Monday, August 15, 2005

   Uh... Whoops?
I was planning to post the Chibi story and add a few new wallpapers today...

but, uh...

Rented I-Ninja. Chibi Ninja with bad attitude, rolling barrels of gunpowder, mouthing off to sensei... He even has this cute little evil laugh.

Thinking of buying it. But since it's a rental, need to get my money's worth.

Ninja Chibis! Nya ha ha ha ha!
=^@.@^=
Comments (4) | Permalink

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Feeling Wonky
Anyway, here's more of my coloring. Practice may not make perfect, but it certainly improves things. Like the skin tone?

Here's another one... I think I'm getting the hang of this.

And while I'm at it... I finished this coloring of Hakkai.

I think I'll just go through all the old wps I've made and color the b&ws that I like... like this one. What ever you do don't hug him! He may look cuddly, but he's armed...

And uh... yeah. Maybe Sanzo wouldn't choose red leather pants, but... I like 'em. Sorry.
Comments (5) | Permalink

Monday, August 8, 2005

   It's Up!
LouBlue's pic of the Chibis is finally up! Go see it!
Comments (1) | Permalink

   When Chibis Attack! Part 14
Can't follow the tune? Previous chapters archived here.

"Hold that thought, Hakkai...I smell smoke."

"Oh, I hope it's not the cookies!" Hakkai runs off in the direction of the kitchen. However, even in his sleep Kougaiji's ears twitch at the mention of cookies...



But this doesn't smell like burning confectionery. Burning sugar doesn't make my eyes run or my nose twitch. As I follow the smoke towards its source, it also occurs to me that cookies rarely burn in the bathroom. Especially when the shower is running.

I should have known something was up when the singing stopping.



I tower over guardian Goku, the chibiest of chibis.

Reach for the door.

"I can't let you in there. Sanzo said!" Goku squeaks up at me, pencil-length Nyoi-Bo in hand.

"You're a foot tall. What are you going to do about it?"

Goku pauses, deep in thought. Why wait for him to come up for air? Reach for the door.

Goku suprises me with a vicious tug on the pant-leg.

"What now?"

Huge baby-monkey eyes stare up at me... and ominously begin to fill with liquid.

"I'll cry."

"Bloody hell."





Twitch.




"Look." When force fails, one must resort to reason. "He's been in there a long time, so someone should check on him. He might have drowned... or set himself on fire..."

"But Sanzo said..."

"I'll just knock. He didn't say not to knock."

"But."

"Knocking. Doesn't. Hurt." My head hurts. Allergies? Brain tumor, maybe? A symptom of my on-going schizophrenic episode? Too much sugar?

"'kay."




Knock knock.

"Who's there?" Comes a voice from within.

"The person whose bathroom you're smoking in, you little monster monk!"

"... little monster monk who?" responds the voice, muffled by the sound of the shower.

"Little monster monk who's going for a ride in the blender if he doesn't turn on the fan, open the window and put that damn thing out! I'm swelling up out here."

"Can't hear you over the shower, woman!" Replies the bottom of the door. "And anyway, I can't reach the fan switch. Or the goddamn window..." The door continues to mutter.

"If you could hear all of that, you little..."





Commotion from the kitchen and the sudden appearance of Gojyo interrupts our comparatively quiet 'tête-à-door'.

"C'mon, you guys! You've gotta see this!" the Kappa pants.

"Yes, Goku." I cajole through gritted teeth. "Go with Gojyo. I'll stay here and make sure nothing happens to Sanzo..."

"Eek!" squeaks Goku... yet he dutifully remains between me and the door. Oh, what loyalty, what courage... what an idiot...




"Forget all that!" In his excitement, Gojyo starts leaping up and down like a little red frog. "You guys are totally missing the show!"

Loud noises from the kitchen pound their way into my awareness momentarily. But, 'one thing at a time' is the best way to handle things. AA taught me that. Or at least, their pamphlet did.

"What's going on?" The noises have gotten Goku's attention as well. As he leans towards the kitchen, I lean towards the door. Through it, the sound of newspaper pages being turned can just barely be heard over the shower.

He's probably even doing the crossword in there, that malicious...

"Hakkai was just taking cookies out of the oven and Kougaiji got wind of it. He's trying to steal the cookies, and Hakkai's on the defensive. It's like the Muppets meets Fight Club in there, man, you've gotta see this!"

"Hakkai made cookies?!"




Goku's exercise in selective hearing is interrupted by the doorbell. Mental Note: Disconnect doorbell - nothing good comes of doorbells. Next Mental Note: Drink whatever is left of the rum upon entering the kitchen, whatever else may be encountered there.



...I am absolutely certain I do not own a jar with the word "Cookies" on it. I don't even particularly like cookies. I drink far more rum than milk and you can't dip cookies in rum.

