his grindr pic

Name: Insectiride

Debut: Mario Party 6

Mario and friends get up to all sorts of shenanigans! Many of these are dangerous shenanigans, and I would prefer not to get involved with them. If I were to fall in lava or be hit by a barrage of hammers thrown by a turtle, I would Die! I lament this fact, but I am no scrimblo. However, some of the antics are good safe fun, and that includes the act of racing in funny bug-shaped vehicles! I wish I could do that in real life!

Though there is a snail among these insects, for the sake of simplicity, I will call all these creatures Bugs. I usually reserve that term for arthropods, but I don't feel like saying "creepy-crawlies" a bunch of times in this post like some kind of Talking Flower. So Bugs. There are some people who'd call a snail a bug without even a disclaimer! Can you imagine that?

Players begin Insectiride by choosing their vehicle out of the four unique options! I think I played this minigame once and I THINK I used the grasshopper. I think it still might be my favorite! I'm sorry to this snail, but I don't like it much. It looks like pizza, and I like pizza a lot- I regularly observe #pizzafriday- but it's just not the sort of thing I'd like a snail's skin to remind me of.

Each of these bugs has its own control scheme! The player on the ladybug must press the indicated button ten times quickly to make it crawl forward a bit. The player on the grasshopper must press a sequence of various buttons to make it hop forward a few times. The player on the stag beetle must press each indicated button that appears one at a time, each press making it push along a bit. And finally, the player on the snail must press A when its body extends fully to make it pull the shell along behind.

When playing this with humans, there is probably no one Best Bug to reliably choose, since human reaction time must be taken into account. If playing against ambitious robots, however, there is absolutely an imbalance! In tool-assisted speedruns, Grasshopper is the winner, followed by Ladybug, Stag Beetle, and poor Snail in last...

Mario Party 6 is a Koopa Kid Game! And there is official art of him riding the funny ladybug mechanism! I'm glad he got to have fun here. We all know he isn't having fun where he is now... in the Purgatory Zone... poor kid. Oh well! That's life!

Those were the only four bug vehicles present in Insectiride, but in Mario Party 3's Ridiculous Relay, there was another! Way before all the rest! Here we have a Skeeter-inspired contraption, allowing the operator to maneuver across the surface of the water! I think this would be the main mode of transportation in Wet-Dry World, for those who are not already Skeeters. Between being a mecharthropod and having a strange control scheme that must be displayed to the player, I would not at all be surprised if this was an inspiration for Insectiride!

Now don't think you're getting out of this post without some real Bug Facts! Humans, of course, are much too large to ride on a bug. To be small enough to ride a bug, you would have to be a bug yourself. And some bugs do indeed do this! This is phoresy, the interaction in which one animal will latch onto another animal for the purpose of travel. Usually, the hitchhiker will be a tiny arachnid such as a mite (including ticks), or my favorite arachnid, a pseudoscorpion!

Phoresy is EXTREMELY funny to me. A teensy little critter will just grab onto the leg of a fly or something, and away they will go! Hang on tight! This is a type of symbiosis known as commensalism, where one organism (in this case, the one hanging on) benefits, while the other (the host) is largely unaffected. Humans riding horses is another example of phoresy! A human can be like a mite sometimes. Ok, see you later! *grabs onto a hoverfly's leg and flies away*

Now im really interested in Roach can you tell us abt roach something👁👁👁👁💥💥💥

you wanna hear about my little creature!!

he's my outlast trials Reagent and he's rly messed 🖤

he's late-20s/early-30s something. scraggly, sickly, anemic, etc. he abandoned his birth name years and years ago and took on Roach full-time. it's a nickname derived from 1) he's a critter, and 2) he has a deep and passionate fascination for insects

essentially he ran away from his home out on a farm ~18 yrs old and got his ass to the big city, where he picked up work as an orderly/assistant at a medical clinic where he blackmailed one of the doctors in order to get free HRT/testosterone

the hustle fell apart when someone else aired the dirty laundry and the clinic had to shut down, though. suddenly Roach is out of a job with no reliable supply of T and rent is coming up fast and he's running out of options.

cue Murkoff and their fliers asking for the lost, hopeless and downtrodden to partake in their therapy program that'll fix all your problems!

Roach is desperate so he's like Sure Right On. Biggest mistake of his life thus far. The trials are fucking ruthless, but Roach survives fairly well from the get-go because he's just really good at scurrying and hiding in the filth, like a bug

As time goes on though he goes from being fairly avoidant to absolutely unhinged in how violent and confrontational he is, mf will straight up chase down any and all potential assailants just so he can pelt them with bricks. it's enrichment for him.

outside of the trials he's just generally weird and off-putting, Kubrick staring at walls and dissociating and organizing his collection of teeth that he picks up during the trials.

he's also besties with @skeltrr's reagent oc Jaime! They get partnered up during the trials and become inseparable. The co-dependency gets so bad they eventually cannot function properly without the other one there, and once they're released back into the world this becomes VERY clear to Murkoff's field agents when they do their trigger tests and they don't work right.

Another strange thing that happens is that Jaime and Roach will just gravitate towards each other -- like on a geographical level. They can be planted states apart and they will unconsciously try to close the distance. They do it perfectly, too! It's a direct shot every time, and Murkoff stands there scratching their heads as to how these two reagents consistently move towards each other without even having any contact that would make coordinating this possible.

Borrower Aether & Neuvillette - Introduction (Genshin Impact G/T)

A very very short chapter introducing the two main subjects of the fic! I wanted to test the waters with writing, and a chapter fic at that, so I'm making something off of an idea I've had for a while now! I am actually writing this without having even entered Fontaine in the AQ (still not done w/ Sumeru's) but I adore Neuvi too much not to make something g/t related with him in it! I urge anyone who sees any mistakes with my grammar, spelling, missing words, etc. to point me the right way so I can make this a learning journey too. Otherwise I hope you all enjoy this small introduction! <3 Warnings: Spoilers for the 4.2 Archon quest! Probably incorrect french to, I used the translator for it, so if someone knows french please tell me if it the right way to spell "the little café"

The pitter-patter of the rain was relentless. Shaking the glass panes with each hit, accompanying it too was the rolling thunder that without mercy grated the smallest of critters' ears.

However, certain small creatures were happy with the lengthy periods of rain. Aether could easily be described as such an example. For a borrower like himself it was nothing short of a blessing with how the rain easily drowned out his steps and tinkering with even the smallest of drizzles. Running inside these stone walls, however, humans would not be able to hear him either way. On top of that, he didn’t even have to hide from any rodents where he now resided. The odd spider or pill bug was all that Aether had witnessed.

No, how Aether would consider himself more than blessed this time, was how the man occupying the office the borrower usually roamed through was always out of it the moment the day's forecast predicted as much as the smallest of drops. Almost as if the water magnetized him. Never would he question the habits of this strange man, in part afraid that it would jinx his opportunities to scour the place for things easily offered up when the large room was empty. The small blond faced the large blue window from where he stood on the desk, making sure all was quiet within the room. The rain had been going on for a while, so no amount of caution taken was too much when in his shoes.

The coast was clear as springwater. 

With a silent tact he made his way over to the teacup that was ever so perfectly placed in its everyday spot. 

He put a foot into the handle, slightly testing the fullness of the cup with his own weight, making sure there was no wobble to it. The teacup remained steady, showing no signs of tipping over, even as he now balanced his whole body on the porcelain. As expected. 

With a practiced meticulousness, Aether used his momentum and swung himself up onto the rim of the teacup to see his usual reflection mirroring him in the clear water below. Bingo!

He quickly fetched the handsewn leather pouch that adorned his belt, bringing it to the surface to scoop up some of the water. The pouch filled smoothly, sagging with the liquid it now carried. 

Aether took a piece of twine and twisted it around the lip of the pouch, easily tying it back onto his belt.

 Done! And now ready for- Wait. 

The rain had abruptly started to recede outside.

The boy strained his ears, remaining unmoving for a second. Okay, the room was just as silent as it had been only a moment ago. Aether knew however, that after the rain came sunshine, and having observed the man who worked within these walls, with sunshine the office would all too soon be occupied once more. 

Hopping off the cup, there was no time to spare. He was quick down the desk, with a whip of his hand the hook came loose, he gathered it as he ran off to the crack in the wall. 

He would have more rainy days ahead to take advantage of, and as he had quickly caught on during his stay here, was that there was no shortage of rainy days. – The Iudex entered his office with heavy shoulders. Yet, having met briefly with Lady Furina on his way back, he couldn’t help but feel that today's burdens had lifted, if only ever so slightly. They had discussed nothing short of the mundane, Furina had more and more to tell on that particular front. Neuvillette couldn’t help but chuckle slightly at remembering the immensely vast types of pasta that the woman had shown him when she had also given him a little shopping haul. It seemed she’d never tire of it.

As with any busy day, however, for both former Archon and Chief Justice, their duties had led their meeting to an end. 

It was no coincidence that after the small chat between both, the skies had cleared enough for the sun to shine through upon the city again. The man settled in his chair, looking at the relatively scarce pile of paperwork compared to the new documents he stashed just beside them. With all this day had brought him, good and bad, he just needed a small refresher. Neuvillette reached for the teacup that was placed in its usual spot, bringing it to his lips. Sipping carefully on the water in it. No longer was he surprised by the slightly leathery taste it carried. It used to surprise him, as it had never occurred merely a few months prior, but he figured that with the new upholstering of the furniture in the room, the leathery smell had lingered. Nevermind that, the freshness of the water still overpowered it. Placing the cup back onto its coaster, Neuvillette eyed the documents before him. They read of a case he had scheduled the following week. It read about suspected thievery in ‘La Petite Pâtisserie’, a café just south of the court. Cozy, was the general word of mouth that had reached Neuvillette. Dutifully reading the case, the old dragon caught sight of something peculiar; a single ‘a’ in the lines of words appeared to have been smudged. This was nothing unusual per say, excess ink bringing with it stains was not something rare, especially with the printing press’ newfound popularity across the nation. Heaven’s know how often the printing blocks needed a clean, and with time a replacement, as the surfaces were worn down and rendered insufficient. 

