Hayden Daviau

I completely blame Twitter for this gif.

‪Two perspectives.‬

Personally I wouldn't get along with him. He's so unconcerned with other people outside of his ONE good friend that I have a hard time empathizing with him.

THAT BEING SAID. I will never be one to shit on a lifelong friendship that I don't understand. Unless I saw active abuse of a power dynamic and manipulation, I try to stay out of the business of best friends. Sometimes there are people that you can just pull through thick and thin with, even if over time you both grow and change as people.

I understand why the Nein doesn't trust Artagan. I don't like that they actively shit on him and bully him BECAUSE they don't trust him. Caleb is the exception to this, he supports and trusts Jester 100% and while he doesn't love Artagan he hasn't been super mean to him. Caduceus also to an extent. But imagine having one friend your entire life, your best friend in the world, (and they were able to grant you powers so you assumed they were a god and they're a little bit of an egomaniac so they didn't correct you) and then suddenly you have a whole bunch more friends! And they hate your best friend. They say he lied to you and gaslighted you and treats you poorly and is taking advantage of you. When all you see is your friend being honest and admitting a mistake and asking for some help.

So while I know I wouldn't get along with Artagan on a personal level, I'd probably be like Caleb and trust that Jester would leave if she thought she was being wronged.

The rest of the Nein see Jester as a child, I feel. Someone innocent and naive because that's the face she puts on to protect herself. But Jester is smart, and wise, and insightful, and she's working on being honest with her emotions. She acts childish because she enjoys it, she likes playing pranks and drawing dicks and teasing her friends. But acting childish does not mean she's a child, and I think the Nein, in their over protectiveness, sometimes forget that.

“Shh mama! I’m surprising you!!"  CR2 Ep109

Do you see that?^

Because the rivalry wasn’t always there. 

Because she was little once. 

Because there was a time when she wasn’t a strategic genius and a firebending prodigy. 

Because he didn’t always have to live under her shadow just ‘cause their scumbag of a father said so. 

Because once they were just kids.

cat got your Tongues