Can't the make a fake one to put on the stump? Like a Tooth cap?

lol that was literally my first thought too as a kind gesture! Now would strike me as the moment, or soon thereafter, that the Trademaster would walk in and present them with a gold one, or have more insight on how to restore them/repair/cultivate them.

Not really, its not the physical, its the emotional aspect.

The way I understood the dialogue, size, shape, and placement where all very important to them. It would by no means undo the emotional damage, but I figured serving as a prosthetic of sorts and allowing them some control over the carefully cultivated appearance and identity would offer some comfort and lessen the severity of the injury emotionally.

Personally, I think it would be better if Kass told him that he was thinking about it the wrong way.
It isn't a disfigurement, but a mark of pride. Even if they find out it was his scent that triggered this, the town is full of his people. Better here in the tower than out in the street. Plus, if it happened when he wasn't there, one or all of them might have ended up dead.
He stood as a shield between them and tragedy. Even if it takes years for the wound to no longer be visible, they will remember what it means for the rest of their lives.

Oh indeed, and coming from Kass that would likely mean a lot more given their situation, but given the implied cultural roots of our new Baxxid friend, I doubt the pep-talk would help immediately, or that Kass would think to be candid in this moment with a speech given their apparent high level of anxiety which is building. I thought of a prosthetic as an immediate comfort based off the precedence set by the disfigurement of WW1 Soldiers. In context of the scene and everything, this would likely seem like a senseless, random, sudden act of violence to the poor fellow. They're there on their first day and are jumped and, in their mind, horrifically maimed. Thoughts like "Did I do something wrong? Was this my fault?" and other such things I should suspect would leave them reeling like when Kass had her transformation: his world was also dramatically and suddenly changed, but whereas Kass (to the best of everyone's knowledge) is stuck like this, our Baxxid friend could have their situation overcome in time by regenerating their horn.

I'd go on that a false horn or some kind of cosmetic or prosthetic could be given as something symbolic and bittersweet to comfort them. "Hey, I know it's not the same as the other one, and I'm not familiar with Baxxid customs and culture, but you said that your horns are carefully cultivated as a part of your identity. Well... honestly I don't know you all that well, but I learned this from your actions: you're a noble, heroic, and selfless sort of person to risk all that by holding back for people you don't even really know yet. So, hopefully this doesn't sound cheesey or trite, but every time you try something new, it changes you in a way. Sometimes a little, sometimes... a lot more than we plan, and I asked around to get this made for you. Hopefully it makes you feel more... well like you haven't lost your identity, because I know when everyone else sees that, we're going to see exactly the same brave person we saw earlier today."

and maybe you get a "Hhhhhhthis is a flattering gesssssturehhhHHhhh" kind of response that leads to them getting closer to everybody through their trial by fire, and opens up the door for conversations later, and then some bonding with Kass of her situation down the line, because honestly I doubt you're going to overcome a whole culture about self image and individuality and how they perceive it in one conversation, effectively telling them that they're wrong. Those kinds of things are usually pretty ingrained in a culture and take time to challenge.

I'm with Jyoo. Although, WW1 was when we started issuing both badges of honor and natural-looking prosthetics at field hospitals. Both were unfortunately intended less for healing than as a way to get soldiers to bottle up trauma until after the public saw them come home, and have become ways to reassure people that soldiering doesn't have the consequences that it does.

The way I see it, Kalgkur needs to understand that his community' fears led them to shun and compartmentalize him away as a soldier. The real loss of identity isn't from his fin, it's what he's been going through over the entire story arc of him being made into a soldier, and the fin just makes that loss so tangible that he won't be able to ignore it anymore.

He needs to learn to face the changes that have happened in how he and his community relate with each other, accept that he's suffered very real losses and he deserves to be able to mourn them, recognize the external causes that have made this happen to him, -separate- them from his sense of self-worth, and then move forward rebuilding it by making decisions for himself again. Unfortunately these are all steps that House Ivenmoth has been systematically preventing anyone on the team from taking, Kass most of all.

That said, one of the first steps in a proper course of treatment would also be a prosthetic. The patient can choose whether or not to use it, and a lot of people use it less and less over time, but if the community (or a new community, even a new group of friends) doesn't make the effort to give back as much as possible of what was taken, a re-empowered way of relating to it can get pretty grim. I'd say Jyoo is spot on for how to present that in an emotionally rehabilitative way.

The metal worker girl is going to make one for him I bet before its all said and done.

Yeah! She'd be all too happy to do that for him.

Oh that'd be cool!

Maybe she could Kintsugi his broken horn!

Kalgkur with a golden horn hand crafted by someone he likes, I bet that'd really help his mental distress

Poor baby :(

Poor Kalgkur, lost a piece of himself...

