#connect 4

I looked it up after the episode and found out they make Connect 4 games where the pieces are black and white, that's what inspired this comic. I thought it would be cuter if Esther painted the pieces herself and surprised him with it though. I had considered making this with Katherine and Abaddon at first, and have it where Esther and Ben are leaving for school, Abaddon is standing there and when they are gone he goes to crawl in the vents but before he does Katherine's like, "Hey Abaddon wait, I have something for you" And then she picks up a package off the front desk and hands it to him and he's like, "What is it?" and she says "Open it"

So he opens it and it's a Connect 4 game where the pieces are black and white. And Katherine says something like, "I ordered it for you after your game with Esther, I thought with this you'd have an easier time telling the pieces apart" And then he looks at her and says thank you or something and maybe Katherine asks him if he'd want to play a match against her and then they'd play together. I thought it would be cute a bonding moment where Katherine is actually trying to reach out and connect with him (lol) since out of all the characters they seem to get along the least.

I ended up going with the comic being him and Esther because she was the one he was playing the game against in the episode and I really liked the idea of her painting the pieces herself.

Not super happy with his expression in the last panel, I was trying to give him a genuine smile, like, he's actually touched that she did that but he looks goofy as hell, he's got bug eyes lol

Honestly I really don't think he should have had that much trouble telling the pieces apart. I don't know what type of color blindness he has (I really don't think much thought was put into it, it seemed like it was just a joke in the episode for the sake of funny) but I when putting the red and yellow colors in black and white they are pretty easy to tell apart since the red is a lot darker than the yellow. I'm just going to assume he couldn't see colors at all since he didn't know what they are. Idk

some bonus sketches

(Ares and Athena are sitting on a sofa. Ares frowns at his controller.)

Ares: Ath, can we play a different game? You've beat me at Connect 4 for 100 times in a row.

Athena (taunting): I don't see why 101 times would make a difference then.

Ares (pouting): I don't like this game anymore.

Athena: What if we played Sudoku?

Ares: No! That's worse! Let's play Mortal Kombat or Soul Calibur.

Athena (cringing): I don't think that's a good idea.

Ares (grinning): Finally afraid you'll lose?

Athena (frowning): You know what, fine. Let's do this.

(Several hours later in immortal time, Zeus walks into the room.)

Zeus (excited): Ooh! A fighting game. I want in.

(Athena sends Ares a look.)

Athena: It's not that fun, Dad.

Zeus: Aw, I bet it's great! I can't believe Ares is actually doing pretty well. I'll play against him.

Ares (ghostly pale): Huh?

(The next game, he and Zeus are on the sofa. The screen shows that Zeus wins.)

Zeus (eyeing him): That's the 3rd time in a row. I feel like you're going easy on me.

Ares (nervously): What? No, of course not.

Zeus (warningly): Ares, I want to really play. You were beating Athena. Give me a challenge.

Ares: A-are you sure?

Zeus: Yes.

Athena (mouthing from behind Zeus): Don't do it.

Zeus (eyes narrowing): Ares, that's an order.

(The next game begins with Ares shaking. It ends with the screen telling Zeus that he lost.)

Zeus (lightning sparkling on him):...

(Ares and Athena make a dash for the door before Zeus can get up.)

I just know Erza would kick his ass after he gave 110%, trust me I was the connect 4

Reverse Image Search says the first/original known poster of this base is lunaticspear here on tumblr. I am SO SORRY if that's wrong, I tried. 💀

Edit: Y'ALL I FORGOT TO PUT THE ORIGINAL IMAGE I'M AN IDIOT