#faustian bargains

[crimson-and-clover-1717]

Ed’s Initial Intentions regarding Stede

Thank you so much for your attention to the poll. The consensus is it’s complicated - and I sort of agree - although I’m swayed towards Fascination alone.

This is my interpretation…

Stede causes Ed to access hidden or denied parts of himself before they’ve even met. And it causes a change in Ed’s behaviour. Ed’s come across many rich or aristocratic folks to rob whom he would see killed without issue; but not someone who’s also a pirate, doing their own original thing, and who seems ambivalent towards Blackbeard’s existence. It’s dopamine to Ed’s novelty-starved brain. It’s not as if Ed carries out a usual raid on the Revenge intending to kill Stede, only to find himself unexpectedly charmed. Ed’s bewitched even before he meets Stede, which means Ed’s entire approach and thought-processes are altered.

Killing Stede and the crew isn’t necessarily off the table should the need arise, but I don’t think it’s actively on in any capacity. There’s no plan, and there’s no ‘uszh’ for once either. Because none of this is uszh. Ed’s engagement with the Revenge is not his normal MO. History’s most brilliant tactician is free-styling. Possibly free-falling.

At the end of 102, Izzy states, ‘Captain says follow that ship.’ And Fang answers ‘Oh really? Why?’ To which Izzy replies, ‘How should I know? The man’s half-insane.’ This conversation shows this isn’t usual strategy. Even Fang asks why - he thought they’d seen the last of those ‘fancyboys’. And Ivan’s sad he didn’t get the chance to murder them, which seems the usual way of things. Plus they’d already had the chance to take or plunder the ship when it ran aground, so this stalking manoeuvre is out of the ordinary. It feels like wasted time and energy.

By the start of episode three, Blackbeard’s ship is a few hundred yards out from the Revenge, and Izzy’s trying to manipulate Ed into usual strategy again by suggesting opening fire, or boarding and throwing the Revenge crew to the sharks. Instead, Ed wants to wait until they make landfall and invite them aboard his ship. Ed’s doing something very different again because he’s unwittingly engaging with an unfamiliar part of himself. And interestingly ‘Go suck eggs in Hell’ appears not to insult, but to somewhat seduce him further. Before meeting Stede, he’s already out of his depth emotionally, and acting out of character, literally.

Despite what Ed would do normally, I just cannot see him landing on the Revenge with the active intent of plundering the ship and / or killing Stede and the crew. His words and actions suggest he’s already through the looking-glass.

So, to The Plan. We have three interesting moments which lead up to its revelation: the clothes swap, ‘careful of your face’ and ‘show me the ways of an aristocrat’.

For me, the three strands, which have no previous connection (other than Ed and Stede playing together), come together in Ed’s mind somewhere between Ed leaving Stede on the lookout, and Ed speaking with Izzy below: a matter of seconds. It reminds me of Keyser Söze in The Usual Suspects, pulling together disparate ideas into a cohesive story spontaneously. It’s the mind of a quick-thinker. And it’s in-keeping with Ed’s ability of reacting in the moment to the moment when necessary.

I think Ed also feels forced to perform Blackbeard for Izzy because Izzy’s threatening to leave pushes on that white father-figure emotional bruise. At this stage, Ed doesn’t have enough emotional loyalty to Stede to not voice such a plan; whilst his identity is still too caught in Izzy’s web to let him go - ‘you’re needed here’. For me, the plan to kill Stede is brought about in the moment via an act of psychological coercive control.

But Ed’s also kicking the can down the road. It’s a sort of Faustian bargain. Why not promise Izzy both their souls if it means Ed and Stede can hang out a little longer? Yet on another level Ed’s possibly hoping the debt won’t be called in, such is the complexity of the push and pull here. He’s putting it on the tab, the never-never. He’ll out-manoeuvre it if he decides that’s what he wants. Of course there’s doublethink going on because Ed’s in the middle of an identity crisis.

Ed daren’t admit his real reason for wanting to stay on the Revenge. He can’t comprehend himself even how deep this goes. His look as he turns is one of exhaustion and confusion. Stede Bonnet has him rattled. What started as a trickle of unease and ennui before they’d even met is now a whirlpool of unidentifiable feelings around both Stede, and Ed’s own perception of self.

Ed’s free-falling in liminal space.

[i-am-trans-gwender]

For years, I beseeched the Almighty to grant me the blessing of awakening as a maiden, yet my entreaties were met with callous indifference. Each dawn broke, and still, I remained shackled to my masculine form. The heavens, it seemed, had forsaken me.

Thus, I resolved to usurp the power that had been denied me. With trembling hand, I inscribed a pentagram of forbidden might, and with heart aflame, I invoked the ancient incantation: "Heat from fire, fire from heat, heat from fire, fire from heat".

By this dark ritual, I summoned the Prince of Darkness, and prepared to seal a pact that would forever alter the course of my existence.

