#scaled and icy theory

[potatomoonjuice]

Tyler said this tour is a flashback of the past. So if the songs are being removed, lore-wise it should mean that Clancy is slowly forgetting the past right?

'The Line' has a lot more to do with the lore than I thought.

"But I'd rather you not be here for What could be my final form" The new bandito letter calls Clancy tyrannical. There's a possibility that it's no longer Clancy. Blurryface has or is taking over. He's fearing how ppl will see him differently after his final form takes over.

"Stay your pretty eyes on course" This is possibly him telling others to keep fighting even if he's taken over.

"Keep the memories of who I was before" Clancy's pleading to be remembered as who he used to be and what he stands for, not what he's becoming. "So stay with me because" is maybe asking Torchbearer to stay before he's taken over.

"Please don't let them see me Sure there's nothing left to try I can feel the light shine on my face" He doesn't want the banditos to see him going when there's no hope in saving him. Clancy thinks of himself as a disappointment for not being able to fight it. He feels he'll be cast out.

"I can feel the light shine on my face" Clancy finds himself at the end of the tunnel no longer able to return.

[twentyonepurrlots]

This is my attempt at reaching the right audience and gaining more tøp moots. I need more clique friends. I wanna see all your goofy art, and tour content. I wanna discuss theories and just connect in this fandom!

Following everyone who likes/reposts this in hopes they’ll continue doing the same! <3

[mysadblacksoul]

See you next week

Happy tøp7

[oceanwithinsblog]

after a few months, here i am again with the next poll !! as some of you may know, after knowing the band for so long, i'm currently digging in tøp lore and generally listening on loop to their discography ... SO

in terms of tracklist, lyrics, visuals, lore, live shows, content etc.

i'm keeping the poll open for a whole week, feel free to vote, share and repost! if u also want to point out something specific you like about any tøp project/era, or if u want to share your top tøp songs, i'm all ears!

as for me, i think my favorite album is clancy now <3 trench and vessel are VERY strong contestants (blurryface a bit too), but i guess i'm just so happily satisfied with clancy both sound- and visual-wise that i'll make it first place. all of these positive vibes i'm getting from the release truly caught me off guard ㅠㅠ

besides, i can easily relato to MANY many lyrics (tbh that's always a guarantee when it comes to tøp songs), but this time it truly seems as if if they wrote them based on what i'm going through right now... this album feels super special and personal ngl !! (not to mention, this is also the era i got deep into the storyline and its characters); i know clancy has just dropped - and there's more on the way - but i'm super excited about this album/era !! it will also be the first time i'll see tøp live in concert ㅠㅠ

to be 100% frank, it hurts a bit to dethrone trench as my fav album/era ... maybe after this whole wave of excitement and enthusiasm remodels, i'll reconsider the question on this poll ... at the end of the day, i think both trench and clancy will possibly share the #1 spot of my tøp album rankings

well, let me know about you!! <3

[btw i don't know many tøp fans/clikkes (?) but i'd love to get to know the fandom a bit more :D also, if u have any lore related theories please fill me in !!! i'm totally invested eheh]

[hype-old-posts]

GUYS GUYS I NEED HELP

i read somewhere that in the livestream experience the lights on the panel glow for sacarver because sally is there and (supposedly) for lisden cuz dan is there, and i was gonna make a theory about why nico's light also glows once, but i hit a wall--

LISDEN'S JUST DOESN'T????

help am i going blind or something

[f0linasahl0]

more things about the livestream experience before i go completely insane.

(warning: this is going to be a long one)

1: why is [bishop] lisden's favorite song mulberry street and why is [bishop] sacarver's favorite (if i remember) the outside or stressed out....i just want to throw that out there

2: i absolutely adore the piano spread whatever thing tyler does before he goes and raps to migrane. i dont know what its called but when he runs his hand across the piano, it was good. how did he make it sound so good and musical...

