Haunted 1-6
I’ve noticed in some webcomics that characters’ names appear more frequently in the accompanying text than in the main work, and as a result find myself forgetting everyone’s name. So that’s why Xiyuan’s parents called him by his full name twice, we’ve seen it again on his mailbox, and now here he is introducing himself in-universe.
If I ever fail to tell you a character’s name within a page of their introduction, please yell at me. It’s the same rule for referencing figures.
***** PRODUCTIVITY UPDATE *****
I’m not quite done with work writing, and the next CT chapter is an absolute bastard. You’ll see. That said, I’m going to start popping back in once a week or so to catch up on my favorite SimLits and post some drawings!
***** BREAKING SHITPOST NEWS *****
I was messing around in the String Table Lookup and found this thing that Bernard actually says in the actual game. It’s canon. And who if not Xiyuan would pick up on a dangling modifier in casual conversation? So now you have this exchange to look forward to, which occurs so far in the future that we’ll all have forgotten about it by then:
– B: My dream was to be one of the greats, living forever on the tongues of men.
– X: Should I interpret that as meaning you wanted your name to live forever on the tongues of men?
– B: I said what I said.
Haha those faces – both the Fengs, and Xiyuan’s increasingly perplexed expression are just fantastic. In fairness, having neighbours who don’t want to interact can be a blessing, Xiyuan can just be introspective and keep to himself, woo. Let’s ignore how suspicious they are 😀 I especially love the second to last panel, those glares are priceless. Also, you simply nailed Lily’s dress!
Look at that, you’ve captured Bernard so accurately before you even knew! Somehow that does not surprise me, you just get his essence, clearly. Almost makes me feel guilty for how little attention I’ve paid to him in my games, haha.
The Last Time the Fengs Ever Minded Their Own Business, c. 1999, plunge-neck qipao & whatever Victor’s shoes are on sketchy peeps with money that needs laundering
Xiyuan’s definitely going to enjoy his almost a full day of the Fengs not rifling through his silverware drawer and questioning whether he needs so many forks.
It’s not too late to get on the ‘Nard train! But really, like, what if that modifier was intentionally dangled to sneak an explicit statement past the censors? It’s seriously brilliant. Saying improper things that fly over almost everyone’s heads is what Bernard is all about, and that’s way better than anything I’ve come up with.
Of course he wants to live on the tongues, not his name! Names don’t live!
The Fengs! Iconic.
He doesn’t want to live on his name? Jk, jk. Yeah, he uh, missed the mark so spectacularly I’m still in awe and wondering whether it was intentional.
Love it! I’m really digging how everything you’ve set up thus far adds to the sense of isolation ‘Yuan is feeling. And your expressions are superb, as always.
It’s a fairly common mistake to have a modifier refer to something similar/related — but not equivalent — to the info provided in the initial clause, e.g., Bernard himself, Bernard’s name. (From what I’ve seen, at least — and I’ve seen it in published work!) But in the case of “living forever,” I really hope ‘Nard’s writer was just that brilliant.
The queen of the em dash herself has arrived! ALL HAIL!!
OH WHAT THE…. His parents for real woohoo-shame neighbors by having WILD (er noticeably LOUD) woohoo?! OMG. BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
DUDE WHAT DID YOUR PARENTS DO TO YOU
OH. NOT.HIS.PARENTS.
Neighbors.
Okay I’ll have to come back to this I’m getting parental ptsd.
That exchange between Yuan and Shallot seems a little uh… x-rated. Maybe it’s b/c I read what I wanna read.
I love how the Feng’s slink away slowly. I mean it looks strictly comical, but then the whole shadow element kinda throws me. Like are they gradually and then fully consumed by darkness? I’m just wondering if I’m reading too hard into that.
It is definitely meant to be read as X-rated. Whoever wrote that line is a genius. “I want future generations to know my name”? NOPE. “I want a bunch of guys to lick me like, all the time.” This is why grammar is important, kids, so you can tell when a ghost is hitting on you.
The shadows are symboli—nah, they aren’t, I was just new to drawing and CBA to do backgrounds there. Also the Fengs are definitely both giant hams who love standing so that their faces are obscured in shadow.
Bahahahahaha! Shallot wants to share his onion juice with mankind lol. It’s so touching it brings a tear to my eye.