[1812] I can find you another if you wish

[Anthony]

Where do they get those stones from, anyway?


Edit: yes, I know, today's page is about Y's life.

[Deleted]

Ysengrin's offering Annie a blinker stone? Interesting, considering their traditional meaning 😝. Maybe that's just a human custom that forest animals don't follow... or maybe it's just not that significant since he has the obvious motivation of owing her one.

[zbeeblebrox]

Tom has two characters with completely different physiques leaning forward at a three-quarter angle on this page, and I just want to point out how difficult that kind of pose is to draw

[theonethatgotaway]

Ah, casual banter, so easy. "What do you want to do with your life?" "Who created the first humans?" "What is Jones?" "Do you take milk in your tea or not?" "Speaking of milk, first milk or first cereal?"

[rosencrantz]

Career Day with Ysengrin. I wonder if he'll say something like "Serve Coyote", then Annie digs deeper, and maybe the eaten memories will trigger or somesuch.




Nah, that's crazy.

[snowflake]

Mar 31, 2017 7:23:12 GMT @sumelic said:

Ysengrin's offering Annie a blinker stone? Interesting, considering their traditional meaning 😝. Maybe that's just a human custom that forest animals don't follow... or maybe it's just not that significant since he has the obvious motivation of owing her one.

I think it's a human custom Annie doesn't follow. After all, her first stone came from Muut, who pressured Mort into taking credit, to circumvent the rules and push Annie toward Jeanne. Maybe this means that being a psychopomp is Annie's true love, or maybe just that traditions (and blinker stones) are made to be broken.

[ariestinak]

Hmm, interesting that Ysengrin is offering to give Annie another stone. Especially since the previous panels established that breaking it is actually helping her. Is he feeling guilty? Or he knows that even if he got Annie a new one, she won't rely on it anymore?

Annie, what do you have in mind asking that question? I don't have a good feeling about this.

[bedinsis]

Ysengrin, clueless about emotions still. The reason Annie cared about the old blinker stone was because it was given by Mort who has now passed on; what purpose would a new one have?

Though maybe I'm the clueless one, since Annie seems to be smiling when saying she won't forgive him for breaking it.

[Jelly Jellybean]

Mar 31, 2017 7:23:12 GMT @sumelic said:

Ysengrin's offering Annie a blinker stone? Interesting, considering their traditional meaning 😝. Maybe that's just a human custom that forest animals don't follow... or maybe it's just not that significant since he has the obvious motivation of owing her one.

Annie did change the subject mighty fast while she quickly turned back toward Ysengrin.  Very Coyote-like.

[aline]

I don't think there's a need to read too much into Ysengrin's statement. Annie said she still hasn't forgiven him for breaking her blinker stone. He's just offering to make reparations, without however offering an apology. "I will try to patch up any remaining ill feelings between us but I am not sorry that I did what I did", in short.

[saardvark]

Mar 31, 2017 8:47:49 GMT ariestinak said:

Hmm, interesting that Ysengrin is offering to give Annie another stone. Especially since the previous panels established that breaking it is actually helping her. Is he feeling guilty? Or he knows that even if he got Annie a new one, she won't rely on it anymore?

Annie, what are you have in mind asking that question? I don't have a good feeling about this.

I think both.  Im guessing he didn't realize the stone's importance to Annie, and he still doesnt understand exactly *why* it was important, or he wouldn't offer her another one.  But he does realize that she has evolved past it (as was his intent in popping it in the first place), so she doesnt really need it much anymore... it wouldn't be the etheric crutch it used to be.  Maybe not feeling guilty exactly, but offering to make amends....

It *is* an intriguing, potentially dangerous line of questioning... is she trying to jog some half-eaten memories?  Is she trying to stir up friction with Coyote?  Get Ysengrin to leave Coyote for a better, less subservient life?  We do know Annie thinks Coyote is cruel to Y, and she feels sorry for him.... but this is risky business.

