And there it is! When faced with an intolerable choice, indignation is your best defense!
Wake up, Julia, you either want things to change, or you want to stay a victim the rest of your life. The time has come to choose which one you want.
I actually thought her reaction was very human, and very natural. That's what makes the two of you such great story tellers. Even when things take an unexpected twist *Cough*Kiku*Cough*, Everyone's reaction to the extraordinary circumstances that they are in is completely human, even if the character is not. That includes the good, the bad, and the ugly in all of us.
And best of all, there is no hidden moral or political message behind your writing. I can't tell you how impressed I am with your storytelling, and I consider myself pretty good with words.
I think part of it is fear and part of it is pure surprise. And I agree with DLK, it is a very human reaction. You guys are doing a great job in presenting your characters as REAL people. Thank you.
I think it's a combination of fear, surprise, and betrayal. Remember, they're lovers, and Miraiko's kept this secret from her for well over four years...
Well most of it is just writing like people talk.. Most of the Dialogue credit goes right to rose she sculpts the words into a pretty picture .. and honestly the comic would not be here if it werent for her..
Funny you should mention that... Go back and read the exchanges again between Max and Kali after Lynn Bopped the prince on the head.
It's safe to say everyone is a little... Anxious? Concerned? Frightened? ... I'll probably find the word I'm looking for at 4 am this morning during a brief wakeup between dreams.
Anyone in Roma with more than 1.5 active brain cells (or the equivalent) that knows about it is fully aware of the FUBAR potential they are facing from this situation. Most are just hoping that nothing will happen as long as the hostage is unharmed and returned before their fearless leader decides to play "world class negotiator" again. They're either plotting on methods to overthrow him, forestall him, hide from him, distract him, neutralize him, or remove the temptation from his reach. It's a wonder the bureaucracy functions at all there.
Correct very very few actually know whats going with Lynn Taylor. Most don't even know who she is. Now most of the world is familar with "Helios Taylor" some are even aware of who Lt Col Halloran Taylor is but Lynn is not even a blip to most folks. even in her own city. They might recognize Calliope but thats it.
I don't know about you, but I would be scared shi*less if Lynn was actually badly hurt. Her Mother controls a military force that would do really bad things to the city.
They do not now about 3C's wish to not open the pandera's box again.
We (the readers) have a lot better idea of what is going on then the world at large. We are watching ALL the command loops, whereas most people are barely aware the loops are there.
People in New Troy are seeing preparations for fighting (the warbots being brought out); however, they have NO idea what is behind that response. They rarely, if ever, get to see the Taylors so they wouldn't even know Lynn is gone.
People in Nova Roma are probably even less informed. Since the city has such a heavy military presence, they probably can't even tell if anything 'extra' is going on from that. And most of them probably NEVER see the Princess, let alone know she has a new friend.
Yes .. Most of the Palace staff may have seen Lynn - lot of them slaves or techs or staff. over 500 people live and work in the tower. Most work in offices and other jobs that keep them busy. thus how a lot of the corridors can seem empty. And anyone new gets noticed.
and Scence Lynn isn't in restraints they are assuming shes a friend and isn't wearing a collar.
500 out of what, something like 12 million wasn't it? I'm not sure about that, but not up for hunting it down right now. Still, NOT a large percentage in the know. And even those apparently don't realize ALL that is going on (if they think of Lynn as a friend only, not a hostage).
So there's no news in Nova Roma? No paparazzi that let everyone know Acantha's latest fashion in clothes or companions?
I'd think that as soon as more than 2 servants in the palace know something, that over half the 12 million know it the next day (the other half don't deign to read the tabloids). A day or two later, once reputable news outlets have confirmed the details (like anyone does real fact-checking), the other half know.
Any News hound that pokes around where they shouldnt gets a visit from A Cassian to "change the story" or from the Centurius
Remember Roma is Currently a Police state.
News is TIGHTLY controlled. and reporters know better than to write about things they shouldn't. Luna News is far more open but is mostly about exo-planetary things. They do not often report on City states. if Nova roma were more like Troy then yes Acantha may have to dodge reporters .. but not here.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Cent-Comm had a pretty tight handle on New-Troy as well. Although not the same type of police state that New Roma was, I was assuming everything got Vetted by Cent-Comm before getting published (or censored).
New Troy news is about as reliable as a reality TV show Cent Monitors it and can kill a broadcast in a nano second should she need to
and then inform them to "kill" that story due to security concerns the main difference here is that you wont get KILLED for pushing a story. like you would in Roma.
