Simon Rickson

Simon is generally cheery, even if a little cocky, but generally well meaning and tries its best not to be overly negative. It is rather confident in itself, knowing what it can and cannot do without bragging. It is however prone to occasional moments of perhaps being a little too cheery and silly.

With being recently turned, as a vampire it is still getting used to new instincts and compulsions that come with it. To a degree its gained a little disregard of the lives and general wellbeing of the living, but it still is more than happy to interact with them. It’s just not a guarantee any more that Simon isn’t viewing the interaction as a means to an end to feed and does just accidentally slip in to calling people “snack”, “food”, “meal” etc. depending on hungry it is.

This kind of becomes more apparent when Simon’s particularly bloodthirsty, leading to extremely erratic behaviour that can be almost manic as its normal baseline happy personality meshes with the instinct to feed. When satiated though Simon’s more like its pre-undead self, just a lot (physically) colder, and sharper. You should give it hugs so it can steal your warmth (and maybe a little blood too)!

Even though it can now shapeshift, Simon typically keeps its kind of ruffled look as it did before becoming a vampire as they let their quills grow out longer than they should, letting various tufts of fur grow too long, and so on. It does keep their quills in some form of style, though it’s not maintained more often than “it gets washed a lot”.

Its fashion sense falls in to one of three categories: None, Enough for the required situation or it thought the outfit was cute, and it will often decide what its wearing based on the weather. Though since growing fangs it does like wearing a cape now and then, something about it feeling like how if it was a bat it could trap prey in its wings.

Simon’s profession (even if it doesn’t need a profession any more) is as an archaeologist, and actually has a doctorate in its area (“That’s Dr. Rickson to you”). Some people wonder how such a cheery, happy go lucky individual managed it, but it did! There is of course now a level of irony being dead itself and being interested in the dead.

Simon is in an open relationship with its partner, Malrak Varghan, who is taking his partner’s need to feed off of the living particularly well, without any suggestions either! Though Malrak isn’t exactly a normal hedgehog himself which could be why.

Simon also has an identical twin, Richard, who hasn’t worked out his twin is now a little less identical.

Simon is the oldest character I have, originally being a pure Sonic OC (or Red Sonic with Shadow’s body design). Though the archaeologist job and name was pretty constant from fairly early on, I can’t actually confirm WHEN that became a thing but it’s certainly a part of Simon’s character before I even became “DarkOverord”.

The heterochromia came from a story arc I was going to do in my old sprite comic, Break Down (and it’s AWFUL header), in the day, which I never actually established beyond a one or two page thing and then life stopped me doing my comics (for better or worse). Certainly if I was to reboot Break Down this arc would never happen, and likewise the heterochromia would just be a default thing for Simon.

By “TheUnknown1” featuring Simon’s original appearance

EVOLUTION

More recently as Simon’s become my default maybe more of my personal feelings of gender and identity has transitioned over to Simon. So its taken on those traits to where I’ve decided its alternex (null), can’t do it IRL so what is a fursona but an ideal self?.

And then at the end of 2023 I let a vampire make a silly post I leaned in to an then identity happened. Oops! Simon’s undead now. I know it’s not for everyone so if you want art with pre-dead Simon then just ask! I don’t mind!

New traits

• Obviously: Fangs, very sharp!
  • They are very very sensitive though! Especially at the back of them and at the base
• Pupils have become thin slits
• Ears have grown a lot longer but still retain the same shape to them.
• Hearing is significantly better, Simon’s hearing wasn’t bad but now there’s sounds that it didn’t even know existed
• Eyes have a subtle glow at all time
  • Because it can hypnotise at all times
• The fur where Simon was bitten didn’t grow back red and is near transparent
• Enhanced sense of smell. A hedgehog already had a strong sense of smell but now it’s tuned to let Simon sniff out that metallic goodness in mortal veins.
• Night vision improved! Which again, hedgehogs were already naturally nocturnal even if Simon followed daytime habits, so win win!
• A lot stronger now, their upper body strength has gone from very weak to supernaturally picking others up without effort. We’re talking barely being able to lift their own body weight to flat out being able to pick others up with a single hand.
• Able to transform, though generally liked to stick to the hedgehog shape
  • Does mean now it can junk when it wants and remain smooth otherwise
• Enhanced healing, has been shot multiple times before and just shrugs it off.

