|
Post by scottjm on Jun 26, 2015 20:22:42 GMT
... Ooooor... A child is the combination of two DNAs, father's and mother's, right ? In real world, we never split like that. But in the Gunnerverse, and more precisely in Annie's case, maybe the Annie we've seen through this chapter is the father's side, while, as we already know, the fire elemental part is Surma's side. That means that both ARE Annie, actually, but they gained individuality. It seems more like her Ego and Id to me. Asif she separated off her Id to remove her emotions, possibly for a long con, or more likely she was too mad/upset at everything and needed to calm herself down so she could think and try to get through what is to come. The way Tony "disciplined" her seems to be 100% meant to put her off edge emotionally. Also the DNA split is not 50/50 Mother/Father. Your mitochondrial DNA is 100% inherited from your mother, the rest is a 50/50 split.
|
|
|
Post by aline on Jun 26, 2015 20:58:07 GMT
The elemental is not Annie's spirit, I think. She (I take the elemental to be a she) is a separate etheric being, possibly a parasite rather than a symbiont. She may be angry, yet Annie still commands and constrains her. Or she is a symbiont, Annie's actions have freed her as well as Annie, and she is now angry on Annie's behalf. She does not embrace Annie too closely because she does not wish to burn her former host. That contradicts what we know about Annie and Surma. gunnerkrigg.com/?p=804If Surma had a spirit independently from a "parasite" elemental, there would have been something for the psychopomps to guide into the ether, like there is for every "normal" human. The elemental was a part of Surma. Once it was gone, she was missing something so fundamental that not only did she die, she didn't even have a soul to take away. What does it tell us about Annie's current state, I have no idea. But I don't see how it can possibly be good. This separation feels like a mutilation. It's horrible, and the fact that Annie is smiling about it is so creepy it nearly makes me shiver. Tom's story is not about Annie being a victim. She's the hero and she will eventually prevail. But I think you are being overly optimistic about the scene just now. Is this really Annie's plan? Why isn't she sharing it with her closest friend, then? What exactly happened to her on that first schoolday? We've not reached rock bottom just yet.
|
|
|
Post by Refugee on Jun 26, 2015 22:49:11 GMT
The elemental is not Annie's spirit, I think. She (I take the elemental to be a she) is a separate etheric being, possibly a parasite rather than a symbiont. She may be angry, yet Annie still commands and constrains her. Or she is a symbiont, Annie's actions have freed her as well as Annie, and she is now angry on Annie's behalf. She does not embrace Annie too closely because she does not wish to burn her former host. That contradicts what we know about Annie and Surma. gunnerkrigg.com/?p=804If Surma had a spirit independently from a "parasite" elemental, there would have been something for the psychopomps to guide into the ether, like there is for every "normal" human. The elemental was a part of Surma. Ah. Good point. Honestly, I don't what this means. I do believe it's something Annie did herself, and I believe that today's panel is meant to show, among other things, that Annie is still free, in the ways that are important to her. She protected Renard in defiance of her Father. And here we see that she has, in some way I do not yet understand, protected a being closely tied to her. And, I expect, by doing so, she has also protected herself, although perhaps not without cost. We'll have to wait and see. Tom's story is not about Annie being a victim. She's the hero and she will eventually prevail. But I think you are being overly optimistic about the scene just now. Is this really Annie's plan? Why isn't she sharing it with her closest friend, then? What exactly happened to her on that first schoolday? We've not reached rock bottom just yet. Rather than hitting rock bottom, I think we have begun to unravel some of the mysteries. As to Kat, Annie's "closest friend" refused to let Annie speak her mind, and even acted against Anthony in a manner contrary to Annie's will. Kat seems to be expressing her own feelings and prejudices towards Anthony, and not necessarily acting for Annie's benefit. If so, or even if Annie sees things that way, of course she's going to keep a thing like this to herself. Besides, this is so huge, I can't believe Kat, who is rather excitable at times, could possibly keep it a secret. She's already brought in George and Smitty, against Annie's will. This? Oh, this Kat would blab all over the Court. You may still be right, of course, but I'm waiting for more of the story to see. Except: This is, somehow, a good thing, and Annie is still in control of her fate in the ways that are important to her.
