Girl Genius XXVIII: Dancink! Ve is here for de dancink!

[Scarlet Knight]

Hold that pose, Bang.

Thank goodness; I thought I was the only one thinking that.

[Deliverance]

Messing with people's heads using psychology never gets old, but I never thought I'd see Zeetha doing it, and so effectively too.

[Shining Wrath]

That's a whole new version of "messing with your head". And Bang is still thinking about killing Zeetha, while Zeetha is still having fun with her friend. I still think Bang knows Higgs and The Boyz are watching, though, and will tear her limb from limb if she murders Zeetha - which is what it would obviously be if she plants a blade in her heart while Zeetha is fighting empty-handed. So ... is she ready to die to fulfil her blood oath?

And is Albia watching via God-Queen magic? She acknowledges Zeetha as a descendent of one of her peers - does that entitle Zeetha to protection?

Debate question: which is more deadly.
1) A violently angry Higgs, or
2) A modestly angry Albia?

[Traab]

That's a whole new version of "messing with your head". And Bang is still thinking about killing Zeetha, while Zeetha is still having fun with her friend. I still think Bang knows Higgs and The Boyz are watching, though, and will tear her limb from limb if she murders Zeetha - which is what it would obviously be if she plants a blade in her heart while Zeetha is fighting empty-handed. So ... is she ready to die to fulfil her blood oath?

And is Albia watching via God-Queen magic? She acknowledges Zeetha as a descendent of one of her peers - does that entitle Zeetha to protection?

Debate question: which is more deadly.
1) A violently angry Higgs, or
2) A modestly angry Albia?

Yeah I get the feeling she is still trying to figure out a way to do this and survive. I honestly expected this talk of pirates to go south fast and act as the prod bang needed to just go for it and hope she could pull off the kill before higgs could intervene. As for your question, in england? its 2. You could at least try to run from higgs, but albia is basically omnipresent in england and escaping her wrath when she is focused on you is not going to be easy. And everything you do to avoid capture would likely tick her off even more. And thats assuming she cant just pull out her "Its literally unthinkable" power and shut bang down mid stride. Higgs is strong, but he isnt a god. Drugged up zola injured him good and proper at the kestle and he wasnt even remotely as attached to zeetha as he is now. So im thinking blinding rage wont make killing her easy.

[cptnspldng]

Zeetha's canines are rather pronounced in the past few strips. Perhaps she just need to get her battle juices flowing to start getting more pronounced Jaeger characteristics?

Defeat Bang and develop cat ears?

[Vinyadan]

Zeetha's canines are rather pronounced in the past few strips. Perhaps she just need to get her battle juices flowing to start getting more pronounced Jaeger characteristics?

Defeat Bang and develop cat ears?

If she gets horns, she'll turn into Lum Invader.

[Shining Wrath]

If she gets horns, she'll turn into Lum Invader.

I think that's at least a plausible end to this - Bang "kills" Zeetha, who goes Full Jager and still survives. Possibly with an assist from Higgs or Da Boyz who somehow give her a Jagerdraught.

[Manga Shoggoth]

If she gets horns, she'll turn into Lum Invader.

Ah, such memories. My second Manga and first Anime.

I think that's at least a plausible end to this - Bang "kills" Zeetha, who goes Full Jager and still survives. Possibly with an assist from Higgs or Da Boyz who somehow give her a Jagerdraught.

She's already had the Jagerdraught. I don't think Bang has any idea how unstoppable Zeetha is likley to become.

And "It's not just because I'm a Pirate!" has potential for a thread title.

[wingnutx]

I wonder if any of Klaus' biological meddling was done while the twins were still in the womb.

If so, then Zeetha may have some of the same enhancements as Gil.

[HandofShadows]

I wonder if any of Klaus' biological meddling was done while the twins were still in the womb.

If so, then Zeetha may have some of the same enhancements as Gil.

I honestly don't think Klaus really did that much to Gil. I think most of his enhancements are things he was born with and Zeetha is the same way. Remember, Zola shoved a sword through her chest just under the heart. That would kill a normal person almost immediately unless they were inside of a well equipped hospital when it happened.

[Shining Wrath]

Ah, such memories. My second Manga and first Anime.



She's already had the Jagerdraught. I don't think Bang has any idea how unstoppable Zeetha is likley to become.

And "It's not just because I'm a Pirate!" has potential for a thread title.

Also: "Yeah! Psychology!" could work. And yes, I think that Bang is about to make a serious mistake.

