Dog Eat Dog
Added 2024-12-01 03:30:27 +0000 UTCThat’s a bold flirting strategy, Topher. Let’s see if it pays off!
Skye and Topher first met when she was assigned to write an article on him for Bitchworthy’s weekly independent musician spotlight. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Skye met up with the man for an interview over coffee aaaaand….hated him immediately. Topher is smarmy and believes his own hype and seems to enjoy saying off-color things just to grind her gears. The guy picks arguments for fun, like some sort of lunatic. Skye can’t shake the feeling she’s met him before, or at least met someone a lot like him….
Topher: If you’re good, you can call me daddy~
Skye: :) My daddy is dead and you’re about to join him
stealth edit: changed Topher’s wording from “little girl” to “little pup”. The former I had to concede felt like it was coming from a place of random unprompted sexism, when in reality Topher is meant to be acting condescending in a non-gender-specific way. He just wants to ruffle her fur a little (a lot).
Comments
Topher's flaw is that he's a dick. He's a deeply cynical, pessimistic person, and that stems from being let down so much growing up. Not only is Topher not able to trust people, he looks for reasons to assume the worst in others so he won't be blindsided later. He puts walls up, pushes people away, has trouble being his authentic self outside of his smarmy rockstar persona, and refuses to ever show what he perceives as weakness, such as his constant anxiety and listlessness and desire to be loved. He's a hedonist, but it doesn't make him happy. He antagonizes people as a sort of punishment for how powerless he was made to feel growing up. He's been waiting for Mal to get sick of him for years. Topher is lowkey a mess
Lopoddity
2024-12-05 04:17:36 +0000 UTCOh my bad, I wasn’t trying to hate in any case. I actually love characters with conflicting traits (like thinking of yourself as progressive but having unresolved biases) so I probably just got excited and projected my own bias onto him as one does 😭 if you don’t mind me asking another question, Topher seems the most well adjusted of the siblings despite going through just as much, has he had anything he had to work through like Honey or Toffee? I know he’s smug but I mean like a true character ‘flaw’
owlcoholik
2024-12-05 00:34:26 +0000 UTCI feel I didn't strike the right tone with my initial comment. Again, I changed the line because it wasn't accomplishing what I wanted to. "Little girl" was informed by a bunch of bonus context that I have in my head (regarding Skye's career and her dynamic with Topher- Skye IS bossy which is why she's so ruffled) that y'all are not yet privy to, and without the context it just comes across as unprompted sexism. I made a bad call in my writing and ended up mischaracterizing one of my own characters. Topher is indeed quite capable of being a condescending dick without being a sexist. Additionally, Topher's debut drawing (the grifter bitch one) is kinda outdated at this point. I did initially conceive him as an angry debatebro that would have absolutely have no qualms calling Honey a grifting bitch, but he was also a fairly flat character at the time, a prop to create conflict with Honey. We can think of it sorta like his pilot episode self. I then worked backwards to give him a bit more depth, a backstory, a trans identity, etc. Topher is meant to be a contentious character, but he's also punk rock, which means he doesn't punch down. He would not justify anyone, even his own angry debatebro ass, using misogyny against "acceptable" female targets.
Lopoddity
2024-12-04 23:34:56 +0000 UTCOh I never thought he was intentionally being misogynistic, just the little girl comment seemed to fit with his personality of being an annoying debatebro. I remember him calling honey something like a stick up grifter bitch in one of his first posts I think, so I figured he’d be one of those guys who thinks it’s ok to use misogyny as a weapon against ‘bad’ women like well every other political debatebro I’ve ever heard
owlcoholik
2024-12-04 20:15:47 +0000 UTCDefinitely not what I'm going for! Topher definitely still remembers what it's like to be dismissed/spoken over/disrespected on the basis of gender. I wasn't aiming for it to seem as though Topher was mocking Skye for being a woman, I was trying to make it seem as though he was deliberately riling her up and trying (and failing) to flirt. But it seems it just came across as random sexism, so I changed it. :/
Lopoddity
2024-12-04 19:19:24 +0000 UTCOddly enough I thought the misogynistic comment Topher, he comes off exactly like those debate bro guys who say stuff like “oh I’m gay/trans and I consider myself a proud feminist” but as soon as he gets in an argument he hits you with the most creative misogyny you’ve ever heard. I can imagine him internalizing at least some of the beliefs he grew up with without realizing it, and when someone calls him out he gets all moody and defensive cuz he considers himself this ultra woke type guy
owlcoholik
2024-12-04 18:44:16 +0000 UTCAs someone who's enjoys ship dynamics where there is lot of banter and characters trying to get a rise out of each other same. Idk it's fun and silly and for my more serious end game ships (ik these two are far from end game) makes the whole them opening up and being genuine much harder since there's a usually a reason they put of the wall in the first place.
