#they bite! a ballad of vampiric disease

[sentimentalkeyboard]

Dimitri is the leader of a very high esteemed Coven in Disturbia, known for their thirst of causing trouble and terror and ruling the city once the sun sets and the creatures of the night take over. Rumor has it that the little eye candy sat on the back of his motorcycle- also know as miss Becky Callistor [Or referred to as 'Angel'] is more than just something for him to show off on the boardwalk... And wedding bells are set to go off in the distant future.

Surely nothing could go wrong before then... Right?

[hypocriticaltypwriter]

So... I've been thinking lately, I've wanted to do this for a while, and been taking it into consideration...

If anyone is curious about what exactly 'They Bite! A Ballad Of Vampiric Disease' Is about, check out my sideblog! @sentimentalkeyboard

Basics: Charlie and Teyo Salamanca are two siblings who move back to there sketchy hometown, Disturbia, after Charlie's vampire hunting work and Teyos hunting school lands the siblings right in the middle of Vampire city and freaks. Familiar faces, new friends and enemies, all can be found throughout this grimy, retro, bloody and sexy adventure!

[jamesv-t]

2018 Best Songs

As per last year - a round dozen songs, with a bonus thirteenth track for the deluxe edition. One song per artist, “featuring on” doesn’t count towards that one per artist total - although I’m limiting myself to one “feat.” as well.

13. Dagny - Love You Like That

Youtube // Spotify

I’m taking some liberties with these songs, as while they were all new to me this year, this song (and one other) were released late in 2017. However as most Best Of Year End lists are compiled in November for press in December, and it’s my list so it’s my rules, I’m bending things in this new age of streaming services where most songs don’t have a release date - or even a physical release. Dagny came to my attention late this year, as one of her songs was played before Sigrid came on stage and I liked it enough to Shazam. Scandanavian pop became my niche interest this autumn and Dagny filled that with aplomb.

12. Anavae - Afraid

Youtube // Spotify

Bit of a year for the London based duo, after the highs of their first headline tour in the Spring to parting ways with their absolute dicks of a label, to successfully launching a PledgeMusic campaign that, it’s probably fair to say, was more overwhelmingly positive than expected! This is the first song publicly released from the Pledge EP and demonstrates the growth the band have gone through over the last few years. If this is the direction they’re going in I’m all aboard the hype train!

11. Pale Waves - Red

Youtube // Spotify

I heard a lot of buzz about Pale Waves’ album from friends on Twitter when it was released in October so I figured I’d give it a listen. I wasn’t disappointed with what I heard, but oddly the song that stuck out to me was an album track rather than one of the singles. A band who’ve built on Chvrches’ synthpop and made something better (it’s telling that this makes the cut while nothing from the Glasgow band’s third album does), this is one of those songs I can listen to on repeat without getting bored of it.

10. Troye Sivan ft. Ariana Grande - Dance To This

Youtube // Spotify

The first male vocal on this list, and also the first instance of me cheating my own rules to squeeze in an artist who’ll appear later on, using a “feat.” credit. While she’s not been brutally eviscerating sentient ham Piers Morgan on Twitter, Ariana’s steadily rolled out some bangers throughout the year, and this guest appearance just adds a lovely air to a genuinely nice song. While some pop songs conjure up images of a thrilling romance, this is a cozy afternoon on the couch, and all the better for it.

9. Avril Lavigne - Head Above Water

Youtube // Spotify

A bit of a departure from my other favourite Canadian singer. Rather than coming out swinging for the fences with a bratty pop-punk belter leading off a new album, as she has done since bursting onto the scene in 2002, Avril launched this new era with a hopeful uplifting ballad. A more mature sound (it’s tricky to pull off a defiant teenage punk act when you’re 34) no doubt influenced by her issues with lyme disease, it’s got me looking forward to the new album.

8. MNEK ft. Hailee Steinfeld - Colour

Youtube // Spotify

Thanks to seeing both artists in support slots, and copious showings of the video before Little Mix, I managed to hear this song at three separate gigs this year, which may be some form of record for me. Another nice, lovely song that won’t storm the charts or break the internet but it will make the day seem a little less grey when you listen to it - and isn’t that the point of pop?

7. Lena - Thank You

Youtube // Spotify

The artist with the most scrobbled track in my 13 year Last.fm listening history, Lena came back this year with a wonderfully sarcastic peon to an ex. A slow-burner, this song was initially written off by me as a passable single unfortunately overshadowed by Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” released a week beforehand, but it burrowed deep into my skull and became a track I frequently returned to, discovering new things each time. I just wish she’d tour in England!

