NofNA, "Syconium" page #214

Syconium
214

October 26th, 2017

50 .	by: Kanya	October 31, 2017, 10:00 pm
I love how Smoothie is just part of the maze for her in that long panel. I wonder how many times she has heard a client tell her he loves her. I wonder if it sounds empty. I really do think Smooth intends well for Xx, despite how selfish those intentions seem. I hope they both come out alright. This whole arc makes me sad, but I'm waiting on edge for each new page. I've been relating a lot to this one. I'm just really hoping it ends on at least a sort of happy note. Thank you Zack for making these for us. URL : http://Theroamingredwolf.deviantart.com/

49 .	by: hemlock	October 31, 2017, 6:12 pm
my main problem with this falling into any truly romantic territory is that the situation continues to be really unbalanced in a way that makes me uncomfortable. he's still a guy paying for her time / if they mess up here he can always choose not to return to the brothel, but she can't leave of her own volition.

48 .	by: Furrama	October 31, 2017, 3:19 pm
I don't think the bet's that important, (well, it is to Scruffy). It was the kick that got (S)XY in the door, gave him a direction, but he became an interested party of hers at some point. Right now he's got all this going against him: 1. It's winter (more hormonal than usual) 2. He's a wee bit tipsy 3. The alcohol was probably laced with an aphrodisiac 4. She figured out his "thing" 5. Something terrible happened - he fell in love The deck is stacked against him, but even now he knows he shouldn't, its not in either of their best interests and he knows her well enough to know that. And we know that the angel on her shoulder knows she shouldn't, out of respect for him and his wishes. MY thinking is that he's about to get chomped. 'Fig' marked his face, and she doesn't love him. Live, die, doesn't matter, he's a conquest, consumable. And 'Fig' is all I see on this page. And the thing is that(S)XY also knows this is about to happen, but he's throwing it all away, because he craves that intimacy from her, that connection, like with art. (Also isn't that he has a thing for art in this way just a wee bit on the nose thematically speaking?)

47 .	by:	October 31, 2017, 2:43 pm
I think one of the main problems here is that... it doesn't seem anyone has healthy ideas about sex? Like, the society they live in have such restrictive ideas of sex that it'd be hard to have the kind of intimate experience thats a moment of trust and bonding that people have described. We hadn't really seen how people outside the brothel/academics view it, but considering how Fig's sexual artwork was received I would say it's a bit of a sexually repressed society. Maybe this is all speculation, but... it seems like the real fault and true tragedy is that none of the characters are able to approach sex in a healthy way BECAUSE of society.

46 .	by: kuu	October 31, 2017, 2:03 pm
if he has sex out of LOVE that still means he looses the bet?

45 .	by: Witticaster	October 31, 2017, 12:44 pm
...Though if their relationship is actually helped by having sex right now, that'll be the biggest twist in this story! Can't say I'd be upset to see that, it would be a welcome change.

44 .	by: Witticaster	October 31, 2017, 12:40 pm
@43, that's a great explanation and it's probably very true in this case. I'm a person who isn't sexually attracted to others so sex acts even with people I love deeply are a performative chore at best - I'm not a good person to judge what sex means to normal people.

43 .	by:	October 31, 2017, 10:14 am
@34 / Witticaster Good god this is going to be a really late response, that's what I get for slacking on reading comments. Sorry about that! Allow me to start by saying that in no way do I believe sex is the only or best way to show someone you love them. Anyone who thinks like that needs to do some soul searching. He's had at least a year to get to know Fig, we've watched their relationship develop over that course of time. It also seems like Smooth didn't really have an issue resisting Fig until very recently! Up until his coat changed to pure white, I mean. This is just a possibility I'm exploring based on my own personal feelings. Again, sex is not the best way to prove you love someone. For me, I do enjoy sex, but only with a partner I trust completely. The day I let my girlfriend know I was ready, was the day I felt like I was able to open myself up 100% without any fear. I finally felt completely comfortable and trusting and it meant something big for our relationship! It marked the next level. It takes a long time for me to get to that point, and she was patient and wonderful and understanding the whole time. So maybe Smooth finally feels 100% comfortable around Fig and wants to express that. I don't know, it's just a theory.

42 .	by: Furrama	October 30, 2017, 3:24 pm
Oh thank you 41, stuff's getting super lost on Twitter today because of... reasons.

41 .	by:	October 30, 2017, 3:00 pm
fyi - Zach said on twitter the update would be delayed a day.

40 .	by: Watcher	October 29, 2017, 9:51 pm
If you've got love in your sights, Watch out, love bites. When you make love, do you look in the mirror? Who do you think of, does he look like me? Do you tell lies and say that it's forever? Do you think twice, or just touch 'n' see? I don't wanna touch you too much baby 'Cos making love to you might drive me crazy. Love bites, love bleeds, It's bringin' me to my knees, Love lives, love dies... If you've got love in your sights Watch out, love bites Yes it does, It will be hell.

