#sigma character analysis

[justsigma-bsd]

A Blank Page, Torn From A Book Without Name

Well, I ended up trying to put the word salad in my head into actual, coherent words after all.

First of all, everything here is just my take on things. The theories and thoughts I've had on certain things. I don't think any of it is official, but if anything of it is, in fact, confirmed to be true or false, feel free to tell me!

Some of the panels were taken from a YouTube video, which I'll link at the bottom!

TW for: Human trafficking, dehumanization

Ok, so first things first, some of this stuff I've already written down a while back for writing reasons. I found some of my old notes, and noticed that, after rereading the panels, they make more sense than I previously thought.

Let's start here: what stands out the most to me isn't that he's in the desert, not even the ticket. No, it's the simple »[...] or even who I was«

Because who, indeed, is Sigma? Sigma does not have an identity. He has no history, no nothing. Just the clothes on his back, a ticket that seems to be useless and earrings, for some reason.

Without a name, you don't have an identity and without identity you don't have a name.

Then there is this, too:

»I gave myself a name. Sigma. A man of the casino«

I don't believe he had a name upon being created. I don't think he had one for a long time, because in the same panel that he mentions giving himself a name, he also mentions the casino- which came much, much later. Sigma existed for three years by the time the series started. However, the timeline is wonky as heck.

Because how long did he stay with the traffickers? How long was he on his own after escaping? How long ago did Fyodor find him? Questions upon questions, but since I've already mentioned the lack of a name and the traffickers, let's get to my thoughts on that, specifically:

»They captured and enslaved me« along with »And once they knew that I had a skill [...]« makes me wonder: how long did it take for them to find out?

I haven't researched anything about human trafficking, but it's basically slavery, from what I've gathered through the previous things I've heard and read. And he does say so himself, too.

Sigma, three days alive, spent his early life a slave. It's confirmed that he was shackled, seeing that he is wearing them in the panels.

(As a side note, I do believe that he has scars from the shackles around his wrist. He wears a tight, wrist-long turtleneck beneath his coat, and I think it's to hide the scars. Both from others and himself.)

His first human interaction was plain horrible. Did he know and understand that? Did he understand that this wasn't normal? I don't think he knew how wrong this was at first. I don't believe that he understood it immediately. If he didn't know who he was, why would he know that being treated like this is wrong?

I believe that he realized it at some point, but not as soon as it started. I think he lived like that for a while, thinking it was normal, before getting some sort of wake-up call. Perhaps through his ability, or a fellow prisoner. Maybe both, or neither.

He must've gotten whiplash, once people genuinely looked up to him when he was the manager at Sky Casino.

I also think that he, probably, does tend to forget that being treated like that is, in fact, not normal or okay. Our upbringing leaves some sort of mark on all of us, experiences define us, give us habits and a feeling of what's normal and what isn't.

Which means that his "normal" is skewed and he expects being used rather than kindness, probably even after learning that some people are genuinely kind. I'm guessing that his mindset is, due to that, a simple "If I'm alive I'm alright".

I don't think he'd complain about being treated wrong and or left behind, or admit when he's injured. Or at the very least attempt to keep it a secret as long as possible- especially from those he sees as authority figures.

However, I also think that he was isolated, as per this panel:

Not only the text, but also the background paint a picture that causes me to believe that.

I almost skimmed past this panel while making my analysis, before pausing and taking a closer look. I thought this was in Sky Casino at first, until I looked closer and realized three things:

1, the background does not match Sky Casino in the slightest

2, he isn't wearing shoes or his current outfit, but the old clothes he had when wandering the desert

3, the shadows aren't from the light of a window, they're bars from a cell

While I did believe before that the traffickers kept him isolated from others (due to wanting to keep him unaware of the wrongness of his situation as well as to make sure he doesn't learn things he should/other prisoners finding out things that Sigma got to know by accident), this sort of put the final nail in the coffin for me.

But, at some point, he did realize that it was wrong. Perhaps he'd had a bad feeling from the start. Maybe he hated being treated like this. Who knows? Point is, he escaped. This brings us back to this page:

»No matter how kind someone seemed, they used me and then tried to kill me for knowing too much«

Sigma, after escaping the traffickers, after escaping the life of a slave, probably still didn't know much about living.

And I firmly believe that Sigma is smarter than even he himself thinks. There's just one issue: Sigma is naive (at least in my eyes), and it's not even his own fault. He simply tried his best to survive, and what was the reason the traffickers kept him around? His ability, most likely.

Problem is that his ability truly is something people would love to exploit, and it seems as if they did. Which makes me believe that he has a talent for running into murderers thinking they're nice people, only to get a not-so-nice surprise.

»The last one to use me [...]«, this specific line is the reason why I believe Sigma to have been used a lot. We don't know how often, exactly, his ability was taken advantage of. But we know the latest person who did.

Fyodor was the last one to use him, which means that, at that point, he was probably used to it. Used to being treated like a pawn, and used to people trying to kill for knowing too much. And I believe that he was, quite plainly, exhausted.

Imagine, your entire life consists of being forced to aid others with crimes, with being shackled. You don't know the difference between working for someone and being used by someone.

If you were offered what you wanted most, wouldn't you accept, too? Even if you know that you're once again being used? I mean... this time around, you gain something for it. Doesn't that make it worth the risk?

It's a gamble Sigma took... and lost.

This page involves two quotes that give me pause:

»Don't you wish for a home?«

We don't know why or how he knows what a home and a family is, but he does. And he wants it. He says it was never within his reach. But it is perfectly clear to us, while reading the Sky Casino Arc, that he wants it. He wants a home and a family.

He'd rather sacrifice his own life than see Sky Casino fall. »Home« and »Family« are, to him, more important than staying alive. Because it's something he never had, and something he clings to. Simply because he doesn't have anything else.

»I, who was originally 'nothing'[...]«

Is the second line that makes me pause. Because like previously mentioned, Sigma was a slave with no name or identity of his own. We don't know when he found out about being created by the book (and I firmly believe that he found out one way or another), but I believe he didn't see himself as a human before, and this "confirmed" it for him.

Think about it, would traffickers care about their victims? Would they treat them as human beings? Call them by their name? What about a person who has no name to begin with?

