#but yeah I really like using procreate - it's not the BEST program but for its cost it's fantastic! (don't think about the cost of the ipad

[a2zillustration]

Hi! Do you mind my asking what device/programs you use to draw? I love croissant the wizard and all his adventures

Thank you! I exclusively use an ipad and procreate. I wish I had something more exciting to share but I have a very basic setup, haha

[kald-dal-art]

hiiiiiiiiiii! i'd like tips for beginners like totally new to art and what apps you use and do we need pen?

Hey sure I can give you tips

Assuming this is digital art tips you want, so here they are from me to you

So I guess my first tip is don’t immediatley go for the most expensive stuff on the market just because that’s what all the “Pros” are using. What is good art supplies for an hobbyist and a pro is different for a reason.

I’m not really too deep into tablet knowledge on what is the cheapest/best alternatives for a complete beginner though, both my drawing tablet and iPad/Pen were presents from my parents, but there are tons of videos/resources online to help.

I think Procreate is a very good drawing app for the iPad for what it offers and is relatively inexpensive imo, especially for a one time purchase

Have heard Ibis paint is good as well if you want a free option, but I haven’t used that one. So take that with a grain of salt.

My fave computer program is Clip Studio Paint and its more expensive than procreate but for it being a one time purchase it’s pretty good and it has sales pretty often so yeah.

Also if you are complete beginner I would also highly recommend doing traditional art first. Think the Undo button on digital can be a very easy thing to fall back on. With traditional art it helps you with growing more confident with your pen strokes and such.

Like practissing drawing stuff with a ballpoint pen is something I highly recommend, because you can’t erase anything and it really helps you to practice the concept of pen pressure and such, which is important to have down when you do stuff digitally.

Also another thing you can do that really helped me getting into Digital art was that I would doodle something on paper and then I would scann the drawing so I could color it digitally. Because I had such a hard time in the beginning to draw stuff from scratch digitally, so doing that part traditonally really helped me get into it

Also recommend studying art pieces you like and do “master copys” of them to really study why people do the choices they do

(Highly recommend to not post Master copys though, especially without credit, screw what every art commentator said in the mid 2010, tracing can do you good to understand art better)

[caelanglang]

Hihi

Can I ask you what program do you use for the animatic? And can you recommend any good program for practice? (I never used any of these programs, and they look pretty hard, so I don't want to pay yet for one, but I want to make something :c)

Hello! This might be a bit long but I hope I can help you with this (I'm holding your hand because this is also my first time doing an animatic so I have no idea on what kind of good pipeline there is to follow...) I apologize in advance if this won't be the most helpful answer :,))

okay so for the software. I use the ipad for most of my work nowadays... unfortunately, both apps that I use are paid—RoughAnimator and Procreate. I'll walk you down with how I do it. It is not the most efficient way but here's how it goes for me... :,))

Storyboard

I think the most important thing for planning something like this is having a clear vision of what you want to see. I started this animatic by brainstorming in my storyboards what I want to see in timing with the song and its lyrics. Here's an example of what I previously shared... [disclaimer: I did not follow the template so yeah, feel free to ignore the kanji characters]

you can see the outline I roughly made to tell myself what scene I want to show to what lyrics (I got lazy to write the whole lyrics down lol) and also added some notes like the movement of the character and camera pans etc.

here are the corresponding drawings to it (sorry if the quality is bad, I just screenshotted this from my gallery ><;;)

Drawing the Cuts

All of the drawings are done on Procreate. I use this software for most of my drawings now, mostly because I like the texture of the brushes there. At this point, I am not worrying about timing these drawings to the music yet but I am reassured since I already made my guide of that in the storyboards. Procreate also has an animation feature that helped me draw the breathing sequence.

Compiling and Timing the Drawings

Once I've saved my drawings to my photos, I move them to RoughAnimator. Here is where I time the drawings with the song. What I like about RoughAnimator is that it has its own drawing tools (I don't really like the brushes tho... hence, me using Procreate instead), it has a camera tool that allows me to pan across my drawings and also shows the sound wave thingy of the song that helps me with timing. It also allows me to easily adjust the exposure or how long a drawing flashes on the screen at my chosen framerate.

I would sometimes be unsatisfied with my initial drawings, leading to me going back and forth between Procreate and RoughAnimator to revise stuff. (which in my opinion is not efficient but I can't really think of any other way to do this...)

So yes. That's pretty much how I'm working with it so far. I am currently stuck because both Procreate and RoughAnimator have very limited features when it comes to panning images... I'm still figuring out how to do that but I'm thinking of moving to video editors for these kinds of stuff instead of relying on RoughAnimator...

I hope you aren't discouraged by this,, I know it isn't the best solution... If you are to follow this kind of workflow, I think a good combination of any drawing software (hopefully with an animation feature) and a reliable video editor to time it to the music (I recommend finding ones with camera pan and motion tween features) is sufficient enough for this.

If you're using an ipad like me, iArtbook is a good free alternative to Procreate with a good animation feature. I have yet to check it out properly but Filmora or Capcut might be a good video editor... If you're using a desktop, I think Krita is good for drawing and animating!

I'm so sorry again if this wasn't really helpful. I will definitely share it if I were to find a better workflow for this. If you'd like to have some storyboard templates, here are some I found on the internet!

I wish you all the best in your plans and practices!

(feel free to ask again if you have any questions, I hope this helps somehow :,))

[beannary]

HI FAI OMG YEAH GET A TABLET CHALLENGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the tablet that I have! A Wacom Intuos and i like this one a lot because its small and portable and i prefer this sort of tablet rather than one that has a screen because i find that my posture is better when im using a tablet without a screen, and i also recommend getting one of these tablets because theyre super basic and like dont come with a lot of fancy bells and whistles or whatever. This is however the only tablet that I've really used since I was like 14? So I don't have a lot of experience with other tablets to be able to recommend them.

Though if you do have an ipad then you can also use that! I did have an ipad when i first started doing digital art and I would draw using an app called procreate!

And yeah if you are planning on drawing on your computer then you will need to get a tablet and also a drawing program. I use clip studio paint but that can also be a really overwhelming program to use even though it is really great and I like it a lot theres just omg SOOOOOO MUCH and so many tools that even having been drawing for many years it was overwhelming making the switch. I first started drawing using Paint Tool Sai which I also like! A lot of these programs will have free trials so I recommend downloading a bunch of them and just trying them out for a bit to see which one you like best!!!!

Hey y'all, so I've mentioned that I want to get a drawing tablet to get back into that. But I have never gotten into digital art so I am kind of blind here. I know a lot of you are artists so I was wondering if you guys might have some recs on what tablet I should get.

I'm seeing tablets anywhere from $30 to $400, and I have...no idea where to ballpark myself in that. It's just going to be a hobby thing so I absolutely don't need a super expensive one with all the bells and whistles, but I do want something decent. Is around $100-$150 reasonable for a mid-low range tablet? It's not a hard limit, but that's kind of what I was expecting.

Also, do I need to buy a program on top of that, or do they usually come with one? I just need it for scribbles, I won't be doing anything fancy. Love you guys, I'll go back to writing now.

[st-hedge]

First off, I want to say, your art is beautiful. the subtle surrealism and abstractness (idk if that's a real word lmao) you use is just fucking amazing. I don't know how you do it but your art is all just so cool. I literally look at your art for inspo when i have art block-

Second, If you don't mind me asking, what program+tablet do you use to draw? I'm trying to work more with digital art, but I don't really know what to do. I have a cheap entry-level tablet I'm currently working with, and I use some free art program i can't even remember the name of (yeah hella scuffed ik). I'm feeling somewhat confident where I'm at and would like to 'upgrade', but I just don't know where to go from here. With the digital art stuff I aspire to do, you'd definitely be one of the people I'd want tips/advice from! :)

(sorry for the long ask btw)

😭💕 djvivjgjgkgkgi thank u so much! That is super kind of u! And I may not be the best person to ask about tablets cuz I have a 12” ipad pro which I shelled out on but it’s also basically my laptop and I use it constantly for everything. I dunno if u would want a screen tablet if u have been working with a plug in one (I’ve literally forgot what that type of called rip) but a small iPad (double check if it’s compatible with the pencil and which one) would work great and I heard there are also some great Samsung tablets available which I’ve not tried out personally but I’ve seen people praise

For programmes I switch between procreate and clip studio paint. U do need to pay for both but they are worth it, but they both have their pros and cons. Procreate is wonderful but I don’t know why it takes up a lot of storage (21gb vs csp’s 3gb on my ipad) im sure I’m just too lazy to look into it, but that’s something to consider. Procreate has lots of really cool options for effects and brushes right under ur hand which I love. Csp is also really awesome, but I feel like it’s more geared toward people who are working with print specifications and who already have tools to load onto the app. It also seems like csp is meant more for desktop cuz of the layout and small tabs and it could be an issue if u are using a small screen. So consider which works best for u and start there, but whichever u choose its a great app

I hope that helps even just a little bit and I’m happy to give advice on anything else if u want!

