i do think it’s kind of crazy how both cristabel and mercymorn function as sacrificial lambs that absolve their respective quinque of his sins… augustine can only ever blame cristabel for something that she and alfred did together so he can forgive the part alfred played in it. and john punishes mercy for a sin that she and augustine committed together — she “really pissed him off” — but john is able to extend an olive branch to augustine in spite of the part he knows he played. they’re both finding scapegoats in the women who founded the house that will eventually give way to cavs named after sacrificial animals. like, what the hell