Slay The Princess dumping grounds

The name's Charlie, she/her please! This blog is exactly what it says on the tin. Main blog (if you care): ghosts-are-people-too

[match-makee]

they have turned cute and cuddly (yet their beloved has been murdered)

i had an animatic idea about this but I might do it next time. I've got other redesigns to do for the voices.

[billcyphersballsack]

Actually no joke I need to see more slay the monster (or whatever the reverse au is called) content.

I need to see the princesses perspectives translated into voices I need to hear how they think how they process. So much of (some of) the perspectives power comes from their control over their situations and I wanna know what they’d do with that partially taken away

I need to see the voices translated into perspectives I need to see how their forms are twisted and shaped by the princesses interactions with them.

I NEED to see how the narrator would respond to the shift. The entire reason the voice of the hero initially puts doubt in the player and hints that the narrators word might not be law is by pointing out the obvious tonal dissonance of a hero SLAYING a princess rather than SAVING her. But that doesn’t exist with slay the monster. The narrator wouldn’t need to work as hard to convince the player that they’re doing “the right thing” cuz it’s a monster! It’s chained up and dangerous and going to hurt a lot of people if you don’t kill it! The voice of the princess (my decided title for the VOT Hero in this au cuz obviously the actual Princess would be called the shifting mound the same way we’re the long quiet) would then have to take an angle of “we’re supposed to protect our subjects and our people. Monster or not, isn’t that what this creature is?” Which is still an appeal to the common trope as well as your morality. The narrator would play into your role as a princess like crazy going on about your duty to protect the world you rule over and to save innocent people who’s lives are in your hands, basically what he does to the long quiet but more

Mostly though I just think an inverse of their situations in the cabin would be fun. The chapter one princess is such an interesting character because she’s not the perfect victim. Her honey sweet voice and her doe eyes and her innocent scared demeanour aren’t necessarily fabricated just overplayed. She is genuinely scared, that’s the part that’s true, everything else is a desperate appeal to your humanity that you’ll let her go. It becomes somewhat real in the damsel rout when you free her and warn her and fight tooth and nail to save her, but for the most part it’s for show. If you come down there with a knife or decide mid convo you’re actually gonna kill her for real she drops it. She’s harsh and cold and keeps you at arms length, she acts bored and above it all when she speaks to you picking at her nails and glaring at you. GRANTED THAT COULD ALL BE WRONG! Maybe the harsh and cold personality is the fictitious one, a front built up to protect herself from danger, and really the frightened and desperate personality is the real one. MAYBE THEY’RE BOTH REAL! OR MAYBE THEY’RE BOTH MADE UP. It’s probably that last one but for the sake of my bit we’re going with the first one.

The point is the princess tries to appear put together and composed in both these versions of her personality, but deep down she’s like a caged wild animal and isn’t afraid to act like a caged wild animal if she has to

Now imagine the inverse of that, for The Monster

Outwardly a beast who smarls and claws at every surface trying to break free from its prison. If you bring the blade it slinks into the far corner of the room and hisses and spits while you trying and communicate with it but if you go unarmed it will lunge at you held back by its chains just barely. It’s frightening it’s threatening there is no attempt to appeal to any morality or present a domineering front to strong arm you into doing what it wants, it’s just pure violence and fear, a creature who wears its emotions on its sleeve. Depending on what you do it’s iterations become more or less beastly (I’d imagine guys like Stubborn or Broken or Hunted or Cold would get even more violent or reactive but guys like Paranoid or Opportunist or Cheated or Contrarian would have a more pensive and thoughtful approach, you can decide for the rest) but as you play and as you try and speak with it you discover actually there’s a lot more complex thought behind its eyes, and once the fear subsides there’s a person with throught and feelings hiding under all those feathers and teeth. Also not the perfect victim, they also bite the hand that feeds, but like a little to the left you know

Can you tell? Can you tell it’s like a worm digging into my frontal lobe and eating away at my brain? Huh? Can you tell???

