If You Give an Emperor a Sharpie...

If Aya had a Sharpie, I wouldn't put it past him.

Pretty Things

Oh, Amaya, Amaya... your teenage years were so cute! (27-year-old Amaya in my head conks me one) Huh... wha? Where am I?
To those unfamiliar, this is one of the book character of mine. Look in the tags, and you'll see he's a regular subject.
On related note, long-time regulars of this blog will remember when I first brought up the question: is Amaya androgynous? Well, since then, the answer's pretty much been: yes.

Amaya's Interpersonal Skills

I could say a lot about this one. There are so many funny panels. I have to say my favorite (other than the end) is the "Piss Off" one, or the one where he's avoiding talking with his physician. (The clap, eh?)
For those unfamiliar, Amaya is one my book characters, and a favorite subject. As you can see, he's quite easy to poke fun at.

Oh, Amaya, Amaya...

For any of you familiar with ramblings (most of you), you undoubtedly recognize this face.
For anyone not familiar, this Amaya Ta'al Aalya (the twelfth). He's one of the five primary characters in the book I'm working on. In a nutshell, he's the crown prince of their world, a renowned alcoholic, closeted opium addict, and never ends a night without a woman or man (he doesn't care) in his bed. I would say that he's a musician, but he hasn't played or composed in years (by book's timeline). He delved into his drug and promiscuity-riddled lifestyle after the death of his lover (their relationship was an affair; she was married) and a head injury (by fault of lover's husband); since has been pretty much lonely and sour. (Not to mention repressing the bad memories.)
The significance of the quote beside him is great; right now in the book, he was recently (and unwillingly) forced into intervention (from alcohol and opium, and everything else maladaptive he does) via his father's mistress (Yusu) and her concerns. During the first day of withdrawal, Yusu reasoned for her ordering the intervention as freeing him from drugs' prison; he replied that "A prison is better than hell". This portrait of him reflects as he's feeling now; but really, I think that line reflects how he always feels. In the grand scheme of the book, Amaya's character is always turning to one bad thing to avoid another, somehow thinking it better.
On semi-related note, I quite like this portrait of him; usual drawings of him look deviously pleased or cunning. Which he is, most the time, but that's really only the beginning to him. I also feel I've really captured him this time, what with being clean for some time and rather whittled to his deep self. It's sort of depressing, but this face is the true face of Amaya. Also, I'd like to note on his thinness; he's always been slender, but since sobriety, he's lost most interest in food and is resistant to do much else but lie in bed. In short, without drugs/promiscuity to distract him from his unresolved past, he's getting the brunt of his depression, and getting it hard. It's sad for me to see him this way- I know, I know, I wrote it this way- but characters really do make their own path sometimes.
Anyways, to end this depressing ramble, the blinding light in my right eye says it's morning. So, good morning, folks!

Immortal Combat (Book spoilers warning!)

Idea for this comic prompted by Mortal Kombat and a friend of mine and I chatting last night about this father-son duo's crucible struggle. Yes, all these things happen in the book... including them smoking opium together.
Bonding at its finest.

Sinful Liaisons (NSFW)

NSFW means "not safe for work", for anyone wondering. Not that I consider this illustration raunchy or inappropriate, but some might. (Oh no, a woman's partially bare breast!)
Anyways- these are two book characters of mine; stole this snapshot from a scene involving the two of them after "relations" (insert pincer gestures in mind, because I did do pincers). I thought it might make a nice picture illustrating their sneaky romance/affair.
I also like that Amaya is cuddled against Abhi instead of the stereotypical other way around. I just love the two of them so much. They're the most interesting (to me) couple in the book, most likely because they're the most... unconventional. (Some of you know what I mean. Elbow-elbow-shush)

Eternal Struggle.

This is just a drawing of, from right to left respectively, Aya and Amaya. They're kinda pushing each other, trying to gain the upper hand, Aya more desperately. It's a constant chess match between the two of them in the book.
The other thing I thought would be interesting about this drawing is to showcase how similar they actually are. With their features, habits (smoking), etc... they are, after all, father and son. They're pretty duplicate, actually... which is one reason I suspect they butt heads so often. That, and there are grudges against the other on both sides.
I focused mostly on their expressions. Was aiming for a sense of tension, grudge, and power struggle.
It's most likely not the final version; I might redo it, with shading and whatnot.

