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Post by csj on Jul 8, 2022 7:06:31 GMT
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Post by shadow3 on Jul 8, 2022 7:16:57 GMT
Vampire Princess Miyu vibes.
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Post by avurai on Jul 8, 2022 7:36:39 GMT
This is definitely giving . . . vibes.
I know this forum isn’t a fan of such discussions, so I will refuse to elaborate. But the undertones are present.
To the point where I wonder if the embarrassing person Annie has a crush on isn’t Eglamore. To be honest, in hindsight, her reaction in that scene with Courtnnie felt far too scandalized to have been about Ol’ Jimmy Jams.
In other news, I’m betting a dollar that the next page opens with Annie going “Wait, what did you say?” As if she only just realized he said he’d like to die with her. Then again, I don’t know exactly how psychopomp eligibility works. Maybe he’s only offering to take her to the afterlife then swiftly return to the living when he’s done with the task. Maybe any spirit can do that. But I don’t get that sense.
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Post by madjack on Jul 8, 2022 7:41:18 GMT
Reddit has noticed this is page 33, while the last page was 31.
It fits well enough it's probably a page numbering issue, rather than a skipped page.
Edit: looks like this has been fixed too.
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Post by flowsthead on Jul 8, 2022 11:20:49 GMT
This is definitely giving . . . vibes. I know this forum isn’t a fan of such discussions, so I will refuse to elaborate. But the undertones are present. To the point where I wonder if the embarrassing person Annie has a crush on isn’t Eglamore. To be honest, in hindsight, her reaction in that scene with Courtnnie felt far too scandalized to have been about Ol’ Jimmy Jams.In other news, I’m betting a dollar that the next page opens with Annie going “Wait, what did you say?” As if she only just realized he said he’d like to die with her. Then again, I don’t know exactly how psychopomp eligibility works. Maybe he’s only offering to take her to the afterlife then swiftly return to the living when he’s done with the task. Maybe any spirit can do that. But I don’t get that sense. Did anyone seriously think it was Eglamore? |
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Post by csj on Jul 8, 2022 11:42:59 GMT
This is definitely giving . . . vibes. I know this forum isn’t a fan of such discussions, so I will refuse to elaborate. But the undertones are present. To the point where I wonder if the embarrassing person Annie has a crush on isn’t Eglamore. To be honest, in hindsight, her reaction in that scene with Courtnnie felt far too scandalized to have been about Ol’ Jimmy Jams.In other news, I’m betting a dollar that the next page opens with Annie going “Wait, what did you say?” As if she only just realized he said he’d like to die with her. Then again, I don’t know exactly how psychopomp eligibility works. Maybe he’s only offering to take her to the afterlife then swiftly return to the living when he’s done with the task. Maybe any spirit can do that. But I don’t get that sense. Did anyone seriously think it was Eglamore? so that steadman guy |
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Post by ctso74 on Jul 8, 2022 13:17:49 GMT
This is definitely giving . . . vibes. I know this forum isn’t a fan of such discussions, so I will refuse to elaborate. But the undertones are present. To the point where I wonder if the embarrassing person Annie has a crush on isn’t Eglamore. To be honest, in hindsight, her reaction in that scene with Courtnnie felt far too scandalized to have been about Ol’ Jimmy Jams.In other news, I’m betting a dollar that the next page opens with Annie going “Wait, what did you say?” As if she only just realized he said he’d like to die with her. Then again, I don’t know exactly how psychopomp eligibility works. Maybe he’s only offering to take her to the afterlife then swiftly return to the living when he’s done with the task. Maybe any spirit can do that. But I don’t get that sense. Did anyone seriously think it was Eglamore? My money was on Boxbot. What's the GC term for a kavorka? |
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Post by bicarbonat on Jul 8, 2022 13:18:07 GMT
TV and film have absolutely ruined this kind of exchange for me. I only hear distant crying and the sound of Tom tapping his fingers together while he whispers, "Who to break?" over and over.
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Post by Gemminie on Jul 8, 2022 13:54:57 GMT
Renard has been explaining that he hadn't returned to his body because he didn't want to leave Annie's side. Today Annie says she didn't want him to leave either, nor does she want him to now.