Fukōsagi
2024-12-01 17:41:19 +0000 UTCNo worries! I'm really glad you like to read my comments! :D Topher uuuusally does an okay job of reading people, if someone is noticeably uncomfortable or upset by his fuckboi flirting he'll absolutely back off. It's only fun to him to mess with people who are enjoying it, or up to the task of verbally sparring with him. Otherwise it's just bullying, and that's a lot less fun. Still, Topher is human and can (and has) misread the situation, and has definitely hurt and disregarded people's feelings, largely accidentally. He feels awful when this happens and is quite good at apologizing, though sometimes he can concede that the best move is to leave the person alone.
Lopoddity
2024-12-01 09:06:43 +0000 UTCOh como te atreves?! Que descaro🤣 I did get it at first but my limited english make it sound all wrong when my intentions was to make a joke (I'm obviously joking please, don't get it wrong I'm not angry I'm trying to be make a joke again) Also not you call me out when I do that too😭, I don't like drama or being mean but sometimes just because I am a little shit with my love ones I make a little of mischief, never to this level, yet I have and excellent memory for what make them just a little bit angry, and well I use that info a lot... Yeah it's fun😅
MiyaTheGoldenFlower
2024-12-01 08:51:08 +0000 UTCAw thank you, I appreciate you saying that. <3 Topher thinks he's this suave musician with tons of game, but in reality he's just like Honey and antagonizes people he likes. Toph is incapable of asking someone out like a normal person and would much rather be a smug twunk bitch in their general direction ("Oh, you like music? Quick, name every song")
Lopoddity
2024-12-01 07:27:46 +0000 UTCNot to be *flips hair* “not like other readers”… But for me this immediately vibed like Topher being a dick to get a reaction out of Skye. And I mean, who can blame him? Shits fun lol
Sync
2024-12-01 07:02:08 +0000 UTCYes, but Topher is not a misogynist. Far opposite, our boy is a diehard feminist. Ultimately, it's my fault so many people read this as Topher abruptly being a sexist, I should have trusted my initial idea and gone with "little pup" instead of the gender-specific, more inflammatory "little girl". Skye's gender is irrelevant, Topher would still be trying to get under her skin if Skye was a dude. We see Topher flirting with Mal similarly back when they were younger, before Mal transitioned and was presumed male. The issue is not with gender, the issue is that Topher views easily-flustered people the way a lion in a zoo views treats frozen in a block of ice. They are toys for him to gnaw on to provide enrichment in his enclosure. Except (to his delight) the toys like to gnaw him back.
Lopoddity
2024-12-01 06:52:36 +0000 UTCOh verrrry much so. Basically Sunny: *is genuinely sweet and kind and loving and considerate* Skye: :/ Topher: *is an arrogant dick that uses arguments as foreplay* Skye, already taking off her top: Finally, a worthy opponent. Our battle will be LEGENDARY
Lopoddity
2024-12-01 04:43:49 +0000 UTCCorrect, Honey is in her early to mid 20s. :3 I originally had her the same age as Skye, but realized I had to age her down to keep the Meadowsweet timeline consistent. It also just made sense for the story, she's a dumb kid still finding her place in the world. Skye is indeed the older figure, part of Honey's fixation with Skye is due to looking up to her as a "real" adult. She's torn between finding Skye intimidating/wanting to impress her but not knowing how. Also she's got a big dumb crush on her but that's neither here nor there
Lopoddity
2024-12-01 04:37:56 +0000 UTCOh no! Don't worry I did get it! My reaction was more in the this is hilarious type? I love this dynamic and I do know he's being an ass like a persona to get reactions, I kinda read a lot of the comments and answers in your other drawings cuz I'm weird like that I like to read, so I know mister like to be a little bit of a menace to get his fun. It's more I'm impress he is doing with someone that just meet, I assume, it's more like when he gets personal with the probocations how he know what get someone the most angry without hurt feelings and just get a responde for the dynatic? Damn it english isn't my first language so I don't know how to get people to understand my intentions.