A Writer's Stress

This drawing is of myself (with the coffee cup and glasses in the middle) surrounded by all my characters' chaos. This is pretty much how I feel every time I sit down and write: like they all come rushing for me, squabbling and causing trouble and demanding that I pay them attention. For that, I call them my kids. Haha.
Pictured from left to right...
Baala, fuming over Yusu.
Yusu, arguing with Aya.
Sarikah, enduring baby kicks.
Aya, arguing with Yusu.
Me, overwhelmed by all my characters' chaos.
Fadil, scolding Saburo.
Saburo, ignoring Fadil.
Amaya, being drunk and a manwhore.
Hayaku, being paranoid.
Aditi, upset with Saburo.
Random Royal Guard, trying to escape Amaya's clutches.
Lochan, sighing from afar over Amaya.
Random maid, hiding from Amaya.

Night Vices

As much as I hate seeing him suffer, Amaya makes an interesting subject.
Look closely, and you may find all the wine bottles, two glasses, box of opium pills and the opium pipe in Amaya's bedroom. Oh, and that portrait in the back is one of Abhilasha.
It's like a sinister "I Spy" page.

Visiting the Music Room

I poke fun at Amaya a lot, so a serious depiction of him every now and again is a breath of fresh, albeit depressing air.
This is how imagine he spends most of his nights. Bitter and tipsy.
I set him in the music room... a significant place in the book. The place holds a lot of memories for him. Just thought it might make an interesting drawing.
On a second note, I've gone mad with crosshatching.

My new Facebook icon.

Seriously speaking, this drawing was intentionally dramatic. It's the third panel of "In the Heat of the Night"... where the intro before the comical part was drama-injected for a funnier fall. Anyways, it's so ridiculously dramatic, it makes me laugh every time I see it. Hence, "Impact" font and botched quote from Dark Knight. Because it's ridiculous. And my new Facebook icon.

Detox, Amaya-style.

That being said, he's going to need some new hobbies.
I especially felt bad for the last thing being taken away. I know there's nothing Prince Pansexual enjoys more than a maid and fair-haired guard with evening tea. But, what Yusu wants, Yusu gets...
(Yusu being his father's mistress and palace busybody)

Prince Your-name-is-long-and-full-of-alliteration?

Character headshot: just plain ol' Amaya. Prince Amaya Ta'al Aalya the Twelfth, to be exact. Ugh, what a mouthful. Thank god subjects can just say "mi'lord?".

In The Heat of the Night

Two things.
One, the cross-hatching in panel four took for-damn-ever.
Two, this is the story behind this particular (and my new favorite) comic:
What happened in the fourth panel (the mid-act conversation) didn't actually take place in the book, but a friend and I were chatting about Abhilasha's sterility and it made me think what might have happened the first time she and Amaya... well, you know. I imagined it would be something like that... totally hilarious.
The first three panels (dramaticized as they may be), however, are straight from the book. Quoted and all.
The last one, half and half. She really said that; he only thought it. Hehe.

She Knows You're Lying.

Amaya and Yusu have a strange friendship. On again, off again... it's a constant circle. Mostly Amaya running away from Yusu's bloodhound instinct. It doesn't matter how many times he denies it: she knows he loved her. Haha.

Quality Father-Son Time.

Oh, Aya and Amaya... the two of them are at each other's throats as regularly as the sun sets. As for their father-son time, this is the best it gets.

Who Can Crush A Prince's Artistic Spirit?

Empress Baala, that's who. She just doesn't appreciate music because she's a bit of an airhead... and a bitch. Nnng.

Amaya's Habits

I was curious to know how many times we've seen Amaya do something depraved or wicked. So, I skimmed the first 400-so pages and got a rough estimate. That's right, rough estimate. These numbers may be too low.
Snicker. And think... he's still got half a plot to do more wicked things.

Amaya... Androgynous?

Some of the other characters... okay, one of the other characters (I'm looking at you, imaginary Aya) likes to poke fun at Amaya by calling him effeminate. Teasing the way he stands, mocking how he holds cigarettes... stuff like that. Which made me question if other people see Amaya as between the genders. Which, in turn, made me think... I do believe he's fairly androgynous.
So this was just a humorous faux-chart for my pondering.

Violin. You're Doing it Wrong.

And thus the fruit of passion began. Amaya and Abhilasha, everybody!