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hadesknockedupintheunderworld · 7 months ago

Note

Since I put some canon stuff in the answering of this I'm just going to uh add this clip here

Since you’re answering questions about certain ships, what are your thoughts on Naugus x Geoffrey? I find it quite interesting just for the potential for a lot of drama and angst.

Oooooooh okay

So, anon, I had actually never considered this ship before but I think...

Okay, okay, I'll cook for a second because I think you're right, anon. It can be interesting, and I think it has some interesting potential as well

(My thoughts are under the cut because long. Also, there are mentions of Geoffrey/Sally, Geoffrey/Elias, and some talk of Geoffrey/Hershey here)

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So, as those who've read Archie Sonic would know, one of Geoffrey's main character traits was his loyalty to the Crown of Acorn. Then, when Ian Flynn took over for writing his character, this...shifted a bit.

Initially, Geoffrey's characterization seems to play into the expectations already set up by issues past. When I first read this set of panels in StH 223, I remember thinking "Oh, I see. So Geoffrey was truly working for King Max before. It's just that when Ixis Naugus and King Max revealed the truth (that Ixis Naugus became the true King of Acorn after Max swore fealty to hin in the Zone of Silence), Geoffrey started working for Naugus in secret. I hate that this twist kind of came out of nowhere, but yeah that's an interesting take on his character."

But then I read StH 233.

And this page from 233 alone says so much.

Geoffrey started following Naugus before he ever was the "true king". This kid is grieving, and he has every reason to be afraid. He grew up in the midst of the overlander/mobian war, he was there when King Max took Robotnik as one of his warlords (the very same one who later betrayed the Kingdom and began a new war), and his father was just killed by overlanders. And when the poor kid is at his lowest, seemingly without anyone else to lean on now that he's fatherless, he happens to come into contact with Ixis Naugus—someone who knew his father, someone who shares his distrust in overlanders, someone who promises to return and fix everything, and someone who is willing to step into the role of his support.

From this point forward, young Geoffrey St. John believes in Ixis Naugus. He really believes that where others have failed, Ixis Naugus will return to bring back peace.

And frankly, with the limited, often spotty communication (even during Geoffrey's Ixis apprenticeship), that it's a long stretch of time between him seeing Ixis Naugus as a kid and later as an adult, and the fact that Ixis Naugus and his promise of fixing everything made him Geoffrey's...pillar so to speak (likely his only support after the death of his father), I think this could very well have opened Geoffrey up to participating in god or hero worship of Ixis Naugus.

So, to me, it's not hard to imagine Geoffrey St. John growing up, teaching himself as much as he can of the Ixis magicks in the dark, savoring every moment of the little talk he can make with Ixis Naugus. He barely remembers what Ixis Naugus was like before, but he knows his voice and he knows his promises. With that little contact, with only his voice as evidence of existence for so long, it was easy for him to put Naugus up on a pedestal as something other (some grand savior).

"The Kingdom of Acorn failed to protect its people time and time again, its current King trusted the very overlanders who slaughtered our people—people we love—and all of us who still live are paying for it. But my master was the only one there for me when the overlanders killed my father. He knew Warlord Julian was not to be trusted. It's because of him I'm here, and it's because of his guidance that I could be the one to prepare for his return. I'm his special apprentice, the only one who’s really fighting for peace. And once Ixis Naugus returns to this world, all of my efforts will have paid off. My master will save us all. Just like he saved me."

You get me?

And, really, Geoffrey would have had to trust in Naugus that way (really believe that Naugus could save everyone) to go as far as he did for him. He searched for other Ixis artifacts and writings, taught himself as much as he could, as Ixis Naugus himself scarcely had the chance to teach him much. He played the long game, working his way into Sally's trust first, and then into the rest of the royal family second. He put so much work into the hope that he could help Ixis Naugus fix everything.

I probably don't need to tell anyone reading this that such great devotion often blurs the line between devotion and love. So...it is sad that the guy Geoffrey has spent so much of his life working for, likely worshipping, waiting for him to arrive and make everything okay again, probably considered his apprentice no more than one of his most loyal pawns. To believe so much in someone, to devote your life and future to them, to crave that future where you can one day see and work with them, while you're his unknowing tool he can use to grab more power. And...yeah it's more than a little fucked up how well Naugus had manipulated Geoffrey!

But, of course all relationships change over time, and Geoffrey and Naugus's is no exception. In addition to what he dealt with via spotty communication (and what he could have dealt with, given we don't know how Naugus spoke to him in those brief moments they could communicate), we can gather that Geoffrey's image of Naugus was not necessarily perfect.

