So if you did listen to that long-haired wierdo above, you’ll have the news that updates are going to continue to be a bit unstable for the rest of the year.
So the next 2 weeks there won’t be a update, followed by two weeks with pages, then another 2 week break.
Please call back on:
Friday Oct 30th
New Startup Date to be announced in run-up to New Year 2021
Startup around X-mas 2020! Date TBA!
Update (08 Nov)!
Hello all! I hope you are still checking back now and again. Good news! Coffee Party is mostly out of the way, leading me to finally start rebuilding the buffer. I have a few pages pencilled now, and production is now back in full swing. I hope to start churning out finished pages around about X-mas so that you’ll have something to read for the holidays. I’ll try to get back with a date soon!
Watch out, Cara! Charlie’s trying to snake morsels from the buffet!
Congratulations, Rawr! π So glad to hear you are doing well with getting other art work. Take care of business and your health. We’ll be here when you are.
@Azreal: Thank you! I’m very lucky to have the readers that I have here. You are all good people π
PS. Apoloiges for the sound on that video. Turns out that sitting away from the internal mic on my old laptop was not the best choice π
Cara: (turns around) Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!
Charlie: Arooooo!
Cara, (hands on hips) Don’t you ‘Aroo’ me! Do you have a license to be doing that?
Charlie: (looks shifty) Errr, well….
Cara: (glares) I didn’t think so! What’s your union card number?
Charlie:458008834, Ma’am!
Cara: (looms menacingly) Now get out of here before I report you to your supervisor!
Charlie: (scampers)
I’ve been examining Cara’s collar (oh, HUSH!), and am convincing myself that the heavy black line isn’t part of that collar, but is a cord suspending something which I very much hope will be a rather nasty surprise for Charlie.
I know I’m grasping at straws (or cords, in this case), but….what else have I got?
@Delta: (whispers) It’s really a GREGG medallion. Cara’s on a secret mission to kidnap Aoife and add her to Laura’s collection. Don’t tell anyone though! π
http://rawrtacular.com/bo/?comic=boc09p11
@Kessy: Knowning Laura, by adding to her “collection” she wouldn’t be turning Aoife into a Flower Girl, but rather add her to her extensive Bata Neart collection.
Nothing like a (sort-of) mint in box Aoife MacDonagh….with authentic sounding speech….and feedback….and ability to run away….
Hmmm, wasn’t there an episode of the Simpsons where Lucy Lawless was kidnapped by an obsessive collector who wanted her to complete his Xena collection?
Anyway, as much of an otaku as Laura clearly is, she strikes me as the type who’d want to be able to play with toys and not just let them sit on a shelf in their original packaging…
I was meaning to ask earlier, but the patient in the bed isn’t anyone we know, is it?
@Kessy:
>.>
<.<
Well, you WERE wondering what became of Naomh AKA Chain-smoking Girl. π
@Azrael: Wow, I knew that smoking is bad for your health, but they’re going to have to add a whole new disclaimer on cigarette packages.
Surgeon General’s warning: smoking is extremely hazardous, and may result in your soul being eaten by a legendary monster.
The next day the students continued to advance through their schedules and were welcomed to the new school year by the remainder of their teachers. Akko’s class began the day in the laboratory with Professor Finnelan, who stood at the front of the classroom regarding the students with a critical glance. “Welcome back, I trust you all had an enjoyable vacation?”
The students looked at each other, a little unsure of how to respond to this coming from such a notoriously strict teacher. Slowly, there was a murmured ascent.
“Good,” continued Finnelan, “And I also trust that most of what you learned last term has fallen completely out of your heads?”
The class responded with an embarrassed silence.
“Well then, let’s see just how much you’ve forgotten. Everyone get a block out of the supply cabinet and line up. Hopefully some of you remember how to cast a transfiguration spell. And yes, you’re being graded.”
The class muttered a collective protest but obediently prepared to put their skills to the test. Akko said under her breath, “Man, only Finnelan would give us a pop quiz on the first day back.”
“Well, it could be worse,” replied Lotte reasonably, “At least transfiguration is a pretty basic spell.”
