I get the initial impression that Pepper stuck his foot in his mouth here. Putting on a cool exterior is everything to Mars and she was clearly embarrassed about their arrangement. So “Yeah it’s weird, but who cares?” was probably the wrong angle.
I hope I’m wrong, of course, but the look she gives him makes me think this is exactly the reaction she was afraid of.
I think she may just be taking time to think a bit on that. This is just me taking Pepper’s word at face value. Is it really the worst thing in the world for Chloe to know the actual context behind Mars and Achilles’s relationship? That’s my own guess on her thinking, but it could go either way.
Giving honest advice isn’t putting your foot in your mouth! It’s definitely not what she wanted to hear, but it did need to be said. If she wants to do what she does with Achilles, then she needs to let go of her need to “put on a cool exterior” and be authentic and honest. There’s no version of this conversation that wouldn’t demand her to make some kind of adjustment to her behavior or self-concept, unless Pepper wanted to just lie to her, which she would see through. You can either be Cool And Completely Normal or you can beat up your freak cashcow boyfriend.
Also, like, literally every single resident has seen her and Achilles with their own eyes! It is a common topic of discussion! Whether she likes it or not, the public perception she’s fretting about here is irrevocably changed. So her options at this juncture are to own it or lie badly and have everybody play pretend.
What Mars needs to hear is that everyone (including Chloe) would eventually come to accept what they are doing, if they even care in the first place. She might get some ribbing from Chloe at first, but she would come around in the end. This is probably what Pepper means.
The way he worded it, though, makes it sound like he’s trying to minimize her self-consciousness and that she’s being “silly” for feeling that way. It could be an honest mistake, or it could be his own prejudices speaking (he always had a problem with their arrangement).
I hope MogFrog is right and this is just her taking a moment to process what he said.
I mean, probably, because it would be kind of insane if this conflict ended with “Chloe and Mars end their friendship because Chloe is judgmental,” but like, if Chloe did indeed think it was bad and wrong, would Mars stop? Hopefully not, but like the solution to Mars’ conflict here surely isn’t “everyone likes you fine you’re not embarassing” but more along the lines of “don’t let other people’s perceptions limit your happiness”? The reassurance she wants is that no one will ever think it’s weird, but Pepper can’t promise that. What he can say is that Mars can be with Achilles regardless of what everyone thinks.
stair pattern in the planks on the wall and floor 👁👁
in the back of his mind he’s still thinking about the stairs (and that he has to go back down them) but he’s deflecting by focusing on mars instead, old dog old tricks :mars-point::pepper-surprise:
Is it bad that I don’t understand Pepper rn? What’s so weird about being friends with Achilles? Or are they talking about the whole Hitting for Profit-thing??
Pepper clearly knows that Mars like likes Achilles. But she’s still in a (currently transactional) relationship with someone who likes being hit and have dirt shoved in his mouth, and she does those things for him. That’s weird to Pepper, who’s put off by Achilles being hurt.
Chloe might find it more weird that Mars is friends with someone like Achilles.
Think about a scenario like this: 2 friends that make fun of, lets say in this example, furries. Eventually one is exposed enough to it where they themselves realize they kinda like some parts of the community, or maybe even start to become one themselves. You think its easy for that one person to tell their friend that? What would they think? Would they treat them the same or are they going to make fun of them for it now? Will they still want to be friends?
I think this is what mars is scared to face here. Shes realizing she might like hanging around achilles (and getting paid too) but doesnt want to be perceived as a freak by association. It seems mars cares a lot about her image. Wanting to appear as this strong, aloof badass. (fakest IDGAF’er ever btw but we love her for it)
Probably also why pepper poking at her *flaws* (as she sees them) all the time is so uncomfortable and embarrassing for her. He points out the holes in her tough girl act without a shred of tact
The other replies to you are correct that what Pepper is referring to is the sadomasochism angle, but you’ve hit on something that Pepper hasn’t (yet?) pointed out, which is that this is cruel to Achilles. Mars is ashamed not only of the actually weird elements of what they do but of the fact that she is associated with him at all. If she really does care about him, which she clearly does because she criticizes Pepper to his face about how comfortable he is walking over and pressuring Achilles, then, well, she’s doing the same thing. At least Pepper’s behavior is semi-justifiable because keeping their knowledge of the stairs secret from Clair could reasonably be important; Mars is doing it to avoid having to tell her friend that she likes being around him. Self-image is *why* she’s doing this, and that’s Not Good, but the actual victim of this behavior is Achilles. She should care about him more than what Chloe thinks of her.
these pages are about both of these characters helping each other face their fears. like pepper’s situation, when mars climbs the stairs the world won’t end, even though from below it feels like it will. and it might actually be kind of mundane. not to downplay the relief of it, but in the sense of like, oh things are actually chill, the world keeps turning
also I just realized that like, pepper is like halo head’s version of a flat earther. except that he’s right.
Therapy session over, pay me bitch :mars-point:
boy is her face red
That happens when you have red fur.
I get the initial impression that Pepper stuck his foot in his mouth here. Putting on a cool exterior is everything to Mars and she was clearly embarrassed about their arrangement. So “Yeah it’s weird, but who cares?” was probably the wrong angle.
I hope I’m wrong, of course, but the look she gives him makes me think this is exactly the reaction she was afraid of.
I think she may just be taking time to think a bit on that. This is just me taking Pepper’s word at face value. Is it really the worst thing in the world for Chloe to know the actual context behind Mars and Achilles’s relationship? That’s my own guess on her thinking, but it could go either way.