Right... right.. (ah shit)

🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

Moreover, the injury itself is deeply rooted in who he is and how he chooses to approach life's challenges. Own it, Kal!

And I was thinking that the human woman for make a new fin out of fine metal for Kalgkur.

Yes! Jeweler uses her beautiful, delicate hands to sculpt a golden fin for Khal!

Even better would be reforming the fin with the broken off parts and join them all together with gold or something. The breaking is a part of his experiences so showing that and it's reconstruction seems like it might be a match for his culture.

This might work actualy, but, its a psyc thing, so hard to say.

Like that Japanese art of mending ceramics with gold. Kinstugi, I think/

It looked like Yannit's 700 PSI shoulder claws pretty much crushed it to dust... but looking back, the idea that it could have been reattached otherwise lends new weight to that moment, and to that 'pak' sound that makes things just disappear from existence.

Yes!

I like that. Like the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery.

Exactly.

Oh damn that would be the perfect show of her support for the guy.

Exactly.

YES! Totally agree!

Thank you.

maybe he should ask that woman to basically make a kintsugi of his fin.

collect the pieces, and mend them back with golden lacquer.

Or she could surprise him with it as a gift.

Some women find facial scars attractive. Mind you, most of those women are krogan.

Or klingon.

Just takes a little... Calibration.

The dramatic irony is, without Kal, that situation wouldn't have played out at all.

Agreed but it might have inevitably so when Yannit came into contact with any Baxxid at all and with a considerably worse outcome.

Imagine if the leader Baxxid had paid a visit again only to get a face full of terrified insect.

Or even worse, if Yannit ran into one of the Baxxid grub children helping dig the air vents and hurt/killed it. Given how many Baxxid are in the teeth regularly, I'm kind of surprised she hadn't at least smelled one before now, it was inevitable. All things considered it could have gone a lot worse but still, poor Kalgkur! My vote is definitely a gold cap made by his human jeweler friend.

The town is full of Baxxid. This was pretty much inevitable.

Well he's definitely a part of the 'breaking or broken on the inside' troop now. It would be somewhat awesome though if a replacement of some sort started a new fashion trend both in and even outside of Baxxid culture.

And now I'm picturing a Yinglet with a rock tied to their head with string to try and impress a Baxxid. *facepalms*

I do hope our bestest boy here recovers in time.

Yinglets dressing up as other species definitely needs to be a thing

Four Yinglets in a trench coat posing as a human and everyone just goes with it because they're so darn cute trying so hard.

that just reminded me of the undercover yinglet https://www.furaffinity.net/view/56311068/

Perfect! I'd forgotten about him, so crafty.

All honesty, that would possibly be a diplomacy thing.

If one race sends a diplomat/rep in to the Baxxid tunnels, they're not going to be recognized or easily communicated with right away. And most forms of biped jewelry will have little meaning to them.

But head crests?

That'd be culturally relevant, and show the representative is genuinely reaching out.

Entirely possible! *nods*

Ohh.. ohh he needs a hug so badly.

Quick, get the hot glue gun! We can still fix this.

Ugh! How long till it's hot enough!?!! Stupid piece of trash!

*Accidentally bumps and arm against the hot end*

Ϝህ৻Ϗ

True story from when I did electronic repair, my friend came over to watch me work, and saw me pull the soldering iron out the holder.
And still put his hand on it.

Worse case is when a soldering iron accidentally starts falling from the table - and your brain acts fast enough to catch it (grabbing the hot end, of course!) - but not fast enough to understand that catching it is not the best idea >.<
Happened to me a few times...

丂ክĬፓ イɧᗩͲ🖡ϛ ᅢᄋτ

*Pulls out what would've been a Once In a Lifetime guitar solo*

Kinsugi repair on that would be beautiful probably.

Super glue, and good ol' duct tape will fix anything.

And in this installment of Handyman's Corner...

On tonight’s episode of The Repair Shop…

On roughed up surfaces, 15 minute epoxy is the right tool for the job!

Aaaaaaah no the love is injured even further

Lopin happily jiggling his broken shelltooth out may've messed with Kass's expectations, here.

Kalgkur needs a hug.

Also, I did not expect Kass to think of Lopin's well-being FIRST. That's what you call GROWTH.

Oh feck....Hum maybe the human he likes could make him a horn replacement decoration? Might not be HIS bone but it will be a trinket made with appreciation and I'm sure coppery or slivery metal would make a nice contrast.

Well. Can't always win huh

Oh shit, Kal :(
It's gonna be okay, big guy, you're still you! And you are awesome!

