a study in fifths

mementomoryo:

“Long ago in Baldora fields, there was a single scorpion that lived from day to day by killing and eating other, smaller insects. One day, a weasel saw him and tried to eat him. The scorpion fled, and fell into a deep well.

It was at that moment that the scorpion thought to himself, “Up until now, how often have I eaten other creatures? And now, the one time that I was the prey, I fled in utter terror. And look what came of that - I’ll die inside this well, alone. Ah… life is filled with uncertainty. I could have given the weasel another day of life with my body. But now, my death will help no one. I am useless.

Dear Lord, I beg of you, look inside of my heart and hear my prayer. In my next life, don’t let me waste myself. Let me use my body for the true happiness of everyone in the world!”

And then the scorpion saw his body burst into flame, casting a brilliant crimson glow. And by the light of his burning body, he lit up the night forever.

- Miyazawa Kenji, Night on the Galactic Railroad, 1934.

*Dies of exhaustion* This took forever and day to wrangle into something presentable. Holy crap. I used every technique in the book to get that flame motif at the top to look okay!

Another Homestuck painting, this time of my patron troll. I’m of the opinion that Vriska did, deep in the troll equivalent of her metaphysical heart of hearts, feel the slightest twinge of remorse for what she had done to so many people. When I read her death scene and subsequent scenes in John’s dream bubble, I was reminded of the above passage from Miyazawa, and I decided to put those feelings into a painting.

And yes, the distintegrating arrow is a shoutout to Penguindrum. That series was inspired by Miyazawa, too. Fight me, I’ll ref what I like. :P

Done in watercolors (with a heavy amount of gold and silver pigment), Copics and india ink on hot press paper. Characters are Hussie’s, art’s mine. Please link to the source if you reblog this!

(via adriofthedead)