#vtmrony

[nightingaletrash]

what is it with me and choosing favs who invest too much of themselves into the Sunk Cost Fallacy, only to finally walk away because of someone they've known for what is essentially a blink of an eye compared to their long lifespans but has made a profound impact on them all the same?

[robotslenderman]

Also

am I the only one who thinks Thomas Arturo ate shit at the end of RoNY? I really can't see Qadir taking a deal like that lying down.

or at all.

[notjudie]

play as KALI THE RAVNOS or PÁDRAIC THE CAITIFF

[chronaalbarn]

Qadir is so good in this one, I mean he always is but he is slaying (literally) in this one. Absolutely terrifying and beautiful. Only competent bitch in Elysium.

[nightingaletrash]

I feel like Pádraic was an eldest child in life, and that's why he's such a caretaker with Kali despite really not wanting the job at all. I can just imagine that prior to being shipped off to war, he was the big brother who was expected to help his parents with wrangling the little ones.

His skills in mediating between Kindred come not only from the Voices, but also mediating for arguments over whose turn mum says it is.

[nightingaletrash]

Hi sorry I'm in love with their whole dynamic now <3

[nightingaletrash]

Okay, so in Pádraic's route, the Voice (presumably Caine) says something about how he is 'the seed from which we will grow anew'. In the Jester ending, Pádraic ceases to exist as he is assimilated into the Malkavian Collective. Meanwhile, in Kali's ending, it's implied that she's now beginning to be influenced by Zapathasura’s blood. My guess is that its Caine influencing her, and that she's intended for a similar role to Pádraic - the seed from which we will grow anew. In essence, a renewal of the blood as part of the cycle of Gehenna. Rejuvenating a bloodline so that its existence is perpetuated, and 'saving the Ravnos' as Reynard wished to.

But in Pádraic's Reckoning ending, the Voice wonders if it was 'wrong about the Raven' before discarding him in anger. Not him, but Kali, which on the surface is an odd thing to say when Pádraic made that choice of his own accord without Kali's direct input. But then I can see there being a couple of different intents behind this particular line:

The first possibility is that the Voice didn't intend for Pádraic to actually care about Kali. It constantly influences his approach to her, advising him either to encourage his first thought or to sway him to the alternative. It actively helps him to become someone that she trusts, someone that she believes is fully on her side and cares for her so that when the back-to-back betrayals come, it is as devastating as possible, because then there is no one she can trust but herself, and Pádraic will be left with a choice: either he accepts the Voice's offer and is assimilated into the Collective, or he is destroyed by the sun. And because he'd care for his answers more than anything, of course he'd never say no. They are both pushed to the brink of ultimate betrayal - one being Dominated, the other being Staked - and it gives them every reason to hate one another and to leave them with nothing and no one ever again.

Except it doesn't work out that way. Kali acknowledges that the fault isn't their's, that they've both been used and manipulated and made desperate. And Pádraic isn't the slightest bit angry with her; he's terrified, but even so he wants to reassure her that he understands, he wants to comfort her, to let her know that he doesn't blame her. And ultimately, his refusal is based on what Kali says - that he's trapped in this endless cycle of empty promises that lead to more promises but never an answer - and he decides that he just wants some damned peace.

So the Voice is angry with regards to Kali because Pádraic chose to care about her and valued what she said.

The second is that the Voice intended for Pádraic's betrayal to wound Kali so deeply that she would never trust another person, which would then leave her vulnerable to manipulation through the vial, while also leaving Pádraic with a choice: ask the question and be assimilated into the Collective, or refuse and be destroyed by the sun.

Except Kali is Kali, and despite how hurt she is, and how shaken her trust in her own judgement is, she decides to be unpredictable once more and goes to Mato for help. She decides to trust her judgement of his character - that he is a good person, and that he will go to any lengths to save Pádraic, even if it means risking the sun - and he proves her right. And Pádraic's choice of 'assimilate or die' is altered, and that makes the Voice angry because that's not how Kali was supposed to respond. She wasn't supposed to extend her trust once more, and Pádraic was either going to play his role or be destroyed. Instead he gets to be free and he chooses to pursue Kali, which then jeopardises whatever manipulations are planned for her.

So yeah: Pádraic wasn't supposed to care about Kali as deeply as he did in the end, and Kali wasn't supposed to trust anyone ever again, yet she did. And now Caine is stomping his feet because what do you mean you can forgive someone who's wronged you so terribly? What do you mean that love and care can transcend betrayal, and that forgiveness can be given so freely?

(anyway white wolf make Pádraic's Reckoning ending canon or I'm burning everything)

[nightingaletrash]

I just realised that there's another character I love who Jinu reminds me of and wow I never stood a chance 🙃

Subjected to voices for over a century that leads him to make questionable choices

Working on behalf of a malicious patron

Developed a rapport and bond with the female protagonist, who has been subjected to emotional isolation by an authority figure

Betrays the female protagonist (with varying degrees of reluctance)

Is apologetic for his betrayal

One ending does result in his death

Close enough, welcome back Pádraic Conroy

narrative parallels I love you but you need to stop doing this to me