This isn't any of your business.
A Question of Promise #8
a comic by thuyen nguyen
You didn't have to do that.
You don't seem to understand the seriousness of this situation.
I have no problem with him.
But your lack of co-operation has lead to this.
I like him, actually.
You need to give me an answer.
I think he's waking up.
01
... Why can't I move?
What... happened?
Eve?
I’m sorry about that, Eric.
Nothing personal, but I have business with Dice.
How do you know his name?
sorry about that, too.
Let's just say we have history.
Sure.
Mind if I have a moment with him?
And I still need your answer, sir.
Just remember, I'm the one in charge here.
You okay?
.
am
Sl
The back of my head stings.
!
ick
cl
Yes, and yet you're conscious. You humans can be remarkably resilient.
Did she hit me with that pipe? 02
Now is not the time for your observations, Dice.
Damn International Directorate. I thought my escape was too easy.
She's not from the Directorate.
My God; Eve! She's been fooling me all this time!
That's not important right now.
We have to find a way out of here.
What? But how does she know-
How can I trust you?
What does that mean?
You've been trying to kill me!
How can you say that with a straight face? Do You think I’m blind?
03
!
aat?
Wha
You scattered weapons around the apartment!
I didn't think she'd take you out as fast as she did.
Those weapons weren't for me.
!
t?
a aa
Wh
They were for you!
... so I put things everywhere to cover all potential locations.
I thought you'd have enough time to grab one and defend yourself. But I didn't know where the fight would be...
You knew she was coming?
You knew she was going to attack me?!
This is unbelievable.
So yesterday, when Eve was here to "return my key"...
I was just being cautious.
... she was actually talking to you?
It's better that you don't know-
What about?
Dice, I'm tied up in my own apartment!
Who is she?
04
Mixed meat plate not doing it for you, li'l lady?
Meanwhile...
t Recen
Calls
VATE 1. PRI ber m u N No C 2. ERI N 3. ERI M 4. MU C 5. ERI
You're a tough one to please.
For the last time, please stop calling me that.
The person who called me; my so-called "housemate"...
I like that.
You didn't catch her name, did you?
there’s something unnatural about being that chirpy.
No. She sounded chirpy, if that helps.
Chirpy?
...eve? I'm sorry, Amicillo. I have to go.
I promise I'll make it up to you.
playing hard to get, eh?
Don't take this out on Erin!
05
Come on, eric; pick up... .. ring. ing... r .. ring. ing... r
in eric’s bedroom? nothing untoward, i assure you!
she had the key to eric’s place. did he give it to her?
eve? what are you doing here?
avalon-on-way.
Taxi!
Where to, miss?
let’s not jump the gun here. he can’t be cheating on me...
and please hurry. yes ma’am.
i hope not. So, are we late for something?
06
I was kidnapped...
Thrown into the sea...
Had a massive fight with Eden...
So you'd better start talking!
Clocked on the head with a steel pipe...
All because of you.
Eve is not who you think she is.
She was sent to escort me back. By force, if necessary.
Tell me something I don't know.
That is, if I wasn't willing to return on my own. Return to where?
Dude, for the last time, I'm not an alien!
My home, of course.
Home... planet?
07
No one needs "escorting" unless...
You're an escaped prisoner? No.
Runaway slave?
Deranged mental patient?
Are you even being serious anymore?
You tell me. My head hurts. I'm tied up and talking to a pool of water.
I'm sorry, Eric. I could have ended this yesterday.
So why didn't you sort this out yesterday?
Instead, I thought that you could fight my battle for me.
Because that would have meant leaving, and I don't want to do that.
08
Selfish, eh.
... I quite like it here.
You're delaying the inevitable, sir.
It should be obvious to the both of you that this cannot continue. What can't continue?
This "co-habitation."
This should have never happened in the first place.
You said it yourself, Eric. Your housemate is a pool of water.
These two worlds should never have met!
Your housemate is a human.
Both of you should be living your lives in total ignorance of each other.
you should’t know him either - You’re human too!
But you know Dice. So?
And very well too, by the looks of things.
I'm very flattered that you think so.
Wait... what?
09
Eric’s building
Thanks. Keep the change.
Whoa, this is a fifty. You sure?
Here we are. That'll be $15.
One more try...
.. ring. ing... r
...
g Diallin
ERIC
Seems like you're quite popular tonight.
g! g! rin rin
INC
g! rinring!
OMIN
GC ALL
EDE
How about you untie me and I'll answer it?
N
I would love to.
I have no problem with you, Eric.
But no one goes anywhere until Dice gives me his answer.
I really would.
But being who you are, a part of me would still prefer your co-operation.
Isn't that a moot point? You plan to take me back regardless.
Those are my orders, sir.
10
Eric? Dice? k! knoc knock!
Anyone home?
Don't tell me she knows about you too?!
Eden?
Eden!
Umm...
Someone of your position should not be causing as much trouble as this!
Well, you see-
Enough!
I swear, if you hurt Eden-
That depends on you keeping your mouth shut.
Wait! Where are you going?
I'm through with playing games, sir.
Say your goodbyes now.
!
AM
SL
Once I finish with Eden, we're leaving.
11
Hiya Eden.
Where’s eric?
eve?
To what do I owe the pleasure?
He's in the shower.
Why is he in the shower?
why, We had sex, of course!
Very funny.
Did he spill something on himself? Actually, he spilt something on me.
Ah okay, I see what you did there.
You wouldn't have been the only one.
the thought of being watched is so-
He's a bit of an exhibitionist, eh?
We did it on the balcony.
