#hyperfixation powers activate | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

permanentmess · 15 days ago

Text

bob reynolds headcanons (including romantic x reader !)

GIF NOT MINE

a/n: i have completely let this hyperfixation consume me to the point where i quite literally think of bob or the thunderbolts most of the day. it's debilitating, but that means you will get some very passionate fics from me (literally have been in the middle of writing one thats why this took so long)

this is written with a female reader in mind, although could be easily read as otherwise :)

also let me address a common worry: absolutely NONE of this is meant to infantilize or baby this character in any way. anything i wrote was with a lot of consideration and i was using my logical thought processes to develop these. i recognize that this is a major issue already and i am not attempting to contribute to it

warnings: mentions of sex/sex life and activities so MINORS DNI 18+ ONLY, mental illness (obviously), food/lack of eating, SPOILERS FOR THE THUNDERBOLTS* FILM INCLUDING POST CREDIT SCENE

like i said in the thunderbolts one, its practically canon/accepted fanon that bob loves to read

i also feel like he might just...forget to eat (this basically comes from the bag of food and full shake he had in the post credit scene too lmao)

is trying to learn to cook but can really only cook like mac and cheese or scrambled eggs

but since he has a lot more free time, i can imagine after a bit he'd get pretty good at it (can you imagine ben grimm teaching him how to cook oml)

relationship wise, i think he's not exactly inexperienced, but he doesn't really remember anything

it says in his file his drug addiction and juvenile record started in middle school

so any romantic relationship or anything in that realm is just like...not familiar to him at all. or he just simply doesn't remember, like i said

i feel like he really likes physical touch but due to his past + the void, he's just a bit scared to touch anyone at first

but once he trusts himself and others more its easier (like towards the end of the movie/with yelena)

i think he likes the comfort of the baggy clothes that cover most of him, and thats why he wears them even though he "runs hot" (totally not projecting here) ((also its like teenagers w their hoodies -- weighted blanket style))

something tells me he likes arcades, specifically claw machines. idk why

also stuffed animals. yelena and ava definitely bought him one of those weighted ones

he seems like he would want to sleep with a nightlight at least, if not one of those aurora borealis light thingys (i have one 10/10 very calming)

i know everyone writes him as stuttering a lot, but i think he really only does it when he's anxious (i think im an expert, ive seen this movie 5 times don't come for me 🤚🏼)

like he can get really confident, especially on his better days

other than reading, i feel like he'd get into drawing or photography. something creative that can distract him but provide an outlet

(also this is actually canon but) he does the chores and dishes because he wants to feel like he's contributing to the team since he can't control his powers :(

this is maybe me projecting a little, but i feel like he ends up finding a lot of solace in nature. he went to malaysia to try and figure stuff out, so i have no doubts that he likes to get out of the city

more x reader based [romantic, some could be platonic]:

he loves his hair being played with. like you want him to pass out easy? let him stick his head in your lap, run your hands through it, massage his scalp. he'll be OUT in like 5 minutes

washing his hair? oh my god he is literally in heaven

your relationship is very slow but honestly both of you are okay with that

you two are also that couple that doesn't argue. you may disagree or want to talk to each other about stuff, but you never raise your voices [think: holt and kevin in B99 "arguing"]

he kinda does seem like the jealous type to me, but not in the toxic way. he'll just squeeze your hand extra tight or do that behind hug where he puts his head on yours or your shoulder and you immediately know

(its very hot when he gets possessive)

other than physical touch, i think he's an acts of service man. anything he can do to share his love, he wants to. and he likes little things you do for him

when i think of being with bob i just think of that quiet relationship where you're really in sync, soft mornings with the sun streaming in through the window, cute candid photos on each others phones

but i could also see one with like a slightly more talkative/expressive reader who really brings out bob's confidence. i don't doubt that he loves to yap too (some/most days at least)

he will try to cook for you but it might not turn out well (he's banned from the kitchen one week for burning water. he got distracted cause you were so pretty)

on a bit more of the sexual side, i feel like he has a praise kink. like he likes being told how he's doing, if he's treating you well, etc.

