Death is the Maiden.

Drew this to see if I could still digitally paint for Gabby. Also because I WISH TO SHARE A DUMB HEADCANON FOR THE HANDMAID. Terezi spoke that she’s sort of a grim reaper-like figure on Alternia. Now, since Alternia is such a violent place, it only makes sense there’s a lot of death.

So, I like to think that in certain lowblood circles, the Handmaid was revered as a kind of goddess of death and mercy. Children learn very young to pray to the Cullmistress for a swift and painless death. A peaceful death is considered a blessing by the Handmaid, and escaping death more than once is often a sign that the Handmaid has taken a pale or red interest in you.

There is iconography of her sold underground, and soldiers trapped off-planet leave offerings to her. To lowbloods she’s a benevolent figure. She comforts the dying and carries dying wrigglers in her arms off to paradise. The Summoner often spoke well of her, and addressed her before battle.

Highbloods pray to her in secret, for a heroic or blazing death of glory. It’s far more seen as lowblood superstition though.

As for the handmaid herself, she finds this terribly stupid, but endearing. It was nice to be welcomed instead of greeted with screaming and writhing. But when the Psiioniic welcomed her near, she was glad the universe was ending.