Truth be told, in Santiago’s completely honest opinion, getting a pet hadn’t necessarily been an idea that was ever brought to mind for him before. Much less a cat, of all things… And yet here he was now, sharing his relatively quiet and somewhat cluttered third floor apartment with his newest feline friend whom he’d taken in just a few months ago.
Frankly, the idea of owning a pet in general hadn’t even once crossed his mind at all in any previous instance, at least not until one of his closest friends had popped the question to him while he had them over to visit at his place. Granted the inquiry itself had come rather out of the blue and without any prior segue leading into it, so he was admittedly caught off guard for a moment. But once the actual question itself sunk in after his brain fully processed it and caught back up with the rest of him, he did begin to give it some serious pondering.
In all honesty… Santiago didn’t exactly have the best track record when it came to small animals just in general. And that was mostly in part due to, well… his particular sort of ‘breed’, to put it in relatively nice terms. Dogs tended to be pretty okay and were quite friendly with him more often than not, but cats, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, and the like would always immediately shy away if he so much as even stood in the same room as them. The scent of anxiety and fear they radiated whenever he was nearby always brought with it a sense of deep-seeded guilt, knowing full well that they were afraid because they saw him as a predator even if he had absolutely no intent of harming them. Chupacabras in general didn’t really play very nicely with many of the kinds of small animals that people usually liked to keep as pets… So naturally he hadn’t ever thought about it up until now, because he was always scared of the possibility that he could end up losing control and doing something that he would most certainly regret later on down the line. And when he voiced his concerns as much, his friend had simply smiled, given him a reassuring shoulder pat, and suggested that he think on it at the very least.
Admittedly, having an animal companion to liven up the apartment and help it feel not so lonely hardly sounded like a half bad idea. While he did have a lot of house plants around his apartment that he tended to pretty regularly, well… plants couldn’t exactly talk back, walk around, or even really do much of anything at all. And his comrade had even mentioned that maybe it would be nice to have a little friend to take care of, an actual live one, at least. It was just a matter of thinking over what kind of pet he would want if he chose to get one, if it’d be better to buy from a pet shop or adopt from a rescue shelter, and of course making all the necessary preparations to introduce and get his potential new animal friend nice and comfortable in his home…
Naturally he figured a snake, fish, turtle, or lizard might be most ideal for him since they were cold-blooded, meaning that there was little risk involved in case of the worst happening, and they wouldn’t require extensive regular cleanup. But buying, setting up, and maintaining a good habitat for one would be a bit expensive, and he wasn’t sure there would be an ideal place to even set one up in his apartment… His art studio was a bit too cluttered and crowded to really be feasible for keeping a tank in there, and he already had so many house plants taking up a lot of other space that he’d have to do some extensive rearranging to make it somehow work. And he just didn’t have the time nor the energy to even try and deal with that whole mess.
He thought about maybe getting a dog since those were among the few kinds of commonly kept pets that usually tolerated chupacabras, but the apartments he lived in tended to be a bit iffy about those in particular. They only really allowed tenants to keep dogs in the complex if they were pretty well trained and not prone to barking much, like if they were seeing-eye or service dogs for specific needs of certain residents, or were otherwise quite well socialized. Especially since Springtide had a bit of a very strict policy about loud noises during late hours, and not everyone was particularly fond of being woken up at 3 AM by their next-door neighbors’ yappy canine companion when they had to leave early for work later on. God knows he’d rather not get in trouble or even possibly kicked out of his apartment due to repeated noise complaints… That was just a whole other debacle entirely that he’d prefer to avoid being involved in if it could be helped.
Needless to say, actually deciding on what kind of pet he’d like to get was proving easier said than done, and maybe he was overthinking it just a little… But in the end, he felt that maybe the best thing he could do was take a trip to the local shelter, see what was there for himself, and go from there. So after spending about a week or so of doing more thinking, on and off researching, and waffling on it for a short while longer, he finally caved and ventured down to the pet rescue center near the town outskirts to see what they had available for adoption. Of course the shelter owners had expressed some concerns when he came in and asked if he could adopt a pet, knowing full well of chupacabras and their particular reputation. The skeptical side-eyed look that the lady shelter-keeper who worked the reception desk in particular had given him the moment he’d walked in hadn’t gone unnoticed either, she certainly hadn’t been quite as subtle about it as she’d probably thought. But surprisingly, they didn’t turn him away like he’d expected them to despite their initial suspicions, and instead kindly offered to show him around.
