#on a scale of looking like an animal-human it leans a lot more to animal

[wolven91]

Rootin' Tootin' Cowboy Canid

The planet wasn't a hospitable place.

Hell, that whole area of space wasn't exactly hospitable, but it was still where Urma had made her home.

Harsh winds blew down off the plateaus and brought with it sand, grit and dust that threatened to blind the human. She pulled down her goggles and lifted the scarf back up to cover her mouth and nose. From here, she could peek over the lip of the valley she was in and observe the surrounding land for miles on end. She peered at the tiny figures on the horizon and mentally noted the predators. Thankfully, the group of creatures that could worry her charges were running in the opposite direction she needed.

He human clicked her tongue twice and jabbed into the scaled flesh between her legs with her heel before leaning to her left and digging her left heel in as a constant pressure. The giant domesticated lizard that she was riding atop merely grumbled and growled, moistening a beady eye before turning to its left and rapidly descended the rocky outcropping from where the human had been observing the herd and surrounding area.

"Nothing on the horizon, we good to move this lot onto the next area." Urma called, leaning back until her own back nearly touched the scaled hide of the lizard as it effortlessly clambered down the sheer rock face.  They were almost vertical as her friend and fellow squidgit herder, Mersa, turned her way and grinned.

The canid's teeth were wicked and sharp, but Mersa was merely attempting to recreate the human grin again, a flinch-worthy sight to say the least. The canid turned back to the oversized hat that Urma had gifted them only that morning and gently thumbed the hem along the brim of the hat. The human merely grinned as she urged her lizard onwards towards the herd who dutifully began moving as a single unit away from Urma and her mount.

She called back to the canid until Mersa pulled up alongside Urma.

"You're not going to be all distracted because I got you a single hat are you?" The human asked with a small smirk.

"N-no! I just... I never wore a hat before." The canid sniffed, raising the head wear up onto their head and placing it down carefully. The canid's ears had to go flat, and the hat merely rested on top of it. One strong breeze, like those found near the plateau and it would be long lost to the winds. The small string of material would catch around the wearer's neck, but it still wouldn't be comfortable to wear by the canid.

Urma merely snorted at the comical sight, the way her ears were laid; it was if Mersa had just heard perturbing news.

"Sorry, I didn't think of the ears. How'd you used to wear helmets? You can't pretend you soldiers never wore something to keep you melon intact?" The human asked as the giant lizard she rode practically flowed over the rough and rocky terrain.

"Of course we did... They had ear holes." Replied the canid, pulling her own lizard away from Urma's as it took a half-hearted snap at the other lizard's leg.

"Maybe I can...?" Mused the human, considering how to adjust the item.

But the human's thoughts were interrupted by the loud sound of tearing material. Glancing up and over, the canid had merely pressed her thumb claws into the material, punching through it was ease before repeating the action in a small line. The damaged material was cut relatively cleanly and as Mersa placed the hat atop their head once more, Urma wouldn't have been able to say that the holes weren't designed to be there in the first place.

"How'd I look?" Asked the canid, turning to the human as the pair continued to corral the herd of squidgits towards the gentle slope of the exit to the valley. The plateaus were a barren and a harsh wasteland but were broken up by regular depressions that lead down into fertile bowls where travellers and animals could take shelter from the constant scouring winds and sandblasted the plateaus clean of any landmarks.

"Dashing. Now remember to take that off when entering a building unless you mean to cause trouble. If you mean respect, take it off and hold it over your chest, over your heart if you're telling the truth." Listed Urma, closing her eyes and counting her points off on her hand as she spoke.

To her credit Mersa mentally made note of each of the points and would hold them as if they were cold hard truths of the universe.

The pair continued to chatter, even with their masks on and scarves up to avoid getting scoured by the winds.

This was why neither of them noticed the ship descend from the clouds behind them and in a screaming, roaring near miss, ploughed the plateau dirt with the belly of their ship as the low-slung cargo bay scooped up half the herd in a swing barn swallow.

The pair of them both unslung the long rifles from off their back and immediately began firing. Mersa charging up the left side, and Urma on the right, their lizard mounts easily speeding up with their legs scrambling with lightning speed. The herd was panicked and not paying attention to either Urma's or Mersa's directions.

Urma pulled the underslung recharge lever to refresh the charge, only this time she held the lever open for longer before aiming down sights and firing at the pivoting wing engine as it passed overhead with an overcharged blast. The flash gave her sunburn and the overheat alarms protested. But the shot was good; it had taken off a panel in a shower of sparks and metal. The internals were exposed.

She just needed one good shot.

The ship took a wide arc and came back round for another pass, disappearing briefly behind great clouds of sand and dust. Half a herd wasn't a payday, these pirates needed as many as they could get.

The ship was on course to scoop not only the remaining herd up, but the human as well as it skimmed the ground, its front-loading bay door still open and ready to eat its prize like a grotesque gluttonous fish.

Urma aimed down her sights without fear, she just needed a window. Her mount was steady, her aim was focused.

"Just give me the opening..." She murmured to no one.

The ship was getting larger and larger, all the while she didn't flinch, she only get a flash of an opening. Her trigger began to depress as she readied herself.

That was until Mersa's mount collided into her own, knocking her aim, her shot flashing and pinging off the cockpit window, scorching it.

The human fell from her mount, feeling the solid ground kicking the wind out of her as she rolled over and over as her momentum was bled away. Clearing her from the danger of being scooped up with the rest of the herd. Unopposed, the ship collected the last of its prize, the rest of the herd was consumed by the pirate's ship cavernous maw.

Along with the canid her mount.

In a deafening roar of destroyed dirt and scarred metal, the ship began to rise as it completed its pass, the shouted in confused betrayal.

"No! No, no, no!" Urma shouted, scrambling to her feet, and snatching up her gun as the retreating ship arced up into the sky and disappeared behind the clouds. Urma stood there, dumbfounded as her friend was stolen away from her.

A moment of helplessness returned, flashes of how she felt during the Sol-3 Incident bubbled back up to the surface. Unable to stop anything, unable to fight back. Her home and life destroyed in one horrid evening. A choking bark escaped her.

But a firm shove at her elbow brought her back to reality and her gut grabbed onto the despair and buried it deep.

The giant lizard's head had merely nosed her. Within its jaws; Mersa's long gun. The human slung her own weapon.

She rubbed a hand firmly into the flat centre of the creature's head by way of 'thanks' while she retrieved the gun. She checked the cell and the crystal for damage, finding none. Urma pulled a face and scowled at the weapon before turning her arm over and observing her wrist reaching to press a button when the arm mounted computer clicked on a tracking beacon, pinging to alert the human. It had picked up a herd tracking pip. The pip used by Mersa.

Mersa had to be alive to have activated it and, knowing the sly canid, will have bugged the pirate's ship rather than herself. Urma felt tear sting at her more than sand ever could. Pirates wouldn't keep prisoners, the chances of Urma catching up to them before they murdered her friend were slim.

The human knew this.

She should have stayed in GC territories, where these incidents didn't happen. She had been warned about living in the unclaimed territories.

Urma didn't care. All that was the past now. All the consumer the human, was hunting down the pirates who had decimated her world.

"Dead or alive... I'm coming for you Mersa... God help them if they've hurt you..." She promised with venom dripping from every word.

[r/WolvensStories]

[Ko-Fi]

#conservationverse #cuddleverse #human #hfy #haso #humans are space orcs #furry #human x furry #canid #werewolf #cowboy

[valerian-riverheart]

Anyone else up thinking abt how the anthros in W101/P101 are designed

#ive been thinking for so long #okay so. i wouldnt call them rules ig theyre more guidelines but from what i understand #on a scale of looking like an animal-human it leans a lot more to animal #but they like. act 99.98% as humans i cant rly think of times youd say they behave like animals at all #the .02% is maybe a animal related joke like the marleybone cats and milk #but back on design i notice that leg wise everyone seem to have more legs resembling their animal #but for arms/hands it kinda differs? especially when gloves are involved #horses/unicorns have hands but cows/pigs have hooves/whatever pigs have for example #some birds like the companions from mooshu have a kinda wing/hand sorta look yknow what i mean #(or maybe all birds? i havent remembered enough to know the crows) #anthros are usually shaped and sized like their animal in some way #there are some exceptions. mice/rats #unfortunately there is the 'men and women designed different' thing i am too tired to explain #uhh thats all i eepy

[onyourowndaisymae]

when leviathan falls in love

content + warnings: fluff, canon-typical insecure levi, gn!mc is always there to cheer up their fav boy, maybe some improper aquarium knowledge lol // [masterlist]

word count: ~1.3k

the sunlight, once harsh and overbearing, is now a delightful amber melting over the horizon. clear blue lingers at the top of the sky, a reminder of the long day now disappearing in the rearview of time, fading slowly into the fiery oranges that announce dusk's impending arrival. puffy clouds dotted the wide expanse above. though the illusion wasn’t real, watching the sun set over the steady waves was a sight to behold. 

diavolo’s private beach had been loud all day, full of laughter and chaos as they enjoyed the vacation day to the fullest. now, as demons and angels alike watched a phenomenon only visible from the human world and its recreations in other realms, the beach was quiet. 

“do you see this often where you’re from?” leviathan asks you.  

“every day. and it never gets old.”

the two of you sit at the ocean’s edge, small waves lapping over your legs in a steady rhythm. his tail shifts unconsciously through the water, creating little ripples and splashes by your feet. the water always feels good on his scales– it’s rare that he gets to visit the ocean like this, but it feels like home when he does. 

you wiggle your fingers in the water, almost as if you’re trying to coax his tail closer like some marine animal. his face flushes. are you teasing him? part of him assumes that this is all in good fun– you’re always so nice to him, after all– but he can’t help but feel that something bad will happen. he’s always willing to give you a chance, though, despite his anxieties. his tail slithers through the water and you grin. your fingers brush against the scales softly. it’s nice. 

“it’s like petting a fish,” you say, looking over at him.

“that’s embarrassing.”

“is it? sorry, i didn’t mean it like that. i just– it reminds me of when i’d go to the aquarium as a kid.”

“you got to touch the fish there?”

“yeah!” your fingers stroke his tail with two fingers. he shudders– it feels pleasant, and he looks away before his cheeks flush further. 

“okay i lied. sort of. i didn’t get to pet the fish like that. it was the little sharks and stingrays that i got to pet at the aquarium.”

“is that safe?”

you chuckle a little. levi thinks he’s right to be worried– sharks are dangerous– but you shake your head and explain further. 

“sharks in the human world are a lot more docile than in the devildom. and smaller, too. they have, like, baby sharks in the public tanks. they’re young and comfortable with being touched.”

levi can’t really imagine an equivalent with devildom animals– they’re all far too vicious to be stroked so casually. but he’s seen enough anime to know what you’re describing. in the human realm, aquariums are painted in calming blues, with winding halls and glass walls all giving you peaks into their tanks. that’s where all the dates took place– two protagonists watching the fish, leaning in closer until their shoulders brush and they look away. then one would reach out a pinky and take the others hand, shaking a little in fear of rejection, but it never comes because fate is always so kind to friends turned lovers– 

your giggling breaks him from his trance. to say levi is embarrassed would be an understatement. he’s horrified. upon tuning back into the real world, he finds that his tail has wrapped itself around your wrist, ensnaring you in his grasp as the tip flickers against your arm. 

“sorry!” he cries sharply. 

scrambling forward through choppy waves, he uses both hands to forcibly yank his wandering tail from your wrist. it’s enough to pull you from a seated position up on your knees. you laugh, stumbling forward to catch yourself on your palms before you’re face down, ass up in the shallow waves. 

“it’s fine! it’s fine!”

your reassurances do little to ease his mind. he pulls the heavy appendage into his lap almost defensively– it seems he can’t trust himself not around you for a single moment!

“s-sorry, that was r-rude and probably r-r-really gross, i can l-leave–”

“relax,” you say, grabbing his arm as he starts to make his great escape. you ease him back into his spot– actually, you scoot a little closer, making the situation all the more mortifying– and settle back into a seated position. “i don’t bite. i promise. besides, that was kind of funny.”

“that was horrible–”

“it’s fine, levi. really. if i had a tail, it would probably grab you too!”

that makes him stop for a moment. his tail writhes a little in his grasp, but he holds it tightly against his chest to prevent it from embarrassing him again. 

“huh?”

“yeah! if i was a demon with a tail, mine would probably reach for you too! y’know, ‘cuz i like being around you so much, even my tail wouldn’t want you to leave.”

his face and ears are scorched, but your sentiment makes him feel a bit less embarrassed for his theatrics. 

