NEGATIVE ONE: Comic synopses: Dax

Title Synopsis

0050 dax #1: small fires First appearance of Dax and the hippies. Dax--who doesn't have a name as such--finds himself climbing out of a lake and hiding in the long beach grass, watching some strange native creatures who are camping, smoking, eating, and drinking. Dax allows himself to be discovered, and the amiable hippies try to feed him. He takes this as a sign that they want to be friends, and resolves to try to learn.

0058 dax #2: adopted son The hippies discuss Dax and reveal that he can talk a little (he's a fast learner). Dax decides he is hungry and hunts a rabbit, then realizes he has a strong feeling that he must honor the creature's spirit with a prayer.

0066 dax #3: in respect One of the hippie girls objects to Dax's having killed a bunny, and Dax wants to make sure she knows he was respectful in his hunt. He shows all the hippies what he did to pay homage to the rabbit and Mother Earth, and finds that the hippies respect him for it.

0074 dax #4: just say no The hippie girl who was disgusted by Dax's kill in the last episode has now warmed up to him and is trying to make him talk. Later the hippies go swimming, and Dax thinks it's interesting that the girls take off their clothes, but he also thinks it makes them rather uncivilized. He would never disrobe in front of others.

0082 dax #5: i trust them Dax helps the hippies pack up their stuff and load it into their van. They talk amongst themselves and decide to invite him along. The van is a foreign concept to Dax, but he trusts his companions enough to enter it.

0090 dax #6: a new person Dax experiences a ride in a vehicle for the first time, and goes with his hippie friends to "the ranch," where he meets and is marginally accepted by the host of the property.

0098 dax #7: two times over Dax describes having made himself at home in a barn and talking to his companions. He asks one girl to help him learn to read, and finds that there is no word for either his type of creature or his individual self. He wonders why he came to such a world.

0106 dax #8: words for it During a cookout party with his hippie friends, Dax meets some new hippie types and has a sacred experience with the full moon. He thinks of the moon as the Earth Goddess's eye.

0114 dax #9: human nature Dax discovers that some of his hippie companions have a tendency to steal from others. Dax is appalled by this practice, even though one of his friends claims it's just "human nature." He ponders whether he can even continue to keep company with people who would do such a thing.

0122 dax #10: guilt trip Dax's companions deny him the opportunity to come into a convenience store with them because he isn't human. Then he gets guilt-tripped into cooperating with a scheme to collect money from letting a curious store worker look at him like an exhibit.

0130 dax #11: scary Dax decides to take meeting new people into his own hands against the hippies' advice, and only ends up scaring some passersby. Dax and the lead hippie discuss the situation.

0138 dax #12: stolen trust Dax becomes desperately lonely always being left out, but when he seeks to join his companions' action he witnesses two different incidents of stealing. He decides to leave based on not wanting to keep company with such people, and finds out one of the hippies' names. He promises her that he will return in one month to see if either of them have changed.

0146 dax #13: colored lights Dax seeks shelter in what turns out to be a nightclub, and observes humans and their colored lights and dancing. He makes contact with a few clubgoers, some of whom are under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs.

0154 dax #14: new attitude Intrigued by the idea that he may be able to see eye to eye with these humans if he samples the clubgoers' hallucinogenic drugs, Dax agrees to try a hit of acid.

0163 dax #15: ghosts Dax wakes up under the streets of the city after apparently tripping on acid, but he doesn't remember the experience and seems to have garbled some of his older memories. But as he meditates, he realizes he has a few memories he never had before, and he decides that he will not allow his wish to trust humans to destroy his memories or his values again.

0169 dax #16: second choice Dax ventures aboveground once night falls, finds a dumpster with some edible fast food cast-offs in it, and takes a drink from a squirting fire hydrant. He pursues entertainment by following the sound of a radio, wishing for conversation but settling for his second choice.

0175 dax #17: talking back Dax spends the night in a crawlspace under a store and listens to the radio. In the morning he's awoken by a little girl who thinks he might be a monster and wants to give him a snack.

0178 dax #18: dark places The little girl under whose father's store Dax is hiding decides to bring Dax some basically edible food, believing he is a monster but undisturbed by it. He consumes it and wonders what he can give her in return.

0184 dax #19: loneliness Dax listens to the little girl who gave him food last time pretend to read a book to him, and that night he gets sick from food he ate out of a dumpster. He decides he wants to somehow return to hunting his own food so he will know he can trust it, and determines that when the hippies return, he will ask them to take him back to where they found him. He's disappointed that there's no foreseeable future for him that doesn't involve loneliness.

0187 dax #20: home The hippies return, keeping their promise to meet Dax. They say they're going home, and agree to drop him off at the place where they found him. Then they drive away and he's on his own.

0191 dax #21: in common After running into Weaver shortly after a successful hunt, Dax gets to talk to the strange little blue guy and they discover they both have no memories before crawling out of a lake, and that they both have had bad experiences with humans. Even though they're very physically different, they seem to have a lot in common, and Dax offers to share his meal with Weaver as part of an attempt to become allies. He also discovers that Weaver has a sense of humor.

0197 dax #22: home base Weaver shows Dax around the area, finally ending up showing him a cave where he invites Dax to sleep. Dax ponders that he and Weaver have some differences, and hopes that in comparing notes they don't end up disappointing each other.

0204 dax #23: honor the mother Dax starts a fire for atmosphere instead of cooking food this time, wanting to share a serene celebration of sorts with his new companion. The two look at the moon and discuss the best ways to honor the Mother, and they touch on what they think the "Father" might be in a spiritual context.

0210 dax #24: colors of language Dax discovers that his new friend has the ability to conceal himself well in the trees (even though he's not a very good color for it), and then they discuss language. Dax is very excited at the prospect of Weaver teaching him more language and how to use the written word (now that he's revealed he can also read and write).

0216 dax #25: the context of time While Weaver is napping, Dax practices his letters by writing in the sand, and becomes frustrated that he has nothing to write. Taking inspiration from the date on a magazine, Dax decides to draw a calendar, and shows it to Weaver when he wakes up. The two decide they should start keeping track of time and the moon's movements. But first they have to find paper, because the waves destroy their sand calendar.

0222 dax #26: expressions of honor Dax and Weaver get used to each other over the course of a few weeks of planning and executing moon rituals. They come up with a new "successful hunt" procedure, and they enjoy the new and full moon rituals. They decide to take their time in coming up with the best ways to honor their "Mother," and Dax again expresses how thankful he is to have a "brother."