[ctso74]

Mar 31, 2017 7:58:13 GMT theonethatgotaway said:

Ah, casual banter, so easy. "What do you want to do with your life?" "Who created the first humans?" "What is Jones?" "Do you take milk in your tea or not?" "Speaking of milk, first milk or first cereal?"

I imagined him answering "Milk first", then Annie face turning pale. The next frame is the entire Forest on fire.

I'm really looking forward to some Forest/Ysengrin bakcground.

[ohthatone]

what an...odd thing to ask a forest god (he is a god, right?). I'm guessing he'll say "serve Coyote until the end of days", but who knows, maybe he'll surprise us and say "find a nice quiet forest of my own to retire in." Annie is technically taking his job, after all.

Though now that she's facing an (possibly) eternal afterlife of(implied) servitude, maybe she's fishing for how to get the most out of life?

[Zox Tomana]

Given a lack of.... any evidence in Annie's behavior that last chapter happened.... one considers the possibility that Annie is getting personal for a reason, and may as the Forest's General some queries about her own actions.

Or maybe that's just me hoping.

I also think we may be getting to hear a bit about this deal Annie made with the 'pomps.

[Corvo]

Ys: Become a chef.
Annie: What?! But-
Ys: And start my own TV show!
Annie: I-I don't think that's-
Ys: It'll be called "Greens 'N Grin"! ~waves in the air~
Annie: ~walks away~

[zaferion]

Mar 31, 2017 11:40:10 GMT saardvark said:

It *is* an intriguing, potentially dangerous line of questioning... is she trying to jog some half-eaten memories?  Is she trying to stir up friction with Coyote?  Get Ysengrin to leave Coyote for a better, less subservient life?

I'd put money on this being a lead in to Annie stressing over the deal she made with the Psychopomps. She never really thought about what she would be doing in the future as an adult until the decision, as far as we know, was taken from her. So naturally she brings it up in her characteristic uncomfortable-with-her-emotions-and-doesn't-really-want-to-deal-with-them-but-if-she-doesn't-she-might-literally-explode style with Mentor And Confidante Papa Ys.

Whether this leads into Ysengrin questioning his own servitude or not is up for debate, but I don't think that's Annie's intention.

[saardvark]

Mar 31, 2017 14:24:15 GMT zaferion said:

Mar 31, 2017 11:40:10 GMT saardvark said:

It *is* an intriguing, potentially dangerous line of questioning... is she trying to jog some half-eaten memories?  Is she trying to stir up friction with Coyote?  Get Ysengrin to leave Coyote for a better, less subservient life?

I'd put money on this being a lead in to Annie stressing over the deal she made with the Psychopomps. She never really thought about what she would be doing in the future as an adult until the decision, as far as we know, was taken from her. So naturally she brings it up in her characteristic uncomfortable-with-her-emotions-and-doesn't-really-want-to-deal-with-them-but-if-she-doesn't-she-might-literally-explode style with Mentor And Confidante Papa Ys.

Whether this leads into Ysengrin questioning his own servitude or not is up for debate, but I don't think that's Annie's intention.

Interesting... yeah, that seems like a possibility as well...  

Whatever Annie's reason, we may get some backstory on Y.  Why did he choose to become an Ent-wolf, when he knew that Coyote's gifts were often flawed?
After all, he became a super-tree fairly recently, since the headmaster remarked on what he had done to himself (apparently since their last meeting).  Y would at least have already seen the result of Renard's  flawed gift (fatal to the possessed when the host is left).  

[faiiry]

Annie's probably asking this question not out of simple curiosity but because she's been asking the same question of herself lately and needs some sound advice from Forest Wolf Dad. Speaking of which, do you get *paid* to be a psychopomp? If you do, it raises some interesting questions. Who signs your paychecks, God?

[Polyhymnia]

I wonder if a kidnapping is in order, seeing as Annie's been separated from two of the court's valuable people.

Also, Parley should give Smitty a blinker stone.

