I thought she would be understanding. Kath probably knew that anything that goes into the house probably would meet that fate. Honestly, it went about how I pictured it.
Kath’s next phone call: “Hey, Bryn, got a moment? Castela’s class is eligible for Independent Studies this year, right? Ok, good. I think we should have her do at least a couple of quarters in Ablative Home Redecoration… she’s a natural.”
Does beg the question of how precise she can get. Bet she could have fun working with metal given her strength too. No CNC machine required…. wonder if she can weld thought?
It really doesn’t matter what form the intentional exercise takes, as long as it is intentional and practiced, and continues to be practiced. The real wonder is that this was an instinctive attack, response to a momentary panic. If ever there was an excuse to really let loose, this would have been it.
All guns are always loaded < she knows that
Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy< has demonstrated this
Keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target < also demonstrated this
Identify your target, and what is behind it < has also demonstrated this.
She’s going to have to do something to pay for a new TV. As understanding as Kath is being, she still needs to teach her kids responsibility for their actions.
Cass can make assorted artworks and sell them at art galleries or art festivals. It would double as practice honing and controlling her powers.
Just tell any non-paras that the process is achieved using “normal” methods like laser engraving and CNC machines, or that the artist prefers not to divulge her methods.
If parents insisted that children repaid for everything they ever broke, the child labor laws would have to be repealed. If anything, Pickle is feeling TOO responsible as it is, punishing her further will just hammer her self-worth flat…more damaging to her psyche in the long run, IMO. Now, if she ever starts showing signs of “ha-ha I got away with something”, THEN hammer the lesson home. But right now Pickle is horrified and falling over herself apologizing. That’s good enough.
Pickle is a teenager. A teenager who has the ability to easily destroy a small city. She isn’t a small child who can’t be held accountable for her accidents.
Yes, she shows remorse, but she still needs to learn/show that you have to clean up your own messes. Any adult who caused that kind of damage to property, including their own, would be on the hook for replacement/repair costs.
I was also thinking that, by having her channel her powers into a potentially lucrative creative process, she will learn of the good. creative things she can do with her powers instead of constantly being nervous about her destructive abilities, while earning some of her own pocket money. It would also help her fine tune her powers even further. All of which will actually help boost her self-esteem.
Let’s face it, with her, there are two different levels of control. The first is determining whether she will kill what is in front of her, and the second is making sure she doesn’t kill bystanders with a shot that goes *through* what’s in front of her. This basically means the second level is complete.
The para community has their own recreation facility, mall, library, school system, and specialty clothing manufacturers, it’s not hard to imagine there isn’t an insurance company specializing in insuring against para-caused damage.
Kath has a right to be impressed: even while freaked out, Pickle ensured that only what she was shooting at got shot, rather than what happened when Maxi (from “GrrlPower”) first learnt how to fire a plasma beam, or when Agatha built a death-ray in her sleep
@Guesticus: To be fair. Maxima didn’t even KNOW she could do that at the time, she was totally surprised, by both her brother AND by that blast… now let’s say that she’s napping today and Sydney does that same bag-popping trick and that Max does the same thing… yeah, then it’s on Max, but not when she was still figuring out that in’s and out’s of her power-set…
However, i’ll say you that when Agatha built her death-ray, that it was her MINIONS fault, NOT hers! because MINION knew better (i can’t remember his name) than try to wake her with the blaster still in her hands… he KNEW she was a Spark, he KNEW she was trying to defend herself, he KNEW she was totally loopy from lack of sleep… he KNEW that something like that was likely to happen as he was smart enough to not get in the way of the muzzle…
The last thing Pickle needs here is a browbeating for something she’s already beating herself up over, given her deep anxiety over being powerless to control her own power.
“Yes, I admit, it’s getting better, it’s getting better, all the time (Can’t get no worse)…”
She’ll be fixing a hole where the plasma got in, and stopped her mind from wandering.
… wish we could edit posts. “and stopped her screen from functioning – as it ought to…”
See the TV hanging there that’s filigreed dissevered in, and wonder why it’s scary past that door.
Nothing to say but what a day how’s your girl been
This thread gave me life, today, thank you!
Definitely NOT the way Pickle expected the conversation to go . . .
Figures that Kath would see the positive side of this. She has a great set of eyes.
It helps that she’s right. Cass’ self-control’s improved by orders of magnitude.
Next she’ll be lighting candles.
@Sheik:
I wouldn’t say “next” ~ but she’s certainly closing in on that kind of control.
The time that Castela spent in that canyon carving those small patterns has paid off, hasn’t it?
I thought she would be understanding. Kath probably knew that anything that goes into the house probably would meet that fate. Honestly, it went about how I pictured it.
…She had been thinking about getting a new TV anyway, I’d wager. This is as good a reason as any. 😀
Kath’s next phone call: “Hey, Bryn, got a moment? Castela’s class is eligible for Independent Studies this year, right? Ok, good. I think we should have her do at least a couple of quarters in Ablative Home Redecoration… she’s a natural.”
This is surgery! You still owe us a new TV set.
“But I deserve to be punished, and punished bad!”
“The new TV comes out of your allowance. We’ll work up a schedule so you’ll still be getting some money.”
Does beg the question of how precise she can get. Bet she could have fun working with metal given her strength too. No CNC machine required…. wonder if she can weld thought?
She already engraves stone using her built-in plasma cutter as a control exercise; that’s already pretty precise.
Perhaps she should try burnt wood drawings, or perhaps whittling next?
Hmm. Perhaps one of those shooters where they mix hostages in with the bad guys?
I wonder if she can cosplay as Ryoko, ie. the plasma sabre held in the palm of her hand.
