So if it’s all circuitry in there, “flicked” would actually be the anatomically correct term in this case? I mean, assuming Violent Violet was designed to have a “switch.”
+1. My interpretation of “I’m so glad Wilkin’s never flicked you” is more or less “I’m so glad I’m not obligated to play nice” though Miss Violet apparently didn’t pick up on that. Not as clever as she fancies herself. ^_^
Yeah, that felt deliberately ambiguous on the writers’ part.
I’m also going to say that it’s worth remembering that Nick self-identifies as a machine and is officially Machine Union, not a meatbag; I’m still looking forward to the question of which side he’s on in the coming revolution, assuming that we’re headed there at some point. (Or, rather, force others to question it; from his point of view, nakama comes first, period.) This conversation plays to that.
My thought: “Congratulations, Violet. You’ve ensured he won’t talk. He’ll just kill you instead.”
Isn’t there an item on the Evil Overlord list about not threatening family? There should be. There isn’t a better way to push someone to make an exception to a “no killing” rule.
So if Violet was trying to keep a low profile, why reveal that she’s Goldbug after Nick discovered she’s a machine? It’s not like he would have guessed that. Admittedly, we never saw the Anasigma training video on proper monologuing, so maybe this is standard procedure?
Power play. She had the trump card she played in this strip, so dropping further information just drives home how powerless she considers Nick to be; it doesn’t matter HOW much he knows, she’s got her finger on his particular lever.
So is she a double agent? A triple agent? Or more layers still – one imagines a robotic intelligence can keep a great many seperate stories straight without getting confused.
@Saberbeam – Because she wants to make sure Nick keeps quiet on the whole not-human thing, for some reason. And I somehow doubt that Violet Bee is herself Gold Bug… but I can see her representing whoever it is.
I had to Google “Machiavelli made metal, darkness wrought in steel . . .” because it sounds like it belongs in a Judas Priest or similar metal god’s screaming lyrics. I was disappointed to find nothing… 🙁 Skin-horse metal band anyone?
Do not use soap and other surfactants that may neutralize or remove the oils that make muskrat fur water repellent. A coarse brush with thick plastic bristles with rounded ends is ideal. Keep eyes lowered and avoid eye contact. Keep a warm and caring heart. Do not speak unless spoken to, and if speaking is necessary, never presume to use the informal second person pronoun.
not like i’m any good at psyching out the authors, but… i get the feeling vb is lying through her artificial teeth. i had the impression that goldbug was on clear speaking terms with gavotte at the end of “i can fly”, but it seems ms b is not that tight with skin horse at all. and i note that she doesn’t specifically claim to be goldbug here, either….
Ummm… Threatening Dr. Lee in front of an armored war cyborg that has the hots for her seems rather counter productive. While Nick’s generally been rather anti-weapons….I’ve got the impression that those sorts of threats might bring out an “eliminate the problems” response by direct methods sort of response from him. Like by missiles, bombs, or 30mm chain gun.
So what Violet does here is: “Hey! Let me hand you important information about myself for no reason! And then I will make an enemy of you by threatening you into not revealing that I’m not human, which you weren’t going to do in the first place.” Apparently she really just needs to feel like she has the upper hand, even if it serves no sensible tactical purpose. (Then again, she might have Mysterious Motives for all of this. Who knows?)
There’s an obvious solution here, Nick. Have Lee get inside you, fly up into the sky, tell her what’s going on, and don’t let her out until she’s got better protection that your muskrat-fluffing armored self.
Problem is, Nick has some delicate electronic wafers and a soft walnut-in-a-jar underneath his crunchy exterior. She can break her teeth all day trying to get in, but if he LETS her in, she has free rein.
Welp, looks like Violet knows the score.
“…soft and warm and fragile…”
That was cruel. Violet obviously knows how to go straight for the jugular. No wonder she works for Anasigma.
Got to add “muskrat-fluffing” to my Big List of Colorful Expressions.
Given what ‘fluffing’ means in the erotic entertainment industry . . .
Actually, Anasigma works for the driver of Violet Bee.
Stop giving spoilers.
So, is Violet’s skin soft and warm, too? I wonder what her plans are vis a vis Tip?
Nice use of “flicked”, Nick! In all caps lettering, your meaning would be obscured even less.
The horrible awful thought which popped into my head was that maybe if Wilkins, umm, “flicked” her she’d have a different attitude?
Robot, so probably not. Might not even be anatomically correct enough to do that.
Oh, and Tip isn’t creative enough to get around such a little difficulty?
So if it’s all circuitry in there, “flicked” would actually be the anatomically correct term in this case? I mean, assuming Violent Violet was designed to have a “switch.”
Brings whole new meaning to “pushed all the right buttons”, doesn’t it? -_^
Nick mentioned “armored war machine”. He didn’t mention “expert hacker”. Violet may have just pissed off the wrong person….
+1. My interpretation of “I’m so glad Wilkin’s never flicked you” is more or less “I’m so glad I’m not obligated to play nice” though Miss Violet apparently didn’t pick up on that. Not as clever as she fancies herself. ^_^
Yeah, that felt deliberately ambiguous on the writers’ part.
