oh also a random other thing i was rotating in my mind
One of the Patrician’s greatest contributions to the reliable operation of Ankh-Morpork had been, very early in his administration, the legalising of the ancient Guild of Thieves. Crime was always with us, he reasoned, and therefore, if you were going to have crime, it at least should be organised crime.
And so the Guild had been encouraged to come out of the shadows and build a big Guildhouse, take their place at civic banquets, and set up their training college with day-release courses and City and Guilds certificates and everything. In exchange for the winding down of the Watch, they agreed, while trying to keep their faces straight, to keep crime levels to a level to be determined annually. That way, everyone could plan ahead, said Lord Vetinari, and part of the uncertainty had been removed from the chaos that is life.
And then, a little while later, the Patrician summoned the leading thieves again and said, oh, by the way, there was something else. What was it, now? Oh, yes…
I know who you are, he said. I know where you live. I know what kind of horse you ride. I know where your wife has her hair done. I know where your lovely children, how old are they now, my, doesn’t time fly, I know where they play. So you won’t forget about what we agreed, will you? And he smiled.
So did they, after a fashion. (Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!)
but much, much later on we've got this:
What he’d thought were carved stone busts were faces, made of wax. And Moist knew how and when they were made, too.
They were death masks.
“My predecessors,” said Vetinari, strolling down the gallery. “Not a complete collection, of course. In some cases the head could not be found or was, as you might say, in a rather untidy state.”
There was a silence. Foolishly, Moist filled it.
“It must be strange, having them look down on you every day,” he managed.
“Oh, do you think so? I have to say I’d rather look down on them. Gross men, for the most part, greedy, venal, and clumsy. Cunning can do duty for thought up to a point, and then you die. Most of them died rich, fat, and terrified. They left the city the worse for their incumbency and the better for their death. But now the city works, Mr. Lipwig. We progress. We would not do so if the ruler was the kind of man who would kill elderly ladies, do you understand?”
“I never said—”
“I know exactly what you never said. You refrained from saying it very loudly.” Vetinari raised an eyebrow. “I am extremely angry, Mr. Lipwig. (Making Money, Terry Pratchett)
so i wonder: is this character growth (ie., at the beginning of his administration vetinari was not above doing cheap-crook type shit like having someone's lil kiddies kidnapped to ensure their compliance? but now he's changed, he's different)?
or would he see some sort of difference between the scenarios?? if so, what??
or, was he really just fully bluffing when he menaced those thieves, when it came down to it he wouldn't have ever really had someone's poor innocent wife and kids harmed in any real sense, cuz that's a line he really wouldn't cross? probably knowing that if they did call his bluff ("fine, take my wife, please!!") he sure would've had to figure something else out?
incidentally. if he was bluffing. i have this mental image that the scariest he'd get is he'd just legit just visit someone's wife at home, like, "oh, i was just in the neighborhood and wanted to drop by and talk about your husband... oh your hair looks nice like that, are you still going to the salon in dolly sisters? and how are the kids?" and just be genuinely pretty damn intimidating but. but also like. almost in a "nice gay best friend" way? is what i'm picturing, if i'm honest.
areudirty
izzy806
kaledo-art
2087
prguitarman
vaporwave
jacobvanloon
