Saint James Infirmary #1375: “Assembling the Party”

[Daphne]

Script: Daphne • Line Art: Plutonian Knight • Colors and Lettering: Octavia Moon

[mns_95125]

I think the cast list on this one should be Danielle, Adrian, Miriam and Raven.

[GodWilling]

I'm puzzled by what Adrian didn't think of until now. At a push he could be joking about realizing he could long ago have had his harem women dispensing with their bras, but I think he's reacting to Miriam's text message. In which case, what didn't he think of? Although Adrian said later that Aiken had had an idea about where Miriam might have taken Erin, it was Adrian who directed Aiken there. So it can't be the idea that Miriam is holed up at Jacqui's.

Unless Miriam has sent a photo as well? That might be creepy.

[lancehunter]

I think he was wondering why he didn't think of texting Miriam and saying he was coming over. I think the last three panels are meant to be read as Adrian Texts Miriam about coming over -> Miriam gives creepy reply -> Raven & Adrian react.

Also, I can't help but wonder if Danielle going bra-less will end up leading to her own ensnaring by Miriam. We've seen just how quickly she can influence women who have undergone perfume-base BE. Could this seemingly-comical opening panel actually be setting up a proverbial Chekhov's gun (Chekhov's Titties?)

[Sharque]

Adrian’s wondering is definitely about why he has t texted Miriam before now. I’m more curious about Miriam’s response. Based on her open invitation to Jacqui’s, it seems like she had something planned to either try to persuade Adrian to join her side or to overpower him if he refuses. What does she have up her sleeve? Theoretically, if the soul-altering is able to bend people to her wil, she now not only has Erin but also Aiken, two very powerful sorcerer/witch/magic wielders on her side, and as Aiken demonstrates, she’s fully able to use that soul-suck on men.

Also, Miriam doesn’t have the built in failsafe of the Watch. Theoretically, anything Erin (or Jacqui, but let’s be realistic here she ain’t gonna be doing nothing) could still be stopped by a word from Adrian because of the Watch programming, just like he was able to overpower her conditioning by Zenon to enable her to destroy him. Obviously, maybe it’s the case that the soul-suck could interfere with that influence, but even if it doesn’t and she could be commanded by Adrian, Miriam has no such compulsion. She’s never been shown the Watch; the only influence lingering in her head… is Jakob. And I’m sure Jakob would have no qualms about Miriam sucking down her brother’s soul to remove a piece from the table. Adrian is her master in name only

[GodWilling]

I think he was wondering why he didn't think of texting Miriam and saying he was coming over. I think the last three panels are meant to be read as Adrian Texts Miriam about coming over -> Miriam gives creepy reply -> Raven & Adrian react.

I think you're right about the last three panels, although it would have been clearer if we'd seen the message he was sending. And it still doesn't really make sense. He took Raven's phone off her when she was (I assume) leaving a voicemail for Miriam, and he told her then that he'd tell Miriam what was going on. I'm assuming Raven was using her own phone, although I don't know why she would have Miriam's number, and Miriam didn't recognize the caller. But we know that Miriam and Adrian communicate via phone. Did he actually try calling Miriam? She's supposed to be his slave, so he ought to have expected her to respond. And if he did try and fail, did it really only just occur to him to try texting her instead?

Heaven forbid that I should ever overthink these things, but it would also have been useful to see whether his message mentioned Jacqui's place. Because the wording of her answer implies that she knows that he knows where she is, but it isn't worded as an answer to the question, "Are you at Jacqui's?" or anything like that. So maybe it's Miriam's display of this knowledge that Raven finds creepy (although fortunately Raven likes creepy things). It perhaps implies that Aiken and Amaltheia arrived and weren't successful.

Theoretically, if the soul-altering is able to bend people to her wil, she now not only has Erin but also Aiken, two very powerful sorcerer/witch/magic wielders on her side, and as Aiken demonstrates, she’s fully able to use that soul-suck on men.

As I've said before, I think the all-new Erin won't believe she was ever a powerful witch. That was just a delusion. I'm not sure if Aiken has powers.

However, I suspect Adrian knows about the magic touch, and maybe other stuff about Miriam. Although, you know, the texting thing suggests knowing about things isn't the problem with Adrian.

[Sharque]

God, Miriam’s smile is just… demonic. PK and Octavia have really leaned into the villainous with her these past months