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thehotelpod · 6 months

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ONE MORE WEEK OF DOUBLE STUFF OCTOBER LETS DO SEASON 5 OF IZZY'S EPISODE ART

5.1 Merp and Burble

Our first Big Named Event arc! "BEHIND THE CURTAIN" which I'm almost certain I picked because we could do this cool ass curtain frame device. Izzy continues to bring the pain here with photo bashed curtains, a modified Madam Hotel horrifyingly cartooning about like bugs bunny to reveal our almost Trevor Henderson-like trail cam timelapse photo of Merp. He also gave me a number of color options on this one, maybe we'll have a section in The Guestbook Vol. II of bts sketches? I'll ask Izzy. This one holds a special place in my heart because Merp is, as devotees will recall, just Scary Slar.

rest of the season under the cut! (it's long, you've been warned)

5.2 It Watches and It Smiles

look! The curtain connects at the top! It's gonna be one long picture!

This monster was actually based on a 3 foot tall hard foam statue we had in our house growing up. It is actually scarier looking than you are imagining, made every one of my cousins cry, and is not only something I had nightmares about but also one of the main reasons so much of my horror is "something weird is Over There but looking at you". Full disclosure, one of the reasons I put this monster in this episode was so that Izzy would have to draw a postcard of it and maybe someone would recognize it and tell me what the hell it is because I have not so much as a single photograph of it. BUT then Izzy showed me this drawing, which almost completely hides the monster but it's just so so good I couldn't pass it up. The implied shape and DYNAMITE bloody palm fronds make this look so much like a 90s book cover I fell in love right away. We always try to keep those season and episode numbers in the postcards now too, but I think we forget sometimes?

5.2 Nothing Can Kill That Which Glowers

LOOK AT THIS ONE. Madam Hotel rotting in the reflection of the bubble (she was supposed to show up more in those episodes and sort of be in the process of rotting but she ended up being a single light instead.), I'm crazy about the Owner here, Izzy loves to always keep a little monster in the mix when he draws the Staff. And miss Manager POPS like an 80s music video. Lot's of subtle layers and textures here that can get overlooked, but just like the lake the Owner sinks into, it deepens the longer you linger (did you find the episode number?)

I also like to remind everyone that 'That Which Glowers' is the Grimace and this episode title is a reference to the Clerks cartoon.

5.4 We Are...Watching You...

But are you really LOOKING at it? Do you SEE Izzy's MIND? Lined up you get back to back Managers mirroring each other as well as Madam Hotel in the wings of the now completed curtains--these doubles ALSO frame what is hopefully implied to be the Lobby Boy's hand reaching for his Manager. All of this duality and connection not only reinforces what we know about the characters and show already but set up beautifully the new mirrors about to arrive...

5.5 The Bellhop

THERE SHE IS! There's my goblin girl. You get the bloody vision of the Hotel as Hop sees it as well as the framing for a triptych of the New Crew, each on their own floor. The New Crew stands apart from the Staff in that they have canonical designs immediately, so there tends to be less variation on their fan designs. However there was like ONE WEEK or so before this episode dropped where people were drawing Hop ALL KINDS OF ways. She's one of my favorite designs Izzy's done for the show and I think it's partially because she looks a little like ET.

5.6 The Concierge

Shut up. Shut UP. Look at those colors. Look at that face. Look at those shoulders. Look at those colors! THE COLORS DUKE! THE COLORS!!!! and those printing spots breaking up the lines, all layered over starlight?! It should be, at this point, very hard for Izzy to outdo himself but...he just keeps on outdoing it. We jump down a floor here and the Concierge has slightly more brick surrounding him than the Bellhop did so my pattern recognizers in the crowd can probably guess what's coming next--

5.6 The Auditor

It's been pointed out that Aud has gotten the most detailed description of the main characters on the show. I try to always keep it vague so everyone can imagine whatever they like , but the Auditor is so weird I just wanted to play a little. I saw this scary looking, lonely monster begging to be seen in all white surrounded by nothing. Even the brick and mortar of the Hotel doesn't seem to want to be around her much. One thing I love about Izzy's work is how well he combines whimsy and fun with actual scary imagery. She looks really scary. That is a scary looking monster he drew.

I also think she kind of looks like this alien from Star Trek IV (hey look Star Trek showed up)

5.9 Tenaj Druh - 004 Moor

Oh how I wish I could have a full set of New Crew postcards from Izzy seeing season 1 from a different perspective (for that matter I'd love a full set of season 1 from Izzy, but one thing at a time). Getting to not only see Janet Hurd, but see the NEW CREW checking her in is so so exciting. And the Manager's TV's re-imagined as giant bloody eyeballs is expressed to it's grossest perfection here. Even the Goosebumps frame is tinted sickly green. (the rest of the season also has Goosebumps frames but I'm trying to show off Izzy's art I want you all to have a good look)

5.10 Tnurb Yrrah - 002 Moor

this one's bonkers. The Hubble's ultra deep field on the left, brains on the right but both halves of one face with the broken illusion between them that is just the building of the Hotel herself?? It's got poster folds and teeth for doors! This is a really stunning one that I feel like deserves a little more attention than it gets. Also maybe I spoke too soon on the Goosebumps frame, I don't...this one doesn't have one but maybe I just saved that file somewhere weird.

5.11 IT'S NEW YEARS EVE, JUDY BLASHY!

This is i think the first one we did that had a Goosebumps frame baked in. You can see the 5 and 11 on the clock give us our season and episode number, but that gets a little lost on the printed version so here it is in all it's glory. Love to get to see Judy here her FACE is so EXPRESSIVE and sharp. Notice how Izzy does NOT draw her with a gap tooth. Is that gap battle damage, or some aesthetic flourish the Hotel likes for her bodies? You'd have to ask Izzy. Also love getting to see him draw the things in her furnace room, which are like huge and imply a much larger elevator inside the box. Always reinforcing that boundaries and rules do not apply at the Hotel

they are also based on the family from Mac and Me

what the fuuuck?? why are they so scary??? why are they like that?? why did they make this movie this way?? I was a child!

5.12 The Reaper's Envy

Finishing up the season is this gorgeous party poster that would be right at home in the 90s. Other than the colors (THE COLOR!) I want to point out the confetti that breaks out of the border that also quietly includes some vermin (all up top, letting your eye drift down to the New Crew being reflected in what hopefully everyone assumed was Judy Blashy's eye. Of course we know now who's eye that is and what it's connected to (nothing its nothing it got cut out)

And that's season 5. Now we have entered the @filthyguts desert and must wait once again for the rains to return. I've got new ideas for season 6 that are gonna completely change how we do the art for the show and maybe we can even squeeze some button designs out of him when we launch the next wave of stuff we're launching.

I've said it before and I'll say it again and again and 100 more times, but Izzy's art is a hugely important part of the show, a source of inspiration not only to the fans who listen but to me myself (especially in my lower moments) and I am so so happy that his art and his style has come to define the show.

#the Hotel podcast #filthyguts #i'm always looking at these like patrick and spongebob on that map #straight eyeballing the page #he also did pieces for the calendar and the guestbook

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robanilla-writes · 20 days

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Dreamtale <s>Drabble</s> Part 2: In Which the Food is Good

Part 1 was 700 words. This is 2K. I uhhh. got carried away. Part 3 is done :>

[CW implied past abuse / unwanted touch / creepy adult / bittersweet]

---

Nightmare holds Dream's hand, but he's too preoccupied with looking about the village surrounding them to listen to his exact words. Nightmare can feel the way others look at them, the contempt for his existence and the condescending pity for Dream's. He glares at a grown up who won't stop staring at Dream, not knowing exactly what that yearning feeling is, but just knowing it's dangerous; the way a wolf looks at a lamb. Which is further ironic, because this particular monster was a bunny-type.

Nightmare takes a half-step closer to Dream's side.

“Nighty?”

Nightmare doesn't take his eyes off the Grown Up when he nods his head at Dream's call.

“Brother, it's rude to not look at people when they're speaking to you.”

Nightmare’s expression sours just a bit more before he finally focuses on Dream. He hums a question of a note, and Dream sighs, as though exasperated.

“One more time. So, Nightmare, this is Cassandra and Julia. They're twins, just like us! Cassie, Julie, this is Nighty!” Dream says proudly.

“Nightmare will do,” he corrects. He can't stand it when the villagers call him that name. Nighty is reserved for people who mean no harm.

“Hi,” Cassie says, and Julie waves with a shy, small smile. They were a pair of bunny monsters, the main differentiating factor seeming to be the way they wore their floppy ears: Cassie preferred to keep them out of her way, tied back with a bow, while Julie had them free to hang, framing her round face.

Nightmare can feel the slight apprehension at his regard, but that wasn't anything to worry about yet. He glances at Dream again, and he seems excited about this, so-

Nightmare gives a small bow of his head in proper greeting. Color dots his face as he says awkwardly, “Hello. It's nice to meet you.”

“They've been teaching me how to play Sticks,” Dream says. “I think you'll like it, brother.”

“It's better when played with four,” Cassie explains. Her voice is loud. “Dream insisted that you would be the fourth, so now we have to teach you all the rules.”

“It's very fun,” Jullie squeaks, her nose twitching. “when you get the hang of it.”

“Yeah,” Cassie says with a strong nod. “So don't be too hard on yourself if you don't get it at first.”

Nightmare bites his tongue, and with another glance at Dream's pleading expression, he nods his agreement. He promised he'd try. He squeezes his hand harder, and Dream squeezes back a reassurance.

Cassie does most of the explaining, with the odd comment or example coming from Dream and Julie. It's a bit much to remember all at once, but Nightmare has already made the decision that he was going to learn how to play today, so he pays rapt attention.

As much as he can, anyway. The bunny twins grow less concerned about Nightmare's presence the longer they play, which is a small victory. In fact, more kids eventually gathered, seeing the fun and hoping to catch sight of the spectacle that was The Guardian of the Black Apples playing.

The issues were the grown ups watching them.

Nightmare is distracted more than once by disgust and fear. Hatred and anger at their fun was par for the course, though. Nightmare has to keep constant tabs on their tree from the edge of the village, but so far, no one has tried to break through their shields. It's of little reassurance. He keeps getting that weird bad hunger from the Grown Up, and Dream doesn't seem to notice.

When the bunny twins get called in for lunch time, the guardians stay where they are. They don't need to eat like the others do, anyway.

Nightmare taps his arm, and looks at him with a question in his eyes. Dream tilts his head slightly in response, and Nightmare tries to point his attention in the direction of the Grown Up. Dream's eye lights dim slightly, and if Nightmare wasn't looking for it, he wouldn't have noticed it before Dream gave a sweet, closed-eyed smile.

“That's Mr. Bonnette,” Dream says lightly. “He's Cassie and Julie’s guardian- er- father? He's in charge of watching us play. Don't worry, he's nice.”

“Why isn't he going inside to eat?” Nightmare asks with a confused pout. “He feels hungry.”

Dream looks away with a shrug, fiddling with his sticks. “Not exactly.”

“I don't like it.”

Dream bites his tongue. With a stale giggle, he says, “It's okay! He won't do anything with both of us here. Are you hungry?”

“Not really.” Nightmare huffs. “What do you mean? What does he do when-”

“I'm hungry,” Dream cuts in. “Let's see if Cassie and Julie have anything they want to share.”

“Wh- we don't even need food. We already said no-”

Dream stands, pulling Nightmare along with him. “Come ON, Nighty! They asked us and everything! We should be grateful!”

“But-”

Nightmare is dragged to his feet anyway and pulled over to the Bonnette residence. That brings them closer to the Grown Up and away from their view of the Tree, filling Nightmare with a sense of dread. From this close, he can taste Mr. Bonnette's thoughts. They're sour, like buttermilk. Dream passes him, and Nightmare gets a spike of something rotten.

Nightmare doesn't know if he wants to know.

Once inside, Dream announces that they've changed their minds. Nightmare feels something in his bones roil, and his aura, visible only to Dream, bubbles. Dream holds his hand again.

Jullie claps her hands in a gentle show of joy, and Cassie jumps up to call their big brother back over. His face gives nothing away, but Nightmare can feel his annoyance. He doesn't want to impose, so he says nothing, doing his best to take up less space.

Dream pulls him up to sit next to him on the bench of their dinner table. Cassie starts bragging about how good of a cook their brother Joey is, and that this time next year they'll be looking at the bestest chef in the world. Julie nods, nibbling away at her snack of carrots and peas. Joey feels proud, but rolls his eyes anyway.

It's normal, it's nice, it's a family.

Mr. Bonnette looms in, and seats himself down next to Dream with a hearty chuckle, joining in on the fun. He sits too close. Dream laughs along, but something is still wrong. Nightmare isn't very subtle about it when he scoots over and pulls Dream closer, causing Cassie to notice.

“Hah! You're such a kit, Nightmare,” Cassie heckles. “Holding on to Dream like a baby. He's not going anywhere, you know.”

“Don't be mean, Cassie,” Julie says.

Joey steps over with a couple plates, setting them down in front of their guests. Nightmare glances at the meal warily. He picks up a nibble and sniffs it.

“I'd rather not make the Apple Guardians upset,” Joey adds under his breath.

Dream gives a nervous giggle. Mr. Bonnette claps him on the back, making Dream jolt. “It's all jokes anyway, eh boy? Nothing to worry about now.”

Nightmare wants to break Mr. Bonnette's arm. But that would be rude. He can't scoot away any further. Dream's hold on his hand is crushing.

“Please don't touch him,” Nightmare says patiently.

He takes a chance, and bites into the food provided. It tastes good, so he pushes the plate in Dream's direction.

Mr Bonnette rubs down Dream's spine before finally letting go, and Nightmare bristles at the sharp tang of his brother's unease. Dream rattles. The Grown Up is saying something, but all Nightmare hears is static.

“You only have each other,” Julie mumbles. Nightmare glances over at the small bubble of pity. “Do you get enough hugs?”

“Huh?” Nightmare blinks, looking around the table with a confused frown. They're all looking at him.

“Who would want a hug from a demon?” Cassie asks, genuine in her curiosity.

Dream balks at that. “He's not a demon. He's my brother.”

