Happy Wednesday!! Another page coming to y’all, hot off the presses.
There’s a pretty spirited discussion about the specifics of divorce law in the comments of these comics, so I do wanna say that Motherlover’s gonna be pretty light on the details and focus more on what’s happening in the emotional arc.
Divorce law is different in every country, so what’s true for where you are won’t be the same for other readers, and it won’t map 1:1 to what’s going on in the comic. Please don’t try to win the comments section by pointing out legal inaccuracies – it’s not going to be legally watertight, and it’s not intended to be!
The comments are not legal advice! And neither is this comic! This has been a PSA. 😀
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TRANSCRIPT
Panel 1 (Imogen, hand on forehead)
Imogen: … no, I know… it’s just… I think that while we’re figuring this out, I should stay here.
Imogen: …the kids can stay here on school nights too, and go there on weekends.
Imogen: I’m not trying to tear the family apart! I’m trying to do what you want!
Panels 2-4 (Imogen yelling at her phone, gradually getting closer and more animated)
Imogen: …well, that’s just none of your business!
Imogen: Of course we’re not sleeping toge- pullout couches exist!
Imogen: WELL MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE!
Panel 5 (Imogen turned away, clicking her phone off)
Lucas, off-panel: So… are you guys back to getting a divorce?
Panel 6 (Imogen looks on as Lucas pulls the… haircutting smock thing off)
Imogen: Um… I don’t know, sweetie. Sometimes mommies and daddies just need some time to talk about stuff. Can you go tell Gavin it’s his turn?
Lucas, grumbling: He’s not my dad…
Re: How into the weeds you’ll ever get over legal stuff, I figured you’d be light on the details and focus more on the impact of these things happening offscreen. Slow Burn is best when the “slow” part comes from a meaningful passing of time, not pausing the narrative to take down the minutes of a court hearing. (Though I’d be fascinated to see that sort of thing in a fanfic or something, I’ve got a thing for dry/academic/regulatory language-style fiction.)
That said–
MMMMM I AM SIMPLY INCANDESCENT IN RAGE AAAAA
Jon wants Imogen to be physically there so he can control her with more than just his voice and texts, to intimidate and isolate her from Alex, and “convince” her most effectively that he’s right, she’s wrong, etc.
When that doesn’t work, he uses the kids as leverage. Note how he only wants them on weekends. It’s a lot easier to be the Fun Dad on weekends, instead of having to be responsible after work on a regular basis.
Then we get the good old fashioned “You’re making the mess I started worse, you’re just as bad as me!”
I’m not surprised that it took him getting gross and sexual for her to hang up on him. God, this complete scumbag.
The “mommies and daddies” talk is such an autopilot phrase, especially given Lucas’ age. 🙁 I hope Lucas pushing back leads to uncomfortable and necessary questions.
(aaa these past few weeks I’ve been waking up on Wednesday morning filled with nervous delight over what’s going to happen next in this comic, it’s complete eustress and I’m so happy there are others yelling about it here!!)
Oh shit the plot thickens o_o
“Well maybe you should have!” I want to know exactly what that Scuzzy McScuzzball said so I’ll have even more reason to loathe him and his stupid face.
As much as Imogen is still enabling his bad behavior I’m glad to see her actually getting mad about it. Hoping for a bonding moment with Lucas soon, a chance to learn more about him.
Ooh. Here it comes…
With you on this one, Lucas, it sounds like.
It’s a good thing the transcript calls out that that’s a ‘haircutting smock’ in the final panel, because for some reason, I somehow thought Lucas was holding onto a black cat that was trying to get away…
I didn’t see that prior, but now that you point it out, yeah, I can kinda see it.
Woo! I just came by today to see if you had started a new chapter, and got 3 new pages to read! Frustrated by Jon’s actions so far in this chapter, but looking forward to the resolution. Also, love the art skills! The detail you’ve got in Imogen and Lucas’ hair here – highlights and lowlights – looks beautiful!