[1275] Better deal with that

[philman]

Nov 13, 2013 9:03:18 GMT zimmyzims said:

Edit: listing some bets:

-Jim North, thedoctor and Foresterr are of position 1 (right, Foresterr, you mean this?).
-Philman supports a mixture of 1 & 3.
-Toloc goes for 2 (I got this option from him).
-I think Basser is with me, basically the same idea put differently, so no. 4.

Edit2: if we're into listing these bets, please could somebody else continue it, as I don't really have time. Sorry for starting something I couldn't and never intended to finish.

I think 1 is less likely, Annie isn't usually the most subtle of people about social/relationship situations, it's just what most of us think would be the RIGHT thing to do.

I think Kat will think it is number 3, but I reckon it will be a mixture of 3/4. With Kat trying to make up by assuming it is no 3, and Annie getting annoyed that Kat doesn't see the real problem.

[Rymdljus]

I think it's alternative 4.

I really think this is the start of the great divide between Annie and Kat. Since they stand very firmly on opposite sides of the big Gunnerkrigg conflict (science vs nature) I think this will only get worse as the story goes on.

[zimmyzims]

Nov 13, 2013 9:20:28 GMT philman said:

Nov 13, 2013 9:03:18 GMT zimmyzims said:

Edit: listing some bets:

-Jim North, thedoctor and Foresterr are of position 1 (right, Foresterr, you mean this?).
-Philman supports a mixture of 1 & 3.
-Toloc goes for 2 (I got this option from him).
-I think Basser is with me, basically the same idea put differently, so no. 4.

Edit2: if we're into listing these bets, please could somebody else continue it, as I don't really have time. Sorry for starting something I couldn't and never intended to finish.

I think 1 is less likely, Annie isn't usually the most subtle of people about social/relationship situations, it's just what most of us think would be the RIGHT thing to do.

I think Kat will think it is number 3, but I reckon it will be a mixture of 3/4. With Kat trying to make up by assuming it is no 3, and Annie getting annoyed that Kat doesn't see the real problem.

Okay. Have to change you position there then. I didn't mean Annie really is subtle, though, nor that anybody else thinks she is. Running away like that is a very unsubtle way to leave them alone, but it could be Annie's way. The reference to the bird-boy story was excellent.

[Marnath]

Nov 13, 2013 9:03:18 GMT zimmyzims said:

Nov 13, 2013 8:24:11 GMT download said:

We taking bets on how Annie reacts to this?

Okay. Thus far, I can list at least 6 alternatives (please extend):

1. Annie is her "subtle" self and just tries to vanish "smoothly" to give them time together. Seems reasonable in the light of last time Kat had a crush on someone of her age.

2. Annie has grown into one mischievous teenager and goes to get Renard to celebrate/taunt.

3. Annie is suddenly upset about Kat not having told about her new relationship. This relatively likely option would probably have the most short-living consequences as it would just be solved with a laughter in a page soon to come.

4. Annie is "jealous" of Kat in the "best-friends" manner, running away as she suddenly feels she is no longer the closest person to Kat that she used to be as the best friend, because now Kat is dating someone, and that's even a girl so may feel like taking the best friend place as well.

5. Annie is secretly in love with Kat and jealous. In light of the most recent events this no longer seems very likely, but she has a habit of wearing a mask, so this is at least a possibility. I really hope this is not true. A teenage love triangle drama just is not what I want to read about. Ugh, maybe it could have some interesting side effects in the main story line, I guess, but certainly am not enthusiastic about it.

6. Annie is homophobic and runs in disgust. I think this is very much an outside chance unlikely to occur, but had to list it as it could happen.

My bet:

originally I was pondering between 1 and 3, but suddenly I feel 4 might be it. So, I say 4, Annie is upset because she feels she lost Kat as a best friend. This might slightly mix with the no. 3, at least in the manner that this feeling is partly raised by the fact that Kat did not tell her about her affair with Paz, thus shutting her out from important developments in her life. But I think the she really is not so much upset about Kat not telling than she is about Kat distancing from her. So, number 4 with the particular detail given above.

