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Definitely something.
(High-res version available for free over on my Patreon!)
Colorists oniontrain & koofins & Caedere !
https://unitedhelpukraine.org/ https://www.comebackalive.in.ua/
Definitely something.
(High-res version available for free over on my Patreon!)
Colorists oniontrain & koofins & Caedere !
https://unitedhelpukraine.org/ https://www.comebackalive.in.ua/
Category Artwork (Digital) / Comics
Species Yinglet
Gender Any
Size 900 x 1370px
Listed in Folders
I really hope she's just feeling bad for Kass and she's not about to drop something dark and horrible
99% guarantee you the next big drama is gonna be the whole "Females are expected to pump out eggs when they're in season".
The weird traditional patriarch is 100% not gonna just be quiet about a female yinglet being in the human military.
The weird traditional patriarch is 100% not gonna just be quiet about a female yinglet being in the human military.
I think it's more she's concerned that kass is still in some denial about being in a female body
No he started rambling about that after she reacted, I think it’s because he got groped and there’s something about yonglets we don’t know yet
Don't we know already in this case, though?
Like, EVERY female is a Matriarch. Because there's so few of them. They're not only the mothers of each enclave, but their highest authority. Like... if your mom was also your queen AND pope.
That lower bottom left face? That's the local Pope Emperor, being told by the young Cardinal-King they're trying to encourage to greatness how a lowly Priest-Servant put a hand on their crotch. But it's OK, because at least it wasn't the unholy gelding that the Cardinal-King thought was coming.
And now that Pope Emperor, Matriarch Vizlet, has to deal with her protege isn't just unready for her 'office,' but might genuinly run off and throw away all those chances, duties and opportunists at a moment's notice if Kass think there's a chance of turning human again. Quite possibly outright getting herself killed chasing those ghosts.
...
In other TL: DR words: Some heavy drama both personal, cultural AND political, no doubt incoming. And I'm calling it that I think Kass is about to be confronted by that she is simply invaluable now, and nobody is going to let her turn back into just a normal human soldier even if a chance turns up.
Like, EVERY female is a Matriarch. Because there's so few of them. They're not only the mothers of each enclave, but their highest authority. Like... if your mom was also your queen AND pope.
That lower bottom left face? That's the local Pope Emperor, being told by the young Cardinal-King they're trying to encourage to greatness how a lowly Priest-Servant put a hand on their crotch. But it's OK, because at least it wasn't the unholy gelding that the Cardinal-King thought was coming.
And now that Pope Emperor, Matriarch Vizlet, has to deal with her protege isn't just unready for her 'office,' but might genuinly run off and throw away all those chances, duties and opportunists at a moment's notice if Kass think there's a chance of turning human again. Quite possibly outright getting herself killed chasing those ghosts.
...
In other TL: DR words: Some heavy drama both personal, cultural AND political, no doubt incoming. And I'm calling it that I think Kass is about to be confronted by that she is simply invaluable now, and nobody is going to let her turn back into just a normal human soldier even if a chance turns up.
Ahh, and yeah that’s definitely true, but I don’t think that aspect (about returning to human) will be brought up so much as taking better care of her body, ie being more protective of it against those who may try to defile it
No, I think he's right. I think she's reacting to the "I just need to get over it already." I think that expression she's making is more "Is this how humans feel about sexual assault victims?"
can't remember off the top of my head but didn't they mention an issue with Brakka before, I thought she reacted because of the name drop
Also, she's trying to get Kass to accept being female now, and she's watching whatever progress was made on that front unwinding before her eyes because Kass hopes that will rob the memory of its force.
That looks like she's been treating him as a 'lady in waiting' rather than a man stuck in a woman's body, someone who simply doesn't understand the risks and emotions they've been experiencing.
She does! And i've been struck with the assumption there coming an explanation or something hinting at why she is giving this lil unaware critter this look.
Something deep. Something past my current grasp of this gendertopic, i guess.
Something deep. Something past my current grasp of this gendertopic, i guess.
I think she's worried Kassen's mental gymnastics are a sign she's teetering closer to the edge than anyone should have to.
Also, much like sleeping 8 hours at night and staying awake for 16 hours straight is not good for a yinglet brain, the male approach to "just man up and get over it" approach to emotional control is NOT going to work for Kass' brain anymore. ( Even to the extent that it did before...)
Also, much like sleeping 8 hours at night and staying awake for 16 hours straight is not good for a yinglet brain, the male approach to "just man up and get over it" approach to emotional control is NOT going to work for Kass' brain anymore. ( Even to the extent that it did before...)
They still have lead cups. In their society it's the only option for human males. That may be part of Vizlets sadness here.
I'm not sure how far we are past that. It's still tricky trying to figure out what works in general or for each individual.
I'm not sure how far we are past that. It's still tricky trying to figure out what works in general or for each individual.
They have lead cups, but the well educated also have germ theory and heliocentrism carried down from an unnamed parent culture. This is a society that's fallen onto late Bronze Age, early Iron Age tech from a point of technological abundance, potentially a space colony. We know some pieces of information from that era of technical abundance survived.
Besides, I doubt therapy is actually a modern invention. Humans are social animals. Talking to someone about horrible experiences and purging those demons by various means has to be as old as the convergence of language and the traumatized. Bottling it up and acting stoic is just an aeons-old reaction to trauma, where an individual plays up their worth to the herd as a bid to avoid being ousted from society for weakness. Soldiers especially have this instinct. (my source for that last bit is two stoic old grandparents who clearly still suffer and say jack because it "wouldn't be proper")
Besides, I doubt therapy is actually a modern invention. Humans are social animals. Talking to someone about horrible experiences and purging those demons by various means has to be as old as the convergence of language and the traumatized. Bottling it up and acting stoic is just an aeons-old reaction to trauma, where an individual plays up their worth to the herd as a bid to avoid being ousted from society for weakness. Soldiers especially have this instinct. (my source for that last bit is two stoic old grandparents who clearly still suffer and say jack because it "wouldn't be proper")
Historically, at least in Catholic Europe, your parish priest was your therapist. The Sacrament of Confession was often as much a therapy session as it was absolution from your sins. And even outside of the sacrament, if you were having problems, you went and talked to your priest (or at least the deacon). And even after Protestantism rose, your pastor was the guy to talk to when you were trying to deal with something.
Probably other religions had similar arrangements, but I'm not as familiar with them.
Probably other religions had similar arrangements, but I'm not as familiar with them.
Val is the artist, Kass is the name of the character. And for the time being, the people he considers his closest friends and supporters, like Elim, still consider him a “he”
Very true, but it also seems that far more than just Kassen's body has been deeply changed from the transformation magic. He's been actively fighting and often losing to random girly yinglet impulses and emotions. He enjoys validation from other girls even though he recognizes it as a new thing and hates that he does. When his best friend took his shirt off Kass suddenly realized he thought he was super hot. One could argue maybe Kass was always gay or bi but I don't think that's the best explanation. There's no way this is the first time these two inseparable soldiers have seen each other shirtless, yet Kass seemed downright ambushed by his own feelings in that panel.
Kass might actually be a girl now in every sense of the word, whether he wants it or not. That's not to say we shouldn't still respect his choice of pronouns, but it's important to recognize the difference between, say, a real life trans person and Kass. Kass is not trans. Kass was transformed.
Kass might actually be a girl now in every sense of the word, whether he wants it or not. That's not to say we shouldn't still respect his choice of pronouns, but it's important to recognize the difference between, say, a real life trans person and Kass. Kass is not trans. Kass was transformed.
It's been established that magic isn't a thing in this world.
