She's ragin' he's replyin'
Does James understand that we are not some niche of fat haters hyperanalyzing Chantal's every belch? Does he really not grasp the absolute freak show spectacle she has made of herself and is (literally) grooming him for as a side act? Does he get that she heavily curates the comments she receives, that lots and lots of people see what we see? I don't think James is some Steinbeckian waif, nor do I think he wholly lacks agency. As spergy as he is, he's capable of running his own scheme should he want to. Maybe a Chantal so fat and sick she cannot leave him again is his goal so he's appeasing her with beard shaves and makeovers and tons of leftover pizza until she's finally stuck in the apartment. Who the fuck knows?
But it has to be said that often the manipulated is the last one to see the manipulation, especially if he's endured it for years. James needs to branch out, watch measured channels, like SmokeySteveandMarc, see what so many others see. If he is genuinely deluded as to what is happening in that apartment, it's unlikely any amount of discourse will change his mind. And even those of us who sort of like James aren't in the business of Save-a-Sperg. If he wants to go down on this ship, let him. Honestly watching her drag him down with her may in the end be amusing but it will also be sad and gross.
Plus there are the cats to consider. His dislike of Kacey/BebeJunes is a weird meme between the two of them. He likes her cats - the crappy cat tweet years ago was part of the meme, though anger that she keeps borrowing money she won't pay back wasn't. Sam and BebeJunes follow him around the apartment and spend a lot of time with him already. The cats are the only real victims here, and it's not like Chantal can bend over to scoop their boxes. If he wants to the the emotionally abused and openly derided sidekick, so be it as long as the cats are kept fed and clean.
