Addiction 101-104 END
Added 2021-03-10 07:59:18 +0000 UTCMy partner got mad at me for not including a 'what if' at the end, so have it. There are two possible outcomes for this story.
1. A tornado occurs as Leto hangs himself. This is symbolic of the first time Leto found value in life by participating in activities outside of school, with Damon, doing disaster relief. That first disaster relief was a tornado. Leto still dies, but these last two pages are what could have been. A life he fantasizes about before death. This is the more fucked up ending because it means Damon would find his dead body during disaster response for this city.
2. A tornado occurs as Leto attempts to hang himself. Repeat of the symbolism in scenario 1. However, the tornado hits early enough to fuck up his suicide attempt, and Damon finds him during disaster relief. They get through Leto's issues and Leto's happier and these last two pages are real. I like this scenario better. It's a reminder that there is hope even in the darkest and most fucked up of situations. It'd be a jarring ending for scenario two, though, because I don't show any of the steps taken to recover from Leto's awful situation. But if he can end up OK as in these last two pages, despite all those hurdles, so can someone going through something similar. Don't give up hope. (-;
I'll deliver the details for the next comic in tomorrow's post. Comic schedules are returning to Saturday-Sunday posts.
Comments
This comic was really interesting, it had me invested the whole way through! Scenario 2 is the best case scenario even if it isn't likely, but it does give hope.
Dusty Raksha
2021-03-12 16:37:56 +0000 UTCThank you for sharing this story. For someone who is trying to support a partner, who is in a similar mindset that suicide is the exit and release they're looking for after the horrible things that had happened to them, and for myself, who is also trying to get help and counseling so I can support myself and become an adequate support for my partner. This really means alot to me.
Isabel Reloj
2021-03-11 09:15:16 +0000 UTCWithout reading the description first I saw that he was thinking about suicide, while on the car ride, but was talked from it.
anonnymousspacething
2021-03-10 17:09:34 +0000 UTCHad me sobbing ;~; Thank you for the story!!
Kit Katt
2021-03-10 15:50:40 +0000 UTCThis comic means something to me
Vinnie aka Russell aka Quince
2021-03-10 15:34:50 +0000 UTCGood. First rule of content creation: the internet will consume all media as fast, or as slow, as it is put out for them to enjoy. You can destroy yourself with a breakneck pace and that "more please" will remain infinite. So take care of yourself first and foremost, the internet can wait.
Zhon Lord
2021-03-10 14:50:49 +0000 UTCWell said Testing.
Zhon Lord
2021-03-10 14:06:01 +0000 UTCI'd like to give you major kudos for this story. In terms of story, it ranks among one of my favorite comics written in this fandom so far - My only other favorites being cruelty and unconditional. What strikes me the most is the realistic take you took on addiction and how these relationships are and what they eventually end up doing to the victim. I've additionally had a few friends tell me they felt the ending was a little bit rushed, but it seems perfect. You crafted an open world that makes one wanting to read more; craving a happier ending, but at the same time closing the book on it. As someone whose family is primarily composed of addicts and narcissists, how you portrayed addiction in general is spot on. You left enough open ended to wonder "What happened specifically between Howl/Leto, Sam/Leto, did he move out, what happened with the Mother" - What happened right before his suicide? - Which how you wrote this story, ended up being a rather good thing than negative. Unlike a few other furry themed comics that always end up "Sex fixes everything and happy ever after", you just portray a trio of toxic relationships here perfectly.I can only imagine the mental strain this took on you. Unfortiunately this comic is far from a fantasy and is a common occurence in the "Furry Fandom" and far too common outside of it as well, and it's realistic how Leto had the best of friends, but in the end lost both of them for good if you take the "He survived ending", though I'd be honest to say my mind strains towards the "He died" as the most canon ending.. You portrayed a "Life moves on, people move on, and actions have permanent consequences perfectly here", and now I am full of feels and must take a bit of a break for awhile.
testingowo
2021-03-10 13:21:59 +0000 UTCI canβt say I didnβt feel this coming, but, damn it just breaks my heart to see it. Thank you for the comic, the story was executed masterfully. I canβt see wait to see what else you have to cook up
Cezzy
2021-03-10 13:14:15 +0000 UTCThanks! The break will be the silly, short little comic I'm doing next. (-: The less frequent updates will also be a breather; doing a page every single day screwed with my schedule and time with my husband. I don't think I'll be doing that again for a very long time.
