#it's whatever but i've been purposely avoiding their actual names out of respect for their desire for anonymity

[acegodzilla]

Thanks youtube for jumpscaring me with vessel and ii's real names in the lyric credits on songs from the new album I really appreciate it 😑

[syyskirjat]

I did say that I've been able to avoid a lot of spoilers but to be entirely honest I haven't avoided some preconceived notions.

I know that my friends like Willie Collins and have specifically praised his writing for being... I guess progressive? For it's time? Is my impression based on what I've heard? Although to be fair I don't quite remember the particulars, that's something I've picked up over several years of hearing his name mentioned.

And I have gotten the impression that people like Marian and also Count Fosco? I think?

Which... I mean I do get the appeal, especially since I also tend to gravitate towards characters who have at least somewhat of a queercoding about them, which these two definitely do. But also: oh boy do I also have some notes on both of them so far. Well less so with Fosco, I still don't know much about him at all, but I can't help but feel kinda creeped out about the whole "strong-willed independent woman mysteriously becomes meek after marriage" thing.

Not that characters have to be good people to be likeable obviously, but you know, sometimes it helps.

Marian I guess is like... well she talks a lot of shit and is very judgemental and misogynistic and kind of an asshole, but to be fair her actions speak louder than her words and so far she hasn't done anything malicious towards anybody, at least not on purpose. She did snitch on Anne but I kinda get that she's trying to do what's right based on societal pressure and concern for her sister. In general she seems to be trying to do whatever she can to make everybody happy, or at least as happy as possible given circumstances. And she's quite selfless about it and still respectful of other people's choices even when she doesn't agree. And the way she intervenes with the schoolboy who's being disciplined and the poor little dying dog reinforce that sense that she's genuinely good-hearted, even if she maybe doesn't even see herself that way? And doesn't seem to see those actions as anything remarkable.

Remains to be seen what Fosco is actually like.