Essay-study-explanation hybrid - Relating to Others: Or Lacking the Essential Components For It
Welcome once again to yet another essay babble spiel thing in which I try to make head canon and information from canon work for me to better play my wonderful mad scientist. In this edition, we shall be addressing the issue of Relating to Others: Or Lacking the Essential Components For It.
All right. So to kick things off, let us categorize what roles Stein has in canon and how they effect his relationships in canon and in Camp.
The Mad Scientist - This is the role Stein is more than happy to play. He is very much the curious person and he has to find out how things work. However, because of his nature as this kind of person, Stein is mistakened as a bad guy, which Stein certainly isn't what with working directly for Shinigami-sama. In his intro, Shinigami-sama used this role of Stein's to his advantage in order to train the technician-weapon pairs of Maka and Soul and Black*Star and Tsubaki. Because they figured he was a BIG BAD GUY BOSS DUDE, they went all out.
This role in Camp, however... very much hurts Stein's chances of getting along with quiiiite a number of people. Not that Stein minds so much, except when people automatically assume he's the bad guy even when they haven't learned a thing about it. Not even something misleading like his students had been told to make them think that way. In reality, Stein prefers that people just write him off as a nut job because it means they wouldn't expect a coherent thought from him and gives him the advantage. Three guesses as to why he antagonizes people who hate mad scientists~
The Technician - To put it as simply as possible: Stein is a genius. Everyone in his canon knows it very well, though yes, he is often underestimated because of his behavior and mannerisms. (Rolly-chair ftw.) Stein is very much a leader who takes charge in the middle of a combat and knows how to fight. Whether it's going forward or withdrawing, Stein knows which is for the best (even if he might not like it very much). Because of this, most weapons can rest assured that they will be handled well. Not only because of his genius in strategizing but also because he is able to bond with pretty much any weapon because his soul wavelength is that flexible (I might wanna psycho-analyze this in another essay).
In Camp, this hasn't come up very much because lol, no real battles except for against the Daleks and that. Was just effed up and Stein no longer wants to think about it. Beyond that bad example since Stein was basically in it more for his own personal interest rather than combating the evil aliens, there was the fight with Hakuren in which he allows himself to show his own abilities. Beyond this and his informing people (after a round-about conversation, dancing around the answer) of his soul-seeing abilities, Stein is, again, not very forthcoming with his true nature in combat and doesn't reveal much in ways of "abilities". Which is why the Bishop-Wannabe had his ass handed to him. Never underestimate a crazy person.
The Teacher - Canonly, Stein takes his job more seriously than what he lets on. Especially after the kishin is on the lose. Before that, he was about as frivolous about teaching as he is about being a scientist and a technician. Afterward (and hell, during the time when his soon-to-be-students thought he was a bad guy), he is very much a demanding instructor, insisting on an all-or-nothing way of training because it is not only the fastest way to learn but also because of his obvious lacking of a proper level of sanity. Stein himself even realizes that he pushes the kids too hard and questions himself as to why he feels like he's short on time. His answer to himself? It's because he doesn't know how much longer he will be able to teach them anything at all.
In Camp, Stein behaves much in the same way, often getting hold of or finding kids in the camper population who catch his interest and who seem to have ISSUES or PROBLEMS with certain lessons. These people he often tries to talk with as often as possible, keeping tabs on them and making sure they know what to do. A little more subtly for some people (like Watanuki) but a little more demanding and aggressive with others (Bishop-Wannabe Hakuren). Since Camp doesn't have the threat of the kishin hanging over his head, Stein is able to take his time on things like that, but he still very much feels the anxiety of not having the time nor the level of coping with his insanity that he should probably have.
Relating with People - In general, Stein is very much a man who lives his life in near isolation. Mostly by choice--because of his hobbies, his interests, his lack of reaction to others' situations. Sure, he has a few people he talks to but before he is made a professor at Shibusen, Stein lived alone in his laboratory and probably only got out and about whenever Shinigami-sama called on him since he is a genius technician and all. Afterward, he had the connections of the students to give him a bit more human interaction, but of course that sort of thing he can't exactly take home with him, so it's all part of his role as a mentor. Comrades and other weapons and technicians also fall into a similar rut.