[Zox Tomana]

Mar 31, 2017 15:38:32 GMT faiiry said:

Annie's probably asking this question not out of simple curiosity but because she's been asking the same question of herself lately and needs some sound advice from Forest Wolf Dad. Speaking of which, do you get *paid* to be a psychopomp? If you do, it raises some interesting questions. Who signs your paychecks, God?

This brings up a thought I've been pondering. Is Coyote merely a trickster god? When he tells us his great secret, he presents the tale of a man about to die and be eaten by a coyote, and that it is this man seeing the power of a god behind this creature about to eat him.

Is Coyote a God of Death?

[atteSmythe]

Mar 31, 2017 7:58:13 GMT theonethatgotaway said:

"Speaking of milk, first milk or first cereal?"

Woah, woah, woah, wait up - milk in the bowl before cereal?

[ohthatone]

Mar 31, 2017 19:05:16 GMT atteSmythe said:

Mar 31, 2017 7:58:13 GMT theonethatgotaway said:

"Speaking of milk, first milk or first cereal?"

Woah, woah, woah, wait up - milk in the bowl before cereal?

oh is that what that question meant? I never thought of it before, but yeah, sounds like a good way to keep most of your cereal from getting soggy.  Personally, if it's not a little moist there's no point in having milk. *deep thoughts*

[warrl]

Mar 31, 2017 13:17:08 GMT ohthatone said:

what an...odd thing to ask a forest god (he is a god, right?).

Ysengrim is a mythic figure, but not a deity. He (and Reynard with him) originates in some tales that scholars of such things suspect originated in Lorraine (part of eastern France). They were written down as early as 1148 AD, and are thought to be significantly older as oral tradition.

In these stories Isengrim (original Old French spelling) is usually the sort of Catholic monk who entered the clergy in order to gain wealth, status, and power. As such he frequently abuses his clerical authority and the peasants around him. Renard is his foil and antagonist, and therefore became such a peasant hero that his name became the standard French word for "fox" - replacing "goupil" which Old French derived from the Latin "vulpecula". Not that Renard is any moral hero - he's a trickster, a womanizer, a thief, and a cheat - but he doesn't claim moral authority for his crimes like the corrupt cleric does, and said corrupt cleric is his primary target.

[Jelly Jellybean]

Mar 31, 2017 20:13:59 GMT warrl said:

Mar 31, 2017 13:17:08 GMT ohthatone said:

what an...odd thing to ask a forest god (he is a god, right?).

Ysengrim is a mythic figure, but not a deity. He (and Reynard with him) originates in some tales that scholars of such things suspect originated in Lorraine (part of eastern France). They were written down as early as 1148 AD, and are thought to be significantly older as oral tradition.

In these stories Isengrim (original Old French spelling) is usually the sort of Catholic monk who entered the clergy in order to gain wealth, status, and power. As such he frequently abuses his clerical authority and the peasants around him. Renard is his foil and antagonist, and therefore became such a peasant hero that his name became the standard French word for "fox" - replacing "goupil" which Old French derived from the Latin "vulpecula". Not that Renard is any moral hero - he's a trickster, a womanizer, a thief, and a cheat - but he doesn't claim moral authority for his crimes like the corrupt cleric does, and said corrupt cleric is his primary target.

Woah, woah, woah, wait up - Ysengrin wasn't a sherif and Renard wasn't an archer/poacher who robbed from the rich to give to the poor?

[puntosmx]

Mar 31, 2017 8:23:29 GMT snowflake said:

Mar 31, 2017 7:23:12 GMT @sumelic said:

Ysengrin's offering Annie a blinker stone? Interesting, considering their traditional meaning 😝. Maybe that's just a human custom that forest animals don't follow... or maybe it's just not that significant since he has the obvious motivation of owing her one.

I think it's a human custom Annie doesn't follow. After all, her first stone came from Muut, who pressured Mort into taking credit, to circumvent the rules and push Annie toward Jeanne. Maybe this means that being a psychopomp is Annie's true love, or maybe just that traditions (and blinker stones) are made to be broken.