0228 dax #27: the same voice Weaver tells Dax that he heard a singing woman in the forest, and Dax suggests that it is probably the voice of the Mother, who is rewarding them with a song for giving Her offerings. Weaver is doubtful, but Dax has heard the voice too and is convinced the singing is not coming from a living creature.

0232 dax #28: dedication Dax experiences some self-consciousness while performing his poem written for the Mother in front of Weaver. But he had nothing to worry about; Weaver enjoys the poem and uses it to dedicate his sword to Her as well. Then Dax is puzzled by Weaver's joke about needing to go do guy things after all the emotion.

0240 dax #29: perfect balance A somewhat montage-like episode features Dax's thoughts on winter and some day-to-day information about how they're surviving in the lean season. Dax is still quite content despite the repetitiveness and difficulty of his life.

0244 dax #30: why do we? Dax has a faith crisis because Weaver suggested their devotion to their beliefs does not protect them from harm. Dax discusses the matter with his brother and finds resolution, and is pleasantly surprised by the depth of Weaver's wisdom.

0250 dax #31: describing the moments Dax reflects on his accomplishments in literacy/language, and how he feels about his brother's role in shaping his mind.

0257 dax #32: surprise attack Dax and Weaver are relaxing before dinner plans when a stranger approaches from the direction of the ocean. Unsure of what to do, the pair hides in the forest, only to see the stranger examining their cave. Weaver won't stand for this and attacks the newcomer, putting his wings around his eyes so he can't see while Dax questions him and tells him to leave. Instead of running, though, the man turns around for a look at his attackers, which makes Dax curious.

0263 dax #33: by the rules Dax takes Weaver's sword away and claims that threatening the stranger with it was enough to tarnish it, requiring purification of the sword through burial for three days. Weaver protests this, and Dax's treatment of him toward the stranger, and the two bicker about how to treat him. Eventually Weaver consents to have a civil conversation with Alix, but Dax feels guilty about the way he treated Weaver to get to that point.

0269 dax #34: what's your story? After Weaver leaves to pick apples, Dax and Alix find out each other's life stories, and Dax learns about Alix's failed quest to live in the ocean. Dax also philosophizes about why he and Weaver have different attitudes toward an invader, and he offers to teach Alix how to hunt.

0277 dax #35: bonding experience Over a campfire, Dax subtly encourages Weaver and Alix to get along by suggesting storytelling, and hopes that the three of them can eventually trust each other.

0283 dax #36: central to life Dax and Weaver discuss Alix's presence in their lives and decide he will be permitted to learn survival techniques from them, but that they do not intend to deliberately instruct him on their spiritual beliefs.

0287 dax #37: without a fight Alix comes to Dax to ask for mediation since Weaver is "being a jerk" to him. Dax refuses to make it easier for him, though, since he believes Weaver is reacting with hostility only because Alix remains separate from nature in philosophy. He suggests to Alix that Weaver will accept him only when he deserves it, and that he should WANT his journey to be difficult if it is to be worth anything.

0295 dax #38: what you can do Alix offers up his feelings on being essentially between worlds where he fits in with no one, and Weaver surprises Dax by relating to him on several points. Dax is puzzled to hear his friends discussing how they'd change themselves, and he tries to get them to be positive about what they can do rather than focus on what opportunities their conditions prevent.

0299 dax #39: something i decided Weaver expresses happiness at Alix's being temporarily absent, which makes Dax worry that he's made his best friend miserable by arranging the terms to let Alix stay. But he's reassured somewhat when Weaver insists he doesn't hate Alix and doesn't want Dax to make him leave. They joke about what they do wish he would change, though.

0303 dax #40: respectable While taking Alix on a hunting trip, Dax discusses whether using tools makes Alix "unnatural." Dax sees no ethical issue with using tools, since the intellect that allows Alix to create such things is just as natural as the animal instincts he lacks. Alix appreciates Dax's philosophy and offhandedly complains that Weaver should be more like him, which leads into Dax's advice for Alix on how to get Weaver's respect . . . which is basically, stop trying.

0315 dax #41: to grow from Alix returns from picking nuts with Weaver to ask Dax about the voice in the forest. Surprised that Alix heard it, Dax begins to admit to himself that the voice must not be divine if Alix can hear it, and tries to find out how open Alix is to Mother-based Earth spirituality without giving away too much. He soon discovers Alix is not personally interested, but that he is basically respectful. At the end of the conversation Alix knows that Dax worships a Mother Earth, and he disagrees with Dax's practice of sacrificing some of his hunt to Her.

0319 dax #42: unless he wants to be seen Dax realizes it's been a long time since they've seen Weaver, and Alix is unable to properly estimate how long he's been missing, so Dax gets worried and insists on combing the area to look for him. Coming up empty, Dax dissolves more into worry while Alix tries a bit too flippantly to reassure Dax and avoid getting blamed. Dax meditates on the situation, hoping the Mother will lead him to a revelation about Weaver's whereabouts.

0325 dax #43: imagining the worst While worrying about Weaver's disappearance, Dax finds Alix's attitude frustrating and is relieved when Alix falls asleep. Dax prays for Weaver to come back, and in the morning when they still haven't found him he begins to despair. But soon enough Weaver does return and Dax and Alix shower him with attention and welcomes. However, when Weaver avoids the question of why he made them worry and distracts them by showing off a bunch of new junk items he grabbed on his adventure, Dax knows there's more to the story.

0337 dax #44: humble and civil Now that Adele has wandered onto their beach, Dax and Weaver and Alix have to figure out how to talk to her and figure out what this strange woman wants. Dax feels that his companions are a bit too brusque and that he should be the one to speak to her himself, and the others take offense when he insists that he should be the ambassador and they should stay quiet. Dax speaks carelessly and surprises his companions, and their reaction causes Dax to wonder whether he's really as civil as he thought.

0343 dax #45: for what purpose? While hammering out a disagreement between Alix and Adele, Dax observes how Adele uses her understanding of others to placate Alix and make him feel included. She points out that everyone but Alix is from another world, and when he argues that such a thing doesn't make him human, Adele agrees that he should get to define who he is. She wants to know, though, whether Dax, Weaver, or Alix know about an absent person who might also be from another world, and Weaver points out the singing invisible woman in the forest. Dax wonders whether Adele is gathering unusual people for some purpose, and whether he wants to be included if he doesn't understand why she's doing it.