“Of course you would say that, you're the angel!” Mr. Bonnette jokes. “Everyone would be lucky to hug you- you're just so stars-gone cute.”

“Nighty is just as cute if not more,” Dream huffs.

“Dream.”

“He's very huggable!”

“Dream,” Nightmare pleads. “Stop it.”

Dream sighs, and picks up a bite of food to distract himself. Nightmare watches as he does, because the food is good and homely, and Dream likes it when he can taste good intent.

As if on cue, Dream perks up with a happy grin. “Oh, this is tasty, Joey! Thank you so much!”

Nightmare can feel the pride flicker in Joey even if all he does is nod and say, “Of course.”

Dream takes another big bite, wiggling gleefully in his seat.

Mr. Bonnette is watching him, and Nightmare can't bask in his brother's joy because of the rancid hunger that burbles from him. Nightmare decides that after this meal, they were leaving.

That was the plan.

That was the goal.

They weren't safe here. They never were. They never will be.

Dream shares the last morsel with Nightmare, claiming that he had made the perfect bite. Nightmare likes to believe that he's right, because it's good, and he can taste the love put into the meal. He's just a bit distracted, is all.

As soon as it's socially polite to do so, Nightmare stands from the table and pulls Dream up with him.

“Thank you for lunch.”

“It was delicious! Thank you!” Dream says with a nod.

Nightmare bows in staccato, “Yes. And thank you for teaching me how to play Sticks. Unfortunately, it's time for us to go. Right, Dream?”

Dream nods again, and Nightmare thinks he looks silly, nodding so much. His aura shakes, and Nightmare needs them out of these four walls as soon as possible.

“Aw man,” Cassie says with a whine.

“We had fun,” Julie says. “You're not as scary as we thought, Nighty.”

Color dots his cheekbones, but Nightmare doesn't correct her use of his name. “Oh. That's nice to hear. Thank you.”

Cassie leaps up as they start to head towards the door. She rushes over and gives Nightmare a crushing hug. Julie hops over and joins in, and Nightmare freezes in a jolt of fear. He looks at Dream with frantic eyelights, confused and scared.

Dream’s smile is wide and excitable, and he's no help when he follows right along and joins in the group hug.

“You're cool,” Cassie says when they part.

Nightmare clings to Dream, looking away with a full-face flush. “Th-thank you.”

“Woah, they get all the fun? Where's <i>my</i> hug?”

Nightmare's shy flush vanishes at that, immediately turning to a stark glare in Mr. Bonnette's direction. Dream stutters in his step, but when the Grown Up opens his arms expectantly, Dream moves to obey.

Nightmare yanks him back and pulls him out the door. Dream struggles only slightly, trying to reason with Nightmare that it was just a hug.

“Not for him,” Nightmare mutters. “I don't like him.”

“You don't know him,” Dream says weakly.

“He wants to eat you!”

“Not exactly…”

“What does that <i>mean</i>?”

Dream goes along quietly after that, refusing to answer his brother's question.

“Well,” Nightmare grumbles, “That's worse, then.”

Nightmare doesn't know if he wants to know.

Their shields are still in place when they return. Nightmare leads Dream over to their preferred nook in the roots of the Tree and sets him down. Dream looks up at him with tired, hazy eye lights. Nightmare hates it when he cries.

He scoots in close to Dream, who wraps up around him again, burying his face on Nightmare’s shoulder.

“I like Cassie and Julie,” Dream mumbles. “I don't want to stop playing with them.”

Nightmare hums. From his inventory, he pulls out a book.

“Mr. Bonnette tastes bad,” Nightmare says with a grimace.

“I know.”

“Like, really bad.”

“I know.”

Nightmare sighs and leans into Dream's hold. As long as he was safe now, he supposed, then they would be fine.

#robanilla-writes #my writing #is this magic bitty bits? maybe.#its certainly not fucking canonically dreamtale #dreamtale fic #dreamtale brothers #dreamtale #nightmare sans #dream sans #original characters #someone said to give the brothers something that they can eat. so. :) i did #i might continue this with a pure fluff one idk #and hey!!! guess what!!! no s names this time!!!!!! bahahahha #Joey is fine btw #i love y'all thank you so much

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asukaskerian · 7 months

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🌧️☔

☔Is there a fic concept you have that you'd like to just explain and share because you're not sure you'll ever write it? If so, what is it?

... IS there. uh. hm. hmmmmmmm.

you know what, the only bunnies i'm having at the moment that i'm not writing OR gonna write are all SVSSS dramatic reveals, because the canon is PRIMED for diverging-from-canon with all the near misses and the misunderstandings, but i always end up, like, having them kissing in about five minutes and then the narrative tension goes ffthp. they're all very vague and mostly about kissing and crying and crying while kissing.

i've got this one idea that is a little more detailed but i just don't have the spoons for it, where, as sqq self destructs to save lbh, lbh desperately grabs on bodily and mentally. then he ends up in a weird room having a qi deviation and being rescued by... some guy he doesn't know. ensues tense cat and mouse "haha no i'm nobody you know and have no idea why we're stuck here together either" interaction (is this shizun?? it has to be shizun because i was holding onto him but he acts nothing like shizun. is it an amnesiac shizun? previous incarnation?? or is it like a dream demon who stole lbh for nefarious purposes???) and i have NO IDEA how it would end. it's mostly identity porn and emergency dual cultivation and confused cuddles.

🌧️Share something angsty from your WIP.

bloodsport!

"Ichi-nii--"

'Fuck off, Karin,' he swallowed back somehow, strangling fear spiking up past the heat of his rage. She was too close, five steps behind, well in his range, and he couldn't, couldn't, fuck.

"Who was that guy?"

"Aheh, some guy we met on a mission one time! He shot me through several relatively vital organs, very unpleasant. All past now that we're at peace, of course."

Askin was there too, warier, the solid flesh of him and his dense psychic field echoing just behind Karin's more vaporous presence. Ichigo closed his eyes tight, stopped behind an aileron where the ground crew would be less likely to see him, and didn't look at her, didn't look at Askin holding his little sister back.

"Le Varr, come on, he's not gonna--"

"Of course, of course, but give it five minutes, kiddo, yeah?"

"... Ugh. Okay." A moment of silence, bar the farther-off noises of the crew unloading the luggage, as they positioned themselves at the end of the aileron, like sentries, or like warnings for other people Ichigo liked less to keep away. "So... If it's all past, why did he get in your face?"

"Iiii would suspect it's because he might be an asshole," Askin said drolly, mouth pursed. "Just a hunch."

Ichigo let out a sharp little huff, and resented the man for making him laugh now, when he was still a hair's breadth away from growing all his monster parts.

"Don't tell your dad I said that."

"I'm sixteen and I already know that word and mom's the one who's paying you anyway. So he's like, an asshole above and beyond general war bullshit, then?"

Ichigo breathed, again, and again. Tried not to -- he hadn't been. Grimmjow hadn't been, above-and-beyond, was the thing, had he? Or -- not much. Ichigo hadn't expected an enemy combatant to break him out before he could go through seventy trillions rounds of fucking medical torture or --

Breathe. Breathe. He was punching claw holes into the spaceship. His claws weren't going to make it through the first layer of plating but it was the principle of the thing. They needed that spaceship, for going home, if they ever got to go back home one day, if Ichigo ever got to go -- fuck, shit, fuck, why couldn't he calm down, he'd been fine all through the whole dethroning Ywhach thing, why now?

It couldn't be just because of some guy he'd committed the mistake of fucking once. Maybe -- the air in the hangar smelling off, a bothersome magnetic field, whatever. He kept getting so fucking angry --

"Do I have to send the sister away?" Askin mused, voice casual and energy field rippling with readying mind-claws. "Maybe both of them? I'm sure the little contingent of Arrancar bodyguards can--"

"Over my dead body."

"Can play cat and mouse until your inner lizard needs a nap, of course, what did you think I was about to say?"

Ichigo cracked open an eye to glare, knowing that whatever he'd been about to say, it had not been that. He flinched, then, looking at Karin to make sure she hadn't seen -- and Karin was staring back, forcefully casual with her little usual, judgy frown.

"Yeah, yeah, the tryhard black sclera contacts, I'm very scared. You grew like four inches of orange roots there, Ichi-nii, I'm all for the death metal look with the mane and all but the bicolored part looks kinda stupid. Do I gotta get Yuzu's scissors?"

Ichigo couldn't help his grimace, more of a pout than anything, as years of fending off bratty younger sisters finally made it through the wave of bite-bite-tear-bite. "I'm good," he said, and unshouldered his backpack, swinging it around to land at his feet. He hadn't grown any back or shoulder quills through it, very good. The training had held at least that much, then. He hated the back quills, they looked so stupid and never did more than tear up his clothes. Oh, and bristle like a deranged mangy cat whenever he had an Emotion.

"--Oh no, Yuzu's gonna cry, you know she hates it when you use the cheap stuff, come on, Ichi-nii!"

With a defiant look, Ichigo fished out the can of black dye spray and started liberally smothering his hair in the stuff.

It helped, this ridiculous little thing. Dyeing his hair black had just been about passing for Ishida from afar at first but through the weeks of travel he had gotten used to it, gotten used to not recognizing himself in the mirror at first glance.

It helped, growing his hair down to his knees for his sisters to play with, then shaving it all to the skull to get the knots out, or whenever it was too hot to sleep. It helped, hacking off any bits that fell wrong, just because it was his body and he didn't have to care about having to look stupid for a month. It helped, letting Mom braid it heavy and tight, holding him back, the tufted end beating against his thighs. Making use of this unwanted ability to change his body at a whim for something silly and safe.

It helped, looking like a stranger, because at least then it became alright to feel like one.

#writing meme #teaser

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toomanyplotbunnies-sendhelp · 3 months

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Hello and welcome to Day 3 of "Let's Explore My Plot Bunnies" everyone!

Today, my brain felt like dragging out a SVSSS crossover with Genshin Impact that came to me during the 4.4 livestream. (Gaming's trailer was the reason this idea came back with a vengeance to me)

Also, before I begin with describing the idea itself, a bit of a warning: I might start rambling midway through because my thoughts are chaotic (and I am also experimenting with some text formating to ease my explanations for the following fics. Plz, tell me if it looks ok or not)

Edit: As of February 6th, this fic has a title:

"Gaming's Dimention Hopping Master (and his annoying Harem)"

So, let's get started:

First and foremost, I wanna send Shen Jiu (who is still a deciple; basically just before he is named Peak Lord - he should be around 18 to 20 maybe?) to Teyvat via a portal opening during the Immortal Allience Comference (or during a mission - still haven't decided fully yet) and he land straight in the middle of the Archon War in Liyue about 2000 years before the canon events in Genshin.

With me so far? Good.

Shen Jiu was with Liu Qingge and, possibly, Yue Qingyuan (if you want even more angst in this than it will have) when the portal opens. Whether the portal aimed for Shen Jiu or he pushed one of the other two out of the way, the end result is that LQG and YQY see Shen Jiu disappear before their eyes. (Again, angst galore for YQY for the moment)

Shen Jiu, after ending up in Liyue mid-archon war, is more focused on getting back to where he was... until he saw some children that were in danger due to the active warfare around them (monsters everywhere who are very much looking to make as much carnage as possible).

Now, look, I am not denying that Shen Jiu is an asshole (to say the least), but he is also a cultivator whose job is to protect civilians from monsters/demons and who is send on missions to do these things. Him saving some children doesn't mean he is not still an asshole. It just means he has some morals and a sense of duty. That is all. He is still very much the sharp-clawed cat that spits poison when people approach.

What happens next is simple: some adepti/yaksha find him while he is fighting the monsters. The adepti help in defeating the monsters and - barely manage to - convince Shen Jiu to follow them to safety.

From there, Shen Jiu is on a rollercoaster of emotions:

First, he learns that no one in this place ever heard of Cang Qiong Sect, and that leads to the idea that he is from somewhere outside of Teyvat.

Second, neither Shen Jiu nor the adepti (of the God they serve named Rex Lapis) seem to know how to get Shen Jiu back to his world.

Third, Shen Jiu misses Yue Qingyuan. Like a lot. Especially so after he learns that there might not be a way for him to get back.

Fourth, this place (Liyue) is in the middle of a war. And that is terrifying because Shen Jiu might just die here, too.

Fifth - and this is the most weird point of them all for Shen Jiu - these adepti seem to almost... care about his well-being? Which, of course, is impossible in Shen Jiu's mind. Not only is he not even part of this world, but they barely know him for a little less than a week. There is no way people can care about him this easily, right? There must be something that they want from him, right?

All in all, this is stressful for our paranoid Shen Jiu. He is fully convinced the adepti and their God only saved him so that he (who is not of this world) could help them win this war. Shen Jiu hates owning people, so he will help them just to not own them anything. (Owning someone a debt is dangerous, and Shen Jiu knows that too well)

Meanwhile, the adepti + Morax (and Guizhong, if she is still alive) look at Shen Jiu and go: "This poor little child. He is so small and skinny. He needs to be somewhere safe and to be fed three full meals a day."

What follows is Shen Jiu trying to help the adepti (so he can pay his debt to them) and the adepti trying (emphasis on trying) to take care of Shen Jiu. It's a hodgepodge of both sides trying to help the other without making too much fuss about it. And not to mention that both sides become attched to each other - even if Shen Jiu will die before he ever admits this. And so things seem to continue like this for months, and everything is more or less fine. That is until Shen Jiu takes a hit for one of the adepti (or even for Xiao) on the battlefield.

That attack wouldn't have killed an adeptus (not that Shen Jiu would know that), but it can kill a human. And, for all that cultivation that Shen Jiu has, he is still fundamentally human. So, Morax gives him the option to make a contract with him so that Shen Jiu will live. The price is a simple but heavy one: Shen Jiu will not be human anymore, but an adeptus.

Seeing no other way out of this death situation, Shen Jiu accepts. He wants to live so he can go back to his world. If he can live, he will live. He is not picky about the method - he did way worse things for the sake of survival before.

Thus, Shen Jiu becomes an adeptus and continues to help Morax and the others in protecting Liyue through the Archon War. At the end of the war, many were lost, and yet, Shen Jiu believes it could have been worse. With Morax now an Archon, peace can come back to Liyue.

