Commentary
Rhoda Shout
I'm not sure if I get to count the first two panels as "sneaking in" a reference to the iconic "fus-roh-dah" shout from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. To me, it's far too obvious for that.
However, not only did I write it, but by this point, my brain is approximately ten percent Skyrim. It's possible I have a skewed perspective on the matter, and it's a surprise to anyone reading this commentary that it was any such thing.
Whatever the case, I won't feel bad about the Skyrim reference. Quite frankly, even if I wasn't making one, I'd likely have written the exact same exuberant greeting. We've encountered a rare situation in that not only was a Skyrim reference not forced, it was naturally occurring. It's one of the many wonders of having a character named Rhoda.
The other is a great many people writing her name as "Rhonda". I assume the name Rhonda is simply more familiar for some people than Rhoda, and given how we read things (our minds taking little shortcuts based on how words begin and end), it's very possible for some to simply read Rhoda as Rhonda. And Rhonda as Rhoda, now that I think on it.
A wondrous name, Rhoda.
SPIN!
I suffered for my art with this one. Not much, mind you, but a little. I didn't care if I got how Grace was holding Rhoda exactly right—I wanted it to look a bit too easy anyway—but I wanted Grace's legs to make sense. Simplest way to figure that out was to spin for my art, and I did so.
Firstly, don't spin for your art in bare feet. I attempted this, and my foot objected. Had I been stubborn and continued this on carpet, I likely would have wound up with a painful mark on my foot. That wasn't a worry on hard floor, as I hardly spun at all.
Secondly, once properly in socks, be careful of your surroundings. This is in regard to potentially knocking things over, but also what you might hit should you fall (a possibility that shouldn't be ignored). I was careful, and nothing bad happened, but I've put forth the idea of spinning in one's socks now, and I feel obligated to include this disclaimer.
Thirdly, you're going to get dizzy, and that's a fact.
The end result wound up simpler than I imagined. Possibly with ballet on the brain, I had imagined a leg sticking out to the side. As I spun, however, the most natural motion was simply to have one leg up and in some, and the heel of the foot on the ground raised. It was very simple, and felt natural—if ill-advised—to do.
Now, if you're thinking of trying it yourself, remember: Mindful of what you might knock over, and mindful of what you might hit should you fall. Frankly, I wasn't kidding about getting dizzy, and my recommendation is to not bother. Oof.
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