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Hi guys, I’ve been working on an AU on disc with a couple of friends, but the original conceptualizer of the AU has given me the control over it, so I really wanted to post it!!! Essentially, it’s a swap au where Howard and Phillip swap roles with Morose (Thomas) and Samantha, as well as ages! So essentially:

Nowhere swaps with Angelique, becomes a human named Nolan Noetall (pronounced know-it-all) while Angelique becomes Elsewhere, a human fused with Angel..dna..or bird DNA due to Phillip’s horrible jealousy in this au. She takes up the role of a jazz singer in the bar at the island, and is a bit more bitter and cynical due to the fact she’s bound to the club for her own safety and for what’s been done to her. (She’s called elsewhere because she’s literally…elsewhere)

Samantha swaps with Howard, I know this initially seems like a weird choice, but I can explain!!! Not only have I seen the devs like a comment saying that Howard looks similar to Samantha, but I do believe they’d share a lot of traits, including impulsivity, determination, and dedication. In canon, Samantha is able to accept the fact there’s nothing more she can do for herself to stop her passing or have children, while Howard is able to accept his mother’s death. They’re both figures in their other half’s life who are able to keep moving forward, both in canon and in this au.

Thomas Morose swaps with Phillip, and the death of Katie Lou is underlying in this au, which only fuels his unspoken possessive behavior toward Howard that he is in denial of. His behavior is fueled but him and Howard’s inability to confirm their feelings, and Howard’s ability to keep moving forward despite his chronic illness, his own losses, and the fact that he seems to be accepting that he’s leaving Phil behind. (Think Too little Too Late)

As for everyone’s designs, I thought it would be fun to make Thomas and Samantha early hippies, since I hc them as non conformists and it just seemed like a nature step. Dunno how much you can tell. Also gave morose a less crazy moustache, and they usually just go by Tom and Sammy/Sam in this au.

I’d say in this au they’re still unmarried, I’m going back and forth on if they’re fiancés or not, but Thomas is very dependent on Samantha. Still, Samantha retains a similar ego to Howard. Thomas was always there for her, looking up to her, yet he is somehow picked over her. She’d likely try to bottle up her envy at first, but unable to seem happy for him since Thomas keeps asking her if she’s truly okay. This ends up blowing up on the last day, and Thomas finally seems how Samantha truly feels and how she sees him. They leave angry, and what’s worse is that this is one of their first BIG fights. Samantha writes and is apologetic, but is unsure how Thomas actually feels about her now.

As for Phillip, I really loved the idea of the jackolope form instead of MOROSE’S tentacles, so I tried to make him a satyr type bunny thing? It’s my first time drawing anything antrho so I hope it’s okay, I tried to make his beard a little longer, change the shape of the robe, and put a star for Howard ofc

Credit to @slythepuffle for coming up with Knowhere’s name! I tried to let him retain some of his feline features, with the stray strands of hair and growing back his arm as a feline arm

Anyway, I think that’s all the lore I have to drop for now, please let me know if you have any suggestions or questions! I know it’s only the main cast for now. I’ll drop the rest of the concepts I have below!! Maybe more to come? I’m unsure at this point but yeah!!

In an Alternate Timeline where the roles have been reversed, Philip is also jealous and resentful of being left behind but does not throw a tantrum like Howard did. He shoves the negativity down and congratulates Howie on finally getting in, reassuring and motivating him when he seems hesitant to go alone. He teases Howard when he starts to cry at the port, gives a 'manly' bear-hug when the cry-baby promises to write back every week and put in a good word for him with the Doctor and ignores how blurry his own vision is getting as the boat sails off.

When the first couple months pass, Philip tries to wave it off. He assures himself that Howie probably forgot to write back because he’s having so much fun. He was always terrible at taking care of himself, without Philip there to keep him alive he probably would’ve starved or burnt his house down years ago.

And then four months passed… six months… by the tenth, Philip was panicking and had started gathering the resources to rent a boat.

On the eleventh month, just when he was pondering whether or not he was overreacting, he heard the ol’ drunkard Montgomery Gunths rambling about the Doctor experimenting on his own crew.