i feel like your guys' sex life starts really slow. just kissing, then moving up, until one day something in you both just kinda snaps and you can't keep your hands off each other

and maybe when its like very passionate or maybe he's a bit jealous that day, sentry comes out a little 🤭

despite being a god, sentry will straight worship you, idc, its canon

not that bob wouldn't

but sentry does on another level

at the end of the day, bob wants what you want, and you want what he wants, so it all works out well

bob is the type to have a note on his notes app of just your favorite things (all your typical orders, favorite books/movies/music, etc.). like its not that he doesn't remember (he has it memorized) but you know just in case Void takes a lot more of his memory

he'll bring a jacket with just in case you forget, he'll open doors for you, pull out your chair, he just gives off pure sweetheart and gentleman energy (not in the infantilization way)

just imagine a really peaceful relationship all around with such a genuine, sweet guy (i need him so bad)

as with the thunderbolts one, let me know about your own! kinda short but i hope they are enjoyable

#bob reynolds x reader #mcu #bob reynolds headcanons #thunderbolts #sentry x reader #void x reader

181 notes · View notes

gladiator-v · 2 months ago

Text

BACK AT IT AGAIN AT KRISPY KREME!!!!!! Yeah I drafted this waaaaaaaaaaay back when I first crash landed into my Doey phase (p.s. it wasn’t a phase) and inevitably fell off the wagon!! The hyperfixation set a new record of a whole stinkin’ month WOWZERS! I’ve still been checking the tag almost daily and wow the community has grown exponentially it’s crazy.

ALSO UH- THANK YOU ALL FOR THE FOLLOWS AND LIKES AND REBLOGS!!?!??! I’ve never gotten more than 10ish notes on any post I’ve made on here and like- wow that’s just- WOW. Sincerely makes me so happy and grin from ear to ear that ppl like my silly little drawings of silly little vidya game characters. Life got busy per usual and vacuumed me up but UH- I!! Want to try to come back here!! Especially since Doey has (accidentally??) become a comfort character for me. Like the whole reason I picked up this draft again was bc I was stressed about work and nothing else I was trying to doodle came out right. BUT ANYWAY ENOUGH YAPPING FROM ME THANK YOU ALL SM!! Imma see if the hyperfixation brain powers can activate long enough to finish this, bye bye~

STATUS: Completed!

#my art #wessketch #art #digital art #ppt #poppy playtime #doey the doughman #doey #doey ppt #yapping #jack ayers #matthew hallard #kevin barnes #sketch

235 notes · View notes

miraculouslyfine · 5 months ago

Text

the power of giving gifts

Pairing: Peter Parker x reader

★★★

Sometimes giving a guy a Spider-Man scarf and a beanie makes him want to kiss you or something

(fluff, 2k-ish words)

Peter's schedule was always packed and pretty standard; between his Spider-Man duties, his internship and school there wasn't much time for him to explore his own interests or try out new things. Balancing his civilian and vigilante life was already hard enough without adding other stuff to the mix.

That wasn't the case for Y/n who seemed to pick up a new hobby every other month.

It was always fun for the group when she hopped on to a new thing, as she'd get hyperfixated on it and gift-give like crazy. Baking? She has done that. Photography? Of course. Scrapbooking? How could she not?

And she'd always make sure to make something for all of her friends, no matter how time consuming the activity was. This month wasn't any different.

—————

“GUYS! Y/n comes bearing gifts!”

“Why would you assume I have gifts-”

“Why else would your bag look like that? Basically stealing Santa's brand but okay-”

“And it's the end of the month meaning you're about to get “TikTok influenced” and blindly follow in on another trend-”

“Okay, yeah, I got it. Thanks for the input, MJ”, she rolled her eyes playfully as she sat down by her friends at the gym's bleachers trying to ignore the slight flush of her face when her thigh just barely brushed against Peter's.

