something so interesting about writing a sort of pfl arc fix-it au is that a lot of the really awful characterization gets fixed by just. making south in the right and york in the wrong. and changing nothing else about the characterization. like

[under the cut since this got kinda long]

okay im always thinking about like. the version of pfl that was implied in 6-8 and the way it specifically emphasized the conflict between the freelancers. the fucked up nature of the leaderboard and the competition. "we were a competitive bunch. we had to be." theres hints of this in 9-10 but its really just carolina and south being unnecessarily uptight about the rankings and a vague suggestion of an "in group" that doesnt actually go anywhere.

but like. what if the rankings genuinely mattered and the freelancers had to fight for the right to get an ai at ALL, not just to be the first one to get one. what if there were more consequences to falling in the ranks than some light criticism. then high-ranking agent "are we the good guys?" york becomes complicit in this fucked up system designed to create the perfect soldier by any means necessary, and never-good-enough agent "i never GOT an ai" south becomes a victim of it. instead of south caring too much out of. pride? loyalty to freelancer? its a preservation instinct and york et al are like "whats HER deal" because the system works fine for them.

then naturally south would be one of the first to defect from the project because what has it done for her?? while someone like york is enjoying the perks of being a highly ranked freelancer agent with an ai and not thinking too hard about it. like. in this scenario south would never be the one defending freelancer from being raided by north - it would absolutely be the other way around. and its so much more interesting that way!

anyway. i can guess why they made the most bland character in existence the good guy and the raging bitch the enemy (ahem. misogyny). but like???? give me the weaponized indifference antagonist and violent resistance protagonist!!! that rules!!!! (well. you dont have to give it to me. im already writing it myself lmfao this is taken directly from my au)