And another great artist I was unaware of. Great pic. What's the delivery charge on that package?

For you, free delivery. Just make sure you examine the package closely to make sure it's not damaged in transit!

Oh dear, there's a hole in it and fluid's escaping. Will the insurance cover it?

I think you might have to live with that 'fault', it will require a lot of attention and care. With enough effort you can stop it leaking temporarily by exhausting the fluid reservoir. I don't know that there is insurance big enough to cover that package...

Ok, that's enough smutty innuendo. I shall end this comment string by saying whatever you and Orca are up to, I am ever-watching...

I still think he needs a paper bag on his head. :3

Well, he might not be the most PRETTY, but with a body like that who gives a shit, right? Anyway, beauty is in the eye of the beholder... that tongue does it for me.

Anyway, he might want to put a paper-bag over YOUR head! :-P

hmmm that works, too.

I must comment on this with the fact that I agree:

The tongue really has something about it that makes this awesomely hot picture even sexier. ^ ^

Thank you! There is a lot to be said about the pleasures to be found with a semi-prehensile tongue. If I had a partner with a tongue like that, I'd never leave the house

I don't think you'd be the only one to never see the outside world again, my friend. ^ ^
If you know what I mean. ;)

Tell you what, you can go first, I don't mind sloppy seconds (yes, I know what you mean!)

I'm not opposed to sharing, if you were interested?

Tag team the Vanguard warrior with our tongues? You're on. Last one in is a (insert generic child-like insult here)

We'll give him the time of his life. *follows you into the room* ^ ^

Blaspemy! How dare you insult the greatness of the Vanguard expression?!

I'm not insulting it, I'm ENHANCING it with the well-proven paper bag technology! :3

"enhancing" - dude, you crack me up!

Ha! That techonology is far too advanced for someone of your caliber! Besides, it says so right on the warning label that only experienced and well trained users may operate such a piece of equipment, and where are the proven results that it even works on Vanguards? I've never seen so much as a fruit basket that can cover their heads, much less something made of paper!

We're living in the 21st century. Century of CUSTOM-MADE PAPER BAGS!! Need a shelter for your car? -> Paperbag. Got an annoying crying baby? -> Paperbag. Need to fap and can't hide? -> Paperbag. So there. :3 Apply paper bag to vanguard-head. Remove vanguard-shorts. Re-adjust paper bag if necessary. Initiate main procedure. PROFIT!!

...well now you've got me beat. On the otherhand, this is one custommer who won't be making any return buisness! *Huffs and walks out the door, only to walk into the supermarket across the street. Five minutes later, I return holding two bulging paper bags, one filled with groceries, the other with questionable material.* Wow, they can really fill these things to the max without breaking them...

*suddenly gets an idea and returns* What about a raging fire? Paperbags can't help then, now can they?

Aaaah just take one of those MIRACLE-BAGs™®© from the teleshopping. They can do everything and one thing more! Got a fire? -> Put the fire into the miracle-bag and seal it with the miracle-zipper™. The fire will be extinguished™ within a couple of miracle-minutes™. Order now.

( You should be a sales person, with all that)

*attempts to put a fire into an offered test bag, but burns myself in the process* Ahh! My hand!...though I must admit, this bag is rather soothing for my first degree burns...*the bag catchs fire from the heat from my hand* AH! Miracle Informercial™ people, you lied!

In anycase, each to his or her own; if you want a bag over the stud's head, and muffled moans to be heard from him, fine by me. I prefer to see what effect I have on my four armed stud muffin.

Four armed and soon 4+1(crotch-)armed stud muffin once you cause the desired ... SIDE EFFECTS on him >:3

Oh yes, can't forget about the side effects, no can we. Particularily the ones in which he "returns the favor", and the bed squeaks for a good hour, or three. Those don't cause any extra arms to appear, but neither of us can complain; he mostly gets those on Tuesdays (or as I call them, "Use up Vacation Days" days). Those you can't get with bags over your heads, trust me, even with holes cut into the appropriate places.

i love it and it looks riley good

Aww, thanks James, you're lovely! Full credit to Kitsubaka, she did a great job on this

And outsde the little game with Todex, this is really a neat commision Lincard, and not just for the quality of the pic either (there's a subtle charm about sketch liens being left in the perfect places that I can't deny); I wonder who is being gifted with such a visage. I know I wouldn't mind being greeted that way when I get home from work, or the mall, or picking up the mail, or the paper in the morning...

Heh, I don't mind comment hijacks like that, they're quite amusing and I do it all the time

And that is the beauty of art like that - your imagination can place whoever it wants as the viewer. You could be a fly-on-the-wall watching someone/something else of interest being seduced, or it might be you, being led into an evening of debauched, sweaty knitting of a nice fluffy scarf for the winter*
* This is a euphemism for whatever you like

Oh lord, that's are awful!...lets see if I can do better*

This is a euphemism for whatever you believe sums up trying to make an even more humorously groan inducing euphemism best.

-riding the mighty rapid.
-joining together in harmonious song and dance.
-making-our-way-through-the-night-sky-only-to-run-into-turbulance-upon-which-we-crash-land-but-everyone-will-be-okay-if-a-little-sore-in-the-rear.

*innocently* How'd I do? And yes, that last one was delibrately long. Very, delibrately.


That's a beauty shared by many pictures, as it is. Unless it features a mirror/reflection, within which shows only the "person" and any other party off to the side. But in this case, I'd prefer to be that person...and would it be possible to show what this guy would look like, after the bullets have stopped firing? Oh lord, now you have me doing them without even trying;

-shooting bullets on the firing range.

Top them apples, monseur.

