10/31/08 [Abel 2 #34] - OoOoOo... I'm the ghost of the whiny dumbasses

[Tycoon]

"Ceci n'est pas une Devin"

[Tapewolf]

My gut feeling is dream sequence.  However, I also see another (remote) possibility.  Since cubi can capture souls, perhaps Abel accidentally stole Devin's soul just before he died. 

Soul trapping isn't an innate ability.  As I understand it from what Amber's said, it is just a spell that anyone can cast if they have the requisite skills.

"Ceci n'est pas une Devin"

Does that mean "is not" or "doesn't like"?  I always get them confused.

[superluser]

I'm starting to wonder whether he is a projection or Fa'Lina manipulating Abel's dreams.  She or the Doctor would probably not have let him go if he was on the verge of a total nervous breakdown.

If Devin appeared while Ink was testing him, Abel would be more able to brush it off as a test.

If Devin appears after Abel is convinced that the testing is over, he'd be less able to dismiss it, making it more likely that such a test would reveal the sort of information that Ink/Fa'Lina wants.

Not sure what that means, but I think it supports what you're saying.

My gut feeling is dream sequence.  However, I also see another (remote) possibility.  Since cubi can capture souls, perhaps Abel accidentally stole Devin's soul just before he died. 

More or less the ``Man with Two Brains'' idea.  If not the soul, then perhaps the mind.  Short of a definitive statement from Amber (which is probably coming in succeeding strips), I couldn't say.

Does that mean "is not" or "doesn't like"?  I always get them confused.

This is not a pipe.

[Ted Schiller]

"Tonight you will be visited by three ghosts."

With regards,
Ted

[Lucheek]

Always a suprise in DMFA.

Never gets old...

[Kipiru]

From tragedy to comedy, only in DMFA! Great stuff Amber! I was wondering when Abel was going to crack.

[Jigsaw Forte]

My gut feeling is dream sequence.  However, I also see another (remote) possibility.  Since cubi can capture souls, perhaps Abel accidentally stole Devin's soul just before he died. 

You think that would require a certain amount of effort... I mean, stealing a folk's soul seems... kinda important / permanent, y'know?

[Madmann135]

The brain is a strange thing.  I'm voting on what Devin-Ghost said and sticking with Abel's mind trying to figure out a way to help aleaviate the stress by showing a recent non stressful immage. 

In all consideration Devin is a logical choice.  The last time we saw Devin he was protecting Abel (being a bit of a jerk but protecting Abel none the less).  Even after Devin was mortally injured Abel was working up the courage to perform healing magic to save Devin's life.
Abel's dad would be a horrorable choice because Abel doesn't know who his father really is but he does know that his biological father is a(n) (insert your appropiate insult). 
Abel's mom is not the best of choices because last time he saw her he thinks it was his fault that she got hurt.  Kira would be a weird choice because she was his teacher.

[Alondro]

I think Devin wasn't dead.  He was only mostly dead!  Which means he was a lil alive! 

So it was as simple as a quick visit to Miracle Max's place.   

[rabid_fox]

Devin. I'm oddly delighted.

[rt]

Bah, I go for it's all a dream since the beginning and someone is waking up in the shower

I hope Sble spends those points on a pizza party, that sounds very tastey at the momment .. mmmm piizzza.

[Naldru]

"Tonight you will be visited by three ghosts."
With regards,
Ted

Devin, Cindy, and Hennya

It would fit

[Cogidubnus]

He looks pretty creepy in panel two. I think it's the pinpoint eyes.

[terrycloth]

Well, if you're going to accidentally steal a soul, the point of death is the most likely time for it to happen.

And it's not necessarily *permanent*. Aaryana was storing them in jars, after all.

I think my official prediction is going to have to be 'Devin resurrected as an undead time-traveling back from the future, semitransparent because time travel only makes an illusionary projection unless you possess someone's body, like in Quantum Leap'.

(we're not allowed to gloat anyway, so there's no point picking something likely)

[Tapewolf]

(we're not allowed to gloat anyway, so there's no point picking something likely)

All you need is a good network of shills.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

(we're not allowed to gloat anyway, so there's no point picking something likely)

All you need is a good network of shills.

