Now this chapter has another rather important introduction with Larry Talbot. Much like Bubo, he’s a character worth paying attention to simply because of how unorthodox he is. Even as this chapter states, he’s kind of a player, but kind of not and that middle ground place he occupies puts him in an odd spot. And he’s all the more fun since you can piece together what’s going on with him even in this chapter. The checking of the hand thing is a reference that’s very one to one and Quicklime’s comment on Larry’s familiar is rather telling. All said, I do rather like Larry because of how straightforward he is. In a story focused on backstabbing and manipulation — even this chapter has two different (familiar) murder attempts — he’s someone that’s willing to state outright what he’s about and go forward with it. Which, related, makes this chapter fun as the first time that Jack and Snuff’s alignment is made clear(ish). Granted, there isn’t really context to what Opener and Closer mean yet, but at the very least you have a good idea which one our protagonists are.
Also, I find it interesting that Quicklime mentions he and Rastov have participated in the Game before since, by all accounts, they should then recognize Jack and Snuff and vice versa. Perhaps I’m remembering incorrectly, but I thought at some point it was made clear that our protagonists participated in every instance of the Game. All of them. So maybe we’re supposed to assume something about how Jack’s good at anonymity — it would fit with the whole Ripper part — or it just comes down to Rastov not recognizing him as a result of alcohol. Who knows.
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