Hello again!! Thank you so much for the thoughtful reply. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one motivated by that audiobook (I throw it on when I’m about to do the dishes/go for a run as well!!) Ellen Thomas did a fantastic job.
“she needs advice, but can't quite accept it from people who aren't as favored/special/strong as she's supposed to be”
!!! Well said!! She’s had such a difficult life I’m hesitant to say she’s spoiled in some aspects but she sure is used to getting her way. I believe there’s a line about her “making a disgusted noise and making sure the others hear it” when everyone avoids her gaze during breakfast after Ta’fik accuses her of murder. Like girl that is not a good look 😭
I’m also hoping Ambessa’s brothers are still alive and appear in the new Noxus series. The parallels between Mel and Hanek absolutely devastated me. Ambessa recognizing that Hanek was repeating the words that stayed with him after his “banishment,” only for Mel to echo those same sentiments a decade later when recalling what Ambessa told her before sending her to Piltover💔💔💔 I’d like to think Ambessa remembered that moment with her brother in that instant.
And yes instead of writing any kind of serious analysis, I mostly bookmark scenes where Ambessa is being impossibly stubborn or unintentionally a lover girl so I can freak out about them in the margins. &&& every sweet interaction between her and Rell. I loved Ambessa growing increasingly exasperated with Rell’s relentless questioning in Amenesce’s baths, her jealousy when Rell wanted Amenesce to give her riding lessons, and that scene in the clothing shop where Rell thought she was about to get the birds-and-the-bees talk. Her maternal moments are some of my favorites. I have so many favorites though idk if that means much.
One detail I found interesting was Ambessa brushing off Katye’s retelling of history when he was warning her about a civil war within the clan. She seems like the type that would take that seriously to avoid repeating mistakes, like when she recounted General Parlec’s (? Don’t know if I spelled that right) tale to Jayce. But her going “don’t care. Who won?” To her brother is also very *her* lol. Maybe in those years after Ta’fik she developed a better appreciation for it.
At the same time, I adored her defending Katye when Amenesce called him a “crusty old historian,” despite Ambessa herself complaining earlier about his “dusty old stories.” Very ‘no one gets to insult my brother except me’ energy.
I agree completely with your headcanon. Especially about everyone trying to keep those two apart. Azizi surprising Ambessa with his strength when he held her back from strangling/punching Ta’fik was a great detail. I also loved the idea of Ambessa initially trying to avoid him, only for him to converse with her husband so that she was forced to deal with him anyway. And him mentioning something about “Gintara is already leading warbands…anyway how is Mel?”… you were absolutely on the mark with that 💀
Hope this was coherent. As for fanfic writing, I would love to see what you come up with!! Your takes are always articulate and on the nose.
Ellen Thomas has starred in radio sitcoms before, we really should check them out! It's always fun to daisy-chain new media through actors you like.
!!! Well said!! She’s had such a difficult life I’m hesitant to say she’s spoiled in some aspects but she sure is used to getting her way.
I really like seeing wealthy/powerful characters facing problems that are directly caused by their wealth and power (Succession is great at this, IMO). Life as a Medarda is so much internal stress and performative acts of military dominance and jockeying for social power, and for what 😭 why are there multiple family members blacklisted because they'd rather be doing Noxian office jobs 😭
One detail I found interesting was Ambessa brushing off Katye’s retelling of history when he was warning her about a civil war within the clan. She seems like the type that would take that seriously to avoid repeating mistakes, like when she recounted General Parlec’s (? Don’t know if I spelled that right) tale to Jayce. But her going “don’t care. Who won?” To her brother is also very *her* lol. Maybe in those years after Ta’fik she developed a better appreciation for it.
Yeah, I get the feeling she's much more focused on her legacy by the start of Arcane! The book ends with her firmly knocked off her pedestal as Menelik's favorite and thinking about how much she regrets her actions during the civil war, that's grounds enough for a better appreciation of history for me, haha. I'm sure feuding with the Black Rose for twenty-ish (?) years is another motivator to hit the books.
Small tangent, but that scene with Jayce is one of my favorite Jayce moments... his lame attempt to verbally fence with Ambessa (calling her "Mrs. Medarda" because she didn't call him "Councillor Talis"), immediately folding, immediately running off to push Hextech weapons because Ambessa stokes his developing fear of the Undercity... Mel and Jayce as a political power couple failed for so many reasons, but we had some fun, didn't we? 🙃
At the same time, I adored her defending Katye when Amenesce called him a “crusty old historian,” despite Ambessa herself complaining earlier about his “dusty old stories.” Very ‘no one gets to insult my brother except me’ energy.
SOB... the love is there, I know it's there!! I was so happy Katye survived the book, he was so levelheaded I was worried he wouldn't be allowed to make it. The way Ambessa trusts him to take care of their home compound (and Mel) says so much ;_;
Hope this was coherent. As for fanfic writing, I would love to see what you come up with!! Your takes are always articulate and on the nose.
Thank you very much! So sorry for the delay in responses, I've really appreciated these asks. It's so nice to chat about my favorite Arcane character and put into words what I thought about the book (I LOVE THAT YOU SAVED HER SWEETIE MOMENTS... maybe I need to re-read and do the same), and your own insight has been so fun to read!
I so badly want to get some writing down... the mind is willing but the mind is also working on some important IRL stuff, hopefully it will have more brainpower soon...
