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Cultiples#2: The Fandom Cults of Draven LB Lee Draven, circa 2006 (used with permission from ex-follower) Text and cover artwork copyright © 2018 by LB Lee No portion of this work may be reproduced without the written consent of the author, except for the purpose of review. More LB stuff at http://healthymultiplicity.com/loonybrain Typography design assist from Kerry of Sylvans (exunoplures.org) 2 3 Table of Contents Slanderous Cult Tidings: Intro................................................................4 Regarding Pronouns, Conjugations, and Terminology.................7 A note regarding citations........................................................................9 Dramatis Personae: Draven System Members.................................11 Partners..................................................................................................... 12 Other Players of Note..........................................................................13 The Pied Piper of Goth: Robin Brennan and Kurt Draven........16 I’ve Mastered the Matrix: William "Fox" Mulder.........................28 The Best Fiend and Dad I Can Be: Angel.........................................34 Daddy's Gonna Kill Your Whole Family: Angelus......................46 Who I'm Meant to Be: Sirius Black and the Start of Neo...........51 The Almighty 'C' Word: John Constantine.....................................68 Let The Whipping Boy Ride: Greg House.......................................74 Wannabe-Matrixite Cultists: Tyler Durden and Neo’s Rise......79 Temporary Walk-Ins: Edward Elric and Hannibal Lecter.........98 Prophet, Prometheus, Superman: Neo’s Peak...............................102 Someone Ceases to Breathe Tonight: Anakin...............................124 Daddy's Second Chance: Angel, Angelus, and Neo’s Fall.......142 God damnit, I’M THE PHANTOM: Erik Dessler.......................146 Cherish Your Lives, Motherfuckers: Jigsaw..................................160 The Safety Pin Army: Tony Stark......................................................162 Mr. Down-Low: Rick Grimes...............................................................177 Crazily Powerful, Super Good Looking, Seriously Conflicted, Brooding Killer: Kylo Ren.....................................................................180 20 Years, 20 System Members: Conclusion....................................183 Afterword: For Prospective, Current, and Ex-Followers.........185 Acknowledgments..................................................................................186 References.................................................................................................... 187 4 Slanderous Cult Tidings: Intro I am nineteen, and I have just joined the plural communities of Livejournal. I find myself talking to a man named Neo, a metaphysical multiple—in other words, he is one of many within his body, and he sees his origins as being spiritual or mystical in nature. He is from the Matrix, and when I mention that I have heard of him, he replies, "Heard of, eh? Slanderous rumors and cult tidings I hope" (Lee, 2007 April 12). He then links me to "the article to end all articles" on his website, which is "about Neo, Trinity, [and] this 'underground revolution'" which is built to "spread the message of choice" (DK, 2007, Paragraph 2). But some are against their “status-quosmashing revolution” and “some have gone the clichĂ©d [sic] route of spouting 'cult' at anything that even remotely looks like an ‘alternative’ belief structure.” Neo is quoted as saying, “until there is concrete proof or evidence that we've harmed someone by trying to save them from themselves... by simply trying to wake them up, people are free to take it or leave it as they choose” (ibid, Chapter 4: Who They Are - The Controversy). Less than two months prior to this, Neo pled guilty