Whether Geoffrey's "my master is about as subtle as a brick" line was something he's been thinking since Naugus first escaped the zone of silence, or if it's something he's come to admit in hindsight (or even how Geoffrey felt about Naugus's character then vs during issue 233) I cannot know. However, the impact of meeting Naugus in person after so long associating his disembodied voice with a grand mission of peace...

It's possible that Geoffrey originally just assumed Naugus to be in need of some guidance himself (as Geoffrey had become more of a tactician over the years Naugus was sealed in the Zone of Silence), but I don't think it's a stretch to assume that dealing with Naugus first hand and having to play damage control could have been what first started to plant any seeds of doubt in Geoffrey's head. Regardless of all of that, though, Geoffrey remained loyal.

After all, Ixis Naugus? Their seemingly shared goal? This was Geoffrey's rock. It's what's been giving his life meaning and purpose since the death of his father. He's relied on it for so long, and having to play some damage control isn't enough for him to give up on his master.

Geoffrey had loved Sally, but Sally would not accept his master as king. He had not loved her more than he was devoted to his master. Geoffrey had loved Elias too (in my opinion at least), but with Naugus sealed away in the zone of silence, his mission came first. What was of utmost importance was making a stronger kingdom for Naugus to return to (and, later, to make sure he even had people and a kingdom to return to at all). Geoffrey had not cared for Elias more than he'd cared for his grand mission of fixing everything. So though he'd genuinely cared for the two of them, those friends of his would function as...pawns—just two figureheads necessary for keeping the peace.

But then, as things grew worse and worse in the year of Sonic's absence, Geoffrey clung to this goal he'd been pursuing all this time. He was struggling just to make sure Naugus would have anything to come back to, and even to stay alive. And then, at his very lowest, at the depths of despair, with his team destroyed and so many people lost, Geoffrey looked to Naugus.

Geoffrey was failing his grand mission—felt as if he had failed—failed his job as a secret agent. So, as one would expect, he turned to his rock. His master had been one of the only people he could ever trust. His master had been the only one there for him most of his life. His master had been that beacon of hope and eventual. Maybe he (Geoffrey) had failed, but as long as Naugus was there...

But then he wasn't there.

In fact, it might have felt reminiscent of the day he became Naugus's apprentice, because again the world around him is going to shit, the kingdom is falling, people are dying, and the one person he cares so much for (the one he places his hope in) is gone. He's at his very lowest, missing that very rock he's relied on for so long.

And then, just like Naugus after the death of Ian St. John, Hershey came to Geoffrey while he was at his lowest. When was without his rock, she grew to become another.

Maybe he had failed, but Hershey was able to give him hope (something only Naugus had been able to do before her). And while with Naugus Geoffrey dedicated his life to him and their mission, expecting nothing in return (or, well, even if he couldn't let himself expect I'm sure he wanted), with Hershey he could breathe and live his life beyond the mission. Where he showed her love and care, she could return it (and he would have proof beyond words of promise). While Naugus had been sealed away most of the time Geoffrey knew him and he had to do a lot of his work alone, Hershey was his partner.

Anon, I'll be completely honest with you right now. Before I decided to dig a bit into Mr. St. John's head so I could properly put some ship thoughts on the page, I had not actually realized how much Ixis Naugus's relationship with Geoffrey paralleled his relationship with Hershey (his wife). They were both his rocks, so to speak. They both gave him reason to continue, to hope, and something to live for.

And, as long as I'm talking about Naugus/Geoffrey for ship purposes, perhaps...the love he found in Hershey could have been something he was seeking in Naugus all this time (even subconsciously).

Sad, isn't it?

Sure, I don't think Geoffrey ever fully gave up on his mission of peace (and Naugus by extension), but with Hershey in his life and Naugus silent, I don't think it's a stretch to conclude that he sort of allowed his previous mission to fall to the wayside. Naugus finally returned to the world in StH #163 (for reference, Sonic's 1 year of being dead took place between StH #125 and StH #130), which was an event Geoffrey wasn't present for but likely learned about. In StH #173, the freedom fighters capture Mammoth Mogul, Ixis Naugus (who's currently lost the ability of complex thought), and the Hooligans. Then in #177, Nicole traps Ixis Naugus and Mammoth Mogul along with the Hooligans, and Mogul escapes a second time, taking the other 4 with him, in StH #186. By StH #187, Geoffrey knows Mogul's current location, as he and Rouge were both sent on a mission to look into casino night zone where Mogul started a business.

