Another Me - Your number has been called!

>Effy: bend over backwards because of how cute he is

> Oh my word, he's ADORABLE

EFFY: Eeeeee
CLOVER: That’s not how ya fuckin’ do it, man! Hell, what if someone looked through the window right now?!
CLOVER: ... ‘Sides, those horns ain’t even that long, so that doesn’t explain the name. Right, Effy?
CLOVER: ... Effy?
EFFY: eeeeeeeee!
CLOVER: ... Ah geez.

> Is calling a demon adorable an insult?

CLOVER: C’mon, Eff, cut it out.
EFFY: But... Look at hiiiiim!
CLOVER: (Listen, I know the dude ain’t the most imposin’-lookin’, but I’m pretty sure a demon wouldn’t take kindly to, uh... the whole way you’re reactin’.)
EFFY: (DO YOU THINK I CAN TOUCH HIS FUR??)
CLOVER: Effy!!

> "Should we do something about Selena? I mean, we don't know what she's up to, but it sounds pretty forbidden."

CLOVER: Look, let’s just freakin’... get back on topic here.
EFFY: (Clo look I think he smiled at me, he’s not mad)
AUBIN: The topic being?
CLOVER: Selena!! I don’t care if she’s not makin’ a zombie army or whatever, ya pretty much SAID she’s aimin’ for necromancy and that doesn’t sound ok!
NIMAH: Oh! Yes!
NIMAH: There is nothing I or my superiors can do unless she manages to bring someone back to life, but if it is at all possible to stop her before she gets to that point...
EFFY: (He’s so FUZZY! I can’t get over how fuzzy he is, oh my gosh! Are all demons like this? Why are they even called demons if they’re all this cute??)
CLOVER: (Cut it out!!!)

AUBIN: Well, I do intend to keep an eye on her. You have nothing to fear.
AUBIN: In fact... Perhaps I could even do it with your help. She seemed to like you two, so I’m certain she would welcome your company.
AUBIN: Of course, I understand you must be quite busy. But if you have a little more time today, and you wouldn’t mind accompanying me on a short taxi ride...

AUBIN: There was someone I intended to see today.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Show Content

SpoilerHappy New Year, everyone! Are you all excited about Kingdom Hearts 3 coming out soon?

... That's all I have to say this time around, haha.

>STABS TIME

>Mystery green guy: exhibit dominance in knife-eating contest

>Flippy McStabby: Explain to Selena that you'll have her money by Tuesday, Wednesday at the latest. Definitely not longer than by Thursday!

>Egads, who it this dastardly scoundrel I spy? Some cunning rogue endeavoring to leave a mark on the world in a delightfully scrappy way? Carved initials and graffiti on the furniture, overturn all the sofa cushions, switch the salt and sugar containers around, perhaps even stomp on the flower beds out in the yard? Never change, young rebel without a cause, never change.

>Knifey Vinny : Mug the scenery almost as hard as you're mugging this random passerby.
>Oh damnit, it's your crazy sister. You hate when she does that.

> Knifey Vinny: Mug the scenery almost as hard as you're mugging this random passerby.

KNIFEY VINNY???: Uh, that’s like... a zero out of three, kid.
KNIFEY VINNY???: One, that’s not my name; two, I’m not mugging you, I’m explaining this business transaction in terms you can understand. Three, you’re not a random passerby anymore if I’m in your room.
SOFT BOY: Uh, but the first time we met, I was just passing by, and you came to talk to me...
KNIFEY VINNY???: Yeah, and you decided to buy oregano from a guy who just came up to you?? I don’t see how that’s my problem!
SOFT BOY: Oh.
SOFT BOY: W... Wait! If this is a business transaction, why are you pulling a knife on me, Mister...?

Your name, as far anyone is concerned, is Kaphlar Kinra, as you’re quick to remind the gullible idiot you’re talking to. Clearly, he’s a little slow, so you take things step by step.

Think about it this way: if you walk into a store, demand a product, and get exactly what you asked for, then you can’t very well go back and ask for a refund without a good reason. And if you insist on it, then that’s bordering on harassment, and the staff is well within their rights to exercise self-defense! Right?

You pause to check if the kid is following and hold back a giggle when you see the look on his face.

SOFT BOY: But... I didn’t get exactly what I asked for! I asked for... I asked for weed! And my partner said that wasn’t weed!
KAPHLAR: Nuh-huh, I remember how it went. I told you I had drugs, you asked me for the goods, I don’t remember you saying the word “weed” at any point!
SOFT BOY: Are you sure?
KAPHLAR: Positive.

Moron asked “Do you really have weed??” like 10 times.

SOFT BOY: Well... You still scammed me. You said you were selling drugs, and I want my money back!
KAPHLAR: No I didn’t.
SOFT BOY: Yes you did!
KAPHLAR: Nooo, I didn’t, and frankly, at the rate we’re going? I think I deserve some compensation for the time we’re wasting here!
SOFT BOY: Compensation?... A-Aaahh!

