When you view Heroism as an allegory for queerness everything becomes... gayer? Makes more sense? Becomes better.
Like-I just thought about this while making an edit of Reaver to "No one's son" by Mad Tsai.
Heroes were hated and looked down on during a period of time. Reaver probably lived through that era, and I'm so sorry but you cannot say "this is just about heroes". Reaver is the oldest man in Albion, openly pansexual, and a hero. Like-... this can so easily be read as your older uncle who's had to live closeted because back then homosexuality wasn't accepted.
And another element that reinforces that theory is literally that all heroes are queer-coded. First of, HoO lives hidden away from people with only a small community of people like him. He also doesn't speak to people.
Then you have Theresa who he looks for but who is also in her own small community away from people, and that community happens to be a gang (aka punks OR, considering the fact that they are mercenaries, we can also take a homophobic pov which would make sense for what I'm about to say which would be the stereotype that queer kids are influenced by "bad people") and she chose the gang over her brother for years, so it really gives off "Older lesbian sister who ran away from home to join a gang of other gay people because her countryside village wasn't accepting". Theresa is also the most mysterious secretive person in Albion and then she literally leaves to study on the other side of the world and she remains alone there. She also, somehow always ends up having to take care of kids/teens and guide them (Sparrow, hobw, Gabriel) while not having kids of her own (aka older lesbian guiding questioning kids).
In Fable 2 Sparrow can be queer to depending on the player's choice but I feel like even in the canon she wouldn't be cishet. She lives with Theresa in the dwelling camp, so with another minority who becomes her own community and small found family. She is also referred to as Lionheart I believe which is a direct ref to Richard of Lionheart aka THE gay king of England.
Meantime Hammer is a fucking muscular monk and we know how deeply religious imagery is used to show a character is gay because religious guilt is angsty and we like angst. Plus there is the whole thing of if you become religious in most orders you need to make a chastity vow which is a great excuse for a lesbian not to marry a man in a heteronormative society (this whole religious thing can be used for Theresa as well). Then the fact that Hammer is muscular can be perceived as her being butch even though I think she is fem, but again we're just talking about she can be read as queer-coded.
Garth lives alone, talks about his family yet we never see them, so it could be like a gay man talking about his husband but saying "partner". And then Reaver, again, openly pansexual.
In Fable 3 the Hobw is also queer or not depending on the player but I think that it's important to note that El is never referred to as their lover which-again... Could mean they're just bestfriends. And once El is "killed" or threatened, Hobw's only cover-up as straight disappears. So what do they do? THEY RUN AWAY FROM THE CASTLE WITH A MAN WITH ONE EARRING AND A BUTLER WITH MANNERISMS WHO ARE BORDERLINE FLIRTING TOGETHER.
Logan is not a confirmed hero but there are hints he is too, and let's be real this guy isn't cishet. He is a grown-up adult, king, who isn't married and has no child. This is a very rare find in History. We talked about Lionheart btw, and Lionheart never married nor had any child, LIKE LOGAN. And Lionheart is still mentioned in Fable 3. Also as someone once said "his castle is purple and he can't sit straight". And purple is literally the colour of queer people.
So yeah... Heroism being about abilities? Yeah... But also about something else.
Would have said tl;dr but I (unfortunately for me) did read and... "Butler with mannerisms" was when I felt my soul leave. I've actually had it to the high ceiling with how years without new matieral has rotted people who can't even be arsed to replay the games it seems. And you happen to be in direct firing range, so I pre-emptively apologise. I'll also add, you can't seem to decide whether this is an interpretation or a theory but to my mind it's just a total misread and pure headcanon. Which is fine but don't pretend to theorise and wax lyrical when that's all it is. It invites breakdowns. With that:
Tl;dr as I did go off on one - attaching "queer coding" to a story is a fine headcanon but when the evidence is flimsy for a theory, just say you made it all tf up. Headcanons are fine. But sometimes a spade is a spade and Occam's razor is more of a saw.
Let's start with Reaver indeed. And by extension, the period of time in which he grew up. Heroes were not "looked down upon", they were hunted and killed. The Hero's Guild was stormed, lain siege, by the local peasantry. Because, as is in-game, the godlike people who can summon fire and the undead (who are ALSO the size of giants and could move faster than you could blink) were tyrants and ruling over the population. Heroes were extorting the populace, lazily feasting on the spoils they took by force and refusing to help the people with actual problems. It's also implied that the people won thanks to the invention of the firearm. Theresa gives a short insight on the night the Guild fell in Fable 2 and it is elaborated on in books and the loading screens. But that would require having actually played the second game at some point in the last 18 years.
