Moonhyeok isn't even that bad? Like, he's been pretty clear about what he wants from the get go. It's obvious they're both using each other to an extent, even Haegyeom admits that. From my perspective, he's been pushy, over familiar, and slightly coercive during sex. I mean, he's not great but I wouldn't classify him as an outright red flag. The way everyone was talking had me thinking the man was a violent rapist or something.
Arguably, it can be said that he's utilizing Haegyeom's feelings knowing that he's vulnerable because of Moonhyeon's grooming and the marriage and that makes Haegyeom more susceptible to manipulation, but -
1. Moonhyeok doesn't know the extent to which Haegyeom has been groomed. He *just* found out about the tracker and permission to leave thing. He didn't even know that Haegyeom didn't know his brother was getting married. We know that Moonhyeon has micromanaged and censored everything from food, to schooling, to sex because we read it, but he's only seen/heard glimpses of it. He knows something's wrong with their relationship and has pointed that out to others, Haegyeom, and his brother.
2. Everyone at the center has acted like Haegyeom and Moonhyeon's relationship is normal, enabling it. When Moonhyeok asked why he wasn't paired up with Haegyeom during that joint meeting, they shot him down despite the obvious flaws in their plan. The resolution being that *both* Haegyeom and Moonhyeon be on Moonhyeok's team- upholding Moonhyeon's monopolization and surveillance of Haegyeom. It's obvious Moonhyeon has it in with the higher ups (and is working with the research department using Haegyeom's blood). When abuse is so institutionalized and enmeshed in an environment, outright moves against it are immediately squashed.
2b. Do I think that Moonhyeok had any intent to shake up the status quo? No, that would cause immediate rejection from Haegyeom, retribution from Moonhyeon, and the possibility of fucking up his job. I don't think he's that noble. He does have a goal. But he's objectively been a better influence on Haegyeom than basically everyone in that organization in less time and has provided Haegyeom with cover using his reputation (as a slut), authority (as a superior), and honestly his silence (I have no doubt Moonhyeon would have either physically assaulted, mentally destroyed, or even raped Haegyeom had he found out about the sex).
3. It just feels too much like Haegyeom's agency (what little of it he has) is being ignored. It's not like Haegyeom doesn't have a spine at all; he rejected Moonhyeok the first time during guiding, cutting it off when Moonhyeok was in a worse physical state. He has pretty much no fear talking back to Moonhyeok; no fear of Moonhyeok in general. I guarantee if Haegyeom had mentioned Moonhyeok bothering him, Moonhyeon would have found a way to put a tighter leash on Haegyeom as a way of getting rid of Moonhyeok (and instinctively, I think Haegyeom knows this too). He also knows he and Moonhyeok are just using each other. But still, that (sex) was one of the first decisions he ever made about his own body- like ever. And he continued to make that same decision, despite his own feelings of guilt and shame. Additionally, Haegyeom was the one to specifically ask for their last outing to be an order, so that he "couldn't" reject it. More and more, Haegyeom has learned to ask questions and express his opinion. This is him attempting to stretch out is wings to test the width of his cage.
Nevertheless, from what I've seen of the novel spoilers say, all this is about to go to shit so everything I've said is irrelevant because in what world is that a good idea for anyone involved lol
TLDR Moonhyeok is an opportunist and a bit of a jerk but he's not nearly as bad as some make him out to be (in my opinion). Haegyeom is a victim and a bit of a pushover but that's not all he is. Moonhyeon deserves the electric chair but even death is too kind.
On an unrelated note, I think this is the first time I've seen a guideverse story directly compare the side effects of no or insufficient guiding to that of withdrawal. That aspect has so much potential and I think it should be explored more.
Moonhyeok isn't even that bad? Like, he's been pretty clear about what he wants from the get go. It's obvious they're both using each other to an extent, even Haegyeom admits that. From my perspective, he's been pushy, over familiar, and slightly coercive during sex. I mean, he's not great but I wouldn't classify him as an outright red flag. The way everyone was talking had me thinking the man was a violent rapist or something.
Arguably, it can be said that he's utilizing Haegyeom's feelings knowing that he's vulnerable because of Moonhyeon's grooming and the marriage and that makes Haegyeom more susceptible to manipulation, but -
1. Moonhyeok doesn't know the extent to which Haegyeom has been groomed. He *just* found out about the tracker and permission to leave thing. He didn't even know that Haegyeom didn't know his brother was getting married. We know that Moonhyeon has micromanaged and censored everything from food, to schooling, to sex because we read it, but he's only seen/heard glimpses of it. He knows something's wrong with their relationship and has pointed that out to others, Haegyeom, and his brother.
2. Everyone at the center has acted like Haegyeom and Moonhyeon's relationship is normal, enabling it. When Moonhyeok asked why he wasn't paired up with Haegyeom during that joint meeting, they shot him down despite the obvious flaws in their plan. The resolution being that *both* Haegyeom and Moonhyeon be on Moonhyeok's team- upholding Moonhyeon's monopolization and surveillance of Haegyeom. It's obvious Moonhyeon has it in with the higher ups (and is working with the research department using Haegyeom's blood). When abuse is so institutionalized and enmeshed in an environment, outright moves against it are immediately squashed.
2b. Do I think that Moonhyeok had any intent to shake up the status quo? No, that would cause immediate rejection from Haegyeom, retribution from Moonhyeon, and the possibility of fucking up his job. I don't think he's that noble. He does have a goal. But he's objectively been a better influence on Haegyeom than basically everyone in that organization in less time and has provided Haegyeom with cover using his reputation (as a slut), authority (as a superior), and honestly his silence (I have no doubt Moonhyeon would have either physically assaulted, mentally destroyed, or even raped Haegyeom had he found out about the sex).
3. It just feels too much like Haegyeom's agency (what little of it he has) is being ignored. It's not like Haegyeom doesn't have a spine at all; he rejected Moonhyeok the first time during guiding, cutting it off when Moonhyeok was in a worse physical state. He has pretty much no fear talking back to Moonhyeok; no fear of Moonhyeok in general. I guarantee if Haegyeom had mentioned Moonhyeok bothering him, Moonhyeon would have found a way to put a tighter leash on Haegyeom as a way of getting rid of Moonhyeok (and instinctively, I think Haegyeom knows this too). He also knows he and Moonhyeok are just using each other. But still, that (sex) was one of the first decisions he ever made about his own body- like ever. And he continued to make that same decision, despite his own feelings of guilt and shame. Additionally, Haegyeom was the one to specifically ask for their last outing to be an order, so that he "couldn't" reject it. More and more, Haegyeom has learned to ask questions and express his opinion. This is him attempting to stretch out is wings to test the width of his cage.
Nevertheless, from what I've seen of the novel spoilers say, all this is about to go to shit so everything I've said is irrelevant because in what world is that a good idea for anyone involved lol
TLDR
Moonhyeok is an opportunist and a bit of a jerk but he's not nearly as bad as some make him out to be (in my opinion).
Haegyeom is a victim and a bit of a pushover but that's not all he is.
Moonhyeon deserves the electric chair but even death is too kind.
On an unrelated note, I think this is the first time I've seen a guideverse story directly compare the side effects of no or insufficient guiding to that of withdrawal. That aspect has so much potential and I think it should be explored more.
I'm done yapping now