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arpstail · 4 months ago

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Babe wake up! Puffin just dropped!!

More headcanons/theories

Been poking around the artist's patreon and was just reminded how much I love this cast of characters. So I just started letting my mind wander and came up with some more random headcanons in no particular order. There will be the occasional predictions for season 4 sprinkled within (some are outrageous by my standards).

When Siren was a kid, he would practice making his escape by dashing around the castle. As Skiff was his "assigned" bodyguard, he would join in on the "fun". The problem is Siren focused more on speed than maneuverability. As a result, the young prince collided at top speed with other adults or even statues when he attempted to pivot on the spot to avoid said collisions. Several of the cracks and chips to the statues throughout the castle are a result of these shenanigans. Dude's got a hard head, as demonstrated throughout the comic.

Why bring up Skiff? Because of Siren's antics, he got really good at making tight turns and dodging out of the way. His smaller size played into his favor as well. So, while Skiff's not as fast as his idol, he's quick and light on his fins, making him an effective hunter and near impossible to catch.

I know I touched on Siren not being a fan of the colors blue, gray, or black in a previous post. But I started wondering, if he had a favorite color, what would it be? Maybe if Siren was asked as a kid but never could come up with anything he liked? And I landed on a vibrant orange.

Why orange? Because, prior to meeting Kappa, Siren had never known such colors existed .He'd only ever seen cool colors ranging from pitch black to forest greens (moss). Brown for the mud. Maybe the occasional soft pink if a shark brought home a pretty shell or bits of coral. Or, ya know, dark red from blood. But never any warm colors that inspire or comfort the young prince. By the age of nineteen, Siren's entire world was secluded to a muted, bland (in his mind) color palette.

Then along comes the Beacon. He's this mystical, divine being Siren has only seen murals of. And here he is, this little guy with a cute face. But, before even that, Kappa is bright and colorful. He's mesmerizing, not simply because of what he is, but because he's a color Siren has literally never seen before. Yes, he's cute. Yes, he's hilarious and crass and jaded. But before all of that, Kappa is vivid and eye-catching. Like, I can imagine that even if they'd somehow met prior, even if Siren didn't know this was this Beacon, he would have still been awestruck simply because of his hue.

Siren's always assumed the outside world is much bigger than he could ever imagine. But here's just a taste of it. There are literal colors Siren has never even heard of! And he wants to see it all. But he can't. He must fulfill his duty to the prophecy. So instead Siren settles for learning about the outside world through Kappa's eyes. And he loves it so much that it manifests into Siren finally having a favorite color.

Consequently, I wouldn't be surprised if Kappa's favorite color is blue. I don't think it's a color we've ever seen him in the comics (correct me if I'm wrong). Maybe he hopes he'd blend in with the ocean more.

But, more than that, it's the color of Siren. Here's somebody who's protective and warm. Somebody who wants him for who he is rather than what he represents. Somebody Kappa can tuck himself against to feel safe (as he does a few times in Seasons 1 & 3). So the color comes to mean so much more than potential camouflage.

Kappa is free to grab or pull on any part of Siren whenever he wants to. Siren is pretty tolerant of people invading his personal space throughout the series (as demonstrated by Nee in the dungeon or Neth grabbing his face), but there's just something different with Kappa. He can grab Siren by the face or pull on his hair if he so desires. He could suddenly flop across Siren's lap or fidget with either of his fins. If Kappa wanted to play with Siren's fingers, Siren's arm would just go limp and let him have his fun. No questions asked.

Siren's tolerance has no limit with Kappa, which honestly lulls me into a false sense of security sometimes because this guy is a literal apex predator. He could kill Kappa if he wanted. But he doesn't. He chooses to be mellow and patient. And the finale of Season 3 brings this into stark, painful focus. Because, despite how dangerous Siren is, Kappa never once acts like he fears for his own safety. He knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Siren would never hurt him.

On another note, Kappa has long memorized the shape of Siren's scars. When there isn't anything to distract him, he'll visually trace them, particularly the one on Siren's chest late at night when he can't sleep. Sometimes he'll literally trace it with his finger while lost in thought.

Siren's well aware of when Kappa is staring at the scar on his back. He's always quick to turn and face Kappa, offering a smile or distraction. Because Siren is proud of it. It's a sign of how far he's willing to go to protect Kappa.