“So whatchu got in there this time, Y/n/n?”, Peter asked with a soft smile, causing her to grin in return as she unzipped her school bag.

She took out another bag, now searching through the stuff in that one. She took out –surprise- another bag, handing it to MJ, who eyed it suspiciously before her eyes softened and a small appreciative smile made its way to her face.

The bag was a knitted book bag, woven from soft, sturdy yarn. Its surface was a landscape of intricate stitches. The color—a warm, earthy tone—hinted at quiet autumn mornings or the golden glow of sunlight.

The bag was fairly big, with enough room for three or four books to fit comfortably and perhaps a notebook for her musings. The handles, thick and secure, prompting her to carry it everywhere—just in case inspiration strikes. A single wooden button fastens the top offering a playful touch of whimsy.

“You made me a bag?”

“No, I made you a book bag.”, she corrected her teasingly.

“It's a bag-”

“For books, yes. So, y'know, you won't have to carry around your books in your hands all the time”

A moment of silence passed before MJ spoke up again.

“It's a cool bag”, she said with a small shrug. She wasn't fooling anyone; it was evident she loved the bag, especially as the days passed and she wouldn't leave the house without it

“Ned's next!”, she said excitedly as she fished out a set of two knitted figures, before handing them to him.

He gently took them in his hands, like he was handling a newborn baby. Each figurine has a distinct shape. Their forms were rounded and slightly plush, lending them a playful look. He noticed the tiny details like stitched eyes, embroidered smiles, and carefully added accessories give each figurine a unique personality, like a bandolier/ ammo belt and a blaster.

“Ohmygodohmygodohmygod- is that Chewbacca and... Han Solo? Thankyouthankyouthankyou- I LOVE Star Wars. How did you even know-”

The rest of the group shared a look, shaking their heads in response.

“Lucky guess”, she said eventually with a snort before finally turning to Peter.

“Um....here”

Her voice was soft, a hint of nervousness evident in her tone as she passed the bag to the boy sitting next to her.

N: “Hey! Why does he get to keep the bag-”

“I don't know. He's the last one to get something, I gave him the bag, no big deal-”

N: “Uh-uh, it is a big deal. You're clearly playing favorites. This is a classic case of favoritism and I won't stand for it!”

MJ: “Why would you even want a paper bag?”

N: “I don't know, we never have bags at home- Why does Peter need it-”

“Jeez, Ned, you can have the bag, no one cares about the bag-”

N: “That's the thing, I care about the bag-”

MJ: “Oh for fu- Peter, just give him the bag so he can shut up-”

N: "That's not a very kind thing to say, Michelle-"

MJ: “I will end you-”

“Kids, play nice”

MJ: “Yes, mom”

N: “Wait, does that make Peter our dad?

This little comment caught both Y/n and Peter off guard, making Peter blush furiously while she let out a dry, startled cough as they both avoided each other eyes like the plague, causing MJ to roll her eyes knowingly and Ned to smirk. Peter cleared his throat and shook his head before throwing a warning glare Ned's way.

“Can you like...be normal for a second?”, he muttered not taking his eyes off the bag in his hands.

He forced himself to look at the girl in front of him, giving her a small appreciative smile before he even saw the actual contents of the bag. He knew he would love whatever it was she gave him, he always did.

He gently reached into the bag, his fingers brushing over the soft, textured surface of something hidden within. A smile tugged at his lips even before he saw it—a glimpse of yarn peeking through like a whisper of winter warmth.

He reached in and pulled out the scarf first, its knitted rows of a deep, scarlet tones cascading from his hands. The weight of it felt reassuring, the stitches a delicate symphony of loops and care. He held it up, letting the soft fibers graze his fingers as he noticed the web-like pattern. The scarf's primary color was red, with a black web motif running its length, creating a striking visual contrast. The edges are outlined with a clean white trim, adding a subtle frame to the design. At the bottom, vibrant blue tassels hang neatly, adding a dynamic and colorful finishing touch.