“Yeah, so basic Akko blew up the lab the last time she tried it,” commented Sucy darkly.
One by one the students were called to the front of the classroom and transformed their blocks of material into various items under Finnelan’s critical gaze. Finally, Finnelan glanced at her class roster and called out, “Atsuko Kagari, it’s your turn.”
Akko walked stiffly to the front of the class. All the other students took a reflexive step backward. Finnelan gave her a mild glare. “Do try not to destroy my classroom this time, Miss Kagari.”
Akko took a deep breath and raised her wand. Everyone flinched as Akko shouted out the incantation. There was a crack as the spell lanced out to hit Akko’s block. And then…
Silence.
There was no explosion.
Cautiously Akko opened one eye and suddenly gave out a cry of delighted surprise. Everyone came out of their defensive crouches and the room filled with excited babbling. Standing on the table in front of Akko was a perfectly formed statue of a rampant unicorn.
“Quiet!” barked Finnelan as she cautiously approached the unicorn. She circled it at a distance, carefully examining it from every angle. She gingerly poked it with her wand. Finally she turned to Akko with a look of mild astonishment on her face. “I can’t find a thing wrong with it,” she pronounced, “A minus, Miss Kagari.”
Akko’s eyes shone and she jumped up, punching the air triumphantly. “Yata!! I did it!”
A little later Aoife, Aine and Ashling came down to the cafeteria for lunch to find a small crowd gathered around one of the tables. Going to investigate they discovered Akko at the center, gazing raptly at her unicorn standing proudly on the table.
“Wow, did you make that, Akko?” asked Aine.
“I did! I did! I really did!” replied Akko, who apparently couldn’t quite believe it herself.
“It’s pretty,” said Ashling, “Why a unicorn?”
“Well, to be honest, I was trying to make an Alcor,” replied Akko, “But it came out so well who cares?”
Aoife grinned, “Yanno, it looks a lot like the unicorn statue at Diana’s place. You wouldn’t have been thinking of her when you cast the spell, would you?”
Akko blushed, “Well, maybe my mind did wander a bit… But the important thing is that my magic actually works now! I bet I can do all sorts of things!”
Lotte put a restraining hand on Akko’s arm as she started looking around the room for something to use magic on, “Eheh, let’s not get carried away, Akko…”
Lotte was too late, as Akko spied a target in Aoife’s hand. “Ah, Blue, you forgot to get ice for your drink! I can fix that for you!”
“Ah, that’s okay, Akko…” Aoife started to protest but was cut off as Akko waved her wand, sending a blast of freezing air at the diminutive brunette. In a flash, Aoife was completely covered in snow.
“Ah, you made a snow Aoife,” commented Sucy in her habitual deadpan.
“Yabai!” Akko exclaimed with a panicked look. “I didn’t mean to do that! Aoife, are you okay?”
The pile of snow that had been Aoife started to shake violently, and the girl emerged as melting snow flew all over. “GAH! Cold!” Aoife exclaimed as she started to shiver uncontrollably.
Jumping to her feet, Akko pointed her wand at Aoife again saying, “Hang on, I’ll warm you up!”
“No!” cried Lotte, Aoife, Ashling, and Aine in unison, grabbing for Akko’s wand. Sucy chortled.
“*Calefio!*” Diana’s calm, commanding voice came from behind them and a warm wind enveloped Aoife, ruffling her clothes and lifting her hair. She was dry in an instant and even the puddles of water on the floor vanished.
Akko pouted. “I could have fixed it myself, you know.”
“Yes, I’m sure you could have,” replied Diana gently as she sat down next to Akko. “But you really shouldn’t practice your spell casting on friends.”
Aine clapped Aoife on the shoulder, “Well, Akko keeps calling you ‘Blue,’ and this time you actually were.”
Ashling looked amused, “Hey Akko, could you teach me that trick? It seems like it might come in handy when a certain someone starts to get a bit overexcited and needs to cool her head.”
“You wouldn’t!” said Aoife, giving Ashling a reproachful look.
Ashling just grinned at Aoife and sat down to eat her lunch.