Betrayed: Chapter 14
May. 27th, 2011 06:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
zelda_queenZeldaQueen: In which this story someone gets even more offensive and idiotic
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
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Chapter 14
ZeldaQueen: About half an hour later, Zoey and Friends are watching TV when the news channel starts broadcasting about the bomb threat. Chera Kimiko chirps perkily about it and it might be me but the whole thing feels rather...subdued for a bomb scare. Cue live footage from the bridge, which definitely has been closed down.
Aphrodite, who snuck up behind the group, comments on how the bomb scare was a smart idea and nods her head respectfully at Zoey. So, of course, Stevie Rae snaps "What do you want?" and the Cast ladies remember that Aphrodite is supposed to be unlikable, so she replies "From an ex-refrigerator? Nothing!" Cue an infodump on the whole refrigerator thing which, given how pointless it is, just comes across as horned-in. It also cues Shaunee and Erin nastily insulting Aphrodite. I think we're supposed to see it as comin to Stevie Rae's defense, but given that they call Aphrodite a ho nine million times and force several jokes about how they need a refrigerator but oh wait, she's not good enough to be one for them, it just comes across as horrible.
Zoey notices that Stevie Rae is going all pale and upset from this all, so she cuts in. She tells Aphrodite to never call Stevie Rae a refrigerator again and tells Shaunee and Erin that they aren't having refrigerator's anymore. The Twins look shocked and hurt that Zoey tells them off like that.
First of all, they really needed to be reminded that Zoey was doing away with the refrigerator business? Is it just me, or does that kind of imply that they don't see anything wrong with it? And they definitely don't see why making a ton of refrigerator jokes in front of Stevie Rae is something not nice because they're hurt, hurt I say, that the great Zoey would tell them off for it. What charming people.
Zoey tells them that they're all on the same side and thus should stop bickering. Aphrodite says that there's no way they're on the same side, but winks at Zoey before leaving the room. This causes Zoey to muse about how "She'd looked almost playful, like we were friends and just kidding around. But that wasn't possible. Was it?" Stevie Rae says that Aphrodite is creepy and Zoey replies that Aphrodite just has issues. "[T]he three of them looked at me like I'd just said Hitler really hadn't been that bad". I'm serious, they just don't leave up on her
"'You guys, I really want the new Dark Daughters to be a group that brings people together, not one that's stuck-up and so exclusive that only a few from a chosen clique can join.' They just stared at me. 'It was her warning that saved my grandma and several other people today.'
'She only told you because she wants something from you. She's hateful, Zoey. Don't ever think she's not,' Erin said.
'Please do not tell me that you're thinking of letting her back into the Dark Daughters,' Stevie Rae said.
I shook my head. 'No. And even if I wanted to, which I don't,' I added quickly, 'according to my own new rules she doesn't qualify for membership. A Dark Daughter or Son has to uphold our ideals by her or his behavior.'
Shaunee snorted. 'No damn way that hag knows how to be authentic, faithful, wise, earnest, and sincere about anything except her own hateful plans.'
'For world dominance,' Erin added.
'And don't think they're exaggerating,' Stevie Rae told me.
'Stevie Rae, she is not my friend. I just … I dunno ...' I floundered, trying to put the instinct that so often whispered to me and goaded me to do, or not to do, things into words. 'I guess I really do feel sorry for her sometimes. And I also think I understand her a little. Aphrodite just wants to be accepted, but she goes about it all wrong. She thinks manipulation and lies mixed with control can force people to like her. It's what she saw at home, and that's what made her like she is now.'
'Sorry, Zoey, but that's bullshit,' Shaunee said.
'She's way too old to be acting a fool because she has a screwed-up mommy.'
'Please. Just please with the blame-my-mommy-cause-I'm-a-bitch crap,' Erin said.
'Not to be mean or anything, but you have a screwed-up mama, too, Zoey, and you didn't let her, or your step-loser of a dad, mess you up," Stevie Rae said. 'And Damien has a mama who doesn't like him anymore because he's gay.'
