[2824] Renard, is that really you?

[philman]

As normal as you can be in Zimming-whatever-this-is

[arf]

How do you know what normal is in here?
This might be Zimmy imagining she's Annie and that Loup/Coyote is Renard.

[blahzor]

That familiar contract already paying off. Can't be separated as they are the same now

[liminal]

Have we seen Renard the Wolf-Toy in Ether-vision before? Interesting to see the eyes greyed-out.

[pylgrimm]

"Annie, my eyes are down here"

[arf]

Aug 16, 2023 7:26:11 GMT liminal said:

Have we seen Renard the Wolf-Toy in Ether-vision before? Interesting to see the eyes greyed-out.

Not the wolf toy, but we have seen Renard in ether vision

[artezzatrigger]

I appreciate the differences in texture between plushy renard and his ether form

[Corvo]

Remember, kids: There's nothing wrong with being normal! That doesn't make you any less special than other people!

[pyradonis]

Made me immediately think of the OKCupid question "Which would you rather be?" with the possible answers Normal or Weird.

[ctso74]

What's the reality warping version of a "trip sitter" called?
Warp co-pilot? Reality anchor?

[Gemminie]

A daylit natural scene in the background, Annie looks Renard in the face and asks if it's really he, her hands still reluctant to release contact with him. But then, a nocturnal scene in the background, Renard replies that he's still himself as far as he can tell, and it seems Annie has let go of him.

Then, Annie clearly takes the risk of looking into the Ether – it's implied but rarely seen that when she does this her physical body stands frozen as if in a trance (or perhaps actually in a trance, depending on how one defines that). The vivid color and shading, with Annie's hair flowing like watermelon (ok, not quite that same color), definitely indicates that this is Annie experiencing the Ether, as does Renard's fox-like Ether appearance with the tiny symbols following his fur color transition. But we also see physical Renard superimposed; perhaps Annie states that Renard seems normal in the Ether, while Renard replies in the body?

Seems sensible enough of Annie to start by checking things out in the immediate vicinity, including the friend whom she's with. Next, I suppose, would be checking out their immediate surroundings.

[imaginaryfriend]

Aug 16, 2023 7:11:13 GMT philman said:

As normal as you can be in Zimming-whatever-this-is

I think we all should take a moment to appreciate the etheric bureaucracy which so far has managed to permit this backdrop for a god-tier reality-tv pilot episode to exist without collapsing the artificial dimension or the etheric pocket kingdom it's built on... or any major contradictions or paradoxes so far, really. Not even one abomination so far.

Now we just need a title. Two and a Half Gods? Pocket Dimension Renovation/Rescue? Say YES to The Mess? Etheric Codependent Wifu Swap? Bachelorette Alternate-Reality Island? It's Me or the Dog or the Wolf? Canid Eye for the Misally? Sorry, Your Princess is in Another Towering Hodge-Podge?

So many awesome choices!

[storyteller]

Honestly the fact things are normal is the most worrying thing because it seems whoever has control has uncontested control. So probably Coyote.

[hp]

how is it normal? it's like Gillitie, the Court and Zimmingham had a run-in with that teleporting pod from The Fly hehehe

[gpvos]

Well, that's what fake Renard would say!

[Gemminie]

My current speculation: The Seed Bismuth, long ago, created all this proto-material that can be used to make either natural landscapes like trees and plants or artificial landscapes like buildings and their infrastructure. Things grow from it if watered with the blood of an ethereal being – as we saw the Tic-toc grow when watered with the ethereal blood from the wound Annie suffered at the point of Jeanne's sword.

Somewhere there's a fight going on between Coyote and Loup, two powerful ethereal beings. There's blood being shed. It's falling on the Seed Bismuth-charged ground, and it's giving rise to all kinds of craziness.

[drmemory]

But is that really Annie?

Probably. With all the secrets being revealed and resolutions going on, I suspect Tom will let the dynamic duo be together for the experience.

I don't think this chapter is about them.