He's obviously suffered trauma, and is confused and in denial regarding his new form. He's definitely having a hard time coming to grips with that, but that's not surprising considering how sudden this was or what a short time it's been since it happened.
He's obviously suffered trauma, and is confused and in denial regarding his new form. He's definitely having a hard time coming to grips with that, but that's not surprising considering how sudden this was or what a short time it's been since it happened.
Oh this was a "refer to Kass as he or she" thing, wasn't it? Honestly, I switch between the two constantly, depending on the situation. I use He when talking about previous, human Kass, or as the ongoing person inside the body, but I use She when talking about specifically female yinglet body/societal expectations things in relation to Kass.
ya know, if I'd been asked back when I first started reading this years ago,
I doubt that would have said discussions about post sa feelings
I doubt that would have said discussions about post sa feelings
God I just wish I could jump into the future so I didn't have to deal with the anticipation and wait for this and other comics I read. I need time travel, dangit!
You and me both. Whoever finds it first, travels to this moment and takes the other with him to the future, okay?
Waits ten minutes with nothing happening.... damn.
Waits ten minutes with nothing happening.... damn.
Technically, the eventual passage of time is just forward time-travel in retrospect
And many either cripple down with depression, have long lasting mental issues or go to therapy cause of that.
Oh PLEASE don't tell me that "feeling up the tits" is their way of getting pregnant.
I think Ran used a couple fruit to say 'no'.
I know it's probably silly to say with all this fantastic drama going down and the possibility for the next page being something 'BIG' considering that look on her face in the bottom right panel.
But it's the bottom left that really draws my attention. Kinda forget just how enormous Yinglet eyes are compared to their heads until you see one from that angle and wide open and then it's just wow.
And my current guess for the possible reason for that reaction in those bottom corner panels, among the many there are, is that MAYBE Yinglet females actually have a biological need to breed. As in if they just don't have sex at all they'll actually get sick in some way, maybe the eggs are still made but don't come out properly when not fertilized.
But the open, if now carefully structured, policies on sex among Yinglets makes this an enormously rare circumstance that only Matriarchs may be aware of.
But it's the bottom left that really draws my attention. Kinda forget just how enormous Yinglet eyes are compared to their heads until you see one from that angle and wide open and then it's just wow.
And my current guess for the possible reason for that reaction in those bottom corner panels, among the many there are, is that MAYBE Yinglet females actually have a biological need to breed. As in if they just don't have sex at all they'll actually get sick in some way, maybe the eggs are still made but don't come out properly when not fertilized.
But the open, if now carefully structured, policies on sex among Yinglets makes this an enormously rare circumstance that only Matriarchs may be aware of.
Intersting theory and certainly somthing that would that whole tftg thing even more awkward for the poor guy.
My theory is, since she got that look after he told her that his tits were touched, that maybe this is the way for Yinglets to become actually pregnant.
Or maybe it's just somekind of mating ritual or something and he is now engaged or something.
My theory is, since she got that look after he told her that his tits were touched, that maybe this is the way for Yinglets to become actually pregnant.
Or maybe it's just somekind of mating ritual or something and he is now engaged or something.
Oh that would be so weird if those were their eggs. o.o That's where they're stored until they have sex. @.@
Maybe not where they have their eggs, but kinda the "point of entrance" to make the eggs fertile. Or a point that needs to be touched, to signal the body, it's about to "make eggs".
Sorry if that sounds weird. I'm neither english, nor have I deeper knowledge in biology.
Sorry if that sounds weird. I'm neither english, nor have I deeper knowledge in biology.
*looks that up* Oh, well apparently for ferrets they're just pumping in so much estrogen while in heat it actually messes up their bone marrow making them not produce new red blood cells.
I was thinking less a hormone induced frenzy and a tiny bit like chickens. Perhaps Yinglet females are always making eggs and they could actually get built up inside them causing internal damage, or the eggs don't take on the proper shape/softness when not fertilized so they run some risk of damaging things on the way out.
Course hormone based issues is another interesting angle for it. But kinda hoping its less chemistry and more physics.
Though the more I think about it that look in the bottom panels could be just on Kass needing lots and lots of therapy rather than to just try and muscle through things every time.
I was thinking less a hormone induced frenzy and a tiny bit like chickens. Perhaps Yinglet females are always making eggs and they could actually get built up inside them causing internal damage, or the eggs don't take on the proper shape/softness when not fertilized so they run some risk of damaging things on the way out.
Course hormone based issues is another interesting angle for it. But kinda hoping its less chemistry and more physics.
Though the more I think about it that look in the bottom panels could be just on Kass needing lots and lots of therapy rather than to just try and muscle through things every time.
I think you're overthinking it. Vizlet is probably looking horrified at the toxic masculinity of "just get over it".
I wonder how much is "you are hosed because that is not how your brain works now and you'll be crashing in 5 4 3 2...." and how much is "damn, something bad must have happened to mess you up like that. I thought being a human male was supposed to be easy?"
ferrets in the real world are like that, they will literally die if they go through their heat without breeding
I'm not sure if it will turn out that they biologically need to, but I suspect there will be extremely strong social pressure in place. Vizlet is supposed to be in charge of making sure all the females in the enclave produce clutches of children according to their traits and abilities. I suspect Vizlet is starting to realize just how traumatic that would be for Kass. But she's also facing extreme pressure from the elders. Having a female with no defects not breeding would be a major issue with them. They may be able to dodge it by claiming she's a member of House Ivenmoth and not the enclave, but that could cause other issues.
Yeah even with her not being part of the enclave I could still see them seriously raising eyebrows over the apparent situation.
Though the females are still, I believe, ultimately in charge even in the larger enclaves. So I doubt they would go so far as to outright force it to happen. But then they couldn't really push back in any major away against House Ivenmoth itself, proclaiming her no longer a recognized diplomat could be a very serious act.
Though the females are still, I believe, ultimately in charge even in the larger enclaves. So I doubt they would go so far as to outright force it to happen. But then they couldn't really push back in any major away against House Ivenmoth itself, proclaiming her no longer a recognized diplomat could be a very serious act.
Ying skulls do indeed have big ol' sockets for them eyeballs
Picturing one putting on contact lenses and it's just this big shallow cup you could practically drink out of.
Oh, it seems Kass has struck a nerve with the Matriarch. Is it my idea or does she have a very dark past where she suffered a lot, including being desecrated by other Yinglets?
And from that face it seems that she doesn't want Kass to go through the same thing. A consequence of her implied vulnerability of her being a female.
And from that face it seems that she doesn't want Kass to go through the same thing. A consequence of her implied vulnerability of her being a female.
Vizlet once said she did some traveling around the land before she settled down as a matriarch. Maybe something... bad, happened to her once...
Something did.
She stepped on some bug with a big abdomen and whatever it was it made her foot sting for like a whole week
She stepped on some bug with a big abdomen and whatever it was it made her foot sting for like a whole week
.......okay Vizlet, shoot your shot. Just remember who you're talking too.
Viz doesn't like seeing all that stress.
10 bucks she's resisting the urge to hug poor Kass and tell her everything'll be alright.
... Come to think of it, I could use that too.
10 bucks she's resisting the urge to hug poor Kass and tell her everything'll be alright.
... Come to think of it, I could use that too.
That's my take on it. More a look of pity. I think all tough guy Kass did was accidentally mansplain how traumatized she actually is.
It's the kinda thing that if she heard one of her own girls say, it would be a Pretty Big Deal
Kass-Kass has not had nearly enough hugs, stick-armed or not.
This page has definitely piqued my interest in Vizlet's past. Whether you're joking or not, if your theory is ever revealed to be true, consider my mind BLOWN!
