You guys ever think about book 3 and how it makes so much sense for it to have been Grace to learn empathy for the train denizens and undo all of the falsehoods she built up? I was thinking about it when I saw art depicting a Grace and Simon role swap with Grace going off the deep end and Simon moving towards redemption and thought, “but it HAS to be Grace.”
And this is a fleeting, thought. It’s an AU, it doesn’t have to be anything but fun, but I think Grace’s personality and upbringing and unique trauma helps explain why she changed and Simon didn’t — hopefully adding to the creator’s narrative choice in a way that expands our understanding of the story. Because I don’t think the two are interchangeable.
Grace is a manipulative person and this instinct stems from her want to control her relationships and how people react to her.
Growing up her parents were wealthy, busy people who gave her everything but their love. This is exacerbated by how she was passed off to a series of nannies (Julie, Molly, Jacob, Susan) who were fired before she could form any meaningful connection to them so much so she can’t remember any of their faces.
This resulted in her acting out as a way to gain attention from her parents, ultimately learning that in order to get the things she wants from the relationships in her life — love, friendship, inclusion, vengeance — she has to control how it happens. Cause and effect. I’ll do this, and you’ll react like that.
Grace using her mother’s makeup to get her acknowledgement.
Grace driving a wedge between the girls in her ballet class to get revenge after they decide to get ice cream without her. But also to soften the blow of rejection. Because her manipulation isn’t just a tool, but a defense mechanism.
Regardless, when she’s introduced in season 2, she’s a well-oiled machine. She’s observant, quick to notice Jesse freak out at his reflection and learn more to weaponize why. She’s tactful, able to recognize Jesse’s loyalty to Lake and know it means she’ll have to adjust her technique. Start with “She seems nice but she’s a little bit different from us” followed by “Sounds like she has a lot of problems that you got pulled into.”
Point is, Grace’s manipulation derivative of her upbringing requires her to understand her target. It makes it make sense that she grows empathy towards Hazel and Tuba and denizens because she always positions herself to learn what makes people tick. It’s to navigate relationship webs to exploit but it comes with the side effect of HAVING to understand. Lake and Jesse’s bond. Hazel and Tuba’s. The ballet girls with each other. And her own.
In contrast, Simon, isn’t able to learn empathy as easily because he doesn’t care to interact with Hazel and Tuba unless strictly necessary. He doesn’t care about learning about other people or engaging with them unless it relates to himself nor is he able to understand how’d they’d feel unless it’s in line with his expectations. It’s why he readily admits to Hazel that he killed Tuba, not able to comprehend why she’d be upset. He only views others as an accessory to him and his own personal narrative, overinflating his own importance in their lives. “Everyone lies to me.” “I was your friend first.” The cat scolds him for this when Simon rants about Grace not acting the way she should, telling him that Grace isn’t one of his miniatures. Kinda fitting he’s a fantasy author. He conflates the fantasies in his head with real life. Also fitting he tries to consolidate both with his comically evil aura farming outfit (I love it). Him believing in Grace and the Apex’s lies wasn’t his problem, his self destructive need to be right is.
TLDR: Grace go good because she engages with other people and their perspectives — baseline for empathy. Simon stay bad because he isn’t able to view others or reality as something separate to himself. Same stressors for change, different people.