I'm not sure anyone is besieging a modern gay bar because the occupants were villains that were terrorising the other locals with their magic powers. But on that note, you mentioning Reaver's open sexuality sort of crushes this "interpretation" because... Everyone knows. Part of the magic of Fable is how nobody cares who you're fucking or marrying (also an important distinction considering Fable TLC was basically one of the first games to feature gay marriage at all) but NOBODY in Albion knows Reaver is a Hero 'til Fable 2. It's actually a crucial plot point.
((Side note: gay uncle, yeah? Who also sacrificed his entire family & village and salted the earth of his home to a power from the dark because he was afraid of dying? That's an in-story event that can possibly be connected to the illegality of Heroes. -_-))
Ok next up, the Hero of Oakvale. I'm struggling to see how he was "hidden away" in the Guild or that the Guild was hidden either. Because, and this is IN-GAME, it's a pretty open enclave in both architechture and the ability of the student body to come and go. Merchants and pilgrims show up pretty often. I'd add in the definition of "guild" but you clearly take issue with definitions of words, as shown in your next paragraph. In the tutorial section you don't leave the compound, sure, but where else is an orphan supposed to go? Also, muteness does not indicate queerness. I can't believe that's a setence I just wrote. It can indicate trauma. And I think watching bandits (important word) murder your father and entire (actual) community could qualify.
Theresa. Skipping the "small comunity" bit.... Did you just compare bandits... to punk gangs? BANDITS??? They are thieves, robbers, murderers. Bandits plunder and loot and do anything to get it. They ARE bad people!! Irl and in-game, I'm not sure how you could miss that they are. (They are also not mercenaries). Twinblade is not a good man and many people (not incl. myself) have in fact read a possiblity of sexual assault into his relationship with Theresa. If you're dismissing either of these very real groups (mercenaries and brigands) to make a point about "running off with a punk gang" then I've got news about the actions of real world gangs that still roam today.
She also purposely raised Little Sparrow as a sacrificial lamb. You may headcanon whatever onto their relationship as it is left open ended but there is no mincing around that she directed Rose to her death and then raised her sibling purely to obtain the Spire. If any love was there is up to actual interpretation but her prior purposes for taking in children were anything but noble.
You gendered the Hero of Bower Lake. :) You do know they are gender selectable (as much as people here pretend otherwise) and there is a potion to change gender in-game... right? Lionheart is also a reference to the game developer company. Lionhead Studios.
Hammer's sexuality is not known. Her muscular frame is also to denote her as a Hero who has many points in Strength. There's a lot of stereotyping in saying a muscular woman must be gay btw. Hammer was also raised by the Abbott at the temple and there are no mention of any vows of chastity, but vows of pacifism. Vows which Theresa makes her break. Any allegory to that?
Garth never mentions family, afair. He mentions his home of Samarkand and wishes to return which, after twenty years in Albion, is no wonder. He is also the archetype of a wandering scholar. We are not told his sexuality in-game. It's also up for headcanon.
And again, Reaver - openly sleeps with anybody. And the in-game society doesn't care. Allegory makes no sense.
But you're right, Elliot/Elise is never referred to as the Fable 3 Hero's lover. Doesn't change the fact that Elliot/Elise is clearly in love with the Hero no matter what because if they live, they are willing to leave their rebound fiance to be with said Hero. This is a stop point anyway if they live as there is also never a clear mention of Elliot/Elise being a beard for the Hero - any prior romance is dependant on whether you marry them or not. (Voice lines after marriage will make mention of sneaking to the Hero's room).
A man wearing an earring doesn't make him queer coded. Nor does Jasper being a noble dandy - sorry, having "mannerisms". Whatever you think that means... Would love an elaboration though I fear for exactly what territory you'll dip into. -_-
Logan not being a confirmed Hero and the Hero PC's gauntlet retcons are just part of why I personally despise Fable 3. But now we're using real world history to look at why Logan is an unwed, non-issued king? Right after the banditry comments? I'll also then retort with how old do you think Logan is? That part is also never confirmed but given the probable age of the Hero PC is likely around 20, Logan can be anywhere from 22 to 30. You'll notice that the Hero PC isn't married either. Mentioning "Lionheart" here is kind of strange because I cannot tell genuinely if you're referring to the Fable 2 protagonist or Richard I of England⌠In the case of the Hero of Bower Lake, they did presumably marry at some point as a second tomb is present in the mausoleum. Also my Fable 2 PC had three kids that aren't present or mentioned in game, all that says is that the devs did not think too hard about importing player choice.
