Turais - Traveller 34 - Keep Trying (Part 2)
Added 2025-03-08 00:24:12 +0000 UTC
Comments
The very benefit of those discussions. I was a bit "raw" in the way I responded, and that's why I apologized ^_^' Even if I had to carefully re-examine what you said, you enabled me to see something that I didn't consider correctly :-D Thanks a bunch ;-) Because, we cannot deny the inherent complicity between Maggie & Malik. Fact. The way she just played him while still getting with him is something new in many ways. And if their relationship progress correctly, through her, some changes to his character aren't out of the question. Changes that shouldn't be even considered if he's left to his own devices (my mistake until now). The requisites are humongous, like her not settling into the "submissive Orc wife" archetype and become the blind hand of Malik, but growing to his level like she just showed, kinda like a real couple. If a real two way relationship can be built between them, some avenue for a peaceful settlement could be found, since she'd most likely ensure fairness without underhanded shenanigans... I sure wouldn't bet on that yet though, until we see more hints going this direction, but the possibility definitely exists.
Roland Taranis
2025-03-08 22:49:53 +0000 UTCAll good. :^)
AAAAA
2025-03-08 21:49:00 +0000 UTCSorry about the double post, but after a careful examination of your initial wording, I wanted to offer an apology. In saying that Maggie "likes" Malik, you might have hit the nail on the head. It is undeniable that they have some compatibility, from the "Orc blood that makes her fuller" to the sexuality through the little cat & mouse game they just played. But I still think there is a gap between liking and loving someone, and for now, while she might very well like him, I don't think she loves him. And until we see more overt displays toward the second option, that stance is unlikely to change.
Roland Taranis
2025-03-08 21:03:58 +0000 UTCThat is also true. I will admit. And she is strong willed enough to make her own decisions, that is certain. I still feel like in the end, if Maggie choose Malik over Fin, it would only be because he fucked her better, from what we saw. The other hints were too subtle and did not take enough space to build a credible alternative and that is the problem I have. And the current circumstances do not convince me that given the choice without any pressure, she would choose Malik.
Roland Taranis
2025-03-08 17:25:54 +0000 UTCIn chapter 31 Maggie says: "Having a strong guy is also comforting. Being with an orc is kinda… I’m a nerd and a girl. You wont get it but it's a thing.” I'd argue it's somewhat entitled to force Maggie/Fin and ignores her agency. That said, there is enough wiggle room to interpret the situation either way. Personaly i think trying to "save" Maggie is degrading, she is clearly smart enough to play hard ball with Malik.
AAAAA
2025-03-08 17:19:11 +0000 UTCI wouldn't be as categorical as you are on the first two assumptions. We haven't witnessed Maggie actively seek Malik's presence in any way. If we sum up her behavior until now as her liking him, it's degrading at the highest level since it reduce everything to "Female seek the ability to provide" without any other consideration. And will switch to whoever can do that best at any given time. What a portrait... And peacefully parting might not really be an option in the first place. Or it could bite us later still when outside the Layers. It would also be a confession of powerlessness that doesn't sit well with me, since our interaction would be a net loss for us. It wouldn't bode well for the future. I talked about Malik because I nurtured unrealistic hopes for the character. And while I am to blame as well, now I can't wait for him to get out the picture, one way or the other.
Roland Taranis
2025-03-08 17:07:17 +0000 UTCI mean at this point i think its fairly clear Maggie likes Malik. I hope Fin just parts ways with Malik's group if it comes to that. That said Malik has been a fun factor of this series so i'm not in a hurry to see him gone. He gets people talking every week which is nice also lol.
AAAAA
2025-03-08 16:25:37 +0000 UTCHonestly, I'd rather wipe the group than be a slave to Malik. I think other options are still available, but if push comes to shove, I'd rather shove harder than needs be.
Roland Taranis
2025-03-08 14:54:45 +0000 UTCThat's Malik, his planning is foolproof, but only within reason. Dryda's strength plays outside this reason, so she undoubtedly is our best chance to impact things in any way.
Roland Taranis
2025-03-08 14:52:43 +0000 UTCLeinan would be the hardest to convert and thus save among those. She is in Malik's camp, though not as devotedly as others. The only way I could see Fin win her over would be by behaving like a Vara and properly establish himself as her "boss". I doubt he could sway her through the shaky kindness he could muster right now. I see no possibility whatsoever to have both the ones you name saved and the others into Malik's clutch, I'd say you might have to consider which side to prioritize. So take a look at the tie I advocate in my analysis, I think it's the only feasible way to ensure everyone you care for ends up alive and well ;-)
Roland Taranis
2025-03-08 14:51:21 +0000 UTCWell, the situation became thorny real quick... I do not know if Maggie can be salvaged or not. She took this course only to sever the influence Malik had on Fin through her. And I have seen no courtship, only strategic considerations on her part. We are sure however that she is much more sexually fulfilled (pun intended) with Malik. But on the other hand I think that summarizing a relationship to "he's fucking me better" is even more immature than what she had with Fin. So I'd say that he still wins in her heart for now. After all, she wouldn't go to such lengths if she didn't care. But deliberately staying away from him and into Malik's clutch could erode those sentiments as time go by. I won't lie, I am disappointed that Malik didn't have any earnest consideration for Fin. Gone my hope of seeing a more open and subtle side to him. It could be somewhat expected, Lancelot did last week. We are indeed much closer to the worst case scenario than I hoped for. Since I'd advocate for keeping our agenda and decision potential intact, the best way forward that I can envision would be a tie. Listening to our friends alone would be the "reasonable" but undoubtedly tame option. But I doubt we could get back at Malik in any way through being reasonable. He would account for that and we would end up dancing to his tune, again. At the very best, risky damage control can be achieved, but nothing more. And ignoring Dryda incurs the risk of her deciding by herself to wipe the situation as well, if things take too much of a bad turn. Dryda's option would be much more "unreasonable", with a much higher chance to impact the status quo. But it has the potential for good as well as the worst. Worst case, Dryda isolate Fin in oder to be his "one and only". No hope for the rest of the group, Zenon & Serane included, one way or the other. Best case, she shake things enough to give Fin the upper hand. But I fear that she would have way too much of a "scorched earth policy" in doing that, and I'd think many unnecessary deaths would follow. By combining the two and listen to everyone, we'd get Dryda's impact potential without the risk of isolation along with the restraint and focus Zenon & Serane can give. Be unreasonable, and thus outside of Malik's planning ability, but not enough to throw the board along with all the pieces on it away.
Roland Taranis
2025-03-08 14:42:38 +0000 UTCu all still still thinken malik respecs fin lolz
Krimson
2025-03-08 07:57:44 +0000 UTCI will say that it is equally possible for her to kill everyone with both options :^) JK... maybe.
Tanya Wormald
2025-03-08 04:27:51 +0000 UTCI think if we listen to dryda she might just kill everyone.
Jane Hexum
2025-03-08 02:27:02 +0000 UTCi really want to save fin dryda zenon and leinan tho i want the rest to fall to Malik Though I'm not sure how to accomplish that.
Jane Hexum
2025-03-08 02:20:19 +0000 UTCTime for Dryda, Malik wants the friends and we have shown zero ability to prevent his machinations in any series ever. He’s only ever not succeeded because of sheer circumstance out of everyone’s control. I’d hate having to rely on that again for like the sixth time.
LancelotDeLuLac
2025-03-08 00:27:53 +0000 UTC
