Want To Learn 2014-07-11

[Yamara]

Hm, Cricket is sounding too sympathetic here. Monica might assert attention hierarchy, but not in front of a school of mortal paranormal kids. So I'm not convinced yet that this isn't a gossamer M, despite the 100% chance of failstorm it would bring. Won't fool Da Bears, and Atsali can just text her auntie on her phone to check. And look up that gerund, if she isn't careful.

And I doubt salting a Brooklyn penthouse would really achieve anything, even if you could get the permits.

[Yamara]

Monica might assert attention hierarchy, but not in front of a school of mortal paranormal kids.

Unless the school anti bullying policy called for it, I suppose. Cricket did floor a student earlier. But that alone would not help her with the public humiliation issue.

[Sphinx-Napped]

MONICA.. DIAL IT BACK,DIAL IT BACK to 5 please
and part me think this isnt monica if it is monica she goning to get her self hurt if that fae gets angry

[jwhouk]

You forget: this isn't Monica, this is the Jaguar Girl.

And I still think M and Castela are in J-Space at the end there.

[Grantwhy]

Hm, Cricket is sounding too sympathetic here. Monica might assert attention hierarchy, but not in front of a school of mortal paranormal kids.

Which makes me think they are no longer in the school.

From memory, on more than one occasion people have been brought into The Library gradually (for want of a better word) instead of a quick *POIT*

If so, I wonder if it was just Calista 'moved' or was Atsali moved as well, and maybe Berdine + Nadette to?

[eee]

I'm not sure Monica will automatically be hostile to Cricket because of the gossamer fisting show. M, after all, has shown that SHE sometimes can't control herself in using her powers, even though she experiences shame, horror, and guilt afterwards. They might BOTH benefit from having to explore issues of control together.

Monica opens up by setting the ground rules and telling Cricket what she needs to hear. She's pretty much throwing Callista's fears right back in her face and establishing what will happen if she ever does step that far out of line.

It's unpleasant, but it has to be done.

First -- you get their undivided attention...

Did THAT, no question!

But what both Monica/Jaguar Girl and Cricket are saying is interesting. I don't believe it's a normal part of myth that fairies are con artists. Although the 'psychotic' and 'no moral compass' bits ring true. If the Fae ARE known, in the Wapsiverse, for deceit then Monica's actions are understandable. She has to so terrify the Princess that lying becomes impossible to make sure she's sincere.

Calista's comments suggest she DOES have a moral compass and knows right from wrong, but she can't stop herself. Therefore, until her conscience (small 'c') becomes strong enough, she needs an outside force to make her keep it in normal bounds. Terror of Monica should do.

And her antenna (antennae?) have popped back up again.

I think Monica's stealing that 'skeletal forearm as a symbol of impending death' thing from Conscience. Capital 'c'.

MONICA.. DIAL IT BACK,DIAL IT BACK to 5 please
and part me think this isnt monica if it is monica she goning to get her self hurt if that fae gets angry

MONICA might be in danger. JAGUAR GIRL dropped Nudge into a volcano and punched Phix across the face. Jaguar Girl might be the paranormal apex.

[zachariah]

Let's see:

Monica begins by describibg the Fae in exact detail. She got it exactly right as to what the Fae are and how others tend to feel about them.

Cricket is immediately put on the defensive. This cuts out the bravado and Brooklyn attitude issues. It is interesting the Cricket admits she could not bring herself to harm the girls. This is very unusual for a Fae. Humans are worth nothing to the Fae yet Cricket does not have that attitude. Something inside her is rejects the Fae attitude and way of life.

Interesting what insight can occur when you are about to be squished. You also speak the truth at these times as well. So Monica finds out Crickets motives and can judge is this project worthwhile. The swing and a miss is simply telling Cricket you have a chance but don't screw it up.

This shows that Monica did not become bigger. It shows Crickets glamor was stopped and she went back to small size.

[loxmyth]

Gossamer Jaguar Girl: That thought did occur to me, Cricket manefesting her own guilt... but the representation of Monica (outside of the supernatural special effects) is a bit too accurate for someone who hasn't met her. So I'd say Monca is actually present, though we may be seeing her thru a filter of fear in addition to whatever she's actually doing/saying.

[ShirouZhiwu]

Cricket has gone from "Jaguar Woman is an inconvenience," to "I want your help!" in less than 30 seconds.

[Yamara]

Hm, Cricket is sounding too sympathetic here. Monica might assert attention hierarchy, but not in front of a school of mortal paranormal kids.

Which makes me think they are no longer in the school.

From memory, on more than one occasion people have been brought into The Library gradually (for want of a better word) instead of a quick *POIT*

If so, I wonder if it was just Calista 'moved' or was Atsali moved as well, and maybe Berdine + Nadette to?

