Jack & Jill - Phase 8, Part 5
Added 2022-07-01 08:00:27 +0000 UTCJill comes to an agreement with Mr. Davis and has her first meeting with "Ryan," a fellow prisoner of Second Dawn.
I'm so intrigued to hear what you all think of Ryan now that we're learning a bit more information about him. He has "held out" against Mr. Xu despite many radical changes to his body. Does that make him brave? Tenacious? Foolish? All of the above?
I can't wait for your thoughts! 😊
P.S. For those wondering, we'll get a bit of a flashback to Ryan's story, so we'll see his "alterations," as Mr. Davis puts it.
Comments
What a crazy twist and turn this story has gone.
Jessica Thence
2023-06-10 16:12:56 +0000 UTCAgreed, it would’ve been fun. But Mr. Xu has his standards and (strangely) his honor. Brandon didn’t fail him or betray him. 😊
Emory Ahlberg
2022-07-11 17:14:00 +0000 UTCThank you, Stacy! Jill has become much more caring and empathetic than Jack ever was. She literally sacrificed some of the last remnants of her masculinity for Nikki just because she didn’t want to see her suffer more. Jill definitely wants to help Ryan—but if Ryan doesn’t want the help, would it be moral to help Second Dawn convert him? 🤔
Emory Ahlberg
2022-07-11 17:12:31 +0000 UTCThat’s Ryan in a nutshell. 😊
Emory Ahlberg
2022-07-11 17:09:41 +0000 UTCBrandon becoming Brandi would've been nice.
Beverly
2022-07-11 15:26:54 +0000 UTCSuch a hard situation for our girl.....do I help this poor guy become more femme and therefore become a part of the whole operation, or do I look like I'm doing my best to help while also plotting how to bring everything down around me......tough choices ahead indeed. x
stacy C
2022-07-09 10:58:44 +0000 UTCYes, I fear for Jill, but also, Ryan seems like a very promising character. I love the fighting ones that don’t want to get comfortably feminine!
Ella Cherry
2022-07-06 12:40:09 +0000 UTCThank you, thank you, Alyson! Yeah, Ryan seems to have confounded Xu and Second Dawn at pretty much every turn. They're definitely not used to someone who is so resistant to their methods. And Jill is in a tough spot, caught between wanting to help and not wanting to get too close to someone who is clearly unstable and dangerous. But she's also caring and empathetic, so she can't just walk away from him. Talk about a trial by fire! Ryan is a sort of mirror for Jill, in a way. They both have had to adapt in order to survive in their respective environments. But Jill's method of adaptation (helped by the kindness of Mason and gentle, loving hand of Holly) has been much more positive than Ryan's, who has only been able to adapt by taking a darker, more violent path. Jill will hope to show Ryan that there are other ways out of the darkness, but will he be able to see it in time? And even if he does, will Ryan want to let go of his anger and pain? 😂 I don't know if Jill realizes what her leggings are revealing. I doubt Ryan will miss it, though!
Emory Ahlberg
2022-07-06 07:51:52 +0000 UTCThank you, Cry! Jill is definitely getting more strategic as she goes along and learns more about the world she's now a part of and how she might be able to use it to her advantage. As for the renders, I'm glad you're enjoying them! I'm definitely trying to improve with each one, making Jill and the others look more and more like real people. Hopefully I don't end up crossing into the uncanny valley!
Emory Ahlberg
2022-07-06 07:16:49 +0000 UTCThank you, Robert! I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far. Yes, there is a lot of tension in that room, and Jill is definitely taking a risk by sitting down. But I think it's important for her to show Ryan that she's not afraid of him (even if she is, a little bit). And you're right, Davis's revelations have definitely affected Jill. She's trying to stay strong, but it's clear that what she has learned about Holly has shaken her. As for Ryan, he's in a very dark place right now. He's clearly been through a lot, and for whatever reason he is either unwilling or unable to adapt like Jill has. Perhaps in time and with Jill's help he'll be able to see that there is another way (that's if Jill choses to stay on and take the job), but for now he's very lost and very dangerous.
Emory Ahlberg
2022-07-06 07:12:34 +0000 UTCYes, exactly, we'll be getting into Ryan's backstory in the next episode. I think it's important to show how he got to the point where he is now, and how that compares to Jill's own journey. Also, yes, Davis's words have definitely affected Jill. She's trying to stay focused on the task at hand, but it's clear that she's still hurting from what he said. As for the lovebirds Holly and Janelle, they're doing... something fun. 😊 Don't worry, we won't leave them for too long. Hehe. We'll also get a chance to check in on Josie as well as Emily and Mason. So many people to keep track of in this phase, but hopefully it'll all be worth it in the end!
Emory Ahlberg
2022-07-06 06:36:11 +0000 UTCThank you, Storm! 😊
Emory Ahlberg
2022-07-06 06:32:58 +0000 UTCThanks, Pel! Jill is -- to me -- a lovely combination of brains and beauty. Back when she was Jack, he'd convinced himself that all he was good for was his looks. Now that she's Jill, she's slowly realizing that she has so much more to offer the world than just her looks. She can still win, but "playing their game" is also dangerous; it's a very delicate balance that she's trying to maintain between helping Ryan but not becoming a part of the very thing that she's trying to fight against.
