Shen Jiu is an abuser. Shen Jiu abused Luo Binghe and (depending on how you interpret certain parts of the novel) most likely others. He was a profoundly unpleasant person to be around by his own doing, not just some poor misunderstood baby.
Just because he didn’t murder Liu Qingge or sexually abuse NYY doesn’t mean that he was innocent of everything. Especially not his abuse of LBH which is a fundamental part of SVSSS’s story— about cycles of abuse and how someone’s life experiences can shape them in different ways.
Learning about Shen Jiu’s backstory humanizes him. It explains his actions and how he got to where he was.
It does not, and should not excuse him.
Humans can be both abuser and victim. That’s how the cycle of abuse fundamentally works.
I love Shen Jiu. He’s one of my favorite characters of all time. He’s still an abuser.
You can feel sorry for him, but don’t make him innocent. He knew what he was doing. He did it intentionally. He wanted to spite LQG, he wanted to hurt LBH, to destroy his cultivation and even his life.
Shen Jiu is a brilliant portrayal of a truth people are afraid of— that sometimes survivors are not inspirational. Sometimes they’re mean. Sometimes they’re bad people. Sometimes they carry the worst parts of their abusers with them because that was what they feared, and if others feared them then they would have the control they so desperately needed.
Shen Jiu is not a one dimensional villain who is evil for the sake of it. He’s a human character with complex reasons for being the way he is, and a traumatic upbringing he didn’t choose or have any control over.
He’s still an abuser.
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Your Place in the Eyes of a God
Synopsis: You thought yourself oh so lucky that the demon who owned your soul was charming and kind.
Most people just had monsters ordering them about, at least your owner Alastor saw you as a lovely companion.
Warnings: Implied abusive relationship, power imbalance
Tags: Relationship can be read in any way; Alastor x Reader; gn!reader
MDNI
Being under contract, you weren't exactly overjoyed at the fact that you didn't own your own soul, but at least your contractor wasn't a monster, right? At least he was sweet, and funny, and charming.
And oh was he charming.
That is how your soul ended up chained to his after all.
He was always so kind to you. He treated you as if you were a friend—a person.
He had taken you out for meals; showed you off from time to time. He had adored every single gift you ever gave him. He had always asked you to smile because he just found you oh so
"Lovely," He said.
And it filled your head with clouds every single time. His soft compliments never failed to make you forget where you actually stood.
So, you never really expected things to change so quickly. So drastically.
You desperately slapped your hands over your mouth, clasped tight against your lips to silence even the smallest whimpers that threatened to slip out. You pressed against the wall, hiding, maybe if even hoping that it would open up and swallow you whole. Take you some place else—anywhere else—but here.
You watched with wide, teary eyes, unable to look away.
It was hard for you to connect the charming man you fell for with the nightmare of a creature you saw looming over Husk.
That thing that threatened to rip the poor man's soul apart couldn't possibly be your Alastor, right? There was no way that was your sweet, funny, charming Alastor.
But those hands that yanked at the chain were unmistakably the same ones that gently combed through you hair at night.
That smile he held while he threatened the man was unmistakably the same one you woke up sweetly to almost every morning.
That voice, albeit distorted more than usual by static, promising wicked acts, was unmistakably the same voice that softly greeted you good morning, asking if you had a good rest.
There was no mistake. There was no denying it.
"Understood," You barely hear Husk's frightened response.
"Lovely," Alastor praised before he left Husk shaking on the ground by his feet.
You felt your heart sink immediately.
Lovely. The word echoed in your head, your blood now ran cold.
Lovely. The mockery, the disdain, the obvious threat to obey him or else. You didn't think such a simple word could hold so much malice.
"I can't wait to wear that new necklace you got for me!"
"I got you this tie because it just seemed like it was your style!"
"Of course, I'm smiling! I'm with you, aren't I?"
You didn't notice when your knees finally gave away under you. You didn't notice when you started crying. Your body simply crumpled to the floor as you continued to press your hands against your mouth, silencing the sobs that ripped through you.
Alastor had already left. You didn't need to hide around the corner anymore. You were safe now.
No. Have you ever truly been safe?
Because what was his response? What did he say every time you followed his requests? Every time you excitedly handed him whatever trinket you thought he'd like? Every time you smiled for him?
Lovely. The word rang in your ears.
Lovely.
It wasn't a compliment, you realized.
It was never a compliment. It was a praise. A praise for being such a good, obedient pet.
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