#the scarab pit

[kepperz]

Wait

please keppy what horse mean

Lol

[toadalchaos]

forgot to show yall this fucking enormous Lucanus placidus who invited himself to the bonfire last night

[lemlem21]

THEY FINALLY GOT CLOCKED BY ANON HEHEHEHHDHE

hari & neevi my beloved. yes anon you are right. brooding dilf w/ parental instincts x silly pretty boy allergy disaster

their intro post!! by @whumpbug yours truly

[imaginepostingonsideblogs]

name ONE crime cas has ever committed.

any "crimes" done out of love don't count, that's just how he shows affection, okay. i'm sure scarab and all of cas' other happy, well adjusted lovers would agree with me

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllll..............maybe we shouldn't neutralise EVERY crime hes comitted. for. the sake of love. hes erm. thats um. its a lot.

...

all of them. its all of them, apparently.

[thenixkat]

Jaime Reyes should not have been a vampire in DC vs Vampires for multiple reasons:

a) Khaji Da can revive the dead. If Jaime got turned Khaji Da could just unturn him if things that can revive the dead can make fuckers not vampires, ie why the vampires destroyed every Lazurus Pit they could find. Also, if the Dan vs the Eye of Horus issue was anything to go by then Khaji Da could revive folks that aren't its host too.

(hehe let Jaime-Da slap bitches back to life)

b) Khaji Da is also a holy symbol, the fucking blue sacred scarab! Even if its creators didn't make it as an Earth holy symbol that doesn't change the fact that it resembles one, was used and considered to be one for 6000 yrs, and that there at least one god on Earth that confirmed that Khaji Da counts as a sacred scarab. At some point in Khaji Da's past it most likely got blessed by a priest of Ra and became consecrated to Ra. A suited-up Jaime should be walking vampire bane.

(the Ra thing is from Dan's comics, I personally would have gone with the more specific sun god Khepri given the beetle thing) (Also Khaji Da getting consecrated to a god during its time on Earth and having magic properties from that wouldn't contradict it being alien biotech)

c) Khaji Da is solar-powered. It makes as much sense that if vampirized Jaime would either be going through it and severally weakened/harmed like vampire!Superman or just flat out immune like Starfire.

[pinata-candy]

Charts relating to my WOF rewrite that I’ve been chipping away at in my brain! More details below <3

I have 1001 gripes with Pantala and arc 3, which. I know, not an original thought, but still. And I’m getting this out of the way immediately:

there is no dragon slavery in my rewrite.

I am in no position to tackle such a topic and in my opinion, neither was Tui, which may be a bit mean. I think she did a great job creating a series that so many people love but the dragon slavery is not needed and it is handled sloppily at best and very, very inappropriately at worst. I am not willing to fumble my way through a topic that is so heavy and that I do not fully understand the ramifications of and cannot ever fully understand the ramifications of. I don’t know how to write dragons dealing with being enslaved and having to figure out how to dismantle the entire social structure that did this to them and no, I don’t think saying it was a few bad dragons with some evil plant is a good enough answer for all of it. So it is being cut from my rewrite and the focus of Arc 3 (so far, always subject to change) will be just the Othermind.

But those points aside, let’s get into my Pantala thoughts!

Pantala always felt so empty to me compared to Pyrrhia, it just feels undercooked. It’s a continent of the same size but it feels like we see none of it, none of the landmarks other than the jungle, the hives, and the pit where the Othermind is feel memorable. Partially I think Pantala just was underdeveloped- the first book of arc three and the last book of arc two came out within a year of each other, it wasn’t given enough time to work itself out it seems. Another reason I think it feels so empty is because there are only three dragon tribes on it- while again, Pyrrhia is the same size and is hosting seven different tribes. Having three tribes is limiting, especially when two are living in the same environment together and the other is pushed to the furthest corner of the continent away from everything else. All action then either has to occur in the jungle or in the savanna as those are the only population centers anywhere, that’s pretty limiting- so limiting that one of the books took place BACK ON PYRRHIA because there seemed to be just so little to do on Pantala. Working out things like towns, important landmarks, etc is something I’m working on but expanding the tribe list will help me do so.

NOTE: WITH ALL THE FANTRIBES IM SURE THESE NAMES HAVE BEEN USED BEFORE AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Pantalan Tribes:

SilkWings- Colorful, four winged dragons that live in the mountainous forests on the ‘wing’ of Pantala. They can produce silk from their wrists. They undergo metamorphosis to get their wings at 7 years old

Queen: Monarch

HiveWings- Four winged dragons that do not undergo metamorphosis. They are often yellow, orange, red, or black. They have stingers on their tails and in their wrists. They live in the savannas of Pantala

Queen: Wasp

LeafWings- Two-winged dragons that live in the jungle on the head of Pantala. They come in greens and browns and are known for their Leafspeak. They are also mildly poisonous and can produce a foul-smelling mucus from their mouths.

Queen: Sequoia/ Belladonna

BeelteWings- Two-winged dragons, easily mistaken for four-winged due to their Elytra. These colorful dragons live on the 2nd wing of Pantala and are known for their strong, armored scales. They can produce a hot, acidic liquid from their tails if threatened, but this is very taxing on them.

Queen: Scarab

DamselWings- four-winged dragons, live on the tail and the tips of the claws of Pantala. These dragons come in blues, greens, purples, and pinks. They are incredibly fast, fastest of all Pantalan tribes, they have no natural defenses beyond their speed.

Queen: Meadowhawk

WebWings- no-winged dragons that live in the massive tunnels beneath Pantala. These dragons traded their flight ability for stronger silk and sturdier bodies. They come in blacks, grays, and browns. They have a venomous bite.

Queen: Widow

The tribe name for BeetleWings is also subject to change as I’m not huge on it but we’ll see.

