[ID: a comic drawn by ND Stevenson about him and his husband, Lee Ostertag. The first panel reads, "at the beginning I looked like this". A feminine person with short hair, smiling, is illustrated. It continues, "and you looked like this". An androgynous person with short hair and glasses is illustrated. The second panel reads, "and when we got engaged, we looked like this". They are shown as a couple, one with shoulder length hair and the other with short hair, both smiling. It continues, "neither of us wanted a fancy ring". Their left hands are shown together, each wearing an engagement ring. The third panel reads, "yours was a dainty gem that was every colour of the sky, depending on its surroundings - clear blue or sunset or red stormy violet. I knew you would like it, because it was like magic." A drawing of a ring with two bands is shown, sparkling. The fourth panel reads, "and mine you chose because it was masculine, even though it was called a "princess" cut. We laughed abut that. I couldn't imagine anything more perfect." Another ring with two bands is shown gleaming.
The fifth panel reads, "rings are made the same - a symbol of unchanging love. gold doesn't tarnish. sapphires and diamonds don't chip. rings don't change. but we did." Two interlocking rings are shown catching the light. The sixth panel reads, "and change is hard and strange and awkward, but I could do it because I was never afraid of losing you." First they are shown together, both with short hair, then Ostertag kisses Stevenson on the cheek; he has some stubble. The panel continues, "rings don't change - except when they do." The seventh panel reads, "because you had mine reforged. the same stone I loved, in a new band that fit my new hand a little better, but still masculine and feminine all at once. and I still can't imagine anything more perfect." Stevenson's left hand is shown with the new ring.
The eighth panel reads, "now it's your turn to change, and I'm not scared, because you showed me how to do it." Ostertag is drawn in a side profile, smiling, with short hair and smiling. The ninth panel reads, "you will be different, and we will be different together. and I will reforge your ring so it fits your new hand a little better, but still every colour of the sky, and still magic." Ostertag is shown smiling in the mirror, recovering from top surgery, whilst Stevenson grins and takes a photo in the background. Below is a sparkling ring, reforged. The tenth panel reads, "we are creatures in flux, and I don't need to know what shape we'll be to know that it will always be me and it will always be you." An explosion is hastily illustrated, and right at the end, some sparkles are drawn. /end ID]
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