Grim Reaper
2021-03-10 13:08:34 +0000 UTCZhon is correct about Reth. She'd likely not care that Leto no longer appears online/responds to her messages. By Leto getting therapy, he would learn how toxic Reth was. It would take years to undo the majority of psychological fuckery Reth instilled upon Leto. Leto would even be resistant to therapy for a time because of how ingrained his life had been in Reth's grooming. It's easy to deny it and not see things for what they are when it's been your entire life--it's what you've only ever experienced as 'normal'. But he'd stop talking to Reth completely at some point in scenario two. For Sam in scenario one, I can only go off of how I feel when my best friend disappeared. At first, she wouldn't care, maybe for years, but eventually she may come to miss him if she doesn't have enough things to do. I don't think she'll miss him to the point of sadness as he did cause her a lot of frustration throughout life. In scenario two, she'd be grateful he's 'gone'/gotten help (she can see issues he has much better than Howl can, and she has disdain/annoyance for Leto because of it among other things). She would be more amicable to them hanging out if Leto moved out of the house (distance makes the heart grow fonder). For Howl, scenario one, he would go through the typical motions of losing a loved one. His mother would be more watchful of him since the hospital incident, so he wouldn't be able to cut to deal with the emotional pain, so he'd get therapy in some form or another. In scenario two, Howl is happy for Leto.
Grim Reaper
2021-03-10 13:07:01 +0000 UTCIn Reth's case she's likely just moving on to more victims. Leto was only ever a fetish for her, a thing to be exploited for her own enjoyment. She's already got other kids just since Leto became too old for her.
Zhon Lord
2021-03-10 12:50:25 +0000 UTCJust a curious question for the Comic Author. In either scenario, what would you imagine Howls/Sams response would be? Or if he survived his attempt and their was some sort of sequel; if his relationship with both of them was finished or not? And how would you play Reth into the ending of this, Leto just cutting her off completely, or her just ghosting him again?
testingowo
2021-03-10 12:29:21 +0000 UTCEven if scenario 2 has a "jarring disconnect" from the rest, it's still potent in its own way same as scenario 1. The fact that it can be interpreted either way is part of what makes it strong. Well done Grim, well done. My sympathies again that certain sites decided it's against their ToS to raise awareness that dark stuff like this actually occurs, but it's a story that needed to be told nonetheless. Looking forward to your next one - but give yourself a bit of a break okay? Going through the stress of making a story this intense, you probably need one.
Zhon Lord
2021-03-10 12:17:34 +0000 UTCI had braced myself for the worst and while I can see both "endings" you provided, I have to go with option 2. As someone that's lost two people to suicide in the last year it's good to remind people struggling that there is hope.
Ashenterath
2021-03-10 12:08:01 +0000 UTCI can completely unterstand his feelings in the end , that he feels like shit because his unchosen attraction to all this stuff, still I hope for ending number two, he is not a bad person only misunderstand.
Florian
2021-03-10 08:41:32 +0000 UTCThey drive off into the sunset, but the sunset is 2020. I really liked this comic Grim. Great work. π©π
reno_miles
2021-03-10 08:07:19 +0000 UTCI'm really unsure what to respond exactly. It's been a long journey in this comic. Had me and my mate go "Leto you idiot!" But I hope for scenario 2. As bad as life can be, not everything is all doom and gloom. I have to believe that. Thanks again for this comic.
taylor criswell
2021-03-10 08:05:32 +0000 UTC
