#and okay i can't come up with a single instance of jake telling tobias to do shit and tobias actually doing it

[thejakeformerlyknownasprince]

One thing I find so interesting is how in book 19, Cassie’s reckoning comes at the realization she may have leaped after Jake said to back off. When she had permission, she didn’t feel responsibility.

I mean, that's Jake's whole dang role on the team, isn't it? As Marco puts it "No votes. Jake decides. Then if it goes bad, we can all blame him" (#25). As with every Marco line ever, he's both joking and... not. Throw in all the times he sarcastically calls Jake "Dad", as a way of calling out someone else for treating Jake like a dad, and it's clear Marco gets it.

That is the point of Jake. He gives the order, and thus neither Ax (who pulled the lever) nor Marco (who made the call) has the blood of 17,000 yeerks on their hands. It's only Jake's crime. Jake gave the order, and so not only can Cassie (in #50) and Rachel (in #47) blame him for David, but he can go ahead and blame himself (#41). Jake gave the order, and so Ax did not actually run from battle (#26). Jake gave the order, and so Marco did not actually let his mom die (#30).

He's their water-carrier, their scapegoat. He doesn't want to be, but someone has to do it.

#animorphs #jake berenson #tiger mommy #violence #like contrast how ax feels about his attempted mass murder in 46 (horribly guilty) vs. his actual one in 53 (just following orders) #marco's ''yeah. now what DAD?'' in response to cassie asking jake what to do in 25 is one of my obscure favorite lines ever #and okay i can't come up with a single instance of jake telling tobias to do shit and tobias actually doing it #but that's those two for you