a-sporking-rat (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
a_sporking_rat) wrote2017-08-27 04:13 pm
a_sporking_rat) wrote2017-08-27 04:13 pm
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BLACKWOOD FARM CHAPTER 33
It has been quite a roller coaster with the rats! Amethyst had a UTI, Rocket had mites, it looked like Pearl might be getting an ear infection...and worst of all, Blaze's foot was horribly swollen and red. We think he got it caught in the cage bars and twisted it around trying to get loose. The vet said that he might lose it, but gave me two oral medications and some wound spray. Looks like it did the trick, because he's made a full recovery! Amethyst's UTI cleared up with some Baytril, some Kitten Revolution took care of Rocket's mites, and Pearl's ear infection has just ended up being chunky ear boogers, nothing serious.
Whew!
The ride never ends with these guys.
Also, Blaze is a sweet calm chill baby, whereas Rocket thinks he's a big tough wild rat. Blaze was perfect when the vet examined his foot, whereas Rocket threw a big squirming pooping peeing tantrum just at having his fur/skin looked at DX
Related to the current spork, a friend noted that what they get from Quinn's bisexuality being instantly accepted by himself and everyone, whereas Petronia's intersexuality and gender-fluidity is treated as freakish, shows that this is a narrative where what the writer approves of his approved of by everyone, whereas what she DOESN'T it treated as aberrant, and I'm inclined to agree.
They also said they have a crush on Petronia and feel bad for it since she's treated in such a fetishized manner and I AM IN THE SAME BOAT, I TOO AM ATTRACTED TO HER and that's even knowing that she's going to rape Quinn DX
BLACKWOOD FARM CHAPTER 33
Quinn calls Stirling the next morning and tells him everything, Stirling asks to come over for lunch and he does. When Quinn goes to ask Aunt Queen, she's sitting in her chaise lounge, eating strawberry ice cream, saying a Rosary, watching a movie.
At nine in the morning.
I love Aunt Queen.
She says yes, and they set up a table for it in her room "and her bed was dressed in its finest satin along with a broad collection of her red-cheeked boudoir dolls, all got up in the flapper attire that Aunt Queen herself so much adored."
That is both fabulous AND creepy. Seriously, a bunch of fucking dolls watching you eat. Also they are having "Jasmine's finest veal scallopini and pasta and white wine" and Nash joins them. To Quinn's surprise, Queen immediately tells Stirling the "strange tale" of Petronia, and Quinn notices that she alternates pronouns for Petronia, as apparently she saw Petronia as a man and a woman at different points. She shows Stirling the cameos that Petronia bought, which are made of emeralds and amethysts from Brazil, and depict four different Roman gods. Quinn notes that while amethysts are not expensive gems, emeralds are. Gee, thanks Quinn. You know, whenever Quinn comments on things like this, like he's nudging the reader to remind how costly something is, it actually makes him seem LESS to me like he's really rich, because someone who grew up surrounded as wealth just sees it as default, not remarkable.
Also, Quinn eats a lot and has two or three glasses of wine. This is like the second or third time Quinn's appetite has been mentioned, and I wonder if it's meant to remind us he's a teen boy, or to remind us how he's going to lose this when he becomes a vampire, or if I'm just overthinking a regular character trait.
Quinn then tells Stirling about Rebecca and the bodies in the moonlight and burning the trespasser's book, and how "he or she had come at me", and how Goblin said she was evil and the little "electric shock" he gave Petronia, how Petronia cannot see Goblin but knows Goblin is there, knows that Goblin can send shattering glass at him again and "he doesn't want to be cut."
Stirling agrees "No, it doesn't want to be cut." Nash asks Stirling if he's using the term "it" because of her "ambiguous sexuality" and Stirling says no, but amends "She does not want to be cut." Quinn senses some "subtle tension" between the two.
Aunt Queen asks Stirling if he believes Quinn, adding that "my nephew is prepared for what you have to say" while pressing Quinn's shoulder, so I expect she doesn't think Stirling will. Quinn concurs that he knows Stirling is a "frank and truthful" person (I cannot remember if Quinn has anything to base this on, I've utterly forgotten anything about Stirling's personality at this point he's been out of the story for so long) and that Michael, Rowan, and Mona all respect him, and "I know what I see in you" so "tell me what you believe."