Right now in my mind- The main conflict, prior to the discovery of the Othermind, is the HiveWing's constant grab for power. They've chased the other tribes to the edges of Pantala/ down into their tunnels through violence and shady territory deals. This issue was started by Wasp's grandmother and has persisted into the modern age. The other tribes are beginning to feel the pressures of being so condensed, their resources beginning to dwindle. Truthfully I don't have much yet. I think developing Pantala, it's tribes, and whether I'm going to take away/add tribes has to come first and all that <33

[wazzappp]

So. What if Jaime had chemoreceptors on spots his armor? I have four potential explanations/reasons.

One: the less creepy version: certain types of bugs taste with their feet, etc. Not beetles, but they do. They can land on things and identify whether or not they’re food that way. So, fingertips and or balls of his feet have the ability to taste.

Two: the raptorial version. The forearm blades/upper forelegs are raptorial. If he’s fighting/hunting, he might wanna be able to sense if this is food or not, once he sticks his blades in. So taste receptors on the blades. Possibly little pores like ampullae of lorenzini (detects electrical impulses, so might help with finding muscles to cut to incapacitate prey), or thermal pits like vipers (to help locate large veins to slice.)

Three: antenna version.

The upper forelimbs kinda look like antenna, could give them sensory function (in suit). Maybe sensitive to pressure on the tips, with chemoreceptors clustered on the tip (active investigation, like he’s poking at a thing) and trailing in a rough line down the limb towards his main body (passive investigation, like the wind blows a smell to him)

Four: scout version. The scarab is an infiltrator, part of infiltrating is collecting data, so the armor must have a whole fuck-ton of sensors on it, so the scarab can get lots of data to send to Reach. Khaj isn’t interested in the reach, but that doesn’t change what it was designed for. So lots of sensors everywhere, with taste/smell receptors clustered on the ends of limbs (feet, hands, blades)

Thank you, have a nice day!

Hey. Hi. Not to be dramatic but I’m going to marry you now. This is not a request. Put the ring on

Hoooooooooly fuck I love the Ampullae of Lorenzini idea so much. I know there aren’t really insects that have them (as far as I know) but I don’t fucking care they’re SO COOL. The gel inside ampullengang might need to change because it’s meant to detect electromagnetic fields underwater but that’s like. The only real issue here.

Fuckkkk you could have so much fun with behavioral shit too. Movement might cause his mantis blades to try and lash out to attack whatever’s triggering them. In battle this could help with quick instinctive attacks that might not be possible if he was doing it consciously. BAD news is that means he has to get a grip on them real fucking quick so he doesent hurt anyone on accident. OHHHH MY GOD WHICH WOULD MAKE DUCK-TAPING THEM DOWN IN MY LAST LIL AU BLURB EVEN MORE FUN LETS FUCKING GOOOOOO.

Oh god accidentally hurting a family member. His worst fucking nightmare. Delicious. I am drinking that shit like lemonade.

Yes I added his little clawsies in the diagram you can fit SO many knives on this boy.

THERMAL!! PITS!! Holy fuck I did not know there were beetles that have these but there ARE. They’re called fire chaser beetles and they can sense fires from MILES away and holy fuck I love them. Their sensilla (sorry for spelling it wrong in the drawing lmao) are stored in the thorax and are infrared receptors. These contain liquid which expand in response to the infrared radiation, and touch a nerve, which tells the beetle where heat is coming from.

For Jaime this would be weird as FUCK. It’s more just a sense of 'HEAT WHEREMST’ than infrared vision. It is nice for telling his mom when she forgot to turn off the oven though.

[kaiowut99]

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX Episodes 106-107 Subbed (Finalized)

(Previously: Episode 105 Subbed [Finalized])

(Check out my Subbed!GX Stream Masterpost!)

TURN-106: Judai and Johan of the Gem Beast Deck

A new school term has started at the Duel Academia. Invited to the Academia as transfer students and becoming new friends are the Academy Champions known as Amon, O'Brien, Crocodile, and a mysterious boy--along with one Professor Cobra. Meanwhile, atop the school building rooftop, Judai meets a boy who can see Spirits--who turns out to be the "mysterious boy," Johan. Cobra proposes an Exhibition Match, pitting Judai against Johan. Johan turns out to be a duelist in control of the rare Monsters known as the Gem Beasts.

TURN-107: The Neo-Spacians VS the Gem Beasts

Johan summons one Gem Beast after another, from his Amethyst Cat to his Topaz Tiger. Judai also has Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab and Neos perform a Contact Fusion to take them on with his Flare Neos. Then, Johan destroys Judai's Field Magic and activates a new Field Magic, Ancient City of Rainbows -- Rainbow Ruins, sending his Neo-Spacian back to his deck. Seeing these skillful attacks, Ed begins to speak of the unknown relationship between Johan and his Gem Beasts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

...so, didn't mean to let these take about a month and a half since 105 was all finalized, but heremst we be *sips indie coffee*

Season 3 gets into full swing with these two episodes as it starts us off with a hint of our upcoming big bad right off the jump (RIP Hiromi Tsuru, your Yubel is still fantastic), then introduces us to the big foreign players we'll be seeing quite a bit of going forward. Judai has a nightmare taking place in an area similar to his vision with Saiou--which I'm sure is unrelated to anything--and then opening ceremonies ensue before we're introduced properly to our new transfer students, and the Ancient Roman lore around Johan's Gem Beasts which was pretty cool to include; Judai and Johan then have a fun duel together as we see the Gem Beasts in action facing Judai's Neo-Spacians. These episodes also see the debut of some of my favorite OST tracks from Season 3, like Fervent Duel (used really well in 107) and A Pinch here. Ed coming in for 107 and giving us the background on Johan from Pegasus, featuring cameos of Dark Yugi, Kaiba, and Jounouchi (from the Warriors and Unstopping Overflowing Feelings OP/EN in DM--these nods were kept in the dub, so it was the first time those particular shots of Kaiba and Jou were used in the West), as we learn that he gifted the Gem Beasts to Johan during a tournament in Europe was good, and I still love Johan's little fakeout at the end with the Rainbow Dragon he doesn't actually have yet. A fun duo of episodes with a fun, low-stakes duel that we should enjoy while we can.

