Black Hat Brigade: Episode 4
May. 28th, 2015 10:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wingedbeastSetting: Court Archery Yard. A stand for nobles. A crowd for commoners. In the stand, a golden arrow sits on a decorative pillow beside a standing man.
Sheriff of Nottingham: This has been quite the exciting tournament. Nottinghamshire can boast some truly great archers. Alas, there is but one arrow. So, there can only be one best archer.
A laugh calls out from beyond the crowd: Ha HAH!
An arow flies upward and then arcs down to hit the center of a target. A tall, thin man, wearing a robe, with a cowl that hangs over his face, steps through the crowd.
Disguised Robin Hood: So sorry to join the tournament late.
A black-feathered arrow flies up, over the crowd, arcs down, and splits the previous arrow.
Sheriff groans: Oh really, Merida. We're all duly impressed with your skills. But, whether we like it or not, we do have to follow a narrative, here.
Robin Hood: A Hah! This is not Merida's arrow, but a new player in our midst!
Susan Pevensie steps through the parting crowd. She has a black quiver, a black archer's vest, and a black skirt over black nylons. Of course, she has a black feather in a black cap. The color scheme is broken by red lipstick.
Susan Pevensie: The exact type of observation normally given to primary protagonists.
Robin Hood bows: Allow me to welcome you to my story. I am Robin Hood, also Robin of Loxley in some iterations.
Sheriff descends from the stand: And, I am the Sheriff of Nottingham. I am the primary antagonist in Robin Hood's story.
Susan: Though, allowed manners in this iteration. Much appreciated. I am Susan Pevensie of The Black Hat Brigade. I would have sent a messenger, but you know how things go. The dramatic entrance is sometimes the only option.
Robin Hood: Think nothing of it, good lady. This is a rarely used scene in these days of gritty retellings.
Susan gives Robin Hood a glance, then turns to the Sheriff.: Sheriff, I would like to meet with yourself and Prince John.
Sheriff: I may be nobility in this iteration. But, the Prince is still far above me and far away.
Susan waves a hand.: I'm quite certain some narrative convenience can be arranged. Besides, I did bring something to make the meeting more a pleasure.
Susan draws a hollow arrow from her quiver, then fires directly up. The hollow arrow makes a loud screaming sound.
Moments later, people clothed over their entire bodies in black and purple suits, with red footprints over the foreheads, jumped over the crowd. Many of them baring square boxes baring a round sigil.
A man walks through the part in the crowd. He is dressed in spiked, metal armor, including a helmet and face-plate, and with a purple cape.
Shredder: I, the Shredder, and my mighty Foot Clan have brought you Pizza and opportunity!
Next Scene
Setting: Nottingham Castle's Court. The Camera pans over the two lower tables.
Shredder: It has to do with the origins of the ninja. We come from a tradition of using non-traditional combat to fight oppressive Shojins and their Samurai mercenaries.
English Peasant: Did I not hear that tomatoes were poisonous?
The camera moves up to the royal table.
Susan: Ninja Turtle New York is home to some of the most enthusiastic pizza enthusiasts, thus making it also home to some of the best made pizzas in the vast majority of fiction.
Prince John looks at the pizza: I have heard of this. I understand it to be a peasant dish.
Sherrif: Seems a rather involved and rich recipe. Cheeses, bread, various potential sauces, and optional use of meat, herb, and mushrooms.
Robin Hood: Ha HAH! Prince John is afraid of what should happen should he eat so lowly as a peasant's dish.
Susan: That being?
Prince John sets down his knife: We are all quite aware that my character was created expressly to be cowardly and spoiled with wealth. It is how the cannon of the story of Robin Hood deems I be. May I, at the very least, have a break from the mockery while we are breaking from the cannon?
Susan: No mockery. I think there is value to the question. What would happen were you to start eating lowly foods or otherwise live more frugally?
Prince John: Are you looking for me to admit that it would not kill me? It wouldn't. I've heard of your Brigade's efforts to alter stories. I'm afraid the story of Robin Hood simply has too much tradition behind it to change, especially to the benefit of a monarch in these egalitarian times of democracy.
Susan: I'm afraid word has not reached you with total accuracy. The Black Hat Brigade does not wish to significantly alter the actions in the stories, but seeks to address injustices done by the Cannon to characters. Yourself and the Sheriff are wronged by the cannon of the tale of Robin Hood.
Susan: By example, give it your consideration. What would be the results of Prince John eating and living frugally?
Robin Hood: Less taxes for the land? Men being able to own more of the fruits of their own labor.
Susan: Quiet, you. Your story has been told and retold. Now it is time to look at the story of Prince John.
Susan turns back to regard Prince John.
Prince John takes a breath.: If I am to fully consider the possibilities, acknowledging that this is a story that takes place in the middle ages, either during or just following the Crusades, I would have to say that frugality would be taken as a sign of exploitable weakness.
