I've been thinking a lot about Apo's turning. Like, there were so many layers. She was lured out and offered up, chased down, drank from, threatened and then it didn't even stop there.
An impossible choice- we turn you into a vampire (something Apo doesn't know a lot about- like they barely know what is happening at this point and just trying to stay alive long enough to just figure it out) or you give up someone else and we eat them instead and turn them. Like- here's 24 hours to agonize over this decision- and also if you tell anyone (or anyone finds out, per Owens words) then we'll just straight up kill you. And also we will be watching you this whole time.
Like- I've been writing scenes from this time and I'm just realizing the levels of this. Apo couldn't get medical attention, they couldn't tell anyone, get advice, nothing. Also thinking about the way that Pyro, Owen, and Scott treat Apo at the crypt beacon and the hill- like they laughed, and hinted, and amused themselves with her distress.
And then the way Scott toyed with her before turning her. Twisting words, lying, threatening- hurting. He cornered Apo again and then still sank his fangs in.
And thinking about after. How the hurt must have festered. She wasn't allowed to be angry because being angry would have meant explaining- but she was angry. Apo was angry, and they were hurt and sad and scared just trying to survive.
Like, from an outside perspective Apo burning down their house seems very extreme. But I keep getting stuck on the way Apo turns their back to Pyro right before he drinks from them. The way he says "just stay still for me." The way Apo trusted him even then- the way the trust wasn't broken until he sunk in his fangs too.
Honestly I think I would have also burned the house down