Half Sisters - Episode 64
Added 2025-02-10 07:44:44 +0000 UTCNikki and Zach's "date" turns into a surprisingly fun night at the bowling alley, complete with terrible dancing and competitive shenanigans...
Comments
Thank you, Sara! 💕 Nikki and Zach definitely have an interesting and unique relationship. I love the tension combined with the friendship that is building. I think Nikki would be really appreciative of Zach becoming a girl too! lol
Emory Ahlberg
2025-03-06 06:09:52 +0000 UTCJust caught up with this, yummyyyyyy!! Where to begin?! I’m sure you’re already deep in the next chapter so I’ll spare you my deep psychosexual projections ehehe… but I I have a vision of these two really getting down and dirty with each other. Something creative and innovative in the sexual dynamic that leads to new discoveries for both. I don’t know exactly how but the setup here is very unique, I love it. Then maybe after a sexual eye opening binge, Zack becomes a girl too of his own free will and then he joins Sandy and Nikki in college. Then they become cock crazed coed tgirls and have the whole football team. Hahaha it’s so fun to fantasise in this little universe ❤️✨❤️
Sara Dune Tone
2025-03-02 19:38:50 +0000 UTCSometimes it’s easy to forget Nikki was at Clinic 12 for at least 2 years - and under Davis’ “care.” That means what she experienced was more like Ryan’s time in the island, not Jill’s — and Jill is traumatized too, of course. It’s a bit of a miracle that she’s functional at all!
Emory Ahlberg
2025-02-20 07:03:34 +0000 UTC@Emory, thanks for the reply. I am excited to learn there will be more exploration of Nikki's time on the island, as that makes for a richer, grittier, multi-dimensional, full bodied and engaging story. But oh, hearing you bring up Nikki's un-dealt with trauma makes me so very sad.
Diana O'Neil
2025-02-20 06:54:46 +0000 UTCThank you, Erica! I'm having a lot of fun with these scenes, too. Poor Nikki deserves some smiles!
Emory Ahlberg
2025-02-20 05:25:16 +0000 UTCMaybe it'll be a sexy hospital. 😉
Emory Ahlberg
2025-02-20 05:24:35 +0000 UTCThanks so much, Ellen! I have to admit, I could write so many episodes just on Nikki and Zach navigating this date. It's fun and challenging all at once. That's a great observation about Nikki's dorkiness coming out when she's around people who don't objectify her. I'm also glad you're picking up on the nuances of the Zach situation. I agree - it'd be too easy (and cliché) to have them fall in love and call it a day. They're both victims of Hutchinson, and they've both been heavily traumatized in their own way. And as for Mary and Sandy's talk... I can't wait. 😉
Emory Ahlberg
2025-02-20 05:23:27 +0000 UTCThank you, Diana! I love your take on Nikki's questioning of her identity. It's definitely a multi-layered thing, and I think you've nailed the core of it. There's the immediate trauma of what's been done to her, but then there's this deeper, more unsettling question of whether she was ever really in control of her own narrative to begin with. That point about parents projecting their own desires and expectations onto their children is spot on. And sad. What parts of ourselves are truly authentic, and what parts are just echoes of what we think we *should* be? And, you know, how much of that can be weaponized? And, yes! You're right, we haven't seen the full extent of what happened to Nikki on the island. That's something I'm planning to explore more in future episodes. Those kinds of experiences leave scars, both visible and invisible, and Nikki hasn't AT ALL dealt with that trauma. It's just hiding inside her, waiting...
