[10/29] Hello, slut.

[shadowmagi]

DUDE.


Wasn't expecting that, that's for sure!

So. now both title characters have fallen to their lowest points.
this is gonna be veerrrryy interesting...

[Stratburst]

This is a massive case of kicking while the other person's down.

- Keep in mind that Karen's known about Aggie's interest in Marshall for some time, thanks to Helen. So a large chunk of this was premeditated (check Cyndi's comments about "little rope traps for Aggie" at the end of the previous arc). So this is less, "You tried to steal my man, you bitch!" and more "destroy Aggie by any means necessary." Karen would have had more than enough time to come to realize that Marshall wasn't going anywhere. This is more about pure viciousness than insecurity.

- Besides, how was Aggie a threat to Karen and Marshall's relationship? According to Karen, everyone knows that she and Marshall were destined to be together forever. Right? [/sarcasm]

- My guess is the "poser" comment is more directed at the fact that Karen, for the longest time, thought Aggie batted for the other team. Ironically, that impression was from Karen misinterpreting a statement of Aggie's ("I don't care what guys think"), and adding 2+2 to make 5. So Karen thought Aggie was "pretending" to be a lesbian in order to get at Marshall, which made her a liar in Karen's confused mind.

- Presumably Karen got Aggie's number while Aggie was helping Karen become more self-confident.

- I hope that someone else (like Duane) is in the car. Now would be a good time for our Undercover Brother to show up.

And yes, I hope Karen gets one big-ass comeuppance for this. I think Sara and Lisa need to get together and start plotting; they'd complement each other very nicely.

[Phthalo_Blue]

Do you believe guilt isn't a role for many, even most people, in doing the right thing from time to time? You know what guilt is, right? In this case, it's a better part of ourselves telling us, "This is wrong, this is wrong, you shouldn't do this!" Isn't that what we're supposed to feel? Unless you're feeling especially Christlike or Buddhalike this morning, generally your thoughts are not going to be above reproach.

People gripe about Penny's thoughts, but really, they are just that, thoughts.

I commend Penny for choosing to consciously make a decision to do no harm, or to turn the other cheek.

[Trefle]

Also, the title is write, but I would be more than happy to see the comma removed, I still can't help but think of someone on the end of a sex line going "hello, slut"

Hmm, I see that as the way Karen intended to: i.e trying to imply that Aggie's a slut.

@ Phthalo_Blue & sun tzu : thanks! I didn't remember about Meg's bullying. And WOW, did Penny and co. CHANGE in just two years.

@rebochan : hmm, I think the problem is, that this is not over yet. The story nor the chapter isn't over, hence we have no idea on what Aggie could do next. It can be more Drama Bomb. It can be a Wall Banger. Or who knows, it may be her CMoA. I think we shall see.

[Caesura]

You know what would really, really suck? And by suck I mean be the most delicious karmic repercussion -ever-?... Say Marshall and Karen have their time bumping uglies after this scene... Say a condom wasn't used, because unlike Cyndi and Stan they aren't terribly smart about the whole "sex thing"... Being preggers is bound to knock the new party queen from her place as top dog, huh?

I know, personally, if I were in Penny or Aggie's place learning about that a few months after my untimely downfall would just make me smile and perhaps buy some diapers to send to the soon-to-be-parents. Those things are expensive, dontcha know. Then again if I were in their shoes it would have never gone this far, but that's a story for another time. Right now I'm just planting more speculation into forum reader's heads.

And, yes, I'm one of the great many who has read for years now and only just decided to register.

[Zilla Elsewhere]

I can't see that happen. After all, Marshall is a responsible guy.
(And Dave from somethingpositive, for example, sent a coat hanger to his ex...)

[Trefle]

Ooh, another new one! welcome!

And I have to say, LOL for your post. If that happens...well I should say it's a HUGE bitchslap for both Karen (who will lose her queen bee status) and Marshall (for..well, being like his parents?)

But I think both of them will be smart enough to abort it. Maybe

@Phthalo_Blue : I also see it as a conscious decision by Penny. That she at least still have some morality NOT to say that, although the thought is tempting.


