2007-03-24 [Abel 78] - Charming

[Tapewolf]

Cid said "Hey, ladies," so he probably wasn't expecting Abel to be back yet.

That means that May and Hennya could end up stuffing Abel in a broom cupboard until they can figure out how to break it to Cid.

[Kibin]

Or... it could be that BOTH of them are, again, cubi, and both of them try to keep their identities hidden as much as possible. 'Whatibus' could just be acting.

[Aridas]

I don't get all the talk about may or cid changing form after getting their hands on the amulet... It was already said RIGHT IN THE COMIC that it's creature-to-being... if they already look like a being, nothing is really going to happen, as you've seen it already.

[superluser]

Any Cubi skilled enough to shapeshift into Abel's perfect likeness would have the skill to hide their headwings, so I don't imagine Cid would think that, initially.

This is true.  I might suggest, however, that there are no ditherers in foxholes, and Cid may decide to kill it just to be safe.

The big question is whether - assuming he is a Being - Cid will know what Abel is.  Devin had no idea

Do we know that?  He saw the headwings, and freaked out...possibly because he knew that they were the sign of an incubus.

It will interesting If Cid gets the amulet, and it does change his form.  It does not seem to work on Beings.  May had the amulet,and it didn't change her.  But it may change a Creature shapeshifted into a Being.

As Aridas pointed out, if they've shifted into beings already, the amulet should not morph `cubi.  I'm speculating that the amulet morphs the creature into a being analogue of their base form.  So if she's impersonating someone else, the amulet should change her into a being version of her base form, thus blowing her cover.

That means that May and Hennya could end up stuffing Abel in a broom cupboard until they can figure out how to break it to Cid.

Heh.  And then Abel sneezes and Cid finds an incubus spying on them in their cupboard.

[Aridas]

Do we know that?  He saw the headwings, and freaked out...possibly because he knew that they were the sign of an incubus.

Yeah, but he also wondered what they were, and was surprised when he found out whatever it was on his head was attached. He said, and I quote: "...The hell are these?"

[superluser]

Yeah, but he also wondered what they were, and was surprised when he found out whatever it was on his head was attached. He said, and I quote: "...The hell are these?"

OK.  Let's assume that you're looking up into the westering sky here on Earth when you see a precisely correct version of Pyroduck flying overhead.  Brown body, red tail, yellow eyes, bracers, the whole bit.

Your first reaction going to be which of the following:

1.) Oh, there's Pyro.
2.) ...the hell?

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

2) ... is Pyro doing -here-? -Is- it Pyro, or are my eyes deceiving me?

[superluser]

2) ... is Pyro doing -here-? -Is- it Pyro, or are my eyes deceiving me?

Or, by simple substitution:

-Are- those headwings, or are my eyes deceiving me?

[Aridas]

That's really stretching things.

[superluser]

That's really stretching things.

No, it isn't.  Unless you think I mean ``the hell -Are- those (Devin gets killed) headwings, or are my eyes deceiving me?''  Which I don't.

I figure that Devin may be thinking that Abel is trying to spook him, like vampire teeth or fake antennae.  There's probably a cottage industry in fake headwings.  Devin was probably going to say ``Now's not the time for jokes, Abel, but then realized that they were real.''

Or maybe Devin doesn't know what `cubi are.  Doesn't mean that Cid wouldn't--after all, Cid's years older than Devin, and had been adventuring for far longer when he quit.

[Alondro]

Hmmm... It seems that the 'shit' which May mentioned is about to hit the fan... 

*rants!*  Ye have spoken the ward of carse and awakened the dragon!   

And here's the first thing that went through my head after reading the comic:  Meow-meow-meow-meow meow-meow-meow-meow meow-meow meow-meow meow-meow-meow-meow... 

[Aridas]

That's really stretching things.

No, it isn't.  Unless you think I mean ``the hell -Are- those (Devin gets killed) headwings, or are my eyes deceiving me?''  Which I don't.

I figure that Devin may be thinking that Abel is trying to spook him, like vampire teeth or fake antennae.  There's probably a cottage industry in fake headwings.  Devin was probably going to say ``Now's not the time for jokes, Abel, but then realized that they were real.''

Or maybe Devin doesn't know what `cubi are.  Doesn't mean that Cid wouldn't--after all, Cid's years older than Devin, and had been adventuring for far longer when he quit.

But he wasn't KILLED in mid sentence.

[Anri]

And here's the first thing that went through my head after reading the comic:  Meow-meow-meow-meow meow-meow-meow-meow meow-meow meow-meow meow-meow-meow-meow... 

While I don't think this is what you meant... you have gotten the Meow Mix song stuck in my head!

o/` I want chicken, I want liver. Meow Mix, Meow Mix please deliver o/`

[Stygian]

What are these good news you bring? Tell us! We must know! We shall ruin it all!

No, really... even though it might seem as if there's about to be a huge shock and awe in the next panel, I predict that there's just going to be a facedrop for Cid, unless they shove Abel somewhere.

Also, the text that goes with Hennya's first face expression is; Blarg! I am un Ork!

