#like narrative wise cinder isn't replaceable bc there's isn't exactly anyone who the shoe fits

[strqyr]

bashing my head into concrete cinder. cinder cinder cinder. "make no mistake, cinder, you hold the key to our victory." cinder goes against salem's direct orders, fails, and salem... takes the blame. after a small, subtle reminder that she's not to be trifled with, yes, but still, she takes the blame for holding cinder back.

(like comparing salem's treatment of hazel in V6 and cinder in V8, the difference is staggering.)

why? why cinder, of all people? she holds the key to their victory, but... is that just because of the maiden powers? it's not like cinder is the only young woman in the world who might want power and is willing to go to great lengths to achieve it; by all means, she should be replaceable, so the question really is if salem is willing to set her plans back for a while (time is on her side, but who knows how time sensitive her current plans are) if cinder becomes unmanageable.

but despite cinder's rebellion, salem makes concessions. despite cinder very blatantly lying—which salem absolutely hates—salem looks the other way as long as she gets relics out of it. cinder is getting such a special treatment and i'm just—

why why why?

is it down to her being the key to their victory? what does that even mean? trust love mentions it, too: all you have to be / is here in reality / leave your fantasy / you'll find the key / to victory, so what's up with it?

how did cinder end up working for salem in the first place, and why her?

#like narrative wise cinder isn't replaceable bc there's isn't exactly anyone who the shoe fits #(i'm. not sorry for that one.) #but in-universe there could be. so the fact it doesn't come up surely means something... right?