Something that I hope will be much clearer in #OneHeartTogether than it was in #Confluence is that "doll" does not mean "servant." River is in a carefully negotiated service dynamic in the context of her marriage, and not as a fact of her being a doll.
I was minding my own business yesterday doing something totally unrelated and suddenly I understand a character who appeared in *one* scene in Confluence, but who is actually going to be much, much more important for #OneHeartTogether.
For now, all I'll say is *ouch*, talk about *tragedy.*
It's a real sword, one of the greatest Japanese blades ever made, but it's also got a cameo role in #OneHeartTogether as the Isawa family heirloom blade, given by Date Masamune to one of Kasu's ancestors-- then an Osaki retainer-- for reckless courage at the Battle of Suriage Field in 1589.
one of the big plot threads in #OneHeartTogether is River and Kasu learning each other's languages during their early days together, and now that I've gotten them to properly dating, I am looking forward to the point where I get to show them using Western Armenian terms of endearment.
using the unexpectedly freed up evening to finish writing the latest chapter of #OneHeartTogether.
It's giving me some quite welcome exercise in keigo, so hey! that's cool.
River Victoria M59A1 is a combat doll, and in her work as a mech test pilot, she knows how heady the cockpit can be. Motherhood is one of the emotional anchors that brings her back.
Read on in "Anchor," a #OneHeartTogether short story now free to read at buff.ly/fde2mxs
Working on the next #OneHeartTogether short already, which leans both into parts of the setting's archetypal cyberpunk ambiance, and into its roots in my Shinto-Buddhist faith
a digital art study sketch of a woman in wedding kimono holding up a hamaya
I did this study of Kasu in her wedding kimono a couple years ago, and now that I actually have a third of the manuscript that tells that story written, I need to do a proper color painting.
Putting it on the to-do list. #OneHeartTogether
in writing #OneHeartTogether I'm enjoying getting to know River and Kasu from the start of their relationship-- it's telling me a lot about *why* they were able to weather the events of #Confluence. Stuff happened back before they were dating that laid that foundation of devotion and deep trust.
a thread of songs for the main and major characters in #OneHeartTogether, my WIP prequel to #Confluence.
1. River Victoria Eginian
Foo Fighters - I Am A River
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cqH...
2nd Battalion 8th Cav, River's unit in #OneHeartTogether, is a fictional 21st century Army unit inspired by a real Illinois Civil War regiment. Those of you who know your Gettysburg lore may remember it as the unit of Marcellus E. Jones, who allegedly fired the first shot of the battle. #amwriting
What is #OneHeartTogether, the prequel to my 2022 novel Confluence?
A thread. 🧵
Working on #OneHeartTogether Chapter 8, and having the interesting experience of needing to look at my native language from the POV of a character who's approaching it from Japanese for the first time. How would they transliterate it in kana? What phrases would they seek out? #amwriting
This chapter of #OneHeartTogether has taken a little bit to write, but the amount of layers I've worked into it kind of merits some extra time. Thanks for your patience everyone! #amwriting
#OneHeartTogether is the prequel to #Confluence. It is the story of how River Victoria Eginian and Isawa Kasu, both strangers to the Pacific Northwest and isolated from trans community for very different reasons, stumble into each other's lives and become inseparable. #yuri #amwriting
A woman with long sidelocks and crown braid, an eternity collar, a blazer, and slacks, enjoys coffee outdoors at a bistro table. There's a wedding ring on her left hand.
Retraining out of old artistic habits and trying to elevate my art as I get back to #OneHeartTogether. Here's an example of what I've been doing, featuring Kasu at a bistro table enjoying coffee.
full size image and further commentary: www.patreon.com/posts/117024...
I want to pick up with one-page comics for #OneHeartTogether but the question is, do I tell a longer story and just post it one page at a time, or do I do self-contained one-pagers ?
"Sheathed and Ready," my favorite panel from the #OneHeartTogether comic "Tachi-class," is up as a sticker: https://buff.ly/4cuq92b
"A Sword Beside Her" book update: building up and out
An update on the next #OneHeartTogether book, "A Sword Beside Her," as I push to the 10,000 word mark on the manuscript, make room for working with and around my ADHD, and clarify where I'm hoping to end up with this latest trans sapphic cyberpunk novel: www.patreon.com/posts/sword-...
