Okay, so I've done a replay to refresh myself and, happily, learning of an incipient release. This is an enormous thread, and even with 'search', I'm sure much of my coming musings have been hashed over, but tough - gonna do it anyway. Some things have stood out for me that I haven't really noticed much commentary.
1. The Contract (MC's, not the mission). I realize this may simply be a device, but that would clash with the rest of the thoroughness. Gracie takes pains to point out it means he's a hostage. Yet he's obviously not treated this way.
Even Blackie of the Praefictoris seems to view him as more than a run-of-the-mill debt. Those who learn his as-yet-unrevealed secret are impressed. So the big question is: "Who?" "Why?" Yes, I realize those of obvious immediate answers (either/both parents, a debt), but I thnk that's too simplistic. So let's dive back further.
2. His Mother. He hates her ("a demon of a mother") and much is made of her abuse, but I think that's far too easy a word for it. I mean...obviously everything in this story is awful when looked at from an external view, but in the context, I don't think so (hey, Gildart, how many fingers do you still have??). The one scene where we saw her (the poisoning flashback), she seemed loving and dedicated. All the abuse was her preparing him for the life to come - and it's already paid off, saving his life when he was poisoned *at the Deluca's dinner table*. Plus, there have been multiple other attempts on his life. The MC has always been a high value target.
His Mother was a Serpent - a legend. Yet it seems she didn't 'cash it in' like Cordia did. Heck, even Giacombe got a Family (nbo, he's not a serpent, but he helped). I assume the Serpents became Kingmakers and shook up the establishment and pretty much, could have each won a plum position. So why not Rina? Maybe it's his Father, but he always gets dismissed as a dead-beat of sorts (which of course means he's more central). People don't like him, but to MC it's indifference - not any of the loathing he has for his mom.
Rina and Cordia were obviously close. People seem to like her, in contrast to MC's view.
3. Which brings us back to the contract. Serpent says, "Don't be too saddened when you find out why." Interesting bit of sympathy from such a formidable figure. He's under contract, but he's allowed to join the Family (and family). Eiza is more of a known quantity and sure thing (even the Delucas know MC is a wild card), yet she'll have to wait until her contract is completed to ask to join.
4. So what's the deal with the MC? Even tho' he's seemingly under-skilled, even the Capos are solicitous of him, and presumably they don't know the real deal. Maybe it's because the family took him in, but that doesn't seem to jive much with their stature and reps (except Caterina!).
In the home stretch now....
I think the MC knows far more than he's letting on, not just to others, but to us, the players/audience. He seems like a downright doofus sometimes, but at other times he is far more assured and decisive. Some examples:
- to Fawkes, about Luna: "She's dear to me, therefore I allow it." That is one hell of a presumptious thing to say!
- Jalen comments about how utterly unfazed ('bored') he is in the Kaskar household, which even the Crown Prince admits has a deservedly rotten reputation.
- His inner dialogue breakdown of the protection levels around Siobhan Ombra - far more knowledgeable than he's ever displayed before. Moreso than even the two Capos with him (although they're both kinda lunatics)
- His duel with Fawkes. Everyone talks about how atrocioius his aim is, but in a high-stress situation, he manages to hit a tiny target at least a half dozen times out of 19 shots. Fawkes is MUCH bigger. He could easily have hit him. And he planned to do this.
- He impresses numerous people with his maneuvering, from Fawkes, to the quasi-Capo, to Gildart and more.
- he has NO problem seducing the two daughters of a top 5 Family, as well as the heir-apparent's wife.
I submit he is FAR more than even we, the players, are being shown or hinted at, and, tying into the contract stuff, is A Really Big Deal. Maybe his Midichlorian count is off the charts and he'll bring balance to the criminal network, or something. Maybe the contract is one of protection, and not debt. Winfred and the Gents have been scouting him for years (decades?), and even they are constantly surprised. Perhaps even Rina is the one who exacted the contract from Cordia. (that's just speculation).
I'm sure lots of folks are going, "Well, duuuh," but hey, I enjoyed musing on it.l Either way, it's a really fun ride.
