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cartoonist-in-theory · 5 months

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You’re walking down a long quiet road. It’s winter, snow covers the ground, the sky fades gray. All around you are trees that have long since dropped their leaves, cold and dead, waiting for spring. You stop beneath one, eye caught by a striking sight. Amid the bare branches you see a round bundle of stunning green leaves. Hanging down above you are dozens of beautiful little pearly white berries. The fruit tempts you, but you don’t dare touch. Instead you simply admire them. Life among the dead of winter. Mistletoe.

@slocotion Hi, here is my design for slocotion's patreon dyo doll contest. Her name is Haustoria of the Pale. I was very excited to put this together once it struck me. I thought of all my favorite fruits I could have used but then inspiration hit me as I was considering less common fruits and fungi. Mistletoe is used medicinally by some but the entire plant, including its cute white berries, is toxic. Since this is a longer post, I’ll include more notes on my design under a cut but to point out the most important thing, I’ve combined the nature of the toxic berries with some historical+mythological inspiration that I think echoes it nicely.

In Norse mythology, a well known story is that of the death of Baldr. Baldr was the most loved god of the Aesir, so when a vision of his death reached his parents Odin and Frigga, they did all they could to protect him. Frigga sent her servants all over the world to make every creature and thing vow to never harm a hair on Baldr’s head. All but mistletoe promised, too insignificant or too young to make the vow. After it was done, Bladr seemed invincible. Since nothing was willing to hurt him, the gods would sometimes gather around and throw things at him, watching everything bounce off without injuring him. Loki, jealous of the love and affection that was always paid to Baldr, came up with a plan to get rid of him. He had an arrow made of mistletoe and brought it to Baldr’s blind brother Hodr. He gave it to him to throw at Baldr as all the gods pelted him with objects and weapons. Hodr threw the arrow and, since mistletoe had never promised not to harm him, it pierced his chest, killing him instantly... And so Baldr was delivered to the depths of the land of the dead, looked over by Hel.

specific design notes under the cut thank you for looking!

Mistletoe is a very interesting plant to me. It’s not a tree or vine or bush, but instead its an evergreen parasite. The sticky seeds attach themselves to the branches and grow into it with a haustorium, which is a structure that lets them sap nutrients from the host plant. Haustoria’s name is a reference to this structure. “of the Pale” is a reference to not only the color of the berries but the pale gray and white landscape of winter.

Mistletoe berries are heavily toxic but also exist in winter, when other plants may be barren and “dead.” Because of that and their parasitic nature I see them as a sweet little balance of life and death. In addition to that, I use the split colors of the face/mask of Haustoria to reference the goddess of the land of the dead, Hel, who is described as having a body that is half black as death, split down the middle.

The structure of the outfit is inspired by Scandinavian and specifically Norwegian folk dresses, since I’m borrowing old Norse history for more inspiration, it seemed fitting. I also felt the style would be good to accompany the botanical and berry designs attractively.

The twin peaked hood is to further split the design down the middle, with little charms to show life and death.

I included white beads all over the outfit to represent the mistletoe berries themselves so they could stand out.

The dark side of her face is adorned with thorns and has three mournful black tears leaking down from her eye, as well as a hollow half of the center heart.

The light side is blushed and lively with shiny eyes, leaves shaped like the mistletoe leaves, red petals like the mistletoe blooms, three white dots to be the mistletoe fruit, and the center heart is full.

Her cape is white on the inside to represent the white of the berries and also the white of snow.

To cap it off, I do believe mistletoe is fitting for a plague doctor as they are still used medicinally to this day. :)

Thank you for reading everything and looking at my design! I’m very proud of her and I hope she doesn’t stretch the theme. And definitely more than anything else I hope you enjoy looking at her!

#I hope you like her #I suddenly was struck with a vision of this design so I had to drop everything to work on her for a few days #sorry for the long post though I had a lot of thoughts #<3333 #good luck to all the entrants I have been having fun looking at the other cute designs #I take immense interest in both botany and Norse mythology #kleptodoesart

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thefatedthoughtofyou · 1 year

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So all the kids are gathered at Steve's for Easter!! And they think it's just a dinner. Until Eddie excuses himself and Steve claps his hands and tells them all to head to the backyard.

They all groan, loudly, and Steve sees Eddie's legs freeze as he's heading up the stairs. He stands there for a moment and then runs the rest of the way up, his legs disappearing as Steve frowns and claps louder.

