What Journey 2013-02-01

[jwhouk]

Just curious; where are some getting the 'she's up to something' vibes from with Atsali?

Well, even though Euryale turned out to be not bad for a Gorgon, there's probably something to all the old stories about the Sirens.

And if you're not familiar with the reference - you DEFINITELY need to read the Odyssey of Homer.

[MerchManDan]

I'll give her the benefit of the doubt; so far, she seems different enough from the Siren stereotype that she could very well be a genuine "good guy." Granted, we don't know enough about the Sirens of the Wapsiverse to judge, but still. How bad could she be?*


*There. Now that I've said that, we're going to find out how bad she could be.

[ChattaStarhawk]

Euryale 'stoned' Monica, though it was accidental,

Iced, actually; her power turns people into ice.

and Shelly had to deal with those dog things.

Hellhounds.

[scantrontb]

Indeed, but what part of Britain? We all know Phix is "Alex Kingston-English" (Have no idea what that means) because Paul said so.

Alex Kingston is the actress that plays "River Song" on the New Dr. Who., and he has determined that she is who Phix sound's like ...

[Mark N]

and Shelly had to deal with those dog things.

Hellhounds.

Well Cerberi to use a proper species designation.

[jwhouk]

Cerberi, actually.

[shadowinthelight]

All this talk of RPGs, Atsali's going to need a theme.

Might I recommend "Reading Rainbow"?

And on their quest they meet a cyclops named Geordi...

[Yamara]

I'm of the belief: Trust, but verify. We have a new friendly supernatural dork girl. But she is a siren, and their rep is luring men to their doom with an irresistible voice. While prejudice is bad, with mind control you don't get a second chance. Extraordinary caution is warranted, as Euryale would be quick to point out.

Yeah, I still don't see it. But thanks, Yamara, for the list. I read them, but I don't see where some are getting these theories from while reading the comic. And I know you didn't post these (well, I think, I have a hard time with names), but each theory invites a counter point.

*Kath seemed lost in the building like Shelly & Justin were, but only once Atsali approaches, does the main Library (not the annex) appear along with her. That seemed odd.

Actually, I think their visit was more dangerous at the time given the dogs/things/cant remember what they were. I know Shelly transformed because they were threatened.

But Shelly and Justin came in the wrong door. Katherine used the correct door, found an abandoned building, heard creepy footsteps, and then suddenly she's in the main Library, not the annex, waylayed by a very vocal siren. Getting to the Library was never like that before. It just feels off.

I'm not going to rebut every point, as I have no way of telling clues from red herrings. Atsali may be merely the latest lovable power dork, no nets attached. But I'll leave ya with this observation...

But... as Brandi pointed out to Lily, even good intentions can unleash great sorrows.

True, though it seems just way too soon to call it.

Repeating for emphasis: With mind control you don't get a second chance.

Atsali has used the word "adventure" five times so far, and she's only been in two pages. If this were email, I would assume a phishing expedition.

[davids4250]

I am reminded of when Shelly and Justin met Tsillah, there was some speculation that she might have had nefarious motives, too, but it was wrong. Given that we have not seen any evil creatures in the Wapsiverse (other than the Lanthian priests), I think Atsali is just what she seems to be - a teenager whose sense of adventure has been honed by books, but has little real-life experience. And she already looks up to Katherine, which is a plus. She is a Siren, so she might well have an effect on Katherine, but I don't think it is intentional (or malevolent) on her part.

[ChattaStarhawk]

and Shelly had to deal with those dog things.

Hellhounds.

Well Cerberi to use a proper species designation.

Cerberi, actually.

Well, if you want to go all technical... me, I like to be a bit more general to cover the widest bases.

[Wyvern]

I am just wondering this has been a setup for Katherine sort of the way it looks like Euryale seemed to be set up to meet Monica. (no, I do not believe in coincidence in the Wapsiverse.)

And how Shelly & Justin ran into Tsillah and her dogs? It seems everyone who comes in through the annex meets someone in the Library. It's probably not coincidence, no. If nothing else it might be a security measure: newcomers are introduced somewhere near recognized patrons, and potential troublemakers have a chance to expose themselves. At worst, the Library now knows they're problems; at best, they pissed off someone like Euryale or Tsillah and are no longer the Library's problem - or anyone's problem any more.

[Hansontoons]

Siren it is.

ACTUALLY... I was reading it as if the harpy was calling Kathy a siren...

As in "You sirens may be a sedentary bunch, but not me, the harpy that I am!"

(And I always thought harpies were a cute, misunderstood race - subject to some quite unfair racial slurs and prejudice!)

Hm, maybe just cause English is my 3rd language?

Dagnabbit...

Well, we shall see soon, I think!

Take care, y'all!

Wow, this week has FLOWN by (Not a reference to her feathers, I've actually been REALLLY busy). Even though I read Siren multiple times, Harpy was registering in my brain until your post. Thank You! That said, I think I also had Sirens and Mermaids crossed up in my head as well...

Did a quick search yesterday and I couldn't believe no one referenced this!

I did! I did! Thursday 10:05 PM. Thought I'm a bit too computer illiterate to imbed stuff and things.

[Dave]

I am just wondering this has been a setup for Katherine sort of the way it looks like Euryale seemed to be set up to meet Monica. (no, I do not believe in coincidence in the Wapsiverse.)

And how Shelly & Justin ran into Tsillah and her dogs? It seems everyone who comes in through the annex meets someone in the Library. It's probably not coincidence, no. If nothing else it might be a security measure: newcomers are introduced somewhere near recognized patrons, and potential troublemakers have a chance to expose themselves. At worst, the Library now knows they're problems; at best, they pissed off someone like Euryale or Tsillah and are no longer the Library's problem - or anyone's problem any more.

In the case of Katherine and Atsali, the Library may just be having its little bit of fun.

Being what it is, the Library would surely have copies of the earthly books and magazines that offer the advice that "Libraries are great places for singles to meet chicks."

[Fairportfan]

Indeed, but what part of Britain? We all know Phix is "Alex Kingston-English" (Have no idea what that means) because Paul said so.

Alex Kingston is the actress that plays "River Song" on the New Dr. Who., and he has determined that she is who Phix sound's like ...

Ummm ... you have noticed where TheDOCTOR's name and his avatar come from, right?

[Julie]

I'm of the belief: Trust, but verify. We have a new friendly supernatural dork girl. But she is a siren, and their rep is luring men to their doom with an irresistible voice. While prejudice is bad, with mind control you don't get a second chance. Extraordinary caution is warranted, as Euryale would be quick to point out.

But... as Brandi pointed out to Lily, even good intentions can unleash great sorrows.

True, though it seems just way too soon to call it.

Repeating for emphasis: With mind control you don't get a second chance.

Atsali has used the word "adventure" five times so far, and she's only been in two pages. If this were email, I would assume a phishing expedition.

You know, it wasn't until you referenced Brandi's comments to Lily about the Titans and other god-like beings who were blocked from getting to Earth thanks to the Vimana Cell grid that I started to have an idea percolate about why this little Siren might not be trustworthy... Is she one of the beings who was on Earth when the grid went into place (or the child of one who was on Earth at that time since she's disclosed her age as 15 in the latest strip)? If not, will she use Kat's adventure as a way to get to Earth through a Library portal she couldn't use before? Or is she also interested in investigating this "dead zone" with good intentions that could have terrible backlash (i.e. getting a few family members through the gaps in the grid)?

Loook at you Yamara! You've poked my conspiracy theory bone! I'll be sleepless for weeks now!!

[scantrontb]

Ummm ... you have noticed where TheDOCTOR's name and his avatar come from, right?

LOL... NO it didn't even click... i just saw that somebody didn't know who we were talking about and responded accordingly...

um, yeah, me and sarcasm don't really mix, you know the whole "whoosh, (airplane noise) and it's over my head hand wave" thing, yeah... for MOST sarcasm, it's not an airplane... it's more of a "beep, beep, beep... Sputnik" kind of thing... for the most part, it just doesn't seem to click with me the first time thru... i usually take it as a dead serious statement, and it's only after they stop and look at me like you must have looked at the screen when you read my post, does it click that they said something odd... then i replay it in my mind or have them restate it that it actually dawns on me that they were being sarcastic... once that happens then i laugh, it's not that i don't have a sense of humor, it's just that mine is somewhat warped enough that it usually doesn't mesh with mainstream humor, such that i have to have it explained to me... THEN i find it hilarious... that's basically what happened here.

[MerchManDan]

I know precisely what you mean, scantrontb. Online communication is grand, but still lacking in several areas - including sarcasm-conveyance. That's why, whenever I'm sarcastic online, I use this:

[Jabberwonky]

Hmm, it may be a bit subtle for some of the trolls I've encountered under this bridge...

[Dave]

scantronb: you might want to consider taking an online course from a gentleman Monty Python featured some years ago: Dinsdale Piranha, of The Other Other Operation.

He used... sarcasm. He knew all the tricks, dramatic irony, metaphor, bathos, puns, parody, litotes and... satire. He was vicious.

Since you've been participating actively in this Forum and in the Comments section before it, you can probably get advanced credit for the "puns" part of the course, without even having to test out of that section. If you couldn't handle puns you'd never have survived here.

MerchManDan: possibly phpBB could add another Smilie to act as a typographical sarcasm indicator... but what facial expession would work? How do you convey a tongue-in-cheek with so few pixels?

[bmonk]

. . . At worst, the Library now knows they're problems; at best, they pissed off someone like Euryale or Tsillah and are no longer the Library's problem - or anyone's problem any more.

In the case of Katherine and Atsali, the Library may just be having its little bit of fun.

Being what it is, the Library would surely have copies of the earthly books and magazines that offer the advice that "Libraries are great places for singles to meet chicks."

But most often they don't include chicks with hen feet.