Nestled beneath was a beanie, its rounded shape perfectly snug in his palm. He turned it over, admiring the way the yarn gathered neatly at the crown. The colors didn't really match the scarf's - instead, the beanie had a knitted design with a winter theme. It had a black base with a decorative pattern in white and red, giving it a far more subtle look.

“You made these?”, he murmured, his voice soft, almost disbelieving.

His fingers lingered over the tiny imperfections; the kind that made the gift feel more alive, more personal—more loved.

She noticed him examining it and immediately felt the need to explain herself.

“It's uhm... it's not much...I just thought...y'know... New York winter is no joke, heh...and you're out a lot. It probably gets cold swinging around and um...I don't want you to get sick or anything.”, she swallowed nervously before shrugging her shoulders attempting to play it off.

“I tried matching the colors to your suit but I couldn't find the exact shades so they're a bit off”

He shook his head and smiled softly at her, his voice coming a bit choked up as he felt deeply touched by her thoughtfulness.

“No”, he cleared his throat, a bit embarrassed from how emotional he sounded a second there, “No, it's perfect. I love y- it /yeet?seriously?/. I love it. Thank you”

She gently took the scarf, with its delicate pattern and vibrant colors, from his hands, hesitating for a moment as her fingers grazed the soft fabric. She scooted a bit closer to Peter, her breath soft as she gently draped the scarf over his shoulders, fingers brushing lightly against the skin of his neck.

Peter looked at her face, meeting her eyes for a brief, tender moment. There was something unspoken in the way their eyes locked — the quiet weight of a thousand feelings not yet expressed. She adjusted the scarf, making sure it rested just perfectly, the action both intimate and thoughtful.

The warmth of the scarf feels like a promise, a comfort, yet there’s something deeper in the gesture — an acknowledgment of all that has been left unsaid between them, a subtle confession wrapped in the threads of affection. Peter, still for a moment, tilted his head slightly, as if savoring the closeness, the softness of the gesture, and the way it feels to have someone care for him like this.

Neither of them said a word, but the silence held something electric, a quiet understanding that perhaps, just maybe, there’s more to this bond than either has dared to admit. The air between them hummed with the possibility of feelings waiting to be named.

But of course, their moment was soon over-

“cough cough are you guys about to kiss? Are we interrupting something-”

Thanks, Ned

Both of them flushed in embarrassment, what was it with Ned and his commentary today? But neither of them moved away, choosing to offer each other a small apologetic smile instead.

“Ouch! Did you just kick me-” Thank you, MJ.

“I have no idea what you're talking about”

This little scene made both of them laugh softly, amused by their friends’ antics.

“And um... the beanie's for your...less superhero-y appearances. I think you look good in blue- I mean, you look good in anything really- heh, that's really not the point I was trying to make.”, she shook her head. “It's for the cold. Obviously. Gotta protect those ears, right? Not that they're big or anything-”, Jesus Christ, just shut up already-

Peter raised an eyebrow at her words, an amused smile tugging at his lips. He could tell she was nervous -heck, a blind bat could probably tell she was nervous- and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't enjoying this even just a little bit. It was a good indicator he affected her as much as she affected him, and he enjoyed the fact. A lot. A whole lot.

“I should put that one on, too. See if it fits and all”, he said casually with a playful smile, passing her back the beanie.

She stared at it for a moment, not understanding why he was giving it to her before her eyes widened slightly in realization as she took it from his hands.

“Yeah, right, right-”, she chuckled softly and moved a bit closer to him.

She gently slid the beanie over Peter’s head, adjusting it with exaggerated care —her fingers definitely lingering on his face a moment too long as she tucked stray strands of hair beneath the edge, straightening the fold of the brim.