"Hey! Dipshits!" All of their eyes land on him, his hands slam down onto his hips.

"We spent a lot of time. And a lot of fucking hard work, putting this together for you guys. So get your little asses outside!" He points over their heads, scowls as they all slump toward the door.

"And be excited about it!" He calls, and to their credit they perk a little, El the only one looking genuinely excited.

Steve follows them, smiling when he hears them all gasp when they go through the door. Steve leans against the door frame and watches them take in all their work.

Mostly Eddie's, if Steve's being honest. He'd done most of it. Planned it, drawn it out, bought most of the supplies. And then he, Steve, Robin, and the rest of the older kids, had gotten together and helped with the rest. All of them following Eddie's directions as they cut, and pasted, and nailed, and laughed, as they all turned Steve's backyard into the perfect easter quest.

All the kids follow the arrows Steve had chalked on the ground, it leads to their weapon selections. They all gasp and laugh as they scrounge around the piles of cardboard and plastic weapons. There's clothes too, everything arranged in sets, really.

Steve smiles when Dustin and Erica immediately try to switch hats because, and he quotes, "this matches mine and this matches yours lets just switch 'em."

Steve moves to correct them, Eddie had given them all very specific directions, but before he can say anything, Eddie's disembodied voice floats out the window above them.

"I'll allow it!" Steve smiles when Dustin whirls around and looks at the window.

"Are you coming down?" He calls, as Erica switches their hats, snatches Dustin’s off his head and plops hers on him. He lets her, doesn't react at all, except to straighten the hat, as he stares at the window.

"Momen- ah no! Momentarily!" Eddie calls, Steve frowns when he hears a crash above him. But smiles when he hears Eddie scrambling around. Dustin looks to Steve, narrows his eyes.

"You know what he's up to." He accuses. Steve shrugs, walks towards them at all, slaps the bill of Dustin’s cap as he walks past.

"No shit Sherlock. It's my house." He grins, turns and walks backwards, and then disappears behind one of the giant cardboard cut outs scattering his yard.

"Steve? What the hell? What are we supposed to do?!" Dustin shrieks, his voice nearing glass breaking levels.

"I think we're supposed to read this." Will supplies, holding up the little notebook that had been tucked inside the wizard robes he'd pulled on. The kids all gather round him, El practically bouncing in place next to Max. She's wearing a plastic bow and arrow set. Max is dressed with a reworked Wonder Woman costume, rope of truth twirling around in her hand.

"To Will the Wise, and any who be brave enough to venture further. A golden treasure awaits. If you can find it. And if you can survive the trip.

Good luck children. Let the hunt commence!!"

They look around the backyard, arrows scattered around, marking their path. The cardboard cut outs creating small forests and bogs, and caves, and caverns, and on the left, a huge, shining door. And all the way in the back corner of the yard, the mouth of a cave that looks to be full of dragons gold.

The kids all beam, even Max. As they settle all their weapons and costumes, and set out on their quest.

It goes swimmingly, Steve's the first stop. He's dressed like a knight, he'd been lost in the woods, for years, his armor tattered and rusting. He joins them in their quest, bringing along a secret key.

Robin is next, she's dressed like a witch in the bog. Comes creeping up behind them, grabs Mike and makes him scream bloody murder. She cackles as he stumbles backwards, and smiles wickedly as Steve steps foward, he hands the key to Will.

"Take this, keep it safe." He whispers, conspiratorially, and Will smiles, nods solemnly and tucks the key into his robs.

Steve and Robin fight to the death, both of them dramatically falling into a heap together on the ground.

"No!!! Sir Harrington!!" Lucas yells as he falls. Max grabs Lucas's shoudler, falls against him dramatically.

"It's too late. We've lost him!" She cries, letting her head fall to his shoulder.

"We must go on! For Sir Harrington!" El calls, a little awkward, but with feeling. They all look to Will, he nods, solemnly, moves his staff in Steve and Robin's direction.

"We shall never forget you, Sir Harrington. We thank you for your sacrifice." He says, tosses a handful of shredded paper he pulls from his robes, and they move on.

Jonathan and Argyle are some kind of strange two headed monster in one of the caves. They have riddles for the kids, Dustin and Erica solve them with enthusiasm, their voices shouting as Argyle tells them they may pass. They step aside, and as they pass, Jonathan calls,

"But WATCH OUT!" And then he and Argyle disappear behind their cut out again.

