Soulmates

Though Tyson doesn’t believe it to be necessarily romantic in nature, or that it is limited to one per person, Tyson does believe in the idea of soulmates.

That two or more people can compliment each other so perfectly as to be considered part of a bigger whole; no lesser when apart, yet in perfect harmony when together. In his mind, the best example of that would be the Moriarty Mirrors.

However, he has seen plenty of other people who compliment each other in that way: inseparable siblings who seem like one being in two bodies, soldiers who fought together as though they had been born to do it, and partners who could have told Tyson that they had been lovers since the earth was formed and Tyson would have believed them.

As for who Tyson would say his soul mates are?

If he asked, Tyson would politely yet firmly refuse to answer. Because to Tyson, the truth is that the two people he’s met who complete his best are now standing on opposite sides of the battlefield from him and from each other: Captain John Watson & Colonel Sebastian Moran.

He’ll freely describe himself and John as simpatico, brothers by all but blood, and yet whilst their temporary peace continues, eventually Tyson knows they will be forced to stand in opposition in the Moriarty Mirrors’ game against Holmes.

The reasons for Sebastian Moran are all to plain to see, as are the reasons it hurts to admit. 

Hospitals

Over the years Tyson has sustained many injuries, and he is likely to receive many more before his time in the web comes to a close.

He has gone through broken bones, dozens of concussions, bullet wounds, a chemical attack in the army that left him temporarily blind, nails being ripped out in interrogation, a punctured lung, and far more in his time. Through all of that, he has never gotten any better at listening to doctor’s orders.

In any official records, most of his injuries are unaccounted for. That is one of the downsides of having the Moriarty Mirrors’ doctors taking care of his wounds. Whenever he’s in deep enough trouble to end up in an official hospital, Tyson ends up in hot water over where the unaccounted wounds came from.

Wax Seals

Tyson will occasionally receive challenges issued by Moriarty with wax seals and responds with his own seals when replying or returning challenges.

He may offer suggestions or ask if one of the Moriarty Mirrors is capable of something in a way that is intended to prompt a response, he often even challenges what the Moriarty Mirrors say and do, but the only time Tyson throws down the gauntlet and issues a challenge is through those wax-sealed letters.

Tyson going out of the way to play into the Moriarty Mirrors theatrics means that he is daring them to do their worst and prove why they are the rulers of a criminal empire. It is also one the rare times that Tyson will make a request of them.

Pigeons

Though Tyson can understand why pigeons annoy some people, he genuinely loves the sight of pigeons wandering around on the street and around the benches of cities.

It’s a comforting universal, that no matter where he goes there are always happy grey blobs bobbing along around his ankles. He doesn’t think that he’s properly visited a city until he’s found a pigeon in the way of his path.

He is always happy to indulge Moriarty’s fondness for pigeons. He is far less inclined to indulge Lily’s desire to eat the pigeons or Bobby’s attempts to play with them.

Surveillance

Though Tyson can understand the worry of constant surveillance, he finds the cameras around London to be a comforting presence.

Wherever he goes, backup from the web is never far away. If he can spot a security camera and get close enough to clearly blink at it, Tyson can guarantee getting a message to the Moriarty Mirrors, even in situations where he couldn’t use his phone without alerting the people around him.

He knows that if he ever goes missing, the web can track him down and rescue him that way. There are times when that isn’t true, when Tyson is purposefully avoiding the cameras’ gaze to avoid enemies of the web tracking him, but in those cases, the web would already be aware of his intended destination and could track him down that way.

Nightmares

Tyson gets nightmares every week, often more frequently. This is partially caused by his irregular sleep schedule, though that also helps him avoid some nightmares by not entering a deep enough sleep to properly dream. Stress is also a strong factor.

Generally, Tyson’s nightmares revolve around his memories, chopped up and remixed together.

Words he heard in one context used in another; Sebastian’s threats against another to protect Tyson, instead snarled into his face. Seeing Jethro out cold from a night of drinking in defiance of their father and a blood-soaked kitchen from his own work in the web mixed together into something worse.

