shambles up to the mic...
Adjusts bow tie.

(´。＿。｀) I ship Hornet with both Ghost (the Knight) and Hollow (THK/PV). I haven't done much fanart, so I've only drawn Ghost/Hornet, but I hope to make more pieces covering the relationship someday. I drew my first few pieces back in 2018, and at that time, the ship felt like a hallucination in my head. Invisible ship...

Technically, I know that Hornet and Ghost get drawn in your most basic NSFW images, but it's hard to think of it as 'ship'... I mean, if you go off that logic, then FinnMarcy is way more popular than it is, haha. And like, I DO think it has a wide appeal (Lol XD) but-!! It's difficult to find pieces that celebrate the relationship, in the way that I desire. At the moment, I cannot really even deduce what Ghost/Hornet 's 'ship name' even is...? In almost any language. I've had more luck in KR/CH but it's predominantly enjoyed platonically. I can find lots of cute comics and interactions because they're the playable protagonists, but I actually struggle to find explicitly romantic works. It aches me, because I do think the relationship makes people emotional, and I think there's a lot of Romance and ~Destiny~ tying them together... Sigh! ╮(╯▽╰)╭💨

I'd never seen Hollow/Hornet back in the earlier years, but to my surprise, it's gotten more popular recently. In the wake of SS's release, I've been trying to comb through galleries and document the art I see. On pinterst, there's a rabbithole of Hollow/Hornet to fall into, which both shocked and endeared me. In CH fandom, there's actually a ship name: "前蜂". I found some really dedicated artists posting stuff on weibo & bilibili. (Though interesting note about bilibili, did see more interest for Ghost/Hornet? 🤔) Anyways, I've seen a more stimulating selection of ship art there. Evocative comics, cute domestic things, and umm sexyyyy drawingz... I wonder if it's easier to get into the loyal knight and princess aesthetic, with the more 'mature' lean to the two, and the uh, crazy size diff? Lawl. At this point, I've seen Hollow and Hornet paired at all sorts of ages. The mind runs wild!

It's all very visually delicious, and I enjoy to see it... but um, for me, it's not necessarily about a 'huge age gap' and Hornet being a 'loli' in contrast. Since Ghost has just as much of an age gap with Hornet, is also estranged sibbing, etc. And really, the incest element isn't actually that huge of a factor of anyone's upbringing, because of how crazy time/age/castes work in this world... what I mean is, they could just as well not be siblings, and all the things could have happened the way they did, because they're not raised together, and nuclear families aren't really a thing in HK. But it IS cute that they are, and I like how it's used to emphasize 'connection' in the series.

Anyways, to be clear, shipping Hornet with either sibling is being an underdog compared to Lacenet. Incest always kind of gets this purgatory where a lot of people draw gen works, and like their relationship enough to draw... ? Angst, tension, cuddling, nuzzling, cutie... patootie... domestic nonsense. But they are 'just siblings' so it 'doesn't mean anything' ? My brain kind of struggles with it HAHA... Like, to me, A Lot of people Low Key ship the siblings, and want to see them together, but they're being weirdly stubborn about tagging it, and also won't draw the culmination of it all. Lots of build up and teasing, no joyous rapture...! Somehow. (￣﹃￣)????

(Something I cannot report on also is, how any of this compares to Ghost/Hollow. Because it Feels like I see yaoirific pieces of Ghost/Hollow all the time lol. Fsr they get to full on smang and be lovey-dovey. But I do not ship this, Hornet is the romantic center for me... So maybe the porn just stands out to me more bc I feel like I'm dodging it left and right. 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️)

Anyways, I felt as though I had to get all that out of the way... ⬆ Before I actually went on about my perception of the ship. Warning though, since I've never really 'summarized' my HK ship thoughts before, I tried to do One Big Summary of All Aspects of it. ⬇

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Overview of my Hollow Knight thoughts centered on Ghost, Hornet, and Hollow, covering pre-game, events of HK, post-game, events of SS, and SS post-game. The big thinky!!!

PRE-GAME!!

I suppose the first thing to roughly establish is 'age' HCs... Now that we have both games to reference, I think it's clear that age works very differently for higher beings. Basically, all of them are immortal, unable to conventionally age towards maturity, or death. This means that the passage of time does not dictate changes in their physical development, rather, their body remains static until a major catalyst induces change. These changes are either gradual, due to a shift in the psyche, or abrupt and sudden, when introduced to an external power (ex. Hornet binding Grandmother Silk in SS endings.) All three siblings seem capable of absorbing things, 'evolving' (as Eva puts it...) and even ascending to a greater state of divinity. Actually by now, I think we have clear 'before' and 'after' states for all of them as well. The diminutive forms that are able to be recognized as children, are what they were born as. The more imposing statures happen after much tampering: 'The Hollow Knight', 'Weaver Queen', and 'Shade Lord'.

's a bit silly sounding, but I've been likening them to fantasy creatures like elves or vampires, in my head... Something about the writing, I guess? How NPCs emphasize their innate youthfulness. (In SS esp, it feels on blast because Hornet repeatedly corrects that she's Actually Much Older Than You Think, aka the 1000 year old loli XD ⬅ This is a joke I'm making, but it's not untrue.) As a result, age kind of gets deconstructed, as what they look like / act like / have lived through do not necessarily match up neatly.

As for ages in relation to one another... It's ambiguous enough in the main text that I don't think any one interpretation is 'true'... but the one that is the most, straightforward(?) seeming to my brain is that the voidborn siblings would have been created first, with the Pale King then recruiting Herrah to be a Dreamer after Hollow was selected to become a pure vessel. Hollow is older than Ghost by a marginal amount, since Ghost 'hatched' late, after the decision was already made to seal away all the other 'imperfect' vessels. Then you have Hornet as the youngest. There's no way to really know when exactly she'd be born, but I like to imagine she would have been intersecting with the White Palace while Hollow still lived in it. So begins the flight of fancy...

In my mind she would be the intermediate size we see her at in Red Memory with Herrah, at times brought for ~important events~ ongoing in politics, discussions happening about the fate of Deep Nest and the Weavers, things Hornet is mildly disinterested in. A child at heart, she'd be more interested in exploring the White Palace. Not exactly getting into 'mischief', just peering into corners, unmonitored... dazzled by the contrast of the grey creeping ivy and dazzling dragonfly-like creatures. Hornet does have a penchant for pale wildlife, finding them elegant — though eventually when she matures, she'll grow to have disdain for her father's style of opulance... — for now, she can be taken by the new sights.

