Stealing Your Cheese

dumps some thoughts in here that i need to rotate more but I THINK ARE FUN...... MUCH TO FINK ABOUT

Hallowmas ES The Queen of the Elephants Parabolan War ES The Bloody Wallpaper Shadowy Gains Light Fingers City Beset by Draconic Dreams Parabola in general

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During their first Hallowmas, Tomas submitted a great number of Nightmares, and became A Member of the Order of Those Who Will Not Be Caught Red-Handed. At the time it didn't truly understand all the implications. By its second Hallowmas it unfortunately Understands.

Tomas always knew about the Red Handed Queen, of course. It's hard to be a Silverer without catching wind of the large powers in Parabola. But their first proper experience with her was during their attempts to stop Queen Mary from stealing dreams. They didn't know, they didn't mean for it to go this far, to doom this poor girl to being chased for eternity by the monstrous Queen she made the mistake of imitating. They still feel sick with guilt when they think about her- Tomas never wanted to doom another person to be trapped behind the mirrors after what happened with Poor Edward, and this time even worse. They wish there could have been another way. This lays the foundation for them: they are horrified of the Red-Handed Queen.

The next time Tomas has the misfortune of interacting with the Queen it's during a Parabolan Campaign about the Chessboard. Tomas is immediately suspicious of Red-Handed dabbling when the topic of jewels come up. And it is filled with Dread. It knows what happened last time a young woman got tangled in this mess...but it is petrified of acting against the Queen. And unlike how the RHQ was with Queen Mary, it seems like the Socialite is.... welcomed? Her life in London is so unfortunate, Tomas genuinely feels for her. This seems like it might be,, better. Happier. So they gently lead her towards the Red, just hoping this poor girl finds the life she wants. They can't pretend to be surprised when the Socialite is asked to step into the Role. Not abandoning herself entirely, but still becoming a vessel for the Red-Handed Queen. At the very least, when they meet up with her later, she seems like she's gotten the life she always wanted. Tomas is happy for her. Tomas is petrified they doomed another young woman.

Unfortunately for them, Tomas can't quite escape her. They got roped into working at the Royal Beth for a night. And the blood. Oh, the blood. It stained their hands for weeks. Sometimes it comes back. All this work, of course, was to pay off one of the Manager's debts. And the debt they choose? The Blood Tax. They don't want to know what happens when you upset Her. Truly, they aren't entirely sure what happened then. But it haunts them.

I don't remember the specifics of Shadowy Gains (and also I haven't finished it lol) but the chessboard version is about the RHQ which is important to point out methinks.

Tomas is filled with regret every time they reflect on the times they've aided the Queen. But something crucial stops them from rebelling against her. Poor Edward, trapped in Parabola. If any of their actions were to put him in danger....... Tomas wouldn't be able to live with themself. So it bows its head and pledges itself to her whenever she asks it to. (Edward also gifted Tomas a pair of red gloves before the Parawar stuff happened iirc and at the time they were like aw red like his mask but now they're like Ah. I've never had a choice.)

When the dreams of London were attacked, Tomas of course picked up a weapon to join the army of dreamers. It's their job. But they knew this was all too neat... it reeked of Chess. Maybe not the Queen specifically, but blood is Her domain, and they were soaked in the red, red, red blood.