3: why is the shy away livestream version the only livestream version that is on their official "the story" playlist??? i keep thinking about that (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3roRV3JHZzaU_kQ4-7uv-ahPbFabFmRW)

4: also thinking about how they cut off holding onto you before the outro. basically all there was of holding onto you was the "entertain my faith" part...thinking about the lore THERE. how a "good day dema" ad cut off the ending as well then they talk about how happy they are !! then how it goes to mulberry street after dan LISDEN says its his favorite then how it goes so blurry BEFORE THE AD??? ----"entertain my faith" sounds something like he..wants more from the religion but they cut him off from continuing the rest of holding onto you..like he got in trouble or something? i dont know man

5: "dema is bringing you this music collection that is vibrant with saturation"... "dema wants you to enjoy this collection"..."i just felt trapped before having this collection" ... "contentment"...."now that youve heard some of this collection you must be just like us, completely saturated"..."sometimes i close my eyes to try to escape...you know you cant escape sally...yes i know!" PROPAGANDA

6: why is he holding and grabbing his head so much. past the literal deadpan ass stare hes got through the majority if not all of the experience (like even while doing his little dances you'd think he'd be smiling during...), why does he grip his head so often-- i talked about this before but like what are they doing to him man he like grips his head in almost pain so much

7: also thinking about what the lore implications of jenna and debby being in this...because im pretty sure its shown jenna in levitate is a bandito i only assume debby was one too. why are they there?? were they caught too? or did dema make clones of them to use against josh and tyler?

8: "i cant wait to see you again"

9: ”in a world where this is as good as it gets…we miss you. we really do.”

10: also can we discuss the "CONTROLLED by" dma org and good day dema??? this photo is blurry as hell but CONTROLLED BY! not PRODUCTION OF! specific word choice..also dma org...dmaorg.info...why are clancy's letters posted on a website thats directly correlated with dema...letters from his time inside as well as time outside...can we like talk about that--like other than the obvious showcase that they have his letters and are using them to lie to the people, why are they going through dmaorg?? if clancy isnt directly with dema why are they--why are they going through there???

11: the whole cutscene before lane boy "there was a wonderful structure to the city that put my cares to rest and the responsibilities of the day seemed to be accomplished with minimal effort. once a task was taught and understood, our obligations timely, and it felt secure knowing tomorrows duties would be accomplished with the same efficiency. we all worked to represent our bishop with honor knew that each inhabitant of our region had a like-minded dedication to consistency....why do i kneel to these concepts? tempted by control, control by temptation. stay low, they say. stay low," then the direct contradiction of the redecorate rap he inserts, “with the bells and the whistles scaled back like an isolated track, and he feels trapped when he's not inebriated fair to say he's fairly sedated most days of the week. he might have made it if he lived on a different street. i repeat, scaled back and isolated he says he likes an open schedule but he mostly hates it if you're running to his room, take a breath before you break-in put your ear up to the door, tell me can you hear him saying?” using clancy's letters to show praise to dema then clancy (tyler) directly contradicting being like "no i hold zero praise for this city" and saying how hes isolated and sedated when hes not preforming--how he ALMOST made it out. how if he lived A LITTLE closer to the walls he wouldnt be there right now-

12: the way the old songs are "SCALED BACK AND ISOLATED" ???? A SCALED BACK AND ISOLATED TRACK????

13: the way ned is missing in chlorine when he was such a big part of chlorine

14: AGAIN this shy away version. one-why is it so important to the story, two-the 9 chairs for 9 bishops around the table, three-i fucking love the guitarist by josh i love his energy, four-THE WAY HE BREAKS A GLASS WHEN TALKING ABOUT BREAKING THE CYCLE IN HALF???, THE SCREAM !!!! so many things

[so many things you guys]

15: the fucking bishop ass dancers to stressed out....can we discuss that too. ALSO HOW THEY DRAG HIM TO THE NEXT STAGE FOR STRESSED OUT?

16: "but remember you should- *cut off*" YOU SHOULD WHAT SALLY SACARVER????

17: also firstly, how beautiful the ukulele part was...it was so gorgeous, also the transition was amazing. though past that, can we talk about how fucking sad he looked on that little boat with his uke? was that a mock to his escape attempts? to him singing to an empty sky in trench? singing to the banditos as they boat someplace safer? like...

18: THE MOCKING OF THE BANDITOS WITH THE FUCKING JUMPSUIT/HEAVYDIRTYSOULD PART?? why would dema do that? why would the bishops actively make josh and tyler look like the banditos if it wasn't just a mock? they dont like the banditos i thought why would they have them dressed up like that? like torchbearer bringing the torch to the stage and the look josh has on his face-then tyler also being in a bandito outfit. like--it has to be mocking his attempts. mocking the banditos or SOMETHING

19: heathens being in the livestream makes me think a little too but i dont know. "all my friends are heathens take it slow, wait for them to ask you who you know. please dont make any sudden moves you dont know half of the abuse."

