Just Gotta Save This For When I Need It

funny skeletons are the peak of internet humor

October can’t come soon enough

Cutting through the pain? *Begins to cry tears of laughter that turn into tears of sadness*

To anyone in the TUC fandom who has looked at AHS and skipped it because they heard the ending is happy...

... and then assumed that it's just a wish fulfillment "ideal reality" kind of outcome of the TUC story that cuts all of the depth, pain, and realism ... Go back and read it right now.

Because that is not what AHS is. Not even close.

AHS is not "my version" of TUC where I just change whatever I dislike without regard for themes or characters in the original. Far from it. One of the main goals I had was actually to give more of the Underland. More characterization (that aligns with canon, although some characters develop in a different direction because of shifts in circumstances), more worldbuilding (that coincides with canon, adding onto it), ... just more, period.

The best way I can describe what it actually is is honestly saying that AHS is to TUC like Marvel's "What if ...?" is to the MCU. It is quite literally a "What if Henry had survived his fall at the end of "Gregor the Overlander"?" And I kid you not, 95% of the changes in the story, compared to TUC, are simply a result of exactly this change.

But the entire plot of the final book is different, right? Well, I didn't say that the consequences of that one change weren't substantial. They are. Without spoiling too much I can only say that Henry happens to be an optimist, and it also happens that an optimist was exactly what the TUC story needed to achieve a happier outcome.

Anyone who has actually read my version of the CoC plot will tell you that it is far from ideal, perfect, or pain-free. A lot more happens in the actual plot, but most of those new events are there to serve the dark, violent nature of war. There's so much talk about loss, and sacrifice, exploration of (also the dark side of) heroism, and whether "for the greater good" is worth it. There's corruption and death, injustice, and grappling with unkind fates and alienation/rejection.

Now, I will admit that I did put less emphasis on the societal pressure aspect of CoC, but mainly because that theme is a huge part of AHS 2 already, and it did not really fit this part of the story anymore. Instead, "Gregor against society" becomes "Questers against society" (quite literally, since they are — small spoiler — banding together to actually overthrow Solovet and bring about change.)

BUT ... if there is corruption, death, and the violence of war, how is it happier then? How can it have a happy ending?

Very simply because it is not only corruption but also redemption. Not only death and suffering but also growth and gain. Not only violence and breaking of relationships but also companionship, hope, and mending of relationships.

... The main change that happens to be so powerful it can give this series a happy ending without disrespecting or abandoning its original gritty violent core is ... a shift in mindset toward the positive. For Gregor, but also for everyone else. One of the main themes I added is the exploration of the double-edged nature of things: Everything has good and bad consequences. What we take away from it is what we choose to focus on.

Now you might see better what I meant by "All this series needed was an optimist" earlier. If there were someone to remind people of the bright side, to remind Gregor that his rager power does not make him evil and that he is never alone or choiceless, to embody this hopeful outlook and bring it out in everything ... I promise to you that this is all it would have taken.

And this is what I'm giving you.

So, a brief expansion on this because this has always been lurking in the background of my mind:

-Version of the Underland called the Wild Woods (yes very original name I know), creepy, forest-covered, Transylvania-like place

-Only accessible via paths hidden deep within big forests across the planet, no other way in (or out)

-No day, only night

-Populated by vampires (underlanders), werewolves (gnawers), maybe Arachne-like spider-monsters (spinners), and so on and so on

-Various possibilities for Gregor: Fallen angel, Wendigo, Monster-hunter who switches sides, paranormal investigator, just a confused kid who stumbled down the wrong path with his sister while walking in the forest, etc

-Dire wolf Bane? But a bigger dire wolf? Like, elephant-sized?

-Ragers could be people cursed by some kind of blood frenzy, or maybe possession by some kind of demon/ghost

-Possibly throw in some oracle-magic for Nerissa and Sandwhich

So yeah, pretty much all I have down for this weird folklore-ish au of the Underland Chronicles. Thoughts?

*whispers* werewolf!gregor au

I understand that this is not my usual shitpost, so look away now regulars (if you exist), but the rules on r/ocpoetry are a bit overwhelming, so here ya go:

Can you see the devil?

Can you see the devil?

He's in a row of masks

Holding a baton

Behind a wall of glass

Can you see the devil?

He's pouring himself a drink

Polluting the crowd

Pushing them to the brink

Can you see the devil?

He's sitting in a leather chair

His footstools are starving

But he really doesn't care

Can you see the devil?

He's pounding the table

Preaching blood-red hate

From the bar to the stable

Can you see the devil?

Look across the gap

Find yourself a bridge

Then simply look back

~~~~~

My genuine reaction after learning that Ares and Ripred MIGHT have fucked at some point. That Ripred is denying it happened, but Vikus is saying Nerissa saw it in a vision??? Was it truly innocent like Ripred is claiming? I have so many questions that I am afraid to ask.

Also @ripred-tuc-offical please, I must know these rat curses that you taught Ares

“There’s not enough art of Ripred raging.” I completely agree.

“Not enough soft art of red with the kids.” I know and I love you.

But hear me out. There’s not enough art depicting Ripred in his melancholy majesty. Sensual tired delusional man bathed in blood. A romantic and depressing renaissance oil painting of carnage and despondent curiosity of the world around him. Exhausted from the answers he’s gotten.

Ok, so chances are none of you know a damn thing about JJK, but I started writing this fic on a whim, so I may as well tell you all about it:

Gregor as a jujutsu sorcerer. After the Underland, his parents just decided to get the hell away from that place that stole away their kids and shoved them into some war by moving to Japan. And then their son gets dragged into the world of Jujutsu sorcery, which adds an interesting parallel into the mix.

Not sure if I'll give him a technique or not, but I kinda like the idea of him just going at all the curses Japan has to offer with nothing but his skill with a sword and cursed energy manipulation. BUT what I could also do is give him some kind of curse bond, like Ares or maybe even the Bane, like how Yuta fights alongside Rika.

I'm honestly thinking of sending him to the Kyoto school to even out the scoreboard, as a rager with cursed energy on their side could start to even things out, along with Mechamaru and Todo. He could also act as opposition to the higher ups and Principal Gakuganji, though I wouldn't be surprised if he got scouted by Gojo and taken to Tokyo, where Kusakabe could've helped train him (although Kusakabe seems to have taught Miwa so it's not really a deal breaker if Gregor goes to Kyoto).

I also have some ideas about him finding a curse on accident at first, then as he fights it he ends up channeling cursed energy through his rage, which allows him to kill it, before a sorcerer and/or a window show up, as they intended to kill it before he showed up, which leads to him getting enrolled.

So yeah. Came out a bit longer than intended, and most of you probably have no idea what I'm talking about, but what do you guys think? Any other ideas? Thinking of calling it "The Cursed Warrior", but I might choose another name if I find or come up with a better one.

Do I dare?

Do I dare commission the first 18+ TUC Art?

I got a widdle infwux of money, I could 👉🏾👈🏾.

Maybe a little Hamareth? It's only 95 👉🏾👈🏾 👀

Like I could actually do it 👀.

Twirltounge manipulating the Bane into commiting mass genocide:

I'm sorry but if i do make pilot episodes/shorts for my TUC animated series, Gregor's going to know and use the language of kids today. why? it's funny.

and as the questers get closer throughout the series, others start picking it up. Luxa gets to look someone in the eyes as they lose a brutal fight, bleeding out on the floor, and say "Skill issue."

Ya think Collins killed Prim just cause TUC didn't sell well enough and she decided that the MC's sister needed to die for the series to sell well?

I may or may not be a sociopath.