One really interesting aspect of Desscaras to me is that before the warp, she Was Not Arrogant.
Like, a lot of the boastful, prideful traits we associate with Desscaras just aren't there when we see her in flashbacks. Before we had the backstory, that was the main point of speculation I consistently got wrong. the idea that Desscaras liked the praise and attention she earned for being so skilled when really, she didn't! It's not even fame to even marginally convinces her to do it. The attractive parts of being a witch are "libro would think it's cool and it would make him happy" and "money".
But money does not equate to fame, and it's the pride and arrogance I'm really interested in here. Because when Desscaras is getting praised like hell by all the other Ikaruga, she takes it sort of shy but accepting, or ultra embarassed. You know who does play at fame and recognition?
I do think the grief is a large part of it. I'm not even sold on the idea that Desscaras struck out for glory right away.
Currently, I think it went something like this:
Immediately following 11/11, Desscaras strikes out to hunt a Majik. During the Isakandar flashbacks, she's notably wearing her Ikaruga clothing, not her witches uniform. She's missing the scarf she specifically has the morning/evening the warp happened, and additionally she has gained her loop earring. (Desscaras has 3 earrings in her current design. 2 studs on each side, and her left, viewers right, also has a small hoop.)
Ergo some time passed, but she either elected to wear the Ikaruga clothes while on this hunt for sentimentality, or she still hasn't actually made it to being a Witch Cadet yet. But as of Isakandar, she's notably not arrogant yet, and that's a key factor in her acquisition of them.
I would say that current Desscaras is definitely arrogant, but she also has a lot of basis for it.
Anyway, she acquires Isakandar SHOCKINGLY early into her witch career, and this propels her forward. She knows she has absurd potential, and she begins capitalizing on it immediately. The first several acquisitions are grief fuelled; strong Majiks capable of destroying barriers, piercing through, etc.
As Desscaras grows in quantifiable skill and merit, she gains more and more notoriety and this time, she leans into it. The fame is part of being the greatest witch (it's what Libro wanted), and so she relishes in it. The distance, muddle affections of the masses are a perfect substitute for close, familial love. They're too far for her to get attached, too many to matter when one falters, too one sided for her to fear losing them again.
As this happens, the synergy between Desscaras's grief fueled desire to 'hunt bad majiks', her demonstrated skill and power, and the Associations need to contain Majiks, the Abyssal Witch is born as a matter of course.
Having someone like the Abyssal Witch would be particularly warranted after the incident with Tottie, as containing even willing Majiks on site can go disastrously wrong. But for that same reason...
Notably, I think Desscaras' position here demonstrates a frankly UNFATHOMABLE LEVEL OF TRUST that the Witches' Association, perhaps Moneygold in particular has in her. Remember that Fujimine killed 60 people in her initial attack alone, and that's still a recent enough occurrence that Tricaputo is alive. At ANY moment, Desscaras could choose to kill a LOT of people VERY quickly, but the Witches Association has trust in her to not. I'm unsure if there's any mechanism in place to deal with Desscaras as a threat (like we could send the other Witches after her, but would they win???), or if this is a pure trust fall here.
Now, I think having Desscaras be such a public figure coulddd tie into that? It gets harder to flee if everyone knows who you are, but: NO ONE FUCKING KNOWS WHO DESSCARAS IS?????
This is such a FASCINATING aspect of her fame to me. Like there are corners of merchandise for her!! And no one recognizes her on the street! FOr fucks sake people have such a poor understanding of Who Desscaras is, that she had a white impersonator and no one at the scene even realized it wasn't her!!!!!!!
Desscaras is simultaneously the most famous, most powerful woman alive, and no one knows her at all. Like no wonder she's hypes herself up so much.
pixelskylines
2087
vaporwave
tangentwithtanner
yousharknotpass
turnnoffyourmind