The only people who really have something even resembling an actual sort-of kind-of relationship with Stein would be Death Scythe, Medusa, and Marie. And... they are still very messed up.
Death Scythe is Stein's senpai, so there's a level of respect that goes with that--but there is also the fact that Stein experimented on him for over 5 years without Spirit noticing. Still, Death Scythe is probably one of the very very few people who actually understands Stein, because he had been Stein's partner for quite a while. This is probably why Stein is more willing to show more than just those three roles he plays to Death Scythe... but only on the occasion. Because even if Spirit understands most things about Stein and how he functions, he just can't get completely into Stein's head because of the insanity bit.
Medusa, on the other hand, is all about the insanity. She completely gets the allure of being completely out of control and also understands 100% what it's like to be so strong, intelligent, and wanting to learn more and wanting to get what she wants. Of course, Stein loves the challenge she presents to him. He figures out that she's a witch with little trouble--pretty much just adding two and two together and whatnot, but he doesn't tell anyone and instead, approaches her and... it's almost like a game that he shouldn't have thought of playing--a game of "catch me if you can" which ended up backfiring horribly since she was able to achieve her goals and, not only that, get her foot in the door in regards to Stein's flimsy sanity. There's a weird and disturbing sort of wrongness of longing and wanting and tempting going on in that relationship, but Stein resists, mostly. Because he's a good guy. Despite what Medusa keeps whispering in his ear all sexy-like.
And finally, there's Marie. Who used to have a crush on Stein and who Stein didn't see more than a dedicated worker who is probably more worried about relationships than she should be. Marie is just accepting of everything. Unlike Spirit or Medusa, she just plain doesn't get Stein. She just... accepts the person he is and works with that. When Shinigami-sama informs the two of them that they'd be partners from now on and Marie tells Stein that she has to stay with him, Stein merely comments that she can't blame him if he ends up dissecting her. Marie replies with a simple, "I trust you." And that sort of thing carries on throughout Stein's spiral into insanity. Not only that but Marie is probably the only one that sees Stein's isolation for what it probably really is--a way to keep others away from him. Especially during the time period after the kishin's release. And yet she continues to go by his side and trust in him. (Bawwwww.)
In Camp, things aren't much different. As I said, Stein is very much the loner type in that he will make connections with people but chances are they will only ever get so far because he can't or won't let them come any closer.
... and because this is long enough, I will be adding short little blurbs on important (i.e. talks with very often almost every chance he gets) relationships Stein has in Camp.
Captain Jack Harkness - Well, yes. Stein wants to dissect him, but Jack is actually more to Stein than just a very very VERY interesting person to maybe probably experiment on someday... maybe. Jack is actually one of those people who Stein feels comfortable around. Probably not to the point he is with, say, Spirit, but it could possibly work out to that sort of friendship--minus the not knowing about the experimenting thing. Jack allows Stein to talk about anything and everything and even is able to ask the right questions to get Stein to talk more. However, Stein is still unwilling to completely give everything away because of that sort of mental block he has about that sort of thing, but let's say that mistletoe is a great way to get a mad scientist to start to both a) feel more comfortable around a person and b) make them completely want to try to not to get too too comfortable around a person. Yeesh.
Sohma Shigure - Is sort of similar to Jack except for the fact that Shigure is a manipulative bastard, knows it, and doesn't care. Not only that but Shigure at least partly understands the insanity Stein has to deal with what with having a bad habit of dealing with crazies and having that one body-swtich experience. So while Stein feels comfortable with sharing information and asking questions to get information--because Shigure has connections and having connections = having information--he'd probably avoid talk about insanity unless it was important enough to bring up the topic at the time. Mostly because a) Shigure already knows and b) Shigure doesn't really like talking about it in the first place. You could probably put Shigure under the colleague mental block.