Emory Ahlberg
2025-02-20 05:19:31 +0000 UTCThanks, Gemma! It's interesting that you picked up on Nikki's obliviousness to her own attractiveness. That’s definitely part of it. She’s still so used to seeing herself as a guy, and she is so self-conscious about the changes, that she hasn’t quite grasped the effect she has on other people. I'm glad you noticed the facial expressions! I always try to really capture the emotions that they're going through. 🥰
Emory Ahlberg
2025-02-20 05:16:06 +0000 UTCVery nice date for Nikki and Zack. From the way the whole date has evolved from mandate w/ threat, to Nikki's dread, to her makeover and small bit of defiance with the casual outfit, to Nikki and Zack having competitive fun, it's clear that Nikki needed this date, a chance to dip her toes into femininity (with Sandy's help) without jumping completely in, and she needed to learn that she can enjoy an outing (date-lite) without fear paralyzing her. The 'date' was a huge step in her mental adjustment. The little bit where Zack called her Nick, only for Nikki to seamlessly and instantly tell him it's Nikki - with an excuse that 'on this date...." - perhaps that last bit was her attempting to justify correcting Zack to cover up (or to deny to herself) that she's slowly becoming Nikki and is losing Nick. Cute little scene with lots of underlying hidden meaning. It wasn't clear if the 'observer' was about to go Hulk mode on Zack because of the twerking - what a troglodyte-brained male could interpret as an obvious sign of homosexuality, or if he was Hutchison's spy. Turned out to be the latter, but the former possibility could have developed into an interesting scene - possibly even where Nikki comes to Zack's defense (just like Nick did years ago) with some odd excuse that he's just mocking her because he thinks she can't twerk correctly! (Future scene? Please?) And the final scene on the motorcycle - the expression on Zack's face is priceless and a big tell - he's been driven by his father to be more macho, more in control - and some of that has rubbed off, since he's clearly uneasy NOT being in control. Such a mental dilemma for him. Seems there's a pattern developing about swapping who's in control and what traits (like mental strength) they are displaying. I could easily see a deep friendship forming here. Now for possibilities: 1) imagine if Nikki, while driving, succumbed to the 'motorcycle effect', resulting in not only embarrassment but also a wreck. Oh, the possibilities. 2) Nikki and Zack willingly go on more dates - at least that's what it looks like to Hutchison. Eventually, they will have to do something to keep up the appearance of developing romance - and that will be awkward. 3) seeing more 'dates' and possible romantic gestures (to satisfy Hutchison), Armando gets insanely jealous, which could lead to many outcomes - including Hutchison becoming aware of Armando and shipping him off to fix, 4) Nikki finds out about Zack's romance with Armando, and is terrified to realize that she's jealous of Zack's relationship.
Elrod W
2025-02-12 16:59:45 +0000 UTCWow! awesome views for all!! cant wait till next month!!
animalmusic
2025-02-12 01:03:14 +0000 UTCEmory, I love how you have allowed Nikki to retain her competitive spirit and confidence. But is id taking on a more female nature. She is still bragging and trash talking, but it is a little more bluster and exaggeration mixed with a tinge of good nature or humor. Where as when she was Nick it was likely more cocky and self confident because his athletic ability almost always guaranteed he would not only win but dominate whatever sport or physical activity he did. Now after his/her transition Nick's go to strength is no longer there and she (at least internally) is a lot less confident and self assured she can do what she could when she was Nick. A lot of women when competing against men much larger than them will engage similar trash talk in playful or humorous banter. It can also in some ways becomes part of the tool box some women (and men of smaller stature) may use to gain a psychological advantage over a much more physically larger and more powerful opponent. It distracts with what seems like humor or absurdity. It challenges someone not use to challenges (though Zack in no way was over confident or cocky but he certainly has to be aware of the physical advantages his more muscular frame gives him). And it questions and tries to inject uncertainly to what may look certain at the start. Where Nick could walk in and just over power and out perform an opponent, Nikki needs to use a little more cunning and guile to win at her opponents expense. Though looking at the bowling scores low bars and baby steps. 😂 But I hope you see what I mean. There is a definite mind set shift dynamic going on. But that is so wonderful because it means Nikki's competitive spirit is still there and looking to return. Just packaged a little differently as she herself is. I look forward seeing Nikki embrace that spirit and venture out into women's sports. She would probably eventually dominate at field hockey, lacrosse, soccer or rowing, to name a few. Though for your next pin-up series you definitely need to put Nikki, Lauren and Jessy in some short plaid field hockey skirts? 😉 Actually Women's sports would make a great theme for a spring pin-up series with all the girls from the different stories wearing various sports uniforms in ways only they can. Maybe Sandy could reenact Brandi Chastain's 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Soccer Final win. 😉 Just saying...
