#I'M LOSING MY MIND OVER THIS

[desos-records]

[Spoilers for the Creeping Shadow]

"I missed you so much, Lucy."

I'm never going to get over this line. I'm losing my mind. Let's overanalyze the shit out of this.

The fact he says it right before they're about to run headlong into suicidal danger, it makes you realize that Lockwood needs Lucy there to ground him. He figures that the recklessness is okay if she's there to direct it, if it's reckless to be protective, not just for its own sake. And he missed this, missed how well they work together, how much she trusts him, how well she understands him. He missed having someone to fight for.

But more than that, he's just asked her to do something insane and she goes along with it because she's Lucy and he has never known her to back down from a fight. George and Holly and literally anyone else would've called him insane and insisted on doing things a different way, but she doesn't. They are so much alike in that way, just reckless and daring enough to win. Especially when they work together.

His love for her is practically bleeding out of him. He compliments her constantly, physically and emotionally protects her whenever possible. There's also his obvious discomfort whenever it's even remotely hinted that Holly might be replacing her in any way, shape, or form--the boy starts talking about orange juice of all things to get away from the topic of Holly staying over at Portland Row. He jumps at any excuse to bring her back into his life while also managing to respect her decision to hold herself separate from the agency.

The only reason Lucy doesn't connect the dots about all the attention Lockwood pays her is her own particular brand of oblivious insecurity. It's also the fact that Lockwood rarely says anything outright. He talks a lot, but true vulnerability is rare. I think short of an 'I love you' Lucy probably wouldn't realize. She's a Listener, she needs to hear it to believe it. And you see that in her reactions to the instances when he compliments her, when he's open and honest with her, when he says he missed her.

Lockwood, meanwhile, doesn't track Lucy's feelings for him either. Although Lucy leaves to protect him, all he sees is Lucy stepping out of his life (was it because of Holly? because he pushed her too far about her Talent? did she just get sick of him finally?). She doesn't necessarily show that she cares about him in anyway he recognizes, outside of how well she understands him, how well they work together. As repressed as Lockwood is, Lucy is terribly reserved, paying compliments or words of affection sparingly and only when she really means it. Short of a flat-out kiss, I'm not sure Lockwood would realize her feelings either. Lockwood has Sight, he's a liar and a charlatan, he needs to see something to truly believe it.

So he says, "I missed you" and fights off a dozen relic-men for her and he hopes it's enough.

[mynonclicheblog]

I'm thinking waaayyyy too much about the implications of Lockwood's morning montage that was cut from the final edit...

Mainly about the fact that he's shown to be lying there, wide awake.

Complete Fiction confirmed on twitter that this scene was supposed to happen at the beginning of episode 5, and hoooo boy do I have THOUGHTS about this. Okay. So.

When we look at the events of episode 4, it was an emotional roller coaster of a day for Lockwood. I'd argue it was the most stressful single day's events for him that we see up to this point. To recap, Lockwood had to deal with:

Being bested and humiliated by Kipps's crew during the wraith hunt; (presumably) having to worry about Lucy's wellbeing after she passed out in the basement; waay too many close calls at the Kensal Green Cemetery job that night; getting into a big blowout/fight with BOTH George and Lucy; having to expose a very raw and vulnerable side of himself to apologize to Lucy; and finally, putting himself in a bet with Kipps that could potentially cost him his home, his livelihood, his purpose; and worst of all - it could cost the same for Lucy and George. That, I imagine, is something that would've kept him awake. Just turning over all the worst case scenarios, all the ways he'd have to try and pick up the pieces if he ended up losing the bet, therefore single-handedly ruining the lives of the two greatest people in the world due to his own rash stupidity.

Whew.

No wonder this poor sweet boy hasn't slept.

But then I think about the events of episode 5, and how it contains some of his most reckless behavior to date - like inviting a dangerous criminal to their home, spontaneously sneaking into Winkman's to find the mirror, at the same time leaving George alone at the house where said criminal will most likely show up (something the dialogue explicitly tells us Lockwood "forgot" about) - and I wonder how much of that was exacerbated by his poor emotional regulation + lack of sleep after the whirlwind that was yesterday. It's so, so difficult to think clearly when you're running on empty.

He's just a kid, your honor.

Episode 5 is also the one in which Lockwood/Cameron's dark circles are the most prominent in the entirety of season 1.

I JUST... I JUST think it's really important that it's episode 5 specifically that we were going to be shown Lockwood getting up in the morning! Because it adds SO MUCH context to know that he didn't sleep that night!!!

