Terms Of Endearment
only took me 4952 comics to figure out what clipping masks are for
Comments (89)
Foreshadow: 1) This job is going to consume a lot of Claire's time. 2) Martin is not going to find something he loves/wants to do in Cube town for employment
Up next: Marten wanders in to peep some tentacles and JellyDirector finally own up to being a huge Deathmøle fan.
'Being needed' is a very powerful form of seduction. I think she'll do great, me; but I think Cubetown'll drive her to new levels of batshit. And Marten just may end up with his girlfriend as his boss-- he has to do *something* if he's living there too, right?
He was her boss
Simply put, they're not asking her to be only a librarian/information management person. Her remuneration here should be beyond a simple starting salary kinda thing. She should also have some significant benefits attached.
I really love that the local librarian might be the most powerful human in Cubetown, though. Makes me all tingly!
Slimegirls 😳
The Director bloops quietly. The Director bloops. The Director. The.
showmethemoney.gif
givemethemoney.gift
On site full time to get up to speed and as necessary afterwards. Remote as an option most of the time. For AIs "remote" and "present" already are more flexible concepts
"Au contraire Claire" should be a phrase like "Take a hike Mike" or "see you later, alligator".
The easy way to tell an alligator from a crocodile? An alligator will eat you later, while a crocodile will eat you after a while. (I'll go quietly, occifer Raccoon.)
"No explosions MEAN no explosions"
There’s probably a version of this where Claire makes some recommendations and policies as remote work. Less stress than actually living there, which keeps Claire’s sanity higher.
It's a gorgeous page. I am still worried about Claire. Pushing back on Cubetown's nonsense seems like a Sisyphean task.
Agreed. Is it one that you can make tangible progress with? Or will it just be a series of averted disasters (with further disasters waiting in the wings)?
I have no clue what clipping masks are, but whatever it is that you're doing differently on this page is taking your art to a whole new level!
*a whole new layer
So basically they're looking for a Cuddy. Gotcha.
Any reason the Morays are female? Aside from the, you know, squishiness?
Because Jeph knows his audience.
I've known what clipping masks are for for maybe a year. Someday I hope to learn to use them.
Finally, someone who negotiates sensibly.
Tabogganing down the slippery slope.
This seems rather like being The Doctor's assistant. Yes, you're wildly out of your depth, as practically anyone would be. But it's such an insane, world expanding experience that you would always regret it if you didn't at least give it a shot
I would say the likelihood of death is lower, but... it might not be 😅
They've heard of Claire's insistence! Libraries: Serious Business, and Cubetown wants--actually, needs--some of that. https://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2869
Well, it is a pretty memorable early example of Claireface. Plus watching Tai and Claire continue to bond is always a treat.
oooo the lighting is so so so good
It's gorgeous
In this case, the youth and lack of experience is important. An older, more experienced person would either balk at the chaos, or try to force it to comply with traditional institutions.
Saying "young" was unfortunate imho. It wasn't really youth but untouched by institutionalization.
If all the bs was just a test to see if Claire would fold or submit.. well, if it were me I'd be very angry.
Mmm, no, I don't think it's as calculated as that. I think this is just how Cubetown is. Maybe if Claire had continued with the regular tour/induction she would have wound up in a meeting with the Director eventually anyway? Or maybe she would just be having this conversation with the other Moray. But I don't think it's some kind of elaborate test.
At one point, I thought the QC universe was the precursor to Alice Grove's universe. Now I'm thinking the Director might be the reason it won't be.
Not to mention that Jeph has stated multiple times that there’s no connection between the two universes.
Wow—QC has come a long way. Love this story.
Claire has managed to handle personal changes most folks cannot fathom, has interacted with some rather... unique personalities, and is well connected to various powers in the QC universe. I can see why a next level AI would pick her out as a ideal candidate.
Does the next level AI *know* about those connections? (I find that a generally interesting question. I assumed not, but maybe high-level AIs have a secret club or something).
Admit it, Claire, they had you at "averse to nonsense."
It's the ultimate temptation.
Oh goodness. Marten and Evan are in for a "paradigm shifting without a clutch" moment when Claire gets back to them! Especially since I'm guessing Claire is likely to have as much of a fierce "not accepting this nonsense" look on her face when she comes out as when she went in.
I don't quite trust this mess, but Claire is absolutely the type to see this as a challenge she can't pass up. I can only guess the Director saw something about her that linked to something random.
They’re like a sentient lava lamp?
Aren't they all?
I still don’t understand how she specifically was identified as their candidate. But the rest is starting to make sense.
Black slab + cup holder could have got them interested?
I hope terms include a job for Marten - I could definitely see him fitting in.
I still think Marten becomes a radio DJ and specializes in classical indie music.
This page is gorgeous! Also I'm so glad she's giving it a shot!
Claire = sanity's halfway house
I am LOVING this story.
QC's had a hell of a glow up across the 20 years it's been running.
Wow. I HAVE been reading this for almost 20 years. Wow.
I hope you’re feeling better, Jeph. Looking forward to QC in 2023.
It sounds like they need parental supervision...
Well, if she and Marten were ever going to have kids, adoption was the only way that was going to happen anyway, so...
This is awesome! What's a clipping mask?
Ooo lighting effects
Im so excited! What a way to kick off the year :D
I think the director is not telling us the whole story: they want someone else on the team with freckles.
Who wouldn't?
I’m so glad she’s saying yes.
also clipping masks are fun i made an apple music “fade text into background” setup on a website by setting a clipping mask to use a linear gradient from black to white, so it faded into the gradient background (apple cheats and just has a solid bg xD)
Aaaaaaaa
helll yeah
I'm guessing cliping masks = dramatic lighting. Is that right?
I don't envy Claire. To push back against the nonsense is a very draining job.
I can FEEL the battle insider her between taking the bait and running away screaming.
with great power comes great resistance and currency. Hmm something seems wrong.
Try again; there seemed to be plenty of potential in that statement.
I just noticed that the Director's section of ocean is not just any salt water - it seems to contain Himalayan pink salt.
So he’s abominable? Does he have a pet rabbit named George?
I’m only up to 4949 comics Jeph! NO SPOILERS!
Welp. The crossing of the Northlumberland Strait has happened. Claire is now the Cubetown library science expert.
You mean that she's read the rubric on this assignment?
I love the dramatic lighting on this one.
The lighting in the last two panels is a whole new level of drama for QC.
Are clipping masks the thing used for coloring things in, or am I mixing up terms?
Oh... oh Jeph. Clipping masks are a beautiful magic.
Don't belive in yourself, Claire. Believe in the slime girl avatar of the giant AI Jellyfish that believes in you!
Wait what ARE clipping masks for?
Came here to ask this question too.
So, for those of us who dabble, what are they for?
In this case, I used them to do the lighting effects on the characters while keeping them separate from the background. Saves a lot of time!
Oh, panels two and five are *delights*.
Go, Claire, go! Chase that horizon! You know what you’re worth!
I still haven't figured them out, so I feel you.