The Future is Bulletproof

Bandom Big Bang Wave 3 Art for story #12

2014-09-04T15:09:02Z

Working title: Bus Stops and Bakeries
Medium: Old school - watercolor pencil, pen and ink (these are actually a bit smaller in real life than they show up here).

Even in the rough draft, there is this feeling that the bakery, and making breads, pastry, and sweets saved Pete's life. That concentrating on that is where he channels his energy. Kneading dough is super calming, and that is the first thing I thought when reading the draft.

There is a point when Brendon comes across Gabe and Pete in an unexpected embrace. It is a powerful image for him.

2013 BBB Art!

2013-06-23T15:11:41Z

2013 BBB #10: Adrift
Author: innocent_wolves
Artist Statement: Acrylic ink on paper. I'd put more here but I am super jetlagged and can't really form coherent sentences right now. I really enjoyed the process and the story was fascinating enough to give me lots to work with. I wanted to have a couple of pieces, but last minute business trips cut down my creative time to just one (the second piece totally would have been the photo Gerard finds).

You ever see...

2013-06-13T19:31:56Z

A description of something that kinda hits you between the eyes?

Yeah. Found this today:

"One did not reach adulthood without feeling like a black Peep on Easter sometimes..."

Well put.

Very well put.

I think I spent my entire run of puberty and teenhood feeling that way.

...

2013-05-18T16:48:38Z

So Bandom Big Bang moved to dreamwidth. Which I can kinda understand given the flakiness of LJ. But I don't *want* a dreamwidth account. And I know, I know, openID yadda yadda yadda. It is still kind of a great big pain in the ass if I want to participate. Which I kinda have to get on, if I'm gonna commit art, since I am really only available for first wave, and the claims post is already up...

Ugh, sometimes my indecisiveness torques me off. And I have nobody to blame for it but my self.

First world troubles...

I so wish...

2012-05-19T01:24:14Z

My real life was calm enough at the moment to participate in BBB. A couple of those summaries are REALLY tempting, but I just don't have the time and creative energy to devote at the moment - and won't until after August because RL is just that draining at the moment.

Annoying! But on the other hand, it looks like there will be some good fic coming - as well as some fun art and mixes.

BRBB ART POST: Where Magic Meets Rock and Roll

2012-04-12T00:04:50Z

Title of Art: Where Magic Meets Rock and Roll
Created By: amkave
Artists Notes: So when the bandom reverse big bang was announced last year, I was excited. Since I got into bandom I've wanted someone to attempt a Bordertown AU. I mean, when a shared world has a tag line like "where magic meets rock and roll" how can you NOT think any of the bandom groups would fit? I mean, Cobra Starship was *made* to play Danceland, and I'd love to see MCR at the Dancing Ferret. I've loved Bordertown since I read the first anthology not long after it was published.

In my opinion, we saved the best for last. Thank you to the author for taking on such a herculean task (and succeeding so well), and huge thank you to the mods for persevering. With all that said, let me introduce you to Bordertown, a city set on the edge - halfway between the Faerie Realm and the World. The place where magic and science clash, where the streets are alive with music and art, where Humans and Truebloods fight for turf, and Halfies are caught in the middle.

I've wished for this kind of story. Well I got my wish! It took a while, but it was oh, so worth the wait! roxy_palace takes us on quite the romp through the streets and neighborhoods of Bordertown. From Soho to Dragontooth Hill. From crumbling squats and Mad River Water addiction to Trueblood politics. To music and magic and curses and everything in between. Its an adventure, and a love story, and a Faerie tale all in one. It is awesome - go read it!

Title: Bordertown
Author: roxy_palace
Pairing(s)/Characters: Ray/Mikey, Frank/Gerard (pre-slash), James Dewees, Bob Bryar, OCs, Wolfboy, Sparks
Summary: They left after Elena. She'd always said there would be a sign, and Gerard couldn't help but see her death, her leaving them, as anything but a sign to get the hell out of New Jersey.
Rating: NC-17
Word count: 16, 216
Warnings: Non central-character death, grief, cavalier attitudes to violence, threats of violence, drug use, drying out, accidental drug use which is central to the plot, cavalier attitudes to drug use. Happy endings in spite of these things - this is definitely not Dark!fic but the verse it’s riffing on is quite dark..
Author notes: This is a crossover with the amazing shared universe of Borderlands. Thank you to my beta, gala_apples, who knows canon inside and out and was able to guide me through the streets of Bordertown so i wouldn’t get lost, start a gang war or get dusted trying to go through the gate. There’s no way I could have done this without you! Thank you also to my first reader and beta defect_no9 who is always a joy to me. ILU, doll face!

To my wonderful artist: I am so sorry you didn’t get a writer who knows this lush and wonderful set of stories well - or at all. I wanted to write for you because I loved your art, and when I investigated what Bordertown was I realised it was a frikken wonder I had never read the books before. It is EXACTLY my kind of thing, and possibly the stories I have been waiting for my WHOLE LIFE. I have always loved that idea of worlds overlapping and crazy stuff happening in between.