[heisenpink]

PopCorners Super Bowl Teaser Feat. Walt and Jesse

[charlotte-queen-owl]

What do you mean HE JUMPED FOR BEEF????

[resurgentclass-stardestroyer]

So evidently that is Rae Sloane Sir, to you

[Star Wars: Aftermath: Life Debt (Chapter 22)]

[waywardgirl75]

do you think when torao said this, he was thinking of corazon??

[adinfinitum0]

Can we talk about this shoulder to waist ratio for a hot minute? cause gah DAMN

[strawberrycowgirly]

spoilers for the creeping shadow below!

ohhhhh hu hh myyyyyyy goooooooddddddd

me rn^

[twst-reality]

🙌 34 pulls to get him 🙌 I’m shook 🤯

[warp-factor-69]

Papa III is the False Prophet of Revelation: a Theory

hear me out guys

To preface, I would like to just say that I am, in fact, very new to Ghost. It’s entirely possible that what I have to say is old news. If that’s the case, let me know and I will retreat into my corner of shame and remain there for eternity. If not, let me know if there’s anything you think I missed! I haven’t done any particularly exhaustive research here, but I got severely baked the other day and haven’t been able to stop thinking about this.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Meliora and Era 3 in general, and I’ve come to some interesting conclusions. There are a lot of layers here, so bear with me while I try to unpack everything in a concise way. This theory involves not only lyric analysis, but also a discussion of details from more visual things like music videos. I guess it also involves a discussion of the Bible, too.

Basically, Terzo is the False Prophet from the Book of Revelation, and he consciously foreshadows his own demise throughout Era 3. This has important implications for what’s to come.

Take notes, this will be on the exam.

First, let’s talk about Meliora. From Latin, this translates to “the pursuit of something better.” This, in and of itself, fits Terzo’s character perfectly. He takes the band to new heights in Era 3, earning them accolades like the Grammy. However, he also strays from the mission the Clergy has charged him with. This is evident in the album covers for Popestar and Ceremony and Devotion, which feature him (and his dick in the latter case) front and center. Although the covers for Opus Eponymous and Infestissumam show men in Papal attire, neither of them are immediately recognizable as Primo or Secondo. This, combined with Terzo frequently forgoing his robes and mitre on stage, implies that spreading the word of Satan is no longer his main priority. This is more or less confirmed in “The Summoning V: The Square and Hammer,” when Sister Imperator yells at the band for dicking around. 

In essence, Terzo gets too big for his britches, so the Clergy (i.e. Sister Imperator) decides to take him out.

This theme of arrogance, of getting too close to the sun and being struck down for it, appears a lot in Meliora. What follows is a discussion of what I personally think are the most important instances of this. (Note: for this entire analysis, I will be using the deluxe version of this album, which includes the Popestar EP.)

“From the Pinnacle to the Pit” - Very clearly about falling from grace. There’s a lot of imagery related to pride, such as the crown, the scepter, and the gown mentioned in the first verse. It also references Judeo-Christian mythology, as pride was what got Lucifer cast out of Heaven. This story is heavily referenced, particularly by “you are cast out from the heavens to the ground / blackened feathers falling down.” Where I especially think this relates to Terzo is “you will wear your independence like a crown.” In trying to break away from the hold the Ministry has on him and be his own act, he is shot down.

“Absolution” - Also about pride, but in the sense of material wealth. Our dear friend Tobias Forge has been quoted saying the song is “a lament of the modern woman or man, who spend their lives thinking that their possessions have that ‘something else’ that allows them to be above any responsibility.” In the case of Terzo, I don’t think it’s physical possessions, rather his status as a rockstar. In pursuing fame, perhaps he is attempting to shirk off his duty to the Clergy/The Dark One. The first two verses of the song also describe someone who is constantly trying to be on top (someone in “the pursuit of something better,” we could say). I also think it’s interesting to note how this song kickstarted the Meliora project. :)

“Bible” - An absolute banger, although an interesting choice for a cover. I say this because it references Biblical subject matter without talking about Satan at all. For as much as I admire and respect Mr. Forge, I do not trust him. I know in my heart of hearts that this song was chosen for a reason (to fuck with people like me who think into things too deeply). Looking at the second verse, the lyrics describe how humanity expanded and developed, to the point where they could no longer hear the voice of God. As a result, God sent in the flood and destroyed them all (although we can assume Noah and co. survived). Here, again, we have themes of arrogance, humanity overstepping its boundaries, disconnecting with the spiritual, and paying the price for it. By now, this should make all of us think of Papa III.

