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Got somethin' to say
(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
Size 900 x 1627px
File Size 1.22 MB
Listed in Folders
It would be a conflict of interest.
Kassen is supposed to be an officer of Ivenmoth, which means she cannot have any loyalties to any other group. It also means that he has to keep any debts, no matter how small, either to a minimum, or nonexistent. Because a debt owed by him, is technically one owed by House Ivenmoth. I don't think Vizlet would actually try to collect on a 'cry on shoulder debt', because that would be pretty skeezy. But Kassen still has to avoid even the appearance of such a debt.
Or, at least unless Trademaster Viracroix gives her permission to engage in such an exchange.
And knowing him, he would absolutely give Officer Kassen permission to do so. But Kassie is still very uptight about such things, until she's told to stop being uptight.
Kassen is supposed to be an officer of Ivenmoth, which means she cannot have any loyalties to any other group. It also means that he has to keep any debts, no matter how small, either to a minimum, or nonexistent. Because a debt owed by him, is technically one owed by House Ivenmoth. I don't think Vizlet would actually try to collect on a 'cry on shoulder debt', because that would be pretty skeezy. But Kassen still has to avoid even the appearance of such a debt.
Or, at least unless Trademaster Viracroix gives her permission to engage in such an exchange.
And knowing him, he would absolutely give Officer Kassen permission to do so. But Kassie is still very uptight about such things, until she's told to stop being uptight.
Well, Beizel already knows about Kass being a former human. He teases it on page 182. Unless you mean he can't know that the Matriarch is a big ol' softie, but he already knows that too. ^_~
Ah, gotcha. Though, I'm not sure what she expected to uncover that she'd feel needed to be kept away from Beizel. Might be she figured this would be Girl Stuff (because of her continued lack of understanding of Kass's head), and thus Beizel would not understand. Unfortunately, I can't do more than speculate. ^.^;;
Star Trek V was probably the worst of the original series movies, but it did have some good character moments. One of those was when Sybok offered to take away Captain Kirk's pain and Jim's response was, "I don't WANT my pain taken away. I NEED my pain." Without pain, Bruce Wayne never becomes Batman. Without Uncle Ben's death, Peter Parker doesn't understand the awesome responsibility of being Spider-Man. And maybe without pain, Kassen Akoll isn't the largely altruistic person who tries to help everyone.
Crying and confiding your feelings with someone isn't in any way taking away the pain, it's just not letting it stay bottled up where it'll eventually explode. One of your own examples, Peter Parker, still grieved Uncle Ben's death, and regularly confided in the people he cares about when he's having a hard time and isn't sure what to do. That didn't take away his pain, but it did give him the chance to grow from it and become a stronger and better person. On the opposite end, when he ignored his emotions and bottled them up until they exploded the symbiont suit happened, which cost him a lot, including one of his best friends becoming one of his worst enemies.
Poor guy, but I can understand. Elim would be better for this. That's his "brother". Viz, for all respective purposes, is still a stranger. She may be on to Kass and the pain he is carrying, but she is also representative of something he hates about himself and he himself being.
That was not a violent push, but definitely one made in quick shock. Tho think Kas owe Viz an apology for pushing to hard in any measure.
Whatever triggered that is a sticking part cause by the stutter and the shaking Kas really 'wanted' to let it out. Wonder what happened or why they didn't...
Tho if this goes into that 'Real men don't cry' thing I said last time in a comment chain Imma be upset.
Whatever triggered that is a sticking part cause by the stutter and the shaking Kas really 'wanted' to let it out. Wonder what happened or why they didn't...
Tho if this goes into that 'Real men don't cry' thing I said last time in a comment chain Imma be upset.
We were SO CLOSE! Ohh, Kass, you stubborn fool!
I'm really curious what he's going to say. I feel like the most likely thing is going to be a reiteration of his rejection of his current state. "I don't know what it'll take to get you to understand, but... I am not zhat. Zhis body, zhis, is not me. I don't know if I'll ever be zhis, I don't know if zhis will ever stop feeling like an ill-fitting coat zhat binds and constricts and bunches in all za wrong places. Maybe I will, maybe I won't, but I currently am not, and I don't zhink I will be zhis any time soon."
I'm really curious what he's going to say. I feel like the most likely thing is going to be a reiteration of his rejection of his current state. "I don't know what it'll take to get you to understand, but... I am not zhat. Zhis body, zhis, is not me. I don't know if I'll ever be zhis, I don't know if zhis will ever stop feeling like an ill-fitting coat zhat binds and constricts and bunches in all za wrong places. Maybe I will, maybe I won't, but I currently am not, and I don't zhink I will be zhis any time soon."
