#and all the while Ronin's hummingbird just patiently waiting for his rider to return

[firebirdsdaughter]

I still say…

… That the segment where Ronin apparently sacrifices himself to allow the others to escape (pulling Mandrake back and then ordering them not to risk trying to rescue him) is some of the finest animated acting ever, w/ nary a word spoken.

Nod’s clearly wrecked, he’s functional bc they have a job to do and he’s gotten in touch w/ that, but the artists really just. Nailed it w/ the look on his face. He’s practically glazed over, just… In shock. He’s just lost the only father figure he’s had for it seems most of his life, implied to be in the same place that he lost his birth father. Nod’s a brat and dealing w/ shit and angst and teenage rebellion, but Ronin clearly means a lot to him. The instant he learns the Queen is dead, his attitude changes, and while he plays it off, he’s hurt by Ronin’s disappointment (although he hides it by instantly talking back), he’s immediately willing to help, and he’s absolutely panicked when seeing him outnumbered. He’s a little shit bc feelings and drama and grief, but Ronin is implied to have been his only family for years. Esp given that the pod was only in need of rescue bc Nod was lax in his duties… Yeah. Probably a lot of guilt and shock and heartbreak riding on that.

Then, you have MK, who just lost her own mother. She’s cottoned on quite fast (naturally, since it’s painfully obvious and Ronin did say give the ‘I was friends w/ his father’ excuse—which I mean in a positive way) to their relationship, and she absolutely sees her own grief reflected in Nod at that moment. And that means she’s also well aware that there is nothing she can say that will lessen or ease that pain, bc she’s feeling it herself. So all she can do is put a hand on his shoulder, in a small indication of ‘I understand, I see you’re hurting.’

Finally, Finn, bless his beard. The guy was obviously close w/ Ronin himself, able to make jokes although he knows when to clam up (don’t get involved in the parenting drama), he’s personally concerned for Ronin after Tara’s death. He’s absolutely grieved by the news when he understands the implications, but he focuses more on giving Nod a sympathetic look before turning to direct the others. Bc he knows what their relationship was, too, and while he would poke fun at Nod and maybe thought he needed to get his act together, he’s well aware of how this must have shattered the kid.

And it’s all nigh completely silent.  There are a couple lines, but their simple, generally to the point style just makes it all the more effective. The only time someone hedges around something is Nod not being able to make himself say that Ronin is dead (bc saying makes it true and he doesn’t it want it to be true).

And I just. I love it.

#Firebird Randomness #I love them #I just love father son relationships this year I guess XD #Leverage the Three Musketeers 2011 Epic 2013… #but yeah the way there's limited dialogue #that's mostly straightforward and to the point bc Nod can't muster anything else #the fact that Ronin's apparent last words are to validate him as a Leafman when he'd shut him down before #the fact that they would never have been there is he'd just STAYED w/ the pod #the fact that he can't make himself say it #that's gotta just kill the kid #and all the while Ronin's hummingbird just patiently waiting for his rider to return #bc I bet the thought that he wouldn't never crossed his mind #anyway I should be in bed #Things You Didn't Know Fire Was Into