Also, I was so stoked when I read there’s a story in the Borderlands series called Famous Last words, and also that you can get “dusted” going through the gate if you are not an Elf. AMAZEBALLS! No wonder you wanted a crossover so much!

I was fortunate enough to find gala_apples to help me out, with all the details of verse. She has been amazing with details and research and info about the Borderlands world. Also, she has been super supportive and encouraging, nudging me back on the right path when I wander off into some other mythos or get my elven/elfin mixed up!
Finally, there is a death in the fic, and some confusion about who is dead and a great deal of grieving, but this is not dark!fic and there is a happy ending.

So...

2012-03-15T01:32:03Z

Bandom Reverse Big Bang has been posting for about a week and I still don't have my posting date... Getting anxious as I leave on Tuesday for a trip "across the pond" where the Interwebz will be intermittent and unreliable...

Skippy Fic: Meddle Not

2012-02-15T04:31:52Z

Skippy Valentine Challenge: Meddle Not
Author: amkave
Type of kiss #5: body: calves
Word associated with Valentine's Day #23: courting
Sequel to Sleeping Dragons
Author's Note: Well... This almost fits the challenge? They really aren't quite at the body-part kissing stage... yet. And since it is a courtship, and Carden really does want to kiss Kevin (and Kevin really wants to kiss Carden)...

Carden was packing his satchel for the flight south east of his mountain to the Jonas brothers farm. They were in an out-of-the-way valley near to the center of the Realm - off the beaten path, but easily accessible in his dragon form. As he slipped off the robe to pack it, a sudden wind blew into his cave.

"Hello, Beckett." He said without turning around. "What brings you north?" Carden shifted smoothly to his dragon form.

"The winds tell me interesting stories of you." Beckett said. As a Realm Guardian, and the strongest Weather Mage in living memory, it was entirely possible that his "wind-sense" did report Carden's recent movements. However, it was just as likely that Mage Chiz was the "wind" in this case. Chiz was likely to know of Carden's frequent visits to the edges of the Great Eastern Forest that was Chiz's border to guard. Chiz had his animal friends - and they definitely would have noticed his Dragon form in their territory.

Carden rolled his eyes as he settled the pack securely out of the way of his wings. "You and your winds. I need to get going. You can see yourself out."

"My dear Carden, you've been spotted in the skies over the Realm more in the last four months than in the last eight years - since you took up residence here in the frozen north as a matter of fact! I am delighted, don't get me wrong, but the boy wasn't that ill, was he?" Carden turned to finally face Beckett. Beckett seemed... worried.

"No. But he didn't take the first therapies well. I'm being cautious. That's all." Carden really did not want Beckett to question him too closely about the frequency of his visits to the Jonas farmstead. Kevin's younger brother was finally gaining weight, and his color was better. He was still scrawny - but Carden was pleased with his progress. That he was also pleased the visits necessitated him spending time with the whole family, and Kevin in particular, was something he kept to himself.

For all his bumbling obliviousness, Kevin was surprisingly intelligent. And compassionate. And hardworking. And if he didn't stop listing Kevin's virtues he'd give himself away to Beckett of all people. Carden was a Dragon Mage, one of the most powerful Mages living - and he was also hopelessly besotted by one innocent curly-headed farmboy. He'd kick himself for being a sap, but he was going to see Kevin in a couple of hours. If he could get rid of Beckett.

Beckett's eyes narrowed a bit. "That's all?" an elegant eyebrow rose. "Are you sure?"

Carden huffed a breath and let a tiny lick of flame accompany it in warning. "I'm sure," he growled. "Nick is healing well. A little underweight still, but he will be fine." The moment he said it he knew it was a misstep. That he knew the boy's name and used it was a flag. One he hoped Beckett would let go.

No such luck.

The speculative gleam was back in Beckett's eyes. "Nick, huh? Is he as adorably fluffy as his brother?" He smirked a little.

Carden growled a little and extended his wings before leaping off the cliff, leaving Beckett behind.

"HEY! I WAS TALKING TO YOU!" Beckett's voice echoed and faded as Carden pulled strongly away. Beckett could follow him without much trouble by wind riding, but that was much slower than Carden could travel. He'd pay for that, he knew, except he couldn't get too worked up about it... Kevin was waiting.

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

Kevin was intent on the plowing when a shadow fell on him and just as quickly passed him by. Glancing up, the sleek bronze body of the dragon wheeling down from the heights made his eyes light up.

In the distance, his younger brother Nick burst out of the small farmhouse heading to the empty paddock at a fast clip. Joe, his other younger brother exited the barn and stood watching the dragon come in to land.

All three brothers liked the Mage. He was grumpy and ill-tempered at best, rude and uncouth at worst, but he'd saved Nick's life. That gave him an immediate out for polite society manners. Polite society could hang. Nick was nearly as active as he had been before the illness sapped his strength.

Kevin unhitched the plow from the horse, leaving it in the middle of the partially plowed field. He led the horse to the water trough tying it close by with the long reins, leaving the horse ample grazing and water and a bit of shade. Horse taken care of, Kevin headed toward the paddock where Carden had landed.

