The Arsonist Theory, Part 4: Blame The Arson, Not The Fire
Part 1: Mandibles!
Part 2: We Get It, The Billboard Was A Metaphor
Part 3: Journey To The Vicious Spiral Nebula
Welcome to the end.
Before we start, I just want to shine a light on some interpretations of the billboard in relation to part 2 of the theory right here, and an observation about "Trust no one" that relates to the theory right here.
Once again, for those new to the theory: it proposes that Bill wasn't alone in destroying his dimension-- he had a partner, one that used him like he used Ford. The previous three posts are crucial to understanding where I'm coming from with this.
This post will mostly be some miscellaneous things that I think could support the overall theory, honestly. So I'm just gonna get started with it. And, as always:
MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE BOOK OF BILL, INCLUDING CIPHERS
Let's finish this.
So, something that was in the original Arsonist Theory from years ago was that Bill, oddly enough, seemed afraid of his own fire powers. He never uses them in combat, even though it would be a major advantage to him to do so. In fact, he really only seems to use fire as little more than cosmetic flair, lighting his hand on fire to make deals and other situations like that. There are really only three times he uses his fire to directly effect the environment--
Ford's dream sequence, destroying the journals, and burning up the Cipher wheel in the finale.
It's a bit strange, though. All three of those times, he didn't use his signature blue flames. He used orange flames instead.
Another thing is, remember when he died? The second the room lit on fire, he panicked. He's a dream demon, he should have been able to get the hell out of there the second he realized something was wrong! He's not powerless in this situation, so why is he acting like he is? Unless, for some reason, something about the environment reminded him of a certain... other time he was surrounded by fire? A time where, unlike now, he was powerless? Curious!
That on its own doesn't support the theory directly, however it points to lingering trauma from the destruction of Euclidia regardless.
Now... I saw a theory that made an argument that the repeated motifs of "mandibles" points to the idea that Bill might have eaten his own family.
And honestly, I agree. But...
As another layer to it, we only know that Bill had a mutation that let him see the third dimension, along with most likely fire powers since birth. So where did this sudden interest in devouring people come from?
Maybe whoever was with him was the one that taught him it. The one that told him that consuming souls meant that you would never be alone, as they would always be inside of you forever. Because, to me, it seems like an odd leap from "wants to show everyone the third dimension" to "eating people as everything burns around him." So maybe, he was influenced by something? Someone?
And another thing: When Bill is dying, in the Book Of Bill, we see two ciphers on the page.
One of them is "AXOLOTL" over and over, as to be expected.
The other? "Just fit in."
That absolutely sounds like something Euclidia would have pushed upon him! Ergo, he was remembering Euclidia in that moment, ergo the fire did definitively remind him of Euclidia, ergo he seems to get flashbacks when he sees his own fire.
This next part is pure extrapolation, so bear with me here.
Bill, on one page, mentions a highlight of his glory days as being "disassociating, and waking up to find [he'd] conquered another dynasty." Score!
Except... disassociating? Think about it.
Bill had just made a mention to disassociation, implying that he knows that he does it and knows what it feels like for him when it happens.
But when he was talking about Euclidia... he says there's a "loud buzzing in [his] ears and [he] blacks out for 30 seconds."
If this was how his disassociation usually presented itself... wouldn't he just say so?
This doesn't sound like his usual denial, either. When Bill denies something, he remains perfectly cognizant of the events that occurred, merely twisting around some details and/or justifying it to himself.
...Remember back in part one, I said I'd discuss what Bill said about his weaknesses? About how he's been touchy about them ever since... something? And how the obvious interpretation is-- especially considering that he Gatsby's us after the memory gun is mentioned-- that he's touchy ever since the Pines defeated him?
Another thing this book teaches us is that multiple versions of the same object can exist. Mainly, there have been many different iterations of the portal over the centuries.
Perhaps... multiples of some other object can exist, and have existed, and have been used against Bill?
A loud buzzing in your ears. Do you know what makes a loud buzzing noise when it's used?
"No!" You're probably thinking.
"Yes," I say.
Okay, "Probably likely" I say, but that's not as good for dramatic flair.
Sure, the buzzing isn't that loud, but once it's up to your ear... it'd be plenty loud.
One of the ciphers regarding Bill says "EVEN HIS LIES ARE LIES." Meaning, there's a secret, deeper layer to even his lies. Maybe it's that, at least here, this isn't necessarily a lie, moreso that he's operating under missing information.
And furthermore- Bill remembers some parts of what happened, judging by the text that wasn't blocked out, which does line up with how the memory gun works-- at the end of the clip, McGucket makes a reference to Bill himself, the very thing he wanted to forget.
And wouldn't that be another instance of some kind of damaging cycle? Something took away Bill's memories, now Bill has stolen the memories of another? I know, I know, it's kind of a long shot.
But you have to admit, it is interesting to think about.
Now, there might be one final thing you might be wanting from me.
If Bill was someone's accomplice, who is the bigger fish?
And to that I say...
I have no fucking idea.
Not a single clue. Bill says on his "weaknesses" page that anyone whose figured out his weaknesses haven't lived to tell the tale, but that's already verifiably false with Stan still being alive, and with the added bonus of his memory possibly being tampered with... are we sure?
I'm... not sure if the thisisnotawabsitedotcom.com lost files will have anything to do with Euclidia or not. I'm not sure what they'll be at all, honestly.
But at the end of the day, I do think this theory holds some sort of ground and is an interesting angle (pun intended) of looking at Bill's past.
Hope you all liked the theorizing, folks! Let's all wait for that countdown!!
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getting all the ow endings and the last one i had to get was the isolation ending so i flew outside of the solar system and did all the things you need to do for that and just like for fun(?) i pointed my signalscope at the solar system and just had to listen to everyone stop playing one by one until the sun blew up and all the stars around me continued to go out surrounding me in darkness and let me tell you i dont recommend this unless you wanna feel so so so much pain and hurt so much
Uh i guess i gotta add two more tropes to my trope list, huh.
Also i guesss im kinda canon accurate! Yippie :3
spoilers bfdia 24
AHHHHH WHY DID I GET A PHONECALL FROM A WEIRD PERSON ABOUT THE SECRETS(?) OF THE UNIVERSE???(ALSO SPAMTON KIN) WHY DO I REMEMBER THE TWIN STARS NOT BEING THAT RANDOM ASS CHILD??? AND INSTEAD THE TWINS?? LIKE. the makers?? of bfdi?? WH.
and also i guess the bfdi's antivoid, that too. ohh my god this hurts my head kinda wh. h. hhh.
(also glitching out like my old timeline/undertale kin)
uh, also i guess my number 11 obsession was canon too oh my pages.
number 11 is a safe number that makes things safe and i have to count to that number whenever i feel unsafe about a task. How the fuck did i also(?) think that in the past?
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