#skulk tango

[convexicalcrow]

(part one) (part two)

Tango wasn't expecting to sense Cub so close to him as he was rifling through his storage in preparation for dungeon maintenance. But he could feel him around, he was-

Tango went over to the open wall, where levels three and four were. Cub felt… like he was… down there? In the dungeon somewhere? But the game wasn't on. There was no- there's no way Cub was in the dungeon, right? Right?

"Hmm. I'd better go check that out. Just in case."

-

It was hard to pinpoint Cub's location, though at least he remained in the same place, as if he wasn't moving. Which, well. That didn't bode very well did it? Unless he was waiting for him to jumpscare him, that was definitely a possibility. But the dungeon felt... uneasy. Like it knew something was wrong. That Cub was somewhere he shouldn't be. Tango didn't like that feeling at all.

It took far longer than he expected to find him, though. His energy was all over the place, but also somewhere he couldn't really guess. He only found him by chance as he was checking to see if he'd tried to get into the Black Mines, and there he was, passed out on the floor, skulk stains on his fingers.

"Oh, well that's not good. Possession, maybe? He's been acting so weird since the dungeon opened though. I'd better get him out of here," Tango said, kneeling down beside him as he rolled him over onto his back.

Cub made a soft sound, perhaps a sigh, and Tango touched his forehead, offering a little Vex magic to wake him up a little.

"Cubby, you with us, buddy? You okay? What are you doing all the way down here?" Tango said, trying to rouse him.

Cub took a deeper breath, wriggled his fingers a little. Tango fed him a little more Vex magic. That seemed to do the trick. Cub opened his eyes and gazed up at the ceiling, confused.

"Hey there, Cubby," Tango said. "You okay? Do you remember where you are?"

Cub scrunched his face up as if he was trying to remember. "No. Nope. I dunno. Somewhere? I do remember- skulk, but-"

"Did you get possessed again, hey?" Tango said.

"Maybe, maybe. That does seem plausible. Where are we?" Cub said.

"You're at the entrance to the Black Mines. In the dungeon. Which you very much should not be in, my friend! Especially when the game isn't running!" Tango said.

"Oh, okay. Fair enough." Cub rubbed his face with his hands and started to sit up. Tango offered a hand, and Cub sat there, blinking in the low light, his head empty and confused. "S'pose we'd better get out of here, yeah?"

"When you're ready, there's no rush. The dungeon's closed for maintenance now anyway," Tango said.

"Hey, you got any food? God, I'm suddenly starving," Cub said.

"Yeah, sure, it's just pork chops though," Tango said, pulling them out of his inventory.

"It'll do," Cub said, taking the offered food.

-

Cub was sitting on Gem's bed in her vault in the hall. It was the, well. The most comfortable place Tango thought to take him once he was up and able to get out of there. He hadn't said much; Tango's assumption that this was post-possession by ... the Vex? the skulk? something else? ... seemed correct. Cub had no memory of getting to the dungeon, nor of what he'd been doing before that, which was a little concerning if Tango was being honest.

"You know it's been a week since I last saw you, right? You finished some runs and then just disappeared. I figured you were busy, and thought nothing of it. Turns out I should have kept a closer eye on you," Tango said. "After all, you swore to obey me, and this is what's happened. Was it the skulk again?"

Cub lowered his head. He looked at his hands. Had they always looked like that? Fingertips stained with skulk? Well, he assumed it was skulk. It could just be ink, too. But he didn't remember-

"Honestly I don't know what's been going on since the dungeon opened. The skulk have been- weird. But I don't really have any firm memories to back that up." Cub idly scratched the back of his head for lack of something to do.

"Well, just- I dunno. Stay close? Let me know if things start getting out of hand? Look, even I know it's weird on the lower floors with the skulk around, okay? It's weird. There's always this stupid whispering in my head and I hate it. I just don't want you losing yourself to the skulk, alright? Because I'm afraid you'll never come back if you do," Tango said.

"I won't, I won't, Tango, I promise," Cub said.

"Well, we'll see about that, won't we?" Tango said.

[silverskye13]

Lyrics are to Peter Hollin's cover of God Help the Outcasts, which I recommend giving a listen if you haven't heard it, or would just like to hear the swelling music with some of the more dramatic poses.