Knowhere would also lambast Philip, but for different reasons: He talks to him about Katie-Lou and her death, how he regrets being a ‘terrible’ big brother (he wasn’t, they were just children, after all), how Philip had intentionally exacerbated Howard’s co-dependency and coddled him, partially as a way to hide from his own unresolved grief but mostly out of a need to feel needed… and how despite all the awful things he’s seen on the island, he still feels the temptation to use the doctor’s research for himself.

The five items Philip must find are:

The pink pillow Katie-Lou made.

A rabbit plush.

The preserved flower that Philip gave Howard when they first met.

A science exam with a 99/100 score.

Howard’s brown hat.

Meanwhile, Howard became resistant to the Mad Doctor’s experiments earlier on, right after Samantha passed away.

He had tried to organise an escape with other scientists who had agreed that Morose was becoming a danger to everyone, but they were caught. Only him being allowed to live because his higher intelligence had already proved to be a great asset and was forced to watch the other’s public executions alongside the remaining survivors.

Being as stubborn as a bull, Howard continued to resist until Morose discovered his crippling fear of the dark. He uses that knowledge to psychologically break Howard down into complacency.

You know, it was Howard’s own words during his conversation with Knowhere that stuck with me. He talked about how he and Philip had been friends for many years, how they relied on each other — and how, in one day, he lost both his dream and his anchor. Knowhere replied that Howard was the one who needed Philip more than Philip needed him, and that Howard got more out of their friendship than Philip ever did.  

But what if Howard was right — at least partially? What if Philip relied on Howard just as much as Howard relied on him?

It’s especially clear after Philip’s sister died — Howard was the only one who could still make him laugh. Even before their fight, Philip missed home… and he missed Howard. At least, he remembered him whenever he could, maybe even unconsciously. The game draws a clear parallel between the rabbit and the tortoise, with Philip and Howard. In his diary, Philip puts himself in the rabbit’s place: he thinks that if he were the rabbit, he would have outrun the tortoise and left it behind — sad and slow, walking alone — while the crowd wouldn’t even applaud his victory. He was unconsciously thinking about Howard in that moment, even while still angry at him because of their fight.  

There’s also that nightmare where he’s a rabbit again, but this time a test subject. A man takes another rabbit and leaves him alive — as if the other rabbit was given as a pledge in his place. Philip is furious and wants to tear the man apart, but all he can do is run in the wheel. And when he finally escapes the cage and reaches the man… Philip just run away. Meanwhile, the game (and Howard himself) constantly mentions Howard’s slowness. Then came Dr. Morose with his experiments, his madness, and his obsession with conquering death — and suddenly there was no time for any of that.

Yes, Howard wasn’t a perfect friend. He was jealous, accusatory, and sometimes selfish. But he genuinely cared. He was interested in how Philip was doing, and he worried when the letters went unanswered. Six months in, he was still joking about Philip falling into a pond. But the almost a year later (eleven months), he was clearly panicking. As soon as he heard the rumors that the man he admired had gone mad and started experimenting on his own team, Howard dropped everything and rushed to the island. He could have turned back at the very beginning — after seeing the lanterns, the crocodiles, the melted people (especially them), and the corpses. Hans’s boat was still there, intact until the very end. But he didn’t run. In the good (canonical) ending, he saved Philip. In two endings (one of them good), he even put the Ancient One to sleep — all for Philip.

Even during their fight, when Howard accused Philip in his letters of abandoning him, he was still ready to forgive. Philip himself admitted they were both at fault, but he hated how Howard tried to pin all the blame on him — especially when he had finally gotten the chance to chase his dream. The point is: Philip was never indifferent to Howard, even during their quarrel or his own descent into madness. (The opposite of love isn’t hate — it’s indifference.) Who was stopping him from burning or throwing away Howard’s letters if they bothered him? The island is full of trash and failed experiments. He could have destroyed them at any moment. Instead, he kept them near his bed. And later, during their reunion, he forgave Howard.

So here’s my question: what made Philip tolerate Howard’s quirks for so long? (Developer videos and in-game lines from Angelique suggest — or at least the community interprets — that only Howard speaks in rhymes, while everyone else talks normally.) No one forced him to stay friends. Childhood bond is one thing, but still…  

Also, does Philip even have any other friends besides Howard? The game never mentions them — no letters from anyone else, no mentions in the diary except for his sister and Howard. Even Howard doesn’t talk about any mutual friends. If they were fighting, Howard could have asked around… but he was clearly terrified by the complete silence. He could have checked with Philip’s family (doesn’t he have anyone besides Katie Lou?). And if Philip made any friends among the researchers on the island… well, they’re all dead or turned into monsters now. In the end, the only living, unchanged people left were Howard and Angelique (more or less — Angelique’s hand and Philip’s mental state don’t really count).

