[Suffering - Epic: The Musical X Underverse Animatic ]

I have a really stupid hc: nightmare takes better care of his minions than dream/ dreams actually really toxic. Like, yes he's the bad guy, but he takes really good care of his lackeys when they need help mentally and stuff, when dream is so focused on spreading positivity that he doesn't even realize he's hurting the others not caring for them and not letting them do basic things like eat and sleep properly

I’ve seen that headcanon around actually and I think it’s funny /pos

Like I love the idea of Dream being way too focused to realize the damage he causes while Nightmare has a better grasp on things

But also kinda gets into the shaky grounds of “asshole Dream” if not written well

I’m not really a fan of “bad guy” Dream, or the interpretation of Dream being that he’s an asshole who doesn’t care at all

The thing is, I’d love to see that headcanon actually be connected to the twins’ traumas, as I often see people portray them that way and only go for how Nightmare’s is kind and his trauma made him a better leader but Dream is just an asshole, and i’m here like.. WHY????

Like why make Nightmare a better written character just cause you sympathize with him? Why not sympathize with Dream too? Why is Dream’s trauma and the abuse he went through immediately ignored for the sake of making Nightmare kind? Making Nightmare the “better twin”?

Why not make both twins have both good and bad behaviors? Why simply reduce them to black and white?

Like I genuinely would enjoy the idea of Dream being toxic while showing that it’s not his intent, showing that he genuinely doesn’t mean to be toxic, it’s that his toxic behaviors are born out of how his trauma blinded him and how his actions are just the effect of a pre-existing cause, rather than just reducing Dream’s character to a bad guy or an asshole and that’s it y’know?

Like honestly toxic Dream for the win if it shows his vulnerability and how his trauma takes part of it

For me, when it comes to my own interpretation of Nightmare and Dream, I love to think of the opposite but only to an extent?

I like to think Nightmare would be abusive/toxic to his minions, but not to the point they collapse, (unless he was in a really bad mood and he had some sort of emotional outburst) but generally, he doesn’t care about what they do but he makes sure to make it clear that he expects them to eat and sleep and do whatever basics they need to do, as well as give them leisure/ down time for them to do whatever they want as long as they keep up, as he’s extremely practical and would not want to have them unfit for missions or plans he wants to carry (not out of the kindness of his heart but rather cause it would inconvenient him)

All while trying to show that Nightmare has a genuine sense of humanity (for a lack of better word) to him, show that he’s the way he is cause of the trauma he went through, show that he’s not all abusive and show that he has a kind side to him while showing how he squashes that kindness inside him due to trauma

While Dream is actually quite genuinely kind and loves helping people, and is genuinely trying his best to better himself every day, but is quite destructive to himself, he would not accept help from others, and feels the need to save others without saving himself, completely sacrificing his physical and mental health, and assuming he’s the only one who can fix things, a savior complex if you will, he’d work himself down to the bone without relying on his friends or anyone else, (this is a part of how he has his fallout with Ink in my interpretation) he’s too blinded to the fact others can share the weight with him

It’s completely unhealthy to his own self and by extension, he can appear overbearing and someone who gets his nonexistent nose into the business of others without considering their feelings or thoughts about it, and also appear as tho he thinks others are too incompetent to deal with either what he himself deals with, or what others deal with in their own lives, that he’s better than them in a way (it’s not his intent as he genuinely tries his best to be mindful of other’s feelings) but his self destructive behavior is something that Blue is trying to get through his thick skull, but Dream is too stubborn (a characteristic he ironically shares with Nightmare)

So I guess my interpretation of the two is the opposite to what is usually portrayed in the fandom, but I mean, there isn’t many interpretations I agree with in the fandom to begin with Hdhdhxhhd

Rambling about bright colors and how they could work with watchers

Firstly, my friend just sent me artwork of Watcher!Grian and I was aghast with many happy emotions. One thing that struck me is that they included parrot wings with the watcher design, this lead my mind to many places and I just need to ramble it out. I’m not the most artistic person. I’m no good at drawing, at the moment at least, and I can’t begin to recount the details of color theory, setting up a scene, how a piece all comes together in artwork so I don’t know how feasible my idea is. The concept that struck me: The bright colors of a parrots wings. You ever seen those animations with flashing colors, or pieces of artwork with splashes of color to convey something? Usually, from my limited understanding, its trying to convey disorientation. ( See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS3q-MGK7Og ) Flashing lights can help convey feelings of  discombobulation, a daze, and confusion. Now see an art piece that’s a take on watchers with bright colors, or an animation that goes fully into this blowing up, splattering colors across the canvas with being.

