#sal 🌌🎹

[asheanon]

🤍 Happy Valentine's Day 🤍

It's been a while... And I know there are still other commissions to be done, but...! I wanted to take the time to do something nice and more refined for them this year, so here's a little V-Day something for them. 🌌🌹💜

(Also, I totally spaced it in the making, but yes, Fields Of Gold by Sting fits too!)

[psychobind]

@asheanon sent: piano, sender teaches receiver how to play the piano.

(It's a piano, it's Sal; it's a thing. The opportunity is absolutely there, should Wagnas ever wish to attempt piano-ing with a pianist, one day.~) 🌌🎹

Drawn irresistibly to the piano, Wagnas approached the instrument that had initially lured him to this location. His intention was bold yet clear: to claim the piano for his own, envisioning it as a solace at the Den of Umbrage, a companion for his contemplative moments and sleepless nights.

Leaning over the piano, he regarded the expanse of ivory keys with a mix of apprehension and awe. Words and poetry were his comfort zones, music a language he couldn't decipher, yet its essence-- steeped in emotion, often in pain-- was something he deeply comprehended.

Gently, he pressed a key, and the piano sang for him, a soft, almost mournful note.

B... A B C D E...

B C B A...

He settled onto the stool, his fingers tentatively exploring the keys once more.

B... A B C D E...

B C B A... ...

There was a hope, a silent plea, that the inhabitants of this place, were there any, would permit his intrusion and his novice attempts at the piano. If they objected... Wagnas was prepared to employ his own methods to ensure his continued practice remained undisturbed.

[asheanon]

*Edit: Turning this thread into the official Altalkia concept art collection. 🐉 🎨 (It's the original post - and more!)

I'll slowly add new art from posts that is relevant to it here and block off the collage with a read more section to spare folks! Little notes will also be added, if possible.

The ones that are censored are harmless, but I did apply those and marked this as mature in hopes that it'll help keep me from getting shadowbanned again!

Early Zeta musings (decided to settle with the first/left for the Zeta. Middle design acts as a preliminary design for the Xianze and last/right acts as a preliminary design for the Dauratra.)

Some Altalkian critter and further Daurautra musings.

Further-er Dauratra musings.

Early Zeta Kuja and Sal design musings.

Xianze Marluxia/Lauriam musings.

(Name still pending) Kuja musings. Plant Kuja is essentially the Terran equivalent to him in this AU whereas Zeta is the Genome equivalent.

[asheanon]

I know this is running just a little bit late, but it's still MerMay in my heart!

Wanted to sign off with a little something new vs. old - and give bubble boy some more love. 🫧 💙

It's a bit half baked, forgive me. Had to rush it!

[asheanon]

Sal 'fit came up again recently and it reminded me that I never did share this scribby from a while back...

And also never did return to it, so it's still a mess… BUT…! Still might be neat void filling material!

-some more void filler as well.- As a design note, I've been trying to come up with a design for the Observers' robes as a whole too (that robe-esque top Sal wears is a retro rendition of one - vintage Observers' fashion) so, that robe is like… a design that happens to suit her, but is also not specifically designed for her. These were designed for a group!

(I don't think I've shared this lore here before, so new lore drop!)

Isaac, a confirmed Observer gent on the left with a dated robe design. The Observers' insignia is in the center and its common placement on the backs of these robes is featured on a rendition of Sal's robe to the right.

These robes come in different colors with minor detail differences, so they're not a strict uniform design, but they all have that Observers' insignia on the back, nano tech embedded within the fabric and some similar shapes going on.

Also, the nano tech clusters look like constellation-esque patterns on the robe when they're active - or at least not in standby/asleep!

[asheanon]

Off and on, as the Ashe body has allowed, I've been working on some shenanigans. One of these said shenanigans reminds me that I really need to draw some new pieces with Sal and her telescope. 🔭🌌

Which... Also reminds me of these older KH fanfic pieces that I still adore. 💙

[asheanon]

I have moments where I think about this little thank you of sorts that Sal hands out sometimes… and it always has this weight to it that gets to me.

"Thank you for your time."

Coming from an essentially immortal entity, her time does not really have much value (in her opinion, anyway) but she deeply values the time others choose to give to her. Because it's so ephemeral and fleeting... a limited time offer, if you will.

And it is for that reason that, whenever she gives that line to Kuja in particular that I just kind of emotionally fall apart...!

(For those unaware and curious about these two, some further details on this matter can be found below the cut.) 💕

As a whole (for the most part,) Sal really is just this... star in the distance. You see it, but it's a struggle to fathom just how far away it really is from you. It's hard to reach. As warm and comforting as she can be, her personal feelings may seem very nebulous and hard to read, easily coming off as unrequited in some cases, even.

