NofNA, "Syconium" page #181

Syconium
181

July 4th, 2017

110 .	by:	July 7, 2017, 10:07 am
Nominating Downhill for best single comment in all of Syconium

109 .	by: Kai	July 7, 2017, 4:12 am
Oh my god

108 .	by:	July 7, 2017, 3:52 am
gjfkhslfg I died laughing

107 .	by: Downhill	July 7, 2017, 3:30 am
i.imgur.com/2czseQm.gif Hunger. Obsession. Fear. Survival. ...Sex ...Death. Here, helpless, prone, you're powerless against it. Powerless against ME. URL : http://i.imgur.com/2czseQm.gif

106 .	by: Furrama	July 7, 2017, 12:53 am
@Zach That's really cool. It's neat when you're writing and things like that line up for you. Sure beats when the plot is fighting you eh? @Silkworm I now know a new thing about birds that I can't unlearn. I guess I was wrong about it not feeling that great. That rare parrot video makes more sense now....

105 .	by: Zack	July 7, 2017, 12:27 am
Hi Silkworm, This story is the culmination of a series of thoughts and images that I have collected in the past, honed to a series of points. As it isn't a documentary, I did not do thorough research on everything, but I did take note of things that applied to the story. Things like the ermine legend, and the male stoat's aggression towards the female, often at a young age. Sometimes, things serendipitously match up... I didn't know about the female's ability to delay implantation before starting this story, but it matches up with XX cocooning herself in the Fig-amalgam's psyche.

104 .	by: Tenka	July 7, 2017, 12:18 am
Very blue page, I think that's Cherry II's color, but I don't remember if that's been consistent, it could just be something she's using presently. She's wearing a flower, a casual reminder that she draws the line in there now. I know that Cherry II is very physically fit, but I wonder how great her fighting prowess is outside of this crowd. I don't know how much stylish fighting goes on outside at this time, but I'd enjoy seeing if she could impress someone official in 10%+'s era. Too many comments.

103 .	by: Silkworm	July 6, 2017, 11:32 pm
Also weird bird owner note about birds. Birds can actually masturbate! At least parrots can! It's not all that uncommon to find pet parrots occasionally rubbing their vent on a favorite perch, toy, or bonded owner's hand/foot. A little gross when it happens to you if not a little oddly flattering. Still not a behavior you'd want to encourage though!

102 .	by: Silkworm	July 6, 2017, 11:25 pm
@ Furrama I don't think any, or many since I can't speak for everyone, of us mind. It's clear that a lot of research goes into each arc, even for little details. Even though the world and story is fictional a lot of behavoir and drives are based on real life behaviors and biology. Heck, that's one of the big themes in Synconium. Even though bird roles have been relatively minor outside of RG interactions, I have no doubt that Zach did his research and developed the avian role in this setting off of it. On that note, Zach, just how much research on mating behaviors and social/asocial tendancies of different animal species did you do for Synconium? I know there was the rat thing you reference earlier... and I bet some human psychology made its ways in too, especially with S(XY)'s earlier theories and rant. And I know in stoats that in the wild females maintain smaller territories that are eclipsed by a larger male territory, and somebody mentioned earlier about females being sexually mature long before their eyes even open. That kind of smaller stuff, how much of it factors in to your world building a setting developement..... if it's not spoiler alert worthy?

101 .	by: Furrama	July 6, 2017, 9:52 pm
Sorry if my side tangent got weird I'll go put myself in the corner.

100 .	by: Seven	July 6, 2017, 6:55 pm
I mean street worker days, seeing as she's still a sex worker now.

99 .	by: Seven	July 6, 2017, 6:55 pm
96- Well I'm pretty darn sure that XX had some female clients in her sex worker days, some of those faces in the montage sure look feminine to me. (even if I am going by the stereotypical eyeliner/eyelash) I think it's funny that there's so many asexual people reading a comic whose main theme is sex. :p (me being one of them)

98 .	by:	July 6, 2017, 6:43 pm
Given how short bird lifespans are, one that deliberately chooses to spend their life working in an environment full of unappealing mammals...RG having no interest in sex or even reproduction seems like a given. Watch as next page reveals RG's retirement so he can find a pretty girl to make copious baby bee-eaters with :P

97 .	by: Kai	July 6, 2017, 6:20 pm
Considering homosexuality is present in almost every species of animal, it'd be even less sound to claim this world is 100% straight. Besides, headcanons are harmless to everyone, and LGBT people existing is harmless, so. Yeah.

96 .	by:	July 6, 2017, 6:15 pm
There's been nothing so far to suggest that this world even has LGBT+ people, or asexuals.

95 .	by:	July 6, 2017, 5:35 pm
Did Plum's fur get darker? I don't remember it looking that dark in that panel a few days ago.