Quick side-notes for the dub, but want to take a sec to shout out Jim's dub VA who perfectly nailed his Australian voice for the guy, and who I hope comes back if we're ever lucky enough to get a more accurate GX redub (though I think he was recast in DL? But still sounded pretty good). Dub!Yubel, though... I'm still baffled by the decision made with that voice, and I'm glad they eventually went with a better voice in BBT. 107 also saw them make a bunch of--I assume--time cuts, including most of the cold open which featured our first in-series look at Martin, and other shots as Cobra set up his evil lair in the old SAL lab (continuity!), but also the ending shot as Cobra looks at the duel energy he collected and comments on their impressive duel--most of those are fair as far as time cuts go, though I think the ending scene should've been kept. It's also interesting that, with Johan's southern accent being a thing in the dub (which has grown on me, though I like his later no-accent voice more), that they had Pegasus say the tournament he went to with him happened "down south;" according to a comment on the Crunchyroll upload, the venue's the "All-England Lawn Tennis Club where the Grand Slam Wimbledon" happens in the UK? lol

Animation error-wise, there were just over a handful that I picked up on in each episode that I went ahead and fixed up--mostly quality-of-watching ones along with a couple of card errors, and I also translated the bio on Amon that O'Brien hands to Cobra early in episode 106. As always, details below the cut if interested, along with Translation Notes for the bio.

Anywho, enjoy! The next two-parter features our fiery boy O'Brien, and with some really nice art/animation in 109 that I always love to revisit; I'll begin work on that once I finalize some special side work that I should hopefully get to post about soon, too, though I'll also be going back to episode 1 to fix up a card error I forgot to tackle, lol. Stay tuned!

Fixes/Edits! (106)

Early in the episode, Professor Cobra enters O'Brien's room on the ship and asks who else would be visiting him; he hands him a bio pointing to one Amon Garam. As detailed here, I translated Amon's bio in this shot, first compiling a full image to edit from its later appearances in 111 and 121, then keyframing it into the rotating zooming-out shot that happens here with AfterEffects and Sony Vegas. (The full text of the bio is in that detailed post)

In the next shot, Cobra asks if Amon came to see O'Brien, noting that he seems to be a meddler but suggests that he doesn't pay him any mind, turning to pass the bio back to him--as he does so, a few quick animation errors happen: 1) Cobra's face/mouth glitch for a few quick frames as he shifts his face into a smile (likely his current face being left over his moving face behind it); 2) the bio page in his hand jitters a bit in the frames leading up to his turning towards O'Brien; and 3) once O'Brien's holding the paper and moves it down, there are a quick few frames where a small part of his hair (the one bang on his left) is missing before it comes back. As detailed here, I edited in my translation to the bio while Cobra's holding it and as he passes it back, masking in Cobra and the rest of the frame over it for blending, while also fixing those errors for the Japanese scene by holding Cobra's face pre-glitch over the glitched frames, editing the Amon bio so it's steady throughout, and masking in O'Brien's full hair bang over the frames where it's cut short.

Later, as the Judai/Johan duel gets underway, Judai and Johan give their "Duel!" shouts and draw their hands, but a few things happen as they jump into a split-screen for it: 1) Judai moves a frame before Johan starts to slide in on his split; 2) once the screen pans down to their decks as they draw, the split-screen border seems to have been drawn in oddly, as part of Judai's side ends up just on top of the border (also seems to be slightly cut off in width halfway down); and 3) as they split apart, more of Judai seems to have made it to the left of his split's border. I fixed each one in Vegas by first sliding in Johan a frame earlier as Judai moves, then enhancing the split-screen border a bit to cover up what ends up on top of it and to its left as they split out (I generally try to avoid making redone borders that much bigger, but thought it was the only way to cleanly/consistently fix that).

After Johan plays Gem Beast Emerald Turtle, we cut to the Overseas Champions watching on, with Jim whistling before Amon expresses his surprise at the Gem Beasts--but a coloring error happens in the rapid pan from Jim to Amon, with both having odd coloring spots. A quick fix in Vegas by redoing the panning using a frame of Jim post-whistle and a frame of Amon before his mouth moves.

After Judai summons Neos, Johan laments that he can't ask for his autograph while they're dueling, but notes that he was waiting for him to summon a new Monster--Judai slides in on a split-screen to question that, but a few things happen: 1) Johan starts moving to make room for his split a frame before he does so; 2) a coloring error happens as Judai and Johan then split apart before Johan activates Triggered Summon (more noticeable on Johan), and 3) Judai's uneven slide-out leads to it taking a frame longer than Johan's to get offscreen. Fixed each one in Vegas by sliding Judai in a frame earlier as Johan moves, masking in Judai and Johan's pre-slide-out splits over the frames as they slide out to fix the coloring error, and making Judai's slide-out match Johan's by masking one frame in earlier.

[continued below, just split thanks to stupid text-block character limits]

(6) A bit later, after Johan talks about not having any destruction cards in his deck so he can see his opponents going all-out, Judai notes how neat he finds him; as they split apart and Johan tells him to bring out his new Monster (due to Triggered Summon's effect), there's a quick frame where the border is missing on Judai's split. Quick fix in Vegas as I just added it back on by duplicating the one on Johan's and touching it up as needed.

