Page Commentary No. 325

Gunwild: I don't know that he's the toughest emotionally, how does one even measure something like that? But Farring has probably said goodbye to the most shipmates in his career and knows how to do it proper and straightforward. He already knows what's what and that she's definitely outta there, because you probably shouldn't touch a superior officer's shoulder like that. But it's a nice thing to do.

Psu: Farring was with Maddy with Captain what's his name, right? And before that, Farring has something of a checkered past.

Gunwild: Yep, he even explained being a mercenary way back there (fortunately we get to bring back the other character involved in that storyline). Which sounds kinda interesting. Also the "blinking means double secret" joke is really silly but Psu indulged me and drew it anyway. Even though blinking takes up a lot of real estate on the page! It takes three panels to blink in a comic, and so on.

Psu: We must have talked about how much you need to show blinking in a comic in one of these commentaries before... But yeah, if there was ever any time to use it, it was the Double Secret joke. Which I think is one of the best jokes this entire comic. I don't always approve of interrupting a sincere moment with a joke but we sorta have a lot of time in between pages and hey, I think this is a very Theira thing to do.

Gunwild: Yeah, she is being goofy and maybe it undercuts the weight in a way. I'll own up to that. But much like anything else in a story you tell with drawings, I feel like I want everybody on the panel to have a distinct, believable reaction to things. It's likely that Theira reacting by suddenly plummeting into despair (after she's had a pretty awesome evening) simply didn't sound likely to me.

Psu: Yeah, when we look at this page and the amount of time we want to dedicate to each of them reacting... well we figured Theira and Farring have two very different reactions that compliment the moment. I think it still ends up feeling suitably heavy without belaboring the point. And I think what I didn't want was to have them try to bargain or talk their way out of the captain's decision. I think that might make it less dignified.

Gunwild: It's nice of them to let her leave it at "personal reasons" for now. Also, lucky thing she lives in a society where you're allowed to do this in wartime! Well, at least if you're a high rank and have the attendant social perks.

Psu: Well the war is sorta a Coldish war right? With some occasional "gentlemanly" dust ups?

Gunwild: You're right on that score, but the Regency seems to allow officers to kill each other in duels in wartime, too. You never know what crazy old human custom they're going to follow or not follow in this nutty navy!

Psu: The Regency doesn't really seem like a very good organization, now that I think about it...

Gunwild: Someone should make a comic exposing them!

Psu: :O