0353 dax #46: her strength Dax is excited about the idea of learning from and teaching Adele, the newest person in their group. He ends up getting more than he bargained for when he asks what she'll be teaching them, and is a bit confused by the wealth of information she has about their health (and how to make it better). He asks her about her methods of knowing and finds it somewhat incomprehensible and overwhelming.

0359 dax #47: if i liked her Dax and Weaver notice that Adele and Alix are away talking somewhere, and when Weaver jokes that maybe they're having a romantic conversation, they talk about their attitudes toward dating outside their species, and Dax wonders about the differences between him and his brother.

0383 dax #48: practically destroyed Dax and the others have split up to look for the invisible woman in the forest, and when Alix returns to the group he's had a sighting. Having managed to actually SEE her without her invisibility field on, Alix explains that she looks a bit like an angel, and describes having shared seaweed salad with her. Adele is inspired to have a vision of the invisible woman's home world, which suggests that her invisiblity is an evolutionary defense against the sun because her people's skin is so pale. Sadly, Adele also knows that the woman's trip across the dimension is what is responsible for her inability to speak or reason typically. Dax wonders what's left of her.

0395 dax #49: unnamed A montage issue shows the beach crew getting closer to the invisible woman and teaching her to accept their company. In preparation for getting her to wear clothes, Adele successfully gets her to wear a bracelet, which she likes. Dax wonders about what they should call her for a name, and wishes she could name herself.

0399 dax #50: like an animal Adele comes back from a trip with a yellow dress for their recently named mysterious forest dweller, and the group discusses the possible drawbacks of giving her clothes. Weaver seems concerned about it and Alix is dismissive about his worries, which makes Dax think his brother has an insight no one else has thought of.

0415 dax #51: an actual woman Weaver unexpectedly brings a piece of mirror to a moon ritual with Dax, and they combine it with other feminine symbols like water and a bowl to have a pleasant goddess-meditation. When Adele unexpectedly wanders close to them, Dax examines his feelings about why he hopes she won't join them, and breaks down his complicated relief when she just walks by.

0423 dax #52: talking far away After Adele returns from one of her city trips, Dax and Weaver are delighted to find that she's brought back a radio, but she intends to use it to play music and tapes for Neptune and they're disappointed that they don't get to use it first. Dax sneaks off with it in the night to listen to the advice talk shows he remembers, and Weaver finds him after he's fallen asleep and tries to take it to listen to music. They end up listening to music together. Dax is amazed that humans have created technology that lets us hear stories hidden in the air.

0429 dax #53: patterns Dax keeps making observations that seem silly to his companions. This is a montage episode of him blurting out patterns he's noticed and dealing with his friends not knowing what to make of it, and he concludes that he doesn't care if they think he's weird.

0435 dax #54: no big deal Dax has to put off his bath because Alix is already occupying the place where he wants to bathe, but Alix takes issue with Dax's discomfort with nudity and wants to know why he's such a prude. Dax, for his part, is angry that Alix wants him to justify his feelings, rationalizing that his perspective on clothing is one of the only feelings he has left from where he came from.

0449 dax #55: good teachers Dax yearns to read more competently, but finds himself disappointed in his ability to read a mythology book Adele bought for Weaver. He has a conversation with Alix about how long it took him to learn to read and discusses strengths and weaknesses.

0472 dax #56: a reason for everything When Weaver comes flying into the picture screaming about how Adele is returning and she has a child with her, Dax doesn't know what to think. Alix is immediately hostile to the idea, but Dax and Weaver are just confused. Dax assumes Adele must have had a good reason to bring a human child to their beach. When Adele arrives with the child, Dax observes that she looks apprehensive and hopes he's not too scary to her.

0483 dax #57: about being strong When it becomes clear to Dax that the new child has incredibly powerful extra abilities, he's a little intimidated, but willing to work with the others on creating the best environment for her. He knows a few things about being strong, and thinks the girl will feel included and less likely to hurt anyone if she feels like a necessary part of the group, so he would like to teach her to help with survival tasks. Alix, however, is worried about the effects of possible tantrums, and Adele wants her to have a human education.

0491 dax #58: open to me As the crew prepares for their first dinner with their new member, Dax notices the child staring at him over the fire while sitting in Adele's lap, and notices she's telekinetically stealing berries from his bowls and seems to be trying to avoid his notice. When he does notice, she seems to fear him and puts the berry back, so Dax immediately gives her a handful of berries so she knows he's her ally, not an impediment to her comfort.

0498 dax #59: some epic plan Dax is returning to camp with his water buckets when Alix finds him in the woods and relays his experiences getting dive-bombed with nuts and his concern about Weaver teaching the girl to target him. Dax is somewhat sympathetic to Alix's dilemma, but insists that Weaver probably has a good reason for what he's doing and that they should not jump to conclusions before asking him what he's trying to do. Alix declares that he would sooner leave the group than be cast as the victim of a super-powered child.

0501 dax #60: the real story Now that the girl has gone a step further in having a wetting accident in Alix's lap, Dax is trying to find out what Weaver's really up to and prompts Alix to air his grievances in front of himself and Weaver. After Weaver continues to make light of Alix's objections, Dax realizes in the course of mediation that Weaver isn't disclosing his entire intentions, and wonders what it will take for him to come clean.

0503 dax #61: a chance for peace With Weaver's plot to allow the girl controlled rebellion out in the open, Alix still insists that Weaver not encourage any mischief at his expense, and he stalks off. Dax and Weaver have a discussion of why Weaver thinks this balance is important and is willing to risk his own safety for her happiness, and Dax wonders how he would handle controlling her behavior since his usual technique of using his strength wouldn't work.

0509 dax #62: promise me back Dax gets interrupted from listening to his favorite talk radio program by Weaver and Ivy barging in and trying to take the radio so they can listen to music. Weaver is insistent that he just wants to borrow it for her, while Dax thinks it's important she learns how to share. He finds himself spooked by Ivy's casual confidence when it seems like she's just going to take the radio whether he wants her to or not, but he manages to figure out how to use peaceful strategies to get her to respect him.

0514 dax #63: being quiet Ivy approaches Dax to ask him what hunting is, so he explains about being quiet and stealthy to catch animals. Not understanding why stealth is necessary, Ivy demonstrates that she can catch a squirrel without being quiet at all, and dubs herself a better hunter than Dax before flying away with the water bottles he was going to take back to the base. He's a little miffed, but realizes that if she does indeed lighten his load, he'll have more time for personal betterment.