(7) As Judai then summons Neo-Spacian Gran Mole, we see it pop up in front of him, but Judai has black rectangles on his Disk where Gran Mole, Neos, and Aqua Dolphin should be. Fixed using AfterEffects to slap on proxies for each in one frame, which I then took into Sony Vegas and shook around position-wise frame by frame to add it to the full shot (thankfully, this was just shaking around and not zooming in or out lol).

(8) During the preview for 107, we see Judai on a split-screen jumping as Johan declares an attack with his Amethyst Cat, but as they slide apart, two quick things happen: 1) there's a quick frame where there's just black behind them (and Johan's split's border isn't as glowy as Judai's), and 2) some of Johan's split's border hangs on for two frames after he and Judai slide offscreen. Fixed each in Vegas for 107 proper first, then applied the fixes here, masking in Amethyst Cat behind Judai and Johan as they split apart, then masking in some of the whooshing background behind Amethyst Cat to cover up the remaining bit of Johan's split border for those two frames.

Fixes/Edits! (107)

After Judai summons Flare Scarab, he has it do a Contact Fusion with Neos for Flare Neos, but as he declares Flare Scarab's name for it, we see that the cards on his Disk--for Gran Mole, Neos, and Flare Scarab--are flipped upside-down. Fixed in AfterEffects first by applying proxies as Judai swings his Disk around, then on one frame during the zoom-out on Flare Scarab after he moves--I then took the latter frame into Sony Vegas, where I redid the zoomout on it for the whole shot, masking in Flare Scarab on top of it.

After Johan plays Rainbow Ruins and Judai's Battle Phase ends, we see his Disk as Flare Neos returns to his field, but not only are his cards upside-down again--he also has regular ol' Neos where Flare Neos should be. Fixed both in AfterEffects by applying the Mole and Flare Neos proxies correctly, masking in the orb part of Judai's Disk over the Gran Mole one.

A bit after the eyecatch, as Judai realizes that Johan hasn't played his ace yet, he starts to ask about it, startling Johan as he slides into a split-screen with him to ask as much, but Johan starts to move for it a frame early. Fixed in Sony Vegas by sliding Judai in a frame earlier there.

Later, after Johan explains that Ruby Special-Summons itself and the other Gems in his Magic/Trap Zone when placed there (rude of the OCG to remove that part of its effect), we split out of the split-screen there as Ruby's summoned, but the border on Johan's split hangs on for an extra frame. Fixed in Vegas by just masking in part of the whooshing background over it.

A bit later, Johan declares a direct attack with Amethyst Cat, and Judai jumps as their split-screen splits apart to show Amethyst Cat pouncing at him, but as they slide apart, 1) there's a quick frame where there's just black behind them (and Johan's split's border isn't as glowy as Judai's), and 2) some of Johan's split's border hangs on for two frames after he and Judai slide offscreen. As noted for the preview version of this shot in 106's list, I fixed these here first before applying the fix there, masking in Amethyst Cat behind Judai and Johan as they split apart, then masking in some of the whooshing background behind Amethyst Cat to cover up the remaining bit of Johan's split border for those two frames.

Later, after summoning Air Neos (who), Judai slides into a split-screen to explain his ATK-gain-per-LP-difference effect; as they slide apart, Judai's uneven slide-out causes his side to take a frame longer than Johan's to slide offscreen. Fixed in Vegas by just masking part of Judai's slide-out a frame earlier to even up the slide-out.

A bit later, after Johan hypes up Rainbow Dragon only to end in a "just kiddin'," Judai clicks in for a split-screen in confusion before they split apart to show Air Neos's attack connecting with Amber Mammoth--as they split apart, parts of the border on Johan and Judai's splits hang on for an extra frame. I fixed this by just using the touched-up version of this shot from the recap in 108, which had Judai and Johan's splits slide out more naturally.

After the duel, Cobra walks out to congratulate the two on a duel well fought; he beckons them towards him, but as he walks up to the center of the arena to do so, his still feet jitter as Judai and Johan start to walk over. Fixed in Vegas by masking in his feet from the frame as Judai and Johan start to walk over over the 2-3 earlier frames as he gets to the center of the arena to keep it consistent.

[tarnishedinquirer]

Divine Bridge of Limgrave

Having finished with the Roundtable Hold for now, it was time I get this Great Rune actually working again. And to do that, I needed to go to the Divine Tower.

From the courtyard where I fought the lion (some debased descendant of the original lion lord?), the way was lined with statues of Banished Knights. This seemed to be a more recent addition than the rest of the bridge.

Moving forward, I found the source of the book and sword statues down in the pit of Stormveil. Statues like this must've once been a part of Stormveil, but that was a time long past. The only trace remained on the Divine Bridge. Why not remove them from here as well?

Of course it wasn't going to be easy. The bridge was just littered with broken golems as the ground below, so it was no big surprise when one of them stood up to oppose me. It was, however, a surprise when two more golems got up. One of them an archer farther down the bridge, the other with an internal furnace still so hot it could breathe gouts of flame. However, the golems weren't particularly good at staying in their lane. I downed one of them, and the other breathed fire that finished it off. I downed the firebreather, and before it could get back up, its chest was shattered by an arrow.

Getting to the end of the bridge to deal with the archer was a bit trickier, but the braziers and statues were still sturdy enough to block an arrow or two. I had to move between them (taking care not to stand too close) to get in range. Once I did, the archer had basically no defense and was easily dispatched.

Unfortunately, this is where the bridge ended. There was a gate, but I decided to climb down first and see what I could find. Not much, but there was a grey version of the Incantation Scarab headpiece I already found, this one for ashes of war.

the voice didn't say anything new, aside from the fact this is for Ashes of War, but i noticed something I'd never thought about before. The eye on the back of their carapace. At first, I'd assumed it was a natural marking. On closer inspection, it appeared painted on. I went back through my memory of scarabs I'd seen in the wild and they had also had the eye on their backs. And I only know of one person who uses an eye symbol like this.