They mentioned that they’d recently gotten a new litter of kittens that someone had found abandoned in a box by the highway and given to them, and brought him in to have a look to see if any of them might catch his eye. As expected, once Santiago entered the room where their pen was located, the kittens immediately cowered, trying to hide themselves away in the corners and get as much distance from him as possible even in their enclosure. All except for one… A tiny spotted ginger molly with only three legs, having had a severe birth defect in one that caused her pain whenever she moved it, according to the shelter owners. Her defective leg had been in particularly bad shape when she’d first arrived at the shelter, so much that the vets ultimately decided to amputate it as corrective surgery wouldn’t have been able fully resolve the issue and it would’ve only stressed her out more than necessary.
The three-legged ginger kitten, rather than hiding away from him like her siblings, had willfully approached Santiago instead. She gazed up at him with her bright green eyes, not even the slightest trace of fear to be found, and gave a curious chirp as she stood right there at his feet. Needless to say it came as quite a shock both to him and the shelter owners as well. He hadn’t ever had any other pet animal that wasn’t a dog react to him like this before, and a part of him wondered if maybe this was some kind of strange dream…
Still exercising caution and taking care to not accidentally scare her… he’d bent down onto his knees to be more level with the kitten and slowly, very slowly, reached out to try and pet her. If she’d actually allow him to, of course… He had still fully expected to feel sharp little claws ripping into his fingers at any moment before they got too close. But to his further surprise, she didn’t hiss or lash out in retaliation at all, instead she'd begun purring away loudly and happily as she let him gently stroke behind the ears and down along her back. Instinctively arching herself into his hand in sync with his careful touch, clearly quite pleased with the attention and tenderness that he gave. This was truly amazing… And even when Santiago reached his other hand out to scoop her up into his arms, she allowed him to do so without any complaints or resistance. All she did was continue to purr and nuzzle up close to him, cozy as could be and happy as a clam there within his hold. It was at that very moment that Santiago knew he absolutely adored this kitten to bits, and that he needed to have her…
He took her home that same day after making sure her paperwork for adoption, vaccines, and all that were sorted out and well in order. And thankfully the shelter owners were generous enough to give him a bit of food and a bag of litter to help her get settled in for her first few days, since he hadn’t exactly prepared his apartment in advance for taking in a cat so soon. Though he hardly wasted much time jumping on getting everything sorted out as the very next day, he went out on a little shopping spree to ensure that she had toys, plenty of food and litter plus an actual litter box, appropriate feeding bowls, a scratching post, cat carrier, and a little bed of her own to sleep in.
He named her ‘Pepita’, because the spots she had scattered about on her ginger coat reminded him of little pumpkin seeds, and gods… He just loved his precious amorcito to high heaven and back… She meant the world to him, and he would do absolutely anything for her if she so much as asked. Or meowed, he supposed would make much more sense here.
Over the course of the next couple weeks, Pepita spent her time getting acclimated with the new environment of the apartment and learning her way around. Though she was surprisingly quite smart even at such a young age for a cat, as Santiago came to find out. It hardly took very long for her to fully figure things out after she familiarized herself with where everything was, and from there she was pretty quick to establish her new position as la reina de la casa, the self-imposed ‘queen of the house’. And as he would also quickly learn, Pepita could certainly be one hell of a handful when she really wanted to.
She was especially quite picky about the particular toys she liked even down to the exact brand and type, and honestly Santiago had long since lost count of just how many he went through all in all until she found a good several that managed to successfully pass her critical evaluation. One doesn’t simply bring just any old toy to Pepita and expect her to like it, and when la reina was especially displeased with the offering given to her… Well, needless to say the bottom fringes of the upholstery on Santiago’s couch had more holes and torn seams left in it from tiny claws and teeth than he’d care to admit. And though he’d bought a whole cat bed for her, Pepita hardly even bothered with using it at all, really. Instead, she much preferred to sleep virtually anywhere else as long as it was either on top of or just very close to him, or even in those particular spots where he would usually sit or lay down whenever he was away.