When he got there, Carden was already in his man-shape wearing the loose robe he packed, speaking seriously to Nick. He had one hand on the nape of Nick's neck and the other cradled the side of his head as he looked into Nick's eyes. Most likely they were discussing how Nick was feeling. Since midwinter when Carden had finished the series of healings on him, Nick had regained weight, energy, and color. If the intimate way Carden was touching Nick made Kevin want, well, that was really no ones business but his.

Both Kevin and Joe had watched Nick's slow recovery with growing hope and joy. That Carden visited every seven days without fail warmed Kevin's heart, and he found himself anticipating the Dragon Mage's arrival. Over the months Carden spent more and more time with the brothers, staying to share their evening meal more often than not.

That each leave-taking made Kevin a little more melancholy, a little sadder, a little less likely to smile or laugh. Well. No one had noticed. Kevin hoped no one noticed. Carden was a Dragon Mage and a Realm Guardian besides. Kevin was a farmer. And that was really all there was to it. Neither had a place they could fit in each other's world.

Eventually, Carden would no longer feel that Nick warranted checking up on; that Nick was completely healthy. At that point, Carden would go back to whatever he usually did in the lonely Northern Mountains. And Kevin would get back to farming, here in the lowlands near the Great Eastern Forest. The farm was all they had, and it needed all three of them to keep it going.

But, happily, the time when Carden would taper off his visits hadn't yet come, and the Dragon Mage was here again right on time.

Carden turned from speaking softly to Nick and lifted his carryall from the grassy ground. When he looked up, he noticed Kevin standing at the fence, and he smiled. Just a slight upward lift of his lip, but there was warmth in his eyes.

Kevin admired his slender physique. The robe had a series of buttons on the left running from shoulder to mid-thigh. As Carden walked, his bare legs kicked out from about his knee downward all the way to his bare feet.

Kevin thought the best and worst part of the robe was the tantalizing glimpses he got of Carden's knees and calves. In the deepest part of the night he admitted to himself he'd love nothing more than to start at Carden's highly arched feet and work his way up with fingertips and lips - spending a long time tracing the lines of those legs he'd only ever gotten to see - and see very briefly. He knew that there were faint trails of shimmering bronze scales on Carden's skin. He wondered what they would taste like.

At that point, he'd restlessly tumble from his bed to pace, or leave the house and cool off in the chill night air. Sleep was becoming an issue.

Neither of his brothers commented on his broken rest, or the way he looked increasingly tired as the days dragged on, waiting for Carden to make his appearance to check on Nick.

Kevin smiled as Carden neared.

"Hey, kid." Carden said. "He's a lot better."

"I know." Kevin's smile faded.

"Nick says you haven't been sleeping. Something wrong?" Carden's tone was brusque, but there was a thread of worry as well.

"No. Everything's fine. Just." Kevin wiped at his sweaty brow. "Lot of work. The farm and all."

"Uh huh." Carden did not look convinced but he didn't question Kevin again.

Kevin led the way to the small farmhouse the brothers shared. He washed up before settling in the small kitchen to watch as Carden mixed the healing potions for Nick.

The rest of the visit was both wonderful and awful. Carden seemed to be paying more attention to him and he touched Kevin more then he ever had. Kevin grew increasingly confused as the time for Carden to leave approached.

As Carden packed up his supplies, he turned to Kevin and grasped his arm unexpectedly.

"Listen kid, I may be way off base here but..." Carden's eyes stared into his searchingly.

"M-m-mage Carden?" Kevin stuttered, tugged off balance from Carden's hard hold. He was scared, suddenly, of something he couldn't name.

"Oh, kid." Carden's gaze softened and his hand gentled. "C'mere."

Kevin was enfolded into the sweetest embrace. Carden was warm, and smelt spicy. Dragon. Warm. Mmmmm… Kevin thought hazily. With a soft moan he gave himself up to it and Carden was kissing him. A slow, soft, wet press of lips, the quick edge of teeth and limber swipe of tongue. Kevin wound his arms around him and cuddled close.

Pulling away slightly, Carden pressed his forehead against Kevin's. "Nick doesn't need such close monitoring, you know. Hasn't since the second month. I've been wanting... but I thought you liked the waiting as much as I did. The slow build. The knowing it was only a matter of time. But... Maybe you didn't know that?" Carden sounded unsure. "Maybe you didn't understand what was really going on. You look so tired. You're thinner. Paler. Unhappy." A gentle hand brushed at the curls at his temple. "I hate seeing you so unhappy and trying so hard to hide it."

"I... didn't understand." Kevin admitted softly. "I thought... this was something out of reach."

"It isn't. You just have to want it. Want me. Be sure, Kevin." Carden let go of him completely and stepped back. "Dragons are possessive. We tend to keep what is ours."

Kevin bowed his head for a long moment, twisting his hands together. When he looked back up at Carden his eyes were full of tears and hope. "Keep me. Please?"

Yes.

