Reluctant Designer

Log #7

2008.06.20 「And I'm onto the next chapter.」

I'm glad my bizarre setting was pleasantly received by my friends m(_ _)m. Now I feel confident to go on without worrying about overt self-indulgence. I'm constantly worried about not being able to meet the 20-page goal by the time I need to send out the files for print, seeing how I work at the speed of one page per 3 days (at best!) OTL.... I suppose my main goal now is to make it into a book and be satisfied with it; doesn't matter how thin it might end up being...

Oh, and. Last night I designed En-Syn's promotional flyer in 5 minutes XD. And am (unexpectedly) quite happy with how it turned out. I figured my mochi chibis inverted against stark black would pique visitors' curiosity. Go, go, black <3. Now to wait and see if people would actually take it at R3.

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2008.06.17 「And I'm done.」

 

...with the first 5 pages, hahaha... Oh my, I work so slowly TxT. As I haven't got much to show this time around without spoiling the content (does that matter? LOL) I'm just going to show my work process. The chart below describes your typical diligent doujinka's process (correct me if I'm wrong) and the one below it is mine on a predictable day:

[systematic] Name -> Panel -> Sketch ->  Ink -> Tone

[ whatever ] Name+Panel+Sketch+Ink -> Tone -> Sketch+Ink

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2008.06.14 「OMG plot finally?」

I've been enjoying the last 2-3 chapters in the manga <3. FINALLY we have a semblance of plot... albeit one that isn't connected to the main cast (I'm drumming my fingers forever waiiiiiting for just ONE amongst my favourite trio to show up). But it's nice to get a mafia-ish backstory all the same. Who knew Uni was  brainwashed? XD And who knew Gamma was this amiable? I suppose in this series no good-looking villain is villainous, but it still stands to be clarified just where Hibari actually stands in this XD. Thoroughly enjoying this pleasant turn of events in canon, and Yamamoto and Lal's return onscreen... before Genkishi (I see a sign that says "Five chapters of snarking and fighting - JUMP style! *niko*" on his forehead) showed up with apparently a maiming intent.

OTL.

All that "Best swordsman of this era" talk and we all know Yamamoto is going to breeze through this or, at worst, gain one conspicuous scar on a conspicuous part of his face.

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2008.06.12 「Paneling woe.」

There you go. Just listen to the Jyuudaime. In times like this, I wish I had Suzaku's inexhaustible stamina. Paneling makes me grieve; looking at my pages, anyone can tell that I still draw manga as I draw illustrations. Although, as I progress, I find I'm getting messier, more practical and therefore faster, which is really what needs to be kept in mind when you have a deadline. Randomly, this project is so impossible (not as impossible as Omega-2D's female Hibari, mind) that I feel guilty of self-indulgence sometimes, tee-hee.

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2008.06.10 「...Getting over the initial shock of you-know.」

I'm onto it, I'm onto it. Although I'm moving very slowly due to too much unnecessary pondering over things like "...does this paneling make sense? Does this character's head have the right number of hair strands?" *headpalm* That's why it's called amateur, self-published work, silly. Thankfully, my fear of technical and political errors (?) have kept me plodding onwards. Thanks to my fear of deadlines, also, now I can even overlook not-too-fine strokes and slightly wonky proportions- er, wonky-er than usual.

...Not sure if I'd be able to sit and wait at that table twiddling my thumbs as visitors flick through my stuff. Good gawd, what could be running through their minds? I'm sure I'll chicken out eventually and run the hell out of there, leaving a flabbergasted Ferrum on standby XDDD. Oh, man, if only I could communicate in that... that language, which reminds me that while I CAN escape my tablesitting responsibilities, I would have nowhere to go OTL... Guess I have no choice but to stick to Ferrum like a fly on a veryvery sticky, gluey surface.

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2008.06.07 「...東地区 "Ｅ" ブロック 32a.」

A... Apparently Ferrum managed to get us a space at Summer Comiket.

I... I....

OH MY GOD, THERE'S A GIANT BIRD BEHIND YOU.

*runs the hell away from responsibilities*

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2008.06.06 「Why, yes, it is an actually grown-up Tsuna... Why?」

So I was bored at work yada yada yada... which spawned this low-res doodle. When I drew TYL!Tsuna for UdO, I didn't have to know how I wanted him to look like since you don't really see his face, but I kind of had to decide on a fanon design for doujin, haha. Paul and I agree that, since he seems to take after mum, he would (hopefully) inherit dad's stature. Not the burly aspect of his stature, o gawd XD. Giotto is so not an adult... look at that face. If anything, only his hair grew taller *ducks freshly picked tomatoes*. Bet that's the reason he's covered in pinstripes *ducks a cow*.

In a fit of inspiration (whut) I drew a TYL!Tsuna with considerably much shorter hair and thicker built. Though I had to be careful NOT to make him come across as too confident like his hyper-mode version. I'm sure he remains sweet and peace-loving (and awkward) even as Vongola Decimo to a certain extent. Only to a certain believable extent, Ms. Amano. Don't give me a pedobait 24-year-old whenever you decide you've kept him long enough to yourself.

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2008.06.05 「Uomini d'Onore News #6 - OMG OMG I'M DONE!!!」

I'm freaking, effing done <3333. Now that I've got UdO out of the way (finally), I can (fiiiinally) focus on Hibari Household and, uh, probably some work at internship XD.
Have this miniscule preview  <3. Which... I wasn't supposed to put up at all. But the group doesn't need to know that. I think I'll collapse on my bed first thing when I get home tonight.

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2008.06.04 「Uomini d'Onore News #5」

One more figure and I'm done. Above are two characters whose future selves haven't been revealed in canon. Considering I have a deadline, waiting for Ms. Amano to FINALLY do so is a no-go. Cooking up a fanon TYL!Tsuna was hard-er than I'd anticipated. What look should I go for? Less crazy hair, authoritative body language, snazzy outfit... No long hair on my Vongola Decimo, please, Ms. Amano. Also, he better not look like a shota pedobait - TYL!Haru and TYL!Kyoko's reactions to Tsuna sounded ominous already ("You seem... different." DURRR LOLOL).

One more complaint from me while I'm at it. The other day, Ruka and I had the following exchange:

Ruka: Realms said FuutaxHibari would piss Hibari off.

Rune: Haha, no kidding.

Ruka: Eh, actually, I DID find a FuutaxHibari doujin on Tora no Ana. The young Fuuta. This fandom does have everything o__o.

Rune: No - no, it doesn't. It doesn't have MY pairing.

Ruka: I don't think I've seen a single doujin on that. I wonder why.

I wondered, too. Considering that this is a fandom that pairs off two people just for rubbing shoulders while passing by each other, you'd expect it to at least acknowledge the way canon makes Hibari seem kind of OOC in 169. I mean, it's something, isn't it? Of course, you could argue that it is Mukuro he's talking to and not Chrome (because, seriously, why would anyone give a fig about Chrome when you can have Mukuro? Pfft). Still, I have the suspicion that, had it been a BL moment, it would've spawned a shedload of fanworks within an hour of the chapter's release like it did with 3827. Rawr, you disappoint me, J-fandom *shakes head*.

...Or I could stop complaining about J-fandom's wanting treatment of Hibakuro and use that time to make my own. There's that option, but... Argh. Sometimes it's more fun to look at other people's works.

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2008.05.31 「Uomini d'Onore News #4」

A WIP screenshot to prove that I AM working on my bag illustration. I promised the group to put it out by next week orz.... I wonder if they'd remember to ask for it when the time comes. Also, as we've FAILED to predict, three (four?) months into the project and we're still not seeing TYL!Tsuna or TYL!Chrome, so I guess canon won't kill my designs as of yet. With my luck, Ms. Amano would reveal them promptly after everything is decidedly good to go, being the evil, evil lady that she is.

The hardest part of this job was trying to work out a good angle and, later, the placement of eight people in so limited a space at that angle. Orrie managed to (and beautifully) give everyone equal spotlight, but in my case, three people are hogging the best spaces. Dhieta took a jab at my Hibari-bias and it's true if you look at the positioning~ I asked around and nobody had any qualms. After all, he's still number one in the chara ranking poll, tralala...

Irrelevant piece of info: My head is full of Perfume's SEVENTH HEAVEN and Perfect Star Perfect Style right now even though I shouldn't be listening to cutesy while doing this illustration (yes, it will show).  Also, Janet Jackson's Luv, which is... well, love. Can't seem to stop putting them on repeat ;_____;.

