alias_sqbr

Doing that fandom meme got me thinking about whether there are any topics I avoid purely due to self consciousness about lack of interest, and I realised pure Homestuck meta is about it. So here's something I decided not to post as a reply to someone else's meta on tumblr in case it came out too squee harshing.

So! I don't really like Eridan that much, but I can see why people find him interesting. And while some of his fans like to pretend he is a TOTALLY INNOCENT VICTIM OF MEANIE FEF the ones I'm actually friends with/read the fic of etc are all quite happy to acknowledge his frequent douchey terribleness. I like lots of terrible douches myself, so the fact that they like him doesn't baffle me in principle.

But the post I linked above made me realise what I do find baffling about a chunk of fic and meta from Eridan fans whose understanding of canon seems otherwise relatively consistent with mine: they see him as being willing to be significantly self sacrificing for Feferi.

Seeing him as in love with her, sure (I read his feelings as more shallow, but I see how this interpretation makes sense, and is also necessary for most shipping!) Being willing to put himself out for her to some extent, sure. But willing to die for her? As a central part of his characterisation? This I not only have trouble seeing in canon, but see actively contradicted by canon.

I think he'd like to think of himself as someone who'd die for her, but I don't think he'd actually do it except by accident (eg doing something foolhardy he expected to survive, even if he had a few fantasies about what would happen if he DID die and Fef was heartbroken and sorry) He is too inherently selfish and cowardly.

Eridan isn't just pouty and selfish about her not dating him. I'm too sleepy to dig up examples, but I vaguely recall him being generally thoughtless about the effects his actions have on her in general (and others, of course, but nobody is saying he's self sacrificing in general). And when push came to shove, he was willing to KILL HER rather than back down from his own agenda. The only time I can remember him ever being remotely self sacrificing for her is him killing lusii for her mum, but given that he lists GENOCIDE as a hobby and rivals Gamzee and Vriska in the "enthsuastic murderer" stakes, as well as specifically looking up to and modelling himself after Dualscar Orphaner, that seems like something he'd enjoy doing anyway.

So yes. Am I missing something?

nb I am getting over food poisoning, so will probably be vague and slow with any replies.

EDIT: Thinking about it some more, it feels like people write Eridan as Equius, and write Eridan/Feferi the way I see Equius/Gamzee or Equius/Aradia. There are plenty of creepily devoted male characters in Homestuck but I don't see Eridan as one of them.