whatever a moon has always meant

8 - The longer, more interesting answer to this question is contained in the fic I'm in the middle of writing about it. Well, more accurately, the fic was originally intended to be about that, but then it became more about 8 in general, and the first draft is ~16k so far, of which ~4.5k goes toward answering this question. The shorter, more boring answer is that I think Scaramouche has spent the majority of 8’s existence avoiding him as much as possible because he inspires too many conflicting feelings in him. I think he's acutely aware of how fucked up 8's existence is and Doesn't Want to Think About It. He was pisseddd when 8 got made. 8 resents being avoided, because he thinks Scara is cool and wanted him to like him, and has been forced to conclude he is just one more person who does not take him seriously. 8 may or may not have poisoned him about it at some point.

18 - I think 18 is more obviously insecure than the older segments and, like 8, resents that Scara seems to take them more seriously than him. Actually I find it really entertaining to imagine that 18 has an obvious crush on Scara. He just wants the super advanced super pretty robot to notice him!! I can’t decide if I like it more if the crush is obvious to everyone BUT Scara, or if Scara is aware of it too. In certain phases of his life, Scara would definitely take the opportunity to mess with 18 over it. Although this is playing with fire, because he is still Dottore. Anyway I think the other segments get secondhand embarrassment from watching him interact with Scara. Like dude don't make a fool of yourself the puppet is not all that! (← absolute fucking hypocrites but they are of the opinion that none of *them* look that desperate)

webby - Ok this requires a preface of the elaborate webby headcanons I've been developing. I prefer to believe he exists as a separate entity from 25, and my recent pet theory is that he's between 18 and 25 in age and represents the time shortly after Zandik joined the Fatui (whereas 18 is from before Zandik's expulsion from the Akademiya). I like to think Webby is from a time Zandik was having an extended mental break of sorts due to all the shit that went down in Sumeru, which is why he’s so much more openly erratic. He also represents a time when Zandik newly had the resources to try out any of his craziest ideas, so I think he comes up with some of the most deranged experiments. Anyway I think Scara either enjoys how reactive he is (LOL see Dottore you’re not ABOVE EMOTIONS you HACK.) or finds him a huge hassle to deal with, depending. Scara probably avoids him unless he wants the satisfaction of pushing his buttons. Webby is still from an age when he was very hungry for validation and has possibly the worst RSD of any of them so Scara probably drives him insane. I bet he'd resent how much Scara can stir up his emotions but can't help craving it anyway. Actually the more I think about this the more I love it? Let Scara make a Dottore his stress ball squeeze toy for once (<- This will backfire horrifically)

25 - i have to admit i’m still trying to conceptualize 25 in my head… Like, i think he’s calmed down a bit from Webby and is not yet as egotistical as 35, so is one of the more bearable segments in general, but like. he’s still Dottore. Spitballing here but I think he probably *believes* he is the only one who manages to have a purely academic interest in Scaramouche and not be a freak about it. He is wrong about this. But he is at least more chill than most of them, which is either insulting or refreshing to Scara, depending. Maybe 25 and Scara both like to think they're above vying for the other's interest but aren't really? Kind of a mutual fake idgafer thing lmao? Idk. Need to consider this one more

35 - THEEEEEEE guy. As I’ve said recently I like to think he’s the one most terminally obsessed with Scara due to being the closest in age to Zandik at Tatarasuna. Still in the throes of that early all-consuming interest, yet also more likely to be cruel toward Scara, because that jealousy/resentment from seeing him fitting in at Tatarasuna is also baked into his perspective. I think 35 is definitely the most possessive toward him. Sees him as HIS over any of the other segments' and is frankly a huge bitch about it. Just one more reason the other segments don't like him. Ultimately the segment that spends the most time with Scara and is “closest” to him even though their relationship is very volatile. Scara would alternately bask in this obsession or wish 35 would chill the fuck OUT. 35's also the most likely to be retaliatory for slights, which you'd think would make Scara avoid him in favor of others more often but that just makes 35 worse the next time they see each other and make no mistake the next time is coming. Whatever. You get resigned to it. Me and that bird I fucking hate (Ok Scara likes to think he just hates him but there's a certain special sauce to 35 that the other segments lack because none of them are as Intense about it. Scara Wants to be the center of someone's world. Except when he doesn't. Because that person fucking sucks)

This raises the question of why did he leave Scara in Sumeru if he’s the most obsessive one? I have 2 answers that I deliberate between. 1. Possibly 35 was going to come back for him. Just didn’t want to get in trouble with the Tsaritsa or deal with Scara’s nuclear meltdown in the immediate aftermath of failure. Or 2. Honestly 35 *knows* he’s learned everything he realistically can from Scara by now and that his fixation is just sentiment at this point and I think 35 resents anything he perceives as human weakness in himself. Perhaps he genuinely intended to leave him there, intending to try and break the 'hold' Scara has over him. But then Scara erased himself, so the outcome will forever be unknown...

45 - Have also not thought about this as much. Needs time to marinate. Off the cuff I'd say his perspective is from a time when the obsession had mellowed somewhat, but I'd imagine he’s still pretty fixated on and possessive about Scara... just... Less so than 35. And the fact he’s a bit less egotistical than 35 causes Scara to sometimes prefer 45. 35 is aware of this and resents it. 45 is, probably, the only one willing to call 35 out on his whole thing being kind of pathetic in its intensity. This causes WWIII to occur in the segments breakroom

65 - One of the more chill segments when it comes to Scara, but still has that underlying sense of smugness and ownership all the older ones get from being acutely aware of how much they've shaped Scara's life. But 65 is old enough that Scara's emotional instability is less an aggravating reflection of Everything Zandik Wants To Kill In Himself and more like Ah, the Passion of Youth. It's cute to him, almost. (Scara can sense this condescension and hates it.)

Anyway 65 is fond of Scara in his own way but mostly willing to let the other segments squabble over the puppet without throwing his hat in the ring. Scara feels alternately appreciative of or threatened by this relative lack of interest. Like, what the fuck do you mean you’re not obsessed with him, you’re Dottore aren’t you? Is he losing his ability to capture interest? Notttt allowed. I can see Scara feeling compelled to bother him for attention. And, of course, 65 is not fully immune. He IS still Dottore. He just represents that time when Zandik was moving on a bit! When the segments were first made and Scara's power unsealed, and Scara had to figure out all over again where they stood. NO BIGGIE!

…Y’know, 65 probably still has too much of a sense of superiority for this, but maybe at least once they could commiserate over how unhinged the younger Dottores can be. 65: ‘My, I really was unbalanced in those days, wasn’t I… *rueful chuckle*’ / Scara: YOU’RE telling ME??? pass the firewater i need another shot