Richard I also died relatively young at 41 from dysentry and spent most of his reign at war. Marriage would have been a problem even if he wasn't likely gay (because you cannot for certain label historical figures who are not present to explain themselves or make use of present terms).
((Now what does slouching in the throne and banners being purple have to do with the coding? Apart from the fact that purple is the colour of royalty and the devs not understanding how banners work?))
Alright so the first part is direct quotes from you and the second is more of global things point by point. Purple is what you wrote.
Let's start with Reaver indeed. And by extension, the period of time in which he grew up. Heroes were not "looked down upon", they were hunted and killed.
-> Which someone did tell me about later on, but regardless, queer people have also been hunted and killed all throughout History and still are to this day. Denying this is just homophobia.
The Hero's Guild was stormed, lain siege, by the local peasantry. Because, as is in-game, the godlike people who can summon fire and the undead
-> So here you have two options. The first one, which I think you have an issue with: to develop the story you need lore and actual material which means that you follow the game's narrative. So if they are godlike people who summon fire and the undead, then yes they are. That's the literal thing, the first-level reading. Otherwise they'd be no story. Like that's literally the point. You need a basis to work with, free from interpretations. And then you have the interpretations. And again, I did talk about homophobic standpoints. The amount of times homophobic religious folks have said that homosexuality was the work of the devil or that people needed to be exorcized is insane. So you could see that black magic kind of thing as another metaphor for homophobia directly referring to many narratives homophobic people spread.
(who are ALSO the size of giants and could move faster than you could blink) were tyrants and ruling over the population. Heroes were extorting the populace, lazily feasting on the spoils they took by force and refusing to help the people with actual problems.
-> Once again direct source material
It's also implied that the people won thanks to the invention of the firearm. Theresa gives a short insight on the night the Guild fell in Fable 2 and it is elaborated on in books and the loading screens. But that would require having actually played the second game at some point in the last 18 years.
I'm not sure anyone is besieging a modern gay bar because the occupants were villains that were terrorising the other locals with their magic powers.
-> Obviously not in the in-game, but I think you have trouble understanding my point. There is what's going on in the game and how we as players can understand it. One thing does not erase the other.
But on that note, you mentioning Reaver's open sexuality sort of crushes this "interpretation" because... Everyone knows.
->I'm not sure how it'd crushes it instead of reinforcing it. Because that way you have proof that at least one hero is indeed queer.
Part of the magic of Fable is how nobody cares who you're fucking or marrying (also an important distinction considering Fable TLC was basically one of the first games to feature gay marriage at all) but NOBODY in Albion knows Reaver is a Hero 'til Fable 2. It's actually a crucial plot point.
-> Which again does not invalidate the theory. In-game there might not be the homophobia we irl experience, but they' re discriminated for their status of hero. Which is a reverse situation if you compare it to irl: heroes would not suffer homophobia but queer people do suffer lgbtqia+ phobia. And again, no one knowing Reaver is a hero can equal, for us as players, to a closeted man.
((Side note: gay uncle, yeah? Who also sacrificed his entire family & village and salted the earth of his home to a power from the dark because he was afraid of dying? That's an in-story event that can possibly be connected to the illegality of Heroes. -_-))
-> I doubt that since as you say, they don't know he was a hero until Fable 2, and all the people who knew him before actually died during that event. And again, yes, good for you. But that doesn't impact the theory.
Now I'll just make one big paragraph for when it comes to Theresa. First you have to know that I'm French, so attack me if you will on the words I use, but I won't apologize for having a different language than English. THAT SAID, I guess we don't have the same definitions if you consider that the words I chose aren't strong enough. Also ONCE AGAIN (because apparently you did read but did you understand that's what I'm really wondering) queer-coding is not just flowers and rainbows. I talked about the homophobic takes of "gay people will run away with punks because punks are bad influences" perpetrated by homophobic parents of queer children. And we know it's not true, because punk is an alt fashion-style rooted in politics. So if anything they're allies. And no I'm not dismissing the trauma went through there, and you don't need to be a smartass to understand that she was probably assaulted or raped by Twinblades. You see it in the cutscene with the way she stands beside him and just... her being a little girl in a groupe of adult men.