Since Morax is aware of Shen Jiu's love for the arts, he proposed that their newest adeptus settle down in a place where the arts and traditions are very much appreciated: Chenyu Vale. And that place has become Shen Jiu's new home for the next 2000 years.

Meanwhile

Going back to the SVSSS/PIDW world, Shen Jiu's disappearance is a very heavy blow to Yue Qingyuan and Liu Qingge. Here are some exerpts from my own angst-filled imagination about them:

"He barely had his Xiao Jiu back for 3 years at the sect, where he is safe and within his grasp, and now, once again, he is taken away from him. And Yue Qingyuan regrets a lot of things - but most of all, he regrets not coming clean to Xiao Jiu about their past and his failure to save him. He regrets this so much, and yet he is unable to do anything to change it. He had so many chances to come clean - now there is no guarantee that Xiao Jiu is even alive any longer."

"Liu Qingge, for all he had hated Shen Qingqiu, is also heavily impacted by his disappearance. Not having someone like Shen Qingqiu - with a sharp tongue and not a very nice personality - should be a relief. And yet, it just makes him feel empty. There is no one to curse at Liu Qingge and yet there is also no one to fight him everytime he visits (read: barges into) Qing Jing Peak. After their searches for Shen Qingqiu yielded no result, Liu Qingge insisted that Yue Qingyuan let's him break the news to Shen Jiu's family. (Shen Qingqiu was a spoiled young master - there is no doubt in Liu Qingge's mind that his family is worried sick for him. They deserve to know what happened to Shen Qingqiu most out for everyone.) Hearing that Shen Jiu is - was - an orphan was not what Liu Qingge thought he would hear. That was not what Liu Qingge ever wanted to hear. Because that had to be a lie, right? ... but if it wasn't a lie and Liu Qingge was wrong about Shen Qingqiu being a spoiled young master... what else was he wrong about?"

For the following 15 years, all the Peak Lords felt Shen Jiu's absence - Yue Qingyuan, Liu Qingge, and, surprisingly, Qi Qingqi the most of all. (Especially so after a lot of information about their former martial brother came to light)

Luo Binghe still comes to Cang Qiong Sect, but since there was no Shen Qingqiu to be named Qing Jing Peak Lord and to take the boy into his peak out of spite, he is taken in by the Bai Zhan Peak Lord, Liu Qingge.

Ning YingYing also still ends up as a desciple at Qing Jing Peak - but she is very much bullied by her fellow brothers and sisters for her poor performance and young age.

Yue QingYuan is only alive because he had yet to extinguish that hope to see his Xiao Jiu alive again. Liu Qingge and Qi Qingqi hope to see Shen Qingqiu again as well so that they can both apologize to him - for the rumors that Qi Qingqi started, for the insults that Liu Qingge thew at him, for not being better martial siblings for him. (Even if Shen Qingqiu might be at fault for that too, they also can't excuse their own behavior)

But then, during the Immortal Allience Comference in which Luo Binghe participates, another portal, very much resembling the one that took Shen Qingqiu away from them, opens up again and takes Yue Qingyuan, Liu Qingge, Qi Qingqi, Liu Mingyan, Luo Binghe and Ning Yingying with it.

Now, all five cultivators (and a demon) are thrown into Liyue 2000 years after Shen Jiu has first set foot in this region. Can the Peak Lords find their martial brother? And what will the desciples' reaction to Shen Qingqiu be? Can they even leave this strange world and go back home with Shen Qingqiu? Does Shen Qingqiu even want to come with them?

We'll have to see!

So this is most of what I have for this fic idea, bit I wanna include some little tidbits here at the end:

There were 3 reasons why this idea started:

Chenyu Vale just screams "Shen Qingqiu" to me. This image in particular strikes me as a place Shen Qingqiu would choose as his adeptus abode.

Since Shen Qingqiu is a shizun, during the Genshin Livestream for 4.4 my brain went: "You know how Cloud Retainer goes on and on about how "When Ganyu/Shenhe was a child" right? Imagine Shen Qingqiu doing the same as an adeptus master for Gaming towards Cloud Retainer when they have tea together." So yeah, Gaming is Shen Qingqiu's little apprentice. And with how Gaming loves Wushu Dance (aka a traditional form of art), it would make sense for him to have Shen Qingqiu as an adeptus master.

Last but not least, I am not gonna lie, I just wanted to force some type of therapy onto Shen Jiu. Why did I have to send him to Teyvat for therapy, you ask? Well, theoretically speaking, every single person in Teyvat has some type of trauma (some may have it worse than others but trauma is still trauma), and I feel like whatever type of therapy they practice in Teyvat kinda works because, for all the trauma the characters have, they don't seem as harden and callous as Shen Jiu. So, whatever they have been feeding on to help with the trauma, I want like 50 portions for Shen Jiu.

Some other things of note:

Shen Jiu has 3 options for a Vision/Elemental Powers: Anemo, Cryo or Pyro

Shen Jiu's adeptus form is that of a Jiufeng - an early depiction of a Phoenix that has 9 heads. I believe it is a good correlation because Shen Jiu turning into an adeptus doesn't mean he is not Shen Jiu anymore. It's not a full resurrection and new life altogether for Shen Jiu, just another WAY to survive.

Shen Jiu met Gaming when he was a child who got lost around the mountain/parts of Chenyu Vale that Shen Jiu protects. He helped the kid go back to Qiaoying Village. Gaming called him "Master Adeptus Bird" as a child, and it changed to "Shizun" after Shen Jiu decided to take him in.

I don't know if this might end up as a Shen Jiu/Yue Qingyuan or Shen Jiu/Liu Qingge, but regardless of the pairing, I wanna say that Shen Jiu will at least get some friends and family (new or old) out of this whole situation

Here is a little funny thing I thought about as I was writing this monstrosity of a post:

Cloud Retainer: When Ganyu/Shenhe was a child...

Madame Ping: When Yanfei/Xianling/Yaoyao was a child...

Shen Jiu: When Gaming was a child...

All Adepti + Morax: When Shen Jiu was a child:

Shen Jiu:... fuck you guys...

Either way, this is about everything I have in me for today (I have been writing this for nearly 2 hours, so please excuse any typos you may find).

What do you think? Good? Bad? A bit too much? (My brain is literally cooked after this post)

Let me know what you think.

Also, I wanna say that I wrote this literally 2 days before 4.4 is live, so I don't know anything about Chenyu Vale or Gaming's story outside of what was shown/said during the livestream.

See you guys tomorrow,

- TooManyPlotBunnies-Send Help

#genshin impact #shen jiu #svsss #chenyu vale #adepti #liu qingge #i kid you not I have 0 ideea what I am doing #my brain needs to stop #fanfic ideas #zhongli #cloud retainer #yue qingyuan #my brain is on angst mode #shen qingqiu #qi qingqi #my brain is cooking.... itself

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incorrectoverthehedge · 11 months

Text

Why I got back into Over the Hedge.

So I can't sleep, why not write.

Over the Hedge was for a while a movie that, up until a few months ago, has been relatively unimportant to me. I remember seeing it once when I was a kid, and I do remember playing the hell out of the video game (I even beat it once in an entire day one summer), and that's about it.

It was always a movie that I found good as a kid, and for a while I never went back to it because I didn't want my childhood ruined. Granted I usually grew up with a lot of Disney and Pixar movies, so bad childhood movies were going to be hard to come by. I guess the closest was I think Snow Buddies, but even then it's more generic than anything.

Okay, getting off topic, Over the Hedge I didn't go back to for a long time because I didn't want to think the movie was lame nowadays. Granted I thought about it a few times, mainly because I liked the names RJ and Ozzie, and I used them whenever I wanted to make a neat OC that I would inevitably forget about in less than two weeks, but aside from that, nothing really prompted me to go back, which eventually resulted in me pretty much forgetting about it.

That was until a few months ago...and it involved a certain fan-favorite Opossum.

You see, on Left 4 Dead, there's a workshop where you can play as other characters. They can range from meme characters, to anime characters, to video game characters, and of course, animated movie characters. That of course is where this starts.

I had to find a model that would replace either Francis or Louis since my friends were sick of the model I was using. In case you were wondering, I was using this model:

Terrifying, I know.

It was funny to me at the same time. However, the biggest problem with it was that it was way too big and pretty much took up half their screens whenever they looked at me. So I had to find another model that would fit…I decided to use Louis this time, and then I found…this.

I decided why not, got it, realized that it had the exact same issue with Thumper the Monster Bunny, yet ignored it for some reason, and with the model, we beat the challenge, and everything was fine. That was until I really started thinking about it.

Why did Heather of all characters get a model in this game? In fact, while doing research for this video, it turns out she's the SECOND DreamWorks character to have a Left 4 Dead 2 character model, and the first was Shrek. Speaking of which, she now has TWO character models for survivors, and she's only second to Shrek who has only three.

LET ME REPEAT, SHE IS SECOND TO SHREK.

Anyways, this really got me thinking about what was the whole appeal of her, because I recently rewatched the movie and let me tell you, she probably has the least amount of screen-time in the film. Yet, she's the only one of the cast to have a model in Left 4 Dead 2 (at least until Ozzie was also ported), that was also ported to GMod?

That's when I started to look at the fandom more, and I realized that last year the subreddit had a bit of a resurgence when it came what I like to call "Heather-posting".

Posts about Heather were all over the subreddit, and not only that, they were some of the highest upvoted there. The image I'm providing is only the second highest, with 265. Granted that doesn't seem like much compared to others, but it's still noticeable. In fact, Heather is the main focus of nearly half of the highest upvoted posts.

Not only that, she's also fairly popular on DeviantArt, and even more surprisingly (and also thankfully), there's no...weird stuff involved there I've seen.

Have you ever heard the term "Ensemble Darkhorse" in TV Tropes? It's when a character who is rather minor or unimportant to the main plot get a massive following. Heather pretty much ticks all those boxes, and it's probably one of the most surprising ones I've seen.

How powerful is it overall? Well, I actually decided to make a character based on Heather and put her in a Hell's Kitchen roleplay. I didn't exactly expect to get far, or even really be that noticed.

Heather actually won.

She won.

Not only that, she actually had two people have a crush on her, one male, one female. That's actually wild.

In the midst of all that however, it resulted in me taking another look at the movie itself, finally looking to see if it lived up to the vindication it had been receiving recently.

Turns out that yeah, it's still a great movie. It's not going to be better than something like The Last Wish or Shrek 2, but it's a film that, in my opinion, has no real flaws. Maybe the cast could be a bit smaller, like remove the porcupine family so there could be some more screentime for Heather and Ozzie, since they're the two more popular characters compared to them. Despite this, the cast itself is likable, the story is easy to follow, the satire and visual humor is really funny, and man for Dreamworks film the movie looks absolutely GORGEOUS.

Of course, there's also the banger music, with Heist and Family of Me being my two favorite songs in the film, and it always inspires me to write about the gang and their wacky hijinks.

Oh yeah, the writing stuff. Yeah, I never actually wrote a lot of Fanfiction in my life, I usually kept it original for the most part. I think the only thing Fanfiction-y I've ever wrote was some absolutely hot dog water, dumpster fire trash about...

Sonic OCS.

I'm shivering just thinking about it.

Regardless, my writing has improved a ton, so at the very least I could do the gang justice by not looking like I just half-assed my writing whilst working on writing comedy, which is a style I've never tried before.

And let me tell you, it is really fun to do.

So yeah, what started as a simple dive into a character that I didn't expect to be popular, soon turned into a genuine appreciation for a movie that had at one point been treated as merely an afterthought, as well as a new love for writing comedy detailing the wacky misadventures of some fun characters.

That is why I got back into Over the Hedge.

Speaking of which, I've also been collecting some old merchandise from Over The Hedge, and let me tell you, some of that is real interesting...

#over the hedge #dreamworks #dreamworks animation #just a little ramble #okay its a bit of a big ramble #dont judge me #writing and stuff

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breakerwhiskey · 6 months

Text

077 - SEVENTY-SEVEN

Please visit breakerwhiskey.com for more information or to send a message to Whiskey's radio. Breaker Whiskey is an Atypical Artists production created by Lauren Shippen. If you'd like to support the show, please visit patreon.com/breakerwhiskey.

Transcript under the cut. For more episodes, click here.

[click, static]

The stupid thing is, with all the weirdness at the Stanley, I didn’t even take a look around Estes Park that much. And it looked like it is beautiful.

Sure, I got a lot of beautiful lakes and mountains in Wyoming. And it’s not like I can’t come back if I really want to.

But I don’t think I’ll be staying at the Stanley again.

I forgot to tell you—when I was driving out of Wyoming, right near the highway was this enormous statue of a rabbit with antlers. One of those jackalopes, I think it’s called. Some weird Wyoming legend. I don’t really get it, but it’s kind of cute—a little antlered bunny.

[click, static]

Where do people come up with this stuff? Bigfoot, the loch ness monster, jackalopes…and how do these ideas gain so much traction with the public? I mean, I know there’s actual myth and legends from different cultures and religions but that’s not what these are. These are…these are made up by somebody who tells their friends, you know? But what makes it so that those friends want to share it with their friends and so on and so on? How many potential monsters are out there ready to become myths and are just being held back by the fact that their creator just doesn’t have very many friends?

[click, static]

Do you believe in stuff like that? The…legends, the urban myths? Ghosts?

I never really did. I like a good ghost story as much as the next person, don’t get me wrong, but it never struck me as…real. There’s way too much evidence to the contrary and I always felt that if any of it was real, no matter how rare it was, surely it would be unavoidable to hear about. Surely there would be real evidence. If people were experiencing real ghost encounters, there’s no way we’d all go about our business as if everything was normal. People aren’t that good at keeping secrets.

[click, static]

But now…after everything that happened…

There still isn’t hard evidence. How much can I trust my eyes really?

There was already so much about the world that I didn’t understand before this and now I understand even less. And I fear I’ll never fully understand anything ever again.

So, I guess, sure, why can’t jackalopes be real? Nothing about this whole place, this whole country, driving around it, feels real. Nothing about my life feels real.