He had gotten to know most about this when he not too recently had a case on his table regarding the growing urgent matter of the suppliance of letter blocks, yet how difficult that was to achieve with their costly production; many of the industries involved in the procedure had suffered losses when their major deals with big magazines and newspapers had been nullified, as inevitably the cost, the production, and the wearing all had resulted in nothing short of illegible prints. But the details of that legal case were of no significance right now. The orderly man brought his gaze closer to the document. It was an almost insignificant imprint to the average person, were you to skim through it all it would look like nothing but an innocuous spillage, but Neuvillette could discern it clearly from the odd ink blot. Yes, the letter’s ink had bled into what almost looked like a small shoe print. The Chief Justice raised a brow at this discovery.

‘How intriguing.'

Whirl, Swerve, x Weirdcore!Reader Romantic HCs

Reader is portrayed as a gender neutral human.

You have a pet hairless cat.

Tw for swearing and mention of organs such as eyes n stuff

Whirl

Very friggin weirded out by you at first.

"The fuck do they look like that???"

He did like the repeating theme of blood and organs though.

In fact, its what made him talk to you in the first place.

You were chillin at Swerve's with Rewind when he came up to you and was like

"So.... are those real? if so, who did ya kill, and how?"

Was very confused at why you were giggling until you said they were fake and you made them yourself.

".....they look so real- Aight thats it, fleshie. You, me, this evening, my place."

"Wait why-"

"DON'T QUESTION IT!"

Not knowing what else to do, you ask Rung for directions to Whirl's room. You don't know what you were expecting, but you weren't exactly expecting to be snatched up by his giant claw by the back of your shirt and interrogated about your appearance and mannerisms as if you tried to bring a knife on a plane.

You somehow managed to keep calm though.

Over time though, Whirl did warm up to you and one day confessed and boom! Yall a thing now.

Anyways uhh. He also likes the overall unsettling/calming vibes it can give off.

The liminal spaces kinda work on him? Like yes the place does seem a bit familiar to him, but he doesn't feel the strong sense of deja vu like he's been there before.

Likes your hairless cat.... but also doesn't.

"Yeah, its cute and all, very friendly, nice little fleshy.... but why the fuck does it look like that."

Loves any weird accessories you wear, just these teeny random creatures, items, and organs dangling off you.

Stole a necklace of (fake) teeth from you and he has it hanging off his weird antenna thing on his head unless he's off killing cons or whateva.

Kinda likes the the music you listen to??? Hes weirded out by it definitely, but he does like the melodies.

Not one for physical touch but isn't opposed to it.

He usually pats you on the head with a claw, or has one around your torso (gently).

KISS HIM.

Pet names include: Babe, Squish-ball, Teeny, Creepy Crawly, Critter, Weirdo, Fucker

Will attempt to murder anyone who dares hurt you or the cat, mentally or physically. Unless you stop him of course.

He loves you a lot despite your overall strangeness.

Swerve

He loves your style so much, like i'm not kidding.

I mean how can he not? He's discovering a new human thing, that's right up his alley!

Doesn't like the bugs though. Only mildly unsettled by the organs.

And he loves your cat too, absolutely died of cuteness the first time he met them.

"OH MY GOD ROTISSERIE KITTYYYYY!!!"

They get along p well :)

Big fan of your outfits, they're unique, cute, and fun!

Carries the two of you around almost anywhere he goes.

Yall met when you were wandering the ship with your backpack of art stuff and listening to your tunes. You went down a hall you haven't been to yet and stumbled across his bar.

You walk in, staying close to the wall so you don't get stepped on or something. you make it near the main bar when he spotted you.

"Ohmygodohmygodohmygod they're real-"

He excitedly ran out from behind the bar toward you. He did that thing where you jump, land, and slide on your knees in a sitting position. What a dork XD

He landed next to you and started rambling, You couldn't help but let out a small laugh and smile as he went on.

"Oh wait sorry i forgot to say- My name is Swerve, its so nice to finally meet you!! You look so cool, like weird but very cool. It reminds me of something but i can't remember what- oh wait whats your name?"

He put you on the bar counter as he continued his work all the while continuously chatting with you.

Months later yall got together.

Very affectionate. Like i'm not kidding. Prepare to be held gently.

Liminal spaces work on him. Experiencing the Deja Vu and feelings of unsettlement fr.

Pet names are: Sweet-spark, Sugar, Kiwi, Love-bug

Loves weirdcore music. Specifically songs by Jack Stauber.

Swerve set up a lil place for you on the bar, mostly blankets and pillows with weird patterns, along with some plushies. Like a four eyed cow, a two headed dog, and a clay-face plushie of a duck.

Has lots of lil snacks for ya too.

Won't stop rambling about how much he loves you.

Reviewing Minecraft's Original Creatures!

Frankly speaking, I’d be surprised if there was anyone reading this article that was totally unaware of what Minecraft is. You AT LEAST know it’s that block game where you do two things that may or may not be mining and crafting. I’ll spare you the introductory summary of what the game is. So let’s just get right into the creature discussion part.

Despite being a game limited to a voxel-based, low texture resolution artstyle, Minecraft still has some iconic monsters and ambient critters on display – referred to as mobs, if it slipped your mind. A large number of the early days’ mobs were more basic things like cows and chicken, with monsters being limited to skeletons and giant spiders for the most part, but even in Minecraft’s earlier days some more original ideas have been sprinkled in. Original fantasy beasts are Minecraft’s bread and butter nowadays, for better or for worse, but some still stand out as being noteworthy enough for me to want to discuss. As such, here’s an article where I talk about some of Minecraft’s original mobs, and what I like about their designs!

Creeper

One of Minecraft’s first mobs, and easily its most iconic. It’s likely common knowledge now that Creepers are the result of a coding error that resulted in a pig having its body rotated upright rather than flat, and the game’s creator finding the shape amusing enough to reuse as its own creature. It’s amusing that in some cases you really can’t plan for success, it’ll just happen upon you spontaneously. Like a sudden Creeper attack!

Creepers are infamous for their silent nature, only making themselves known as they begin to detonate and explode right next to you. This pattern, as well as the idea that Creepers are apparently similar in texture to crunchy, dried leaves, has lead people to believe that Creepers are actually botanical monsters that explode in order to spread their seeds or spores on random passerby as a means of carrying them to new locations. Sounds like a solid enough biological explanation to these upright boomsticks to me, and it’s really not that unheard of in the real natural world.

Ghast

Another one of Minecraft’s earlier creations is the Ghast, a huge, flying entity that calls the hellish Nether dimension its home. It’s immune to fire and lava and shoots explosive bombs from its mouth, and wears what appears to be a forlorn, tearful expression and makes pathetic whimpering and groaning sounds when idle. Fits its brimstone home well, if you ask me. I always found its design interesting, even if its nature as a flying projectile-shooting enemy made it really annoying to come across in-game. The Nether often being filled with fog and open air, as well as Ghast’s impressive detection range means you may often hear one’s moaning or be barraged by its bombs without even seeing it, which it quite the effective surprise attack.

Airborne jellyfish with crying faces wouldn’t be my first thought when thinking of enemies to populate a Hell World with, but I’m glad the Ghast is what we ended up with.

Silverfish

It’s funny that some people first heard of Silverfish from Minecraft and believed them to be a wholly original creation of the game, and while Minecraft’s mobs are creative visually, they take their name from real arthropods that can often be found alongside other harmless household bugs. Minecraft’s Silverfish though are irritating little buggers that disguise themselves as, or hide within, random blocks in cave and old ruin walls, popping out if a player tries to mine them. Silverfish also seem to have some kind of alarm system, since waking up one will cause several from the surrounding area to pop out and attack you too. The game marks Silverfish-infested blocks as Monster Eggs strangely enough, meaning they may use rocks to incubate in, somehow.

Silverfish always struck me as having a coarse, hairy texture of some kind, given their numerous pixelated frills. It’s all the more to their irritating nature, really. Do you think anyone’s favorite mob is the Silverfish? Has anyone tried figuring out a deep explanation as to the Silverfish’s biology and reproductive habits, and why they always gather around Stronghold ruins?

Endermen

Is Slenderman still like, known in the public consciousness? Do kids who have started playing Minecraft in the past 8 years or so know that the Endermen are a reference to an old SomethingAwful creepypasta guy since past his prime?

Regardless, the Endermen are another of Minecraft’s more iconic monsters, infamous for their weird, inquisitive nature, and neutral behavior, lest you stare them in the eyes. Endermen seem to be the resident Aliens of the Minecraft world, hailing from the space-like End dimension, and curiously picking up and placing blocks around the world much like a new player would. They’ll unhinge their jaws in rage when spotted though, and get aggressive as a growing roar emanates all around the player. That’s what heightens the whole alien angle, that they really don’t want to be seen.

Amusingly, Endermen also take damage from water, and will instantly teleport away if they touch it. This has the side effect of Endermen rapidly teleporting all over the map during rainfall, helplessly trying to find something to protect from the falling water. They can also be found in the Nether, and likely enjoy it better there as no water can exist.

Mooshroom

A fully passive mob this time, but the Mooshroom are a peculiar creature exclusive to the incredibly rare Mushroom Island biome. These islands are so overrun with fungi that all the vegetation has been replaced with mycelium, the root network between vast growths of fungus, and giant mushrooms. This extends to even the wildlife, since all the local cows have apparently entered a mutualistic relationship with mushrooms as well. It’s neat way to sort of imply some natural backstory to your world, that an island in the middle of the ocean was overtaken by some freak fungus and got the local wildlife to acclimate to its introduction.

Mooshroom are able to live peacefully on the island, and can even breed to make baby Mooshroom already covered in fungus, so they seem to be connected on a deep level. Despite that though, one quick use of some shears will return the cows to normal and give you some edible ‘shrooms as a reward. They’re a pretty odd inclusion, though enjoyable for the absurdity.

Even stranger, you can milk Mooshrooms as well, but what you’ll get is not lactic fluid, and is instead mushroom soup. However that works, it’s just a further signifier of these things’ weird, altered anatomy.

Blaze

Fellow residents of the Nether alongside the Ghast, Blaze are weird fire elementals that occupy ruined Nether Fortresses scattered around the dimension. What exactly they are is anyone’s guess, but they seem to be made of a physical material rather than living fire, since they drop an item called Blaze Rods, likely being the objects that orbit them. They make metallic wheezing sounds too, as if wearing some kind of mask or filter. This is one of those times the limited artstyle really holds back a design, because I’d like to know what the hell Blazes were intended to be, if anything. Maybe some day we’ll know, those designers love doing lore reveals these days.