SDS Holiday Fic Exchange (pinch hit): Like Tumbled in the Mad River

2011-12-30T02:11:47Z

Title: Like Tumbled in the Mad River
Author: amkave
Recipient: kalimai
Word Count: ~1600
Prompt: I loooove AUs! I am kind of obsessed with AU where the Jobros didn't end on Disney, turned into an Indie rock band. Also I love all the Kevin got warped by the Way bros because they stayed in NJ. I love Magical Au, crack, all the AU in the world as long as they're happy ending.
Warnings: None. Very tame. Pre-slash
Author's Notes: Okay - so I hit the "magical AU" and possibly the "crack" part of the prompt... Other than that, I'm not really sure. This got wordy and unwieldy, but I think I've cut out the boring bits... Hope you enjoy!
Summary: Between working at the Hard Luck Cafe, and shelving books at Elsewhere, Kevin has to remember one thing. Anything could happen in Bordertown.

Twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, Kevin washed dishes in the Hard Luck Café on Ho Street. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays he worked part time at Elsewhere Books. Sparks gave him the job one day when he’d wandered in with his guitar. Back when he was still new to Bordertown and hadn’t, as they say, shook the dust of the World out of his hair.

He’d spent the first afternoon in Elsewhere entertaining a gaggle of kids under the age of five and their parents. A mixed group of human and halfie. He hadn’t met Wolfboy until he’d come back the next day when Sparks told him he could have the job. Frankly, Wolfboy had scared the hell out of him for weeks until he realized Wolfboy, while being Bordertown’s only resident full-time werewolf, was also a complete pussycat. Kevin learned to sign at the University Without Floors just so Wolfboy could “talk” to him without making him stop what he was doing to go read a note.

When he first got to Bordertown, Kevin fell in with the Diggers and stayed at their Carmine Street Safe House. He’d shied away from the gangs - both the Pack and the Wharf Rats gave him the creeps, and he was too new for any of the mixed gangs to be interested. The Diggers weren’t too bad - they were a little “feed the world” crunchy granola for him, but he appreciated the place to stay, and didn’t mind pitching in.

Kevin had brothers back in the World, and even if he’d left (run away, his traitorous mind supplied in a voice that sounded remarkably like Nick at his pouting pain-in-the-neck little brother best), he never minded doing his fair share of chores. The Diggers appreciated his work ethic, but theirs was a transitory place at best. He knew he couldn’t stay.

After he’d landed the job at the Hard Luck he’d started looking for a place of his own. Once he’d also got the job at Elsewhere, he’d lucked into rooming with some guys Wolfboy knew. They were one of Bordertown’s up-and-coming bands - the Killjoys. Four guys, two of them brothers, in a three room squat in Old Town with cold running water and spotty electricity.

Kevin had scrounged up three large soup pots and if he had enough electricity to bring them to a boil, he could half fill the tub, mix in some cold water and take a bath. He usually managed that about twice a week - after his stint at the Hard Luck.

The guys liked him because he cleaned the squat, was quiet, understood the nuances of creativity - didn’t interrupt them when they were hit by the flow, and didn’t take up much room - or complain that they were a bunch of filthy pigs (which, well, anyone who’d ever spent time in the squat before Kevin always marveled at the after Kevin effect).

Plus, he was gainfully employed with actual jobs. Their last roommate had moved on leaving them in a bit of a lurch.

Kevin actually liked each and every one of his roommates. Ray had epic hair - even curlier than Kevin’s own. The brothers Way were hilarious and earnest and absent-minded - especially with their coffee cups - Kevin kept rescuing cups from the weirdest places to dump out and wash. And Frank, as crazy and ruthless as he could come across, he was also unbearably sweet sometimes.

Kevin liked his roommates. He kind of wished they would bathe a little more regularly, but other than that, their small squat felt like home more and more, and he thought of the World and his brothers less and less. Which played havoc with his overworked sense of guilt fiercely, but he repressed that as much as he could.

Kevin brought leftovers home from the Hard Luck twice a week (usually the leftovers didn’t last long, but Kevin liked that he could feed his roommates regularly). Wolfboy always held back one copy of the newest issue of the Stick Wizard comic book so Kevin could have it (he left it lying around the squat for his roommates to enjoy).

In a strange way he figured he used his roommates as stand ins for his brothers (even if his roommates were all older than him). Kevin had always needed to take care of something. And his roommates had no problem with him trying to take care of them.

In exchange, they took him out to see Bordertown. Ray taught music three days a week at the University Without Floors, Mikey Way, the younger of the Way brothers, hung around the Letterville Music Shoppe so much they gave him a job. Just stocking shelves, or helping customers find things a couple of times a week. Gerard Way, Mikey’s older brother, a former Wharf Rat and current street artist - paints and chalks didn’t last long on Bordertown streets due to the weirdness of the magic of the Border, but Gerard was fairly philosophical about it. He said at least this way he’d never run out of “canvas.” Frank, well, no one knew what Frank did during the day. He had a vast network of friends and always seemed to be off helping someone or fixing something. But he always had new guitar strings, which Kevin appreciated, as his guitar was nearly the only thing he had left from the World.

