[I9] Gap Stories - Volume 2

Ongoing 44454 1 12 186610

A collection of 17 short (and not-so-short) stories from the Myrrdicato Galaxy that bridge the gap between Season 2 and Season 3 of the Valiant series.

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The story

Chapters

Behind the story

Syntaritov

A sentient coffee stain operating with all the grace and elegance of a caffeinated squirrel. Has also been described as:

the physical manifestation of a lapse in judgement
actually a stack of four red pandas in jeans and a hoodie, pretending to be a person
professional kidnapper of potted houseplants (and certain types of orchids)
proof of God's moral bankruptcy
the person your mother warned you about
a sentient disaster zone that developed the skill of perambulation (much to the horror of those present at the time)
a fluffy, pumpkin spice-flavored affront to god and man alike
someone that marches to the beat of his own drum, even when that drum sounds like a 30-car pileup on the freeway
a walking testament to self-sabotage
a connoisseur of odaxelagnia

Things purportedly said about/by the red panda:

"SYN WAS ABLE TO WRITE THIS SCENE IN A CAVE! WITH A BOX OF TROPES!"
"You underestimate my capacity for self-sabotage!"
"Why avada kedavra when you can inflictus odaxelagnia"
"You were meant for me. Perhaps as a punishment."

Art Credits I do all my own art. Profile pic? I drew that. Book covers? I drew those. Profile page banner? Yours truly. Mediums:

0.5 mechanical graphite: this is essentially how all of the red panda's sketches begin, and it remains his primary art method. Usually he starts with a light sketch to get down the fundamentals, then goes back over it to firm up the lines and add details.
Micron inks: primary lining method for sketches that have made it to the linework stage. On occasion, the red panda will use these for shading or producing monochrome pieces.
Copic alcohol inks: these are used for coloring once micron lining has been completed. The red panda is still getting accustomed to color and inking, since he has spent most of his time in graphite and linework.
Olo alcohol inks: an alternative to Copics that the red panda is dipping his toes into.
Krita: digital art program that has opened up a wide range of new options for linework, shading, and coloring for the red panda. He's at once excited and overwhelmed by the number of new options available to him, and learning what he can when time permits between other commitments.

Statement on Generative AI You will never see me use generative AI for artistic endeavors, and I will encourage you not to either. In developing the skills you need to draw, to write, to compose and perform music, you grow as a person, and prove your humanity. Art is not something that can be created by typing a few words and pressing a button until you get what you want; it is born of your effort, your time, your struggle, your obsession, and your love. It may not be easy, it may not be quick, and it may not look the way you hoped it would. But you will have made it, and that is infinitely more important than some machine that eats other people's work, strips it of all the love, effort, time, and skill that was dedicated to it, and shits out a sloppy copy on the other side.

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