She would not have been so initially incredulous if she had been.
I think that look of horror in panel five from Vizlet is the realization of how bad Kass' life has actually been for the last few years if her reaction to a major traumatic event is "well, it could have been worse." Which, compared to being a soldier in a medieval war, is a valid point. There's also the fact that Vis has seen Kass as a young female "acting like a Tomboy." Which is what Kass looks like to her. That attitude of "man up and get over it" would be something both Yinglet and human males would develop as a survival mechanism in the respective Medieval and stone age societies they live in. Which would drive home that Kass really was a male up until recently.
Last few years for us, a couple weeks or so for them.
Of, you mean his military service and exile. I thought you meant the transformation.
I was counting the war in that. Kass called the invasion of Dinlan The Ten Seasons War. If he and Elim served for most of it, that's two and a half years. Plus the flight to Val Salia and however long they were serving as general recruits.
That's definitely a likely interpretation here. To add onto that I think she may also be starting to realize that she's more or less been kinda a dick to kass this whole time. At least by human standards.
Nerves are required in order to signal the facial muscles to contract and form a look!
Kass is trying too hard to "be a man" and "just get over it". They were almost raped. That's a big deal, and Viz knows it.
It is substantially harder to be a man when you are a small girl creature
I have no idea how anyone could get the impression that Kass is in denial about this. People seem to think that Kass should be a quivering mass, huddled in a fetal position in a corner.
Kass developed this coping mechanism in the middlemof a war. Turning into a quivering mass would have end up with him getting killed. Great example of Kass' coping mechanism here
https://www.valsalia.com/comic/out-.....cers/oops-193/
And here. "don't let him see." Damn.
https://www.valsalia.com/comic/out-.....cers/oops-195/
https://www.valsalia.com/comic/out-.....cers/oops-193/
And here. "don't let him see." Damn.
https://www.valsalia.com/comic/out-.....cers/oops-195/
Right. It's a mechanism they quickly found would no longer work as a yinglet, so they have to be more honest with how they feel.
Since it was shown that Yinglet biology at least for the basics of copulation does still involve aslot into a hole, its unlikely they are pregnant, at most i could see it as having triggered a sort of heat response to activate.
On the other hand it could just be her realizing that Kass has been essentially cramming the hurt and pain down and that is not healthy in the long run, my money is on her giving Kass a cooldown hug and letting them cry and let it all out.
Considering that between the transformation, their best friend almost getting killed by something that could be considered because of them, and the almost rape, plus the stress of their responsibilities Kass is likely reaching their limit before the have a serious breakdown.
On the other hand it could just be her realizing that Kass has been essentially cramming the hurt and pain down and that is not healthy in the long run, my money is on her giving Kass a cooldown hug and letting them cry and let it all out.
Considering that between the transformation, their best friend almost getting killed by something that could be considered because of them, and the almost rape, plus the stress of their responsibilities Kass is likely reaching their limit before the have a serious breakdown.
I would say that already happened, what with that whole "physically assaulting vizlet" thing very early on
Kass's pronoun in this strip, as his/her condition, is...unusual. But as a scifi fan, when I read 'they/them', I think of a gestalt hive mind.
Canon change: yinglets get pregnant via yinglet spore clouds
No, she realizes that Kass was indeed affected by her assault, it just hasn't completely hit her yet. And yes, I am calling Kass a her, right now. Tough titties.
I suppose that's fair enough. While misgendering a human person in the real world like this is destructive, this universe has made it clear that whatever happened to Kass didn't just change his physical form. He doesn't just look like a yinglet female, he cares about shit yinglet females are supposed to. Kass is "girlier" and "yingletier", mentally, than he wants to admit.
Nevertheless, I call Kass "he", because those are the pronouns he specifically asked to be called.
Nevertheless, I call Kass "he", because those are the pronouns he specifically asked to be called.
True true. When it comes down to it, one should respect what the particular individual wishes to be called. Legal identity is one thing, but respect for an individual's desire and choice should be paramount. Although I'd still refer to Kass as a yutz at times. That's warranted regardless. ^.-!
Oh Kass good Kass... you're either trying to not think about it and "just get over it", or actually are traumatized but put on a show to make it look like less of a deal to have her not worry about you, putting on a show to hide how touched you actually are... given how bad, terrifying and more traumatizing that could've been... talking so casually about the potential R occurring. Poor thing.
Really sweet of Matriarch, it's visible she cares, very much so at that.
Really sweet of Matriarch, it's visible she cares, very much so at that.
Methinks this isn't the first time Viz has actually heard of Kass's situation. If so, that means it's probably permanent, and adhering to the idea of still being a male human is going to cause some sort of internal conflict that will make her sick. Similar to Atreus growing increasingly sickly in God of War (2018) due to not knowing he's a God. o3o
At a guess? Vizlet heard about the attack on 'Ze Diplomat' and wanted to help them get through the aftermath, whatever the aftermath was.
Turns out, nothing happened. Kass has reported that they weren't hurt, just treated roughly. Vizlet probably assumed that meant some pushing, some shoving, some harsh language, that's it...
...Vizlet's mind = unburdened.
...only for Kass to elaborate that they were in fact beaten and sexually assaulted with the prospect of imminent penetrative rape before intervention arrived. This is the sort of thing that ordinarily any female, Yinglet or otherwise, would be in absolute conniptions over in it's aftermath and rightly so. But... Kass doesn't come from that perspective, they Have to 'stiff-upper lip' about it because that's the survival skill they picked-up from the trauma conga-line that was their life as a semi-medieval soldier.
...Vizlet's mind = VERY MUCH BURDENED!
Turns out, nothing happened. Kass has reported that they weren't hurt, just treated roughly. Vizlet probably assumed that meant some pushing, some shoving, some harsh language, that's it...
...Vizlet's mind = unburdened.
...only for Kass to elaborate that they were in fact beaten and sexually assaulted with the prospect of imminent penetrative rape before intervention arrived. This is the sort of thing that ordinarily any female, Yinglet or otherwise, would be in absolute conniptions over in it's aftermath and rightly so. But... Kass doesn't come from that perspective, they Have to 'stiff-upper lip' about it because that's the survival skill they picked-up from the trauma conga-line that was their life as a semi-medieval soldier.
...Vizlet's mind = VERY MUCH BURDENED!
This is what I assume was happening. But its nice to have this put into words
Holy shit this is written up so well
Holy shit this is written up so well
I think theres a good chance we're seeing some introspection on Vizlets part as well. She's a good person but she has been a politician/power player for most of her life and that's how she thinks. Up till now Kass was little more then a resource to her. She has no real idea who he is, and beyond its potential to benefit her and her people it's clear she isn't taking his condition all too seriously. A moment like this is probably a reminder to Viz that he's not just another one of her subjects and that treating him that way is likely doing more harm then good.
OHhh I just came back and took a look at this.
I think there is something to this too!
I think there is something to this too!
Good analysis.
There's also Kass' human attitude towards yinglets and females, something a Matriarh wouldn't expect to hear from 'an equal', regarding how completely inferior Kass judged them to be. It's one thing to know humans have opinions, might be another thing to hear them channeled through what should be an elite, respected member of the enclave.
I'm half expecting a 'straighten up and fly right' kind of speech, although some sympathy for Kass' prior life experiences would be nice. I forget if Vizlet believes the 'was transformed by object' history.
There's also Kass' human attitude towards yinglets and females, something a Matriarh wouldn't expect to hear from 'an equal', regarding how completely inferior Kass judged them to be. It's one thing to know humans have opinions, might be another thing to hear them channeled through what should be an elite, respected member of the enclave.
