I don’t think Brendan did it out of anger or spite, I guess that like many extroverted people he simply thinks he is helping Al here. Remember that he is young and inexperienced. It would be easier if Al could communicate more clearly how he feels, but I don’t think it’s his fault either. Al has had a difficult past and dealt with it by living alone. He lacks the tools to make himself understood.

You think that’s a response to that guy casually groping her legs at the last get together?

I’ve noticed how young Brendan handles a lot of scenarios that are, in a way, new to him. I don’t think he quite understands how anxiety or self harm, or anything else that Al has presented him with. I’ve noticed already that Brendan and Al were raised in two totally different situations, so it makes sense that Brendan wouldn’t know what to do first hand. He may not even notice Al’s anxiety to the whole thing.

I’ve got to give him some credit as this part of his character seems to have diminished now that older Brendan has a better understanding of all of this and most likely made an effort not to repeat these things with Sulla, who he probably deeply worried would suffer from similar things as Al.

I’m glad you said this. I was thinking the same thing. It really speaks about how dysfunctional their relationship is, for Brendan to just ignore Al’s feelings like this.

I suspect Brendan invited so many people out of spite/revenge for Al’s slight at the other party, which seems petty and cruel. And EXTRA dysfunctional.

And Al is taking this better than I expected, actually.