The subject of their magic hearts as of the finale is a matter of great interest to me. I have several theories bouncing around my head, but for the sake of simplicity, I'll only list the main ones I think have some merit. All I can assume is that Siren's heart literally resides with Kappa and vice versa.

In order to use magic, it has to come from the other. Meaning if Kappa gets upset, the heart in Siren's chest will act up. Get upset enough, and the magic will react by either harming or incapacitating Siren in some fashion. This falls back on Nethimir talking about how their magic works to Kappa and Siren at the finale of Season 2 and why it's so important to control their emotions at the start of Season 3. Obviously, the same goes in reverse with Siren to Kappa.

Another result of this is that they cannot actually use magic unless the other is nearby as they are ostensibly the source of their respective power. By extension, the two are cautioned against placing too great of a distance between them. Too far for too long from their heart can result in loss of consciousness or some sort of physical side-effect such as fatigue or shortness of breath. Long story short, they shouldn't be separated.

It doesn't quite create a new sort of tether between them, but it does give Siren some experience with the phenomenon. Because now he feels like he's being drawn towards Kappa at all times. It's similar to how I've previously mentioned that Siren always knows which direction the castle is. Only this is more precise, more insistent, to the point Siren feels increasingly more anxious the longer they're separated.

These are not to suggest that they can't be away from one another. Just that they're hyper aware of it and shouldn't be apart for extended periods.

I cannot imagine Siren not having some sort of existential crises over all this. On the one hand, he's always felt his heart belongs to Kappa. Having it be literal concerns him with regards to his prophecy. Does this mean if the Beacon were to try and kill him, that Kappa would perish alongside him?

Every time Siren gets overly stimulated by his boyfriend's flirting, the heart within Kappa picks up speed in reaction to him becoming a flustered mess. Meaning Kappa directly feels how wound up he's making Siren. I don't mean this as sexually either. I mean that it makes Kappa's own face flush despite not feeling embarrassed or lightheaded from how enraptured Siren is. He can veritably feel how much Siren loves him as if it were his own emotions.

Kappa's possibly thrown off by this at first. He knows Siren loves him. But to actually feel that love in such an intimate manner is something Kappa has little experience with. Love has always been conditional for him. Yet here it is, hammering away in his chest, radiating just for being himself. I can imagine that would be overwhelming at first. Kappa would probably play it off to not draw attention to it until he eventually gets used to it. If anything, it adds another reason for him to relentlessly tease Siren when they're alone.

I have some thoughts on Shoal. I've never been a proponent for his decisions, but I've also not been against them necessarily either. I don't think there is any question about how much Shoal loves Siren. He desperately wants to save his son.

Then Siren started talking about his dad to Kappa in Episode 162. It got me wondering what sort of things Shoal might be willing to do in order to save his son. Such as, oh I don't know, becoming a minigod? Lord Ogo's comment to Kappa got me thinking; what are you willing to sacrifice for those you love.

That, coupled with Ogo hinting that one cannot think like a god without becoming one themselves, I can see this being foreshadowing for Shoal.

It's either that or fearing what Kappa might likewise be willing to do to save his beloved. Unsurprisingly, that's who Kappa thinks about upon hearing Lord Ogo's warning. Both Shoal and Kappa wish to save Siren. They both love Siren dearly. Love Siren is well aware of but doesn't feel he deserves. My heart can't take worrying about Kappa like that for long.

I know I'm going to be an outlier for this, but I absolutely do not trust Orakos. There is just something about them that unsettles me. They're hiding something. Why are they after the Beacon? They clearly know more than they are letting on. Are they wanting to take Kappa to the Surface? Against Kappa's will? But, if Siren holds Kappa's heart, does that mean they'll be going after him too? Not that Siren wouldn't chase after Orakos if they took Kappa. Why are they after the light within the Beacon anyway?

Speaking of that light, if Kappa ever learns how to manipulate it, I get the feeling this little guy will rapidly become overpowered. The God's Light combined with Octalia Magic Heart sounds too powerful to control. Gives me Avatar State vibes that Siren's gonna help Kappa navigate. Maybe even forcibly if Kappa tries to push him away under the pretense of protecting Siren from the magic. I get the feeling he's absolutely going to need Siren since he's carrying Kappa's actual heart. Not only that, Siren stabilizes Kappa, makes him feel safe. Things Kappa will undoubtedly need if he's going to see this journey to its conclusion and live.

