#i just don't have much enthusiasm for trent

[benicebefunny]

I regret that he’s fine his fans are just annoying

I have similar feelings. I don't really see what the fuss is about. And it's always a little annoying when the fanon version of a character (greatest journalist alive! super smart! saved Ted!) eclipses the canon version--particularly when the fanon valorization comes at the expense of my fave being further vilified. (Leaking Ted's panic attack was a group project; Nathan and Trent both failed.)

Although, of course, any character's fans can be annoying. Like, there's this one guy (I think her name's Bernice Berfunny) who's always going on about Nathan Shelley. Every time I turn around, there she is. It's like give it a rest, buddy.

[abubblingcandle]

The first job chapter of The Richmond Job! So So good!!! I need more.

Any chance of a 🌹 for what's coming up?

Ahhhh thank you so much. I'm so glad you enjoyed it! The Richmond Job is currently winning my what should I write next post so I've been doing some chapter 3 plotting and writing of odd scenes as they come to me. Here's a little sneak peak!

"Oh fuck that's Trent Crimm," Roy cursed, spinning in place so his back was to the new arrival and Mannion. "Who's Trent Crimm?" Keeley asked, staring at the duo as they approached. Mannion looked as sleezy as he always did with a creepy grin and glint in his eye as he guided Trent Crimm towards them. Trent, thankfully, looked as uncomfortable as Keeley would with Mannion's hand at his elbow and face too close to his own. He looked sweet in his brown cordory jacket paired with a maroon shirt. But the striking feature was his hair, it was wavy perfection. "Do you think he'll give me his hair care routine if I ask nice?" Keeley muttered but her enthusiasm was tempered by Roy's growl. "Trent Crimm is a bleeding journo who used to be a war reporter. A war reporter who in a past life may have been stationed with a group of individuals doing less than morally correct activities," Roy hissed. Keeley's mouth formed a perfect O as the significance of that hit her. "Will he recognise you?" she asked, now also turning her back to the impeccibly manicured reporter. "I don't think so, I was like eighteen and clean shaven, crew cut," Roy mumbled. "Oh your poor hair," Keeley sighed with a little pout mourning the loss of teen Roy's curls. "Can you stop thinking about hair right now," Roy hissed and Keeley felt sufficiently scolded. Trent's hair was just transfixing.

[kalinara]

would you mind sharing with us those hopes/wishlist-type ideas for a Nate storyline in season 3? :D

I don't really have like a full storyline in mind or anything. I just have things that I'd really like to see. I think they're probably not all mutually compatible, but well, that's okay. It's a wishlist, not a checklist!

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I want Nate to redeem himself. I think most folks on tumblr are at least open to this idea, but I remember seeing quite a few folks on reddit and other places going on and on about how they think it'd be better and "more realistic" if Nate wasn't forgiven.

That irks me to no end. Because, first of all, what does "realism" even mean in the context of this show? Since when was that EVER a priority in this sweet little fable about a manic pixie dream girl who accidently materialized as a forty-five year old American man and saves everyone through kindness and love?

That's an oversimplification of course, because the show does and always did have its share of darkness and pain, trauma and abuse. But even then, the whole point is that people are people! They have layers and reasons for what they do.

Nate is motivated by pain and trauma, and he's been acting in terrible ways. But we know he's capable of better than that. And we know, at heart, that Nate wants to be better than that. So I'd be very disappointed if he wasn't given the opportunity.

"Cynicism" isn't the same as "realism", the show already has a few irredeemable monsters (Rupert and James Tartt, for example). We can afford to give Nate the chance to be better.

So now with that rant out of the way, here are some things/scenarios that I'd love to see, in no particular order:

1) I'd like to see Nate do well as the head coach of West Ham. I think it will be tough for him. Any screw up will be magnified, and Rupert will not be a pleasant boss if he doesn't get what he wants. Nate is also not a people person, and that's going to be a difficulty for him. But I'd like to see him rise to the occasion, now that he's in a place with less personal baggage.