|
|
|
Post by scottjm on Jun 26, 2015 23:10:07 GMT
That contradicts what we know about Annie and Surma. gunnerkrigg.com/?p=804If Surma had a spirit independently from a "parasite" elemental, there would have been something for the psychopomps to guide into the ether, like there is for every "normal" human. I only started reading recently, but that does not really sit well with me, Annie says she crossed Surma over to the other side which would require there to be something left of her to carry over. My guess would be that either the psychopomp that would carry her over is dead (Jeanne has killed a couple IIRC) or since the elemental's seem to have a foot in both worlds already they work differently, and it is the families responsibility to cross her over, meaning it was a task Annie was supposed to perform. We know what the characters think, but if the fire is their life-force, then draining that should not destroy/deplete the soul. This separation feels like a mutilation. It's horrible, and the fact that Annie is smiling about it is so creepy it nearly makes me shiver. It does feel like mutilation, and depends on the exact nature of the separation, it could be akin to cutting her hair that she removed something that will grow back/replenish over time. It could also be a case that this is a temporary separation only to buy herself time to adapt, or it could be something that is permanent. Why isn't she sharing it with her closest friend, then? Embarrassment, not wanting to worry Kat, plausible-deniability if it backfires, the belief that she created this problem and has to solve it on her own. Ya there are a few possible reasons But I suspect a combination of thinking she has to do it on her own and embarrassment.
|
|
|
Post by ctso74 on Jun 26, 2015 23:39:17 GMT
Now, I'm wondering if Anthony came back, because he thought the "Bone Lasers" were a success. Due to her ruse, maybe he still does. I'm not sure I'd count any surgery that gets interrupted with a punch to the face and the loss of a hand as a success, but maybe my success indicators are different than yours. Good point. I get the feeling Tony didn't attend the Floyd Mayweather School of Medicine. Though, that would be awesome.
|
|
|
Post by warrl on Jun 27, 2015 1:35:38 GMT
If her "that went quite well, I think!" isn't born of massive denial of how the evening really went, then it could be in reference to a long-game she's playing. A long game indeed, and a subtle one. If you lose a quarter of your army, that's bad... ...but what if you were expecting to lose half?
|
|
|
Post by thescarredman on Jun 27, 2015 2:12:29 GMT
Well, this revelation is either very good or very bad, depending on whether Antimony is scheming or a brainwashed tool of her father. I'd guess the former, since she's hiding her houseguest from her father.
|
|
|
Post by deuswyvern on Jun 27, 2015 2:24:15 GMT
Its good to see that things are not as they seem with Annie. Rationalizing her recent behavior was hard, and to be honest none of the theories I came up with seemed completely right.
Maybe she did this herself, but I very much doubt that it is all part of some big plan to subvert her father's authority. She would have had to come up with it in only a few hours after receiving the shock of finding him at school. It also strains credulity that she would be so quick to turn on him.
I think it is most likely that Anthony did this to her. In Divine, the fire elemental was his target. Also, If Annie's room was a container for the elemental, then that would also explain why he moved her there. If this was true then the question would be why is he trying to alter her nature, personally I favor theories that he thinks this is for her own benefit, but I could see it going other ways also.
My thought is that currently Annie's human and elemental sides have been separated. This seems consistent with how Tom has characterized her. She's always had two natures: one sensitive, but insecure, the other strong willed, but quick to anger. ideally both sides kept each other in balance, but separate they only have the negatives and none of the strengths. If this was the case it could be ultimately to her own benefit, as she would have to learn greater self control of herself.
