Topic: Alice Grove MCDLT - March 2016 (Read 75577 times)

Kugai · « **on:** 01 Mar 2016, 14:22 »

Time MARCHES on!!!

FunkyTuba · « **Reply #1 on:** 01 Mar 2016, 14:30 »

Is it perhaps time for this chapter's Big Exposition Dump?

retrosteve · « **Reply #2 on:** 02 Mar 2016, 11:01 »

So, they look REALLY similar in the 'None of your business' panel. If they're sisters or clones, makes sense. If they're ex-lovers, a bit sick but whatever.

I notice that plenty of exposition has already happened, we've even got the formation of an 'expotition', and yet we still don't know shooty mcbangbang's name. Also, Alice's character is remarkably consistent. She talks to pretty much everyone the same way: reasoned, patient, yet with an undercurrent of irritation that comes out when they act idiotic enough.

Zebediah · « **Reply #3 on:** 02 Mar 2016, 11:13 »

My obviously-wrong theory of the day: Maybe she doesn't have a name. Alice may have gotten her name from her townsfolk. Malice is antisocial, so has nothing but the number she was issued when she was decanted from the growth vat.

Kugai · « **Reply #4 on:** 02 Mar 2016, 12:36 »

Methinks these two protested too much

It's going to be interesting to see if they can work together without one wanting to shoot the other.

BenRG · « **Reply #5 on:** 02 Mar 2016, 12:53 »

Given that "no, don't be stupid" would have been simpler, I'd say that this non-denial slap-down means that, yes, Alice and Malice were in a relationship at some time. Hell, they may have even been married but... well, two acerbic personalties like that? It would have taken a miracle for it to last more than a few centuries!

Interesting that Malice talks about 'her territory'. That lends itself to the theory that each ALICE has taken a part of the post-Blink world as their stomping ground with which to do as they see fit. Alice has chosen to become a protector and teacher whilst Malice has just become a hermit collector (sort of like The Collector in the Marvel universes).

"Archeophiles" trying to dig up rockets? I'm suddenly getting a strong 'Kerbal Space Program' vibe about the next volume!

Quote from: retrosteve on 02 Mar 2016, 11:01

So, they look REALLY similar in the 'None of your business' panel. If they're sisters or clones, makes sense. If they're ex-lovers, a bit sick but whatever.

Yeah, maybe but... Well, put yourself in their place: Your whole civilisation and everything you know and remember has been swept away by a grand Deus Ex Machina. Maybe you would cling to one of the few survivors who still has something in common with you and, maybe, after a century or so, this friendship and mutual dependency for emotional stability would become something more. Who could judge them when no-one else had really experienced what they had done?

Quote from: Zebediah on 02 Mar 2016, 11:13

My obviously-wrong theory of the day: Maybe she doesn't have a name. Alice may have gotten her name from her townsfolk. Malice is antisocial, so has nothing but the number she was issued when she was decanted from the growth vat.

I've suggested before that they might have originally been ALICE-GR-053 and ALICE-MI-132 or something similar.

BTW, Jeph's footnote about Alice shooting Malice 'not doing any good' seems to add official weight to the suggestion that they've both got the same indestructible nature.

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #6 on:** 02 Mar 2016, 14:00 »

Alice still hasn't changed out of her body armor back into coveralls.

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #7 on:** 02 Mar 2016, 14:09 »

Well the fact that Alice had to go to the lengths of submerging Malice into molten rock to inconvenience her I think is more of an indication how indestructible they are. At least on the level of no force they have available post Blink is strong enough to really hurt them... at most cause pain or immobilize them for a while. I would say if they are biological beings, they're probably genetically engineered clone soldiers. Robots would also be possible, but we know that Alice eats and has other biologic functions... She had food and an outhouse at her cabin, and before the kids showed up she's not exactly the sort of share her living space. So yeah... I'm thinking clone warriors is the best theory right now. Which would make them 'sisters' after a sort. That would possibly explain their animosity towards each other as well, or part of it any way.

As far as the territory comment goes, maybe the different Alices have staked out territory in different parts of the world. Or I think more likely, they just don't get along so they avoid each other unless necessary. Territory being nothing official just 'You stay over there, I'll stay over here and we won't have to pointlessly beat on each other'. If there are groups of people digging up old world tech though, it seems to me that Alice is deliberately keeping her charges limited to an agrarian society. By giving them just enough tech to satisfy their needs and desires, but making herself the one they come to to fix things when it's broken, she makes them less interested in figuring out things on their own and dependent on her. Which of course she would defend as 'I don't want them to overtax the eco system by taking to much', like she told Argent and Gavia before. It also probably means she's pretty zealous about guarding her 'territory' from interlopers too.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #8 on:** 03 Mar 2016, 04:11 »

Quote from: Neko_Ali on 02 Mar 2016, 14:09

'territory'

BenRG · « **Reply #9 on:** 03 Mar 2016, 04:13 »

I note that Malice says the community of archeophiles are "way out west". Are our heroes going to visit the ruins of Vandenberg AFB?

