as i’ve seen others touch on before, i think it would’ve been a very interesting and thematically relevant twist for secretive plotter to have been a woman, or at least someone who isn’t concerned with keeping up a strictly masculine presentation.
this is a version of yjh that has escaped the narrative through sheer willpower, a version that has finally gained the time to reflect on who they are outside of the cycle of the story. this opportunity to reflect was not given to yjh throughout twsa, as he was written into a specific role as its protagonist and made to follow the accompanying script for over a thousand regressions.
before becoming secretive plotter, he’d had little room to consider any options outside of the role of this masculine figure that he’d been written to portray. he’s reached his full potential as a transcendent: going beyond human (and/or constellation) abilities and beyond the narrative alike. it’d be rather fitting for him to have breached past the confines of his masculinity as well.
furthermore, the novel mentions he had complicated feelings about his form as punisher, although it isn’t really delved into. i think it would’ve been fascinating if we had gotten more insight into that. also there’s that one comment regarding punisher that’s along the lines of “she looked more like yjh than yjh himself”, if i remember correctly. there’s so much that could be explored here!!