[dysfunctionalbatfam]

Do you have any advice/tips/tricks for new artists?

I’m definitely not the most qualified for this but I’ll try my best!! 😅

I kind of started out sort of using other artists’ art as references (just personal studies that I threw away right after) - that’s how I actually got into drawing. I did it for fun and when I finished I thought, “Huh. Neat” (even though it was terrible) and then I just tried a few more. Unlike working from real references, some artists may choose to have a style that’s more simplified and easier to understand. (Do keep in mind that you should never just trace it and repost online.)

Another thing I took from were speedpaints and tutorials - and they don’t really all help me, but they at least give me some motivation, even if they make it look overwhelmingly easy. They help break down the steps and give you a process so that you don’t only see the masterful finished product and that the beginnings can be rough. There has been, however, two (2) that really did help a lot. (Probably will drop the talented users in the tags 💞💞)

And honestly? Most of it has been just, making up shit, and that’s okay! Even if you have no idea what you’re doing, it’s not going to hurt your art progress, and often times you learn from them. Explore things, different styles, programs, tools, until you find some you’re comfortable with. And don’t worry if you’re unsure, this process takes a ton of time, so just keep exploring. Sometimes you just gotta say “This looks bad to me, but it helped me learn this and that.”

Another good thing to do is find a group of friends willing to support you! You could share your shitposts to more serious drawings and get their feedback. Bounce off ideas off each other, find other artists. People encouraging you to push on can do more than you’d think.

This is said. A lot. You hear it everywhere, but it’s commonly said for a reason, y’know? Practice. Practicing is so much of the gig. No one’s going to automatically be amazing at art, which also means that if your art isn’t what you want it to be right now? Doesn’t mean it’s never gonna get there. Try your best to draw everyday! Don’t worry if it varies, do whatever the fuck you want, this is for you. A two second scribble one day and a portrait study the next? Heck yeah.

Last general advice, methinks, is to use references. I’m a huge hypocrite for this because I just. Randomly put stuff down. But don’t ever be afraid to use them. They’re a resource all artists have used.

Onto more technical stuff -

Digital Art Programs (that I’ve tested and would recommend)

-Firealpaca (computer) and Medibang (computer & tablet): Always my recommendations. They’re absolutely free and easy to install, yet they offer such a reliable program. They’re basically the same, to be honest

-Krita (computer): I don’t really know how to use this but it’s free and capable of producing gorgeous pieces of art.

-Photoshop (computer & tablet): I started with this, it’s pretty good, but my personal issues made it just keep crashing, so I’m not very versed in it 😅 but it lives up to its hype.

-Procreate (tablet): Good for painting, but lineart is a little harder, in my opinion. The brush stabilization is wack. But it’s very comfortable and whelming to use, worth the ten bucks. You can also download a fuck ton of free brushes online, always a plus (I SWEAR I get twenty more every day)

-Autodesk Sketchbook (tablet & computer [?]): The interface is very similar to Procreate, so if you want a subsititute for Procreate, go ahead! In my opinion, it’s a little harder to use, though.

-Paint Tool Sai (computer) and Clip Studio Paint (both): Never tried, but probably really good, I know a lot of people who use them.

[Do keep in mind that starting out with free programs is enough, and many extremely good artists stick with them!]

Traditional art stuff -

-Same stuff applies, you don’t need advanced supplies to create good art!

-Hoard sketchbooks like a dragon, eat hot chip, and cry

-A lot of professional artists prefer sketching/inking traditionally and then digitally coloring it

-My favorite traditional supplies are charcoal pencils, if that’s anything? 😂 I find them more comfortable to use than pencils.

-You can tell I can’t do traditional to save my life, I’m SO sorry if you do traditional dhdkhd

-Brushes can be bought cheap!! They’ll still work just as well (many supplies that come cheaper are still good, I got a whole set with paint, a sketchbook, etc. for under twenty USD)

-Some advice I took from a youtube video somewhere: Have two notebooks, one for more serious artwork and one just to do anything in, as we know we all have failures and get nervous to fuck up. This ensures that you unleash your creativity! In that notebook, don’t worry about making your drawings look good, just put your ideas down.

This is getting to the point that I’m just rambling, so I’ll end it here. Hope it helps, even though I should follow my own advice- ❤️❤️❤️ good luck, you GOT this, anon!

[toxicsquad]

There is no better way to get to know someone than through a good question tag. In this case we have decided to make an Indie game dev question tag with the responses of our four developers. We hope that it will reveal many unknowns, but if you are left with any questions, do not hesitate to use our ask.

What part of game development are you responsible for?

Athe: I write and write, I melt in my seat, I correct, I cry and then I program. It’s an endless cycle. Occasionally I laugh like crazy while I eat Pringles.

Sam: I draw and color without leaving the lines (almost always) the sprites, the illustrations and the ravings that usually occur to us past 3 in the morning.

Illy: English translations.

Sher: I draw BGs

What tools do you use (hardware / software)?

Athe: Recently my desktop PC has passed away, so I’ve had to rescue my old PC from the garage. I also have a laptop that saves my life more times than I would like to admit. As for the software, I need, above all, drive documents, video editing programs, image etc (I have an Adobe package) and of course Renpy and Atom.

Sam: My main friend and companion is my tablet, a wacom intuos S (pistachio color, so cute). As programs I mainly use the Paint Tool Sai, because there is nothing in this life like its stabilizer. And less frequently than I would like (for details, texture brushes, effects ...) I also use Clip Studio Paint, which I only know how to use at about 2% of its capacity ... If someday I have time I would love to stop and learn seriously what can be done with it.

Illy: During the school year I live in a residence, so I use an old laptop, and when I return home I use a desktop computer that never has memory space. I translate the chapters in the same Atom where the complete script is and I keep them in google drive files where I share them with our beta reader. I also use editing programs like photoshop when I have to translate comics or procreate for when my artistic skills are required.

Sher: ipad+procreate+some final tweak in photoshop, I don't need much more

What is your favorite part of the job?

Athe: Would it be wrong if I say that is when we released the episode? During the whole production time everything is very stressful, there are times when it’s really uphill, but when we release a new chapter it feels soooo good. It's like saying to yourself, yeah, dammit, I can do it. Look at everything you've climbed by yourself. You're doing it right.

Sam: In general, my favorite parts are when the first scenes start to be programmed, and I can see the sprites with the backgrounds, the texts, and how the illustrations look. Everything always looks so much better when viewed in-game… I also really like being able to check out the script as it is written. And from the artistic part that concerns me, when I see that my hands capture the idea that I had in my head ... Especially in character designs.

Illy: Having to find a way to translate very spanish expressions into English, research vocabulary that I have never had to use and commenting on some translations with our beta reader (which we adore) to make it understandable without losing the original meaning.

Sher: I like to do the lineart when the sketch is complete, if I no longer have to think about anything else and it's just going through it, I find it very fun and relaxing

What is the most difficult part for you?

Athe: Offf, yes, I admit it, sometimes writing is the WORST. Other times I love it, especially when I can expand on the descriptions or stop at a part that is intimate or that I find interesting (for example, Hasiel's conversation from 6.3, small spoiler: P). But, I HATE having to paste scenes, often the protagonist moves between scenes and you always have to add lines to those transitions that really do not interest anyone, but that otherwise the text would be confusing. Anyway... It is a very wide world, with a lot of history, I have to deal with what I need readers to know to understand the facts, although sometimes it gets a bit boring.

Sam: What part does not... Rather who e.e Zihel and Ariel are a thorn in my side. Especially Zihel. I know it has to do with the fact that it has never been my strength to draw boys, and much less if they are more masculine in appearance... That's why I also suffer a lot from drawing muscles. Another thing that brings me a headache is the perspective of the illustrations. Every time I try to get out of the typical shot or poses a little... It doesn't work out.

Illy: Doughy’s  stuttering ¬.¬

Sher: chairs, sofas, tables... anything with four legs is my enemy

Anything to help or encourage you while you are working?

Athe: I need music, no, seriously, I NEED IT. I’m unable to focus without it. If, on top of that, I can get what I hear to act as a sounding board for what I write, the text is a thousand times better... But the muse is a pretty bad person.

Sam: Having a show/movie in the background that entertains me. The longer the better, so I don't have to stop to think what I want to put on next.

Illy: Eating sunflower seeds to trick my brain and not be tempted to do something else that distracts me.

Sher: I try to see other artists to motivate and inspire me before I start drawing, what I find most difficult is that initial push and that is where I need the motivation, then I usually have something in the background but it is not necessary

Something that’s a pet peeve or discouraging?