“you mean that?”

“of course i do!”

part of him still wants to squirm, to dash off and hide under a rock and forget this whole mess even happened. but he takes a look back at the sun setting in the sky, then back at your smile, now looking out over the waves. maybe this is okay. 

“the human realm sounds pretty cool… y’know. sometimes.”

“it is. there’s a lot to love about it.”

suddenly he feels bad for bringing it up. did he strike a nerve? but your smile doesn’t falter, so maybe it’s okay to continue. 

“... do you miss it?”

“the human realm?”

“yeah.”

“sometimes,” you admit softly. “it’s the little things. it’s… it’s the sunsets and aquariums, y’know? little things you don’t think about until you don’t see them anymore.”

he nods. “i think i’d miss sunsets and aquariums, too.”

“you should come see them with me sometime.”

“what?”

“in the human realm. maybe we can spend a day together. appreciate the little things, y’know? if you wanted to.”

“that sounds nice.”

leviathan doesn’t realize what’s happening. it’s not exactly his fault– he’s always had trouble untangling complex emotions from each other, always struggled to express why he was feeling a certain way. all he knows is that he’s warm all of a sudden. his fingers tremble with something, something he can’t place, and he scrunches in on himself to hide from your prying eyes. you know him better than anyone. usually, that’s okay, but today something about that feels extra vulnerable. 

because levi, in that moment, falls head over heels in love with you. 

and it’s okay that he doesn’t realize that’s what’s happening. he has other ways to describe the feelings he holds towards you. you’re his number two, his henry, his favorite human– the most important person in his life.

what he knows now, staring out at the sunset, is that you make his knees wobble and his heart flutter unlike any cheesy romance manga he’s ever read. he rests his head in the crook of his elbow and stares out at the ocean, mind racing. you begin to tell the story of an aquarium trip you took as a child, mindlessly waggling your fingertips in the water again. levi wants to hear you talk about that. 

and maybe, just maybe, when the tip of his tail slithers from his lap and winds between your aimless fingers, he wants that to happen, too.

taglist for this series: @deepseafragments // @darkflowerav // @annoying-and-upset // @katerinaval // @lurkingsnails // @chirikoheina // @all-mights-wife // @notareum // @ollieoven

#obey me #obey me shall we date #obey me swd #obey me nightbringer #obey me nb #obey me levi #obey me leviathan #obey me levi x reader #obey me leviathan x reader #obey me fluff #obey me imagines #otome

[inexplicifics]

Hi the fashion designer in training again, you posted my og ask and it got me thinking about it again (as if i ever stop) and I was thinking about how different monsters would be categorized and how that might change the fashion sense of things too. For example, theres humanoids, animal adjacent, insect adjacent (broadly), and plant adjacent.

Humanoids, to me, would be creatures/monsters that have little to no animal, insect, or plant otherness, such as trolls, drowners, bruxa, even sirens (even though they overlap into animal). Witchers obviously have magical uses from their kills but from a fashion/mundane perspective a lot of what these creatures provide would be equivalent to that of what a human might. Now, there is a lot of real world history that is sensitive and triggering about the use of human remains, especially in recent times of widespread slavery that has a lot of themes of cannibalism, farming practices, and lack of humanity even after death, such as leather tanning for clothes, the use of human remains in parchment (as parchment is made from animal remains and not wood or plants, that’s what differentiates it from paper), and more. This is why anything that leans more human than monster (such as a bruxa, vampire, succubus, etc) I don’t think I’ll touch with a ten foot pole unless it is to deal with their unique remains. Creatures that lean more monster such as trolls get thrown through the wringer though.

Trolls specifically have really thick skin, which in a tanning process would take… forever to turn into leather but the results would be potentially amazing. Thick strong leather would last for centuries if treated right, I have no doubt in my mind that troll leather would make fantastic saddles, boots, furniture — awful clothes but the other implications mean a lot to me because it might just make excellent armor.

Sirens, as the middleman between humanoids and animal adjacent, would be excellent to discuss scales. There is a company that currently helps with fish scale waste and uses them to make clothes that are naturally soft and have added benefits of being moisture managing (helps with retaining moisture in skin in dry environments) and also is naturally anti-odor! This is incredibly cool for the fashion world and I could see it being a real thing for the witcher world… if they had the time to do it, as I fear modern technology would need to be replaced with magic and I’m not sure mages, researcher included, would be interested in going out of their way to collect siren scales to create fabric (unless they could imbue it with magic? 🤔 A potential concept to long lasting charmed clothes) So very interesting but not as plausible in a fantasy world.

But! Reptilian scales are highly sought after in fashion designs and are not as wasteful as fish scales. The Witcher basilisk is reptilian in nature, which would make for excellent clothes, anything in fashion you can think of in scales you can bet it exists. Scales are widely loved and used even today, so basilisk skin? Oh yeah, it’s up there for fashion. Even says so in various wikis 😉.

Animal adjacent clothing will look a lot like what we have for animals now, adjusted as needed. Basilisks are large so their hides would be easy to convert to many items, whereas snake skin is small and you would need several to make a significant piece of cloth. This would make it far more valuable. Not to mention the claws, claws which are used in various forms. From clasps on just about everything, to jewelry, to decor, to piercings, I know a basilisk claw would be on a noble’s cloak or belt, I just know it.

This translates to, as mentioned before, wargs and other furred animals. The larger, the better, the more you can take, the better, the more *dangerous* to prove your worth, the better. A bear claw is nothing compared to a warg fang, and so on and so forth. I haven’t even gotten started on the length of griffin feathers and what that would do for fashion. No one understands what length in natural materials means to me except for other people who’s special interests are fashion, fantasy worlds, and survival skills. I cannot explain *length of feathers* in gowns. In cloaks. In *jewelry.* But that’s a post for a little old me who isn’t up at 1am on a school night.

Enjoy my midnight ramblings, I realize that this got out of hand and is uh… not really well connected in terms of thoughts but I hope it made sense to people who aren’t deep in the trenches like me lmao

Please imagine me sitting here with my chin on my hands, staring at you with hearts in my eyes as I listen to your interesting and informative midnight ramblings.

#questions answered #accidental warlord au #witcher fashion

[wreckitremy]

i would like to hear. about ur special interest

Hmm, well currently I'd say selkies are my special interest bc right now I feel like pulling an um actually about them.

Selkies are an irish/scottish mythological creature.

They are seals that can take off their skin/pelts (usually referred to as coats in their mythology) to be a human.

They cannot return to the sea without their coat. If you catch a selkies coat, the mythology says that they will fall in love with you. But if they find their coat, they will leave and never return.

Most of their stories involve teaching people about not controlling people, and letting them be themselves.

My sources of selkie stories are

The Secret of Roan Inish (1994 movie based on the 1957 scottish book Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry)

The Song of the Sea (2014 movie by Cartoon Saloon, an Irish animation studio)

Tales of the seal people: Scottish Folk Tales edited by Duncan Willamson

Basically, there's not a lot of accessible info out there about them. But there has been some things in some modern stories trying to include selkies, that don't quite get the vibes of selkies right.

It's not that they are getting the mythology, wrong necessarily. It's about to equivalent the variety of changes werewolves and vampires have had, just on a much smaller scale. However they bug me so I'm gonna rant about why.

Selkie mermaids

As a hybrid, or a version of a mermaid with a seal tail instead of a fish tail. It's a cool concept, and not really bad on its own.

The problem is when people think that a selkie mermaid IS a selkie. The whole point of a selkie is being able to take off their coat and look human. Having the selkie be both human and seal at the same time changes what their purpose is.

Rules about when they can take off their coat, that are similar to Davy Jones in pirates of the Caribbean

Selkies are like fae in that they are unpredictable, but they do not have rules that strict. Selkies represent humanity's relationship to the sea. They are the tides, the waves, & the currents.

They have patterns, but if you try to rein them in, you will only have yourself to blame.

Also these kinds of stories make land seem more enticing by doing this, which is not really selkie vibes. They are curious about land and people, but about as much as a cat is, bc selkies are autistic coded (i wrote a whole post about that already actually).

Giving selkies with the Soulmate AU treatment

While selkies stories are about relationships, their stories are not about "finding the one".

Most of the stories, selkies are not looking for a relationship at all. Their stories tend to have the message of "if you love them, let them go". They kind of follow the plot of things like the song The Willow Maid (but instead of fading into a flower, they disappear into the sea)

Granted, Song of the Sea, does lean a bit in this direction, but it still has the vibe there, if you know to look for it. There is love there, but love is lost in many different ways due to the need for control. It's giving up that control that allows that love to not disappear into the sea completely.

Anyway that's my opinion on selkies. I've been obsessed with them since before I can remember, and I thought I had run out of things to say about them after my post about them being autistic coded, but omg this got long

#selkies #remy replies #selkie #april 2024

[bullet-prooflove]

Prey!Series Part Four: Free - OA Zidan x Reader

Tagging: @trublu2u @mrspeacem1nusone @greenies-green @rosaliedepp @whateversomethingbruh @anime-weeb-4-life @daydreaming-belle @burningpeachpuppy @scarlettsakura @divergent146 @upsteadlogic @malindacath @skyesthebomb @yezzyyae @redpool

It’s another basement, but this time it’s a happier ending.

Omar sincerely believes that as he stands outside of a house that costs upwards of a million dollars and watches the girls who now stand in the garden, that overlooks the beach. There’s over twenty of them.

They’d been crowded into another damp basement, one that was barely bigger than his kitchen. The conditions were cramped, squalid. Each one is in a state of disarray, their clothing is brightly coloured, barely there. Most of them had still been turning tricks up until the moment you’d gotten your hands on Snake. Now they’re mostly huddled together in groups, thermal blankets wrapped around their shoulders as paramedics review their vitals, triaging the ones that need the most urgent care.

Seeing them all out here in the fresh air, the sun on their faces…

It settles something in his chest because for the first time since stepping into country they’re free.

As soon as the perps are taken into custody, you’re on the phone. The Human Trafficking Division has crisis teams in place to handle large scale operations like this. It won’t take them too long to scramble. He knows it’s going to be a long night for your team, there’s going to be interviews with the girls, strategy meetings, leads to chase down, connections to other networks.

It never ends. There’s always going to be another and then another.

He understands to most people it’s a game of whack amole but when he looks at these girls, the difference it makes on an individual level, he gets why you do it. He sees the reason you keep hammering away at the problem despite the fact you’re swimming against the tide.

It takes a special person to do what you do and not become jaded. He’s still thinking about that when he sits across from you in a coffeeshop later that evening. You’ve chosen somewhere lowkey, open late. There’s jazz playing in the background, something he recognises from a lifetime ago.

You’re wearing your hair down tonight; it falls across your features, hiding the bruise that’s now blossoming across the left side of your face. He resists the urge to reach out and brush it back behind your ear. He likes this version of you, the woman outside of the job. You smile a lot more, you’re more relaxed, carefree.

The music has him telling you about his teenage years, how he used to sneak out at the age of seventeen and visit jazz clubs in Harlem. He’s still a fan of the genre, he has a few friends who play in a band, they have a gig coming up in a couple of weeks. You make plans to attend, work permitting, and he realises in that moment that he’s not the only one looking towards the future.

He finds himself laughing when you tell him you used to be a ghost walk tour guide back in Delaware. You were good at it too; you show him a recording of one of your tours and he finds himself enamoured. You have such a talent with words, the way you tell the stories, it’s so visual, he gets chills up his spine.

“I have a podcast.” You reveal, a blush creeping up your cheeks. “It’s on Spotify, I tell ghost stories from around the city. I don’t usually tell people about it.”

“Show me.” He urges.

You end up on his side of the table, his arm resting on the back of the seat as you lean in close. The scent of your perfume floods his senses, nectarines, and something floral. Jasmine, he thinks. The two of you scroll through your episode list as you describe each of the stories to him. The way you light up when you talk about your passion, truly it’s beautiful.

You tilt your head up towards him and you have that look in your eyes, the one that makes his heartbeat just that little faster in his chest. His thumb chases over the line of your jaw, and you close your eyes, savouring the sensation. It’s been a long time since you’ve allowed yourself to be touched, he can tell from the way you respond to him.

“Hanna…” He says, tipping your chin up and you know what he’s asking.

If this is as far as you want to go tonight, he has no problem with that. He’s ready to take things at your pace, as slow as you need to go.

“Kiss me.” You whisper and he does.