I'm half expecting a 'straighten up and fly right' kind of speech, although some sympathy for Kass' prior life experiences would be nice. I forget if Vizlet believes the 'was transformed by object' history.
H'm. Looks like someone's gonna need a hug, STAT.
Someone give Vizlet a hug and don't stop until she looks happy!
what is hinted is that maybe it looks like Vizlet went through exactly what she was worried about.I think that she needs to be scooped up and hugged. poor thing.
Oh dear me...
So allot of people throwing allot of interpretations at the look from the end of the page, wondering if its a sign of a big revelation or related to Vizlet realizing how much gender dysphoria Kass is dealing with, but throwing this out there, I don't think its that complicated.
As an SA survivor myself both Kass's, "Its fine, I am handling it, so its no big deal, whatever." and Vizlet's, "Oh god, you don't even know how hurt you are, do you?" Look's are painfully relatable.
Kass is HARD rejecting anything related to his female body that would make him vulnerable to the nature of the assault and throwing up smoke, probably internally as well as externally, going, "I've dealt with worse."
But he hasn't. Not even being injured or killing like he did in his days as a soldier prepared him for what it is like to feel that helpless and that fundamentally vulnerable in a moment of intense stress and danger. It is terrifying to try and consider just what happened or in his case, almost happened to him and so his mind is using a simple defense mechanism to defend itself. He's in denial.
Meanwhile Vizlet is WELL aware of the pain Kass is in, more so then Kass himself more then likely. The moment he started talking about his body like disconnected meat after describing an assault her mind likely jumped to, "Oh shit, she's still in shock!" And as Kass continued, throwing out stiff upper like, "I could deal with it, whatever." Talking points, that horror turned to sympathetic sadness as she realized... Ya... Ya Kass is DEEPLY unwell and right now she has the unenviable job of trying to crack the thin layer of, "Tough man, no pain!" and let Kass... Basically suffer a catastrophic emotional breakdown.
I know I'm letting personal interpretation bleed HARD right now, but I have been in Kass's shoes and in Vizlet's as well multiple times and my money is HEAVILY on this scene ending with either A. Kass breaking down in front of Vizlet or B. Kass blowing up at Vizlet, then breaking down as soon as she's alone.
So allot of people throwing allot of interpretations at the look from the end of the page, wondering if its a sign of a big revelation or related to Vizlet realizing how much gender dysphoria Kass is dealing with, but throwing this out there, I don't think its that complicated.
As an SA survivor myself both Kass's, "Its fine, I am handling it, so its no big deal, whatever." and Vizlet's, "Oh god, you don't even know how hurt you are, do you?" Look's are painfully relatable.
Kass is HARD rejecting anything related to his female body that would make him vulnerable to the nature of the assault and throwing up smoke, probably internally as well as externally, going, "I've dealt with worse."
But he hasn't. Not even being injured or killing like he did in his days as a soldier prepared him for what it is like to feel that helpless and that fundamentally vulnerable in a moment of intense stress and danger. It is terrifying to try and consider just what happened or in his case, almost happened to him and so his mind is using a simple defense mechanism to defend itself. He's in denial.
Meanwhile Vizlet is WELL aware of the pain Kass is in, more so then Kass himself more then likely. The moment he started talking about his body like disconnected meat after describing an assault her mind likely jumped to, "Oh shit, she's still in shock!" And as Kass continued, throwing out stiff upper like, "I could deal with it, whatever." Talking points, that horror turned to sympathetic sadness as she realized... Ya... Ya Kass is DEEPLY unwell and right now she has the unenviable job of trying to crack the thin layer of, "Tough man, no pain!" and let Kass... Basically suffer a catastrophic emotional breakdown.
I know I'm letting personal interpretation bleed HARD right now, but I have been in Kass's shoes and in Vizlet's as well multiple times and my money is HEAVILY on this scene ending with either A. Kass breaking down in front of Vizlet or B. Kass blowing up at Vizlet, then breaking down as soon as she's alone.
I think this is the right take from this. Kass is really downplaying their own assault and trying to just "get over it." Getting over it is possibly the coping mechanism they developed from ptsd.
Thanks for sharing in your experience Duhad to help is grasp that nuance.
And good job Valsalia on displaying such nuanced expression work and writing.
Thanks for sharing in your experience Duhad to help is grasp that nuance.
And good job Valsalia on displaying such nuanced expression work and writing.
I feel like this is right on the nose. As an SA survivor as well, I recognized that "I'm tough, it's whatever, it doesn't matter. I'll get over it." cope HARD.
It's a good thing Kass has so much support in his corner, I hope he'll be able to let down the facade for a moment so Vizlet can comfort him.
It's a good thing Kass has so much support in his corner, I hope he'll be able to let down the facade for a moment so Vizlet can comfort him.
Your analysis is making me think of the "it's not your fault" scene from Good Will Hunting.
Kind of easy for her to forget that Kass was male before I think. The phycological trauma of what almost happened is going to hit in a different way, and needs a different approach perhaps?
Why's FA being so weird about this, no, dont tell me, you're ovula-sely all soulless aliens fixated on mating mechanics and actions :p
Well Vizlet knows that non events, close calls and even threats of a thing are something animals do not care about two seconds after. People can, and people do though. Kass has entirely backslid to practically day zero mindset in this particular subject, to a place even Vizlet has not seen him be in. That the She that He is trapped in, is 100% a weakness and a burden, actively performing both male and female sexism upon himself. He's practically rape shaming (her)self while telling his hypothetical self to man up. Oh and also in denial of his situation, in Vizlets mind at least.
Yes I am swapping gendered pronouns not to deliberately misgender but to highlight the duality He/(she) feels. I will try that grammer out, i had a touch of that kinda dysphoria when I shot up actually a foot and a half in a year and a half, it seemed at least. I don't wish that or greater on anyone, makes an interesting story though.
Vizlet probably is a little disappointed as well as saddened because it's clearly not nearly the state that Kass *left the enclave in that very afternoon* having made inroads into the concept of childcare being okay. That day Vizlet could clearly see progress into Kass's emotional health He was making, and now see how much of thats just. Gone. From grumbling but okay with various fluids and lil murder pups, and even pitying a dud egg enough to help it along, showing (she) did actually care about the little rat lives (she) had joined. Something more than one yinglet has said about humans to Kass, that "they're never gonna care about a little rat like us, WE are always at your service," plays a part here. Vizlet likely knows the general accuracy of that claim.
I could also guess that Viz has seen and maybe experienced this herself, too. She was clearly A founder of the enclave, and work-traveled when younger possibly under the guise of finding a suitable location for the enclave. Her origin is as of yet unknown though. While egalitarian about queer behavior in males, yinglets still view their females as unspeakably precious and likely do not care for females being too masculine, and expect females to perform duty to their species, no hold outs, every one. So I'd guess Vizlet has seen this avoidant behavior with sex from females before. If not experienced it personally.
Tldr anyways, Vizlet clearly knows non events are still scary and have likely consumed yinglets of lesser poise before. Sees Kassen backsliding, sees the barriers he's put up will bar him from further acceptance of his lot in life now. Possibly this will cause a fear of fellow yinglets he did not previously have. Which will not help when (she) is inevitably brazenly propositioned next, if (she) does not DEAL with the potentials of all this.
Well Vizlet knows that non events, close calls and even threats of a thing are something animals do not care about two seconds after. People can, and people do though. Kass has entirely backslid to practically day zero mindset in this particular subject, to a place even Vizlet has not seen him be in. That the She that He is trapped in, is 100% a weakness and a burden, actively performing both male and female sexism upon himself. He's practically rape shaming (her)self while telling his hypothetical self to man up. Oh and also in denial of his situation, in Vizlets mind at least.