Renard explains that his feelings are similar to a family member: he wants to see her as she grows and watch what she becomes. It sounds like what a father, uncle, or grandfather might say.
Annie remembers well that the psychopomps have something on her. Renard offers to go with her, if that's possible, and if Annie wishes, which she does.
What's this all leading up to? I suspect that when they take her, she won't be expecting it, but as her familiar spirit Renard will likely know. Will that be happening in this chapter? I suspect that Annie's going to get home to find that Kat, Tony, and all the others with invitations aren't back from the "meeting" yet, and don't come back all night, and there's no word. And then ... what if the psychopomps show up right then and tell Annie she's coming with them? End of chapter, end of volume? That would certainly create some tension. But this being GC, what usually happens is something completely different from what I suspect.
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Post by Gemminie on Jul 8, 2022 14:01:05 GMT
In other news, I’m betting a dollar that the next page opens with Annie going “Wait, what did you say?” As if she only just realized he said he’d like to die with her. Then again, I don’t know exactly how psychopomp eligibility works. Maybe he’s only offering to take her to the afterlife then swiftly return to the living when he’s done with the task. Maybe any spirit can do that. But I don’t get that sense. That had not even occurred to me. I mean, psychopomps don't themselves go into the Ether unless they're actually killed (by Jeanne, for example). Renard already has an ethereal presence, so he could go with her to whatever ethereal location she had to go to – probably, anyway. We haven't seen Renard go with Annie to do anything psychopompish. Maybe that's too close to real death for his comfort, but he'd go there to help Annie. |
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Post by Runningflame on Jul 8, 2022 14:46:47 GMT
Did anyone seriously think it was Eglamore? As one possibility among several, yes. |
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Post by maxptc on Jul 8, 2022 18:32:20 GMT
"I want to be with you always" is an alarming sentiment from anyone besides a romantic partner(and even then...), and while I know it isnt meant to be in this context, I find it creepy. I get that Rey is her familiar, that it is not meant to be a romantic statement and he doesn't mean her harm. But he is only an "animal" in name, he is a full individual with above average human intelligence, and this is co dependent behaviour at best. Rey was in romantic love with Surma, Annies near identical Mom, and has shown major jealous tendencies. Rey is a killer, not a malicious one but still. Were this real life and not a comic, this relationship would be setting off strong time bomb vibes. He should have ambitions and desires outside of caring for Annie, like getting his body back.
Loup's intentions towards Annie have really made me rethink the entire magic animal/human dynamic. I don't really think Rey is anything but a loyal freind, but a nagging voice is now telling me that this relationship has a lot of potentially bad outcomes. Rey as or wanting to be a potential romantic partner is even more disturbing to me then what Loup is doing, since Loup is a semi immortal psycho with a crush. Rey is a semi immortal in a postion of trust and influence. I strongly hope this isn't a direction the story goes, but it wouldnt strike me as out of left field or impossible or out of character, and that worries me.
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Post by shadow3 on Jul 8, 2022 18:54:14 GMT
It all makes better sense if y'all think of Renard as Alfred Pennyworth and Annie as Batman/Bruce Wayne.
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laaaa
Full Member
Posts: 214
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Post by laaaa on Jul 8, 2022 19:07:22 GMT
I was also a bit creeped out by this exchange even though I know there is zero chance of romance, until another commentor mentioned Renard is an animal and suddenly it made a lot more sense.
Renard, despite his murderous intro, is obviously more than a decent person now. He's basically Annie's main source of advice, guidance, support, and encouragement. Sure, there's Kat and others, but they don't have his experience or power. (They probably also relate a lot more to each other in comparison to other people because of the ether. Both of them being magical beings must give them a sense of familiarity.)
He switched from "weird murderous demon stalker" to "parent" the moment he became upset for Annie's cheating, in my head. I think he thinks of himself kind of like a surrogate father, since Annie is his love's daughter.
And yeah, it's slightly weird to want to spend the rest of your time with a non-romantic partner, but Annie has been giving me ace vibes and (an ace myself) I also often wished I could have a non-romantic lifelong companion to my adventures and hardships. I can't exactly get in Annie's shoes, but I think companionship from a creature like Renard could be almost ideal.