His mouth is heated, soft. He kisses you with a tenderness you’ve never felt before, and you know in that moment that you’ve met the man that you’re supposed to spend the rest of your life with.

Your soulmate.

Omar Zidan.

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[canmom]

more baldur gate

I think I've gathered most of the party now. time to venture forth

we did find another warlock it turned out. they've got a spin on him as a kind of demon slaying folk hero, which is cute. what's weirder to me is when characters will just casually speak of game mechanical stuff like being a 'warlock'. like, oh yeah i made a pact with an eldritch entity beyond space and comprehension, but it's no biggie, you know? there's one in every neighbourhood. though that is something of the problem of Forgotten Realms, it's such a kitchen-sink setting that it's very hard to figure out any sort of coherent narrative thrust for any of it.

my character seems to be settling by default into the kind of default 'pragmatic, generally prosocial crpg hero' model. most of the other dialogue options just seem needlessly standoffish. they do have certain party members disapprove when you take plot hooks, but honestly that all feels a bit silly to take as a prodding to play a more selfish character because like. what do you want me to do, not engage with the game? occasionally you get to click a 'hey, look, I'm also from baldur's gate!' dialogue option, but it never adds up to much.

it's frustrating in a way, because this being so specifically D&D-based really calls attention to the difference between CRPGs and TTRPGs. at the tabletop, I can give my character a distinctive voice, motivation, general habitas - and other players can respond to that and react appropriately. of course, this is not possible in a CRPG to the same degree, except within the rails laid down by the game writers. since the main character is unvoiced and characters react to dialogue the instant you click it, she is even further diminished from the voiced characters.

something noticeable in this is that it has a similar line reading problem as a lot of Bioware RPGs. characters' lines will sometimes noticeably differ in how they're acted - intonation, force, etc. - and there's that ever-noticeable cut between individual lines of dialogue. it has the feeling that the lines were recorded separately in a studio without much in the way of context.

overall the NPC acting in this game is... well it's that classic modern AAA videogame problem right? the character models and rendering are very lifelike when they're still, but the way the characters move is a bit stiff, a bit broad, a bit unnatural. of course nobody has the money to individually hand-animate every single dialogue line in a CRPG of this sort of scale, so they're leaning on canned animations and procedural blending techniques, and it works sorta well enough. it's got that fuzz of videogame jank to it.

it looks like we're about to run into the Evil Races D&D Problem pretty soon, oh boy! the goblins are attacking the poor tiefling refugees. why? i'm sure it will be given a clear understandable motivation and not just that they're evil by nature, right? this is something that I'm pretty sure the game is inheriting from the OG Baldur's Gate games - I definitely remember venturing into a mine to fight gnolls or something. Minsc was there. I have no doubt Minsc will show up in BG3 as well - he's like the most iconic character in the series.

the contrived nature of the premise is classic D&D shit. "you all meet on a mind flayer spaceship, united by parasites in your brain" is definitely the sort of thing that a human DM would cook up as a campaign starting point. that said, it does feel a little weird that everyone on the mind flayer ship between them cover most of the player classes, each with their own colourful backstory and an identically sized tent that they can pitch in your mysterious extradimensional campsite. I think the fact that the introductions are spread out a bit makes it feel more artificial - I get why they didn't want to frontload it with every single character right at the beginning, but it's like, 'damn, this guy has a player character sort of vibe, i bet he was on the airship' and sure enough, he was...

(speaking of the immersion-breaking camp, the respec guy really seems kinda unnecessary as a diegetic element. just have a menu somewhere, trying to make this skeleton guy make narrative sense just raises way too many questions.)

but I mean I can't complain too much that a videogame is a videogame, right? as I recall, in BG1, the recruitable party members were just random adventurers who you'd run into here and there. this is more of a KotOR II-like scenario, where every character has a thing in common that pushes them together.

the Tactician difficulty level, combined with the squishiness of level 2 characters, is definitely pushing me a bit. I had a fight with some bandits. all of them had names and unique voices, interestingly - really applying the Apocalypse World principles. however they will not like, surrender or anything. don't ask me why I was fighting these people to the death, I don't think they did anything that really did any harm to my character, but I wanted to unlock the respec character and you have to get past them to do it. not that I knew that when I saw hostile characters.

anyway, it was a cool fight because it was a bit of party-vs-party - the enemies were using the same abilities I was, and using the environment to their advantage (read: blowing me up with exploding barrels, the nerve of it). Larian of course have their fancy fluid sim system from the Divinity series, which actually integrates rather well with certain D&D spells like Grease. there's a lot of potentially interesting tactical possibilities, although in the end, it came down to the familiar tactics of 'split them up', 'disable them with debuffs' and 'focus dps'. D&D combat is very swingy - once I took out a couple of that other party, the fight was pretty much decided, but when I'd taken a few downed party members, there wasn't really much reason not to just load the quicksave.

I decided to spec my 'lock as a bladelock - I'm playing a chainlock on tabletop so this seemed like a good way to mix it up. of course then it turned out that Wyll is also a bladelock, so he's probably not gonna get much time in the party ^^' but maybe I should bring him along and we can just be warlock buddies. that said... the 4-person party size is... I can see its necessity as a balancing measure, but it does feel like it pushes me towards the standard healer (shadowheart)/tank (lae'zel)/rogue (astarion)/me structure. since I need someone to unlock doors, I need someone to heal, and I need someone to stop the enemy beating up my poor squishy party members. but now I'm a bladelock, maybe I can take over from Lae'zel as the frontliner and free up a slot for one of the other guys. probably it's a big enough game that there will be room to mix and match parties over the course of it.

one thing I do kinda miss from Bioware's games is the intra-party dialogue triggers. the characters here mostly don't have random conversations, at least so far - maybe they will later in the game. that stuff did a whole lot to add life to your party members and make them feel more like characters.

honestly? this is making me want to go back to various isometric CRPGs like Tyranny. so far, despite spicy elements like the mindflayer thing, I'm not fully hooked by this story. but I will give this one a chance all the same.

#computer games #baldur's gate 3

[slocumjoe]

what companions would be furries (+ what kind of animal they'd be)

Cait; Incredible trauma. Substance abuse. Questionable employment. This woman already is a furry in canon, Todd just didn't think it relevant to bring up. Not quite hardcore, but not a casual either. She has art and goes to conventions, but she's not getting a suit. There are a lot of good choices for a fursona, but I'm leaning towards a wolverine. They're small and they're fucking terrifying. Those bitches kill bears. They weigh about 30 lbs, give or take. Y'know what else is 30 lbs, give or take? A COCKER SPANIEL. Huge Cait energy.

Codsworth; Would not be a furry, but would find it endearing. Y'know, the same reaction an adult has as a child talks about their wolf roleplay during recess? "I am very confused but at least you have friends and fun, tell me more!" Robot Codsworth's fursona is an octopus, and a synth/human Codsy is a bird. Like...maybe an owl, or something similarly rounded/soft in shape. Think Owl from Winnie the Pooh.

Curie; She's a furry, not a Furry. She's not going to any conventions, and probably isn't drawing her fursona or commissioning art. Its likely she uses it to, like, educate children, like as a mascot for her clinic or something. Same situation as Codsy, two fursonas for her two different bodies. The synth body, that there is a mouse. Cute and very important to scientific discoveries, despite being often disregarded and more often, abused in the field. The Ms. Nanny bot fursona is a blue-ringed octopus, specifically.

Danse; Not a furry. Would find it very strange if it was explained to him, and would assume it was something kids do. Would be visibly disturbed if explained that, no, this is actually more of a teen-to-adult space. If he looks it up later and finds Certain Things, you will be receiving the bill for his next anti-depressants. However, entirely possible he is a closeted furry and has yet to realize this about himself. I'm leaning toward a bull? Bull-headed, obviously, but also, down to earth, reliable, et cetera...it fits his character.

Deacon; KING OF THE FURRIES. Has multiple fursuits, all homemade. Commissions every artist he can find, every Twitter furry artist has him on their waitlist. Does not half-ass his furriness. This man is the furry you only hear about, the one with all the art and custom costumes and all the money to throw at his hobby. His fursonas are plentiful and ever changing, but his favorite one? A chameleon, with holographic, reflective, ever-changing scales.

Gage; would not be a furry. Well aware of what it is due to exposure to Mason. Wouldn't have been into it even if his introduction wasn't him and his crew. He gets the idea, it's just that the idea is weird as fuck. He's a grown man and he has people to scam and/or murder. Obviously, Gage would be an iguana. They have a ridge and a naturally gruff, bored expression. And the skin texture is about the same, too.

Hancock; another casual furry. Its likely he was introduced to it and brought in by someone else, and just kinda stuck around. There are two options as to what he'd be. 1; a sphinx cat. He's lanky, the skin matches, he has some kitty-like traits. The big eyes are a huge part here. 2; sloth. He's a very chill dude, he's always high (sloths getting high is currently contested but the demeanor fits) and despite being very small and not outwardly threatening, is very capable of fucking you up (sloths will use their MASSIVE FUCKING CLAWS for defense).

MacCready; Is a furry. His fursona is a weasel. This is so obvious i don't feel the need to defend or explain this. Look at him. He's a furry. The only interesting thing to say here is that Duncan would also grow up to be a furry. But Mac? He would be a hardcore furry if he had the money. Funds keep him a casual fan. If he did...would be worse than Deacon.

Nick; A first-gen furry. An elder furry. The very old man at the con who sees that you're lost and confused but trying very hard, with your furry 2008 emo paw gloves and your cat ear headband and painted on whiskers, and shows you around. Takes you under his wing (literally, as his fursona is a raven, obvi) and introduces you to various artists, suitmakers, other furries your age he'd think you'd get along with...this community would be in shambles without people like him. He's been here since the beginning and has seen it all, truly.

Piper; dabbled, couldn't get into it. She'd be a passersby, a visitor of a con but not a participator. Interested in the art of furrydom, the actual art and the suits, but as an outside observer. If Piper were an animal...a ferret, a squirrel, a possum, some kind of street-smart rodent. Something clever and tricky, that's always where its not supposed to be. For a wildcard, I could also see her as a bat of some kind.

Preston; not a furry and completely neutral to it. It doesn't interest him, but he doesn't find it weird, either. It's people LARPing as animals, people have been doing that ever since they evolved from animals. He gets it, he really does. Preston would like nothing more than to be a cat that does nothing but sleep and yell for attention. The cat life is peak existence for him. It's just that Preston is very literal, and the furry thing is more exaggerated. He doesn't want cat ears. He wants to not be a human anymore, please for the love of god—

X6-88; furry. A secret, dignified furry. A pretensious one. A gatekeepy one. This furry judges you if you don't have a suit. He has one. He doesn't wear it, it cost more than some houses, it stays in a glass case like a taxidermied trophy hunt. X6-88 is a furry. His fursona? A Doberman, because they were bred to protect asshole tax collectors, which fits with X6 being a courser. Tall, all sharp edges, an arresting glare, and very loyal and hardworking.

#fallout 4 #fo4 #paladin danse #preston garvey #nick valentine #piper wright #x6-88 #robert joseph maccready #companions react #porter gage #Codsworth #ada is a magpie and Longfellow is an angler fish #instead of a bulb angler!Longfellow has like. a beer bottle dangling

[iraprince]

all ur dog-headed characters look amazing... whats ur secret

reference... but not too much!!!!!!

by which i mean i carefully study ref images of the specific breed i'm basing a design on, but i try to only nail a few specific details that really help with the breed identity, but then i try to back off and return to my normal level of stylization/shape exaggeration for the rest. if i follow ref too closely, especially with how stylized the way i draw anatomy is, it'll end up looking very pasted on — sometimes that's a bit of what i want, like dog with a gun from TVW, but usually you want things to be more cohesive than that.

what details to look for and adhere to from ref is gonna be really variable based on the animal you're stylizing, your goals for the character design, etc! off the top of my head, some consistent spots to make a dog Look Right are the angle of the forehead where it meets the snout, and the height/size of the eye ridge, as well as the angle of the end of the muzzle and the muzzle's height:length ratio; i think one reason these spots demand a lot of attention in ref is bc they're ones where it's easy to just Assume what they look like, and then before u know it you've drawn Generic Cartoon Dog instead of a specific one and it's hard to figure out why. (if i was at my comp i would draw some quick diagrams, maybe i'll come back and add them tomorrow — but rn i'm on my couch w a glass of vermut so i hope u can forgive my clumsy descriptions instead lol).

other bits i often find challenging on semi-realistic anthro characters: eyes and neck!! hitting the right scale on the eyes makes a big difference; you usually have to make them slightly larger to make the face look more humanoid, but it's easy to overshoot. the neck is tricky bc it has to do the heavy lifting of connecting an animal head to a human torso; i usually handle this by just leaning into it and making it brazenly fucked up looking instead of trying to hybridize too much, and also a bandanna or necklace hides a mountain of sins. (on this note, next time you watch 'the cat returns,' check out the cat designs, specifically characters who stand on two legs... they almost all have something around their necks, like ribbon bows or shirt collars! i'm convinced it's because of the neck problem.)