You, Sir, have outdone yourself. Your very poetic descriptions are much better than anything I could come up with as a euphemism I just don't think this guy fires blanks, and loaded ammunition can be dangerous until it's expended

We shall not stop until his weapon is good an' empty, much less by a premature halt on his part. And speaking of poetry, lets see...

He stands before me, a titan in boxers briefs, a frame within another, one far more of an outline to welcome. He smiles, and grips the bar above his head, as though it would fall upon the sweeping horns like a brick; he knows I love his filling presence, much as he enjoys mine own. And all I have to give tribute to this unwavering beast is the morning paper, ink threatening to soak into the fingertips he finds so delicate.

He gestures for me to return, once, twice, and trice in a manner unlike the two, giving the mound on his chest a sensation that is all to evident on his conniving expression, and the hand on his thigh a few motions which I dare not repeat. I am attached to those fingers like a fish on a line, and I am reeled in with every passing movement, before the tribute is dropped and I stand before the demon in mismade underpants. "A demon standing guardian to the door of carnal pleasures", the term was once coined, for a Vanguard within a relationship with one who is not so. We don't care; the arms encircle me, the bar does not drop, and his tongue meets my own once more. We are happy, and excited. The former shall not begone come afternoon, even should the latter be dined upon by our come hither behavior.
We shall not be torn asunder, even for the cries of thunder made by man, for this is our vow.
We are in our paradise; the demon is barring your entry and the human is warring your word.
Do not invade for fear of your sanctity, for ours shall not accommodate.
We are together, and shall remain so for the end of the morn; or the end of the warbling bed, whichever should come first.

Okay, so maybe that lost the message I was going for...but oh well, it's something, and related. What do you think of it Lincard?

Colour me impressed, Sir... you wax poetic with the best of them, with your deft verses and colourful mental imagery.

You are going to make some guy (or gal) very happy one day when you whisper such seductive, sweet nothings into their willing ears. Strictly speaking he's not a demon, just demonic in appearance, but then the thought of being subservient to something otherworldly be it alien or demon still holds a lot of appeal, nei?
But yes, I am appreciative and grateful for your silver-tongued eloquence dedicated to this rather suggestive piece of art - thank you

The demonic image is relative (I doubt that everyone on the planet would find Vanguards, and relationships with them, to be strictly kosher, especially the church (no offense to them)), but your praise is too kind, far too kind, dear sir. And unfortunately, my tongue of silver only works within the lexical world, and not of the spoken one. In that world, I am very much a bumbling person. Besides, it was both yours and kitsubaka's works who inspired the word; and as it is, it seems he's the one with the tongue worth the praise around here.

Anyhow, your thanks are praise enough for this, humble writer. ‘Tis just another fruit from the tree that is my organic writing...okay, this is starting to get a bit annoying, isn't it? Anyhow, seriously, it's just something which I thought up off the top of my head, and was triggered when you mentioned my "poetic descriptions" a few posts above, so if you have anyone to thank, then...I guess that would be yourself (do not ego pump!). Feel free to enjoy it for as long as it's up Lincard; it's not like I can take it back, now can I?

We're very much alike, you and I - virtual Shakespears, but verbal Tourettes suffers. Well, you're not that bad I'm guessing but it's only minutes, hours. days after a conversation that I'll think of the most perfect, witty rejoinder but by then it's far too late and the moment has been lost.

The thought of a long, drooling, flexible, tongue attached to something beefy is one that is very attractive, I have to be honest.

Is an ego-pump anything like a penis pump? I swear that's just not my bag, baby... And I shall enjoy it. Not often anyone writes me poetry

Well, I wouldn't go so far as Shakespeare, but I haven't gotten any complaints about my work yet. And while I don't exactly think over past conversations on what I could have said that could have made me more witty (though I do realize by the time it's too late that there was a better way to say something), I'm more inclined to think over things I shouldn't have said; I'm guessing that you're absent of this problem (which would be good for you, because it 'ain't fitting well with me).

In a whole variety of ways, my friend, in a whole variety of ways. Course, it'll be made all the better by the number of ways he knows how to use said muscle whether he's tasting or flexing.

Heh, not mine either; I was just warning you, as I don't want something I've written for another to cause said another to have an ego large enough to wear a restaurant sized hat (and I'm not talking party hats here). And anyhow, the poem was a pleasure to write, so, thanks for starting the something that would inspire it (and again to kitsubaka for agreeing to draw said inspiration)!

Sadly I have become rather accustomed to the taste of my foot when it comes to talking with other people.

And no ego issues here, but I hope your own is at least a little massaged because if not, it certainly should be

I practically live in hindsight after I have a good, long conversation (well, not so much anymore, but quite a bit still). I'm almost ready to travel into the time vortex unaided I look back so much!

Ah, the ease of having such a relaxed ego; it makes one want to proclaim that they were the inventors behind clouds, or sandwiches, or...something else I've invented that nobody seems to give me credit for...

(See if you can guess the references in both paragraphs; and yes, I'm a fiction geek . All shall tremble, before my vast expanse of trivial knowledge!)

The second paragraph sounds familiar but not the first. Not going to cheat by looking up online either. So do tell?

The first one is a reference to the UK show "Doctor Who" (in short, it's about a humanish alien who calls himself "The Doctor" who has a time machine and travels through various points in time and space, almost always with a companion, inevitably running into trouble at the drop of a hat). It's been going for quite a long time, and, as it's main feature is time travel, it sometimes tells of "the time vortex", through which one must travel to, well, travel through time. You can easily find the episodes online, if you haven't seen them (I suggest using youku.com; it's basically a chinese version of youtube, but with a lot more space for videos, without english copyright issues, and often chinese subtitling without removing the original language of most videos (unless they're cartoons, I haven't had much luck there)).

