I like this idea of passing laws involving future technologies. “If there is ever a conveyance that can hover, and someone helps you move a couch, you shall be required to let them have a turn. They’ll have earned it.”
The 2nd Amendment would have been much better with that kind of foresight.
Khyrin
I maintain that the only problem is we didn’t enforce the “Well-Regulated Militia”. in my dream world, where money is no object, firearm ownership and purchase of ammunition requires maintained certification:yearly training, marksmanship expectations, examinations on proper maintenance and current state and federal ordinances. These courses would be held twice monthly, and attendance of the training course would count as civil service like jury duty so your work can’t punish you for missing a shift or three. The initiate course would drive out every Hollywood misconception about firearms, and there would be a seperate refresher course for returning applicants.
If you fail, your weapons would be sealed in a case as “Collector’s Items” until such time as you pass.
In theory Members of Congress have the authority to call snap musters in their Districts. “All gun owners whose birthday ends in 5 and whose last name ends with E</b) must report to their local Guard Armory on such and such day. Bring ALL arms in possession, unloaded; do not bring ammunition. Arms will be inspected by active duty military and law enforcement personnel and representatives of the arms manufacturing industry. Failure to participate will mean a penalty on next year's income taxes."
I’m not sure about the tense. A trauma can heal and become a memory again. An ugly memory.
However, flashbacks don’t have to be the way they are with amber. They can feel cold. Like you just froze inside. If that’s a flashback, it’s probably more like that, judging by the colour. Since it’s the same colour theme as other stories from the past, I’m guessing memory, not flashback.
I’m curious if he talks to her. That could get interesting.
It’s not quite flashback-blue because the other colours are still there, just blue-tinted. Realisation flashbacks are bluescale, like in ‘Schlongs’.
So yeah, I’m thinking it’s a freeze-up. But it’s normal to have a moment like this when you’re confronted with a bad memory. Trauma is a spectrum like any mental health problem.
I hope he talks to her. I hope she notices the big guy who just stopped in his tracks. Someone’s gotta breach this topic.
Regalli
There were some early strips where flashbacks had a little color in them. Could be it’s a throwback to those as well?
Why does one automatically preclude the other? Obviously, he was never as traumatized as Amber (seeing as how it changed her life/mental state), but he could still have some trauma, as well as the “holy crap, it really is her, how could I have missed that, I’m an idiot” realization.
Alanari
He had a knife to his throat. It’s unlikely to go through that without a trauma. He almost certainly was traumatised. He doesn’t show any signs of ptsd though, so I’m assuming the trauma healed.
Rabid Rabbit
You also have to remember that the trauma wasn’t just getting a knife held to his throat. Yes, that was pretty bad — he looks pertty out of it here: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-4/01-the-only-dope-for-me-is-you/freezeup/ But notice what else happens there. The next part of the trauma is that he sees his best friend ever go nuts and stab someone through the hand, and not in self-defense.
Ethan’s the reasonable type (so long as you don’t bring up Transformers), and even in that state it would be terrifying for him to discover what Amber’s capable of. I don’t think we know if he’d ever witnessed one of her red panels before — or hell, if this was the first time she ever lost it.
So yes, what Sal did would have traumatized him, but it’s quite possible that the effect of that was lessened by the immediately following trauma of seeing Amber snap.
We haven’t seen anything of the robberies from her POV, but I recall Ethan thought she was having a panic attack (or starting to have one) right before the second one – he told Amber he bet she and Sal were having the same problem. And, yeah, I’d not be shocked if it comes up, especially since this storyline is supposed to be Sal centred.
130 thoughts on “Growth”
Ana Chronistic
This is fine.
I’m okay with the events that are unfolding currently.
That’s okay. Things are going to be okay.
*melts*
Inahc
I only discovered this meme recently, so: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/this-is-fine
Judas Peckerwood
Oh dear. So how long were you in the coma?
Marsh Maryrose
But the sun still shines!
