Annotated 26-13
So, uh, this is pretty bad, right? Rachel’s getting it from both her uncaptured friends, whom you’d think might try to cheer her on at least a little bit, since her power is Frigg’s best chance of remaining alive. Frigg’s poisoned and maybe dying. E-Merl’s at the sisters’ mercy. And here comes the second wave of true believers, who’ve been pretty happy to follow Hestia’s directives so far.
Story structure-wise, this is pretty clearly the Act II midpoint, even though the shift from “rising action” to “falling action” isn’t unilateral. Some things will get better from here while other things get worse, but every action after this is rolling to the point where we have to resolve this conflict, fatally or otherwise.
Phil and I never talked in terms of “acts” like this (and he was less structurally-minded as time went on), but when we were in sync, things often worked out this way.
The thing about Frigg’s brutal honesty is that although in a lot of situations it’s one of her best traits, she can’t ever turn it off. This is one time where it would’ve been better for everyone if she shut the fuck up.
Seriously, I think this might actually be the most unlikable thing Frigg has done in the story, which is saying something.
Frigg was just told that she’s going to die painfully, murdered by Rachel’s friends, because Rachel didn’t have the resolve to help properly. Her being angry seems pretty fair.
Plus Rachel clearly needs a kick in the ass here, to make it clear she has to get her act together if she doesn’t want her friends to die.
Yes, this is a terrible time to be undermining the confidence of the healer whose powers are based on their faith, guys.
I actually half-wonder if they’re actively trying to invoke the trope of criticizing somebody until their abilities get a turbo boost just to prove you wrong.
Half-wonder? Well, I think it’s entirely certain that Scipio is and real unlikely that Frigg is, so I suppose that could be said to total out at half-wondering if they both are.
(Also, to the final panel, loathe is a verb; the adjective form is loath, with no e.)
With Scip, who’s driving seems like it would be a large part of determining the likelihood of it.
If his sepia counterpart (whose name I am blanking on) is in charge, it’s almost certain to be that on her part.
If Scip-the-Arkheran is fully in the pilot’s seat, between the fact that playing that sort of mindgame seems a bit out of character for him, and even having heard/read the kinds of stories where it’s a trope enough to have internalized it seems unlikely given his background, it seems very unlikely.
As to Frigg – remember she’s based on trolly 4channers, and ‘I just calls it as I sees it’ and ‘I totally don’t believe this, I’m just pretending to to make a point’ are both common attributes of those guys, so she could be drawing from either subspecies, here.
While pushing buttons is a bit out of character for Scipio, joining Frigg in wastefully chewing somebody would be even more out of character, so I think we oughta give him the benefit of the doubt.
“playing that sort of mindgame seems a bit out of character for him”
In my opinion this couldn’t be further from the truth. His character is the archetype of 4chan troll that isn’t loud and offensive (which Frigg is). He outsmarts people and baits them more subtly. He outraged Frigg initially simply by not falling for her taunts, but he’s definitely playing mind games with her and a good goading isn’t “above him”. I think he showcases this much better next page.
Frigg’s powers come mostly from “screw you” so her trying to kickstart Rachel’s powers the same way makes a bit of sense as does Scipio catching on to what she is doing
I disagree entirely.
I agree with your disagreement.
I acknowledge this.
Here’s the thing, I love Rachel, she’s probably my favorite character, so this part of the story is a tough one for me. But she’s got herself so twisted up, so filled with doubt, that she has rammed her head firmly up her own backside. She needs something to pull her out of it. Now if they had the luxury of time, which they do not, one of the more patient and sensitive leaders of her guild would have had to take steps, and she’d get the gentle counseling she needs. But they’re all busy with politics, and more importantly, not here right now.
Right now, for the 2nd or 3rd time, Rachel has failed. Not just herself, but also her team. Her conviction has wavered, and she has been poisoned by self-doubt. She has not been pulling her weight, and this time it might mean someone dies. If the battle were over and they could go home, a different conversation might be had, but they are still on the battlefield, there are active enemies around, a comrade is incapacitated, another captured. There is no time for her doubts, or for her weaknesses. She must either rise to the occasion or someone dies. This is a crisis point. Frigg knows that, so does Scip. You can’t be a liability in that situation, you can’t be false, especially not to yourself. Your people have to know what you are capable of. What you are. If that is too weak, or damaged, or whatever, to be of aid, than so be it. But the person who goes into a situation like that, pretending they’re fine when they’re not, gets people killed.
How can you go to war if you’re busy fighting yourself? Especially if you are a person driven by their faith. Frigg and Scipio are telling her, that right now she’s doing them more harm than help. And if she wants to help, she’s gotta figure her shit out. Now.
Can I say what a great touch it is to have these sisters (and Rachel) carry around those ruler-swords? I’ve always admired that as an artistic touch.