Banner image. A photo shows a crowd of people dancing and celebrating on a patio at UFV; bright rainbow colours and Pride flags decorate in the space. Superimposed over the image are CHASI's signature orange triangles, all pointing to the right implying forward movement and progress.

Our Charmed Circle #6

by

The page is split in half horizontally, with three panels each. The top three panels, from left to right, show: 1. Fenix’s face in the mirror, tired and bed-headed from poor sleep. 2. Fenix leaning in, picking at a blemish with both hands. 3. Fenix yawning, bleary-eyed, with their face red all over from picking and pinching. The bottom three panels, from left to right, show: 1. Mary-Jo, looking wearily in the mirror, wet from the shower. 2. Mary-Jo wincing as she twists and oils her hair in preparation of the day. 3. Mary-Jo staring forward with a pained expression, hair tied up loosely.

The page is split in half horizontally, with three panels each. The top three panels, from left to right, show: 1. A close-up of three pill bottles on the bathroom counter as Fenix leaves the room. 2. A close-up of three pill bottles on the bathroom counter. 3. The same close-up, but with Fenix rushing back into the room half-dressed to grab the bottles. The bottom three panels, from left to right, show: 1. Mary-Jo in profile, her eyes shut tight, and lips pursed with pain as red lightning creeps up her neck. 2. Mary-Jo in profile, letting the breath go, head bowed. 3. Mary-Jo’s hand reaching for her cane and arm sling.

The page is split in half horizontally, with six panels on top and five panels on the bottom. The top six panels, from left to right, show: 1. Fenix leaving their house, saying goodbye to their mom in Tagalog. 2. Fenix locking the door behind them. 3. The door closed and locked. 4. Fenix returning to the door, jiggling the handle to make sure it was locked. 5. The door still closed and locked. 6. Fenix returning to the door again, jiggling the handle to make sure it was locked. The bottom five panels, from left to right, show: 1. Mary-Jo from the back, watching as a bus approaches her stop. 2. Mary-Jo framed by the open doors of the bus with her right arm in the sling and holding her cane in her left. 3. The bus packed full of passengers. 4. Mary-Jo looking down at anxiously at young man seated leisurely in the priority seating, who looks up at her sceptically. Mary-Jo: “Um, could you…” 5. Mary-Jo getting into the seat, thanking the man as he reluctantly moves to stand. The man mutters to himself. Mary-Jo: “Thank you.” The man: “Sure, if you really need it.”

The page is split in half horizontally, with three panels on top and three panels on the bottom. The top three panels, from left to right, show: 1. An arm on hips in front of Fenix, who is grimacing and looking aside ashamedly. Person 1: “You’re late. Again. 2. An unidentified side profile of a man chiding Fenix, who is sweating with eyes closed. Person 2: “You won’t meet quota at this pace.” Fenix: “Sorry...” 3. An unidentified side profile of a woman lecturing Fenix, who is looking down and away as they scratch their own head. Person 3: “Not like that!” Fenix: “Sorry...” The bottom three panels, from left to right, show: 1. A backview of Mary-Jo looking at her manager. Manager: “Sorry, we need you on till today.” 2. Mary-Jo, standing with a melancholy expression as her coworkers gossip behind her. Mary-Jo: “It’s ok...” 3. A backview of Mary-Jo standing at a busy till, apron on and leaning on her cane.

The page is split in half horizontally, with three panels each. The top three panels, from left to right, show: 1. A close backview of a coworker wearing a turban looking at a closed cleaning closet. Coworker: “Fenix? Are you-” 2. A side close-up of Fenix, hand over their eyes, biting their lip to avoid crying. Fenix: “Sorry, yeah, just need a minute.” Coworker: “Alright...” 3. A low-view of Fenix doubled over, crying. Fenix: “C’mon, focus...” Fenix: “Stop it. Stop it. Stop it!” The bottom three panels, from left to right, show: 1. Mary-Jo sitting behind the till, sling and cane beside her. Boss: “Hey!” 2. Mary-Jo’s boss looking down at her as she sits in a chair. Boss: “You can’t just be sitting there, we’re short today.” 3. The manager interrupts in the background as Mary-Jo lowers her eyes. Manager: “It’s her rest break, remember?” Boss: “Ah, right.”

