After hours of doing nothing but perspective homework, I wanted to draw something loose and fun. Ken seemed like the perfect fit.
this whole “water theme” will be the death of me
And a closeup of the sketch of Ken and Sunny in swimwear.
Some SunKen sketches from last night.
The top panel in blue is a scene from when they first meet before they officially meet. Sunny, lost on the way going to an open house of the apartment Ken is showing, unknowingly flags down Ken to ask for directions. Who is so flustered trying to get back on time that she gives him the wrong ones.
Pink sketches are, clockwise:
- Sunny’s intro scene, listening to his brother Tom blather on about his Endocrinology fellowship to their parents
- Ken’s intro scene, burning lord only knows what as she attempts to cook (which kinda contradicts the pancake scene…maybe she can only cook breakfast foods)
- Ken sleeping, ‘cause I thought it was cute
And then, to celebrate the start of summer/give me an excuse to practice drawing their bodies, Ken and Sunny in swimwear.
I seem to really like drawing these two on the couch.
Brian and Hakim: A (Very) Brief (and Disjointed) History
At the start of the story, they’ve been dating for about 6-7 years and are practically married except for a pesky proposition that got in the way of things. Ken has lived with them for the past two years (after a year of moving back with her dad and sister when she got out of college), but volunteers to move out when Brian confides that he’s going to propose now that said pesky proposition has been overturned (I’m operating under the assumption the court business has been settled in this comic’s timeline).
The pair met when Hakim was a guest lecturer for one of Brian’s graduate classes. Brian, having just gotten out of a long-term relationship with a former girlfriend, didn’t pursue Hakim right away and thought he missed his chance. Hakim, thinking Brian was straight, assumed the offer to get drinks a few weeks later when he returned to give another lecture was academically based. Brian’s relationship with Hakim is his first (and only) long term relationship with a guy, having mostly dated only women seriously in the past, though attracted to/casually dating both.
Brian’s family was initially confused but are now supportive; Hakim’s own family ties are (very) strained with his father, though better with his mother. He considers his Uncle Joel (Ken’s father), closer to him than his real father. He grew up helping Joel with Ken and Andrea and, as a result of their long-term relationship, Brian did too. (Andrea, for example, has known Brian for half of her life.)
And now updated the poster from before with the extended cast.
SunKen
Sunny Pak (Aaron Yoo) doesn’t know what he wants out of life. Everyone expects something from him: His parents. His siblings. His friends. Five years, three colleges, and no degree later, he’s still suffering under the weight of his overachieving siblings’ (James Kyson Lee and Linda Park) shadow when his parents kick him out in a last-ditch effort to motivate him.
Kenisha “Ken” Freeman (V.V. Brown) has been living with her cousin Hakim (Anthony Mackie) and his boyfriend Brian (Jason Segel) for a year, but staying in one place for too long means risking someone peeking past her nonchalant, carefree facade. So when her cousin and Brian get engaged, she sees the perfect excuse to cut ties and move on.
From there, all it takes is one ambiguously-worded Craigslist ad, a brief but meaningful email correspondence, and a simple misunderstanding for Sunny and Ken to become accidental roommates.
All Ken wanted was to block others from getting in. All Sunny needed was to block himself from getting out.
But life is never that simple.
Source: palaceoffunk
SunKen has a vague-ish sort of plot that I’m still hammering out. But sometimes I wonder if I could/should make it a slice-of-life webcomic because then I can write ridiculous non sequitur comics like these.
I’m still trying to come up with the right scenario for Sunny and Ken’s first kiss. I’m not completely sure if this is it but his does meet my main qualifications: awkward and embarrassing.
Sunny helping and talkative and oblivious Ken put on her coat after she tangles herself in it.