“It looks good on you,” she said quieter this time, the words carrying more weight than she intended.

Peter tilted his head, his playful grin fading into something softer. “Yeah? Must be the craftsmanship.” Something about having her this close made him a lot more confident.

She rolled her eyes playfully. “Maybe it's just your face”

“My face? First you had something to say about my ears, now my face too?”

She groaned, a small laugh escaping her lips. “Shut up. You know I didn't mean it like that”

“How did you mean it then, huh?”

“It was a compliment-”

“Oh, so you like my face? Is that what you're trying to say?”, he teased, his voice light and playful, though his heart was pounding in his chest.

She blushed a bit but didn't look away. "I guess I am," she admitted, the words escaping softly, almost as if she was surprised by her own admission.

There's a pause, both of them caught in the stillness of the moment, the years of friendship now feeling like a foundation, something unshakable, yet ripe for change. Slowly, almost instinctively, they lean in a little closer. Their breaths mingle, and the world outside seems to fade, leaving only the sound of their heartbeats and the weight of unspoken feelings between them.

And then, without another word, they close the space between them, lips meeting in a first kiss that is gentle, unsure at first, but quickly deepening as if it had been waiting to happen for years. The kiss is both a revelation and a quiet promise, one that speaks of all they've shared and everything that might come next.

“Okay, we're definitely interrupting something now-”

"Ned!"

#peter parker x reader #peter parker fanfiction #peter parker imagine #peter parker fluff #spiderman x reader #spiderman x y/n #peter parker #peter parker x you #spiderman #tom holland

205 notes · View notes

rivalerer · 1 month ago

Text

Dating Doreen Green (Squirrel Girl) p1.

Disclaimer: this is based on marvel rival’s iteration of her & derives from my own personal interpretations of her + what i gather from her canon stories n interactions (And also my information on squirrels). I pull very little from other sources but encourage you sharing feedback or new information through my ask box

(you are also free to just ask or request things about other characters)

CW: Nutty Behavior, Not Beta Read, Nothin’ Else

—

- Dating Doreen comes with a lot of perks and little issues here n there- the regular presence of squirrels & other woodland critters; the quirky chatter with animals & you about her college life; near constant movement or activities to keep her squirrely nature entertained- but an undeniable quality of dating her is coming to terms with the intense amounts of fur n hair everywhere. While this initially seems like it’d be an issue, you take note that Doreen rarely appears completely covered in fur- and once you both get comfortable enough with one another you’ll begin to understand why-

- It’s Allogrooming; the behavior of grooming another creatures pelt in an effort to bond. It’s something Doreen does nightly & it’s something you will unarguably have occur. She will of course stop if you dont want to be “groomed”- but if you let her (and often tippy-toe) continue you’ll find yourself cuddling up with her frequently while she picks you clean of squirrel fur and brushes down your clothes. If you let her she’ll also be running her fingers through your hair- gently untangling any knots or snags; if you dont have any hair or have very little- you note that she’s still keen on keeping every part of you clean and well cared for, scalp massages are a MUST in her mind if this is the case. It’s all her own very special way of showing love for you. And you’re free to return the favor! You’re quick to notice that she’s very fond of having her tail or hair gently brushed- it puts her in such a lovey dovey mood every time (and as an added bonus, it really keeps the shedding down)

- And when Doreen finds herself in a lovey dovey mood- you really have a lot on your plate. Because Doreen is HUGE on cuddling and activities/time shared together. She’s a very clever woman & she will be KEEN on keeping you close so she can curl up with you or somehow convince you to look at her most recent coding misadventures (whether you understand them or not) AND SHE’LL SOMEHOW MAKE YOU THINK IT WAS YOUR IDEA?? And in a few hours later you’ll be 2 & 1/2 movies in on some niche series from 20 years ago and you’ll comprehend that you have no idea what’s going on or why you’re watching this AND YOU’LL REALIZE YOU LIKE IT?? Really and truly- Doreen must have some secret super power on getting you to kick back with her because the 2 of you will be doing SO MUCH together when she’s feeling lovesick over you