He wasn't treated like a human being in the beginning, and thus considered himself nothing. Considered his home and "family" to be worth more than hid own life.

He was literally created from nothing. His story doesn't have a beginning. He has no memories prior to being created, he had no name nor identity. How his story will end is unknown. We don't know what's written on his page.

I believe this, combined with being with the traffickers, makes him doubt his humanity. Not only because he was created through the book, but also because for the first (months? Year?) of his life, he wasn't treated like a human.

His sense of self-worth is probably down in the dumps.

»In the end I never did understand what I was born for...«

I don't think he knows the details of his existence. The content of his page, the words that brought him into existence. He doesn't know why he was born/created. He doesn't know what things were predetermined.

He doesn't know what's real and what's just writing on a page.

Sigma, in three years of being alive, went through hell. He was enslaved, his ability was taken advantage of over and over, he was used by multiple people who all ended up trying to kill him and when he thought that he finally found a home? A family? It was taken away from him.

Genuinely, he needs a plate of cookies, a hug and a ton of therapy.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my little analysis and theories? I never did something like this before, so criticism is welcome!

Here's also the link to the video from which I got the screenshots: https://youtu.be/KwsSvFYAKjA?si=R_IvH-S8GYut_hrG

[clowns0cks]

What are your personal hc's on academy era thoscheiiiii

I'M GLAD YOU ASKED

I actually draw them A LOT so these are my theta and koschei :3

these last two are part of another hc but it's still them so :3 (ignore the misspellings I wrote the pink text at like 4am)

as for specific personality headcanons without input I don't think I can say much (this is joey from the future after writing the post, fucking liar! ) other than Theta being curious and adventurous and probably very hyperactive (mostly as a kid, while when he's like a hundred years hes still hyperactive but at least he mostly walks instead of skipping all the time when he needs to get somewhere). I also feel like he passed his classes by being very good at improvising. I see him as someone with a lot of interests that reads a whole lot of books but has never opened a school book in his life. But his interest in basically everything helps him get through his classes with high grades, he's also very clever with a quick mouth so if he doesn't have the answer he can talk around it and make it work. He is also very persuasive and drags his friends into ANYTHING he wants. He also tries to make friends with any living thing but most people find him weird or a smartass so he sticks with the deca most of all. He always sees the glass as half full, really, no one can break his spirit, if he gets an idea, he WILL do it. He won't shut up about other planets, especially planet earth, he's really fascinated by the short lived but physically similar to time lords creatures. He also befriends bugs, they can't shoo him away, but they don't seem to mind.

While for koschei I see him as more reserved, but he actually loves to be at the centre of attention so he takes any opportunity to show off to his friends (especially to Theta). Contrary to Theta I feel like he's very methodical and studious. He can't improvise but he's good at memorising and learning things, he's at the top of the class BECAUSE he puts effort into it. While I feel like theta doesn't really care about grades, koschei is obsessed with it, would probably crash out if he gets a medium grade. I like to think there's a sort of rivalry between him and ushas trying to get a better grade than the other in science related subjects, idk. I also like the idea of the master repressing a lot of his emotions as koschei, (contrary to what he does as the master), not talking much and being more on his own because he's always had this intense rage towards the world, something that makes him want to hurt and makes him really hungry for violence. But that's not really socially acceptable, especially for the high and mighty time lords, so he keeps it to himself, just telling theta sometimes, and sometimes he would understand. Koschei's violence and need to hurt is not that dissimilar than Theta's need for action and getting dirty and bruised by climbing trees and having friendly fights. cause it's totally normal to jokingly punch your friend and then getting carried away until you end up fighting, but it fills you both with adrenaline and it's fun, so you keep going until your knuckles are bloody and you have a black eye.

So theta sometimes understands it, other times, it's better to keep it to himself.

while theta has bugs as friends, koschei burns them with magnifying glass and purposefully crushes them under his boots.

I like to think they braid each others hair a lot (that's what the fanart above is about ehhe) and theta likes to make flower crowns to put on koschei's head.

I also feel like koschei sticks around the Deca because Theta does. He became friends with them and so koschei did too. He really isn't good at making friends on his own, theta kinda adopted him on the first day. I think theta was instantly fascinated by koschei for some unknown reason, while koschei was a bit confused about him, he didn't understand why this kid wanted to be his friend so much, why he was being kind to him and including him in stuff. But he started to slowly like him, a little more, and a little more and a little more, until he basically became obsessed with theta and his weird brain, he wanted to pick it apart and study it in a lab, he wanted to know everything about him and his thoughts.

Koschei is also very jokingly mean to his friends but it isn't seen as very bad cause all of the deca are kinda terrible to each other (not in the sense that they hate each other, more as in making bad jokes that maybe sometimes are too much) (however none of them realise cause deep down none of them are really the best people).

Koschei was originally taller than Theta, when they grew up theta got taller and he never got over it. However (this is more of a master hc in general) they can't seem to change this anytime they regenerate. They're very rarely tall, it's something they can't control and they pretend like they don't care but in reality it's a real pain for their ego.

This one is more of a theta hc in general but atp I'm talking there's no way to stop me; theta kept the snow globe millennia was in, the doctor still has it somewhere in the tardis. This is very important to me personally.

uhhmmmm that's all I can think about right now!!!! wow I talked a lot sorry, nevermind if there's mistakes or something that doesn't make sense I'm not rereading all that

[polymathial]

Small analysis on the “true” names of the characters The Doctor & The Master:

Recently I saw a post about how Theta means death, and I thought why the hell not look up what Koschei means (outside of the villain archetype) and he means deathless. It had me thinking - these names that the fandom seems to have chosen from hints and archetypes are scarily accurate.

Theta; the meaning of death, the hero where we are constantly shown as the hero, is a morally gray character. They are never at the hands of death, they are death’s hands. They never welcome death, and may never die. But they welcome upon the deaths of others even unintentionally. To the point where they murder another child to protect their other half.

Koschei; the deathless, the villain which the hero can never rid of. They have “died” several times, and we are led to believe they’re really dead every time. But like a cancer that our hero can’t get rid of, they come back again and again. They are the hands of the universe, driven with a madness so pure sometimes it can be seen as beautiful.

