Black Hat Brigade: Episode 22
Dec. 22nd, 2015 11:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wingedbeastSetting: Agrabah palace arboretum. A table has been set up, with cups for tea and plates for the already asorted fruits and pungent cheeses.
Jasmine leads the various ladies to the table: Thank you all for coming. I do hope the refreshments are to your liking.
Belle: I'm sure it will be. That is some... powerful cheese.
Jasmine: Odiferous is a neighbor and trading partner to Agrabah. Their cheeses can be very strong indeed, but pair them with a tart fruit and you'll be surprised.
Merida: Yes, yes. Cheese that tastes good on roast boar. You invited us for a reason, and that reason wasn't the hunting to be had in the vast desert out there.
Jasmine: Yes. We've all heard the rumors although, in some cases, our respective Princes may have seen fit to try to shield us from the truth. *Jasmine glances over to a few of those present* This meta-fictional axis of villainy. We need to know what we do know and plan what we can plan.
Maid Marion: I don't think we necessarily need to do much... at least not what you might think.
Snow White: In all honesty, we are princesses. We have our skills. I am quite adept household management, which is no mean feat, with just one me and seven hard working miners. But, I'm neither skilled at combat or espionage.
Maid Marion: I don't think that's needed, anyway.
Ariel: That's all well and good. And, no, keeping home isn't easy. But, I'm sure we can all be more than that.
Cinderella: And what, exactly, does "be more than that" mean?
Ariel: I mean no offense, it's just that, before the Disney Renaissance, Princesses weren't allowed much in the way of agency.
Cinderella: I take offense. I took action, and, yes, had magical assistance, in bettering my own condition in the method I had available to me. That is a story of determination and against abusive parentage. I will not have my accomplishments diminished by someone who's story is that of a little rich girl who's great accomplishment was to live in her fan-fiction as the adult-bodied child-bride of Prince Bland.
Jasmine: Okay, we're getting off on the wrong foot. We don't need anybody to be disrespected, here.
Merida: Or you could just settle it with a fight.
Jasmine: No! We can work together and we don't have to hit each other. We're adults.
Belle: Eh... Technically not most of us. Our ages aren't all settled, save that Aurora went into a suspended animation sleep starting on her sixteenth birthday. Merida is meant to be a touch on the younger side. And, we come from families that could have had us married off at fourteen.
Jasmine: We can at least conduct ourselves like adults, then. We have a much graver, much darker force than our differences. These villains want to take over the stories.
From no apparent source, laughter sounds out. It's high pitched, but smooth, feminine with a touch of...
A black cloud swirls around the table, then disappears, leaving Maleficent to finish her laugh. Opposite the table from Maleficent is Susan Pevensie.
Merida jumps up, drawing her bow in an instant, immediately aimed on Maleficent.
Susan Pevensie: You shoot, I shoot.
Merida side-eyes. Camera pans over to see Susan's bow aimed.
Merida: I'm a quick shot.
Susan: So am I.
Merida: I was taught by my father when I was just a wee girl.
Susan: I was taught by a magic bow as I grew into a woman the first time, then practiced again as I grew into a woman again. As Jasmine says, we can be adults about this.
Maleficent: Oh, put your toys down. None of you has the weapon that can harm me.
Merida: Silver head, blessed with good fairy magic. I've learned to come prepared.
Maleficent's smile falters.
Susan: For the record, I have an arrow dusted with dust from the horn of a unicorn, willingly given, and anointed with holy oil. I also come prepared.
Maleficent looks shocked, but lowers her hands to the table.
Susan: No dragons, no running. We're all just ladies, here, enjoying a get-together with tea and... cheese that is an acquired taste. There's no need for anybody here to harm anybody here... so long, Merida, as you put up your bow.
Merida stays still for a moment. Susan starts to put up her bow, then Merida starts to put up hers.
Susan: Thank you. And, let me commend you on your readiness.
Merida: You were sprite-fast, yourself.
Susan: Now, I believe that you were discussing my Black Hat Brigade.
Jasmine: That's what you're calling it? Isn't that a band?