During these investigations, she'd catch distant glimpses of Hollow... a mysterious bug clad in white robes, wielding a nail. They are always training, and at times overseen by the Pale King. Right away, she can intuit that this is not a normal bug. (I like to think that bugs commonly can detect each other by scent; informative pheromones that can indicate species, sex...) Hollow is very unlike the muttering, prostrating bugs of the Pale King's court. There's an odd significance to the bug, yet they are always handled very impersonally, rarely addressed directly. I feel like if she was ever given an explanation to what Hollow was, it'd be under the context that this is a tool... For the future of Hallownest. A being without will, silently abiding commands, not more than the kingsmould patrolling the castle. Mysterious, for the little Hornet to hear. It's obvious there's more to the situation than is said, but that's often the case with the royalty of Hallownest. Many secrets, many things kept above her head. This could nag at her quietly as she went on with her life, until it fades into the back of her mind...

[insert ambiguous stretch of time here] [this would be when Hollow goes from lil fella to Big Fella...]

And now, to elaborate on something I mentioned earlier: this larger, imposing form Hollow eventually gets, is actually an instance of induced evolution, not aging. A product of an intense regime and a magic catalyst — more connections to void and soul, perhaps? — something of that nature, to get an extreme change in a short amount of time. This form is not meant to do anything except contain the Radiance. It is not, built to, exist in a home, interact with others, live in a town...! Hence, the cumbersome size!

So I think of this form as, comparable to a crazy science experiment... Baby become ghoulified... *said piteously, and with sympathy* Not at all comparable to the more organic development that Hornet undergoes. And ah, I would say Hornet has a pretty 'mature' mind, yet she seems quite youthful still, a teen at best (*laughs again*) If anyone could achieve an 'adult' size, it would be her, but she's not, soooo.. I must follow the logic. They ought to still be small.

Can't emphasize enough, really, how much I think Hollow's life was devoid of intimacy... Basically no physical or emotional closeness with anyone was allowed to develop. You'd have to imagine that, even if there was an enchanting moment meeting a young Hornet, it was the tiniest, briefest flicker, then snuffed out.

[Tangent: I know there's a lot of theorizing about the closeness of Hollow and the Pale King, but I'm a staunch believer that what we see at the end of the Path of the Pain is the full extent to what their interactions alone were like. Which is to say... standing beside one another, silently overseeing the palace... I do not think the Pale King ever touched Hollow kindly — because, I think the Pale King believed that the plan to seal the Radiance would work... as in, they really believed the vessel to be pure, without complications. A being without will, an empty house for an old god to be trapped within... As a result, he would never speak personably with it, or interact with warmth, because that would go against his own beliefs, and efforts in the first place. It's pretty impossible for me to think of the Pale King as very affectionate with anyone... :|]

Poor Hollow wouldn't even be able to wish for more than they had, since they were never taught how to. This life, exactly as it is, is all they have. They were selected to become the Hollow Knight and that is the only thing they were ever meant to do.

Of course, there is no such thing as a "pure vessel", so Hollow does have a will, does have thoughts, does have emotions... They're just expending all their energy towards trying to behave, perform emptiness. Willing themselves to feel nothing, to dream nothing... Do not falter, do not hesitate, obey only. In softer terms, I think they are a sad, neglected child who wants to do as they are told... Their heart is forlorn, wistful, resigned. They will do their training like a well oiled machine... they will be adorned in gleaming armor, and have elegant, practiced posture. They'll smooth out any tiny flinches they have... become still like stone.

I wonder when Hollow's sealing lines up with Hornet's life... If she'd have been so young, she cannot remember it? There's so much that can be moved around. In the most fanfic-y route, it'd be nice if she could be under the White Lady's care, just when Hollow is at the cusp of being sealed, and clad in her pale robes. It should be a painful, beautiful coupling of pale princess and knight, kind of like a really depressive family portrait. (This is a terrible place for both of them...!) My inclination is to have things be very very VERY distant and 'missed connections', like only locking gazes across a courtyard, type of thing. Though I do like more bold art and interpretations, where they are interacting more directly, even a touch of affection somewhere on Hornet's end. It's really cute and sweet. If that's how it went, I'd have to attribute Hollow's 'impurity' as having been 'implanted' by Hornet though, haha. >w<;;;

Whatever happens... This, that, or some other thing, like Hornet only witnessing Hollow's new visage in the form of the monument erected in the City of Tears... It's tragic-! And I think as Hallownest is doomed and slowly decays anyways, it'll be something that weighs on Hornet. I like her going on to defend Hallownest as a sentinel, like her sense of justice and pragmatism directs her that way over time. She'll slowly lose her whimsy as she experiences tragedy...

And ah, while ALL that is underway, just imagine Ghost deep in the Abyss, laying dormant... Honk SHOO! Haha, it's always funny to talk about Hornet and Hollow's life, because the undercurrent of it all is... 'and somewhere far away, in the basement, there's the unwanted kid'... A different kind of 'sheltered' and 'tragic'!! Many, many many years spent in the deepest layer of the earth. Yet there's something burning inside them, that keeps them from ever fading away, like many of the other siblings. Clinging to the last visage of the open door to the outside, and their sibling, turned to them before they fell, and that door closed. Something unique that Ghost has, I would describe like... Hope? Determination? It's the same traits that can make them seem callous, when they plow through obstacles... A lot of willfulness.

When they finally escape the Abyss, personhood can begin to develop. There's this odd turning point where Hollow has become the dormant sibling, while Ghost is topside... but unlike Hollow, Ghost is completely rogue agent. There's no one to enforce an oppressive belief system into them day-in and day-out. Bugs will approach Ghost like they're a child, speak to them... potentially fondly, even. React to them with amusement, or fill in the gaps, so even if they're not able to converse, they can observe... make little decisions... Decide to help, decide to carry out a quest for someone. Percolate steadily.. What do me do...? What do me want

In a funny way, Ghost will eventually become the most whimsical out of the three. To a 'normal' person, stunted, but not as stunted as Hollow, and not as worn down as Hornet. Though um, I like to think they'd be small for quite a while still, compared to other vessels that made it outside of the Abyss. I think the Broken Vessel is a good example of a vessel undergoing some sort of natural maturity? It's interesting, how their body is actually lengthening, has taller proportions... To me, Ghost's 'late to hatch' makes them something like a 'runt', 'last of the litter'. Underdog, for their story!!

