A Question of Promise #1

well, it seems that everything is going to be...

A Question of Promise #1 FIFTH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

a comic by thuyen nguyen

Today’s the day! I’m going to ask eden out.

yes, I have confirmed that she doesn’t have a boyfriend already.

that’s not to say that this is the start of anything serious though...

I mean, she has to say “yes” first!

What’s with the silence?

I’m not talking to you.

Why? what did I do?

oh, it’s like that now, is it?

For that statement, I refuse to look in your general direction.

Fine. see if I care. I’m leaving.

Okay, seriously, what’s going on?

01

remember a time ago... on that fateful night in the forest.

you were running away from something.

You ran until you collapsed, but the pain was still there.

it was then that you found the house.

it was destiny, and only by destiny did you find meaning...

for in that house...

in amongst everything...

I found you.

Let me tell you a story...

do you remember what you said to me?

I think so...

who are you?

where do you come from?

do you have a towel?

02

No!

You said you wanted meaning, and I gave it to you!

Thank you.

I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.

as part of my thanks, I’ll take you back to the city with me.

I made sense of your situation; molding it into a cohesive whole!

and for that, you said to me...

did I have my hand raised like that?

Thank you.

I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.

So now you know why I’m angry at you...

My friend.

for now I call you:

Umm...

Well... no.

I still don’t understand.

the story of how we first met explains it all.

ah...

now that was uncalled for.

That’s it.

I’m outta here.

03

Quest’Dein School of beauty

class dismissed.

hey eric.

Eden!

oh, hand in your manicure poems as you leave.

Shuffle, shuffle as the students leave the room.

sorry, I’ve got to finish my woodwork project for massage class.

umm... i was wondering if you were free after school... we could go get a drink?

I see...

but I’ll be free in the evening. we could have dinner instead?

Wow, that’s even better!

Remember: you promised!

You promised me you’d stay home tonight.

if you have something on, no worries-

No, no!

ahem... I mean, sounds good. I don’t have any plans for tonight...

umm...

04

a-ha!

if you’re free for dinner, how about at my place then?

a homecooked meal? sign me up!

then it’s agreed. you can see me in my natural habitat.

!

ding

A few hours later...

g’day mate.

i just need to be careful...

I hope my plan works.

how’s the business going?

making dinner?

oh, hi alvin!

Got a girl coming over.

not bad. had a client last week.

I gotta run. meeting mcmahon at the port.

nothing, hopefully. later.

what’s at the port?

hi dice.

I’ve got some fun things lined up for tonight.

you’re home. good.

05

really? like what?

yes. consider tonight a special night...

movies, games, drinking... maybe gambling, if you don’t chicken out. making dinner?

and so eric cooked with skill and determination.

He made sure everything was right. the success of his plan depended on it.

4:46pm

dice had some things to prepare as well.

but then he got bored, so he surfed the internet.

5:30pm

eden was in her car, fighting peak-hour traffic.

she brought a bottle of wine, and was looking forward to eric’s dinner.

7:15pm

thanks. seventh flooroh, you too? hold the elevator!

06

yeah. I’m visiting eric. do you know him?

Sure do.

I live opposite.

I’m mcmahon.

I’m eden.

nice to meet you. follow me.

!

ding

712

Thanks.

z! buz buzz!

here we are.

not a problem.

how about a photo, dice?

You’re right... how about on the balcony?

there’s not that much light in here...

okay... stay right there.

Smile!

Two...

one...

Three!

1/25 ISO 400

07

did he just lock me out?

! lam

s

!

ck

lo

he did! son of a bitch!

Why would he do that?

Cool. come on in.

hi eden. welcome!

nice place. you live here by yourself?

i brought some wine.

yeah...

nah, not really... we should eat before it gets cold.

you’ve got a balcony as well.

allow me. thanks.

I bet the view is just beautiful.

for starters, Vichyssoise soup with a touch of pepper. served cold.

08

the main course was steak, medium grilled, with Fettuccine pasta.

meanwhile...

great. it’s raining again.

damn melbourne weather.

not that it matters much when you’re a pool of water.

let’s have the wine out on the balcony!

thanks.

I do my best.

that was simply delicious!

again with the balcony... if eden and dice meet, there’ll be trouble.

dice will kill me for locking him out on the balcony.

only skill will get me out of this one.

09

eden will kill me for lying about dice.

wait! for the love of god!

don’t be silly.

you can’t go out there.

why can’t I go outside?

umm... it’s messy outside. I haven’t cleaned up.

I’ll take my shoes off then.

because... it’s slippery! the rain and all.

i’m messy around my house too.

the view isn’t so great?

you live in a seventhfloor city apartment. how can it not be?

indeed.

what the hell’s going on in there?

10

really? you shouldn’t have!

yep. wait here. I’ll go get it.

I... have... a present for you!

eric, that was one stupid idea.

maybe there’s something in here...

what’s taking him so long?

...that can pass off as a new present.

maybe one quick look outside...

who’s that?

they’re coming outside...

!

ck

lo

un

I’d best hide and figure things out.

!

ash

spl

11

this is a great view!

wonder why eric said all that?

and it’s not slippery or messy.

I’ve got it!

A-ha!

Eden! here it is!

it’s not wrapped...

eden? eden?

uh-oh.

eden-

you look stressed. what’s the matter?

eden!

eric! you scared me!

