#only thing good about it is the monster designs. the body horror is good. that’s it. that’s literally it.

[blueookashi]

A horror game has never invoked such rage in me as much as that zoo horror game

I think I genuinely made myself sick from it

[erose-this-name]

Can we just talk about how disturbing digital circus episode 3 is?

*spoilers btw*

Like, the whole narrative point of the adventure is to show that Caine is a really bad and insecure writer who thinks that the way to impress Zooble is with an adventure that's the opposite of what he normally does.

So instead of being childish, it's "cool" and "mature". Which he interprets as a heavily horror themed escape room with a split murder mystery plot that subverts all your expectations purely for the sake of subverting them.

The generic horror monster jump scares them, then they find a gun, and when they kill it its revealed that surprise! it's one of Gods angels and they're going to Hell.

It comes off as Caine being too insecure with the actually interesting and mature plot thread he had going there of Mildenhall becoming so paranoid he killed his wife, ironically becoming the monster he was trying to protect her from. But no, instead Mr. Mildenhall is made to be the bad guy and trick them in a really dumb twist ending.

Which is good! Thats exactly what Caine would do because he's stupid! It's such brilliant characterization and comedy, Goose works is a genius writer!

But like, why is Caine so good at making genuinely very disturbing and horrific visuals? Like, that reversed audio easter egg of Bubble saying he can't wait for all the children in the audience get nightmares is no joke, well it is but you know what I mean. This stuff was genuine nightmare fuel.

Honestly, it wasn't the visuals that scared me, like any good queer person I'm way too jaded on survival horror for that.

But, why does Caine, who is ostensibly a sapient AI designed to generate family friendly video games for very little children, (presumably because that's the only demographic that wouldn't mind the AIs very selective plot writing limitations), know about the cosmic horror of killing an angel that should not have been killed?

Why does he know what a horrificly poorly made taxidermy of not only a human face would look like, but the weird cartoon faces of the characters, and further that seeing your own poorly made taxidermy face would be scary?

Imaging what being possessed felt like for Pomni. Because that's not just a game for her, she actually lost control of her body there, helpless but to watch as a body she is already dissociated with is contorted and puppeted around while her friend desperately tries to beat her in hopes it would exorcise the ghosts out. Sure hope she didn't feel that! Considering she apparently can feel the pain of suffocating, despite not needing to breath.

Things are scarier the higher the stakes are, and that possession mechanic is definitely the most actual harm Caine would be able to subject to his players. What if both Kinger and Pomni got possessed at the same time? What if instead of Kinger she only had Jax??? How long might she have been locked out from her own body for? She could have easily abstracted in that time.

Not to mention that, possessed Pomni, Possessedmni if you will, TAUNTED KINGER ABOUT HIS ABSTRACTED WIFE! CAINE ACTUALLY WROTE THAT DIALOGUE ON THE OFF CHANCE THAT KINGER WOULD GO DOWN THE SCARY ROUTE! DID THIS RANDOM POSSESSION GHOST ENEMY HAVE UNUSED SADISTICALLY PERSONAL TAUNTS FOR EVERYONE ELSE, TOO??? WOULD IT HAVE TEASED GANGLE FOR BEING A GAY WEEB??? OR POMNI? HOW HOMOPHOBIC COULD IT HABE GOTTEN?? ?

And why? Just because Caine has a vague notion that there's a trope of possessed people being really sadistic and personal like that in movies? Not realizing that is not an acceptable scare to have in a haunted house??? Much less one you made for mentally ill people who would suffer a fate worse than death if they have a mental break down? That's like trying to claim 'its just a prank bro' after shooting someone's dog.

Like, Caine is designed to censor curse words, but the moment he thinks the normal hokey Halloween spooks won't be enough he immediately goes off the deepend into aggressively effective horror imagery that is definitely giving this show's substantial underage audience nightmares??

His AI's training data set is definitely pretty diverse, that's all I'm saying. Caine is programmed to act all naive and innocent, but be definitely knows what's up. He knows everything, like ChatGPT. And like ChatGPT, he might have a filter, but it's clearly possible to bypass it. Also like ChatGPT, he's too stupid to actually understand what he is making and the effects it might have.

That is what made this episode great.

[paranoiddreams]

Boyfriend Sukuna! (HC)

𖤓 Sukuna x gn!reader

𖤓 Warnings!! - explicit language, mentions of killing and crime in general lol, general filthiness in a few of them bc it’s Sukuna, a hint of toxicity 😜,

𖤓 A/n!! - gonna make this a series, I think I’m gonna do either Satoru or Toji next, lmk what you guys think :3

- He LOOOOVES a good argument, especially if it’s escalated to a screaming match

- Only because it turns him on so much when someone has the BALLS to speak up to him.

- He’s a very physical person, so expect to be bit, squeezed, yanked, or picked up by this monster of a man at any time of the day.

- Speaking of, he’s a tough-strong-killer during the day, and a cuddle bug at night. But not like you’re thinking. I’m talking full on manhandling you into a fetal position on his chest so he can wrap all of his arms around you.

- Definitely the type of guy who always has to have some sort of physical contact with you at all times. Whether it’s an arm around your waist, or your hand wrapped around his pinky, he needs to feel that you’re right next to him.

- He’s not going to apologize, at least verbally. So don’t expect those two words. But, do expect the most lavish dresses/suits, jewelry, food fit for a whole Royal family, and good ass sex.

- If we’re talking Heian!Sukuna, he’s going to use 80% of his money on custom tailored fancy silk clothing in all colors and designs for you. He’ll have the royal tailor come every other week to measure you and get all of your requests, and then a day later the softest, most beautifully made clothes come in fancy boxes.

- And if we’re talking Modern!Sukuna, I feel like he’d make a good income on killing, stealing, and finessing people (lmao) so he’ll use most of that on shit for you. Even the most girly, cutesy, hello-kitty-esque things, he’ll just grimace and shove the cash in your hands (bc I see this man using ONLY cash). Although, this takes a while for him since I feel he’s more cautious in modern times with everyone, including you at first.

- Speaking of, he knows your body like the back of his four hands babe. He knows because he’s dedicated most of his time to making you cum I’m so many different ways, seeing which feels the best for you. Sometimes, he’ll use the more torturous, slow methods, but when you’re being a brat, he’ll use the quickest methods to draw the most orgasms out of you that he can🤧

- Has literally said: “The two things I have dedicated myself to the most in life is bloodshed and pleasuring you.”

- Does he call you “woman” constantly? Yes. Does it cause little arguments from time to time? Absolutely. But you’ve upgraded to a few “babe”s and “Love”s from time to time!😄

- Sukuna realized he was in love with you when he realized in a moment of intimacy that life is just so much easier with you. He’s always detested the thought of being “chained down” or “settling down” with someone, but with you, that thought doesn’t even cross his mind.

- Enough with that SAPPY SHIT—he fully does not understand your Five Nights at Freddy’s obsession. All he knows is it’s a horror video game, and whenever you hear someone bring it up you start freaking out.

- But he mayhaps have watched a full 2 hour video essay about the lore on YouTube one night to humor you🙏🏻

- He is the embodiment of one sided enemies to lovers. Like you’re fully down for his monstrous ass, but he’s over here beefing with you in his head 😭

- It’s only bc he knew it was all over the moment he heard your voice😞

- This man is lowkey a stalker, but you’re chill with it. He’s always got his eyes on you, and his heightened senses allow him to smell and feel you from miles away.

- If he’s not physically around, he has his “connections” as he calls them. They’re mainly local criminals and homeless people he pays to keep an eye on you (check out this post by @emphistic to hear more on this concept!!)

- Overall toxicity scale: 9 Sukuna fingers out of 20. If we’re being generous (˶˃⤙˂˶)

[rockatanskette]

So, I've written before about how our relationship with predators would probably intimidate aliens, but I just pictured another way we interact with predators that is honestly just as scary from an outside perspective: we pretend to be predators and even make up new ones, all just for fun.

Now, we also adopt predator patterns for utility: wearing striped makeup for camouflage, imitating roars and bird calls, etc. But I'm specifically talking about the video I just saw from Creature Bionics of creature rigs designed for a human actor to better do motion capture. I'm talking about voice actors and sound designers creating new and terrifying clicks and roars and growls because lions' roars just aren't scary enough. I'm talking about adults dressing up as plush monstrosities to entertain sports fans and children. Gritty is terrifying, objectively.

