Original Twitter Upload Date: June 23, 2022. The script below was originally posted to DA on the same day, and has been revised minimally from the original version.
[June 23, 2018 on the strict timeline of ZP-51498. The Hynde triplets are celebrating their birthday at the manor; they’re helping themselves to the refreshments, Paddy and Molly to barbecue chips and deviled eggs, Margo to a glass of Shirley Temple. The latter is dressed in her 1960s-style girl group outfit]
Paddy: “I thought you said before that you hate wearing dresses.”
Margo: [takes a sip from her glass] “I do. But I’ve learned to tolerate them. Besides, it’s blue. Blue is the color of boldness and power. Both traits you both know I have.”
Paddy, Molly: “Ah!”
Molly: “Can’t argue with that.”
Paddy: “The dress does look cute on you, if you don’t mind me saying.” [Margo blushes] “And so does the…” [pats Margo’s updo] “…beehive.”
Margo: “Okay, okay, that’s enough.” [brushes Molly’s hands away] “For the record, if these dresses were all the same color, I’d never agree to wearing one. But mine’s blue, so I get to show the audience I’m a brawny gal, without telling them I’m a brawny gal.” [strikes a pose in which she shows of her arm muscles] “Boo-yah!”
Molly: [chuckles] “You have very little muscle tone.”
Margo: “I have more than April does. She’s only ten pounds more than me with a foot more of the height. I can beat her in a fight easily. Square cube law in action, baby!”
Paddy: “Square cube law? What do you know about the square cube law?”
Margo: “That an object double the size of an otherwise identical object, has four times the surface area, and eight times the volume. And because of the discrepancy between the scaling of the surface area and volume, said larger object has only half the relative strength of its smaller counterpart. That’s why an elephant can only carry about a quarter of its weight, but ants can carry dozens of times their weight. And why bigger things, need to be made from stronger materials.”
[Paddy and Molly are silent, amazed by Margo’s description of this scientific observation]
Paddy: “Wow. That’s… actually amazing.”
Molly: “When did you learn about that? Let alone how to explain it so well?”
Margo: “Robotics class.”
Paddy: “Oh!”
Molly: “So you did learn something useful in that class.”
Margo: “It was the first thing we were taught.”
Paddy: “I bet it was because they didn’t want you trying to build any full-size Gundams or Jaegers.”
Margo: “Yeah, they actually said that was why. I’m still gonna try to when I get good at it, though.”
Molly: “What?! T, Mom put you in that class because it’s the one subject you do well in! Other than gym! She wants you to use your skills to build something good for the world, not do the kind of stuff those weird twin sisters of Wendy’s do!”
Margo: “Okay, first of all, Mols, you know I hate being reminded of my first name. Second, it’s actually quite easy to build a mecha. Everyone just does it wrong. You gotta make its legs really heavy and strong, and the torso up light by comparison. And have the torso and legs connected to a gyroscope to make it move easier.”
Paddy: “Huh, that… would actually work. You’re smarter than I though you were. In that subject, at least.”
Margo: “Thank you, Paddy. Third, I wouldn’t build mechas to cause destruction, I’d build them to dance and project holograms when I perform. And maybe for flying in. I’m not completely mental, I wouldn’t just unleash a giant… anything on a city, and expect it not to cause damage. I know how to be responsible with that kind of stuff.”
Molly: [sarcastically] “Do you now?”
Margo: “And fourth… I already have built something good for the world.”
[Margo gestures to her uncle Shaun and aunt Roxanne, who are near the windows, decorated with purple forget-me-nots growing from pots on the windowsills, though one bears blue and purple. Roxanne is talking with her brother Richard Sumner, while Shaun is leaning near the blue-and-purple-decorated window, sipping Shirley Temple]
Shaun: “Oof. This is too sweet. It tastes like straight flavor enhancer.” [the blue flowers start spinning, startling Shaun] “Huh?”
[the blue flowers fly into Shaun’s free hand, where they assemble into a bouquet and subsequently stop spinning. A microphone pops out of the biggest one, and starts playing “Should Have Been Loved” by the Proclaimers. Roxanne’s ears perk up, and she looks back at Shaun]
Roxanne: “Shaun?”
