New X-Men 2.0: Stuck In Detention

[Anduinel]

Art is good...but I feel a chill when he says "Hellion nods"

I've had my trust betrayed before

That's my concern. That the "nods" are going to be Laura thinking how toxic they were for each other or something.

[The Big G]

That's my concern. That the "nods" are going to be Laura thinking how toxic they were for each other or something.

True. But i'll give Taylor some credit as it appears from social medial he's not determined to toss Julian under the bus

[Beaubier]

That's my concern. That the "nods" are going to be Laura thinking how toxic they were for each other or something.

Yep I’m slightly concerned he’s going to be one of those “Laura did nothing wrong, Hellion is an *******” types.. but just slightly.

[Ambaryerno]

Yep I’m slightly concerned he’s going to be one of those “Laura did nothing wrong, Hellion is an *******” types.. but just slightly.

It's high time for it to be acknowledged that while Hellion said some things he shouldn't, Laura was just as responsible for the breakdown of their frielationship, and was frankly a pretty shitty friend during that arc.

[Fokken]

Yep I’m slightly concerned he’s going to be one of those “Laura did nothing wrong, Hellion is an *******” types.. but just slightly.

For real though, if NOTHING ELSE, I would reluctantly accept if it was one of those admitting fault on both sides kind of things? Like...the one that got away, ideally, but also just sort of accepting that neither of them was in the right place/mind frame to really allow for a serious go at romance, but maybe they might try again one day.

I just don't know HOW that would get brought up though. Like.....how does one breach such a topic with Laura -- ROMANCE -- and not bring up that damned time displaced pigeon? Guh.

[bigstupidjellyfish]

It's high time for it to be acknowledged that while Hellion said some things he shouldn't, Laura was just as responsible for the breakdown of their frielationship, and was frankly a pretty shitty friend during that arc.

Everyone was shitty in that arc, but Liu played it so Julian would be the bad guy no matter what. Remember him creeping around while everyone was playing that game? She did that to reinforce her interpretation of him.

It's a shame, too. I like most of Liu's work and that's the only bad part of her X-23 run and she did it to set up a relationship between Laura and Jubes (which I think we'd all be into if Hellion weren't in picture).

Luckily, Kalan and Zub rehabilitated Julian so hopefully Taylor continues that growth (also, he has to know that fans will flip if he doesn't).

[Ambaryerno]

For real though, if NOTHING ELSE, I would reluctantly accept if it was one of those admitting fault on both sides kind of things? Like...the one that got away, ideally, but also just sort of accepting that neither of them was in the right place/mind frame to really allow for a serious go at romance, but maybe they might try again one day.

I just don't know HOW that would get brought up though. Like.....how does one breach such a topic with Laura -- ROMANCE -- and not bring up that damned time displaced pigeon? Guh.

If I were to write it, I'd first put Laura and Julian together in a situation where they have no choice but to talk about what happened (honestly, I'd rather they not have shared panel time in XMR at all for that reason). As they get into an argument, Julian would make a smart remark about her landing on her feet with Warren, and Laura realizes he's actually jealous of him. Laura defends the relationship, but Julian tears down her response in a very meta way.

As a bonus, they should argue at the door to Laura's apartment late one night. Gabby gets fed up while trying to sleep, and shoves Laura out and locks the door behind her, angrily telling them to work it out so she can get back to bed. Julian of course finds the situation hilarious, which helps lighten the mood and leads them to seriously and frankly discussing how both of them failed each other.

[Fokken]

If I were to write it, I'd first put Laura and Julian together in a situation where they have no choice but to talk about what happened (honestly, I'd rather they not have shared panel time in XMR at all for that reason). As they get into an argument, Julian would make a smart remark about her landing on her feet with Warren, and Laura realizes he's actually jealous of him. Laura defends the relationship, but Julian tears down her response in a very meta way.

As a bonus, they should argue at the door to Laura's apartment late one night. Gabby gets fed up while trying to sleep, and shoves Laura out and locks the door behind her, angrily telling them to work it out so she can get back to bed. Julian of course finds the situation hilarious, which helps lighten the mood and leads them to seriously and frankly discussing how both of them failed each other.

Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus. Script it. I'll draw it. haha.

what is this "no choice but to talk" situation anyhow? Are they bound and captive and killing time? haha

[Ambaryerno]

Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus. Script it. I'll draw it. haha.

what is this "no choice but to talk" situation anyhow? Are they bound and captive and killing time? haha

I'd always thought a mission where they have to work together one-on-one without anyone else to play third wheel. Ideally involving a sexy, high-society gala (I just want to see Laura dressed to the Nines in a knock-out evening gown. Think Vesper Lind's purple dress in Casino Royale).

My favorite scenario is the Kingmaker returns, and Laura is asked by Fury to look into it since he's pretty much untouchable, and Laura can do so much more quietly. Over the course of the investigation she learns Julian's parents are connected to some scheme, and she reluctantly decides to ask him for help, both for his connections to them and Kingmaker, and because she believes he has the right to know what's going on (and naively believing that because it's his mother and father, he would WANT to help, maybe not even realizing how shitty they treated him).