These two are unable to be without each other, The Doctor, our Theta, cannot exist without the Master, our Koschei. To exist without the deathless brings the universe pure fury and destruction. They are two sides of the same coin, and I wonder if the fandom is even aware of how these names represent their characters so well.

[jollywasnthere]

ok this might be a little controversal but I don't think sigma is shippable with anyone

no it's not because he's technically three (it kinda is actually) I'm completely aware that he's an adult with a working adult brain, but he does only have three years of experience living.

Like, the whole point of age of consent is because people under the age of 16 (I think it should be higher but that's a whole new discourse) don't have enough experience, the knowledge to be able to consent and are easily impressionable. And I think that applies to Sigma.

Despite having a mature mind, Sigma still is EXTREMELY impressionable, you can see that by how easily he complies with orders, how he instantly trusted Atsushi and Dazai after only a few minutes of knowing them and how he would have followed whoever found him first in the desert back them.

Not to mention that he doesn't even know who he is supposed to be and just wants to have some space and time to figure that out, as you can see with his desire to have a home.

Sigma IS immature and I don't think he would be able to consent with relationships and would probably just end up getting dragged round by their partner, even if their partner doesn't mean to. It's literallly like if you gave a newborn the comprehension ability of an adult, their brain is developed but they still lack the experience to use it like an actual adult.

Consent isn't just about age, but their understanding of the world and understanding of other people, which Sigma lacks of.

[gasping-ghostzes]

Back on my 9-1-1 grind! So here is my little info dump of what’s going on was of the most recent episode!!!

CW: for mentions and details of suicide

1- Bobby,

This man was literally plotting his suicide this episode, or more like acting on it? But first, when he handed in his resignation, I didn’t realise it until thinking about it after the episode finished, but that was his way of preparing the 118 of his absence. Him retiring and having the LAFD be able to replace him with another captain wouldn’t be seen as suspicious especially given his age (no shade to him ❤️) but also just what he’s been thru in recent years. Like the moments of him interacting with the characters one on one and giving them little bits of unjudgmental advice and praise really kind of confirmed it. Also the part where Buck thanks him, and he’s like “it’s been my pleasure kid”, just seemed so off to me, not that it’s outside of Bobby’s character to say that, but the scene of it playing out… u could tell shit was gonna get bad

2- Hen!

I clocked it the moment I saw the lady on screen and the moment Mara and Denny was like “oh yeah, our mums r gonna adopt Mara!” And I could just tell that this lady was gonna pull her strings to stop that from happening! But also, to me, the things that was used as evidence as to why Hem and Karen shouldn’t be allowed to adopt Mara was such blatant bias. Like I know that Hen hasn’t been known to always follow the rules, but she done it with the intent and knowledge that doing it will give her patients a fighting chance, more of a chance than letting them die because she was too strict on following the rules.

3- Eddie…

So, Edmundo? Yeah he needs to go get proper help…

However, ppl saying that his love of Shanon is out of character completely, aren’t thinking about what we know about Eddie hard enough. One, he only got married to Shanon because he got her pregnant and it was advised by his church that it’s the right thing to do… but it was the same with Shanon, she was pregnant and likely had been given thw same advice. But they were both decently young when Christopher was born, so the fact that they held their religion values so close, may have been the reason they never wanted a divorce even after having a more than clear dysfunctional life. But after Shanon died, Eddie never had that option Yknow? Like when Shanon left, there was likely always a part of him that knew she’d come back around eventually because she and him both felt slightly obligated to do so, but that didn’t mean they didn’t live each other, it was just more than dysfunctional. So her death, to him was a permanent state of her never being able to come back for him and Chris to have closure and never continue the attempts of having the average family experience.

Two, Him seeing Kim, a woman who looks like his previous first love, and wanting to have some sort of relationship with her is unhealthy, but it makes sense… he’s claimed to be a “nester” and that’s what he does, so seeing a woman who looks exactly like what he envisioned as who he would “nest” with since he was young, was more than likely triggering.

Three, him never gaining that closure from Shanon and instead wanting to find it in Kim now means he’s able to live a literal delusion. One where he doesn’t exactly acknowledge that what they had was dysfunctional (ignore the word, I can’t find another to describe them accurately) and one where he can “fix” his mistakes. I think the only reason he misses Shanon and speaks of her so highly is because she was as close to a normal life he could get…

Like from what we knew about his life growing up, it definitely wasn’t the best. So him getting to fix that aspects and making sure to give Christopher better childhood. So him having this average, perfect marriage would’ve definitely been apart of him fabricating this perfect life that He, Christopher and Shanon all had is his way of coping how the majority of his life has been uncontrollable. Like Kim coming back with a new hair cut and style only made that fantasy worse. To him that’s not Kim, that’s a Shanon with the dysfunction, cause more than likely, Eddie didn’t tell Kim exactly how him and Shanon worked…

So seeing Kim as Shanon, a version of Shanon who has no “memory” of who she and Eddie were both separate and together was basically his shot at getting a second chance… which I know he isn’t gonna exactly convince himself that Kim is literally Shanon, but that’s not gonna stop him from projecting this skewed and inaccurate version of Shanon he wanted and needed in Kim

[tuesday-is-a-good-day]

I saw this post and I'm being salty about it, so I'm gonna break it down.

To be clear, this isn't supposed to be hating on any ships or shippers, the hypocrisy of this post just annoyed me and I love ranting about dynamics within BSD.

Firstly, this is an opinion, you cannot present opinion as fact. That's just not how things work.

This is fundamentally incorrect. Just because a relationship is less complicated doesn't mean it's more healthy, Sigma currently thinks Dazai is only using him and is going along with it because Dazai is being less of a dick about it than Fyodor. There is trust there but to argue that there's more than in Soukoku's relationship is baffling. What's more, Dazai has "left it" to Chuuya on several occasions, during Dead Apple, the Dragons head conflict, Stormbringer, Fifteen, on many occasions Dazai has placed his life and the safety of the world in Chuuya's hands

By fanservice do you mean them having a partnership?? Because that is not fanservice, nor a reason that one ship should be regarded as better than another. I also fail to see how Sigzai being considered a rarepair makes it better than Skk. The fixing of scenes is something I agree with however, it can be taken as a joke but Asagiri made those scenes for a reason.

