Montresor is the Bad Ending of White Raven II: Electric Bogaloo
(I had posted this as a reblog of the other one, but then I realized it gets completely lost, so I made it a separate post).
So I came back to this thought after the last few chapters where we saw several new interactions between Annabel and Montresor. So why not retrace my steps and add some new information?
I mean, yeah, yeah, Girlboss and all that. We already know that Annabel is a show woman, so turning this back into some sort of show as a demonstration of power is very much in line, but...why?
I think I have a theory, but let's take it one part at a time.
I think what these chapters have told me is that Annabel is much more aware of her similarities to Montresor than I expected.
Without going any further, he comments on it:
And can we stop at Annabel's reaction when he does?
Montresor made the wrong move, and here's the result: about to become an orb, under someone else's thumb, helpless and flailing desperately to hold on to what dignity he has left. This is what awaits her if she takes one wrong step.
And as if all of this wasn't uncomfortable enough for Annabel to contemplate, there is one last thing in this situation that, I can't help but think, terrifies her the most.
There are winners and losers in this game. Those who succeed and those who fail.
Montresor has definitely lost this game, at least for now.
And this was Lenore's face when she saw Montresor for what he really is: a pathetic, frightened charlatan with no tools other than the manipulation of his allies. And again, a loser.
I can see why Annabel would do this whole show as a way to exert power. Because she is all of those things...except the last one.
Presenting herself as a winner is, from Annabel's point of view, the only thing that keeps her from being Montresor's equal in Lenore's eyes.
A desperate pantomime that tries to draw a line.
"I'm not like him. I'm on the winning side, I can get through this, I'm not afraid. Please don't throw me away, let me prove to you that I can be useful, let me do this for you."
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Just thinking about Kaz Brekker, and how he's the consummate businessman who only ever gets involved in deals that will benefit him directly. Either his own monetary gain, or to bring him closer to a goal.
A man who is Kerch through and through, who always has an angle, and never gives something without the promise of getting something in return. Even if that payoff isn't another 10 steps down the line. It's still a payoff.
And how he bought Inej a whole ass ship, and a whole ass berth for her ship, and found her parents and brought them to Ketterdam, and how he held her hand at the harbor, and how he did it all for her own happiness and nothing else.
Except it's Kaz and MAYBE he did do it for a reason, for a boon of his own. Because if that doesn't constitute a proposal of some sort I don't know what does... at least in Kaz speak.
There are displays of affection (and trying!!!)
There are wedding gifts.
There are parents present.
Give the woman you love the world, and maybe you'll get her hand in marriage in return.
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The Impressario (Opera Sequence), Jake Kauffman, Tommy Pedrini
Because we did, in fact, need a rock opera version of the opera sequence. I know it's almost 9 minutes long and 10 years old but just bear with me here: it's glorious.
That first mournful "Oh, Maria; morte mia" takes me out every time. Chills.
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What's your interpretation of the weird/annoyed look Five gets on his face when Tegan announces that she wants to rejoin the TARDIS at the end of Arc of Infinity? I know it was probably meant to be played for laughs, but it annoys me every time i watch that episode and i'm curious what headcanons people have about it.
My favourite thing I've read about it pointed out that the cybermen specifically used Tegan as a weakness against five, that she's what it took to manipulate him (and through no fault of either of them, Adric's death was part of those consequences.) The novelisation really goes in to the descriptions of the doctor transfixed with the blood running down Tegan's chin from her bitten lip, the building tension as the cybermen get closer and closer to killing her and he's shaking trying to hold himself back from admitting his hearts are so easy to twist, just by threatening his friends. (Does Nyssa ever leave the TARDIS when it's on the spaceship? The cybermen don't even know she exists til they come onboard do they?)
As for why he looks so annoyed? hmmm. Does anyone want someone around that constantly needles them? Really, I think pre Arc of Infinity that even though Tegan had chosen to stay, they still had that power imbalance or even just tension between them that she had not come on board willingly. So five is expecting that to be the continuing, I don't know, continuing manner between them and it hadn't been good. It had its moments (mainly in the audios) but as an arrangement it was not ideal as friends to explore the universe together, all that terrible beauty and awesome monsters.
But it doesn't continue on in that manner - oh they bicker and make faces at each other, sure, but Tegan's conscious decision to step back onto the TARDIS irons out those imbalances, removes that bitterness and the past of her aunt's death. So when he makes that wee face, it's in expectation of the previous status quo. And never let it be said that Tegan's one to do exactly what's expected of her.
Anyway I really hope this makes sense and I may add some more thoughts later but it's 1:50 am Christmas Eve and I couldn't sleep for thinking about this.
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It's 2am I'm back. I feel like there's also this uneasiness in five about tegan, that mirror that no one likes being held up to themselves. Their similarities but the starkly different ways they express them must be exhausting to five. and here she is back again. To push and prod and challenge and be brashly beautifully glorious. wait. that last bit was the two am shipper coming out. Anyway they draw strength and resolve and anger from each other and Tegan was vital to five, from his first moments till his very last.
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Eula: "There she is. We have to proceed with caution."
Alectra: "Oh, don't worry. I'm sure I can talk things through if she spots us."
This is my post for today, which is the ninth day of the month! Last year, there was a prompt week, where the prompt for today's date was "adventure". I decided to portray that this year by showing Alectra working with Eula on one of her reconnaissance missions. I think this might actually be my first piece of selfship content I've made with Eula, hehe ^-^
Tag list: @catake | @masterofmasters | @wazzuppy | @cherry-bomb-ships | @call–me–home | @beeon | @coralward | @sanderswife | @pandapup | @altamont498 | @mercuryships | @lemonloven (to be tagged in what I make, please see this post!)
Comments on and reblogs of my work are always okay, and appreciated, but are by no means required!~
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the nature of a john prine song is that sometimes it's the most beautifully honest love song you've ever heard, and sometimes it's a brilliant work of satire, and sometimes it's a deeply empathetic description of someone's life, and sometimes it's a punch in the gut that makes you cry
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was thinking of going to my new local record shop for record store day tomorrow to see if there's a chance of getting folklore long pond and then saw that they're opening at 8am but the coffee shop across the road will be taking orders from the queue from 6am........ maybe not
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