I don't think its as dramatic as you think. You can tell by the way Kass is acting, he's shaking, he leans into the embrace and when he pulls back its with a sharp, sudden movement clearly indicating that he's suffering from more trauma related issues, reinforced by the way he continues to shake slightly and speak haltingly as he turns away and tries to regain his composure.
While I imagine his previous combat experience and PTSD from the various conflicts he was engaged with will be at the core of what he wants to explain (going over why, to him, being 'weak' and 'vulnerable' is a bad thing he should not need, instead he should be the one lending aid and strength to others like he has done for all his friends in the past), I don't think any of that is going to actually be an explanation about why he's actually totally fine and/or upset for reasons unrelated to being assaulted. Given how seriously all of this has been handled up to now and how much real life trauma and panic responses have been used up to this point in the scene, I think it would be unlikely and honestly kinda disrespectful if the comic suddenly turned around and went, "TWIST! Obviously he's not upset about the very traumatizing stuff he went through that allot of folks reading have been relating to very personally, no he's way to cool and strong for that to have bothered him!"
That isn't to say that Kass wouldn't see it that way internally, "I'm a tough guy who's survived worse then this, I SHOULD be okay!" Is a pretty common reaction to this sort of violence from people in the real world who have been in Kass's shoes, but that's not really how that works. And I expect and hope the comic will recognize that as much as Kass might push down his feelings and 'tough it out' due to feeling like he's been through enough to just process all of this internally, there is no explanation he can give that will actually explain away the clear pain he has and still is experiencing right now.
In other words, Kass might have a big speech he's about to give about how he's actually fine and Vizlet is wrong about what he needs and the scene might end with him walking out, but unless the comic takes a sudden turn and invalidates all of the very clear, very realistic depictions of post SA trauma its been using up to this point, that not going to be 'a reveal, pointing out things everyone has been over looking', its going to be him lying to himself and Vizlet to protect his battered ego and self perception as a 'strong, tough, stable protector who everyone else can relay on and who doesn't need others to take care of him.'
While I imagine his previous combat experience and PTSD from the various conflicts he was engaged with will be at the core of what he wants to explain (going over why, to him, being 'weak' and 'vulnerable' is a bad thing he should not need, instead he should be the one lending aid and strength to others like he has done for all his friends in the past), I don't think any of that is going to actually be an explanation about why he's actually totally fine and/or upset for reasons unrelated to being assaulted. Given how seriously all of this has been handled up to now and how much real life trauma and panic responses have been used up to this point in the scene, I think it would be unlikely and honestly kinda disrespectful if the comic suddenly turned around and went, "TWIST! Obviously he's not upset about the very traumatizing stuff he went through that allot of folks reading have been relating to very personally, no he's way to cool and strong for that to have bothered him!"
That isn't to say that Kass wouldn't see it that way internally, "I'm a tough guy who's survived worse then this, I SHOULD be okay!" Is a pretty common reaction to this sort of violence from people in the real world who have been in Kass's shoes, but that's not really how that works. And I expect and hope the comic will recognize that as much as Kass might push down his feelings and 'tough it out' due to feeling like he's been through enough to just process all of this internally, there is no explanation he can give that will actually explain away the clear pain he has and still is experiencing right now.
In other words, Kass might have a big speech he's about to give about how he's actually fine and Vizlet is wrong about what he needs and the scene might end with him walking out, but unless the comic takes a sudden turn and invalidates all of the very clear, very realistic depictions of post SA trauma its been using up to this point, that not going to be 'a reveal, pointing out things everyone has been over looking', its going to be him lying to himself and Vizlet to protect his battered ego and self perception as a 'strong, tough, stable protector who everyone else can relay on and who doesn't need others to take care of him.'
But why do you think that would be the case? Every element of the art, the writing and the first hand, lived experiences of people who have been through what Kass has been through, myself included, are all pointing to him suffering from the aftershock of a brush with SA and the effects of PTSD. On this page alone he accepts the hug, leans into the embrace and the healing and its not till a spesific idea, that he should be safe opening up and letting it out, that he becomes deeply agitated and triggered.
