the bog bean

Time to FROLIC!

i am not defending her per se. HOWEVER. i think ianthe’s actions must be viewed through the lens that she has always had to carve out a space for herself in every social position and identity she’s ever held. because never once has she been anyone’s favorite or first choice. as one of two necromantic heirs of the third house, as one of two baby lyctors aboard the mithraeum, as one of two tower princes. she has always been the one looked over or less favored. and so OBVIOUSLY she would weaponize that trait of hers - seen notably when she uses her ability to escape notice to reverse-engineer the lyctoral process without anyone else figuring out what she was doing until it was too late - and OBVIOUSLY she views herself as the main character, as Above It All. her psychological background necessitates it. she’s never belonged in any room she’s ever stepped foot in and so she must be superior to everyone in those rooms. and she’s fascinated by - and made insecure by - the people for whom that justification seems to be disproven. coronabeth, harrowhark, kiriona. all more important and more favored than her. and wouldn’t that just piss you off. wouldn’t that just make you want to bond yourself to them forever. isn’t that too a form of love