Humans look defenseless and weak, but we're the strongest species in the galaxy. Who else can literally bend reality to their will? Not a stupid alien, that's for sure.
I'm living proof that humanity is greater than our biology. All of us are, really, with our genetic enhancements. We're the next step in humanity's evolution from great ape to galactic superspecies.Tangent to Sol, Tang1Insight
It's just... this resentment for my physical form... it reminds me of when I was little, a-and Instance used the genetech to give me this body. The right body. Only... this body's wrong too. It's right in a lot of ways, but, it's still imperfect; it's still human.
If I were an AI, everything would be... more simple. I could just do my work; I could just do what I'm good at. No messy biological functions, no emotions, just clear and beautiful purpose.Tangent to Sol, Tang6Work
Honestly, I despise the physical realities of living here: the smell; the cramped quarters; the constant threat of attack, of disease; everyone's meaningless interpersonal squabbles, amplified by proximity and stress. I can feel them, weighing me down.
But we don't have a choice, do we? Therefore, the only rational decision is to make the best of what we have. To accept otherwise is to accept misery and death.Tangent to Sol, Tang10Ultimate
Tangent (pronounced "Tan-jint"; IPA: /ˈtænʤənt/), commonly referred to as Tang (pronounced "Tang"; IPA: /tæŋ/), is a third-generation member of the Vertumna Colony and one of the deuteragonists of I Was A Teenage Exocolonist.
Personality[]
Young Child[]
Tangent is a relatively introverted child with a keen interest in biology, physics, and chemistry. She claims to be mature for her age, and spends "as little time around other teenagers as possible". She also claims to experience none of the "ill effects" of puberty, though what this means exactly is unclear.
Tangent is a human supremacist - stating that animals are incapable of intelligence or emotion, and that humans are the most powerful species in the galaxy. These ideals extend to xenophobia and the belief that any aliens on Vertumna - if they even exist - must be naturally inferior to humans. These human supremacist are implicitly tied to Tangent's love for science, and her belief in the triumph of technology over nature. She presents herself as evidence for this belief, claiming that genetech therapies and genetic alteration are proof that humanity is greater than its biology.
Tangent is averse to the physical realities of living on Vertumna - complaining about smells, lights, weather, and temperature. Sol hypothesizes that she may be abnormally sensitive to these stimuli, or that she may simply prefer the stale and controlled environment of the Stratospheric. Despite this, Tangent is extremely excited to learn more about the planet.
Tangent dislikes being patronized and consoled, asserting that she "need[s] to own [her] own mistakes". It is stated that this aversion is tied to her perceived maturity, and her desire to be respected by her elders. It is possible that this aversion may also be tied to trauma relating to her mother's suicide, though this is in no way reinforced by the text.
Adolescent[]
Tangent reduces her rate of school attendance, choosing instead to focus on xenobiology research with Chief Engineer Instance. She becomes more aloof - refusing to interact with those she deems intellectually inferior, and completely disregarding all forms of play and relaxation.
This coincides with Tangent's increasing distaste for the planet at large. Her excitement to explore the planet seems to have faded, and she now openly admits that she believes the colonists would have been better off remaining on board the Stratospheric. Despite this, she continues her duties in studiously researching the planet for the betterment of the colony.
Tangent's growing obsession with her laboratory work leads her to believe that necessary biological functions (sleep, nutrition, emotions, etc.) are an impediment, and that she would be better off without them. As a result of this, Tangent no longer retains her human supremacist views, claiming that all humans have ever had going for them is that, there have historically been enough of them to die "without making a dent in [their] overall reproductive fitness". She also states that it would be preferable if she weren't a human at all, wishing that she was an artificial intelligence so that she needn't bother with anything other than her research.
This distaste for her own body, coupled with an overwhelming desire to prove herself as a capable and mature individual, causes Tangent to neglect her own physical needs - namely, she eats only when forced to and only sleeps the bare minimum needed to continue functioning. Sol can raise concern at this habit, though Tangent dismisses it as patronization and condescension.
Young Adult[]
Tangent continues focusing on her laboratory work throughout most of her young adult life. However, she also begins to open up to her peers and childhood friends - though she still refuses to engage in most forms of play and relaxation, and still pays little attention to those who she deems unintelligent and who have not already endeared themselves to her.
Tangent's focus has now largely shifted towards ensuring and shaping the colony's legacy - a topic she only briefly touches on throughout her younger years. She works mostly to improve the colony's genetech therapies, and to mitigate any effects the colony's limited genetic diversity may have on future generations.
As an extension of this, Tangent has also come to terms with life on Vertumna, stating that she has "come to truly love this planet", even though it is "at times uncomfortable or even dangerous". She also states that she believes that, despite humanity's faults, it will eventually come to tame the planet. This shift of attitude is likely not due to any sudden realizations or breakthroughs, but rather due to Tangent's "wonderful visions of what it could become". However, Tangent still claims to "despise the physical realities" of life on Vertumna, and claims that she is only making the best of what she has.
