I have to say I’m really excited about this sequence. I know it doesn’t register as much of anything except Grissom just acting a bit suspicious. But I think it’s a scene that will be fun to revisit much later in the series…
…when it’s finally revealed just how many Tickle-Me Elmo dolls Grissom has been smuggling on the side.
“…You were suppose to offer to buy ME champagne, you clueless, silly goose…”
A small detail, but I find it really interesting the difference between Roka and Ril on their views and actions when it comes to Grissom’s splitting off.
Roka’s guilt desperately trying to find some sign or scrap of hope that things will just go back to how they were, “She’ll come around!”, delicate probing questions to see if that could be a possibility-!
While Ril, albeit jokingly, as he doesn’t wear his heart on his sleeve so much, is ready to accept that… he’s a *stranger* now. He’s not prodding at her to change her mind and come back, as much as I’m sure he’d be as thrilled as Roka if she did. He likely has his own guilt of that day, and… he gets it, if maybe a little TOO hard in the other direction.
A rather ominous look on Grissom’s face on that last panel.
If all her current actions are based on what happened that night, just what exactly will she justify?
Of course it could just be a red herring with Sean giving us a clue by dressing her in red. 🙂
I think Grissom is too deep a character to simply screw them over. In the end, she likely sees it as it was either her or Ril that Roka would have got out of there. Ril was closer and she was hurt, so Roka did the math and figured better two get out than three get caught.
Since then, she’s been trying to put her life together and not count on anyone. She resents that Ril and Roka are still able to have each other.
But in the end, I think she is not in a mindset for vengeance, but rather that she is doing this job to get that ship in a way that she can live with. It’s balancing the spreadsheet in her heart and mind. But to do it, she has to grumble her way through emotions she’d rather not have before she can get her closure.
Would handing them over to the Dhamas or the authorities give her catharsis? Sure. Monetary benefit? Likely. But it would not give her closure.
I love hearing everyone’s reads on Grissom! She’s definitely a complicated character and I can’t wait to get into her more…