Stirling doesn't immediately tell them his opinion on Quinn's story, however. He begins by advising Quinn "as if you were my son". He says to go away with Aunt Queen, to take the trip with her that she wants him to. That yes, Mona is sick, but she may get sicker, so the time to leave her is now (I'm not sure how that makes sense?) and to call/write her, that he can come home if she takes a turn for the worse. Aunt Queen says that sounds sensible, and she'll confer with Dr. Winn Mayfair and Dr. Rowan Mayfair about it.
Stirling continues that they should leave on this trip at once, tomorrow if possible, so as to get away from Petronia. And in the meantime, make the demanded modifications to the Hermitage "exactly as the creature has insisted" but to never EVER have a workman on Sugar Devil Island (man, I love that name!) after dark. Quinn says that's no problem and refers to the workmen as "these guys" and that just sounds like such an un-Quinn way to phrase it that it jumps out at me.
AQ asks Stirling if he's saying that everything Quinn said really happened, Stirling says he believes Quinn and that Quinn is sane. AQ asks if he's telling her that "the swamps hereabouts are infested with vampires?" and I should note that this is the first time the v-word has been used to refer to Petronia, or used at all since Quinn began his story to Lestat.
Stirling says he's saying nothing of the sort, because she'd think him mad if he did, but that "let's just say Petronia is a creature of nocturnal habits and accustomed to having Sugar Devil Island to herself" and that upon being caught by "the landlord" she began a game of "cat and mouse" with him and has been his "enemy" since.
Aunt Queen simply states, "You really believe all this."
Stirling says yes, but that the important thing is to "do what the creature wants now" and refurbish the Hermitage, get Quinn away from here, take him to Europe, and expect a big long-distance phone bill from the hotels because he's so in love with Mona. Oh, right, Stirling was there when Quinn first saw her and started talking about marrying her on the spot. Frankly, if I had been an adult to witness that, I wouldn't be encouraging it.
Quinn is glad to be believed, AQ seems "discouraged" and says she doesn't know what to say to Stirling. Yeah, I wouldn't either. And I don't think it's hypocritical for her to doubt vampires and the like when she knows ghosts exists; there's a LOT of people who believe in ghosts who don't believe in more corporeal monsters.
Stirling emphasizes again to get Quinn away from here ASAP, and that it'd be better if he never saw Petronia again. He says "surely you agree" and AQ says that she does. Stirling then says:
"Then forgive me for this, but I'm going to say something to you which is going to make it simpler for Quinn to come to his decision. Please believe that I use this power respectfully."
Aunt Queen asks what power that is. Turns out, Stirling can read minds, and he accidentally heard this in her head when he walked into room, and without so much as a by-your-leave from Aunt Queen, he announces to everybody that her doctor has told her that this trip to Europe will be her last.
RESPECTFULLY.
RESPECTFULLY, HE SAYS
Look, I get it if you cannot help hearing minds, but it is NOT "respectful" to then SAY what you hear without permission, that is the OPPOSITE of respectful, you DOUCHE. I would fucking deck him if I were Aunt Queen.
Aunt Queen, however just sighs that "Oh dear, I didn't want Quinn to know."
Apparently, she just accepts he's a mind-reader. I mean, yes, Petronia said the same thing and Aunt Queen seemed to believe it, but, idk, that seemed to me more like one eccentric lady playing along with the eccentricities of another for the fun of it, like when you have a seance at a sleepover. Someone detecting one of your own personal secrets, and then saying it aloud to everyone, is not only actually proof by demonstration and probably very disconcerting, it's also entirely invasive and rude to say the least. I feel like she should really have more of a reaction here. Heck, even if she didn't believe him, she should still be upset, since that would mean he went weaseling into her personal info through some other route. Then again, she may be too taken aback, or too constrained by the Southern etiquette with guests that she obviously values.
Jasmine confirms that the doctor said there shouldn't be a trip to Europe at all, but that AQ was dead-set on going, so the doctor said it must then be her last. Quinn says they'll all go together and stay as long as they can, while thinking "Oh my precious Mona, what else can I do?"
Stirling continues to encourage the trip some more, Quinn and Aunt Queen agree some more, but then Aunt Queen brings up Petronia again, saying that Stirling speaks as if he knows her. Stirling says that he does not, he is just judging based on the "elements" of the story that led him to conclude her "tastes were nocturnal" hence why she wants the Hermitage during the night and will allow Quinn to have it during the day. He adds that she seems "vicious and violent" and that Quinn "showed great courage in confronting her" because no chapter can go by without someone kissing Quinn's ass. Quinn says that Petronia looked triumphant because she made him out to be a lunatic, Stirling says he's not a lunatic, and Aunt Queen agrees. Yes, we know. It's been really firmly established that Quinn is most definitely NOT insane and the way it keeps getting re-established feels...iffy to me, at this point.
