δεν είναι ένας βασιλιάς

                      Stop saying I’m ＷＥＡＫ.

I held the power to ＤＥＳＴＲＯＹ.                   I am the lover of ＷＲＡＴＨ!

                                          So I dare you.                     Ｉ  ＤＡＲＥ  ＹＯＵ！

Air Breathing Labyrinth Fish

Freshwater fish of the family Anabantoidei have a specially developed organ that allows them to take in atmospheric air. The labyrinth organ is a modified gill arch that allows the fish to process gaseous oxygen.

Labyrinth fish are found in warm, slow moving waters of Asia and Africa. These habitats are low in dissolved oxygen. The labyrinth organ allows for the fish to exploit the ecological niche that other fish cannot survive in.

(Betta splendens pictured)

credit to Visarute Angkatavanich for the photo

Sketches for the next mermaid (and one of my personal favorite species), the betta, or Siamese fighting fish.

I did some research into their origins to help dictate my mermaid’s appearance, similar to what I did for the koi. Bettas originate from the area around Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. I looked into traditional Thai clothing and learned that a lot of their culture is based around Hinduism so much of their traditional clothing looks very Indian. I used the headdress to emphasize the flaring of the gill fins.

I also looked into Thai martial arts styles to also emphasize the fighting nature of the fish. Her stance and the wraps on her hands and arms are from “muay boran,” the umbrella term used to describe Thai forms of martial arts, primarily boxing.

The first two sketches are me figuring out exactly what I wanted to do, and the other one is the spliced image of the two.

aries is passion, fire in their veins, endless energy. they want to live forever and just experience everything, passionate about life and love and anything that holds their interest. they want to be the best at everything. they’re icarus flying too close to the sun, achilles and his power and his immortality. they’re loud and wild and they want the world, to live with childish excitement. their anger, though, is unpredictable and terrifying, like a volcano or a dragon that leave nothing behind their fury.

taurus is patience, the slow tick of the clock, lazy naps and plants and the smell of the earth after rain. they want to enjoy the pleasures of life, luxury and love and food and beauty. loyal and sensual, stubborn and traditional. stable with roots deep in the earth, they often get called materialistic for their love of beautiful things. but taurus is ruled by venus, and they long for romance before anything else, to care for someone and being loved in return. 

gemini is wit and fun, the sign of peter pan. they are unpredictable, mutable air, changing every second from a face to another. they are talkative, manipulative and fun-loving. they have a way with words, and can talk their way out of any situation. they’re brilliant, really, smart in every sense of the word. they lose interest in things quickly, but they know a bit about everything. they have this youthful appearance, a personality that gets easily excited, and they’re not really fond of routine or responsibility.

cancer is the tide, the gentle glow of the moon, the waves crashing on the shore. they feel everything deeply, even though they don’t like to show it. they are very protective of those they love. they are the rain on a cold january day, the warmness of a blanket, the touch of a lover. bossy and moody, they are wonderful friends ; cancer will care when no one else does. they can be very loving and caring, but if they don’t like you, they will make sure you know it.

leo is courage and love and generosity. leo is the sun, and rules the heart ; they are emotional and warm and need attention and affection. they give back the love they receive with surprising intensity. but they are still lions : kings of the jungle, big lazy golden cats with magnificent hair and a playful spirit. leo is sunflowers, a sunny afternoon, vibrant laughter and brilliant smiles. but they are also very dramatic, and have mean claws they will not be afraid to use.

virgo is the endless pursuit of perfection. they want to finish everything they start and do everything that has to be done. like gemini, they are ruled by mercury, and have a great ability with words. though unlike the twins, virgo is better at writing than talking. they are very observant and detail-oriented, they notice if anything, anything, is slightly out of place. they are always happy to help, if a bit nervous, and make excellent detectives. they are often stereotyped as nerdy and boring, but they have a brilliant mind and a loving heart; they just struggle to share their emotions.