39 .	by: kuu	October 29, 2017, 8:50 pm
preditory lust. did she "think herself into it" because for my self i think i could only be some what sexual being in a predatory fashion. and not some "woouu take me"

38 .	by: Furrama	October 28, 2017, 7:19 pm
Here we go again I kinda wanna be more than friends So take it easy on me I'm afraid you're never satisfied Here we go again We're sick like animals We play pretend You're just a cannibal And I'm afraid I won't get out alive No, I won't sleep tonight --- (I'm always going to go with some part of Animal for this, can't help it.)

37 .	by:	October 28, 2017, 4:10 pm
She sits alone waiting for suggestions He's so nervous avoiding all the questions His lips are dry, her heart is gently pounding Don't you just know exactly what they're thinking His heart's beating like a drum (like a drum) Is he gonna get this girl home? Well, soon, baby, we'll be all alone Don't you just know exactly what they're thinking? If you want my body and you think I'm sexy Come on, sugar, tell me so If you really need me, just reach out and touch me Come on, honey, tell me so

36 .	by:	October 28, 2017, 3:39 pm
Re: her looking predatory: I think a lot of that is the influence of mind!Fig (see how she's watching intently in the bottom panels). If piXXel was able to break free from where mind!Fig is holding her down, would real Fig be more genuine about her feelings? Hm

35 .	by:	October 28, 2017, 2:30 pm
You also forget he's probably drunk... But yeah, I agree she doesn't look in love. She looks in lust.

34 .	by: Witticaster	October 28, 2017, 1:57 pm
Cool, now she can give him a matching scar on the other side of his face! Maybe she'll actually get his eye this time! She doesn't look 'in love' on this page. She looks predatory. His proclamation of love doesn't make sense either. He experienced all those things that he loves about her WITHOUT sticking his dick in her. Doing so isn't going to make her any MORE smart, charming, or beautiful. It's just going to ruin both of their personal commitments and probably get the rest of his face ripped off. But I guess he's not really thinking with his brain right now. He's been ensnared, poor guy.

33 .	by:	October 28, 2017, 1:49 pm
if she does mangle him, and even if he lives how does the bet work? if sex is what keeps mustilidcalm and art and society did not trump the mustilid urge/need

32 .	by:	October 27, 2017, 8:01 pm
I decided to go through and note the pages those panels are taken from! From right to left: 136 (when she calls RG the first time) 139 (scenting each other) 144 (seduction attempt, right before the blushing conversation) 148 (going to the gallery) 168 (after the story of the white coat)

31 .	by: hazard	October 27, 2017, 7:47 pm
Panel 5 is one in a series of flashbacks (that whole row of panels) to previous meetings they had.

30 .	by:	October 27, 2017, 7:42 pm
Panels 2-6 are flashbacks of events that have happened earlier in the story. I can't look them up right now but I'm sure somebody will find all the pages. Panel 2 is when they first met, panel 3 is when Smoothie "scented" XX (learned her XX scentcode name, and revealed his to be XY -- "like my b... boss"), etc.

29 .	by: Dani	October 27, 2017, 7:42 pm
Sorry...to add, I am not entirely convinced the sexual encounter is truly happening. Just because the color panels show a different sequence of events than the grey background ones do.

28 .	by: Dani	October 27, 2017, 7:39 pm
Yeah, I am confused by 5 and 6 as well. It's like we suddenly burst outside!

27 .	by:	October 27, 2017, 7:26 pm
what happens in panal 5?

26 .	by: Downhill	October 27, 2017, 6:34 pm
I do think XX is in love with him (Fig taunted her using him multiple times and mentioned him being an especial weakness for XX) but Mind!Fig isn't. So Real!Fig can never act on that while MFig is in control. I mean damn, her only reaction to his declaration of love was just "Do you want me" rather than expressing any affection back. Fig is still just thinking about winning him.

25 .	by: Furrama	October 27, 2017, 1:23 pm
As long as she's under the control of "Fig" she cannot love him back.

24 .	by:	October 27, 2017, 12:36 pm
I'm still pretty sure Smoothie isn't going to make it out of this alive. It's seemed bad for him ever since he showed up and annoyed Greenie.

23 .	by:	October 27, 2017, 11:12 am
I'm honestly not even so sure she's in love with him. In lust, of course, but very possibly not love. I think the idea is that he's been captured by her. She almost seems like she's acting symbolically as an object of sexual impulse in this scene, something he tried hard to resist but is now failing to resist and has become ensnared by it. I don't doubt that he does love her, but how much of that is colored by lust? It's also to be assumed he's under the influence of alcohol right now, possibly something else, but at least that. If he is in love, what then? It's not as if Fig can simply walk out of the brothel, and Greenie sure as hell wouldn't allow her so she could be with this guy. He'd kill Smoothie or ban him before that happened. And Smoothie's visits won't go on forever either. There is unfortunately no happy ending here unless she finds her footing with art again and finds a way to re-establish herself in society. But even then, will she be allowed to leave at all with Green at the head now? I wonder if he'll ask her to leave, although I think he's aware of what the collar will do if he does. It's definitely something we won't know until we see this play out. But this could all end dreadfully. I really do want to see XX make a stand here and fight off her sexual impulses, for both their sakes.

