History Webcomic / BetterDays

* CreatorThumbprint: Explicitly stated [[AnAesop Aesops]] concerning self-reliance and individualism, influenced in part by his divisive political philosophy. Also, gratuitous focus on [[AuthorAppeal women's backsides]].

* GagPenis: Marvin Lipschitz, who is ''[[EyeTake noticeably]]'' [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/07/chapter-12-exem-26.html well-endowed]]. [[spoiler:When looking for strippers for Jessica's bachelorette party, Beth wants to hire him because even because he's [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/09/chapter-19-part-20.html so hung]] even ''[[ReallyGetsAround she]]'' has never seen anyone who matches up. His semi-censored penis plays a key role when he delivers AnAesop to several characters, resolving the [[ItMakesSenseInContext bachelor/ette party stripper conundrum]]]].

* AnAesop: The comic has those very frequently, with characters calling each other out or explaining their own philosophies and observations.
** People will have [[BlueAndOrangeMorality wildly different ideas]] of what 'good' and '[[WhatIsEvil bad]]' mean, and [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/05/post-112.html they will uphold what they believe in in earnest]]. This means sometimes they'll wind up in a situation in which their ideals cannot coexist and ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption.
** Everything [[spoiler:Nikki]] is taught after [[spoiler:being adopted and [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/07/chapter-15-reco-8.html having to undo the damage]] done by [[ParentalIncest her father]]]].
** Two [[AnAesop Aesops]] appear in two successive comics in chapter 16:
*** HidingBehindReligion [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/08/chapter-16-lucy-1.html does not make you a good person]].
*** [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/08/chapter-16-lucy-2.html A healthy partner]] should neither be an ExtremeDoormat nor make you one, and should have ''joie de vivre''.
** Lucy's stint as a radio relationship advisor is this by definition, and two of her pieces of advice apepar onscreen:
*** Before you cling to 'BeYourself', [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/08/chapter-19-part-7.html have a good look at who 'yourself' is.]]
*** Even in a monogamous relationship, [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/08/chapter-19-part-11.html people will want to glance at other attractive people]]--it's a fact of life that should be tolerated, so long as it doesn't go any further.
** Marvin Lipschitz delivers [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/11/chapter-19-part-36.html several at once]] at a [[spoiler:[[ItMakesSenseInContext bachelor/ette party gone awry]]]]. Subverted when he says that only ''most'' male strippers are gay.
** Several are used as recurrent themes:
*** Live your own life first and foremost for yourself. This is highlighted in particular when [[spoiler:Elizabeth realises how much of her life she's wasted living for her family and leaves her husband David for Fisk]].
*** Take responsibility for your own actions. This message is highlighted when Fisk rejects explaining [[spoiler:his mother's and his neighbour's (who also his best friend's father) affair]] as a '[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/03/chapter-11-arme-46.html mistake]]'.
*** Remain optimistic (and ''alive'') and fight for what you believe in--it'll be a long, hard struggle, and it will demand [[StarCrossedLovers great]] [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifices]], but ultimately you'll EarnYourHappyEnding.

[[caption-width-right:347:[[BrotherSisterTeam Lucy]], Sheila and [[TheHero Fisk]] Black.]]

''[[http://www.jaynaylor.com/betterdays/ Better Days]]'' [[labelnote:caution]]Link is [=NSFW=] and leads to Jay Naylor's Patreon page; currently both Better Days and Original Life are behind a paywall.[[/labelnote]] is a UsefulNotes/{{Furry|Fandom}} comic by artist Creator/JayNaylor. The story begins in Georgia in the year 1980. Ten-year old Fisk and Lucy Black are twin siblings being raised by their mother Shiela, who gave birth to them after their father was killed in action during the Vietnam War. The comic depicts Fisk and Lucy's often-challenging growing up during the 1980s, and their early adulthood in the 1990s; earlier strips feature Shiela as the third protagonist, while later parts focus more on Lucy's college roommate Beth.

''[[http://www.jaynaylor.com/betterdays/ Better Days]]'' [[labelnote:caution]]Link is [=NSFW=] and leads to Jay Naylor's Patreon page; currently both Better Days and Original Life are behind a paywall.[[/labelnote]] is a UsefulNotes/{{Furry|Fandom}} comic by artist Creator/JayNaylor. The story begins in Georgia in the year 1980. Fisk and Lucy Black are young adolescent twin siblings being raised by their mother Shiela, who gave birth to them after their father was killed in action during the Vietnam War. The comic depicts Fisk and Lucy's often-challenging growing up during the 1980s, and their early adulthood in the 1990s; earlier strips feature Shiela as the third protagonist, while later parts focus more on Lucy's college roommate Beth.

* AerithAndBob: While every other character whose first name is mentioned has a typical American one, Fisk has a last

** [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/11/chapter-23-pers-31.html The hospital]] [[spoiler:Persia]] is taken to after [[spoiler:Fisk rescues her from forced prostitution]] is named after singer Grace Jones as an InJoke between Naylor and a friend.
[[http://jaynaylor.com/originallife/archives/2010/10/145.html Another Jones appearance]] appears in ''Webcomic/{{Original Life}}''.

** [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/11/chapter-23-pers-31.html The hospital]] [[spoiler:Persia]] is taken to after [[spoiler:Fisk rescues her from forced prostitution]] is named after singer Grace Jones as an InJoke between Naylor and a friend. [[http://jaynaylor.com/originallife/archives/2010/10/145.html Another Jones appearance]] appears in ''Webcomic/{{Original Life}}''.

* NotNowWereTooBusyCryingOverYou: After Lucy gets hospitalized, Fisk visits her and prays by her bed, telling her to shut up when she wakes up in the middle of it.

* InVinoVeritas: Lucy [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/10/chapter-19-part-26.html almost slips out a sexy secret of Amy's]] when she's drunk at Jessica’s bachelorette party. (The secret was revealed in full in one of the pornfolios.)

** When [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/01/chapter-13-thic-24.html he sees his father's name on a monument for fallen soldiers]]; and ** when [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/07/chapter-18-reac-29.html his war buddy Carlos almost succumbs to depression]] and [[DrivenToSuicide kills himself]].

* WondrousLadiesRoom: The Blacks are on their way to visit relatives and stop for gas. Fisk uses the opportunity to go relieve himself, and soon discovers that while the [[GuysAreSlobs men's]] room is [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/10/chapter-13-thic-3.html filthy beyond belief]], the women's room [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/10/chapter-13-thic-4.html is utterly spotless]].

