Out of curiousity, what made you decide to make Damus an opera singer in your AU? I figure it is related to Tarn's love for stuff like the Empyrian Suite and music in general, but is there more to it? 👀
Yep, you’re right!
Putting another read more here because it got lengthy again lol
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It was definitely in part because of how it’s mentioned a number of times of how he loves music and seems to be really passionate about it which just seems like an interesting contrast of someone likely not coming from a really affluent/high class background (99% sure jro confirmed it’s canon he came from Tarn like Megatron did) being drawn to such a thing as music from that caliber of Cybertronian society yet at the same time being a part of and fully dedicating their life to a cause which essentially formed around overthrowing those very same higher classes of which the music he likes so much comes from…it’s a really interesting juxtaposition and how he ends up using The Empyrean suite, a song that he notes for its beauty and even Ultra Magnus likes it, for such brutal acts such as what he does with the DJD…mmmhh yea I have so many thoughts about that but my words are escaping me lol, cue long lecture about using the art of oppressors against them and/or for a cause that goes against them in a twist that I cannoottttt get enough of, hm mh good stuff, good stuff.
But yea, you’re right lol the main reason is because of that but also while making this I was trying to think of what Damus would do if he got the chance to pick his own job, perhaps as if the caste system never existed, what would he do or be? So I started asking myself, “hey what’s he passionate about (not war related)?” And of course music ended up at the top of the list besides political revolutionary activities.
Since he ends up inevitably with the Decepticons I thought it would be interesting to start out with something unrelated to the war or politics, just something he enjoys and then I just kept thinking about being an artist from a not very privileged and generally lower caste background (and an outlier) and having to fit into this completely different set of societal standards in order to do what you love because ultimately he’s not like some other people where they like going to the opera and hearing it for the “classy” feeing and social status bonus points of getting to show off their wealth via patronage of the Opera, he just really enjoys more of the literal technical side of it especially as a singer himself and appreciates the skill required to do such a thing. Because of that I thought it would be an interesting angle and perspective to explore having him be in hiding as a fugitive, but also actively participating in the same part of society which basically wants him dead yet at the same time this is the best time of his life so far considering the horrible conditions he went through in his earlier life, making it this strange better sweet thing of being in the lions den yet having the time of your life knowing if you go out at least you’ll be doing what you love and him having the mindset of ‘hey life was worse before this so yea at least I’ve got my dream job if I go now’ although at the same time this job is actually making him want to continue living so he’s real worried about loosing it…
Ough yea I have so many thoughts on Opera Singer Damus, he’s my sweet cheese, my good time boy <3
I absolutely love the plot potential of that set up so much I might go back and write some extra small one shots (not necessarily canon for that AU just some extra ideas or scrapped scenes I have lying around my head) concerning Damus being in the opera later once I get more done with the main fic because ugh I just love it a lot!