[Report This]Date: June 07 2024 8:52 AM Title: Chapter 23: Union
While I knew it wouldn't happen, once we saw Trish with her tree bouquet, my first thought was that she would just throw the whole thing over her shoulder after the ceremony. At least that way, the woman it landed on would have been able to duck that 50 percent divorce rate!
But seriously, I really liked the way you detailed all those little traditions that come with a wedding here. I kind of assumed we'd just get the walk down the isle and some vows at most, maybe a little bit of the reception. Instead, you found a way to make all those minor things that those of us at normal size take for granted stand out and be sexy as hell. The garter scene in particular was quite well done. And as a reader, I appreciate that attention to detail!
That interview with Nancy more or less confirmed (at least in my mind) what I was saying about the end of the last chapter. Trish views herself as a goddess, but in a different sense than most giantesses in these stories. For her, this isn't about reveling in her power (although she does do that in her own way as well), demanding to be worshipped, or placing herself (and her wants) above everyone else, which are all things commonly associated with that particular term (at least on this site).
That she used the word responsibility really drives home her view of what that is. Yeah, she both literally and figuratively looks down on humanity in a way, but she feels as though her natural superiority forces her to be more considerate of the shrinking world around her and its inhabitants rather than to just do as she pleases with them. There are some exceptions to that, such as Thomas because he truly wants her to treat him that way and those who wrong her and those she cares about because a goddess doesn't put up with shit from anyone. But overall, because she's a good person, she feels as though the power she has means that she sometimes needs to put what's important to others ahead of what she wants.
And, I say again, in my view, this is how a true goddess would view the world. Trish will have her fun, and she has become incredibly confident now (so much so that people being timid or frightened around her doesn't bother her at all, unlike in the earlier chapters) that she has embraced her size, but she doesn't want to harm, scare, or even inconvenience the common person, those who have never done anything to her. Sure that's just part of who she is, who she has always been, but maybe that just means that she's a natural-born goddess?
Her reaction to Nancy turning her claim of divinity into a joke was just perfect as well. Now that Trish is past those insecurities that led her to people like her ex and to follow the "it's better if they guy is taller" philosophy, it's annoying to her that she feels as though she isn't being taken seriously, even when she's not sure if she should have said the thing in the first place. At the same time, however, Nancy making light of Trish's claim was probably for the best, as anyone who watches that interview would probably take issue with the giantess claiming to be a goddess, so her sucking it up and dealing with it, even if she was short with Nancy for the rest of the interview, could be seen as another example of putting what's best for the public ahead of her own feelings.
Also, it was super cute how excited Trish got when she saw Nancy! I actually called my "Trish moment" for the chapter below, but this one could absolutely qualify as well.
I know it was a minor thing, but Trish not eating all of her food stood out to me. If it really was nerves like she thought, I doubt such a minute thing would have made it into the chapter. Could her body be working toward solving the "Trish is going to eat all the food in the world for lunch" problem that Dr. Vale was so worried about? If so, that would almost certainly lean in the direction of a supernatural cause for her growth, which would make sense since she's clearly a literal goddess. Definitely. Probably. I think.
And what a happy little moment for Valerie and Monica. We've barely seen them in the three chapters in which they've been mentioned, yet you've still managed to make their chemistry jump off the page despite them making themselves comfortable in the background. It was sweet for Trish to not only play a role in Valerie's proposal but also be willing to share her special day with them. This is most definitely the "Trish moment" of the chapter.
Thomas has kind of taken a bit of a backseat to Trish in these later chapters, I think (or at least Trish has stuck out to me more, which is fair given how Thomas-centered the first half of the story was), but his vows were just beautiful and summed up what he went through early on quite well. It was nice to see him acknowledge how much Trish has actually changed him, as opposed to merely being the living embodiment of his deepest fantasies, showing just how much he loves her as a person.
Trish's vows were really sweet as well, and while I get the attendees' reaction to that last line, I thought it was heartfelt. Yeah, it could be foreboding as well, but I still have a feeling that her growth issues are going to work themselves out by the end of this, even if my goddess guess proves incorrect.
You know, it was great to see Jeb have that private moment (even from us) with his daughter. But for a little while now, I've found myself wondering if his feelings on Thomas have changed at all since last we saw them talk. Jeb wasn't too thrilled about the former therapist being so important to Trish but accepted it for the sake of her happiness. Seeing him be so happy at both the proposal and here at the wedding, as well as knowing that he had to play a role in some of those surprises that Thomas lined up for Trish, I would like to think that the cattle baron has warmed up to Thomas a bit by now, but I could see him being stubborn about showing it, if his feelings have even changed at all. I guess this is another one of those little things that, in the grand scheme of things, likely won't matter too much, but I can't help but be curious nonetheless.