6. K.I.D - Boy (reprise)

Youtube // Spotify

Like the Dagny track I’ve fudged the timeline slightly for this song as well, as this was released in November last year but I only discovered it in July on a Spotify playlist. That was overshadowed by the discovery of Poppy, a sentient singing Siri, but this track kept reappearing on Discover playlists until the raw emotion and yearning of Boy became something I made a note of. A beautiful ballad of teenage lust, the acoustic version has a bit more passion than the original, and I can see this being a random deep cut I return to in years to come.

5. Sigrid - High Five

Youtube // Spotify

Sigrid won the BBC’s Sound of 2018 poll at the start of the year, and has been pushed heavily since, with tours increasing in venue size throughout the year. With a debut album next year she’s poised to break through into the mainstream; given the rate of bangers she’s put out (and the newer songs she played on the autumn tour) it’ll be justified. Scandinavians just do pop better than everyone else and this is the perfect example of it - a frothy fun song that seems pleasant on first listen, until you realise how biting the lyrics are.

4. Ariana Grande - God is a woman

Youtube // Spotify

It’s a long journey from the third female in a kid’s TV show to being the first person ever to be named an honorary citizen of Manchester after her response to the bombing after her gig, to having to publicly deal with one actual and one threatened suicide of her ex-boyfriends. In between all that Ari released several bangers. While No Tears Left To Cry had a cathartic energy to it that launched a new era while still paying tribute to Manchester, this track was a statement of intent that blew me away. I do love me some big epic tracks and this is no exception!

3. Carly Rae Jepsen - Party For One

Youtube // Spotify

Carly continues to tease us with the promise of a new album, but in the meantime she gives us little droplets of single releases to tide us over in the long droughts. After Cut To The Feeling last year we got this infectious poppy single about being able to support yourself, not needing anyone else, how it’s ok to spend some time on your own...ok it’s about wanking, but like the Hailee Steinfeld track of three years ago it’s a great song regardless of subject matter!

2. Selena Gomez - Back To You

Youtube // Spotify

My love of this song is frequently used against me in arguments about my bias towards female singers, as “if Ed Sheeran sang it instead [I’d] hate it!” Well, probably, but as it was released by a different friend of Taylor (a description that sounds vaguely euphemistic, like “friend of Dorothy” but less stigmatised) it’s regularly made it onto my playlists this year. A lovely, pleasant acoustic ballad that’s good enough to make me forget that it’s probably written about Justin Bieber. Video’s good, too.

1. Hailee Steinfeld - Capital Letters

Youtube // Spotify

Hailee has been quietly putting out some bangers throughout the year, and coupled with a stellar performance supporting Katy Perry makes me think she’s not just doing this music career as a side gig. Despite being released at the start of the year this song has a nice uplifting vibe that would’ve made it a perfect summer song, so I kept listening to it throughout the year to fit it in with the seasons. It’s also another example of a film soundtrack that’s far better than the film it’s promoting (see also: the other 50 Shades films, Vampire Academy, Twilight, Hunger Games...I’m not sure what it says about me that YA adaptations have soundtracks that really click with me).

[sentimentalkeyboard]

"I mean, if anything... Who would you be today if it weren't for me? If it weren't for Shaveene? She made me... And I made you. You can always try to run away. Who you were before is long gone, baby... You're one of us, and you always will be."

Credits to @lordfreg for helping and adding a more retro look/filter to this peice! I think she really pulled it all together adding the charm! 🩷

[sentimentalkeyboard]

I was asking some friends for art requests and one of them suggested a character before and after. So here's Dawn from when I had originally made her [left] and my Dawn design now! [right]

[Iykyk Dawn's original origin... *Shudders.*]

[sentimentalkeyboard]

Some sketches I made as reference to this post I made a while back for vampires in my graphic novel universe!

Hands

•Vampire hands are much larger in comparison to humans... If the four fingers didn't already give that away. And unlike human digits, their fingers [minus the thumb] are all equal in length, and also double jointed for easier grip to smaller crevices in treets and caves.

•They also have some killer sharp nails that are just as touch and sturdy as they are strong. Good enough to impale and grip prey and to tear through thick fabrics and metals.

Feet

•Now feet are much more different in comparison of humans, as they appear almost batlike. Their joinetd as hands, and are considered 'double paws' for how they work just like a second pair of mits in the bottoms of their legs. They're mostly used fir hanging from high places or climbing, but they can also be used as a way to grab food or bodies from places.