Susan: Not that I was aware of when I named the organization. I've also come to learn that it was the name of an infantry brigade on the Union side of the American Civil War. But, that's not what you want to ask.
Jasmine: Why are you doing this?
Maleficent: Justice demands it.
Aurora: Excuse me? You cursed an infant to die just because you weren't invited to the christening. It took another faerie to counter the curse just enough. Justice was barely served when you died.
Maleficent waves that off: Oh, so myopically one-sided. Did you never think to wonder on my story?
Aurora: We've seen that movie.
Maleficent: I'm not talking about the movie.
Aurora: Oh, our movie, then. The one where you call upon the powers of Hell.
Maleficent: So what? Hell hasn't been able to tell its side of that story, either.
Susan: Many a character has an untold story, a perspective that goes ignored in the interest of keeping the morality simplistic and easy and making sure that the ones punished are only the ones chosen. It leaves our world with the false sweetness of saccharine. Those called bad guys are not so bad as claimed, with sins against them that go unacknowledged, and the good guys are never so good as claimed.
Jasmine: How do you intend to punish, for your justice?
Susan: Justice doesn't always require punishment. It does require truth *sips some tea* no matter how uncomfortable.
Jasmine: What truth is that? Let me guess, some truth that Jafar is actually the good guy and Aladdin the villain?
Susan: You can discuss that with Jafar at a later point, it may or may not be the truth. Instead, let's discuss truth with you. What was your motivation in your movie, the first one.
Jasmine: I did not want an arranged marriage. I wanted to marry for love.
Susan in dry tone: Mmm, how sweet. And, your plans for the rulership of Agrabah?
Jasmine: What?
Susan: You do realize that Agrabah is currently a monarchy, is that right? I suppose Aladdin could become King, it's hardly unprecedented in fiction. But, your refusal to marry is a refusal to give your nation what it requires in order to maintain political stability.
Jasmine: Why should that be on my head? Other people marry for love.
Maleficent breaks out laughing again: What?
Merida: Isn't that true? I thought this whole arranged marriage for the good of a nation thing was for us royal types.
Susan: Incredibly untrue, unfortunately. The same culture that says that it is up to your father, the King, to decide who you, the Princess will marry gives any young lady the same situation, their father decides. Or their brother in the father's absence, or an uncle. It's all wrapped up in a set of cultural traditions and attitudes called "Patriarchy".
Susan: To answer your question, there is no good reason why that should be on your head. Neither is there any good reason that women in your peasantry should have their entire life decided by whether or not their parents arrange a beneficial marriage. Neither is there any good reason why most of your city should live in poverty. Yet, it does, they do, and it is on your head.
Susan: Life isn't fair, is it?
Susan sips her tea.
Jasmine: What was I supposed to do, then?
Susan sighs: That, most unfortunately, is a good question.
Maleficent: What do you do when the only way to respect others is to disrespect yourself?
Susan: The answer isn't to pretend you have no choice or that there are no consequences.
Maleficent: Sometimes, the only good that can be done needs to be cruel.
Aurora: Are you defending yourself? What evil could I-
Maleficent: Not you, girl. Your father. Four of the fair-folk in our tale, originally conceived as spirits of nature before they were envisioned as cute things with cute wings. He invited three. Three parts of nature did he show due respect and one he snubbed, treated as though he could imagine non-existent. Do you know what happens when people feel safe pretending you don't even exist?
Aurora: Uh... no.
Maleficent: Nothing good, I assure you.
Aurora: But, it's not fair. All I did was be born.
Maleficent: That's also how you became Princess, that's not fair either. And, neither is having your realm of nature destroyed because people feel they can insult it without consequence. We are put into a world that gives us a selection of bad choices and we try to make the best out of a bad bunch.
Susan: In your case, Jasmine, it might be unfair to expect you to come up with a Magna Carta for Agrabah, all on your own. Unfair, though, is a basic reality.
Susan: Justice requires understanding that and having a basic empathy. Perhaps for your people, who could do with having greater education and more economic opportunity. Perhaps, also, for people you have called villain.
