doubleklover

Sketchblog

[doubleklover]

"Oh, this place keeps getting nicer," Charlie comments, walking in Di and Bea's apartment, then calls: "You guys ready? El is getting an uber."

"Be right there," Diana's voice travels from her bedroom.

"A'ight kids, prepare for trouble!" Bea calls as she gets out of the bathroom.

Charlie turns to her. "Yas, and make it dou —" he stops and stares. "Bea…"

Bea tilts her head and brushes her now short hair. “You like it?”

Charlie is still stunned. “When –” He then laughs shortly. “Fuck yeah, I love it!” He hugs her and then pulls away to look. “Gurl. You’re drop-dead gorgeous.”

She laughs and they kiss each other on the cheek.

“Oof!” He ruffles her newly cut hair. “New year, new you, huh?”

“Yeah.” She runs her hand through her hair to fix it and hugs him again. “Sorry. I know you loved my hair.”

“Well what do I know.”

“You’re my gay best friend. According to every Hollywood movie...”

“Well what do they know.”

Di emerges from her room. “Are you sissies all good to go? Oh Bea, good job on the haircut. Looking good.”

Charlie gapes at Bea. “Wait, you did this yourself?!”

Bea smiles. “Gavin’s probably still looking for his clippers.”

“Oh. My. God.” He looks at her amazed. “How did you —?”

“Well…” She touches her hair again, still getting used to it. “With the mighty aid of Youtube and a bunch of mirrors.”

Charlie looks at Di. “I can’t believe you knew before me.”

Di walks to the door. “Could hear the buzzing going on for like. An hour. Kinda figured out she was having a Britney meltdown moment.”

Charlie and Bea follow her to the door. “Hey," Charlie scolds, "we do not speak ill of Britney in this house!”

‏[Another snippet from my comic book]

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[doubleklover]

Morning. Looking exhausted, bag hanging on one shoulder, Charlie goes down the stairs to have tea with El’s mama before leaving for work.

He’s right on time. She’s in the kitchen by the coffee machine. She turns her head to him when she hears him come downstairs. “Hey honey.”

“Hey mama.”

“You’re a late bird today, huh? Morning tea?"

“Please.”

She turns on the kettle. He places his bag on one of the bar stools near the kitchen island.

“Teaching today?”

“Yep.”

“Talented or talentless?”

“I’m not even sure she likes piano,” he says, slumping onto another stool.

Mama chuckles. He looks at her while she inserts a new capsule to the machine. “Have you seen Bea before she left?”

Mama flashes him a grin. “Who do you think I shared my first round of coffee with?”

Charlie smiles.

The kettle switch pops, she puts a teabag in a cup, fills it with water, tops it with milk, then steadily slides it across the island to him.

"Thanks." He pulls on the string absentmindedly. “And hey. Thanks for being so cool about her staying here this past week.”

She turns to him and leans her back on the counter while the coffee machine whirrs. She smiles compassionately. “Don’t mention it. She can stay till she finds a place. She’s been through a bit, huh?“ She pauses. “In general, I mean.”

Charlie looks at her, then down, and gives a tense, affirming grin. “Yeah,” he says softly, and picks up the cup.

“Anyway, I like her,” mama says, “and I appreciate the company. Cake?”

“Of course cake.”

She smiles. “‘Atta boy.”

[Another snippet from my comic book]

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[doubleklover]

It’s a sleepy afternoon. Diana is doing the dishes, headphones on. She’s cleaning a wine glass and it suddenly snaps broken and cuts her fingers. She yelps in pain. “Shit. Ahh. Shit. Shit. Shit.” She turns to find some kitchen paper. Blood drips along her arm, on the counter, on the floor. She grabs some paper and holds it to her hand, then turns the faucet off with her elbow. She tries to move her headphones to hang around her neck using one hand – they come off completely and she groans, increasingly distressed. “AUGH!” She pushes them sideways and they hang on her neck in a weird manner. Blood is everywhere. “GODDAMMIT,” she mutters through her teeth. She goes into the dining/living room to look for bandages.