[thesteriuswife]

Things I love most about Theseus & Asterius ❤ AZ will get his own post because this is already long as hell

I love Theseus' huge eyebrows and his hooked nose ❤ I've mentioned it before but they're genuinely my favourite physical features of his, I think it's so cute that his eyebrows are notably darker than his hair. I think his chin dimple is cute too. And I think it's so funny (positive) how his Confident Smile leans into him looking a little menacing 😭 it's very fitting for him and the kind of guy he is. Of course. I also love that he's very ridiculous and over the top. That he never does things in halves... he's the kind of person to get completely and utterly focused on something until it's done (which can be a bit of a double edged sword for him in his interpersonal relationships as u can imagine). He has a very strong sense of justice and has a deep love and passion towards those he cares about. Even though it's not confirmed I do think it's very, Very likely that Theseus is the one who does Asterius' hair- the style he wears is very much in the king's taste. And how sweet is it that this king/warrior/hero would so lovingly tend to his dear friend in that way... I think of him and how despite he's so boastful he's really, really insecure and it affects his relationships. He loves Asterius; in his eyes Asterius is Redemption and Honour and Love. The idea of ever losing that is painful for him! This sometimes leans into possessiveness, but Asterius is so kind (in his own way) and patient, too. I do think something Theseus could learn is that he shouldn't pin all his hopes and dreams onto one person, even if that one person is equally dedicated to him. Which is part of why it makes me happy to imagine him giving Dia that same trust and devotion too, it unloads some of the burden from both of them (and maybe opens a door for Dia to be a bit more open too... she's very reluctant when it comes to talking about herself, you know.) btw i wish we lived in the reality where "theseus throws flowers to the audience" was finalized and put into the game. Like I get why it didn't (i can easily see it being so difficult to animate And making that animation clear in a way where u know what he's doing at the scale hades game is in) but it's true in my heart that he does that. btw.

I love Asterius' droopy eyes and his cute ears :~) And I love that he's so big 😭 I don't mean that in a pervert way (For Now.) but it's always such fun to imagine being very easily picked up by him... he's not as talkative as Theseus, but he's very emotionally intelligent and introspective in a way that's just wonderful to me. He's noble, he has a lot of main- he hasn't moved from thinking of himself as a Monster, though I think he is at a state where he realizes that his uniqueness as both man and beast is not a bad thing, like it may have been to him in the past. Sometimes I wonder how he feels, living in a state that's In-Between. Not completely a human, but not completely an animal either... it must be lonely at times, even if he has his share of fans and admirers. In something I've been slowly writing, I thought about the idea of being "Home" for him- a place where he feels like he belongs. To be able to support him in such a way would be just such a special thing. I don't think it would "heal" the deep hurts he has, they're a part of him; they've shaped him into the man he is now. But it would give him a place to rest his weary head when he needs to. I think Asterius isn't romantic in the same loud way Theseus is romantic. He shows his love in much quieter ways, speaking with actions more than words. (Though he attempts, at times, to say it in words too- because he realizes how putting forth that extra effort is something significant, and he knows its meaningful). And I just think it's so wonderful to..... well, how to word it... there was a time in Asterius' past where happiness and fufillment were things that would have been completely unobtainable for him. Isolated and lost and then force to do monstrous things to survive. He was probably content enough when he died... Erebus wasn't exactly a pleasant place, but it was somewhere he could walk around and explore. somewhere where he didn't feel hungry all the time. he has a chance now, though, to enjoy the things he wasn't able to in the past. to become the Person he wasn't able to in the past! Being a part of that is just something special.

#📜 muse's voice #👑 the once and future king (theseus) #🐂 darkness into light (asterius)

[starry-blue-echoes]

BeastStars - everyone's beast forms tend to be very open with affection, often moreso than the human form without conscious considerations to hold them back, but it tends to be in... less then desirable fashion.

Alligator and Wolf brain agree, bringing Polnareff a severed limb of prey to eat is the appropriate way to tell him you love him and he is a valued member of the pack. Sheepdog brain says who cares if your mouth is still covered in gross zombie guts, Speedwagon is sad you need to go give him an affectionate lick! Snake brain says hide somewhere warm with someone you trust and warmest spot you can reach is squirming INSIDE Caesar's shirt. Peacock brain says do a fancy dance for Okuyasu (that Okuyasu WILL NOT understand but others will) and cat brain says you need to mark him with your scent. Including the artificial parts of it, like the scent of hairspray that's become an integral part of your own scent.

And so on.

DHSBVDHBVHDBRHRVD Y E S S S S S S S

there's no worry about having to hide emotions or keep up a front or Human Social Norms, if they love their friends and family then dammit they're going to show them they love them <3

Jotaro just wants to make sure his pack is well fed! Their senses are so dull and they don't have any claws or teeth, so it's a wonder they're as well healthy as they are. A healthy and fed pack is a happy pack, and he just wants them all to be safe

I did a bit of reading as well, and Jotaro's probably going to be REALLY physically affectionate too. Wolves apparently show trust and affection with close tactility, so he's going to be allllll over them. He almost knocks them over when he leans into them because of how heavy and big he is

what if Jonathan's Sheepdog Brain also starts seeing Speedwagon and Co as sort of his "flock" in a way. He wants to protect them, keep the safe, and most importantly keep them together. He's their guard and their guide, and he wants to do everything he can to keep them alive and see from danger (this then makes Zeppeli's death hurt so much more. His flock was already so small, and now it's become even smaller)

and the mental image of Joseph trying to sneak up Caesar's shirt is made so much funnier by the fact that Joseph is W A Y bigger than him srufhbhdbd. He almost rips the shirt trying to snuggle into it and Caesar ends up being knocked over because of how heavy the mass of scales and feathers is

Okuyasu becomes Josuke's favourite perch. He's constantly demanding the other boys attention, be it with pets or scritches or just being there. He loves to groom Okuyasu's hair and Okuyasu in turn is one of the very very few people who's allowed to clean his feathers

I'd imagine Post Canon there's something of a Not So Passive war going on between Stray Cat and Josuke. Both are fighting for Okuyasu Affection rights and keep trying to replace the other's scent on him with their own, and they both fight. So much. It rarely gets physical, but there's a LOT of screaming and puffing up to make themselves look bigger

Giorno's the most reserved out of them all, and rarely shows affection. But when he does it usually involves a lot of playing around and cuddling. He also likes to "dance," aka what bees do to guide other bees, and will often times bring back/make flowers and honey. Maybe he even makes a small hive with honeycombs if they ever end up settling down somewhere which he uses to store it and keep it safe

and Jolyne........ yeah still trying to figure out what animal she is so To Be Decided djrbgjhdrb-

#they're a little confused but they've got the right spirit #beaststars #jjba #jojo’s bizarre adventure #phantom blood #phantom blood spoilers #jjba part 1 #battle tendency #jjba part 2 #stardust crusaders #jjba part 3 #diamond is unbreakable #diamond is unbreakable spoilers #jjba part 4 #golden wind #jjba part 5 #jjba jonathan #jonathan joestar #jjba joseph #joseph joestar #jjba jotaro #jotaro kujo #jjba josuke #josuke higashikata #jjba giorno #giorno giovanna #sb answers #dragoninthelabratory

[decepti-thots]

Oh my god please discuss the sliding scale of personhood autobot vs decepticon in the Bay movies it sounds genuinely fascinating

Okay. So. Full disclaimer, it's been a while since I sat down and dedicatedly rewatched Bayverse- I keep meaning to and then getting confronted with the slap in the face that is actually having to do it, so. This is by necessity going to talk only in broad strokes, plus you should take it with a pinch of salt or ten since my memory is a crapshoot tbh. But hey ho!

The Decepticons are interesting because they move quite freely, depending on the character, film and even moment, between a wider range of 'is this a person?' compared to the Autobots. The Autobots have two main modes: people that are mostly comparable to humans (however flat and uncared for by the narrative) and beloved, domesticated animal (again: the boy and his car-dog thing, this is mostly just Bee's role).

The Decepticons might include depictions of them as, in any given film: a person who is thoroughly Othered from human people in some capacity, a monster, also some kind of domesticated pet or creature (spoiler: that's Wheelie), or something pretending to be a person. Let's go over some of why that is, and how Bayverse creates such a stark contrast between the two factions as compared to something like G1.

The designs are the most obvious thing to point to here. People often deride Bayverse's designs as universally incomprehensible, but this elides the fact that the Decepticon designs are very clearly intended to be more incomprehensible visually. They are often more alien, less humanoid or humanlike, and less conventionally appealing than the Autobots. Indeed, I've said before that I tend to prefer the Decepticon designs in Bayverse because they lean much further into the aesthetic of noise and weirdness, and this makes it feel more like a choice; but that's not a neutral coincidence! They are designed in ways that adhere to common wisdom about what makes a character design 'appealing' or 'unappealing', what is used to present characters as 'relatable' or 'not relatable' inhuman characters to an audience of humans with certain assumed biases.

Compare 2007 Optimus and Bee to Megatron and Starscream, for example:

Broadly speaking, OP and Bee, even with all the over-engineered noise of their designs, have clear, recognisable faces that draw your attention to the eyes. Optimus' design sits as the most humanlike, with Bee's divergence from standard human faces primarily drawing attention to his muteness (which we discussed previously) with the 'gag' where his mouth might be.

Starscream, meanwhile, is more obviously inhuman by a wide margin. He has a bird face- he is explicitly animalistic! Why doesn't Starscream mirror his G1 design even a little when OP and Bee do? Partly it's because one goal of the design choices here are to make the Decepticons seem monstrous in a way which more clearly delineates the two sides than the G1 designs do. Megatron is not nearly so specific in what he evokes, but looking at him side by side with the Autobot designs, you can see how it carries over. He is broadly humanoid but lacks a lot of the definition that gives Bee and OP a more humanlike apperance, in part due to how his being monochrome makes him seem less clearly in possession of a humanlike anatomy (Bee has pecs!), plus his eyes are small and set far apart in a way that evokes certain types of animal skull. And like. He's got "horns", haha. THAT TOO. Not subtle.

But Megatron and Starscream are both shown to be intelligent, of course. They speak, they communicate, they are not shown as beasts even as their designs evoke a more monstrous affect to distance them from our human baseline. They possess some degree of personhood in how they are presented (it makes for better central villains!). But it's a personhood a few steps further removed from human personhood than, say, Optimus'. The Decepticons have (scary, inhuman) people among them- but they are not exclusively, or even mostly, made up of people the way the Autobots tend to be presented.

Moving along the line. Another Decepticon is Wheelie, who is shown in a similar way to how Bumblebee is- like a kind of super-pet, the fantasy of having a cool robot who's smart enough to communicate with you but who is still, well, your pet. His design is obviously very far from humanlike, though as he's intended to be endearing (theoretically) rather than menacing, his design more like a harmless spindly bug than a 'monster'. Bigger eyes in a deeply inhuman face: that's not a person, that's a pet that can talk to you, the movie says! Imagine, a dog that humps your leg and makes really awful sex jokes. What a dream.

He arguably follows on from a template that Frenzy established the movie before, where Frenzy was presented like his undomesticated equivalent in this uncomfortable analogy. Their designs evoke similarly inhuman vibes, where the influence is insectoid and therefore unpleasant but not super menacing. Compare the slapstick way violence against Frenzy is framed versus how even unsympathetic characters like Starscream tend to be shown in fights- it's implicitly just not violence being done against a person as opposed to like... a cockroach that learned to talk. Again: he's visually further than any Autobot from human by a significant degree, and he exists on a different narrative level than Decepticons like Megatron. In universe, no difference; but to the audience there sure is.

