Ish as a trickster god that oversees the people of both pandora and yggdrasil is such a cool idea to me, even more when you bring into consideration that this whole place essentially exists for his own amusement. So many things that we overlook because, well, this is a minecraft video, can be suddenly reframed into a much scarier light when you think about it. Like,
Remy murdering a rivaling business owner? Hilarious, but ultimately harrowing to know your god knew it all along and has approved of it because it was funny to him. Schpood asking if he had to actually say what would happen in the arena? Shocking even to their god, but also a good way to show that Westhelm may believe in Ish, but doesn't immediately bow down to him. WoodDaddy being forced to work against his will? Fucking hilarious to us, but how emboldening it must have been for the bakery owners to know your god approved of your actions because he thought it'd be good entertainment.
This is all to say: Fluxions entire existence under Ish's continued gaze suddenly turns into a tragic story of horror and longing once you actually look at, a bid for visibility from a god whose gaze is only beneficial in short bursts before it becomes toxic.
From the very start, they met during a moment of turmoil: 3Below's plan was something Fluixion genuinely believed would put everyone in danger, not just their newborn nation but the whole island, and no amount of talking would change his mind. Upon being asked about it by Ish, perhaps emboldened by being in the presence of the divine, Flux not only admits the truth but doubles down on it, especially when Ish doesn't admonish him for his prejudice (while also not praising him for his carefulness, but what matters is the lack of push back).
This boldness, suddenly acquired from being heard by their god (and being told good luck by him, being called sir by a god), suddenly snowballs into the fiasco of the diplomatic meeting. Fluixion is humiliated in that meeting, dressed down so thoroughly that it becomes pitiful â how dare he, a second in command, a representative, scream at the leaders of several other nations? And it probably hurts more that Ish clearly shows favor towards Saparata afterwards, with coming to visit him in his unfinished home to ask how he's doing.
To me, this makes me think that inviting Ish to the underground bunker right during the assassinations was not just for safety, that was a power play. It reads to me as Flux secretly going Look, I'm still important, aren't I? Look at what I'm about to do. It's for their safety, you know it is, but it's also for you.
And Ish plays into it, because it's fun. What's a story without a villain? Someone to cause chaos? Flux goes deeper and deeper into his plans, murdering people left and right, and Ish watches from over his shoulder with the gaze of someone who's so entertained they can't look away.
Until Flux does too much, until seeing others destroy his conspiracy becomes more interesting than watching him weave it.
Until Cass is standing before him with an army and a sneer, telling him that she's here to make him pay. And Ish? Their god?
Right behind her, smiling in that same way he did when Flux killed for the sake of his conspiracy. When he threw his best friend to the wolves to fend for himself.
tangentwithtanner
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