OUGH. MY HEART. i love the uber-simple mars cuddling the plushie so much shes so shaped….. also the idea of mars owning the exact same achilles plush that exists in real life is greatly amusing me now
It’s still largely obscured, but this is a HUGE moment not only for mars’ character, but the comic as a whole
Can’t remember if batty ever *explicitly* expressed it this way in the past, but knowing how deliberate her choices are with things like this and how big she is on symbolism—not to mention how long it took to arrive at this point—it can NOT be understated what a big moment this is for mars
We’re finally seeing the inside of her home, and it’s no coincidence there would be a major reveal right on the other side of the door. Until now, we’d never seen the inside, just the front, or *facade,* if you will—the front she puts up. We’ve seen Pepper’s house inside and out (well, the first floor anyway) many times over. We saw the inside of achilles’ home before we got to see the outside. We’ve even seen (much of) clair’s living quarters! But mars isn’t someone who lets people in—to her home, or otherwise. And what would be right on the other side, but her big, gooey, softie heart. Tho interestingly (tho not surprisingly) even when she’s alone and talking to herself she won’t (can’t?) admit her true feelings—which should be fairly apparent to everyone by now haha
OH MY GOD. We’re finally seeing a glimpse of the inside of her house… she’s finally opening up her heart just a little bit…… and the one thing that we see behind her literal brick walls is (the implication of) a plushie…….. of achilles, perhaps? 🥹 oh mars you are the cutest animal on halo head
literally gasped and whispered “oh my fucking godddd” out loud, that diagram is the cutest thing ever. honestly my first thought was that mars should def use it for hugging purposes, to allow herself some comfort after a day of beating up achilles. doms need aftercare too!
“s’what i get for never opening half my shit” tells a story too, of just how much money achilles has been giving her. she keeps ordering new things bc what else are you gonna do with money, but does it really help her feel any better about the arrangement she has with him? does she feel like she’s taking advantage of him, or does she feel like she’s being used?
interesting too how we’re finally seeing the inside of mars’s house, but it’s completely dark with no visible furniture or decor. not allowed to peek into her brain and psychoanalyze her interior design tastes yet, huh…….
Or, perhaps these are the psychoanalyzeable interior design tastes. Mars’ house is full of unopened baggage and intentionally kept dark. She, herself, doesn’t want to introspect.
Maybe also compare to Ares, who Mars is a reconstruction or reinvention or remaking of, at least in a way. “Silly Pepper, there’s only one Mars.” yes, but the one before her, Ares, was who was telling Achilles that money isn’t necessary. Community, care, caring about and for each other, these are all concepts that come naturally to him, and so it is unnatural that he wants money to meet his goals. ‘Cause he loves Mars. I wonder, is Ares more of who Mars could become, who she IS becoming, in a way? There’s a lot of recursive lore! Ares seems the gone-soft type to me personally!! Like the edgy fursona you had when you were younger, that you make and remake, until you realize that you ARE soft YOURSELF and don’t need to hold on to the way you used to perform a persona. It also begs the question, if it’s recursive, if the townsfolk always lean towards healing, maybe it’s not Chloe who isn’t ready to let go of Halo Head as a coping mechanism, Clair is. Clair claims it’s “never good enough” and that she’ll have to “start again”, but as somebody with OCD, sometimes the ritual of “fixing” the bad feelings becomes addicting, and you can’t actually let yourself let things go. She IS also OBSESSED with things like the shows about people with weird fetishes. Obsession + What Seems To Be Happening in The Flashbacks + Hypersexuality can be so intense that the adrenaline high of hashing and re-hashing the stress the host personality (if we are talking like this is DID-related) experienced could be the reason Clair thinks that it’s “never good enough”. OCD benefits from repetition of a ritual to temporarily soothe the obsessive worry or worries one experiences. Sometimes, if OCD is enough of a struggle for someone, the adrenaline and the soothing ritual both need to ramp in intensity, and it becomes like chasing the dragon. Ares potentially became soft, Mars IS softening and opening up, Chloe is doing her best to befriend Clair or at least be more open with her when she can, Achilles is getting treated better by a lot of people and himself appreciating this. It’s been a hot minute since we’ve seen Pepper but he and Clair seem the most outright anxious and do not get along. Two different types of anxiety pulling against each other, to the point of paranoia.
Clair had to make that plushie knowing full well what it was going to be used for. This must be her passive-aggressive way of trying to guide Mars to her ideal behavior.
I like to Imagine Mars doesn’t bother with the lights in her house because she’s a cat :mors:
Something I take a lot of note of is the characters’ ability to read people. Pepper is really good at it, Mars not so much*, Achilles needs things explained to him.
Clair definitely has a hard time seeing some of Choe’s issues with her, but she can at least tell that Mars’ interest in Achilles isn’t just about ‘bullying’ him for fun. She knew this doll wasn’t just going to get smacked around.
*I think Mars doesn’t try cause she doesn’t want to need to, she wants things to be simple, and with her actions, insists that they are.