Aunt Queen notes that Stirling speaks of Petronia "as though she's a species of creature." Given that Stirling has obviously guessed Petronia is a vampire, I give him a pass on this. He says he didn't mean to and it was "unwise" of him to do so, he was just trying to give a feeling of impersonality. Wow, boy, I sure believe that. He reiterates she is a "menace to Quinn" and will "keep toying with him" should they stay. Aunt Queen asks Nash what he thinks, Nash "demurred" that it's not really his place to comment, but AQ presses him and he agrees with everything. He also adds that Petronia's talk of reincarnation and Pompeii caused him to feel disoriented, as if she were a hypnotist, but that otherwise she was "charming and perhaps, perhaps a little sly."
AQ asks sly in what way, Nash said there's a slyness when someone hypnotizes a whole room. Quinn now "loved him now more than ever before" because he had expected Nash to "claim neutrality".
Quinn notes he ate Goblin's plate of veal and pasta, but only with his "respectfully requested permission". It is also noted that Jasmine and Big Ramona cleared the plates. I know, I know that's their job, and you know, my family has a maid too, there's nothing wrong with that, it's just...it keeps reminding me of the very fucked up dynamics in this specific scenario.
Quinn offers to drive Stirling around the property, and he can tell both Nash and AQ don't want Stirling to be alone with him "but they couldn't very well object to it" and then when he and Stirling get down at the cemetery "I understood quite fully why."
No, he doesn't molest Quinn, he tells him...exactly what he did before, that he believes him about Petronia dumping bodies and to stay away from the swamp island at night, but that he didn't want to say this in front of Aunt Queen so as not to frighten her or "make her suspect my sanity as she does yours" despite the fact he already said this in front of Aunt Queen just the previous page. Quinn says Stirling has his word, that he'd never have even gone into the swamp if not for the dreams about Rebecca.
...damn what kind of kid were you Quinn? WHO HAS A WHOLE SWAMP IN THEIR BACKYARD AND NEVER EXPLORES IT UNLESS GHOST LADIES MAKE THEM you couldn't fucking keep me out of the little creek in my backyard when I was a kid.
Stirling says the Rebecca dreams are a story in themselves he can't comment on right now, but for now "reaffirm your promise to me" even though Quinn JUST DID THAT and also to keep in touch with him because "I am your good friend"
Quinn shows him Rebecca's tomb and talks about how he's the man of this place now and will have to run it from Europe and that won't be an easy feat. Yeah, I'm sure the staff, who have all been doing their jobs longer than Quinn has been alive, will have NO IDEA how to keep the place in order without him around.
Stirling also advises that if he sees Petronia ("this creature") again, try not to think of anything she can use against him, and says that he saw Quinn's love for his "new relation" Tommy Harrison in his head "in a brief meeting yesterday morning." Who was Stirling meeting with that knew about Tommy, let alone that Quinn loves him? But then Quinn says he's shocked because he hadn't realized he had thought of Tommy, so...did he get it from Quinn's head? But they didn't meet yesterday? I dunno.
Anyway, Stirling says if Petronia gets that info she'll use it against him, same as she'll use Mona, and it's a good thing that AQ will soon be "beyond her apparent reach as well"
Quinn shudders at the thought, then remembers how Petronia said "You've been very gracious to me. I won't forget it" to Aunt Queen.
He says to Stirling that he wishes he could read minds, so he'd know whatever Stirling is holding back from him. Stirling assures him it's not such a great gift, and asks if Quinn could take Tommy to Europe. Quinn says he bets Terry Sue would allow it but wouldn't let him take Brittany, the little girl, because she's the workhorse...despite Stirling not having mentioned Brittany or any of the other kids at all. I'm not saying it's a bad idea to take all the kids on a trip (though I'd prefer it was with someone other than Quinn and AQ, they don't seem like they'd be great at looking after small children, but at least the kids won't be abused) it just seems really odd how he's replying to a question that Stirling didn't ask, and explaining who Brittany is to him, when he didn't inquire that either.
He says he'll talk to AQ about Tommy, Stirling says don't talk to her about it after dark, and when they make their plans, make said plans in New Orleans, perhaps at the Grand Luminiere Cafe at Mayfair Medical so he can see Mona again, because she's going to be there all today and this evening. Poor kid.
