You all can stop holding your breath. Today we find out what Nathan was up to. New Pages 9 & 10! Enjoy!
Looks like maybe Alan got the wrong idea. Or he’s just surprised to see Nathan there. Or to find Bea awake. Or to find them so chummy with each other. Guess we’ll have to wait to find out. In any event, what Alan doesn’t realize is that Bea deserves to have Nathan walk in on her while she’s only half dressed and sleeping.
History tidbit about the real Captain Hale: Elisha Bostwick, a Captain who served with Nathan wrote this about him after his death, “[Hale] was undoubtedly Pious; for it was remarked that when any of the soldiers of his company were sick he always visited them & usually prayed for & with them in their sickness.” I figured… after everything Bea’s been through, and has told him, he’d probably offer up a few prayers for her. If for no other reason then to alleviate his guilty conscience. (Or the fact that she believes she’s a time traveller from the future!)
Since Tuesday was a significant date in the life of Nathan Hale, I created a commemorative wallpaper for him! Details are in the previous blog entry, or on the Store Page. For any sized donation, all this Nathan Hale loveliness can be yours:
I had too much going on with the wedding last week to get ahead on my work, so I don’t have any new material for the voting incentive this week. But please, feel free to still VOTE just because you love the comic! :) See you next Friday!
I hope it’s any of the latter, and none of the former. I think Alan and Bea have had enough problems lately – throwing a fight into the mix just might push her more towards Cato. Not that I don’t like Cato, but I’m really rooting for Alan and Bea :)
AWKWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol Is there any way I can get a screencap of Nathan praying without the sleepy fuzzies? :D <3
Hehe one important thing about getting caught doing nothing is continuing to portray innocence (as one would be, in fact, innocent, if indeed they weren’t doing anything but talking). Let’s hope Alan doesn’t take this the wrong way.
I do wonder, though: is it entirely appropriate for Alan to come in like that? Or am I just missing something?
And one more question that dawned on me a while back but I keep forgetting to ask: has it occurred to Bea that when she wakes up to real life, Alan’s grave could be no more than thirty paces from her front door? I know she decided against doing tons of research &c., because after all, ignorance is the safest (and sanest) choice for her, but what a depressing thought that would be for Beatrice. Man, it’s depressing for me to think about, let alone her.
Awesome art as usual, btw. Do you have any sweet tips for creating patterned fabrics? I tend to struggle with them.
Awkward moments for the win! I hope (but doubt) that Alan won’t overreact.
Since I’ve already seen the pencil drawings on Assetbar I’ve been so surprised the last few weeks to see the new pages in color. I’m always like “woah, they’re so pretty!”
I think I might love these pages to no end. I like that they are sitting on a bed/chair but it’s opposite of the way Alan and Bea were sitting in issue one. And I love how Nathan is trying not to look proud of himself in pannel four, but he totally is.
OH! I’ve been wondering if anyone of the boys have noticed that she must be STARVING. Or can 21st Century Bea eat for 18th Centruy Bea? hence the issue six pig out… hummm….
Great pages! I love Nathan in these pages so much, I just want to hug him.
Fangirlisms aside, maybe you should put the link to your fanflow with the devientart and stuff for easy access
eeekkk i can’t wait to see what happens next week! and i’m so happy to see Bea awake and back in the 18th century! keep up the awesome work! :D
So awkward! Alan’s face on the last page is priceless. ^_^
The Dreamer just keeps getting more and more beautiful! I love the sun streaming in from the windows on these pages, it really adds something! :D
@Christina: Earlier in the issue Alan seemed ready to patch things up with Nathan, so I doubt he’s in the mood to start another fight! Then again… ;)
@Allison: When I wrote the scene, I figured that since the door to Bea’s room was open, Alan assumed she was up and awake and came right in. Aside from that, he was by her side most of the night (remember the first two pages of issue #7?)
As for the fabric, that design is from Wisdoms Pearl! (http://wisdoms-pearl07.deviantart.com) I credited her back when I first used this pattern in issue #6, but I should give her a shout out again! The wallpaper I used in Col. Knowlton’s room I created myself by adapting an actual 18th century pattern I found online.
@Angie: Thanks!! It’s been so much fun showing you guys works-in-progress! I think every stage of my art has its own merits, and the rough sketch stage is the part you never get to see here!