Then we have the ones that are just... monsters of a very beastly variety. I'd argue Barricade in the 2007 movie fits this despite ostensibly talking and showing humanlike intelligence; he speaks very differently to like, Megatron, for example, all brusque repetition that doesn't evoke someone who's done more than memorize the question, and throughout his big 2007 setpiece he's then basically treated like a predatory animal; largely silent beyond his couple memetic lines, seeming too intelligent for his form at times when we see him in alt (his alt mode being so prominent in creating paranoia really mirrors the idea of an animal stalking its prey IMO, and how scared we are when animals seem to display uncanny-to-us intelligence and thought). Barricade is not a person to be fought, he's a hunting dog let loose, the framing suggests, and the goal is to put him down before he tears out your throat. He's a good example, I think, of a single character moving between modes within a single film. He has a brief moment of personhood (for gag purposes) but easily reverts to that predator-animal template. Decepticons can be wild animals too, then.

Even further along that axis is something like Revenge of the Fallen's Devastator. That's just a big scary monster, y'all! Look at it! RotF as a film is not interested at all in the implications that this is a combiner, let's be real, so we will also put that to one side and not come up with some bullshit about how 'maybe it's because he's a combiner', like let's be real guys, RotF isn't bothering with that thematic stuff. It's RotF, that movie is so goddamn dumb. Anyway. So this:

This is a monster, not a person; that face is a maw, not a face. Proportions are all weird and truly animal-like too. A speechless, destructive monster who exists less as a person to fight and more a natural disaster to resist; and another type of Decepticon that will not find an Autobot counterpart, because Autobots are people bar a couple domesticated exceptions, but Decepticons go all over the conceptual map, with this as an extreme!

And the whole idea that a Decepticon that is not a person might be mistaken for one is of course then used for horror at one point. When we see Alice the pretender, the fear comes from how convincingly she apes being what she is not: a human yes, but also a thinking, feeling person of any description. Her true form is partly creepy for having a bunch of unnecessarily humanlike features warped into something grotesque, and does not speak after she's revealed I think. My point is that the scary part of Alice is that idea of mimicry that can't be detected, and oh boy oh boy is there some fucking subtext to that scene we could read into it. By the way. Remember how there's an implicit dick joke and oh god RotF is a godawful film I hate it so much. I know you all know this, but I do. ANYWAY. I think she'll round out our trip down the 'scale' for now.

The above is in no way comprehensive (and leans real heavily on the first two films- there's actually potentially some interesting stuff about how Megatron, specifically, changes in how he is framed going on, and arguably becomes at one point the only truly personified Decepticon character). I haven't even found a place to get into how yes, the reproductive cycle stuff theoretically applies to all Cybertronians but is only ever shown when the Decepticons are doing it, and is notoriously weirdly animalistic and visceral; they have like, egg sacs, they have a very organic but very inhuman and upsetting life cycle thing going on with their babies and all. This is extremely scattershot! And missing stuff and possibly at points a bit off base because again, I'm running off my memory here. But I hope it shows a bit of how and why the spectrum of 'person or not' is a much broader question for bayverse Decepticons than Autobots, and how it often skews further to the 'not' side by a wide margin.

And it's also very all over the place in terms of the resulting implications. Some of it has its roots in very charged stuff; some of it could be read a multitude of ways! Where the Bee post is more clearly a matter of 'here is how casual ableist assumptions play out in Hollywood blockbusters without thinking', this is a wild combo of everything from 'here's how they reverse engineered transmisogyny' to 'here's why cannon fodder in dumb action flicks is designed like this so often'... but there, assumptions about 'appealing character design' are not politically neutral. (Take the old 'bigger eyes are always the more appealing option!' thing, that's a culturally specific assumption that has all sorts of follow on discussions about orientalism, for example.) The whole thing tends back towards something reactionary at basically every turn, though the 'what' might vary.

But ultimately I think the takeaway is: the bayverse films set you against the Decepticons not through obvious ideology- I doubt anyone got a coherent idea of their aims or anything out of the movies- but by sliding the scale down to 'not human' in many ways and letting our brains fill in the rest.

#bayverse #meta

[amphiptere-art]

Amphs demons.

I will note. This can go for most things in a locked door also. It is more of a general understanding, than a specific mythos for my DCA stuff.

So let's get this started. One of these days I really got to make a locked door post. Or at least a locked door God's post. Because there's a lot I'm going to be referencing in accordance with that. So if you get a little lost about me talking about a specific god, That's my fault.

First let's talk about demons appearances.

Demons and fay are actually categorized under the same umbrella for me. So technically demons can look like Faye. As much as faye and look like demons. The biggest difference between the two is that faye usually embody a meaning. Demons actually do actions for humans.

Now of course this doesn't mean there isn't a general look. I'm just saying they realistically could look like anything. Demons usually take on the shape of either an animal, or a uniquely morphed human. Scales, feathers, runic symbols, and even unique items can shape a demon. Many demon epithets based on their looks. Actually have nothing to do with their powers.

Demon diets and lifestyles.

Many demons lifestyles I will go through more detail in the categories. As it does change somewhat. Although for most demons it is a general look similar to human lifestyle. They usually have a home, with appliances, a place to sleep, and a place for hygiene. They can go walk out into a town and buy food and other things. It is not that different. Although there is of course natural wildlife demons can hunt.

Demon diet is usually just your standard form of meat or veggies. Most are omnivorous. Although there are some that are confined to a carnivorous or herbivorous diet. They usually hunt the more animal like demons about hell. Although there are those that are forced to have unique diets. This can include something as simple as only being able to eat fruits, do something like a cannibalistic forced diet.

Usually these cannibalistic diets pause the demon to take on a unique style of life. Contract like demons Will usually make a contract that will ease and even benefit that style. While others will take to seeking out specific shop owners with demons of their specific diet. Many do not judge those with a cannibalistic style. As it is legitimately a genetic trait. They are not the minority, and some demons think it is a natural way to cleanse their numbers as infinite creatures.

Now let's get into different types of demons, and their powers respectively.

Contract type demons.

There are two types of ways a demon could make themselves useful to a human. Which is either through actions, or through magic. While most demons lean one way or the other depending on what the human wishes. Technically anything could be done through an action or magic. Although depending on what it is could cause terrible actions if you do not consider it.

Consider if you asked to be taller. While a magic type demon could do that easily. An action type demon would probably rip your legs off and do something terrible to make you taller. Make sure you summon the right type of demon for the job.

While most demons won't accept a contract that they cannot fulfill. There are still chances some malicious demons will go through it anyways. But most demons split upon this line. One based on more magical type wishes. The other based on wishes that are easier done physically.

Now this doesn't mean that action demons don't have magic. Usually they just struggle with it. And in some rare cases it can cause them pain. Doesn't mean that magic is not available to them. It's usually just not worth trouble. Much like how a magic demon can also do physical stuff. But it's just not worth the trouble when you have magic

Now I'm just going to go through a list of deals you can make. Remember either one could do the same. It's usually just better to do it with one demon over the other. I will try and emphasize this with 🐈 for action demons, and 🐈‍⬛ for magic demons.

What type of deals you can make with demons.

We've already split demons into the category of action and magic. But we can split a little bit further.

Physical augmentation. 🐈‍⬛

Actions of blood. 🐈

Seeking knowledge. 🐈‍⬛

Giving of items. 🐈

Scapegoat actions. 🐈

Control-based. 🐈‍⬛

Splitting of power. 🐈‍⬛

Affairs of the heart. 🐈‍⬛🐈

Many of these categories can be split into smaller pieces.

Physical augmentation

It is basically as the title describes. Some sort of physical augmentation. This could be-

Getting taller

Having more strength

Better voice

Better sight

Better agility

Claws

Wings

Etc. this is better used by magic type demons. Although if you wish to improve your body through more legitimate means. You can seek out an action demon. Although you better make sure they will teach you, instead of rip you apart.

Actions of blood.

Actions of blood have a lot more variety. Although almost all of them involve the spilling of blood in one way or another.

Aggressive actions of revenge.

Massacre of a certain party.

Death to a certain being.

Killing of their own demonic kin.

Receiving a certain body part.

Harvesting of blood and bodies.

Tattoos.

Ect. Many action type demons take these jobs. As while a magic type demon could make somebody disappear. Many more wish to see the actual violence. Which is the main part of this entire category. Violence. Any sort of violence.

Seeking of knowledge.

Speaking of knowledge is of course self-explanatory. As it is gaining knowledge or wisdom through any means.

Gaining knowledge in a certain subject.

All the answers to a certain test.

Knowing the true events of an event

Knowledge of magical practices.

Etc. this category actually has some overlap with the item giving category. As magic demons can instantly give the knowledge. While action demons have to go out and get it. Although some, if they have it, Will verbally tell.

Giving of items.

Giving of items also usually includes access to areas. As it is the manification of a physical want.

Gaining a book or tome.

Access to a certain place.

Summoning of items.

Giving of items.

Manifestation of a certain structure.

Giving of money.

Ect. Action demons usually use the giving of items as a way to plunder their claws into other categories. Although this category still has some use for magic type demons. As it is usually easier to magic a house than to build it.

Scapegoat actions

Scapegoat actions just means to do something into humans place. Which could be a myriad of things.

Robbing a store for them.

Allowing them to cheat.

Taking there spot in jail.

Staying back in a situation so they can go and explore.

Taking their sins.

Ect. These are usually some of the most non-villainous acts a demon can perform other than physical augmentation. They are not blood demons, so they do not go out to kill for humans. But anything else is fair game. This category can sometimes bleed into the item giving category. As robberies are the easiest way for action demons to get items.

Control based.

These usually include control of some sort. Whether that is brainwashing, or putting somebody in a higher position.

Brainwashing somebody.

Brainwashing an entire city.

Trapping their demonic companions for multiple free contracts.

Helping somebody get to a higher military rank.

Helping somebody get to a higher political rank.

Changing somebody from mid-class to high class.

Ect. Control based demon can usually lead to cult like activity. As it is often that somebody wishes to be higher than their peers. Action demons can sometimes help with this category. Although it can be as long and as strenuous as any real life scenario. This is usually dealt with by magic demons. As it is quick and easy for them.

Splitting of power.

This usually pertains to gaining similar abilities to the demon in question. Which leads to some variety.

Getting a demons at supernatural strength

Getting a demons supernatural sight

Getting a demon's scales and claws

Getting a demons physical appearance.

Getting a demon's magical capabilities

Ect. As we can see, these demons can almost make humans demons themselves. This can also lead to cult like activity. As a simple act of having demon like abilities usually puts you in a higher position. Although many people who do it this way, mean to do something more forceful with those powers.

Affairs of the heart.

This usually has anything to do with love and the pleasure of sex.

Making somebody fall in love with you

Becoming a partner.

Making somebody fertile.

Improving there's lovers "action in bed".

Enhancing ones children.

Enhancing one's partner.

Ect. They're also is a good amount of physical augmentation heart demons can do. Although they are simply merely the same as the physical augmentation demons. This has a wide variety of uses. Action demons and magic demons will help people in these categories. Action demons in particular will sometimes take their lover's place without the contractors know.

Spirits and Dead.

Almost all demons can access the dead and their spirits. Although any demon that tells you they can resurrect them is a liar. Demons cannot resurrect the dead. If you have been sleeping with a resurrected past lover, It is likely the demon itself, or a puppeted corpse concealed by a spell.

While some demons might consider themselves exclusively Resurrection or soul-speaking demons. That is not a proper category. As all demons can grant you with due to their connection to the realm of death. Although these "Resurrection demons" are noticeably better at it.

Contracts and how they function for demons.

All of the aforementioned deals above. Of course have positive reinforcements as to why demons would do them. This small section will conclude what those contracts do for demons. And how a demon doesn't die if they are not contracted enough.

First of all contracts seem to work as a form of a paycheck. While this paycheck could be in food, luxuries, or homes. It is usually transferred into a type of demonic currency. Which can be used to gain those other items through paying. Demon society is relatively close to ours. As I've only talked about contract demons. That might seem not so. But there are other types of demons that do other things.

Now it is undeterminable how much money is the baseline. I can say with confidence though, but the more a specific contract demon category is utilized by humans. Increases in how much money. For example, scapegoat type demons are rather popular. And so they have some of the highest paychecks.

No of course there is the question of how a demon supplies themselves if they do not get contracts. Luckily they seem to have a buffer system. As a demon is given some sort of paycheck by the end of each month. It is some sort of general average of what other demons in their category made. Which can be good or bad depending on how popular the category is.

Humans themselves can give tips. Although it is not in the form of the demonic currency. Instead it is usually physical. Demons will often take appliances. Some demons take blood. As it is a form of energy to demons. Blood sacrifices are usually used to just get a light bulb to work. A similar thing happens with bodies.

Now let's get onto those other demons I spoke of.

