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[NemoX]

So after my last Archive binge, I started wondering about a few things I read about in the WCDT's as of late.

Some people were pointing to this strip as Marten having met Claire's mom before, but other than the red hair, I don't actually see a resemblance so I'm wondering if it was just a joke.

Either way, I got to thinking, I know AnthroPCs are common in the QCU, so they are affordable enough for mass consumption as companions but the humans still being in charge or maintenance costs (and during the whole Momo upgrade we learned chassis are not cheap. Marten actually lucked out with the government issue one for pintsize). So the technology is affordable. But I don't see how having to upgrade a robot hand for Claire's brother as he grew up and inevitably outgrew it could have been cheap, let alone hormone replacement therapy for Claire. I'm pretty sure alimony doesn't cover that kind of thing either from their father.

From the background given, their house is also pretty decent looking. I would have guessed them to be working middle class. I dunno how much or if Clinton helps with the income. Even if Claire has a student loan, school is not cheap. So how can they afford it all is what I'm puzzled about...

It is said if something doesn't make sense, one of the pieces of information you have is probably wrong, so would anyone like to enlighten me here? which of my assumptions is wrong? Or is Clairemom a single mother of two with a really big debt and good at hiding it? is the Healthcare in QC different than irl? I don't recall anywhere being mentioned what she actually does for a living either. so yeah, kinda wondering about this.


edit: fixed some links/citations

[ReindeerFlotilla]

Mom is an assassin for hire. She doesn't bother picking up the phone for less than half a million dollars.


Edit: contraction.

[NemoX]

Mom is an assassin for hire. She does bother picking up the phone for less than half a million dollars.

Maybe Beatrice is her employer then =p

that'd be an interesting twist lol

[AprilArcus]

Hormone replacement therapy is actually not expensive at all. Ballpark range is $2/day, paying out of pocket, and it's very likely to have been covered by whatever Claire's student health insurance was in college.

If she needed any hair removal, that would definitely be an expensive challenge (laser doesn't work on redheads, and electrolysis is ~$100/hour). But we have no idea how much she needed (possibly only a few tens of hours) or if she ever even bothered with it.

Edit to add: Almost nobody in the QC universe is poor. Hannelore, Angus, and Wil all come from money. Marigold's family is at the very least able and willing to financially support her. Dora, in her mid-twenties, has enough capital to put together a business capable of supporting five of her friends. Marten can walk through the door and get hired for a cushy library job on the spot. Jimbo can quit his blue collar job and make a living as a writer. Housing is available and affordable for everyone. Dale is the only character who struggles to make ends meet that I can think of, and he seems miraculously free of resentment about it.

Also, it never rains.

[NemoX]

Hormone replacement therapy is actually not expensive at all. Ballpark range is $2/day, paying out of pocket, and it's very likely to have been covered by whatever Claire's student health insurance was in college.

If she needed any hair removal, that would definitely be an expensive challenge (laser doesn't work on redheads, and electrolysis is ~$100/hour). But we have no idea how much she needed (possibly only a few tens of hours) or if she ever even bothered with it.

And there would be the piece of info I had wrong. I was under the assumption that it would be more expensive than that. Thanks for the clarification.

The Clinton's hand issue I guess would have depended on how much time there was in between replacements so gives time for saving I suppose.

Also, wait, laser does not work on redheads? Why is that?

[AprilArcus]

Laser hair removal works by bombarding the skin with light at a frequency absorbed specifically by the melanin in the hair strands and reflected harmlessly by the skin. This causes the hair to act as an antenna, capturing light energy as heat and channeling it into the hair follicle, where it burns away the keratinocytes which secrete hair proteins.

Redheads and dark-skinned people do not have enough contrast between hair and skin pigmentation to make this process feasible, since supplying enough energy to burn the hair would also burn their skin.

[MooskiNet]

Dale is the only character who struggles to make ends meet that I can think of, and he seems miraculously free of resentment about it.

And he lives alone, drank 3 dollar a cup coffee before he started working at CoD, and could afford to play games on multiple platforms.  He may have just been supporting his lifestyle.

Also, it never rains.

I'm so tempted to borrow that as a quote.

[Aimless]

Pretty sure she's an assassin, how else would she be able to give Claire such an unacceptably good life?

[NemoX]

And he lives alone, drank 3 dollar a cup coffee before he started working at CoD, and could afford to play games on multiple platforms.  He may have just been supporting his lifestyle.

Actually, I am surprised that he can afford all that and the time to play games like WoW. He may have multiple jobs, but there are all low income jobs that with how much time he can realistically work at each, and he already spent a bunch of money on his glasses, not to mention he uses most of the money to support his mom.

interesting info

Thanks again, TIL new things because of you, always a good thing to learn something new

edit: avoiding double posting for a reply

[DSL]

Pretty sure she's an assassin, how else would she be able to give Claire such an unacceptably good life?

Unacceptably? (Also, I'll just posit that Clairemom is rakin' it in as The Food Network's Pancake Queen.)

[snarkyone]

I agree with the Assassin theory.