''[[http://www.jaynaylor.com/betterdays/ Better Days]]'' [[labelnote:caution]]Link is [=NSFW=] and leads to Jay Naylor's Patreon page; currently both Better Days and Original Life are behind a paywall.[[/labelnote]] is a UsefulNotes/{{Furry|Fandom}} comic by artist Creator/JayNaylor. The story begins in Georgia in the year 1980. Fisk and Lucy Black are young adolescent twin siblings being raised by their mother Shiela, who gave birth to them after their father was killed in action during the Vietnam War. The comic depicts Fisk and Lucy's often-challenging growing up during the 1980s, and their young adulthood in the 1990s; earlier strips feature Shiela as the third protagonist, while later parts focus more on Lucy's college roommate Beth.

''[[http://www.jaynaylor.com/betterdays/ Better Days]]'' [[labelnote:caution]]Link is [=NSFW=] and leads to Jay Naylor's Patreon page; currently both Better Days and Original Life are behind a paywall.[[/labelnote]] is a UsefulNotes/{{Furry|Fandom}} comic by artist Creator/JayNaylor. The story begins in Georgia in the year 1980. Fisk and Lucy Black are young adolescent twins being raised by their mother Shiela, who gave birth to them after their father was killed in action during the Vietnam War. The comic depicts Fisk and Lucy's often-challenging growing up during the 1980s, and their young adulthood in the 1990s; earlier strips feature Shiela as the third protagonist, while later parts focus more on Lucy's college roommate Beth.

''[[http://www.jaynaylor.com/betterdays/ Better Days]]'' [[labelnote:caution]]Link is [=NSFW=] and leads to Jay Naylor's Patreon page; currently both Better Days and Original Life are behind a paywall.[[/labelnote]] is a UsefulNotes/{{Furry|Fandom}} comic by artist Creator/JayNaylor. The story begins in Georgia in the year 1980. Fisk and Lucy Black are young adolescent siblings being raised by their mother Shiela, who gave birth to them after their father was killed in action during the Vietnam War. The comic depicts Fisk and Lucy's often-challenging growing up during the 1980s, and their young adulthood in the 1990s; earlier strips feature Shiela as the third protagonist, while later parts focus more on Lucy's college roommate Beth.

While ''Better Days'' has a fairly well-established fanbase of its own, a number of people are also aware of it due to its politics, its sexual themes, and other material and philosophies some find controversial. Surprisingly, most of these don't involve it being a {{furry comic}}.

While ''Better Days'' has a fairly well-established fanbase of its own, a number of people are also aware of it due to its politics, its sexual themes, and other material and philosophies some find controversial. Surprisingly, most of these don't involve it [[AcceptableTargets being a furry comic]].

''[[http://www.jaynaylor.com/betterdays/ Better Days]]'' [[labelnote:caution]]Link is [=NSFW=] and leads to Jay Naylor's Patreon page; currently both Better Days and Original Life are behind a paywall.[[/labelnote]] is a UsefulNotes/{{Furry|Fandom}} comic by artist Creator/JayNaylor. The story begins in Georgia in the year 1980. Fisk and Lucy Black are young adolescent siblings being raised by their mother Shiela, who gave birth to them after their father was killed in action during the Vietnam War. The comic depicts Fisk and Lucy's often-challenging growing up during the 1980s, and their young adulthood in the 1990s; earlier strips feature Shiela as the third protagonist, while later parts focus more on Lucy’s college roommate Beth.

** People will have [[BlueAndOrangeMorality wildly different ideas]] of what ‘good’ and ‘[[WhatIsEvil bad]]’ mean, and [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/05/post-112.html they will uphold what they believe in in earnest]]. This means sometimes they’ll wind up in a situation in which their ideals cannot coexist and ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption.

** Lucy’s stint as a radio relationship advisor is this by definition, and two of her pieces of advice apepar onscreen:

*** Even in a monogamous relationship, [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/08/chapter-19-part-11.html people will want to glance at other attractive people]]--it’s a fact of life that should be tolerated, so long as it doesn’t go any further.

*** Live your own life first and foremost for yourself. This is highlighted in particular when [[spoiler:Elizabeth realises how much of her life she’s wasted living for her family and leaves her husband David for Fisk]].
*** Take responsibility for your own actions. This message is highlighted when Fisk rejects explaining [[spoiler:his mother’s and his neighbour’s (who also his best friend’s father) affair]] as a ‘[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/03/chapter-11-arme-46.html mistake]]’.
*** Remain optimistic (and ''alive'') and fight for what you believe in--it’ll be a long, hard struggle, and it will demand [[StarCrossedLovers great]] [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifices]], but ultimately you’ll EarnYourHappyEnding.

* AnimalStereotypes: Two characters are explicitly said to be weasels: [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/05/chapter-12-exem-11.html Randy]], who has a penchant for infidelity and [[spoiler:lies to Lucy about using a condom without knowing she’s on the pill]], and [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/12/chapter-23-pers-32.html Ralphie]], Persia’s pimp, who claims '[[WhatIsEvil there’s no such thing as right and wrong]]' and keeps her [[PlayingWithSyringes addicted to heroin]]]].

--->'''Lucy:''' Now THERE’S a pause.
* ArrangedMarriage: Elizabeth’s mother has the nasty habit of trying to govern Elizabeth’s love life, to make sure [[MalignedMixedMarriage she marries a Jew]].[[note]]Aside from [[UsefulNotes/{{Judaism}} Orthodox Jews]], arranged marriage is not practiced among Jews.[[/note]] [[spoiler:Unable to work up the courage to defy her, she winds up in a [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/01/chapter-24-men-9.html loveless marriage]] to an unfaithful [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/01/chapter-24-men-8.html husband]], whom she ultimately leaves [[VictoriousChildhoodFriend for Fisk]] at the end of the comic.]]
* AsianAndNerdy: Aron, [[FantasyCounterpartCulture for a given value of ‘Asian’]].