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2008.05.30 「Happy Birthday, Yami-sua~n」

Let's just say that I'm glad I don't have as many friends as, say, Ruka. May has been near-killer XDDD; too many close friends having their birthdays. I was going to give Yami 6918 at first, but then she commented once that she'd like to see this Hibakuro. Based on her lovely ficlet, actually, although in that one Hibari isn't nearly so... posey.

And, yes, TYL!Hibari is TALL, isn't he? Half a head taller than teen Yamamoto. I don't think the height difference I gave Hibakuro is that exaggerated considering canon hints. Even this TYL!Chrome is as big as teen Yama so she really should've been tinier than this o___o. Amano and her heights...

...........

I... I'm sorry. Chrome is DEFINITELY TOO TINY in that picture. It's scary to even contemplate R-18 involving those two being the sizes they are *cowers*.

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2008.05.27 「Uomini d'Onore News #3」

I... forgot what number News it is for UdO, but putting that aside - I have previews for my calendar spread (with handwritten watermark because Painter doesn't offer type application)!:

My friends all know that no colouring process is ever unaccompanied by bitching and whining where I'm concerned. I've put my best efforts at imitating marker-colouring on Photoshop for this job and am hoping like whoa that my group mates would at least appreciate my efforts even if the end product turned out mediocre =(. I feel sorry for my Ipin who IMHO is underdone (naturally I would get lazy once I got to her since she came last), and I prefer the monochromatic Bianchi much more (colours killed her expression) but I suppose the calendar needs full-colour spreads. I have to say, though, that I'm quite content with my Haru and Kyoko.

As of now, Rue (Suki) our project leader is running in circles trying to get every spread in order for printing as per scheduled. I've asked for a one-week extension where my bag illustration is concerned (Orrie has done hers and OMFG it is brilliant~) and thankfully Rue gave it to me. Hopefully we'll get the bookmark and calendar previews out by next week and get them to the printer by the next. Honestly? I'm not sure how this thing would look like once it comes out. I admit to feeling quite... overwhelmed (nervous?). I've never had anything of mine reproduced before o___o.

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2008.05.20 「Happy Birthday, Ruka!!!」

No, I know - too many May babies XDDD. Since I wouldn't do Ruka's favourite D18 or 1827 (I'm picky picky picky, and that's why I don't take requests) I settled for TYL1818 after she dropped a few hints on having taken a shine to it (plus, a chance to draw the two Hibaris side-by-side? I would be silly to refuse <3). In other news, I think I'll get my first break in a long time starting June, as in I'll only have my doujin work to worry about. I thought I was going to have my hands full with that AND calendar work, but it turns out that everything for Uomini d'Onore is due in at the end of this month *FALLSDEADFALLSDEAD*. I'll... I'll try my best to finish the monstrous bag illustration and my monthly portion in ten days T_______T.

Also, Seki and I talked about this last night before we posted our gifts to Ruka:

Is this thief-proof enough a watermark for you? LOLOL I was thinking that, since sigs most likely wouldn't be effective against thefts (heck, I saw my birthday art from Kurot up on YouTube STILL bearing my name - some people just can't be bothered), we can most definitely do this XDDD. Then Seki told me the whole pic ended up looking like some sort of an ad ("You have now started your new brand: RUNE!").

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2008.05.19 「Welcome Home, Hope」

Collaborated again with Realms, but this time it's on a Sound File-formatted Code Geass with transcript and all. Again, the pictures came first and Realms wrote around them beautifully. All this for an amazing ficcer of a friend who's just come back from a three-month study in Russia (says she wants to get into our new fandom soonish - yes, we were still Code Geass maniacs when she left ^^"). Anyway, the above picture is my attempt at a "Geass in my own style" if I had one, that is.

I'm sure our next collab will be KHR-related again. Realms isn't getting out of anything once I'm art-bunnied XD.

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2008.05.07 「Hibari Household News #3」

Not family in the Famiglia sense. Family as in unlikely breadwinner, equally unlikely homemaker, annoying in-laws, neurotic butlers, nosey boss... XDDDD. It's been ages, but I AM still working on this doujin project, which is a collab between Ferrum and myself. Finally I can fully concentrate on Hibari Household (project title undecided) after the hell that was Vongola Editorials *shudder*.

If all goes to plan, we'll be putting this project out for print. Otherwise, this would remain a secret amongst my flist LOL. We'll see, I guess. I mean, with Ferrum's workload I'm somewhat pessimistic about pulling this off, but Ferrum is a superhuman when it comes to multitasking, so we'll see...

Ruka commented on the above promo looking like a chibified family portrait. Cute XD.

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2008.05.04 「Happy birthday, Kurot!」

Ghahaha... That girl received so many Yamamotos on her birthday. I knew her OTP was 8018 but my mind simply failed to wrap around the pairing somehow. So I went for what I thought she MIGHT also like x___x (I find TYL8059 very appealing orz - this is why I no longer take requests). Done during a time of great fatigue. I hadn't been so exhausted since I submitted my graduation thesis, to the extent that I couldn't even judge my lines (which would explain Goku's weird hand... hopefully). There are too many May babies, yargh. Now the thing I made for Hibari's birthday on May 5th would have to wait...

Also, despite all my portrayals of smoking KHR characters, I don't endorse smoking. No no no. It's only cool in art.

Log #6

2008.04.23 「Can I have that back please?」

When Ferrum spoiled me on that scene (she couldn't resist telling, which I understand) I imagined it'd be a little on the moe side like the above. But the actual scene turned out to be far more grave, serving as a huge character point. So much is revealed about Rollocakes in Turn 3, most of which made my maternal alarms go off like crazy  @___@. The boy only wants his nii-san T^T.

"You gave it to me so it's mine!"

"Are birthdays that important?"

"Family?"

"Where's my nii-san!?"

Rollo.... Rollo......

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2008.04.20 「Somehow, I feel like...」

...looking through the English Tegaki board and Deviantart, I seem to be finding more and more long-haired Chrome with hair parted on the side where her good eye is like my fanon TYL!Chrome =DDDD. Now, I'm not saying that people have been getting ideas from my fanart (really, who does? Well, okay, some LOL) but it's nothing short of amusing that every 1896 fan seems to share the same foresight regarding TYL!Chrome's hairstyle. And then I was told by Ruka that, in fact, Nagi never wanted Mukuro's pineapple topknot but instead was forced to adopt it by Ken who couldn't stand the fact that she's a girl. This is according to the second novel. So it's very possible that TYL!Chrome would've done away with the topknot. And considering that she appears in the manga wearing a scarf over her head, what else could it be but sans pineapple?

 

 

I'm WAITING, Amano.

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2008.04.16 「What do you mean I'm protecting my right eye?」

Because, apparently, I never learn when to stop embarking on new minor projects and going back to my old major ones. CG-ing is hell on Photoshop, is it not? *is met with silence*. Honey wanted me to do lineart tutorial for which I'd made Rollo my model. I figured I'd have a go at colouring it since I need to learn how to lend colours onto my art anyway. My friends don't believe me when I say I'm a terrible, mediocre at best, colourist *points to the above and below examples*. Cel-shading isn't exactly colouring in my book x__x. You don't get creative with your colours in cel-shading.

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2008.04.14 「And I tried colouring」

Crediting Gabriela Gosden for the idea of making Mukuro cosplay George Koizumi, Chrome into Hayakawa Yukari and Hibari an antagonistic Tokumori Hiroyuki. I have sinned by doing this piece of art but since Gabriela has told me not to lock it, I unlocked it *fidgets*. Although the troublesome post on LJ definitely needs to stay locked.

With this, I might stick with monochromatic art a little bit longer. Yes?

Log #5

2008.04.10 「HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SISCA!」

 

Probably the longest I've ever worked on a gift art. I'm seriously beat x__x. I did Suzaku and inking while Ferrum did Lelouch and toning. In the end, we posted it one day late OTL. My... My hand feels like it was just overcome by one week's worth of shading even though it may not look like much. In the process of bringing this to the finish line, we constantly corresponded on G-chat at ungodly hours for the amount of time an average person would spend going to work, having lunch, going home, having dinner and bathing. I don't remember how many times this went back and forth between us, but I'm glad we're finally done with this darn thing x___x.

