#and again. please keep in mind that I'm neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the decision itself.

[dyketectivecomics]

Since I’ve seen too much general bitching about this decision from the writers and not enough Thoughtful Analysis of what it actually means & ways it could be improved. I guess I’m gonna have to bite the fucking bullet and talk about this. So buckle up kiddos.

Here’s Why Zatanna & M’gann Giving Artemis ‘Closure’ Is The Most Interesting Thing to Happen to Them All Season. And One (1) Way It Can Be Improved: (under the cut bc im not a dick that’s gonna Force people to scroll for miles through analysis they don’t have any interest in reading. Just remember if you’re thinking of Reacting to this, i GAVE you that out)

Let’s talk about the Decision on the writers part for this first, and why everyone needs to set aside personal feelings about it. Conflict is needed to drive a plot. And sure, this conflict is only JUST being set up, but this is a wonderful opportunity to develop these three characters together now.

Say what you will about Miss M in the second season, whether you agreed or disagreed with her methods from then is irrelevant (it was mindwiping criminals to the point of leaving them in a vegetative state, just so we all recall. Which. Is a whole other topic to dive into at a different time). It created a Conflict, and a subplot, that was more or less resolved by the end. As little development as characters end up getting with such a huge cast, M’gann was still provided an inciting moment & points of progression throughout the season. It even became relevant to the overarching plot, which is ideally what a writer should be doing with the characters.

Developing the characters personally & interpersonally alongside the greater conflict that may be beyond the protagonists’ control. That is what Makes Stories Interesting. How you feel about those decisions is almost irrelevant. The fact that the writer got you to feel something, means that they’re working effectively. (Or that you might be over-involved/projecting onto the work/characters. Which can be valid, but like.. Take a breath & take a step back maybe if you find yourself getting genuinely bothered by the narrative/narrative decisions. There may be something Deeper at work there bro.)

Now, this situation between Zee & M’gann manipulating Artemis is similar, but not the same as M’gann’s conflict last season. And that’s an important distinction to make. All characters have made questionable decisions and well-intentioned manipulations of others. It’s an age-old, tried and true conflict to introduce. This is a wonderful grenade who’s pin has been pulled, and it’s either a matter of time before someone slips about the news, or something that’s being so carefully kept together begins to provide internal conflict for those In The Know.

M’gann’s already made questionable choices about manipulating the minds of others (again, see season 2), it’s been touched on how she’s altered the minds of those close to her (so far only with Conner before this new development of course), but that conflict and aftermath was never actually shown to us, the audience. Another difference to note, however, is that M’gann didn’t force Artemis through this situation. Zatanna was very clear that everything in Artemis’ mindscape was her own creation and own subconscious working through her grief towards a path of acceptance.

It was a manipulation, nonetheless, but we can wax poetic about intentions vs consequences till the cows come home. It’s happened, it’s done. Now the question needs to be about those consequences: how will Artie react to it, if she ever finds out about it? Hell, how would Conner reaction if/when he finds out? Other members of the team? Etc? Again, it doesn’t matter if you personally agree with her involvement, it’s all about how the decision develops these characters & their relationships to each other, and whether we agree with the effects and implications of these decisions.

So onto Zatanna’s involvement as well. Zatanna is a character who has also been molded by her ‘bad’ decisions. Similar to M’gann, she’s erased memories and altered personalities and manipulated more than her fair share of people. She’s taken justice into her own hands and doled it out with impunity. It’s not something everyone likes about her character, but it IS a part of her pre52 canon, and we can’t deny it’s there. So for the writers to have her do something similar, by giving her friend a chance to seek closure even if it may be at a cost, even if some might not consider it ‘real’, isn’t totally out of character given her history. (Just maybe out of character, given that YJ’s canon hasn’t given her much of one until now) Agree or don’t agree with the intentions writers have given her. They’re there now. And now she’ll have to live with the consequences.

So back to the archer herself, Artemis has been seen grieving Wally all season long. Many characters have gotten a chance to show their grief in their own ways. Very much to the point where it became obvious the entire season was leading up to this One Moment.

But saving this moment and this potential development till the end was the real Poor Decision.

Many fans were similarly mourning Wally’s death, and with the time jump in the show nearly matching the years it had taken to bring it back, showing the different types of grief the characters felt over the season was a wise move. But showing how they moved past it would be just as important. And giving Artemis closure, should have been a mid-season plot point, not an end-of-season one. It would have provided the audience a sense of closure and excitement for new opportunities from the narrative to come, would have given more of a punch when other characters grieved alongside us even after this closure (because grief is not a linear, over and done with thing), but providing the first step is just that. A First Step.

And to circle back to the conflict it would have provided between M’gann, Zee & Artemis, it would have created a good half-season of development as they each tiptoed around each other on the issue. Once again, a chance to further develop all of these characters & their relationship to one another, possibly even to the greater part of the teams as well. (For example, maybe mix it in by showing how Artemis handles a Betrayal, and giving a further connection for Tara to hold onto, truly Showing how anyone can be forgiven for even well-intentioned mistakes, or if they hadn’t wanted to subvert the usual Judas Contract narrative, further push Tara away by having Zee & M’gann’s choices condemned. But if that decision had been made, we’d be opening up a whole OTHER can of worms)

Whether we see this nugget of conflict potential actually come to fruition is another point all together. But knowing the likely time-jumps to occur for season four, the cast continuing to expand to unreasonable proportions, and the fact that even our Original Main Cast have become nothing more than overblown cameos at many points during this last season, I wouldn’t be holding my breath on this one.

[kosmosian-quills]

Week 3 - Choice

My next piece for the @yourocsbackstory​ Antagonist Event. This one is set approximately 9 years after the Week 2 drabble.

