And if she, in the process of that investigation, manages to come across something classified DESPITE Todd’s BEST EFFORTS, then he’s off the hook and SHE gets to deal with the spooks.
Okay, I had assumed the last page was meant as misdirection, that she was speaking about something completely benign and not Sarnothi related at all. I was so ready for that misdirection that I was completely caught of guard by this.
Well done Dave, as always your story surprises in new and interesting ways.
I’m less concerned about Selkie and more about Todd’s responsibilities to national security or something. I’m pretty sure his family knows there’s information out there he can’t share with them and his Sister is literally asking for information, illegal or not.
Granted it’s bad timing to ask in front of Selkie, but frankly she shouldn’t be asking at all.
I don’t think his sister is in on the loop, though – I know his parents are, but I think they’ve kept it a secret from the siblings, though I could be wrong! I figured she was just asking due to Selkie being a Sarnothi, and wondering if she has any idea what kind of tech could have projected that massive laser.
Todd might, but Selkie? Not so much. I can almost guarantee that she’s off-panel about to explode with squee at the idea of sharing lasers with her Aunt Marta and is unlikely to understand the practical (and legal) reasons why she can’t/shouldn’t.
I don’t think a “good” poker face would suffice for this situation. One would need a card shark/casino dealer level poker face here, and I don’t think Todd has been shown to be at that level.
This reminds me to ask because I’ve forgotten – were Todd’s parents ever brought in on the NDA? I’m sure they know something’s up but I can’t remember if they were added to the list of “Need to Know.”
Martha, you have put your foot so deep in ‘it’, you will never come out. And now your irreverence is clearly a danger to selkie and other sarnothi. We loved you, but you can now never be trusted again.
I’m willing to give Marta the benefit of the doubt. She’s thinking in terms of her profession. It hasn’t really registered with her that this knowledge could jeopardize her family members. She’ll come around. I hope.
In fact, their dad has his own suspicions. I still can’t remember if Todd’s parents are part of the NDA, but Theo’s a smart man. I’m willing to bet Theo runs a distraction on Marta in an upcoming (soon) comic.
I would be tempted to say something along the lines that if she keeps on poking her nose into things that aren’t public, it might get worse than burnt. A more appropriate response might be to appeal to her scientific pride to figure it out herself without any hints. Or just sit there and glare at her.
Todd just got a rude awakening concerning Marta. She literally asked if Selkie would share what she knows, legal or not. She doesn’t care if they do have an NDA; if they do, she wants them to break it. And if she is asking them to break the law, is Marta going to care about breaking the law when she shares what she learns from Selkie? Don’t think so. I’m with lilli, Marta can never be trusted again.
I’m still hoping that Marta’s mostly joking and doesn’t really think they know anything. After all, Selkie’s just a kid and Todd isn’t Sarnothi. What would make her think either of them know anything?
This does put some dark context on it, though. Damn. 🙁
I don’t know if she’s joking, exactly — but what she isn’t doing is taking it seriously. “Cartoonishly overcompensating laser,” “some sarnothi guy…” All she’s seen is the engineering; she hasn’t grasped that “some sarnothi guy” is a tyrant and that there is a genocide going on. I don’t think she’s actually thought through the legal (or ethical) ramifications of this at all.
Which makes her a useful representative of probably a large part of the population, the kind who don’t really follow the news (let alone have insider CIA knowledge). Consider: here is an intelligent woman with a Sarnothi niece, and the whole situation has made this little impact on her. Not to get too topical, but it’s as if she laughed off Putin as that guy who likes to think he’s a Bond villain (in front of a Ukrainian child, at that).
I don’t think she’s evil or doesn’t actually care about Todd or Selkie. I think she’s just oblivious, and really, really hasn’t thought through this.
“Do NOT encourage my 9 year old to become involved in, or to normalize illegal things, Marta! Cool Auntie privileges are something that can be revoked!”
“WOW do you sound guilty of something!”
I’ve typed and retyped this comment, just desperate to break the silence.
Seriously, what is Todd going to DO?
Honor the NDA or whatever it was he had to sign and keep his mouth shut lest he get thrown in an off-the-books federal hoosegow.
You make a good point!
Let’s hope Todd ignores the “wink wink” override, I always fall for that…
The honest thing would be to say something like ‘Yes, there’s something going on there, but I am – litterally – not allowed to talk about it’
That would just make his sister more curious and prone to investigating things.
And if she, in the process of that investigation, manages to come across something classified DESPITE Todd’s BEST EFFORTS, then he’s off the hook and SHE gets to deal with the spooks.