As an example, every time he came home and wanted to decompress by painting for a bit in his studio, he would be greeted constantly by the sight of a little ball of ginger fluff just laying in his chair next to the canvas. And he’d have to pick her up and move her to perch on his shoulder instead so he could sit down and work, and it always had to be there specifically because she would yowl and pitch a fit if he tried to put her down anywhere else. Needless to say, it seemed Pepita was as attached to him as he was to her, and maybe he does spoil her just a tad too much… But he was more than willing to deal with whatever consequences that it brought, because he just absolutely adored her to pieces and he would move all of heaven and earth themselves if it meant making her happy.
Though Santiago’s absolute favorite time of the day was when he’d arrive back after work, catching a glimpse of Pepita watching out for him coming home from her perch by the living room window before she darts off and scampers to the front door. She greets him with a loud meow before he even has his keys in the lock to open it, and is immediately purring away and nuzzling at his legs the moment he steps inside. After taking care of the evening chores, preparing dinner for himself and her, and cleaning up dishes, Pepita would wait for him there by the couch until he makes his way over and lays down to rest and relax for the rest of the day. And she joins him shortly after as she jumps on top of him, kneading her little cat biscuits into his shirt before curling up right there on his chest (her absolute favorite spot, he'd learned) and settling in for a nap. All the while he reclines back and just lets the weight of all the tensions and stress built up over the day just wash off of him like sand on a beach shore as the waves lap against it, gently burying his fingers into Pepita’s soft fur as she contentedly purrs away like an idling motor.
And it’s only the two of them, just a chupacabra and his most beloved cat, basking in the warmth of the setting sun’s fading light spilling into the room as they spend the day’s remaining hours just relaxing together. Cozy, comfortable, and wanting for nothing else more than each other’s love and company…
An absolutely lovely and super cozy-looking art piece that I got some time ago from a long-time good artist friend of mine, featuring my precious baby boy Santiago! And what's this? It seems that he's gotten himself a brand new little friend! I had actually toyed with the idea of having him get a pet at some point for a while, especially since he shares a single apartment with a grand total of only him and himself. So naturally it only made the most sense to give him a little animal buddy to have some company, and make home feel a bit less lonely for him. And after thinking on it for a while, I initially thought of Pepita as a bearded dragon, but after giving it a bit more thought and watching some cute animal rescue videos here and there she ended up being changed to a cat instead! And honestly, I think that it suits him much better! So now this man has a pet cat to be his best friend and most precious animal buddy, and he absolutely adores the hell out of her! Even if she can be a bit of a sassy brat sometimes, haha~ I definitely hope to be able to explore more of Santiago's life and get more artworks of him, his beloved little Pepita, and some of the day-to-day shenanigans they get up to, for sure!
That being said, I absolutely adore how wonderfully gorgeous this piece really came out! I immediately get vibes of calm and peace, the feeling of finally arriving home after spending a day that seemed to go by way too slowly at work, getting settled in on the couch or in your own bed, kicking back and just spending the rest of the time relaxing and letting all of the stress wash away. That's definitely the kind of feeling I get from Santiago's casual reclining on the sofa, his expression the picture of tranquil and serene as he lays there with his beloved Pepita curled up on top of him as she naps away. The living room feels like it's very warm and lived in as the fading rays of the setting sun outside filter in through the window, the view of the small hall off to the side leading towards what's surely the front door, the hooks set up on the wall where he would hang up his coat and backpack... And of course the small house plant sat in the window, looking like it's slowly but surely starting to take over the room itself as its sprawling leaves reach out and drape on top of the couch and god knows where else. It feels like we're getting a small glimpse into the day-to-day life of this one man, and maybe we could even start to imagine what the rest of his apartment could look like even just from seeing a small portion of this one room. The detailing, shading, and rendering work of all the fur, hair, fabrics and clothing, and the leaves of the plant, the splashes of orange-red highlights and the overall warm to neutral color tones of the interior contrasted by the cooler shades of the outside is just incredibly beautiful... I almost wish I could be in that same position, relaxed there on the soft couch cushions, letting the warm sunrays wash over me as I while the rest of what time there is left in the day. And without a doubt, the artist did an amazing job of really capturing that kind of scenario in such a beautifully done art piece~ <333
