#heacanon

Being cursed with the ability to foresee the tragic demise of your close friend but being kept from forces being your control from preventing that tragedy, as well as knowing there’s nothing you can do to stop your other friend from suffering a horrific injury, is actually one of the most diabolical, unjust punishments I can think of for him—

For reference, this is the aforementioned Finn with/without his hat —

Sweeney Todd: Looks at it very technically, more like a playwright than an audience member. Appreciates the work that had to go into the effects, thinks about how the trapdoor mechanism provides a handy body disposal method. It's murder theater- this is his niche.

Hadestown: Appreciates both musically and narratively. What we see of the plays that Nicolas writes include surreal and fantastical elements (living dolls, werewolves) and the books tell us he wrote based on stories he knew. In my own writing, I've always used the fact he'd have a classical education (he tells Lestat theater is in service to 'the god of the grape') to include mythological references, especially Orphic mysteries and katabasis, so I think he'd enjoy that.

Next to Normal: ZERO insight. Does NOT think about why he might find the main character relatable or what that might tell him about himself. Comes away with the knowledge that maybe electricity can feel like getting high and tries to shock himself out of pure curiosity. No lessons learned.

He is, underneath all the crazy ramblings, a man who is deeply, deeply afraid of letting go of the past. He constantly repeats his full name, occupation, and place of residence as often as he can, and I don’t think that’s just because he’s insane. I think it’s because he’s desperately trying to cling onto that identity and the person he was when he had it.

The only thing he has of his old life is the facts that he remembers about himself — and the only way he can keep that old life alive is speaking it into existence.

But in doing this, he pushes away any chance he has of building a new life where he is now. People are scared of him, he has no real friends, he refuses to believe he’s a part of the household or make connections with the other objects.

By fighting so hard for a life that never existed, he’s losing the one that does.