A Question of Promise #4

money is the least of our concerns.

A Question of Promise #4

a comic by thuyen nguyen

just take it easy, and hopefully you’ll be right for the weekend. bye.

hey, don’t worry about it. we’ll catch up tomorrow.

i see...

what’s going on?

yeah. that’s three for this week. she must be coming down with something.

anyway, she’s gotta get better by sunday. she’s maid of honour at her cousin’s wedding.

eden’s not coming over tonight. she’s got a headache. again?

you humans are brittle when you want to be, eh?

a maid of honour is the bride’s first assistant at a wedding.

what is a “maid of honour?”

okay...

don’t use the word “brittle.” we’re not kitchenware.

one more question.

shoot.

01

what is a “wedding?”

when two people love each other enough, they have a ceremony to celebrate their commitment.

other people commit to each other, but don’t find marriage necessary.

sounds serious.

why do it if you don’t have to?

well, nothing Tangible, i suppose...

which is nice to know, actually.

they fight for the honour of buying the best gifts for us.

got anything like marriage where you’re from?

but every gift must be bought. every single one.

02

not really. some people get married when they’re drunk.

what do you get out of it?

Just the satisfaction of knowing that someone cares for you. when we celebrate relationships, we invite our friends into a room full of gifts.

we have something similiar. it’s called a “stocktake sale.”

i feel terrible.

At Eden’s place...

well, you ain’t going to find anything in here, except my parents’ birthdates...

it’s like someone is drilling for oil in my head...

...and lyrics to every kylie minogue single since 1999.

oh, i shouldn’t have done that. the light...

this is ridiculous.

...it burns.

it burns!

i just need to concentrate...

pain is only in the mind.

03

imagine a warm summer’s day. the sun shines bright.

you’re standing in the middle of a field, underneath a tree.

a cool breeze blows through. the grass bends gently.

you are here alone and at peace. content and relaxed.

there is a book next to the tree.

you pick it up and read what’s inside.

the book recalls all of the happy times in your life.

no pain or sadness. instead, fun and entertainment.

not just the times you laughed, but when you made others laugh too.

you like to make other people laugh, don’t you?

after all, you are... the entertainer!

isn’t that right, eden?

i’ve gotta cancel those Cirque du Soleil tickets.

04

thursday

ah, weddings. so much work for just one day.

with no guarantee that it’ll last either.

yeah, eden’s been really busy with the wedding.

maybe you guys should go into wedding planning.

money is the least of our concerns.

at this early stage of our relationship, i think a family wedding is too much.

want some advice?

there’s a lot of money in it.

no, no, no...

well, she invited me, but i thought it was better to decline.

you going to the wedding with her?

meeting her parents...

i’m going to help her buy a present, though.

recipe for disaster.

sure.

don’t tell anyone that the present is for a wedding.

05

anything related to a wedding is automatically more expensive.

so keep your mouth shut!

and how would you know that?

i was engaged once.

you’ve got to be kidding me.

what the hell-?

I was engaged too.

it’s no big deal. do you want to get married?

well... yeah, I guess so.

me. i just proposed, and you accepted.

congratulations, you’re engaged.

no way!

I’m not marrying you!

engaged? to who?

and thus, you can now tell people that you were engaged once.

calling off the wedding? fine.

i’m going. if i stay any longer, you’ll talk me out of a kidney or something.

tease.

06

hey dice. what are you doing?

having an argument on the internet.

insult? I didn’t do any such thing.

this loser is having a cry because of something i said.

all i said was; if shinji and asuka are tasked with restarting the human race...

i have no idea about what you just said.

must have been a pretty harsh insult.

...then humanity is in serious trouble. serious, whiny trouble.

anyway, why waste your time bickering?

there are far more interesting things on the net.

lick!

le-c

doub

“invisible bike?�

07

eric! sorry I’m late.

Later in the evening...

no worries. how are you feeling?

not bad, not bad.

thanks for helping me with the present shopping.

my pleasure. how’s the wedding preparations going?

the flowers, the bridesmaids’ dresses...

isn’t all that the job of the wedding planner?

it’s totally insane. I’m not joking.

I’ve got to call everyone on the guest list to see if they’re still coming...

it would be, if my cousin had hired one.

there’s just so much stuff to do.

i have to make sure the smoke machine has enough smoke...

“maid of honour?” ha! try “bride’s slave for a month.”

she’s always been rather cheap.

08

fourth floor. electronics.

