mysticdragon3art

[mysticdragon3art]

Sada-chan with orchids lighted by the sun.

Because lots of flowers bloomed in my backyard (and because I can't stop piling on more projects), I took a bunch of photos with Sada-chan💛 I never get to take him for outings because of his delicate pieces, but backyard photoshoots are safe for him. Also, I kind of wanted a new avatar for my Bluesky.

It'll take a while to prep all the photos, so this is a preview of more to come.

Date: 4/12/2025

Flowers: cymbidium orchids

Location: my backyard

[mysticdragon3art]

I love how colorful sprinkles are so bright and fun!🎊🎉

FIGURES: Nendoroid Catarina Claes

SUBJECT(S): Bought these confetti sugar-butter cookies from Cost Co the other week. They're so bright, colorful, and pretty, that I had to use them in figure photos before eating them all. Figure Friday.

PROPS: "Butter Sugar Cookies With Spring Sprinkles" from CostCo. DATE OF PHOTOSHOOT: 4/11/2025

[mysticdragon3art]

Continuing "memes as Nendoroids", here's the "Distracted Boyfriend" meme, version 1.

FIGURES: Nendoroid Joker, using Araragi Koyomi faceplate, and Nendoroid Easel stand. Nendoroid Ann Takamaki Phantom Thief version, and Nendoroid Easel stand. Nendoroid Makoto Niijima Phantom Thief version.

SUBJECT(S): "Distracted boyfriend" meme.

PROPS: Scrapbook paper.

DATE OF PHOTOSHOOT: 4/4/2025

[mysticdragon3art]

Happy April Fools Day!🃏 Have some memes as Nendoroids!

FIGURES: Nendoroid Megumi Fushiguro

SUBJECT(S): April Fool's Day joke

PROPS: Construction paper with graphite and charcoal drawing of moon, night sky, and dark clouds. (Stencil made from cardboard.) Nendoroid Megumi Fushiguro's black Divine Dog accessory. Nendoroid Megumi Fushiguro's black Divine Dog accessory, digitally inverte to loo like a white wolf. Black glitter foam sheet as grounding. Wolves sitting atop black-backed hanafuda cards atop old tiramisu containers.

DATE OF PHOTOSHOOT: 4/1/2025

FONT: Arial size200, Stroke 15px 75%opacity black.

[mysticdragon3art]

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[mysticdragon3art]

It's Figure Friday, so here's a quick Nendoroid Aoba Naruko.

FIGURES: Nendoroid Aoba Naruko (from Magica Wars) PROPS: Scrapbook paper DATE OF PHOTOSHOOT: 3/28/2025

[mysticdragon3art]

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Shokudaikiri Mitsutada!🍀☘️

FIGURES: Nendoroid Swacchao Shokudaikiri MItsutada's head on Nendoroid More Dress Up Wedding Elegant version's Baroque Green tuxedo.

SUBJECT(S): St. Patrick's Day

PROPS: DIY clover from green construction paper, heart stencil, and Crayola Super Tip marker. Scrapbook paper backdrop.

DATE OF PHOTOSHOOT: 3/17/2025

[mysticdragon3art]

Going to try weaning myself off daily Instagram usage.

FIGURES: Nendoroid Loid Forger.

SUBJECT(S): Going to try Persistent Bloom’s advice, and wean myself off being an Instagram “daily active user”. So I’m going to be posting my daily walk souvenirs and most other life updates to other social media instead. I will occasionally check Instagram for messages from family. But no more self imposed daily posting requirements from my daily walks. Maybe I’ll occasionally post daily life events on Instagram, but not always anymore. I just keep hearing too much bad about Meta.

PROPS: DIY doodle of current Instagram icon, using Crayola Super Tips markers, stencils, and white-out pen.

DATE OF PHOTOSHOOT: 3/17/2025

[mysticdragon3art]

Happy White Day 2025! Remember to give your Valentine a white reciprocation gift!

I couldn't decide on a concept for a photoshoot, so I just tried anything I could think of, until I got sleepy.