[misswitchpleasemarryme]

GARY NO

[slaytheprofessor]

"Well..." You exhale. "If he doesn't really know what he's doing, maybe I can talk with him. See if he'll see reason."

The Guide: ...

The Guide: You can certainly try.

Voice of the Rebel: Oooh. Just got chills.

Voice of the Researcher: *mutters* Oh my god.

The Guide: You head down the street in the right direction. You know instinctively where to turn, which signs to follow, which landmarks to look out for.

The Guide: Finally, you are standing in front of the library---a small, one-story space sandwiched between two taller buildings. The windows are boarded up, and a closed sign is hanging in the door.

Voice of the Rebel: Okay, so... do we, like, smash the window, reach in, and open it from the inside, then? Or do we just kick the door down?

Voice of the Researcher: Have you considered, oh, I dunno, just opening the door? It might not even be locked.

Voice of the Rebel: Uh, it's closed. That usually means that it's locked.

The Guide: Maybe attempt to open it before engaging in destruction of property?

Voice of the Rebel: Thought you said this place was abandoned, big guy! There's nobody to make a fuss if we do a little B&E action, right?

Voice of the Researcher: I've decided that I don't like you.

Voice of the Rebel: *singsong* Ask me if I care! Teacher's pet.

Voice of the Researcher: Hey, Guide, can I punch---

The Guide: No.

The Guide: And, by the way... the professor is, by nature, a clever man. He will lie, he will cheat, and he will do everything in his power to stop you from killing him.

The Guide: You can reason with him, if you want. But I would keep your guard up. And I wouldn't be quick to trust him.

Voice of the Researcher: We're still hearing him out.

The Guide: Yes, I know. You've made that clear.

You cross the street and open the door to the library, the creaking of the door and the ringing of a little bell sounding as you do. And when you step inside...

The voices in your head are quiet for a minute.

Voice of the Researcher: Okay, uh... what the hell am I looking at right now?

The Guide: *completely and utterly befuddled* The... the library is a patchwork of so many different libraries, blended together in an ill-fitting design that seems on the verge of falling apart. Is it an office space? Is it the interior of a cave? Is it a waiting room? Is it a lab? Is it a workshop?

The Guide: The library is all of them, and they are all the library. The only thing that's clear---the only thing that makes sense---is a pristine blade, perched on a desk that resembles an impossible object drawing more than a real, tangible thing.

The Guide: The blade is your implement. I wouldn't recommend going down there without it.

Voice of the Rebel: No coffee shop? Booooo.

Voice of the Researcher: We're standing in the middle of a fever dream, and you're worried about coffee?!

Voice of the Rebel: I mean, I obviously don't need to worry about edibles, seeing how trippy this place is. *laugh-snorts* Fuck me, I feel high already! Forget the coffee bar, this place rocks!

You allow yourself to ignore the fact that there is, apparently, a part of you that enjoys taking psychedelics. Because as confusing as this place is, the Guide has neglected to mention one thing.

Hovering above the wall next to the door---and it must be hovering, since nothing fits right in this place---is a mirror. Made of black glass.

Explore:

You didn't mention the mirror.

Is... is this place SUPPOSED to look like this?

Okay... now I'm a little freaked. (Take the blade)

Better to just push on, I guess. (Go downstairs, leave the blade)

Voting ended onJul 3, 2024

[slaytheprofessor]

You let out a sigh and run a hand through your hair, realizing that you are, in fact, wearing a decorative headpiece. You've forgotten why, of course, but it still fills you with a sense of uneasiness.

"Could you please explain about the professor?" you ask the Guide. "About this place? About this wall that appeared out of nowhere after I died?"

The Guide: Right, well, I'll be happy to explain. The professor is---

He gags, then breaks out into a fit of coughs and hacks, as if his throat is full of feathers.

Voice of the Researcher: Uh... what the fuck?

Voice of the Rebel: Dude, do you need a cough drop or something? Or hairball medication?

