Wapsi Square Forum

It is entirely possible that our dear author has a completely mundane slice of life story he's going to dump on us to side track us right in the middle of this plot line, perhaps a zoning problem for the coffee house that will need a non paranormal solution or local petition for a zoning variance. Or maybe something to do with that new concrete floor not having had a proper building permit.

For those of you who are calling Deus Ex Machina: were you BMWC'ing about things when Shelly suddenly "returned" from the Time Forest - and discovered she was really a Sphinx?

I would like to point something out: WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A FREAKIN' STORYLINE RIGHT NOW. Things are going to seem too simple, or too contrived - or, for most of us, too confusing (looks over at the Confusion Corner and its fresh batch of cookies).

Pablo tells stories, leaves Chekov's Armoury all around, and still leaves us empathizing with the characters. And keep in mind that it took him a good 10 years to develop the whole calendar machine storyline. There might be something HUGE coming down the pike as a result of all of this stuff you're crying about.

I can attest, as being the one that is keeping up on the storyline arcs, that I've had to rearrange whether or not we've been at an end of an arc, or a reveal, or something of great import to the overall story. It's not easy, since Paul weaves a very intricate and complicated story.

Think of it this way: do you think that reading a Harry Potter story by JK Rowling a page at a time - or, at most, one or two paragraphs at a time - would be satisfying? If not, may I suggest you perhaps wait a few weeks and then come back to the storyline, then read it all through?

Do keep in mind, though, that for decades upon decades, this was how comic strips in the newspapers - you do remember those things, right? - told stories about characters, like Little Orphan Annie, Pogo and Li'l Abner and such. Pablo's just following in that tradition.

I don't know about you, but I'm sticking around for tomorrow's installment.

I'm of the opinion he's been here (and at the Chickweed/Pibgorn forum) under different names.

I think I would shudder if Brooke McEldowney and Paul were to ever team up for anything...

Jay-Em wrote:Ay, the "Unseelie" I know enough of our European folklore to be very alarmed if they are involved. And for those that want an easy digestible piece about the bad news the Fae cán be there's this: http://io9.com/the-biggest-reasons-why- ... -510180209

By the by, "Unseelie" sounds to my Dutch ears like "on-ziel" (lit. un/no-soul)

yes, same in german, but i do not think it comes from seele ( soul ) but selig ... holy, so essentially it means unholy, kinda. but the true etymology is as follows, an excerpt here;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classifications_of_fairies

The Northern and Middle English word seely (also seily, seelie and sealy), and the Scots form seilie,[1] meaning "happy", "lucky" or "blessed" and unseely meaning "unhappy", "misfortunate" or "unholy" are derived from the Old English sǣl and gesǣlig. The Modern Standard English word silly is also derived from this root and the term "seely" is recorded in numerous works of Middle English literature such as those by Geoffrey Chaucer. Many ballads and tales tell of "Seilie wichts";.[2] a Lowland Scots term for fairies. In Wales there were said to be two fairies or elves called Silly Frit and Sili go Dwt whose names represent a borrowing of the adjective silly (in this case meaning happy) as applied to fantastical beings from its usage on the English marches bordering Wales rather than the Anglo-Scottish border; the former name being purely English while the latter is a corruption of English fairy names featuring "tot" (such as Tom Tit Tot) as an element.[3]

I noticed Cricket said "IF" a Fae visited Pickle it was not one of her Fae but one of the unseelie, meaning nasty bad kind of Fae, and deserved whatever happened to it. She did not say that one actually did visit to her knowledge. I see nothing in here that proves or even strongly supports Pickles claim to killing one. It could have happened but the only one saying it did is Pickle. At that age and her anger at being dumped who knows what self delusions she created to cope with her feelings. Being mad at the Fae for getting her abandoned, why she sees something she thinks as a Fae and kills it. It could have been a fancy moth or butterfly for all we, or Pickle, know.

If you think our politics are bad I don't even want to think about what Seelie and Unseelie ones are like. For a good take on the unseelie check out 'Tales of the Quester' which has a nice arc about them.

There's all sorts of details not yet detail'd about Castela's arrival at the orphanage. How old was she when she got there? How long after did the Fae assassin show up? How was Castela retrieved from the lab? When was she paired up with Atsali?

Sit Back. Enjoy the Ride. Tip your Driver.

donoho wrote:Sit Back. Enjoy the Ride. Tip your Driver.

Bellisario's Maxim: "Don't look at this too closely."

Jay-Em wrote:

chaotik74 wrote:pffft..how utterly conveniant.


remember when this comic had actual storylines and characters instead of a "whatsis of the week" where uberpowered entities take turns impressing each other?

now all we need is for the blackthorn to have an age spurt and sprout a huge set of knockers.