EDITED : correcting a grammatical error.

[Maritza Campos]

I dunno... I think I'd start with simple things. For example, follow the people going to the party, wait a while until they're completely sloshed, and tip off the police on a party serving alcohol to minors.

Then I'd start a very deliberate, careful campaign to mess with Charlotte's mind so she believes she has been cursed by God.

Very simple

[cyberbard]

Well... that was certainly nasty. I'm hoping that once Aggie recovers from this... Karen will soon realize that she ticked off the wrong person. But then again, anything goes.

Speaking only for myself, I'm hoping the next scene goes something like this:

====

"I think I know who just called."

For several moments, the young woman in the car just watched as the distraught jogger sobbed to herself.

"No one else can deliver words that cutting," she thought. "I can't believe I'm about to do this," she muttered to herself.

Slowly and deliberately, she stepped out of the car and walked over to the jogger.

"Aggie?" Penny asked.

Aggie looked up at her long-time antagonist.

"Are you here to gloat?" Aggie hissed.

"Not this time," Penny answered. "Come on, get in the car."

Aggie gave Penny an incredulous look.

Penny shrugged.

"I don't know what you just heard on the phone, but it must have been heavy, and right now you're making a spectacle of yourself. If you're going to gush all morning, you at least deserve some privacy."

Aggie slowly walked over to the car and slowly stepped into the passenger seat. Penny casually strapped herself into the driver's seat and turned the ignition.

"How did you get here?" Aggie asked.

"I was heading for the mall," Penny answered, "to clear my head. I passed by, saw you and Marshall fighting, and for some reason I was compelled to stop."

"Hmm," Aggie whispered.

"Which way is your house?" Penny asked quietly.

"Turn left at the fourth light," Aggie answered.

They rode in silence for several moments.

"I spoke with Sara last night," Penny offered.

For a split second, Aggie thought her situation was going to get even worse. A myriad a scenarios played through her mind of how Sara may have betrayed her. But for once, Aggie managed to keep her emotions in check.

"How's she holding up?" Aggie asked quietly.

"As well as can be expected," Penny answered.

"That bad?" Aggie managed.

Penny actually released a soft laugh. She continued to drive the car until Aggie's house came into view.

"Were you just talking with Karen?" Penny asked quickly.

Aggie shot her another angry look, but...

"Yeah," she answered. "How did you guess?"

"Hunch," Penny whispered.

Penny parked the car in front of Aggie's house.

"We have a common concern," Penny said awkwardly.

Aggie slowly nodded.

"Don't you mean a common enemy?" she asked.

"Yeah," Penny whispered. "I guess so."

Aggie just continued to nod.

"We should talk," Penny offered.

"We probably should," Aggie answered. "Give me a few days to cool down," she continued. "I'll have Sara call you and we can set something up."

"Cool."

Aggie managed a slight smile and stepped out of the car.

"Thanks for the ride," she said.

"No sweat," Penny replied with a smile.

Aggie slowly started walking to the front door, pausing only long enough to see Penny drive away. At that moment, both girls recalled something they had heard in history class... the words of a famous political philosopher. They couldn't remember who said the words, but they clearly remembered the words themselves:

THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS MY FRIEND.

[Caesura]

Ooh, another new one! welcome!

And I have to say, LOL for your post. If that happens...well I should say it's a HUGE bitchslap for both Karen (who will lose her queen bee status) and Marshall (for..well, being like his parents?)

But I think both of them will be smart enough to abort it. Maybe

History has been known to repeat itself. Does anyone know if they used protection their first time? Karen may be preggers now and not even realize it. :3

I'm not normally this vindictive; I think the fact I'm eating candy corn for breakfast is causing it... And, yes, I have already made vampire teeth with some of the pieces.

[Avi_dreader]

For reasons why the characters hate Penny, check my sig.
For reasons why some readers hate Penny...Harder to peg, but I think it's close to Daphne's motivation.

