something something the Beholding treats Jonah the same way Jonah treated everyone he’s ever loved (safe for Jon maybe but he is always the exception). I’ll add to this later I just need to get it out here
I forgot. anyway.
I trust Jonah when he says that he felt the loss of Barnabas. I trust that he did, in fact, love his friends. he warned Barnabas about Mordechai, kept correspondence with Albrech for at least 15 years, he offered Jonathan Fanshawe a job at Millbank; in isolation, none of these mean that he loved them, but they seemed to like him in turn – Kempthrone worries about his state of overwork, Barnabas calls for his compassion, etc. and it’s just more interesting to believe that
(also, dare I say, when a modern author writes 19th century style letters in a way that reads gay for modern audience (“our intimacy and friendship”) it might be intentional. so, you know. I think they were quite close)
it’s interesting because it doesn’t change anything (I talked about it before). they might’ve been an enjoyable company, might’ve known Jonah for deacades, might’ve been very useful to have around, and it still didn’t matter. because Jonah will always choose himself. no matter what you do for him
the Beholding chooses Jon over him in the same way. he was useful. devout. served it for centuries. and it didn’t matter. It chose someone else anyway, and I’m sure it hurt Jonah, but I think he understood it, too. he would do the same. he has done the same
he truly is the Eye’s special little boy, not because It likes him the most, but because he shares so much personality with it