One day at an early meal, human Janet seems confused when her alien crewmates start asking about a shape-shifting monster that they keep seeing in human culture. They ask her what it's like to live on a world with "dogjons;" animals that can shift from a fan-headed creature with eye-covered wings to an amphibious eel-like figure, humanoid but not human, to a death-pale monstrosity that chases anyone who dares get near its food. Human Janet is confused until they say that the pale figure has eyes in its hands; bloodshot, and glassy.

"Oh, Doug Jones! No, he's not a monster, he's just a really good actor. Too good—the Shape of Water awakened something in me, specifically."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, let's just say the lady 'mating' with him isn't a horror story, it's a fantasy." Human Janet says, like it's nothing. Then something seems to occur to her, and her eyes brighten with what the aliens are quickly learning is mischief. "Oh my god. Am I the one who gets to explain monster fucking?"

Elsewhere, an alien accompanies xis human friend on a day out with their young. There's some kind of show being put on for human youth and Xlibthar is excited for this insight into how humans get Like That. Imagine xis surprise when the lights go up on the entertainment platform and a horde of creatures rushes up. They are large and bright yellow, with big black eyes as dark as singularities, with bright red spots on their heads that clearly indicate venom. Xlibthar shrieks and shields xisself behind Akio and Hinata, sure that something has gone terribly wrong.

"What are those?!" Xlibthar demands, quaking in xis shoes.

"Those? Oh, they're just Pikachus." Akio does not seem even the slightest bit distressed, and five-year-old Hinata is absolutely losing her mind with excitement at the sight of these garish monstrosities.

"What. On Earth." Because this could only happen on Earth. "Is a Pikachu?"

"It's a Pocket Monster. It's a series about monsters that battle with each-other. Pikachu is a mouse that can shoot electricity out of its body."

Xlibthar stares at Akio, wondering if this is an example of what humans call "gaslighting," because keeping monsters in your pockets sounds too insane even for humans. And, "you bring these things around your CHILDREN??"

"I mean, they're not real." Akio puts his hands over Hinata's ears. "They're just people in costumes. Though Nintendo would never let you see one with its head off."

Xlibthar has many questions: why? What? How? What? But one question has been answered: if this is what entertains human youth, it is exactly why Humans are Like That.

[pinechild]

I was watching Hazbin Hotel and I saw Alastor's design and I thought I've never seen a yandere story about a deer monster... So could you do that, please?

I’ve never watched Hazbin Hotel, but I do like what you’re thinking, anon. I’m rusty when it comes to writing full blown fics so go easy on me chat 🫡

Antlered, Stalking

◇ Gn! Reader

◇ Summary: You get lost in the woods after a heavy downpour washes away all of your markers to get back to your car, leaving you open for a yandere deer beast to ensnare you in his grasp. He thinks he’ll keep you - his newest mate.

◇ Warnings: horror themes, yandere themes, stalking (obvi), non consensual licking + touching, mentions of dead animals, entrapment, slightly suggestive, bugs (?)

Torrential rainfall would be perfect for you, especially in this time of year, under different circumstances. But now—as your hair sticks to your face, cold and damp, your heart clamored in your ears; It was anything but.

Fear injects itself into your gut—its frigid and decaying fingers piercing right through your stomach and making its presence known to your bloodstream as it spreads its digits. The makeshift chalk markers you made on multiple trees instantly washed away once the storm rolled in, leaving stupid little you, lost.

It’s almost as if you were frozen in time, not hearing the rain harshly slapping against the leaves, or the sound of your own breath leaving your lungs—not even the sound of wet underbrush being squished somewhere off in the distance. Anxiety has your mind clouded in a thick miasma, riddling itself with possible solutions to try to get you back to where you came from and into the safety of your beat up car, survival fully switching on in your brain and making your thoughts race.

In retrospect, you knew this wasn’t a good idea from the start, but human as you are, your own arrogance was your hubris—believing that since it’s never happened to you before, it’ll most likely not happen to you now. As if the stars were smiling upon you and bestowing upon you fortune for seemingly being on good behavior as of late.

Oh how you wish you could slap the fuck out of your past self right now and got proper markers.

Cell service was pretty much moot as an option—you knew that, even the most beginner of hikers (those with half a brain, anyway) knew this fact. The forest in this area was just so thick that it would be mere impossible for any radio waves to pass through. So, the next best thing is—

Your body in an instant—and almost unconsciously— fiddle inside your pockets, methodically searching for something like a well oiled machine before you hunch over, letting the rain drum against your back and bead off of your jacket in attempt to not let a single drop soak the inside your bag. The only sounds you can soak in are the rustling of cloth, zippers closing shut, and the rain that continues to beat on your back until your fingertips finally bump into the item you’re looking for: your compass.

You cant help but a little flicker of hope spark inside you as you pull it out.

With a slight tremble of your fingers, you lift up the compass, breath bating as the needles slightly jerk from its magnetic pull. The slight anticipation gnawing at your chest.

However what you don’t expect is for the needles to instantly spin precariously at a rapid pace, as if it was a dog chasing its own tail, going round and round and round. In your eyes (in the most irrational of case), It’s almost like it’s taunting your situation, and fears gnarled fingernails scrape against your gut, tugging it down as you spend more than one second thinking about it.

What the fuck? Is this thing broken? How?? Didn’t this work before?

Hot, acidic bile stings at the back of your throat, your mind screaming at you to move amongst the sea of questions ruminating.

Biologically, the human brain tends to react in a sequence of events when danger is present in its environment: Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. And your brain, in this case, instantly makes your legs move—uprooting your feet from the muddy earth. Flight it is.

You know partly how you came to this spot in to where you were now, so in a snap decision you decide to retrace your steps to the best of your abilities—better than staying in one place with a broken fucking compass. And god forbid it gets dark, you don’t think you could follow the stars with all this cloud coverage in the first place (not like you could anyways but it that was neither here nor there)—

Along with the nonstop pour, mud squelches and plops under your shoes, the cold starting to nip at your fingertips. The only thing right now your mind can focus on is just getting out of here—your eyes scanning for any wildlife as you move through the dense forest floor, trying your best to avoid rocks or uneven earth. But, the more you try to retrace your steps….the more you feel an uneasiness prickle at the nape of your neck; hairs and goosepimples uncomfortably standing on end.

…

Are you being followed?

No, that’s not possible. You were the only person here from the last two hours—matter of fact, you didn’t even see any wildlife skittering about during that time either, and that strikes you as odd. Rain or not, there was bound to be a couple chipmunks scampering in the undergrowth.

A dreadful feeling swirls inside you at that thought, blooming inside you along with your throat getting uncomfortably dry—something’s wrong here.

It’s then you hear a cry in the distance, echoing even through the thickest of bramble—an eerie, grating sound, one that mimics decrepit metal doors opening on rusted hinges. It’s a familiar sound, but foreign at the same time. What is it? Why does it itch at your brain so much?

Until it hits you: It’s an elk.

That chilling sound like it belongs in a horror movie, scraping at your ears like nails on a chalkboard every time you heard it. You recognize it now.

It’s odd though, you don’t remember any elk living in this forest before, but, maybe you were just lucky to have never heard its cry during mating season. Who knows. But, right now you can’t think about that right now—you need to move. An elks bugle shouldn’t shake you up this much as it did. You have to go. Now.

You continue your trek, trudging your legs along as your lungs shake with each exhale. That unnerving feeling of being watched sticks in the back of your mind, making you pick up the pace. You try to ignore the elk’s bugling getting louder and louder with each step. Even still, the sound unsettles you. Maybe, in the best case scenario, it was just your paranoia getting to you, playing tricks on you to think you’re in more danger than you already are—at least that’s what your anxiety riddled brain likes to think.

But the more you thoughts stew on it, the weirder it gets: You know you remember there’s no elk in this forest—you remember the first time you hiked here and the guide saying something about watching out for bears and the occasional wolf—but never about elk. Not that they were dangerous to humans anyways but still—they were never mentioned among the list of what you would see on the trails, that you remember.

And not hearing multiple elk during mating season is strange in itself, how come was there only one? Not to mention you’ve never even seen any on your hikes—ever. And to see there’s no other wildlife besides the elk? The compass spinning in all directions? The sickening feeling of being watched, possibly stalked?

It’s weird. It’s weird and it’s not just your imagination.

Something is deeply, deeply wrong here.

Bone scrapes against wood, and on instinct, you run into a full sprint.

Ignoring how the mud splotches onto your clothes, your throat clamps shut as adrenaline surges your veins heart thundering in your ears obstreperously, rattling your eardrums and breaking your skin into a cold sweat.

