Talita has had this conversation before, but from Verengt's perspective it's going something like this, in human equivalents:
V: So where do you live? 🙂
T: I'm homeless.
V: Huh? Did your family kick you out?
T: I don't have a family, I was raised by wolves.
V: ...Do you want help finding a place to live??
T: No, I'm fine.
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Transcript
Talita: I don’t have a clan.
Verengt's eye widens, mane fluffing out.
Verengt: Exile??
Talita rubs her own shoulder awkwardly.
Talita: No, uh, never had one. I've lived with aliens since I was a baby.
Verengt and their entourage exchange wide eyed, tight-lipped looks, then begin to whisper amongst each other, gesturing and glancing back at Talita. Suddenly, Verengt turns back to address her.
Verengt: We know several large clans looking for new members. If you would like to be introduced–
Talita: –Thanks, but I'm fine with living alone.
46 thoughts on “Runaway to the Stars: Page 260”
Kencf0618
“An unusual case.”
AnormalADN
look who has “wide eyes” now
(translation: very fun to see alien expressions as always)
Adrienne
MEL YOU DID TALITA SO DIRTY
Jackie
Oh so they don’t intend to abduct her but they know clans that might xD (This is related to a previous reply from Jay for context and is not serious).
I love the expressions lol. Even we who are less familiar with typical centaur expressions can tell what those looks mean.
Is there anything stopping Talita from identifying as like a sole matriarch in these situations? Would that even help or be just as strange to other centaurs? Or is producing children a requirement for that? Heck while I’m on that question is there a way she could present herself that would be least alarming to typical centaurs?
Zidane
panel 4 feels like if you inserted that vine boom sfx over it it wouldnt be out of place at all
Zidane
also, random thought, this page made me notice that Yaunda, Pay and Verengt all share the same diamond shaped marking on their trunks, maybe its a common nightchaser trait
gigithebear
awww verengt :C they’re so concerned, they’re so sweet
Jason Myers
Also seeing them all take on the muppet horror expression that Talita frequently has is like. Really nailing in how weird her expressions are for a centaur face!!
Jason Myers
Awww, look at how nice they’re being, worrying for her wellbeing and literally assuming she has no personal autonomy!
Zidane
I think thats a bit of a harsh assumption, they’re obviously presuming she would want to fit into a centaur social structure but based on the page description from their perspective it would probably be more insensitive to not at least offer. I’ll eat my words if they turn out to be really insistent or treat her rudely for rejecting said offer but we’ll have to wait and see
Adrienne
For real though. If I found out my new supervisor lived on the street (apparently a human equivalent to not having a clan), there’s no way I wouldn’t at least ask them “Are you okay??”
HAL9000
how would you even manage this. how do you respond to “the boss was raised by wolves btw”. what?? do they howl?? will your boss start growling at you to tell you things?? are you supposed to bark back at them?? the gwailers are gonna be doing a hell of a lot more of group meetings later on.
also sucks for talita ofc but we all know that
blythe
HELP HAHA not the immediate turning to gossip right in front of the subject
i guess its kinda well meaning but. gwailers please. tact fjgbdjfhjs
topaz
Can you imagine telling that to your workers/children? How do you finish that conversation?
V: “Hey so your new boss was raised by wolves? Don’t question it.”
At least Jachipt went back to neutral eyes rather than surprise like the rest of the entourage.
Archieve
A possible positive spin would be ‘Centaur with deep exposure to human culture has permenatly adapted their mannerisms and way of life to help make a positive first impression with humans unfamiliar/uncomfortable with Centaurs’ but that angle should have been worked out in advance,… wasnt one of Ohwitiils responsibilities diplomacy? if I’m remembering that right, they might have dropped the ball along with Mel here.
krisiverse
Oh dear. I wonder if it would go any better if she’d said Mel was her matriarch…? It’s close to the truth, but definitely still out of the ordinary.
Archieve
Mel seems to scurry away when the meer possibility of needing to provide meaningful support shows up. I agree as weird as calling Mel Talitas “matriach” would be perceived it would have been better then nothing and provided some context as to why Talita doesn’t feel pressured to enter a clan. Unfortunately, the risk is high of her been seen as an essetric hermit now without further context.
T-Bird
I don’t know, I feel like trying to map a matriarch/worker relationship as centaurs understand it onto Mel and Talita would just invite more cultural misunderstandings.
Archieve
It’s a poor comparison to be sure but possibly would show Talita has some socialization/support as opposed to the mentally ill hermit stereotype Centaur culture seems to associate with Centaurs who chose to remain clanless.
gñfs
the council will decide your fate
halley
LMAOOO
hessian
the centaur polycule is perplexed
Claire
Well. Good to know humans and centaurs share “Wide-eyed shock” as an expression.
aves
It’s actually pretty funny, Talita almost always has her eyes waaaaay more open than typical for centaurs, so Jay’s drawn human expression equivalents for her compared to centaur body language and she looks kinda perpetually shocked and/or angry (since her smile bares her teeth).
