#tysm if u read the whole thing this has been rotating in my brain for fuckin ages

[becauseplot]

My darling, t̷h̵e̷ ̶d̷e̸v̶i̵l̵ knows my name…

Ooohohohohh The Garden by The Crane Wives is SUCH a codebreaker duo (Phil & Etoiles) song. I'm going to be so normal about it under the cut you have no idea.

(song)(lyrics)

tl;dr - This song fucks. It points to the personal vendettas that Phil and Etoiles have against the code monster, particularly the lead-up to the election dinner and the aftermath concerning the not!eggs.

Ok first of all, the violent undertones of the lyrics hidden beneath the relatively calm/pleasant sound of the instrumental itself (at the beginning, at least) compliments Phil and Etoiles personalities SO well. They're both very friendly, upbeat people. Etoiles makes light of death through his dark humor, and Phil is generally a pretty chill guy. But they both got Something stewing beneath the surface, one way or another. Some of my favorite lines from the song:

Tear it down, tear it down around my head. First of all, both of them had their Moment that made them REALLY want the codes dead (when the wool came off their eyes and their illusions of safety on the island were torn down). For Phil, his was when Tallulah lost a life to the code in a fight that was impossible to win. For Etoiles, I'm 90% sure it's when Pomme was targeted and "killed" by the code. (The death was later retconned; I'm iffy on Etoiles' early-days lore so bear with me if I misjudge something.)

In conjunction with this, "tear" is just such a visceral word when you think abt it. You usually "tear" something with your hands. It's up-close and personal. Ooohohoh love my some good word subtext.

The crows in the garden are laughing at my expense. Chatters moment. Though it particularly alludes to Phil's chat, the crows, it applies to chat in general: viewers (lovingly) bullying streamers when they take an L in a fight. With the dubiously canon existence of chats in qsmp, I feel like this applies. Also, the general feeling of frustration and embarrassment for your shortcomings (in this case, protecting your child.) Sometimes, that can feel like the universe is mocking you.

My stone, my shield, my steady hand. What they rely on. That is all.

Put your ear to my heart or set your teeth against my throat. This specifically brings to mind Etoiles' "desire" for death bc it makes him feel more alive. Also both of them frothing at the bit for the code monster to "COME AT ME ALREADY!"

Tell the crows they can have their pound of flesh. Both of their desires for revenge on the code monster!! To want your 'pound of flesh' is to be determined to get something you see as rightfully yours. And once again, an allusion to Phil’s chat in particular.

The ghosts at the window echo all our quiet prayers; when they come for us, they'll come with hammers and nails. The codes coming for them, targeting Phil and later Etoiles! The codes want both Phil and Etoiles (ESPECIALLY Etoiles) out of the equation. Also "ghosts" remind me of the not!eggs, and the not!eggs “answer their prayers” by giving them the fight they’ve been itching for for months.

And of course...

My darling, the devil knows my name! This sums up everything to do with Phil and Etoiles relationship with the codes. The code monsters (prior to the election dinner) targeted and harassed Phil while pointedly avoiding Etoiles. During the election dinner, it was Phil's eggs who were impersonated, and Etoiles was forced into a 2v1 against them. Like I mentioned earlier, it's personal for these guys. The devil (the code) knows their names, and it acts accordingly.

Anyway, remember how I pointed out the relatively calm/pleasant undertones of the music itself? Well, the song branches away from that as it continues, especially breaking through whenever "My darling, the devil knows my name," is sung, and it builds and builds and OUGHHHH the bridge into the final verse. Crazy vocals aside, when that electric guitar comes in, I die on the spot. It’s the PERFECT transition into the chaotic, darker, grungier, dirtier part of the song, all crunchy electric grit and grime, sweat and blood and clenched teeth, AAAUGHH. I could go on for ages about the last bridge.

For me, this part specifically brings to mind Phil and Etoiles at the election dinner finally getting their moment, their fair one-on-one fight against the code monster. And once again, that up-close-and-personal, violent imagery comes into play during the final verse:

Get on your knees and Dig up the garden Won't you throw down that spade and Dig up the garden, darling? Get your hands dirty and Rip up the garden Won't you cut down that apple tree for me?

The mention of “apple tree” brings to mind all the times the code monster goaded the players with items that symbolize their eggs, particularly Pomme. She’s the only egg with two lives, so the mention of cutting down the apple tree in the final line feels like a taunt. That code monster’s not gonna need anymore apples because its threats are pointless.

Anyway yeah. Codebreakers my beloveds. The moment my brain comes up with enough cohesive plot for a codebreakers fic, it is OVER for you bitches.