Then again I know Theresa was no mother to them and just dropped them off at the camp so that they'd be fed clothed and have a place to sleep and she just did the fueling Sparrow's rage part and trained her for her own motivations. But honestly you're just narrating the game which I think is pointless because... again... several-level readings... if you stick to the first one good for you I guess. But to re-use your phrasing, I've got news for you.
Then, yes I know the Hero of Bowerlake can be trans. I also know about Lionhead Studios and frankly I feel insulted by the fact that you just think I do not know basic information. But maybe that's rage baiting so I won't develop. That said, Lionheart was still the nickname of a very well-known gay king of England. Again you can't deny this, that was his nickname. And you saying "we can't apply modern labels because we don't know for certain" honestly just feels like homophobia to me. Like if you started saying that Fable 4 was too woke it wouldn't even surprise me. Also, for your information, his father never arranged marriages for him AND Lionheart confessed of sodomia. So... do what you will with that. Also Lionheart is very famous for being the gay king of England, so whether or not he was does not actually matter. He has become a symbol, and it's the same as playing with stereotypes. Who cares if it's true and accurate, as long as it rings a bell for everyone??? That's part of queer-coding.
And again, here you're telling me that I am stereotyping gay women by saying that Hammer's chara design makes her a stereotype of butch lesbians... right. Maybe because we're talking about queer-coding... something that plays into stereotypes... of the gay community... right. And before you start saying I'm homophobic for simply *talking* about that, I'm a fem lesbian. So that would not be in my interest.
Also you only further what I said when I said you don't seem to understand several levels of readings and it's really getting infuriating. The temple might not mention vows of chastity but when you see temples or convents and you think about the vows, you transpose it to the ones we have irl. WHICH DO HAVE THAT VOW. Have for like 800 years.
Then about Garth, he mentions his home indeed, and someone said children toys can be found in the Spire. I had forgotten about that and mixed it up. That's all.
Then again about fable 3 we're going to talk about what you're probably waiting for. Walter having only one earring is a queer-coding whether you like it or not. Because wearing one earring for men was, back when homosexuality wasn't legal, a way to show you were a gay man. And I emphasize on "one". It's the same as carabiners for lesbians: if you wear it on the left you're a top, if you wear it on the right you're a bottom (to make it simple and before you attack me I know those are not the only two roles).
Jasper having mannerisms does play into the stereotype thing. I personally do not headcanon him as gay but I know a lot of people do and there is a very popular ship between him and Walter. Which is why I talked about them. I also did not talk about Andrew because he is no hero and isn't really related to a hero whatsoever so his story doesn't really have an impact. But even if I had talked about him you'd have complained. Then about El, yeah it's not mentioned whether they're a skirt/beard and it is implied that they're straight, but that's because it's up to the player. And about the lines, they play a role in implying straightness, but that can also be irrelevant if the hero is queer. One of my best friends is a gay man and we'd sneak in each other's bedrooms during field trips. And again I'm a lesbian. And both of us are openly out so... Aside from a curfew... there wasn't really any problem with that.
Also about Logan and the coffin because I haven't covered that yet:
I think he is about 24-25. Which was an age to marry if you were part of royalty back then. And you can be like "Yeah but that's a man so it's different" yeah but that still plays into queerness. That's still an unmarried adult man. If you say that's not an argument, then the two coffins aren't either. Because the second one could very much be Sparrow's first child who died because of the choice they (notice how I used a gender-neutral pronoun) made in the Spire. Or a same-sex partner. Because yes, Sparrow could have bio kids with a same-sex partner if they used the trans potion twice (which is how I headcanon Hobw had kids with her wife) for the conception, or a trans partner from the opposite sex whom hadn't taken the potion, or even a same-sex partner who just wasn't related to the kids because you know, Sparrow could just make a sort of contract with someone from the opposite sex so that they have kids but the other one does not have to be involved + has some advantages at court.
Now my last point is: I used someone's joke about the castle because it was funny, so stop with your passive-agressivity it's just embarrassing. Purple is the colour of royalty yes, and was also the colour of grief during the Victorian era and is also the colour of queer people. Several things can be true at once/at the same time, and that's something you don't seem to understand.
