The Courtesan (page 59)
Added 2021-06-19 10:42:43 +0000 UTCIt took Song two years (one of those years in a happy healthy relationship) to finally see what happened was wrong. No more finding his self worth in others’ validation 💕
Note! Song is only referring to being proposed to as “claiming” because he’s finally angry about his past relationship and /wanting/ to be committed to. Obviously if you are in a happy healthy relationship marriage is discussed and agreed upon by both parties!
Timeline:
16 - begins dating ex
18 - broken up with ex but keeps running hexes for him
19 - meets Mansa, Patch Job
20 - The Courtesan
Comments
It can take SO LONG to learn stuff.
Goat Matron
2021-06-20 00:55:55 +0000 UTC❤️ Can't wait to see, thank you!
Gabriel Wolfe
2021-06-19 18:50:33 +0000 UTCThat is the main reason that song runs off, which is in direct contrast to what he is realizing here… he must run into someone again that changes his mind 👀
Whiteley Foster
2021-06-19 18:38:16 +0000 UTCI love your theory of this expression of love and commitment. I agree that we should be honorary infernals.
Kat Holtz
2021-06-19 18:24:22 +0000 UTCLove this shot ❤️ Honestly your panels are always stunning but the last three just make me keep coming back to gaze at them over and over! Quick question: from the proposal comic, I had thought the impetus for Song leaving had been his feelings of unworthiness at being on equal footing with Mansa in a marriage, so he ran off to be a celestial scholar. Or is it more multifaceted than I thought? If this will all be explained in the main comic, feel free not to answer, I’m just greedy and love any insight into these gorgeous characters’ minds I can get 🥰
Gabriel Wolfe
2021-06-19 18:14:48 +0000 UTCThis is so beautiful, Whiteley 😢❤️ We love ya boys so much.
litlgreenleaf
2021-06-19 17:53:02 +0000 UTCI have to say, I love your world-building. This universe you created is so beautifully intricate and well thought out. I absolutely adore it. ❤️❤️❤️
Sweet Pea
2021-06-19 17:42:53 +0000 UTCOoh okay, now that I know that for sure, I can say that I LOVE how well you did the leather! The way it twists, and the colors on the top and bottom of it - gorgeous. 💜
Engliiish
2021-06-19 17:31:17 +0000 UTCright! He’s five years older than song
Whiteley Foster
2021-06-19 17:31:16 +0000 UTCGosh, Song DID start out young didn’t he! 🥺 Spunky sure but so vulnerable too. Saw comment from sick_pineapple and agree re Song making the decision to wear a lariat, he SO wants to be Mansa’s Courtesan 🥰 We know Mansa’s got a contract already so there’s that sense of them wanting to go forward together ☺️ Very happy they’re having this talk. Please remind me, is Mansa in his mid 20’s at this point? Think he’s 24 in Patch job, am I right? 🙂
Nicola Coxon
2021-06-19 17:27:54 +0000 UTCSong’s is leather, you’re right 😊
Whiteley Foster
2021-06-19 17:20:35 +0000 UTCThis whole scene has been drawn and written so beautifully! (Like, especially so, I mean.) I have a question about Song's lariat - what material is it made of? I think I used to assume it was a delicate black metal chain, but now that we are seeing it up close it looks like some gorgeous black flat corded leather. No matter what it's supposed to be it looks AMAZING here; I just want to make sure I am imagining it right!
Engliiish
2021-06-19 16:30:58 +0000 UTCMansa’s got a big job ahead of him trying to prove that to Song 💕
Whiteley Foster
2021-06-19 16:16:04 +0000 UTCI was going to say the same thing. Song has a dim view due to his previous experience with a human partner, but a proposal is meant to be just that-- a "please accept me". No shade to Song, lots of humans get it backwards all the time too.
Kaiannanthi
2021-06-19 16:14:32 +0000 UTC😭💕🥰
rippingoffmyface
2021-06-19 14:40:27 +0000 UTCThanks! Knowing it's a step they kinda take together (on their own but respecting the other, I guess) is really helpful. I did think of Harmony and Vonya, except they seem to have a really happy and healthy relationship, so I wasn't sure how it worked in a bad one. - Meanwhile, the ex displayed how bad it can get without any jewelry whatsoever. >:( EDITED cuz I misnamed the ex (sorry Thomas, you were a jerk but not that bad)
catididnt
2021-06-19 14:21:02 +0000 UTCI did talk about this a little on the last post with Harmony and Vonya (because Vonya put one on before Harmony) but yes it absolutely could be used to manipulate a partner! Just like human marriage isn’t perfect neither is this method, it’s just different. If it makes the partner uncomfortable of course they can be asked not to wear it - just like somebody getting proposed to can say “I’m not ready”. And most times partners will come to the decision together and shop for lariats as a couple. Song only refers to proposal as being claimed because he had such a bad experience with wanting to be committed to and getting the complete opposite of that. Putting a lariat on after a month: huge red flag! Getting proposed to after a month: huge red flag! Again, definitely not perfect, infernals take their autonomy very seriously and this is how they show commitment 💕
Whiteley Foster
2021-06-19 14:16:11 +0000 UTCOh Song 😢
Atelerix
2021-06-19 14:13:19 +0000 UTCThe proposal comment is really interesting to me because of the fact that Mansa proposes later. I wonder if after song left he ever thought back and remembered this conversation and that comment and made himself upset
Hannah Barnes
2021-06-19 13:16:12 +0000 UTCI'm curious, though (sorry) how do infernals deal with it when someone is ready to commit to them before they're ready to have someone to commit to them? At it's core, a proposal isn't claiming, it's offering - you offer yourself to your partner and your partner can say no. Both sides have a choice in the decision. I understand the lariat doesn't need to be mutual, but what happens when your partner moves too fast for you by wearing it? Is there an acceptable way to ask them to not wear it? (It's just... one half of the relationship getting to display "I'm fully committed" without the other half getting to agree or disagree just makes me nervous. It seems very open to manipulation.)
