2017-10-27 [DMFA # 1793] - Peer pressure

[Tapewolf]

It's possible that Dan will come out of his shell more during the party anyway.  He doesn't seem shy exactly.  Besides, it's unlikely he's the first young 'Cubi to go through some kind of denial, especially since he's only known about it for a couple of months at best.

[Famout]

I do love that Dan doesn't seem the least bit bothered by Squiggles movements or placement, Meanwhile I suspect Able would either be griping or tossing him across the room.

I wonder how others would react to random acts of Mink?

[Drakkenmensch]

I would welcome wholeheartedly the introduction of random acts of Mink into my life. The adorable squiddy can climb me or hide into my shirt any day of the week. 

[Akisohida]

And yet no one has commented that the normally flighty Mink has brought up a totally valid point in a way not even Dan himself was able to articulate...OR that he was aggressive and interrupted Aary.

Both seem kind of out of character for him, but yay Mink! You makes the sense..and the sammitches.

[Cassi-kun]

And yet no one has commented that the normally flighty Mink has brought up a totally valid point in a way not even Dan himself was able to articulate...OR that he was aggressive and interrupted Aary.

Both seem kind of out of character for him, but yay Mink! You makes the sense..and the sammitches.

I think it's more that we just haven't had the opportunity to see Mink in a situation like this. One of Mink's main personality traits is his over-the-top friendliness, which means he'd probably take it very seriously if someone he considers a friend were pushed into something they were uncomfortable with. Seeing as how Abel doesn't always seem to be at peace with himself, that's probably a major factor in Mink being protective of Dan as well, knowing Dan hasn't come to terms with himself either.

Not to mention he's giving this speech from Dan's shoulders.

(As for the conversation feeling metaphorical, I think it's a metaphor for Mink's gender)

[keybounce]

I'm also surprised that Mink, who normally knows zero personal space, would be concerned with what makes people comfortable/uncomfortable.

Also, do we know Mink's gender officially? I thought it was unspecified.

[The One Guy]

(As for the conversation feeling metaphorical, I think it's a metaphor for Mink's gender)

I doubt it.  This page seems to imply that Mink just doesn't really care, no that he/she's hiding it and uncomfortable with showing it.

[Cassi-kun]

(As for the conversation feeling metaphorical, I think it's a metaphor for Mink's gender)

I doubt it.  This page seems to imply that Mink just doesn't really care, no that he/she's hiding it and uncomfortable with showing it.

I thought of that, and looking back it feels like a type of deflection, turning the question into a punchline instead of actually answering it, especially having claimed to forget their own gender. So Mink may actually be agender or from a genderless race, but Mink has yet to be referred to by gendered pronouns at all, so that's the basis for my theory  They don't seem to be particularly worried about it as just not interested in sharing [yet], just like Dan isn't going to visually broadcast his being a Cyra incubus even though he doesn't seem to mind saying he is.

[The One Guy]

(As for the conversation feeling metaphorical, I think it's a metaphor for Mink's gender)

I doubt it.  This page seems to imply that Mink just doesn't really care, no that he/she's hiding it and uncomfortable with showing it.

I thought of that, and looking back it feels like a type of deflection, turning the question into a punchline instead of actually answering it, especially having claimed to forget their own gender. So Mink may actually be agender or from a genderless race, but Mink has yet to be referred to by gendered pronouns at all, so that's the basis for my theory  They don't seem to be particularly worried about it as just not interested in sharing [yet], just like Dan isn't going to visually broadcast his being a Cyra incubus even though he doesn't seem to mind saying he is.

I suppose that's possible, but if it is a method of deflection, then it's not a very reliable one.  Dan may have noped out, but others might have expected an answer after he/she checked (I know I would have), leaving Mink no way to smoothly avoid answering.

[Prroul]

If it were a Cubi-only bash... I could see Dan being more okay with it. But I have a feeling that, since there's going to apparently be a LOT of people at this shindig, discretion is going to be the better part of valor.

After all, if it gets back to Hizel that Cyra's grandkid is in existence, it would cause a very rapid reorganization of priorities for him. Suddenly, his son would be almost insignificant compared to the opportunity to hurt her that deeply. It would be the one thing that *might* spark an outright war. We're talking full-blown World War with armies and nations battling and the whole nine yards here. He owns a nation, that means he owns an army. And this is one target he would feel fully justified in expending that army to get. Hell, he'd risk the Fae's wrath for that.

I know, bar minimum, that Taun would most certainly NOT approve in the least.

I'm still waiting for the Clan Taun amazonian escort to show up as he appears at the party. Ostensibly as 'arm candy', in actuality as a bodyguard. She'll be dressed to match perfectly, since Taun has students at SAIA and so will know which outfit won the 'contest'.

