#4dango ask

[4dango-the2nd]

Hello I really like your art. Especially the stories you write for your OCs. It feels refreshing even though the OCs belong to an already pre-existing universe.

Do you have any advice on how to write interesting stories or backstories for OCs?

Hello! Apologies for the late reply but I've been pondering for a while about how to answer your question without rambling lol

I'd say, you should start with a theme/concept that you're interested in, do your research about that topic, and apply it to your OCs. You can think of it like character tropes, but one thing that I learned about tropes is that you shouldn't stop at the trope itself when writing your character.

You should expand that trope, and take your own spin on it. The trope is the starting point, and then you should put your OCs in Situations and other Problems, and really ask yourself "what would [this OC] think/do/say in this situation?" and then ask yourself again "Is that really right for this character?"

The "what would [the character] THINK about/in this situation" question is especially important, because you want to really establish their personality, worldview, and thought process. Those should inform how they take actions and speak to various people in various settings.

I hope that helps!

[hiraya-rawr]

You mentioned reading alot of found family on Ao3? Could we have some recommendations? (I am starving for some good found family fics rn)

MY FAVORITE GENSHIN AO3 WORKS // ALL COMPLETED

// This took so long because I had to compile my absolute favorites for found family 😌 everything here is complete, everything here wrecked me. TW DO NOT READ WHEN YOU'RE BUSY BECAUSE I GOT HOOKED. OP I'm so glad you asked me-

Song of Resistance: Frostborn Loyalty by TheOpticalMouse

Song of Resistance: Flames of Defiance by StrangeDiamond

// Diluc and Kaeya and the rest of Mondstadt. The Fatui takes over Mond and they band together forming the resistance to take it back. They should be read together!!, includes a lot of other beloved characters, they're actually selling a book for it with illustrations by @f-ai-n and I'm planning on getting it (if it weren't for the shipping fee that costs more than the book). There's a specific order to read the chapters to make both stories fit together, please take the time to read it!

The Burden Of Memories by The Optical Mouse // series // DILUC GETS AMNESIA bc of the abyss AND THINKS KAEYA IS STILL HIS BROTHER. A LOT OF ANGST. WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED?? made me sob at 2am twice.

Watcher of the Night by nacaratskies // series // the reincarnation-turn back time AU with Diluc. He dies at 22, wakes again as a 17 y/o. Everyone notices he's changed. 17 y/o kaeya is worried but diluc doesn't give af. (lots of angst and screaming. poor kaeya, poor diluc, poor everyone, made me cry)

no love lost, not for him by li2 // series // familial hanahaki disease with Kaeya who doesn't believe he's loved and is dying from it. lots of comfort, unreliable narrator

Lost in the Underground by Quontice // series // for the horror lovers out there <3 Kaeya goes missing and something sinister lurks underground. Diluc tries to find him.

Home is Where my Brother Lays by Trashbin2020 // series // I CRIED. Two different timelines crashing. Kaeya "dies" and "lives again" in a world where Cavalry Captain Diluc lost his brother. Whereas, Diluc is desperate to get him back.

[COMIC] Voices in Ice and Snow by 4dango // art, comic // albedo gets corrupted by during, angst and action. made me love albedo, and fall for diluc even more.

The call is coming by actualromeo // fic // what if the chasm quest which affected the hilichurls also affected kaeya?

And here are some similar works that I've yet to finish but has the potential of being a favorite:

Oh, How Inconvenient by DiamondDove / series

The Rise of Diluc Ragnvindr by @richardgraysonpercyjackson / 4 arcs, a rollercoaster

Can Everyone in Mondstadt Just CHILL OUT For a Second?? by Anonemoni / series

Dawn's Alibi by Primarina / series

[4dango-the2nd]

Hi Dango! I was wondering where I could find your ancient liyue fanarts? The other day I was looking through some old guizhong fandesigns and remembered how much I liked yours, though I wasn't able to find it on twt. Your art was really one of the first things that got me into guili and interest in lore in general. Regardless, if for whatever reason you choose to not share those anymore, I just want to say that I really adore your composition work for your comics and I look forward to your art!

Oh dear, I posted them on my old twitter account (it's been suspended due to misunderstanding but they refused to let me get it back), and I haven't posted them on twitter again because the official guizhong design is out so it felt kinda weird reposting them lol....

But I still have them on my IG! You just have to scroll... really far down..... HAHA

Morax Adopting Xiao (HC)

Morax, Guizhong, Barbatos [1][2][3]

Morax & Guizhong over the years

Guizhong & Childe [1][2]

Guizhong & Havria

Morax & Guizhong [1][2]

Farewell, God of Salt

Osial, Havria, Guizhong, Morax [1][2]

Osial [1][2]

Happy Birthday Zhongli, Farewell Guizhong

Thank you for appreciating my works!!!!