Emory Ahlberg
2022-07-06 06:32:47 +0000 UTCThank you, Ella! I'm definitely hoping that Jill's plan works out too! She's in a very tricky and dangerous situation. Ryan is more than a little dangerous at this point because he's so unstable, so I really hope that Jill can talk him down and convince him that there are better ways than violence to cope with their shared situation.
Emory Ahlberg
2022-07-06 06:27:22 +0000 UTCYou're welcome, Maggie -- and thank YOU! 💖 I'm so happy you're enjoying these chapters.
Emory Ahlberg
2022-07-06 06:25:54 +0000 UTCYes! I'm definitely planning to show Ryan's backstory in future episodes. I think it will be really interesting to explore how he dealt with being changed against his will, especially in comparison to Jill, who has certainly adapted better than Ryan has so far. 😊
Emory Ahlberg
2022-07-06 06:25:02 +0000 UTCIt's taken me a whole day to stop screaming about this update, that's how good it is. First off, I *love* how backed into a corner Xu's whole operation is by this one stubborn guy. Two handlers incapacitated; Xu won't let Holly any where near her; and if they kill her it's 500 mil down the drain. She's beaten them! But she's also miserable. And I love this because it lends so much weight to the argument that Jack was wrong (as was Nikki) and Jill was *right*: giving in, playing by their rules, making a life for yourself inside the walled garden you've been bricked up in... It *sucks*, but the alternative is far, far worse: years of misery, the occasional satisfaction of slicing off someone's dick, and then you die. "And kicking you in the face." Yeah. Jill remembers that often, I bet. I think sometimes she just looks at him, and thinks about it, and he knows she's thinking about it... and he's a little proud of her. Love that Davis got overruled on making another new girl. Mr Xu, true to his word, rewards loyalty with generosity! I bet if the guy had asked for it he would have got it, but he didn't. Every time Ryan opens his mouth, I love him more. I love his pointless stubbornness! It's so exciting to have someone like him in the mix, fighting back more than Jack ever did, more than Nicholas... more than Holden. I can't see Ryan giving himself up, walking back to his captors. "There's nothing Holly can do that I can't..." Except make genuine human connections with people, dude. I love all these references to other Second Dawn stories! Yes, Holly really *does* work with some of the ones she helped capture, like Tania. The way Ryan's face switches from sorrow to grim satisfaction between pages 5 and 6 is *so* good! Every face he pulls is incredible. I can't say enough good things about Jill and Ryan's interaction. She's kind but wary! He's... a fucking psychopath! (but with good reason!) Ryan advancing on her is incredible. And then it's Jill Storytime! And, uh, Jill, I assume you're sitting like that so he can see your lil' Jill, right? You are aware, yes? This is why I didn't wear leggings until after GRS lmao. Holy CRAP, what an update. I didn't even talk about the renders! They're amazing! And the plotting and the dialogue and Jill trying *so fucking hard* to be a light in the darkness for someone determined to keep aggressively snuffing them out! I'm on the edge of my seat for the next one...
Alyson Greaves
2022-07-02 18:24:31 +0000 UTCGreat job on the story as always, Em. I always love seeing Jill get increasingly strategic about what she does and says. The renders are getting better every single month too! Keep up the great work and I'm looking forward to what else is in store for Jill and the rest of the "girls."
Cryofly
2022-07-01 21:47:39 +0000 UTCYou can FEEL the tension in that room. Jill has taken a risk by sitting. Neat piece of basic animal psychology though, even if it puts her at a physically defensive disadvantage. “I am not your friend” Davis’ revelations about Holly have gone deep with Jill. They’ve hurt her, and she now knows at last that she’s totally alone and has to rely on her own inner resources and nothing else. Perhaps it’s given her additional resilience and a new resolve too. We’ll see. As for Ryan, poor kid. Poor, poor kid.
Robertlouis
2022-07-01 17:39:12 +0000 UTCyeahhh
Stormfries
2022-07-01 15:37:09 +0000 UTCWell, this seems to be more of an in-between episode, before Ryan tells us his backstory. It's interesting how Jill takes the advice (from last episode) from Davis to start the interview, making it clear to Ryan that she will never lie to him, that she will be brutally honest with him even if it hurts, and that no matter what, she is NOT his friend. It's very clear that Davis' words about Holly have really hurt Jill. By the way, what are the 2 lovebirds doing? and Emily? Wow, this Phase looks like it's going to be a long one.... better!😉
ckarya
2022-07-01 15:26:48 +0000 UTCI'm so glad to see Jill taking control of the situation, showing that she's got the brains and not just the beauty. She's in a tough spot but I think she'll win them by playing their game.
Pelicanboss
2022-07-01 15:17:56 +0000 UTCFantastic episode! (will doubtless be back to babble later)
Alyson Greaves
2022-07-01 12:03:12 +0000 UTCWhat a tricky situation! I just hope Jill’s plan works out and she stays safe and unhurt!
Ella Cherry
2022-07-01 11:59:08 +0000 UTCWOW... ❤️🔥 "[...] the cover of Maxim [...]" " [...] my name is Jill [...] " WOW 💗 THANK YOU ❣️
MaggieHeels
2022-07-01 11:46:18 +0000 UTCLooking forward to see those "alterations"..
Ohe Fan
2022-07-01 10:46:49 +0000 UTC
