#dialogue was the trickiest bit because trying to write advice from a middle aged man when i'm in my twenties is like

[herbgerblin]

Comic transcript is under the cut because it is very, very long. I just wanted to draw a conversation between these boys.

[Transcript: Comic of Barry and Magnus having a conversation during the stolen century. Barry is a middle aged, white man, with a chubby build. He is wearing glasses, a collared shirt, a watch, and bluejeans. Magnus is a young, white man with a hair, muscular build. He is wearing an open shirt that shows his chest hair, and some trousers. Magnus is sitting off by himself when Barry approaches him.

Barry: Something bothering you Magnus?

Magnus: (a little sullen) Yeah, sorta.

Barry: I’m all ears if you need to get it off your chest.

Magnus: If you don’t mind…

Barry: Nah, go for it.

Magnus: We just finished cycle twenty two…er…three. And I’ve been feeling kind of..off.

Barry: how so>?

Magnus: Well, this is only just now hitting me…I’ve been eighteen for over twenty years!

Barry: Woof. Yeah. I’d imagine that’s a lot harder to process than being in your forties for that long.

Magnus: YEAH! I’m your age now!

Barry: I’m technically in my sixties, bud.

Magnus: You know what I mean. When we first took off.

Barry: Yeah, I’m with ya.

Magnus: I guess, well it’s not like we’re Merle.

Barry: Heh, yeah. Merle was already old for a dwarf when we started. He probably doesn’t feel phased at all.

Magnus: So it’s not just me being weird? I talked to Lucretia about how I was feeling, since we’re both sort of in the same boat.

Barry: -literally, yes -

Magnus: And she seemed like, I dunno. She just seemed to roll with it pretty well. So I thought I was overreacting

Barry: Hold on, Mags. Even if Lucretia might’ve outwardly accepted this ordeal. It’s still an ordeal! You guys were robbed of the opportunity to be older! I say opportunity because, well, we’re human. We age fast compared to the other races. We’re just not built to process longevity like this. Especially you and Lucretia. So adapting to middle age naturally is going to be a lot harder. And that sucks.

Magnus: Soooo, what’s it like?

Barry: Hmm?

Magnus: You know, middle age? I always got the impression that that’s when you peak in life.

Barry: Ah, yeah, I’d love to speak with the person who invented that notion.

Magnus: Or when your social life supposedly “ends.”

Barry: Over my multiple dead bodies. To be honest, I’m textbook for someone who either missed or bypassed all the expected milestones. I lucked out career-wise. But my anxieties made it hard to form meaningful relationships. Looking back, I don’t think I really started living until I volunteered for this mission. I guess being older softens the blow of most of my emotional hangups? —Global annihilation and time stopped immortality notwithstanding—(aside) I’m still afraid of the dark thought.

Magnus: You’re telling me you didn’t factor in the apocalypse?

Barry: (laughing) They didn’t offer that protection in my health benefits! (he puts a hand on Magnus’s shoulder) The point is, maturity isn’t finite. And it doesn’t have depreciating value. You were already pretty capable to begin with. And you get more capable, even when you don’t feel it.

Magnus: I’ll try to be

Barry: Good. You’re not alone in this Magnus.

Magnus: Thanks, that means a lot

(Beat of silence)

Barry: You want to help me dangerous science?

Magnus: DO I???

[Fourth image title that reads: Post Story and Song. Barry is talking to a now older Magnus.]

Barry: …so you aged up to your thirties now.

Magnus: ….shit. you’re right.

Barry: How’s it feel?

Magnus: (yelling) Why the fuck does my back hurt so much? Is this supposed to be normal? Is this natural? I want a refund!

Barry: (breaks into laughter)

End Transcript]