Yes I am swapping gendered pronouns not to deliberately misgender but to highlight the duality He/(she) feels. I will try that grammer out, i had a touch of that kinda dysphoria when I shot up actually a foot and a half in a year and a half, it seemed at least. I don't wish that or greater on anyone, makes an interesting story though.
Vizlet probably is a little disappointed as well as saddened because it's clearly not nearly the state that Kass *left the enclave in that very afternoon* having made inroads into the concept of childcare being okay. That day Vizlet could clearly see progress into Kass's emotional health He was making, and now see how much of thats just. Gone. From grumbling but okay with various fluids and lil murder pups, and even pitying a dud egg enough to help it along, showing (she) did actually care about the little rat lives (she) had joined. Something more than one yinglet has said about humans to Kass, that "they're never gonna care about a little rat like us, WE are always at your service," plays a part here. Vizlet likely knows the general accuracy of that claim.
I could also guess that Viz has seen and maybe experienced this herself, too. She was clearly A founder of the enclave, and work-traveled when younger possibly under the guise of finding a suitable location for the enclave. Her origin is as of yet unknown though. While egalitarian about queer behavior in males, yinglets still view their females as unspeakably precious and likely do not care for females being too masculine, and expect females to perform duty to their species, no hold outs, every one. So I'd guess Vizlet has seen this avoidant behavior with sex from females before. If not experienced it personally.
Tldr anyways, Vizlet clearly knows non events are still scary and have likely consumed yinglets of lesser poise before. Sees Kassen backsliding, sees the barriers he's put up will bar him from further acceptance of his lot in life now. Possibly this will cause a fear of fellow yinglets he did not previously have. Which will not help when (she) is inevitably brazenly propositioned next, if (she) does not DEAL with the potentials of all this.
And I thought the SA angle was obvious. Kass hasn't had to fear this before. He hasn't THOUGHT about doing it himself before, actively avoiding the idea when Ran provokatively states so, and when Vizlet more tactfully wonders. In denial, alienating himself from her body, what the consequences would be, what it would mean to the fate of the eggs. Having to go through the carrying only to at the end be confronted by definitely knowing those eggs would be allowed no chance, exiles are exiled for a reason. Her blood, his sweat, his suffering, for a gaping void of nothing. And his first. Her first. Which would ruin any chance he'd be willing to give across the rest of his life, to doing that.
Abortion does not exist in this sort of setting, beyond herbal, and that is very painful and carries risks of permanent infertility. Plus, she's a different species! Who knows if Yinglets even have a herb that their toxin-resistant bodies would be effected by in that way? That wouldnt have to be a synthesized hormone? As a result, infancide was a dirty secret practice done all across the world for a long while. There are legends in even ancient Sumaria of the results of unwanted children being raised by wolves and such, for a reason.
As well, complications to pregnancy are pretty fuckin fatal. Average lifespan for a serf man is about fifty. Average for a serf woman, more like thirty given how many die in childbirth. Yinglets are probably different, but also certainly not immune. Not very many animals are, even mice and cats and chickens who all have similar superfecund natures (can have more than one father per batch).
But critically, Kass is suffering from the weight of not having cried it out yet. And Vizlet sees an unenviable duty to confront Kass with this. Explaining just how dangerous it would have been, how dangerous Kass would be to himself going through that, how much this yes, does actually matter, you are not a dog you do care you almost had your will and bodily autonomy stolen from you for about a month. Yes it is hurting you, and you are also hurting yourself. You hold this poison in, like it won't all come crashing down on you. One time or another. If you leave this for when it will matter, it will be collossally destructive to yourself, your reputation, your mental health. Stop this denial. This does matter, clearly, to you.
Abortion does not exist in this sort of setting, beyond herbal, and that is very painful and carries risks of permanent infertility. Plus, she's a different species! Who knows if Yinglets even have a herb that their toxin-resistant bodies would be effected by in that way? That wouldnt have to be a synthesized hormone? As a result, infancide was a dirty secret practice done all across the world for a long while. There are legends in even ancient Sumaria of the results of unwanted children being raised by wolves and such, for a reason.
As well, complications to pregnancy are pretty fuckin fatal. Average lifespan for a serf man is about fifty. Average for a serf woman, more like thirty given how many die in childbirth. Yinglets are probably different, but also certainly not immune. Not very many animals are, even mice and cats and chickens who all have similar superfecund natures (can have more than one father per batch).
But critically, Kass is suffering from the weight of not having cried it out yet. And Vizlet sees an unenviable duty to confront Kass with this. Explaining just how dangerous it would have been, how dangerous Kass would be to himself going through that, how much this yes, does actually matter, you are not a dog you do care you almost had your will and bodily autonomy stolen from you for about a month. Yes it is hurting you, and you are also hurting yourself. You hold this poison in, like it won't all come crashing down on you. One time or another. If you leave this for when it will matter, it will be collossally destructive to yourself, your reputation, your mental health. Stop this denial. This does matter, clearly, to you.
Crying it out would be hard; yinglets have very big eyeballs which can produce a lotta tears
Hmmm, perhaps this is the start of a story arc where Kass finds a way to become his human male self once again?
that would be a lovely story arc. not an easy one, i assume, but a lovely one.
This truly doesn't strike me as a gender thing. Vizlet really needs to understand that Kass is a former soldier. Whether male or female, Kass has experienced a lot of awful things and has had to fight through them. They've seen heartache, loss, pain, tragedy, and even helplessness. They're in a terrible state and not used to feeling helpless and violated, but their intention is to suck it up and push through no matter what.
I admire that.
I admire that.
I mean male or female that’s not exactly the healthiest way to cope with trauma.
That's the thing. There IS no good way for Kass to deal with this. They've already had multiple mental breakdowns and fits since this started. Having another one isn't going to do any good.
The problem with being in a wartime setting is that if you don't bury your pain, it gets you killed. It messes you up long term, but you're alive to BE messed up.
I don't think it's exactly the same kind of pushing through right now though - Kass, though he jokes about it now, clearly processed the war as a terrible thing that had an effect on him, and processed is and moved on. That is healthy! Right now he's trying to deny that what happened to him /was/ bad enough to warrant the same processing. Moving on because you've accepted that something sucked and affected you but you've gotta still keep living a good life as well as you can, and trying to move on by insisting that you shouldn't even be upset are two different things.
This isn't about denial. They have been very clear on how emotional they've been, especially after they thought they'd lost Elim. They've very much allowed themselves to express their anger, sadness, fear, and helplessness.
What Kass is doing isn't the same as pretending they're not upset. They're saying they're going to keep trying to push through. They're saying that they can't let this fear and anguish run their life for them. It would be one thing if Kass tried to play it off like they weren't bothered or overwhelmed. But that's not what's happening.
What Kass is doing isn't the same as pretending they're not upset. They're saying they're going to keep trying to push through. They're saying that they can't let this fear and anguish run their life for them. It would be one thing if Kass tried to play it off like they weren't bothered or overwhelmed. But that's not what's happening.
But he kind of is, saying he isn't bothered by that. He admits the helplessness sucked but not that specific few seconds to a minute before Elim came bustin in that alley.
He's belittling the experience, not thinking about it, pushing it down, prioritizing others pain like I did with my mom's grief. I've done that before. It ent coping, it ent healing. He hasn't begun to process or cope with that. I was in denial for almost a decade before I figured my total lack of sexual appetite, as a *hormonal teenager and young adult,* was not just who I was. It also took the right partner.
