Yeah, it took me until someone else pointed it out, but the Tamil version of the name is usually transcribed into English as Seetha (like the actress) which seems pretty clear to me. There’s also the surface similarity, that Sita is a lost princess, even if in her case, lost is more “kidnapped” than “stranded”. I have a couple other reasons, but those are all really long and have to do with parallels to the mythological Gilgamesh, so they’re better served as part of my extended meta. (Promise I’ll get that done this weekend; you’ve given me a good reason to). You’re right about most of the other motifs being more Mesopotamian or Persian, but there is one thing: Zeetha’s swords are Katars (transcribed as Qatar’as in the novelization) which are very uniquely Indian, and originated in Southern India.
(2/2) I mean the Egyptian god Set, in Greek Seth, was a lover of Ashtara (or Astarte) and an enemy of Isis (or Innana or Ashtara), Zeetha could be a feminisation of that. Set, was apparently traditionally the god of foreigners, which would be very apt for the daughter of Chump, and much of the demonization of him that we know in stories today, happened later in Egypt’s history.
I… really don’t think that Zeetha’s name is a corruption of Seth. For one thing, the double combination in English is almost always indicative of a long vowel, and there’s no version of Set’s name that I’m aware of that uses the long E. And also, Set’s most (in)famous deed is literally… murdering his brother, and attempting to murder his nephew. Sure, Klaus seems to think that’s what she’s here to do, but I think if it really were what the Foglios picked her name for, she’d be more of a villainous character.
Current mood: a “Gil raised on Skifander” au where Zeetha pesters Agatha into asking her brother out by talking about what a HOT COMMODITY he is back home as the EXOTICALLY BEAUTIFUL son of the Queen of Skifander, and how mom has to beat back his suitors with a STICK because there are so many and Gil breaks ALL their hearts because he’s waiting for his One True Love
Gil hears this after a while and is like “NONE OF THAT IS TRUE” but it is. it’s all true. Gil is like, Martian Cleopatra and has at least fifteen love poems written about him every week and he hates it so much
u know the scene from the beginning of Aladdin where the douchy prince storms out because his pants got eaten and Jasmine is like “but daaaaaaaad I want to marry for love” and is a Rebellious Princess™
that’s Gil. Gil is the Rebellious Princess™
I think about this constantly, and also the implications of the implied gender role flip going on in Skifander, and how the
archetype of what a Skiff prince should be is probably like, swoons and lets princesses rescue him, and does subtle political maneuvering behind the curtain and would probably break a nail if he ever picked up a sword, and Gil doesn’t fit that at all but TARVEK ABSOLUTELY DOES
Current mood: a “Gil raised on Skifander” au where Zeetha pesters Agatha into asking her brother out by talking about what a HOT COMMODITY he is back home as the EXOTICALLY BEAUTIFUL son of the Queen of Skifander, and how mom has to beat back his suitors with a STICK because there are so many and Gil breaks ALL their hearts because he’s waiting for his One True Love
Gil hears this after a while and is like “NONE OF THAT IS TRUE” but it is. it’s all true. Gil is like, Martian Cleopatra and has at least fifteen love poems written about him every week and he hates it so much
Honestly as hilarious as this is and as much as I can see Zeetha trying that, I don’t really imagine Agatha caring how much of a hot commodity Gil is back in Skifander. Maybe a little bit if she decides they’re competition, but even then, they’re in Skifander and Agatha is the Heterodyne, clearly she wins, they are not a threat. I don’t think she’d really be motivated by Gil being the perfect trophy boyfriend.
Now, Tarvek on the other hand….
Zeetha tells Agatha all of this attempting to get her to ask Gil out. Tarvek overhears and asks Gil out himself. Agatha later asks them both out, somewhat aggressively due to thwarted spark irritation about not being the first to ask. (They’re both into it though so that’s fine.)
While I’m still not really 100% about the later bits of canon in this AU (and even if I’m going to have a time skip at all) I’ve been thinking about tabloids and public perceptions of Gali for a while so let me just use this as an excuse to dump rambles on you.
While she’s in Paris probably something like “MYSTERIOUS HEROINE” and an article a young woman rescuing show girls from sewer monsters, but you can’t make out her face and nobody actually knows who she is (which serves Gali just fine- she can’t get yelled at for not being careful if no one ever finds out).
After she comes out as a Wulfenbach there’s definitely going to be headlines like “THE BARON’S LONG LOST DAUGHTER” as well as some claiming she’s the long lost Heterodyne heir, and that’s why the jaegers are working for the Baron
Every other week there’s a rumor about her being engaged to this young nobleman or that deranged spark or even (one memorable occasion) to Queen Alba, but those only last for so long before everyone realizes they’re bogus. There’s always a lot of things about “Ereshkigal Wulfenbach wore this coat or that dress” because Gali really enjoys fashion (I mean seriously, look at Gil in canon) and tends to stand out, since she prefers bright colors. There’s also one story that claims the Baron is holding her mother hostage in exchange for service to the empire, and that Othar Tryggvassen (Gentleman adventurer!) has sworn that he will not rest until the Baron is overthrown and his true love is safely out of his evil clutches. (Wooster laughs about this one for a week. Gali is not amused).
God dammit, who’s trying to kidnap Tarvek now!? He’s being passed around the political factions like a doobie. He’s gonna get passed back to Gil needing a bath from everyone’s sticky hands.
The funny thing is, I don’t think Tarvek’s going to destroy most of these people. I mean, the Library, his Grandmother (who he appears to be fond of), Seffie was sort of trying to help…
WHoever’s after him now might die pretty hard, though.
Seffie: It’s in my best interest for you to woo the Lady Heterodyne away from Wulfenbach. Therefore, I’m sending you to England to meet up with her alone.
Gil: (Pulling up next to Tarvek halfway across the Channel, blaring a novelty car horn) Sup, buddy? Do you need a ride?
Reminder that Tweedle is known for having “trouble with the ladies” and this trouble is more often than not called Tarvek.
“Good heavens, Tweedle, the lady is trying to speak!” Tarvek smiled at the young woman Martellus was accosting. “Tarvek Sturmvorous, Lady.” He bowed. “You were saying something about greenhouses?”
The young woman blinked and smiled uncertainly at Tarvek. She curtseyed. “Mona Bauer,” she said. “I was, but I don’t know –” She glanced warily at Martellus.
“Oh, never mind Tweedle,” Tarvek said, offering her his arm, “He can go off sometimes, more Spark than sense, you know.”
Cheloneuniverse 