So, although not the #1 theme in this album, we can see a distinct pattern here. To boot, this is a pattern that very closely mirrors what happens to our boy Terzo. He aspires to be something greater than he is, and as he keeps climbing, he eventually crosses the line. This culminates during the final performance at Liseberg, where he is literally dragged down off of a platform and taken away.

“But, Allison,” I hear you saying. “That doesn’t necessarily mean Terzo is a prophet.”

To which I respond:

“Spirit” is a sexy little number about absinthe. It’s great. I love it. It’s also very important to my theory.

Looking at the lyrics, this song praises the alleged hallucinogenic properties of the drink. Under the influence, the narrator (Terzo) has visions of demons and Hell. What really suggests to me that he’s having/has had some sort of prophetic experience is the outro: “let none of this earth inherit / this vision of my spirit.” This, interestingly, is a reference to “Imitation” by Edgar Allen Poe, a poem in which the narrator reflects upon his childhood dreams and aspirations, “visions” of the future.

The placement of this song at the beginning of the tracklist is also quite conspicuous to me. It basically establishes off the bat that Terzo can see things others cannot. This is him (not so) subtly telling us that he knows his fate, wether that be through the assistance of absinthe or something else entirely.

If we choose to believe that Terzo has prophetic abilities of some kind, several details from Era 3 content gain a new significance.

#1 - The Fit

As people have previously pointed out, the casual suit worn by Papa III is inspired by Gustav III, the king of Sweden from 1771 to 1792.

In addition to the similar style of dress, and the fact that both men are the third of their name, both were also assassinated. What a crazy coincidence!!!!

#2 - Rectangular Pounding Implement

The most well known allusion to a future event is in the “Square Hammer” music video. There is brief shot of a gravestone on which a cardinal is perched, a clear reference to introduction of Cardinal Copia.

The plot of the video itself also reinforces Terzo being a prophet. In the silent movie, he plays the “mysterious specter” who guides the protagonist to the Square Hammer. After taking the item in hand, Terzo tells him the following:

Destiny, you say? Sounds an awful lot like there’s a prophecy involved.

I think that both of these things, the costume and the music video, were conscious choices Terzo made. Although it’s unclear how much creative liberty the Papas really have, the Third doesn’t seem to care about what the Clergy thinks or wants. If nothing else, we can at the very least say that the suit was likely his own choice. It’s an odd that he chose to reference Swedish history, considering as he is (presumably) an Italian man, so I think we have to assume the choice was deliberate.

Surely, the gift of prophecy gives one an incredible strategic advantage. If Terzo knew, then, that the Clergy was going to assassinate him and his brothers, why didn’t he thwart their plans?

We’ll get to that, homies and loved ones. Right now, it’s time to talk about the elephant in the room.

Did Prequelle predict COVID?

Unless Forge comes out and claims it did (which I doubt he would, as it would be terribly disrespectful to... everyone), we have to assume that the answer is no. Although the Ghost brand incorporates live elements into their storytelling, making the experience more immersive, it is important that we all take a step back and remember that the lore is a work of fiction. In the process of plot development, certain decisions have to be made by the author(s) that impact the final narrative. All of these details we’ve talked about, from the lyrics to the bird in the music video, were pre-planned by Forge et al. We were meant to notice these things, as they’re part of the official canon. I know I said earlier that I don’t trust Tobias, but I’m ten thousand percent certain he didn’t plan for COVID to happen. By that logic, this would make the Prequelle/COVID thing a mere coincidence and therefore not technically part of the canon.

I’m exhausted and I think I’m losing my mind at this point, so I can’t come up with an effective segue. I have finals coming up, and I have not studied for them. A 41 year old Swedish man lives in my brain rent free. My life is in shambles.

Buckle up everybody, it’s time to talk about the Bible!

In the Book of Revelation, the End Times are brought on by the “Unholy Trinity.” The direct opposite of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, this trio consists of Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet. The role of the False Prophet is to lead the people into the worship of Satan, basically setting the stage for the rule of the Antichrist. I’ve seen some interpretations of Revelation where the False Prophet and the Antichrist are one in the same, but the invocation in “Con Clavi Con Dio,” suggests the presence of a trinity (”Sathanas / we are one / out of three / Trinity”), so I’m sticking with this.