The page is split in half horizontally, with three panels each. The top panels, from left to right, show: 1. A younger Fenix sitting on their bed surrounded by a mess of clothing, dishes, and electronics as their mother chastises them. Fenix’s mom: “Hay nako, anak! You cannot be this lazy, sleeping all day, wasting your life. Someday I will be dead. What are you going to do when you live alone? No one will look after you, you know. Every day I see it like this. Why can’t you…” 2. A younger Fenix sitting at their desk, head in hands, as the teacher addresses the class. The teacher: “...Or you can be like Fenix, who did not submit her assignment.” Fenix: “...” 3. A side close-up of Fenix in present time, staring vacantly, completely lost in thought. Voice 1: “Were you even paying attention?” Voice 2: “Hey!” Voice 3: “Focus!” Voice 4: “Are you listening?” The bottom panels, from left to right, show: 1. A close-up of Mary-Jo, with a nervous but determined expression on her face. Mary-Jo: “I need an x-ray.” 2. Her family doctor, a man named Dr. Tan, is seated across the room. He looks at his computer while speaking to her. Dr. Tan: “I don’t think that’s necessary. They won’t find anything new.” Mary-Jo: “But I-“ 3. Mary-Jo’s father, across from the doctor, argues with Mary-Jo low and small. Mary-Jo’s dad: “My daughter is in pain!” Mary-Jo: “I want-” Dr. Tan: “I understand that Mr. Bayard. But…”

The page is split in half horizontally, with four panels on top and four panels on the bottom. The top four panels, from left to right, show: 1. Half of Fenix’s face in the foreground showing interest as their coworkers discuss plans behind them. Coworker 1: “Oh, that new pub?” Coworker 2: “Sounds great! We can meet up after our shift.” 2. A side view of Fenix, smiling slightly. Fenix: “I know that place! I could-” 3. The coworkers, gathered and faceless. Coworker 1: Oh no, that’s ok, Fenix. Besides! We all know you don’t like going out, anyways.” 4. Fenix, embarrassed, waving the notion away. Fenix: Oh yeah, yeah, no worries!” The bottom four panels, from left to right, show: 1. Mary-Jo in the foreground, noticed by a senior coworker who was helping a customer. 2. The coworker leaning over Mary-Jo’s shoulder, who looks up at her. Coworker: “Oh, Mary! You really shouldn’t be doing any lifting. I can get someone else to stock the shelves.” 3. Mary-Jo. Turned to face the coworker, her expression assuring. Mary-Jo: “It’s ok! I can do this at least. I want to help. I can-” 4. Mary-Jo looking down and biting her lip and the coworker turns away to address another. Coworker: “No, no! Hey, can I get someone on restocking?”

The page is split in half horizontally, with four panels on top and four panels on the bottom. The third panel is connected top to bottom, containing Discord messages. The top two panels, from left to right, show: 1. A close-up of Fenix sighing as they walk home. 2. Fenix perking up to the jingle of their phone. The bottom two panels, from left to right, show: 1. Mary-Jo, head leaned against the window as she buses home. 2. Mary-Jo perking up to the jingle of her phone. The third panel, an excerpt of their Discord chat, shows: Amrita: Hey darlings~ Guess what? New update just dropped >:} Get in here, Zoe and I are ingame already Mary-Jo: On the bus, b there 20 min Fenix: Almost home! Zoe: Yessssss Zoe posts a grainy picture of Kingpin from Into the Spiderverse, running forward.

A splash page of the friends playing a fantasy MMO. A three-headed dragon drools over the KO’d body of Fenix’s character, a goblin bard. Amrita’s character, a succubus sorceress, casts a defence spell as Zoe’s character, a skeleton vampire wizard, takes burning damage in the foreground. In the back, Mary-Jo’s reptilian rogue is buffing, ready to attack. Fenix is dazzled by the new enemy models as Amrita and Zoe yell at each other. Mary-Jo is doing her own thing, looking for the line. Fenix: “So cool!” Amrita: [SPELL: Polar Rift] “What kind of mage gets nearly 2HKO’d by a fireball?!?” Zoe: [STATUS: Burning] “I told you! I’m a skeleton vampire! I take quadruple fire damage!” Mary-Jo: [SKILL: Fortify] “Heh.”

“For my dearest friend.”

Our Charmed Circle shares the story of four friends connected across the continent by a shared enthusiasm for gaming and bound by a sense of solidarity. Follow the story of Fenix, Amrita, Mary-Jo, and Zoe as they navigate the realities of online relationships and daily life. With this comic, CHASI and artist Sharon Strauss aim to explore the issues we face, the world we live in, and how we find the strength to forge an identity in an ever-changing political landscape.

CHASI’s Our Charmed Circle page includes character bios and links to every comic.