catididnt
2021-06-19 13:15:45 +0000 UTCOh 😭 ❤️
Clare
2021-06-19 13:10:59 +0000 UTCSAME!
sick_pineapple
2021-06-19 12:38:55 +0000 UTCOh Song. ❤️ Also this is such a gorgeous panel! The lighting!!
Andrea Inder
2021-06-19 12:14:05 +0000 UTCBaby Song is so precious
AleenaBite
2021-06-19 12:11:09 +0000 UTCI totally agree!
Marta
2021-06-19 11:43:38 +0000 UTC"We don't wait for our partners to tell us when we are allowed to be happy" that's such a beautiful sentence Whiteley and one I think most people really need to hear (myself included)❤ Thank you so much!
Marta
2021-06-19 11:41:30 +0000 UTCYou are now an infernal 💕
Whiteley Foster
2021-06-19 11:35:03 +0000 UTCOk, but can we be honorary infernals now? Because I'm so down for this tradition. 🥰🥰 Screw human commitment ceremonies, I'm getting myself a Lariat when I get to that place in my heart 🥰🥰
the.kitsuneko
2021-06-19 11:34:30 +0000 UTCI like that the focus of this page is on his lariat while he explains this part of his personal backstory and culture to Mansa 🥰
Avalon
2021-06-19 11:29:18 +0000 UTCAt this point yes! He’s a baby currently.
Whiteley Foster
2021-06-19 11:21:22 +0000 UTCSong is 20??
gingerhaole
2021-06-19 11:20:51 +0000 UTCSong being only 16 makes that whole relationship worse.
Neil K.
2021-06-19 11:20:51 +0000 UTCThey can be, but usually they are purchased specifically for the relationship. In the panel where Song is walking through the market one of the stands is selling lariats! What Song’s doing is akin to using your grandmother’s engagement ring. It’s not the usual, but it’s also not uncommon, and it’s a nice family gesture.
Whiteley Foster
2021-06-19 11:11:16 +0000 UTCYou said Songs Lariat was a necklace that belonged to his mother, are Lariats normally something the Infernal already owns? Can they buy an actual Lariat or do they buy a necklace or jewellery they like and use that?.
Pears
2021-06-19 11:08:09 +0000 UTC:'( <3
Vala
2021-06-19 11:00:18 +0000 UTCI love the idea of lariats! And I’m so happy for Song and Mansa 🥰
Mimsynims
2021-06-19 10:55:54 +0000 UTCOh, darling 😭 I’m so frickin proud of him. He’s been through so much (and I think there’s still more we don’t fully know yet) and yet is still this strong, kind, funny, loving string bean we all know and love.
Ash S.
2021-06-19 10:53:10 +0000 UTCYou know, I really like that infernal tradition. Proposals asking "be with me", and decision to wear a lariat like saying "no matter what, my heart is yours". That is so beautiful.
BigBadCat
2021-06-19 10:49:42 +0000 UTCoh, putting his lariat on and beginning to decide for himself is a huge step, I'm so proud of him for having strength to make it now 🥺❤️ even if it's Mansa now, not his abuser, Song putting his lariat on BEFORE Mansa officially proposes courtesan partnership feels like a big thing! ❤️ and once again I'm amazed by the whole idea of lariats ❤️
sick_pineapple
2021-06-19 10:49:32 +0000 UTCAlso you are so impressionable at 16. His ex took that advantage...
YamiKakyuu
2021-06-19 10:49:07 +0000 UTC😭💗 this is so beautifull
Pierce
2021-06-19 10:48:25 +0000 UTCAwwwwwww 💖💖💖💖
YamiKakyuu
2021-06-19 10:47:15 +0000 UTCOooh and so that's why he put on the lariat, our precious bean is finally happy with Mansa and wants to show it!!! 😍😍🥰
Marine
2021-06-19 10:46:28 +0000 UTCIs that what he put his horn thing on?
Tarek Giver of Cookies
2021-06-19 10:44:24 +0000 UTC