[theangelJean]

I dunno. Didn't she just have that "talk" with Agatha? I'm betting on this just being play-fighting for now.

[Traab]

I dunno. Didn't she just have that "talk" with Agatha? I'm betting on this just being play-fighting for now.

Yeah but if her blood gets up with a good fight it would be easy to get carried away. If she is super clever she will gradually ramp things up till they hit a dangerous level then there can be a "accident". If she finds herself losing this play bought she might get horked off enough to go for the kill in the end anyways.

[Shining Wrath]

I dunno. Didn't she just have that "talk" with Agatha? I'm betting on this just being play-fighting for now.

She just had a friendly chat with Agatha who was in Full Scary Super Spark mode. There's 3 Jagermonsters plus Higgs behind her (come to think of it, I don't think she knows that Higgs is a General). It would be very stupid to kill Zeetha.

This must be set against her solemn vow to kill the person who destroyed her base and crew, and the fact that she really likes killing. Really, really likes killing. In fact, clear back in the third book we saw her kill Princess Zulenna when she clearly didn't have to, and knew it would provoke a fight with von Pinn - who is as scary as 3 normal Jagers (minimum).

She knows she's up against 3 Jagers. I don't think she's seen Higgs in full Higgs mode. She probably thinks she can escape from 3 Jagers.

[Rogar Demonblud]

She knows Higgs flattened her and broke her jaw on the airship from Sturmhalten to Mechanicsburg. And she looked up a couple pages ago, so she knows there's four more enemies up in the rafters. Bang is not going to try anything more complex than feeling out Zeetha's capabilities here.

[geoduck]

I honestly don't think Klaus really did that much to Gil. I think most of his enhancements are things he was born with and Zeetha is the same way. Remember, Zola shoved a sword through her chest just under the heart. That would kill a normal person almost immediately unless they were inside of a well equipped hospital when it happened.

In the print novels, at least, yes, he did quite a bit to Gil; when Gil meets Mamma Gkikka, she tells him that Klaus had Gil unconscious in his labs for extended periods. (Thanks to their sense of smell, the Jagers knew early on that Gil was Klaus's son, and watched over him as part of their swearing loyalty to the Baron.)

[Shining Wrath]

She knows Higgs flattened her and broke her jaw on the airship from Sturmhalten to Mechanicsburg. And she looked up a couple pages ago, so she knows there's four more enemies up in the rafters. Bang is not going to try anything more complex than feeling out Zeetha's capabilities here.

Except - she was willing to kill a ward of her employer in the presence of von Pinn for no particular reason other than enjoying killing. And everyone on the ship knew von Pinn was not to be trifled with and could casually defeat Jagers.

She's way proud. In fact, we've had a large amount of foreshadowing in this combat about just how confident Bang is. She probably thinks she can kill Zeetha, fulfill her vow, and escape the Jagers. Will she? I think we're being set up for her to try.

I'm not certain she remembers Higgs breaking her jaw, inasmuch as the reason he did so was that she was out of her mind.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Also: "Yeah! Psychology!" could work. And yes, I think that Bang is about to make a serious mistake.

Duly noted. Probably has a bit more staying power than some of the others...

Except - she was willing to kill a ward of her employer in the presence of von Pinn for no particular reason other than enjoying killing. And everyone on the ship knew von Pinn was not to be trifled with and could casually defeat Jagers.

...I don't think Bang dealt with the Jagers that much, and she certianly thought she had a chance against von Pinn. Briefly.

She's way proud. In fact, we've had a large amount of foreshadowing in this combat about just how confident Bang is. She probably thinks she can kill Zeetha, fulfill her vow, and escape the Jagers. Will she? I think we're being set up for her to try.

Oh, Bang is hugely confident in herself. Thing is, she is very good by most standards, which is why every so often she gets taken down a peg or two (von Pinn, Dr Sun, Martellus...). The thing is she is usually good enough (or fast enough) to recover quickly.

I'm not certain she remembers Higgs breaking her jaw, inasmuch as the reason he did so was that she was out of her mind.

Agreed - even if she remembers she may be ignoring it because someone got the better of her. I'm assuming that she wouldn't ignore it out of simple gratitude for Higgs saving her life, of course.

[wingnutx]

I think most of his enhancements are things he was born with and Zeetha is the same way.

That is exactly what I was asking about.

[Thales]

Agreed - even if she remembers she may be ignoring it because someone got the better of her. I'm assuming that she wouldn't ignore it out of simple gratitude for Higgs saving her life, of course.

