...Yeah, this was never going to go well.
Transcript
Mel: Is that it?
Talita is taken aback.
Talita: Well he did it, like, maliciously! He was trying to hurt me!
Her face begins to bristle in frustration, and she grips her neck, back hunched to keep her head from knocking the ceiling.
Talita: And he’s– he’s been– saying really rude things “out of earshot,” misgendering me, not listening to instructions in the field–
Mel: I’ll talk to him about it tomorrow.
Talita's eyes widen.
Talita: No! Don’t– That wouldn’t help.
30 thoughts on “Runaway to the Stars: Page 231”
Septemberdale
Adam is a dickwad, but Mel is an idiot.
cinna
Ahh… I was wondering why she isn’t mentioning how much of a safety liability Adam keeps proving to be. Now it’s evident that Talita was hoping to speak with Parental Figure Mel, but is getting Boss Mel instead.
cinna
Although, I suppose she was getting there with “not listening to instructions.” Mel just isn’t inviting her to elaborate.
Heather
Mel what the fuck. If a human came to you with a complaint that someone had yanked on their hair, would you say “is that it?”????
…Actually, maybe you would. Oh no.
un_pogaz
Honestly, the “No! Don’t—That wouldn’t help” sends a contradictory message to Mel, but knowing teir track record in negotiation, it’s legitimate on Talita’s part. Especially since the lightheartedness with which they takes this is really not encouraging. At least, Mel don’t try to minimise it, they just dumply understimate the seriousness of the events.
Also, I think the first panel is the moment when Talita understands what Calcery meant about Mel by “As attentive as they act, I’m not sure Mel is ever actually listening.”
un_pogaz
PS: Is regrettable that Mel’s reaction was expected, and it problematic, but I had feared mush worse on their part.
cain
mel. mel he yanked on part of her face. mel–
ciel
do…do they not realize that someone pulling on Talita’s antlers is the equivalent of someone grabbing a person’s neck or pulling hair? It’s invasive and very traumatizing physical bodily harassment, this is not a ‘talk’ to have with Adam, this is a ‘warning’ to have with Adam and fire his ass and put him on the nearest ship back to Earth.
J
That, and SHE’S HIS BOSS. What the heck mel!
Kitty
Yeah I think the comparison to grabbing someone’s hair is very apt… In particular, if Adam had grabbed a fist full of a black person’s natural hair while making a stupid comment about it, or something else where there is an additional level of obvious cultural baggage coloring the action. Especially disappointed that Mel isn’t even interested in the misgendering enough to ask follow up questions. Talita isn’t expressing herself super clearly, but Mel should be more capable of helping her along.
Vinemaple
Hey, that IS a good analogy! I wish we’d thought of it pages ago, heh…
Tentament
Everyone here hates Adam, but honestly I think Mel is so much worse.
EveryZig314
“You’re so nice. You’re not good, you’re not bad, you’re just *nice*.” -Into The Woods
Enai
Unfortunately, yeah. Talita would’ve been better off talking to Idrisah and Gillie. Or Tod, even.
TotallySomebody
I knew that was going to be Mel’s response…. Augh
Hubert
Lmao does no one normal work at this shithole? This is like when your first relationship is god awful so you don’t know it’s not supposed to be this hard.
tyrone
And….There is the workplace-relationship fracture. I think everyone can see where this is going now.
HAL9000
girl its time to run away
TotallySomebody
Perhaps to the stars…..
EveryZig314
To the stars you say?
sugar-goat
I really like how the “is that it?” is frameless. Really makes The Vibe
eden
yeah! and with every other panel after that exaggerating her size to make you feel more constricted and claustrophobic… it is very effective
ttt
its very similar to the angle of how talita’s face was drawn when she was yanked. mel is *psychologically* yanking on her antler.
Accursed Dirt Boar
Oh yeah that exactly the kind of reaction i expected
I guess we have to poke Mel whit sticks now as well…
Greenjoe
Does Mel actually work as the site’s HR? Or is there some person Talita would be better off going to (if there even would be anyone…)
Matt
Talita I love you, but we gotta work on your communication skills
Bravo
Agreed. This is a violation of personal space and should get Adam sent off on the next ship.
Claire
True, but I really see this as her *trying*. Struggling to do better. And yeah, she is struggling for sure. But man… if this is what she’s consistently met with? No wonder this is where she’s at.
laika wallace
i love the the perspective on these past couple pages, making talita seem like she’s towering over mel (which she is, i guess, but the deliberate choice to show it that way is what i’m talking about). to me it’s really nicely showing how talita feels in this situation, hyperware of her size and her species while trying to get help for harassment that specifically is targeting these things
NotOkapi
Oh Talita, I’m so proud of her for saying anything but of course there’s nothing Mel would think to do that would actually help.