Yep the blade actually exits though the back of the hand she does have to tilt her hand to bring it "inline" because the blade is stored in her forearm. :D
AW DAMN! Am I the only on that thinks Malati should be put in charge of this Glee Club? If she had the right equipment she would make and idea wife. I love her attitude, looks and body, she ROCKS! BTW I think Noctis gets a bit of enjoyment in watching Malati work not that she would ever admit it. Also I would give good odds Malati is the most efficient inquisitor Nova Roma has.
Malati, she meets and exceeds the personal qualities for what I consider truly Evil. The sooner she is destroyed, the better for everyone else.
This is the kind of villain Karma was created to deal with. Very often in spectacularly violent ways.
Im really hoping her and Teedee face off and destroy each other. It would be a fitting end for both of them, and one hell of a battle for the rest of us to witness!
It's strange, but I don't get a truly evil vibe from Malati.
From the prince, I do get the "evil vibe", but while Malati is crazy violent and psychotic in her own way, I keep getting the impression that she does it mostly because she believes that it will make things better for the masses (and partly because of programming) and that she'd be just as happy as a farming android if that would make the "whole society of Nova Roma" a better place.
It's a strange distinction, I admit, but I think what makes the prince truly evil is his drive to hurt everyone for his own personal gains. Whereas Malati has a purpose outside herself.
True, she has a sadistic streak a mile wide.
And she probably breaks a lot of eggs to make an omelet.
But ultimately, she *is* creating an omelet, the prince is creating nothing but death.
Malati is one of the "good guys" !
... sorta.
Besides, she runs on fun-particles !
Can't beat that. :)
We are going to have to disagree then. Malati doesn't just have a sadistic streak, its a murderous one. She unnecessarily tortures her assignments to death, and finds it amusing. That crosses straight through 'The Ends Justifies the Means' and firmly puts her in Charles Manson's school for the chaotic and evil.
Fighting for survival I get, but even that starts to weigh heavy on your soul, or at least it should.
Frankly, 'the ends justifies the means' argument stops holdin water as soon as killing becomes a common and everyday as eating breakfast. At that point, its being done because 'thats just how it is'.
As far as holding judgment, you have written a character who finds torturing people to death (again, unnecessarily) amusing. This is not the mark of someone deserving the benefit of the doubt. She LIKES killing the helpless, and using fear for shits and giggles. Her actions deny any good faith I might have for her.
I'm not trying to be difficult, I have strong, personal views on morality.
In my view, actions trump intentions.
If you do bad things to make something right, you walk a razors edge to keep from becoming what you are fighting against.
If you enjoy doing bad things, but do them in the name of something just, you have stepped off the edge.
Coming back from being a monster, thats the hard part. Maybe you can come back, but then again, maybe you can never truly balance the books.
What 'bad things' has Malati actually done? So far, all she's done is talk (though admittedly she's using psychological tactics that are likely intended merely to scare Dari into behaving...assuming Dari has the sense nature gave to a lump of gravel, which she clearly (to us, at least) doesn't...)
Dolly's done far worse to Dari already.
As far as what's suggested in previous conversation regarding Malati killing people...she's a Cassian, bound to follow the orders of 'prince' drekhead. She does what's required of her, yes. My impression, however, is that she's really not all that interested in the killing and maiming. She *did* say a few pages ago that she prefers being respected instead of feared.
Honestly, I feel you're ascribing evil intent to someone who strikes me as being the sort whose favorite TV show is anything that's labelled as a Halloween episode (particularly the ones involving pranks, like they used to do every year on Roseanne). And maybe also Tim Burton films and the Addams Family. Spooky stuff as opposed to psycho slasher B-horror gorefests.
As far as 'the end justifies the means'? IMHO, that argument only holds water when it's applied to doing what's necessary for survival (or self defense, in a more immediate situational sense)
Page 1190, Last Panel. Malati is describing what sounds like one in a string of subjects for the week. By having her hand "wrist deep in is guts" and making a joke of the way his body was reacting to her killing him.
Noctis even stated the way she killed him was unnecessary. He was the third done in this fashion that week.
The orders she is following are sick enough, but she takes her time, goes above and beyond heinous blood shed, ENJOYS what she does. That is evil.
And another thing that is contrary to what Malati says vs. her actions... she would rather be respected than feared, and yet appears take pleasure instilling fear into people.
I tend to agree with Velvet and Sheela also remember the environment they are in, a "Church" that Harvests body parts, a prison that allows women to be lobotomized and raped to have children until they die (P145), a praetorian guard that is allowed to take what ever liberties they want with the life, limb, bodies and property of the elite and common both, an insane ruler who thinks all that matters are the ruling triumvirate of Me, Myself and I. I stand on my earlier thoughts and those of the two ladies.
I agree with you Draginbeard. I was thinking pretty much the same thing. That passage showed me the 'true' image of Malati (in my opinion).