I also highly recommend opening the images in a new window, if you're having trouble reading the text or seeing details.

I think this is the closest I've ever gotten to making an animatic XD

Tanguish doing musical theater in the Saint of Blood and Steel's cathedral, heavily, heavily based [as in straight up ripped from] Notre Dame de Paris, as well as the Chartes choir reliefs, and also I think the entry area is from Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal? I'm not sure I've lost the reference image. But I'll throw that name in the bucket in case y'all would like to look that one up as well! The altar piece is beautiful.

[viky-somebody]

a scene from chapter 18 of @silverskye13's redstone and skulk! in love with that fic. kicking my legs and twirling my hair everytime theres a new chapter

[nexahexagon]

“Helsknight, do you mind if I ask why you’re writing now? It’s dark.”

“I do mind.”

…

“Why are you out so late, Your Majesty?”

“I- um. I like to walk around the garden before bed.”

“Hm.”

“It’s relaxing.”

“Your brother said no nighttime adventures, you know. Sneaking out?”

“I wasn’t-“

“I’m supposed to drag you back inside.”

“… are you? Going to?”

“I think a walk is what I need right now.”

“Oh. That’s- okay. I can walk with, if that’s alright.”

===

@silverskye13

Your honor theyre in my brain. They’ve infiltrated and based in my frontal lobe.

The last (somewhat) colored pic was meant to have a [the night before…] box but I forgot,, and I’m on my phone now so I can’t use procreate to fix it,,, and this was all an excuse to draw Tanguish in armor ngl. I also just like writing silly dialogue but I’m horrible at writing the scene around it so I have to settle for images like this.

Also, I like to think Helsknight was just being dramatic in the last image. He just kinda,, forgot his hair was up. But he does find time valuable. And I think Tanguish doesn’t fully take it to heart in that moment, it was just a fresh memory, so he decided to give it a go (hence the “don’t make me change my mind”) but it’s a push start to them getting closer? Maybe?

And Tanguish has his own private garden because he needs one. He gets anxious and overwhelmed and a nice walk in a lush, tall, private garden with a cool breeze to wind down sounds wonderful. So he has a garden. As a treat. The background is super rushed as well so don’t mind the colors and flowers I just kinda meshed it together in like 15 mins.

And. I think Tango is only a little jealous of Tanguish “listening” to Helsknight more than him. And, maybe a little petty or dramatic abt it. Just a little.

I really hope y’all can read my writing I apologize I just like the silly shapes

[mattdraws11]

trying to figure out his design haha @silverskye13

[leapdayowo]

I got some finals stuff done (about half of them), so of course I had to finish this piece :D This isn’t exactly how Tango and Tanguish’s reunion went, but I really wanted to paint them hugging + Helsknight being there

Also these two pieces are on the same page in my sketchbook :3

[cuippedtea]

am,,, absolutely obsessesed w/ @silverskye13 's Redstone and Skulk fic.. Have some interpretations of guish and helsknight + wels.

pls read the fic it makes me so so happy and giddy

[ice-cap-k]

It stopped raining in my head today I finally feel like myself again Redemption's here at last Back where it all began In the place where God and the Devil shake hands

-Halestorm (The Steeple)

I think this has the most layers I've done in a single piece...

@silverskye13 's writing and art are an inspiration if you see this go check them out.

[idontparticularlyliketoast]

hgcz spoilers

How did you do it. How did you make me gasp in joy at the apperance of a maple leaf?

Seriously though, this zine has so much love put into it. All the side characters clearly had love put into them, and made me want more of this world even though there was so much already! There were so many amazing little hints of other stories happening in Hermitopia between or behind the scenes: Ren's transformation from hero enthusiast to classic dethroned King. Stress and Iskall being very unlucky shopowners who decide to take superheroism into their own hands. Joe Hills Villiany. Reformed Supervillian Tango. Keralis being a small-time theif who has history with Agent V (why is his name Vincent Burger. Vintage Beef= Vincent Burger. amazing.) MAPLE PRINCE ETHO. I WILL NEVER STOP LOSING IT OVER MAPLE PRINCE ETHO.

(Also. I cannot fucking belive Jimmy died first. I'm glad he got better, cause Imma be honest I laughed slightly too hard at that. In every universe he is ratio'd. Glad you got that regeneration mutation buddy youre going to need it. )

[ask-tangotek]

I'm behind on everything, the lore... the not lore?

