Melt Your Clocks DVD commentary, ch.6
Sep. 17th, 2016 01:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
harcourtFor the excerpt commentary meme. X-posted here because tumblr, man. Tumblr.
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OK! So since Melt Your Clocks is a WiP, this might be spoilery. Not in the sense of giving away plot, but talking about characters and what they’re thinking and that kind of thing. I haven’t done a DVD commentary before, so let me know how I do. :P
"Fuck. Fuck." Stop bubbles up his throat, but Loki's not about to and Clint's not about to beg him. It's bad enough that he can't help struggling, kicking at the floor for traction on the polished stone and clawing at Loki's restraining hand, where it's moved to cup his throat and chin, thumb pressing against his jaw on one side and fingers on the other. The throb in his face feels like it's being pushed into his eye and down his neck, and when Loki rolls his thumb firmly against the swelling, Clint's mouth falls open in a gasp.
This is the part of the interaction/dream session where Loki starts to use force, and Clint starts to lose. Not that he was winning before, but Loki’s been giving him an illusion of choice, but after Clint’s biting rebellion, that’s gone. He’s also using the result of the rebellion--Clint’s bruised face--as a tool of physical control.
He's ready for Loki to pour the drink down his throat, to be drowned or choked with it, but it doesn't happen. Loki just feeds it to him bit by bit, small sip at a time, careful not to spill or overfill Clint's mouth, and except for the way his thumb keeps massaging Clint's injured face, shooting sparks through his vision with each stroke, he's gentle. It's awful. Clint would prefer to drown.
Clint’s expectations of a fight are more explosive, or energetic, or something, but Loki’s not unviolent here. He’s really hurting Clint, but in a way that’s more than just physically overpowering him. He’s knocked Clint down, no problem, but to hold the kind of calm, measured control where he’s not even spilling, where he can be as tidy and calm as if Clint was still playing along, that’s really a control game. At the beginning of the fic Loki mentions that it was easier to manipulate Clint with the staff, but that doesn’t mean he thinks he needs the staff. A lot of Loki’s game has been screwing with Clint’s head, and even though this section is a bit more brute force, he’s really still screwing with Clint’s head.
And then a part of it is that I think Loki sees himself as cultured and not a smashy oaf. As in, not like Thor, so instead of just kicking Clint’s ass, he does this, which is actually a deal creepier and is still in the end resorting to physical power, so good job, Loki. In this chapter, there’s a bit of Loki’s issues with Thor and Asgard that Clint’s picked up on, though not that consciously yet. Mostly just in a ‘this gets under the asshole’s skin, so let me say it some more’ way.
"Easy," Loki soothes, when Clint moans against the rim of the cup, teeth clicking on its rim. He hadn't meant to let the sound escape, but it slips out before he knows he's going to make it. His teeth are clicking on the metal, making a soft rattling noise. It takes Clint a moment to realize that he's shaking. That it's not Loki's hand that's trembling. "Shh."
Clint would rather lose a real kick-down punch-down fight. he’s traumatized about control, and he’s realizing here that he doesn’t have it. He can choose to do what Loki wants, or Loki can easily make him. He’s not taking over Clint’s will or dream here, but just beating down his sense of autonomy and I think that’s something that freaks Clint out, especially this Clint, who Loki’s already been conditioning. And to make it worse, Clint’s a little out control here, making noise he doesn’t mean to, dissociating a bit so that he’s hearing his teeth click on the glass before he’s aware of what his body is doing.
Of course Loki’s hand is steady, because Loki is In Control.
The comforting sounds he's making are smug. Full of venom and satisfaction. Enjoying Clint's attempts to squirm free. His mouth fills again, and Clint swallows convulsively, then tries to push the brim out of his mouth with his tongue, so he can clench his teeth shut. The cup squeaks against a tooth but doesn't budge, and his mouth fills again.
Aaaagh the sound + sensation of teeth squeaking on something. Aaaagghhh.
The curve of a cup means that teeth are going to be a pressure point, maybe on your canines, and also that once it’s in someone’s mouth there’s not much they can do to stop liquid flowing. Just angling a cup would serve to level a jaw open.
Also agh tooth squeak.
Clint swallows. Kicks. His heel slides on the floor. He can hear himself making soft huh huh noises, part pant, part moan, floating from the drink now instead of the knock to the head. His grip on Loki's arm is getting unsteady. His fingers feel clumsy, his body slower to obey.