I hope you enjoy!

Throughout my long military career, I learned many things.

As I ascended the ladder of rank and responsibility, I learned even more.

But one thing that was always reinforced to me at every level was that the respect of your fellow soldiers is what will keep you alive. Having a team you can trust with your life, and likewise they can trust you with theirs, is vital in any situation.

Of course, maintaining a relationship is easier when you are the same rank as that person. Any kind of power imbalance, and it seems almost fake, like they are only telling you what you want to hear.

I tried to change that.

The men I work with on a day to day basis, I spent years getting to know. I know that Corporal Nowak is newly married with a baby on the way. That Lieutenant Kamiński’s mother was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. That Sergeant Piasecki’s younger brother had just started upper school. This is just a handful of the soldiers I work with, but they feel more at ease with me when they are speaking to me.

Some may think that I strictly do not need to know about the private lives of these soldiers, but it has come in handy on a few occasions.

It’s granted me ways to win their trust, after all.

"You wished to see me, General?" the voice that followed the knock on my door asked.

"Yes, lieutenant. Please, come in."

As ordered, he closes the door and stands in front of the table i have just beside the fireplace. I am seated on one of the sofas, holding my glass of vodka which I had been slowly sipping away at for the last little while.

I lean forward, and invite him to sit on the other sofa opposite me. "Something to drink, lieutenant?" I gesture to the empty shot glass and bottle of vodka that was in the middle of the table.

The soldier shook his head, sitting himself down on the comfortable cushions, certainly not relaxing over there. No, he's got his back straight, eyes forward facing but not quite looking me in the eyes.. "No, thank you, sir."

To each his own, I suppose. I don't press the matter as I finish my current drink. “I trust that your little one is on the mend now, Lieutenant?" I ask, pouring myself out a fresh glass. He had told me a month ago that his infant son had been taken to hospital with suspected - later confirmed - meningitis. Admittedly not the best situation for a soldier to face when his mother is dying and his son critically ill.

He nods, "oh - yes sir. He's doing very well, sir. thank you for asking."

I wave my hand dismissively. "I look out for my soldiers, Lieutenant. Is your wife doing well with him then?"

He lets out a small chuckle, "I'd be surprised to hear she left his bedside after everything that's happened, sir."

"I can't say I blame her," I agree, taking another sip of the vodka.

There's a moment where we regard each other in silence, he does not wish to insolently speak up when not spoken to. He'll know that he isn't in trouble. I would have witnesses here, for that. No. What I want to discuss, requires privacy.

"How do you find your position, Lieutenant?" I ask, tracing my finger along the rim of my glass. "Working for the army, for the King. How do you find it?"

He doesn't answer me straight away, I can see the gears turning in his head as he tries to think of the answer I am expecting, and not the honest one.

"Rewarding, General. Working under you for King and Country is a great honour and very rewarding."

An almost rehearsed response. Generic, non-specific, but acknowledging my role in his response. Working under me, yes.

"No need to be so official here, Lieutenant, this conversation is entirely off the record. I need your honest opinion."

I can tell from here that he is continuing to weigh his options in his head, not quite sure whether I am telling the truth or not. Whether this is some kind of test. Well, it is a test, but he won't be in trouble for his answers. I was hoping that I could coax a more honest response out of him by telling him this goes no further than me.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you are asking of me, General, I have no issues with my role or workload. Is..." he asked, frowning slightly, "have I done something wrong?"

I lean forward in my seat.

"Lieutenant Kamiński. I know you to be a loyal and diligent soldier, but I heard you speaking with Lieutenant Zielinski just yesterday about how you felt regarding the King's latest... shall we say, ill advised idea for him to reduce the number of troops in the Royal Army."

He opened his mouth briefly, as though to argue, before he closed it again, not breaking our eye contact.

"About how taking the jobs from our troops is unfair, and especially to those like yourself who have worked hard for your positions, and have a family to look after. With what happened to your mother and to your son."

He blinked at me, clenching his fists on his lap.

"And I agree with you, Lieutenant," I tell him, and the relief that floods over his face is barely noticeable. He exhaled shortly, but still said nothing, "I feel that this is grossly incompetent and an overall bad decision that he is making, all in the name of 'peace'."

He nods at me, clearing his throat. "Yes, sir."

"I may have a solution for you, Lieutenant," I reach forward for the bottle of vodka, and place my own glass on the table, filling it back up. As well as turning over the empty glass and filling that too, pushing it slowly towards the Lieutenant. "I very much disagree with the King's stance here, and feel that loyalty shown by soldiers like yourselves should be rewarded, not punished."

The Lieutenant doesn't reject the drink this time, instead taking the glass from the table, but he doesn't drink yet. Ever the diligent soldier. There is still some doubt lingering on his face - I can tell - judging by the way in which he holds his glass in a strong grip as opposed to lightly with a few fingers.

I pick up my own glass, holding it in my hand, and watch him carefully. "I have something in mind, that may - shall we say - persuade the King that listening to us military men is the best thing he can do. But I need your loyalty, and your trust, if this is going to work. I need you to do something for me. Do you understand what I am telling you, Lieutenant?"

He takes a moment, looks down at the other hand clenched into a fist - still placed on his lap - before looking back up at me to deliver his response.

"Yes, General Gniewek. What is it you need me to do?"

I can't help but give a small smile, impressed that this worked. I hold up my glass, almost a toast, before drinking the whole thing. He does the same, soundlessly toasting me before drinking the vodka in its entirety and setting the glass down on the table.

"I'm glad you asked, Lieutenant," I place my own glass down on the table, darting my gaze to the door, just in case, "I need your help to teach the King that without a strong military neither the country nor his family are safe.”