But with all of that in mind, Geoffrey doesn't move to free Ixis Naugus until StH #220. Naugus came back in #163. Naugus was free but in Mogul's hands in #186. Geoffrey didn't come for him until #220.

But, as someone who's read Archie Sonic or knows Geoffrey's story knows, Hershey was sent on a mission. She went silent for so long that Geoffrey moved to investigate himself.

Only to learn that his wife—his new rock—was pronounced dead, and he could neither find hair nor hide of her.

With this set of panels, I feel the implications are clear. With his new rock, his support, dead, Geoffrey was now without his pillar for a third time, and had lost the current direction/hope in his life again. But, unlike before, there is still someone to turn to.

Hershey may be dead, but Naugus is alive, and Geoffrey's long known that. Plus, although Hershey was with him during the ongoing war with Robotnik (a war which nearly destroyed the Kingdom he's believed himself to be fighting for this whole time), the Iron Dominion followed up after Robotnik. And during that reign of terror, Geoffrey watched first-hand as the Iron Queen weaponized Nicole and Monkey Khan. He was there as the City of New Mobotropolis itself turned on its people—a living nightmare. He was even there while the Iron Queen had ordered public legionizings of New Mobotropolis's citizens.

His wife is gone, the world has been a mess, the monarch has almost been reduced to a figurehead with the rise of the council, and he's almost lost his people again. He's angry and scared all over again. So, Geoffrey St. John finally moved to restore his master, and to pursue that purpose he'd set on the backburner once more.

Because when that's complete, everything will be okay again, right?

And once Geoffrey restores his Master's sanity and retakes his place at his side, their relationship begins to shift again. After all this time, you can tell Geoffrey's still desperately holding onto the hope that Naugus's return will spell peace for the once kingdom.

And I mean desperately.

If we bid to remember that Naugus has been Geoffrey's support most of his life, that he gave Geoffrey his purpose and someone to trust after his father's death, that he's been Geoffrey's support longer than Hershey or (likely) his father was, and how much of his life Geoffrey has been following this purpose while believing it's for the greater good, then well. What kind of person does it make Geoffrey if he followed a liar and a manipulator? What has his entire life been for if his actions haven't been bringing about eventual peace? What does the fact of all of the people he hurt and backstabbed mean if the end doesn't justify the means?

Naugus is Geoffrey's last support (at least, this is how it feels to him), and he can't lose that.

So young Geoffrey St. John starts from a purer place of hero worship, grows into a young adult who's accepted that his hero and master just needs the guidance he can provide, puts his efforts into his master's goal but, as his master is not there for him again when things get hard, eventually puts it aside to pursue life and a love that is returned. And now that his master and their seemingly shared goal is all he has left, all he can do to keep on moving is to throw his entire self into that purpose again.

And because he can't lose Naugus, that means he needs to be needed by him, and needs to believe that Naugus was telling the truth all those years ago. So if Naugus wants to get rid of him or punish him for his failures, then Geoffrey needs to prove that he needs him. If Naugus wants to hurt people seemingly unnecessary by enacting plans Geoffrey doesn't agree with, then he'll provide advice while reminding himself that Naugus is ultimately pursuing their goal of peace. He'll suck it up, gloss over red flags, pretend this is all fine while being passive aggressive.

And he'll do it until he ultimately can't anymore—when he's forced to recognize that Naugus just wants power and absolute control, and doesn't care who has has to hurt and use and kill to get there. And then when he does...

Well, even when Geoffrey's had enough with it all for the final time, he still tries to give Ixis Naugus the benefit of the doubt. He tries to convince his master that they can have a second chance, that he can choose to be the person Geoffrey thought he was. He faces the choice between betraying Naugus (which may allow him to "do the right thing for once") and staying loyal at all costs by trying to convince Naugus to choose to do the right thing.

And ultimately...Naugus chooses to keep on the path he's on. Rather than ask for help, show any weakness, try to do the right thing, or hope for a second chance, he chooses to keep pursuing his goals of total power and control at all costs.

And, ultimately, he possesses Geoffrey's body, just like he'd done to King Acorn over a hundred issues before.

