2021/03/12 - The Mortifying Ordeal Of Being

Post by **Obbl** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:09 am

[ The Mortifying Ordeal Of Being ]

Title Text: So, ladytype, I'm wearin' no pants so as to accentuate all my bubbleteas!

Stahp you two, you're too adorable together

Welsh Halfwit · Post by **Welsh Halfwit** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:10 am

Regrets are always there to tempt
you to enjoy just what you’ve got.
In striving for the stars you risk
losing everything you’ve now got.
A Squirrel tail Scarf for Lois
with Marion gaining closeness.
The fact is their bond is stronger
as a result of all this mess.
What Marion needs to recall
is that things can always get worse.
If he really starts complaining
She can stuff him in her purse.

anhedral · Post by **anhedral** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:13 am

Ah, Housepets. Come for the frivolous hijinks, hang around for the existential angst.

Lovely reference to Chapter 65 with today's strip.

Mr. Whisper · Post by **Mr. Whisper** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:48 am

Title text does have me wondering: Why DID they take most of their clothes off? They were fully clothed before they came back to Earth, and now they are not for no discernable reason.

Welsh Halfwit · Post by **Welsh Halfwit** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:49 am

Mr. Whisper wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:48 am Title text does have me wondering: Why DID they take most of their clothes off? They were fully clothed before they came back to Earth, and now they are not for no discernable reason.

Marion's was covered in soot from the chimney.

Gbr23 · Post by **Gbr23** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:51 am

By saying nothing, it says soooo much heheheh

Mr. Whisper · Post by **Mr. Whisper** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:55 am

Welsh Halfwit wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:49 am

Marion's was covered in soot from the chimney.

Oh yeah! Forgot about that. But that still doesn't explain why Lois removed her pants

Welsh Halfwit · Post by **Welsh Halfwit** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 3:01 am

She was probably finding it quite warm or something.

dr_eirik · Post by **dr_eirik** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 3:23 am

I guess Marion is having the same issue as King. The longer he's a squirrel, the more comfortable he is.

Ryusuta · Post by **Ryusuta** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 5:47 am

I approve of the Homestar Runner reference. <3

Post by **SeanWolf** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 6:17 am

They really do make a cute couple in panel 3.

Ale Donkey · Post by **Ale Donkey** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 8:22 am

Ryusuta wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 5:47 am I approve of the Homestar Runner reference. <3

I was wondering what the flavor text meant. I had to look that one up.

VeryAngryDeer · Post by **VeryAngryDeer** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 8:52 am

I did notice that at the waterpark, Marion was wearing a female bathing suit while Lois was wearing comparatively masculine clothing. Not that what she was wearing when she was human was especially feminine, but the short jacket and the skin tight jeans aren't typical menswear.

It's interesting seeing how their clothing tastes have changed over time, with Marion originally trying to look super-masculine when he first got squirrel clothes.

leinglo · Post by **leinglo** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 9:17 am

Translation, if Marion had been able to keep certain anatomy, remaining a squirrel might not be so bad

MrBlueSky7 · Post by **MrBlueSky7** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 9:17 am

Now there's something I don't think has crossed anyone's minds here: What if they returned to Human, but their Genders remain swapped?

bjchan95 · Post by **bjchan95** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 10:17 am

Another obscure Homestar Runner reference as the alt text

Anyways I think it’d be interesting even if Marion returned to being human he’d still wanna be female

Titanium Dragon · Post by **Titanium Dragon** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 10:17 am

That hand gesture is vaguely obscene given the context.

Post by **SeanWolf** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 10:34 am

Titanium Dragon wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 10:17 am That hand gesture is vaguely obscene given the context.

Not really. Lois is just giving a simple hand-waving gesture.

22xander · Post by **22xander** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 10:43 am

As I see it. There are two interpretations here of the ending.

The first is the one I subscribe to and the one that I've thought about for a while, that the reason for the sex-swap on these two charecters is more deep-seeded than random chance. Notice how no other charecters with the coin's effects did so, that we know of. I've thought that may be the case this whole time but I've waited to see, and it's the answer I hope for.

The second is here in this chat by other people, which is that Marion is saying that being a squirl would be better of a little... thing would have come with it rather than the magical sex-change. This is possible, but I don't think it's what the scene is implying personaly. We'll just have to see over the next couple weeks I suppose.

I think both are possible, and that either one has interesting ramifications. But I still think the 'cause no harm' clause that the curse should have due to it's connection to Pete makes the first more likely.

Stormrun · Post by **Stormrun** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:21 am

22xander wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 10:43 am
The first is the one I subscribe to and the one that I've thought about for a while, that the reason for the sex-swap on these two charecters is more deep-seeded than random chance. Notice how no other charecters with the coin's effects did so, that we know of. I've thought that may be the case this whole time but I've waited to see, and it's the answer I hope for.

I agree on this! As someone who is genderfluid, it took me a while to realize that I felt comfortable presenting/looking different ways, and while I doubt Marion and Lois are in the exact same boat, I wonder how much their situation is a sort of cosmic chance to discover themselves?

Post by **D-Rock** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:47 am

I was thinking that it had to do that Marion now had to deal with “that time of the month” as Lois described it as.

Frank · Post by **Frank** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 1:07 pm

Welsh Halfwit wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 3:01 am She was probably finding it quite warm or something.

it is supposed to be summer, isn't it?

trekkie · Post by **trekkie** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 1:41 pm

SeanWolf wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 6:17 am They really do make a cute couple in panel 3.