Mischief type demons.

This is another category that interact with humans commonly. Although usually not for their benefit. Mischief type is what most humans call them. The demons themselves like to be called Unseelie. Which yes, these are the demons mostly associated with Faye.

You can split these demon sometimes by Cryptid, Unseelie, and Haunting.

Mischief type demons can take many forms. Although many of these are considered supernatural. Ghosts, trolls, poltergeist, kelpies, vampires, werewolves, demon fairies, etc. in all honesty, there is too many to list. Just know that with confidence, any supernatural creature that usually has it bad story behind it. Is likely a mischief demon.

This also includes most aggressive ghosts. A quiet haunting is usually not a mischief demon. It is things like poltergeist to like ghosts that are these demons. Also many ruckus making ghosts are these demons. Actual ghosts usually mean no harm towards family's living in their area. Although it is not unknown for ghosts to want a room to themselves. Mischief demons parading as ghosts though. Will cause the most ruckus and aggressive acts throughout a household. Usually concluding with the whole house being condemned for being "hunted".

The physical look of these demons of course heavily verifies. Usually you can split it unsteadily down the middle between The physical ones and the invisible ones. Physical ones will take on any shape available. Vampires disguise themselves as humans, a kelpie looks like a horse with seaweed, They can be impeccably tiny little evil things. The invisible ones are of course, invisible. They share about the same variety as many demons in their home realm. The only difference is that usually they can fit in a human house.

Powers again have a wide range. Things like vampires and werewolves are like a disease. Sharing their power in a forceful way. Many of the more faye like demons are good at magic. Using it in any way possible. There are those that are more animalistic. Such like the kelpie. Where it's hunting method is just unsettling. They're of course are those that just want to cause trouble. Whether that be a troll using their physical bulk. For the many invisible demons who levitate around and cause a ruckus. Many of these demons also usually have control over the Earth and illusions. Making crooked looking trees.

Keeper demons.

Keeper demons are the ones that actually stay in hell. While there was one more category that does sometimes interact with human realm. That usually is not of their choice. Keeper demons stay at home. And have many duties.

Now unlike many stories. Demons actually don't enjoy their jobs of beating the damned. Although it is not all bad. There are of course many people who deserve any punishments. Many of these Killers. Many others do not tho. The religion that usually sends people to hell usually has spiculous rules. Causing many people who are dealers or smokers who are good people to be sent hells way. Hell luckily has the keeper demons that make their new life much more fun.

While the name keeper demon feels people with the sense of being stuck. Which they are. Most keeper demons act like normal humans. Many of these demons have more luxury to smoke and draw bets due to not holding a strict religion of their own. Many are just people. There are carpenters, dressers, cooks, and any other human job you can usually imagine. There isn't much in a justice system. As usually their demonic rules are seemingly enforced through other means. But otherwise it is relatively the same.

They only difference is that there are two specific keeper demons that are separate from the rest. These are usually known as guardians and tormentors.

Guardians of course are usually guards. They are the closest things to angels demons will probably have. An example of one of these demons is Cerberus. Although he only ruled for an age and retired. Others have taken up their place. There's usually a guardian for every human region. Sometimes it gets specific down to the state. While they are few, They are very strong. At any demon that wishes to challenge them will surely regret it.

Guardians also usually keep souls in. And this includes demons themselves. As while you might state that demons go to the human world through contracts all the time. That is untrue. They are usually tethered by the human. If the human dies or if the deal is done. Demons will teleport straight back. I mischief demons aren't really there. They're in this weird in between gate that allows them to interact but not get in trouble. Any demon that actually makes it out of the confines of hell is hunted by the guardians.

Then there of course the tormentors. Tormentors are explanatory. If you were imagining some deep red being with horns tugging on a fiery whip as what you expected most demons look like. That is what these are. Tormentor demons handle the people that demons themselves decide as evil. These sections are usually hidden and deep. Tormentor demons is the most legal job a demon can get. Many do not like it though. So the gnashing teeth of a tormentor demon is usually not a disguise.

Wild guardian and tormentor demons have higher powers. Usually respectively in strength, magic, and the ability to see things many other demons won't. Running keep your demons just have an average amount of magic and an average amount of strength. Imagine a world made of apprentice wizards. What is the extent of most keeper demons. Enough to live a naturally supernatural life, what's similar enough you wouldn't feel out of place in their home.

Many souls actually turn into keeper demons. Wild souls can choose to restrain themselves to their ghostly human looks. They can become a demon whatever they please. And yes they can become a specific demon. Most choose keepers because they have no external rules or weird circumstances. There's a reason most keeper demons are standard.

Animalistic demons.

Animalistic demons are our last category. These demons usually do not have any magic. Can be summoned but not contracted. And of course unintelligent. Although one type of animalistic demon is smarter.

Animalistic demons are usually animals. Supernatural and strange looking yes, but just animals. There is one demon in this category that isn't quite just animalistic. Although they aren't as smart as many on the list.

These demons are imps. The only reason they are considered in the animalistic category is because of their natural urges. Imps can write and talk. Although it is basic. They unfortunately do not think about hygiene or cleanliness. They can often act like animals running a muck. They have a pack like nature. And hunt much more than other demons. The best correlation is like a chimp. They can be extremely smart if taught. But it is simply not their nature.

Every other demon in this section though is not intelligent enough. There are usually allegories to the human world. Birds, dogs, cats, horses, you name it. There's usually a demon equivalent. Hellhounds are of course the ones many know. Although that is simply just a fancy term for a demon dog. Although do not confine yourself to a quadruped stance. An animalistic demon can look just as human like as any other. The only difference is their mind.

This concludes everything I can think of.

Remember demons easily fit in among faye. And I myself as a creator see them as one of the same. The only difference is that demons are usually the more malicious type. There's a reason the mischief type category was so bare bones in its explanation. There are simply too many things I consider demons underneath. As I just correlate demons with the bad mythological creatures.

Hope you guys like this rundown.

#The locked door #demons #demon #lore #sams #tsams #tsams au #sams au #demon Blue Moon

[pandorafallz]

Vampire AU | Negotations

Jake didn’t miss the tension between the Tsahìk or the Olo'eyktan after that and it seemed Mo’at had lost that battle given her more…frosty interactions with her mate were in the following hours. Her disagreement was strong but Jake couldn’t help but be on Eytukan’s side more; they didn’t need Vampires getting involved with the Omatikaya and with them, humans with them then that certainly would expose a lot that they weren’t willing to. Let alone to the Head of SciOps via N’deh. It was both an RDA issue and a vampire issue, simply. It triumphed over the spiritual healing of one man and one dead woman.

So, Jake knew better than to broach the topic with N’deh when he got home too less he’d wind up spilling about Augustine’s… availability. Although, the chances were N’deh had no idea what had happened to her; probably thought she was still alive, warm and waiting. Ugh. He still couldn’t see that. He’d try and pretend N’deh’s mate attempt was some…scientist so he didn’t feel so grossed out. N’deh was what? Thirty-five? Her? At least in her mid-forties! What an age gap!

Still, Jake remembered his Dreamwalker was about seventeen-eighteen in physical age. Neytiri was eighteen. He was twenty-three and the youngest of his camp. Only a five-year difference in technicalities. Augustine’s Dreamwalker was the same; in its mid-thirties. If the Dreamwalker was all he saw then…of course he fell for her.

Sooner or later, N’deh was going to find out. He’d rather not be the one to tell him that his mate was undead and had a vendetta against Eytukan on a personal level.

“Just…a quick question, do the Kungs know about Vampires?” Jake realised, leaning toward Kim as he spoke. He had been weaving new jewellery together with Kim in a quiet corner as the afternoon drew on. A new style that they were both unfamiliar with when they started but he found himself liking the new challenge. They had also made extra small beads which Jake was using especially.

“They do.”

“Good…” a pause. “How’d they take it?”

“Unsettlingly well. Kung took getting a UV light-over to see her bite marks to be fully convinced. Bree was… well she kinda wants to meet one? She’s got no bites on her which is a good thing and not surprising given her…situation” Kim winced.

Jake couldn’t help the disgusted look. “Why would she want to meet one? They’re monsters.”

Kim sighed, gently adding a soft twist to her knot to keep the bead in place. “I don’t know. I didn’t ask. Figured her mother would keep her interest in check by distracting her with other interesting things. There’s always something new for her to do.”

“Indeed.” Jake was rarely left with nothing to do after all. Especially nowadays with his training. “You know, she wants to make paper, I bet she’ll turn to wanting to make books. I was gonna see if you’d help her with that. Maybe talk to a few of the wood shapers about getting frames and tools ready with her.”

“Books?” Kim paused, “Why?”

Jake shrugged. “Humans used it for centuries and it makes her happy. Plus, I do like the idea of a homemade book; something more personal than something you can like…buy. I’ve never seen a book being made but I know it’s… a process.”

Kim’s tail flickered a little, the puffy end catching his elbow but she didn’t seem to notice. “if she wants Na’vi sized books…. She’ll need someone to help scale it up.”

“Scrolls?” Jake suggested. “Far easier to start off the Na’vi would be with scrolls of paper than a book. Less fiddley.”

Kim’s head tilted. “Parchment? There’s a lot of animal hide that could be used…”

Jake hummed, not having considered the most acceptable option. Paper was one thing but it wasn’t as familiar to the Na’vi; getting animal skins were more at ease with them. Both would work with both sides here but it seemed like a good starting point.

“Parchment could be good. But we should introduce it as an art method first rather than some writing tool for us. They’ll have an appreciation for it for new concepts of art. Like our small detailed works that they can’t achieve as well due to them being giants.” He pointed out, gesturing to her permanent avatar form that he had to look up to. His neck did hurt a little but he liked to think that Na’vi and Kim suffered a little with looking down all the time at them.

“Plus, there’ll be less waste and more sheets given the size and thickness of the hides. Na’vi have ways to slim hides down if they’re too thick.” Kim pointed out, ignoring his look. “N’deh’s not adept at leatherworking but I know a few tricks from him from the times he’s worked with them.”

“Plus, they have that new radio we gave them, they can come around to our camp since they’re closets. We do have a lot of hide as well.” They didn’t use hide as extensively and they had a small stockpile; much like their bones as well. N’deh and Jerome were good at crafting but they were still gaining more than they were using them.

Morgan had a small collection of skulls hidden at the top of his shack under one of his tarps to not look like a creepy-skull hoarder. Jake suspected he was interested in the skulls in general, and wanted to make something out of them but was waiting for enough of them or for a variety of different skulls. He didn’t ask and didn’t really want to; they all had weird hobbies.

“Yes, I suppose, plus with the size differences, supplies will go a further as well.” Kim remarked, “You know I don’t know why we didn’t offer them a space at our camp. It would be easier.”

“I wanted more space from people.”

Jake almost dropped his needle and beads, his head whipping around to see Kung passing with a basket of gathered fibres on her back. Kung didn’t stop to elaborate or look behind either; just carried on towards the weaver’s side for the fibres to get cleaned and prepped for the weavers.

Jake snorted a little, taking a second to collect himself and carried on with the armband he was creating. It was a delicate woven piece with small beads interlaced into a soft, network-like pattern of purple beads that he set into a soft gradient of transparency and opaqueness to appear…like a pulse when the light hit it. He was…very much inspired by his first communion with Eywa but…this was a gift that he felt he should make and gift.

He was sure Neytiri would appreciate it given she was going to be Tsahìk one day. Purple was considered the colour of Eywa. Seemed very fitting. She had done so much for him and he needed to be more than just a jarhead. He was almost a hunter, but he could be a crafter too. He was more and he needed to show that. Be someone and... he needed to help carve a future for all those who leave the RDA.

-

Lilith eyed her roster with some level of disdain at how little time she’d talk to her sisters. They were spread out and she disliked the fact it was over a lot of unknown land. She couldn’t help but hate Augustine for this last-minute change-over; ruining all of their plans to escape and now they were over in a lot of unknown lands she knew fuck-all to be comfortable enough to drag her sisters into it. They’d have this roster for two weeks before it was revised so she hoped by then they’d have…some idea of adapting their plan.

They still had Amanda’s Scorpion so their get-away vehicle was set to get the avatar out. She wanted to get Grace or Thea out to an abandoned link shack to pilot her avatar first and meet her there if the scorpion was unviable. An avatar could carry a lot more stuff than a human could so they wanted to take advantage of that.

