Mmmm. Innnnnteresting. I always took that cut at face value, just like Costis. I guess Gen *could* have done it, and it would take suspicion away from his hand. And it'd be like MWT to do something that twisty.
But, I still don't think so - of course Gen wanted to distract people from his hand ('this was no time to demonstrate previously unsuspected abilities') but would he really go as far as to slice himself open from the navel and right across his belly, so deep he nearly split his guts? Especially knowing how much it would freak Irene out. (Even though he's surprised that she faints, and is suffering from 'you can't possibly love me' syndrome, he must have some inkling that she'd be upset, especially after how indignant she was when Costis hit him 'Men's necks have been broken by a single blow' and 'He *was* a loyal servant... you will not rehabilitate him with me') Gen knows Attolia is afraid when he gets hurt, and even though he's careless with his health, I don't see him purposely injuring himself this badly. Also, stoic though we know Gen can be, if he'd inflicted such a wound on himself *while Costis was holding him* surely Costis would have felt him flinch, or tense, or similar, and realised what was going on? And also again, there's no guarantee that giving himself a spectacular belly wound would have distracted from the cut on his hand. It would have been so easy for the doctor to see it while he was stitching, or even someone to see it when Gen kissed Irene and brought his hand up. And if Gen had given himself the wound as a distraction, why would he be so careful to hide its extent?
Then again... More experienced Sounisians? Help? Veeeeeery interesting... PS: Whoa, mini-essay! Sorry, I didn't mean to spawn a mega-comment!
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Re: Eugenides cut himself
Date: 12/9/08 08:12 pm (UTC)But, I still don't think so - of course Gen wanted to distract people from his hand ('this was no time to demonstrate previously unsuspected abilities') but would he really go as far as to slice himself open from the navel and right across his belly, so deep he nearly split his guts? Especially knowing how much it would freak Irene out. (Even though he's surprised that she faints, and is suffering from 'you can't possibly love me' syndrome, he must have some inkling that she'd be upset, especially after how indignant she was when Costis hit him 'Men's necks have been broken by a single blow' and 'He *was* a loyal servant... you will not rehabilitate him with me') Gen knows Attolia is afraid when he gets hurt, and even though he's careless with his health, I don't see him purposely injuring himself this badly. Also, stoic though we know Gen can be, if he'd inflicted such a wound on himself *while Costis was holding him* surely Costis would have felt him flinch, or tense, or similar, and realised what was going on?
And also again, there's no guarantee that giving himself a spectacular belly wound would have distracted from the cut on his hand. It would have been so easy for the doctor to see it while he was stitching, or even someone to see it when Gen kissed Irene and brought his hand up.
And if Gen had given himself the wound as a distraction, why would he be so careful to hide its extent?
Then again... More experienced Sounisians? Help?
Veeeeeery interesting...
PS: Whoa, mini-essay! Sorry, I didn't mean to spawn a mega-comment!