Diana O'Neil
2025-02-11 19:47:06 +0000 UTCThe only "Jack" I can think of right now is Jack from "Jack and Jill", but Nikki never knew Jack and Jack never knew Nick. Jill's actions and sacrifice on Xu's Island certainly had a major impact on Nikki. One I think we have only seen glimpses of so far. We may learn a lot more when Jill crosses over into the Half Sisters story as Xu alluded to when he told Jill his plans for Second Dawn and her. Jill in some ways is serving as the role model for the woman Nikki is becoming. So I could see possibly calling Nikki Jill's daughter. But I don't see Nick as Jack's son as working on any level to advance the story. So if this is some kind of allusion or foreshadowing it must be someone we don't know yet or are still learning a lot about. Or as I said above it may just be a dry whole and you Emory are getting your laughs watching me spin in circles trying to figure it out. If so, bava dear! Kind of like "how do you keep an idiot in suspense? I'll tell you tomorrow"! 😉😂
Diana O'Neil
2025-02-11 18:54:47 +0000 UTCFor several episodes, Emory has been dropping breadcrumbs about Nick's unusually "sensitive" childhood: his friendships with other "sensitive" boys, his strong preference for long hair, his attachment to his mother. One common "egg sign" among (some) trans femmes is dissociating from memories in childhood which leads to this experience Nikki relates to Zach where she says her "memory is fuzzy" and that "she doesn't really remember much from her childhood" before her dad started intervening more in her life.
Jade Diaz
2025-02-11 18:51:44 +0000 UTC@Jade, I am sorry I think I totally misunderstood you based on my own wrong assumption. I thought when you wrote "eggy" it was a typo or misspelling of "edgy". Which sent be in the direction of the fast car and motorcycle and how Nikki still has the same desire for speed that Nick had, as we see with her driving Zach's motorcycle and trying to get it up to 100 MPH. But now I am curious to know what you mean. I remember the 9th birthday party with the bowling and the dinosaur cupcakes. But I am not seeing what you are getting at. Could you elaborate more? This could be pretty interesting and I have just been too obtuse to see it.
Diana O'Neil
2025-02-11 18:29:49 +0000 UTCSandy’s spiel at the salon was her *manipulating* Nikki by using Nikki’s rather obvious levers. It’s pretty directly arguable that what Sandy did was for Nikki’s benefit because if she (Nikki) knew the truth: that the threat to send her back to Clinic 12 is real and not far away would simply make her completely shut down. And that’s kind of outside of whatever culpability Zach has for Nikki being taken in the first place. (That’s an open plot question since we only have that from Leonard Hutchinson, the most unreliable of unreliable narrators) but when confronted by it Zach didn’t exactly do a great job denying it. So for the time being, the smart play is to get Nikki to self actualize as a woman and one way to help usher that forward is this situation where Nikki needs to play act dates with Zach who seems more like Nikki’s slightly protective little brother than a romantic partner. (PS I doubt very strongly that Nikki and Zach will ever be in a relationship but I do think Nikki is going to discover very soon that she’s bisexual and it’s going to break her brain into a thousand splody pieces.)
Jade Diaz
2025-02-11 16:16:52 +0000 UTCIf I didnt know that Nikki had no interest in Zach that way, I would have sworn she was flirting with him all night. Just goes to show you cant shake the queer (that is a very positive word in my mind vocabular, as it describes all of us in the LGBTIA+ community in one way or another, and I for one actively try to reclaim the word) of people by saying the equivalent of "no your not." Hutch Sr still has a lot of revenge come towards him. I cant wait for more of this date.
SingularCurve
2025-02-11 04:25:04 +0000 UTCI’m referring to the panel where Zach is reminding Nikki about the birthday party at the bowling alley.