HOLLOW KNIGHT!!

Now for the stuff in the ACTUAL GAME. Well, I won't really summarize anything with great detail, cuz like — you know what Happens. Instead I wanted to talk about this impression I've had of the game since my first playthrough of it... That is, the fact that Hornet feels like she guides Ghost throughout it. She acts as a kind of, hook, draw, that nudges them in the right direction for all the major beats of the story. From a pure gameplay perspective, I think you make your way to the most nearby area and you're like WHOA who is that cool ladeh... But yknow, I like to think part of the appeal of the game is immersing into the story. There's something about the fleeting sight of Hornet that draws Ghost in...

Which, I feel like is a very natural transition from the magnet pull towards Hollow within the Temple of the Black Egg. Like, you'd have Ghost arriving just as Hollow's seal is giving way, and they're becoming weakened... then, their hazy, still developing mind, parsing the world around them, would wander into other sibling, and simply rush towards. This, this is something, this is someone. I must go towards, I must see, I must know. [crawl, hop, tumble]

Of course, I've always been amused by how Hornet's reaction to this is kind of like... Creep, creepy thing, lurking around me, haunting me... 'Ghost' always feels like a good drag. A dead, lifeless thing... Well, I like her ignorance, and I like that she hasn't seen any evidence of agency in vessels otherwise. You can think of her as having steeled her mind towards being a huntress, and not trusting the unnatural quality of the void-born... At this point, she's far from any dreamy, childish mindset she ever once had. Get down and stay down!

When met with Ghost's tenacity... I like to think she's actually a bit scared, put off! Retreats, but then keeps a close eye on their next moves throughout the kingdom. As they (seemingly, intently?) approach the City of Tears, it really stirs her mind... This is something really wandering deep into Hallownest's corpse. Seeking, what, exactly...? Ruminate, mutter to self, ponder, fret. It's either something incredibly dangerous, or perhaps something that actually has, purpose, seeks intervention, not just destruction. I think it's been a long time since Hornet has dwelled on anyone this long... She's used to more 'straightforward' interactions, saving hapless bugs in the Crossroads. Slaying overtaken beasts. Dealing with scoundrels, or the nihilistic, or pitiful wretches. It's a lot to contend with something that might be 'something else'.

The meeting in front of the monument of the Hollow Knight... it's well staged. I like that Hornet waited to meet Ghost there. The water that trickles down over the statue of Hollow, weeps in a way they cannot... Effigy of fallen sibling. It's an ideal midway point, before Hornet draws Ghost to Kingdom's Edge... Oh and I like that it goes from Ghost having stalked down her, to Hornet now tracking them. :3 I think her trailing around Ghost comes with much observation of them, like they're a wildlife specimen... When combined with everything, she can begin to wonder if they truly have their own 'will'. It's kind of unthinkable in ways (just in that... I think it'd be like learning a new rule of an element, in physics, or something... Void is that foreign...) With everything having stagnated for so long, the unthinkable can actually create hope within her.

Minor details, but in SS, we learn that Hornet once longed to have wings as a child... so when Ghost obtains the monarch wings and faces her in Kingdom's Edge, I think they're like... Striking, impressive, kind of unreal. She became resigned about the limits of her biology, but Ghost has transcended that. Light striking them, iridescence, unfurling behind them... I feel like it leaves a strong impression once she's bested by them again — basically, it feels 'right' to step aside, and let them inherit the King's Brand. And um, I don't think she had to save them from the cave in that happens right after, but new fondness pushes her to do so. Little Ghost... want to Save... [does so wordlessly, leaves,, in her classic cool, distant style]

In my Fanfiction, a kind of mirror moment where Ghost is Surprised when organically Feeling Attachment to Hornet, would be... when in Godhome, facing the Winged Nosk, and it takes on her form. I think the Nosk in Deepnest cannot 'see' any loved one in their mind initially, and the memory of that slain god is preserved. But the Winged Nosk is encountered so much later, that Ghost would have actually formed their strongest attachment to Hornet, finally. The most they've ever had a connection with anyone... and so, I like to think that fight is far more eerie and shocking for Ghost. Not... ready to see... twisted visage of sisser....!! It is different...! Alarming...! Unease, when slaying this thing...

In both cases, it's not that they're resisting the emotions, just that they're so unprepared for them. Hornet would have long come to expect to lead a life where she is not close to anyone (doomed to outlive everyone, anyway..) and Ghost has no prior experience with meeting someone, and then slowly wanting to protect them. The connection they have with Hollow, and determination to free them, is something different. A sense of duty, something that must be carried out. Not to sound grim though, I actually like to think there's a lot of innate sympathy from vessel to vessel, and Ghost and Hollow hold no ill-will towards one another. Genuinely no hard feelings for what happened in the Abyss (if Hollow had reached out, they would have been deemed impure and thrown into the pit as well / Hollow's life is not an enviable one.)

Anyhoo there are ofc, various endings, and I think what we can learn from each is interesting, but obviously the most interesting encounters are... 1. timeline where both Hornet and Ghost unite to free Hollow, and 2. timeline where Ghost does the Unfathomable and ascends to godhood, allowing Hollow to be freed.

Timeline 1 is like, satisfying because we have come to understand each other and we're working together...!! Though admittedly when I see the image of Ghost's split mask and Hornet looking down at it, there's this quality, um. It's like she's [brain says: widowed... ⬅ no, that's not...] y'know like, been through this crazy journey and now can only look on at this 'corpse' functionally and go. I wonder what they felt... what they thought... [sad, unresolved, feeling like she never got to Say or Do so many things...]

And timeline 2 is like... the apex of the previous build-up, imo... Because you have this through line in HK where, Ghost is this unwanted refuse from a failed experiment, yet they manage to obtain things that (in some sense...) 'should' have been their birth rite. Monarch wings, King's Brand, Kingsoul, and of course, the little moment of disrespecting papa's corpse and sitting on the throne.. All of this is being taken, forcefully, even though they were deemed unworthy. So I think becoming god, taking the reigns and doing things their way... and so very their way that it's completely unprecedented and unexpected-!! That's, incredible, awe-inspiring... and it only makes sense a gesture like that would save their long-tortured sibling. A chance at life...?

