It's interesting how, like, on the surface it seems like the Karmic Worm got the harsher sentence of the two brothers. That's certainly how it's conveyed in the Cold Opening of 'The Bird in the Clock'.
And then also he got turned into a Worm, which is a creature which much more negative and less majestic connotations than an Owl (and is sometimes even a prey for owls).
Cosmic Owl also maintain some regular contact with other deities and is respected by Singulars in worlds where magic knowledge is commonplace.
While the Karmic Wormβ¦ I mean obviously no one in Fionnaworld knew anything about the Cosmic Owl either, but he's common knowledge in Ooo and yet Huntress Wizard didn't seem to know of the Karmic Worm. I don't think he's even known by all the deities, seeing how Scarab didn't know of the Undergrowth's existence and 'knowing where Cosmic Beings are and what they're supposed to be doing' was kind of his jobβ¦
But while on the surface the Karmic Worm is a forgotten banished deity in the Undergrowth of the universe who eats pain, and the Cosmic Owl is a respected messenger of fate and dreams⦠It's clear that this is not how they see it.
The Karmic Worm has a truly benevolent role as the being that heals and transforms the pain of everyone across the Multiverse. While the Cosmic Owlβs job can sometimes be beneficial to others if he theoretically appears in an actual happy dreamβ¦ but most of what weβve seen of him is as a harbinger of calamities and death. He lives in a miserable celestial hotel, and seems to be constantly frustrated and unhappy with his job.
Really, the only drawback the Karmic Worm has for his βprison sentenceβ is the forced separation from his brother.
And meanwhile, the Cosmic Owl allowed himself to die just to try and escape his guilt and misery.
I wonder how much of it is likeβ¦ maybe Orbo always knew the Cosmic Owl throwing his brother under the bus was bullshit and punished him accordingly? Or maybe itβs just a matter of attitude, that the Karmic Worm just accepted his fate much more peacefully and allowed himself to see the beauty in it, while the Cosmic Owl kept wallowing in his guilt and loneliness in a way that colored his overall views of his life and his job?
(That would make a lot thematic sense with the parallels between Owl & Worm and Finn & Jakeβ¦.)
Or maybe itβs just a matter of Orbo and the Celestial Hierarchy in general not really valuing the emotional healing and multi-universal unity the Undergrowth represents? That they legitimately thought the Karmic Worm's role was demeaning and lowly, while the Cosmic Owlβs sentence was at least more βrespectfulβ and therefore lighter in their eyes?
Even if the Cosmic Owl and the Karmic Worm never saw it like that.
