#fundy and tommy are curiously alike

[zeta-in-de-walls]

Some Thoughts on Wilbur and Tommy

Wilbur and Tommy. This resurrection arc is bringing their relationship into greater importance once more. It’s such a fascinating one.

Their relationship is complicated. Tommy stood by Wilbur’s side to the very end. He believed in him, not supporting his actions, but trying to help him and convince him to be better. And until the very end, he believed he’d succeeded. 

Wilbur chose Tommy to be President but Tommy chose Wilbur instead, believing he’d truly changed and was going to be the person Tommy believed in - the one who’d first inspired him. Tommy was very idealistic, always believing the best in others. 

Until the end, when Wilbur betrayed him for the last time, blowing it all up so shortly after naming his best friend President. And Tommy hadn’t been there to stop him this time. He’d failed in his goal of saving Wilbur. 

And then Tommy met Wilbur’s ghost. This ghost was mischievous but very nice. He helped him pull pranks, kept killing him while invisible, helped him make a present for Tubbo and agreed to take care of him and join him in exile if he need it. Tommy and Ghostbur’s relationship is interesting as it’s so obvious Tommy is still deeply conflicted about Wilbur - he spoke most highly of the person Wilbur used to be, but saw the one who blew up L’manburg as the crazy one, like a different person entirely. Tommy has also asked Ghostbur about Wilbur a number of times, such as asking why he made Tubbo President. Tommy talks about Wilbur very little but he is on his mind a lot. It’s pretty evident that his greatest fear was turning into the Wilbur who blew up L’Manburg.

Tommy was closest to Wilbur in Pogtopia, saw him at his worst moments and tried to persuade him to have more hope. And it wasn’t enough. At one point, Tommy joined Wilbur in the button room and convinced him not to press it. But he went there again and this time, Tommy wasn’t there to stop it and Wilbur died, taking L’Manburg with it. So in his exile, Tommy finds help with Technoblade and gets tempted to blow L’Manburg up - it’s not what it once was, it has become corrupted and his friends don’t care about him anymore. Tommy nearly is convinced but upon coming face to face with his best friend, upon yelling that he cares less about Tubbo than his discs and seeing Tubbo go silent and hurt at his words, Tommy realises he’s becoming just what he feared. He’s Wilbur, lashing out at those he should be closest to and he’s listening to the violent Technoblade who wants destruction - Tommy realises he’s in the wrong. He immediately changes sides and afterwards states that his trauma and his pain shouldn’t be an excuse to hurt others, doesn’t justify his actions. I think Tommy’s begun to understand Wilbur more after his time in exile, but remembers how much it hurt to be at Wilbur’s side, watching his fall. 

Ghostbur though, Ghostbur is nice - Tommy asks him about his blue - why the stuff he gives out is already so blue if its supposed to only turn blue after sucking the sadness out. Tommy likes Ghostbur a lot and its clear he values his company greatly. 

So the idea of bringing Wilbur back is an uncomfortable one for Tommy - likely a part of him wants Wilbur back - he never got real closure, but Wilbur is bad memories. Tommy wants to help Ghostbur so when he comes to him asking for ressurrection, Tommy awkwardly agrees but he’s anything but comfortable with the idea. 

Tommy turns up at the resurrection, initially having no idea what’s going on - they’re just recreating a scene for some reason. When they inform him they’re killing Ghostbur to bring Wilbur back, the way Tommy breathes -the way he gently tells the ghost that he likes him more, offering him a carrot. He witnesses, but turns away as Philza stabs the Ghost. After it happens, Tommy is very worried, he’s angry, missing Ghostbur, worried about what will come back. After Ghostbur is back and he seems alright, Tommy offers him his blue back and then leaves, saying he can’t-

Unlike everyone else involved, Tommy is against the resurrection. Everyone else seems to believe this will somehow fix things. Eret believes Wilbur is the key to his redemption and that Wilbur will be able to help the people in a way no one else can, Philza is guilty for killing Wilbur in the first place and wants to absolve himself of this crime, Ranboo’s never even met Wilbur  and is just going along with follow the ghost’s wishes. 

Yet Tommy, normally the idealist who couldn’t ever give up on Wilbur, doesn’t think this is a good idea. He doesn’t want to lose Ghostbur, he values him in his own right, and he’s not sure about Wilbur being back in spite of knowing him best. He thinks they’re all making a mistake (while still being so obviously conflicted himself). It seems like the others are trying to run away from their problems, and thinks necromancy might be an easy solution. Philza’s guilty about Wilbur - don’t worry, we can bring him back to life! Eret’s guilt about his original betrayal, his failure to be a father to Fundy, and all that was lost in L’Manburg’s recent destruction - don’t worry, Wilbur is the answer! 

But you see, what if things don’t go right? What if you bring back something worse? Schlatt’s ghost has also been woken up and we have no idea what sort of Wilbur may return. It’s strange how Tommy is the cynical one for once, the one who’s still not fully dealt with his feelings on Wilbur’s death and yet has held himself responsible for his own faults rather than letting himself go down a more self-destructive path - as Wilbur once did.