94 .	by:	July 6, 2017, 5:01 pm
Anyway ace RG headcanon is a great idea

93 .	by: Furrama	July 6, 2017, 4:47 pm
I think sex for birds is just so different. Lady birds are very very picky, and they get to be because (save for outliers like ducks) male birds don't have penises. Both birds have to be in agreement and the mating is what has been referred to as "a cloacal kiss" wherein sperm is delivered and received in a package that can later be rejected by the lady bird (quite useful I think!). It's not a terribly long affair, and I don't think much pleasure is involved, if any. No more than like, grooming with your partner. Lots of birds also have to keep in pairs (even if they're not strictly monogamous they have to act like it to keep their partners happy for a season or more) or their kids don't have the support they need. Mammals generally don't do this, and what results is that you have to be a lot pickier when picking a partner since you don't want a deadbeat. I think this generally results in birds being on a whole other playing field, away from mammals. The text did read that they were "less likely to take advantage of a courtesan" (73) so I guess it's possible. I'm sure there's an odd duck among them who might be into the idea, considering what this comic has said about fetishes. *Don't google duck mating, seriously. Not a fun time.

92 .	by:	July 6, 2017, 4:15 pm
I just assumed birds don't find mammals sexy AT ALL, but no reason to assume RG would find a lady bird attractive. He never said anything about it. I'm for ace RG.

91 .	by: Kai	July 6, 2017, 4:10 pm
Also! Since you kinda mention it, I am all here for an ace headcanon for RG.

90 .	by: Kai	July 6, 2017, 4:04 pm
I already said you're right, I wasn't arguing against you. I was speaking personally.

89 .	by: fellune	July 6, 2017, 3:50 pm
haha, i love you all this has been a truly interesting conversation!

88 .	by: Furrama	July 6, 2017, 3:43 pm
Right, but you have characters who aren't sex inclined but who still have to navigate a sex charged world (I think that's all I was trying to say). Fig was like that in the very beginning, when she was a little XX and didn't understand anything yet. (I mean, sex was happening right in front of her and she didn't recognize it.) (E)XY has been turned into someone who doesn't need sex anymore (personally), but who is still using its power for his advantage. RG may as well be a eunuch considering how the story is using him, but even he is benefiting from sex (gettin dat pay check). The primal internal sexual longing is not always there, though some characters might think it is, and that influences their own view points.

87 .	by: Kai	July 6, 2017, 3:18 pm
Influenced* Not informed. Damn auto correct.

86 .	by: Kai	July 6, 2017, 3:17 pm
Well yeah, that is true. What I meant by "no influence here" is, in the comic, there's all this talk that the primal instinct of sex never leaves a person, no matter how much society advances. It's always there, under the surface, influencing our actions. I'm pretty sure my "primal instinct" is as shriveled as a plant that hasn't been watered for 10 years ahaha. I may be informed by sex since so much of society is built on it, but I've never struggled with urges and such.

85 .	by: Furrama	July 6, 2017, 2:03 pm
From a biological perspective (you have parents and blood relations somewhere) and a social perspective (a lot of social structures are built for or around sex) that even if you're personally not into sex it still affects you. And I think that's something this comic is going for, it's not just superficial/fun times for the individuals that have it. There's some fatalistic inevitability to it. OR IS THERE. :P

84 .	by: BatCrooks	July 6, 2017, 1:57 pm
Another person who usually comments anonymously chiming in as asexual and loving this arc, lol.

83 .	by: Vara	July 6, 2017, 1:51 pm
Not intentionally trying to stir things up, but from my personal experiences as an asexual, I understand the feeling of fraysexuality. Its not that you stop finding someone or something 'pretty', it's just that the sexual arousal goes away after some time of getting familiar with the initial attractant. They never stop looking nice and interesting, its just that if you want to keep on having enjoyable sex, you have to look elsewhere. I'm more autochorisexual, which is essentially only finding porn art arousing, and whenever my libido increases enough I always have to find new material. I try looking at my old favorite images, but the arousal just decreases every time I look. When I see other people look at something I know they would have seen before (like boobies) and get 100% arousal, I just don't understand how they aren't tired of seeing the same old thing over and over? I'm like 'How the hell are they still able to get aroused to that???'. Idk, I hope this all makes sense, trying to write out my thoughts lmao.

82 .	by: Witticaster	July 6, 2017, 1:09 pm
Good to see other people here who don't feel sexual attraction, and nice writeup, 73. I love that that this comic took the time to distinguish a difference between 'attraction' and the sex act itself. Smoothie even said, "much of sex occurs outside the body." That delineation makes it so much easier to understand sexual orientations like asexuality... in Smoothie's terms, being asexual just means you don't experience the social-sexual 'cue' from page 153.

81 .	by: Corvidophile	July 6, 2017, 12:57 pm
I love reading all of this, I sometimes comment anonymously but I want to attach my name to this one. I'm asexual and only romantic about either cartoon characters or people I know online. Not repulsed, it just doesn't occur as a reaction. Like I don't like bacon, but if it's on a sandwich it works on, I won't take it off- that's about the importance level to me. I love reading about sex and attraction and seeing other people go through these emotions though. I also love seeing other people enjoy bacon. There's a difference between what somebody likes to look at other people do, and enjoys in media... and what they do themselves.

