we talk a lot about Mo being the Bluejay and fulfilling his role and saving people as a #vigilante, which is very fair and valid because he did a lot of good, but can we recognize that Black Prince’s role in the creation of the legend, and the original fulfillment of the responsibility the Bluejay is supposed to undertake?
Inkspell has the Black Prince admit to someone else (I forgot who) that he and some of his other men often wore the mask themselves when doing secret missions undermining the Adderhead’s men, like stealing back goods for the people, and that almost all of the reported sightings of the Bluejay, which convinced people he was real in the first place, was actually them
and I love Mo, and I love the poeticism of him becoming the role that was written for him, unwillingly, because he was in a tragic story that needed a hero so badly it forced him to become one, but like
the work of the Bluejay really, really fucks Mo up. he’s super traumatized by the necessity of killing and violence one has to commit to to actually protect these people in the Inkworld. and while I love the concept of “gentle, passive, nearly pacifistic man takes up arms to defend against an evil corrupt oppressive regime”, and I know the nature of Mo’s trauma is on purpose, that’s kind of the whole POINT to the themes of Inkdeath, that the things that make stories so good are not actually fun or adventurous in real life, they are a tragedy, and good people are forced into doing ugly, messy things they never should have been made to, and the reality of oppression and murder is dark and horrifying and the ways people have to struggle to survive are not easy or clean. that’s the whole POINT of Mo’s arc in Inkdeath, I know, and it’s BEAUTIFUL, bUT IT STILL SUPER MESSES WITH HIM AND THAT MAKES ME SAD
and you know who DOESN’T struggle with the role of the Bluejay??? THE BLACK PRINCE. he’s been out here since day 1 since Fenoglio started writing those ballads, taking on the role to disguise himself and his people while fighting for the citizens of the Inkworld. Fenoglio may have written the stories, but the Prince and his men made it the legend.
Mo is an excellent example of the tragic and reluctant hero trope, but the Prince is a PEAK Robin Hood figure, and if given the choice between very beautiful and sad story vs. iconic and cool story……………I have…………………. to pick the version…………………… where everyone is happy and the vigilante hero is someone with style™ who happily taunts the bad guys with witty retorts™
I don’t think I really have a point, this is just a long rambly post about how Bluejay!Black Prince deserves more love and respect, and Mo deserves a nap instead of these huge burdens, and in the AU where Inkheart isn’t so realistically tragic, they both get that
YES!!!! THIS!!! Gosh, he's so wonderful, great, amazing and why isn't everyone talking about him???
He deserves more appreciation and love and HAPPINESS, looking at you Fenoglio!!! 😡