That’s why I think losing Howard would break Philip far more than most people assume.

I know the game openly talks about Howard’s dependence on Philip. But I feel like we often overlook how much influence Howard had on Philip in return — and how dependent Philip was on him too. Of course, this is just my personal interpretation. Some of it might be a stretch. Feel free to agree or disagree — it can be a serious character analysis or just the ramblings of a random fan.

P.S. What do you think would happen if, after everything he’s been through on the island, Philip lost Howard too? How would that affect him? This question is exactly what led me to create a small AU with yandere Philip.

Hi everyone! You know, after the finale, Philip might not resurrect Howard right away. He doesn’t bury him, but keeps the body fresh (in formalin, perhaps?), and at first he continues working with Angelique in the lab, just like in the canonical good ending. She also feels sorry for Howard — he saved her life and showed himself to be a smart and brave guy. But gradually Philip can’t hold on anymore and starts his own “project” to bring him back.

Angelique herself might not have been aware of Philip’s “project” at first, or she knew but didn’t approve. Either way, after some time (or right away) she starts keeping an eye on him (because they already had enough of one Doctor Morose, they don’t need a second one). She can’t just kick him out — she has already seen what grief does to people and how far they can go (Morose and Sam are a perfect example). So it’s better to keep him in sight. Besides, she doesn’t have direct evidence of illegal activity, and turning him in to the police or a psychiatric hospital is difficult: they both worked with Morose, and those times weren’t the best for her word against a man. Plus, she feels sorry for Philip because they worked together and knew each other (+ the loss of his sister first, and then his friend), so at the beginning she might hope that she’s wrong (she doesn’t have any illusions, especially considering he was basically Morose’s right hand, but she still hopes). Although she quickly accepts reality.

In the end, when she gets proof, Philip doesn’t let her tell anyone. He doesn’t kill her (they’ve worked together for too long), but keeps her nearby as an unwilling assistant and conversation partner. He doesn’t give her any tasks — he’s afraid of sabotage or escape — but he discusses theories with her and just talks. Angelique can’t do anything and is forced to watch his madness, the suffering of the test subjects, and what’s happening to Howard.

After the resurrection, Howard either immediately falls into madness (aggression, suicide attempts, attacks on others), or he is resurrected but remains in a coma, and when they try to wake him up — he breaks into the same nightmare.

[Then the dialogue you provided follows, translated below:]

Mechanical voice: Test subject number 279-B has failed the test. Philip, sighing: Another one… Philip, thoughtfully rubbing his chin: What went wrong this time? Equipment? No, we just updated it recently. Wrong formula or the test subject’s physical weakness? No, his physical condition was good… And his health wasn’t bad… Most likely it’s the dosage. We need to lower the dose, but not too much, otherwise it’ll just be a dud. If that doesn’t help, we should revise the formula or abandon it altogether and look for another one.

Angelique, leaning against the cell wall: How long is this going to continue? Philip, interrupting his thoughts and turning to her: What do you mean? Angelique, stepping away from the wall and approaching the bars: You know what I mean. I’ve asked this question more than once. How long is this going to continue? How many more experiments are you willing to conduct? How many more innocent people are you ready to sacrifice in the name of your madness?

Philip, fully turning to her, tiredly: And I’ve already answered you more than once: it will all end the moment I bring Howard back. And only then. Not earlier, not later. Angelique, furiously pointing at Philip: Philip Maude, I suspected it back on the island, but now I say with full responsibility — you have definitely gone mad! And you are exactly like Morose! Philip, coldly: Don’t compare me to him. I am not him. Angelique, raising an eyebrow: Oh really? Then how are you better? You conduct the same cruel and inhuman experiments as he did. You don’t care about human lives either and are ready to sacrifice them by the dozen for your delusional idea… Philip, furiously: Don’t call bringing Howard back a delusion! Angelique, waving her arms: What else am I supposed to call it?! He’s dead, Phil! You are literally fighting the laws of nature right now! Philip, suddenly at the bars, grabbing them: And I will win! For the first time in the entire existence of humanity, I am closer than ever to victory over death! Even Morose, who was considered the greatest genius of his time, couldn’t do it! And unlike him, I am closer than ever!

