#esprit de corps

[shegoesbyjoy]

the quiet show of support from kim despite his own nerves... the playful ribbing between the two of them... the image of kim lending a crying harry his handkerchief, doing what he can to dry this broken man's tears....... these moments are really making me feel some type of way alright

[disco-archetypes]

KIM KITSURAGI - "Let's go, officer." The lieutenant closes his notes. "These people wouldn't know a good performance if it bit them in the ass."

YOU - "You... liked it?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "Yes," he bows lightly. "It was downright tragic, detective."

ESPRIT DE CORPS - I mean it, he thinks.

CONCEPTUALIZATION - To him, being a cop in the RCM was truly expressed in that performance.

[worlds-end-discotheque]

This isn’t a fully finished thought-project yet so please bear with me but I’m pretty sure Cuno is the one paying the bills for the de Ruyter apartment.

Or at least he’s trying to.

When you go into Cuno’s apartment, the first thing you realize is the chain and the warning about the electricity. From what we know about how Cuno protects his shack (and the state of his inebriation-comatose father) we can safely assume that Cuno’s the one who chains the door closed whenever he leaves. Obviously, no one in Martinaise would want to leave their home open for any reason, but the apartments clearly have deadbolts installed in the doors— so the chain is an extra measure. Cuno can’t have anything being stolen, even taking the extra effort beyond confidence in his own intimidation to chain it up.

The apartment has two rooms: Uuno’s bedroom, and the living room. Uuno’s bedroom consists primarily of the bed, the clothes line, presumably a dresser or some end table-like surfaces. Plenty of room for his substances and shit.

The living room has the sofa, which is clearly covered in Cuno’s clothing and a makeshift sleeping setup. The risqué pinup on the wall is basically confirmation that this is Cuno’s “space,” not something that he and his dad alternate or share. The L-Couch is Cuno’s bed, bedroom, and dresser, effectively.

Which leads us to the tiny desk. The items on the desk are minimal, but crucial: Cuno’s speed with the straw, Cuno’s textbook and homework, a lamp, the stack of bills, and an open phone book.

We’ve established already that Cuno and his father do not share space. Cuno is already a territorial kid, established by his limited safe zones in his own home. He wouldn’t leave his damn homework out somewhere where his dad could access it; the fact that the homework exists means that beneath his attitude, Cuno clearly has a deep level of care for his schoolwork and at least a desire to complete it. With how terrified he is of his father, there’s no way in hell Cuno would leave his schoolwork out in a place that his father could damage it or get angry for it. Which essentially confirms that the desk is Cuno’s space only.

The speed has its little straw, making it convenient to sip on consistently while doing work at the desk. (I do this with my water tumbler.) especially if you’re at the desk for a long time. With the open phone book, it’s clear that Cuno is at least trying to find the numbers for the companies that the bills are coming from. It’s not just a pile of mail on the desk— he’s doing research into it. Gathering phone numbers to take outside to one of the payphones. The desk is organized, business-like, unlike anything Cuno is— except for how he deals.

Which leads me to my last bit. Cuno’s insistence on selling you shit. Obviously, the best way for this kid to maintain a steady supply for his own addiction is to be a dealer. However, for a 12-year-old boy with a substance addiction in the world of DE where there’s nothing else to do, that level of self-control is absurdly high. There’s a meticulousness to it that betrays a primary aspect of Cuno’s approach: business. Cuno isn’t doing it for popularity, for “cool” points, and if his focus was only his own addiction then he would likely just steal them, take it all for himself. He’s not supplying his dad, that’s for sure. On top of that, he’s got a side hustle selling clothing and other crap he picks up, enough to try and pitch it to Pigs— repeatedly. There’s a lot to buy off Cuno, and it’s the one thing he repeatedly brings up in dialogue options, aside from insults. He wants you to know he’s willing to do business. He needs the money. Because the bills are stacking up, his dad could die any minute, and now he’s got Cunoesse too. (It’s not confirmed if she stays in the apartment with him, and I’m inclined to think not, considering the chain, his fear of her too and the fact that she stands on the other side of the fence than him— there’s a special separation there. There’s also no trace of Cunoesse-noted belongings nor a second space to sleep indicated on the couch; shivers, empathy, none of the skills speak up when inside the apartment about anyone but Cuno and his dad. At the same time, this is again unconfirmed).