Tangent has also grown to become less disgusted by her human body, though states that she still believes that it is an "[imperfect] machine". She implies that nature is fallible, and that she believes it is science that changed her. Notably, this change of mindset does not impact her disregard for her own health - in fact, she turns to drugs and stimulants in order to avoid sleep and rest for as long as possible.
Relationships[]
Major Characters[]
Anemone[]
Tangent interacts very little with Anemone, and the few times Tangent mentions her, it is with disgust and/or disdain. This is likely due to Anemone's boisterous nature, and how it clashes with Tangent's own personal views.
Cal[]
Tangent interacts very little with Cal, though the few times they do it is generally an argument. They tend to clash over Cal's pacifist and animal rights views, as Tangent generally thinks very little of non-human animals and often uses them as test subjects for scientific experiments.
Dys[]
Tangent and her twin brother Dys shared a reasonably close relationship up until their mother's death, at which point they began drifting apart. Dys claims that the rift is because Tangent looks down on him for not being intelligent, and Tangent claims that Dys is simply too emotional.
As they began to disconnect at roughly the same time as Tangent began her medical transition, some colonists may have assumed that their breakup was due to Dys not agreeing with Tangent's transition. However, if asked, he informs Sol that he knew Tangent was his sister "like, five minutes after she did" and that his abrasiveness on the subject had more to do with adults assuming he needed to be told that he should be respectful of it, when in reality he accepted that part of her before anyone else.
The two still share the same quarters, though seeing as Dys tends to sleep outside the colony and Tangent tends to sleep within the lab, interaction between the two is somewhat limited. Both Tangent and Dys often ask other colonists to act as intermediaries between one another, as opposed to communicating directly.
If Sol provides Rex with the necessary materials to build his bar, and then bartends in it, Tangent and Dys may reconcile with each other.
Marz[]
Marz and Tangent are very close friends - Marz even describing herself as Tangent's "best and only friend on the planet". If Sol and Tangent never enter into a formal relationship, Tangent and Marz are implied to carry on in an aromantic allosexual relationship with one another.
Nomi-Nomi[]
Tangent interacts very little with Nomi-Nomi, though it is stated that Nomi-Nomi feels trepidation at the thought of approaching Tangent.
Rex[]
Tangent interacts very little with Rex, though it is implied that Rex admires Tangent's passion for her work.
Sym[]
Tangent does not meet Sym within the game's timespan, though it is likely that they might have interacted within certain endings.
Tammy[]
Tangent interacts very little with Tammy, and as such it is unclear what their relationship is like. Tangent certainly appreciates the fact that Tammy is willing to bear and care for the next generation of colonists, though Tangent has also stated that she thinks very little of the actual act of childbirth.
Vace[]
Tangent interacts very little with Vace, though it is stated that Vace appreciates the work Tangent does for the colony.
Minor Characters[]
Instance[]
Tangent explicitly views Instance as a mother figure, especially since Tangent's real mother died. She claims that she "[owes] almost everything [she is] to Chief Engineer Instance", and that she doesn't "know what [she'd] do without her". Instance clearly loves Tangent as a daughter in return, a fact which Tangent may not be aware of.
Tangent desires Instance's approval, and as a result of this desire can easily be manipulated by Instance into acts which she later comes to regret. It is also extremely likely due to Instance's influence that caused Tangent has such an extreme devotion to science and disregard for her own health.
Other Characters[]
Besk[]
Tangent claims to dislike Besk and view her as a "depressed drunk", though this is possibly Tangent's way of processing resentment over Besk's abandonment of her and Dys. Her opinion may have also been influenced by Instance, who is implied to have been quite close with Besk, but became embittered following the latter's death.
Trivia[]
- Tangent will break up with Sol (provided they enter a relationship) no matter what
- Tangent requires roughly half as much sleep as a regular person (four hours per day)
- Tangent requires approximately fifty percent more food than a regular person
- Tangent will die of a heart attack in her early sixties no matter what
- Tangent commits suicide in a certain ending, a fact which is only mentioned within the content warnings
- Tangent is one of only few colonists seen drinking coffee
- Tangent is implied to take her blep tea with sugarbug syrup
- Tangent may receive makeover sessions from Marz
- Tangent is implied to have sex with Marz even while Sol and Tangent are dating.
- Tangent has her holopalm removed early in her adolescent stage, though her sprites still look at the holopalm in both her adolescent and young adult stages.
Gallery[]
| Main Characters | ||
| Stratospheric | Sol • Anemone • Cal • Dys • Marz • Tangent • Tammy | |
| Heliopause | Nomi-Nomi • Rex • Vace | |
| Vertumna | Sym | |
| Secondary Characters | ||
| Stratospheric | Flulu • Geranium • Eudicot • Auntie Seedent • Instance • Hal • Tonin • Utopia • Rhett • Congruence • Seeq • Kom • Nougat • Auntie Tirah • Al • Bernie | |
| Heliopause | Lum | |
| Vertumna | Noctilucent | |