[254] Story Discussion - Aly, want to be a bird?

I don't think it completely shoots down the fairie-connection (if fairies get human bodies after they pass the first test, they can go live anywhere they like I guess) but it does open up the possibility of other creatures being able to shape-shift.

Btw: this page brings back a memory of me agreeing to be a tour guide for a horrible aunt of mine. My punishment was having to listen to two days of continuous complaining. But Aly's up for a longer term, so it seems.

Man, my brother was the exact same way growing up. I used to warn him that if he didn't pay a little more attention to the outside world, it'd broadside him with the business end of a shovel. Then he moved to California, took up with a beautiful, doting sugar mama and gets paid good money to sit on his ass and play video games all day.

The moral of this story: roguish good looks totally compensate for an otherwise complete lack of social and life skills.

In a roundabout way, perhaps Aly’s parents are doing him a favor by sparing him the eventual indignity of male pattern baldness.

Even if he did, wouldn't the alternative be spending the rest of your days without your parents? Knowing they were alive somewhere but never being able to see them ever again. A more frightening prospect that being turned into a bird I would wager.

So his parents pass a test, and Aly transforms? Or did Aly pass the test without noticing?

And if given a choice, why would anyone want to become a Crane? I'd opt for something cooler. Like an eagle. Or better: a Rogat Orjak! Yeay!

At first, this strip made me laugh histerically! And then, after I was able to calm myself down, I was able to feel a bit bad for Aly: it made me think of myself when I was younger and never paid attention to my parents when I was playing videogames.
Now then, if his parents passed this test and not Aly (because he does not seem to say that he also passed the test like his parents in the last strip) why does Aly absolutely have to become a bird himself? Does the fact that, since the parents made this decision, the child automotically has to be transformed like them, or is this a choice that Aly made by himself, that he wanted to follow his parents into this transformation?

Sounds likely. I don't get the idea Aly's really troubled about the whole bird thing, or at least has come to terms with it.

I don't think that Aly had to pass the test himself; I think that the deal that his parents made with whoever was in charge of the test was that, since he'd given his consent to being changed into a bird (presumably they conveniently left out the fact that he hadn't been listening closely when they gave him the choice), if they passed it and were transformed, he was to be transformed alongside them. (Though, clearly not at the same rate.)

We'll probably find out more in the next couple of pages, however. (Maybe. Then again, maybe the Kershaws will leave before we can get the answers. Probably they will, so as to save something for later chapters to delve into.)

Okay, a lot of weird and borderline creepy stuff has happened in this comic, but this is taking it to a new level.

Am I the only one who is completely unsettled by the idea of this nice kid turning into a bird for the rest of his life?
Is nobody else disturbed by that?

The cherry/drug tree was borderline creepy, so is Zimmy, and "borderline creepy" is cool and intriguing.
This is something else.
This is like "oh God what the f***??"
This is genuinely creepy.

Yeah, he seems sad about leaving Kat just as he's getting to know her, but doesn't appear to be upset about anything else that a kid who's been tricked into losing his body would be.

The other thing is, we're assuming this is permanent for Aly. What if it isn't? If it's for say, 10 years, that's long enough that he might not even bother to tell someone he's only known for a week. Although I suppose Aly himself might not know yet.

The suicide fairies had to pass the dying test in order to get new bodies and move OUT of Gillitie Forest. The Kernshaws had to pass a test to get new bodies to move INTO Gillitie. And when Robot 13 tried to move into Gillitie without passing a test or getting a new body, things went very badly.

I wonder what it all means.

Well, the suicide fairies needed new bodies outside of Gilletie because, let's face it, being a fairy in our world is just plain impractical. I'm sure they could leave whenever they wanted, but they'd be unregistered immigrants like the shadow kid.

Hum. First, has anyone considered that Aly's flippant explanation as to how he agreed to be a bird might be a lie?* It's cleverly disguised as a cute joke in comic form, but consider it from a story perspective. It's a little too easy. I think Aly might be giving a short excuse simply for Kat's sake. Maybe there's a secret that needs to remain a secret, or maybe he just doesn't want to spend his last moments as a human with Kat explaining something boring.

(*Edit: Ah, wait, I just read the Questions to Tom thread, and he says it's for real.

(Unless HE is lying as well! Deceptions within deceptions.... You are a clever one, Mr. Siddel, but I'm on to you.) )

Also: The whole bird thing might be the reason why he was taken to Gunnerkrigg Court. The Suicide Fairies were there to pass a test, so maybe Aly's parents were there to take the test as well. After all, the place is exceedingly magical. Such a test might not work anywhere else.

As for why Aly was in school: well, maybe it was just a convenient daycare for the kid. Whatever his parents were doing might've been dangerous or would leave their child alone for some time, something no parent wants to subject their kid to, so why not have the school look after him?

Food and boarding are provided, along with adult supervision and other kids his age to play with.

It'd explain, at least, why none of the teachers were really requiring much from him in terms of education. Like with the art project, it seems they were just handing him things to keep him occupied for the day.

...Yup.

They're a little young for that, too - though it's probably just as well. One Helen of Troy was enough.

Mmmmm, no. Yeah misoxmikado, that wasn't really necessary. Bad mental image.