Prince John: Though there have been repeated claims that the Monarchy is given power by God, the functional reality is that crowns can be claimed by force and nations can be overrun.
Prince John: The ambitions of noble lords with strong armies, the Scottish to the north, the French to the south, the Irish to the east and, depending on historical inaccuracy, the Vikings to the west.
Prince John: Each of them can have spies and each of them have expectations upon royalty. They may not be able to breach our defenses, but could, any of them, cause a loss of men and coin to weaken us to the next assault. Let alone if they manage to attack at once.
Robin Hood: Now see here! Are you, now, claiming to be the good guy in the story in which you tax your poor into even deeper privation?
Susan: Mr. Hood! Really! Is allowing other people to be heroes of their own stories really such a threat to you?
Prince John: Thank you!
Susan: Do not get too proud, Prince John. You are still blind to the impact upon your subjects and you are still a part of a system of governance and society of elitism that creates such necessities in the first place. Justice to you as a character does mean justice, not a total reversal.
Robin Hood: Hah!
Sheriff: Really! We get quite enough of your laughter during the action/adventure, light and fun iterations! Being that I die in so many iterations of your story, I would welcome people shedding a tear at my demise, rather than raising cheer.
Susan: And, that is easily accomplished.
Robin Hood looks shocked at Sheriff: I never...
Sheriff: Oh, enough of you. For the protagonist of a narrative of the underprivileged combating the over-privileged, you make no effort, whatsoever, to look past your main character privilege.
Sheriff:turns to Susan: So, the tear rather than the cheer. How would this be accomplished.
Susan: A simple combination of acknowledging that you have more to handle than Robin Hood and his band of merry Dudebros-
Robin Hood: Pardon me?
Susan: -and an ill-chosen faith in the law and order of the system that you know. As a system for bringing justice to all, it's a failure. All you need do is have faith in that, including the class system. And, your story can be that of tragedy, rather than that of a foil that exists only for Robin Hood to defeat.
Sheriff: I do not quite become a hero in that. But... I do believe I would like that. A bit of compassion in the appreciation of myself as a villain, if nothing else.
Robin Hood: So... how would we go about that? Perhaps, a series?
Sheriff of Nottingham: This has been quite the exciting tournament. Nottinghamshire can boast some truly great archers. Alas, there is but one arrow. So, there can only be one best archer.
A laugh calls out from beyond the crowd: Ha HAH!
An arow flies upward and then arcs down to hit the center of a target. A tall, thin man, wearing a robe, with a cowl that hangs over his face, steps through the crowd.
Disguised Robin Hood: So sorry to join the tournament late.
A black-feathered arrow flies up, over the crowd, arcs down, and splits the previous arrow.
Sheriff groans: Oh really, Merida. We're all duly impressed with your skills. But, whether we like it or not, we do have to follow a narrative, here.
Robin Hood: A Hah! This is not Merida's arrow, but a new player in our midst!
Susan Pevensie steps through the parting crowd. She has a black quiver, a black archer's vest, and a black skirt over black nylons. Of course, she has a black feather in a black cap. The color scheme is broken by red lipstick.
Susan Pevensie: The exact type of observation normally given to primary protagonists.
Robin Hood bows: Allow me to welcome you to my story. I am Robin Hood, also Robin of Loxley in some iterations.
Sheriff descends from the stand: And, I am the Sheriff of Nottingham. I am the primary antagonist in Robin Hood's story.
Susan: Though, allowed manners in this iteration. Much appreciated. I am Susan Pevensie of The Black Hat Brigade. I would have sent a messenger, but you know how things go. The dramatic entrance is sometimes the only option.
Robin Hood: Think nothing of it, good lady. This is a rarely used scene in these days of gritty retellings.
Susan gives Robin Hood a glance, then turns to the Sheriff.: Sheriff, I would like to meet with yourself and Prince John.
Sheriff: I may be nobility in this iteration. But, the Prince is still far above me and far away.
Susan waves a hand.: I'm quite certain some narrative convenience can be arranged. Besides, I did bring something to make the meeting more a pleasure.
Susan draws a hollow arrow from her quiver, then fires directly up. The hollow arrow makes a loud screaming sound.
Moments later, people clothed over their entire bodies in black and purple suits, with red footprints over the foreheads, jumped over the crowd. Many of them baring square boxes baring a round sigil.
A man walks through the part in the crowd. He is dressed in spiked, metal armor, including a helmet and face-plate, and with a purple cape.
Shredder: I, the Shredder, and my mighty Foot Clan have brought you Pizza and opportunity!
Next Scene
Setting: Nottingham Castle's Court. The Camera pans over the two lower tables.
