Sir, Butler and Boy ~ Memories and Maidenheads ~ End
And we bring this final chapter to a close.
I deliberated for a long time over this ending as I didn’t want yet another story where it’s about queers dying and it being sad. But in a time where being warped meant hard prison sentences or being a social pariah, them keeping it a secret until they all eventually died is, in a strange way, the happiest ending I could give them.
Thank you everyone that’s been reading this comic with me, I’ll update on monday with a reveal of the cover art for the book launch!
Oh man, right in the feelings, it’s a bittersweet ending, but I love it!
“Will you love me when I’m old.” Reading the obituary, that line of James’ popped into my head and made everything that much more tragic. Arthur outlived John and even his young master.
A beautiful story and amazing art all the way through, but I think I need a few minutes to mourn.
Damnit. I had *just* managed to het a hold of myself, and you remind me of that sentense from James. Here the waterwork goes agaon ;_;
NO. NO. NO NO NO. Oh godddddd. Now I wonder how old he was when he passed, and how Arthur and John dealt with their boy coming down with tuberculosis… He likely couldn’t play as well with them anymore in the last “several years” of his life.
I also agree with the majority of the comments in that this scene doesn’t feel like “oh sure, kill off the queer characters.” It just feels like the end of their story. Very bittersweet, indeed …
As a long-time fan (from about mid Charlie’s Story) I look forward to future projects of yours, Tab!
The physical prop also really kills me <3
I got tears in my eyes right now. Had to wipe my eyes to write this. Managed to keep ’em back until reading the obituary.
You are the master of bittersweet endings. I’m not even good with comics (or any kind of series) ending when they have a more happy ending. I will miss reading stories with these guys, but will look forward to what you come up with next.
I too object to the overuse of the “queers dying” storyline, but I don’t see this ending that way— not when it comes at the end of a long life they clearly spent together, cherishing each other. Thank you for a beautiful story.
I think this was a pretty happy ending. Everyone dies someday; it was nice that they got to grow old together, and I’m glad we got to see that nothing particularly bad seemed to happen to them (besides eventual death). I feel like this is the happiest ending for most anyone. James didn’t even end up getting married to keep up social appearances or something.
Okay, I’m crying. How do you make it so perfect and so sad at the same time? *wipes eyes* That was. Thank you Tab. That was perfect in a way I’m not sure I can express right now. I’m super happy he never had a wife or children, even though it’s sad he didn’t leave heirs. (I’m always terribly conflicted about that sort of thing. It’s a me thing.) So. yeah, thank you. <3
Theory: the “queers dying” trope is a problem because death usually paired with something else that marks the character as an Other. Straight characters get to die for a billion reasons, but a QUILTBAG character’s death just HAS to be linked to their sexual orientation and/or gender expression. Bob the cis-guy just died because he got old. Bob the gay man has to die of AIDS, a gay bashing, or as a plot device that allows Bob’s uncertain love interest an easy way to either leave “that sort of thing” behind or compel him to embrace his sexuality.
You wrote a story in which gay men get to die of natural causes after a life of loving each other. That’s about as anti-trope as it gets.
They got to spend their lives together. That’s the best they could hope for. It hurts, because it’s an ending, but ultimately I think it’s at least somewhat of a happy one.
I think there’s a few reason why it works in this instance. The death isn’t to do with their sexuality, nobody faces any consequences, and most importantly we aren’t seeing the characters spend most the story suffering because of it.
We don’t know the time line of any of this, we don’t know how old they were when they died, or how long since either of their deaths. The story didn’t end because of their death we simply skipped ahead. Anyone can come back to the story and write new things at any point in their lives without it feeling forced. But at the very least it seems like it has been long enough for Arthur to remeber without only feeling grief.
The only tragedy here is stories end.
I have to agree. Its so rare we get to see any QUILTBAG characters die of natural causes and portrayed as loving one another until then. In a way its kind of nice to see a story infold that has them die of natural causes, and not AIDs.
to you and LikesTheCaulk, Thankyou for the new word.