(Now a few last things I just didn't know where to put them: I think my biggest mistake was saying allegory instead of metaphor. This I recognize. Okay, fair. But aside from that, it's just your lack of understanding that can be held accountable. And honestly it does not surprise me because considering that your first instinct was to re-post and say "too long didn't read"... eh... Can't expect much. And I'd avise you not to do that, because you don't look like you ate, you just look like you don't know how to read and just want to be mean to people for no reason aside from feeling better about yourself. So work on that, please, for everyone's sake. And it's not intended in a mean way it's just a genuine advise.)
One theory I have is, as some of you may know as I've already talked about it recently, is that the prophecy was about both Hobw and Logan.
And I think it literally was canonically because... Theresa doesn't even say "that child will save Albion" no. Theresa just goes "they'll have power and that power will put them in a position where the fates of Albion and Aurora lay in their hands".
And it happened to both children. They just handled it differently.
Logan was king. By definition, ruler and protector of Albion. He has power over it, can doom it and can try to save it from whatever happens to attack it So already one half of the prophecy secured. Then he meets Kalin and the Auroreans. Learns of a threat. Oh shit, now the fate of both countries are threatened. And Kalin's like "okay we saved you now we need your help". Bam. Second half fulfilled.
Then hobw raises against him, becomes Albion's ruler and protector, and because she's met with Kalin and the Auroreans who saved her as well, she made a promise to save them. And just like Logan she learns that the darkness is coming for them when she returns in Albion. So their situations really aren't that different.
Now, there is another layer I'd like to add to that theory. Logan is ENTJ and the epitome of that MBTI. He is very stubborn in his leadership and PTSD doesn't help. So... Even if I guess he respects Theresa because she is a link to his mother, him drifting away from her guidance and her ultimately abandoning him is not a crazy thought to have. I think it'd be pretty much in-character. ESPECIALLY if Sparrow, feeling deceived by Theresa, ever told Logan about the resentment she had towards that woman.
Like-... I don't think Logan would 100% trust her. He'd trust his mother more. And even if Sparrow hadn't told him about it, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have been okay with being bossed around and being babied and told step by step what to do.
So yeah... in conclusion, Logan was probably set to be the one fulfilling that prophecy but he wasn't submissive or naive enough and Theresa kind of... Well she had to kick him out of that position. Or maybe she just didn't believe he'd do, so she gatekept some infos and ultimately it led Logan to his downfall even though that man 100% has serious communication problems
Also I wish we had seen more anger from HOBW when she learns that Theresa hid a part of the truth / lied to her about Logan aka her brother
Favorite character(s): King Logan, Kalin, Page, Garth
Least Favorite character: Reaver (Iâm sorry everyone, I tried to hard to like him, I really did. I just go feral when I see his face snkdj)
5 Favorite ships (canon or non-canon):Â Kalin/Logan (cos I love drama), Logan/OC, Walter/Jasper, Sparrow/OC, Hammer/Happiness
Character I find most attractive: King Logan
Character I would marry: âŚ.King Logan, Page, Kalin, Garth
Character I would be best friends with: Page đŠ
A random thought: Isnât Theresa kind of a villain? She fucks everyone over to Get What She Wants
An unpopular opinion: Reaver is overrated and doesnât have any redeeming qualities. Stephen Fryâs voice makes me want to die. Also Fable 3 is the best game.
My Canon OTP:Â Eh
My Non-canon OTP: Kalin/Logan
Most Badass Character: Kalin, I think, although Page is an extraordinarily close second. Kalin has the strength to still lead and protect her people even after all the pain and suffering theyâve been through, without cracking. Page is also super badass, because this lady is out here arranging a revolution and trying to take down the establishment. Even when you become the ruler of the land, she holds you to your promises. Both of them are so fucking good.
Most Epic Villain:Â Jack of Blades
Pairing I am not a fan of: Reaver/Logan, please let it die,
Character I feel the writers screwed up (in one way or another): Theresa, I guess? Iâm not her biggest fan, but some of her intentions etc. are reallyâŚunclear. She seems framed as the âgood guyâ for most of the games, but she ultimately is really neutral and seemingly self-serving.Â
Favorite Friendship: Walter and Jasper are adorable and really funny!