Bloody hellfire, Shut UP, Mr. Doorbell!



"Not a moment too soon!" hollers the shower.

Suddenly, the bathroom door flings open and a blond streak whips by my legs. It is, quite thankfully, not a streaking streak of blond, but fully dressed in its accustomed monking suit. This is as one might expect from someone who was smoking and reading the paper, and not, in fact, showering.

To Sanzo's credit, his hair is still wet.




The monkey has abandoned his post and is in hot pursuit of the monk.

Reach into bathroom. Turn on fan; turn off shower. Open window; close door.




I feel like I'm forgetting something important.

Quietly curse all things miniature.

Feel slightly better.

Mr. Doorbell has stopped...



I know it's short... I'm running on fumes...
Comments (2) | Permalink

Tuesday, August 2, 2005

   Fluffy. Fluffy is Good.
That is one thing kittens know well.

I'm never sure how Hakkai feels about kittens. After all, he has claws.

I like playing with crayons. Coloring is fun... Here's the Colors only alteration of the old one I made. Here's my Alternative take on the same coloring. I like the new one better, myself. But then, I like hats.

And I didn't like the text in the first one I did of this... so here's a textless version for your amusement.

Oh, and here's a colorization of an old favorite... I think my coloring is really improving. Encouragement/Pointers are always welcome.
Comments (0) | Permalink

Monday, August 1, 2005

   When Chibis Attack! Part 13
Missed a beat? Catch up here.

Reboot computer. It's chugging. Chugging like a freshman at a frat party, chugging like a choo-choo train, chugging like... a tired metaphor that just won't die.

Log in.

Still chugging.




Whack monitor a few times. While there is no physical way that this could make the processor work better, I find it also decreases the odds of breaking said processor.

"What the hell is wrong with you today, Wallace?"




Awkward: (defn.) the feeling evinced by three pairs of eyes being focused silently upon you, one pair still blinking sleepily. This feeling may be intensified by a voice echoing from guard duty outside the loo, "Who's Wallace?"



The sun slips over the edge of the roof, and a sunbeam falls on Kougaiji, instantly defeating him. He's snoring before he hits the cushion.

"Mmmm... yes pwease, Mummy! More cookies... mmmmrfgl..."

Unfortunately, the cushioned thud and muffled mumbling fails to distract the Inquisition. Who Stare. Or shout, "Can we eat Wallace?"



"I named the computer. Wallace."

"Oh."

Log in... Dammit, I hate this thing!

"Did it help?" Hakkai inquires.

"No!" Whack, whack. Whack-whack-whack. "It's chugging worse today than ever before."

"Like an alcoholic at All You Can Drink Night?" Gojyo snickers.

"What was that?" I ask whilst whacking Wallace. "I can't hear you, Mr. Silly Moustache."



Gojyo's cussing follows him out of the room as he goes in search of glue remover to take off the remainder of his Hug Doctor costume.

... Rum would take that off, no problem.

And now I think about it, it's hot in here and...



"I noticed it was running a little slow when I used it to buy groceries this morning." Hakkai volunteers, since he's the volunteering sort.

"Who what now?" With what when? How?

"Ah ha ha... It was on when I got up this morning, so I used Sanzo's card to order grocery delivery online. I thought you wouldn't mind, since now we don't have to go out..."

"But I didn't leave it on. I didn't even turn it on yesterday." Is my eye twitching? I think it's twitching. Does that happen when people see things that aren't there for extended periods of time?

"It was on when I came out, and I shut it down after..."

"Fu fu fu fu fu..."




Look at Gojyo. He immediately starts whistling and studying the drapes. There is a little halo above his head, held in place by a stick, which he is trying to hide from view with his antennae.

Hakkai grabs Gojyo with blinding speed, gags him and ropes him completely from head to toe. Which reminds me of something I've seen before, but for the life of me, I can't thing what.



"Tsk." tsks Hakkai. "What have you been up to? You know we need a safe place to stay until we can get back to Chibigenkyo."

Turn on the desk light. Point at Gojyo's face.

It just seems like the right thing to do.

"What did you do to Wallace?" I ask the squinting chibi.

Hakkai pulls the gag.

"I'll never talk! Never!! You'll have to..."



Pick up sleeping Kougaiji. Aim at Gojyo. With one hand, pull back the top of the Little Prince's head, exposing his pointy teeth.

"Eek! N... no!"

Open, shut. Open, shut! "Chomp, chomp, chomp." I intone over Kougaiji's continuing snores.

"It was Sanzo's idea!" Gojyo breaks like an expensive electronic device in the mouth of a two year old. "He wanted to buy something, I don't know what. He wouldn't let me see! Besides that, we just looked at some pictures, that's all..."