> STABS TIME

KAPHLAR: Hahah! Relax, kiddo! This is all part of the negotiations, you get me~? Here’s the deal.
KAPHLAR: You’re pretty rich, right? I can tell, you know! Got an eye for these things!
SOFT BOY: Huh...?
KAPHLAR: So, do your parents know you’ve been looking into buying *GASP* drugs with their money??
KAPHLAR: I mean, obviously I can’t go to the police. But if someone just happened to tip off your parents... Or even the internet...
SOFT BOY: You... You can’t do that! You don’t even know who...
KAPHLAR: The Dawns, right? Pret~ty big deal!

EXASPERATED PARTNER: Stellwyn, is this the dealer?
SOFT BOY: ... Yeah...

>Taylor: "Elysian, why are you pointing a knife at Stellwyn?"

>Kaphlar: Do you have enough knives for two children?

>Do I look like somebody working at a casino, cutting cards?

>KAPHLAR: Very suddenly regret all your life decisions. All of them.

> Do I look like somebody working at a casino, cutting cards?

KAPHLAR: Is that any way to address me? Do I look like I stand around in dark alleyways asking kids if they want drugs?
SOFT BOY: I mean, that’s not far off from...
KAPHLAR: Shh, I’m doing a thing here. Do I look like I cut cards at a casino?
SOFT BOY: Huh??
KAPHLAR: You know, like a dealer. Do I--
EXASPERATED PARTNER: You look like an ass. Is the bit over?
KAPHLAR: Oh, very funny.

KAPHLAR: Anyway, kiddo, I don’t care if you’ve got company now. Business negotiations are still ongoing. Here, I’ll make it short and sweet: you keep the cash coming and everybody’s happy. No trouble at all. How’s that?
EXASPERATED PARTNER: You’re forgetting something.
KAPHLAR: Uh-huh? What’s that?
EXASPERATED PARTNER: You may be taller... and armed... but there’s two of us, and only one of you.
SOFT BOY: ... That’s right! I may not look it, but I can fight! You’re not scary, you’re just annoying!

> Kaphlar: Do you have enough knives for two children?

KAPHLAR: ... Oh?
KAPHLAR: I guess... Maybe you have a point... I’ve got a knife, but the numbers aren’t on my side...
KAPHLAR: Well, how about this? Four-eyes here gets the knife...

KAPHLAR: ... And the shorty gets to try some of this!
SOFT BOY & EXASPERATED PARTNER: !!

>Kaphlar: "Looks like it's time... for a weenie roast."

>Say, wouldn't killing your customers hurt your profits in the long run? Word like that gets around. Rough them up a little and up the price, teach 'em a lesson they'll actually remember.

>Kaph: ok on those online tests that tell you how many middle schoolers you could take in a fight, how many did you get

> "Four Eyes": Bite down on the knife that's apparently right in front of your mouth.

>Okay the magic does ommand some respect. get your cash, no problems.

>And then get in even bigger trouble for having flashed you magic in public. (Seriously who even need it against two middle schoolers)

>Crotch kick evasion maneuver!

Hey guys! I just thought I'd give you all a little status update, since we're coming up on a month since the last update and... while that's not entirely out of the ordinary for the schedule I've fallen into, tragically, it's definitely not getting done this week and I wanted to say something for my own peace of mind. I've alluded to some of this on my Tumblr, but I'm sure not everyone reads that, so...

Long story short, it's been an eventful month? Starting with some serious health issues in a close relative, adding a work schedule that got pretty dang wild almost without me noticing it, and now ending with a 4/5-month-old hard drive starting to fail, I hope it's understandable that I didn't always have the time to work on the comic even when I had the energy, or vice-versa - when I wasn't lacking in both at the same time.

For the record, my close relative is slowly recovering, my work schedule has calmed down a little and my files are safe (I just need to actually go replace this dang HDD) - and this isn't to say there has been no progress at all! The script is fully done, two panels are complete, the rest are thumbnailed and one has a more detailed sketch. In fact, that's about as far as I got before this hard drive started to die, and I should be back on track once I've replaced it and figured out a regular backup system that works for me, knock on wood.

So! The point of this post, really, is to thank you all for your patience and readership! It makes me really happy to know you guys are reading - regardless of whether you make suggestions and comments or not - even though I can't work on this full time.

(Also, should I post this message in the mirror too?? Gosh I do not know how these things work.)

Anyhow! Please enjoy this older doodle of the cast with different hairstyles, and see you soon!

> "Four Eyes": Bite down on the knife that's apparently right in front of your mouth.



You still can’t be an NPC! Even worse, it looks like the Symbolic Character Selection Screen has no new colourful silhouettes to show you this time, not even if you ask it very nicely to help you forget the uncomfortable connotations that the term “NPC” has taken on in the past (from your perspective) or the future (from the Symbolic Character Selection Screen’s perspective).

