#referenced past Virgil x Janus x Remus

[aollosjustlurking]

are you ready for more taylor swift x sander sides lyrical analysis? cause i am! today i offer you:

me connecting "the archer" to virgil.

Combat, I'm ready for combat

I say I don't want that, but what if I do?

So imagine we are in a pre-accepting anxiety setting right now. Virgil spends his time with the others being aggressive and combative, but we know he doesn't want that he just feels he has too.

'Cause cruelty wins in the movies

This reminds me of "putting on a dark persona is the best way to get anyone's guard up." He assumes this is the only way he can help Thomas stay safe.

I've got a hundred thrown-out speeches I almost said to you

Y'know when you are mad at a person, or have any general build up of emotion towards someone, and you imagine conversations where you "win" against them? I can picture him thinking of a time where he maybe gets Thomas to take his side? idk

Easy they come, easy they go

I jump from the train, I ride off alone

We know he felt very alone and isolated during this period of time. But i also think of when he "ducked out" or "jumped from the train."

I never grew up, it's getting so old

His main reason for ducking out was the fact he thought he did more damage than good, but we know the animosity he received played a role. So I see the first part of this, "i never grew up", as him criticizing his own methods and the second part, "it's getting so old", as him referring to the insults from the others.

Help me hold onto you

at this point of the song we are now post acceptance, maybe even fitting in. We know the transition from antagonist to protagonist was a little weird, hence the fitting in episode, so him asking for help to be apart of the group would fit here.

I've been the archer

I've been the prey

At this point in the narrative these lines are referring to how he was the antagonist of the story, the "archer", and how he was also the receiver of constant insults and nicknames, the "prey".

Who could ever leave me, darling?

But who could stay?

It has been proven to Virgil that he is necessary for Thomas, but a level of insecurity with his place in the group is still there.

Dark side, I search for your dark side

But what if I'm alright, right, right, right here?

so jump to when he first told Thomas that we was previously a dark side. This specifically make me think about how he was trying to protect Thomas from the other dark sides because he knew how they work. He's searching for them, trying to keep them from Thomas, but he himself is a "dark side".

And I cut off my nose just to spite my face

Then I hate my reflection for years and years

this again sounds similar to how he was beating himself up about the fact he couldn't help keep remus from thomas.

I wake in the night, I pace like a ghost

The room is on fire, invisible smoke

this is literally just a description of anxiety. (i also personally headcanon that since virgil's room exaggerates one's traits and emotions that it would be a terrible place to have a panic attack)

And all of my heroes die all alone

Help me hold onto you

I've been the archer

I've been the prey

I feel the chorus here could either be seen as retrospection of the first chorus, that is to say it's referencing the same things, or it's referencing how he feels now that the dark sides are showing up. He's been the "archer", his pre acceptance days, and now he's the "prey" to new "antagonists".

Screaming, who could ever leave me, darling?

But who could stay?

(I see right through me, I see right through me)

'Cause they see right through me

They see right through me

They see right through

This is in reference to the other sides, both light and dark. The light sides know his history and hence he might think they see right through his new character. The dark sides can probably really see through him because they knew him for so long. Like when Janus showed up in Virgil's room after the phases episode. He can see through, or rather past the growth.

Can you see right through me?

this in reference to Thomas

They see right through

They see right through me

I see right through me

I see right through me

again this is just dripping in anxiety

All the king's horses, all the king's men

Couldn't put me together again

The light sides are trying to pull him into their group (and they have but don't tell him that he's having his little anxious moment) but he doesn't feel like he'll ever fully fit in.

'Cause all of my enemies started out friends

janus and remus

Help me hold onto you

he just desperately wants to protect thomas.

I've been the archer

I've been the prey

Who could ever leave me, darling?

But who could stay?

(I see right through me, I see right through me)

Who could stay?

Who could stay?

Who could stay?

You could stay

You could stay

You

I think he knows that at the end of the day things won't go back to the way they were before he was accepted. Things might get bumpy because of the whole dark sides thing but thomas at least sees his value now.

Combat, I'm ready for combat

he's not at a point now where he's willing to "duck out" again. he's going to stay and do his best to protect thomas and the others

[nonbinaryroyalty43]

Prompt: orange wrath side, ex-light side orange, orange side is also justice, secret 8th side referenced but never directly named, past wrath x patton, they broke up

Characters: Wrath orange side, Patton, Janus, Virgil, Remus, Roman, Logan, mentions of c!Thomas, mention of an eighth side

Pairing: Platonic DrLamp plus Wrath, at the most

Warnings: Slight unsympathetic Patton, but it gets resolved. Mentions of fighting, weapons.

Summary: It had been a long time since Wrath had seen the other Dark Sides, so he makes a visit to the Light. And if he gets to educate some ignorant Light Sides, that’s just a cherry on top.

******

Things had been slowly getting better.

Virgil, Janus, and Remus had a huge blowup fight, but everything seemed to be okay between the three of them. Remus and Roman had also managed to patch their relationship and the two were now almost inseparable. Even Janus and Remus managed to be cordial with each other.

Patton had insisted that the entire group have a movie night, which is how the six of them found themselves cuddled inside a pillow fort. It was Logan’s turn to pick, so Big Hero 6 played on the screen. It was...nice.

Then, a voice broke through the peace. “Well, isn’t this sweet?”

Immediately, everyone sprang to the feet and turned to where the voice had come from. Roman summoned his sword and Remus summoned his morning star. The two stood protectively in front of the other four.