* AttackItsWeakPoint: [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/07/chapter-22-roll-18.html Lucy is instructed]] to defeat the Evil Sorceress, the BigBad of the role-playing game she participates in, by finding the ‘[[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything Pink Pearl]]’ hidden among her tentacles, that ‘no man can find’, but Lucy might, as she’s a woman. Lucy’s reaction is an AsideGlance. [[spoiler:When she succeeds, the Sorceress [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/08/chapter-22-roll-22.html clearly looks like she’s had an orgasm]], and asks Lucy to ‘do that again’.]]
* AudioErotica: Lucy’s boss tells her to [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/08/chapter-19-part-6.html aim for that]] when she has to fill in for a colleague who gives relationship advice.
* AuthorAppeal: There are lots of shots of women’s derrieres. Lots and lots of ‘em. [[ParentalIncest Disturbingly]] [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in a minor gag, in which Fisk is partially an AuthorAvatar, [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/06/post-19.html remarking on how he likes drawing Sheila]].

* AuthorTract: Moderate example--Fisk’s philosophy often overlapped with Naylor’s, starting from Conservatism to Objectivism, but he points out that it’s his own philosophy and [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/05/post-112.html doesn’t invalidate others]]. Later on Naylor stated that Fisk’s ideology no longer represents his own, after [[spoiler:Fisk becomes an agent for a private special ops organisation]].
* AwfulWeddedLife: A visitor at the gallery Beth’s works are displayed at [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/02/chapter-20-the-18.html seems to think so about marriage in general]].

* BaitAndSwitch: After the [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/09/chapter-12-exem-44.html three]] [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/09/chapter-12-exem-45.html previous]] [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/09/chapter-12-exem-46.html comics]] imply [[spoiler:Lucy will [[GroinAttack sever Randy’s penis with shearers]] for dating her and Andrea simultaneously, keeping them both a secret from each other, and for lying about using a condom when sleeping with her]], it turns out [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/09/chapter-12-exem-47.html she only intended]] to [[TraumaticHaircut cut his hair]]]].

* BatmanGambit: It’s implied that [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/07/chapter-18-reac-29.html Fisk’s monologue]] to Carlos when he wanted to [[DrivenToSuicide kill himself]] was this. ''Original Life'' shows [[http://jaynaylor.com/originallife/archives/2014/04/511.html it works]].

** Lucy goes to a clothing shop literally named ‘[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/08/chapter-10-brot-5.html No, I’m Not a Prostitute Boutique]]’ in hopes of getting more male attention.

* BetweenMyLegs: [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/11/chapter-19-part-36.html Beth and Jessica]], when Marvin Lipschitz chides them (among others) for their actions leading up to the [[spoiler:[[ItMakesSenseInContext bachelor/ette party stripper fiasco]]]], are seen this way, along with Marvin’s [[GagPenis enormous pixellated genitalia]].

-->'''Listener:''' [Women] say I don’t exercise and I’m overweight. They laugh at the cartoon character T-shirts I wear. but, I shouldn’t have to change any of that, because I want women to love me for '''''who I am'''''.

-->'''Listener:''' Um... a broke, unemployed man who [[ManChild dresses like a child]] and doesn’t take care of his body?
* BigWhat: [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/11/post-64.html Sheila’s reaction]] when ten-year-old Fisk tells her [[TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior he had sex with Nikki]].
* BlackAndNerdy: The comic [[FantasyCounterpartCulture portrays Africans as hyenas]]. In one strip, there’s a nerd club and one of the members is a hyena.
* BlatantLies: [[spoiler:Randy lies about his fidelity to [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/07/chapter-12-exem-22.html get into Lucy’s pants]].]]
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/05/post-112.html Fisk believes]] that in war, both sides genuinely believe what they’re fighting for is right. However, as their ideas cannot coexist, ultimately ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption.

** The male stripper ‘[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/09/chapter-19-part-20.html Long Creek]]’ exploits this trope.

-->'''Lucy:''' [[SelfDeprecation I’ll bet]].

** In [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/01/post-80.html this comic]], Elizabeth complains about how her mother will eventually try to set her up with a doctor, the awkward and undesirable qualities thereof she will completely ignore. Fast forward to [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/12/chapter-11-arme-19.html this comic]], in which Elizabeth’s mother tries to hook Sheila up with a nerdy-looking Jewish man who talks about keeping ferrets as pets.
** Tommy, an engineering student, dismisses an artist who used a jet engine as a tool for painting, saying he’d rather [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/02/chapter-20-the-17.html hang the engine itself on his wall]]. By the end of the chapter, [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/03/chapter-20-the-27.html he does]].
** [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/06/chapter-22-roll-8.html Aron asks Lucy for a Mountain Dew]] when she gets up to get drinks when she plays a role-playing game with Tommy and his friends. At the end of the chapter, [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/08/chapter-22-roll-23.html there are several empty bottles in front of him and he’s all jittery]], implying he got a sugar rush, and he’s ''still'' asking for another bottle.
** A possibly accidental one: when Fisk is in elementary, he [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/08/post-32.html writes an essay]] specifying some of the reasons he appreciates living in the US, starting with things like personal freedom but quickly starts expanding on American food he likes. Near the end of the comic, when he comes home from six months in Singapore, [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/02/chapter-24-men-20.html Lucy tries]] to [[ShipperOnDeck hook him up with Elizabeth]]]], but all he can think about is ‘[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/02/chapter-24-men-21.html having a real American cheeseburger]]’.

** When Elizabeth tells Lucy she could have Fisk, Lucy tells her she couldn’t, because she doesn’t have the courage to [[CallingTheOldManOut stand up to her mother]] and her opposition to her [[MalignedMixedMarriage dating a ‘goy’]].

--->'''Amy:''' Tommy’s a sweet guy with a bright future. What benefit could there be to straying around with other guys?
--->'''Jessica:''' [[{{Polyamory}} Beth]] would know! Let’s ask her!

** Near the end of the comic, Lucy gives Elizabeth a [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/01/chapter-24-men-10.html sorely needed call-out]], telling her [[spoiler:she’s been letting her mother make all of her life choices for her all her life]].
* BuxomBeautyStandard: Lucy’s classmate Cindy’s [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/04/post-3.html main appeal]].