Frontier West wasn’t…ideal to escape from. But, she knew that they had to get the lay of the land first before they pulled the rip cord. The Kinglor Forest was different to the Omatikaya Forest but it was familiar enough it looked safest to get into. The Upper Plains, Lilith had no problems in not considering that as an option; too open and vast and…she heard enough of the Zeswa clan to be worried for her sister's safety there.

The clouded forest was the unknown, but its trees offered more shelter and guidance if its namesake was any indication. Humans would slip away far easier when fog was about and it was far from Frontier West. But...the unfamiliarity was what kept that option at arm’s length but she’d keep her sister's opinions close when they got around to discussing their options.

But still, for now, it was an adjustment; getting used to her fellow drivers in this new lab. It was sparse so they were very understaffed in the science department really. The science that…actually mattered. So Lilith right now was linked up and going through the roster and plans for this base’s avatar compound. Right now, they had pitched up a huge tent that was panelled off from the forest side as extra protection despite the huge concrete walls. At least the link room was inside still. It was odd being in something so make-shift.

“Dr Choi and Dr Everdeen,” their heads turned to see Dr Kamath, their lead scientist on this base stroll across the grass, still in SecOps gear which had always unsettled her to see.

This one woman was SciOps and yet held a huge part in SecOps; a lot of qualifications under her belt meaning she could flit very easily into other departments. Much like them but with less bodies which was why Kamath unsettled her a lot. It wasn’t too much of a surprise she took the mantle of leadership.

Her ears twitched a little as she looked down at the woman “Doctor Kamath, we’re still setting up the avatar’s lab but we should be done in an hour. Science wasn’t this base’s strength.”

“I am aware. You’ll have the time you need but I would like you and Doctor Choi to take Scout into the forest once you’re done before it gets dark. I know it’s not part of your schedule but we need the natives to get…acquainted with the concept of Avatars and for all of us to get to know the Kinglor Forest. Samples, of course.” Dr Kamath requested, her eyes mostly on Choi. “If you happen to come across Kinglor, feel free to let me know.”

Dr Choi laughed a little. “You really want to study those things, don’t you?”

Lilith’s breath paused a little. “You…don’t want us to hurt one bringing it in? I heard they’re highly social with their own kind.” She knew if the forest was named after the insect, then it wasn’t a good idea to kill one and bring one back just for study. That would look really bad straight off with the Na’vi clans around them.

Dr Kamath hummed, noncommittal. “I know the Aranahe clan have a high regard for these insects. I wish to study them in their own environment, not the RDA’s facility. I can study the nest and their behaviours. Scans will provide all that I need of their anatomy.”

Lilith didn’t feel confident in that truth but she had really little to go on to believe otherwise. Still, if that was true, it was…kinda nice to have someone who still cared for the life around them than just the science of it. The fact she put in effort to know the clan’s name was a small…relief.

“We’ll keep an eye out, Ava.” Choi said brightly, “I can talk to you later but…we really gotta finish if you want us to do a sweep.”

Despite the laps in respect to how Choi addressed her, Dr Kamath nodded. “Carry on.” Her eyes slid to her for a long moment before she turned and walked back towards the door with a high head.

Lilith waited until the woman was far enough away before she rounded onto her colleague. “Did you forget your manners, Dr Choi?”

“Hm?” Choi looked at her inquisitively. “About what?”

“You called Dr Kamath by her first name. No one ever calls her that. Not even Doctor Augustine.” Lilith whispered, “Are you fucking her or something to slip up like that?”

Choi stared at her and then wrinkled his nose. “I know she bats for all teams but I’ve already got a girlfriend who doesn’t like sharing.” He said, rolling his eyes. “Me and Dr Kamath are…more acquainted than most so… let’s just leave this conversation right here.”

Sensing his dismissal, Lilith…decided not to poke but…she couldn’t help herself but wonder why he got that permission. Kamath could quite easily be intimidating if she really tried. They probably still fucking if they were that friendly, maybe his girlfriend joined in? Kamath did seem like someone who’d lead an orgy or a threesome very well.

Choi directed their conversation away to discuss some local fauna; her area of expertise was zoology so Lilith allowed herself to be pulled into it as they continued on to finish their set-up.

As predicted, it took about an hour to get everything set up before they were escorted out of the base and into the jungle with two soldiers. They were harder to ignore but Choi was leading the sweep.

Lilith couldn’t help herself but admire the lush greens that came from the fresh, untainted air. It…smelt a little different to the Omatikaya lands, now that she thought about it. Sweeter. More…flowers as well. Some she didn’t recognise. Would these be safe for humans?

“Let’s stop here. We shouldn’t get much deeper than this into Aranahe territory.” Choi announced as they reached a river’s bank that was overlooked by a high amount of trees and a massive tree-like trunk that looked to trail like a vine across the river and through the trees. She could already see mushrooms and plants galore covering it.

She’d definitely take samples of those; see if they’re edible.

“Now, Everdeen, why don’t you collect some samples? I am going to take a piss because I…really made a mistake in that second juice box before we left.” Choi sighed.

Lilith rolled her eyes but slunk her bag off and bent down to unpack, though she snorted a little as Choi ordered a soldier off who had begun to follow him.

“You wanna watch me piss? Really? Look, I can give you a grand show if you’re that worried but I’ll make it super awkward for the both of us. There will be unbroken eye contact for the entire event.” Choi remarked which was enough to get the soldier to turn back and returned a little flush to her cheeks.

The first soldier just smirked at her and Choi vanished back into the treeline for his business. What a way to put soldiers at a distance. She’d take that as a helpful hint if she needed to get her avatar away.

Lilith began to sort through the kit for sample containers; and how many they could take before they’d have to return. Her scanners, pH monitor….

Her ears tilted as she heard the first soldier sit close giving him a passing look but what pulled her attention was…how closely he was watching her; far too intently and with a considering look.

“What?” Lilith asked, not the sort to let this pass. “You wanna help?” She doubted that but she was keeping things light.

The second soldier nudged the first, “Talk before the other tailed doc gets back.”

Lilith’s yellow eyes narrowed, her tail rising. “What?”

The first one looked to the other then to the trees then to her again. “We know you and your Quad are thinking of defecting into the forest.” He stated bluntly, “before you… deny it, I’ve spent twelve years on this planet; I know the signs of people planning something and I ain’t gonna just ignore the possibilities.”

Lilith’s ears were up and alert, just as her tail swished and her heart thumped anxiously in her chest; they knew. They waited for this chance. She couldn’t bolt; not with her human body in the link chamber; they’d get her out of the link bed faster than she could find a place to hide it.

But, his wording was off.

“Possibilities?” Lilith questioned slowly. “You blackmailing me?”

“No, blackmail’s a strong word and… well I have a proposition that benefits is all. I think you’ll like it. When you bail, you’ll have access to local fruit and flora and…god knows what other goodies. I ain’t interested in living in the woods unless I have to. The RDA pay too well for that.” The first said, waving off the concern. “We had a few science guys here that…brought us some flora samples often that…helped us relax. Since they’re gone, we don’t have any of those supplies left.”

Lilith could see what they were putting down, making her relax a little. “You…want a trading system?” she could…see why they’d resort to making a deal rather than cashing her and her sisters out to the RDA; they got something out of it. Good. She could work with that; she was sure they’d need some stuff sooner or later.

“Yep. You get things you can’t get out there and vice versa. We can negotiate on what each other can get once we’re both in the position to trade. If we get stiff us, you’re cut off. Simple?”

Lilith considered his words but her eyes flickered as Choi seemed to make his appearance nd looked far more relaxed about his pee break. “We can talk later with the Quad to go over the details. Names?”

“Corporal Moriah Dyer, Private Eden Castell.” The second solider introduced properly. “We’re off the clock at twenty-hundred hours. You can meet us in the boiler room. One of your SecOps sisters knows where that is. We can…help you out.”

“Alright.” She’d take it up for sure.

“You know, I always forget the pure relief of peeing after you’ve been holding it in for a while,” Choi announced loudly, coming over to join them but as he reached for a sample kit Lilith shoved a wet wipe from their containment cleaner into his hands.

“Wipe your hands after touching your dick.” She said, unimpressed. “I don’t want contaminated samples.”

-

“This is a bad idea.” Grace muttered anxiously, “What if we’re walking into a trap?”

Thea sighed loudly, “I checked the feed along the corridor; only Dyer and Castell are there. Some couple ducked into a side room close by.”

“We should exercise some caution but I do think this can work out for us.” Lilith said, “I think they’re the sort to turn a blind eye when it favours them but they have friends who may do the same.”

“True, the SecOps likes to have an off-the-book trade. Favours and small deals are made for things. Sexual favours are more common but the base doesn’t get enough supplies of condoms or pills.” Amanda remarked dryly, “I bet what they’re looking for are contraceptive herbs for the staff to go raw without risk.” Amanda knew too well and had partaken herself to get things she needed or wanted at short notice. She knew everyone was screened for STDs and all so that wasn’t the concern when pregnancy wasn’t something soldiers wanted unexpectedly.

“Lovely.” Grace wrinkled her nose.

Amanda chuckled a little at her sister and took the lead into the boiler room and down to see the space lit up well; showing off that it was well used. Banged-up tables and repurposed things had been crafted into chairs. There was a vent out, but there was still the lingering smell of cigarette smoke. There was a door off to the side and a bin with crushed beer cans inside. Amanda was sure she heard soft…thumping against the door—very good soundproofing—but focused on the two soldiers that were seated. One with a datapad and one with a paper pad and both looked at them as they came in.

Out of their gear and helmets, they could see the two properly.

Eden was tall and thin but had a decent amount of muscle to his frame, he had dark skin with a small goatee and a very nice jawline and his hair was buzz cut right down to his skin, he was probably in his early to mid-forties.

Moriah was a slim athletic Asian woman, bear arms showing a few tattoos and dark reddish hair that was most likely dyed and she had a scar from hairline to jaw on the right side of her face. She appeared to be late thirties.

“Okay, all four at once.” Moriah remarked, sitting up straight as her brown eyes took each of them in. “Never seen all four at once. I do not like that…”

Amanda smiled a little, the ever enjoyment of watching the confusion or those who were a little creeped out by her shared appearance with her siblings. It never got old.

“Let’s get down to business, shall we?” Amanda directed, taking the lead seat in front of them. “I don’t deny our plans. Lilith told me of your…proposition.” Purposely gesturing to Thea as she said this who nodded her ’confirmation’. “We can’t leave straight off; we need to where we’re going first and what life we have to live with. I can’t risk my siblings without getting a plan in order.”

“What’s your plan so far?”

“Two weeks data gathering. We need a link-shack to move and map of the RDA ship patrol routes over Kinglor forest.” Grace said first behind Amanda.

“We can establish a meet-up point with supplies. A dead drop if we can’t meet up in person but we can set up a radio link for negotiation of trades.” Thea carried on on her left. “The meetup point can hold a list of what’s viable for trades and for what’s off the books.”

“No weapons,” Eden said, his brown eyes flickering between the four of them. “If you get buddies with the Na’vi, we’re not helping them with giving our weapons over.”

“Agreed.” Amanda said, “I have no interest in weapons trade. That won’t end well. However, blades and metal tools should be on the table for practical uses for both our forms.”

Moriah pursed her lips. “I suppose. We have buddies in the Manufacture rig that can help us.”

“It will take time to get settled. A month. We can settle, get familiar and start getting supplies located. That will be the time consumer more than anything. If the Na’vi don’t kill us on sight, then we can ask them to help find what we want.”

“A month?” Moriah echoed, her eyebrows raising, “That’s a lot of time.”

“We don’t have the luxury of knowing the forest.” Thea snapped lightly.

Grace carried on just as sharply, “If we were in the Omatikaya territory, we could have had maybe one or two weeks to settle.”

“But we don’t.” Lilith finished.

Eden stared at all four of them for a long moment. “Alright.” He decided to agree. “We can give you a phone; you talk to either me or Moriah on trades. We have data on what we want out there any way from our last supply drop.”

“What are they?” Thea asked, “Look, I don’t mind getting you shit but…if you’re getting hooked on stuff that like cocaine or heroin, or possibly natural sedatives, then we have to draw our line of what’s acceptable.”

Moriah smirked a little. “Fair. The main herb we want is something we can add to our drinks. It’s a natural contraceptive for both males and females. Preventing ovulation in women and in men, it stops those producing viable sperm, and as long as both parties drink it every other day there are no worries about how many rounds without a condom. We know it’s much more potent in human bodies, so I’ve been told.” Moriah explained. “Another is like Viagra; it enhances sexual experiences. Safe to mix with our contraceptives.”