Character I most identify with:Â Jammy :(
Character I wish I could be:Â Oh To Be A Househusband In Brightwall Just Minding My Own Business And Making Pies
Favorite character(s): King Logan, Kalin, Page, Garth
Least Favorite character: Reaver (Iâm sorry everyone, I tried to hard to like him, I really did. I just go feral when I see his face snkdj)
5 Favorite ships (canon or non-canon):Â Kalin/Logan (cos I love drama), Logan/OC, Walter/Jasper, Sparrow/OC, Hammer/Happiness
Character I find most attractive: King Logan
Character I would marry: âŚ.King Logan, Page, Kalin, Garth
Character I would be best friends with: Page đŠ
A random thought: Isnât Theresa kind of a villain? She fucks everyone over to Get What She Wants
An unpopular opinion: Reaver is overrated and doesnât have any redeeming qualities. Stephen Fryâs voice makes me want to die. Also Fable 3 is the best game.
My Canon OTP:Â Eh
My Non-canon OTP: Kalin/Logan
Most Badass Character: Kalin, I think, although Page is an extraordinarily close second. Kalin has the strength to still lead and protect her people even after all the pain and suffering theyâve been through, without cracking. Page is also super badass, because this lady is out here arranging a revolution and trying to take down the establishment. Even when you become the ruler of the land, she holds you to your promises. Both of them are so fucking good.
Most Epic Villain:Â Jack of Blades
Pairing I am not a fan of: Reaver/Logan, please let it die,
Character I feel the writers screwed up (in one way or another): Theresa, I guess? Iâm not her biggest fan, but some of her intentions etc. are reallyâŚunclear. She seems framed as the âgood guyâ for most of the games, but she ultimately is really neutral and seemingly self-serving.Â
Favorite Friendship: Walter and Jasper are adorable and really funny!
Character I most identify with:Â Jammy :(
Character I wish I could be:Â Oh To Be A Househusband In Brightwall Just Minding My Own Business And Making Pies
It wasnât often that Logan joined the others in the dining hall for meals. He knew that his presence was unwanted, that all but Page had demanded his death, and the pointed glares and scathing remarks were more than enough to put him off his food. So more often than not, he took his meals in his room and made an effort to stay out of the way of the rest of the council whenever possible. It just made life that little bit more tolerable for all of them.
Well, not quite everyone obviously.
On this particular evening, Lorna had insisted that Logan join the rest of them for dinner and she'd refused to take no for an answer. And when heâd arrived, having finally relented and agreed for her sake, it was clear that sheâd had a word with the others.
He was keenly aware that Lornaâs friends and advisors were determinedly not looking at him and were taking great pains to avoid addressing or mentioning him. Instead they talked amongst themselves, discussing the dayâs work or regaling one another with stories of their adventures as they indulged in a fine wine imported from Samarkand.
Judging by the flush of Sabineâs cheeks and the way he jumped up onto his chair with his staff raised aloft, the Dweller had gone a little beyond a small indulgence.
âAnd then, with thunderous cries that shook the heavens themselves, we brought down our axes on the trollâs monstrous head! Its mantle split, its blood spilt forth, and we Dwellers rid ourselves and our land of its insidious poisons!â he declared with a surprising boom. For such a small man, he had a very impressive set of lungs.
And a very impressive talent for embellishment, Logan thought to himself, considering that the victory hadnât been the work of the Dwellers alone. But he said nothing and tried to focus on his food. Heâd let the old man have his stories and glory. There was no need for him to bring any attention to himself.
âI remember that story a little differently,â Lorna chuckled, as if sheâd read his mind. At least she kept her voice low and between herself and Logan. âI thought it was your hammer that split the trollâs head open, and that the Dwellersâ axes were busy with its nerve tendrils.â
Logan shrugged indifferently.
âI donât see that it makes a difference. Sabine is welcome to tell his stories as he wishes.â
He was aware that her gaze lingered on him a moment before turning back to the conversation further down the table. The big Dweller - Boulder - was busy guiding the tipsy Sabine back into his seat just as Ben Finn leapt into his own tale.
âSo one minute Private Jammy and I are walking our daring Rebel Princess through the use of the mortar. The next, a legion of Hollowmen are erupting from the ground, ready to charge the gates-!â
âAvoâs sake, Ben, give it a rest,â Page huffed. âNo one cares whether you managed to kill three hollowmen with one shot or not.â
âBut it really did happen!â he protested, his brows knitting together. Then he pointed an accusing finger at her and said, âyou just donât believe it because you didnât even believe in hollowmen until you went to Reaverâs little Masquerade party, and now you donât want to admit that Iâm telling the truth!â
âI donât believe it because you were probably too busy nattering at them to actually do any shooting.â
Logan observed the bickering pair briefly - he took faint amusement at the indignant look of offense on Benâs face - then turned back to his sister, who was watching the small spectacle unfold with a small smile that was somewhat unreadable.