Quiltbag. I think I really like that one.
It makes me happy :)
Lol, thank you. I actually stole it from a defunct webcomic of the same name.
Thank you.
Yes, sad. No, not tragic. And definitely not problematic. This ending was just… amazing.
I loved this series so much, and the ending was beautiful.
‘The family of the late John Hutchinson’
I was holding it together until that bit.
Unless I’m reading it wrong, John went before he did
Or they went close together. If James had TB, there’s a high chance John or Jefferson would have gotten it as well. What makes it all even more potentially tragic is that we don’t know when the obit was written. Given Jefferson’s memories are of them at James’ youth, it’s possible that he and John both died soon after the hunting trip and Jefferson has been alone with his memories for years.
the phrase “in his final years” is usually applied to an elder.
so I remain hopeful that at least James made a good run of it. (though I’d like to think that John fared very well too)
Except TB and other wasting diseases (like cancer) wouldn’t necessarily kill right away. So final years would be used too if he had lingered.
I’d also point out that most of the moment is seem to be from this this time period of their life which would be strange if they’d had a longer run.
It’s possible either way though! That’s one of the joys of an open ending like this.
Tab, I’m actually crying.
I’ve had a really rough year, and this comic hasn’t been one of my lifelines. Thank you for creating something so beautiful, and with such a perfect ending.
im not crying YOURE crying
Thank you for taking the time to draw and write their stories for so long. I’d have been happy to have gotten more, but just like the boys all good things must come to an end at some point. I’m happy for their story to end as it did, they got to live together as partners as much as someone in their position could at that time. Thanks, again.
That was a beautiful ending. I was so worried it would end in James marrying someone he didn’t love…
But they were together until they died of natural causes. That’s the best ending anyone could hope for.
How very dare you
This ending was sweet and sad and beautiful and you’re KILLING ME, Tab!!
I loved this story. The art was lovely and I’d been craving bdsm that was sweet and loving. Thanks for this great story
Oh noes! That’s so perfect but I’m totally crying! Oh god :( This series has just been so wonderful. Thank you so much <3
I dunno Tab. You said this was strangely ‘the happiest ending you could give them’, but wouldn’t it be possible to end the story at a point where nobody is dying yet? Is it required to end a story with death?
I’m not Tab, and in fact I’m generally a reader rather than a commenter here, but I agree that this is the happiest ending the CHARACTERS could have been given. You’re correct about the story, it could have ended in an optimistic manner. But that would have left space in our minds for the knowledge of how badly queer CHARACTERS in the victorian times ended. We always would have doubted that happy ending, because of the (highly likely) potential for it to sour. By sacrificing the story’s happy ending for a bittersweet one, Tab made sure to establish that the characters had as happy of an ending as was possible(remember, character’s stories always end in some kind of death, after all). He didn’t even leave room for the possibility that they’d be imprisoned, or otherwise caught and punished by society. That’s my thoughts as a rampant headcanoner and fanfiction muse, at least.
I liked it. Made me tear up, and I’m so, so sad to see it over, but I liked it. Thank you, Tab.
That’s the problem with stories. If you keep them going long enough they always end in death.
All stories end in death someday, because everyone dies. This is a beautiful ending. It implies that they had many happy years together, and stayed together looking after one another until the end of their days. They weren’t outed, or extorted, or imprisoned. John wasn’t forced to leave for his daughters’ sakes. James didn’t have to marry some woman he didn’t care for for the sake of convenience. Jefferson never had too leave his boy or his sir.
I would give my eyeteeth for the assurance of such a life for myself and my partners. Many happy years together and a peaceful life and death? I call that a bargain.
