Introduction
There seems to be a very pervasive opinion in the fandom that Maschenny is nothing but a pawn, servant or puppet of one of the Family Leaders. That's she's nothing but a mere piece on their gameboard.
I find this opinion very vexing (it denies Maschenny of any actual agency) and am especially annoyed by it, because there's no solid basis for it in the actual Webtoon.
When I actually review Maschenny's scenes in the Webtoon, all I find is a mountain of evidence against it.
Maschenny's Agency
When she talks about her machinations schemes and stratagems, it's always her will:
As you can see, every time Maschenny does something, or talks about something she's done or plans to do, the focus is only on what she wants. There has never once been a reference to what someone else wants.
She has only ever been working for her own ends.
Contra Servant Maschenny
I think that the idea that Maschenny is operating at the Nest in service to one of the Family Leaders is heavily contradicted in the Webtoon.
When speaking to Jinsung, she said that the game became bigger than she expected and that people not even she could handle became actively involved:
She goes on to say that as a result, she kept Jinsung alive and brought him to the Nest. As he was like a breakwater for Baam and an important member of the Ha Family:
The look of fear and despair on her face when she says the above seems genuine.
If Maschenny was working in service to an Irregular:
In Favour of Player Maschenny
I think that it has been made sufficiently clear that Maschenny is a Player in her own right. I'll cover the evidence in favour below.
At the start of the Nest, she commented that while Baam currently does not have much power, his mere existence is shaking the board already:
The chessboard metaphor is interesting, and brings to mind the scenario of a chess game with Players and pieces.
Maschenny seemingly considers herself one of the Players.
Jinsung listed her alongside the Zahard Army and 10 Great Families as the main forces/actors behind the Nest:
Note that Maschenny by herself, merits this distinction.
She tells Jinsung that she wouldn't tell him what she's up to, but that she doesn't want Baam's story to come to a boring end, that she wants to see it continue to become even more interesting and so she raised the stakes:
She mentioned that the game suddenly became much bigger and now there are people involved that not even she can handle:
Again, the implication is that she's sitting at the same board as the Family Leaders and Zahard, but they are even bigger forces than her.
She reveals that she's the mastermind behind the Nest:
She literally takes credit for setting up the game board on this battlefield.
And that her purpose is the same as the other Players. They want to obtain the special card called "an Irregular" and use it however they please:
Again, she groups herself with the Players.
She tells Baam and his allies that they are not strong enough or great enough to side with her (or any of the other Players):
Again, Maschenny implicitly groups herself among the Players.
She goes on to say that Baam's group are only fit to become pawns. And then asks them if they want to become her pawns:
Yet again, she implies that she's one of the Players on the game board.
Conclusions
Maschenny clearly presents herself as a Player in her own right. And as of now, there has been no other presentation of her in the Webtoon.
The idea that she's just a pawn serving one of the true Players has no substance in the Webtoon.
It's a headcanon rooted solely in the fetishism of the Irregulars.
Maschenny may be the smallest Player at the table, but she's still one among them. At least, that's what the story is currently telling us.
There seems to be a very pervasive opinion in the fandom that Maschenny is nothing but a pawn, servant or puppet of one of the Family Leaders. That's she's nothing but a mere piece on their gameboard.
I find this opinion very vexing (it denies Maschenny of any actual agency) and am especially annoyed by it, because there's no solid basis for it in the actual Webtoon.
When I actually review Maschenny's scenes in the Webtoon, all I find is a mountain of evidence against it.
