Chapter 6 - Ties That Bind (pages 4-6, Roughs, No-Text & Text-in-attachments)
Added 2021-12-17 00:08:02 +0000 UTCI briefly mentioned on Twitter last weekend, that I'd lost a week to a big nasty stress attack, and that it had knocked me back a whole week. I feel a bunch better now, but yeesh, I could not get away from my fears or worries. My IRL, the internet, this kink, my script; gosh, my scripts. I think most of you have read my 90% Script post for this WIP chapter (contains spoilers) and gave me such lovely positive feedback on it; we collectively decided it was GOOD and worked... But STILL; I just fell into a well of worry about it. What if I was being TOO mean to Nick? What if I'm not making his desires clear enough, what if it's BAD that Judy's out of it for the convo? What if Owen comes off as awful or manipulative or something? What if- What if- What... Blarf.
I spend WAY too much time overthinking things. I know I can't plan for every possibility or misunderstanding a reader might make, but still, my hamster of a brain will fixate. I WANT to do a good job. I WANT my trio to have a fun, safe, and healthy life, albeit with deep kink and power dynamics, and it kills me when I feel like I've missed that target.
I rewrote the script like 5-6 times last week. Only to re-read my 90% done one (after my 'episode') and go 'oh... it's actually pretty good.' I ultimately added and changed a few bits, but most of it's staying the same. Hopefully, I won't feel the need to re-write it again. I don't think it'll ever be perfect, but I think it'll do what I wanted; get the story moving along, get my Nick deeper into the paint, and give Owen allowances to act harder. Also, ya know, that choice sexy-ending ;D
I need to remember that I make this comic for FUN, as a hobby, for me and amazing like-minded people (that's You!)
I'm a bit scared to share the current, let's-say-99%-done, script; as I don't want to go back down that rabbit hole just yet. But I might send it all you're way a little later on. Once I've made some progress on THESE pages, and my brain feels cleaner.
Yeah, fuck; let's talk about THESE Pages.
LOT'S of expressions, LOT'S of shoulder-up faces. Maybe, too many?! I tried to break it up a bit with a pan out here, a zoom-in there, and tried to save the faces for the moments where I need to really 'express' something, but that was like EVERY panel ;D
I think the panel I'm most excited about is the 'past Judy giving consent' panel. It's a 100% inspired by this picture and I'm just EXCITED to draw it; I really should try to find time to draw more Nick & Judy one-on-one. But heck also excited to draw that final Owen face... in fact, all of page 6 is pretty hype to me.
Next week I'm taking the week off from the IRL job! Gonna finally play Inscryption, cook and feed my family, and breathe deep on a long walk or two. Don't tell on me, but I'm also hoping to do some penciling too ;D Even if it'll be a slow progress month.
I hope you're all staying warm - thank you as ever for being here, supporting what I do, and this crazy story. Love you fam.
Hope you like these roughs! Text versions are in the attachments!
---
Patreon sometimes shrinks images, so check the attachments for the higher-res images!
Links!
Ties That Bind Chapter:
Page 3
90% Script for this chapter! (spoilers!)
---
---
Chapter 2 - No Bun's In This Oven
Chapter 3 - No Nicks In This Bun
Chapter 4 - I'll Have a Double
---
Comments
Sorry It's a long winded way of saying "you're stressing this too much. You need to just let go and let it become on its own. It's not an act of will and treating it like that is what is stressing you out" :)
Bucked!
2021-12-28 05:10:26 +0000 UTCWanna know a little secret.... I don't have a single script written out. Like seriously, I write the dialogue AS I DRAW THE PAGE! I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THE LAYOUT WILL BE UNTIL I START! I've been drawing comics for years and years like that, I literally learned how to draw that way. This isn't the same as "there is no story." I lay back, my eyes wide open but seeing nothing other than what's in my mind and I just.... daydream it. And this is one of the most important things. You don't really truly know your characters until they are on the page, until you allow them to be. So as you go the script, dialogue and all of it is going to shift and warp and transform as you go. As the characters live, they breath outward into your imagination and with each passing page the daydreams of the following pages are different. Sometimes, like my comic "Beach Daze" you don't even know how it will end and you're just waiting for the day the characters tell you how it ends. I literally do not know how the story ends, that might seem frightening but it isn't. Most stories I know the ending but that one I don't. It's the hardest thing to do but letting go I think will help you so much with this stress. I was so delighted when Nick teased his bull for "breaking her" because it was a revealing, and defining moment. You let your characters, your version of NIck D Wylde exist and they told you who they are. Nick still has charm and bite, having a taste for being a cuck doesn't change that. There's this moment of truly revealing concern and care from the man who is their dom. He plays rough and yet he's truly a sweetheart. That's not all he is but he's further defined helping you to know what he will say in the next page. See, this is the beauty of it. You're sitting there panicking about what he should say or do next but he's already giving you hints, he's already telling you what he would do next. That's where you should be looking to for writing this. You're caught up in supposed to be this and that. You've already got the characters. Now ask who are they. When you write words and they feel like nicks, they FEEL right, not fit into a logic puzzle outside of his existence then you know that you've got it right.
Bucked!
2021-12-28 04:38:32 +0000 UTCYeah! Exactly! Those who are often the most snarky and sassy have the biggest insecurities; and insecurities are rife for fetishization =D
Amadose
2021-12-21 18:57:36 +0000 UTCThe feeling I have of Nick in your comic is that he wants Bull to be more dominant, to exploit the situation and provide Nick with a strong dose of humility. After all, Nick is known to get away with all sorts of hustles and he knows it! Maybe he wants to be dropped down a peg or four? :3
Kyden
2021-12-21 06:36:37 +0000 UTCThank you so much Retro! That trust and kindness means everything to me. I'll try to do it justice ;D
Amadose
2021-12-18 21:11:34 +0000 UTCAmadose, the scripts have been good - sure, the original drafts can use improvement, but from what I've seen they end up pretty close in tone and intention to the final drafts. I don't need every panel to be perfect, just tell a coherent story through this medium - one that you want to tell. Not anyone else. I'm already in and will support this project for as long as I can.
