had noticed this already while first playing the game but i saw a post where people were pointing out how many different things there actually were so im making this a post now LOL
-their personalities, Quirrel is inquisitive, kind, calm and respects the knight while Tiso is arrogant, mean, egoistical and basically sees the knight as a pale little shitstain
-they both have a final destination. While Tiso seeks out a place on purpose and does not care for his journey or the scenery of hallownest, Quirrel enjoys said scenery while his end-goal calls out to him and drags him deeper instead.
-they are both NPCs that can be found and interacted with in various locations on the map and will appear in different places if done so. (Difference being tiso progresses with interactions while Quirrel will appear for Uumuu anyway)
-they are also the only passive NPCs besides Bretta that can be found sitting on a bench
-Even the way they sit on the bench are opposites, Tiso leans forwards while sitting on the very edge (is his ass even on that bench????) while quirrel leans backwards in a relaxed position closer to the center
-Id say their appearances are so aswell, Tiso is made up of more pointy shapes while Quirrel is more round. He also has a more relaxed posture compared to Tiso’s tensed up stance.
-They also complete eachother in their weapons: one wielding a nail while the other uses a shield.
-and of course they can be found on the opposite sides of the blue lake room, Quirrel talks about how wonderful Hallownest is and how he is at peace while Tiso of course says this place is boring and he doesn’t like being here and how he fucking hates this place and he fucking hates you and this stupid lake and fuck this lake and fuck you too (thats exactly what he says…right?)
-it is also possible to get them to be in this room at the same time if you speak to tiso in enough locations and free monomon before entering the lake.
If its anything they can also both be found in-battle: quirrel in uumuu and tiso in p5 though tiso immediately gets his cant-sit-on-a-bench-properly ass handed to him. I guess thats the one thing they have in common: they both die… (which can be said for like 99% of hollow knight characters)
Was this intentional? Are some of these a stretch? Am i delusional? Tbh idrc it dont matter its just bugs
Normally this post was going to be about tisoquirrel but i realized its just fine without it but i’ll still mention it because #tisoquirrelpropoganda
Also people would tell me the ship is random and they never interact
1. Not random opposites attract you must see my vision
2. Never interact is a really funny thing to say considering almost none of the hollow knight characters do this….. they’re literally scattered across the map, if anything these two interacting is more believable than tiso and god tamer interacting considering tiso and quirrel both travel across hallownest and can even be found on the same room while Tiso dies to a brooding mawlek (for what it has to do with god tamer, see trial of the fool boss order)
But regardless it doesnt matter ship whatever you want do whatever you want its a video game lol
recently started to browse hk fics featuring quirrel (love that guy) and realized a common trope of them is somebody saving him from dying (other word: committing) in the blue lake (mainly the knight, sometimes tiso)
Rating: Mature
Words: 2845
Fandom: Hollow Knight
Relationship: Quirrel / Tiso
Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Spoilers, Canon-Typical Violence, Slow Burn, Hurt/Comfort, Self-Esteem Issues
Summary: Tiso, the Champion Fool of the Colosseum, has gone into the Wastelands beyond Hallownest in search of his missing mate; yet along the way, he is joined by another wanderer, who threatens to unravel his very being.
Note: This is the second part of my series, The Fool. Find the previous chapters on my blog, and AO3!~
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Tiso awakens to the sound of sizzling and popping. Something good was cooking...
His eyes blink open, bleary and half-asleep. The scent of something... delicious invades his nostrils, making his stomach grumble in anticipation. His body feels heavy, weighed down— but also comfortable, and surprisingly warm. When was the last time he woke up feeling this well-rested?
Blinking again, he shifts with a quiet groan as he becomes more aware of his surroundings. Memories of the previous night begin to trickle back into his mind; including that he was sharing a bed with a total stranger. And even worse, he actually slept through the night despite that! Speaking of said stranger...
Quirrel has a small pan sitting over the fire with two eggs cracked into it— the yolk golden and thick, the edges browned and crispy. The pill bug looks up, waving the spatula in his hand as a greeting. Did he take a whole kitchen in his bag...?
"Morning, Tiso. You were sleeping for a while there, so I went and found some food. There was some bird's nest not too far from here, and I just knew the size of the eggs would make some good breakfast." And he offers the other a warm smile.