More probably, getting her out, then assassinating Ceasar Nero, then bringing her back as the savior of the city while it's in Chaos. She would be in a position to make some sweeping changes of Nova Roma with minimum bloodshed.
It's probably safe so say that getting Acantha out is still a priority, and now is thier best chance, even though the timing isn't ideal.
Just getting Acantha out of his reach until she reaches majority, I think DLK. If Douchebag had succeeded in raping her, he very well could have destroyed her. Especially if he got her pregnant. :-\
To be the changes that is needed, Acantha has to be protected from that fate. Removing her probably seemed like the best bet. Though it sounds like everyone miscalculated a little bit on when she needed to be gotten out of Nova Roma.
Ok Please sit down you may feel a slight pinch *Shotguns head* Okay...get the AIS clone up and running to replace this....Stormwind13. I'll have maintenance drops this in the MT breeding pit. they need food
I just hope that Dr. Julia will not do anything stupid - especially something that will get her killed. But since Cent and Rose seem to be on a murder trip all bets are off...
I just hope Miraiko can tell her that though the cake is a lie her love is not. She has to talk fast though.
This would never be an easy conversation under normal circumstances... and with the person you thought you knew and trusted suddenly revealing she is not at all who you thought she was...
"Behold, the third angel blew his trumpet, and I perceived androids falling from the sky. and a lone voice was crying, Roma has fallen, Roma has fallen. and the number of people dead was one third of the city"
(TeeDee, do you always have to overdo EVERYTHING?)
TD : and you wonder why I cleaned out the Armory before I left.. Cent will regret giving me a "open ticket" MUHAHAHAHAH! * lighting crashes behind her...I have become Shiva.. destroyer of worlds!
OMG, that would be an hilarious pic. with the mini-nuke cannon in her arms and the lightning crashing behind her....
I would put that on a T-Shirt! especially now, in the "sprite" style body!
And the funny thing is, Julia MIGHT get there too, Skweeee. Right now though, she is in too much shock to think about that. Her nice little (relatively) safe and stable world just had a major overturn.
Julia is in that weird sick falling feeling that comes with having everything you knew yanked out from under you. Miriako is hoping Julia's rational and Logical mind takes over.. rather than the scared "girl" shes talking to.
I just noticed in the 3rd and 4th panel, something happened. Look at how close Miraiko and Julia were together in the first two panels. Then look at the 3rd and especially the 4th panel. Someone (and I'm guessing Julia) backed up a step or so.
Unconsciously trying to distance herself from the weirdness that just invaded her world? A step away from the relationship she had with Miraiko? Something else altogether?
The one thing I'm sure of is that it was NOT an accident. The team making the comic seem to delight in making use of such techniques to convey deeper things than just the words. :-)
You always do a great job of making sure hands and feet are posed right when touching something like in the second frame. Most other CG artists don't and I always notice that.
First Douche bag physically abuses her then Miraiko mentally abuses her.
Julia will end up with a B.O.B. just so as not have to worry about anymore abuse.
I think the only thing that could even remotely be considered to have been abused by Miraiko *any* way you look at it would be Julia's trust. There are two very good reasons for having kept this from Julia before now: minimize chance of blowing her cover, and (hopefully) protect Julia in case her cover had been blown before it was time to act.
There are several reasons for telling her now (some definite, some merely possibilities that upcoming pages will likely clarify which are at play).
1. It's crunch time. Meaning that things are in motion that make it time to act.
2. Miraiko's cover, as stated, will be blown. This means that either she escapes, or she dies. Presumably the plan includes Miraiko escaping to safety (or to return to Rose). Either way, Miraiko will no longer be in Roma.
3. Miraiko does actually love Julia and doesn't want to leave her behind.
4. Julia's assistance is needed for a key part of the plans to ensure optimal results.
5. Having been Julia's property and lover for the past four plus years, once Miraiko's cover is blown, Julia will automatically be suspected regardless of her involvement or knowledge.
6. Once Acantha's extracted, it will be beneficial to have someone around that not only does she know and trust, but also knows her medical history.
As I said, several of these are definite, but 3 and 4 are merely possibilities though one or both being true is likely. 5 and 6 are primarily tactical/strategic considerations.
Man, usually cliff hangers are more like, omg do they find her hiding in the dark. what will become of our hero now that the arch villain has discovered a key flaw in his strategy.
This is my first "can she accept in a 15 second conversation that her world is upside down, or does she die". And let me tell you I think it is the toughest cliff hanger, for me to wait through, I've seen in years.
-S
Wake up, Julia, you either want things to change, or you want to stay a victim the rest of your life. The time has come to choose which one you want.