[4dango-the2nd]

i was just wondering if there is a part 19 of the Gilded Sea's Dream series? i dont know if it doesnt exist or im just blind and cant find it

OMG HELP I THOUGHT I POSTED IT AND THEN I GOT LOGGED OUT OF TUMBLR FOR A FEW WEEKS AND TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT IT SDKJJKLDSFJKLSDF

But anyway I've just posted it! Thank you for asking me fsdjksdfjkldfs

[4dango-the2nd]

Help I can never tell if your kaveh and haitham are married or divorced without getting married

It's Complicated ™️ 😭

[4dango-the2nd]

I love Suha ... please ... let her live and go to school and be safe ;-;

she has a long life ahead of her uwu

[4dango-the2nd]

thank you for your hard work on gilded sea's dream, it was such an enjoyable series of comics and I loved every bit of it!

hello and thank you so very much for enjoying my series!!!!!!

[4dango-the2nd]

PLZ WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE ME LAUGH RIGHT AFTER RIPPING OUT MY HEART AND STOMPING ON IT ;A; (ok but srsly loving your comic OwO I love suha. She’s shaped.)

EHEHEHEH aww thank you!! I'm so glad you like my baby!!!!

[4dango-the2nd]

Do you mind fics inspired by your comics?

Hello! Sorry for the late reply, my tumblr was logged out and I forgot to check ;;;; I don't mind fics inspired by my comics as long as it's properly credited!

[4dango-the2nd]

Hello! Sorry to bother, I'm Nox, A brazillian youtuber. I wanted to get your permission to dub your comics!

Hello. Thank you for the interest and for reaching out to me! But unfortunately, I'm not comfortable with people dubbing my comics, it has resulted in some issues about my comics in the past, so I'd rather not risked it again. I hope you understand ;;;;

[4dango-the2nd]

I love all your works in general, but that frame of Kaveh flipping his hair in the Oasis might be my favorite one ever! He just looks so beautiful in it seeing it the first time stole my breath away😳 you do such a good job drawing him~

Sorry for late reply, I got logged out and didn't check for very long but hehe yes I had a great time drawing him and alhaitham in the oasis hehehehehehehee

[4dango-the2nd]

sorry if youve already been asked this but what brushes do you normally use for comics? your art is one of my biggest inspirations to keep drawing :)

hey sorry for the late answer!

For lining I usually alternate between using the default "Real G-Pen" CSP brush, or this Wrinkles Pen (じわペン) [Content ID：1721747] I downloaded from the CSP Asset store. It's very crunchy I love it!

For the textures, it's a combination of different brushes, but I mostly use these recently:

(ベタ部分に使うブラシ) [Content ID：1732397]

(カケアミ普通・消去詰) [Content ID：1683065]

Hope that helps and keep drawing!!

[4dango-the2nd]

how are you feeling abt the new chenyu vale world quest??

aahh I haven't really managed to explore much of them BUT I LOVE LINGYUAN MY BELOVED SUANNI DORK STEP ON ME GNAW ON MY LEG

[4dango-the2nd]

I just wanted to say that I absolutely love your work and your art style. You've literally inspired me in so many ways. I really can't thank you enough for all of your marvelous creations. I was thinking about drawing a picture featuring the Gilded Sea's Dream crew as a thank you and was curious if I was allowed to/you'd like it if I did :)

Heeyyyy thank you so much for loving my series!!!! It meant a lot to me to know that somehow my works have inspired you!!

And yes of course, feel free to draw the GSD crew!! Tag me when you're done!!! 😭💚💚💚

[4dango-the2nd]

Have no regret knowing you. Have you as inspiration for bw comics since it's hard to do coloring

Thank you!! And indeed coloring is hard!!!! I'm still trying to improve on it myself on the side QuQ but understanding the contrast and values first through black & white and then using Gradient Map to colour them helps a ton for me!

[4dango-the2nd]

I really really love your most recent comic w alhaitham 💕💕 it’s so good!!

Just wondering if you have any plans regarding the albedo-durin comic from a bit ago? I wasn’t into Genshin then so I missed the book sale. I’m more than 100% happy to read it online but I’d thought I’d ask if there’s a chance for a another book sale or possible plans for a second book? The story is so interesting and the art work is so well done

Absolutely no worries if not, I really appreciate and love what is out now and don’t mean to pressure you at all, just wondering

Hello!! Thank you for loving my comics!!!

If by plans you mean future sale, I'm not so sure. My schedule is already very packed as it is right now.

BUT I do have some leftover B copies from my latest batch, it's just that I don't really have time to sort inventory, open shop, handle the packaging, and shipping at the same time as my day job, commissions, and other project ;;;;; But maybe when I'm a little free I'll open shop to clear out inventory sometime this year!