I love that TOLD is in bold letters, it makes it feel like that wording was very specifically chosen because it wasn’t actually for that and that’s only what she told Clair
I really want to know if Achilles is still paying her.
I think mars realised a while ago that she likes being with Achilles and she uses the money to essentially deny that (maybe even to herself).
As soon as this relationship stops being nominally transactional, they could be really cute together for real.
I love how timely this page is with the real-life Achilles and Mars plushies being delivered this week (I just got my Mars plush today!)
I like how the reveal of the inside of Mars’s house and her purchase of a plushie is done in a very Mars-esque way, if that makes any sense. We don’t see a whole lot of what’s actually inside Mars’s house, besides the unopened boxes; she talks to herself pretty much the same way to talks to everyone else; she even reframes her plushie as an “effigy for violence” so that it still fits in with her persona. But it’s the fact that we get to see inside Mars’s house at all, that we learn that she would spend her money on something like a plushie, that makes this such an important moment of the comic and for Mars’s character journey, even if Mars herself wants to downplay its importance.
I’m so fascinated by the fact that mars even likes achilles in the first place. She certainly doesn’t like him at first. But later on Achilles shows genuine love and admiration toward mars: nobody else does that as consistently. It’s interesting to me because achilles doesn’t show much respect toward mars’ boundaries when she doesn’t want to pummel him, and I thought that would be a much bigger detractor for her lol. I guess there’s a fine line between persistence and disrespect in that regard.
I have basically binged this after reading a comic done by someone Batshaped did art for, and it’s been so worth it. It’s been less than a whole day and it’s totally been worth the time investment to archive binge.
OHMYGODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
So worth staying up for. You did NOT disappoint
:clair-cute: See Mars? This is how you’re meant to treat your boyfriend.
OUGH. MY HEART. i love the uber-simple mars cuddling the plushie so much shes so shaped….. also the idea of mars owning the exact same achilles plush that exists in real life is greatly amusing me now
Ohmygod
This IS just like the dededoll!🤩
Achilles plush is canon and those instructions might be followed….
It’s still largely obscured, but this is a HUGE moment not only for mars’ character, but the comic as a whole
Can’t remember if batty ever *explicitly* expressed it this way in the past, but knowing how deliberate her choices are with things like this and how big she is on symbolism—not to mention how long it took to arrive at this point—it can NOT be understated what a big moment this is for mars
We’re finally seeing the inside of her home, and it’s no coincidence there would be a major reveal right on the other side of the door. Until now, we’d never seen the inside, just the front, or *facade,* if you will—the front she puts up. We’ve seen Pepper’s house inside and out (well, the first floor anyway) many times over. We saw the inside of achilles’ home before we got to see the outside. We’ve even seen (much of) clair’s living quarters! But mars isn’t someone who lets people in—to her home, or otherwise. And what would be right on the other side, but her big, gooey, softie heart. Tho interestingly (tho not surprisingly) even when she’s alone and talking to herself she won’t (can’t?) admit her true feelings—which should be fairly apparent to everyone by now haha
That part about it being “gooey” reminded me of the butterfly cocoon from earlier
Before you can see its true beauty, it must turn into goo
That’s the thing about their relationship: mars and achilles both resort the other to goo—just in very different ways!
Reduce. That’s the word. Dammit
OH MY GOD. We’re finally seeing a glimpse of the inside of her house… she’s finally opening up her heart just a little bit…… and the one thing that we see behind her literal brick walls is (the implication of) a plushie…….. of achilles, perhaps? 🥹 oh mars you are the cutest animal on halo head
literally gasped and whispered “oh my fucking godddd” out loud, that diagram is the cutest thing ever. honestly my first thought was that mars should def use it for hugging purposes, to allow herself some comfort after a day of beating up achilles. doms need aftercare too!
“s’what i get for never opening half my shit” tells a story too, of just how much money achilles has been giving her. she keeps ordering new things bc what else are you gonna do with money, but does it really help her feel any better about the arrangement she has with him? does she feel like she’s taking advantage of him, or does she feel like she’s being used?
interesting too how we’re finally seeing the inside of mars’s house, but it’s completely dark with no visible furniture or decor. not allowed to peek into her brain and psychoanalyze her interior design tastes yet, huh…….
Or, perhaps these are the psychoanalyzeable interior design tastes. Mars’ house is full of unopened baggage and intentionally kept dark. She, herself, doesn’t want to introspect.
