Everything aside - I think there is beauty in Apep (crazy I know). Even as a serpent (turtle or otherwise) representing destruction and Isfet. I have heard some claim that Apep isn't really a "needed" force? Apep as he exists in kemeticism represented/personified the bad and wrongdoing (sometimes foreigners and rebels depending on who ruled, and also the myth). About every religion had an "adversarial" force. Used as a way to represent the right and wrong (what should and shouldn't be done). We usually only view the mythological perspectives, but it was likely political/ philosophical too. Sometimes as time goes on or new groups/cults appear these can change or evolve. Apep as far as we know doesn't get a form of redemption like Nehebakau. who was bad then good, or good to bad like Sutekh in their later myths. Outside of Kemeticism ( or those who still consider themselves kemetic). Apep takes on different forms and meanings. Depending on the person and their worldview. Sometimes Apep takes a role in a more atheistic/symbolic sense. Used in rituals to represent the force of destruction or transformation (sometimes Sutekh). Some of these rituals also include Kemetic deities representing rebirth and life. Some use him in vampirism and lucifierianism, and even draconaianism. Other times it is theistic. Just as people have their own reasons for why they chose a god/goddess or came to be with them. Apep worshippers also have various reasons for why they worship Apep. While yes some can be edgy/ are edgy or appear as edgy ( like how Satanist and LHP people are viewed by people who don't understand it). That's sometimes just how it is when it comes to anything that is "adversarial" or a spirit/god/goddess who has a representation for being "dark", "death" ect. It will draw in people (political or otherwise) who think "it's cool" or they just want to be "dark". (My art definitely appears that way lol).
Not all people who follow Apep choose to do so because they want pure destruction or annihilation. There are some who do. I have definitely met deceivers, manipulators and awful people who chose to follow Apep. (makes sense yeah?). People who do seek destruction and disorder (or even complete annihilation of themselves?) do exist too. Anticosmic Gnosticism, a misanthropic order has various versions and there is one in Kemeticism. They Use Sutekh (as the rebel) and Apep.
The reason I put these tags on my post (anticosmic, luciferian, Draconian ect) is because while I don't follow these paths, I understand that there are people within these currents who are devotioanal to Apep (even if it's for edgy or destructive reasons). I find that my relationship to Apep is a deep one. Something that I don't expect anyone to understand. Despite what people see/fell from him (sometimes even gods are seen as cold and uncaring especially at first). I have found warmth and love. He is seen as deceptive, tricky and uncaring. I don't see that at all.
