eye, and a warm smile melting onto his face that might have been humming reciprocation. “So that’s exactly what I’m going to do, for the time being.”

“Wha…but…” Jon sat up as Damian stood and turned towards the door. “Damian!”

“This is a conversation for a later date, for when you are more sure of what you feel, what you want, and what you want to do about it. As much as I’d like to help you, you are your own enemy in this situation, and there’s nothing I can do. Therefore, there is nothing to talk about.” Damian cut off. “Besides, I have both of our homework to finish. If you feel stuck, perhaps talk to my eldest brother about these types of things. Or your own father.  Or maybe you should call Robzarro – I’m sure he’d love to assist you in the art of courtship.”

Jon covered his face with both hands, and groan in absolute mortification.

“But regardless. Don’t let the universe and its stupid so-called rules dictate what you do or do not do.” Damian offered, almost sweetly. Then a snort. “Heaves know I don’t.”

Jon chanced a peek through his fingers, to look down at his friend. At his…whatever Damian was, or might be, now.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go raid your fridge. I’m starving.” Damian declared, snapping his fingers to Krypto, who jumped to his side. But as he reached the doorway, he paused and turned back. “…And if you need somewhere to start, I’ve found that I enjoy venturing through parks encased in large urban areas.”

Jon could only gape and watch Damian sheepishly duck out of the room. Then felt a smile uncontrollably starting to spread across his cheeks. Quickly, he rolled over and shoved his face into his pillow to hide his giddy grin, while butterflies fluttered excitedly in his stomach. It was all he could do.

[hopefulbagelboi]

AX2222 - Woodland Creature

Come up with ideas for a woodland related creature - it doesn’t have to be an actual animal as long as it is related to the woodlands somehow. Blogging the creative process along the way.

To do: - Sketch up characters for the ideas I scribbled down (4/4) - Turnaround boards? (Oh joy). - Sketch up some related backgrounds (one or two might only be needed) - Research related to the characters and their environment. - Pick a forest type and possible location. - Photos of related character materials may be needed. - Write about why I’ve chosen the character I have and what marketplace value it has. - A bloody powerpoint presentation (3 mins)

(Pics of current character drawings and their relavent research)

Idea 1: Was thinking more about the objects in a forest rather than the animals, and their role within a woodland area. The litter layer was an interetsing concept to me and so I focused on that; everything on a forest floor that one tends to forget about. I was reminded of ants and the way they collect things, so I came up with the idea of these collection piles coming to life - a small creature is created and composed of the objects around them.

So a sort of caretaker of the forest, made up of the forest itself. It’s job could be to keep an eye on the litter layer and ensure that insect populations are thriving (as most insects contribute to the recycling process of the litter layer and returning nutrients to the soil). This character could be composed of items such as leaves, bark, plant matter, shedded insect carapaces, grit, dirt, worm castings, feathers etc. Its prop would be a stem of wild garlic with a bulb on the end to aid with walking as the character will be rather old and wise. Once his life comes to an end he will drop the stem/ staff and it will root itself, able to use his body for nutrients.

Perhaps it could take a younger caretaker of the forest under it’s wing? One that is composed more of actual litter than the natural matter like the one before it, providing a background narrative of people littering and a dying forest.

The actual animals of the forest are responsible for keeping it alive and repairing damage, but the intrusion of humans has scared off or killed most of the forest animals.

(^The research I did into the forest litter layer (detrius) in order to understand what objects the first character could be composed of. I also helped me to understand the importance of the litter layer and inspired me to give the first creature the role of forest overseer/ caretaker.)

(^My scribbled down ideas as I was creating both the first and second creatures.)

Idea 2: Mini leaf tornados are great and look even better with petals mixed in. The idea of a wondering forest spirit comes to mind. They manifest as petals and leaves in the wind to form a female figure. Thier movements would be delicate and graceful, similar to a dancer’s. Their purpose would be to guide the lost to safety and to watch over the spirits of all creatures that had died within the forest.

Was debating whether or not I should include a heart within the figure in the form of a taproot (main provider root of some plants), it would represent the soul of the creature so that it isn’t just a hollow shell of leaves moving in the wind. However, a taproot heart would be heavy and unlikely to be budged by the wind - also where would it come from should the petals manifest anywhere?