It’s just a cool artistic touch too! A additional thing could be colors are seen when an watcher is seeing, otherwise its a black and white palette. Look back to what bright, flashing colors can see, and how it gets overwhelming, and that’s a way to show how watching can get overwhelming, and to show that feeling to the viewer! Then to fade back to the calmness that is black and white. Or just an art piece in general with watcher!Grian and aspects of these colors. Showcasing the overwhelming confusion. Or maybe its how others might see the watchers!

It’s a lot different than traditional eldritch horror or biblically accurate angels. If I recall correctly, they use a lot more black and white to help convey those, like an explosion! Then impact frames and all that jazz. But just a piece filled with different colors, highlighting disorientation, then the purple eyes just piercing through that and still seeing despite all the colors and everything they are seeing.

The wings being different colors, the screen dripping blood that’s a different color, a glitch effect, Or just one set of bright, nearly eye bleeding wings that glitch into existence, maybe the colors of the bright colors normally associated with glitching- then you can add a black void or something as the such!

This probably already exists, but rambling about art ideas gets the itch out of my wrist. Thank you if you’ve read, as a little ending treat, imagine Grian only being able to see in black and white and being shocked when others point out he has parrot wings. Then learning to grow and accept that, then one day seeing them and seeing they aren’t near as mind numbingly bright. They’re more calm, down to earth, cooler colors. Or something like that- I’m just rambling a concept! It works better as a artistic metaphor than a writing one!

( A few more visual examples, CW for bright lights on all of these. I just spent a bit searching for some but I can’t find many other examples. But its basically those works where the central character is a bright color https://youtu.be/bTdnMcYSXeU Warrior Cats animation, more on the black and white and flashing lights.

https://twitter.com/ember_png/status/1355278976869138441 Artistic work of c!Karl from DSMP https://youtu.be/fQ3DTDbV6lo?t=38 Another Warrior cats animatic, this skips you to the more colorful/bright part. https://youtu.be/SRd7qrTzbJY?t=90 DSMP animatic, skips straight to the part that adds to what I’m mentioning, although watch the entire thing its cool. )

eueueue powerful sl!Scar concept eueueue

Scar continually pressing the button, gaining 5 hearts every few minutes and just hoping at some point it'll all end. He didn't try and bury anyone, his time was spent processing his situation. Equating it through his mind, understanding that the world was coated in silence since everyone was dead- that this is how all the previous winners felt. This was why Pearl was willing to sacrifice herself. The after, the winners spot was horrific and it is taking chomps out of Scar's body, and will slowly continue to do so until there is no more.

Scar let himself be blown up by creepers, slept without any protection, removed his armor because it was getting heavy and nothing could stop him from pressing that button. Nothing to stop those hearts from getting more and more. It was ages before something finally changed. Grian took pity, having been watching Scar this entire time, figuring eventually he'd pass and they'd all be sent home because this is Scar. Even if he survived this life series he still respawns every week inside of hermitcraft. He isn't careful, and he knew Scar wouldn't be careful during these remaining days. So Grian does /kill, and Scar screams in pain because he still stood. Still took a breath in, still cried the entire time and sobbed as he slammed the button down again.

In minecraft the /kill command is based off a certain amount of hearts. So if your hearts exceed the /kill command amount, then you will not die. I know the actual amount is extremely high and its unlikely Scar ever achieves that amount of hearts within a week of clicking the button over and over again, he probably gets really high, and the /kill can't kill him anymore. So instead the code is left eating away like a poison affect, slowly biting down on Scar's code and trying to eat through all the hearts to kill scar and it doesn't work. ( This implies by the time they do manage to move on from the Secret Life server/world, Scar would still be a red life since he hasn't died. )

tumblr making my images blurry is so untrue of them (⁠っ⁠˘̩⁠╭⁠╮⁠˘̩⁠)⁠っ

but yippee i finally drew a skeleton (yayyy yay who cheered i did)

YOURE SO RIGHT??? LIKE AAA?!?!

