Requited Change Chapter 16.6 (so far)
Added 2023-08-10 19:58:09 +0000 UTCHey everyone,
UPDATE: Three more pages, I got to three and have been trying a new Photoshop technique for some upcoming chalkboard shenanigans. Gonna get them done over the next couple of days and upload some further pages Wednesday. I want to do this part some justice and work on some new skills in the process, please excuse my self-indulgence! -_-'
Thought I'd upload some more pages today to make up for the several that I deleted yesterday.
I've done this as a new post so it's far less irritating scrolling to the newer page content.
More shall be uploaded tonight!
Things are getting WACKY and CEREBRAL.
Comments
Another excellent series of deductions and theory crafting here. I shall only elucidate on a few points so as to not cause spoilers for anyone wishing to read your interpretation of the narrative. Somewhat Spoilery! Katy is most certainly leaning more toward malevolency but she has also exhibited a deeper nuanced benevolent side. This was a specific choice as it can be utilized as a narrative tool to make the readers question her motivations and objectives. The mortality aspect that you mentioned is one that I'd say is partially her motivation and one I haven't really referred to explicitly. If Ken keeps down his path then, in Katy's mind, he may do something irresponsible or downright hurtful to himself, as he did whilst taking the 'reversal formula' way back in the plot prior to the swimming tournament events. With Ken and Katy being inextricably linked it is within Katy's interest to exercise some form of self-preservation. This argument is invalidated somewhat by one of the most recent page additions; she is tempted to 'body snatch' Ken now the opportunity has arisen but has actively and consciously made the decision not to. The other angle is that, although Katy is nearly wholly separate from Ken, (there is evidence of them influencing one another and assimilating as time progresses) she can also be seen as an element, or splintered fracture of Ken's own self-preservation system from his psyche. She most likely predominantly has come from Ken's id, but still has exhibited elements of ego and superego. At the moment she is attempting to alter Ken's self-perception to navigate one of his most current real-world challenges: his body identity after all. Katy's ultimate goal is a fusion of identities, but she is still uncertain what this means for her. Her own rationale has convinced her that Ken shall be much happier when amalgamated, but she does worry about herself and her continuity afterward, particularly as Ken is beginning to demonstrate dominating strength and resistance to her (the only reason Katy has power at the moment is because Ken has gifted it to her). Though they are bleeding into one another, the way it is progressing means that there shall be two distinct identities left if and when they reconcile: Ken with Katy's mannerisms/ethos (the true Katy in her eyes), and Katy with Ken's ethos. If they do or don't merge, what does this mean for the residual personality? Does the identity disappear or does it eternally hang around in the recesses of the dominant identity's mind? Katy is still willing to continue regardless of these profoundly intrinsic concerns. Spot on for Ken historically identifying as a male, even prior to the formula he was. Katy not being present prior to the imbibement of the formula is absolutely true, the manifestation of her being something that shall be fully explained before the end of the story. There has been one hint in the past 12 pages. Ken's overcompensation for rigidly adhering to classic masculine traits is a valid observation; he has been brash to act in the past to impress Lola, particularly after what Emily deceptively informed him of regarding Lola's preferences in men. Overall, I'd give this a solid 7.5 out of 10. Any topic not discussed may slip into spoiler territory a little too much for my liking, but a fantastic deconstruction yet again.
MassManic
2023-08-15 10:47:58 +0000 UTCOne intriguing theory I've developed regarding the origin of Katy revolves around a pivotal element that hasn't received much attention: the emergence of Katy herself. A compelling hypothesis arises from the information provided, suggesting that Katy's existence may be linked to an unforeseen consequence of Emily's drink. This notion gains traction when considering Ken's initial lack of memory about Katy when they first encountered each other. This absence of recognition hints at Katy's nonexistence prior to the creation of the drink. An added layer to this theory is that the drink, designed to imbue female attributes, was inadvertently consumed by Ken, a male. This could have triggered Katy's emergence, driven by a purpose to transition Ken into a female form. While my theory aligns with certain narrative elements, it now faces certain contradictions. Recent developments indicate that the current trajectory centers on Katy's pursuit of establishing her own distinct identity. This process unfolds without overshadowing Ken's sense of self, posing an intriguing question about Katy's origin. The inherent uncertainty surrounding her origins deepens the understanding that Ken's core desires have historically veered away from embracing a female identity. However, Katy's motivations delve beneath the surface, unveiling complex layers within the situation. Her primary objective revolves around molding Ken's self-perception to enhance his adeptness in navigating real-world challenges. Yet, beneath this surface goal lies a more profound intention: influencing Ken's perception of his own physical form, nudging it closer to a female embodiment. Katy's demeanor is cloaked in an aura of malevolence, which inevitably casts a shadow of doubt upon her true intentions. Although the possibility exists for her to seize control and acquire a corporeal existence, her actions illuminate a nuanced dynamic. The prospect of fully assuming Ken's essence, orchestrating a transformation into a woman, introduces the risk of her own dissolution. The mechanics are conceptually straightforward: a fusion where Katy assumes the driving force