Clint’s probably floating from being hit and being smashed and shutting down a little more. He’s slowing down physically and attributing it to the booze Loki’s making him drink, but he’s also less in control due to basically being freaked the fuck out. He’s not getting traction on the floor, his feet are sliding--really, he’s just flailing and making panic noise. Clint observing himself/his reaction like he’s a third party is a thing I try to show him having a mind-body separation. Not just dissociation, but that to Clint’s perceptions, he’s not the one making his body make these noises and movements. To his perception, Loki’s got a lot more control over him right now than just making him drink Asgard booze.
"Ugh," Clint protests, trying to shake his head, to turn away from the next sip Loki tilts into his mouth. "'Ulk."
"Calling for the monster? How sweet." The cup tilts again, and Clint sputters, then coughs when Loki relents, fingers moving against his neck and face in mock comfort.
Clint could be calling for the Hulk, could be just choking, but if someone has a healthy connection to a family, a team, people they think would come for them, then Loki’s going to mock it.
The subplot (or motivational direction, anyway) in this fic is about connections, Clint’s and Loki’s, but idk how much I should get into it here.
Clint tries shouting for help a few more times, choking and muffled into the cup, then gives up and deliberately lets go of Loki's arm, letting his hands drop to his sides, lowering them slowly until his fingers are braced against the floor, letting Loki cradle his head and swallowing obediently when he’s prompted. Letting his eyes slide shut.
I’ve tried to show Clint having a pretty good relationship with the Avengers. Natasha being physically affectionate, Tony teasing, Steve looking out for him and making him take time off, and Clint’s looked for them a few times to get him out of hot water. When he was in the box and now, but Loki’s got him pretty isolated in the dream. He’s realizing here that they’re not coming, can’t hear him, and not that he wasn’t aware of the isolation, but here he kind of gives up on them coming, and gives in to Loki.
And of course at this point, he’s physically worn out and as good as drugged, but his quitting point, even to his panicked struggling, is no one showing up/the realization that no one is going to.
"See how easy this can be?" Loki asks, finally letting up. Accepting the surrender, Clint thinks, but he can't make himself care when he's finally getting a break and a chance to breathe on his own time. "Hawkeye?"
"Yeah," Clint breathes, and swallows, just to clear his throat, this time. "Figured--" His voice catches. "Figured it out."
Yeah, Loki. So easy. What Clint’s figured out of course is that by “easy” Loki means, “You have no chance”. That getting to breathe is about the victory he can hope for, and even that if Loki allows it. Magic staff? Who needs a magic staff? See how easy it is, Hawkeye, for me to pull your strings like a puppet?
PS. No one is coming for you.
____________
OK! So since Melt Your Clocks is a WiP, this might be spoilery. Not in the sense of giving away plot, but talking about characters and what they’re thinking and that kind of thing. I haven’t done a DVD commentary before, so let me know how I do. :P
"Fuck. Fuck." Stop bubbles up his throat, but Loki's not about to and Clint's not about to beg him. It's bad enough that he can't help struggling, kicking at the floor for traction on the polished stone and clawing at Loki's restraining hand, where it's moved to cup his throat and chin, thumb pressing against his jaw on one side and fingers on the other. The throb in his face feels like it's being pushed into his eye and down his neck, and when Loki rolls his thumb firmly against the swelling, Clint's mouth falls open in a gasp.
This is the part of the interaction/dream session where Loki starts to use force, and Clint starts to lose. Not that he was winning before, but Loki’s been giving him an illusion of choice, but after Clint’s biting rebellion, that’s gone. He’s also using the result of the rebellion--Clint’s bruised face--as a tool of physical control.
He's ready for Loki to pour the drink down his throat, to be drowned or choked with it, but it doesn't happen. Loki just feeds it to him bit by bit, small sip at a time, careful not to spill or overfill Clint's mouth, and except for the way his thumb keeps massaging Clint's injured face, shooting sparks through his vision with each stroke, he's gentle. It's awful. Clint would prefer to drown.
Clint’s expectations of a fight are more explosive, or energetic, or something, but Loki’s not unviolent here. He’s really hurting Clint, but in a way that’s more than just physically overpowering him. He’s knocked Clint down, no problem, but to hold the kind of calm, measured control where he’s not even spilling, where he can be as tidy and calm as if Clint was still playing along, that’s really a control game. At the beginning of the fic Loki mentions that it was easier to manipulate Clint with the staff, but that doesn’t mean he thinks he needs the staff. A lot of Loki’s game has been screwing with Clint’s head, and even though this section is a bit more brute force, he’s really still screwing with Clint’s head.
And then a part of it is that I think Loki sees himself as cultured and not a smashy oaf. As in, not like Thor, so instead of just kicking Clint’s ass, he does this, which is actually a deal creepier and is still in the end resorting to physical power, so good job, Loki. In this chapter, there’s a bit of Loki’s issues with Thor and Asgard that Clint’s picked up on, though not that consciously yet. Mostly just in a ‘this gets under the asshole’s skin, so let me say it some more’ way.