Tiso can only stare in response, still a touch disorientated as he tries to process Quirrel's words. The sight of the eggs is what really grabs his attention; fresh, good and fat eggs that looked like a gourmet meal compared to his meager rations. His stomach growls, and his pride bristles, because he doesn't want to admit he's happy that Quirrel did all the foraging for them both. He pushes himself to his feet, rubbing a hand over his eyes.
"That... actually smells kind of good..." He grumbles. "You find anything to drink too?"
"A running stream; you left your jug out, so I took it and refilled it for you." Quirrel gestures to the jug sitting over by Tiso's belongings. "And I got some extra in the cups for breakfast." And he points over to the cups next to him. "I have a bit of bread left, if you want toast too?"
Tiso glances at the now-full jug, and feels a strange pang of gratitude. He doesn't say anything, but instead he picks up the wooden cup and takes a long drink. The cool water soothes his dry throat, and eases some of the discomfort of waking. He sits closer to the fire, watching the pill bug cook with arms crossed, trying to ignore the gnawing hunger that has returned to his stomach. "Toast would be... fine." he mutters, trying to sound indifferent. But his eyes keep flicking back to the eggs— the golden yolks glistening and round, the edges sizzling. A proper breakfast when he usually skips it? It sounded downright heavenly.
He watches Quirrel remove the eggs from the pan to the wooden bowl, and then quickly brown the bread slices in the leftover oil in the pan. Then he portions it out evenly— one large, over-easy egg atop a thick, crunchy slice of bread, placed in a bowl. Quirrel then offers one of them to Tiso, chirping, "The yolks are runny, so be careful!"
Tiso thinks about how Tamer would do the same sort of warning; to keep him from spilling food down the front of his armour. He takes the plate stiffly, staring down at the perfectly cooked egg. The yolk wobbles slightly, rich and thick, just waiting to burst. His stomach growls again, louder this time. He hesitates— just for a second— before he presses a claw into the yolk, watching it spill down over the bread. He's light-headed from how hungry that makes him.
"Thanks..." He mumbles, before he takes a bite. The flavors explode on his tongue— buttery, rich, with just the right amount of that salty taste. It's so good, he almost groans. He eats quickly, trying to hide how much he's enjoying it, but it's hard when he's practically inhaling the food.
Quirrel doesn't comment on the way he eats; just instead focusing on enjoying his own meal in silence. Dipping the chunks of bread into the yolk, soaking it up, and taking small bites until he finishes. When he’s all done with his meal, he uses water from his canteen to rinse off the dishes, wiping them clean and dry with a cloth before packing them away.
Surely this was— where they departed. The two would separate, and never meet again.
Tiso watches the other, chewing the last couple bites slowly. He should probably say something; thank him, maybe. But the words stick in his throat. Instead, he just watches, the expression unreadable. And when Quirrel is all finished, Tiso stands up, grabbing his shield and slinging it onto its holster. He hesitates for a moment, glancing at the pill bug again.
"Good luck. With... whatever it is you're looking for." He grunts, before turning to leave.
"I was actually thinking we could travel together," Quirrel interjects, looking up. That statement in particular makes Tiso freeze in his steps. The pill bug continues, "I have nowhere in particular that I am going, and you seem like you could use the company while searching for this mate of yours. I figure, two heads are better than one, when following a trail."
Tiso turns slowly, his expression caught between disbelief and suspicion. Travel... together? With Quirrel? The idea is downright ridiculous. He doesn't need help. Definitely didn't need the company. He was perfectly fine on his own... But then he remembers the warmth of the bedroll by the fire. The taste of the warm eggs and toast. The comfort of not being alone in the dark. His pride wars with practicality— and for once, practicality wins.
"Fine... But don't slow me down..." Tiso grumbles, already making his way outside of the cave.
"Sounds like a plan," Quirrel chirps, quickly moving to his side. His shawl is drawn tight around his shoulders, the bag settled, packed, and in place, and he adjusts his headscarf to shield the sand from his eyes.
Tiso begins to walk at a brisk pace, his expression set in its usual scowl as he trudges through the sand. He's still half-convinced that Quirrel will slow him down in the long run, but at the moment, he keeps up— strides even and unbothered. He snorts; won't be long though until the true colors show. “You sure you can keep up?”
“More than sure!” Quirrel hums.
And he was. In fact— embarrassingly, it was Tiso who sometimes lagged behind. Quirrel seems to have skill and experience with navigating across the sandy dunes; meanwhile, Tiso sinks down every step and has to unbury his ankles with difficulty. But each time, Quirrel would wait for him— just a few feet away— before they continue on.
