Thread:BeholderofStuff/@comment-3581997-20140726045025

I overheard your inquiry and wanted to offer some context, but not taking up room on another's wall to do so. First I have not read the Twilight books or seen past the first movie, (I'm not one of it's fans) so I may fail to see her actions in the larger world.

From what I have seen she shares many traits with another monstrous vampire, Darla, from the shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. I bring that up because Darla is qualified as a CM, rightly so but also an in love villain. The reason for this, if you are not familiar, is that in the shows' vampires are considered to have no souls- lacking empathy, regret, conscience etc, this does not make them automatically CMs, but means any actions taken are remorseless and easily shipping them into CM territory if they do enough bad. However Darla and her mate Angelus are both considered not just Complete Monsters among Complete Monsters but THE Complete Monsters with many cruel deeds of blood, torture, rape, manipulation etc, etc, done simply because they find such concepts amusing.

Now the rules for vampires and souls may be different in Twilight but the reason I bring that example up is that in that case said love was based on how much both Complete Monsters loved the other precisely because they were Complete Monsters, to the point where each was wiling to figuratively and literally stab the other in the back to save their own skins at various points but neither begrudged the other because it was understood between them that that was the the sort of people they were in the first place. So as to your original inquiry I just wanted you to know in can work. But I lack some context to the series beyond the first film so take the sample for whatever it is worth to the character of Victoria.

Your other question about  Thade I don't know, I have not seen the movie yet but no one said justifications prevented villains from descending into CM territory, just once they are there they are so far morally in that there is no going back for them even if they wanted to. Check the Moral Event Horizon Page, if you want o read more on that by the by.

That being said the CM category is frequently abused, don't add to it lightly and be prepared for scrutiny. The basic rule of thumb is, if there is any doubt about said villain being a CM best not to add them. Think "If this character all of a sudden felt bad for their actions could said actions ever be forgiven?" if the answer is "no" you have a clear sign of your Complete Monster. 