2025-04-26 23:04:31 ¶ ●

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so is the implication here that michael stays at the institute/in the archives even after gertrude's death? gotta say I am very charmed imagining the bitterest man alive passing up a chance to finally get out because god damn it. these new idiots are just like he was aren't they.

Yes! He’s still stuck at the institute and he just gets better (worse) overtime! I feel like after a few pranks and some shenanigans more directed at Elias, he ends up with a re-negotiated contract.

He’s still tied to the Institute but he’s no longer tied to Gertrude. His role is changed to “Assistant to the Archives.” At the time, Michael is all for it, he doesn’t want to be ordered around by Gertrude. But when Gertrude passes and he realizes he’s still STUCK there, he regrets that his past self was manipulated like that.

By that point, he’s a lot more Spiral-inclined, and he becomes a friendly but difficult coworker for the new archive time. It’s hard to get a straight answer from him both from his nature changing and the fact that he knows Elias is watching him. But he does his best!