Like him

I’ve been thinking since chapter 72, on my own experiences and knowledge of psychology. You can say that sure, JJ’s past explains everything and that’s that — but I find this sort of thing interesting because of how significantly your guardians can influence your future. Just rambling here for funsies. I’m saying this because I’m seeing at least two groups of people in the comments:

1. I hate JJ and give zero fucks about his backstory.
2. Oh my god, I forgive him regardless of the shit he put Dan through!

This is more for group 1, and keep in mind that this isn’t true for all cases of course, but it might put this “sob story” into perspective.

I can put in this way, to be concise: some people live with an angry man in their upbringing. He’s in that house with them, but he doesn’t disappear no matter where that person goes, ever — even when he’s dead. Be it a voice, a nightmare, a glance in the mirror (although, some therapy and introspection sure can tuck him away).

Of course, nothing excuses JJ’s actions, and I really can’t wait to see him on his knees begging for a chance (so long as Mingwa doesn’t rush the plot). I’m sure she just threw in the most devastating story she could think of — but that’s the thing — it fits perfectly. The nature of rage in JJ, being triggered seeing Dan drink himself into a stupor, comfort with elders, and quite a bit more, which I won’t go into because this is getting long.

It’s easy to say that Dan experienced something similar and turned out way better, but you can’t compare the trauma of two people like that. It just isn’t that simple; trauma responses are not something you can dictate. If they were that easy, you wouldn’t need to attend years of school to become a psychiatrist. I can’t say I forgive him, and if I were Dan I’d probably stay away from JJ regardless of what he does to work on himself (Dan must be so traumatized) but alas, this is the yaoi universe and we all know how this will end.

Anyway, before I get temp banned from commenting because of comment length, if you wanna get into JJ’s character more, I think it would be fun, and I’m pretty active in my mangago mail. I’ve been enjoying Jinx quite a bit these recent chapters. WOW I sound like I’ve never touched grass. Anyway!