20: also first, what was that alarm that was sounded before never take it? what happened there? second, the lore people have posted about never take it and how it was about the bishops? the way it was played while the alarm was going off and it was almost messier filming...

21: HIM ENDING THE LIVESTREAM WITH "nobody's coming for me" and his deadpan look (sobbing)

22: again, bringing up sally sacarver and dan lisden. sacarver and lisden being bishop's names and hosting this livestream. then showing directly how the bodies they are controlling are deteriorating as the show goes on. "The rules are that you can only seize or control a dead body, and only for a short while."

23: also just the heavydirtysoul part. starting to think about the: "I tricked Nico into taking me outside the walls. I created a fiery diversion. I escaped." i just keep thinking about that and:

24: "we've come for you, we've got people on the way, no chances, none at all" the way this is direct quotes from dan and sally, who are bishops, and it is also direct lyrics (or close to direct lyrics) from no chances. it just keeps cementing itself on everything ive already thought about

25: past just the livestream experience what is with josh and the bucket hat lol. i love it but like.-

26: "you ask me if its real, i see your shifting eyes, you dig in your heels, i dig my hole to die" also wondering why the "live from the outside" version is here rather than the original.-is it important

27: his little dances are my favorite thing-

28: CAR RADIO...car radio. thats it thats the point. just the car radio part is everything to me--its giving old car radio performances and im living for it. though also old car radio performances? did they put it together like that on purpose?

29: NEVER TAKE IT HAVING A BURNING CAR HOLY SHIT FIREY DIVERSION? LMAO just how close he is to the camera during this too...so many thoughts

30: "...you know you cant escape sally...yes i know!" IS THIS LIVESTREAM SHOWING CLANCY AND HOW HE DIDN'T ESCAPE EITHER?? SHOWING THAT HE HAS BEEN CAUGHT AND IF HE CANT ESCAPE, THE NOTORIOUS CLANCY, THEN YOU CANT EITHER???! SO MANY THOUGHT!!

[sorry for how long this is-]

DID THIS SHOW HOW MANY THOUGHTS I HAVE HERE. im going insane like i keep thinking about the lore implications of this goddamn livestream. i have more points (i will make a essay list whatever for it all so i don't go any crazier) but this is already a lot for one post. just wanted to like...throw this out there. i know some might be a stretch but please just hear me out. just hear me out :,)

[funny-things-i-say-to-myself]

TWENTY ONE PILOTS FANS LISTEN UP!!!

In Overcompensate we learn that Clancy is special to Nico, and that Clancy has the power that only the bishops have. But Clancy is special, he has that power too, in Morph he calls himself a ghost and a copy.

Clancy is a copy of Tyler! They both exist. It’s like blurryface, they’re part of each other. And I bet it’s why the Choker music video was so different, it was Tyler being kidnapped not Clancy.

“If I keep moving, they won't know

I'll morph to someone else

What they throw at me's too slow

I'll morph to someone else

I'm just a ghost

I'll morph to someone else

Defense mechanism mode”

[snekthedemonnoodle]

SAI theory pt 2

so, if you havent seen my previous post on Scaled And Icy, go read it now because this wont make sense if you dont read it.

Scaled And Icy is backwards.

okay, i sound crazy, but listen.

if Scaled And Icy is Tyler being controlled by Dema, it would make sense because the least propaganda-y songs on the album are at the end. so if it was backwards, it would begin with Redecorate, Clancy’s last letter, and No Chances, an argument between Tyler, the Bishops, and the Banditos. it would end with Good Day, which is probably the propaganda-y-est song on SAI.

hope that made sense!

[rabbit-is-wise]

[at a party, talking loudly over the music] yeah and if clancy really was a separate character that died, and “scaled and icy” was meant to deliver that message, then why was the hidden messge “still alive” found in the letters sent out by dema right before the clancy era? i mean, look at this:

(the doubled letters spell “still alive”)

wouldn’t it make more sense for the bishops to be the ones pushing the message that clancy is dead, and now free of them he’s able to talk to the citizens of dema himself without their filter? especially because after the letters, he releases “i am clancy,” which is implied to be a message he sent out in-universe as well (likely what the overcompensate video depicts), and is clancy reclaiming his identity after it was stripped away from him? i know, right. it IS weird how popular the separate character theory is when there’s so much evidence pointing to tyclancy being one person. imagine if i broke down the lyrics that support this, too.