It seems absurd, but could this be part of Gideon's information network? The scarabs are everywhere and no one really pays attention to them, but they're just insects. What purpose could they serve? Even if he could somehow see out of the eye symbol, it'd still be of very limited utility.

Something to stew on.

I touched the gate and was teleported to the foot of the tower. I went back to check, finding a couple un-grafted Stormhawks along the way.

IT bothered me that there was an entire section of the bridge that I'd just skipped over, but I didn't see any way to get over there so what was I to do?

The inside of the tower was otherworldly. The walls were inlaid with those golden meteorites from the tunnels. An elevator without mechanism raised me to the top. Pale wisps of rising mist would suddenly turn black and oily, dripping back down to the bottom of the tower. I could feel it. This was a place of power. As I approached the summit, I felt in tune to the other towers across the land. I didn't know what I'd find waiting for me at the top, but I knew it would, in some way, provide answers.

And yet, I was more confused than ever. More meteors inset in eight pillars. At the center, a patch of bare earth, and upon that earth, the Two Fingers.

Dead.

Curled around the outline of Godrick's great rune.

The Two Fingers are dead? Or is there more than one?

What role to the meteors play?

What was with the white fog and black oil?

What destroyed the divine bridge?

[puppetmaster13u]

Prompt 38

 Imagine a Hollow Knight inspired AU. Everyone is bugs, with magic or weapons or both. 

Gotham I wanna say gives off a deepnest vibe, mixed with a lot of void because the place has been cursed so many times, is built on top of a lazarus pit, and has had a door to hell opened at least two separate times just in Arkham. Metropolis is probably more in line with the surface, seeing as it’s so bright and sunny. Like the city of tears if it was built above ground instead of under a lake. 

 Now while I’m not sure what everyone would be, I like to think that Jason revives as something similar to a bug of the grimmtroupe. Maybe he’s let go, maybe the batfam have to rescue him and help return his better memories. Honestly up to the writer. Speaking of the batfam, Cass is definitely something like a butterfly- actually they might all be butterflies or similar creatures. Long cloaks and perfect for their Wayne/civilian personas, perhaps with a bit of vessel inspiration as well. Look, they deserve shadow powers. 

 The flashfam are some sort of crickets with lightning-shaped antennae, because those things are energetic little things that are constantly chirping. Plus they’re incredibly quick too. 

 Wonder woman is definitely some sort of beetle forged from clay and brought to life by magic, an heir and guardian all rolled into one. Just to name a few ideas of course, it’d all be up to the writer and what you all think. 

If DP crossover, I mean, ghosts as shades made via void would work well, no? And Halfas would be bugs corrupted by void into vessels, similar to the Hollow Knight or the player character (who is named Ghost so what d’ya know lol) Also Tucker as a scarab beetle would be so fun, no one can convince me otherwise

[unlitten-lamp-au]

Skylander Boy and Girl are stronger in this zone

Your backs against the wall up in a brawl

Use Your Imagination!

I got the power of the crystal that they call

Creation creation!

If you can think you can make it

We got the power and no one can break it

Portal Masters, get up in this fight

And bring your imagination to life

So I could make a snowman? (That's right)

But tell me can I make him dance? (All night!)

Give Luminous pants. (Sure man!)

Change the color of his skin? (Yes you can)

Can I make him really small? (Ha! sounds cool)

Never mind I want him tall! (Sure, that too)

Everybody can be a creator when you playing Skylanders: Imaginators

Somebody tell me where the battles at

Because we ready with every attack

Pick any battle class, we got 10

Up first is King Pen

He's a brawler baby watch when he swings them

Fists of ice 'bout to blast your face

With a nice cold blade

That'll turn the place into a blizzard arena

Icebergs be falling you know who to call in when you need some brawlin'

Right on! It's time to get our fight on

With two swords of course that's the weapon of force

Swashbuckler class faster then fast they got double the blade for double the slash

The speed of light is coming torwards ya

Nice nows who that Aurora

She dashing through enemies at blinding speeds

Light it up and don't try to find her feet

How 'bout battle class Bazooker blowing things up not afraid to shoot a rocket (locked and loaded)

They are the masters of blasters of blaster artillery galore

Just ask the Chompy Mage raining a shower of chompie power

Enemies cower

Getting devoured by a pile up! (Ow!)

Why do I have a bazooka now cause it's awesome

But I need to caution you you'll be lost in your brain if you do

Pop in the game a crystal of creation unlocking your imagination

So I can make a t-rex (that's right)

Give him cave man legs (all night)

With a Ninjini chest (sure man)

With a spark tasset (yes you can)

With a Kaos backpack (ha sounds cool)

Pick theme music rap (sure that too)

Everybody can be a creator when you playing Skylanders: Imaginators

Small but mighty fighting with knives nicely throwing stars precisely

Take a guess who it might be

Why you can't see them cause they sneaking to get ya come on

And enter the class of the ninja

Tell us your name Starcast

He's from outer space throwing metal star from four arms without a trace

In shadow form going dark is what's he's doing flying on a shuriken

Flying saucer cruising

Shooting is what the next class pursuing

Quickshot booming double guns they using

Mix it with goo and you know who the dude is

Dr. Krankcase

His aim game's improving

Oozing with victory losers it's over

When he throws the hat from his head and blows up

Into a robot minion attacking for him

The doctor is in

Sspeaking of dual the Sentinels next

Acrobatic tricks so quick they break necks

Get wrecked when you step in double sided weapon

Barbella pinwheels and double blade aggression

Spinning and slashing Ember in action

Samurai backspin with fiery passion

She laughing while meteor smashing

Grand slam pain fan the flames imagine

If you could create your own skylander

Oh waits it true you know it

Now put your hands up

Woohoo i wish i had a body

Who's that, Eon? oh what up kid!

