what are wicked wiles?

Indie Villainous Multimuse! About Muses Rules

[warncdandwiles]

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[handfulofmuses]

“Oh, you have plans outside of me? Color me surprised because you kidnapping me once again makes it hard to tell. I’d love if you had more plans that don’t involve, you know - me!”

He was not too worried about his team, unless, well, he really planned something really nasty that involved all of them, that would be bad. They can hardly handle this energy vampire. Most of it is usually pure luck.

But better his team dealing with that energy vampire than him. He wants to avoid this monster if he can help it. That time on Tradeworld, he was sure he could handle him again. But everything else, XR just keeps getting dragged along when it came to this villain.

But should he worry? It’s not like they are worried when he plays bait. It will be fine.

“Come on. We both know where this goes anyway - you come up with a great revenge plan that gets wrecked, we defeat you as we have so many times before and you end up in prison. Might I suggest some more interesting things for you?“

He really needs to stop running his mouth and quit being sassy, but that’s how he copes when nervous.

[warncdandwiles]

"You are a guilty pleasure, I'm afraid. Like humans who snack on French fries or burgers packed with grease, I know accepting you as a regular target has taken some of the class out of my capers."

But spite doesn't care for reputation; Nos-4-A2 may enjoy and air of fear and mystique, but he doesn't care who's slighted them, he'll make them pay even if it looks ridiculous. Appetite over PR. A prowling animal doesn't care if it eats a majestic creature or a rat, so long as it eats.

"You do realize that by criticising the game of letting you live so that you may draw in your friends, may lead to me taking your advice and simply eating you now?"

Really, he was built to have more self-preservation than this, surely. But by all means, let's change up the formula! Embrace impulsivity. He's been bored lately.

"But enlighten me! Do you believe I should study law? Turn over a new leave? How would the great XR deign to redeem a creature built to devour...or die?"

[skincmrinks]

all the important bets he's already put down . those that would make even the grinchy ol' crock frown . if only you knew , old friend . old bean . perhaps you'd think twice before acting so mean .

“ i'm no house cat , mr. grinch . i'll take your wager . ”

maybe this isle's also given him a partialness toward danger .

he blows a smoke ring , that smarmy old cat : “ you've fixated your efforts on the boy in the brown hat . ”

& there he is , young howard , in the smokey frame . the pianist plays a little softer as the boss sets the game .

“ he's on a mission to rescue his friend . i am here to ensure he reaches The End . but the fickle human heart is beyond my control . i can only give hints . that is my role . ”

don't get protective, now . don't give him an inch . although it doesn't suit well with the cat , he waits for the grinch .

[warncdandwiles]

(It may feel like the cat is throwing poor Howard under the bus, but the Grinch would've gone after him anyway - even if that's only known to us!)

Rotten as he is, the Grinch will let others say their piece, he lets his rival talk, with one bushy brow all a crease.

He leans against a twisting column, chuckling deep and low. "And it isn't in my nature to simply walk up and land a blow." He'll gleefully pick up what he's laying down, and the idea quickly upturns his frown.

"If it's your aim to nudge him to the finishing line, then my goal will be to make sure he runs out of time. Or better yet, my beasties won't need to tear him apart. I figure I could make him give up and depart. I'll prove to you that he never had much of a heart."

He leans forward; one hand to his jaw, as if sharing a secret. "That boy is less virtue, all the more flaw."

The seeds are there, already abed; all the Grinch has to do is echo back what the boy has already said.

[warncdandwiles]

I promise to doodle the 'human Grinch' design I've been noodling up soon to make up for all the 'super mean' Grinch threads and one-liners lately, but when the Grinch targets Howard in the grinch night! verse, it really is just coincidence at first. He doesn't know this was one the Cat's little students, nor a particularly loved one, nor was the link to Euchariah Who popping into his head until their second meeting. He saw Howard trekking in the dark with his lantern, looking nervous, and saw easy pickings for what began as a mean-spirited prank. The more time he spends on the island, the worse his temper sours and the more twisted he becomes.

While his counterpart in the main storyline I made slowly resembles a human more and more as time goes on, he becomes more monstrous here as midnight nears.

Howard doesn't run into the man sending apparitions after him directly until they both enter the mansion. At first he approaches the Grinch much like TriceMire; trying to apply to reason - why are you be so hostile, I've done nothing to you! Please stop what you're doing and let me through! And that's when the Grinch starts remembering a certain Who-Child who tricked him out of a good old ball.

(On an off-note, I recall in Alice and Wonderland, Alice isn't just mistaken for 'Marianne' she's described as 'becoming' her in the sequence because in dreams, you often end up 'being' other people. When the Grinch enters this world, as an ally he either becomes a regular looking human dude, and Howard's mentor, as the 'story' needs him to be, or more unsettling like the Ancient Ones or the Beast-Men if he chooses to become an antagonist. Cat Returns style, baby.)