[Neko_Ali]

In the end really, they all make as much money as plot demands. About the only time even close to a shortage of money has come up was when Marigold bought Momo's new chassis, and Marten bought the 8 string guitar. Despite having multiple jobs Dale lives pretty cushy, supporting his mom, living alone and able to afford anime and high end tech toys. And he has enough free time to play WoW and keep up with Marigold, who seems to spend a lot of time in the game.

As far as Mrs A goes, it's quite possible, even likely that her the house was part of the divorce settlement. The same with medical coverage for their kids, either for insurance or out of pocket. Being as how the divorce was Mr A's fault (caught cheating), a judge is more likely to side with Mrs A and give her the lion's share of what the split is, especially if she was made primary or sole caregiver of one or both children.

[AprilArcus]

I don't think that's how divorce law works. In general two partners keep whatever was theirs going into a marriage and evenly divide whatever they accrued while married. Child support is then awarded after custody has been determined. If they bought the house while married, it was equally theirs, and Claire's mom likely had to buy her ex husband out of his share, or agreed to keep him on as a silent partner for the sake of Claire and Clinton's stability.

I am sort of confused by this whole line of speculation. Do we have any reason to believe that she doesn't work a relatively high-income job herself?

[ReindeerFlotilla]

As a self employed person, I can say getting by ain't easy. But QC wouldn't be the first bit of fiction to gloss over the difficulty of making ends meet and getting enough to eat. I don't what costs are like In Northampton, but I'm guessing things aren't quite at a Friends-level of make believe.

I doubt it would be too difficult for a professional adult to make a decent living in Northampton. It's not like there's a recession on.

[Is it cold in here?]

Health insurance is more readily available and covers more in the QC universe than in ours. For example, The Pugnacious Peach has insurance coverage for her glasses while working at a skilled but low-end job. (Wait, am I right about that?)

Clinton's hand could easily have been covered by accident insurance.

Claire's transition: don't all the gatekeepers need to get paid before treatment can start?

The fact that we haven't heard about Clairemom's job is (weak!) evidence that she doesn't have an interesting one.

Division of assets in a divorce depends critically on variations from one state's law to the next.

[cesium133]

Health insurance is more readily available and covers more in the QC universe than in ours. For example, The Pugnacious Peach has insurance coverage for her glasses while working at a skilled but low-end job. (Wait, am I right about that?)

IIRC, she used Marten's insurance.

[Neko_Ali]

I don't know how divorce law works. I know that Mr A would be legally responsible for part of the children's upbringing until they turn 18 via child support or some other method. As far as Mrs A working goes.. We have know idea. We've seen her in all of a few strips over one breakfast at home. For all we know she runs a multi-billion dollar financial empire and is business rivals with Hannermom. As well as a super-secret spy in her spare time between that and raising two kids. Stranger things have happened in the QCverse.

[AprilArcus]

Claire's transition: don't all the gatekeepers need to get paid before treatment can start?

Trans services are much less gatekept now than they were ten years ago. If there's an informed consent clinic in your neck of the words, you could make an appointment and walk out with a prescription tomorrow. From the website of Baystate Health in Northhampton:

Baystate Health has developed services based on the Informed Consent model of care, meaning that we work with our patients to ensure that the risks and benefits of gender-related services are fully understood at all times. Gender-related therapy is an encouraged--but not required--part of treatment for most patients.

[ReindeerFlotilla]

Like I said. Assassin.

She only picked up the phone because Beatrice Chatham might consider one Marten Reed to be a threat to her daughter, Hannelore.

This completely changes the subtext of 2805 and 2809.

[valkygrrl]

Also, it never rains.

Haven't you seen the crow?

It can't rain all the time

By the associative property; all the time it can't rain.

[MooskiNet]

In all seriousness, until I'm told otherwise, it pleases me to think that Clairemom is an attorney who does pro bono work for good causes and absofuckinglutely ownZ0r3d Clairedad when he cheated.

[valkygrrl]

In all seriousness, until I'm told otherwise, it pleases me to think that Clairemom is an attorney who does pro bono work for good causes and absofuckinglutely ownZ0r3d Clairedad when he cheated.

She's a marine drill sergeant that's why Claire reacted the way she did to Veronica.

[ReindeerFlotilla]

She's the 13th Doctor. Finally ginger.

[snarkyone]

She's a marine drill sergeant that's why Claire reacted the way she did to Veronica.

I definitely like this, but I think her being an assassin or a Bene Gesserit is more likely...

[MooskiNet]

So you're thinking she used Voice on Marten when he called?

"Noo trouble... I inszizt."

[Neko_Ali]

Except that Marten has built up at least a partial resistance from his mother. Who knows.. Maybe he is the Kwisatz Haderach... The the unmotivated, easy going one. Kwisatz Hipsterach?

[MooskiNet]

Try looking into that place where only the procrastinators can look; you will see me staring out at you!

[snarkyone]

The water of life is really a PBR.

[snarkyone]

They call that one...  Paul, Morbeard.

[ReindeerFlotilla]

It is by will alone, I set my mind in motion.
It is by the juice of Pabst Brewing,
Thoughts lose all speed,
Cheeks acquire stains,
The stains become a warning.
It is by will alone, I set my mind in motion.

