Gunnerkrigg Court

@hcobb: That is a very likely possibility, sadly.

edited 24th Aug '15 10:52:16 AM by TotemicHero

@Guts: Oh, yeah, much better. Marriage fell apart, got remarried, built myself back up from rock bottom. Amazing what being with the right person can do for your emotional well being. Still avoid the shit out of guns, though.

@Eud: It's always an Irish Wolfhound for me, but that's a different set of stories.

I find it ironic that both Tony and Annie deal with their emotional issues the same way; by cutting them out. I find it ironic because, as a medium, Annie should try to find a middle path rather than go all Alexander the Great on the knot.

Glad to hear it dude.

I wonder if Don had already pieced together what happened to Tony. He seemed to be unusually confident that having Annie eavesdrop using the blinker stone would help mend the fences between them.

He probably knows more about Tony's little trip than he lets on. Also, they still haven't mentionned what the Omega device is. It seems to be completely seperate from his research into Surma's pregnancy.

edited 24th Aug '15 2:11:04 PM by GutstheBerserker

I doubt he knew any specifics, but he probably guessed correctly that if it was (seemingly) just him, Tony would actually open up and tell the truth.

Gutsthe Berserker: "I wonder if Don had already pieced together what happened to Tony. He seemed to be unusually confident that having Annie eavesdrop using the blinker stone would help mend the fences between them. He probably knows more about Tony's little trip than he lets on. Also, they still haven't mentionned what the Omega device is. It seems to be completely seperate from his research into Surma's pregnancy."

Well as one poster pointed out on the forum for the comic, part of why Annie is unwilling to assert herself and doesn't question Anthony is that she sees him as this infallible person.

The only way she will be convinced that he's just as human and prone to his own flaws is if the info comes straight from him ironically.

Just look at the revelation on the coma for example. Before hand with the theory that it was deliberate on Anthony's part it was still problematic, but it seemed like he knew what he was doing only for Zimmy to interfere. But with what we know for sure, the coma was basically Anthony playing with fire much like a kid who touches a burning oven and hoping nothing comes of it.

Good point. Tony came off as a calculating and cold schemer before we really got to know him and realize that he's actually kind of a fuck up.

Hopefully Annie comes to the same realization and manages to break out of the state Tony has her in.

This is the second time that Don has shrewdly determined what to do to help Annie come to terms with her father's behavior. So far in the comic, we've seen Don act as more of a father to her than Tony has, at least when it comes to dealing with emotional issues.

Also, I've been asking myself: Tony seems to distrust the Court and the people who run it. Why then send your daughter there alone for several years without any contact?

Perhaps he actually trusted and expected Donlans to take care of her/

...Yeah, I really don't like this man :-/

There are some mitigating factors when it comes to his behavior, but all in all he's just done so much damage. To himself, to his daughter, to his friends....

I have more sympathy for him now than before, of course, but I still can't bring myself to really feel sorry for the guy yet.

He apparently never contacted the Dolans about it, though. They only became close to Annie because of Kat, so it is unlikely Tony explicitly asked them to. More importantly, when coming back, it is painfully obvious Tony never actually asked the Dolans about what have been going on with Annie.

I forget where but there was a flashback scene where Anja told Kat that Annie would be joining her class and she hoped they'd become friends.

edited 25th Aug '15 6:58:46 AM by sgamer82

I have more sympathy for him now than before, of course, but I still can't bring myself to really feel sorry for the guy yet.

I'm reminded of Vriska from Homestuck. She was a very different sort of character, but she provoked very similar arguments over whether she was a villain or a victim. But regardless of how sympathetic she was or wasn't, she was a dangerous character to be around.

And then due to time shenanigans she got split in 2 and now both interpretations are right at the same time.

@Guts: The last time Donny talked about Anthony with Antimony, it was to show her that her father is a flawed human being. This is just the continuation of that. He's helping to tear down Annie's illusions about who Anthony is. By seeing that her father isn't some quiet dominant figure who always knows best, she can break free from the influence he has over her emotionally and maybe find a way to help him.

Donny: the unsung hero of this saga.

edited 25th Aug '15 7:55:22 AM by edvedd

Indeed.

It's reassuring that Don is Genre Savvy enough to realize that withholding information is hurting both his friend and that friend's daughter. In the end, he seems to want Annie to see Tony the same way he does.

Don seems to be the only person Tony opens up to. I wonder how often Don has had to be the voice of reason for Tony in the past. The self-hating and depression must have been difficult to deal with.

It says a lot about Don that he is still friends with the guy.

Proving you don't have to up sticks, travel for years, brave mind-warping entities, self mutilate and power through the pain to be badass.

It takes self-realisation and empathy to really add spice to rock hard, but quiet determination.

True, Tony is kind of badass too, but ultimately in a self-defeating way.

Seriously, the guy basically survived the most incredible torments with nothing much to show for it. He lost his arm and his livelihood, his psyche is basically shot straight to hell, his relationship with his daughter is beyond strained, and he never even got Surma back.

That dog story is SO shaggy.

Adannor: "Perhaps he actually trusted and expected Donlans to take care of her/"

Sure it was a given they would meet up, but if it comes to the safety and emotional/mental well being of a child?

Give fate a push rather than merely hoping it will work out. Plus I think seeking them out and getting Annie acquainted with them before hand would have save everyone involved with a lot of grief.

1558

OK, OK, we're getting closer.

Well that's certainly an interesting revelation.

I always did find it odd that the faculty were aware of Annie's cheating, but chose not to do anything about it. Gathering up evidence to expel her at graduation makes a lot more sense.

They were going for maximum dickery, apparently.

edited 26th Aug '15 12:09:15 AM by edvedd

But why would it matter by then? What happens after graduation?

Okay, wow, most of issues with Tony just vanished, he didn't do all that stuff to be a d***head, but because the Court forced it on him.

Wonder what Jones and Eggy are going to think about this if they ever find out.

Now we know this, it makes me wonder if they know more than Jones does about Jean.

edited 26th Aug '15 12:20:02 AM by MattII

No no. They were going to expel her right BEFORE she graduated, completely screwing her over education-wise, kicking her out on her ass and isolating her from everyone she ever cared for.

Total dickery.

edited 26th Aug '15 12:39:52 AM by edvedd

So the court basically forced Anthony to be a dick to his own daughter. Just to hurt both of them. What assholes!

Well, the 'being a dick' part is probably at least slightly him.