Line #75 Webcomic/Teahouse


1	[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/teahouse_image_4259.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:250:Atros and his courtesans (sans Linneus and Rory)]]
3
4	->''"Who can remember faces when they're buried in pillows the entire time?"''
5	-->-- '''Rhys'''
6
7	''Teahouse'' was an adult (18+) {{yaoi\|Genre}} webcomic from Emirain, two professional comic artists. First issue is online at the [[http://www.teahousecomic.com Teahouse comic website.]](NSFW) A [[PrintBonus fuller version]] was also available for purchase.
8
9	The webcomic illustrates the lives of the owner, courtesans, and clients of a brothel called the Teahouse, located in the fictional country of Ivore. The country itself has a rather rigid class system in place, and the courtesans belong to the brothel's owner, much like slaves. The main source of drama is the three couples of the series: Atros, the brothel's owner and Linneus, his childhood friend, now his courtesan, Rhys, the crown prince of the country and Axis, an easily-irritable high-earning employee of the Teahouse, and Rory, a newcomer and virgin to the Toyhouse and his first employee, Reed, a high-ranking lord and Rhys's best friend. Surrounding these couples is a wide variety of personalities, keeping it all interesting.
10
11	And, you know, the FanService.
12
13	The art is impressive, especially for a webcomic, and it ran in a weekly format (just barely though, as the authors dealt with a lot of real life issues, thus putting the comic on constant mini-hiatuses, resulting in a lot of FanDumb and white knighting), and occasional double update months.
14
15	On November 26, 2014, the series abruptly ended. Five chapters were published of the projected fifteen to twenty. A full summary of the unpublished plots of the three couples and the additional characters is available on the webcomic's Tumblr.
16
17	----
18	!!Provides examples of:
19	* AbusiveParents: It's implied during the flashback's that Xanthe's father was a cold, strict and ruthless parent who had no patience for normal childishness and once gave Xanthe a black eye. Xanthe ended up much like his father, abusing people in turn.
20	%% ** Not to mention Linneus's father, who sold him to the Teahouse at the age of five (''on his birthday'') to pay for a gambling debt.
21	* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Axis certainly fits the bad boy image, and he's the top earning courtesan ([[spoiler:not anymore]]), mostly because he's the lady clients' favorite.
22	* AllThereInTheManual: Backstory is explained and teasers provided via separate galleries and image descriptions. When the series ended, a summary of the endings was released online.
23	* AltText: Starting in chapter 3, with a tendency to get more and more brutally [[MoodWhiplash Mood Whiplash-y]] as the story progresses.
24	* AnchoredShip: Atros and Linneus... it's clear that Linneus loves Atros very much, but Atros' emotion towards him ranges from cool and polite to downright frigid and uninterested.
25	** In the latest installments [[spoiler: Argent (in one of her only lines in the comic) states that a line was crossed when Atros called Linneus his "whore", resulting in even more tension between the two.]]
26	* AlmostKiss: [[http://www.teahousecomic.com/comic/?id=49 UST spanning tens of pages coming to an end?]] Of course not.
27	* AlwaysIdenticalTwins: Remy and Rory, even though a brother and sister pair should be fraternal as identical twins isn't possible due to basic level genetics. The writers claim this was on [[http://s23.postimg.org/fnin1zdij/image.png purpose]].
28	* ArrangedMarriage: [[spoiler:Rhys has one with Reed's cousin and he's not happy about it.]]
29	* ArtifactTitle: The Teahouse really was a teahouse once.
30	* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Remy and Rory are identical twins even though one is a boy and one is a girl, making it impossible to have the same chromosomes. [[http://s23.postimg.org/fnin1zdij/image.png So they have the same make-up while not.]]
31	* AsYouKnow: The first line of dialogue starts with: "As I corresponded to you earlier..."
32	* BaitTheDog: Introduced not drastically different from any others, [[spoiler: Gilder was the only person to be unconditionally kind to Linneus. Then in chapter 5 he's seen killing a rich man and robbing his corpse to pay for another session with his favourite courtesan.]] This bodes not well for the future.
33	* BarbieDollAnatomy: Now and then, due to that explicit content is kept out of the web version and some panels have alternate versions in print. Usually nakedness is simply clothed and explicit sex scenes omitted altogether for the web version, but sometimes nakedness is necessitated by the scene, resulting in hollow groins. For instance, when Reed is naked with Rory.
34	* BelligerentSexualTension: Axis and Rhys's whole relationship seems to be fuelled by this.