“How are you?” Roman demanded. Shadows fell across the speaker, making him impossible to see.

“You don’t remember me? How sad.” The figure took a step forward into the light.

Unsurprisingly, the person looked just like Thomas, except for his bright orange eyes. He wore an orange shirt with a black leather jacket over it. His black jeans were ripped, with orange patches sewn into them. 

“How are you? Why would we remember you?” Logan asked.

“It’s okay,” Remus assured the group. “He’s fine.”

“What?” Roman sputtered. “How can you-”

“It’s fine, Princey,” Virgil cut in. “He’s another Dark Side. He’s cool.”

Remus vanished his morning star and collapsed onto the couch, pulling Janus with him. “Hey Wrath, how’s it going?”

“Very well, thank you,” Wrath replied. “It’s nice to see you and Janus again, Remus. How have you adjusted to the Light Side?”

“It’s terrible,” Janus said in his usual sarcastic manner. “And the Dark Side?”

“I’ve had my hands full with him, but otherwise it’s been fine. How about you, Vee? You okay? I haven’t heard much since you ducked out.”

“I’m fine. It’s great to see you, but why are you here? I thought you didn’t like the Light Side?”

Wrath opened his mouth to talk, but Roman cut him off. “What the heck is going on here? Who is this?”

“Aw, you guys forgot me. I’m so sad.”

“We have never met you before,” Logan interjected. “Therefore, we could not have forgotten you.”

“But you have met me.” Wrath’s eyes met Patton’s. “Morality remembers, don’t you?”

“I-I mean, yes,” Patton stammered. “I know you.”

“How?”

The question was asked by nearly everyone, except for Patton, Wrath, and Janus. 

Wrath gave Patton an evil grin. “Everyone take a seat. This will take a while.”

______

When Sides are created, they are automatically Light. Thomas may not know about them, but they aren’t considered bad or worth being hidden.

Guess which Side decides if another Side should be hidden? That’s right, Patton.

When I was created, my function was Justice. I was Thomas’ sense of what’s fair. Everyone had already formed except for Virgil and Creativity hadn’t split. Janus was the only Dark Side. 

I joined the other Lights, Logan, Patton, and the King. We became friends. I didn’t know about Janus until the King split and Remus was sent away. I didn’t understand. Why were some of us considered better than others?

I was still young, still new, so I didn’t say anything. I just went with it and got to know Roman.

Around that time, Patton and I started dating. I loved him and I thought he loved me. 

Then, Virgil came. 

We welcomed him, gave him a home. I grew close to him and we became friends. 

At one point, Roman and Logan were arguing, yelling so loud we could hear it no matter where we went. Virgil started panicking and accidently drove up Thomas’ anxiety. Thomas had a dentist appointment and suddenly, he was freaking out about it. 

Eventually, Roman and Logan calmed down, but the damage was done. Patton said that Virgil had hurt Thomas too much, so he had to go. Janus showed up and took Virgil to the Dark Side.

I argued with Patton over it for days afterward. It had been a total accident so why was he punishing Virgil? Virgil couldn’t control when he gave Thomas anxiety yet, so why push him away when we could help him?

Patton refused to allow Virgil to come back. I started sneaking into the Dark Side in order to see him. That’s when I properly met Janus and Remus. We became friends. They were the only people I told my name and in return they shared each of theirs.

Somehow Patton figured out I was seeing the others. He confronted me and told me that if I loved them so much, I could join them. I said I would. He tried to take it back, to tell me he wasn’t being serious, but I was done. 

That day, Justice changed. I became Wrath. I became a Dark Side.

______

There was silence in the room for a long period of time after Wrath finished his story. He looked around smugly, relishing the shocked faces of Logan and Roman and the guilty look on Patton’s. Janus was unimpressed, having heard the story before. Virgil and Remus weren’t surprised, even if they hadn’t known the story.

“I never should have done that,” Patton said, breaking the silence. “I shouldn’t have pushed you all away. I just thought, that as Thomas’ moral side, I had to keep the bad parts of him hidden away so he wouldn’t get hurt.”

“That’s the thing, though,” Virgil said. “You don’t get to decide what’s bad for Thomas and what isn’t. That isn’t fair to the rest of us. In fact, when Thomas’ sense of what is fair disagrees with what you’re doing, you probably should listen to him.”

Patton nodded. “You’re right. I should have.” He looked at each of the Dark Sides. “I owe all four of you an apology. I never should have assumed what was best for Thomas. I’m glad we all get an input now.”

“I should apologize as well,” Logan said. “While I may not have made the decisions that led to your banishment, I never fought against them. I wish we had gotten to know each other better.”

“I’m with Specs,” Roman said. “I’m sorry to all of you, but particularly you, Remus. You are my brother, but I didn’t even want to get to know you. I was happy when Patton sent you off. I’m glad I have a chance to get to know you now.”

The Dark Sides didn’t know what to say. “Thank you,” Janus finally managed to get out. “That means a lot, to all of us.”

“Yes, it does,” Virgil agreed.

Patton hesitated. “Wrath, I was really cruel to you. I should have listened when you gave your opinion and not assumed I was right. I’m really sorry for that, and for trying to make you hate the other Dark Side. I’m sorry I pushed you to leave. I’m sorry for all of it.”

“I know. I know all of you are sorry. That doesn’t mean much to me right now, but as I get to know the three of you better, I think that will change.” He gave another wicked grin. “I look forward to meeting Thomas.”

The Dark Sides burst into laughter while the Light Sides looked cautious. That would be a truly interesting meeting, indeed.