Hey everyone, happy Thursday! :) I hope you guys enjoy the double-page update today <3 With any luck, the next update will go up as per regular schedule on Monday. I'll try my best!
Aaand I finally got around to prepping an announcement for winter mugs, so here we go:
SF Winter Mugs
Remember this from last year? They weren't on sale but were part of a giveaway. This year, though, I'm taking pre-orders! Do you want an SF winter-themed mug? ♥ I've also got a new design this year:
Nom~
After I did the giveaway last year, I surprisingly received several requests for the mugs to be re-printed and sold normally, so I thought I'd do that <3 I don't know if I can print both designs but I'll try, depending on what the survey results are like. :)
Free shipping will be my Christmas present to you <3 So if you are interested in purchasing a mug and live very far away, THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO GET ONE! XD
The base cost will be around 7.25 USD per mug at the minimum level of mugs printed. These are 11oz size mugs with a choice of colour inside the mug.
So please take the survey if you're interested! You can still take the survey if you're in the camp of 'I have no monies, but if I did have monies I'd get one!' - just tick that box when you do~ (It will still count some towards my printing decisions, since that means it'd make a more popular giveaway item ;D) Once the survey is over, I'll email the people who are interested with payment details.
The survey will run until the 30th of November~ Thank you! :D
See you guys over the weekend with another Friday Flare <3
@MST3K: Yep, trapped in a cell with no weapons is definitely not the most advantageous of circumstances, yep. :'D Well, at least they still have their gear on. Let's hope they figure something out!
Oh God, you have no idea how hard I started laughing at Jinn's reaction XD And how incredibly painful that must be for poor Nadine (he's nadine, yesh?)
Yep, he is Nadine! :) He probably won't introduce himself to Nemi or Michael though, so you'll have to take it from me and the inferences from Chapter Four. XD;
I am pleased that Jinn's reaction pleased you despite how crushing it was for Nadine's brittle ego, hyohyohyo XDD
Hmmm, we'll see about Jinn's thoughts on the matter once he actually hears Nemi's reply to his question... XD;;
(<33 Thank you seamuffin! ;3;* I'm so glad you think so <3)
Um. Well, this whole page is awkward on so many levels x'D But panel 4 has such priceless faces xDxD
I was trying to make either a Big Hero 6 or an Iron Man joke about Nadine's gauntlets, but... ehh, I give up. Too tired x'D
Nemi you might want to explain to Jinn what exactly is going on x'D
I guess it's time to play again?
(Remember the first time he used a gadget glove.)
On another note:
Mugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugs
mugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugs
mugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugs
mugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugs
mugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugs...
Yay mugshots!
Bars are wooden? Either way that blast may end up freeing them, dodging shouldn't be an issue and he has charge up time required for a second shot.
@CraftyNessi: No problem CraftyNessi, it's been a LONG time XD; hopefully it's easier for people bingeing archives in one go but even then, I think it's perfectly acceptable to kinda forget who this rando is. I've added in Nemi's helpful little thought to gently jog the memory, I hope it *is* helpful XD;;
Two days ago I discovered Serpamia Flare and have been mashing through the backlog. Sadly I have arrived at the event horizon of the story and now I have to wait days for the next update :(
I have a Kylie-Cain shaped hole in my heart at the moment.
I love the story! I found it catching and the characters are very compelling! On the surface it's an archetypical quest story but it's so much more interesting than that. There are so many things going on around the little party that they have little or no knowledge about, yet they are at the epicenter of the schemes various groups are plotting. The main characters are flawed, both of them struggling to put their past behind them. Both are also struggling with a growing bond between each other, I only hope you let them realize their love way before the end of the story…
Speaking of the end, how many chapters are you planning? What’s the time frame for finishing the story?
The only grain of criticism I can come up with is probably part technique and part genre related; it’s the way your drawings deteriorate to crude, childlike figures when your characters are showing surprise, with eyes being empty circles. I don’t like that, in my humble opinion you should try to change that. The drawings are so sophisticated otherwise!
On a personal note, I see you live in Hong Kong. I have been to HK many times in the late eighties and found the city perhaps the most fascinating place I have been to, the meld between east and west was truly amazing. But that was before the British left, I have no idea how it is today.
I have just bought The Lethian on Amazon mostly to support you and thank you for 400+ pages of web comic. Now the book is about 500 pages and with your story telling it’s promising to be a good and long story!
Well done buying the Lethian! It is certainly worth it.
About the special faces they make sometimes, I guess it's a matter of personal taste there. It's a style you'll see ever so often and some really enjoy the comedic element it brings. For me, it doesn't work everywhere, but it does work in Serpamia Flare.
