(Edit on 3/28/21: I should have written this earlier, but this theory wasn’t okay. ‘Paranoia’ headcanons misrepresent a serious symptom and experience of mental illness, and I was ignorant of that. I’m leaving the post up for completeness, but please know that I sincerely apologize and no longer stand by this theory.)
It is 3:28 in the afternoon, I am wearing pajamas and a denim jacket, and it is SANDERS SIDES THEORY TIME.
So we all remember this scene:
We’ve all assumed that this is referring to Virgil’s withholding of his name from the others. But...let’s look at another theory. The theory that Virgil used to be Paranoia, not Anxiety. This is based on Roman saying:
“Working hard to make Thomas parano—vigilant! Parano-vigilant! I just made that word up just now, I’m basically Shakespeare!”
Logan also almost calls Virgil paranoid but stops himself. This has led to the theory that Virgil used to be Paranoia as a Dark Side, not Anxiety.
With this theory in mind, let’s revisit that scene with Deceit and Virgil. Deceit says that he’s reluctant to share his name with the group. Usually Deceit makes comments about Virgil being a Dark Side in the past, which is a loaded topic for both of them and seems to be his go-to tactic for insulting Virgil. It’s strange that Deceit, when proving that Virgil lies a lot, doesn’t make another reference to Virgil not telling the others he was a Dark Side. It’s the perfect set-up! Virgil’s hesitancy to share his name is an old thing that he’s mostly gotten past. Would Deceit really use that as a jab? And would Virgil really react so strongly?
But...what if Deceit is talking about Virgil being a Dark Side? What if he’s referencing a different name Virgil used to have, a name he's never acknowledged onscreen? What if Deceit is alluding to Virgil’s old title, Paranoia?
It makes sense. Deceit would surely know what Virgil used to be called, fellow Dark Side that he is. It’s the kind of loaded insult that he would absolutely use to demean Virgil (look at the end card of Embarrassing Phases for proof). And Virgil would definitely react strongly to being reminded of his past and everything he hasn’t told Thomas.
After that jab, Deceit continues.
Is this a reference to Can Lying Be Good? Virgil was the first one to be suspicious of Deceit’s impersonation of Patton. This could be Deceit saying that Virgil's past as a Dark Side is why he noticed Deceit immediately. Virgil knows all his tricks and tells. It’s Deceit’s way of referencing their shared past, the knowledge they both have of each other, and the old self—and name—that Virgil hasn’t admitted to. “Like I said before,” Deceit says...
This has been food for thought, only where brains eat.