FIGURES: Nendoroid Saber Prototype/Arthur Pendragon White Roses version. Nendoroid Devil Homura. Nendoroid Ultimate Madoka. Nendoroid Yor Forger. Nendoroid Loid Forger, uses bouquet from Nendoroid More Suits 02.

SUBJECT(S): White Day (when Valentine recipients give a reciprocal gift, usually white, as started by a marshmallow candy company). 3/14/2025 (one month after Valentine's Day).

PROPS: Single white rose prop from Nendoroid Saber Prototype/Arthur Pendragon White Roses version. Glitter foam sheet. Scrapbook paper. Artificial flowers. Nendoroid More Suits 02 set's bouquet of white flowers

[mysticdragon3art]

Hinamatsuri 2025, take 2!🎎

I remembered that I have Nendoroid More Tatami Mats, so I re-did my Hinamatsuri 2025 photo.

FIGURES: Nendoroid Homura Akemi haregi version. Nendoroid Madoka Kaname maiko version, using crown from Nendoroid Kageyama Tobio and fan from Nendoroid maiko Mami Tomoe.

SUBJECT(S): Hinamatsuri Abbreviated Hinadan. March 3

PROPS: DIY golden folding screen (byobu). DIY miniature lamps. DIY crown. DIY shaku. Crown from Nendoroid Kageyama Tobio. Fan from Nendoroid maiko Mami Tomoe. Red felt. 2 Nendoroid More Tatami Mats.

DATE OF PHOTOSHOOT: 3/6/2025

I'm really lazy this year, so no full Hinadan this time. Also demotivated because I usually make my current OTP the Emperor/Empress, but there still aren't Nendoroids of my current OTP (JayVik). Last several years, I didn't have Nendoroids of my current OTPs either (Goldenheart, Dimiclaude). Also very discouraging. But I got into JayVik because it was compared to HomuMado, so HomuMado will be my Emperor/Empress this year.

[mysticdragon3art]

Happy Hinamatsuri!🎎

FIGURES: Nendoroid Homura Akemi haregi version. Nendoroid Madoka Kaname maiko version, using crown from Nendoroid Kageyama Tobio and fan from Nendoroid maiko Mami Tomoe.

SUBJECT(S): Hinamatsuri Abbreviated Hinadan. March 3

PROPS: DIY golden folding screen (byobu). DIY miniature lamps. DIY crown. DIY shaku. crown from Nendoroid Kageyama Tobio. fan from Nendoroid maiko Mami Tomoe. Red felt.

DATE OF PHOTOSHOOT: 3/3/2025

I'm really lazy this year, so no full Hinadan this time. Also demotivated because I usually make my current OTP the Emperor/Empress, but there still aren't Nendoroids of my current OTP (JayVik). Last several years, I didn't have Nendoroids of my current OTPs either (Goldenheart, Dimiclaude). Also very discouraging. But I got into JayVik because it was compared to HomuMado, so HomuMado will be my Emperor/Empress this year.

[mysticdragon3art]

2/28/2025 & 3/1/2025

2/28/2025. A photo to express my venting about social/communication overwhelm. Nendoroid More Pajamac set's black tunic body, using hair from Nendoroid Ushio Aotsuki, faceplate from Nendoroid Aoba Suzukaze.

3/1/2025. A photo to express my surprise when I recognize a fanartist from a previous fandom being active in my current/next fandoms. Nendoroid More Pajamas set's black tunic body; using hair from Nendoroid Ushio Aotsuki, faceplate from Nendoroid Mikasa Ackerman; straight arm with pointing finger from Nendoroid Makoto Naegi.

Been doing some figure photos with a custom Nendoroid to react to my days.

[mysticdragon3art]

...

Nikolai could not sleep. He carefully peeled the covers off their bed and tried to not wake Iason.

He did not stir.

Nikolai let out a breath and sat on the floor, carefully crossing his legs, as Ryu had taught him during their meditation class earlier. As his eyes closed, he extended his spirit beyond his body.

