She seems to be experiencing a feeling
Thanks as ever to Raptie for handling the character coloring and shading on this page!
Out-of-Placers
A story of inconvenient changes
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Excellent
Can we please get those three matriarch pics without the text on top… I needs me a new profile pic.
Hey cool. You can get a text-less image on the patreon. I got it, and I’m currently not paying anything.
I’m not fully convinced that I shouldn’t be.
Vizlet, please. You are scaring the children.
“Come look a see at it” is perhaps too adorable.
Is Ze Matriarch squeeling in ultra sound?
I hope this is good news for Kassie. Well if nothing else it may put her in a more positive light.
I’m guessing the matriarch is now certain Kass feel guenine empathy for yinglets and she can play on that if she wants to.
Vislet is happy cause it shows that Kass might just have a maternal side after all. Vislet really wants to have Kass help with the breeding program shes got going.
The thing is I don’t think Kass did it out of any maternal instinct (which I assume is what Viz is after) bit rather just his basic sense of empathy and compassion.
Or maybe she just wants him sympathetic towards Yinglets.
Ehhh… I am not convinced that it is maternal instinct, but I expect that, at the least, it would have been influenced by paternal instinct. I suspect that original-recipe Kass would have wanted to help the egg too, and not entirely without the thought that it is a baby and babies need to be looked after by parents and FATHERLY IMPULSES ARE CLOUDING MY MIND!!! What I find especially interesting is that Kass meddled. Kass has a bit of a heroic streak, but he also knew well the value of keeping his head down, what with being a war deserter and all. If Kass keeps all this meddling up he might need to get a VW Combi and a talking animal- Wait! He IS a talking animal, he just needs a mismatched band of teens…
I do think he has a bit of a maternal instinct, and if you want to call it just empathy they are basically the same thing anyway. That said, wanting to help a baby, and wanting to breed are way different. He definitely isn’t going to go for the second.
Seems to me, with the scenes regarding the Patriarchy, Viz may be seeking allies in subverting those who cling dogmatically to the Great Leader’s methods. In which case, this proves to Vizlet that Kas is willing to violate the Great Leader’s version of their breeding ethics.
I agree. everything we’ve seen of vislet is an extremely intelligent, caring, thoughtful individual. she might play politics, but I don’t see it happening at kass’s expense. Kass has a lot to offer her, and this action kinda strengthens his her value to the clan.
At first I thought we were getting a Vizlet squee, now I’m kinda scared. That was like a Mr. C. Montgomery Burns “Excellent” taken to the…(counts the letters) …86th power!
A feeling?
Preposterous!
Everybody knows that Matriarchs are creatures of fierce intellect an cold reason – they don’t have feelings!
This is just a very prolonged sneezing. Nothing unusual.
I just have to say that all the little feet sticking up in the air and the little “weh weh weh” sounds REALLY ARE THAT FRIGGIN’ ADORABLE aaaaiiiigggghhhh
More sinister interpretation: Kass’ interference has potentially violated Yinglet customs/traditions, which might give Vizlet a certain amount of leverage over Kass, especially with House Ivenmoth’s open policies toward other cultures.
It’s more likely that Vizlet is just happy that Kass actually cared about za runty runt, though.
Man, Vislet is really pleased about all the glare on her glasses for some reason.
I suspect Vizlet really REALLY wants Kass’ huminglet genes in her enclave. That’s why she invited them to the nursery…to see if there was a maternal instinct to be exploited. Now she thinks she’s got a chance…
Looks like Vizlet was really hoping Kassen’d do that.
>ALL ACCORDING TO KEIKAKU intensifies<
I have to admit, if Vizlet’s ultimate goal is to get Kass to lay a clutch for her…that’s honestly really, REALLY creepy. That’s not Vizlet’s (or Viracroix’s) decision to make, and given that up until a while ago Kass didn’t even have that equipment, I don’t think he’s going to be very receptive. I wouldn’t even cite his helping the younglet hatch as a sign of maternal instinct–that’s basic human altruism.
Yep, it’s creepy AF. And I fully expect that if that is really the plan and if Kass catches wind of it, things are going to get really ugly really fast. We’ve seen Kass in various states of pissed off, but this is going to be white-hot incandescent rage time.
I expect there to be a lot of screeching.
Ohhhhh yeah, he’s gonna be pissed. But he’s not the only one–Elim, Isher, and even Yannit have already proven themselves to be very protective of their friend, and I can’t see them taking that sitting down.