0532 dax #64: silent e Ivy enlists help from Dax in figuring out a mystery word in the clue Weaver gave her, and is dismayed when she finds out sometimes letters don't make any noise at all. Dax agrees to help Ivy figure out the meaning of the clue, and is quite curious himself even though this is supposed to be Ivy's reading exercise.

0534 dax #65: my place Dax helps Ivy puzzle out a more complicated clue, and even though he lends her valuable insight, he's stumped by Weaver's message as well. He wonders what Ivy will think of him if he becomes unable to function with as much confidence and competence as the authorities in Ivy's life.

0536 dax #66: words you can't believe Dax and Weaver discuss why Weaver feels Dax stepped over the line helping Ivy too much, but Dax is upset that Weaver thinks he can't be trusted. They resolve their differences and try to figure out how to best use games for helping Ivy learn.

0548 dax #67: sun and moon Weaver consults Dax on Ivy's recent questions about gender. Dax reveals that despite how Alix described working with someone who identified as female despite being assigned male at birth, he really sees men and women as biological categories, like opposites--sun and moon, day and night. But when Weaver asks him the hard questions he's been thinking about since Alix brought them up, he has to admit he too would respect someone's preferences if asked, and begins wondering if Nature is really as divided as he'd initially suggested.

0558 dax #68: sharing the victory Dax details the rules of the group's new scavenger hunt/reading game, and discusses how he feels about when Ivy wins. He prefers that she wins, but he particularly likes when he wins alongside her.

0567 dax #69: i'll ask Ivy's unexpected disappearance hits Dax harder than he expected, and he consults Adele about what she knows on the subject. From there, they digress into Dax's desire to know more about Adele's opinion of her own future-seeing experience, but Adele objects to the way he appears to be asking for permission to question her without repercussions. He realizes she needs to be the one to lead the way in this conversation so it can be on her terms, or else it's not really about her at all.

0575 dax #70: too quiet Dax watches his companions absorbed in solitary, quiet activities that in some way emphasize Ivy's absence. He surprises everyone by bursting out asking to talk about Ivy, suggesting that they discuss how to make sure she won't want to leave again if she does come back.

0583 dax #71: special filter Adele has given instructions to the group to be happy but not overenthusiastic when Ivy comes back, so she won't run away again next time she wants attention. Dax has mixed feelings about this. When Ivy arrives carrying Weaver, he worries something has happened. After Ivy hugs everyone, he privately asks Weaver if he's okay, glad he doesn't have to mask his feelings in this case, but Ivy interrupts to announce that they have bruises and pains. Dax is anxious.

0592 dax #72: where it came from Dax awaits Ivy and Weaver's return, holding a rabbit he's killed. As Weaver helps prepare it, Ivy watches, and they give her some perspective on why they return part of the animal to the Earth. Dax believes Ivy is getting an inkling that she is alive the same way the rabbit used to be.

0598 dax #73: a different secret Ivy asks for Dax's help spelling a word, and then later she turns up with "secret" notes for the others, telling Dax that he "smells the best." Alix brings it up at dinner, oblivious to Ivy's intended secrets, and it's revealed to the group that Ivy's given "secret" notes to everyone except Adele because they already have a secret and she wanted to have one with everyone else. Alix seems suspicious of Adele for having a secret, and Dax reflects on why he's curious but doesn't feel entitled to hear her secret.

0608 dax #74: where it's going Dax goes into the home cave to comfort Adele and agrees to listen to her problems. She pours out her story of how she met Webster and how they're involved through letters, and reveals some of her insecurities and conflicting emotions. When Dax validates her feelings and says she's allowed to have them without being selfish, she becomes even more emotional. Dax realizes while offering her a hug that maybe Adele isn't used to being treated like she's allowed to have a self.

0612 dax #75: the problem child Weaver has asked Dax to talk to Alix about his attitude, so Dax takes him on a hunting trip and does so. He quickly finds out that Alix is bitter and jealous, and feels impotent over both his inability to discipline Ivy without major risk and everyone else's treating him like he's the problem. Dax, unsurprisingly, agrees with Weaver that Alix's attitude will not be effective and will endanger him. He advises him to hang back and watch how the others nurture her until he's ready to mimic.

0618 dax #76: about to burst Weaver and Dax come upon Alix and Ivy arguing because Ivy ate Alix's can of peaches. He's mad because he thinks she should have known not to take his food, and she's mad because he's treating her like she did it just to upset him. Dax thinks it's ridiculous that a can of peaches is at the center of a heated argument, and Weaver is dismissive, scolding Alix for the way he scolds Ivy. She becomes agitated in a way that makes Weaver and Dax nervous, though Alix seems oblivious because he thinks he's successfully standing up to her. Dax figures an outburst from Ivy is not far off.

0623 dax #77: matter-of-fact When Ivy brings Alix back to camp injured, Dax and the others know that the incident they've been expecting has finally come to pass. Dax watches as Adele tends to Alix and Weaver tends to Ivy, noting that Ivy's eyes hold no real clue on how she's feeling, but that she doesn't seem remorseful, shocked, or vindictive. He doesn't know his place in the aftermath and asks Adele what he should do, and she sends him on an errand to get painkiller herbs. He suspects this is busywork and wonders about Ivy's state of mind.

0627 dax #78: quieting Dax, Weaver, and Ivy are on their own for dinner. Dax notices Ivy's quiet and discusses her change of disposition, and offers to teach her meditation to help give her a coping mechanism when she wants to be quieter. Dax feels that he's finally going to be useful in something regarding raising Ivy.

0631 dax #79: life in the silence Dax takes Ivy to the deeper woods and talks to her about being powerful, holding power silently, and what Ivy uses movement for. He tries to convey to her how she can find the life in the quiet times instead of feeling like silence means death.

0637 dax #80: a bigger challenge Ivy wants to wrestle with Dax now, desiring a partner bigger than Weaver. Dax is unsure whether it's safe to try such a thing, so he consults Adele, who says Ivy is in a good mindset for it. Dax returns to her and engages as per her request, immediately pushing her down. Ivy is fazed but gets back up, and Dax wonders if he ought to devise a vulnerable spot for her to attack.