I honestly don’t know if I should wipe the tears from your eyes, or have another glass of Mexican wine.
Formedras
Things were never going to be ok until this happened. Now they can be, or they might not be.
Cheesy1
Size matters not.
Needfuldoer
Judge me by my size, do you?
LookingIn
Sometimes the most dangerous animals are the smallest ones, just ad Dennis Nedry 😀
Deanatay
+3 for matching comment to avatar.
Doctor_Who
Tell her who you are, Ethan. If someone takes you hostage they owe you free motorcycle rides, like, for life.
Pretty sure that’s in the Magna Carta.
3oranges
I like this idea of passing laws involving future technologies. “If there is ever a conveyance that can hover, and someone helps you move a couch, you shall be required to let them have a turn. They’ll have earned it.”
Doctor_Who
You should see what effect this little stunt had on future legislation.
Kensou
I was hoping a few years would improve my view of that scene. =/ Oh well, still love the Doctor. Hate having to wait for Thirteen.
Also, yikes. Awkward and uncomfortable as it would be, I want them to have a talk about this.
Koms
They shall pivot..pivot
Judas Peckerwood
The 2nd Amendment would have been much better with that kind of foresight.
Khyrin
I maintain that the only problem is we didn’t enforce the “Well-Regulated Militia”. in my dream world, where money is no object, firearm ownership and purchase of ammunition requires maintained certification:yearly training, marksmanship expectations, examinations on proper maintenance and current state and federal ordinances. These courses would be held twice monthly, and attendance of the training course would count as civil service like jury duty so your work can’t punish you for missing a shift or three. The initiate course would drive out every Hollywood misconception about firearms, and there would be a seperate refresher course for returning applicants.
If you fail, your weapons would be sealed in a case as “Collector’s Items” until such time as you pass.
Stephen Bierce
In theory Members of Congress have the authority to call snap musters in their Districts. “All gun owners whose birthday ends in 5 and whose last name ends with E</b) must report to their local Guard Armory on such and such day. Bring ALL arms in possession, unloaded; do not bring ammunition. Arms will be inspected by active duty military and law enforcement personnel and representatives of the arms manufacturing industry. Failure to participate will mean a penalty on next year's income taxes."
Rowen Morland
Only if you are of noble birth.
LookingIn
If it isn’t, use your TARDIS to ensure that it is 😉
Wizard
Restorative justice at its finest!
Kaunisenkeli
And still, invoking the MC won’t get you into law school.
Darkoneko
Everything is lagging aaaaaaaa
butts
the website is farting on me as well
Reltzik
Well it’s obviously not out of gas.
LookingIn
yeah but it still stinks…thankfully it’s passed and is back to normal
Needfuldoer
Oh the irony.
Irredentist
I knew it, he IS traumatized. I hope someone tells Sal about this soon.
Kathleen
Well, the flashback isn’t red. So that’s a good sign at least.
Marsh Maryrose
You won’t see him flying to the red.
Stu
I think it’s less traumatized (or it at least pales in comparison to Amber’s, though that’s not saying much) and more “dawning realization”.
Alanari
I’m not sure about the tense. A trauma can heal and become a memory again. An ugly memory.
However, flashbacks don’t have to be the way they are with amber. They can feel cold. Like you just froze inside. If that’s a flashback, it’s probably more like that, judging by the colour. Since it’s the same colour theme as other stories from the past, I’m guessing memory, not flashback.
I’m curious if he talks to her. That could get interesting.
Daisy
It’s not quite flashback-blue because the other colours are still there, just blue-tinted. Realisation flashbacks are bluescale,
So yeah, I’m thinking it’s a freeze-up. But it’s normal to have a moment like this when you’re confronted with a bad memory. Trauma is a spectrum like any mental health problem.
I hope he talks to her. I hope she notices the big guy who just stopped in his tracks. Someone’s gotta breach this topic.