'Yeah, and he didn't turn into a hateful slut hag,' Shaunee said. 'Actually, he's the opposite. He's like ... he's like ...' She paused, looking to Erin for help. 'Twin, what's the Julie Andrews character's name in The Sound of
Music?'
'Maria. And you're right, Twin. Damien is like that goody-goody nun. He needs to loosen up some or he's never gonna get any.'
'I cannot believe you guys are discussing my love life,' Damien said.
We all jumped guiltily and muttered, 'Sorry.'
He shook his head while Stevie Rae and I scooted over so he could sit beside us. 'And I'll have you know I don't just want to `get some' as you guys so nastily put it. I want a lasting relationship with someone I really care about, and I'm willing to wait for that.'
'Ja, fräulein,' Shaunee whispered.
'Maria,' Erin muttered.
Stevie Rae tried to hide her giggle in a cough"
ZeldaQueen: Oh my aching head...
I have to wonder, what is with these people? They make absolutely no attempt to see Zoey's point of view at all. She made several very nice points. If they want to improve the Dark Daughters, they can't just turn around and discriminate in the opposite direction, and instead must work to look beyond petty squabbles to form a stronger group. Aphrodite did come forward and tell Zoey about her vision which, silly me, was what I thought they were hating on her for not doing? Aphrodite hate a shitty home life and was brought up being told that power was all that mattered in life, and began to live accordingly.
And how do these people react? They stare at Zoey. They mock Aphrodite. They tell Zoey to her face that it's bad and wrong to feel sorry for someone like Aphrodite and Zoey had just better stop being so nice and forgiving. Please Cast ladies, tell me, why should I like these people? Why should I care about a bunch of self-righteous assholes who are so completely loathe to do something like forgive?
Which brings us to another point. I realize what the Cast ladies are trying to do here. They are going for the idea that there is a limit to how far Freudian excuses go to pinning bad behavior on. And that is a valid point. There are plenty of villains in media who cite or have terrible backstories but still go beyond what can be excused by them. I understand that.
Except...it doesn't work with Aphrodite. Quite simply, this is because what I noted in Marked - she's a terrible villain. Besides the refrigerator thing, which while dickish is still technically something allowed by the school, and a variety of childish insults, she doesn't really do anything to earn this level of scorn. And given what we know of her home life and what we will learn about her later, dickish behavior and not understanding how to interact with others sounds reasonable. Voldemort murdering his father, parents, and uncle for abandoning his mother is a case where the bad home life excuse doesn't fly. Being a general bitch because of eighteen years of being hated and manipulated by one's parents? Yeah.
I'd also like to ask, why doesn't Zoey bring up her points from before? You know, back in Chapter Two when she pointed out how she had sixteen years of love from her mother and her grandmother's constant love and support, neither of which Aphrodite had. But nope, she just stays quiet and doesn't bother to contradict them because that might lead to an argument and her friends not slobbering over her every word and we can't have that, can we?
Finally, and this is on the part with Damien, isn't that just lovely how these people gossip and tease Damien about daring to save himself for a monogamous relationship? I mean yes, it was delivered in the most soap-boxy way possible, but there are plenty of people who do want to save themselves for a deep, loving relationship as opposed to having a lot of flings. And do these people respect that? Nope, they just tease Damien about being an uptight nun who needs to loosen up to "get some".
I hate these people.
Oh, and the bit where Damien stands up to them? It doesn't last long. Zoey promptly cuts in and tells them that oh lookey, the bomb threat worked and thus the crisis was averted. Damien says great, and now it's time for them to go to the rec hall and set up for the ritual tomorrow. Zoey says that she completely forgot about that because she's just been so busy. I wasn't aware at all that it needed to be done, personally.
You know, a thought just occurred to me. Have all classes just disappeared? Because besides Neferet's one class and the one horse-riding class, I don't think there's been a single mention of them going to class. And besides that essay, there's been nothing about homework. Why am I bothering?
They head over to the rec hall, and there's a lot of stupid dialogue where Stevie Rae acts like a five-year-old because it looks like it's about to snow. Shaunee and Erin are materialistic airheads over a pair of jeans they saw in a Victoria's Secret catalog, and Damien talks about sewing and reminds us that he's gay.