Its definitely going to be hard waiting for the next chapter, and you can bet that Tom will not give us answers anytime soon.
|
|
|
Post by imaginaryfriend on Jun 27, 2015 2:30:48 GMT
Welcome to the forums, artemis and anyone else who's new! So, fellow-forum-goers, how long do you think it will be before the Zim-ster picks up on this situation? If she "fixes" it the same way as before will Anthony survive?
|
|
lit
Full Member
Posts: 201
|
Post by lit on Jun 27, 2015 3:08:34 GMT
Hey, can we stop with the anorexia metaphors? I feel like they rely on depicting sufferers of anorexia in ways that dehumanize them somewhat. I dunno, it just leaves me feeling weird.
|
|
|
Post by Rasselas on Jun 27, 2015 3:36:50 GMT
Hey, can we stop with the anorexia metaphors? I feel like they rely on depicting sufferers of anorexia in ways that dehumanize them somewhat. I dunno, it just leaves me feeling weird. That's why it's such a powerful metaphor, because sufferers of anorexia dehumanize themselves. I haven't seen it used in a disrespectful or cheap way, which would bother me. I think it's supposed to feel bad, it just means you're feeling empathy towards them.
|
|
|
Post by TBeholder on Jun 27, 2015 4:01:31 GMT
I am now pondering whether Annie took her time to hang out with Jenny. And what (else) she could learn from Anwyns... Congrats to those who called it. Not sure what is happening yet but it seems she has a plan, and has been working on it for quite a while. This certainly adds more meaning to the "please ask [Coyote and Ysengrin] to be patient" remark. I only hit " the cliffhanger will be graded on Richter scale" ring. Her other self does not look happy... not one bit. Looks as either "wheeeee!" or preliminary wincing of someone about to rip a bandage off. Human Annie looks very pleased with herself. Fire Annie looks ready to burn the world. Or only burn Anthony, more likely. Assuming she does what fairies did, but with extra magical tricks... If she seems to have already purposefully reduced her interaction with Anthony(?) to what in the mundane equivalent would be humming "uh-huh" without waking up at all, it's writing off dismissively - beyond rage or even disgust. I mean, suppose you set up one of your IM contacts to be to always met with a chatbot, whether you are really AFK or not - what would this say about your relationship?.. I'm wondering what exactly, according to Annie, "went well". If she's referring to the dinner with the Donlans I'm hoping she's being sarcastic. Why? We don't know what she tries to pull. Or even how she have seen the whole situation at the start, let alone right now? It may indeed be all according to some plan. The sudden personality shift felt very surreal. But what on earth could her endgame be? That "personality shift" may be a part of Annie's game in itself. The purpose... If that's real Anthony? Maybe simply to not let an old man's inadequacy distract her from important things too much, and/or to have Donlans (at least) actually pay attention to his shenanigans and spank him a little, rather than explain everything away to preserve complacency. If that's a fake? Maybe to not give herself away until she traced every thread of the scheme. She can be amazingly devious and sneaky, but doesn't have Jones-grade poker face - especially before Kat... who is much worse at this. Meanwhile, the meek nodding decoy prepares another half of the trap merely by being seen like this - people not just back off slowly, they create an exposed space, so by the time whoever plays games with her comes under fire, they will have about as much cover as there is inside this room. she doesn't look as healthy as she did in Zimmy's ether...but that could be a bias in my imagination. Here seems to be three parts: Annie's body, fire elemental and outer halo of hair. Which suggests a deliberate modification / magical setup, perhaps for "lifesupport" containment allowing the body to walk farther than within the spitting range like Foleys do, and for long enough. My best guess is: this idea began to form, at the latest, from Coyote's mention of hollow fairies; Annie planned to use this technique for investigation of places where etheric creatures like herself cannot enter safely or at all. After all, she had to hear this particular alarm ring back when Seraphs stuck her with that talisman. This line of experimentation could also nicely dovetail into her self-assigned mission, because - depending on how it works - ultimately this could allow her (with some trivial equipment) the luxury of a direct approach: rappel down, walk on the bottom (she does learn from Jones, yes?), remove the arrow by hand, pack both sets of remnants (for decent burial later), then return via pulley, and Jeanne won't be able to do anything about it whether she wants to or not, because Annie's parts vulnerable to non-corporeal weapons are elsewhere and heavily warded (presence of Jenny with her magical diagrams may grow some more hide on the skeleton of this idea). The end.
|
|
Blitz
New Member
Posts: 43
|
Post by Blitz on Jun 27, 2015 5:23:02 GMT
((Also, Blitz, please add the page number in the thread heading when you have a few seconds.)) Added that, thanks.
|
|
|
Post by Whitespace on Jun 27, 2015 7:58:18 GMT
I find it hard to believe that Antimony did this herself. Tony presumably spent years trying to accomplish precisely this, and then the moment he came back for an unknown reason, it happened. I could maybe see her deciding to cut away the part of herself that she was ashamed of using Coyote's tooth, with the fire elemental being removed because of etheric symbolism, but that seems a bit forced, and it doesn't really explain much beyond this page.
