Housepets!

I wonder what was the first clue for Lois?

And just like that, the backup's been benched.
Even if they crawl out of the windows at this point, they're still on a rooftop, and I doubt anyone in there is brave enough to take the leap.

Well this is a difficult situation to get out of but they got lucky its not impossible.

Yeah, Cheese Sandwich spell broken! Progress...?

So it seems like Mr. Scary, Menacing, and Handsome Demon wants to discuss his business with Tarot only. This should be very interesting to see play out....

What if, having some of GK's powers, she's able to 'level up' to him, only to come up short anyways? XD

It could've been worst, Marion could've said "Let us go" while they were 3 stories high

He’s an agreeable fellow
when you catch him in the right mood;
although, I fear, what he will do
to Keene will be really quite crude.
I see he has your attention
as he raises you to the sky.
The fact he doesn’t kill you now
might mean you can talk to the guy.
Of course he may distancing
Tarot there from her precious book.
Can Todd or Aardvark read the tome?
Go ahead, guys. Take a quick look...

MrBlueSky7 wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 12:17 am So it seems like Mr. Scary, Menacing, and Handsome Demon wants to discuss his business with Tarot only. This should be very interesting to see play out....

What if, having some of GK's powers, she's able to 'level up' to him, only to come up short anyways? XD

I'm feeling more along the lines of "Tarot realizes that she is horrifically outmatched and then does everything in her power to survive the giant demon that doesn't want to take any chances with her before getting a last minute save", but I could see that happening too.

Wait a minute, I'm confused. Doesn't Marion get THREE wishes??

ProtoDot wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 12:06 am And just like that, the backup's been benched.
Even if they crawl out of the windows at this point, they're still on a rooftop, and I doubt anyone in there is brave enough to take the leap.

A squirrel's terminal velocity is about 10 m/s and they can survive falls from basically any height.

MrBlueSky7 wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 12:17 am So it seems like Mr. Scary, Menacing, and Handsome Demon wants to discuss his business with Tarot only. This should be very interesting to see play out....

Would be interesting to see Demon-Steward try to get Tarot to see his side to the whole thing, only for Tarot to do a System Shock 2 ending (look it up, it's hilarious) and take him out in one shot (as Eudoant, even though he gave Steward those powers, purposely neglected to mention he'll only look the part as he'll still be as strong as any mortal).

Gbr23 wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 12:39 am It could've been worst, Marion could've said "Let us go" while they were 3 stories high

Well exactly. Normally someone says "put me down", the bad guy says "okay" then drops them.

I wonder if Lois would be singing the same tune had Marion said "Please don't kill us or damage the car", resulting in Steward putting the car down on the roof perfectly intact... then reaching through the windows to pluck the characters out one by one and killing them.

"You did say or damage the car."

I love how Marion doesn't scream or anything. He just politely requests to be put down. Dang, he's gotten a lot braver!

FireworkFox wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 11:23 am I love how Marion doesn't scream or anything. He just politely requests to be put down. Dang, he's gotten a lot braver!

I think he is (rightly) terrified. Since it doesn't seem he recognizes the demon just yet, it's an even bet that "don't kill us" is the best possible outcome he can think of in that moment.

dr_eirik wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 11:31 am

FireworkFox wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 11:23 am I love how Marion doesn't scream or anything. He just politely requests to be put down. Dang, he's gotten a lot braver!

I think he is (rightly) terrified. Since it doesn't seem he recognizes the demon just yet, it's an even bet that "don't kill us" is the best possible outcome he can think of in that moment.

True, but that's not really my definition of a panic. My definition of a panic is when someone says, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

FireworkFox wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 11:23 am I love how Marion doesn't scream or anything. He just politely requests to be put down. Dang, he's gotten a lot braver!

Talking can help keep your teeth from chattering too.

Eh, now you can see the demon from a pretty high view... And, that's pretty unexpected, demon-Steward has some gentleness. It was really so dangerous for them all inside the car... Oh Lois, don't blame Marion, at least he tried to say something good for you all to the big demon... With panic you act instinctively, then, and Marion's calm was impressive. Now get out the car and go down from the buildings to reach Tarot, it should be simple.

Argent wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 2:54 am

ProtoDot wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 12:06 am And just like that, the backup's been benched.
Even if they crawl out of the windows at this point, they're still on a rooftop, and I doubt anyone in there is brave enough to take the leap.

A squirrel's terminal velocity is about 10 m/s and they can survive falls from basically any height.

Would Marion consciously know this? Probably, either because he looked up some squirrel facts for obvious reasons or because Lois told him.

Would he make the leap knowing this? I doubt it.

ProtoDot wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 4:01 pm

Argent wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 2:54 am

ProtoDot wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 12:06 am And just like that, the backup's been benched.
Even if they crawl out of the windows at this point, they're still on a rooftop, and I doubt anyone in there is brave enough to take the leap.