Malati wasn't trying to intimidate or impress anyone at that point (Noctis was the only one there at the time). So I believe it is Malati's TRUE nature.
In that case Malati is REALLY scary, probably more than Kali. Possibly even worse than Douchebag. He is crazy, but Malati seems to ENJOY it. Which makes her something of a monster. Her words sound a lot like things I've heard from serial killers.
Yeah, but that goes back to my point Rose. If Malati had been trying to intimidate or impress someone, I could see it as being fabricated... or largely so. Since she was talking to Noctis, I think she was just talking shop. And had no reason to lie about it.
True, except these creatures are not basic machines with limited awareness, following their programming.
These two are fully sentient, complex (as Cent reminded us) beings, able to act on their personal impulses' and feelings.
The way the scene on page 1190 was shown, and from the direction the conversation between them was heading, it appears that Malati was going out of her way to destroy her subject, not efficiently, or quickly (I get the impression that Noctis carries out her duties in a more efficient and prideful fashion), but Malati was willfully destroying a life in a slow, brutal fashion, with the intention of gaining personal pleasure from the experience.
Again, the scene portrayed was just between Malati and Noctis. It was shown in a quiet, relaxed, water cooler moment. It felt like we were being given a glimpse of just how malicious Malati is, and setting things up so that we knew her preference for blood and pain in the scenes still to come.
You can call that prideful if you like, but that doesn't make her actions it any less evil.
I am enjoying this turn in the story, and finding a new character to love to hate. Malati is, to me, quite the monster.
In my mind, I think of trolling as in trying to insult, heckle, or upset another person. Usually anonymously, in a crowd, from a safe distance of some sort.
All we've seen so far, is Malati and Noctis kicking back in their office, chuckling over a particularly brutal murder. Meeting Dolly, Dari, and Ceci. Within 10 seconds, Malati is already in Daris face, terrorizing her.
I don't know how else to say this, but my definition of evil is someone who enjoys inflicting terror, pain, and death.
Malati, as you've presented her thus far, fits that description.
Trolling is a specific form of bullying, and can be done both from afar and face to face.
A famous troll would be Bill O'Reilly from Fox News.
His job is basically to get people on his show and then make them loose their temper.
He is what all trolls aspire to be ... a well-paid troll !
(dangit, I didnt notice that the "title" input for comments, is completely ignored. Sadface. Obviously, my prior post was supposed to be titled, "Good cop, bad cop")
Now for the mindbender.. in polite society "good cop" is the one who follows the law, and "bad cop" is the one who breaks the rules/law.
With the assumption that its the "bad cop" that's going to hurt/kill you
But in Nova Roma.. you might be better off with "bad cop", using those definitions.
So in retrospect, it suddenly got even more confusing to say which of them is "good cop", and which "bad" :-}
Perhaps they're both "bad cop". With slight modifications of
"badLY INSANE cop" and "badASS cop"
(but they're still both going to kill you)
Heh! I can just hear Malati saying "Heere's Johnny" as she walks into the Sand Rat's cell. In Nova Roma's dungeon, no one cares if you scream. In fact, they expect it.
Because it looks like a knife, more than a claw. So made me think of Sten instead, velvet. And Malati probably could fit into Team 13. :-p
Those two really are a pair. :D
CeCi ?
Someone is taking lessons from Rose.
Dolly Dagger and CC Ryder to the rescue ! :)
This is the kind of villain Karma was created to deal with. Very often in spectacularly violent ways.
Im really hoping her and Teedee face off and destroy each other. It would be a fitting end for both of them, and one hell of a battle for the rest of us to witness!
From the prince, I do get the "evil vibe", but while Malati is crazy violent and psychotic in her own way, I keep getting the impression that she does it mostly because she believes that it will make things better for the masses (and partly because of programming) and that she'd be just as happy as a farming android if that would make the "whole society of Nova Roma" a better place.
It's a strange distinction, I admit, but I think what makes the prince truly evil is his drive to hurt everyone for his own personal gains. Whereas Malati has a purpose outside herself.
True, she has a sadistic streak a mile wide.
And she probably breaks a lot of eggs to make an omelet.
But ultimately, she *is* creating an omelet, the prince is creating nothing but death.
Malati is one of the "good guys" !
... sorta.
Besides, she runs on fun-particles !
Can't beat that. :)
Fighting for survival I get, but even that starts to weigh heavy on your soul, or at least it should.
Frankly, 'the ends justifies the means' argument stops holdin water as soon as killing becomes a common and everyday as eating breakfast. At that point, its being done because 'thats just how it is'.
As far as holding judgment, you have written a character who finds torturing people to death (again, unnecessarily) amusing. This is not the mark of someone deserving the benefit of the doubt. She LIKES killing the helpless, and using fear for shits and giggles. Her actions deny any good faith I might have for her.
I'm not trying to be difficult, I have strong, personal views on morality.
In my view, actions trump intentions.
