#sirenity

Hey everyone! Here is a video of a song I wrote inspired by Steven Universe called "From Within". This song is from the perspective of Rose Quartz from inside of Steven's gem. It is influenced by Jeff Liu's song "Rose's Theme". Jeff Liu does storyboards and music for the show.

I am really proud of this song. I hope the emotion and love comes across. I also hope people see it and enjoy it.

So I've been working on something I've not been able to really talk or post about because it was for the pilot program at work, but now that that's finished, I can finally show off the project I submitted to the Cartoon Conrad Pilot Program!

This is Sirenity, a story about a grouchy siren who gets stuck on land and has to learn the value of a life, while getting to know a ragtag group of misfits who have their own punk band.

I'll be posting bits n pieces of the art I made for it over the next few weeks, and eventually - once I've had time to get it to rough animation - I'll post the animatic I made to try and sell the idea.

Maybe it's the assured protection of the magical barriers within the trial room. Maybe it is Sirenity's own self-assured confidence. But, when Mizukabe's rage bursts from him like a broken pipe, she doesn't so much as flinch.

Not with the near kick to her pretty head. Not when her former roommate is sent flying across the table. As Mizukabe returns again and again and again--

Sirenity meets his uncontrollable fury with an unshakeable, cold stare. Reminiscent of that time outside Flimsy Steve's. Their last talk in the Sylph Gardens, when he had all but pleaded for a path to understanding her. Their talk in the dorm garden, when he had given her a promise in the form of a delicate, white flower.

"I'm not scared, Sirenity. You could show me anything, and I'll withstand you nonetheless."

She had labeled that statement as bravado, and she was right to. Whatever Mizukabe had thought he could face, Sirenity knew better than anyone that there would be no one who could ever face who she really was and smile.

Mizukabe walks away, but she has one more message for him.

"........ You did not love me, Mizukabe Sansei."

"You only loved who I wanted you to see..."

From their first meeting, Sirenity had been building a character just for him. She played the friendly, polite roommate with ease. And, as time went on, her character evolved. The Chipper Friend. The Emotional Support. The Doting Sister who was there to lend advice and a helping hand. All of it, crafted perfectly around what Mizukabe needed.

Because she needed to keep him close. She needed someone so... perfectly human as him within her sights.

She needed him to be her picture perfect opposite.

Even now, she knows the two of them to be oil and water against each other. Sirenity meant it, back in their room. He really could have used a better friend...

Like Arianna, perhaps. An outgoing, supportive force as she might have nestled perfectly into that empty space of companionship Mizukabe was craving to fill.

"Yes... Shame on you, dear Ari. You do know what they say about assuming, do you not? But, yes. I will admit that I have earned no extra points for this honest to goodness mess of a murder. Ah... I really must work on my improv skills, I suppose!"

Then, Baku's apology doesn't pass by her fins so easily. Sirenity thinks she might feel a little guilty for making the poor thing apologize. Maybe.

"Oh... Do not worry yourself, Baku. We are all often victims of circumstance, are we not? You did nothing but get some well earned rest."

Ah... There's his voice again. She once claimed that she could listen to him talk all day. A part of her thinks that still might be true. Sirenity closes her eyes as Yuto speaks.

It's always been easier to face him when she can't see him.

"... Could I really have, Yuto?" She speaks his name slowly; it rests unfamiliar on her tongue. "Could I really have kept the two of you as close as I did? Would that have made this very moment easier for you? You yourself loved to remind me that you and I were only temporary."

"Plus, then you can brag you went on a date with a ghost? How many people can say that!"

No. Several people had reminded her exactly what to expect should she pursue him. After Mizukabe, it was only natural to let Yuto go as well.

"I guess... This will be the last thing that connects me to you. I won't have any other reasons to come back. I know I already said my goodbye but this is really it, huh?"

She really should have just let him walk away, then. But, she got greedy. She had acted the part of a stupid little girl who couldn't give up when she should have. The memory sends a twisting feeling in the pit of her stomach. She decides to label that feeling as 'disgust'.

'You could have never stayed by my side', are the unspoken words in her throat. They swim in her mind as much as the the other thoughts she had back behind her closed door. She should have remembered the warnings about humans...

"I am sorry that you only have such a pathetic person to compare to me,"

", because I am actually quite happy as I am. Unbelievable, I know! But, it is the truth... I have never been happier than why I am perfectly myself."

And, finally, Amon. It's unmistakable; the way her eyes actually light up in the presence of his magic. A small flicker of delight breaks through her demeanor.

Then, that Unrelenting Doom. It floods her in a way she's never felt before. Like a shot to the chest; it steals her breath for a moment. ... And, then, it's gone...

"Oh, Amon... Let a girl soak in the audience's reactions before getting to the monologue, will you?"

Sirenity sighs, idly tossing her hair.

"No. I did not follow that note with the intention of killing whoever wrote it. I followed it because I was bored. Whether any of you choose to believe me or not, it does not really matter at this point, does it? The end results are clear as day. If you want complete honesty on the 'why', then...."

"It just pissed me off. First off, even if I wasn't his priority target, he still thought he could kill me. Even if for a moment. And then he could not even follow through, and started crying in front of me..."

She remembers barely understanding the words Dragom had blubbered out. She was only half listening, anyway. Her mind had been preoccupied with counting off all the different ways he could have easily killed her if he wanted to.

If he had just gone through with it. 

Lucky for him, Sirenity was ready to give him a first hand demonstration of a proper murder follow through. Isn't she generous??

Ah, Nevros' affections... Sirenity turns her head to give them more one-on-one attention. Murder trial, who??

"Yes, I agree. Unfortunately, I just could not bring myself to beg before these people...! And, if you were not already aware, my personal relations with some people around here have sort of gone up in flames the past few weeks. There is only so much I can do in the moment."

She reaches over to take the drawing in her hands, appraising it while still mostly talking only to Nevros.

"Oh! So, it was not a dream! Aren't you the artistic one? Hmm... You might want to hold onto this for me. I worry it will not withstand whatever story Sasha has in store for me!"

Sirenity carefully rolls up the drawing, and passes it back to Nevros with a smile. Then, she's turning back to the very important murder trial that is still happening.

As Ben speaks, she sits calmly with her hands folded over a knee.

"Calm yourself, Ben sir. I would hate to to take the blame for any blood pressure related death you might incur. You are far too brilliant a mind to lose to this place.

I merely wanted to experiment a little. Baku and that horrid demon are two entirely different beings. I was only curious to see if that demon would even be considered a potential killer in this stupid little game.

Baku is far too loved for anyone to believe she could kill so brutally.

She was sleeping so peacefully when I found her on the beach. Did not even stir one bit when I carried her back to the scene of the crime! It was such a shame that I had to drag her into all of this... But! What's done is done!"

A hint of an affectionate tone creeps into her voice as she speaks. Yet, it still carries the edge of something unnerving in it.