4/14/07 Abel's Story: Oh-you-did-not-just-go-there

[Saist]

"Whodunit?" *cough*notme*cough* (EDIT: No. Not sarcasm. I mean, come on.)

Also, "I don't recall that wonderful evening, so I know you have to been tricked by an incubus."

* The fox smirks so.

wait... are you admitting to being Abels dad?

* je.saist runs for cover from Ink.... AND Amber.

[Tapewolf]

"Abel is Dan's father" and "She has slightly longer hair.  She can't be Hennya" say enough on the kind of lows this forum has sunk to.

"Abel is Dan's Father" was from september 2005 and therefore predates this forum (the DMFA bit, not the entire board).  While it occurred to me that it was borderline-possible, my main aim in publishing it was for to mess with people's heads.  From your reaction it would seem to have done so admirably.

After that it became something that I trotted out each time crackpot theories came along for amusement value.
I haven't done that for a while now, not least because the last time I did so - which may have been on this forum - some people actually began to believe it in spite of the gaping holes in the theory.

... Is this the point where we fade to black, and come back in sometime later?

No.  Amber's fades in Abel's Story have almost always happened at the end of the strip.  There might be a cut or a "...so you see!" line, or Abel may even leave the room as Hennya suggests, but we're not quite ready for a long jump in time.

It's good in a way that Cid realises that Abel is a 'Cubi, and while a broken home is the last thing he needs after seeing Devin die, at least it means he isn't going to try and kill him.  Besides, he's 24 or so, old enough to be independent so while it's depressing it's not the end of the world.

This really, really begs the question of who or what Cid was going to run off and do when he saw that Abel was a 'Cubi.

[kaskar]

         Cid is Abel's legal father. There are questions about biological father, but for the moment alll has to be seen. By the way, this would be a good time for Hennya and Abel to move into another room ...

[Meech]

The last time someone "went there" with May, she put their head into a desk.  She also moved her family out of town.  I speculate that she is going to snap.  Cid will explain to her how Cubi operate and what there capabilities are.  Then, her anger will be directed toward whoever tricked her, if she is not a succubus.

I think that Abel's father is Devon's father.  The reason he abandoned Devon as a child is because he was born without wings.

[Alondro]

*Charline sighs*  So much for my hoped-for tentacle wing bloodbath... a cubi can dream... or disembowel her human slave...

*Charles  *  Meh?  *instant skewering from tenta-wings!* 

*Charline continues nonchalantly*  Anyway, all the speculations are useless.  The truth is much more bizarre than any of you realize:  Amber is Abel's father.  Yes, it's a strange plot twist involving inverse parallel dimensions, time-travel, vampire cheerleaders from Mars, transgenic experimentation, and Bob Dole.  Very weird stuff... 

[rt]

Wait, Bob Dole is involved ... ahh I see how the plot all falls together now 

BTW excellent "i'm going to take my hand, puch it through your chest, pull out your heart, and than stuff your heart backin you through your mouth" expression amber 

[superluser]

I think that Abel's father is Devon's father.  The reason he abandoned Devon as a child is because he was born without wings.

I really don't like this theory.  The question is why Devin's dad would stick around after two of his kids were born without wings, but leave after the third.  I can understand why he might want to give her a second chance (and maybe the `others' were twins), but I can't see why he wouldn't be willing to give her a fourth chance after giving her a third chance.

Then again, Catherine of Aragon got six chances.  Henry VIII couldn't disappear quite as easily, though.

It would also seem likely that Devin's mom would have had sex with an incubus with malice aforethought.  After all, if your significant other told you to kill your kid because he didn't have wings, wouldn't that lead to questions as to why he was expecting wings?

If that's the case, it would seem strange that this particular incubus would leave a seemingly open (albeit farming) relationship so that he could go out and have sex with May under false pretenses.

[Kesh]

I just have to say, I adore the way Amber did that last panel. Keeping the word balloons seperated like that was pure genious.

[KarlOmega1]

By the look on May's face in the last panel...I'd say Chivalry is gonna be tossed aside soon and a cat-fight will break out, literally (because they're felines, get it?)

[Kenji]

"This week on Jerry Spaniel: My Dad Called My Mom a Whore! Tune in!"

[Gareeku]

Well, it had to come this point eventually.  It was inevitable.  The only thing I wish wasn't inevitable is the wild speculation that will come from the fans.  As I have made clear, theories of...sub-substandard quality have spawned from this place.

Yeah, how dare people have fun and go off on a limb all the time here. Amber NEVER does the unexpected in her comics; they always go by parsimony (Occom's razor as you people call it) and we all could see this was the obvious and only way things could have panned out.

Geez people, you really need to stop trying to think out of the box from now on and just accept the first and easiest answer that comes to mind. Sheesh.