And best of all, there is no hidden moral or political message behind your writing. I can't tell you how impressed I am with your storytelling, and I consider myself pretty good with words.
She knows how twisted the prince can be.
It's safe to say everyone is a little... Anxious? Concerned? Frightened? ... I'll probably find the word I'm looking for at 4 am this morning during a brief wakeup between dreams.
They do not now about 3C's wish to not open the pandera's box again.
That would be enough to be very concerned.
People in New Troy are seeing preparations for fighting (the warbots being brought out); however, they have NO idea what is behind that response. They rarely, if ever, get to see the Taylors so they wouldn't even know Lynn is gone.
People in Nova Roma are probably even less informed. Since the city has such a heavy military presence, they probably can't even tell if anything 'extra' is going on from that. And most of them probably NEVER see the Princess, let alone know she has a new friend.
and Scence Lynn isn't in restraints they are assuming shes a friend and isn't wearing a collar.
I'd think that as soon as more than 2 servants in the palace know something, that over half the 12 million know it the next day (the other half don't deign to read the tabloids). A day or two later, once reputable news outlets have confirmed the details (like anyone does real fact-checking), the other half know.
Remember Roma is Currently a Police state.
News is TIGHTLY controlled. and reporters know better than to write about things they shouldn't. Luna News is far more open but is mostly about exo-planetary things. They do not often report on City states. if Nova roma were more like Troy then yes Acantha may have to dodge reporters .. but not here.
and then inform them to "kill" that story due to security concerns the main difference here is that you wont get KILLED for pushing a story. like you would in Roma.
Bad omen....
It's probably safe so say that getting Acantha out is still a priority, and now is thier best chance, even though the timing isn't ideal.
To be the changes that is needed, Acantha has to be protected from that fate. Removing her probably seemed like the best bet. Though it sounds like everyone miscalculated a little bit on when she needed to be gotten out of Nova Roma.
Ok Please sit down you may feel a slight pinch *Shotguns head* Okay...get the AIS clone up and running to replace this....Stormwind13. I'll have maintenance drops this in the MT breeding pit. they need food
(connects jumpercables to earlobes and starts to connect to a car battery)
I just hope that Dr. Julia will not do anything stupid - especially something that will get her killed. But since Cent and Rose seem to be on a murder trip all bets are off...
I just hope Miraiko can tell her that though the cake is a lie her love is not. She has to talk fast though.
Oh man.
Not going to be a fun conversation for either of them.
"Behold, the third angel blew his trumpet, and I perceived androids falling from the sky. and a lone voice was crying, Roma has fallen, Roma has fallen. and the number of people dead was one third of the city"
(TeeDee, do you always have to overdo EVERYTHING?)
I would put that on a T-Shirt! especially now, in the "sprite" style body!
...at least
That's why TeeDee only gets to beat down two-thirds of the army, because the first third of the army hadn't recovered from Dolly yet. :D
Unconsciously trying to distance herself from the weirdness that just invaded her world? A step away from the relationship she had with Miraiko? Something else altogether?
The one thing I'm sure of is that it was NOT an accident. The team making the comic seem to delight in making use of such techniques to convey deeper things than just the words. :-)
of course, I'm still reeling from the dialog, so....
Um, I was under the impression Miraiko wanted Julia TO survive, CentComm. :-p
... they are all shapely charges ! XD
Julia will end up with a B.O.B. just so as not have to worry about anymore abuse.
There are several reasons for telling her now (some definite, some merely possibilities that upcoming pages will likely clarify which are at play).
1. It's crunch time. Meaning that things are in motion that make it time to act.
2. Miraiko's cover, as stated, will be blown. This means that either she escapes, or she dies. Presumably the plan includes Miraiko escaping to safety (or to return to Rose). Either way, Miraiko will no longer be in Roma.
3. Miraiko does actually love Julia and doesn't want to leave her behind.
4. Julia's assistance is needed for a key part of the plans to ensure optimal results.
5. Having been Julia's property and lover for the past four plus years, once Miraiko's cover is blown, Julia will automatically be suspected regardless of her involvement or knowledge.
6. Once Acantha's extracted, it will be beneficial to have someone around that not only does she know and trust, but also knows her medical history.
As I said, several of these are definite, but 3 and 4 are merely possibilities though one or both being true is likely. 5 and 6 are primarily tactical/strategic considerations.
This is my first "can she accept in a 15 second conversation that her world is upside down, or does she die". And let me tell you I think it is the toughest cliff hanger, for me to wait through, I've seen in years.
-S
The whole universe just took a wrond turn at Albuquerque.