#ebiscus

So, lately I've been thinking of turning Ebis and Marcus, my Submachine OCs, into wholly original characters. That is, divorcing them from the fandom and giving them their own original story/universe. Sounds good enough, right?

Okay, problem: I really love the journey that I already wrote for Ebis and Marcus for the fanfic and would like to preserve it as is as much as possible, which I don't know if I can do without basically plagiarizing Submachine.

Like, I do need to have a bunch of scientists exploring a weird ass, dangerous place that has a lot of weird space-time shenanigans about it. Which means I could simply turn this into a space exploration story and immediately draw some distance from Submachine with the setting... Except I very much do not want to write a space exploration story for these characters.

Nothing wrong about space exploration, but what I'm craving for this is something way more obscure and weird. And I kinda need it to be about a world that is not really (just) a world but (also) a creature. (Oh, the fun I could have with this, I'm telling you).

Thing is, I'm worried about this being/turning too similar to Submachine. Like, the reason I want to (potentially) do this is because I want to do something different and explore stuff in my own way, but I am very aware that Submachine is currently my main source of inspiration, so yeah.

(also, to be completely clear, if I ended up doing this I would probably have, at most, a bunch of character sheets and a few disconnected scenes that I might share publicly, not anything full-fledged that I'd properly publish/commercialize (that requires more energy and focus than I currently have), so I'm not even sure if me stressing so much about this is even necessary, but welp. I'd rather be safe than sorry)

Out

[Ebis] looked around, beaming, at a loss for words. When she turned to Marcus, she found him beaming as well, although rather than looking at the landscape, he was looking at her.

Ebis felt her cheeks warm, and slid her eyes away briefly before walking back in front of him, taking one of his hands between her own with enthusiasm. “We did it.”

Marcus nodded, still smiling. “We did.”

So! Against my better judgement, I've done yet another short comic, this time featuring my lovelies Ebis and Marcus, in the final scene of my Submachine fic 'Lost in Infinity'. I just love them so much, as I do the trope of a character looking at a beautiful landscape while the other looks beautifully at them, it's all very ashgdfgdf ❤️

Our Blessed Florae

"We, the King, welcome you in our South Garden. Anyone who seeks Peace and Calmness will find it under the leaves of our Blessed Florae."

Look, I know I said I was gonna do Sky Watchers and I maintain it, but you know me, I'm never working on just ONE thing, so here are my lovelies: Ebis and Marcus! ❤️

This is based on a scene of my Submachine fanfic 'Lost in Infinity' (which you can read on my AO3, 8 out of 10 chapters are already done). More specifically, it happens on ch7, which tells about the events of Submachine7: The Core (one of the levels with the prettiest aesthetics, the glowing tree is probably my favourite location oin all of the games). The original flash games have been preserved in flashpoint if you're curious, and a revamp is coming soon to Steam under the name of Submachine Legacy.

Version without the charas under the cut! :D

Lost in infinity

Submachine: *has no seen characters at all, the plot is told through notes left behind* Me: I'M GONNA MAKE OCs ABOUT THIS

So, I already posted the sketch of this in stories, but since I've decided to digitalize it, I'm taking the chance to officially introduce my Submachine OCs. Everyone say hi to Ebis (she/her) and Marcus (he/him) :D

They have their own story highlights on Insta if you want to check it, but basically Ebis is based on the player character and Marcus on the 'jumper' (but in my version Ebis comes just in time to stop him). After much shock on both parts at finding another person after so much time on their own, Marcus tells Ebis some information she's missing, and Ebis persuades Marcus to go with her, swearing that she will find a way out. They bond hard and fast during their journey through the subnet.

For those who didn't read my tags, Ebis and Marcus are not Arcana OCs (they're Submachine OCs), but since a lot of questions are not Arcana specific I'm letting people ask about anyone ^^

40. What's their love language? How do they respond to receiving affection? How do they show affection in return?

(Hahaha, this turned into an essay, sorry xD)

Okay, so, something about Ebis and Marcus is that they've spent a very, very long time completely alone, without anyone to be with or talk to. When they meet each other they're absolutely touchstarved and crave human connection, so physical touch would be a very strong one for both of them.