80 .	by:	July 6, 2017, 12:07 pm
please no one interact with kuu

79 .	by: kuu	July 6, 2017, 8:16 am
if i gave myself a special term for "i don't bang ugly people" I would be untouchable..almost, untill it becomes "eww deformed people deformed because of illness" as in how being sapiosexual is abelist. if I claim it as part of me, then some groups of people can't put me down. and if they do, it will be easier to turn around and cry that i'm being attacked by them for something I can't control, and their "u really should not" is abusive even then if it leads me to being hypocrite, and more abusive with "if someone dosen't find me bangable, how do I talk them into it? you know, just do it because you can have sex without attraction" because there seems to be a 1 in 2000 chance I ever see a guy with "hey what is this feeling? i'm confused"

78 .	by: Kai	July 6, 2017, 4:29 am
I agree that 73 is really well worded. I'm a sex repulsed asexual. I enjoy the comic 150%, but all of Scruffy, Mirror Fig, and Sherry's lectures about how people are powerless in the face of sex is not something I understand. That argument crumbles against the sex repulsed ace crowd, since "the power of sex" really has no influence here. Someone could give me a strip tease and all I'll think about is how I'd rather have a latte from Dunkin Donuts, hah.

77 .	by: fellune	July 6, 2017, 3:29 am
thank you 73 <3 that was so well worded! i remember that panel with "a super hot guy just walked in" being super funny for me because i cant relate at all haha. :p usually when i start to recognize attraction is like too late and im like oh shit has my friend been this cute all along?? why didnt i notice sooner!? i mean i have a good understanding of what people consider attractive.. and i reject it lol. i think my heart flutters when i see people and i interpret anyone who looks happy/nice as cute, but i cant put two and two together and be like "ok this person looks smashable and i can see myself with them." if that makes sense :p i use the label grey-asexual because even though i dont have those feelings, i still enjoy sex; some asexuals dont at all. although if you were to look at my libido it would still be abnormally understated in comparison to your average non-ace! i cant really touch on the fraysexual thing anymore than i already have, i still feel like this is an insecure attachment thing (and i dont mean that as a put-down whatsoever). people are only as shallow as you let them to be. granted i have never seen this firsthand before so fair to say im pretty naive.

76 .	by:	July 6, 2017, 3:03 am
i def agree with 75, when people start bringing up words like 'snowflake' and 'edgyyyy' its like ughhh please no! haha. it really does just make whatever point you're trying to bring forth kinda soured

75 .	by: Furrama	July 6, 2017, 1:47 am
This only seems to happen on pages where someone brings up their personal relationship with sex or the like, but I have a request: Please don't bring the "I hate SJW Tumblrina/sexualtiy/gender flavor" crud in here I beg. I plead! Personal stories are just that: Personal. That poster's point of view on stuff in their life. Complaining about those personal outlook views directly or by proxy just makes you look like a jerk and then the rest of us gets to feel uncomfortable. You don't gotta agree, and you don't gotta say anything about it either. This ain't the place for it.

74 .	by: 73	July 5, 2017, 11:07 pm
This isn't at you for your recent post 71, I was typing this for a while trying to get wording right ;v;

73 .	by:	July 5, 2017, 11:03 pm
Since we got onto the topic of asexuality in the comment section... I think there's possibly a confusion with asexuality and what it means somewhere in one of the comments. If not I hope my two cents on the matter isn't too much of a derailment. In barest terms of sexual orientation, it is an orientation in which there is a lack of sexual attraction towards other people, none at all, or none without certain conditions being met in the case of demi-sexual or grey-ace individuals. Like other orientations it is about attraction between people, in this case a lack of~ So it really doesn't have much to do with a capability or desire to have sex or level of libido, though those can influence how somebody identifies. Its about if there's attaction, attraction, attraction~ In Nofna context it'd be like an asexual animal looking at any of the Fig Tree gents or ladies and going 'eh, they're okay or even nice to look at but my first thought, or even second or third, isn't that I want to bang them.' They can have sex with any of them if they want, but there's no switch that goes off at the sight of them that would suddenly make them go 'hot damn I want a piece of that ass,' or even, 'nice ass.' It's not like S(XY) who is clearly very into XX but choses to withhold himself. There's an attraction between XX and S(XY). XX sees S(XY) and her first thought, her first impulse is " holy shit he's hot I want to bang him yes please and thank you with a cherry on top." An ace person wouldn't experience that for anyone. Grey ace or demi sexual might but it depends on the person. Which makes it very interesting within the context of this story! The draw of sex, the power of it to draw people together, to create attraction! That at this point of time in Nofna there can be an attraction between diffenent species! That sex can be resisted... or, should an ace character appear, that sex can't even get a foot hold because there isn't even a basis for attaction in the first place~

72 .	by:	July 5, 2017, 10:31 pm
Sherry's "you'll be nobody when you die" outlook is so... bleak. Edgy tumblrites say that type of thing, I can't take her seriously because of it. In a way it's true, but right now all I want to do is roll my eyes and go "Whatever you say, Sharon."