Voice of the Researcher: Hairball medication?! Did you seriously just say---

Voice of the Rebel: We don't know what he looks like! He could be a creature or some shit!

The Guide takes a few shaky breaths, swallowing as he speaks.

The Guide: Damnit. This place, it's not... it's not letting me explain. Not the way I want to.

Voice of the Rebel: *muttering* That's pretty fucking convenient.

The Guide: Look---okay, the professor... without going into details, he's convinced that the world is broken, and killing you is the only way to fix it, but he'll destroy the world in the process.

The Guide: You're... special. You're different. And you're the only one who can kill him.

Voice of the Rebel: Oh, yay, we're special. That word totally isn't famously a shorthand for "weird" or "set up to be a sacrifice."

Voice of the Researcher: Shush. What about this place?

The Guide: *flatly* It's entirely out of my goddamned control. Wall included. And that's the truth.

Explore:

All right, I've heard enough. Let's go. (Head to the library)

Well... maybe I can talk with him, then. (Head to the library)

I don't feel special.

So I can't leave, then? Not unless I kill him?

Voting ended onJul 1, 2024

[slaytheprofessor]

"The girl's here, and she can speak for herself," you grumble, rubbing your head. "Wow, you're loud."

Voice of the Rebel: Awwww, thanks, babe! Being loud's what I'm the best at!

Voice of the Researcher: Yeah, uh, I don't think she meant it as a compliment. Or, uh, we did.

The Guide: All right, well, now that we've got that established, will you let me explain this time?

Voice of the Researcher: I'll let you explain. I dunno if she will.

Voice of the Rebel: *long sigh* Yeah, sure, go off. I don't care. It's probably a bunch of BS, anyway. *another yawn* You think the library has a coffee shop? I'm starting to crash.

Voice of the Researcher: You just came into existence, and you're starting to crash?

Voice of the Rebel: Hey, take a second to chill a little, all right, babygirl? Not everything's some big old mystery, I just need caffeine. *little snort* Or an edible, either one would be fine.

Voice of the Researcher: ...

Voice of the Researcher: *sputtering* What did you just call me?!

The Guide: *long-suffering sigh* I don't think that there are stimulants in the library. That defeats the point of a library.

Voice of the Rebel: Eh, still keeping my hopes up.

Explore:

Can you please explain about the professor? About this place? About the WALL?

Wait, now that she mentions it... how long has it been since we've eaten?

All right, come on, we're going already. (Head to the library)

Screw it, we're trying again. (Go the other way)

Voting ended onJun 30, 2024

[slaytheprofessor]

Chapter II: The Substitute

Your eyes fly open again as you sit bolt upright with a gasp.

You're alive again. You feel none of that exhaustion, none of that desperation or dread.

But as you look around, you realize that there's a wall around the city, one that wasn't there before. And the buildings seem almost... abstract. In a way that is almost unnoticeable, but in a way that catches at your mind.

The Guide: That... worked. *small laugh* I wasn't sure if that would work. I---

Voice of the Researcher: What the hell was that?! Why couldn't we leave?

The Guide: I---I don't know. It's not supposed to work like that. I mean, I suspected it could, but---

And then another voice appears in your mind.

There's no other way to describe this one other than "sharp," though the term "snarky" certainly comes to mind. She's loud and brash, yet somehow also gleeful and mischievous... well, currently, she sounds a bit annoyed.

Voice of the Rebel: *loud snort* Oh, yeah, big talk from the guy who just told our amnesiac ass that we're gonna go off someone with, like, zero explanation.

The Guide: You didn't even let me---oh. Hello. You're new.

Voice of the Rebel: 'Sup.

Voice of the Researcher: Uh... hi?

Voice of the Rebel: *yawns* Look, like I was saying, I'm all for fighting against an authoritarian educational system, right? Stick it to the man, abolish elitism, yada yada yada, but what the hell did this professor guy even do?