They unattached themselves and go and join Steve and Robin to watch the rest. All of their feet dangling in the pool as they watch, smiles on their faces as the kids work their way through the maze.

Nancy is a warrioress, she's got a bow and arrow to rival Athen, and she joins their party, rescuing Chrissy from her crumbling tower near the dragons cave. She joins them as well, pretends to faint whenever they come across anything remotely frightening, Nancy catches her. Max and El giggle everytime, hands tangled together, both of them huddled behind Lucas.

Steve stands as they approach the dragons cave. Walks slowly toward it, staying off to the side. But he had to see it. Had been waiting to see what Eddie had come up with all week.

The party walks up to the cave, slowly, all of them crouching, their weapons drawn, huge smiles on off their faces and they whisper giddily together. They take a few steps closer and fog begins rolling out of the mouth of the cave. Steve smiles, leans against the nearest tree, arms crossed over his chest.

He watches Lucas push Mike forward a bit, he squawks, does a panicked little turn and then takes another step toward the cave. He glances back towards the party, brows furrowed as they all wave him forward. Eddie uses his moment of distraction to jump through the mouth of the cave with a growling yell.

Mike startles backward, falls into Dustin’s arms as they all yell and laugh as Eddie pounces forward. Steve snorts into his hand when he sees him, finally getting eyes on his entire costume.

Eddie has clearly mutilated a large bunny costume. The sleeves are gone, it's been died a deep red, and he's drawn scales all across it. It has one ear missing, having been replaced by what looks like large ribbed horn.

Eddie has used his many sets of stage makeup to draw scales all down his arms, and across his face and neck. He's got a set of fangs now as he growls at the kids, and a pair of terrible clawed gloves hang off his hands.

"Do we have to kill it!?" El yells, hiding behind Lucas again as they all continue to laugh as Eddie rages in front of the cave.

"We could ask it nicely for the treasure!" She says, and Steve sees Eddie falter a bit, a smile on his face before he growls and scowls again.

"That won't work!" Dustin yells, then immediately turns to Eddie.

"Would that work?" He asks, seriously. Eddie snorts, covers his mouth and frowns.

"No! That won't work!" He growls.

"Defeat me or die!" He yells, and then bares his teeth again.

"Can we share it!?" El yells over Lucas's shoulder.

"El we have to kill it to get the treasure! Which better be candy Edward." Max tells her, then levels her eyes with Eddie. He freezes, his hands held up by his chest like a confused dinosaur. He tilts his head.

"I think sharing is a good idea." Will says, looks at El, nods encouragingly.

Steve watches El look around the party, they all give her small smiles, Eddie's head twitches to the side as he watches them. Nancy and Chrissy both nod at El.

"Worth a shot. Maybe this dragon has a soft spot." Chrissy smiles, looks at Eddie. He scowls at her and then startles back a step when El approaches him. He growls, low in his throat, and she holds her hands up, not the way she used too, to use her powers, but like she's telling him it's okay.

Steve watches Eddie melt a bit more with each step she takes. She moves her hands to the ridiculous fake claws, gently slides them off his hands, he whines in his throat, clearly having decided to lean into this new development.

"It is okay." El says, softly, as she slides the other claw off, taking Eddie's hands in hers. He frowns down at her, shakes his head once. Steve bites his lips as he watches El take him apart.

She reaches up, pushes the horned hood back off his head.

"We can share the candy. If you would like." She pokes at Eddie's fake fangs and he spits them out sadly, licks his lips aggressively, making El laugh.

"Would you like to share the candy with us?" She asks, big eyes looking up at him. And that's what does it, Eddie slups, his shoulders drooping, as he nods.

"Aww hell. Why not." He huffs, then ducks back through the cave mouth. The party all crowd around El, shouting and wooping, and then Eddie bursts back out, black plastic cauldron held high above his head.

"Behold! My treasure!" He yells, and then dumps the cauldron over, raining down gold coins on the party as he cackles.

They all scramble for the coins, shoving them in their pockets.

"Is this it?" Mike whines, when they have the coins all sorted. Eddie crosses his scale clad arms, cocks his brow at Mike.

"What if it is? The quest not enough? You need a whole a fucking cauldron of gold all to your self Wheeler?" He asks, eyes wide. Mike slumps a little.