And a quick question, seeing as how you'd know these sorts of things (having come up with the Vanguard) how likely is it for a Vanguard to fall for a human as opposed to another of their own species? It's just something that has run through my head more than a few times.

Ah, I am quite familiar with Dr. Who and the two spin-off series (Torchwood and that one aimed more at kids) I had wondered if you were referring to that or perhaps something a little more obscure like that Time Bandits movie... Hmm, have to check out that youku.com site, thank you for the suggestion!

As for your quick question - not particularly likely. Humans are to a Vanguard like a dog or higher primate is to us. An animal. A smart animal, to be sure, but definitely inferior in pretty much all respects. However in the stories it has happened, and that is more due to the fact of the way a Vanguard's brain is 'wired' - they seek out mates based more on who the individual is as a 'person', rather than their sex or appearance for the most part). So, possible but for your average, typical Vanguard not particularly likely.

That's not to say a Vanguard warrior wouldn't routinely do something sexual (i.e. rape or humiliate) to a human/other foe in order to assert his or her superiority, however!

In the stories Vanguard society is slowly changing and becoming less driven by convention, or strict cultural rules. The old order is breaking down because more and more younger Vanguard are questioning the old order, just because something has always been done a certain way doesn't mean to say that way is always correct This is a theme that I am exploring more in the new TCW story I have begun writing.

Yay, another fan of the series! In general, time travel isn't done that well in many series; Doctor who does it so well, in my opinion, in that they actually have reasons for what is happening, and they're consistant about it. That, and they have bad moments along with the good (Father's Day was a big step for Rose, in my opinion).

Not to be offensive, but I was kinda prepared for such a thing like that; in most respects, humans aren't exactly meassurable with the Vanguard; other than the significantly different body structure, humans don't have nearly the technological strength that the Vanguard would have (presumably, since I haven't read the books I can't be sure of this fact). It's kind of like the arguement that while parrots say human words, it's debated whether or not they understand what they're saying. Still, it's nice to hear that Vanguards are more practical over who their mates are than humans are, generally.

The changes, however, are good to hear, both because they're logical and they're familiar to the ones on Earth as well; cameras were once feared to steal one's soul, for instance, and now they're one of the most used/owned devices around.

...and what's this? You're writing another story?! Yay! More to read in the future! Kampai! And another side note, I don't think I've had a comment-conversation quite so long before, or at least not in a really long time.

I watched a lot of Dr. Who when I was younger and the storylines were quite a bit darker and more frightening. In some respects the more recent stuff is not quite as good - but then that's probably just nostalgia talking. Older programs and movies don't always age too well when you revisit them as an adult. Still, very entertaining nonetheless, and that Torchwood spin-off was done really well in my opinion. Have you heard they're making a spin-off series about K-9?

Vanguard are arrogant creatures. They are a race of evolved predators, and predators tend to be quite clever, and consider anything below them as some variant on "prey". That would include humans. That's not to say that all Vanguard think that way and that many wouldn't have some grudging respect for humans and some of their accomplishments and compassion. That's a theme that was heavily explored in The Cold Wind story I wrote. At the end of the day, humans may be relatively primitive in respect to the Vanguard, but that's not to say that something simple cannot be more effective than something high-tech and complex

Yeah, there is another story in the works. Very slow going, however And I'm pleased you're enjoying the conversations - you are very easy to talk with.

I think it's more due to the generation that it's come in that is the issue; by today's standards, the original Doctor Who series is more cheesy than anything else, mostly due to the content that we've seen nowadays is mostly reused from those days. It's only natural that a fan of Doctor Who, brought in with the original series, might find a few flaws in the revived series, and vice versa. While I can see your point about how certain series don't age well with their viewers, I can also see that the stories are becoming less restricted as well (Jack Harkness is a character you wouldn't have found walking around with Tim Baker, now would you?). It's something that I've mostly attributed to the changing audience over the years and producers...and yes I have, and it's the reason why they don't have K-9 all that much in the Sarah Jane Chronicles (another Doctor Who spinoff, which I haven't seen).

Well said my friend, well said; now it only makes me more interested in how things go! *dashes off to be finished with his own things so as to have time to read*

I'm patient with stories - I can relate, given that I have a few tons of stories that have yet to be realized - so I'm not going to be complaining just because life is slowing you down. Just go at your pace, and try not to take a year with something that should take you a month, is all that I can say (that and good luck). And I'm glad that you find me easy to talk with (better than simple in any case) Lincard, and that you're enjoying the conversations as well.

You do raise a good point. Back in Classic Who days, you would never, NEVER see anything remotely like Torchwood or Mr. Harkness. And Tom Baker was THE best Doctor of all time. Him and his marvelous scarf and jelly-babies. Cheesy, yes, but still good sci-fi for its time At least most of the aliens looked like aliens rather than funny people with bumps on their heads ala Star Trek. Sarah Jane Chronicles is... not so good. A bit silly all things considered, but given the age of its intended audience that's to be expected.

With the weather turning colder, darker and meaner, I will be much more inclined to get into the writing groove, so hopefully there will be a bit more progress soon. Perhaps you should look at doing the same if you find time?

*Knocks his head* Stupid vowal mixing! And I may have to dissagree there on your statement; UNIT was back around in Tom Baker's era, which can be seen as another organization somewhat like Torchwood (just different morals), and the way I see it, Torchwood could have been around (and likely was, timewise), but just not in the way it's presented in the Torchwood series. More along the lines of Yvonne Hartman's Torchwood (from Army of Ghosts and Doomsday); if it's alien, it's theirs. They would have likely played more antigonistically than they did in the first two episodes presented though.

