#ciphertology

[ambafaerie]

Acts of Service/Gift Giving: Fiddleford vs. Bill

There aren’t a lot of similarities between Fiddleford McGucket and Bill Cipher besides starting a cult, having a tendency to avoid confronting personal issues head on (Fiddleford manages to develops past this habit - Bill does not), and sharing the same voice actor. But they do both seem to have a fondness for gift giving to endear themselves to people.

The difference lies behind their intent on the giving of these gifts, because whereas Fiddleford does them out of love and concern and to build a genuine connection, Bill often hands out gifts to mortals to make them grateful and look up to him and more liable to being manipulated by him. A prime example of the differences between Fiddleford and Bill’s gift giving is Ford.

Let’s start with Bill’s birthday present to Ford, dead rats that spell the latter's name, an unconventional and alien present which Ford had to explain to Bill why it is is not a proper gift.

Early into their relationship, Bill endeared himself to Ford and this was one of his tactics, offering him companionship and presents to alleviate Ford's loneliness to make him more liable to his manipulations by flattering the scientist with attention and gifts.

Now let’s go with Fiddleford. First, he brought Ford an Axolotl (who might be the actual Axolotl) because the salamander’s frills reminded him of his best friend’s sideburns. Second, there was the Christmas gifts - a snow globe replica of the shack and six fingered hand knitted gloves with patterns - which delighted Ford even though he doesn’t celebrate the holiday.

Like Bill, the gifts Fiddleford made took effort but unlike the triangle demon, Fiddleford gifts them to Ford not out of malicious intent but out of love and concern. He gave Ford Frilliam the Axolotl because he didn’t want him to be lonely when he is gone and worked endlessly to create the perfect six fingered gloves because he wanted to provide his best friend a needed accessory that Ford had trouble finding.

And now comes the best part, Bill’s scientific calculations and Fiddleford’s thesis. Bill completed six hours worth of calculations overnight to help Ford stay on track with the building of the portal, something which sent Ford over the moon. While Fiddleford catalogued Ford’s research for three days without a break into a thesis book Ford could publish to make him multimillionaire which made Ford feel betrayed rather than grateful.

Bill did those calculations to ensure Ford is on track to perfecting the building of the portal so he can he can enter his world and destroy it by hosting a party that never ends and deepen Ford’s admiration of him so he won’t question his true intentions. Fiddleford made the thesis because he didn’t want the world to be destroyed and to convince Ford to become a millionaire through others mean and get his life back on track rather than risk testing the portal. Bill did an act of service to manipulate Ford but Fiddleford did an act of service out of concern for Ford and the world.

Fiddleford gives gifts out of love because he loves the people he gives them to, but Bill only knows how to give gifts not because he loves the other person but because he wants them to worship him.

[pixeltwix]

Ciphertology 📻 The Patriarch

Welcome one and all to ‘Ciphertology, the second ‘tri’ (which is essentially Silas Birchtrees biggest kiss ass, Dale Dixon, taking over the cult after the fall of the cult in the 50s)

This technically isn’t relevant and is mainly just me rambling on my own interpretation of Ciphertology after the fall :P briefly

I’ve always been fascinated by cults and enjoy studying them extensively. Growing up in a religious based one myself before my family left it when I was young I gotta say- it makes it that more intriguing to dive into fictional based ones

A lot of my base stuff for ✨Ciphertology, the second ‘tri’✨ I take from a handful of cults I’ve studied, but the biggest one I model it off of in terms of religious based domineering patriarchy’s has been the FLDS cult (ifykyk)

Naturally the new leader, Emma May’s father, fits into the staple mold of this in his efforts to become ‘half the man Silas was’

I think I honestly refuse to ever draw Emma May’s father’s face directly because he as a force feels far more intimidating as just?? A giant painted eye on the back of a head-

Plus idk it feels correct narratively to only ever show this one facet of him when it would be the main thing Em would remember of her father/and just him looking like in general

Also hi I needed an excuse to use this doodle again bc I just love this image?? I don’t often draw younger Em in the cult, but I’d like to do more backstory stuff in the future

Ironically enough even those most cult leaders take all of the things for themselves I actually don’t envision Dale Dixon to participate in everything Ciphertology ‘has to offer’ ie the multiple wives thing

Like he only keeps his one wife, but everyone else is free to have ‘as many wives as they want’

But when it comes to his children bro is quick to play favorites and put them in line wherever it makes the most sense in the community

Emma May unfortunately is not a favorite

But also hi?? Madeline Dixon as Dale Dixon’s younger sister is so real to me

I know I’ve already elaborated on this and the family a bit more in my ‘Emma May and Ciphertology’ post, but I sWEAR I wanna delve further into Madeline in the cult fr

Cause like..Lowkey lowkey I enjoy the idea of Dale running it as a puppet figure and Madeline being the one to truly be pulling the strings

Honestly this has been less me rambling on anything and important and more so a ‘yall this is all the stuff I wanna doodle and elaborate on in the future’ :3

As always thank you for reading if you’ve gotten this far in my nonsense!!

[sticcmann]

wheres the silas birchtree fanart at. i need it

[antonymziie]

something something corpse possessed by a demon. i don't know, i think silas is a pretty swell guy

[dead6ite]

i spent, literally all day on this. and i am praying to bill cipher that it does well

three separate ciphers used here, feel free to decode and comment what you found!

but seriously, this is like my magnum opus here. please give him love!!

i’ll be posting a monochromatic version after this

[n0cturnalcm]

"Those who disagree will be thrown at the hole" - Bill, probably

[ikurko]

[dogbrainedmutt]

The Many Sides of Bill Cipher

15hr 5min finish time

can i just say how proud i am of myself for finishing one of these??

i've just never finished a sketch page before

[corvid-khaos]

SILAS BIRCHTREE, LOCAL GOD

[hopeyisathing]

current obsession : ciphertology!!!!! anyway yes hi edit

[sevenxseveneyes]

cooking up an au

[lothcat-lothcat-lothwolf-run]

ALEX YOU DID NOT 💀💀

He finally beat S&P guys lmao

[pixeltwix]

👁️‍🗨️‘Partners in Crime’👁️‍🗨️

Fiddemma but its evil and set in the Edwardian era?? This au feels like it was purposefully made to sink its teeth into my heart aHH

Anywho! Silly fanart for @kitcatia ‘s au that I almost didn’t post bc I made Fiddleford’s noggin way too big, but otherwise I liked it :(!!

Forgive me how I drew your Emma May here, I am wholly unused to drawing other Em designs outside of my own, so I worry I didn’t do yours justice, but ahh I do love her outfit

(Honestly do not be surprised if I wind up drawing my ver of FiddEmma in some different era clothing, I’ve been going through a very Edwardian & 1930’s fashion era specifically art wise lately, so drawing my Em in some big ole dress have been veeery tempting :P)

Also hiiii, I sWEAR I’m gonna take a peek at the anti cipherite server soon, I’ve just been so busy with work and upcoming con preparations to do so yet :,)

[sticcmann]

Silas birchtree is far superior than Bipper and Bord as a bill cipher possession. Silas is already dead, we don’t have to feel bad for the possessed person. Silas is already dead, he smells like rotting flesh which he is. Silas is already dead, Bill influences the decomposition process, turning the skin yellow. Silas is already dead, Bill has to build his portal before the body completes the cycle of decay. He has a little cult. He married every woman in town. He goes on television and reads trapezoid smut. Final scene, Silas rambles about “this not being over” while having bullet wounds all over his body, dehydrated, burning. What a guy

[antonymziie]

i cannot stop. i needed to make this

[daily-bipper-brainrot]