one of the many things that i love about Avatrice is Bea’s mentoring of Ava, specifically her ability to change tactics mid-training and how that change contributed to them connecting on an emotional level.
for instance, Beatrice might seem a bit cold or detached sometimes…
…but of course it’s going to come off that way compared to Ava’s upbeat and happy go-lucky personality.
they’re polar opposites in terms of their outward expression. but what i appreciate about Beatrice as a mentor is that, even though Ava is so much different from her, Bea constantly works to find new and fresh ways to mentor her throughout their journey.
one of the key moments is when Beatrice reads the story about the lesbian nun to Ava. Bea obviously knows what the story is about when she tells it, including its double relevance; it’s a story for Ava, sure, but i think this moment was more about Beatrice. you can see she’s nervous when she reveals to Ava that the warrior nun in the story is a lesbian. but i don’t think Bea’s voice shakes because she’s nervous about telling Ava; i think she’s more nervous about admitting it to herself.
Beatrice speaking this aloud and then pushing forward by telling Ava about her struggles is her pushing past her own personal pain.
after wiping her tears away, Beatrice tells Ava that now it’s her turn. i’m sure Beatrice caught on that Ava has a knack for running away from scary situations, so when Beatrice has a chance to mentor Ava, instead of yelling at her or scaring her (like Lilith and Mother Superion), Beatrice opens up about herself in an attempt to connect with Ava. all Ava wants is connection, something Beatrice picks up on very early, but Beatrice isn’t going to ask Ava to do something that she herself is unable to do.
as a mentor, not only is Beatrice leading by example, but she is connecting with Ava by meeting her halfway and allowing herself to open up as a way to show Ava that they’re in this together.
and when Bea opens up, Ava dives in, as only Ava can: heart first.
from the very first time they meet to the very last moment, Ava slowly peels back Bea’s many layers and then just tears them to shreds. the thing is, despite her bluntness and cool demeanor, Beatrice strikes me as a very kind and loving person. i imagine she remembers birthdays and loves kids and volunteers at homeless shelters. like top tier saint. but i feel like it’s all very understated and composed. “contained,” like that woman, who was flirting with Bea, said. but Ava makes it hard for Bea to stay contained. from swapping puns, to cheek kisses, to dancing drunk in a Swiss bar, Ava totally breaks Bea wide open.
and in letting Ava in, Bea goes from sacrificing her life because of shame, to living her life because of love.