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Their story within the context of canon is...tragic. Geoffrey was just a boy, dealing with war and death and grief and anger and purposelessness, who was manipulated. He put almost his entire life into working towards what turned out to be a false mission. He put so much love and devotion towards a master who never had any intention of returning that, who had only ever seen him as a loyal pawn. And Ixis Naugus, with all of his great power, lead a life of manipulation and pursuit of more power. He didn't care what he had to do or who he had to hurt to get it. And so among his many pawns, he took an apprentice. This apprentice, a boy who had been so easy to win over with fake words and attention here and there, was not more special than any of his other pawns (absolutely not in the way the boy had likely fancied himself to be). Just like the rest, he was only needed when he was useful. So Ixis Naugus continued to pursue power and control and use and hurt and use and hurt and use and hurt. But if Geoffrey paid for everything by losing control of his body, then Naugus pays by hurtling towards inevitable oblivion. After all, one can only run from their demons, use people, push people away instead of accepting help, and commit any crime for the endless pursuit of power for so long. If only Geoffrey had let more people in or gained a better support network. If only Naugus had listened to Geoffrey when he was at his lowest. If only if only if only if only–

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Okay, okay, I'm sure you didn't ask this question only to get a bunch of talk about Archie Canon, anon 😂. So, let's talk some shippier talk.

Aside from the tragedy aspect, I think there's ship potential for just about every point in Geoffrey's life.

To start, there's younger Geoffrey—the version of him who perhaps had most genuinely believed in the future Naugus had promised him. He grew up listening to a disembodied voice and imagined a hero that would fix everything. Sure, Ixis Naugus couldn't talk to him much, but when he eventually gets freed he'll put things right, and he needs Geoffrey to prepare for his return. So he trains under his father's teachings, and he teaches himself the Ixis Magicks. He works so hard, and he’s glad he can talk to his beloved master even a little bit. After all, what more can he ask for? His hero can't help that the reception is spotty and their time to talk is little, so all he can do is do his best to make up for it. He's the apprentice of someone who can bring real change, and he can't let him down.

But he can’t help but imagine sometimes what it'll be like when his master finally arrives. Everything will be saved, everything will be okay, he'll never have to be scared and alone again, and...then what will Naugus do when Geoffrey finally stands at his side? Of course, of course, he would never place expectations upon his master. It's enough that he's been there for him, giving him hope and a purpose, allowing him the security of having someone to rely on, and yet, he can’t help but want. So if he performs so perfectly well—his master's perfect little apprentice—how will he praise kiss reward him? After all, hasn't he been so loyal?

To younger Geoffrey (or Geoffrey pre Naugus's escape from the zone of silence, rather), perhaps the love and devotion he's carried for his master was his first love.

And then, there's Geoffrey who meets his master after so long. To see the guy you'd put up on a pedestal and worked so very hard for again. He's been imagining this moment for so long!

But his master has been away from Mobius too long. Of course, that's why Geoffrey needs to play damage control. His master is great, and powerful, but he doesn't understand the art of subtelty. He doesn't understand what good could come from playing his cards right, enacting a plan rather than just taking a Kingdom by force. So if Geoffrey needs his master so he can have someone to trust and rely on, so he can have hope, so he has a purpose to work for, then Naugus needs him to guide him now. But then...his master is sealed away again. Maybe if his master had listened to him it wouldn't have come to this, but... No. Maybe Naugus was sealed away again, and maybe Naugus's voice had fallen silent, but that doesn't mean everything is over. It can't. Naugus will come back just like before, and Geoffrey will present him a Kingdom stronger than ever for his master to rule. So the ever dutiful apprentice will play the long game, do whatever it takes to make his master proud.

Until everything goes to shit, that is.

For the first time in so many years, Geoffrey is at his lowest. Grief, anger, despair. He's failing his master, failing his people, failed his team. He's done so much in pursuit of his goal, and it's meaning nothing. He can’t even make a meaningful difference with Sonic "dead". He feels guilty as he begins to think that Naugus doesn't care for him as much as he thought. After all, Naugus is the only person who's ever been there for him, the only one he can trust, the only person he can rely on, and he can't help if he's busy with the zone of silence (especially if that's integral to his master's plans), can he? But Geoffrey is starting to lose hope, guilty as it makes him feel on top of everything else. He's afraid again. Everything hurts so badly, and he just wishes his master was here.

But he's silent, gone, and Geoffrey feels...hopeless. Then when Hershey helps him back up again, becomes his new rock, he eventually tries to deal with the guilt and, with time, he can push that nagging guilt to the back of his head.

But there are days where he can't lock it into its hole forever, and Geoffrey is angry, and guilty, and bitter all at the same time. He wants to scream at his master and curse his name just as much as he wants to hear his voice, receive even a smidgen of comfort, and proof that his master cares what he's done to him for him. Perhaps he dreams sometimes of his master coming back to apologize, to recognize all that he'd tried to do, to forgive Geoffrey for his failings. In fact, perhaps he dreams that his master would take one of his hands and kiss him deeply as he swears to create a bright future with him.