behind Ken's physical form, while Ken retains Katy's distinct female consciousness, culminating in a fusion of identities. Yet, a fundamental query arises: what compels Katy to proactively avert Ken's potential demise? Katy's motivation stems from a pivotal event in the past where Ken confronted mortality. During this juncture, Katy herself teetered on the edge of oblivion. The looming threat of losing her own identity spurred her to intervene, driven by an intrinsic urge to safeguard her continuity. The intertwined survival of Katy and Ken symbolizes that if Ken were to perish, a similar fate would befall Katy. This shared destiny fuels Katy's unwavering determination to ensure the perpetuation of both their lives. Another layer within Ken's psychological makeup pertains to his propensity to overcompensate for perceived shortcomings by rigidly adhering to masculine traits. This inclination might have originated from an erroneous association he once made between a certain figure, Lola, and an exaggerated form of masculinity – a misconception he has since recognized as flawed. With this realization, Ken yearns to revert to a state of normalcy aligned with his true self. However, Katy's persistent interference consistently thwarts Ken's aspiration to return to familiar grounds. Rate this out of 10 massmanic
TheAnimeGod
2023-08-15 09:34:00 +0000 UTC*rapidly reads older chapters* i cant believe i never noticed til now XD i feel i have probably seen it but never made the connection til now XD. As for the pipe and deerstalker... fun fact yes i do XD
shineypooface
2023-08-13 22:54:41 +0000 UTCNow to really blow your mind- the little hibiscus has been in it the whole time! *boom!* It was an intentional, albeit very subtle reference in JoaA towards RC. Good detective skills! Do you own a pipe and a deerstalker hat perchance? ;)
MassManic
2023-08-13 22:50:40 +0000 UTCwas re-reading incase of update and just noticed the crossover no-one expected :D little hibiscus has been with Lola :D
shineypooface
2023-08-13 21:13:02 +0000 UTCWe are now in an illusion in Ken’s subconscious created by Katy. She’s attempting to alter Ken’s perception of himself so he can deal with his ongoing situation a bit better in the real world (specifically she’s aiming to make Ken see that his body is that of a girl’s).
MassManic
2023-08-12 05:53:40 +0000 UTCDo not understand what is going on but moving forward. Also still expecting to see more NSFW actions.;)
MrILLEGAL
2023-08-12 01:11:01 +0000 UTCOh, another good angle! Not that I intend to exploit people's suffering before they 'realized' themselves. ':-/ I'm happy that someone who is steeped in the culture is getting those vibes, it makes me feel as though my work is more 'authentic' in a sense, and I value any little titbits like this so I can authenticate the narrative further. I hope you're still enjoying the story!
MassManic
2023-08-11 22:41:19 +0000 UTCI feel like "Ken" is a trans woman but just in massive denial. Like, I know a few trans women (they aren't that uncommon in the lesbian community) and something that's pretty common is trying to overcompensate by clinging to masculinity before they can admit the truth to themselves. One mentioned having grown a "denial beard" before she came out. I've also heard some mention a cycle of denial thing where they got close to accepting who they are and then rejected it out of fear over and over until finally they broke free and admitted it to themselves. I'm super interested to see where this story goes. Hopefully they both make some make some realizations about themselves.
ArcaneOverride
2023-08-11 22:35:03 +0000 UTCEh I mean..... I'd rather still stand with the "There is still probably more to Katy then Uh Katy is being evil" idea because.... if Katy just wanted to take control and have her own body she COULD just take control right there and then and BLAM all of her problems are gone (Then again probably her ability to influence her own body too soooooo eh) but this time she is trying to help Ken just not die sooo.... eh? *shrughs shoulders* I dunno tho we'll see and yeah messing with Ken's mind is not good practically cheating but..... then again if she didn't do anything Ken would die anyway so it is what it is. Also I dont believe in ideals like pure good or pure evil because as Loki said it "I know something that not all scared little boys know that those who are bad are not always bad and those who are good are not always good" so there is more to people then meets the eye and I'm looking at this as a well starter writer (I'm making a project of my own fantasy setting whatever not important) and one of my fav moments are when we see characters from whom we know will end up on the bad side but we see what made them what they are like Count Dokuu as he didn't fall to the darkside he controlled his emotions he wanted to rid the world of corruption justt the person he teamed up with was Palpatine who betrayed him obiviously but its interesting to see characters do things where you can be like "Yeah I get where they are coming from" So with the last comment part being said I expect that Katy while wanting to turn Ken into a girl (even forcibly as we've seen) she doesn't want Ken to die as if that were the chase then it would be courtain call for Ken now and Katy would be in control but Katy trying to save Ken means that there might be more to her.... maybe she DOES want to be a big sister but she doesn't realise what Ken needs and so makes changes and forces thoughts that she wants Ken to have meanwhile causing damage to Ken that spiraled out and this happened. Idk maybe Katy will either try to help Ken in a better way or take a few steps back after this event that is currently going on but.... eh we'll see cant wait to see more tho as always nice job
RichardVonDragonheart
2023-08-11 09:12:35 +0000 UTCI knew Katy was still evil like this just give us more proof that ken has never wanted to be a girl before and Emily potions made katy
TheAnimeGod
2023-08-11 07:43:24 +0000 UTCYou know it. ;)
MassManic
2023-08-11 00:33:38 +0000 UTCare we about to jump into a fantasy :o. Intresting tease for tommorow :D
shineypooface
2023-08-10 23:49:41 +0000 UTC