If Tony was involved, I don't think this is going to kill her. He knows more about the fire elemental than we do. It seems necessary that something will go wrong, though, for narrative reasons. A shift in her personality seems plausible, but a bit strange. Is Annie's spirit partially human? I'd been assuming it was the same spirit her mother had, and her mother, and so on, with differences being the body's influence. What happens if you remove most of a person's spirit, if there's nothing else to take its place? Surma's decline kind of implies you just get weaker, but maybe the body's influence becomes stronger.
I suspect Annie is being a little bit sadistic here. Not entirely out of character, particularly if she sees the elemental as another being that's responsible for Surma's death. That makes me wonder if she might be correct; it would be helpful to know if she can still interact with the ether.
Alternatively, Annie has a plan that nobody knows anything about and I'm completely wrong about everything. I genuinely have no idea.
|
|
|
Post by hnau on Jun 27, 2015 8:06:55 GMT
But I think "That went quite well, I think" refers solely to the fact that she was a good girl today and stayed on her father's side and was well behaved. The fire elemental looks like she's in so much pain, that I don't think she and the current Annie are cooperating. I don't know. Yes, that went quite well, compared to Fire Spike. My best guess is: this idea began to form, at the latest, from Coyote's mention of hollow fairies; Annie planned to use this technique for investigation of places where etheric creatures like herself cannot enter safely or at all. After all, she had to hear this particular alarm ring back when Seraphs stuck her with that talisman. So masked Annie becomes hollow Annie?
|
|
|
Post by aline on Jun 27, 2015 8:10:33 GMT
That contradicts what we know about Annie and Surma. gunnerkrigg.com/?p=804If Surma had a spirit independently from a "parasite" elemental, there would have been something for the psychopomps to guide into the ether, like there is for every "normal" human. I only started reading recently, but that does not really sit well with me, Annie says she crossed Surma over to the other side which would require there to be something left of her to carry over. My guess would be that either the psychopomp that would carry her over is dead (Jeanne has killed a couple IIRC) or since the elemental's seem to have a foot in both worlds already they work differently, and it is the families responsibility to cross her over, meaning it was a task Annie was supposed to perform. We know what the characters think, but if the fire is their life-force, then draining that should not destroy/deplete the soul. Here are a couple of questions Tom answered about this topic: new.spring.me/#!/gunnerkrigg/q/362294237791802330 new.spring.me/#!/gunnerkrigg/q/287498454630925577 new.spring.me/#!/gunnerkrigg/q/1706692040 Basically, there was nothing to take that the psychopomps were interested in (that which makes sure the world "continues to spin"). Surma's Spirit was completely passed to Annie. Something was left behind, yes, but what? Memories? We don't know for sure. Annie guided what was left of her mother into the ether, but that wasn't really necessary. She just thought it was, because she didn't understand what was going on. I think on some levels Surma didn't realize the consequences of not talking about this with her daughter. This separation feels like a mutilation. It's horrible, and the fact that Annie is smiling about it is so creepy it nearly makes me shiver. It does feel like mutilation, and depends on the exact nature of the separation, it could be akin to cutting her hair that she removed something that will grow back/replenish over time. It could also be a case that this is a temporary separation only to buy herself time to adapt, or it could be something that is permanent. We'll see. In any case, I think it's not a coincidence that we learned so much about the transfer of the soul in "Totem", just before those events started. gunnerkrigg.com/?p=1472"Crueler still to keep them separated from their spirits! They are mere hollow vessels without them!" And the Court is the one keeping them this way.