WELCOME BACK, CODE GEASS!!! <3 <3 <3

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2008.04.08 「I... I can't draw Dino T___T」

I realise that, ever since Ferrum and I established EN-SYN, I haven't had time to do anymore "proper" inked art. I even neglected my doujin - wahhh! To make up for lost opportunities, I'm busying myself with one "proper" project. It's taking forever (I hate not being good at proportions) and finding the right fashion for each character is taking more time than necessary ---> is a perfectionist. I aim to get it out by Sunday but since I'm only up to spread 4 out of 9, I really don't know... T____T The "pairing" spreads are so darn hard (the poses!!!). A learning curve, I suppose.

Also, thanks to Ferrum's ideas, I think DinoFuuta might be my new fanon coupling. I know, I know. HibaKuro looks so canon next to DinoFuuta, right? XDDD But I like the aesthetics of it, soooo... And it doesn't help that Ferrum's webmanga for it is so darn sexy.

Um, and for your information, it's TYLDinoFuuta. Eep.

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2008.04.05 「Everywhere you see is chibi LOLOL」

Oh yeah... And above contains some pretty spoilerific spoilers. Did you get spoiled? I offer you a bow of apology *bowbow*. Also, a bonus Hibamochi as an answer to Sammie's comment:

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2008.03.31 「I have a new computer~」

Picture has nothing to do with entry, tee-hee. But I bet Hibari-san is bored waiting for SOMETHING INTERESTING to happen already.

It's the new Macbook Pro! <3 I'm installing Windows XP onto it tomorrow since Painter is strangely slow on OS X... Now I can go on with my 600-dpi projects~ Also, presently I haven't been able to stop listening to Jay-Z's American Gangster thanks to DA MAN magazine's recommendation (yes, I've picked up the habit of buying men's magazines - it's my suit fetish... Also, their recs are more to my tastes). In fact, it's the only sound I listen to whilst drawing the hopefully-edgy and Reservoir Dogs-inspired Uomini d'Onore bag illustration. Definitely helps with the ambience.

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2008.03.29 「I... I finally did it.」

As of THIS POST I am officially no longer a good, clean, at worst PG-13, fanartist.

To top it all off, my first non-doodle 1896 turned out to be...... 9618.

I guess I'm somewhat happy?

---> Here is the comm's banner LOLOL!

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2008.03.26 「What have I done for you lately, Ferrum?」

I was pondering over this. Considering my OTP is 1896, I don't really do much about it. I mean, SURE I'm working on this collab doujin to be put out at an event. Wow, I didn't dare dream to debut this way two months ago x___x. Anyway. I saw someone's comment on someone else's LJ about hoping I'd do more 1896 something or other, which made me realise I've never drawn it the way I did that 5927 or that LamPin or... I even dedicated TWO COMPLETE PROJECTS for TsunaKyoko o__o. Every other art I've done for my OTP has always been mere doodling. I wonder...

I asked Realms whether I HAVE been neglecting my ship and she told me (surprisingly): "But you've always been drawing them." I... I have? "Well, yes. You've made sure to include them in all your drawings. Well, not all." WHAT??? "Your supposedly gen drawings have pairing vibes in them." Even the ones where the guys and girls are separate????? "They're looking across to each other, aren't they? Then it has pairing vibes." OTL

And then, I had people asking me if the White Day comic had 1896 in it or if it was just their imagination (yes, it's your imagination OTLOTL). Or whether it was Hibari leaving Chrome's room in Shot In Sicily. Or whether- My conclusion? Apparently, my thoughts freaking show on my drawings *headdesk*. And, apparently, I draw them better than I do the others. Well, well, well. I guess it's no use trying to hide my ship (since it's like... hiding a goshdarned elephant with your 5'6'' tall person) so I suppose I better go all out now. However, I still can't get past this... PHASE wherein every pairingy art I make magically turns into suggestive gen in the end. I want to do NSFW, too, damnit!!! ;____;

The point of this post is............ to illustrate how my minor pairing stigma has tied me down so badly, that Ferrum who doesn't really like 1896 (as far as I can tell!) has beaten me to a pairingy 1896. TWICE... *thinks*. Actually, THRICE. Beat me with a self-esteem stick, please OTLLLLL. And to those of you who watch this blog and WANT TO SEE 1896 I'm going to pimp Ferrum's through this link here.

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2008.03.21 「EN-SYN = Ennui Syndicate <3」

Ferrum and I finally succumbed to the comm-making trend and started our own art-a-day journal OTL. Because we're BORED and CAPRICIOUS like that.

Okay, not really. We only wanted an excuse to put out half-arsed, crappy art every day without bothering our friends list. Would you like to check it out? Say "ENNUI"  <3.

...the name? Okay. Since I'm too lazy to summarise, here's how the conversation went. Roughly:

Ferrum: What should it be?

Rune: Festive Rune.

Ferrum: HELL NO.

Rune: What, too pairingy for you? Come to think of it, I don't think anyone has ever slashed LJ personas... How's FeRot? LOLLL

Ferrum: OTL.

Rune: Okay, what's your favourite food?

Ferrum: Cup noodles.

Rune: ...

Ferrum: Wrong answer? Then perfumes.

Rune: Lolita Lempicka.

Ferrum: Red Petal. Would that be "Red Lolita"?

Rune: Do our drawing styles scream RED LOLITA to you?

Ferrum: How about we turn it around and it becomes... Windesque.

And hence... "Ennui Syndicate". Yes, I cut a lot of the conversation. Yes, I'm a terrible storyteller. Your point? XDDD

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2008.03.20 「Hibari Household News #2」

No real update here, just... *dead* had this annoyance of a problem trying to figure out where on earth the ear goes on a profile. I hate drawing profiles - HATE it x___x. Luckily! Ferrum was kind enough to help me find Hibari's ear. Below is her discovery:

=DDDDDD

Please don't shoot me.

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2008.03.18 「Hibari Household News #1」

Yes - believe it or not, this Hibari Household thing is still happening >___> It's the only stress-relief project for me right now. No commitment, no angst, no deadline (well, maybe Natsucomi will be). Research remains a must, though, seeing how I'm playing with a foreign culture here ("Is this an appropriate roundness for the Japanese teapot?? Is this how you hold it?? Is lifting it by the base considered rude??"). SIGH, gaijin, SIGH.

Anyway.

Above is teaboy Kusakabe-san serving, er, tea at the reception. I've said it before and I'll say it again: 600dpi is GODSEND (provided that your computer's processor is also godsend). I haven't gotten to the part where I have to draw Hibari yet but I really worry about him looking silly with that... that pompom thing *killed by Japanophiles* grooms wear on their front. Because... it's HIBARI in a groom's kimono *dead*. I'll find a way to avoid silliness somehow x____x. For now, I'll just get this four-pager out on LJ first.

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2008.03.14 「Megane & Melon + Uomini d'Onore News #2」

...And above is a request I'd forgotten to put up here due to... forgetfulness. This was the thing that Demi prompted in exchange for my 1896 trilogy (LOL) - the same one I felt underwhelmed about after seeing just how brilliant Demi's fic is. Also, the reason I made that "Shot In Sicily" set at all. Uri was frikken hard to do... all that FUR x___x. Will never attempt animals again. Speaking of which...

Bwah, did I just update THREE days in a row? I must not have a life! Which is currently true, seeing how a) my friends are either studying/working abroad or back at school, b) the calendar project has seen progress and I gotta put myself back in gear!!! Not my progress, by the way; still, there is progress! So far we have two monthly spreads done by Suki and S-kun as well as the cover art by Mr. Li Julian. After this influx of updates, suddenly the Uomini d'Onore comm is again abuzz with activities after weeks of silence XDD.

No more aimless lingering on Painter, answering requests or embarking on my new collab with Demi until my part for the bag is at least half-done D=. Last I heard, Orrie, who's doing the reverse side, has only "5% to go". I couldn't NOT begin drawing furiously after I heard that from Suki. The result after I dunno how many hours? The above drawing of a still-disembodied TYL!Hibari OTL.

 

Seven more faces now *dead*. Meeting next Saturday *dead again*.

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2008.03.13 「Target 184」

*SNORE*

Wake me up when it's time for plot, please. Thank you.

Seriously, I don't remember anymore exciting KHR chapters since that night raid by Millefiore soldiers. The amount of fighting and snarking of the past chapters has escalated to ridiculousness. I was proud that this was the only shounen series in which no fight between two of the same parties lasted for more than 3 chapters, but look how it broke the tradition with the current Mosca-battling.