Wither

The Wither is one of Minecraft’s two boss monsters, and easily the more interesting of the two. Not only do you have to summon it yourself, by building a golem-esque shape for it, but seems to have more purpose in its behavior than fellow boss Ender Dragon does. Once summoned, the Wither will actively hunt down any living mobs in its radius and kill them, and will destroy almost any blocks blocking its path in doing it, rather than just flying around aimlessly like the dragon does. Its design isn’t spectacularly detailed or complex, but the enjoy the idea of a charred, three-headed spinal column and ribcage embodying some big bad demon of death or the like. It’s simple and effective.

Guardian

The Guardian’s a weirder one, and definitely closer to the top of my potential list of favorite mob designs. This current list is ordered chronologically. As the name implies, Guardians are protections of rare underwater ruins you can find peppered in Minecraft’s oceans. Guardians resemble weird, cycloptic pufferfish, which is already a good start to a design. However, their body color and cracked texture greatly resembles the blocks their ruins are built with. Alongside their ability to shoot long-range lasers from their eyes and inability to be found anywhere besides the ruins, many players believe Guardians may be artificial in nature, created to protect whatever’s inside their Ocean Monument homes. Which is usually just gold treasure.

Guardians also make low, ominous drones when in the water, likely as a method of intimidation. If you get one out of water and on land though, it’ll comically squeak as it flops around pathetically, looking for more water to hop in.

There’s also Elder Guardians you can find in deeper chambers of the monuments, twice the size of the normal guys. They have a freaky ability to inflict various debuffs that will prevent players from just mining through the monument’s walls to get treasure, forcing them to actually spelunk through it, which is a smart touch. I like that it does so by swirling a ghostly image of itself around your vision. The paler colors and eye looking as though it has a cataract are nice ways to make it seem ‘elder’ as well.

Shulker

Shulkers are inhabitants of the End dimension like the Endermen are, though only occupy strange End Cities and End Ships which dot the landscape of the weird space of tiny floating landmasses. They seem to be a living protection system like the Guardians and even Silverfish to an extent, since they disguise themselves as regular blocks only to shoot at intruders with projectiles that inflict a levitation status of all things.

What do you think the Shulkers are analogous to? I always thought they were some clam-type mollusk monster, personally. They fit the archetype, only taking significant damage once opening their shell and exposing their core.

Phantom

Phantoms are really cool mobs conceptually and from a design perspective, and it irritates me how annoying they are in-game since it really cuts into their appeal factor. Phantoms are sky-faring stingray-like monsters with bony patterns on its back (or even better, exposed bones, since they’re classified as undead) and tattered wings with a nice blue color and glowing green eyes. They only show up if the player hasn’t slept in three days, steadily growing in number and even size for every night that hasn’t been slept through. They scatter once daylight comes, since undead mobs burn in the daylight, but return soon after. Their circling flight patterns and affinity for sleep-deprived players, as well as a distinctive chomp sound playing when they attack, makes them feel like vultures and over scavengers, looking for an easy exhausted target to pick off and feast on.

Phantoms are just really irritating since in Minecraft, there’s hardly a reason to sleep other than setting your respawn point or fastforwarding to daytime to avoid hostile mob spawning. If you’ve spent a long time exploring or spelunking and just haven’t had to the need to sleep yet, be prepared to get pestered by a bunch of Phantoms on your way back home. They’re near impossible to hit in the air, so you just have to wait for them to swoop down to counterattack, and you can only do so once or twice to boot.

HONORABLE MENTION: Barnacle

I would’ve killed for more aquatic beasts to be put in the game, and the Barnacle here would’ve fit that niche had it won the popularity vote for its inclusion to the game. Phantoms won the vote instead, and while I can at least take solace in their resemblance to ocean creatures like stingray, I’ll forever be scorned that the Barnacle was forgotten. Why NOT include it anyways, just at a later date. It was COOL. It’s a weird sea monster with a blooming flower mouth and grappling tongue. It’s the perfect off-key deep sea ship-sinker, and looks to fit pretty well to the artstyle too. I hope it was planned to act like a mimic to the existing Squid mobs, with its jaws closed and trailing appendages resembling tentacles, only to snare unsuspecting players who swam or rowed their boats too close. Would’ve been EPIC.

Zoglin

Ever since the Nether’s introduction to the game, its fiery wastes were populated by Zombie Pigmen; humanoid pigs that were also zombies, but were actually completely neutral to players and wouldn’t attack unless provoked. That’s since changed, with Piglins now inhabiting most of the Nether and building their own structures, analogous to the overworld’s peaceful humanoid villagers.

What’s interesting though is that the Nether also saw the inclusion of most beastly Hoglin monsters, giant warthogs that live in forests made of overgrown mushrooms and are hunted by Piglins. When Hoglins are taken out of the Nether and into the Overworld, likely by coaxing them through a portal, something in the dimensional change morphs them into half-rotten zombies outright. The same thing happens to normal Piglins too, which is more concerning considering how sentient they are by comparison.

Anyways, I wanted to draw attention to Zoglins specifically because I really liked how they’re designed while remaining fitting with Minecraft’s style, in my opinion anyways. The half-exposed skull and ribcage are pretty morbid, and whether or not its got green blood or has just been rotting extensively, the green edges to its flesh are sickening, though neat details. The comb of dark hair on its back falling flat, where the normal Hoglin’s stood straight up, is also a clever detail to communicate how dead they are. Zombie warthogs aren’t most games’ first choice when it comes to undead monsters, but these are neat.

Strider

The same update that included the Zoglin also included the Striders, the Nether’s first totally harmless mob! These weird walking heads are able to cross vast pools of lava without a care in the world, actually seeming to live comfortably in the heat above all else, since they’ll shiver and turn blue when outside molten rock. They’ll even die outright if they touch water!

I really appreciate how weird they are for a peaceful critter, with their wide mouths, big foreheard, and scraggly hair strands. The bottoms of their legs being charred and hardened from being dipped in lava all the time is a good touch too.

Warden (and Skulk)

Minecraft’s always had more unnerving elements to it, especially with Creepers always being prided on their sudden appearances and caves being unnerving for hiding who-knows-what in the darkness. Things came to a head in 2022 though with the introduction of Skulk and the Warden. Skulk is weird, moss-like growth that covers other blocks and builds vast deposits of itself in extremely deep caves, and making most light sources ineffective thanks to its dark color. What’s especially noteworthy, and what I find most appealing about it, is its apparent attachment and diet of experience points, of all things. Mobs in Minecraft drop EXP points when killed of course, and if close to a special Skulk block, will be consumed and turned into more Skulky moss to spread in the surrounding area. The Skulk Catalyst block responsible even has a bony texture to it, playing up its morbid qualities. Skulk, when broken, will just yield raw EXP with no material anyways, as if that’s all it’s truly made of.

If you’re careless enough around vast Skulk deposits, you may alert a Skulk Shrieker, causing a howl to emit and alert the Warden to your presence. Do this enough times and it’ll claw out of the ground like a zombie and search for you. It’s blind, so can only listen for your movements, but that’s a classic trope that makes it so you can never be perfectly certain of its movements and whether or not it’s caught notice of you or not. Its unusual, wobbly animation also adds to its uncanny factor and how out of place it is for unsuspecting players. If given the opportunity I’ll criticize other mobs included in recent updates for their more high quality and flexible animations, but on the Warden, who is supposed to feel out of place and unnatural, it makes enough sense. It’s uber-strong too, with enough health that developers admitted they didn’t think players should even try to fight it and just escape. They specifically likened it to a natural disaster rather than a boss, which I think is quite the effective way to communicate the destructive power of your monster.

As a design, the Warden is super strong too. It seems to be made of the same material as the Skulk is, with its body being primarily dark, bluish ooze and slime, with its arms and torso having bony bits to them too. The gaping frown its got is sick too. The open ribbed hole in its chest, exposing a flashing pit like a heartbeat is a great touch for a horror monster as well, and the fact the hole is filled with little screaming spirits is a cherry on top. I could totally understand if someone felt the Warden was over-the-top and maybe trying too hard with its creep factor, but I totally dig it.

Ha! Dig! Like mined craft! Gottem!

🐛🦋🪲🪰🦟🦗🐍🐢🦎🦖🪼

what do all of these guys have in common? being silly beasts, that's what

i'm not the biggest bug fan, bugs don't like me and i don't really like them, but i make exceptions. moths, dragonflies, caterpillars, mantises, crickets and grasshoppers, beetles, and maybe one or two others i can't think of rn are cool with me. although not a bug, spiders are my arch nemesis, sadly - mosquitoes too! those little guys love my blood

snakes are awesome!! i love snakes!! they're either super cute or super cool, little inbetween. ball pythons are the dogs of the snake world, i love them so much! i still gotta make me but ball python (been on my to-do for a while), so silly! i've really liked reptiles for a long time, they're just so interesting to me. crocodiles and alligators are definitely some of my favorites, they're just so cool and wide and beastly and <3

i think that has to do with my love for dragons, though. ever since i was a little kid i've always been so fascinated by them. once a dragon kid, always a dragon kid who's with me 🗣️🗣️🔥

i love dinosaurs too, they were some of the first things i ever drew! it's amazing and mindblowing thst these fantastic, huge creatures once lived on our planet. biology, evolution, and the history of life is so damn cool. i gotta try drawing dinosaurs more

jellyfish are, admittedly, also interesting. like, how does THAT thing just, exist?? what is bro up to?? i haven't looked into them too much, but they are beautifully weird. same goes for sea life in general, especially deep sea animals! so damn ugly and weird i love them

in general i have a huge love for wildlife, biology, (including spec bio!) and just everything and anything relating to animals and ecosystems. recently, i have been *dying* for some sort of custom ecosystem sim, where i can freely create my own species and watch them interact with their world and everything around them. there is just something so damn interesting about it, it sends off all the "ooh, i like this a lot" parts on my brain! if anyone has any recommendations on something like this please let me know! spore is great, i love spore, but i'd love something more in-depth and open ended

i also really like speculative biology, if you couldn't tell before lol. there's just something about it, thinking about how things work and interact in realistic - yet different - settings. it's awesome! -- that and my love for nature and the natural world is probably what has led me to being such a massive fantasy lover. i just love thinking of other worlds, ones that are much cooler than our own. i love thinking of strange, beautiful, crazy critters and beasts that would inhabit those worlds. magic that bends the rules of reality, that can be a tool for both good and bad. everything about it is wonderful, and i eat that shit up!! i'm always on the hunt for new fantasy content to get that itch in the back of my brain, so suggestions are awesome! i've always liked elder scrolls, and just started watching delicious dungeon/dungeon meshi, i've also been trying to get into dnd for like, ever lol (i just gotta get my friends together and figure it out)

thank you for giving me something to ramble about! it is very fun and i'd love to hear any thoughts, comments, or suggestions on anything!! i'm hooked on the tumblr ask system now please give me things to yap about this is so good <3

2023 Minecraft Mob Vote

What I learned about the armadillo that Minecraft is modeling theirs after:

Did you know that there are around 20 different types of armadillos, but only two types that can roll into a ball?