Shaun: [blushes and laughs weakly] “I didn’t –“
Roxanne: [jumps into Shaun and hugs him] “Our wedding song! You romantic, you!” [kisses Shaun on the cheek]
Shaun: [beat] “Ah, what the hell.” [throws bouquet-bot aside; he and Roxanne start dancing together]
Richard S.: “My sis ended up with the right buck.” [sips from his glass, a Dr. Pepper]
[back to the triplets; Paddy and Molly are amazed]
Molly: “Wow. That… that actually is good. Well, for uncle Shaun and aunt Roxanne, at least.”
Paddy: “I can’t believe Mom’s related to him, given how chill he is. Let alone his twin.” [sees someone coming] “Speaking of twins, here’s August.”
[Margo turns to see that August is indeed coming. The boar is dressed a bit more femininely than Margo’s used to seeing, with a feminine-looking bow tie, bell-bottoms, and heeled leather shoes]
Margo: “Oh! Hi, Augsie! I was wondering where you were.”
August: “Nice to see you, Mar. Happy teenhood! And… you too, Molly and Paddy.”
Molly, Paddy: “Thanks, August.”
Margo: “You, uh…” [looks at August’s outfit] “You look different, if you don’t mind me saying. Whatever that style is, it looks nice on you.”
August: “Yeah, it’s just a… just a look I wanted to try out in public for my first time. I feel it really reflects me.”
Margo: “Reflects you? What do you mean, reflects you?”
August: “Well, um… I don’t really…” [beat] “…I don’t really believe gender describes me. I… I don’t believe in gender, not that it’s binary, anyway. So I wanted to wear something that reflects my, uh… non-belief. In gender.”
Margo: [perks up; she realizes what her boy — um, enbyfriend, is trying to tell her. Paddy and Molly also perk up] “Augsie, are — are you coming out to us?”
August: [long pause, as he — no, they, think of what to say next. After letting out a sigh, the words come out] “Yeah. I guess I am.”
[pause between them, as the triplets take in the news]
Paddy: “Huh.”
Molly: “Wow.”
Paddy: “Well then.”
Margo: “So, uh… what do you think does describe you? I mean, what does describe you?”
August: “I’m what’s called genderfluid. A gender that fluctuates a lot. Meaning sometimes I feel male, and other times female. And other times something in between. Like today. I fall under the non-binary umbrella.”
Margo: “Wait, the agar. The one with the yellow and purple at your and April’s birthday, the one I saw on Facebook. Was that a non-binary flag?”
August: [sighs] “Yes, it was.”
Margo: “So that’s why you didn’t invite us.”
Paddy: [scowling] “And also why you told us that was an ally flag.”
Molly: [angrily] “Why did you lie to us?!”
August: “Because I was worried one of you would out me to your folks if you found out there. I know how conservative some of them like your mother are, and I didn’t want her separating Margo and me if she or someone else in your extended family wasn’t tolerant of me. I wanted to be the one to tell her and see what she thought, before I came out to you. I’m sorry I lied to you.” [to Margo] “And especially to you. You do understand, though, right?”
Margo: “It’s fine, Augsie. Come to think of it, I should’ve known anyway, you were gender-flowing.”
August: “Genderfluid.”
Margo: “Genderfluid. It was kind of obvious, given how comfortable you are with cross-dressing. My mom would’ve found out eventually anyway, whether it was you or me who told her.”
August: “So you’re not angry I lied?”
Margo: “No, I understand why you did. And you are valid no matter what anyone tells you.” [August smiles] “What did Mom think, anyway? Was she okay with it?”
[Sally has overheard from over a hundred feet away; she runs over to Margo]
Sally: “I’ll tell ya what I wasn’t okay with! The assumption that just ’cause I’m old-fashioned makes me a bigot! The fact that the three of ya were kept away from celebratin’ yoah friends’ buthday ’cause of me, really huht my feelings!”
Margo: “To be fair, most of your feelings are anger and disappointment.”
Sally: “And as foah yoah friend bein’ gendahfluid? I may not undahstand completely what gendahfluidity is, but I will gladly respect any identity that doesn’t hahm anyone othah than ovahsensitve bigots and theuh feelins!”
Molly: “So you’re okay with his sister being a lesbian, too?”
Sally: “Uh, yeah! I’ve known foah yeauhs April was datin’ the Daniels guhl! I’m not stupid!”
Molly: “Oh.”