This isn't funny anymore, Eve.
Let me in.
12
What are they talking about?
I didn’t know you liked balcony sex.
what?!
Can you hear anything?
Sounds like Eve's trying to make Eden angry enough to leave in a huff.
That is, assuming Eve's the one talking.
Can’t you tell?
You see a pair of ears on me?
It's over between you and Eric. Sorry to break it to you.
You...
I’ve been seeing him behind your back, but you already knew that, didn’t you?
you caught me here yesterday with his key. what did you think I was doing here?
are you deaf and dumb? what part of “it’s over” don’t you get?
Eric’s with me now.
You can't be serious.
it’s for the best, i assure you.
there’s the elevator. turn around and go home.
13
I'm not leaving until I see Eric. one way or another.
That pipe of hers can do a lot of damage.
We have to do something! We can't. Who knows what Eve will do?
Her mouth is doing a lot of damage!
I'm not going to have a girlfriend after this!
Assuming I even get out of this in one piece.
Eve, I'm warning you: Let me in.
Eric is mine nowAnd I'm warning you: Get lost.
Eve! She’s lying!
Eric?
Where are you? h!
Pus
Damn.
CRACK!! 14
THUMP.
Hey, I think she's waking up.
Eric? What's going on?
Eden? You okay?
At least you're not tied up anymore, eh?
You were tied up?!
Eve!
M! BA AM! B
M! BA AM! ! B AM B
This isn't any of your business.
Eve is holding us hostage.
Time’s Up, sir.
It became my business when you hit Eden!
Let us out of here!
I'm breaking this door down!
I don't recommend you do that-
CRASH! HE-YAA!
15
I wouldn't try that again. She's much stronger than you.
What the hell?
Eric!
The door didn't even budge...
What does she want from us?
What do you mean?
Yeah... And that's not the only weird thing here.
she wants Dice.
Why didn't she just grab Dice and leave when you were tied up?
How does she know you?
And why is she exercising so much restraint?
Hmm...
She's ten times his size. Odds are in her favour.
Why does she call you "sir"?
Silence.
16
She's doing it the hard way though.
Maybe you really are an escaped prisoner.
Dice has a responsibility.
There are those who depend on him.
Far from it, Eric.
Responsibility?
Depend on him?
You’re a deadbeat father!
His duty goes beyond mere family relations.
Umph.
If only.
Calling him a prince or a king would be belittling him.
You’re a runaway prince!
What the hell does that mean?
I'm pleased that you didn't tell them everything, sir.
Why are you being so cryptic?
17
Why would I do that?
That I'd crossover and become some sort of traitor?
You left in silence and without warning.
We expected the worst.
That... We didn't put it past you.
Hurts.
Why didn't you tell me?
Not as much as you hurt me.
I was trying to keep you out of trouble.
My job is to keep you out of trouble.
You trusted me enough to protect you.
But you didn't trust me enough to see you leave. 18
Because I knew you wouldn't let me go alone.
And now...
Here we are. Are you two a couple?
Dude, have you been paying attention?
Eve's my Protector. My Guardian.
This combination doesn't make any sense.
But you’re a pool of water.
...
I suppose it doesn't matter too much now.
Show them.
You asked me about this scarf before, remember?
THUMP.
19
And she’s an uptown girl.
They aren't used to seeing that sort of thing.
It looks good on you.
Not in real life.
You might as well put it back on.
It's tight. I can't feel anything. You haven't tried sitting in a cup.
just in case they wake up.
They still want me to return, even after what I did?
There is no successor. Not yet, anyway.
They don't want to, but they're willing to tolerate your... holiday.
20
As long as you come back, that is.
Balcony
It's been a while since we’ve talked like this.
Do you like it here?
Before I crossed over, I had no idea what to expect.
Yeah. The city at night time is pretty cool.
No, I mean; in this world.
At first, I was lost and disorientated.
But now... It's fun.
Fun?
I'm learning a lot about this world. About humanity.
This is keeping you from returning to your duties?
No.
I didn't want the responsibility in the first place!
My dislike for my duties is doing that.
You have a responsibility21
Anyone else would be honoured with the role given to you.
Then where were they when I was chosen?
I was the only one there!
And that was by accident too!
We can’t change what fate has in store for us.
Yes, we can.
That's why I'm here.
That's why I crossed over.
What are you going to do?
You know where I stand on that.
I can't return without you.
My orders are to bring you back, sir.
Going back empty-handed would be worse than not going back at all.
Then stay.
22
You’re awake.
Ooh.
One hour later...
Dice?
How'd she get there?
In your bed; sleeping.
Where’s Eden?
Your... your head-
I put her there.
Relax, Eric. Everything's going to be okay.
Holy crap!
We've come to an arrangement.
I’m staying here.
What happened?
Me too.
Really?
That’s great-
23
... eh?
Don't be so glum! It'll be as if today never happened.
How about lunch?
You hit me and my girlfriend in the head with a steel pipe.
Oh, we should get to work on our wax class project too.
And I'll make it up to you!
Don't want an “F” on our report cards, do we?
My treat!
It’s all good.
You can't be serious about this, Dice.
All good? This is a one bedroom apartment!
No worries! You'll hardly notice her.
I’m going to bed. turn off the lights when you’re done.
24
Indeedy!
Eric finds himself trapped like a prisoner in his own home. Eden fears her relationship may come to an abrupt end. Dice confronts a ghost from the past. And Eve is the person at the centre of it all. How will this end?
Story, Art and Created by Thuyen Nguyen. Copyright Š2009 Thuyen Nguyen. www.devinquest.com