Or, in terry's case, a good portion of pills. ;-]

[Sid]

Of course, iTunes picked the moment I visit the comic to shuffle to Michael Jackson's "Thriller".

And I somehow remembered this classic Due South moment:
Benton Fraser: *stops and looks in the back seat where his father's ghost is sitting*
Fraser Sr.: Hello, son.
Benton Fraser: *warily* Hello, Dad. How are you?
Fraser Sr.: I'm dead, son. Other than that, do you mean?
Benton Fraser: No, that's what I was asking.
Fraser Sr.: Oh, that's good. Never be ashamed to ask a stupid question, son.

[AmigaDragon]

My gut feeling is dream sequence.  However, I also see another (remote) possibility.  Since cubi can capture souls, perhaps Abel accidentally stole Devin's soul just before he died. 

Soul trapping isn't an innate ability.  As I understand it from what Amber's said, it is just a spell that anyone can cast if they have the requisite skills.

So, what do cubi (or anyone else for that matter) do with stolen souls? Sure, storage in gems, jars or whatever until you're ready for them, but then what?

----------------
Now playing on Winamp: The Cars - Shake It Up (Loafer's Fatass Radio Show)
via FoxyTunes

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

lunch.

[Anri]

Also breakfast, dinner, midnight snack, at tea...

[Dagardo]

And whenever you want it in general.

[Ghostwish]

Jack'o'lanterns at this time of year.

[icarus]

fyi, those immediately thinking he's a magically transparent undead?

devin's eyes have always been yellow. check back.

[superluser]

fyi, those immediately thinking he's a magically transparent undead?

devin's eyes have always been yellow. check back.

Have they always been 25 times brighter than the whites of his eyes?

I'll save you the trouble of looking: no.

[LionHeart]

My gut feeling is dream sequence.  However, I also see another (remote) possibility.  Since cubi can capture souls, perhaps Abel accidentally stole Devin's soul just before he died. 

Soul trapping isn't an innate ability.  As I understand it from what Amber's said, it is just a spell that anyone can cast if they have the requisite skills.

So, what do cubi (or anyone else for that matter) do with stolen souls? Sure, storage in gems, jars or whatever until you're ready for them, but then what?

Powering desk lamps seems to be a popular choice...

[Tapewolf]

So, what do cubi (or anyone else for that matter) do with stolen souls? Sure, storage in gems, jars or whatever until you're ready for them, but then what?

I don't know the full extent of what they can do with them.  The most infamous one is consuming them to increase their powers and lifespan.  From what Abel says they can also be used to enchant objects a'la Morrowind.
When the topic came up at AC, Amber commented that there are beneficial uses for doing this kind of thing (i.e. beneficial to the person being soul-filched), but you don't often hear about them.

[Emerauld Drathmir]

Can't wait to see the next installment.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

When the topic came up at AC, Amber commented that there are beneficial uses for doing this kind of thing (i.e. beneficial to the person being soul-filched), but you don't often hear about them.

The first benefit that comes to mind is not being dead after your allotted three score and ten is up, for a start.

Less of a benefit for most Creatures, but still...

[Tapewolf]

The first benefit that comes to mind is not being dead after your allotted three score and ten is up, for a start.  Less of a benefit for most Creatures, but still...

I actually started writing Future History to explore these ideas.  The problem with stealing the souls of the dead with intent to resurrect them is that you need to have a body to put them in.  Joshua and Dorcan are one approach - otherwise, you may have to kick someone else out of their body.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

The first benefit that comes to mind is not being dead after your allotted three score and ten is up, for a start.  Less of a benefit for most Creatures, but still...

I actually started writing Future History to explore these ideas.  The problem with stealing the souls of the dead with intent to resurrect them is that you need to have a body to put them in.  Joshua and Dorcan are one approach - otherwise, you may have to kick someone else out of their body.

True, but if you're not intending on putting the free soul into a body, it's a lot easier.

Also there's the possibility of, uh, I guess "harvesting" would be the correct word, of the elderly. Once their bodies start to fail, it starts becoming more attractive to be rid of them...