71 .	by:	July 5, 2017, 10:23 pm
no, i need a snowflakey word to make it sound special to be "i am only sexualy attracted to pretty people. i've seen someone say there are plenty of asexuals who have sex with strangers, because they needed some help with their libido flairing up, just as a lot of sexual people just have sex with "who ever is convenient" this is sex with strangers with no emotional connection and how that compairs to "I only do that with pretty people" fraysexual read to me as nothing with commitment phobias. just "well I know you a lot now, and our bond is very strong, but i don't see you that way anymore. can't help it. it's my orientation. it just sounds like an excuse to get bord with someone, and go find a new sexual experence with a new person, and get the rush of "sexy newness"

70 .	by: camila sc	July 5, 2017, 10:02 pm
@#69 :DDD high fives back thanksss

69 .	by: fellune	July 5, 2017, 9:10 pm
ahh camila!! i agree so much.. crying at purifying metaphor ;v; (high fives you and runs)

68 .	by: 9times	July 5, 2017, 9:05 pm
I don't see it as demonizing. From both the VD's and XY's perspective, it's kill or be killed at this point. Both of them must know that, whatever you believe about Sherry.

67 .	by: camila sc	July 5, 2017, 8:57 pm
lol cherry's the worst, for real. Even without kung fu training, she has such size advantage here she could eat xx for breakfast. @#36: for sure! fig/xx's story has made me become more aware of the potential danger of sex on your psyche. Like other kind of "release" things, such as alcohol, it leads to pleasure but can also lead to addiction and dissociation. Like Fig has shown, with "purifying metaphor"! (wink wink nudge nudge). It is a beast with its own mind, that has the tendency of turning off who you "are" so you rely on instinct alone...not a good/bad thing or itself, the Aesop of synconium(imo) is that the danger is on not being aware of those ramifications. (oh, and also the danger of not being aware of how /society/ hugely influences how we approach sex too, of course)

66 .	by:	July 5, 2017, 8:53 pm
@62 I bring up 9times' past behavior because they loudly and quite harshly berated commenter(s) for theorizing earlier, specifically comparing someone's experience of abusive behavior in entitled men (backed up by examples within the text) to some fruity bull$%@# designed to discredit them. It seems unfair for them to be free to criticize people in such a rude manner, but also to be free to make the wild leaps of fancy that they accuse others of making. I'll withdraw my criticism of their hypocrisy when they provide solid evidence (page #s and panel #s) that their theory about the VD controlling Sherry has any factual basis within the text. If they really are basing this theory on observed fact, then there shouldn't be a problem with that, should there? It shouldn't be considered an attack to hold them to the same standard they have been trying to enforce on others over the course of this story.

65 .	by: Kai	July 5, 2017, 8:50 pm
Agreed with Witticaster and Furrama. 9times hasn't been rude, and his theory is interesting. Theorizing never hurt anyone, and is fun to do, in any case.

64 .	by: Furrama	July 5, 2017, 8:25 pm
What Witticaster said, please don't nom into 9times again, they aren't getting personal.

63 .	by: Furrama	July 5, 2017, 8:21 pm
9times the VD is still trying to poison (E)XY on the sly. That's been heavily hinted at. It's why (E)XY is riding sober right now, and extra disgruntled. I haven't seen any other concrete evidence that Cherry II has anything to do with the VD yet. If that changes (and thematically I don't know why it would) then I'll note it in the comments.

62 .	by: Witticaster	July 5, 2017, 8:20 pm
@61, 9times hasn't been doing any 'facts' lecturing on this page, and hasn't been rude to others on this page that I've seen. He's just putting forth alternate ideas which are pretty interesting to read! I don't think we should discourage theorizing even if it may seem far-fetched.

61 .	by:	July 5, 2017, 8:00 pm
9times, you really are starting to sound like someone clutching desperately at straws to try and excuse the character you've latched onto as the "precious woobie". Which, you know, is fine, you're allowed to like problematic characters. But you go out of your way to tell everyone that you want to assume the best of everyone, but immediately start demonizing everyone but your particular favorite. This is especially uncomfortable to watch since you had a big to-do about how you only made theories based on "facts", and were really rude to people about it. 90% of what you've said on this comment page is pure fabrication from your own mind, with no supportive evidence in the text.

60 .	by: fellune	July 5, 2017, 7:58 pm
wait.. kuu forgive me if im misunderstanding, but did you call asexual people who are looking for someone to 'quench a flame' shallow sjws? i really hope i misunderstood ^^; im having trouble keeping up with all of the context in these comments. just for some background, ive been in a committed relationship for nearly 7 years and im beyond satisfied with my partner. no reason to seek out cheap thrills or whatever. but sex is something deeply emotional for me (i have experienced sexual trauma in the past) and i am still exploring those emotions. me and my partner recently opened up our relationship so that we could explore ourselves more. syconium hasnt changed my perspective of sex, only added to it, and im very grateful for that. as a demisexual/grey-asexual or whatever you wanna call it, fraysexuality seems perfectly valid to me. i dont think its shallow, it can be hard to get close to people and i can see how this would feel like a safe way to accomplish this. of course i still would urge people to explore their emotions more because i feel like they are missing out on one of (in my opinion) the best things about sex- having someone to share it with. but to each their own!