That's my way of sharing a fact and saying that I have no idea which one Minecraft would be basing theirs off of, but I do have some facts about the creatures that may make it into the game if you end up voting for this strange creature! (I've made one of these for each of the creatures and I'm, so far, partial to the penguin)

Fun Facts:

Armadillos have bad eyesight but a great sense of smell - This means that they may be very good at detecting you or very bad at it. Will they be able to smell you coming or never notice you because they can't figure out if you're a tree or not?

Armadillos have sharp claws - Not only can they defend, they can attack back! Perhaps messing with these creatures could leave you with some battle wounds.

Armadillos can hold their breath for about 6 minutes - They crawl right through rivers and streams without any issues. They also can swim by filling their body with air, swallowing it, and paddling across as they float. They probably wouldn't drown unless trapped under something.

Armadillos burrow underground to sleep for up to 16 hours - we could possibly find them in the many small holes and caves of the Savana or maybe they'd simply pop out of the ground like a tiny warden. though they might be harder to find as they tend to sleep for long periods of time.

Armadillos aren't territorial - They'll gladly give up their burrow or feeding grounds if it means avoiding a fight. No worries about invading territory it would seem. Though they are quite fast if you're trying to catch one, so hopefully we won't have to.

Armadillos are most active at dawn and dusk - when the sky is still bright but the sun isn't up in the sky. These critters are considered nocturnal so you might have to venture into the night to find them.

Armadillos mainly eat bugs but also small reptiles and amphibians with the occasional egg or plant - We may see bugs be brought into Minecraft, more than just silverfish, endermites, bees, and spiders! Creepy crawlies!! Perhaps they'll be able to eat all of these creatures. Imagine that, an armadillo killing a Minecraft spider!

The nine-banded armadillo can jump 4 feet into the air but can't roll into a ball - Only three-banded armadillos can roll into a ball and that's what Minecraft has advertised so I don't think we'll be getting any new high jumpers, but it's still a fun fact!

Remember that what we've been told so far about the mobs that we're voting for is just a little of what we could get and it may be different in delivery to what we expect and hope for. The dog armor will probably only be the one type and un-dyable as it won't be made of leather. The armor may not work against all types of damage. The armor might break very easily. The armor might not be able to be taken off once it's on.

We also could get some unexpected good things though! Perhaps it will be dyable. It might never break. You might be able to use armor trim on it. you might be able to enchant it.

h. ello .

my name is dominique. we are related but that does not matter. i have questions for you .

i am very interested in the strange and unexplained events happening in the regions . i find them very neat . i want to learn more about them as i grow up and. i heard that you went through stuff like that.

i am sorry that happened to you . but also what happened in full . what was celebi like . did you see a. zigazagoon. thank you

thank you for answering my questions . i think you should get more sleep.

— 🎧🐾

▓▒░U(''°ᴥ°'')U░▒▓ hey, kiddo! Please don't tell random strangers online that you're related to them with no context!! I'm not mad at you, I just want you to know that you could really scare the life out of a fella doing that!!

For your questions though σ(￣ᴥ￣ʋ⁠) I wouldn't say I've been through much unexplainable stuff. Really, most of it's just the result of a bunch of men with big egos fucking around and finding out. I did experience some odd things growing up in Unova, though!! U⁠^⁠ｪ⁠^⁠U Lots of strangeness in the woods and out in the more rural parts! I can't remember a lot of it, long ago as it was, but one thing I remember is when I was out at a friend's farm late at night. We were out looking for bugs out by the Torchic coops, and suddenly, the Torchics went all quiet. Next thing I know, there's a whistling coming from in the coops. ▼⁠・⁠ᴥ⁠・⁠▼ I had a bad feeling about all of it, but my friend wanted to make sure there wasn't something in there killing all the mons, so he just tells me to go get his ma and pa, picks up a big stick, and charges on in there.

Kid's been a missing person's case for about fifty years now.

Anyways! U⁠^⁠ｪ⁠^⁠U what happened with the Celebi!!

First off, it put up one hell of a fight!! O-(`ᴥ´Q)/ That's to be expected and all I suppose, being a mythical mon! The psychic armor worked a bit, but I still got tossed around a good bit and not to mention the whole U(”⁠ ⁠⊚ᴥ⊚⁠ ⁠”)U time travel thing. But! V⁠●⁠ᴥ⁠●⁠V like I said! The little critter had no physical strength! The moment I got my teeth around the fucker's head, it was over.

I saw Zigzagoon in the past, but they looked kinda... Different? U(⁠・ᴥ・⁠;⁠)U They looked closer to the kinds they got in Galar, but not quite the same. Weird as all get out. I wasn't really paying much mind to them though because I think I showed up in the middle of a war. I'm not sure what they were fighting about. Couldn't understand a word of what their leader said to me. Shit felt like touching down in Kanto all over again. U⁠ ⁠´⁠꓃⁠ ⁠`⁠ ⁠U A damn mess, really. All I knew was they saw me kill a mythical and figured I'd be of use to their side. They were dressed in red, the other side was dressed in blue. I wound up helping them win a crucial battle and took a fair chunk of the blue leaders out in the process. All in all, I think it took a month or so, but I lost track of time real damn quick. It was just so easy to lose myself out there. The pokemon and I fought the same. Claws and teeth. We don't fully grasp our handlers, but we know we have to fight. Destroy. The praise that rained on me when their necks broke. Ain't I the weapon they needed? The weapon to end them all? Am I not death?

▼⁠・⁠ᴥ⁠・⁠▼ where was I going with this?

Oh! U⁠^⁠ｪ⁠^⁠U They gave me an egg for my efforts! All the best fighters over there had big ol' beastly pokemon by their sides so I suppose they wanted me to keep the fella. U(⁠*⁠´ᴥ｀⁠*⁠)U Be kind of rude to turn the ol' fellas down now, huh? It hasn't hatched yet, but I'm keeping a close eye on it.

After all that, they invited me to some sort of star festival. Something about a pokemon that wakes up once every some odd years? ▼⁠・⁠ᴥ⁠・⁠▼ Figured I'd oblige. While I was there, I saw this little creature taking in energy from the stars. Something... Compelled me to speak to it. I don't know what. I figured it could hear me.

I asked it to take me home.

U⁠^⁠ｪ⁠^⁠U And now we're here!! Anyways, hope this answers things!! It's a bit of a long story, but I suppose you don't seem the type to mind the ramblings of an old man. U(⁠ ⁠´⁠◡ᴥ⁠◡⁠`⁠)U

hey wait do you think mobians/animal people themselves are descended from the ancients? here, i have a thing:

seventh grade science evolution chart, baby!

phylogeny my beloved. okay short answer is probably not? i think the ancients and the mobians are two different things. there’s only a select few Chao that look identical to the main cast- the rest are just strange little guys that can copy other animal traits. i can’t quite articulate what i want to say but i don’t entirely think they’re like, ancestors to the mobians.

1) i feel like perfect chaos wouldn’t have killed the echidnas if they evolved from the koco/Chao? either because perfect chaos is an ancient or a mutated Chao himself. i feel like their must be some solidarity between the two.

2) i feel like it would be important to note that ancients share dna similarity to mobians as WELL as the chao, but right now it’s just the Chao that are related

3) i’d be curious to how the babylons fit into this, as aliens themself who look similar to mobians

(note: they may have evolved from flickies. but the flickies themself are not Normal Woodland Creatures- they have dimensional travel and a connection to the chaos emeralds)

4) . does blaze’s world have their own version of the ancients? how would mobians life on blazes world work?

5) i don’t really think the critters/woodland friends came from Chao, either. Chao seem to be able to adopt those body parts from them, so I don’t know how that would completely work. the same sort of goes with mobians… i know the chao genes are pretty flexible but if they didn’t have something to base themselves off of, im not sure they would be able to evolve into SO many different species (bugs, reptiles, mammals). so if the chao are connected to the mobians i think the critters would be SEPERATE; that the chao based themselves off those critters/adopted their features to blend in until they gained sentience

6) i wonder where the humans come into play with this concept

i think there’s an undeniable connection between sonic, Chao, chaos emeralds, and the ancients. but i think it’s mostly kind of just a sonic exclusive thing; so while sonic might stem from the aliens, and you might even be able to argue some of his friends, i don’t see mobians as a whole stemming from them.

Haiii :3€ im making again hueh

Hellooooooooo!!!!!!!! My name’s Bug, I’m just some random Dragon-Angel kid that happens to work for a goddess. This is my blog where I post my nonsense and shenanigans abt my existence here or something :)

I’m transmasc, currently identifying as xenogender, and I use he/xey/it/they pronouns. I’m fictoromantic, fictosexual, and solian/mspec veldian!! If you don’t respect that then disrespectfully gtfo <3

My hyperfixations are Hollow Knight, Kirby, A Hat in Time, Bug Fables, Cult of the Lamb, Rain World, and Fate/Zero!! Sometimes I’ll post stuff related to those things, but mostly just my bullshit :3

This blog is safe for minorities! (e.g. disabled ppl, LGBTQ+ ppl, BIPOC, Palestinians, etc.)

Please don’t be weird in my inbox!!!! I mean, you can say fruity shit, I’m fine with hornyposting, but none about me please! It makes me uncomfy

Other stuff under the cut !!! <3

(dividers via @/animatedglittergraphics-n-more)

Asks r open!!!!! Ask me whatever as long as it isn’t like. Really gross or personal <3

My socials!!!

Youtube channel!!!

Wattpad acc!!!

Cohost acc!!!

AO3 acc!!!

TikTok acc!!!

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My other blogs!!!

@goblinbugthing — main blog!!! (ooc)

@princes-creations-askblog — oc askblog!!!

@ask-emporianroyals-au — ahit au askblog!!!

@kirby-souljourney-au — kirby au blog!!!

@hollowknightinsanity — hk-specific sideblog!!!

My silly little fanfics!!