This point is definitely arguable, Sigzai shippers have not shown to have any more maturity, and very often misrepresent Sigzai's relationship, often disregarding Sigma's wariness towards Dazai and the fact that Dazai is only trying to assist Sigma and they as of now have little to no feelings of each other as they have known each other for less than 30 minutes. Blind trust does not make a good relationship, it just means Sigma is being a little bit silly for trusting Dazai (he always has a plan, Chuuya having suspicions just means he knows Dazai better).

Unhealthy tropes imposed by the audience does not impact the base relationship. Just because some people view their relationship that way doesn't mean that's what their relationship is, this point is null and void. Sigzai could easily have the same tropes if depicted as such, but that doesn't impact how their relationship really is in canon. And again, complex does not equal unhealthy, BORING POINT MOVE ON.

Overall, this is a poor argument, neither Sigzai nor Soukoku is "better" than the other. I hate Sigzai, but that's my own personal opinion and does not impact the quality of the ship, it's not a bad ship in any regard and certainly has potential. I'm just tired of this hypocrisy and superiority complex some shippers have.

[rash0mon]

symbolism and significance of clothing/character design in bungou stray dogs

one of the most admirable features of the bungou stray dogs series is the attention to detail in every aspect. i feel that each time i reread or rewatch, i notice new specifics that intrigue me to analyze further. character design, especially the clothes worn by the characters is definitely one of mentioned specifics. in the bungou stray dogs universe, character design does not possess merely an aesthetic function, but it aids in understanding each character - their personality, motivations, the author/work they are inspired by, and what i feel is most notable - their fate (past, present and future) and how it is intertwined with and depends on other characters. this is what i`ll attempt to showcase in the following, on the examples of a few characters.

atsushi nakajima/ryūnosuke akutagawa

naturally, these two are to be analyzed together as their design was, in essence, made to contrast each other - which, just in the start, hints at the momentousness of one to the other. atsushi is the light, akutagawa is the darkness. atsushi's eyes carry vividness and life inside of them, akutagawa's are pure gloom. however, the two are not completely black or white, they are not distinctly "good" or "bad", as they carry parts of each other - which is shown in the hints of black in atsushi`s design (the black streak in his hair, which we were robbed off from in the anime but alright, and in his clothes). the same concept, just vice versa, is seen in akutagawa`s design.

both wear clothes they got from those dear to them, or rather those who gave them a sense of purpose, a reason for living. in atsushi's case, each of the agency members, in akutagawa's case, dazai. the coat is, in a sense, a remnant of akutagawa's experienced trauma, as is atsushi's hairstyle. just from this surface-level description, it can be seen that these two, are in fact, as i`ve written in my other analyses, two sides of the same coin, yin and yang if you will. they`re similar, yet different - they complete each other.

dazai osamu

at first glance, what is most noticeable about dazai`s design are, of course, the bandages wrapped around entirety of his body. i feel that, other than being remnants of previous attempts, these bandages emphasize his seemingly invisible psychological/emotional wounds, protecting him from the real world, and from further pain.

in the dark era, dazai`s left eye is covered by said bandages. at his deathbed, oda takes them off - from that moment on, oda allowed dazai to "see", both "good" and "evil" worlds - as up until now he had only seen a world of evil and suffering, and was blind to what the rest had to offer. thus his other eye was opened.

although, even if he has seen both sides, he still wears the bandages, holding onto them even while imprisoned in mersault. he is still yet to find his reason for living, and is yet to uncover the wounds he`s gotten throughout his life, if ever. this notion of hiding the real self from the world matches well with yozo of no longer human (who i believe was a big inspiration in the making of dazai`s character).

“I have always shook with fright before human beings. Unable as I was to feel the least particle of confidence in my ability to speak and act like a human being, I kept my solitary agonies locked in my breast. I kept my melancholy and my agitation hidden, careful lest any trace should be left exposed. I feigned an innocent optimism; I gradually perfected myself in the role of the farcical eccentric."

this quote also describes the essence of dazai`s character, in simplified terms.

other than that, there exist other obvious contrasts between port mafia and ada dazai - already seen in the usage of colors. in the port mafia era, dazai wears a black coat, given to him by mori. on the other hand, once he joins the ada, dazai wears lighter clothes, symbolizing his turn to the life of good - some black still remains, however. he now wears a bolo tie with a green pendant - many suspect this was a gift from odasaku, which i also believe. dazai holds onto this as a reminder. of his past, and of what he is to do with his future.

sigma

sigma's character stands out in several ways - as he is the only character not inspired by any author, and is a creation of the book. many characters in the series struggle to find a purpose, but in the case of sigma it is even more apparent. that longing for a reason of being becomes the main feature of sigma`s soul, as well as an initiator of his every action.

he is one of the characters with the lightest color palette. i believe that this symbolizes his innocence and divinity as compared to the other characters who have experienced the horrors of the real world all too well. his outfit demonstrates how he initially sees himself - as a manager of the sky casino. it is, at first, the core and essence of his being. the ambiguity of sigma's character and reason of living is also seen with his hairstyle, which is half-and-half, incomplete. uncertain. just like his existence. it`s as if sigma is an unfinished novel.

rest of the characters

the concepts i mentioned beforehand in analyzing character design are also present across other characters in the series. naturally, they embody the works of the authors they are written after, such as kunikida's design. other characters also showcase their fated connections with others, such as chuuya wearing the hat gifted to him by mori. (i could make a separate post about chuuya`s design and how it follows his development through the series, which i might just as well do later because this is already getting too long). the contrast between the past and present self seen in dazai can also be applied to ranpo's attire (the past being before he met fukuzawa - wearing only black clothes, representing the darkness of his mental state. the present being his current look, which embodies what he sees as his main role and reason - a detective). i will touch up more on these certain characters and their designs in upcoming posts.

and...the color purple?

now, i believe this may be a stretch but as i am obsessed with color symbolism and especially purple, i will just get this out.

now, there are a few characters with purple presence in them in bungou stray dogs, as it's a rather rarely used color. i`d noticed that the mentioned characters all had something in common - an uncanny, almost haunting presence at times, as well as experiencing deep psychological distress or disorder. which made me wonder: what could purple mean in character design? and most specifically - purple eyes, which are seen to be rare among the cast?

you can already draw a correlation between fyodor and fukuchi as purple-eyed characters. but once you add yosano and mori into the mix, the reasoning changes. when you think of it, it`s all characters who have power over human lives in a sense more divine than the other characters - fyodor and yosano with their ability, as well as fukuchi with his sword and persona, mori being a doctor.

but then again, we also have sigma who is engulfed in lighter shades of purple, unlike any other character in bungou stray dogs. which makes me wonder about his possible future role.

