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In which Taylor attends a computer class, makes some new friends, and meets three darling dogs.
This is the discussion post for Arc 2 of Worm, by Wildbow. Any and all comments welcome! Spoilers for events later than this arc must be encoded via rot13.com. Spoilers for this arc should not be encoded.
Want to jump in?
1. Read it online. If this makes your eyes bleed...
2. Email me at Rphoenix2 @ gmail and I'll send you an epub. If you do this, please pay Wildbow something via his PayPal or Patreon. This is not an offer with an expiration date - I'll send it along any time.
Spoilers!
Taylor's school situation is so fucked. I've seen some peoplebeing wrong on the internet arguing that she willfully turns down offers of help, but based on my own experience being bullied at school, she's absolutely right that the offer is worthless and would only make things worse. Mr. Gladly is the teacher, he has the power, he could have intervened when he heard and saw the girls being mean to her, and he instead pushed the responsibility off on Taylor, the victim. He sucks. Also, I want to punch Emma in the face.
This arc really comes to life when Taylor meets the Undersiders. I love their lair - it's so appealing in a teenage way, with the pizza boxes and big TV and Alec's graffiti. Rachel aside, the others are already being nicer to her and valuing her more than anyone in her normal life. The bit where Lisa hugs her and Taylor realizes that no one hugs her but her dad is so heartbreaking.
I'm not sure how much sense Taylor's undercover plan makes on a logical level. Armsmaster already offered her a place with the Wards and she didn't want it due to too much adult control and teenage drama, so it's not clear what she'd actually get from giving him valuable information. I think her plan only makes sense in that it gives her an excuse to make friends with some people who actually want her without her feeling like she's really going over to the side of evil and villainy.
(Actual level of observed evil on the part of the Undersiders at this point: low.)
There's something hilarious about Taylor getting attacked by a Rottweiler, a German Shepherd, and... a one-eyed, one-eared, hairless terrier.
It was very satisfying to see Taylor finally not hold back and instead physically fight back . Brian and Lisa tending Taylor and Rachel's injuries in their lair was oddly sweet and cozy.
"V pbageby ohtf. Gung'f abg tbvat gb fgbc Nyrknaqevn, Tybel Tvey, be Nrtvf."
This line is nothing noteworthy on first read, but with the benefit of hindsight, holy shit.
The Victoria and Amy interlude is fun and makes an excellent compare-and-contrast with the rest of the book. Meet the heroes! Aren't they heroic? Victoria's well-practiced landing pose and letting the breeze blow back her hair cracks me up - I know exactly what pose she means.
I enjoy and appreciate that she beats the shit out of a racist skinhead, but if you're not supposed to just murder people and you're not actually trying to, throwing them across the street and then throwing a dumpster at them is unwise. The accidental overkill reminds me of Taylor accidentally nearly killing Lung with spider bites, but it was the first time Taylor attacked anyone with spiders and she had reason to believe he'd regenerate. This is the sixth time Victoria has nearly killed an unpowered criminal, and she had no reason to believe tossing a dumpster at him wouldn't kill him. Amy won't be able to bail her out if she kills someone on the spot or gives them brain damage!
I also like the difference between the sisters - in particular, Victoria's straightforward violence and Amy's subtle mindfuck.
This is the discussion post for Arc 2 of Worm, by Wildbow. Any and all comments welcome! Spoilers for events later than this arc must be encoded via rot13.com. Spoilers for this arc should not be encoded.
Want to jump in?
1. Read it online. If this makes your eyes bleed...
2. Email me at Rphoenix2 @ gmail and I'll send you an epub. If you do this, please pay Wildbow something via his PayPal or Patreon. This is not an offer with an expiration date - I'll send it along any time.
Spoilers!
Taylor's school situation is so fucked. I've seen some people
This arc really comes to life when Taylor meets the Undersiders. I love their lair - it's so appealing in a teenage way, with the pizza boxes and big TV and Alec's graffiti. Rachel aside, the others are already being nicer to her and valuing her more than anyone in her normal life. The bit where Lisa hugs her and Taylor realizes that no one hugs her but her dad is so heartbreaking.
I'm not sure how much sense Taylor's undercover plan makes on a logical level. Armsmaster already offered her a place with the Wards and she didn't want it due to too much adult control and teenage drama, so it's not clear what she'd actually get from giving him valuable information. I think her plan only makes sense in that it gives her an excuse to make friends with some people who actually want her without her feeling like she's really going over to the side of evil and villainy.
(Actual level of observed evil on the part of the Undersiders at this point: low.)
There's something hilarious about Taylor getting attacked by a Rottweiler, a German Shepherd, and... a one-eyed, one-eared, hairless terrier.
It was very satisfying to see Taylor finally not hold back and instead physically fight back . Brian and Lisa tending Taylor and Rachel's injuries in their lair was oddly sweet and cozy.
"V pbageby ohtf. Gung'f abg tbvat gb fgbc Nyrknaqevn, Tybel Tvey, be Nrtvf."
This line is nothing noteworthy on first read, but with the benefit of hindsight, holy shit.
The Victoria and Amy interlude is fun and makes an excellent compare-and-contrast with the rest of the book. Meet the heroes! Aren't they heroic? Victoria's well-practiced landing pose and letting the breeze blow back her hair cracks me up - I know exactly what pose she means.
I enjoy and appreciate that she beats the shit out of a racist skinhead, but if you're not supposed to just murder people and you're not actually trying to, throwing them across the street and then throwing a dumpster at them is unwise. The accidental overkill reminds me of Taylor accidentally nearly killing Lung with spider bites, but it was the first time Taylor attacked anyone with spiders and she had reason to believe he'd regenerate. This is the sixth time Victoria has nearly killed an unpowered criminal, and she had no reason to believe tossing a dumpster at him wouldn't kill him. Amy won't be able to bail her out if she kills someone on the spot or gives them brain damage!
I also like the difference between the sisters - in particular, Victoria's straightforward violence and Amy's subtle mindfuck.
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