Inkblot Diaries

The Far Shore

Cyllene contemplates the misty expanse of Lake Verity, this point of stillness and consistency in an era not her own. It's only been a matter of days since she arrived in this world of wonder. She knows that she will have to begin anew eventually, step forward into a new day - just as she always has before.

For now, however, in gentle morning solitude, she sits with that which has ended.

~~~

I intended to post chapter 66 of my "Captain Cyllene in DPPt" fanfiction, "I Begin at the End," but just wasn't feeling up to editing it this weekend. So, I figured that it was time to put out the first of the several fanarts that I've made for this fic so far.

This is the picture for the first part of the fic, "Into a World of Wonder," where Cyllene arrives in the modern era and experiences the culture shock immediately - though not without help.

The reason for this fanart - or, more accurately, this series of fanarts - is that I write this fic in big chunks or parts. For me, these parts have a natural lull, so what better way to communicate this than to have a chapter that is fanart, to give the brain a refresh and slow it down?

Is it a little self-centered to be inspired by my own fanfiction? Maybe, but it's what my muse wants to do, and it uses the many recycled and salvaged materials that I've been hoarding like a gremlin.

The acrylic was given to me by someone cleaning out their stash, and the wooden backing was a project in art class that the student left behind. I learned a lot about painting from this project - though it is actually the third piece I made, chronologically speaking.

You can read the fanfiction here:

So, I've been writing a self-insert fanfiction in the umamusume setting that doubles as an accountability buddy. Essentially, I looked at my friends, realized that I couldn't make them be accountability buddies, and then said "screw it, I'll do it myself, and I'll hang out with Mejiro Ryan, and it will be great!"

It was initially just for working out, but has since become about general mental and physical health. I post every week, and it's been a huge help to me - massive improvements in strength, confidence, and mental health!

The entry for this week (the week of June 8, 2026,) will mark the 40th week, and to celebrate this milestone, I drew a horse using a ceramic tile and Overseas brand paint markers.

Let's see if I can make it a year!

A material test and art for a fanfic involving the Treasures of Ruin, called As Above, So Below,. I'm sort of piloting a cool idea I had for my fanfic, which is incorporating my art. Since that's where my muse wants to go.

I figured that I'd combo it with figure drawing and a test of my Frixion pens (fineliners and wedge tips) on Rocketbook's reusable notebooks.

I love using these pens overall - bright colors and erasable ink is honestly great on normal paper. I'm now using them exclusively in my planner because it's bright but I can change things up if needed. I also am using my rocketbooks (bought on sale, so half off, haha!) and they have their challenges but it appeals to my recycling heart to not have to buy a new notebook or "waste paper." I was sort of hoping to use my graphing one for art practice or very colorful pen art.

I was disappointed. The scanning app did not like the markers, and the phone camera could only do so much. The colors got washed out. The markers also smudged on the rocketbook paper even when I used a special glove. Putting marker on top of marker didn't work out well - basically like a whiteboard.

The rest is due to my own artistic inexperience, but this was ultimately a material test and a way to express my OC/an OC that is only sort of half mine.

I arranged the images in photoshop to create depth and drama and cleaned it up, but I didn't put too much effort into it. I used Quickposes for pose references.

I write a self-insert fanfiction set in umamusume that serves as a workout and self-care accountability diary: The Lost Ticket's Workout Diary

Despite the fast turnaround (I write up each chapter off the top of my head at the end of the week and barely beta it,) people seem to like it, and it's been amazing for accountability!

A chapter or two ago, however, I was suddenly consumed by a fae mood and a deep desire to make a plushie of Rice Shower. I actually had had the urge to do so before, when I first learned of the real horse's story and watched the second season of the anime, but had many projects on my list.

This time, however, I wanted to make it. A small version. With crochet. Despite my long list of projects, I HAD to do it.

And here she is.

I used this pattern and All-New Twenty to Make: Flowers to Crochet (All New 20 to Make) by Sarah-Jane Hicks and put them together to make her. The mane and tail are rough, and the design is a little unbalanced, but I'm proud of my first amigurumi! And my first big crochet flower! It was an incredible experience!

(Context - this is an AU where Dialga develops sentience and goes to school. It learns the concept of valentines and contemplates the idea of love. Wanting to show love to its family, it tries to give them gifts... It goes about as you might imagine.)

#

Dialga stalked nervously into the Hall of origin, the universe swirling infinitely overhead. It adjusted its grip on the statue in its teeth and stepped out into the center of the shimmering arena, placing it down and stepping a pace back. 

<Father…>

Dialga closed its eyes and roared. It’s roar rippled through all of creation - of time and of space. The sound and the silence after stretched into an eternity -

Dialga waited a moment more, and then retreated back to school. It’s steps fell heavy on the art room floor. 

“How did it go?” Arven asked.

<Fine!> Dialga faked a smile, <Everything’s fine!>

#

Arven knew the look on Dialga’s face. Went well, his ass! How many times had he worn that same expression?

- Arven held the valentine he’d made in school tightly to him. Mommy was working in her lab, as she always was, so the only place to give it to her was here. Mabosstiff nudged him forward and Arven lifted it to her - an offering. “Mommy?” 

“I’m busy, Arven.”

Arven left the valentine card on her desk. It was there for weeks, until one day, Arven found it in the lab trash. 

By then, he was not surprised. -

“Okay, little buddy,” Arven gave the legendary popkemon a pat, “How about I make you something delicious?”

They both deserved better.

#

The domain of the god of space was vastness incarrnate, but Dialga was willing to be bold - another gift of being.

<Palkia?> The time beast moved forward nervously, holding its treasure. “I… have something for you…”

Palkia’s roar and the strike of its claws that rent reality itself came out of nowhere and everywhere. 

<Wait! Please…!> But Dialga looked into the mindless, wrathful nothing in its twin’s eyes and knew.

<I love you,> 

Dialga fled, gift shattered.

#

<What are you doing in my realm>!> Giratina roared and snapped, <Get out!>

Dialga flinched. <I want to give you a present!> it said, and dropped a sculpture at Giratina’s feet. 

<Why?> The thing was a model of a plant, a piece of sunlight in his realm. 

<Because I love you.> Dialga ran, then, and he was alone…

#

Giratine stared at the “gift,” growling. Gifts? Love? Blech! Sentience had made Dialga stupid! 

"Well, Champion, what now?" Malva asked, smirking as if she hadn't been the one caught off-guard -

"Well," Diantha licked her lips lightly, "I think that I should kiss you again."

A new world... "Is it going to be a fun one?" Volkner asked, pressing his lips to the neck of the man he pinned to the office window.

Cyrus shuddered, his composure breaking. "No," he said, swallowing, "it will not be fun. It would not be anything."

"Mmm... Boo." Volkner's hands ran down Cyrus' body, enjoying the boney edges.

"T-that shouldn't matter. You would not have the capacity to care.:

"Still boo." Volkner teased him, feeling Cyrus melt under his hands. "Don't need a new world," Volkner kissed down Cyrus' neck, interspersed with light nips, "Just need to not care about the one we're in. Fuck the world. Fuck everyone else."

Cyrus clung to Volkner for support. "Fuck... me..." He whispered, into Volkner's ear. Volkner giggled, and shoved him down...

My dragon, Kaptar, from my Flight Rising lair. The name is from Obduction, the spiritual successor to Myst - my lair uses names from Obduction and Myst!