I'd already read your sig post :') and I suspected that perhaps readers have some sort of Daphne like motivation, still, I wasn't quite sure, and then again, there's the added fact that readers get to see Penny from a broader perspective... So. I was hoping some other people might send out their opinions or introspection. I'm guessing you're generally right on the Daphnesqueness, but I'm hoping some people will say otherwise? ::Begins to construct giant hope ray::

[rebochan]

I don't know why people think Penny's in that car, because the chapter already showed her at home and sulking. It would have to be random chance for that to be true. It's either just background material or Karen was actually stalking Marshall via car and that was why she knew what happened. Which would make more sense than the omnipotence argument, though it would also require the characters to be too blind to notice (and Marshall not to know what Karen's car looks like).

@Trefle: Aggie's CMoA would have to have enough force to cause a cure for cancer from the shockwaves to overcome the character's problems. And I will gladly start checking the medical journals for said cure if she does pull it off.

[zeffire]

when karen says "your feelings does she mean that aggie lets feelings get in the way of being successful or does she mean that aggie makes everything about her own feelings and disregards the feelings of others?

also, i still can't quite understand why she calls her a poser

could it be that aggie was trying to give off the impression that nothing coul hurt her feelings, that she was strong enough to take on anything, but now that she is revealed as being vulnerable, she doesn't live up to that image?

[Avi_dreader]

Btw, generally I liked it, just two minor quibbles, one on information I think incorrect, and the other on information I think omitted (although this part is slightly speculated because it hasn't been clearly spelled out).

One: Marshall *is* hateful. Just because a person doesn't express hatred doesn't mean they don't have it. Case in point, his reactions to (his idea of) Penny (similar to his idea of his mother?) over the strip. Do you remember the strip in dinner for six when he goes "I h-h" and doesn't finish his word. Not only does he try not to jump on anyone's hate train ;'D key word being try, he hates his mother (I think, at least partially). And of course, the current situation goes without saying. Yeah, he hates. He just thinks he shouldn't, and typically talks and acts as if he doesn't. I don't think his words accurately reflect his emotions though.

Two:Karen's motivations. The omission. This one's more speculation, I think (at least I can't think of strips that provide definite support of this), so, take it as such. Throughout these strips we see characters taking revenge, sometimes personal, sometimes impersonal (based on a delusion of what someone has "really done" or is "really like"). Judging from some of Karen's earlier words (and flashback sequences) she used to be treated horribly. She seems to still bear that resentment, although she seems to have focused it primarily on Penny. I wouldn't go so far as to say that she's misanthropic, but she seems to have *alot* of built up rage. She'd made Penny the primary target of it, but I'd say it's definitely spilling over the sides... I think you're not properly accounting for the distorted lens that Karen sees Penny and Aggie through (different lenses actually, but both severely flawed). Errr... Specifically re: your post, you have Karen's interpretation of Penny's dumping of Katie Anne, which you are reading as a projection, but actually may not be a projection. Another way of looking at that would be that it is a reflection of how she views *Penny* as an utterly ego-obsessed and inhuman user. Perhaps there is also some (emphasis on some) projection in that actually ;') obviously it's a gross overstatement. Still. Has anyone (any thread) really tried to see the world of Penny & Aggie through Karen's eyes?

I think what would be a very neat thing (and helpful for character analysis) would be if someone went through the entire strip list and organized them belonging to character POV (obviously there would also be alot of overlap). Who is up for this insanely laborious task? Not me :')

[cyberbard]

I don't know why people think Penny's in that car...

Because we want some reassurance that the good guys aren't totally defeated! So far, it looks like Karen has won on all fronts, and her victory appears to be complete and comprehensive. It matters not that her "Royal Vazier" Cyndi is the brains of the outfit, and that the IG is set to implode. The bad guys appear to have won, with the good guys well truly permanently squashed. I don't want to see Karen hoisted by her own petard by Cyndi, I want Penny and/or Aggie strike back at her with either undiluted rage or lethal cunning; either one would work.

It's time for some hope!

Though realistically, and I know this runs against what I just said, I still think both girls should just walk away and choose their own paths. In a real world situation, that would be the smart choice. But in a literary situation like this... I want to see vengeance and/or justice.