It sure is a bitter pill to swallow for her, but it’s one that she’ll have to take if she wants to be on good terms with Chloe again.
Giving honest advice isn’t putting your foot in your mouth! It’s definitely not what she wanted to hear, but it did need to be said. If she wants to do what she does with Achilles, then she needs to let go of her need to “put on a cool exterior” and be authentic and honest. There’s no version of this conversation that wouldn’t demand her to make some kind of adjustment to her behavior or self-concept, unless Pepper wanted to just lie to her, which she would see through. You can either be Cool And Completely Normal or you can beat up your freak cashcow boyfriend.
Also, like, literally every single resident has seen her and Achilles with their own eyes! It is a common topic of discussion! Whether she likes it or not, the public perception she’s fretting about here is irrevocably changed. So her options at this juncture are to own it or lie badly and have everybody play pretend.
What Mars needs to hear is that everyone (including Chloe) would eventually come to accept what they are doing, if they even care in the first place. She might get some ribbing from Chloe at first, but she would come around in the end. This is probably what Pepper means.
The way he worded it, though, makes it sound like he’s trying to minimize her self-consciousness and that she’s being “silly” for feeling that way. It could be an honest mistake, or it could be his own prejudices speaking (he always had a problem with their arrangement).
I hope MogFrog is right and this is just her taking a moment to process what he said.
I mean, probably, because it would be kind of insane if this conflict ended with “Chloe and Mars end their friendship because Chloe is judgmental,” but like, if Chloe did indeed think it was bad and wrong, would Mars stop? Hopefully not, but like the solution to Mars’ conflict here surely isn’t “everyone likes you fine you’re not embarassing” but more along the lines of “don’t let other people’s perceptions limit your happiness”? The reassurance she wants is that no one will ever think it’s weird, but Pepper can’t promise that. What he can say is that Mars can be with Achilles regardless of what everyone thinks.
stair pattern in the planks on the wall and floor 👁👁
in the back of his mind he’s still thinking about the stairs (and that he has to go back down them) but he’s deflecting by focusing on mars instead, old dog old tricks :mars-point::pepper-surprise:
Is it bad that I don’t understand Pepper rn? What’s so weird about being friends with Achilles? Or are they talking about the whole Hitting for Profit-thing??
they’re talking about the hitting for profit thing, but to mars it’s deeper than that i think. she clearly feels more about it than pepper knows.
Pepper clearly knows that Mars like likes Achilles. But she’s still in a (currently transactional) relationship with someone who likes being hit and have dirt shoved in his mouth, and she does those things for him. That’s weird to Pepper, who’s put off by Achilles being hurt.
Chloe might find it more weird that Mars is friends with someone like Achilles.
Does it really matter when only six people live there
If anything it matters MORE because only like six people live here. Slim pickings for social stuff; it’s like small town syndrome on steroids
Think about a scenario like this: 2 friends that make fun of, lets say in this example, furries. Eventually one is exposed enough to it where they themselves realize they kinda like some parts of the community, or maybe even start to become one themselves. You think its easy for that one person to tell their friend that? What would they think? Would they treat them the same or are they going to make fun of them for it now? Will they still want to be friends?
I think this is what mars is scared to face here. Shes realizing she might like hanging around achilles (and getting paid too) but doesnt want to be perceived as a freak by association. It seems mars cares a lot about her image. Wanting to appear as this strong, aloof badass. (fakest IDGAF’er ever btw but we love her for it)
Probably also why pepper poking at her *flaws* (as she sees them) all the time is so uncomfortable and embarrassing for her. He points out the holes in her tough girl act without a shred of tact
yeah, hard to say whether this is a useful angle for him to go through or not
The other replies to you are correct that what Pepper is referring to is the sadomasochism angle, but you’ve hit on something that Pepper hasn’t (yet?) pointed out, which is that this is cruel to Achilles. Mars is ashamed not only of the actually weird elements of what they do but of the fact that she is associated with him at all. If she really does care about him, which she clearly does because she criticizes Pepper to his face about how comfortable he is walking over and pressuring Achilles, then, well, she’s doing the same thing. At least Pepper’s behavior is semi-justifiable because keeping their knowledge of the stairs secret from Clair could reasonably be important; Mars is doing it to avoid having to tell her friend that she likes being around him. Self-image is *why* she’s doing this, and that’s Not Good, but the actual victim of this behavior is Achilles. She should care about him more than what Chloe thinks of her.
I guess that’s a yes.
these pages are about both of these characters helping each other face their fears. like pepper’s situation, when mars climbs the stairs the world won’t end, even though from below it feels like it will. and it might actually be kind of mundane. not to downplay the relief of it, but in the sense of like, oh things are actually chill, the world keeps turning
also I just realized that like, pepper is like halo head’s version of a flat earther. except that he’s right.
stairs
I know it’s not the focus, but I love how you can see the washing machine working away in the background. It’s the attention to detail
DAYUM, Batty strikes again with the deets. :batty-long:
<3 <3 <3
^w^
:achilles-rose:
Pepper is so wise. :hearts:
yeah ig pepper is kinda the square-shaped one and she rlly did turn her back to him
She likes the weirdo and that makes her weird ha ha
I get it, its hard to tell people more embarrassing stuff
also girl your cool friend is a nudist who eats bugs she’ll like rib you about it but it’s chill