Voice of the Researcher: Yeah, I'm with her. We don't know anything about him. Or you, if I'm being honest.

The Guide: I told you already! If you don't kill him, he'll escape, he'll kill you, and he'll bring about---

Voice of the Rebel: The end of the world, I know, but, like... is that a bad thing? The world kinda sucks ass. I think. It must suck ass if I'm around.

The Guide: You're implying that you want to die?

Voice of the Rebel: Nah, dude, I'm just saying. 'Sides, how the hell could we be a world-ending catalyst? We're just some girl who can't remember shit.

Explore:

This girl's right HERE, and she can speak for herself. WOW, you're loud.

Okay, we just DIED. How are we back here again? And what's with the wall?

I guess there's no avoiding it now, huh?

All right, well, can you actually explain?

Right. No other choice. (Head to the library)

I, uh... I'm trying again. (Go the other way)

Voting ended onJun 28, 2024

[slaytheprofessor]

"The answer's still no," you say, immediately turning in the other direction. "I don't care how turned around this place makes me, I'm finding my way out of here."

The Guide: But---but it's right there---

Voice of the Researcher: Hey. It's not our problem.

The Guide: But it is your problem! You're the only one who can kill him!

Voice of the Researcher: We've got a choice in the matter, right?

The Guide: Wh---yes. Yes, of course you do. You always do.

Voice of the Researcher: Then we're not doing this. We're leaving.

There's a small pause. When the Guide speaks again, he sounds as if he's pleading.

The Guide: You're in the middle of a city.

Voice of the Researcher: Cities have ends.

The Guide: Right. All right. Fine. That's... that's your choice.

The Guide: You go the other way again, and... you find yourself back at the library.

The Guide: I... I don't suppose I can convince you to go in this time, right?

You shake your head. Your mind is made up.

The Guide: *sighs* All right, then.

The Guide: You continue to make your way through the winding city streets, growing more and more desperate as you attempt to find your way out. Then, strange things begin to happen.

The Guide: At first, there is a library on every other block. Then, there is a library on every single block.

The Guide: They're all tucked away between two larger buildings. You could easily miss them, but it's getting harder and harder to mistake, and harder and harder to avoid.

The Guide: The city is full of libraries. They are all identical. They are surrounding you, everywhere you turn. And they all want you to step inside.

Voice of the Researcher: *whispering* Whaaaaaat the fuuuuuuck is happening?

The Guide: *audibly pained* You've been walking for... how long? You've forgotten. I've forgotten.

The Guide: Your legs give out. You collapse onto the pavement.

The Guide: As you look up at the star-filled sky, you realize that you are tired beyond belief.

The Guide: Would it hurt to rest? Maybe you should.

Voice of the Researcher: No. No. We get up, we keep moving, we have to find our way out of here---

The Guide: I... I'm sorry. I don't think it wants you to.

The Guide: You close your eyes, and your strength leaves you. The city has claimed you, and you know that there is no leaving. Not without a price.

The Guide: You're dead, but only for now. This isn't the end.

[radioactive-yuri]

hello, tumblr user. before you is an aromantic character. they have never expressed any hint of asexuality. your task is simple: do not refer to them as an "aroace" or get mad at people writing smut about them. the duration of this task is the rest of your life. if you fail at any point in the future, i will personally shoot you.

good luck.

[deconstructthesoup]

*salutes*

[sixty-silver-wishes]

give prev’s enclosure something for enrichment

bubbly water fountain ⛲️

sunning rock 🪨

live crickets 🦗

hidey cave 🗻

exercise wheel 🎡

parasites 😳

live plants 🌱

creature friend 🦎

cozy blanket 🛏

soap operas on the tv 📺

mirror 🪞

obstacle course 🛝

Voting ended onJul 3, 2024

[fmrlbot-deactivated20260506]

i love cold so much i can imagine him reaallly looking a princess up and down, using all 3 of his braincells, gear-shaped ice cubes floating in brain juice. and coming to the conclusion, looking at the others and offering his words of wisdom:

"Well. We could stab her."