At least three nights a week, they took him to the clubs to hear music, or play music. Danceland or the Dancing Ferret, for the more popular sound, or club hopping on Carnival Street. Gerard took him to the galleries starting with the Mock Avenue established galleries and moving onto Carmine Street where the up and coming artist show their work in hole-in-the-wall shops - or even set up right on the street.

Kevin was happy in Bordertown, he found a place that felt a little like it could be home. He fit better here than he ever did in the World or with his family, where his secrets and private shame seemed to choke him with unhappiness. Here, he was just Kevin, Hard Luck dishwasher, Elsewhere Books employee, occasional busker in Fare-You-Well Park. He roomed with (and took care of - even if they would laugh at that) the Killjoys, an up-and-coming B-town band.

He should have figured it was all going too well.

Spring in Bordertown was different then spring in the World. The magic eddies leaking from the Realm went a little... weird in spring. Usually the magic left humans alone, affecting only electronics and technology, making the Bordertown “grid” unstable. The converse was also true, that the World technology affected magic in wildly bizarre ways. Cautionary tales to newbies always included a discrete finger pointed in Wolfboy’s direction. No one could untangle the curse affecting him, although Kevin knew Wolfboy was surprisingly okay with that.

Kevin was busking in Fare-You-Well Park when he was caught by a strong magical current. Reality warped around him for a sharp moment and his vision went purple and swimmy before he passed out.

When he came to, he was looking up into concerned eyes set in a slightly scary face. Kevin’s first thought was wow. hot. The guy smirked. His second thought was ow as he tried to move.

“Whoa, kid, don’t move. You got knocked for a loop, huh?” With this, Kevin realized the guy was holding on to him and flushed.

Mmmmm... Pretty. the voice was deep and rough and it didn’t sound like his own interior voice. It didn’t even sound like the voices of his conscious - which sounded less like Jiminy Cricket and more like his brother Nick, or sometimes, when he was feeling especially ashamed of himself the voice was the smooth tones of his father. Interestingly, his you know better voice never sounded like his brother Joe.

</i>Geez, kid do you ever stop?</i> the disembodied voice came again. Kevin frantically tried to find the source - disembodied voices were very disconcerting! Especially when they didn’t sound like his usual voices!

”Well, that answers the question if it was two-way.” The man was peering at him, still smirking. “So. This is kinda weird - even for Bordertown.”

“What?”

“This little mental telepathy thing we seem to have going on.” The man shifted so he was sitting more comfortably, and gently took Kevin’s guitar setting it aside carefully. “You got a name kid?”

“Of course I have a name! I’m Kevin. Who are you and what do you mean about the telepathy comment?” Kevin was indignant.

Call me Mike. We got whammied by some kind of blast from the Realm, and now I can hear your thoughts and you can hear mine. Do you SEE my lips moving? I ain’t a ventriloquist. Kevin looked, and indeed, the man’s lips were not moving, and his eyes were scary-intense.

Kevin’s vision swam and black spots started to dance before the guy whacked him hard between the shoulder blades Breathe, kid, geez.

Kevin sucked in an enormous breath. The man - Mike - nodded to his guitar.

“You’re pretty good on that. I was listening before you swooned.” The smirk was back.

Kevin felt the blush rush to his cheeks. He refused to think that smirk was attractive in any way shape or form!

The smirk grew. You’re thinking kind of loud, kid. Nice to know I’m so definitely not attractive.

Kevin groaned softly, humiliated.

“Kid - Kevin. Why don’t you let me take you home. Maybe between the two of us we’ll know someone who can turn this off - or at least mute it, right?”

Kevin nodded in agreement. There was a Bordertown blessing, or warning, or maybe it was a curse - at the moment Kevin wasn’t too sure.

Anything could happen in Bordertown.

SDS Holiday Fic Exchange (omg I committed fic!): Sleeping Dragons

2011-12-21T18:51:50Z

Title: Sleeping Dragons
Author: amkave
sodamnskippy Mid-Winter-Holiday-of-Choice Exchange gift for: chalcopyrite
Original Prompt:Any combination of: unlikely happenings, fluff and/or angst, self-doubt, love being easy, love being hard, cuddling, endings that are happy or at least getting there. I love very-close-to-canon fics, totally out-there AUs (see also: unlikely happenings), and all the shades in between. My dream fic is something the author was happy to write!
Author’s Notes: This is probably closest to the "unlikely happenings" request... There is a larger story that frames this, but I trimmed most of it away as "boring" and "trite" and "tl;dr." So what I ended up with was the prologue in the form of a summary, and the most interesting bit of the fic (in my opinion) - the stuff in the middle. Technically pre-slash. Many thanks to gliese581 for the speedy and thorough beta.
Word Count: ~1500

Summary: If this was a fairytale, there would be a Prince and a, well, perhaps not a Princess, knowing the proclivities of the main characters, but maybe another Prince or noble, or some kind of commoner with a heart of gold. There would be a quest to undertake, a dragon to slay, and an evil queen to thwart. After overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles, there would be a single perfect kiss, and a happily ever after.

