“A Royal Affair” by Christianne Goudreau & Taneka Stotts is a mini-comic about the brief encounter of space pirate Captain Naideen Alleyne and Ri’an Chiarthi gol Rune the VI, Regent of Calofi. This mini-comic is featured in Beyond: The Queer Sci-Fi & Fantasy Anthology, edited by Sfé R. Monster.
Why was it important for Regent Ri’an to escape their homeworld without Captain Alleyne’s help?
In a nutshell, the plot of “A Royal Affair” deals with Regent Ri’an tricking Captain Alleyne into coming to their planet so they can escape from their life and duties. It starts off by setting up the classic trope of a legendary rogue rescuing the damsel in distress, and the pirate/princess backdrop adds some additional exciting flair. However, by the end of the story, expectations are subverted by having Ri’an steal Alleyne’s ship and fleeing their planet on their own. In other words, the seemingly sheltered and innocent Regent out-witted the legendary space pirate with ease. Was this necessary when just moments before Captain Alleyne explicitly offered Regent Ri’an to whisk them away? For Ri’an, it made all the difference in the world.
Credits: Christianne Goudreau & Taneka Stotts
A three-panel page.
First panel: Captain Alleyne, with her right hand on her hip and pointing at Regent Ri'an playfully, has a big smile on her face as she talks to Regent Ri’an, who looks slightly taken aback.
Ri’an: Business?
Alleyne: Well, you’re the Regent locked down to some royal responsibility. You of all people know the services I can provide.
Second Panel: Captain Alleyne is speaking, waving her left arm as if presenting something. On the top-left section of the panel, a cloud bubble shows a cartoon illustration of the Regent relaxing on a sunny beach.
Alleyne: It’s simple, really. I have a ship nearby. I could give you passage to anywhere you want. You set yourself up nicely for a while and return when you’ve figured it out... or not! Titles don’t matter much out there.
Third Panel: A close-up of Regent Ri’an looking skeptical.
Ri’an: Why not?
Alleyne (off-panel): Because it’s whoever you say you are that matters most. That, and a little coin goes a long way.
While the story does not give the reader the full background of planet Calofi, it is clear that the position of Regent, while powerful, carries a heavy burden of expectations and tradition. Becoming a full-fledged King or Queen seems to grant complete authority and power over the realm, yet the neither the positions of Regent or King and Queen bear any agency over the self. A simple definition of agency would be that it’s the power a person has over their own life and choices; it is the act of being an agent — an active subject — rather than an object, which is a passive subject. While born into privlidge and power, Ri’an does not have a say in their life. They are expected to follow the path set for them by tradition as they are ultimately a servant of the people. For whatever unexplained reasons, Ri’an does not want to adhere to these expectations, however.
Credits: Christianne Goudreau & Taneka Stotts
A two-panel page.
First Panel: Captain Alleyne is standing in the background before a a massive doorway, with a letter in one hand, as she talks to one of her crew members on her communicator. The foreground of the panel features an illustration of the letter.
Alleyne: Where’s my cruiser?
Crew member: It ventured past the third moon, but the trace is growing faint.
Alleyne: Prep the crew and lock that signal down, we’re getting it back.
Crew member: Sounds good, Captain. The surface situation has become pretty unstable.
Letter: Excuse the ruse, but you can only be so trusting of a pirate. Thank you for your talk and your ship. Enjoy your half of the vault. XO
Second Panel: Captain Alleyne is holding up the Regent’s crown.
Alleyne: Why’s that?
Crew member: Whoever took your ship left in quite a hurry.
Alleyne: Heh.
The story is set up in a way to believe that Ri’an wants Alleyne to take her away, to live unburdened from tradition and expectations. This is certainly what Alleyne assumes since what else could a privileged royal know how to do but lounge in luxury? This is where not only the trope is subverted, but also Alleyne’s and the reader’s assumptions about Ri’an. Even though their way out was presented on a symbolic silver platter, the essential part of Ri’an’s plan was to finally exercise their agency. Becoming a refugee on Alleyne’s ship would only put them in the care and protection of another person. It wouldn’t be true freedom and agency. Ri’an needed to escape under their own terms, out-witting the fabled space pirate they admire, to prove to themselves and others that they are in control of their life.