And I have to hand it to Doctor Who, they made an effort to stand out, even in the days without greenscreens and computer graphics; they did good for what they had (especially with the TARDIS' sounds). And I've seen some clips of Tom Baker as the Doctor, and he's none too bad (though I've yet to see a full episode with him). Did you know that he's performed in radio dramas recently as the Doctor?

I've actually set myself to do seven paragraphs of writing per week, at the very least, ever since New Years Eve (one resolution that I've been pretty good in keeping, up till now). Of course, this is somewhat lopsided by the fact that I've been roleplaying on the yiffstar forums for a while, and due to my negligence and lack of common sense, I've gotten myself involved in about seven different roleplays at once! Fortunately, three of them aren't updated too often, so I have a bit of breathing spoace, though they cut into my writing time a fair bit all the same.

Hmm, I tend to stay away from role-playing, but that's not to say it's not a valid method of writing and character development. I tend to base the characters I come up with more on observed, "real life" behavior around me, along side hypothetical situations where I think what a particular type of person (or character) would do, or how they would react. Which is probably more like a sort of mental role-playing really

Tom Baker was the best Doctor by far... he was such a hard-case. Did you ever catch another classic Brit sci-fi show called Blake's 7?

If not, check it out. Cheesy special effects, but some great characters and stories.

Eh, I do it more for fun than anything else, though it's also a good way to remove some of the other ideas in my head without having them go stale. I realize that having them as actual stories may be more productive, but with all of them in mind, any potential story that may come from them is likely not to come to fruition within this year without someone co-writing it. Usually, I just make up a character off the top of my head (I don't have any "set" characters that I use continually), and make them up when I start, or as I go along. Again, it's quite fun for me to do.

Blake's 7? Nope, never heard of it. I'll look it up when I get around to it.

And as for my favorite Doctor so far, I'd have to say Christopher Eccleston, though I'm somewhat biased in that I've only really seen three Doctors (Eight, Ninth and Tenth), and Eccleston's was the first Doctor that I really got into. David Tennant wasn't too bad, but his Doctor was a bit too hectic to be my favorite. How do you feel about Matt Smith being the Doctor? I don't really know which way to go with him, though I'm hopeful for a great performance.

Blakes 7 is a very dystopic view of the future, but a great storyline and some wonderful characters. Servalan is the best evil character I think I have seen in a sci-fi series full stop. And ORAC is probably the most sarcastic

As far as Matt Smith goes - not sure - I am going to hold off judgment until I have seen a few episodes with him in them. It usually takes a few for the actor to settle into the role and make it their own.

Blakes 7: I have yet to see an episode, but I'm searching, all the same. It really sounds like an interesting series, and I've heard nothing but good things about it. Veoh, however, looks like a good place to start.
Matt Smith: As the Doctor, I'm being cautiously optimistic. He's going to have to play an old man in a young body, who has seen things that are both wondrous and horrifying, and gained and lost things that could never be anticipated or retrieved, even by him. It's going to be killer seeing it happen.

And on a side note, we've gone from euphemisms to poetry, to personality quirks, all the way to Doctor Who and Vanguards, and now Blakes 7. All in the course of a month! What a conversation.

Stick with me, baby, and I'll take you from one side of the universe to the other in our conversations

Matt Smith has one entire series to convince me. After that if he hasn't slotted into the role then it's curtains. You should always give an actor a season to sink their teeth into a character and do something with them. So many good series have been missed out because people don't give it enough of a fair go for long enough. Firefly was a good example of this, a series cut short in its prime. And only appreciated after the fact.

Ma' hero! *bubbily gives youa hug and a kiss on the cheek* Take me in yo' strong ahrms ma' dear...*notices the male in the doorway, and the accent drops* On second though, take me on your strong arms! *dashes to the vanguard in the doorframe, outdated bubbily behavior gone*

Fair enough. I never watched that much of FireFly, so I can't say for sure if I agree with you or not. It's kind of like The Princess Bride, too; the movie wasn't that well appreciated, but afterwards it became a cult classic. Very much like Doctor Who, though that was popular even when it was first starting. Oh, and by the way, did you know that the name "Torchwood", was originally an anigram used on the first Doctor Who reels?

Wow, you're full of interesting Who trivia, aren't you? No, wasn't aware of Torchwood being an anagram of Doctor Who - I sat here for a minute or so working it out, how sad is that? Firefly was much more "Western" than it was "sci-fi" according to the director/producers, and that's cool I reckon. A good story is all about the characters and the setting, not about the toys that go with it (although cool toys certainly add a lot ).

You only love me for my beefy demonic looking alien lizards, don't you?

Heh, I look around a lot. I actually had no idea either until I started looking around the wikis, and even if the reels weren't marked "Torchwood", it's neat that it's an anagram of the title of the parent show.

And I think I've seen a part of an episode of Firefly, one which involved a sword fight (it ended with the protagonist(?) use the broken off part of his blade to stab the other). Another part/in the same episode, there was a girl who had a bit of a psychological problem, appearing as she turned violent in the kitchen and started ripping the labels off of the cans of food. one quote I remember from that episode was, "Looks like we'll be having a few mystery meals.", or something along those lines.

And no, no, I don't just love you for your, "beefy demonic looking lizards", so-*is cut off by another kiss from the vanguard lover, before he pulls away and walks back into the bedroom, slowly gesturing to me as described above, with similar results* Well, maybe that's some of the reason.

Thassokay Mr. Taiko... the whole idea is that the Vanguard were supposed to be somewhat masculine and attractive - they are the male ideal really There are so many great sci-fi series around. Although I am still biding my time with Sanctuary and Stargate Universe - time will tell with those.

I do remember that episode of Firefly - there was some very good script writing in that series, alongside some great, memorable characters.

