#''they have PTSD from X thing' is honestly a HC that applies to... so many of the chars lmao

[birb-tangleblog]

the skinny legend that is Hector

What I love about them: “Effective Use of Limited Screentime” KING. But fr, I love his history with the other characters and connections to the lore; it goes a long way toward making him compelling despite a lack of canon material. 

He’s insanely dedicated and loyal, and an extremist- but he genuinely believes that he’s protecting the world, and his cause is objectively noble. He’s presented as a ruthless, cruel antagonist, and a dangerous threat to the party- but then has a total reversal and becomes a weirdly sympathetic victim himself. And at the end of the series, he’s deemed worthy of riding off into the sunset with the good guys! There’s so much duality and imo it’s fascinating! 

What I hate about them: only 1 ep :( 1 speaking line in the finale :’( Chris pls :’’’(

Favorite Moment/Quote: Probably his duel w/ Adira- but also his apology + intentionally unsealing the Tree. Both moments say a lot. 

What I would like to see more focus on: Might be an odd choice but- I’d actually like to see more focus on his negative traits? And just more nuanced portrayals in fanon!

Like honestly, I see RatGT-era Hector as... pretty unstable? Not crazy- but irrational. Tending towards paranoia or fanaticism, and up to his neck in sunk cost fallacy- worsened by years of isolation. That’s before everything else he goes through happens, and he still has to face his failure and the realization that so much of his life amounted to nothing. He’s... kind of an asshole! And very flawed! None of that just goes away.

In a lot of fanon/fic tho, he bounces back pretty quick, shrugs the past 25 years off, and just quickly mellows/becomes the local kooky feral man. And that’s a fun, amusing interpretation, I enjoy it too- but as a fan of the char, I’d love to see more takes and works really diving into the nitty gritty of his mental state and him coping, processing unresolved trauma/issues, and act putting in the work to change his behavior/mend his relationship with the other characters... or at least acknowledging that as a process. 

What I would like to see less focus on: Less treating him as part of a matched set/single unit with Adira, OR as an accessory to Varian. I know that sounds contradictory based on my own AUs and answers lmao, but... I feel Hector’s own character outside of being a caretaker or uncle often get lost when there’s a lot of focus on Var.

Favorite pairings with: Adira, Quirin, and Raps, you know the drill. 👌 I also kinda like the idea of Hector harboring unrequited feelings for Edmund? W/ varying levels of tragedy/pining depending on the take. 

Favorite friendship: Varian!! Hector mentoring him and being the ‘cool older family member’ is such a fun thought. I think Var would be pretty starstruck/happy to get to know Hector too! Also (obviously) Adira! The dynamic of them giving each other a hard time, while still sharing that bond and deep familiarity/sense of understanding means... so much to me man.

Favorite headcanon: SO MANY, but Hector being touch-starved + having PTSD from getting mind controlled twice are oldies but goodies.