12

you haven’t seen anything... unusual out here, have you?

oh, you know, something strange... out of the ordinary-

what do you mean, “unusual?”

why don’t we go inside?

but it’s nice out here.

i have to give you your present.

he can’t just invite people over without telling me!

you made a big mistake this time, eric.

there are security issues! I’m supposed to be a secret!

if you want to play games...

13

sure, she’s cute by humans standards, but still!

...then game on!

time for revenge.

i didn’t know if you’d like it...

i’m a huge movie buff. I go to the cinema every week.

a movie poster?

Nice.

how about a drink?

i’m the type of person who buys the 4-dvd special edition with bonus bookends.

sure.

price be damned!

this wine looks great!

!

pop

thanks. cheers!

14

Look out!

!

k mac

s

what are you doing?!

that’s for locking me out.

sh!

sma

umm... well, you see...

anyway, you didn’t do anything when i first showed it to you.

what the hell’s going on?

I... have a fear of red wine! yeah, childhood trauma.

ah, eric. I brought white wine.

i brought some wine.

Holy crap!

yes, i probably should have done that.

and this is for lying to me.

15

whoa. you’ve got wine on your top.

the thing with wine stains is, if you get to them quickly, they’re no trouble.

i know how to get this out.

damn. this is brand new as well.

my mum is a dry cleaner.

and how would you know about that?

cleaning up after me for 18 years made her turn pro.

what’s the plan? water... check.

now, use this cloth to-

rub this lemon on the stain.

oh...

why are you doing this to me?

16

revenge. spiteful revenge.

i had my reasons.

eric, are you talking to me?

eric? what’s wrong?

umm... hi. nice to meet you...

THUMP.

Is this a human mating ritual that I don’t know about?

eden! can you hear me?

i should call a doctor...

not exciting?!

do you not see what’s happening here?

17

doesn’t look exciting.

am i missing something?

this is your fault! your stupid mind games caused this!

Who pays the bills?

Who does the housekeeping?

me?!

your home? we both live here!

you locked me out of my own home!

Who owns everything in here?

me!

me!

Who sorted out your life?

...after your mess? who cleans up...

ME! eden, are you okay?

Who’s tired of the yelling?

me.

18

you had a nasty fall.

I’m fine, really.

let’s get you to your feet.

i don’t believe we’ve been introduced.

nice to meet you.

I’m eden.

i’m dice. relax.

I’ll get you a drink.

you know, i’m surprised that the initial shock has passed so quickly.

that’s good to hear. means you’re open to new things.

so, do you go to beauty school with eric? yep.

he’s the only guy there, right?

they seem to be getting along well...

19

what could they be talking about?

No. I’m just basically hydrogen and oxygen.

so are you a carbonbased lifeform?

what about your cognitive processes?

so you are, in essence, a sentient pool of water.

I also have a membrane which can be stretched almost infinitely.

you’d be surprised to know what little is needed to think.

yep.

here’s your drink.

i think we should call it a night.

eden, i want to say sorry for everything that’s happened.

that’s okay. the wine stain-

no, i meant about lying to you.

don’t worry.

I would too.

lying about how you live with a talking puddle?

No offense, Dice.

none taken.

I’ll see you at school tomorrow.

20

well, it seems that everything is going to be...

-ayyy!?!

ok-

THUMP. ip!

sl

not everything. uh-oh.

we have something to settle. mind if I sit up for this?

even though you have plans for tonight, you go ahead and make a date.

you lock me out on the balcony. yes.

yes, i did that too.

aren’t you always telling me to “carpe diem?”

you’ve crossed me twice, and for what?

you and I hang out everyday. it’s not as if tonight was special or anything. that’s not the point.

she was free tonight, so i invited her over.

21

so what is the point?

...there’s a little thing called “honour” to think about.

overlooking the fact that you live with a pool of water...

i don’t care whether you date somebody or not.

...who could end up in a science lab as a guinea pig should any surprise visitor open their mouth...

get married! have kids! do whatever the hell you humans do to pass time.

but remember this...

You don’t go around breaking promises!

you make me sick.

once, perhaps.

like the best things in life, there are exceptions.

don’t you slide away from me!

a star from heaven.

I would... I did everything for her...

22

in matters of love, anything goes.

you can’t tell me you haven’t done “dishonourable” things for love!

I... loved her.

so you do understand my position?

that’s what got you into trouble last time!

stay away from my daughter!

I don’t really care that you stiffed me for some dame.

but trust me when i say that i would never do anything to jeopardize your freedom.

you’re talking about mundane fornication!

i’m talking about true love!

stay away from my daughter!

butt naked or not; the situation remains the same.

but if you’re only going to keep your word 50% of the time, how can I trust you?

well, i wasn’t accusing you of intentionally trying to screw me over.

23

now that’s an exaggeration!

a promise is a promise.

i see your point.

i just think that your solution to your dilemma was rather... impolite.

yes.

I guess i was trying to be too clever for my own good.

i dug myself into a silly situation; nothing that a phone call wouldn’t have fixed.

so i’m sorry about breaking my promise.

fair enough.

how’d you think the night went?

tell me: whatever happened to your true love?

not bad, actually. you should ask her out again.

eric, my friend, she was too beautiful for just one person to have.

she belonged to the world.

all i need is a few companions for life’s long journey.

dice, i think that’s what everyone wants.

24

maybe. we’ll see.

besides, i’m a loner at heart.