One more thing: I suspect part of the reason Renard is saying all this is to soothe Annie, so she won't feel guilt over the loss of his body, and Annie would hesitate a lot less to agree to spend her life alongside him because of said guilt.
Also Renard is also like, a dog, and who wouldn't want to spend the rest of their life with their dog?
Finally, part of this is probably plot mandated, so that Loup can overhear and absolutely lose it.
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Post by flowsthead on Jul 8, 2022 19:26:31 GMT
I'm not sure why people are getting creeped out over a mutual statement. Neither wants to leave the other's side. If both people want the same thing, and it's not causing harm to anyone else, why the hell should any one here care?
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laaaa
Full Member
Posts: 214
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Post by laaaa on Jul 8, 2022 19:43:58 GMT
I'm not sure why people are getting creeped out over a mutual statement. Neither wants to leave the other's side. If both people want the same thing, and it's not causing harm to anyone else, why the hell should any one here care? Because of the combination of (a) such phrases usually only being told between romantic partners and (b) the extreme age difference. It's okay in this case, but there are a lot of cases it wouldn't be okay. |
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Post by Angry Individual on Jul 8, 2022 20:28:23 GMT
Renard is literally linked to Annie anyways, right? Wasn't that basically established when Kat did the whole familiar thing and he has a giant trail of fire hair running through him?
I really don't think there's anything there that would stop Renard from basically following her everywhere in her future occupation.
Also I never saw their relationship as anything more than Renard just wanting to make sure she's happy.
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Post by warrl on Jul 8, 2022 22:26:26 GMT
I'm not sure why people are getting creeped out over a mutual statement. Neither wants to leave the other's side. If both people want the same thing, and it's not causing harm to anyone else, why the hell should any one here care? Because of the combination of (a) such phrases usually only being told between romantic partners and (b) the extreme age difference. It's okay in this case, but there are a lot of cases it wouldn't be okay. Also (a) and (c), the latter being the extreme species difference. (Renard is arguably of three different species, none of which are even vaguely humanoid, none of which are normally sapient, and one of which isn't even normally alive.) |
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Post by maxptc on Jul 8, 2022 23:38:49 GMT
I'm not sure why people are getting creeped out over a mutual statement. Neither wants to leave the other's side. If both people want the same thing, and it's not causing harm to anyone else, why the hell should any one here care? I've noticed a common theme of webcomic fan fourms is constantly caring about and over analyzing just about everything every character does ever. I'm not a fan of "if they are only hurting themselves, what's the harm?" argument. That you think they might be harming themselves is enough of a reason to care, assuming you care about that person. |
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Post by avurai on Jul 9, 2022 0:23:45 GMT
I'm not sure why people are getting creeped out over a mutual statement. Neither wants to leave the other's side. If both people want the same thing, and it's not causing harm to anyone else, why the hell should any one here care? I've noticed a common theme of webcomic fan fourms is constantly caring about and over analyzing just about everything every character does ever. I'm not a fan of "if they are only hurting themselves, what's the harm?" argument. That you think they might be harming themselves is enough of a reason to care, assuming you care about that person. I doubt they think either character is actually harming themselves. Whether or not that’s the case in the story is another matter though. I’m not exactly inclined to draw a pitchfork yet, based on only this far into Renard and Annie’s exchange. There’s grey area here. But it’s a lot less light in hue than it was previously. It feels like, in my interpretation, the brunt of Rey’s internal journey is coming to see Annie as her own person, more than just a reflection of Surma. Through some points of view, that makes romantic interest less likely. To others, it raises the odds. In all honesty, my view has always been that Antimony’d have a higher chance of being interested in Renard in secret than Renard having that kind of interest in her. Renard does appear to think of her paternally, in his behavior and most of his language prior. However, concurrently, his increasingly infrequent use of “child” when talking to her seems to have now completely dissolved. Is this him respecting her increasing age, or him starting to see himself more like her ‘equal’? Unknown. There’s a lot happening and not-happening here. Schrodinger’s Cat, obviously, |
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Post by maxptc on Jul 9, 2022 1:20:37 GMT