Quinn says that he admires Stirling's outspoken manner but is amazed at the "ease" with which he "makes suggestion" and...I don't know why that's weird? Like is making suggestions that strange? Quinn adds again then that he knows Stirling is holding something back. Stirling says he's only holding back what he thinks he should hold back, and nothing more.
...well, yeah. You would only hold back what you think you should hold back. That's why you're holding it back.
He repeats that Quinn should take AQ to dinner at the cafe this evening, Quinn asked why. I thought it was very obviously so that they could make plans away from where Petronia can listen, since she obviously listens in at the manor. But, according to Stirling, it's actually because "creatures like Petronia don't like witches" and never go where they are, that she will never get within a hundred miles of Mayfair Medical because Rowan and Mona would sense her. Well, what could they do about it, I'd like to know? Rowan can induce heart attacks on people, but would that work on a vampire?
Then Stirling says "But what do you mean when you say they're witches, Stirling?"
UH, MONA FUCKING EXPLAINED THIS TO YOU?! THIS HAS BEEN WELL-ESTABLISHED?
But Stirling tells Quinn about how, just as Mona said before, the Talamasca's definition of witches is a person who can see spirits, communicate with them, control them, and/or exorcise them.
Quinn says "Then I'm a witch on account of Goblin." Yes, Goblin and Rebecca and the ghosts you've seen since childhood, don't forget those.
Stirling says yes, he more than likely is, though he doesn't think Quinn has all the powers he listed. Quinn says no, but he thinks he could, and that his "powers of exorcism may be taxed" should Rebecca return. Stirling says he doesn't think Rebecca will "tempt" him anywhere but here, because sometimes ghosts haunt a person, sometimes a place, and asks if Goblin is ghost or spirit. Quinn explains, as he has before, that he's most definitely a spirit since he doesn't remember anything of himself pre-dating Quinn. Goblin pops up at his name and Quinn says "I've missed you old buddy" and Stirling just smiles but he and Goblin don't interact, which I think is a shame. Stirling explains all the same things about the Talamasca to Quinn that Mona has, Quinn tells Stirling he's a Mayfair through Julien, but Stirling says Quinn doesn't have time to hear the Mayfair family history right now because "You have your own adventure. You're going off on an odyssey" and asks if he's thought more about taking Tommy. Quinn says, same as he did JUST TWO PAGES AGO, says he's all for it and is going to ask Aunt Queen.
Quinn asks Stirling's opinion of Nash, and despite the fact I don't think they've met, Stirling praises him. Quinn then asks him what's up with the tension he was sensing between them, Stirling says it's that Nash "doesn't like me" because "he suspects my motives" since he "doesn't understand the nature of the Talamasca" and mistakenly thinks Stirling is doing this out of self-interest of some sort, but that he will change his mind if Stirling and Quinn become friends. I don't really see how that makes much sense, if I were Nash and suspicious of Stirling, I'd think Stirling was just cozying up to Quinn.
Quinn then fucking outs Nash like a douchebag by telling Stirling that Nash feels a lot of insecurity over being attracted to men.
YOU PIECE OF SHIT, QUINN, CAN YOU NOT?!
Quinn says he doesn't though--FUCKING GOOD FOR YOU, QUINN, YOU DON'T GET TO OUT OTHER PEOPLE--and then tells Stirling how he "lost my virginity with Rebecca, then had fun in the shower with Goblin, then fell in love with Mona"
....
I don't even know how to comment on this. Is Quinn meant to be weirdly inappropriate because he's so isolated or does Rice thing this is normal conversation?
Quinn continues he'll be happy until his "dying day" if Mona marries him. Stirling doesn't reply. Quinn asks "What's wrong? Do I sound too cavalier to you?" and Stirling says no, just thinking if he should say what he's thinking about Mona, which turns out to be, of course, reminding Quinn that her dying day will likely come much sooner than Quinn's own. Quinn says that's not true and Dr. Mayfair is going to fix/halt/reverse Mona's condition. Admittedly that's just what Rowan is TRYING to do, it is not guaranteed, but the way it's phrased makes it sound to me more like Quinn is just super-duper hoping and thus convincing himself, rather than Rice forgetting what she previously wrote.
They talk more about the Talamasca, but none of it gets transcribed to the reader EXCEPT when Stirling says that Talamasca provides all its members with super-fine furniture.
...yeah, gee, that's totally what I want to know about an ancient society studying the supernatural.
Also that they "live like celibates and work like dogs". Quinn says he likes Stirling, and thanks him for coming here and taking his side, Stirling says to keep him posted (not the phrasing he used, but basically what was said) and gives him his card, Quinn says not to worry about him. Stirling praises how wise Quinn has been using Goblin against Petronia.