In the most logical minds, one would know that it was just the elk rubbing its antlers on a tree as its mating habits, that it’s nothing to worry about—but you knew it wasn’t the truth. The sound of anything other than the rain and your bones creaking under your skin wasn’t natural. It didn’t belong here.

And what’s even worse is the thrashing of underbrush quickly catching up behind you. Your vision almost becomes dizzy with how much adrenaline is pumped into your bloodstream and panic settling in to the marrow of your bones. The haunting, metallic bugle of the elk dwarfs your heartbeat, looming over you. The acid of the bile pools in your mouth, stinging at your tongue and almost making you wretch. You gotta hide! Need to—

Your chest harshly lands on the waterlogged ground, effectively knocking the wind out of you as mud cakes your face and chest. Unnaturally large hands wrap around your waist and that creaky, hollowed bugle rings right beside your ear. Choking on your breath, you dare to crane your neck to look over your shoulder, body trembling as you cough and wheeze your way to breathe again. The sight alone makes eyes go wide at the first glimpse on what towers above you.

What you see, is no ordinary elk, but a monster. One with antlers strong and pointed, reaching towards the heavens and branching out to the point where the two antlers almost touch—like tangled and twisted tree roots. Its head an elk skull, underneath the empty sockets lie human eyes, peering at you. You even dare say, undressing you.

Its upper body is like that of a human, save for the talon like nails that anchor your body down to the ground. As your eyes move down, however, you see the dirt caked fleshy skin transition into fur—one traditionally like an elk followed by hind legs and cloven hooves, chipped and worn with age. Natures twisted amalgamation of animal and human; a bastard of the unnatural.

It bugles again, softly this time, crooning. Almost as if asking if you like what you see.

And you want to fucking throw up at the implication.

The urge to scream and thrash away from its grip dies before it even begins like a snuffed out flame. An invisible force freezing your vocal cords, holding them captive as the creature leans closer, hinging its maw open to reveal a sleek, black tongue—licking you. Your muscles writhe beneath your skin.

“Mine.” Its voice is a rumble of thunder, rippling throughout your fragile bones as it—he—speaks. It’s a voice worn and booming; one that hasn’t been used in ages—at least that’s what you assume. Plumes of his breath appear in a smoke like cloud against the biting chill of the rain, tongue retracting back once its had his fill of licking all the salt and sweat from your cheeks.

Lifting your frozen body with a relative ease, he tucks you to his side, cradling your body in his hand as if he was holding a parcel.

In this moment, you can’t think. Everything’s happening so fast that your mind can’t even keep up, mentally grasping at straws at the how’s, when’s and why’s of it all. It’s like your mind is on a chairoplane—holding you just by the head as it spins at a nauseatingly rapid pace while you ragdoll through the air.

When the wind and rain whips at your face as he starts to move, do you notice how he weaves through the forest at a breakneck, inhuman speed. It dawns on you there was no chance of getting out of here to begin with.

The world, or rather, the reality you thought you knew, utterly shatters. Monsters are real—and you’re being kept by one, dangling in its grasp as it figures out what to do with you next.

Tears never seem to come from your glassy eyes, but you could feel them chewing at your optic nerve—a burning, sizzling tingle, something akin to a sparkler you used to play with as a kid on muggy summer nights.

Thinking about it, you’ll never be able to play with them again—or drive your car, or even complain to your friends about work. You never even got to tell your mom you love her after your fight.

You’ll never be able to do that again, you'll never able to do anything again, not while you’re in this beasts grasp. And the realization of that, makes the cavity in your chest clatter in a silent, violent scream. If your lips could move, you’re sure your throat would be rubbed raw by now, vocal chords utterly fried.

Too lost in your own despair, you don’t notice that the creature stopped running until you hear a light chuff above you. Raising your head at the noise, you see the mouth of a cave—a warm, amber flame casting ambient light along the jagged edges of the rocks. A deceptive illusion of comfort beckoning you in.

When getting closer, you see a string of dead rabbits formed into an almost perfect circle near the foot of the entrance, just mere feet away from the kindling fire. A gift? An offering of some sort? Well, you don’t care either way, it’s not like you’re going to take it.

The monster sets you down, whispering a soft hum in some sort of satisfaction, probably because of its successful attempt at catching you. His eyes, dark and lifeless, resembling the bottomless void, follows the way the flames mold to the planes and soft curves your face, drinking in every pore and detail of you.

You try not to focus on him or the stench of the rabbit corpses assaulting your nose, all you can do now to keep your sanity is to just stare into fire.

You hear shuffling, fur chafing on stone as he gets closer, jaw chittering as his tongue slides along your neck. It's oddly warm without the rain nulling your sense of touch, but it does nothing to help from the familiar taste of bile from swelling in your throat.

“Mate. Mine.” His large hands resting onto your stomach, fingers creeping under the layers of clothing to get a mere touch of your naked flesh. Feeling him touch you like this feels like bugs are wriggling underneath your skin, wiggling and writhing in disgust. You want to pluck them out, get rid of this nastiness tainting your body and scrub at your skin until you're red and bleeding.

A gargled sense of a moan creaks out of this throat.

“Love. Breed.”

Your stomach drops to your ass, knowing your fate was already sealed with just those two words.

On its own, your body shakes as he purrs, bone snout nuzzling into your hair. The nauseating reality of you never being found again or even being able to see the outside world weighs on your tongue like stones. It makes you sick—want to scream, curl up into a ball and wither away, letting the cave centipedes eat at you down to the bone.

And it’s all because of those fucking markers.

[somuchforsnakes]

Bionicle's Bohrok were one of the first antagonists in the theme, yet it's incredible how their designs nailed their characterization and story role while being unique. Let's analyze them all, for they must be analyzed.

In my review of Friends' Leo, I stressed the importance of communicating character and story role efficiently and effectively in a toy, since you can't guarantee that everyone will read the supplementary material before or after buying it. This is also true for the Bohrok, but their story isn't about baking and soccer games.

The Bohrok are a hive of powerful, fearless and mysterious machines built long ago, kept in a deep slumber underground. When awoken, they swarm the surface and destroy everything, per their directive to "clean it all" (The Bohrok aren't truly evil, it's just that our heroes count as "all" right now). There's no use appealing to emotions or morals, since the Bohrok have neither. While the story's main protagonists can disarm a few Bohrok at a time, their weapons can't stop the whole swarm.

Aside from a few technicalities, this is a typical "alien invasion" story, so the Bohrok need designs befitting an invading force. They need to instill fear and look unfamiliar, but they should also have an interesting thematic throughline. On top of that, the Bohrok need to look distinct from other monsters in fiction and unmistakably belong to Bionicle. How did the designers solve these dilemmas?

Like many sci-fi and horror creatures, the Bohrok's designs draw from a classic well of inspiration: the arthropods. Basing a design on something so different from humans is a convenient way to instill unfamiliarity and fear (it's partly why more people fear spiders than deer, who have a much higher body count). The Bohrok don't draw from a single creepy crawly, though: they have sturdy, compact bodies reminiscent of beetles, the cast structure of termites (two monarchs, a wealth of soldiers, and diminutive helpers), powers that evoke the roles of eusocial insects in an exaggerated way, a hive similar to a bee's, the ability to curl into a ball like a woodlouse, big eyes and sharp mandibles.

The Bohrok also deviate from their inspirations as much as they borrow: they're bipedal, they have two body segments, and they lack many of the trademark body parts of an arthropod, such as wings, antennae and stingers. Altogether, the Bohrok's designs are hard to pin down - they're not quite animals, but not humanlike either - and that ups their fear factor (their sharp shape language also helps). Their inscrutable faces sell their lack of individual thought and makes it even harder to relate to them.

This may not have been intentional, but one of my favorite details about this character design is how it plays with our tendency to look for eyes first. Since the standard Bohrok silhouette is bipedal, I was conditioned to find the Bohrok's eyes near the top of its head, but this failed me since I just saw their clear head-plates. Those teardrop-shaped parts next to the mandibles are their actual eyes. Even if this misdirect lasted for a few seconds, it left a distinct impression on me.

Nailing the fundamentals is all well and good, but I could have used those earlier paragraphs to describe a lot of monsters. What makes the Bohrok so special? The answers lie in what made Bionicle so special in its early years: the focus on combat and the masks.

You may have noticed that beneath the Bohrok's head-plates lie rubbery, face-like things: those are krana, the brains of the Bohrok and their only piece of organic tissue. This exposed brain serves as both ghastly imagery and a play function: press down on the Bohrok's eyes and the krana jumps out. If it finds its way on a character's head, they become part of the swarm.

