Considering Occtis and Julien's little spat.
I keep coming back to 'the things I THINK you want me to do.'
Occtis isn't doing the things Julien is telling him to do, he's trying to get ahead of that and do the things he THINKS the other man wants him to do.
That speaks strongly to how he's been treated in his family, and how he has learned, as many people who grew up abused and around volatile adults do, the hypervigilance and people pleasing that can keep you safe.
And here's the really crazy thing... I think Mr wisdom score of 8 clocks it in the moment. And I think that's because Julien does the same thing... or at least did when he was younger and smaller.
I'm not saying Raimond was as abusive as Primus clearly is, but I think he was volatile enough to keep Julien on edge, hyper aware of those moods and wary of when the anger might come out.
'so that you'll stop trying to kill me'. Julien hasn't actively tried to kill Occtis. But the fact that THAT was the genuine fear in Occtis head, combined with what they saw of Primus shortly there-after, I really think made Julien actually look at what has been going on between them. He was much softer right after, comforting him and drawing him away from his family to safety.
Julien may only have one gear in his head but right now it's turning for Occtis.
Which does make me wonder, once that gear has finished it's work... what will Julien think about Vaelus' actions? That she wasn't trying to kill Occtis, but just either didn't think of him or didn't care that his life could be collateral damage to her actions?
It feels like he's doing his guard dog impersonation, and if no one else is going to care about Occits, well... he NEEDS something to guard and protect, he doesn't have Aranessa, and he doesn't have Thaisha who she tried to pass him off to. He's like boarder collie who, if not given charges to heard, will drive itself and everyone around it crazy, and likely start to herd the family children because it NEEDS to work.