Tiso can barely bite back the growls of annoyance that threaten to leave him. It was hard to hide the amount of effort it took to walk; and no matter which way he did it, Quirrel's stride remains infuriatingly quicker. Gods above, the other was just some silly pill bug— how did he manage to be so quick? He was making Tiso look like some kind of slow, clumsy oaf. He mutters, tone tense as he says, “You're... surprisingly light on your feet.”
“Loads of practice. I've walked across this desert before, on my way to and from Hallownest.” Quirrel slides down a dune with ease, and continues on after Tiso tries to mimic him— only to stumble halfway down, nearly awkwardly tumbling behind him. ”It is almost a second home, I feel. But I've never been this far out... at least, as far as I can remember.”
Tiso scowls after nearly face-planting into the sand, drawing his cloak around himself tighter. “Tch... second home... Who the hell would call this place home?” He brushes some particles off his shield. “It's just endless sand, and wind.”
“When you travel somewhere enough, it can feel as if you have always been there.” Quirrel tilts his head in thought. “I've never really had a home though, honestly.”
Tiso pauses mid-step, glancing at Quirrel with a frown. No home? That doesn't make sense. Everyone has a home; even if it was just a cave or burrow— somewhere to call their own. “What do you mean?” He asks, gruff but curious, despite himself. “You just... wander?”
“Yep.” Quirrel picks up a stray branch, slapping it against the sand to watch the spray. And then, he tosses it up into the wind, watching it spin and flutter away. “I always travel, I feel like. Long ago, maybe I once had a home.” His voice becomes softer when he says, “But it's gone now.”
Tiso watches the stick vanish in the distance, disappearing against the endless sea of grey sand. He bristles up— he doesn't want to hear about this; he shouldn't care. But he can't help the gnawing need to poke further at this hornet's nest, just a bit. “What happened to it then?” He inquired, glancing over to Quirrel to watch his expression, waiting for his response.
“It's gone.” And that was that. Quirrel had this finality to his voice; one that said it all. The conversation was done and he was not going to speak on it more. He continues on, walking in silence now, staring ahead of the endless expanse before them.
And Tiso can only frown, but he doesn't press further. He's not exactly the comforting type anyway. Still, the silence between them feels heavier now— charged with something unspoken. He keeps pace with Quirrel, his own thoughts swirling. “...Well, doesn't matter,” he mumbles, more to himself than anything. “Home's just a word; doesn't mean anything at the end of the day.” And yet, even as he says so, he thinks of Tamer. Of Hornet. Of the warmth of their nest back home in the Colosseum. And his chest aches painfully.
Quirrel simply hums in agreement, and the pair continue on together. The solitary journey now shared.
***
A week passes.
Quirrel is good at finding food to eat, streams to drink from. He cooks meals and shares his finds with Tiso. Somedays, he talks in a calm, relaxed tone— sharing stories or knowledge. Other days, he sits silent, in thought; sketching out words and drawings in a journal he keeps in his bag, and finding peace in the quiet.
And they continue to share the bedroll every night.
The time with Quirrel passes in a strange, almost dream-like blur, in Tiso's eyes. He tries to remain aloof, distant— after all, he's not here to make friends— but it was getting harder. Sleeping in the same bed didn't help at all either, but it had its benefits. The nights are still cold in the desolate winter, but they were more bearable with another warm body radiating heat under a comfortable blanket. And he's less tense at night too: getting used to Quirrel's presence and enjoying the silent company comfortably in a way he cannot explain.
Tiso starts talking a little more too. Not about anything important, just... meaningless things. But the words keep spilling out nonetheless. And the more he shares, the more the pill bug does too. Quirrel tells intelligent stories about the studies he's learned, the places he's seen. He describes the landscapes and creatures in such vivid detail, Tiso can see them in his eye. And Tiso speaks about his time in the arena. The way he's obsessed over the trials, until he won. The conflict and battle he had to overcome to get there. And vague details about his mates, and then more, and soon, gushing about them before he becomes flustered, and quiet again.
It was... strangely comfortable.
“So, your Hornet not only carved you a token— handmade and custom, might I add— and picked you to go on a hunt with her by rigging a lottery system...” Quirrel hums, carving slices of a large, round fruit with a knife, offering some to Tiso. “...And you still did not realize it was her... courting you? Not until this Tamer had to say it directly?”