[featherstorm2004]

Fyodor's "death"/ Fyodor and the fear of being perceived theory

ok so I think we as a fandom know better than to even consider the fact that Fyodor is dead at this point since it would make no sense for his character since we know basically nothing about him, plus the fact that we didn't see the body (no the hand doesn't count).

But that leaves the question what's going to happen now?

Well I know this might sound crazy but I think Sigma is going to be the key to whatever future character arc Fyodor has. because like it or not, the fact of the matter is with the deal he made he has become the ONLY character to fully know and understand who Fyodor is. something not even Nikolai or Dazai can claim. (and no Nikolai doesn't understand Fyodor, Fyodor was the one who understood him he even admits this himself.)

So that leaves us with Sigma when he wakes up having to deal with the consequences of this fact and just to add this but I've seen a lot of people suggest that Sigma will be possessed and I can't prove them wrong but I think it would be a waste if that happened. Anyways whether he gives this info to the ADA or not, I don't think he will at least for now because why would they want it Fyodor's "dead" and a lot of other crazy stuff just went down, probably before he woke up. that said I think this knowledge will be the key to Fyodor's arc.

As for why well Dazai said so himself Fyodor doesn't trust people and at the very least doesn't understand them properly, he's always kept others at arms length for whatever reason. but his deal with Sigma changes that because now whether he likes it or not he has created a person who now fully and completely understands him. and well Fyodor didn't plan for that, he didn't plan for Sigma to wake up at all! let alone know all his secrets. And as much as I love the master genius and manipulator Fyodor is, I think it's important for his character that we see him fuck up like this because it will mean Fyodor is going to be forced to deal with the fact that he can't hide behind mystery and lies anymore, it won't work. for the first time in his life Fyodor is going to have real and genuine relationship with someone.

He won't be an enigma, demon, or god anymore he'll just be a man, human.

And who knows maybe that could lead to some form redemption or rebirth even after all Fyodor is coated in religious imagery and the real Fyodor's books were all about redemption even if you are never forgiven. But that's just my take on it, at the very least it could lead to some fascinating explorations of his character.

[daz4i]

I'm bummed they took away sigma's wide sleeves in the anime. I'm p sure they were in the original design to metaphorically show he isn't hiding any part of himself, no aces up his sleeve (highlighted by his casino theme), to really nail home that he's a normal guy and that he's open to the casino costumers and not hiding anything from them either

[sigskk]

so how's that essay going.

do you think teen skk would be like this. assuming they're in a universe where they're enrolled into formal education. do you think dazai would procrastinate until the last minute j to get on chuuya's nerves and have an excuse to talk to him. do you think chuuya would be just as bad if not for one-upping dazai. he's coming over to his house just so chuuya can sit in the same room as dazai while he works. hey chuuya [insert question]? [blatantly incorrect answer]. okay thank you <333 [aware it was bs]. they take a break for dinner and dazai is sitting on the counter like a wet cat watching chuuya (he's helping). "you should've started this sooner" (also did not start this sooner)

[cryinggirlnamedhelen]

like hollywood and me; that diamond on your ring

synopsis ; diamond rings? pretty common. but diamond rings on your left ring finger while dating the world’s most famous soccer player? definitely not common.

cw ; isagi x fem!reader, characters are aged up (isagi is 24)

now playing ; margaret by lana del rey

isagi yoichi was always among the most trending searches on any platform. usually, it was to search up some sort of incredible goal that he scored or some sort of insult he had thrown at a teammate. occasionally it would be about his relationship with you, perhaps after a cute and romantic social media post or something lovesick that he did with you after a match, such as immediately running over to you and kissing you.

but this time, the most trending search for isagi was isagi marriage.

paparazzi and journalists went crazy, fans went crazy, everyone went crazy. all because of a instagram post made by you, isagi’s girlfriend, of all people. it was a picture of your left hand, except there was something more to it. a gleaming blue diamond sat atop an intricately designed golden band on your ring finger.after zooming in and a few hours of analysis later, a fan even deduced that your name was on the band of the ring. the caption for your post? well, it certainly didn’t help anyone calm down.

guess who just got engaged? @realisagiyoichi, love you🫶

fans and other celebrities bombarded the comment section with both disbelief and congratulatory responses, although some bitter fans left some pretty nasty hate comments, but opposed to what you expected, the responses were overwhelmingly positive.

bachibeemegs : WHATWHATWHAT YOU AND ISAGI ARE GETTING MARRIED CONGRATS!!!🎉🥳👏🎊

reomikageofficial : Congratulations, Isagi and (Y/n). I’m happy for you guys and I wish you guys a happy marriage.

nagisei : congrats :x

shidoufreakyusei : guys im the flower girl trust😈

chigiri.hyoma : you bagged a baddie. im surprised. but congrats anyways, isagi and (y/n).

otoyaeitabrrrr : dont fumble the baddie isagi

karasutabitoe : Congratulations. Try not to get her to divorce you.

hioriyonoquierodinero : Congratulations!😊

charleschevalirizzler : skibidi sigma ohio isagi, you have so much rizz

michaelkaiser_official : ew

isagi took a deep breath, standing right outside the exit of the bastard münchen hq, getting ready for any questions that the media could bombard him with. he had left extra early today just so he could avoid intrusive questions at 8 in the morning, but now that it was 4 in the afternoon, he can’t avoid those questions any longer.

he stepped outside, and just as expected, paparazzi cameras instantly flashed into his eyes as the media crowded him. “isagi, isagi! can you please tell us about your marriage?”