Ahh shit indeed.... 😟
I... we... all need more lore regarding the Baxxid! I feel like Kass at the moment... I'm relieved that Kal is not terribly hurt physically but, psychologically... that HURTS as much, of not WORSE than physical injuries. PTSD is a bitch....

I might be completely off-base here but what I would say to Kalghur is that...

Your life has changed immensely in the last few days, in so many ways. Losing a piece of self-expression is painful, but maybe, given all that's happened, and in time, this could be a reason to change that self-expression to match a new self-conception?

Kass doesn't know all of what's happened with Kalghur, but... I think accepting that this is painful, but giving a new angle to it that looks towards the future and acknowledges the changes already made could be stabilizing in an uncertain present?

Kass: "I actually have some idea how you might feel..."

"Mood... I mean, oh I'm so sorry, lets... try and... help with that."

Doesn't Kalgkur have a masterful metalworker as a close friend? Maybe she can fit him with prosthetic fins out of soft copper?

i'd argue it's a different kind of growth? like uh... a battle scar? that a thing for the big wormies?

Shhhhhheeeeit...

Hmm... Wondering how smol and squishy young baxxids are. Admittedly an interspecies creche in a distant-future has my curiosity piqued about interactions between the younglings.

This just isn't Kalgkur's week...

I'm torn between well that's a pain that's going to linger and get this guard a stimpack. I E let's try and help them heal

Elim may have some insight to provide Kalgkur about scars and how they can change, and also supplement your identity. On one hand, his abdomen is severely 'disfigured' due to a combat injury, but on the other, that scar will be a reminder for the rest of his life, of a friends' life that he protected.

Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaass! Don't assume, or you are gonna shit on other people's traditions! D:

Well ain't that a joyful thing now....

Just so it's said:

Losing a chunk of your cultivated identity is better than losing an entire limb, an eye, or allowing someone else to outright die.

You did good Kal. You did as good as you could in a fast and dangerous situation. Mad props to ya.

And I'm sure your market friend can chisel in a nice new shape for the regrowth to start from. Likely without a penis as part of it.

In an alternate universe, Nell bullies Kalgkur by etching a dick on him but he secretly takes great care to preserve it.

That's rather adorable to imagine.

Alternatively he starts getting notches or insignia carved in for each of his kills.

Kass' internal voice: "Yay, I try to be a good officer, but everyone in my team is either some way of broken or mostly useless, already. F*** my life!"

More brutal honesty, which, again, is painful. I'm with the 'Fix it' crowd, make a new lasting prosthetic of a compatible material, decorate it up a bit, and tell the deserving Baxxid that he earned it for his valor and restraint.

I'm still worrying about Yannit. She is an endearing character in her own right. What a horrible pair to come to blows, they are similar in many ways.

Oh no... I was afraid of that.

Surely the baxxid have experienced something like this before and have SOME way to deal with such a thing, though.

Kas can definitely relate though.

Sadness!

"Better a calcium horn than a dick, buddy."

"It is a perfect opportunity to redefine yourself then! In keeping with the new responsibilities and experiences you hold. Turn that moment, that "scar" into memorializing and transformation."

Nuuuu his beautiful face got messed up 😭

A perfect moment to ask how Baxxid comfort each other in times of crisis and show support. It might not have the best effect right away but it will over time making it crystal clear where you stand and that you mean it.

Despite feeling awkward yourself the guesture can mean the world for someone else. <3

A certain goldsmith might come in handy here~

Loving every part of this. very good.

Gold cap that thing. Start a new fashion trend. Get the nice goldsmith who likes him to make it for him to 1) reduce cost and 2) provide additional motivation and mood improvement wearing a gift from someone he likes.

Suddenly that threat to carve dicks on all of them makes drastically more sense.

Also, I suspect she'll get involved in a fix for this.

You know, odd as it may sound, Kass is trying rather hard to actualy be a leader, to be an officer. Shes not just riding along anymore, shes becoming active, even proactive. She has shown real concern for thoes that are under her command, oddballs though they might be. Yes she had a little bit of a freakout after things went down, but, anyone who has seen combat will tell you, save the freaking out for after the fight. ALso, odd as it might sound, I expect she actualy does understand what Kal is dealing with, after all, she did, in a way, go through something simular.

She was already making the effort to be a good leader. I'm not sure if she fully understands how high in the chain of command she is, though. She takes her orders from Ran, who takes his orders directly from the Trademaster. She's essentially the Commander of her own branch of the Ivenmoth Gaurd, the Yinglet Diplomacy branch. So far we've only seen a few gold collar/stripe officers besides Kassen. Chief Surgeon Meers, the unnamed construction foreman, the Baxxid Gaurdmaster and the Chief Guard at the markets. I feel like that as Kass shows more and more competence, her responsibilities will increase.

twenty minutes in and the poor baby worm earned a medal and a life pension

A severe blow to his identity and psyche. Nope. I don't think there's anyone who can relate to that. Not a single person. Nobody at all.

