While reading this post, please keep in mind this post is coming from a Ruvik fan who hated Marcelo up until the DLCs. It is mainly geared toward people who hate him, but may be eye-opening for others as well. I didn’t put a ton of hard work into this blog in the past 5 months just to be disregarded and unfollowed because I address some things about a character you hate right now. This post also took me hours to make so please read with an open mind.

I wouldn’t have to make this post if it weren’t for the inconsistencies in the game in the first place. A lot of important information that can’t be ignored was put into the DLCs that should have been in the main game. 

Let’s address some elephants in the room first:

considering Mobius as a whole and what they’ve done, there is no doubt they would have killed Ruben regardless of him having time to set up traps and regardless of Jimenez. The big fish will always eat the small one.

(again, coming from a Ruvik fan:) both Ruben and the Administrator have done worse things than Jimenez ever did, yet whoever talks about Jimenez in a non-hateful way gets scrutiny

The point of this post is that after the way the DLC shows Jimenez, you can’t help but look at him at least a bit differently compared to how he is presented in the main game only. 

Let’s take the scene that made people hate him: 

when he comes for Ruben with Mobius people, if you only saw this in the main game, you’d think that he knew here that Ruben is going to be killed by Mobius. However that is not the case if you consider everything in the DLCs:

- on the tapes in the DLC he says that at one point Ruben retreats to his mansion, and is only willing to come to work on STEM, and that Jim feels uneasy about this bc Mobius might be looking on them. 

- once Ruben calibrates the machine to work with his brain only and keeps to himself in the mansion, Jimenez expresses how he is afraid what Mobius might do to him if he doesn’t reverse the calibration and he will drag Ruben to Mobius if he has to (to reverse the calibr. so Mobius doesn’t fucking kill him) and this is probably what we see in the main game when he comes for Ruben with the Mobius people.

Marcelo did not think that Mobius would kill him, that is not why he is there in the main game in that one scene, and here is proof why:

When you listen to the DLC tapes back to back (they are on youtube in one video!), Marcelo is in despair and his voice is utterly sad and disappointed when he finds out that Ruben is dead. The voice actor does a great job making you feel everything as well. Please do go and listen to it.

It is also explained how the name “RUVIK” emerged, and this is why I’ll keep calling him Ruben in my posts as often as possible.

Outside of the tape, in the scene when he learns about Ruben’s death in the DLC he is heavily distressed as well (also on youtube in any playthrough, please watch it):

So to sum it up, based on main game only you’d think that Jimenez went for Ruben to kill him in that lab scene but after you see the DLC he did not know that Mobius was going to kill him and he was genuinely sad and distressed upon finding out. This is major info that should have been in the main game and not in a DLC. It’s very important when it comes to his personality.

He also expresses earlier in the DLC that it’s due to his own carelessness that Mobius learned about the existence of Ruben and that Ru. was introduced to Mobius but Jim was hoping for Ruben to chill out once getting more test subject and professional gear. It’s also on Marcelo’s tapes in the DLC.

“But he did steal his research???”

Yes he indeed did so, and it’s a cockroach thing to do as Ruben would say. However consider this: Mobius was constantly manipulating and threatening Jim that he will be replaced if he didn’t do so and so. Jim needed to be reputable to have power at Beacon, so he stole the work of Ruben, guessing his because he was the only one being a genius there with a useful research. Jimenez having power at Beacon was the reason that Ruben could go on so long with his research, because Jimenez would bend the rules so Ruben would get a lot of freedom. So no stolen research -> no power to Jim -> no bent rules -> no free reign for Ruben.

Of course he is an asshole for gaslighting Ruben in the scene when he confronts him about the stolen research, he also says cruel things to him, no doubt about that. He too comes off very arrogant and pompous, he should have just said why he did it so Ruben understands. It is still, ofc, not an excuse to plagiarize.

I just really wish all this is obvious to the average player or fan, because if you really dig deep you can hardly hate Jimenez as much (or at all) as just based on the main game.

When he is talking to child Ruben in the beginning that he should not be worried about how he looks but what’s inside his mind that matters, I thought that was really sweet and there is such an amount of mentor-pupil potential in this relationship that should have been shown more it’s unreal. Jimenez surely was the father figure to Ruben instead of Ernesto, it’s just tragic how everything went down. 

