He left.
on March 23, 2018 at 12:01 amTrying to figure out what narrative purpose the alcohol served, based on Dina’s dialogue, other than the usual Fundie Hangups. Like, it sounds like she’s saying she strategically gave herself to Mike in the hopes that he wouldn’t abandon her, like everyone else. And I drew Mike scowling even while he sleeps, just to visually confirm that he’s not (presently, at least) drunk.
yeah probably just fundie hangups
Dina is not having a good day.
And Walky has some baggage he’s probably not going to work through healthily.
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And now Walky knows one of the many things that scares people like Joyce about sex.
Holy shit everyone’s eyes have whites today.
They must be possessed or something.
Oh, he looks fine. You’re such a worrywart.
I always found this sequence so painful because I really like Dina.
I found it painful b/c I was always distressed when one’s first time wasn’t at *least* completely, unambiguously consensual.
But then I learned that “it’s just sex” and it’s not like future times can’t be just as or more pleasant.
Basically, “fuckin’ hang-ups, who needs ’em”
(which isn’t to say I don’t also feel bad for Dina, just that if there was even a little enjoyment in the act before the regret set in, at least there was that, vs. 100% submission for the sake of it)
[but by now I’m overthinking what should really just be “why can’t grown adults just get to enjoy sex instead of guilt and manipulation being involved ever”]
I’m fairly familiar with depression, and my guess is that she didn’t want someone who would stay. She wanted someone who would confirm that she wasn’t worth staying with. She wanted to get to the point where she could cry for herself. So, Walky, she’s about as alright as she’s able to be without help, and you just left her behind to take care of your own guilt and anger.
I’d argue that she wanted someone to prove that she was worth staying with, considering she was already crying for herself in a dark room. This is confirming that she is, in fact, not worth it in her own mind and plays into her character arc.
I don’t think she necessarily had a clear idea of what she wanted. It is entirely possible to both want help and want someone to confirm your darkest fears about yourself. Especially if you’re choosing to not look at your own internal workings very closely.
This is going to be one of the half-dozen occasions in this continuity when Walky nearly beats Mike to death, isn’t it? The disturbing ones where you get the impression that Mike wants someone to murder him in some horrible, conscience-scarring manner?
I figured that was canon.
I have a feeling this story arc will end well for everyone involved.
yep, there won’t be any tears, attempted murders, or explosions, all will be well
And everyone will be doing the best they could.
Dina flat out said what the narrative purpose of the alcohol was. “Maybe if I drink people will like me” is an unfortunately common idea and is a pretty clear clue to what Dina’s issues actually are.
Generally I like Mike. Sure he’s a jerk but like every other Mike I’ve known once you accept that he’s a jerk and deal with him on his terms he can be useful to have around. This particular Mike tends to use his evil as a catalyst for character growth in the people around him. The DoA version even more so. Whether or not this is his intent is debatable. But, not having read It’s Walky before I’m not liking Mike very much right now. I can understand why he did what he did. Sleeping with Walky’s ex that he didn’t really care about anyway is a good way to take a jab at Walky being a twat about not getting to sleep with the girlfriend he does care about. From Mike’s viewpoint the collateral damage caused to Dina is just a bonus. And maybe payback for what Dina did to Mike but I’m not sure Mike even thinks that way.
Dina is, simply put, not a great person. But to me the fascinating thing is she’s really kind of the same person she is in DoA. She has no clue how to interact with other people. But here she’s in a completely different environment with completely different expectations put upon her and no one makes a serious effort to try to help her understand. She makes some absolutely horrid decisions but I can see why she does. I still don’t like her, but I do pity her.
Why would she think he would stay? Has Mike ever expressed or even hinted that that was something he would do? That he gave one lonely mountain dwelling crap about anyone but Mike? So he slept with a lonely, depressed and vulnerable girl. Was it a scummy thing to do? Absolutely. Was it going to lead to a picket fence and happily ever after? No way.
It was all Dina felt she had to offer.