Edit: listing some bets:

-Jim North, thedoctor and Foresterr are of position 1 (right, Foresterr, you mean this?).
-Philman supports a mixture of 1 & 3.
-Toloc goes for 2 (I got this option from him).
-I think Basser is with me, basically the same idea put differently, so no. 4.

Edit2: if we're into listing these bets, please could somebody else continue it, as I don't really have time. Sorry for starting something I couldn't and never intended to finish.

Put me down for #1. "Oops, they saw me. Haha, no of course I wasn't standing here watching you...*flees*"

It pretty much can't be #6, as when she asked who the love letter was from, she said "Anybody we know? Are they in this room right now?" Notice that she didn't say he. I think Annie already suspects Kat is into ladies.

Nov 13, 2013 9:12:45 GMT sidhekin said:

Nov 13, 2013 8:22:34 GMT Toloc said:

For now I'm gonna pretend she's getting Renard to celebrate. Yeah, that's nice.
While she preoccupied at the moment, Kat doesn't seem too worried about it. That's a good sign.
Still there's gonna be at least a very awkward talk coming when Kat gets back to their room.

... or .... "Happy Arbor Day 2003"!

Beat me to it.

[Gulby]

I will go for a mix between the 1 and the 4 !

Because I zoomed a lot and noticed that Antimony has eyes. If Tom wanted us to be left waiting for the interpretation, he could have easily just drawn a blank face. But she has eyes. And no other expression. No angry eyebrows, no moody mouth, just round eyes.

But still, Kat stated she's running away. Why run away ? Why not just quit the scene on tip-toes ?... So, I don't know. xD

[cu]

Well, those people upset about gay interaction are getting triple ration. Couldn't happen to better chaps! :-D

[imaginaryfriend]

I've been withholding comment on the whole matter because I don't ship anyone with anyone or really think about such things...

Well, I do have one ship, sort of... but it's contingent on something else happening in the plot first and then it's more of a penultimate revenge crackpairing that must never be mentioned because it is far too horrible.

But isn't this comic really about youthful misunderstandings and how kids hurt each others' feelings intentionally and unintentionally without really knowing why they're doing it? So I'll guess Antimony will say she's fine with it a lot but will not act fine with it a lot, not really be homophobic but act homophobic, and generally act like a major tool for a while or something along those lines. Bonus points if she makes some sort of crack about what sort of experiment she was invited there to see.

[Marnath]

Nov 13, 2013 9:39:02 GMT Gulby said:

I will go for a mix between the 1 and the 4 !

Because I zoomed a lot and noticed that Antimony has eyes. If Tom wanted us to be left waiting for the interpretation, he could have easily just drawn a blank face. But she has eyes. And no other expression. No angry eyebrows, no moody mouth, just round eyes.

But still, Kat stated she's running away. Why run away ? Why not just quit the scene on tip-toes ?... So, I don't know. xD

She's running instead of sneaking because they noticed her presence. Tip-toeing away only works if you haven't been caught yet.

[Cleo]

I reckon Annie might go to Parley and have a bit of a rant and flail about what she's seen. "Why didn't she tell me? I'm supposed to be her best friend!" After all, Annie's got a quick temper but she's a runner too, she'll flee before she'll confront, especially after the Reynardine incident. With Parley being older, trustworthy and knowing about these smoochy type things, I think Annie would go to her. Of course, Parley will listen, secretly be 'Go PazKat!!' and then calm Annie down, give her a gentle reality check regarding why Kat might not have said anything and remind Annie that they've had a lot of ups and downs but their friendship can weather anything. Maybe Annie is feeling a little 'if she likes girls, why not me?' Even if she doesn't like Kat like that, not being able to be everything for your best friend and having to share them is a tricky feeling. There's a lot for Annie to process.

With Annie able to let out her immediate anger/confusion at someone who isn't Kat, she can then return, here Kat out, have some hugs and talk about kissing and junk.

