- Joined
- Sep 16, 2013
Which I think underlines how, ironically, in a way his high school years were the best for him. As we've seen, he actually did gradually look like he was going to finally mature the fuck up even by just one iota of measurement after the house fire, where suddenly he had to do a LOT of work in supporting two people, moving burnt shit around, and even tried to enjoy attending a social event or two. Now that 14BC is finally back and things unfortunately seem to be going back to normal as before and he doesn't need to do as much against his will? Instant regression. MHS provided Chris with structure, the rules which he could not break, homework assignments he was forced to do (and IIRC he actually did turn in most of them, grades notwithstanding, as proven from Skyraider91's Indiana Jones-ing of the shit pulled out of 14BC post-fire). He had a social life, even if it was a charade of bribes behind his back, and he even was part of a sports team. He certainly had to be reprimanded countless times because he's Chris but above all else, the enforcement of a structured enviroment that he couldn't entirely rebel against that also held places for him to be, was only ever part of his life when he was under the constant supervision of teachers. Superiors who demanded things of Chris that he hated with all his might but had to force himself to do anyway, which he couldn't complain about in the least.
That's why PVCC was more or less a disaster for Chris, as it was still school...but with none of the hand-holding he'd only just started getting at MHS. He still had classes and homework to do, but at all other times he wasn't being shepherded around. He wasn't being told what to do most of the time anymore.
And therein lies one of the biggest problems with Chris: the only way he can actually motivate himself to do something is if he has a concept of that something being absolutely unquestionable as an order from a person he recognizes as superior. For the past year, the only person alive fitting that description anymore is Barb.
I agree completely. To take it even further, the "sub-par" aspects of Chris high-school life were not particularly sub-par for him. Sure his social life wasn't great. But it was all he could handle, and probably the level of social life that made him happiest. He didn't want to be out late at parties and having his phone constantly ringing. That would have seemed oppressive. He wanted some people to smile and chat with him, and then let him go home and play video games.
This is why I think Chris life has a fairly easy fix. If he got a job working 30 hours a week at Walmart or McDonalds, he would get a lot of the same benefits that MHS gave him. Structure, real but not onerous responsibilities, casual social contact, real and doable achievements, a stable link to the real world, maybe a little earned respect. But he is completely unwilling to do it, and as the years go on and he moves further and further down the abyss of weirdness and self-delusion it becomes less possible even if he wants it.