Okay, I had assumed the last page was meant as misdirection, that she was speaking about something completely benign and not Sarnothi related at all. I was so ready for that misdirection that I was completely caught of guard by this.
Well done Dave, as always your story surprises in new and interesting ways.
Yeah, same here.
Honestly, I don’t feel like that’s a wholly appropriate question to ask.
In fairness, she probably just thinks it might be related to Sarnothi technology exclusively, not mysticism involving her niece directly.
I’m less concerned about Selkie and more about Todd’s responsibilities to national security or something. I’m pretty sure his family knows there’s information out there he can’t share with them and his Sister is literally asking for information, illegal or not.
Granted it’s bad timing to ask in front of Selkie, but frankly she shouldn’t be asking at all.
I don’t think his sister is in on the loop, though – I know his parents are, but I think they’ve kept it a secret from the siblings, though I could be wrong! I figured she was just asking due to Selkie being a Sarnothi, and wondering if she has any idea what kind of tech could have projected that massive laser.
There is absolutely no way she doesn’t know not to ask these questions, she literally says “legal or otherwise”.
Frankly if I was Todd I’d be pissed.
Todd, I hope you have a good Poker Face
Todd might, but Selkie? Not so much. I can almost guarantee that she’s off-panel about to explode with squee at the idea of sharing lasers with her Aunt Marta and is unlikely to understand the practical (and legal) reasons why she can’t/shouldn’t.
I don’t think a “good” poker face would suffice for this situation. One would need a card shark/casino dealer level poker face here, and I don’t think Todd has been shown to be at that level.
This reminds me to ask because I’ve forgotten – were Todd’s parents ever brought in on the NDA? I’m sure they know something’s up but I can’t remember if they were added to the list of “Need to Know.”
Martha, you have put your foot so deep in ‘it’, you will never come out. And now your irreverence is clearly a danger to selkie and other sarnothi. We loved you, but you can now never be trusted again.
I’m willing to give Marta the benefit of the doubt. She’s thinking in terms of her profession. It hasn’t really registered with her that this knowledge could jeopardize her family members. She’ll come around. I hope.
In fact, their dad has his own suspicions. I still can’t remember if Todd’s parents are part of the NDA, but Theo’s a smart man. I’m willing to bet Theo runs a distraction on Marta in an upcoming (soon) comic.
This would be a good time to pull out the old “if I told you I’d have to kill you”. She probably figure he was joking, but she’d never know for sure…
No, the correct response is “If I told you I would have to kill everybody in the room including you.”
I would be tempted to say something along the lines that if she keeps on poking her nose into things that aren’t public, it might get worse than burnt. A more appropriate response might be to appeal to her scientific pride to figure it out herself without any hints. Or just sit there and glare at her.
In b4 Avery blows a gasket.
Todd just got a rude awakening concerning Marta. She literally asked if Selkie would share what she knows, legal or not. She doesn’t care if they do have an NDA; if they do, she wants them to break it. And if she is asking them to break the law, is Marta going to care about breaking the law when she shares what she learns from Selkie? Don’t think so. I’m with lilli, Marta can never be trusted again.
Oh, oof. I hadn’t considered it like that. 🙁
I’m still hoping that Marta’s mostly joking and doesn’t really think they know anything. After all, Selkie’s just a kid and Todd isn’t Sarnothi. What would make her think either of them know anything?
This does put some dark context on it, though. Damn. 🙁
I don’t know if she’s joking, exactly — but what she isn’t doing is taking it seriously. “Cartoonishly overcompensating laser,” “some sarnothi guy…” All she’s seen is the engineering; she hasn’t grasped that “some sarnothi guy” is a tyrant and that there is a genocide going on. I don’t think she’s actually thought through the legal (or ethical) ramifications of this at all.
Which makes her a useful representative of probably a large part of the population, the kind who don’t really follow the news (let alone have insider CIA knowledge). Consider: here is an intelligent woman with a Sarnothi niece, and the whole situation has made this little impact on her. Not to get too topical, but it’s as if she laughed off Putin as that guy who likes to think he’s a Bond villain (in front of a Ukrainian child, at that).
I don’t think she’s evil or doesn’t actually care about Todd or Selkie. I think she’s just oblivious, and really, really hasn’t thought through this.
Thre words that will save you absolutely every time, on absolutely anything, be it gaps in your resume, or nosy family members:
“Sorry, I signed an NDA.” :p
Nice black and white effect on the last panel Dave.
“Do NOT encourage my 9 year old to become involved in, or to normalize illegal things, Marta! Cool Auntie privileges are something that can be revoked!”
“WOW do you sound guilty of something!”