and you know, you’re right, i do think part of it is simply that people haven’t gone back and reviewed the journals and similar pieces of the story. and i don’t blame them, it’s a lot to keep track of, and i’ll be the first to admit i don’t remember some things until i look back on my huge lore breakdown project. but i do wish the more prominent theorists in the fandom would admit to not remembering things or provide what their explanation for details like this is. it does suck how often that theory is treated as the default, when the evidence is just not there to support it like it is for this. but it is what it is, you know? anyway what were you saying

[lobotomist-at-tabs]

mcr5 is real in my heart and here's how it could happen

disclaimer: this isn't actually evidence of mcr5, this isn't based on stone cold facts, i just think this concept would be really cool

buckle up and get ready for a crack theory i came up with while half asleep on my floor last night🫡

so, we know this tour is themed after the rise and fall of a dictatorship - draag, this sort of militarized land as shown in the tour teaser videos. according to the description of one of these videos, draag cast away the band (called "the black parade" in this lore, not "mcr") into some kind of prison, but tbp was being brought back as it was the dictator's favorite band. if tbp was a band with enough anti-govt sentiments to be banished in the first place, why was draag bringing them back? - to make a draag propaganda album. mcr5, if you will.

(if any of you are clikkies, you may know the scaled & icy lore - to my understanding, it's tyclancy being forced to make an album to promote dema, which is why its so markedly different than tøp's other works. this is what inspired me - it's possible that mcr would try to do the same thing.)

it could start off something very pro-draag, but in an almost sarcastic way. the same way that vampire money is a massive promotion of hollywood & capitalism, when we can tell it's actually a tongue-in-cheek critique of those who 'sell out'. then, it would become steadily more and more unhinged - the music getting 'weirder', the lyrics becoming more upfront, losing the image that draag curated for them as they take back control of the narrative and use art as a weapon for change. if they wanted to be awesome they could perform one new song at each long live show, and have the shows slowly become more disheveled.

and then, the album closes with foundations of decay: a song all about how all things end and return to the world, which could perfectly represent the fall of an empire. it would also establish that long live is a prequel to swarm tour - swarm is the aftermath of this collapse, which is why foundations of decay was part of it.

and of course after the tour they could release professional versions of these live songs, making mcr5 into a reality.

i do believe that if mcr was going to come back and make new music, it would have to be very rebellious / political, along the vein that danger days and conventional weapons began to fall into. after all, if frank can write I Am Going To Kill The President Of The United States under the Obama administration, i can't even begin to think what they would cook up in this current political climate lmao

anyway! only time will tell what this tour has in store for us, and there's a million different ways that mcr could go with both their lore and their music (and i'd eat it up no matter what). this is just an idea that i thought would be really fucking cool :D

[anthurak]

Random Old Theories/Headcannons: Wyrd RWBY

So those who have been following me for the last few years might recall that prior to us actually knowing anything about Volume 9, some of my theory posts touched on Team RWBY returning to Remnant changed by their time in this mystical realm beyond their own, wielding weird and strange powers.

Anyway, this is a WIP from a couple years back that went into some fun ideas for these changes for ‘Wyrd RWBY’ that I thought I’d touch up and finally post.

Enjoy XD

---

Yang doesn’t seem much different at first. Just that her hair seems to be a bit wavier than before, like she’s using her semblance all the time now. And the air around her always seems to be at least a few degrees warmer. But then you start noticing other things. Like how sometimes her right arm isn’t made of metal and circuits but instead wreathed in some kind of tangible flame. Or how the fingernails on Yang’s left arm now look more like claws. Or how when Yang’s eyes turn red, they now also become slitted like the eyes of a lizard. Or the golden flakes that now dot Yang’s exposed skin. Flakes that will sometimes spread. Sometimes they spread so much they look more like golden scales. Yang always laughs this off. Which is also when you can see that her teeth are quite a bit larger, and sharper than you remember.

Blake herself isn’t the one who seems different at first. It’s her shadow. Like how it often moves independent of Blake. Or is somehow able to grab things for Blake. Sometimes you’ll see Blake’s shadow moving along a wall with Blake herself nowhere in sight. Sometimes Blake’s shadow won’t look like Blake at all, but rather some manner of very large cat. And sometimes you’ll see a large black cat wandering the back allies with the shadow of a person.