Athe: Some narrative climax moments. Generally, they are not important plot moments (that is almost entirely decided), they are often small decisions to go from scene A to scene B, but I can spend a LOT of time deciding which is the fastest and best way to tie those two ends. I'm the worst.

Sam: Many times when starting, I can't get the poses to fit the way I want, for example.

Illy: Finding many parts in a row that I find especially difficult to solve and that make me believe that I have forgotten how to English properly. And looking at how many lines I still have left.

Sher: When I don't know how to fill in some area, if I see something very empty but I don't know how to solve it, I can spend days looking at the screen without being able to advance, even if I have other areas that I could do in the meantime

What is required on your table or work surface?

Athe: Notebooks, sticky notes, pens… I’m a person who writes everything down, especially the tasks, but I also order the story by color schemes. The stack of sticky notes have 9 different colors, each one represents a character and I play a lot with them for a lot of nonsense. Besides, even though I have been writing on the computer for many more years than I wrote by hand, I still have a preference for the analogical.

Sam: Coffee, sweets, chocolate, cereals... And cats.

Illy: My phone, the sunflower seeds, a Capital America: Civil War 1L water cup, sticky notes that remind me of tasks.

Sher: I have nothing really lol all my things are for decoration

Your most productive hours?

Athe: Owl. Totally nocturnal. Although I have several crises a month to force myself to work at other times that always end... Wrong.

Sam: Also at night for the most part, although I can no longer stay awake as long as I endured before having a job (the good old days...) However, in the middle of the afternoon, when the zoo that I have at home is still taking a nap, I also manage to go a long way.

Illy: From when I finish eating until 7 or 8 in the afternoon, when I don't have to cook, clean, run errands...

Sher: I take over for Illy apparently, from 7 or 8 is when I start to get into the mood until bedtime

Do working hours make you forget to eat or make you eat twice as much?

Athe: It depends, in the past I ate a lot, now if I have stress I don't eat anything. If I'm in a normal productive phase and I'm not on my nerves, I'm probably eating by inertia.

Sam: They make me eat more, but especially junk food e.e And they make me forget healthy meals, especially dinner at night.

Illy: It depends on my mood, but I usually eat twice as much.

Sher: I'm generally a VERY distracted person so I don't usually get to focus on a task to get to either of those two modes but I guess when I am sooooooo much on the task, I forget. But that happens like a couple of times a year and "forgetting" is "I delay an hour."

What part of your set up would you improve / change (in aesthetics or functionality) if you had no money limit?

Athe: I'm trying to match some of my peripherals with the rest. They are all a damn different color, apparently I'm cursed... Now seriously, I wish I had a better graphic card that would allow me to make video captures, some speakers and a quality printer.

Sam: Actually, I don't think I need anything more complex than what I already have… But if I had to improve something, I'm curious about the most professional tablets, the big ones with the included screen and all that stuff.

Illy: A new laptop that lets me open 4 chrome tabs, Atom and photoshop at the same time without dying.

Sher: A pc screen that will not change the colors I use on the iPad would be nice, really

Which character are you most like? And why?

Athe: Phew I think the easy answer would be to say Akane ... But, Akane is a better person. : P

Sam: This is very difficult... They are all very different, but still I do not think I look much like any of them. If I have to say something, I could identify with Maske's tendency to avoid problems, and his more homey and calm side. And well… Since Akane has been an OC of mine for many years, surely I have something of her too.

Illy: I think I partly have Maske's instinct to stay out of trouble, and on the other hand Joe's shallowness, although tbh I wish I really did look like any of our awesome babies.

Sher: surprised because (unpopular opinion around here) is one of those who I "least care" about really but I would say that Pin because he is a little dumb, happy and probably has a Satanic room and proud of it

Favorite CG/art.

Athe: AT THE MOMENT. Maske chapter 1. It couldn't be more predictable. I know.

Sam: I quite agree with Maske in chapter 1. But I would also put Pin in chapter 5 and Akane in chapter 6.2 on the top.

Illy: Kyeran in Coco's tank ?? Is he even real? Being basic is my brand.

Sher: surprised again and disappointed but I would say that of angel Hasiel because I like pretty dresses, pretty hairs and pretty wings

Favorite BG/scene.

Athe: The Red Light District amazes me. I already liked the life of that place, its history, but the way of expressing it... Uggg Sher took it to another level. The dirt on the street, the night, the constricted buildings...

Sam: I think I’ll say Raziel’s square, I like it a lot from the first day.

Illy: I don't know if I can choose just one T__T but I would say that the Red Light District and Valefar's pub are at the top.

Sher: for not repeating the red light district that I also like very much, I really like the areas of Coco's laboratory, including the “main” area although the perspective is horrible and makes the characters look tiny, but I like how it looks :(

Your favorite chapter to date?

Athe: Ufff... The first and second one I assure you no, hahaha. I will say that the third one, but also for things that are not necessarily from the chapter, but of the production. It was a good moment. I felt that everything was flowing with ease. We all assumed a clear role, they were times that made us feel comfortable and capable of assuming what came next, I think it was a qualitative leap also, both in texts and in art.

Sam: Oh. Well let's see... Chapter 5 is amazing for me, for everything that happens but also because there are many personalized interactions and choices. I can't say I have a definitive favorite, but it could come close… Also from the last ones I really like the 6.2.

Illy: Chapter 5 has so many details, so many things happen, it's hard not to be my favorite. But the last ones with the specific routes are so great that if I stay with the 5 it’s with the  pain of my heart to have to choose one.

Sher: I would say 5 also because in the end when a lot of things happen is when you remember the most

Twitter​ | Instagram​ | Itch

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No hay mejor forma de conocer a alguien que a través de un buen tag de preguntas. En este caso hemos decidido hacer un Indie game dev question tag con las respuestas de las cuatro desarrolladoras. Esperamos que os aclare muchas incógnitas, pero si os quedáis con alguna no dudéis en usar nuestro ask.

¿Qué parte del desarrollo del juego llevas a cabo?

Athe: Escribo, escribo, me derrito sobre mi asiento, corrijo, lloro y después programo. Es un ciclo sin fin. Ocasionalmente me río como una demente mientras como Pringles.

Sam: Dibujo y coloreo sin salirme de las líneas (casi siempre) los sprites, las ilustraciones y los desvaríos que suelen surgir a partir de las 3 de la mañana. 

Illy: Las traducciones a inglés.

Sher: Hago fonditos

¿Qué herramientas utilizas (hardware/software)?

Athe: Recientemente mi PC de sobremesa ha fallecido, así que he tenido que rescatar mi viejo PC del trastero, también tengo un portatil que me salva la vida más veces de las que me gustaría admitir. En cuanto al software, necesito, sobre todo, documentos de drive, programas de edición de video, imagen etc (tengo un paquete de Adobe) y por supuesto Renpy y Atom.

Sam: Mi principal amiga y compañera es mi tableta, una wacom intuos S (color pistacho, muy cuqui.) Como programas uso sobretodo el Paint Tool Sai, porque no hay nada en esta vida como su estabilizador. Y con menos frecuencia de lo que querría (para detalles, pinceles de texturas, efectos…) también utilizo el Clip Studio Paint, el cual sólo se usar como a un 2% de su capacidad… Si algún día tengo tiempo me encantaría pararme a aprender seriamente todo lo que se puede hacer con él. 

Illy: Durante el curso vivo en una residencia, así que uso un portatil del año que reinó carolo, y cuando vuelvo a mi casa un ordenador de sobremesa que nunca tiene espacio en la memoria. Los capítulos los traduzco en el mismo Atom en el que está el guión completo y los guardo en drive donde los comparto con nuestra beta reader. También uso programas de edición como photoshop cuando tengo que traducir viñetas o procreate para cuando mis habilidades artísticas son requeridas.

Sher: ipad+procreate+algún retoquito final en photoshop no necesito mucho más

¿Cuál es tu parte de favorita del trabajo?

Athe: ¿Estaría mal si digo que es cuando sacamos el episodio? Durante toda la producción todo es muy estresante, hay veces, que se hace realmente cuesta arriba, pero cuando liberamos un nuevo capítulo sienta taaaan bien. Es como decirte a ti misma, sí, joder, puedo hacerlo. Mira todo lo que has escalado tú solita. Lo estás haciendo bien.

Sam: En general, mis partes favoritas son cuando se empiezan a programar las primeras escenas, y puedo ver los sprites con los fondos, los textos, y cómo se ven las ilustraciones. Todo queda siempre mucho mejor cuando se ve dentro del juego… También me gusta mucho poder cotillear el guión conforme se va escribiendo. Y de la parte artística que me toca, cuando veo que mis manos plasman la idea que tenía en mi cabeza… Sobretodo en diseños de personajes. 

Illy: Tener que buscar la forma de traducir a inglés expresiones muy nuestras, investigar vocabulario que no he tenido que usar jamás y comentar algunas traducciones con nuestra beta reader (a la que adoramos) para conseguir que se entienda sin perder el significado original.