59 .	by: 9times	July 5, 2017, 6:51 pm
>Still not a reason to commit murder The VD has to get rid of XY somehow, or he'll never have control of the brothel, for which he's already killed his own brother. To get rid of XY, he's cut him off from the engineer and is working to get rid of XX. From XY's perspective, he has to get rid of the VD before the VD gets rid of him. They both have a compelling motive for murder.

58 .	by:	July 5, 2017, 6:46 pm
My opinion? The VD does not strike me as the "disgruntled boss". Yes, he poisoned his brother, and attempted to take Greenie's life as well. But he has not shown any hostility to the girls/workers. Just the opposite, he worries for them, that they're being overworked, etc (while Greenie sneers indifferently). I tend to think he poisoned his brother in order to protect the workers from further exploitation and abuse. Still not a reason to commit murder. Meanwhile Greenie has repeatedly shown tendencies for aggression/violence against the workers (and other people as well.) Practically everyone is terrified of him. I see no reason not to believe he'd hire a thug like Sherry to help him bully and terrorize the others.

57 .	by: Furrama	July 5, 2017, 6:05 pm
If the VD was suddenly behind everything you've suggested I would call that bad story telling. Ambiguity does not mean major plot points get to pop out of nowhere. Red herrings are what I expect in mystery genres and such. This is not a mystery. We are not expecting to discover who did what when, we're expecting a revelation about the nature of Art/power/nature, etc. We're expecting everything to be plain to read, and then for everything to be turned on its head. A new perspective. That's why there's ambiguity, so that previous absolutes can be quashed.

56 .	by: 9times	July 5, 2017, 5:15 pm
Speculation based on what is suggested, or implied, requires an assumption that the author wants us to know, but there's a lot of deliberate ambiguity in this comic.

55 .	by:	July 5, 2017, 4:58 pm
page 129 heavily implies that XY hired sherry anyway

54 .	by: Furrama	July 5, 2017, 4:30 pm
Also, Cherry II and the VD have never been in the same physical space, and neither have spoken of the other, weakening any possible connection between them. If Cherry II talks about a disgruntled boss, I'm going to take it as the only boss she's ever talked about/been with.

53 .	by: Furrama	July 5, 2017, 4:26 pm
I don't think Cherry II knows that (E)XY was her boyfriend. Fig never brought it up, and I doubt (E)XY did. I think the only people who knew who are left are Açaí, RG, and the VD. Even if Cherry II did know I don't think it would matter to her. It's pretty plain that Fig has no power over him anymore, (she's even verbally given up on their relationship - she acknowledged him as her boss only). And power attracts power, which is why Cherry II has allied with (E)XY, and vice versa. There are only two bosses. Both were seen two pages ago talking about Fig's complaint. Only one seemed upset. The VD might be pushing (E)XY's buttons, but it was (E)XY who related his feelings to Cherry II and not to Fig directly. Nothing was stopping (E)XY from going down a hallway and talking to Fig. This is abuse.

52 .	by:	July 5, 2017, 4:00 pm
This isn't Lost, 9times.

51 .	by: 9times	July 5, 2017, 3:20 pm
@Crescent, me too, but the question is, what reason? To inform us, or to lead us to the wrong conclusion? Cherry 2 could easily have said something like "your boyfriend" instead of "a boss," if the point was to tell us what really happened...

50 .	by: Sherry	July 5, 2017, 2:20 pm
I have no friends and get off to beating people 1/20th my size because estrus rules my sad little life.

49 .	by: Crescent	July 5, 2017, 2:07 pm
I think the other page ended on XY's displeased face for a reason. So the first panel on this page would make sense as to what's happening/ who gave the order.

48 .	by: Kai	July 5, 2017, 1:47 pm
It's true that XY has dug his grave mostly by himself, but it would be interesting if VD was trying to nudge that along faster. He did try to outright kill XY. However, saying it's interesting doesn't mean I'm convinced, but it would certainly be unexpected. Nofna is good at unexpected.

47 .	by:	July 5, 2017, 1:28 pm
The VD is also somewhat sympathetic to the girls, why exactly would he send Sherry to beat up Fig? In fact the only person we've seen angry about Fig failing to meet expectations (who wasn't one of her customers) was EXY. The VD doesn't even factor into this.

46 .	by: Furrama	July 5, 2017, 1:11 pm
I think it's pretty plain to read who the disgruntled boss is. The VD is trying to make a power play to run the brothel and get rid of (E)XY, but Cherry II doesn't figure into this plot. She, Mirror Fig, and (E)XY are all so in sync with each other in their convictions that it's hard to see where the VD would come in in that bit of the story. This isn't a who dunnit mystery plot, I'm not expecting any surprises like the VD being behind this attack to keep Fig here. That's just not been telegraphed.

45 .	by: Witticaster	July 5, 2017, 8:43 am
This arc hasn't changed the way I view sex, but NofNA as a whole has been an enormous positive force in my life. Thank you for the effort you put in, Zach.