Gossamer Jaguar Girl: That thought did occur to me, Cricket manefesting her own guilt... but the representation of Monica (outside of the supernatural special effects) is a bit too accurate for someone who hasn't met her. So I'd say Monca is actually present, though we may be seeing her thru a filter of fear in addition to whatever she's actually doing/saying.

I'd say the overriding theme this year in Wapsi is Deception. 2014 even began with an unsubtle hint. (Even today's Athena poster feeds into this, with solving dilemmas of-and-with deception to reach a greater truth, and therefore Wisdom.)

I mean, come on. We poor readers aren't going to be able to figure this out ahead of time. It all deception: We have almost every character able to morph, the Bears are grandmasters of it, we have a Fae princess able to conjure anything out of gossamer, and teenagers. Written by Pablo.

I'll enjoy every minute, but my analysis neurons are going to hit the showers until Bobby Ewing turns up dead.

[kingklash]

I'm glad my school lunches were never this dramatic.

[Opus the Poet]

I'm just wondering about Gryphon HS's adult visitation policy, along with removing students during school hours.

[meisdadoo]

Monica opens up by setting the ground rules and telling Cricket what she needs to hear. She's pretty much throwing Callista's fears right back in her face and establishing what will happen if she ever does step that far out of line.

It's unpleasant, but it has to be done.

First -- you get their undivided attention...

True, when dealing with sociopaths that have been running wild, first you need to get their attention, like this http://www.hotlikesauce.com/wp-content/ ... ave-It.jpg

[TazManiac]

Nah. "Have a cookie."

Monica: "By the time you finish it, you'll feel right as rain..."

Argh, beat me too it...

"What's really going to bake your noodle later on is, would you still have broken it if I hadn't said anything?"

That whole exchange(s) was running through my head as I played catch up with the last days' posts.

Hey, once (at least partly) rehabilitated, Bugs can join that new, funky-fresh, Crime Fighting team;

'The Siren Squad'... Daht daht Duuuuummmmmmmm

[Aed]

Back in the school cafeteria or elsewhere?

I see similarities between the tile floor in panel three of today's Want To Learn and the floor in panel three of Friends Of Jugs.

I am not certain, however, that the two floors are identical so those speculating that the action has changed to the library may be correct. Unfortunately, the most recent views of the library were of Phix's office or quarters and the floor is shown covered in carpeting and rugs.

On the other hand, those speculating that the action has changed back to the school cafeteria may be correct. If so, Calista was just humiliated in front of everyone present and we've been told what public humiliation lead to at her previous school.

There are just so many ways the story can develop from here, and we must wait until Monday to see what Paul has in store for the Wapsi-verse and us.

[Sphinx-Napped]

Back in the school cafeteria or elsewhere?

I see similarities between the tile floor in panel three of today's Want To Learn and the floor in panel three of Friends Of Jugs.

I am not certain, however, that the two floors are identical so those speculating that the action has changed to the library may be correct. Unfortunately, the most recent views of the library were of Phix's office or quarters and the floor is shown covered in carpeting and rugs.

On the other hand, those speculating that the action has changed back to the school cafeteria may be correct. If so, Calista was just humiliated in front of everyone present and we've been told what public humiliation lead to at her previous school.

There are just so many ways the story can develop from here, and we must wait until Monday to see what Paul has in store for the Wapsi-verse and us.

i think monica poited them to the library while she was in scary jaguar form i noticed the forearm is way different as well when it misses her

[illiad]

It could be Mon doing a 'Phix' ..

Phix (behind Monica) " gee, mon, you made her faint..." :/

[kingklash]

The real question is, did Calista ever get to eat her fried spider?

[sheik]

I think someone in the group was right that Monica forced a change of venue for the purpose of not disturbing the entire cafeteria.
I can't say if Atsali and Da Bears were included, but it would make sense to leave them behind if The Jaguar Girl wanted to keep this therapy session private.
At this point I don't think cookies from Monica are in order, but a sit-down with the five of them over lunch to discuss Calista's future at the school would be.
As for the staff objecting to the Jaguar Girl's presence, I think they would regard it as simply a visit by a specialist (if they know what's good for 'em).

[jwhouk]

Monica has dual status at Gryphon HS: she's on Atsali and Castela's approved "visitor" list, and she is a de facto agent of MIB. (Not that I used the lower-case "a", not upper-case. That's Lily and Suzi.)

I do suspect that Phix has been training M for such occasions, as (while we were all in hiatus) she made it clear to Monica that she had more responsibility in her role as JG. Of course, I also suspect that the issue of 'Gette's demon tormentor came up. That may explain why we haven't seen Phix in a while - she has a black eye from that one.