It just struck me how Aaravos plays Viren like a fiddle. Aside from purring about how happy he is to hear people again, these are the first words he says to the man.
Viren has superduper self-esteem issues. He considers himself worthless and nothing. That magic-eye-drops sequence, when he wants to see the truth in the mirror and ends up roasting himself is exactly the truth as he sees it. I’m curious about where he came from because he clearly has never quite got over the fact that he’s clawed his way up from nothing.
It’s also very telling that his loyalty to Harrow only extended as far as “You are a servant”. The fact Harrow commanded him to kneel and told him he belonged there was the thing that triggered him to turn on Harrow, fake Harrow’s death (oh come on. He’s totally trapped in Pip. Why give his son Dr Doolittle abilities if not so he can talk to his bird-caged father? Plus Viren was angry enough to want to keep him locked up to taunt him with everything that came next) and order the murder of his children to usurp his throne.
Aaravos knows this. Aaravos has watched as Viren tried and failed to dominate and control Runaan. He has seen his fits of temper. Heard him talking to Claudia about what he wants and needs. He knows exactly what makes Viren tick and that what Viren craves is power and control and waits until Viren is on the brink of complete breakdown before revealing the secret of the mirror.
A taster, of course. Only a taster. A room. A mysterious room. Then a glimpse of a figure. Light and shadow. Something to keep his interest. A moment to examine the figure. All little things to pluck as Viren’s curiosity. And then, the magic. Patiently, patiently constructing a web around Viren, offering him a hint but never pushing. Never demanding, only offering. Your choice, my friend. Your decision. If you should choose to lay the blade at your hand, you decide. He knows Viren is in a position where he’s desperate and will do reckless, dangerous things, but he never pushes. I’m here if you need me, I’ll offer guidance if you want it. As you wish.
Which means his very first words to Viren are deliberate, preying on Viren’s desperate need to be in charge: how may I serve you?
Hey so uuh? That scene where the one guy was like “Yes general, everything is fine” while frantically signing “Danger” to Amaya was the COOLEST thing, you can’t change my mind
![caffeineandconceptart:
“[Insert lame joke about how Rayla ‘lights up his life.’]
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“A bit less than two weeks until The Dragon Prince season 2! Hype hype hype!
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