Kirby: Soul Journey — Kirby au fic, takes place after katfl, to be rewritten (Read on Tumblr / Read on Wattpad / Read on AO3)

Kirby: Soul Journey oneshots collection — self-explanatory, also to be rewritten (Read on Tumblr / Read on Wattpad / Read on AO3)

Hollow Knight: Empty Promises — HK au fics, currently only oneshots (Read on AO3 / Wattpad link to be added)

The tags!!!

#shut up boything — in-character posts

#imadge from the fucking guy — my art tag

#mod boything | ooc — out-of-character posts

#critter’s buddypals — posts featuring other OCs

#modguy’s friendos — my mutuals’ posts :3

#this just in: stupid fruit says something stupid and fruity — hornyposting tag (yeuh sorry this is gonna happen sometimes)

#creature reblogs — rbs

#boything answers your strange little questions — answered asks :)

#the fucking guy does his job (for once) — my original writing!!!

#boything asks you strange little questions — polls

#boything imagines — non-canon stuffs (e.g. mine n holly’s daughter moggie)

I tag triggers with #cw (trigger)

I tag OCs with #oc: (oc)

If I make any new tags, I’ll update this!!

DNI list:

Pr0shippers (gross!)

NSFW blogs (GROSS)

TERFs (fuck you. disrespectfully.)

Transphobes, homophobes, racists, ableists, sexists, misogynists, antisemites, etc.

H@rry p0tt3r enjoyers (go away.)

D@ng@nr0np@-specific blogs (big trigger. dont like)

Zionists (FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU)

People supporting Israel’s genocide of Palestinians (FUCK. YOU.)

Ppl who ship The Knight/Ghost and the Grimmchild with each other??? (idk i just dont like it.)

AI “””art””” hoes (disrespectfully, i hope you die)

H@zb1n fuckshits (😐)

Out of character stuff I wanna say

Hiiii mod here, I go by the same name as my sona

Also same pronouns, same sexuality, same gender identity, etc.

IRL, I AM A MINOR. My sona’s age kinda depends on which universe I decide to throw him into, but IRL, I am still under 18 and I do not want any gross stuff in my inbox, reblogs, comments, or anywhere else.

This is very much an RP blog! If you wanna send your own OCs at me so we can put them in Scenarios together, then totally go ahead and do that!!

Uh. I do think that’s all!!! Bai-bai!!!!!! <333

Logger Sharks are, well, sharks but not the kind you may think of! When most people hear "shark," they think of the toothy saltwater variety, the swimming meat grinders that devour all! Of course this is all hyperbole, sharks are not the crazy bloodthirsty creatures that story likes to make them out to be. They eat meat just like everything else, so lets just all calm down about it. Back to my point, Logger Sharks are not found in the ocean but, rather, inland where fresher waters lie! That's right, Logger Sharks are a freshwater shark that is also amphibious. Their gills are capable of dealing with air, which means these little guys can march their way right onto dry land! This also is allowed because these sharks have grown a set of legs! Their fins have morphed into appendages that can work well on both water and land, which is perfect for their amphibious lifestyle. I am sure this sounds utterly terrifying for the ignorant, but do not fear! First of all, they aren't that big. They grow to about four feet in length. and their dorsal fin reaches about two feet. Second, they have better things to do then gnaw your leg off. You see, Logger Sharks get their name for a good reason, and they work hard for it! If you get past the fact that they are land sharks with legs, you will notice that they tend to go after non-meaty things. The thing they really like to sink their teeth into are trees and other woody vegetation! It turns out that super sharp teeth can do more than slice through flesh! Logger Sharks possess the same fast-growing, replaceable teeth as their ocean brethren, though theirs has a longer journey. The teeth grow in the back of the jaw, then slowly move forward as more erupt. They slowly travel towards the snout, until they exit the mouth entirely! The lower jaw of a Logger shark has a special, spiraled root that allows the teeth to move out of the mouth and down their chin. This creates a toothy circle saw, which is quite good for carving through bark and woody materials! When Logger Sharks find the perfect tree, they clasp on with their forelimbs and use their spiraled teeth to rasp away! Obviously their size and equipment aren't suited for slicing clean through the tree, instead they slowly wear away at it from all sides, counting on the height and weight of the tree to finally topple it. I now realize I kind of made it sound like these guys are chewing down redwoods, but really they are going after smaller thinner trees, because they have to be able to carry them home! After chopping down a good sized piece of lumber, the Logger Shark will use their jaws to chew it into workable pieces. Too big, and they won't be able to carry it. Too long, and they will hit every rock, tree and bump on their way back home. So careful cutting is needed, and once it is done they grab it in their jaws and march! They adorably plod their way back to some pond or lake where they live, as these sharks still prefer to live in water! They like non-moving water bodies, as they don't like to fight the current when they are building! You see, Logger Sharks use this chewed up lumber to build lodges for themselves, where they may eat, rest and groom away from the bothersome outside! They use wood and mud to slap together these little huts, and slowly form an inside chamber to live in. These lodges are furnished with grass and dead leafy vegetation, adding extra comfort to their home! They also sport multiple entrances and exits for speedy getaways and easy access. They don't just build houses, as sometimes extra construction is needed if the water refuses to stop running. Dams and blockages are constructed to bring up the water level and create a personal pond for them to live in! Quite the clever little fellas, though the folks downstream may not appreciate the craftsmanship. 

The other interesting thing to note about Logger Sharks is the fact that they are quite social. This species lives in family groups and work together to build their perfect home! They tend to interact a lot with their own kind, be it felling trees together or staking their claim. To tell others that this territory is theirs, they will use extra rough patches on their body to rub against vegetation. This acts like sandpaper and wears away at the outermost layer of plants. It also is infused with their special marker, which other Logger Sharks can detect. If you ever notice multiple trees having strange worn patterns near the base of the trunk, it is a good sign that Logger Sharks are about! The other tell is the short barks they let out to call to one another, either warning of danger or calling for extra help carrying their haul! Living in temperate climates means that winter is bound to appear, so how do these little guys make it through the cold? Why, they stockpile food and make their lodges nice and cozy! They build special entrances and exits so that they can get through the ice when need be, but most of the time they sleep in their homes. They are able to go into torpor for long periods of time, occasionally waking to snack on some food before going back under. When spring arrives and the ice begins to melt, they are back at it again, making repairs and moving thing around so that the fading ice doesn't cause any damage. Cripes, I just realized I haven't even mentioned what these creatures eat, I have been so caught up in their antics! Logger Sharks are omnivorous, though a hefty portion of their diet leans towards greens. They eat leafy materials and aquatic vegetation, as well as the bark and chunks that come off of fallen trees. For meat, they target smaller prey, like worms, bugs, grubs, frogs and other critters. Their sharp teeth make short work of anything they go after (this includes fingers of fools who can't keep their hands to themselves)! Logger Sharks have been seen feeding on carrion, but honestly pretty much everything does that. Show me an animal that willingly passes up a free meal! This scavenging is what gives people the wrong impression of these guys. Someone will walk through the woods and see a group of them tearing into a deer carcass, then stupidly assume that they killed it. Logger Sharks do not go on feeding frenzies and they do not tear apart large prey! They just don't! Enough with this nonsense! Logger Sharks are a species of shark that give birth to live pups. They do so in the safety of their lodges, where the mothers can look after them and the family can bring them food. They will grow under their watchful care, until they may be strong enough to strike off on their own and build their own future!   With their love for chewing down plants, I am sure many are wondering what us dryads think of them. They eat trees, surely they must be despised! First of all, they don't go after old trees, those are way too big. They prefer younger growths and tree saplings, something they can actually carry. Fallen limbs and branches also work too, as they are fine with scooping up pre-cut supplies! Second, they do not like busy areas and places with lots of people in it. Of course these little guys aren't going to come plodding into town to eat our homes. Honestly, dryads are fine with Logger Sharks because most communities know how to deal with them. This species likes to chew and work, but they won't pass up free meals! What dryad communities do near Logger Shark territory is plant fast-growing tree species that provide Logger Sharks with the materials they want. They may also discard unusable pieces of lumber and wood near these territories, so the sharks may use them instead. When they are provided with plenty of resources, they have no reason to come after our own crops! Do be warned, though, if you live on the outskirts of these territories and collect firewood. If you keep your logs and kindling outside, the Logger Sharks might scurry in to nab a few! Keep them contained somewhere safe, or store them high up! It isn't just our views on trees people wonder about, they also ask if Logger Sharks attack dryads. We are made of wood, after all! Do dryads have to fear bodily harm from Logger Sharks? No. This species is used to working on stationary trees that don't scream or fight back. They get spooked pretty easily, so I can't see any dryad letting one of these things chew through their leg unchallenged. Maybe an incident happens every decade or so, but most of the time it is just a bite or scratch from a scared animal. To have one chew all the way through a leg and then carry it off? Cripes, they must have guzzled a bottle of Napellin Cobalt to let that happen! If that did indeed occur, I would not use that against this species. I mean, how many drunk people have died to horses, and people are still fine working with those? Since I am talking about interactions with these critters, I would like to take a moment to inform folk of a few things. The first, is telling people not to go knocking down Logger Shark dams without proper precautions. I understand some communities get impacted when their river is blocked up by these guys. I would implore you to take a moment to think through the situation and find a solution that won't cause unnecessary harm. I know some folk just run in there and smash the whole thing apart without a second thought, and those people are absolute idiots. If the dam is broke that fast, the rush of water released will sweep away the lodge and any poor pups trapped inside! Also, that wall of water is headed straight towards your stinking town, genius! Hope no one is near the river when that battering ram of water and debris comes hurtling by! So instead of being stupid, why don't you relocate the Logger Sharks elsewhere, or at least drive them away and then slowly dismantle the dam. Bring it down little by little so that the water is slowly released. The other thing I wanted to mention is that Logger Sharks are absolutely adorable, wonderful and are certainly not pets. These animals are very social and need the company of their kind to properly function. I admit myself that I wish I could keep one, but it isn't healthy for them and they don't do well with it. Not to mention what will happen if you somehow own furniture! Logger Sharks should stay wild and stay with their families. The best option, if you want their company, is to be neighbors. Happy, but safely distant, neighbors. I have spent quite a few evenings after a long day's work sitting by the shore and watching them work. It is quite soothing and entertaining! Enjoy them from a distance, and I guarantee you will love every second of it!     Chlora Myron Dryad Natural Historian --------------------------------------------------- I realized my world didn't have any sharks in it yet, so I figured I would fix that. Also been reading and seeing how sharks always get the violent evil image, so I wanted my first species to at least be something different than the cliché crazed meat shredder. Took some thinking on how to make a unique shark, but than the epiphany struck! Beaver sharks! I had to draw them up the second it hit me! This is one of the designs I am super proud of, despite the fact I probably say that about every other creature I make. Sharks! Formation! Sticks in jaw, snout in line! Colonel Bogey bring that tune to the 1,2,3 and MARCH!

