The idea that Masky could be anything but an alter was always a bit laughable to me, especially when considering how much Tim hits DID key points. Yeah, it probably wasn't intentional, but it doesn't change the fact that Tim is a character with DID rep.
Like, we know the Operator can induce paranoia and fuck with people's brain electricity to induce seizures, but that wouldn't explain why Tim's masked persona literally :
◉ Has different mannerisms from him
◉ Seemingly has different verbality from him
◉ Only shows up coinciding with specific triggers (I.E. seizures, and imo also Operatorture which could be a trigger tbh due to it happening in the past)
◉ Has different (and seeming coherent) memories and emotions separate from Tim's, which even after seeing footage of Tim can't remember
Sidenote: Saying this judged on the fact Masky concretely hates Alex while Tim doesn't (at least not fully, he empathizes with him and tries to reason with him until the end).
Also basing it off the fact Masky never works with Brian again after him inducing a seizure in Tim, along with him always remembering to wear his jacket and mask, and knowing the way to the hospital and his room there, along with how to drive, etcetera etcetera
When combined with the fact that we know Tim had a rough childhood—his mom is only mentioned like three times, and it is implied she put him in a psych ward at around 10-11 years old based on the fact he is college in 2003 and was admitted in 1995, which doesn't imply good parenting and thats not even getting into the Operator harassing him ToT—it seems like Masky is just such a textbook example of an alter in my opinion, and Tim is 100% a case for DID. The coding is practically being screamed through a megaphone. Its like Theodora from Haunting of Hill House levels of coding, man, except for having freeloaders in your head rather than being a muff diver.
Tim canonically at age 9 had at least two extremely stressful events happen to him, (hospital visit in 1995 due to seizure and his hospitalization,) along with one other i theorized at the beginning of 1996 based off of his medical records, all of which in my hc the split of an alter at that age who goes by "Timothy" and is his system's main little.
Still figuring out his design but doodled some stuff of him, reg Tim and baby masky versus modern masky.
Hi I love your mh character analysis posts they are so GOOD, would you be able to do more about Tim pretty please :]
First of all, Thank you :-)!
Second of all, yeah I have some things I can say about Tim, though a bit funnily, they are a bit discoordinated compared to some of my other analyses.
After all, out of all the characters in Marble Hornets, Tim Wright is the one we know most about, as his life is laid out for us pretty definitely over the course of the series. Because of this, my focus tends to be on his metaphorical other half, Masky, but I do have some things to say about the two of them and their upbringing, and a few unanswered questions which I will try to satisfactorily put my pen to.
⟦content warning: discussions of child abuse/dangerous households, suicide, hospitals, and wildly off the rails theorycrafting⟧
Alright, so why is Tim a system? This is a question some of you may raise your eyebrow at if you're unfamiliar with DID but stick with me here. We know that Tim only started being taken by the Operator and having seizures in 1995, when he was a child, but over seven years old. (I'll get into how we know this later.)
We as a society honestly don't know a lot about Dissociative Identity Disorder and its sisters but one thing we do know is it is caused by extensive stress/trauma inducing dissociation in a extremely young childhood, usually under the age of seven if not even younger, where the mind dissociating from trauma to protect itself causes it to fail to coalesce/develop properly into one identity.
That is the main theory behind how DID forms, and given that Tim is only seeming to be extensively exposed to the Operator at seven, but would that be enough for Tim to develop DID? Alex didn't develop it, despite also being hinted at having been exposed to it at the same age.
Note: In enttry #37, we see a home video of Alex at 6 years old in 1991, with heavy Operator distortion implying that it has somehow corrupted this tape and/or was here. This combined with the fact Alex repeatedly goes to a playground to confront/find the Operator in my opinion more or less guarantees that he saw it as a young child.
This makes sense especially considering the original "Something Awful" forum pictures in my opinion. Alex's backstory with the Operator basically directly references them, which would make sense since they literally inspired the series.
Granted, you could just hand wave this or go "ok but who cares, they probably weren't even trying to make a character with DID," and yeah, you're right, but I want to actually look at Tim's character and explore his childhood a bit to try to understand it, especially in relation to this fact.
Our main fount of information in relation to Tim's childhood is Entry 66 and Entry 60.5. I am going to start with the latter, for a few very specific reasons.
