*SPOILER*
alert
for those who have not read
Godchild 4 & 5
alert
for those who have not read
Godchild 4 & 5
Alright, so last night I was rereading Godchild #4, and a couple of things really jumped out at me. They'd jumped out at me while reading Godchild #5 too, but I didn't think much of it then, a large space being between me reading the two volumes. Rereading them on the eve of yesterday, I nearly jumped out of my bed and to the computer (stopping only because it was 1 AM) to post this.
To The Point: The interesting relationship between Jizabel Disraeli and Cassandra Gladstone.
It may be just me, but I speculate a little bit of oddness between the two. A relationship that goes a bit farther then Kaori Yuki's usual mxm undertones/hints in Godchild. In blunt, it seemed to me a couple of times Cassandra was coming onto Jizabel.
That isn't the oddity that stood out to me, as much as Jizabel's passive reaction was.
The Speculation:
Cassandra being attracted towards Jizabel? Cassandra Gladstone, High Priest of the Major Arcana. Godchild 4-5 are the only times he appears in the volumes (unless I'm mistaken). On the surface, he has the disguise of working to better the lower class, promoting equality between the classes; the appearance of an upstanding and charitable gentleman. It quickly becomes apparent, however, that under the surface he has the strong convictions that the High Class should rule over the lower, and that those of lower stations are "scum". Through these volumes, it is also apparent that he is a twisted and sadistic individual with a fetish for boys in drag.
((Godchild #4)) At the ritual to initiate Jizabel into the Arcana as Death (Bloody Maria, Scene 1), Cassandra expressed sympathy and empathy to him afterwards. However, he went a step further, stating that the two of them "... would make good allies. After all, I know everything about you [Jizabel]". If you've seen that scene in the manga, you'll notice Cassandra getting almost a bit intimately close to Jizabel. Later, at the end of Blood Maria, Scene 2, Cassandra has a similair confrontation with Jizabel again.
((Godchild #5)) At the beginning of Castrato, Scene 1, Crehador can be quoted as saying to Cain, in a discussion about "Lord Gladstone" a.k.a Cassandra, "I've heard he loves beautiful things... whether it's a piece of an artwork or... whether it's a man...".
This links back to the pevious volume, where Cassandra says to Jizabel, "You look exactly like your mother... I can understand why your father doesn't want your face to become blemished.", and may explain Cassandra's preoccupation (Yes, Jizabel's mother was beautiful). It's also pretty safe to say that Jizabel himself is almost unnaturally pretty.
There's further evidence in the volume. One of the strongest is Cassandra dressing up a boy called Leroy, a friend of Mary Weather's from the streets and whom he kidnaps, and makes him dress in drag for most of the volume, and the presence of another character called Zoe. Though only a minor, minor character in the volume and one who could be overlooked as a lackey of Cassandra's who appears in Castrato, Scene 4, there are some interesting things to note. The largest being that although at first glance Zoe appears to be a girl, is in fact a boy much like Leroy, who is dressed in drag for all of his appearance. This would of been virtually unknown, if not for Kaori Yuki's own note in the volume: "By the way, this minor character, Zoe, is a boy. He must be a boy prostitute that Cassandra was interested in and picked up."
So I also think it's safe to say that Cassandra has at least bisexual tendencies.
The last of the evidence appears first in Castrato, Scene 2. Cain appears to be falling into a trap set by Cassandra, who then proceeds to gloat to Jizabel about it. Then they make a deal: Cassandra states that "If I lose to him [Cain] then you win... I'll give you my entire fortune.... But if he falls into my hands then I will take your freedom." And he then presents Jizabel with custom made restraints (which are historically called "The Scavenger's Daughter", look it up)... and Jizabel agrees. He refers numerous times to this bet as that it will let him "free" Jizabel. When Cassandra appears to win the bet in Castrato, Scene 4, he says to Jizabel, "Cain has fallen into my hands. So as we agreed upon, you belong to me. Now... those restraints will clothe your body like a dress... on which I will gently place a lock. My Jizabel."
It can be noted, however, that Jizabel never appears wearing the restraints and isn't when he makes his next appearance.
I conclude my evidence for this point (xD *fancy*).