If he was fine and just annoyed, he'd either have turned down the hug or, when it went to far, pushed her back more softly if he was just trying too disengage or more roughly if he was getting mad. He'd also not be shaking and turning away while speaking in a slow, halting voice with a slight stammer if he was just fine. We know how he speaks when he's in control and its clearly and slightly sardonically and we know how he reacts when angry, quick and snappy. This is neither. His jerky motions, his dilating pupils, his inability to speak clearly are all signs of a panic attack and you don't get a panic attack when your doing fine and just annoyed by someone trying to hard to be nice.*
In the real world the argument could be made that all of these signs could be misconstrued and it really should be up to a trained mental healthcare professional to diagnose him, but this is a comic. The artist has very deliberately chosen to focus on spesific details and laid out the panels in a way to draw attention to how Kass moves and talks. We are not looking at a real life situation where any number of factors could be in play, we are looking at a piece of art (DAMN GOOD ART) that has clear intentionality to it. At this point, with how the scene has been presented, either Val is intentionally setting up Kass's genuine trauma expertly OR they are setting up a subversion which is deliberately misleading using very traumatic material to pull the rug out from under fans who have been put into a pretty vulnerable place by the art. Which would be kinda super shitty honestly. Basically going, "Hey you see all of this? All this stuff you can relate to from your own experiences? Well Kass is way to cool and manly to be effected by that shit! If you where, you must just be weak, unlike cool dude Kass!"
*Okay well unless you have a condition like autism which can make physical touch and awkward socials situations deeply painful and upsetting, but as much as I love to go, "OMG, they are just like me for real! They must also be autistic!" I don't think that's the case with Kass and he's not really reacted this way in other, similar or even more uncomfortable and awkward moments of physical affection. This comes off as a uniquely triggering and upsetting event, not a predictable reaction to this sort of attention.
If he was fine and just annoyed, he'd either have turned down the hug or, when it went to far, pushed her back more softly if he was just trying too disengage or more roughly if he was getting mad. He'd also not be shaking and turning away while speaking in a slow, halting voice with a slight stammer if he was just fine. We know how he speaks when he's in control and its clearly and slightly sardonically and we know how he reacts when angry, quick and snappy. This is neither. His jerky motions, his dilating pupils, his inability to speak clearly are all signs of a panic attack and you don't get a panic attack when your doing fine and just annoyed by someone trying to hard to be nice.*
In the real world the argument could be made that all of these signs could be misconstrued and it really should be up to a trained mental healthcare professional to diagnose him, but this is a comic. The artist has very deliberately chosen to focus on spesific details and laid out the panels in a way to draw attention to how Kass moves and talks. We are not looking at a real life situation where any number of factors could be in play, we are looking at a piece of art (DAMN GOOD ART) that has clear intentionality to it. At this point, with how the scene has been presented, either Val is intentionally setting up Kass's genuine trauma expertly OR they are setting up a subversion which is deliberately misleading using very traumatic material to pull the rug out from under fans who have been put into a pretty vulnerable place by the art. Which would be kinda super shitty honestly. Basically going, "Hey you see all of this? All this stuff you can relate to from your own experiences? Well Kass is way to cool and manly to be effected by that shit! If you where, you must just be weak, unlike cool dude Kass!"
*Okay well unless you have a condition like autism which can make physical touch and awkward socials situations deeply painful and upsetting, but as much as I love to go, "OMG, they are just like me for real! They must also be autistic!" I don't think that's the case with Kass and he's not really reacted this way in other, similar or even more uncomfortable and awkward moments of physical affection. This comes off as a uniquely triggering and upsetting event, not a predictable reaction to this sort of attention.
Right, but that's not what I or anyone else is actually saying. No one is saying "This is the ONE and ONLY way to handle trauma", we are saying, "This is clearly trauma."
Allot of people are arguing that Kass should be more open and not try and repress everything which, if you have ever taken university level psychology classes or read academic papers on the subject or hell, even just talk to a mental health specialists, the science is pretty definitive on repression and 'power through it forever' being basically the worst way to handle this sort of thing. Like, there are lots and lots and lots of ways of healthily working through trauma, some involving other people, some being alone, some being with strangers, others with friends and family, but no healthy trauma treatment involves ignoring and denying you have anything wrong with you and just toughing it out. Its like... Trying to heal a broken leg by running a marathon, its just going to make things worse.
But again, that's not really the point. The point isn't to argue any one way of dealing with trauma is better then others, its just to point out the fact that Kass has clearly suffered through a traumatic event and is exhibiting classic signs of someone suffering a panic attack triggered by a post traumatic episode. That's not really up for debate. You can argue weather or not he's actually having a panic attack, but its undeniable he is suffering from many of the symptoms of a panic attack. And that then gets back to my original point that IF he's not and this is just a red herring before he reveals he's actually fine (genuinely and not just trying to put on a brave face) it would feel more then a little shitty for people who have suffered from the sort of violence Kass has and are directly empathizing with this scene as it would basically be going, "Nah, if you were tough enough you would be fine, like Kass here."