This isn’t that kind of fairytale. There are no evil queens. There may or may not be a quest, but not a “seemingly insurmountable” one. There is a dragon, however, but not one to be slain. In fact, our heroes would likely object, possibly violently, if anyone tried slaying him.

And neither of our plucky heroes have Royal blood. One might have a heart of gold, but that is really neither here nor there. So if you, dear reader, were expecting that kind of fairytale, I am afraid you will be sadly disappointed.

~***~
"Are you going to drop me into the Western Wastes?" Kevin asked the shiny bronze Dragon tremulously. He’d finally made it to the top of the path he’d set out on and come face to… well, not face precisely, the Dragon was far too large for that.

"Do you want me to drop you into the Western Wastes?" now the Dragon seemed interested as it peered at Kevin from its great height.

"um... no?" Kevin’s eyes darted around the outside of the cave, trying to find a better hiding place should the Dragon attack, other than throwing himself off the side of a mountain.

"Hmmmm..." a curl of smoke escaped its left nostril with the considering sound. "You don’t sound too sure of that."

Kevin un-hunched his shoulders and stood straighter. His brothers were counting on him. Each of the mages he’d sought out told him the same. Carden was the Mage he wanted. "No." he sounded stronger, more sure of himself for a moment. "I have come to seek an audience with Mage Carden." He winced as his voice went up at the end - thin-sounding and wobbly.

"Have you?" The dragon seemed amused.

Kevin took a deep breath and continued the speech he'd prepared all the way up the mountain. "My younger brother has fallen ill so I have traveled far, and sought the wisdom of the Guardian Mages of the Realm. Siska of the Center, Beckett of the South, Butcher of the West, and Chiz of the East have sent me here to consult with Carden of the North. I beseech..."

"You really don’t have to do that." If a Dragon could be said to have winced, this one did.

Kevin took a deep breath. "I beseech thee..."

"Really." The dragon breathed a little more smoke as if to punctuate its point. "No beseeching necessary."

Kevin stopped, his speech completely derailed. "Its not? I don't?"

"Nope. I really prefer it when people talk to me instead of at me. It’s more civilized." The Dragon had hunkered down so its head was closer to Kevin’s. "Here's a thought. Why don't you sit down."

"Really?" Kevin squeaked.

"Sit." It breathed. Kevin sat. Right where he stood on the dirt path. A small dust cloud enveloped him and he sneezed. The Dragon huffed, and Kevin got the uncomfortable idea the Dragon was laughing at him. Kevin was beginning to think the Dragon wasn’t going to eat him after all. He'd start his speech over, except the Dragon did not want "beseeching." This left him without a single thing to say. So he sat on the ground and he stared at the Dragon. It was a very pretty dragon, as dragons go. Large and bronze with razor sharp onyx talons. And smoke was still curling from its teeth-encrusted mouth.

Perhaps the Dragon wouldn’t eat him because it wasn't hungry. Maybe it had already feasted on the Mage Carden, Kevin thought. "You didn’t already feast on the Mage Carden, did you?" Mentally Kevin smacked himself. Not the way to endear yourself to the very large, very dangerous DRAGON.

"What? No!" The Dragon seemed startled. He'd been admiring the boy who'd sought him out. And he wondered what his friends and fellow Mages had told the boy about him. Obviously, they'd left out the pertinent fact that the Mage Carden was a Dragon-Mage. "What gave you that ridiculous notion?"

~***~

"um. i don’t know?" The boy had very large eyes, and very fluffy hair. Carden kind of wanted to pet it.

"Hmph." A tiny lick of flame flickered at his snout in a fit of pique. "The idea. It is rude to eat creatures you can converse with. Besides I could not consume the Mage Carden. I AM the Mage Carden." He pulled himself up to his full height and shook out his wings as if to emphasize the point.

"oh. um... good?" The boy seemed bewildered. He'd never heard of a Dragon that was also a Mage before.

Carden sighed. "Why don’t you just tell me why you've sought me out to "beseech" at?" Humans were so tiresome. At least this one was pretty to look at, although Carden wasn't too sure how bright he was. "And maybe you could start with your name, kid."

"Oh!" The boy flushed a very pretty rose color. "I am named Kevin. My younger brother is ill, and well, Mage Siska mentioned the possibility of one of his brethren possibly knowing how to help him. Possibly."

Sisky. Well, Carden thought, at least I know who to flambé. "Mage Siska, hmmmm?"

"Yes. He sent me to Mage Chiz, who sent me to Mage Butcher. Mage Butcher sent me to-"

"Beckett." It figured that meddlesome Beckett had his spidery fingers all over this boy searching him out.

"Yes. Mage Beckett mentioned that Carden - that you - knew more about healing than any of them."

"I bet he did." Carden muttered to himself. Technically Beckett was correct. Dragon-Mages were usually quite skilled in the healing arts. Beckett's skills leant more toward weather-witching, which was why he took up the Guardian position at the border of the South Sea. But any of the Realm Guardians could do some healing. "They sent you on a regular quest, they did." Carden mused.

