August 22nd, 2017
22 Aug 2017 · page 725 of 1306
Definitely still not friends, though
Cast: Benjamin Thackerey, Heinrich Wolfe, Sidney Malik, Verity Cunningham
Comments (61)
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I'll admit, when Verity first appeared in this chapter I was not pleased because I really didn't like her. But we've gotten to see so many character facets this chapter other than arrogance, from protective cousin to competent adventuress to the bickering with something like affection that we're seeing here, and she's quickly becoming one of my favorites. And I think I can safety assume that what Sid wants to talk to Verity about involves the things Ben said about himself while defeating Pride, and the fact that he took the time to mention it to someone he's observed caring about Ben shows why I adore him as a character.
Out with it then, "Sidney"
If that is your real name
Well, it's one of them!
Yes, at least he didn't ask her to call him by his full name...
Oh yes please!
Oh, Sid.
You always knew your true calling as a street magician cum therapist, didn't you?
Two things about that last panel;
Wolfe looks kind of miserable. Given the context, could it be that his confession about his relationship with Mal is more important to him than he's letting on?
And Ben is the first of the four to be visibly tired. Given that he's the one who summoned Sloth, this might not be a coincidence.
He's tired, oh yes.
But not out of lazyness. He didn't sleep all night, reading books about magic, as we know. And after his outbreak before Pride he must feel devastated and sucked dry.
I wonder if Sloth could get some energy out of him, even he'll fall asleep there. 'Cause he's sorta empty for Sloth' purposes.
At least I think so.
I mean, I HOPE so :)
But, I'm afraid Sloth won't work that way. Sloth wants his exhaustion, I bet. : (
Wolfe and Mal have been constantly together for a good three years, with Wolfe being the person Mal trusts and relies on more than anyone else. I'm not surprised that he's feeling a little lost, poor guy.
To me Wolfe looks more like deep in thought than miserable. Of course, he could very well be thinking about his relationship with Mal, a strange relationship if there ever was one...
This gesture of his... when we see other people doing it, it was embarrassment or uncertainty.
"What do I call you?"
Why 'Magician' of course.
Or...
"There are some who call me... Tim."
I got here too late 😕
It occurs to me that "Sydney" isn't a terrific name for a magician. Sid needs a stage name.
How about 'the Astounding Magnifico'?
[http://www.widdershinscomic...](http://www.widdershinscomic.com/wdshn/january-10th-2017/ "http://www.widdershinscomic.com/wdshn/january-10th-2017/")
Not forgetting his lovely assistant of course.
I'm thinking "Malik: King of Thieves" is my favorite title for our magician.
[http://www.widdershinscomic...](http://www.widdershinscomic.com/wdshn/february-8th-2012/ "http://www.widdershinscomic.com/wdshn/february-8th-2012/")
Much better, especially if he wears the costume.
ALWAYS. HE MUST ALWAYS WEAR THE COSTUME.
To paraphrase the beloved author - "Any excuse to draw Sidney as Malik, the Thiefking"!
Perhaps he should wear it when he is working as a hunter.
ONLY if Harry allows it. I can't see her being crazy about it as a long-term look, since she fights villains like "The Zookeeper". That said, "Harriet Barber and the Thiefking" has a nice ring to it.
I dunno. "Scintillating Sydney" sounds super.
You're friends, Verity.
Friends.
FRRRRRIIIIEEENNNNNNNDDDDSSSSSSSS...
Colleagues, peers, associates, yes. Friends...no.
I don't do friends.
Yes! Go, Sid! I was hoping he would tell Wolfe and/or Vee (the two people here who care most about Ben) about what happened with Pride - they need to know so they can give Ben the extra support and reassurance he really needs right now.
Oh, no! Ben must be exhausted! He's probably really vulnerable to Sloth right now...
Yup. Which is going to go over very well with him, really. :P Getting got by two Deadlies? Gah. :/
Ben's already been gotten by 2 Deadlies: Wrath and Envy. Verity's also fallen prey to 2 of them: Wrath and Pride. Wolfe has only fallen to Pride. I'm not sure how to count Sidney, he started to go under Envy's influence but Verity saved him and he started to go under Pride's influence but Ben saved him.
While everyone was captured by Gluttony's minions no-one actually fell under Gluttony's influence.
Ben's looking vulnerable to Sloth but at least he shouldn't be particularly vulnerable to Greed. How people do against Luxuria is anyone's guess.
=== Ben's looking vulnerable to Sloth but at least he shouldn't be particularly vulnerable to Greed. ===
I am not too sure about it :(
What's concerning Sloth - Ben is very tired, but he has a most useful habit to overcome constantly himself - his not so great magic talent, for example, to become an effective wizard. Or his fear - to fullfil his duty. He's hardworking and diligent. He has experience in the fight against Sloth.
I'd think he could be defeated not by Sloth, but rather by Tiredness. Could be wrong, of course :(
As for Greed... He's just lost his house. Which he bought taking a loan for that (Kate's word). And hе just wanted to insure it, but did not have time (Kate's word as well). So he is broke. And Greed would be able to get him so, using his difficulties.