I wish something bad would happen to Tsuna already because at least then I'll have some form of entertainment. If we're still not seeing plot in 5 chapters and the old characters' return in 8 and a semblance of mafia lifestyle in 25, I'm considering out. I have been patient and defending you from skeptical readers but do realise that patience wears thin. Are you happy NOW, Mr. Editor? *fumes*

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2008.03.12 「Suzaku e Lelouch per DSquared2」

Time for a new log post. Thanks to Realms, my newly appointed consigliere (XD), I've gotten over my largely-self-made fandom issues. I don't know anyone more patient and sensible (not to mention agreeing LOL) than her, and so I decided to make her favourite boys the first of a long line of fashion ambassadors in my new collab with Demi. Uhh, I still don't know what the heck I'm going to get Demi to write based on this, but for now I'm happy to indulge myself with mental images of a fashionable KHR cast.

Also! I'm a new DSquared2 fan. I wish I were a guy JUST to be able to wear their awesome men's line. And this particular line has been named "Rule Britannia", can you believe? How could I resist? XDD ALSO I've taken some liberty with some details in the clothing since the references I worked with were teeny and I couldn't make out the little accessories if I squinted.

Log #3

2008.01.17 「Young DS (with cat)」 I forgot to post this to my blog XDDD. First real-time req and first collab with a colourist!!! Seeing how I cannot colour to save my life, the result of this unplanned collab sent me over the moon~ Sukiyakiya requested a young Dino and Squalo (in a pairingy situation or no) while we sat at Matcha Moon Cafe and, happy with the result, offered to lend her colouring skills. Hence...

And one other thing that made me giddy throughout my driving lesson today - I received my first non-Friendster comment!!! On the 5927 piece and the Log posts in general! This makes me believe I DO have frequenters XDDD. I would never know, thanks to commenting disability for non-FS members, but although you're a silent bunch I really really really appreciate your viewerships *bows deeply*.

                                                                           

2008.01.15 「To RukawaGF: "5927 Mourning"」 I am currently back in Sydney for several weeks and with limited internet access as we speak. Strangely, I'm somehow 150% more productive and chatty in this broadband-less state o_o. For one, I actually finished a req! A req!! The last one must've been exactly 3 months ago. Oh, my wanting willpower...

Anyway, below is RukawaGF's very late Christmas request/gift with "idol worship" 5927 for the prompt. I didn't really want to show TYL27's face for obvious reasons, and, my goodness, I don't know if I ever laughed nervously so much while drawing the tear... (I'm sorry, G! Sorrysorrysorry)

2008.01.08 「Clouds」 A first attempt at screentone brushes! I can't believe technology nowadays *loves*. Photoshop screentone brushes make toning muuuuuch easier. Er, and the choice in tone had nothing to do with Hibari's guardianship. Maybe I'll draw a short webdoujin based on this image. I do feel like it right now. And the best thing is I don't have to ink! *throws flowers*

2008.01.05 「I wanted to draw in my own style, but...」 ...apparently my original hand has been ruined by KHR. Rah. This sure isn't mine. Anyway, first posted sketch of 2008! *throws confetti*

 

2007.12.30 「KoB Suzaku」 I'm so in lurve with OYL (One Year Later) Suzaku's look <3. Tried to draw him unreferenced because I wanted to see how much my Code Geass hand has changed after the bulk of KHR art of the past month. I would've done better on a tablet than pencil but going back to manual every once in a while is nice. 

I've been anticipating a change of knight uniform since you-know-who bit it, and I can say I'm very satisfied with the new design! Loving the cloak, for one! And the lapels! As Realms has said, he does look 19th century-ish. I can't wait to see this ore!knight Suzaku in Season 2.

2007.12.24 「Buon Natale - Mi Vuoi Sposare?」 ...in which TYL!Tsuna proposes to TYL!Kyoko. Of course, that's before he enters the coffin XD.

"Kyoko - Merry Christmas. Will you marry me?"

FEMMES Bianchi: necklace - Cartier, earrings - Fiamma | Kyoko: necklace - Van Cleef & Arpels, bracelet - Botega Veneta | Haru: necklace - Glajz Privée
HOMMES Yamamoto: Raoul | Gokudera: Dolce & Gabbana | Hibari: Ralph Lauren

MERRY CHRISTMAS et HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!!! <3 <3 <3

2007.12.18 「On Numbering System + TYL!Tsuna draft」 The amount of people coming here looking to decode the pairing numbers is staggering. Refer to this LJ post for your answers. Don't worry, it took me a while to get the hang of it, too. I used to take 10 minutes trying to type up Mukuro/Chrome/Hibari in number form (oh, nothing, RukawaGF was just asking what kind of ficlet I'd like written).

On the fanart side of things, I'm currently working on this... sketchy piece which I'll hopefully finish before Christmas. I'll even try to "ink" it -_-. Now, I've seen many a fan interpretation of TYL!Tsuna's looks, but I try not to look to those for reference. For one, I don't like my TYL!Tsuna cute and sweet. He's a MAN, damnit XDDD. Though this is still a draft so I'm still sort of playing around with his features. I really liked Giotto's striped suit... What shall I make Tsuna wear?

2007.12.12 「On This New Fandom In General」

I don't know what to do about the KHR fandom. On one hand, it has everything I missed from the (western) Code Geass fandom - good and productive fanartists, high participation rate of the more creative variety (goodbye, icons!), a willingness to veer outside the boundaries of canon, fanwanking opportunities, multiple pairing prospects (other than Lelouchxsomeone - we know it too well). On the other hand, it sorely misses what I treasure most from the Geass fandom - analyctical plot/character discussions, well thought-out and excellently written fics, a steady flow of chicken feed portioned background canon via drama CDs/picture dramas/interviews, a loving attention on MY pairing XDDD...

Maybe it boils down to this: fen reflects the nature of the text. I've had a fascinating string of talks with a friend - passionate Code Geass fan and recent KHR fangirl. She finds that Mukuro is the only character she's able to pick apart and, naturally, Favourite #1, being someone with an elaborated backstory and is a sort of "grey loose card that plays the surprise element in black and white scenarios." Hibari comes second as far as favourites go; a very enigmatic, hot-cold personality with enough potentials to be a solid player (I personally believe he's a physical manifestation of mother nature's wrath... or something XD) if only the narrative would shift its focus on his story somewhere along the way.

Right now? Any chances for a significant character progression (any character) have been lost in the large scheme of things, possibly thanks to a lack of clear focus in the storyline. I can only hope for the story to find its feet in the future arcs and fix this shortcoming. I like to believe that each arc serves as a stepping stone; one step at a time towards THE real deal - Vongola. With this in mind, I'm willing to hold out for that... that moment of enlightenment. On Tsuna's part, I mean.

Last words. My own pet-peeve is Amano tossing around the word "mafia" like a beach ball and treating the supposed mafiosi like One Piece treats its pirates x_x. To me, it runs counter to the dark, crisp feel of the recent installments. And when they say somebody will die, SOMEBODY HAD BETTER DIE ALREADY.

Over and out.

                                                                           

2007.12.09 「TYL 1896」 I worked too darn long on this piece, my judgement must be impaired by now. My dream TYL!Chrome is one without the pineapple topknot because Mukuro can't dictate the way she presents herself for life. And I dearly hope she's grown a bit of spine over ten years since even Hibari visibly matured during that time - for one, he's now able to hold lengthy and civil conversations that do not involve beating up someone. Anyway, I wasn't sure what I'd like this to look, but was both embarrassed and flattered when Ferrum commented that it looked sexy XDDD. Oh, and speaking of sexy, now I really want to tackle TYL!Reborn.

2007.12.08 「Valentine's Day 189669」 Yep, yep, the pairing number system confused me, too, but this is how you survive in KHR fandom. I've always thought that a 1896 smut wherein 69 is possessing 96 would be the HOTTEST ever (in my head). You've got het, yaoi and a non-doormat Chrome in one package; I would never be in want.

And, yes, Hibari is so going out of his way to fight Mukuro again.

2007.12.07 「Time-Killing Exercise」 My first attempt at a funky angle. The Kokuyou boys must be dead bored waiting for their screentime. Oh, and Mukuro buys the best-fitting trousers; his Kokuyou outfit must be my favourite (with the TYL one a close second).

Ah. And here's my art meme submission (template by Miyukiko). I don't think I'll be posting it to the comm, seeing how Ferrum and Kurot posted on the same day. That, and the comm must be sick of the memes by now LOL.

