Even if this is the last official Steeple story, I highly doubt this is the last we’ll see of Billie and Co, Tom, Brian and all our favorite Tredregyns (Tredergynites?). The Bobbinsverse is vast.
For some reason my first thought was Green Chartreuse, because of the old joke about it being “what the Pope drinks”. I have a history of linking the unlinked though.
As with any alcoholic beverage, it makes those ill who over imbibe. And faster than the average booze, given it ranges from 90 to 148 proof.
True absinthe ranges from mineral spring clear to herbaceous green. If you see neon green in the bottle, it’s been dyed and should be steered clear of.
This should be John’s next sereis- an old Scary-Go-Round cast character is rebuilt into a shape-changing cyborg automobile. The adventures of… AutoCarrot!
If that’s absinthe served in the traditional manner (that is, as an absinthe drip), it would be opalescent and milky-white (mixing absinthe with cold water causes the insoluble fennel & anise oils to be held in suspension).
Looks to be about 3 to 4 ounces. Doubt it’s straight absinthe; given that absinthe ranges from 94 to 148 proof, that’s a devastating amount of alcohol even for Tom.
There don’t seem to be any sugar cubes in the vicinity, though. I understand that these are a requisite for the seasoned absinthe drinker.
On the other hand, it would be good form for him to drink Wormwood, given the diabolical associations of the name.
Yes, I suspect this is Tom’s idea of “keeping a low profile”.
Since this is three months after the events of Maggie’s Party, there have to have been two or three full moons in there somewhere. Delayed effect? Memory loss? Something else?
Brian feels hot, itchy and next to him there’s the infamous older witch with the hook and she’s looking at him… Coincidence? I think not! Love Tom’s pink hat and regrets, I think he should accept Maggie’s alliance.
You’d think the good people of Tredregyn would have learned by now that any physical symptoms Brian is experiencing should be treated as if there’s just been an earthquake at the nearest zoo’s large-predator cage.
Maybe a “humidity princess” is someone who requires some specific, exactly right level of humidity, not more or less than that? And the Cornish coast happens to be the exact ideal humidity for Tom?
I suspect humidity may be of less concern than Thailand’s lack of tolerance for Satan worshippers, unless Tom is simply regretting his perseverance with his religious beliefs?
You can get away with anything in Thailand as long as you don’t insult the Royal Family. And the only way to avoid insulting the Royal Family is to… (checks notes)…there is no way to avoid insulting the Royal Family.
Tom regrets not having moved to Thailand; he would have done so, in the 90s, but the higher humidity in Thailand put him off. He felt too delicate for such humidity, a delicacy for which he is now spitefully mocking his past self as a “humidity princess”, much as a princess who can detect a single pea under many layers of mattresses would be a “lumpy surface for one’s back princess”
Yikes! Anything below 20ºC is 3+ layers weather… too cold! Arid 30ºC is comfy weather. (And if I’ve been stuck in an air conditioned building for too long in the summertime, even 40ºC is pleasant). I guess I’m a cold princess. Or maybe just cold-blooded.
Only three more episodes left? However are all the many loose ends going to be tied up satisfactorily in three pages, let alone the Happy ending seemingly promised? Because, I WANT them all to have a happy ending. Except Lorraine. Though she seems to have achieved her happy ending already.
Your question puts me in mind of when I was watching the last episode of Twin Peaks, the Return.
MILD TWIN PEAKS SPOILER: With 10 minutes left in the episode, I thought, “How is Lynch going to resolve this stuff in 10 minutes?” Then it ended and I thought “Oh, he isn’t.”
Same, although by that point I was expecting that of Lynch. When I saw Mulholland Drive on the cinema, my thoughts during the last scene were “wait, he is going to end the film like this, isn’t he? Oh, yes, of course he is”. Then, after the credits rolled and the lights went on, the guy on the seat next to me (who I didn’t know at all) and me looked at each other with the same “yeah, me neither” puzzled expression.
Anyway, I don’t think that is the case here. Steeple may be ending, but there are many hints that this loose threads are going to be tied (or entertainingly tangled) later, under a different title.
What worries me a bit is, John’s stories seem to go where John’s muse currently is leading them. I’m not sure there’s any guarantee that said muse will lead those other titles in the direction of dealing with the loose threads from Steeple. It might, but, then, it might not.
How about this? Mrs Clovis is really Lady Tredregyn and the skellington under that patio is Lord Tredregyn who deserved it anyway and she gets a royal pardon by virtue of Noble Privilege. What is more, Lady Tredregyn owns the gift of the living at St Pirins (A la Jane Austen) and all the land around it and she’s not giving it up to anyone especially not Lumsden or Bob Warren. It was just an idea, sorry.