"Mage Beckett sent you a note." The boy - Kevin ventured softly. He had pulled out of his traveling bag a parchment sealed with wax. It was a bit grimy from the journey, and one corner had been crumpled. Kevin saw this and hurriedly tried to straighten it out.

"Very well." Carden replied and his form shimmered and shrank until a man not too much older than Kevin stood where the dragon had been. A very naked man.

Kevin "eeped" and swiftly scrambled to his feet and turned around blushing violently, but not before he noticed the faint shimmer of bronze scales spread across the man’s shoulders and chest and arrowing down his body. Mage Carden was as attractive in his human form as he was in his dragon.

Carden smirked as he slowly meandered over to his workbench to pull on a robe. "So. Kid. Tell me about your brother."

"What?" Kevin turned back to Carden before he'd fully covered up. Kevin caught a glimpse of a soft bronze shimmer down Carden’s spine ending at the swell of his ass.

"When you were babbling earlier you said your brother was ill. What are his symptoms?" Now fully covered by a conveniently placed robe, Carden lifted the note that Kevin still clutched, forgotten, in his hand. Carden noticed the slight glaze to Kevin's eyes, and his focus was somewhat lower than he expected. Huh. Interesting. He quickly read the contents of the letter.

Beckett was all flowery language, as usual. Never using three words when he could use fifty. Beckett was worried that Carden had hidden himself away, and what he needed was to get out of his cave and live a little. The very fluffy and adorable Kevin needed his help. He snorted and tuned back into what Kevin was saying about his brother's mysterious malady.

As Kevin spoke about his younger brother becoming more listless instead of truly ill as time went on. It had started in the winter, but wasn't truly worrisome until midsummer. The lack of proper attention to his chores ending in small accidents and injuries that took forever to heal. The ever-present nausea and lack of appetite. Of the brothers watching, helpless as one of them seemed to waste away before their eyes. The decision that sent Kevin, the eldest, on this quest.

Carden hmmed quietly as Kevin spoke. He started filling a satchel with jars and vials as he listened. As the litany of symptoms and observances came to a stuttering halt, Carden packed well-worn sturdy clothing at the top of the bag.

"Okay. Hold this." He handed Kevin the packed bag and stripped off the robe. Kevin "eeped" again, his eyes widened almost comically, as Carden shifted back to his dragon form. "I'll need directions when we get close. Climb up."

"What?" Kevin clutched the bag Carden had given him.

"C'mon kid. Climb up. In order to treat your brother I have to see him. So we've got to go there. I sure ain't walkin' and you're little enough I can carry you."

Kevin was hesitant when he reached out to touch Carden. Carden noticed his hand shaking a little as he looked for handholds. He crouched down to give Kevin an easier time climbing onto his back. He tested the rotation of his wings as Kevin lay on his belly between them.

"Don't grab my wings - my back spines are sturdy enough to grab hold of. Ready?" Carden glanced over his shoulder at Kevin.

Kevin swallowed hard and nodded. His grip firmed and he settled the bags away from Carden's wings. Carden took a few experimental dancing steps out of the cave keeping an eye on how Kevin moved with him. His great wings snapped open as he reached the edge of the path and he leapt, the thermals sweeping up the mountain lifting them higher into the sky, taking Kevin home.

Writer's Block: B.Y.O.B. Holidays

2011-12-14T19:21:55Z

It used to be "It's a Wonderful Life" - but I'm more partial to "The Bishop's Wife" these days. Or "White Christmas." For a more recent/modern movie I like "Love Actually."

...or for a movie that takes place around Christmas but isn't actually a traditional Christmas Movie you can't go wrong with "Die Hard."

I know this is primarily my art journal...

2011-12-03T15:24:07Z

but I am currently actually writing a fandom mid-winter-holiday-of-choice fic for an exchange. And for kicks I did this meme on the story so far (currently just over a thousand words):

I write like
William Gibson

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!

Huh. Unexpected.

Contemplating...

2011-09-29T20:17:51Z

I have the opportunity to attend a concert at the end of October. I must decide if this is something I would like to do - even though I would be attending it alone.

And I can't actually remember the last concert I went to at a venue like this one. On the one hand, I want to go. I've never seen the band live. On the other - being surrounded by complete strangers makes me crowd-claustrophobic. On the PRO list, the venue has a balcony area that is supposedly less... fraught than the floor is likely to be. On the CON - I'd be going by myself - and see above comment about crowds. Big crowds of strangers tend to freak me out a little bit.

On the PRO side - if I can get over myself I'll likely have a pretty good time - besides, the main social anxiety is lessened by the fact I will likely never see the other concert-goers ever again. Who cares what they think, right? CON - it has literally been DECADES since I've been to a rock concert. I wouldn't even have the first clue what to wear.

Decisions, decisions.

More Art!

2011-09-16T21:05:18Z

So I am apparently failing at the whole blogging thing this month. Anyway - the last (first) story I made art for went up at the beginning of the week and I have been busy with RL and missed putting up a link!

So sorry! Here is the link to the story (The Commoner and The Scribe):

http://gala-apples.livejournal.com/322591.html

Written by the very talented gala_apples.

