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TwilightSaint — Flight over the Jordan
Published: 2009-12-27 06:57:23 +0000 UTC; Views: 4338; Favourites: 203; Downloads: 0
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~~~I'm listening to some right now...
Even if you're not a fan, and as you're reading this you're thinking 'Oh, gees, I don't have time for this--' well you do.
iTunes...CD...rapidshare...anywhere you can find it (I did), find the soundtrack to Assassin's Creed II (also find the soundtrack to the first, if you know what's good for you,) and download it.
(Easy links:
Jerusalem Horse Ride: [link]
Flight over Venice I: [link]
Flight over Venice II: [link]
Sometimes I get really pumped about things (like music and art and swords and weapons!) and I try to share my excitement with others and they just smile politely and nod and change the subject... They just don't get it...
Sometimes I like to dream that maybe I just shouldn't be where I'm at. That, somehow, I'm from some distant civilization of awesome people and I just got separated from my tribe...
For now, I don't know where they are.
But they know me, and I know them, and whether we know it or not, we're looking for each other. And maybe, just maybe, one day we'll find each other...
Maybe.
Saint and Shadow...
Art/Chars (c) me.
...Do I have to say it?
~~~
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Comments: 115
Your welcome! Have a Happy New Year! =3
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Wow, really cool scene. The dragon is also very nice
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I...think get it.
I feel the same way a lot too. You try talking to them, and you try telling them what you're thinking, but they just don't seem to...I don't know, its like there's a wall of glass separating the you and them, and they can't hear what you're saying, only read your lips and try to make it out. It's like some sort of great divide...and because of it, it feels like no one is listening. You have so much to say, on so many things, and then when the opportunity finally comes up to open your mouth, no one hears it; its all just psychobabble to them.
What kills me is when you're having this inner dialogue with yourself; perhaps in your head you're talking to a favorite character, and then in the middle of the "conversation" you discover that the all-absorbing pleasant philosophical debate you were having...was one that would not, could not occur in real life. It really hit me when I discovered the most stimulating talk I'd had...was when I was carrying an imaginary conversation with an imaginary character.
It's an awful isolation feeling. =/ And then you just want to get up and run, see other people, see more people, see if you'll find someone, anyone, that will listen and understand. You feel like you'd run across the world and back to find someone, right? Someone that will spend five minutes to hear you, spend some time talking back without just regurgitating an answer? Just run across the world, see the fields and the roads and the trees, and go to the sun-drenched elsewhere.
For me, it feels like an emptiness, an anxiety, some sort of yearning. It feels a lot like dropping a penny in a well and not hearing the plink at the bottom, or watching some guy scream, but the volume is turned off. To be able to touch your dreams, see the people and be accepted by them, be able to talk to them.
And to a certain extent, I can do that with some of my friends...talk to them about my "innermost" thoughts and get a certain level of understanding. But sometimes I feel like I'm talking to walls, you know? Like nothing will truly get it, so why bother.
Hey...if you ever do find that sun-drenched elsewhere, take me with you. =/
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Yes, yes, exactly! It kills me even worse when they think they understand and say something back to you, but, somehow, it's the wrong thing to say. They didn't mean anything by it, but it stabs where there's a soft spot and it all breaks loose. Then you're just left standing there, trying to absorb what happened. It hurts.
Ahhh, I'm glad I'm not the only person who does that. I often like to think that my ocs would be the coolest people to hang out with, heh. (They most likely wouldn't be...at least some of them...) But still.
I often like giving my chars little knicks and weird things that really make them unique - deep, in a way - fun to study and work with - but...still simple? It's difficult to explain. Like my char Haladin (don't know if you know him...?) - he's mean and fiesty, simple - but at the same time there are so many interesting and weird things going through his head that make him that way and make him act on impulse and such, complex. It's interesting to work with.
And I wish I could TELL people how interesting it is, but no one actually thinks it's very interesting and just think it's a weird 'artist/writer thing'. Hmph.
Oh, well.
Sometimes I let myself hope a little and think that I will, eventually, find someone someplace who gets it. Then of course, I remind myself that hope only exists to be crushed, and then I come hurdling back down to earth and make myself face the cruel mask of reality once more. More often than not, it hurts when I land.
I don't want to say I don't believe in hope, or that I've given up, but I don't know what else to believe in. If hopes and beliefs are so great, then why don't we see the fruit of them more often? When I think I've given up, it makes me sad and I get irritated with myself for falling to easily. Then, of course, I pick up my mud-soaked carcass and carry on with life, ha-ha. Pleasant.
But I also often wonder what would actually happen if I ever find that person/place. Would it be love? Paradise? Or a bitter disappointment at what I thought I had?
...Oh, man, so depressing! 
And yes, I'll call you up and let you know when I've found it.
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I know; I hate it when that happens. You get this sudden leap of hope, yes, yes, I've found the one, this one gets it, and then they say something so horribly off-kilter that you want to laugh at yourself for thinking that you had finally found them.
I talk to my OCs more than anyone else in the world. It feels awesome to do it, and then pretending that you are them, that you're with them. It's like when you're in a dream, everything seems so real, so wonderful, and everything is a separate entity from each other, from the sheep to the trees to the people -- and then you wake up and realize that you had created them all. Every single last one of them. And then you feel awful for thinking that they were real and for waking up, and spend the rest of the morning trying to get back. =/
It's almost like one of those Matrix things, you know? The question of what is more real; the reality in your head or the "reality" everyone agrees on. The obvious choice for some people is the majority vote; but the majority vote at the Salem Witchcraft Trials was that almost all of the women worked for Satan, so. =/
Hope does seem futile with all of the starvation and rape and murders going on, yes. =/ People hope to end world hunger; the truth is there's always going to be one bastard that starves their underlings or children for some sort of gain. You can't abolish starvation globally --that's impossible -- but you can hope to ease some of the pain. It's a bit morbid, but 100,000 starving children is better than 100,001 starving children. But if you look at the world, on its own, you have to think; what is the point? People can hope all they like, but it's not helping anything.
I can't tell you whether you will find that person or not, but if they do exist, just know that they're probably just as hurt by the idea that they're alone as you are. It's impossible to lead two horses to each other if they refuse to move.
And yay, I get to go along to paradise with you! We can form a club of dreamin' peepuhlz there! Bingo Night every Friday. ^_^
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Yeah - you laugh at yourself and then you slink home - alone once more.
Like I said before, it's nice to hear that other people do that, too. It's just...geez. Though my OCs are probably the farthest things from role models anything could get (to an extent, ha-ha, and some moreso than others, etc, etc~~~ ) but...it's calming...in way? I think I put that right? O.o To have these ocs and be able to use them in that way. Sounds horrid when put that way, too. Hmph.
Ah, yes, like the saying 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder'... A lot comes into society, I guess, and the norm of the world...at least I think so. You can be different and have your own thoughts and ideas to a certain degree... Until you start to sound ' politically incorrect' or something. Hah. Sometimes I like to think that everyone in the entire world has a bit of the 'crazy', just some notice it more than others. XP
Exactly! What usually happens is, I start feeling all swell about humanity and all like 'Yeah, people aren't that bad...' and then I hear about some dude who killed his family or blew up a playground. It's like a punch in the nose saying 'You're wrong. Whatever you thought was right...you're wrong.' It hurts, and it leaves bruises.
But, along those lines, like I said before, hopes only exist to be crushed. ;-;
Ah, unwilling to move?! I am perfectly willing to move! In fact, I want my future to be everywhere - all over the world! I want to live in as many places as I can and have friends all over the place! (I do now, to an extent, but I mean actually going up to their house and hanging out and such. 
But, then sometimes I think about it like 'Ah...but it would be nice to have a home to come back to...' But that's what I have friends for. And, in a worst-case scenario, I'll have myself for, ha-ha. I'm going to be blatantly independent.
Yes, of course! I'll send a private jet to you and you and your friends can join me and my groupies on our epic land of paradise!
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Sorry I wasn't able to reply as fast as I'd have liked, I haven't had much energy lately. =/
lol, it may sound horrid, but I know it's not. It's good to have someone always "with you" (Of course they're always with you, they're in your head!) to talk to. It also lets you learn more about your character's disposition, so NYEEH to all of the nay-sayers out there.
Mmm, I think everyone is crazy, just some can hide it better. 
Humanity is both awful and beautiful in its diversity. One man will hug a child as soon as another will stab her. Someone is always going to fuck something up, you know? World peace is a fantastic thing to strive for, but not all of the world wants peace. Not peace ruled by those other guys, anyways. No no, someone will always want the control someone else has, to make a statement They are too afraid to make. Because of this seeming impulsive struggle for power, humanity will be both its own salvation and destruction. If I view this from the "outside", as if I myself am not human, I think, in the end, I would be confused trying to label them "Mostly Harmless" or "Not So Harmless". There are too many of us, with too many different personalities, so say anything for certain.