New habits

• Will sometimes hang upside down either for comfort or just while working on things
• When not shifted as a bat it will sometimes hold its hands in front of them as though it is keeping its wings off the floor
• Sometimes will just perch on elevated surfaces (kitchen counters, tables, etc.), generally “away” from the floor. Not that Simon doesn’t want to be on the floor but it gives it a view over others as a result, don’t always realise its doing it either.
• Likes sleeping in confined spaces now and then, especially when alone. A coffin, a wardrobe, etc.
  • In that regard, often sleeps upside down if Simon has fallen asleep in a vertical confined spaces
• Really likes wearing capes now, not always, but often!
• Has grown to dislike wearing goggles, or just any eyewear that isn’t easy to remove and can block light (e.g. polarising lenses etc.)
• Sometimes just, unsettlingly, stares at others without realising. Likely sizing up others for hunger sating value
• Views mortals as food now! Habitually will call people snack, food, morsel, prey, and so on
• Likewise views mortals as lesser to itself.
• Occasionally gets clingy with mortals ‘cus it wants the warmth from them (because it doesn’t generate any of its own!)
• Sometimes likes to just hypnotise others for nothing other than its own amusement
  • Finds it especially amusing when mortals are embarrassed by the situation

Signs of Simon’s undead nature and “Weaknesses” 

• Stone cold to the touch unless it has fed recently, or have clung to something warm. It doesn’t generate any internal heat of its own any more on account of being dead.
• While Simon didn’t have much skin on show anyway, but what is is now clearly pallid, near white, in tone due to the lack of blood.
• Only mimics breathing when it suspects that people are actually looking closely at it during times when Simon is trying to look “alive” in public.
  • On this topic, Simon can hide the fangs if it needs to but again, only when it feels having them on show would be bad
• Struggles to stay awake around high noon. Not surprising as the change shifted Simon’s sleeping habits from diurnal to nocturnal, but no matter how much it tries most of the time Simon finds itself sleep, even if briefly.
  • Because of this they will attempt to structure everything to late day/evening hours at the earliest.
• Will unintentionally have their attention grabbed, sniff the air and maybe involuntarily twitch if hearing the word “blood”
• The longer its gone without feeding, the less mortal food tastes of well… anything. It still enjoys all the flavour profiles and textures of it all even if it doesn’t need anything other than blood to survive. Thankfully it takes more than a day for them to lose their sense of taste for anything other than blood.
• Only sometimes has reflections (see pure metals)
• Less interest in sexual release, Simon used to be quite a horn ball but feeding now brings them more pleasure than sexually releasing. This isn’t to say that Simon won’t have sex, it will either to get its actual goal (blood) or because it wants to have sex! Do not confuse this for being ace!
  • Using its venom, is even more pleasurable but its progenitor has drained Simon while under trance a few times, but Simon won’t admit it enjoys that a lot

More significant “Weaknesses” but not outright actual weaknesses

• While completely unfocused, thinking of “bat” things will cause it to shift its bat form. Has gotten better at managing this compared to the first shift while unaware that would even happen. This can partially happen while waking up, sometimes first thing in the morning it has a couple unintended bat features.
• When particularly hungry Simon does get a little loopy, erratic behaviour as its more happy nature clashes with base line hunger.
• Also when hungry its harder to hide that the eyes glow, generally even when sated there’s a subtle glow to them but when particularly hungry it’s pretty obvious! Can have a very green tint to it in the process, partly because of one of its eye colours but partly also a leftover effect of its progenitor’s own eyes.
  • If particularly blood-starved the bat features start meshing with its preferred “mortal” look. Remaining anthropomorphic instead of the bat form which is typically that of an average wild bat’s size. Generally it follows the stages as follows
    1. Ears grow larger with the bat tragus growing out, something that would be buried under fur if hedgehogs even have them???
    2. Ear loses a lot of the fur and skin gets more exposed
    3. Snout shortens
    4. Nose changes from the more glossy kind to the more fleshy larger nostrils, a lot of the fur disappearing along the snout too
    5. Hands will start to shift in to wings, with membranes forming
    6. Starved enough it’ll just be a bat really!
  • Note – Blood-starved != Recently fed upon. It happens! Simon won’t like to admit it but of course a more powerful vampire could do that to them. Could being drained entirely by another vampire make it that it starts to trigger blending of hedgehog and bat features? Yes! But it wouldn’t say jump Simon down to “wings start forming” stage.
• As above, not much is truly going to stop a more powerful vampire having their way with it, especially who sired Simon to its now undead state. It finds this very embarrassing but also extremely hot but it isn’t going to admit that out loud unless made to.