Oh, okay then, glad to knowofyourapproval!...{manages to get the last bit out before he is grasped, and pulled through the bedroom door, the wood being slammed shut a moment later, blocking any view of what may be happening. However, sounds of debauched, sweaty *shooting bullets on the firing range can be heard, if a little muffled, quickly picking up in pace.}

*You should know what this is for.

It's sad when a liked series is cancelled before it's time, especially when shows that should stay on paper are put on instead. I won’t list any (of the bad series), but there are a fair few good ones that have gotten the short end of the stick.

Did you ever see LEXX? Or "Tales from a Parallel Universe" I think it was called in North America... now THAT was a very cool sci-fi series, imaginative, progressive, raunchy, funny, risqué... They only made 4 series of it, but thoroughly enjoyable.

As for shooting on the firing range, he'll pump you so full of "lead" than you wont know what's hit you

What would happen if you didn't accept the invitation and just walked right past him? It doesn't seem like he takes 'no' for an answer, so he would probably have grabbed you and tossed you into the room? That works too. :p

He'd pout and cry himself to sleep at night? You never know, Mr. Draug... he might have self-esteem issues?
Well, it's not likely, but possible

I think your suggestion is the most likely, however.

"Hrrrrr....oh little one, may this one see you for a few minutes."

Okay, I'm just blown away with how awesome this commission is that kitsubaka did did or you, the body is just fantastic, and the way that he did the head and details on the face really just tops it all, oh and that tongue, hell yes.

So I guess I'm ready to receive on that delivery now.

Heh, in this case I think you ARE the delivery In Soviet Vanguard Territory, package are YOU!

Yes, this picture has so many wonderful things going for it, doesn't it? Kitsubaka really outdid herself. That package will take some unwrapping...with your teeth

WOOF!

...I wonder if he used Fed-ex...

nyuk nyuk nyuk~

Heeeee... would you refuse to sign for that package? And Vanguard use TNT

I know it's silly... but I want one... are they house trained? hehe

Oh very. Quite neat, tidy and clean creatures. Except in the bedroom where they're aggressive, messy and happy to read you a nice bedtime story

Haven't heard from you in a while - everything okay?

ya, things are pretty good here... Granite and I are still together and seem to have things worked out pretty well. The house hunt continues to be very frustrating.

you also have two quick commissions coming to ya from out friend.

Ah, that's good to hear, because the last I heard things were a bit rocky, if you will excuse the unintentional pun. House hunting is a frustrating exercise, agreed. But keep at it, you'll eventually find 'the one'.

What commissions? I've got several in the works, which ones are you referring to?

I used to make an effort to avoid any of your commissioned art, and then I saw this. If everything else is of the same quality, I'll definitely have to take a browse... And possibly find a room :P

There's all sorts of stuff I've commissioned. Ridiculous, silly, sexy, seductive, pornographic, serious, stunning, mediocre, amusing... everything. Glad you like what you see, though May I ask why you avoided looking at the commissioned art? Not that I mind at all, I'm just curious I have my suspicions about your possible answer, but would like to know from the horses mouth, so to speak.

I'm not a horse, damn you, just a size queen! (Not really :P)

And now to stop being a smartass:

I think I might have mentioned this before, but I really dislike having visual media sway my views of characters. Especially with your style of writing, and without any artistic talents of my own, I have trouble maintaining my own images once I see other media (I tend to take things to heart quite fast).

While I disagree with the physiology of this particular image, it's still really well drawn and for the most part quite realistic (I love the two shoulder sockets, but it doesn't look like rotation of the back arms is possible [grab me on MSN later if you want that explained. I don't have time right now, sorry]).

But back to the original point: I really liked the mental images I had of the characters in Paolini's books (the Inheritance ones), but unfortunately I had seen the movie before I read the books so my mental image and the image presented by the film still war occasionally. I really don't want to have to go through that again, since I usually much prefer my at-times vivid mental imagery ;)

Ah yes, I actually understand you perfectly - that's what I suspected it might be. In many ways I quite agree - nice to have your own mental image without the contamination of someone else's vision. There are aspects of this which aren't quite right, but then it's a version of what you are talking about - the artist has their own mental vision based on a description... they may get things not quite right but in the end that's okay because that is what THEY see

So if you're not a horse, are you an ass?

Hmm, not familiar with Paolini, so will have to do some research on that. Nothing wrong with relying on your own mental imagery, by the way... until I came here and commissioned artists, all I ever had was what lived inside my head while I was writing. Oh well, in this instance just think that the artist didn't get it quite right and you still have your own version of what they should look like in your head.

You're familiar, just not possibly with the name 'Inheritance'. We talked over MSN a while back about a certain character who made the movie all-right in your books

And I'm not an ass, just a lazy kitty! (Brings to mind this (it's a very short read (woo! nested parentheses!)): http://www.furaffinity.net/view/670132/)

Oooooh! Okay - yes that does ring bells, thank you! Man, memory is the first thing to go when you get to my age...

...who are you? Get off my lawn.

That story is pure win, to use an internet colloquialism So, lazy kitty, are you as difficult to herd as the old saying goes?

Maybe I'm too young, or maybe my memory is just gone a little ahead of time... How does the old saying go?

So... I have to get off YOUR lawn, now?

Okay, the old saying goes: doing (some action/event) is like herding cats (i.e. impossible or nearly so).

Git 'ff of mah lawn, ya bag 'o meat!

And I think you'll find if there's a guitar involved things go smoothly... Presuming the bribe is delivered beforehand, of course.

Those crags and contours of his face are amazing. love the shading on this one :) I will base me next meal on what I can grate with those abs...

Kitsubaka has a distinctive style with her work that I quite like, and it shows with this one as well. As for the abs... I half expect to see a rock-climber clinging to those.

So, what you cooking me?