[Lightice]

Nov 13, 2013 9:47:12 GMT imaginaryfriend said:

Bonus points if she makes some sort of crack about what sort of experiment she was invited there to see.

This actually contains a good point. Annie was invited. The unsubtle individual that she is, she might interpret what she saw as a deliberate snub at her by Kat. That could lead to bad misunderstandings...

[sparky]

I think Annie is just embarrassed about this:

www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=1236

[yarksie]

WOAH, Annie saw, shit got real.... and you know, I got my wish sooner than expected. I'll say it now, Annie might be a bit miffed she wasn't told but will probably accept it. But we shall see.

[dliessmgg]

When Kat said on the first page of the chapter that they're gonna do the tests once Annie gets back from her medium stuff, it made me think this chapter happens simultaneous with the previous one. Considering that bonus page, it somehow made me think that what Kat just saw is not the real Annie. Hmm.

[Chendzee'a]

O.o I dunno, now I'm worried. This page could be seen a couple of ways.

1: Paz MIGHT be something sinister, Kat seems to try to get away but is unable to resist. (Hopefully she's just caught up in the moment)
2: I actually don't want to ship Kat and Annie for some reason. So Annie being jealous on a romantic level leaves me kinda wonky. Though it may be cute on a "Some Kind of Wonderful" sort of way. But then I'd feel really sad for Paz.
3: I'm okay with it being more of a "I'm loosing my friend kind of thing." Though Annie is one to talk, after her vanishing and leaving Kat alone and worried to go play in the woods that time.
4: Kat and Paz kissing has been WAY more intense I'd ever imagine honestly. (Fans herself.) An abrupt change of pace for the story, but the girls ARE growing up, so it's to be expected.
5: Please o Please don't let Paz be up to no good.!!!!
6: Don't let Kat and Annie's friendship be a wedge between Kat and Paz, that would be too tragic. Paz doesn't need to be the crazy jealous girlfriend stalker type.
7: Either way I'm now out of Fuzzy mode and have drifted into wary panic.

[chrisjenl]

Nov 13, 2013 10:44:54 GMT dliessmgg said:

When Kat said on the first page of the chapter that they're gonna do the tests once Annie gets back from her medium stuff, it made me think this chapter happens simultaneous with the previous one. Considering that bonus page, it somehow made me think that what Kat just saw is not the real Annie. Hmm.

Yes that is what i was thinking too and there she get back under the blood and clothe burnt. So this need to be after that. Little strang

And for the bet  i was she walk like she is upset but i don't understand why Annie have to she this come. So i think she give them room to go on.

[GK Sierra]

And now, Annie's internal dialogue:



Don't worry Annie. There's one in every social circle.

[Chendzee'a]

Okay now that the shock of a 3 page kiss-quake has settled. I looked again at Annie's body language. I do think it was more of shocked. "Oh whoops what did I just walk into) Eject eject eject!! This was not meant for me to see!! I'll just be over here. Kind of reaction.

I imagine once Kat gets home Annie will just play it off. Unless Kat brings it up. Something along the lines of.

"Oh Kat, hey welcome back."
"Um.. hi."
"How did the experiment go?"
"Um it blew up."
"Sorry I couldn't make it..."
"Oh.. um that's cool."

Then anything goes after that. Kat makes the big reveal. They just pretend she didn't see. WHO KNOWS, not even going to try and guess.

[Toloc]

Nov 13, 2013 9:03:18 GMT zimmyzims said:

Edit: listing some bets:

-Jim North, thedoctor and Foresterr are of position 1 (right, Foresterr, you mean this?).
-Philman supports a mixture of 1 & 3.
-Toloc goes for 2 (I got this option from him).
-I think Basser is with me, basically the same idea put differently, so no. 4.

Edit2: if we're into listing these bets, please could somebody else continue it, as I don't really have time. Sorry for starting something I couldn't and never intended to finish.

While [2] would be amusing, I actually doubt that it will happen, would be too simple.
I'd probably go with something between [3] and [4].

