If there are any of you out there who do not know a real-life glutton for punishment, you do now.

Basically, in an absolute fit of pure boredom, I went and got started on the first of my Christmas presents for people late last night, came to a crossroads with it, and wondered to myself: do I want to take a leap and make a nude out of it...?

Might sound horribly tacky, but I came at it from this perspective: the recepient of the nude would love it, and be terribly amused at the same time, and frankly it would be a good chance to practice the finer points of anatomy.

...I just need to get up the courage to actually go through with it.

So, I started looking up references here on dA, thinking that if I had to start anywhere, it might as well be here where I know that it will be relatively professional and safe -- and upon punching "Male Nude" into the search engine, my hunch was rewarded with some nice, well-done images. But when I went off the beaten path and tried "Penis," I was quickly reminded that there are some pretty twisted people out there -- and that certain parts of the human anatomy should NEVER be pierced.

I shall have to share my findings with you all on at a later date so you can get the full affect of what I'm talking about...

But for right now, the first of my presents this year has reached a bit of an impasse, and I'm not quite sure what to do about it. Having never done a nude before in my life, I'm kind of paranoid about keeping it from seeming too...off, if you get my meaning. I mean, based just on what I saw today, there are some funny-looking penorz out there, so I'm shooting to render something that's recognizable, eye-pleasing, and...dignified...? I think...?

Plus, I'm struggling against a wave of anti-motivation where all of my work is concerned. I started cleaning Cossette's Easter gown, only to stop halfway through cleaning her hair and go, "Meh."

I guess it just doesn't want to be worked on right now...

Obviously, that can't keep up forever -- I'd like to get it finished in time for posting at about the same time as Dest's next chapter for MxC, which, I might add, is getting frigging HYSTERICAL. You will see when you read, and you won't be disappointed.

But in the meantime, I found a couple of articles that I thought would be great fun to share. In the wake of movies such as The Brave One and Taken, these I found especially astounding...

First, a man who saves children abducted by their parents...
[link] ...And second, a woman who managed to crack open a drug ring for the sake of the father of her kids.
[link] Kudos. They're braver than I could be in situations like this.

For right now, however, I've got to motivate myself to do SOMETHING. November won't last forever, and December will be here faster than I'm prepared for...

So, until next!

From the creators that brought you Nocturne Eternus
and FFVII: To Bless the Tainted Child
Comes the epic romance that proves
Love transcends all things
Including the Fourth Wall

and
present
The Mael-X-Cossette Collaboration Project
Chapter One
[link]
Chapter Two
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Chapter Three
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Chapter Four
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Chapter Five
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Chapter Six
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Chapter Seven
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Chapter Eight
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Chapter Nine
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Chapter Ten
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Chapter Eleven
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Chapter Twelve
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Chapter Thirteen
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Chapter Fourteen
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Chapter Fifteen
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Chapter Sixteen
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Chapter Seventeen
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Chapter Eighteen
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