Comics by morphmaker

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Bettine/Günderode

Written by

morphmaker

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Images: a fan-comic based on the characters and settings of the AppleTV+ show Dickinson. Panel 1: Colonel Higginson (as portrayed by Gabriel Ebert), Sue Dickinson (as portrayed by Ella Hunt), Austin Dickinson (as portrayed by Adrian Blake Enscoe), and Lavinia Dickinson (as portrayed by Anna Baryshnikov) stand outside the Dickinson homestead at the end of the day set right after the end of the season 3 finale episode. Sue is saying, “I hope you’re not too disappointed, Colonel Higginson. I’m sure Emily would be happy to see you some other time.” Panel 2: Higginson looks down at Sue smiling, “I look forward to it! Would you pass on my compliments to her?” Panel 3: Sue is smiling up at him, “I will, although you’ll probably receive a letter from her shortly. She’s very prompt and thoughtful when writing to friends.”
Panel 4: Higginson leans down eagerly, “You speak as if from experience – are you acquainted with Miss Dickinson’s extraordinary writing?” Panel 5: Sue looks down and to her left awkwardly, “Oh–well,” Panel 6: Sue recovers nervously, “Emily and I had a brief philosophical correspondence when we were young girls, much like Bettina von Arnim and Karoline von Günderode.” Panel 7: Higginson puts on his hat, “‘Die Günderode!’ Yes that’s very interesting indeed!”
Panel 8: Higginson is leaving the front gate of the Dickinson Homestead and waving at the Dickinsons. Behind him, the sky is turning pink because the sun is starting to set. He says, “I hope we meet again the next time I’m in Amherst.” Panel 9: Sue, Austin, and Lavinia wave at Higginson with big smiles as he leaves. Panel 10: All their smiles drop. Sue turns around as Lavinia says, “Um–I’m sorry, are you and Emily depressed German writers now?” Austin looks confused and mutters, “(which one is Bettine and which is Günderode?)”
Panel 11: Austin is turned towards Lavinia and exclaims, “Wait– wasn’t there a lot of drama and their friendship ended badly?” Panel 12: Lavinia is turned towards Austin and exclaims, “Didn’t Günderode die, like, tragically young?!” Panel 13: Close-up on Sue. She’s making that face she makes when she’s upset as Austin and Lavinia continue in the background. “Sue why would you say that” and “Shame on you Sue”
Panel 14: Sue shouts at Austin and Lavinia, “Well what was I supposed to say?!” Panel 15, 16, and 17: Close-ups of Sue becoming more unhinged and gesturing as she monologues in one breath: “‘I know Emily never mentioned me, Colonel Higginson, but actually we’re obsessed with each other and our brains vibrate at the same frequency which created a metaphysical psychic link and when one of us spirals out we manipulate time and space until we reach equilibrium and sometimes when we’re together we can both hear a strange haunting melody overlaid with a woman’s vocalizations?!’”
Panel 18: They all stare at each other. Sue is out of breath. A leaf blows by. Panel 19: Lavinia looks disgusted with her hands up, “Ok maybe don’t ever tell anyone that.” Austin also looks repulsed with his arms crossed leaning back, “Yeah keep that shit to yourself” Panel 20: Close-up on Sue. She’s given up and looks weary as Lavinia and Austin continue in the background. “Please never say the word ‘vibrate’ again” and “I think we would notice if time and space were being manipulated Susan”
Panel 21: A caption on top reads, “Previously: Sue Gilbert discovers Bettine/Günderode” Sue as she appears in Season 1 of Dickinson in her black dress and black gloves sits in a chair reading a book. Her face is very red and she’s staring down at the book with an open mouth. There are excerpts from the book floating around her. They read, “kissed her on her mouth,” “tore open her dress,” “sat upon her knee,” and “kissed her hands.” Panel 22: Sue looks up from the book and narrows her eyes, “This better not awaken anything in me…”

forget about “top or bottom” discourse, you’re either a bettine or a günderode

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