(no subject)

[avian-xj.livejournal.com]

 Let's talk about Teleus. 

There was some speculation in Chatzy today. What is Teleus' private life like (if he has one)? Also: thoughts about his devotion to Attolia and to the law and order around her? Isn't it adorable how protective he gets? Speculation about Teleus' backstory? Costis is a younger version of Teleus so what does that say for Costis' future/ Teleus' past?

Comments and thoughts would be lovely, but everyone must promise not to give Checkers any reason to use the idiot icon! :P

Comments

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

I HEART TELEUS.

That is all. Well, and that other thing Checkers asked us not to mention. That too.

Also, some favorite passages/lines to think about when discussing him:
1) I mentioned in Chatzy
"We have to get a message to the army at the pass," Teleus said.
"Why?" asked the Mede, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "To start the arrangements for a state funeral?"
"She might not be dead," Teleus snarled.

2) ...um, I'm getting caught up in a QoA reread (oh God I love it so much. Oh Lord. When Gen bleats like a goat? Or when he kisses her in her tent? *FLAILS*), but I'm thinking that somewhere there's a scene where Attolia thinks something about how she switches out her captains before they can betray her. Of course, later one we find out that Teleus is only her second captain, so maybe this is a different kind of thing? Anyway, is his time coming to an end?

3) I ♥ him.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'll go ahead and copy some things from the chat backlog, too, just other things to think about...

Avian: I kinda think his job is his life, but not really cause that would drive anyone insane.
Jade: but he's so amazingly LG. I mean, I'm sure he has offtime, but it seems like his main friend is Relius...just a hazard of working on the job, you know? And they're probably the most fanatically devoted/defensive people of Attolia (aside from Gen) out there, so they have to stick together.

(corollary: I love the scene where Relius and Teleus are kicking back in one or the other's room and discussing Gen.)

Jade: he's like the actual big brother Attolia never had.

Jade: Now we have all this background and understanding of Relius, and I'm wondering if we get a little more to Teleus. Though I doubt that (with the way MWT's mind works, you know how she said that thing about not knowing too much about her character's backgrounds) there's not as much to Teleus. 'cause again, he's like Costis, and Costis wears his heart on his sleeve.

...*more hearts*

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

I love Teleus. What more can I say? :P

[estarria.livejournal.com]

See, I've wondered about the switching-out-captains thing too, because Attolia doesn't seem so keen on getting rid of Teleus. (especially in KoA, if I'm remembering right, I don't have my copy here right now) And after she told Relius he had been promoted to a new level where he was trusted unconditionally, I'm thinking she might do/have done the same for Teleus. Maybe.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Oh, way to be discreet, guys. :P I suppose it should become my default icon.

What I was going to say is that Teleus is a huge failure. It's a wonder Attolia has kept him around, knowing how she usually punishes those who fail her. In Thief, he underestimates Gen and fails to stop him before Gen kills a guard. Then he, or the jailers, allow to Gen to escape when they leave the lock picks with him.

In Queen, Gen twits Teleus repeatedly. Gen has been skulking around the megaron, what, four times? He's been in her bedroom, for heaven's sake. Teleus knows the only reason they finally capture Gen is because the queen *somehow* knew they should hammer boards between the trees. Then, he allows the queen to be kidnapped from under his nose. Nahuseresh sums it up nicely, when he accuses Teleus of being in on the kidnapping attempt (p. 274 of eos edition). " '...if you look to see who that conspirator might be, I think you will find the captain of your guard a likely candidate. Who admitted the Eddisians to the megaron at Ephrata? Who allowed them to leave again? Who sent Eugenides to the dock and who was just a moment too late to reach you there?' he asked the queen."

In King, there is the assassination attempt that Teleus is too late to stop. No wonder Attolia sentences him to death. No wonder Teleus hates Eugenides so much. He does not understand Gen at all and underestimates him at every turn.

[avian-xj.livejournal.com]

would you like me to put those in the post itself so people can find them more easily?

