draculings

[draculings]

ICYMI!

the many butch lovers who have followed me recently might like to know that I'm making a whole comic about these characters! A Longshot Out of the Birdcage is my graphic novel in progress. Set in 1952 New Jersey, it tells the story of Nicolasia "Nicky" Flores and Henrietta "Henry" Roth - two butches who scrounge up a living on the beachfront, working at a mob-backed nightclub.

It's a butch4butch-centric comic about the lengths people will go to for a scrap of power for themselves, in a world that expects them to be powerless. You can read a full sample scene here!

I've also just shared the script for the first three chapters in full over on my patreon and kofi pages, which you can read for just $5! But, here's another sneak peek below the cut:

It’s whiskey, apparently. Or bourbon - Nick never knew how to tell the difference, really. She’s barely ever tried them, and it all burned the same. It’s something that’s not watered-down beer or bathtub liquor, at least, in a neat glass set down in front of her with a chunky single ice-cube.

“…gee.” She murmurs. Who was this kid? Nicky looks over at the bar - cleaner here than the last place, the dim light giving atmosphere instead of just making it hard to see what kind of sticky mess you just put your shoe in.

Did Henry know someone here, maybe? Get a discount?

“I didn’t know what you liked.” Henry shrugs, sitting down with her own identical glass. She smiles, almost bashfully. “It’s okay, if you don’t wanna drink it.”

“S’alright.” Nick says. She nurses the drink tentatively - it burns the whole way down, but not in a bad way. Gives her the push to ask, “D’you… you work a union job, or something?”

“A union…?” Henry squints, not sure she heard right over the noise.

“You know, something that… pays good.” Oh, that’s a risky, stupid subject. “Ah, I shouldn’t - I just mean you don’t gotta, uh, go all out. A beer woulda been fine.”

“I don’t like beer.” Henry’s nose wrinkles. The pout she gives is childish, exaggerated. Cute, Nicky’s thoughts supply absently, warmed for a moment by alcohol.

She only registers, long after the right moment is gone, that Henry didn’t answer her question at all.

[draculings]

Nicky & Henry do some dance practice (plus some of Dickie's earlier lessons... he's a theater kid at heart ok!!) I drew these ages ago but I don't think I shared them in full here. It used to be a running joke with my ttrpg group that Henry just wanted a dance partner who could throw her, so... now she gets one permanently >: )

Bonus w/ Birdie and Dick:

(All characters are from my comic, A Longshot Out of the Birdcage!)

[draculings]

If folks would like to ask me questions about Longshot or its characters btw...

I wouldn't be opposed ;>

[draculings]

Nicky & Henry do some dance practice (plus some of Dickie's earlier lessons... he's a theater kid at heart ok!!) I drew these ages ago but I don't think I shared them in full here. It used to be a running joke with my ttrpg group that Henry just wanted a dance partner who could throw her, so... now she gets one permanently >: )

Bonus w/ Birdie and Dick:

(All characters are from my comic, A Longshot Out of the Birdcage!)

[draculings]

Hi tumblr, I didn't forget about you, I've just been deep in my sketchbook figuring out this new comic about the mob and drag and lesbians. more stuff's on my patreon!

[draculings]

A difference of opinion, or, Henry has one of those moments where she shares a story about her life, and, you're not laughing.... why are you not laughing... It's unbelievably tempting to let Henry spill her guts to Nicky right away, given their vastly different capabilities with Feelings(tm) - but I (un)fortunately have to tell a whole story for her to get there first. u_u damn her and her emotional constipation... I can make doodle comics in the meantime, at least!

Henry & Nicky (both she/her) are from A Longshot Out of the Birdcage, my comic in progress that I'm sharing on Patreon! If you'd like to see more, you can read a whole scene here for freeee

[draculings]

It's been abominably hard to share things lately - social media feels draining and pointless so much of the time, because it's been built that way and I'm all too aware of it. And just, creativity is hard right now! I've dealt with so much personal loss and upheaval in the last year, let alone all the fascist fear and violence we're submerged in, being blasted with propaganda about how our reality is fake and caring is stupid. Turns out making stuff in all of that is... hard. :' )

But it's been encouraging, here on tumblr in particular, to suddenly get this uptick in comments and genuine enjoyment, especially over something unexpected and simple like doing a promo post about Nicky's tits, lmao

so, it might be a small thing, but thanks for enjoying my work! <3

[draculings]

the many butch lovers who have followed me recently might like to know that I'm making a whole comic about these characters! A Longshot Out of the Birdcage is my graphic novel in progress. Set in 1952 New Jersey, it tells the story of Nicolasia "Nicky" Flores and Henrietta "Henry" Roth - two butches who scrounge up a living on the beachfront, working at a mob-backed nightclub.

It's a butch4butch-centric comic about the lengths people will go to for a scrap of power for themselves, in a world that expects them to be powerless. You can read a full sample scene here!

I've also just shared the script for the first three chapters in full over on my patreon and kofi pages, which you can read for just $5! But, here's another sneak peek below the cut:

It’s whiskey, apparently. Or bourbon - Nick never knew how to tell the difference, really. She’s barely ever tried them, and it all burned the same. It’s something that’s not watered-down beer or bathtub liquor, at least, in a neat glass set down in front of her with a chunky single ice-cube.

“…gee.” She murmurs. Who was this kid? Nicky looks over at the bar - cleaner here than the last place, the dim light giving atmosphere instead of just making it hard to see what kind of sticky mess you just put your shoe in.

Did Henry know someone here, maybe? Get a discount?

“I didn’t know what you liked.” Henry shrugs, sitting down with her own identical glass. She smiles, almost bashfully. “It’s okay, if you don’t wanna drink it.”