Quest’Dein shopping mall

where are we going?

ah, here we are.

yep. the gift that keeps on giving.

a digital camera?

they can use it on their wedding night, their honeymoon...

are they getting married or making porn? smile!

AUTO FOCUS

...that you’re looking for a wedding present?

uh-oh.

I couldn’t help but overhearing...

09

you work here?

why are you dressed up as a ghost?

umm... your eyes are offcentre.

indeed I do!

it’s quest’dein’s “24-hour sale spooktacular!”

that’s actually meant to be a moustache.

yeah, I know.

and your mouth makes you look sad.

any other comments or questions?

so... you’re looking for a wedding gift? is pac-man around?

yes, we are- no, we’re not.

eric, what are you talking about?

10

shh! let me handle this.

the bridal registry up on the sixth floor has a number of special items-

you must have misheard us. we were talking about that “bookstore” sitcom on Tv.

we were debating as to whether emily and richard would ever get hitched.

and because emily is clearly out of his league?

you know, what with richard always acting the fool.

“wedding” equals “expensive.” I’m trying to save you some cash.

eric?

okay...

I see.

Honeymoon? we are looking to buy a camera to take with us on holiday.

and, of course, when you say “holiday,” you mean...

i mean, no! yes!

11

oh, for crying out loud...

while I may look like i plan to take revenge on the living...

why spend so much money on something that someone can just back out of without even an apology?

why do weddings cost so much anyway? because they’re “supposed” to be?

...i’m not here to fleece you like the bridal leeches on the sixth floor.

I, unlike others, will not screw you on anything wedding-related.

i’m not bitter.

that would be the QD-D80.

Digital SLR with lens kit. professional quality.

richard croft? the soap actor?

instead, may i recommend the arkline easy-8? small, easy to use, nice photos.

the easy-8 is the perfect everyday camera. holiday snaps, parties, et cetera.

12

you were engaged once, right?

I want to buy a camera. the one in the richard croft ad.

the qd-d80 is probably a bit too hardcore for your purposes, i think.

how does it compare with the richard croft camera?

obviously the qd-d80 is better, but it’s heavier and costs a lot more.

you like richard croft? seriously?

what’s not to like? he’s dreamy.

he can’t act his way out of a paper bag!

honestly, i think buying the qd-d80 is a waste of money for what you need.

but the richard croft camera would be a more impressive present...

i see your point.

that camera does have a name, you know.

the easy-8 is compact, stylish and easy to hold.

decisions, decisions...

oh hell, i’ll take the richard... qd-d80.

one qd-d80, coming up. please wait here. i’ll go get one from the backroom.

here we are. please pay for this at the register.

please don’t tell me you bought that camera because of richard croft?

over there, next to the two sexy witches and cthulhu dude.

where is it?

13

oh, come on. I’m not dumb. it’s a gift for family. can’t go cheap on these things.

the image that just popped into my mind is terrifying, yet strangely erotic.

where to now, big spender?

we could sit down and have a coffee.

do you need to buy anything else?

eden?

my head...

another headache...

are you okay?

this is serious. we’ve got to get you to a doctor.

TAXI AREA

really? you sure you don’t want me to go with you? i’ll be alright by myself.

i’ll give you a call when i’m done at the doctor’s. okay. take care. !

oom

vro

yeah. i’m fine, i’m fine. don’t worry.

14

I suppose I should just go home then...

hmm...

eve! how are you?

not bad. what’s going on?

i was shopping with eden, but then she started feeling sick. you just missed her.

eric?

oh, that’s too bad. i hope she’s okay.

wanna get a drink? there’s a nice bar nearby.

what are you doing now?

don’t know. probably going home.

i don’t know if i should.

she said she’ll call me in an hour or so.

with eden being sick, i feel kinda bad going out without her.

well, a bar is as good as any place to wait for a call, no?

15

empathy. an admirable human trait.

you make a good point.

...

buzz

have you noticed a lot more security cameras in the city lately?

well, i was referring to the book, but it’s the same thing.

didn’t they force you to read it in high school?

it’s all becoming a bit too much “big brother” for me.

like the tv show?

not really. the term “big brother” comes from “1984” by george orwell.

oh, so the tv show is based on a book?

anything before a year ago is a blur to me.

that is, i don’t remember much from school.

okay...

how old are you?

wouldn’t you like to know!