Zebediah · « **Reply #10 on:** 03 Mar 2016, 04:21 »

The Pacific Missile Range Facility.

Sorflakne · « **Reply #11 on:** 04 Mar 2016, 00:50 »

The way the first panel of the comic is drawn, it looks like two separate panels rather than one large one.

BenRG · « **Reply #12 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 12:47 »

New strip!

There is definitely an established relationship here. I'm still not sure what particularly it is but I'm getting a definite familial "It's fun to piss you off, Alice" feeling from panel 4.

(click to show/hide)

Kugai · « **Reply #13 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 13:18 »

The annoying kid sister?

But the question still remains which is which?

sitnspin · « **Reply #14 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 14:13 »

I'm still backing Ardent's assessment.

That or they are different models of the same product. My money would be on Alice being the more advanced model, hence Malice needing weaponry and hence the rivalry.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #15 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 14:14 »

When will she get a fucking name?

cesium133 · « **Reply #16 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 17:04 »

What's in a fucking name? That which we call a god-damned rose
By any other fucking name would smell sweet as shit.

Zebediah · « **Reply #17 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 17:14 »

Is a fucking name like a porn star name? Because there are online quizzes to find those.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #18 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 17:19 »

A porn star name is just your first pet followed by the first street you lived on.

cesium133 · « **Reply #19 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 17:22 »

Mine would be very... unique... but I'm not sure I want to post where I lived as a kid, because my mom still lives there.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #20 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 17:29 »

Mine actually sounds like a porn star name, but I still live there.

hedgie · « **Reply #21 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 22:22 »

Quote from: Method of Madness on 07 Mar 2016, 17:19

A porn star name is just your first pet followed by the first street you lived on.

Oblig xkcd

BenRG · « **Reply #22 on:** 07 Mar 2016, 23:25 »

What if she doesn't have a name? Alice didn't either, before she chose one for herself. However, as she's a recluse, 'Malice' hasn't ever felt the need.

pwhodges · « **Reply #23 on:** 08 Mar 2016, 03:49 »

Quote from: Method of Madness on 07 Mar 2016, 17:19

A porn star name is just your first pet followed by the first street you lived on.

"Persephone Mansfield" - yes, that would work.

Meanwhile, Alice's haircut has been acknowledged, but that doesn't in itself get us very much further...

Method of Madness · « **Reply #24 on:** 08 Mar 2016, 04:57 »

Quote from: BenRG on 07 Mar 2016, 23:25

What if she doesn't have a name? Alice didn't either, before she chose one for herself. However, as she's a recluse, 'Malice' hasn't ever felt the need.

I can see her not having a name, but when did it say that Alice picked out her own name?

BenRG · « **Reply #25 on:** 08 Mar 2016, 05:07 »

Quote from: Method of Madness on 08 Mar 2016, 04:57

Quote from: BenRG on 07 Mar 2016, 23:25
What if she doesn't have a name? Alice didn't either, before she chose one for herself. However, as she's a recluse, 'Malice' hasn't ever felt the need.

I can see her not having a name, but when did it say that Alice picked out her own name?

It doesn't say that anywhere that I remember. It's just a feeling that I have.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #26 on:** 08 Mar 2016, 05:36 »

Just making sure I didn't miss anything.

retrosteve · « **Reply #27 on:** 08 Mar 2016, 10:23 »

Quote from: BenRG on 08 Mar 2016, 05:07

Quote from: Method of Madness on 08 Mar 2016, 04:57
Quote from: BenRG on 07 Mar 2016, 23:25
What if she doesn't have a name? Alice didn't either, before she chose one for herself. However, as she's a recluse, 'Malice' hasn't ever felt the need.

I can see her not having a name, but when did it say that Alice picked out her own name?

It doesn't say that anywhere that I remember. It's just a feeling that I have.

Alice has a lot in common with Gandalf -- she's effectively immortal, remembers some of the older ages when things were entirely different, has powers she doesn't talk about, has chosen different roles in different communities, and is generally a protector.

I'm actually surprised that Malice, from a past life, called her "Alice" today. Given all the above, it might make more sense that people from her various past lives had different names for her. (e.g. Olorin, Mithrandir, Greyhame, Stormcrow, Tharkun, Lathspell, etc) (See also Kvothe/Maedre/Dulacar/Lightfinger/Six-string/Kote from The Name of the Wind).

cesium133 · « **Reply #28 on:** 08 Mar 2016, 11:48 »

New comic, and apparently Malice has a name!

(click to show/hide)

BenRG · « **Reply #29 on:** 08 Mar 2016, 12:21 »

Something tells me is that 'friend' isn't something that Alice does very easily. I still would like to know how she and Sedna came to be such fierce enemies when they clearly share so much. Could they be from opposite sides in the Last War?

Method of Madness · « **Reply #30 on:** 08 Mar 2016, 12:43 »

You don't have to redact her name, it's right there in plain sight.