It’s rare, and always worse, when once of Tyson’s memories play out directly as they happened. Usually the worst moments of Sebastian’s abuse and the most gruesome jobs that Tyson has carried out for the Moriarty Mirrors.

Technology

Tyson honestly loves technology.

He loves engineering, taking things apart and seeing how they work, making new things. Seeing new things and advancements that others have made.

Talking to Mischief about his nanobots is one of Tyson’s favourite things in the universe. He is always in awe of how Moriarty’s mind works, but there is a special joy in getting to see how the nanobots have changed and evolved in the time that Tyson has known Jim.

One of the few indulgences Tyson allows himself with his money and the web’s resources to get his hands on the newest technology, to see how it works and what he can do with it. Most of this ends up in his warehouse, to tinker with, but little pieces end up scattered around Tyson’s apartment; inevitably.

Stutter

Tyson’s stutter comes from his anxiety rather than a speech impediment and it almost entirely social.

He is comfortable around the Moriarty Mirrors and The Colonel, even though he shouldn’t be for a variety of reasons, and due to this Tyson doesn’t stutter around them. Tyson doesn’t stutter when addressing his brother or his dogs; or animals in general, actually.

The more comfortable Tyson becomes around a person, the less he stutters around them, and the more confident his speech; as he drifts away from clunky, stilted sentences to the words he actually wants to say yet avoids to lessen the severity of his stutter.

Tyson has dozens of prepared phrases in his back-pocket and part of that is about avoiding his stutter. When saying a line he’s rehearsed for hours, Tyson is incredibly unlikely to stutter. That is why he typically introduces himself with the familiar, “Lieutenant Tyson Delaney, at your service.”

In many ways, those phrases are a crutch. If he uses them too much, Tyson doesn’t truly get comfortable around the person and - as such - his stutter doesn’t reduce.

His stutter changes based on who he is addressing. For example: when talking to Jim with a stranger in the room, Tyson will not stutter when addressing Moriarty and the room at large, but he will stutter when directly addressing the stranger.

Being surrounded by crowds on the street will also cause him to stutter around someone he otherwise wouldn’t, as his anxiety overrides his comfort zone and calm.

Names

Tyson uses names in a variety of ways.

When he’s nervous, Tyson tends to overuse names to the point of hampering his words to the point of being difficult to understand.

More generally, Tyson uses people’s names to put them at ease, then as a way of calming himself; with the knowledge that the implied familiarity of using someone’s name will help reduce his social stutter. And then, simply out of habit, even when he no longer stutters around a person.

As well as using names to create an artificial closeness, Tyson’s choice of name can be used to create distance and separate out different parts of his life. He adores Darling with all of his heart and is glad to be his loyal Pup, his hands are soaked in blood for Moriarty, and Jim is the beloved - if exasperating - Irishman that Tyson must bribe to take sustenance.

Sebastian is the man Tyson, foolishly, loves and would gladly die for. Moran is the sniper who’s talents he respects and the commanding officer snapping at him like a hound lashing out. The Colonel is the one who beat Tyson bloody then abandoned him for dead.

Anthony Hawthorne is Tyson’s default cover name, borrowing the name from his Great Grandfather, and Sebastian publishes his books under the false name, Zachary M. Cohen. If given time to develop into its own personality, The Soldier would take the name Anthony eventually.

Important Songs

Everyone has songs that hold a special place in their heart.

For Tyson, some of those songs are:

• Bat out of Hell - Meat Loaf
  Whenever Tyson found Kim doing her carpentry, she was almost guaranteed to be listening to that song if not something from the same album.
• Big Iron on his Hip - Marty Robbins
  The first song Tyson got Dick to play on guitar, after a long period of harsh depression.
• Chocolate - The 1975
  A song shared between Tyson and his nephew James.
• I Won’t Send Roses - Mack & Mabel
  Sebastian used to sing this to Tyson.
• Life less ordinary - Carbon Leaf
  Reminds Tyson of the Moriarty Mirrors + Old Playlist for Tyson
• Oh, Danny boy
  Jethro used to sing this to Tyson, and Tyson sung it to comfort himself after some of Sebastian’s worst beatings.
• Pumped up Kicks - Foster the People
  Tyson’s default ringtone, when he doesn’t have it on vibrate.
• The Sound of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
  Tyson’s father used to play this a lot.

