#Maybe even partaken in cannibalism | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

rockshortage · 3 years

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So I read the fallout wiki article on the Family (which mentioned wndigo psychosis as a possible reason behind their cannibalistic urges???) Which made me a little more curious about how Hector fits in with them, what he thinks about them, HOW he even ended up there and why, and mostly what they think about him, since he seems to be a lot more inherently vampiric than they are (not to mention actually immortal)

Pleased with myself for having eliminated one ‘either or’ scenario, I promptly followed that up with another, even more in depth one

I can’t remember when or how the Family ended up at the Meresti metro station, so I’m not entirely sure my first thought will work, but I think an alternative is easy enough to find. Also I feel like there was some mention of the previous leader of the Family that would also factor into this but maybe that’s something I dreamed up while thinking about this scenario a while ago

My thought was: Hector was in that subway tunnel first. This can play into Vance’s supposed gift of finding people like him, and it makes Hector coexisting with the Family despite differing views more plausible. Because if Hector didn’t have some sort of leverage, I’m not sure the Family would put up with him for very long. Sure they want to offer refuge to someone who seems very similar to them, but Hector also doesn’t seem to suffer from the same cannibalistic compulsion that they do. And if on top of that, he refuses to follow those laws Vance set in place? Then I don’t see why they would want to welcome him any longer.

But if Hector was there first, well, they are his guests and not the other way round. And maybe that won’t be an argument forever, but it would last a while at least. As for another thing that might be “leverage”… well, I’m not sure if that’s realistic or desirable in any way but it sure would be really funny – is if Vance thinks Hector is a Real Life Vampire and admires him for it. Since Vance’s goal is apparently to be a Real Life Vampire himself (along with his “flock”), judging by the laws he set up for everyone to follow. And on the one hand it would be amusing for him to become disillusioned with that once Hector rejected his ideology enough times, while Hector’s just annoyed as hell and can’t reiterate often enough that He Is NOT A Vampire.

On the other hand, cult leaders are charismatic, they drag you in and got you before you might even realize. From an outside perspective, Hector can tell very easily if he’s dealing with a cult since he’s so against them, but it’s probably a different story when he’s targeted with a rhetoric that resonates with him even the slightest bit. In this case: the hope to get some answers about who or what he is. And maybe at this current moment in time, he’s also having one of his identity crises and is more open to suggestion of that kind. Suddenly there are people who are similar enough, isolated from the rest of society through their lifestyle, sticking together and not trying to change who they are. Not entirely, anyway. So maybe Hector gives this whole thing a try. Maybe sticks with it for a little while, but I can’t see him ever really getting with the program. Science brain is just rooted too deeply and there’s no amount of meditation and preachings from Vance that can change that.

So Hector doesn’t stick with it, isn’t interested in following Vance’s laws if he can help it. Especially has a problem with the fourth one – avoiding sunlight. Hector has no choice but to stick to that one, because otherwise he will suffer physical harm. But everyone else? There’s nothing to suggest that the sunlight will hurt them. They’re just subjecting themselves to it because Vance thinks vampires are cool. He also doesn’t like Vance dictating everyone to only drink blood – again because of his vampire ideation. If people have a cannibalistic compulsion, yeah that’s probably bad and they need to get that under control. But in the sense that they won’t just kill randomly, in Hector’s opinion, and certainly not making up this weird rule that they’re only allowed to have the blood. And that drinking human blood is somehow pure while eating the meat is dirty and sinful.

I also mentioned that I’m not ruling out that Hector has partaken in some cannibalism, but I haven’t worked out the details of that. One option is that he was doing that already before the family showed up. The other is that he starts with it (takes it up again, having done it in the past already but stopped for a while) after they’re around. Mostly because food is scarce and the Family is leaving bodies in their wake anyway because they’re sucking people dry. But then they just leave the rest and that’s honestly very wasteful. And then the other part of that being spite. You see that Vance? You see Hector being sinful and impure but still be a better vampire than you will ever be? While enjoying a nice juicy steak? Yeah, fuck you Vance And Vance does get frustrated with that, but maybe he’s still excusing Hector’s behavior because after all, he is The Real Vampire and apparently also very old and immortal so he’s just much further ahead than they all are. He just counts himself lucky that Hector has neither the interest nor charisma to challenge his leadership position. And Hector wouldn’t be super in Vance’s face about it either, despite me phrasing it that way. It’s more passive aggressive than anything.

Or he’s actually pretty damn respectful - not following along with what Vance dictates, but keeping that mostly on the down low. Because this community, no matter how cult-like, does seem to help the people who are a part of it. Hector doesn’t think it’s the right way to go about it, but he doesn’t want to tell people what to do either. And to be fair, Vance doesn’t seem that bad. Some of his rules are pretty questionable, but he’s not actually extorting the members of the Family in any way like cult leaders usually do.

Whichever way it goes, the basic interest in working together due to similar lifestyles eventually gives way to all the disagreements. Despite maybe giving it a go, Hector would never be fully immersed in the cult aspect of this; or at least gotten out of it before they part ways. I’m imagining the others’ view of him as something like… some amount of admiration, an air of mystery around him, The True Vampire. And despite (or because of?) that being a bit of an outcast even in their circle, them not entirely understanding what he wants or what he’s about. Maybe Vance is in a difficult position because Hector does seem more suited to be the voice of authority here simply due to being more vampiric in nature, but Vance already established his rules and he has to stay firm in that, lest his conviction and beliefs are questioned.

I’m leaning towards Hector making the decision to leave rather than having the Family expel him, but his decision probably wouldn’t really be challenged. Everyone’s aware they have some glaring differences and it’s maybe for the best they part ways.

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And a last side note about the reason behind the cannibalistic urges:

I’m not really subscribing to the psychosis explanation, mostly because it’s a sensitive topic and if I can explain it in a different way, I’m gonna. Or just leave it a mystery, saying some people just Are Like That (I think Ian, the guy you’re trying to get out of there in the quest, mentions that he was born with it). The psychosis isn’t really an explanation either since the phenomenon, if you look into it more, raises more questions than it answers. So as much as I want A Reason, maybe it’ll just be unexplained. You don’t really learn much or anything at all about the history of the individual members of the Family in relation to how and when their cannibalistic urges manifested. So while I can’t eliminate circumstances that could lead to a psychosis of sorts, it also gives room to make up something else.

#corvidexoskeleton #many thoughts brain full #but very hard to put them into words #i think i managed more or less #unfortunately not in any short or concise manner #hector messerli #i'm also laughing at the image of like #a bunch of vampire fanboys dressed in little capes and shit #being like. behold. HIM. the Real Vampire......#cut to a shitty old man in a lab coat

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