Jade Diaz
2025-02-11 03:02:09 +0000 UTCI don't know if you are meaning this as; or implying Emory intended that comment in the dialog as, a double entendre, but your mentioning of it now has me seeing it as such between the skee-ball and Nikki's own um... balls. 😳 😂 But 100 percent agree the whole episode is F'ing adorable.
Diana O'Neil
2025-02-11 01:01:37 +0000 UTCDo you mean the camaro and the motor cycle? I caught that, just too much to process and comment on in this episode. But would love to hear more of your thoughts about that edgy childhood. I think I under estimated them as just kind of stereotypical things Nikki's dad would push Nick towards as very "manly" activities and hobbies. But Nikki does seem to have a "need for speed". So there may very well be a whole lot more character development to be mined from those comments. Great catch!
Diana O'Neil
2025-02-11 00:54:19 +0000 UTCWow, you caught that too! 😂 😂 😂 Hey Elon Musk may be able to fly to Davos and tell world leader the economic agenda they will set, and fire Federal employees in mass while holding a title as head of an agency that does not exist. But controlling bowling alley managers, now that is just a whole next level of power and malign that even Musk can't begin to understand or or hope to achieve. 👿 😂 😂 😂
Diana O'Neil
2025-02-11 00:43:51 +0000 UTCI'm so torn DJ. The suspense is so painfully delightful. I don't want it to end.
StepBold2025
2025-02-11 00:19:36 +0000 UTC@Jade I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment about Nikki. I only raise the question because Sandy convinced her to do all she did at the salon by telling her the date was a test and they needed to prove Zach was 100% gay and would not be attracted to her in her most feminine form. I did also say I thought that degree of acting, for lack of a better word, would be very hard for Nikki without some practice. And likely a LOT of practice. But given some of Emory’s comments about masks and the symbolism with the tribal mask on Mary’s wall and Nikki’s comment earlier of us being the person people make us. I did not know if it was possible that this was another “Mask” Nikki was slipping on that Sandy help her create for her own protection from Hutch. And the thing about masks is that not all of them are fake. They may be created and put on and taken off but they can reflect various aspects of our personality, id and ego. It is not the 100% you but it is also not “not you”, if that somehow makes sense. I think the best and most convincing masks reflect some true aspects about wearer, but in a curated presentation. And in Nikki's case she has been forced or coaxed into wearing so many different masks already in her short life, she may not really or fully know what is and isn't a mask. I think it may be possible Nikki is the sum of all the masks she has worn up until now. And I think she may be just starting to realize that. Doing so may make giving up football and taking up cheer-leading or field hockey easier. Change your mask just like changing your uniform. But could also be the door to an existential crisis. If she is the sum of all her masks, who or what is wearing all them? What, if anything is there, when they are all taken off at once? "Deep thoughts", and not the "Jack Handy" (SNL reference) kind.
Diana O'Neil
2025-02-11 00:01:34 +0000 UTCCute! I like it! 😊
Ella Cherry
2025-02-10 23:58:13 +0000 UTC@Jade I had not even thought of tarot, though admittedly I don’t know very much about it. But that is another great interpretation of the skull on the boot.
Diana O'Neil
2025-02-10 23:45:24 +0000 UTCWe knew Hutchinson had the cops, judges, and probably the mayor in his pocket. But the fact that Nikki wasn't made to wear bowling shoes on the lanes goes to show just how powerful he is. :D
Wes Adams
2025-02-10 23:45:11 +0000 UTCHis cheeks are so clenched.
Thomas Tolliver
2025-02-10 21:39:17 +0000 UTCNikki giving us a glimpse into her eggy childhood: can’t believe no one commented on that yet.
Jade Diaz
2025-02-10 21:06:50 +0000 UTCI don’t think anything Nikki does is an act or even conscious on her part. She’s doing her level best to beat Zach at everything and she feels comfortable enough around Zach to let her inner dork flag fly at full mast. Nikki is painfully honest, and not very smart about deception or guile.
Jade Diaz
2025-02-10 21:03:09 +0000 UTCIn tarot, the Death card (usually portrayed as a skeleton) represents major change or transformation.