For Queen and Country

Though the phrase ‘For Queen and Country’ is rather common in Tyson’s vocabulary, it’s always either flippant or a code to mean the Moriarty Mirrors.

He does not care about the royal family nor does he have a particularly strong sense of patriotism. He loves London and Cambridge, and that is about it.

He finds the history of the royal family and royalty in England to be interesting from a historical point of view, but that is where it belongs to Tyson: a part of history, left in the past.

Tyson joined the army to spite his father, not to serve his country.

Dogs body

Tyson walks a fine line between allowing himself to be a general dog’s body for the employees of the web and allowing those employees to step out of line.

He is overly aware of his reputation as ‘the second-hand pet’, due to his relationship with The Colonel. He might be in a favourable position with the Moriarty Mirrors, but that doesn’t put him in a favourable light to the employees of the web who aren’t so fortunate.

For the most part, Tyson knows how to play that smart: calculated risks. None of them are foolish enough to do any real damage to him, but if they roughly brush past him during a shared mission Tyson will swallow his pride to let them vent that frustration and keep them focused on the job.

He only allows employees to dump paperwork with him when he either knows that they are overworked and it will be overall beneficial to do so, or else Tyson knows that - whilst a valuable employee in other matters - it’s in the web’s best interests if he handles that work instead.

Tyson plays the system under the pretence of being a dog’s body. He knows that he is strong enough to take whatever abuse they wish to throw at him and that the threat of damaging the Moriarty Mirror’s precious Pup will keep them from doing anything that Tyson would need to stop them from doing.

Bird or the cage?

Elizabeth: Mr. DeWitt–here!
A Gentleman: Bird?
A Lady: Or the cage?
A Gentleman: Or perhaps the bird?
A Lady: Nothing beats the cage.
Booker: These two again? How do– …Never mind.
Elizabeth: Look at these, they’re amazing! Which one do you like more? This one…or this? The bird is beautiful, and… the cage is somber, but there’s really something special about it. I just can’t decide.
- Bioshock Infinite

Does it even need to be said?

Our little Icarus would rather rip his own wings off, if it prevented them from getting clipped again or if he thought the cage door was closing.

He will not be caged. Even the illusion to putting him in a cage, literal or metaphorical, will make sure that Tyson never returns.

Tyson would rather fly free, and have the trust from someone else that he will always come back. That so long as the door remains open, Tyson will tumble in through the window instead.

He assumes that it’s part of being a soldier: the romance of being on the road, always having someone waiting back home, et cetera. That’s more of a commitment to him, than being tied down: having to trust that whilst the other is away, they’re happy and that they’ll be coming back home eventually.

Tyson isn’t someone who will move in with you, but he will climb through your fourth-floor apartment window with a cavalier - devil may care - smile and stay for as long as he can, then leave the way he came with a promise to come back soon.

Which is why his arrangement with the Moriarty Mirrors works.

Employment to the web is for life. You cannot leave.

And yet, The Moriarty Mirrors can tell Tyson with complete sincerity that ‘he is free to leave at any time’, because he never will. And they all know it. There is no danger in allowing Tyson to remove his leash. He will always come back. He will not betray them.

Tyson knows that it’s a far bigger trap than an actual cage. That his loyalty will be his undoing. Yet so long as he has the choice to leave, Tyson will always remain as their loyal Pup instead.

Moran and Moriarty family

Though Tyson tries to stay out of the way of the extended Moriarty and Moran families, he has crossed paths with a few members and - to varying degrees - manages to get along with them.

Colonel Moriarty

Colonel Moriarty
↳ Owner's older brother, loathed acquaintance.

Tyson first encountered the eldest Moriarty shortly after becoming a joint pet. Saying that he isn’t fond of Colonel Moriarty is an understatement. The only encounters Tyson’s had with the man had been when he’s appeared to threaten Tyson: first not to cross his brother and his mirror, then later to remind Tyson of this.