This super lovely and awesome art piece was courtesy of my equally lovely, super awesome, fantastic and supremely talented friend, artist, and fellow storymaker Gatewayeee! Thank you so very much again as always for such amazing artworks and for every opportunity that I've had to be able to have the pleasure of working with you! God, I really cannot put into words just how absolutely wonderful you are and how much you and your artworks are an inspiration to me, the way you capture the feel and personalities of my characters so well in every art piece that you draw, injecting your own bit of soul and emotions into the pieces themselves in a way that really feels so uniquely you and couldn't ever be mistaken for anyone else. I'm very happy beyond words to have had the opportunity to be able to establish that initial connection when we collaborated on the first ever commissioned art piece outside of Kira's refsheet when I first made my FA account, to have gotten to know more about you over nearly the past year and to be able to call you something of a friend to me. Really, you have my deepest gratitude for everything that you've ever done for me, and I always look forward to being able to collaborate with you again and again when there's an opportunity for it and continue to build more new stories together! Keep up the amazing work, and never stop being your lovely self no matter who might say otherwise, my good friend~ <3333
And hey, if you're not already doing so, then definitely head on over to Gateway's page, give her a watch, fave the original post of this piece over in her gallery and any of her other artworks that catch your fancy, and consider shooting a commission her way if you like her style and what all she has to offer! She does super lovely and very nice art for quite reasonable prices, and she also does some neat animated works as well if you're interested in getting something like that done for a bit of an extra cost! And she does put out interesting YCHs and adoptables as well from time to time, so if those are more your speed then definitely do take a loot at what she has available and up for grabd! I feel very happy and quite proud to say that she has made considerable leaps and bounds with developing and really growing into her art style even just over the course of the past year, and overall she is just a pleasant and super wonderful person to be able to work with! Honestly couldn't recommend her enough, really! And hey, even if you're not able to afford to order anything from her or just aren't particularly interested in getting art, I still highly encourage you all to give a awesome and amazing artist the attention, support, and love she deserves by at least giving her a follow on her page!
The link to Gateway's commission info and prices will be provided below! I'm not sure if the information on her Carrd site might be a little outdated or not, but I'll just post it here anyways since it's the one place that she does have her information and prices listed! And if you'd like to get a commission from her but aren't sure of how much it might cost, don't be afraid to ask her! Please do consider having a look and ordering something from her if you're interested, or if not, it would be much appreciated if you could at least share her stuff around with friends, followers, and any others looking to get some really nice art for themselves who might like to check her out!
Gateway's Commission Info and Prices (Carrd): https://gatewayeecmminfo.carrd.co/
Santiago Ortega Montez is © to me
Category Artwork (Digital) / Miscellaneous
Species Chupacabra
Gender Male
Size 2000 x 1400px
Listed in Folders
Lord, how many pleasant words! I can't describe in words how grateful I am for your support and all these words .. I remember how nice it was to make the first order for someone .. it was so exciting! but hearing and seeing how satisfied you were with this art... it was incredible. to develop your characters together with you is what I could only wish for... they have become so dear to me that I want to draw and get to know them even more! . I love you as a customer, as a friend, and as an incredibly beautiful artist who writes incredible stories. thank you for this year and for being with me in the best moments of my life 💚
Aha, you’re very much welcome as always!! Honestly, it really doesn’t feel like it was so long ago already that we met for the first time for that first commissioned art you did for Kira, but again, I’m really so happy and grateful to have had the opportunity for us to meet and befriend each other! Being able to talk with and even become friends with someone as wonderful and lovely as you was certainly one of the biggest highlights of the past year despite all the awful things happening out in the world, and it was so nice to also watch you grow and develop as an artist as well! In a way, I’m very happy to have been able to be a part of that journey, and I’m always glad to be able to help support you and your artworks as well however I can! I hope we can continue to make even more beautiful stories together whenever the opportunity presents itself, and as always, keep up the amazing and awesome work in the meantime! Wishing you all the best for your future endeavors and successes, and thank you so much as well for being a bright and positive light even in the darkest times! You’re a fantastic artist, a wonderful friend, and a beautiful soul, and anyone would be lucky to have someone like you in their lives~ 💜💜💜💜
Awwww.. this is super adorable and the details are very well done! <3
Indeed!! Santiago really looks so relaxed and at ease with his adorable little companion Pepita by his side, just taking it easy after a long day at work… I’m sure it’s pretty comfy there on that couch, hehe~
And I absolutely agree 100% with that sentiment! The amount of detail Gateway puts into not only the characters themselves but into the backgrounds as well is absolutely amazing! She’s really come a long way with developing her art style and expanding more on her scenery work, and it definitely shows! Plus she’s really just an incredibly sweet person to be able to work with too, honestly can’t recommend her enough!!