HOLLOW KNIGHT POST GAME!!

This is the true, no rules just right, outback steakhouse chunk of time. Currently there's nothing in SS that explains what happens here... It's maddening, but also a bit exciting, because Act 3 connects us to my favorite ending, and who knows what DLC will teach us in time...

Before SS... I used to handwring a lot about what Hollow and Hornet's interaction would be, as they are shambling out of the temple, and she's on guard. The games aren't really 'about' 'being kind' 'or close'... so it was easy to imagine that turning into a kind of altercation-? Even if they're no longer possessed, like maybe a misunderstanding, or something... But now I think that I was just being insecure due to being a shipper. It helps that fandom has gotten to the point where there's lots of different, interesting approaches to what their interactions could be like-! A range of cute, severe, awkward, longing...

My current favorite version of events is... Hollow exits the temple. There's a tense moment, gaze locked with Hornet... their stature is imposing — for her, it's like that weathered statue has come to life, is now lurched before her.. They don't make any sudden moves. Hornet can then observe, their breathing is strained, and they slowly slope forward... collapse. She'd step close, cautious, but also concerned... Once it's clear they're not in any state for combat, she can look them over more closely. Less 'steadily' erroded than the statue, instead, mask is abruptly cracked, body scarred.. A very bleak, haggard form, in their tattered cloak. They're, um, also, huge, so she can't just pick them up like Ghost — whos current whereabouts, a mystery to her, but she'd know they did this.

There's no other options, than to sit patiently with the freed, now former, Hollow Knight.. I like to think she could actually help bind some of their wounds with silk, and the imbued soul could help get them up shakily. Just enough to walk out of the premises..

Given their background, Hollow follows instructions obediently. They do not show any resistance to being directed to move. They're just, very sick and slow, and aren't capable of reacting to Hornet's pondering aloud, or questions towards it. She will be understanding, given their condition, but she will also come to realize that even as they heal... They're a lot less responsive than Ghost. Now that she has a point of comparison, she can see how little Ghost could give little clues of acknowledgement, recognition. Their eyes were empty, and they seemed a bit... dim, at times, but they could give a tilt of their head, an almost self conscious rub of their hands. Hollow is a lot more 'preened', able to hold their posture, unmoving. Wherever she leaves them, there they will stay, until she returns. It's good for keeping track of them, but... it certainly does pose a question.

What do they do now...? Is she supposed to guide them? Help them decide?
It's a Bit of a choose your own adventure, in that, I think you can have fanfic-y worlds where Ghost returns in some way, and then Hornet has someone to play off of in her journey. But it's another case where I think the more 'straightforward' read is that Ghost now resides in the Abyss, as the Lord of Shades.. So Hornet is left to rehabilitate Hollow on her own.

Vignettes of her speaking to them... bringing them to areas, trying to teach them to interact with the world... She likes to document wildlife, so I feel as though she could do that with Hollow nearby, shared quiet moments, watching buggies zip by.. Then Hornet shares her notes. It would feel enriching for familiarizing Hollow with the world, as it's changed over many years, as well. I do think progress is VERY very very painstakingly slow, but it can be felt... Y'know, the day Hollow hands you a flower, your heart breaks into a million pieces, sort of thing.

I do think Hornet would start to feel... guilt, and responsibility for having 'abandoned' her siblings. She didn't ask enough questions... she was ignorant, and complicit in foolish beliefs. She'll feel forlorn that there's so much she still doesn't know about Ghost, where they are, what became of them... I don't think she can make the assumption that she was precious to them. Perhaps, it's a habit of hers to not imagine such things, 'there's no point'... no way to know. She can only offer what she can to Hollow now, little things.

Whether or not childhood memories would rise to the surface, depends on the status of the slowburn.

............ AND now a moment to pause my intellectualism and just. Yknow. Sexcanons... I think about sex too.... yeah............ so.

The biologics, (pronounced bee-oh-logikz), of the matter. I'm a simple guy and, I like the simplicity of the designs themselves. Ghost and Hornet have smoooth lil silhouette bodies. I like to think they are smooth to the touch! Compress, have give, even... Hollow is more hardened, but I don't even think it has to be like, crazy armor plating necessarily... A more haggard, stiff form, I accept, but I don't think it has to be like a suit of armor... When there's so much magic and crazy OPness at play, I'm like. -_- It can just be true that Hornet's body is so resistant to weapons, you could not pierce her easily with random tools, and yet she can look like she does.

So yea, I'm not into, xenobiology, crazy multi-plated body parts, no insane mouths or mandibles or nothin... No hidden extra limbs, or spines. 🙅‍♂️ I don't think of any of them having conventional openings to their masks. Hornet is the most organic, and does not have to eat much, so I think she can just lift things up against her mask and it will absorb it... deelicious fluids, drained...

While there's no 'mouth kissing' possible, I do think tapping masks together is an intimate gesture. They're a signifier of your Self in HK, a component of identity. I'd like to think the mask could be sensitive, kind of like a bird's beak. Caressing them together can be eroi... cool mask pressed to body, also very special, evocative. A hand to the face, still loving, and so on.

It is distinct that Hornet has gender, so I think she has like... 'the full package', reproductive capabilities, instincts, urges, pheromones that properly identify her as a female to all. Um but yk, I'm not on the side of boobs and phat pussay present either haha. I prefer a sleek, subtle slit, very discreet. (Like really, only if you were trying to fuck, can you find this...) The other two... it's as though they were selectively bred for deformities lol, like working to 'sand off' features... No mouth or any of the anatomy to make sounds, thank you. That being said, I don't actually know if any of them are necessarily null... It might be enough to just guarantee they have a broken pheromones and read as sexless? And are infertile... There was this extra step of basting the eggs in void, 'to hollow them out', so this is all kind of conceptual lol... I'm not strictly of any one mind, exactly. I guess maybe the most 'likely' reality is that they are null, but shrug...

My long tangent... I just mean to say, whether or not Hollow & Ghost have genitalia, it doesn't impede me much, because they'd need to Learn a lot to willfully engage in sex, no matter what. With the lack of any idea or expectation of sex, it'd take a lot of effort to unfurl whatever they got in there. Alternatively, they don't have anything... (or the the organs have become vestigial/entirely internal. Etc. etc.) and they have to get creative. Void tendril sexy though... it's all harmonious, since my aesthetic preference is something black and thin. Just a different conceptualization of the sensations, if this appendage is more like an arm, umm, degree of dexterity...