She might also be a bit freaked that Kat is making out with a girl as a immediate reaction, but probably/hopefully not for long.

Nov 13, 2013 10:59:31 GMT chrisjenl said:

Nov 13, 2013 10:44:54 GMT dliessmgg said:

When Kat said on the first page of the chapter that they're gonna do the tests once Annie gets back from her medium stuff, it made me think this chapter happens simultaneous with the previous one. Considering that bonus page, it somehow made me think that what Kat just saw is not the real Annie. Hmm.

Yes that is what i was thinking too and there she get back under the blood and clothe burnt. So this need to be after that. Little strang

And for the bet  i was she walk like she is upset but i don't understand why Annie have to she this come. So i think she give them room to go on.

There was at least a small time skip between last chapter and this one. They are not simultaneous.
Kat, Paz and Annie are/were wearing their uniforms in this chapter. None of them were last chapter.

Annie's the medium, she likely does a lot of "medium stuff".

[thor]

You forgot: (7) Annie sees building with smoke pouring out of windows and Kat heroically giving mouth-to-mouth to Paz. Thinking quickly, she runs away to summon emergency services, forgetting in the heat of the moment that she can do that faster and easier with her blinker stone.

EDIT: Wow, about 20 people posted in the time it took me to post it. Whoops.

[temnoc]

I've been thinking...is there possibly something nefarious afoot? I wouldn't have thought as much of Paz, except that she pulled Kat right back in just as she was about to let go...

[noone3]

Nov 13, 2013 9:12:45 GMT sidhekin said:

Nov 13, 2013 8:22:34 GMT Toloc said:

For now I'm gonna pretend she's getting Renard to celebrate. Yeah, that's nice.
While she preoccupied at the moment, Kat doesn't seem too worried about it. That's a good sign.
Still there's gonna be at least a very awkward talk coming when Kat gets back to their room.

... or .... "Happy Arbor Day 2003"!

At least there wont be any robot such obnoxious around.

And since we already toss some odd reference, Annie could've stifled an "IGOTOGODOSOMETHING"... Those who knows, knows.

[snipertom]

Nov 13, 2013 11:15:30 GMT GK Sierra said:

And now, Annie's internal dialogue:



Don't worry Annie. There's one in every social circle.

(BTW I think it's 4. She's hurt that Kat didn't confide such a big thing in her. But I also don't think it will be the end of the world, though it might be super awkward/unhappy for awhile, Annie will probably withdraw into the forest because Kat was one of the few things keeping her in the 'real world'. But like with anything, we all have to grow up)

[hoskins88]

I think that those of you who are saying Annie is jealous in a "Just Friends Way" or are saying Annie is in no way running cause she's seeing the girl she loves with another girl. Are horribly wrong.

It's pretty obvious where this is going. And its just the beginning.

[arf]

My thoughts:
- could be 2. Annie's gone to get Mort to fire the clown act up again and ambush them in a 'surprise' way (... time that incident was 'fessed up to, anyway)
- could be 3. While I think Annie has had strong suspicions and is accepting in principle, the reality is a little... confronting. She goes off to burn some buildings and think it through. (bonus points: she meets Jack, who recounts a similar incident when he finally caught up with GimZam. Chapter ends with contemplation of whether or not that kiss declined from Faraway Morning is past its used-by date)

Or, the next 18 pages of this chapter consists of KazPat pashing, and ends by saying Kat is officially okay with this situation.*

* Anyone who is alarmed by this prospect should take heart in thinking the final 'later-r' is a logical fade-out to another scene.

[crater]

Really, I can't see Ann acting too harshly towards Kat and Paz.

Ann has been around the block a few times when it comes to weird, unfamiliar situations.

"my best friend is gay" is quite bland compared to "my best friend is a cyborg goddess" , or "my pet dog has tried to kill me and was once in love with my mother"


personally I hope the biggest aura Ann feels is Jealousy

"Ann, you should have just messed around with Jack when you had the chance instead of being an antisocial furry"

[TBeholder]

Nov 13, 2013 8:00:47 GMT Max said:

Maybe she went to get balloons

No, she have to... find... a... book.