This isnt actually a gendered thing but he is vastly in denial as to what the consequences could have been for his new biology. Even I am still tempted to say I just couldnt shit straight for a week and it coulda been so much worse yada yada, but thats the problem with letting this scar over, because untreated, the emotional wound undrained will poison you and make you heal into an uglier shape within. At the least, he has to honestly talk about it at least once. When I did it was emotional but pushed the burden off I'd carried for years, broke it down, to continue shrugging off for a month. It isn't painmongering to DEAL with it honestly. Its very hard. You willingly make yourself be in that vulnerable state you so fear, and are supported beyond and through your own negative selftalk. Its not weakness but bravery to stop the denial.
And I do understand that he's a soldier trained and tested, that all that won't come naturally to him and that asking for help also won't. I realize the setting is deeply a might makes right one, and that only really scholars will even consider this need. It doesn't make it any less necessary.
I will repeat it is not grief- or pain- or suffer-mongering, to HANDLE your own reactions, to LET yourself get help, to CONFRONT how bad it was, not coulda been not wasn't but WAS. It also again, is absolutely NOT a gendered thing and it isn't weakness to not realize that. But it is WEAKNESS to let yourself simmer and molder and keep that sort of Infection, held tight like a fuckin teddy bear or security blanket. Only inside your heart.
Hope he gets better, this is a good storyline.
He's belittling the experience, not thinking about it, pushing it down, prioritizing others pain like I did with my mom's grief. I've done that before. It ent coping, it ent healing. He hasn't begun to process or cope with that. I was in denial for almost a decade before I figured my total lack of sexual appetite, as a *hormonal teenager and young adult,* was not just who I was. It also took the right partner.
This isnt actually a gendered thing but he is vastly in denial as to what the consequences could have been for his new biology. Even I am still tempted to say I just couldnt shit straight for a week and it coulda been so much worse yada yada, but thats the problem with letting this scar over, because untreated, the emotional wound undrained will poison you and make you heal into an uglier shape within. At the least, he has to honestly talk about it at least once. When I did it was emotional but pushed the burden off I'd carried for years, broke it down, to continue shrugging off for a month. It isn't painmongering to DEAL with it honestly. Its very hard. You willingly make yourself be in that vulnerable state you so fear, and are supported beyond and through your own negative selftalk. Its not weakness but bravery to stop the denial.
And I do understand that he's a soldier trained and tested, that all that won't come naturally to him and that asking for help also won't. I realize the setting is deeply a might makes right one, and that only really scholars will even consider this need. It doesn't make it any less necessary.
I will repeat it is not grief- or pain- or suffer-mongering, to HANDLE your own reactions, to LET yourself get help, to CONFRONT how bad it was, not coulda been not wasn't but WAS. It also again, is absolutely NOT a gendered thing and it isn't weakness to not realize that. But it is WEAKNESS to let yourself simmer and molder and keep that sort of Infection, held tight like a fuckin teddy bear or security blanket. Only inside your heart.
Hope he gets better, this is a good storyline.
Eh. Agree to disagree. I don't think continuing to wallow in self-pity over something that can't be undone is going to help them.
And on a meta level, I don't want to see a third story arc involving Kass breaking down into a blubbering mess over things. We've been there. We've done that multiple times now. Doing it yet again every single time something goes wrong is just going to bog down the story and regress the character development Kass has already had.
What I want to see is a Kass that is proactive about the things that have gone wrong in their life. Accepting their new limitations and finding their inner strength in spite of them.
It's definitely possible that I'm just reading it in a different way from other people, so I suppose the only thing to do is wait and see where this goes. It's all just speculation at this point.
And on a meta level, I don't want to see a third story arc involving Kass breaking down into a blubbering mess over things. We've been there. We've done that multiple times now. Doing it yet again every single time something goes wrong is just going to bog down the story and regress the character development Kass has already had.
What I want to see is a Kass that is proactive about the things that have gone wrong in their life. Accepting their new limitations and finding their inner strength in spite of them.
It's definitely possible that I'm just reading it in a different way from other people, so I suppose the only thing to do is wait and see where this goes. It's all just speculation at this point.
Trauma is perfectly available to both sexes!
Some of them are just flavored a bit differently between the two.
Some of them are just flavored a bit differently between the two.
Nothing since their transformation has been good for their mental health.
Aah the face of seeing a gal try to minimize her own sexual assault because it wasn't "bad enough" to traumatize. Ohhhh kassen. that's not how this works.
It works, you just gotta bottle it up hard enough, forever!!
I think that steel facade of Vizlet just cracked wide open. Something about Kass loudly insisting that she isn't an actual female, but a male trapped in a female yinglet body, really hit a nerve somewhere as everyone's been saying. Plus, she as much admitted to being sexually assaulted, but apparently that's no big deal? There's a certain horror in this entire conversation and Vizlet's feeling it.
It's almost like she wants to say...
Welcome to my special hell.
Will be interesting to see what she actually says.
It's almost like she wants to say...
Welcome to my special hell.
Will be interesting to see what she actually says.
Helpless. Kass, you verbally battered Brakka to the point of distraction, and gave him a good poke just under his eye. Need to work on that self-confidence!
(yes, I'm skipping on the denial and such, because y'all have covered that!)
(yes, I'm skipping on the denial and such, because y'all have covered that!)
Not to mention had Brakka down and was choking him to death when Brakka's gang pulled Kass off of him. It basically took five Yinglets to subdue Kass.
Oh… oh no, Kass, honey.
I really like the realism of this comic. As in, how one might react to all this. To changing, to shifting into a new position, to the culture shock.
And that shocked reaction by Vizlet, you can HEAR the horror. Nothing happened, but it *could* have. The weight of all this, while Vizlet was surely aware before, it’s now painfully clear that Kass is in need of a lot more guidance and as much support as can be mustered. Kass deserves it for how traumatic that event was.
I really like the realism of this comic. As in, how one might react to all this. To changing, to shifting into a new position, to the culture shock.
And that shocked reaction by Vizlet, you can HEAR the horror. Nothing happened, but it *could* have. The weight of all this, while Vizlet was surely aware before, it’s now painfully clear that Kass is in need of a lot more guidance and as much support as can be mustered. Kass deserves it for how traumatic that event was.
Only yinglets can hear that sort of horror, human ears don't hear that spectrum
That second to last panel lol. "Well if I did get raped I'd just have to man up about it." What's that supposed to mean? In his soldier days did Kass "ravish" his fair share of helpless farm girls, so he just accepts it as a fact of life?
I doubt it. I don't think Valsalia would write a character this way. I think Kass was just a man raised in a culture where his personal feelings didn't really matter and being vulnerable around others was always neutral or bad, which is antithetical to yinglet female social norms.
Only a porn-damaged brain could come up with an assumption like this.
But in this comic? You really think Kass, our hasn't-even-talked-to-Ginny Kass said to himself "I sure don't want to be a part of this war so I'm deserting. Right after I razzle-dazzle a few random women because you know. Part of life part of war teehee."
No, a porn damaged brain came up with that while handing their dingdong.
Same as the people foaming at the mouth hoping for a scene of Vizlet getting assaulted.
Same as the people who thought Kattajak and Zally were going to incest.
Those are "BROTHER FUCKS SISTER FOR REAL!?" level porn-damaged brains.
No, a porn damaged brain came up with that while handing their dingdong.
Same as the people foaming at the mouth hoping for a scene of Vizlet getting assaulted.
Same as the people who thought Kattajak and Zally were going to incest.
