[249] Story Discussion - It Was Good to Meet You

[chibisoma]

Is it just me, or did Aly look like he had the same type of black junk encroaching on his eyes that Zimmy does?

Could whatever's messing with her be messing with him? Or did he simply not sleep much knowing he had to leave soon?

[Yin]

It's the chaaaange! It's not just his eyes, look at the rest of his face.

[todd]

The odd-looking marks at the edge of Aly's face are giving fresh support to the "He's undergoing some kind of metamorphosis" theory. I wonder if that's why he's having to leave so early in the day; maybe the process affecting him is speeding up more than he and his parents had expected, forcing a change of plans.

Also of note: Aly telling Kat that wherever he's going, it won't be accessible by telephone or e-mail. Maybe the theories linking him to Gillitie Wood do have something going for them. (I'd been hesitant about them since I doubted that an inhabitant of the forest would be as familiar with popular movies and musical groups as Alistair is, but there might be an explanation there.)

Whatever the case, one's got to feel all the more sorry for Kat at this point. Remember how, back in Chapter Six (the one about the cherry tree), she told Annie that she'd never lost anyone whom she'd cared about before. I think that that's about to change. (At least she's got Annie standing next to her in the last panel. That has to be some comfort.)

[fjodor]

Aly's wearing the II3 symbol. Tom, if you are going to do t-shirts, pllllleasse consider making a II3 shirt as well.

[CoyoteKing]

Maybe he has cancer.

[Bobbey]

How sad...poor Kat, this is all so sudden...

I just noticed how the color of Ali's hair is half dark brown, half its normal color. Also, I thought the marks on his face were some kind of fur, but I might be wrong...

[Myrani]

This looks quite a bit different than from what Zimmy went through... it's gray ringing around his eyes, not black going inside, and around his face almost looks like... Well, the gray rings and the marks around his face make me think of my parakeets' eyes and pinfeathers, and so the first thing that went through my mind was "Aly's turning into a bird!" His face also seems to be a slightly different shape.

Hmm, too bad there's a little antagonism going on between Annie and Eglamore, or she could inquire into this for Kat. Got the impression Eglamore knows about what's going on, anyway.

[yeochild]

You know what I think? I think this guy is wearing that thick clothing to stop everyone noticing that his body constantly emits heat. And to cover up the fur or whatever . . .

[Count Casimir]

He's about to catch on fire!

We never really saw HOW Zimmy got how she was...just her, living in Birmingham miserably. Maybe that's what Ali will end up as, and Kat will be his Gamma?

[geminisun]

Brr... my first thought on seeing his face was that he was dying. Wasting away.

But that'd be too mundane for this comic, right? Wrong sort of creepy. Still, that was my first, disturbing impression.

[todd]

I doubt that it's an everyday illness - unless this is intended as a "change-of-pace" story in which, for once, nothing paranormal happens (or the seemingly paranormal elements turn out to be a red herring with a mundane explanation).

[Goatmon]

Aly is melting! MEEEELLLTIIIING!

[Count Casimir]

Who was it who said he's the "Air" element?

If so, I have a theory; He only went to Gunnerkrigg for a week because his parents wanted to see how he'd do shut inside a school for a week. It's clearly not working, because he looks pretty bad, so he has to get into his own element (as it were) fast and be free once more.

Should this go in Wild Spec.?

[Boksha]

goatmon said:

Aly is melting! MEEEELLLTIIIING!

What a world...

Somehow I get the feeling his skin really is peeling off. Maybe in the course of the week he started wearing more clothes because he got sick of reapplying his skin every day, and he didn't even have time to do his face today?

[mrw]

Perhaps he never was human - he is in human form due to a spell of some sort, and now it's wearing off.
Maybe his parents just wanted him to experience the human world.

Poor Kat. She really deserves to know the truth, whatever it may be.

[Myrani]

boksha said:

Somehow I get the feeling his skin really is peeling off. Maybe in the course of the week he started wearing more clothes because he got sick of reapplying his skin every day, and he didn't even have time to do his face today?

...Despite it all, I'm sitting here giggling because of this idea held up along with Kat's efforts at makeup.

But yes, I hope Kat does find out, and sooner than later.

[mrw]

myrani said:

boksha said:

Somehow I get the feeling his skin really is peeling off. Maybe in the course of the week he started wearing more clothes because he got sick of reapplying his skin every day, and he didn't even have time to do his face today?

...Despite it all, I'm sitting here giggling because of this idea held up along with Kat's efforts at makeup.

*snerk* (coffee comes out nose) Just made the connection... the giggles are catching!

[Boksha]

Heh, I hadn't even thought of that.

[Myrani]

The subconscious mind works in mysterious ways...