Rabi - Is a fellow bored genius who likes to learn anything and everything. Stein's very much ping'd in the teacher mental block and because of this, Stein's less likely to go on about his personal life unless it comes up in a question-answer session or something in the like. Stein likes giving Rabi information and loves it when Rabi gives up information (especially reluctantly--it's sort of more fun that way) but beyond this, Stein wouldn't really broach the more serious topics. Did it once, just a bit. Was not a pleasant experience. Mostly because it was pretty much one-sided, but damned if Stein will give up more information about himself without Rabi first showing an interest... and probably not even then.
Hakuren Oak - Yet again, Stein is ping'd in not only the teacher but the technician mental block. To Stein, Hakuren seems an intelligent young man who has been taught a certain way and fails at understanding the different facets of a more practical education. Not only that but because of their initial meeting and the consequential fight that resulted from a later meeting, Stein will never be able to get beyond those mental blocks with Hakuren, chances are. Yes, he will be concerned with the boy's growth and will continue to keep pestering Hakuren about this and that, but no, he will not get personal with Hakuren. Which... doesn't really help gain any more trust from Hakuren and thus Stein just... come across as a bad guy more than anything. But Stein's used to that, so...
Professor Shiouji Gojyou - Colleague mental block! Very easy to see why, really. Stein has fun poking at Shiouji because he just doesn't give much reaction at all, so the mad scientist will talk about anything and everything involving his work that he knows Shiouji just doesn't care for. On the occasion, Shiouji might show an interest or two about a comment here and there but otherwise, not much else. Not only that but Shiouji just isn't the kind of person who cares about other people's personal stories and whatnot, so Stein keeps it pretty much on a professional level. Or... what passes as professional for him. If Shiouji were to ever, shockingly, show interest in anything of those subjects, however, Stein miiiiight share a thing or two, but that seems a highly unlikely scenario, so... *pokepokes the professor*
Aaaaand, I'm not sure if I achieved what I set out to do for this essay and it's also way early in the morning and I totally can't think of what to say beyond the 5 people listed under the second cut. OH WELL.
If you have any sort of questions or comments or... something, feel free to comment!
All right. So to kick things off, let us categorize what roles Stein has in canon and how they effect his relationships in canon and in Camp.
The Mad Scientist - This is the role Stein is more than happy to play. He is very much the curious person and he has to find out how things work. However, because of his nature as this kind of person, Stein is mistakened as a bad guy, which Stein certainly isn't what with working directly for Shinigami-sama. In his intro, Shinigami-sama used this role of Stein's to his advantage in order to train the technician-weapon pairs of Maka and Soul and Black*Star and Tsubaki. Because they figured he was a BIG BAD GUY BOSS DUDE, they went all out.
This role in Camp, however... very much hurts Stein's chances of getting along with quiiiite a number of people. Not that Stein minds so much, except when people automatically assume he's the bad guy even when they haven't learned a thing about it. Not even something misleading like his students had been told to make them think that way. In reality, Stein prefers that people just write him off as a nut job because it means they wouldn't expect a coherent thought from him and gives him the advantage. Three guesses as to why he antagonizes people who hate mad scientists~
The Technician - To put it as simply as possible: Stein is a genius. Everyone in his canon knows it very well, though yes, he is often underestimated because of his behavior and mannerisms. (Rolly-chair ftw.) Stein is very much a leader who takes charge in the middle of a combat and knows how to fight. Whether it's going forward or withdrawing, Stein knows which is for the best (even if he might not like it very much). Because of this, most weapons can rest assured that they will be handled well. Not only because of his genius in strategizing but also because he is able to bond with pretty much any weapon because his soul wavelength is that flexible (I might wanna psycho-analyze this in another essay).
