/jp/ - Otaku Culture

Ciconia Theory Time!

Mari and Tina might be the pieces used by Seshat to affect the board. Every time Mari and Tina are in a room with Seshat or Toujirou, something inexplicable happens.

I would even go so far as to say that Maricarmen's the one behind the explosion incident due to her abilities "A Skilled Hawk Hides Its Talons" detailing that she feigns ignorance for the sake of a surprise, and "Aptitude for Simultaneous Summoning of Weaponry" says that she's capable of bringing out many things into a large area, holding them there, and using them.

With Tina herself, it's described that she's stoic and level-headed... meaning, she doesn't feel or think too deeply about things. It's not her purpose to, she's simply there to stand witness. Her flying is weird, as it "Obeys the laws of the world," and I take this to mean that she could be no-clipping for all we know, like a ghost, and her shield ability is powerful enough to be considered supernatural for Gauntlet Knights themselves, like Sakutarou's Diplomatic Immunity.

And then their third special ability, Observers of Military Balance, lays out that no matter where they go, they get to have Tea and Desserts. Witches.

Now, onto name references. Maricarmen has Rika in it, but also means Mary Red, Bloody Mary. "Bloody Mary is a legend of a ghost, phantom, or spirit conjured to reveal the future. She is said to appear in a mirror when her name is chanted repeatedly. The Bloody Mary apparition may be benign or malevolent, depending on historic variations of the legend. Bloody Mary appearances are mostly 'witnessed' in group participation play or by a man who is about to die." Group participation play and what a person experiences as they are about to die can be portrayed as fantasy in When They Cry.

Valentina references Valentine's Day, 2/14, 2+1=3, 34. A pope included St. Valentine among all those "... whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God." This could be referencing that there are several martyrs named Valentine, but because of this, their deaths bring glory to St. Valentine's name. It could be just a pretty name, but for all we know, it could be saying that Valentina is part of a shared identity with Maricarmen in Seshat.

As for Seshat herself, her title can be interpreted to mean "She of two horns." Now, this could mean pointy horns... or it could mean TRUMPETS! And what are those things on Mari and Tina's arms? TRUMPETS! And how many Angels does it take to signal the Apocalypse in Revelation? Seven. And when Mari and Tina join the Order of the Public Bath, Keropiyo joins as the 07th Expansion, and then there are Seven Trumpeters to usher in the Apocalypse as tools for Prometheus.