1: Viracroix pretty much owns Kass. It isn’t a nice relationship, but if Viracroix decides that it is his business, then it pretty much is his business, purely by dint of the massive power imbalance. Viracroix has wielded a subtle hand thus far, but make no mistake, he owns the town and everyone in it, doubly so Ivenmoth and its employees, doubly so Kassen in particular with all his special arrangements. Viracroix has already paid for Kass, and would likely sell her to Vizlet if he didn’t value having a Yinglet of his own.
2: Still super creepy, but in the culture in question massive power imbalance is common and authority is non-standardised. The “police” are, by definition, in somone’s pocket. This really wouldn’t be much different than a political marriage, which is far from uncommon. Kassen could cry rape and possibly get an angry mob, and his friends will do what they can, but are not in much of a position to fight the powers-that-be, but realistically, if Viracroix and Vizlet conspire for yingchicks, that is Kassen’s problem and their privilege. It really is a very different world with very different standards and for all that it is creepy, it is also an accepted part of life.
3: Ran: Not just a name, but also what you should have done instead of reading this. Think of the Sciences!
1) Viracroix could TRY, but I imagine Kass and his buddies could escape Ivenmoth before he got the chance.
2) Historical examples aside, my main point is really that government-sanctioned rape might be a bit too dark for the context of a webcomic, and I’m really hoping that the author doesn’t jump the shark with it.
3) Pretty sure that Yannit could simply crush Ran’s head on Kass’s request if he got too pushy.
In regards to 1, I’m pretty sure Viracroix intends to make Kass his “Bride”, given HIS creepy reactions/responses to finding out about Kass and the conversation with the umm, giant snake/zerg ambassador. Also, yes. Viracroix made sure Kass had no illusions about him owning Kass.
@2, I could see the comic going pretty dark with the potential ticking bomb that is our resident bug creature going absolutely berserk like the last one. It went crazy and rampaged from being away from the hive mind for too long.
As for 3… Ran is far to gentle to up and kill someone. She might have the sheer might, but she’s a marshmallow. She would certainly do some damage, but it would probably be too late since she’d rather talk it out instead of hurt anyone.
Still, I can see a number of interesting possibilities.. 👿
Yannit, not Ran. Derp. Lol.
1) I thought it was confirmed somewhere that Vir wasn’t talking about Kass? And unless he’s a secret furry, there isn’t a whole lot forcibly marrying Kass would win him besides a lot of confusion and ridicule. “He married…a YINGLET? AND the poor little thing wasn’t even willing?! He’s lost his fucking mind.”
2) I also thought that Yannit’s coping mechanism to avoid going nuts (her stroking people’s hair to reassure herself that they’re real) was also brought up? As for 3, check this page: http://www.valsalia.com/comic/out-of-placers/oops-51/ And to a lesser extent, Elim’s thoughts on the matter: http://www.valsalia.com/comic/out-of-placers/oop010/ . Kass has no shortage of bodyguards.
Admittedly, this is all just me internally going “this comic is really good so far, PLEAAAAASE don’t fuck it up”.
My thoughts are that Viracroix has his sights set on Vizlet. I’m probably wrong, though.
Viracroix did literally behead a man for talking down about the common folk… At least that’s what it was framed as. It may have just been for selling off grain excess, but it wasn’t until the guy mentioned the common folk that Viracroix immediately beheaded him.
I got a bit of a public relations vibe off of that. It certainly could be that he executed someone out of moral outrage over classist abuse. It is also possible that he was annoyed at that person for messing up his public image. I suspect it was a little of both, but mostly the latter. Or it could have been a show put-on to a third party to whom he wants to appear as a callous manipulator? Who could have been spying on the execution?
Kassie, you have to take this one. It’s imprinted on you.
I know there’s a lot more of interest going on in this comic, but maybe Kass should get some lessons on how to write with Yinglet hands from Vizlet. She seems to have it down pat.
AND she’s a lefty! That absolutely SUCKS in an age where ink doesn’t near-instantly dry.
maybe all yinglets are left handed and that’s why there’s trouble writing.
They’re all sinister little ratbirds…
I see what you did there.
Hm… Their cribs are quite small & their tails and feet are above their head…
Is this so that the blood goes to their heads instead of staying in their tails?
Not sure if that is a good position for small infants.
