#overanalysing this one dude is my passtime

[transcriptasareversa]

"Darius DOES care more about himself than the coven, he is the kind of coworker to clock in last and clock out first. Not because he’s ‘lazy’ but because he understands his worth in a system that doesn’t value it, yet demands the most of Darius anyway."

Yes exactly, that's precisely how I see Darius working. Always having an excuse to leave, always doing the bare minimum, sometimes even less, leaving things to the last moment. He knows he has no reason to put any effort on the Coven and so he doesn't, but while to everyone it may look like that's because he values himself more is also because he doesn't value the Coven.

On that regard I do wonder if the effort he would have put on the rebellion or reforming the Isles may have been baffling to an outside perspective. Like those are things he has reason to care about, unlike the Covens, so he wouldn't act in the same uninterested way, would he? I wonder if it took some people aback to see such a different facet of him, just a fun thought to entertain.

In terms of Terra not suspecting Darius, I think we can look at Eda's Requiem for a little more insight on that. After all, we talk about Terra not realizing Darius was a rebel, but Raine also didn't suspect him back then, like Raine heard him say "and your treachery whatever" and is still implied Darius had to approach them afterwards off-screen for them to work together. The way I see it, Darius constructed a mask, of an self-centered selfish person and hide under it for years. After all, one of the first things we hear him say when going to capture Raine and the others is "I was scheduled for some me time today, so hand yourself over before things get nasty", about an oficial mission in which he's supposed to be capturing dangerous rebels. Raine doesn't think anything of it, we the audience are just meeting him, so it makes sense it doesn't bring any bells beyond the first impression is meant to evoque, but Raine in theory does, which implies this is not unusual for Darius within the Coven.

In other words Darius could get away with being uncaring over the Covens because people assumed he was that way due to being self-centered, rather than unloyal. This would make sense especially for someone like Terra. Like, when you think about it, "me goes first" seems to be the common philosophy among the Coven Heads, it fits Terra and Adrian pretty well for example, Terra is someone that relishes in power and therefore her interest in the Coven comes from the power it can give her and the same can be said for Adrian. There could be some projecting there, Darius doesn't need to act loyal for his act to be effective when people can just assume he's just a little more interested in himself than he's in the Coven. Everyone is like that, after all. In that regard it makes you wonder if Raine was too earnest and that's why they stand out so fast.

In any case, it does explain why Terra wouldn't suspect Darius over others, Darius is uncaring and self-centered after all, not the kind of person you see rebelling. The perfect mask to hide under (good enough to trick some of the audience, even to this fucking day).

Is very telling than when Dana talked about him, it was to say “at the end of the day he has his priorities, and his priorities are to help people and to care for those that he loves”, aka a very caring person, about a character whose first impression was meant to evoque an imagen of someone self-centered. It becomes very clear that was a mask and a relevant one, the reason he wasn't suspected. After all, Terra not suspecting him was also a choice the writers had to make. In other words, you're supposed to conclude his mask is effective but also that is a mask. He's not uncaring and he's not self-centered and he's not selfish, but he hided under those descriptors for years and let people draw their own conclusions.

So yeah I would call him a pretty good actor.

Ohhh I like this a lot! It’s taken me a while to respond but believe me; I read it like immediately and it actually influenced my latest fic in a very brief way, just a throwaway line or two, but like. I’m accepting this into my personal canon now.

I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s both the truth and a lie? Those are the best lies. Darius DOES care more about himself than the coven, he is the kind of coworker to clock in last and clock out first. Not because he’s ‘lazy’ but because he understands his worth in a system that doesn’t value it, yet demands the most of Darius anyway.

So yeah, he will use coven time and resources to take care of himself! He’ll hold the coven accountable to its alleged role, ask what the coven can do for him, not the other way around. He’s content to do the bare minimum because Darius won’t delude himself into wasting energy earning approval that won’t be given. And this works just fine with his actual rebellious activities and motives, too; Do less for the coven and use your spa breaks as cover. And have real spa breaks while you’re at it, better the coven budget goes to that than its oppression!

So of course when Darius suggests they cancel the meeting, everyone accepts it as him being a procrastinator and just not being in the mood, rather than cover to do his real work and sabotage the loyalists by discouraging them from their jobs. This paints this picture of Darius to everyone else as this cushy, germaphobe witch who’d probably faint over outdoor work.

So he’s selfish and without a true loyalty to the coven, but in a way where he’ll still defend it to defend his own luxury. Meaning Darius won’t stick his neck out for the coven but he won’t stick his neck out for wild witches either, his is the path of least resistance and thus ultimately the coven. If anything, he’ll resent wild witches for ruining his free-time, which Darius does lean into during his performance.

Coupled with this and the whole bit about teasing Raine over doing theatre, and it’s like. He definitely paid attention to the lessons, or at least had an easier time applying them without stage fright. He’s a good actor who knows when to sprinkle in genuine feelings to make it more convincing. And as you’ve said, Raine comes across as more hotheaded, wearing their feelings on their sleeve. Their rebellion was pretty open and obvious, inciting civilians to join them. Because they’re the performer who grabs attention, after all.