There’s the doorbell buzz, and Bea comes into the apartment. “Honey, I’m home,” she calls sarcastically, absentmindedly, then looks over. “Oh shit!”

“It’s okay,” Di says immediately. “Cut my fingers on a glass. All good.”

“Good as in a good ol’ murder scene?”

Di grimaces. “Where do we keep bandages?” She notices blood dripping on the table, and now there’s urgency to her voice: “Fuck, it won’t stop –”

Bea snaps into softness. “Wait, wait,” gently she guides Di to a chair. “– sit down, kid.”

Di sits down, overwhelmed, and pushes the paper to her fingers.

Bea gets their first aid kit out, brings some soapy water and more paper from the kitchen, and grabs a chair to sit in front of Di.

Diana breathes irregularly. She lifts the paper and hisses, “Why won’t it –” Her hands are shaking.

“Hey,” Bea says softly, “let me.”

Di reluctantly gives in.

As Bea cleans the cuts and lays clean dressings on them, Diana puts her face in her hand and starts sobbing.

Bea raises her eyes to her. She realizes there’s more to it all. “Honey…”

Di shuffles, mumbling, “sorry.” She leans her cheek on her hand, destroyed.

Bea has never seen her face like that. Silently, she’s wrapping a bandage around her ring finger to the best of her ability. Then Di talks:

“She would just slap a bandage on me and joke about it and say some Indian grandma bullshit,” she says, shaking her head. “You know?”

Bea stares at her, then lets out a hesitant smile. And Diana goes on:

“Like. ‘Don’t you know these are fragile? Aren’t you 27?’”

Bea gives a short snigger. “She was badass,” she says softly, and goes on to Di’s pinky.

“She was,” Diana agrees quietly. “I miss her.”

[Another snippet from my comic book]

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[doubleklover]

Thinking about Diana’s summer wardrobe. I’m ready for the rain and cold to go away, seasonal depression is a bitch! @Procreate #summer #summerwardrobe #summerclothes #summerclothing #summerwear #seasonaldepression #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #lgbtart #queerart 🌈 ‎‏#comics #comicbook #originalstory #originalcharacters #CAndL #CharlieAndEl #sketch ‏#drawing #art #digitalart #procreate #ipadpro #talidovrat_ii https://www.instagram.com/p/CoU8i-JNCpd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[doubleklover]

“Look.” Diana shoves her camera into Charlie’s hands. “What is this?” There’s a picture of El on the small screen. Charlie frowns. “Please enlighten me.” “You’re being an asshole.” Charlie opens his mouth. He then retracts. Closes his eyes and clenches his jaw. “Sorry.” He looks at the camera screen reluctantly. He sighs aggravatedly. Whatever exercise this is, he doesn’t appreciate it much. “This is El.” Diana looks at him. “This is El looking at you,” she explains. Charlie looks again and his face crumples a tiny bit. Despite everything… this touches him. He surveys the expression on El’s face. “He’s not leaving,” Diana says quietly, “unless you drive him away.” @Procreate #fight #couplesfight #gay #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #lgbtart #queerart 🌈 ‎‏#comics #comicbook #originalstory #originalcharacters #CAndL #CharlieAndEl #sketch ‏#drawing #art #digitalart #procreate #ipadpro #danaisraeli_ii https://www.instagram.com/p/CoSpmrELf09/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Bea plumplts on her bed, startling Bat the cat. Alice stays standing, examining Bea’s room. “This is such a crafty person's desk,” she comments. “Are you judging me?” Bea offers Bat her hand to sniff as a sign of peace, and he relaxes and head-bunts it. Alice turns her head to her and says playfully: “Do you always assume people judge you?” “They do.” Alice raises an eyebrow and clarifies smiling: “I like your desk.” Bat is now a black knot on the bed. Bea pets him and says: “Meet Bat. He’s an idiot.” Bat notices Alice, raises his head and stares at her (as if to say ‘dafuq are you?’). Alice puts her hand out, and he sniffs it suspiciously, then takes a step away and sits, still stares. She laughs. “Well, he clearly isn’t into me.” “You kidding?” Bea reassures her. “He stayed in the same room with you. Coming from him it’s like a fucking love letter.” “Well, Bat, I’mma kiss your mom now.” Bea smiles. Alice puts her hands on both her sides and leans in for a kiss. @Procreate #date #lesbian #bisexual #catowner #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #lgbtart #queerart 🌈 ‎‏#comics #comicbook #originalstory #originalcharacters #CAndL #CharlieAndEl #sketch ‏#drawing #art #digitalart #procreate #ipadpro #wowprovence_ii https://www.instagram.com/p/CoPEDaZt1SZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[doubleklover]