I’m guessing the glasses glare is an intentional reference to this: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ScaryShinyGlasses
This may not bode well for Kass. His happiness and Vizlet’s seem to be inversely correlated.
Now if Vizlet could just be patient for a couple of months Kass might just calm down enough to let her talk him into the breeding program. The guy’s got a bit of a masochist streak when it comes to helping others and giving him/her some time to sort her mind out and realize that adding some sorta-human genes to the mix ought to help yinglets as a whole. At the very least, there ought to be some enlightened self-interest in that making future yinglet generations less idiotically stupid should make them less of an annoyance.
I mean, after all, aside from Vizlet and her little spymaster there’s not many yinglets we’ve seen with any sort of brains. Kass has brains, still has them, and that would be a boon to the local colony’s gene pool.
Plus if Kass’ reaction to some of the male yinglets during her last big visit to the local colony a couple of months of instincts might make her more inclined to enthusiastic genetic recombination.
I figure the most likely outcome that leads to Kass-eggs is Kass getting wasted on clams and throwing Lopin a pity hump.
[Posted all this over on DeviantArt first; upon coming over here I found a lot of people had already made the same points, but here it is anyway.]
Okay, wow. A Xykon quote from Order of the Stick springs to mind:
“I think I just had an evilgasm.”
Vizlet’s shown in the past her ability to rapidly consider a new development from multiple angles, and I think that she has multiple reasons for being happy here.
1a) Kass demonstrates maternal twinges that suggest Vizlet can talk Kass into breeding someday.
1b) Kass demonstrates genuine empathy/sympathy for a yinglet, even when alone and unobserved, which proves that Kass (even if pissed as all hell about BEING one) isn’t especially bigoted or dismissive against the species as a whole.
Vizlet would probably prefer to get both 1a and 1b, and I have no idea which one she’d prefer if she can’t get both, but either one would still be fantastic for her. It means the official Ivenmoth ambassador to the yinglets feels emotionally connected TO the yingets. And therefore will speak kindly and favorably of them to Viracroix.
2) Kass just SCREWED UP politically, bigtime. Kass interfered with a serious enclave rule even after being TOLD not to, and told WHY not to. The enclave’s already struggling to keep everybody fed and she saddles them with a younglet with a low likelihood of being able to contribute BUT they can’t ethically kill it now. There’s a big and VISCERAL difference between not helping an egg hatch and actively strangling a hatchling.
Why is this on the list of reasons Vizlet’s pleased? Realpolitik. This reflects badly on Viracroix. As ambassador, Kass represents him. You can say Kass was tossed into the job without training, but that in itself reflects badly on the Trademaster’s judgment. Vizlet could make a stink about this, and while most humans wouldn’t care, VIRACROIX would. He’s been in secret negotiations with the enclave seeking increased cooperation. He and Vizlet both know Vizlet won’t really trash the deal over this. But he and Vizlet both know that rulers can’t afford to let crap like this slide. Vizlet must demand SOMETHING as recompense for this violation or lose cred with her enclave. Viracroix needs her to be in charge or the deal really might fall through.
My gut says she demands some form of trade concessions. And because Vizlet wouldn’t make a public stink over it, Viracroix would be both grateful for her discretion and aware that her ONGOING silence is best something he encourage.
3) Kass knew it was illegal* even if moral**.
*debatable: Kass has diplomatic immunity
**debatable: the enclave has that rule for a damned good reason
Vizlet now has blackmail material over Kass. If not political, then certainly emotional. Pack your bags, Kassie-poo, you’re going on a Guilt Trip! Vizlet might demand that Viracroix punish Kass (and he probably will make sure she catches shit for this) by having Kass take care of little Uncle Fugly. The enclave would allow it because resources are tight, Fugly’s defective enough not to be a big loss, and a yinglet would still be raising the younglet. If Fugly dies, Kass gets a painful object lesson in misplaced good intentions. If Fugly lives, Kass gets attached to the little bugger and to the enclave as a whole. The enclave gets a human-raised younglet in a few years, letting Vizlet see just how much of the usual yinglet derpery is nature vs nurture…and another source of available human knowledge.
tl;dr Vizlet’s happy because Kass’s criminal act of compassion just handed her proof that Kass isn’t a bigot PLUS handed her both political leverage on Viracroix and emotional leverage on Kass.
I’m inclined to agree with most of what you have just said.