Many instances with Kuja are like this. You just have this flamboyant feathery fella shaking his tail feathers and presenting all these little gifts and lavish experiences, trying his darnedest to dazzle (as he always does.) Sal is accepting, but she's never really... star struck. Clear to the extent that it can be hard to tell if she's just being nice, even - as if he's a child presenting all these tiny trinkets to her and she says "that's nice, honey." Haha!

Which, mind you, a lot of this comes from the fact that it's mostly for show and what he offers is often of material value and little more; that doesn't really work on someone like Sal. However, she does recognize the value of his time - that his time is, in fact, quite limited, but he chooses to give some of it to her.

So, that said... Those little Sal thank yous are indeed quite meaningful. For both of them. 🤍

[asheanon]

Sharing this old thing over here as well, since, apparently, the Xitter likes it!

It's a mood. Just… sending out all the good vibes that I can and casting some hopes and wishes out into the sky. For everyone I can think of, including myself. That sort of thing. ☄️💜

And as I mentioned in the comments there: I know that's Sal there along with a respective story (FFVII fanfic "The Anomaly") but I sometimes think it's fun to imagine this being a sort of YCH (your character here) situation as well.

Like, feel free to imagine your favorite sharing a hug with Seph for any reason too. It's always allowed anyway, but still. 🫂💜

[asheanon]

So… It's the fourth here today. Big boom sparkle day in 'Murica. 🎇 Meaning I'm thinking about fireworks in a pleasant light vs. not to make up for it (a norm.) Which also reminds me of this late New Years/Valentine WIP that I left in the dust…! (Because New Years is another "romanticizes fireworks" holiday for me. Even if there are no fireworks here, they are still relevant. Looming. Waiting to strike… haha!) So…! If I have nothing else, here's this again today. Kind of. (Kind of in the sense that I never actually shared the full view here before.) Please enjoy! (And happy big boom sparkle day, if you're celebrating.) 🎆💜✨

[asheanon]

Since I've been talking about the Cosmo Canyon experience and touching lightly on personal story things, for fun, I'll share a few old knickknacks from the aforementioned "FFVII fanfic era" too.~ 🎨🐌

[asheanon]

Here's the real (lame) scribble for big boom sparkle day, by the way. (Lame because the background is just photoshopped with lines scattered across it. It's like this thing again - in a rush, just shoppin' things in to save time and get it out there within the day...!)

🎆💜✨

[asheanon]

I am so in love with this WIP and can only pray I'm just as in love with it when it is no longer a WIP. 🎨💙

[asheanon]

I never did share the updated Sal concept here, did I?

It's still a WIP, but I'll finally share it here anyway. 🤍 (Designs are still subject to change and so much of it is still rough, I apologize; the ring is mostly 'shopped. I be 'shoppin' when the energy's low... hahaha!)

[asheanon]

It is once again Sal day.~ ✨ 🎂 🤍 (A.k.a it's her birthday today!)

I have a lot of love in my heart for this chick, so even if all I have this year is a collection of Sal (and Chaku) art and scribbles, old and new alike, it will be shared with reckless abandon today!

⚠️ (But really, like, "keep reading" with caution. Crazy fanatic collage imminent!)

Anyway, I love her and hope she has a nice Her day. 🤍

[asheanon]

Also, another little tidbit referencing this for this Sinday too.~ 🌹

There are times where, in the heat of the moment and the embraces transpire, things will actually slow down. Or speed up.

I say sometimes because it can indeed sometimes be a tie between savoring and devouring that feeling. 'Tis a flavor so rich, but there are times where they starve...

Ah, the literal slow burn, though...

To watch desires spark as she treads lithe musculature, lips locking, her hands acquiesce, taking him into a gentle hold - they do not burn in haste, but slowly. As if taken into ardent arms and that too of a long lost friend.

[asheanon]

A little something for Sinday here as well. 🌹 (It is a spice of many flavors. Sweet, sad, silly and sultry!)

Imagine these two being so inept with handling their emotions - clear to the extent they do not know how to communicate or even fully realize their needs for comfort - that whenever they are being intimate, every hold and embrace is a motivator. Part of their bliss is derived simply from the feeling of arms around them.

It's heartwarming as it is heartbreaking.

While there are desires of the like that you would otherwise find , just... the thought of this being one of the only ways they think they are able to meet these needs specifically from one another... man...

They not only remain emotional walls, but complex emotional mazes. And I will never not enjoy all the beautiful intricacies that come from that. ❤️