They’re adorable. I love Marion’s tail.

Welsh Halfwit · Post by **Welsh Halfwit** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 1:48 pm

trekkie wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 1:41 pm
SeanWolf wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 6:17 am They really do make a cute couple in panel 3.
They’re adorable. I love Marion’s tail.

You mean Lois' scarf?

CunningFox · Post by **CunningFox** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:08 pm

Lois is such a good and understanding girlfriend.

Cesco · Post by **Cesco** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:11 pm

Lois, so you already know that Marion doesn't want to remain a female, but you wondered about he stay as a squirrel?

You had to expect a clear no also about that.

You two will suddenly get used to be again humans.

Well, enjoy the last moments of being fuzzy (and embarrassed, too).

trekkie · Post by **trekkie** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:12 pm

CunningFox wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:08 pm Lois is such a good and understanding girlfriend.

She is. She kinda reminds me of Bailey.

22xander · Post by **22xander** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:56 pm

Stormrun wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:21 am
I agree on this! As someone who is genderfluid, it took me a while to realize that I felt comfortable presenting/looking different ways, and while I doubt Marion and Lois are in the exact same boat, I wonder how much their situation is a sort of cosmic chance to discover themselves?

I am also gender fluid and It's been a part of why I want the gender-swap to tell that story. Idk, I guess I feel like it's meaningful if the comic tells a trans story as a trans story, rather than through the lens of something that is so fantastical. Like, either way it's a trans narative, it's just that one way is deeply psychalogical and the other way feels kind of weak.

But of course, it's up to the author <3

Amazee Dayzee · Post by **Amazee Dayzee** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 6:04 pm

I’m now wondering if Marion is now used to his female body and would like to stay in it not because he is trans but because it would be weird to switch his gender. If they do stay as animals it would be interesting if at least they can get their original genders back.

NHWestoN · Post by **NHWestoN** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 10:47 pm

SeanWolf wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 6:17 am They really do make a cute couple in panel 3.

I'm not a big fan of Lois and Marion, but I gotta admit, this is a tender and beguiling little episode.

Amazee Dayzee · Post by **Amazee Dayzee** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:01 pm

Then tell us please who do you ship them each with then?

DDeer · Post by **DDeer** » Sat Mar 13, 2021 3:46 am

Interesting how people read this in different ways, I read the text to imply that Marion is happy with their current gender but I see how you could read it the other way.

22xander · Post by **22xander** » Sat Mar 13, 2021 5:30 am

DDeer wrote: ↑Sat Mar 13, 2021 3:46 am Interesting how people read this in different ways, I read the text to imply that Marion is happy with their current gender but I see how you could read it the other way.

I was totaly thinking that, I feel like Marrion might be happy being a girl but it's interesting that everything so far can be interprited either way.

Amazee Dayzee · Post by **Amazee Dayzee** » Sat Mar 13, 2021 9:39 am

As of right now, I am reading it as Marion is deciding to go with the "if you got it, flaunt it" type of thinking.

NHWestoN · Post by **NHWestoN** » Sat Mar 13, 2021 4:11 pm

Amazee Dayzee wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:01 pm Then tell us please who do you ship them each with then?

UPS ?

Amazee Dayzee · Post by **Amazee Dayzee** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 12:08 am

I guess that makes a little bit of sense. Personally I would shop them with FedEx myself. XD

Ash Greytree · Post by **Ash Greytree** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 1:36 pm

Pages like this really do help to continue to cement Marion as my favorite character. His expressions on this page, his dialogue and the way he opens up like this...

The implications of "Oh, I know your opinions on that" are neat. It could relate to the past page from My Life As A Teenage Squirrel about "that time of the month", or it could be more related to the page in the first part of Heckraiser with our squirrel and bobcat lying down on the bed talking about how they could "just pretend we're married, as a treat".

Basically, Marion could say how he feels about his body being female, but as for the why, if he doesn't like it there's one reason that would be Too Much Information, and if he does like his body being female, there might be one reason that he can't really elaborate on because this is a PG-13 comic.

My speculation is that Marion is fine with his body being female, based on his and Lois' body language and their dialogue in the final panel.

ProtoDot · Post by **ProtoDot** » Sun Mar 14, 2021 3:25 pm

Ash Greytree wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 1:36 pm Pages like this really do help to continue to cement Marion as my favorite character. His expressions on this page, his dialogue and the way he opens up like this...

The implications of "Oh, I know your opinions on that" are neat. It could relate to the past page from My Life As A Teenage Squirrel about "that time of the month", or it could be more related to the page in the first part of Heckraiser with our squirrel and bobcat lying down on the bed talking about how they could "just pretend we're married, as a treat".

Basically, Marion could say how he feels about his body being female, but as for the why, if he doesn't like it there's one reason that would be Too Much Information, and if he does like his body being female, there might be one reason that he can't really elaborate on because this is a PG-13 comic.

My speculation is that Marion is fine with his body being female, based on his and Lois' body language and their dialogue in the final panel.

That second page does make a little more sense now in hindsight.

Amazee Dayzee · Post by **Amazee Dayzee** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 2:40 am

Yeah I can see how people would think of it like that.

NHWestoN · Post by **NHWestoN** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:26 pm

Can't disagree.