** Persia does not take her mother’s StageMom behaviour and her [[ContractualPurity ban on dating until marriage]] (while [[{{Hypocrite}} dating a string of men in quick succession]]) lying down and [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/12/chapter-13-thic-18.html lashes out at her]] as a teen. Ultimately, [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/08/chapter-23-pers-5.html they have a huge fight when she’s in her twenties]], and she leaves for L.A. Suffice to say, [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/09/chapter-23-pers-11.html it does not go well]].]]
** Averted with [[spoiler:Elizabeth, who [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/01/chapter-24-men-10.html winds up in a loveless marriage to please her mother]]]]. Presumably, [[spoiler:she eventually does, as she leaves her husband [[VictoriousChildhoodFriend for Fisk]], but it’s never shown]].

-->'''Lucy:''' You know... my brother’s coming home from his trip, this weekend...

-->'''Lucy:''' Well, I don’t have ''another'' brother.

** [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/07/chapter-12-exem-26.html Marvin Lipschitz]], Elizabeth’s [[GagPenis well-endowed]] Halloween party date, later [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/09/chapter-19-part-21.html becomes a]] [[HookerWithAHeartOfGold stripper]]]] and [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/11/chapter-19-part-36.html reasons away a major conflict]] among the main cast]].
** Ryan Tobs, Sam’s son and Fisk’s friend, [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/03/chapter-21-fath.html lands him the job he has by the end of the comic]]]].
* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Happens mainly to several minor characters, but also gradually happens to notable characters like Sheila Black, Rachel, and the couple of Robert and Jessica as they drift in and out of Fisk’s and Lucy’s lives.
* ComicBookTime: Distinctly averted with the characters aging as the comic progresses. To put it in perspective, Lucy and Fisk were 9-years-old when the comic first started; by the end of the comic, they're young-to-middle aged adults.

** When young Fisk wants to make a good impression on the girl he’s into, Lucy tells him the story of how David got [[TwentyBearAsses 200 Philistine foreskins for King Saul]] when he wanted to marry his daughter. Fisk asks, [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/05/post-9.html ‘What’s a foreskin?’]] Later, [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/05/post-12.html he interprets the story at face value]] and tries to bring her father a wagon full of ‘[[AmoralAttorney lawyer]] foreskins’ (actually just pigskins) because he’s heard him say he hated lawyers.

** When [[spoiler:Elizabeth]] tells [[spoiler:Fisk]] [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/05/chapter-25-bett-8.html they should start doing]] ‘[[BabiesEverAfter what comes after marriage]]’, he pauses and asks, ‘[[AwfulWeddedLife We should start fighting]]?’
* ComingOfAgeStory: Following Fisk and Lucy from when they’re 9 and into adulthood.
* CommitmentIssues: Lucy deals with those at the beginning of ‘Men and Women’, when she considers moving in with Tommy.
* ContrivedCoincidence: Both Jessica’s [[spoiler:bachelorette party]] and Robert’s [[spoiler:bachelor party]] are [[spoiler:scheduled at the same time and place, with only a door between the two]].

* CreatorThumbprint: Explicitly stated [[AnAesop Aesops]] concerning self-reliance and individualism, influenced in part by his divisive political philosophy. Also, gratuitous focus on [[AuthorAppeal women’s backsides]].
* CreepySouvenir: One of the men Sheila tries dating tells her, ‘Kelly tells me you like soldiers. [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/12/chapter-11-arme-19.html I have a collection of Vietnamese hands under glass at home...]]’

* DatingWhatDaddyHates: Or mommy, rather--[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/10/chapter-16-lucy-19.html Tommy’s mother is displeased with him dating Lucy]], an atheist. [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/10/chapter-16-lucy-20.html His father is just concerned he might]] [[MistakenForGay be gay]].

* DeepSouth: Mostly averted, even though all of them live in small town Georgia--Tommy even points out that [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/09/chapter-16-lucy-16.html Lucy barely has an accent]]. The main exception is Sheila (to a moderate extent), who [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/08/post-32.html ignores the blatant anti-Native American statements in Fisk’s essay]], [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/11/post-64.html grew up using the N-word liberally]], and [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/03/post-96.html owns a commemorative Robert E. Lee garden gnome]].
* DelusionsOfEloquence: When Aron goes sailing with Beth, he starts [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/04/chapter-25-bett.html spewing random nautical jargon]]. Beth tells him he has no idea what he’s saying.

* DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale: Subverted. While Nikki essentially raping Fisk is initially PlayedForLaughs, it’s quickly acknowledged it’s a symptom of something horrible she’s suffered, and there is serious concern for Fisk’s emotional well-being.
* DramaticIrony: Sheila is glad [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/04/chapter-21-fath-13.html Fisk and Ryan are working at a safer job now]]. [[spoiler:They’re actually working for the same secret special ops organisation Fisk’s father died working for.]]

** Fisk’s war buddy Carlos White asks for Fisk to get him his gun from his upper floor (as [[ICannotSelfTerminate he physically can't reach it]]), but [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/07/chapter-18-reac-28.html Fisk refuses]]. [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/07/chapter-18-reac-29.html Carlos tries to convince him his life is no longer worth living]], but Fisk still refuses, and starts crying when he goes out. (Fortunately, ''Original Life'' shows that [[http://jaynaylor.com/originallife/archives/2014/04/511.html that moment motivated him]] to rebuild his life and function again.)

* DumbBlonde: Jessica. Fortunately, she’s of the DumbIsGood variety.

-->'''Fisk:''' With all I’ve been through the future can only hold [[TitleDrop better days]].

** The newspaper Tommy’s father is reading in [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/10/chapter-16-lucy-20.html this comic]] has the headlines ‘[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_Tucker Cynthia Tucker]] Eat My Balls’ and ‘With Mustard’. Later on, [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/12/chapter-17-tria-4.html Sheila is reading a newspaper]] with the headline ‘Cynthia Tucker: Whore’. Naylor seems to really hate her...
* EroticEating: Sexually-frustrated Sheila [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/10/chapter-11-arme-1.html looks at a banana in despair and relishes eating it]]. When Fisk interrupts her, she snaps at him for hardly any reason. In the next comic, she confides in Kelly (Elizabeth’s mother) that she indeed [[YouNeedToGetLaid hasn’t had a man]] since [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/10/chapter-11-arme-2.html Longfellow]]]], i.e. in about four or five years.

* {{Fanservice}}: Not limited to Naylor’s pornfolios--there’s plenty of shots of female butts, panty-clad or otherwise, within the actual strip.

