the vault of many things

Let me preface this under the one headcanon I’ve been using as a narrative plot-point: the Second was intended to be the surviving Sentinel. If the others woke up, it would’ve been with the immediate realization they were not supposed to be alive, and that meant something went terribly wrong. That’s one of my fun lil’ schticks I’ve been doing to specifically spice up the narrative, because it’s not enough for the Second Sentinel to have survivor’s guilt, I also need them to have a specific survivor’s guilt of ‘you guys chose me to survive and now I have to, because you wanted me to’, which is a delightful flavour of quiet resentment to add to their very passive character.

With that in mind now, let’s move on to the characters:

First: Though I’ve kind of went into it, let’s put it plainly: if Fir survived, their mental state would collapse. Fir was the Big Sister of their group; they were the caretaker and commander of the other four. They were the one who their siblings went God. You have your shit together ß a lie. Big fat lie. Fir was incredibly co-dependent and often leaned on their siblings as a support structure, combating the monotony of their lonely patrols (another headcanon: those with pins are considered most prestigious in the Citadel, as they’re a difficult weapon to train with— Fir was allowed some privileges over their siblings in that regard, e.g. solo patrols and commandment) with their sibling’s voices. Upon the shelving protocol, they would’ve pushed for their siblings to survive above them at all costs.

Which then turns to if they survived, they would’ve imploded. One of the fatal flaws I wanted to give Fir was this particular ruthless nature—not entirely sadistic, they’re not going around secretly smiling bc they’re hurting people— but they do enjoy, to an extent, the physicality aspect of their frame and the efficiency of dispatching foes, the same way you might take enjoyment from overwhelming an opponent. Combine that with fatal flaw 2: a swallowed temper, usually sparked from perceived injustices. Fir was a by-the-book soul. If you were nasty, rude, irritating, etcetera, this creature of steel was like. Eyeballing you hard. Never said anything, they were very good at swallowing their anger (unlike the Fourth, who did snap, often on their behalf) and that built and built and built…

Anyways, as you can imagine, being a surviving soul who wasn’t supposed to survive, suddenly alone in the Citadel with only husks as company and a directive that refused to let them go…well. Cocktail Molotov of a crash-out, pretty much. Their swallowed temper would have finally cracked open into this ruthless, thorough purging of the Citadel from top-down of haunted; a relentless, suicidal cleansing that became less directive and more I need to hurt something. Of which, in my mind, would then clash with Hornet, who would see them as a potential threat & also something she might’ve had to particularly deal with, having unleashed them upon the Citadel in the first place. I was considering, parallel to having to encounter the Second cleansing the Citadel 3 times before their Wish was activated, instead you would encounter the First in 3 mini-boss fights— specifically in the chambers POST-cleansing, so you were surrounded with a bunch of dead husks that First massacred. I don’t think the fights would’ve been particularly hard, with First being incredibly exhausted after these fights (venting steam out of their own temper), but then would come the big finale. This would be the one where you actually meet them in the chamber with their dead siblings, and the First intends to kill you or you kill them // a farce of a trial, mostly meant as a murder-suicide. I'm quite tempted to make this an objective Hornet places upon herself, rather than the First inviting her via their own Wish: she started this, she must finish it.

For the fight itself...it's very brutal, in my mind. But also cathartic for the First. And once it is over, and Hornet wins: I did want her to spare them because through the fight she had that realization to why they were doing this // and in offering mercy, this breaks something in the First in a way unfixable, but also having left them in a state where they were able to realign themselves. The Citadel is dead, they cannot leave the Citadel, but what they can do is tend to its grave until its true death, which they will be glad to see. It then makes First less of a direct parallel to Hornet than the Second; the Second implicitly has this parallel of Hornet’s time in Hallownest, but First becomes more a crypt-keeper and reaper. They still part as friends, though unlike Second who disappears I think First begins to play a Shakra-type role within the Citadel confines, having redirected that co-dependence unto the pilgrims of Songclave (and also, Hornet). They’re grieving, but in a way recoverable. The anger is exhausted and all that is left is embers.

Now for more self-indulgent thoughts…I do offhandedly ship Hornet and the First, so I am biased in this regard to their dynamic; I like exploring the potentials to any characters, including romance and these two have a particular different flavor than Sennet that I enjoy. To put my finger on exactly what makes it compelling (& might shed also some light on the platonic interactions, which are still tinged with this, but just not to full), I’ll try to compare it to sennet…What makes Sennet fun for me is that the Second is very…to put it bluntly, they have a very submissive personality when it comes to Hornet, which puts a fun challenge to their dynamic where Hornet is consistently self-correcting as not to barge over that cogwork’s autonomy. For the First and Hornet, however, there’s an equal footing that First continually asserts for themselves that I think would make them interesting for Hornet. First is a fully capable and independent entity that has their own agenda, as loosely adorned that agenda is with the Citadel’s colours. They are of the personality that would request things of her easily; and THAT'S the part that’s fun for me, because they're really. Present. Self-actualized. Pushing when Hornet pulls. Reacting in their own full opinions so Hornet doesn't have to reach for them to pry them out of them-- no shade to Second. We all enjoy prying the Second open with a crowbar.

And this push and pull might lead to a friendship akin to Shakra’s, but where Shakra’s independence makes her and Hornet often drifting ships on different paths, I think First would tend to dally their own agenda around Hornet’s, just for her company. Which is just...ough. There’s a fun partnership potential there, platonic or romantic. SENNET, you've got the Second slowly growing out their shell to become that sort of rock for Hornet is very good—there’s a distinct independence there budding slowly. But for the First, it’s equally as compelling for me to put Hornet into a conversation with a construct whose independence is fully realized, put her alongside this fellow knight/protector who would chivalrously lend their cloak to shield her from rain (as they would any other pilgrim), but additionally make mentions of affection that are just. There. Direct. I care for you; be safe.

And this would fully discomfort her in a way where she must confront this kindness!!! this mirror of her kindness, because for all her bite Hornet is very kind, and it might be rather polarizing, to be on the receiving end of a similar mindset. And from there, that slow acceptance might fester a bit of affection in turn, which could be an affection to grow teeth and fang and bestial, for I think Hornet’s possessiveness is a fun side of her that I can poke her with when it comes to protecting this construct who she considers a friend.

And then you add her sexuality and inane comments about the Second’s body into this whole mess I’ve already established in OTT bc ig this damn hunter has a type and it’s giant machines she can crawl around on like jungle gyms. Unlike Sennet, where Sec & Hornet fall into love slowly and surely and gently and like walking across a shallow lake together, hand in hand watch your step ass relationship -- First has thrown Hornet on their shoulder and put her hands over their eyes and said, okay, guide me, hunter as they walk across that lake. And Hornet's going mad from this.

Insofar I’ve written a lot of words for First. I’ll have to make a reblog about the Third, Fourth and Fifth (the Fifth being also a damn piece of tin I’ve thought too much about). Stay tuned. I'll unload like 2000 more words like a goddamn fool.