I think hope exists for motivation. Nothing more, nothing less. Think of hope like an ant hill; some of the ants must be killed, while others are allowed to live. Like, if you were drawing a picture, but did not come out as stunning as you had hoped. The hope of drawing and completing the picture has been realized, but the hope of it being stunning has been culled. Almost like a Darwin Law for hope. :3 Some must die, some must live, and others might be reborn. There is a life cycle for everything, even the stars. :3
I was just musing, I didn't mean to say that you specifically didn't want to move.
Yay for independence! For PARADISE! *cheering*
(And of course private jets, where we can be havin' beer in the sky. ^^)
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Hey, no problem! ^^
Yeah, it is a strange feeling of a 'being there' sense. Like you're alone...but not alone? One's imagination can stir up some wondrous things. O.o
Yes-yes! I also think that the world is under a mask - or at least the majority - or at least the majority of people I/you/the guy across the street/whoever are around much of the time. It's also sad that people seek other's approval and such - they're not strong enough in who they are and think they need to conform to society's mold to be accepted. I don't have that problem - which is why I promote independence and self-reliance - and...in a way...it doesn't irritate me, but it gets on my nerves to see individuals running around in little bunches all doing and saying the same exact thing and yet each member of the group claims to be 'unique'. The world is like that, like I said - at least the majority - at least the majority one is surrounded by~~~
Then, of course, if one would try to stand up and complain or - not complain, just try to state the facts! - they would be labeled as a rebel and/or extremist. Not 'one of the herd', so to speak. When, by themselves, they're a perfectly chill person. Strange...to think of it in that way.
Definitely! I have friends all over the place... And I'd really, really like to meet my friends face-to-face. Internet and chatting is fine, but... There's something more about actually walking up to a person and shaking their hand, y'know? Fulfilling? Can't think of the word right now.
TO PARADISE! *waves flag*
(And play epic music and have epic dance parties! In the sky! ^^ )
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Oh, that is so cool. I makes me wish I could do the same...you know jump on a dragon on just fly. (then again, I wish I could draw like that too)
No I haven't ever heard of crying over music, but I have almost cried a movie (isn't that rare but I don't cry much) I can't remember the movie but I do remember crying or tearing up at it.
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Not necessarily a dragon - anything! Anything to go anywhere. O.o (Then again, I wish I could draw better, too. Thanks. 
Ah, yesh, movies are notorious for teh tears. Despite this, I can't remember the last time I ever cried at a movie...except...for 'UP'. Seriously, the beginning...oh, man...
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Oh wow, what a coincidence! NO I didn't cry but I got UP for christmas in Blue-ray and saw it for the very first time.
Yeah I can understand why you would cry at that movie. It made me crestfallen too.
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Ah, but the beginning... *mews* ...and when the house landed on the cliff right by the falls! *tears of joy, lol*
It's a wonderful movie! I love Pixar!
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Yeah I think that they are doing a great job. I can't wait for the new toy story movie to come out. The last time I watched that, I was like 10!
Funny Pixar VS Dreamworks spoof:[link] this on my ipod one day)
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Wonderful art 
...and an interesting rant. I think I get it--almost indescribable really; I guess its a passion for what you like and people of course think differently on that. I'm reading this book "There Will Be Dragons" by John Ringo, and one of the characters, Edmund Tabolt collects medieval weaponry and amour. I was reading this description and found myself thinking /Wow, it would be really cool to do all that and live like that/. So in regards to what your saying I think you can live like [that] -like how you want. And you want to share it with others but the feeling and thought is hard to put into words. But art solves that somewhat I guess.
Great music tracks, that's cool, I was just listening to something similar to that. That kind of music is cool, it inspires creativity and makes you think.
Great work, rent and music choice
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Thank you!
Yes, my rants are often quite interesting and out-of-the-ordinary. (Medieval weaponry and armour?! Right up my alley! In fact, that's what I'm planning on doing later in life - and I'm starting my collection early, if you've ever heard my sword/karate rants, ha-ha~~~ )
Ah, yes, but living like 'that' is often difficult - at least, from what I've seen it is - in society. Society and the world expect only certain things from people. Which is why, I often tease my thoughts that, I'm somehow from some secret tribe from some faraway place, ha-ha.
But I do know what you mean, yes. Perhaps I should just learn to keep my thoughts and passions to myself and live a life of withdrawal. Hey, if you don't let people know much or whatever about you or your thoughts, people won't have much to pester you with. *shrugs*
Thanks again!
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Your welcome *nods*
Cool, I haven't read your rants on that yet, but I'd like to! And I'm sure living like "that" would be difficult to an extent I suppose, I read in my local newspaper once this guy had a castle on a lake up in the mountains so I really don't know how hard it /would/ be. I guess expensive perhaps.
I don't know, anything is possible. Work things out right it'll work
And hey, sharing your thoughts and passions is great, and if people are interested that just makes things even better.
Peace ( "Martivir" )
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Ha-ha, my rants are strewn throughout my journals - usually the ones titled 'MORE SWORDS!' and things along those lines.
Hmm... It probably would be rather expensive, yes. I don't think I'd actually like to LIVE in a CASTLE, but having tons of armour and arms at my disposal is a very pleasant feeling.
Yes-yes. I'm hoping once I start college I'll find a cool crew to pal around with and rant about swords and stuff to, ha-ha.
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lol, Cool perhaps I'll look for those.
Yes, the more swords and amour, the more exciting your duels with unsuspecting visitors can be when they come knocking
Ah, college, of coarse...quite fun!
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Oh, yeah! I can just imagine myself answering the door to the mailman with a claymore strapped to by back... 
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oooooh this is a really nice picture. The details in the colouring, with the black speckles on the leg, really make this one stand out. I also really love the anatomy on the main body, the leg seems almost perfectly shaped
the only thing i'd change would be the wings, they seem like they could use some more time on the anatomy of them, though they are very well coloured as well.
the positioning of the dragon against the setting sun makes the lighting dramatic, and really draws in the eye
great pic ^^
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Thanks!
Ah, so you say it needs work...? But how? Any tips/suggestions?
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my best suggestion is... look at drawings of bat's wings?
i'm not very thinking atm 8D
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Ha-ha, okay, I'll practice more. ^^
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^^ i'm sure you'll get it with practising ^^
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This might help for people looking for the songs:
Jerusalem Horse Ride - [link]
Flight Over Venice I - [link]
Flight Over Venice II - [link]
There's nothing more frustrating than attempting to give words to a strong feeling. Some emotions just are not meant to be captured that way. We want so badly to be able to share these feelings with others, to get them to see and understand how much some things mean to us, but in the end it's just never worth it, and so people give up. Sure, you can get nice replies from people, but somehow they seem like those people put their messages together with less thought and feeling than your own, and perhaps rushed through it a little. Maybe it's better this way, with how individualized emotions tend to be. Sometimes it just seems like these sorts of things aren't meant to be conveyed.
I suppose that's all just a lengthy disclaimer before I attempt to address this sort of thing anyways.
First off, all three of those were beautiful songs; I can see why they would speak so powerfully to you. Unfortunately, to me they're just good songs. I can imagine that the same thing would happen if I tried to share the songs that move me as much as these three seem to effect you (in fact, let's try it: [link] - most notably the part at 2:30). It seems like everything is like this. To some, things can have unspeakable meanings; to others, it can be neat or cool or whatever, but never hold anything deeper; and still others might blow it off completely.
The worst part is, what do we do when we find someone who happens to feel like we do? You can share that together as best as words allow, but somehow it helps only a little. No matter how deeply either of you feel about something, in trying to discuss it the emotions just don't come out (and how can they?), and you just don't get the response you had hoped for, either from the other person or from yourself. It just ends up feeling like an empty discussion. Incredibly frustrating, to say the least.
I think it's great that you could write so openly about things that obviously matter a great deal to you. I find that it's usually too much effort for too little return for most people to bother to do it. But it can mean a lot to people who, though the topics they feel strongly about are different from yours, still know and understand the feelings you are trying to put into words. I guess knowing that other people are capable of these kinds of feelings is a comfort in its own right.
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Ah, thanks so much for the links! I always forget about YT. O.o *adds links to description*
Nice, lengthy disclaimers are nice. So, in short, it's best not to discuss such things. No rants from me. (Though, this is only one of two rants I've ever had online/publicly/DeviantArt. Ah, well. Done and none.)
