Did I say I was working on a big project? Yes. What did I do instead? Make an animation of Virtual Insanity (by @bronzeplates ) because it felt like the thing to do at the time…
Tbh I’m a sucker for human characters acting more animalistic- while reading this and seeing it play out in my head I knew I had to try and recreate it. At first I just planned on doing a drawing but I thought animating the impact would be a fun challenge, especially since I don’t animate too often-
Hope y’all enjoy my little animation of Simon acting like a rabid dog <3
drew this all in a span of about 3 days, my largest project since the malevolent francesca comic (if you know, you know). This wouldn't have been possible without @ctrl-shift-alt-9's INVALUABLE iron lung master reference. The shots in each of these panels were chosen on purpose and i would LOVE if anyone wanted me to elaborate on any of them!
Guess who decided to go on vacation and bring NOTHING THEIR SKETCHBOOK TO ACTUALLY FINISH THIS COMIC, but a semi-finished comic of a bloodymary swap au :] The main swap is just Simon and Grace, along with Adrian being sent on the mission to Tau Ceti, however Rocky is sent on a different mission where him and his crew end up finding AT-5. Also Ryland is upside down pinned to the wall because the sub is upside down.
Sometimes, I imagine Simon really getting into philosophical discussions with Rocky. Real heart-felt stuff. I think he and Rocky would totally go bitch-for-bitch, but they'd also level with each other a lot over really deep shit. Rocky is really good at simplifying Simon's conflicting thoughts down into something tangible and streamlined.
Observe:
Simon: I hurt people, and I meant it. I tell myself I didn't, that I was forced... but I still did it. When I think about it, though, I'm ill. Even when it didn't matter.
Rocky: Why it not matter, question?
Simon: Cut the shit, yeah? You're not the first alien I've met.
Rocky: Simon at high risk misunderstand Rocky. Grace misunderstand often.
Simon: I'm not an idiot. Try me. M'good at filling in blanks.
Rocky: ...
Rocky: It did matter, and you know it did. That is why you feel very confused. Simon meant to kill them because felt passion and love for the cause of Eden, but not anymore. Your world did not end on the outside alone, but in your heart. Nothing mattered because you gave up, and to give up is to lose your 'humanity'. To Eridians, it is a different word, but this one you know well. Strive to see in each other. Humans never quit. I know from watching you and Grace. Murder is unforgivable in my culture, but trials are still necessary, and life is considered sacred even when many are scared to go near. Not forgiving does not equate to acting cruelly in return. Did you have animals on Mars, Simon? Question.
Simon: ...we had these... 'super-mutt' dogs. Hardy little fucks. Ate rocks and threw 'em up a lot.
Rocky: I studied some about dogs. They are a predator species. They eat other biological organisms to survive. You said they were eating rocks, question?
Simon: Close to the Quiet Rapture, our living situation wasn't so great. Somethin' about the world bein' thrown off from too much trade.
Rocky: Invasive species overrunning Mars. They were wronged with no ability to determine what happened.
Simon: Yeah, they were eatin' the rocks 'cause their food sources were runnin' out. Saw some of 'em turn on each other on Eden when we didn't have enough to keep feedin' 'em. Think one of 'em bit a kid... before we had to put it down.
Rocky: Did that make the dog evil, question?
Simon: What? Nah, they were starving, and we did it to them. If anything, we're the bad ones.
Rocky: Imagine if you were a dog.
Simon: Where is this going?
Rocky: 'Try me', as you say.
Simon: Uh... okay. I am a dog.
Rocky: And you hunt to survive.
Simon: I hunt to survive.
Rocky: And something much bigger than you has taken away your ability to live in your home.
Simon: Right.
Rocky: You begin to bite anything to stave the hunger off, even friends.
Simon: Hunger for what?
Rocky: Hunger for relief of mourning.
Simon: You're saying I killed people to make myself feel better about something out of my control.
Rocky: Did it make you feel safe?
Simon: ... yeah.
Rocky: Then you were threatened.
Simon: Not always.
Rocky: But your body felt threatened.
Simon: Feels like I have to start swingin' or I'll die.
Rocky: You are a predator in an ecosystem that built them. Killing is wrong and you know that.
Simon: I never want to hurt someone again. Not if I can help it.
Rocky: Will you do the right thing, question?
Simon: ... I dunno. I'm used to having to make the hard choices.
Rocky: Hard choices are easy when you listen to yourself.
Simon: Head says 'stop seeking therapy from the talking rock', gut says 'keep talkin'.
Rocky: But it helps. 'Gut' is correct.
Simon: ... maybe.
Rocky: 'Maybe' is not a good answer for hard choices.
Simon: Half measured.
Rocky: A title? Was it given to you?
Simon: Twice.
Rocky: Hesitating is your problem. Stop doing it.
Simon: I'll die if I move wrong. I'll die if I freeze.
Rocky: Survivor mindset in newly-acquired liveable condition is very difficult to understand for Simon. Simon will not die.
Simon: I won't?
Rocky: You are eating rocks with a meal in front of you because your diet has been rocks for many years.
The premise is instead of an astrophage issue, there is some sort of radiation or contamination in the deep ocean that is causing the oceans to pollute to a deep red color, disturbing the ocean life.
Ryland Grace is sent down with Simon, who is on a plea deal, to explore the ocean floor and record samples of whatever is contaminating the water. The SM-13, also called the Iron Mary, is sent down. They enter the blood ocean, eventually being hunted down by the eel.
As the ship breaks, they become contaminated and turn into some sort of eel-like merfolk. They learn how to live with their new forms in the ocean as they come across the eridians, a deep-sea rock-like lifeform, also trying to figure out a way to solve the blood ocean issue.
AU will contain body horror, but CWs will be included on any post including it. Uploads every Monday!
sorry about all the bloodymary on the iron lung blog BUT. I think as a fandom we are missing the potential of GRACE being the pet name user of the relationship, and Simon almost exclusively calling Grace (and/or the eridians if you like it on the rocks) by first name(s).
Writing abt Simon getting rescued and just thinking abt how much I wanna draw him all mangled from them trying to take off the wooden shell.
It's particularly bad around his arm bc that part got snagged and tore off a little on the way. The holes in the flesh are where the roots ripped out >:)