Here's an unlikely but twisted theory; the Narwhals aren't villains. Don't get me wrong. I'm not a fan of them at this stage nor defending their hostile behavior. But they're on par with Orakos in that we don't know what they're after. We know they're prone to violence at the drop of a hat yet express concern for Orakos when they are harmed. Orakos even states they are here because of them.

But what do we really know about all three of them? Not much, to be honest. We don't even know how the Narwhals are connected. Are they twins? Lovers? Co-Workers? I think one is male and the other is female, but I'm hesitant to assume even that much out of respect for gender preferences.

The Narwhals accuse Orakos of being loyal to "their god," but we don't know which god that even is. Is it the Surface God? The God of the Abyss, Labbu? Given that Orakos is knowledgeable of fossils, even carrying two of them on their person, I don't think it's a stretch. Labbu is the source of all mini gods after all, and we know those are spawned from fossils.

Yes, I know the Narwhals threaten the Beacon indirectly by warning Orakos that they know what's going to happen if/when they find the Beacon first. Sounds like a threat to me. But what if it's not? What if they are loyal to the Surface God and the Beacon by extension? And seek to keep the Light out of Orakos/Labbu's hands?

This is a massive stretch, but I can't denounce the possibility until I know what they're after or who they are loyal to as they too use fossils in the shape of their magic staves. Could be their magic stems from the God of the Abyss themselves since magic seems to come at a cost given the Octalia's circumstances.

Let it be known that I neither support nor condone either Orakos or the Narwhals. I'm just shooting ideas into the breeze to avoid jumping to conclusions. Knowing the author, she's thought of something I've completely missed and I'll be surprised no matter what.

I'm also very curious about Siren's lineage. Why? Because of Kappa comment at the end Episode 125 (S2 finale).

Why say something like that? The best I think figure is that, for whatever reason, mer hair stops growing after a certain point based on genetics. Why else would Kappa's hair continue to grow over the course of two months while they recover while Siren's only reproduces the bit that was sheared off by the trench monster? If Siren somehow found the means to cut his hair, wouldn't Kappa's length have come up then? Then again, Siren seems to like long-haired boys. (¬‿¬)

Anyway, if this is the case, I can understand why Kappa seems baffled. Both Shoal and Susca have long hair. Either Siren inherited a recessive gene or there's more going on with his lineage than the author has let on. Given that she likes to drop subtle hints throughout the story, this would absolutely not surprise me. The question then becomes why? To which I don't have a clue.

This is a joke headcanon, but I'm convinced Selkie is over a hundred years old. Meaning she was alive when Neris was killed by the Queen at that time. I only started thinking about it because the author is so secretive about Selkie's age. I can easily imagine Selkie was an Elder long before Siren was born to boot. Which would explain why she knew the original prophecy. It's a shot in the dark, and a long one at that to think she's lived that long despite the curse, but it's still funny to think about.

Silver is asexual. That's it. That's the headcanon. Don't know what else you want from me on this one.

I used to think Kappa was too, but the author debunked that one.

I accept the headcanon ship of Queen Nee/Queen Krilli.

Same for Skiff/Seko.

I had this funny thought of Worm actually being the Surface God in disguise, having come to be with Kappa the only way available. I don't entirely remember where the idea stemmed from. He just seems too intelligent to be another random sea creature. This is entirely a joke by the way!

I have this headcanon that Kappa isn't 100% of his age; he's just estimating to the best of his ability.

Consequently, Kappa also doesn't know what his actual birthday is.

Kappa's vibrant scales have never been a problem for Siren when it comes to sleeping. The guy grew up with a glowing bed! Cuddling his bioluminescent boyfriend really doesn't phase him in that regard.

Kappa is always the little spoon. Not just because of his size, but Siren's dorsal is more rigid than his.

That's all I've got for now.

#castle swimmer

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arpstail · 7 months ago

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Day 1827 of, these sharks live SUCH a tragic life

hi guys!!! I was just rereading castle swimm- OH MY GOD?

do they not usually get fed everyday…?????? (No, the answer is no..)