Uhm.. yeah, uhm, that's just, like, Your opinion, man..

Luckily for You, there are more comics on the web.. whaddaya know.. (and uhm, it's "conveniEnt" ) You won't be missed. 8 posts, and all dripping with vinegar and disdain.... odd..

Yeah man... the only person to blame is paul.... Or really, your 'expectations'...:/ :/ or as Jessica rabbit put it, 'hey I cant help the way I'm drawn...

as I said to a girl I know, complaining that her man was always looking at other sexy girls... Hey he cannot help being a healthy male... it could be worse, he's looking at their boyfriends!!! :O :O


BTW... good post, donoho!

I guess some people just have to create Drama... *shrugs* Like anything else, we all have a choice. If the comic is taking a turn you don't like and you find yourself not willing to read any more, by all means exercise your freedom of choice and read... or don't read. Any good comic that deals with societal issues is bound to piss off someone at some point. So what?

I began reading this comic after someone posted me a picture (kind of a meme) of Monica in glasses, bending over... and the words "ERMAHGERD!!! BERBS!!! Get over it!!!" I laughed. I read. I became so engrossed in the story that it didn't matter that Monica had boobs the size of her head or that Bud didn't. The big boobs aren't the point here. The point, in my opinion is that real life isn't skinny size 1 sized people. It takes ALL kinds to make up this world and I think he shows that rather well. Here's a news flash. Women have breasts (GASP!!!). Some have bigger, some have smaller, some are a carpenter's dream (flat as a board), but breasts are a reality. I've followed this comic because, while some of the characters have large breasts, its not the focus of the comic... It's the well woven storyline that gathered and has held my attention. 'Nuff said.

I'm with a lot of people here about whether or not it was wise for Cricket to tell Castela that... but then, remember who Cricket is... a Princess. She's probably not been told to shut up by anyone but maybe her parents. She probably has no ethics meter that gives her that moment of pause when faced with whether or not she should speak particularly damaging utterances... Just like our favorite Pickle. Atsali is older and wiser, but still an angst ridden teen so she can spill some pretty upsetting things from time to time too. I'm eager to see how this plays out... and whether lunch time will end any time soon. Remember, Kath still has to talk to Pickle about her breakdown.

jwhouk wrote:

donoho wrote:Sit Back. Enjoy the Ride. Tip your Driver.

Bellisario's Maxim: "Don't look at this too closely."

MST Mantra: "Just repeat to yourself, It's Just A Show. I Should Really Just Relax."

1st off, Iliad; it's "I'm not Bad, I'm just drrraaaawn that way..." I'm only nit-picking because once upon a time, in a land far away, I married a Jessica Rabbit.

To quote Kent Mansley: "... and all that that implies."

That out of the way, I want to clarify, my post, My post re: MacGuffin/Deus ex machina wasn't a criticism in terms of condemnation but actually a poor attempt at explaining I always thought what I referred to as one was actually the other.

I'm actually enjoying myself.

I wasnt bitch'n at Paul...

AnotherFairportfan wrote:Is Cricket telling Castela the truth ... or lying to make her feel better?

Yes, that's what I was thinking. This is a convenient turn of events which should ease Castela's guilt considerably. Even if she IS still facing the fact that she killed a Fae who might have been able to cry. It's VERY convenient. And Calista is saying some things like poisoning and using body parts that I can't see how she would know about, unless the Fae Secret Service found out about the plot later and briefed the King and Queen and Princess (does Calista have a brother?). If THAT didn't happen, then how does Cricket know the Fae Castela offed wasn't an innocent bystander, someone so fascinated by an animal/Blackthorn hybrid they wanted to keep her under observation to see what she did? This is rather peculiar.

Yet this is a pretty fancy yarn to come up with on the fly. The Unseelie, a reason that justified Pickle's homicide, that righteous indignation... Unless Calista is a REALLY good liar and actress, I think we have to assume she's telling the truth. As she knows it, anyway.

Seriously guys, no projecting evily things upon Cricket's demeanor here. She's not your Fae, My Fae, or anyone else's Fae. She's Paul's Fae, and she can be as contrite as he wants her to be. Nobody pooped their pants over his version of what happened with Medusa. The literal Last Thing we need in Wapsi is Fan Dumb. The mine car might have to stop before the mayhem is over, and I might have to bite everyone on the left pinky toe if that happens.

eee wrote:

AnotherFairportfan wrote:Is Cricket telling Castela the truth ... or lying to make her feel better?

Yet this is a pretty fancy yarn to come up with on the fly. The Unseelie, a reason that justified Pickle's homicide, that righteous indignation... Unless Calista is a REALLY good liar and actress, I think we have to assume she's telling the truth. As she knows it, anyway.