Nov 13, 2013 8:09:54 GMT thedoctor said:

I actually have no idea where Annie and Kat's relationship is going to go after this.  It will be interesting!

Why would it go anywhere? Annie knew Kat's into birds for how long?

Nov 13, 2013 8:13:24 GMT The Anarch said:

Nov 11, 2013 16:32:16 GMT The Anarch said:

Next page: Camera pan to the left to show the robots recording the moment for posterity.

BEHOLD, MORTALS, FOR I AM YOUR PROPHET

We do. Of course, then you know what the proverb says - beauty is in the eye of beholder, anything else goes into its stomach...

[snipertom]

Nov 13, 2013 12:59:38 GMT hoskins88 said:

I think that those of you who are saying Annie is jealous in a "Just Friends Way" or are saying Annie is in no way running cause she's seeing the girl she loves with another girl. Are horribly wrong.

It's pretty obvious where this is going. And its just the beginning.

Oh god, it IS really obvious.

In the end Kat will create a form of artificial intelligence with the sole mission of solving the 'inevitable' rift between the Court and the Forest. It will me gigantic mechas with antigrav engines that go around capturing human and forest inhabitants like pokemons and 'studying' them until the population gets so low that their societies don't exist anymore. Then Annie will etherically alter the Seed Bismuth to recreate new societies every few years, but the secret weapon that she makes with SB and the help of the Anwyn and Ysengrin's terrifying skills of gardening will keep not getting finished, mostly because she keeps accidentally incinerating it in a rage.

Then Kat's robutts will make creepy portals designed to trap biological life by enticing them with Cake. Then Paz will get totally creeped out, break up with Kat who is now made of mostly robotic parts, retreat to the Animal Lab and intermittently send out genetically altered mouse-pigeon hybrid flocks to attack and steal resources.

Then Annie will see the pigeonrats and realise that the secret is the TicTocs. On Annie's way to try and capture a TicToc, Kat will see Annie and realise that she needs to save Annie from the roving evil mechas. So she will grow a biorobot and send it back into the past to try and stop the problem before it even starts, but instead it is a floc, of TicTocs.

The first TicToc goes back in time and saves Annie from falling into the ravine. The mechas realise what Kat's trying to do and catch a TicToc by setting up a Cake-portal full of crumbs. They reprogam it and send it back in time to try and kill Annie. This TicToc is called 'thousand eyes' and Zimmy, realising what it is, tries her utmost to protect Annie from it by throwing rocks at it.

Recognising the design as made by Kat, Zimmy comes to realise that Kat is the source of the evil Annie-killing bird and it really freaks her out because she recognises Kat's secret feelings for Annie. Why would someone want to make a bird that kills the girl she loves, Zimmy thinks to herself and Gamma? Gamma doesn't know either, but they try and hatch a plot to bring the two potential lovers together by making Kat more comfortable with who she is and by removing Annie's mask etherically. Unfortunately this has the unintended effect of making Kat realise her feelings for Paz (you see Zimmy and Gamma didn't see their little interaction at the Speakeasy), and makes Annie kind of even more unruly and liable to run away from situations and burn things and generally be an arsonist.

Eventually, in the future, the few survivors band together in jeeps and deloreans cobbled together from old technologies, determined to bring things to their true conclusion: the original aim of the court and the Seed Bismuth, the true love of AnnieKat, the synthesis of etherics and robotics. Paz volunteers to lead a mission; she takes along her own biological powers, Rey's etheric and lockpicking abilities and the eyewitness bot's tech abilities. They fool the DoorBot into letting them into the robot HQ, sneak past the adminbot and, using Anja and Donny's interface, they get into the robot king's mind.

The Robot King, sadly, had withdrawn into a mecha induced recurrent dream where he replays Diego's betrayal of Jeanne over and over again. Using some crazy kung fu, they hack into the deepest levels of his mind one layer at a time and using photographic and video evidence, manage to make the Robot King conclude that Diego wasn't really in *love* with Jeanne, he was only in *lust*. This is enough to make the Robot King believe in TRUE LOVE again and wake up. The Robot King agrees to rally the non-mecha robots together to help their mission.