35	* BiggerIsBetterInBed: In the print version, [[spoiler: Rory]] is blessed with this, and his client pretty much calls it his only redeeming quality. You know what they say about what comes in small packages.
36	* BishieSparkle: Rhys gets snark sparkles in the chapter one book.
37	* BlatantLies: When Linneus disrobes Gilder and in the process, lots and lots of daggers (plus the sword) hit the floor. The bottom panel shows blood on one of the daggers.
38	-->'''Linneus''': "What's... Why do you... so many..."\
39	'''Gilder''': "I, uh, cut trees..."
40	* BuxomBeautyStandard:
41	** Claret's dress especially emphasizes her assets, and Axis does seem to prefer her for this very reason. Rhys also makes a point of stating that his fiancee has a lovely (massive) set.
42	** Inverted or averted when it comes to the tastes of the customers - although she is the most well-endowed of the female characters, she is the lowest earner in the house.
43	* CastFullOfGay: It ''is'' a yaoi webcomic, after all. Although the artists have confirmed most of the major characters to be bi, with only two fully gay characters (both male). [[http://demon-sushi.com/cry-some-more/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/teahouse_1.jpg They are willing to poke fun at it.]]
44	* CoveredWithScars: [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6-Ok0gr2y4Q/TBhdPz2Kl3I/AAAAAAAAATo/bDK2NbKTG58/s1600/gildaaar.png Gilder]], introduced in Chapter 3, has one huge scar across his nose and even more on his body.
45	* CurseCutShort:
46	---> '''Axis''': grabs his crotch Why don't you come here and choke on my--
47	---> ''Xanthe'''': AXIS!
48	* CurtainsMatchTheWindow: Rhys, Reed and Mercutio are like this.
49	* CutShort: The entire webcomic ceased production in November 2014.
50	* TheDitz: Claret, as [[AllThereInTheManual labelled in the print version's character list]]. It isn't that clear from the work itself yet.
51	* DoNotCallMePaul: Only Linneus is allowed to address Atros by his first name.
52	* DysfunctionJunction: boy, is this loaded with tangles. Everyone who's involved in the main arch (Linneus, Xanthe, and by extension their other lovers, wives, and customers) is screwed by the simple fact that whatever happens, including nothing happening, most of them will be screwed over. The only characters who don't perform dickmoves are the few who are either detached or [[CloudCuckooLander high enough on Cloud Cuckoo Land]] to not notice or not care about other's issues.
53	* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Word Of God says it's set in not-Victorian England and not-Earth, but Christianity is present (seen here [[http://demon-sushi.com/cry-some-more/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/prostitutesrus130.png]] on what is presumably a church and Axis is seen multiple times [[http://demon-sushi.com/cry-some-more/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/prostitutesrus137.png see here]] wearing a cross).
54	* MrFanservice: [[PickACard Pick a character, ''any'' character.]] One could imagine this comic is written by women for a female audience or something.
55	* GlowingEyesOfDoom: Whenever Axis is particularly angry.
56	* HappinessInSlavery: Although the exact terms are unclear, the courtesans are slaves with their titles being held by Xanthe, which can be bought or sold at any time. They are branded on the feet, are not allowed to leave the Teahouse without permission, and don't really have the right to refuse a client. Despite that, at least Mercutio seems happy doing his thing. Claret doesn't seem to mind either, but she's not having many clients and those she's shown having are handsome young studs who compliment her. For Axis, WordOfGod confirms whoring as his dream job. Linneus on the other hand seems to be unhappy, although that may be due to his UnrequitedLove for Atros (or Atros treating him like an object via domestic abuse). Lilith takes pride in being a top earner, but whether she actually enjoys or dislikes her job is anyones guess.
57	* HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday: Axis keeps loudly mentioning he's straight and is drooling on the girls. He's ''totally not happy'' with Rhys' patronage. Especially because he's the bottom part of the equation.
58	* HoldingHands: Linneus and Atros, as children, in the first backstory bonus pages. So sweet that it hurts.
59	* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Claret, and likely Linneus as well. Whether Rory, Axis, and Mercutio qualify remains to be seen. Lilith, on the other hand, is not in any kind of danger to be labeled this. ...or is she?
60	* [[HugeGuyTinyGirl Huge Seme, Tiny Uke]]: Reed and Rory. Reed's entire bio on the character page used to be "He's ''really'' tall", and Rory is two heads shorter. [[http://www.teahousecomic.com/comic/?id=24 Illustrated marvelously here.]]