0641 dax #81: fast song Dax hangs out with Ivy as she practices a dance she invented and tries to get him to participate.

0653 dax #82: measured and considered Adele drops a bomb to Dax and Weaver: the reality-warping flash is coming in about a year and they'll have to think about whether they'll want to return to their home world if the dimensional rift opens in such a way that returning is possible.

0656 dax #83: but Dax and Weaver speak again about their conundrum, especially regarding how they should handle it if they have different opinions on whether they should stay or go. Weaver has a terrible feeling that he left someone important in the other dimension who wants him to come back. Dax points out that even if they both leave, they won't properly remember each other, so the only way to be sure they keep their relationship is to both stay. They wonder what will become of them.

0660 dax #84: interrupted Dax attempts to subtly convince Weaver to stay by highlighting the importance of his relationships here. But he explains he feels the previous version of himself would have been furious if he didn't try to return to his family. Dax suggests it's like an interruption, while Weaver says no matter what he stays broken, not interrupted. Dax believes a return will solve nothing, and hopes Weaver changes his mind.

0672 dax #85: something in his blood Dax tries to convince Alix that he's behaved insensitively, but Alix is adamant that Weaver is manufacturing his sorrow and he doesn't want to fall for it. Dax thinks he should apologize. They argue until Dax makes a point that gets through to Alix: how would he feel if someone said he had a daughter who wanted to meet him? Alix decides to apologize.

0679 dax #86: heartbeat Alix finds Dax while he's searching for Weaver, and enlists Dax's help calming Ivy down; she's still flipping out over feeling scared about what her abilities might do without her consent and whether she might harm someone accidentally. Dax takes Ivy in his lap and assures her that her incident is as normal as his snoring, but she isn't comforted by that. Finally, he says she can get more control while she's sleeping by practicing more control while she's awake, just like how she can control her bladder. She's finally satisfied by this perspective.

0690 dax #87: no guarantees A montage episode from Dax's point of view details the characters' preparations for the upcoming flash event. Dax is a little confused that Adele designated Alix as Ivy's keeper and wonders why she regards him as less stable despite that he does not plan to go back to his world. Weaver is currently planning to stay but makes no promises if his feelings change in the moment, and Dax wonders about how Adele will be affected.

0692 dax #88: sister species Dax is startled at the unexpected light coming out of the pool. It resolves into individuals that look like very large bugs to him, but he can't see details before they disperse into the forest. He worries they're dangerous, but Weaver just keeps asking Adele questions about them; she identifies them as faeries, from humanity's sister world, and says they sometimes come to the human world for holidays but during flash events, their travel is unregulated. Adele assures Dax that they aren't dangerous like some insects, and Dax feels a little insulted that Weaver found the potential danger funny. He asks them not to laugh at him for wanting to protect them.

0703 dax #89: dark shape A dark shape rises in the pool and Dax moves to protect his family, wondering at his efforts as he performs them. But then Adele observes the shape is a hurt child and demands Dax retrieve her from the water. Dax believes the girl is injured. Adele recognizes she has a heartbeat but no breath. She performs a brief breathing exercise and the child's breath returns, but she's in poor shape, and Dax fears the future.

0707 dax #90: wild As Dax is holding the new child and Weaver is cleaning her face, he senses that she is about to lash out. Dax is able to catch her hand before she scratches him. The child becomes agitated, flailing about screaming and trying to scratch, and Dax is stuck holding all her limbs so she doesn't hurt anyone. Adele comes over and says she wants to try cuddling her to calm her down, but the threat of being scratched makes this hard. She has an idea.

0711 dax #91: the peace she'll need Dax and Weaver discuss having a new child, and Dax casts doubt on whether she IS even "a child." He suggests that her feral behavior may mean she's an animal, and he thinks if she is an animal then it wouldn't be fair to "tame" her. But if she is a sentient child, he is happy to help her learn the peace she will need to coexist with them.

0716 dax #92: underestimating me Dax helps Adele and Ivy set the new little girl up for an isolated sleeping space, with Weaver standing guard, but he feels underestimated because he thinks it would be simpler to just let him hold her while she sleeps. Adele wants her to get used to sleeping unrestrained so she'll control HERSELF, though. After they've made their decisions about how to handle the girl, they decide to look for Alix and find he's returned to the cave and has a new problem with him. He's found a tiny boy left behind from the faerie invasion.

0721 dax #93: the other strong one Ivy and Dax are glad to see Adele and Alix coming toward them to figure out how to manage this new day. Ivy is eager to wake the new girl up and feed her, but Adele insists it's not a good idea. Ivy's extremely enthusiastic and won't calm down, gibbering about the possibility of more new children and so excited that they're all together. Adele wants to take Ivy off with her to give her a special job, leaving Dax and Alix in charge of the tiny boy. Dax is confused that he's not being tapped to handle the little girl since he is the only one besides Ivy who can handle her without getting hurt. But he figures Adele knows something he doesn't.

0723 dax #94: awake Dax and Alix feed the faerie boy using a juice-soaked cloth. Alix suggests Dax looks tired and should go to bed, but he argues that duty calls; he needs to be around in case the girl wakes up, since Alix wouldn't be able to handle her. Alix offers to go get Adele and Ivy, but first he holds the boy while Dax checks on the girl. Unfortunately, she's got her eyes open and seems inert and cold, though Dax detects breathing. He wants to keep her warm.

0732 dax: #95: if she wants me Dax wakes up alone with no kids around him. He doesn't know what happened but assumes Ivy is taking care of the dangerous girl. He treks off to find out if Adele is okay and brings her some refreshments. He's not sure if his company will be appreciated, so he just sits by her in case she wants him. When she comes out of a silent moment, she greets him enthusiastically and seems excited about her discoveries. He is there to listen.

0744 dax: #96: an outlet Dax returns to the group and observes that Ivy is feeding the unfamiliar walnut butter to Tabitha. When he asks about how she makes it, she describes enjoying the process of crushing the nuts because of how she's allowed to push really hard. He wonders if she needs an outlet or is suffering without one. He offers her a break from taking care of Tabitha and Alix encourages her to take him up on it. She reluctantly does.

0751 dax: #97: the wildness Dax doesn't understand why Ivy still wants to play with Tab even when it's not her responsibility to watch her. Ivy expresses that she feels like Tab is hers, her lost girl that needs her, while Dax hasn't really bonded with her and is still not completely convinced she's not an animal. He does some thinking about wildness, passivity, and Ivy's bond with the child.