[bubblybloob]

[remaking-machine]

I drew Them

The Voices in Her Head

So far, just six of them (will do the others later)

I just love these. These are based those picrews pictures and I got inspired

Slay the Professor AU by @deconstructthesoup ( @slaytheprofessor )

[slaytheprofessor]

"There are lights on in some of the windows," you point out, gesturing up to the buildings. "Doesn't seem that abandoned to me."

There's a long and confused pause before the Guide responds.

The Guide: Oh. I... I actually don't know what that's about. Maybe some people left in a hurry.

The Guide: As far as I know, you and the professor are the only two people left here. I could be wrong.

You stop, and you think about this for a minute.

What's so terrifying, you realize, about a professor? He's just a man, a teacher, and likely undervalued at that. You have no way of knowing whether or not your Guide, as kind as he sounds, is telling you the truth. He's already proven that he doesn't have all the answers, and you have only just met him.

And if he's right, and the professor is intent on killing you... better not to risk it, right?

"No, screw it," you decide, spinning around on your heels. "I'm not doing this. You can get some other person to do it."

The Guide: Wh---no, that's not---wait! You haven't even heard me out!

"Don't need to," you say firmly. "I'm not killing someone who could be innocent, and I'm not risking my life. There's people left in this city, and I'm going to try to find them."

The Guide: But---

And then a voice appears in your head. Your Researcher.

Of course, you don't recall her at all, but you still feel that little rush of excitement and relief as she speaks in your mind.

Voice of the Researcher: You heard her, buddy. We're not doing this.

The Guide: I... fine.

The Guide: You walk down the street with a determined feel in your step, attempting to wave and signal at the windows that have lights flickering in them. Nobody responds to you, and the further you go, the more you realize that this city truly is abandoned.

The Guide: And just as fear settles in... you arrive at the library, sandwiched between two smaller buildings. Huh.

Voice of the Researcher: Wait, WHAT?!

The Guide: That's, uh... not how that's supposed to work. Odd.

The Guide: *overly cheerfully* Well, now, can't resist the call of adventure after all, right? Let's get on in there!

Explore:

All right, fine, I'm going! Sheesh. (Go inside)

Fuck this. (Go inside)

The answer's still no. (Go the other way)

(Go the other way)

Voting ended onJun 27, 2024

[johnnyjoestarrelatable]

being moderately proficient with computers in the early 2010s was casting a hex on your family to call you sheldon

[johnnyjoestarrelatable]

i got a big bang theory box set and a bazinga t shirt for christmas when i was 16

[cozy2000]

my dad wanted to get me a psych eval so i could say "im not crazy. my father had me tested." like sheldon did and after the psych eval they diagnosed me with paranoid schizophrenia

[baboon-87]

this could be the funniest thing that has happened to anyone ever. my condolences king

[beartitled]

Full uncensored art (and more close ups) is under 👇 read more 👇

❗️Trigger warning : blood, gore, body horror

New megadrawing 🎉yuppie🎉

I attempted to draw every princess in the game (at this point of time) 👸

Most likely missed a few, but tried my best to catch them all™️

✨👀 @blacktabbygames

[yourlokalescholar]

The more I think about Slay The Princess and fairytale tropes, the more details I find

Like there’s the obvious one with the Hero and the Princess, and the way it’s kind of up to interpretation which one of you is the monster. Plus The Narrator actually being a character is a sort of subversion of fairytale tropes.

Then there’s the different routes: The Tower (in which the Princess is imprisoned), The Witch (who places a curse on the Princess and/or imprisons her), and even The Stranger (“there are only two kinds of stories: ‘a person goes on an adventure’, and ‘a stranger comes to town’”—John Gardner).