Tiso takes the offered slice with a scowl, grumbling nonsense under his breath as his face heats up. Just the memories of all the signs he had missed back then makes him want to bury his head in the sand and scream. “...Shut it, will ya?” He hisses, taking a bite of the fruit to try and hide his embarrassment. “It's not my fault, I'm... bad at this kind of stuff.” He glances back to Quirrel, giving him a sidelong glare. “What about you, huh? No one special in your life?”
Quirrel hums in response, carving another slice for himself. “No, not really. I've not found the time, around my tasks.” He chews thoughtfully on the slice, tilting his head. “I met this woman once, in the desert. She was feral, ferocious. A good fight, and... ah, but I do not kiss and tell.”
Tiso snorts, rolling his eyes. “Yeah yeah, kiss and tell. Sounds like you're just making excuses.” He leans back against a rock, finishing ripping the flesh from his slice of fruit before he tosses the rind aside. “You ever think about settling down? Or are you going to just wander forever?”
“I could ask the same of you.” Quirrel tosses his own rind after Tiso's, before offering him another slice. “You find your mate at the end of this journey, yes? After that, are you going to keep fighting in that arena forever?”
Tiso thinks back to his old friend; a beetle, named Grout. They had asked him the same thing, once. Back then, he never believed he would settle for anything less than the glory of combat. But now... Tamer was home alone: gravid with their eggs. And if he found Hornet— when he found Hornet— would they go home, and finally settle down into a proper family? His heart clenches at the thought, and he tries to ignore it. Shrugging, he tries to give off an air of a casual nonchalance that he doesn't feel. “I don't know, maybe,” he replies, staring out at the endless desert.
It's one of the first times he's admitted it, even to himself. The idea of settling down. The idea of being with his mates, and raising a family. It was both terrifying and exciting, all at once.
God, he missed them.
“You will find her.” Quirrel's voice is soft, almost muted by the howling winds outside their cavern shelter. He licks the juice off his blade and tosses the pit aside. “Your mate. You will find her.”
Tiso glances at Quirrel at his words, feeling a complicated mix of feelings twisting in his chest. Hope, anxiety, a hint of doubt. Quirrel's certainty is almost irritating. How can he be so sure about something he knows nothing about?
“Yeah,” he mumbles, trying to keep his tone flat, even. “And then what? Spend the rest of my life cooped up, raising little grubs, and being all domestic?”
“Isn't that something lovely, Tiso?” Quirrel asks, in that same soft tone. “To have a family? To love, and be loved?”
And Tiso could see it again. The dreams of Tamer in their nest, holding a small infant that looks just like Hornet, who is curled into her side and kneading at her. And Tiso, holding a little ant grub in his own arms, so small and fragile. And—
It was warm, and painful, all at once.
His breath catches in his throat. The images were so vivid— so real— that for a moment, he can almost feel the weight of that grub in his arms. The warmth of Hornet and Tamer pressed into his side. The soft hums and melodies of their voices. His fingers twitch, curling into fists as he tries to push the thought way. It was too much, too painful. Too pure, for something like him.
“Yeah... maybe,“ He rasps, voice rough. “Maybe it is.” And he turns away, pretending to adjust his shield, but his hands are shaking.
They fall into silence once more. Silence even as Quirrel lays the bedroll out, and the pair lay down, back to back as always. The pill bug is asleep easy, breathing low and and even. But Tiso can only lay there, as a fitful sleep envelops him. Dreaming of his mates once more.
Restless dreams. He sees Tamer— her gentle hands, her soft voice. He sees Hornet— fierce and protective, wrapped around her. He reaches for them, but they are always just out of his grasp. He cries out for them, but not a sound leaves him. He cries for his mates, and they vanish in flashes of white.
He wakes with a start, his breathing ragged, chest tight. The bedroll is warm, but the emptiness inside his chest aches painfully cold. He glances at Quirrel's sleeping form, then turns back away, staring at the darkness of the cavern walls.
anyway so the inspiration came to me from that one old fanfic (the sage and the fool), where, after starting to like each other, tiso still wants to go to the colosseum but quirrel stops him just in time. and i'm like. ok valid but what if he was too late. and got there just as the mortally wounded tiso was thrown out of the colosseum. you see where i'm going with this
originally this was gonna be a quick sketch but i got carried away lole