“will you be taking a break from soccer?”

“will you be retiring?”

“do you want any kids?”

“when’s the wedding?”

“does this deny the rumors that you and bachira are gay?”

“uh, one at a time, please.” isagi stated, standing stiff as a board. he should be used to the media already, but he was still just a bit shy with them. “i’ll be taking a break. maybe for seven or eight months; honestly, as long as i can get. i won’t be retiring. kids…yeah, definitely want some, but that’s (y/n)’s choice, not mine. the wedding will probably be sometime in the summer. we’re still planning.” he ignored the last question.

poor isagi was stuck there in the media’s grasp for almost an entire hour before he finally mustered up enough courage to stop the interviews and drive home, his social battery completely drained at this point. stepping into your shared apartment, isagi practically collapsed onto the couch.

“you good? you look dead.” you remarked, stabbing him with a spatula.

“nooooo, leave me alone, im dead.” isagi muttered, turning around to lay on his side. “i really hate paparazzi.” your cat came over, jumping onto the couch and laying on isagi’s body. “why is she so heavy…?”

“you fatten her up all the time, maybe that’s why.” you replied. “get up, fatass. i made dinner.” you poked him with a spatula once more. “i made katsudon.”

isagi nearly jumped up, your cat practically slipping off of his body. “really?! thanks, i really love you!” isagi exclaimed, practically sprinting over to the kitchen. you sat on the couch, holding your fluffy cat in your hands.

“god, your dad’s such a big back. you get your genes from him.” you murmured, stroking your cat’s fur as she purred. “imagine he gets a beer belly when he’s in his forties. now that’ll be hilarious.”

“hey! i heard that!”

you ignored him, continuing to talk to and stroke your cat. but isagi stood leaning against the kitchen’s doorway, arms crossed, his eyes soft as he stared at you. at the end of the day, it didn’t really matter if you were engaged or married or dating. he loved you, no matter what label anyone puts on it.

domesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagidomesticisagi

[lubrumalis]

ghost headcanons! (realistic)

tw: nsfw, spoilers, dead dove do not eat

a lot of these are based off of my personal understanding of him

part 2 —> character analysis of ghost

general:

didn’t go back to manchester after his family died, too many foul memories—a lot of friends will probably know him as a murderer (comic reference, ghost was accused of killing his family in the newspaper)

has a fit body. a lot of people like to hc him as big and bulky, i think otherwise! its actually a huge disadvantage to be bulky in size as a soldier (logistics while fighting yk). most SAS soldiers are trained for endurance and fitness, i think he has a moreso lean body

hes not cold and ruthless, wouldn’t say hes a big softie either.

VERYYYY punctual. always on time

will not abuse or rape anyone. this guys been through atrocities, he would never do it to someone else

won’t hire a prostitute, ever.

honestly, hes just another dude in the military. he loves dad jokes and bourbon😭

ghost doesn’t think hes mean or tries to be, he simply is intimidating because of his size and way of talking

he likes watching soccer in his free time

gets internally offended if someone thinks hes from london (anywhere but Manchester)

very dark humoured. tell him any dark joke and he wouldn’t care

loves tea

listens to older british bands, like the smiths

cannot understand modern slang at all. what does ‘iykyk’ and ‘rizzler’ mean???

texts like a typical millennial. uses ‘😂’ and ‘😜’ unironically. types with proper grammar and spelling with punctuation too, maybe an occasional LOL

also unironically likes posts about trust issues and being a sigma male. he doesn’t actually think hes one, he just relates to those quotes that are like: “being alone is better than with fakes” 😭😭😭😭

ghost probably hates other men more than misandrists 😕 i think its bc hes always fighting other men and dealing with the cruel things theyve done, so ghost subconsciously feels more on guard with men he doesnt know

has insomnia

doesn’t cry. ghost doesn’t remember the last time he cried.

isn’t rich rich, but has a ton of savings. he doesn’t have a family or spend a lot. so the money piles up.

relationship hcs:

first off, i dont think he’d realistically get into one anyway LMAO

s/o would have to the chasing, i dont think ghost is the kind to actively pursue someone

he has charisma, doesn’t feel like using it

hes very against the idea at first—his family got murdered because he was in the military, you think hes gonna let it happen again?

probably will not like someone working with him as a soldier

i think itd go two ways: a) you are a civilian who aggressively pursues the poor guy and he gives in, b) you work as a military nurse and gradually get to know him, c) you are a longtime close friend of his before he was in the military

i cant see him being fwb with anyone, only one night stands

hes not a toxic partner or super lovey dovey

ghost doesn’t entertain multiple women at once

itd most likely end up in a breakup where he fears for your safety:(((

BUT lets ignore that

tbh, i think he would probably be with someone very empathetic and kind to others. he doesn’t like people overly energetic, too soft, or someone that annoys him

persons gotta be independent and good with long distance

simon doesn’t care about age gaps, but probably wants someone at least in their late twenties

had a hard time opening up, eventually told you everything once he trusts you

another reason why i think he wants someone empathetic is because he has severe trust issues😃😃

last thing he’d care about is looks for long term relationships

the type of guy to disappear for 6 months and reappear to be like “remember im your husband???”🫡

doesn’t let you tell your friends about him—No hes not being uncommitted or toxic, but hes simply being cautious after what happened to his family

you can’t show anyone photos of him, his name, his occupation, NOTHHINGGG

so you fake a name for your bf who your friends think you’re lying about

definitely does not let you post on social media about him either.

installs security in your home, teaches you self defense, and gives you weapons. this guy can be paranoid

will never hit you or lay a hand on you

ghost genuinely thinks you saved him—his life was bleak and empty before you came in. subconsciously thinks of you as a savior

he buys you gifts, does chores for you, he really likes you :(

ghost actively tries to make his voice sound softer and friendlier when hes talking to you

doesnt understand playing mind games, things like the silent treatment or “im ok” when ur not ok thing. just tell him how you feel

doesn’t tell his team about your existence. you and his job are always going to be separate.

avoids talking about what he does in the military. ghost has killed and injured many and he doesn’t want you to see that side of him.

scary dog privileges for SURE

[clowns0cks]

I was lurking around on wikipedia and

what the fuck. my mind went immediately to Death from Master. Like. Of course the doctor was the perfect candidate, his nickname literally symbolises death. what the hell. also not to be thoscheisming but I gotta say. theta (death) and koschei (the deathless). damn. they're even opposites with their nicknames. I find it so interesting how theta was supposed to be death's champion, but koschei (the deathless) ended up being it instead. while he's deathless, the doctor made it that he would spread death around everybody except himself. I don't want to imagine how much worse it would have been if the doctor actually became death's champion I think it would have been disastrous

[a-sctir-a-day]

Q. What kind of person was the original Sung Hyunje?

It would be similar to if you take Sigma, put in about one-hundredth of Sung Hyunje's knowledge and experience, add a few spoonfuls of early Crescent Moon, and then rewind him back to a time before he experienced a desperate and hopeless situation that one could no nothing about regardless of hard work or effort.

