the lady of sorrow, armored in light

it is such a contrast to what everyone else is wearing - she's absolutely bedecked in them geegaws diamonds, to the point where they literally look like armour. I dearly wish we had a better look at it because it's gorgeous, not only for its design, and the way it works within the dark sidmouth castle setting, but also for what it signifies - that's not a gown, it's a humiliation tactic. of course she's picking a fight dressed like that, and of course there's nothing anyone can say about it. it builds on exactly what she and gladys discuss earlier in the episode - when she encourages gladys to remind the duke and lady sarah of her worth and contribution to their livelihood. Coming down to dinner like that is the most flagrant, elegant and ostentatious way of saying, "hey remind me who's paying the bills here again? oh wait couldn't hear you over all these diamonds, could you repeat that??"

and if that weren't enough, it's also a delicious parallel to what monica tried to do earlier in the season at bertha's own table; it highlights such a fun similarity between the sisters, but also goes a step further in establishing bertha's absolute command over society power plays - no one's pouring coffee over that dress. No one would dare.

PREY (2017)

Day 1: Pumpkin

"Every time you're 'more than just a person' to someone, you're also less than a person to them." - Lace Harding to The Inquisitor

commission for anonymous!

meanwhile back in Awakening the Warden goes: oh worm? you want to come fight darkspawn with me? sure, the more the merrier! and then the whole gang is just workshopping how to deal with Justice's dead body decaying, Oghren wants to know if Justice fucks, and Nathaniel is all: what if you [spins wheel] possessed someone who was alive? if both parties consent i think that's basically like fine.