Stirling departs, Quinn thinks how wise he is, and current Quinn reflects on how differently things might have turned out "if I had confided in him more, trusted in him more, not gone against him and everybody else in my pride and impetuosity."
Well, you've got less than 200 pages to do that, Quinn, so step on it! Fuck up and make a story already, because this is boring!
Whew!
The ride never ends with these guys.
Also, Blaze is a sweet calm chill baby, whereas Rocket thinks he's a big tough wild rat. Blaze was perfect when the vet examined his foot, whereas Rocket threw a big squirming pooping peeing tantrum just at having his fur/skin looked at DX
Related to the current spork, a friend noted that what they get from Quinn's bisexuality being instantly accepted by himself and everyone, whereas Petronia's intersexuality and gender-fluidity is treated as freakish, shows that this is a narrative where what the writer approves of his approved of by everyone, whereas what she DOESN'T it treated as aberrant, and I'm inclined to agree.
They also said they have a crush on Petronia and feel bad for it since she's treated in such a fetishized manner and I AM IN THE SAME BOAT, I TOO AM ATTRACTED TO HER and that's even knowing that she's going to rape Quinn DX
BLACKWOOD FARM CHAPTER 33
Quinn calls Stirling the next morning and tells him everything, Stirling asks to come over for lunch and he does. When Quinn goes to ask Aunt Queen, she's sitting in her chaise lounge, eating strawberry ice cream, saying a Rosary, watching a movie.
At nine in the morning.
I love Aunt Queen.
She says yes, and they set up a table for it in her room "and her bed was dressed in its finest satin along with a broad collection of her red-cheeked boudoir dolls, all got up in the flapper attire that Aunt Queen herself so much adored."
That is both fabulous AND creepy. Seriously, a bunch of fucking dolls watching you eat. Also they are having "Jasmine's finest veal scallopini and pasta and white wine" and Nash joins them. To Quinn's surprise, Queen immediately tells Stirling the "strange tale" of Petronia, and Quinn notices that she alternates pronouns for Petronia, as apparently she saw Petronia as a man and a woman at different points. She shows Stirling the cameos that Petronia bought, which are made of emeralds and amethysts from Brazil, and depict four different Roman gods. Quinn notes that while amethysts are not expensive gems, emeralds are. Gee, thanks Quinn. You know, whenever Quinn comments on things like this, like he's nudging the reader to remind how costly something is, it actually makes him seem LESS to me like he's really rich, because someone who grew up surrounded as wealth just sees it as default, not remarkable.
Also, Quinn eats a lot and has two or three glasses of wine. This is like the second or third time Quinn's appetite has been mentioned, and I wonder if it's meant to remind us he's a teen boy, or to remind us how he's going to lose this when he becomes a vampire, or if I'm just overthinking a regular character trait.
Quinn then tells Stirling about Rebecca and the bodies in the moonlight and burning the trespasser's book, and how "he or she had come at me", and how Goblin said she was evil and the little "electric shock" he gave Petronia, how Petronia cannot see Goblin but knows Goblin is there, knows that Goblin can send shattering glass at him again and "he doesn't want to be cut."
Stirling agrees "No, it doesn't want to be cut." Nash asks Stirling if he's using the term "it" because of her "ambiguous sexuality" and Stirling says no, but amends "She does not want to be cut." Quinn senses some "subtle tension" between the two.
Aunt Queen asks Stirling if he believes Quinn, adding that "my nephew is prepared for what you have to say" while pressing Quinn's shoulder, so I expect she doesn't think Stirling will. Quinn concurs that he knows Stirling is a "frank and truthful" person (I cannot remember if Quinn has anything to base this on, I've utterly forgotten anything about Stirling's personality at this point he's been out of the story for so long) and that Michael, Rowan, and Mona all respect him, and "I know what I see in you" so "tell me what you believe."
Stirling doesn't immediately tell them his opinion on Quinn's story, however. He begins by advising Quinn "as if you were my son". He says to go away with Aunt Queen, to take the trip with her that she wants him to. That yes, Mona is sick, but she may get sicker, so the time to leave her is now (I'm not sure how that makes sense?) and to call/write her, that he can come home if she takes a turn for the worse. Aunt Queen says that sounds sensible, and she'll confer with Dr. Winn Mayfair and Dr. Rowan Mayfair about it.