Thank you so very much for the fave and for your lovely words as always, sweetheart! I’m very glad that you’re enjoying the commissioned artworks I’ve been getting as much as I am, and I super appreciate your support as well! Always happy to see fave and comment notifications from you, and I always look forward to seeing what you have to say! Thank you so very much again, and love you lots, my dearest, sweetest, and loveliest Serg~ 🥰🥰💜💜💜💜💜
And I absolutely agree 100% with that sentiment! The amount of detail Gateway puts into not only the characters themselves but into the backgrounds as well is absolutely amazing! She’s really come a long way with developing her art style and expanding more on her scenery work, and it definitely shows! Plus she’s really just an incredibly sweet person to be able to work with too, honestly can’t recommend her enough!!
Thank you so very much for the fave and for your lovely words as always, sweetheart! I’m very glad that you’re enjoying the commissioned artworks I’ve been getting as much as I am, and I super appreciate your support as well! Always happy to see fave and comment notifications from you, and I always look forward to seeing what you have to say! Thank you so very much again, and love you lots, my dearest, sweetest, and loveliest Serg~ 🥰🥰💜💜💜💜💜
He does look at peace with his cat. It's really cute how he has a companion on his side~
She definitely seems to have really come through on this piece considering the details and the background too! I'm gonna have to check her out at some point!
Of course sweetheart! Love you lots too, my dearest, sweetest, & loveliest Lynx~ 🥰🥰💙💙💙💙💙
She definitely seems to have really come through on this piece considering the details and the background too! I'm gonna have to check her out at some point!
Of course sweetheart! Love you lots too, my dearest, sweetest, & loveliest Lynx~ 🥰🥰💙💙💙💙💙
This looks very cute, Santiago does look very happy with this little feline friend! Gateway did such a fantastic job drawing for you~ :D
This us such a wonderful story, you did a fantastic job with the story, Phoenix! It's always nice to see all the effort you put into your stories, my friend! I do hope things have been going well for you too~ ;3
This us such a wonderful story, you did a fantastic job with the story, Phoenix! It's always nice to see all the effort you put into your stories, my friend! I do hope things have been going well for you too~ ;3
“Oh, she is absolutely wonderful, mi amigo! Pepita’s brought a great deal of joy into my life already, which was quite unexpected… but certainly not unwelcome. You’re welcome to pet her, if she’ll let you, at least. La reina is quite the discerning judge of character whenever she meets someone new. But if she really likes you, then you’ve definitely got a good friend for life, heh~” - Santiago
I absolutely agree!! Gateway’s artwork is absolutely amazing, and she’s definitely really come quite a long way even from just a year ago in how much her style has developed and improved! She’s just so wonderful, and absolutely worth checking out if you do enjoy her style! 😊
Ahhhhh thank you so very much as always for the fave and for your constant kindness and support, Case! I apologize that it’s taken me longer to respond back, I’ve been a bit busier as of late but I’m trying to get back on track with things! But again, the positive feedback and encouragement that you give is always deeply appreciated and brings a big smile to my face every time! You’re an absolute inspiration and help motivate me to keep on doing what I like to do, and I can’t put it down into words alone how much it really means to me! Thank you so very much for enjoying the artworks and stories that I have to share, and for cheering me on as well! You’re absolutely amazing, my good friend, and I hope that others are as blessed with having someone awesome like you to support them as I am~ 💜💜💜💜
I absolutely agree!! Gateway’s artwork is absolutely amazing, and she’s definitely really come quite a long way even from just a year ago in how much her style has developed and improved! She’s just so wonderful, and absolutely worth checking out if you do enjoy her style! 😊
Ahhhhh thank you so very much as always for the fave and for your constant kindness and support, Case! I apologize that it’s taken me longer to respond back, I’ve been a bit busier as of late but I’m trying to get back on track with things! But again, the positive feedback and encouragement that you give is always deeply appreciated and brings a big smile to my face every time! You’re an absolute inspiration and help motivate me to keep on doing what I like to do, and I can’t put it down into words alone how much it really means to me! Thank you so very much for enjoying the artworks and stories that I have to share, and for cheering me on as well! You’re absolutely amazing, my good friend, and I hope that others are as blessed with having someone awesome like you to support them as I am~ 💜💜💜💜