[ReindeerFlotilla]

I must drink beer.
Beer is the mind killer.
Beer is the little death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my beer.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me, and when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
When the beer is gone, there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

[snarkyone]

[Zebediah]

Try looking into that place where only the procrastinators can look; you will see me staring out at you!

Yeah, I'll get to that tomorrow.

[ReindeerFlotilla]

Try looking into that place where only the procrastinators can look; you will see me staring out at you!

Yeah, I'll get to that tomorrow.

Yeah. I should probably get to the stuff I said, yesterday, I would do today.

Maybe later.

[snarkyone]

Try looking into that place where only the procrastinators can look; you will see me staring out at you!

Yeah, I'll get to that tomorrow.

You forget the first rule of the procrastinators creed. 

- Never put off till tomorrow what you can forget about!

[Neko_Ali]

meh. Why bother thinking about it?

[valkygrrl]

meh. Why bother thinking about it?

What? Sorry I was tweeting.

[ReindeerFlotilla]

Rather than doing the stuff I put off yesterday, I watched a movie.

It a starred Tom Cruise.
It was surprisingly good.

I'm not prepared to accept that those two facts can apply to the same movie. I'm having and existential crisis. I may have to do something to survive.

Pray for me.

[Is it cold in here?]

In all seriousness, until I'm told otherwise, it pleases me to think that Clairemom is an attorney who does pro bono work for good causes and absofuckinglutely ownZ0r3d Clairedad when he cheated.

She's a marine drill sergeant that's why Claire reacted the way she did to Veronica.

If you're around a Marine, be careful to say "drill instructor" instead.

[valkygrrl]

In all seriousness, until I'm told otherwise, it pleases me to think that Clairemom is an attorney who does pro bono work for good causes and absofuckinglutely ownZ0r3d Clairedad when he cheated.

She's a marine drill sergeant that's why Claire reacted the way she did to Veronica.

If you're around a Marine, be careful to say "drill instructor" instead.

Noted: Apologies to any marines.

[snarkyone]

Noted: Apologies to any marines.

No offense taken.  The drone strikes have been canceled.   

[valkygrrl]

Noted: Apologies to any marines.

No offense taken.  The drone strikes have been canceled.   

I thought you were a musket-Claire.

[bhtooefr]

Clinton's hand could easily have been covered by accident insurance.

Or a lawsuit payout. In fact, if someone sold fireworks to Clinton inside the Massachusetts borders, they'd quite likely be liable for everything, as private citizens are banned from usage, possession, and sale of fireworks, and Clinton was a minor (so unable to enter into a contract, and I'd think not civilly liable for his share): http://www.mass.gov/eopss/docs/dfs/news/press/fireworks/lawenforcement.pdf

Alternately, the lawsuit could've been against someone at a party that was using fireworks just as easily.

[BenRG]

Offered without evidence or any reason except the potential for story-telling and lulz:

Former exotic dancer and collaborator to Veronica Vance; now 'gone straight' as a professional home-maker but writes romantic fiction professionally and is one of Tai's artistic idols. As a college student, she and Veronica did a double-act at an adult club in San Francisco. One customer who always tipped handsomely and asked for a private dance was one Beatrice Chatham.

I came up with this probabilty-defying idea because the thought of Marten, Claire and Hannelore finding out that their mothers were once cronies... possibly friends... or, dare we say it, possibly even lovers makes me snigger. I just would love to see the younger characters' reactions combined with Mrs A's outraged response of: "What? Just because I'm your mother now means I wasn't allowed to have a wild time when I was a student?"

It's all in the past now in terms of emotions, but they have fond memories of each other and are happy to meet again.

[MooskiNet]

You understand there are metric fucktons of money to be made telling stories like that of your own, right?

I'd straight up read that, even if the characters weren't from QC.

[Somnus Eternus]

You understand there are metric fucktons of money to be made telling stories like that of your own, right?

Evidently I'm in the wrong line of work.

[Blackbird]

I had a completely diffeent reply in mind when I clicked reply, but then I saw this:  among the smileys, and now its haunting my psyche.

Seriously.

What the f*ck? 

That is the stuff nightmares are made of.

 

[MooskiNet]

You understand there are metric fucktons of money to be made telling stories like that of your own, right?

Evidently I'm in the wrong line of work.

Okay, maybe not metric fucktons.  Maybe imperial fucktons.

[bhtooefr]

One customer who always tipped handsomely and asked for a private dance was one Beatrice Chatham.

That one's been jossed, although I can't find the strip. (It was one where Veronica was asked about Beatrice's kinks, and not having heard anything specific, IIRC.)

[BenRG]

One customer who always tipped handsomely and asked for a private dance was one Beatrice Chatham.

That one's been jossed, although I can't find the strip. (It was one where Veronica was asked about Beatrice's kinks, and not having heard anything specific, IIRC.)

You could dance around it by saying it was Veronica offering a professional courtesy similar to a doctor's keeping a patient's information confidential.

Besides, have you considered the scale of the lawsuit she'd throw out at anyone who revealed her wild youth to the wider world? Ignoring the "refuse service" picture in every bi adult club on the West Coast...