@Natalie: It’s on Mike’s “To Do” list. ;)
Ah, that makes sense. : D
Aww..I was looking forward to the rekindling of Nathan and Alan’s bromance =( but I suppose Alan’s not going to be too happy in the next couple pages. But then again, I can never predict wants gonna happen. I can’t wait til next Friday! Simply Splendid pages btw *applause por vous*
@Angie: Maybe she cracked and shared a moldy biscuit with someone ^_^ (A couple months ago I had the pleasure of stumbling across some civil war reenactors in Philly, and, while I’m sure rations were a bit different 100 before that, I can totally see not eating for a few days if your only choices were lard and rock-bread. I forget the technical name for the biscuits that could survive a nuclear winter, but they soaked them and fried then with lard for flavor. When there was cooking equiptment handy.)
I’ve actually been wondering how Revolutionary Bea uses the bathroom, what with the gagillion layers of undergarments she had on (at least until Nathan so chivalrously divested her of them). Since she can’t see to handle her magnificent frillyness herself and all.
Man, I got a terrible feeling that the food is going to end up on the floor. Should be an entertaining next couple of pages. :D
I already told you but it bears mentioning again, the coloring and the lighting effects are marvelous.
Wow. Awkward much. Lets hope Alan darling doesn’t jump to any naughty conclusions. Haha. It’s quite interesting though, how he assumed she would be awake already. Aw man. Then there’s the part of how Bea’s gonna face him. Maybe she’ll take Yvette’s word to it and have fun with both. *giggle*
Poor Nathan… He’s always thrown into the stickiest situations… Always given the bad hand of cards… Sigh… And now he’s going to end up getting beaten up by Alan again. Poor pooooor Nathan…
This is definitely an evil EVIL spot to end the two pages, Lora!! I’m just DYING TO KNOW what happens NEXT!!! You really are just leaving me at the edge of my seat…
SO UNFAIR! Hah!
Glad the wedding went well, magnificent wallpaper. Absolutely astounding, really.
Aaaand I forgot to mention: Great work on the lighting and colours. Really beautiful. :)
Wow, panel 2 of page 10 looks AMAZING. Is there a chance that picture could be turned into a wallpaper? That and panel 3 of page 9. Those pictures just knocked me off my feet.
Weird, I’m the only guy who commented…
Ah I think Alan’s just all ‘dur hur Bea’s half-undressed’. I mean, he might be a Puritan, but he’s still human and she’s sleep-rumpled and stay-wearing.
Really lovely work on these pages, Lora, every expression is perfectly drawn, and there’s so much life in their eyes!
@Elle: At least now Bea can use a necessary, now that she’s in the city. In the camp it would’ve been in the woods or… using a bowl underneath the Colonel’s cot. *gag*
@Albone: You think Alan is going to get angry enough to throw perfectly good, non-moldy bread on the floor? Over a girl?! You’re crazy! ;)
@Deb: You never know. She did take Yvette’s advice on that side of reality. However, Nathan is her confidant on this side and I really doubt he’d give similar advice. ;)
@John: Those images are hard to use for a wallpaper because they’re so vertical. :( I did post the Page 9 panel in my gallery at DeviantART if you want to see it larger. Oh, and Albone is a guy. ;)
Thanks everyone on the compliments on today’s pages! Mike was convinced you guys would love this update!
Is it just me when i say that Alan looks really hot when he is mad or confused or do others think the same ?
aww, this was such a lovely birthday present!! thank you for never letting the history nerd inside of me die lora!
(…and totally agree alyson, hahah)
Aaaah! I knew this would make my crappy day awesome and it totally did! <3 Huge laugh out loud!! I love love love the awkwardness, but wow, my heart stopped when I saw Alan’s face. It made me laugh..but still! Aaah!
I hope your personal life is back to normal now!! Sad writer is no good!
Thanks so much Lora! Can’t wait for next week!
Ohh noooo. Breathe, Alan, please breathe. Even though I agree with Alyson’s comment 100%…
The Nathan wallpaper looks AMAZING, as does the art in both pages. And Nathan praying by bea’s bed, and his feelings of responsibility, are totally in character. Thanks for depicting him so truthfully, Lora- and I hope that wedding went well!
OMG, I just started this comic last weekend, and i’m already hooked!! I spent the last five days biting my nails(wait, I thought I beat the habit…?) and waiting anxiously for the next update. AWESOME story!! You are an amazing artist! *sigh* now I have to wait till next Friday… Where did I put my time machine again??;)
Anyway, love the new update and can’t wiat to see what happens next!
Ashley
Wow. The lighting in these two pages is /fantastic/!
Huh. Seems like everytime Bea wakes up, there’s a fuzzy picture of someone there. Who’s next? xD
Also, seeing how Bea looks when she wakes up, what would have happened if Alan entered the room before Nathan? He even brought a picnic basket. ):
In the first and third panels in page ten, why does Nathan’s chair suddenly move forward four feet? Alan walking in on them two is a big deal, but him sitting far away from her doesn’t seem as much of a big deal than Nathan right next to her.
