Graduation

CW violence, nudity, weed, lewd

Panel 1: Treon, Daiki, and George (the gray satyr) are sitting on the ground near the treeline smoking weed. Treon has ditched their leather jacket because it got uncomfortable, and loosened their chest binder for the same reason. Daiki gave them his shawl to keep warm, as it is much softer and more cozy than the leather jacket. The shirt sleeves he was wearing are gone and he’s topless.

Treon watches Daiki have a giggle fit. George is smiling.

Panel 2: Harbie comes to summon Daiki and George to the stage. Daiki takes a last draw on his joint, shaking one hand in a nervous gesture. His other hand, holding the joint, is trembling and his eyes are wide. Then events following his statement, “Tithe to my ass,” on the second page of this chapter (Minnow joking about sodomy, the fairies magically changing him into fetish gear, the fairies introducing him to a ten foot tall satyr who will play as his teacher) has Daiki increasingly convinced he’s been drafted into a live porno for offending the fairies, and he thinks in moments George is going to top him in front of an audience of fae. He’s trying to brace himself.

George is stretching, mentally preparing to play a druid teacher having a conversation with a former student who has recently finished his studies.

Behind them, Ronnie the troll argues with Dew the elf. Ronnie’s composure remains collected and he’s just frustrated. We don’t hear their conversation. Paul stands close by Dew and removes his one earring.

Panel 3: Since Ronnie is so much taller than Paul, when Paul lunges forward to swing at him his aim is toward Ronnie’s dick. Ronnie dodges backward. Ronnie, Dew, and Harbie are all surprised that Paul just up and attacked somebody.

Panel 4: Cut to the stage, decorated in floral arrangements. There’s a bonfire in the foreground, blurry to establish distance between it and the stage. The vines of the willow are pulled aside and wrapped in flowers, revealing its cat face. The willow cat’s eyes reflect the light and thus have a green glow.

Daiki isn’t acting yet, even though he is on stage. He crosses his arms over his chest and shies away from George. George has a hand hesitantly reached toward Daiki.

George asks, “Why so skittish, little rabbit?”

Daiki blurts out, “I was just joking; don’t tithe my ass!”

George mutters, “Is that what ‘teacher’ means now? I must have missed something.”

Panel 5: George puts a hand on Daiki’s shoulder and starts acting as Lewell, the druid mentor figure and teacher. Daiki starts crying.

George says as Lewell, “Uh…Your time as my pupil has drawn to a close, so now it’s time for you to use what you know to serve your community.”

Daiki stammers as Moth, “O-oh,” he sniffs, “Okay. How do I graduate? How do I know when I graduate?”

Panel 6: George leans down closer to Daiki and grins. He says, “Because I just told you? If you want me to ritually welcome you into adulthood, there are ways. Then again, you’ve got baby spots.”

Daiki is panicking but he protests, “I’m not a baby!”