[click, static]

#breaker whiskey #audio drama #episode #transcript #Spotify

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tsuki-sennin · 1 year

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Don! Don! Donbura ko! Our raging festival of peaches, manga, haikus, misunderstandings, and ships shall be coming to an end within a matter of weeks. I can scarcely believe it myself, however all worldly things are as fleeting as they are beautiful.

Come March, our adventures with all these assholes will be at an end. And as wonderful and envelope pushing as they are, we really could do with a moment of pause after it's all said and done.

Enough depressing thoughts though, have another hour of me talking about this dumbass series~!

Spoilers, I guess...

-You Noto do a funny little wish, huh?

-You love your besties.

-Hello, Sonogo-sama.

-Shallow indeed.

-Sonoroku's having himself a muscle moment.

-And of course, Sonoshi. The evil icon themself.

-The peace summit begins.

-Tsuyoshi and Tsubasa are off to the side there, nothing can go wrong.

-Kaito's never been this serious about anything this whole season.

-Polite applause.

-Zettai ni! Ore koso only one!

-"So like... are you their dad or something? You just kinda exist."

-"Brilliant, Sonoza. Getting to know my father in law is a tremendous first step to our successful alliance."

-"I am a special man. ...so like, can I get your food now?"

-Instant service, goddamn.

-"Thank you for saving my extremely troublesome pet bird."

-Not true Haruka, Minoru Ohno is still tied.

-I see Tsuyoshi's own death apparently means nothing to him without Miho.

-...though then again, he did save Tarou the first time he died and that was post Hitotsu-ki transformation, so...

-Maybe they're even?

-"Keep turning into a Hitotsu-ki then, you cuckoo. There is no tooth fairy, there is no Easter Bunny, and there is no Miho Kijino."

-Wake up and smell the mustard Kaito went out of his way to prepare for you.

-"I married a monster!"

-To be honest, I still fully would.

-I see Sonoza and I are in agreement about it being hilarious.

-There he is. Papa Jin.

-"Hello, son."

-Sonoshi's having a moment to themselves.

-Now play Bolero of Fire.

Sonoroku: Oooooookay, looks like they're not very alright upstairs. Sonogo: I hate them more than you do, just so you know.

-He's out on community service.

-"Get him pu'er tea."

-Oooooooh, this is big crime.

-"My legacy means nothing. Not when compared to their lives. And Tarou..."

-I'd love to have one of those switches just to play with.

-I know that sounds kinda weird, but

-TRUE HERO

-"You have a job!"

-"It's a good job :)"

-"Here you go, Dad. Drink up."

-Haruka's sheer terror.

-WHERE JIROU

-"He's having time to himself."

-Shinichi's got a point. You're less "allying" and more straight up "joining". Green unit to Blue unit.

-"Whoa, that dude went flying... Oh shit, she's here!"

-Ohhhh, drama.

-A... little late, but...

-"You haiku-spewing monkey FUCK, we're helping you!"

-"Ooooh, and that may be true, but this gives me a little bit of doubt about employee integrity. Isn't that right, Tarou-sama?"

-"That's hot, Sonoi!"

-"Right okay, asking you was a mistake. What about you, Haruka?"

-"I mean like... I guess?"

-"Wrong! Meandering plotlines like this will never win the minds of a reader! Say what you mean, Haruka!"

-I guess Tsuyoshi's really against the

-"I mean, I don't really wanna say anything. I'm like... not here."

-ONI

-Hello, Haruka. You're our final boss!

-Oh

-Thanks Shinichi, that was nice of you.

-Goodbye, Papa Jin.

-Notice how Tarou never technically spoke to Jin once.

-Ohhhhh, that's right. Tsubasa already technically voted for Sononi.

-"You died, sweetheart. And he paid for you to come back."

-I have to wonder what would've happened if Sononi got a state funeral the way Sonoi did back when he died.

-Dog Condor...

-...guess she's REAL happy about that.

-Oooooooh, rejected!

-"No pets from the dog."

-OH GODDAMMIT

-Strawbebby parfait!

-SHINICHIIII

-Goddamn, yo! You got it!

-Vote time!

-Tie time.

-"I retain my right to vote."

-Cold blooded.

-Shinnosuke... Tamaki...

-You two are from a previous episode.

-DUDE

-Telepath!

-"GET THAT YOUNG LOVE SHIT OUTTA HEEEEEERE! Oh, it's just like my life! ...in a way!"

-"That's it. We're done here."

-"You're being a bad boy, Tarou-san..."

-AND THERE THEY ARE!

-Sonoroku, you didn't really do anything, I guess that means you're fine.

-A FUCKING LAUGH TRACK

-"Okay, we'll vote too~!"

-The vote has been totally rocked.

-Look at that, we're in the majority~!

-Hitosu-ki Time!

-Two Hitotsu-ki!

-"Uh oh, besties~! Looks like you're alone now~!"

-Don Kaito, once again lost.

-And there he goes!

-"Ohhhhh man~! Mixin' it up after the fourth~! Brilliant idea to get around rule of three~!"

-"Get off me, woman!"

-Ohhhhhhh, there he goes!

-Succed into two different worlds.

-Tarou-less!

-Nine Donbrothers!

-I could barely handle five, six was pushing it. Now nine!

-Okay, it seems that Tamaki's the Dengeki-ki, while Shinnosuke's the Battle Fever one. ...I'm not entirely sure what I'd call him, but... I guess BF-ki? I mean it'd be fitting.

-Anyways, episode 48~!

-Don Momotaro has been vored!

-And Tsuyoshi I guess, but

-Those jerks.

-"You guys suck!"

-Monkey in charge.

-Guess we're fighting together.

-Leashed in.

-"Y'know what, I'm gonna go off somewhere and have a drink, I do not wanna deal with this today."

-Time for some big shit.

-Awwwwww, Tsubasa.

-Tell all the girls.

-"Wait, hold on dude, I'm not wanted anymore!"

-Five Million~!

-Cops!

-Oh thanks, Sononi~!

-Ice cold, man.

-"I suspected Kijino, but... Tarou, really?"

-"You just focus on your manga."

-HE WANTED MURASAME TO READ IT I'M-

-SONOZA, MY DUDE

-Waiter time!

-"Sit your asses down, I need to work this off!"

-There's the pinwheel.

-"Oh c'mon man, that's a little beyond."

-Oh okay, Sonoroku's just!

-Insane!

-Keep the bad guys busy and the Hitotsu-ki in range.

-Be honest with her, man.

-"Do you know who Miho is?"

-I see... so she was a path that Natsumi could've taken.

-Ohhhhhh they could've reconciled easily!

-Sonogo and Sonoshi are being regular sadistic but Sonoroku's like "DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WOOOOOOO!"

-I mean they are villains, but goddamn Inoue

-Sonoshigoroku!

-Sonoichinisan!

-"Smash 'em into bloody paste, Oni!"

-Ohhhh, they gone!

-Know when to fold.

-Ohhhh...

-Jirou-kun...

-Hello, Tiger Man.

-"Through thick and thin... together..."

-They truly become one.

-Momotani Jirou. Toradora.

-Oden~!

-I'm sorry Sonoi, but your little panic there was adorable.

-SONOI LJKHLGH

-"Odeeeeen~!? God, Sonoi, you've really fallen so far~!"

-"All those weak Donbrothers really fit that scrub though, don't they~? Like that dog Sononi's in love with! Or that manga-loving ogre Sonoza wasted so much time training!"

-"The only thing faker than Don Momotaro's strength is Sonoi's Jordans!"

-STERILIZE

-He got SO mad.

-"I have a plan."

-Shinichi's completely focused now.

-We're totally outnumbered.

-If only Murasame were here, huh?

-"Check this shit out~!"

-Completely without honor and humanity. The Noto Overseers!

-YO?

-Oh, we dead.

-"Go for it, Shinichi!"

-Our chance has come!

-The Zanglass Sword!

-SHINICHI MY BOY

-"I'm no swordsman, Sonoi-san! This is your battle!"

-"Well~? Pick it up."

-Goddamn, they're that monstrously arrogant.

-Zanglass Chop!

-THERE THEY ARE

-The squad!

-We're all friends now!

-"So, that's our new Donbrothers. Fascinating."

-Go, Jirou!

-Don Don! Donbrothers!

-Shining!

-Hot damn!

-Supreme Great Combination!

-This is everything I've ever dreamed.

-Besties at long last!

-Medetashi medetashi!

-Later, nerds.

-You'd better keep your eyes on your lady now, okay?

-We did it.

-"Nice job, man."

-Teamwork

-Everybody gets to join the festival :)

-Tsubasa knows what you did:)

-OH SHIT FINAL BATTLE

-That's our... Ousama-ki, is it? I thought it was unusual when the next Sentai's mech came in hot to help us before we even met anyone there, but it's even weirder to me that we get a legacy monster to boot.

-Not that I mind, nobody needs a conventional finale with a show like Donbrothers.

-Is that? Nooo, it couldn't be...

-Well, there's Minoru-san! Frankly I'd expect to see nobody else here at the end.

-Handshake

-That dude in the hood though...

-Oh my GOD IT IS

-IT'S HIM

-KOUHEI MURAKAMI

-HE'S BACK

-This episode went from 100 to 913 real quick.

-I don't think it's quite the finale, but...

-Man, we're so close to a fittingly confusing and insane end either way.

#donbrothers spoilers #avataro sentai donbrothers #donbrothers #super sentai #don! don! it's a full force peachy festival!

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ellowynbeimler · 3 months

Text

Feb 9

Dear dad

So we're traveling a little bit, and we found a place to stay for a couple of days. It's free if we're willing to "help them with a little problem."

Which, of course, means that it's actually going to be some kind of monster hunt, where we'll just need to kill some things that really, someone else should deal with, but as we're the only ones here, and the only ones who are apparently willing to deal with it. Which means we're going to deal with it.

I think it's the least we can do. Helping people is, like, the bare minimum. Like scraping the bottom of the barrel bare and after the dragon. Maybe a monster hunt is the best thing we can do right now.

The best thing that I can do.

No one has actually told us much about whatever it is that is the problem. Still, no one seems particularly concerned or scared, which is hopefully a good sign. If they don't think it's that bad, either they've been dealing with it for a while, likely, and it's not actually that bad. Or, it's a relatively new thing that is very dangerous, and they just have no idea how dangerous it is but are willing to send a group of people just passing through into the belly of the beast. Also likely.

But hopefully, that's not what's going on. It's probably just some small pests, like monstrous bunnies, that keep eating their crops.

Well, maybe not their crops. It is still the middle of winter. Maybe it's getting into their food storage? That would be a problem that needed dealing with immediately.

But I don't know.

We won't know until tomorrow. We got in pretty late tonight, and there's pretty much no way I'm going to be useful in the middle of the night.

Tomorrow, we'll find out exactly what it is, and maybe the others will be able to figure out what's going on and what we need to do to help or fix it.

Maybe they'll even be able to convince the people to give us money for helping, in addition to the room. Also, it's less likely, but it would be cool. We need more, and work has not been plentiful this, well, actually this year.

It's not like we've actually run out, but no one's hiring us. We haven't been in any towns or anything that has had jobs. Even the temples and such haven't had much work for us to do that was paid.

Okay, I'll admit there's something else weighing on me. It feels like something's watching me. I don't know what it is or where it is, but since we've got here, I feel like something just outside my line of sight is staring at me.

I haven't seen anything yet, no matter how subtly I look.

It's driving me a little crazy. And I don't know if any of the others have noticed or experienced anything similar, but if they have, they haven't said anything, which is almost as irritating.

But I also haven't said anything, so maybe they think the same.

Then again, it is almost midnight, and I might just be ramping myself up for no reason.

You know what? Maybe I'll figure out what it is tomorrow when we find out what exactly we're supposed to be dealing with. Maybe whatever's causing this feeling is actually the cause.

But I won't know until tomorrow, so I should just get some sleep. I think that's all I'll be able to do.

Oh! I almost forgot to say anything. I think I learned a new rune today, too. It was pasted up all around the town. Well, drawn all over town, it's mostly up high, likely where kids can't reach it, but it's interesting, I copied it into my book, and I'll ask someone tomorrow what it is when we get done with everything.

They'll owe me an answer, at least, right?

If they don't know or don't tell me, though, I can probably figure out in the next big city that we go to, maybe I'll be able to talk Zunair into taking me to a bard hall with him, so I can do a little research on my own again.

It's a weird little symbol, and if it's all over the place, it's gotta be a protection one or something. Which would be so, very, very useful for us to have.

But I'll find out tomorrow.

If it all goes well, I'll write to you tomorrow, and if all doesn't go well, who knows.

Love, Jack

Read the rest of the series here:

Or read more by this author here:

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oh-holy-slut · 3 years

Text

Bloodlust

Pairing: Damon Salvatore x fem!reader

Warnings: smut, explicit language, blood sharing, mentions of death, oral sex

Word Count: 2,6k

Summary: Stefan forced Damon to try his animal diet. Damon hated it, but didn't had a choice... until Reader makes a suggestion. Suddenly things get steamy.

Being with Damon was complicated. Him and Y/N have seen each other a lot in the past weeks. The two of them had a lot of fun; saw a lot of movies. Actually, Y/N was sure Damon secretly hated many of those. However, anytime Y/N suggested another dramatic, romantic cliché movie like "Last Song" - the vampire groaned, put his arm around her shoulder, let her head rest on his chest and endured every single second of the movie of her choice.

Damon even flirted and teased Y/N here and there, but didn't lead to anything more intimate so far.

Today was another of those days. Y/N stuck around at the Salvatore boarding house, brought a few of Damon's favorite groceries and a bunch of movies, of which she thought that they will suit his taste. Even if they were a little to bloody and brutal in her opinion.

"Pick one!", she demanded, holding all three Blu-ray sleeves in front of him. Damon just shrugged, not bothering to even look.

"Don't be a killjoy, Damon Salvatore!" Y/N sighed.

"Tell me what's wrong or pick a movie. You've got no choice. And besides that... Which number of drink is this?" Y/N frowned, pointing at the liquor in her friends hand. Damon usually consumed his beloved bourbon with pleasure.

But the man on the couch didn't seem pleasured at all. His facial features totally hardened and a look in his eyes like he was ready to rip someone's heart out.