0752 dax: #98: this routine Dax almost gets scratched by Tab and has to stop her. She "retaliates" by scratching herself. Dax has an epiphany and takes her to some firewood so she can scratch the wood as much as she wants. He doesn't know why she needs to do that, but it's clear she needs this release.

0759 dax: #99: paying attention Ivy, carrying Tab, comes to Dax and asks him to take a turn watching her. Knowing this is uncharacteristic, Dax knows something's wrong and encourages the answer out of Ivy: Alix yelled at her over something she felt she didn't do wrong. When she explains how she was keeping Tab safe with her energy even though her eyes were not on her, Dax learns something new about her powers, and they decide to go explain it to Alix together.

0766 dax: #100: present day Adele has returned and everyone's excited to receive the presents she brought them from human cities. Thursday gets food that fits his diet, Weaver gets magazines and pineapple drink, Alix gets sweaters and a multitool and lotion, Tab gets a music toy and clothes, and Ivy gets her "five things" (including a sparkly ribbon wand). Dax is hoping for beef jerky, but Adele gives him a book on tape and something he doesn't recognize: a stick of pepperoni. And it turns out it tastes better than jerky, to his utter shock.

0770 dax: #101: stealth Dax takes Tab on a hunting trip and finds that she makes a lot of noise and can't be stealthy. Instead of restraining her and teaching her to be quiet, though, he recognizes that she spends too much of her life being restricted and she's probably too young to understand stealth, and therefore maybe he should just let her enjoy her freedom.

0777 dax #102: if she's going to bite Dax sees Ivy playing with Tab and watches her playing with seaweed. He's concerned about Tab's tendency to bite the seaweed while she's chasing it, so he tries some seaweed himself to see if it's okay to eat. They decide they should ask Adele about whether it's safe for Tab to bite seaweed, and give her something else to bite in the meantime.

0783 dax #103: doomed to failure The group gathers for dinner and Weaver politely asks about how Alix's shelter building was going. He reacts bitterly and accuses Weaver of not caring, at which point Adele predicts that Alix's structure will fail and he will blame Weaver even though he shouldn't. Even though Dax asks for justification for Alix's accusations, Alix can only say Weaver is always against him.

0786 dax #104: an alliance Ivy shows Tab Neptune's feather and "trades" with her for a handful of nuts (aided by Dax). When Ivy is excited that the group is so nice and loves sharing, Weaver makes sour comments about Alix and they discuss who should go get him so they can all be together. Ivy elects herself to go get Alix and Neptune and everyone decides to let her try. Dax is curious how her peacemaking skills might turn out to be.

0789 dax #105: several unprecedented things Tab gets up and goes up to Neptune, holding her discarded feather. Dax is nervous that Tab won't be gentle enough but Adele doesn't seem worried. Tab surprises everyone by not scaring Neptune away, and she sticks the feather into Neptune's wing. (The feather stays visible, but Neptune is still invisible.) Unfortunately then Ivy's exclamations are too loud and that's what scares Neptune off. The feather gets left behind and given to Tab again.

0796 dax #106: vigilance Weaver and Dax have a chat about Weaver's fears regarding Tab. Dax tries to calm Weaver's nerves saying in the big picture accidents happen and they can't guard against everything. But Weaver reminds him they still have the responsbility of the children under their care and their world is relatively small. Dax agrees and sees a new perspective. They meditate on the issue.

0802 dax #107: time out Dax comes to pick up Tab for his shift and finds that Ivy, Weaver, and Thursday are playing without her. They've put her behind a rock and isolated her. Ivy claims she was having a meltdown after she was prevented from eating sand, and Weaver claims a time-out technique helps overstimulated kids sometimes. Dax still doesn't like the idea and hopes he can teach the child to calm herself. He is also very struck by Ivy's claim that she kept Tab out of sight so she wouldn't know she was doing something to her and grow to hate her.

0812 dax #108: invited Dax asks Alix if he plans to sleep in the cave with the group tonight. After demurring and claiming he doesn't want to drag his bed in, Dax offers to get it if that's the reason, and they have an argument about how everyone perceives Alix's choices; that regardless of whether he includes himself or excludes himself, everyone's obviously judging him and looking down on him. Dax disagrees that this is how others see Alix, and while he does decide to return to his shack, he agrees to talk to Dax about it more in the morning.

0813 dax #109: rewrite When Dax wakes up, Alix is up and has prepared tea for both of them. They discuss what Dax thinks Alix should do so people will like him more, because as far as Alix is concerned, everyone likes Dax. Dax, for his part, honestly hasn't thought about it much--it's pretty effortless for him because he's not always trying to be liked. He suggests Alix "rewrite" bad interactions from his life and think about how things might have happened differently if he'd chosen different words and different behavior. He really wants Alix to think about the people he knows and their feelings, not so much about how to manipulate them into liking him.

0818 dax #110: your thing Dax stops to talk to Alix in the morning and they discuss Dax's decision to not include Alix in their ritual. As Dax suspected, Alix now sees himself as an ultimate outsider even though Dax disincluded him because he knew Alix was not interested in the central meaning of the moon ritual. He is happy to engage in other bonding moments, but not to use moon rituals as an all-purpose excuse to bond with each other. Alix admits that his quest for a house was something he was passionate about and he felt rejected when everyone disliked it. Dax agrees to spend some time with Alix in the house and figure things out.

0820 dax #111: in our nature Dax and Alix discuss why Dax doesn't like to be inside and why Alix feels the urge to create a structure rather than live in a natural one. Dax feels like living in a natural shelter makes him part of the environment, while Alix feels like he comes from a long line of people who build because they're driven to make their environment better and more comfortable. They discuss the value of shelter and what kind of constructed shelter Dax would want.

0823 dax #112: honoring a loss Alix's predicted house fire manifests. He escapes unscathed but the house is ruined. Dax takes his items back to the cave and Alix feels defeated and embarrassed but rather resigned. Dax tries to talk him out of feeling like fate is his boss (in the form of Adele's predictions), then finally recognizes he isn't in a frame of mind to hear this advice. He decides he's okay with mourning his loss right now.

0830 dax #113: listening to love Dax gets a chance to talk to Ivy and finds she's frustrated over Adele's relationship. He gives her some perspectives and finds Ivy just really wants Adele to stop being friends with Webster. Dax lets Ivy listen to a love advice radio program and she seems to understand love a bit better afterwards.