Sher: me gusta hacer el lineart cuando el sketch está completo, si ya no tengo que pensar nada más y es solo ir repasando me parece muy divertido y relajante

¿Cuál es la parte que más te cuesta?

Athe: Ufff, sí, lo admito, escribir a veces es lo PEOR. Otras me encanta, sobre todo, cuando puedo explayarme con las descripciones o detenerme en una parte íntima o que a mí me parece interesante (por ejemplo, la conversación de Hasiel del 6.3, pequeño spoiler :P). Pero, ODIO tener que empastar escenas, a menudo el protagonista se mueve de escenarios y hay que agregar siempre líneas a esas transiciones que realmente no interesan a nadie, pero que de lo contrario el texto quedaría mal montado. En fin… Es un mundo muy amplio, con mucha historia, tengo que lidiar con lo que necesito que los lectores sepan para entender los hechos, aunque a veces se haga un pelín peñazo.

Sam: Qué parte no… Quiénes, más bien e.e Zihel y Ariel son mi espinita. Especialmente Zihel. Sé que tiene que ver con el hecho de que nunca ha sido mi punto fuerte dibujar chicos, y menos si son de aspecto más masculino… Por eso también sufro mucho dibujando músculos. Otra cosa que me trae de cabeza es la perspectiva de las ilustraciones. Cada vez que intento salirme un poco del típico plano o poses… No sale bien. 

Illy: El tartamudeo de Doughy ¬.¬ 

Sher: sillas, sofás, mesas… cualquier cosa con cuatro patas son mis enemigos

¿Algo que te ayude o anime mientras estás trabajando?

Athe: Necesito música, no, en serio, LA NECESITO. Soy incapaz de concentrarme sin ella. Si ya consigo que lo que escucho haga de caja de resonancia de lo que escribo, el texto es mil veces mejor… Pero la musa es bastante mala gente.

Sam: Tener alguna serie/peli de fondo que me entretenga. Cuanto más larga mejor, así no me toca pararme a ver qué es lo que quiero poner después. 

Illy: Comer pipas para engañar a mi cerebro y no tener la tentación de ponerme a hacer otra cosa que me distraiga.

Sher: intento ver otros artistas para motivarme e inspirarme antes de empezar a dibujar, lo que más me cuesta es ese empujón inicial y es donde necesito la motivación, luego ya suelo tener algo de fondo pero no es necesario

¿Algo que te corte el rollo o te desmotive?

Athe: Los nudos narrativos. Generalmente, no son nudos gordos de la trama (eso está decidido casi en su totalidad), a menudo son decisiones pequeñas para pasar de la escena A a la escena B, pero puedo tirarme MUCHO tiempo decidiendo cuál es la forma más rápida y mejor planteada para atar esos dos cabos. Soy lo peor.

Sam: Muchas veces a la hora de empezar, no conseguir encajar las poses como quiero, por ejemplo. 

Illy: Encontrar muchas partes seguidas que me cueste especialmente resolver y que me hacen creer que no tengo ni idea de hablar inglés. Y mirar cuantas líneas me quedan todavía.

Sher: cuando no se como rellenar alguna zona, si veo algo muy vacío pero no se como solucionarlo puedo tirarme días mirando la pantalla sin ser capaz de avanzar, incluso aunque tenga otras zonas que pudiera ir haciendo mientras

¿Qué no puede faltar en tu mesa o superficie de trabajo?

Athe: Libretas, post-its, bolígrafos… Soy una persona que lo anota todo, sobre todo, las tareas, pero también ordeno la historia por esquemas de colores. La pila de post-its tienen 9 colores diferentes, cada uno representa un personaje y juego mucho con ellos para miles de idioteces. A parte, a pesar de que llevo muchos más años escribiendo a ordenador de los que escribí a mano, sigo teniendo querencia a lo físico.

Sam: Café, chucherías, chocolate, cereales… Y gatos. 

Illy: El móvil, las pipas, un vaso de 1L de agua de Capital America: Civil War, post-its que me recuerdan las tareas.

Sher: no tengo nada realmente lol todas mis cosas son de adorno 

¿Tus horas más productivas?

Athe: Búho. Nocturna totalmente. A pesar de que tengo varias crisis al mes para forzarme a trabajar a otras horas que acaban siempre… Mal.

Sam: También por la noche en su mayoría, aunque ya no aguanto trasnochando tanto como antes de trabajar (qué tiempos aquellos…) Aunque a media tarde cuando el zoo que tengo en casa aún está echando la siesta también consigo dar un buen empujón. 

Illy: Desde que acabo de comer hasta las 7 o las 8 de la tarde, cuando no tengo que cocinar, limpiar, hacer recados...

Sher: le tomo el testigo a Illy aparentemente, a partir de las 7 u 8 es cuando empiezo a entrar en el mood hasta que llega la hora de dormir

¿Las horas de trabajo hacen que te olvides de comer o te hacen comer el doble?

Athe: Depende, antes comía mucho, ahora, si tengo estrés no como nada. Si me encuentro en un rango productivo normal y no estoy de los nervios, probablemente, esté comiendo por inercia.

Sam: Me hacen comer más, pero sobretodo porquerías e.e Y hacen que me olvide de las comidas sanas, sobretodo de cenar por la noche. 

Illy: Depende de mi estado de ánimo, pero normalmente comer el doble.

Sher: en general soy una persona MUY distraída así que no suelo conseguir centrarme en una tarea para llegar a ninguno de esos dos modos pero supongo que cuando estoy muuuuuuy dentro de la tarea, me olvido. Pero eso pasa como un par de veces al año y “olvido” es “lo retraso una hora”.

¿Qué parte de tu set up mejorarías/cambiarías (en estética o funcionalidad) si no tuvieses límite de dinero?

Athe: Estoy tratando de que alguno de mis periféricos peguen con el resto. Todos son de un maldito color diferente, al parecer estoy maldita… Ahora en serio, desearía tener una mejor gráfica que me permitiese hacer videocapturas, unos altavoces y una impresora de calidad.

Sam: En realidad, no creo que necesitara nada más complejo de lo que ya tengo… Pero por mejorar, me llaman la atención las tabletas más profesionales, las grandes con la pantalla incluida y eso. 

Illy: Un portátil nuevo que me deje abrir 4 pestañas de chrome, el Atom y photoshop al mismo tiempo sin quedarse tieso.

Sher: Una pantalla de pc que no me cambiara los colores que uso en el ipad seria bonito la verdad 

¿A qué personaje te pareces más? ¿Y por qué?

Athe: Ufff Creo que la respuesta fácil sería decir Akane… Pero, Akane es mejor persona. :P

Sam: Esto es muy complicado… Son todos muy distintos, pero aún así no creo que me parezca mucho a ninguno. Por decir algo, me podría identificar con la tendencia a evitar problemas de Maske, y su lado más casero y tranquilo. Y bueno… Dado que Akane es OC mío de hace muchos años, seguramente tenga algo de ella también. 

Illy: Creo que en parte tengo el instinto de alejarme de las movidas de Maske, y por otro la superficialidad de Joe, aunque tbh ojalá parecerme realmente a nuestros bebés geniales.

Sher: sorprendida porque (unpopular opinión por aquí) es de los que “menos me importan” realmente pero diría que Pin porque es tontito, feliz y probablemente tenga una habitación satánica y orgulloso de ello

Tu CG/arte favorito.

Athe: DE MOMENTO. Maske capítulo 1. No podría ser más predecible. Lo sé.

Sam: Coincido bastante en la de Maske del capítulo 1. Pero también metería en el top la de Pin del capítulo 5 y la de Akane del capítulo 6.2. 

Illy: ¿¿Kyeran en el tanque de Coco?? ¿Es siquiera real? Ser básica es mi marca.

Sher: sorprendida de nuevo y decepcionada pero diría que la de Hasiel de ángel porque me gustan los vestidos bonitos, los pelos bonitos y las alas bonitas

Tu BG/escenario favorito.

Athe: Me flipa el Barrio Rojo. Me gusta la vida de ese sitio, su historia, pero la forma de plasmarlo… Uggg Sher lo llevó a otro nivel. La suciedad de la calle, la nocturnidad, los edificios constreñidos...

Sam: Creo que me quedo con el de la plaza de Raziel, me gusta mucho desde el primer día. 

Illy: No sé si puedo elegir solo uno T__T pero diría que el Barrio Rojo y el bar de Valefar están en el top.

Sher: por no repetir el barrio rojo que también me gusta mucho, me gustan mucho las zonas del laboratorio de Coco, incluida la zona “principal” aunque la perspectiva sea horrible y haga a los pj parecer diminutos, pero me gusto como quedo :( 

¿Tu capítulo favorito hasta las fecha?