Same Bugs

Playing Hollow Knight and got inspired, guess the only thing that can get me to put down that game is a fic that needs writing who knew.

Haha SBBNR (Same Bugs but not really) AU go brrrrrr-

------

The sky was falling.

That was the only thing running through Kai's mind as the shadow blotting out the howling sky above grew closer. Behind the safety of a rock, Garmadon hissed with laughter. "Fool, you thought you could stand against me? The Dark Spider?"

Kai drew his Nail, the weapon nothing more than a toothpick in comparison to the shadow that towered over the Crystal Peaks of Hallownest. This was his home, his family was still down in the tunnels below, he would not let this creature Garmadon had somehow summoned harm them-

His antenna shook from the wind, armor creaking. It felt like standing on the precipice of the Howling Cliffs.

What was this creature? It had no shell, no armor, just silk-like covering and flesh like an earthworm. A giant earthworm. And not 'giant that it filled and blocked the cavern tunnels', not 'so giant it filled the cavern that held the City of Tears', but so giant that Hallownest would not fit it at all; hell, the thing was almost bigger than Hallownest from the surface to its deepest cavern by the void.

A fleshy thing reached down from the sky, like five earthworms attacked to a round surface. It dug into the rocky dirt around Kai and lifted him from the cliffside. Despite his yelled protests and stabs with his Nail, the creature did not drop the dirt Kai stood upon.

The last of Hallownest he saw was Garmadon, balanced on four of his legs while he hailed the sky with the other four in a roaring laugh. "Farewell, Red Knight! You cannot hide the vessel, my son, forever!"

Then the dirt beneath Kai fell away and he plummeted into a glass cage, blacking out as his head smacked into a transparent wall.

---*---

Lloyd was having a very, very bad day. Worse than his usual form of bad day. So he did what he usually did on those days;

Visited the one pet shop on the block that didn't hate his guts.

It was run by a normally cranky old lady who only seemed to be nice to Lloyd, which was an astoundingly stark contrast to everyone else in his life (minus his mom). He loved wandering the aisles of the small shop, waving hello to all the birds and critters, and helping the lady tidy the small shop.

His favorite, however, was the bug section. Her assistant occasionally brought by new bugs they found in the forest or wasteland desert around Ninjago city. There were so many unique varieties in the area. Lloyd had befriended five of the bugs and brought them home before; a Hercules beetle he named Cole, a lightning bug he named Jay, a white-tailed dragonfly he named Zane, a water strider he named Nya, and a fire ant he named Kai.  "You're in luck," the old woman said. "My assistant just brought in some new bugs from the wastelands. There's a rather peculiar one that seems to fit the type you gather."

Lloyd's mood began to perk up. "Really?"

He wandered to the back of the store where a new tank sat. In it were a variety of small, common bugs, wandering around and buzzing into the glass walls. One bug, however, seemed to be attacking the walls with vigor, a strange-looking bug that resembled a fire ant like Kai and yet was... different. 

Different like the five bugs, yet... a different kind of different. Polished. Almost... knight-like.

It wasn't much of a surprise that Lloyd ended up taking the strange fire ant home, dubbing him 'Smith'. He kept them in a smaller tank next to the big tank at first, planning to slowly get the bug used to the others first before just dropping them in. He got the feeling they were a little... aggressive at the moment. Stressed. Lloyd didn't want a fight breaking out.

He sat back and watched the tanks.

---*---

Kai/Smith didn't know what in the Pale King's name was going on.

Compartmentalize. Right. Figure things out. Right. PK'S SAKE, WHY WAS THINKING SO HARD-

What did he know? Right. Start with that.

He knew he'd been fighting Garmadon on Crystal Peaks, up on the surface. He'd been lured there by a couple of weavers- strange, for them to be so far from Deepnest- and ambushed. Then Garmadon has started summoning... something. He didn't know what. Just something to 'get rid of Kai' without killing him. 

Then the giant descended from the distant horizon, snatched him up, dumped him in a large glass box with non-sentient bugs, and carried him away.

What was the giant? Why did it grab him? Was it summoned by Garmadon, or was it just chance? 

Right. Back to what he knew. 

He'd ended up in a large... shop? Maybe? And while he'd been trying to slice apart his glass prison with his Nail, the sword-like weapon doing nothing but bounce off the thick walls, another smaller giant had entered, he'd been scooped into a smaller tank, and carried to another different place.

And that brought him to now, in a room while the smaller giant stared at him.

Great. Just great.

He huffed, slamming the tip of his Nail into the dirt, leaving it there for now. With a spin, he found himself facing a larger glass tank.

There was a lighting bug staring at him.

The bug squeaked when they saw Kai looking back, light flashing under a small knitted orange scarf made of threads. They flew off.

Well. That was a thing that had happened. At least that bug looked more sentient and civil than the critters at the shop. 

A dragonfly came by after, staring at Kai with an almost unnerving, no blinking look in their eyes. Kai tried for a smile but he was, in his defense, still quite a deal shaken from the ordeal, so he wasn't quite sure how it looked.

The small giant, satisfied with something, picked up Kai's tank and slowly lowered it into the main glass box. He tumbled a bit into the dirt, his Nail flipping to smack him on the head a little unceremoniously. Just perfect.

And while he was disoriented, a water strider got in his face and started yelling about 'don't you dare hurt the others, got that?' and something about a very unfortunate encounter with an orchid mantis who pretended to be their friend only to hurt everyone, bite their giant friend, and escape.

And there was a fire ant that looked like Kai here too. Just peachy.

Kai/Smith slammed down the visor of his helmet. He didn't need this right now. He needed to find a way home.

He had to get back to Hallownest.

------------------

YESSSSSSSS BUGGY BOIS GO BRRRR!!!!!!

Hey, so after reading my matchup again, I got an idea for a head-canon. I'm not sure if this has already been asked, but headcanons with Shino that has a S/O who has a fear of bugs, but doesn't want that to ruin their relationship with Shino and tries to work on it ( side note: gotta love that auto correct changes Shino to Rhino).

Shino with a s/o that is afraid of bugs

A/N: YES!! I love you and I’m sorry this took forever but I finally got around to it!

You were one of the first people to actually pay attention to Shino when he tried to say something; always letting him finish his sentence before turning your attention away. Thats what attracted him to you at first and with the knowledge that you were willing to give him your attention, he clung helplessly to you. So when you and Shino were on a missions together when you first started dating, he brushed off the fact that you were skittish at the sight of his bugs. You liked him, right? You wanted to give him attention didn’t you?

But one day, when the two of were laying down on the outskirts of town, sitting around and chatting about your lives, a spider crawled up your thigh. He watched you stand up and shriek, desperately swatting at the bug that was now long gone. He stared at you and despite the glasses and the long collar, you could tell he looked like a kicked puppy. “You don’t like bugs do you, y/n?”

It was strange how he hadn’t found out sooner, being blissfully ignorant would have been the best possible solution. How could he have not noticed your uncomfortable stare at the sight of his bugs, or when he mentioned a new species of beetle? Hell how had he not noticed your fear when he took you out on adventures to find rare insect species. It hurt him, it really did, but he wasn’t gonna give up on you, it was a minor hiccup... Nothing he couldn’t work through, right? Not everyone liked bugs, but he could make you get used to him. One thing you were both sure of was that you were not going to let you go of your relationship so easily. So Shino decided to take the initiative and start things slow...

“You should get used to my bugs first, at least.” They’re apart of him and it really makes him sad that there’s a part of you that may be disgusted slightly by him, so he’s eager to start things there. You two are sitting on a field (Shino brought a blanket so that you wouldn’t have to encounter any other bugs in the process) and he’s letting his bugs slowly crawl up your arm.

Despite his typical reserved attitude, he lets you sit between his legs with your back resting against his chest as he lets the bugs crawled up your skin, his other arm wrapped comfortingly around your waist. His neck was against your shoulder, peering over to watch your face as his bugs gently crawled up your skin. You were scared, like really scared and you’re eyes were kind of squeezed shut, “open your eyes, y/n. You can do it, they’re mine, they’re not going to hurt you.”

At his words, you slowly you peel them open and see them crawling gently up your arm, there was only four or five and one of them was crawling on the palm of your hand. You lifted your arm and carefully held your hand to your face to examine the bug up close. “Hey, they’re actually kind of cute.” Looking at them up close they seems harmless and at the mercy of Shino, you knew they wouldn’t hurt you. The little bug began to crawl between your fingers and even though the touches were all feather light, the sensation made you giggle. Soon your little giggles became huffs of laughter and at first Shino thought you may have been crying, “Y/n-“ then he realized you were laughing and you could tell by the vibration of his chest against your back that he was laughing too.

The next step in tackling your fear of bugs was the house critters. One night, you told Shino sleepily that you were going to draw yourself a bath before going to bed. As you yawned and lazily walked into the bathroom you were met with a rude awakening as a giant spider skittered across the floor. Immediately you shrieked, dropping your fresh change of clothes and practically jumping onto Shino as he came running at the sound of your panicked voice.

“What is it-“ He grunted in surprise as you threw yourself on top of him, making sure your feet weren’t in reach of the creature skittering across the floor. Unluckily for you, the spider skittered right onto your abandoned laundry on the floor. That caused you to practically shriek in Shino’s ear. The arms of your fluffy robe strangled his neck as you clung on for dear life. “Shino! Oh my - Shino, Shino!!! It’s in my clothes now!!” (As If he couldn’t see it himself) “It’s probably running all over my pajamas!!” Your babbling continued into his ear as he tried to calm you down.

He sat you on the edge of the bathtub, letting you hide your legs in the sanctuary of the tub as he bent down to shake out your pile of abandoned clothes out. “Be careful, Shino!” You squeal, curling your body into itself as you watched him through blurry eyes. After shaking out every article of clothing except your towel, he picked it up and shook, the spider came out tumbling onto the cold floor. You screamed again and Shino hushed you before bending down to cup the spider gently into his hands.