They realise that the next people they need to rally are Ysengrin and his Army, who have holed themselves up in the ruins of the Old Court and have declared all robutts to be the enemy. Paz, eyewitness bot and Rey head to the ruins. Rey and Ysengrin fight at first, but it soon becomes clear that they actually have a bromance-gone-wrong; when Rey ran away to Surma's side and abandoned Ysengrin to the clutches of Coyote, Ysengrin was incredibly angry and betrayed. Rey apologises and they totally make out. Eyewitness bot takes a photo and posts it on instagram and facebook. Paz thinks it's totally hawt and shares the pics to her FB wall. Ysengrin thinks the pics are soooooo cute that he forgives eyewitness bot and all other robutts that are not mechas because he thinks they are soooo kawaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!! So anyway they join forces for the final assault.

Progress on Annie's SB weapon is proceeding and that's where they find Annie and help her with the project. But where is Kat? Some self-destructing mind-controlled robots point to Kat being in the power station. Wait, that's not Kat, it's some scary mechas trying to attack the power station and gain ETHERIC POWERS. Oh no wait, they were also trying to get Kat because she is the "Angel". After dispatching them, Paz & co end up diving into the ether lake and discover Kat living... under the sea. With some friendly crustaceans (Bud and Lindsey) and avoiding any accusations (of having creating an evil race of mechas). Eventually Bud and Lindsey as accredited relationship counsellors manage to work out that Paz and Kat are not meant to be and that Kat is meant to be with her true love ANNIE.

Finally they all rush back, robot army, survivors, rey, ysengrin and army, to the old ruins to where the SB weapon is, to try and get the lovers together and destroy the mechas with the powers combined! Unfortunately everyone is pretty hungry by the time they get there, and everyone mobs a Cake portal together at the same time, along with a wispwasp and the leaders of the mecha army who think they are totally about to capture them. Due to a malfunction in the portal design, this causes everyone to have a massive mind merge and turn into biosynthetic hybrid part-wasps with a hive mind. On the plus side, all the lovers are reunited and no-one will ever be lonely again. They all dissolve into an etheric-robotic-biologic amniotic fluid and ooze into the lake.

Forty days pass, and the only things to crawl out of the lake are Jones (who's had enough thankyouverymuch and decides to fuck off permanently to the Congo which is totally a much less dangerous place), Annie and Kat. Annie and Kat are SUPER ANGRY with each other and try to strangle each other. But they are no good at it because they are both way too girly and neither of them lift. Instead they kind of make out. Rawr.

TOTALLY HOW THIS WILL GO DOWN.

[temnoc]

OK, I'm seriously getting worried now. What if Paz really is up to no good? I really hope that isn't the case, when this is such a positive relationship within the comic.

[thagguy]

Nov 13, 2013 8:22:34 GMT Toloc said:

From what little I can see Annie's pose looks really tense. Her running away also seems quite agitated.
Best case she has to... find... a... something behind that wall.

The fact that Annie has the exact same body language in these strips tells me that this is the most likely explanation.

Plus I don't really see Tom doing a "Jealousy!" plotline, unless it's incredibly brief and a red-herring and Kat's just wildly misinterpreting things.

[Toloc]

Nov 13, 2013 14:12:03 GMT thagguy said:

Nov 13, 2013 8:22:34 GMT Toloc said:

From what little I can see Annie's pose looks really tense. Her running away also seems quite agitated.
Best case she has to... find... a... something behind that wall.

The fact that Annie has the exact same body language in these strips tells me that this is the most likely explanation.

Plus I don't really see Tom doing a "Jealousy!" plotline, unless it's incredibly brief and a red-herring and Kat's just wildly misinterpreting things.

Ooh, I didn't even see that. Interesting.
The wait for friday will be agonizing. From the zoom-out in the last panel I guess there will be a change of scene.