Remember that dry rub I mentioned a while back? ;)

Oh you...

full circle.

You're like an elephant never forgetting or something

Are you calling me fat?

No I'm calling you a pachyderm. Wanna make something of it?

I always wanted to drink through my nose...

You silly man, they don't drink through their noses. They suck water up and squirt it back into their mouths. Have you not ever watched a nature documentary?

Perhaps you're more of a lycra-clad three-toed sloth.

A mental sloth anyways. That's not body hair, that's moss!

A cycling lycra-clad three-toed sloth never gathers moss, or were you not aware of that little proverb?

HA! So the bike is for moss prevention! I knew there was a reason other than to support my lycra clad frame. The three toes does create a problem...which little piggy went wee wee wee all the way home?

The one on the other foot, duuuuh! Actually as far as bicycles go, apparently they are THE most efficient form of transport ever invented. So, get your furry, three-toed self onto that bike and be efficient, damn you! FASTER! QUICKER! MORE EFFICIENT!

Don't mock my cadence!
I did not know it was that efficient. I will have to get a beater commuter bike for city travels! it will be black and red and called Beastly Bumpkins.

Beastly Bumpkins? Hmm, we used to have a car that we called Gertrude McFuzz when we were kids. Yes, yes I can see you riding around on a Beastly Bumpkins. Hmm, you'd probably have difficulty in finding a bike that fit you, wouldn't you?

Nah. I just need a taller frame and wheels with a normal number of spokes. I'm not THAT big :)

You are huge man. HUUUUUUUUGE man. Very big. You so tall. And broad. You must scare Jamie with your hugeness.

I'm jealous now

:D I pick him up and set him down on the couch when it is movie time :P I am small and dainty :D

D'awwwwww, that is SOOOOOOO unbelievably cute. I just LOVE that!!
*SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!*

It's a bit of a shock if he is not expecting it, but he seems to enjoy it. But no spinning! :D

That is just soooooooooo romantic! Sorry, I cannot help it, that deserves another *SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!*

In my defense hit fits well there ;)

I'd pay to see a picture of that, actually

Gears are turning...
Things are in motion...

What does poor ol' Jamie think of all these strange things you are doing at the request of a weird old man on the other side of the world?

Oh, don't worry. I share with the world :P Hey, you come up with good ideas for a Christmas card :)

Don't put me on the spot, I suck under pressure (so to speak). I think you would be much more likely to come up with better ideas for Exmess cards.

That's where the dragon + halo came from. Still a favorite. :)

Ahhhh, I had wondered what the story was behind that, but never got around to asking. Is there a full version of it somewhere?

Si. E' qui: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot.....eat=directlink

Awww, that's cuter than a cargo-ship hold full of tribbles!

You and your star trek references. :P

Dammit V, I'm a doctor, not a comedian!

Then why am I still sick? Isn't there a New Zealand cure all or something?

Actually, there is a good thing for sore throats we have in NZ. There is a type of honey that is made by bees from a shrub called a "Manuka". It has very high natural antibiotic properties, and is actually used in some emergency wound dressings by armed forces in different countries around the world.

It is also delicious on toast, or stirred into a cup of hot milk.

Milk with honey sounds good. I will try that :) You NZ-ers with your know how and what not!

Actually I am a big fan of nuking a mug full of milk and putting a teaspoon of honey into it as a drink. Great for when you have a sore throat or need something quick, hot and sweet, and the boyfriend isn't around...

...ahem.

I saw what you did there! :O

Lies! Filthy dirty lies! You know nothing, you saw nothing.

I know all and see less!

Hmmm....



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYv4.....eature=related

Was someone thinking Tim Curry?

hehehe... I have no idea what was going through the artist's mind when she drew this. Entirely possible but who knows. And you have to admit, Mr. Curry WAS rather sexy in that movie, in a frightening, erotic kind of way

Give yourself over, to absolute pleasure...

"Um... sir? You're kind of... blocking the door there. With your arms and your... um, yeah. I kinda need to get by, so if you could... oh, come on, really? You're gonna be like that? Fine. I'll just go around and... oh come on! I know you've got seven different limbs, but you could at least squeeze them together a little bit and give me some room, here! I... hey! Do you have to grind up against me so much in this doorframe, here?? You don't take up THAT much room! And... ah! Oh, great, now my shirt's ruined! Y'know, us humans consider it polite to keep our tongues and our saliva to ourselves! Aw, God, this is going to take a good couple of runs in the washing machine to fix up and... oh? What are you...? You... want my shirt? Oh! Oh, do you want to clean it for me? Well, okay, that's nice of you, at least. Sure, here, take it. Now... uh... well, there go your shorts. I... yeah, I guess you might as well throw those in with the wash, too. It's more efficient that way. Now, if I could just get through here and... sir? Sir? Your tail appears to have become entangled around my leg. Um, wait, I think it would be a far better remedy for the situation if you were to just unwrap it rather than taking my pants off..."

I always look forward to your comments, you've got a bloody amazing sense of humour, Sir.

Where you're going with him, you wont need pants...

Wow, this guy can give extra hugs. But it would suck to need glasses.

If a Vanguard ever offers you an arm wrestling match, your best bet is to run away screaming into the night. Vanguard are too might to need glasses! (they wear contacts because they don't like their friends calling them 8-eyes )

I have this image of him with two monocles on one side.

Oh man... I'm gonna have to get a pic done of that one day. Wearing a tux and using a cane

It took me a while, but I finally see why I dislike the anatomy here... http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2913605/

(Warning: I'm going to throw around the academic 'western dragon' and 'eastern dragon' in the following statements. Go look at wikipedia for a simple reference if you don't already know what I mean)

I've had 'proper' dragon (read: Realistic western dragon) anatomy in the back of my mind for years, I just can't draw properly.

