#tinker theory

[beautifulterriblequeen]

Another reason to think Tinker is Earthblood

I found yet another friend to tell all about The Dragon Prince, and while doing so--while showing her this sketch--I suddenly had a realization. (which may have been done before, like a lot, but I’m just blind)

Tinker’s probably at least part Earthblood, because that’s not an ordinary lotus. It’s a magic tracking lotus. 

One for Rayla. One for Runaan.

And Runaan’s has sunk.

If the lines across his biceps are actually indicative of him having two bindings in the first sketch and only one here, with his left arm puffy and purple like Runaan’s is, then this sketch was also foreshadowing that Rayla would have her binding taken off by Zym, since it came out the episode before Zym bit it off.

But either way, this is no ordinary pond. It’s an Earthblood pond, full of life and magic. Of course Tink’s tracking Runaan and Rayla! And he may have other ways of keeping tabs on them, as well.

For all we know, Rayla won’t even reach the Dragon Queen before Tink finds her, desperate for answers, and having some terrible answers of his own.

[beautifulterriblequeen]

The Seventh Binding

See how the tinker has a couple of horizontal bands across his biceps in this sketch?

Okay, now look at this second one (I know you’ve seen it a dozen times, but humor me):

The binding on his right arm has come off. But the one on his left arm is still in place. And look at his hand, how his fingers are stiff. 

The tinker’s left arm is turning purple, too.

He bound himself to Runaan’s mission the same way Runaan did. But all he can think about is that Runaan didn’t claim both his targets, and if he’s still alive out there, he’s losing an arm. Just like the tinker.

God, noooo, goddammit.

[beautifulterriblequeen]

Biracial Tinker: Sun-blood

 I’m leaning toward the idea that Runaan’s tinker is biracial because the combination of the briar markings on the tinker’s face, and the fact that he can make forged weapons, seem to indicate a combination of cultures. I’ve seen some really good posts that make really good points, and I’m feeling it, guys. Thank you to everyone who’s thought along these lines and articulated your points so well. I’m sold.

I headcanon that biracial elves would use names that pull from the culture they were raised in as the first half of their name, and their other parent’s culture for the second half. Sun(fire) + (Earth)blood = Sun-blood. Just an idea. Since the tinker makes weaponry, he probably grew up with the Sunfires.

I also headcanon that the tinker’s got two arcana inside him: Sun and Earth. And that he can do some magic from both. Sun gives both fire and warmth, and Earth gives both plant and mineral. I think that, being of two arcana, it’s more likely that the tinker and other biracial elves have the “lighter” abilities of both, just for storytelling purposes so they don’t overshadow everyone else, but anything is possible. So I’m thinking that the tinker can do light and warmth, and stuff with gems and minerals. That’s why he tinkers: he loves sparkly things and the way they throw the light. He made Runaan’s decorative bits for his hair, his horns, his shoulder guard, and made him that pretty necklace, because he likes to see Runaan pretty. As do we all. Thanks, tinker.

I have no clear idea on the tinker’s skin tone or marking colors, but I’d love for his briar markings to have an opalescent effect--a combination of light and mineral. Runaan could spend hours turning his face from side to side and watching the light play across those graceful, reflective lines.

Ahem. Sorry. 

And here’s my trump card: Bolin and Mako, from The Legend of Korra. Their parents were a Firebender and an Earthbender, and they were biracial, each inheriting one of their parents’ skills, and then something extra. Lava bending is earth and fire in equal measure. Lightning bending is that rare form of Firebending. 

Earth and Fire = Earth and Sun!

mic drop

[beautifulterriblequeen]

“Please leave a blood-ribbon message at the--” Oh *beep*!

What if this little white moon seal that the shadowhawk is carrying on the blood ribbon

is actually the same thing as this little pearly white object in the flower, that may or may not be trailing a slender ribbon in the water?

Every time I watch the shadowhawk fly away, I notice how brightly the white seal glows. But this is the first time I’ve remembered that this little white bit gleams pretty brightly in the sketch, too.

It could be a tear. It could be the gem from the tinker’s left horn. But the binding ribbon on his right arm has come off. It was there in the first tinker sketch. Here, it is missing.

Maybe--if I may alter my previous post’s guess--he didn’t bind himself exactly as Runaan did, but he convinced Runaan to bind him for some purpose, probably to reassure the tinker that Runaan was actually going to be fine when he said, “I’ll be fine.”. It shouldn’t have been the kind of spell that threatened the tinker’s arm. But something has gone horribly wrong. Whatever these binding ribbons stand for, they’re telling the tinker a tragic tale. And slowly killing him.

If that is a ribbon in the water, it’s a red one.