Amanda nodded, as predicted then. Sex was always going to be a high priority for everyone. It was a good start and simple. Shame they didn’t have access to weed; that would certainly help get the RDA … open for more. Still, she was sure they could find other things that would work similarly. If they could make Pandoran alcohol, then that’d surely help. Humans loved drugs, sex and alcohol and as long as it was supplied, they had a solid hook to get what they wanted back.

Amanda wasn’t stupid to think aid out was without payment; they’d have to settle enough herbs and stuff quickly to squash any ideas about this trade opportunity falling through while they settled. If she could get… some form of fast travel; a willing Direhorse would certainly help with supplies and general living.

Lilith moved around and took the offered datapad. “Would you be able to access anything from Hell’s Gate and bring it to us?”

“We do have a reach there, providing that there’s enough to go that far between our suppliers and pilots and to us. More than just herbs though. Meat is a good trade given how crap RDA rations are.”

Amanda spared her sister a curious look but Lilith gave no indication of her interest in what was at Hell’s Gate.

“Alight.” She said, clearly mulling on her options.

Thea tilted her head as well but moved to start going into details of potential dead drops and to set guidelines for both of their sides that she began to negotiate with Moriah about (and also how to handle if any of them got broken; like no trades for a month) as Eden began to discuss RDA routes and possible conflicts and how to avoid the typical RDA patrols.

Amanda though felt more confident that this was a good idea to have in the works. Freedom and still have access to good shit; works out in all their favour for sure.

Masterlist

#avatar #avatar au #avatar james cameron #avatar the way of water #grace augustine #jake sully #mo'at #neytiri #avatar rda #neytiri te tskaha mo'at'ite #vampire au #vampire #vampire grace #kim greene #eytukan

[fanartbyherd]

Another one, this is mostly just for it looking nice.

I give up on not making these posts long.

Though this is Michel and Gerry when they are at their largest control and strength of their power.

Some mild spoilers, for tma, and this fic.

So what better time to talk about power scaling.

This isn’t the most clear cut and dry. Power tends to be a a bit fluid and unpredictable

Now there is an entire field of study to what they are and what they do. Though to quote from the fic itself “…one of the most prominent academics in that field before she went off the deep end. A common trend for academics in that field. ….they either died, went missing, went crazy, or became librarians.”

In other words that’s what I would call an occupational hazard. Notably Gerry is somewhat exaggerating.

So before I get into power scales and such I should probably talk about what I have changed in regards to the powers.

First of there’s three of them! But they are also all the same thing. It has a lot to do with what humans call them more than the nature of the power itself.

The line between the knowing and the beholder is so thin it’s mistaken for the other all the time. I think it’s better to think of it as looking at the same thing from different angles.

A bit similar to how it works in TMA proper, the powers individually exist at the same time they do not and are a collective.

So there’s three kinds of powers. They are called pantheons

The dread pantheon, the knowledge pantheon and the adoration pantheon. More on that some other time.

Quick reference:

- Dread: most of the ones we are familiar with.

- Knowing: intellect, and instinct. Awareness of the world around you. It is definitely a power that leans more heavily on humans to feed but is still found in animals (too a greater extent than humans thought before!) this power was heavily favored during the enlightenment.

Includes: the knowing, the dreaming, strategy, the light, the speaker, the crafters,

- Admiration: love and feeling. Though often not just love, it is a lot of other emotions, even some of the ones we are familiar with from tma, the lonely, the web and to some minor extents the corruption, the desolation and even the spiral. Needless to say it’s complicated.

Includes: hope, agape (unconditional love) , stroge (friendship) , philia (familial) , Eros (passion), hatred and envy.

I’ll probably explain this in more detail at some other point.

In the meantime power scale.

For the majority of people this is irrelevant most of the time so they use a rather informal system of ranking. It’s the older one that has been around since slightly before the scientific revolution. (European centric) so was spread around the world by colonialism. Other places had used thier own system prior. Along with thier own names. This actually did change how the powers tended to manifest. For example the craft in Europe is not associated with shapeshifting, but in parts of Africa it is.

No, monsters and entities look and behave a bit differently depending on the circumstances and cultures that manifest them.

So the general system in order from most powerful and rarest to least powerful but most common.

Demi-god, avatar, the named, the aligned, the touched, normal people.

- Demi-gods: the physical embodiment of the power. There have not really been any known demigods since the renaissance. In fact to the point no one knows how a person becomes one or even if they where ever a real thing.

-avatars- these are well documented but rare, there’s different degrees of avatars but they are all deeply tied to their power. For example I state at the beginning of the fic that there’s five distortions in the world. There are normally twenty or less avatars of any power in the world.

- named, here’s where what most people in TMA proper fall into. This also includes things like werewolves or vampires or other such creatures that we have named.

-aligned, when it comes to people with power who know they have it and use it, they are in this group. Generally permanent but can fade or at least go dormant if not attended too.

-touched, often temporary not noticeable in every day life. Everyone has had a touch of something at some time. But can fade away in an hour to a few days or even stick around for a few years, but will fade as time goes on.

This is different for monsters.

Now this is the general layman term for these that have become popular over the centuries (in part thanks to colonialism) but there are other ones, some are religious classifications, but then there is the one that came around during ww1 and was standardized during ww2 (really it became a well known practice in the late 1930s but grew in the 1940)

This is the alphabetical numerical system that is designed to assess how dangerous a creature or thing is. It originated as a way for government to know what entities where attacking troops and civilians the most and what ones could be dealt with and then what ones could be dealt with first.

Messy as it is the ranking system goes something like this:

S - most powerful, it’s essentially the equivalent to an avatar. They don’t have a ranking for demigods equivalent. Mostly due to the before mentioned lack of any demigods for a long time.

A iii. Could destroy an entire city.

A ii. Causes areas and objects they interact with to be touched by a power.

A i. Intelligent and show planning, likely once human,

B ii your average giant beasts, things like sea monsters, giants and such creatures of the vast.

B i. Ranking for well known monsters often have their own groups that deal with them. Things like the vampires, and doppelgängers.

C ii. Lowest ranking given to creatures that where once humans. Because legally if it was human it has to be delt with in a different manner.

C i- your average monster that crawls out of the otherworld.

D -legal limit for ownership of a pet with power with out having a license for it. Also this is what Michel’s “cat” is.

E- what you would find on a normal ghost hunt. In theory dangerous but not life threatening unless something goes really wrong.

F -least powerful. It’s essentially the same as a creature being aligned.

Numerals are rarely added to the rankings and most monsters are simply referred to by the Letters.

This information is not super important for the fic as it’s only brought up a few times. As most of the characters use the less formal system.

Governments in this world tend to try and keep track of who has what powers and such, but that is a whole mess on its own, and it is not well kept track of. This of course depends on the country and stuff. With some barely keeping a regrasty while others are strict about it.

This is all very silly to some extent. But this is what I have written so I guess I will just go with it.

#fanart #the magnus archives #tma micheal shelly #tma au #tma gerry #cw body horror #gerrymichael #cw ww2 #cw bones #I’m embarrassed so let me be

[alemonadinixi]

Jay's Story

Sierra was a Hiss. Refugees from an intergalactic war, the Hiss had run as far as they could. Earth was the first planet they’d found where they could breathe the air, and every country on the planet immediately enacted its own rules and regulations for welcoming (or not) the aliens. As time passed, they integrated more and more into society, until they were still uncommon but not unusual. Sierra wasn’t what her mother called her, but it was the human name she chose. Their people don’t call themselves “The Hiss” either. That was a moniker given to them by the internet due to the way their language sounds. Given that their language also combines body language, and humans don’t have tails, it’s a lot easier for everyone that the Hiss learned human languages rather than the other way around.

I thought Sierra was also incredibly attractive. Yes, she looked like a lizard-woman from a furry artist’s wet dream. That was… well, kind of the point. Curved strong thighs with a tight stomach, strong arms and just something about that tail, long and thin, not quite fully prehensile but definitely controlled. It didn’t touch the ground, the end stopping about halfway down her calves. She was built like a tall, lean, emerald green scaled athlete. Her belly and palms were a lighter shade than the rest, a pattern of light and dark greens up her neck and to her almost-humanlike face. I thought she was beautiful. And somehow, through some miracle, she enjoyed spending time with me.

Don't get me wrong, I've got enough self-confidence to know I'm a good guy. I was in good shape, too— not the athletic level she was at, but I ate healthy and regularly exercised. I kept my blond hair shorter on the sides and longer on top, my wardrobe leaned a little casual, and I spent most of my free time gaming. Sierra was fascinated with human culture and loved watching me play, watching films, anime, everything. I'm still amazed at how lucky I was to meet her, and that she was willing to give us a shot.

Interspecies relations were slowly becoming more and more common, but were still considered deviant at best, taboo at worst. Being friends with your Hiss coworker was accepted and encouraged, but dating the “lizard” was something else entirely. Most of the people I knew thought I was a little weird for dating a Hiss, but they also took an instant liking to her once they had a conversation. Society as a whole, however, was less accepting, and so we tended to keep it quiet. That quickly became difficult to continue to do.

Sierra was miserable. Hiss couldn’t cry, but I recognized the body language as I came home from work and found her sitting on his sofa. I’d recently given her the key to my place, but this was the first time she’d used it without mentioning to me beforehand that she’d be here. “Sierra? Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

She was quiet for a long moment before whispering, “I’m fertilized.”

I blinked. Twice. “You’re… what?”

“Eggs, Jay,” she looked up at me, anguished. “I didn’t think we were compatible, so I didn’t take any precautions, but--”

“Wait.” I sat down on the sofa next to her, a knot of dread in my guts. “Are you telling me you’re… pregnant?”

She tilted her head side to side the way she always did when the human comparison wasn’t quite right, “My eggs were fertilized. If they hadn’t been, then they would have been reabsorbed without any trouble. But now they will develop! I’ll have to have them surgically removed.”

Knocking up my alien girlfriend was not at all what I had pictured for my life, but she obviously wanted to keep her babies. “Honey, you don’t have to get rid of them. I’ll help. Whatever you need, we can work this out.”

She shook her head, frustrated this time, “No, Jay, I literally need to have them removed. Females don’t lay eggs, males do!” I froze a moment, extremely confused. She explained, “The initial development of the eggs happens in the female, but then we have to deposit them into a male to complete the incubation. We are physically incapable of carrying them the entire time, the eggs would certainly not survive and it would be extremely dangerous for the female as well.”

“... oh.” My mind struggled to catch up, “So, you have to get rid of them because you don’t have a male to put them in.”

“None of my people would ever consent to carrying the eggs of a female he isn’t bonded to, and even if there was one, he would never take the eggs fertilized by a human. This isn’t even supposed to be possible!”

“Right. But, wait, don't you have artificial incubators or something?” I decided not to reference farm animals and shifted gears, “I mean, sometimes human babies are born prematurely and so we put them in these things that keep them stable until they mature enough to live on their own. Hiss don't have that?”

“It's extremely important that the egg never be exposed until it’s laid.”

I wondered how much of that was biological risk and how much was cultural taboo, but that didn’t really matter right now.

She slumped against me, and I could hardly stand it. She wanted to be a mom so badly. I knew this about her before, we’d talked about it, whether or not we ever wanted kids. She did. I wasn’t in a rush, but I wasn’t opposed to the idea. I always assumed we’d have to adopt and the paperwork would be hell, but here I was with a family firmly deposited in front of me… if I wanted to risk taking it. And goddamn was it a risk. I couldn’t believe I was even considering it.

“Hey, Sierra?”

“Yes?”

“What if…” I swallowed hard, tried to get up the courage for this. There was a good chance this wouldn’t even work, after all. I also had no idea what sort of side effects might happen, regardless of if it did or didn’t. But, I was sure by now that I loved her and… ah, fuck it. “What if you put them in me?”

She reeled back like I was insane, and she might have been right, “What?! You don’t have an incubation pouch!”

“Ok, where is one of those usually located?”

“It’s an internal organ, Jay, you just don’t have it.”

“Could we implant one?”

She smacked my shoulder. “Jay! Be serious!”

I took her hands, “I am being serious. You really want to have these kids, right? Start a family? I admit this is a hell of a lot sooner than I expected, but…”

Her kiss cut me off, long and tender. “You really want to?”

Oh boy. “Yes.”

She smiled in sheer joy. I felt all warm and fluttery, and absolutely fucking terrified but it was worth it.

We had a lot of research to do.

#jay's story #mpreg #alien pregnancy #oviposition kink