Why does Tom need to go incognito anyway? The Victoria is the Satanist pub, all his congregation hang out there and everyone knows him. Perhaps the Extreme Freaks are too busy exploring new sexuyl frontiers to bother going out on the town yet and this is the only place he get some peace from them, but he still goes in disguise in case one of them wanders in.
I don’t think he needs, but after his experiences on the last couple of pages, I think he just feels like he’d rather fade into the background right now. Not that he’s really capable of fading into the background.
Sesh Gremlin! First panel, upper right side!
Also, the older witch with the hook for volume 4. I wonder if it’s almost time for a new witch’s fest.
Aw, the Sesh Gremlin looks so sad.
Practically everyone’s drinking responsibly these days.
Final week of Steeple. 🙁
SIGH… Let’s hope Lottie will come to save Mrs Clovis some day. Let’s hope this final is not a definitive end.
Even if this is the last official Steeple story, I highly doubt this is the last we’ll see of Billie and Co, Tom, Brian and all our favorite Tredregyns (Tredergynites?). The Bobbinsverse is vast.
What’s Tom drinking? It looks like it might be absinthe, which would be on brand for him.
I also thought “Absinthe” when I saw the color.
For some reason my first thought was Green Chartreuse, because of the old joke about it being “what the Pope drinks”. I have a history of linking the unlinked though.
One Saturday in 1737: Carthusian monks produce Chartreuse, the drink.
The following Sunday in 1737: Carthusian monks discover Chartreuse, the colour…
Oh Edmund, can it be true?! That I hold here, in my mortal hand, a glass of purest CHARTEUSE!?
Percy…
It makes the heart grow fonder!
I was thinking either absinthe or crème de menthe, which -weirdly- also feels on brand for Tom.
I think it’s crème de menthe, too.
Crème de menthe would definitely be a Tom drink. He might even crook his little finger as he raises the glass to his besting lips.
Absinthe has a more yellowy tinge to it (and makes you very, very ill. Maybe I shouldn’t have finished the bottle . . . )
As with any alcoholic beverage, it makes those ill who over imbibe. And faster than the average booze, given it ranges from 90 to 148 proof.
True absinthe ranges from mineral spring clear to herbaceous green. If you see neon green in the bottle, it’s been dyed and should be steered clear of.
It’s creme de menthe, Poirot’s favourite!
BEE-STUNG lips – not besting.
Bugger you, autocarrot!
This should be John’s next sereis- an old Scary-Go-Round cast character is rebuilt into a shape-changing cyborg automobile. The adventures of… AutoCarrot!
If that’s absinthe served in the traditional manner (that is, as an absinthe drip), it would be opalescent and milky-white (mixing absinthe with cold water causes the insoluble fennel & anise oils to be held in suspension).
Looks to be about 3 to 4 ounces. Doubt it’s straight absinthe; given that absinthe ranges from 94 to 148 proof, that’s a devastating amount of alcohol even for Tom.
There don’t seem to be any sugar cubes in the vicinity, though. I understand that these are a requisite for the seasoned absinthe drinker.
On the other hand, it would be good form for him to drink Wormwood, given the diabolical associations of the name.
I’m suddenly wondering what the moon phase is. No particular reason. Just curious. For a friend.
Are pastels Tom’s idea of incognito?
Yes, I suspect this is Tom’s idea of “keeping a low profile”.
Since this is three months after the events of Maggie’s Party, there have to have been two or three full moons in there somewhere. Delayed effect? Memory loss? Something else?
The witches’ parting curse is only now starting to wear off.
Brian feels hot, itchy and next to him there’s the infamous older witch with the hook and she’s looking at him… Coincidence? I think not! Love Tom’s pink hat and regrets, I think he should accept Maggie’s alliance.
You’d think the good people of Tredregyn would have learned by now that any physical symptoms Brian is experiencing should be treated as if there’s just been an earthquake at the nearest zoo’s large-predator cage.
The Victoria is the Satanist pub, they are probably well used to Brian’s metamorphoses. Just cover your drink when Big Ken’s feet leave the floor.
The Sesh Gremlin is looking apprehensive, though, and for good reason.
He seems to be looking at Maggie, though.
Is this all an elaborate promotion for the new Pet Shop Boys album?
Always has been
What has Tom, what has Tom,
What has Tom done to deserve this?
He is Tom. And therefore deserves this.
(Nice use of the song, tho.)
West England Boys
I don’t understand. Does Tom think Thailand isn’t humid? I’ll take 11 months of Cornish summer over 11 months of Thai winter any year on record.
Maybe a “humidity princess” is someone who requires some specific, exactly right level of humidity, not more or less than that? And the Cornish coast happens to be the exact ideal humidity for Tom?