Just listened to the song. First of all, beautiful music! I love lots of instrumental/band/orchestral/choir/(anything else I'd like to add...?) pieces, and songs like these are no exception. Also, the part you noted at 2:30 - the build and the chord they hit at the top - is simply wonderful. For some reason, in any song, when chords like that are hit, to me, they can be the best part of a song~~~ (It makes me think of walking after a battle...a sad battle... Things always go back to either flying or the military with me, don't they, ha-ha?)
Exactly - I was just thinking about that, actually. What would happen if I would ever find someone who gets it? Would it be love? Paradise? But, there's still the chance of bitter disappointment as still, though you're with someone else, neither of you can really express it. It's sad and confusing. It's nice to hope, but I don't let myself anymore. But when I tell myself not to hope, it makes me sad.
Sometimes, things like this just simply need to be written. As a writer, (and artist and whatever,) I can get ideas/thoughts/bothers across so much easier and with more fluidity than words. Words are just empty when spoken, I think, at least for me. When I try to talk out, I don't feel like others listen, so I learned to stop trying - a long time ago. And still then, I don't write out rants, (except for this, ha-ha, or in conversations with friends or such,) even in writing. I might incorperate a rant or a complaint about society/thoughts/whatever via my plot or my characters or their situations - the majority through the characters. It's interesting. But that's another thing - I wish I could TELL someone just HOW interesting it really IS, but yet again, who would I tell?
It's at that point I fall back to earth. The landing always hurts.
But yes. I know many others feel the same way - I would much like to rant with them, lol, and perhaps together we could be once voice. Oh, well.
Thanks.
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Heh, well you're welcome then. Ooh, I got my name in the artist's comments now!
"So, in short, it's best not to discuss such things." True, if you want to take the pessimist's view on things. I think a somewhat lighter interpretation would caution against it due to the track record of such discussions and their habit of not helping much with anything. It's a delicate balance, I guess. XD Personally, I tend to err on the side of not discussing it (and certainly not publicly; a rant like that would be way out of character for me), though I don't usually mind jumping in when such topics come up. The question is really whether adding my own comments would matter or if it'd just be a waste of time.
Oh, I far prefer symphonic/choral/etc music (most likely because I did more music classes than I could shake a stick at in high school 
I absolutely love that part of the song. Music doesn't usually move me to tears... and this song is no exception, but it sure comes close. I gotta hand it to Eric Whitacre; he sure knows how to build a chord. I think the best part about this song, and most notably that part of the song, is how much I can turn to it pretty much regardless of the way I feel at the time. It's so powerful, and yet so wonderfully generic.
(I've never heard the song quite that way before. Now that you mention it, though, I realize how well that moment in the song does fit the aftermath of a battle. And, hey, everyone's got something they always turn back to, trust me. XD There's a good reason for it.)
To be honest, I try not to think about what might happen after you meet someone who truly "gets it" - mostly because I'm already pretty sure it would be more disappointment than anything else and just don't want to admit it.
Yes, and I know this feeling a little... when you simply have something to get off of your chest, that you need someone else to hear and think about and care about, if even for a little while... It's times like these when the written word truly shines out over the spoken word. You have the time to think through your message, to delicately choose the strongest words to convey your meaning, and - most importantly - to analyze what it is you really want to say. While the spoken word can be more moving to those who hear it from the mouth of a skilled speaker, you just can't top writing in terms of getting an impossible-to-convey concept out where others can see it in the easiest way to understand.
A good audience for something like this is so hard to come by... It's easy to find people who might consider your message for a little while and then never think about it again, but what you really want is someone who actually has thought about it themselves, who is genuinely interested in hearing your view on things and has thoughtful and concrete thoughts to contribute. Why are people like this so hard to come by?
How well does that work for you? The idea is good, and I'm sure it's a very common practice for people to put their would-be rants into your writings (and other art forms, of course), but it seems like it wouldn't help satisfy the need to discuss the topic with others if it gets hidden too subtly, or if people take the meaning the wrong way (such as not realizing you're trying to say anything at all XD). Even so, I guess it's the easiest way to say things you just feel like you need to say, huh? And, who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and someone will make the connections and see what it is you're really trying to say.
Ha, I feel that way all the time about things. XD I find something that I find fascinating, and I want to share it with someone, but who can I talk to? I don't really think anyone else would appreciate a lot of the things I find "interesting" - especially if I have to slow down and explain some things first (since this is the surest way to lose their interest and/or their attention
Cold, hard reality is cold and hard.
And thank you. 
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Ah, I can take it out if you want! O.o Sorries!
Alright, yes. I guess it's sort of like the journals that people post now and then about complex personal problems and how everyone...rants about the rants? :0 Awkward!!!
Another thing about mainstream music is that it's played...so often...that after a while it's like 'Oh, great, like I haven't heard this song before~~~' and after a while it becomes a drag. But, oftentimes, like the song you posted and like the songs I talked about on my deviation, some songs you can just listen to over and over and over again... No matter what you're doing, or where you're at, or how you're feeling, you just hear something new and fresh in it, y'know? They're literally compelling.
Ah, but here I am completely willing to abandon such hopes. O.o I've analyzed it. But when I think that way I get bummed that I'm giving up... I guess that 'bummed' feeling I get is the tiny flicker of hope that somehow catches flame beneath the ravaging stormclouds overhead...
Man, I cannot wait. Someday, I'm going to move soooo far away to somewhere where the sun shines all the time and it's always warm and sunny~~~ (I wish to go to a desert beach...how fanciful. ^^ )
Why are people so difficult to come by...and why is it so difficult to express such thoughts? In a way, I guess, it's sort of like lightning bugs... (what?) ...how there are tons and tons and tons of other sparklers out there all trying to sparkle some sort of message and find someone who sparkles the same way and understands it... There's a certain combination to come by, and out of the thousands and thousands of sparklers, you just have to keep sparkling until another sparkles your way. (Omg, sparkle obsession, ftw.) (I'm using sparkle to mean rant/express thoughts and ideas/understand, btw. O.o )
Ah, but you see, all of my artwork says something... It's just so subtle and only yours truly knows... (Sounds so esoteric when put that way.) Almost every piece (save for a few lols or refs or requests or whatever) of my ocs and other critters and things is saying something - but usually my ocs. In amongst my writings and ocs, there are so many complex connections...it's...hard to explain. XP But I'm sure most writers with ocs would say things along those lines...I think. O.o Another concept that is difficult to express in its own right. Hmph.
Ah, you're welcome, you're welcome. But, seriously, thank you guys.
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No, no, you misunderstand me. XD It's fine! That was just more of a joke than anything else.
Besides, in all honesty, it makes absolutely no difference to anything. I appreciate you giving me credit though.
Yeah, I guess so. It's weird, because we all want to talk about things like this, but we really don't... And some people go ahead and post them, and others just quietly pocket their rants and say nothing. XD I suppose it's all just a mental thing. Nothing ever becomes of it whether you post or keep it to yourself.
I know what you mean, but I don't get that very often (unless I'm in a car when my sister is driving XD) because I tend to subconsciously avoid "popular" things in general. I'm fairly out of touch with 'mainstream' music. But that's fine with me, because I don't like it as much anyways. XD
I love songs that you can just play over and over. Drives other people nuts, though (but that's why they invented headphones!). There's just something in them that keeps you from getting tired of hearing the same thing over and over. You're right, they always have something fresh every time you hear them - but at the same time, they still have a few things that just keep you in their grip. The climax of Lux Aurumque, for instance. Compelling is a good word, I think. I hear that part of the song, and it literally washes over me... Gives my whole body a physical tingle, sometimes. It's indescribable.
I think you will find that to abandon these hopes is impossible. Who knows why we have feelings and hopes this strong - but we do, and they're such an essential part of our individual being that we can't do away with them any more than we can understand why we have them. What you are considering abandoning is not this hope, but more the hope for this hope... At least, that is how I think of it. You can't fully give up on one of these deeper hopes. I think that's what the "bummed" feeling comes from, and I doubt it'll go away without some major effort that will change more than just a simple hope.
Of course, this does very little to help with the more surface-level hope I mentioned. XD
As questionably possible as a desert beach is (unless you meant "deserted" XD), at least you're more likely to get what you're hoping for than I am. Still, I wish you luck with this future move, and send me a postcard when you get there!
I guess it just takes too much effort for most people to bother being the sort of person they would need to be...? As for expressing the thoughts, well, what we're talking about here goes so much deeper than anything words could hope to convey. Feelings aren't meant to be captured that literally. Think about how you reason with such feelings to yourself; even there, when you know almost perfectly what you are trying to say, the right words are never closer than the tip of your mental tongue. Maybe it's just not meant to be expressed like this.