61	** Even more with Gilder and Linneus, as a tall, beefy, eh... "treecutter", and a wispy little archetypal uke respectively:[[http://www.teahousecomic.com/comic/?id=81]]
62	* IdealizedSex: as is standard for not-so-serious erotica.
63	** No lube, ever. The closest the work's come to using lube for lube-dependant sexual activities (and there have been a number of those) was a dab of spit, once. To set the mood, probably.
64	** Easiness and enjoyability of anal stimulation with very, very virgin debutant whores.
65	* IncompatibleOrientation: InvokedTrope. The central issue between Atros and Linneus, if Lilith is to be believed, is Linneus's gender.
66	** [[http://teahousecomic.com/comic/?id=61 Page 61]] (chap. 2) would suggest that Linneus' gender is not in fact the main issue keeping the two apart after all.
67	* InSeriesNickname: Rhys calls Axis "Alice," much to Axis's chagrin.
68	** "[[SayItWithHearts Thanks... kitten.]] ♥"
69	* InterruptedIntimacy: Rhys kicks the door in when Axis is entertaining a client.
70	%% * JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Xanthe. Perhaps.
71	%% * LipstickLesbian: Claret (with Argent).
72	%% * LoveHurts: So very much. Especially for Linneus.
73	* LoveTriangle: Mortal combat between Lilith and Linneus for Atros. And Atros' wife. [[LoveDodecahedron And Gilder]].
74	* MaliciousMisnaming: Axis will have you know his name is NOT Alice. Rhys has a habit of remembering wrong every name that does not belong to a lord or above.
75	* MomentKiller: Claret, ruining Xanthe and Linneus' AlmostKiss, by bursting into the kitchen to complain about Mercutio's latest shenanigans.
76	* MeaningfulName:
77	** [[NamesToRunAwayFrom/DemonsOrAngels Lilith]]: A temptress who opposes and sabotages one of the main couples, from Biblical tradition.
78	** Mercutio: A flamboyant goofball that everyone loves, from ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet''.
79	* MonochromeCasting: Most of the characters are light of skin, or at the most, a bit tan. Two or three very background characters look coloured, and WordOfGod has stated that Ivore is a non-Earth location and simply doesn't have as many non-white people as Earth. This has been pointed out, of course, and the creators have given their explanation; so far it seems they have no intention to add more skin colour diversity to any layer of characters than perviously intended.
80	* MoodWhiplash: [[AltText Alt Texts]] aside, this does happen in the work proper as well. For instance, one scene ends with Rhys leaving his grieving sister with his dying father, either to escape the anxiety and the depressing athmosphere, or to bang a whore, or perhaps both... Then in the next scene there's a lil' blushing Rory being all naive and silly. And cupcakes.
81	%% * NatureAdoresAVirgin: Rory's virginity is, quoth, "a huge asset to the house". Indeed, [[spoiler:a gentleman ends up reserving him all for himself.]]
82	* OneHeadTaller: All the main couples, though it's most obvious with Reed and Rory. Per the [[http://www.teahousecomic.com/characters.html cast page]], Rhys is taller than Axis by half a foot.
83	* OppositesAttract: Rhys and Axis. The former is a [[TallDarkAndSnarky tall, blue and snarky]] bastard, the latter is a short, loudmouthed, easily angered bastard. [[HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday Not that Axis is interested in some gay-ass prick.]]
84	* PimpedOutDress: Can be seen on most of the ladies.
85	* PitbullDatesPuppy: Reed and Rory.
86	* PoorCommunicationKills: [[spoiler:In Chapter 5 Atros tries to sell Linneus's contract to Liard, Linneus's longtime client. When Linneus yells at him for treating him like property and not like a person, Atros levels him with an accusation that Linneus chose to become a courtesan eight years prior instead of being with Atros, when Atros's father gave him the ultimatum. Whether or not this accusation is true or not is still unclear, as Linneus ran away from the argument without refuting it, and then is shown in Chapter 6 still entertaining clients and still not have resolved this issue with Atros.]]
87	* PrettyBoy: So many. Special mention goes to Linneus, but pretty much every male character who's seen on more than three pages and who's not Axis, Atros' father or Gilder.
88	* RedOniBlueOni: Rhys and Axis, complete with blue and red hair.
89	* RemixComic: All three prints have had short remixes by the authors featuring a few pages, featuring things like switched lines or drawn-on doodles mocking characters' actions or looks.
90	** A rough-handed parody by Cry Some More can be found [[http://cry-some-more.demon-sushi.com/?p=768 here]].