Susan: Save for having the canon in your favor, was there anything like a good choice that you could have made?
Jasmine leads the various ladies to the table: Thank you all for coming. I do hope the refreshments are to your liking.
Belle: I'm sure it will be. That is some... powerful cheese.
Jasmine: Odiferous is a neighbor and trading partner to Agrabah. Their cheeses can be very strong indeed, but pair them with a tart fruit and you'll be surprised.
Merida: Yes, yes. Cheese that tastes good on roast boar. You invited us for a reason, and that reason wasn't the hunting to be had in the vast desert out there.
Jasmine: Yes. We've all heard the rumors although, in some cases, our respective Princes may have seen fit to try to shield us from the truth. *Jasmine glances over to a few of those present* This meta-fictional axis of villainy. We need to know what we do know and plan what we can plan.
Maid Marion: I don't think we necessarily need to do much... at least not what you might think.
Snow White: In all honesty, we are princesses. We have our skills. I am quite adept household management, which is no mean feat, with just one me and seven hard working miners. But, I'm neither skilled at combat or espionage.
Maid Marion: I don't think that's needed, anyway.
Ariel: That's all well and good. And, no, keeping home isn't easy. But, I'm sure we can all be more than that.
Cinderella: And what, exactly, does "be more than that" mean?
Ariel: I mean no offense, it's just that, before the Disney Renaissance, Princesses weren't allowed much in the way of agency.
Cinderella: I take offense. I took action, and, yes, had magical assistance, in bettering my own condition in the method I had available to me. That is a story of determination and against abusive parentage. I will not have my accomplishments diminished by someone who's story is that of a little rich girl who's great accomplishment was to live in her fan-fiction as the adult-bodied child-bride of Prince Bland.
Jasmine: Okay, we're getting off on the wrong foot. We don't need anybody to be disrespected, here.
Merida: Or you could just settle it with a fight.
Jasmine: No! We can work together and we don't have to hit each other. We're adults.
Belle: Eh... Technically not most of us. Our ages aren't all settled, save that Aurora went into a suspended animation sleep starting on her sixteenth birthday. Merida is meant to be a touch on the younger side. And, we come from families that could have had us married off at fourteen.
Jasmine: We can at least conduct ourselves like adults, then. We have a much graver, much darker force than our differences. These villains want to take over the stories.
From no apparent source, laughter sounds out. It's high pitched, but smooth, feminine with a touch of...
A black cloud swirls around the table, then disappears, leaving Maleficent to finish her laugh. Opposite the table from Maleficent is Susan Pevensie.
Merida jumps up, drawing her bow in an instant, immediately aimed on Maleficent.
Susan Pevensie: You shoot, I shoot.
Merida side-eyes. Camera pans over to see Susan's bow aimed.
Merida: I'm a quick shot.
Susan: So am I.
Merida: I was taught by my father when I was just a wee girl.
Susan: I was taught by a magic bow as I grew into a woman the first time, then practiced again as I grew into a woman again. As Jasmine says, we can be adults about this.
Maleficent: Oh, put your toys down. None of you has the weapon that can harm me.
Merida: Silver head, blessed with good fairy magic. I've learned to come prepared.
Maleficent's smile falters.
Susan: For the record, I have an arrow dusted with dust from the horn of a unicorn, willingly given, and anointed with holy oil. I also come prepared.
Maleficent looks shocked, but lowers her hands to the table.
Susan: No dragons, no running. We're all just ladies, here, enjoying a get-together with tea and... cheese that is an acquired taste. There's no need for anybody here to harm anybody here... so long, Merida, as you put up your bow.
Merida stays still for a moment. Susan starts to put up her bow, then Merida starts to put up hers.
Susan: Thank you. And, let me commend you on your readiness.
Merida: You were sprite-fast, yourself.
Susan: Now, I believe that you were discussing my Black Hat Brigade.
Jasmine: That's what you're calling it? Isn't that a band?
Susan: Not that I was aware of when I named the organization. I've also come to learn that it was the name of an infantry brigade on the Union side of the American Civil War. But, that's not what you want to ask.