And then, as Geoffrey files those dreams away into the darkest reaches of his heart, he wonders if it's because of that old childlike naiveté or because of Hershey that some of those wishes dressed as dreams are so hopeful and sweet.

Then there's Geoffrey after he receives news of Hershey's death. Angry, bitter, and desperate. He goes back to Naugus because there's nothing else left for him, no other support in his life. And this Geoffrey is as bitter and passive agressive as he is loyal and deluding himself. On the worst of days, Geoffrey is left reminding Naugus why he needs him. On what could be considered the best, Naugus is smart enough to use words and kisses to ensure Geoffrey stays willingly loyal (at least as long as he still needs Geoffrey). But on most days, they're like an old married couple. They're both growing dissatisfied with the state of things, arguing with each other even as they keep the other safe. Naugus is growing more irritable and of less sound mind over time, refusing to show anyone the pain and "sickness" he's experiencing, and Geoffrey can't pretend it's not draining him by the day. He believes that Naugus is working for the greater good and that it's his job to guide him into his rightful place (without unnecessary drama or casualties)—has to, otherwise he has to face the fact that everything he's worked for was for nothing (or worse, in service of someone who was never a good person). Yet, at the same time, he's not stupid. He's growing more passive aggressive and bitter because of the choices Naugus keeps making, but he desperately tries to stay useful and believe in Naugus because he has no choice.

But then...there's Geoffrey who eventually can't take it anymore, who couldn't leave if he wanted to (because now he wants to live, and Naugus makes it so clear how over his life will be if he betrays him). Geoffrey cares for Naugus's wellbeing because he can't help it, he cares because he has no choice. He has every reason to want to get rid of Naugus. He doesn't because he wants to give Naugus a second chance (sure he must concede that Naugus was never the person he thought he was, but he won't give up on the idea that he can be), he cares because Naugus choosing the right thing is the only way he (Geoffrey) can safely do the same. What was once his beacon of hope is now something he cannot let go of, even when he wants to.

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So, summary of all that? Onesided hero worship and devotion Geoffrey/Naugus, where Geoffrey doesn't know that Naugus doesn't actually consider him to be his special apprentice, and where Geoffrey wants his attention and praise deep down. Geoffrey who's beginning to lose hope and is ever guiltier for it, not knowing for sure whether Naugus actually can't answer him or is ignoring him. Geoffrey who's finally learning to live, trying to chain up the guilt as he is somewhat moving on from his previous life, and who wants to take out all his feelings on his master just as much as he wants his master to prove he cares about him, needs him, wants him. And then Geoffrey who has no one left but his master, who clings to him because he has no choice. Geoffrey who can no longer look the other way when his master crosses the line, who's stuck somewhere between "maybe we should both die" and "maybe we both deserve a second chance". Geoffrey who had served his master as best as he could, was the only person to believe that his master could be the hero he'd envisioned, and who'd been betrayed in the end.

And to accompany that, Naugus who'd said the right words to manipulate the feelings of a grieving child, who knew of his apprentice's devotion but only kept him around as one of his many pawns. Naugus who was livid at his apprentice's continued failures and that he'd left him without his sanity for so long. Naugus who never truly recognized just how loyal his apprentice was. Naugus who is growing so desperate to keep his support and power and form, who uses Geoffrey's wants and desires to keep him tethered when he cannot scare him into being forever loyal. Naugus who is losing to his demons, always just close to revealing his weaknesses, whose downfall lies not only in his constant betrayal of the people, but in how he treats his most loyal follower. Naugus, who has been granted the kind of choice no one has ever seriously given him, and chose to keep down his doomed path rather than take his apprentice's hand and give up.

This is my vision. Angst, tragedy, anger, bitterness, occasional pure love, betrayal, desperation, and loss. Definitely interesting, if not fun to play with, no?

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In any case, if you've read this whole thing, anon, I'd love to thank you for the ask! I'm sorry it took so long to answer, but I enjoyed doing research for this ask and ruminating on my answer as much as I did.

If you have any other specific questions as to what I think of/headcanon for this pairing or others, feel free to shoot me another ask!

#sonic the hedgehog #archie sonic comics #ixis naugus #geoffrey st john #geoffixis #naugffrey #anon interview #essay time #Ahdehfbshbfhs it's just a little vindicating is all I'll say #The beginning to a...very normal master/servant relationship #Yes uh. normal #And for the record if someone is seeing this out of the context of the post this is a geoffixis/naugffrey post so no hate in my house

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