That said, there are two pet peeves that developed because of my knowledge:

1) Wings have muscles.

So many people ignore this one... It just doesn't work, unless there's some eastern magic in there.

2) Wings have to fit into the muscle structure.

This one applies to extra limbs too. I don't enjoy looking at limbs that look like they have seriously been stitched on, but when something looks like it could realistically function that's when I do my fanboy squee. What follows then is my usual favourite-the-artwork, watch-the-artist combo, but that's beside the point.

The major stipulation I have with this piece is the back arms don't fit with my concept of the manoeuvrability of a Vanguard's arms... But: separate them slightly more, and make it look like two distinct limbs that can rotate a full revolution vertically and I'm happy.

Because usually the anatomy of a creature would be thrown off if you have the arms side by side, I assume they are vertically stacked. All the pictures of vanguard with back arms that could work well as wings (that is, flap, but not have much more manouverability) don't look too realistic to me because of it :P

Not sure if I made sense, since it's past midnight, but I figured I should lay my thoughts down while I still had them running through my mind creating a ruckus.

I actually thought this through when I was "designing" the Vanguard, and you're quite right, when looking at realistic musculature it wouldn't work too well if you were expecting full strength and range of movement in both sets of arms. And yes, aside from the weight issue, dragons would theoretically also need the assistance of magic in order to be able to fly.

My reasoning thus:

Rear set of arms have musculature more designed for PULLING, because the way the muscles and tendons are anchored their main strength would be in pulling something toward the creature. Front set of arms are quite the opposite - more designed for pushing.

This is why the Vanguard will usually use the rear arms for holding things while the front pair are more dextrous and are the ones used in the more common daily tasks and lighter work. The way they 'evolved' was having the rear arms holding the prey and ripping it apart and using the slightly smaller forward ones for the fancy work.

On a Vanguard the rear arms can reach up, but not very high, whereas the forward arms have full mobility.

You made perfect sense. And any anatomy expert would probably cry if they saw a Vanguard, but that above was my reasoning behind the design All that said, you've obviously thought about it a lot and your 'discomfort' over the design is actually a keen eye for subtle detail and logic. Kudos to you my friend.

Mobility issues (from the comments above) aside, I would love to be hugged in a full four-armed embrace. That thought just makes me wiggle, and it's kind of odd for me, because (literally) until today, multiple limbs like that were never something I really thought of or considered. It's like I'm a "just add vanguard" multiple limb insta-fan :P

This pony wants a vanguard.

hehehe... I can understand that - hell, I want a Vanguard as well if they're just being handed out The design of them might stretch conventional physiology to the breaking point but there are supposedly sound evolutionary reasons for it that I came up with as part of their background. But putting that aside as you say, that would be one satisfying embrace. IRL I am a fairly tactile creature - I like being embraced/hugged by people I know and like and subconsciously this probably influenced their design.
So, pour you onto a Vanguard, shake'n'bake for a few minutes and ButterScotchPony is a happy...err, pony?

Butter, Pony, Butterscotch are all equally fine lol - and yes. Vanguard = happy pony.

I'm far more tactile than I sometimes admit to people. Which is odd because now I'm saying it on a public forum :P But such are the whims of disposition. I'm wary of hugs from people I don't know well, in RL. In fact I hardly ever get physical affection that way to be honest - not that I'm complaining, it just doesn't happen. For some reason though, vanguards invoke that desire in me, heh.

To be frank - and perhaps an ironic place to say it considering the delicious nature of the picture - I think one of the things I love most in the blips I've read so far is the... love-beyond-sexuality element. My ideal love has always been one where sexuality between two people is a good side-dish, but the "main course" is the relationship between them. Along with that, a strong creature with an innate tenderness and love has always enchanted me, and I admit, the vangaurds such as Two-Talon and Hunts-in-Grass are visages of both those things, as well as the others that seem to be portrayed like Invokes-the-Storm. They aren't just muscular sex-machines. If I were to try to summarize, which I'm rarely good at doing: sexuality is like a portrait, and love would be the story behind it - sexuality is only as beautiful as the story it tells.

If I were hugged by someone, that's likely the kind of tenderness and connection I would want to feel.

Pony works. Or Sir Pony, perhaps. Or maybe just Sir.

Hugs from strangers = creepy, even for someone like myself. Unless they're attractive, then they can hug me to death The psychological aspect of being virtually cocooned in a mass of arms, legs and tail is something I find rather neat. As for sexuality - Vanguard sexuality is somewhat fluid. I wrote a bit about it in that VanGuide file I uploaded a while back. Who they shack up with is more personality dependent than based on sex/gender. And even same-sex couples will often seek out others of the opposite sex on occasion, but purely for the purposes of producing off-spring in those situations. Sex for procreation is treated more like a business transaction. Sex between lovers is a bonding/emotional thing no matter the gender.

Your summary is rather beautifully worded, Mr. Pony, Sir. You've got a writer hidden within you, also.

Sir makes me feel all kinds of funny inside

I've said this several times, I'll say it again. I might even say it again after that. The bond-mate relationship somehow innately struck a chord. A lot of people see marriage as something that ties you down, and a lot of "what ifs" come into play. I figure, if you're smart, and willing to look, you don't have to end up with a jerk.

Some people mock marriages/matehoods as an unnecessary formality, or as a restraint that needlessly ties a person down, or is just used to make them feel guilty if they have "fun." To me, marriages are supposed to simply be an affirmation of what the two should be already feeling for each other, just as the oath the Vanguard took. The vow wasn't used as a restraint, it was used as a gift. Frankly, if a person doesn't feel like he can keep the vow he's making, he probably shouldn't make it in the first place. Oaths are very powerful things, and should never be used lightly, for positive, or negative.