Wow, I am blown away by your comprehensive remarks! ;3;* Thank you so, so much for taking the time to leave such a detailed comment to let me know how you've been finding SF so far. I sincerely appreciate it, more than words can say. <33
It's always such a pleasure to hear that someone is enjoying the story and liking the characters, truly. Thank you!! >3<* I do enjoy plotting, muhahaha. XD;; I am especially glad you enjoy the interactions between Cain and Kylie, since as main characters, I always hope they'll be compelling for readers. <3 <3 fufu.
Officially we're around half way through the story, but this is assuming I stick to the plans I wrote years ago - and I may not. XD; It'll take a few more years (at my current rate) to reach the end~
This is the first time I've heard someone call my drawings sophisticated O__O;;; th-thank you! :D Regarding those 'chibified' moments, I understand that it *can* be jarring depending on individual reader expectations. For what it's worth, I'm sorry that it's jarring, it sucks if it detracts from your experience :'D I will keep it in mind, though naturally 'chibification' happens less when the story takes more serious turns~
And gosh, you saw HK pre-Handover! <3 That's super cool! :D HK has in some ways not changed in that nature of East-West clashing, but it's certainly different after 1997. It's still a truly international city though. :)
By the way, thank you so, so much for showing your support by buying The Lethian and for letting me know. ;__;* I am super appreciative and bolstered by your kind words!! I really really hope you enjoy the novel <3
Thank you so much for reading SF!! <33 I hope you'll continue to find SF engaging even with the wait between updates. <33
Aww Skweeee!!! <33 THANKYEW I'm very pleased you like the mugs!! ;3;* Printing the mugs was more of an experimental venture for me than anything else last year, and it was pretty cool to see how they turned out <3 ;3;**
We seem to live in an age where anyone can print pretty much anything on whatever they want XD;; but I really am glad you find 'em cool <33
Outlaw! :D That is so much faith in our party members! <3 XD I mean... they have no weapons and they're stuck in a cell, but... I'm glad to see you still BELIEVE! <33 XDD
I'm very glad you enjoyed today's update! It doesn't seem as long after King Titus and the Dancer, truth be told XD;;;;; I guess that's what happens when you do something crazy, you lose the sane measuring stick :'D
And dude I'm so honoured Kylie and Ludwig get to be in the same awesome thing together! <33 Though Ludwig may want to say otherwise, given his getup... XD
OMggggg NUUUUU--so Jinn is basically saying that Mikey has feelings for her...and she's gonna leave forever T__T
MY HEART! I need this ship to sail, Rufi! D:
Awww I love this page! He's finally warming up to her, now that he realizes Mikey isn't just being polite...but Nemi needs to not break his heart too :(
Mimi? Neke? XP
And trapped in a cell with no weapons and bad guy ready to attack...gotta figure something will help them out of this jam.
at least jinnie is more courteous to her - oh, it seems he is getting a glimpse of what Mike is feeling for her? (or at least he thinks he does...) =P
Awwwww... cute blushing Nemi is so cuuutteee <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Well, nadine - I guess the tables will turn quite soon on you... (at least I hope so...)
Awwww... Do not worry, Rufi... *hugs* <3 ...we will be here waiting and f5-ing... ;)
Yayyy for mugs...!!! =) <3 ME, ME, count me in =D *gets mugged by the mugs*
Nemi and Jinn!Michael are in a bit of a scrape here. We'll see how it goes... :'D
And thanks so much for your interest in mugs, please don't get mugged by them though >___>
that's not covered under my insurance planALSO WHY ARE YOU BEING A TSUNDERE
BUT THE SLAVER IS MORE TSUNDERE
AHHHHHH
Much tsun is happening, yep XD we'll see about the dere dere...
*gets zapped for pun*
And thankyew once again for the fun cameos and lovely fanart! <3
I am pleased that Jinn's reaction pleased you despite how crushing it was for Nadine's brittle ego, hyohyohyo XDD
And thankyewwww <33 *clinks mugs*
Awesome double page!
And hehe, I'm glad you enjoyed the double-page update! Thankyew <33 :D
(Oh gosh that mug is super adorable~)
(<33 Thank you seamuffin! ;3;* I'm so glad you think so <3)
Um. Well, this whole page is awkward on so many levels x'D But panel 4 has such priceless faces xDxD
I was trying to make either a Big Hero 6 or an Iron Man joke about Nadine's gauntlets, but... ehh, I give up. Too tired x'D
Nemi you might want to explain to Jinn what exactly is going on x'D
And yes, Awkward is the word for it XD;;; it's an Awkward Situation, too...
