Oh Noes 2015-05-22

[Jay-Em]

(I was one of the "cool" kids in college..apparently..)

Can't relate. I was one of the kids that got beaten repeatedly by his peers and got spit on. For years. We're talking face sewn back on level beatings. So, no. I cannot relate to you being one of the "cool" kinds nor do I relate to this scene.

My experience was that social outcasts don't even hang out with other social outcasts because even the uncool kids don't want to be seem with THEM. I suppose it's different for girls.

That kinda really sucks.

But, there's more to that : I was in that unpleasant position for the first years in Junior-High/middle school, then, one day, stuff escalated, and I beat a guy that had been bullying me for quite some time, into a snotstain in the halls.

I was "The Man" for a short while, and discovered -even as young as I was- that it was all tóo easy to, myself, fall in the trap of béing the guy that bullies people. Not something I liked about myself. I was rather disgusted with myself, even.

After that I kept my distance from cliques and in-crowds. And after failed attempts to draw me into their "circle" they started ignoring me. Fine by me. They wouldn't even taunt me, because they had seen the bloody mess my somewhat iffy anger-control could unleash. Unpleasant realization, but a fact of life. "Negative respect" in a way.

In College I was too busy with other things to bother with cliques and groups. I mainly hung out with girls because I liked their company. Less macho-bullshit. Girls have their own nasty "things" but they didn't bother me with it. As "The un-dangerous guy" in a loose group of (pretty, but also some average) girls, they liked my company, and I liked theirs. To the outside I might have looked like a regular Romeo (girls can be really, uncomfortable touchy-clingy-lovey-dovey towards those that they kindof see as an "older brother") but I never áctually made a pass at any of them.

Outside looks can be deceiving.

The "One" that made me all stammery and clumsy, and wobbly, kept her distance too, shy as she was as a gangly teen. *sigh* Little did I know that she was smitten with me. Only to hear that 30-something years later, when she was already happily married for some time. Tsch!


On the other hand, one member of the group of girls I hung-out with, is still my BFF, 30 years later. Kinda cool, actually.

But, contrary to You towards mé, I càn relate to Your experience. I got enough of a whiff that first two years of it to feel terribly sorry for everyone who's youth is partially ruined by sick powergames, humiliation, violence and the loneliness it entails. I've seen enough people that later had to work harder than anyone else to be functioning socially thanx to sociopath miscreants in their youth.

Later, when I started in education, I was always vèry pro-active towards preventing bullying and exclusion. Not always successful, mind You.. I also learned there are, indeed, "evil" individuals, even amongst kids.

[meisdadoo]

A pool of paranormals, each with mythical powers a "normal" would risk dying to have. Yet all of them wishing that they were "normal". None of them yet realizing that "normal" does not mean what they think it does, because being overly concerned about what others think of you is perfectly normal at that age.

That being said, this age is the right time to learn that everyone has powers, abilities, and deficiencies. That no one is perfect, and no one is beneath you. You are all equal, just in different ways. The mermaids are excellent swimmers, the Sirens are excellent flyers, the bothersome thorn bush is excellent at being prickly and annoying, and the ursamorphs are something else--but only when they want to be. t's all good man. . .

[Catawampus]

We need something or someone to force all these dingbats together and make them talk to resolve this.

I don't see such a deus ex machina around, but maybe. On the other hand, Atsali and Co. ARE somewhat focused on confronting pool management at the moment...

Pickle to the rescue!

As usually the answer is to behave like an outgoing 5 1/2 year old.

Yeah, the precociously perceptive perambulating prickly perennial could be of help here. She appears all nonthreatening, and the teens might obligingly let the cute little random kid join in playing with their ball. And then things get interesting when she wants to introduce them to her big sis. . .

Unless somebody recognises Castela from the school cafeteria. "Hey, isn't she the little kid who stomped all over that fae princess with total impunity? Run away! Run away!!"

[Akeche]

From what we've seen of our little thornbush, she eventually learns how to Hulk Out.

I'd like to remind that Atsali isn't on the same level as everyone else there, and Paul has set it up to be that way. 'Grandmother' is Phix, guardian of the library. Actual Gramma is an extremely ancient vampire. 'Aunt' is Monica, perhaps the biggest para-celebrity there is. Then there's all of her other 'Aunts' which each one had some kind of wild crazy cosmic power. I've definitely said it before but she's untouchable, essentially, and that bothers me sometimes. Admittedly I'm sure many are in these sorts of positions in real life too. Relatives being in places of power in a state/city, being the CEO of a company quite a few peoples parents work for and such.

Just as a disclaimer, putting ' ' around the word doesn't mean I'm suggesting they aren't that to THEM. My own grandmother was not my biological one.

[Dave]

I'd like to remind that Atsali isn't on the same level as everyone else there, and Paul has set it up to be that way. 'Grandmother' is Phix, guardian of the library. Actual Gramma is an extremely ancient vampire. 'Aunt' is Monica, perhaps the biggest para-celebrity there is. Then there's all of her other 'Aunts' which each one had some kind of wild crazy cosmic power. I've definitely said it before but she's untouchable, essentially, and that bothers me sometimes.

I'd put it a bit differently. She's got a lot of high-powered backing and support. There would, little doubt, be very serious consequences for anyone/anything which did "touch her".

None of that makes her untouchable, or invulnerable (either physically or emotionally). She can still be hit by all sorts of busses, with all sorts of consequences, ranging anywhere from "minor annoyance" to "valuable learning experience" to "permanent death, including destruction of soul, with no saving throw possible." Her somewhat headstrong nature and selectively-oblivious thought processes may make is sort of encounter with a bus... well, let's just say it wouldn't be a big surprise.

Monica et al might seek to wreak horrible vengeance on whatever hurt her, if there's anything to wreak vengeance upon (she might be hurt or killed in a physical accident with no "big bad" being involved). That wouldn't help Atsali.

Think "Winnifred Burkle".

[tophoo]

I remember this well enough- ye gods, so long ago-
"Why did you never talk to me?!"
"Well, because you were a Jock, Brain, Skater! Why didn't you talk to me?!"
"You were Brain, a Jock in your own right, and in the pep band!" (we had an absolutely rock-star pep/jazz band)
"Oh.. what are you doing next Friday night?"
Bizarre bridges were built because we were all drunk and stoned at the house of guy who didn't really belong to any of the groups.

[lake_wrangler]

I know that within a webcomic, an artist's style will make it so that eventually, new characters will look somewhat like other established characters, to a certain degree.

Having said that, am I the only one who sees a young, non-nerdy Monica and a young Shelly, here? (Mostly about the faces...)

[scantrontb]

See circumstance, assume worst, hate self -- lather, rinse, repeat...

yeah, the way i see it, this will turn into a bad situation... the four of them are all "Oh Noes!" right NOW, but then one of them will go something like "why DOES she hate us?, WE ain't done nothing to HER... what a Bitch!"... and just like that the mental mood of the four of them shifts to them being pissed off at Atsali's "bitchy attitude" and that when she DOES finally come over to hang out with them, they're all "uh uh... Talk to the Hand!" and ignore her or make sarcastic remarks about/to her. Atsali is dismayed that they acted like that, but is sorta EXPECTING them to act that way, and thus a full circle has been completed... exactly what they THINK about each of the other person becomes reality... Atsali thinks they are all stuck up bitches that are "too full of themselves" to give her the time of day. and the four of them fall into the "we don't like her because she's a cold bitch, so we will ignore her and make nasty rumors about her behind her back" attitude, and a new round of angst is started...

[jwhouk]

I don't think that is how it's going to go down.

Remember, there's a certain mermaid who is desperately trying to stay on Atsali's good side. I suspect we'll see what her damage control has looked like since the bathing suit incident.

[Catawampus]

I don't think that is how it's going to go down.

Remember, there's a certain mermaid who is desperately trying to stay on Atsali's good side. I suspect we'll see what her damage control has looked like since the bathing suit incident.

Of course, right now Jessie is worried about damage control from the Jacob incident. We have yet to see what she and Krystle and Calista have cooked up to "set things right". This might be an interesting time for whatever scheme they've cooked up to take effect.

[kingklash]

You think the girls are all a-twitter, their parents are going to have metaphorical kittens (and maybe literal in some cases) when they find out who the girl-footed booby with the boobies really is. Then the social chaos will really hit the fan.

[jwhouk]

Ah, but when you have a jaguar, a goat, a cobra (in remission), and a blackthorn around you...

[captnq]

See circumstance, assume worst, hate self -- lather, rinse, repeat...

yeah, the way i see it, this will turn into a bad situation... the four of them are all "Oh Noes!" right NOW, but then one of them will go something like "why DOES she hate us?, WE ain't done nothing to HER... what a Bitch!"... and just like that the mental mood of the four of them shifts to them being pissed off at Atsali's "bitchy attitude" and that when she DOES finally come over to hang out with them, they're all "uh uh... Talk to the Hand!" and ignore her or make sarcastic remarks about/to her. Atsali is dismayed that they acted like that, but is sorta EXPECTING them to act that way, and thus a full circle has been completed... exactly what they THINK about each of the other person becomes reality... Atsali thinks they are all stuck up bitches that are "too full of themselves" to give her the time of day. and the four of them fall into the "we don't like her because she's a cold bitch, so we will ignore her and make nasty rumors about her behind her back" attitude, and a new round of angst is started...

This is how it SHOULD happen, in real life, but in the comic, it won't be, because there's a message to be delivered. With this much telegraphing, I'd be surprised if it happened as you describe.

[Jabberwonky]

I know that within a webcomic, an artist's style will make it so that eventually, new characters will look somewhat like other established characters, to a certain degree.

Having said that, am I the only one who sees a young, non-nerdy Monica and a young Shelly, here? (Mostly about the faces...)

The two to the right? Yeah, I got that vibe too.

[TazManiac]

Is it Monday yet?

[lake_wrangler]

Is it Monday yet?

Good thing I didn't wait up for it...

[jwhouk]

It appears that Pablo took Memorial Day off.

[AnotherFairportfan]

I note that all of the girls freaking out could join the IBTC.

[jwhouk]

Boss stated he simply forgot to do a strip for Monday, and double-brain-farted about posting something on Facebook.

[AmriloJim]

Because folks have been asking the names of the girls at the pool, here they are in order from left to right: Abbie, Alexis, Devyn, and Mallory.

Oh, and I almost forgot, here's what type of paranormal each is:
Abbie - Familiar (dog)
Alexis - Auloniad (Nymph)
Devyn - Helead
Mallory - Amphiptere

Google search did not like the word "helead", but a link to a page titled, "NYMPHS" reveals heleads are "Nymphs of the Fen".