[katasev]

Although Dan's desire to hide his heritage may end up a moot point - Regina will be there, after all, and their last (on screen) encounter ended with a lot of tentacles and mind-reading and rage. So while they may have come to a truce at that (off screen and apparently hilarious) dinner at Kria's about him not killing her, I doubt there were any provisos about "don't tell folks I'm a Cubi" or anything.

Then again, Regina isn't the brightest bulb, and just being Cubi doesn't necessarily link him to Clan Cyra, so he might still be alright that way.

(Unless, of course, Piflak advertises that to her guests herself, shmoozing about how "rare" he is, being one of literally only two Cyrans left alive. Who knows??)

[mithril]

well, he can hide his clan mark, even if people know he is a Cubi. his wing coloring can't be that rare, and as long as he doesn't show off the wing-tentacle heads, he should be ok.

[keybounce]

You know, a minute ago, I thought Mink might be genderless, kinda like V.

But, now it's clear that Mink has a gender, and just chooses not to make it explicit.

[Angel]

I think it's more that we just haven't had the opportunity to see Mink in a situation like this. One of Mink's main personality traits is his over-the-top friendliness, which means he'd probably take it very seriously if someone he considers a friend were pushed into something they were uncomfortable with. Seeing as how Abel doesn't always seem to be at peace with himself, that's probably a major factor in Mink being protective of Dan as well, knowing Dan hasn't come to terms with himself either.

Not to mention he's giving this speech from Dan's shoulders.

(As for the conversation feeling metaphorical, I think it's a metaphor for Mink's gender)

Oh snap I hadn't even considered that!

[Cassi-kun]

Then again, Regina isn't the brightest bulb, and just being Cubi doesn't necessarily link him to Clan Cyra, so he might still be alright that way.

Aliph knows who he is, though, so Regina also might. She likely has no idea why it matters, though.

[Nightmask]

You know, a minute ago, I thought Mink might be genderless, kinda like V.

But, now it's clear that Mink has a gender, and just chooses not to make it explicit.

While Mink's gender being undefined is a running gag it's important to remember that clan leaders seem obsessed over producing offspring since it's so important to clan and leader survival.  Many of the leaders he's met have been pressing down to have kids because his clan only has the 2 members (since we've been given no reason to think Dan's mother has produced any other kids since him).  Mink's clan is almost as small as Dan's so there has to be some pressure on its members to have kids, I can only imagine Mink's not showing signs of that pressure either because it's off-panel or his clan leader is so protective of him she's afraid of the results of pressuring him into having children.

[Merlin]

BRING ME PICTURES, PICTURES OF MINK'S ADORABLE HYPOTHETICAL CHILDREN

[Grey Wolf]

I have no plans on producing biological offspring, but I sure didn't identify as genderqueer/nonbinary to get that point across. I know we aren't especially common, but it confuses the heck out of me how people continue to think of Mink in terms of a gender binary.

I'm not angry or trying to be rude; I'm just trying to understand how that thought process works. Would someone who thinks this way please be willing to explain?

[Kirishala]

You know, a minute ago, I thought Mink might be genderless, kinda like V.

But, now it's clear that Mink has a gender, and just chooses not to make it explicit.

While Mink's gender being undefined is a running gag it's important to remember that clan leaders seem obsessed over producing offspring since it's so important to clan and leader survival.  Many of the leaders he's met have been pressing down to have kids because his clan only has the 2 members (since we've been given no reason to think Dan's mother has produced any other kids since him).  Mink's clan is almost as small as Dan's so there has to be some pressure on its members to have kids, I can only imagine Mink's not showing signs of that pressure either because it's off-panel or his clan leader is so protective of him she's afraid of the results of pressuring him into having children.

Jin is keeping Mink at SAIA to keep em safe, students at SAIA are not allowed to have kids though so pressuring em to reproduce would be pointless unless she let em leave SAIA.  OTOH it seems that Mink would like to get out into the world so ey is dealing with a different kind of pressure from Jin

[Cassi-kun]

BRING ME PICTURES, PICTURES OF MINK'S ADORABLE HYPOTHETICAL CHILDREN

Adding Mink/Abel slashbaby to the to-do list now...

[The One Guy]

I have no plans on producing biological offspring, but I sure didn't identify as genderqueer/nonbinary to get that point across. I know we aren't especially common, but it confuses the heck out of me how people continue to think of Mink in terms of a gender binary.

I'm not angry or trying to be rude; I'm just trying to understand how that thought process works. Would someone who thinks this way please be willing to explain?

Mink's gender being unknown is not the same thing as Mink being genderqueer/nonbinary.  That possibility certainly exists, but it's also entirely possible they are on the binary and are hiding it or don't care or whatever.  And we're only talking possibilities here as we have no way to know for certain which one's right.

[keybounce]

Did a comic get inserted after the fact? This comic is actually 1794; 1793 is a Q&A from fluffy.