adobeARTIST's Gallery (my creative stuff)

adobeARTIST · #1 06-02-2012, 11:53 AM

I've been wanting to do this for a while, to make a compendium of my art (in its various forms) and here it is

These are sigs I use on another forum, since before we had image sigs allowed on here.

My desktop wallpapers, I invite all to download and spruce up your own desktop

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My tribute to Lara through poetry

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Finally, my first ever fan fiction. We already knew about Lara getting on the boat, and how it all goes sideways when it crashes. So I got to pondering of the moments in between what we know, basically what Lara's time was like during the voyage itself, before the wreck.

I saw it as an opportunity to explore the very ordinary side of Lara, before she finds herself in the extreme circumstances that force her to develop her survival skills. Which inspired me with the idea of a journal, chronicling those moments from Lara's own words and perspective.

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Day 1

Lara’s Journal, first entry. Or should I go with “Dear journal”. Dear diary? How are these things supposed to go anyway? I mean here I am, fresh out of the academy, among the privileged few graduates selected by Conrad Roth to be a part of his expedition, that includes myself, Tobias, Garret, Francois, Jonathan, Lillian, and Valerie. In the recruitment draft we were all told to get a journal started. “Good archaeology is chronicling your observations and your own viewpoints”.

Only I’m not sure where to begin. I suppose leaving home makes the most sense. As I was packing my bags, getting a tearful hug from mother, and seeing the proud smile on father’s face, I really didn’t think too much of it. Sitting in that stuffy class room plodding though books and theory, all I could think about was what it would be like to actually get out there and see with my own eyes, all those far off places few else have ever seen, and fewer still even know exist.

But today when I left the pier and set foot aboard the Endurance, as I looked back on London… it just… I mean out of nowhere the brutal reality for the first time truly struck me. I really am entering a new world. And just how much I’m leaving behind and what I won’t be seeing again for a very long time. And while Conrad greeted me with the most reassuring smile, it takes all my fortitude to fight off the storm raging in my belly, and smile back desperately trying to appear confident and ready to serve.

Alright enough’s enough Lara!! You worked your ass off for this and bloody well earned your place on the team. So get a hold of yourself already, it’s time to show Mr Roth that his faith in you hasn’t been misplaced. So you are NOT going to let him down, got that? Its just nerves from your first day on the job, that’s all. That’s all.

Day 2

Being out at sea takes a lot more getting used to than I imagined. I have to brace myself along a bulkhead trying to steady my gait just to walk down a corridor. Meanwhile the ship hands make it seem so effortless. I almost tripped over Martin, the resident expert on ancient architecture.

Our first mission briefing is in attendance. Throughout class I was so sure I prepared and I come into the briefing with confidence. Maybe I was overconfident? I mean how did I make the rookie mistake (in front of Conrad no less) of bringing the notes from an expedition not yet scheduled for another 4 months?. Even a first year student wouldn’t have done that. So much for good first impressions, my career is off to a brilliant start. Please someone just shoot me now.

Day 4

Another orientation about all the equipment we’ll be using for the expedition. After what seems like the 50th time including the briefings we had before boarding the Endurance, I begin to wonder what’s the point? Being prepared is one thing but seriously now, does Conrad think us all completely daft that we need this many routines when by now we all know our stuff?

Then there’s Conrad’s most experienced cartographer, Old Man Donaldson. The running joke is that he’s older than the academy founded in 1699. And oh how he drones on about how things were done before electronic luxuries. Well you can keep your 17th century, old-timer. Honestly I can’t imagine how explorers ever got by without GPS trackers, or at the very least a decent digital compass.

Day 7

“There’s no free ride on this voyage”, Conrad tells us. We each have to pull our own weight and are given rotating duty assignments. I’ve already done scrubbing, organizing storage, and even some kitchen work. But last night I was learning some of the ship maintenance in the boiler room. It must be a conspiracy given the stubborn nature of all those pipes and valves. I think I’m dead. My muscles had never ached so much in my life, my bones as fragile as fine china, the mere sight of my cabin bed made me collapse when I finally got there.

Today I get to rest though. As I lounge around the mess hall and common rooms I have started to notice some of the looks from my fellow graduates and even some of the ships crew. It seems fairly harmless for the most part, though there’s that one launderer, Craig something or other. The way he leers at me is just so creepy. I think I may have found a new application for the pickaxe. But the way Francois glances is just... different from all the rest. He has such, oh I don’t know, gentle eyes I guess you could say.

If only mother could see me now. When I was 15 she told me one day I would be quite the heart breaker. I know she always imagined me being courted by all the aristocrats. This new train of thought makes me realize how much I miss my parents. Oh not that I’ll ever admit that to them. Would I give them that satisfaction? Not a chance, haha.

