#-literal indentured servant since childhood has been dealing with lmao

[zvezdacito]

Standing by what i said that malleus is probably tied with jamil in having the most systemic issue caused OB and circunstances that they really can't just "personally overcome" in a way that isnt just 'erm yolo make the best out of it'

Not to say the rest of the OBers are just whining/ just have to get over their past easily/there were no systemic factors at play at all (systemic vulnerability of children against adults, and azul being from a possibly looked-down-on merspecies was a huge part of why he was singled out) But theyre sort of in a position to walk away from that bad place thats perpetuating the brunt of their sadness and regret

It would be OOC given their ambitions and values but characters like Vil or Leona do HAVE the option to just leave and do something else. Riddle has a chance of cutting off his mom after he graduates and grow further from there. Azul is mostly just dealing with the aftereffects of long past bullying (which is not an easy trauma to overcome regardless of time or age) but since it's no longer presently happening, we can be optimistic that nothing he's currently feeling will be that aggravated, and he can fully move on in the future given his current progress in the story

But even if for example Jamil finally overcame all his internalized baggage regarding centering Kalim and what he does. He's still gonna be bound to the servitude while having to consider his actions' consequences on his family, and no personal action will be the deciding factor on setting him or them free (it's up to Kalim's kindness, which no one can doubt, but that it's literally not up to any personal development Jamil could strive for is the point)

And even if Malleus just "got over" the current few people in his life dying (something he's understandably paranoid about because even the circunstances of his birth are his parents being unexpectedly killed via factors outside their control despite their power) and he did become more mindful, he still has the colonial/wartime consequences in his country affecting everything he does and has to do. This would also prevent him from just making new friendships and etc (because his responsibility needs him to be a symbol before a person)

Also its not like Malleus didnt already try to be selfless and suck it up. The whole reason his OB happened is literally because he did TOO MUCH of that causing him to snap at the opportunity Imao

Malleus probably also has the pressure of not letting his parents' sacrifices be in vain making sure he can never just easily walk away from his childhood conditioning even if it seems simple from an outside perspective

TLDR for this part: If push came to shove, unlike others Jamil and Malleus do not even HAVE the choice to presently leave (without screwing over family and other people relying on them anyway)

I guess apart from the both of them, there's also Idia being (literally) cursed to be the styx heir. But in my opinion staying there is not what mainly aggravated his guilt and self-loathing so its not as intrinsic of a factor despote also being smth he cant just walk away from. (This is just my judgement of it tho Idia fans correct me if im wrong about how much being trapped as STYX heir is separable or inseparable from Idia's OB trauma)

But meanwhile for Jamil and Malleus the systemic circumstances they can't walk away from ARE whats directly perpetuating their immediate struggles. Even if they did have some realizations and make an effort to be better, not being able to escape the environment constantly demanding this response from them would make it very hard to not relapse into those toxic behaviors and mindsets

So yeah this was a pretty disorganized ramble mostly just raw stream of thoughts. I blame people choosing to interpret overblotters in exceedingly inconsiderate ways on Book 1 Ace /j

Ace of course said it in a very blunt way because that's what fits his character and at the moment that was needed to start a chain reaction of events/finally pushing Trey to action after years of fear. BUT IT DOESN'T LITERALLY MEAN THE ONLY REASON ABUSE VICTIMS ACT TRAUMATIZED IN THE YEARS TO COME IS BECAUSE "THEY JUST KEEP LETTING IT HAPPEN" 😭😭😭 Bro we are the omniscient audience we have the benefit of being able to come to more nuanced, rational and well-rounded conclusions because we're outside looking in why are we still thinking like this

^ Described Riddle's case specifically for this but this applies to how people talk about most of the overblotter's trauma and how they act because of it lol😭

malleus is not a “tragic character”

Born late

no parents

took 200 years to hatch

isolated

Separated from his father

snuck out to visit family

alone and worshipped

can’t express himself

….not tragic…right 🫠