#abuse implied

I.) Isn’t sorry about it and instead of any apologies, just says he Forgives Argel Tal for his reaction (that Argel Tal never asked forgiveness for because he doesn’t regret his reaction)

II.) Doesn’t believe it was ‘too far’ in the first place

III.) Doesn’t believe he has Ever hurt Argel Tal before (literally says “Have I ever done you wrong?”)

Can we infer that whatever was done {theories,,,,} is something Erebus has normalised in his life entirely, perhaps something from his time being a nut case on Colchis - something to do with Chaos. Is he GENUINELY believing the event was nothing because it’s something he’s been through too?

Or is he posturing?? Does he know whatever happened was wrong deep down but is passing it off as Argel Tal acting like a brat?

I feel like Lorgar’s reaction to it is also quite telling; he brushes it off, asks if Argel Tal has forgiven Erebus like Erebus has forgiven him. AT was going to kill Erebus (and maintains that he would have, too, if he could!!!), but Lorgar is like, “Well are you sorry too? Are you done being upset at him? He’s not upset at you, you know.” And with the bits we get of his childhood, it’s no wonder he tries to impose the fawning survival response onto AT - it worked for him!!

Erebus is akin to Argel Tal’s Kor Phaeron. Master and Acolyte. Father and Son. If Lorgar is aware of what truly was “too far”, he wouldn’t see any problem with it as it likely reflected the normalised and ritualised abuse he put up with himself. Sooo… does Erebus also view it from this lens? Did Erebus have his own Kor Phaeron that “went too far”? Did he not and so his methods for Argel Tal went “too far” too quickly?

What are the Methods that went too far? Was he pushing Argel Tal to partake in chaos rituals early on? We know the Word Bearers in general, even pre heresy, put themselves through all sorts of pain and punishment even just for contemplation. Abuse is pretty normalised for Word Bearers.

For those who wanted a little p2 to this (also for me bc i needed to end on a positive note) I kind of fudge the height difference a lot in this

I remember all the times growing up that I’d get in trouble for something I said or did, and I’d get in more trouble when I asked for an explanation. I was told I was “talking back” or being a “smart ass” when I literally was just trying to understand.

I also find that I’d get punished for being emotional. Even if I didn’t handle them in the right way, that was an opportunity to teach me how to handle them better. Instead I got in trouble and it just taught me to suppress my emotions. And honestly? Adults have bad days and difficulty handling their emotions. But somehow as a child, I was punished for not being perfect.

I think, for my parents at least, they’d get upset and ask why I was disrespecting them or doing something to them. And I think that’s the problem. They took my actions to mean I was maliciously trying to upset them when that was never the case. Instead of sitting back and trying to figure out why a child might be doing what they’re doing, they took it personally and that’s what made them so angry. If you think someone is intentionally trying to upset you, it’s going to likely upset you. And that wasn’t a fair assumption to make.

cws for maternal death + mild abuse implications