#s103

You’re tuned in to The Morning Call with Eve Harvey, the first voice of the city, right here on S103.

Now playing something soulful, something familiar U kno the kind of song that keeps you company while the day gets started.

If you’re listening, you’re right on time.

Today’s Morning Call question: What helps you stay grounded when the day starts asking a lot of you?

She gave him a choice.

But I don’t think she was prepared for the consequences.

The problem is, she assumed that there wasn't a choice - that Tavros would do exactly what she'd do in this situation. Even now, she refuses to understand him.

Thief. Why not take control.

Even Snowman is confused.

I mean, I can understand why. As Vriska's Exile, Snowman has been keenly observing her - and what she's seen is a ruthless control freak, who manipulates losers like Tavros as easily as she breathes.

But an Exile station can't see inside Vriska's head. She doesn't just see Tavros as a loser, she sees him as her project - and from her perspective, all her plans for him are finally coming to fruition.

In Vriska's head, this is the moment Tavros finally snaps, accepts that her way is the right way, and drives his lance through her heart. The possibility that he'd still refuse to let her win is so unacceptable that she's willing to risk excruciating death to prove she’s right.

Vriska has been handed an opportunity.

Actually, when you think about it, she always had this opportunity. Vriska clearly had knowledge of the Quest Bed before she died, and could have travelled there at any point to ascend. Despite what Terezi assumed, it turns out Vriska didn't have the guts to stare her own mortality in the face.

At the end of the day, she's just a teenager, and she's not nearly as hardened as she pretends to be.

Oh, that's a nice touch. I'd actually forgotten that trolls sleep in cocoons.

I wonder what answer Sgrub would have for a species that doesn’t sleep at all?

Now, what was it that Vriska said again?

Yeah, I don’t think this is going to go smoothly.

Oh, hello Vriska.

If this is the moment I think it is, it was not your finest hour.

If you’re a Player who knows about god tiers, this situation presents a bit of a dilemma, doesn't it?

If you're kissed immediately, your survival is guaranteed, but you're permanently locked out of divinity. Chasing godhood in these circumstances will put your life on the line, but it's your last chance to try.

Of course, it's probably not going to be you making the final call, so this is something you'd want to discuss with your companions beforehand. If it was me, I'd hand out a pack of these:

Which everyone would keep on their person like a organ donor card.

In any case, Vriska's decision is obvious. She'd always choose to roll the dice.

…but she can’t communicate this to Tavros, who seems to be bringing his Aspect into play for this revival.

What does your Breath power do, Nitram?

Something's happening to Tavros, and I think it's Dream Vriska stepping in, forcing him to revive her the way she wants.

We know she was conscious on Prospit while this was happening, and the effective range of her powers is enormous.

They might not even intend to be cryptic.

If you have a class which lets you intuitively understand a certain Aspect, then you're probably going to have trouble explaining your viewpoint to those who lack your advanced insight.

GC: 1 KNOW TH4T YOU W3R3 ON TO SOM3TH1NG WH3N YOU S41D LUCK W4SNT 1NVOLV3D W1TH TH3 CO1N FL1P […] GC: […] LUCK 1S 4 V3RY R34L TH1NG! GC: FORTUN3 1S TH3 3SS3NC3 OF L1GHT, 4ND 1T SH1N3S ON THOS3 WHOV3 M4ST3R3D 1T

Light is the aspect of luck, then. Vriska's abilities now make perfect sense - and come to think of it, so does the name of her Land.

What is treasure but a fortune, waiting to be found?

GC: BUT 1 KNOW SOM3TH1NG MOR3 1MPORT4NT TH4N TH1S GC: 1T 1S 4 B1G S3CR3T GC: M4YB3 TH3 B1GG3ST 4ND MOST 1MPORT4NT S3CR3T OF 4LL GC: LUCK DO3SNT 4CTU4LLY M4TT3R >8]

For all her posturing, Vriska's luck manipulation has a rather limited scope. Sure, she can make bad things happen to people, but those are still Alpha Timeline events. Her 'luck' doesn't change fate - it facilitates it.

This episode was lighthearted, decently paced, and an absolute delight! I love how rather than focusing primarily on the plot, this episode seems to be more exploring Steven’s development and place within the Crystal Gems, with the Gems at the same time learning to give Steven room to do his thing and grow as a person. Even when he messed up, they focused on what he DID do (what he did right) rather than what he didn’t (what he did wrong) and that is so important for kids his age to hear (though to be honest, forgetting that statue was a pretty big boo boo). However, while enjoyable, the plot was a little dull. But these episodes are very important in order to develop the character so I’m not complaining too much. My main complaint was really just how the visuals (primarily in Steven and Pearl’s facial expressions) seemed to sort of not fit. Like the expressions are too big for their faces. I don’t know if that makes sense, but eh, what can you do?