This is actually a point I’ve BEEN making, the sharks were starved, no question about it. I mean even hunting their food has a high risk of either lots of injuries, or actually DYING..

Walk with me for a second

INFACT??? THEY FEEL LUCKY WHEN NOBODY DIES WHILE HUNTING..??

Which this also implies that when they DO eat, it’s not a lot. That creature they killed was considered to be a big meal for everyone, which…hmm..REALLY..?

and I mean… And if we wanna go and be Marine biologist!!!! Sharks can go up to like six weeks without eating, and that’s just blue sharks! And ANOTHER FACT, sharks are omnivores so they can infact eat plants and stuff, however….have you seen the castle and the environment they live in…

the whole castle is actively…CRUMBLING.. and even the curse takes part in this. Going outside to hunt is basically life threatening, and I doubt they hunt often because of this. Especially considering the fact that their numbers are diminishing, there’s only a few hundred of them.

now obviously this may be a small..reach considering the portions they all get were pretty decent in size. though this doesn’t mean they get that daily, or often at all. And again future maybe marine biologist here! They’re sharks… they’re probably not eating to the recommended standard anyways.

There was actually some REALLY nice head canons that inspired me to share these from my notes a few months ago by @hopeful-puffin that shares most of my thoughts. (Please check it out they’re SO GOOD. I love you hopemwamwanmwah)

anyway

I actually thought I’d share a few of my own head canons as well! Not sure what more I could say I haven’t already.(I hope it’s ok to use this screen shot..)

I’ll make a more head canon centered post some other time hopefully maybe

I feel like siren not caring about food at all is really essential to his character considering the fact a large part of his character is centered around the guilt he carries. The worst part is? He can’t do anything to help, he isn’t allowed to. He can’t complain. And also taking into account that this guy has literally never gone outside for the first 18 years of his life???? This is literally the only thing he’s known. Hunting, to him, is life threatening no matter how skilled you are. He doesn’t know any other creatures other than 1 the ones brought to him and 2 the ones already in their environment. For siren, I’d imagine he doesn’t care what creature it is as long as it’ll feed the people.

now! Hold my hand for a moment.. picture this.

Seasons! Are there seasons in the castle swimmer universe? I mean..probably..I dunno, I’d have to go check after I post this.. BUT! Creatures are skittering around getting ready for..uhhh they’re equivalent to winter! So they aren’t obtainable at all this time of year.(assuming the sharks can’t hunt very far away, I mean they would surely die so) so..what do the sharks do? They can’t hunt, their resources are already as scarce enough as it is, and there really isn’t anything else around the castle..errrr..cave(?)

so what do they do? They have kids and elderly to feed! Sure they can could a bit without eating, but then what?

this is when it gets all edgy, and boo me all you want yeah IM CRINGE SURE WHATEVERRRRR

Sharks are known to eat each othe- NO DONT CLICK AWAY JUST HERE ME OUT… sharks can be!! Cannibalistic.! I’m sure you can tell where I’m going with this but I’m going to lay it flat just in case

The sharks resort to eating….,well I’m not sure if they’d be already dead, or dying, sharks. Either way! They’re suffering! They’re sharks! And they’re starved for food.

Now another way this headcanon can go is a little bit more morally gray, as we’ve seen sirens parents be(um maybe?) not sure if I’ve already talked about my shoal theories here BUT ANYWAY! Picture this, sirens dad, canonically, is a nurse. And siren is just lets say like 7 or 8, before he leaves(or maybe this is what drives him to leave) regardless, it’s winter, and shoals family is starving . So..what does he do!! as lightly as I can put this, he just secretly feed them the remains of others. He has the ability to do it I mean he’s a nurse. He can like do that…I guess. Point is, sometimes (actually ALL the time) nurses are forced to do things others won’t agree with based of their morals. And in a situation where they were all desperate, this doesn’t seem that far out of the question. We ALL SAW THE END OF EPISODE 169.. castle swimmer has not shied away from being dark

If you made it this far I’m i love you.. MWAH! And hope if you too read this I LOVOVEEEVEVE what you do

Bonus cause I love him to death @linaisfunny @dumblond-ie

#castle swimmer #castle swimmer siren #wendy don’t kill me #webtoon #is this too edgy #I’m not cringe I swear

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