So again to sum up: - “he killed Ruben” - no he did not, Mobius did, he didn’t know they were gonna kill him, tho it’s only shown in the DLC - “he stole his research” -> to have power at Beacon so he can cover for Ruben and bend the rules for him

And his looks, well… He looks like Anthony Hopkins with a rather good body for someone his age, it’s all personal preference.

It def. makes me feel some type of way that I need to make such an extensive post about why I don’t hate a fictional character to “justify myself” because it’s convenient to ignore canon it seems, or maybe because many people don’t know his DLC tapes. I HOPE that at least you see him in a different way after reading this or that  you understand why I don’t hate Marcelo.

@ozmawesker answering here because I can’t reply as a sideblog

Even if I didn’t elaborate, the things I discuss in the post and the things you say can exist at the same time. What you said doesn’t undermine what I talk about in the post. I simply focused on info that was presented in-game through flashbacks and audio tapes, so it is not a matter of “buying it” or not, as it’s not just random info I made up.

There are several reasons why he went into STEM:

- to see if Ruben was really there, because the patients kept talking about a “hooded figure”. He went behind Mobius’ back by entering STEM.

- to know “if a sane mind would weather the physically draining experience”. (on DLC tapes)

- to know what Ruben wanted with the second STEM prototype, the wireless one (on DLC tapes)

- he surely wanted to be worthy in the eyes of Mobius, therefore gaining more power, and he gradually goes erratic on his tapes towards the end, however some things to consider: 

he went through “months of indoctrination” by Mobius, so eventually he was brainwashed

Mobius wasn’t the reason why patients kept dying in STEM, Marcelo blamed himself and wanted to go in there to “suppress the more unsavory aspects of it”, however it turned out that those unsavory aspects happened due to Ruben’s “conscious influence” (on DLC tapes)

he wanted to go behind Mobius’ back by entering STEM without their permission so they can’t “steal his work” too (referring to him successfully using Leslie as a way out) like they did with Ruben, and many before Ruben (as Kidman says), and like that, he could be “worthy”

-  to see if Leslie really was the way out. He also got really excited when he realized Ruben also just wanted to get out (right before Amalgam Alpha stepped on him).

He stayed in STEM because, much like everyone else in there, couldn’t get out so easily. “He shouldn’t have joined Mobius in the first place” - true, no one should have.

Not related to your comment but I wanted to mention regardless:

I forgot to mention in my OG post how after Ruben’s “death”, Marcelo wonders if it was Mobius’ plan all along to kill Ruben.

Also, Marcelo has a really strong mind, therefore he was practically the only one Ruben couldn’t “possess” like he did with Joseph, Seb and Connelly (Kidman doesn’t count because of the injection she got). We see this when his nose is bleeding in a scene with Seb, but he doesn’t turn into a haunted like everyone else does after a nosebleed. Makes you wonder, since Ruben can’t take over his mind, that Ruben doesn’t know about the full truth regarding Marcelo, so he has a warped memory of him like he does with Laura / Reborn Laura. I’ll tag some people who are also in on Marcelo lore to see if I missed something or if I’m not correct. @boxohobo @mradministratorsir​ @candybrained-pumpkin 

I truly can’t like the guy at all for pushing aside the fact that Ruben is still a human in there and is experiencing atrocities.

Let's talk about Ruvik fanon and the amount of unnecessary hate Jiménez receives

Tw: poor english lmao

Something that I have seen too much during the five years I have been in this unfortunately dead fandom is that some people believe Ruvik became purely evil due to the incident he suffered. In reality, it is not at all like that. It generates a certain rejection in me that he was seen as a poor victim who only wanted to get his sister back.

It is essential to recognize that Ruvik possessed an exceptional mind from an early age, exhibiting traits of psychopathy due to his lack of empathy towards the animals he killed. His intelligence, along with his ability to understand and manipulate complex concepts, distinguished him from the rest, as well as isolated him. From a young age, his intellectual brilliance not only allowed him to excel in various fields of knowledge but also pushed him into a state of loneliness and emotional distancing.

This emotional distancing is a characteristic feature of psychopathy, a condition that often manifests in childhood and worsens over time. Throughout his childhood, Ruvik demonstrated a lack of empathy towards others, even his own family. His reactions to the suffering of others were cold and indifferent, indicating a significant emotional disconnection. This disturbing behavior became evident in his cruelty towards animals and his inability to relate emotionally to other human beings, showing an early inclination towards manipulation and control.

