literary criticism is actually so easy. when a character does something i like, they're a fully realized autonomous being who made the decisions they did of their own free will and i know them personally. and when they do something i don't like, they're just a vehicle for themes and motifs being driven by a creator whose narrative vision is fundamentally flawed and who will never understand them like i do.
The Grand Highblood is dead, and some young upstart named Makara just took his throne. A perfect time for seadweller nobility with political aspirations to take an unsanctioned friendly informal visit the battleship Dark Carnival and make sure the clowns' new leader knows his place.
I've had a Playing With The Big Boys animatic in my head for actual years and this all emerged in two days straight of nonstop clown-drawing. I'm losing my gotdamn mind. Happy Honkoween. Please enjoy my baby. Here it is on youtube if you,,, want that.
Warnings, because they go by fast: canon-typical violence and brief flashing lights.