So we're getting to a very interesting part of the story: meeting Asa.
Vanessa is a hormone-addled teenager. She's going to make some choices you or I wouldn't make based totally on those hormones. And one of those decisions is Asa.
Asa is a hot young buck on the island who meets Vanessa in a chance encounter. He has dreamy blue eyes and gorgeous curls. And he surfs! Oh, Vanessa has her hands full with this guy.
Now some of you who've been following my work for a while might recognize this guy. This guy is based on Biscuit from one of my previous comics, Misfortune High.
Misfortune High is a story about a magical school, teen wizards, and class warfare. Truly the spiritual successor to Hurricane Vendetta. (HV is slightly a magical girl story if you count Vanessa's ability to talk to whales). The character I specifically based Asa on is called Biscuit. He's a spoiled rich kid with more dollars than sense. He gets expelled from the magical school because he's a cheater and a liar. He spends a good chunk of the story as a punching bag or a punchline because he's a joke.
But what if Biscuit wasn't a joke? What if he had the same privilege as Biscuit, but was actually a capable fighter? And what if I made him a whaler? Suddenly, he's a much more intriguing character. Now he's a credible threat.
We've all seen those DOGE teenagers blow through government offices empowered by sheer privilege (and sadly their disposability). Asa is this but with a yacht and a thirst for whale meat.
What does that mean for Vanessa? We'll see. I'm sure going on a date with a whaler will end totally well for her.
-Love, Joolz