44 .	by: kuu	July 5, 2017, 5:31 am
ah hey. it's ok to want emotional commitment for sex, a "love and trust bonding" but it's not ok for "they have to be beaytiful enough" right? again, after seeing there are sex seeking asexuals who, like sexual people seek out someone to "quench that flame" I wonder if some of those sjw types will make up a nice term for someone who is shallow like that. fraysexual is said to be a thing, I don't get it outside of "there was this fictional animated/game/manga character that made me a bit "hot and botherd"(what the hell, this has two meanings?) and then it is "eh not so much anymore)

43 .	by: kuu	July 5, 2017, 5:20 am
going on violent rampages because of nihilism sounds kind of "bad" not sure if those kind of antagonists are "yeah another one of these". as for this and my own sex life. it's not changing my "sex is art too" and still maybe "people want you more if you hump them" only maybe "yeah ok so it's harder than doing an art, only if you are not attracted to them" I don't know how attracted these girls are to the people who hired them. I don't understand attraction, and seperating the act from attraction, more now that I hear there are sex-seeking asexuals who also do sex for money. and for my self, most sex dreams I have I turn into what I assume is a man/male so It's even more hard to understand for myself. and if i were to try to sell art crafts i make, i could go to the whorephobic people and see if they will, with "I don't want to be a cam girl...please buy this"

42 .	by: 9times	July 5, 2017, 5:02 am
What I'm wondering is whether the answer will ever be revealed, or whether we'll still be debating it at the end.

41 .	by: Kai	July 5, 2017, 3:25 am
@9times Admittedly, it's an interesting theory. I'm on the edge of my seat to see how this plays out.

40 .	by: Juna	July 5, 2017, 2:47 am
The interplay of blue and gray here is top notch. The scene gets progressively bluer from the apathetic stare off in panel three up the panel after Sherry takes her first swipe. The lighting of the node makes her seem to 'gray out' for a second, before she lectures XX on the primacy of the body. It might've been apparent before, but she sounds nihilistic. Not as an insult, necessarily, just that she is hitting on the same belief that mirror XX holds, the loss of confidence in society that XX knows she feels in the back of her mind. There's definitely overtones of Malice's final 'lesson', but without even the hope of passing down anything to somebody. So she's trusting only the power inside her, 'estrus', that we've seen symbolized by electric blue light, and that she's nearly crackling with in the second to last panel. I'm not sure if we've retreaded this kinda discussion before, but it's interesting to see it play out in the open, finally. It feels the most like the psychic kung fu arguments of yore.

39 .	by:	July 5, 2017, 1:49 am
dani...! i went through similar realizations because of this comic, i would love to talk to you about nofna if you ever want to <3 i will leave the link to my deviantart in case you want to get in touch. (i extend this offer to everyone else as well since i dont have anyone else to talk to about syconium and its currently my favourite thing in the world :p) i love this comic because it was great to see XX master something as.. difficult of a subject for me as sex, but what came after she joined the brothel was an even larger realization. i identify as grey-asexual and literally cant enjoy sex without a deeper connection to the other person, but i struggle with my identity because of this since it's often considered a false sexuality. before i learned the term, i just thought it was the norm. now back to whats happening...! i sympathize a bit with sherry here. i certainly dont condone her violence, but i hope she can overcome this chapter in her life, preferably with the help of XX and the other girls because that would be really sweet~ anyways it looks like fig is about to mouth off in the last panel instead of just taking it. i really hope she says something. im very much looking forward to more though, whatever the case! im on the edge of my seat! (ps. for a bit of extra fun, contemplate this page while listening to "face to face" by daft punk lol) URL : http://felluna.deviantart.com

38 .	by:	July 5, 2017, 12:58 am
Even if VD did hire Sherry, XY is digging his own grave as far as relations with Acai are concerned. He took away the extra time and personally kicked out his girlfriend. None of that is on Sherry.

37 .	by: 9times	July 5, 2017, 12:57 am
I don't have any deep thoughts, sorry.

36 .	by: Dani	July 5, 2017, 12:36 am
Hey 27, thanks. I don't know who you are, but thanks for being another voice to drive the message home :). I wonder, has this comic influenced or impacted anyone else's perception of sex and it's role in their own lives?

35 .	by: 9times	July 5, 2017, 12:19 am
That's true, but the real beneficiary of that was the Vice Director. It gets Acai on his side (also, on that same page it, was revealed that the VD had given him extra time off) and against XY. Getting rid of XX, however it's done, also hurts XY.

34 .	by: Kai	July 5, 2017, 12:16 am
I guess, but she was also XY's attack dog in the final confrontation with Cherry. She reported everything directly to him, instead of the VD.

33 .	by: 9times	July 5, 2017, 12:09 am
Oh some other page, I gave several reasons for thinking that Cherry 2 was hired by the VD, not by XY. He's a connoisseur; she's exactly his type of whore; she was hired just before his coup d'etat; when Acai asked XY who hired her, XY didn't answer; all she's done since she's been working here is (1) drive a wedge between Acai and XY and (2) harass Fig; and whatever I'm forgetting.