Isawa Emi is a blue haired Japanese-Armenian young trans woman in a cartwheel hat and pink bikini with 8 stars. Behind her are the tall evergreens and seawall of Shirahama Beach in Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture. To her right is a blue water bottle with her school's monogram, and to her left is a travel mug full of coffee that bears stickers of the Defeated-Army Star and the North Star, the two banners most famous as representing northern Honshu. The sun is reflected in her tipped-up sunglasses. She seems to radiate peace and hope.
Part 3 of the House Isawa Tarot trilogy: Emi as XVII- The Star, on Shirahama Beach in Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture.
Longer commentary and process images up at www.patreon.com/posts/109289... #OneHeartTogether #ArtistOnBluesky
River Victoria Eginian (M59A1) is a very busty, olive-skinned, Armenian American trans dyke combat doll. Her seams and her colorful tattoos are on full display. Her blue hair is worn up, and she wears a blue and gold dress in Kutahya porcelain pattern, with blue and gold T-bar heels. In her hand is the flaming sword Kurikara which cuts away affliction; behind her a stone marker reads Historical Site: Sendai Castle Ruins. The green leaves behind her evoke the hill's name-- Aobayama (Green Leaf Hill).
Part 2 of the House Isawa Tarot trilogy: River as XI- Justice, with the green leaves of Mount Aoba and a portion of Sendai skyline behind her.
Longer commentary and process images up at www.patreon.com/posts/one-he... #OneHeartTogether #ArtistOnBluesky
Isawa Kasu is a Japanese trans woman in a gold slit dress and gold platform heels recumbent on a wicker couch with the fields of the Kitakami delta in Ishinomaki behind her. She holds a stemless wineglass full of sake in one hand. The couch sits atop tatami. Above her are twofold cherry blossoms, a local hallmark of spring in Miyagi Prefecture.
The first of a trilogy of tarot style paintings of house Isawa: Kasu as III - The Empress, with the fields of the Kitakami delta behind her and twofold cherries in bloom above.
Longer commentary and process images up at www.patreon.com/posts/one-he... #OneHeartTogether #ArtistOnBluesky
Mentioned a few times in recent stories: River's lynx skull applique CVC helmet, now in sticker form. #OneHeartTogether
By request, I'm putting up some panels from #OneHeartTogether as stickers on the merch store. First one is "Sheathed and Ready." riversidewings-shop.fourthwall.com/products/she...
EXT: a historic Japanese structure in the shadow of cryptomeria trees. TEXT: "Later that evening..." Kasu: "Are you ready, doll?" An interior view of neatly lined up, freshly cleaned boots. River (narration): "As fun as it is to pound ground together" Closeup on River M59A1, a busty, tattooed combat doll in an asanoha-patterned dress. "Roger Redcon 1, ma'am!" Kasu: (in Sendai dialect) "Ope, just a quick selfie first, darlin'." River: *giggle* "Wilco!" Last panel: a selfie in color. River's dress is gold and her hair a brilliant blue. Kasu has graying black hair and wears a gold eternity collar and her red-stripe wedding ring. Her blouse is dark red, over a belted, slit pencil skirt. Her smirk is confident. RIVER (narration) "I like getting to clean up nice and turn heads together..."
River's dress is gold and her hair a brilliant blue. Kasu has graying black hair and wears a gold eternity collar and her red-stripe wedding ring. Her blouse is dark red, over a belted, slit pencil skirt. Her smirk is confident.
#OneHeartTogether extra: "Turning Heads"
We rejoin our heroines at home in Ishinomaki as they get ready to head out to a fancy to-do.
(Links to full-size PNGs and further commentary are in the replies. TY for your subscriptions!)
pencil sketch of a busty combat doll depicted in profile
A last few #OneHeartTogether sketches for May, and some comments on preparing for streamlined, more sustainable work going forward: www.patreon.com/posts/105350...
If you see this, share something romantic from your work 💙
1. River and Kasu in some of the closing beats of A Sword Beside Her
2. River and Kasu holding hands in a panel from #OneHeartTogether
