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Pailei — Dawn in the Dark City

Published: 2010-06-08 07:29:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 1358; Favourites: 11; Downloads: 0
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Description An ethereal breeze toyed with her dark strands of hair. She felt her brother's presence behind her, was safe and content while he was near. Caslan crouched at her back, his long coat draped over the edge of their impromptu perch, weighted with hidden weapons. A noise to their left caught his attention, a bird-that-was-not-a-bird wheeling through the glowing sky-that-was-not-a-sky. The arrowhead-shaped throwing blades in his long braids swung gently as he turned his head. A sentry, not an enemy. There weren't many enemies foolish enough to attack them in their own city. They owned this city. Their parents might still hold the thrones, but Shar Ta'al was their playground. Corinne slid her hand back until she felt the buttery leather of his coat beneath her fingertips. Lan flicked out a finger to brush the loose ribbons of her corset. Dawn was breaking in the Dark City, soft light blooming across the magic ward that enveloped Shar Ta'al. This was the brightest the underground city ever got, then the light would slowly fade throughout the "day" before repeating its cycle. After a long night on the town, the twins had slipped off to a high place to properly distribute their ill-gotten winnings. The rainbow aurora overhead warred with the bright city lights as the strings on their coin purse were loosened. As if by their own will, the coins poured out of the pouch to swirl into the air before them, spinning gold wrapped in magic. They spiraled into a mini whirlwind, danced there for a moment, then flew off in all directions, scattering throughout the city streets. They didn't need the coins, not when they had the riches of the whole city locked away in the royal treasury. They gambled only for the fun of it. For the taste of victory after a well-timed cheat, the perfect play in a difficult game, and the careful manufacturing of luck. Corinne leaned back to rest her head on her twin's chest. Caslan wrapped his arms around his sister's slender shoulders. The city was theirs, and as far as they were concerned, the rest of the world was too.


Check out ~alirodina 's gorgeous depiction of the twins here [link] !


Corinne ~Kechake-stock
Caslan ~maryfenja-stock
Background ~Cleonor
Braids ~NiennaAlatariel
Blades ~V-ace
Pouch =PirateLotus-Stock
Dagger ~Beloky-stock
Ledge =HarleyBliss
Brushes =Falln-Stock

As always, my words and my muses belong to me.
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Comments: 15

alirodina [2010-06-09 02:39:43 +0000 UTC]

I like it: the dark city in the horizon, and you can just imagine the nit and the grit and the underworld that Corinne and Caslan 'play' in. And the floating coins!

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Pailei In reply to alirodina [2010-06-09 02:54:35 +0000 UTC]

Glad you like it! The city is their playground, and I'm sure they love every dark and dirty corner.

And, as it was my first time painting coins, I think they turned out okay.

Of course, I'd still like to see your version of the twins... (hint hint, lol.)

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alirodina In reply to Pailei [2010-06-09 02:57:28 +0000 UTC]

Actually, seeing this sort of fired me up for my own illustration. Hee. I'm looking forward to the long weekend! (all three sad days of it.)

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Pailei In reply to alirodina [2010-06-09 03:07:45 +0000 UTC]

Yay! Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Sad? I just found out I have to spend my next weekend having my wisdom teeth pulled. I'm pretty sure your weekend will be better than mine.

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alirodina In reply to Pailei [2010-06-09 03:12:44 +0000 UTC]

Oh no! I'm terribly afraid of dentists. I think the only people I fear worse are those middle-aged women with large bags. Hee. Good luck, dear!

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Pailei In reply to alirodina [2010-06-09 03:20:09 +0000 UTC]

Lol my mom is one of those women! We keep joking that the older one gets, the larger their purse becomes.

And I've had so much work done on my teeth, it's old news to me. Still, it would be better if everyone stopped telling me how painful the procedure is. I mean, are they actually trying to be helpful, or does everyone secretly hate me?

Thanks, dear.

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alirodina In reply to Pailei [2010-06-09 03:29:52 +0000 UTC]

Hee, that must be why I'm thinking of getting a larger bag! One that can accomodate my sketch pad, anyway. XD

idk, forwarned is forearmed? haha.

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Pailei In reply to alirodina [2010-06-09 03:32:01 +0000 UTC]

It's okay--artists are allowed to be eccentric. Just like old women.

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alirodina In reply to Pailei [2010-06-09 03:33:39 +0000 UTC]

It's a badge of honour amongst ourselves, of course. XD

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Pailei In reply to alirodina [2010-06-09 03:37:02 +0000 UTC]

Of course. In fact, I just got a huge black tote bag with little multi-colored owls all over it. Big enough for my notebooks. And it was on sale!

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PirateLotus-Stock [2010-06-08 15:26:18 +0000 UTC]

Nice job I like how you tell the story behind the image! Did you have an idea of the story beforehand? Or did you make it up along the way?

Thank you for using my stock ^.^

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Pailei In reply to PirateLotus-Stock [2010-06-08 15:39:52 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! These two are just a couple of my many muses. I knew I wanted to portray them overlooking their city, and I wrote the details afterward to explain what they were doing, and to help capture their close relationship.
I'm glad you like it! Thanks for the fave, and for providing the useful stock!

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PirateLotus-Stock In reply to Pailei [2010-06-08 15:41:17 +0000 UTC]

My pleasure ^.^

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maryfenja-stock [2010-06-08 09:46:21 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for using my stock!

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Pailei In reply to maryfenja-stock [2010-06-08 15:36:08 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much for providing it! And thanks for the fave.

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