If you do bad things to make something right, you walk a razors edge to keep from becoming what you are fighting against.
If you enjoy doing bad things, but do them in the name of something just, you have stepped off the edge.
Coming back from being a monster, thats the hard part. Maybe you can come back, but then again, maybe you can never truly balance the books.
Dolly's done far worse to Dari already.
As far as what's suggested in previous conversation regarding Malati killing people...she's a Cassian, bound to follow the orders of 'prince' drekhead. She does what's required of her, yes. My impression, however, is that she's really not all that interested in the killing and maiming. She *did* say a few pages ago that she prefers being respected instead of feared.
Honestly, I feel you're ascribing evil intent to someone who strikes me as being the sort whose favorite TV show is anything that's labelled as a Halloween episode (particularly the ones involving pranks, like they used to do every year on Roseanne). And maybe also Tim Burton films and the Addams Family. Spooky stuff as opposed to psycho slasher B-horror gorefests.
As far as 'the end justifies the means'? IMHO, that argument only holds water when it's applied to doing what's necessary for survival (or self defense, in a more immediate situational sense)
Noctis even stated the way she killed him was unnecessary. He was the third done in this fashion that week.
The orders she is following are sick enough, but she takes her time, goes above and beyond heinous blood shed, ENJOYS what she does. That is evil.
And another thing that is contrary to what Malati says vs. her actions... she would rather be respected than feared, and yet appears take pleasure instilling fear into people.
Am I the only one who sees this for what it is?
Malati wasn't trying to intimidate or impress anyone at that point (Noctis was the only one there at the time). So I believe it is Malati's TRUE nature.
In that case Malati is REALLY scary, probably more than Kali. Possibly even worse than Douchebag. He is crazy, but Malati seems to ENJOY it. Which makes her something of a monster. Her words sound a lot like things I've heard from serial killers.
Also, keep in mind that "she said" is part of that sentence. ;)
Rose, 3 in a week or a month, does it really make a difference? Malati is joking about "rummaging around" a live persons guts, with her hand....
Stormwind is exactly right, this definitely comes off as shop talk, and Noctis is not in the least surprised at how Malati is performing her duties.
Roma Nova palace is a bloody madhouse, and Malati is one of its many patients.
I sure hope some of the commentors don't run into a real serial killer or they will be the killer's next victim I fear. :-p
If you instructed a non-sentient robot to kill a human, would it be evil, or would it be you whom is evil ?
And if the robot takes pride in how good it is at killing (which is what it was programmed for) is it a bad thing ?
It's not like it has a choice.
These two are fully sentient, complex (as Cent reminded us) beings, able to act on their personal impulses' and feelings.
The way the scene on page 1190 was shown, and from the direction the conversation between them was heading, it appears that Malati was going out of her way to destroy her subject, not efficiently, or quickly (I get the impression that Noctis carries out her duties in a more efficient and prideful fashion), but Malati was willfully destroying a life in a slow, brutal fashion, with the intention of gaining personal pleasure from the experience.
Again, the scene portrayed was just between Malati and Noctis. It was shown in a quiet, relaxed, water cooler moment. It felt like we were being given a glimpse of just how malicious Malati is, and setting things up so that we knew her preference for blood and pain in the scenes still to come.
You can call that prideful if you like, but that doesn't make her actions it any less evil.
I am enjoying this turn in the story, and finding a new character to love to hate. Malati is, to me, quite the monster.
A cuddly monster, she may be, but a monster none the less.
However .. on that note. Malati does enjoy her job. and takes pride in it. But shes just as willing to not kill if told to do so.
Yes she may be a monster.. what does that make the people that constructed her.
And yes Ceci is also a "Black Angel" designed for wet works..
In my mind, I think of trolling as in trying to insult, heckle, or upset another person. Usually anonymously, in a crowd, from a safe distance of some sort.
All we've seen so far, is Malati and Noctis kicking back in their office, chuckling over a particularly brutal murder. Meeting Dolly, Dari, and Ceci. Within 10 seconds, Malati is already in Daris face, terrorizing her.
I don't know how else to say this, but my definition of evil is someone who enjoys inflicting terror, pain, and death.
Malati, as you've presented her thus far, fits that description.
Thats it.
A famous troll would be Bill O'Reilly from Fox News.
His job is basically to get people on his show and then make them loose their temper.
He is what all trolls aspire to be ... a well-paid troll !
Does that mean TEdee runs on Profanitium? *Profanity particles*
Now for the mindbender.. in polite society "good cop" is the one who follows the law, and "bad cop" is the one who breaks the rules/law.
With the assumption that its the "bad cop" that's going to hurt/kill you
But in Nova Roma.. you might be better off with "bad cop", using those definitions.
So in retrospect, it suddenly got even more confusing to say which of them is "good cop", and which "bad" :-}
Perhaps they're both "bad cop". With slight modifications of
"badLY INSANE cop" and "badASS cop"
(but they're still both going to kill you)