Jasmine: Why are you doing this?
Maleficent: Justice demands it.
Aurora: Excuse me? You cursed an infant to die just because you weren't invited to the christening. It took another faerie to counter the curse just enough. Justice was barely served when you died.
Maleficent waves that off: Oh, so myopically one-sided. Did you never think to wonder on my story?
Aurora: We've seen that movie.
Maleficent: I'm not talking about the movie.
Aurora: Oh, our movie, then. The one where you call upon the powers of Hell.
Maleficent: So what? Hell hasn't been able to tell its side of that story, either.
Susan: Many a character has an untold story, a perspective that goes ignored in the interest of keeping the morality simplistic and easy and making sure that the ones punished are only the ones chosen. It leaves our world with the false sweetness of saccharine. Those called bad guys are not so bad as claimed, with sins against them that go unacknowledged, and the good guys are never so good as claimed.
Jasmine: How do you intend to punish, for your justice?
Susan: Justice doesn't always require punishment. It does require truth *sips some tea* no matter how uncomfortable.
Jasmine: What truth is that? Let me guess, some truth that Jafar is actually the good guy and Aladdin the villain?
Susan: You can discuss that with Jafar at a later point, it may or may not be the truth. Instead, let's discuss truth with you. What was your motivation in your movie, the first one.
Jasmine: I did not want an arranged marriage. I wanted to marry for love.
Susan in dry tone: Mmm, how sweet. And, your plans for the rulership of Agrabah?
Jasmine: What?
Susan: You do realize that Agrabah is currently a monarchy, is that right? I suppose Aladdin could become King, it's hardly unprecedented in fiction. But, your refusal to marry is a refusal to give your nation what it requires in order to maintain political stability.
Jasmine: Why should that be on my head? Other people marry for love.
Maleficent breaks out laughing again: What?
Merida: Isn't that true? I thought this whole arranged marriage for the good of a nation thing was for us royal types.
Susan: Incredibly untrue, unfortunately. The same culture that says that it is up to your father, the King, to decide who you, the Princess will marry gives any young lady the same situation, their father decides. Or their brother in the father's absence, or an uncle. It's all wrapped up in a set of cultural traditions and attitudes called "Patriarchy".
Susan: To answer your question, there is no good reason why that should be on your head. Neither is there any good reason that women in your peasantry should have their entire life decided by whether or not their parents arrange a beneficial marriage. Neither is there any good reason why most of your city should live in poverty. Yet, it does, they do, and it is on your head.
Susan: Life isn't fair, is it?
Susan sips her tea.
Jasmine: What was I supposed to do, then?
Susan sighs: That, most unfortunately, is a good question.
Maleficent: What do you do when the only way to respect others is to disrespect yourself?
Susan: The answer isn't to pretend you have no choice or that there are no consequences.
Maleficent: Sometimes, the only good that can be done needs to be cruel.
Aurora: Are you defending yourself? What evil could I-
Maleficent: Not you, girl. Your father. Four of the fair-folk in our tale, originally conceived as spirits of nature before they were envisioned as cute things with cute wings. He invited three. Three parts of nature did he show due respect and one he snubbed, treated as though he could imagine non-existent. Do you know what happens when people feel safe pretending you don't even exist?
Aurora: Uh... no.
Maleficent: Nothing good, I assure you.
Aurora: But, it's not fair. All I did was be born.
Maleficent: That's also how you became Princess, that's not fair either. And, neither is having your realm of nature destroyed because people feel they can insult it without consequence. We are put into a world that gives us a selection of bad choices and we try to make the best out of a bad bunch.
Susan: In your case, Jasmine, it might be unfair to expect you to come up with a Magna Carta for Agrabah, all on your own. Unfair, though, is a basic reality.
Susan: Justice requires understanding that and having a basic empathy. Perhaps for your people, who could do with having greater education and more economic opportunity. Perhaps, also, for people you have called villain.
Susan: Save for having the canon in your favor, was there anything like a good choice that you could have made?