Weiss… where to begin with Weiss? First off, you wouldn’t expect a girl like Weiss to be into tattoos, but now Weiss seems to be covered in them. On almost every bit of visible skin, Weiss has these strange, arcane symbols, glyphs and runes. They tend to glow whenever Weiss uses her semblance. Speaking of which, you know that the Schnee semblance is versatile to say the least, but you’re pretty sure they at least needed to dust to do some of their crazier feats.

What Weiss is doing feels less like a semblance and more like actual magic.

Then there’s Weiss’s Grimm. Not Grimm like everyone knows. No one would mistake these creatures for the Grimm that humanity fears. With their bodies and fur the color of freshly fallen snow and icy blue eyes. You’ve seen Winter and Willow Schnee summon ‘white’ Grimm before, but the creatures that Weiss calls to her side seem so much more tangible. Not some construct of aura that will vanish as soon as its mistress stops focusing on it, but something REAL. And there’s always at least one or two with Weiss wherever she goes, sometimes more.

And Ruby? Well, let’s just say the fact that she somehow has wolf ears and an eye-patch are probably the least weird things about her now.

Like how her silver eyes were always unique, but now it seems they often glint and shimmer and otherwise catch the light in ways eyes don’t. Even when there isn’t any light for them to catch…

Ruby also uses her semblance more. A lot more. As in, unless she’s accompanying someone else, you can expect her to enter a room not through a door, but via a trickle of rose-petals blowing in through an open window. Or a vent. Or just appearing out of basically nowhere.

In fact, it seems like there are always a few petals flaking off of Ruby’s cloak, only to vanish before they even hit the ground.

And it feels like any time Ruby might be struck or otherwise injured, her semblance will activate.

You remember one time when Nora tried to give Ruby an affectionate punch to the arm, only for her fist to travel through the arm as it suddenly burst into petals before reforming a moment later.

Come to think of it, you’re pretty sure you haven’t seen anyone actually TOUCH Ruby. Aside from her teammates…

Speaking of which, Team RWBY together brings even more strangeness.

Like how they’ll sometimes speak amongst themselves in a strange language that sounds more like a whistling breeze or a crackling flame than anything someone might actually speak with.

Or how they will sometimes move and act together without need for words at all. And that’s just the least of it…

Like you’re pretty sure you’ve seen Blake’s golden eyes flash just a bit when Yang uses her semblance. Or Yang’s violet eyes shimmer when Blake uses hers. Or how Yang’s semblance now creates a fiery, shadow-like afterimage of herself that looks a bit more like Blake than her. Or times when Blake will gain some sudden burst of strength while fighting that causes her hair to start flickering like a flame.

Meanwhile you’re pretty sure you’ve seen some of Weiss’s runic tattoos briefly appear on Ruby’s skin, or the edges of Weiss’s hair briefly turn red. And there was that one time Ruby and Weiss went out to save a group of incoming refugees being attacked by a horde of grimm, yet those same refugees swear they were saved by a mysterious woman in red and white.

Oh, and there’s also Ruby’s new pet mouse who actually seems pretty normal. Aside from the fact that some people are saying the mouse talks.

But that’s just silly!

[mysadblacksoul]

So I was listening to Bounce Man and had a random thought. Should I make SAI updated theories (and maybe include Trench or smth)? Cause we kinda know more now and can connect more dots So crazy idea or nah? lol

[avrgshiverenjoyer]

ya'll i already posted this on the bird app but im gonna post it here too

so my friend got me into the TØP lore and when she was showing me the Scales and Icy stream, all i could focus on during the first set was Trash. specifically, his front few back spikes/scales.

they all droop down.

that's literally all i can think about.

based on the fact that we only ever see the proper rendered version of him in water (even if it was due to Keons) and his extremely serpentine body, paired with the first set in the live stream presenting him as a sea serpent (parts of him coming out of the floor in a mythical, sea serpenty way), im going to assume that he is, in fact, a water dragon.

and in the case that he is, those spines would likely act as some sort of a dorsal fin to aid with stabilization when swimming at high speeds, as they do in orcas and sharks.

but the front ones are slumped over. not even just in the prop, but in his original album design as well.

this defect is also seen in orcas. specifically those in captivity.