I've noticed a common theme of webcomic fan fourms is constantly caring about and over analyzing just about everything every character does ever. I'm not a fan of "if they are only hurting themselves, what's the harm?" argument. That you think they might be harming themselves is enough of a reason to care, assuming you care about that person. I doubt they think either character is actually harming themselves. Whether or not that’s the case in the story is another matter though. I’m not exactly inclined to draw a pitchfork yet, based on only this far into Renard and Annie’s exchange. There’s grey area here. But it’s a lot less light in hue than it was previously. It feels like, in my interpretation, the brunt of Rey’s internal journey is coming to see Annie as her own person, more than just a reflection of Surma. Through some points of view, that makes romantic interest less likely. To others, it raises the odds. In all honesty, my view has always been that Antimony’d have a higher chance of being interested in Renard in secret than Renard having that kind of interest in her. Renard does appear to think of her paternally, in his behavior and most of his language prior. However, concurrently, his increasingly infrequent use of “child” when talking to her seems to have now completely dissolved. Is this him respecting her increasing age, or him starting to see himself more like her ‘equal’? Unknown. There’s a lot happening and not-happening here. Schrodinger’s Cat, obviously, I think the most likely answer is just that Rey is a good freind/mentor, and is being comforting as well as honest about how he feels. The relationship Loup, and by extension Ysengrin and Coyote, now has with Annie just has me a reading Rey with a little more cynicism then I would typically. I'm hopeful it's nothing. |
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Post by mochakimono on Jul 9, 2022 2:07:22 GMT
Renard often expresses even mild things a bit heavily and dramatically. My optimistic read is that Renard has that symptom some new parents have wherein they just get super attached and focused on their child to the point of an outside life and interests falling by the wayside. Which isn't a great thing in the long run if Annie herself ever goes on to have a more independent life of her own, but eh.
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Post by speedwell on Jul 9, 2022 3:06:34 GMT
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. (Attributed to Sigmund Freud)
That is, when you are dealing with characters who can be reasonably inferred to be being honest about their motivations, it is possible to take what they say at face value. Surma or no Surma, Renard has never seriously been seen to have romantic feelings toward Annie. The only character at all mixed up about that is Eglamore, and he's decently dealt with that and moved on. (Tony, of course, is right out of the question.)
As for people proposing that there is some sort of power imbalance between Renard and Annie to Annie's detriment, I must point out that the actual power in the relationship is Annie's. It is unremarkable for Renard to express the wish to stay by Annie's side permanently. That's how a familiar spirit relationship works, by definition.
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Post by noone3 on Jul 9, 2022 11:20:26 GMT
Wait!
Is she talking about "leaving with the psychopomps", when she dies or have a child?
Did they just made a suicide pact or what?
?!?
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Post by madjack on Jul 9, 2022 11:28:25 GMT
Wait! Is she talking about "leaving with the psychopomps", when she dies or have a child? Did they just made a suicide pact or what? ?!? According to this page, Annie is fairly sure her term of service will come before she dies or has a kid. |
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Post by todd on Jul 9, 2022 12:41:47 GMT
Wait! Is she talking about "leaving with the psychopomps", when she dies or have a child? Did they just made a suicide pact or what? ?!? According to this page, Annie is fairly sure her term of service will come before she dies or has a kid. Which might have the advantage of ending the cycle. |
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Post by warrl on Jul 9, 2022 16:17:39 GMT
If I remember correctly, it was established (while Annie and Kat were visiting the Realm of the Dead) that at least one psychopomp was killed by Jeanne.
I don't know the process for replacing a psychopomp in the Gunnerverse*, but my guess is that the candidate has to have some unusual qualifications...
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* In Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality universe, there's only one psychopomp: Death. Who does not age or suffer disease - but can be killed. And if the current Death gets sloppy with their protective gear and you manage to kill them, guess what! You have a new job!
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Post by liminal on Jul 9, 2022 17:22:32 GMT
I hear the reads about weird romantic feelings but, considering Tom's--and the comic's--history, I saw this more as the start of a new myth, "Fire Head Girl and the Wolf," as they guide lost souls into the afterlife.
Or a death flag for Renard before that happens, but I certainly hope not.
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