You put the disc's back in your handbag, closing the zipper and put the bag on the floor.

"Fine. No movie night today. Who are we going to kill?"

A small smirk appeared on Damon's lips, finally looking towards Y/N.

"Stefan and his hero hair. He made me go vegetarian... well, for a vampire... and I can't get myself to eat one of those chipmunks, bunnies or bambis." He shook himself with disgust.

"And why did he count you in? You clearly aren't excited about the changing... So, why did you agree?"

"He said, he would kill me, which is kinda funny. But-" Damon made a wide gesture "he stole my daylight ring. And he wouldn't give it back until I stop feeding on innocent people - and kill them."

"So, you truly let your younger brother blackmail you like that?! Wow... I don't know how to feel about your dieting or your new path. Or whatever this is supposed to be."

"You don't like me killing people either", Damon maintained, while taking another sip of bourbon.

"Well, I don't", Y/N agreed, took a step forward, stole the glass from the vampires hand and put it on a small table nearby. "But I don't believe in forcing as a method to get people to change their minds. I believe that change for the better must be an intrinsic motivation," she added quickly, giving the vampire an innocent smile.

Damon's lineaments suddenly turned from annoyed to curious. "Any suggestions, little one?" The vampire raised an eyebrow and a little smirk showed up on his lips. On the one hand, Y/N blushed over the nickname, Damon called her. On the other hand she felt skittish looking forward to making a deal with him. Not only a deal. It's far more than a simple agreement.

It's Y/N, actually giving Damon a part of her. The red elixir of life. She was about to give him total control of her body and she not even for a heartbeat doubt that Damon will use it against her.

"Actually... Yeah. There's something on my mind." Y/N said chewing on your lip. "I could open up a vein for you. I mean, you could feed on me. And since you have my permission, there's nothing for anybody to have objection about."

Damon frowned and gave her an incredulous look. "You would do that for me?" The vampire couldn't believe, he understood correctly. Why would Y/N want to get involved with him feeding on her? What's in it for her? Damon tried hard to connect the dots, but he wasn't able to. It all seemed to make no sense. Y/N wouldn't have an advantage of that. The vampire hesitated, pinning his dangerously blue eyes on the girl in front of him.

"Is it so suspicious of me, that I'm trying to help my closest friend?" It pierced Y/N's heart, realizing, Damon's trust in her was rather fragile. "Never mind", she waved the pain away and forced herself to keep her composure. "I only had a hasty idea; you really don't need to fee-"

Suddenly Damon appeared behind Y/N, using his vampirism. "Shhhh", he whispered softly. "I never said, that I don't want your blood. I'm thinking about if we are going to cross a line? Blood sharing can be very personal..."

"It can be? It is personal already. Believe it or not - I'm not gonna offer my veins to all the vampires of Mystic Falls." Y/N rolled her eyes, her arms folded on her chest to point out the indignation she felt right now.

"Kinda sensitive today, huh?" Damon gently stroke a strand of hair behind her ear, Y/N could hear this smug smirk through his words. It was a true 'Damon thing' to do. "I didn't mean it like that, princess." He sighed; unsure if he should agree or not. Damon didn't want to act selfish towards Y/N. He compelled a lot of girls for the purpose of drinking blood in the past. He literally used them as long as they weren't too annoying - and then he acted like they have never met. Damon Salvatore couldn't imagine this scenario with Y/N. They've been so close, the vampire couldn't stand loosing her. The offer was risky, but it also could bring each other even closer.

Damon tried hard to avoid any serious attraction between Y/N and him, afraid of messing up. Indeed, he found himself thinking, and even dreaming, about Y/N more than he wanted to admit. She was smart and had this special sense of humor, the vampire adored so much. She was the only one, who could make him feel good no matter what. Needless to say she had that glimmer in her eyes, when she did something she truly loved. In these moments she was even more pretty. Y/N was hard to resist.

And maybe now he could have her like nobody else. At least the vampire gave in. He wanted her blood. He wanted her.

Y/N flinched by the feeling of Damon brushing her neck with his lips. "Oh, Damon", she gasped. "Bite me." Y/N almost begged for the vampire's teeth breaking through her skin. Damon loved the sound of her husky voice. In less than a heartbeat he turned into his vampire shape. "If you insist", he grinned devilishly, ready to place his teeth on to her skin.

Suddenly Y/N made a slight move forward with the intention to interrupt her friend. "Did you change your mind?" Damon was close to switching back to human, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions. Mostly a lack of understanding, but also a little of disappointment and even anger. Was Y/N playing games on him? While Damon Salvatore was sorting feelings, Y/N turned around, standing now in front of him.

She was so close, not even a piece of paper would fit between them.

Y/N slightly exhaled breath, her eyes darting between the vampires eyes and lips. It was the first time Y/N saw him like this. The icy blue of his eyes, she loved so much, has turned darker. Purple veins appeared under his eyes; Y/N couldn't help herself. Damon's appearance fully intoxicated every fibre of her being. Her fingertips found their way gently brushing over his dark purple veins. She felt heat and softness, while tracing one of them. It took her a few seconds to get out of trance, realizing what she had done. "Sorry", she murmured with a voice barely audible. "Don't apologize, little one." Damon tilted his head, his lips curled up in a self-assured grin, exposing a perfectly white vampire fang. "I never saw you like this before, you loo-"

"... look like a monster?"

Y/N shook her head. It was nothing like that. Yes, he did look unfamiliar. And she should be scared under normal conditions. Instead, his look hit her in an unexpected way. He looked hotter as a vampire, if it was even possible.

Y/N cleared her throat, looking up at Damon. "I feel... attracted to you."

"So nothing's changed", Damon teased, raising his eyebrows. The girl in front of him softly slapped him on his shoulder; which was only possible because the vampire permitted. "You are always so full of yourself." She smirked, feeling more confident being to something, they have had been so many times before. Granted, he was terrifying accurate, but she wouldn't serve her feelings on a silver platter.

"I'm still into it. You can bite me; feed on me. I only needed to see you before..."

A shockwave of electricity flowed through her body the second Damon took her hand and pulled her close.

"I'll be careful", he promised, nuzzling his head into the nap of her neck. Damon once again placed his lips on her soft skin.

Suddenly a harsh pain made Y/N feel like in a kind of haze. She flinched and let out a groan at the same time, unintentionally biting her lower lip.

During Damon embedded his fang deeper and deeper, she started feeling dizzy. Her hands searched for the vampires upper body, finally wrapped around his neck. She needed him to lean on. A narrow trickle of blood flowed down her neck. Let Damon feed on her felt like flames licking up every fiber of her body.

With every passing second Y/N could feel her control slip away. Her body was now firmly pressed against Damon's, like she would want to merge them into one.

Damon noticed her staggering, wrapped his arms around her waist, supporting her.

Bloodlust already messed up the vampires mind, so he continued feeding on Y/N.

A tempting moan escaped her lips, but she didn't care to cover up. Y/N's heart was racing, her eyes flattering. It was almost as if he was about to push her over the edge, but in a different way. "Mmm, this...this… feels soo weird... and so good...", she whispered under a shallow breath.

As soon as Damon heard her fading voice, he abruptly

quitted drinking from her.

"Fuck!" He rapidly laid her on his lap and checked Y/N's vital signs, to make sure she was okay. Instinctively he bit his wrist, pressed it against Y/N's mouth. He knew his blood would heal her, but it wasn't going fast enough. A few seconds passed through, to him they felt like centuries. Y/N finally blinked and Damon was relieved. He cupped her cheeks, his gaze never leaving hers. "I thought, I'd gone-" Damon cleaned his throat. "I'm so glad, you are doing well", he whispered, while trailing her lips with his fingertips. "So, fuckin' glad..." The vampire exhaled a deep breath.

"It... You made me feel good. Strange, but good", Y/N appeased and flushed over the memory. "Maybe you got a little carried away, but I don't mind. I wouldn't trade the feeling for anything."

Y/N quickly interrupted herself, before she could reveal too much.

However, Damon used his vampire skills, noticing that Y/N was hiding something from him. "Isn't there anything else you want me to know?", Damon asked without taking his eyes off her. Y/N shifted and flushed even more. "It's unfair. You use your vampirism to get everything out of me."

"Well, if that were the case, I could easily compel you." Damon shrugged and found back to his smugly self. "Tell me, what you are hiding". He said in a seductive voice.

"I wanted to get lost in you."

Her confession sent shivers all over the vampires body. At first he could not decide, how to handle this. "Are you sure that's what you want? I could really hurt you..." Y/N hummed.

In the next split second, Damon pinned Y/N against a wall, smashing his lips on hers, kissing her with all the passion he had to give. The vampire devoured Y/N with a new kind of hunger. He didn't know he could crave someone so much.

"Fuck me, Damon..."

The vampire felt him getting hard, only by hearing those little three words out of her mouth.

"Say it louder. Tell me, what you want me to do."

Y/N pulled him closer, gently biting his earlobe.

"Fuck... me, Damon." It took her a second to focus and forming the words again. After she was near to climax earlier, it wasn't a long way getting to the edge once more. "Make me cum... You almost had me there..."

A deep moan got over the vampires lips, once he understood, what Y/N was trying to tell him.

With the next blink Y/N found herself in Damon's bedroom, lying on his bed.

From now on there weren't many words needed. Damon's hand's found their way under her shirt, cupping her breasts and make her moan over and over again.

He closely listened to the rhythm of her heart, making sure he would be able to delay her climax to the point he needed her to.

"Don't cum yet... I want to taste your little pussy first."

Y/N grabbed the vampires head, running her fingers through his dark hair - pushing him down, since she was unable to form a single word.

As Damon got down, he didn't take his eyes off Y/N.

He used a hand pushing up her skirt and lightly stroking over her panties with his fingertips.

"My girl is so wet", he praised in a low husky voice."-and I barely touched you."

His dirty words in combination with his touch lead to another moan, almost turned into a scream.

Damon pushed the fabric aside, leaving sloppy kisses on the inside of her thighs.

Y/N's eyes fluttered, when his soft lips reached her middle.

Damon's tongue licking around her entrance was driving her nuts.

"...so delicious..." were the only words she was able to catch up. Damon knew, he couldn't thrill her forever, so he got back to her. He spit on his palms, stroking his hand over his crotch. In under a second Y/N finally felt this releasing pressure of his cock. It was like a switch went off in her brain and she braced herself for the hard thrusts that would follow.

Damon dimmed the whining noises Y/N made with a passionate, hungry kiss.

He cheated with his vampirism to give it to her deeper and faster, knocking out all the air of her lungs while Y/N screamed out Damon's name. Her walls clenched around him and made him twitch. It was like her pussy massaged his dick the best way possible.

Every time he hit her harder and rougher he was making sure he hit her spot with every thrust.

Damon gathered speed one last time and pushed her over the edge until she was a moaning whimpering mess.

With her last contraction around his shaft, Damon was cumming inside her.

"You are so tight, little one", he whispered under his breath. "We should make arrangements more often."

Please like or/and reblog if you enjoyed reading or/and want me to write more stories about Damon.

Thanks guys ❤️

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bluestrawberriesss · 2 years

Text

•Latte•

US!Papyrus X reader

•————————————•

He didn’t know how to cope with this.

Usually humans are no issue to him, he really couldn’t care less unless it came to direct interaction with him or his brother.

But this, this was so different.

There you sat in all your glory and you didn’t even notice him.

You had begun working at muffets not too long ago, somewhat over a month now five or take.

When you first started working he’ll admit he didn’t really give you so much as a glance.

You were just another human in a world full of em, what makes you an different than the others ?

While he is rather apathetic towards humans he was also relatively wary around them. With the quickly rising monster hate crime rates in Ebott he was on edge far more often than he wasn’t.

But you, stars you were something else.

He watched one day while you stood up for a little bunny monster, the monster couldn’t have been older than a teenager in human years.

The way you got in the human offenders face, the way you shouted back and pushed him a way from the bunny sparked his interest.

He kept tabs on you after that incident.

Not religiously of course, but enough to find out more about who you were.

His talks with you for the first 2-3 weeks hadn’t gone anywhere past you taking his order and wishing him a good day when he left the establishment.

Until today.

Papyrus had been trying to be his own hypeman, get himself ready to ask you.

In the weeks he had been “gathering information, although it was more like watching from a safe distance every now and then, he had grown fond of you.

At first he thought it was just appreciation for the way you acted towards his kind.

Then it became more.

Far more than just appreciation.

He began to stutter when ordering, his soul thrummed a little faster when you came over to his table.

Eventually he didn’t even have to order. You just remembered.

Stars , stars, stars.

He had a crush on you.

He had a crush on you like some little baby bones.

Even though he thought he’d never act on an infatuation, let alone one with a human

Here he was.

About to walk up to where you sat at a round table by the store window on your lunch break.

Papyrus had been soaring glances your way and after a few times he made awkward eye contact.

Guess it’s time, you already know somethings up.

He stood up.

Stuffing his hands in his carrot colored hoodie he makes his way over to your table all while trying to keep his soul at a steady pace.

That’s the thing with monsters, they’re much more in tune with their souls than the humans are.

A monster soul knows when it’s compatible with another beings and now, was one of those times.

He had moments like this in the past, moments where he felt a connection but never a pull this strong.

The best part of it all is you don’t even feel it.

It make him so incredibly anxious, for all he knows you could be thinking he’s some “monster creep” praying on humans as the media likes to portray male monsters.

Finally he reaches your table.

You look up at him

oh my stars youre even more beautiful up close.

Fuck he sounds weird as hell.

He scolds himself in his thought before realizing he hasn’t said anything, simply standing and staring.

His eye sockets widened some before one of his hands left the safety of his hoodie pocket to run the back of his skull.

“Oh, um hello there” you say blinking up owlishly at him. You must be so confused.

“Uh, Hi” he responds.

Shit, he fucked it up already.

Your confused expression slowly splits into a smile

“Oh! I know you ! You’re Papyrus right?” You ask, a bright grin on your face.

He’s left speechless once again, you knew who he was ?

“Uh, you know my name?” He asks, head slightly tilted.

Your smile only widens this time reaching your eyes.

