considering stands are a manifestation of a user's spirit, do you have any headcanons on what do the Sex Pistols mean about Mista's psyche? I heard there was an explanation in phf but I doubt you'd agree with it lol. on a side note, great chapter as always!!! I'm excited for the pistols
Of course I don’t agree with PHF “explanation” and not just because Mista is my blorbo (although, I’m the first person to admit that he is). It simply makes no sense, but… I’m gonna leave the rant for another post, otherwise we’ll be here for a while.
See, Sex Pistols is a unique Stand. Not only is it a Multi-Unit Stand, but also each member is an intelligent being with a distinct personality. There are some commonalities among the group: they all love food, they’re kinda lazy, but take pride in a job well done, they love a thrill, and they all care about Mista and his friends’ well-being. That’s where I believe Mista’s core lies. Other than that, they’re incredibly competitive with each other and fight constantly over petty things. I think this is a sign of Mista’s slightly egotistic nature. He loves his comfort and his time in the limelight, and he’s willing to antagonize anyone who gets in the way of that… even if it’s himself.
The first thing we learn about Sex Pistols is that they don’t like being treated as pets. They have a high intellect and are capable of complicated speech in a way few other Stands are. In my speculation, this reflects Mista’s own intelligence and how it manifests. He’s a curious lad, with a lot of inquisitiveness about the world and all the different experiences it encompasses, and he never hesitates to voice his wildly out-of-pocket theories and opinions. He’s also an incredibly resourceful and creative problem solver, but the way he approaches challenges is often through trial and error. Mista likes to test things out, to push and probe around an issue. His decision making is considering different angles, almost like a conversation between his mind and the circumstances he finds himself in, a back and forth that’s easier when you have six little fellas offering their input.
Sex Pistols are also a team. They need to work together in order to achieve anything of substance. Number Six couldn’t even push Bucciarati’s heart together when he was by himself. I think this speaks of Mista’s ability to be a team player. He’s at his strongest as part of a whole. He can take charge, but also fall behind and offer support when the situation calls for it, the same way the Pistols can lead and encourage each other while at the same time cooperate successfully. Like we all remember the Yee-haw battle cry, but they also yell out Pass-Pass-Pass to signal that they’re open to help.
Now, there are two more aspects of the Stand that I find interesting. First, there’s Number Five, and second is the fact that Mista has to manage them.
Number Five is obviously an outlier among Sex Pistols. They’re all somewhat different, some are more violent, some are more cheery, some are leaders, some are followers, but Number Five is unlike anybody else. He’s emotional, sensitive, a cry-baby and easily scared. Obviously, I’m not the first to point out that he should have been Number Four, and the others, especially Number Three, hate him for it. But I feel he also represents the part of Mista that’s the most vulnerable, a part that he’d rather not acknowledge too much, that he clearly associates with the number four: his fears.
But! But!! Here’s the thing: Mista manages Sex Pistols! He doesn’t allow Number Three to bully Number Five, and he tries to distribute their snacks equally so no one complains of favoritism. Even when it comes to his “weakest” aspect, Mista doesn’t actually let the unlucky number four be associated with it. Number Five is Number Five. He deserves a seat at the table, same as everyone else. I think this shows an incredible amount of self-respect and self-acceptance.
Mista’s Stand is id incarnate. If left to their own devices, they would eat, sleep and fight all day, but Mista steps in and reigns his fears, he actively puts limits on his indulgent nature, and makes an effort to be there for others around him. And that, I think, makes him such a fascinating character.