Day 8

After completing our chores and another briefing on Japanese culture and customs, we all assemble in the large common room for a movie night. Must be someone’s idea of a twisted joke to play that Tom Hanks movie ‘Castaway’, the one where he gets stranded on a desert island and has to learn to make it on his own without so much as a Bic’s lighter to make his fire with. Garret then makes a shallow attempt to impress me, Lillian and Valerie, boldly proclaiming how he could totally get through it, and would never whine like Hanks did.

When I try to visualize myself in such a scenario I go mental. I just can’t imagine what kind of resolve one must possess to endure an ordeal like that, but if I know myself, well I can pretty much conclude I wouldn’t last a day under such impossible conditions. And now I find myself with an urge to go through another equipment check.

Day 11

The chef decided once again to test the crew’s fortitude with his “casserole surprise”. Of all the discoveries made on this ship so far, the ingredients to this recipe remains unsolved and it’s been the topic of debate for a week now. Jonathan joked how we should just order a pizza now. Lord how I wish we could.

It’s surprising how it turns out to be the littlest things that one misses the most from their old life. Not just a pepperoni pizza with sweet peppers, polish sausage and basil either. Seeing the colour of the leaves of the estate as the sun first rises in the day. Or the eager eyes of Darwin, the neighbour’s jack russell terrier as he approaches you for a licking assault. The cheerful greeting Mrs. Livingston gave me each morning as I passed her porch on the way to school. But most especially croissants, and not just any croissants either, the ones from Mrs. Chastermann’s bake shop on Cherry Cross.

What I would give right now for just one brief moment to inhale that divine aroma. Instead here I am staring at that casserole surprise. Oh the exciting life of an archaeologist.

Day 13

Last night we had our own little girl’s night in Valerie’s cabin. She and Lillian were competing over the position of Jonathan's girlfriend. In a game of Truth or Dare, Lillian dared me to make a move on Conrad. I cried foul, demanding a mulligan and they both burst into laughter at the very preposterous idea.

Then Valerie surprised us both with a bottle of Captain Morgan’s rum that she snuck aboard. Suffice to say the game of Truth or Dare became far more interesting under the good Captain’s sway. I do believe I made them blush more than they did me. At least it was fun until I stumbled back into my own cabin and puked. What I mess I had to clean up.

This morning I feel like death's punching bag. So here’s a note to write down for the next time I read this. DON’T! EVER! DO THAT AGAIN! Then I can only groan in dismay when I find out I’ve got boiler room duty again. I hate myself.

Day 15

On the upper deck of the Endurance it was a magnificent evening. This far out from civilization the stars are unblemished by any of man's obstructions, and I am reminded of the splendour of the world and why I'm an archaeologist. I have never felt so at peace.

Tobias seeing me on my own by the railing comes by to strike up some conversation. Turns out he really knows his constellations. The chat might have even been pleasant had he not been eyeing my chest the entire time. The only thing stopping me from having pushed him overboard was the thought of being forced by Conrad to go in after him. If only it had been Francois who approached me. He really seems the genuine sort, but oh lord he really need to step up his game. Ah well, I suppose there's hope for him yet, ha.

Day 18

God this really got awkward. My classmates found out my family background and I can already see in some of their eyes, and in their hushed tones, a marked change in their attitude towards me. It’s like all of a sudden I’m a completely different person and they wonder why someone like me would even be here. Do they honestly take me for some kind of spoiled princess? After all we shared? Lillian even had the unnerving audacity to imply my father paid for my placement on the expedition. Never before have I so WANTED to slam my fist into someone!

Well screw them if they’re going to be that way about it!! I'll be damned if I allow them... or anybody for that matter, to define me! They have no idea who I am or what I went through to get here. They can all just sod off now for all I care!

Day 19

Eating alone in the mess hall after the main dining hours when it’s deserted, I’m approached by Valerie, Francois, and Garret. They’re very delicate in broaching the subject, but they want to know why I never told them about my upbringing. Truthfully right now I’m hardly in the mood to deal with it and I abruptly excuse myself.

Now however I feel like such a git. I ask myself if I possibly overreacted the other day? I mean sure I wasn’t very forth coming about my aristocratic roots, but I just didn’t want them to see me differently. And now look how it’s all gone down. I guess I should try to sort this out. Just right now so busy with my ship duties. Also poring over the research on the local folklore that we’ll be digging into soon enough really seems to clear my head.

Tomorrow will be a better day to set the record straight with the gang and square things away.