Apparently reblogging something that tumblr has flagged as mature (like that satirical post about how anti porn sentiment is rooted in misogyny and conservative purity culture) will affect the the reblogger's themed page. But if it's paginated, it'll only apply to the page you're currently on? Either way it shouldn't be an immediate issue.
If anyone is ever training you to replace them in a position and tells you 'its an easy job I don't do much' what this means is that you are about to spend six months to a year catching up on all the stuff they didn't do and sorting out the stuff they did poorly.
In related news I finally managed to finish un fucking my predecessor's lack of a filing system.
My job is literally in safety and emergency management and that phrase makes me break out in hives. Which is to say that you are entirely one million percent correct.
I was feeling agitated and artblocked yesterday so I decided to give my brain a rest by watching TV and then the next thing I knew these were in front of me
Writing work reports and vaguely mulling over the next chapter or two.
I'd like to include two distinct scenes in one chapter (half mantis politics, half checking in on the group in the Queen's Gardens), but that depends on whether I can construct the dialogue flow properly.
Like I cannot overstate how much this damn comic is the result of me telling @sandflakedraws that I thought the Green Prince deserved a "himbo mantis boyfriend," and then reverse engineering the conditions required to get that result.
The story is only partially about the bug yaoi at this point, somewhere along the line it turned into an actual narrative with stakes and themes and shit.
Like, I've mentioned before that I don't really enjoy shipping unless I find two characters more interesting in a relationship than not... and as an aroace person, that can be pretty rare. On top of that, I'm not fond of using romantic relationships as the primary vehicle for "fixing" trauma.
But I was deeply intrigued by Hornet's journal entry about the Clover Dancers:
For one to love another so similar to themselves, is that selfless or vain?
For the Green Prince, choosing to live means more than simply not dying. To survive is to adapt, to grow, to change--there will inevitably come a day when he will look at himself and no longer see his lover reflected.
And so much of this turmoil could be surfaced and expanded upon with this secondary question, of what it would mean for a person like the Green Prince to fall in love with somebody who was his opposite.
As a result, a lot of the story emerged from asking what that "opposite" means in this situation, and the circumstances that would produce that sort of person, and the situations that would even bring the two into contact with each other.
So while the bug yaoi is not exactly the Main Plot (that, as usual, goes to Hornet and her Shenanigans), it is very much sits at the conjoined heart of the story.
All this to say, as a character Vise wasn't designed to "fix" anything, he's designed to excavate the Prince's grief in ways that none of the other characters could manage.
Anyways, I'm done rambling about the sad gay bugs for now.
I wasn't planning on posting this until after the next chapter, but hey, June 1st! Have some bug yaoi!
Plenty of you have kinda guessed that this might be one of the story directions, and though it's far from the only beat in the Green Prince's plotline, their interactions are very fun to draw. Also... Do not be fooled, Vise only has game when he's not trying.
Also some bonus hangouts. Lace is ✨️ distraught ✨️ that Hollow wants to sit politely and listen to Shakra sing.
The apocalypse has come and gone, and against all odds, Pharloom remains standing. The time has come for Hornet to return to Hallownest, accompanied by friends and allies: Shakra hopes to explore the mythical land beyond the wastes, and properly lay to rest a member of her own tribe; Lace fears unraveling without the aid of a Weaver, while contending with the immensity of a future free of her mother’s threads; and the Green Prince lives only only to spite the Citadel, passively seeking a more honorable end than might be found in the rubble of his homeland.
Meanwhile, Hornet returns from Pharloom with magic and knowledge that might aid in the slow recovery of Hallownest and Deepnest–and perhaps offer the chance to call home the sibling she once thought lost to her forever.
Chapter 7: The Shape of a Future You Can't Yet Grasp
[<<Prev] [Chapter 7] [Next>>]
It's been ten thousand years since we had a chapter properly focused on the green bean, but it looks like he's finally stopped dissociating long enough to participate in the plot. It's probably because of the Emotional Support Grubs, let's be honest.
At any rate, we're kicking off his plotline properly, with mantis politics and the introduction of the only major original character in this comic--Vise, a mantis who until recently existed in my notes exclusively as "Himbo Mantis."
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Hollow Knight Fanart Masterpost
Transcript:
Page 1
Vise: A challenge to the Lords?
Hornet: Yes. My companion seeks passage through mantis territories... however, we have been informed that travel through the wastes is restricted at present.
Vise: You have been told true.
Vise: The Second passed during your absence. The Last remains strong in mind, but increasingly frail in body. Until a new Lord is named, our borders remain closed.
Hornet: Frankly, I had expected you to be Shakra's opponent, Vise.
Vise: Alas, no. As bearer of the Mark, you know well the pride of my people--change does not come easy, and I will not prove the taint of my lineage by seizing power not freely given.
Page 2
Hornet: Regardless, I should like to meet with your Lord, if only to declare my return to Hallownest. I would have your Guard as escort to avoid any undue confusion.
Vise: An excellent suggestion! Your presence would be most welcome!
Vise: And your green friend's as well, should he wish to join us.
Lace: Wait! Why is he invited, but we are not!
Vise: ...
Vise: ...because he's a mantis?
Hornet: ....
Lace: ....
Hollow: ?
Vise: ...no?
The Green Prince: ....
Vise: ...Helter, he's a mantis.
Helter: As you say, sir.
The Green Prince: ....
Page 3
Vise: So, foreign bug... From where do you hail, if not a distant tribe?
The Green Prince: Ah... but by your own decree, am I not a mantis?
Vise: Ha! You speak well, fair kin! However. Were it not so, what might you be?
The Green Prince: ...I am a Verdanian.
Vise: Auntie, what is a Verdanian?
Hornet: Him. Clearly.
Vise: ....
The Green Prince: ....
The Green Prince: And you are the prince of these lands?
Vise: ...I beg pardon?
Page 4
The Green Prince: They treat you as an heir apparent... so I had assumed you of royal descent.
Vise: ???
Hornet: The mantises swear fealty to neither god nor queen.
Hornet: Their rulers are elected by council, often based on demonstrations of leadership and martial skill--both arenas in which Vise excels. But the Lords have not ceded power.
The Green Prince: What stays his claws?
Hornet: The current stewards have held jurisdiction since my youth--longer than memory for many a mortal bug. Under their guidance, the tribe maintained sovereignty despite the encroachment of the Pale.
Mantis Youth: Vise! You're back!
The Green Prince: So it is an issue of politic rather than strength-- To depose a leader so regarded would reflect poorly, even in tradition's name.
Vise: Denna! Mel! Claws! Claws! We've spoken about this!
Mantis Youth: But we missed you!
Page 5
The Green Prince: ...
Vise: ?
The Green Prince: ....
Vise: Hello Auntie!
thank you SO MUCH for reminding me about [feature of patriarchy] and [problem caused by lack of kids' sex ed] random tumblr user in the notes! louder for those in the back!