I don't think Hornet is remotely capable of conceptualizing sex and romance, at her starting point, again having already closed her heart to so much. Very um volcel vibes, this warrior princess. And then the other two are like, stunted, uneducated neglected children, so. It's as bleak as it could be in many ways. You'd have to be batting a thousand... get this gd sequence right. Um but [twirls hair] I dunnoooo I believe in them also... There's this inexplicable romanticism I feel, for both Ghost/Hornet and Hollow/Hornet.. [delusion]

Since Ghost has the least 'barriers' towards sex, I sometimes think about them having observed, or even been foisted into a situation during main game events. Like lol this is where I'm kind of capricious... like I think Willoh or Bretta could fool around wit dem. And then it's like a Vibe they've become attuned to. I see... I've lorned something 💭 And like many things Ghost learns, they percolate on it for a long time, then enact it more willfully. Though I'd always want the actual 'instigator' to be that Hornet is putting out a kind of receptiveness... Something that, if attentive, could actually be noticed as a change in her scent. Like... she Wants it... Experiences raw attraction, at times, comes to admire them, defer to them even... So ultimately taking a signal and just acting on it, and persisting even if she's overwhelmed or even a bit resistant...?

The sort of thing that would leave her gobsmacked you know. Only just learning that Ghost has like, a conscience, but then um they also have sex capabilities... That's wild.
Ripple effect though would be tapping into her neediness and then, having her wonder about Hollow, since they're so 'behind'... I feel like the kind thing would be then to teach them about sex. And then. Well I can't say more.

SILKSONG!!

SISTER HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED!!!!!!!!!!! A horrible turn of events. Once again I'm not going to like review SS itself in crazy detail because it's assumed you know the game if you're reading this. Ok.

There's a lot of Big Wins that happened for me in SS. Aside from it being very fun, and expansive, and showing me so many glorious creatures... There's so much juicy paydirt for being very invested in Ghost/Hornet's connection from the beginning. Act 3 so powerful... Though before it, there are actually murmurings of Hornet's experience in HK, and her recognition of Ghost's individuality, when she's talking to Lace about her being an artificial construct. I love that Hornet is telling Lace that she's wrong to define herself by her creation, as Hornet was once so ignorant. To deny that she has emotions, that her life matters, it is foolish...! Like, the very nature of being imbued with life, is that there is actually something there... and I think SS actually does exemplify this with um, the ghoulish way all silk contains the essence of everyone's souls, even if endlessly recycled. This is a world where... you can't dismiss things as entirely 'empty'... and ofc the Second Sentinel (and other automated bugs) are an exploration of this. It all pleases me greatly.

But mannn there's like no words for how much hooting and hollering there is to be done over Act 3... Void RETURN... CONSUME THE WORLD!!! I love that contending with the void again, makes Hornet have to contend with the PAST. Her questions of identity, of who she is, what she is meant to do... Red Memory is incredible~ So is the plunge into the Abyss... AND THAT GD CUTSCENE...!!

HAD ME IN TEARS...........! Genuinely. I was just paralyzed... eyes wet... It's really incredible. Hornet with this withering everbloom... VOID GIVEN FOCUS!!! THE IMPRESSIVE VISAGE! ENCIRCLING HER!! And the recognition of Ghost... I love that saving Hornet has nothing to do with Ghost's previous slated destiny of 'replacing the Hollow Knight' 'defeating the Radiance' 'saving Hallownest'... IT'S ONLY ABOUT SAVING SISTER!! CARE HER!!! All the flourish on delicately returning her body... It's TOO MUCH FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've been unraveled. I feel targeted and attacked...! I've seriously just been obsessing about this nonstop... I ran into this random lil amv on tiktok and I rewatch it constantly... Feed me 1000 of these, Ok... I just need to relish in it...

It's been discussed as if it's 'open-ended' that Ghost has feelings... That perhaps Hollow was 'weak', but Ghost was 'actually empty'... But this always felt antithetical to the, entire point of Hollow Knight to me...!!! The Pale King's mission was NEVER going to work, it is not possible to just create a soulless husk to use like a vault to store some god power in!! Only a brazen, callous mind could think like that... And, ugh we even got Hornet regarding PK's experiments with the void as foolish, how freaking vindicating that is for me...! It's in poor taste... and now we have Pharloom trying to engineer some sort of perfect automated machines to do tasks, and those have to be powered by um many Will-having, conscious-having ppls souls crushed down, and they can Think and Feel as well...

I'll just endlessly feel validated I guess... Ghost loving Hornet kinna did bring it together in a 2025 upset!

SILKSONG POST-GAME!!

In the aftermath of such a profound journey, I feel like Hornet will finally have a conclusive answer about what Ghost felt about her... The many little siblings there as well, is so sweet, it feels like being granted forgiveness. Pardoned for so many things. I think post-HK, if feeling down on herself, Hornet could feel as though she was quite ignorant and 'useless', like she didn't even really offer little Ghost 'that much'... Said things to them that weren't true, got in their way, and then they resolved the kingdom's crisis far away from the temple. But you know, caring about Hornet was such an important step to actualization. Could not have become a GOD on their own... In a world without Hornet's help, Ghost reaches the saddest fate, of just replacing Hollow, delaying the inevitable. We needed each other...!

Various different paths, perhaps... I could see one where she has a major 'drop'... 'crash' after the events of the game, feeling like, burnt out, umm in the ruins of Pharloom... Aching in the chest about Ghost, feeling her sibling loved her, and now knowing their fate. This is a world where she returns to the Abyss and plunges again, but it's kind of funny, because it's like...💦 Uah, no, sister doesn't 'belong here'... It's nice 'above', go back... But I'd like it if it was an irrational Hornet, suicidal-ish urges, and Ghost had to really coddle and care for her. Be her little shadow, basically...