You can tell I think about it a lot. I really do think too much. O.O
Ooh, sparkle obsessions. Interesting analogy. It works, though. There's just too many sparkled messages everywhere. It gets so distracting - and worse, they all look the same after a while. XD So even if there are people out there who might understand you or vice versa, how can you tell unless you're really looking for them? The odds are not good, to say the least. Still, I suppose we owe a great deal of thanks to something like the internet (I wonder how that applies in this analogy?) that both makes our own sparkle easier to find and others' more noticeable. The internet just has a way of bringing similar people together.
I wish I could say the same for my own art and the writing I do. But, as illogical as it sounds, art is rather detached from feelings, for me. I think this is a block I need to learn to work around. Art isn't meant to be as literal as I make mine to be.
Even so, I can usually see the meaning in others' art... and while I can't always say what they're trying to put into their art, I can usually tell when it's there. But still, it's one thing to know that connections and meanings are there and quite another to know what they are, even if someone were to try and explain them.
The funny thing about difficult-to-express concepts is how the barest meaning of them can be understood even when no one can truly put the proper words into place.
It takes me sooo long to write replies like this. I really do think too much. XD But I do love being able to delve into such topics with people.
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A'ight, lol, 'tis okay!
It is strange. It's even stranger (to me at least) how some people have such an animosity for when people post rants and such (in journals or otherwise). I dunno... I mean, seriously. Some things, people should just not put out in public, but other times they may just be fuming and people completely ignore them because they think it's stupid. Hmph. Whatever.
I do enjoy some mainstream music - whenever I drive around I always have the radio on, so that's a nice, quick way to know what's good and what's bad and...what's overplayed.
A desert shoreline... Does my recent poll about Jerusalem ring a bell?
You're right - it's that deep hope that doesn't want to give up on hope. 'Deep hope from the dawn of time... Deeper home from before the dawn of time...' XD But that's literally what it is, and it just keeps going on and on and on... I guess that's sort of a beauty of humanity - we don't give up! At least...not all the time. We like to think we wouldn't... And I guess that's where the people who really give up (I'm talking like, people who run away and others who attempt/commit suicide, etc) have given up on their deeper hope from before the dawn of time... It's sort of a lifeline, in those aspects. Curious - the enigma of the human psyche...
Sparkles know all. 83 Another thing is, when you're looking for the right sparkle, and you think you find it!...and then you realize (after talking or whatever) they didn't sparkle back? As in...they were just sparkling without anything really real in it, and you thought you found your fellow sparkler, but you were disappointed? *hard to explain* Like... One thinks they finally found the sparkle for them! But the sparkle doesn't want them back. Doesn't sparkle back. Yeah, like that. XD It leads to a terrible confusion and a sense of 'Omg, what am I doing?' And even as one leaves again to sparkle, they keep thinking 'Oh, man, but I found my sparkler, but...' Hmph.
I guess that's where I'm lucky - having art and writing and even music as an output. There are so many things I'm not able to to or whatever but when I turn my music on or put my pen to my paper I can douse myself in it - dive into it. Especially through music. I often enjoy just laxin in my bed with my iPod on shuffle and listening to my 'Stream List' (all my favourites in one place, ftw!) and just immersing (that's the word!) myself in it. Whether it's part of my epic (99% of the time...) or just some awesome scene that I can imagine up to the song (and later I often go to sketch it down to draw it in the future,) it's there, and I'm in it - I feel like I'm a part of it... And it feels awesome.
(Here we go with the 'music high', whoop-whoop-whoop... I'm going to call it that now, ha-ha.)
I also think too much...way too much. Oftentimes, if I get a thought or something or a quote hits the right spot, I'll whip out a notebook and jot it down - things like quotes and such stick with me - it's interesting. Another thing I like to base my artwork off of is by quoting...or statements and such. Titles, names, whatever. Things just make me think. But I also love getting into deeper topics like this and peeling the skin back to shed some light on the deep topics from the dawn of time... And before you know it, one finds the deeper topics from before the dawn of time...
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Well, I think the biggest issue when people start to post rants and things is that the readers forget to think that this is an actual person complaining about something, and they obviously feel very strongly about it if they're going to come out and say the things they are saying. Sure, you might disagree, but what difference does your opinion make? It's not your rant, after all. XD And, in all honesty, it is a rather good way to vent...
I never play the radio when I drive. It makes the car very quiet sometimes, but I'm used to it. XD Even if I do bring my own music, I often spend a lot of time skipping... The music I listen to is highly dependent on my mood and who is around.
Yes, you get to songs like this and just let them wash over you (or whatever that word is that we can't think of... XD I hate when a word is on the tip of your tongue but you just can't formulate it. So let's go with "immersed" XD)... That tingle or chill or whatever doesn't usually come when I find a scene or other meaning for a song. It's just the music itself that does it to me. Just the way I feel the chords, sometimes...
I always thought Jerusalem was somewhat more lush than a desert. Maybe it's a more temperate desert? Dunno, never been there myself... XD Traveling like that would be so neat. There's so many great places in the world to go to. I don't know why I've never been much of a traveler though. XD Somehow the beauty and appeal of the world fails me at times. I've never been much of one for asthetics. XD
(Wow, count how many times I use "XD". And keep counting, cause it's going up...
I feel like you just made a reference to something... Maybe a song. That would explain why I don't know it.
And I think it's great (in a funny sort of way) how we've now tied psychology into this. I suppose it was bound to happen, considering where this whole conversation got started.
I know what you mean. When you get your hopes up about someone who can understand and see things the way you see them (I suppose I've dropped the analogy now
I would consider you lucky. I've always wished that I could be this way more. I have no output... which sounds strange, but the more I think about it, the more I'm sure that that's the case. I don't have the escape of art or writing or music, I don't have anyone to confide in (and even if I did, I wouldn't take advantage of this because that's not how I deal with things XD). Emotions and issues that I would need a vent for I just... deal with myself, somehow.
The downside here is that I can't always seek other sources for inspiration. When I listen to a great song, I get washed over by great music - and that's it. The music is just music to me. For the most part I'm fine with this, because it rings in my logical/analytical mind quite beautifully (I tear music apart when I listen to it O.o), but there are definitely times when I just wish I could let the music carry a story for me. Something that would fill me with such a desire to put it down on paper in some form that I just couldn't bear to not do it... But it just doesn't happen for me. It's not who I am. I guess I'm happy with this, because I like how I am just fine, but... still.
Words are powerful things. Some quotes have a way of putting words together that is enviable in its effect and efficiency, and powerful in its meaning. Quotes like these are hard to come by, and often hard to remember, so you have a good thing going there with writing good quotes down. I never think to write things down. Which isn't a good idea, since I don't always have the best memory for some things.
I've noticed the way you use phrases and statements in your titles. One that caught my attention in particular was your "There's a Dragon Behind You" drawing. That put a grin on my face when I first saw it, for sure.
When I say I think to much, though, I really mean it. One of the things that bugs me the most about my mind is my inability to not go off on a tangent - or, more accurately, tangents. XD I just make the weirdest connections sometimes, and it's hard to control. I also have a lot of trouble just taking things at face value. I analyze some things forwards and backwards. Yet sometimes I'm just blind to the most obvious things. XD Especially when it comes to people or, more specifically, personalities. I'm an uncreative RPer because my characters are always me - I can't create a personality of their own because, ultimately, how they react to a situation must be filtered through me and my own behavior. The same sort of thing holds me back in writing. I envy authors who can develop rich, full characters who are as believable as the person next to you.
Wow, monster post, sorry. And my last paragraphs ended up wandering a ways from the main points I was trying to make in them. XD It must be late...
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(I ate a coconut for dinner - cracked it myself - it's rather delicious...)
ANYWAYS... Another thing I also sometimes see, (very often, actually,) is that many (usually impulsive) individuals who hate public rants immediately claiming that the rant is 'stupid' or some other ridiculous slang term, even though, to the ranter, it's a very serious issue. Though some people do complain more than others~~~ it still moved them enough to have to get it out somehow, and, maybe, public ranting is their only output. *sad shrug*
Yes, me too! I'm very selective of what I'm listening to at one time - I'm always jumping around my iPod. Usually by the last twenty seconds of the song I'm listening to, I immediately know the next song I want - it may be completely different, it may provoke an idea I want, or it may continue my current idea/mind scheme. It's interesting... I often feel like listening to the radio is like fortune roulette - if a song comes on you really like, or several songs you really like come on, you've done something right.
I'm always looking into the grand scheme of things like that, too. Whereas, if there's little traffic on your way to somewhere, you're going to have a good time. If your dinner tasted especially yummy, you'll sleep extra well. And other things along those lines... I'm constantly seeking connections - most often or not, I create them myself. *shrug* It's a way of a universe.
