#dr freakerman

Seems someone is to be betrayed, but who? Who will be the betrayer, and who the betrayed? I have some ideas.

I’m almost certain that Easterman will be the betrayed, he’s been set up as God-like to the reagents, and more than that, he’s likened himself to Christ directly

One of the radio voicelines, he directly likens himself to Christ, I feel like the most obvious choice here is to put him as the Jesus in this equation.

But who is to be the Judas?

I’m assuming Avellanos, given we only heard the Kress twins and her speak in the teaser, and she was speaking directly about Easterman.

Shes also been keeping an eye on him to see when he becomes more of a risk to LATHE than a benefit to it

The only thing that stopped Easterman from being jettisoned already was the fact that he had dirt on Scarfiotti and her (more specifically, on her), but he’s rapidly declining and the value proposition to having him remain Director is slipping.

I believe Easterman will be our Jesus, and Avellanos our Judas (if we’re looking at things from Easterman’s perspective, which we often are)

Switching subjects, we see Reagents attacking one another en masse in the Sleep Room, with Easterman watching over them from the observation deck. He looks disappointed, to put it mildly. I’m assuming he views Invasion as a failing, he had hoped they would work out violent urges against one another in the trial, but his plan has backfired and only served to vindicate their bloodlust.

I’m assuming this is furthering the divide in the sleep room between those still loyal to Amelia, and those loyal to Easterman.

To put it in his own words, he’s sad. He’s so fucking sad.

Also we’re so getting a new Kress Twins trial let’s freaking go [happy]

Easterman is a golden orb weaver spider. They are primarily nocturnal, will routinely consume their web, and (like most spiders) are sexually cannibalistic. Easterman overworks himself, likely working long into the night routinely, and i view him as somewhat of a perfectionist, tearing down failure to try again (also insert line here “the spider, in failure, consumes its web”) and when reading about these (i can no longer find the site i was reading from 🥀) it mentioned how the male orb weaver may escape his first mate, but will not be so lucky again, and that sealed it in my mind that this is him (he “escaped” Irene, ie she divorced him, but he will not be so lucky again, insert OC slop here sorry guys)

Coyle is an American cockroach. Notoriously resistant creatures, they’ll take whatever you throw at them. Also famously off-putting, even among insect lovers they’re a controversial type, most people made uncomfortable by their very presence.

Mother Gooseberry is a common ladybird. Their pretty appearance is actually a warning of toxicity, much like how Gooseberry pretty’s herself up and serves to be the largest Prime Asset threat (due to the extra bar of damage from her bleed). Ladybirds are also symbols of fertility in certain cultures, and (correct me if I’m wrong here) women of her build were historically viewed as being more fertile than thinner women.

Franco is a beewolf wasp. Solitary creatures who, despite nearly every other kind of wasp being hive dwelling, primarily keep to themselves, much like how Franco was functionally excommunicated from his family, his “hive”, leaving him no other options but solitary living. As the name suggests, they primarily hunt bees. More specifically, honey bees, which easily parallels Francos sweet tooth, and being part of a species commonly outright hated, hunting an adored sister-species feels very Franco coded. As wasps, they also have a stinger which, unlike bees, has no cap on how many times it can be used, which reminds me of his lupara.

No Otto or Arora im yet to be struck with inspiration for these two, and I did all the Prime Assets montha before their release and never got round to them sorry guys 🥀 I’ll do them eventually I promise

Henrietta Grubbs (AKA the Jaeger) is a giant stag beetle. Snail is the obvious choice for her, but I cant see it. They’re all but defenceless, easily crushed, and hide when frightened. Stag beetles are the most threatening looking beetle, with their exceptionally long mandibles from which they gain their name, much like how Henrietta is the biggest threat in any trial once deployed. As all beetles do, they have armoured shells that protect them from attack, making them much more durable, much like how Henrietta is nearly entirely immune to rigs and throwables. The distinction of being a giant stag beetle is simply due to her being turned into a Heavy Ex-Pop before her disposal, shes far larger than the average person in the trials, thus having her as a standard stag beetle is too small

And jumping over to Outlast Whistleblower for my fave ever

Eddie Gluskin is a nursery web spider. Named after the females building “tents” for her eggs to protect them, much like how Eddie is already protective of his children not-yet-conceived, despite this, they are not web-spinners, they’re hunters, similar to how Eddie roams the entirety of the vocational block in search of his bride, stringing them up like a spider cocoons their pray once he’s killed them. They, like most spiders, are a sexually cannibalistic species, meaning the females may consume the males before, during, or after copulation. To negate this, the male may bring an offering to the female in the hopes of preventing their death, however they often just bring cocoons and hope she doesn’t notice. Like how, presumably, some of his “brides” attempted to play into his delusions in the hopes it would buy them time to escape. However just like the male nursery web spider, they fail to account for the others ability to see through them