It really doesn’t matter what form the intentional exercise takes, as long as it is intentional and practiced, and continues to be practiced. The real wonder is that this was an instinctive attack, response to a momentary panic. If ever there was an excuse to really let loose, this would have been it.
All guns are always loaded < she knows that
Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy< has demonstrated this
Keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target < also demonstrated this
Identify your target, and what is behind it < has also demonstrated this.
Jezzus christ get the girl a CCW permit already!
How do you conceal carry a plasma cannon that’s built into your hands? Wear gloves? 😛
She’s going to have to do something to pay for a new TV. As understanding as Kath is being, she still needs to teach her kids responsibility for their actions.
Cass can make assorted artworks and sell them at art galleries or art festivals. It would double as practice honing and controlling her powers.
Just tell any non-paras that the process is achieved using “normal” methods like laser engraving and CNC machines, or that the artist prefers not to divulge her methods.
Better still just say the process is “proprietary” and boost the sale price by luring people to buy just to figure out the process.
If parents insisted that children repaid for everything they ever broke, the child labor laws would have to be repealed. If anything, Pickle is feeling TOO responsible as it is, punishing her further will just hammer her self-worth flat…more damaging to her psyche in the long run, IMO. Now, if she ever starts showing signs of “ha-ha I got away with something”, THEN hammer the lesson home. But right now Pickle is horrified and falling over herself apologizing. That’s good enough.
Pickle is a teenager. A teenager who has the ability to easily destroy a small city. She isn’t a small child who can’t be held accountable for her accidents.
Yes, she shows remorse, but she still needs to learn/show that you have to clean up your own messes. Any adult who caused that kind of damage to property, including their own, would be on the hook for replacement/repair costs.
I was also thinking that, by having her channel her powers into a potentially lucrative creative process, she will learn of the good. creative things she can do with her powers instead of constantly being nervous about her destructive abilities, while earning some of her own pocket money. It would also help her fine tune her powers even further. All of which will actually help boost her self-esteem.
Do you know how such carvings are done? The way I know of involves rubber stencils and sand blasters.
Kat enters AWSOME MOM MODE! who says this woman doesn’t have any powers….
Yes she does.
MOM VOICE!
all moms have that power that’s a given. I Am talking powers that you don’t know about already.
Probably *still* Not Helping, Mom! XD
Let’s face it, with her, there are two different levels of control. The first is determining whether she will kill what is in front of her, and the second is making sure she doesn’t kill bystanders with a shot that goes *through* what’s in front of her. This basically means the second level is complete.
Does State farm sell a precision blast hole rider?
Perhaps not, but I understand Lloyds of London will insure just about anything.
I suspect there’s a para branch of Lloyds that comes pretty close. (And they might, but the fees might be prohibitive.)
remember the Falklands war?
The UK had good news and bad news.
The good news was the british navy wiped out the argintine navy.
The bad news?
The argintine navy was insured by Llyods of London.
@Valkeiper:
😏🤭🤣😂
No but I think Farmers does; seen it, covered it…
The para community has their own recreation facility, mall, library, school system, and specialty clothing manufacturers, it’s not hard to imagine there isn’t an insurance company specializing in insuring against para-caused damage.
*is an insurance company
I’m sensing industrial applications here.
Kath has a right to be impressed: even while freaked out, Pickle ensured that only what she was shooting at got shot, rather than what happened when Maxi (from “GrrlPower”) first learnt how to fire a plasma beam, or when Agatha built a death-ray in her sleep
@Guesticus: To be fair. Maxima didn’t even KNOW she could do that at the time, she was totally surprised, by both her brother AND by that blast… now let’s say that she’s napping today and Sydney does that same bag-popping trick and that Max does the same thing… yeah, then it’s on Max, but not when she was still figuring out that in’s and out’s of her power-set…
However, i’ll say you that when Agatha built her death-ray, that it was her MINIONS fault, NOT hers! because MINION knew better (i can’t remember his name) than try to wake her with the blaster still in her hands… he KNEW she was a Spark, he KNEW she was trying to defend herself, he KNEW she was totally loopy from lack of sleep… he KNEW that something like that was likely to happen as he was smart enough to not get in the way of the muzzle…
I believe the “MINION” you’re referring to is the guy who keeps ^adamantly^ insisting that he’s NOBODY’s minion!
Was referring to the damage caused, not the control (or lack-thereof)
And the not-minion was attempting to wake her up because she told him to!
If ONLY I’d gotten this level of understanding from my ‘rents when I destroyed something…
Replacing the TV shoulldn’t be a financial hardship. She’s pretty clearly “ready for Etsy.”
http://wapsisquare.com/comic/blastin-sumthin/
There’s a Market for it.
http://wapsisquare.com/comic/knot-that-bad/
Gah — Archive Links. Can’t Help doing a Deep Dive. If I’m not back in a half-hour — send a rescue.
🙄Believe me ~ I ^know^ THAT feeling VERY ^well^!
Katherine is good mom.
The last thing Pickle needs here is a browbeating for something she’s already beating herself up over, given her deep anxiety over being powerless to control her own power.
Surgery, Cass as a plastic surgeon? There is a well of jokes.
Plastic?
no…
with Cassy, it’s bone all the way.
Does a “plasma” surgeon work on blood cells? 😛
That, I think, could qualify as an example of a ^good^ use of pun.🤨
Life is different when your income has another zero or two beyond the common folk.
Kath can replace this TV tomorrow and laugh about it tonight.
For most of us, this would mean, we just don’t have a TV anymore. Possibly for months.
This one is definitely in my top ten favorite WS strips!