A dark expanse filled his astral vision. Walls of light blocked most of the infinity from view, yet there was a translucency to the walls that allowed him to see past, the more he concentrated. Ryu was right: Just being able to "see" afforded a lot of power already.

Beyond the walls were sleeping forms, all cloistered within their own rooms, within their own walls of light. He couldn't see more than blurry silhouettes, but he could tell how many students were asleep in the school, how many were having nightmares, and how walled-off the perimeter of the school was, psychically, from the rest of the world. If he was wearing one of the school's pendants, like these schoolgirls, he probably wouldn't be able to see past his room's own walls of light.

Nikolai's astral form whipped around to a presence peeking over his shoulder. But there was nothing, except Iason's sleeping psychic form.

Iason was full of dreams. He could sense it. Nikolai's psychic form came to stand over Iason, resting a palm on his shoulder. He could see now, Iason dreamed of memories with his adoptive sister. They were both so small back then.

"So cute." Nikolai chuckled.

Then little Iason stopped running after his sister, and looked up at Nikolai, his eyes glowing as he took a big, smiling breath. "Nikolai! Nikolai!" He raised both of those tiny arms upward. "I love you, Nikolai!"

Nikolai almost staggered backwards, sputtering, and his astral form impossibly blushing.

"You can see me?"

"MMMH!" Little Iason's smile beamed.

"But---But isn't this just a memory? I recognize it. You've told me about this before."

"No, I'm dreaming." Little Iason turned into adult, astral form Iason. "Dreaming of a memory." The dream receded, revealing the dark infinity of the astral plane, interspersed with translucent walls of light. "Ryu said memories can't be interacted with, but dreams can."

"Wait. Did you sit in on her psychic meditation classes too? You never mentioned it."

"No, I...I saw your memory of it when you touched my shoulder. Did you really not notice me looking into your memories?"

Nikolai covered his mouth and looked away. "I was...a bit distracted."

"I can't believe your astral face is turning red!"

"Stop it!" Nikolai shook his head at the non-existent floor, his voice carrying no real bite.

"So...are you up? Or dreaming?"

"Eh...I couldn't sleep. I thought I'd practice our new perceptive capabilities."

"Oh, good! Because I've noticed some things that I wanted to talk to you about!"

Maybe they spent the next half hour, exchanging observations. Auras they could now see in the physical world, when they concentrated. How sometimes others' thoughts came to them like verbal language to ears, unless they were distracted. How the translucent walls of light must be the protection seal, barrier spells that Ryu told them about. The astral walls of light had alien runes in some places, a foreign script in others, but were mostly sustained by a pure, unwritten energy.

"And sometimes there's a presence that goes in and out of the walls, but when I look in its direction, there's nothing there."

"Exactly!" Nikolai almost jumped up...if their forms weren't already floating. "Just now, there was something."

"It's likely Ryu's son. She said he's High Priest here. That he overlooks everyone's psychic states to make sure none of the girls turn into demons."

"So he can sense past these walls... Wait." Nikolai froze. "If he can see past these barrier spells, then he can see...when we...!" Nikolai hated feeling his cheeks burn again. He hated even more knowing that it was his own mental self-perception, and lack of conscious control over it, that made his astral form's cheeks red, to manifest his emotional state.

"W-wait, Nik! I asked about it earlier, and he said that as soon as he hears us doing anything, he puts an extra psychic shield around our room, and doesn't pay attention!"

"Doesn't pay attention?!? How can someone not pay attention when I screa---" Nikolai covered his mouth, almost gritting his teeth. His astral cheeks may as well stay red.

"Apparently it's part of their psychic training? Ryu said it doesn't work the same as sound and ears. That psychics can actually not look in a direction and not perceive anything there, if they concentrate."

"You just don't want to stop being loud during sex."

Iason fidgeted. "Well, yeah...that too... But Ryu swore to me that that's how psychic powers work."

"It's not that way for us."

"We're new to it, Nik. I think we got thrown into the deep end."

Nikolai deflated. "That's true. There's still too much to try to understand. Just seeing is already overwhelming."