- It literally doesn’t even matter what the 2 of you are doing- she has a knack for turning 1-2 hour visits into entire slumber parties. It wont just be for her interests though- Doreen will be ON TOP of remembering your favorite activities just to have things to lure you into hangin out with her more. It’s not a malicious thing by any means- Shes just a real socialite and you’re undeniably her favorite company to have over (well- you & tippy-toe). Still- she’s more than willing to give you your alone time as you need it (she does afterall have plenty of other stuff to do)

- And if you find yourself trying to seek her company while she’s busy- god- good luck- there’s so many things she could be up to. It’ll take awhile before you’re able to really pin point where Doreen is quickly if she’s not bugging you. She has such a tendency to hyperfixate on her tasks- and because of that she can dissapear for hours without meaning to. You‘ve found her hidden away coding or doodling as many times as you’ve found her out in the middle of the woods meddling with some outlandish animal issue. And every time you’ve found her- she’s of course greeting you with hugs and kisses, but it’s still such a task to get a hold of her when she’s off doing Doreen-things. You’ve got to love this if you’re dating her I assume- but it’s definitely a little issue here and there.

- But let’s back track a little- what does time with Doreen look like more normally? Aside from doing activities- your squirrely companion has a lot of nice little quirks to one on one time. Most notable is probably the mix of physical affection & chattering. Doreen has a bit of a magic to her in the sense that she’s somehow always able to fill the silence of a hang out- whether it’s with getting you to talk by egging you on about your passions or explaining a year long woodlands creature drama she’s been following with Tippy-Toe; Doreen Green will have SOMEONE talking during your time together. If you prefer quiet- she’ll be trying her damndest to find some peace and quiet within herself for you- but know that unless you keep her busy it’ll be really obvious for anyone in the room that she wants to YAP. (Though music or her napping is a nice middle ground for her)

- otherwise- the thing youll probably take most notice of is Doreen’s fondness towards physical touch & affection. Tippy-Toe being on her shoulder so often (along with lots of other critters) has made her a sensory seeking cuddle monster. She will be doing SO MUCH to try and cuddle up with you while you both relax. She’s especially fond of finding herself a place to curl up in your side (even if you’re smaller); she’s sort of a master at it. Her squirrel senses give her a good understanding of where her weight lays when she’s curling up with you- so it’s uncommon she’ll ever be laid over you in a way thats too much for you. But aside from the cuddles themselves- she is a touchy girl. Playing with your hands, tracing physical quirks like freckles or scars, leaving random kisses or pokes here and there, squeezing you wherever she can find enough to grab- literally anything is something for her.

- And it’s all cause Doreen is making it a goal early on to learn your body head to toe. Learning what touches you enjoy, what you don’t- what things she can do to make you twitch or playfully irritate you- it’s an intimate but big thing for her. As a girl who is a squirrel- she’s always got a sharp eye & a sense to notice all the little things around her. Learning you isn’t any different from learning about the enemies she fights- it’s no different from learning to live- it’s not necessarily a desire in her mind so much as it is a natural need or process. You’re just that important to her- once the 2 of you are together she wants to integrate you into her life & her learning; you’re a part of what she considers necessary. You’re so much of what she will begin to love.

When all of the silliness and puns fall to the wayside, it’s really clear that Doreen Green cares very deeply for you. She may try to downplay the seriousness of it from time- but you will undeniably become a part of her heart just as Tippy-Toe & Monkey Joe did; if not somehow more.