0835 dax #114: waiting to fail Alix interrupts Dax picking flowers to ask if he can talk to him about Adele. Alix is mad that Adele now likes his "build a house" idea and is willing to lend her skills to make it happen when she wasn't interested in helping when it was his own goal. In a foul-language-laced rant, Alix asks if Dax agrees that Adele should have helped him instead of just watching him fail. Dax disagrees and Alix concludes that everyone will always think he's a jerk no matter what he does, while Dax privately ponders whether he would feel Adele had withheld info from him if she didn't give it to him upfront. He concludes that if Adele doesn't volunteer information, she probably has a reason, and doesn't believe he or Alix are entitled to it.

0841 dax #115: interdimensional carrot Dax finds something weird growing out of the sand and gets Adele to identify it. She claims it's a vegetable similar to a carrot, but from another dimension--probably brought by the faeries. Dax is excited at the idea of trying to grow the carrots on purpose and plans to make a gourmet meal with them if it turns out he likes them.

0848 dax #116: enjoy the silence Dax waits for Weaver for one of their full moon rituals, but Weaver is late. As a result, Dax accidentally gets some time to himself and realizes it's a different enough experience that he's missed this kind of communion and appreciates it. When Weaver does show up (with a poem he'd been writing having delayed his arrival), the night moves on as normal.

0854 dax #117: getting long Dax observes Ivy cutting Tab's hair so she can continue to have bangs, and they talk about how the different people in the group have different hair growth patterns, along with differences in how they handle the growth of their fingernails, claws, and horns. Dax thinks it's interesting that Ivy helps the children with their grooming but doesn't know she shouldn't bite her toenails.

0859 dax #118: without telling us Dax thinks the pool looks more silvery than usual so he gets Alix to confirm he's not imagining it. They discuss whether this means there's another flash, but Weaver flies in and explains why that makes no sense. He then goes swimming and dispels the others' concerns about whether that's dangerous. Alix thinks Adele might have opened a portal and gone somewhere without them, and Weaver feels very confident in his assessment that if anything was dangerous about her travel or the pool left behind, she would have told them. Dax admires Weaver's confidence in his understanding of Adele.

0865 dax #119: my own little concert Dax wakes up feeling mostly recovered but quickly discovers that Thursday is sitting on his chest, looking for warmth. He sings some songs for Dax, which he enjoys even though he doesn't understand them. Alix checks on him and he says he's feeling better and enjoying the concert.

0869 dax #120: future carrots Dax is inspired by Adele's latest calendar revision on the wall of the cave to go check on his carrots and talk to Adele about getting a paper calendar to plan gardening activities. He finds out from her that seeds can even be acquired in stores and he's very excited. He wants Adele to pick up calendar planners and seeds for him next time she goes to the city.

0874 dax #121: the planting process Dax is planting his new parsnip seeds, preparing some land for the planting. Ivy flies in and wants to help, but she makes the process of tilling a rectangle of ground so instantaneous that Dax is disappointed with the lack of connection. He sends her off to collect rocks for a border instead because he wants the hands-on intimacy with the soil as he plants his seeds.

0878 dax #122: paper crowns Dax comes upon Tab, Thursday, and Ivy making paper crowns. Ivy has a question she wants to ask Adele and when Dax tells her that Adele is out of town, Ivy expresses annoyance and wistfulness that she was not told since the others don't consider that information relevant to her since she is not an adult. Dax solves a construction problem on the paper crowns and thanks Ivy for her help with gathering rocks, and is surprised to realize that she seems to have picked up on his desire to place the rocks himself. He privately recognizes her maturity.

0882 dax #123: the real gift-givers Ivy tells the others that she has made a necklace for Tab's first "Tooth Fairy" gift and suggests everyone might want to take turns giving her tooth prizes. Alix thinks it's a shame that they already told Tab the Tooth Fairy isn't real and everyone else, especially Dax, disagrees with him. Alix and Dax argue about whether the deception is harmless and fun. Ivy weighs in to say she thinks she would rather adults tell her the truth about things too.

0885 dax #124: fix it Dax is bathing when he's surprised by Neptune coming out of the forest and asking him to help her repair a rip in her dress. He has some complicated feelings about being seen with no clothes on, but finds himself not minding as much as he would if it were anyone else. He's not sure if it's because of a problematic attitude toward her or whether it has something to do with her also being nude or unable to perceive the meaning of nakedness.

0891 dax #125: our way Alix is tutoring Dax on how to build some cabinets for the gazebo, and when Dax realizes Ivy is just watching and not helping, he asks her to consider trying to use her hands and pick up some skills. She doesn't want to because she has her own way to do difficult tasks and only wants to help if they tell her what to do. When Dax suggests she might be glad she knows how to use her hands if she were to lose her energy one day, she seems disturbed and annoyed, and he realizes he asked her to imagine something pretty horrible. He apologizes and she seems to understand and forgive, but he still feels like this was a misstep.

0897 dax #126: everybody's weird Dax is entertaining Tab by throwing her in the air. He gets too tired to do it safely but she wants more, so he suggests she approach Ivy, but Tab doesn't like this idea because she isn't a fan of how Ivy performs the task. She thinks Ivy is weird and that her powers are weird because she doesn't understand them. Dax is a little rattled at that idea and hopes he can help her understand. Then he compromises by tossing her in the air over the ocean to let her land in the water.

0901 dax #127: more possibilities Dax has a short discussion with Ivy about jobs humans do, but Ivy really wants to talk to Alix about whether he's liked the ones he's had. Alix claims to have disliked working, but when Adele chimes in and says Ivy will have missions she'll enjoy in the future--starting with building the house--she's excited while Dax is apprehensive. What if he doesn't want things to change?

0904 dax #128: how it ends Neptune wanders into the group's evening meal and recites a story she heard on the radio while Dax was gardening. She seems to want him to provide the ending, as the radio's batteries ran out in the middle of a sentence. Dax tries to make up a story ending for her and she seems dissatisfied and leaves. The group discusses Neptune's mysteries.

0906 dax #129: beyond my first thought An early-morning chat between Dax and Adele lets Dax be honest about how he's feeling regarding Adele's plans to build a house and bring new unknown people around. He's feeling a little bulldozed by her plans and wary of her attitude toward moving forward no matter what he wants. She assures him that she does take his feelings into account and can assure him the future structures and housemates in their lives will be something he'll treasure. But his input will be valued as they move forward.