But yeah it would. Not end well for Howard at all if he were to find out all the details of his past.

[warncdandwiles]

Lazily, he closes one eye, and what's lingering in the left one is terribly sly.

"I'll admit I'm being petty, I've done less for people who have annoyed me more. But he reminded me of someone, and that I couldn't ignore."

[slumbrlcnd]

well , that was a doozy ! the fall was far from neat , but as the cat lands , he does as is cat proper : on his feet . his hat went expand-o ! filled up like a balloon , & parachuted him down into this land of the loon .

the cat considers his position , these non-euclidean planes . the scales . the sounds . it's all chilling for the veins .

he picks up his umbrella , the shaker , clip & spool , as the warden's voice echoes to set the game rule .

very grimm . very folksy . very " old-lore . " it's all that very sort you've heard in a once upon a before . cat had been right on the money then , making that three-tool selection . it just so happens that the grinch isn't the only one with the old-lore connection .

“ oooone condition , one condition , ” a finger help up to the sky , as though bored . “ the children return home . regardless of how i've scored . ”

the tip of the thread he ties round his thumb . now to find the kids , each & every-one . the ladders to nowhere might serve a clue , & the cat scales one up for a better view .

[warncdandwiles]

A grumble and a gripe; there's a sense of drumming fingers again, maybe the Grinch is counting back from ten.

"Very well, let it not be said I can't make a concession." What does he have there? He shouldn't have let him keep anything else in his possession!

"I suppose in the grand scheme, it's you agency fools who cause me more trouble." Up the ladder he goes, on the double! The voice mellows out, amused by the sight.

"Going trade your freedom for some kids you haven't met, right?"

Up above, there are large holes in the...sky? But the ladders do not reach them; it's stupid to try. The looping doorways and stairways stretch on.

But like in a carnival, there's pulsing light in the throng. Arrows that gleeful blink in and out: come this way! We'll lead you, no doubt.

"I'll even throw in a little warning, my dear. Don't stand in one place too long, or something will draw near."

And already, there are lanky, long-faced creatures; like vultures wearing bed-sheets, with no fingers or features. Moseying around the bottom of the ladder, staring up at their guest, they seem a little madder!

[warncdandwiles]

Getting to describe the inside of the Paraphernalia Wagon is a blast. I don't think I can emphasize how obsessed with Grinch Night I was as a youngster.

[slumbrlcnd]

woah ...

it sure is dark down there ... dark as pitch . it prickles up the cat's fur again , his hunches start to itch . but even as the air changes rapidly , the grinch's grin says " beware , " the anticipatory , childlike wonder never leaves the cat's stare .

“ speaking of a breeze— ”

he's drawn in , quite literally ! by some sour-sweet wind . the cat holds onto his hat as the atmosphere is dimmed . then the arm snatches him ! he emits a toy-like SQUEAKIE ! & he's lifted quite easily by the blue-armed creepy .

“ oh my , so 𝒾𝓃𝓈𝒾𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓃𝓉— ! ” an invitation so dire . it'd be rude to turn down , though the grinch's intent is to conspire .

first order of business : secure the kids . once that's done , the REAL fun can be-giz .

“ ah— i must bid thee ' au revoir , ' mr. grinch ! just for a tick ! ” he yells as he's pulled under , pulled under REAL quick .

“ 'kay , byyyyyyʸʸʸʸʸʸʸʸᵉ— ”

[warncdandwiles]

a merry wave of wiggling fingers as the cat's dragged in, and away he goes, as he said, like a sardine crammed back in a tin!

There's a lot of steep falling, a tumble or two, and when the Cat lands on a pink-red surface, the room has bid him adieu. There's tall archways criss-crossing impossibly; ladders that lead to nowhere, an improbability!

And behind this strange architecture, lies the abyss. In the distance, long-legged, faceless figures are difficult to miss.

"I'll play you a game, my striped-hatted friend," the Grinch's voice calls, and echo to it's blend, "Find the children before the last grain falls."

(And hourglass is hovering, giant, up in the air. So far away, it would give those with kenophobia a scare.)

"But if you fail, you'll stay in these walls. And make a good snack for the un-human thralls!"

You'd expect it to be dim, to not see a mitten in front of your face, but no, the colors pop, such is the non-ecludian nature of the un-human race.

[fusionfall-adeline]

"Um...two...two men."

Yes, those two strange men. What were their names? One...Oncler...McBean?

Something like that. Two honestly equally unsettling men, almost as unsettling as the creature in front of her.

She couldn't explain it. They just felt off. Just like the toy, off.

"Well, uh...I-I don't know if protesting is the right word."