Jade Diaz
2025-02-10 20:59:18 +0000 UTCThey say great minds think alike. Muse Emory, I do have a feeling that poor fellow in panels 16/28 and 23/28 is in big trouble with Hutch for even insinuating Zach is anything but arrow straight. I think his choice is whether or not Vienna Della Neri "buys" him or Hutch senior cuts his losses...along with parts of him. Hutch, don't hurt the poor man and leave Janice alone. Hutch!!!! HUTCH!!!! HHHHUUUUTTTCCCCHHH!!!!!
Female-Bosmer-Always
2025-02-10 17:38:06 +0000 UTCDiana, huge theoretical fanfiction. HUTCH!!!! What a totally loathsome character Hutch is...I see in him Davis's new boss...if Mr. Xu doesn't survive.
Female-Bosmer-Always
2025-02-10 17:37:15 +0000 UTCLook at these two dorks, I love them :P
Jenny S
2025-02-10 17:13:47 +0000 UTCThank you Emory for beautiful episode, Nikki looks stunning twerking or not! Nikki is right Zatch is jealous. There is typo on Page 12 "frist strike" 🤪, so much comments, nobody say a word...
Wojtek
2025-02-10 15:51:24 +0000 UTCabsolutely adorable and every guy in that place is looking at Nikki and her award winning ass Hutchinson having someone watch them during the date makes sense. I wonder if the spy has been *taking photos* for *Evidence* and absolutely not his private collection. Nikki is such a dark and it's incredibly hot as a woman, i think she and Zach are having the best time so far. Great chapter, I hope Hutchinson accepts that Nikki tried but we'll see.
Helena Grace
2025-02-10 15:19:25 +0000 UTCThis was such a great episode. Nikki is so close but so far. Pleaaaaase Emory give us a sex scene soon.
DJ
2025-02-10 13:24:26 +0000 UTCholy shit this was fucking adorable, defective balls and all
Alyson Greaves
2025-02-10 12:06:34 +0000 UTCIt's still great to see Nikki having fun... Maybe that's how she's happy!
Erica Rost
2025-02-10 11:26:48 +0000 UTCLove all the detail in how many of Nikki's mannerisms are taking on a much more feminine nature. Then there are also the emotions and the pouting. Yes guys do pout some times but Nikki's did have a very feminine feel to it. Just the hormones? Also throughout all the games Nikki has assumed many very feminine and even suggestive poses. The "spy" even commented on it and even seemed a little turned on. He also seems to know about Zach, not that Leonard wants to hear anyone say that out loud about Zach. But what I am not sure is if some of those stances and poses are innocent and unconscious. A combination of still not being fully aware of her body and doing things the same way as when she was a boy but doing them as a girl has very different visuals. Plus might the hormones also be having subtle influence that Nikki is not conscious of in how she stands, walks, etc.. OR is Nikki consciously playing up the "sexy hot chic" per her plan with Sandy to prove Zach is gay and has no interest in her now in any sexual way? And maybe she is to a degree, but she has fought doing anything feminine up until this point, I just don't know that she could intentionally turn it on so well without any real practice. That seems like a skill that would take some time to master. Even for many biological women it is a learned skill, not something they just do with out lots of practice. How many teen movies are about the awkward nerdy girl who gets taken under some "fairy godmother's" wing and is transformed into the beautiful prom queen, but not before the comic relief scenes of her tripping all over herself in heels and making all kinds of fashion and make-up faux pas? But intentional or not, the girl is working it and it is working. At least so far as the spy reports. But is that really going to produce the result Sandy and Nikki think? Will Hutchinson really back off and accept he was wrong about his son and about Nick/Nikki? And if it is clear even to him that he was wrong. Hutchinson seem like the type on man who likes to bury his mistakes. Or at least keep them very close and hidden away, not let them just go free. But what reprisals might Hutchinson take against Nikki and Zach to try and force the outcome he wants? Could Armando be a victim if this date does not have the outcome Hutchinson wants? What more can he do to Nikki? Hutchinson told Nikki that Zach pleaded to him to let Nikki keep her her male genitals. He said he gave in because he is a bit too doting a dad and also implied that he thought doing so might satisfy Zach's homosexual "tendencies". But if giving Zach what he asked for does not result in the two being attracted sexually, could he decide to take Nikki's transition further per his original plans? And maybe pump Zach with even more hormones and testosterone hoping foolishly he can some how "flood the gay out" of Zach? And then maybe be attracted to a fully transitioned Nikki? Hutchinson could very well be as maniacal, twisted and dangerous a villain as Davis in J&J. Maybe even more dangerous because he has no boss over him and no lack of money to restrict him.