Athe: Ufff… El uno y el dos os aseguro que no, jajaja. Diré que el tres, pero también por cosas que no son necesariamente del capítulo, sino de la producción. Fue un buen momento. Sentí que todo estaba fluyendo con facilidad. Todas asumimos un rol claro, unos tiempos que nos hacían sentir cómodas y capaces de asumir lo que venía después, creo que fue un salto cualitativo también, tanto en los textos, como en el arte.

Sam: Ay. Pues a ver… El capítulo 5 es una pasada para mi, por todo lo que pasa pero también porque hay muchas interacciones personalizadas y elecciones. No puedo decir que tenga un favorito definitivo, pero podría acercarse… También me gusta mucho de los últimos el 6.2. 

Illy: El capítulo 5 tiene tantos detalles, pasan tantas cosas, que es difícil que no sea mi favorito, pero los ultimos de rutas específicas son tan geniales que si me quedo con el 5 es con un poco de dolor de tener que elegir uno.

Sher: Diría el 5 también porque al final cuando pasan muchas cosas es cuando mas se te queda grabado

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[damgirlsocial]

Come fly with me ...

My journey back to work has been a bit up and down, like all ‘journeys’ (how much do we all love that metaphor but hey it’s the one we all use) but mine started over 10 years ago when me and my amazing husband desperately wanted to start a family.  Now this might not seem like the forum for talking about procreation and starting my business (although I can see some kind of analogy here), but you know what having been to a talk where the amazing Debbiedoodah presented her thoughts on being true to yourself (which resonated with me) I decided that this is my path, my reasoning and I’m not going to make something up that I think people want to hear.  I’m going to be true to myself, my brand and where it takes me who knows but I’m unashamed of my reasoning.  It’s actually one of the reasons behind my brand name ‘DAM Girl Social’.  There are other reasons to do with some amazing women I’ve met along the way, but I’ll come to that in a bit.  

 So, let’s start somewhere way back when, when I was a little less grey, had a bit more energy (think late night karaoke and oodles of shots) and a full-time job as a Marketing Manager.  As I mentioned I had hit a time of life where a family was increasingly more important however, that wasn’t meant to be as straight forward as I’d anticipated and so found myself in a situation whereby, I was all consumed by having a baby.  Now this is another story altogether but it’s fair to say that my 3 year struggle emotionally and physically meant that when I was lucky enough to have a baby I was in no rush to rush back to the workplace and we took the decision that I would take time out and concentrate on being a mum to our two amazing boys.  Okay, so I had a tricky start (it has stayed with me believe me but I am fully aware of how lucky I am), and having two boisterous boys has its own challenges but by enlarge having that time off has been amazing, exhausting, thrilling, confidence debilitating, exciting and challenging all in one package of motherhood (did I mention life was a roller coaster?).  Once school life kicked in, I realised my boys needed me a wee bit less (well between 9 and 3.30 at least) and I needed something for me, to help build up my confidence again.  I have been extremely involved in helping the school over the last 3.5 years, bringing in funds of £55k+ through events I ran alongside my co-chair (now we would definitely make a good business partnership), and before that a short stint at Governance at another school my first son started at, but the time had come to do something for me and my family.

 What is it about having kids that knocks your confidence though?  This is a blog that needs addressing all on its own.  But it’s true though, we start off as strong, professional women have a kid or two or three or more and suddenly we don’t seem to know our worth.  

 Still with me?  Okay, so last year I decided to embark on my own ‘getting back to work self-motivation program’.  First stop was a 3 day ‘Back to Work’ course with Successful Mums where I got the chance to meet the motivated and inspirational Jane Knight who is all about helping women, especially mums, find their mojo and while they’re at it pop a crown on our heads and stand tall.  To be honest it’s not really my bag and for those who know me well will probably realise that I struggled with this particular concept but I have since taken it on board (you can even find a pic on my Insta) and I’m walking a bit taller with a straighter invisible crown these days.  As I’ve said before #thismumcan and is!  Anyway, by taking the course I identified a gap in my CV – Social Media Marketing! It was taking off as I took off 10 years ago, and so I missed the whole transformation of business with all things Social.  And for any advert looking for Marketing roles it was apparent you need to know this Social stuff.  

 This takes me neatly onto the ‘Techpixies’ Social Media Marketing course created by the amazing Joy Foster and delivered by the funny, fabulous Sophie and Jess, and the warm and lovely Theresa too (awesome business coach btw, can’t recommend her highly enough)!  With my fellow ‘Pixies we embarked on an 8 week course covering most things Social. I met a great bunch of women a couple of whom I’ve stayed in touch with and who have helped shape the name.  I’m hoping to have a collaboration with them soon and kick start a new FaceBook community but that’s still very much in the brewing stage.  

 Okay so I did the course and my confidence inflated a bit, not loads but a lot more than that first day we all introduced ourselves around the table.  I was able to apply some of my learning to my friend’s Insta and after a bit of research, some strategy, a presentation, and finally some brave pants posting, things started to move in the right direction.  Insta followers increased steadily and has now hit a 120% increase from when I first took it over, and the all-important new clients and collabs have emerged along the way too.  So, I knew I could do it, and my confidence inflated a little bit more. I dared to believe I could forge this new skillset into some work that I could fit around my boys.  Which after all is my reason for doing all this. Remember way back when in the beginning of this ever increasing blog, I mentioned the struggle to start a family, and how that that has stayed with me, well being there for my wee ones has been my priority throughout.  I’m after a work/life balance on my terms and freelancing in social media marketing is providing that opportunity.  

 Ha! This is all sounding very confident.  Don’t be fooled though, Imposter Syndrome is fully functioning and likes to kick my confident butt on a regular basis.  You know the ‘who do you think you are starting your own business, what do you know?’ type narrative.  But even in the face of this self-doubt I found a course that has helped, and I’m going to be frank, boot me royally up the backside and out of any indecision, procrastination, and totally out of my comfort zone. Its once again with the fabulous Successful Mums, this time on their ‘Business Start Up and Digital Skills Course’ and it’s fair to say I have learned LOADS!  I have also moaned loads.  Why?  Because I was disgruntled at the amount of work, I was having to do in my own time that I hadn’t banked on.  But then the realisation kicked in, you know some kind of epiphany that I wasn’t doing this for the course tutor, or Successful Mums, I was doing it for MY business.  Even this blog is because I’m being nudged to get it done.  For 5 weeks I’ve been thinking, yeah yeah I’ll write something, I’ll do a blog…, but look at me now I’m on a roll and you can’t stop the verbal bullshit!  (Don’t worry it’ll all be over soon 😉).  The point? Oh yes, so I’m being encouraged to keep at it; get the work done, do the business plan, the financial forecast, the GDPR policy, create my brand and marketing strategy in real terms. Not hearing how to do it and then going off and doing it down the line, actually starting my business as part of the course.  It’s made me take the leap.  Climb out of the warmth of the nest, teeter on the edge and then just f’ing fly, because ‘DAM GIRL’ you need to believe in yourself.  

 ‘DAM’ by the way, since you ask, stands for ‘Decidedly Average Mum’.  I, in no way, think I’m just average but in a social landscape of ‘mumpreneurs’ who frankly make us doubt ourselves (even when it’s not intentional), and 6 figure salaries we’re supposed to be aspiring too, or that we must be able to work, look stunning, get the kids to school yadayadayada means, I think, that there’s a gap for us more ‘average’ types.  I’m hoping that you see this as a refreshing take on this venture back to work.  I had a couple of babies, so what?  But I hit a low in confidence and I think it’s worth talking about, so having a brand that says: ‘I’m an average mum like you, just trying to get back to work and fit it around my family, it can be a bit hard, it can be a bit shit at times, but its feeling kind of good with each day my confidence builds, and if I can do it then you most definitely can too!’

 So, this might not be your average ‘starting your own’ business blog.  In fact, some might say (and be right) that its maybe altogether too honest but its who I am; I know, that by working with me you get a hardworking 110% kinda gal who will ALWAYS do her best by you.  Its who I am, and who I’ll always be.  

We can all be ‘DAM’ Good, so give me a shout I’d love to hear how I can help you xoxo

[aroselane]

The Devil in Me Ch. 2

Chapter Two:

Shay:

I found myself glaring at my best friend, Jody.

Her short pink hair is glowing brighter in the sun, and her gorgeous green eyes are smiling to match the grin in her face.

“Jody,” I said flatly, “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“You said you needed the money,” she stated, looking at me.

I did say that, but all of her ideas were… not optional.

“Escort?” she asked.

“No.”

“Handy J’s?”

“No.”

“Dream date?” she asked.

“No.”

“Prostitution?”

“No.”

“You sure you can’t just get a normal job?” she asked me.

“You know I’ve been trying,” I said low.

I just got out of High School a few months ago, and I am having a hard time getting hired.