Tyson tolerates Colonel Moriarty’s appearances because, and only because, he is the elder brother of his owner. He wouldn’t go out of his way to help the man, but he wouldn’t abandon him for dead either. Fortunately, their encounters have always been short and far between.

Interacting with Colonel Moriarty has given Tyson some perspective on his own Colonel. That isn’t perspective that Tyson particularly wanted, but it is now a realisation that he needs to internalise; one that Tyson is doing his best to avoid analysing too closely.

Richard Brook

Richard Brook
↳ Owner's twin, occasional friend.

To his own surprise originally, as he’d been expecting Richard to be as irritating as Colonel Moriarty, Tyson gets on well with Richard. Tyson isn’t sure which of his owners has Richard as a twin. No matter which Jim it is, Richard will always go deal with Jim when Tyson complains “your brother’s being difficult, Brook.”

Occasionally they’ll hang out together and share a pizza when neither of them wants to deal with the Moriarty Mirrors in their bad moods. There isn’t a reason that they don’t spend time together at other times, they simply haven’t gotten around to it yet.

He tends to view Richard favourably and enjoys his time in the other man’s company. He is somewhat protective of Richard, in the same way that Tyson is of anyone who is involved with the web’s activities without having too much agency within the web.

Severin Moran

Within Tyson’s main universe, Severin died in the childbirth that also took Sebastian’s mother.

Outside of Tyson’s main universe, Tyson reacts to the younger Moran in a similar way to the elder Moran: snapping at each other’s throat, before settling into begrudging respect and fondly barbed insults.

He isn’t as determined to impress Severin as Tyson is Sebastian, but Tyson still finds himself fighting like cat and dog with Severin. Out of principle more than anything. There’s just something about Moran that gets under Tyson’s skin, one way or another.

Showing Off

Tyson is too stubborn for his own good. His sense of competition is always one step away from a dance or a brawl. He goes above and beyond with romantic gestures. Those facts do not mingle well.

“If it helps place the memory, I believe that, at the time, you chose to outwardly accept the answer of parkouring around London to show off for a pretty face at its face value, to avoid outing me - in several definitions of the phrase - in front of the nurse.”

“In truth,” Tyson sighed and rubbed at the side of his face, as though that would scrub away the memory of his impact with the pavement. “Well, I did actually take a tumble on a rain-slick rooftop and injure the arm in my emergency landing, that wasn’t a lie, but I was running away from a mutual acquaintance rather than trying to show off for him.” A beat and then, “Alright, mostly running. It’s always a little about trying to show off when he’s around, even at peril of life and limb. I’m fairly certain you’ve told me off for doing that as well, John.” [x]

“Alright, I’ll tell you what, I’ll promise that I’ll stop risking myself for… well, blanket term, let’s say ‘the dangerous people that I’m stupid enough to fall in love with,’ if….” [x]

He may, in fact, be completely incapable of stopping himself from showing off for a pretty face. Around Sebastian Moran, this applies twice over. He can’t help that competitive instinct around Moran or the Moriarty Mirrors, but even around people that Tyson is simply crushing on, he feels like he has to prove himself.

If he isn’t doing an unnecessary backflip when running away from The Colonel, Tyson is doing upside-down crunches from a tree branch to show off for Kim. If he isn’t working himself to the bone to please the Moriarty Mirrors, Tyson is tripping over himself to impress the latest person to catch his eye; even as he tries to distance himself from them to protect himself, and them.

If it will get him a second of the sun’s attention, our little Icarus will hurl himself off of cliffs - or, more accurately, rooftops - over and over again.

Third Wheel

Though not an issue within Tyson’s main universe, he doesn’t get upset by the idea of Moran and Moriarty being together. He encourages it.

There are several reasons for this. Tyson is poly and openly admits to loving both Sebastian and Jim, he isn’t someone who gets jealous, and he is overjoyed by the idea of having someone else around to encourage them to actually take care of themselves.

As stubborn as Tyson can be, he can only dig in his heels so much when it comes to Moran and Moriarty. He wants them to be the best that they can be, the happiest and healthiest. If being together made Moran and Moriarty happy, Tyson would do anything in his power to keep them together.

