This is technically the Valentines Day blog post of the year, due to the day itself landing slap bang in the middle of two blog posts. So consider it an early Valentines gift from me to you all.
Got three special things to share today (okay, one of them is just the Valentines themed comic, but I'm still counting it!). You can find them all below, starting with the aforementioned Comic Tales of Brennan and Riz!
The Comic Tales of Brennan and Riz
Not to big myself up, but I think I nailed Riz in that 2nd panel. Also worth noting that is probably the world's largest box of chocolates right there...not quite sure that Luna will get them however!
I know I linked to it last week, but it's worth doing again. This is what Riz meant when ge spoke about last year. Can't blame Luna really.
Valentines Day
Now for the second special item on the agenda...A brand new piece of Daemon Soul themed artwork to celebrate the day! Or should that be, an Avalon themed piece?
Yes, that's Robyn and Isabelle depicted here. You've already seen a few pictures of Isabelle over the course of this blog, but this is Robyns first appearance, as I was able to come up with a look I didn't instantly hate. For those who don't know, the pair hail from the Daemon Soul stories via Avalon (the United Kingdoms answer to the demonic problem), but they also made their short story debut two years ago for Valentines Day (then got a follow up after showing their first meeting). Art isn’t brilliant as I can't seem to capture their ages right, but it's also the first time I've ever tried anything like this to be fair.
If I share any future art of them, I'll probably be in their more usual combat gear attire.
Now, let’s move onto that third special thing shall we?
Short Diversions: Bleeding Hearts part 1
I was in two minds about restarting Short Diversions so soon after finishing Phantom Dawn but, once I got the idea, I couldn't help myself. In fact, I couldn't help myself so much that I had to split the story up as what should have been a short introduction scene escalated. Hope you enjoy it!
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Bleeding Hearts
1.
The girl looked terrified as she slowly walked into the office. Every step was a trembling one, and she had her arms crossed over her chest, holding tightly to a large notebook, the cover of which had been drawn on fully. She was dressed in smart looking clothes and her appearance was well maintained.
“Hello?” she called out carefully, her voice coming out quite meek. “My name is Cynthia? We spoke on the phone briefly earlier…” Her mannerisms reeked of someone who wasn’t sure they belonged where they were even standing.
“It is an honour Miss Cynthia. I’m so sorry to hear about your recent bereavement,” A male voice replied. He sounded extremely confident, but also reassuring.
“Uh, I…” Cynthia didn’t know what to say.
“You’re in a safe space here, say what you want to say, and not what you feel you have to,” the man spoke softly, but the lack of any physical presence was still off putting, something that Cynthia was struggling to deal with. Her host seemed to realise this, and quickly corrected it.
“Don’t worry, you’re not talking to a ghost here,” A chair at the end of the room turned around, a man in his late thirties was sat there, brown unkempt hair gave him a dashing appearance, and his crystal blue eyes seemed to transfix Cynthia, putting her at ease almost immediately.
“You’re Gabriel?”
“In the flesh, come and sit. Tell me everything you want to tell me. I won’t judge, at all,” Gabriel motioned his hands to get the expression across.
Cynthia obeyed and went over to the empty chair that was sat opposite of him. The room they were in was empty aside from the seats, she was positive that he was only in this building for their meeting, and that he’d be gone as soon as everything was over. It added a weird sense of liminality that she was experiencing. Despite all this, she found her voice.
“You said on the phone that you would consider any deal? Is that true?”
“I wouldn’t have said it otherwise.”
“What I would like…”
“My dear, ‘what I would like’, isn’t going to cut it. What I want to hear from you, is ‘what I want’! Tell me what you really desire right now, what is the one thing that you could change if you could. I’m the man who can make miracles happen, so don’t hold back. If you want to get selfish, get selfish. You’d be surprised by my results.” Gabriel rested his head on his right hand.
Bolstered by what he’d said, Cynthia handed over her notebook to him.
“What I want is in there…” She said, trailing off. “You’ll know it when you see it…” She watched him keenly as he looked through the notebook, till his eyes fixed on the one page.
“Oh…Oh I see, and you’re one hundred percent sure that this is what you want? As I can make this happen,” A smile crossed Gabriel’s face. “Not going to lie, I assumed you’d just want revenge for what happened to your family.”
“...Yes…This is what I want,” Cynthia had to pluck up all her courage just to say those words. “I’m prepared to do anything…But you’re wrong, this isn’t for revenge, this isn’t about me, or about what happened to me at all.”