Jizabel's reactions are strange? Death in the Major Arcana, Jizabel Disraeli is also referred to as the Doctor, and appeared early on in Cain's adventures (first appearing in one of the volumes of The Cain Saga, prequel to Godchild). Readers of the series know that Jizabel is something of a twisted, psychotic, sadistic, mad doctor type character that feels a cold hatred to all things human and has a fetish for collecting peoples organs. Especially Cain. Official description on the inside of the book describes him as "Cain's half-brother who harbors deep resentment, and wants to add Cain's eyes to his vile collection". He's also very pretty.
((Godchild #4)) In Little Miss Muffet, Scene 3, Jizabel puts to rest a dog that he had stitched together and brought back to life after being murdered. Cassian walks in upon the scene, and Jizabel delivers a short speech how "humans will pay for their sins" and "are responsible for corrupting this world", that "eventually we will get what we deserve" and that "for all the animals that have been sacrificed since anciet times... the day will come when humanity's punishment will result in our destruction". After which, Cassian makes the very correct observation that "...human beings... are the only living creatures this man cannot love...", an observation that throughout the series seems a hundred percent true.
During those meetings I detailed in the last point, which Cassandra seems to be suggesting something between the two of them, Jizabel displays little emotion. He is passive, though his appearance hints that he does not enjoy the close contact or Cassandra, but he does not stop him either time. When they are then interrupted by Cassian during the first meeting, Jizabel replies to Cassian's obvious dislike of Cassandra with the words, "You may not like him but he's still our superior."
One might speculate that it is because of this reason, along with the fact that Cassandra saw into his past during the ritual, that Jizabel permits Cassandra to do what he does. However, then we move onto...
((Godchild #5)) Some time after Cassandra and Jizabel make their deal, as detailed in the above points on Cassandra, Cassian confronts Jizabel again, asking him if it's because of these same two reasons that Jizabel is permitting Cassandra to "lord over" him, pointing out that the two are now of equal stations in the Arcana (Castrato, Scene 3). When Jizabel responds that it's nothing he needs to know about and tells him to leave, Cassian makes this astute point, saying, "I saw the innocent love that you have for animals and... realized you had completely given up on humanity." Cassandra then intrudes, and proceeds to kick/step on Cassian's face. It is to be noted that during both of these, Jizabel makes no reaction, even when Cassian is mistreated.
The oddest observation of all is that when Cassandra proclaims that he has won the bet (as detailed, again, in the evidence on Cassandra) and claims his "prize" of Jizabel's freedom, Jizabel kneels down and kisses Cassandra's hand... with, strangely, a smirk/smile. If you read the manga, you'd have to note there is something definitely odd about it.
Then, in Castrato, Scene 5, when it becomes apparent that Cassandra has really failed, Jizabel reads to Cassandra a proclamation that bluntly states that he has been "stripped from his post and banned from the orginization" and is "to be captured upon discovery or... put to death." Then, Jizabel takes out the restraints and throws them at Cassandra's feet, stating "I'm sorry, but I believe this belongs to you."
Out of rage, Cassandra takes a sword and rushes forward to stab Jizabel, who does not move out of the way, and seems to have a small smile. Cassian then jumps in the way and takes the blow, to the shock of Jizabel, the first time he displays any real reaction.
However, Cassian manages out, "You... were trying to throw your life away again...!". It should be noted that Jizabel has, in similair situations, made no attempt to extricate himself from harm's way.
The arc ends with Jizabel using Cassandra as the donor for an experimental brain transplant, being the perfect match for Cassian's body type. Cassandra is executed, Jizabel saying "I'm sure my dreams will be quite pleasant tonight... knowing that I'll never have to feel your vile touch again." before injecting him with some sort of death-inducing drug, and transplating Cassian's brain into Cassandra's body thus giving Cassian the full-grown and matured body he's always wished for. (: D <3)
I conclude the evidence on Jizabel. (FINALLY.)
Conclusion: I myself have no definite opinion on their relatioship. I hardly believe it was any close to love. My overall impression is, once again, something extremely odd and intriguing.
I may also be an obsessive, psychotic freak for typing all this out xD;. But I wanted to back it up, and not make it seem like some fangirly "OMG THEY HAVE GOT TO HAVE DONE THE GAAAAY" statement.
What I want is your opinions, ladies and gentleman, from the evidence I've garnered and your own personal observations and ideas.
Please discuss.