|
|
Ombre
New Member
Posts: 21
|
Post by Ombre on Jun 27, 2015 9:21:55 GMT
Well, that was one end of a chapter ! The comparison with hollow faeries is interesting. I am not entirely convinced that Annie's manipulations can be compared with them, though. Antimony learnt much during her stay in the forest, and, even with the side story, we still know near to nothing about what exactly she learnt - we only got some clues here and there. When rereading the chapter when she ran into the forest, I noticed allusions made by Coyote to a way Annie could find of learning to control her own feelings, just after his revelations about her true nature. This makes me think that Annie is not being manipulated by her father here : she did something to herself prior to her move in this creepy new room. The question is : "why ?" Was it just a way not to crumble emotionally after all she's lost ? Or did she understand, while in the forest, what her father had been doing to her inner flame (a manipulation only Zimmy had seen so far) ? Many questions...
|
|
|
Post by imaginaryfriend on Jun 27, 2015 12:17:27 GMT
Sounds like the discussion is wrapping up so I'll just add the forum traditions:
"Her hair! It went up!"
and "Look, It's Eglamore!"
|
|
|
Post by todd on Jun 27, 2015 12:33:08 GMT
Thank goodness we finally got the page number in the header.
|
|
|
Post by The Anarch on Jun 27, 2015 22:07:01 GMT
Sounds like the discussion is wrapping up so I'll just add the forum traditions: "Her hair! It went up!" and "Look, It's Eglamore!" Maybe we'll finally learn something about that Steadman fellow.
|
|
|
Post by Sauzels on Jun 27, 2015 23:31:11 GMT
Why is the bottom of her right ear square? This is really bothering me.
|
|
|
Post by warrl on Jun 28, 2015 1:13:51 GMT
I just had an interesting thought. Probably an inaccurate one, but nonetheless interesting.
Her long hair was actually a carefully-controlled manifestation of her fire-elemental spirit, so when she re-merges with that spirit her hair will resume its former length immediately.
And her father didn't make her cut it... what we see on her current human aspect is the length she always keeps her real hair at.
|
|
Blitz
New Member
Posts: 43
|
Post by Blitz on Jun 28, 2015 1:28:31 GMT
Thank goodness we finally got the page number in the header. Sorry.
|
|
|
Post by imaginaryfriend on Jun 28, 2015 6:35:38 GMT
Why is the bottom of her right ear square? This is really bothering me. (shrug) Why wasn't the fire elemental projecting light onto Antimony's body in the last couple pages? (...cause then I'd have guessed what it was...)
|
|
|
Post by hajino on Jun 28, 2015 8:47:23 GMT
So THAT's what she did in www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=1503. When she drastically changes face, becoming emotionless. Remember that Kat cannot see any of these processes. That's what I thought too. I believe Annie did this to herself as some kind of pretty fucked up coping mechanism. Severe dissociation. She is keeping control of the situation by carving a part of her out that would conflict with her plans. And by that she is suppressing a lot of herself. I don't see the fire elemental as a seperate being, as in Divine Zimmy called the fire elemental 'Carver' herself. I'm not sure what consequences it will have to cut off personality traits and parts of your being off because they are inconvenient at the moment but I really hope somebody will notice what Annie is doing to herself and stop it soon. Her tactics are usually not very healthy at all. As for not telling Kat: Why would she? Kat would in no way react positively to her self-mutilation and try to stop her but Annie seems to think it necessary. So she will keep quiet about this and wait out what she can gain from her friends interference on the school and family related issues. I'd wager she is trying for a balance between her previous lifestyle and the approval of her father she so desperately desires. As for her plans let's wait how 'physical' her seperated self is. I wouldn't be surprised if she smuggled her blinker stone into the forrest and thusly manages regular visits to her medium job.