"Abel is Dan's father" and "She has slightly longer hair.  She can't be Hennya" say enough on the kind of lows this forum has sunk to.  Speculate, but please, think before you your hair continues to strangle more of your brain cells.

Yes, because those are taken seriously. Yes, ok then. This coming from the guy who tries to relate every single thing to DnD.

[Manawolf]

Bad theories tend to spread like disease, and the n00bs are always the first to go.  Unfortunately, they don't leave.

[Titanium Dragon]

This really, really begs the question of who or what Cid was going to run off and do when he saw that Abel was a 'Cubi.

Go calm down before he got really upset with her and said something like he said?

I think there are two highly plausible possibilities:

1)   An incubus tricked May
2)   An incubus seduced May, but only tricked her insofar as not revealing he was an incubus

If May knew he was an incubus, she'd not have panicked, and her being an incubus or knowing her lover was an incubus is ruled out because of it. As such, these are the only two plausible explanations. While she may want to hide being an incubus, the other alternative is no better. Meanwhile, on Cid's side, he seems too nice a guy to put her through this, and again, if she knows she isn't a succubus, that leaves two possibilities, and that is more likely to cause problems for Cid.

It is possible that Cid is an incubus and is really that evil, but I put that as a distant third.

[superluser]

"This week on Jerry Spaniel: My Dad Called My Mom a Whore! Tune in!"

I don't think that's going to make it to air.  Too tame.

``My Mom had an affair with a demon...and now I'm a demon!'' maybe.  If you can work transsexual or emo in there, I think it will work.

Go calm down before he got really upset with her and said something like he said?

You win the prize!

If May knew he was an incubus, she'd not have panicked, and her being an incubus or knowing her lover was an incubus is ruled out because of it.

Perhaps she's putting on a show?

[Stygian]

Bad theories tend to spread like disease, and the n00bs are always the first to go.  Unfortunately, they don't leave.

Oh damn... Are we generalizing? We are generalizing, aren't we? Yes, we are generalizing. Now, what do they say about generalizing?

Some people may become highly regarded without merit, and some of the same kind of people may disregard new but clearly more clearheaded people as "n00bs", if you will. What does this teach us? Nothing. People are people, and in the end it's a question of who has the most brains, experience or just plain cunning.
   Of course, if you apply this to politics, things become quite different, but this is a forum. There is no bloody power struggle going on. So you can "throw jaw" as much as you want, as we say in Sweden, but it will do you about as much good as beating up a pillow.
   Now, it's true that we have seen some stupid theories, but as far as I can recall you shouldn't have expected much more from those who stated these. Also, the only stupid theories that have gotten any attention were thought of by more noticeable members. Now, mind you, that I don't remember who said what and when, so I'm just talking generally here. I don't bear grudges against people for stupidity alone. But I think that I can say quite safely that the people who came up with these idiocies were not "n00bs", as you seem to like calling them, Mana.

That cleared, I think that this panel proves that either Cid is a bit of a dimwit, or he was so naive as to actually believe May on the whole thing about the wings being the result of magic. Or, possibly, that May herself is so naive as to believe it at once without thinking critically and considering that there might be another explanation.

[Ted Schiller]

BWA HA HA HA HAAAA!
I got it. The perfect wacko theory.  Cid is a Fae playing the role of an incubus pretending to be a being. 

There, it's all made plain.  No, I do not wear an aluminum hat.  I use stainless steel foil. 

With regards,
Ted

[witchiebunny]

This really, really begs the question of who or what Cid was going to run off and do when he saw that Abel was a 'Cubi.

Go calm down before he got really upset with her and said something like he said?

I think there are two highly plausible possibilities:

1)   An incubus tricked May
2)   An incubus seduced May, but only tricked her insofar as not revealing he was an incubus

If May knew he was an incubus, she'd not have panicked, and her being an incubus or knowing her lover was an incubus is ruled out because of it. As such, these are the only two plausible explanations. While she may want to hide being an incubus, the other alternative is no better. Meanwhile, on Cid's side, he seems too nice a guy to put her through this, and again, if she knows she isn't a succubus, that leaves two possibilities, and that is more likely to cause problems for Cid.

It is possible that Cid is an incubus and is really that evil, but I put that as a distant third.

If May *is* an Incubus, then there is some serious Gender bending going on there, don't you think?

And Manawolf, you seem to be a bit harsh on the forum goers here.

Yes, it's rampant speculation, but that doesn't mean that they're sinking to lows, just that they're having fun with the storyline and being a bit silly. There's really nothing wrong with that.

[Somber]

There's also the possibility that May was seduced while her husband was away, and feels great shame about it.

There's also the possibilty that she was taken during a VERY nice dream in which her husband arrived in the morning and gave her a VERY nice hello.