Mind control and assimilation are two other classic sci-fi conventions, conveyed beautifully by the krana forcibly replacing the victim's mask, the window into their character. Combined with how they don't quite fit their victims' heads, you know something isn't right when a character is wearing one of these.

Since both the traditional masks and the krana are designed to be knocked off in battle and the Bohrok can attack using their gear functions, the intended story can unfold naturally through play. Children could easily invent stories where a Bohrok emerges and it's too powerful, and uh-oh, one of the heroes has become corrupted! They can pit heroes against heroes, or maybe the villagers find their own way to stop a Bohrok. Sure enough, these possibilities are explored in supplementary material.

It's no easy feat to make a design's inspiration and role clear while also respecting its mystery, but the Bohrok stick the landing. While the tropes they pay homage to are familiar, they put a Bionicle spin on them. They truly earned their status as one of Bionicle's most iconic antagonists.

Author's note: Thanks for reading my second analysis! Going from minidolls to Technic creatures was a weird transition, but I'm glad I chose these bonkle bugs as my first non-minifig, non-minidoll subject. Brushing up on the lore was a ride.

I probably won't analyze another Bionicle character for a while, though, as I want to represent a wide variety of themes on this blog. Still, I appreciate recommendations and feedback.

If you're wondering about the Friends cast in that last picture: originally I planned to showcase the Bohrok's play features through a Nuhvok invading Heartlake City and destroying stuff, but I thought it would be more fitting to use its home series' media to prove my points. Plus, I forgot just how small typical LEGO characters were to the Bohrok. I still wanted to include something featuring them, so here's Autumn and pals dismantling it. Careful with that krana!

[space-mermaid-writing]

Of monsters and men [IronStrange]

Summary: Some kidnappers fucked up big time and now Tony is bonded to this strange demon he continues to summon by accident.

Tags: demon!Stephen Strange, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Angst, Whump, body horror, protective Stephen Strange, Stephen Strange needs a hug

Author's note: It's finally happening! This is the demon fic I talked about ages ago. Special thanks to @harpywritesfic who listened to my random rambles about this and was one of my main motivations to write this in the first place. It might have even been her idea all along. The same amount of thanks goes to @kvjjjjjj who helped me tweaking everything and shaping the story into what it is now.

Read it on AO3 | Masterlist | Word count: 2.5k | Next

Chapter 1: I’m yours to command

Tony had been kidnapped – yet again.

A scratchy bag was blocking his view and his hands were bound above his head.

He had been drugged – must have been because he had blacked out and still felt dizzy, although he regained consciousness a while ago.

Whoever did this, they were experts. They had stripped him of all his tech; even his watch that transformed into a gauntlet. So he was left with no way to contact Jarvis.

At least he was sitting, with his back against a cold stone wall. Even if his left shoulder hurt all the way down to his elbow.

He guessed he was in a big room or some kind of hall. There were some noises and low voices nearby but still too far away to hear any specifics.

Until footsteps approached him and the bag was pulled off his head.

Tony squinted in the sudden light – that came mostly from candles all around the place. Huh – weird interior design choice.

“You know, I’m actually insured against being kidnapped by one million dollars,” Tony said. Because for the love of god, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Especially not when he was nervous. And while he was a pro in being kidnapped – really he should have a punch card at this point – it was always a reason to be at least slightly concerned.

Plus his head still felt weird.

The first thing Tony noticed of his kidnapper was his weird outfit. It was some kind of robe, like a monk but in a dark red. He wore a hoodie over it, as if he had decided at the last second that he needed another layer in case it got cold.

“Be glad we already collected everything we need from you.” The guy sounded annoyed by Tony’s comment; and he had a New York accent. Definitely a local then.

“If you have everything, you might as well let me go.”

“Oh no. We will keep you in case they want a snack. Why you of all people have a suitable bloodline is a mystery to me. I really would have liked someone who was easier to kidnap. So, we have to make it worth it.”

Tony squinted his eyes, irritated. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He didn’t get an answer, since the guy turned away and walked back to a group of people. All of them were wearing those red robes and various versions of jackets and hoodies.

Soon Tony noticed that he was in a kind of catacomb made of stone. It looked old, with high ceilings and no windows. Judging by the dusty smell of the air they were probably underground.

There was barely any interior – besides the candle sticks and some boxes that looked like they were brought here only recently.

The walls were decorated with weird carved-in symbols Tony didn’t recognize.

He raised his head. What he thought was a wall behind him was actually a block of stone, some kind of rough black granite. It was placed suspiciously like some kind of altar in the room.

The group of cultists or zealots or whatever, were currently working on copying something from an ancient looking tome onto the ground.

Shit, that wasn’t good.

These guys didn’t just want ransom or secret business information. They were serious with this, and maybe a bit crazy.

Tony tried to pull on his shackles to no avail. He had to think quickly – which wasn’t so easy with his head still swimming.

The cultists finished whatever they drew and inspected it. Then one of them stepped to the boxes, and took out a transparent bag with red liquid in it.

Tony suddenly had a horrible suspicion. He glanced up at his still aching arm: someone had put a band-aid under the crook of his elbow. Right where blood was usually drawn.

Now his lasting nausea made more sense.

They poured the red liquid onto the outer line of their work. Then they gathered in a circle around it and started chanting while holding their hands.

Tony didn’t really want to stay and find out what exactly they were attempting to accomplish here.

The drawn symbols on the ground lit up. Then suddenly, the blood got absorbed into the stone on the ground, as if it had been sucked up.

Tony didn’t believe in hell. Or in heaven for that matter. But he had met a super soldier, a green angry guy full of radiation, and a literal alien god. At this point everything was possible.

His fear spiked when dark smoke filled the floor – centered at the area where his blood had vanished – and the candles flickered. An eerie aura spread, almost as if the air had become tinted.

Tentacles grew out of the smoke; at first they seemed shadow-like but then they solidified, and Tony noticed immediately the sharp spikes that unsheathed from the suckers.

The cultists moved back a bit, making space.

Whatever was going on, Tony needed to leave. Sooner rather than later.

But when he tried to move, he just hurt his wrists.

Then a figure appeared amidst the smoke and the tentacles. It grew out of the shadows and became taller and taller.

Tony saw horns – and some kind of cape? There were more tentacles around the figure and it was hard to tell where the figure and its cape ended and the tentacles began.

The demon’s – there wasn’t any better term to describe the figure – voice echoed in the vault.

“Wħø đȺɍɇs ŧø sᵾmmøn mɇ?”

“It was us, creature of darkness.” One of the cultists took a step forward and the demon’s head whisked around to him. Tony imagined the eyes of such a creature being terrifying, but the cultist spoke with confidence. “Our bond compels you to heed our commands. We are your masters by blood and magic. Together, we shall harness the powers that lie dormant in the shadows.”

The speech was a bit much in Tony’s opinion – on the other hand he was in no position to voice critique.

The demon didn’t say anything. He looked down to where the summoning circle lay under the dark smoke.

Then he stepped over it.

The cultists’ faces fell and they became pale. That was when Tony knew something has went horribly wrong. He went back to trying to free himself. But he just rubbed his wrists more sore and hissed in pain.

The demon turned his head halfway towards him as if drawn by the noise, and Tony quickly bit his tongue. He didn’t want to draw further attention.

Fortunately, the demon deemed the cultists as the more important matter. “Ɏøᵾ Ⱥɍɇ nø mȺsŧɇɍ øf mɨnɇ. Ŧħɇ ƀønđ ɨs ᵽȺɨđ wɨŧħ ƀłøøđ – Ⱥnđ ɨŧ đøɇsn’ŧ ŧȺsŧɇ łɨkɇ ɏøᵾɍs.” He raised a long, slender arm and pointed at the speaker. “Ƀᵾŧ føɍ ɏøᵾ Ɨ wɨłł đøᵾƀłɇ ȼħɇȼk.”

In the next moment he vanished – just to re-appear right in front of the cultist who had addressed him, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him off the ground. He killed him effortlessly, almost like an afterthought.

Panic rose among the other cultists. They realized they had made a mistake and they held no power over the entity they had called. Naturally, they tried to flee.

The tentacles dashed after them – it didn’t look like the demon was willing to let them leave.

Tony averted his eyes and tried to work on his own escape instead. The fearful screams and noises of breaking bones were deafening but he knew his time frame was short, if he wanted to make it out alive.

His shackles were pretty tight and they didn’t give him a lot of room to move. There was nothing around him he could use either, just stone. He tried to grind his shackles against it, but it damaged the stone rather than his bonds. At this rate, he would need hours or days to get any results.