My availability is limited, and most of the places I’ve applied aren’t interested unless I can be on call whenever.

“There is one thing,” she said.

I glanced at her, hoping that it didn’t involve me selling my body.

“Well, you know I’ve been taking those classes at the beauty school down the street,” she pointed even though we were nowhere near the school she was referring to.

“Yeah,” I said, feeling hopeful.

“We get customers in there, and I got this girl that wouldn’t shut up about this experiment.”

I felt suddenly deflated. I’m sure it was one of those drug trials. I couldn’t risk not being able to get the boys from school.

“What?” she asked, “I know it sounds crazy, but I’m thinking about trying it myself.”

For some reason, my whole body perked up, “What do you mean?”

“I was told you go in; they ask you a bunch of questions,” she said, “You walk around the facility, and then they give you two hundred dollars.”

I had to put actual effort into keeping my jaw from quite literally dropping.

“What?” I demanded, “That has to be a joke.”

She shook her head “She wasn’t the only one that came in with that story.”

Holy crap.

“If you get lucky, they call you back,” she said, “And they pay you more.”

Was I shaking? I felt like I was.

“You’re actually going to do it?” I asked her.

She nodded, “You aren’t the only one who needs the money.”

I nodded. I hated that I really did.

My older brother has been working as much lately, and only making so much money. I had to find a way to make some extra money. I had to be able to help around the house.

Now that I’m out of school, there are no more excuses.

“So, how does this thing work?” I asked her.

“I believe we just show up and register,” she said, “But just in case I’ll call in first.”

I nodded; I was glad she was the adult she was. I didn’t even think about that.

“If we do just walk in,” she said, “How about next Friday?”

Friday was a weird day, but I knew it was because she had that day off next week.

“Sure,” I said, “I can leave the boys at daycare a bit longer.”

She grinned, “This is so exciting!”

Sure, that’s exactly what I was thinking. Only I felt this heavy feeling in my stomach.

-

Noah:

I was tired, but I still couldn’t shake the memory. The strange feeling that engulfed my entire body.

Honestly, it scared the hell out of me.

I could still feel the ghost of those tremors across my skin.

When I spoke to Baird about it, all he said was that there was a spike in my heart rate. He also said that my temperature dropped. He doesn’t know what caused it, only that he thinks I should go back into the program. That means more experiments and tests.

The last thing I want is them poking at me, but if it helps, I don’t have a choice.

And because I’m sure Baird put it into the computer, as he did most things. I wouldn’t have a choice about re-entering the program.

If you aren’t in full control, they want to know why. In the process, they’ll also figure out what sets you off, why it sets you off, and just how much it actually affects you.

It would be nice if I could keep doing what I have been. I’ve been in control, and I would like for it to stay that way.

I had a feeling though that Baird knew more than he would tell me. I’ve heard of others having strange reactions. I didn’t know precisely what they felt like, or really why they reacted the way they did.

All I knew what that I was going to talk to who I could and get the information I was looking for.

Part of me was worried, but I had to know.

It scared me even more if it meant what I think it did.

-

Shay:

“You hungry?” Jody asked me.

I was quick to shake my head. I felt too nervous to eat. If anything, I felt a little sick.

I followed her into the school.  The other girls that were in smiled at us as we made our way to the back.

“Are you sure you’re up for this?” I asked her.

Jody stopped to look at me before pointing at the chair next to us.

“I talked you into it,” she said, “Besides, you need a touch-up.”

I frowned, “Gee, thanks.”

She just grinned at me, “You know it gives me an excuse to practice on you.”

I knew that that’s why I wasn’t bothered by her remark. It was true.

“Same as last time?” she asked me.

I hesitated before shaking my head.

“Oooh,” she grinned and did the super villain hand rub. “What did you have in mind?”

“Let’s try to match the top with my natural brown,” I said, pointing to the top of my head “And let’s do the bottom half a dark purple.”

I didn’t think it was possible for her smile to get wider “Hell yeah, let’s do it.”

I sat down in the chair and let her work her magic.

-

Noah:

This was absurd.

I was feeling irritated as I sat in front of Dr. Odell.

She was looking at me expectantly. Her light brown eyes were on me, and it felt uncomfortable.

“Describe the sensation again,” she said, ready to take notes.

I don’t know how many times I had to tell her.

“Like I already said,” I tried not to sound as aggravated as I felt, “It was like everything under my skin started to vibrate.”

She nodded, writing it down.

“Vibrate, how?” she asked.

I had to shut my eyes. This was really starting to get to me.

“Like a battery-powered dildo,” I hissed.

She looked up at me, surprised before adjusting her glasses quickly.

“Somebody is in a mood,” she said low before writing down what I said.

“I don’t know how else to describe it,” I stated, “It wasn’t like a slow shaking you feel from an earthquake. It was in quick succession, and I couldn’t even hear Eileen talking to me.”

Dr. Odell nodded as she wrote down my words.

“You seem a little worked up,” she said, “You know what I have to ask you next?”

I tried not to grit my teeth; I was only able to manage a nod.

“Well, its standard to ask,” she said, writing something else down “When was the last time you had an orgasm?”

I glared to the side. I hated that they asked these questions.

“It’s been a couple of days.”

“Okay,” she wrote that down, too “And was that by yourself, or with a partner?”

I hated these conversations. They happened too often.

“By myself.”

She nodded, “Have you considered re-entering the Breeding Program?”

“You know I haven’t,” I stated.

“Well, I think it might be good for you,” she stated, making sure to pay full attention to me “Sometimes having a partner helps.”

“Helps what exactly?” I asked her, “I just reported something that happened to me yesterday, and now everyone thinks I need to get laid.”

“Did you ever think that it might be time?” she asked, “This could be your body’s way of telling you it’s ready to settle down and procreate.”

I doubted that. If this were my body’s form of a menstrual cycle, all of us would be more prepared for it.

“That makes zero sense,” I said, meeting her surprised gaze. “It only happened once, and it hasn’t happened before or again.”

She wrote something down, and it was getting on my nerves.

What was she writing?

“Then I think you know what it means.”

I just looked at her again, and my brow arched at her words.

“I see that you are back in the trial program.”

“Not by choice.”

“Still,” she said, “Maybe your body felt a potential mate.”

I felt a chill run over my body.

“And if it did?” I ask.

“Then we try to figure out who they are, and hopefully, you run into them while going through the program.”

It was annoying hearing the trial called the program. It was just a way to get people in here to see if they were willing to take part in talking to us and, in the long run, see if any of them would join the Breeder Program. In the end, all they want is for somebody to get fucked.

“In the long run, it would be good for you,” she stated, writing something else down “From what I’ve seen, Devil’s like you do well with a mate.”

“What if I can’t perform?” I asked her.

She knew my history; this shouldn’t be a shocking question.

Her eyes glanced over her notes again before meeting mine, “A mate is supposed to be different.”

‘Supposed’ to be? That didn’t help.

“And if she isn’t?” I asked.

“Or he,” she said, “You never know who your body has chosen for you.”

So, it wasn’t just reproduction they wanted from me?

“What if it is a he?” I asked her.

“Then we readjust,” she said, “For whatever reason, they were chosen by you.”

“That’s why I felt what I did then?” I asked.

She shrugged, “It sounds like the most reasonable possibility.”

I was at a daycare. Wouldn’t that mean that whatever I felt. was for a child?

That turned my stomach. The thought alone could make me retch.

“That bothers you?” she asked, “That your mate might be male?”

I honestly never thought about it, but if it came down to it, I don’t think it bothered me in the slightest.

The part about the daycare, I would keep that to myself for now. That was the last thing I needed.

“Well, if that’s all,” she said, “Is there anything else you want to talk to me about?”

I shook my head. I was already overwhelmed with what little she gave me.

“Are you going downstairs?” she asked before taking her blonde hair out of its hair tie only to fix it and put it back up.

This time she put her hair into a bun instead of a ponytail.

I was about to ask what she meant, but it came to me right after.

“Not like I have a choice.”

“You have a choice,” she said, “But the goal here is to see if you react to any of the volunteers.”

I guess so, but if it really was because of someone at the daycare. I would be fine here. I also knew I wasn’t interested in going after a child. So that was fine. I would know where to avoid, and everything would work out. Hopefully, just fine.

I knew that having a mate was supposed to be a big deal. I just never thought that they would find one for me.

Technically they didn’t, I sort of by chance, some twisted chance, may have found a potential mate.

“Good luck,” Dr. Odell said with a larger smile than necessary.

“Thanks,” I said low as I got up and left.

I had a gut feeling that today was going to be very unproductive.

[starlit-scifi]

Chapter 12

First • Previous  • Next

Life goes on.

Crawling, flying, swimming, or moving around in a microscopic pulsating spinning way, life keeps performing its everyday functions, just one piece of the unfathomably complicated puzzle that is a living, breathing planet. You're just there to observe, measure, and catalog it.

