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23 20117

849 Paper Walls Break
Posted on September 20, 2021 by bohemiannightsthecomic

Programing note! 9/22

It looks like everyone will have to wait a couple more days for the last installment of the 6th chapter/book. It's taking longer than I expected but to be fair, it will be FOUR PAGES LONG.  Yes, I could have broken the pages up and put them out one at a time, but I think it just won't work that way. So sorry for the small delay but I think it will be worth it. See you all Monday!   I know there's some people that feel Beth is too shallow or deserves what's coming to her. Yes, she's flawed and maybe a little self absorbed, but weren't we all in our twenties? Haven't we done things we're not proud of (to ourselves or to others). And that's what this comic is really about. People going through self discovery -determining just who they are (by themselves and with other people). Sure, this happens throughout life (if you are lucky), but no more so than in your twenties when your life really becomes your own. There is a huge amount of good in Beth and it looks like she's finally turning a corner.

23 thoughts on “849 Paper Walls Break”

  1. Brett

    She definitely seems to have trouble with the concept of “what happens in Vegas”.

    I love that second last panel though.

  2. Kace

    The penny finally drops

    I love the fact that Robert was trying to be insulting, but Beth instantly thought of Emrys.

  3. Travis

    Good for Beth. At this point we can only hope this corner takes her down a different street, out of town, to a whole new place. Then she could possibly never go back to that place and be a better person for it. Emrys deserves that much.

  4. Thracecius

    Beth, you’re a champ and I hope you never change that particular quality. Making mistakes is part of life, and some are worse than others, but the important thing is to learn from those mistakes and try to do better. Sometimes that’s easier said than done, but I have faith in you. 🙂

    So far as I can tell, Beth did get what she deserved, more or less, and that’s exactly why she turned this particular corner. I’ve always interpreted her behavior as thoughtful, kind and patient when it comes to her friends and those she likes, with a few moments of self-centeredness, and ultimately I think she really is looking to find a stable guy, settle down and find happiness in a relationship she can trust. She let Tony walk all over her and it took her awhile to finally let that go, and before him she let Rich abuse her in ways no one should ever experience. Robert made the same mistake a lot of people do, he assumed that he knew Beth and he projected his own behaviors on her because that was what he wanted to be true.

    Don’t judge a book by its cover is an aphorism for a reason and, like many others, is a nod to a greater truth. Actually claiming to know someone, especially someone you haven’t had a significant amount of time to talk with, observe and live around in person to some extent or another, is a bold statement. Granted, sometimes you meet people in your life that seem like long lost friends from word one, but those are the exception that more or less prove the rule, and they shouldn’t be taken for granted either. 🙂

  5. Corey C.

    I was less sympathetic to Beth here than before because she SEEMED to snap out of the pattern during the Rich arc. Shannon, who had a similar arc of ditching a guy who genuinely loved her for entertaining sex, was able to put some perspective on Emrys and Beth’s relationship and was determined to make sure Beth didn’t make the same mistakes, especially after Emrys reached out and comforted Shannon during the point where she needed a friend the most. It did seem like Beth was taking Shannon’s warning of going after Emrys if she was 100% certain she wanted him seriously, but then Robert showed up and, to to be fair, Emrys made two boneheaded mistakes- getting super drunk on the dance floor and passing out, and then making dinner plans without asking Beth if she was available. That did make Robert seem more appealing by comparison.

    I’m really unsure if Beth or Emrys deserve each other right now. It’s been only what, a week since Emrys broke up with Stephanie, and Beth, despite finally acknowledging her toxic pattern of being attracted to assholes, still needs to figure out once and for all what she wants. And I think Shannon will definitely be Big Sister protective of Emrys from this point forward, at leasst until Stephanie makes her long awaited return after her epiphany. (PLEASE make Stephanie a little more sympathetic. I actually kind of like her, especially after she saw from the get go how toxic Rich was after just meeting him.)