To your dismay he brings the spider towards you as it paces around his cupped palms. He persists despite your objection, knowing he’s not putting you in any danger as the bug is a simple house spider and no where near harmful. “Y/n, it’s harmless, just look at it.” And just like with his own bugs, you let it crawl onto your hands, sucking in your rapid breaths and you realized that it really was harmless. “Now let’s set it outside.”

After readjusting your robe and slowly stepping out of the bathtub, Shino opened the window and he watched as you set the spider gently onto the sill. The two of you watched as it slowly crawled out. “See? Nothing to be afraid of.”

Of course there were some insects you couldn’t quite love; like moths and centipedes, but Shino didn’t need you to love all bugs. Not yet at least. He would take you with him on adventures to find certain beetles or rare butterflies and the more you joined him, the less skittish you became. Soon enough you stopped screaming for help when a bug flew into the apartment, opting instead to take Shinos wide range of passed down insect knowledge and use it to guide the insect out of the apartment. Even though it was a minuscule act, Shinos heart couldn’t have swelled any bigger.

Stepping foot into the mansion, it was easy to tell just how much this Truffle woman loved spiders. Aside from the various paintings depicting strange, distorted versions of famous paintings and people beneath the webbing- there was plenty of décor with webbed and spidery themes. The chandeliers above, the designs upon the carpets through the halls, the legs and knobs of stands and shelves beheld themselves to plenty of arachnid pleasantry. This woman either had plenty of time on her hands to scrounge through garage sales or was just utterly obsessed with these eight-legged creatures.

"So, you two certainly have had a troublesome time before you came here, am I correct?" Truffle spoke, looking over her shoulder at the two who kept close for their own safety. "I can see through many eyes that you both have suffered grave losses from something bloody, yes?"

"I-is... Is it that obvious...?" Mint would sputter, not quite used to being surrounded by such an arachnid-centric interior... Ah, and having something so grim being so clear to who was essentially a stranger was something to fear as well. There was only a surprisingly pure laugh from the widow-lover, who would raise a hand to have an abnormally large spider lower down onto her palm. "Spiders have many eyes... And can see beyond what even those who feast upon blood can. That, and I do happen to have a spectral friend visiting today that can see even further."

The last sentence spoken brought the researcher's scrutiny. "So you are implying you are friends with a ghost? And that spectral life exists?"

Truffle paused, stopping in her tracks. The spindly portions of her dress seemed to twitch before she turned around, facing the two with mild confusion. Mint shook at the sight, gripping onto Aloe's hand that he'd forgotten he'd been holding, thinking that the host had been accidentally upset. "I would think you would know this, considering you have one with you... Quite the gleeful one, too." There was a moment where Aloe was taken aback, and despite how they were here for a hopeful purpose, this... Didn't make sense. "There is no way you would know them. You could use that word to describe any positive soul- if specters were to exist in the first place."

A hum hung in the air, along with the skittering of various legs from above. The both of them looked up, seeing nothing but spiders, and only looked back down to see that Truffle was petting the bug they were holding that was... A plush? A doll? Something of the sort. "Pardon them, they are just not used to doubtful ones." It was unclear as to whether Truffle's tone was meant to comfort, but it most certainly didn't help on this occasion. "They do not harm unless commanded or attacked, so you are both safe with my presence... Just as you both are with that bright-eyed, leafy botanist with you." Mint's gaze would snap to Aloe, whose expression was such a mix it was practically unreadable. "Consider them a guardian angel, but lacking in the angelic portion. They will keep you safe for the time being... Though I believe they won't be able to protect for much longer."

"What are you on abou-?" "Now come along, the tea must be getting quite cold! I hope you both don't mind it being reheated... Though I can always make a new batch if necessary."

Though Aloe wished to inquire, it was clear that Truffle was going to have none of such at the moment. The walk through the mansion would continue, with the little critters on the ceiling dispersing for the most part. There was an odd clump of them in particular that followed, almost making some sort of vaguely human form upon the ceiling. Just for a second Aloe figured it could have been the one they were here in the first place for, but... They didn't let such an idea cement itself. The prospect of ghosts and spirits was already enough for their mind to mull over for the time. A guardian? But not for long? Do they only have a certain amount of time to linger before they truly pass or something of that sort...? "Hey... Aloe... If- If I may..." Mint spoke nothing above a whisper. The researcher looked down, seeing a nervous yet smiling musician looking up at them.

"I... Don't have full confidence in spirits and all that, but... Hey, if someone that dear to you is still by your side... Maybe you could talk to them in private...?" Mint seemed more than embarrassed to suggest this, yet pressed further on his point. "Ask Truffle if there's a room you can speak alone in for a while, now that you know they're probably still around... And she and I can have some tea, maybe?" "And leave you alone?" The response was quicker- snippier- than Mint thought it would be. Be that as it may, it should be expected knowing the subject matter... "I can- I can handle myself better than I've shown... Besides, I am quite a fan of spiders... Most house spiders just stick around for bugs to eat- I learned that from Orie..." The light smile on the violinist's face was a delicate one. Aloe wasn't sure if they could snip at something like that- seeing a bit of someone else there before them. Ah- their mind was more wrapped up around Co than they had anticipated, huh. "I'm just saying, perhaps... Perhaps you could talk to them? Have a moment of peace and come to terms, speaking the things you want while you can? I did the same long ago... With a late aunt of mine..."

"..." Even if there were many walls kept up by Aloe, Mint felt in this moment that he was just a bit closer to getting those down. The researcher adjusted their glasses, taking a deep breath before their gaze would return in front of them rather than being stuck looking upon the shorter of the two. "I, too, doubt spirits, but perhaps you have a point... A moment of peace would be highly appreciated... Your suggestion is not half-bad." "I'll... take that as a compliment...!" "As you should."

From there on, the atmosphere seemed to feel lighter. It was a small change, albeit one that was certainly felt between the two. Mayhaps it was felt by the host, too, as the smile on her face upon turning back around after a plentiful amount of steps was just as hopeful. "To our right is where our tea party will take place. The cups are already set, so come right in and have a seat..." "Ah, before that, Miss... Truffle, was it?" "Yes, sweetheart?" "May I... Have a moment alone? Mint here will be able to accompany you with your tea. I simply wish to have some time to myself before I partake." "Of course... You may remain here in the hall or the room on the other end of the hall if you wish." "...My thanks."

Soap Bubbles and Memories

They were allies, they were friends, but sometimes they were even more than that to Olimar. And under the soap and grime that coated them now they were a needed blessing, and a haunting curse to a mournful father’s heart.

So I decided to make “Outside A Galaxy Of My Own” a series instead of a multi chaptered fic (though some arcs may have multiple parts)!

Thought of this when I was bathing my little brothers, and it started out intending to just be cute but devolved into sadness. Oh Olimar, why can’t you just stay happy for me?

-

This planet was host to so many different terrains that Olimar never quite knew what environmental hurdle would be thrown at him, and as such he wasn’t always quite prepared either to face it. No, too many times had him stumble into a pool, scaling rocks, and even frozen snow.

It never seemed to matter what mess the pikmin found clinging to them at the end of the day either. When they slid down the tentacle like appendages of their onions the next day they were always sparkling. As the onion was a nest, he supposed that meant it was equipped to groom them as well.

That wasn’t always the case however.

“Damn,” the father cursed to himself in a panic as he barely managed to cling to the bark of the rotting log that had snapped under their careful feet. One hand was barely grasping Louie by the pants as they dangled precariously over a strange pit.

“The pikmin!” Olimar shouted in alarm as he stared down at a small group of wailing little pikmin desperately trying to keep themselves afloat in a tarry substance. Even the blues were sinking.

Instinctively Olimar blew harshly on his whistle with several sharp breaths, but while his little comrades desperately tried to reach towards him, they couldn’t free themselves. Even their little arms could barely wave in distress. A winged pikmin attempted to flutter over to its siblings, but after pulling uselessly the poor thing was only suctioned into the chaos of black taffy.

“No good.” Louie shook his head and let his whistle dangle again. “It’s tar, they can’t get out.”

Olimar turned desperately to his partner and then back to the drowning and sinking squad. The mere thought of attempting to turn his back on their faithful companions struggling to live and begging him was utterly inconceivable.

“I can't just not try.”

Puffing his cheeks in frustration at the rather expected answer, Louie nodded curtly and without a word, stretched his hand down to let the captain slowly lower into the pit.

Olimar could feel the disgusting, congealed substance begin to sink against his thighs but regardless, using a few rocks sticking up, he maneuvered over to the struggling pikmin.

Exhausted and slowly being consumed in the mass, the poor creatures couldn’t even reach out to him. Gritting his teeth as he strained against the pressure of the pit, Olimar extended his arm out and tried to scoop the pikmin into him. After several tugs, he managed to loosen them, and the terrified, filthy creatures took refuge on his helmet.

Louie grunted as he felt Olimar’s weight become even heavier. “This was a stupid idea.” But he knew his fatherly boss and he knew he never let anyone struggle without trying to save them.

Olimar was much more difficult to lift thanks to the extra weight on his head, but after a few complicated attempts the group was catching its breath back on shore.

“That’s my exercise for the day,” Olimar joked, gazing skyward and still feeling his head heavy with pikmin. “But it’ll be dark soon anyways.” The pikmin were practically glued to his head.

Louie fiddled the dial on the onion and their squad began climbing up the legs, sliding into the opening of their vessel. He peeled the five pikmin on his captain’s helmet and threw them at the onion’s legs.

Like one of those ‘splat’ toys Olimar’s son had at home, the poor creatures merely made a wet sounding splat as they hung there like velcro, bewildered. Neither explorer could resist a snort.

“This is a bit of an issue,” Olimar hummed as he watched the blinking, chattering little pikmin. Were it not for their unique shape, you’d hardly be able to tell which type was which, sullied under all the black goo. “The onion has to groom them. It can’t take them like this.”

Louie stared at the dirty pikmin and shrugged his shoulders. “Can’t do much…”

Olimar’s thoughts were already winding as he surveyed their environment carefully. The only thing nearby was a small pond, and that was useless...unless…

“What are you doing?” Louie’s eyes widened slightly as he watched Olimar pick up the messy pikmin and head towards the water. Judging by the way the critter’s eyes absolutely bugged out, the poor pikmin were wondering the same thing.

“Testing a theory…” Holding a confused yellow pikmin, Olimar sat down in the shallows of the pond. He had the creature propped up on his shoulder, its eyes staring the water down with trepidation. Olimar held it out and his soft smile gazed into its terrified expression.