"Because if so. You're in luck." He says, voice still grumpy but his eyes are twinkling. The party perk up, looking for all the world like a group of prairie dogs, Eddie moves his head to the side, eyes locked on the kids. And then he breaks the moment.

"There's more treasure in the cave." He jerks his thumb over his shoulder and walks away and the kids all scramble toward the cave.

His eyes land on Steve, still leaning against the tree, still smiling as he watches him walk over. The kids all screaming and fighting over the candy in the cave.

"Should we be worried about that?" Steve asks, lifting his chin toward the cave.

"I'm sure it's fine." Eddie grins, doesn't look behind him to check. Chrissy and Nancy smile as they pass and Steve hears Chrissy say,

"El sounds like she really wants that candy." As a high pitched shriek rings through the yard. Nancy sighs beside her.

"That was Mike." She says, both of them laughing as they take their own seats near the pool.

Eddie bounces on the balls of his feet as he stands beside Steve, and Steve can feel the residual energy vibrating off him.

"Have fun?" Steve asks, bumping their shoulders. Eddie nods, enthusiastically.

"Yeah. Yeah it was great. Had a different ending in mind. But that girl..." he trails off, shakes his head fondly.

"Yeah." Steve agrees. Eddie's warmth seeping into his side.

"Her ending was better." Eddie says, glances at Steve with a smile. Steve smiles too, lets them sit in silence for a bit until he glances down and sees Eddie's feet, clad in the bunny feet of the suit he's got on.

"What the fuck are you wearing?" Steve breathes, a laugh in his throat.

"Hmm?" Eddie hums, looks over at him fully now.

"This." Steve curls his finger in the front of the fabric and shakes it a few times, Eddie looking down and then back up.

"What the fuck is this?" Steve asks again, laughing for real this time. Eddie bats at Steve's hands, but keeps his hand on Steve's wrist when he doesn't let go.

"It's a... bunny.... dragon? Dragon bunny? I dunno one'uh those." He laughs, shrugging as he grins at Steve.

"Okay sure." Steve smiles, shrugs, curls his finger tighter, unable to let go, he fights the urge to tug Eddie closer. Wants to pull him close, wants to know what Eddie's lips feel like against his.

"Follow up question." He says, eyes on Eddie.

"Uh huh? What?" Eddie asks, his mouth hanging open just so, making Steve feel a little crazy.

"Why?" Is all Steve says. Eddie laughs then, a real, from the chest, laugh. His head tilted back so Steve has a perfect veiw of his throat, though it's currently done up with scales. Though, Steve thinks that's just making him want to touch it more. When Eddie stops laughing, he just looks at Steve, for a long moment, before a grin curls his lips, dimples his face.

"What?" Steve asks, uncertain now, a grinning Eddie is always a wildcard.

"You really wanna know why?" He asks, face scrunching. Steve nods, smiling now too. Eddie turns around, shows his back to Steve, and bounces his butt up and down a few times as he looks over his shoulder at Steve.

"I liked the tail." He says, completely straight faced. Like he hadn't just shaken his ass at Steve.

Steve laughs then, falls back against the tree, the bark digs into his skin but he doesn't care, because Eddie has turned around again, is facing Steve. Is looking at Steve with this dreamy look in his eyes.

It's a look he's seen before. Several times before. But normally when Steve catches him, Eddie looks away, always going a deep shade of red.

But Eddie doesn't look away this time. He swallows hard, and he does go red, but he keeps looking. His eyes wandering over Steve, his chest, his arms, down to his feet and then back up again. He sighs when his eyes land back on Steve's face.

So Steve smiles. He takes a deep breath, coming down from his laughter, and takes a step toward Eddie.

"This was really nice of you ya know? To do for them." Steve says, his hands reach out, gently move to Eddie's hips. Eddie's breath shakes.

"It wasn't just for them. It was for all of us. Ya know?" He shrugs a little, his hands shaking at his sides. Steve tilts his head, nods slowly.

"Yeah. It was still nice. Guess Chrissy was right." Steve shrugs, Eddie brow furrows.

"The dragon does have a soft spot." Steve says, moves one hand up to Eddie's chest, rests it right over his heart.

Steve watches Eddie melt again, his face doing acrobatics, flickering between a smile and a frown and then his lip trembles and Steve can't take it.