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Some species represent specific groups: cats are white, mice are Jewish[[note]]Although, curiously, [[spoiler:Persia’s new boyfriend]] is a mouse who is revealed in one of the pornfolios to be [[UsefulNotes/JewishLifeEvents uncircumcised]][[/note]], and hyenas are black; also, while there have been no answers from the WordOfGod, there’s a number of hints that rabbits are analogues for Irish descent, but in ''Original Life'' Red the otter is said to be Irish.

* FluffyTheTerrible: The little girl in the role-playing game Lucy, Tommy, and their friends play has [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/06/chapter-22-roll-9.html a pet named Puffle’s who’s sick]]. [[spoiler:Justified, as she is the [[BigBad Evil Sorceress]] in disguise.]]

* ForbiddenFruit: Elizabeth’s parents discuss this [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/02/post-87.html when she goes on her first date with Fisk]], regarding him [[MalignedMixedMarriage not being Jewish]].

** Fisk saying that the only truly ‘bad idea’ is one that takes away self-determination. Later on, near the end of the comic, [[spoiler:he rescues Persia from her pimp, using the pimp’s own ‘[[WhatIsEvil morality]]’ that he’s been using to justify keeping Persia prisoner to [[HoistByHisOwnPetard justify killing him]], explicitly telling Persia no-one has the right to enslave her]], and in the last two chapters [[spoiler:Elizabeth finally does away with her preoccupation with not crossing her mother and her [[MalignedMixedMarriage aversion towards marriage between Jews and gentiles]] and leaves her husband for Fisk]].

** Beth talks about the [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/02/chapter-14-all-8.html wide array of dildos]], mentioning a variety of species they’re modelled after. As the pornfolios and the uncensored version of the nudist colony arc in ''Original Life'' show the cast all have human genitalia, it seems to imply these are based on feral animals.

** [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/11/post-64.html Lucy’s tail fur standing on end]] at Sheila’s BigWhat when ten-year-old Fisk tells her [[TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior he had sex with Nikki]].

** Mice squeak. Elizabeth’s squeak is one of the things [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/03/post-96.html Fisk finds most appealing about her]].
** Feline babies are often referred to as ‘kittens’.
** Jessica’s and [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/05/post-118.html Lucy’s doctor’s]] tongue.
** Every now and then a character’s [[FantasyCounterpartCulture race/species]] is mentioned.
* GagPenis: Marvin Lipschitz, who is ''[[EyeTake noticeably]]'' [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/07/chapter-12-exem-26.html well-endowed]]. [[spoiler:When looking for strippers for Jessica’s bachelorette party, Beth wants to hire him because even because he’s [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/09/chapter-19-part-20.html so hung]] even ''[[ReallyGetsAround she]]'' has never seen anyone who matches up. His semi-censored penis plays a key role when he delivers AnAesop to several characters, resolving the [[ItMakesSenseInContext bachelor/ette party stripper conundrum]]]].

* {{Gaydar}}: Beth claims her is ‘[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/11/chapter-19-part-38.html legendary]]’.

-->'''Lucy:''' [[spoiler:Everyone’s undead except her]]!? What is this!? ''Film/{{Aliens}}''?
* GilliganCut: Beth promises Lucy she would never tell anyone [[spoiler:she’s attracted to Aron]]. The very next panel, [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/02/chapter-24-men-17.html she tells Aron]].
* GoneHorriblyWrong: Beth thinks [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/08/chaper-19-party.html getting Tommy and his ‘nerd friends’ to plan Robert’s bachelor party]] will assure it won’t be a StagParty. The [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/08/chapter-19-part-11.html first thing they do]] when given the task is making sure it will be.

* GoodGirlsAvoidAbortion: [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/05/post-119.html Sheila would rather Lucy took pills]] (she wants her to abstain, but is realistic), because ‘we’re not killing unborn [[FurryReminder kittens]] in this family’.
* GossipyHens: Lucy’s college roommates, when Fisk is about to come, [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/04/chapter-14-all-23.html much to Lucy’s annoyance]].
* HeroicBSOD: Happens to Elizabeth when [[spoiler:she realises [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/01/chapter-24-men-9.html she doesn’t love her husband]] and Lucy [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/01/chapter-24-men-10.html helps her realise]] [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/01/chapter-24-men-11.html she’s been putting aside her own happiness all her life to keep others happy]]]].

-->'''Lucy:''' [[spoiler:Ahem! We’re not shoving our noses up the asses of naked women!]]
-->'''Beth:''' [[spoiler:[[https://web.archive.org/web/20080211210858/http://www.jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/11/chapter-19-part-32.html STRIPPER JOUST!!]] ''[[GratuitousFrench EN GARDE]]!!'']]’

** [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/06/chapter-12-exem-21.html Lucy accuses Elizabeth]] trying to sabotage her relationship with Randy because her mother [[ArrangedMarriage forces her to date undesirable partners]], and ‘[[GreenEyedMonster misery loves company]]’. Elizabeth denies it.
** [[spoiler:[[BrotherSisterIncest Fisk and Lucy]]]] make an effort to [[DefiedTrope defy]] this when they grow up and there’s a prospect of one of them dating someone else, talking it over to make sure they don’t hurt each other.
* ImStandingRightHere: The awkward game master describes Lucy’s character [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/06/chapter-22-roll-7.html in abundant, erotic detail]] to the players, including Lucy. Tommy actually asks him to continue.
* INeedAFreakingDrink: [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/01/chapter-24-men-7.html Elizabeth’s reaction]] to [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/01/chapter-24-men-8.html catching her husband David]] cheating with the neighbour]].
* InVinoVeritas: Lucy [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/10/chapter-19-part-26.html almost slips out a sexy secret of Amy’s]] when she’s drunk at Jessica’s bachelorette party. (The secret was revealed in full in one of the pornfolios.)
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Being StarCrossedLovers, [[spoiler:[[BrotherSisterIncest Fisk and Lucy]]]] make it a point not to stand in each other’s way when the other has a new potential lover.
* JawDrop: [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/06/chapter-18-reac-21.html Fisk’s reaction to Persia when they meet again]], [[SheIsAllGrownUp for the first time in years]].
* {{Jerkass}}: Ted Stephens. As if [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/06/post-120.html dating Lucy just to get with]] [[StacysMom her mother]] weren’t enough, he [[ThePeepingTom peeps on Sheila]] [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/07/post-128.html in the shower]], has [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/07/post-135.html no qualms about his actions]], and finally [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/07/post-136.html rudely dismisses her when she confronts him]].

