Before reading this - it WILL contain a lot of themes of neglect, bullying and trauma responses developing into bad habits. I'm going to do this with all the characters one at a time, but there is a quite a lot of story going on + symbolism. I KNOW I'm posting a lot about Warren lately as well but he's one of my more developed puppets
There is more importance in the pre production and this doesn't even scrap all of it for Warren especially with what happened to him when he did attend Cupid's Cathedral on those Sundays - I KNOW THE PACING LOOKS FAST AS WELL BUT IT'S NOT IN REALITY AS TIME IS A LOT DIFFERENT IN THIS STORY THAN.. OUR LIVES OFC
Cupid's Cathedral is an Catholic church near Mulhoven New Town that originated as a 16th century castle. This is where Shrignold spends most of her time having grown up within its walls with no outside exposure except for occasional royal travels alongside the members
The church is described as a heavenly ethereal space that feels like an inescapable dream. At the heart of the grounds stands the a large gate that reaches the sky surrounded by a fortress of white blossomed shrubs. Wrapped in a perpetual pale fog, the area feels soft, blurred, and suspended between sleeping and waking. Beyond the gates the church remains entirely off the grid as it's untraceable... leaving outsiders completely in the dark. The identities of its devotees and the activities within remain a total mystery to the outside world
! Content Warning ! The following section details aspects of the church life including themes of Implied religious abuse. You're not obligated to read any further, Take care of yourself 🩷
Shrignold is the church's model with her cupid persona featured on magazine covers, billboards, figurines, and various merchandise. This is all without her knowledge of course as she simply lends her voice and likeness to promote the underlying beliefs through an appealing, digestible fairytale aesthetic designed to maximize public attention. No one has never seen or spoken to the angel herself! Only a shared trance when she sings and moves her hands on television. As the face of Cupid’s Cathedral, Shrignold’s angelic appearance acts as the lure into the very new recruitments who idolize her
… Of Course Shrignold had been fit into this perfect image. She has never known the joy of a playground, the freedom of a park, or the simple gift of an education. Starved and deprived of normal love led to her no longer questioning the world. The concepts of purpose and dreams faded into nothingness. Constant exposure to the cult's horrors desensitized her to the trauma and after witnessing / participating in so much, she became the perfect cult leader.. one who holds absolutely no real power but functions simply as a controlled doll
I always joke around how "therapy doesn't exist in Dsmit" but it actually did at least in the pre production when they were human of course
This was before Warren pretty much did the "unthinkable" and the "unforgivable" when he completely disappeared off the map. He had put himself into therapy while still attending the OK, Stop Organization in hopes to find closure in what was actually going on in that anti-bullying group. At this time he was at least 17 and had been there for a few solid years so he wasn't truly intending on "leaving" rather just looking for someone to give him that reassurance incase.
At the same time, Warren was still living with his mother and didn't have enough money to move out (The organization despite starting as an anti-bullying club to help teenagers gain confidence, build human connections, and get a head start in the workforce was still a profit-driven startup job) so. There wasn't a lot he could of done except save up the money he earned and stole from the stash his mother had put away
The Ok Stop Organization plays a particularly interesting role in this AU especially in relation to Pre Production Warren
The organization had established itself as an online anti-bullying community and a welcoming space for teenagers facing circumstances beyond their control that left them feeling isolated and hopeless... it became a safe place for the outcasts, the misfits, and the losers. Its message was genuinely positive as well with educating people about the harmful effects of bullying and encouraging empathy and kindness. Unfortunately it was that of a lure for the vulnerable desperate for acceptance and support. Similarly to Cupid's Cathedral (Love Cult) I'd say
Warren joined when he was 15. He would tell his mother he was spending the day volunteering community service around town, then leave with his father's old camera in hand and vanish for hours. Those outings were rarely what they seemed, what happened within that group was known only to its members
Much of Warren's story ties back to the dangers of growing up with unsupervised internet access in a neglectful environment and what can happen when those influences spiral out of control. After being subjected to blackmail (And God knows what else) Warren slowly became trapped in the same cycle of harm eventually becoming a perpetrator himself. His desperation to maintain his place within the group led him to go further until he inflicted that severe harassment onto others
A lot of it was to protect himself but there was a sense of power he felt over the situation when he wasn't the one below
I told you guys I'd post some interactions between the characters once in awhile, So here are some dialogue before the production set
Carmine and Warren, Laurence and Warren
Funny little human interactions that have context buut.. You know. Maybe for another time just so I don't overwhelm the post much more