This ending made me sad, but I agree with the readers who are glad Tab wrote it this way. It’s so sweet to be reassured that they lived the rest of their natural lives together, without ever being caught and punished for their love. (And since James had no signs of TB yet in the hunting story, I’m going to assume there were several years of fun left to be had, as well!)
Long time reader and never commented before, but right now I am sitting in my office with far too many feelings and I need to point the finger at someone!
Hi! Another really long time reader that doesn’t comment. Thank you so much for writing, drawing and sharing.I loved everything about the story of these three. The way you chose to tell it and what you showed and didn’t. As I see it the ending couldn’t be better. It’s comforting to see things done with so much care :)
Oh…. Arthur….
I freaking…. spelled my name wrong…. I hope James had a good life, for the most part.
I am in agreement.
This, was the happiest ending you could give them.
In the end everyone dies. And in between, they lived.
Thank you for letting them live.
oh my…i’m crying…
Thank you, Tab. I think this was a lovely and satisfying ending. This was a lovely series to enjoy.
It frightens me a little when I try to remember for how long have I been following your work. When you announced this one would be ‘pretty filthy’ 18+ smut I wasn’t convinced… but as always – you made me a believer.
I was expecting pretty sexy stories (a dash of bdsm was a nice bonus;). But dear Tab, you gave us so much more…
For fu*k’s sake it was suppose to be simple entertainment! And here I am tears in my eyes, mourning this beautiful, affectionate characters you made me admire and care about. I do not doubt your next project will be good. And yes, it gives me some comfort to know they had their good ending (or as good as you can have beside unrealistic ‘happily ever after’) It’s just…
It’s really hard to say goodbye
What a beautiful end to a beautiful series! So bittersweet…I don’t want the series to end, but I cannot wait for the book!
Tab, you outdo yourself with every chapter! Can’t wait to see what you do next!
I’m tearing up. I’ll miss this story so much. Thank you for everything. <3
Would like to know how old James was when he died or if John died before him or not, it’s unclear. Usually Obituaries contain that info. I would have thought Jefferson would have kept John’s too.
Tab, as always you slay me beautifully.
That’s okay Tab. I don’t have to be happy this year. But this is beautiful and I love the book you made for it!!
I was, well am, so not ready for this story to end. It just feels like i am in a trance and cannot fully accept that this has ended.
This has been a beautiful story, and I truly feel like crying. Thank you for this wonderful story Tab. You did a great job through the story and you ended it beautifully.
I am hoping to see another of your stories soon, since theyre one of the things I look forward to every week.
God, this story will forever stay in my heart <3
THE BUTTERFLIES ARE THEIR SOULS!!!
Well, it’s not like they were going to live forever.
The cheer, happy endings (except for fantasy stories) are always so happy because they don’t tell the part when the characters age and die.
I think this ending is very suitable and not tragic at all
It’s simply natural.
I loved your work on this comic, just as much as Khaos Komix and Shades. Thank you!
Got way behind and finally caught up to here… Beautiful ending. The fact that Jefferson can look back on those memories fondly is so good. And I appreciate that James left part of his estate to John’s family, not just to Jefferson. Awwwww. I kinda like not knowing the exact timeline, of how long it was before John, and James died after the previous chapter… Idk why.
But I really appreciate how you so carefully thought through how to end this. I get how this is a happy/positive ending in terms of realism. It doesn’t read as the “bury your gays” trope, bit as them succeeding in all being together until they start dying from things unrelated to their sexuality…
Great wrap up chapter to a great comic.
Looking forward to reading the extras!
Tab! Did you make that book?! That’s so cool–I remember my friend trying to make a hollowed-out book as a kid, and it was a lot of work. Yours is gorgeous.
Anyway, talking about the pretty art to distract myself from a real storm of emotions…
I did! It took a lot longer to make than I thought it would haha
2023 and I’m re-reading this for probably the 5th or 6th time. This page always hits in such a sad yet beautiful way. They lived a long life together, and that’s truly the most beautiful ending for people in their situation.
god fuck