@Redd: It was intentional, just for story telling purposes. I’ve actually been talking about some of that stuff over on the Fan Flow. Like… when do you make a change that “doesn’t make sense” if it tells the story better? It tells the story better to have Bea & Nate closer to each other in those panels, as the conversation goes on. First, just from an aesthetic point of view, they fill up the space in the panel better. But from an emotional, story telling perspective, in panel 1, they’re distant, but she closes the gap as the conversation goes on– emotionally, and then, symbolically, in space.
As for how Bea would’ve reacted, yes, she seems awfully happy when she thinks it’s Alan by her bed. It’s probably a good thing that Nathan was there. ;)
@Ashley: Welcome!!
Just noticed this… but is there a reason there’s a black-to-brown gradient on page 10? I haven’t noticed black borders before….
Am I the only one who thinks Bea is acting remarkably in control, compared to her last day in “real life”?
AWESOME pages…. I love the lighting.
@Elle: It’s called hardtack. :)
I agree with your assessment about Hale praying for Bea, Lora. I continue to be impressed with your portrayal between the balance between the secular and the spiritual in the lives of your characters. Usually the Revolutionary War stories I read either portray their figures as ultra-pious saints, or leave it out altogether. It’s refreshing to see your take, and far more realistic (and relate-able), IMO.
Also, this cannot end well. O_O
I must say, everybody looks adorable in these pages! Alan and Nathan… and Bea looks so pretty~! And yet again, I say…I love the coloring and lighting!! lol I just signed up for Fan Flow, and it’s so cool to see things the pages go through the process!
Praying was one of my guesses to what Nathan wanted to do. I love how Nathan (and other people too!) has so many people who still /know/ him!
Dude, I’m being brainwashed by my English literature/composition class… Isn’t Bea “waking up” in bed and Nathan sitting in a chair the same way they met? lol. And yes, she does deserve being walked in on while she’s half dressed, poor Nathan…haha
And poor Alan! I can’t decide in my mind if he’s gonna glomp Bea or punch Nathan D; Hopefully he’s just gonna say something, rather than act too…rashly… lol
Hope the wedding was tons of fun with lots of great memories!! ^__^
Hi Elle!
On ladies using the outhouse back then… well Bea probably isn’t wearing anything underneath her shift (the white ‘nightgown’) so all she’d have to is keep all the skirts out of the way. In the 19th century when women first started wearing underwear (the correct term is drawers NOT bloomers, bloomers are actually a short lived early feminist fashion) the drawers were completely crotchless. Ladies’ undies remained airy and open until the 20th century. I actually have a pair of reproduction split-drawers. ^^
wow! that was amazing, i am hoping that Alan wont take this the wrong way, because i dont want Bea and Alan to have a fight.. please keep them together. i am really looking forward to the next one.. i have my fingers crossed. and my nervous butterflies are flapping away. i keep coming back and reading it over and over again. thanks again.
looking forward to next week. yah! counting down.
Celidah: Thank you! That’s the word I couldn’t think of. The sight of them made my stomach turn though. Ick.
Natalie: I’m aware that modern day crotch-sporting undergarments are a relatively recent invention (am I’m a bit more aware than I’d like to be about certain…er…monthly rituals in relation to said fact), but I’m more wondering how someone would get the million and a half layers of frills out of the way. (Or, er, there have been some things I’ve heard about nobility in the middle ages that er…well…where that wouldn’t be a concern)
Honestly, Alan, it’s not what it looks like… ;)
The interaction between Bea and Nathan is adorable; and for some reasons I love Nathan’s scars. Yeah. He’s hot. And so is Furious!Alan – lucky Bea^^
So much looking forward to the next update!
I agree with Madi.
evil Evil EVIL spot to leave off. I just started reading this comic this week and i’m already addicted. I’m taking AP US History this year
(-sigh-) and I need all the help I can get with stuffing every single fact about american history in my brain. This comic sure helped. I NEED MORE! hahaa i think i’ve read every single detail on this website and read over my favorite parts many many manyyyy times. I love Alan.
gosh. you should really have two posting days…
6 more daysss until the next posttt.
*should have
i should have read it over.. hahaa
woot. woot.
Such a big clliffhanger, let’s hope Alan doesn’t overreact…I think it’s so sweet that Nathan’s praying for Bea; he’s like a big teddy bear :)
Can’t wait until next Friday!! :D
I was just struck again by how beautiful your artwork is. I love this story and the art is amazing!!
Woah! Awesome pages! I love the ambient light in these panels. Very detailed and telling. :-)
Love the new pages, the coloring and angles are beautiful as usual. I think Bea looked especially stunning in the panels on these two pages. Great work as usual and can’t wait for the next update! :D