Chapter 29 Page 6 ~ Big Blob of Porcupine Day
Anyone want to place bets on what Henriette’s going to call her new Being…?
Köhler: Doctor, if you are fired — or if you decide it would not be safe to continue in Walker’s employ —
— would you consider moving your language research to Germany? I would be happy to sponsor your international work visa.
Gaillard: You. Would sponsor me.
Köhler: Yes.
Gaillard: You. Keith Köhler. The man who said my research was “not theoretically rigorous.”
Köhler: I said it was theoretically rigorous! . . . admittedly, referring to the research done with your previous name.
Gaillard: What’s the catch?
Köhler: I, ah, do not know this English expression. What I know is that you are doing a great kindness here, at high risk to yourself. I want to help. In any way I can.
Gaillard: Well —
— Hold on, it’s coming closer.
It’s a mess, poor thing. Really lives up to the term “unshaped Being.” But hey, it can move. And it can see that I’m here. So . . .
I, Henriette Gaillard . . .
Knew it! Wow, reading that nightvale fic has done some wonders for knowing these characters ^^;
Well now the plan really went to shit.
…I don’t even know what part of this page you’re worried about, let alone that worried.
Wait, this wasn’t a recon job? This was to get one of them out for real?
It’s to get both of them out, before Walker notices that Reseda’s gone, so she doesn’t have a chance to beef up security!
Wow. I gave Walker a lot more credit as an antagonist then she deserved then if she didn’t have her people making daily checks on the subjects.
You assumed Walker was making daily checks on her prisoners, but you didn’t expect our heroes to arrange all the rescues within 24 hours?
Sounds like it’s the protagonists that you aren’t giving enough credit.
Honestly that’s why I thought this was just a recon run, I didn’t think they’d pull the next rescue so soon in-story.
Yep, thought she would use her real name. It’s who she is. Using her deadname would be a betrayal of the choices she’s made for the last several years.
Also, good for Köhler. There is hope for him.
I hadn’t realised Dr. Gaillard is trans until this strip. Maybe I missed something.
Look back through her character tag, it’s come up before!
It has, but it’s seldom made explicit. Seeing this or that vague reference at intervals, without remembering the context established by other vague references, can make it hard to put the pieces together. I don’t recall just when the penny dropped for me. And someone who’s not trans would probably miss some of the hints.
I find the deadname concept difficult to understand. I am unsure whether I am male or female, and I may or may not ever do anything about it. But I am certain my name is Owen, my parents gave it to me and I love it (and them) dearly. If I ever transitioned I would be a woman called Owen.
I hope that works for you.
I felt much the same myself, but between constantly dealing with a world that assumes you have an X name then you have an X gender and you use X pronouns – and the effort of retraining family and old friends to actually see/acknowledge the new me – I changed mine. :/
I’m worried it won’t count if the Being can’t hear her, and the glass is soundproof. She could have just given the game away…
Oh right, it’s the other way around when you don’t want people to see through glass – the viewing area is dark and the interrogation room (or equivalent) is bright! Of course the Porcupine could see her. My mistake, silly me.
Hmmm. Well, I doubt the Porcupine will be Clotère like Henriette’s daemon in Republic of Heaven Community Radio, but maybe a similar naming scheme? Something French? Henriette is a bit on the spot here, so I could see her coming up with something comically simple like “Bob”, but she probably considered this possibility beforehand.
I’m gonna hazard a guess something gratuitously pun filled like “spike”…
Henriette est française (je présume), et c’est un hérisson. Le nom “Renée” est le nom juste, n’est-ce pas? Ou peut-être “Muriel”?
Don’t screw this up, Henriette. You’ve suffered enough in RoHCR, I’ve had enough of it.