I noticed something interesting in the scene where Dimitri finds out he's being used as a pawn by Clive
When Layton starts to break the news to Dimitri, Dimitri is completely shocked and wants answers from Clive, but Clive can't give him any.
Instead of explaining or getting defensive, Clive keeps his mouth shut, and his expression changes:
This expression change fascinates me because it gives a window into Clive’s possible feelings on the fact he betrayed Dimitri.
In this post I’m going to go over what those feelings could be.
Firstly, I want to say that this expression 100% shows Clive's true emotion as throughout UF he always wears his heart on his sleeve, he's absolutely terrible at hiding his feelings:
So, I can say with confidence that this isn't an act or a mask he’s putting on.
Now, with that out of the way, the question is… what is the emotion he’s displaying here exactly?
It could be argued it's sadness. There's a moment in chapter 4 where, as Layton is preparing to go back to ‘Present’ London, Clive asks him if he’s really going to come back and save Future London.
As he's asking this, his expression changes to the same one in the clip from chapter 12, and it's clear he’s sad at the possibility of Layton not returning:
← Chapter 4 (Left) || Chapter 12 (Right) →
So, in chapter 12 it could be that he’s sad over the fact he betrayed Dimitri.
But… I also think the expression could be one of pity. Pity is a type of sadness yes, but it's more… looking down on someone and viewing yourself as superior.
We know Clive resents all of the scientists who worked on the time machine:
And sees them as single-minded:
In Clive's opinion, he’s better than all of them. So his expression in chapter 12 being one of pity makes perfect sense - he pities Dimitri for being, in his eyes, so single-minded that during the whole 5 years they worked together he never realised he was being used, and instead only found out when someone else (Layton) broke the news to him.
There’s also visual evidence that this expression is used by Clive when he’s pitying someone:
In chapter 2, Clive says that the person who turned Future London on its head was an evil genius
Luke remarks how this evil genius in question must be Don Paolo
And Clive responds with this:
‘Don Paolo? Oh no, I’m talking about a truly brilliant man.’
He doesn't see Don Paolo as a genius at all, he looks down on him, and makes a point to voice this opinion with the exact same expression as the one he used in chapter 12…
He pities Don Paolo, and he pities Dimitri.
It could even be argued that both of these interpretations are correct - that he feels both sadness and pity in that moment in chapter 12... It's so interesting to think about...
Feel free to add your own thoughts in the reblogs and/or tags! I'm so interested to hear what other people have to say about this