It's interesting to think, if there could be ways that Ghost could be connected to Hornet outside of the Abyss... I've seen interesting drawings, proposing as if she could summon them, or sort of live perpetually with her, at beck & call. They're a god so... Shrug! Lots of fun to think about this... A multi-tendril shade to float above you in your bellhome. So comforting. 🖤

Less drastic events... well, I do like the idea of Hollow making the pilgrimage to Pharloom to find her. This poor animal... In my mind, they would, be quite 'stuck' without her for a long while. Either sitting in whatever 'home' has been set aside from them (repurposing w/e ruins...) and at mooost, auto-pilot, doing things they have been taught, like surveying land, collecting supplies. I think their sense of time is quite borked, so it doesn't help... It'd feel like she 'should' have visited, but they can't fully articulate why or how. (And this could be when she's been gone for over a month...) You'd have to really applaud the Hollow that could actually make self search for her, and then realize something's wrong and... make a decision, finally. For Hornet's sake... save her...!

ACtually, I think it'd be interesting if Ghost was 'overseeing' the two at a distance, and sensed her disappearance... but the sealed cage effectively cut them off from being able to detect where she went, or what happened. Quite jarring, upsetting, a tether being cut limp. But due to the vastness of the world and the limits of the void, there was little hope to find her... and funnily enough, I think the Abyss is genuinely the last place they'd expect to find her.

So both siblings might be on a quest of... WHERE is my SISTER!! Save princess... Mixed results. Hollow: Can actually use myriad of skills to physically track Hornet, endure the long trekk to Pharloom... Ghost: Omnipotent, so when Destiny brings sister to them, can travel violently across the inky blackness, like a homing missile. Both very devoted hearts. 😔 Hollow's reunion with Hornet ought to take place not long after her one with Ghost, so she can feel extra heartachey. At that point, I think she'd really embrace them, touch foreheads to each other, speak gently... Words of gratitude, and also pity, that they came for her. When they need her guidance so profoundly... It's just a shame. (strained laugh)

I have funny emotions about Pharloom... Hornet could 'show' Hollow things from it, but I think she could also, just Pack Her Bags and Leave, and that's ok too. It's not her home, and um, it can fix itself. >> A lot of quality time with sibling, is the greatest priority. Mutually felt.

Um, it's again a very, choose your own adventure though... Many branching paths. Perhaps there's a version of events where Hornet and Ghost have had sexual interactions, but she's never done so with Hollow. And it'd feel kind of like. What. Is holding me back... really. Just — put, intimacy, out there, on the table. And. Just. See. What. Happens. This is very passionate reunion boning, umm going harder than other instances, I think... Just a lot of Big Feefees. Hollow will feel like ;; I did good.... ;;;;;;; me good... she saef... ou... ;;;;;;;;;;;; miss u... ;; weh...... ;;;;;; And then idk Ghost from the corner: O O i am S E E ....

Threeway nonsense... ummm. Can see, Ghost's many tendrals binding Hornet, so she's very enclosed and surrounded by them and Hollow... Taking turns 👉👌 her. Ghost assists calibrating Hollow to do things, or simply grapples and rubs her, and Hollow can sit and watch. Ab... sorb. If it's a bit intimidating. It just helps if Ghost acts as a middle man here. We're working through the silence of two..

(THOUGH☝️ I think it's interesting if Ghost eventually forges more avenues for communication. And I can imagine this happening either post HK or SS... Where 1. they learn how to create sound from void within, verrrry... willpower based, and it will sound very Broken and strugglesome because it's not natural and they're not used to even having a monologue, let alone making thoughts into Sounds. 2. They kind of tap into enough Sheer Power to Mind to Mind communication with Hornet. Telepathy... Prolly more of an ability of divinity so it's a bit Scary and overwhelming for Hornet. Easier for Ghost though, in a sense...! This is still not quite like a typical conversation, but it's more like understanding what they're thinking and feeling.)

The. Point where I feel like I'm not really saying meaningful things, is here, but oh well. I've wondered about Ghost being able to obtain a more 'mortal' form again, or an illusion of one—? Interesting option for timelines where they need to intervene on Hornet. Though if they could have such a change, I'd want the fantasy to continue, and for Hollow to get to be small again. A dream space of somesort, even, so they could interact with Hornet as a small... I think it'd be really heart-wrenching to see! And maybe finally, those memories returning, and you could have an interesting shift where Hornet actually regresses smaller, partway in this dream. And so gently we are, together, the three of us. 🖤🤍🖤

I'm flattered to be associated with an art movement like that, since I do feel strongly about art as a means to convey the internal, emotional experience, rather than the 'literal' 'physical' reality. I'd argue that art is able to represent things that feel more real than reality...

However, I'll say this plainly, I'm not very properly trained or educated in art history, so I'm only familiar with things in passing. I tend to look into individuals that I happen to come across that interest me, but that rarely intersects with people in history that represent movements. I'd say I'm predominantly interested in amateurs... People on the corner of the internet.
I like to learn and read about all sorts of people. ^^

The only art movement I consciously tried to absorb and internalize, was Impressionism, actually. During high school... I was painting more back then, and was allured by the approach that focused less on exact definition, but capturing the suggestion, interplay of... colors of light on the surface of water, blur of grass and trees. I'm not good with high detail, so I remember thinking, I want to be able to convey something without literally needing to carve out every aspect of a window or door in a building... yknow.

By now, I feel like the philosophy that goes into other mediums also really helps influence my work. Like observing sculpture, puppetry, needlefelting... Anyhow, just a ramble about how I go about digesting inspiration. I feel umm unprofessional and a bit under motivated to learn about history, but I don't want to sound off-putting, I just mean to clarify... because I don't want to give an impression that I'm more informed than I am. 💦

Even so, again, I'm glad the intention of my art can link back to this thesis...!! I want that to ooze through everything, even if the subject is a cute little creature. I want the depth of emotions to be so great that the world has to contort to house it... Some of my favorite pieces to make (and that I still enjoy to look at) are where there's a lot of overlaying of expressions and body parts, as if multiple feelings are converging, flowing into one another. A scowl and a grin and a pursed lip, a squint and a glare and an eye rolling back. Bursting and folding back in. A single moment can hold too much, it's impossible to say or show it all...

Those two... were more than a passing fancy, I would say. :3c
I spent a handful of months exploring the territory. Umm, emotionally, mentally, mostly, but still. Played and replayed DLC for them, ruminated a lot... Then developed headcanons, looked at fanart, conceptualized things for my own art... It might take me AGES to actually do but, I would like to write fic of those two someday, as well...