Yo did just bring the hit

Yeah ya you did

I think we should them what time it is

So we can make a big squid (thats right)

And mix parts of a pig (all night)

Put armor on the wrist (sure man)

Give it ears like a fish (yes you can)

Change the style of their voice (ha sounds cool)

Make then have a fart noise (sure that too)

(Tri-Tip interruption)

Everybody can be a creator when you're playing Skylanders: Imaginators

Smasher that the class we talking 'bout

Axes crashing down fast how it the ground

Hand them a hammer then pulverize again and again

Face the mace hes a triceratops man

Tri-Tip the name tar pit of pain

Attacks insane like asteroid rain

Next is Golden Queen

Unleash her Sky-Chi for a massive team of scarab beetles that will reign supreme

She turns giant eyes shooting laser beams

But can you guess the class

They attack with a staff

While floating defeating foes with a blast

You guessed it. It's the sorcerer

Mystical magic packed in the warrior

Where my chompies at where they at

Cuz we'll have them for target practice

Arrow and bow action you know what that class is

Bowslinger

Archer marks on lock

Let There Be Rock!

Wolfgang coming in summoning a stage performing a deadly song

And it's all full of rage

His speakers will beat the enemies that creep up

Weed 'Em and Reap!

Ambush came to meet ya

Part of the knight class he got the right slash

Meditate to increase his sword slice attack

Melee gladiators thats what the knights about

Mystical Tree Fighter calm while he fight it out

Life element but he's a chill dude

Bamboo moves got them saying 'oh shoot!'

Got it yeah get it it's a pun

Having fun is what Skylanders is all about, son

If you can think you can make it

Use Your Imagination

We got the power and no one can break it

Creation creation!

If you can think you can make it

We got the power and no one can break it

Portal Masters, get up in this fight

And bring your imagination to life!

[machlover54666]

Skylander Boy and Girl are stronger in this zone

Your backs against the wall up in a brawl

Use Your Imagination!

I got the power of the crystal that they call

Creation creation!

If you can think you can make it

We got the power and no one can break it

Portal Masters, get up in this fight

And bring your imagination to life

So I could make a snowman? (That's right)

But tell me can I make him dance? (All night!)

Give Luminous pants. (Sure man!)

Change the color of his skin? (Yes you can)

Can I make him really small? (Ha! sounds cool)

Never mind I want him tall! (Sure, that too)

Everybody can be a creator when you playing Skylanders: Imaginators

Somebody tell me where the battles at

Because we ready with every attack

Pick any battle class, we got 10

Up first is King Pen

He's a brawler baby watch when he swings them

Fists of ice 'bout to blast your face

With a nice cold blade

That'll turn the place into a blizzard arena

Icebergs be falling you know who to call in when you need some brawlin'

Right on! It's time to get our fight on

With two swords of course that's the weapon of force

Swashbuckler class faster then fast they got double the blade for double the slash

The speed of light is coming torwards ya

Nice nows who that Aurora

She dashing through enemies at blinding speeds

Light it up and don't try to find her feet

How 'bout battle class Bazooker blowing things up not afraid to shoot a rocket (locked and loaded)

They are the masters of blasters of blaster artillery galore

Just ask the Chompy Mage raining a shower of chompie power

Enemies cower

Getting devoured by a pile up! (Ow!)

Why do I have a bazooka now cause it's awesome

But I need to caution you you'll be lost in your brain if you do

Pop in the game a crystal of creation unlocking your imagination

So I can make a t-rex (that's right)

Give him cave man legs (all night)

With a Ninjini chest (sure man)

With a spark tasset (yes you can)

With a Kaos backpack (ha sounds cool)

Pick theme music rap (sure that too)

Everybody can be a creator when you playing Skylanders: Imaginators

Small but mighty fighting with knives nicely throwing stars precisely

Take a guess who it might be

Why you can't see them cause they sneaking to get ya come on

And enter the class of the ninja

Tell us your name Starcast

He's from outer space throwing metal star from four arms without a trace

In shadow form going dark is what's he's doing flying on a shuriken

Flying saucer cruising

Shooting is what the next class pursuing

Quickshot booming double guns they using

Mix it with goo and you know who the dude is

Dr. Krankcase

His aim game's improving

Oozing with victory losers it's over

When he throws the hat from his head and blows up

Into a robot minion attacking for him

The doctor is in

Sspeaking of dual the Sentinels next

Acrobatic tricks so quick they break necks

Get wrecked when you step in double sided weapon

Barbella pinwheels and double blade aggression

Spinning and slashing Ember in action

Samurai backspin with fiery passion

She laughing while meteor smashing

Grand slam pain fan the flames imagine

If you could create your own skylander

Oh waits it true you know it

Now put your hands up

Woohoo i wish i had a body

Who's that, Eon? oh what up kid!

Yo did just bring the hit

Yeah ya you did

I think we should them what time it is

So we can make a big squid (thats right)

And mix parts of a pig (all night)

Put armor on the wrist (sure man)

Give it ears like a fish (yes you can)

Change the style of their voice (ha sounds cool)

Make then have a fart noise (sure that too)

(Tri-Tip interruption)

Everybody can be a creator when you're playing Skylanders: Imaginators

Smasher that the class we talking 'bout

Axes crashing down fast how it the ground

Hand them a hammer then pulverize again and again

Face the mace hes a triceratops man

Tri-Tip the name tar pit of pain

Attacks insane like asteroid rain

Next is Golden Queen

Unleash her Sky-Chi for a massive team of scarab beetles that will reign supreme

She turns giant eyes shooting laser beams

But can you guess the class

They attack with a staff

While floating defeating foes with a blast

You guessed it. It's the sorcerer

Mystical magic packed in the warrior

Where my chompies at where they at

Cuz we'll have them for target practice

Arrow and bow action you know what that class is

Bowslinger

Archer marks on lock

Let There Be Rock!