You also gotta remember, Kass has always been this way. He has helped anyone he can, he’s never felt any bigotry towards Yinglets, just a frustration at their…extreme naughtiness, like most people. So if anything, I’d say Vizlet is just figuring out what type of person Kass really is. I can’t imagine Viz will try to politically take advantage of Kass, would feel out of character in my opinion. So she’s probably just going to try and awaken more of Kass’ maternal side that he’s been harboring all along.
It was never stated as being against any law to help an egg hatch. Rather, letting the egg hatch on its own, was kinda a way to ensure that the most readily able to servive right out the egg, make it, thus redusing the childrearing required to bring the children to adulthood. To put it simply, its tradition to let eggs that might need help to die, not a law.
Secondly, diplomaticly, Kass did not screw up. She might have done something that is against tradition and against the normal way things are done, but, bluntly, I am pretty sure that Vislet wants Kass to do stuff like that. Vislet is smart enough to know that having an outside view will help her a lot more than harm.
And finnaly I would say that Vislet is happy that Kass showed real commpassion. That Kass has made the mental leap from human baby = child, to yinglet baby = child, and yinglet egg = yinglet baby.
In tribal societies, tradition IS the law.
Your interpretation of the consequences requires a certain amount of awareness from the hatchery that has been demonstrated as not there. While Vizlet knows, the two hatchery folks simply thought that the hatchling was weird. You have to remember that general Yinglet intelligence is not great, and that political manipulation is not really something they understand. Without public outcry putting ‘pressure’ on Viz, her options for recompense are pretty much limited to what she could already get by asking. Viz is a smart, strong leader, concerned for her tribe and race, and exceptionally competent. However, her visions for the future are more closely in line with human values rather than traditional Yinglet ones. I am more likely to believe that she is excited Kass feels empathetic responsibility in terms of Yinglet life, rather than any political manuevering. At least until Viracroix decide to try to pressure her.
I would normally be inclined to consider your theories, EXCEPT that I believe Vizlet did NOT leave Kass alone in the room by accident. No, that was a calculated move on her part to see what would happen if left to Kass’ own devices. The colony’s ranking Matriarch “accidentally” leaving as sensitive an area as the hatchery alone with a foreigner? No, this was no accident.
Serious post out of the way, time for frivolity.
I spy with my little eye, adorable PINK TOEBEANS on a younglet.
Do those headscarves mess with a nurse’s ability to pinpoint sounds?
Can Vizlet throw her voice in some way?
Or is she just being verra, verra quiet aboot it?
Imagining hundreds of younglets standing around a cornucopia quietly going “…weh…”*
It’s both sad and adorable that they have to carry their babies in a cloth hammock rather than in their grabby little clawed ratbird hands.
Return of the SCARY SHINY GLASSES, last seen just before she gave two guards hell for sassing Kass (the first time)!
*werk…
All According to Keikaku
You misspelled cake.
I believe she’s happy because that’s evidence that “leave em in the shell to die” is a cultural rather than a biological imperative, which means they can stop doing it as soon as they figure out the whole agriculture thing
I think what we see and hear here, is the sound of a Mastermind hatching a new idea. Kass may have just provided her an opportunity.
I love everything about this comic.
She so silly.
I suspect Vizlet is unaware that Kassen has a big insect friend willing to crush skulls fore her! :3
She knows.
I bet she now plans to have Kaz raise the yinglet I mean. Think of what kind of wisdom and how smart a Yinglet would be if it was raised by a human their is the possibility of human level intelligance or at least smarts and wisdom since The Matriarch is after wisdom.
It’s very possible that a Yinglet raised by a human would likely be smarter than the average one. Maybe even able to interact with them better or even haggle better. Since he could read humans more easily than others. Than might be the Martichah’s plan.
Hah, now I wonder. Was that a mother yinglet action, or was it a human pack bonding with anything action?
Weh.
megatron matriarch
Such a perfectly, creepy smile from the Matriach for Halloween!
Also, when I saw her face, I said outloud as if I was her (in my own voice) “Yes.~ I got her.~”
Regardless of my earlier statements about this having the potential to go all dark, this is still a “Story of inconvenient changes”. Due to that, I’m quite certain that, regardless of the politicking we’ll see, Kass ends up with the younglet, Ran has to change his pants from having a new subject/student, and I will continue to go blank on names that haven’t been used in a while. Lol.