“Of course I do ! You’re one of my favorite regulars!” You responded, hands now clasped In front of your chest.

His soul fluttered.

You knew who he was, and you LIKED him.

Maybe not LIKE like but this was enough for him.

A thoughtful expression then crossed your features.

“Hm, did you need something ? I’m on my break but I sure can help ya !”.

oh.

Ohhhh.

Gosh you thought he needed something from you, that he was having food troubles.

Get a grip papyrus.

You got this.

“No no, all good here” he lets out a soft chuckle.

“I actually wanted to ask you a question” he states, now forcing himself to peel his eyes away from where he was looking on the wall behind you.

He meets your eyes and goes week in the knees, he doesn’t know how this happened. How his souls become so enamored with the human who worked for an old friend.

You looked a little confused once again.

“Oh? Ask away”

He took a break for a moment.

“I- uh” his voice cracks a bit.

Cheeks flashing honey orange he clears his throat.

Cmon Paps, you’re a grown skeleton, not a baby bones.

Amusement flashed in your eyes which only added to his embarrassment.

“I wanted to know if you wanna get coffee sometime” he rushed out.

It’s silent for a moment.

Your expression goes unreadable before you look back up at him, giggling your grin is bigger than ever, your eyes crinkle at the corners.

“Are you asking me out?” You giggle out, a hand covering your mouth.

Shit.

“No i uh- I mean if you want that yeah- but if not no worries!” He’s panicked now.

You let out a light laugh.

“Yes Papyrus , I’d love to get coffee with you sometime”

What.

Did he hear you right ?

You actually WANT to go out with him?

He calms a bit, the anxiety still in his bones, his hands shaking.

“Alright, great” he says while pulling his phone out of his back pocket.

“If you want you can give me your number, that way we can set a date?” It’s more of a question than a statement.

You pull your own phone out.

“Of course ! Here my number” you read out the digits and he follows in suit typing them in.

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Your phone alarm goes off.

“Welp, my break is over” you stand up and pat your uniform out a bit.

“See you soon Papyrus” you smile at him before walking away.

“See ya” he responds with a pathetic attempt at a wave.

Just as he gets home he feels his phone vibrate so he pulls it out to check.

“Thanks for inviting me out ! from what I’ve seen I think I’ll like you a latte :)”

Stars youre gonna be the death of him.

•————————•

thanks for reading again !!

-Ray

#undertale x reader #underswap #papyrus x reader #papyrus #undertale fanfic #us!papyrus #undertale au #au papyrus #underverse

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giorno-plays-piano · 3 years

Text

The Hollow

Pairing: monster!Bucky Barnes x reader

Warnings: yandere, horror, stalking, kidnapping, death of minor characters.

Words: 2137.

Summary: You were finally going mad. Apparently, it was something in the air, right? Something the management told nothing about that caused hallucinations and all those scary things. Obviously, all those people who worked in the assembly shop #4 before you left because they knew that. That was the reason behind the stupid legend and all those rumors.

_______

There’s a man inside the wall behind you.

This was what the factory workers told you as soon as the manager left, forcing you to question people’s sanity. At first you thought it was a bad joke or something. A man inside the wall in the assembly shop #4? What the Hell was that?

You thought they wanted to scare you away because they didn’t like you: your colleagues were simple people who lived in this godforsaken place for ages and knew each other as if they all were one big family. You, an outsider from somewhere far away who didn’t even look like them, weren’t the same kind, they probably thought. Of course, they didn’t take a liking to you and tried to make you leave so that you wouldn’t become an eyesore.

However, soon you found out they all were pitying you. You could feel their eyes on you each time you left the shop where you worked alone, and all you saw on their faces was fear and regret. A couple of women tried befriending you, sitting at the same table as you during lunch, and the next day they all told you anyone who had been working in the shop #4 left in less than a month. Naturally, you didn’t believe that crazy talk about the man in the wall - it’s not like the factory was built in those times when people were buried alive inside the walls for good luck. Then the women tried convincing you to work facing the wall - you were now standing behind it because of how the rusted pipeline with a barrel shifter was placed. You almost rolled your eyes in irritation: you wouldn’t risk losing your job because you couldn’t stand where you were told by the manager. You desperately needed money.

The day after you received a letter in your locker: somebody asked you to leave the assembly shop #4 immediately if you valued your life. It was starting getting scary. Were these people schizophrenic's? No, there were far too many of them who believed in this creepy urban legend.

At some point you got so fed up with this stupid talk that you headed right to Andy, your manager, to ask him why on Earth people were bothering you with this. The man spent half an hour talking about employees who had nothing better to do other than slacking off and telling silly stories when they needed to work. Yes, rumors had it that almost a hundred years ago there was a man, an talented engineer, who entered the assembly shop #4 and never came back, but it had nothing to do with this ridiculous legend. The wall behind you was all solid blocks of stone that were never moved since the day this factory was built. Even if the engineer was killed - although Andy believed the story wasn’t even real - how would somebody hide the body of a grown man there without dismantling the wall?

The story should have put you at ease, you thought, but instead it only made you more concerned: now as you knew about a disappeared engineer, every time you stood with your back facing that cursed wall you felt the shivers running down your spine. What if there were a ghost or something? You didn’t believe in them, of course, but the dim light in the shop #4, its rusted pipeline, dirty floors and dust balls were hardly making you feel any better. And that disgusted lunch bell... it sounded almost like Silent Hill siren.

You worked in the shop for 8 hours every day, having no time to literally visit the bathroom. Assembling metal parts that always looked ugly over and over again could make anyone go nuts. By the end of the day your body ached as if you carried a giant stone on your shoulders, your back hurting, arms heavy as you barely kept standing. You didn’t even have strength to smile at Dean, an elderly night guard, but he just nodded to you with understanding, knowing well what it meant to be a factory worker here. This shitty job could kill anyone if you stayed long enough here.

Was it the reason why everyone kept talking about that man in the wall? This was the only way to liven up things here, you guessed and decided to talk about it more with the women who you befriended.

They were happy you finally started asking questions. They talked about the legend of the engineer vanished into thin air: you had never heard so much nonsense, sitting quietly in the bus and waiting for it to bring you home. Somebody said the engineer made a pact with the devil himself and merged with the wall, becoming immortal within the stone; the others claimed the engineer went mad because of his loneliness and buried himself in the wall; one woman argued that the engineer, on the contrary, was a ladies man and got sealed up there by a relative of his former lover who committed suicide. There were far too many rumors for you to remember, and soon you abandoned the idea to use the-man-in-the-wall topic to "liven things up" in the factory.

The two weeks had passed since the time you first started working here. You hated this rusty place with all your heart, but this job kept you afloat. It was still better than nothing. Biting down on your dry lower lip, you exhaled tiredly and lifted a particularly heavy detail, trying to fit it in the right place.

The next moment it fell down the dirty floor as you heard an awful sound behind your back as if the heavy stones were moving. It was just for a second, a mere second, but it was enough to have you on edge as you stared at the wall with your eyes wide open. It was some kind of an auditory hallucination, right? There was nothing different in the wall behind you. It looked just like it always did, a nasty grey stone with a tint of orange from the rusty hooks. The wall couldn’t open up just like some Narnia’s wardrobe, could it? It was far too old for any sort of mechanisms like that. Besides, it wouldn’t be able to close so fast, leaving no traces. It was some hallucination from your lack of sleep.

Your coworkers didn’t think so when you told them about it. It was the man in the wall, of course. It always started like this - with an awful, frightening sound. Soon you would be hearing things and feeling the stare of that man all the time, they said. The room #4 was a terrible place, and you should leave it immediately, they said. One woman even offered you to stay at her place if you couldn’t provide for yourself until you found a better job. Of course, you declined her kind offer.

But you did start hearing all kinds of things while you were working. Stones moving, metal clinking, some weird rustling out of nowhere - it was all making you insane, especially since every time you turned around only to see nothing but the wall behind your back. Everything was as it should have been, but you felt something was happening when you didn’t look.

You were finally going mad. Apparently, it was something in the air, right? Something the management told nothing about that caused hallucinations and all those scary things. Obviously, all those people who worked in the assembly shop #4 before you left because they knew that. That was the reason behind the stupid legend and all those rumors. Obviously, you - and all those people who ran away from here - lacked money to do all the necessary medical tests to prove anything.

Shit, you really needed to find a better job if you didn’t want to spend the rest of your days in an asylum.

Now at night you were sending your CV and cover letters, but you couldn’t stop working, nonetheless, forced to constantly look behind your shoulder or turn around just to make sure you weren’t totally crazy. You tried ignoring the noise once, but when it grew louder instead of disappearing in one second just like before, you realized it was a big mistake. Every day was turning into a nightmare.

Grey stone, rusted hooks, dust bunnies on the floor. The same picture you saw over and over again when you were turning back. It was simply unbearable. At one point you even wished to see something different there, something that would prove you weren't going insane.

You had to be careful with your wishes. When you came to the shop #4 the next time, you saw a face of a man cut in grey stone.

You didn't know what happened after that, coming to your senses in the resting room with your coworkers giving your water and some pills, your body shaking so badly you barely managed to sit. Was that a hallucination? A face of a man in the wall? All people around you kept saying it wasn't, describing this face to you so vividly as if they saw it themselves.

You needed to get out of here. Even if it meant becoming homeless and begging for money on the street, it was still a better option than staying in one room with that thing.

It was the next day you prepared to give Andy your letter of resignation, turning back to face the wall nearly every minute. No, you weren't going to stay here and watch how your life was becoming a living Hell - damn, it already was, wasn't it? You no longer slept peacefully, barely eating, constantly trying to keep a bottle of cheap wine you kept in the kitchen out of your reach. No, no, no, you weren't stupid enough to work for a minimum salary in a place like this, risking your own life.

It happened when the lunch bell rang, making you cringe - the next moment something had exploded with such a defeaning boom you almost fell down to the floor. Shit, you knew this sound - an omen of a great catastrophe that certainly disfigured somebody, if not killed. Something went horribly wrong in the assembly shop #3.

The blood drained from your face. Oh God. Were Shirley, Agatha and Simon alright? No, they weren't. Judging by the horrible screams coming from the metal door, they weren’t.

You moved as if in slow motion, your legs suddenly giving up on you, the siren wailing so loud your head could burst, forcing you to forget all the emergency instructions you were given. You needed to open the door. You needed to get this people out of there, those who were screaming in pain, cursing, and pleading for help.

"You can't go." A soft voice somewhere behind you said, and you froze. "You will die out there."

Someone's hands wrapped around you like a rope, making it harder to breathe, not letting you take one more step to the rusted metal door and dragging somewhere back instead until you felt the cold grey wall with your back. It was him, wasn't it? It was the man who had been watching you for a month from inside the stone, waiting for his chance.

When the realization hit you, the fear became suffocating. You couldn't move, couldn't even speak or cry out something to make others know you're trapped here, with a man in the wall who was taking you with him. But nobody would hear you anyway: the unstopping cries of people from the assemble shop #3 were earsplitting, and the siren didn't get silent either, making your efforts futile.

"Don't be afraid," he murmured so gently as if he was your lover, making you want to puke, "I won't leave you here."

The wall behind your back moved with a sound you knew well. Although you expected to bump into cold stones and rusted hooks that would tear your skin apart, instead, you felt darkness embracing you, wrapping around you like a cocoon. The picture of the assemble shop #4 looked so far now, so little as if you were staring at the tiny photo in an old album. It felt surreal.

You were behind the stone wall - or inside of it, you couldn't tell - looking at the real world through the looking glass. They were right. All those people who were constantly telling you about the man living in the grey stone wall were right.

"I was waiting for you a long, long time," the voice behind you said, and you felt somebody - or something - lowering their monstrous head to your shoulder, making a quiet sigh, "but you finally came to share my solitude... Thank you."

________

Tags: @finleyjayne @alexakeyloveloki @helenaeisenhower @villanellevi @hurricanerin @inlovewiththefictionalcharacters @chris-evans-indian-fanfic @navegandoaciegas @rosalynshields @brattycherub @sllooney @angrythingstarlight @lookiamtrying @buckysbunny @soleil-dor @stargazingfangirl18 @dillybuggg @literate-lamb @cosicas-cuquis @sarge-barnes-sir @buckybarnesplumwhore @jaysayey @megzdoodle @gotnofucks @lux-ravenwolf @ximebebx @jeremyrennerfanxxxx123 @sourpatchspinster @biiskuitx @stupendouslovegardener @melodie-rin @iheartsebandchris

#bucky barnes x reader #dark bucky barnes #bucky barnes #dark bucky barnes x reader #yandere #winter soldier #mcu fanfiction #mcu

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sunnysidefangirl · 3 years

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Awaiting (Jungkook x reader)

Pairing: Jungkook x reader

Warning: talks of anxiety, not 100% edited sorry, will probably go back to edit more later

Summary: reader goes to a concert and is transferred on stage when they see their soulmate.

A/N: This idea was inspired by @alpacaparkaseok ! Their soulmate stories are really good and since I have never seen that certain trope be done before I thought I should credit where I got the idea from! Go read their fics, they are seriously amazing! Anyways please don't plagiarize, I spent a lot of time on it so don't be rude! Copyright ©! Also imagine Covid is not a thing! Please like, comment, and repost if you liked it! I hope you enjoy! 💜

*****

You have to admit, you didn't believe it when your friend told you they had front row tickets to a BTS concert. Concert tickets are hard to get, let alone front row seats.

"Thank you!" Your friend said with a smug smile. She happily took the $30 dollars from your bet. You saying they were fake and her insisting they were real.

"Yeah, whatever." You rolled your eyes as the line moved closer to the entrance. The line was long but you and your friend were lucky enough to get soundcheck.

"I'm going to be Jungkook's soulmate, I can feel it." You heard a confident voice say. You wanted to roll your eyes at the adult that bragged her idea to the armys around.

When it comes to the artist you were going to see the only thing fans know is Jin has already found his soulmate but nobody knows their name, let alone what they look like. Other than that people assume the other members just haven't met theirs yet.

It was odd to hear those genuine thoughts. They travel the world and have yet to meet their soulmates from a concert.

