aggravated duck's Topics (1039)

Okay, this is just my opinion but it can only be based on what we saw so far.
1. "He comes across as cold and biting but I think something happened in his past that makes him this way."
I think Alek now is not different from the Alek from the past. It's just his personality combined maybe with privileged upbringing. We have hints in the story. Alek from the past and his words and attitude towards Ivan are exactly the same. He is not warmer nor less arrogant in the past. Something like (What do you want to hear? Do you want me to say something trite? ). Other hint is when Hen makes a comment about how they all look like Alek (the car movie) and how come Ivan is part of the same tribe. To what Ivan replies that they (the 'perfect' snakes like Alek are arrogant and snob) . Another hint: Alek had a privileged life ( the hint from the scene where he drives) so that fits Alek having a snob, cold,'superior' personality trope. It is as if snakes like Alek were royalty and behaved as such. By the way, I think Alek being cold doesn't necessary mean that he is completely indifferent. However, it makes him duller in the story because his scenes lack humor and it becomes only about his looks.
2. "but lets not forget that Ivan came across as a jerk and a player at first" . This is a rivals to lovers story. The author needed to create a pair who bickered and fought and were completely opposite. Like many stories like this, there is an insecure guy who 'hates' the popular, overconfident one. But this is not an abuser/victim dynamic. In most scenes of them Hen and Ivan are equally going at each other's throats. What is the extension of Ivan being a 'jerk' to Hyun? Snark? And that's not the point of development? Even more compared to Alek's treatment of Hyun literally playing with his feelings? Their rivalry is common place in the office and notice that Ivan is not shown as having advantage on Hyun, they go at each other's throat equally. As per Ivan being a player, I always find weird that readers slut shame Ivan for being a single guy having sex for fun. Notice that all the 'bad' reputation on Ivan is either Alek trash talking him or Hyun pre conceived idea that it's wrong to have sex so casually. What do we know about Ivan's behavior? Again, from the story, we know from the gossip that he slept around and restrict POV from Hyun. In any moment we are told that Ivan deceives people. The 'player' here means that he is single and enjoys sex for fun and with no strings attached, what he is honest about it. In no moment we are told that he cheats or actually 'play' with peoples feelings. Ironically, Ivan, the player is being faithful to Hen even though they are not in a relationship. Alek is actually playing with Hen's feelings from the moment he noticed Hyun had a crush on him and got the imprint. So, if by 'player' you mean, he is a single guy enjoying sex, what exactly is wrong with that if he is not out there intentionally deceiving and hurting people?
3. "what if it was Alek that imprinted Hen and not Ivan. Would he be more swayed towards him? " Hen was already swayed by Alek, he was infatuated with him. I think you are missing the fact that the imprint is also the way the author used to make Alek and Hen to get closer and spend intimate time together. The imprint didn't change anyone's personality, not Ivan, not Hen, not Alek. It just 'forced' them into interact closer than before. Notice that the closer Hen gets to Alek, the less impressed he gets. Ivan or not, Hen's feelings for Alek are weaning off based on reality x illusion. Alek turns out not be the perfect illusion Hen created. The same thing is happening with Ivan. Hen had an image of Ivan that he is finding out it's not all true. The feelings that Hen is having for Ivan is not because of the imprint. It's about the bonding moments they are spending. The biggest turn around is the day they spend in the beach and later in the hotel. Now, in the car. It's not the imprint who is making Hen fall out of love with Alek and fall in with Ivan. Hen didn't know either of them. Once he is getting to know them ( the imprint is the vehicle but the 'bonding' moments is what is affecting Hen), he is actually finding out Alek is not the person he thought he was (neither is Ivan). The imprint makes Hen have sex with both men but it's what happens between the sex that it's 'swaying' Hen towards Ivan a farther from Alek. So Alek imprinting Hen would not have caused Hen to fall in love with him anyway.
4. This is not so much about protecting a ship but getting into the plot as the author is laying and enjoying. All the things you lay out as a way to defend a Alek x Hen ship is also your personal protection of a ship of your preference. I think love triangles are complicated because no matter the effort the author puts on her chosen pair, there will always be part of readers that will prefer the other way around and rationalize on why it's better. To me, fortunately I liked the choice and it's easy to root for Ivan x Hen even if Alek turn out more appealing. t think Alek x Hen lacks chemistry and appeal but obviously it;s a matter of taste. I like that it's a rivals to lovers story. It's a 'infatuation for a perfect illusion (Alek) x love for a real flawed' (Ivan). It's a story about extreme opposites changing each other behaviors ( Hen is clearly sexually repressed and think of sex as 'dirty' and never though of sex as fun before Ivan, this is in the hotel scene; Ivan, is falling in love for the first time and trying his best to be the person that Hyun can trust).

I COMPLETELY agree with you. I also think that Ivan is a better match for Hen.
Also, even if the imprint had sway over Hen's decisions, I think we, as the readers, would be able to see that. It'd be pretty obvious if that's what the author wanted us to realize. Besides, the imprint holds no sway other than a physical attraction to snakes. So it's not really biased toward Ivan.

Hen was initially attracted to the cold, perfect, boss image that Alek had. But once he started interacting with him more, he realized he was also a bit of an asshole. Not to mention, turns out, even if this image didn't dissipate completely, Alek is still a character who is hard to have a relationship with.

I personally find Alek to be a bit of a cliche as well, if we generalize his overall personality and background.

In the beginning, people perceived Ivan as a player who is extremely full of himself. Of course, he is full of himself, but I think it's more that he has complete confidence in himself, versus, thinking that he's above everyone. For the player part, it was never hinted that he played around with people's hearts as well. He basically only had casual relationships that both his partners and he himself understood.

The difference in position between the three in the relationship is also a major part. Not only is it an unfair power advantage in a situation, but it also sets Alek farther from these two, because of the way he's handling his power over a situation.

I think that even we saw the backstory, it would not change anything, I mean if we already formed an opinion of a character, the backstory would do two things.
1.) Change it, because now we can understand why.
2.) Do nothing, because even if we understand, they're still the same character and it doesn't erase any bad characteristics.

I think in this case, it would be number 2. Because in my opinion, I wouldn't care very much if Alek had a bad past and he's been severely impacted. Unless Alek shows growth in personality and becomes someone who can treat the other person in the relationship right, I won't care either way. Sure it's sad that he went through that and he's bearing it by himself, but is it best for the relationship or Hen for him to continue on with the mindset and personality he has?

Also, could the original commenter explain what they meant by "worthy." And how that relates to these two an their relationship. I don't understand in the respect of Ivan.

Thank you, I think you articulated better. :)

Thanks, and you hit all the points that needed to be said (⌒▽⌒)

i felt that ::)

Truer shit has never been spoken.

You can go read the last two chapters on Mangarock! :)