July 21st, 2023
21 Jul 2023 · page 1176 of 1306
Actions having consequences? Can't be me.
Cast: Baron Bertrand Barber, Elaine Barber, Frederick Barber, Harriet Barber, Henry Barber, Isabelle Holt, Sidney Malik
Comments (32)
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Seriously Old Henry, that was the point you needed to back off and let Harry answer her Mum’s question.
There comes a point when someone annoys you so much that you can't help but make things worse just by engaging, but he doesn't know when to stop.
That's a two-way street, not so?
Sure, but one of them is doing it on purpose
Bertrand Barber, another Barber we haven't met yet? Is this Henry's brother? looks a bit young for that
he's new, but he's Henry's nephew he said a few pages ago. I had to go back and check
Ah! thanks, a lot of new characters at once!
He's Henry's brother's grandchild. Nominally, Harry's second cousin
Betrand Barber, not Bertrand. Henry is calling him Bert to be rude.
It's spelled Bertrand when his name is first mentioned, so I think Betrand must be a typo.
He calls his cousin "Baron Bertrand"?
Where are those twins? I'd like to see who out-obnoxious-es the other!!!
The first rule of the snobocracy is "know your place".
He's not actually nobility, "Baron" is just his first name.
relatable tbh
I might consider that, if Henry had not told Izzy (aboard the Sailfin in Find the Lady) that he was the third son of the Baron of Widdershins.
BEtrand
Oh look, another one I do not like. He's up to something - and definitely not just "helping a branch of [the] family to return to the tree" or whatever nonsense out of the goodness of his heart.
Okay, I think I see the dynamic now. DIL wants the social clout that comes with being married into the upper class. Sucking up to the Baron gets her that. I bet she also resents Old Henry because he can't be bothered to give his own kid(s?) and grandkids the opportunities that they all could have had otherwise.
The thing is, though? On that, she kind of has a point. Never mind middle class respectability: one of her daughters is in service. I'm sure that's a lot less horrifying in this version of the Victorian class structure, but Elaine Barber may be simply fixating on Henry's self-imposed exile from his social class, and never considering that he might have a good reason for leaving -- or for keeping his family out of its clutches, too.
Excellent analysis. Feels surprising that her kids ended up as well-adjusted as they did, though.
Thanks. It might be that Elaine's attitudes really hardened after the kids were raised, though. I'm also very curious to see how she acts with her grandkids (we know she sees them).
I don't think the distinctions are so strict as all that... the Barber children are remarkably spread out through society. One in service, two otherwise employed (more or less respectably) and the last daughter married to A Man Of Dubious Existence But Fairly High Status. And the son runs a farm.
That said, Elaine definitely gives vibes of "wanted to marry a baron and miffed she couldn't".
At first I thought Bertrand calling his uncle "Old Henry" was a little rude, but then I remembered Verity (who seems to respect him, as much as she does anyone) calls him that too back in Curtain Call. Using that name to his face strikes a bit differently than referring to him that way when he's not present, though.
Does this mean there's a Young Henry out there somewhere?
Maybe Bertrand has a son or brother named Henry?
Presumably.
Henry is on a first-name basis with a bunch of otherworldly entities representing the Seven Deadly Sins. Harry also knows them, and just got done talking to the capital-q Queen.
The f**k standing does this caramelhead think he has over them?
He don't care, he's yoinking away Henry's Biological Son and Daughter-in Law from Henry, doesn't matter how prestigous Henry is. It's the ol' Petty Spite game at it's finest.
"You're the one causing a fuss." -someone who just threw open the window to yell at people outside
I do not like that smile the nephew's got on him. He's up to something
I like that even his mustache is smug
Family. You've got to love them, otherwise you would murder them!
I'm wondering how long until somebody throws a smoke bomb to escape.