“S’alright.” Nick says. She nurses the drink tentatively - it burns the whole way down, but not in a bad way. Gives her the push to ask, “D’you… you work a union job, or something?”

“A union…?” Henry squints, not sure she heard right over the noise.

“You know, something that… pays good.” Oh, that’s a risky, stupid subject. “Ah, I shouldn’t - I just mean you don’t gotta, uh, go all out. A beer woulda been fine.”

“I don’t like beer.” Henry’s nose wrinkles. The pout she gives is childish, exaggerated. Cute, Nicky’s thoughts supply absently, warmed for a moment by alcohol.

She only registers, long after the right moment is gone, that Henry didn’t answer her question at all.

[draculings]

Dysphoria (2025)

This is a repaint of an illustration I first posted right here on this account over a decade ago when I first transitioned. I did this for TDOV this year as a sort of 'then vs now' for myself more than anything. A lot has changed in a decade. I've changed.

A decade ago visibility felt like liberation, but today it feels like a target. A decade ago politicians made a lot of promises to us, and today they can't run away from us fast enough. A decade ago I was crashing out in a dysphoria spiral. Today, in spite of everything, I'm at peace with myself.

It's Pride Month in the States and the Trans community is going through it. Between the Skrmetti decision and the threat of HR1 stripping care from Trans people of ALL ages on Medicaid and ACA plans, Trans people need support more than ever. So I'm making this illustration available as a print in my shop (link in bio) and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Point of Pride, an organization dedicated to providing financial aid for transition care. I'll post receipts of funds donated at the end of the month. I'm aiming to raise at least $2000, as that's the amount needed to cover 12 months of telehealth services, prescription medications, lab work, and more for at least one trans person in need of HRT. Transition care really IS life saving, it saved MY life. I wouldn't have lived to make any of the art that people have told me they love so much. My whole portfolio, all my work over the years, none of it would exist. If my art has ever meant anything to you, please, help.

[draculings]

my new 18+, mixed media short story is complete, so... coming soon 🖤 it's trans and butch if that does anything for you.

[draculings]

good to see that however tumblr feels about tits, the butches sure don't mind <3

you can see the full image and like 6 months of other pinups/porn art (pretty much exclusively butch4butch!!) over on my patreon!

Does tumblr still hate tits... well, anyway, New butch pinups are live on my patreon, happy pride fellow butch lovers

[draculings]

A Longshot Out of the Birdcage is a graphic novel about a conniving hustler and a temperamental loner who work for a mob-owned drag bar in 1952, New Jersey. When growing mob presence and creeping federal surveillance throw off the balance of their new life together, they each have to decide what they're willing to do to survive - and if they can really stick together to the end.

You can now read 10 pages of my butch4butch crime drama comic over on my patreon! Two 1950s dykes have the world's most terrible meet-cute, you'll never guess what happens next... ; )

[draculings]

So I work at an 18th-century historical site, and my work uniform is 1780s: shift, stays, stockings, shoes, two petticoats, pockets, kerchief, short gown (which is like...hip-length jacket, I guess?), cap, the whole nine yards. Today it was like 95 degrees, and as I was sitting there waiting for visitors to come by my station, I was thinking:

Why do authors and television writers confine themselves to "my corset is too tight and I can't breathe" when there are so many other minor inconveniences of eighteenth century dress to choose from?

(btw I am aware that they are most often called stays in this period, not corsets! I am very aware! -- the necessary disclaimer)

A laundry list of my hot-weather issues today:

- I just starched and ironed my cap but it's so humid my pleats have fallen out

- I'm so sweaty my (linen!) shift won't stop sticking to my legs

- my stays were laced exactly the way I like them but the heat has made them wilt and they're not supportive anymore

- I chose the wrong second petticoat to wear underneath today and it's too warm and I should have picked the lightweight linen and not the heavy linen

- my stockings got sweaty and keep sliding down

But like...

Yes, these were minor annoyances. Honestly, though, I wasn't any hotter than I am on any other 95 degree day where I'm outside all day. The hottest part was the polyester gym shorts I was wearing underneath everything.

In other words,

NO, VISITORS, I AM NOT ANY HOTTER IN THIS THAN YOU ARE

and I'm tired of answering the question. But I can't say that to real people, so here I am on tumblr.

[draculings]

I've been sharing my sketches of Longshot's prologue - aka Henry's no good, very bad day - over on my Discord lately! Here's a peek ;>

[draculings]

Thanks for all the love on my Longshot posts <3 I spent 6 months carving out the beginnings of this story (and that's not even counting the several years it was kicking around in my head in various forms), and it's wonderful to finally share it - especially how much love I've gotten just having a story about butch characters.

I wanted to make a story I deeply related to, full of the history that has made me feel seen to learn about, and I'm really glad to give that to others too!

A Longshot Out of the Birdcage is a graphic novel about a conniving hustler and a temperamental loner who work for a mob-owned drag bar in 1952, New Jersey. When growing mob presence and creeping federal surveillance throw off the balance of their new life together, they each have to decide what they're willing to do to survive - and if they can really stick together to the end.

You can now read 10 pages of my butch4butch crime drama comic over on my patreon! Two 1950s dykes have the world's most terrible meet-cute, you'll never guess what happens next... ; )

[draculings]

Does tumblr still hate tits... well, anyway, New butch pinups are live on my patreon, happy pride fellow butch lovers

[draculings]

Sneaking a smooch on the job?? Get a room, you two... (Nicky & Henry - both she/her - are from my comic A Longshot Out of the Birdcage, a butch4butch 1950s crime drama~)