I'm not sure what I could say that is different from Avvy's rambles about them in the past, but. Umm the process of becoming invested in them was quite funny, because I spectated a friend of mine shipping them... and while being a bystander, I remember thinking 💭 that Kieran is quite... unstable, huh.
I guess, based on their initial demeanor, you would think Carmine was the louder personality?? But I saw fleeting screencaps that seemed to have the boy wiling out. Which, was objectively interesting. So I went into the DLC curious to see what was going on there...

... it was more unhinged... than I thought... I GUESS the thing about SGZI, is one expects to find a basic oneeshota situation going on here. Some dark-haired siblings... sure. But then like, they're both kind of like, social flops, umm, pariahs of their town. Not very graceful... these two... A burden unto Mossui. You start to wonder what's lead to them being this way. Why does Kieran cling to Carmine's side, hover behind her like a shadow, yet also whine about being fussed over...? Why is fussy ane so tolerant of mopey otouto... ? Why does he identify with the? Villainized depiction of The Oni and why does he regularly run up a mountain to crawl into a cave...,,.,., It feels like the DLC awkwardly grinds to a halt at times as characters try and teach Kiki about consent and how he can't just have ogerpon. But this makes him like insane or whatever and he can't actually take it. Then you get the second half of the arc which is like . Oh he's really crazy like really really... crazy. Ok. It's odd to see the siblings almost enter a bizarre role reversal, where Carmine is more meek and deferential, and Kiki is taking charge... Umm red flags everywhere... Yabe...

I guess it's kind of entrancing, how much of a 'wreck' this all is. Kieran's breakdowns, quirks, Carmine's clumsiness in contrast with some vanity, a lack of boundaries, everywhere. They don't seem like they're ready to 'grow up' and 'leave town' at all... Which is what I like about them. The game events should be about Kieran making a friend and meeting a mystical pokemon he's always been curious about... but instead he, quickly feels insecure, betrayed, and bitter.
There's of course the legendary line... where he's talking about how protag has everything he 'wants'... 'Even you, sis.' Of course, I love it in JP... ねーちゃんだって！！ (For a while I was having fun pulling up various letsplays and seeing how people reacted... One of my favorites is this guy who reads the line and, kind of beffudled, repeats, neechan...? It's very good.)

I'm speaking sloppily, mostly trying to convey my general affection for them. I Think About Them. Now an attempt at more organized thoughts n HCs n whatall...

I believe the situation with their parents is unconfirmed, probably little to no mention whatsoever about them, nothing we can draw conclusions from. [me voice] I can't help but feel as though it was a negligent situation... I like to think that they first had Carmine and made an 'attempt' at parenting, staying with grandparents for advice and support... but then, relied too much on that support, being rather hands-off with her once she could walk and talk. Then Kieran is an unplanned pregnancy, and at that point they are fully checked out. This results in Kieran not really getting much direct attention, not being held or reassured much as a newborn, which leads to him being a very sensitive, easily distressed baby. Crying a lot and being difficult to put to sleep... The sort of high maintenance that jiichan and baachan just cant keep up with.

So from a young age, I think Carmine sees her brother as quite helpless... Basically as far back as she can remember, he's needed to be shushed to sleep and brought all his favorite things to calm down. Yosh yosh... But of course, I like to think that he clung to her immediately, and it made her very easily feel like the Bestest big sisser evar... Add a little praise and encouragement from adults, and you have a Carmine very confident in her abilities. Umm but unlike say a, Mari-chan, I think she also could be mischievous and tease Kieran, purposefully make him cry and whine, be a bit of a bully. It's a particular flavor of the two. It's just endearing how dramatically Kieran will pout, umm has the saddest eyes you ever saw. But you can bring him back from the brink of despair with a lollerpop.🍭 This goes on uninterrupted for years...

It entertains me that Carmine is self-aware enough to say that Kiki has a bit of an 'ego' despite everything. I think she can observe that ego up-close... He's a sore loser...! He wants to impress, which is an interesting paradox because of how quickly he will shrivel over the tiniest thing. Still, he's um, passionate at times, can be stubborn, or seem like he's about to burst. [thinks] like when kittens tremble as they eat meat for the first time...
She always expects him to be clinging, whining, 'a handful', her responsibility.

[becomes haggard trying to word this...] I think Carmine has felt beloved for a lot of her life... Despite the situation with their parents, and the people in the village finding them unruly... I think it's how she manages to feel so confident about her looks, and capability. I think, um, she IS pretty, and Kieran so obviously... adored, fawned over her... It didn't matter much what other kids thought, said... She's also been able to, flip her hair, make teasing comments, boast about herself... and had a little boy, with shiny boo-boo eyes, gazing up at her... clinging to the edge of her dress... Wanting to hold her hand... get a kiss goodnight... It's given her a kind of delusional confidence. But I don't think she asks for 'more' than what she has with him...
I like her position as Briar's assistant, and that she does pretty well in Blueberry. I think of her attendance to this, far-away fancy academy, is Carmine putting in the time to set-up her life, so that she'll always be reliable and stable for Kieran. She's on a steady path... She's not actually wholly prioritizing herself with this, it's moreso about doing what she has to, as the older sibling. Figure she is there under scholarship, and works hard for it... Though erm, not actually there for, any kind of hobknobbing, and not really aiming for a grand position. Always think of her like a TA... Working with a professor and researching pokemon feels like a noble living, not glamorous, yet something valuable, probably pays well... What else... I think her shaking angy hands are cute...

On Kieran's end... I think the world feels filled with insurmountable tasks, without nee-chan plowing the way. Erm, I think he's not good at being... conscious or grateful... for what he has... So he feels very low about himself, and very frustrated with that sense of lowliness. I do think of him as subconsciously suicidal and prone to attention stunts, and that's really what's at the core of his identifying with the Onii and running up the mountain. He feels other, Unwanted, and it must feel relieving to take a physical action about it — endangering self AND receiving the comfort/coddling that is being dragged back home and overseen by nee-chan. There's an itching for, a sense of power as well, I think that's also what's appealing about the onii... The misguided view of ogerpon as something terrorizing is alluring to Kieran. He would like to see himself as something that others wrongly judged... yet holds a kind of menacing potential... With such extreme feelings of patheticness, you'd need to offset it with extreme CONTROL. I think obviously pokemon battles are another way to gain that sensation, and why he wants to prove himself so badly as a competent trainer. I think the, raw technical aspect of battles, training, is very intuitive to Kiki — so it could be his gateway to 'success'.... But prior to the DLC, he's still held back by social deficets, lack of motivation... I don't think he's very cut-out for school...