I think Cid is trying to do two things.
1) He is trying to determine if May was faithful during his absences.  Unfair, but realistic.  May should retort that she never questioned during all of his adventuring if he fooled around while adventuring.

2) To get May to accept the fact that she did have to have sex with some one other than Cid to have an incubus.  Not to incriminate her, but to help her make decisions about Abel's future.  After all Incubi are generally seen as monsters to be killed by adventurers.

If people don't cool down then I can see this going very badly.  Cid will leave.  May will be heartbroken.  Abel will feel like he's not only a monster who couldn't save Devlin, but who also destroyed his family by being a monster. 

"Great drama though."

Somber

[Ouai]

If people don't cool down then I can see this going very badly.  Cid will leave.  May will be heartbroken.  Abel will feel like he's not only a monster who couldn't save Devlin, but who also destroyed his family by being a monster. 

"Great drama though."

Somber

I agree with that part 100%
It seems the most likely to me at this point and would explain alot.
That's my opinion till proven otherwise 

[Titanium Dragon]

Perhaps she's putting on a show?

Yeah, but why? She doesn't have any apparent motivation to do so, and moreover, she seemed panicked. And while yes, character reactions are not necessarily real, there doesn't seem to be a clear motivation for her pretending to panic. She'd be better off reacting more calmly, and she wouldn't have been prepared to contact a specialist, who would KNOW that he was an incubus, thus spreading the information.

That cleared, I think that this panel proves that either Cid is a bit of a dimwit, or he was so naive as to actually believe May on the whole thing about the wings being the result of magic. Or, possibly, that May herself is so naive as to believe it at once without thinking critically and considering that there might be another explanation.

No. Because, quite simply put, remember back, oh, when it first came up? Namely, http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Abel_06.php . Who is reassuring who? Cid is reassuring May and saying it is normal for adventurers' children to be abnormal. She believes HIM, not the other way around.

[nikename2]

Hmm, I highly doubt either of them are cubi, especially at this point since if one of them was they would have came out with it by now. My guess is that there really is no explanation for why Abel is an incubus and if there is, Amber won't tell us now and will end up having this particular arguement ensuing at the moment end badly.  

Really though, Abel is the only character so far I believe who has two different colored eyes. His wing style also is a hybrid of bird/bat wings while every other Cubi shown so far appears to either have bird or bat like wings. Except for the bishonen Cubi who decked Abel in the main comic #537. Her style is reversed though with the bat like section on top and the bird like section near the bottom. So it would seem to have this kind of hybridization must be extremely rare or possibly a clan trait.

He is clearly unique, perhaps foreshadowing that he has a much higher purpose. Anything is possible, but yea my money is that Abel is either some kind of "Messiah" or the herald of the Apocalypse, or both.  

[Tapewolf]

Anything is possible, but yea my money is that Abel is either some kind of "Messiah" or the herald of the Apocalypse, or both.  

Actually, my money's on Dan for that role.  His upbringing is sufficiently peculiar to have attracted attention from many sides.  Amber has already stated on the forum that abducting 'Cubi is not the usual modus operandi for SAIA, so Fa'Lina's "we must bring him to the Academy at all costs" line means that something really, really weird is going on and I'm not sure it's just the Dragon business, although that might factor on the 'herald of the Apocalypse' side of things.

At the risk of derailing the thread slightly, welcome to the group.  That's a really bizarre avatar you've got.  What is it?

[Kenji]

"This week on Jerry Spaniel: My Dad Called My Mom a Whore! Tune in!"

I don't think that's going to make it to air.  Too tame.

``My Mom had an affair with a demon...and now I'm a demon!'' maybe.  If you can work transsexual or emo in there, I think it will work.

Oh that'll be easy. Especially since so many people have been typing "If May is an incubus."

[techmaster-glitch]

Oh that'll be easy. Especially since so many people have been typing "If May is an incubus."

Heh, yeah, no kidding.

[Zorro]

I'm still betting on a powerful curse thrown on the Dad by a powerful, patient and vengeful creature during his adventuring Career.

After all if you live 2000 years, 40 isn't too long to wait for through and complete revenge.

[nikename2]

At the risk of derailing the thread slightly, welcome to the group.  That's a really bizarre avatar you've got.  What is it?

Thanks for the welcome, been following this comic for a few weeks and decided to register today.  The avatar I got is actually the negatized artwork for Eternal Dominion from MtG.

You are right though, Dan's abduction did imply that something may be up. We don't know exactly how Abel gets into SAIA yet either though so its not beyond the realm of possibility that both of them are two halves of the same whole. I got a feeling that how he gets to the academy may be coming up soon enough though.

[Nino]

Hmm, I highly doubt either of them are cubi, especially at this point since if one of them was they would have came out with it by now. My guess is that there really is no explanation for why Abel is an incubus and if there is, Amber won't tell us now and will end up having this particular arguement ensuing at the moment end badly. 