Retromancer
2021-12-18 08:16:08 +0000 UTC=D haha That is a delight <3 Thank you! Have a good holiday season Jouni!
Amadose
2021-12-17 18:28:56 +0000 UTCThank you so much Fen! Yeah - originally in the script I had them sitting across from each other. I liked putting them side by side though; them touching while they have the conversation feels a lot better. And thank you! I'm just gonna try to make the best comic I can, and understand I'm no Mike Mignolla. Happy holidays buddy!
Amadose
2021-12-17 18:28:16 +0000 UTCThank you Xelias! I really want to get that respect and mutual affection DOWN. Really make it clear everyone's consenting to this intensity! We'll see how it goes as I make progress. But means a lot to have you on my side <3
Amadose
2021-12-17 18:26:03 +0000 UTCDoing much better at the moment! Thanks, Gambit!
Amadose
2021-12-17 18:24:26 +0000 UTCHappy to hear you are feeling better. This is supposed to be fun. Take your time and enjoy your time with family and friends. As I relate strongly with Nick…. I’ll be a good boy and wait….
Jouni Mustonen
2021-12-17 16:46:44 +0000 UTCHa! The beginning of this chapter is quiet the emotional rollercoaster for our big strong alpha! I Love it! And I really like them being physically close for this, makes it feel comfortable and intimate. Now, for the other matter... Is your comic perfect in my eyes? No, of course not and it never could be! Do absolutely I love it anyway and want to experience all of it together with you and all the other patrons? Heck yeah, I do! ;D I hope you’re doing better soon, get that family time an R’n’R! Like you said it’s supposed to be a fun hobby, it’s not worth forcing yourself and then burning yourself out! So please take it easy, we can wait a bit longer. Wish you a merry [insert preferred holiday here]!
Fen
2021-12-17 14:37:29 +0000 UTCDo not worry about the way you portray their relationship. As a bull for a married couple, this is the good shit, every page so far felt fun and natural.
Xelias
2021-12-17 08:58:19 +0000 UTCWish you get well soon
Gambit
2021-12-17 07:28:09 +0000 UTCHa right? Thinking WAY too much. Thank you, Angel! I think I'm doing better? Definitely not spiraling anymore, and gonna try to practice better day-to-day mental health. I want this to be fun for me and you guys =) And heck YOU'RE awesome.
Amadose
2021-12-17 06:14:37 +0000 UTCGosh, that means the world to me, to hear. Thank you DP. I'll try to keep it up haha. But also won't keep holding myself to an impossible standard. Hope you enjoyed a break away from the internet!
Amadose
2021-12-17 06:12:41 +0000 UTCI've heard cuckolding getting referred to as the thinking person's fetish, but I didn't know that also applied to the awesome artist who's drawing it. 😉 I'm happy to hear that you managed to work through the stress and possibiy anxiety you felt. They're really not fun feelings to experience. Even less so over something that's meant to be fun. ❤
AngelOD
2021-12-17 04:57:16 +0000 UTCI was AFK for 10 days so I missed your Twitter post, I'm glad you are feeling better, please know that I support you because your writing is extraordinarily good and mindful, and caring, and shows lots of heart, please trust in yourself you are doing a spectacular job. Can't wait to see these pages!
Diego P
2021-12-17 04:32:55 +0000 UTCThank you, buddy. It's all a process. really appreciate you and everyone else here leaving my such positive vibes =)
Amadose
2021-12-17 01:54:59 +0000 UTClololol. OK so, I accidentally deleted an R. So sue me ;D
Amadose
2021-12-17 01:53:19 +0000 UTCI love me a good cool glass of BEE
Kadath
2021-12-17 01:25:17 +0000 UTCGlad you're taking "I make this comic for FUN, as a hobby" to heart specifically. That's what it's all about in the end. I appreciate all the thought you put into where the characters are and where they're going but not at the cost of your sanity in the end. Take that time as needed and rest up. Whatever you decide on, I'm looking forward to it.
Rickochet
2021-12-17 01:13:53 +0000 UTCWill do, and thank you Andry <3 <3 <3
Amadose
2021-12-17 00:34:05 +0000 UTCOwO! Big things are coming! Just like Owen came ~ Take care, Amadose. We love you 🧡
Andry SilverFang
2021-12-17 00:33:24 +0000 UTCThanks TC! I hope you also have some good solid downtime and RnR. I never take you guys for granted, nor hold you to a commitment here. =) It's all for fun.
Amadose
2021-12-17 00:33:09 +0000 UTCSoo glade you doing better. Yeah the struggle of striving for perfection but over working parts is real. The balance feels like it changes all the time. (I'm feeling it hard right now on my projects) I can't wait to see these but I will you should be having as much fun as those you put on the page. Have a fun Christmas, Hanukkah, winter solstice what ever it is you celibate around now. As I have said before, I'm here for the long hall take you time.
Tigerchris
2021-12-17 00:24:42 +0000 UTCThank you Ocaron! Worries - right? Gotta figure out a way to deal with that side of my brain =)
Amadose
2021-12-17 00:18:37 +0000 UTCso glad your feeling better
ocaron
2021-12-17 00:15:02 +0000 UTC