Maschenny's Agency
When she talks about her machinations schemes and stratagems, it's always her will:
- Her desires
- "I've been reading the Ancient books for a long time, waiting for the moment those battles will take place before my eyes. Compared to back then, the current peace seems so trivial and dullβ":
- "Ah, that's right, maybe I'm just a nut who can't live without bloodshed and fighting":
- "I don't want this story to have a boring ending":
- "I want it to keep going until it becomes a bit more interesting":
- "I've been reading the Ancient books for a long time, waiting for the moment those battles will take place before my eyes. Compared to back then, the current peace seems so trivial and dullβ":
- Her goals
- "My goal... isn't much different from yours. What you want is what I want. I just think β I need to shed a bit more 'blood' for the sake of my goal!!":
- "I told you. You and I want the same thing. I just think a bit more 'blood' needs to be spilled":
- "My goal... isn't much different from yours. What you want is what I want. I just think β I need to shed a bit more 'blood' for the sake of my goal!!":
- Her expectations
- "Rage will lead you to battle. I want you to become a vast wave of anger like you've never seen before":
- "I wonder if that boy will be able to satisfy my expectations. I wonder":
- "Rage will lead you to battle. I want you to become a vast wave of anger like you've never seen before":
- Her anticipations
- "I feel bad saying this when everyone is out there fighting so hard... But having that kid here is way more exciting":
- "I feel bad saying this when everyone is out there fighting so hard... But having that kid here is way more exciting":
- Her curiosity
- "But for some strange reason... Seeing him... Reminds me of my Father":
- "But for some strange reason... Seeing him... Reminds me of my Father":
- Her plans and actions
- "That's right. I want to make a bet with my Yellow May and your Green April":
- "I won't tell you the reason I'm after the Green April, but I'm suggesting this to you because I really need it too":
- "I'll let him live a bit longer. I can't just let some valuable bait of the hook":
- "I'm going to make this Tower a bloody mess":
- "So what do you think I'm up to?":
- "That's why I raised the stakes":
- "That's why I've kept you alive this long":
- "I'm the mastermind who entrapped Jinsung Ha and lured you all here":
- "That's right. I want to make a bet with my Yellow May and your Green April":
As you can see, every time Maschenny does something, or talks about something she's done or plans to do, the focus is only on what she wants. There has never once been a reference to what someone else wants.
She has only ever been working for her own ends.
Contra Servant Maschenny
I think that the idea that Maschenny is operating at the Nest in service to one of the Family Leaders is heavily contradicted in the Webtoon.
When speaking to Jinsung, she said that the game became bigger than she expected and that people not even she could handle became actively involved:
She goes on to say that as a result, she kept Jinsung alive and brought him to the Nest. As he was like a breakwater for Baam and an important member of the Ha Family:
The look of fear and despair on her face when she says the above seems genuine.
If Maschenny was working in service to an Irregular:
- She'd never have commented on the game becoming too big for her when the Irregulars got involved.
- She wouldn't be a Player in the first place, but merely a piece or helper of one of the Players.
- She wouldn't be so terrified when the Irregulars got involved as she has (a) suitable backer(s)/supporter(s) .
- She wouldn't need to prepare her own countermeasures to an Irregular getting involved as her supporter(s) would presumably handle it.
In Favour of Player Maschenny
I think that it has been made sufficiently clear that Maschenny is a Player in her own right. I'll cover the evidence in favour below.
At the start of the Nest, she commented that while Baam currently does not have much power, his mere existence is shaking the board already:
Maschenny seemingly considers herself one of the Players.
Jinsung listed her alongside the Zahard Army and 10 Great Families as the main forces/actors behind the Nest:
Note that Maschenny by herself, merits this distinction.
She tells Jinsung that she wouldn't tell him what she's up to, but that she doesn't want Baam's story to come to a boring end, that she wants to see it continue to become even more interesting and so she raised the stakes:
She mentioned that the game suddenly became much bigger and now there are people involved that not even she can handle:
Again, the implication is that she's sitting at the same board as the Family Leaders and Zahard, but they are even bigger forces than her.
She reveals that she's the mastermind behind the Nest:
She literally takes credit for setting up the game board on this battlefield.
And that her purpose is the same as the other Players. They want to obtain the special card called "an Irregular" and use it however they please:
Again, she groups herself with the Players.
She tells Baam and his allies that they are not strong enough or great enough to side with her (or any of the other Players):
Again, Maschenny implicitly groups herself among the Players.
She goes on to say that Baam's group are only fit to become pawns. And then asks them if they want to become her pawns:
Yet again, she implies that she's one of the Players on the game board.
Conclusions
Maschenny clearly presents herself as a Player in her own right. And as of now, there has been no other presentation of her in the Webtoon.
The idea that she's just a pawn serving one of the true Players has no substance in the Webtoon.
It's a headcanon rooted solely in the fetishism of the Irregulars.
Maschenny may be the smallest Player at the table, but she's still one among them. At least, that's what the story is currently telling us.
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@Worst
@Gensui Sazid
@FaradaySloth
@Panties Hunter
@Amelya
@MasterD
@Zoro D Goat
@Kucing Pencuri
@WillOfMyD
@IceWitch
@RobertoTheOharaSurvivor
@Marimo_420
@Greenbeard
@MonsterKaido
@Cinera
@notAfanboy
@NAMELESS
@Luffywankishere
@Shadowlord123
@Haoku
@AL sama
@zorojurou
@Thururuzao
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