Ebis is more open/quick to show affection than Marcus. Marcus was always kind of a loner, he didn't have many meaningful relationships, and generally kept people at a distance, and even if when he meets Ebis he's desperate for connection, old habits die hard. Ebis, on the other hand, was always more open (even if she can't remember), and her severe memory loss also means she doesn't have a reference of what's 'normal' or 'acceptable', so she goes with her gut.

Marcus is always vaguely surprised, at the start, whenever Ebis shows him affection or simple kindness. She always was the one to initiate at first, with gestures so simple as holding his hand to lead him through, or for comfort. It always took a moment for Marcus to snap out of his shock and react, but when he does he responds in earnest. With time, he too takes to initiating small gestures, taking Ebis' hand, keeping her close, resting against her when they sit down to rest next to each other... A funny fact, whenever they stop to rest or sleep some part of them is always in contact: maybe they're holding hands, maybe Ebis is resting her head on his shoulder, but some part of them is always touching. It's a comfort for them both.

Another strong love language for them would be acts of service. They both are very scarred people, and that trauma doesn't magically disappear when they meet or later fall in love, so they still face their own struggles with daily live. But they learn to compensate for each other, balancing their strengths and weaknesses, taking care of what they can and trusting that the other's got their back for the rest.

They also spend a lot of time together and talk plenty to each other, of course, but I don't know if I would count that as quality time/words of affirmation. I guess Ebis could maybe fall a little into words of affirmation? She's good at putting Marcus at ease with her words. Marcus definitely wouldn't tho. Man's not that good with words, and relies better on actions to show his feelings. And about quality time, I don't think either of them considers it a love language, as spending time/being together is just so ingrained in who they are/their relationship that it's just how things are for them. Even after they escape the Submachine, when they could technically go separate ways, it's just an absurd thought for them, why would they.

📱 - What's the phone of this character like (brand new, half broken, case, stickers, charms, lockscreen and wallpaper, how much customization goes in an out, basically)?

*Ebis: has a clear, glittery phone case with a black cat sticker in it. Has a collection of charms that attach to the case or the charging/headphones port that she switches up regularly. Her lockscreen and wallpaper would be 'connected' and have a very cute aesthetic. Her phone has a few light scratches on the screen, but nothing noticeable unless the light hits them right/you're looking for them. Aside from that, it holds up well.

*Marcus: has a minimalistic wallet phone case (you wouldn't believe the problems I had to figure out what the hell those are called) in a dark colour, probably black, indigo, or very dark brown. He has an orange cat sticker that Ebis gifted him on the inside of the case. Uses some pre-installed theme for the lockscreen and wallpaper (scrolls for a bit until finding one he likes, probably sticks to an abstract/textured one). His phone doesn't have as much as a scratch.

(yes, i'm a sucker for cute couples infused in angst, why do you ask?)

Thanks for the ask! Let's dive in!

(this is gonna be long, and I did no proof read it, so sorry for that xD)

FEAR: What is your OC's greatest fear? What do they do when confronted with it? Are they open with their fear, or do they hide it away?

Ebis: Okay, so, I don't know if I'd call it her "greatest fear", but she's actual-meaning-of-the-word triggered by darkness. She doesn't exactly remember it, but just before loosing her memories, she had an accident during an exploration mission. An ancient ladder gave out beneath her and she had a nasty fall in which she badly hit her head. Her torch broke in the fall, so it was pitch-black as she slowly bleeded out, unable to move or speak and convinced she was gonna die there where no one would ever find her. She doesn't remember exactly, but she has nightmares about being in the darkness, in pain, helpless and feeling doomed. She hates the darkness because it takes her back to a moment she can't remember, but her body does; she will feel that same doom and pain when she's in the dark.