•Not only are they built for grabbing, these babies got a death grip. Besides the jaw, Vampires strongest body function is their feet, having to hold weight from upside down, or during mating/holding lovers or baby bats bodies, they need the strength relied in their legs.

Noses

•Vampire noses are very hard to point out, but one the difference is spotted its hard to unsee. They're noses tend to be built almost looking scrunched up, nostrils permanently flared. The reason their nasals are built in such a way is due to easier to pick up scents with their very keen senses if smell.

•Also on note, vampires sense of smell usually only goes for blood or other bodily fluids (like arousal, menstruation, mostly hormonal bodily functions.) And other smells tend to just smell the same as any other human/person... Unless it's garlick. While the vegetable wouldn't harm ir kill a vampire, it's still an old used antibiotic and defunetly clears out the sinuses for them. So it probably wouldn't save you in the end, it's a good way to keep one steering clear if they decide you're not a threat or meal.

Fangs

•The fangs of a vampire are what make them so iconic to most, but those aren't just for show! The back of their sharp canines hook out ever so slightly, hollowed completely through the back so when they puncture into flesh, it works.as a cavity/suction to quite literally create the iconic draining/sucking blood vampires are known for.

•Vampire jaws are very strong, and you don't want to be at the mercy of seeing what it's capable of. They also have the capability to lock their jaws in place to keep prey from escaping or to show them out. Sometimes it's hard to tell from your neck snapping, or the cracking of a jaw unhinging directly in your ear.

[sentimentalkeyboard]

Decided I'd finally finish some characters from my 80s-inspired vampire comic series, "They Bite!" Here's Danielle finally giving into a very young Becky's [AKA his lil sis] insistent begging for a piercing so she can look 'totally badass' at school... Is this being done without Dad knowing? Absolutely, yes.

[Unfiltered photo]

[sentimentalkeyboard]

INFO DUMP ME ON OUR BABY BOY TEYO‼️‼️ he needs some attention and lovin🥺👉👈 and maybe his relationship with our girl Dawn?☺️👀

Me when MJ releases the evil and brewing thoughts in my mind

OK OK BUT ILL TELL YOU ABOUT MY SWEETEST BBY HE DON'T GET MUCH LOVE 🥺

Let's start with the simplistic: Teyo is the baby Salamanca! He's Dawn and Charlie's little brother [he's 18, Charlie is 20, and Dawn is 24!] And the 'brains of his siblings. He's very crafty and a tech whizz and makes a lot of gear and security for their apartment to keep safe in a place like Disturbia. He also helps fix up Charlie's gear! Adding his own little touches here and there.

He's a excitable, rowdy, and energetic teen who is trying to experience life to his fullest before entering adulthood... At least experience it as good as he can in a city like Disturbia.

Teyo isn't exactly a 'Vampire Slayer in training' given he never went to school/training for it [that'd take 4 years of school] but he has his own weapons and gear and tags along with his sister on missions even if she doesn't allow him to come the first time.

Teyo also acts as Charlie's more sympathetic side, as playful, and teasing as he can be he has a kind soul and heart of gold. Whatever he does he does with intentions of sticking up for him and his sister- she's the most important thing to him. He was also the one who even suggested bringing Dawn back him with them after their run-in to her when Charlie wanted nothing to do with their oldest sister.

He and his sisters are Hispanic-African American!

As sweet and angelic as Teyo comes off- which he is! Sometimes he is just a bit... Havoc wreaking and can create some pretty nasty bombs and just keep them sitting around on a kitchen table.

Because of his amazing brain and work with inventing, he is wrapped up in some dangerous work with a Vampire named Dimitry and his coven/gang. Charlie doesn't know, but she's suspicious of his late nights away and coming home during the day or missing tools and inventions.

Teyo is girl crazy but God forbid any woman even look at him or he's a wreck.

He and Dawn's relationship was practically healed the second he saw her. It'd been years since he'd seen his sis and now here she was right in front of him! Dawn reconciled the same way and they were already goofing around and being brother and sister- he could care less about the new vampirism. He loves his sisters and wants them to get along more than anything so they can all be a family like before, even if it'll take a lot more work than he thought.