MiyaTheGoldenFlower
2024-12-01 04:20:05 +0000 UTCIf toph and skye are both in their thirties here, then is honey considerably younger than skye and/or sunny? :0 like. if skye is 30 (as per that post that shows her with snowball and marnie) and toph is ~17-18 years older than honey (as per the comic where hes a teen talking to maple abt her keeping the pregnancy) then even if toph is 39 here, honey would still be in her early twenties. I suppose that tracks with what youve said abt her still being in college, but i guess i just thought she was closer in age to skye :0 guess that adds to the antagonism between them. who does this kid think she is she knows NOTHING about the way the world works
AsTheJayFlies
2024-12-01 04:13:55 +0000 UTCI am sobbing and crying and falling down the stairs and begging y’all to understand that Topher is being a BRAT. Like, in the sexual sense. In the bedroom, a brat breaks rules and pushes buttons to net attention from their dom. He does this a lot with Mal, annoying her til she mauls him. So here he is doing the same with Skye, deliberately trying to provoke a (dommy) reaction from her. He is being a sexist dick not because he stands by that, but because he KNOWS it will annoy Skye. This is a game they’re both playing, if Skye were truly uncomfortable she would end the interview and leave! No, she wants to stick around and put his annoying ass in his place! >:O
Lopoddity
2024-12-01 04:12:24 +0000 UTCIt's all in the eyes! 😂
Blizwolfthewolf
2024-12-01 04:05:45 +0000 UTCAh, I gotcha. Sorry for misinterpreting things here! Either way, I’ve definitely met a handful of people who act like Topher here in real life. I am convinced it really is some sort of weird way of flirting half the time too lmao, because I’ve noticed a pattern where it seems to be a backhanded way of trying to impress the person your talking shit about? I’m not gonna pretend it makes any sense, but hey…
FloweryFruitFangs
2024-12-01 04:01:13 +0000 UTCTopher ur my favorite guy but it's getting hard to defend you on this one,,,,,,, get his ass Skye (heheheh or the other way around if the last sketch is to be believed)
Antanas
2024-12-01 03:58:48 +0000 UTCDOUBLE UPLOAD? We’re getting fed today, lad(ies). I can definitely see Skye and Topher getting into some old-fashioned fisticuffs. Maybe Skye takes a page out of her momma’s book and considers wrestling as some kind of foreplay and shit-talking as flirty banter,
Biscuit
2024-12-01 03:57:28 +0000 UTCAgh, this is the trouble with uploading single images vs big sketch dumps that provide more context. Topher is putting on a front here. He’s pushing her buttons to get a reaction, not because he actually believes what he’s saying. I considered a lot of dialogue options for him, one of them was him making a dig at her job/employer “Anybody ever tell you you’re really bossy? But that’s about what I’d expect from an ambassador of Bitchworthy’s brand of bubblegum pop faux-feminism”. Topher just likes being a contrarian punk butthole.
Lopoddity
2024-12-01 03:53:57 +0000 UTCI love skye's dad side of the family came out here, same look as her dad right there 😂
Sorceringingarts
2024-12-01 03:49:44 +0000 UTCOh god HE’S NEGGING HER TOPHER NO-
Morghann Patterson
2024-12-01 03:49:17 +0000 UTCListen just because you’re trans doesn’t mean you can’t do misogyny. In fact, some dudes get Really good at it because they had it directed their way first. It’s real dumb! (Also topher is a fucking spaniel/saluki breed talking down to a collie herding dog she is going to Kick His Ass)
Morghann Patterson
2024-12-01 03:48:43 +0000 UTCEhm if this is the way he "flirts" it makes me wonder how it worked with Mal? Or how he even get bed partners with that aptitude, well he's handome and maybe some people must find it hilarious right? 🤣 Like Mal with her personally just could handle better the conflict? She match his energy? oooor he tone done a little his words after getting his ass kick? I'm really curious 😅 Also it just a observation but I LOVE THE ANGRY FACE OF SKYE! It remains to Rumiko's work, you know the mangaka of Ranma 1/2, Inuyasha, etc. It such a good face, yeeeessss 💖
MiyaTheGoldenFlower
2024-12-01 03:46:49 +0000 UTCHe DOES know better, this is an act. He’s just trying to get under her skin. Originally he was calling her “little pup” or “little dog” as a dig at her size, but I figure he’d go with “little girl” because it would piss her off WAY more
Lopoddity
2024-12-01 03:45:10 +0000 UTCYeah I love Toph but he was kind of insane for that one LMAO
Lammergayier
2024-12-01 03:44:29 +0000 UTCHer face kills me 😂
KaeWolfe
2024-12-01 03:42:43 +0000 UTCWow Topher, you may have internalized some of Merry’s more bigoted views a bit more than you’d like to admit! Also, I feel you Skye. Being attracted to people who like to start arguments is one of my toxic traits too. (You should still kill him.)
FloweryFruitFangs
2024-12-01 03:41:50 +0000 UTCGod I love these two so much, this dynamic is awesome XD
RagingRiptide
2024-12-01 03:38:20 +0000 UTCWhat a reply, Saint would be so proud XD Eager to see these two somehow angrily get in each other's pants haha
Ventia
2024-12-01 03:32:54 +0000 UTCTopher as a trans man using the ‘little girl’ line is fascinating to me. Boy, you’re about to get your ass beat, and should know better!
Morghann Patterson
2024-12-01 03:32:51 +0000 UTC