YOURE ENGAGED???????

<Tango> yeah! Jimmy and I got engaged! It's going to be rough making long distance work but I love him too much to not try to make it work ♡

[convexicalcrow]

Hermittober Day 4: Bound

what came before: day 1: frost - day 2: time - day 3: fortune

-

Tango was, well. He wasn't exactly standing in the Burning Dark, he was the Burning Dark. He was dimly aware of the Wardens chasing down slimes and bats in the distance, but they weren't interested in him and he wasn't interested in them. Really, all Tango was aware of were the skulk veins wrapped tightly around his body that were holding him in the skulk. Not because he was a prisoner, but so he could rest. And recharge.

-

The skulk whispered, you see. Constantly whispered. It's why there was so much of it in the citadel and in the dungeon, though the Caves of Carnage were an outlier in this regard. Still, they whispered. They wanted more Hermits. More death. The ravagers were starving, don't you understand?

Tango did, because Tango was also starving. At least, he had been, until he'd, well. Given them no reason to leave the citadel as they knelt at his feet, begging for more shards. He was hardly ever hungry now. Watching them die over and over again was feeding him so well!

-

Perhaps, every so often, his tongue gently touched his fangs, small ones, ones no one would ever notice as being out of place. Perhaps he could still taste a little blood there, once the dungeon was clear for the next victim. The Vex were happy too. They had never been so well fed.

-

Tango existed in the skulk, his body disappearing. He could hear everything. Could hear the Hermits talking, laughing, making deals, playing games. Heard the happiness in the lobby. Tango probably didn't need to trap them here, to be fair; they were already so addicted they didn't actually want to leave anyway. But better safe than sorry, right? Especially when the skulk keeps whispering. The ravagers keep growling, their huge stomachs crying for more Hermits. The Vex keep singing, rejoicing in all the death and blood and carnage.

It's not that the ConVex had been incompetent. Or incapable of doing this kind of work. They had to be a distraction so the real plan could go unnoticed. The entire server were eating out of Tango's hands, enthralled, bound to the dungeon, sacrificing themselves over and over and over again, and none of them knew what it was really doing to them. Little by little, the skulk and the Vex would have their way. And if the Hermits didn't make it, well. That would be a shame, wouldn't it?

[silverskye13]

Have you seen the coliseum? The jaws, the stands, the banners, and blood? The crowds, the roaring magnanimous flood? Their voices, the ocean, the pulse in your ears, the shape of their outcry, the shape of your fear. Your sword is the lightning, the thunder their praise, the silence befallen your hand when it's stayed. You should see the coliseum, the fights in the sand, your soul in your teeth and your glory demand. As if you were thunder, the god of the storm, you, gladiator, the proud and hels-born.

[beekawa]

a quick animation i made for my film studies class

we were tasked to make a 20 frame flipbook, so after storyboarding it on paper i just wanted to see how the base of it looked all together (thats also part of the reason why the animation is so fast, im limited to only 20 frames)

anyway, i decided to draw a moment from an earlier chapter of redstone and skulk by @silverskye13 because i have issues :)

[cielcreations]

Infection Spreads - Skulk Infection AU

When Tango first heard Solidarity was alive, he didn't care how weird or how odd it was. He went to run and find him immediately, but was stopped. Everyone (all of Empires and Hermitcraft) met up at spawn so Joel could tell them all at once. However, Joel screamed at them that they couldn't go to him, that something was wrong, that he was not the same.

"Then we help him!" Tango screamed.

"N-NO!" Joel yelled, "He's been taken by the skulk! He's just-"

"Skulk...?" Grian's eyes widened, "...Tango, we can't... We can't save him..."

"What?! Of course we can-"

"No, Tango." The dirty blonde grabbed the blaze hybrid's shoulders, "Listen... You need to let go."

"WHAT?!" Tango pushed the other off, getting angrier by the second, "Grian, that's-"

"I know, but listen, listen! If Timmy is infected by skulk, he's just a walking corpse. He's not..."

