the Life Series winners' title meanings:
This is for my (WIP) life series winners au fic series on ao3, The Archive Of Lives, which takes place inbetween games in a castle of the Watchers where all past lives are recorded.
Grian: The Fallen Mercenary - 'Fallen' coming from Grian falling to his death and also from being a watcher - reminiscent of a fallen angel in christianity or Icarus in ancient Greek mythology, 'Mercenary' as his loyalty to Scar was payment for killing him with the creeper prank.
Scott: The Escaped Knight - 'Escaped' because Scott avoids the repercussions of acting on the boogey curse, and also escapes being killed by reds a lot in last life, and 'Knight' as he chooses to sacrifice a life to remain loyal to his allies.
Pearl: The Red-Tainted Scythe - 'Red-Tainted' DL! Pearl is heavily associated with the colour red, and death so it also represents the blood from the lives she's taken, and how she can't separate it from herself, and 'Scythe' because she is viewed as a weapon as she brings death without even meaning to, and its also a farming tool (so links to esmp1), so in other conditions she wouldn't have become murderous.
Martyn: The Time-Strung Executioner - 'Time-Strung' Martyn isn't entirely in control, instead his need for time (and possibly those outside the game) are driving his violence, 'Executioner', continues with the lack of control, but even if it was something necessary the blood is still on his hands.
Scar: The Untethered Merchant - 'Untethered' Scar isn't on a team in SL and there is a lack of stability around his alliances and his home, when he wins there are complications at first (this part will make more sense when Scar's part goes up), and 'Merchant' he tries to sell people things and make trades throughout the entire series, and while it could be seen as him being well-off/living a comfortable life as one might expect from a merchant, he is seen as a villain subverting the expectation.
Cleo: The Jesting Killer - 'Jesting' because RL being an April fools/joke special is often not seen as a real win, and jesters are often portrayed as garishly clothed (Cleo's 80s skin), wise (they are a zombie, and also Gaslight) and criticising (she's quick witted), and 'Killer' because of the brutality of death in VR.
Joel: The Uncontained Fire - 'Uncontained' because of Joel's red life madness curse, and 'Fire' as a continuation of that, while also drawing reference to his and Gem's car theme for the season, and the fury/rage at the stagnancy at the cycle of death, and fire isn't stagnant.
[These may change as the winners after Pearl become more fleshed out. The descriptions for Pearl in the fic notes on her part and Grian/Scott in the comments of Scott's are slightly less fleshed out.]
Have a wonderful day/night. <3
(Grian's part will be up soon, probably next 24 hours
edit: it is now up)