A doodle of the little fella for your troubles. 🥺

[sentimentalkeyboard]

A little something something for my darling upon request of @mjtheartist04 😚👀

Dawn forgot to bleach/re-dye her roots the night before 🙈

[hypocriticaltypwriter]

A question about They Bite!: so, it seems from the anatomy designs you've posted that vampires are a fair bit bigger than humans - do they have a 'human' form they can shift into, or are they kinda always vamped out so to speak (sorry, it appears my question mark isn't working BUT ONLY FOR TUMBLR JGHDJF) Are the vampires in your universe always visible in the public eye, integrated with human society-question mark lol

HI HI LEEE!!!! Im sorry question marks aren't workijg fir you LOL I hope it gets fixed soon! But I'm happy to answer your question about my little vampire world!

Vampires, in my world, while a few can maybe retract their fangs and or claws, they do not have a human disguise or form!

Before they were welcomed to the public eye and usually hid in secrecy or shadows, that didn't stop them from letting humans know what they really were. They didn't need human disguises cause they had already kept people from messing with them due to the very fact they owned the night, humans were helpless to them. And those who were fools or didn't know... That was dinner. Simple as that.

And while the concept has definitely been watered down as human and Vampire now live among another... Not exactly in harmony- but you get the picture. It doesn't mean Vampire's don't remember who's still in charge when the sun goes down.

[sentimentalkeyboard]

Ok so…I’m curious about this Becca Calistor girl👀…cuz hear me out, she kinda-

*COUGH COUGH*

anyways I wanna know more about her character! :D so go on hunny, info dump me about this mysterious gal✨😌

[NO CAUSE SHE'S PROBABALY A HOT SECOND AT BEING ONE OF MY FAV CHARACTERS IM WRITTEN OUT SO FAR Dawn's first teehee]

NOW... Let's bring miss Becca Calistor to the stage! ✨️

•Becca was born to a family that had no care for her. She never knew her father, and her mother was one of the leads in a ring of brothels and hotels around Disturbia. Her mama is sort of a 'Mother Gothel' type woman in how she raised Becca, leaving the caring and affection to the other coven ladies [deemed her 'sisters'] while she taught and raised Becca to be a little errand runner and servant to the higher ups around them.

•And Becca being a blue eyed blonde beauty, her mother always telling how lucky she was to get her looks so she's a perfect offering as a bride once she's older.

•Given she was born unintentionally, Becca was forced into a temporary bond till she is old enough to marry and bond with the big boss lady of the whole rings' firstborn son. But until then, she's under the dreaded protection, and trapped their for a good long while.

●That was until she met Daniel- or Danny for short! Danny was a vampire who'd taken a very quick intrigue to the young girl who seemed to quietly follow him around as he went through brothel quarters and it didn't take long for him to take a liking to her.

●Daniel soon became something of and older brother to Becca, and even promised to run away with her and take her somewhere safe where she could be a kid, and if she'd let him, when she felt old enough he'd turn her into a vampire, and be bonded to him in familial blood.

🖤💙🖤💙

•Becca is human, and the only human of the large coven she now lives with. She works as some sort of hunter for them so they don't have to do any dirty work. Wether it be to kill off completion or to get them a meal, she doesn't really care, as long as she gets paid.

•Becca isn't necessarily owned anymore, but she isn't free either. Her brother died before he could've given up his blood, and she wasn't ready to be turned anyhow, continuing to live her life as a human while working alongside her coven leader like a dog waiting for a command.

•She knew Dawn when they were younger! They have some... History... 👀

•She's heavily inspired by David for The Lost Boys, a lot of her personality leans toward his, even if she's a bit more aggressive and gruesome.

•She has a prosthetic robot leg! She lost hers in a bear trap while trying to run away from the brothel when she was younger.

•She has a hell hound. Well, it was Danny's, but the dog is now her caretaker and trusty friend. His name is Ozzy and he's a big ol German shepherd.

•She also has a horse named Vegas, and a bat named Fang. All her old pets She hasn't seen in quite a while after she left Danny's coven once he died.

[sentimentalkeyboard]

What was your inspiration for They Bite?

Well, the characters themselves have been around for a long time- way before They Bite was ever considered I was a completely different genre, premise, and story. [If you used to follow the old ask blog yk] but overall The Lost Boys was what made the whole idea do a full 180 and I had to change plans into a 80s Vampire story LOL

[sentimentalkeyboard]

Go on…info dump me and ramble all about tb!👀 anything you want! I’ll be happily sitting in my bed when I get home and get comfy, get sum snacks, while I read your wonderful rambling✨😌

SQUEEEEEEE MJ YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HAPPY IT MAKES ME WHEN YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE ME SOME ASKIES 🥺🥺🥺 I LOVE YOUUU!!!🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

NOW THEN 👏 Ramble about anything I want, hm??? Well, why don't we bring our big gal Dawn Salamanca to the spotlight tonight, hm? Dont think I haven't been seeing you simping in the tags~ 👁👁

-Dawns hair is straightened and dyed! (Obviously) Vampire hair grows extremely fast depending on ones health and bloodline or genes. The only thing that usually slows the growing process is dying it! Wether it be a natural, or crazy hair color, or just your roots or tips of the hair, anything works. Her natural hair is black and very curly!