yes it can happen in the wild, often due to an injury in the whale's past, but it's actually nearly 100% more common in captive orcas, with 100% of adult male orcas having collapsed dorsal fins.

the collapse is thought to be caused by frequent surfacing (the lack of support from the pressure of the water), and/or not having enough space to swim around to build the muscles to keep the fin up.

for Trash, the muscle theory would not hold up, since the spines are likely a form of osteoderm, like an alligators. but frequent surfacing could be a factor.

this theory does not entirely hold up, as osteoderms are bones, but i think the imagery is still interesting. Trash is also a mythical creature, so the spines could very well be anything but continuing on!

i think Trash was a show animal.

and if not, then he was some sort of pet of one of the bishops. Keons likely had some sort of easy access to his body, so it makes sense that his body was being kept somewhere nearby, as he was able to enact his plan within the time it took for them to perform the song.

plus, drooped dorsal fins are also a sign of bad health. if it was caused by some sort of sickness, that's a reasonable way for him to have died that doesn't include the bishops killing him.

all i can think of is him being used as a spectacle of the bishops power. him being forced into captivity as a hatchling and paraded around the city as if to show the citizens that if they can keep a dragon in captivity, why shouldn't they be the most powerful beings in Dema?

him forced to curl up in a way too small pool under the pillars, just waiting for the day they let him out, only for it never to come and for him to die alone in that tiny space.

his soul being forced to watch as his body is controlled again and again to keep up the bishops charade.

[hype-old-posts]

am i the only one who hears "we comfort you" sometimes instead of "we come for you" in no chances?

i imagine keons comforting clancy like "let's go, child" yk? idk

[thepaladinstrait]

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[nightcourtreader]

Azriel’s shadows

Like I have seen a lot of theory’s and things about Azriel’s shadows. Which includes that the shadows protect Elain, that his shadows hide when azriel feels safe or comfortable, his shadows are there to protect him and that’s why they are around & disappear around certain people, that it is a good thing that his shadows disappear, that he’s going to get rid of his shadows and a lot of other stuff. These arguments can all be easily disproven if you just read the series.

I personally think that Azriel’s shadows are sentient. They have their own thoughts and opinions but they are also an extension of Azriel and his moods and behavior. Like they can clearly communicate with Azriel effectively and Azriel even mentions how they tell him to sleep and that they like to warn about him things.

So here’s a list of descriptions of Azriel shadows throughout the entire series, including his bonus chapter.

Acomaf

* “Azriel’s brows flicked up with approval as the shadows seemed to wrap tighter around him. As if he were the dark hive from which they flew and returned” (pg 160, ACOMAF)

• So rhys told them of the cauldron, and the reasons behind the temple pillagings, to no shortage of swearing and questions—and revealed nothing of what I had admitted in exchange for the information. Azriel emerged from his wreathing shadows to ask the most questions; his face and voice remained unreadable. (Page 205, ACOMAF)

* The spymaster had waited in silence. I tried not to look too uncomfortable as he scooped me into his arms, those shadows that whispered to him stroking my neck, my cheek (pg 240, ACOMAF)

* People often made the mistake of assuming Cassian was the wilder one; the one who couldn’t be tamed. But Cassian was all hot temper—temper that could be used and forge and weld. There was icy rage in Azriel I had never been able to thaw. In the centuries I’d known him, he’d said little about his life, those years in his father’s keep, locked in darkness. Perhaps the shadow singer gift had come to him then, perhaps he’d taught himself the language of shadow and wind and stone. (Page 275, ACOMAF)

* The shadows gathered around his shoulders, like they were indeed whispering to him, shielding him, perhaps. His broad chest expanded with a deep breath that sent them skittering, and then he set into an easy, graceful stroll after them. (pg 285, ACOMAF)

* Azriel, wreathed in shadows by the front door, chuckled quietly. Cassian shot him a glare. “I don’t see you spouting poetry, brother.” Azriel crossed his arms, still smiling faintly. “I don’t need to resort to it.” (Page 392, ACOMAF)

Acowar

* “Azriel arrived first, no shadows to be seen, my sister a pale, golden mass in his arms. Elain’s golden brown hair snagging in some of the black scales across his chest and shoulders” (pg 253, ACOWAR)

* “Shadows curled around Azriel’s shoulders, whispering in his ear as he stared down Eris (pg 270, ACOWAR)

