And the scene starts with such a nice surprise, too. God, I suck.
Hey, guys. A cold + a con + the holidays = Me being pretty thrown offa blogging the update to the comic, for the past few days. I'm kinda back on track now, though. Hooray.
Sugoicon was a lot of fun. I'm still not quite used to anime cons, but as cons in general go, this one had a great vibe. there were free Häagen-Dazs bars and some really nice people, including the con's guests of honor: Jennie Breeden, Jamie Hatton, and Dan Hess, who we did a panel in the company of and had Midnight Pie with for the duration. "We," of course, because my con-buddy Dirk was there, as always.
I got the shock of my life before I left for the con when a ridiculously generous patron sprang for a book on my Amazon Wishlist, an out-of-print work of goddamn genius I'd basically abandoned hope of ever owning. I really can't express what this meant to me, you guys must know by now how goofy I am for this stuff. I've already read it through twice; it's got some nice coverage of latter-day Coney Island acts, something historians tend to let slip through the cracks, and a ton of photos I'd never seen before. And when you're me, that's pretty extraordinary.
You know who you are. Thank you!
Unbelievably, I got a gift at the con, too; Someone who reads the blog actually stopped by my table and gave me some handmade bath and beauty stuff. (I can very much recommend this stuff, by the way. I am already less stinky.) I think this pretty much cements my readers as The Best Ever. For real.
Oh yeah, and you guys won me Webcomic Idol. That was pretty cool. I guess.
OKAY WHATEVER WHO THE FUCK AM I KIDDING THAT WAS AWESOME. Thank you, everybody! This is a big deal and very good thing. I still have to iron out the kinks and put up the code, but I'm now a member of Bomb Shelter Comics! A collective. Not too shabby!
I promised you guys a special comic if I won, too, and I haven't forgotten about it. Look for it soon!
Jeez, I'm sure I'm leaving something out. Argh. But I'm sure I'll think of it later.
Bye!
Drink some echinacea tea and feel better!
Is Ben not actually 21? Did I miss something? D:
no, ben's 21, but the shrink is making veiled threats about the possible constructions that could be made about Ben's mental state (and his competence or his safety) from his actions. I don't think she or his family could have a leg to stand on, REGARDLESS of his mental history, because of his current state. But I think she is trying to bully him and also maybe warn him.
I THINK THEY THINK HE'S IN SEATTLE !
Also, he seems to be _writing_ this softcore porn / romance stuff, not reading it...
Naw, they don't know where Ben is. It'd totally kill the mood if Ben's parents showed up. Although I would concede that most situations can probably be diffused through the introduction of Reagan and/or Moze, Ben's parents trying to haul him back to Yakima being no exception.
*burst of pride* AWW! Lookit our little writer! Acting cynical, smoking, and composing some throwaway smut!
I'm SO PROUD!
Go, Ben, Go.
I am absurdly pleased to find that Ben is in fact writing the smut instead of reading it. And amused that the cigarillo does not appear to be lit.
And he's using a thesaurus, excellent! Every writer of smut needs a good thesaurus, because you can only use the phrase "heaving bosoms" so many times before your audience gets bored.
Of course, it must come to pass that eventually Reagan is going to read this, and laugh her ass off. Or, chortle her ample, bethongéd derrière off. I can't wait.
i think he's lying about being 21. when he and reagan are in the clay cafe, he says he dropped out of highschool in junior year and never went back. he doesn't seem like the type to drop out of school and hang out at his parents' for years and then leave. it doesn't look like he lives in the sort of neighborhood where one's parents (or therapist) would let one drop out.
or he could be 21. maybe he went to an asylum for years and that's why he left school.
Ben doesn't need a thesaurus to write smut, he needs this list: http://spatula.ca/sushi/im_a_f-ing_copy_factory.jpg
[Very NSFW, and so very, very stolen, but I can't recall from where. The blog of someone who worked in the adult toy industry, writing ad copy, I believe.]
I don't tnhink Ben's lying about being an adult. Or else he couldn't invoke the physician/patient privilege when he's talming to Dr Bright at the end of chapter one. Dr would have to notify his parents (and possibly the police).
Tee-hee, writing soft-core. My boyfriend thought that he was reading fanfiction XD
Wood, I don't know about Washington, but there are several states that will allow you to invoke that right at 17. Although, that also applies for emancipation in those states as well, but in order to do that, Ben would have actually had to tell his parents he was leaving. And with his medical condition, his parents could've probably fought to keep him at home regardless.
I'm sure Ben is old enough to enact that right. I was pretty sure in most cases, even a minor can ask for the confidentiality, and I believe the doctor does have to honor it, with the exception of anything dangerous to the child, perhaps. But, I'm a computer engineer, not a medical law person or doctor :-P So you can take all that with a grain of salt.
Also, Ben seems SO WORRIED that his parents know where he is. How ever did they find out?
Though, I AM curious as to what word he is looking up in the thesaurus. I'd giggle if it was throbbing.
What I meant is, if he was a minor who had ran away from home, his doctor would have to tell his parents. So I still think he's adult.
I had questions m'self about whether Ben had lied about his age, till I read one of Spike's blog posts a couple of weeks ago where she offhandedly mentioned that he'd lived in that house for 21 years.
So, that's what I'll go by; I dunno about you guys.
Did some research in our school's database because it meant I wasn't working on my speech. ;) [I find the speech quite boring; I'd much rather write.]
As far as I can gather, there is no set minimum age. However, the articles I looked at mentioned that a doctor could be required to share the information with a parent if the patient is a minor UNLESS the minor is also emancipated, or if a court would likely find them emancipated (living independently and supporting themselves without the assistance of a parent).
Then my AD/HD kicked in, and I got distracted. ^_^ On that same note though; in Texas, I know that I had to sign a waiver way back when I was 12 (yes, twelve) when I first stopped taking medication in order for them to share the psychological-session information stuff with my mother.
i love the incentive pic of the conjoined twins! Freaks is one of my favorite movies.
Yay for winning webcomics idol! *throws confetti*
sushi jones:
Perpendicular bisector is now my new favorite euphemism. Thanks for sharing.