That would be me. I prefer about 15°C and 60% humidity. Occasional light rain is acceptable.
I suspect humidity may be of less concern than Thailand’s lack of tolerance for Satan worshippers, unless Tom is simply regretting his perseverance with his religious beliefs?
You can get away with anything in Thailand as long as you don’t insult the Royal Family. And the only way to avoid insulting the Royal Family is to… (checks notes)…there is no way to avoid insulting the Royal Family.
Tom regrets not having moved to Thailand; he would have done so, in the 90s, but the higher humidity in Thailand put him off. He felt too delicate for such humidity, a delicacy for which he is now spitefully mocking his past self as a “humidity princess”, much as a princess who can detect a single pea under many layers of mattresses would be a “lumpy surface for one’s back princess”
I see that Brian drinks with a more respectable crowd these days.
I have a feeling they may regret it in a page or two.
I’m looking at Tom’s pink hat and I’m getting a strong Boy George vibe.
Those are some heavy-dooty hoodie hawsers.
I am indeed, a humidity princess. Once it gets high enough I turn into a whiney baby.
You and me both. I’m also a temperature Princess. No more than 18°C or I turn into an arse hole.
Turn into?
Sorry, sorry, couldn’t avoid the red carpet.
Apologies.
Yikes! Anything below 20ºC is 3+ layers weather… too cold! Arid 30ºC is comfy weather. (And if I’ve been stuck in an air conditioned building for too long in the summertime, even 40ºC is pleasant). I guess I’m a cold princess. Or maybe just cold-blooded.
Only three more episodes left? However are all the many loose ends going to be tied up satisfactorily in three pages, let alone the Happy ending seemingly promised? Because, I WANT them all to have a happy ending. Except Lorraine. Though she seems to have achieved her happy ending already.
I’m telling you, the Daffodil Haters are about to show up and level the town.
All we’ve really been promised about that last page is that the word “Happy” will appear somewhere on it.
Your question puts me in mind of when I was watching the last episode of Twin Peaks, the Return.
MILD TWIN PEAKS SPOILER: With 10 minutes left in the episode, I thought, “How is Lynch going to resolve this stuff in 10 minutes?” Then it ended and I thought “Oh, he isn’t.”
Not to criticize our gracious host, but… it is the style of many great storytellers to leave enough loose threads to sew a new sweater.
Same, although by that point I was expecting that of Lynch. When I saw Mulholland Drive on the cinema, my thoughts during the last scene were “wait, he is going to end the film like this, isn’t he? Oh, yes, of course he is”. Then, after the credits rolled and the lights went on, the guy on the seat next to me (who I didn’t know at all) and me looked at each other with the same “yeah, me neither” puzzled expression.
Anyway, I don’t think that is the case here. Steeple may be ending, but there are many hints that this loose threads are going to be tied (or entertainingly tangled) later, under a different title.
What worries me a bit is, John’s stories seem to go where John’s muse currently is leading them. I’m not sure there’s any guarantee that said muse will lead those other titles in the direction of dealing with the loose threads from Steeple. It might, but, then, it might not.
I can confirm that not one of these plot threads will be resolved during 21 weeks of Conan & The Blood Egg pts 1-3
OR WILL THEY
It took me a while to think of what Tom’s outfit reminds me of: spumoni.
I thought “Ice Cream” immediately, but didn’t get more specific than that. Admittedly, it doesn’t take much to make me think about ice cream.
Coincidentally given our discussion here, I eat (drink?) crème de menthe over ice cream. Probably not Tom’s subtext here though.
How about this? Mrs Clovis is really Lady Tredregyn and the skellington under that patio is Lord Tredregyn who deserved it anyway and she gets a royal pardon by virtue of Noble Privilege. What is more, Lady Tredregyn owns the gift of the living at St Pirins (A la Jane Austen) and all the land around it and she’s not giving it up to anyone especially not Lumsden or Bob Warren. It was just an idea, sorry.
A truly Dickensian ending! Wouldn’t that be lovely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5ipgrp_xLU
Yes, precisely!
By George, I think I’ve got it!
Why does Tom need to go incognito anyway? The Victoria is the Satanist pub, all his congregation hang out there and everyone knows him. Perhaps the Extreme Freaks are too busy exploring new sexuyl frontiers to bother going out on the town yet and this is the only place he get some peace from them, but he still goes in disguise in case one of them wanders in.
I don’t think he needs, but after his experiences on the last couple of pages, I think he just feels like he’d rather fade into the background right now. Not that he’s really capable of fading into the background.
*needs TO
He’s got a black eye and a bump on his head! The hat and glasses are covering that up.
So is Brian on a darts team? The Blue Demons, Blue Devils or the Blue Boys?