Stirling continues that they should leave on this trip at once, tomorrow if possible, so as to get away from Petronia. And in the meantime, make the demanded modifications to the Hermitage "exactly as the creature has insisted" but to never EVER have a workman on Sugar Devil Island (man, I love that name!) after dark. Quinn says that's no problem and refers to the workmen as "these guys" and that just sounds like such an un-Quinn way to phrase it that it jumps out at me.
AQ asks Stirling if he's saying that everything Quinn said really happened, Stirling says he believes Quinn and that Quinn is sane. AQ asks if he's telling her that "the swamps hereabouts are infested with vampires?" and I should note that this is the first time the v-word has been used to refer to Petronia, or used at all since Quinn began his story to Lestat.
Stirling says he's saying nothing of the sort, because she'd think him mad if he did, but that "let's just say Petronia is a creature of nocturnal habits and accustomed to having Sugar Devil Island to herself" and that upon being caught by "the landlord" she began a game of "cat and mouse" with him and has been his "enemy" since.
Aunt Queen simply states, "You really believe all this."
Stirling says yes, but that the important thing is to "do what the creature wants now" and refurbish the Hermitage, get Quinn away from here, take him to Europe, and expect a big long-distance phone bill from the hotels because he's so in love with Mona. Oh, right, Stirling was there when Quinn first saw her and started talking about marrying her on the spot. Frankly, if I had been an adult to witness that, I wouldn't be encouraging it.
Quinn is glad to be believed, AQ seems "discouraged" and says she doesn't know what to say to Stirling. Yeah, I wouldn't either. And I don't think it's hypocritical for her to doubt vampires and the like when she knows ghosts exists; there's a LOT of people who believe in ghosts who don't believe in more corporeal monsters.
Stirling emphasizes again to get Quinn away from here ASAP, and that it'd be better if he never saw Petronia again. He says "surely you agree" and AQ says that she does. Stirling then says:
"Then forgive me for this, but I'm going to say something to you which is going to make it simpler for Quinn to come to his decision. Please believe that I use this power respectfully."
Aunt Queen asks what power that is. Turns out, Stirling can read minds, and he accidentally heard this in her head when he walked into room, and without so much as a by-your-leave from Aunt Queen, he announces to everybody that her doctor has told her that this trip to Europe will be her last.
RESPECTFULLY.
RESPECTFULLY, HE SAYS
Look, I get it if you cannot help hearing minds, but it is NOT "respectful" to then SAY what you hear without permission, that is the OPPOSITE of respectful, you DOUCHE. I would fucking deck him if I were Aunt Queen.
Aunt Queen, however just sighs that "Oh dear, I didn't want Quinn to know."
Apparently, she just accepts he's a mind-reader. I mean, yes, Petronia said the same thing and Aunt Queen seemed to believe it, but, idk, that seemed to me more like one eccentric lady playing along with the eccentricities of another for the fun of it, like when you have a seance at a sleepover. Someone detecting one of your own personal secrets, and then saying it aloud to everyone, is not only actually proof by demonstration and probably very disconcerting, it's also entirely invasive and rude to say the least. I feel like she should really have more of a reaction here. Heck, even if she didn't believe him, she should still be upset, since that would mean he went weaseling into her personal info through some other route. Then again, she may be too taken aback, or too constrained by the Southern etiquette with guests that she obviously values.
Jasmine confirms that the doctor said there shouldn't be a trip to Europe at all, but that AQ was dead-set on going, so the doctor said it must then be her last. Quinn says they'll all go together and stay as long as they can, while thinking "Oh my precious Mona, what else can I do?"
Stirling continues to encourage the trip some more, Quinn and Aunt Queen agree some more, but then Aunt Queen brings up Petronia again, saying that Stirling speaks as if he knows her. Stirling says that he does not, he is just judging based on the "elements" of the story that led him to conclude her "tastes were nocturnal" hence why she wants the Hermitage during the night and will allow Quinn to have it during the day. He adds that she seems "vicious and violent" and that Quinn "showed great courage in confronting her" because no chapter can go by without someone kissing Quinn's ass. Quinn says that Petronia looked triumphant because she made him out to be a lunatic, Stirling says he's not a lunatic, and Aunt Queen agrees. Yes, we know. It's been really firmly established that Quinn is most definitely NOT insane and the way it keeps getting re-established feels...iffy to me, at this point.
