wait LOVE your meta on how you wish opal was there for Dorian rn and i think it hits on something i’ve seen from another meta writer (@c-is-for-circinate, maybe?) but it’s this idea that c3 is about CLASS and how that’s wrapped up in every piece of their being, and i think that’s so interesting in regards to Dorian, because he tried to leave the way he was raised behind and once he revealed it, he was shunted back into iy
context, specifically the last chunk of it.
AH yes I've definitely seen that discussed from them. This meta touches on some aspects of it I think (really neat read). But yeah, I think that the themes of class and class warfare definitely permeate portions of the campaign- and even if you're more "ehh" about that, it definitely impacts the characters. its a good fuckin read.
And it does play into this, where I think it might be harder for the C3 party to kind of intuitively grasp onto the extent of Dorian's internal struggle, to see a "not-exactly-prince" and riches and poshness and understand, intimately, why stepping back into it would be so hard for him.
I will say that with Opal and Dorian, my thoughts about them do have something to do with wealth, but not... directly. I don't think Opal was rich necessarily. What they had in common feels more like: two people- still young, still a little naive at points, with a comfortable upbringing around people who would put in a lot of work and effort to keep them from harm ("harm")- and all of the confines, expectations, and guilt that came from that.
There's an element of wealth to that, sure- having the kind of life where you can kind of expect food or expect fineries, where you know your way around nice things and feel comfortable in them.
Their situations are by no means the same. But a through line between them, imo- and especially the one I wish Opal was here for, is one about guilt, and fear, and expectations. There is something deeply painful and emotional and heavy, that comes with a lifetime of people giving things up for you, doing things "for your own good", things you never fucking asked for. And then being told you have to do something or other in response. "Unconditional love" that sure fucking feels like it comes with conditions, and expectation, and disappointments, and chains, and weight, and fear, and guilt.
It's not the same, for the two of them. But I do think, if Opal was here, she would get Dorian's situation. Just a little bit, I think.