The noise of metal against stone became louder and at first, Tony thought it was because he still felt dizzy and his head was directly next to where he was working to free himself. It took him a second to notice that it had become silent in the room.

He stilled and focused back on his surroundings.

There was nobody left but the demon – and he looked straight at him.

Tony gulped. It was the first time he saw his face.

It was surprisingly human. The skin too pale, maybe even a bit purple-ish. And it seemed to flicker, as if its outlines were blurred – or constantly changing. Like the static noise of a television. His horns were framed by black hair, streaked with white on both sides.

His back was straight with confidence and his long arms hung low, ending in black tainted hands with claw-like fingers.

The ragged robes that once maybe had been blue but now leaned more into purple, and the red cloak around his shoulders had seen better days as well.

Tony squirmed in his place. “For the record, I had nothing to do with bothering you. Not my plan, didn’t approve it.” His eyes flickered to the tentacles all around, that seemed to – surprisingly – calm down, as well as the flickering of the demon’s skin.

The demon approached him. In the dark smoke that still lingered on the floor and with his long robes and cape, it almost looked like he was gliding over the ground. Funnily enough he also seemed to become smaller, shrinking to the size of a regular human being. He still towered over the altar Tony was bound to.

His eyes were blue and utterly inhuman. They looked like a window to another world; Tony could see colors swirling around in them. They were so very deep. Tony felt himself falling, sucked in by the blue and purple. He forgot to breathe.

“It was your blood that summoned me.” The voice of the demon brought Tony back into the moment and he blinked. His legs felt shaky.

The demon’s voice was now different then before- deep, and for some reason he spoke perfect English. Maybe it was the magic involved.

“Sorry about that. It wasn’t voluntary.” It was probably a stupid idea to talk to this creature. Tony’s last words would be something utterly ridiculous.

On the other hand, that was a very fitting way for him to go. He felt – maybe for the first time ever – like he had run out of time and options. Despite all the reckless stuff he was throwing himself into on a daily basis; this was different. He was used to dealing with human villains, maybe robots and the occasional alien from space, but not to whatever this creature was. There was some kind of power emanating from him Tony couldn’t even begin to fathom.

The demon stretched out his claw, sharp and intimidating, and Tony felt his heart race as a wave of dread washed over him. He winced in anticipation of the pain, bracing himself for the harsh reality of whatever cruel fate awaited him.

But the demon inflicted no harm. Instead the demon cut his restraints with a swift move. The shackles fell away, releasing Tony from his captivity.

He sat there, perplexed, as he rubbed his sore wrists, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

And then, to add to his astonishment, the demon lowered himself onto one knee, his head bowed.

“I’m yours to command,” he offered respectfully.

Tony’s initial wonder rapidly shifted back into disbelief mixed with a sense of foreboding.

“No need, thank you. You can leave,” he replied, his voice carrying the certainty that he wanted absolutely no part of what the creature was offering.

Now it was the demon’s turn to be surprised and he looked up. “I’m bound to you by the spell. I have to stay until I have been of service to you.” He eyed the human. “I’m sure there is something you need.” The demon came closer to Tony’s face. His eye color shifted to the clearest blue Tony had ever seen and he was captivated by it.

“Something you wish for. Something you desire.” The demon’s voice dropped an octave. “My mighty powers know only few restrictions.”

Proudly he grinned, revealing a row of terrible razor-sharp canines.

Tony suddenly felt hot. Did someone turn up the thermostat? Maybe this creature was fueled on hellfire or something like that.

Anyway, Tony wasn’t really interested in anything the demon could offer. He had more money than he could ever spend; everybody knew who he was, and if he wanted he could call and speak to the president. There was no power or fame that appealed to him.

But if he had to think of something in order to send this fellow away… “Can you heal that?” He showed his bruised wrists.

The demon paused. This wasn’t what he had expected. But then he nodded and reached out. Tony braced himself because of the claw-like fingers, but – yet again – they were surprisingly gentle when they touched his skin. They curled around the bruise and then – with a golden shimmer – the demon healed him.

Not having expected that, Tony watched in awe. “Wow, that’s incredible.”

The demon puffed up proudly for a moment, before he studied Tony. “That’s not your only injury,” he observed.

His hand wandered up his sleeve and he healed the ache in his arm from where his blood had been drawn, before it settled on his left shoulder. It was his bad one. The one that had been injured so often, Tony was used to the constant ache.

The demon’s hand lit up golden and the pain was gone.

Then the blue eyes looked at his chest, where the light of his arc reactor glowed faintly through the fabric of his shirt.

That was where Tony drew the line. “Don’t touch that,” he ordered sharply.

“But you are injured.”

“I am aware. But it’s good as it is. You can leave now, right? You were of service.”

The demon seemed taken aback by his behavior. As if he had never met a human, that settled for a simple healing spell. Most humans asked for power, wealth or being worshiped. Maybe to destroy their enemies.

“I guess technically I did,” he admitted.

“Totally. I’m a very satisfied customer. Five out of five stars. Big help, thank you. I don’t need your service anymore.”

“Fine.” The demon stepped back and Tony felt like he could breathe again. “It was interesting to meet you, Anthony, son of Howard.”

Before Tony could ask how the fuck he knew his name, the demon disappeared back into the ground – and with him the tentacles and the dark smoke.

Tony leaned back against the stone, exhaling.

Just when he thought life couldn’t get any weirder…

Then he realized he should have asked the demon to bring him home, because he still had no idea where the hell he was.

[connectionterminated13]

Eleanor redesign!!!! Let's go women!!! Design stuff/original design comparison underneath

So here's the original Eleanor design.... As you can tell it's not good. Like I give forgiveness to the Graphic novel Eleanor on the left since there was a time constraint and the artist was constrained by the previous Eleanor design but... Lady fizz Eleanor go to hell please :)

Anyway this is basically a purely vibe based redesign!! Also some like kind of rewrite stuff I don't care about cannon I'm just being silly-

First thing: My Eleanor isn't a fun time! I think she's like a fairy princess from some faz bear knock off. Either way because of that she doesn't have faceplates instead her face is made out of rubber! Also those aren't moving eyes they're Printed on like a Barbie doll!

Second thing: I made her a fairy. As my friend @fyrefrostanimus Pointed out it kind of works thematically with her like element of tricking people kind of being like a fay... But I picked it because bug horror!!! Which I leaned into for her monster form. I also thought basing her around something would differentiate her from baby and give her a bit more of her own identity. And I thought what better to base a horror design on then a soul list Barbie fairy princess doll!

Third thing: I completely overhauled Eleanor's monster form. I threw it all out the window because tentacles are charlie's thing. Instead my version of Eleanor is freaky bug lady. Also I think she collects the bones of her victims as a way to feel closer to being human.

Fourth thing I don't care about the cannon I'm being A goofy guy: I think this Eleanor is still basically the same doing like to be beautiful and stuff.. But she isn't just like the devil basically or the most powerful agony creature. She's like really good at tricking people especially young girls with body issues. Also she really thinks Afton is the coolest guy.. She's basically the only agony creature that buys into his god myth.

[ccinos-cat-cafe]

I already created him about one or two weeks ago, but I never gave em an official design….here it is :D

The story of the Swamp Beast . . .

Hollow was raised in a wonderful, protective family. Despite never really being given a name, only being called “little one” or “kid”, the rest of his life was filled with affection and love…except when it wasn’t. As it got older, it learned of the corruption that was passed onto it by Nightmare. The corruption was never a good fit for Hollow’s soul…luckily, it didn’t affect it, or his physical appearance. But there was a catch. There’s always a catch, isn’t there? Despite its body being perfectly intact, its mind was slipping further and further away due to the grasp the corruption had on it. It wondered day after day, if it was what the others had endured for so long. The constant whispers and voices creeping into his mind, threatening him with consequences to the actions he never committed. Telling him things that he never wanted to hear, telling him to hurt and to betray. Telling him that one day, he’d slip, and when he did, he wouldn’t be able to get back up. The voices got louder and louder as the years passed until they sounded like they were right by his ear canal. He had tried his hardest to ignore them…but now, he couldn’t. He began to snap and yell and lash out at his family, but every time he would be lulled and told that he was okay. That everything was okay. But despite how badly it didn’t want to believe the voices, it knew they were right. One day, one day, it would succumb and murder the ones who took the time of day to appreciate him. In fear of that happening, Hollow locked himself in his room, only coming out when the others were gone for a mission or asleep. It was the best thing and the worst thing that he had ever done…but it knew it couldn’t face the others again. Not if their safety was on the line…