22 .	by:	October 27, 2017, 10:37 am
HIS heart will be broken, or hers because she finds out she's at the center of a bet?

21 .	by:	October 27, 2017, 10:15 am
Scruffy wins the bet.

20 .	by:	October 27, 2017, 10:05 am
I think the labyrinth is closing in on him as he admits he's in love. He's trapped, just like Acai who fell in love with Cherry.

19 .	by:	October 27, 2017, 9:40 am
He becomes the labrynth when he says he loves her. Does the labyrinth and the brothel speak it alongside him (you’re worth so much to us as a prostitute, don’t leave) or is he blending into the labyrinth as just another customer’s voice? How many of them have fallen for her thinking their relationship is something special when they’re just another customer to her? He doesn’t stand out in this moment- he’s just another voice of the labyrinth, barely discernible against the background.

18 .	by: Starry	October 27, 2017, 9:33 am
@14: I super don't want that to happen but I think I have to agree ;__; @Katie: piXXel is such a good name haha I love it. I also hope she takes a stand!

17 .	by:	October 27, 2017, 9:25 am
poor Smooth...

16 .	by: Kiri	October 27, 2017, 9:08 am
Aww man. I want XX to fight back but judging by recent events I just know my hearts going to be broken too...

15 .	by:	October 27, 2017, 8:37 am
It's not going to be just his heart that gets broken, if that other stoat is any indication

14 .	by:	October 27, 2017, 3:03 am
i think she's going to try to stop and the collar will strangle her

13 .	by:	October 27, 2017, 12:51 am
How I want this story to end: XX regains herself and lives happily ever after with this guy. How I know this story will end: not like that.

12 .	by:	October 27, 2017, 12:50 am
Ohhh, my heart hurts. I want both of them to be happy. I really want them to both be happy and in love and XX to be making art and happy with herself and not trapped in a brothel murdering people. But gdi, this is NOFNA and like Smoothie I know I'm just gonna get my heart broken ;n;

11 .	by: Furrama	October 27, 2017, 12:13 am
Maybe Core/Womb XX will finally bust out and make a scene? "...and then... if we're lucky, if there's love... release." URL : http://www.nofna.com/?T=1-1-58-164

10 .	by: Katie	October 27, 2017, 12:08 am
From a narrative standpoint, it seems to me like pixel!XX is going to take a real stand, here. What would be the point of building up the fruit womb if piXXel does nothing, is the guardian of and prelude to nothing but more Fuschia Fig? That said, characters can and will defy narrative convention and I would never have predicted Meander's demise in 10%+, so keep some grains of salt on-hand for this. I'll stay optimistic, though. I feel it's entirely possible for XX to recover her agency over her urges (albeit maybe not to redeem herself from serial mauling and also murder). Smoothie's folding, understandable though it is, is really not helping, but in a way I think that could be good. This is a rare moment where XX has the power and clarity to make a real choice of who she wants to be. I think she might have learned from her mistakes enough to choose agape (or maybe phileo) over eros. Side-note, way to hit home with the labyrinth imagery, Zack - a great reminder that the environment has changed but circumstances really haven't. Hopefully the lack of mazes in the last set of panels is a good sign!

9 .	by:	October 27, 2017, 12:07 am
I don't think this is a dream, seeing as the little flashbacks at the top are almost certainly Smoothie's stand-out memories of their relationship so far.

8 .	by:	October 26, 2017, 11:38 pm
my brain while reading this page: omg. OMG! OH MY GOD!!!!!

7 .	by: Papeipou	October 26, 2017, 10:54 pm
And look at the colors. Today the brown stands against the fuschia, rather than succumbing to it.

6 .	by: hemlock	October 26, 2017, 10:53 pm
stop yourself kiddo, you've got agency too here. (more, in fact)

5 .	by: Papeipou	October 26, 2017, 10:52 pm
Here it is. Our arc. I think she will stop him. She loves him too. And love is the more powerful societal construct we have built on top of primal urges. It cannot exist without them, but it supersedes them in its abstraction and bond. Love motivates us where lust never could. And then love keeps us fixated on itself, turning our backs on the pursuit of lust. At least, I really friggin’ hope so.

4 .	by: ItPierces	October 26, 2017, 10:52 pm
This could be just a dream.

3 .	by:	October 26, 2017, 10:29 pm
Damn, the xml title is ominous too. "Dead end, and a Minotaur." I highly doubt Fig will say no to him after all this. I hope she doesn't maim or kill Smoothie in the process if this happens.

2 .	by: K	October 26, 2017, 10:27 pm
; ;

1 .	by: Furrama	October 26, 2017, 10:25 pm
This is the most tragic freaking thing, HOW CAN YOU WRITE A LOVE SCENE THIS TRAGIC I HATE THIS (it's great keep going)AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH