CW - Cults, Grooming, Death.
I think in the cult, there would be a ranking system, based on "tiers." Decided through faith, loyalty, and of course, blood (family ties.) Two-Time, being related to Amarah (Who is a high-priest,) has a very important status in the cult; meanwhile, Azure, being an outsider, is of lower status.
For people born outside of the cult, there's not really much of a way to climb ranks, the most Azure is able to get is finding a place for himself in the community as a botanist/having mild medicinal knowledge.
I think that in the cult, knowledge is a privilege. Only higher ranks are taught how to read, and write, by the elders, for the purpose of studying the word of "Spawn" and preaching it to other members. In the cult, knowledge is seen as a finite resource that must be rationed.
However, Two-Time teaches Azure how to read and write! He uses this knowledge for personal use, noting down his studies, and is able to keep good track of his things due to this. Two-Time wasn't really supposed to teach lower classes these things, but due to them being kind of a nepo-baby most of their behavior is let go of, and compared to Azure they don't get much punishment.
Two-Time is allowed to have relations with anybody, and despite Amarah and Azure not being very fond of eachother, it's not because of Azure's rank, and it also has nothing to do with him being a sacrifice.
Azure was a sacrifice by chance, just very, very unlucky, that Two-Time was tasked with him as a sacrifice.
Lower classes, are the common sacrifice, and sacrificers are commonly higher ranks. Two-Time and Azure's friendship, and relationship, were sort of doomed just by this alone. Because, at some point or another, it was likely Azure would be picked.
Also, Azure's medicinal knowledge didn't make him important enough to keep around simply because he wasn't special for it, and there were a few others that were either taught by him, or knew by themselves. Again, there aren't really ways to climb ranks, and if you wanted to it would be of lifelong, complete, devotion, which the average villager doesn't commit to. Think like almost complete social isolation and strict prayers, and diets.
Despite being a nepo-baby Two-Time is still a victim of being groomed by Amarah and others (nepo-baby treatment was part of that.) They didn't see through it whatsoever, and obviously blindly followed the word, leading to the events that transpired pre-forsakening. Azure is also a victim of grooming. They are both victims and I heavily dislike that people tend to erase one or the other!
They were both in an absolute nightmare of a life (from experience being in cults.) and none of them are DIRECTLY at fault. That doesn't mean Two-Time has done no wrong but it means they aren't pure evil or maliciousness. I'm tired of people simplifying complex characters (especially ones in very real, very terrifying scenarios.) They are both very morally gray.
This was meant to be a short one, I'm sorry! I love these two so much, and I have a big interest in cults, along with having experience in them aswell.
There would be a lot of favoritism between Amarah and Two-Time! Okay byeee!
ASDIASHDJKN NO WORRIES FOR THIS BEING LONG !!! I REALLY LOVE YOUR HEADCANNON, I LOVE TWO TIME HCS🥹❤️🩹
and i really love how you went into depth !!!!!