Comment on A Cabal of Paris

  1. Donna_Immaculata on Chapter 4 Mon 31 Dec 2018 06:47PM UTC

    Yes, poor Descartes comes across as a shady character, doesn't he? The poor thing, it just happened! He does seem to be involved in something. Somehow, the Spanish are to blame, and Descartes might or might not want Spain to get her Netherlands back. You never know with these philosophers, they're slippery.

    Porthos' PoV continues to be very useful, because (spoiler) I couldn't be bothered to figure out what the political plot was all about so don't expect a great reveal, LOL! We know only as much as Porthos knows.

    That whole scene with the shadowy host in Brussels is very ominous, isn't it? I never even thought of poison, but I totally see what you mean.

    I figured Athos would take the money, but yeah, playing messenger boy? That's a deadly insult.

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    1. ElDiablito_SF on Chapter 4 Mon 31 Dec 2018 07:15PM UTC

      To play messenger boy to one's own mistress is an unbearable face slapping. Descartes is lucky he was unarmed. And that Athos is a fucking mensch. ❤️

      Someone is going to need to be comforted, like that time he had to get an ugly haircut in England....

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      1. Donna_Immaculata on Chapter 4 Mon 31 Dec 2018 07:25PM UTC

        Tbf his letter might just have said, "Thank you for your message, but no thanks" LOL

        Good thing Aramis doesn't know about the haircut yet.

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        1. Deiseach (Guest) on Chapter 4 Tue 01 Jan 2019 03:43AM UTC

          Sure, it might only have said that, but Descartes first told them that he wasn't involved with Marie in any way that would involve private correspondence and then he turns around and tries to hand Aramis (a) the lady's handkerchief and (b) a letter wrapped up in it!

          Which is definitely private correspondence! So not only did he deceive them about that, he's not even bothering to save their faces and keep up the pretence, he wants to turn them into delivery boys! Have Aramis arrange to have the letter collected, if not hand it over himself! Can you imagine the humiliation that would involve?

          How dare he? Aramis is the only one allowed to lie about private letters here, plus the "I'm going to rub your noses in it by handing over the letter wrapped in the handkerchief and not even bother to try and fool you by making it a parcel or hiding it in a book or some other scheme" obviousness is really, really insulting. It's like sticking out his tongue at them.

          He better thank his lucky stars he waited until Brussels to pull this stunt, else Athos would have killed him dead on behalf of Aramis and his own insulted dignity.

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          1. Donna_Immaculata on Chapter 4 Tue 01 Jan 2019 03:10PM UTC

            Well, the letter might have come from the Mysterious Host (whose name we never learn, because I couldn't be arsed to make one up, LOL, this is Very Lazy Writing, you know!).

            I am loving these discussions of what's-really-going-on, because speaking as the writer, my main concern was to manufacture a dangerous situation where an injury would occur in a very specific way, and everything that's been happening so far is just frillery. I also kinda feel bad that I sullied Descartes' good name by turning him into a shady possible traitor who has the audacity to lie to our heroes. But such sacrifices have to be made to allow Athos to showcase his full range of emotions, from honour to Righteous Wrath.

            Even though this is teef-less AU where no plague occurs, I've just looked up Descartes' manner of death, just in case. Pneumonia at the age of 54, nothing suspicious there.

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            1. Deiseach (Guest) on Chapter 4 Tue 01 Jan 2019 06:23PM UTC

              Pneumonia at the age of 54, nothing suspicious there.

              How old is he here, 53? :-D

              No, in this AU he's in much more danger of Athos skewering him for giving Aramis the sads insulting their honour as gentlemen. You're entirely correct, though: who cares about Plot, on to the Hurt/Comfort!

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            2. ElDiablito_SF on Chapter 4 Tue 01 Jan 2019 06:41PM UTC

              Descartes was a prat and his philosophy was just weaksauce derivative Buddhism-lite. He deserved Teef. He deserved Suddenly! At the age of 54! XD

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              1. Donna_Immaculata on Chapter 4 Tue 01 Jan 2019 07:28PM UTC

                It was in Sweden. Did the Disgustoids vacation in Scandinavia?

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                1. ElDiablito_SF on Chapter 4 Tue 01 Jan 2019 07:51PM UTC

                  In 1650? This would've been a year after the English Embarrassment. Athos was in Tartarus, but I can definitely see that putting Flitters in a pique and a bit of a traveling mood XD

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