Girl Genius

And considering from Tarveks "point of view", and considering the lemon loads I've been getting... and then they ask me why I want to get my hands on a death ray or two... Tarvek obfuscated stupidity was just a cover but he was playing to be dumber than Tweedle (whom by the reaction of Tarvek could be that he was the second most malleable by the family) and could be... Tarvek's Zola!

Tweedle's "But I have a horse" is rather endearing in its sheer silliness. Agatha owns Mechanicsburg, I'm sure you don't have the only horse in the town, Tweedle.

But his has a crown!

Again, while I can't say they're intentionally evoking it at this point, a great horse is one of the indicators of a Classic Slavic Fairy Tale Prince. He could be offering it as a legitimate credential...much like being Dorothy and having Ruby Slippers: "See?! I have a HORSE! Tarvek doesn't have a horse. He doesn't even have this nifty white and gold suit or a coronet!"

But the way I remember my Russian fairy tales, at least, for that he'd have to have a special horse. This is... just a horse. It should give advice or be the only one that can stand up when he puts a hand on its withers or something. :P

...Heh. Anything you can do with the significance of Bill and Barry's chariot-clank-horses? *g*

Yes...but, first, given the Abbess' horse had six legs, I'm not sure I'd be willing to bet there was nothing special about this horse. And even if there's nothing special about it, in the Storm King plots and awful lot is set dressing...but is supposed to be taken at face value. Zola was fake, Tarvek was supposed to be an idiot, the Abbess thinks Agatha's just another fake, and it looks like Tweedle may be a pretty big idiot himself. Why not a pretty horse passing as a "magic" horse?

I think sticking to Franz is a good move. He snarks at DK. He makes people REJOICE. And, he's a demon on a pedal-machine. No horse can beat that. Not even the Not-A-Horse from the wilderness.

edited 9th Apr '13 8:48:38 PM by Euodiachloris

Oh, definitely keep Franz. He even guards the wine cellars when things are a bit slow around Mechanicsberg.

And it's so hard to go wrong with a dragon. They're like the little black dress of mythic beasts: toss on pearls and a pair of heels and they go with anything.

Franz even has a nicer hat than Horse here.

(Evil Grin) Oh, yes. Franz has a Very Nize Hat, and he won it fair and square from a semi-worthy rival.

From don Dragon and Gazpacho.

Well we could say that DK and Franz have a nice but weird relationship.

Trying to imagine DK having a relationship that would not be weird.

Boggles.

DK has a weird relationship with anything and everybody. Or, every body, even.

-idly- You know, Hippogrif, if you want to add to the list of potential suitors, I seem to recall dragons are totally an option in Eastern European stories....

edited 9th Apr '13 9:15:45 PM by PK

Yes, but this Lady is sticking by her dragon, thank you very much. She knows when trying to switch beasts is a trade-down.

Now... the weasepilliars, however, are the pearls to this little black dress. Good to have about your neck, and certainly useful if you want to make a statement, as well. Not to mention the old use they had as antidotes, as I recall.

edited 9th Apr '13 9:19:33 PM by Euodiachloris

Mink are a kind of weasel...

Bonus point for living ones... well almost on page 1100 here and I'll hit the bed so the update comes.

Edit: Almost pictured what would happen if weaselzilla and Franz met?

edited 9th Apr '13 9:36:12 PM by Mauri

Love at first sight? When Franz wears that hat, he's almost irresistable.

LAMB CHOP.

PK, yes, marriage to dragons is an option in the Eastern Euro stuff, but that's largely because the dragons appear to have a "humanoid optional" form — more precisely, major dragons are magicians and/or magicians are draconic in one of their forms. While Franz is a hand-kisser and a sweet-talker, we haven't seen him in a human compatible form so far. Until we do, I think he's safely off the suitor list. But he'd be adorable if he had that option.

Ori....Yes. LAMP CHOP! Eeeeeeeee.

I know, I know. *g* Considering "But Snoz already in committed relationship" I wouldn't completely rule out some of the nonhumanoid monsters being interested, but I concede, they are probably not Agatha's type.

Hmm. I wonder if Snoz was thinking about some kind of droit du seignor? (Forgive my spelling here, please.). I suspect that even if the Heterodynes asserted that privilege, they would make a formality of it with such as Snoz ... or Franz, or even Momma.

edited 9th Apr '13 10:05:47 PM by GreybeardFan

Maybe Skifandrians are secretly dragons. *mostly kidding*

Klaus really does have to show up with his item soon. I keep wondering what it's going to be.

I still worry about Anevka — head or brain-in-tank. Of all the things I can easily imagine forcing Tarvek to do an apparent heel-face, it's Anevka's brain, or the head that stores all that's otherwise left of her. And reading Slavic fairy tales is only making it worse. Anevka's a perfect choice for the gazillion "hidden heart" plots, "apparently dead sister raised up from the bottom of the river/spring and brought back to life" plots, and so on.

She just begs to be an ongoing hostage to fortune...and along with Gil one of the very few things I can see really forcing Tarvek's hand. Selnikov might also be useful, but more as a lever than a lure.

Of the many possible uses I can see for the Ex-Olga, Anevka's brain remains one, assuming the tank survived and the brain with it.

edited 9th Apr '13 10:35:44 PM by Hippogrif

I doubt it's Anevka. For one thing Klaus said "it" and I think he'd consider her a person, even reduced to a head and dormant, unless he didn't understand what she was at all in which case he couldn't use her against Tarvek. I don't think he's targeting Tarvek at all — from his POV the most dangerous people down there are Agatha and the Castle and he can't rely on either of them to care what levers he applies to anyone else.