Aunt Queen notes that Stirling speaks of Petronia "as though she's a species of creature." Given that Stirling has obviously guessed Petronia is a vampire, I give him a pass on this. He says he didn't mean to and it was "unwise" of him to do so, he was just trying to give a feeling of impersonality. Wow, boy, I sure believe that. He reiterates she is a "menace to Quinn" and will "keep toying with him" should they stay. Aunt Queen asks Nash what he thinks, Nash "demurred" that it's not really his place to comment, but AQ presses him and he agrees with everything. He also adds that Petronia's talk of reincarnation and Pompeii caused him to feel disoriented, as if she were a hypnotist, but that otherwise she was "charming and perhaps, perhaps a little sly."
AQ asks sly in what way, Nash said there's a slyness when someone hypnotizes a whole room. Quinn now "loved him now more than ever before" because he had expected Nash to "claim neutrality".
Quinn notes he ate Goblin's plate of veal and pasta, but only with his "respectfully requested permission". It is also noted that Jasmine and Big Ramona cleared the plates. I know, I know that's their job, and you know, my family has a maid too, there's nothing wrong with that, it's just...it keeps reminding me of the very fucked up dynamics in this specific scenario.
Quinn offers to drive Stirling around the property, and he can tell both Nash and AQ don't want Stirling to be alone with him "but they couldn't very well object to it" and then when he and Stirling get down at the cemetery "I understood quite fully why."
No, he doesn't molest Quinn, he tells him...exactly what he did before, that he believes him about Petronia dumping bodies and to stay away from the swamp island at night, but that he didn't want to say this in front of Aunt Queen so as not to frighten her or "make her suspect my sanity as she does yours" despite the fact he already said this in front of Aunt Queen just the previous page. Quinn says Stirling has his word, that he'd never have even gone into the swamp if not for the dreams about Rebecca.
...damn what kind of kid were you Quinn? WHO HAS A WHOLE SWAMP IN THEIR BACKYARD AND NEVER EXPLORES IT UNLESS GHOST LADIES MAKE THEM you couldn't fucking keep me out of the little creek in my backyard when I was a kid.
Stirling says the Rebecca dreams are a story in themselves he can't comment on right now, but for now "reaffirm your promise to me" even though Quinn JUST DID THAT and also to keep in touch with him because "I am your good friend"
Quinn shows him Rebecca's tomb and talks about how he's the man of this place now and will have to run it from Europe and that won't be an easy feat. Yeah, I'm sure the staff, who have all been doing their jobs longer than Quinn has been alive, will have NO IDEA how to keep the place in order without him around.
Stirling also advises that if he sees Petronia ("this creature") again, try not to think of anything she can use against him, and says that he saw Quinn's love for his "new relation" Tommy Harrison in his head "in a brief meeting yesterday morning." Who was Stirling meeting with that knew about Tommy, let alone that Quinn loves him? But then Quinn says he's shocked because he hadn't realized he had thought of Tommy, so...did he get it from Quinn's head? But they didn't meet yesterday? I dunno.
Anyway, Stirling says if Petronia gets that info she'll use it against him, same as she'll use Mona, and it's a good thing that AQ will soon be "beyond her apparent reach as well"
Quinn shudders at the thought, then remembers how Petronia said "You've been very gracious to me. I won't forget it" to Aunt Queen.
He says to Stirling that he wishes he could read minds, so he'd know whatever Stirling is holding back from him. Stirling assures him it's not such a great gift, and asks if Quinn could take Tommy to Europe. Quinn says he bets Terry Sue would allow it but wouldn't let him take Brittany, the little girl, because she's the workhorse...despite Stirling not having mentioned Brittany or any of the other kids at all. I'm not saying it's a bad idea to take all the kids on a trip (though I'd prefer it was with someone other than Quinn and AQ, they don't seem like they'd be great at looking after small children, but at least the kids won't be abused) it just seems really odd how he's replying to a question that Stirling didn't ask, and explaining who Brittany is to him, when he didn't inquire that either.
He says he'll talk to AQ about Tommy, Stirling says don't talk to her about it after dark, and when they make their plans, make said plans in New Orleans, perhaps at the Grand Luminiere Cafe at Mayfair Medical so he can see Mona again, because she's going to be there all today and this evening. Poor kid.
Quinn says that he admires Stirling's outspoken manner but is amazed at the "ease" with which he "makes suggestion" and...I don't know why that's weird? Like is making suggestions that strange? Quinn adds again then that he knows Stirling is holding something back. Stirling says he's only holding back what he thinks he should hold back, and nothing more.
...well, yeah. You would only hold back what you think you should hold back. That's why you're holding it back.
