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An Essence of Silver and Steel: Trust 3.4 (Patreon)

Published:
2017-09-16 14:19:16
Imported:
2026-06
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Disclaimer: I do not actually speak Old Irish. The only part of that line that I can vouch for being correct is the first one, because I ripped it straight from The Wooing of Emer.

I tried my best, though.

Comments

Jaroslaw Jarmul

That is one way to get over trust issues in a relationship:). I'm now getting curious how Panacea will get involved in this. You already did some background with their meeting and her curiosity about Taylor's body but I'm still curious how will you keep them together with the rest of New Wave butting in.

Zaralann

I'm honestly disappointed in this one... I expected so much more from this Snip and it ended up being rather weak with how Taylor didn't just crush the Undersiders and beat Lisa down like she deserved it from Taylor's POV. There is giving someone a chance and then there is being Dumbledore who give away Chances like candy. This Taylor? After what Emma did to her? After Sophia's death and her status as a Ward being all but verbally confirmed by Protectorate? After she followed her last hope and give Lisa a chance with her already almost broken heart? Fuck, I expected her to break the smug Thinker like a toothpick right then and there, not this nonsense about Oaths where Lisa can find a shit-ton of ways around it in like five minutes! Taylor crushing Undersiders and telling Lisa that backstabbers do not deserve mercy? I can buy that! Taylor giving Lisa a chance because 'Reasons!' that are as thin and fragile as a wet napkin? Sorry, this smells like bullshit to me. She knows so many Heroes that were backstabbed for trusting too much, Setanta and Arturia for example! Her buying this crap is more unbelievable than the bullshit we saw in the 'The Fate of the Furious' when Rock threw a torpedo away and all that insane nonsense about escaping the submarine! Like denied!

Tempist

Hm, unlike Zaralann I'm actually happy Taylor and Lisa managed to talk things out. It's really annoying to read about big conflicts and fights that escalate only because no one was willing to just talk a little. I'm glad you avoided that particular trope. I mean, to be fair, I kinda ship the pairing, so that does factor into it. But regardless, the no communication > unnecessary enemies is a really poor plot device IMO. Well done. :) Otherwise, like I said, it's nice to see Lisa and Taylor *kind of* resolve their issues. Granted, everything isn't all sunshine and butterflies right now, but on balance things between them aren't bad at all now. Using a Geass to ensure loyalty isn't *healthy*...but maybe Taylor needs the assurance now. Like I said, things could be much worse, so I'm quite satisfied with how this chapter concluded. You said that 3.5 will be a fight? Is Taylor going to fight to help the Undersiders (or at least Lisa) escape? I could imagine that as part of the terms of the Geass, even if Taylor may not want to, not betraying would work both ways and she would *have to* fight the heroes to at least help Lisa not be caught.

Drew Pilgrim

Really? You find the idea that the near broken girl who desperately wants a friend would listen for an explanation rather than going full rambo? Seriously it would be so out of character for almost any version of Taylor to do that in any situation. She didn't give Lisa a chance because "Reasons" she was incredibly confused and paralyzed with indecision... You know like her character would be in that situation? Even IF she did go full rambo with a version of Medea Taylor would be desperately curious as to WHY Lisa did this because it doesn't seem to make sense from her point of view at the start of this chapter. So that would lead her to either 1) Install a hero who can figure it out, Sherlock Holmes, Karna, someone who can read minds, 2) Mind Control Lisa into telling her the full truth. The end result? EXACT same outcome for the most part missing a dramatic curb stomp fight scene. Which from what it sounds like is next chapter anyway. Lisa is also not going to be able to weasel out of a geas very easily they aren't laywered contracts they are conceptual. When Shirou even thought he was about to break a geas with Rin it ended up paralyzing him until he could no longer do so. I am veeeery glad this chapter didn't end with poor communication kills being enforced as thats one of my least favorite tropes in a story with intelligent characters.

