Conversations on a Balcony - Small Fandom Big Bang Art 2015

[kat_lair]

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Title: Conversations on a Balcony
Artist: kat_lair / Mistress Kat
Author: deinonychus_1 / Athene
Fandom: Atlantis
Characters/Pairings: Jason/Pythagoras, Icarus/Pythagoras
Rating/Category: PG (Story: PG-13)
Warnings: None for the art

Story summary: It’s late at night, they are in the house by themselves, so Jason and Pythagoras talk. In a story told wholly through a series of late night conversations, often aided by alcohol, Jason and Pythagoras discuss anything and everything, from the not so serious (such as the time Jason tries to explain the internet), to subjects that are close to both their hearts. In doing so, they learn more about each other and their friendship grows.

But no matter how close they are, Jason knows they both have secrets. Jason still dare not tell Pythagoras the truth about who he is and where he comes from. And no matter how honest Pythagoras is about his sexuality and past relationships, Jason soon comes to believe that his friend is hiding a great heartache.

When matters come to a head one night, Jason must decide how much he is prepared to risk in order to save his relationship with the best friend he has ever known.

Link to fic master post: Fic on LJ or Fic on AO3

Artist notes: I've only seen maybe half a season of Atlantis, but am an absolute sucker for the 'from friends to lovers' trope so picking this story to do art for based on the summary was an easy decision! And one I didn't regret, as it was thoroughly enjoyable with many inspirational scenes to make art for :) Thank you to my writer deinonychus_1 not just for the story, but for enabling me with many screencaps and always been so enthusiastic about my efforts. And as always, thank you to the mod of smallfandombang for organising the whole thing and giving me a reason to pretend to be an artist once more! Please see here for texture and photo attributions.

This is the cover for the story. I wanted to use not just an image of the boys, but also incorporate aspects of the story, hence geometric texture (for Pythagoras) and the wine jugs (for the copious wine!) - Click for full size!




The drinking theme continues for the chapter titles/dividers...

























This was actually the first graph I did. As soon as I read the scene of Pythagoras telling about his lost lover I knew I had to illustrate it. Nice of the canon to provide such an unambiguous image too... I believe this is less subtext and more text? Anyway, fire and wings were compulsory of course, considering who we're talking about! Text straight from the story. - Click for full size!




Final piece. This illustrates a scene full of hesitation and conversation full of subtext... And as I was spoiled for choice when it came to screencaps of the boys staring at each other in a yearning fashion... :D Words again from the story itself. - Click for full size!


 

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Comments

[deinonychus-1.livejournal.com]

It was great working with you, and all the art was awesome. Thank you!

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Likewise! Thanks for such inspirational story and your unreserved enthusiasm for the art :D

[clea2011]

This is gorgeous artwork and fits the fic perfectly. Lovely work.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you very much! It was great doing art for such a lovely story, glad you think the two aspects fit together.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Those are so gorgeous they make me want to read the story but I have absolutely no idea about the canon other than the basic concept of Atlantis which of course might be quite different in the show. Would the story be accessible to the uninformed reader?

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you so much! I really enjoyed making them all.

Well this is BBC adaptation of Atlantis so leave historical/mythical accuracy at the door :D That's less relevant to the story though which is a nice 'slice of life' thing and takes place entirely as the title says, over a course of conversations. Pythagoras is that Pythagoras with the triangles, and Jason is... Well. Jason is from the future. Or our present. And ended up on Atlantis because of his ~destiny~. Atlantis has not yet sunk to the sea. Oh, and Hercules is the show's comic relief, prone to wine and good food and not really that good at fighting. I've only seen a handful of episodes (gave up after a while) so there are some references that go over my head but on the whole I was happy to read it as a sweet story of two boys fumbling toward kissing terms :D

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Sounds good - the story, not the show. I can suspend disbelief to some extent but Pythagoras and Hercules in Atlantis might be a bit too far to stretch in canon - sounds more like crack!fic!!! Will download the story. Thanks.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Well yes, the show is about as accurate as Merlin was so you know... Hope you enjoy the story.

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

The artwork is just lovely, such beautiful colour and effects! I don't know the series or fandom either but have downloaded the story, your work is too much temptation to resist!

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you very much! *beams* I've been so busy with work, and then mum was here, that writing has mostly dried up (although there may be a little somethin' somethin' *g*) but it was good to be creative with the graphics. Hope you enjoy the story!

[meridian_rose]

Lovely work :) The story sounds intriguing so I'll be checking it out too!

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! The story was lovely, definitely worth checking out.