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Grrl Power #1334 - J'accuse, boobily
🕑 Added 2025-02-27 11:00:10 +0000 UTCThank you for the support! You guys are awesome!
For those wondering, Sciona's boobs can become selectively sticky. Not THAT way, you pervs. Okay, also THAT way, but it's certainly not how she's doing it on these recent pages.
This page went through some editing, originally Sciona said something along the lines of knowing how manipulative Deus is so why would she put stock in any claim he makes, that was before he doubles down with the wager. But then I figured she wouldn't actually admit he was good at manipulation, which would essentially be her admitting that she didn't know how to respond and that he was indeed manipulating her. The thing with writing smart people is that I usually have to do several edits because I'm not nearly as smart as them. So my first draft usually has them acting and reacting to things on "our level."
So my juvenile solution was to basically include some version of everything I was going to put on the page, only now Deus is saying out loud most of the stuff Sciona was going to say or think... in a slightly condescending way. There is a place for falsetto... mostly while reading female dialog while recording an audio book. But beyond that, it's almost always slightly mocking, isn't it? Especially when a guy, or heck, even a girl is doing it among a group of friends or to a woman's face even.
To anyone unfamiliar with the "boobily" thing, it's a reference to r/MenWritingWomen which features real quotes from books where male authors (and a few female ones) write women with a bizarre and/or creepy level of sexuality, like a young woman eating a sandwich while her nipples raged against the injustice of their confinement in the bra, or an actual passage from God Emperor of Dune where a character named Siona (who I just learned about this instant) wonders if she will experience an orgasm from watching Idaho climb something. As we all know, women are constantly on the brink of ecstasy, waiting for any man to do something vaguely manly so they can powerwash the inside of their own pants with their lady nectar.
Anyway, a seemingly endless stream of examples like this have led to sarcastic versions like "She breasted boobily down the stairs." It's possible Deus is simply testing the depth of Sciona's pop-culture chops, as being familiar with The Princess Bride is a far cry from lurking on a particular subreddit.
And on a total derailment of my thought train, why is it called "The Princess Bride?" Buttercup is not a princess. If she married Humperdink, she would have become one, but spoiler, she doesn't say "I do." Sure, it's a catchier title than "The Peasant Bride" or "The Serf Who Might Marry into the Nobility, Thereby Becoming a Princess" or "Level Up! The other Peasant Wenches Hate this One Trick!" I actually thought the title of the movie was "The Prince's Bride" for a while, which would make more sense. Or "The Prince's Fiancee," really, but that's kind of spoilery.
Comments
Person
Has anyone else noticed a few other characters with mysteriously bumpy foreheads that come and ho like Deus?
Jonathan Hamilton
The silence in the face of too many layers of potential manipulation and uncertainty about what level Deus is currently operating at is definitely a tactic. Sciona also obviously doesn't do well planning on the fly, as shown in her recent run in with Sydney. I think how you had Sciona come off here is perfect.
KnightRider007
He’s basically Doctor Doom at this point - knowledge, power and technology to any degree the story requires, and also to any degree requires to justify and sustain their monumental ego. While, of course, ruling a nation that they have raised from poverty to prosperity while somehow avoiding any exploitation and retaining unassailable moral superiority. I should mention that I find Dr Doom (and Deus) deeply irritating. But also hugely entertaining.
KnightRider007
The only possible positive outcome here for Deus is if he somehow has been alive for an inhumanly long time. Scions has presumably been on earth for longer than any reasonably normal person has been alive
eddi_TBH
Sciona finds him totally frustrating. She is a noble of high and ancient lineage among a violence-oriented society. Deus neither fears nor respects that. He is in fact outwitting her despite her experience. He has owned this conversation since he snuck up behind her.
eddi_TBH
Charm and smarm in just the right proportions.
eddi_TBH
Even Max likes Deus. Because under that layer of charm is a highly intelligent person who can get his way without damaging egos or doing serious damage to innocent bystanders. He is totally ruthless in making sure he leaves a better world than he found. Assuming he plans to leave.
Mathew Aaberg
Even with middling range intelligence and a limited understanding of people, it is possible to do that. If I can do it badly, he most certainly can do it well. The secret to obfuscation (for which that is) is telling JUST enough truth for the false assumption to be reasonable. For example, I was late to work today. "There was traffic" it's not a lie because during peak there is ALWAYS traffic, but it's also not the reason I was late (because I ride a bicycle and am unaffected by traffic on the footpath) I was late because I didn't want to be there.
akrasia
I have witnessed "BYOING" once, in person, and it was glorious.
AlpineBob
That is absolutely the implication, yes. Or, well, maybe not THAT level. But still, MUCH older than he looks. So, some form of immortality...maybe alchemy, i.e Philosopher's Stone? Years from now, it may be revealed...or maybe just a page away - Dave works in mysterious ways.
Rob Wright
100%
Fogel
I fully believe that Deus is indeed the kind of guy who never technically lies. With his brain he can easily predict how he can make people assume things.
Erin Halfelven at BigCloset
There ought to be a way to get insurance against some of this humor. A person could hurt themselves laughing!
William Elliott
indeed... he seems to inspire loyalty by being good to his people... sure, theres also the making BAD people go away to encourage better behavior, but when operating in a part of the world where violence is the language, you must be fluent in it to get the point across that you are not to be bullied. He definitely has that "anti-hero" vibe going on... a much more relatable Lex Luthor perhaps [must be the hair]
William Elliott
oh that would be hilarious... especially if the orbs said "NO you dick! You abandoned us. We like her better!"
Person
Here's hoping he doesn't ask Sydney for his orbs back.
Tie Toter
Deus and his entourage need more page time!
Greg Morrow
There's the old Feynmann story of how he decided one day he was tired of being the lonely nerd and decided to turn his extraordinary intellect to the subject of being social. Deus has read that story.
Red
The Princess Bride started as a bedtime story the book's author told his two daughters. When he asked what kind of story they wanted to hear, one asked for a story about a princess, and the other about a bride. So he went for both. I guess he didn't expect his young kids to come up with that fridge logic about the title.
John Van Stry
Are you going to quote 'thundering abs' next? :-)
John Van Stry
Is it wrong of me that I -like- him? He seems like a fun guy and while he may be overbearing at times and want things his way, he does seem to treat his friends and workers way better than most 'good' people, not to mention the 'bad' ones.
SheepFace2000
God I’d missed this smug prick
Brett Peirce
Was that an English falsetto or an Alari falsetto? Not much bigger of an "I actually DO know your language" flex than to mock someone in a falsetto in said language
William Elliott
Wait wait wait... if hes NOT bluffing...that would explain a lot. Oh the possibilities that opens up. Not the least of which... Emperor of Mankind if he wasn't a total dick about dealing with people...
Madcat6204
I suppose the book might explain why it's called "The Princess Bride" but it's been too many decades since I read the book and my main takeaway was that it was much weirder than the movie.
Anton Schleef
I've only seen those "boobily" types of things in poorly written romance or erotica. Strangely, almost never in the isekai, sci-fi, or fantasy romances that are the typical romance varient I read, but they are usually more invested in the overall story than the eroticism of the 'romance'.
Goner
Dave, you are dangerously funny! I was drinking my coffee when I read "powerwash the inside of their own pants with their lady nectar". I hope my sinuses recover.
Brittany Huckey
Nah, I hold my phone on my boobs like that. Screen side to skin. It checks out
Thisguy
Jethric! Another reference to ‘The Ribos Operation’ Serial from Tom Baker period of Doctor Who. I applaud your references.
Michael O'Driscoll
I think it's more along the lines that he knows alot more than she gives him credit for
Michael O'Driscoll
I have to say, I love Deus's assistant/secretary/P.a/bodyguard. She is an absolute hoot to read
Michael Obert
A guy with that much confidence is never the fool. She's missing the subtle distinction where he's using farce to make her look the fool but, then again, he's probably been around forever, so he's had time to grasp the minutia of all things. God, I love Deus!
A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.
Is he implying he is like Vandal Savage?