Log #2

2007.11.21 「Vongola Sextet」 I started Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn! 4 days ago and have now seen all the released chapters including 14 episodes of the anime, which I think is inferior to the manga and therefore have stopped watching. I seriously didn't think I'd fanart this series at all. The first 7 volumes were boring as heck and painful to plough through but come volume 8 IT BECOMES AWESOME. Of course, the first 7 volumes thing may put off newcomers, but I trudged on in the expectation that it would get better. And it did. And my favourite character is this blue-haired, violet-eyed girl who I wish actually had black hair instead of blue because it makes sense ._.

So, from top left: Hibari Kyouya, Chrome Dokuro, Yamamoto Takeshi, Sawada Tsunayoshi (main character), Rokudou Mukuro, Gokudera Hayato. All Ten Years Later versions, mind. I still need to draw Lambo and Sasagawa Ryohei to complete the Vongola set.

2007.11.16 「Swimming Class」 Crackiest pairing I've put out yet that involves LFFL for an obvious reason. I wouldn't have put it up had Realms not said "It's very tame." Meaning it's a lot more bloggable than the ArthurxLFFL. Started 3 months before, I only picked up from where I left off last night after Realms nagged at me to show her it o_o. All I can say is, thank goodness it's over and done with as this was always in the back of my mind every time I posted a new piece on LJ (I kind of liked how LFFL came out).

In the famous words of a certain fanartist on Geass LJ comm: "I was too lazy to draw clothes." So ignore the bit of skin showing. Snerk.

2007.11.14 「Alannah Girls v1.0」 Being away from Australia's fashion landscape made me forget how much I miss Alannah Hill, Lover, Third Millenium and, in general, shopping at The Strand. And, even though I don't buy them: Leona Edmiston, Nobue and Akira. And, occasionally, Scanlan & Theodore, Sass & Bide and Zimmermann. Sigh. I was browsing through Alannah Hill's Spring/Summer 2006 runway photos, fell in love with many pieces and had to put them on my favourite Geass girls.

Far from finished. Will finish sketching, "ink" and attempt to colour later.

2007.11.10 「Mothership」 ...is what I call this crack AU pairing. Blame Realms for suddenly going "Ooh, I'd love to read a MariannexMrs.Kururugi fic!" We've had lengthy discussions on this non-existent mother of Suzaku whom canon does not even bother to mention in passing. Since Suzaku has his father's wide eyes, the mother's could be narrower. Her hair is a similar shade of brown as her son and falls to the small of her back in ringlets. She's a repressed traditional Japanese wife with a petite build and frail, sickly characteristics. A little not right in the head, too, which explains the son XDD.

「PEACE: Emperor version」 I tried colouring it but it came out ghastly. I, argh, could NOT bring myself to age Lelouch! ;_; But that's okay. As Hope has reasoned, Lelouch might be one of those people who age gracefully.

2007.10.08 「PEACE: Empress version」 Truth be told, I'm feeling a bit squeamish about releasing this piece in its full-sized glory. Partly based on Realms of Life's five-chapter speculative fic, Lelouch isn't actually Lulu AKA LFFL in that one (XD) but I felt the need to take some liberty with it since I'm currently crazy about Christian Lacroix's haute couture which you can't apply on Lelouch. Truly, ageing the characters isn't a fun exercise - frontal view, on top of that. Pity, I had to hack their faces in half since you can no longer see Lulu's eyepatch. Will quote the paragraph that inspired this image once I do another version that's more loyal to the fic.

The suite in question, just recently baptised The House of Mirrors:

Stage I. The Emperor's Waltz

Stage II. The Path of Carnage

Stage III. The Lady of the Lake

Stage IV. The Book of Hours

Epilogue. The Palace of Silence

Log #1

When I label something as "log" I don't mean actually compiling bits of fanart from separate blog posts like the Japanese do. In this sense, it's dumping random things into one entry because I don't want to dedicate a post for a single, possibly unrefined piece. So I'll be adding things as I go. Warning: Occasional 女体ルル desu.

Now, I've only recently discovered the sheer practicality of Corel Painter Essentials and am having too much fun with it *_*.

2007.10.02 「心からすまなく～」 Here's a character I could've fangirled over like I do Suza and Lelouch (surprise, surprise). Unfortunately, Soldier Blue is a little too ethereal for fanwank (I'm afraid to break his frail bones). Maybe Blue and I weren't meant to be XD.

2007.09.21 「Ajisai #1」 It's 3:33PM at the time of posting, whoo! I'm loving three new things at the moment: Mononoke, Mushishi (not very new; started last year), Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei <3. I could go on and on about Mononoke's artfully surrealistic direction. Kind of like seeing Amano Yoshitaka's art in motion.

2007.09.13 「My Cherie Amour」 Yes, yes, I get inspired by nothing else but Stevie nowadays. Yami requested a Lloyd art (someone actually wants a CG art!) but I had other ideas besides Lloyd. When someone hands me a req idea, I like to run with it. A bit far than intended. And usually, reqs come out not quite as planned. So doing this is like someone had req'ed Rivalz instead of a certain someone else x_x. It doesn't help that I was putting Stevie's '67 song on repeat the day I started on it.

2007.09.05 「Suzaku positioned himself against the railing and struck his best debonair pose - leaning back casually, his face angled to its most handsome degree, staring out as though he was lost in thought.」 Was fangirling with RukawaGF last night over Hope and Demi's Learning Curve (brilliantly written SuzaLulu smutfic - no, REALLY) to the point where we quote our favourite lines *is geeky*. Afterwards, I rec'ed her Hope's War, or Maybe a Game which she also loved. I told her there's a certain sentence in there that begs for quick sketching. So I did.

2007.09.04 「Isn't She Lovely ~ Stevie Wonder」Oh, man... Think I should stop trying to create the strange but effective midtone hues that J-fanartists somehow pull? I think I copied CLAMP's Copic marker style on the faces but, of course, since this is 40% the original size only I can see the details x_x. And I prefer the BW version down below so much more. That's quite telling of my CG-ing skills.

2007.08.27 「Warlock or Prince」 Sapphira Angel wrote an excellent C.C. POV fic about a possible conversation between her and Suzaku about Lelouch post-25 <3. I couldn't help but agree that it's a brilliant idea.

To tip one's ship downside-up

This is going to be an odd post if you're familiar with Code Geass. Odd... or off-putting, whichever's your description. I just wanted to say that I'm no longer adverse to LuluSuza aka. Suzaku being a weepy uke in general due to the possibility of a seme Lulu. I thank the wonderful Kashi for bringing me her very sexy hyperventilation-inducing seme!Lulu and RukawaGF for directing me to her works.

That said...

I think the LFFL concept is now transferrable.

Suzako: "Don't worry about going to Harajuku! I'll beat up any bully that comes at you just like old times." (And that is true; sad, isn't it, Lelouch.)

Lulu gets away so much more with the "no stamina" handicap as female, but damsels in distress are generic, where's the fun in that? Anyway, the idea for a long-haired LFFL stemmed from the Picture Drama. Gah, Lulu really is Marianne's son... offspring.

The thing is, I can't share Lelouch with the girls but since it's Suza-,er,-ko and she's not really one it's fine. Does this... make sense? Plus, I couldn't NOT get inspired after the brilliant Picture Drama #7 x_x.

Take your pick XD. Or put it down slooooowly and don't shoot the messenger of her own beliefs if it's not your taste.

- B

Concerning Ships #2 [semi-rant]

Here are two things to sum up my current fen mentality.

Talk to me about:

• SuzaLulu/LuluSuza
• LloydMilly
• SuzaKallen (I know, I know)
• CorneliaGuilford
• SchneiLulu

Absolutely never mention:

• LuluShirley (Undesirable #1 - will behead self with a plastic knife if a second kiss ever comes up)
• LuluEuphie
• LuluEuphieSuza (woman-between-friends is NO. To quote RukawaGF: "I am torn between loving my half-brother and his best friend." This is a personal pref, canon evidence notwithstanding)
• Lamperougecest

As you see, there's a (very) clear pattern in my list of Undesirables. I simply can't share Lelouch with the girls. Yes, yes, sad given the "harem master" concept Sunrise has been building around him since episode 1, which never sat well with me. Yes, it's an amusement. Yes, it's equal opportunity. Yes, it's redundant. That's for another semi-rant.

One thing before anyone starts thinking along the lines of "What a silly, canon-bending fangirl." Unlike most sensible and intellectual shippers/semi-shippers, canon isn't how I choose my ships. Actually, what- choose? XD If I'm to be precise, I never choose my ships; if my head had the luxury it would've picked the obvious LuluCC or SuzaEuphie just so I could present myself before fangirls, fanboys, meta lovers and casual viewers alike without worrying my silly head over the occassional snide remark.