Yes, Tyson would be overjoyed to be a part of that relationship, but equally, Tyson would be content on the sidelines and know that the people he loves are happy together.

Loyalty

Loyalty is Tyson’s greatest strength and his greatest weakness.

He is, quite literally, loyal to a fault. It will be his downfall.

Though he will continue to give until his confusingly big heart has nothing left to give, Tyson does not trust easily. He expects to get hurt and gives anyway. That in and of itself makes him vulnerable to manipulation.

What makes him more vulnerable is that once his trust is gained, it is near impossible to break his loyalty. His trust may be broken, but Tyson will still come when called and follow that person’s moral code as though it were his own. He will go to any length for those that he is loyal to.

The worst part is that Tyson knows this. Our little Icarus knows that he’s going to burn himself up, and does it gladly, because - to him - it is entirely worth whatever pain may come to bask in the sun; whether that is The Colonel or the Moriarty Mirrors, Tyson will gladly take that leap of faith every time.

Tyson would never believe for even a second that his loyalty isn’t a strength. He is glad that he cares, glad to plant his feet and hold fast in his ideals, but that doesn’t mean that Tyson is naïve about the way it causes him to expose his throat.

His loyalty is a strength. It makes his dependable. A good friend. Valuable to keep around. No matter how far he wanders, Tyson will always come home; just as loyal and dedicated as when he left. This earns his more freedom, in his utter obedience; if one chooses to ignore all the ways that he is disobedient.

The Moriarty Mirrors can tell Tyson with complete sincerity that ‘he is free to leave at any time’, because he never will. And they all know it. There is no danger in allowing Tyson to remove his leash. He will always come back. He will not betray them.

If Sebastian had shown that trust, things would have ended up differently.

That knowledge means that Tyson can be trusted to do as he likes. He isn’t chomping at the bit to rebel or waiting for an opportunity to run. He doesn’t need to be reminded of his place. Tyson knows it. He chose to be there. He is content there.

One day, his loyalty to dangerous, amoral people will get him killed.

It will be his downfall and Tyson is okay with that. Genuinely. He welcomes it.

Rivalry

A good to way to visualise how Tyson handles rivalry is the dual-meanings of the slang, “Come on, snake. Let’s rattle!”

He is competitive with Sebastian in a rival like way, during the times when he isn’t cowering from The Colonel. He pushes Sebastian to be the best possible version of himself; Tyson will drag Moran, kicking and screaming, if he has to.

The difference between working together and against each other is the difference between a single step in the dance, and back again.

Rivalry to Tyson takes the form of a rival from the Pokémon series. Not an adversary or antagonist, but a challenger; someone competing with another to push them to try harder and be better - competing with, rather than against - towards a common goal.

This is most obvious with his Love/Hate relationship with Sebastian Moran, but also applies to his relationship with the Moriarty Mirrors. It’s give and take. Maybe that means dancing over rooftops with Sebastian to bamboozle the police, or matching him blow for blow in an alleyway brawl.

Maybe that means joining the Moriarty Mirrors in whatever convoluted tango they have gotten caught up in, or maybe it means fighting tooth and claw to make them understand - and accept - a different solution when their gaze is already set on a shiny prize.

He doesn’t want to cage Sebastian or deny the Moriarty Mirrors their prize, but Tyson will never allow any of them to rest on their laurels or stray too far from the path. When he agrees with the goal, Tyson will match them step for step. When he disagrees, Tyson won’t dig his heels in and refuse to help. He will fight for a better solution, or for a justification for their decision, that satisfies everyone.

Tyson caught The Colonel’s interest and keeps the Moriarty Mirrors’ interests as their loyal Pup - not by being a ‘yes man’, but - by challenging them. He doesn’t disagree for the sake of disagreeing, of being disobedient and stomping his feet to maintain independence. Tyson fights to make sure everyone stays sharp and becomes the best version of themselves.

He doesn’t wait for an opening, a ‘does anyone disagree?’ or ‘are there any objections?’ Tyson will speak up whenever he needs to. He will bring the challenge to table himself: Come on, snake. Let’s rattle!