These pictures are one of the major results of a major offensive on the Aesthetical Front. Not only do I have a proper way of projecting my preferred self/fursona online finally, but I will also have a shirt with the colored version so I may do the same when mounting sorties. These have been crippling deficiencies on the Aesthetical Front for a long time, and my attempts to rectify them before the middle of this month had brought me profound frustration and disappointment. Due to fortunate timing, luck, and a stellar artist, they have been eliminated. Militaristic 'coonboi is happy!
Anyway, this was done by the very patient and agreeable
! I had submitted a commission form for something similar to the marvelous picture Shippo acquired from Kadath here, with a tame and erotic version. One of the fields asked if there was a deadline for it, and if there were under two weeks remaining there might be a rush fee. I stated that while I preferred to have it by 24 November so I could have a shirt made and sent here by 30 November (this is my sobriety date and it begins a period of celebration and increased meeting attendance), this was optional. I didn't believe she could do it that soon, or there would be a substantial cost for it that I might elect to decline. She gets back to me a few days later, states she CAN have it done by the date and sets a rather low price (105 versus something like 70 or 80 normally for a shaded digital picture), and awaits my response. I read her e-mail two days later (I was and still am extremely busy, and even these matters are often postponed) and am taken by surprise. I pay the invoice immediately and respond.
She promptly places me at the top of the queue and proceeds at a maximal pace. The same day I pay her, I do some perusal on Sock Dreams and place an order for some femboi clothing, and
also responds to a separate commission matter favorably. The next day I look at the sketch, and am taken aback by how outstanding everything about it is. The Aesthetical Front becomes a nearly unmitigated rout for 'the enemy' as a result (status quo, obstacles, weaknesses, etc are the usual 'enemy' I refer to). I was very afraid of the face or eyes being off and not being able to adequately explain what I wanted changed.
As the picture has a maximum priority to both of us, this consumes virtually all of my spare mental capacity and energy for several days, and three evenings in a row streaming is done. Throughout the entire process Malachyte was very accommodating and forgiving, even when I had us both spend 30-60 mins in stream correcting his penis when it was already the appropriate shape and length, and even when I asked for two minor lineart corrections after having approved the ink phase. I felt I was an incompetent commissioner (though, I haven't done this often, and there's only one way of gaining competency) who was needlessly adding to her frustration and burden, and I gave her the promised gratuity before the end of the 3rd stream out of embarrassment and a desire to demonstrate empathy.
On the evening of 21 November, 3 days before the soft deadline, the images were completed. The total cost was 175 (105 minimum, 5-10 for the minor late lineart corrections, remainder gratuity), but given her level of service and her putting everyone behind me suddenly, it was definitely worth it. In the early hours of the next day I finalized and paid for the shirt design and a new totebag with images of secondary characters of mine, at a lower cost than anticipated. So, my shirt ultimately had a price of around 220. Progress is expensive.