91	* RightHandHottie: Zephyr to Rhys and Vann to Gloria.
92	* SchizoTech: Even barring the mixing of Victorian and modern clothing (Axis being a major case) the comic also features cigarettes with filters, crossbows with infrared scopes, and ''plastic bags''.
93	* {{Seme}}: The comic mostly follows the stereotypical conventions, in contrast to {{Uke}}.
94	* SexSlave: Or in the comic's terminology, courtesans. Terminology aside, they are all legally owned by Xanthe, they aren't allowed to leave the grounds without specific permission, and own no property apart from any tips or gifts they may be personally given by clients. Xanthe gets all the money they earn, and at least in Linneus' case, he also doesn't shy from taking over gifts for "lost profit".
95	* ShirtlessScene: Standalone artwork featuring Axis, mainly. Also Xanthe.
96	* ShowDontTell: Occasionally, the scenery speaks for itself. Special points for Atros' dollhouse-like mansion, which feels both too small ''and'' too big. It's stuffed full of teddy bears, ribbons, frills and many portraits of his ([[{{Kawaiiko}} wife Yvette]], displaying both [[ManChild her woeful immaturity]], [[MyBelovedSmother her father's money]] and Xanthe's placelessness there.
97	* ShutUpKiss: a number, including [[http://www.teahousecomic.com/comic/?id=73 Reed's to Rory]].
98	* SlaveBrand: All courtesans are branded with a tattoo of their brothel's insignia on their feet. (Apparently repeatedly, as tattoos there last a month or so. Ouch.) Axis has several brands, which seems to indicate he belonged to other brothels before coming to the Teahouse. It's also ''possible'' that he ran away and was rebranded as punishment... But seeing how much he loves his job...
99	* SpitTrailKiss: [[http://teahousecomic.com/comic/?id=42 Axis and Rhys]]. NotSafeForWork.
100	* TakeOurWordForIt: The extent of Mercutio's kinky appointments used to be only ever described/alluded to until Chapter 3 was released in print. That said, what is said in the free online content (including the revelation of his extensive sex toy collection) and others' reactions towards him makes one wonder what kinds of appointments he takes.
101	* TechnicolorEyes: a wide range, as befits a world with naturally blue-, green- and pink-haired people.
102	** Claret's are lavender, Argent's are red due to her albinism, and Xanthe and Axis have golden eyes.
103	** Linneus has unique, [[http://teahousecomic.com/comic/?id=9 electric-baby-blue eyes]], which are quite striking, but rare in real life. Sacha has one similar blue eye and a light leaf-green one.
104	** Rhys' fiance has [[http://teahousecomic.com/comic/?id=67 gorgeous, green-gold eyes]].
105	* TemptingFate:
106	** Axis' early outburst "The day you replace me as top earner is the day I give a shit about what you think!" Axis seems to realise this, as he adamantly insist on bringing Rory down every time they are in the same room.
107	** The bit [[http://www.teahousecomic.com/comic/?id=41 with Axis blushing]] (NSFW) after Rhys pushes his hair aside when he fails to respond to a snarky remark, screams TemptingFate in regards his eventual relationship with Rhys.
108	* {{Uke}}: Gets played with more than {{Seme}}. Linneus follows the archetype faithfully, being very effeminate and a gentle personality, while Axis is a tempestuous ladies' man, [[HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday very loud about his heterosexual preferences]], and not happy at all about submitting to Rhys, only to turns into a stereotypically blushing, if not built, uke in an instant during some sex, or when he's careless enough to think of Rhys with less than fervent contempt.
109	* UnresolvedSexualTension: Atros and Linneus embody it from later second chapter and onto the third chapter.
110	* UptownGirl: Gender-inverted.
111	** Atros is far higher in status than Linneus, who was given to Atros' father in lieu of payment for a gambling debt.
112	** Rhys is about to become the King of the land, and Reed is a wealthy merchant if not nobility or related to rich, so their respective relationships with Axis and Rory fall neatly under this.
113	** Linneus rakes in the chips as a high-charging boytoy, whereas Gilder lives from commission to commission and likely owns little else than his tools-of-trade as he blows his earnings on booze and whores. Cherished pet in gilded cage versus rugged stray anyone?
114	* WhamLine: As the plot thickens, ''many'' wham lines have been delivered.
115	-->'''Atros:''' ''"You chose this--you chose this life '''over me!'''"''
116	-->'''Rhys:''' [[spoiler: ''"...The King's dead."'']]
117	* YaoiGenre

Context Webcomic / Teahouse