James_D_Fawkes

I can understand your frustration, but something that needs to be considered is the location: they're in the middle of the bank during the lunch hour, and there's a whole bunch of people there. Taylor can't transform without blowing her id up. Similarly, if she waited until Lisa took her back into the privacy of the back office and then transformed, there aren't many leaps people can make about how Apocrypha got into the building. I think you also underestimate Taylor's desperation for friendship and overestimate her willingness to forgive, here. The geis she made Lisa swear was actually really broad and stringent. Lisa is now literally incapable of purposefully deceiving Taylor, even if it might be for Taylor's own good to do so. It's also not a magic bullet - Lisa is going to have to work for it to regain the trust she broke. Lisa is also aware of exactly how terrible the consequences of breaking the geis are - or she will be, by the time we see her in arc 4. "Life for life" was not... Okay, so it wasn't completely chosen for how cool it sounded or making a reference to the Ulster cycle.

Slicedtoad

The only issue I have (and it could be resolved in a future chapter), is the fact that the oath is two ways (I think). First, the promise is, "I promise to help you escape Coil, if you promise to never betray my trust again" and that sound like the loyalty is only one way. But then the Irish (or its translation at least) is explicitly two way. Slightly confusing, but since Lisa could likely have thinkered what she really meant, not a huge deal. Second, does Taylor realise the consequences to making a two way oath? Especially when they are in the middle of a bank robbery? Wouldn't that require that she now helps TT? This could be resolved in any number of ways in the next chapter (the oath doesn't actually obligate that kind of action, Taylor wasn't thinking, etc) but it's a ! moment for me.

Zaralann

1. Taylor was stabbed in the back too many times for her to give anyone a second chance, it sounds forced as Hell here. She could've let Lisa lead her away, transform, break Lisa's back, kick Undersiders' asses and then go back and transform back while Lisa would've been still there with her legs unmoving. Simple! 2. I think you underestimate her hatered for people who used her and lied to her, Lisa should be in fucking pieces right about now for the shit she did! Lisa literally lied to her, tore her heart out and it's all happening after Sophia and the Locker, Taylor should not be this naive and/or forgiving! 3. Yeah, but the Oath is too broad and can be overcame with at least some minor thinking, I can see at least three ways for Lisa to twist it in a way so she would be able to lie to Taylor without any issues.

Zaralann

And you, sir, ignore all the shit that she went through for the last two years! If it was her first time? Okay, I can buy that! With Emma, the school, Protectorate/PRT and a lot of other people stabbing her in the back? No, I can't buy it no matter how much discount will be on the sticker!

Zaralann

Funny thing, Taylor only included Coil into the Oath so she can let Lisa be sent to Birdcage and it won't trigger it, all she has to do to make it so Coil won't be able to control Lisa even again and Birdcage will do that nicely! I'm not saying she should, just that she can! Hell, she can even take the Undersiders in right now and that won't trigger the Oath at fucking all!

Zaralann

1. Taylor never said anything about helping Undersiders. 2. Taylor never said anything about betraying Lisa. 3. If it's not about Coil she can do whatever she wants, taking Undersiders in will do that nicely for her PR and will also give her time to find Coil and fry his ass while Undersiders will be behind the bars.

Slicedtoad

I'm not convinced you're reading it right. Pretty sure the actual oath is the Irish part and it's an oath of mutual non-betrayal on a conceptual level. "Together, we go to our grave." I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's the intent. Author's reply to your original comment seems to indicate that.

Sami Hautamäki

"Traitor, something inside of me seethed. Liar. Deceiver." It looks like someone has been installing Medea too many times.

Reginus

Fantastic, absolutely fantastic. I really enjoy how you've developed Taylor's personality and kept it consistent. I also appreciate how, for once, a conflict was talked out instead of immediately resulting in violence. Thumbs up from me.

Zaralann

The wording says differently, there is nothing that prevents Taylor from throwing Lisa to Protectorate right now and just killing Coil later, absolutely fucking nothing. She only said that she will get Lisa from under Coil's thrall, it can be done in any way she desires as she never specified how she will do it and therefore she can even kill her as that will technically fulfill the Oath too.