Wolfgang coming in summoning a stage performing a deadly song

And it's all full of rage

His speakers will beat the enemies that creep up

Weed 'Em and Reap!

Ambush came to meet ya

Part of the knight class he got the right slash

Meditate to increase his sword slice attack

Melee gladiators thats what the knights about

Mystical Tree Fighter calm while he fight it out

Life element but he's a chill dude

Bamboo moves got them saying 'oh shoot!'

Got it yeah get it it's a pun

Having fun is what Skylanders is all about, son

If you can think you can make it

Use Your Imagination

We got the power and no one can break it

Creation creation!

If you can think you can make it

We got the power and no one can break it

Portal Masters, get up in this fight

And bring your imagination to life!

i dont play skylanders,,

[shwoo]

How about, for the Bugsnax DLC boss... Unlike every other boss follower, the Cheddorbs don't seem to actually need the Cheddboardle Rex to exist. There's one rolling around the island as soon as you open the way for Triffany and Shelda. You even have to catch it to get as far as the boss battle.

And the Cheddaboardle Rex could just throw rocks at you forever and you'd never be able to fight back. It's only when it throws living beings at you that you can turn them back on it and hurt it.

The Stone Grumps would apparently appease the Bugsnax by throwing people into the pit in the temple, which eventually backfired and destroyed them when the Bugsnax gave one of the sacrifices superpowers instead. So thematically, the Cheddorbs are the sacrifices. They don't need the Cheddaboardle, but the Cheddaboardle needs them.

Also, Cheddaboardle Rex is based on a dung beetle, which rolls dung balls as a food source for either itself or its young. What do Bugsnax eat?

Also also, dung beetles are linked to rebirth in Ancient Egyptian mythology. That might not seem relevant, but the temple has a picture of a Cheddaboardle Rex holding up a Cheddorb that looks a lot like depictions of the scarab god Khepri holding up the sun. So the game does invoke at least some Ancient Egyptian symbolism for the Cheddaboardle Rex.

Is that anything?

[thenixkat]

I cringe every time I see Justice League International/America put as essential reading for Ted Kord/Blue Beetle 2. Like no, just cause it was long-running and popular and referenced by a bunch of things, since Ted was OOC the entire time in JLI that's not essential reading for him.

This is what I've read so far that gives a good feel for Ted Kord/Blue Beetle and what he's about where he's reasonably in character:

Captain Atom (1966-1967) #83-86- Ted's first comics. Look out for period typical sexism

Blue Beetle (1967-1968) #1-5- Ted's first solo comics. Look out for period typical sexism and racism. Ted's ok with killing bad guys/won't lose sleep about it if it happens. My girl, the MVP Tracey is here as Ted's gf, lab assistant, and confidant. Issue 5 has Vic Sage/The Question showing up in his civilian persona and helping out Blue Beetle.

Charlton Portfolio (1974) #1- Ted's civilian persona gets blamed for murder and the theft of an invisibility suit. Has the first mini-Bug/Snoopy for spying on shit. Tracey defends her man's honor and chews people out for bad-mouthing Ted.

Charlton Bullseye (1981) #1- Blue Beetle 2 and The Question team up officially as superheroes taking on a villain with many mooks and death traps. Also, this story implies that Ted has been Blue Beetle for at least 10 yrs. The Question calls Blue Beetle his friend and thinks they make a good team.

Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985) #1-3 [you can read more if you want but he's less prominent the further the Crisis goes on]- Ted's DC universe debut as part of the Earth 4 crew. This Ted has the Scarab and it can work as demon repellant and keep him from getting disintegrated from being touched by antimatter demons. Ted is cosmically important enough to be Earth 4's representative!

Secret Origins (1986) #2- Dan and Ted's origins are retold to fit in the DC universe. Ted does not have the Scarab. Red-head curly-haired Ted!

Blue Beetle (1986) #1-24- Ted's DC solo run. Red-head curly-haired Ted! Ted has no confidence for his secret identity which causes drama. His girlfriend/lab assistant is Melody Chase. In issues 5-7, Vic Sage/The Question teams up with Blue Beetle 2 for an arc. This run has crossovers with Legends (1986) and Mellinium (1988). Ted also starts appearing in Justice League International (1987)[boo, hiss, thankfully JLI didn't affect the plots of Ted's solo unlike the crossovers]

Showcase (1994) #2-4- Set in JLI era but Ted is pretty much himself. Ted fights cops and a city's local government b/c they stole his patents and they're fascists and he doesn't vibe with that.

L.A.W.: Living Assult Weapons (1999) #1-6- This series is racist trash propaganda. You mostly just want the first two and last two issues for Ted stuff. Ted decides to retire from being a superhero at the end of this series.

Birds of Prey (1999) #2, 4, 7, 10, 15, 19, 22-25, 33-37, 39-42- Ted makes a number of cameos initially via chatting online with Oracle as her friend. Then meeting up for an in-person date. Then coming out of retirement and joined the Birds of Prey on missions as support and a driver primarily. Then Ted gets diagnosed with a degenerative heart condition and retires again.

Robin (1993) #96- Ted teaming up with Tim Drake/Robin to track down a Jokerized werecat. Ted charms and scores a date with one of Dick Grason/Nightwing's civilian love interests.

Convergence: Blue Beetle (2015) #1-2- A return of pre-DC Ted! Set on Earth 4's Hub City kidnapped by some cosmic entity pitting heroes against each other with the survival of their cities on the line. Blue Beetle, The Question, and Captain Atom vs the Legion of Super-Heroes. My girl Tracey is here! As Ted's copilot!

[fleshwallter]

Master Eon: Skylander Boy and Girl are stronger in this zone

Your backs against the wall up in a brawl

Use Your Imagination!

I got the power of the crystal that they call

Creation creation!