See, in Entry 60.5, we actually get to see 5 of Tim's medical documents, not just one. This is a fact that is seemingly forgotten a lot by the fandom, and I wanted to get into it for my speculation.
The first document we see though is a Pediatric Admissions Profile from December 12th 1995, followed up by a Pediatric Admissions Assessment of the same year at 11:45 A.M. I do not believe these records are from his institutionalization, but rather a hospital visit that directly proceeded it, one that was probably caused by Tim having a seizure at home and needing to go to the hospital, but lets take this one step at a time.
These Admissions forms explain that Tim's conditions and symptoms at his time of admittance, ones we know well as products of Operator exposure. They also give us a precious piece of information that never comes up again though.
Tim's mom's name.
Janet Wright answers all the questions on the Pediatric Admissions Profile, and it is through her answers that we learn several facts, like that Tim has completed 2nd grade at the time of these papers, (meaning he is probably in 3rd,) and that he is on an anti-convulsant, along with the fact he has a history of falls, apparently needs/has glasses, has emotional barriers to learning, that someone has smoked in the house in the past year, and that Tim lives at home alone with her.
This is something reaffirmed on the PA Assessment, which was probably something that either a nurse or his Psychiatrist filled out by asking Tim himself questions.
Under Category 5., Assistance required for Care, there is a part where it says that for emotional support, "Child relys on: Mother (✓) Father ( ) Sibling ( )".
Additionally, it also says asks, "who else besides parents might be staying with child?" Which is answered with a Not Applicable, along with the question, "has your family had any recent changes in your life? (moved, divorce, birth, death, new job, etc.)" Which is also answered with a no.
It continues, and we learn from it that Tim has poor orientation to time along with his chronic headaches, as well as signs and symptoms of depression, as well as that he struggles to engage with peers his age and doesn't have/begin hobbies.
Most importantly though, it is mentioned that his condition isn't affected by his household, which could refer to simply his seizures, but I think is important to mention given his depressive symptoms. At least in this moment, it doesn't seem like to the person doing the assessment that Tim is depressed due to his mom.
(Though that can be hard to pick up on but regardless.)
We also learn that he experiences high risk on a Fall Assessment Scale, as he is checked off as "confused, disoriented, hallucinating, combative," and having a history of "syncope, seizures,"—which is underlined—"postural hypotension".
I believe he only really started to have seizures this year though, as it is mentioned under "Plan of Care" that he ran away from home two "somethings" ago before being found at Rosswood, which I believe to be weeks or months. (If it was two years, why still mention it here?)
I don't think that Tim ran away though, but rather, was taken and teleported by the Operator and Operatortured, an event that left him having chronic seizures. After all, despite Jay being exposed to the Operator for years, we only see him begin to have those only after the Operator snatches him in Entry 72. I think this snatching/possible Operatorture is key in it inducing/beginning to induce seizures.
Moving on though, two of the next three documents are from the same day, with both being from 7/8/02.
The first (Delayed Therapy Communication Form) that we are shown being filled out at 15:10 or 3:10 PM, and the second being an assessment (Suicide/Self-Harm Assessment Tool) that was filled out at 8:45 in the morning, probably by hospital staff in preparation for therapy later in the day. On the latter, Tim was left with a rather high suicide risk score, and a comment of supposedly untrustworthy answers.
There is a document that Jay reads sandwiched between these two though, from 1/10/Year Redacted.
It is a Brief Operative Progress Note, about a procedure seemingly in relation to an unmedical wound with a ton of redacted information, and based on placement and the fact "Hoody" purposefully arranged the papers like this, I believe he was trying to imply to Jay that this was a suicide attempt by Tim at the start of 1996, which led to his hospitalization.
-
Wow. Ok. That was a lot. Let's summarize and break down the facts though.
At the end of 1995, Tim Wright is being raised by his single mother, Janet Wright, with it being unclear if his dad was ever in the picture.
Tim was probably in 3rd grade at the end of 1995, which puts him at around eight to nine years old. At this point, he seemingly had a history of seizures, but around this time he also started showing symptoms of depression, hallucinations and even supposedly "ran away" from home at one point.
It seems like Hoody, based on how he organized these papers, seems to want us to think that at the start of 1996, Tim had either a suicide attempt, or a violent episode that could've been misconstrued as a suicide attempt.