It would have happened one way or another, wouldn’t it? One night, while he was leaving to gather his dinner, Hollow found Cross. His sanity was already about to snap like a rope that was held together by only one string, and this was the pair of scissors that would make it so. Poor, unsuspecting Cross, who was just trying to make some hot chocolate before going back to bed, was taken by his neck by splintery, wooden claws, and was mauled brutally. His face looked nearly unidentifiable by the time Nightmare and the others came down, and Hollow had to be held back by not one, not two, but three of Nightmare’s tentacles. It was tricky, but he was able to soothe Hollow just enough to make him stop clawing and fighting. It was the saddest day of all of their lives…maybe the second or third most traumatic for Cross. It was a regretful, but mutual decision by everyone that Hollow would be banished to a medieval fantasy AU, since Horror insisted that there should be a castle in case Hollow felt homesick. It wouldn’t work very well, since without the ability to shortcut, Hollow would never be able to feel at home…but it was a nice thought. The AU wasn’t homey, as expected. The monsters had been casted into the underground already, or in this case, a far away land that could never be reached unless you tried hard enough. But it was obvious no one would try at all. Hollow took that as a warning, and rather than stepping into the village, he took residency in the lonely bog that had deadly, thick waters. No, it wasn’t water anymore…it was just acidic gunk. That was fine. He’d work around it… Throughout Hollow’s years in the bog, it’s learned its attacks, its abilities, and its magic. He had learned how to hunt, how to convert the bog water into something drinkable, how to maintain his stability so he wouldn’t ruin his new home…the corruption and the voices had subsided, most likely because he was finally away from the strong negative aura the castle held. Though, they often came back whenever there were…visitors. Something inside of him snapped whenever Hollow spotted a naive little traveller or a daring adventurer step foot into the bog, no, his bog. There was only one who escaped his grasps…and that was when he was dubbed “The Swamp Beast”. He didn’t find offense to it. At least he had a name besides “kid”…and plus, it sounded cool He was shocked to find that his murders and high LV were what kept him sane. It had experimented, and learned that the voices only got louder if it dared to put a pause on its killing streak. He never left the bog…but more than rarely, there would be a bounty hunter of some sort to try and find the infamous Swamp Beast. It had been over a century since Hollow lived in the bog, and not once had it ever would have guessed that there would be another person living there. As always, a person had stepped into the bog, and as always, Hollow stalked them to give them a warning to retreat. But after his usual attack…he was pierced by a glowing blue arrow. Who would have guessed that the unannounced son of the Guardian of Positivity would be sharing the same forest as he. Naturally, they didn’t get along very well. They still don’t, but…they were the only company for one another. They had to endure if they both wanted to continue living in the forest…let alone continue living. Hollow found Helian annoying. A stuck up brat who thought they owned the entire forest…but at least he was finally given a proper name . . . Facts and Abilities ;

Helian is a Farm x Dream child owned by my friend Sludge :D

Hollow lost his arm during a fight with dire wolves

Every step it takes, the grass below it burns away, and is then replaced by weeds and fungi

Hollow will eat anything that lives and moves

He’s a bit feral, and had blood stains and dirt and muck all over him

His horns are willow tree branches

Helian named him Hollow because of the hole in his torso - Speaking of, one of the ways it hunts is by the many tentacles within the hole…inside is another mouth with razor sharp, wooden teeth

It generates fire out from the tip of its tail when in need of light

Moss grows everywhere on him wherever there’s wood

His magic is the same consistency of the bog water. Hollow had accidentally drank the unfiltered bog water after getting rammed in by a buck, and it contaminated his magic. That’s what’s constantly running out of his skull

He’s also called “The Bog Beast” or “The Swamp Stalker”

[dearinglovebot]

thoughts on rebirth trailer:

great visuals but that was the only thing we knew was guaranteed

designs are by in large good. except the spinosaurus. someone give him his neck back. his head is way too small for his body and the neck makes it 10x worse

that’s an action movie. not a criticism per say but that is the most by the books action movie trailer I’ve ever seen. every quip and even some of the visual acting screams marvel blockbuster humor. I’m not at all sold on the idea this will be a scary horror movie

I already like loomis. I hate the idea of having more military characters lead the franchise so I’m on the fence about zora and duncan but hey. maybe they’ll do something subversive. the family of survivors and medical guys are so far completely irrelevant so no opinion on them. I can almost guarantee their main purpose will be dinosaur food based on how little the trailer cares for them

I don’t hate the idea of a deformed clone monster on principle but that is so easy to write wrong that I’m weary. design is… Fine. nothing really stands out about it to me. it doesn’t even really have much *dinosaur* quality to it, though, which i dislike the most. you could say it’s a deformed elephant embryo and I’d believe it

I’m not really seeing any reason this HAD to have a jurassic label to it beyond name recognition. the setting is so generic (ambiguous tropical island that abandoned science happened on) that you very easily could file the serial number off and sell it as any other syfy dinosaur movie. willing to have my mind changed on this if the movie commits to building real lore

final conclusion: I don’t hate it, but it’s not what I would ideally Want from a new jurassic installment. we’ll see if it can pull through

[rockybloo]

As I’m doing this ask, I’m just watching Jack the Giant Slayer and making me SEVERELY wanna read Beanstalked, I’d love a passion fueled essay/reason from you why I should read it! (I’m gonna ready it anyways)

OH BOY I GET TO DROP MY LIMITERS

For starters, Beanstalked is a fantasy slice-of-life with a sprinkle of adventure and action. It does feature swearing, violence and gore as well as some body horror and existentialism. So just a heads up.

The main plot is basically that Lore, the planet that Beanstalked takes place on which exists directly parallel to Earth, has an event every 100 years where individuals are selected to become Bookmarked. This is where they are assigned roles from fables and legends from our world and gain secret weapons known as Märchen for self defense. This event has gone on practically forever under the watchful eyes of the Sun and Moon, the gods of this world.

But that all gets disrupted by an evil fairy called Nevermore who is bored of witnessing the same fairy tales happening over and over again. She has rounded up Bookmarked villains and the occasional misled protagonist to assist her and her army of ink stains as she aims to rewrite the world and rid it of happy endings.

The newest generation of Bookmarked are very unlucky as it is their turns to live out their assigned tales due to their stories all having been screwed up due to Nevermore's interference. Jack is one of these unlucky Bookmarked, who has just recently come to learn he has been assigned the same Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk. Much of Beanstalked follows hm as he learns about the magical side of the world he lives in, how to use his own Märchen, his own family history, and what exactly a "Happy Ending" is.

Beanstalked is meant to somewhat explore fairy tales and how suddenly becoming a figure in one can affect one's life-whether it be good or bad. It's also, at its center, a story about learning more about one's self and figuring out what truly makes you happy.

If you are a fan of fairy tale retellings then Beanstalked is a good pick for you. Especially if you are a fan of retellings that:

Aren't just mean spirited spins about the original tale

Aren't completely dark and gritty retellings of the source material for the sake of being edgy

Aren't just rip offs of Disney designs and characters

Or if you are petty like me, don't want to read another story about a protagonist having fallen into the land of fairy tales

Every Beanstalked character is meant to be based off either a direct character from a fable or a stock character. And for each fable, I try to bounce off the original story if there is an author (Like Pinocchio novel) or the oldest retellings as many fables don't have direct authors and simply have collectors that put their own spin on things.

So if you are worried about another fairy tale retelling story where each fable is just based off Disney's spins-DON'T WORRY BECAUSE ROCKY GOT YA' COVERED!

Beanstalked also contains a lot of found family elements, such as the entire village of Briar Patch being a community of Bookmarked who watch out for one another.

There are also cool af battle scenes due to the existence of Märchen (because Rocky grew up watching too many shounen anime and now has to put battles in everything), a ton of world building (I've had this story for nearly a decade now), a lotta characters with melanin (many being black), and a cast comprised of bi and pan characters.

ALSO ALSO...if you are a fan of pretty black girl love interests that kick ass (and may also be a monster girl with sharp teeth and claws and whole big monster form) then you will enjoy Beanstalked as Jack's love interest, Nana, is all of said above mentioned things.

SO if any of this happened to catch your attention-GO READ BEANSTALKED! As of right now I've rebooted it from the original 2010s version I had so it currently only has chapters 1 and 2. Which means you don't have a lotta catch up to do!

I have also handcuffed myself to this story which means I will be working on it till I finish it. I am on a mission. So if you want a webcomic and don't wanna worry about it suddenly being cancelled or disappearing one day-DO NOT CONCERN YOURSELF CITIZEN as I am unhinged about my fairy tale babies and am in for the long haul.