libra is balance and harmony, peace and equality. but if anything disturbs the balance, they can quickly lose themselves in indecisiveness and chaos. they are the sign of peace, but that does not mean they are docile ; they have aries’ rebellious spirit and a desire to break the boundaries. like taurus, they are ruled by venus, which is evident in their romantic nature and love of beauty and art. they often excel in painting or poetry. they are a wolf in a sheep’s clothing, a flower with hidden thorns, and despite their beauty and grace, their heart can easily turn to ice. 

scorpio is death and passion and spirituality. they feel a deep connection to the underworld, to darkness and secrets and mysteries. they are secretive and intense, very observant, but unlike virgo, they analyze everyone they meet. they can be overcome by jealousy, and their feelings are always deep and overwhelming. they love with everything they have. they are impossible to forget, they will brand their name into your skin, and their words into your soul. they are vengeful and know exactly where to strike, how to hurt and create a wound that will never heal. 

sagittarius is freedom and travel and sharp intellect, honesty and a carefree personality. they are simple people, and don’t need much to be happy. optimistic and adventurous, they are allergic to responsibility. they don’t really care what anyone thinks of them. they are smart and they know it. they are hilarious, with a great sense of humor and a lively personality. contrary to popular belief, they love with surprising intensity, and as long as you don’t try to hold them down, they will love you fully.

capricorn is the ice queen. with a cold exterior, always in control, they appear to be emotionless. that couldn’t be farther from the truth. they are ambitious and hard-working, yes, but they’re hardly the cold-hearted businessman everyone paints them to be. they have a wonderful sense of humor, a brilliant mind, and often make remarkable writers. they believe you should always try and work hard to make your dreams come true. they want to succeed and will stop at nothing to get what they want. their determination is admirable, as is their creativity. like virgo, they may struggle with displays of emotions, but that doesn’t mean they don’t feel them, or the stress, or the pression to succeed.

aquarius is the mad scientist in his fucked-up lab, inventing and creating night and day. they are rebellious and creative, with a modern and bright mind. their intelligence sometimes makes them feel superior to others, and they distance themselves from society even more. aquarius want to break all the rules and create a new, better world. like capricorn, they are often mistaken as being emotionless, but they are humanitarian and suffer with the world. they have opinions on pretty much anything and will fight you on them any day. they love being unique, original, shock, stand out from the crowd. 

                  and the sea calmed                   at the presence of its                         R U L E R.

It was now quiet except for the gentle sway of  clear water, and he took a seat upon the sand,  under a soft glow of radiance to feel the sun's slow descend from its grace. The turtles had slipped back to their homes to sleep, and the  fish fell dormant under the clear surface of the  water. All was still, gentle at the presence of a dying sunlight, and he became reminded about times of peace that has long been dead behind  the colorless clouds.

A gentle look of resignation graced what years earned upon stern features, and for a moment, his hardened expression softened. Her figure was nothing more than a blurred shadow, like smoke that stirred from its place and blended into the atmosphere. 

                  mortal, do you seek                   peace from the sea?                      FROM ME?

Hera had been enjoying a quiet moment at the beach— which one, exactly, wasn’t as important as the fact that it wasn’t a popular tourist attraction.  Not in general and definitely not in this weather.  San Francisco wasn’t known for its beaches anyway, which was just fine with Hera, who only wanted a little time to herself before she went back to the Heraion. 

Just her, her lunch, and a couple of joggers. 

                                         And then…

She had just been about to take another bite from her sandwich when she was addressed by… 

Oh, he looks awfully familiar.  Then again, with the way he was addressing her, he ought to be.  And yet she couldn’t place him, though she felt as though she ought. 

Hera smiled—a little blandly, perhaps, but not unkind. A polite smile.

His posture straightens when eyes land on him, shoulders relaxed yet still to support his frame  as he leaned forward and offered his respects. It was only for the moment, however, and as soon as he had bowed he was back up again, something gentle yet stern in his expression. 

Nevertheless, he was polite, and if he had felt  that he was being bothersome, then he would take a step back. It was, perhaps, the foreign  scene of the queen in such a casual state as she appeared in that threw him off, and, upon taking that step back, he realizes that he has yet to get used to things of this day and age.

The abnormalities of being on land still struck him as well, and with an awkward stance did he give the slightest smiles back, moving to pull something from his pocket.