I know you've said before that you haven't 100%'d the game (I haven't either lol) so you may not know all the context but:
If you get Stranger first, deny Shifty and go to the cabin/heart, then talk to Stranger for a bit, Contrarian will call himself 'the worst part' of all of them (the system/LQ)
I thought it was just this sad thing that Contrarian says about himself, but then I saw someone showing the dialogue options in Razor with Contrarian early on. In one of the dialogue options (I don't remember which, sorry) Cheated tells Contrarian that he's 'the worst part' of them.
And while I think that Contrarian still calls himself that in Stranger's heart regardless of whether or not you also got Razor, I THINK THAT CONTRARIAN WAS REPEATING WHAT CHEATED SAID TO HIM.
I nearly *screamed* when I realized it, like Cheated, no, why. You hurt him.
Anyway, my headcanon is that, post-construct, Hero made Cheated apologize to Contrarian. The apology was genuine, because Cheated felt bad for hurting Contrarian and not realizing how much his words stuck.
OH WAAIIT WAIT WHATTT WAIT OW OUCH NOOOO </333 oh yeowch I knew that you could talk to Stranger in that ending bit if she was the first vessel you got and like I knew Contrarian showed up BUT I DIDNT KNOW HE SAID THAT??? AUUGGH </333 sobbign sobbing sobbing augh </3 I have to go get that ending now how dare you very good hc :[[ but owch </3 [all very silly and lighthearted btw I am noooot actually upset!]
Plot twist: the reason why Contrarian may still say that even if you didn't get Razor is because I am convinced that he isn't affected by the memory wipe stuff. cause like his whole shtick is defying the rules and expectations presented by both others and reality [see: Stranger] and the whole "forgetting things each reset" seems pretty rule-like to me lmao [also it would be very fitting given he also seems to represent 1/2 of the consequences of immortality itself, the other half being Cold but I am getting of topic lmao]
I've had this post in my head for months now, so thank you so much for the idea!
This is what I wrote when I wasn't working on 'Hunger and Yearning' :D
(I can't. I can't put the link normally I'm so sorry)
WAAAAAAAAAAAAA I JUST FINISHED READING THAT IT WAS SO PEAK OH MY GOD?????? mwah you have a beautiful way of describing emotions I need to like eat this or smthn ohhh my god
:)
(Heed the tags!)



