"So we can....glue it back on?"

kass is doing great as a manager tbh

Cant have shit in detroit

Another day, another identity crisis ˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

"It can be hard to tell with worms"

I know right... They are always so stone faced...

Kass just went through this, she is the best one to help

So is "Hell of a first day, eh?" a Deus Ex reference, a coincidence or a trope?

good, now the two have something in common

Ouch... big ouch. I really wasn't expecting that. And I imagine I'd have a similar reaction to Kass there, the internal one. Dam, big dam...

Gosh I hadn't even thought of that and now I don't know how I missed it. The relateability really lends weight to that reaction. I had read it as just Kass thinking "Kalgkur is a lot more hurt than I thought" but really it's "I've been avoiding thinking about this feeling in myself, and now I -have- to bring it to the surface to help my friend through a similar experience."

Thanks for pointing that out /sincere >,.< I cried a little, I'm gonna have a shiny new topic for my next therapist session.

Nell to the rescue, hopefully?

That was my first thought. She literally makes ornaments.

On the bright side, Kal, plenty of ladies are into guys with battle scars.

Someone is getting a really good performance review.

Someone get that big worm a big worm therapist

Oh. That's . . . less than ideal.

Ahhhhhh, shit indeed. <^\/^>

I'm curious what Isher would have to say about this. Reassuring Kalgkur might be an opportunity to talk about what happened to her own horn without the embarrassment...

Start with a hug

Kass: “… Mood kindred.”

Someone remembered the blood!

>:V

V:<

Kal: thinking "I just want to keep people safe and bring my people honor and respect."

Minister: "Officer Kass! I have good news! You group has been assigned to help organize a multi region Bloodsport tournament!"

Kal: O.O!

Kass: Fek!

Great, more stress for Kass, fun! = ='

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh, shit!

now THIS is interesting i DO wana see where this goes as this is a lot of lore to know what a crest means on these things.

mmmnm mmmmmhhhhh Painnnn

This makes the 100 Dicks threat carry a lot more weight now!

nice metaphor. but still what happened to the bug

A wound taken in the selfless defense of others is a truer a reflection of one's character than anything we might select for ourselves.

...perhaps a nice hat?

Kass, it's time to be a kindred spirit! Nobody knows more about what he's talking about than you!

I'm really hoping that Kalgkur stops by Nell's shop and she makes him an ornate gold spike to cover the wound. It would act as both a cosmetic prosthesis to help with his self-identity, and allow him to have a piece of artwork from Nell to keep with him all the time. At least until it grows in, however long that takes. And then he'll have a memento of his first day on the job.

Oh dear....

Kalgur happens to know a certain artisan who might craft him a golden replacement fin.

RUB SOME DIRT ON IT.

Start with a warm... worm hug.

Aaaahhhh shit indeed.

Poor big buggo frien'

Oh wow! Two diplomatic incidents for the price of one!

That final panel would make a great reaction image with that expression.

so in an instant kalgkur became the equivalent of bald.
Maybe thats inaccurate but thats my head canon

Those are a lot of big feelings for a small critter to try and help eith

I just had the funniest thought, we're all thinking Nell's going to make a prosthetic but what if it's Lopin. I can see Lopin running around the corner carrying some random object and a bit of twine over his head, and Kalkgur would put it on just because who could possibly resist that.

Que Kal remembering who he's talking to... comparing his trauma and damage to identity to Kass' based an the rather "succinct" summary Ran just gave... then getting extremely embarrassed in 3... 2... 1...

Now I'm not trying to diminish Kal's trauma, just making an educated guess based and his pattern of behavior.

hug the worm

(Tsk) Welp...

well. it has a lot of personality now?

Btw Valsalia, have been starting to read the comic, but I'm kinda wondering about the Baxxid in that, judging by what I so far have learned about them, if one could use some sort of mechanical claw to turn their scythes into what would essentially be oversized crustacean claws via the use of a linkage attached to their "forearms" to open and close it?

Kass: "Ahhhhhhhhhhh, shit... here we go again."

Something tells me he can relate to the pain of being suddenly different. :P

wow the dialogue from the comments what a journey down here! i didnt think it would still be so lively coming back here!!!
d-dang...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QedPi8sPam4&list=PLdpHjWO7xXjZxtW-mST3i7WXY9LWgp5iQ&index=8

can i say thanks? its quite a sight ywy!

thanks for helping them...

coming back here to say thanks again as this help relate to something in real life with me then and again and again

It's like getting a bad haircut, time a million.