Incidentally, rereading that, it seems really clear to me that the Folgios did not start Higgs out as a secret Jagergeneral. He seems there to be a normal human getting by with an abnormal dose of hard-headed determination who suffers a comical amount of mishaps. Much more like Von Zinzer than the current juggernaut he is.

[Radar]

Incidentally, rereading that, it seems really clear to me that the Folgios did not start Higgs out as a secret Jagergeneral. He seems there to be a normal human getting by with an abnormal dose of hard-headed determination who suffers a comical amount of mishaps. Much more like Von Zinzer than the current juggernaut he is.

I would not be so sure as those scenes are not the actual happenings - what we see is a second-hand told story. Keep in mind that we see Higgs at Mamma Gkika's not so long after that. Whatever his role was supposed to be, he was not a regular crewmember right from the start.

edit: this conversation and how Dimo intervenes makes it even more clear I think.

[SZbNAhL]

Incidentally, rereading that, it seems really clear to me that the Folgios did not start Higgs out as a secret Jagergeneral. He seems there to be a normal human getting by with an abnormal dose of hard-headed determination who suffers a comical amount of mishaps. Much more like Von Zinzer than the current juggernaut he is.

Never forget the most powerful armament in the world - the audience liking you.

[InvisibleBison]

I would not be so sure as those scenes are not the actual happenings - what we see is a second-hand told story. Keep in mind that we see Higgs at Mamma Gkika's not so long after that. Whatever his role was supposed to be, he was not a regular crewmember right from the start.

edit: this conversation and how Dimo intervenes makes it even more clear I think.

The comics you've linked to were published more than a year after Higgs's introduction. That's more than enough time for the Foglios to change their plans in order to give a greater role to a surprisingly popular minor character. Note also that the existence of the secret Jagergeneral wasn't established until four years after Higgs's debut.

[Radar]

The comics you've linked to were published more than a year after Higgs's introduction. That's more than enough time for the Foglios to change their plans in order to give a greater role to a surprisingly popular minor character. Note also that the existence of the secret Jagergeneral wasn't established until four years after Higgs's debut.

I have to admit it is hard to notice the real-life time difference, when you simply read the archive. Good point.

[geoduck]

The comics you've linked to were published more than a year after Higgs's introduction. That's more than enough time for the Foglios to change their plans in order to give a greater role to a surprisingly popular minor character. Note also that the existence of the secret Jagergeneral wasn't established until four years after Higgs's debut.

Eeh.. the first time we meet him in person, he's hanging out in the secret Jager bar, having healed up all sorts of horrible wounds in a matter of hours.

[eee]

Yes, that's sweet.

Shurdlu kicked Zeetha's face into a pulp, and she recovered from that. I doubt Bang can do permanent damage.

Except - she was willing to kill a ward of her employer in the presence of von Pinn for no particular reason other than enjoying killing. And everyone on the ship knew von Pinn was not to be trifled with and could casually defeat Jagers.

She's way proud. In fact, we've had a large amount of foreshadowing in this combat about just how confident Bang is. She probably thinks she can kill Zeetha, fulfill her vow, and escape the Jagers. Will she? I think we're being set up for her to try.

I'm not certain she remembers Higgs breaking her jaw, inasmuch as the reason he did so was that she was out of her mind.

Escape the Jagers, maybe. Escape Agatha, who has made it clear she'll end Bang if Bang harms any more of her retinue? That's why Bang apparently expects to die, following her present course. If she kills Zeetha, she'll have made enemies beyond her ability to survive. And yet, her vow and personality won't allow her to do anything else.

[Traab]

I like it. Now we have it all out in the open. Bang knows they are there, they know bang knows they are there, neither side seems to feel there is an issue yet, so long as zeetha doesnt end up looking like dimo, which, too be fair, I totally understand. Thats a deal breaker right there. :p On the other hand, bang just got the go ahead to ramp things up even more. That means it will be even closer to the line where death or serious injury can happen. Either by accident, or "by accident".

[Rogar Demonblud]

That was a beautiful end line by Higgs there.

[wingnutx]

Higgs spent two years with Bang, so he has to know her capabilities quite well.

[sihnfahl]

Yes, that's sweet.

Shurdlu kicked Zeetha's face into a pulp, and she recovered from that. I doubt Bang can do permanent damage.

Especially now that she may be partially jaegerized.

Zeetha won't be all banged up.