"Well, I'm very glad that Pepita has brought so much joy into your life, I can tell that she loves you a lot! It's very nice to see that she has a place to call home now. She does look very sweet, I'm sure she won't mind if I pet her. That would be very nice, just like having you as a good friend for life~"
You're very much welcome, Phoenix! Oh don't worry, you don't have to apologize for that, I've been busy lately too so I understand, commenting on your posts is what I enjoy doing and I'm glad the positive feedback has been uplifting and it has successfully put a smile on your face! I will do my very best to keep cheering you on and leave some good thoughts if that's okay with you. You're also amazing as well, and yes there are others that are blessed to have someone like me, I am also very grateful to have an absolutely wonderful friend like you, my good friend! 😊❤
You're very much welcome, Phoenix! Oh don't worry, you don't have to apologize for that, I've been busy lately too so I understand, commenting on your posts is what I enjoy doing and I'm glad the positive feedback has been uplifting and it has successfully put a smile on your face! I will do my very best to keep cheering you on and leave some good thoughts if that's okay with you. You're also amazing as well, and yes there are others that are blessed to have someone like me, I am also very grateful to have an absolutely wonderful friend like you, my good friend! 😊❤
I just wanted to admire the phenomenal work you've done stereoscopically weaving this very quiet, reserved and reclusive character into a lovable and believable person.
Santiago Ortega Montez...
It may be my shallow reference pool, but I keep thinking of him as potentially developing into Carlos Castaneda, or Don Miguel Ruiz kind of a spiritual teacher (with a side of creative applications of botany and mycology), with the kind of rough and trying life he's led, and with his dedicated pursuit of beauty and greater truth in the wilderness, and the secluded, unseen alleyways of towns. He may be a quiet chupacabra person, but it is the kind of quiet that is a hungry void yearning to be filled with wisdom and experience, and later in life, he may become weary of keeping quiet about what he's learned.
In the meantime, he will have his paintings and his modest gentle ways speak for him.
While this is not a direct mirroring of the concept, I think Santiago is also one of the more intriguing depictions of a vampire seeking to be part of the greater mortal society, but hesitant to open up after decades of formative rejection and prosecution for his exotic looks, and for the superstition his appearance invites. I appreciate how much thought you have given describing his methods of acquiring blood he needs, and how it has shaped his daily life, and his connections.
Good thing he doesn't seem to crave the blood of living things, be they animal or people, enough to be compelled to hurt anyone, and he doesn't burst into flames under direct sunlight, but his tragic history, his quixotic drive for enlightenment, his worldliness and erudition in a broad diversity of crafts and fields of knowledge, his seclusion and detachment that he has only just learned to temper with the help of his friends, and now -- the regal Ms. Pumpkin Seed -- all that make him fit the narrative silhouette of a tragic demon.
His warming up to the idea, the rocky process of choosing, and the induction of Pepita into his life were all described superbly here, with patience, accuracy of technical detail, and glowing sense of love for this momentous change in the lonely painter's life. It makes too much sense for him to find so much affection for a poor amputee kitten, and for Pepita to fearlessly bond with this looming, dark-coated dangerous entity.
And it was all too endearing to read about the process of the cheeky kitten take over chupacabra's life completely.
Pepita is referred to as "reina de la casa", and I couldn't help to connect that pet name to Santiago's adoptive mother, seeing as his taking responsibility for the precious feline soul is in part him passing on the care and love Mrs. Montez had poured into the little troubled orphan; it's part of his maturation from an inveterate, traumatized loner into a warmer, more sociable and gregarious person.
That lullaby scene was such a tender marvel of writing, and it was reinforced by a profoundly sweet illustration, too -- all feeding into Santiago's wealth of history and personality as a character.