Life goes on.

Walking, talking, working, or sitting in the comfortable silence you've come to enjoy, life keeps pulling you closer, a deep bond growing where you're not sure you should want one, and maybe not even sure you do want one— so, you decide, you're just going to observe, measure, and catalog it.

One of the things people say about space travel that you didn't really believe until you’d experienced it yourself was just how much the subtle differences in atmosphere, gravity, and ambient light affect the way your body functions. As comfortable as Unity's artificial environment is, being on this planet— a paradise planet, they call it, one of a handful of truly Earth-like worlds— makes you feel happier and healthier than anywhere else. The air isn't sterile and recycled, the gravity is constant, and the feeling of real, gloriously warm sunlight on your skin never gets old.

Your home planet, Irthtu, is close to Earth-like, though its temperatures are at the cold end of the habitable range. The icy, densely forested planet seemed like paradise to colonists who remembered their great-grandparents' tales of a dying planet that had lost its ice caps and rainforests, becoming half firestorm-plagued desert and half brackish wetland. To a young girl with an allergy to lab-grown wool and an aversion to the cold and wet, Irthtu was anything but paradise This part of Bernubos-3, wet as it is, is much more comfortable in terms of temperature.

Lori hasn't had many complaints about the heat either, which you assume is partly because the habitable regions of Lotanak are similar in temperature, though far drier since there's only so much water that can be generated or captured from comets. Unlike this planet, however, Lotanak's ecosystem isn't very exciting to study since it's just a meticulously designed piece of biological clockwork. The terraforming of Lotanak is a work of art, a monumental achievement of science and engineering, but the ecosystem is evolutionarily fixed by design and, in essence, just as sterile as the environment aboard any Alliance starship. But this planet, the way that everything happened to fall into place in a pattern suitable for human life at this moment in geological time, is quite literally one in a million, at least.

And the way this has all fallen into place, you and her and this grand adventure you're taking together…

It's really nothing special, you remind yourself. You're partners, just like all the students before you and those that will come after. You're here for the project, and when it's done and you graduate you'll go your separate ways, and go back to your separate lives. 

You sigh.

"What's up?" Lori looks up from the satellite receiver setup she's been fiddling with while you count your soil microbes.

You turn away from the microscope and let your eyes rest for a minute.

"Life."

---

There's a large underground lake you've been working your way towards this entire time, and two and a half weeks in, you finally reach it.

“Okay, this is going to be cool. And I don't just mean because it'll be about ten degrees cooler than the surface temperature.”

Lori snorts. “Thank the stars.”

“Yeah. But there's this species of bioluminescent aquatic fungus that’s found in this cave, and there's bound to be more really unique stuff down there. We just have to take samples and find out.”

“And that's what we've been lugging these around for?” She asks, pulling a pair of wading pants from her pack and handing them to you.

“We've made use of them! —but this was sort of the main reason, yeah.” You pull your boots off and tug the waders on, securing the waistband the best you can. “We go as deep as we can walk, which is decently far since the lake is pretty shallow. It'll be worth it, trust me.”

You leave everything behind but your headlamps and the equipment you've brought, and descend into the cave. Nearly instantaneously, it's blissfully cool. You walk onward for a few minutes, pausing when your feet hit water.

She looks back at you. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

Water sloshes around your feet, your calves, your thighs as you wade into the lake.

“Okay,” you say, when you think you've gone deep enough, reaching up to your headlamp. “Lights out.”

Lori nods and flicks the switch on her own lamp, and you both wait in silence as your eyes adjust.

The fungi are everywhere, floating on the water, sticking to the walls. You trail your gloved hand in the water, and they flicker and swirl like the arms of a spiral galaxy. Lori stands still, her lips parted slightly and eyes wide in wonder. In the soft light, she almost seems to glow too, and for a moment you're mesmerized by the beauty of it all.

“I've never, ever seen anything like this,” she says softly, turning slowly in the water. “Thanks for putting this in the plan,” she adds. “Wow, it's just… wow.”

A fizzy warmth blooms in your chest, and you can't make it stop. You don't want it to stop. You know you need to tell the truth to her, somehow…

“I wanted to do something special, to make you happy. I… I like…” You feel numb and electric all at the same time. “That you're a good partner,” you ramble on. “You're nice.” Aaand I'm an idiot, you think to yourself. She can't see you blushing. There is no way she can see you blushing.

“Thank you,” she replies with a smile, but she definitely sounds confused.

Probably because you've got everything confused! There's no way there's actually anything there.

“Well, we should get to taking samples,” you say, and click the lamp back on. She blinks for a moment, and the magic moment is truly gone.

"Right. Okay. Just talk me through it again, please." There's a sort of stiff formality to her tone that you hadn't heard from her in weeks.

She feels awkward, you realize. I've made things awkward and I don't know if I can fix it again… 

You stumble through the procedure once more, looking down at the water-collecting device in your hands rather than daring to look at her face. You're afraid of what you'll see there, that this sort of nice companionship you've had might be gone for good.

You work in silence. The only sounds are the soft distant dripping of water and an occasional quiet curse from Lori when the valve on the water collector gets stuck again. You glance over at her every once in a while, until you happen to catch her looking up at you.

"What's up?"

"Nothing," you say quickly. "It… just looks like I'm about done here."

"Okay. Cool." She counts the vials in their case. "I've got everything too."

"Great. Thanks."

"Mm-hm."

You return to the surface in that same strange uneasy silence. There's not much to say, after all. The cacophony of insect and reptile life is almost soothing, compared to the total mess your feelings are right now. She doesn't seem to want to make much conversation either, so you walk behind her in silence.

Once you've made it back to the campsite and she's gone out to forage, you have just enough time alone to cry it all out.

I've messed everything up!

I should be completely focused on the project and nothing else!

I shouldn't have let my feelings take control of me!

I shouldn't have let myself feel anything at all...

---

At this point in the solar cycle, dusk falls just after dinnertime—not the prelude to true nightfall quite yet, but a long twilight where the animal life of the forest becomes highly active. After being dive-bombed by one too many moths as well as the flying reptiles that appear to be their main predators, the two of you decide it's better to bring your work and those insect-luring lamps into the tent, cramped and stuffy as it might be. Though you've slept in this tent for weeks now and done homework together for months before that, working at the same time in these close quarters now feels different enough to put you strangely on edge. Maybe it's just the change of scenery, maybe it's your worrying about what happened in the cave earlier—or maybe it's that you've talked so much for so long that you seem to have run out of small talk.

"What's it like, having that arranged marriage?" Lori asks out of the blue as you're entering the day's data. You look over at her, a little startled, but she doesn't look up—she’s focused on fixing her radio antenna that got knocked over by, presumably, a flying lizard. "I mean, clearly you don't care much for the guy. And most Tusies I know disregard the whole thing during their time at Unity, so…"

You bite your lip, unsure what she wants to know, or really why this is coming up all of a sudden. You decide you may as well start from the beginning. "It was set up when I turned thirteen… everyone else I knew was getting theirs done too. The blood tests, the physical, all of that. The genetic screening part of it is a planet-wide program that creates a huge database of compatible partners  —didn't you have to do the same when you reached puberty?"

She shakes her head. "I don't have to until I choose someone I'd want to procreate with. I had my genome done for Unity, but that's different."

"Right. Well… after that, it was just a matter of waiting for the results to come back—and there's hundreds of candidates, usually. Then your parents help you narrow it down to people with similar interests and goals, people closer to your age who live nearby…"

"And people whose parents have something your parents want."

"Sort of, yeah." You shrug awkwardly. “In the end, it is your choice —I was nearly eighteen when I'd finally decided on mine. Most girls usually figure it out by fifteen. It was—" You laugh, feeling your cheeks go hot, "Really awkward, dragging my dates along to all these gatherings with much younger people. But I ended up with a decent one, I think."

"You said he's so boring your parents will probably break it off for you, though."

"I… I don't know. I feel like I'm always going back and forth on it." You sigh, staring at the data table floating in front of you. "All I have to do is produce a kid. Even artificially fertilized embryos will do. Artificial gestation is expensive, but if I'm the one who's going to have a real career —especially one involving frequent space travel— carrying a fetus is really out of the question anyway. My mom had to put her whole career on hold when she got pregnant, but thankfully I don't have to do the same if I don't want to."

As you've babbled on awkwardly, her expression has gone blank. Finally, she says. "You have it all thought out, don't you?"

"I don't," you say, laughing awkwardly in an effort to dispel the tightness in your stomach. "It's all thought out for me, really."

"Hm." She's silent for a moment, and you sneak a glance at her. She's frowning as she tries to pry a panel off the side of the receiver box. You return to your work. "But…" she asks suddenly, "besides all those… gatherings, with your marriage candidates, have you ever actually dated anyone?"