(Bea and Charlie talk)

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[doubleklover]

(Charlie and Di talk 1/2) “So what’s the deal with you and Adrian?” Charlie asks as he retrieves half a joint from his saverette. Di examines him lighting it up. Eventually she asks dryly: “What deal?” “Mhm.” Charlie smiles, joint between his lips. He puffs it to life and blows shortly. “Well.” He takes a long drag, then, still holding the smoke in, says: “It just seems you like them.” He tilts his head backwards and releases a stream of smoke. “Yeah,” Di says quietly. She leans her head on the backrest and avoids his eyes. “Ad’s cool.” Charlie examines her, then turns his gaze to the street. They stay silent for a bit as he takes another drag, and then as he blows it out. “I mean,” he says gently, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like someone like that.” Diana says nothing. Is that so? Does she like Adrian… like that? @Procreate #friendstalk #smoke #smoking #smokingweed ‎#high #stoned #420 #nightsky #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #lgbtart #queerart 🌈 ‎‏#comics #comicbook #originalstory #originalcharacters #CAndL #CharlieAndEl #sketch ‏#drawing #art #digitalart #procreate #ipadpro #unagi_ii https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce_hAZINiZZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[doubleklover]

(Charlie falling apart 1/2) @Procreate #lego #falling #fallingapart #anxiety #depression #inpain #mentalhealth #gay #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #lgbtart #queerart 🌈 ‎‏#comics #comicbook #originalstory #originalcharacters #CAndL #CharlieAndEl #sketch ‏#drawing #art #digitalart #procreate #ipadpro #smellycat_ii https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce8fGRstCfM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[doubleklover]

(The view from Bea and Di’s balcony) @Procreate #tree #treeillustration #foliage #nightsky ‎‏#comics #comicbook #originalstory #CharlieAndEl #sketch ‏#drawing #art #digitalart #procreate #ipadpro #smellycat_ii https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce5poDUNY3K/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[doubleklover]

“I wish he wouldn’t affect me like that,” Charlie says quietly. He collapses slowly in El’s lap, buries his face in his arms. El strokes his hair lovingly. “Not talking to him could help, for starters,” he teases very cautiously. The pile that is Charlie chuckles desperately. “...I know. He caught me all kinds of... off.” El is quiet. He still strokes Charlie’s head... worryingly. “El.” Charlie turns his head to be heard more clearly. His eyes are still closed. El looks down at him. He loves him. He just wants him to feel okay again. “I’m getting better,” Charlie says. “I promise.” “Okay.” El continues to quietly run his hand through Charlie’s hair. “I’m here.” @Procreate #boyfriends #healing #gettingbetter #emotionalsupport #imhere #gay #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #lgbtart #queerart 🌈 ‎‏#comics #comicbook #originalstory #originalcharacters #CAndL #CharlieAndEl #sketch ‏#drawing #art #digitalart #procreate #ipadpro #colorsoftheweek_ii https://www.instagram.com/p/CeG9g4BNpdL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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“I miss you…” @Procreate #loss #grief #missingsomeone #memories #tea #cupoftea #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #lgbtart #queerart 🌈 ‎‏#comics #comicbook #originalstory #originalcharacters #CAndL #CharlieAndEl #sketch ‏#drawing #art #digitalart #procreate #ipadpro #colorsoftheweek_ii https://www.instagram.com/p/CeEA7XPtYSR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[doubleklover]