In Camp, this hasn't come up very much because lol, no real battles except for against the Daleks and that. Was just effed up and Stein no longer wants to think about it. Beyond that bad example since Stein was basically in it more for his own personal interest rather than combating the evil aliens, there was the fight with Hakuren in which he allows himself to show his own abilities. Beyond this and his informing people (after a round-about conversation, dancing around the answer) of his soul-seeing abilities, Stein is, again, not very forthcoming with his true nature in combat and doesn't reveal much in ways of "abilities". Which is why the Bishop-Wannabe had his ass handed to him. Never underestimate a crazy person.
The Teacher - Canonly, Stein takes his job more seriously than what he lets on. Especially after the kishin is on the lose. Before that, he was about as frivolous about teaching as he is about being a scientist and a technician. Afterward (and hell, during the time when his soon-to-be-students thought he was a bad guy), he is very much a demanding instructor, insisting on an all-or-nothing way of training because it is not only the fastest way to learn but also because of his obvious lacking of a proper level of sanity. Stein himself even realizes that he pushes the kids too hard and questions himself as to why he feels like he's short on time. His answer to himself? It's because he doesn't know how much longer he will be able to teach them anything at all.
In Camp, Stein behaves much in the same way, often getting hold of or finding kids in the camper population who catch his interest and who seem to have ISSUES or PROBLEMS with certain lessons. These people he often tries to talk with as often as possible, keeping tabs on them and making sure they know what to do. A little more subtly for some people (like Watanuki) but a little more demanding and aggressive with others (Bishop-Wannabe Hakuren). Since Camp doesn't have the threat of the kishin hanging over his head, Stein is able to take his time on things like that, but he still very much feels the anxiety of not having the time nor the level of coping with his insanity that he should probably have.
Relating with People - In general, Stein is very much a man who lives his life in near isolation. Mostly by choice--because of his hobbies, his interests, his lack of reaction to others' situations. Sure, he has a few people he talks to but before he is made a professor at Shibusen, Stein lived alone in his laboratory and probably only got out and about whenever Shinigami-sama called on him since he is a genius technician and all. Afterward, he had the connections of the students to give him a bit more human interaction, but of course that sort of thing he can't exactly take home with him, so it's all part of his role as a mentor. Comrades and other weapons and technicians also fall into a similar rut.
The only people who really have something even resembling an actual sort-of kind-of relationship with Stein would be Death Scythe, Medusa, and Marie. And... they are still very messed up.
Death Scythe is Stein's senpai, so there's a level of respect that goes with that--but there is also the fact that Stein experimented on him for over 5 years without Spirit noticing. Still, Death Scythe is probably one of the very very few people who actually understands Stein, because he had been Stein's partner for quite a while. This is probably why Stein is more willing to show more than just those three roles he plays to Death Scythe... but only on the occasion. Because even if Spirit understands most things about Stein and how he functions, he just can't get completely into Stein's head because of the insanity bit.
Medusa, on the other hand, is all about the insanity. She completely gets the allure of being completely out of control and also understands 100% what it's like to be so strong, intelligent, and wanting to learn more and wanting to get what she wants. Of course, Stein loves the challenge she presents to him. He figures out that she's a witch with little trouble--pretty much just adding two and two together and whatnot, but he doesn't tell anyone and instead, approaches her and... it's almost like a game that he shouldn't have thought of playing--a game of "catch me if you can" which ended up backfiring horribly since she was able to achieve her goals and, not only that, get her foot in the door in regards to Stein's flimsy sanity. There's a weird and disturbing sort of wrongness of longing and wanting and tempting going on in that relationship, but Stein resists, mostly. Because he's a good guy. Despite what Medusa keeps whispering in his ear all sexy-like.
And finally, there's Marie. Who used to have a crush on Stein and who Stein didn't see more than a dedicated worker who is probably more worried about relationships than she should be. Marie is just accepting of everything. Unlike Spirit or Medusa, she just plain doesn't get Stein. She just... accepts the person he is and works with that. When Shinigami-sama informs the two of them that they'd be partners from now on and Marie tells Stein that she has to stay with him, Stein merely comments that she can't blame him if he ends up dissecting her. Marie replies with a simple, "I trust you." And that sort of thing carries on throughout Stein's spiral into insanity. Not only that but Marie is probably the only one that sees Stein's isolation for what it probably really is--a way to keep others away from him. Especially during the time period after the kishin's release. And yet she continues to go by his side and trust in him. (Bawwwww.)