Allot of people are arguing that Kass should be more open and not try and repress everything which, if you have ever taken university level psychology classes or read academic papers on the subject or hell, even just talk to a mental health specialists, the science is pretty definitive on repression and 'power through it forever' being basically the worst way to handle this sort of thing. Like, there are lots and lots and lots of ways of healthily working through trauma, some involving other people, some being alone, some being with strangers, others with friends and family, but no healthy trauma treatment involves ignoring and denying you have anything wrong with you and just toughing it out. Its like... Trying to heal a broken leg by running a marathon, its just going to make things worse.
But again, that's not really the point. The point isn't to argue any one way of dealing with trauma is better then others, its just to point out the fact that Kass has clearly suffered through a traumatic event and is exhibiting classic signs of someone suffering a panic attack triggered by a post traumatic episode. That's not really up for debate. You can argue weather or not he's actually having a panic attack, but its undeniable he is suffering from many of the symptoms of a panic attack. And that then gets back to my original point that IF he's not and this is just a red herring before he reveals he's actually fine (genuinely and not just trying to put on a brave face) it would feel more then a little shitty for people who have suffered from the sort of violence Kass has and are directly empathizing with this scene as it would basically be going, "Nah, if you were tough enough you would be fine, like Kass here."
yings looking kinda dumb
setting up in human slums
zey can scratch zeir own backs with zeir forhead.
But ze years start commin and they don't stop comin
you age really fast so you better start runnin
yings don't make sense but thats the fun
don't burry it deep and make yourself numb
So much to do, so much to see
So what if you're stuck with ze stilt feets?
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow
Hey now, you're a yinglet. Shut your shame off, go play
Hey now, you're a matriarch. need the eggs to get layed
And all zhat bunkhouse takes gold
Only Ran wants zhat info told....
setting up in human slums
zey can scratch zeir own backs with zeir forhead.
But ze years start commin and they don't stop comin
you age really fast so you better start runnin
yings don't make sense but thats the fun
don't burry it deep and make yourself numb
So much to do, so much to see
So what if you're stuck with ze stilt feets?
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow
Hey now, you're a yinglet. Shut your shame off, go play
Hey now, you're a matriarch. need the eggs to get layed
And all zhat bunkhouse takes gold
Only Ran wants zhat info told....
Sure is, and a pretty nice parody at that!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Star_(song)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Star_(song)
I was saying 'touched' metaphorically. I agree the physical touch didn't seem to bother him, but something about the words being said or the sudden realization of how much control Kass was giving up caused some underlying trauma to trigger, causing him to reflexively pull back. The way he is talking in the last panel, slow, halting and unable to fully face her at first is pretty typical of someone suffering from the early stages of a panic attack, trying to regain control in order to avoid spiraling.
And I know this from very personal experiences, its very true to life and very common to be 'fine' one second and then the next just need space and NOT to be touched, even if being touched isn't actually the thing that's causing you discomfort.
And I know this from very personal experiences, its very true to life and very common to be 'fine' one second and then the next just need space and NOT to be touched, even if being touched isn't actually the thing that's causing you discomfort.
I misunderstood. And I agree. I get the feeling Kass was leaning into it and then Vizlet started talking. Thinking about it, I don't think there was anything Vis could have said that would have been right. The best thing she could have done was not say anything at all until the moment was over. That's my feeling on it, anyway.
Fandom explodes in wild mass speculation
Hell of a cliffhanger. Kind storyteller, how dare you leave us dangling like this for another week!
'OOP' just keeps going from strength to strength. The emotional intensity of these last few pages has been incredible; these players, and the comic, still feel like they have a long, hard road to travel. I have to wonder: did you have the whole story planned out at the outset, or are your amazing characters just taking you along for the ride at this point?
You've shown us that humans and yinglets are fundamentally different in many important ways, and Viz, of course, is a yinglet born and bred. This makes the depth of her humanity in this scene so much more striking.
Hell of a cliffhanger. Kind storyteller, how dare you leave us dangling like this for another week!
'OOP' just keeps going from strength to strength. The emotional intensity of these last few pages has been incredible; these players, and the comic, still feel like they have a long, hard road to travel. I have to wonder: did you have the whole story planned out at the outset, or are your amazing characters just taking you along for the ride at this point?