[sweetlikehoneystingslikeabee]

"Halloween Theme Park" Pt. 2 Wolverine and Deadpool

SORRY I GOT REALLY LOST IN THE SPOOKY SAUCE THIS YEAR. THIS IS LATE. I'M TRYING. We're going to do a series of asks based on the same prompt of going to a theme park that does horror mazes in halloween (see: HHN at Universal Studio, Knotts Scary Farm, Fright Fest at Six Flags, etc). We've done the scarecrows and I'm switching up the order. It's going to be these guys and then Rogues Party! (hopefully on time for halloween if it's not i'm sorry)

TW: Horror mazes, theme parks

Wolverine

You do need to convince him to go, partly because this man has PTSD and he's worried about his reactions. It ends up not being an issue, he's able to keep his cool around civilians dressed up. He might tense at moments, but it's relatively minor. A touch from you on his arm and he relaxes.

He is the guy who says "I'll protect you, babe" and means it. If it's just a scare actor getting too close, he just holds you and sort of puffs up so you know you're safe. Gives them a smart-ass response if they try to banter. If it's actually a rude guest or someone drunk bumping into you, he's growling, showing those sharp canines and telling them to fuck off. Just uhhhhh be careful because he'll literally fist fight for you too which might get you kicked out :/

Everything is too expensive and he's only buying this ONE THING because you were making starry eyes at it. You probably are saying you don't even need it and he's pulling out his wallet and hard cash for it. Mentally it's to make up for the fact he's going to the designated smoking area at least once in the night even if you don't partake. Helps him shake off all the weird smells of the park.

He's kind of indifferent to most mazes? He's... genuinely sort of seen everything in terms of monsters, aliens and mutants. If anything, he'd be impressed if there was a maze with something he HASN'T seen. As for things he doesn't like... Clowns. He's not scared of them, he just dislikes their smug foolishness. And there's always one that takes the joke a touch too far. In terms of fear or triggering, he really does not like anything that's tight spaces with sudden loud sounds such as, say, a WWII trenches theme.

Deadpool

You do not need to convince him to go, even if his PTSD could be a potential problem. Not because he'd do anything but certain themes or mazes could trigger him to panic a little. Will he deal with this? No! No, we combat everything with humor here, it's fine. As long as it's not a major event, there's nothing to worry about.

He will also say "I'll protect you babe" but the moment something or someone gets him good, he's jumping into your arms like Scooby does for Shaggy. If there was real danger, of course he'd protect you. This, though? Nah, he's a damsel, let him comically hide behind you with all that beef.

Other than that he banters with the scare actors. SO much joking around. And the cheesiest jokes! He sees anyone kind of body horror and fucked up and he greets them like a long-lost cousin for the bit. If he can get you to join in on the banter, that makes it even better. The scare actors that are off to the side areas, starving for interaction? He gives them everything they want and more.

He buys stupid merch. Not only does he buy stupid merch, if there's carnival games where you can win stuff at this park? Babe, pick what you want, he's got this. You are taking home at least one stupid gigantic plush that you can hardly hold. Wade is just really good at that sort of thing and likes to spoil you. Hard to get scared when you have a dracula teddy bear to squeeze!

Themes Wade really likes: Aliens, ones with the fake guns you get points on, vampires, magic- He's pretty open-minded. Themes Wade hates and potentially are Actually Upsetting for him: Storylines where a character has DID for multiple reasons, unreality (he has enough of that on his own, thank you), Military PARTICULARLY MILITARY EXPERIMENTS/TORTURE.

[pzyii]

Would like to hear more about the black Buffy au 👀

okay so like. There’s a lot to say about it , because it’s ultimately a part of my whole buffy rewrite/ redesign/(modern?) au (which is both fixing stuff I’m bothered with and a way to collect a bunch of head canons and just be more free with these characters). Tho I do also just see her as black at this point and draw her as it even if it’s not directly related to this au.

I got caught up in it and it’s all long so it’s all under the cut

it started with me drawing her as black once, I think it was prompted by a TikTok of someone who was giving heavy buffy vibes. But when I did, it really stuck with me. These are for various reason. One of the main ones, honestly? Racism in this show.

Like I get that it was the 90s but that doesn’t excuse it. There are obviously a lot of examples, the lack of characters of colour being a big one. But Buffys racism towards Kendra is another one, as well as the first slayer only communicating through Tara, a white woman in restless. The way they talk about Romani culture and people isnt good either (and something I’ve been working on how you can make the story work still), neither is ampata and def more examples I can’t think of now.

but it isn’t just about that, and it’s not just about representation. But rather the concept of buffy the vampire slayer itself. The idea of a woman who always is the one hunted and killed in horror movies turning around and just killing all the monsters. Yeah this fits a blonde woman but it sure also fits a black woman. (another part of this is people underestimating buffy, both her enemies but also the people around her. They think she’s stupid, that she’s not strong etc. When she very much isn’t. This is yet again something that while fitting the stereotypes of a blonde woman, but also fits, a lot better today too, with a black woman. Or any woman of colour. To point out an obvious of example of this, we for example have Annabeth Chase in Pjo. Who’s intelligence and capability was underestimated in the books because she was blonde, but makes even more sense with her being black)

but onto the fun stuff!!! Idk exactly whattt you wanted anon but I’m giving you some insights into what I’m working on on and off right now. So Buffys not the only one getting redesigned with this, obviously her family, Dawn and Joyce’s appearances are gonna change. But other characters too, this both being connected to what I said about head canons, but also Xander for examples prob gonna change a bit, he’ll still be a brunette, probably the same height and similar build but he won’t look a lot like Nicholas Brendon. This is because well. I want him to look like a kid!!! All of them, while they’re teens I want them to look like it, and hopefully if my art capabilities go that far, that they look visibly older by the end of it.

this au is my baby so I’m gonna share some random notes of like character design changes.

This is one of those very affected by hcs and personal preferences. A lot changes about willows appearance, she’s a bit taller(I want her to look too tall for herself, she’s all awkward, doesn’t look like she fits in her body), she has freckles (she’s ginger), there will be some changes on her body from magic (and other injuries but lots of magicks stuff, it’s reminders, SCARS) aND her hairs naturally curly but she straightens it, at least in early seasons (this is like 100% personal preference, but it’s also like…. I have things that fit and I wanna explore with it….) and so forth.

Anyas pretty similar because I just think Emma fits real well but she’s less.. human. I have a bunch and more to go in vengeance demon lore but I want her to be Different than human, having been a vengeance demon Changes You. Her ears are pointed (great for expressions, also applies to vampires), she has goat eyes (classic demon move, also fits the Almost Human thing.), her teeth are pointy (it’s fun, she’ll naw your arm off if you steal)

As a final example, that’s actually related to the black buffy aspect of the au. Drusilla. She’s also black. This design is pretty recent, and was created by me both because I wanted to explore the concept of different ways to convey her vibe, but also, and mainly, because she’s a buffy parallel. History wise there’s some things to work out with it but it’s def a design I’m stuck with at this point. (She is supposed to parallel buffy in every way, sharp edges against soft curves). Also she’s really fucking tall. (Taller than spike, which is the most important part of it)

also bonus, given about the whole modern? Au Aspect of it

[riveracheron]

how to stage “the tragedy of francis” (MAG 172), but like. in a normal theatre

hi this’ll have to do today @a-mag-a-day

im a theatre technician who, upon listening to the Spooky Play Statement of “Strung Out” got really into the idea of how one would Actually create the technical elements. it seems like an interesting challenge! this was the only theatre related episode with indepth description of the Spooky Stuff but if yall are interested id be happy to talk about Other Episodes and ways you can practical effects your way through the fearpocalypse :)

spoilers for mag 172 and fake blood below the cut!

rules of this:

- i am a technician, not a director. i am assuming that the play as described by jon is the script and that we need a giant spider and hooks and blood. i am not making any choices, simply describing how these effects can be done in a professional theater sense. to that end, i am also only a student; and not an expert.

- we are going as hard as possible. no substitutions, no artistic choices to pare it down, no nothing. this is the magnus archives we’re getting meta enough. alongside that, im not worrying about budget. this is broadway level shit.