In Camp, things aren't much different. As I said, Stein is very much the loner type in that he will make connections with people but chances are they will only ever get so far because he can't or won't let them come any closer.
... and because this is long enough, I will be adding short little blurbs on important (i.e. talks with very often almost every chance he gets) relationships Stein has in Camp.
Captain Jack Harkness - Well, yes. Stein wants to dissect him, but Jack is actually more to Stein than just a very very VERY interesting person to maybe probably experiment on someday... maybe. Jack is actually one of those people who Stein feels comfortable around. Probably not to the point he is with, say, Spirit, but it could possibly work out to that sort of friendship--minus the not knowing about the experimenting thing. Jack allows Stein to talk about anything and everything and even is able to ask the right questions to get Stein to talk more. However, Stein is still unwilling to completely give everything away because of that sort of mental block he has about that sort of thing, but let's say that mistletoe is a great way to get a mad scientist to start to both a) feel more comfortable around a person and b) make them completely want to try to not to get too too comfortable around a person. Yeesh.
Sohma Shigure - Is sort of similar to Jack except for the fact that Shigure is a manipulative bastard, knows it, and doesn't care. Not only that but Shigure at least partly understands the insanity Stein has to deal with what with having a bad habit of dealing with crazies and having that one body-swtich experience. So while Stein feels comfortable with sharing information and asking questions to get information--because Shigure has connections and having connections = having information--he'd probably avoid talk about insanity unless it was important enough to bring up the topic at the time. Mostly because a) Shigure already knows and b) Shigure doesn't really like talking about it in the first place. You could probably put Shigure under the colleague mental block.
Rabi - Is a fellow bored genius who likes to learn anything and everything. Stein's very much ping'd in the teacher mental block and because of this, Stein's less likely to go on about his personal life unless it comes up in a question-answer session or something in the like. Stein likes giving Rabi information and loves it when Rabi gives up information (especially reluctantly--it's sort of more fun that way) but beyond this, Stein wouldn't really broach the more serious topics. Did it once, just a bit. Was not a pleasant experience. Mostly because it was pretty much one-sided, but damned if Stein will give up more information about himself without Rabi first showing an interest... and probably not even then.
Hakuren Oak - Yet again, Stein is ping'd in not only the teacher but the technician mental block. To Stein, Hakuren seems an intelligent young man who has been taught a certain way and fails at understanding the different facets of a more practical education. Not only that but because of their initial meeting and the consequential fight that resulted from a later meeting, Stein will never be able to get beyond those mental blocks with Hakuren, chances are. Yes, he will be concerned with the boy's growth and will continue to keep pestering Hakuren about this and that, but no, he will not get personal with Hakuren. Which... doesn't really help gain any more trust from Hakuren and thus Stein just... come across as a bad guy more than anything. But Stein's used to that, so...
Professor Shiouji Gojyou - Colleague mental block! Very easy to see why, really. Stein has fun poking at Shiouji because he just doesn't give much reaction at all, so the mad scientist will talk about anything and everything involving his work that he knows Shiouji just doesn't care for. On the occasion, Shiouji might show an interest or two about a comment here and there but otherwise, not much else. Not only that but Shiouji just isn't the kind of person who cares about other people's personal stories and whatnot, so Stein keeps it pretty much on a professional level. Or... what passes as professional for him. If Shiouji were to ever, shockingly, show interest in anything of those subjects, however, Stein miiiiight share a thing or two, but that seems a highly unlikely scenario, so... *pokepokes the professor*
Aaaaand, I'm not sure if I achieved what I set out to do for this essay and it's also way early in the morning and I totally can't think of what to say beyond the 5 people listed under the second cut. OH WELL.
If you have any sort of questions or comments or... something, feel free to comment!