They go into the rec room and Neferet's there. She starts pouring attention on Zoey, and Zoey starts gushing about how Neferet is just so wonderful and kind that she's like a mother to Zoey. I've...really seen no evidence for that, truth be told. Whatever! Neferet says that she'll provide anything needed at all for the ritual and will stay long enough for it to give her support before leaving it all to Zoey. She also has a new kid with her, who she wants to introduce to the gang
"She motioned, and a kid I hadn't noticed till then stepped slowly forward. He was cute, in a studious kind of a way, with tousled sandy blond hair and really pretty blue eyes. Clearly he was one of those geeky kids who is a dork, but a likable dork with potential (translation: he bathes and brushes his teeth, plus has good skin and hair and doesn't dress like a total loser)"
ZeldaQueen: Don't you love how judgemental Zoey is?
Anyway apparently this kid is a, poet and a writer and his mentor is Loren Blake. And because of how sleazy that guy's been, my immediate reaction is that he should not be given any sort of guardianship. Anyway, he immediately is shoved to Damien for explanations and tours and we're told that this new kid's name is Jack Twist.
... Jack Twist?
Are you...are you serious, Cast ladies?
I...I just...Moving on, then.
Zoey gushes some more about how Neferet is just a much better mother for her than her own mother is, and this instantly pisses me off most of the extent of Neferet's caretaking is kissing Zoey's ass and going on about how special she is. Also, considering how Neferet is constantly telling Zoey how humans are inconsequential and ought to be cut out of her life as soon as possible, it's just chilling that Zoey is casual saying things like "[I]t looked like I wouldn't be seeing [my mother] again soon. Like I cared? No. Not when I had good friends and a mentor like Neferet to be there for me".
This all is interrupted when a kid named Drew shows up. We're told how he's all blond and athletic and in Zoey's fencing class, which would be great if fencing had actually shown up more than once in this series. He clearly has the hots for Stevie Rae, which just comes across as naturally as Jessica pairing up with Mike in Twilight. He asks if they need any help setting up and Zoey is all amazed because Damien is right there but look! The jock kid is not making fun of him for being gay! Imagine that! Zoey tells Damien to tell Drew what needs to be done and Damien comments on how Hell must surely be freezing over for a jock like Drew to be working peacefully with a gay guy like him. Good God, how I wish I was exaggerating this all.
Shaunee and Erin promptly start going on about how "Damien has died and gone straight to gay boy heaven", and then mention how Jack Twist is gay. Stevie Rae and Zoey scratch their heads over that one, and I have to agree because Jack's been here for all of two pages or so. How the flip do you divine his sexuality from that little time? But no, they totally know it's true because "Jack Twist is yummy Jake Gyllenhaal's totally gay cowboy character from Brokeback Mountain" and "Anyone who chooses that name and who looks all geeky cute like that is totally, completely playing for Damien's team". Well GEE, WITH LOGIC LIKE THAT, HOW CAN ANYONE POSSIBLY ARGUE? I mean, it's not like someone could just be geeky and likes the movie or something!!!
And yes, Jack Twist is gay. Apparently this book is set in a world where the chain of logic is missing a few crucial links.
Stevie Rae is all confuzzled because that movie never played in the one movie theater in her little hick town. Shaunee says that they'll have to get the DVD for her, and Stevie Rae's brain breaks down at the thought of guys in it kissing.
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Onward to: Chapter 15
Back to: Chapter 13
Back to: Table of Contents
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
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Chapter 14
ZeldaQueen: About half an hour later, Zoey and Friends are watching TV when the news channel starts broadcasting about the bomb threat. Chera Kimiko chirps perkily about it and it might be me but the whole thing feels rather...subdued for a bomb scare. Cue live footage from the bridge, which definitely has been closed down.
Aphrodite, who snuck up behind the group, comments on how the bomb scare was a smart idea and nods her head respectfully at Zoey. So, of course, Stevie Rae snaps "What do you want?" and the Cast ladies remember that Aphrodite is supposed to be unlikable, so she replies "From an ex-refrigerator? Nothing!" Cue an infodump on the whole refrigerator thing which, given how pointless it is, just comes across as horned-in. It also cues Shaunee and Erin nastily insulting Aphrodite. I think we're supposed to see it as comin to Stevie Rae's defense, but given that they call Aphrodite a ho nine million times and force several jokes about how they need a refrigerator but oh wait, she's not good enough to be one for them, it just comes across as horrible.