Diana O'Neil
2025-02-10 10:51:38 +0000 UTCThe Spy: Well we knew Nikki and Zach would not really be alone on this date, that Hutchison would have spies. So Hutchinson creep factor tracking and still at 11.
Diana O'Neil
2025-02-10 10:24:01 +0000 UTC"The Twerk"! Nice! I loved the cringie end zone dance, followed by Zach teaching Nikki how to twerk. I had predicted the awkward dance moves for a future "girls night out" but this works. And there is certainly more dancing Nikki can learn going out with the girls. Yeah maybe I do still need to see Nikki doing the "white guy over bite". 🕺 🤓 😂 😂
Diana O'Neil
2025-02-10 10:21:22 +0000 UTCWho's "Jack's Son"? Assuming the name selection for the bowling lanes may mean something "Jacksson Bowling Lanes". " The common spelling of that name is normally with only one "s". So it looks like someone is trying to put emphasis the possessive if you separated the s's and added an apostrophe (Jacksson - Jack's son). Nikki's Dad is Howard and Zach's Dad is Leonard. So is "Jack" or his "son" someone to lookout for? Or just a dry hole in my search for Easter Eggs?
Diana O'Neil
2025-02-10 10:15:16 +0000 UTCOMG I hope they will not end up in hospital...
Maggie Heels
2025-02-10 09:44:51 +0000 UTCOMG, WOW!!! That is really deep. "You think you know the "real" me when I was nine? Maybe that kid was just as fake as the bully I became. Wanna know what I think? We're all just... whatever people force us to be?" I can read that a couple different ways. 1) Nikki's starting to question everything, and realizing she does not know really who she is or even who she was. 2) But, it could also be that Nicky the little long hair boy, who loved Tarzan and was so sweet and caring was a creation of Mary Palmer's as much possibly as the football playing bully was the creation of Mr. Palmer. Not saying Mary had ill intentions or that her influence on Nicky was harmful in the same way as Mr. Palmer. But some of the things that defined Nicky then may have been, even unintentionally, chosen by Mary and her own wishes and vision for her son. Parents often see children as little versions of them. And in some ways children are a parents only hope at immortality. The more of ourselves we pass to them the better chance some part of us lives on long after we have died. Why else are there so many "Jr.'s" and "II", "III", "IV", etc.. in society. It is not like there are a shortage of names. Now I am not blaming Mary. Parents want the best for their children. They want them to grow up to be good, respectable people. Of the two versions of Nicky/Nick so far, Nicky is by far the better human being. But what I think is that as Nikki continues to develop, grow and get to know herself, the person she becomes may be neither Nick nor Nicky, but someone completely new and different yet. But also at the same time still contain recognizable elements of both. Because in the end, after we have received all that nature and nurture can give us, we are the sum of our experiences, good and bad. I suspect we have not yet learned the full extend of Nikki's time on the island and how it has shaped her. And what we are seeing now, these relationships Nikki is building, the new experiences she is having and the choices she is making will all also be powerful influences on the Nikki we finally see when you choose to conclude this story. Or 3) Nikki is just a little pissy about Zach's question and just trying to shut him up so she can bowl her final frame and beat him. I am leaning on #2. Because in the next panel we have the close up of Nikki's "bad ass" boots with the skull on them. Or maybe as seen in this frame at this time it is "Memento Mori"? Nikki was/is her parents hope to live on, when faced with their own eventual mortality. And how many times has Nikki already died? "Nicky" died so that his dad could create "Nick". Nick died on the Island. Well at least physically. I think we are seeing the death of Nick on the emotional level play out before us. And his death keeps accelerating at the same pace as Nikki's birth beyond simply the physical body that stepped off the plane at the start of this story. But we have seen in Nikki's interactions with Hutchinson and the brief exchange between Jill and Xu in J&J, and the conversation between Sandy and Mrs. Ferris, that Nikki could be facing her own mortality, a very real one, if she pisses off Hutchinson too much. So in a way this date may be a little "eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die". I little over dramatic, I know. But I think all these deaths of self Nikki has already undergone and the threats she is facing may shape a Nikki who learns not to be afraid to live life and make the most of her time because life as we know it can change quicker than we ever expect. Something Sandy too can understand with the death of her parents and and how quickly that changed her life. She too has seen Scott die to become "sandy", to become Sophia, to become "Sandy". And so I think she will play a big role in Helping that final Nikki evolve into whomever she is to be.