Angelique, sharply recoiling to the opposite corner of the cell: The only thing that distinguishes you from him… Philip, calming down again and stepping away from the bars: Maybe. But don’t forget, Angelique. You were on the island too. You conducted experiments too. Your hands are also covered in blood, just like mine. Remember at least those melted people. Angelique, crossing her arms: I don’t deny that. I was young and overconfident, but it was also an accident. They were rushing me. And no one knew it would turn out like that. Even Morose, apparently in the remnants of his sanity, when he wanted to bring back Sam, understood that it wouldn’t save her and canceled the project. And let me remind you: after her death, that man wanted to summon an Ancient One that could doom the whole world — if not for Howard, God rest his soul — just to bring back his wife. But even then he had more realistic ways to help people than what you’re trying to do now… (Angelique points to her missing arm, replaced by the green substance.) Angelique, crossing her arms again: Unlike what you’re trying to do right now.

Philip, turning away and returning to his desk: …. Philip, looking at some papers: It wasn’t all for nothing. All these sacrifices weren’t for nothing. There’s not much left. We brought him back. He’s breathing, his heart is beating, he’s asleep… but he’s alive. Angelique, tiredly: Phil… I’ll be honest, I didn’t know Howard very well and I don’t know exactly what he would have wanted, but I’m almost a hundred percent sure that he wouldn’t want to see what you’ve become and at what cost you brought him back. Philip, lounging in his chair and staring at the ceiling: You know, Angelique, you can’t imagine the moment of my joy when the monitors finally showed Howard’s heartbeat and when he started breathing again. Philip smirked and added: At that moment I thought — finally, it’s over. He’s here, he’s next to me. No more experiments, no more sacrifices, no more island with Morose. Everything is finally getting better. Angelique: …

Philip then looked at Angelique with a cold gaze again: But everything collapsed the moment Howard opened his eyes. Philip: Howard went completely mad after that. He behaved inadequately, was aggressive, attacked people, said meaningless things… Well, before at least he spoke in rhymes, but you could understand what he meant. Angelique nodded: Can’t argue with that. Philip, first smirking slightly, then becoming gloomy again: Exactly. And now it’s just some kind of nonsense. And the last time he tried to kill himself — not to attack an intern during an examination, but to actually die. He managed to get out of the restraints and grab the nearest scalpel. Luckily they got there in time and everything turned out okay. Philip stood up from the chair again and looked Angelique straight in the eyes: So Howard doesn’t care what I look like right now. The most important thing at the moment is to restore his mind, and everything else can come later. Angelique sighed and looked at Philip tiredly: Fine, let’s say we manage to restore Howard’s sanity later, but… what then? Philip, frowning: What exactly do you mean? Angelique, leaning against the cell wall again: Will Howard himself even want to stay with you once he finds out what you’ve become and what you did to bring him back? Philip: ….

Alternative ending.

Philip: Honestly… I don’t know. But I’m absolutely sure that otherwise Howard won’t have a choice. Angelique, mentally: Lord, I know I wasn’t a very good person and as a scientist I shouldn’t believe in Your existence at all, or pray to You after everything that’s happened, but if You exist and if You can hear me, please let Howard come to his senses soon so this nightmare can finally end. She then looked through the window into the neighboring room, where a new test subject was being brought in. Angelique: Or let this poor soul sleep forever, because otherwise nothing good awaits him here.

I BRING RECEIPTS

I TOLD YOU I SAW HIS NAME WAS DARLING AT SOME POINT

i was reading eddie's wiki page after finding a tumblr post about someone meeting his va at a con and i was like "wait is that his name" so i found the quote and clicked on the link to the twitter post and yeah that was the name coz i only ever saw the username not the real name and THEN I SAW THIS

EDDIE WAS EDDIE DARLING PRE-2024

oh hey this tweet was sent on my birthday, nice

BUT SERIOUSLY

I WAS RIGHT