If you can think you can make it

We got the power and no one can break it

Portal Masters, get up in this fight

And bring your imagination to life

So I could make a snowman? (That's right)

But tell me can I make him dance? (All night!)

Give Luminous pants. (Sure man!)

Change the color of his skin? (Yes you can)

Can I make him really small? (Ha! sounds cool)

Never mind I want him tall! (Sure, that too)

Everybody can be a creator when you playing Skylanders: Imaginators

Somebody tell me where the battles at

Because we ready with every attack

Pick any battle class, we got 10

Up first is King Pen

He's a brawler baby watch when he swings them

Fists of ice 'bout to blast your face

With a nice cold blade

That'll turn the place into a blizzard arena

Icebergs be falling you know who to call in when you need some brawlin'

Right on! It's time to get our fight on

With two swords of course that's the weapon of force

Swashbuckler class faster then fast they got double the blade for double the slash

The speed of light is coming torwards ya

Nice nows who that Aurora

She dashing through enemies at blinding speeds

Light it up and don't try to find her feet

How 'bout battle class Bazooker blowing things up not afraid to shoot a rocket (locked and loaded)

They are the masters of blasters of blaster artillery galore

Just ask the Chompy Mage raining a shower of chompie power

Enemies cower

Getting devoured by a pile up! (Ow!)

Why do I have a bazooka now cause it's awesome

But I need to caution you you'll be lost in your brain if you do

Pop in the game a crystal of creation unlocking your imagination

So I can make a t-rex (that's right)

Give him cave man legs (all night)

With a Ninjini chest (sure man)

With a spark tasset (yes you can)

With a Kaos backpack (ha sounds cool)

Pick theme music rap (sure that too)

Everybody can be a creator when you playing Skylanders: Imaginators

Small but mighty fighting with knives nicely throwing stars precisely

Take a guess who it might be

Why you can't see them cause they sneaking to get ya come on

And enter the class of the ninja

Tell us your name Starcast

He's from outer space throwing metal star from four arms without a trace

In shadow form going dark is what's he's doing flying on a shuriken

Flying saucer cruising

Shooting is what the next class pursuing

Quickshot booming double guns they using

Mix it with goo and you know who the dude is

Dr. Krankcase

His aim game's improving

Oozing with victory losers it's over

When he throws the hat from his head and blows up

Into a robot minion attacking for him

The doctor is in

Sspeaking of dual the Sentinels next

Acrobatic tricks so quick they break necks

Get wrecked when you step in double sided weapon

Barbella pinwheels and double blade aggression

Spinning and slashing Ember in action

Samurai backspin with fiery passion

She laughing while meteor smashing

Grand slam pain fan the flames imagine

If you could create your own skylander

Oh waits it true you know it

Now put your hands up

Woohoo i wish i had a body

Who's that, Eon? oh what up kid!

Yo did just bring the hit

Yeah ya you did

I think we should them what time it is

So we can make a big squid (thats right)

And mix parts of a pig (all night)

Put armor on the wrist (sure man)

Give it ears like a fish (yes you can)

Change the style of their voice (ha sounds cool)

Make then have a fart noise (sure that too)

(Tri-Tip interruption)

Everybody can be a creator when you're playing Skylanders: Imaginators

Smasher that the class we talking 'bout

Axes crashing down fast how it the ground

Hand them a hammer then pulverize again and again

Face the mace hes a triceratops man

Tri-Tip the name tar pit of pain

Attacks insane like asteroid rain

Next is Golden Queen

Unleash her Sky-Chi for a massive team of scarab beetles that will reign supreme

She turns giant eyes shooting laser beams

But can you guess the class

They attack with a staff

While floating defeating foes with a blast

You guessed it. It's the sorcerer

Mystical magic packed in the warrior

Where my chompies at where they at

Cuz we'll have them for target practice

Arrow and bow action you know what that class is

Bowslinger

Archer marks on lock

Let There Be Rock!

Wolfgang coming in summoning a stage performing a deadly song

And it's all full of rage

His speakers will beat the enemies that creep up

Weed 'Em and Reap!

Ambush came to meet ya

Part of the knight class he got the right slash

Meditate to increase his sword slice attack

Melee gladiators thats what the knights about

Mystical Tree Fighter calm while he fight it out

Life element but he's a chill dude

Bamboo moves got them saying 'oh shoot!'

Got it yeah get it it's a pun

Having fun is what Skylanders is all about, son

If you can think you can make it

Use Your Imagination

We got the power and no one can break it

Creation creation!

If you can think you can make it

We got the power and no one can break it

Portal Masters, get up in this fight

And bring your imagination to life!

this is why i should turn off anon asks

[wazzappp]

Okay I'm been scrolling through your blue beetle artwork (despite being 'I dont go here' for blue beetle) and not only is it fantastic art, as a biology nerd I love all the anatomical considerations you've done for Jamie and the Scarab!

Like, I just need to point to the arm blades. You're considering muscle, skeletal, nerves -- Jamie even gets pits and more sensory elements!!! YES!!!! I AM IN LOVE!!!

AAAAAAAAAA MY MACHINATIONS ARE BIOLOGY NERD APPROVED LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOO!! I have gotten a good grade in body horror which is both normal to want and possible to achieve <3

Bro thank you I am SO GLAD to hear you are enjoying it!! The body horror in your infected Leon fic is absolutely PEAK it makes me so happy to hear you like it!!!

Yeyeyeye considering all the details for what goes into an entirely new body part is so much fun! It makes it even more fun to delve into thoughts about how physical modifications affect behavior. Like you HAVE this now but can you USE it? Not being able to control a new appendage is horrific but it's also somehow WORSE if it's just. Entirely instinctual. Because that's a violation of the mind and not just the body and it makes me sooooooo fucking happy.

Like. You are a fundamentally changed individual. Down to your instincts. Now squirm <333