Swan Song
The Swan⌗
SIGNAL⌗
The Mercenary says, “My time as the bard of the group has come! Calm down, Margery, everything’s going to be okay.” - @1:54
ANALYSIS⌗
The name “Margery” connects, in my head, with the following song:
Would you be my first car?
— Vulfpeck - “Margery, My First Car”
I guess this is fitting, in a role play about a prince falling for a princess, especially given other context that very much follows the theme.
SIGNAL⌗
The Mercenary says, “It doesn’t matter what you look like. Mostly. The other stuff is, generally, what does the talking for you.” - @2:42
ANALYSIS⌗
That was a nose tap. Though, it looked a lot like a simple scratch; unlikely to mean anything.
The Mercenary may be referencing my recent appearance on livestream. I’m not much to look at, but hopefully, this body of work does the talking for me.
SIGNAL⌗
The Mercenary recites the pickup line, “This is a good one… I don’t remember summoning an angel. Yet, you’re here…” - @4:59
ANALYSIS⌗
That was a nose tap.
This perhaps connects to something I learned recently. I recently saw The Raven’s sister appear in a news article from 2010. In it, she had won an award at a Lutheran church.
This is interesting for several reasons:
- The Raven may have grown up Lutheran, and may still be (though she’s never said as much, and sometimes uses God’s name in vain.)
- My first girlfriend, in 2007, was Lutheran. I broke up with her over a difference in religion (so I claimed at the time, but there were other reasons.)
Just putting this out there: though I am not religious, I am spiritual, and it would not bother me if The Raven or her family were Christians. I am not the xenophobe I once used to be.
SIGNAL⌗
The Mercenary recites the pickup line, “Are you a demigod? Because you’re the answer to all my prayers.” - @5:46
ANALYSIS⌗
Another nose tap.
Prayer further connects to the first signal involving religion. It also may relate to the gods and daemons functionality I built into The Source’s lore.
SIGNAL⌗
The Mercenary recites the pickup line, “Are you a mind-flayer? Because I can’t get you out of my head.” - @6:43
ANALYSIS⌗
That was a more obvious nose tap.
This is a reference to Dungeons and Dragons, which The Raven has mentioned on several occasions, including this one.
The Architect, The Queen, The Fold, The Source, and many other aspects of my work are related to the concept of “mind control” - which is what mind-flayers do.
SIGNAL⌗
The Mercenary recites the pickup line, “Did you cast psychic scream? Because you’re blowing my mind… you can actually [hear] an innuendo at the end.” - @7:16
ANALYSIS⌗
The Carrot Predator does have quite a bit of innuendo and hidden contexts in it. I will refrain from explaining them here.
SIGNAL⌗
The Mercenary recites the pickup line, “There must be something wrong with my eyes, because I cannot take them off of you… notice the eyebrows…” - @8:25
ANALYSIS⌗
That’s another nose tap.
In one of the very first videos from The Raven that I saw, the viewer’s massive eyebrows are mentioned. I do fit this description.
In The Queen’s videos, I’ve stated that her facial expressions are quite neutral. I’ve noticed that she barely uses her eyebrows. If ever we get a chance to work together, this was already going to be one of the things I’d focus on addressing.
SIGNAL⌗
The Mercenary recites the pickup line, “Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?” - @9:16
ANALYSIS⌗
Another tap.
And yes, I believe in love at first sight. I’ve experienced it.
SIGNAL⌗
The Mercenary says, “You could sing! You could just walk up to them and perform a song!” - @14:32
ANALYSIS⌗
I’d love to sing. I want to make music.
But I am sick, broken, and on day 3 of quitting cigarettes again. Now is not the time. I still need help.
Truly, I want to rage. I want to belt my emotions into rock music.
SIGNAL⌗
The Mercenary says, “I feel too tempted to start plucking the metal strings, so-to-speak…” - @15:54
ANALYSIS⌗
This might be a hint at the fact I like rock/metal music.
SIGNAL⌗
The Mercenary says, “Those bandits, they don’t know quality when they see it.” - @21:23
ANALYSIS⌗
This might be a reference to The Thief, who tried to “swoop in” on The Raven like the Tortoise and the Hare.
His public work certainly lacks creativity, most of the time.
SIGNAL⌗
The Mercenary says, “I mean, come on, we’re paying patrons here.” - @23:49
ANALYSIS⌗
They’re paying patrons? What kind of business is this?
I’ve speculated that someone like The Queen may soon recruit patrons to contribute to her work, in much the same way that I believe The Thief is being paid for his work with The Raven.
I think it’s more likely she simply meant that she is a paying patron of the tavern.
SIGNAL⌗
The Mercenary says, “I think you are ready… you can choose the song, or the pickup lines, or you can introduce yourself…” - @24:48
ANALYSIS⌗
That nose tap looked a little more organic.
I envision a first-meet as such:
I am in a fancy ballroom full of well-dressed people, having a good time. The Raven walks in. I walk to the DJ, and ask them to play “The Bride and the Bachelor” by Magnolian. I walk to The Raven, and simply say something like, “Hi. Would you join me for this dance?”
As the song ends, “The Curse of the Fold,” by Shawn James, plays. We leave the room immediately, speaking to nobody, and no one ever sees us again.
Not that it matters what I want.