good cows

So of course, when cr 2 started and we met mollymauk, I immediately started my search for an appropriate accessory to name after him and join percy in my daily look. And I found this dope fake-gold ring with a sun and moon, totally perfect!

And that means that when people treat them the way they would a celebrity who’s fame has put them above everyone else, it can seem kind of weird? Because there’s a good chance they’ll see or just be generally aware of how people treat them online?

Taylor Swift isn’t going to see what weird fanfic you write about her online, but I’ve literally seen people write RPF about voice actors who even have their own Ao3 accounts, and that just seems so invasive to their personal lives? I’ve seen people on tumblr name their podcast sideblogs with voice actors full actual names, not the character, the person themslves, and it’s often VA’s who have their own tumblr accounts.

With the group? Where we are at episode 103? Not at all. Not even remotely.

Reciprocity of kindnesses and favors rendered is not exclusive to transactional relationships. To give in return for receiving is just... a relationship. A transactional relationship is one where that act of receiving something in return for giving something is the end goal of the relationship itself. (Sidebar, transactional relationship not inherently bad actually! They’re perfectly sensible relationships with acquaintances and people who aren’t your friends, family, or otherwise close to you.) It’s when the relationship is entirely based on the idea of doing a favor for someone with the expectation that they will then return the favor—and there’s nothing outside of that.

Fjord does approach his relationships with the Nein with the intent to reciprocate and repay what they have given to him. But, again, that’s just gratitude. ALL relationships have an aspect of giving and receiving, and to repay someone’s kindness to you isn’t necessarily transactional, that’s just gratitude or friendship or even sometimes just decency.

There was a point at which Fjord approached many of the relationships in the group as transactional. I’d say the only real exception may have been Jester, as their relationship seemed largely built on companionship’s sake while they traveled. Consider the blood pact with Caleb over Dashila’s altar. Fjord easily agrees to help Caleb because Caleb has posed that he is here helping Fjord, and that one day Caleb may need help himself. A favor owed for a favor provided, blood and blood. Fjord likely expected all relationships with him to be negotiated on that basis because of how he was treated throughout his life, and so that’s where he starts with the individuals of the Nein—and it’s how he approaches relationships with basically every single NPC that crosses his path. (Again, not inherently bad to do.)

However, that was a very long time ago. For ages now, it has not felt like Fjord has expected what he himself gives must be repaid eventually. 

Fjord may feel like he owes many debts to the group, but he never seems to believe that they owe him in return for what he’s offered and given. Fjord is, in the end, very giving of himself to his relationships in this group, and he rarely asks for or expects anything in return. All he’s really asked for is that they each pursue their best selves with sincere effort and to support one each in that endeavor. He wants them protected and kept, and he wants the opportunity to watch over them as they grow and to be allowed to see where they end up.