He presses forward, kisses Eddie, soflty. Smiles into the kiss when Eddie makes a little surprised noise, his hands slapping against Steve's back, moving down to his hips, his fingers curling into the loops of Steve's jeans. Steve pulls back, rests his forhead against Eddie's.

"You kissed me." Eddie breathes between them, his hands are hot on Steve's hips, and he can feel him trembling.

"Yes I did. Is...that okay?" His chest flutters with uncertainty, but Eddie's fingers squeeze into his hips like he's afraid Steve is going to disappear, and Steve knows he has nothing to worry about. But Eddie confirms it anyway.

"Yeah. I mean shit Steve, I-" he cuts off, leans back a bit, so that he can look at Steve, properly. He's got that dreamy look in his eyes again, but it's softer now, he reaches up, moves his fingertips over Steve's face, tucks a stray hair up into his hairline with a smile.

"What? What are you looking at?" Steve asks, his hands move over Eddie's arms, tugging him closer and then curling around his wrists when Eddie settles his hands against his chest. Eddie bites his lip, shakes his head, and laughs.

"Just you. And I dunno... it's funny I guess?" He shrugs, looks at Steve, eyes wide and honest. Steve sighs, he's so gone on this guy.

"What's funny?" He asks, his own head shaking. Eddie laughs again, sounding giddy.

"Just... a knight and dragon. Ya know? Who'd've thought?" He shrugs again, fingers pressing into Steve's chest. Steve tilts his head to the side, looks at Eddie for a moment, moves his hand down over Eddie's arm, his fingers dancing over the crimson scales Eddie had drawn there, his heart racing as he touched the boy in front of him, finally.

His hand cups Eddie neck, thumb moving gently over the scar on his cheek. He pulls him closer, pressing their chests together. Steve nods, licks his lips.

"I would. I've been thinking about it a lot, actually." Steve breathes, smiles when Eddie presses forward, his nose brushing Steve's as a whine escapes him.

"Really. You've been thinking about me?" Eddie asks, and he sounds so small. Steve nods, wraps his arms around Eddie's waist swiftly and turns them, presses Eddie agaisnt the tree.

"I can't stop thinking about you Eddie. You're all I think about. All day long." Steve sighs, his head resting on Eddie's again. He feels Eddie's fingers scrambling against his shirt nervously.

"Nerdy freak shit 'an all?" Eddie asks, his body trembling agaisnt Steve's. Steve nods, looks at Eddie with longing.

"Oh all that shit just makes it worse." Steve breaths a laugh, wraps his arms around Eddie tighter. He lets out a little sqeak and Steve pulls back, just a bit.

"I think about you too. All the time." Eddie says in a rush, his hands moving to Steve's shoulders, fingers curling into his soft grey sweater. Steve nods, slow, as he leans back into Eddie's space, his lips brushing Eddie's as he whispers,

"I know you do princess." Eddie whines again and surges forward, kissing Steve fiercely.

It's clumsy, and it's messy, and it might just be Eddie's first, or second, kiss. And just that thought makes Steve's entire body thrum with excitement. Eddie pulls back awkwardly, pats at Steve's shoulders, like he can't keep his hands still.

"I um-" he coughs, clears his throat.

"I'm a dragon. Not a princess." He says, but there's no heat in his words, and his eyes are sparkling like maybe he could be, maybe he could be Steve's princess.

"Do you wanna be both? For me? A knight needs both ya know? A dragon and a princess. Maybe mine just happen to be one and the same." Steve whispered these words between them, like a secret, but the light in Eddie's eyes just burns brighter. He nods again, quick, his hands moving to Steve's neck as he licks his lips.

"I think I'd like that." Eddie sighs, Steve smiles, his heart fluttering when Eddie smiles back, crooked grin dimpling his cheeks.

"I'd like it too." Steve presses his lips to Eddie's again, softer, slower, letting Eddie enjoy it, letting him learn.

And then a wolf whistle rings through the air and they break apart, the kids cheering as they throw golden chocolate coins into the air, the teens by the pool whistling and laughing as Eddie hides his face in Steve's shoulder. Steve laughs and holds him close, protecting his dragonly princess from the teasing of their friends.

#HAPPY EASTER GUYS!!!!#i hope all of you who celebrate it had good days!!!#steddie #steddie ficlet #steddie blurb #fates endless inkwell #fei #my writing #mine #steve harrington x eddie munson #steve x eddie #holiday fic #steddie first kiss #inexperienced eddie munson

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