Dominic and his painful urge to save everyone

Dom is that kind of person who, it seems, doesn't know how NOT to help. Someone has a problem? Dominic is right there. Someone doesn't know what to do? Dom will figure it out in a sec. Someone is clearly about to do something stupid? Dom is already racking his brains on how to avoid it or, at the very least, minimize the damage.

And at first glance, this just seems like a very good character trait. I mean, what's wrong with a person who wants to help everyone, right? 'D

Well, that's how it seems from the outside, but if you dig deeeeper... In short, it's not the healthiest trait, actually. At least, not in the form it takes specifically in Dominic. Because for him, helping others gradually turns from "I want to help" into "I MUST help". And it's very easy to start perceiving other people's problems as your own personal responsibility. Even when nobody asked you to solve those problems at all. Did Sher ask him to stand up for him against bullies? Well, actually, no. Did Aidan ask him to support him in everything? Especially not, he's such a proud bird. Did Madelaine ask him to haul books and food up to the attic, hiding behind her curator duties? Well, it's convenient for her, of course, but still - no lol

And here Dom traps himself in a very unpleasant trap. Because while he's helping others, everything is wonderful: he's needed, he's useful, he's in control of the situation. But what happens when the problem is his own? Or, even worse, when his help doesn't work at all, like with AJ?

Exactly, that's when such an alarm goes off that you can't even handle it. And the main thing is, it all happens quietly, unnoticeably. On the surface, everything seems fine, he smiles, even jokes, cheers himself up in various ways, but in reality, he's afraid to openly admit that he can't cope, and instead starts kicking himself in the liver with his boots, forcing himself to try harder and better. Have you noticed how his appearance gradually changes throughout the comic? First, he's all so light blue, neat, cheerful, smiling, and now what is he? Huh? Huh? HMMM?? In short, he's changing, and it seems pretty noticeable to me lol And the colors of his clothes also change for a reason, from pure blue to purple. At the very least, it's symbolic that AJ's color is "mixed in", since he's now actively interacting with him, and also he himself is slowly "darkening" and getting more troubled, returning to his personal trauma, but more on that later, separately.

So! Dom worries if he fails to help someone, because it kind of makes him less needed and useful, and he suffers a bit from that. And yes, that's his personal quirk. But fortunately, he has Aidan now, who is slowly starting to convey simple truths to him. For example, that it's not at all necessary to wedge yourself between two arguing people, rushing to reconcile them, so that they DON'T, GOD FORBID, fall out completely. Or that butting into an impending fight between two more or less experienced "fighters" while being a gentle, well-mannered good boy is also not the brightest idea. Or that it's simply impossible to constantly justify everyone and forgive any crap out of a sense of compassion, or that you shouldn't take on so much responsibility that your spine breaks. Dom seems to listen, even hears something and quietly takes it in, but-oo... it's hard for him, in short lol

Another point. When you get so used to being a lifeline for everyone, you can unnoticeably start confusing "helping a person" and "solving their problem for them". Or even worse - you can get so carried away with consolations and encouragements that the person's emotions are completely suppressed. Which is, in fact, what happened in the last scene with Aidan. Because Aidan doesn't need to constantly hear "everything will be fine". He needs to be heard himself and to have his emotions (and the situation as a whole) validated.

So I think one of the important things Dom has yet to learn is not only to help, but also to understand when help is really needed, and in what format it should be delivered.