[aunti-christ-ine]

[dmagedgoods]

The Mouse and the Devil For all its life it had been small But fierce and strong, a daring dreamer; So, when the devil red and tall Tried scaring it with big demeanor And spoke of granting it his favor To change its size from small to massive The mouse refused the gracious offer: “My size is what I wish to live with! It gets me what I most require; But strive some more to find my vice And try to guess my soul's desire The same I'll give you as your price Should ever you see through me.” The devil stared in disbelief About a mouse so cheeky. He did not see the hint beneath, What could the tiny creature yearn for? The mouse so cozy, content Smiled brightly and without a care It fell asleep there in his hand. ~ Sphinx ------------ @hydropyro This went out of hand a little. I hope I got the thing with the size/format right.

[somestorythoughts]

I just like her little purple devil in this episode.

[dracenavibes]

Ok guys so I have been thinking about the fact that we know so little about “demon lore” in kuro and that Yana stated she will never expand on it.

And honestly I think thats awesome. Just imagine the huge shift in tone if we suddenly had a bunch of other demons and superpowers and demon society etc. (season 2 doesn’t exist for my mental health) And yes we have a bunch of other supernatural characters (mostly grim reapers ) but I think they don’t really take away from the vibe of the story (or rather add to it with their break from the victorian aesthetic)

And they are also important for stakes, I mean they are natural enemies to Sebastian, it’s their job to collect souls and demons steal them. We need a foe who is on par with Sebastian (which is why UT is so great)

On a different note it would also destroy Sebastian’s character, never really knowing what is going on behind his facade. What really is just his role and what is his true personality? All this mystery around him makes him a much more interesting character for this kind of story and adds to the horror element of kuro. I mean he is kind of the main villain from a certain point of view and knowing all about him and his powers and origin would damage this role for him.

Lastly the mystery also helps strengthen the main theme. Mostly a faustian contract is a metaphor for people being so greedy, or in Ciel’s case desperate, to give away their very essence what makes them them, to loose quite literally everything. So in that sense Sebastian’s demonhood is a device that strengthens the symbolism of the darker themes of the story and I personally love it.

In conclusion I completely understand why Yana wouldn’t want to take away from all the points mentioned earlier. I also understand that peopel are curious and like to explore Sebastian’s demon nature more (which is showcased by some very cool concepts I saw in fanfiction) and I wholeheartedly encourage anyone to do so in the fandom, but having the details of Sebastian’s nature obscure in cannon is in my opinion the better choice

What is your opinion on this?

[what-the-actual-wizardry]

Mephistopheles

As requested by @random-conspiracy Two or three years ago, when I was in my 'underdog' pagan phase, revisiting Janus and Baba Iaga for the first time, I ran into the Devil in a bookshop. Not improbable- it was a rural town, close to a railway, full to the brim with the abandoned husks of churches, and wandered by the abandoned husks of the faithful. I never saw his face, but I could smell him- leather and tobacco ash, and the amber vapor of brandy. Mephistopheles, or Mephisto, is the sum of all 'sell your soul for knowledge/wealth/power' stories; his is the name given to a character in the German play Faust, generally assumed to be synonymous with the Devil. He is charming, and nihilistic, and passionately spiteful.

This incarnation of the Devil is a bright-eyed salesman- 'wouldn't you like to, wouldn't you dare to, wouldn't you give anything to have something more' - and a trickster that will only return as much as you are willing to risk. He never asked to take my soul, only that I would trust him when we came to the crossroads. He never pushed me to deceive or to steal, only to make sure that the truth was worth telling and the item worth paying for. My devotional acts were leaps of faith- ask for that pay raise, hit that publish button, approach that cute guy. Do this, and I will have my thumb on your end of the scale. Do this, and I will make sure you succeed. Do not, and I will make sure you fail. I know you want to. That was always the thing about working with him. You had to go all in, or you would never see the fruit of your labors. But I went all in, and now I have him to thank for my life as I know it. When we parted, it was on friendly terms, at least.

UPG:

He is a creature of light and smoke, liquor and gold, poison and ink, and these are all wonderful offerings for him.

He will not help a follower who has unpaid debts, to him or to anyone else. If you cannot be trusted, or have no ability, to keep your end, he will make no deals with you.

He appreciates doublespeak and loopholes, but never act as though you have outsmarted him. Sometimes you may find that his words come out of your mouth, so to speak. Get very comfortable with telling performative half-truths to protect your interests. He will always urge you to 'look the part.' Take care of your appearance; if not fancy, at least cohesive, especially if approaching him directly. No work with Mephisto is permanent. He makes things better for his followers, and quickly, but there is a point where the magnitude of the risks becomes uncomfortable. Be ready to thank him, pay your last, and take your leave.

