Gunnerkrigg Court

Fortunately, sangfroid flows much more slowly, giving Smitty a better chance at survival. Okay, not really, but to give that line when dealing with a nasty chest wound? Damn, Smitty. Damn.

Also, in a bit of reality, they wisely haven't pulled the blade; that improves his chances.

He can send likely send her off with a blessing. Getting everybody out of the gorge is going to probably involve STRONGJUMPing though

It's possible that he'll get the luckiest knife-would-to-the-chest ever, and have it miss any vital tissues.

But man, those are Heroic Sacrifice kind of words he's saying there.

edited 9th Jan '17 11:58:54 AM by adam850

Nonono, this isn't being set up like a sacrifice. That would be all wrong. At most I think he'll be out of commission for a while and Parley will be reluctant to involve him in any more shenanigans like this, or somesuch. Like this scene is going to be meaningful, but not in such a terrible way.

Why would it be wrong? (I mean in plot terms, of course, not morally.)

Fingers crossed this really doesn't become this series' The Death of Portgas D Ace then.

edited 9th Jan '17 7:11:49 PM by Pachylad

Reminder that this is smitty we're talking about, having a lucky recovery is like. a Captain Obvious plot. He may be out of commission for awhile and/or have permanent damage. He's lucky, but not /that/ lucky. Doesn't have super healing either.

@Geoduck: Pachylad's post actually helps me answer that. The death he(?)'s referring to is a huge deal, an entire arc, and in fact quite possibly the most important and most epic arcs of the entire series, leads up to it, and the death serves to really cement the impact and gravitas of the entire ordeal. Meanwhile this arc is not at all about Smitty, the stabbing happened suddenly and got a whole page dedicated to it but then the focus went Annie and the guy emerging from the water and she gives him a little smile and we're like "OKAY BUT WHAT ABOUT SMITTY" and then we get this little exchange that's only possible because Jeanne is so distracted by the watery dude.

Conclusion: It would just be weird and unnecessary to kill off Smitty because there would be no thematic purpose for his death, particularly since it doesn't even seem to contribute to actually solving the issue. This arc is about Jeanne, and while Smitty's getting some screentime, the real build-up seems to be towards Jeanne's lover emerging from the water and her reaction to him. Smitty's actions are only really relevant in their impact on Parley and will probably have consequences on her actions in the future. Although looking at it this way now, I wouldn't be surprised if their relationship was about to be compared to the relationship between Jeanne and her lover's and the main purpose of Smitty taking the hit for her was to parallel a sacrifice Jeanne's lover made for her, or at least to move her through the display of their love.

First off, yeah indeed I am a lad.

Secondly, actually part of the reason I mentioned my spoiler was because with One Piece being a series notorious for Disney Deaths, Ace's death was seen as a huge shock and thus talking point for the fandom and in hindsight could be taken as an argument for how huge the stakes and ultimately consequences were for the Marineford arc. Hopefully it won't been analogous here with Smitty being the First Secondary/Main Cast Death of GC as well (and then maybe a Darker and Grittier take on the story Iunno).

Fawriel's made great points too though.

edited 10th Jan '17 6:23:16 AM by Pachylad

1778

Current affairs

edited 11th Jan '17 12:02:03 AM by Pachylad

I guess everybody is just assuming Smitty is going to be okay at this point.

No wonder the Psychopomps could not reach her... she isn't really dead yet/ has not yet yet accepted death

Now that's what I call looking at your loved one like they're the sun! She's even getting tanner!

Also yaaay I was right. Also also, I wonder if they really are still alive and about to escape, or if this is Annie's way of sending them off into the aether.

So either he genuinely doesn't realise how much time has passed, or he's ridiculously smooth. Either way, I like him, he seems cool.

And now let's watch as Annie guides two more people into the aether. She's well on her way to becoming a proper psychopomp. Let's hope she remembers to let them have their last words.

Actually, one chilling idea I had... what if he is a psychopomp, and he's suggesting that he's doing his job with her right now?

I pretty much assumed that was the case, actually. It would make sense.

I think they're both dead, and the psychopomp is the one offering them a boat. This river isn't the River Styx, but it's still quite symbolic.

"Let me take you away from all this ..."

1779

Deeds are done.

Scars have healed

Not Smitty's.

I wonder if this will end with one couple replacing the other. There must always be a Lich King Grieving Swordswoman.

edited 13th Jan '17 1:41:27 AM by googlebot

Don't you dare.

So we've come full circle, Annie back where she started with a hair clip, without a scar. But what happens once Jeanne isn't there to guard the crossing?

Tune in next time to find out. Same Court Time, same Court Channel!

It has been a day for really intense webcomic updates.

Gunnerkrigg, Questionable Content...

god dammit I did not need all this today

Unsounded is back too.

Bookends yaknow?

Also 25,000 Post. Woop!

edited 13th Jan '17 7:50:38 AM by EchoingSilence