Sheâd aged since that day in the throne room. Sheâd lost some of the softness that rounded her cheeks, and while her eyes werenât quite hardened, theyâd lost their innocent glimmer. Sheâd also sprouted upwards a few inches, leaving her just shy of his own height. But what drew his attention were the scars on her face.
Suddenly, as if he was possessed by some old repressed childish instinct, he reached over and flicked her in the nose.
Lorna squeaked - actually squeaked - in surprise, swatted his hand away and stared at him like heâd just grown a second head.
Heads swivelled in their direction. Ben and Pageâs spirited debate was abruptly cut off and Saker was halfway out of his seat before Lieutenant Attawayâs hand gripped his forearm and a pointed look sent him sinking back down apprehensively.
Logan felt his face heat up at the sudden scrutiny.
What in the Lightâs name had possessed him to do that? He briefly entertained the notion of trying to will himself to fade from sight or to sink through his chair into the floor, but as ever, he remained in full view and firmly in his seat. So he tried to act as though heâd not just reached out and flicked his sister, the Queen, in the face like a child might.
Sabine and Kalin just watched with mild interest, and Walter stared for a moment, then chortled.
âNo pestering each other at the table,â he said, as if they were still small children and in need of reminding, before he turned away. âI hear that Pageâs people were able to track down your missing shipments, Kalin.â
âHm? Oh yes. The young man, Kidd I believe? Was able to locate the thieves and reclaim them for us,â she replied, catching on quickly and inclining her head towards Page. âIt would please me if he were to receive my most heartfelt thanks.â
Page affirmed that sheâd pass on the message, and the conversation resumed, though Walter gave the siblings one last heartfelt grin before turning away and leaving them to their own discussion.
Logan made a note in the back of his mind to make up the last four years to Walter for his smooth redirection of the conversation before things got even more awkward.
âWhat was that for?â Lorna giggled, even though it was clear that she was utterly perplexed. âYou havenât flicked me since I was nine.â
Logan shrugged, still wishing he could vanish on the spot. Still no luck, and he wasnât going to get away with such a plainly uncharacteristic act in the middle of dinner. So he vainly willed some of the pinkness from his cheeks and turned to his sister.
âThere was something on your nose,â he said matter-of-factly. âYou never did tell me where you got those scars.â
There were two. An arched cut over the bridge of her nose that hadnât quite healed right, leaving a slight ridge of raised tissue along the bottom edge of the scar. The second was a perfect mirror of his own; a deep, thin line gouged through her lip as if drawn by a claw, though herâs was on the opposite side to his.
That was the scar that she self-consciously rubbed her thumb over.
âWell this one was a gift from Saker,â she said after a brief pause, tapping the side of her nose to indicate the arched mark. âHe punched me in the face during our fight.â
âAnd the other?â
As expected, she hesitated to answer and her thumb traced over the mark once more, the side of her nail dragging through the narrow groove. He knew all too well where it had come from, but he needed to hear her say it before he could truly accept that she had encountered that thing too.
âCrawler,â she whispered. âIt said something about âone to match the other.â At the time, I thought it was talking about this one-" she tapped her nose again "-but I guess it was talking about you.â
The corner of his mouth itched, but he resisted the urge to rub it.
Every time he closed his eyes at night, he could taste blood in his mouth and hear the Crawlerâs cackling as it dragged a wicked claw over his lips, marking him forever as one of its playthings. Heâd wake up in a cold sweat and have to run his thumb over his mouth to ground himself, to reassure himself that he was not bleeding and that he was far from Crawlerâs grasp⌠for the moment, at least.
He wondered, briefly, if Lorna had similar nightmares. The dark circles around her eyes were telling enough. It was little wonder that she applied makeup whenever she left the castle or attended court. Anything to keep her people from suspecting that their Queen was struggling with her burden.
"I suppose it must have been," was his reply. "Unless getting a scar from Saker of all people was somehow one of your worst memories."
The touch of sarcasm took the edge off of the conversation, and Lorna grinned in spite of herself.
"At least I didn't get one from falling down the stairs when I was six," she jabbed.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Logan replied airily, though the corner of his lips twitched ever so slightly upwards. "Especially when one considers that you weren't even alive back then."
