Belkar and V [Archive] - Giant in the Playground Forums

goodyarn

2013-09-19, 02:03 PM

So this may be a lot to read into the last panel of strip #919, BUT....

I can't help feeling that the relationship between Belkar and V has changed since the last time they were in a panel together. Both have gone through transformative experiences (V realization of her guilt and her brief trip to hell; Belkar being saved by Durkon).

V now calls OOTS her "friends," not the "handful of misplaced acquaintances" that they were when she was firing Disintegrate spells at Qarr. (EDIT: Actually, she calls them "Our friends," which is interesting since they don't even know the bird exists.)

And I'm not saying Belkar's line "Where the hell have you been?" was exactly friendly. But it's the friendliest thing he's ever said to her that I can recall. It implies strongly that she was sorely missed.

And V chose to respond honestly. Not exactly a full confession. But she has been hiding the selling of her soul all this time and the first person she chooses to mention it to is...Belkar.

I think it's interesting. I don't foresee any more explosive runes exploding in Belkar's face anytime soon.

F.Harr

2013-09-19, 02:10 PM

Huh. Interesting. Nice catch.

zimmerwald1915

2013-09-19, 02:51 PM

Their relationship has been changing in this direction throughout the book. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0781.html)

Harbinger

2013-09-19, 03:32 PM

Belkar X Vaarsuvius OTP.

Xelbiuj

2013-09-19, 03:43 PM

Now that Durkon is "evil" hes going to tell Belkar about the kiss with V.
>.>
<.<
I can dream can't I?

Dodom

2013-09-19, 04:01 PM

And since Belkar can only feel hate or lust, a change in his feelings for V means he will now lust for her! :smallbiggrin:

jogiff

2013-09-19, 04:07 PM

Let's see, Belkar has always been single (his one-night stand with the bard rogue doesn't count). Vaarsuvius is newly single. During the dream wedding V and B are the only members of the order who don't have dialogue.

We can't forget that there have only been two (or maybe three) intraparty kisses, BelkarxVaarsuvius and HaleyxElan (and arguably RoyxCelia). Every other one of these intraparty kisses has resulted in a long-lasting pairing.

In this scene (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0781.html) V seems to have trouble finding an appropriate word for his relationship with Belkar. "Friend" would have been perfectly appropriate (even if V didn't actually see Belkar as a friend), but V couldn't bring himself to say it. Maybe because he didn't want to confess his true feelings? Is V tsundere?

But why would V find Belkar attractive? What do we know about the one confirmed target of V's affection? That he is a baker! That he is a pastry chef (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0630.html) and wears green (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0642.html). Can you think of anyone else with ranks in profession (gourmet chef) and a green outfit?!

It's hard to see any possibility other than Vaarsuvius and Belkar getting married?

Ghost Nappa

2013-09-19, 04:07 PM

Their relationship has been changing in this direction throughout the book. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0781.html)

Sometimes you just need a mutual enemy. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0835.html)

Cerussite

2013-09-19, 05:52 PM

Is V tsundere?
Nothing says 'I love you' better than 'I prepared explosive runes this morning'.

Tiiba

2013-09-19, 06:24 PM

Roy has done a lot to keep Belkar safe in this battle.

I don't like where this is going at all.

Dissection

2013-09-19, 07:04 PM

And I'm not saying Belkar's line "Where the hell have you been?" was exactly friendly. But it's the friendliest thing he's ever said to her that I can recall.

I think the last panel of this comic is still the friendliest thing http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0125.html

Vinsfeld

2013-09-19, 07:10 PM

"handful of misplaced acquaintances" that they were when she was firing Disintegrate spells at Qarr.

I thought V meant the Azurites (I mean, Hinjo, Lien and co.)

Solse

2013-09-19, 07:53 PM

I think the last panel of this comic is still the friendliest thing http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0125.html

I agree. Shouldn't Belkar have said something like "Yeah, that would work, if you got XP for having horrible backstories?"

Scow2

2013-09-19, 08:06 PM

Gift Jeraff

2013-09-19, 09:15 PM

I think their friendship started here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0645.html), and was best displayed in the last panel of #696 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0696.html).

Kornaki

2013-09-19, 09:29 PM

[QUOTE=jogiff;16056968]
In this scene (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0781.html) V seems to have trouble finding an appropriate word for his relationship with Belkar. "Friend" would have been perfectly appropriate (even if V didn't actually see Belkar as a friend), but V couldn't bring himself to say it. Maybe because he didn't want to confess his true feelings? Is V tsundere?[/quote[

Ooh that's possible. I always thought he almost slipped and revealed that the Order knew each other, but it's unclear what V would have said besides "I was watching it for a you" that would have blown their cover, which is terribly awkward and incorrect grammar. I support this hypothesis fully

Ron Miel

2013-09-19, 11:57 PM

Scruffy & Blackwing used to fight
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0750.html

But then Blackwing saved Scruffy
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0803.html

Bleak Ink

2013-09-20, 01:08 AM

Unfortunately, Belkar's affection for V must go unrequitted, and V's affection for Belkar. We all know that V's ultimate fate is to be betrothed to Redcloak, and together, they will forge a world free of racism and genocides!

http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/assets_c/2010/12/SituationFistbumpGif-thumb-350x197-16052.gif

We will go down with this shiiiip
And won't put hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above our door
They're in love
and always
will be

Dracon1us

2013-09-20, 03:19 AM

Their relationship has been changing in this direction throughout the book. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0781.html)

he
bugsby cat-retrieving hand...classic :smallbiggrin:

welcome to the deep end of alignment pool!

F.Harr

2013-09-20, 08:49 AM

Belkar X Vaarsuvius OTP.

Does "x" mean "and" here? I'm sorry, I know Brazilians use it for "vs." but I've never run across anyone who's used it for "&".

Tiniere

2013-09-20, 09:54 AM

Does "x" mean "and" here? I'm sorry, I know Brazilians use it for "vs." but I've never run across anyone who's used it for "&".

It's used in "Shipping" to denote a romanticized or sexual relationship between characters both cannon and theoretical, even anti-cannon sometimes.

F.Harr

2013-09-20, 09:59 AM

It's used in "Shipping" to denote a romanticized or sexual relationship between characters both cannon and theoretical, even anti-cannon sometimes.

Oh. Thanks so much. I was really confused. I'd though "/" was used for that.

littlebum2002

2013-09-20, 10:29 AM

WAAAAY back in the day, when everyone thought Belkar had died by the hangman's noose, I remember V saying "truly he was the best of us". So they must have been secret best friends even back then!

(Or it could have just been a passing comment commemorating someone who died, not sure)

Yoyoyo

2013-09-20, 01:22 PM

I don't want Belkar to be the one to read it, but here's hoping we get at least one more "I prepared explosive runes this morning" before all is said and done.

Interesting concept from OP. Definitely speaks more to V's change and experience in Hell as the old V likely walks the other way with that kind of greeting. Belkar and V have had their moments, likely due to V being the only member of the party to share Belkar's world view occasionally (e.g., Kobold litter box; "deep end of the alignment pool"). Considering both of their recent character development, I can see V and Belkar calling one another "friends" someday. V may even be the one to tell Belkar about his oh-so-long-ago kiss.

Mammal

2013-09-20, 02:58 PM

hamishspence

2013-09-20, 03:02 PM

Can confirm.

F.Harr

2013-09-20, 03:04 PM

I don't own the book, but I seem to recall hearing that there was a relationship chart in the commentary pages of DStP, and that there was a line indicating that Belkar want[s] to "schtup" V. This was waaaaay back in the days of the Crack Pairings thread (I was posting under a different name at the time), so my memory may be corrupted, either by time or the thread itself.

Can someone w/ DStP confirm or deny?

I'm almost positive that. . . I need to go back and look at the page again. I THINK that it was a similarly-colored line, as the relationships are complex and humans are only trichromatic, and not all of us at that.

hamishspence

2013-09-20, 03:09 PM

The "Wants to Schtup" line is a dark green.

It's also present for Tsukiko-Xykon.

Ellye

2013-09-20, 03:13 PM

I think their friendship started here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0645.html), and was best displayed in the last panel of #696 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0696.html).I was going to post exactly that, with almost the same phrasing even. XD

F.Harr

2013-09-20, 03:49 PM

The "Wants to Schtup" line is a dark green.

It's also present for Tsukiko-Xykon.

I still need to go back and look at it again.

Themrys

2013-09-21, 03:53 PM

But why would V find Belkar attractive? What do we know about the one confirmed target of V's affection? That he is a baker! That he is a pastry chef (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0630.html) and wears green (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0642.html). Can you think of anyone else with ranks in profession (gourmet chef) and a green outfit?!

Yeah, but Inkyrius, while a bit more male-looking than V, is an androgynous elf. I think that's something V considers attractive in a potential mate. Also, Inky has beautiful green hair, while Belkar hasn't much hair and it's not green.
Inky is caring and domestic, traits which Belkar hasn't displayed so far.

I don't think V can be successfully wooed with unwanted, drunken kisses. It took V and hir mate many years to acknowledge their affection to each other, which hints at a complicated elven tradition of courting, and, probably, not lots of explosive runes.

Mammal

2013-09-21, 04:22 PM

I think Belkar is attracted to V, but the inverse isn't necessarily true. Remember, V said that the prospect of Belkar lusting after her was "too horrifying to contemplate." Even though she seems to hate him less nowadays, I don't think he's anywhere close to reciprocating.

My crackpot theory: Belkar will die by nobly sacrificing himself to save V, his lady love, from something, and with his dying breath, he'll declare his love for him. His confession will be so baffling that V will be too confused to flee from the danger, and will be killed by whatever Belkar tried to save her from.

F.Harr

2013-09-22, 04:54 PM

Yeah, but Inkyrius, while a bit more male-looking than V, is an androgynous elf. I think that's something V considers attractive in a potential mate. Also, Inky has beautiful green hair, while Belkar hasn't much hair and it's not green.
Inky is caring and domestic, traits which Belkar hasn't displayed so far.

I don't think V can be successfully wooed with unwanted, drunken kisses. It took V and hir mate many years to acknowledge their affection to each other, which hints at a complicated elven tradition of courting, and, probably, not lots of explosive runes.

OR, V was clueless.

Possibly, Inkyrius, too. Since his/her/its/pan's/on's/etc. etc. etc. name, at least in MY head, is literally, "Incurrious".

Ghost Nappa

2013-09-22, 08:21 PM

Guess who's Magic is responsible for busting Belkar out of Prison in OtOoPCs? Yup. It's Vaarsuvius!

Sir_Leorik

2013-09-23, 10:51 AM

The "Wants to Schtup" line is a dark green.

It's also present for Tsukiko-Xykon.

I'm AFB, so I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that was going in a single direction, from Tsukiko to Xykon? :smallconfused:

hamishspence

2013-09-23, 11:21 AM

Yup- represented by it being an arrow pointing to Xykon, rather than both ends having an arrowhead.

MtlGuy

2013-09-23, 08:54 PM

There was that time Belkar told V "welcome to the deep end of the alignment pool" (when V had the soul splice going).

Also, given enough time and opportunities, I think Belkar would be able to determine V's gender with his halfling sense of smell. He would need exposure to other elves, and to somehow find a moment of cleverness to put it together.

Humans can determine gender from smell (worn t-shirt studies).