Really though, Abel is the only character so far I believe who has two different colored eyes. His wing style also is a hybrid of bird/bat wings while every other Cubi shown so far appears to either have bird or bat like wings. Except for the bishonen Cubi who decked Abel in the main comic #537. Her style is reversed though with the bat like section on top and the bird like section near the bottom. So it would seem to have this kind of hybridization must be extremely rare or possibly a clan trait.

He is clearly unique, perhaps foreshadowing that he has a much higher purpose. Anything is possible, but yea my money is that Abel is either some kind of "Messiah" or the herald of the Apocalypse, or both. 

I think it's because Abel is a cat furry and it is not atypical of cats to have mixed eyes.

Evidence may or may not have gone unnoticed: May has no black undertail. Cid and Abel both do.

That's all I really have to say. Oh, and Mana, I was just messing with you. I knew what you meant, but if it really bugs you then you don't have to read the crazy theories you think are unfounded. Glad TGH and Goatman enjoyed the post

Now I REALLY want to know the answer once and for all though.

[Tarkya]

Erp. Now this is a bad situation... because either way, Cid is saying that the fault for Abel being an Incubus is on May, no matter what the situation.

That seems like a relationship breaker.

[superluser]

Perhaps she's putting on a show?

Yeah, but why? She doesn't have any apparent motivation to do so, and moreover, she seemed panicked. And while yes, character reactions are not necessarily real, there doesn't seem to be a clear motivation for her pretending to panic. She'd be better off reacting more calmly, and she wouldn't have been prepared to contact a specialist, who would KNOW that he was an incubus, thus spreading the information.

I'm almost utterly convinced that May is not a succubus.  All I'm doing is offering alternative possibilities.  As you say, this one is not particularly convincing, but I think you're not giving it the credit it should be due.

If she contacts specialists in magical transformation, it's not unreasonable that they wouldn't know what an incubus was.  After all, Hennya just happened to read about them in a book, and the information that she got was pretty far off, indicating that it was probably not a standardized text.

Also, Hennya just described incubi as vicious monsters that claw their victims' faces off.  A normal person would probably be thrown into a panic when hearing that.  If May is trying to blend in, she would try to behave like a normal person.  Especially if she can hear Cid's thoughts as he's walking up the drive, and knows that it's probably better to be panicked.  After all, if Cid has to try to calm May down, he's less likely to fly off the handle, himself.

All in all, I don't think that anyone is terribly panicked.  May is clearly very anxious, but both Cid and May seem perfectly rational here.  May seems taken aback that Cid would even consider that May was being unfaithful, which suggests that he's never broached the subject before.  That would seem odd for someone who is away from his wife for long periods of time, unless he's not the jealous type.  I think the withering gaze that Cid is giving is less judgmental, and more ``OK.  Out with it and let's move on.''

Actually, my money's on Dan for that role.  His upbringing is sufficiently peculiar to have attracted attention from many sides.  Amber has already stated on the forum that abducting 'Cubi is not the usual modus operandi for SAIA, so Fa'Lina's "we must bring him to the Academy at all costs" line means that something really, really weird is going on and I'm not sure it's just the Dragon business, although that might factor on the 'herald of the Apocalypse' side of things.

Fa'Lina's comment may just be a reflection that the son of someone who was probably one of the founding members/first students of SAIA probably gets special treatment.  SAIA might even have a whole college named after Destania at this point, and snubbing one of your benefactors might indeed be the equivalent of ``all costs.''

On a more Manawolf-friendly level of speculation, Fa'Lina is in fact, probably referring to some danger that Dan is in due to some familial conflict.  Doesn't make him the Mahdi.

Also, I've always found it odd that the `cubi seem concerned about Dan and dragons because Dan's from the Cyra clan, but the dragons seem most concerned that Dan's the son of Edward.  I've said duelling prophecies, before, but it bears repeating.  After all, is there anything that unusual for `cubi to know a Cyra, or is it that unusual for dragons to have heard about an adventurer?

At the risk of derailing the thread slightly, welcome to the group.  That's a really bizarre avatar you've got.  What is it?

It's not the avvy for me.  That name is going to get confusing with Xse-Xse around.

[Stig Hemmer]

Actually, Abel isn't Mays son at all. He was swapped for another kid at the hospital. Devin, to be exact.  Devins mother, a succubus, had an affair with Mays brother. Hence the family resemblance.  Somebody at the hospital saw that Mays son looked like Devins mother and vice versa thought they had been swapped by accident, and swapped them "back".

As we have seen, having your head-wings appear and alert you to your true nature is a traumatic affair and Devins poor mother became quite unhinged.  She killed Devins siblings and eventually killed herself.

It all makes sense now...