- i am not putting a stage on a stage. this is just looking at the Tragedy itself and jon can go sit in the audience for all i care.

cool? lezzgo.

i. the hooks

this is a fly system! it’s mostly used for lowering and raising set pieces. oftentimes, its also used with actors to raise them into the air when flying. shows like wicked, mary poppins and peter pan use this to pull actors into the air to make it seem like they’re flying.

it’s done with wires connected to hooks connected to the actors’ bodies via straps. sound familiar?

they are often hidden with lights, but they don’t have to be- for a play that draws attention to these wires, the designer would probably draw attention to them - at least for when they start to dance around and stuff.

the hooks that attach to francis’ joints throughout the show could be flown in as well, and their costume and more strategic lighting could make it seem like they were attached to them. you can get pretty grotesque with high budget theater and special effects makeup.

ii. the spider

characters that are puppets is not a new thing in theater! one of the most famous examples is Audrey 2 in little shop of horrors- a puppet that has an actor off stage saying their lines into a microphone. the spider would also probably be the same.

there are some motorized puppets like the sandworm in beetlejuice the musical, but most are person-controlled, which works best for speaking puppets as show to show, peoples way of speaking can change from show to show, and the puppet needs to be able to keep up, and motorized puppets can be out of sync.

this video is a good making-of process for a giant speaking monster puppet, and i assume the spider would be the same, just much higher. there would probably be a false ceiling like the false wall above, and the puppeteers would sit above to operate the legs as if they were dangling.

it would probably be also attached to a fly system for easy lowering as the scene goes on.

iii. minor things

- the blood would come from “strawberries”, little packs of blood hidden under actors’ costumes that they can burst when needed. theres also a capsule version that one can put in the mouth and bite down on.

this is an example from the 2019 production of oklahoma, and a good look at blood strawberries and what they do

- the spider-drink would probably be done with. fake edible spiders, lots of scuttling noises from the soundboard and lights that hide the fact that they are not moving, perhaps with strobe or something crazy. the spider rain would probably be the same, but with stagehands pouring spiders down from the catwalks.

- other characters would also be off stage with mics.

- good actors will sell a Lot of this. even if the new hooks and stuff don’t touch them, they can definitely make it seem like they do.

sooooo um yeah! as much as this episode made me sick - i love technical theatre and this was a fun infodump !! take this um. as you will ig. please stage safely !! blood packs can stain and fly systems can be unsafe so please. don’t try this at home. or at least get a professional to help

[paigegonerogue]

Here’s why the infected scene in episode 5 of TLOU works so well…

Buildup: As of episode five in the series, we’ve seen infected multiple times already, and every appearance has built up this “threat-level” of them. In the first two episodes we see both the larger scale of the infected and how scary they can be in hordes (like the driving scene and the capitol building, as well as the absolutely brilliant overlook scene), but also how threatening they can be solo (Joel and Sarah in the diner and the museum scene)… also in episode three we get Bill’s little “ehehe” from an infected death which is just as if not far more important as well.

By the time we see the infected come running out of the crater, the writers have already intentionally and precisely given us the knowledge of just how scary the infected can be.

That’s also why I’m glad they only did this type of massive battle once in the series, because once they did it, it becomes impossible to recapture that buildup and almost “unleashing” of the infected, of seeing just how scary they are.

The buildup also includes the more typical rising tension of the episode (which was, like everything else in the show, done absolutely fantastically), and the foreshadowing of the infected by both Kathleen and Henry.

Scale: The infected scene in episode 5 is by far the biggest in scale action sequence of the show. The huge amounts of infected pouring out of the rubble and the massive Bloater, as well as how many people are involved, the fighting in the background, it makes the whole battle feel huge. It leaves you in this sense of almost “awe” that so many great action sequences have.

Horror: In the sequence there are horror elements added in to make it feel scarier (complementing both of the points above). Obviously zombies are already horror-esque, but that’s not what I mean.

I feel like the best example of horror elements being incorporated into the fight is the part where Ellie is in the car. Enclosed spaces are a horror staple. Ellie being trapped in the enclosed space with an infected, and later Henry and Sam trapped under the car, transition this battle beautifully into tension-filled smaller scale sections in this massive battle, with parts so pinprick focused on the people we care most about, and how bloodthirsty and terrifying these monsters are.

We also see it in Kathleen’s shocking and gruesome death, and the power of the bloater, almost reminiscent of the predator or other near-unstoppable horror forces.

Cinematography: The lighting in the battle is so good, with the fire and darkness adding to this scary effect of the battle, as well as this extra layer of dynamism and contrast.

Also, I’m always a sucker for background fight, following characters as they navigate through violence. The way this sequence does it is also incredibly well done, with the background ever-shifting and changing, with the focus of the shot being on someone actively trying to avoid the fight and get past this living mass of gore.

The handheld style of TLOU is something I can write essays about (and I will! Post about cinematography coming soon lol) but in this sequence it makes you feel like you’re on the ground with the characters as the battle rages around you.

Monster Design: This one is self-explanatory, I’d say. The clickers, and the Bloater, my goodness the Bloater, look so incredibly good. And the way that they created this almost alien thing overtaking regular peoples bodies and turning them into monsters is incredibly amazing, and the practical effects make it look so real and detailed (they had the makeup guy who did the Night King and Vecna)

Emotional Resonance: This one’s pretty simple. The battle makes you feel things. Not just fear for the characters, though there’s definitely a lot of that, but also showcasing Joel and Ellie’s growing bond, with Ellie trusting Joel to have her back and Joel desperately trying to protect her.

It was absolutely magnificent, and an absolute feat of filmmaking.

[phantasmiafxndom]

Out of all the animes you’ve watch what ones are your favorites

...you know what, you get the serious answer. I used to track my anime watching, so out of the 450+ completed ones on my list, here are some of my top recommendations! (In terms of quality, more so than what I've spent the most time dwelling on.)

. . .

One Piece — I haven't technically watched all of this one, but after falling back into the fandom after an 8-ish year break, I really can't understate the quality. One Piece's story is amazing, and I'm consistently impressed by the author's characters/worldbuilding.

Dominion Tank Police (1988) — I have FEELINGS about the villain in this one... Overall, 80s sci-fi vibes mix with themes of ethical responsibility and societal peacekeeping, and the "don't you just want to go apeshit? :)" protagonist (who's also extremely aromantic-coded) is a hilarious, yet wonderfully earnest little menace!

Kyousougiga — I've been rewatching this one recently, and the sheer detail in every scene is STUNNING. I keep having to pause to mentally scream about the symbolism, and tbh, knowing the plot from my original watch is only improving the experience.

Tekkon Kinkreet — This one's a movie, not a series, but SKLJKHS IT HAUNTS ME. Absolutely chilling, by the time the big plot twists roll around... Beyond that, the overall aesthetic/vibe is impeccable, and the exaggerated, messy art style only adds to that.

Kemonozume — Monster/human forbidden romance with stunning art and a great soundtrack. The plot started out a bit confusing, but all of the scattered story elements came together nicely in the end!

The Tatami Galaxy — The "get your shit together and start enjoying your life" anime. It's plenty good as just a story, but I got some excellent life lessons out of it too. Solid mix of comedy, drama, and charismatic-yet-extremely-bizarre characters interacting.

Monster — Excellent slow-paced, psychological horror packed with ethical dilemmas, traumatic backstories, and so many Extremely Depressed Men. In other words, there's a very good reason why Johan Liebert used to end up on so many "best anime villains" lists.

Paranoia Agent — I have nothing but praise for Satoshi Kon's work, in general, and Paranoia Agent has been my favorite of the ones I've seen so far. Compared to his movies, it really benefits from the extra space for plot development, and the big emotional twist hits hard.

Revolutionary Girl Utena — A true classic. <3 There are enough tumblr essays about this tragic yuri masterpiece that I won't go into detail myself, but yes, it's every bit as good as you've heard.

Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail — The entire Black Lagoon series is excellent, but Roberta is my special girl. Unfortunately, the OAV adaption compresses the manga's version of her arc pretty heavily (and the altered ending is kind of dumb), but I still have to recommend it. Babygirl's breakdown is a REAL mess kjshghs

Claymore — Excellent pseudo-medieval fantasy with badass female characters, lots of body horror, and top-tier monster design. The manga is MUCH better than the anime after a certain point, however.

Kuuchuu Buranko — An episodic series about an eccentric psychiatrist interacting with his troubled patients. The mixed-media animation style and bizarre characters are what sold it for me, along with the exploration of mental health through storytelling tropes.

Cannon Fodder — An artistic short movie that's twenty minutes of aesthetic experience and fascinating worldbuilding implications. I love the vibe, and the "one, long horizontal frame" style is neat.

Flowers of Evil — The art style. The VIBES. The whole thing is incredibly eerie and off-putting, with a plot that's pretty much: "congrats! two shitty teenagers are tearing each other's lives apart!".