Not weaknesses at all

• Garlic – Though if particularly hungry the smell can prove an annoyance, but that’s true of any smell that could somehow mask the smell of blood. Has been quoted “you can’t take garlic from my cold dead hands”
• Holy symbols – Simon isn’t religious and it feels like that kind of thing would need some affirmation that that religion is “true”. Old symbols though may appeal to Simon because of their mortal profession, that they still keep up, as an archaeologist.
• Holy water – See above.
• Running water – Simon would point out that there is running water everywhere in the world, but would it also play with prey to make them think they’ve “outwitted the vampire” by running across a bridge? Yes.
• Drowning – Simon doesn’t need to breathe any more.
• Staking and decapitation would kill Simon, but also it would to a mortal too! Simon’s quite sure that’s a superstition but also isn’t going to try and find out if it’s genuine on out any time soon

Weaknesses

• (Direct) Sunlight isn’t as lethal as various stories like to tell however it is still painful. Being out in it does give Simon a headache that can progress to a migraine. Prolonged exposure could burn it though, and not “sunburn” burning, but it would probably need to be out in it all day without any shade for respite.
• Fire – It is now more flammable, takes a lot of care around fire sources (fireplaces, cookers, lighters) but also things that could cause burns such as tasers and other electrical shocks.
• “Pure” metals like Silver and Gold – Generally hasn’t an issue with brief contact but Simon complains about prolonged contact of it feeling “uncomfortable” or even painful.
  • This applies to reflections, Simon’s reflection will be mostly visible in polished glass, aluminium backed mirrors, chrome plating or even cheap reflective plastic. However silver backed mirrors or just polished gold and silver at most the glow from Simon’s eyes may be slightly visible.
  • Because of this and the reflections matter Simon can sometimes unintentionally visibly be seen to avoid being near the metals. If asked why they are, it’ll just respond that the metals just give them the “heebie jeebies” or similar.
• Doesn’t need to be invited in but does feel uncomfortable to the point of painful if it hasn’t been invited in to a private residence. Of course this is easily circumvented by either being direct “Hey can I come in?”, indirect and easily forgettable later in the day “It wouldn’t be a problem if I popped round yours briefly tonight right?”, or just hypnotises its victims to allow the vampire in anyway.
• While not debilitating, has developed arithmomania alongside the other vampiric traits.
  • Should be noted though that prey throwing a bag of rice or beans or whatever isn’t going to stop Simon giving chase and feeding.
    • It may however if still in the same space after feeding go back and count out.
  • Simon’s boyfriend may have used this occasionally to keep the vampire distracted, which is very mean of them but also not maliciously, it often is things that would be beneficial to them both.
• Speaking of the boyfriend. Not a weakness per se but Simon can’t seem to in any way hypnotise its boyfriend, Malrak. Some could say it’s because Simon still loves Malrak, but really it’s to do with Malrak themselves. Malrak does lets their partner feed on them though but apparently his blood doesn’t taste right and is more when Simon doesn’t want to go out or “order take-out”.
  • The lore reason being that Malrak themselves is manufactured and immortal, which Simon does know but that doesn’t deter the vampire. His blood is synthetic and for some reason his creation has made it hard for him to be hypnotised. He does get amused at Simon’s attempts nevertheless.

Generally, yes! Unless it’s something extreme or generally “weird” I’m fine with it! Simon likes sex and is a hornball tbh.

While I made a more recent transition (…pun intended?) based on my own Gender Discoveries to make Simon null, if you want it to have its dick in a piece then that’s fine! The beauty of art is if occasionally I want to have a dick, I can! This would be my IRL situation if somehow it was possible!

Plus now Simon really likes blood and trancing prey too! Oh boy! So if you want to lean in to those themes of Simon’ now more dominant tendancies regarding hypnosis (or biting) then sure!

Though if you don’t want a vampire hedgehog it’s okay, pre-turned Simon is good too.

NSFW Ref (Alt Ver) | Vers Switch, generally a power bottom or a service top

Good kinks for NSFW work: Vampirism, hypnosis (both as subject or tist), rubber, transformation but kind of would like to okay that first