"Jasper would never lie about something like that," she shot back smugly. "He said that you were inconsolable for over an hour."
"Jasper was mad even back then."
"People don't go senile in their early fifties, Logan."
"I said 'mad' not 'senile'. Sane people don't look at an advertisement that insists that a butler must be prepared for daily occurrences of violence and decide 'ah yes, that sounds like the perfect job for me'."
That was a story that their mother had simply loved to tell. Apparently Jasper was the only applicant she had received after her first butler's prompt resignation, which had resulted from a sudden and unexpected bandit attack, and when he'd proven more than capable of running her household and dealing with intruders - where he'd learned to handle live explosives, he'd never say - she kept him on, and he'd served her and her family ever since.
Most butlers had better self-preservation instincts.
Lorna simply grinned though, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes.
"Careful Logan. He can hear everything we say, remember?"
"Well of course I do," Logan said, rolling his eyes. "He was doing that long before he figured out how to work the Guild Seal."
"Right," she laughed. "Remember that time we planned to leave earwigs under the pillow of that diplomat from Samarkand?"
"I still have no idea how he found out about that," Logan chuckled, shaking his head.
"Because he hears all, sees all and knows all." She paused, then nodded her head with a faux look of grim determination. "When this is all over, I shall see to it that there is a temple dedicated to Jasper."
"He deserves it. He's put up with the two of us for all these years."
It would be upon later reflection that the ease of the back and forth would surprise Logan. He and his sister hadn't bantered so casually in years. Not since Aurora. He'd certainly not indulged in the nostalgia of his youthful antics like this, not when so much had been resting on his shoulders.
And yet, for just a while, it was as if nothing had changed. They continued to chat over their dinner, completely ignorant to the conversation and sideways glances from further down the table.
Maybe, he thought to himself after they had all dispersed for the evening, he would take his meals in the dining room more often.
I've played Fable 3 so many times because it's arguably the easiest but I still manage to miss little details and they break my heart.
After you fight Walter when he gets possessed by the Crawler and dies in the Hero's arms all the lieutenants circle around to say goodbye to their friend I didn't notice but Logan is there too. He's at the bottom of the screen, standing away from the others!!
Now it's just in my head that Logan didn't feel worthy to stand with the others while they grieved. Walter was the father figure to his sibling, he was longtime friends with Sabine and Ben Finn, he planned a revolution with Page and owed his life to Kalin and her people. But.
He was Logan's advisor first.
Before everything fell apart, he was friends with Sparrow. When Logan became king, Walter was who he turned to to advise him. Logan is just as heartbroken as the others but he ruined whatever relationship he had with Walter a long time ago and everyone at his side when he dies are people that Logan has done unforgivable damage to. He isn't worthy and can't imagine Walter would want to see him in his last moments after everything he did.
So he stands away from the rest and grieves alone. He's been doing it for half a decade after the Crawler, longer since his parent's death. He's good at it.
damn but the Darkness battle is so damn anticlimactic, sans only the Walter fight. That shit hurted, but there's no actual narrative build up before it. It's just running around with Ben and Walter, shooting enemies and such while the Crawler mocks you. The fight to overthrow Logan is better paced with all your key allies each having a role to play, but the huge battle for the fate of the world that Logan spent years preparing for, and you spent the last year scrounging up money for? There's just so little narrative going on. We don't even see the Darkness' arrival, we jump from the war room to Bowerstone with sand and enemies. I know the game was rushed, but did we really need a 'let's take the mick out of Reaver's fangirls' quest when the game's finale was this lacking for decent set pieces and character moments?
I know, I know, it's probably not as simple as just cutting out a couple of quests so its a bit of a false comparison, and you'd have to have variations depending on what choices you made, and since Ben and Walter are literally the only allies you can't alienate with broken promises and whatnot they're the easiest to have as your companions, but agh the unrealised potential is killing me. Especially on the Logan and Kalin front because the Darkness is so pivotal to both of their characters!! Their traumas are defined by it, their lives and leadership have been ruled by it!! The Darkness has shaped them for years and they can never return to whoever they were before because of it, and yet they have basically zero role in the final battle because Logan can be dead and you can break your promise to Kalin.
Rattling the bars of my cage because I wanna do a Fable 3 fic in a similar vein to Murder of Crows but starting is hard like wtf
Love that theres three types of women in fable, unhinged and feral, smart and strong, and distressed mother with high blood pressure an I am obsessed with all
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titsay
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