Zoey notices that Stevie Rae is going all pale and upset from this all, so she cuts in. She tells Aphrodite to never call Stevie Rae a refrigerator again and tells Shaunee and Erin that they aren't having refrigerator's anymore. The Twins look shocked and hurt that Zoey tells them off like that.
First of all, they really needed to be reminded that Zoey was doing away with the refrigerator business? Is it just me, or does that kind of imply that they don't see anything wrong with it? And they definitely don't see why making a ton of refrigerator jokes in front of Stevie Rae is something not nice because they're hurt, hurt I say, that the great Zoey would tell them off for it. What charming people.
Zoey tells them that they're all on the same side and thus should stop bickering. Aphrodite says that there's no way they're on the same side, but winks at Zoey before leaving the room. This causes Zoey to muse about how "She'd looked almost playful, like we were friends and just kidding around. But that wasn't possible. Was it?" Stevie Rae says that Aphrodite is creepy and Zoey replies that Aphrodite just has issues. "[T]he three of them looked at me like I'd just said Hitler really hadn't been that bad". I'm serious, they just don't leave up on her
"'You guys, I really want the new Dark Daughters to be a group that brings people together, not one that's stuck-up and so exclusive that only a few from a chosen clique can join.' They just stared at me. 'It was her warning that saved my grandma and several other people today.'
'She only told you because she wants something from you. She's hateful, Zoey. Don't ever think she's not,' Erin said.
'Please do not tell me that you're thinking of letting her back into the Dark Daughters,' Stevie Rae said.
I shook my head. 'No. And even if I wanted to, which I don't,' I added quickly, 'according to my own new rules she doesn't qualify for membership. A Dark Daughter or Son has to uphold our ideals by her or his behavior.'
Shaunee snorted. 'No damn way that hag knows how to be authentic, faithful, wise, earnest, and sincere about anything except her own hateful plans.'
'For world dominance,' Erin added.
'And don't think they're exaggerating,' Stevie Rae told me.
'Stevie Rae, she is not my friend. I just … I dunno ...' I floundered, trying to put the instinct that so often whispered to me and goaded me to do, or not to do, things into words. 'I guess I really do feel sorry for her sometimes. And I also think I understand her a little. Aphrodite just wants to be accepted, but she goes about it all wrong. She thinks manipulation and lies mixed with control can force people to like her. It's what she saw at home, and that's what made her like she is now.'
'Sorry, Zoey, but that's bullshit,' Shaunee said.
'She's way too old to be acting a fool because she has a screwed-up mommy.'
'Please. Just please with the blame-my-mommy-cause-I'm-a-bitch crap,' Erin said.
'Not to be mean or anything, but you have a screwed-up mama, too, Zoey, and you didn't let her, or your step-loser of a dad, mess you up," Stevie Rae said. 'And Damien has a mama who doesn't like him anymore because he's gay.'
'Yeah, and he didn't turn into a hateful slut hag,' Shaunee said. 'Actually, he's the opposite. He's like ... he's like ...' She paused, looking to Erin for help. 'Twin, what's the Julie Andrews character's name in The Sound of
Music?'
'Maria. And you're right, Twin. Damien is like that goody-goody nun. He needs to loosen up some or he's never gonna get any.'
'I cannot believe you guys are discussing my love life,' Damien said.
We all jumped guiltily and muttered, 'Sorry.'
He shook his head while Stevie Rae and I scooted over so he could sit beside us. 'And I'll have you know I don't just want to `get some' as you guys so nastily put it. I want a lasting relationship with someone I really care about, and I'm willing to wait for that.'
'Ja, fräulein,' Shaunee whispered.
'Maria,' Erin muttered.
Stevie Rae tried to hide her giggle in a cough"
ZeldaQueen: Oh my aching head...