His ego was still firm, but he was more gentle and innocent* than at the current point in time ^^

Note: So this one gave me some trouble, because I was getting interesting variations from different translators, and when breaking the sentence, so I went full analysis mode on this.

*순하다 is the word getting translated as "gentle and innocent", but some more explanation on that is as follows:

As per the Korean-English dictionary, 순하다 when referring to someone's personality means meek; mild; docile; gentle. Examples: Both brothers have gentle personalities, so they have never fought with each other; The child is so gentle and doesn't even care about strangers; The baby doesn't cry or whine easily, and he's quite gentle

AI language module broke it down as follows: A "순하다" (sunhada) personality in Korean describes someone who is mild, gentle, docile, and not aggressive or fussy. Here's a breakdown of what it typically implies:

Gentle and Kind: The core meaning relates to being soft, kind, and good-natured in temperament and attitude.

Docile/Meek: It suggests someone who is easy to handle, not rebellious, and tends to follow rules or instructions without much fuss. They are not prone to stubbornness or being difficult.

Calm and Easy-going: They generally have a calm demeanor and are not easily agitated or aggressive. Their personality is smooth.

Not Wild or Rough: It implies a lack of harshness or intensity in their character.

While "순하다" often has positive connotations of being pleasant and easy to get along with, it's worth noting that in some contexts, it might also carry a subtle nuance of being too docile or perhaps a bit naive, especially when contrasted with someone who is more assertive or strong-willed. However, in most everyday usage, it's a positive descriptor for a gentle and agreeable person.

Someone with a "순하다" personality would be:

A quiet, well-behaved child.

A pet that is calm and doesn't cause trouble.

Someone who is easy to reason with and doesn't get into arguments.

Honest question time: Is anyone else a little stunned? I was a bit stunned.

Q. 최초의 성현제는 어떤 사람이었나요?

└ 근서 22.06.23 18:10 | 시그마에게 성현제의 지식과 경험 백분의 일 정도를 넣고 초기의 초승달을 몇 스푼 첨가 한 뒤 노력으로도 어쩔 수 없는 절망적인 상황을 겪어보기 전으로 보내 놓으면 비슷합니다. 자아는 여전히 굳건하지만 현재 시점보다는 순했습니다^^

[demonslayerunhinged]

Unhinged analysis — Demon Slayer Mark Series d=(^o^)=b 💪

In Search of Acceptance — What Determines a Person's Worth? (Part 2)

Here's Part 1!

The Significance of Muichiro's Fight with Gyokko

We all know that the fight between Gyokko and Muichiro is the least liked in the series so far and the most shat on, with fans calling it mid and lackluster. Especially when compared to the final battle against Gyutaro and Daki in the Entertainment District arc.

But I disagree. First off, not every fight has to be a spectacle. The best fights to me are those that tell a story or a battle of ideologies between the opponents that ultimately result in the development of the protagonist. Second, Demon Slayer is a character-driven story, so the plot is secondary to the development of the characters, and instead, we focus on their journeys, which include their battles. Demon Slayer's antagonists are usually a twisted or exaggerated representation of our protagonist's inner beliefs, fears, and desires. They serve as a mirror that forces the characters to look inward and examine and overcome their false beliefs and inner demons, so to speak.

Gyokko is a twisted representation of Muichiro's view on worth and usefulness. This might seem obvious, but the demons don't value human life, and with Gyokko this disregard is even more apparent by his usage of the swordsmen's bodies in his 'art pieces'.

We also see his disregard in the way he callously spat out the body of that poor swordsmith he ate in the beginning when he entered the village. Rest in peace random swordsmith dude, your only crime is that you had good taste in pottery 🙏🏼😔.

So anyway, Gyokko's view of humans as worthless and insignificant is a twisted version of Muichiro's personal beliefs about worth. This is why Gyokko's comments unlocked his long-buried memories because they were similar to the words uttered by the demon that attacked the brothers, and subsequently also mirrored the words said by Yuichiro.

But here's the thing, Gyokko's disregard for Muichiro and the major mistake that caused him the fight was that he underestimated Muichiro because all he saw was this tiny boy and these weak swordsmen. After all, what can two little boys and two human swordsmiths do against a powerful, old, immortal demon like him? It's just like that can-opener demon said—their lives are worthless. He considers them insignificant, so insignificant in fact that he puts little thought into his methods of killing, like trapping Muichiro in the water vase and sending his little fishies to attack Kotetsu instead of just killing them immediately.

This is also why Haganezuka's lack of attention enraged him because it made Gyokko's presence insignificant. The demon wasn't worth the attention, which to Gyokko made him feel insignificant when it should've been the other way around.

In his attempt to correct things to their natural order in a sick version of 'notice me senpai!' he underestimated not only Haganezuka's intense focus on that autism-fueled sigma grind, but also underestimated Muichiro's abilities and Kotetsu's resilience. By the time he was ready to face Muichiro, it was too late. His hubris and underestimation of Muichiro, the swordsmiths, and the perseverance of the human spirit are what ultimately led to his downfall.

Muichiro's Mark

“For the sake of someone other than yourself, you can tap into an infinite strength.”

Remembering his past and most importantly his brother Yuichiro is what allowed Muichiro to unlock his mark. His core wound was that he as a person was worthless, which is why he adopted his brother's cold and callous attitude but upon revisiting his memories he realized that his brother never hated him and admired his kindness and even considered it as a strength that only the 'chosen ones' possessed which he tried so hard to protect it.