[empmai.livejournal.com]

Maybe she's kept him around because there's just nobody else yet that she can put into the postition that would do any better. At least the guard follows his orders.

[avian-xj.livejournal.com]

oh, you're very right! poor Teleus would have had a much easier time if Gen didn't cause him so much trouble. poor guy. but then again, Gen saved him from Attolia's death sentence so that makes up for it a bit :)

[flamesword.livejournal.com]

I always miss chat, because I am sleeping then. :/

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

Ahem. Yes. Teleus. Very hot. Very smexy. Very much the Professional Soldier Completely Dedicated To His Post/Queen. And Jade - YOU CAN'T HAVE ALL THE HOT GUYS! It's simply not fair. Besides, I'm quite certain he is too old for you and your mother would not approve.

[estarria.livejournal.com]

*remembers when Teleus nearly got executed* :P
*explains herself before she baffles everyone*
Even considering the death sentence, I thought part of the reason Eugenides saved Teleus from execution was to save Attolia from herself...to keep her from killing one of her most valued servants just because she felt she had to do SOMETHING about Eugenides' brush with death. Also, to show her that she needn't murder everyone who makes a mistake (and she does seem to learn that lesson as the book continues).

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

She can accept all of his very human failings (especially because she knows what a demon Gen is) EXCEPT the one where Gen is injured. That's the only truly Unforgivable Offense. (lo, the transforming power of love)

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

I agree, Checkers. I have often wondered about the fact that Teleus has failed repeatedly. In KoA, Gen says, "She doesn't have anyone to replace him." The key, I think, is that the Guard is completely loyal to him, and he is completely loyal to the Queen. That leads to things like the fact that, while Teleus doesn't figure out the assassination attempt, Costis is at least able to warn Gen (and may have saved his life). Without Teleus, there is no Costis. He's an interesting character because he DOES fail, and yet his failure is almost always because Gen outwits him. It's not a failure of loyalty or character. I think if Attolia got rid of him, there'd be no one able to outwit Gen AND she'd lose that staunch supporter.

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

Of course, she did have a big brother, but he was probably a jerk. So Teleus is like the NICE big brother she never had.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Good point. The guard wouldn't follow that guy Attolia put in charge after Teleus's arrest. Teleus seems to run the guard well.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

I think you're exactly right there. Teleus is just so darn reliable and she does listen to him, but...yeah. I'm blathering, you're right, etc. etc. etc.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

if you want. *shrugs*

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

That's what I meant by "actual" i.e. a brother who was really brotherly.

aw man I <3 him.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

I don't want him! I simply admire him from afar. Quite afar. At Costis's insistence. You're probably right. *sighs and huggles Costis*

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

Oh and I meant to say IAWTCC. XD

[scottykarrde.livejournal.com]

I think you're very right about that. I couldn't articulate that or even clarify it that much in my brain - but this sounds the bell of truth.

[scottykarrde.livejournal.com]

I MISSED THIS PART!!!
*sobs*
Y'know, you're soooo right, I never thought of Teleus as that old/that stage of life. I do recall being confused about his friendship to Relius - now that makes sense.
Gotta reread gotta gotta.

[scottykarrde.livejournal.com]

Ouch.
*aching for Teleus*
But remember, no one can be all powerful. Every country in the world eventually has its 9/11 (and I'm not getting into the politics of that.) Despite his best efforts, things would - did - happen. After all, he was up against GEN.
Then again, in those days, one of those things was enough for chop-chop suey neck kablooey.
On the third hand, he is demonstratively loyal to Attolia, and she knows he whole heartedly is doing his best (as much as any other human.) So why not?

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

Jade's initial reaction: OMG HOW DARE--you...oh. Um, you're right. You're really, really right.

And I think Philia's right in why Attolia keeps him anyway--it's like what Estarria said, and what I would've said if they hadn't said it first. Attolia needs him anyway.

But I don't blame him for hating Gen, either.

I wish I was feeling more coherent on this subject, but it would involve a reread of KoA that I don't have time to do right now. :-(

[scottykarrde.livejournal.com]

*sympathy*