|
|
|
Post by Daedalus on Jun 28, 2015 16:13:59 GMT
... Ooooor... A child is the combination of two DNAs, father's and mother's, right ? In real world, we never split like that. But in the Gunnerverse, and more precisely in Annie's case, maybe the Annie we've seen through this chapter is the father's side, while, as we already know, the fire elemental part is Surma's side. That means that both ARE Annie, actually, but they gained individuality. It seems more like her Ego and Id to me. Asif she separated off her Id to remove her emotions, possibly for a long con, or more likely she was too mad/upset at everything and needed to calm herself down so she could think and try to get through what is to come. The way Tony "disciplined" her seems to be 100% meant to put her off edge emotionally. Also the DNA split is not 50/50 Mother/Father. Your mitochondrial DNA is 100% inherited from your mother, the rest is a 50/50 split. These could both be true, actually. In this fictional world, her id could be inherited from her mother and her ego from her father (possibly because she's a fire elemental?), and by destabilizing her emotions and using Dark Science, he could separate them in order to achieve his hidden goals (perhaps of resurrecting his wife). I find it hard to believe that Antimony did this herself. Tony presumably spent years trying to accomplish precisely this, and then the moment he came back for an unknown reason, it happened. I could maybe see her deciding to cut away the part of herself that she was ashamed of using Coyote's tooth, with the fire elemental being removed because of etheric symbolism, but that seems a bit forced, and it doesn't really explain much beyond this page. It could easily be that Tony wanted this result, and manipulated Annie into doing this. As in, he never suggested it, but knew that if he pushed the right buttons at the right times she'd try it. Also, I love that someone with the username "whitespace" has a purely white avatar. Just wanted to mention that I appreciate that, haha! Sounds like the discussion is wrapping up so I'll just add the forum traditions: "Her hair! It went up!" and "Look, It's Eglamore!" Maybe we'll finally learn something about that Steadman fellow. "Sorry this chapter talked about so much emotional girly stuff; I promise that next chapter will be about guitars and monster trucks!"
|
|
|
Post by Nepycros on Jun 28, 2015 16:59:27 GMT
The story's progressed fluidly enough that I doubt Tom would make the fire elemental into an antagonistic character for longer than a chapter. Annie will undoubtedly come to regret her decision to essentially section off a portion of her heritage, and it WILL come back to bite her... But I don't think the fire elemental is a vengeful or evil entity, just in pain because it no longer has a body to inhabit. If fire elementals were generally diluted over generations to become "mostly human", then having what's left be cut out like an amputated limb isn't good for its health. Also, Tony's the main antagonist we have to deal with for the foreseeable future, no sense adding in the fire elemental as someone who endangers Annie.
|
|
|
Post by Gulby on Jun 28, 2015 21:01:27 GMT
I didn't have the time to read all the pages si I'm sorry if it has already been mentioned, but Annie's dress suddenly have sewing darts, like the one at the medium ceremony. Interesting.
|
|
quark
Full Member
Posts: 137
|
Post by quark on Jun 28, 2015 21:46:49 GMT
The story's progressed fluidly enough that I doubt Tom would make the fire elemental into an antagonistic character for longer than a chapter. Annie will undoubtedly come to regret her decision to essentially section off a portion of her heritage, and it WILL come back to bite her... But I don't think the fire elemental is a vengeful or evil entity, just in pain because it no longer has a body to inhabit. If fire elementals were generally diluted over generations to become "mostly human", then having what's left be cut out like an amputated limb isn't good for its health. Also, Tony's the main antagonist we have to deal with for the foreseeable future, no sense adding in the fire elemental as someone who endangers Annie. Or, or that was the plan all along. Anthony makes for an antagonist, but as of now, he's boring. He's abusive, he's a dick, but Annie just does as she's told. If she doesn't see him as somebody to resist against, nobody can help her. Kat tried, but if she continues to antagonise Anthony, Annie will turn away from her. So, the normal course of action would be to call social services or something, but those don't have influence in the Gunnerkrigg verse, also it would be boring. Next option, for Kat and everybody else would be to wait - wait until Annie figures out what's what and wants to be helped. (also, boring, except if we would include a time skip, but that would feel dishonest to the story). There are a few other options (Kat & friends help Annie anyway, Annie has an epiphany very very soon (or already had it, not likely the way she acts), Anthony and Annie are plotting (as somebody else mentioned, but I don't think it's likely seeing how he treats her), Annie and Kat are plotting already (they are, at least a little bit). But, to come back to the more outlandish theories: In trying to be the perfect daughter, and by cutting off... something, Annie separates her her volatile, angry, fire spirit side from her submissive, quiet, controlled side, creating a danger for everybody around her and herself. Fire-Annie might lash out at everybody she perceives as danger, might it be Kat or Anthony or Renard or Jones. She might have done it with Coyote's tooth - it might be the only thing strong enough to separate those two, but I think the question will be how to put Annie and Annie 2 back together, maybe even with Anthonys help. This might explore Annie's personality, her conflicting mask and fire spirit sides, culminating in the reunion of Annies sides, resulting in a stronger, calmer Annie that can and will resist her father. It might even educate or change Anthony, leading to a healthier relationship between those two but that's a really outlandish theory.