He repeats that Quinn should take AQ to dinner at the cafe this evening, Quinn asked why. I thought it was very obviously so that they could make plans away from where Petronia can listen, since she obviously listens in at the manor. But, according to Stirling, it's actually because "creatures like Petronia don't like witches" and never go where they are, that she will never get within a hundred miles of Mayfair Medical because Rowan and Mona would sense her. Well, what could they do about it, I'd like to know? Rowan can induce heart attacks on people, but would that work on a vampire?
Then Stirling says "But what do you mean when you say they're witches, Stirling?"
UH, MONA FUCKING EXPLAINED THIS TO YOU?! THIS HAS BEEN WELL-ESTABLISHED?
But Stirling tells Quinn about how, just as Mona said before, the Talamasca's definition of witches is a person who can see spirits, communicate with them, control them, and/or exorcise them.
Quinn says "Then I'm a witch on account of Goblin." Yes, Goblin and Rebecca and the ghosts you've seen since childhood, don't forget those.
Stirling says yes, he more than likely is, though he doesn't think Quinn has all the powers he listed. Quinn says no, but he thinks he could, and that his "powers of exorcism may be taxed" should Rebecca return. Stirling says he doesn't think Rebecca will "tempt" him anywhere but here, because sometimes ghosts haunt a person, sometimes a place, and asks if Goblin is ghost or spirit. Quinn explains, as he has before, that he's most definitely a spirit since he doesn't remember anything of himself pre-dating Quinn. Goblin pops up at his name and Quinn says "I've missed you old buddy" and Stirling just smiles but he and Goblin don't interact, which I think is a shame. Stirling explains all the same things about the Talamasca to Quinn that Mona has, Quinn tells Stirling he's a Mayfair through Julien, but Stirling says Quinn doesn't have time to hear the Mayfair family history right now because "You have your own adventure. You're going off on an odyssey" and asks if he's thought more about taking Tommy. Quinn says, same as he did JUST TWO PAGES AGO, says he's all for it and is going to ask Aunt Queen.
Quinn asks Stirling's opinion of Nash, and despite the fact I don't think they've met, Stirling praises him. Quinn then asks him what's up with the tension he was sensing between them, Stirling says it's that Nash "doesn't like me" because "he suspects my motives" since he "doesn't understand the nature of the Talamasca" and mistakenly thinks Stirling is doing this out of self-interest of some sort, but that he will change his mind if Stirling and Quinn become friends. I don't really see how that makes much sense, if I were Nash and suspicious of Stirling, I'd think Stirling was just cozying up to Quinn.
Quinn then fucking outs Nash like a douchebag by telling Stirling that Nash feels a lot of insecurity over being attracted to men.
YOU PIECE OF SHIT, QUINN, CAN YOU NOT?!
Quinn says he doesn't though--FUCKING GOOD FOR YOU, QUINN, YOU DON'T GET TO OUT OTHER PEOPLE--and then tells Stirling how he "lost my virginity with Rebecca, then had fun in the shower with Goblin, then fell in love with Mona"
....
I don't even know how to comment on this. Is Quinn meant to be weirdly inappropriate because he's so isolated or does Rice thing this is normal conversation?
Quinn continues he'll be happy until his "dying day" if Mona marries him. Stirling doesn't reply. Quinn asks "What's wrong? Do I sound too cavalier to you?" and Stirling says no, just thinking if he should say what he's thinking about Mona, which turns out to be, of course, reminding Quinn that her dying day will likely come much sooner than Quinn's own. Quinn says that's not true and Dr. Mayfair is going to fix/halt/reverse Mona's condition. Admittedly that's just what Rowan is TRYING to do, it is not guaranteed, but the way it's phrased makes it sound to me more like Quinn is just super-duper hoping and thus convincing himself, rather than Rice forgetting what she previously wrote.
They talk more about the Talamasca, but none of it gets transcribed to the reader EXCEPT when Stirling says that Talamasca provides all its members with super-fine furniture.
...yeah, gee, that's totally what I want to know about an ancient society studying the supernatural.
Also that they "live like celibates and work like dogs". Quinn says he likes Stirling, and thanks him for coming here and taking his side, Stirling says to keep him posted (not the phrasing he used, but basically what was said) and gives him his card, Quinn says not to worry about him. Stirling praises how wise Quinn has been using Goblin against Petronia.
Stirling departs, Quinn thinks how wise he is, and current Quinn reflects on how differently things might have turned out "if I had confided in him more, trusted in him more, not gone against him and everybody else in my pride and impetuosity."
Well, you've got less than 200 pages to do that, Quinn, so step on it! Fuck up and make a story already, because this is boring!