Can I say that Cameron has gotten some real bi-vibes or maybe more like unconsciously attracted to Leeds (I mean it's Leeds. Understandable. Also the man grabbed your whole face, I get it.)) vibes going on in these last few pages of Barbarous, or is it just me?
And maybe this is a wild thought, but I'm still gonna trace out my thoughts.
Ok, like, one: Putting Leeds in THIS OUTFIT, in this Hazy plane/alternate plane that's dictated by one's ego. Like. Cameron. Seriously. You've not only put him in your/Pillar colors, but you've given him a HOT outfit.
You have dressed up "your"* familiar in a cute/sexy outfit, which, as we know, has occurred twice before with Percy and Prof. Abermarle, who are both characters who have shown attraction toward their respective familiar. If I've learned anything in life and studying literature: Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, and thrice is a pattern.
This makes THREE. So I'm calling it.
*only in the context of this Hazy Plane/dream scenario of his.
Re-reading this page my brain had the dumbest eureka moment ever, but to me, I was like, "Girl, this looks LIKE a wedding." Even the quote, 'Now let us celebrate the bonding of mage and familiar,' gives marriage vibes in the wording, but also because it's set IN A CATHEDRAL.
It's also a very ornate and fancy one in comparison to the version of the church/cathedral his binding ceremony with Fortuna was held.
Ch 9. Pg. 13 (Ego) || Ch. 6 Pg. 1 (Original)
Though this honestly may speak more to Cameron's ego, which is what is dictating this plane to my understanding. Regardless, I must teehee and joke and say, 'Cameron wants a fancy wedding with Leeds.'
Now, I know Cameron's real bonding ceremony with Fortuna was also done in a cathedral. I know she is also a familiar, a dog shaped familiar, but what I'm saying is that with Leeds, even though the context is that of a bonding ceremony with a familiar, this feels different because he's a familiar with cognition, personality, and individuality, which Cameron is aware of **. He's not just a familiar but is an individual as far as out perspective as readers and characters like Percy and others who are not aware that Leeds is a familiar are concerned.
** Though I'm unsure if Cameron really knows that Leeds is a familiar, or if he's only putting Leeds in the role because he previously said that Leeds "almost look[s] like a familiar."
So this is an interesting spot to put Leeds in while we, the readers, are unsure if Cameron knows if Leeds truly is a familiar or not, and kinda makes it seem like there's some unconscious attraction going on here whether it's serious or not.
(Thooooough it all makes me think about the cover image for Chapter 9 as well.)
