#and laios has the kind of simplicity and humility that means he can be guided by his people and court on matters beyond his reckoning | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

incisorconfiture · 9 days

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laios and kabru being very explicit narrative and character foils of each other means you're primed to expect some extent of honesty and candor from laios at every turn throughout, even if it's to negative effect, while your impression of kabru means you expect his every action and word to bely ulterior motive or manipulation, even if it's out of good intentions. and how thoroughly this is subverted in the end, when kabru is forced by pressure and circumstance into painfully, awkwardly honest confession and conduct, forced to stand back and spectate instead of trying to pull strings and control. and laios rises up out of nowhere with an underhanded scheme so shocking and thorough it tricks everyone, and suspends them into inaction and speechless disbelief, clearing his path to the throne. i just think it's neat how they're foils and opposites until they embody each other's core traits at some of their most pivotal developmental moments

#idk if i was the only one but i initially assumed kabru was introduced like that so the two would have some sort of race to the throne #not even because i thought kabru was underhanded i just thought that's what she was setting up with their two opposed parties #with the same common goal but vastly different ways of going about it and clashing personalities #i really thought the narrative subversion would be priming us for golden chosen one laios all along and then kabru swooping in at the end #but instead it was indeed laios in the end yet with no shortage of surprises and satisfaction imo #i like it a lot more this way for both of them. kabru suits a quieter background role where his communicative skills take center stage #and laios has the kind of simplicity and humility that means he can be guided by his people and court on matters beyond his reckoning #rather than centering his own and risking tyrannical or apathetic leadership #thus kabru gets what he wanted all along. gets to have his say and opinion. to represent humanity's needs and see to them all #and have a king who is kind and learning to communicate with and understand his populace and those around him #dungeon meshi #laios #kabru

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