A squirrel's terminal velocity is about 10 m/s and they can survive falls from basically any height.

Would Marion consciously know this? Probably, either because he looked up some squirrel facts for obvious reasons or because Lois told him.

Would he make the leap knowing this? I doubt it.

If any of them are going to try something rash, really it's only Marion and/or Lois. Marion for the reasons above, he might be able to risk the leap onto Demon Steward. Lois should have some good leaping power and claws to grip if landing on a furry surface like Steward.

I don't see Todd doing this as I don't think red pandas are that good at leaping or very fast. And Mr Aardvark has only been aware of his situation for like 10 minutes.

So Steward didn't kill them as he agreed to Marion's request but what was the crunching sound from then? Did he crush the car to injure and take them out of commission?

Amazee Dayzee wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 5:56 pm So Steward didn't kill them as he agreed to Marion's request but what was the crunching sound from then? Did he crush the car to injure and take them out of commission?

I assumed that he bent it a little both as a demonstration of strength as well as to jam the doors. Though they can all get out a window with ease.

dr_eirik wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 4:20 pm

ProtoDot wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 4:01 pm

Argent wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 2:54 am A squirrel's terminal velocity is about 10 m/s and they can survive falls from basically any height.

Would Marion consciously know this? Probably, either because he looked up some squirrel facts for obvious reasons or because Lois told him.

Would he make the leap knowing this? I doubt it.

If any of them are going to try something rash, really it's only Marion and/or Lois. Marion for the reasons above, he might be able to risk the leap onto Demon Steward. Lois should have some good leaping power and claws to grip if landing on a furry surface like Steward.

I don't see Todd doing this as I don't think red pandas are that good at leaping or very fast. And Mr Aardvark has only been aware of his situation for like 10 minutes.

This is all assuming that the giant demon right in front of them doesn't paralyze them with fear. The only reason I see this changing is if they find out that the demon is Steward.

Also, I think the aardvark would've gotten off by now.

I don't think anybody is gonna be getting out since Steward jammed the doors and crushed the windows most likely to prevent egress for anybody. That includes Marion.

Amazee Dayzee wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 11:11 pm I don't think anybody is gonna be getting out since Steward jammed the doors and crushed the windows most likely to prevent egress for anybody. That includes Marion.

Marion is more than small enough to climb out of one of the clearly open windows, and Lois is definitely the type to at least try to crawl out through it.

It would depend on how crushed the car is because the headliner could have easily got jammed in the window which is why it looks grayed out in the last panel so nobody could break through. If not that, then since I assume the car has curtain airbags that deployed when Steward crunched the car ended up blocking the windows.

Except that we know one was already open since Lois stuck her head out of it. And I doubt the car is that crunched up since in the last panel, it just looks slightly lumpier than normal.

ProtoDot wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 3:02 pm Except that we know one was already open since Lois stuck her head out of it. And I doubt the car is that crunched up since in the last panel, it just looks slightly lumpier than normal.

I just realized that is the only panel, with Lois sticking her head out the window, that she looks remotely panicked.

"...and don't forget, Marion,if a demon asks if you're a demon...you say YES"


Is today's title a clue to the Aardvark's identity? One Mike Nelson to go.....up.

Startrekfan47 wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 5:39 pm "...and don't forget, Marion,if a demon asks if you're a demon...you say YES"


Is today's title a clue to the Aardvark's identity? One Mike Nelson to go.....up.

As huge a MST3K and Rifftrax a fan as I am, I'm not sure I get this...

dr_eirik wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 6:38 pm

Startrekfan47 wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 5:39 pm "...and don't forget, Marion,if a demon asks if you're a demon...you say YES"


Is today's title a clue to the Aardvark's identity? One Mike Nelson to go.....up.

As huge a MST3K and Rifftrax a fan as I am, I'm not sure I get this...

I think every version of Mike episodes has him saying "Get me down" in the opening credits. Granted its Wild Mass Guessing,and 'Get' vs. 'Put', but we do have a Joel Robinson so I just put it out there for what it's worth.

As long as it is something that you think makes sense it will be fine because you aren't gonna steer us the wrong way.

Are you?

Amazee Dayzee wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 11:11 pm I don't think anybody is gonna be getting out since Steward jammed the doors and crushed the windows most likely to prevent egress for anybody. That includes Marion.

Pull off one of the headrests and use it to break a window.

At this point I think they are all in shock do do anything and use logic.

Cats aren't supposed to fly like that,
Which is why Marion asks to be put flat-
Steward agrees, but they're left on the roof,
The car's destroyed; they're alive, but oof.

Demons are built to twist and to exploit,
So Marion, your words have to be concise,
Try to stay calm, please, for everyone's sake,
Steward isn't gonna be nice...

Did I mention in this strip how adorable I find Lois's panicked expression as she sticks her head out the window?