#marvel rivals x reader #marvel rivals X y/n #marvel rivals headcanons #marvel rivals doreen green #marvel rivals squirrel girl #marvel rivals imagines #Doreen green x reader #doreen green #squirrel girl #love squirrel girl #not much Squirrel Girling in this part #btw p2 will be out uh… whenever I feel like it ig

77 notes · View notes

masochist-marmot · 3 months ago

Text

TMAGP Theory: Tria Prima

Spoiler alert/disclaimer: Written after The Magnus Protocol episode 34; also spoilers for The Magnus Archives

I don't know if this idea has been properly explored yet, but I have had a weeklong hyperfixation where I've delved into alchemy and tried to figure out the inner workings of TMAGP universe. This theory is half-boiled at best, and I apologise if I've misunderstood any of the basic concepts. It seems like even alchemists never fully agreed on them, so they're contradicting each other a lot. That being said, let's get into it.

Perspective Reset

First of all, I think we are collectively still too hung up on the Fears as entities or powers. It's very tempting to classify things with the same framework we're familiar with (and conditioned to), but I think it's preventing us from seeing the bigger picture. Prior to the end of TMA, it's possible that no entities ever even existed in this universe, but the incidents have been taking place for a long time. The creators have also explicitly said that they wanted to create a new rule set, and I doubt that they'd build it with the same blocks. Because of this, I set out to find a set of rules that has nothing to do with the fears.

Classical Elements (Very Briefly)

I will oversimplify this for my sanity and yours. We have the four classical elements: fire, air, water and earth. In the classical worldview, these make up everything on Earth. Each element has two corresponding properties, as you can see in the figure below (fire is hot and dry etc). The elements are in a constant process of circulating and flowing, breaking apart and coming together (sand into water, water into stone, stone into wood...), but fire and air are considered more active and volatile while water and earth are more passive and stable. The rest of the universe is filled with the fifth element, quintessence or aether. It is considered heavenly and perfect and completely unchangeable.

The Three Principles (Tria Prima)

Later alchemists made the addition of (first two and then) three principles that work on the elements and in conjunction with them. These principles were used to describe the alchemical process and its parts, but they also had more metaphysical implications. These are the foundation of my theory.

Salt 🜔: Aka. Corpus or The Body. Things that are solid and stable but also corruptible. The dust that's left behind after something is burned. Associated with earth, water and the property of coldness. In humans, associated with the physical body and therefore physical health. Salt is also associated with preservation and sometimes even rebirth. It's what's left behind after the alchemical stage of putrefication, and therefore what undergoes purification.

Mercury ☿: Aka. Spiritus or The Mind. Things that are volatile and soluble. The alchemical solvent or the smoke that rises from a fire. Considered the perfect agent because it demonstrates properties of both a liquid and a solid. The principle of flowing freely between elements and perhaps even heaven and earth. Associated with air, water and the property of wetness. In humans, it's the mind, or the intellect, knowledge and rationality of a person. Some seem to consider it the universal, platonic idea of thought, as mercury wouldn't be restricted by an individual body.

Sulphur 🜍: Aka. Anima or The Soul. Things that combust, but also the principle of combustibility. The flame that manifests when something is burned. Associated with fire, air and the property of hotness. With fire and air being the most active elements, sulphur is also the catalyst for change. In humans, associated with the soul, or the consciousness that links the body to the mind. It's the emotions, ambitions and desires that animate the body.

Why have I given you the symbols? Because they're all there on the OIAR logo:

(I also circled aether because I thought I'd talk about it later but decided not to, so you're free to make your own conclusions)

I currently believe that these three principles are omnipresent in the Magnus Protocol universe. They're just part of the makeup of the universe, causing no one harm. At least, when they're in balance.

The Theory - It's All About Balance

There's been a lot of talk about balance by now.

"The institute, alchemy, all of it. "It’s all about balance. Dua prima, four elements, seven planets, it’s all the same. You’ve got to keep things balanced. And if something is missing, if someone is misplaced, the equation doesn’t balance… and that’s when things get bad…" (Celia, episode 30)

Here Celia mentions dua prima, which (as I alluded to before) is an earlier theory surrounding Sulphur and Mercury. Salt was proposed as the third principle in a later theory, but by now the tria prima seem to be more widely accepted.