“Such conviction. I’m sorry for doubting the reason, it was just curiosity on my part. Doesn’t change much though, I’ll still make sure it is done…Now, as for payment…”
Cynthia tensed up, afraid of what he was about to say.
“...What is it?”
“No need to be so tense! I’ve actually got good news to share. Consider what you want…” Gabriel looked down again at the notepad, a flicker of a sinister expression crossing his face for an instant. “I’m willing to do this job for free!”
“F-For free?”
“Yes, that is what I said after all. I can see how much this really means to you, and I wouldn’t want to burden you any further with my silly ideas of payment at a time like this. Especially not when you’re already grieving. Doing this deed for you, restoring that smile of yours…That’ll be payment enough!” Gabriel shot her a warm smile, looking for all intents and purposes that he had her best interests at heart. “Plus, I know what’s really driving you to do this. First love, am I right?”
Cynthia turned away to try and hide her surging emotions from just hearing that word.
“W-We we both want this! I know it! We just need the chance…To be free….”
“There’s no greater gift to love than freeing someone, ain’t that the truth,” Gabriel nodded sagely. “As I say though, that’s why I’m going to do this for free. Soon all those horrible memories of yours will be in the past.”
In a flash, Cynthia saw a spark of horrible intent in Gabriel’s blue eyes but she looked past it, now being so near her goal.
“T-Thank you! W-When will you do it?”
“Is there a time you want me to handle it?” Gabriel asked back.
“As soon as possible, if it’s okay? I don’t want to leave him in that house for a moment longer..”
“Hmm, I am booked for an appointment this afternoon, a very important one, but I do have an employee free that can handle a job of this magnitude.”
“You won’t be doing this yourself?”
“Normally, I would my dear, especially one of this calibre. However, my hands are tied, as this particular client, does not like to reschedule. However, you have nothing to fear, the person I’m thinking of will handle all this with finesse. I mean, I’m trusting you want it handled cleanly without anyone else getting caught in the crossfire, right?” Gabriel postured like he was explaining the most rational thing.
“I-If you can vouch for them, and they can get the job done right away…”
“Oh their diary is empty, they’ll get right on this. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll call them. It was a pleasure, Cynthia. Your dream will come true today, I guarantee it,” Gabriel stood, and bowed.
“O-Okay! Shall I leave that page?” She asked, pointing at the notebook.
“If you wouldn’t mind, I need to go over the details with my friend.” Gabriel tore the page out and handed the rest of the notebook back.
“T-Thank you again, for doing this,” Cynthia said before running out of the office. She had to compose herself once she was back on the street, amongst other people. She could hardly believe what had just transpired, or what she had arranged. The weight of her actions hadn’t hit her yet, but she kept telling herself that this was the right thing to do, that everything had been in preparation for this moment.
“Just an employee am I?” A seductive female voice purred from behind Gabriel. “I’d hoped we’d be so much more than that”
“Venus, just the person I wanted to see. Can you do me a personal favour, something I’d be ever so grateful for?” Gabriel turned to the young woman, who was dressed in black like most of his Shadows were. Her outfit was skin tight and her shoulder pads looked like they had horns coming off them that twisted downwards. The only placement of colour came from the purple choker around her neck. Her smile was welcoming, but venomous at the same time, making it clear that she could be playful and spiteful in equal measure. She had brown hair that ran down to the base of her neck while the front most part of it was pink, complimenting her red eyes.
“If it’s a favour for you, how could I say no? You know I dedicate everything I do to you,” She said playfully, putting her arms around Gabriel.
“That’s just what I want to hear. Here, look at this…”
Venus took the page from her beloved's hands. She stared at it for a moment, a devilish delight appearing in her eyes.
“Oh, you do spoil me…. Need me to take care of this right now?” She formed a dagger in her hand, making it appear that she was ready to do what she needed to do.
“Go and have your fun. I’ll be right there once I’ve spoken to War. Prepare a nice scene for me if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all… Anything for you…” Venus leaned in for a kiss, and Gabriel let her kiss his cheek.
“I know you won’t let me down, Venus….” Gabriel smiled as he walked away, already excited for what was about to happen.
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Next part (not finished yet!)
Gabriel fans rejoice! It's been too long since he's graced this blog. As for Venus, she's been mentioned before, but this is her first proper appearance, here's a picture of her if you'd like:
Part 2 will drop soon, depending on when I get it finished. Then you'll all get to see her handiwork for yourselves.
That's all for now,
Till next time...
Keep on writing!
Peter James Martin
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