[196] Story Discussion

[Aspen d'Grey]

Woohoo! Finally, we get to the end of the countdown. Or at least, back into our own time. I think that she's calling the Tic-Toc 'the bird of the thousand eyes' because there are so many of them, possibly with one conscious. Also, getting the feeling that it's sort of supernatural, because Zimmy is really sensitive to that. (right? we're in agreement on that part, right?)

I'm hoping for no more creepy half-flashback things, myself.

Judging by past chapters, there are another 10-12 comics left in this one (assuming Tom sticks with something like a pattern, long chapter, short chapter), which seems about right to wrap up this little story. My guess is that Zimmy & Gamma will become friends with Annie & Kat.

Edit: Helps to follow my own advice and run the spellcheck.

[xux]

She could also be calling them that if that's their name.

[Aspen d'Grey]

Names have meanings. =P

[ekhornbeck]

This seems like a tricky one to me, where to post, since it's related to the arc rather than to the particular issue/strip.

But surely people have previously made posited this connection about Annie's cut:

www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=143

[alexg]

The bird with a thousand eyes makes me think of Argus, the hundred-eyed giant from Greek legend, who was transformed into a peacock. I doubt this is going to turn out to be the case, but the name has a certain resonance: it sounds mythological.

I really like how the "supernatural" elements of this comic blend technology and magic. I think of the environment in the "A handful of dirt" chapter, which seems to be achieved through science - the door, the holographic sky - but it could just as easily be a "magical" environment while being totally consistent with the story and characters that we've seen so far. And with Robot's new arm being planted there (or in a similar place), the two sides some together into one huge mystery.

[E!]

She didn't say 'bird of a thousand eyes' she said the bird <i>was</i> the Thousand Eyes.
So what is the 'Thousand Eyes?' Sounds creepy whatever 'it' is, Like some sort of mechanical-demonic security system.

[ocafi]

I think you're on to something. Then again, I'd put stock into whatever supernatural theory gets presented concerning The Court.

There may be more to them than just their clockwork innards, that much is for sure.

[iMacThere4iAm]

It seems likely that the tic-tocs are some sort of surveillance/security system for the school, as has been suggested before. I don't think they are evil, but it's hard to tell. They are quite creepy.

Neat effect in the last panel there.

ekhornbeck: Yes, people have noticed that it's the same cut coming back, but we can't really work out why and what it means. I'm hoping it will be explained before the end of the chapter.

[ekhornbeck]

I would conjecture, perhaps [conj] that at the very least there is a unifying theme of a spirit/demon realm, since reynardine refers to zimmy as a demon (right?), the cut is from a ghost-like entity, and she see's things that aren't supposed to be. I'll be interested to see if Annie can also see whatever these manifestations are [/conj].

[Yin]

Probably not, if so she'd surely have seen a lot more than what's already been shown.

[todd]

I hope that that cut doesn't turn into a permanent scar after this chapter.

With things apparently building to a climax, I wonder if some of those creepy things that were troubling Zimmy in the flashbacks - like the giant bug - are going to be showing up in the next few pages.

[mrw]

Regarding Annie's cut:
(Observations subject to error: i.e. I could be blind.)
- Kat can't see it.
- It appears when Gamma is near.
- Unknown if Gamma can see it.
- It disappears when Zimmy is near. (Note it reappearing the further Zimmy moves away from Gamma and Annie.)
- Zimmy can see it, but seems unsure as to what it's about.

[iMacThere4iAm]

mrw: I'd add that I don't think Annie realises it's there.

[Aspen d'Grey]

eexclamation said:

She didn't say 'bird of a thousand eyes' she said the bird <i>was</i> the Thousand Eyes.
So what is the 'Thousand Eyes?' Sounds creepy whatever 'it' is, Like some sort of mechanical-demonic security system.

Good catch on the wording- as has been suggested before, I do believe that the Tic-Tocs are used by the staff to keep an eye on students & the Court.

I do think that Gamma can see Antimony's cut, evidence [195]. Zimym is pretty far away from Annie & turned the other way, but Gamma is right next to her and it's still drawn. Agreed that Annie doesn't know that it's there- when she got it, it disapepared in the very next panel, so it's defiently not a 'normal' cut.

[Warui Tanuki]

I think the cut hasn't happened yet at the point we've been seeing it. All of this seems to be a weird sort of flashback Zimmy's experiencing, so I think the cut is something that happens at or near "0 hours, 0 minutes."

And hey, I just noticed flipping back through the chapter, we already saw the first part of this one back on 185 (page 2 of the chapter).

[ender24]

i think all the students in the school become some sort of alchemist or dragon slayer like the p.e. teacher...hopefully.

[Aspen d'Grey]

So.... Warui, you don't think it's the same cut that she got in 'Chapter 8 - Broken Glass and Other Things", when the ghost attacks her? I mean, I know we haven't seen any evidence, but that DOES make sense... At least, to me it does.

[ender24]

i'm sure it's the same cut, and i'd imagine that the ghostly girl who gave it to her has quite a history that may even relate to craver

[Myrani]

The cut is in the same place, at the same angle... I wonder if Zimmy and Gamma's respective effects on it would do the same things to the sword lady herself? And it seems interesting to me that Gamma brings the cut into view for us and Zimmy represses it, seeing as other things, such as the spiders and the Rogat Orjak which appeared in the alley, follow opposite rules.