I honestly have no idea - though I am studying up in the region. On the coastal/water areas it is more lush, but in the desert it's, well...desert, ha-ha. I wish to go there and find out... I wish to travel to many places, ahhh~~~
(I counted ' XD ' thirteen times.
I actually referenced 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe' - they're chapters in the book. I've always found the titles 'Deep Magic from The Dawn of Time' and 'Deeper Magic from Before the Dawn of Time' to have a special meaning in amongst themselves... I'm always quoting the chapters, ha-ha. ^^
But yes, psychology is really coming into this - only to be expected!
Yes, exactly! That bitter disappointment... I do take pride, however, in it, in a way - I call it a form of 'independence' and not needing others to get it.
Hmm... I know what you mean. I guess I'm also lucky, in a way, in that I can decide for myself how I want to listen to the music - depending on my mood, if something happened, or if I just feel like it. I can pick it apart, or I can let it carry a story. More often than not, however, I let a story carry the music, which is why it's often so special to me and hits a soft spot somewhere in there.
Oh, the vast majority of my artwork (on DA and off~~~ ) have significant titles, ha-ha. I like to look at the concept and aestheticism when I draw some things - what am I trying to portray? What can I call it to carry that concept even further? Like in 'The Saint and the Assassin' - one (at least me
And even in 'There's a Dragon Behind You' (though with some humour) there's a story - a deep story - hiding behind it, just like how Idracil is towering behind Thomas. The humour is almost geared to a darker form of philosophy. (Though no one knows this because they don't know my epic or what's happening in it at this current point in time~~~ ) To me it's a really personal piece. (It's framed in my room, ha-ha.)
First of all, it's humourous because the initial reaction is 'Omg! There's a dragon behind you!' Then, when/if picked apart, one may say 'Well, see the dragon is a mighty beast - how did it get there? Why is it behind him? What are they doing? Why is the knight worn-out?' Etc. Then the statement 'There's a Dragon Behind You' can be taken in either informative, exclamatory, or anything else. Is the speaker surprised? Does he think the worn-out knight is too tired to notice the beast?
Really? I've never gotten into RPing, actually. I've never actually really had a character I've based off myself - except my monstersona, but that's different! 
I'm actually starting to take pride in my characters - once again, like the concepts. I love giving them incredible stories and I love even more how it affects them and what they do and how they think - the psychological aspects of things. My characters are so complex in their minds and how they think... Like real people! (Do you know the Mary Sue litmus test? One of my characters got a -3. -3!!! And all are consistently under 10!) In a way, not trying to sound mighty, but I consider myself a 'character god' in a way. But, of course, this is just in my characters - everyone else has different standards. But in all seriousness, most of the original characters I see around lack either all or some combination: last name - back-story - mind - psychological aspects - problems that stay problems through the entire story - and so forth - I won't name them all.
Okay, off character tangent!
You think that's a monster post?! I think they're getting longer, seriously!
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Oh, boy, let's see how long it takes me to reply to these two posts. Ready, set, go!
I've never had a real coconut before, let alone cracked one myself. That sounds good.
Insert obligatory Monty Python reference here.
I think it's rather ironic that people rant about rants. XD I mean, for crying out loud, if you don't like what someone is ranting about, ignore it! It really doesn't take anything, except maybe some implied mark on your pride (which it really doesn't
Of course, that does apply somewhat to the people who rant about the rants. But they don't have to rant at the original ranter.
I don't think that hard about the music I listen to... I usually just skip around until I land on a song that sounds appealing at the time. I don't usually decide ahead of time what song I'm looking for. Though, sometimes I do hear a song in my head once the previous one ends. Sometimes they just seem to flow together really well. It's weird when the song I hear is actually the next one to come up on shuffle. O.O
I think I'm more complacent with music when I don't have control over skipping the song. Songs that I'll always skip on my mp3 player I will sit through on the radio. But I don't listen to the radio often enough for that to matter. XD
Hmm, I've never made these kinds of connections before. I guess I notice some things that tend to follow one after another, but I don't hold them as constants or anything. Just trends, I guess. XD Still, sometimes there are some interesting connections to be made if you read enough into things. I try to pay attention to things. I don't really believe in coincidences. XD
I remember seeing a short video about the area around Jerusalem (it was probably some church thing XD) and it ended up being a lot more lush than I expected. When you think about the middle east you usually think about deserts, but that area is surprisingly less desert than I expected. Or at least the area surrounding the town is. XD
Only thirteen? o.O Must've been an off day for me.
Oh, okay. That's probably why I didn't get the references. XD I'm not too familiar with those books. The movies are good though. Those are pretty clever phrases though. I guess I just wasn't sure what all you meant by them, or if they were more of a reference than anything else.
Hmm, yeah, that's a pretty accurate way to think about it. Because we obviously want someone to be able to understand, but we all know it's too unlikely to happen, so it's easier to just put forth the front of not caring about finding someone... But why would you bother doing this if you really didn't care about it?
Heh, sometimes I feel that I'm just re-iterating what you just said.
That's interesting. Sometimes I can effect how I listen to music, but usually the music kinda has its own ideas... It's especially annoying when I fall asleep to music, because I might have a story in my head that doesn't follow the music when it changes. XD Maybe I just don't listen to music right. Letting the story carry the music... I outta try that sometime. I wonder if I even can. XD
I always try to give my art meaningful titles... Though I don't put a whole lot of thought behind them, sometimes. The title for my latest drawing "On Mighty Wings" really just came to me right as I clicked on the title entry as I was submitting it. XD But the more I think about it, the more I see how it really could have a lot of meaning behind the drawing. Hints at a story, I guess, even though I didn't plan any kind of story behind the drawing. XD
Heh, "The Saint and the Assassin" really does have a lot of deeper meaning behind it. It's rather an oxymoronical concept, and I bet it would be a good basis for a story, and certainly for a few pieces of art. Ugh, there's a better word to describe it, but I just can't remember. I hate when words are on the tip of my tongue...
I think the title of "There's a Dragon Behind You" really shows the shock of the person who says it. XD I mean, it's obvious that you would expect a reaction like that, but if you really stopped to think about this situation, that would not be the first words out of your mouth. I guess that's part of where I find the amusement in that title. Still, this is completely missing any meaning that might be hidden behind the actual story going on at that point in time (which I obviously am completely oblivious to).
Hee, that's neat that you have it framed. I don't like any of my art well enough to get a print of it, but I wish I had some... XD
I'm reading a book right now that has four primary characters with very distinctive personalities. There are times when the four can have a discussion and the author won't specify who says what, but she doesn't need to because you can just tell by what they say and how they say it. I just can't do this.
Heh, by the sound of things, you have good reason to be proud of your characters. I think so, at least. Maybe I'm just weird in my character personality troubles. XD Really, though - I think it's amazing that you can make your characters that real. I wish I knew what it took to do that, to let my characters be themselves instead of me behind a thin facade. I don't know why I can't do better with them, but I just... can't. Any time I try to make my characters seem more believable, it comes across way too forced, and I for one hate forced characters. It's too much of a sign of an immature writer.
Well, this one took me an hour and a half to write.
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(And yes! I totally had a Monty Python moment in my kitchen!!! It was made of true epic... "An African or European swallow?!" XD )
This is true - why can't people just ignore things, hmm? You're absolutely right. Seriously - if they don't like it, then don't go dissing on the person! That's almost worst. Then sometimes people will organize little hate-parties and specifically attack people. O.o Drama, drama, drama... I stay out of it.
Ah, yeah. I do enjoy just listening to my music on shuffle - I do quite often, actually, to chill or whatnot. Then I listen to whatever appeals to me at the time, but I always have something to think to it, or something at least comes to my mind when I listen to it. I picture scenes when I listen to music, so if I'm in the mood for a particular scene, I'll listen to a particular song and so forth. It's like watching an unlimited supply of your favourite movies in your head.
I also don't usually believe in coincidences - more like connections. For example, (one of my favourites,) is Poe and Poetry a coincidence?
Really? Well, it is near the river, so I guess it would be. O.o I also have some shows taped of the area, which I have yet to watch. XP I shall do some research online, especially if I want to go over there someday! *nod*
I use those quotes as funny refs sometimes, and also serious - in this case, a bit of both. Serious in their meaning, funny as to how they sound. XD Deep magic...DEEPER MAGIC! Etc.
Yeah, and like we said before, there must be that deeper hope that keeps oneself moving forward...or so it seems.
In my philosphy class, we're learning that Plato/Socrates concluded that we all have knowledge from preexistence, but at some point, (birth, most likely,) we forget everything and spend our lives remembering what we once knew. Hence his theories of recollection and the immortality of the soul. (I won't go into a philo rant right now, but learning that...recollecting that...made me think!