Where did Kate write about the house, Maria? : )
On Tumblr! [https://katedrawscomics.tum...](https://katedrawscomics.tumblr.com/tagged/answers "https://katedrawscomics.tumblr.com/tagged/answers") It'll be apparent in the comic eventually, but if someone asks something non-spoilery on Tumblr I tend to answer!
Oh, thanks! Haha, this might be enough to tempt me to come back to Tumblr...
Really, the safest thing to do would be to get him outside city limits so he won't be feeding Sloth when he takes a nap.
This page is all kinds of interesting. But. It also makes me feel extremely worried for what is going to happen next. I don't like what's happening in that last panel, not at all.
I'm curious - what strikes you as particularly ominous about it? Ben's been showing signs of tiredness for a while, so that's nothing new, and personally I think Vee learning the reason behind her cousin's mood could be a good thing...
Perhaps Wolfe's posture and his face? He's not happy at all :(
:)
=== and personally I think Vee learning the reason behind her cousin's mood could be a good thing... ===
Seconded, of course :)
That's true. If Wolfe, the party's most constant source of strength and optimism, is slipping into depression, we may have problems...
Ben's exhaustion, Wolfe's abstraction... and what Sid is doing (with the kindest of motives, of course) also worries me. If he and Verity continue gossiping about Ben behind his back in a way that Ben can plausibly pretend not to notice, it might be all right. But if, to Ben's face, they start to ask him how he is feeling, show him any special attention or protectiveness, etc., that will just reinforce the idea that he is incompetent and that they see him as such. Let him at least have a semblance of dignity. : P
>Let him at least have a semblance of dignity.
Ooh, I hadn't thought about that aspect of it. Wolfe at least could be tactful about showing his concern, but Verity doesn't really do subtle...
On other hand, I suppose Ben got used to Verity's lack of subtlety and, even more important, her protective attitude to her "little cousin" Benji, so there is nothing really new for him.
Maybe, if he had a choice, he himself would have preferred that Sid tell Verity, not Wolfe.
I think now Ben really can't hear Sid's words given the distance and Sid's talking behind his hand.
It's not gossip. It's filling in Verity what her cousin was doing to himself while dealing with Pride. Right now, he's pretty much burned through whatever dignity or self-worth he had. And that's dangerous if you let that fester before going into the next confrontation.
Being Ben's cousin, she would know best how to help him with that, and coming from her, it would be better than coming from Wolfe or especially Sidney, who he doesn't know that well at all.
The way they're fracturing.
This day has dragged on them, and their ability to band together is being undone by the constant battering. Look at the way they're standing. Ben on his own, not talking to anyone. Wolfe pensive and uncomfortable, also alone. Sidney is still unflappable but he can't carry all of them.
Yay Sid and Verity!
I'm a bit worried about Ben and Wolfe. Ben is probably exhausted but maybe also covering up some embarrassment? Wolfe with his hand gripping the other arm looks uncertain or hurt or lacking his usual confidence.
I'm an idiot. I was wondering whether it'd be sloth or greed next but of course it's sloth, we're going in reverse order.
Oh, GOOD! Sid's taking care of Ben. Somebody's got to! Wolfe takes care of Mal, and Harry takes care of Sid, and somebody's got to make sure Ben gets his quota of hugs and warm drinks.
I know we've got a half-dozen volunteers in here, though. >.>
You're telling her that Ben needs hugs, yes?
I'm interested to see whether the next page actually shows Sid telling her, or just cuts to Vee charging over and hugging Ben off his feet...
Think that's a real yawn or a sign they're getting close to Sloth?
Possibly both!
The "Yaaaawn" is not blue, so it may be just an ordinary yawn.
He's been up since the previous day.
So here is what disturbs me about this story up to this point...where is Luxuria? I just have this feeling that the pieces are moving around the chessboard exactly as he planned. I suspect that the results of these desummonings were all accounted for and are working to further his grand agenda...of which I have not the faintest clue. In other words...he has a cunning plan.
Yay, Sidney, you met my expectations, both of them! :)
And what a piece of diplomacy, telling Verity your own embarrassing secret! Especially with her attitude to wizards. ;)
Verity, if you really help Ben with his "problem", the 5th place in my top list is yours. :)
ben needs a hug and some validation
Proud of Sidney for admitting his school failure to Vee. Even without Ben's prompting.
I just realized right from the get-go Mal and Wolfe are almost always referred to by their last names and all, and unless they're family or friends a lot of people call the Barbers 'Barber' and Sidney was calling Verity Miss Cunningham and use of first names shows they're getting closer to friends here etc, but pretty much -everyone- already calls Ben 'Ben'. Or, you know, in Verity's case something even more embarrassingly familiar.
The best of not friends!
Just wait until she finds out his full name, it'll be Lancelot all day long. Maybe even Lance!