"Easy," Loki soothes, when Clint moans against the rim of the cup, teeth clicking on its rim. He hadn't meant to let the sound escape, but it slips out before he knows he's going to make it. His teeth are clicking on the metal, making a soft rattling noise. It takes Clint a moment to realize that he's shaking. That it's not Loki's hand that's trembling. "Shh."
Clint would rather lose a real kick-down punch-down fight. he’s traumatized about control, and he’s realizing here that he doesn’t have it. He can choose to do what Loki wants, or Loki can easily make him. He’s not taking over Clint’s will or dream here, but just beating down his sense of autonomy and I think that’s something that freaks Clint out, especially this Clint, who Loki’s already been conditioning. And to make it worse, Clint’s a little out control here, making noise he doesn’t mean to, dissociating a bit so that he’s hearing his teeth click on the glass before he’s aware of what his body is doing.
Of course Loki’s hand is steady, because Loki is In Control.
The comforting sounds he's making are smug. Full of venom and satisfaction. Enjoying Clint's attempts to squirm free. His mouth fills again, and Clint swallows convulsively, then tries to push the brim out of his mouth with his tongue, so he can clench his teeth shut. The cup squeaks against a tooth but doesn't budge, and his mouth fills again.
Aaaagh the sound + sensation of teeth squeaking on something. Aaaagghhh.
The curve of a cup means that teeth are going to be a pressure point, maybe on your canines, and also that once it’s in someone’s mouth there’s not much they can do to stop liquid flowing. Just angling a cup would serve to level a jaw open.
Also agh tooth squeak.
Clint swallows. Kicks. His heel slides on the floor. He can hear himself making soft huh huh noises, part pant, part moan, floating from the drink now instead of the knock to the head. His grip on Loki's arm is getting unsteady. His fingers feel clumsy, his body slower to obey.
Clint’s probably floating from being hit and being smashed and shutting down a little more. He’s slowing down physically and attributing it to the booze Loki’s making him drink, but he’s also less in control due to basically being freaked the fuck out. He’s not getting traction on the floor, his feet are sliding--really, he’s just flailing and making panic noise. Clint observing himself/his reaction like he’s a third party is a thing I try to show him having a mind-body separation. Not just dissociation, but that to Clint’s perceptions, he’s not the one making his body make these noises and movements. To his perception, Loki’s got a lot more control over him right now than just making him drink Asgard booze.
"Ugh," Clint protests, trying to shake his head, to turn away from the next sip Loki tilts into his mouth. "'Ulk."
"Calling for the monster? How sweet." The cup tilts again, and Clint sputters, then coughs when Loki relents, fingers moving against his neck and face in mock comfort.
Clint could be calling for the Hulk, could be just choking, but if someone has a healthy connection to a family, a team, people they think would come for them, then Loki’s going to mock it.
The subplot (or motivational direction, anyway) in this fic is about connections, Clint’s and Loki’s, but idk how much I should get into it here.
Clint tries shouting for help a few more times, choking and muffled into the cup, then gives up and deliberately lets go of Loki's arm, letting his hands drop to his sides, lowering them slowly until his fingers are braced against the floor, letting Loki cradle his head and swallowing obediently when he’s prompted. Letting his eyes slide shut.
I’ve tried to show Clint having a pretty good relationship with the Avengers. Natasha being physically affectionate, Tony teasing, Steve looking out for him and making him take time off, and Clint’s looked for them a few times to get him out of hot water. When he was in the box and now, but Loki’s got him pretty isolated in the dream. He’s realizing here that they’re not coming, can’t hear him, and not that he wasn’t aware of the isolation, but here he kind of gives up on them coming, and gives in to Loki.
And of course at this point, he’s physically worn out and as good as drugged, but his quitting point, even to his panicked struggling, is no one showing up/the realization that no one is going to.
"See how easy this can be?" Loki asks, finally letting up. Accepting the surrender, Clint thinks, but he can't make himself care when he's finally getting a break and a chance to breathe on his own time. "Hawkeye?"
"Yeah," Clint breathes, and swallows, just to clear his throat, this time. "Figured--" His voice catches. "Figured it out."
Yeah, Loki. So easy. What Clint’s figured out of course is that by “easy” Loki means, “You have no chance”. That getting to breathe is about the victory he can hope for, and even that if Loki allows it. Magic staff? Who needs a magic staff? See how easy it is, Hawkeye, for me to pull your strings like a puppet?
PS. No one is coming for you.