Shredder: It has to do with the origins of the ninja. We come from a tradition of using non-traditional combat to fight oppressive Shojins and their Samurai mercenaries.
English Peasant: Did I not hear that tomatoes were poisonous?
The camera moves up to the royal table.
Susan: Ninja Turtle New York is home to some of the most enthusiastic pizza enthusiasts, thus making it also home to some of the best made pizzas in the vast majority of fiction.
Prince John looks at the pizza: I have heard of this. I understand it to be a peasant dish.
Sherrif: Seems a rather involved and rich recipe. Cheeses, bread, various potential sauces, and optional use of meat, herb, and mushrooms.
Robin Hood: Ha HAH! Prince John is afraid of what should happen should he eat so lowly as a peasant's dish.
Susan: That being?
Prince John sets down his knife: We are all quite aware that my character was created expressly to be cowardly and spoiled with wealth. It is how the cannon of the story of Robin Hood deems I be. May I, at the very least, have a break from the mockery while we are breaking from the cannon?
Susan: No mockery. I think there is value to the question. What would happen were you to start eating lowly foods or otherwise live more frugally?
Prince John: Are you looking for me to admit that it would not kill me? It wouldn't. I've heard of your Brigade's efforts to alter stories. I'm afraid the story of Robin Hood simply has too much tradition behind it to change, especially to the benefit of a monarch in these egalitarian times of democracy.
Susan: I'm afraid word has not reached you with total accuracy. The Black Hat Brigade does not wish to significantly alter the actions in the stories, but seeks to address injustices done by the Cannon to characters. Yourself and the Sheriff are wronged by the cannon of the tale of Robin Hood.
Susan: By example, give it your consideration. What would be the results of Prince John eating and living frugally?
Robin Hood: Less taxes for the land? Men being able to own more of the fruits of their own labor.
Susan: Quiet, you. Your story has been told and retold. Now it is time to look at the story of Prince John.
Susan turns back to regard Prince John.
Prince John takes a breath.: If I am to fully consider the possibilities, acknowledging that this is a story that takes place in the middle ages, either during or just following the Crusades, I would have to say that frugality would be taken as a sign of exploitable weakness.
Prince John: Though there have been repeated claims that the Monarchy is given power by God, the functional reality is that crowns can be claimed by force and nations can be overrun.
Prince John: The ambitions of noble lords with strong armies, the Scottish to the north, the French to the south, the Irish to the east and, depending on historical inaccuracy, the Vikings to the west.
Prince John: Each of them can have spies and each of them have expectations upon royalty. They may not be able to breach our defenses, but could, any of them, cause a loss of men and coin to weaken us to the next assault. Let alone if they manage to attack at once.
Robin Hood: Now see here! Are you, now, claiming to be the good guy in the story in which you tax your poor into even deeper privation?
Susan: Mr. Hood! Really! Is allowing other people to be heroes of their own stories really such a threat to you?
Prince John: Thank you!
Susan: Do not get too proud, Prince John. You are still blind to the impact upon your subjects and you are still a part of a system of governance and society of elitism that creates such necessities in the first place. Justice to you as a character does mean justice, not a total reversal.
Robin Hood: Hah!
Sheriff: Really! We get quite enough of your laughter during the action/adventure, light and fun iterations! Being that I die in so many iterations of your story, I would welcome people shedding a tear at my demise, rather than raising cheer.
Susan: And, that is easily accomplished.
Robin Hood looks shocked at Sheriff: I never...
Sheriff: Oh, enough of you. For the protagonist of a narrative of the underprivileged combating the over-privileged, you make no effort, whatsoever, to look past your main character privilege.
Sheriff:turns to Susan: So, the tear rather than the cheer. How would this be accomplished.
Susan: A simple combination of acknowledging that you have more to handle than Robin Hood and his band of merry Dudebros-
Robin Hood: Pardon me?
Susan: -and an ill-chosen faith in the law and order of the system that you know. As a system for bringing justice to all, it's a failure. All you need do is have faith in that, including the class system. And, your story can be that of tragedy, rather than that of a foil that exists only for Robin Hood to defeat.
Sheriff: I do not quite become a hero in that. But... I do believe I would like that. A bit of compassion in the appreciation of myself as a villain, if nothing else.
Robin Hood: So... how would we go about that? Perhaps, a series?
no subject
Date: 2015-05-29 11:45 pm (UTC)King John has been done much disservice by history and legend. He was a micromanaging policy wonk who inherited a kingdom bankrupt from a decade of crusades. France wanted to take it away from him. His own nobility were groaning under the tax burden. And to top the matter off, he not only lost the crown jewels in an Anglia swamp, he died of dysentery. And the royalty has STILL not forgiven him for signing the Magna Carta.
no subject
Date: 2015-05-29 11:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-10-09 07:49 pm (UTC)