"Chomp!"

"I swear that's all! I need a huuuuuuuuuggg...." The last ends in pitiful sobbing.




Return Kougaiji to cushion. Status: Still Sleeping.



Pictures? Glance at the Snottiest Pervert. He's once again free, and receiving the sympathetic back-pat from Hakkai.

Pictures.

Uh oh.


My Documents folder is... full. No wonder Wallace is chugging.

Take a deep breath. Breath out, as a scream preventative.

Open first picture.






Two kittens. Playing with a ball of string.

Next picture: Kitten wearing a little raincoat.

Next: A basket of kittens. Then several shots of various grey cats. A persian.




"...what?"



"Well, you know Sanzo and kittens." Hakkai says from his perch on my shoulder. Dammit, I am not furniture!

"Sanzo and kittens." I state. Select files. Move to outside storage. Hear Wallace whir a sigh of digital relief.

"Yes... um."

"It was all his idea!" Gojyo snots. "Once he gets started, you can't stop him. I just went to bed after a while. It wasn't my fault! I need a huuuuuuuuug..."




Reboot. Chugging ceases.

Glance at Gojyo. Pat on the head, avoiding snot bubble.

"All better!" smiles the resilient chibi. Wait a sec, did I just pat him on the head? The stress must be getting to me.




Pause




"Where is my cat, anyway? I haven't seen her all day."

"Well..."

"Hold it... do you smell smoke?"


For proof that Sanzo loves kittens, try this.

Comments (2) | Permalink

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

   When Chibis Attack! Part 12
Missed a chapter? Catch up here.

Part 12: In Which Someone is Hurt

"Thwack!" goes the fan, smacking Goku's head. Sanzo has entered the room.

"Ow!" Apparently Goku's head doesn't like this treatment.

"Ah, Sanzo. So you've already heard about what Goku did, then." Hakkai asks on his way out to the kitchen.

"Huh?" Sanzo stares blankly for a moment, then blinks. "Uh... yeah." Looks at Goku: "Don't do it again."

"But!"

"Thwack!" repeats the fan, this time with a sense of purpose.

"Ow!"



Problem solved. Except:

Sanzo is wrapped in a little purple towel. A purple shower cap is attempting to contain his fluffy chibi hair. I wonder where the chibis are keeping all of this luggage? Inside Goku? He certainly seems to have some kind of compression device or pocket universe inside of him, at least where food is involved...

But that's just nasty.



"I'm taking a shower."

"I won't run the dishwasher until you're out." Calls Hakkai from the kitchen.

"And make sure you wash your mouth out, you filthy monk!"

Sanzo whips around and flings the fan overhand with enviable precision. It embeds in the wall next to Gojyo's head, sending him flying for cover behind a chair. Soap-worthy cussing ensues.



"You're standing guard, Goku." Sanzo is apparently concerned about peeking. Or perhaps the idea of someone else having a shower guard when he doesn't incites a bit of competition. Either way, it makes my visual horizon more believable and less insane by a factor of two. Hurrah!

"But!" Apparently Goku has other plans.

"Thwack!" How can Sanzo handle that fan with such grace when it's as long as he is tall?

Wait... the fan is still in the wall near Gojyo... Where did that... How did he get...

Don't think! Thinking makes it worse!



I look at my coffee cup. My torn up ottoman. My drool-dampened folders.

I drink the coffee.

Work. Snoring Chibi paperweights, bad karaoke from the bathroom, Gojyo taunting Goku and ... work.

For the first time in my life, work looks like the best option.








And for once, I can work! I can really work! Oh, Bliss! Oh, Glee! Oh...

The doorbell begins to ring. It rings with an odd, semi-rhythmic quality, as could be made by a small, vaguely intelligent dog jumping up to hit the bell with its nose.

"...crap." This word has a strange pronunciation as it leaves my mouth: resembling ship or whit, and not crap at all. Chalk it up to solar particles. Crazy things, solar particles.



Dislodge from desk. Apply hand to doorknob and open door without joy. Examine doorstep visitor.

It stops jumping and takes a moment to compose itself. This allows me plenty of time to mentally ridicule it: a small plus in a world of minuses.

"It" is a small lab coat with a heart on the pocket. The lab coat sports a stethoscope, clipboard and very silly moustache. Somewhere inside the lab coat, it can be assumed, is an even smaller chibi. I can see his antennae twitching above the moustache.



"Hello! Ah am zee Hug Doctor. Ah am offerink zee Free Estimates on you Hug Requirement--zu."

Can I kick it? No. That would be wrong...

"Very personal, very personal. We do zee Full Assessment of you specy... specs... speti... spethific Cuddle Need--zu!"




Blink



"No thanks. I've already got one." My voice box appears to have an auto-pilot. Who knew?