Unfortunately, the crass and tyrannical Gut Instinct passes my shipping bills. Thanks to GI here, I often end up disappointed with shows' outcomes due to my ships. To run off my shortlisted non-CG GI-influenced ships:

• Subaru/Kamui (Dysfunctionality of the highest order)
• Tsuchiura/Tsukimori (it's reverse harem, by Jupiter!)
• Eriol/Tomoyo (a good match in AU)
• Mori/Haruhi
• Hitsugaya/Rangiku
• Koizumi/Mikuru
• Naru/Masako

Thankfully, I DO have a list of ships that agree with, or gets a nod from, canon but they are few and far between. And aren't worth adding into this semi-rant for relevance.

Now to address one vocal group of naysayers. Woe. Where do I begin with them? For the sake of being concise, I've provided one blogger's humble plea:

"I’d like for those who harbor some thoughts on a LelouchxSuzaku relationship to shut up about their yaoi fantasies".

Bit rich of anyone to make such a demand when the following is in their introduction:

"The very first thing about Code Geass that made me want to watch it was its subtle nudity."

Would you like it if a fangirl, ie. I, told you to quit fantasising the girls in various states of undress? Any idea just how many "Geass girls hentai" hunters have found their way to my blog, daily? Drop the whining. Code Geass is general audience; it isn't obligated to please only you. That said, I'm glad there's a congregation for our respective kindreds, and by that of course I'm speaking of LJ and AnimeSuki. Out of sight, out of mind.

And for your information, sometimes I wish it would drop all BL innuendos and fanservice altogether. Do away with the made-for-success rationale. Then maybe it'll be on its way to become the masterpiece it seemed poised to become by the end of episode 1. Of course, we all know what happened along the way.

What canon references? Shipping is fenning. When fenning, I adopt selective referencing. It's like love. It just is =D. In this sentiment, LuluShirley shippers, I believe we are somewhat matched.

- B

24&25: BANG goes ship

It's earlier than anticipated, but after 20 hours of crawling download rate with a last minute sprint to completion I'm finally done with Season One. I'll, er, explain the entry title later.

Please watch your step around cluttered spoilers, o, those who won't do speedsubs, won't do mkv or won't do licensed in general (and what's wrong with you?).

First off? This isn't an analyctical review of the season finale but rather fen impressions in bullet points, both fleeting and lasting. Meta of all sorts of nature and exclamations of "OMG S2 NOW!!!" and "CLIFFHANGER" have happened on AnimeSuki and on Omni's blog as well as LJ so I won't repeat those here ^^. As if my brain can handle meta now that I'm just *looks at the time* 8 hours fresh out of the kabooms and collapsing terrains and sudden-death gun duels. That last one happens to be a huge spoiler, actually.

Fleeting:

• I guess the directors kept their promise to keep the cat out of this season's death toll - it jumps at a revolver-toting Eleven in an effort to save Suzaku and comes out of it unscathed, for Jupiter's sake!
• Suddenly characters left, right and center have begun adopting Nina's Higurashi facial contortion from ep 23. Eep. Ah! Suzaku said "ore"... *wondered how long this mode would last*
• Viletta shoots Ougi in the rib but doesn't finish him off? Hmm...
• "After all, my fiancee is in this place." ---> *o* *o* *o* Who cares if it's said matter-of-factly!! I demand that my spare ship be up-armoured as a trade-off for sinking my main one.
• Surprised to hear no "Because Lulu is Zero!" out of Shirley when she seemed poised to say it during several instances. Hmm.
• Lancelot vs Guren Nishiki II round two - this time with both pilots knowing each other's identity and yelling out "Karen!" and "Suzaku!".
• ...and "ore" reverts back to "boku" in a matter of minutes.
• You go, little guy!! Protect your lady! But at the same time, is that it for your so-called "cool moment"? Oh. Next time, then... Rivalz.
• Cecile gets her own KF suit and it's mustard yellow!
• It won't do to trap Suzaku - you have to off him! Won't you ever learn from experience, Lulu?
• Jeremiah says what Euphemia said: "Die, please?" XDDD
• V.V. and Nunnally make an adorable pair of siblings <3 <3 <3 *loves children... to eat*
• Lulu's hair could warrant a long-term contract with Toni&Guy.
• The first thing you say upon relevation is WHAT, Karen??? Tsk, I expected a more interesting reaction out of you instead of the cliched.
• E-T was right. I knew Lulu has been terribly inconsistently drawn over 23 episodes, but this pair of episodes alone see worse!

Lasting:

• I braced myself for THE KISS. But when it came, it... just came. A chaste peck, a thank-you-good-bye gesture, no French-style lingering. At least that's how it comes off, for all that we saw before the cut. If there's romance in the kiss, it feels one-sided. He's had two girls suddenly up and attack him in one season! Tough being hot, innit, Lulu? XDDD
• What does it mean to be a Knight of Britannia instead of just a royal's knight? And if Cornelia dies, who would testify for Suzaku's ascension to proper knighthood? A ticket into the gentry...?
• Lulu's tactical brain spouts worse and worse decisions and his mouth worse and worse words as the episodes progress. Let's see Lulu-quality damage control? *snerk*
• The Order can do nothing without Zero. Painful, very painful. That's why mothers shouldn't spoil their kids so. Or be in charge of every affair in the house.
• It's not C.C. and Jeremiah's time yet. What can a little water do to the seemingly undestructable pair? (much moreso on her part - I won't even list it) Plus, the show still needs its comedy relief.
• The Revelation. Oh, lord, THE revelation. The moment that spun many, many fanfics and fanarts and bedtime ponderings. I was disappointed canon finally reared up (any other Revelation will be treated as AU henceforth) but about time. Suzaku's reaction is understated but realistic given the countless little clue-filled incidents. And heartbreaking. And, yes, Lulu's hair is very nicely animated in this scene =D and the Geass's stark red glow under his bangs.... *massive blood loss*
• Lulu asking Suzaku to put it all in the past and help rescue Nunnally because they've done so before with considerable success. I was embarrassed for Lulu. In NO WAY... just no way.
• "Your existence is a mistake!" ---> clever taunt if it's to get Lulu to draw his gun (did you know his father used to say the exact same thing years and years ago, cupcake?), still, you trampled all over my heart with your words, Suzaku ;_;.
• "SUZAKUUUU!!!!" "LELOUUUUUCH!!!!!" (no, not done like Miaka and Tamahome) ---> AWESOME!!!! Awesome face-off!! I wouldn't trade this mother of all cliffhangers for any well-tied-up closure!! Guh. GUHHH. Adffadgafadsfadfasgwgwad!!!!
• C.C.'s poignant endnote as she sinks deeper into the ocean. Sniff... This could do for an ending, actually.

All in all, bang goes ship?

- B

GG'S OUR KING!!!

...and Lulu the queen *bricked*.

Seriously, though, no fansub release timing has ever been so... timely! I was lulled by gg's lack of news regarding 25&25 on their site - not even bothering to update their Project Status page to at least acknowledge the release, for chrissake! So yesterday, a fellow comm member kindly straightened up my fact ("gg's subs? And when would that be, hmm? I'd have missed all the fun posts by the time that happens.") by giving me a link to the comm's latest entry.

I flipped out in a more bizarre fashion than I've ever flipped out in my life.

GG YOU LOVEABLE, LOVEABLE BASTARD!!!!! *HUGS YOU!!!* <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

To quote a commenter:

"Wow, am I the only person that’s more amazed by the CRC than the fact that they released this?"

No kidding - check it out:

'Tis all Zero! Yes, it's an omen!! XD The universe churns out such amusing coincidences sometimes (Yuuko: "It's hitsuzen, darling."). And now you see how slow I'm downloading? I'm in misery. If I'm lucky, I'd be able to watch them by the end of three days. AND THEN I can finally un-hermit my life. Until then!!

- B

P.S. Not like I need one but I sometimes get jealous of the pretty banners down the left. So I had fun with cropping. Doing this made me realise I don't have many coloured art...

Uhh, fellow fen?

Stop imposing ep 24-25 spoilers on those who're resolved to wait for gg's subs. You've been good so far with your LJ cuts but ICONS have the ability to do more than damage than you can imagine. Thanks to a certain posted icon, I now have a rather good idea on how Season One went out *grumblegrumble*. Though I will say this: ep 24-25 sure deliver some VERY good-looking screencaps.

