Your wonderful comments about the comic are very appreciated and dear to my heart! I'm so glad you all enjoy this little labor of Valenfield love. We all know they have such juicy angst to draw from, so it made my job easier (and references, sooo much reference used) :P
So below is the work in progress that had me stumped for MONTHS. I kept trying to think about how I wanted to draw it, but ultimately, an inspiration struck for the first hug and I decided to scrap this idea. Though I really like some of the pictures that came out of it.
Also, a page that was cut from the final. We (my sister and I) felt like the ending was better without it. We wanted to leave some ambiguity, whereas with these pages they are definitely leaning in for a kiss.
Reference. Reference. Reference. There was so much reference used for this comic. It made it turn out so much better, too!
And finally, the script is included below. (Hopefully this can be helpful to any of the non-English speakers!)
[Chris visits Jill at the lab facility while she is under testing]
Chris: ...I still hate seeing you hooked up to that thing. When will they take you off it?
Jill: Dr. Garrison said it should only be another week or so.
Chris: [slightly irked] Really, another week? Haven’t they put you through enough?
Jill: Oh, it’s not so bad... You get used to it.
Chris: Well, I certainly haven’t...
Jill: Always such a worry-wart, you know that?
Chris: Hey, can you blame me?
Jill: [playfully shrugs] Nah.
Chris and Jill share a chuckle.
[Beat]
Chris: ...
You know, I ... I never had the guts to really say it. To tell you...
... how I really feel... about... everything.
Jill: Ha. You tell me everyday, Chris. I know - you hate this hunk of junk I’m hooked up to! I’m surprised you haven’t given it the boulder treatment yet.
Chris: [shakes head and smirks] Tch...
[quiet pause]
... How about the blood work? Have they found anything new?
Jill: No, not since last week, but they’re still drawing blood here and there to be sure.
Chris: [sighs, shaking head]
Jill: They’re just trying to be thorough, Chris.
Chris: ... I know, I know... I just... I don’t like seeing you treated like their test-subject.
Jill: Chris, I consented to this. It’s for the greater-good. You of all people should understand that.
Chris: [sigh] I know... But... It’s just that...
Ah, forget it.
Jill: I’m alright, really.
Chris: [shakes his head, but smiles at Jill] Somehow I knew you’d say that. The whole world could be falling apart around you with the worst stroke of luck, yet you’d still insist that you’re ‘alright’.
Jill: Well, I have been alright... I’m still kicking, aren’t I? Besides, it could always be worse.
Chris: Worse? Considering all that you’ve been through, I’m not sure “worse” is possible for you.
I don’t even want to think of that...
Jill: Oh, it is possible...
Chris: Tsh, is that so?
Jill: Yeah... for instance, I...
[gazing into Chris’ eyes] I could have lost you...
Chris: [gazes back]
[husky whisper] I’m not going anywhere...
Jill: [smiles, whispers back] I know.
[quiet as they continue to smile at one another]
[Chris glances down, appearing to convince himself to say something]
Chris: Jill, I... I don’t -- I hate what’s happened to you... And I hate that I wasn’t able to stop it sooner.
Jill: Don’t beat yourself up, Chris. None of this is your fault.
Chris: I can’t help but feel responsible though... I wasn’t strong enough to take him down that night... to protect you.
Losing you... it was like... living a nightmare I could never wake up from.
Jill: Chris...
Chris: I miss you... I miss you by my side. I hate what Wesker has taken from you, from me - from us. I don’t ever want to lose you again. I don’t mean to be a downer, I just -- I hate seeing you like this - the reminder of what’s happened, of what he’s done...
... Because... well...
[sigh]
I... I don’t want to lose anymore than we already have, but I -- how do I put this...
I need to tell you... that I...
Jill: [holds Chris’ hand] Chris.
Chris: ?
Jill: [gazes/smiles] I love you, too.
Chris: [gazes/smiles back]