Undecided on if the petals themselves are a sentient being once they form the figure (thanks to the taproot heart) or if it is the wind that is alive. I personally prefer the wind idea, but that would be a difficult thing to animate and a difficult idea to show in a still clay figure.

(V Below is the first and second idea. Only text that I thought would be relevant to the character was done in pen so that the scanner would pick it up. The other text is merely me jotting down ideas in an incoherent, non-chronological manner.)

(^Looking more into the second idea and planning out some designs for the creature’s heart - which might end up being it’s prop.)

Idea 3: Once again coming back to the idea of the litter layer. Its job within a forest is to keep the soil healthy and return nutrients to trees. This could be played with and I like the idea of a litter layer being like a sort of hivemind; the floor is alive. The lungs of the forest are the trees and breathe with the litter layer.

The main issue with this idea was that it took absolutely forever to draw just a small portion of this creature - due to all the leaves. So I think I’ll leave it there.

Idea 4: Tree sap as the lifeblood of the forest. It is already known to be the ‘blood’ of trees, but what if the health of a large amount of tree sap in one area could affect the health of tree sap in nearby/ other areas? The tree sap of all trees pulses ever so slightly to the Earth’s rhythm, creating a heart for the whole forest - hence the domino affect with the health, if one area of the heart starts to die then the other areas will suffer.

Some trees that naturally leak sap could be ‘cleanser’ trees, it’s their job to cleanse the blood/ sap of impurities so that saplings and ancient trees can provide new, healthy sap for the system. When a tree is cut it ‘bleeds’, hence why one is able to kill a tree by cutting out a ring of bark and letting it bleed to death. One tree death won’t bring the whole system to a grinding halt, but the surrounding trees would have to work harder to make up for it until a sapling comes around. Deforestation would seriously hinder the system.

Sap exposed to air would harden, but until it did it would be alive and able to be transported via the birds of the forest to nearby saplings where it could nourish them. Once the sap hardens it slumbers for eternity, not truly dead nor alive.

The sap wouldn’t make much of an animateable character though, which is the main issue - as it stays still most of the time.

(V Below is the hivemind leaf litter idea and the tree sap idea).

Idea 5: My friend Daisy mentioned Russian Nesting Dolls and how I could create a character similar to that but with acorns. I drew up a quick sketch and decided that their role in the forest would be to guide the tree’s seeds to where they need to be so that the forest could continue to spread and grow. I don’t have much to go on for this idea but I’m glad I gave it a go anyway.

(V Some quick reference for this idea. ^ How the drawing turned out.)

Idea 6: Moving on from object orientated creatures I decided to include some based more around actual animals. For whatever reason the idea of a hell hound sort of creature popped into my mind - to have something menacing looking in a forest that was so far full of friendly creatures. I used reference for the hound’s head design, using a picture of a ‘Death Hound’ from ‘Skyrim’, though this was more just to help me with the jaw shape as I often struggle with that.

To more associate the creature with the woodlands I made his body out of scorched stone specifically, so that these creatures could be created in forest fires. Their task was to keep the cycle of life and death continuous, only killing once an animal/ tree/ creature’s time had come, and they would be guardians of the forest whilst not doing that. It’s job earned it the name ‘Harmonic Death’.

(^ My drawing of said creature. V Below are the pictures I used for reference. A Death Hound for the jaw shape, Krypto the Super Dog for the paw style and the sharp manner in which he is drawn as it matched my creatures rock-like profile, and ‘Odahviing’ the dragon from ‘Skyrim’ as I wanted to draw Harmonic Death’s back spikes in a similar way to the dragon’s, but changed my mind as I drew them.)

Idea 7: I really wanted to do something concerning a river that runs through a forest, as it reminded me of a capillary system - brancing off and reaching every quadrant of the forest. However, you can’t do much with a river animation-wise, so I gave it the ability to morph into a gigantic water snake should it be angered and should it need to move location or protect the forest. I named it ‘The Great Water Snake’ and ‘The River of Change’ as the river would be connected to time itself, since it flows like time does. Should the river dry up and stop then so would time - and thus the world would be frozen in its perilous state for eternity.

(^ My river creature. V Reference images. I couldn’t decide on if I wanted a snake, salamander or a school of fish to be what the river morphed into but it dawned on me that it would be much easier to sculpt a snake than anything else.)

(^ The above water snake was what I based the creature’s pose on).