Hmm… She cries with both eyes closed, where we saw Clair cry with both eyes open.
Pepper’s certainly taking it better than he did with Clair at least. It probably helps that Chloe’s abrasiveness in the moment is more just her being overwhelmed, rather than the way Clair brushed off his advice.
…thinking on it more, it’s REALLY interesting to me that she cries with her eyes closed.
Clair keeps pushing her away from reflecting on what hurt them, but when Clair is at her most upset, both eyes are wide open- she’s hypervigiliant, even(especially?) at her most vulnerable.
Comparatively, Chloe is always frustrated by not having control over her decisions and needs, and when she reaches her breaking point, she closes both eyes and shuts down/walls off. The only really control she has over her situation is to refuse to look at it… Hm.
Also, Chloe is not allowed to see, to remember, and Clair is keeping so many things secret from her. Since Clair is watching her words carefully to not tell her where the residents come from, she probably also doesn’t remember the other layers or Ares.
She also saw the clearest image of the memory when she was sleeping, both eyes closed, and in the start of the comic looking at the memory we find her in darkness.
great observations. the opposite is true at the same time. clair got upset and shut pepper down as a wide-eyed defense (but pretending everything is fine). chloe got upset and while acting defensive is inviting him in, inviting him to sit with her. and fitting with what you said, clair is maintaining her own control and trying to handle stuff herself, while chloe is relying on others and giving up control (she kind of doesn’t have a choice though, too. another opposite between the two).
I really do love their back and forth here. He offers her suggestions without ever forcing her to do something she doesn’t want to.
And when he says “careful,” he’s not only looking out for her, physically, it’s almost as if he’s responding to her calling herself (or, the situation—her story) stupid. Like, “careful how you talk about my friend”; “careful how you talk about yourself”
I love their dynamic so much, Chloe is obviously so overwhelmed right now and Pepper is just being so kind, giving suggestions instead of telling, asking instead of demanding.
Its strange how they recognize the existence of pet animals and their behaviors. Even the animal people themselves are aware of it when its brought up, but they dont seem to take offense to it. Itd be like an alien asking if we want a banana cause were primates
Well if they were created from Claire’s/Chloe’s psyche (which is my understanding and/or my guess) that would explain them both knowing it and not being offended. Also seeing the state Chloe’s in I’d brush off any offense I might take too.
I love Pepper’s sweet helpfulness in this page. The way he carefully guides her down into the pit so she doesn’t hurt herself like the first time she came over. But then there’s Chloe’s inner monologue from #452 “even the part where I fall and get hurt. Especially that part. I need you to take care of me.” It’s very sadly telling that Chloe can only think of others helping her and taking care of her if she’s been physically hurt. But Good Boy Pepper is taking care of her even when she’s emotionally and psychologically hurting, and I love him for that. This page is giving me so many emotions :clair-despair:
DOWN BOY!!! SIT DOWN!!!!
Uh oh. Both eyes are leaking:clair-what:
SHOOT. She’s gonna open both eyes and he’s having war flashbacks😱
Wait a minute. I SAW that!
If that’s what this scene builds up to then holy shit
Pepper do the trick to make her laugh
Hmm… She cries with both eyes closed, where we saw Clair cry with both eyes open.
Pepper’s certainly taking it better than he did with Clair at least. It probably helps that Chloe’s abrasiveness in the moment is more just her being overwhelmed, rather than the way Clair brushed off his advice.
…thinking on it more, it’s REALLY interesting to me that she cries with her eyes closed.
Clair keeps pushing her away from reflecting on what hurt them, but when Clair is at her most upset, both eyes are wide open- she’s hypervigiliant, even(especially?) at her most vulnerable.
Comparatively, Chloe is always frustrated by not having control over her decisions and needs, and when she reaches her breaking point, she closes both eyes and shuts down/walls off. The only really control she has over her situation is to refuse to look at it… Hm.
:clair-despair:
Also, Chloe is not allowed to see, to remember, and Clair is keeping so many things secret from her. Since Clair is watching her words carefully to not tell her where the residents come from, she probably also doesn’t remember the other layers or Ares.
She also saw the clearest image of the memory when she was sleeping, both eyes closed, and in the start of the comic looking at the memory we find her in darkness.
She is in the dark in many ways.
great observations. the opposite is true at the same time. clair got upset and shut pepper down as a wide-eyed defense (but pretending everything is fine). chloe got upset and while acting defensive is inviting him in, inviting him to sit with her. and fitting with what you said, clair is maintaining her own control and trying to handle stuff herself, while chloe is relying on others and giving up control (she kind of doesn’t have a choice though, too. another opposite between the two).
I really do love their back and forth here. He offers her suggestions without ever forcing her to do something she doesn’t want to.
And when he says “careful,” he’s not only looking out for her, physically, it’s almost as if he’s responding to her calling herself (or, the situation—her story) stupid. Like, “careful how you talk about my friend”; “careful how you talk about yourself”
exactly :hearts:
(shrek image) he doesn’t even know sit
MY RIBS
YOUR RIBS
THEIR RIBS
In other words, Chloe is pretty much asking “please sit with me” in her own way.
I love their dynamic so much, Chloe is obviously so overwhelmed right now and Pepper is just being so kind, giving suggestions instead of telling, asking instead of demanding.
pepper is the only one to see both of them cry. the intimacy pepper shares with them both
also crab race mention? in this day and age? …I want a crab race t-shirt.
She’s stupid and having a moment.
I love this so much.
Its strange how they recognize the existence of pet animals and their behaviors. Even the animal people themselves are aware of it when its brought up, but they dont seem to take offense to it. Itd be like an alien asking if we want a banana cause were primates
Well if they were created from Claire’s/Chloe’s psyche (which is my understanding and/or my guess) that would explain them both knowing it and not being offended. Also seeing the state Chloe’s in I’d brush off any offense I might take too.
I hope that never happens to me because I’ll gladly take a free banana and end up validating the racist aliens
her tail curving itself out after she gets a bit of humour out.. :clair-despair:
I’m assuming that the tears on the left side of her face is just from her wiping them across from her right eye
I love Pepper’s sweet helpfulness in this page. The way he carefully guides her down into the pit so she doesn’t hurt herself like the first time she came over. But then there’s Chloe’s inner monologue from #452 “even the part where I fall and get hurt. Especially that part. I need you to take care of me.” It’s very sadly telling that Chloe can only think of others helping her and taking care of her if she’s been physically hurt. But Good Boy Pepper is taking care of her even when she’s emotionally and psychologically hurting, and I love him for that. This page is giving me so many emotions :clair-despair:
she’s gone full babby mode. pepper is being such a good boy rn tho he’s really trying his best
I fear something bad may happen………. I can hope not……..