“It’s alright.” He cursed the ever present language barrier between them, because being able to speak their dialect was exactly what Olimar needed right now. “You won’t get hurt, I promise you.” The yellow pikmin’s chest rose and fell quickly, ears pinned back with pupils the size of a full moon.

As he moved to lower the pikmin into the water, it squealed in fear and folded its tiny legs up like a frog. When Olimar tried again, the frightened thing broke free of his hold and clawed up his arm to take refuge on his helmet.

“Meeeep! Meeeeef!”

“That went well.” Louie’s normal monotone held a slight teasing to it and Olimar glared half heartedly back at his young charge.

The captain craned his neck to try and look up at the pikmin and smiled sadly when he saw it was shaking. “You’re alright, I promise.” He picked up the chittering leaf again and immediately it began squealing and scratching the air. “Hey-hey!”

Olimar lifted the slightly wet creature from the water with one hand supporting its back and with his other hand he cupped the pikmin’s tiny, delicate face with the care and experience of a patient father. “It’s me! It’s me…” Teary eyes gazed up at him earnestly and Olimar held the pikmin at eye level, hoping his tone at the very least could soothe where words could not. Although the pikmin was still visibly panicked, it appeared to be listening.

“It’s me,” Olimar repeated, his tone akin to the gentle fatherly one he used with his children (and sometimes Louie) when they were upset. “Come on, you know I won’t let you drown.”

But did they? Did they really? So much about the symbiotic relationship they shared was such an enigma. To this day Olimar still didn’t know why the pikmin followed him, served him, and especially laid down their own lives willingly, even knowing how many perished in his leadership. For all he knew the little thing in his arms was thinking he was planning on executing it!

Olimar moved his thumb over the yellow pikmin’s cheek, brushing away the tear that was there. The gesture seemed to be calming the little leaf’s shakes slightly and he smiled. “You willing to try?”

Although the pikmin remained understandably nervous, gradually its little muscles relaxed and eventually its tiny legs hung down. Olimar shifted the pikmin in his arm and held it in a partially cradled position in his lap. The moment blackened toes touched the water, the yellow pikmin squeaked, but a few gentle shushes from the Hocotation and it went quiet.

Olimar allowed the pikmin to sink down a little further, until the water line was just under the creature’s chest. Its eyes widened as it instinctively raised its head, visibly trying to keep its stem as far from the water as possible. Olimar cupped his glove carefully over the delicate leaf, leaving ample room for it to breathe, while being shielded.

The gesture was like magic, relaxing the pikmin almost instantly. Its ears flicked inquisitively and Olimar nodded. “It’s the stem,” he informed Louie. “That’s what happens, that makes sense. These creatures are sentient plants, and any plant can be drowned if it’s exposed to too much moisture.”

Louie walked out of the ship with scrub brushes and watched a dirty blue pikmin happily fling itself into the pond. “And the blue ones?”

Olimar waved a hand dismissively. “Well there’s always exceptions for every part of nature.” He was glad he didn’t have to fight with the blue ones. Although for the most part now the yellow pikmin was utterly compliant and even interested in the strange environment it was never safely able to be in.

Olimar smiled encouragingly over his shoulder at the tiny group of pikmin watching nervously from land. “Any of you comfortable being next?” Propping his pikmin on his knee he was able to reach a hand out to the small group.

A winged pikmin, grounded from the tar, stared at its siblings and back at the Hocotations. After a moment it came closer with an affirming chirp.

“Well, they’re certainly getting braver!” He rubbed his yellow pikmin’s cheek softly and felt something tug inside him when a soft purr was the response. “Louie, they like baths,” he practically gushed, trying to keep his smile from splitting his face. It was just so unexpected, so adorable.

Louie merely sighed and took a hold of the winged pikmin. “You’re gonna bathe them from now on.” It was a statement, not a question and that’s what made Olimar’s cheeks bloom a dark red of embarrassment.

“Of course not!” he barked with an affronted scoff, nearly jostling the little pikmin in his lap. “Don’t be ridiculous, Louie. We’re here on a mission, which I’m well aware of and what’s required of me. But, well, you know the scientist in me—I’m just excited with this new discovery!”

“Hmm.”

The derisive hum only served to make Olimar redder and he instead turned his gaze to the yellow pikmin. Its chitters were that of amusement and curiosity and Olimar watched a tiny claw flick the surface and watch the water droplets. The Hocotation smiled and exhaled after a moment. “Well, time’s ticking away. We should probably clean them.” As tempting as it was to just sit there and watch their adorable antics.

“Guess so. Got the stuff.” Louie had a bucket in his hand with various sizes and textures of brushes. He also had a liquidized soap. He flopped down into the water and squirted some soap out onto one of the brushes.

“Louie wait, we don’t know if their skin can tolerate that!” Olimar exclaimed and winced as the sanitized sponge slapped lightly down onto the yellow pikmin’s tiny arm. He anticipated a pained cry, but while there was a surprised squeak, the little creature was only confused. Its small claws rubbed along the peculiar, slimy substance with a croon.

“Well, it doesn’t seem to be burning this one.” Olimar chuckled as he watched the chittering little thing play with the soap on its hands. The goopy substance mingled with the surface of the water, creating foam. Olimar had to bite back a laugh as he watched the yellow pikmin’s eyes dilate as wide as a cat’s upon seeing the first of the soap bubbles float upwards.

The little yellow pikmin’s chatters became far more excited after a series of entranced noises. It was now standing in his lap and attempting to reach up and catch one. The slowly setting sun reflected on the kaleidoscopic surface, and the array of colors encased inside made the pikmin want it more.

“This isn’t playtime, you know!” Olimar told the pikmin, but by now he couldn’t help but laugh. Even the winged pikmin sitting in Louie’s palm was making grabbing hand motions.

Perched on his knee with surprising bravery, the yellow pikmin jumped up and clapped the bubble. It naturally popped and the soul shattered expression on the poor little thing’s face could have made Olimar cry.

“They don’t work like that,” he informed the nearly tearful little leaf. “I know, my children made the same tragic discovery… You won’t be able to hoard these in a treasure pile I’m afraid.” But with the copious amount of soap now in the water, the bubbles were doing a swell job at hoarding themselves into a pile!

By now this unexpected development and a sight that none of the other pikmin had ever seen was beginning to attract the three dirty pikmin standing on land. They made impatient little hops and noises until a grumbling Louie walked over and tucked them under his arm.

“Whoa!” Olimar was almost too late to snatch a brave little red pikmin that literally leaped off Louie towards the bubbles—and subsequently—the water. “I think we’ve transitioned from being fearful of baths to being fearless of baths a little too quickly!”

“Your idea,” Louie reminded him as he sat in the shallows and began to carefully scrub a rock pikmin in his hand. It cooed and its eyes followed a trail of bubbles that floated upward.

“And your fault for bringing in the bubbles!” Although he knew soap was more than a necessity for this type of filth. “But at least they’re enjoying it.”

The original yellow one still in his lap strained its tiny arms to grab at the foam, and chuckling, Olimar scooped a mound towards the creature. “Oh fine, I’ll indulge you. You want to see something funny?” Abruptly and carefully, he shoved a handful into the little thing’s face. It squeaked and twitched around its cheeks, staring up at their leader.

“It’s a bubble beard!”

The yellow pikmin was only confused for a moment before its eyes narrowed with a mischievous sounding chitter. And before Olimar realized it, a sizable splash of water had slapped into his helmet, making him flinch. Louie snickered and the red pikmin on the Hocotation’s other knee repeated the motion its sibling had done.

“Ack!” He could hear what sounded like the pikmin giggling at him and suddenly Olimar found himself transported back to warm memories. Memories of a heated bathroom and far too many plastic and rubber toys. Their musical giggles, the gap between his son’s teeth, his daughter’s pruny, pink hands as she touched his face with soapy fingers...

“Captain?”

Louie’s uncharacteristically soft and concerned voice broke Olimar out of his reminiscing, and that’s when he realized his young underling was a blur in his vision. Wiping his helmet from the water, Olimar felt a wetness spilling down his cheeks. That wasn’t from the pond, nor was the clench in his chest.

“Olimar?” Louie’s voice was even softer and Olimar felt the small creatures in his lap lean against his slightly shaking chest. Louie stood up and walked over to the captain’s side. Completely out of his comfort zone, he didn’t know what to do, but he still felt himself laying a hand on Olimar’s shoulder and squeezing it. It was usually the fatherly captain doing such for him.

Olimar gave a slight sniffle and was vaguely certain he felt tiny hands rub his arm through his suit.

His hand lingering on his captain’s shoulder for a moment, Louie awkwardly stood back on his feet. “The sun is going down more.”

Somewhat embarrassed, the older Hocotation cleared his throat and stood, picking up the soaked and clean pikmin. “They’re practically shining now, we should hurry up and dry them.”

Louie merely nodded in agreement and shook off his boots as he fetched a large towel that was draped over the bucket of cleaning supplies. Olimar didn’t say much as he wrapped up the group, but Louie didn’t miss the way he swaddled the pikmin and held them much closer than necessary.

“I wish we had more moments like these.” Olimar’s almost...solemn confession broke the silent tranquility. Louie blinked slightly and looked to his boss, whose gaze was on the bundle of content and slightly purring creatures in his arms. The aching gnawing at his heart was barely lessened by the creatures cradled against him, but he was desperate to try and fill any part of the void that he could.

“Moments where we could just relax…” the captain clarified, watching the yellow pikmin as it played with some moisture on its fingers. “Where we can just sit here with them, get to know them. Maybe not have that sidetracked by instantly losing them to the jaws of any of this planet’s voracious predators.”

Louie’s lips pursed quietly and even his shoulders seemed to sag in agreement. He wasn’t sure if he’d bonded as strongly as his boss had to their squad, or even this planet, but he couldn’t deny he wanted a break. “More time to cook...sleep... Yeah….the pikmin.”

As Olimar’s hands massaged the tiny backs and shoulders of their pikmin through the fabric, Louie gazed through the trees to where some stars were already beginning to peek through the setting sky. “You know...I bet they’d like them.”

Olimar looked at him. “Wh-who?”

“Your family,” Louie said quietly as he looked over at the now sleeping pikmin. “Your kids. I...I bet they’d like them.”

Olimar’s mouth creased and he could barely hold back another round of tears. “Yeah...I think so too.”