[7-2-12] Champagne Soil.

[pollywog]

:/ Why is Iseul crying?

She's listening to the town crier.

[CEOIII]

I just had a sudden thought.

I wonder if Theo has always been a sort of "Fitness!" type guy, or if his interest in it coincides with Isuel's declining interest in him. Sort of a "I must not be attractive to her anymore," kind of compensation response.

Well, we all know what it means when a married man suddenly begins taking an interest in his appearance...

....he's considering a career in professional bodybuilding?

And why IS Iseul crying? She's seeing the beauty in an idealized reconstruction of a colonial town, and it's touching her heart in ways she didn't think possible?

Or someone's cutting onions nearby?

[DudeMyDadOwnsADealership]

Honestly, I'd like for her to end up alone for a while if tyhe truth comes out. Not because of the lesbian ism, but because of the lies and hypoocrisy. Let her pay for her genuine mistakes and let her understand that trying to avoid what she thought was bad she ended up causing actual harm.

Or let her live with all that comes with trying to be something she's not all the way to the grave, successfully snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory for her entire life. That scenario happens a lot. The important thing is Sara knows better than to condemn her life to the same fate. I personally recommend Billy Joel's "Don't Ask Me Why" for Iseul's playlist regarding this subject.

[Trefle]

There's so much that can happen here;
so much where it can go wrong;

so much possibilities of hidden meanings...or not.

[sun tzu]

Edit: Or, here's another thought, she's having a small explosion of joy in her brain at the idea of a town where "institutions are cherished." She's quite "old-fashioned" in her values after all. Either way, I do actually feel for her here. It's obvious something is up, and Sara's about to have a rather... "interesting" weekend just for starters.

Amusingly, I got the exact opposite impression - the crier's talk of a place free of "precedent", to me, evokes breaking free of crappy traditions.

...Incidentally, are there really places like this, ah, "colonial town" around?

[CEOIII]

Edit: Or, here's another thought, she's having a small explosion of joy in her brain at the idea of a town where "institutions are cherished." She's quite "old-fashioned" in her values after all. Either way, I do actually feel for her here. It's obvious something is up, and Sara's about to have a rather... "interesting" weekend just for starters.

Amusingly, I got the exact opposite impression - the crier's talk of a place free of "precedent", to me, evokes breaking free of crappy traditions.

...Incidentally, are there really places like this, ah, "colonial town" around?

You've never heard of "Colonial Williamsburgh"? I'm sure there are others, but that's the one I know.

[Muttley]

Living history sites tend to be poorly known outside their own country. For instance, I don't expect you've heard of Butser Ancient Farm, Little Woodham or Kentwell Hall.

[Doc Harleen]

Considering how the crier is talking about this idealized traditional town I'm thinking Iseul is going to stay with Theo. It's a fictionalized vision of how things were supposed to be and really weren't and Iseul seems like she's struggling to hold onto that at all costs.

You may be right. But she may be crying sentimentally because she's saying good-bye to tradition and the way things were "supposed to be."

Also, there's the fact, as Val noted, that Theo is standing quite some distance from her. As well, the body language between them in the last few strips has been distant, and Theo isn't his usual cheerful self, so I'm still leaning towards "good-bye, Theo, hello, Elizabeth."


Now, assuming that's what's happening...I'd really like to know whether there was any overlap between Elizabeth seeing that other woman (the one with whom she was going to vacation in Budapest) and seeing Iseul. Because if so--if Elizabeth had started seeing Iseul behind her then-girlfriend's back--then Iseul can't be sure Elizabeth won't cheat on, and possibly ultimately leave, her.

Good point. What's the expression? "Someone who cheats with you, will cheat on you." This could apply to both Elizabeth and Iseul. Not the healthiest start to a relationship, I suppose.

I'm all going to throw in my vote for "goodbye Theo" based on the body language. I wonder if we'll get any more insight into his character as this all unfolds.

[Captain LeBubbles]

She should gently divorce Theo but remain friends with him.

I don't think divorce has a "gentle" setting. It's still probably the healthiest course of action for Iseul, tho.

I've known a few who have had divorces where the couple were still pretty friendly afterwards. It can happen. It just usually doesn't.

It probably won't, in this case. As much as I've been understanding of Iseul's situation, I'm sure Theo wouldn't be. Being lied to and cheated on for X number of years in a marriage will leave a mark.

I know, and it is unfortunate. In fact, even if they stay together, it can get toxic eventually. I get a sense that Isuel has tried and tried to stay away from Elizabeth and other women, but she simply can't. Eventually, it gets really bad. Unless Theo is asexual, he probably isn't satisfied with Isuel even if she is willing to have sex with him, and that can break down a relationship eventually.

Even of the cheating is just an almost thing, it can make things awful and unbearable for years to come. Actual cheating just ruins everything.

[Bardlp]

"Someone who cheats with you, will cheat on you."

I... I donno. Have you ever heard the Catholic version of this? "Someone who has sex with you before you're married will have sex with others while you're married". They're both in the land of "That sounds like common sense but doesn't really stand up to scrutiny" for me.

[Captain LeBubbles]

"Someone who cheats with you, will cheat on you."

I... I donno. Have you ever heard the Catholic version of this? "Someone who has sex with you before you're married will have sex with others while you're married". They're both in the land of "That sounds like common sense but doesn't really stand up to scrutiny" for me.

That one sounds like a bit of a reach, really. One is a note about how someone who holds no respect for their own relationship isn't going to necessarily magically be not okay with cheating on their next partner when they get tired of them- and honestly, even if a person is the exception, why would anyone want to take the risk? The other acts like having sex with one person means a desire to have sex with any person. One actually is common sense, the other is just bollocks.

[Bo Lindbergh]

"Someone who cheats with you, will cheat on you."

I... I donno. Have you ever heard the Catholic version of this? "Someone who has sex with you before you're married will have sex with others while you're married".

That makes sense if the only thing that ever matters about sex is whether it's inside or outside marriage. I call that obsessing over technicalities while missing the substance.

[grimmi05]

I just think its weird that most everyone thinks Sara would be ok with it. It's like "you may have cheated on the other person who raised and cared for me as well as lied to me and everyone else, but it was with a girl so its ok, let's be lesbians together!" while in reality it would be like " you cheated on the other person who raised and cared for me as well as lied to me and everyone else, fuck off I don't want to speak to you!" Theo is Sara's father, his well being and opinions probley matter to Sara, and he seemed like he was a little more supportive of Sara then Iseul was.

[Alice Macher]

I don't see that "most everyone" thinks Sara will be okay with it. I mean, we can't do a statistically accurate survey, but I recall several people here (I among them) stating that Sara is likely to feel angry, perhaps even betrayed, over Iseul's hypocrisy, not to mention angry on her father's behalf.

[timemonkey]

I'd actually think considerably less of Sara if she was alright with it.