In a context of political games and marriage of convenience, I think Atlas reaction is quite appropriate, but he is to cautious and narrow minded. See, while yes this is a leverage to Emin that needs to be neutralized, if Atlas were more cunning, he could seize the opportunity to explore and exploite this apparent new weakness in his favor, he just needs to snoop around a little more.
Hoho I feel like this is going to end with Marcos “laying down the law” again, so to speak… I read back to 756-757 and also Emin’s exchange with Marcos about just ORDERING Atlas what to do – and this is interesting because, I do feel like Marcos’ fumbling attempts to be friendly to Atlas could actually give Atlas many openings to (looking at it very coldly) turn their relationship to his own benefit and manipulate Marcos to do what he wants. But that is a degree of self-softening and calculation that Atlas simply CANNOT commit to at this point, even if it might benefit him in the long run. Chewy chewy chewy chewy! I also love that Atlas withdraws into the clear-set boundaries of their roles (“YOU are going to be KING.” / “Is that an order, my prince?”) but also like… if he plays up the roles like that Marcos might eventually give him orders like a king too – and it might be a situation that is much worse than Marcos’ kind of fumbling attempts to place them as equals now! What great conflict, very rooted in their characterizations 8)))))
It’s great character based conflict! Atlas could handle this in a million other ways and it would go better, but no he can’t handle it any other way because he is Atlas and doomed to be this version of Atlas until experience expands his horizons! And same for Marcos!
I adore the other commenters dissecting this and using LITERARY ANALYSIS while I’m over here like a trash raccoon flailing and screeching at my own feet that suspiciously looks like jerky. Yeah! W-what they said! (I do believe that the ~King~ is just completely out of bounds about what his relationship is with Atlas is, though. He’s giving Atlas leverage he’s never had before and, whether Atlas does it intentionally or not, is going to use it to his advantage. He’s literally making Atlas an accomplice with this move, on the other hand, so he basically HAS to help him or they both go down. womp womp)
8 thoughts on “Sparks 777”
Moony
Bro is actually just homophobic ngl
Brino
In a context of political games and marriage of convenience, I think Atlas reaction is quite appropriate, but he is to cautious and narrow minded. See, while yes this is a leverage to Emin that needs to be neutralized, if Atlas were more cunning, he could seize the opportunity to explore and exploite this apparent new weakness in his favor, he just needs to snoop around a little more.
Brino
I got a little carried away by the period drama of it all.
Revel
Who among us hasn’t
Senri
Hoho I feel like this is going to end with Marcos “laying down the law” again, so to speak… I read back to 756-757 and also Emin’s exchange with Marcos about just ORDERING Atlas what to do – and this is interesting because, I do feel like Marcos’ fumbling attempts to be friendly to Atlas could actually give Atlas many openings to (looking at it very coldly) turn their relationship to his own benefit and manipulate Marcos to do what he wants. But that is a degree of self-softening and calculation that Atlas simply CANNOT commit to at this point, even if it might benefit him in the long run. Chewy chewy chewy chewy! I also love that Atlas withdraws into the clear-set boundaries of their roles (“YOU are going to be KING.” / “Is that an order, my prince?”) but also like… if he plays up the roles like that Marcos might eventually give him orders like a king too – and it might be a situation that is much worse than Marcos’ kind of fumbling attempts to place them as equals now! What great conflict, very rooted in their characterizations 8)))))
Revel
Omg this is such a wonderful comment thank you for your deep dive!!
Senri
It’s great character based conflict! Atlas could handle this in a million other ways and it would go better, but no he can’t handle it any other way because he is Atlas and doomed to be this version of Atlas until experience expands his horizons! And same for Marcos!
Montero Thorne
I adore the other commenters dissecting this and using LITERARY ANALYSIS while I’m over here like a trash raccoon flailing and screeching at my own feet that suspiciously looks like jerky. Yeah! W-what they said! (I do believe that the ~King~ is just completely out of bounds about what his relationship is with Atlas is, though. He’s giving Atlas leverage he’s never had before and, whether Atlas does it intentionally or not, is going to use it to his advantage. He’s literally making Atlas an accomplice with this move, on the other hand, so he basically HAS to help him or they both go down. womp womp)