Nii-san did not distance himself from me on purpose, he treated me with importance even till his last breath. He said the “Mu” in Muichirou was the “Mu” in “Infinity”.

Yuichiro recognized his brother's worth and loved him for who he was, but it was his fear of losing Muichiro just like he lost his parents that caused him to lash out, to become hardened and angry. Then, when they got attacked, that was when his true feelings came out. Kindness is Muichiro's strength, when pushed to the brink, it was his brother and the need to protect him that gave him the courage to face and kill the demon.

It was also what made him save Kotetsu which in turn was what gave Kotetsu the resolve to save him too. While one might argue that he saved Kotetsu because of Tanjiro's words, I believe Tanjiro just planted the seed. It was Muichiro who decided to not just save Kotetsu but to protect him at the cost of his own life. He wouldn't have done that if he didn't have some semblance of kindness, even the most viable seed would fail to grow if the soil is dead.

Side note: When Muichiro unlocks his mark, it presents as two clouds on either side of his face. I believe that marks that manifest on the face are representative of the bearer's self-identity and perception. The fact that there are two clouds is representative of his connection to his brother, which I think is a really neat detail.

Revisiting our past and facing our trauma is hard as hell. It's probably one of the hardest things to do when undertaking therapy. While it seems comfortable to repress the trauma, doing so may also hold us back. By facing our demons and accepting the parts of ourselves that we, the people in our lives and society deem worthless, we would be able to unlock our true potential, and I think that's what the mark represents for Muichiro.

So What Does Determine a Person's Worth?

“I am no longer that Muichirou who is empty inside.”

Well nothing. Muichiro's journey of self-acceptance tells us that every one of us has inherent worth. I also believe that his story is a commentary on how boys are expected to repress their emotions from a young age. Boys are conditioned to believe that having and especially expressing traits like empathy, softness, and vulnerability is a sign of weakness, and to be weak, especially as a man, is to be worthless. The same goes for women and girls as well, where you have to display 'masculine' traits to be taken seriously.

Muichiro is a soft boy. He loves making origami airplanes, he is soft-spoken, sweet, and has adorable descriptions for his fellow Pillars even when he didn't have his memories. But he's also a badass who decimated a demon with his bare hands at 11 and became a Pillar in just 4 months. No part of him is more useful or worthier than the other, they were both instrumental in all his actions. When he realized this and his inherent worth as not just a warrior, but also a human being, was he able to achieve his full potential and most importantly to heal.

Perhaps he sensed the emotion in Muichiro's voice, because Himejima abruptly smiled. "Forget it. I don't think I need to worry after all."

In Conclusion, self-acceptance is the way to go, never underestimate anybody including yourself. No matter how weak you perceive yourself to be when the time comes for the sake of others, the people you love, and most importantly for yourself, you too can tap into infinite strength ❤🌫.

Quotes are from the unofficial translation of A Promise of Tomorrow

[suusoh]

I think a lot of people seem hesitant to write about Johan Liebert, believing there’s a need to portray him "accurately" or "seriously" or else don't write him at all.

This fear is completely valid and understandable of course; experiencing it myself. Most works in the "x reader" section tend to lean heavily toward psychological thriller and suspense, all crafted with such skill and depth with downright the most beautiful writing style ever. (can you tell I want to inject these fics right into my veins.)

I absolutely fucking LOVE these. Okay? let's establish that. I eat up these works every time, they clear my skin and water my crops.

What saddens me a bit is to think that starting out writers who read these fics, instead of getting inspired by such beautiful works, accidentally intimidate themselves out of writing for Johan because they think that is the standard of what a Johan fic should look like. I suspect many aspiring writers believe they need to meet certain "requirements" before they can write about Monster or Johan.

It's easy to think that you have to read countless analysis posts on monster, watch the series dozens of times, or have a good grasp in psychology and philosophy before you're allowed to write about him (guilty ✋️).

While it’s beneficial to understand a character well, I've noticed an underlying sense of "perfectionism" found within the fandom, creating this sort of cycle:

-> Look at the Johan/Monster tag: You see no "bad" or "inaccurate" fanfics—only well-written ones. -> Try to write for Johan: You feel your work will never match the quality or accuracy of what's already out there, so you hesitate to share it. -> Avoid uploading your fanfics: you think your work is "inaccurate," so you might as well not upload it. Someone might even bash you for it.

And then the loop begins at the top again. Breeding the idea that only meticulously researched, serious fics are worthy of uploading. I believe these amazing fics should be a source of inspiration to you to share your own stories instead of holding back. I doubt the authors of those fantastic pieces want anyone to feel intimidated. In fact, I'm sure that they, along with many readers, would likely LOVE to see a selection of variety and creativity in the fandom.

It's good to be cautious of your characterization, great even. It means you've at least put in the work right? But you shouldn't let the fear of making something "untrue" to Johan's character stop you entirely. It might help to look at certain fanfics as a way to guide you, but not to set strict laws on yourself. He’s meant to be an enigma, a puzzle to interpret in various ways. For example, one author might say he enjoys tea, while another might explain he prefers blue Gatorade in their story. The beauty of writing him lies in these interpretations!

( Also there are people on platforms like TikTok and YouTube using Johan as a mascot for the "sigma male manipulator". Writing Johan x reader going on a cute date as a little treat for himself with his newfound humanity is absolutely fair game at this point 💀 )

Numerous serious fandoms, like Sherlock, Hannibal, or Dexter, have their share of fluff and unserious fics that don’t delve deeply into character analysis. Yet they’re written, uploaded, and enjoyed by the community.

Fandom and fanfic writing should be a space and a chance for you to experiment and indulge in your creativity. That's what everyone is doing here, it's not a competition for "best writing". You shouldn't feel any pressure to write for anyone else but yourself and write what you wish to read. If anything, I'm pretty sure all the johan peeps are begging to have more people write, eating up any sort of writing like the dogs we are. woof woof bitchh!

You might think that your fanfic about Johan running away to join the circus is stupid, but somewhere out there is someone waiting to find and read a fic of Johan running away to join the circus.