She feels quite silly about this fear, and it takes Marcus directly asking her about it for her to share it. I don't think she would otherwise be open about it with others, as she doesn't want to be judged as childish or have to tell about her trauma to get taken seriously.

Marcus: To be abandoned, left alone, left behind. Marcus has always been a solitaire man who struggles to connect to other people, and he's had some bad experiences with getting close/working along other people. His fianceé died, which broke him, and when he started working in the Submachine, it only led to betrayal. Murtaugh never careed about him, Elizabeth couldn't save him, nobody came back for him. He has gone through so much isolation, both self-imposed and forced on him, but truth is man hates every second of it. So when he meets Ebis, the fear is there "what if I'm alone again?". He eventually voices this fear to her. I believe with time and lots of therapy he'd learn to manage this fear, even if not make it disappear completely. Make it not be this all consuming thing but this fucking annoyance he has to deal with. He'll be okay is what I'm saying.

MASK: Does your OC wear a mask, literally or figuratively? What goes on beneath it? Is there anyone in their life who gets to see who they are under the mask?

Ebis: She always puts on a cheerful, driven, optimistic front. This is not because she believes everything will resolve in the end, but because she cannot bear to think about the possibility of something going wrong. So she. keeps. moving. Always and no matter what. Even if that reckless path leads to a worse place, she cannot bear to stop because then she'd have to confront her fear. So instead, she pushes on, convinces herself that things will turn for the better if she just keeps going, no matter how reality doesn't match up with that. Awesome resilience, not so awesome avoidance. She will work on this once out of the Submachine tho (both Marcus and her have so much therapy to do), and she is open to Marcus about this.

Marcus: Not really, this man can't mask to save his life xD Closest thing I can think of is... not many people get to really know him. Not because he's actively avoiding it, but man's reserved and has a resting bitch face. So yeah, most people see him as this tol, serious man that looks like he hasn't slept in two weeks, and don't know he's actually a cinamon roll. Ahh, but that assumption fades as soon as they see him around Ebis. Can you see that? The man is capable of smiling! And he looks kinda cute all lovingly looking at his wife. Aww <3

As for Lullaby and Requiem, gosh I haven't thought about them in forever, they're son undeveloped, all aesthetics and like two random facts, halp xD I don't know if I'll be able to answer the questions, but I can talk a bit about them:

Okay, so, for those who don't know Requeim and Lullaby are characters from a word divided in two opposing factions, fighters and dancers. I will put more info under the cut but for now:

Lullaby is a dancer, very skilled from a young age, a gifted kid you could say, and she's one of the best dancer of her village. Kinda elite stuff. Dancer villages can be pretty hierarchic with their dancer: who's the best, who's a beginner, who's not even a dancer. Their communal dancing really reflects that in what role everyone has in the performance depending on at what skill they are.

I think she could be afraid of being told she's not worthy/skilled anough to perform anymore, or that she never actually was. To be rejected specifically becaue the one thing she's poured so much time and effort into perfecting is still not enough and she was just being humoured the whole time. So, gifted kid into adult with imposter syndrome huh.

Requiem is a fighter, a good and skilled fighter, but not particularly "gifted". Not that fighter communities work the same as dancer villages. Fighters aren't so hierarchic, you teach what you can and learn what you can and you're strong together. Their communal fighting is something anyone can join for a good time and to learn, you don't have to be skilled.

I'm... not sure what would be Requiem's greatest fear, to be honest. He grew ina pretty chill and healthy enironment, and as far as I know nothing terrible has happened to him? I mean I guess his fear would be something related to harm coming to his community? But also I don't see him contemplating and getting lost into that possibility. It's why he fights tho. So maybe more than a fear is a motivation? I don't even know man, I'm just thinking aloud at this point.

RUSNAV’s Flower of The Day (FOTD)

Namaste, Hi, Hello, Hola, Elo, Hey!

Our entry to Flower of The Day (FOTD) challenge hosted by Cee Neuner

RUSNAV’s@Haddhaiyaar..📷

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