As the False Prophet, Terzo does one Hell of a good job (pun intended) gathering the followers of Satan. As previously mentioned, he takes Ghost to new heights, where the band is recognized on a more mainstream level (i.e. the Grammy’s). The popularity of the band grew at an unprecedented rate during his reign.

His role as the False Prophet makes a lot of sense when we consider one of the main themes of Meliora, the absence of God. The premise of the album, as Forge has said, is basically the Clergy/Ministry coming in and filling this spiritual void. This is why we have songs like “Cirice,” “He Is,” and “Majesty,” the latter two being hymns for Satan. As Terzo says in “Mummy Dust,” he was “carried on a wolf’s back / to corrupt humanity.”

On a semi-related note, while looking at a summary of Revelation, I learned that the False Prophet supposedly executes those who refuse to worship Satan. The method of execution? Beheading. Just another interesting connection, I guess.

As the False Prophet, Terzo knew that he had a specific role to play. His job was to expand the following of Satan in preparation for the coming of the Antichrist. He knew his demise was inevitable, but he wanted to make it clear that he was more than just a pawn, hence all the hinting at him being a prophet. He is nothing if not consistent, doing things on his own terms until the bitter end.

Now, let us return to the Unholy Trinity. We have Satan and the False Prophet. The stage has been set for the final leg of the End Times. So, what about the Antichrist?

Surprise, bitch!

They said it couldn’t be done. They said it was impossible to turn this theory into a two-fer. THEY WERE WRONG.

If we buy into Terzo being the False Prophet, it makes sense narratively that Copia is the Antichrist. As people have pointed out, there seems to be a “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” thing going on, with Prequelle obviously representing pestilence, and Impera representing war. The End Times, it seems, have officially begun.

Forge seems to be hinting that Copia’s days are numbered, however. The current consensus is that the Clergy, likely with the assistance of the Ghouls, is going to take him out at the end of the summer tour. If Copia dies, that kind of puts a damper on the whole Antichrist thing, right?

As it turns out, this comes up in Revelation. According to the Scripture, the Antichrist will supposedly be mortally wounded about halfway through the Tribulation (i.e. the End Times), but will miraculously be healed by Satan.

Remember the whole Four Horsemen thing? We have 2/4 albums, so we’re about halfway through the cycle. Interesting.

I don’t think the Clergy knows that Copia is the Antichrist. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be planning to kill him. I don’t think even he knows (unless he’s just playing along). Everyone seems to think that he’s going to die at the end of the tour, so what an amazing plot twist it would be if he actually survived, perhaps taking on a new form?

I do think that Terzo knew, and as a final “fuck you,” decided to keep the truth of Copia’s identity to himself. Returning to the last line of “Spirit,” there is a general feeling of resentment when he declares that no one will know what he has seen. Big power move on his part.

That’s about it, I think. Am I reading too deeply into this? Probably. Do I care? Not right now, but I probably will when I take my finals. Sometimes I get possessed by a thought and have to tell everyone about it or I will explode. If I end up being wrong, and this monster of a post was all for naught, I will simply walk into the ocean.

TLDR:

[thatcrazycrowgirl]

Opinions, People

Élise’s party dress from the “High Society” mission...

Black or a very dark Green?

I’ve been looking at it in different lighting and angles, and even cosplay pics, and I still can’t figure it out - especially since I’ve seen it interpreted as either color in both cosplay and art. Not to mention, even in-game, it seems like it changes color.

What do you guys think?

(Normal, in-game screenshot)

(With the lighting and saturation turned all the way up)

(Screenshot courtesy of x)

[acearohippo]

B-bob Barley??? As in Bob Marley???

And a performer??

Edit: HE IS BOB MARLEY, COPYRIGHT FREE VERSION LMFAOOOOO 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Wait.. Are all the civilians some sort of reference to a musician??

[lilthya]

having an angel turned demon isn't new. and seeing that after inarius was defeated by lilith and he was essentially absorbed into hell.... i'm just saying, inarius coming back as a demon overlord...

[astarkey]

Sleep Token - The Summoning

[demarogue]

Okay hear me out, I am obsessed with this and we were discussing in the group chat AND

WHAT IF

HE IS COLORBLIND??? (@dreadfutures suggestion)

[diabeticgirl4]

Everything about rumblecusp is Super Sus AF and I don't trust any of it especially whatever the frick vokodo is but Viridian????? Is actually Vilya???? Aka keyleth's mom????? I'm actually going insane???????