Entropy

Year Published: 2017
Publisher: Beyond 2: The Queer Post-Apocalyptic and Fantasy Anthology

This was where I started to explore old queers and Nordic mythology. I don't think I'll ever stop.

First page of a black and white comic. A post-apocalyptic Stockholm. Kulturhuset is blown out. The fountain is empty of water, the crystal statue cracked.

Second page. Our Protagonist Nekki is introduced. She's preparing to play the key harp, a shawl with a few coins laying at her feet.

Third page. Nekki plays, but no one stops. Frustrated, she engages her Nixie water sprite powers and is met with applause and coin.

Fourth page. Nekki gathers up her payment and buys some vegetables from a broken down van before heading home along Drottninggatan.

Fifth page. Nekki arrives home. As she closes the door, a voice calls out for Mama off panel.

Sixth page. We meet Betula. She's been curled up in a hanging chair but now unfolds herself. Nekki says it's just her, Mama's not around anymore. Betula apologises for forgetting.

Seventh page. The two chat and laugh as Nekki makes dinner, and then they sit down to eat together.

Eight page. Betula asks if Nekki tricked the people into giving her money. Nekki relucantly says yes, only a little. They finish their meal and Betula asks Nekki to tell her about before.

Ninth page. Nekki doesn't want to talk about the before times, but Betula convinces her. She retrieves the key harp with a sigh.

Tenth page. Nekki starts telling about what the world was like before the Event, and Betula quickly fills in details, her memory triggered. They talk about how they met, a water sprite and a wood nymph.

Eleventh page. Betula is on her feet, dancing happily as they tell the story to each other. At the end, Betula leans in to kiss Nekki.

Twelfth page. The couple's apartment from the outside, a starry sky above and a richness of greenery spilling out of the broken window and down to the ground where trees are immediately sprouting up. Sometimes Betula remembers enough to give them all hope.

Sci-fi and Fantasy

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