AND ALSO THE MAGIC MIRROR! I literally just realised this writing the next chapter of my stp fic and had to post about it. When I first played the game, I wondered why the mirror was so prominent, and why they chose it to be the way the Hero gets to The Shifting Mound. Of course there are multiple interpretations, and I’m sure there are many reasons for it, but at its core it’s a fucking magic mirror. Another incredibly famous fairytale trope!!! And I didn’t even realise!!! Because it fits so well with the themes of the game!!!!!!

[deconstructthesoup]

Y'know what, screw the "voice designs get unlocked when you unlock the voices," I love all these ladies and I'm gonna talk about them.

So!

Apprentice is basically dressed like a cute wizard girl you'd see in an anime or video game---big hat, comfy cloak, frilly skirt, thigh-high boots, and an equally frilly button-up. It's her first day at wizard school, she's starry-eyed and ready to learn, but she's still incredibly naive. She's also got a wand, because how else are you going to learn how to cast spells?

By contrast, Curious is more of a "cozy librarian" type girl---big comfy sweater, big comfy skirt, glasses on a chain. She doesn't have multiple heads or arms or anything like the Stranger does, even though she's a Stranger equivalent, but her features are... floating is the best term I can use to describe it. She's confused, she wants to know more, she's gained through moments where questioning things leads to mixed results---our girl's a bit scattered, and that's okay.

Charming is styled more like your typical Halloween witch---big black hat, black dress, belt stocked with potions, and a badass magic staff. She's still got catlike features, because she wouldn't be herself without them, and... yeah, no, Charming's design is pretty standard, all things considered. She's a devious little magical catgirl.

Warrior is a full-on lady knight. She's fully dressed like your typical paladin---gorgeously designed armor, a billowing cape, and an enormous fuck-you sword. And while she definitely has a bit of an ego, this woman is very much your classic knight devoted to a cause. All of the Voices secretly have a thing for her. Especially Researcher.

Restless is styled in a Victorian fashion---fancy updo, corset, heavy skirts, puffy sleeves---and she looks every bit as ghostly as her canon counterpart. She's someone who can't handle stagnation, and just wants the freedom to be impulsive and crazy... hence, why she looks like the tortured heroine of a gothic novel.

Doll also has a Victorian aesthetic, but it's more akin to, well, a spooky doll---frilly black dress, pigtails, the whole nine yards. I also imagine her, weirdly enough, holding a doll, just so she can have something to squeeze when things get really freaky. She's got Jane Doe vibes.

Humbled is bound in chains like Prisoner is in canon, but she's dressed in rags instead of a princess dress. Her whole thing is that she's been beaten down and made to believe that she's lesser, and her design kind of reflects what it feels like to be at rock bottom and being kicked when you're down---even though she is much smarter than she believes herself to be. (And yes, I am drawing from insecurities based on having been a neurodivergent kid with strict and exacting teachers, what of it?)

Hateful is still a large devil girl, but she's visibly unwell (bags under her eyes, sunken features, regularly coughs up blood), she's dressed in a hospital gown, and there's still IVs in her arms that aren't attached to anything but are nigh-on impossible to remove. I've considered renaming her Voice of the Patient, except she's... well, the opposite of patient. She's essentially meant to be someone who is sick and is getting worse by the minute, but keeps on fighting anyway because she doesn't know how to do anything else.

Prepared still has a lot of animalistic features in her design, though she looks less like a prowling beast and more like someone who's well on their way to becoming one---basically, werewolf vibes. She's kind of meant to be a contrast to the Inventor's more industrial style, representing a natural force that's apprehensive towards all the metal and gears and is hell-bent on proving that he doesn't have an advantage. She has the instincts of an animal, and she can guide us through... hopefully.

And last but not least, Rebel is the most modern out of everyone else---baggy pants, combat boots, chain wallets, leather jacket, the whole shebang. If the Substitute is the teacher who has no idea what he's doing, then Rebel is the student who's slacking off, cutting class, and has no other motivation other than to be a thorn in authority's side. In my opinion, the Razor is the only one who really breaks away from all the fantasy vibes of all the other vessels, and I think that should carry over into her voice equivalent.