IMO, his sudden vault into Champion during the Indigo Disk, is a result of Kieran losing anything grounding him. So he can forego any modicum of, self-care, regularity, in favor of going all in with training, battling. This is a guy who is not sleeping, showering, feeding himself hardly. But there's no one to stop him from doing this to himself... Push self to limits! Doing exercises, like running on treadmill... doing crunches... enjoying aching sensations this produces... Enjoying the bite of hunger at times... It's all punishing but rewarding. Mm I think he also swaps tics of, fussing with his hair and touching his hand to mouth, but it just manifests other neurosis... Tapping foot, suddenly jerking and clawing down chest/collarbone (rake fingernails against sharply..) Biting inside of mouth... eyes held wide, twitching, jerking head...
Unwell unwell unwell unwell... scraping by... Though in doing all of this he can become a kind of laser focused battle machine and just claw way to top of school. Kowai. A show of... 'self control', just sharply reinventing himself, changing his demeanor. It's proof of something he's capable of and it's satisfying to see others be shocked by it...

Of course, I think a lot of this is unchecked mental illness and puberty. And ummm he could never really keep this up...
However he crash n burns, it's fun to think about. :3 Before canon events, after, little diverging paths...
For Carmine I think she's quite helpless to watch the Kieran she knew basically 'disappear'... I like to think she's really trying to, cajole him, offer him things, get him to engage with her. Lowering self steadily. Helpless, about it all, it's where nee-chan isn't the strongest... Want to bait you with treats. [sob] Subsequently though I think it's such a good setup for ummm sex... Like Kieran demanding this, with or without words, coming to expect it, and her just buckling. Umm rape is good here... Many dubious things. :) IT'S ALL BEEN BUILDING UP..............!!!!!!!!

[waves hands] And then oh you know... [smiling placidly.....] I also just like to think about horny chicanery and things happening in less loaded context... Or, um, angst, scenarios, where Kieran gets very injured or falls ill due to his mountain adventuring... Your good ole fashioned caretaking... doting, feeding, bathing brudder... Festival times, filled with warm memories... Training pokemon, admiring one another... Mundane things like doing stretches... They're just cute... in many contexts... (^人^)

Hello. I've received a few questions related to this topic in the last 24 hours... So I'd like to address a few things, to the best of my ability.

In general, both me and Avvy's policy has been like, 'no need to give us credit, reupload our art wherever, trace, copy if you want' and so on. And it's because we don't really take personal offense to the idea of people being inspired or attached to our work — the nature of art is derivative, inherently... We both can look back at pieces made when younger and, recognize that we were unconsciously copying entire characters/pieces from artists we liked. Without the self awareness of what we were doing even. So I can't help but sympathize about absorbing something uncontrollably, and wanting to emulate it... Or you know, recognizing that there are aspects that are desired, but also things that someone wants to change, how they'd do it differently... I think it's pretty natural to want to do that. And frankly, it just doesn't feel like it's my business if someone out there is doing that...

And uh, it feels like it matters infinitely less when we're talking about, using art as an icon, or for RP, or in a wattpad fic, lol. It's just— yeah sure, whatever, have fun...
There are a handful of things I'd prefer someone not touch — sonas and OCs are quite personal and, it can be troubling to see something taken with almost no alteration... — but well, I still feel like, ultimately I can't 'stop' someone from doing that... I'd prefer it stay out of my line of sight, but if I encounter it, I'll politely turn away... I'm a non-confrontational person, and my art ummm feels like it has a very narrow demographic in the first place, so if there's one or two people out there who see my weird rat drawings and want to take them, well...... That's their decision............

⬆⬆⬆All that being said, I do have limits, so I'd like to be clear about that. Art for personal use and from my personal gallery is one thing, but I can't abide by tracing/copying commissioned art of other people's character's and concepts...! Because it's art that someone paid for, and also, um, obviously, MOST people do not like to be copied...! Just because I feel indifferent about a lot of things, does not mean that applies to my commissioners... And uh, I also, of course, do not wish my art to be used commercially. If you make a profit off of anything I do, that's unpaid labor, like all art theft. I'm always trying to be understanding of other artists and allow them to express their creativity... which is why I don't want someone to feel punished for liking my gallery. But, when money starts being exchanged, it turns me into a stepping stone for someone else's gain...

Unfortunately, I have been informed someone is tracing me and Avvy's work, and selling them as comms, adoptables, and utilizing them in art trades. I'm not comfortable with outing people by name (I don't... like, to cause a stir...) but I figure I'll at least acknowledge that it's happening, and that I do not approve of it. I'd really appreciate it if that person could think about what they are doing, potentially, if they um, care about anything me or Avvy think, feel... (´。＿。｀)

This really takes things beyond the controlled realm of 'me giving you permission to take inspiration'... involving, way too many unrelated third parties. IDK how to say this tactfully, but I don't know how people would feel about buying reskinned art from Da Feral LoliShota Pervert... Pretty sure Artfight poopoos on incest/lolisho/bestiality etc. I guess I feel quite frustrated at the thought of, detaching from all the baggage I have to carry when I sell my work — ohh to sell my adopts without having to bear the cross of being nastay freak not allowed on most websites...! Hshfhfhs...

Just my message to you all, when you do this kind of thing, you're digging yourself a grave... and just hoping you never get caught. I would encourage you to think about how this effects others, not even just me...

Anyways... I hope that gets it across... Trace my squirrels for personal enjoyment, not social or financial gain. Thanks.

It would be fine if it were a genderbend, no real issues, whether or not I would do it would boil down to the designs being something I can interpret. (My usual preference for smaller, stylized humanoids, and all that.)

I would also request that the reference for genderbend be provided, because otherwise I would have to make a design from thin air... Errr, but there's a grey area, like, if we're talking a shota that is very feminine and Basically a girl, that's like... [laughs] Well you know, it's own territory I Guess... I would draw it as is, but like 👉👌... lol... All subjective I know but just trying to give people an idea of what's chill. You walk into the room with a shota like. Pico. and I won't ask questions... lol