It's actually fun, like I said. It's like watching a movie - your freaking favourite movie of everything that you love and things that are spiffy, (in this case, my own chars/stories,) whenever you want, for however long you want, and you can watch whatever scene you want how many times or whenever you want. But yeah, just try it - let the story move what's in the music for you.
You're right - 'On Mighty Wings' does sound like there's a story behind it - how the wings are mighty and carried and such... Even just saying the words out loud, (or thinking, whatever,) kind of automatically gives a sense of 'whoa' or power...at least to me.
If I would ever get to the stage, (if...not hope!) where my story is ever published or, (wouldn't it be nice...) a movie, (which is actually...no! No hoping!) I would probably like to call it that...or just 'Saint'...or something, ha-ha. But you're absolutely right about how it's an oxymoron. One would think that a Saint and an Assassin could never be in the same place, but here they are! So it kind of raises the questions as to how that would come about, the circumstances, what they're doing, etc. (Oh, man, I hate it when that happens!)
Okay, yeah, that makes sense! (In my case, if I saw someone with a dragon behind them, I'd immediately be all over the place raving about 'OMGCANIRIDEIT?!' and 'OWOWOCANIHAVEONE?!' and so forth.
I feel kind of selfish not posting any of my story and yet I'm posting art about it on a regular basis - I feel even more so when people ask 'Omg, can I read it?!' and I'm like '...No.' But, in reality, it's really a very personal project and it just doesn't feel right to put it out in public...at least not yet. Now when it will feel right, I don't know. Could be a week from now...a month...most likely years. (If you want to read some of it - even this particular scene - I can send it to you via note.
Oh, man, I hate it when authors don't specify what character is talking, and halfway through the conversation you don't know what the heck is going on!
One of my favourite parts of writing, actually, is the conversation between two or more characters... Even monologues and when my chars may be just talking to themselves is fun, (though I do this less often.) I'll usually stop saying who's talking during arguments and quick snippets here and there - it keeps it moving really fast. But MAN, I love having two crazy characters having a crazy argument and it is SO MUCH FUN. AUGHWAH~~~
If there's one thing between art/writing/music I let myself be proud of, it's my characters. Out of everything, especially in my writing, I think it's my chars that really keep the pace. It's weird. It just comes very natural to me.
I also think that's where what you mentioned comes in - mature vs immature writer. I don't think it's so much of the writer...but their story...which, really, is ultimately dictated by the maturity level of the writer, so I guess it makes a complete circle back to the writer. XD I like to consider my stories mature - first of all, I'm dealing with reality and history in 'Saint' - working with fantasy and made-up places gives the writer way too much give just to go all over the place and literally go overboard with a good thing. (The only fantasy in my epic is the dragons, and they, too, are bound by the laws of nature.) So I like to refer to my stories (both Saint and Element) as 'fantastic realism.' *epic nod* Even in Element, though I'm working almost one-hundred years in the future, I'm not going all-out and making all sorts of weird vehicles and cities and space-travel such. (I'm actually working very limited in that way - many things are still the same, or based off the same functions, just slightly more advanced. War is the same no matter in what time you're working with it.) Both of them, especially, are centered around true events. In Saint, it's the Third Crusade. In Element, it's the war in the Middle East. Two very real scenarios scene from very different perspectives.
Ha-ha, literature rant over.
I probably shouldn't let myself get distracted by coconuts.
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Aw, I wish I could have been there for that. XD
I guess part of the problem is the level of anonymity that the internet gives us. You can go around being a jerk at people's rants without having to worry about any serious repercussions.
I am not
The worst part is that I often end up listening to songs without really paying attention to them. I have a separate section in my brain for music, I think. XD I once turned a CD on before taking a shower, and then "played" the songs in my head while I did so (all the while thinking about whatever XD) and when I was done with my shower I was only two bars ahead of the CD. XD
Hee, okay, that is a strange "coincidence". XD I never saw the similarity there. To be honest, I don't often pay attention to little connections like that. I tend to think about such "coincidences" as the way I feel about things, what these feelings lead me to do, and where these actions take me - such as the people my dragon-obsession has lead me to come in contact with. I don't know why I like dragons. For all I know, I only do because I might somehow be able to help someone I will meet because of it. Wouldn't that be an interesting coincidence!
Well, if you think about it, it would have to not be a barren, sandy desert because so many people live there. It's supposed to be a promised land of sorts to the Jewish people, after all... It must have something going for it. XD
Well, they certainly do sound funny. XD I'm sure it would have been better if I had actually got the reference. They do tend to work that way. XD
Not to go tying religion into philosophy or anything, but just based on my beliefs, I think it's interesting that philosophers have come to that kind of conclusion. I guess this means that you never actually learn anything in a philosophy class, huh?
It sounds really neat when you put it that way. For some reason, though, it also sounds like something I couldn't possibly manage to experience myself. I don't think my mind works the right way for that. XD I still haven't tried it, though - I don't do much listening to music except as background music, anymore. I really do need to take some time to see if I can do some of this music-drives-the-story thing. XD
Yeah, I rather thought so myself when the words came to me. It has potential for some kind of story, but it's strong enough to stand alone in that sense... I just wish I had made a drawing worthy of the meaning the title gave. XD In the hands of a really great artist, the concept could have been taken so much further.
Hee, that's one area where I actually would try to not hope for.
The title really has some dark connotations. Especially if you try to envision one person in both roles. Rather than a holy assassin, I always think of an evil "saint". XD I wonder why the one overpowers the other...?
You know, I've always thought that I would be the kind of person who would not flip out the first time I saw something impossible. For example, if some animal were to suddenly start talking to me one day, or if I saw a dragon or whatever other ridiculous fantasies, I think I'd be able to fairly take it in stride. That being said, I'd most certainly want to see the dragon up close. I'd like to talk to it, but I don't know what I'd say. XD
I don't think it's selfish. It is kind of interesting, though. I've always thought that you had a story in your mind that you drew images of, but not an actual story written down somewhere. I guess this comes from my own personal experience... The one story I ever did write down, I didn't ever have any visual scene that I could have drawn from it. It just felt like that would have been too weird to do, like the art and the writing were complete separate things and shouldn't be mixed in that way. There's nothing wrong with drawing scenes from a story, but I just couldn't do it to my own. So my story is sadly sitting in its own corner of my gallery with no pictures to go with it. XD
I would certainly not mind reading your story (especially if you want someone to proofread it. I pride myself in not making a single grammar error in the story I wrote (whether this is true or not) XD). Thank you for making the offer, especially with something that personal to you.
Hee, sometimes I'm tempted to write in the margins who is actually speaking at any given moment. I never do, though. XD
I'm really not very good at conversations. This is part of why any story I try to play out in my mind pretty much falls apart - it dissolves into one long discussion where one character is explaining something to the other. I'm terrible at that. In my story, it's extremely evident at one point in the narration... >.< However, an author who can clearly and effectively maintain a good dialogue in their writing makes a story that's great to read.
Well, you're lucky for that.
The opportunity to create a new world or environment for a fantasy setting is a huge undertaking. Few authors do a good job of it. XD And if you fail at your attempt, the story suffers...
You obviously are very interested in those two events, to go and write stories based in those times.
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It was truly, truly hysterical... I felt quite fulfilled after doing so.
Yeah, that's also very true. I mean, one can complain about someone who ranted/got mad/attacked them, but what can the administration do about it? Especially when the person has never given any other blatant signs about attacking others. It becomes personal when the attacker would use like, the private message system - on any site - because then it really can't be traced. But, this also goes into the integrity of the victim. They know this person is trying to bash them - why are they letting it get to them? Why can't they also ignore the attack? You're right - humans are confusing creatures.
Hmm... I guess that's where I sometimes can't figure out how people either don't like music or art or writing or whatever - because we don't think the same. For example, like in my original rant on my picture, in real life, I'm surrounded by people on a daily basis who simply don't get it, and when I try to express my love for music or art or something, they completely dismiss it. However, when they go off on a tangent about something they love, but I don't necessarily like back, I'll still give my full attention to them and talk to them/get interested in it - 'cause it's their thing. I guess that's where I get a little irked/confused/get that 'stuck feeling', because, quite frankly, where I'm at, I get little to nothing back. For example, if I've drawn a picture that I'm really, really proud of and I try to show it to someone, they just kind of go 'Oh, that's cool', and completely dismiss it otherwise. It's more or less they're saying 'Oh, gees, she's drawing another dragon again...' or 'Oh, man, is she writing again? What the heck is she writing?' or 'She's listening to music again, sheesh' - things like that. Even if I hear a song and I try to play it, they may just say 'Oh, that sounds cool' and wander off. Since then, I've learned to keep my art/music/writing completely to myself. Except on DA, of course - this is kind of like my little artist escape.