Close door. Return to desk.




Gojyo is already reclining on top of the monitor. That little bastard is fast...

"You know, I'm sure we can reach an equitable arrangement if you give it a chance. We have a lot in common: I like cuddles, you like cuddles..."

"How do you know I like cuddles? I might not like cuddles." Gojyo looks at me like I've grown another head. I refuse to check to see if this is so.

"Oh, come on. Everyone likes cuddles." he scoffs.

"Sanzo doesn't like cuddles."

"Sanzo needs therapy. With a stick. Stick Therapy."




Sigh.



"It's just not going to happen, little man."

Gojyo's face begins a bizarre transformation, slowly changing color from peach to pink. He seems to be holding his breath. It's hard to be certain, considering the size and deformation of the facial features, but he appears to be channeling Chibi Rage.

"That's it! I know what you're all about! I bet you'd be all over me if I looked like this, wouldn't you?!" A picture is thrust in my face, partially obscuring Volcano Gojyo. "I bet if would be all kinds of cuddles then!"



The picture... appears to be the cover art for Volume 7 of the Saiyuki manga. Somewhere, far in the distance, I hear the sound of a thin wall breaking.

Gojyo's righteous rage shows no sign of abating. "That's discrimination! Just because I'm a foot tall doesn't mean I don't need hugs! Or... or I'm not a person, or I... You're prejudiced! You'd date this guy in a minute!" The picture is now shaking too hard to see properly. "'Big'-got!"



Take picture from fuming chibi. Examine it more closely.

Gojyo's rant continues without sign of an end. His face is now a lovely shade of crimson and there is steam coming out of his ears. This seems to confirm that his head is not where his brain resides.

"Hold it." I raise a finger as per the Chibi Rules of Extemporaneous Oratory. Gojyo follows suit with the Complete Freeze followed by Eye Rotation towards me.

"I wouldn't date this guy either."




"What!?" The red drains from Gojyo like arterial blood from a neck wound. It is replaced by an ashen grey, from head to foot... clothing included, against all biological likelihood.

"You... you wouldn't date me, even if I still looked like that...?" he squeaks.

"Uh...No." A tiny little heart of unknown composition coalesces and floats in the air above his head. It then shatters, and the pieces scatter on the surface of the desk. Before I can grab one in attempt to see if it is real... or at least, as real as the rest of this idiocy... Hakkai appears with a dustpan and brush, carefully sweeping up the bits.




"But... why?"




"He's a fictional character. Reality dictates that real people can't really date fictional characters. Thinking stuff like that is what gets the Men in White Coats coming to take you away... Ha ha."




In the blink of an eye, the color soaks back into Gojyo. His little heart pulls itself back together out of the dustpan like a ball of pink mercury and disappears into the air.

"Oh. Is that all? Okay, then." He walks off, whistling.

Hakkai catches up to him, apparently with a concern on his mind.

"I'll need my little doctor outfit back now, Gojyo. There's no knowing when someone might get hurt."

"Do I haaaaaaave to?"

"Let me re-phrase: There's no knowing when you'll get hurt."

"Here!"

"I'll be needing the little lab coat soon, you see. I have this theory..."




As they wander off... oh, hell. I have no idea what just happened.



Blink.



...that little bastard ripped the cover off my manga. I'm going to use him as an adorable football next time I see him.




chibichibichibichibichibichibichibichibi

Notes:

Tyrne J writes "beating people up with sticks!"... in which there is a lot of RIGHTEOUS RAGE.

Tokyopop's website has a lovely scan of volume 7's cover art, if you want to know what the Little Man was talking about.

I believe Dr. Demento is the originator of the Funny Farm song, "They're coming to take you away, ha ha."
Comments (2) | Permalink

   If he was real, I think he'd slap me...
It's tough being a youkai prince... especially when people make fun of you because you really wuv your Mummy.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

But how could anyone work with that thing staring at them...?
Comments (0) | Permalink

Monday, July 25, 2005

   Cussed Weather!
I was about to start typing the Chibi story up... and now we have a severe thunderstorm warning, so I have to cut things short. I'll have it up as soon as the weather permits.

But on the positive note, 10,000 downloads of the wallpaper! Holy crap! I can't believe it.

I'm trying not to let it go to my head.
=^o.O^=

Thank you all, especially those who have left so many helpful or encouraging comments. You guys are amazing, and kept me interested through the slow bits so I didn't just drop this like every other hobby I've had...

I am delighted.

Kittens aand Chibis and Cookies for all!
Comments (1) | Permalink

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

   Can keep my hands off it...
Here's a mandatory Kougaiji wall. Thought I'd gotten over it, hadn't you?

And here's 4 guys with new clothes, for your amusement.
Comments (1) | Permalink