When El comes back home, the room is dark. Charlie’s in bed, awake. “El?” “Hey.” He goes in the bathroom. Later he comes to bed, puts his phone on the nightstand and lays on his back next to Charlie. Charlie is quiet. Then touches his shoulder. El’s fingers grab his hand faintly. “I’m sorry,” Charlie says. El is quiet. He sounds somber when he answers: “I know. I am, too.” @Procreate #boyfriends #couplesfight #sorry #gay #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #lgbtart #queerart 🌈 ‎‏#comics #comicbook #originalstory #originalcharacters #CAndL #CharlieAndEl #sketch ‏#drawing #art #digitalart #procreate #ipadpro #blueandhappy_ii https://www.instagram.com/p/CeBvQkhtiUx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[doubleklover]

Diana gets up.

“Well, I’m off for some booze. Are we ever gonna see you in the living room again?”

Charlie looks over. The air is filled with loud, cheerful chatter coming from the other room. Snippets of conversations reach his ears, but his brain is completely numb. A balloon of anxiety is inflating inside his chest, closing in on his lungs, threatening to take over him completely. He can’t possibly.

“Ha,” he lets out a nervous laugh and plays a short chord on the piano. “Not sure I’m up for it today.”

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[doubleklover]

Charlie and El go up on the roof. They lay there cuddled in blankets, looking at the night sky, talking things out. Charlie apologizes. “I’m sorry too,” El says at last. “I acted like somehow you should’ve guessed how bad my mom used to be… when I rarely tell anyone about it.” He rubs his face. “Whenever I do, I just get so angry with her. So I rather focus on the mom I have right now, the one who tells me to SISSY THAT WALK.” Charlie is stroking El’s chest. “She IS quite remarkable,” he comments. El gives a short desperate laugh. “I know. I never should’ve introduced her to RuPaul's Drag Race. I’ve created a monster.” He pauses. “...but you don’t know how it was.” Charlie’s hand rests on his chest. “Tell me,” he asks. So he does. He tells him how terrible it was to come out to his parents, how his aunt took him in and how during that time he had more luck than brains. After a while they just lay there, relaxed and quiet, looking at the stars. “So… aren’t you gonna show me constellations?” Charlie asks sarcastically. “Well, I don’t know shit about that, but I can definitely make stuff up if you want,” El suggests generously. “I’d love that.” “Well,” El points to the sky, “right above us there's the Big Dick, and over there is the Little Dick...” “...we’re breaking up,” Charlie states. El laughs and hugs him tightly… and Charlie lets himself feel safe in his arms. It’s cold, but they stay put on the roof, silent for a while, taking in this moment of closeness. “El?” Charlie says at long last. “Mmm?” His voice is soft now: “I love you too, you know.” For a moment there’s still silence, enveloped by the sea of stars. El turns to look at him, then raises, leans on one arm and kisses him. He draws back a bit and examines Charlie emotionally. “You are so stupid,” he says, and Charlie chuckles, holds his face and pullls him in for another kiss. @Procreate #boyfriends #gay #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #lgbtart #queerart 🌈 #nightskyart #starrysky ‎‏#comics #comicbook #originalstory #originalcharacters #CAndL #CharlieAndEl #sketch ‏#drawing #art #digitalart #procreate #ipadpro #monicaforever_ii https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdz7mnENKPE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[doubleklover]

Towards the light @Procreate #gettingbetter #keeponkeepingon #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #lgbtart #queerart ‎‏#comics #comicbook #originalstory #originalcharacters #CAndL #CharlieAndEl #sketch ‏#drawing #art #digitalart #procreate #ipadpro #monicaforever_ii https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdx9y7XtWBw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[doubleklover]

Charlie in therapy

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