Furthermore, it's not the same to have a stone and gift it, to Ysengrim "finding" another one for her as some kind of reparation for breaking the first one.
I'd say this situation wouldn't have any romanticism interwoven.

Mar 31, 2017 19:29:49 GMT ohthatone said:

Mar 31, 2017 19:05:16 GMT atteSmythe said:

Woah, woah, woah, wait up - milk in the bowl before cereal?

oh is that what that question meant? I never thought of it before, but yeah, sounds like a good way to keep most of your cereal from getting soggy.  Personally, if it's not a little moist there's no point in having milk. *deep thoughts*

As a messy eater of the gruel that results in letting cereal soak in milk, I can testify that it doesn't matter if you pour milk over cereal or add cereal unto milk. As long as you have enough milk and let it rest for a while, it'll end up soaked and pasty.

[Storel]

Mar 31, 2017 21:13:39 GMT puntosmx said:

Mar 31, 2017 19:29:49 GMT ohthatone said:

oh is that what that question meant? I never thought of it before, but yeah, sounds like a good way to keep most of your cereal from getting soggy.  Personally, if it's not a little moist there's no point in having milk. *deep thoughts*

As a messy eater of the gruel that results in letting cereal soak in milk, I can testify that it doesn't matter if you pour milk over cereal or add cereal unto milk. As long as you have enough milk and let it rest for a while, it'll end up soaked and pasty.

Just the way it should be, that is!

(Yes, I prefer my cereal chewy, not crunchy.)


Edit: Back on topic... I thought this comment on the comic page was both insightful and amusing.

acelightning said:

For some reason, Annie asking, "Ysengrin, what do you want to do with your life?" just completely cracks me up. She's what, fourteen? fifteen? and he's ...a lot older than that, and she's effectively asking HIM what he wants to be when he grows up :-D

[puntosmx]

Mar 31, 2017 9:00:07 GMT bedinsis said:

Ysengrin, clueless about emotions still. The reason Annie cared about the old blinker stone was because it was given by Mort who has now passed on; what purpose would a new one have?

Though maybe I'm the clueless one, since Annie seems to be smiling when saying she won't forgive him for breaking it.

Well, yes, Annie mentions Mort when Ysen-dad crushed the stone.
But her rage was at least half-fueled by how she depended on the blinker stone to access the aether.
It was a crutch, and Ysen-dad took it away to teach Annie a lesson. Annie taking the conversation elsewhere shows she is growing up from her dependency on that crutch.

[OGRuddawg]

Mar 31, 2017 23:50:29 GMT puntosmx said:

Mar 31, 2017 9:00:07 GMT bedinsis said:

Ysengrin, clueless about emotions still. The reason Annie cared about the old blinker stone was because it was given by Mort who has now passed on; what purpose would a new one have?

Though maybe I'm the clueless one, since Annie seems to be smiling when saying she won't forgive him for breaking it.

Well, yes, Annie mentions Mort when Ysen-dad crushed the stone.
But her rage was at least half-fueled by how she depended on the blinker stone to access the aether.
It was a crutch, and Ysen-dad took it away to teach Annie a lesson. Annie taking the conversation elsewhere shows she is growing up from her dependency on that crutch.

She was also using it as an emotional crutch to bottle up her anger and other emotions from her father's return.  It wasn't just a crutch for her etheric abilities or her memento from Mort.  Annie has been knocked down and broken in several aspects since her father's return, and she is just now rebuilding herself from the uprooting of the life she was living up until that point.  She has shown a lot of resilience and character growth, but she still has a very long way to go.  I can't wait to see how she develops in the next year or so in comic time.

[csj]

'I've always wanted to be a lumberjack'

[keef]

Apr 2, 2017 9:35:19 GMT csj said:

'I've always wanted to be a lumberjack'

'Leaping from tree to tree'