-The Salamanca bloodline was vampires... Purebloods to be exact! but her mother, Riva Salamanca gave up her immortality for Dawn's father, who was quickly killed by her grandparents and sisters while Riva was pregnant with Dawn. Dawn and her siblings (Teyo and Charlie, half sibs) were raised as humans, until Dawn was facing death with a terminal illness, and her mother pleaded with an elder about turning her oldest child into a vampire for the sake of keeping her alive. It was successful, but immortality has its price...

-She ran away from home a long time ago- back when she was about 14. Charlie has exactly forgiven her sister for it, so when they reunite in a very odd force of fate, things are... Rocky. 😬

-Dawn has a coven! Or, well, an Ex-coven. She ran from that too after a few years, and lives in an empties out sewer where she returns for rest when she isn't exploring and in the town at night. The reason she ran from her old coven was due to the same reason our good old Michael Emerson didn't decide to stick around with soke punked out blood suckers. Of course, that won't stop the two of her old friends from inviting her to the hide away and tease and mock her relentlessly.

---

And this is all I'll spill for my sillies!!! I don't want explain or spoil too much but I hope it wasn't too much or too boring! Thanks for letting me infodump babes, I can always count on you 😚😏

[sentimentalkeyboard]

Holy shit I just found this account TAKES A MASSIVE BITE OUT OF IT

Better take a bite out of it before it bites you!

[hypocriticaltypwriter]

Omg I'm working on a poster They Bite! and I'm already at 40 LAYERS

PLEAASEEE MY COMPUTER IS ACTUALLY GOING TO EXPLODE 💀💀💀

[mjtheartist04]

*CHOKES*

7….4????👁️👁️

7’4???

Oh Cherri. why did you give me this information😔…not only do I like older women

BUT WHEN THEY ARE TALL AND BEAUTIFUL!???🙏😫

How to Tell the difference between human and vampire in They Bite! A Ballad of Vampiric Disease

Let's start with the obvious, and that would be the differences in height, hands, and feet. Vampires can be pretty easy to pick out with their taller and more lean stature. Even then, the shortest vampires tend to be around 6 feet tall. For instance, Dawn herself is around 7'4.

The hands are easy to pick out cause vampires only have four digits. Three fingers and a thumb. Back in the 1800s, people would have to have their hands ungloved and checked before they were invited into homes or places in later hours of the night.

Feet is about the same way as hands. Their feet act like a second pair of hands, given some vampires sleep upside down, or need extra grip climbing trees, cave walls, etc. Their are two bat-like toes and a third along the ball of the foot that almost contradicts like one would with a thumb. Their grip is also incredibly strong, strong enough to hold themselves and victims/mates bodies, or even crush bone.Here we come to the more difficult studies, which is eyes. Usually, they look like normal peoples eyes until they've decided to show the feirce yellow pupils and dark sockets of their full vampiric form. But it can be easy to catch pupil dilation that is incredibly cat-like/predatory.

Fangs. While most fangs can be retracted or even subtle enough to go unnoticeable, no vampire fangs are the same. Some are so long that they protrude through the lips, and others are short they can barely reach enough to puncture skin. One thing they all have that's the same is they're incredibly sharp. Their jaws are also built very firm and tough - hence very masculine jawlines! They also go to a lock jaw on victims or prey like an animal would to shake out any life left.

Reflection. Vampires don't have any reflection in pure Silverback mirrors or the film on cameras and videos. But they are able to be noticeable in most mirrors built today!

Crosses and holy/blessed items. Things like this and holy water, churches, and even holy people can be very dangerous to vampires. It can burn and even have their bodies burst into flames just from the touch of a cross or drop of holy water. Vampires will usually avoid these things like a plague if brought close to their beings.

Sunlight. Vampires can not enter a body of light produced by the sun, or else they will burn. Many vampires can heal from minor burns in seconds, or a few days... But if fatal, the deaths can have many different ways of playing out. They can burn in a blaze of fire, melt, explode, turn to dust, etc. So most can be spotted or accused of being a creature of the night just by being seen during the night but not a trace of them by daytime.