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https://unitedhelpukraine.org/ https://www.comebackalive.in.ua/
(High-res version available for free over on my Patreon!)
Colorists
oniontrain & koofins & Raptie !https://unitedhelpukraine.org/ https://www.comebackalive.in.ua/
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Just what. A. Moment.
That matriarch knows her skillset!
And you accept that hug, Kass. Take it like a man... or woman... or whatever helps you through the really fucked up shit your life has thrown at you.
Oh wait no, that's much worse
No dialog at the end, but the way the expressions are portrayed... there doesn't need to any, wonderful work and writing.
"I am hugging you"
"I am also hugging you"
No, no we are not.
So yeah, I'm not sure Vizlet really gets what's going on here, to the point where her intervention could do more harm than good.
The example here is men are told that bottling it up and holding it in, burying it and letting it go away is dumb. Getting it out and talking it over is the better, more mature way to do things. For everyone. I don't think that's the case, and I think there's a very big gender gap in the populations about what the best approach for any individual would be.
It's also possible that, much like sleeping in one 8 hour chunk, that's a coping mechanism Kasses male human brain could have worked with but their female yinglet brain is not going to handle very well.
Is there a better fix than just patching it and moving on?
Does that work the same for everyone?
Are there differences in gender?
There's no guarantee that there IS a fix. Plenty of diseases and conditions don't have a cure or effective treatment. Sometimes that's reality and it sucks but you have to deal with what is.
Even when there is an effective treatment, Lots of treatments don't work the same for every individual: antibiotics fix a lot of infections but not when people are allergic for example.
There's just way too many unproven or outright unknowns there to say one way is right and one way is wrong.
Also this is very much what I hoped would happen. Kass just finally talking it out with someone!
I think that is what the sentence was supposed to be like, considering what's being said afterwards. I feel like that "did not" is a typo that just managed to crawl it's way in. Still, it made me re-read the first in confusion more times than I am comfortable with.
P.S. Omg, why did the FA website designers put the 'Cancel' button to the RIGHT of the 'Post Comment' button?? I had to re-write this entire comment TWICE because I clicked on the wrong button by accident.
Valsalia is a very good writer
... But making quips like Ran would have to come another time. Kass earned this.
[But at the very least I can do my best to be there for others, ayy]
fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck
I figured this would be where things where going in the last page, but I didn't expect it to hit this hard
Fuuuck I love Vizlet, we all need one of her in our lives, your so right
https://store.vilous.net/collection.....let-dakimakura
Think it's nice that Viz is taking a moment to be real here. Before she was looking for an advantage, and maybe still is, but I think she showing she actually 'does' care beyond that.
Kass happened to present a unique opportunity to learn more about the yinglets and their enclave, which had the potential to benefit the city. So Viracroix, being a consummate Machiavellian, necessarily had to exploit that opportunity.
Vizlet, by contrast, is more than just a political leader of her people. She's been seen acting as a mother figure to them as well - mostly to the other females, but one could easily argue that her position is seen as such by the general populace. So it's not entirely unexpected that she should act as such even towards a yinglet that isn't a member of her enclave.
That last , the emotion is so perfectly captured in Kass' face I just know what he's feeling
Poor Kass though, at least Vizlet is willing to do the things that'll get them to open up more and hopefully start healing
That's a nice dream.
If they'd actually gotten the chance to go through with what they wanted to, it would've been an utter violation of his very core. It would've been the pain of being turned into a female yinglet squared, since it would've only been possible because of the transformation. And he would've had to live with the memory and knowledge of those sensations for the rest of his life. For the rest of his life, he'd have to what it felt like to have a body part he's not supposed to have be penetrated by someone who held that power over him and took it away from him. He'd never be able to undo it. Even if he somehow got revenge on Brakka, it'd still be in the back of his mind, that voice whispering "It can happen again. Anyone could be the next one to do it. Not only are you weaker than every single human over the age of about 5, you're even weaker than the tiny little Scavs running around." And if he was forced to carry and lay eggs because of it, the ultimate act of "female yinglet"-ness? ...He probably would not survive himself.
I'm not saying that's death in war "no big deal", I'm just saying that Kass was more equipped to handle the trauma of it because it was more aligned with how he saw himself and what he expected. It's still traumatic as heck, but it's a different kind of trauma.
I also view life as sacred, but what I meant was that from Kass's perspective, between the options, he'd likely rather choose "death by war" over "death after rape by Brakka" over "surviving rape by Brakka". To the point where he might commit suicide if it happened and he laid Brakka's eggs. I view both rape and murder as utterly reprehensible crimes, roughly on equal levels, and murder as slightly worse because there is still that hope of healing and recovery. But I doubt Kass would be able to handle it with the tools and people available to him at this time.