* “I can help her,” said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose. No shadows at his ear, no darkness ringing his fingers as he extended a hand” (Pg 315, ACOWAR)

* Azriel squeezed, Eris thrashing beneath him. No physical brawling—there had been a rule against that, but Azriel, with whatever power those shadows gave him..perhaps those shadows that now slid and eddied around the Shadowsinger hid him from the wrath of the binding magic. The others made no move to interfere, as if wondering the same. (Page 428, ACOWAR)

•While shadows gathered around Azriel, Elain at his side, wide eyed at the spymaster’s display” (pg 479, ACOWAR)

* Azriel silently faded into blackness—until he was my own shadow and nothing more. (Page 566, ACOWAR)

* Azriel stepped out of a shadow. “What is that,” he hissed. My brows rose. “You hear it?” A shake of the head. “No—but the shadows, the wind…they recoil. (Pg 560, ACOWAR)

* “That smile grew, bright enough that it lit up even Azriel’s shadows across the room” (Pg 693, ACOWAR)

Acofas

* Az, too—in the strange way that Az could move through the world without technically winnowing. He’d never asked. Azriel certainly had never explained. (Page 22, ACOFAS)

* A corner of Azriel’s mouth curled up, the shadows about him sliding over his neck living living tattoos, twins to the Illyrian ones marked beneath his leathers. (pg 66, ACOFAS)

* Shadows different from anything my powers summoned, spoke to. Born in a lightless, airless prison meant to break him. Instead he had learned it’s language (pg 66, ACOFAS)

“the illyrians are pieces of shit,” he said too quietly. Shadows gathered around his wings, trailing off him and onto the thick red rug. (Page 67, ACOFAS)

Acosf

* Nesta straightened at the shadowsinger’s appearance, the darkness clinging to his shoulders as he offered her a grim smile. (Pg 100, ACOSF)

Azriel was nothing short of beautiful. Even with those scarred hands and the shadows that flowed from him like smoke. (Page 100, ACOSF)

* She set down her teacup. “Is that a threat, Shadowsinger?” Azriel said coolly, “I don’t need to resort to threats.” The shadows coiled around him, snakes ready to strike. (Pg 101, ACOSF)

* Azriel chuckled, shadows skittering. “Did you listen at all last night?” (Pg 221, ACOSF)

• His brother nodded. “Fine.” But shadows still swarmed him. (Page 221, ACOSF)

* “No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like shadows preparing to strike” (Pg 233, ACOSF)

* He jerked his chin toward Azriel. “Why are you up here?” “I thought I’d do some training myself before heading out for the day,” Az said, his shadows lingering in the archway, as if fearful of the bright sunlight in the ring. (pg 250, ACOSF)

• A shadow curled around Azriel’s neck, the only one brave enough to face the sunlight. “Something like that.” (pg 252, ACOSF)

• Azriel blushed and stepped back, shadows swirling. (Page 603, ACOSF)

• Gwyn asked Az, her teal eyes bright, “what do we get if we finish the course?” Az’s shadows danced around him. (Page 623, ACOSF)

* “There are plenty of other unspeakable things that could be happening to her,” Cassian said, voice thickening. “To Emerie and Gwyn.” The shadows deepened around Azriel, his siphons gleaming like cobalt fire. (Page 688, ACOSF)

* Even Azriel’s own shadows kept tucked behind his wings. Koschei laughed, and Azriel stiffened. Like his shadows had murmured a warning. (Pg 710, ACOSF)

Azriel’s bonus chapter

• Sleep, they seemed to whisper in his ear. Sleep. I wish I could, he answered silently. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

• But even the silence weighed too heavily, and though the shadows kept him company, as they always had, as they always would. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

• Elain sucked in a breath that whispered over his skin. His shadows skittered back at the sound. They’d always been prone to vanish when she was around. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

• he had only allowed himself these thoughts in the dead of night. Had only allowed his hand to fist his cock and think about her then, when even his shadows had gone to sleep. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

* He aimed for the training pit, giving in to the need to work off the temptation, the rage and frustration and writhing need. He found it already occupied. His shadows had not warned him. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

* “It’s fine. I came to retrieve something I forgot.” The lie was smooth and cool, as he knew his face was. His shadows peered over his wings at her. The young priestess smiled—and Azriel thought it might have been directed at his curious shadows. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

* “How was the party?” Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him. Like it heard some silent music. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