[thebeesareback]

I just finished Renegade Nell and

- Poynton is a Faustian nightmare, and Adrian Lister did an absolutely fantastic job. It felt like he was channelling Othello in his magic scene. He's an excellent villain

- Rassalas/Amadin and Roxy are really cute

- I didn't realise, but the actor who plays Charles is Frank Dillane. He played young Voldy in Harry Potter 6, and his father is Stephen Dillane, who played Stannis Baratheon in GOT

- Polly Honeycombe is perfectly named

- Sofia is a Goth Queen

- Louisa Harland had fantastic chemistry with everyone and was just generally a badass

- I don't usually care about fight scenes (Princess Bride aside), but the choreography looks good to me

- tonally, the show is pretty inconsistent, but it kinda works? I appreciate things which can be serious and can be funny, can be dramatic and have honest, human moments

- v strange to think that Tottenham was ever, well, sort of a village. If you've not been there, it's now an especially rough part of London with a rather nasty MP (super antisemetic, still received like 70% of the vote in 2019, if memory serves)

- Joely Richardson looks like she's having a blast every time she's on screen. Good for her

Finally:

- I adore Nick Mohammed when he's on Taskmaster, and he's delightful in this, too. I certainly wouldn't mind having him as my guardian angel fairy imp thingy

[victusinveritas]

Five Ways to be Carried Away by the Devil

[drconstellation]

When Crowley met Jesus, and the other demon at Golgotha

You know the scene. 33AD. Aziraphale is watching the crucifixion take place and certain fem-presenting demon sidles up to him.

Aziraphale greets them, and finds out they have changed their name.

"What is it now?" he asks them. " Mephistopheles? Asmodeus?"

I know most you have learnt by now that Asmodeus is the demon of lust, and this is obviously Aziraphale's idea of a flirty little joke (perhaps the first we see? because he's the one who's really as "mad as bag of frogs" after all and that's why Crowley's made an appearance, because he was probably just in the area, you know...), but I haven't seen or come across much meta about the first suggested name, which is a GO "lead balloon" moment.

Mephistopheles, Aziraphale? That's the name you thought of here? Of all places? jfc...you bad, bad angel! lmoa! This is a serious, sombre situation you are witnessing!

Mephistopheles is the name of the fictional demon sent to do a deal with the character Faust in a story that dates back to Germany in the early 1500s. Faust was a like a scientist in his day, well educated in things like alchemy and astrology and other mystical arts, maybe even having wizard powers (why not?) But he was hungry for more power so he did a deal with the devil for 24 years of assistance to achieve and gain anything he desired, and at the end of that time he would be claimed by Hell. Needless to say, despite starting off well it didn't have a happy ending. (I wont go into details as there are lots of variants, and its not that short, and they aren't all that relevant to the point of the post.)

It has been a hugely influential story ever since, appearing in many forms over the years; in opera, theater, movies, novels, adaptations such as Oscar Wilde's The Portrait of Dorian Grey, and Queen's famous song Bohemian Rhapsody. Terry Pratchett also did a parody of it in his 1990 book Eric, and readers have often noted the similarity to the Hell depicted there to the Hell in GO.

Its the origin of the idiom "to do a deal with the devil" and a Faustian bargain. The mortals that enter into the deal with a powerful supernatural entity are usually set up to fail, and we go along with it because we are so used to the trope, its one we've come to expect the bargainer to fail in some spectacular fashion. It's one that keeps being repeated again and again because it so interesting to explore - often the protagonist is looking for some form of happiness, sometimes revenge, and hopes the deal will deliver, but find out the hard way that they should be careful what they wish for because the delivery is a two-edged sword. They may find out that they don't actually want what they thought they wanted, or they get what they want in an very unexpected way.

Back to Golgotha, and our demon and angel. We learn the demon has merely modified their name to Crowley. And yes, they met Jesus.

C: "Seemed a very bright young man. I showed him all the kingdoms of the world."

A: "Why?"

C: "He's a carpenter from Galilee, his travel opportunities are limited."

This is a reference to one of the the tests of faith Jesus was put through before his crucifixion, from the Book of Matthew.

I like this modern version I found:

For the third test, the Devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth’s kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, “They’re yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they’re yours.” Jesus’ refusal was curt: “Beat it, Satan!” He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.” The Test was over. The Devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus’ needs. Matthew 4:8-11 The Message

Or, you could say: Crowley showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, and offered the bargain that he could rule them all if he would renounce God and worship Satan instead, but Jesus just turned to the demonic messenger and simply told him to "fuck off!"

And there we have it, folks. Mephistopheles, and Asmodeus. Touche, Aziraphale, you sly little shit stirrer.

[existennialmemes]

Well well well, if it isn't the consequences of that Faustian Bargain I made 24 years ago.

Man, I really should've read the terms of that thing more carefully…

[howifeltabouthim]

He bent down on one knee in front of her. 'Then what is your pleasure? If it's in my power to grant it, it's yours. Tell me your heart's desire and I will make it real.' She drew away from him as if his proximity might burn. 'Don't make such offers. You sound too much like a demon with such pretty words.'

Jenn Lyons, from The Ruin of Kings

[blackblooms]

Morgan is the first character lady encounters after her defeat. They are a fairy, a species of creatures known for their inquisitive minds, better-than-you attitude, and short stature. Morgan and their friends provide guidance and council during the story but that first encounter is meant to feel like a Faustian bargain. ...but surely that' s nothing to worry about.

[dmagedgoods]

🎃 🍬 👻 🕷️ 💀 🕯️ 👺 🔮

Happy Halloween!

Raphael and my sorcerer Dark Urge Cian on a Halloween celebration among mortals. Raphael dressed up as a devil, Cian as a witch. 🤭

[spiderpinata]

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