[Tiny crested flint]

that's beside the point Aridas, what may happen is that Cid sees Abel with wings, a normal sight to him. That's the "there's Pyro" part.  There are also headwings, an abnormal sight, but they are unexpected may be explained off as a trick of the light. Hence, the "or my eyes deceiving me?" It all depends on how accepting Cid's brian is of the image. 
It seems to be equally possible that he will not question the headwings and instantly know what they are.  It all depends on circumstances that can't be determined 100% yet.  What you are all saying are logical trains of thought that Cid's brain may take.......except Alondro.

Wether May can hide the headwings or not, Cid will find out later.  If he knows something we don't know he knows, then he'll be completely understanding of Abel being a cubi, but maybe not too happy about it.

-Meow

EDIT: Hennya is great at impressions.

[Aridas]

Cid has nothing to do with Devin, so don't go telling me i'm wrong about something i'm not even talking about -_-

[Tiny crested flint]

Exactly, Cid doesn't have anything to do with Devin and I wasn't saying you were wrong, I said it was very possible you are quite right.  the thing is, like you stated, you weren't talking about it and that's the problem..... which means that what you said......
wait, WHAT? Start over.

I think, I think I misunderstood you or alot of things. (I appologize for conclusion jumping)
Please explain the argument, I'll shut up and listen.

[Rafe]

I know I've seen that incubus face Hennya is doing before....

Oh yeah, it was on an incubus in a painting by Fuseli:



(Now why does that look familiar?)

[Zedd]

That perrty much it...And sides I am still waiting to know whats next in line for the comic cause it looks perrty much we have to wait. And I can do so and I will keep some of my speculations to myself at the moment, cause I am sure they can be used for later.

[Stygian]

Her tentacle-heads are saying: A durr...!

[Madmann135]

I'm still sticking with my latest theory that both Abel's parents has the cubi latent gene, and due to Cid's adventuring the magical residue he was exposed to caused the latent gene to activate for Abel.

That or one of Cid's parents was a cubi and he didn't tell May.


Also for all we know Amber probably used that picture as reference for Hennya's impression.

[Azraelle]

[off-topic]Gah, every time I see that painting of the incubus, I think about the game "The 7th Guest."  Tempts me to click on it and watch that disturbing little animation they had added to it ... [/off-topic]

[Jigsaw Forte]

*random speculative remarks*

What if Cid's an 'adventurer' in the sense that he's an 'adventurer-HUNTER'?

I further speculate that not only is Cid an Incubus, he helped lead the previously-drawn assault. Never mind why he didn't stop Kri'a from taking out Abel . . . Call it under the guise of the test, or maybe that he knew Kri'a wouldn't be able to 'finish the job' anyway, so it was safe to have her approach Abel.

*shuffles out*

[Alondro]

And here's the first thing that went through my head after reading the comic:  Meow-meow-meow-meow meow-meow-meow-meow meow-meow meow-meow meow-meow-meow-meow... 

While I don't think this is what you meant... you have gotten the Meow Mix song stuck in my head!

o/` I want chicken, I want liver. Meow Mix, Meow Mix please deliver o/`

Actually, that's exactly what I meant... and exactly what I wanted to happen to those who figured it out!     It's based on a certain episode of the Simpsons with a tiny part in which Bart reads the thoughts of Principal Skinner and Homer.   

[Tezkat]

*random speculative remarks*

What if Cid's an 'adventurer' in the sense that he's an 'adventurer-HUNTER'?

He'd have been playing both sides, then. According to May, Cid has quite a record of protecting their town from Creatures.

[Zedd]

Two sides of same coin. So quite amazingly flavors of chaos people adore. Its so odvious now that seeing him maybe in a quite chipper mood if he sees his son like this maybe.

[superluser]

But he wasn't KILLED in mid sentence.

I think you'll note that I said that that wasn't my argument.  Mainly because it's stupid.

My argument is that Devin sees the headwings, and may or may not know what headwings are.  Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that he knows.  Devin sees the wings, and figures that either Abel has got some debris on him or he's pulling a rather inopportune prank.  Or maybe a trick of the light, who knows?  Devin knew Abel from childhood, and knew his parents--Abel's no incubus.  He grabs on, and upon discovering that they're attached, he puts two and two together and figures out that Abel must be an incubus.

There are also headwings, an abnormal sight, but they are unexpected may be explained off as a trick of the light. Hence, the "or my eyes deceiving me?" It all depends on how accepting Cid's brian is of the image.

I don't think so.  You'd expect a father to know how many wings his kids have.  If your kid showed up with more, that would be a little hard to take.  If he showed up with less, he might be able to pass it off if viewed at the proper angle.

Its so odvious now that seeing him maybe in a quite chipper mood if he sees his son like this maybe.

Chipper mood?

--Meow (that's right.  I *think* words I would never say)

[Reaver225]

A much easier idea, instead of dumping poor Abel in a cupboard, is for someone to put a hat on him. 

If all else fails, a tea cosy will do the trick nicely.

[Rafe]

The Incubus in the Cupboard...
Wasn't that a book by Lynne Reid Banks that became a movie in 1995?

[superluser]

If all else fails, a tea cosy will do the trick nicely.

Nah.  I think he's more of an Abel the Edge (or Abel the Arrow-Dodger).  Bent as the `cubi academy and as hard as the doctor that moonlights there.  Apparently, it's impossible to kill the orphan.

...OK.  Maybe not, but putting a tea cosy on his head would virtually ensure that he dies.

-- walks away whistling the Tetris theme