All she and her friends did was spend some of their free time after school picking up litter, tossing away the garbage, and placing cans in the proper recycling bin. Then, when it all seemed to just keep piling up and piling up with these strange products as the cause, they made flyers and pamphlets, trying to warn all the adults of the potential dangers and damage these products could pose in the long run if left unchecked.

Was protesting the right word? It wasn't like they were making signs and yelling right outside their booths.

They were just...doing what was right, right? Recycling, picking up waste that wasn't yours.

Nonetheless, Addy gave a small, grateful smile at his praise.

"Well, t-thank you, mister. I appreciate the praise, but...but I guess I-I just don't feel right accepting this prize. We were just doing the right thing, what anyone else would have done. My dad said you should do the right thing because it's right, not because you're expecting a prize."

...And he said not to accept gifts from strangers. Even if they were possibly a figment of your imagination-

[warncdandwiles]

"Certainly a lot of effort into not protesting. Pamphlets, flyers, little posters decrying two honest businessmen Quite contesting?"

His fingers drum along the mantle; the smile is far less kind, the eyes narrow. Maybe he hadn't put as much effort into fooling this one as he ought to; maybe he should have left the toy quicker. Oh well.

He tittered, and scrooped the toy wagon up again, bow and all, and began turning the key on the back with leisure.

"You have half a brain at least. Most kids your age act like their head is full of yeast!"

Click click click, goes the key.

"I'm afraid, my dear, I'm here on their behalf. Though pulling your leg wasn't much of a laugh! After today, you'll swear to mind your own business. Really...I'm doing you a kindness."

He plonks the wagon down on the mantle; the tiny hatch at the top flips out. The shadows on the wall begin to twist. The colors of the living room become over-satured, blurry like in mist.

"The un-human race would like to give you a shout."

[cloakedin]

Honestly, Shadow had intended to glean something more along the lines of personality, but what he was told still piqued his curiosity. 

So this leader was mostly a rat? Shadow was no stranger to the idea. He himself wasn't one-hundred percent rat either, after all.

And yes… one could say he was sick of how things were. (Or maybe things under Cluny had just been especially bad.) He told himself he’d accepted it for a long time, even tolerated the Redwallers’ blatant distrust of him despite the work he did aiding in their fight against his former chief. 

He mulled over the younger rat's words, then tilted his head. There was no glint or gleam of light from the eyes hidden under his hood.

“You have my attention,” the thief said. “I'd be interested in speaking to this chief before making my decision.”

“Am I correct in guessing he's part goodbeast? Mouse, perhaps?”

[warncdandwiles]

Vitch stopped short, turning to eye the stranger, incredulous. Most didn't clock it right away --- in fact, many refused to believe it at all!

"Didn't think many beasts thought it possible. Goodbeast? Is that what folks around here call 'em? Nothin' that good about them!"

But he's beating around the bush, "Yeah, he's half mouse, though you'd never believe it, at first glance! But you can see it. And the funny part of the story is that it was his mouse family that was the scarier ones."

He picked up a stick, to swish it through the air like a pretend sword.

"He's tough. And he's not afraid of anythin' and he doesn't seem to get how things work around here. He talks like all beasts are equally untrustworthy. And he...likes that about us?"

Honestly, the guy was a bit insane. But a NEW kind of insane.

[slumbrlcnd]

“ that's them ! ” the cat cheerfully replies . it looks like the grinch has already met the little guys . then he MUST know where they are ! aww , c'mon ! please give ol' cat a clue !

that odd toy wagon sticks out amidst the other two .

the cat snaps his fingers .

“ sardines . ” he concludes . “ like hide-&-seek , but reverse ! also called ' ghost in the graveyard , ' but that name is more scurce . ”

“ the rules are simple : many seekers , one hider . the seekers find the hider , & squeeze in right beside-er . then there are TWO hiders , then three , then four ... until there's only one seeker left & no more . ”

why is he telling the grinch this ? yip-yapping about , the feline rummages through the kitchen cupboards to pull some things out :

a paperclip , a spool of thread , & a saltshaker painted red .

“ guess we're still ' it ... ' ” his gaze lingers for a bit . on that wagon . that wagon . that wagon that doesn't fit ...

he picked it up with a curious sort of care . he knows better than to break anothers' toys— oh ? it has a latch over there !

what did curiosity do to the cat ? there are work-in-progress protocols to abide ...

but he didn't get that memo .

the cat looks inside .

[warncdandwiles]

All through his wandering, the Grinch is patient and it's almost unreal - how still he was, if not for the slow lift and fall of one heel. "One seeker left and no more?" He echoes, let it not be said this cat is a bore.

The guy must have at least half a brain; he spies out the wagon, and the Grinch doesn't have to explain.

It's only when the latch comes undone, that the easy smile turns most unkind, he's up on his feet, approaching from behind. He learns round his shoulder, like watching a friend unwrap a gift; that's when the temperature in the rooms starts to shift.

"Nifty little contraption, isn't it?"

At first there's a strange darkness, sitting in the little wagon -

"Certainly a tight squeeze. But for someone who arrived through a mouse-hole...for you, it should be a breeze!"

Like a vacuum, the air starts to pull; at his fur, at his hat, the paperclip and the spool! The Grinch steps back, and starts to snicker; the drag get's stronger, and the pulls gets quicker.

And if that doesn't drag in this poor, stupid guy, the pale, blue arm that suddenly reaches from the impossibly small opening will give it a try!

[warncdandwiles]

The ending of Grinch Night can be read a few ways. One, is that the loudness of the storm fading really does calm the Grinch down, even if he seemingly uses it as an excuse to go on the prowl. He clearly hates it in the beginning. (Very Grendel-esq vibes with the Grinch being sensitive to noise. the 2018 movie really explore that, and the Whos singing in harmony rather than making a chaotic racket certainly helped changed his POV on Christmas even in the original.) Once Euchariah Who braves the wagon, he speaks pretty conversationally to the Grinch...who is a lot more subdued, even grumpily agreeing with him when he points out all the animals and landmarks are settling once the wind is gone. Then he concedes he lost with 'I'll be Grinched!'. No fury, just...surprise. Like, darn. Ya got me, kid. And he just leaves. Goes home. Bye.

Or, that the Grinch is just a creature who abides by the rules of the game, and once he runs out of time, that's it. After all, without the wind and spooky noises, you lose some of that Grinch-Night ambience.

So depending on which Grinch I'm writing (very nasty Grinch probably just uses it as an excuse, the one who gets redemption probably DID get put in a sour as heck mood by the noise) it can vary. That's the fun with muses; you can just sorta rotate them in your microwave brain and play around with what's going on in their funny noggins.

[slumbrlcnd]

he may have heard the name a'floatin' about . a little here , a little there , sending the institute into doubt . but the cat wasn't too worried , if he'd make the confession . though he may be a fool , but only in matters of profession .

he made someone laugh . that was the intention .

“ well at the moment , mr. grinch , ” says the cat . “ it's no a who , or a what , or a why— but three whole persons ! each about ... yay high . ”

he produced an umbrella as he spoke , to float himself down without using a rope . he pays no heed to the ceiling , turning his attention to the wall , & draws three height-lines for the childrens' " how tall . "

“ you don't suppose they're hiding ? ” he hummed for a bit , checking in places kids have no business to fit .

[warncdandwiles]

"Such a wit," the Grinch drawls, watching him search. Don't let him get in the way, he'll stay on his perch.

He leans back to tap at his chin. "Three little tots you say? Would they perhaps be Julie, Johnny and Jay?" The ones being quite vocal in their protest today? Does the cat know he's closer than he thinks, looking in small nooks? In cookie jars, boxes, and the space between books. Lok at him sully up the wall! A troublemaker, at call.

The Grinch leans over, to turn on the lamp; the dusk is going to night, and the weather's getting damp. He leans his cheek on one palm, and glances at the rug, where toys have been abandoned, and gives a small shrug. A toy car, a toy wagon, and a train that goes chug.

"Hiding? You could say that's the case. If in hide and seek, you're all allowed to hide in the same place..."

[thymelessink]

When you just want to practice some nature drawings and then decide to add something random

[warncdandwiles]

💞 + A question to Mr.Grinch from the institutes most wanted verse. What are your opinions on The Oncler and McBean? Do you have a favorite cohort amongst the two?

"Sylvester and I have become quite attached!" Along his own nasty nature is still yet to be matched! "We both see this world for what it really is. For me, a good laugh, for him, simple biz."

He can appreciate the man has something he does not; a salesman persona, a voice that stirs the pot. Out and about, Sylvester can add himself to any crowd, make himself quiet, make himself loud. The Grinch can lie, even put on a façade, but for extended periods? McBean he'll have to laude.

"The Once-ler is singular in the pursuit of his goals! In fact his ambition is quite frightening, the way he rakes competition across the coals. But something in him is still not all the way cruel. He loves that he's 'helping' every buyer - and fool."

That's why he gets along with McBean a tad more - they both omit certain facts from Old Once-ler, but it's not like he hasn't ignored things before. If something makes him uneasy, he pretends it's not there. Leave it to the other two to give people a scare.

"I do hope, traveller, you won't go spreading it around. For if you over-gossip, well, a tattler can always be found."

[uniiicornsources-old]

send 💞 + a question about my muse's relationships for my muse to answer

this could be about relationships in general (romantic, platonic, familial) or about a specific relationship in particular.

[herebdrache]

creechur-fies your drachenkind