I have to wonder, what is with these people? They make absolutely no attempt to see Zoey's point of view at all. She made several very nice points. If they want to improve the Dark Daughters, they can't just turn around and discriminate in the opposite direction, and instead must work to look beyond petty squabbles to form a stronger group. Aphrodite did come forward and tell Zoey about her vision which, silly me, was what I thought they were hating on her for not doing? Aphrodite hate a shitty home life and was brought up being told that power was all that mattered in life, and began to live accordingly.
And how do these people react? They stare at Zoey. They mock Aphrodite. They tell Zoey to her face that it's bad and wrong to feel sorry for someone like Aphrodite and Zoey had just better stop being so nice and forgiving. Please Cast ladies, tell me, why should I like these people? Why should I care about a bunch of self-righteous assholes who are so completely loathe to do something like forgive?
Which brings us to another point. I realize what the Cast ladies are trying to do here. They are going for the idea that there is a limit to how far Freudian excuses go to pinning bad behavior on. And that is a valid point. There are plenty of villains in media who cite or have terrible backstories but still go beyond what can be excused by them. I understand that.
Except...it doesn't work with Aphrodite. Quite simply, this is because what I noted in Marked - she's a terrible villain. Besides the refrigerator thing, which while dickish is still technically something allowed by the school, and a variety of childish insults, she doesn't really do anything to earn this level of scorn. And given what we know of her home life and what we will learn about her later, dickish behavior and not understanding how to interact with others sounds reasonable. Voldemort murdering his father, parents, and uncle for abandoning his mother is a case where the bad home life excuse doesn't fly. Being a general bitch because of eighteen years of being hated and manipulated by one's parents? Yeah.
I'd also like to ask, why doesn't Zoey bring up her points from before? You know, back in Chapter Two when she pointed out how she had sixteen years of love from her mother and her grandmother's constant love and support, neither of which Aphrodite had. But nope, she just stays quiet and doesn't bother to contradict them because that might lead to an argument and her friends not slobbering over her every word and we can't have that, can we?
Finally, and this is on the part with Damien, isn't that just lovely how these people gossip and tease Damien about daring to save himself for a monogamous relationship? I mean yes, it was delivered in the most soap-boxy way possible, but there are plenty of people who do want to save themselves for a deep, loving relationship as opposed to having a lot of flings. And do these people respect that? Nope, they just tease Damien about being an uptight nun who needs to loosen up to "get some".
I hate these people.
Oh, and the bit where Damien stands up to them? It doesn't last long. Zoey promptly cuts in and tells them that oh lookey, the bomb threat worked and thus the crisis was averted. Damien says great, and now it's time for them to go to the rec hall and set up for the ritual tomorrow. Zoey says that she completely forgot about that because she's just been so busy. I wasn't aware at all that it needed to be done, personally.
You know, a thought just occurred to me. Have all classes just disappeared? Because besides Neferet's one class and the one horse-riding class, I don't think there's been a single mention of them going to class. And besides that essay, there's been nothing about homework. Why am I bothering?
They head over to the rec hall, and there's a lot of stupid dialogue where Stevie Rae acts like a five-year-old because it looks like it's about to snow. Shaunee and Erin are materialistic airheads over a pair of jeans they saw in a Victoria's Secret catalog, and Damien talks about sewing and reminds us that he's gay.
They go into the rec room and Neferet's there. She starts pouring attention on Zoey, and Zoey starts gushing about how Neferet is just so wonderful and kind that she's like a mother to Zoey. I've...really seen no evidence for that, truth be told. Whatever! Neferet says that she'll provide anything needed at all for the ritual and will stay long enough for it to give her support before leaving it all to Zoey. She also has a new kid with her, who she wants to introduce to the gang
"She motioned, and a kid I hadn't noticed till then stepped slowly forward. He was cute, in a studious kind of a way, with tousled sandy blond hair and really pretty blue eyes. Clearly he was one of those geeky kids who is a dork, but a likable dork with potential (translation: he bathes and brushes his teeth, plus has good skin and hair and doesn't dress like a total loser)"
ZeldaQueen: Don't you love how judgemental Zoey is?