[Aspen d'Grey]

Yeah, anyone got an idea why that happens? If Gamma is simply a counter to Zimmy's visions, then this shouldn't happen, right?

[waruitanuki]

aspengrey said:

So.... Warui, you don't think it's the same cut that she got in 'Chapter 8 - Broken Glass and Other Things", when the ghost attacks her? I mean, I know we haven't seen any evidence, but that DOES make sense... At least, to me it does.

Oh yeah. I should have read back through the archives after I spent two weeks away from my computer. I completely forgot about that cut.

[freemage]

Going with the assumption that Zimmy is psychic, it's very likely, I think, that she can sense the 'purpose' of the TicToks, at least enough to have cause to hate them.

I really don't know what's up with the cut, though.

[ethyl]

The Tic Tocs aren't evil, they saved Antimony. I'm guessing that they do keep an eye on the students, Zimmy doesn't exactly seem such an angelic person so i doubt she'd like to be watched by Thousand eyes. Though that is the boring explination of course

[tanukihat]

ethyl said:

The Tic Tocs aren't evil, they saved Antimony. I'm guessing that they do keep an eye on the students, Zimmy doesn't exactly seem such an angelic person so i doubt she'd like to be watched by Thousand eyes. Though that is the boring explination of course

Yes, they saved her, but you have to admit there's something not quite right about them. I'm guessing they're meant to watch over the students, as you said, but for some purpose other than spreading rainbows and preventing scraped knees.

[mrw]

Someone had mentioned they thought Annie's cut is a sort of "spirit wound", which sounds quite plausible to me. In that case, those in tune with GC's spirit world may be able to see it, or even affect it, while others with more earthly connections may be completely oblivious to it.
I wonder if Annie would see it in a mirror...

Regarding the TicToc's, I'm speculating they are the non-sentient eyes of some central system (or entity). This central entity may have earned the name "thousand eyes" because there are so many TicTocs serving as remote eyes. And if that were true, it would be reasonable to call a TicToc "THE thousand eyes" because it is simply an extension of the central entity.

I'm guessing Mr. Eglamore has access to this system and that's how he was able to save Annie. And how he'll "keep an eye on her". (Or a thousand eyes on her? ).

I wonder if he's in charge of security for the whole school...? He certainly seems capable! (I like him)

[candygurl813]

i do agree that i am speculating that the tic tocs are some part of surveilance (im betting that was spelled incorrectly)

also, on the note of "the thousand eyes" - maybe we're going to find out soon why zimmy seems to be missing hers...

[Deleted]

Warui said:

I think the cut hasn't happened yet at the point we've been seeing it. All of this seems to be a weird sort of flashback Zimmy's experiencing, so I think the cut is something that happens at or near "0 hours, 0 minutes."

And hey, I just noticed flipping back through the chapter, we already saw the first part of this one back on 185 (page 2 of the chapter).

I said something similar to this back when Annie and Zimmy were in the library and the cut showed up... I agree. There really isn't any evidence to support it, as Aspen said...

"So.... Warui, you don't think it's the same cut that she got in 'Chapter 8 - Broken Glass and Other Things", when the ghost attacks her? I mean, I know we haven't seen any evidence, but that DOES make sense... At least, to me it does."

(sorry, don't know how to do specific quotes twice per post.)

I think it is, in a way, the same cut the ghost 'gave' her. Only, that the ghost is doing the same thing Zimmy is doing... sort of peering into the future and 'causing' the cut to show up. Since it appears and disappears a few different times, I get the feeling that she hasn't actually received the cut yet.... I can't remember how I worded it the first time around, and I feel like I'm just babbling this time.

After reading so many different theories though, it's hard to say what's what. There's a few of them that make sense to me... It's hard to choose.

[shadow314]

imacthere4iam said:

It seems likely that the tic-tocs are some sort of surveillance/security system for the school, as has been suggested before. I don't think they are evil, but it's hard to tell. They are quite creepy.

Mmhhmm, I dont think there evil at all (I mean they save Antimony from falling to her death) but, I dont think there very good ethier. More like neutral collective brain robot parrot. Yes, and deffenitly surveillance too. I wonder if there is a room in gunnerkrigg with millions of screens showing what they see...

[Aspen d'Grey]

mrw said:

I'm guessing Mr. Eglamore has access to this system and that's how he was able to save Annie.

Remember that an audible alarm went off wehnt Annie stepped off the school grounds, before she told Kat to stay there.

As for the cut, it's been said that it's a spirit wound', and so I think that it's still there, but comes and goes with Annie's emotions, situation, or just people that can see it. Quite sure that Antimony cannot see it.

[ethyl]

I wonder if Annie looked in a mirror she'd see it? She obviously can't feel it and didn't feel it when she recieved it (though knew she had it) because she checked her face to see if it was there.

It also seems that the Tictocs have their own alarm system, as soon as Annie was about to fall into danger it let off a Beeeeeee noise, which I find quite a weird noise for a none sentient being to make without being programmed.