Those are "BROTHER FUCKS SISTER FOR REAL!?" level porn-damaged brains.
I'll have you know I consume enough porn to damage the brains of a clown car worth of degenerates and even I can see this author wouldn't write the protagonist to be that unlikable.
(Though, I totally thought Katta and Zally were gonna fuck when they spun into that crazy kung fu shit, but in my defense I also totally forgot they were related.)
(Though, I totally thought Katta and Zally were gonna fuck when they spun into that crazy kung fu shit, but in my defense I also totally forgot they were related.)
You didn't know they were related. The assumption of potential humpening from that point was pretty fair, as it wasn't established until after this page that they were, in fact, related.
Reading the comments of that page filled with idiots screaming "incest" was physically painful.
Reading the comments of that page filled with idiots screaming "incest" was physically painful.
Idk. Different strokes for different folks I guess lol.
In their defense, I don't think it would be THAT shocking for a reference to full blown incest at some point in the story. This comic likes to take our real life taboo ideas and spin them into hilarious normalcy. I think literally the only time a true yinglet (i.e. any yinglet but Kass) has ever spoken of sex in a negatively taboo way at all was when Lopin got caught trying to hit on a human in his nurses outfit by a matriarch and he called himself indecent, which was downright anomalous, because otherwise yinglets seem to talk about sex like they talk about food. It's a casual subject appreciable by the whole family. They'll grope each other sexually and talk about how they're gonna plow each other in public and no one bats an eye.
Now, more subtly, we can probably guess that incest, not being beneficial to the colony, would be deeply frowned upon. But maybe not in all cases. I mean what difference to the colony does it make if, say, two yinglet brothers fuck each other? And from there, what difference does it make for male/female incest to happen that isn't reproductive?
I don't think the subject can just be leapt into in a single panel, but I don't see why socially acceptable incest would be completely off the table for yinglets, especially given that their bodies seem to use an advanced, fictional version of telegony (multiple males contributing to the genetic composition of 1 offspring), in such a way that everyone's KIND OF family, and "siblings" kind of aren't siblings. Zally looks and acts a LOT like Katta, but that doesn't actually mean that them mating would be genetically incestuous anywhere near to the extreme that a real human father and real human daughter would be. Hell, we know they have unusually high genetic deviation compared to most other creatures, so maybe incest isn't even dangerous to them whatsoever. It's a BIT of mental gymnastics, but nothing TOO crazy.
In their defense, I don't think it would be THAT shocking for a reference to full blown incest at some point in the story. This comic likes to take our real life taboo ideas and spin them into hilarious normalcy. I think literally the only time a true yinglet (i.e. any yinglet but Kass) has ever spoken of sex in a negatively taboo way at all was when Lopin got caught trying to hit on a human in his nurses outfit by a matriarch and he called himself indecent, which was downright anomalous, because otherwise yinglets seem to talk about sex like they talk about food. It's a casual subject appreciable by the whole family. They'll grope each other sexually and talk about how they're gonna plow each other in public and no one bats an eye.
Now, more subtly, we can probably guess that incest, not being beneficial to the colony, would be deeply frowned upon. But maybe not in all cases. I mean what difference to the colony does it make if, say, two yinglet brothers fuck each other? And from there, what difference does it make for male/female incest to happen that isn't reproductive?
I don't think the subject can just be leapt into in a single panel, but I don't see why socially acceptable incest would be completely off the table for yinglets, especially given that their bodies seem to use an advanced, fictional version of telegony (multiple males contributing to the genetic composition of 1 offspring), in such a way that everyone's KIND OF family, and "siblings" kind of aren't siblings. Zally looks and acts a LOT like Katta, but that doesn't actually mean that them mating would be genetically incestuous anywhere near to the extreme that a real human father and real human daughter would be. Hell, we know they have unusually high genetic deviation compared to most other creatures, so maybe incest isn't even dangerous to them whatsoever. It's a BIT of mental gymnastics, but nothing TOO crazy.
Everything thus far establishes it's Kass's mental defense mechanism towards being a yinglet and female.
You're really stretching with such a ridiculous and unfounded conclusion
You're really stretching with such a ridiculous and unfounded conclusion
Kass is tone deaf to his own trauma. A sad but understandable defense mechanism for a soldier who's perhaps been through so much that even the prospect of SA is relatively tame.
I think people are reading into the Matriarch's reaction too much, what with these wild ideas of her dropping some huge bombshell about female yinglet anatomy in the next panel. I don't think it's like that. I think at absolute most, the matriarch was SA'd and is shocked at the nonchalant reaction, but I doubt that's even the case.
I think she's just realizing how disconnected Kass is from the reality of his situation. She came here to help support "her" (Kassen, the lone female yinglet) but Kassen isn't a her, isn't a yinglet, and isn't even emotionally equipped to accept help from a "peer" (fellow female yinglet) the way yinglets are naturally supposed to in their society. Female yinglets seem to be responsible for each other's emotional wellbeing, can only thrive if they have a safe space to be vulnerable in, and in this sense, Kassen is alone.
Kass almost got forcibly held down and bred. He pretends like it's no big deal but if you look back at that panel, while he put up a solid macho front he was panicking internally in that moment. That moment, where Kass knew he was about to be sexually violated and there was nothing he could do to stop it, was far more horrifying than Kass is letting on and the matriarch knows it.
I'm hoping Kassen makes an emotional breakthrough in the next panel or few. Particularly in the field of vulnerability.
I think people are reading into the Matriarch's reaction too much, what with these wild ideas of her dropping some huge bombshell about female yinglet anatomy in the next panel. I don't think it's like that. I think at absolute most, the matriarch was SA'd and is shocked at the nonchalant reaction, but I doubt that's even the case.
I think she's just realizing how disconnected Kass is from the reality of his situation. She came here to help support "her" (Kassen, the lone female yinglet) but Kassen isn't a her, isn't a yinglet, and isn't even emotionally equipped to accept help from a "peer" (fellow female yinglet) the way yinglets are naturally supposed to in their society. Female yinglets seem to be responsible for each other's emotional wellbeing, can only thrive if they have a safe space to be vulnerable in, and in this sense, Kassen is alone.
Kass almost got forcibly held down and bred. He pretends like it's no big deal but if you look back at that panel, while he put up a solid macho front he was panicking internally in that moment. That moment, where Kass knew he was about to be sexually violated and there was nothing he could do to stop it, was far more horrifying than Kass is letting on and the matriarch knows it.
I'm hoping Kassen makes an emotional breakthrough in the next panel or few. Particularly in the field of vulnerability.
Honestly, I think the only thing that stopped Kass from "eeeeee"ing in autopanic mode was the one Ying commenting that "sexy tastes like dirt and hair." You can see Kass'expression shift from sheer panic to "WTF."
Oh yeah. Yeah. Rather bizarre and bold timing for comedic relief iirc.
I don't think Kass would "eeeeee" out so to speak though. When faced with mortal danger, he tends to put up a confident front, even when his inner monologue is screaming. He'd probably be the type to be insulting their dick size as it was happening or something like that, regardless of how the horror was impacting him internally.
But then again, I'm basing this on how he handled life and death combat situations (not SA), as a human (not a yinglet), and his temperament has clearly changed since his transformation.
I don't think Kass would "eeeeee" out so to speak though. When faced with mortal danger, he tends to put up a confident front, even when his inner monologue is screaming. He'd probably be the type to be insulting their dick size as it was happening or something like that, regardless of how the horror was impacting him internally.
But then again, I'm basing this on how he handled life and death combat situations (not SA), as a human (not a yinglet), and his temperament has clearly changed since his transformation.