Anyway apparently this kid is a, poet and a writer and his mentor is Loren Blake. And because of how sleazy that guy's been, my immediate reaction is that he should not be given any sort of guardianship. Anyway, he immediately is shoved to Damien for explanations and tours and we're told that this new kid's name is Jack Twist.
... Jack Twist?
Are you...are you serious, Cast ladies?
I...I just...Moving on, then.
Zoey gushes some more about how Neferet is just a much better mother for her than her own mother is, and this instantly pisses me off most of the extent of Neferet's caretaking is kissing Zoey's ass and going on about how special she is. Also, considering how Neferet is constantly telling Zoey how humans are inconsequential and ought to be cut out of her life as soon as possible, it's just chilling that Zoey is casual saying things like "[I]t looked like I wouldn't be seeing [my mother] again soon. Like I cared? No. Not when I had good friends and a mentor like Neferet to be there for me".
This all is interrupted when a kid named Drew shows up. We're told how he's all blond and athletic and in Zoey's fencing class, which would be great if fencing had actually shown up more than once in this series. He clearly has the hots for Stevie Rae, which just comes across as naturally as Jessica pairing up with Mike in Twilight. He asks if they need any help setting up and Zoey is all amazed because Damien is right there but look! The jock kid is not making fun of him for being gay! Imagine that! Zoey tells Damien to tell Drew what needs to be done and Damien comments on how Hell must surely be freezing over for a jock like Drew to be working peacefully with a gay guy like him. Good God, how I wish I was exaggerating this all.
Shaunee and Erin promptly start going on about how "Damien has died and gone straight to gay boy heaven", and then mention how Jack Twist is gay. Stevie Rae and Zoey scratch their heads over that one, and I have to agree because Jack's been here for all of two pages or so. How the flip do you divine his sexuality from that little time? But no, they totally know it's true because "Jack Twist is yummy Jake Gyllenhaal's totally gay cowboy character from Brokeback Mountain" and "Anyone who chooses that name and who looks all geeky cute like that is totally, completely playing for Damien's team". Well GEE, WITH LOGIC LIKE THAT, HOW CAN ANYONE POSSIBLY ARGUE? I mean, it's not like someone could just be geeky and likes the movie or something!!!
And yes, Jack Twist is gay. Apparently this book is set in a world where the chain of logic is missing a few crucial links.
Stevie Rae is all confuzzled because that movie never played in the one movie theater in her little hick town. Shaunee says that they'll have to get the DVD for her, and Stevie Rae's brain breaks down at the thought of guys in it kissing.
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Onward to: Chapter 15
Back to: Chapter 13
Back to: Table of Contents
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-27 10:41 pm (UTC)Aphrodite gives a guy a blow job and it's inferred that she sleeps around (I've never seen any actual evidence of it) essentially having flings and she's a slut.
Damien decides that he wants to save himself for an exclusive, monogamous relationship with someone he loves and he's a stuck up prude.
Cast Ladies! Is there ANYWAY to make you happy?! Either people (male and female, gay or straight) can sleep around with who they want or they save themselves for that special someone! You can't have it both ways with certain people! You are just confusing your readers WHO ARE YOUNG GIRLS. Dear god, what horrible role models! This is why I'm NEVER collaborating with ANYONE.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-27 11:25 pm (UTC)And you're right, there's no evidence at all that Aphrodite's been with any guy but Erik thus far. Oh yeah, she gets a second boyfriend later, but not while she's still with anyone. Which is more than Zoey can say, I might add.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-28 12:14 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-28 12:22 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-28 10:06 am (UTC)I forgot to mention this under the appropriate sporking chapter, but I absolutely loved your remark on how - according to the Cast ladies - smoking pot is a capital offence, and anyone who does it should be branded on the chest with a scarlet marijuana leaf.
(I'm pretty sure that in my high school days I would have smoked pot on purpose, just to get that adornment :D)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-29 07:13 pm (UTC)Yeah, I never smoked pot but honestly, it irks me because dude! Red-eyed vampire ghosts! People being kidnapped and murdered! Neferet being wildly suspicious! THERE'S MORE IMPORTANT STUFF THAN THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE SMOKING POT!!! >_< Sorry.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-27 11:47 pm (UTC)