I’m thinking about a “Michael Shelley is spit out of The Spiral AU” where being The Spiral changes Michael in a way where he’s angry, and violent, and a chronic liar who has had his morality completely skewed to the point where even “People shouldn’t be eaten in a monster’s hallway,” is a controversial topic with him.

I’m thinking about a Michael Shelley who can’t be trusted during The Circus ordeal because he’d sell out the entire Institute and everyone in it for less than nothing. Yet, he still can’t help but care a little because he’s still human at his core.

I’m thinking about a Michael Shelley who is friends with Tim and Melanie because he see’s his anger in them, but dislikes Martin because he see’s the loyalty he once had in him and can’t stand it anymore than he can stand the fact that Jon seems to genuinely care about his helpful assistant.

I’m thinking about a Michael Shelley who has to relearn the concept of humanity and has an arc that parallels Jon’s. Every time Jon loses a piece of his humanity, Michael gains some of his back through his connection with Tim, Melanie, Georgie, statement givers, and sometimes Jon depending on the day.

To the point where in Season 5 Michael chooses to blind himself instead of ruling a dominion while Jon gives into the same urges Michael did a long time ago. And Michael is angry again. But this time not AT Jon, but FOR Jon and all the things he’s gone through.

I’m just really thinking about Michael Shelley.