16

.. ring. ing... r

8:30pm all drugged up... should sleep well tonight!

umm... i was after eric...? hello? g! g! rin rin

INC

OMIN

EDE

GC ALL

N

oh, hi eden! it’s eve. how’re ya feeling?

oh, hey.

I’m fine.

he’s in the toilet. shall I get him?

can i speak to eric?

that’s okay. can you tell him I called?

no worries. bye. hmm... curious.

did my phone ring?

no.

17

so, what’s your Poison?

i’ll just have a light beer.

light? come on! at least be a man about it!

okay, okay... barkeep! beer for my friend!

cheers.

you’re not drinking?

i’m pacing myself. going to be here for a while.

ah, smart. go too hard too early and the night’s over.

i should give eden a call...

you don’t want to interupt her while she’s talking to the doctor...?

hmm... you’re probably right.

you know, this is the first time we’ve hung out outside of school.

wow, yeah-

let’s mark this occasion!

barkeep! another pint!

18

so eric, where do you live?

it would be impolite to say “no.”

i have an apartment in the city. about a 15-minute walk from here.

got any pets? fish, turtles?

nice. share with anyone?

nope, just me.

not allowed to. damn body corporate.

i’m too busy nowadays to worry about pets.

how about you? you look like a dog person.

you look thirsty. care for a beer?

i have other things on my mind.

wait a minute. i’m paying for these, aren’t i?

drinks are on me. i’m paying you back for lunch the other day.

in that case...

don’t mind if i do!

19

oh, man...

One hour later...

i’m so tipsy...

you’d be even prettier with a moustache!

you’re pretty wasted.

there’s no way I’m driving home.

err... sorry. that just... slipped out.

you can stay. i’ll be fine by myself...

you came here on foot-

i don’t usually drink this much...

absolutely not. i insist on taking you home.

let’s get you home.

i mean, what are friends for, right?

thanks for the offer, but dice will flip out if i bring someone home unannounced.

...Dice?

20

i thought you said you lived by yourself-

yeah, he’s my housemate.

Dice. weird name, come to think of it...

really? i don’t recall saying that...

he’s a talking pool of water!

Hahaha!

anyway, wanna know a secret about dice?

okay.

oh, yeah right. i live with a pink unicorn-

Your friend’s intoxicated.

He’s going to have to leave.

i’m not making this up...!

he kinda looks like a bowl of jelly with two eggs on top... hehehe...

you heard the man. let’s get you into a taxi.

one more for the road? no.

home, driver! like the wind! !

oom

vro

21

Eric’s bedroom i just don’t see why darcy would help wickham. he finds him despicable.

There was a social stigma against eloping at the time. The whole family would have been shamed.

or maybe he only did it to impress Elizabeth, having had his marriage proposal rejected?

he must have known that there was the possibility that they would become brothers-in-law.

Thus, Darcy’s actions were not only to protect the Bennets, but also to show his true self as honourable.

he invited his enemy into the family. that’s pretty dumb.

Darcy disliked Wickham, but he was able to disregard his feelings to help others, which included Elizabeth.

Well, I suppose.

If you wanted to be cynical about it.

it’s getting late. i wonder where eric is...

hmm... seventh floor. okay, some brain cells still kicking...

now... what floor do i live on...

g!

din

i am so going to regret this when i wake up tomorrow...

consider it a success if you don’t throw up in the hallway...

22

okay... so far, so good.

the last step...

what the... where are my keys?

oh, this is just great...

.

mp

thu

hey... this is kinda comfortable...

the sound of... hair brushing against painted wood.

mp!

thu rather late for visitors...

e... e... stl ustl r

wonder if the door’s locked?

ru

! ing sw

k! clic

oh, hell yeah-

maybe i forgot to lock the door...

whoaa..!

23

uh-oh.

SPLASH!

please tell me that i fell face first into my own vomit.

i’m going to kill you.

and so the weekend came. eden’s cousin’s wedding went off without a hitch.

eden had fun, but felt that it would have been better if eric had attended too.

alvin and mcmahon spent a moment, separately and quietly, thinking about the past.

dice used the weekend to reclaim himself off eric’s head.

we wouldn’t be in this mess if you hadn’t drunk the bar empty.

besides, it’s an aussie tradition: drink up until it’s your shout.

i only had five... well, seven at most.

24

she caught the bouquet, and laughed at the thought of being “next.”

stay still!

i am still!

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Story, Art and Created by Thuyen Nguyen Copyright Š2007 Thuyen Nguyen www.devinquest.com