    1. Thracecius

      I like your view on Shannon and I’m pretty solidly in her corner too, she’s been through a lot and, personally, I suspect that Mark’s tragic death essentially saved her life, so it wasn’t meaningless. Finding the positive, even from the most tragic events, sometimes helps heal wounds that would otherwise never go away. Mark won’t be forgotten, of that I am sure, but his passing has given Shannon and the rest of his friends a chance to change their perspective on life and, perhaps, life it a little brighter and thoughtfully.

      I miss Mark, but the peculiarity of the human condition helps me focus on the positive impact he made on the lives of his friends, and who can ask for a better legacy than to be remembered for the good we’ve done?

  6. Gorbi1985

    So, Beth has realized qualities of Emrys for second time. Let´s hope now it will click. This time it might not be too late.

    In my 20´s I was going thru long time untreated heavy depression. Among many deeds of mine I am the least proud of my suicide attempt (and still hate myself for not finishing it sometimes). That led me to mental hospital, treatment and finding my so far only girlfriend(co-patient). That relationship is for another story. My life is still full of ups and downs, but I somehow stumble forward. Having “no life” job of truck driver somehow helps me to not being that miserable. At least a bit, from time to time.

    Sorry for being too narcisist with this post.

  7. G

    Beth and Emrys have a long way to go, neither is really mature at this point, but so happy to see they may just do it together – – I think many of us went through that faze in our early years we all make mistakes, learning from them is the important thing

  8. JohanBroad

    Beth nailed it in panel 4.

    A big part of personal growth is recognizing patterns, and paying attention to them.

    Another big (HUGE) part of personal growth is not allowing yourself to fall back into *bad* patterns.

    1. DMC_Run

      @[JohanBroad]:
      To quote from Charles Peguy:
      [https://www.azquotes.com/quote/959130]

    2. Thracecius

      “What is most contrary to salvation is not sin, but habit.” – Charles Peguy

      Nice quote, DMC_Run! It looks like he had quite a few other quotes worth ruminating over, which is something this story is good at provoking. 🙂

      Another one that would apply here:

      “Suffering passes; having suffered never passes.” – Charles Peguy

      Though it doesn’t mean you should let it rule your life, it certainly reaffirms that you can learn and grow from suffering, which is often how one develops character and becomes a better version of oneself.

      If crisis makes heroes, and suffering offers wisdom, then changelessness only begets stagnation and eventual ruin. To put in a larger context, the famous quote from George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”, can be applied to personal history as much as the history of nations and humanity as a whole. Fortunately, I have faith in both Beth and Emrys to take steps in the right direction, even if they stumble repeatedly in the effort. 🙂

  9. sterling

    Next panel – shit, fan

    1. Gorbi1985

      I´ve just imagined some supporter shouting “Go, Shit, Go” 😀

  10. Josh

    Are you going to be at Euconn in november?

    1. Thracecius

      When Eric announced that he would be at Rose City CC this year (a few pages back -beginning of September) he also said that it would be his only convention this year, unfortunately.

    2. bohemiannightsthecomic

      I wish! I love Eucon and would go again in a heartbeat, but it’s canceled this year so hopefully next year.

      1. Josh

        Oh man! they failed to mention that little chesnut on their facebook page, oh well, more money for seattle i guess.

  11. ChrisH

    I hope Beth doesn’t change her mind.

  12. bohemiannightsthecomic

    Thank you all for your wonderful comments. I love how all of you are following this saga so closely with such great insight into the characters. You are all amazing.

    1. Gorbi1985

      We thank you for this amazing comic.

    2. Thracecius

      Yeah, what Gorbi said. 😀

    3. A Reader from Germany

      Can’t wait for Monday!

      And of course “What Gorbi said” from me as well 🙂

  13. Thracecius

    Aha! I missed the updated schedule. Four pages at once? Holy moly, Batman! You spoil us too much, Eric. 😀

    Looking forward to the epic conclusion to this chapter!

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