|
|
|
Post by scottjm on Jun 29, 2015 2:12:48 GMT
Next option, for Kat and everybody else would be to wait - wait until Annie figures out what's what and wants to be helped. (also, boring, except if we would include a time skip, but that would feel dishonest to the story). This assumes that Annie does not know what she wants, or thinks she can achieve and is not working towards those goals already. In the best way that someone as emotionally screwed up as Annie is can, She has plenty of issues that if the court cared about her they would have been helping her with for a while now. I would not be surprised if she has an "un-diagnosed" learning disability (probably Math related) and combined with her social insecurity lead to her cheating. I have Dysgraphia, which is a language disability affecting writing, and know how that affected me growing up, and I avoided allot of courses in University I would have found interesting as I was afraid of the papers and essay question on exams. Giving control of Renard to Kat (unless the split was meant to prevent her from being able to hand him over to anyone, while appearing to do exactly so) should offer him some level of protection him from whatever the court has planned. Hopefully her earlier offer of letting him go back to the forest if he wants still stands, or was somehow woven into the contract of ownership. But from her perspective he is protected. It is probably safe to assume she feel her social life at the court is crippled permanently. She know Kat still cares for her, ans well as Smitty and Parly. She hopefully assumes Robot and Shadow still care as well. But the way the news was delivered could very easily have destroyed any loyalty Annie has to the court. But from what we have seen the court has been doing a fine job of not doing anything to earn her respect and loyalty since day 1, and if she ever looks back and sees all the points the court failed her (starting with not sending the girl whose mother had just dies to the guidance counselor because she is going to be an emotional wreck regardless of how calm she appears, not making sure she was properly prepared for the course load, how many MONTHS was it between Jack's issues starting at the power station and then actually doing something to help him, and not actually intervening on her cheating and seeing if there was a way to help her get through the courses like a proper education facility would). Annie is not going back to her old class, or at least believes there is no chance of it. If Annie feels she has lost their respect (and she appears to) then she might not care and compared to everything else it would be minor to her. The only way Annie would go back with them is if her corrected marks were still good enough to pass, if you read Anthony's scolding literally (which I think you should with his lack of outward emotions) he never actually says her corrected marks were a fail. Also he says Annie was cheating in nearly every other course besides her good two, which means that there is a course she was not cheating in she has to re-take, and if Annie was doing bad enough to fail that she would probably have been cheating there as well, this implies that it is likely she is retaking at least 1 class where she passed, but Anthony is not happy with her mark in it. That might explain the court not caring as is she is passing anyway they can just adjust any marks that get reported to whatever university she decided to attend or suggest she take a course load that reflects and reinforces her strengths once she reaches the point of custom schedules. Right now Annie probably wants to get Renard back, and to be able to go into the forest again. She probably thinks the only way to get both of these is to sit and bear her current situation until her works improves to the point she can say "I am doing fine now, I have the free time, let me go talk to the only friends I have left" or some outside factor either forces the court to give her what she wants or gives her an opening to use to get what she wants. There is no way they can keep her from the forest permanently if nothing else she will eventually finish school. If she believes she will eventually be able to go back, and trusts Coyote was right when he said the court would not be able to hold Renard against his will, That could explain her asking them to tell Coyote to be patient. Th problem with the situation is that Annie is next to helpless to fix her situation other then grinning and bring it until she gets her marks up, and knows her father well enough to realize that an emotional outburst will not work on him. Meaning we the reader are dependent on either a time skip or someone else giving Annie an opening she can actually work with, as right now she has none that we can see. It does not make sense for the court to Let things reach the current situation unless it is up to something, same as when they made Smitty the Medium (and Jones called them out on it, though they never explained) and unfortunately something is probably going to have to blow up in their faces as a result for Annie's issues to actually get resolved.
|
|