They infiltrate the soiree, then slip away into the private areas of the residence to snoop around. At one point they're about to get caught, so Laura grabs Julian and kisses him. The guards laugh it off and tell them to get back to the party. When pressed, Laura explains that a "young couple sneaking off for an intimate moment" is a viable explanation for being there, while making the guards uncomfortable enough to drop their guard. Julian dryly comments on how it's always the mission for her, and snarks back that she probably had it calculated down to how much tongue to use to sell it while not turning HIM on in the process. Argument ensues.

[The Big G]

For real though, if NOTHING ELSE, I would reluctantly accept if it was one of those admitting fault on both sides kind of things? Like...the one that got away, ideally, but also just sort of accepting that neither of them was in the right place/mind frame to really allow for a serious go at romance, but maybe they might try again one day.

I just don't know HOW that would get brought up though. Like.....how does one breach such a topic with Laura -- ROMANCE -- and not bring up that damned time displaced pigeon? Guh.

It starts with Julian taking the high ground and giving an apology for the things he said and for putting her on a pedestal. Have him mansplain himself a little bit about how he felt like he was sinking into a pit of despair and misery (DILLY DILLY) and he was looking for someone to save him. During their time together he became so enamored/infatuated/obsessed with her or the image of her that he thought she would be the one to save him. Which wasn't fair to her, and that oddly enough it was her breaking his heart that showed him that only one who could save him from the "pit" was himself.

Laura says something along the lines of "I wish I could have helped you...and I did care for you in that way" or something. Julian tells her to not worry about and that he's over it (she knows he's lying about that) and then makes a crack about how they each left their mark on one another...she was with Angel and he was with Shark Girl. This causes Laura to laugh because its true.

[Ambaryerno]

It starts with Julian taking the high ground and giving an apology for the things he said and for putting her on a pedestal. Have him mansplain himself a little bit about how he felt like he was sinking into a pit of despair and misery (DILLY DILLY) and he was looking for someone to save him. During their time together he became so enamored/infatuated/obsessed with her or the image of her that he thought she would be the one to save him. Which wasn't fair to her, and that oddly enough it was her breaking his heart that showed him that only one who could save him from the "pit" was himself.

Laura says something along the lines of "I wish I could have helped you...and I did care for you in that way" or something. Julian tells her to not worry about and that he's over it (she knows he's lying about that) and then makes a crack about how they each left their mark on one another...she was with Angel and he was with Shark Girl. This causes Laura to laugh because its true.

I don't think there was anything wrong at all about Julian reaching out to her for help in the first place. The stuff Julian was dealing with is something that IRL requires professional counseling (severe PTSD, coping with loss of limbs, etc.). Instead NONE OF THE X-MEN CARED that he was falling apart and they shipped him off to Wolverine to be locked up like a criminal by WOLVERINE (hypocrite much?) rather than actually GETTING HIM HELP. There's absolutely nothing to apologize for that Julian wanted his BEST FRIEND — a feeling Laura reciprocated at the beginning of the series — to help him cope with what he was going through. ESPECIALLY when no one else was. The only thing he REALLY has to apologize for are the nasty things he said after she finally blew him off for good. THAT was very much out of line.

[Fokken]

Is it over the top for me to say how rad you guys are? I just love the passion of the fandom -- in this case that of Laura and Julian -- and how folks have these amazing interactions mapped out in their heads -- however detailed or simplified-- and picturing these things happening is really one of the things I love so much about comics and about being part of a community of nerds like y'all.

I guess it was an emotional day for me? Ooops.
Anyhow. I love the interludes you came up with, guys. Kudos.

And I doubly love that you managed to work in, in a really great way btw, the awfulness of both Warren and Shark Girl -- their two romantic mishaps imho -- into the scenario and making it both humorous and HUMAN. That is such a real exchange someone in their positions would have -- quasi bonding over their failed relationship and the subsequent failures there after. haha. Its that kind of clever thinking that really elevates stories by even incorporating the less favorable continuity stuff, and finding a means to make it WORK to progress the characters beyond those "wtf seriously, writer??" narratives.

[The Big G]

thanks Fokken!

[The Big G]

Also in wake of Strain confirming that Nori and Julian are ok after M-plate's attack, we can add another thing that failed to kill Julian.

Things that have failed to Kill Julian Keller:
-Getting Stabbed by Deathstrike
-Getting bitten by Predator X
-Getting shot by a Purifer
-Getting Stabbed by Demon Wolverine
-The Legacy Virus
-M-Pox
-M-Plate
-The Omega Machine
-an exploding Mall


Am I missing anything?

[Ambaryerno]

Also in wake of Strain confirming that Nori and Julian are ok after M-plate's attack, we can add another thing that failed to kill Julian.

Things that have failed to Kill Julian Keller:
-Getting Stabbed by Deathstrike
-Getting bitten by Predator X
-Getting shot by a Purifer
-Getting Stabbed by Demon Wolverine
-The Legacy Virus
-M-Pox
-M-Plate
-The Omega Machine
-an exploding Mall


Am I missing anything?

Didn't he catch a facefull of the bus when Risman blew it up?