Ancillary Mercy: Chapter 1 discussion!

[kaberett]

Don't have Chapter 1 yet? You can get it by signing up for a low-traffic Ann Leckie-specific mailing list. (Warning: that link takes you to her 17th post in a series that's parcelling out chapter 1 in advance of publication. It is very nearly an essentially spoiler-free sentence, however.)

SO. What are your thoughts? :D

Comments

[vass]

Months ago, before all of this, I started compiling quotes for a (as yet unfinished) meta post about Seivarden and Mercy of Kalr's friendship.

Most of those quotes have now become things Breq could use as evidence for how Seivarden is obviously Mercy of Kalr's favourite. (I do not think Breq's interpretation is right, obvs.)

But they're also evidence for how much Seivarden's grown, and how if she were Ship's favourite, she wouldn't be as likely to hurt Ship as Breq's thinking. Their dialogue with each other is so much fun. And then this happens:

"There's been some speculation in our decade room. It's unusual to find a fleet captain in command of a Mercy. We've been wondering if Fleet Captain Breq isn't going to send Captain Hetnys here and take Sword of Atagaris for herself. It is the faster and the better armed of the two, after all."
Seivarden blinked. Said, in a dangerously even tone, "Don't underestimate Mercy of Kalr."

And then:

"Fleet Captain Breq will do as she thinks best. But in the interest of preventing further misunderstanding" -- she leaned on that word just a bit -- "let me say clearly and unequivocally that the next time you threaten this ship you'd best be able to make good on it."

But mainly, just... I am so all about this as an OT3 where Seivarden and Ship are buddies whose first point of commonality was both loving Breq, but who have come to like each other on their own merits too.