This picture is also a delight, giving the viewers a glimpse of the hermit maestro's personal space. Santiago's unusual design means everyone will draw him a little differently, and that adds to the mosaic of the audience's vision of him. I like how in this drawing Santiago, having perhaps had enough of his afterwork rest, and ready to go fix himself dinner, or do a few other chores, is seen resigning himself to being his kitten's captive nesting site for the foreseeable future. Cats are like Thor's hammer, Mjolnir: the strongest man couldn't lift them from the spot they've chosen to cozy up in.
Not that Santiago could ever begrudge la reina her queenly comfort nap.
Santiago Ortega Montez...
It may be my shallow reference pool, but I keep thinking of him as potentially developing into Carlos Castaneda, or Don Miguel Ruiz kind of a spiritual teacher (with a side of creative applications of botany and mycology), with the kind of rough and trying life he's led, and with his dedicated pursuit of beauty and greater truth in the wilderness, and the secluded, unseen alleyways of towns. He may be a quiet chupacabra person, but it is the kind of quiet that is a hungry void yearning to be filled with wisdom and experience, and later in life, he may become weary of keeping quiet about what he's learned.
In the meantime, he will have his paintings and his modest gentle ways speak for him.
While this is not a direct mirroring of the concept, I think Santiago is also one of the more intriguing depictions of a vampire seeking to be part of the greater mortal society, but hesitant to open up after decades of formative rejection and prosecution for his exotic looks, and for the superstition his appearance invites. I appreciate how much thought you have given describing his methods of acquiring blood he needs, and how it has shaped his daily life, and his connections.
Good thing he doesn't seem to crave the blood of living things, be they animal or people, enough to be compelled to hurt anyone, and he doesn't burst into flames under direct sunlight, but his tragic history, his quixotic drive for enlightenment, his worldliness and erudition in a broad diversity of crafts and fields of knowledge, his seclusion and detachment that he has only just learned to temper with the help of his friends, and now -- the regal Ms. Pumpkin Seed -- all that make him fit the narrative silhouette of a tragic demon.
His warming up to the idea, the rocky process of choosing, and the induction of Pepita into his life were all described superbly here, with patience, accuracy of technical detail, and glowing sense of love for this momentous change in the lonely painter's life. It makes too much sense for him to find so much affection for a poor amputee kitten, and for Pepita to fearlessly bond with this looming, dark-coated dangerous entity.
And it was all too endearing to read about the process of the cheeky kitten take over chupacabra's life completely.
Pepita is referred to as "reina de la casa", and I couldn't help to connect that pet name to Santiago's adoptive mother, seeing as his taking responsibility for the precious feline soul is in part him passing on the care and love Mrs. Montez had poured into the little troubled orphan; it's part of his maturation from an inveterate, traumatized loner into a warmer, more sociable and gregarious person.
That lullaby scene was such a tender marvel of writing, and it was reinforced by a profoundly sweet illustration, too -- all feeding into Santiago's wealth of history and personality as a character.
This picture is also a delight, giving the viewers a glimpse of the hermit maestro's personal space. Santiago's unusual design means everyone will draw him a little differently, and that adds to the mosaic of the audience's vision of him. I like how in this drawing Santiago, having perhaps had enough of his afterwork rest, and ready to go fix himself dinner, or do a few other chores, is seen resigning himself to being his kitten's captive nesting site for the foreseeable future. Cats are like Thor's hammer, Mjolnir: the strongest man couldn't lift them from the spot they've chosen to cozy up in.
Not that Santiago could ever begrudge la reina her queenly comfort nap.
Indeed! Nothing quite like kicking back on the couch and just relaxing off all the stresses and pains of the day, and of course it’s much better with your best animal friend there too!
So sorry for the delay, but thank you very much for the wonderful comment! Super appreciate it, and I’m glad that you enjoyed this piece as well! Hope you’re having a very lovely day and/or night so far, and I wish you a wonderful weekend as well~ 😊💜💜
So sorry for the delay, but thank you very much for the wonderful comment! Super appreciate it, and I’m glad that you enjoyed this piece as well! Hope you’re having a very lovely day and/or night so far, and I wish you a wonderful weekend as well~ 😊💜💜
I honestly don't expect a response, I'm just a one hit wonder if you will.
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