Actually, i was thinking that the best lies are mostly true - the only thing Cricket would have to be lying about would be that the fae Pickle killed was unseelie.

We can infer a few things from Calista's comments.
1. There are two fae kingdoms: Seelie and Unseelie.
2. Both kingdoms are made up of clans.
3. The Seelie and Unseelie clans do not always get along.
4. There is enough animosity between the two kingdoms that some clan members are seeking effective weapons to use against the other kingdom's clan members.

Hopefully Paul will fill us in a bit more about the fae in the Wapsi-verse. Are the Seelie and Unseelie just two opposite faces of the fae or are they more like two opposing political and moral ideologies - similar to the so called "Cold War" of the last century including an "arms race".

AnotherFairportfan wrote:

eee wrote:

AnotherFairportfan wrote:Is Cricket telling Castela the truth ... or lying to make her feel better?

Yet this is a pretty fancy yarn to come up with on the fly. The Unseelie, a reason that justified Pickle's homicide, that righteous indignation... Unless Calista is a REALLY good liar and actress, I think we have to assume she's telling the truth. As she knows it, anyway.

Actually, i was thinking that the best lies are mostly true - the only thing Cricket would have to be lying about would be that the fae Pickle killed was unseelie.

Most liars try to stack the deck in their favor.
What Calista is telling Castela is that she can't trust any Fae and should always be on her guard.
Finding herself suddenly surrounded and protected by fellow dorks, greater powers, and greater greater powers (Momma) has to have given pause to Calista.
Even if she was a true psychopath (however unlikely that may be), at this point she would tell the truth to the best of her ability until she actually knew the Lay of the Land.

Unless the fae of the Wapsi-vers are truth impaired by nature, I expect Calista is repeating what she believes to be true. We members of the audience need to remember that we are hearing the facts as understood by the character of the story. The character can be completely truthful and still be mistaken in some fashion. While Paul tends to use more foreshadowing and Chechov's guns than red herrings in his story arcs, I don't recall him ever ruling out any particular dramatic technique.

In short, I don't know if what Calista is saying is completely true, but I believe that Calista believes that what she is saying is true.

Now for another bit of whip lash speculation.

We have seen Castela go from denial that any fae is a person, to some fae may be people like her, to wondering if she really did kill a person, to being told that someone wants to kill her for her parts. How does a six year old of any sentient species handle information and emotional overload like that?

I wonder how many students are sitting around at the tables in the background, stoically munching away on their lunches and thinking to themselves, "Darned transfer students and their drama. . ."

Dave wrote:So... a real killing, but (in retrospect) justifiable self-defense.

I dunno about that. . .it depends on what the fae who Castela killed (or may have killed) was actually doing when Castela caught it.

Maybe it was indeed an evil fae, and was plotting evil fae plots. But if Castela caught it when it was simply sneaking around not doing anything outwardly hostile, then Castela wasn't killing it due to the fae's apparent intent but rather only due to Castela's own prejudices. It could just as easily have been a nice innocent friendly fae in that case, who Castela then gloated over torturing to death.

If Castela caught it when it was actually trying to attack her or influence her in some way, though, then she might have more of a justifiable claim to protecting herself (though even then the whole dismembering it part kind of pushes things a bit far).

TheDOCTOR wrote:"They damn well deserved it"? Thats a heck of a thing to tell Pickle, even if its true.

Well, that is Cricket talking about individuals who are apparently some sort of hereditary enemies of her own kind. It figures that she'd be less than entirely compassionate regarding them.

chaotik7 wrote:pffft..how utterly conveniant.

Well, it's perhaps not quite so openly dramatic as, "Oh, yes, that fae who you killed was my beloved sister, who--when not volunteering at the local paranormal soup kitchen or nursing to health abandoned puppies--spent her spare time at the orphanage secretly watching over you and protecting you", but I hardly think that "by pure chance, the fae who you brutally murdered due to your mistaken assumptions actually might possibly not have been friendly" somehow makes everything convenient and happy.

chaotik7 wrote:remember when this comic had actual storylines and characters instead of a "whatsis of the week" where uberpowered entities take turns impressing each other?

You don't consider Katherine having to adapt to family life, Monica trying to learn what powers and responsibilities she now has, teenagers reacting to having various growing-up situations, learning the background of a major character, Tina somehow metamorphosing, Bia trying to figure out how to make amends for her past actions, untangling just what all of those past actions are and what their repercussions may be, and who knows how many other threads that are all ongoing to be actual storylines? If anything, I've seen more complaining lately that there's too much storyline all going at once.

donoho wrote:Sit Back. Enjoy the Ride. Tip your Driver.

Though being a tipsy driver is discouraged.