I’m also going to say that it’s worth remembering that Nick self-identifies as a machine and is officially Machine Union, not a meatbag; I’m still looking forward to the question of which side he’s on in the coming revolution, assuming that we’re headed there at some point. (Or, rather, force others to question it; from his point of view, nakama comes first, period.) This conversation plays to that.
My thought: “Congratulations, Violet. You’ve ensured he won’t talk. He’ll just kill you instead.”
Isn’t there an item on the Evil Overlord list about not threatening family? There should be. There isn’t a better way to push someone to make an exception to a “no killing” rule.
I think Nick is learning how to manipulate the Barry Weems filter. His true meanings have never been clearer. 🙂
So if Violet was trying to keep a low profile, why reveal that she’s Goldbug after Nick discovered she’s a machine? It’s not like he would have guessed that. Admittedly, we never saw the Anasigma training video on proper monologuing, so maybe this is standard procedure?
Power play. She had the trump card she played in this strip, so dropping further information just drives home how powerless she considers Nick to be; it doesn’t matter HOW much he knows, she’s got her finger on his particular lever.
So is she a double agent? A triple agent? Or more layers still – one imagines a robotic intelligence can keep a great many seperate stories straight without getting confused.
@Saberbeam – Because she wants to make sure Nick keeps quiet on the whole not-human thing, for some reason. And I somehow doubt that Violet Bee is herself Gold Bug… but I can see her representing whoever it is.
Man, just when I thought Violet Bee might not be totally evil . . . ,
She’s going to be the Jeanne D’Arc, or more appropriately Elena Faith-hold, of the Techno Revolution, isn’t she?
Machiavelli made metal, darkness wrought in steel . . .
I had to Google “Machiavelli made metal, darkness wrought in steel . . .” because it sounds like it belongs in a Judas Priest or similar metal god’s screaming lyrics. I was disappointed to find nothing… 🙁 Skin-horse metal band anyone?
Nick is awaiting the hour of reprisal, as his time slips away.
Someday, he shall reign in blood.
Violet’s the modern day version of the Enigma machine.
I’d also like to know how do you fluff a muskrat?
One bite at a time.
“How do you fluff a muskrat?” Now I want to write a filk of “Muskrat Love”, entitled “Muskrat Porn”.
You CAN’T. It MUST be titled Muskr4t prØn. 😉
mnem
Am I the only one here who notices that Ms Bee’s ponytail waving about in feline fashion? It has a life of its own, it does.
“How do you fluff a muskrat?”
Do not use soap and other surfactants that may neutralize or remove the oils that make muskrat fur water repellent. A coarse brush with thick plastic bristles with rounded ends is ideal. Keep eyes lowered and avoid eye contact. Keep a warm and caring heart. Do not speak unless spoken to, and if speaking is necessary, never presume to use the informal second person pronoun.
Or you could just throw it in the dryer for 5 min… thump ROWR! thump ROWR! Thump ROWR! };-)~~~~<
mnem
He's not flat. He's fuffy.
“Violet’s the modern day version of the Enigma machine.”
Making allowance for the inevitable variations, of course.
Same way you fluff a human, just with more Bactine for once you get it away from your face.
not like i’m any good at psyching out the authors, but… i get the feeling vb is lying through her artificial teeth. i had the impression that goldbug was on clear speaking terms with gavotte at the end of “i can fly”, but it seems ms b is not that tight with skin horse at all. and i note that she doesn’t specifically claim to be goldbug here, either….
Go, Eddud, go! And using Nick’s word filter, no doubt…
Ummm… Threatening Dr. Lee in front of an armored war cyborg that has the hots for her seems rather counter productive. While Nick’s generally been rather anti-weapons….I’ve got the impression that those sorts of threats might bring out an “eliminate the problems” response by direct methods sort of response from him. Like by missiles, bombs, or 30mm chain gun.
I have only one worrying observation of note.
“We”?
That could just be the royal “we”. I’ve certainly heard this phrasing in a lot of media.
So what Violet does here is: “Hey! Let me hand you important information about myself for no reason! And then I will make an enemy of you by threatening you into not revealing that I’m not human, which you weren’t going to do in the first place.” Apparently she really just needs to feel like she has the upper hand, even if it serves no sensible tactical purpose. (Then again, she might have Mysterious Motives for all of this. Who knows?)
“Why did this character do this thing that doesn’t make sense?”
Wrong question – a character’s actions will always make sense TO THEM, so ask instead “What does this choice tell me about them as a person”.
In this case, yes, she does in fact feel the need to flex and prove she has an upper hand even if it’s not the most tactically sensible thing.
There’s an obvious solution here, Nick. Have Lee get inside you, fly up into the sky, tell her what’s going on, and don’t let her out until she’s got better protection that your muskrat-fluffing armored self.
Problem is, Nick has some delicate electronic wafers and a soft walnut-in-a-jar underneath his crunchy exterior. She can break her teeth all day trying to get in, but if he LETS her in, she has free rein.
Well, this reads differently now that I know that SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS.
“Flicked”, appropriate censor is appropriate.