"I follow you around, I always have But you've gone to a place I cannot find"

Nightmare's there one day and suddenly has vanished in the blink of an eye. Dream realizing that, when he awakens, that his brother isn't there in Dreamtale anymore. That Nighty isn't by his side. Then once he too escapes Dreamtale, seeing his own brother cause all pain for hundreds out in the wider multiverse, all after watching him murder the village. Visually seeing how much he's changed- down to the color of his magic. Then pausing, watching, thinking, and finally hearing that his brother isn't there anymore. He's gone.

"But a tiny voice whispers in my mind "You are lost, hope is gone But you must go on And do the next right thing"

This is also so Dream, like, aarhhghgnnjkjlmklmk. He'd say something similar to this to himself. Please I'm seeing Dream say this and him just being utterly broken by everything around, then picking himself back up because it's the only thing he is able to do. (but also the idea of "that voice" being pass!nightmare)

"Can there be a day beyond this night? I don't know anymore what is true I can't find my direction, I'm all alone The only star that guided me was you"

The world feeling like its ended and restarted for dream with discovering the fuller multiverse then about his brother sometime after. Everything's been flipped on his head and now it's just him, trying to figure out how to manage being alone for the first time in his life. Not to mention "the only star that guided me was you" is just super sweet, and a wonderful play on their light sun-moon motif that often goes around with the twins.

"I won't look too far ahead It's too much for me to take But break it down to this next breath, this next step This next choice is one that I can make"

Him being horrified to look towards what future possibilities there are for him and living in a world without his brother by his side. Living in a world with a wide universe, tons of more people relying on the golden apple inside his ribcage than just the little villages Dream knew existed. Not to mention said brother now brings torment to worlds of people. Dream taking a large breath and trying to take it all one step at a time since that's the best he can do after awakening from stone. Anything else is all too much and AAA. After seeing what their reality has become because of the villagers and now, Nightmare?

Dream's going to try his best. Going to do the next right thing one step at a time(and Dream doing good because he failed Nightmare is utterly heartbreaking. He can make it better for some, save others from their own dying world, but the causation of it is, in his mind, his biggest failure. You put it perfectly and this song just fits so WELL mjjmakmskmd /pos ).

This song absolutely makes me think of Dream, freshly released from his statue prison and learning of what his brother has become. He hardly has time to grieve the loss, there are so many to take in at once he barely even knows of which to start. Of course for his brother, the very same one who has become unrecognizable, who now seeks to wreak havoc to those innocent. And what else, here he is suddenly older, suddenly surrounded by so much, learning of things he'd never thought possible just yesterday. But there isn't time for that, there are innocent folk whose lives are at stake and he has to help. He must do the next right thing because it is he who couldn't help the one who meant the most to him.

Short version of my headcannon, while Dream was trapped in stone, the only sense he had access too was his Empathic ability to feel others' emotions. After only having access to that sense, it's extremely powerful and sensitive to the world around Dream! He could wear a blindfold, cover his ears, and have his arms around his back and navigate through a new area with ease through a flick of his fingers. aka Dream has emotional echolocation!! Long version: Going on with the idea that once Dream was trapped in stone he was still conscious for a period of time he'd lack all his senses. There is nothing to hear, the rock was all over every phalange, nose, and eyes. Even if there was a chance to taste something, that too was gone, covered in a layer of gray. For the time he is conscious, Dream loses access to all his senses besides one- his empathy. The magical ability to feel the emotions of others and the world around.

When someone loses their eyesight, its often found that their hearing gets better as a result do to lacking that sense. This is what Dream experiences while stuck as stone. That subtle, innate ability to feel what others are becomes more sensitive, growing and reaching out in strands to absorb all it can under Dream's distress. As a kid, Dream always knew that emotions remained inside of objects, and that emotions could be left over them. Often, it took some focus to tap into these feelings, but didn't take up any magical. After being trapped, feeling the emotions from the grass becomes as natural as breathing, grabbing onto the distant bundle of negativity is like his soul beating, and anything any being comes close to Dream the powerful magic curls around them. Not feeling any of the emotions around is a sentence for fading, so it seeks the emotions the villagers left behind for weeks in the dust, magic desperately holding onto blood and poison, staying inside the melancholic cloth for as long as it's able. Dream's magic grabs at it all- negative and positive- and, sadly, results in Dream staying conscious much longer than another monster would have.

When he is finally free from stone, between suddenly having 5 more senses and his sixth being so sensitive, it's all too much, and sensory overloads are overwhelmingly common for a long while (they don't ever leave though. Dream only learns how to live with them). He doesn't have a clue how long he was conscious inside the stone, but by the end only there through fleeting moments of birds making nests and mice finding a filling meal. It's not uncommon to find Dream curled up, trying only to tune into his Empathy. His sixth sense being more sensitive never ever leaves even after getting his other weakened 5 senses back (foods never tasted as vibrant as it did when he was with his brother, Dream likes to believe that's nostalgia speaking). Later on in the aging universe, it's not uncommon to find him wearing soundproof headphones, and gloves are simply a permanent fixture.

Dream is able to feel the feeling inside something as miniscule as a leaf (someone had touched it one day ago, leaving behind a lackluster combination of screeching and a warm, endearing smile). If his eyes are shut, with a flick of his finger he can see and navigate a busy street without much strain. Although, clicking his tongue to send out the wave of magic always makes him smile, giggling as the feelings map themselves out (he refuses to do this with anyone else around, the action held close to his soul behind a brick wall). Safe to say he has spooked Blue with this bat-like ability multiple times. Blue has walked into the room and Dream's looked completely the other way with headphones and an eye-mask on, only to turn and wave at him. It becomes near impossible to hide from Dream if you're nearby. A simple wave of the hand can reveal all the hugs in one's scarf, the screaming from a blade, or the childish laughter from worn shoes.

(Dream keeps this last fact a secret: Stuck surrounded by his own brothers' emotions for so long, his powers clung to Nightmare's feelings. Easily, without question, Dream would always be able to pick out Nightmare in a large crowd. Inside an au, his Empathy targets the strained ball of negativity and tells Dream where his general location is without even thinking twice about it. Sometimes it happens so unconsciously Dream doesn't realize, stuck with a sad smile and lost laughter aches.)

The Entity <3

1. It has a water based heart.

2. Now there’s a tree growing out of it!

But- the look of that heart almost reminds me of a jelly fish. I might be pulling at strings a bit, but the see through with the glass and the ability to see the heart on the inside? Or any transparent based lifeforms you can see their internal organs.

I.E This is The Entity <3. Technically speaking, The Entity has taken shelter inside of this boulder. There’s greenery growing on top and all around it because the water is sustaining life, and this is where the tree roots would grow as well! Yet it’s place in right in the center, breathing in and out as people leave and enter. This is it in all its grand glory. Set on display like a museum does with a T-rex skeleton.

It’s real and unreal all the same. And, back to t-rex skeletons, there’s different versions that can be put together. There’s museum’s with different pieces and parts mismashed together and we have all the remains dated and noted down. If there ever becomes lore with The Entity besides being a shop, I’ll bet that destroying the heart won’t do a single thing. ( It’s just a sirens call. )

Now lets say The Entity is what it touches. It’s water moreso, assuming its taken the form of a transparent life based sentient creature. ( oh my gosh, the more I write the more I love this gosh dang little rock aww ) Could it spread to the lifeforms it touches? Is the moss growing and those trees apart of The Entity? Could it flow there? Just how much sentient life does this Eldritch being have, or is it connected to someone else and this is just a form its taking and its brain is elsewhere, which is why its just a heart? Is its grass the brain? There’s so much on The Entity and yes Grian thank you.

Sentient rock with a sirens heartbeat <3

Reblog if its ok to spam you with boops

I made a Dream Sans playlist a while back and yeeted one particular song onto it because I thought it fit Dream REALLY well. But I suck at character playlists, so it's been around for 5 months and only has 5 songs, but I checked a week back and saw that someone had saved it LMAO I hadn't shared the playlist link with another person therefore seeing it saved was a big happy jumpscare. I know not who you are but dear random person, my playlist has been upp'ed to approx. SEVEN songs(wooo!!!) Said song I made the entire playlist for btw

(Another song from this Album, Long Throes, also fits Dream. But this one has on its own given me 3 animatic ideas and I named my Molehill Dreamtale AU after it please it's so good)

InktoberTale Day 1: Ink Warm-Up!

Adjusting to anything is changing. Say, a new family member, or a shift in a lifestyle. Sometimes it is a peaceful walk through the park, other times you have to step into the volcano with a smile. The universe discovered though that change is needed. People need to adapt, grow, and shift. And for you?

The milky white void stings your eyes as little giggles chime in the air. Cringing, you raise your hands and gasp as the void twirls, putting on an elegant dance with browns, yellows, and pinks splashed into the whites. Legs failing, the rollercoaster finally arrives at its destination, and you gasp for a breath.

Straight ahead, two big, upside-down shapes stare past your soul. Above the black holes and shapes, you see the other gasp, “look! A friend has decided to join us!”

Tilting your head, you stare down the monster- a skeleton. Narrowing your eyes, you watch the others smile grow. Bird calls sing through the air. You focus on the black birth mark atop their cheek. That's the face from the dreams. 

Ink waves with a paper in hand, “hello, very curious creator! Welcome to the doodle sphere!” Both arms raise up, Ink performing a jazz hand and slowly going down, like a sun vanishing into the earth.

Following the skeletal hands you see more off-white backgrounds, piles of paper, then a mountain of said paper, which with a little cleared out path led straight to landfills of it. Eyes returning to Ink, behind him there's a floating human. Their shirt blue and purple, striped, with shut eyes and dark brown hair.

The skeleton spins away, leaving the flickering creator visible, more see through, more there. They squeak, legs kicking out and arms making a swim motion, reaching Ink's physical form and slipping back behind the skeleton. Shifting blue loading eye lights turn and stare into the void.

"There's nothing to be afraid of. Another creator has only come to say hello!" They call out, but the other creator does not show. Although, there's a distant bird call. Ink moves his head towards the call, and their eye lights change to squares with a shining grin. "I think that is an incredible idea!" The skeleton broadcasts with glee, it reminds you of a ringleader, someone at the center of everything.

One moment later the bird churr-churr comes back, pounding a little like a drumbeat, a grumble and pop and it grows and booms- and your fellow creator pokes their head back into vision of you with a little frown.

Ink taps his chin, still looking to the dumped papers opposite of you, "It's a wonderous idea! I'm sure your fellow creator would love to hear your story!"

Hear another's story? That's never happened here before.

You can hear Ink's sly smile in the air as he turns to look at you, "It's rare for creators to appear in another creator's world without an introduction!" He explains while facing you with one sun shaped eyelight, "this creator," his free hand waves to the hidden human-ghost-esk creator, "would like to share their story with you."

There is a glint in the other's eyes as they bend down to where Ink's ears would be a low looming whistle. The chimes ring as Ink lets out a full laugh, summoning a pencil to his fingertips and writing on the paper. "That's a great addition!"

You don’t know yet how this particular change is going to affect you. Does anyone even know when it begins how much you can change by the end? Does the change ever really stop? The fellow creator shuffles, slowly lifting their head to look at you.

Smiling, you nod to them. Who wouldn't want to read a new story?

Both of the other's glow like fireflies, Ink cheering and the creator getting a miniature smile. After a moment, the paper levitates from Ink's hands, "this is their story," he starts walking towards you, "they've asked me to share that it is not complete yet and constructive criticism is appreciated! They'd like to improve, and the best way to do that is through each other!" Ink pauses, "and practice too of course!"

Floating down, you hold out your hands, taking in the dusty and new flowery smell of the paper. Glancing up, a gigantic smile to your fellow creator, who lets a chirp echo throughout the universe and slips back behind Ink.

The skeleton sits down criss-cross-apple-sauce- he snorts. Glancing away just for a second and eyelights returning as bright colors. Leaning forward with a bit of a mischievous grin, "Are you ready to dive into this story?" His eyes turn behind him, "and for you to be sharing your own story?" It's light and warm and full of pride.

It was as if someone had turned on a flashlight with how wide their smile became and with their entire form floating up.

You grasp the edges of the paper, clear your throat, and begin with the first sentence, "once upon a time-"

----

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The Inktobertale/Inktale challenge originates from the mix of Inktale and October.

The challenge consists of drawing a prompt with Ink!Sans either every day during the month of October, or during the highlighted days for a

Ink!Sans belongs to Comyet!