Diana O'Neil
2025-02-10 09:36:49 +0000 UTCThat was really fun. Nicki is delightfully dorky (adorkable?) when she relaxes and being with someone (even if it's not exactly voluntarily) who doesn't sexualise her gives her the space she needs. I was half-expecting someone to wolf whistle or slap her behind and I'm so glad it didn't happen. I really hope she and Zach don't get together because it would spoil Zach's character and feed into the 'just needs the right woman' cliché. I want him to be happy with his boyfriend, for he and Nicki to team up and bury his dad and for Nicki to find happiness - whether that's with a boy, a girl, one of each or nobody. It feels like there's still a long way to go with this story and I'm here for every beautifully illustrated and artfully written step!
Ellen Mellor
2025-02-10 09:21:36 +0000 UTCThat was perfect! Chef's kiss! Brava dear! But oh so short, the 28 panels just flew bye. So much and yet never enough. And the date is not even half over! Also what about Mary and Sandy's talk? Now we have to wait until March!😱 You are going to give me a stroke or aneurysm with all the pent-up anxiety waiting. At least we have TWO episodes of Jack & Jill this month still ahead. Yea! Hoping we learn Holly's fate and find out what happens to Xu. Also hope to see Jill's big family reunion. But I may be asking for too much. Well that is my literally just finish reading and spontaneously sharing first thoughts. You know me I will be back with lots of observations and questions. But in case I sound too ungrateful, thank you so very much for this wonderful, well written and beautifully illustrated story. Kisses and sweet dream!
Diana O'Neil
2025-02-10 09:04:02 +0000 UTCNice playful interactions. I believe this will lead to them both dropping their defences and in that relaxed state opening up other possible interactions. Is Nikki as unaware and as oblivious as she seems to her appearance as she ‘takes her shot?’ Others may disagree but I do not interpret Zach’s not ogling Nikki’s backside as anything beyond him just being the gentleman he always has been. I don’t see it as a definitive expression of his sexual leanings. Nor, as Hutchinson’s informant intimated, putting into question Zach’s sexuality and him not being a ‘red blooded male.’ It was also not surprising that the low lying riff -raff employed by Hutchinson, as well other male customers in the bowling alley are taking in the rear view as part of what they would think as part of their macho solidarity. All that was missing from this scene was the ‘hooting’ and ‘cat calls’ from the other patrons at the bowling alley. Lovely to see Nikki smile and looking so happy and comfortable with ‘Zatch!’ I still have my fingers crossed for romance. Thanks again for a fun and happy episode. I would have loved to know both Nikki and Zach’s inner thoughts. Maybe they are about to be revealed later? Here’s hoping. Again such beautiful shots and facial expressions both of Nikki and Zach that captures and conveys their emotions so well. This was particularly evident when seeing Zach face when riding on the back of his bike. Nice also seeing Zach also being cheeky back re Nikki’s ‘noodle arms.’
Gemma
2025-02-10 08:45:25 +0000 UTC