I'm trans myself, and I'm lucky in that there isn't the option of something so traumatic happening to me. It's bad enough having to have a body who's gender doesn't match what I know myself to be, but I can't be made to experience the utter core violation of being forced to carry the child of an attacker. And in Kass's case, it would not only be an inescapable confrontation with his gender, but also his species, since it would be a yinglet egg. He's not really shown himself to be ready to confront either of those, so the combination of both would likely just destroy him, emotionally and mentally.
Flopsy started as me working on planning out a Metroidvania, but I don't have the energy to code and the money to hire a team for all the other stuff I'd need, so I ended up turning it into a story and then re-using the setting I'd made for Princess. A lot of her abilities were designed with a game in mind, either starting with them or obtaining them through gameplay.
Feel free to note me a bit about what you're working on and what you need, and I'll see what I can come up with? ^_^
Kassen getting hit with one of those '... Honey, are you okay?' lines.
Was in a rough spot working retail once, had an old lady ask me that once on a particularly bad day, and had a breakdown and an anxiety attack shortly thereafter. Wish I had Yinglet-hugs to stem the tide.
And even when I do let myself actually feel things and let myself cry- like during emotional scenes in games / anime / movies or whatever, it's strictly where and when no one can see me, and then I still feel like some weakling or wuss afterwards. I'm similarly seen as the stoic one, and have been the 'bedrock' to my circle of friends online and offline. It feels so strange that... me breaking down would be like, I'm breaking character or going off-script... everything would be so awkward and none of my friends would even know what to do with me, or probably wouldn't do anything. Just kinda, ignore it till it goes away...
I hate toxic masculinity
I know it changes nothing in your day to day life, but I hope you know your valid, your loved and your allowed to feel emotions. Even if people in your life can't deal with that fact, it remains true that you are a person, deserving of respect and the ability to be vulnerable.
...And then they yell at me and call me a 'robot' or a 'Vulcan' when they're out of control or drunk. >.>
Also, the grammar in "did not used to be male" confuses me.
Also, 4th is begging to be a reaction meme.
Emotions can be supressed.
But a Hug like that can be hardlyignored or pushed away.
Besides: every social living beeing needs 3 hugs a day. Guess someone might be also unknowingly starved for hugs.
Kass needed the hug.. and they just didn't realize it till someone gave it to them
Not only was Kass Human, But also Male. Where as now he is a Female Yinglet. Its a culturre shock on so mny fronts all at once. And Kass is very much still trying to deal with it like he would as a Male Human. The context of the worlds specific culture isn't 100% defined, but seems similar enough based on the way people act that its safe to assume that outside his close circle of friends, there straight up isn't anyone he can confide in.
And being a Female Yinglet has made that harder. Since he still very much seems to have the mentality that the world isn't going to care about his emotions, problems, or give him any special treatment because that generally is what is expected of men. The expectation is wht he is initially trying to do here, push it down until he can deal with it. Which like it or not is how most men have to deal with their problems.
As a Human he was more able to directly confront his problems, and has lost a LOT of power in that regard. But is still trying to soldier on with what power or influence he can to cope. It seems as both a cultural and gender difference for the Yinglets that they pay much more attention and are more open about that than humans tend to be. Which might prove beneficial to Kass long term.
Might end up proving long term that the change is more to Kass's overall benefit than he likely will ever be comfortable itting.
I know all about unprocessed trauma. I've got a boatload of it myself. A hug isn't a cure-all, but it's a damn good start, and Vizlet knows it.
She practically has a degree out of Unseen University, that one. And she's exactly what Kass needs right now.
Kass has probably been used to being treated as nothing more than a tool for the leaders and nobles to use for their own ends: a soldier to draft into battle, a grunt to clean livestock pens, a security guard to stay up all night while they sleep, an escort to transport goods worth more than him, etc. The trademaster wants to use Kass as a diplomatic advantage with the yinglets. Ran wants to use Kass for scientific study. To Ivenmoth he was only ever a war refugee and servant without any status, until he became a better tool for something else, but still just a tool. When Kass first met Vizlet, she only seemed to use him as a tool to placate the patriarchs and the elders' spy. The fact that she might actually care about Kass as a person and not just a useful tool probably never seemed a possibility to him.
I just didn't realize how much I needed Kass to actually get that hug.
Matriarch Vizlet: 1
Hell yeah
i am actually asking in case you find it sarcastic.