The panic "eeeeeeee" is entirely involuntary. Kass actually did it when he had his smek fight with Vizlet. Having Kass knocked out of panic mode gave us a dark comedic moment to slightly lighten a really dark page. It also served a narrative purpose because if Kass had actually "eeeeeee"ed in public, Brakka and his gang would have been swarmed by Yinglets instinctively trying to protect a female in danger.
Kass makes a breakthrough, learning how to suppress emotions even better!
All that denial's gonna pop at some point, and Vizlet's smart enough to know
The dark reality of yinglet reproduction. It's like a fungus producing spores. But eggs
Panel 4... its there in the back of the mind... Whats really sad is I kinda know that nigling in the back of the head after such an incident... The Viz I think is about to become very motherly given she may have already had to deal with others who have had that either having happened or come close to happening. I was going to comment on the previous page as already the egg comment being the lead off comment rather than a gradual inquiry. Something tells me that Outside blood getting into a tribe is potential Taboo and they may have... interesting ways of dealing with it... My imagination can run amuk.
Viz too me is looking at Kass with a 'you poor creature/female' sort of feel. Some friction I think may develop with in next comic with, which has been mentioned previously, the chasing the idea of being human again. This is like the greatest thing to ever come about for Viz for betterment. And lunch is coming to closes so yea...
Viz too me is looking at Kass with a 'you poor creature/female' sort of feel. Some friction I think may develop with in next comic with, which has been mentioned previously, the chasing the idea of being human again. This is like the greatest thing to ever come about for Viz for betterment. And lunch is coming to closes so yea...
Wasn't Vizlet out on her own for a while? Maybe this happened to her before she was with the enclave.
Well she had protection most of the time but it was pretty extremely independent for a female yinglet!
The Matriarch is treating Kass like a female, saying things like "no female should have to go through zhat" Kass is treating herself as a male, trapped in a female's body. Kass says her tits aren't hers and that if something did happen he'd have to "man up"
I get the feeling that the Matriarch is simply sad that Kass has not fully accepted the fact that Kass is female. No female would 'just get over' what happened to Kass, females are too important to the Yinglet's society. Females are more important than males and Kass is suggesting that he isn't important, that life has fraked him over and over. Kass is saying he is less important and the attack shouldn't matter cause nothing really happened. I think the Matriarch is feeling very sorry for Kass who is not accepting the duty, honour and responsibilities of a female yinglet.
I get the feeling that the Matriarch is simply sad that Kass has not fully accepted the fact that Kass is female. No female would 'just get over' what happened to Kass, females are too important to the Yinglet's society. Females are more important than males and Kass is suggesting that he isn't important, that life has fraked him over and over. Kass is saying he is less important and the attack shouldn't matter cause nothing really happened. I think the Matriarch is feeling very sorry for Kass who is not accepting the duty, honour and responsibilities of a female yinglet.
She pretty well had Kass figured out when talking to The Trademaster... But I think hearing it outright from Kass..
This one hits a bit close to home for me.. I am really curious to hear and see what comes.
This one hits a bit close to home for me.. I am really curious to hear and see what comes.
And this is where we learn that Yinglets actually reproduce via palm-to-breast interactions.
Someone's disassociating and bottling up their severe emotional traumas in an unhealthy way again :C
At this point she's probably trying to figure out just how broken Kass is
I'm guessing that Vizlet knows something about the artifact that we don't.
Greetings, fellow OOPers! I'm here to remind you yet again that there's a place called "Top Web Comics" https://www.topwebcomics.com/?home=3 that compiles comics from various places. There's a bunch of cool stuff there. They have monthly votes, so you can support OOPs there. You can vote once a day per device, so your PC, laptop, tablet, phone, etc.
I've noticed that you can sometimes even get in extra votes from different IP addresses, or if you're disconnected from your IP and open up again later.
I neglected to check the numbers yesterday, but OOPs closed out last month at around 53rd place and around 845 votes. It's currently at 20 votes and 72nd place. The highest it's reached is 36th place, and the top vote getters seem to end up with something close to 20,000 votes.
Vote early, vote often! Help OOPs get noticed!
I've noticed that you can sometimes even get in extra votes from different IP addresses, or if you're disconnected from your IP and open up again later.
I neglected to check the numbers yesterday, but OOPs closed out last month at around 53rd place and around 845 votes. It's currently at 20 votes and 72nd place. The highest it's reached is 36th place, and the top vote getters seem to end up with something close to 20,000 votes.
Vote early, vote often! Help OOPs get noticed!
Kass is so callus and brash that is somehow hurt Vizlet sense abilities. It kind of makes me like Kass less. Sad
Why do I get the feeling the scenario that Vizlet described might be an experience. Again, sad.
Oh, Kass...
Much as it's not supposed to be your body, it is now, and you're in it. You've gotta respect it because if you don't well... You're not respecting yourself, and you're putting yourself in a really bad frame of mind.
Much as it's not supposed to be your body, it is now, and you're in it. You've gotta respect it because if you don't well... You're not respecting yourself, and you're putting yourself in a really bad frame of mind.
Kass' frame of mind is the kinda frame you pick up from the bargain bin at Wal Mart
"It was me, Kass. I made That Thing and turned you into a female yinglet. I am the one that did that, to you. The one to blame for it is me, Vizlet, the Matriarch. I did that thing."
It's almost hard for me to believe Kass could shrug off being raped. That is serious, unwarranted sexual assault. I've spent most of my childhood just being verbally abused and insulted (and on at least one occasion physical assaulted) and I still think about it almost every day.
I guess I can't really relate to his way of just accepting that that almost happened and move on. Unless of course he really hasn't and is just bottling-up his true feelings towards it. Which I suppose is something that I had done; I think it ended with me crying in the shower. Oh well, I don't do that anymore. Now, I dwell on shit. I feel like I'm missing the middle ground, lol.
Anyway, he didn't get raped, and if I was in his postion, that's what I'd think to. But if I did end up getting raped, I don't know if I'd think, "well, at least I didn't get raped too bad." Is that the point where Kass breaks down crying in the shower like I did? I don't know, but I feel like at some point he's got to fully process that stuff or something.
TLDR; I think other people put it better.
I guess I can't really relate to his way of just accepting that that almost happened and move on. Unless of course he really hasn't and is just bottling-up his true feelings towards it. Which I suppose is something that I had done; I think it ended with me crying in the shower. Oh well, I don't do that anymore. Now, I dwell on shit. I feel like I'm missing the middle ground, lol.
Anyway, he didn't get raped, and if I was in his postion, that's what I'd think to. But if I did end up getting raped, I don't know if I'd think, "well, at least I didn't get raped too bad." Is that the point where Kass breaks down crying in the shower like I did? I don't know, but I feel like at some point he's got to fully process that stuff or something.
TLDR; I think other people put it better.
Kass has leveled up his Emotional Suppression skills, he's practically master-level at not properly processing things! : D
I don't think it's "shrugging it off" so much as using the only coping mechanism he has which he developed in the middle of a war. Which is where you smash your feelings down flat and pretend the horrible thing that happened to you is no big deal so you don't freak out and get yourself killed. Terrible for you long term, but it keeps you alive in the short term. Of course Kass isn't in combat now, but he's doing what he's been doing for years now because it's the only way he knows how to deal with it. I'm betting his crying in the shower moments are coming.
I wonder if Vizlet is finally fully accepting that Kass did in fact, used to be human.
Pretty sure she accepted that quite a while ago.
did she? i've only read through the comic once, i don't remember a lot
After a certain point, even with sincere compassion, one's eyes glaze over.
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