For the character ask thing:
A Minerva ask coming from @laeliana ? I never would have thought π
(just joking, thank you for this ask ! π₯°)
First impression
Not super positive sadly π₯² I remember reading the book summary and being super excited about a new character being French ; and I felt disappointed that she was just Artemis as a girl, with clichΓ©-curly blonde hair, and got foiled so easily too. It felt frustrating because the idea of Artemis meeting a fellow teen genius, and a French one at that, was so promising, and I felt like the book didn't do the concept justice at all.
Impression now
Still feel similarly about canon Minerva. @laeliana's Fools Paradise though ? This Minerva is the real deal to me π
Favorite moment
I do really like the phone call she has with Artemis, where they get to really interact for the first time. I felt the mix of defiance and instantly connecting was truly well done.
The whole conversation, all the changes in dynamics (when she laughs at Artemis' name pun, then this idiot refers the quarks joke and she instantly freezes because it means he spied on her... amazing), the abrupt ending where she curses him (I know in the book she's just upset and it's pretty tame, but she's a Southern girlie and I just know she called him sale bΓ’tard d'enculΓ© de fils de pute - not acceptable insults at all, but it was a moment of weakness and again, she's from the South where enculΓ© is basically a sentence punctuation so I forgive her). And he ends it by telling her to trust into someone who made the same mistakes as her.
Loved that moment π
And Foaly teasing him with Artemis deadpanning "the wedding is planned in June", while visibly being upset that Minerva's mad at him ? Iconic.
Idea for a story
I want to include Minerva in my Wired saga :3 But quite a different version than the books'. I feel like there's no way to do a better close-to-canon Minerva than @laeliana, so I want to delve into one that's less of a perfect mirror image to Artemis. A Minerva that doesn't come from a wealthy old-money family, not from postal card Southern France but from Seine-Saint-Denis suburbs.
A Minerva that feels more like an actual French girl - especially since she'd come in the story around 2008, and the political context would highlighting the contrast between her and Artemis the most. I feel like it's a great basis for a darker retelling of the story !
Unpopular opinion
I don't like the name Minerva Paradizo π«£ It just feels way too on-the-nose for me.
I don't know why I struggle with it this much compared to all the name puns in the series ; but yeah, I guess it's just too unsubtle with every other choice Colfer made (he's brunette, she's blonde ; he's a boy, she's a girl ; he's rich, she's rich --- just kill me already ugh), it doesn't feel like a funny pun, it just feels like clichΓ© cheesy romcom. I'm so sorry please don't be mad π
On the other hand, feeling this strongly about her name is what kicked off my brain into imagining my personal version of Minerva (she uses the name as an alias, but it's not her true identity), so... I guess that's good ?
Favorite relationship
If their dynamic in the whole book was more like their phone call, I'd say Artemis ; but I kinda dislike how outside of that moment, they barely get to talk and so the focus is often on her body and it being sexualised (even if Artemis feels uncomfortable about these bouts of puberty, it's still disappointing, and even a bit icky to me given she's 12). I feel like their direct interactions are much more interesting because I think they should be attracted to each other by their intellects, not their physique (but maybe that's the ace in me though).
So I'd stay my favourite relationship she has is her friendship with Butler. It mostly exists between the lines, but I find it super precious π
Favorite headcanon
I just love the alternate version of Minerva I created in my head π₯² It's a bit difficult to say much more about it without any context, but I guess the main thing I like is the idea that she comes from a different socioeconomical background. I think it's an aspect of the books that's worth addressing, and I want her to confront Artemis about being a rich-ass white brat with all the privileges, and still choosing to be a criminal. (because, a bit like her, he didn't really have a choice, just for very different reasons).
Grazie mille for the ask @laeliana, know that your passion for Minerva really made me reassess and think about her more, and she deserves it πππ