"No…" You fidget with your fingers until you realize you're toggling back and forth between spreadsheet tabs. "I had a few little… flings, I guess, in secondary," you say, silently praying your face isn't as red as you think it is, "but nothing serious, especially once I'd picked my match."

She turns to face you fully now, the antenna forgotten. "How do you know what you want, then?"

"What do you mean?"

She shrugs. "It sounds like your parents just picked a bunch of really similar guys, and then you dragged your feet until you had to pick someone you didn't really like and still haven't connected with." Her sharp gaze cuts through your every pretense. "It sounds like you've never really experienced what's out there."

"When you put it that way…" you murmur.

She raises an eyebrow. "It sounds really fucking miserable?"

You shrug awkwardly. "Yeah, but… it's just how things are. I can't change that."

"But… What happens if you're not attracted to guys?"

You roll your eyes. "Oh, it's not like I have to actually sleep with him, thank the stars. It can all be done in a lab, from fertilization to the first breath. He doesn't even have to be on the same continent, really. His material can be mailed."

She snorts. "Who needs to make love when you've got science?"

"It's a matter of convenience, that's all," you mutter, your face hot.

"Convenience," she says dryly. "Must be nice."

"Yeah, well… I don't know. It's complicated. I don't really want to worry about it right now." She shrugs and turns back to her work; you enter in your last few data points and start to save and close out of everything. As you take off your control bracelets, you ask hesitantly, "On… on your planet, is it usually inconvenient?"

"What?"

"Starting a family."

"No… I mean, it's easy enough to produce a child the normal way, and most people are good about planning for it. Accidents happen, but usually families are strong enough that if you end up pregnant, you have support." She frowns as she wiggles a connector into place. "It's not easy, having to suddenly provide for one more, but… people find a way." She connects the battery pack, and nods in satisfaction when the indicator lights on the antenna come on. "The thing is, I'm not from a big family. I'm an only child. All three of my parents have lots of siblings and niblings, but I know they'd like grandbabies too. Which sucks, because besides the obvious risks of my future career, I'm also not attracted to men at all."

"Ah." So that bit of gossip was right, you think. "But what about IVG?" She raises an eyebrow. "The… the thing with two egg cells that—"

She shakes her head. "Can't afford it. Won't be able to afford it, probably. A donor would work, but it's still a hassle, and still expensive. It's hardly ever a covered procedure and pretty much all of the Alliance's allowance goes to just surviving." She starts to screw the panel back on.

"I'm sorry," you murmur.

"Why?" She asks over the soft buzz of the electric screwdriver.

"Here I am talking about having the kind of money to grow a fetus in a tank, and you're worrying about your entire family having enough to live."

"You can't change the way things are," she says quietly. There's no kindness in her voice—but no blame, either.

"I can't." You think about the man you're supposed to marry for a moment, the dullness in his eyes and his habit of scratching at his pimples. "It's… inconvenient."

She shrugs and starts to put away her tools, and you get up to put the airscreen computer to charge and pull down the blinds for the night. You both work in silence, your mind lost in thoughts of home, and you wonder where her thoughts are. By the time you've both laid down, you're dying to know but terrified to ask, but as your head sinks into your pillow you find that you're honestly too exhausted to think much more on the matter. You feel yourself drifting off, until her voice snatches you back.

"Muhh?"

"You should really tell your parents, you know."

For some reason nervousness twists in your belly. "About what?"

"That you're not into any of the men they picked. That you probably won't ever be." There's a gentleness in her voice, but all it makes you feel is a weird electric tension.

"Things would get messy," you whisper.

"Messy is better than miserable."

"Do you really think so?"

There's a brief silence, then she sighs. "Honestly, I don't know," she says wearily. "But I've never gotten anywhere good by lying to myself or anyone."

"Hmm."

"Either way, you don't have to worry about any of it for about three weeks, right? You have time to—" she yawns. "—figure things out. Stars, I'm so tired."

"We don't have to go anywhere tomorrow, so you can sleep in. I can take your measurements and stuff, it's no big deal."

"I think I'll take you up on that offer," she says, snuggling up against her pillow. You get comfortable in your own sleeping bag.

"Aurie?"

"Hmm?"

"Thanks for today. The cave, everything." Her voice is low and warm when she adds, "I really liked it."

"You're welcome," you murmur, and your heart is suddenly beating way, way too fast.

Keep it together, you tell yourself. Just… keep it together.

First • Previous • Next

[battlefields]

ii. Seven Days

or, How God Created the World Using RPG Maker

This is the sequel to The Beginning of the Beginning.

Again, please do not be offended by this work. It is not meant to be taken seriously. Also, there are many quotes from the Book of Genesis since this is a parody of the beginning of the world as told by the Bible.

Also I sound really serious but I’m just laughing inside bc I just remembered I wrote this last year

Before the beginning, God sat in front of his laptop (taken from the future - God blessed that poor soul who had their laptop stolen) and opened up the Map Editor in RPG Maker VX Ace. The archangel Michael stood next to him, and received, with a sigh, the laptop from God’s hands (Michael had read the online tutorials before God whisked it away to the present, where there was no Wi-Fi).

Thus, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.

“Just make a bunch of black tiles. Whatever I say is going to go into the Bible so I need to sound a little dramatic,” God whispered to Michael. Then he cleared his throat so that Gabriel could transcribe his words properly.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and Michael created some pastel yellow tiles. And God saw that the light was aesthetically pleasing. So God separated the light from the darkness by having Michael separate the yellow and black tiles. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

“I can’t believe we spent a whole day making some tiles,” God sighed.

Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”

Michael looked up and frowned. “What is that even supposed to mean?”

God huffed. “What, am I too confusing for you? Just make some blue tiles, separate them vertically and call the ones at the top ‘The Heavens’. Don’t put this part in the Bible, please,” he whispered to Gabriel. And so Michael did as he was told and called their residence ‘Heaven’. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. Michael created blue tiles and placed them alongside yellow, brown and green tiles. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

And God said, “Let the Earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. Michael grumbled a little, muttering something about how he could have just said so before he created the green and brown tiles. He made forests and jungles and inserted random plant tiles all over the map, before dumping the green and brown tiles somewhere in the abyss. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning, the third day.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.”

Michael sighed. “This is definitely going to take the whole day. How many seasons do you want to have?” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Gabriel was dozing off, his carving tool slipping out of his hand. Good job on lasting this long, Gabriel, he thought to himself. Eventually, though, it was indeed so, and God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So Michael created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. This took them quite some time, considering how God was rather ambitious and wanted the earth to have over a million species of animals.

“Why does that fish look like the charging cable for this laptop?” God asked, peering at the laptop screen. “It looks like it’s literally just a grey rectangle.”

“Why don’t you try making them and tell me how it goes,” Michael shot back, while creating another fish. God sulked.

“Anyway, I see that it is passably good. Write that down, Gabriel,” God called out. “Oh yeah, and give them my blessings. Quote me: Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth (God, Way BC).” Gabriel sighed. And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds - livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.”

Michael exclaimed, “What the hell is that supposed to be? What even are creeping things? God, you have issues.”

“What the heaven,” God corrected him. Michael sighed (how many times? God knows). “Just make some cows or whatever, some bugs and a bunch of beasts.”

“Do you mean bugs like bugs bugs, or like glitches?”

“I mean like bugs bugs. They’re the creeping things, because they’re so creepy. I imagine it will be a blast watching humans try to deal with them.”

And thus, after some discussion, it was indeed so. (This was when the abominable creatures we know to be cockroaches today were created.) And God saw that it was good, and would probably be hilarious sometime in the future.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

“Why can’t you just summarise it and say ‘literally everything on earth’? It makes things so much easier,” Michael grumbled. But he did indeed create man in God’s image, or at least as best as he could with a few pixels.

“Is he supposed to be naked?”

“Yeah, and make a woman too so they can procreate.”

And God blessed them. God leaned close to the laptop and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth. Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything he had made (with the help of Michael), and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

“Is that what’s going into the Bible? Gabriel, can you add a note saying that I basically did all the programming? Thanks,” Michael said, scowling a little.

“Good work, Michael and Gabriel. It is over. We may all rest now,” God patted both him and Gabriel.

“Thank God!” Michael closed the laptop and walked off.

“You’re welcome!” God called to his retreating figure.

EPILOGUE: 20 JULY, 1969

When they stepped foot on the moon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin could only look around in wonder. “My god,” Neil whispered. “This is all I’ve lived for.”

“Hold up, Neil. Look at that stuff over on the right. What are those?”

Together, they stared at the green and brown tiles floating in mid-space (there’s not much air in space). “Is…that a glitch? What the hell?” Neil exclaimed.

Somewhere in Heaven, God frowned. “What the heaven,” he corrected him. “And Michael, aren’t those tiles from when you were making plants?”

“Oh yeah, they are. Oops.”