Gosh, those are really high-level comparisons to Nadine's gauntlets, LOL. I think he should be flattered! XD;;;
We'll see if Nemi gets the time to explain anything~ :'D
(Remember the first time he used a gadget glove.)
On another note:
Mugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugs
mugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugs
mugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugs
mugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugs
mugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugsmugs...
And eheheh <333 thank you Lukkai for all your encouragement! XDD (those mugs are looking mighty smug in your note...)
Bars are wooden? Either way that blast may end up freeing them, dodging shouldn't be an issue and he has charge up time required for a second shot.
The bars are metallic :) and you'll see in the next update that he isn't quite blasting them... XD
Hi Rufi,
Two days ago I discovered Serpamia Flare and have been mashing through the backlog. Sadly I have arrived at the event horizon of the story and now I have to wait days for the next update :(
I have a Kylie-Cain shaped hole in my heart at the moment.
I love the story! I found it catching and the characters are very compelling! On the surface it's an archetypical quest story but it's so much more interesting than that. There are so many things going on around the little party that they have little or no knowledge about, yet they are at the epicenter of the schemes various groups are plotting. The main characters are flawed, both of them struggling to put their past behind them. Both are also struggling with a growing bond between each other, I only hope you let them realize their love way before the end of the story…
Speaking of the end, how many chapters are you planning? What’s the time frame for finishing the story?
The only grain of criticism I can come up with is probably part technique and part genre related; it’s the way your drawings deteriorate to crude, childlike figures when your characters are showing surprise, with eyes being empty circles. I don’t like that, in my humble opinion you should try to change that. The drawings are so sophisticated otherwise!
On a personal note, I see you live in Hong Kong. I have been to HK many times in the late eighties and found the city perhaps the most fascinating place I have been to, the meld between east and west was truly amazing. But that was before the British left, I have no idea how it is today.
I have just bought The Lethian on Amazon mostly to support you and thank you for 400+ pages of web comic. Now the book is about 500 pages and with your story telling it’s promising to be a good and long story!
Keep the good work up!
Cheers!
/Souls
About the special faces they make sometimes, I guess it's a matter of personal taste there. It's a style you'll see ever so often and some really enjoy the comedic element it brings. For me, it doesn't work everywhere, but it does work in Serpamia Flare.
Please feel free to let me know when I do mess up and use those 'special faces' in a dumb place where it doesn't work, ya hear? XD
Wow, I am blown away by your comprehensive remarks! ;3;* Thank you so, so much for taking the time to leave such a detailed comment to let me know how you've been finding SF so far. I sincerely appreciate it, more than words can say. <33
It's always such a pleasure to hear that someone is enjoying the story and liking the characters, truly. Thank you!! >3<* I do enjoy plotting, muhahaha. XD;; I am especially glad you enjoy the interactions between Cain and Kylie, since as main characters, I always hope they'll be compelling for readers. <3 <3 fufu.
Officially we're around half way through the story, but this is assuming I stick to the plans I wrote years ago - and I may not. XD; It'll take a few more years (at my current rate) to reach the end~
This is the first time I've heard someone call my drawings sophisticated O__O;;; th-thank you! :D Regarding those 'chibified' moments, I understand that it *can* be jarring depending on individual reader expectations. For what it's worth, I'm sorry that it's jarring, it sucks if it detracts from your experience :'D I will keep it in mind, though naturally 'chibification' happens less when the story takes more serious turns~
And gosh, you saw HK pre-Handover! <3 That's super cool! :D HK has in some ways not changed in that nature of East-West clashing, but it's certainly different after 1997. It's still a truly international city though. :)
By the way, thank you so, so much for showing your support by buying The Lethian and for letting me know. ;__;* I am super appreciative and bolstered by your kind words!! I really really hope you enjoy the novel <3
Thank you so much for reading SF!! <33 I hope you'll continue to find SF engaging even with the wait between updates. <33
It must be amazing to see your art on a cup like that.
We seem to live in an age where anyone can print pretty much anything on whatever they want XD;; but I really am glad you find 'em cool <33
Awesome super long page, my friend! Really top notch stuff.
It's awesome to see Ludwig spoken of in the same breath as Kylie! KAM truly did an awesome job!
I'm very glad you enjoyed today's update! It doesn't seem as long after King Titus and the Dancer, truth be told XD;;;;; I guess that's what happens when you do something crazy, you lose the sane measuring stick :'D
And dude I'm so honoured Kylie and Ludwig get to be in the same awesome thing together! <33 Though Ludwig may want to say otherwise, given his getup... XD
MY HEART! I need this ship to sail, Rufi! D:
O dear..........this isn't gonna be good! D: