Operation Fidelio. Bonus

Yeah, I’m starting to think I hate myself. Remember when I said that there would be 4 volumes of this? Well… Foiled again!!!!

I'm still having fun though. When I started with this whole vampire thing it was just going to be 1 picture and then I thought I'd make like five, just to give the notion of a narrative. And here I am. 

This is me, once again, getting caught off guard by October. I realized that if I want this thing to be public by Halloween I have to start posting them very soon. So I decided to take the time to work on the “Missing” pictures that I had been teasing for this to feel like a more complete story. And then again, I thought it'd be just like 4 or 5, but, count them!

This following week I'll be deciding if I have the time for it or if I have to edit these pictures to make it a Christmas special and release it in two months. (Which ain't a bad idea tbh)

Later I'll be also adding these to the original post so they can be seen in order but it was a lot of work for them to not have their own post.

With this one I'm adding the narratives that will probably be under them when I post them. Though these are not necessarily the final ones. So buckle up. This is a long one.

Picture 1 The whisperers go to a clothing store to get Ignacio and Veronica ready for the mission. Ignacio was accompanied by Donnie who had been told they needed fancy clothes for a business meeting. Donnie doesn't buy it as he notices that Nicole isn't buying clothes like them, and after insisting Ignacio comes up with a lie he’d believe.

-Well… it's uhhh… it's for a wedding…-

–Oh…, you're going to a wedding…?- Donnie replied, surprised and offended at Ignacio not taking him. 

-Well, it's uhh… a friend of Vero… yeah. She couldn't get a date…-

-Right, I see…- Said Donnie with relief but still a bit of confusion.

-Yeah, she asked me if I’d go with her. You know, as a friend- 

-I see, I see, well, that's nice of you hehe-

-Just, don't tell her I told you, she's a little ashamed…-

-I won't - Said a more relieved Donnie as he helped Ignacio putting his jacket on. With all of the present unaware that Vero had witnessed the whole conversation. And she didn't like it.

…

Finally here's the picture featuring the conflict between Iggy and Vero that I had teased so much since the beginning. Quite simple honestly. Even while working on this batch I wasn't sure if I was gonna make it but I realized that I probably won't get another chance to draw Donnie on time for this Halloween so what the hell, here it is.

Picture 2 

As Vero and Ignacio get ready for their mission Nicole tells them that she has prepared a basic kit of equipment including 

• A flask containing 710 ml of holy water.

• A flip silver knife

• A wooden crucifix 

• A jar of salt with a drop of blood from a virgin

• A radio

• An EMF detector 

• A musical box

• A spirit box

• A Shintoist side

• A dream catcher

• And small gas lamp 

…

This picture I felt necessary to visually establish why Ignacio “conveniently” had holy water with him. I had established it in the narration before but now it's also in the pictures. Later we find out that only a few of those will end up being useful against vampires, like the holy water and the crucifix which does mean that the kit is effective though. It's just that they'll need more. 

Besides that we have the musical box, spirit box and and the EMF detector are basic ghost hunting stuff in real life actually. They work to reveal the pretense of imperceivable beings. 

The shide is in case they find a spirit from the east. 

The dream catcher Im not completely sure what it's for but I often draw Nicole carrying one so it must be helpful for something. Maybe tulpas.

The salt is also for defense against spirits and the blood is to potentiate the spells. You may be asking, where did Nicole get that? She has a contact but that's a story for another day.

The radio is for communication of course.

The silver knife I'm not sure what it is for. Normally it would be for werewolves which implies their existence in this world but I'm still not sure if I want that. I still don't know how to do them in this world and especially now that we've seen that a vampire wolf is basically a werewolf anyway. But who knows…

And finally the gas lamp, which is more of an in-universe thing that I've never mentioned but sort of implied. And that is that ghosts become more perceptible under natural light and physical objects. 

That's why I always draw Nicole carrying a gas lamp and Ignacio using analogue devices like film and videocassette cameras instead of digital ones or his phone. It's not impossible to capture a ghost on a digital camera but it's easier on film. And that's what the gas lamp is for here.

Picture 3

After crossing the door Vero and Ignacio discover the nature of the event. Not a mass but a party, and a big one at that. And not only a party.

…

And the next picture would say something like “But a swingers party” and it would be the picture of Max dropping a key on the key bowl while checking both of them out from the first batch.

I felt I needed a good look at the party this whole thing happens at.

Picture 4 

There was still something weird about the situation. So Vero and Ignacio decided to split and investigate. Vero would try to gather information from the guests. Some of the first she interviewed were on the dancing floor. 

Leo, 25, a law student. Julia, 29, a data collector at a company and Orson, 32, a private investigator. Vero had a friendly chat with them and gathered that all of them had gotten there the same way as the girl who looked for the whisperers. An anonymous invitation on a card given to them at another party. 

She did hit it off with them. Julia recommended a couple of bands she may like and Orson and her had a good time chatting as, with him being a private investigator, they have pretty similar jobs. He even told her she could show her his gun later. It took Vero a second to realize that it probably was a double entendre and he was flirting. Not out of place at this party to be fair.

…

Part one of Vero doing some detective work while inadvertently having a good time by accident. 

I also take the opportunity to establish the newly named Orson in the story, and have him be a P.I. to explain him carrying a gun. I don't think it's necessary to explain it but it's better if I do.

Picture 5

Meanwhile Ignacio does his investigation behind the scenes. And begins at the kitchen looking to talk with the chef making up the excuse of him having some deadly allergies. The chef then told him that that won't be a problem. As he and the team had already been advised at the time of their hiring to be careful and have some alternatives as some of the organizers seem to have dangerous allergies as well. 

Ignacio uses that comment as a Segway to ask about the party organizers. The chef tells him that he hasn't known them yet either. As all the hiring and coordination was done via email and phone. He so far has only met some people from the staff. 

The chef apparently is suspicious of the organizers as well, but the pay is good enough for him to shut up about it.

…

Part 1 of Ignacio's detective work. 

I wonder if the allergy clue is too obvious though. It is clearly garlic. I may rewrite this part a bit later to make it less obvious.

Ok, I wasn't going to say anything and see if you noticed her but I wanna talk about it. Hey! It's Jen! Doing some catering work to pay the bills or something and she has a friend! Gloria the chef! They have been working together for almost 10 years and have something of a “straight woman/Silly woman” comedy dynamic going on. It was really fun to come up with that for me so I wanted to mention it.

Picture 6

Vero inevitably loosens up a bit at the bar after a couple of drinks while she asks people there about the party organizers and discovers that many people at the party wonder the same and there are some rumours already going around. “There must clearly be a drug dealer thing” Eric the deer says but no one at the bar agrees. 

It's too much, the cards, the neo-gothic mansion, the whole vibe. Drug dealers do their parties in big clubs with already laundered money. Not like this. 

-I heard some old freak rich guy is looking for a wife- said Max the rabbit. 

-“I heard this is an initiation for a cult or something.- Said Johnny the goat.

-That's exactly what I was thinking, but how to prove it?!- said Vero who instantly realized she might have said a bit too much.

-Yeah, I heard something will happen at 3:00 am. I think that's when they'll bring out the sex demon Mammon and start the full on orgy- continued John. 

-It would have to be Asmodeus statues then, I think- replied Vero immediately wondering if she had talked too much. “No…” She thought, “that’s pop culture” -but maybe-

-Also, I think at 3:00 am is the key thing- added Max while they pointed in the direction of the key bowl.

-Ah yeah- everyone went at the same time

-Kind of the same…- said John.

…

Part 2 of Veronica’s detective work as she investigates some more at the bar. See, she's having fun but she's still doing some work. Also another appearance of Max. Mudding the water a bit.

Picture 7

Meanwhile Ignacio walks around the long hallways of rooms in the mansion, often checking what's inside them, not often liking what he finds. Yet nothing he can call odd or of a supernatural origin.

…

More detective work from Ignacio. Looking around doing some of the more boring stuff of the work. There's part of a painting in the back. “Gustave Dore’s Les Saltimbanques”

Picture 8 

“Alvaro and Nova” he said when presenting themselves to Vero. An odd couple for sure. Or more like a couple of odd people. And not the only ones to suspect a supernatural twist to the event but the only ones so far who seem to actually know what they're talking about. “We had to see it ourselves, and it's not disappointing.” He said, claiming that they may not stay for the whole thing fearing danger. 

-My sister- Nova said. -She's a mortician, and she's seen stuff. And lately, she told me, she has been seeing more even stuff-

-Like what?- Vero asked

-An increase of bodies under the same conditions.-

-What conditions?- 

-Pieces…-

-Oh wow, graphic-

-Yeah- said Alvaro.

-Also dry- added Nova.

-More like, shocking… huh…So, if you think it's dangerous, why are you here?- asked Vero.

- Well, every party worth going to has a body count.- Said Alvaro.

-But if you’d like, we wouldn't mind continuing the party in a safer place- said Nova

-Yeah- nervously chuckled Vero and said -I’ll think about it- as she walked away.

….

Part 3 of Vero's detective work meeting new people and finding out stuff and now she has something of a solid clue. One that indicates that the vampires already have a body count. Which makes them seem more dangerous. 

Also there's Alvaro and Nova, my new characters who have something of a Gomez and Morticia thing going on and I think I love them. They're not as “in the know” as the Whisperers but they clearly have an interest in the occult and I wanna have them appear again eventually. 

Image 9 - 10

Not being able to find any clue Ignacio leans on a book shelf at the end of the long hallways he walked through, and as soon as he does a click can be heard and the shelf moves to reveal a secret passage. 

…

More of a comedic moment with Ignacio finally finding a clue, and not any clue, but as we know, the good one. I know it's kind of convenient for him to just lean on the right book to activate the door. But while it's not clear here, he’s been at this for hours. So I gave him a break. I think he would have found the secret door eventually anyway, not the first one he has seen.

This picture also includes a painting in the background. “Francisco de Zurbarán’s Agnus Dei” so far when including paintings I just “Anthrofy” them straight forwardly but with this one I couldn't resist to give it a more cartoony expression.

Picture 11

…

A compilation of Ignacio's detective work so far. I originally pictured all of his pictures as one composition, just like the one here. But I later decided it would work well with Vero's pictures.

Picture 12

Back at the dance floor Vero suddenly bumps into someone.

…

This picture happens at the same time as Ignacio finding the secret door and right before he finds the vampire lair. It's her bumping into Arsene.

Picture 13 -14

-GET OUT OF THERE NOW!- said Nicole through the Radio -Is Nicole with you? 

-Not right now- Said Ignacio as he kept looking around the chamber. 

-Get her and get out of there now! We're not prepared. We have to reorganize and come back later, bring the Doll…-

-Yeah!- Ignacio could hear the Doll saying in the distance on the radio-

-What do we need?-

-Well, basically most of what you've seen in movies works against them-

-Most? What doesn't?-

-I'm a bit iffy on crucifixes. It is too general of a concept. I mean, in theory any pair of…- Ignacio interrupts her.

-Theory?-

-All of this is theory! All of my books say vampires are extinct. With an asterisk to the side and then the foot not saying something like “as far as we know…” I'm a little nervous, ok…

-...-

-Iggy?-

-Sorry, it's just I… found their… “cooler”-

-Just get out of there-

…

Well, I guess things are so dense, they forgot about saying “over”

Two versions for the picture depicting the call between Nicole and Ignacio. One a bit more explicit than the other. I’m still not sure which one I like best. But now it is visually established that the vampires have a body count. Which will make it a bit more justified when the whisperers later attempt to "re-extinguish” them. In self defense of course. 

In part of this discussion I add through Nicole a little pet peeve of mine about vampire stories and that is that crucifixes are kind of too OP. I mean, the way some stories do it you just need two perpendicular lines. And if that’s the case, vampires couldn't even survive a tile floor. You just need to cross your fingers and no vampire would be even able to touch you. I think for crosses to work they should have more intention behind them. Like for them to be blessed by a priest previously like with the water or something.

Picture 15.

Orson, who was chasing after the girl he had been dancing for the last hour and who suddenly left, saw her turning into a hallway and violently throwing another woman into the wall as if it were nothing.

…

A part of the Elmira fight that I felt was missing, her fighting Vero before going after Iggy. 

Picture 16

After having treated Orson to the best of their lacking medical abilities Vero and Ignacio look for an empty bathroom. Ignacio stays out as Veronica washed the blood off her face, she noticed her dress got ripped apart a bit during the fight.

-Ah shit- she says -I won't be able to return it now- She then looks around and notices Ignacio is still out. -Get in here!- she called him

-But it's the girls bathroom- he replied from behind the door.

-DUDE!- Vero yelled and then she saw him go in, subtly checking the place around as if making comparisons in his head to the other bathroom.

-Ok- said Ignacio -...here's what we have that can still be useful. Holy water, which apparently rules, but there's less than half left. The knife…-.

-Na-ah, silver is not for vampires- said Veronica 

-Sure?-

-Yep… can't we make stakes out of something?

-I wish. All the furniture is made of steel or compressed cardboard. I haven't seen any wood the whole night-

-Wish I could say the same-

-What?-

-Nothing. What else do we have?-

-Well, we got this cross but Nicole isn't sure about it and now… a gun!. We could soak the bullets in the water.-

-You think that’d work?-

-Eh… I don't know-

-Don’t bullets stop working if they get wet?

-I think that's just in movies-

-Are you willing to risk it?-

-If it works, maybe. What I don't know is if the bullet would absorb the… holy… properties of the water.-

-Why don't you ask Nicole?-

-Can’t. The radio is busted. The vampire broke it.-

-Shit!-

-I did talk to her before. She wants us to get out and regroup.-

-Oh, there's no time-

-What? 

-Yeah-, it's like… 2:30 or something already, the key thing is in like 30 minutes-

-so?-

-Can't you see, clearly, in like 30 minutes the vampires are gonna get into rooms with a bunch of random people and they're gonna suck their blood and then they're gonna suck… no, it was the other way arou…-

-So what do we do?- Ignacio interrupted her.

-We need to get as many people we can out of here-

-Do you have a plan-

-ehhh… I think I do, but I hate it-

…

Cut to Vero shooting a gun in the middle of the crowd. Which to be fair worked, but only because I'm the writer and I wanted it to work. Lmao. Throw back to Nicole listing the equipment at the beginning of this.

Anyway, As I think I said before. This has been pretty fun so far. It had been a while since I went crazy on a long art project that 30 people would like. It reminds me of my inktober days. Lmao.