Wapsi Square Forum

txmystic wrote:but I can see now that Paul has been layering a rather complex tale quite subtly

Shocking, isn't it... it's just so completely out of character for Mr. Taylor!

The richness and depth of the story-lines and characterizations hereabouts, continue to be quite amazing and delightful!

Wapsi wrote:

jwhouk wrote:I'm thinking the pecking order is Fae, Mermaids, Sirens.

Correct.

Would not the little whatsit come before fae? we allready saw she could kill a fae at less that her present age. i shudder to think what she could do as a full grown adult.

oldmanmickey wrote:

Wapsi wrote:

jwhouk wrote:I'm thinking the pecking order is Fae, Mermaids, Sirens.

Correct.

Would not the little whatsit come before fae? we allready saw she could kill a fae at less that her present age. i shudder to think what she could do as a full grown adult.

For the moment, at least, we may have a circular pecking order, considering that Atsali seemed to be pretty well able to keep control of Castela even when Pickle was having a snit and "vining out" in a big way. Big Sister mojo still works... at least for now.

It's sorta like rock-paper-scissors, but played with antennae, fins, wings, and thorns

But, yeah, based on what Cricket said about Pickle's power, Big Sister mojo may not outlast first or second grade. As soon as Pickle gets too big to be slung over the shoulder (or gains true understanding of what Being A Blackthorn is all about), watch out!

oldmanmickey wrote:

Wapsi wrote:

jwhouk wrote:I'm thinking the pecking order is Fae, Mermaids, Sirens.

Correct.

Would not the little whatsit come before fae? we allready saw she could kill a fae at less that her present age. i shudder to think what she could do as a full grown adult.

I think we're talking about the social order. Who outranks who in the paranormal caste system. This would be for normal interactions. Sort of like "Jock, nerd, dork, geek". Pickle is a unique - that we know of - specimen, so nobody would know where to classify her, based only on species.

If we start talking about the POWER pecking order, then Castela would be above the Fae, based on what Cricket has said. She may even be near Monica and the GGG's power level.

jwhouk wrote:

Jabberwonky wrote:Only subtly less dangerous than TV Tropes...

You know, if you're going to provide the link, make it topical.

Fixed!

Unless you mean like this...

oldmanmickey wrote:

Wapsi wrote:

jwhouk wrote:I'm thinking the pecking order is Fae, Mermaids, Sirens.

Correct.

Would not the little whatsit come before fae? we already saw she could kill a fae at less that her present age. i shudder to think what she could do as a full grown adult.

I'm thinking that there is a species pecking order, which is as described (with other species inserted at various places). Castela has no place in it because she is, as far as anyone knows, unique.

Then there are some individuals for whom, because of something unique about them, the species pecking order is irrelevant. Monica, in species terms, is an ordinary human, rather low-status in the supernatural world, something to be babied and pampered and kept in blissful ignorance... but then she's also the Jaguar Girl and the Demon Shepherd, and when she says "jump" most other supernaturals don't ask "how high", they ask "was that high enough?".

Castela's status will also be determined by her as an individual, not by her species, and being able to curbstomp a fae without even needing a curb to work with will certainly count for something. (The question is, how would she fare against a camelopardamorph? Those critters eat thorny plants. Of course, their usual diet doesn't actively try to fight back.)

And even among "ordinary" beings of standard species, the species pecking order is not absolutely determinative. That dumb tramp siren, phff, who cares about her, just got elevated above the mermaids and possibly even above the fae princess, after all. For that matter, some individuals will choose to ignore the pecking order altogether.

Yet it's funny - Monica is "under", socially speaking, Phix and the apos. That includes Shelley.

I suspect our mermaidens would have issues keeping their human forms if they saw who M normally hangs with.

txmystic wrote:I was thinking that this focus on the doings of the paranormal teens would be temporary, but I can see now that Paul has been layering a rather complex tale quite subtly such that we may not get back to the continuing adventures of Monica, Shelley et al for awhile, except as how they are relating to this group.

LOVE LOVE LOVE the look on Circket's face in the last panel!

Well, you know how it goes: you can only save the world so many times, before it becomes boring to relate... meanwhile, the real adventure is to keep it safe for the next generation, and lead them into it.

Saving the world? Easy. Making sure the next gen grows into mature, responsible adults? Now THAT'S work!

lake_wrangler wrote:Saving the world? Easy. Making sure the next gen grows into mature, responsible adults? Now THAT'S work!

As someone who has been leading the next generation into mature, responsible adults while never really growing up myself (someone has to be the Bad Example) I can agree with you.

jwhouk wrote:I'm thinking the pecking order is Fae, Mermaids, Sirens.

More like Fae, Mermaids, ... , Sirens.

Sirens are wwaayy down the pecking order, probably just above vampires, lawyers, and politicians.

My2Cents wrote:Sirens are wwaayy down the pecking order, probably just above vampires, lawyers, and politicians.

Well at least you got the order for the last three right. It's hard to keep track though, those last two keep swapping places.

hey now, i must insist that vampires rank above used car salesmen and payday loan people. 50% interest is to much for even a loan shark to ask.

lake_wrangler wrote: Do you mean to say that whenever you click on a corroborating link, you have a tendency to read on from there? Tsk, tsk... How undisciplined of you...

I'm sure everyone else, here is able to resist the urge to follow up on such an incredibly compelling story that draws you in at a moment's notice...

Well, um, yeah, thats why I currently have four tabs in my browser open to various Wapsi archived comics...

Opus the Poet wrote:

My2Cents wrote:Sirens are wwaayy down the pecking order, probably just above vampires, lawyers, and politicians.

Well at least you got the order for the last three right. It's hard to keep track though, those last two keep swapping places.

Politicians are almost a full subset of lawyers... my guess is that a third of all lawyers are politicians, but nine-tenths of the pols are members of the bar.

AmriloJim wrote:

Opus the Poet wrote:

My2Cents wrote:Sirens are wwaayy down the pecking order, probably just above vampires, lawyers, and politicians.

Well at least you got the order for the last three right. It's hard to keep track though, those last two keep swapping places.

Politicians are almost a full subset of lawyers... my guess is that a third of all lawyers are politicians, but nine-tenths of the pols are members of the bar.

Be careful about getting caught up in the distinctions within that realm, lest you start trying to differentiate between manure, dung, and crap!

oldmanmickey wrote:hey now, i must insist that vampires rank above used car salesmen and payday loan people. 50% interest is to much for even a loan shark to ask.

50% interest? Around here the payday loan sharks advertise their "low rates" of 365%, compared to the "other guys'" 1700% or 3000%. My city has regulated them like adult book stores, not allowed within 1000 feet of a church or school or another payday loan provider. But the next town over has them like fleas on a dog...

Opus the Poet wrote:50% interest? Around here the payday loan sharks advertise their "low rates" of 365%, compared to the "other guys'" 1700% or 3000%. My city has regulated them like adult book stores, not allowed within 1000 feet of a church or school or another payday loan provider. But the next town over has them like fleas on a dog...

By the way - John Oliver just covered those bastards...