That was a ridiculously long tangent, so I guess we definitely have something in common - we like going off on tangents!
But back to the music, like I said, it means a lot to me, but it means things different to me than to you, for example. I guess that's where I don't try to intentionally look into the song to find something, but I let the song find something for me...in a way. Like I said, there are kind of two ways I listen to music - I let my story carry the music, but sometimes I also let the music find something in me. I guess sometimes it's what I feel like listening to it in what way, but also if I've had a rough day or something, I just let the music play its own story for me. (I'm hoping to do some artwork for these 'musical stories' in the future. ^^ They evoke such fantastic images in my head... )
Ha-ha, the Poe vs Poetry one is my favourite. ^^ But also like I said before, like how I consider the radio or even traffic on the roads as a sort of 'fate roulette' - if I've done something right or should be doing something else. It's kind of fun, actually - seeing as though if anyone ever bought into such superstitions in today's world, they'd surely go insane.
Yes, this is true! There used to be forests and such in the surrounding areas... I guess where there's water, there's life, and therefore, people, ha-ha. But sheesh, it's the fought-over center of three major religions! Christianity, Judaism, and though not the holiest city in the belief, Islam, (it's of the three holiest, methinks, actually.)
Oh, yeah, yeah, sorry, ha-ha. But I do like using them to describe things and they fit the situation quite well.
Yes! In a way, that's all what philosophy is about - questions. However, it's about asking the right questions where we can learn certain things from... (I like Plato the best so far. :3 )
Yeah, just try it. But don't let the music drive it, let the story drive it. Make the story the main theme, and make the music the soundtrack, more or less. (Of course, some music just has to be in the driver's seat - namely CRAZY EPIC CHOIR-SCREAMING ORCHESTRAL-BLAZING EPIC MUSIC!
Yeah, it's very cool! I'm thinking about doing some personal pieces here with just sort of cool, epic titles - titles that impact (me, personally) and are open to more interpretation than the pictures I will put them to...
I often think of commissioning one of my favourite artists to draw one of my characters...but then I think 'Nah, I'll hopefully get there someday and draw them by myself~~~' It's kind of weird - I went through a phase where I loved seeing how other people interpreted my characters, but now I'm seeing them almost as more personal things...it's weird.
Yes, exactly! Like what I'm doing right now - I'm taking my good time writing it and only writing when it hits me. I think forced writing is the worst thing one can do to themselves...same goes for art and other things as well.
Ha-ha, an 'evil saint.' Such a dark concept... Which is interesting to me. Weird. I think it's more overpowering (to me) because a saint is seen as completely holy, and it being evil brings to mind 'What kind of terrible things did they do?' Also weird, I actually don't see assassins as necessarily 'evil.' Very, very weird... What about you?
Me too! Instead of flipping, I think (of course I'd flip on the inside...) But say...an animal started talking, like you said. To me, animals talking would be the most practical thing ever...from a weird aspect. (I like the word 'weird' today, don't I?) There would be such a deeper level of understanding. Of course, if animals did have rational minds, then I think how many people/humans think of themselves as so superior would have a change of heart, yes?
Yeah! I'll send you the first (little) part of Saint. (It's not the beginning, but it's the first part of it I ever wrote, to it's symbolic to me in that way.
Most of my works aren't really particular scenes, though, so to speak... I mean, I have drawn epic fighting scenes and scenes of my chars together or talking or Saint in particular climbing up a church steeple and seeing the expanse of the city around her... (ballpoint pen city panorama fun!!!) ...none of which I have on DA. (You'd be surprised how much art I really don't have on here.) Many scenes, especially like the dragons flying and such, are really how I'm moved and depict my chars. Though, of course, these in themselves are scenes. Like in 'Flight to Jerusalem', Thomas and Idracil are actually on their way to Jerusalem! And 'Flight over the Jordan' is actually a scene where Saint and Shadow are flying over the river, and vice versa on my other pictures... Others are combinations - like 'The Saint and the Assassin' and even 'There's a Dragon Behind You' - where they are scenes, but they're also depictions of the mood and feeling, and especially the story behind them. Pictures like that are special.
I have a few more monologues in Element than in Saint, and most of the time they're talking about their past or something... For example, in Element, my character Ankhn is talking to Amelia about his past at how his family was all up in the war/military/insurgent scene and how it haunts him, and will for the rest of his life. (I'll type that up here and send it to you - it's a powerful scene~~~ ) And other things like in Saint really just explain their past - like how Yazin tells Saint about growing up to be an assassin and journeying around the Holy Land, as well as teaching her how to sword-fight and such.
Yes, it is a wondrous thing. ^^ Don't give up! It might take a bit to get over. It's like a learning curve - they're freaking everywhere, so don't worry if it doesn't come so naturally. But you said that's your only weakness? Then try working with more narrative or descriptive stories. Just a thought.
I am! Like I said in our other comment (I mean book, I mean article, I mean long comment! XD ) they both focus on one main thing: war...particularly in the Middle East. (Middle East = WIN ) It's kind of funny, now that I think about it... I'm writing stories about the past...and the future... What about the present? ._.
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Random note: your comment was 1500+ words. 2.5 pages in Word. I wonder if we're setting any records.
Not that it's a contest, but my post has seventeen hundred eighty seven words, including these ones. XD
Hee, I can imagine. XD
That's the big question: why let it get to you? Whether someone is ranting about some random topic you don't agree with or ranting about you in particular. It accomplishes nothing except for making both sides angry. -_- But people are idiots and let their pride drive their actions. I guess it's really hard to swallow your pride enough to not make a comment on the internet which, by its very nature, does not let people know that you viewed something without leaving a comment on it. What a blow to your pride for not saying anything.
*sigh*
People have a really bad habit of dismissing things they don't care about or that don't directly impact them somehow. This is part of why it's so amazing to find someone who is actually willing to care, if only for a brief moment, about what others care about. I've always tried to be the kind of person who could listen and give someone else my attention and interest when they talk about things that matter to them, but since it's so hard to come across I've gotten used to keeping it personal too. XD There are times when I wish I could share something - music that I really like, perhaps, or some weird things about myself that I sometimes need to get off my chest XD - but I rarely get the chance to. Especially not in real life.
DA is definitely better for this kind of thing, because people get drawn here for a lot of the same reasons so you're more likely to find those willing to listen to how art makes other people feel. But I still don't always feel like it's a whole lot better than other places. Maybe this is just me being used to not finding those kinds of people, so I don't expect to find them here either. XD
Hey, tangents are what got us into this whole thing in the first place.
Yeah, music is going to mean different things to different people, I guess. In my case, I'm way to... technical about things, I guess. While music can carry a story and emotion and things like that, it's almost like this effect has to be intentional. Like in movie soundtracks, for instance. That's one reason why I think trying to let the music drive the story doesn't work for me.
Oh, you should.
Yeah, people generally don't like the idea that their fate is somehow out of their control. XD I think it's easier to blame random things such as traffic or what comes up on the radio as simply a coincidence, if it's somehow significant to you at some time. But where's the fun in that, right? Why not see both sides of things? XD
Yeah, water = life is a pretty good rule of thumb. XD Which leads me to wonder why I live in a desert.
Are those three the biggest religions in the world? Or does Hinduism and Buddhism take a spot in there somewhere? Either way, they're up pretty high on the list. Jerusalem's really got something going for it. XD
Heh, driving music: the battle theme on Phantom Menace, when the three are duking it out in the reactor core or wherevertheheck they are. It's pretty hard to have a mellow story scene during that song... O.O
I still need to try this.
I once asked a really good artist who gets a lot of commissions if she had ever been commissioned with a simple scene request and a specified title. Imagine what an epic title would do to shaping how the commission came out.
I'm in an awkward position as far as commissions (or even requests) are concerned - namely, I have no characters.
I think if I did have a character, I would almost want them to be too personal to have other people draw (though I'd still let them be drawn anyways for things XD). It would be amazing, to have them mean that much to me...
Heh, maybe that's my problem with art. It's all forced.
It seems to me that a saint is typically good/holy and an assassin is typically bad/evil (despite the arguable nobility and importance of their job XD). Of course, because these are their typical roles, it invites authors to pose one or the other as the opposite than they normally would. I'm reading a series right now where one of the main bad guys is a priest, who is basically pulling a religious conversion on the populace to get them to do what God wants - or, in other words, what he wants. XD I don't come across assassins often enough to have much of an opinion about them, but it seems like they're a favorite to be played as a noble role, perhaps as someone who is killing off an evil leader in an attempt to prevent chaos.