Sometimes, I wonder if people really understand the meaning of a "promise."

Looking at the rate of divorces both in the US and many other Westernized countries, probably not LEGALIZE GAY MARRIAGE SO GAY COUPLES CAN BE JUST AS MISERABLE AND DIVORCE IN HIGH NUMBERS JUST LIKE THE STRAIGHTS! It should be about sharing your life with someone you care about - as you so eloquently put it, it is a gift.

Good things take time and you should always spend time getting to know someone before jumping into any sort of long-term commitment. People who get married after a year or two of knowing each other? Dooooooooooooomed in the majority of cases. All that being said, marriage and the rest of that is simply a legalized recognition of a relationship. Two people who love and care for each other do not always need that legalized tie to bond them - although it does bring many protections.

You're being rather deep and thoughtful tonight my friend?

Well, when I say "marriage/matehood," I'm not so much thinking about the legalized bond. I mean, if you're alone with someone for -- what is it, 7 years? -- you're considered legally married, heh, so that puts a damper on the pomp and circumstance. Just like Blue-Scale and Rangi, the ceremony was something they did for their own peace of mind and personal commitment, and not because of any legal ramifications.

I'm all for gay marriage, really, because I feel that those who want to do it for the right reasons and survive, should be able to if they want to - but I don't feel it's necessary for them to have a "valid" relationship by any means. For me it's more like (a lot of "Vanguard" examples coming out of me, heh) humans denying Vanguard the "right" to bond-mate because they aren't human. It doesn't make sense, and it's really kind of silly.

Deep and thoughtful... your stories struck a few different chords in me, some a little more pleasant that others, and some -- as you can see -- are pretty close to my heart. That, coupled with the fact that my philosophy muse (who has been taking a rather long stint in babysitting me these past few weeks, probably because my other muses are enjoying vacation somewhere) is with me at the moment, is making me windbag

Nothing wrong with waxing philosophical... As you say you don't always need something legally binding to show commitment. Marriage and civil unions and the like are merely just a legalized tag that offer certain rights and privileges in some societies.

Art (including writing, I guess) is supposed to stir up thoughts and emotions in people - seems to me that that is its entire purpose. Even if some of those thoughts and emotions are not what the artist actually intended sometimes

I don't know about you, but the times I've written heart-string pullers, I admit it pulled my own. As the author, I was very "close" to the characters I created, and sad situations were as sad for me as for the reader. One might think the author of a tear-jerker is heartless and wants to torment his readers, but that's not necessarily the case :P Funny how that works, isn't it?

And my philosophical waxing has tired out my friends on more than one occasion. Don't underestimate my powers of boredom!

HARNESSING THE POWER OF BOREDOM, HE IS... TEDIOUS-MAN!  Somehow I don't see that as being a particularly successful comic premise.

If an author doesn't invest emotion into their own story and characters, how do they expect their readers to? Sure, you are removed from your characters a bit but there is still some of you going into them. And when you spend a lot of time on a story it would be only natural that you would tend to regard the characters as something like your children, almost.

YAY! The power of boredom!

It'd probably be a very cheap comic. You could get away with it being nothing except blank pages.

And I agree, you have to put yourself into the story in order to bring it to completion. In a way, I see the characters as different "shards" of myself, filled out into full characters. Somehow I haven't succumbed to schizophrenia as of yet.

I talk back to the voices in my head - the only way I get to have intelligent conversations, right?

As long as you don't turn your characters into "Mary Sue's" (or in a gay case, Marty Sue's) then it would be all good

Mary Sue - never heard of that phrase before, hehe.

And since I've spent at least 15 minutes of my time here doing nothing but looking at your icon, I have to ask: what on earth is that?

My tongue. LET ME SHOW YOU IT (drinking beer).

oh my QmQ what an awesome dude

Kitsubaka did a fantastic job of making one of my Vanguard aliens look hot as hell. And with a tongue like that, would you ever want to leave the bedroom?

Thanks for the comment

anyone in their right mind wouldnt -3- the face and teeth aahhhhh......

sure thing :D

OwO *touches your abs* Just inspecting the....umm..full size package. X3

The saying "Good things come in small packages" is a lie... good things come in large packages also

Hell yeah! >:3 *hops on your back* And I like the feel of this 'package' as well X3 *molest your muscular backside*

I'm not too sure how I'll escape...

Got you trapped in the bedroom, has he? Could think of worse places to be

look there
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIPAzGsMMQI

begin @ 4:20

That's what I'd do

Take him out with a sniper rifle? You must be a riot in the bedroom, mate

I was referring to the part were the man jump off the skyscraper :D Really, I'm much more softer ^^'

Oh, I see. Would it really be so bad?

Judging by the amount of muscles, the "carnivore mouth", the claws, the fact that he looks so eager to... do something.

I'd say, looking at my current position, that if he really wants it, yes it would be at least disturbing.

Sound logic

You've heard of guys traveling to exotic locations to get some "strange"? This just might be the sort of thing they're talking about...

That makes sense :)

But really, seducing him and toying with him would be a pleasure ;)

With a tongue like that? I'd never let him out of the bedroom...

you are a tactile person aren't you?
Well I don't know. Maybe you should build hime a personnality ;)

Tactile? Most definitely. There is only so much you can accomplish by staring at something.

As for a personality... well, not this one. He's just a generic one of my Vanguard aliens. The ones that feature in the novel's I've written have fully fleshed out personalities.

I know for I've read a lot of your fantastic novels ;)
Well, to be very honest, in that exact same situation, in my bedromm:

I would smile and walk toward him and then grab whatever lies between those legs and ask him where are his manners. With a smile of course ;)