Originally Posted by
Brinne
Emet's twists of excessive cruelty aren't attributed, when all is said and done with his characterization to an intrinsic "cruelty" or "callousness" that was always there. It's something he violently, excessively, self-destructively throws himself into because the deep kindness that is the "true" part of who he always was (reflected in how he treats Hermes) viscerally can't stand what he's doing, and he's trying to shut it up and make it disappear. He's oscillating wildly between burnt-out depression, despairing resentment at others, self-loathing, and loathing in general all as parts of his shrieking copium that, yes, does immeasurable and unjustifiable harm to others. And he recognizes that on some level, and then the cycle continues.