0908 dax #130: another strength Tab scratches herself by accident and gets frustrated that she has to deal with these accidents--something no one else has to deal with. Why can't she have something different about her in a cool way like Ivy does? Dax tries to help Tab understand that her own uniqueness is important and wonderful, but she's not in the mood to hear it and just expresses jealousy and anger toward Ivy. Dax ruminates on how dangerous she might be.

0911 dax #131: remnant After his hunt, Dax comes back to camp and meets up with Ivy, Thursday, and Weaver. When he asks where Tab is, he learns Ivy was watching her without watching her as they spent some time apart. Tab's hair is full of sticks and sap, which Ivy gets to cleaning up as Dax prepares dinner. They have a discussion about what their horns are for and Tab seems to really like the idea that hers might enable her to headbutt effectively one day. Dax appreciates the reminder of wildness despite that Weaver thinks his own and Dax's horns are vestigial.

0916 dax #132: everyone starts somewhere Adele asks Dax to read with Thursday while she concentrates on Tab. He presents reading opportunities to Thursday next time it's his turn to watch him, but Thursday resists because he is worried about Tab's experience. He tells Dax Tab essentially can't even see print and won't be able to read even with more focus. He is too worried about Tab to read with Dax, so he reads to him instead, but decides he will talk to Adele to make sure she's not making a mistake.

0924 dax #133: draw the line Dax is gardening when Weaver comes to ask for advice. He explains that Ivy wants city adventures and he's thinking of going with her on a few trips to help her feel like she's rebelling, even though Adele is against it. Dax is also against it--and aghast that Weaver would consider such danger!--but Weaver seems convinced that Ivy may want to do it alone without guidance if they don't curate her fun somehow. Or, maybe, now is the time to draw the line, leaning on Weaver's previous involvement in testing boundaries with Ivy.

0927 dax #134: the world is wide Dax observes the group of Adele, Alix, and Ivy going through the pool to do some construction. He thinks about how he is left out and unable to walk in the world of humans, and ruminates on how he is essentially content with his spot of paradise. However, he does wonder.

0931 dax #135: standing still Dax has a chat with Alix about how he feels a little left behind because everyone else likes to build and innovate and he mostly doesn't care to effect change. He wonders if he could be considered stagnant because of it. Alix mostly reassures him, but he has doubts.

0936 dax #136: what kind of response Dax comes out to walk Adele in when he sees her coming home in the distance. He begins to update her and ask her advice on the squabble that happened while she was gone, but he sees that she's a little spacey, and decides it was wrong of him to just dump that on her without asking if she's okay or what kept her overnight. He correctly assumes something's wrong and offers to listen, and she tentatively takes him up on it, saying she's been thinking about breaking up with Webster. Dax realizes she's not asking for advice on whether or how and just wants someone to listen and support.

0940 dax #137: one teacher, two kids Dax finds himself teaching a very reluctant Thursday in reading lessons. He wants to learn with Tab and Adele again, but when Dax is concerned that he's not a good teacher, Thursday admits he just wants there to be one teacher and both kids. He goes off to find Ivy and Tab and they agree to let Thursday read to them, solving the reluctance problem. But then Tab asks a question about where the kids in the book come from--how do babies get made anyway?--and Dax feels ill-prepared to answer. He agrees they should all go ask Adele together, and wonders why he feels awkward about the question.

0946 dax #138: out of respect Ivy comes back from having seen a superhero movie and wants to talk to Weaver and Dax about it. When Dax is curious about her experience, Ivy relays frustration over not having been allowed to ask questions to help her understand the movie. Dax advises her to accept not knowing out of respect for the storytellers and companions trying to enjoy the story, and suggests that pondering her questions quietly might help her find her own answers. But he is willing to accept that maybe the answers either of them would find in such a situation would not be accurate, and that maybe he should be more curious.

0955 dax #139: whose fault Dax and Weaver observe that Ivy looks troubled so they ask for her thoughts. Ivy reveals that she's been scolded for letting Tab do something bad, and she expresses her misgivings that she should be responsible for Tab's actions when nobody's responsible for hers. Dax offers to talk to Adele about it for her while letting Weaver spend some time with her to cheer her up.

0961 dax #140: what strong people do Dax is playing with Tab and trying to be genuinely present even though her activities are not entertaining for him. He decides to propose to her that she should learn to manage her strength through meditation. Tab seems intrigued that Dax says Ivy wasn't able to learn it well and thinks she could, though she says Ivy has nothing to do with it and her interest is based on wanting to do what strong people do.

0964 dax #141: carrying water Dax is bringing water back to the cave and encounters Adele seeming unusually out of touch with what's going on. Adele ends up admitting to Dax that she broke up with Webster and states that she'd like him to not tell the others and not bring it up again. He thinks maybe she would feel better if she talks about it, but she insists. She doesn't want his gentleness, but he will continue to offer it.

0968 dax #142: suspicious Ivy asks Dax what he thinks she should have done in the situation with her failed mission. He doesn't know why she wants his advice since he has no practical knowledge about the outside world, but when she makes it clear this is a question of whether she is being taught to lie, Dax realizes it's a moral question. He encourages Ivy to think about what she authentically does want and encourages her to negotiate with others regarding things she could actually use. Ivy has thinking to do, and Dax is delighted with her principles.

0976 dax #143: something to offer Alix invites Dax and Weaver to his gazebo for some beer and a guys' night. They talk about alcohol's effect on calming down and whether Ivy might benefit from it. (Weaver is strongly against her being given anything to curb her inhibitions.) Weaver shares his philosophy that Ivy should view the humans she meets as if they're receiving an honor, and Alix thinks that will inflate her ego. Dax wonders about his own value for future mission subjects.

0980 dax #144: anyone can be wise Ivy sits on Dax's lap--he's the only one big enough that she can comfortably do that now!--and discusses how people like them (who aren't great at analysis) can still solve these kinds of problems. Dax discusses the difference between wisdom and intelligence and advises her that wisdom is adequate for addressing real-life issues. He also doesn't want her to get the idea that children can't develop wisdom, because he believes she can.

0985 dax #145: time alone Dax comes to the shed during a storm and finds Weaver is there, matching his suspicions. They have a late-night chat about what kind of alone time and what kind of togetherness time they like. They both like how things are.

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