He was aware of his actions even though he was a child. He grew up in an environment of high social status and traditional morality, where values and standards of conduct were instilled. His sensitivity allowed him to discern between good and evil, understanding the ethical implications of his actions from an early age. Although he was just a child, his psychopathic traits and formidable intellect made him an individual dangerously obsessed with control and experimentation, foreshadowing what he would eventually become

All of these characteristics are evident prior to the fire. It should be mentioned that Ruvik's traumas acted as catalysts that exacerbated his internal psychopathic tendencies. His childhood manifested signs of a disturbed mind where traumatic events served to trigger his complete instability and even push him to his full limit.

Marcelo Jiménez

It's not his fault that Ruvik is so fucked up lol

I would like to introduce this character because, in addition to being important, many solidify the distorted fanon vision of Ruvik due to the impact of Jiménez's actions on him and why he ends up unfairly being one of the most hated characters in the game.

The main game presents Jiménez from a perspective that highlights the dire consequences of his experiments, leading to a negative and superficial perception of his character. However, when explored further in the DLC, a more complex and empathetic dimension of Jiménez, often overlooked, is revealed.

Jiménez is constantly blamed for Ruvik's death and the theft of his research, but it is crucial to analyze what is truly behind this. The dilemma Jiménez faced was complex. On the one hand, he felt loyalty and respect toward Ruvik, his colleague and friend. On the other hand, there was immense pressure from Mobius. The decision to steal Ruvik's research was not a simple betrayal but a desperate act to save his career and maintain access to the resources necessary to continue the research. Although morally questionable, this action is best understood in the context of constant coercion and threat.

Mobius's threats were clear: if Jiménez did not provide more information and progress on the stem project, he would be replaced. This threat was not trivial. The loss of his position at Beacon Psychiatric Hospital involved more than just dismissal; it meant the end of his career and the loss of access to resources essential for his research. Furthermore, these threats suggested a potential risk to his life, given Mobius's power to remove obstacles from his path.

It is obviously not justified that he stole Ruvik's research without permission, but he had an understandable reason.

Regarding the murder of Ruvik, it is essential to underline a very important point: Jiménez did not kill him; Mobius did. Jiménez only intervened when Ruvik had managed to make the stem system work solely with his brain waves, and was gradually withdrawing from the project to the point of almost never visiting the laboratory.

In entry #201, Jiménez expresses his deep fear of what Mobius could do to Ruvik. This entry reflects Jiménez’s fear of possible reprisals from Mobius and his concern about the situation, considering both the threats and Ruvik's refusal to participate in the laboratory. Technically, it was Jiménez's only option to force him (without knowing that Mobius intended to kill him).

Clear proof of the remorse Jiménez feels is found in entry #209, where, in addition to expressing disbelief at having been part of such an atrocity, he shows a visible decline in his way of recounting it. Jiménez demonstrates respect for Ruvik's work rather than mere greed, while Mobius pursued his own goals with ruthless determination, focusing primarily on large-scale control and manipulation. The stem project, in which Ruvik was deeply involved, had immense potential for mind control and the creation of alternate realities, something Mobius viewed as a tool to consolidate his power. The organization did not value Ruvik's scientific discoveries and advances for their intrinsic merit but solely for how they could be exploited for its own purposes.

It remains to be mentioned that Jiménez integrated Ruvik into Mobius because they had found out about his existence, he wanted to provide him with better facilities along with support to avoid his morbid inclinations (entry #120)

Considering there's probably the longest heatwave in the history of Central and Eastern Europe now, please put out water for birds to drink! Regardless where you live, it's very important.

A plastic plate that goes under planters works great if you don't have anything else. Make sure you put it in an elevated place so cats can't reach it! You can drill holes in it and hang them as well. Ideally put it in a place where there are no bushes around it, so once again cats can't hide and hunt there. If you didn't know, cats and dogs are the top 2 animals that hunt out of boredom and for fun!

Even if you have a small balcony to your office in Big Corporate Building (TM), you can put one with water on the balcony for birds. I don't have to explain how awful urban environments are for birds, especially during heatwaves.