Over time, we became less human and more... divine.

I got kind of sick and tired of working on all my WIPs in obscurity, feeling a bit like I'm doing "nothing" because my painting process is a tree falling in the woods and no one's around to hear it, so I'm just sharing them everywhere I can think of this week, and now you all know that I'm being a fannish little gremlin somewhere out there.

Fanart or not, this is actually a large portfolio revamp so I can go apply to things and make more money. Tired of seeing my savings account depleting.

Trying to bully myself into going to get a new COVID vaccine this evening, but oigjoirgerg I don't wannnaaaaaa... sigh. I'm just being a big baby; now that I've complained about it, I guess I'll go. :\

Update: Got the new COVID vaccine and a flu shot too! *pats himself on the back*

I wanted to talk a little bit about the thinking behind that Under Jealous Eyes painting, and how you’ll notice that only Raziel’s brothers are paying any attention to him, while the rest of the vampires who are privileged enough to be present in this lounge are obliviously laughing, flirting, debating, and otherwise living their own lives.

I can only assume that being envious of Raziel was a form of brain damage limited exclusively to his brothers. (Some of them, anyway. Dumah’s never been envious of anyone ever, which is why he isn’t pictured and we are actually observing the whole scene from his detached point of view.)

It would be a mistake to assume that the whole nation was going around seething with jealousy towards him. They might have picked up on some general Anti-Raziel sentiments that might have stemmed from their clan’s head, some stereotypes and go-to insults to fling at their Razielim rivals, as a matter of tribal pride and culture, but otherwise, it would have been way above their station to carry any real animosity towards him, you feel?

It makes sense for Zephon or Turel to fantasize about murdering Raziel and finally being the most beloved, the most favored. But the average son-of-son-of-son-of-son-of-son-of-son-of-son-of-son-of-Rahab is at most going to be looking at becoming Rahab’s most esteemed descendant, and even that would be a particularly wild fantasy. His more immediate resentments and acts of subterfuge are going to be lower than even that. Imagining becoming Kain’s favorite would be some embarrassing OP Mary Sue fantasy he’d never acknowledge having ever dreamed of.

Sure, the average vampire’s going to have all the same petty drama and backstabbing as Kain’s sons, it’s literally a case of “as above, so below,” but it’s going to look so insignificant from up high, whereas the resentment that Raziel’s siblings have for him is always going to look so monumental and holy from down below. The lieutenant’s immediate and most trusted children might feel they have a horse in that race, supporting and aiding their fathers in their competitive initiatives, imagining that they would get recognition for their role in ousting Raziel, but the rest of the empire?

It’s just unfathomable to the average vampire to feel envious of Kain’s favorite. Raziel’s very role as the first, most loved and most hated, is going to look divine and untouchable from even a couple steps down the family free. The aggression among Kain’s sons is to them less a social phenomenon and more the preordained motion of celestial bodies. All they can do is recognize godliness in the events of the heavens and, when the gods are having one of their earth-shaking conflicts, pray to stay out of the fray.

This painting couldn't be fully finished due to my concussion, but luckily I did all the important bits before my injury.

Kain and Raziel sitting close together and flirting at a crowded event. Four of Raziel's brothers look on. I imagined the painting being seen from Dumah's perspective, which is why he isn't pictured. He's the only brother who isn't jealous and is rather watching the watchers.