You've shown us that humans and yinglets are fundamentally different in many important ways, and Viz, of course, is a yinglet born and bred. This makes the depth of her humanity in this scene so much more striking.
Hello OOPs peeps! 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.
OOPs closed out last month at around 53rd place and around 845 votes. It's currently at 644 votes and 53rd 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.
OOPs closed out last month at around 53rd place and around 845 votes. It's currently at 644 votes and 53rd 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'm quite impressed with the character development we are on the verge of here. I don't remember ever having seen Kass this vulnerable; distressed, angry, frustrated, sure but not like this. My first guess is it's flashing him back right before his village was Razed and he was conscripted if I'm remembering his backstory correctly 🤔
I'm not sure if what Vizlet is trying is actually helping or making things worse, but I can't say it's not leading to some interesting results.
I'm not sure if what Vizlet is trying is actually helping or making things worse, but I can't say it's not leading to some interesting results.
This is my favorite part when Kass says "it's explainin' time" and explains all over the place.
Seriously though, my hunch is he's not ready to fully... hell, I can't find the word I'm looking for. Something to do with coping and acceptance and emotionally dealing with stuff. I don't know. Anyway, I'm guessing he may give Vizlet some perspective into why he deals with trauma the way he currently does, or something relating to his past. I prolly be wrong, but I be wrong all the tam.
Seriously though, my hunch is he's not ready to fully... hell, I can't find the word I'm looking for. Something to do with coping and acceptance and emotionally dealing with stuff. I don't know. Anyway, I'm guessing he may give Vizlet some perspective into why he deals with trauma the way he currently does, or something relating to his past. I prolly be wrong, but I be wrong all the tam.
Hey people, its Weird Cat here!
Just wanted to drop a line and let you know that your comic book prowess is seriously off the charts. The way you weave those tales and bring characters to life, it's like pure magic on paper. Your craft is a symphony of awesomeness that keeps us all hooked. So, here's the deal: keep that incredible mojo flowing. The world needs more of your artistic wizardry.
Stay legendary!
Just wanted to drop a line and let you know that your comic book prowess is seriously off the charts. The way you weave those tales and bring characters to life, it's like pure magic on paper. Your craft is a symphony of awesomeness that keeps us all hooked. So, here's the deal: keep that incredible mojo flowing. The world needs more of your artistic wizardry.
Stay legendary!
One of the many, many, many things I love about this sequence is that it shows so clearly Vizlet's tragic flaw.
She is a yinglet.
She's educated beyond any other yinglet. She's extraordinarily skilled in politics, in reading and understanding both yinglets and humans, in being mother to all and unapproachable authority by turns. But she's a yinglet. And yinglets cannot. do. subtle.
The second-smartest natural-hatched yinglet in the enclave, Beizel, is just the same. He is a master of obtaining and controlling information. Except when he's got a secret, at which point he can't help but brag about it. Is it possible that there may have been an advantage to continue allowing Elim to believe that only Vizlet knew Kass's origin? Quite possibly. But nope, he saw a chance to tease, and he couldn't deny his yinglet nature.
And we've seen Vizlet make the same mistake before, back in the nursery, for which Kass had some choice words. She always pushes just a little too far, keeps talking just a little too long. It's just yinglet nature. And it's proof that, as a character, she isn't just a human in a yinglet skin (no offense, Kass). She's a flawed, twitchy, drop-dead gorgeous bundle of nerves held together within a four-fingered iron fist that doesn't quite close right, and as such she is utter perfection.
She is a yinglet.
She's educated beyond any other yinglet. She's extraordinarily skilled in politics, in reading and understanding both yinglets and humans, in being mother to all and unapproachable authority by turns. But she's a yinglet. And yinglets cannot. do. subtle.
The second-smartest natural-hatched yinglet in the enclave, Beizel, is just the same. He is a master of obtaining and controlling information. Except when he's got a secret, at which point he can't help but brag about it. Is it possible that there may have been an advantage to continue allowing Elim to believe that only Vizlet knew Kass's origin? Quite possibly. But nope, he saw a chance to tease, and he couldn't deny his yinglet nature.
And we've seen Vizlet make the same mistake before, back in the nursery, for which Kass had some choice words. She always pushes just a little too far, keeps talking just a little too long. It's just yinglet nature. And it's proof that, as a character, she isn't just a human in a yinglet skin (no offense, Kass). She's a flawed, twitchy, drop-dead gorgeous bundle of nerves held together within a four-fingered iron fist that doesn't quite close right, and as such she is utter perfection.
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