Wait, is the Symbolic Character Selection Screen sentient? Does it denote a metacontextual space where the narration is always addressing you, the reader, rather than you, the POV character? What makes someone an NPC, anyway? Is this all arbitrary?!

You decide to just get back to the narrative before “Four Eyes” eats the knife in the most painful sense of the phrase.

> Crotch kick evasion maneuver!

KAPHLAR: Whoa there, easy! Or do you WANT me to scorch your knee off?
EXASPERATED PARTNER: Oh, shut up!

>Say, wouldn't killing your customers hurt your profits in the long run? Word like that gets around. Rough them up a little and up the price, teach 'em a lesson they'll actually remember.



You go about doing your thing. Judging by the looks on these idiots’ faces, they don’t quite realise what your thing actually IS. The rich one doesn’t, anyway. He’s about to plead for his life, isn’t he?

SOFT BOY: W... Wait!

Score.

SOFT BOY: You... don’t really want to kill us, do you?
KAPHLAR: Ehh, put it this way: I don’t want the last few minutes to have been a waste of my precious time.
SOFT BOY: I mean! If you kill your customers, won’t that hurt your profits?
KAPHLAR: I meeean, word’s not exactly getting around if you’re dead, right~?
SOFT BOY: ... No, but... You’ll run out of customers. It’s... It’s unsustainable, right?
KAPHLAR: Oh gosh. I never thought of that.
KAPHLAR: So I guess I’ll just have to up the price before I go!
EXASPERATED PARTNER: Auuuugh!!

> And then get in even bigger trouble for having flashed you magic in public. (Seriously who even need it against two middle schoolers)

EXASPERATED PARTNER: I bet you’re proud of yourself.
KAPHLAR: Mmhmm~?
EXASPERATED PARTNER: I don’t know what you are -
KAPHLAR: Obviously.
EXASPERATED PARTNER: - but if we don’t usually see this happen, that must mean you’re not supposed to just use magic willy-nilly. But you did it. To scam someone, no less.
KAPHLAR: Sure did!
EXASPERATED PARTNER: We may not be able to go to the police... but you’re going to get into even bigger trouble, aren’t you?
KAPHLAR: ... Oh, I don’t know.

You are not. You’ve been doing this for years - sure, maybe you don’t pull out the magic card all the time, but even when you do, nothing’s happened. It’s not like there’s an omniscient magic police out there watching your every move, so this is a reliable, easy and fun way you get cash: you put a human on the spot, you scare the living shit out of them and you get what you want.

And truth be told, it’s fun to see just how much you can scare them sometimes.

KAPHLAR: How about I push my luck and see if I can burn this entire place down before someone catches me?

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Show Content

SpoilerHi, folks! Again, really sorry about how long this took. Regular updates should hopefully resume, for whatever passes as regular in this thread, haha.

I'd also like to note something that may help with suggestions from here on out: now that we've opened up quite the cast of characters who aren't always going to be in the same place, please don't feel like you have to stick to the current POV character! Feel free to go hog wild - even if it doesn't pay off immediately, you all have already influenced many things and I'm looking forward to seeing what else you'll influence in the future!

Again, thank you so much for reading!

>Mysterious Individual Seen Observing Outside A Few Updates Ago: "Cool it."

>Kaphlar: You're probably immune to fire, so burning down a building that you're inside is fine.

>Clover: "Are we there yet?"

> Mysterious Individual Seen Observing Outside A Few Updates Ago: "Cool it."



How can you possibly be the mysterious individual, when you don’t even know—

Oh, wait, that was you. Now you are in a car with an old friend you are very happy to see, and two new friends you are just as happy to see.

You get the feeling your brother is currently up to no good, and you would like to tell him to cool it - and potentially flick his nose - but you can’t very well do that until you’re face to face with him!

He’s not going to get away from you today.

> Clover: "Are we there yet?"

CLOVER: What the hell? Are we seriously not there yet?
AUBIN: Is something the matter? The last time you asked was...
SELENA: Five minutes ago!
EFFY: A-And we haven’t been going for that long, have we? Aside from that detour to pick Selena up...
CLOVER: Yeah, sure, but why’re we takin’ the long way ‘round now?
AUBIN: ... Are we?

CLOVER: Well, yeah! We’re goin’ through the fancy part of town!
SELENA: Oh, no, this is definitely the right way.
AUBIN: Good, good. You did tell me as much.

EFFY: You mean... Your brother lives near the fancy part of town?
SELENA: He lives IN the fancy part of town! Lucky him~

>Effy: Wait, is he rich? Does that mean he has his own pool? Or a trampoline?! Can we use the trampoline?

>Accidentally park on the curb. Try correcting the mistake. The outcome is even worse.