Regalli
There were some early strips where flashbacks had a little color in them. Could be it’s a throwback to those as well?
Reltzik
Is that trauma, or is it just “holy crap it really is her how could I have missed that I’m an idiot”?
Michelle J. Caboose
Why does one automatically preclude the other? Obviously, he was never as traumatized as Amber (seeing as how it changed her life/mental state), but he could still have some trauma, as well as the “holy crap, it really is her, how could I have missed that, I’m an idiot” realization.
Alanari
He had a knife to his throat. It’s unlikely to go through that without a trauma. He almost certainly was traumatised. He doesn’t show any signs of ptsd though, so I’m assuming the trauma healed.
Rabid Rabbit
You also have to remember that the trauma wasn’t just getting a knife held to his throat. Yes, that was pretty bad — he looks pertty out of it here: http://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-4/01-the-only-dope-for-me-is-you/freezeup/ But notice what else happens there. The next part of the trauma is that he sees his best friend ever go nuts and stab someone through the hand, and not in self-defense.
Ethan’s the reasonable type (so long as you don’t bring up Transformers), and even in that state it would be terrifying for him to discover what Amber’s capable of. I don’t think we know if he’d ever witnessed one of her red panels before — or hell, if this was the first time she ever lost it.
So yes, what Sal did would have traumatized him, but it’s quite possible that the effect of that was lessened by the immediately following trauma of seeing Amber snap.
Eric
I bet she’s aware.
butts
here we go, yo
Stephen Bierce
As if it just happened an hour ago…
BBCC
I’m just over here running around, screaming, don’t mind me
Regalli
That’s what I brought all these pillows for! Soft, squishy, and scream-absorbent.
BBCC
I’m just over here running around, screaming, don’t mind me.
Larkle
Ah, he sees it now.
Lingo
No red panels for Ethan….
ARoseJess
I’d be on the floor cowering…so he’s doing okay…
Tacos
Well no red panels so that’s something at least I guess.
Passchendaele
rutten to the core
Deanatay
Struttin’ in Rutten
cbwroses
What does the alt text say? It’s not coming up for me.
Inahc
“everything was a lot bigger when you were little”
cbwroses
Thank you
Fiddler115
That’s what she said.
Bagge
And thus Ethan took up the mantel of Amazi-girl.
(Or, you know, worked through his trauma in a less self destructive way I dunno)
BBCC
Where’s the fun in that? 😛
Bagge
…come to think of it, this might not be about Ethan’s trauma as much as SAL’s trauma. Hope SHE won’t get any red panels
BBCC
We haven’t seen anything of the robberies from her POV, but I recall Ethan thought she was having a panic attack (or starting to have one) right before the second one – he told Amber he bet she and Sal were having the same problem. And, yeah, I’d not be shocked if it comes up, especially since this storyline is supposed to be Sal centred.
BBCC
Also, all you American-type pokemon should look at this:
https://twitter.com/Celeste_pewter/status/1047672286176673792
Regalli
My reps are both definite no’s and have been for months, but I’ll see if I can add anything with Herd On The Hill.
And start preparing my poster board for what comes next.
BBCC
I’d call them anyways and affirm that stance. Having numbers they can point to helps.
Axel
I’m so glad she actually wore the jacket
Keulen
I didn’t think she’d wear it either. She looks pretty badass in it.
Bagge
Sure, but Sal looks badass in ANYTHING (to Billie’s chagrin)
Bagge
She put it on, put it on, put it on!
Archivist
Nice framing!
Bagge
What? No! Sal wasn’t framed. They caught her redhanded (I’M SO SORRY FOR THAT PUN!)
JBento
Well, Sal WASN’T redhanded until Amber got a hold of the knife…
DailyBrad
Well, I don’t blame Sal any for not recognizing him. he looks like he traded bodies with Bruce Wayne.
jeffepp
She could still kick his butt.
brumagem
Oh hey, fuckface got her to wear the Rutten jacket.