#i probably phrased this poorly

Thinking Zhanna and Miss Pauling have something going on is… a take, but also I feel like maybe we should acknowledge that Zhanna’s distrust was just that. Distrust. Because before Soldier there were two important men in her life - her dad and her brother - and while I do imagine they cared a lot, neither had the chance to stick around for long. She’s used to people leaving. When she meets Soldier, I imagine she’s still rotating that “he’s only here for a short time” thought in her head. And she’s by no means insecure - she knows she’s strong, smart, beautiful - but she also knows that, by one weird law of the universe or another, her happiness always comes second to someone else’s. And then there’s Miss Pauling, who doesn’t have younger siblings, who hasn’t killed a bear with her bare hands even once, who says mean things about Zhanna - to Soldier! - and what is she supposed to do? She’s just protecting her happiness. Bringing in some extra-measures. Going over the top because it would be too easy not to, and because nothing in her life has ever been easy.

So maybe let women respectfully despise other women. Not everything has to be cute and lesbian. Sometimes it’s years of underlying trauma, fear of abandonment, issues someone needs to work through, and just that. And it’s good that way.