On to nicer things. I've been looking at J-fanartists' blogs digging for treasure and found a common theme fangirled over to varying degrees. A bound and gagged Lulu. And something about a story featured in Newtype Romance (the one with sunflowery Lulu, I believe?). Since E-T brought up the subject of Newtype and its new story segment (fanfiction?) on her LJ I had to ask about bound and gagged, and sure enough it's there amongst the stories. But J-blogs have misled my expectations somewhat. Here's my question and her answers.

Anyway, the featured story isn't "fangirly" material what with Ashford's own purist faction and plans to kill a certain Eleven-loving blood traitor (hint: bound and gagged) and put the blame on the new Eleven transfer. In a nutshell:

"Suzaku *did* come to save him though, which bloggers totally lost blood over."

That explains the whole squeeing up a storm. So what is this, official fanfiction? O_o

And the Knight is out!!!

And trust my local Kinokuniya to ship it in a month later than the rest of the world. But considering the manga spin-offs haven't made it to our shelves and perhaps never will... *sigh*. Here we go again, Mandarake. So, as a Knight owner has informed the comm, it goes for 600 yen a pop, has similar dimensions to the average tankoubon and "contains doujinshi stories by a bunch of big name/professional circles. They're slashy and definitely have yaoi hints but there is no actual smut." Anyone up for it?

- B

Vivi Mitsuno...

...is officially a Knight contributor!!! adfawefasadfsdfsfaa!!!! O_O I've fallen in love with her gorgeous art the first moment I laid eyes on Karei Naru Ouji-tachi no GAME which I bought, scanned and shared with the main comm and gained many, many positive comments. Her circle? Hachimitsuouji. Check it out. And if you can communicate in Japanese, extend my "YOU ROCK" regard, will you? XDDD. She may have moved from SuzaLulu to SchneiSuza, but I remain a devout follower!

And a bit of speculative fanart...  Far from polished and I never intend to finish it anyway. It's a, what was the term, rakugaki? This Lelouch started off as, would you believe it, Saya. The Saya of BLOOD+. She has the same base as Lulu with the wild-but-tame short black hair and lithe frame. It also helps that she's a bit on the flat side. It doesn't help that my hand has memorised Lulu's head after countless doodling attempts and probably feels snug with lining its shape.

Why did Tres Iqus become Lulu? Why did Saya also become Lulu?? Why does my hand refuse to draw anything else? Why, God?

At least there's someone I haven't attempted before - dear sister Nunnally! I originally wanted her un-blind. But a Nunnally with eyes isn't Nunnally. So. And in case it doesn't look too clear, Lulu's other eye is eyepatched - eyepatched! The perma-Geass never fixes itself up! *cackles* I KNOW it's in the other eye but I was already halfway through the sketching when it dawned upon me, allright? And the sword is merely for decoration. Lulu and sword? Let's be realistic here.

Another thing, don't they look like Cain and Merryweather to those who read Yuki Kaori? O_o I always thought so: noble brother and sister left to their own devices thanks to an antagonistic power-tripped father... In Cain's case it is the father who got driven out and in both cases the mothers have predeceased the start of the series.

- B

Gadzooks...

FEMME!LULU IS CANON!! O_O

Okay, no, not really. Partially. Let me explain our (Honey and I) agreed terms on "What defines canon LFFL". And in case you're asking what on earth is LFFL, it's a code name I coined for femme!Lulu. It's shorter and less straightforward because I know many, many people who'll cringe at the mention of it. My own pathetic version of You-Know-Who if you will.

LFFL is thereby canon under the following conditions:

1. When a long-lost twin, next of kin, genderswapped doppleganger or... makes her entrance for some mental, most likely crucial, plot progression in Season Two (how was hangover, Sunrise?).

2. When it is a woeful side-effect to a prolonged use of the Geass. Starting with a permanent red glow in the relevant eye XD.

3. When it is by any of the involved artists' hand (which includes mere doodles on oekaki boards) or endorsed by official sources. Going by the latter means BL in Code Geass can be considered canon due to the Knight Fan Anthology book (this third point is a single tendon by which this category hang for dear life).

LFFL is NOT canon when:

1. Lelouch is coerced into crossdressing by a certain merrymaking Student Council President (check, and whoa).

2. Lelouch appears like LFFL against the artist's original intent (check, refer to Newtype Romance. Hint: sunflowers).

3. It's fanart no matter how it could pass as canon (check, in regards to a lot of places).

All points considered, I don't think it's time for Skype yet, Honey, regrettably =P. Here's one thing though. I didn't choose this bet simply because I knew it would never, ever be. I was testing my chances as I've had Chance catch me unawares time and time again in life. And look what happened recently (whoa). I'm duly impressed... but, Chance? You need to do better next time.

- B

So who else is gleefully awaiting Picture Drama #7? XDDD

Perfect with tea!

*cough* ...superchibi Suzaku is. I'm talking about that new set of mini figures comprising only C.C. eating pizza and Lulu bearing a teacup and a teapot so far. They're rather cute and I don't mind much that they cost 2,100 yen apiece. So the Lulu + Suzaku figure inspired a sketch that I posted on the SuzaLulu comm, uncoloured version:

This garnered cute comments from the audience, tee-hee. No idea where the strawberry shortcake came from; I only thought I should add something to sweeten up the picture. Actually, Honey was the one saying "Lulu wants to eat him!" so I suppose the credit for art direction goes to her o_o.

A couple of things...

I'm reviving Reluctant Designer despite LiveJournal. I've been paying USD 5 a month just to keep my old posts online and decided I'll no longer have that! I've always wanted to do what Japanese fans do in their blogs: random scrawlings and doodlings and passing thoughts posted at random times. Now, I would've done that on LJ had it not been for its f-list feature, which means people on my friends list see my updates along with others on their lists, which means I'd be crapping on their f-lists if I were to blog the J-fen way x_x.

So expect barrels of randomness and wtf-ness from this point on. Like the J-fans (apparently, as I see it) I don't expect to score comments this way (you get many on LJ). Take it as a self-satisfaction means, if you like. The only thing is, this blog's readership, those registered with Friendster and are RL associates, are 99% fandom-blind. The idea of them ploughing through my posts trying to make sense of what I write amuses me, heh heh.

- B

Addicted to rose marmalade

Ha. The only thing this post has to do with marmalade is the fact that my rose marmalade jar is nowhere where it normally always was. Amid its fruity and sugary brethren. I'm bringing this up because I want to.

Ooh, and!! Finally, homme!Lulu. Free delivery, $100 for knocking at your door.
Actually, seriously, I want nothing more than to draw something that's not Ghost Hunt or Code Geass (but what can I do, even Tres Iqus turned into Lulu and Watanuki XDD). More the former, actually, since it's been requested pretty often. Not that I'm not feeling grateful to those who request because, guys, I wouldn't have gotten off my arse and honed my manga-style drawing if it weren't for you. That's why I offer you this bow: ORZ.

- B

Updates in bullet points

Remember when I said I couldn't know what keywords you input on Google to reach my blog? I lied. I know exactly what you're looking for. That said...

If you've stumbled upon my blog in search of the following:

• Geass girls hentai
• La Corda d'Oro sheetmusic
• The meaning of "Kallen Stadtfeld" (if any)
• Tsukimori's possible death in a later episode (??)
• EveryonexHino doujinshi
• Anything about Kallen Stadtfeld (as there are many inquiries)

I'm sorry to say that you won't find it here. Why? For a lot of the things mentioned, I'm a fangirl through and through (but who doesn't mind the occasional nice het, ie. GONZO's RxJ). I wish I could "sticky" this at the top of the page to save you the time.

Now for some random music recs!

• Koop - amusing guest female voice that reminds me of Black Forrest(sp?) cake. Audiophile, suited for working. Can't find albums anywhere.
• Mocca - happy, lighthearted, cute, high, all-around lalaland material. They're local but I can't find their albums anywhere! x_x
• Coralie Clément - as said before, pillow talk with melody. And she's French! Can't find album.
• Mandalay - nice female vocal if a tad emo, good for a yoga session. Can't seem to find album.
• Bebel Gilberto - smooth Brazilian jazz (if I'm not mistaken ^^). Of course, albums are nowhere.

