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OVER HERE!Here I am again with a fresh, clean Chapter 16!!! YAY

You cannot really compare since the previous version of this chapter's beginning no longer exists (well, maybe it still exists somewhere on manga/comic leak sites haha. It is probably going to mess up their organization LOL) , but I am much happier with this one. The actions stretch across more panels, which creates a slower, more grounded rhythm!

I also brought the phone back, which I had simply forgotten in the first version huh. That is why you see the Boy with his phone in front of the piano: he is typing a message to Tera, the first one, hesitating to send it cause he's worried. I also made the Boy show clearer worry, to reinforce Tera’s possible guilt. Speaking of Tera, if you read the Facts and Thoughts I posted yesterday, you might notice that this time we understand that Tera is affected by the Boy’s worry at the end of a page, and it only takes effect on the next one. It feels much less rushed, and there is a little surprise when you “turn the page.”

Tera grabbing the Boy by the chin… I love that shot. As my proofreader pointed out, this is Tera trying to pull the Boy’s attention away from his injury and force it back on him and his words: he is okay, no need to worry. He understands the situation is serious and that he needs to sincerely reassure the Boy. “Hey, look at me. Everything is fine.”

You might have noticed it: in the photo, the Boy is on his big brother’s back, just like he climbs on Tera’s back in the rain in Chapter 13. It has several meanings, but it mostly serves to draw a parallel between Tera and the brother. Let me try to make it clear: for the Boy, Tera fills the same role: a protective and dominant figure (so he reproduces the gesture naturally). In a conversation with Joris, the Boy mentions how his brother used to protect him and take the blame for him. But things changed: his brother is gone, and he could not do anything. By projecting that image onto Tera (very unconsciously, mostly symbolic, for the reader), he shelters him and keeps him safe from the rain. It's kinda foreshadowing. Cute, right?This is a really important point, because it is actually the Boy’s main motivation for protecting Tera through out the story and getting him out of the Black Death. I cannot say too much for now though, that would be getting ahead of the story.

When Tera sits on the bed, I made sure to show the Boy scooting closer to press against him. He now feels safe with him. I am so excited for more physical closeness SERIOUSLY, because I have a very concrete image in my head of how they will lean into each other, bodies touching etc. I might be wrong I don't know but I feel like you rarely see much attention given to how bodies interact in general but Let me explain: in a normal scene, the focus would be on what is considered important : they are both on the bed, the fact that they are close would just be part of the setting, not a point of focus, and the boy would be tending to Tera’s hand. Am I right?

But I LOVE showing that interaction! I need to show how the Boy comes to press himself against Tera, how his shoulder meets Tera’s arm, how he rests his knee against Tera’s, how he almost nestles against him.Personally, I am very tactile and clingy in relationships lol. I always need to be against the other person, and I think that inspires me a lot.

I hope you enjoyed these pages. What did you think?? Thank you for all the support, I love y'all so much <3oh, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!!