Iason's eyes twinged with concern.

"I am fine, Iason. How are you handling this new perception? Does it not overstimulate?"

"Well...I just kind of feel...the same? But just more things around me to sense? Ryu said that emotional people are more used to what it feels like to be suddenly aware of all these psychic energies."

Nikolai studied him. "Yes, I imagine you've had more practice coping with your excess emotions."

"C'mon, Nik. You make it sound like a bad thing." Those puppy dog eyes made Nikolai smirk.

"I meant it as a compliment." He reached over with both hands and thumbed at Iason's cheeks. "You're not bad. You're very good. I'm impressed."

Iason just closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation. "I can feel all the...affection you're pouring into me. Lots of puppy images. Is that how you really see me? And I thought you preferred cats?"

Nikolai paused. "You can see all that?"

"Yeah..." Iason's eyes remained closed, savoring Nikolai's palms on his astral face. "It's a really...warm feeling. Feels kinda like...being home after a long time." He opened his eyes. "Do I feel like home to you?"

Nikolai's eyes softened. "Yes. Yes, you feel exactly like that."

Iason hummed happily and closed his eyes again. "But, Nik. You really don't feel me picking out your memories? Because I can feel you picking at my memories. That's how I knew you were in my dream. And y'know, not just a part of my dream."

"No, I... I guess I haven't determined that feeling yet. I sense many things since we ascended, but I cannot decipher what each one means. Not yet."

"You will. You're brilliant."

"Hm." Nikolai kept pouring affection from his palms into Iason's serenely savoring face.

"I wanna stay like this for the rest of the night."

"But we need to sleep or we'll burn out."

"Yeah. Ryu said our brains use the same channels for cellular recovery, as they do to disperse nutrients for thought. Can't do both at the same time."

"And psychic activity is more draining than regular thought."

Iason put a hand onto one of Nikolai's wrists, his eyes still closed. "You need to get some rest, Nik. More than me."

"Are you concerned for my health?"

"Yeah."

"I am studying to change my psychic self-image."

"But you were sick for such a long time. It's hard to change your ingrained self-image. Yesterday you started needing a cane again."

"I won't deteriorate further."

"Hm. I believe in you."

Nikolai was glad Iason's eyes were still closed.

"I can feel your embarrassment radiating off you."

Nikolai almost pulled both hands away.

But Iason grabbed both wrists and opened his eyes. "I won't judge you, Nikolai. It makes me happy that you can feel so effected by me."

Nikolai grimaced, but couldn't suppress a smile. "You are too straightforward with your emotions, Iason."

"But it's why I'm better at this psychic thing than you. Ow!"

Nikolai rapped two fingers onto Iason's forehead. It didn't actually hurt Iason. His exclamation was more from surprise.

"You," Nikolai guided Iason's arms to wrap around him, "are going to sleep."

Iason floated towards Nikolai and hugged him tightly, nestling his chin into the nape of Nikolai's neck. "G'night."

"Good night, Iason." Nikolai returned to his physical body, still seated on the floor of their cobblestone room. He started to feel the plush, hand-woven rug and the cool night air again. The air still seeped through the window, though those translucent walls of light on the astral plane sealed out so much. It was a whole other layer of reality he was learning to navigate, simultaneously with returning to the physical plane. He lifted his hand and stared at it. A much more immediate connection to this body, than he had in his previous---that body so changed by his wayward experiments.

"Nik?" Iason's sleepy voice mumbled. "Please come to bed."

"Yes, of course." Nikolai got up, got under the bed covers, and wrapped Iason's physical arms around him. They finally rested for the night.

-------------------------------------------------

5:06 AM 2/25/2025

[mysticdragon3art]

✨🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖✨🫂💔

Almost forgot to note this daydream from 2 days ago.

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I guess I was thinking about what a s2 with more time given to their falling-out would be like.

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This isn't polished. Plot holes/characterizations that don't make sense in some places. So please don't read it. This post is for my records.

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It's just a nonsensical daydream.

