Inspiration Comes In All Shapes

Fact number one: I drew another Mysterious Cities of Gold fanart (actually, I drew more than one, but they will be revealed when the time is right). Fact number two: I drew the picture without having a particular scenario in mind, just because I felt like it. But by the time I was done, well, a little story had started to occupy my thoughts.

Which leads me to fact number three: I took the time to write said short story down for you. It's nothing fancy, it's just supposed to be funny and cute.

Fact number four: please do remember that English is my third language. I try to do my best when writing in English, but there may be some mistakes left, so please be kind if there are any. :-)

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Evening Things Out

Somewhere along the African east coast (around what would be Kenya today), on the journey back to India…Tao, Mendoza, Isabella and Gaspard had gotten out of the Great Condor and set foot on a lovely sand beach. Isabella and Gaspard volunteered to go hunting, whilst Mendoza and Tao were entrusted with setting up the camp, gathering wood, lighting the campfire and picking up some fruits if possible.

Later on, when Gaspard and Isabella came back from their hunting session, chatting like old friends, they were carrying three white ibises with them, very cleanly killed by a single arrow each. The camp was ready to be used, the fire was gently crackling, and enough wood had been prepared by Mendoza to last through the rest of the day and the night to come. Tao, aided by Pichu/Kokapetl, had managed to find half a dozen ripe mangoes for everyone to enjoy.

While the young, somewhat self-proclaimed nacaal was busy reading through the pages of one of his books, muttering out loud from time to time, the three adults took on plucking and gutting one bird each. Pichu/Kokapetl had, of course, flown off in both horror and protest. Gaspard then surprisingly volunteered to watch over their meal while it cooked.

Once all of their stomachs were full, and much to Gaspard’s dismay, Mendoza and Isabella decided to take off their boots as well as their weapons, and enjoy a peaceful stroll together on the warm sand, right by the sea, occasionally letting the dying waves cover their bare feet. The sun was setting on the horizon as they walked hand in hand, revelling in the tranquillity and quiet around them.

“You know,” Isabella stated matter-of-factly with a wry smile gracing her lips, “I do believe this is the first time we’ve been near a body of water and neither one of us has either fallen, dived or been pushed into it.”

Mendoza chuckled, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Well, that can still be arranged.”

Fernando Laguerra’s daughter went still and looked at her partner with one eyebrow raised.

“Oh, so it’s true, then?”

“What is?”

“Tao may have mentioned that you had a bit of a habit throwing women into the water.”

“What?! No!” exclaimed the navigator, absolutely indignant, which made Isabella chortle. “That’s preposterous!”

“Really? So, it never happened with any other woman before you pushed me into the water in India?”

Mendoza rubbed his neck sheepishly.

“Well, yes, but –

“Ha! See?” Isabella snickered before crossing her hands around her partner’s neck and tilting her head to look at him with a playful look in her eyes. “Now, where does this particular habit come from, exactly, my dear capitán?”

“It’s not a habit, and if you must know, it only happened once before. It was in the New World, she was an Amazon warrior, and most importantly, she was the one attacking us. Much like you were the one attacking me.”

“Oh, so it’s my fault now?”

“All I’m saying is that it was a perfectly legitimate act of self-defense. Both times.”

“Mmm,” she mused, before giving him a quick peck on his lips to show that she was only teasing him. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Mendoza suddenly smiled as an idea crossed his mind. He took a few steps back on the beach to remove his cape and tunic, which he simply dropped to the ground. Isabella stood motionless, watching him with an amused yet suspicious look.

“What are you up to, exactly?” she asked as the navigator made his way back to her. She might have forgotten to breathe for a few seconds as she eyed him up, appreciating the way the golden light of the sunset enhanced his upper body.

Unfortunately for her, a few seconds was all the time Mendoza needed to pick her up in his arms, and blocking her against his torso.

“I’m evening things out,” he replied with a devilish smirk, as he started to wade in the sea.

“We’re already even,” Isabella countered immediately with a hearty laugh, one of her hands around his neck, and the other between his shoulder blades for good measure, because she could see where he was going with this. “I pushed you, too!”

Evidently, that reminder was not enough to stop him. He kept going deeper into the sea, right until the point where he had water all the way up to his thighs.

“If you dare to drop me,” Isabella warned as she tightened her grip on him, “you’re going down with me.”

Nouveau petit fanart de Mendoza et Bébésteban lors du voyage de Magellan, après le sauvetage du petit garçon et avant qu'il ne soit confié aux moines de la cathédrale de Barcelone. Un moment de tendresse et de complicité entre ces deux personnages, qui profitent d'une mer paisible dans le nid de pie du navire. Esteban n'était pas encore sujet au vertige ! ^^

« Aucun ennemi, aucune femme ne nous donne autant que lui la sensation du combat, ne nous force à tant de prévoyance, car il est le maître de la mer, celui qu’on peut éviter, utiliser ou fuir, mais qu’on ne dompte jamais. Et dans l’âme du marin règne, comme chez les croyants, l’idée d’un Dieu irascible et formidable, la crainte mystérieuse, religieuse, infinie du vent, et le respect de sa puissance.»

Guy de Maupassant Sur l’eau, Paul Ollendorff éditeur, 1888

Summer is here, and that means stargazing season is upon us. And who better to guide you through nightime observation than an accomplished navigator? ⭐

Un truc qui m'a toujours embêtée à propos de Mendoza : il devrait porter un anneau à l'oreille. La coutume était répandue chez les marins. C'était à la fois un rite de passage, un honneur qu'on accordait, mais aussi une assurance décès pour avoir de quoi payer les éventuelles funérailles. Donc : pourquoi Mendoza n'a-t-il pas d'anneau ? Ou plutôt, pourquoi n'en a-t-il plus ?

Et ici, dans mon esprit, il s'agit d'un nouvel anneau. Mais nous y reviendrons, je l'espère, dans un prochain récit… ;-)

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Hey everyone !

It’s been a while, huh ? I hope you guys are fine and got through the quarantine as well as possible. Anyhow, as the fourth and last season of the Mysterious Cities of Gold is getting closer, here’s another piece a fanart. Yeah, I messed around with the backgrounds, and couldn’t pick just one in the end. So here, have your choice too !

Hey guys ! I’ve been away for a while, I know... Just a ton of thins to do at and for work. Hope you’re all doing fine !

OH. MY. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR SO MANY YEARS!!!!

OCTOBER 19th 2017. THE BOOK OF DUST.

SAVE THE DATE. NOW.

Yesterday, one of my students got hit by car and did not survive. He was 15 years old.

When you become a teacher, nobody warns you about that kind of stuff and how to deal with it.

Hey dragon fans !

Follow this link to read the first 9 pages of “The Serpent’s Heir” ! ;-)