"Not that anyone cares as long as it all balances, right? Not too much mercury or the world ends, not too much sulfur or we all go mad…" (Colin, episode 19)

Huh.

So, let me lay out the actual theory.

The principles usually strive for balance, because it's their natural state. However, sometimes the balance is skewed by human action or some other unexpected force. This imbalance can happen on an individual level or it can affect objects (which then become "cursed") or locations (which then become "poisoned"). In fact, the Magnus Institute calls such poisoned locations loci (singular "locus"). I also hypothesise that this is how the OIAR categorises their incidents (1. individuals - 2. locations - 3. objects).

When there is an imbalance, the affected person/area/object starts to display an unnatural amount or lack of one principle. For example, if there's an abundance of salt, we may see people or things slow down, become passive, even crystallise. Bodies preserved despite obvious corrosion, infections that putrefy and then purify flesh into a "perfect" form. The clearest example I can think of would be episode 3, where the character quite literally transmutes into a tree. Or episode 23 where a character inserts a piece of coral under her skin and begins to paralyse as it grows out of her. If you absolutely have to compare to TMA, I'd say a lot of Flesh, Corruption or Buried statements would fit under salt. It is associated with earth, water and literal bodies, after all.

Abundance in mercury would manifest as things getting a little weird, unstable and volatile, but in a subtle, flowy way. Changing architecture, people seeming odd, things dissolving into others, time or dimensions being unstable, perhaps the limits of a human psyche being broken. I'm thinking of the liminal spaces from episode 8 or the pier from episode 33. The fog is an especially fitting link, what with fog being a manifestation of air and water. I also think the entire Hill Top Centre has been affected. And now that I started, you could easily make connections to the Stranger, the Lonely, the Spiral and the Eye. Which brings an ironic twist to Colin's statement. Too much "mercury" already ended the world once.

Abundance of sulphur would bring out more abrupt changes, it would twist people's passions into unhealthy obsessions, drive people to anger and senseless bloodlust, give consciousness to the unconscious and animate the inanimate. In fact, in episode 19, the character says of Newton's dog: "such a creature must by all natural law lack that essential and ephemeral anima." Another case of an unexpectedly conscious thing would be Liverpool (episode 32), who is coincidentally also incredibly angry. I also think Ink5oul's tattoos have an element of sulphur, not only because their first stolen design (sun with a dot in the middle) evokes the alchemical symbol for sun. In TMA sulphur would probably be attributed to the Slaughter, the Hunt, the Desolation or the like.

I have noticed that a lot of TMAGP incidents involve an unhealthy desire, passion, obsession or (literal and metaphorical) hunger. It's also noticeable that the symbol for sulphur appears on the OIAR logo four times (once in each corner of the square representing the elements). I don't know if this is a stylistic choice or if it has deeper implications. But it's there. And as Colin implies, it could be bad.

The beautiful part about this framework is that it doesn't set any clear limits between the categories, because the balance can be disrupted in many ways. Lack of salt means abundance of sulphur and mercury, and their distribution may also vary greatly. I also don't know if the OIAR ranks their incidents in these terms. They probably have some needlessly complicated system that's practically undecipherable. (I took a long time trying to figure out the DPHW and I'm no closer to solving it.)

End note

I have some thoughts about what the goals of the OIAR and the Magnus Institute are based on this theory, but this post is too long now. May make a follow-up eventually. Or procrastinate until they just tell us.

Edit: I have now written my theory posts on the OIAR and the Magnus Institute. Go read if you're so inclined.

#the magnus protocol #tmagp #tmagp podcast #tmagp spoilers #tmagp theory #tmagp tria prima theory #the magnus archives #tma spoilers #tma #tma podcast #fear entities #red string theory #magnussing #help this hyperfixation has consumed me #i need sleep #before my computer eats me

77 notes · View notes