* LamePunReaction: Cindy [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/09/chapter-16-lucy-9.html loves]] [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/09/chapter-16-lucy-14.html puns]], much to Lucy’s annoyance.
* LiteralMetaphor: The ‘[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/07/chapter-19-part-4.html perfect storm]]’.
* LoveConfession: [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/03/chapter-20-the-25.html Beth]]]] tells [[spoiler:Fisk]] she’s done with [[spoiler:{{Polyamory}}]] and wants to settle with him. [[StarCrossedLovers Unfortunately]], [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/04/chapter-21-fath-9.html Fisk takes a job that makes it impossible]]]].
* LoveEpiphany: Inverted near the end, when [[spoiler:Amy [[ArmorPiercingQuestion asks Elizabeth if she loves her husband]], and Elizabeth [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/01/chapter-24-men-9.html realizes she doesn’t]]]].
* LoveLetter: The first chapter revolves around Fisk wanting Lucy to deliver one to Cindy, the girl in Lucy’s gym class he has a crush on.

* MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/10/post-50.html Jim’s old Army friends pay Longfellow a visit]] and [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/10/post-51.html deliberately infect him with lethal meningitis]] so he appears to have died in surgery. His own doctor willingly helps out, and tells them he’s going to start the paperwork when they show up.]]

* MaliciousSlander: D’Anna uses [[CastingCouch her relationship with their manager]] and the editorial leeway she gets to [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/09/chapter-16-lucy-14.html keep reviewing a false testimony at a controversial trial at face value]], [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/09/chapter-16-lucy-14.html thinking it would sell better]]. Lucy later finds out [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/10/chapter-16-lucy-26.html D’Anna has based her entire career on smear]].
* MalignedMixedMarriage: Both Elizabeth’s Jewish family and Tommy’s Catholic family disapprove of their relationships with people outside of their faith.
* ManlyTears: Fisk can’t help but cry on two gut-wrenching occasions:
** When [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/01/chapter-13-thic-24.html he sees his father’s name on a monument for fallen soldiers]]; and ** when [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/07/chapter-18-reac-29.html his war buddy Carlos almost succumbs to depression]] and [[DrivenToSuicide kills himself]].
* MassiveNumberedSiblings: Elizabeth’s family. Fisk comments on this.

* MeaningfulName: Fisk Black’s last name relates to [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/05/post-112.html his philosophy]] regarding DarkIsNotEvil.

-->'''Fisk:''' Don’t go downstairs. I think [[UnusualEuphemism Aunt Flow]] is in town.

** [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/10/chapter-16-lucy-20.html Tommy’s father often assumes his son is gay.]]

* TheMole: Fisk is told that the CIA’s susceptibility to Soviet moles [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/04/chapter-21-fath-6.html cost his father’s life]] when he worked for a secret special ops organisation that used to be linked to it, and that’s why it isn’t anymore]].

** The tone of ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ turns almost instantly from jocular and light-hearted to terrifying when [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/06/post-20.html Fisk accidentally gives Lucy the wrong medicine]], putting her life in danger.
** Fisk’s and [[spoiler:Nikki]]’s [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/07/chapter-15-reco-5.html cheerful reunion]] becomes somewhat awkward and melancholic rather quickly.
* MrViceGuy: [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/08/chapter-12-exem-35.html Marissa]] and Andrea think Randy is this, his vice being his infidelity. [[spoiler:That’s why [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/10/chapter-12-exem-49.html Andrea sticks by him]], believing it’s likely he’ll change.]]

* NobleSavage: Beth makes a reference to this to describe male stripper ‘[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/09/chapter-19-part-20.html Zulu Bob]]’.
* NoodleIncident: Whatever happened to [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/01/post-82.html Sheila’s garden gnome]] was bad enough to get Lucy to successfully blackmail Fisk.

--->'''Robert:''' Dude, she’s a total whore.
** When Lucy openly tries to [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/02/chapter-24-men-20.html encourage Fisk to pursue a relationship with Elizabeth]] after [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/01/chapter-24-men-8.html her husband David]] cheats on her]], Fisk, having just returned from been deployed in Singapore for six months, can only think of [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/02/chapter-24-men-20.html ‘having a real American cheeseburger’]].[[note]]He later reconnects with Elizabeth when she reaches out to him herself.[[/note]]
* NotListeningToMeAreYou: Beth realises Robert is too engrossed in playing video games with Tommy to listen and answer properly when asked about guests to invite to [[spoiler:Jessica’s baby shower]]. [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/08/chapter-23-pers-3.html She quickly demonstrates this to the girls.]]
-->'''Beth:''' We’re going to put Jessica in porn films with the male fetish porn star ‘[[PunnyName Tad Pole]]’.
-->'''Robert:''' That’s cool.

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Cindy [[BrutalHonesty explains to Fisk]] [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/05/post-7.html that’s how she keeps her boyfriend]], along with letting him ‘[[TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior fuck [her] brains out]]’.

* OrphanedEtymology: Fisk brings up how when his mother was young, [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/11/post-64.html ‘the N-word’]] was socially acceptable. Problem is, that word derives from [[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nigger#Etymology the Latin word for ‘black’]], and black people in the comic are [[FantasyCounterpartCulture represented by hyenas]], who are not physically black or even dark, while some cats (who represent white people) have uniformly black fur. This is brought up again when [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/12/chapter-11-arme-19.html a hyena Sheila dates once]] asks if he can call her ‘[[WhereDaWhiteWomenAt white chocolate]]’[[note]]She does have white fur, though.[[/note]], and when Tommy, Aron, and their hyena friend visit [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/10/chapter-19-part-24.html ‘Club Ebony’]].
* ParentalIncest: Nikki’s father sexually abuses her and her siblings. [[spoiler: When she learns that he's killed later, she's pretty happy about it, even if she doesn't show it. [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/07/chapter-15-reco-8.html It takes time to undo the psychological damage he’s left]] after she’s adopted.]]
* ParentalSexualitySquick: [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/09/chapter-16-lucy-12.html Lucy’s reaction]] to her mother’s and [[spoiler:Sam]]’s blatant displays of affection, even if [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/09/chapter-16-lucy-13.html she’s glad they’re happy]].

-->'''Fisk:''' You’re pretty cheery for a black-clad goth.

* PhonyVeteran: [[spoiler:Longfellow claims [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/08/post-38.html he served with Sheila’s late husband Jim]], and that [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/08/post-39.html Jim was]] [[ReallyGetsAround very]] unfaithful, but Jim’s ''actual'' war buddy finds out [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/09/post-43.html Longfellow was lying, and his service was unremarkable, to say the least]]--he was lying to hurt Sheila and manipulate her better.]]
* PlayingWithSyringes: [[spoiler: Principal Longfellow’s murder. He’s injected with a meningitis-causing pathogen (there are several, which one we’re never told) by Sheila’s husband’s army buddies to make it look like he died of surgical complications.]]
* {{Polyamory}}: Beth. [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/02/chapter-14-all-6.html She lost her first boyfriend to aggressive lymphoma]], and Lucy points out that Beth espousing this is primarily because of going through that, making her [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/10/chapter-19-part-22.html afraid to ‘put all [her] eggs in one basket]]’. At one point, she has three different boyfriends, but [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/02/chapter-20-the-21.html is warned that she will have to pick one eventually]]. [[spoiler:She picks Fisk, but [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/04/chapter-21-fath-9.html he takes a job]] that [[StarCrossedLovers makes the relationship impossible]], so she eventually chooses Aron instead.]]
* PrankCall: [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/08/chapter-19-part-8.html Beth does this to Lucy]] when she’s filling in for a colleague, who has a radio show giving relationship advice.

** Native American stripper ‘[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/09/chapter-19-part-20.html Long Creek]]’.

* RapeAsDrama: Played dead straight. [[spoiler:Sheila is raped by Harvey Longfellow after she discovers that he lied about knowing her husband in Vietnam, and he attempts to rape her. Fisk, who is only about 9 years old, intervenes and [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/09/post-48.html hits him with a baseball bat]].]] She realistically suffers a measure of post traumatic stress after this and [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/10/chapter-11-arme-2.html doesn’t date or have sex for about four or five years afterwards]], even though she had a [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/08/post-34.html very liberal attitude towards sex and dating beforehand]]]]. As for the fate of [[spoiler:Longfellow]], he [[spoiler:ends up in the hospital, where some of Jim’s old Army friends [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/10/post-50.html pay him a visit]] and [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/10/post-51.html deliberately infect him with lethal meningitis]] with the doctor’s help, so [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident he appears to have died in surgery]].]] Fisk is then sent to a psychiatrist, where he openly admits that [[spoiler:cracking Longfellow over the head was satisfying and the right thing to do]], and that [[spoiler:he does not feel guilty in the slightest about his death]]. When we cut back to the psychiatrist, she’s [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/10/post-52.html happily drawing a dollar sign on her notebook]].
* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: None of the few characters revealed as rapists survive the chapters in which they’re introduced.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Lucy’s programme director, who [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/11/chapter-16-lucy-29.html immediately takes action]] when Lucy provides evidence of D’Anna relying on MaliciousSlander throughout her career.

* RightBehindMe: When Lucy asks Fisk to stop dating Elizabeth, he points out to her that she’s the one who asked him to date her. Unfortunately, [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/03/post-97.html Elizabeth is right behind him]] that second.

* RougeAnglesOfSatin: Very sporadically. Most notably, Naylor misspells ‘awful’ as ‘aweful’ a few times.
* TheSavageIndian: 9-year-old Fisk apparently thinks [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/08/post-32.html that’s what the Native Americans were like]] until cats (read: [[FantasyCounterpartCulture white colonisers]]) came along. Sheila doesn’t see a problem with it (or, perhaps, only skims through his essays and doesn’t notice), but his teacher understandably does.
* SecretHandshake: Tommy’s and Aron’s hyena friend meets another hyena to get them strippers for Robert’s bachelor party, and [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/10/chapter-19-part-23.html they immediately do this]].
* SelfFulfillingProphecy: [[spoiler:Sam’s wife’s paranoia about his supposed infidelity makes her very petty and mean-spirited towards him, pushing him to start an affair with Sheila.]]

* ShipperOnDeck: Lucy is this, on and off, for Fisk and Elizabeth--first she asks Fisk to date her when she wants to cheer her up when she’s the only one who hasn’t developed breasts in their class, then she doesn’t because she can’t spend as much time with her anymore, then she does when she realises how much Fisk cares about her, then she doesn’t because [[spoiler:she’s tragically still [[BrotherSisterIncest in love with Fisk]]]], then she does after [[spoiler:she gets over Fisk]]. By that point she mostly just teases Elizabeth for her [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/01/chapter-17-tria-17.html subtle]] [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/04/chapter-18-reac-6.html displays]] of jealousy of beth, but after [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/01/chapter-24-men-8.html Elizabeth’s husband David]] cheats on her]], she pretty much [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/01/chapter-24-men-11.html spells it out]], and [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2009/02/chapter-24-men-20.html encourages Fisk to pursue the relationship too]].

** The title of Chapter 9, about one of Lucy’s peers dating her to get a stab at her mom, was appropriately titled ‘[[StacysMom Lucy’s Mom]]’.

* SouthernFriedPrivate: Fisk wonders what he’ll do after graduation, hating the idea of [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/10/chapter-13-thic-2.html going back to school with no proper reason to]]. After seeing his father’s name on a [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/01/chapter-13-thic-24.html monument for fallen soldiers]], [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/01/chapter-13-thic-26.html he decides to enlist as well]].

** [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/05/post-7.html Sheila’s reaction]] when 9-year-old Fisk asks what ‘fuck my brains out’ means.

** The subject of Chapter 9 (complete with ShoutOut title ‘Lucy’s Mom’) wherein Ted Stephens dates Lucy to get a stab at her ‘porcelain white goddess’ mother.
** Fisk [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/04/chapter-18-reac-8.html makes a jocular remark]] implying Elizabeth’s mother qualifies too.

** Fisk the gentile and Elizabeth the Jew, on account of Elizabeth’s family, and especially her mother, disapproving of her dating non-Jews. [[spoiler:She eventually stands up to them and [[VictoriousChildhoodFriend marries him at the end of the comic]].]]

** Sheila and Sam, who is still married for his son Ryan’s sake. [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/02/chapter-11-arme-39.html His wife finds out]], the divorce [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/04/chapter-11-arme-49.html nearly tears them apart]], but they still make it work and [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/06/chapter-18-reac-24.html get married]].]]

* SuckECheeses: Fun Charlie’s, except it seems fairly [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin fun]].

** ‘The Art of Living’ parodies and criticises abstract art to hell and back.
** In-universe example: Tommy designed the ‘Evil Sorceress’ in the role-playing game he participates in [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2008/07/chapter-22-roll-15.html after Rachel]].
* TemptingFate: [[spoiler:Nikki]] [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2006/12/chapter-17-tria-2.html remarking Fisk wouldn’t have to actively fight in a war during his service]], just as UsefulNotes/TheGulfWar breaks out.

* ThanksForTheMammary: Beth dreams about Fisk and realizes that it’s only a dream when she [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2007/09/chapter-19-part-16.html accidentally grabs Lucy’s left boob]].
-->'''Beth''': ...You’re not Fisk

-->'''Persia:''' It’s okay, Lucy. I’m used to looks. It’s not easy being a walking beauty-magazine cover. Sometimes I wish I had normal, distinguishing little physical flaws like you do.

** After Fisk [[spoiler:cracks his mother’s rapist Longfellow [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/09/post-48.html over the head with a baseball bat]]]], he’s sent to a therapist for help. He stoically tells her that it was satisfying and the right thing to do, that he is not sorry the man is dead, and that his only regret is that he might get in trouble for feeling that way. The therapist’s response is to [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/10/post-52.html smile and draw a dollar sign on her notepad]], but she does actually help him with some of his later childhood traumas, most notably the loss of his virginity at the age of ten (to a sexually abused eleven-year-old).

* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Fisk’s is [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/08/post-32.html implied]][[note]]Note the essay he wrote about ‘why the US is good’[[/note]] [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/09/chapter-10-brot-12.html to be]] [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/12/chapter-11-arme-16.html potatoes]]. (Second link includes spoilers)
* TraumaticHaircut: [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/10/chapter-12-exem-49.html Lucy gives Randy one in his sleep]] for dating her and Andrea simultaneously and lying about putting on a condom when sleeping with her. He takes it very hard, refusing to remove his hat even when sleeping, but he doesn’t hold a grudge against her.]]

* WhereDaWhiteWomenAt: One of the men Sheila dates is a hyena ([[FantasyCounterpartCulture read: black]]), and asks her if he can call her ‘white chocolate’. [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/12/chapter-11-arme-19.html She is visibly disturbed.]]

** Downplayed example with [[spoiler:Sam’s wife]], who [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/03/chapter-11-arme-42.html slaps Sheila]] ''hard'' in front of Lucy for [[spoiler:having an affair with her husband]].
** Lucy [[spoiler:Lucy gives Randy a TraumaticHaircut [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/10/chapter-12-exem-49.html in his sleep]]]] for [[spoiler:dating her and Andrea simultaneously and lying about putting on a condom when sleeping with her]]. He takes it very hard, [[spoiler:refusing to remove his hat even when sleeping]], and she remarks he should be thankful she hadn’t taken more [[GroinAttack extreme measures]].
* WondrousLadiesRoom: The Blacks are on their way to visit relatives and stop for gas. Fisk uses the opportunity to go relieve himself, and soon discovers that while the [[GuysAreSlobs men’s]] room is [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/10/chapter-13-thic-3.html filthy beyond belief]], the women’s room [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/10/chapter-13-thic-4.html is utterly spotless]].

* YouAreTooLate: Sam tries to stop [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/02/chapter-11-arme-39.html the private investigator]] his wife sent after him]], demanding that he hand over [[spoiler:the pictures he took of them having an affair]], but he tells him [[spoiler:[[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2005/03/chapter-11-arme-40.html his wife already knows]], he’s just there to help build the case for her lawyer]].
* YouNeedToGetLaid: Sheila is discussing how irritable she is with Kelly, Elizabeth’s mother, and suggests she might need a man again, confiding in her that [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/10/chapter-11-arme-2.html she hadn’t had one]] since [[spoiler:principal Longfellow, who lied to her, cheated on her, and ''raped'' her]] about four or five years beforehand. Given Sheila’s [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2003/08/post-34.html liberal attitude towards sex and dating]] beforehand, Kelly is obviously shocked, and [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/10/chapter-11-arme-3.html suggests she set her up with some single men she knows]], but they are all [[http://jaynaylor.com/betterdays/archives/2004/12/chapter-11-arme-19.html terrible dates]] and [[spoiler:she ultimately starts an affair with Sam instead]].

''[[http://www.jaynaylor.com/betterdays/ Better Days]]'' [[labelnote:caution]]Link is [=NSFW=] and leads to Jay Naylor's Patreon page; currently both Better Days and Original Life are behind a paywall.[[/labelnote]] is a FurryComic by artist Creator/JayNaylor. The story begins in Georgia in the year 1980. Fisk and Lucy Black are young adolescent siblings being raised by their mother Shiela, who gave birth to them after their father was killed in action during the Vietnam War. The comic depicts Fisk and Lucy's often-challenging growing up during the 1980s, and their young adulthood in the 1990s; earlier strips feature Shiela as the third protagonist, while later parts focus more on Lucy’s college roommate Beth.

''[[http://www.jaynaylor.com/betterdays/ Better Days]]'' [[labelnote:caution]]Link is [=NSFW=] and leads to Jay Naylor's Patreon page; currently both Better Days and Original Life are behind a paywall.[[/labelnote]] is a FurryComic by artist Creator/JayNaylor. The story begins in Georgia in 1980. Fisk and Lucy Black are young adolescent siblings being raised by their mother Shiela, who gave birth to them after their father was killed in action during the Vietnam War. The comic depicts Fisk and Lucy's often-challenging growing up during the 1980s, and their young adulthood in the 1990s; earlier strips feature Shiela as the third protagonist, while later parts focus more on Lucy’s college roommate Beth.

''[[http://www.jaynaylor.com/betterdays/ Better Days]]'' [[labelnote:caution]]Link is [=NSFW=] and leads to Jay Naylor's Patreon page; currently both Better Days and Original Life are behind a paywall.[[/labelnote]] is a FurryComic by artist Creator/JayNaylor. It follows the lives of a cast of characters, originally primarily focused on siblings Fisk and Lucy Black, and their mother Sheila, though as the comic went on much of the story also involved Lucy’s former college roommate Beth.