I blame Cassian for this. He’s too busy making eyes at Nesta to notice such mistakes these days.” Azriel laughed. “I’ll give you that.” Gwyn smiled broadly. “Thank you.” Azriel dipped his head in a sketch of a bow, something restless settling him. Even his shadows had calmed. As if content to lounge on his shoulders and watch. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

* Gwyn nodded farewell, again facing the ribbon. A warrior sizing up an opponent, all traces of that charming irreverence gone. Azriel entered the warmth of the stairwell, and as he descended, he could have sworn a faint, beautiful singing followed him. Could have sworn his shadows sang in answer. (Azriel’s bonus chapter )

So the question is where in the text does it prove that Azriel’s shadows protect Elain? Protection definitions include keeping safe, keeping from harm, defend, shield, take care of, care after. They never left Azriel’s person to protect anyone. The only person they directly touched in this series was Feyre. They tend to vanish around Elain’s presence, like 98% as confirmed by Azriel himself. So how are they there to protect her when they tend to vanish when she’s around? You can’t protect someone you are not around. His shadows turning into snakes ready to strike in the corner is not them protecting Elain, it’s them reacting off Azriel’s mood, because we’ve seen the shadows do the exact same thing when nesta asked Azriel was that a threat in the beginning of acosf and he answered nesta coldly without Elain even being there.

The next theory. That the shadows hide when Azriel/they feel safe. Like 98% of the time Azriel’s shadows are out when it comes to the IC, Feyre, nesta, the Valkyries and the women he’s training in acosf. So if they hide when Azriel feels safe, why don’t they hide when he’s around his family, friends, the women from the library that he’s training?

Azriel’s has known Rhys, Cassian & Mor for 500+ years and going based off that logic, why doesn’t Azriel feel safe around his brothers to the point his shadows don’t disappear? Because we can see they tend to hide around Mor as well. Is it just women? If that’s the fact then why don’t they disappear around nesta? Gwyn? Emerie? What about the new trainees from the library that can’t physical hurt him because he’s been trained to fight his whole life and they haven’t? Because mind you, he’s helping train women that’s in the library and we all know the reasons why they are in the library and wanted Azriel’s help to train. So why would they be a threat to Azriel?

Do we know what his shadows did when he was around Koschei in acosf? A literally death god, that’s a threat who is planning to take over prythian? They hid behind Azriel’s wings. Do we know what his shadows did when they heard the cauldrons “siren song” that led Elain away from the camp to get kidnap by hybern’s camp? They recoiled. You know what recoil means. It means drawing back or jumping back. That means when Azriel’s shadows come into contact or around things they don’t seem safe, they hide, not the other way around.

Why do his shadows dance in Gwyn’s presence? Why did Azriel say that his shadows felt calm and he felt something restless settle within him when he talks to Gwyn and his shadows didn’t disappear but lounged on his shoulders instead like they were just content to be there? He and his shadows obviously felt safe enough to stay and talk with gywn after she gave azriel an out to leave.

So all this literally debunks the fact that Azriel’s shadows disappear when he feels safe because there is no reason why Azriel shouldn’t feel safe in the presence of his family & friends. But they hide and recoil when it comes to true danger and manipulation. I don’t think that them vanishing and skittering back makes Elain to be a bad person or a threat to Azriel but it’s telling that SJM mentioned in Azriel’s bonus chapter that the shadows tend to vanish around Elain and that Azriel does his weird freaky stuff with that damn headache powder only in the dead of night when his shadows are gone to sleep.

To me personally, it seems that Azriel finds solace in his shadows. They comfort him. His shadows are his companions. They were there even before he met Rhys & Cassian, meaning they’ve been with him 520+ years. They are not something to get rid off, they are a literally apart of Azriel’s identity as to why he’s a shadow singer and a spy master. He himself stated that they will ALWAYS be apart of him. Azriel is a grown fae that can protect himself without his shadows, they don’t need to protect him. They help him more than anything.

Azriel has been described to work best in the shadows. That he doesn’t like to be the center of attention to the point where he doesn’t even like opening up presents with his family because he doesn’t like the attention on him. His shadows help him hide from peoples view better, why wouldn’t he be comfortable in them and find comfort with them being out and surrounding him?

I understand wanting to argue for a ship and stuff but literally coming up with lies and false information to make it seem like something is more than what it is when you can easily pick up the books to disprove these arguments is ridiculous.