#trapped mice

[coldranger]

Who was right, who was wrong?

It doesn't matter: the damage is done.

Oh Trapped Hunted, my beloved son stuck in an unfortunate situation. Don't know what I'm talking about? You can read it here.

More is to come. Eventually. Anyways funny sketch

[coldranger]

Instinct/Trapped Hunted progression! (+ a rat for scale)

For a quick side note take these colors with a grain of salt, especially popsicle Oppy over there. I just picked a grey that didn't blend too much with my line color and stage 4 just has a general "looming creature in shadows" type of vibe lmao

Quickly summarizing what this is for, in Trapped Mice Hunted has the ability to summon the lingering instincts in TLQ. It can physically manifest partially, but not create its own body. The longer Hunted keeps these instincts around, the more warped by those desires he becomes. Hence, the progression.

Stage 1 -> 2 No major changes. Hunted's tail becomes more frayed, he gets some cool eyeliner, and one of his plumes become a horn. Somewhat superficial, nothing too bad. This is where Hunted is at the end of Mouse's Trap.

Stage 2 -> 3 Stage 3 is what Instinct Hunted in general looks like, he takes on some of Den and Quiet's features but not completely. In Trap!Hunted's case he scratches off his stitches, gets a bit taller, and grows more horns.

Stage 3 -> 4 A Trapped Mice specific form. Opportunist does not leave Hunted alone even if Hunted tries to avoid him. His instincts keep him safe but at what cost. His body distorts more, his feathers longer and shaggier, horns continues to grow, spikes start emerging in an attempt to deter Oppy from making any sort of contact with Hunted. In this state Hunted is very out of it mentally, he deals with headaches and the dwindling resistance to just get rid of that pesky rat.

[coldranger]

A Mouse's Trap

Warning for blood, gore, and injury Read left to right

Who's the mouse in this situation? I'll let you decide.

Plot/Lore Ramble: So for a basic plot summary, Opportunist is celebrating a job well done as their plan went off without a hitch. He goes to share this merriment with his partner, Hunted. Hunted doesn't seem to be as excited and actually slices off Oppy's arm that, suspiciously, was gripping the pristine blade. Hunted laments how he just wanted to make Oppy feel safe and went along with his plan thinking it would be something harmless, like Contrarian's little pranks. In usual Opportunist fashion, Oppy was using this as a chance to kill everyone else. Despite this and all of the pain Oppy caused, Hunted can't bring himself to kill Oppy in retaliation. Hunted is naturally a pack animal; the flock sticks together. Hunted then leaves Oppy alone taking the blade with them.

The brief glimpses of a large creature (the hands grabbing Cheated and the maw about to chomp on Cold on page 2, or the eyes in page 3) is instinct Quiet. It's not actually Quiet the protag, it's more a manifestation made from TLQ threads. Its influence affects Hunted the more he uses it, such as his eyes becoming more like instinct Quiet's. I'll be making more doodles to show Hunted's progression :]

Anyways, the plan was to use instinct Quiet to kidnap everyone into a secluded location. It would functionally serve to disempower everyone and show Oppy that there's nothing to worry about, no one voice is more dangerous than the others. He's safe here and with them all. Once everyone was capture they could, I dunno, have a good laugh about it or something. If this sounds like it defeats the whole point by having a voice use a trump card against everyone else it is. Everyone is then disorientated once they arrive to "the location" which Oppy uses to stab them. Except for Skeptic, he stumbles upon it once voices go missing

There's a bunch of other little things I could ramble about but I'll save that for later posts. Thanks for making it down here and make sure to watch your back :]

[coldranger]

A Host of Problems (You Made Them)

Based on @hello-universe-lovers Trapped Mice writing they made !!

Set at least a day or so after Mouse's Trap. Opportunist just can't seem to find any sort of peace after...the incident. He's still not sure how to process it, so to speak.

Extra

Spooking Opportunist was funny Host, but you didn't think about getting down did you. Thankfully lingering instincts was there to help

And a massive thank you to Mai for writing something for Mouse's Trap!! Stupid rat son being stupid <333

[coldranger]

actually, I'm asking you trapped mouse

yes

both of them

[gives mic to you]

[fumbles mic]

You're asking for what. I- uh, hrm. Well I can't say no now can I? Alrighty then.

Ahem.

Their first comic originally posted almost 5 months ago, everyone give a warm welcome back to Trapped Opportunist and Trapped Hunted (Troppy and Trunted respectively)

To get the easier of the two over with Troppy is just Oppy but missing an arm, specifically his right. Why his right? That's his blade arm silly, that's always been his blade arm. Without his blade arm he should be less of a threat. In theory anyways.

Due to this the right side of his feather poncho is always disheveled. Is it because he doesn't preen them and just isn't taking care of himself? Is he just avoiding the problem? Is he just too worried about Hunted showing up and killing him? Who knows.

As for Trunt himself he too stays fairly standard to his base design, ignoring the horns and spikes that start sprouting from his body. I think my favorite detail is how his asymmetry swaps sides! He gets two horns on the right and one feather on the left, but unlike his usual self his feather is just as long as the taller horn.

Trunted has become distorted and any attempts to return to the status quo fail. No matter how badly he wants them to or how hard he tries, one of them isn't willing to change. So he has to adapt like he always has.

Thank you very kindly for the ask!

[coldranger]

Heheh, is this like a gamble?

Trick or Treat !

Indeed it is and you got tricked!

"Why you. Why any of you. I didn't want this."

Oops! Cold is dead chat! Go blame the rat.

[ravechildglasgow]

Compilation - Armellodie Is 10 [Armellodie]

Compilation – Armellodie Is 10 [Armellodie]

Everyone loves a compilation and, after ten years on the go, Armellodie Records, founded in 2007 by Al Nero and Scott Maple, most surely deserves one. Somewhat overused used word but idiosyncratic perfectly encapsulates the label and its roster: across a generous helping of twenty tracks, there is a unifying aesthetic but it’s also an expansive enough selection that you’re almost bound to find…

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[armellodie]

Trapped Mice // Sacred to the Shades Out Now!

We're pleased to say that Trapped Mice's new album, Sacred to the Shades, is available as of today on CD and download. Fresh from a glowing review in yesterday's Sunday Herald, the band have revealed a lovely animated video for the album's  title track.

The band will be playing a hometown launch show on Friday (11th April) at the Wee Red Bar, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, 7PM - FB Event Page -  Support on the night comes from the excellent Zed Penguin and Now Wakes The Sea.

Sacred to the Shades is out now and available from all good record shops and direct from ArmHQ. Hit it!  

"There aren’t many records that have the range of this one, both lyrically and musically. They use the grand orchestral swirling of guitars like the hands of the famed (then shamed) Philippino surgeons who could reach in through your skin and tear your heart out." - AmericanaUK