I think we as a fandom moved on too easily from the whole "Oh yeah Nero has an alter ego called the beast which is the name he gives his violent rage as to seperate it from him so his step children would believe it was always their fault whenever it was 'invoked'." I'm sorry. A group of, what, kids ranging from 8 - 18 developing with the BEAST?? HANGING OVER THEIR HEADS?? IT'S ONE thing to be aware that monsters are real and coming for you, but God, just the name itself makes you think that there are eldritch horrors taking place in that fucking penthouse. Imagine just being a wee little lad, who's been taken away from your family (killed by the beast) who's witnessed countless servants and dryads suffer (obviously by the beast) who's had to remain silent when their siblings had gotten punished (by the beast) and this??? Doesn't affect their development at all??? That's not even a boogeyman level threat, because Nero was LEGITIMATELY abusing these guys?? Their pain and suffering was real??? NOBODY talks about that? The angst potential? The absolute terror of watching dad become something you know he 'doesn't want to be'??? And then subsequently finding out he took JOY in that shit???????? I'm sorry. Whether he loved them or not, dear BEJEEZUS is that gruesome beyond words.
Imagine explaining to people about this years later, not even having realized that the beast was not a normal household thing.
"Mhm, you know, there was my step dad, step siblings, a few servants running around who educated us and stuff. Oh, and, the beast, of course."
"The what. Is that like.." (Nervous chuckling) "Is that like a funny name for your dog?"
"Oh, no, he was just some bloodthirsty force that would rip men to shreds if we didn't finish our broccoli. You know, like the monster under your bed?"
".. :/"