Margo: “Wait a minute. Augsie, if you’re genderfluid, does that mean you still go by ‘August’? And what do we call you? Like, do we still call you ‘he’? Or are you a ‘she’ now?”August Auggie: “To be honest, sometimes I prefer ‘Augustine’. But sometimes I prefer ‘August’. But the name I respond best to every time, is ‘Auggie’. I don’t mind being called ‘August’ or ‘Augustine’, but ‘Auggie’ is the name I’m most comfortable with. As for the question about ‘he’ and ‘him’ or ‘she’ and ‘her’? I don’t mind either gender of pronouns. But I respond best every time to ‘they’ and ‘them’.”
Margo: “They and them? Isn’t that for groups of ines?”
Sally: “No, Mahgo. It’s also foah singulah nonbinary ines. Which are called ‘enbies’, by the way. And also foah those you don’t know the gendah of. Trust me, Mahgo, it’s gramatically correct. And ya already know how to use it as a singulah. Yoah brain will adjust.”
Margo: “So I already know how to sing –“
Sally: “Yes, yes ya do.”
[Margo smiles, and runs up to Gilda, Wendy, and April, who are dressed similarly to her, in outfits of their respective signature colors]
Margo: “Girls! Girls!” [the rest of the Tetrad turns to her] “Change of plans.”
Gilda: “Yes? We’re listening.” [winks; Wendy and April also wink]
Margo: “I’d like to modify our song a little. In honor of my enbyfriend.” [winks]
To wrap up the 13th birthday series, here’s the piece of Margo’s (and Paddy’s and Molly’s) 13th birthday party! Which also marks the first time I’ve drawn Auggie and Margo together since deciding to write the former to be genderfluid, and retconning the latter to be a glasses-wearer. To be honest, my decision to make this an Auggo (that’s the new official name of the ship, although ‘Margust’ is still an acceptable alternative name, as is ‘Margustine’)1 artwork was mainly to finally unite the retconned Margo with the enby Auggie. Auggo was never abandoned, I just couldn’t think of a good idea for artwork to draw them together in. Until now, with the Tetrad performing a modified version of “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)” by Betty Everett. You’re probably more familiar with it being performed by Cher. It depends on whether you know the song from Mermaids, or from Tiny Toon Adventures. Personally, I knew it as a Cher song first, but have listened to the Betty Everett version more. As for my opinion on which is better, I don’t have a preference for either version. I can go between the two pretty easily.
1 ‘Auggo’? I came up with that? Oh well. Better than ‘Mollie’. Even though TGAMM season 2 has been quite good.
As for this artwork in particular, it was indeed inspired by Tiny Toon Adventures. Where it was sung (well, lipsynced) by another leporine, Babs Bunny. Who, funnily enough, I’ve drawn Margo dressed as before. Production-wise, all of the assets were created by me, though I did trace over a stock image to draw the door, and I used the fresh pasta filter on the floor and wall, to give it a flatter, more cartoony look. Yes, I fresh pasta’d my own assets2. I’ll still use the fresh pasta effect on stock images when I feel appropriate, but at least I know now that it also works well with the assets I create myself.
2 Fresh pasta of my own assets. Es ist immer moralisch richtig.
I think my favorite detail of this artwork is the reflections in the floor. I feel it really gives depth to the artwork, a sense of realism and dimension. And I’ll remember to include it whenever I feel it’d be realistic for a floor surface, or indeed any surface other than a mirror, to be showing a reflection3.
3 Now how do I adapt that to the black-and-white comics? Will dithering work?
Overall, I like how this artwork turned out. It’s one of my better takes on scenery, and the effects I applied, I feel sell the realism aspect well. As for the script above, I hope I did a good job capturing coming out. If anyone has any suggestions on how to improve it, please send them my way. That’ll be all for this artwork. Until next time, take care, stay safe, get vaccinated, reject crypto, keep the GOP out of politics, and have a good one.
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Grunvale/OTOG is owned by me. You’re free to draw fanart or write fanfics of it, as long as you credit me as the creator of the series.
“The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)” was written by Rudy Clark and performed by Betty Everett for the album You’re No Good, owned by… (looks at Wikipedia) …I’m gonna guess Universal Music Group.
This artwork was made at a resolution of 5076×2160 (aspect ratio 2.35:1).
The Gallery of Stormy Adler 