Vizlet could potentially be making things so much worse here.
The entire expectation that "Guys shouldn't cry." And if you are sensitive you are less of a man/not as good as emotionally detached individual.
It's messed up that men are, as mentioned, conditioned this way not by choice but by society. But I suppose it also makes a sick bit of sense. A guy that can feel sympathy for their fellow man makes for a poor weapon.
"mentally and psychologically so resilient..."
*facepalm*
The first thing you seemed to do was to say that men were being persecuted for this, and that that was a recent occurrence. I don't think that most people see things that way.
That depends on who you talk to. Don't try to discuss men's issues with guys that don't have physical vocations.
lmao
touching feels are we?
and all in style are we?
"gonna need a bigger gun then" XD
you can test it, hold a pillow.
On FA and DA it is Mature only.
I've noticed that you can sometimes even get in extra votes from different IP addresses, or if you're disconnected from your IP and open up again later.
I neglected to check the numbers yesterday, but OOPs closed out last month at around 53rd place and around 845 votes. It's currently at 60 votes and 375th place. The highest it's reached is 36th place, and the top vote getters seem to end up with something close to 20,000 votes.
Vote early, vote often! Help OOPs get noticed!
Those expressions say more than a hundred words heh... ehhh, I wish I could give those two a hug... long caring & very ive hug...
Gunshot wounds excluded
this comic is really really fucking good and I love Vizlet and Kass and fuuuuck
This comic is incredible and Val, you have my undying respect for your humane and empathetic tackling of a very serious, very loaded subject matter. In lesser hands this sort of thing could have been a breaking point for the comic, a point where it became too much to handle and a sign to just log off, but instead it has become a shining example of just how strong your art, your writing and your humanity truly are! Bless you and the team of people who work with you on these comics, your all... Just great!
Thank you.
In the final , the ears tell all.
So until MatriarCON, we'll need to wait.
Of course, we know it's not going to be written that way. But this is the kind of thing that could make Kass' issues so much worse than they already are. Because Vizlet isn't actually understanding what those issues are, and is instead trying to force Kass into doing things and thinking about things in a way he's not actually capable of. That's not how you help someone with trauma or other mental issues. That's how you make things so much worse.
But yes, just wanted to thank you for bringing this story to us, and let you know that there are likely many silent readers like myself too! (Come to think of it I should comment more often XD)
Gotta savour the wholesome until the next time Kassen has to stab things.
If she keeps on huggin', levee's gonna break
If she keeps on huggin', levee's gonna break
When the levee breaks, yinglet's gonna cry
This has certainly been a more serious conversation than I had expected, dealing with emotions and how to cope. While Kass would’ve had immense trauma if he had gotten raped, he still felt powerless when he was kidnapped and being in control is something evidently important to him so I understand where he may be struggling emotionally. And that’s a hard thing to come to with so I see why he’d be adversely against accepting that, but that’s why I like seeing him taking charge of things he can control.
It really is sad to see him hurt so much. Especially if it goes unnoticed, much the way I’ve felt before, so I’m glad Vizlet is able to recognize and offer some comfort.
I probably don’t sing your praises near well enough but I’ve been really enjoying the story, Val.
FREE HUGHS HERE!!!!
Still feel for Kass's situation, its a lot to process after the fact. And Viz... and think may have some first hand in there... She has been all of her life where as Kass (Age kinda unknown) has just had their world literally changed within the span of day...
Yis, hug Kass! Kass needs all the hugs <3
Big feels
You know, it's a real bummer, but there are folks out there who seem to believe that losing one's life in a war is something trivial, just because the individual was aware of the risks when they enlisted. Talk about a twisted outlook, huh?
But here's the scoop: we've got to amp up the empathy for every soul, whether they're donning a uniform or not. Every struggle deserves its spotlight, no exceptions. Even soldiers – yep, those very ones with families, friends, and dreams – they're not g up for a one-way ticket, you know? Who's counting how many folks end up grappling with PTSD after being in the thick of it?
Just like that rollercoaster we call life, let's shift gears and embrace a different ride. Let's recognize the significance of every journey, acknowledge the shared human experiences, and toss judgment aside. It's all about bringing those groovy vibes of understanding to the forefront!
So, here's the deal: whether it's sketching, gaming, yoga, or just chatting with those who uplift your spirit, to keep your empathy hat on tight. And hey, if I, the quirkiest cat around, can it my own past quirks and missteps, then we can definitely journey forward together, making this carnival of life an even better spectacle!
Turning off, Quirky Cat out!