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1:56 AM 2/21/2025

2:00 AM 2/22/2025

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Jayce practically chased Viktor through the commune. "It's not right, Viktor!"

Viktor, for his part, had stalked away, forcing Jayce to call across the different tents of people who started to stare. Viktor ducked into the greenhouse.

"They're not human anymore, Viktor!" Jayce pleaded.

"And who decided that was so important?!" Viktor hugged his elbows and turned towards one of the windows, away from Jayce.

"They don't breathe anymore. I haven't seen any of you eat, even once. Do you really think this is what they wanted to become? Something inhuman?"

"It's certainly easy for you to judge, when your body hasn't been so---!" Viktor could swear he heard the gear in Jayce's leg brace creak.

They both took a breath.

"I'm sorry." Viktor tried to meet Jayce's eyes again.

He was quickly smothered in a hug, Jayce's arms around him, tight.

"You never need to apologize to me."

Viktor tried to parse the way Jayce cradled his head, massaged his fingers through his hair.

"I've done so much wrong to you. I deserve any anger you give me."

"Jayce." Viktor turned his face towards him.

Jayce's hand still held his head close. His other, moving behind his shoulder, refusing to let go. "Hextech can't spread anymore, Viktor. It's a curse." He placed a hand onto the center of Viktor's chest, where the Hexcore was absorbed into him. "It has to stop."

"Your eyes tell me otherwise."

Jayce's gaze turned glassy, tearful. His expression wavering between some kind of confession and sobbing.

"Won't you tell me what happened to you?"

It had been several days since Jayce appeared in the commune, haggard and exhausted. Viktor had to practically nurse him back into health. But now that he finally had the energy for a real conversation, he was still so ambiguous and hesitating. Like he didn't want to dare say something.

And now at Viktor's question, Jayce's hand was trembling. Viktor's slender hand gently took Jayce's palm.

"Will you still not let me heal you?"

Jayce shook his head, closing his eyes. "It can't spread anymore, Viktor. I promise, afterwards..."

"You haven't been good at keeping promises, Jayce. But neither have I. I haven't been able to do any of the good I set out to do, until after you broke your promise to destroy the Hexcore. I was wrong to make you promise that, Jayce." Viktor brought Jayce's forehead to his own. "We were wrong. It has been a miracle. Look around us."

"Maybe not now. But it leads to more disaster than I can describe. The end of everything. Us at the center, for what we've done. Please, Viktor. We have to end it here." Jayce pressed his cheek into Viktor's. "After I get rid of all traces of Hextech, I'll follow you, so... I'll keep my promise to you."

"Jayce..." Viktor closed his eyes, savoring the one place he could still feel Jayce's warmth.

"Ah, sorry!" Vi stopped at the greenhouse's entryway.

Jayce and Viktor hadn't noticed how long they had been holding each other close. Maybe it felt too natural.

"Just, uh, just came to check on...my dad."

Warwick slept at the far side of the green house, behind several plants.

Jayce stepped away from Viktor.

"Of course." Viktor regarded Vi.

Jayce barely glanced her way as he walked out.

"He okay in the head yet?"

"I'm not sure."

[mysticdragon3art]

Placeholder post for Descanso Gardens figure photography.

[mysticdragon3art]

Happy Valentine's Day 2025 <3

FIGURES: Nendoroid Saber Bride, using Nendoroid Easle Stand. Nendoroid Shiro Emiya, using body and white rose from Saber/Arthur Pendragon (Prototype) Costume Dress White Roses Ver.

SUBJECT(S): Valentine's Day

PROPS: Scrapbook paper.

DATE OF PHOTOSHOOT: 2/14/2025

[mysticdragon3art]

Figure Friday with Nendoroid Aoba and Ren.

FIGURES: Nendoroid Aoba Seragaki Nendoroid Aoba Seragaki's Ren accessory

SUBJECT(S): Figure Friday

PROPS: Scrapbook paper

DATE OF PHOTOSHOOT: 2/7/2025

Some lighting adjustments in Krita.