It's not as satisfying to imagine a humiliated Nate crawling back to Richmond. I'd prefer to see a strong Nate, with a new understanding of Ted through his own relationships with his players, coming back as an ally and friend. (And if he does leave West Ham, I'd like it to be on his terms, or at least for his reasons.)

2) @hacash had a great scenario idea where Nate teams up with Trent to write an expose on Rupert. I love this. It'd be a perfect parallel/reversal to what he did at the end of this season, but for the right reasons this time.

3) Since Nate is presumably still a main character, we're probably going to get a closer look at Rupert's life in general. And particularly Bex. I would love to see Nate get to know Bex, see the real Rupert, and get her and baby Diane out of there.

4) I'd love to see Nate and Rebecca have a talk about Rupert. And maybe about Ted too. It occurs to me that, for all of Beard's protectiveness and anger, he never outright told Nate off for what he did. No one has. And maybe someone should. Ted certainly won't.

5) I want Nate to find out about the picture. Because knowing Ted as we do, I think the picture will still be up. Even after everything.

6) I kind of want/think we'll have a scene where Nate figuratively talks Ted off some kind of a ledge. Like Ted is on the verge of making some kind of dreadful decision, and Nate is the one who is able to keep that from happening.

I like this idea, because I mentioned in a previous post that I don't think Nate has any idea how much Ted is hurting. And I want him to be able to see his former mentor/surrogate father with clear eyes. And to do something to help.  

I especially like the idea that this happens BEFORE any kind of redemption arc for Nate.

7) I want to see the team annoy the shit out of pre-redeemed Nate through their enthusiasm and support. Because they love Nate. And probably, as far as they know, he just took a great professional opportunity.

8) I want truth and apologies to come out, all around. I want the team to apologize to Nate. I want Nate's own actions to come to light. I want Rebecca to apologize to everyone. All of that. Clear the air.

I'm sure if I think about it, I'll think of a few others, but this is my wishlist so far. :-)

[squid-nerds]

AOKI!!!!! I had a random burst of enthusiasm last night and it wore down a lot cause I obviously had to sleep but do you have any side ocs (that aren't related to the comic or are already revealed) that you would be willing to talk about??? Also I don't wanna devalue the phrase but your art is still fuckjng astounding as always, keep up the great work dude!!!💙💜💜💜💙💙💙💜💙💜💙💜💙

Oh my goodness, thank you! You’re so kind! 

I have too many side characters that aren’t related to the comic (both human and splatoon ;; ), but there are just a few I really wanted to bring up more, but no idea how. Here are some brief info on them!

the first is Damien’s boyfriend… I thought about him before I even thought of Damien kdjfksdjfks.. He still doesn’t have a name tho. I just call him big brows

Next is Zeno! (the inkling from this post)

He was originally Eli’s little brother. In a long, sketched out comic I didn’t finish, I went into Eli and Zeno’s childhood a bit. They lived with their mom in an apartment above the mom’s salon. 

Honestly, I was a little indecisive if I wanted to keep Zeno as Eli’s little brother?? I drew Naoki (the blue and white octoling) while playing with that idea that they were two separate characters that didnt know Emilio or Rocco. But, Zeno looks so similar to Eli that I couldn’t completely throw away that idea. 

Speaking of Eli…

GOD I WANTED TO GET INTO THEIR STORY WAY MORE THAN I DIIIDDDD!!! There is so much about them that I wanted to go over and build up! But it would’ve been WAY too long. I sketched out some scenes and wow, it was waaaayyy too much. 

Anyway, their relationship was very important to the story. Eli and Emilio’s relationship is actually the reason why Trent became so terrible towards Emilio. This was something I wanted to touch on in the most recent chapter, “Memories”, but it ended up being too long as I said. I hope I can go into it sometime!! I think it helps explain Emilio’s character.

There is plenty more (especially related to Rocco) but some will be revealed later or just doodles. Thank you for your ask!! This was fun!