Lilac
It does make sense they’re *THAT* suprised but it is still mildly startling to see them that way after all these pages of them looking and acting so calm and composed… anyway Mel did you do literally any research at all Mel. Grabbing them and shaking them by the shoulders. Mel did you do ANY research
Tentament
I wonder if we should read anything into Talita saying she lived with “aliens” instead of “humans”
Joey
She’s probably just trying to put things in their perspective. I wonder if a bug ferret fostered centaur would fit better since the families could almost be seen as clan like, though they lack the clear hierarchy. Though logistically adapting bug ferret spaces would be even worse then humsn ones I imagine.
Claire
Not really- I think its as much an accuracy thing as anything, given her proximity to Avians, Bug Ferrets, Humans, but NOT centaurs.
Kaffee
This conversation is turning real sharply real quickly o~o. Talita veing raised vy aliens was one thing, vut according to the page on Centaurs, “Those who stay intentionally clanless are considered to be mad hermits.” I hope that Verengt still wouldn’t react harshly or something, vut internally they definitely are going to lose some respect for Talita after this.
Ellindsey
“I won’t trust my children to the care of a clanless centaur” is a definite way this could go badly. And of course, Mel would blame Talita for it all falling apart.
Kaffee
I’m in awe that Mel spent weeks to months planning this out, taking into account the room designs, their food, etc, vut never thought to do any research into Centaur culture? Like surely if they did even a singular google search, the Clan System would ve like the first thing they’d find? Heck, I think the ease with which they could prolly find that information lends credence to the idea that Mel is aware vut just thought “Oh she could even join a clan too! :D” Which would make Mel leaving her alone with them even worse (o n 0)
Archieve
Unfortunately, that’s probably how Mel thinks, “oh Centaurs are like bug ferrets, I’ll hire more Centaurs who will either take her in or get Talita connections! just like job networking!! aren’t I a great boss?!”
Ellindsey
So on the plus side, Mel apparently hadn’t set this whole thing up as an arranged marriage. That’s something in their favor at least.
But they still didn’t explain like, any, of Talita’s situation to the centaur temps before introducing them.
I hope that Verengt can continue to be cool about this, but I fear this conversation has taken a turn for the worse.
Archieve
Even if humans are metaphorical wolves I think it might have made Talita look slighly less strange if Mel were there to show she had atleast a “friendly wolf” with some influence for a support network.
Joey
Not that any of this is Talita’s fault, but maybe it would go down more smoothly if she specified she’s fine living with humans, rather then alone. If they understsnd sure she’s clanless, but she does have a substitute social structure maybe it would be an easier pill to swallow then oh this centaur is like anti-social or something. Glad the bandaid got ripped off time to see how this goes. I think they are mire likely to give her the cokd shoulder then be outright abusive, though based on this reaction I could see the matriarch refusing to entrust their children to the weird clanless anti-social centaur. Considering how lonely dirtball already is, it wouldn’t take much further social isolation to push Talita to leave I think. Especially with all 3 of her close friends about to leave, and Mel as the only remaining very disatisfying social contact. Well Mel and some aquantinces.
Claire
Honestly, I think its reflective of how Talita feels. She feels alone. And… she’s mostly ok with that.
…Mostly.
MonstieMunchies
I’m so glad concern is their response instead of suspicion or anger. Poor Talita, though, EVERYONE inevitably sees her as a problem to be fixed….
hurgaburga
oof… the first of several awkward culture shocks…
but also new reaction image found 😀 (the 4th pannel with verengt and her entourage looking all shocked and concerned)
Ruby
The sheer SHOCK in their faces! I didn’t need the guide to interpret that one 😂
Tentament
omg I love their expressions in panel 4
Mogo
Oooohhhhh they’re trying to rescue her, that’s so nice of them but…..oogh they have zero way of knowing how hurtful this actually is for poor Talita :'(
Archieve
This remains 100% Mels fault for failing to acknowledge or account for the inevitable cultural divide issues.
Alternate
OH BOY. I mean. They’re. Being nice about it. But it’s still a… a thing to them. A problem. Look how wide their eyes are now! Hooo… I’m so sorry Talita girl, it’s gonna be okay, I PROMMY. YOU GONNA RUNAWAY ITLL BE FINE.
Comparing humans to wolves though, not bad, highly social predators, and dogs and humans bond so well. hfshdf.
Damn is that ‘equivalent conversation’ wild though. Here’s hoping Verengt can make a COMEBACK and still be chill about all this, surprise notwithstanding.
Accursed Dirt Boar
Ohhh noooo they are doing the team huddle while loudly whipering in front of talita
it may be over chat
hurgaburga
it’s been like 30 seconds but yes
Archieve
Can only imagine what’s being said in their native language, I doubt it was purely a list of prospective clan names.