And a link to the art itself:

http://gala-apples.livejournal.com/323072.html

I actually had a ton of fun with the sketches for this piece - because the tee-shirt was such a major bit - and it kind of shows what I love about fanon!Bob. Kind of a take them as they come with a sort of long-suffering patience because they are his favorites. And also the pairing caught me immediately. There isn't a lot of this pairing out there. So yeah. Rainbows and unicorns and all.

♥

Art post

2011-09-05T15:50:44Z

For one of the BBB wave 2 stories I made art for (the other hasn't been posted yet).

http://chibifukurou.livejournal.com/47030.html

Mildly (very mildly) annoyed the author did not include my artist's notes in the post. As an artist, that sort of statement is incredibly interesting to me. Lots of artists don't like to put words down as to what they do, how they do, or why. But I find if an artist is willing to talk about their work - even just mention what medium they use - it makes a connection. So with that said - the artist's notes for "Two Part Harmony" which I felt should be included with the art:

The original is pen and ink and acrylic paint on canvas paper. I kind of like the mood of this - since the story is dark in mood, I wanted to have a thread of hope running through it. Pete is seated in a defensible spot next to his Sentinel - which seems to be what he needs the most. Layering the colors were the best part for me - once the ink was down on the page. Enjoy!

Oh, Facebook!

2011-08-08T06:00:49Z

Have you ever had one of those discussions through a social media site *cough* facebook *cough* with someone you know, but not well, and suddenly realize you are in two COMPLETELY different conversations talking about WILDLY different things?

Yeah. Me too. Going to go beat my head (gently) against the wall now. how the heck do I get myself into these kinds of things?

bbb wave two...

2011-08-05T20:47:26Z

Ugh July-into-August is kicking my ass so much more than May and June put together. But I am working toward having a completed art bit for BBB wave two by the end of this weekend. And really really looking forward to escaping at the end of August for a week of kicking back and relaxing with nothing more strenuous to do than go fly a kite.

Also exploring twitter a bit. Not so sure its for me, yet, but maybe.

And the last bit of BBB Wave One art went up last week

2011-06-30T18:34:44Z

The third and final story I made art for BBB wave one was:

Worse Things Have Happened at Sea by prettykitty_aya.

Link to masterpost:

http://prettykitty-fic.livejournal.com/26885.html

Link to art:

http://prettykitty-fic.livejournal.com/26050.html

More Art!

2011-06-10T18:39:19Z

The second BandomBigBang story I made art for went up today...

girlmarauders' fic "Twisted By Design":

Link to the art itself: http://girlmarauders.livejournal.com/10853.html

Link to the masterpost so you can read the whole story: http://girlmarauders.livejournal.com/11313.html

Now I'm just waiting on the one with the mystery author!

amkave @ 2011-06-06T20:21:00

2011-06-07T00:20:04Z

The first bbb I did art for went up today!

"More Than You Could Ever Know" by the very amazing moku_youbi.

Here is the masterpost:

http://moku-youbi.livejournal.com/101484.html

And if you want to go straight to the art and mix post:

http://moku-youbi.livejournal.com/99124.html#cutid1

BBB

2011-06-03T17:40:19Z

So I knew who I made art for for my first BBB choice - the author's name was on it, and it was "another in a series" - which I loved, since I read the first stories in the series and loved them. It is kind of the reason I chose the one I did - I had a feeling, plus I really enjoyed the author.

My second pick was a blind pick because I chose from "what was left" after I submit the art for number one. I have NO IDEA who the author is for the second story. But I got it done to my satisfaction and sent it in and also mentioned I would be happy to pinch-hit for whatever needed.

I got a pinch-hit assignment - and I have to say it was not something I would have chosen out of the story synopsis (mostly because it is a timeline fic in the early days and I'm not as familiar with early days of the band), but I think the art turned out well. I figured out who the author was, mostly by chance (and man, did the band wear ANYTHING but black in the early days?).

So of the three, I know who the author is of two of them. I am really really curious to see who the author is of the third and also the read the whole thing through since when I got the rough draft it had a whole bunch of "insert scene that does x here" kind of not!fic text included.

So all in all, I was pretty happy with my whole experience with bbb this year. Can't wait to read all the stories, though!

amkave @ 2011-05-27T15:40:00

2011-05-27T19:39:28Z

Have turned in two bbb claims. Three "bits" of art for each.

Now we just have to wait until posting begins...

FYI...

2011-05-25T14:30:25Z

I fell asleep both thinking about my contribution to BBB art, and also listening to "Vices and Virtues."

It made for some extremely weird, extremely vivid dreams.

I'm just saying.

ART FOR ME!!!!

2010-12-29T15:25:15Z

putting a link here just because...

My mystery artist drew a batfamily Addams Family fusion. So awesome!

http://community.livejournal.com/yuletart/103506.html

FYI

2010-12-27T20:44:28Z

In case anybody was wondering, the new MCR album is pretty good to shovel snow to.

And now, whenever I hear it I will think of 17 degree weather, and a foot of snow. Odd, for a summery album, but there you go. Can't have everything!