Sure, it was a nice thought especially since Jungkook was your bias, but realistically he's probably not your soulmate.

You've imagined more than once what it would be like to meet your soulmate. You secretly hoped it would be somewhere in nature. A park, or on a hike, or over looking a lake. It just seemed like it would be a great experience, to meet the one made for you in beautiful scenery.

However you were probably a little a head of yourself, more than likely you would meet them through work or walking down the street or something minimal like how most people do.

In the blink of an eye, you were in the stadium. You and your friend got settled in your ideal spots close to the stage. Then the two of you fell into an easy conversation.

"So when you go to visit your soon to be mother in law you won't look like a totally idiot for not dressing like the cookie monster-"

"Uh uh oh uh uh ooohh."

Your conversation interrupted by the opening of the first dance number of the night.

"Oh my gosh, it's them! If I faint will you catch me?!" Your best friend asked, dramatically clutching her chest. She stood on her toes to get a better look, as if the front row just wasn't enough.

"No promises!" You shouted with a wide smile at the stadium got louder.

•••••••••••••

The concert was going great! You were having so much fun dancing and singing your heart out with the random people you had met beside you. That song ended and another one began.

When you looked up Jungkook was making his way down the stage with Jimin just behind him. His microphone was raised as he sang the bridge of the song. He turned to your side and looked at the audience. When your eyes locked everything seemed to zoom in on him alone. You got tunnel vision and he was your only focus, just as you were his. He couldn't pull his eyes away from you if he tried.

A sensation of gravity shutting off came next. You felt weightless and could no longer feel the floor below your feet. Then you felt as if you were being pulled, more like yanked, to your new destination. You choose to close your eyes as the motion got to be too much.

Jungkook didn't understand what was going on but he got the feeling that the world around him was spinning. The last thing he wanted to do was alarm the fans but he couldn't help but close his eyes as he stumbled over his own feet.

"Jungkook?" Jimin questioned placing a hand on his left shoulder. Did he suddenly get sick or something?

The feeling went away as quickly as it came, leaving a dull feeling of confusion. He opened his eyes just in time to catch something falling forward, that something was you.

Suddenly the face you had seen over your computer and phone screen, the face you had seen in magazines and commercials for as long as you have been a fan was less than a few inches in front of you. His dark brown eyes were big with shock and wonder and the sides of his face were slightly dampened due to the energetic choreography he had just done. The sea of army bombs created a mini galaxy in his eyes.

At first you thought, wow he looks so handsome.

Then you wondered wait, how did I get onstage?

Your mind seemed to catch up with you. You took notice that you were in fact on stage and in front of Jeon Jungkook. Could it be a possibility that it was the night before the concert and you were dreaming? This couldn't be real.

You felt your heart leap and an unintended gasp left you. Jungkook's mouth dropped a little bit and his own eyes widen in realization. The tall man helped you so that you were standing straight and took a small step back. However, he couldn't quite let go of you instead he kept his hands wrapped around yours.

The melody continued on without the maknae's voice. This caught the attention of many fans and the other members. They were all confused when the didn't hear Jungkook's voice. Luckily his part wasn't long and Jin quickly began to sing his own part.

You tensed within his hold and a feeling of happiness and dread filled you. Taking a look around the stage, you first saw V tap J-Hope and point in your direction. Namjoon was currently rapping his verse but that didn't stop his eyes from widening as well. Jimin who was behind Jungkook grinned at you. Suga had took notice of the situation as well with Jin neither of them knowing how they could fix this. That left every member either looking at you or doing their best to pretend nothing out of the ordinary was going on.

It didn't seem to be working because the audience started to get louder. You question for a moment if it was always this loud for the members onstage. It was hard to understand anything with all the noise but you caught a little bit.

"Look that's Jungkook's soulmate!" A voice closest to the stage squealed.

It was real. It was all real!

You were horrified. This moment, one of the most intimate moments between two soulmates has been seen by hundreds. It's probably been recorded by now. For all you know it would be on Twitter by tomorrow. This wasn't supposed to happen like this. You dreaded the thought of this private moment on social media for days to come.

Namjoon was quickly making his way over to you with a security guard as well.

Everything was moving so rapidly you just wanted to get out of this situation. You wanted to disappear. You began to realize you were breathing quicker than normal.

"Hey." A voice said so soft, you almost didn't catch it over the screams in the stadium. You look back to Jungkook only to meet the softest gaze you have ever come across. He looked so gentle towards you.

"It's okay."

He rubbed his thumbs over your skin attempting to calm you down and a shy bunny smile spread across his face.

"What's your name?" He asked with an excited glint in his eyes. Before you had the chance to respond a hand wrapped around your bicep.

"Come with me miss." The security guard said in urgency. Namjoon appears just a few seconds later and stands next to Jungkook. Just as you were being pulled away a strong grip stopped you.

"Wha-Wait." Jungkook mutters tightening his hold causing you to look back at him. He just met you, how could he be excepted to just let go of you?

"Jungkook, you can see her later but we need to get her off stage." Namjoon says in a stern voice towards the youngest.

Jungkook noticed the fearful look in your eyes and it made his heart ache. As much as he wanted to go with you so he could make sure you were okay he knew that your safety comes first. He then released your hand and in the blink of an eye you were ushered away from his sight.

The security guard took your arm and adviced you to keep your head down. You only looked ahead of your shoes not making eye contact with anything except the glossy stage floor.

When you got backstage everything passed by in a blur. People came up to you from all areas. They got you a bottle of water and lead you to a separate dressing room. You held on to the water bottle tightly, allowing it to serve as your anchor in all of this chaos.

"Wait here." The nice lady said with a small smile before closing the door. You took a careful breath in before gently letting it out. The room was bigger than you expected maybe that was because you were the only person in it. There were couches around making a U shape. Against the wall was a table of food and drinks, and as tempting as they looked you wouldn't dare grab one. The room was brighter and colder than it looked in behind the scenes videos.

Now alone in the quiet room you felt like you could breath a little bit.

You racked your brain with what to do now.

Jeon Jungkook was your soulmate.

Where do you go from here?

What about your best friend? She's freaking out no doubt.

Would it feel weird seeing as you were a fan?

You would just have to get to know him all over again. Learn his likes, his dislikes, and start as simple as possible. As you dig farther in your own thoughts you started to feel anxious.

Would he want to be with a random fan?

You honestly thought you were pretty, but what would others think? You know you shouldn't care but if he doesn't like the thought of you two together that would be another type of pain.

•••••••••••••

Intermission had finally started after another 4 songs. Jungkook practically flew pass the staff backstage once he found out which room you were in.

He rushed to the room that he was directed in but stopped short of running into the door. He stood stiff like a brick wall and took a deep breath. His soulmate was on the other side.

His soulmate.

He only saw you for a bit but his heart quickened at the thought of you.

He had wondered of this moment for a long time. Occasionally when the stress of life got to be too much he found himself dreaming of spoiling his soulmate and treating them like royalty. He would stay up wondering what their date nights would look like and what their love language was.

The other members knew how much of a hopeless romantic Jungkook was. They would often tease him whenever his head was in the clouds, they never took it too far though because they all secretly thought it was really sweet.

Jungkook thought about how he used to ask Jin about the meeting of soulmates and how it felt. He stopped asking after a while because of Jin's vague answers.

"I don't know, it just feels like...your being born."

"It's a warm feeling."

"You feel free...I guess."

"Jungkook-ah you'll know when you meet them!"

He had given up asking his hyung about how it felt to meet your soulmate. He tried to ignore any questions or thoughts of it but that was before he saw Jin cooking with his soulmate.

The look in his eyes while having his special person by his side warmed his heart. Jin's eyes gleamed with a distant euphoric look in them, it's a look Jungkook can't forget.

He wanted to feel that too.

You looked up at the sound of the door opening. Jungkook shuffles towards you in a daze. His eyes wet and red. You sprung to your feet suddenly feeling bashful and a little ridiculous under his intense eyes.

If you would have known you were going to meet your soulmate you would have dressed up a little more.

....maybe you wouldn't have worn your cooky headband.

He wordlessly took your hand once more. You allowed yourself to enjoy the unique feeling. His hand was very soft and a little warm probably because he was just dancing his heart out onstage. Your hands mold together and you swear electricity rushed through your veins. The room was silent as the two of you were deemed speechless. What do you say to the person you were waiting for all this time?

"Are you okay?"

When you look up, you see him blink down at you.

You grin at him and sheepishly nod. Jungkook let's out a small sigh of relief before smiling back at you. He lowers his head looking down at your connected hands. The ghost of the previous smile still on his face.

He looked so beautiful in this moment. You let your mind wander as you take in his features. Were you everything he dreamed of? Where do you go from here? Would you stay here? Would you go back home? Maybe you were getting ahead of yourself. Would you even start your relationship now?

You jumped out of your intermonolouge when you felt something wet on your hand. Looking down at your intertwined hands you saw a small tear.

"Ah," He mutters using his other hand to wipe his face. The embarrassment he was feeling showed through his pink tinted cheeks.

You were stunned. You never imagined that your soulmate would be choked up at this, at you. However it made your grin wider and your heart swell with adoration. You took a small step closer but not by much. You raised your hands to his cheeks allowing his tears to be caught by your thumbs. Jungkook noticed you were hesitant in your actions. He was just glad to have you so close after all this waiting. Jungkook leaned into your touch as a sweet gesture.

You were never told what it would be like to meet your soulmate. Sure, you heard classmates and co-workers talking about their own experiences, however the most common description was that it was a wordless feeling. One that couldn't possibly be capture in a few words.

Now you understood.

Looking into his big galaxy eyes, you felt breathless. It felt like, you could search every planet in the universe and you still wouldn't find anyone like him. Your heart felt like it was craving his but also wanted to shy away from the bizarre feeling. How could you put a word to such an intense emotion.

Jungkook's eyes suddenly catch something above you and his smile widens. "I like your headband."

You let out a small laugh at his comment feeling your cheeks warm. "Day 1, and you're already teasing me."

Jungkook squeezes your hand and holds it with his other, making it so your hand was in between both of his. He held your hand so cautiously, like it was a precious jewel.

He then looks to something else behind you. You turn around and see his six older brothers looking at him with fondness.

"Uh, sorry to interrupt but we need you back on stage." Jin says. He hated to interrupt this moment. It reminded him so much of when he had found his soulmate. He just wanted to spend all of his time with them and to pull Jungkook away when he just met his just made him feel bad.

"Oh right..." Jungkook said a little hesitant. He look back at you, his eyes showing a range of emotions. "You will wait here won't you?"

"Of course." You respond without hesitation.

Jungkook gave you another bright grin before he followed his hyungs out of the door.

You found out later through social media, that while Jungkook was onstage he began to cry.

"I-uh..." Jungkook paused looking out to the sea of fans, that despite everything he wanted to share this moment with them.

"I just found my soulmate."

I hope you enjoyed! Please comment and reblog if you did!

💜💜💜

#bangtan #bts fluff #bts jungkook #bts soulmate au #soulmate au #bts fanfic #bts fantasy au #soulmate fic #jeon jungkook #jungkook fluff #bts oneshot #jungkook imagine #jungkook oneshot #jungkook headcanons #bts army

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tyrantisterror · 3 years

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The ATOM Create a Kaiju Contest 3-D: Entry Roundup

You’ve been patiently waiting for the results of the ATOM Create a Kaiju Contest 3-D, and now... you have to wait a bit longer, but at least you’ve got an entry roundup with lots of sketches and a good bit of feedback for all the entrants! My goal is to get the finalists illustrated in a week or two, and after that, the grand prize winner will be announced. But, for now, the official entry roundup! After the cut:

I should note that while I sketched these in the order they were submitted, my scanner saved the documents with random names, so they’re a bit jumbled. You know, just in case you’re like me and would get confused noticing that it’s almost in chronological order but with some entries jumbled around.

@bugcthulhu’s Obsideban was designed as a counterpart to Rohobaron - the Black King to Rohobaron’s Red King, if you will. Or, well, Black Queen in this case, as Obsideban also takes her personality from the “delinquent girl” archetype in Japanese media. Bug’s designs always ooze personality, and I had a lot of fun translating this big, gnarly retrosaur into my own style.

@toothlessloveshiccup‘s Argonox is the first - but far from the last - monster in this breakdown that brings in a bit of fantasy influence to ATOM’s roster. A golden-fleeced ram with a vicious streak, this sheep is both treasure and dragon at once. And while it wasn’t written in the monster’s profile, given the Yamaneon-rich nature of its wool, Argonox might be able to replicate the healing power of the golden fleece too! A very fun mammalian kaiju and excellent entry.

@highly-radioactive-nerd submitted Gunmetal Jeeves, a robot butler who can gigantomax temporarily create a holographic/hard light version of himself to fight kaiju. That detail was a late revision added to the entry before the contest’s deadline, made after the creator realized that ATOM allows for some truly ludicrous bullshit, which is something everyone should exploit when making entries for this in my opinion. Also, this is a robot butler who can size shift. Revel in its awesome absurdity!

Ultranerd submitted Rajasaurus, a dimetrodon-like synapsid kaiju with electric powers. His origin specifies that the electric powers are a result of the volatile nature of the Yamaneon deposits he mutated under, which is an interesting idea. That’s another theme that cropped up a lot in this contest’s entries, actually - people really wanted to play with what Yamaneon can do.

Case in point, @polygonfighter’s Yamaneolith takes the Monolith Monsters homage at the heart of Yamaneon even more apparent. I like the implication that there is a second mineral-based lifeform at the root of this Yamaneon cluster’s anomalous behavior - a parasite, perhaps? It brings up some interesting possibilities.

@ariccio50 submitted Kukulkuzana, and damn is this a cool spin on the body plan of my martians. I made a few changes here and there (splitting its tail into two is probably the biggest one), but tried to keep true to the original design, because holy hell is it gorgeous. The idea that this is a mountain-dwelling creature is really intriguing to me, as it looks like a sea creature, but at the same time, that flexible and low-slung build WOULD work pretty well in mountains, and it’s just the right mix of plausible weirdness that makes for a fun alien design.