I lost what I was talking about here, but the point is. Cuno breaks my heart and I want to adopt and take care of him so badly. It’s one thing to be a delinquent kid, it’s another to be a 12-year-old delinquent kid trying to pay your own damn bills in Martinaise. Fuck, man. I love this kid so much. He breaks my heart.

As much as I yap about my old man yaoi, I think Cuno is my favorite character in DE. He’s just… I need to take care of him. God help me. I wanted to kill his dad so badly. Sigh.

Anyways. That was my thought project. Thought Cabinet just adopted Cunology.

[skelekerrry]

This is how ESPRIT DE CORPS works in my mind

[crimson-and-clover-1717]

I love that Stede is velcroed to Zheng the morning after the attack on The Republic of Pirates. Despite the previous night’s animosities, Stede offers what he can. Empathy; a friendship of sorts. A misjudged, but valiant attempt to defend the pair from the British. Necessity stirs Zheng from despondency, but Stede gets her moving.

There are many things you cannot be around Stede Bonnet - inert or ambivalent are two. He will cause you to act and feel. It might be a strong desire to kill him; or simply get away. It may be an eagerness to rescue. Indifference though is not an option. And it’s likely, if you have one iota of goodness, you’ll end up loving him.

When Zheng states she can go die by herself, Stede refuses to leave. Collectivism is the cornerstone of Stede’s philosophy: together we are stronger. Zheng rejects him initially - ‘Your help is about as good as no help at all’. Stede replies, ‘I can do things! I’m not a total loss.’

What he does bring is Ed to the yard.

Stede might not be as skilled at hand-to-hand combat, but Ed arrives because of Stede. And Stede’s partly why Zheng is on the beach too, not realising his awkward pep-talk and optimistic gung-ho ambush contributed to her taking action. Zheng also realises she needs help - ‘Hey, guys!’ It takes all three to rout the British on the beach.

Stede brings a different strength to the fight - his presence. I’m sure he does slash a few major arteries, but his being there is enough. Because Stede kills with kindness. He is the linchpin in the alliance between Ed and Zheng. And he brings out the best in Ed: reborn in his leathers, ready to fight and kill for Stede and a different future.

Stede is the heart and the meaning

For Love! is all-encompassing

Stede’s the esprit de corps.

[heavensickness]

OUGH HIS SQUAD... HIS POSSE.... HIS PEOPLE.... HE STILL HAS SOMEWHERE HE BELONGS TO... EVEN THOUGH HE CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE...

[zkyeline]

Today’s little doodle page, gettin back to drawing again (´｡• ω •｡`)

[tmbatcat]

heyyy look at the murder! (get it???)

I DID NOT FORGET! IT'S STILL 10 IN MY TIMEZONE!! SHHH!

(edit cuz I can't write for shit)

[dekunoboun]

[suresne]

feeling very normal about this esprit de corps check

a fellow RCM officer saying that harry will recover while aiming a gun at and squeezing the trigger to kill a clear metaphorical representation of harry

the change in person from "he" to "we"

the RCM (and through it, moralism) as a cycle of mutual destruction for everyone involved

heartwrenching, beautiful, i wanna die. thanks

[misslilies]

"Who are they?"

"Your half-siblings, Harry"

[shegoesbyjoy]

listen LISTEN kim being amused by/going along with harry's dumb bullshit is so so important to me okay i want to them to spend the rest of their lives being silly IDIOTS together thanks

Bonus:

[disco-archetypes]

KIM KITSURAGI - As you approach, he narrows his eyes and extends his hand in greeting.

ESPRIT DE CORPS - If an assault were launched on this building right now -- if the windows came crashing down and the whole world descended upon you -- this man would hurl himself in death's way to save you. You are sure of this -- but why?

[kitsvragi]

ESPRIT DE CORPS - If an assault were launched on this building right now -- if the windows came crashing down and the whole world descended upon you -- this man would hurl himself in death's way to save you. You are sure of this -- but why?

[coffinwoodx]

“i’ve got Kim.”

“No the fuck you do not 😭”

[blessed-acceleration]

Black dogs are omens of death