32 .	by: Kai	July 5, 2017, 12:04 am
Given Green's sour attitude toward Fig in the past, ex "I'll give her a break alright", you can understand why we immediately think it's him. Especially since the boss rat seems to be on the side of the employees, saying they'll work better if they take breaks, everyone needs time to relax, etc. Though, I'll try to hold my judgment. Assuming never does anyone favors.

31 .	by: 9times	July 4, 2017, 11:45 pm
*Fig

30 .	by: 9times	July 4, 2017, 11:45 pm
I hate to be the one to say it, but she didn't say XY was the boss who told her. There's another boss, one I've already speculated she's working for, and would be going after Fix next.

29 .	by: Kaidona	July 4, 2017, 9:05 pm
I guess I have a rather pagan sort of spiritual outlook on how death affects your body and identity. I blame things like The Fountain for that, haha And yes, Sherry does hit XX multiple times. Panel 13 is her tiny little stoat body being smacked through the air. URL : http://kaidona.deviantart.com

28 .	by:	July 4, 2017, 7:28 pm
I mean, she's right, but I hate the way she's going about it. That doesn't give you the right to bully or abuse others.

27 .	by:	July 4, 2017, 5:52 pm
Dani, glad you were able to learn those things about yourself, and don't let anyone ever try to tell you you're less of a person for wanting emotional commitment with your sex.

26 .	by: Furrama	July 4, 2017, 4:57 pm
Absolutely. That's what makes society!

25 .	by: Dani	July 4, 2017, 4:39 pm
Interesting final statements there Furrama, about art as a cry to ourselves and others that will never be interpreted quite the same as our original message. I agree with it, and think that we can also find solace in other's interpretations of our art, despite the universal aloneness. URL : http://danibeez.deviantart.com

24 .	by: Furrama	July 4, 2017, 4:30 pm
That's because who you were is gone. Your body isn't your body, it's a husk to be recontextualized by whatever finds it. Your mind, your future, is over. Your existence can be erased or repurposed to fit any agenda. However, though we are temporal, though the meaning of what we say can be lost, that moment, the "now" of what and who you are is true. Only you can make of yourself what you want to be right now, in this moment. And that might be all that matters. Everything else is distortion. That is why Art matters. It is us speaking with our own voice to ourselves. And it is a cry in the dark, hoping to find another soul who might understand that true self. They never truly will, but that is true for everyone. And I think I can find solace in that fact. We're all alone together.

23 .	by: Dani	July 4, 2017, 4:24 pm
This comment is a bit of introspection in relation to the comic, not about this particular page. But I wanted to share here nonetheless :). As I read this comic with you guys, I have been actively exploring different kinds of intimate relationships in my personal life. I have been single for just over a year after coming out of a year-long on-again/off-again relationship that was truly messy but with good sex (hence the duration it went on for). Feeling happy and secure with my present single self however, I tried setting up a strictly casual sex relationship, wanting to enjoy one. But in the end, it only confirmed what I already subconsciously suspected about myself: I (not everyone) need emotional intimacy and commitment in order to fully enjoy sexual intimacy. The short-term benefits of the hookups didn't outweigh the negatives that followed, since both parties truly wanted different things. I am still coming to terms with the fact that not enjoying casual sex doesn't make you weak or insecure, like Cherry-X types seem to believe and live by. So on one hand, I admire(d) these brothel characters' abilities to separate sex and committed relationships. I saw the logic and truth in Scruffy's stance. I admired XX's ability to master sex. But at the same time, I also see better now how their brothel activities are more of a necessity than a choice due to their circumstances, and that the XX --> Fig change was an unhealthy transition. I am really interested now to see how Smoothie and Scruffy's bet plays out; I am still torn between their viewpoints. I also really want Fig to overcome her XX half and enter a more healthy version of herself. I see parts of myself in her I guess c: ...Sorry for the long-winded comment. None of my friends read this comic as far as I know, so it's hard for me to relate my experiences to the comic outside of this comments section!

22 .	by: Witticaster	July 4, 2017, 4:16 pm
Actually, I don't need to disagree with Sherry at all! She's absolutely right - "you" are gone when you die. The only thing that remains after you die is the "reality" she describes - what you were to other people.

21 .	by: Silkworm	July 4, 2017, 3:43 pm
I think Sherry actually strikes Fig twice here. First time in panel 8 and then again somewhere between 12 and 13. Fig is getting up in 12 but cries out again and is prone in 13. Maybe even kicked the second time... Its interesting that Sherry acknowledges she's a bully but doesn't seem to see anything wrong with that or her actions.

20 .	by: Kaidona	July 4, 2017, 3:38 pm
I feel the same as Witticaster. Sherry's words are true only to a point, because your existence continues in the individuals you have affected in your life. Further than that, even after your body returns to dirt, you continue in the animals and plants your body has nourished after you die. As far as the rest of Sherry's outlook, it reminds me a lot of my sister, except my sister didn't become such a creature. After being viewed only as a nice piece of ass for multiple years in her early life she began to use it to her advantage to date guys she thought would be fun in bed, since that was, in her mind, apparently all she was good for. Later she found herself a fiancee who appreciates her intelligence and no longer does this, but it was a dark spiral in her life for awhile. I didn't even know this was a thing until she told me, but it explains some of the crappy boyfriends she had in the past. Ultimately she grew out of it by finding the right guy and has a nice house and a nice car. It looks like Sherry is not going to find an out like my sister did, however. She fell much deeper. For that I have to pity her, as much as I abhor her as an individual. URL : http://kaidona.deviantart.com

19 .	by: Crescent	July 4, 2017, 2:40 pm
I mean, when he yelled at her for mauling a client, he was kinda right. She did a lot of damage, right to the guy's face. He was a paying customer. But this time? This isn't right. This was low.

