#ariel is with theo btw . not there

[rain-on-wax-feathers]

reincarnation fem au comic : fun outfits!

[calronhunt]

I've specifically been thinking about Gabriel and giving him more depth than just "Raphael's oldest brother and guy who physically abuses him" It's primarily bc it's like. Important to me to show that even golden children in the typical "golden child-scapegoat child" scenario are still like. Being abused even if it is it presented as a "good" thing. This doesn't mean that Gabriel is a GOOD PERSON but he is still a product of an incredibly broken family and will be shaped by that. Especially as the one who will inherit the throne next.

Gabriel pretends that Ariel cheating on Theo didn't have any effect on him but Gabriel's so bad at forming relationships. A lot of pressure is put on to him to find a partner and produce a child, but given how Ariel and Theo haven't been...the most loving wives too each other, he doesn't have a great model for what he should be looking for. Its easier to not have to worry about being betrayed if you never settle down fully you know?

Gabriel also believes wholeheartedly that Raphael is the cause of everyone in the family's sorrow and misery. He thinks that the family and his life were perfect before Raphael's conception when he was 16 (it was not perfect btw. It was still very much dysfunctional). He doesn't wanna blame his mom (Ariel) for her genuine wrongdoing of cheating because he loves his mom and doesn't WANT to be mad at her. So he pushes everything onto Raphael so Gabriel's torment and abuse of him is justified. Raphael's just a little parasite that everyone's keeping around bc they're too empathetic to get rid of a leech when they should. And at this point, Gabriel CAN'T think any other way bc then he would have to face the fact he hurt an innocent person for more than half his life. And that's not very becoming of a king is it?