@akitymh submitted Aramzados, a Venusian monster that’s basically an organic hot rod car. I like the idea of organic machinery being the gimmick for Venusian kaiju, and Aramzado’s does it subtly enough to not feel like that gimmick is the sole thing going for it. I especially love this monster’s stange, apparently mouth-less blade-beaked face.

@virovac submitted Rurzar and Zar Rider, a Beyonder kaiju and mecha (respecitvely) that were both modified and repurposed by humans reverse engineering Beyonder technology to make, like, a motorcycle-saurus essentially. It is a delightfully absurd concept, and a very, very detailed one (13 pages of description). There’s a dark undercurrent beneath the sillyness, though, as this pair show that humanity might still be following the same path as the Beyonders before them.

@dinosaurana brings us Krangor, a humanoid monstrosity of living kelp! The goal here was to create a Jack Kirby-esque monster dude, complete with the gibberish name and all. He’s also made out of kelp, which feels very classic 1950′s monster-y despite me not being able to think of any monsters that were explicitly made of kelp. I love him.

@kiryuthechimera submitted Genkakurah, a psychic retrosaur with some draconic features. Though his substantial powerset is probably the biggest distinguishing feature of this kaiju (given that most ATOM kaiju pretty much have the same standard powers), what really draws me to him is that reptilian pseudo-beard. It’s just a fun detail!

@glarnboudin submits Tiratola, and see, there’s that fantasy influence again! Even more explicitly dragon-y than Kraydi, Tiratola still manages to toe the line between sci-fi and fantasy enough to fit ATOM as is while still cementing its ties to my own slice of fantasy fiction. Man it’s good I’m doing a Midgaheim book next, huh?

@dragonzzilla submitted Scuttlebutt/Argonautilus, a hermit crab kaiju who lives in/with a hollowed out mecha. That’s a twist I can’t recall ever hearing before, and the idea of a kaiju and a mecha having an equal partnership that doesn’t involve one being grafted to the other is really intriguing to me. A very unique concept!

@evolutionsvoid submitted Fleagor, an enormous flea who has no idea what to do with itself now that there’s no creature large enough for it to parasitize. I love that concept - it takes the core idea of the giant bug kaiju archetype (i.e. unsettling the audience by showing how terrifying small, “insignificant” creatures would be if our sizes were reversed) and really turns it on its head. The name also plays on the Universal Monsters, who were a huge part of 1950′s pop culture thanks to their movies being re-released in that era, so all and all this one is very on brand for ATOM!

@skarmorysilver submitted Lilacorn, another entry that plays up that Midgaheim/ATOM connection. Reinterpreting the mythological unicorn as an Cenozoic wooly rhinoceros-inspired monster gives it a very unique look, both in ATOM and in the general world of unicorns, and she has a bad-girl with a heart of gold personality to boot!

dracosaurus-rex submitted Florasaura, a two-headed plant/retrosaur hybrid monster. I love me some plant monsters, I love me some retrosaurs, and I love me some rhyming the word “flora” with other words that contain similar vowell sounds, so this one has me written all over it!

@downtofragglerock submitted Sauroguana, a delightfully odd flying retrosaur. There’s a great deal of charm to the original illustration that this sketch doesn’t quite capture - it’s a deceptively simple design with a lot of personality in it, and with those unique leg-wings it really doesn’t need a whole lot of frills to stand out.

Draxi submitted Brakan, an unimpressive burrowing retrosaur kaiju whose mastery of illusions allows it to convince other kaiju it’s actually a big, super-powerful badass that’s the ultimate fighter in the universe. It’s a delightful parody of the concept of a fan self-insert god-mode character, with a really fun story built into it to boot!

@quinnred submitted O.N.I.A.C., a mysterious cocooned kaiju whose chrysalis has been turned into an organic computer of sorts by the people studying it, and seems to possess a fairly advanced intelligence for a kaiju. It’s a really bizarre and ominous idea, with built in intrigue given how vague its nature is. Is it just a kaijufied butterfly/moth who got stuck mid transformation? A relative of the Mothmanuds? Something else, perhaps equally alien? Good story potential here.

shadyserpent submitted Vespilitor, a bat/retrosaur hybrid made by the nefarious Spooks Organization. A mercurial prankster whose tendency to stir up trouble never crosses the line into maliciousness, he’s the kind of monster who would make a great foil to a lot of ATOM’s cast. I’d especially like to see him in a prank off with Ahuul - it’d be like Bugs Bunny fighting Daffy Duck, but on a kaiju scale.

@multiversefan submitted the Yamaneon King, a nomadic kaiju whose refusal to settle down causes problems as he stirs up trouble at kaiju sanctuaries all over the globe by showing up unannounced and stirring up the locals. He was basically designed to be a monster that the kaiju sanctuary initiative would struggle to deal with, which is a good idea for a post-ATOM Volume 2 story conflict.

Sir K submitted Jadeera, a kirin kaiju that can actually forcibly convert most of its body to Yamaneon to enter a dormant, statue-like state in a loose homage to King Shisa. Though the fantasy elements are far more present than I usually prefer for ATOM kaiju, I think it should be noted they’re pushed that far for a purpose - a theme in Jadeera’s entry, which continues where its creator left off with their submission to the previous ATOM create a kaiju contest (Yokaigon), is that the world of kaiju is more complicated and challenging than many are willing to accept, which is a theme in ATOM itself. Yokaigon’s more supernatural/occult powers are based on the ghost parascience of my setting, which ATOM has delved into a bit (Pathogen being the big example), so it’s not as out of left field as some might think.

@cerothenull brings us our final entry (unless some got lost thanks to tumblr’s shitty tagging system), the flying spider Naeranti. She’s a kaiju spider who uses silk to make complicate hot-air balloons, more or less, and that’s just delightful. ATOM could always use more spider-monsters, and with a really unique gimmick backing up a wonderfully distinct look, Naeranti is sure to stand out among her fellow giant arachnids.

Well, that’s the roundup! In a week (or two, depending on how much my hand cramps) we’ll have the five finalists, and sometime after that, the grand prize winner!

#The Atomic Time of Monsters #The ATOM Create a Kaiju Contest 3D

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dontcallmecarrie · 3 years

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tfw the plot bunny strikes and refuses to let go, here, continuation of this:

Loki was torn between chagrin and vague amusement, as he observed everyone else’s reactions to the two Justin Hammers in between herding everyone to one of the safehouses Victor von Doom had somehow managed to get ahold of in this strange world.

At first glance, Victor seemed to be the most unperturbed— but Loki knew him well enough to note the way his eyes had widened when he’d seen the two side by side, couldn’t help but catch the tiniest shift in the way he held himself and Loki would bet anything that if he were any sort of telepath, he’d be hearing nothing but an infernal screeching coming from his corner of the room.

Ivan Vanko wasn’t much better, but at least he’d elected to hyperfixate on cleaning up the loose ends they’d left in relation to their original mission: from his mutters, some of the security cameras’ footage had been trickier to access than not, and required even more effort to scrub. Loki gave it another five minutes before he was forced to look away from his computer and acknowledge the reality of the situation.

Meanwhile, the Winter Soldiers were an interesting study in contrasts; while Winter was extremely apologetic about the situation and had already apologized no less than five times, Soldat seemed to be content to look on in bemusement as the situation unraveled from there.

...which wasn’t very different from what Loki’s own counterpart was doing, actually, but at least Soldat wasn’t enjoying the chaos. Visibly, anyway, and Loki was getting a new appreciation for just how irritating that particular smirk looked on his own face. If they all weren’t so focused on calming the jumpier, more visibly frazzled-version of their leader, someone would’ve punched it off his face by now. As it was, though...

“Who the hell are you people?!” Justin Hammer whisper-shrieked, in between sharp gasps for air and eyes wide as he cowered away from his kidnappers. “And wh— wh—”

“He’s more high-strung than you are.” Someone muttered to the terrifying figure who had his face—

“Of course he is, he has no idea what’s going on and you guys kidnapped him,” his mirror image replied with a flat look, before turning to face him looking vaguely embarrassed. “Look, Hammer— can I call you Hammer? Wait, no, you can be Justin, I’ll go by Hammer and man this is weird— I can explain. Just. Sit down and take a breather, because it’s, uh, a bit of a long story.”

Justin would’ve thought an explanation would leave him with more answers than questions.

He was sorely mistaken.

The headache he had now wasn’t much of an improvement from before.

“So, let me get this straight: you,” Justin jabbed a finger at the dude with the dark grey mask which was just about the only thing differentiating him from his twin, “grabbed me because you mistook me for him—”

“Sorry about that, by the w—”

“—and you’re all from some other dimension and pissed off goodness knows how many organizations trying to figure out how to get home,” Justin steamrollered on, closing his eyes in an effort to take things one step at a time because he was trying not to feel overwhelmed but these guys weren’t making it easy, “is that right?”

“Well...”

“I mean...”

“Yeah.” Ivan— not the bastard responsible for his being in Seagate, another version of him who apparently didn’t actively try and screw people over— replied, and Justin opened his eyes just in time to catch the tail end of his shrug. “That about sums it up.”

“Okay.” Justin nodded to himself. “Why?”

“Why what? You’re going to need to be more specific, here, I’m not a mind reader.”

“How’d you even get here? Or do you weirdos just go dimension-hopping for fun on a Friday night?”

“You’re not the only one wondering that.” The alien god said airily, toying with a— that was a knife, okay, Justin already knew he was in way over his head, he didn’t need the reminder, thanks. Where did it even come from, anyway? “I would really like to know that as well, Ivan.”

“Oh, nah, this was a freak accident.” Ivan snorted, then gave them all a smirk that gave Justin goosebumps for a second. “As for why...look at it this way: this was weird and stressful for us, and from the start you guys knew what was going on and have me to figure out how to get us back. Now imagine if it’d been the Avengers.”

The silent, broody one— Victor, was it?— made a noise of realization. “That is diabolical. I love it.”

“I know, I was trying to figure out how to temper it when this happened. The ray gun was supposed to be temporary, I’m not sure what happened but the end goal’s a duration of twenty-four hours. Sorry you guys got caught up in the beta, by the way.”

“We are going to be having words about proper lab safety protocols when we get home, Ivan.” Victor said darkly, and something in his voice that had six out of the seven other people in the room freezing for a second.

Justin couldn’t help but notice his...twin was not part of that number.

But first, because this was something he’d been wondering ever since he’d heard of how this ‘Cabal’ operated—

“Why are you going to this effort?”Justin asked.

“Oh, boy, here we go again,” the guy calling himself ‘Winter’ muttered, but before he do more than start to turn to him in confusion, Ivan spoke.

“Because death is too simple.” He said, not looking away from the computer he’d pulled out. “Because any rando with a gun could do that, if they wanted. No, if I’ve got a beef with someone, I want them to suffer. I want them to regret ever having pissed me off, to curse my name every time they step on a Lego and realize who put it there, to—”

“Yes, I know, we get it.” One of the alien gods cut in. The one who didn’t look like shit, and had a long-suffering look on his face partway into Ivan’s spiel. “If I had a penny for every time you go on that rant...”

“Says the guy who uses my ideas to become the official nemesis of the Avengers.” Ivan shot back, unamused, and the way Winter sighed and Victor pinched the bridge of his nose told him this was a recurring argument.

“Guys,” Justin’s...twin cut in, and Justin couldn’t help but feel something in the pit of his stomach clench as he noticed the way everyone from his dimension came to attention. “If we could focus on getting home?”

“I know, I know, I’m on it.” Ivan muttered, turning back to his computer. “Trying to throw SHIELD off our trail’s easier here, but it’s still not exactly a cakewalk.”

“Okay. What can we do in the meantime?”

The more Justin saw of this ‘Cabal’, of Hammer and the others, the more uncomfortable he felt.

Because the more time passed, the more it felt like...he was seeing a better version of himself.

How long had he tried to get people to respect him? How many classes on public speaking and marketing had he taken, how many books had he read in an effort to build his charisma, to be remembered as something other than the cheap knockoff of Tony Stark?

And now...

Justin watched as someone wearing his face walked around, and he was quiet, and fairly introverted, but something about him demanded respect, commanded all the attention in the room when he talked, and... Justin wanted that.

Of course, Justin’s...twin noticed.

For some reason, the look of sympathy he got felt even worse than the first time he’d donned prisoner’s uniform in Seagate.

Not to mention the conversation they had, when Justin was ushered into a quiet corner near the safehouse’s kitchen as they had tea.

It was. A talk.

Not a great one.

Not that there really could’ve been, considering, but.

“I am not you, you are not me, and that’s a good thing.”

Justin didn’t know what he was expecting, really.

Another version of himself, forcing him to acknowledge things he’d thought he’d gotten over— how was he supposed to handle it?

“You were set up for failure from the start, you know. No child should ever have to carry some of the burdens you grew up with.”

Just.

Someone who understood, and how was he supposed to deal?

“You cannot change the past, but you can control your own actions in the future. What do you want to do, who do you want to become? What makes you, you?”

Justin had thought he’d felt tired when he’d finally been brought into the mess these guys were part of, but now his exhaustion felt soul-deep and he didn’t know when he’d started crying but no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t stop—

Mercifully, the others left him alone for the rest of the day.

He... needed to think.

Justin wasn’t the only one having a hard time, he knew: he’d noticed the way Soldat followed Winter around, trying to mimic his self-confidence, and the Loki of this world looked at the easy camaraderie his counterpart had with a hunger that would’ve made Justin very nervous if that expression were aimed at him.

Something dark and feral, all jagged edges and brittle smiles and it shouldn’t have resonated nearly as much as it did but—

It made for a good conversation starter, if nothing else. Something relatable to bond over tea, because Victor was a monster who had an irrational disdain for coffee and Justin needed his caffeine fix if he wanted to keep what was left of his sanity.

Justin didn’t know what he brought to the table. Not compared to whatever his twin did, anyway, and he didn’t want to go that route either because he wanted to be himself.

Even if he wasn’t certain what that looked like, anyway, not after decades of chasing after Tony Stark’s shadow, but...

He’d find out. Somehow.

“Hey! Guys, I figured it out!” Ivan’s excited cheer woke everyone up early one morning. “Just gotta get my hands on some materials, but we can go home soon!”

#No Hero [Downward Descending]#schrodinger's canon #My writing

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