18 .	by:	July 4, 2017, 2:36 pm
I'm not sure if it's winter just yet. Maybe Fall. You can still see a faint touch of color in Plum's coat, her fur could be transitioning.

17 .	by:	July 4, 2017, 2:23 pm
Pretty sure its summer in the story right now

16 .	by: Seven	July 4, 2017, 2:21 pm
Yeah he was "man" enough to yell at her after she mauled that client, why not now?

15 .	by: Kai	July 4, 2017, 2:17 pm
I don't think it's Mirror Fig speaking. Fig sees Sherry this way, but her words are her own. Sherry's personality did not change when we saw her true appearance. This is how she is.

14 .	by: Crescent	July 4, 2017, 2:14 pm
Did Green just. Sic his attack dog on Fig, instead of talking to her himself? Wow.

13 .	by: Furrama	July 4, 2017, 2:11 pm
Turning you into a what instead of a who makes you a commodity though. An object. It makes your hopes and dreams invalid, something to be crushed because it gets in the way of what others see you as. No other person can truly know who you are deep down, but if they don't respect that you are a "who" then you may as well be dead already to them.

12 .	by: Witticaster	July 4, 2017, 1:11 pm
Maybe I'm interpreting it differently but I don't find Sherry's words depressing... to me it seems like she's just reiterating what Fig herself has said before. "No one knows who you are," and so who you "are" doesn't - CAN'T - matter until you DO something physical to express yourself to others. Whether that's words, or art, or choosing to walk out of this job and never return. Disagree with Sherry's last line, though. After you die, you'll be the culmination of the lives you've affected. In the end, that might be the part that matters most.

11 .	by: Furrama	July 4, 2017, 1:00 pm
Cherry II is just a conduit. Mirror Fig is speaking here. Dang it (E)XY, I was hoping you wouldn't be so utterly cowardly and go talk to her yourself but I guess even that was too much to hope for. Maybe I've been reading too much abuse in the church/victim blog entries this last week but just screw you (E)XY. We've had at least three clues now over the past three pages that winter is coming if y'all want to go back and look. The first one was really subtle.

10 .	by:	July 4, 2017, 12:39 pm
Oh, Fig has a little bit of shading post-smack.

9 .	by: Finity	July 4, 2017, 12:30 pm
Man, those first few panels are so dreamlike, it took me a while to figure out whether this was even happening. I imagine that's how Fig felt too. Until she got "smacked back to reality." I do think Sherry is trying to careful here, but we've seen how brutal she can be, so this is still frightening... It's strange to see her not sneering while she does this, because until now she's seemed to get a kick out of beating people down. I wonder if that's because she's really trying to impart a lesson here (to someone she may have had some respect for, in her version of things), or if she'd rather be really going to town on her (but was likely told to go easy). And I wonder if Fig will say something to piss her off here. I do almost feel sorry for Sherry here, though. Not to defend her actions at all. Until now, she's seemed utterly reprehensible, and very unsympathetic, but this sounds like the defensive worldview of someone who was probably crushed too. It helps that she doesn't have that creepy grin on her face here, lol.

8 .	by:	July 4, 2017, 11:59 am
Plum's coat is changing again, I see. Another year is passing? I wish Sherry would pass.

7 .	by: Kai	July 4, 2017, 11:17 am
Smacking around someone so much smaller than her really is a new low. Fig can't even defend herself, I doubt she's had any type of training. And if she can, I'd love to be proven wrong. Different topic though. Sherry's outlook is just so sad. To most people, but I especially don't grasp it. Hearing someone say sex is the only thing in life that matters is so bizarre, for an asexual person. I could go the rest of my days without and be perfectly happy.

6 .	by:	July 4, 2017, 9:52 am
GO FOR THE JUGULAR

5 .	by: Seven	July 4, 2017, 9:48 am
Fig Sherry Fox gore and blood stain on wall, 422 24 cm x 50 cm

4 .	by: Kanya	July 4, 2017, 9:10 am
This page actually makes me pity Sherry. Her world view is just so ... depressing. To go on in life not believing anything but your body matters. It's also interesting to see her view is so different from XX's unseen world. URL : http://Theroamingredwolf.deviantart.com/

3 .	by:	July 4, 2017, 8:35 am
Show this bitch your chompers, Fig.

2 .	by: Downhill	July 4, 2017, 8:04 am
Honestly, a small part of me was still hoping Greenie wasn't awful enough to order someone to beat up his girlfriend. I was hoping he'd draw the line before this.

1 .	by: kuu	July 4, 2017, 7:29 am
oh one of those, tropey characters