Current contributions to my two fandoms

• Yami's payment for the femme!Lulu fic in the form of one fanart of White Heart's first encounter. If you're reading this, Yami, I'm still working on it! You?
• A few pencil sketches to correspond with Sapphira Angel's drabbles - yes, the SuzaEuphie as well. Not on request; just because I want to. They will be in the Fanart album.
• honey, I'm still thinking long and hard about campaigning LFFL aka. La Femme Fatale Lulu ^^. Tar and feathers ahoy.
• Scanning NATTSU's SYNCHRONI CITY doujinshi. Will probably put it up on the comm in the beginning of next month. And maybe... the second SuzaLulu story in that Lulu-uke-fest. Ah, but the thread is friends-locked so join, join! ^__^

Needless to say, I really need to slow down. Like the Code GEASS and Ghost Hunt fandoms are currently doing. One more thing, I had to do this at work because I couldn't get Sapphire's manip out of my head:

-B

Yesterday was Tuesday

Diagnosed with yaoifangirlitis

Seven years and counting, and showing no signs of recovery. Ingredients for the prescribed cure consist of a coconut-inhabiting badger's wisdom teeth, feathers of a newborn dodo bird, and the hair of a blonde 54 years old Papuan chief - a task taken up by a good-willed local, however, she is said to have been claimed by the mountain god. The doctors have given up.

"You've been told on your first visit - there's no return path to normalcy. You braved this dough-gin-she activity thanks to your own recklessness and simple curiosity. Actually, we should've stopped trying at "dodo bird" and spared one life. Scram, you fangirl." And then they filed the case inside a metal cabinet, slammed it shut and swallowed the key, keyring and all.

In this predicament? *hugs* Welcome to asylum, blood-sister! ...er, or brother. Feeling too giddy for work at the moment. Luckily, there's no work but my co-workers and higher-ups do happen to be hovering near my station this very minute. And I'm looking at NSFW of the rare Suzalulu breed in a window the size of a meagre pop-up ad. Giddy? So much so, I can't even sit straight or not grin. So shoo, people, give me my squee time > <. ...Guh.

Now, what was I going to say?

Oh, please don't hate my subheading-happy modus operandi. On top of that, they like themselves in bold. Keep in mind also that I can't friends-lock entries like on LJ because that's not how Friendster works, so anything borderline hazzardous or hazzardous that I say needs wrapping up under layers and layers of jargon, off-sounding euphemisms, un-Wikied references and convoluted roundabout expressions that may not make sense to anyone but me.

I don't know if you know, but I offer a complementary Cheese-Cheese-kun dance for everyone who stays on my blog for more than one minute - my own coreography! I don't know the combination of keywords you entered to gain this URL, so if you stumbled upon here in expectation of something else, I totally know how you feel.

Speaking of Cheese-kun...

Code GEASS at present

We're hitting the 22nd episode! We're on our way towards an ending, right? Eh, non. If you're an informed Code Geass fan (as most online fans are) you'd have heard about Sunrise's confirmation of a second season. And possibly, an OVA plus movie. All this on top of the already-serialised manga counterpart and its two spin-offs featuring Suzaku and Nunnally in each one's main role. Quite the in-demand celebrity now, isn't it, when the pre-Geass days saw mixed feelings for this (admittedly odd) SunrisexCLAMP combo.

Over on the main comm, there's been... a lot of spoiler announcements lately pertaining to 1) Episode 22 and 2) The Second Season. Now, it's my policy to steer clear of spoilers AT ALL COSTS. I enjoy being subjected to sharp turns, trips, rapid gear shifts, creeping slowly up a crest towards an inevitable plunge, and hanging upside-down indefinitely off a loop's underside. I'm not simply hopping on the bandwagon by saying, yes, I don't think I've ever felt this degree of excitement over any show before Code Geass so, yes, I agree with its "best anime of the year" appellation as far as entertainment goes. It's not a literary masterpiece nor is it free of shortcomings, eg. whoring to the fanboying masses, yo. I love it simply because I never cease to be thrilled by this ride.

And you gotta admit, there's no other lead like the one this show has. Fittingly, the role won his seiyuu the Best Male Lead appellation at Japan's first-ever seiyuu awards.

BUT.

Having said what I have said, I'm still *hurting* to click on those *mocking* LJ cuts and read the spoiler(s) that made the fans soooo agitated. Agitated. A vocal member of Suzalulu comm is so agitated, she gathered a consolation group. Should I, a fellow member, share her agitation?

My guesses as to the spoiler(s)

• Continued use of the Geass will rob Lulu of one of his strengths or more. Yes, good looks count. Gender switch also counts as it puts FukuJun out of action.
• A future event sinks one or more ships for good.
• One or more main characters will exit the scene. Most likely in death.
• One or more red herrings will be revealed.
• Someone comes back to life and ruins Lulu's scheme.
• Extreme fanservicing a la NinaxTable will take place.
• Bottom line: something bad happens to Lulu.

Obviously, I don't pick apart Code Geass the way I do Ghost Hunt...

27/03 Edit: Never mind now... thanks to a couple of un-spoiler tagged posts I think I have an idea as to who bites it in ep 22 *grumblegrumble*.

- B

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion #3

Not much happening this time around, as in, no action except if you count the knife-threatening bit in the shower. It's good to take a breather after the frantic action-filled goodness of the previous episode. This time, we're given a look into Lelouch's ordinary day-to-day life - the Ashford Academy. Well, life before Geass, anyhow.

That, and Lelouch is a *dead* ringer for Tsubasa!Kamui with a straightening perm. Moreso in this episode. I can't vouch for the animation as it isn't in much demand here, but the art remains happily on top and the characters are looking gorgeous.

---

Episode title: 「The Lying Classmate」

By the order of his Royal Gayness Third Prince Clovis la Britannia, the Elevens are relieved from massacre. Someone offscreen (perhaps Jeremiah) scolds a subordinate about the unthinkable course of action of releasing the terrorists... and that all the generals have abandoned their posts, leaving Clovis to fend for himself in the strategy room.

At the same time, Clovis is expressing his pleasant surprise over Lelouch's apparent survival amidst Japan's invasion and yar yar yar at gunpoint. This double-confirms that Lelouch was indeed already in Japan, perhaps in the care of Suzaku's family, before it became Area 11. The question is, what was he doing so far away from the motherland?

A brief flashback of what really happened back in motherland. Bullets let loose inside a grand mansion, and the next thing we see is a dead and bleeding lady sprawled on a staircase (plus a couple of chamberlains in more or less similar state) with a very frightened little girl in her arms and a young Lelouch who just came upon the scenery. If that's not a trauma-inducing day for the pair of siblings, I know not what is.

According to the present, gun-toting Lelouch, the incident was made to look like a terrorist attack, however his pet theory goes that his mother's common background was deemed a stain on the imperial family's pure, tight upper-lipped, Lapsang Souchong-sipping, butter-scooping (no slicing!), "smart"-not-"posh", royal-blue-blooded fabric.

Lulu's got momma's hair! XD I presume little sister has daddy's, then? Very trivial, but on rewatch, I just realised Nunnally's eyes are blue.

Clovis vehemently denies his involvement in the murder. I believe him and coincidentally so does Lelouch, so he trusts his Geass to do its work. Lelouch learns of two new players to tread very carefully around: Cornelia and Schneizel - Second Princess and Prince respectively. Plenty satisfied with the assumption that Clovis knows no more beyond names, Lelouch pulls the trigger, followed by a flock of pigeons taking flight. This in place of an echoing gunshot, really now?

Immediate cut to Ashford Academy. Lelouch gets whacked by a roll of paper for dozing in the middle of a student council desk job (isn't budget inspection fun?). Introducing Milly Ashford, the academy's very reliable student council president and granddaughter of the chairman. I adore this character and she is CLAMPesque to the max!

"GUUUUTS!!!" Milly and her mantra to boost every council member's work enthusiast. Lelouch tells her it ain't working. Shirley tries to kiss up by saying it does, but yells hentai when Milly comments on her "good top-and-bottom balance" proven by a close inspection in the bathroom. Rival (remember? Lelouch's chauffeur XDDD) mutters ho-ho whilst eyeing Shirley's volptuous rack! All in all, a feel-good scene to contrast the royal homicide from 30 seconds ago.

Budget inspecting done, the student council (sans Milly who may be everyone's senior by one year) head off to the main schools. In class, the students are watching a news report on the sealing of Shinjuku, on the grounds that "poison gas" is being dealt with around the ghetto. It reports many, many dead Elevens but, strangely enough, nothing on a certain blond-haired sovereign. Deprived of the info, or no one simply cares. The death of many is just statistics!