Of course, there's also the Diskworld assassins, who are in another class of their own. XD
I think it'd be really neat if animals talked, but only selectively to certain individuals. It doesn't have to be a big public ordeal (that would cause mass chaos for the human race almost without a doubt), and it doesn't necessarily have to mean that the animals suddenly stop acting like animals. Still, however it happened, I think it would be neat, and hopefully wouldn't be surprised at all by it happening suddenly. XD
I'll try to read whatever you throw at me.
Well, when I say scenes I don't literally mean you could point to page X in your story and say "See? This drawing is a visual for this paragraph here. *points*" It's more the expression of a concept that comes up in your story, or simply your characters being themselves. That's enough of a scene, in my mind.
Monologues can be really important for a story. I'm just terrible at them because they become too lengthy and put people to sleep with unnecessary information. -_- But for character setup, it's a great way to go, if they have a longer background that you need to get out quickly (otherwise it's always nice to sneak their history into scenes here and there, if you can XD).
Hee, I'm afraid not giving up is pretty much out of the question at this point (that story's been inactive for something close to a year >.<). Sure, I would like to continue it, but I will not without first fully developing my characters (and the world). After that I'm going to completely start the story over. There's no way I'm leaving the first two chapters how they are. XD
No, that's not my only weakness, but it sure is my biggest one, I think. XD
I would work on it more, but to be honest I've lost a lot of my motivation to write. Besides, I find myself with a shortage of time to devote towards writing. I put more of the free time I have towards drawing or programming instead, and there's no room for other things. :/
What is it about war? On the one hand, you have all the weapons and things that are involved (which I'm sure you don't mind at all!
Heh, that's interesting to think about. But what would you do with a story set in present time? For that matter, who writes in the present anyways other than political authors? XD
...Actually, I do. Kinda. My story is in a modern setting but not truly on Earth...
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Hooooly SMOKES!
Yes, exactly. Another issue I think, is that 'common sense isn't so common.' Same goes for common courtesy. People just don't think about each other - it's all about themselves. (In quite a lot of cases, at least.) They do whatever, and they don't realize how it could hurt someone else.
Another thing, which I personally try to strive for, is professionalism. It doesn't necessarily mean being all cool and business-ny, but...having a sort of respect for others as well as yourself. Trying to maintain a certain level of maturity whether someone throws a bucket of smilies at your or a bucket of knives. And it goes for being kind and yada-yada, too. So many people just...don't think. I mean, literally. (I'll probably have a poll on this in the future... ) But really, how often does a person think about what they say/do before they act? In some cases, for me, I think out exactly what I'm going to do/say before I act, and it's a complete recreation from the instance in my head. I think, 'Oh, how will this sound?' or whatever and act accordingly to the situation. (Of course, this all happens in under two seconds or whatever in my brain... ) But, now that I'm aware I do it, it seems like nobody around me does it. It's strange.
Ha-ha, yay tangents! I don't mind them at all. I love how some people ask 'What are you talking about?' and it's just like 'A bunch of stuff!' Because, seriously, it's a bunch of stuff! And when you try to tell them that it's serious stuff, they lol. XP But it does usually turn out very serious. Huh.
Yeah, which is what I said about music and stories and art and whatever meaning different things to different people. Emotion-wise...I wouldn't say it's emotions, because emotions are so unpredictable and always changing... But an essence, more like. (Lol, e-words. XD ) It's the essence that it provokes in my head, and my head wraps around it some incredible concept.
I do agree, though, music depending on time of day - for me it's situation. For example, I listen to music while I draw, but how much I listen to it depends on the song or how I'm feeling. If I'm writing, though, I actually almost always have to turn it off because it...it creates a mind rift or something, lol, and I'm trying to focus on both the music and writing. This becomes really difficult if the music and the story have absolutely nothing in common, which often happens because I put my list on shuffle when I'm just hanging out or chillin.'
Though, I do have playlists made for certain situations or genres/sounds - even for a couple of my characters, lmao. (Such a writer, GOSH.
Ha-ha, especially with songs called "Night of the Hunter" and "The Well of Souls" and "Gothic Thunderbolt!"
Ha-ha, true, true! Like, have you ever had a day where 'the Universe is against you?' (I've been having a few of 'em lately... ) Where you get all the red lights or drop everything or get a bad grade or have a headache or whatever? 
Yes, I believe they are. I know Hinduism and Buddhism are also up there, I'm guessing, like, 4th and 5th - but, historically, they're not as...avid...as 'the big three,' as I call 'em. Jerusalem is a place of danger and beauty...
I enjoy techno-dance-ish music when I drive - which is completely different from the beating drums and wailing choirs that I hold so dearly when I'm alone. ^.^
Ah, I always stop listening when I know I'm about to konk out. XD I have fallen asleep before with headphones, one or twice, but I have really big stereo-grade ones with big cushions, so they don't hurt.
That's an interesting question - a specified subject but a simplified subject matter... Imagine the possibilities... I think pieces like that showcase the most impact - like a lone subject on a barren landscape - or whatever works for it... Artists who can portray the feeling of the simple statement show forth much more talent I believe, by simply putting more into their work.
Ha-ha, I'm starting to get like that.
Augh, that's the worst thing a person can do to themselves - force art/writing/music. Then it gets too mechanical and really puts a lot of stress on top of it all. >.< Do not want.
Yeah, I guess that's where writers can have fun playing with and twisting the all-too-well-known 'stereotypes' and opinions both they and others have of certain groups. (Saints vs assassins, in this case, I guess... ) Of course, maybe their opinion is radically different from the norm? I try to stay pretty neutral and get as much information as I can before forming an opinion - I'm very open. Most of the people I'm around aren't very open-minded at all - whether it's food, culture, people, travel, whatever - so I like to take pride in that aspect.
It would make more sense if the animals talked or mythical animals appeared only to the people who they [the animals] knew would take it well/had a good heart. (Sounds so poetic, lol... ) Of course, if humans had grown up around talking/rational animals from the dawn of time, then maybe it wouldn't be so fancy.
Which brings me to/up the question of, if we lived around talking/mythical animals, then...what would be our myths? I mean, seriously... If dragons were real, but there was really only one kind of variation, would be still draw and picture them so varyingly and fantastically? I was thinking about it the other day...strange...
Yes, that's exactly it! And even the scenes where they're actually depicting certain events still have a sort of concept behind them... Double-concept, lol? They're always very special.
I don't do monologues too often...more like...'mind-logues?' With writing, I really like to delve into the characters' minds to really show how they behave in certain situations, but especially how certain situations affect ultimately how they behave. I fear, unless I'm right there on set saying 'Now do this...and look this way...and I want some cool music RIGHT HERE' I might die a little.
Ah, yeah, I see what you mean. It sucks losing motivation to write... It's funny, because when I'm at my laptop all ready to write something I sometimes just go 'Blah' and do something else. (Not all the time, but sometimes.
Seriously! (I LOVE the 'weapons and other things that are involved!'
I could actually totally incorporate Element into a modern setting...just minus the robots and lazorsss~~~ XP But I like working with the future-tastic devices...even though, as I've said before, I totally don't go over-the-top with them... And it's not even really set that far in the future... I dunno. I'll have to see where technology goes over the next twenty years to see if I'll have to play with it or not.
And this is true... Past, future...present? It sounds boring when I think of it, ha-ha.
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Well, you know, Twilightyh (hopy I can call you so
Oh, dear god! How I love these tracks you showed us. I found also "Dreams of Venice" from AC 2 and it's by far the most beautiful song I heared so far. ;_;
Amazing, thanks so much!
I also love this piece. It's so softly drawn. I can't critique anything here, it's perfect!
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(Yes, you can call me that! ^^ )
It would be wonderful, but that's...not necessarily the point I'm trying to make. I just wish I could find other people to talk to about my chars/creatures and they could do the same and we would get it and both think it's the coolest thing evvuuuuurrr and talk about it all the time and-- *breathes* --yeah.
And I know there are tons of other people out there with tons of ocs and who are dying to talk to someone about them, but, even other people with their own ocs think differently about them and work with them in different fashions, and even though the thoughts are from the heart, and, in the end, they learn that they have completely different ideas and thoughts and ocs and plots and interests and blahhh etc etc etc and it's difficult! *breathes* And they want so badly to find someone else - anybody else! - who gets it and understands that they'll cross the world and back hundreds of times looking for them! *breathes*
...
...
...Yeah. In a nutshell.
But thank you very, very much! 
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Ahahaha, okay...I should say, that I first...missunderstood it, so seems it. Yeah, but now I know what you mean and I agree with you! 
Oh well, welcomies, dear! ;*3
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No, no, it's okay, ha-ha! ^^
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Sometimes life dose feel like that. But don't you have friends you could talk to? You can't be as isolated as me.
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Sometimes, yes. O.o But I do have some peeps I can talk to. ^^
How are you isolated?
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