Zebediah · « **Reply #31 on:** 08 Mar 2016, 13:26 »

Her name is also "Andes" spelled backward, which likely means absolutely nothing.

The real question is the shelves in her cabin. Half of them appear to have weapon cases or ammo crates on them, the others are empty. She has literally nothing else but weapons and ammo.

Kugai · « **Reply #32 on:** 08 Mar 2016, 13:49 »

I think that that was where all the guns Alice trashed were stored.

And it's called being friendly Alice and Gavia. Try it sometime, you might be surprised.

osaka · « **Reply #33 on:** 08 Mar 2016, 14:02 »

Sedna is a nice name, I like it.

And for some reason I'm buying her side of the story where Alice just brings out the worst in her.

retrosteve · « **Reply #34 on:** 08 Mar 2016, 15:14 »

This one just makes me want to scream "Remind Ardent not to touch anything!"

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #35 on:** 08 Mar 2016, 16:27 »

"Ooooh, what's that gun do?" *touch*

[Transforming noises]

I am... Megatron! I live!

Method of Madness · « **Reply #36 on:** 08 Mar 2016, 16:36 »

Ardent: Megatron seems nice!

Schmee · « **Reply #37 on:** 09 Mar 2016, 04:26 »

New comic! ~~Malice~~ Sedna has a name after all, and Ardent continues his track record of befriending the wildlife!

USS Martenclaire · « **Reply #38 on:** 09 Mar 2016, 11:18 »

Wait, so those weird talking horses were telling the truth when they said friendship was magic? oO

Zebediah · « **Reply #39 on:** 09 Mar 2016, 16:12 »

If there's one thing I've learned in this world, it's that the weird talking horses are always right.

cesium133 · « **Reply #40 on:** 09 Mar 2016, 16:24 »

Watch out for the talking weird dogs, though. Especially the one with the Southern accent who repeats himself a lot.

MrWoodchip · « **Reply #41 on:** 09 Mar 2016, 18:55 »

I still prefer "Malice".

Storel · « **Reply #42 on:** 10 Mar 2016, 20:48 »

Making friends is harder if you're more intelligent than average. You're more self-conscious and overthink things more.

Also, introverted people have a harder time making friends than extroverts do.

Ardent definitely doesn't seem as bright as either Alice or Gavia, and he's more extroverted than either, so it's easier for him.

At least, that was how it seemed to me that my less bright, more extroverted sister had so much less trouble making friends than I did. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Method of Madness · « **Reply #43 on:** 11 Mar 2016, 06:54 »

What about more intelligent extroverts. Do the two cancel each other out?

HiFranc · « **Reply #44 on:** 11 Mar 2016, 14:24 »

Quote from: Storel on 10 Mar 2016, 20:48

Making friends is harder if you're more intelligent than average. You're more self-conscious and overthink things more.

Also, introverted people have a harder time making friends than extroverts do.

Ardent definitely doesn't seem as bright as either Alice or Gavia, and he's more extroverted than either, so it's easier for him.

That's not a question of intelligence but neuroticism (which is a variable that is independent of intelligence). There are people who fit in all 4 camps -- i.e. not neurotic and not intelligent, neurotic and not intelligent, intelligent but not neurotic, intelligent and neurotic.

Morituri · « **Reply #45 on:** 12 Mar 2016, 17:54 »

So what happens when he asks Sedna if she wants to fuck?

BenRG · « **Reply #46 on:** 13 Mar 2016, 00:09 »

There is a very real possibility that she might shrug and say 'Why not?' However, I do think it will be the first time Ardent has been the one screwed and then waking up alone in bed with a note saying: "Thanks, sweetie but be real and don't try for a follow-up!"

Skewbrow · « **Reply #47 on:** 13 Mar 2016, 06:51 »

Hmm. That scenario is a cause for concern. I don't think Ardent would know of the need to check for ice picks under the bed (or whatever she might use instead).

BenRG · « **Reply #48 on:** 15 Mar 2016, 15:10 »

New comic!

I just can't get over how good Jeph is at implying so much and giving so much background with a few strokes of a very broad brush. We've learnt almost as much about Alice in this strip as we have learned for the rest of the strip to date:

Whatever happened between Alice and Sedna happened ~300 years back;
It seems likely that Alice was somehow in the causitive chain of The Blink and she's never forgiven herself... not even five millennia later;
Sedna didn't hesitate to let a woman whom she claims to hate sleep beside her; is that the result of bittersweet memories? As Jeph says in his endnote - They have a weird relationship!

Sedna's earlier denial to Ardent aside, I'm taking panel 4 in this strip as proving that she and Alice have some kind of common origin.

Zebediah · « **Reply #49 on:** 15 Mar 2016, 15:21 »

Alice is sleeping in her armor. That implies something about her relationship with Sedna right there.

That, or the armor disintegrated her clothes when it, uh, apparated? manifested? materialized? Whatever it did.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Poll

So, what's on for this month?

Author Topic: Alice Grove MCDLT - March 2016 (Read 75577 times)