Maybe also compare to Ares, who Mars is a reconstruction or reinvention or remaking of, at least in a way. “Silly Pepper, there’s only one Mars.” yes, but the one before her, Ares, was who was telling Achilles that money isn’t necessary. Community, care, caring about and for each other, these are all concepts that come naturally to him, and so it is unnatural that he wants money to meet his goals. ‘Cause he loves Mars. I wonder, is Ares more of who Mars could become, who she IS becoming, in a way? There’s a lot of recursive lore! Ares seems the gone-soft type to me personally!! Like the edgy fursona you had when you were younger, that you make and remake, until you realize that you ARE soft YOURSELF and don’t need to hold on to the way you used to perform a persona. It also begs the question, if it’s recursive, if the townsfolk always lean towards healing, maybe it’s not Chloe who isn’t ready to let go of Halo Head as a coping mechanism, Clair is. Clair claims it’s “never good enough” and that she’ll have to “start again”, but as somebody with OCD, sometimes the ritual of “fixing” the bad feelings becomes addicting, and you can’t actually let yourself let things go. She IS also OBSESSED with things like the shows about people with weird fetishes. Obsession + What Seems To Be Happening in The Flashbacks + Hypersexuality can be so intense that the adrenaline high of hashing and re-hashing the stress the host personality (if we are talking like this is DID-related) experienced could be the reason Clair thinks that it’s “never good enough”. OCD benefits from repetition of a ritual to temporarily soothe the obsessive worry or worries one experiences. Sometimes, if OCD is enough of a struggle for someone, the adrenaline and the soothing ritual both need to ramp in intensity, and it becomes like chasing the dragon. Ares potentially became soft, Mars IS softening and opening up, Chloe is doing her best to befriend Clair or at least be more open with her when she can, Achilles is getting treated better by a lot of people and himself appreciating this. It’s been a hot minute since we’ve seen Pepper but he and Clair seem the most outright anxious and do not get along. Two different types of anxiety pulling against each other, to the point of paranoia.
Clair had to make that plushie knowing full well what it was going to be used for. This must be her passive-aggressive way of trying to guide Mars to her ideal behavior.
I like to Imagine Mars doesn’t bother with the lights in her house because she’s a cat :mors:
I think it’s the opposite. I think Clair made this doll knowing that Mars was gonna cuddle it.
I hope Mars gives Clair some appreciation for all the cool stuff she makes for her sometime.
Another theory still is that Clair is projecting, since this is what SHE would do with an Achilles plush.
oh my god
Achilles is in boxes…
Something I take a lot of note of is the characters’ ability to read people. Pepper is really good at it, Mars not so much*, Achilles needs things explained to him.
Clair definitely has a hard time seeing some of Choe’s issues with her, but she can at least tell that Mars’ interest in Achilles isn’t just about ‘bullying’ him for fun. She knew this doll wasn’t just going to get smacked around.
*I think Mars doesn’t try cause she doesn’t want to need to, she wants things to be simple, and with her actions, insists that they are.
I love this woman so much
Hey wait a minute where have i seen this one before :achilles-plush:
I love that TOLD is in bold letters, it makes it feel like that wording was very specifically chosen because it wasn’t actually for that and that’s only what she told Clair
ACHILLES PLUSH CANON??
OMG SHE DID NOT ACTUALLY AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA NO WAYYY
she will commit so many violences to this creation
Achilles Plush to hug and pet!
… And punch, and kick, and throw against the wall, and rub against sandpaper, and-
oh my god. :achilles-plush:
MARS HOUSE MARS HOUSE MARS HOUSE MARSE HOUSE MARS HOUSE
ACHILLES PLUSH ACHILLES PLUSH ACHILLES PLUSH
the plush’s product description needs to be updated to include “effigy for violence.”
I shall LIVE for the day when Mars finally realizes she likes being around Achilles, and that she likes how much Achilles cares about her.
Every moment with them is my favorite.
I really want to know if Achilles is still paying her.
I think mars realised a while ago that she likes being with Achilles and she uses the money to essentially deny that (maybe even to herself).
As soon as this relationship stops being nominally transactional, they could be really cute together for real.
I love how timely this page is with the real-life Achilles and Mars plushies being delivered this week (I just got my Mars plush today!)
I like how the reveal of the inside of Mars’s house and her purchase of a plushie is done in a very Mars-esque way, if that makes any sense. We don’t see a whole lot of what’s actually inside Mars’s house, besides the unopened boxes; she talks to herself pretty much the same way to talks to everyone else; she even reframes her plushie as an “effigy for violence” so that it still fits in with her persona. But it’s the fact that we get to see inside Mars’s house at all, that we learn that she would spend her money on something like a plushie, that makes this such an important moment of the comic and for Mars’s character journey, even if Mars herself wants to downplay its importance.
I’m so fascinated by the fact that mars even likes achilles in the first place. She certainly doesn’t like him at first. But later on Achilles shows genuine love and admiration toward mars: nobody else does that as consistently. It’s interesting to me because achilles doesn’t show much respect toward mars’ boundaries when she doesn’t want to pummel him, and I thought that would be a much bigger detractor for her lol. I guess there’s a fine line between persistence and disrespect in that regard.
I mean he’s putting her kids through college. Makes it a lot easier to love someone :chloe-onice:
Any please-and-thank-you bitches in the audience tonight?
Happy October !
D’awwwwwwwwwwwwwww
I have basically binged this after reading a comic done by someone Batshaped did art for, and it’s been so worth it. It’s been less than a whole day and it’s totally been worth the time investment to archive binge.
PLUSHIES REAL :mars-point: