Branching Ceremony 🥀 pt. 2
This comic ended up being a challenge on every page, but I’m satisfied with how it came out and think it introduces part of Jasper’s dynamic in the cult pretty well, especially in reference to their father
The general gist is that Jasper, to the general populous of the cult, would be barred from courting at all because of her position as the Jadestone (the leader of the guard, amongst other duties). Getting married would sacrifice that position and put her into entirely new expectations, whereas her father finds her more useful where’s she’s at.
While that’s not entirely untrue, the foundational reason has to do with Jasper being trans, which is a very well-concealed secret. Their parents use acceptance as a pawn for control and leverage, while guising it as a favor. That leads them into the internalized belief that even if they could marry, no one would accept them for what they are. And that takes a very long time to unlearn.