"...Then... Then we have to heal them and-"

"Tango, he's gone! He's dead, we can't-"

Without thinking, the blaze hybrid punched Grian back. Chaos ensued as some people held back a screaming Tango as Grian held his cheek. Tango got out of the other's grasps and left to Tumble Town, alone as the others tried to think of a way to deal with the "problem." Tango looked around Tumble Town, confused on why it was now covered completely in skulk.

"Is that my rancher?!"

Tango turned around, "J-Jimmy?!" As his eyes met the dirty blonde's, he finally understood what Grian and Joel meant.

"OH MY GOD! IT IS!" The other ran over, taking the other's hands in his, his eyes glowing teal, "My rancher! Light of my life! I missed you so much!"

Tango blushed, Solidarity was never this flirtatious or bold before, "...J-Jimmy, what happened to you...?"

"What do you mean, love?" The other tilted his head, confused before he gasped, "Oh! Do you mean the skulk?"

"...J-Jimmy..." Tango gently held his cheeks, "...You're so cold..."

Solidarity held the other's hand to his cheek, smiling, "You're so warm. Opposites really do attract, huh?"

"...This... What happened to you? Why..."

"Oh! I was killed but then brought back because of the skulk! Isn't that amazing! Norman's back too! Do you want to see him?! Or do you-"

"Does it hurt...?" Tango looked over the other's arms and wings, "...It has to hurt, right...?"

"It did when I was killed. But it's-"

"Your neck. Oh my god..." The blaze hybrid tilted the other's neck up, tears in his eyes, "M-My rancher... I... I should have been there. I should have protected you..."

Solidarity widened his eyes, "...No, no, light, you couldn't have done anything! I..." Tears came to his eyes, "...They killed me when they knew everyone would be away."

Tango watched as some of the skulk seemed to die, looking into the other's eyes. He watched as one turned to look... normal. His eye looked like a normal, human, blue eye.

"I-I'm scared, T-Tango!" The other whimpered, tears streaming down his face, "I-I don't want to be like this! I-I don't... don't want to loose you..."

The blaze hybrid smiled softly, "Oh, songbird... You'll never loose me." He gently tuned Solidarity's face, "I-Is there a way we can fix this? That you know of?"

"N-No..." The dirty blonde hugged the blaze, whimpering, "Y-You promise? I-I won't loose you?"

"I promise." Tango hugged him back, "You'll never loose me. I won't leave you alone. I'll find a way to give you back your beautiful yellow wings... We can have you stealing my color!" He teased.

Solidarity chuckled, "...Tango, I love you."

Tango blushed before he smiled, "I love you too, Jimmy."

"I don't want to loose you."

"You won't."

"I know."

Tango let out a yelp, feeling something stab into his back. He went to pull away, but Solidarity held him close. The dirty blonde leaned back, his eyes glowing teal again.

"S-Soli-"

"Shhhh, it's okay, I won't hurt you, I could never hurt you~" Solidarity cooed, stroking his cheek, "Everyone else will either join the skulk or die trying to fight against it. But you? You're going to rule over it with me!"

"I-I do-"

"You do?! Oh, perfect!" Tango began to loose consciousness, "Don't worry love, just close your eyes. Go ahead and sleep, I'll see you in your dreams~"

The blaze hybrid groaned before he passed out.

Solidarity picks him up and takes him back to his base. He lays Tango on a bed of skulk, the blaze hybrid in an sleep only Solidarity can wake him up from.

[windfighter]

I summoned a warden by mistake and my whole body just PANICKED so that was absolutely not fun and I hate Mojang for adding them

0/10 worst mob added to the game

[leapdayowo]

It’s finally finished!

Them!! My silly lil guys! The ones that make cartoon noises when they splat!!

Oh man, what a fun project :) I’ve been wanting to do a proper watercolor for one of my favorite current fanfics Redstone and Skulk by @silverskye13 and I have done it! I really love Tango and Tanguish’s dynamic and envisioning them working together on decked out. Putting the name tag on the warden is one of many scenes that sticks out to me :)

Since it’s one of my goals for this year, I tried to make the lighting more interesting and dynamic. Tango’s orange, fire hair was a wonderful contrast to the blue ice cavern! I did heavily debate putting my usual line art with a pen, but decided not to so as not to lose some of the details from my colored pencils. Unfortunately, I once again forgot to take a picture at the sketch phase to show the progress :P

Regardless, I hope I captured just how much these two are creatures in my mind :3