Note: Personally, I think it was misconstrued. I say this because well, we know how the Operator can warp reality, and in Entry 66 Tim says, "My mom [sent me inpatient] when I was really young, but she never told me exactly why," and that the doctors seemingly gossiped about the fact he had violent episodes and hallucinations which led to him being institutionalized, which he doesn't remember.
Of course, maybe Tim was just lying to Jay and leaving stuff out, but based on the rest of this scene and everything else he says, I find that unlikely.
I think it is possible that Masky tried to defend himself and Tim from the Operator and got hurt in the process, and due to his lack of verbality and strange/differing behavior from Tim's, it was interpreted as a violent and/or suicidal episode cause by a hallucination.
Either way, none of this does align with the fact the wound is "clean," but that could be more about it not being infected and/or recent than a clean cut.
Either way, after this, in conjunction with advice from doctors and the stress of caring for a mentally ill child and hospital visits/bills, Janet Wright admitted Tim into inpatient care.
It is after this point, (based on dialogue from Entry 66,) that we know Tim sort of fell out with his mother, as she "wasn't really around" for him to ask things. I can't say why she distanced herself from him, and honestly that is where my sympathy runs dry for her, but we know based on what Tim doesn't say that he more or less didn't have any family.
His mother was probably raising him on her own, and her decision to put him inpatient probably had to do with the fact she just couldn't care for him and genuinely thought it would be better/safer.
Ok. Cool. Unfortunately, still none of this answers the question as to why Tim is a system. Based on all this supplementary evidence though, I do have two kind of routes/ideas I could see as possible/likely which I want to share, so pick your poison.
A】 Janet Wright was neglectful, either by accident or on purpose.
Neglect can cause DID, especially severe emotional neglect causing a disruption in child development, and if Tim's dad was never in the picture, along with the stresses of being a single mom, it could be hard for Ms Wright to meet Tim's needs. Maybe she didn't even want to be a parent, but found out she was pregnant to late, and so decided to "give it a shot."
The real mold in the juice box for this theory though is the fact that Tim's medical records (Pediatric Admission Assessment, Page 2, 6. Abuse/Neglect/Exploitation Screen) answers no to "evidence of neglect by caretakers."
Granted however, this is when Tim is in 3rd grade, and it can be hard to always pick up on emotional neglect. Perhaps it could be misconstrued as depressive symptoms for example, and Tim's issues with starting hobbies and connecting with peers could be due to him not being properly socially met/developed growing up, but honestly I am unsure how I fully feel about this theory.
What it comes down to is just that, besides knowing she smokes regularly, we don't know much about Janet Wright, and while she fell out of touch with Tim, that could be for literally any number of reasons. Demonizing her or deifying her both kind of make me grimace.
Maybe she blames herself for his condition and her guilt drives her away, and after a while she felt it would be wrong of her to go back after abandoning Tim in the first place. Maybe she just never wanted a kid and took the option to ditch him. The point I am getting at is we just don't know.
Which is what brings me to theory two.
B】 Tim's dad was in some way abusive, causing Janet to leave him to protect Tim but leaving him with trauma.
It would explain why Tim's dad isn't in the picture in a way that feels concrete, and why Tim never tried to reach out to his dad's side along with why he has DID. Maybe too, if Janet was in an abusive relationship, that somehow got in the way of her reaching out to her side of the family, which is why Tim never did either and why she didn't have any help for raising him and dealing with his conditions.
I don't really have much to say on this one either, but it would explain why there isn't direct evidence of neglect along with why his mom isn't blamed for his depressive symptoms by the doctor and why Tim said in his Assessment that he relies on his mom for emotional support. That is because he does, but they were just unfortunately in a situation for a while where he couldn't properly get it.
Sure, she probably isn't perfect, but in this reading she does care for him, and did try to get him a better life.
I think this would especially make sense when you consider the fact that Masky, Tim's protector alter, has a feminine presentation.
Often alters formed in especially early youth will take heavy direct inspiration from their environment, especially parents. Maybe since Tim's mom did protect him some of the time and eventually got him away from his dad, this idea of her and by extension femininity as a whole being this unstoppable, almost deified force of nature stuck with him on a subconscious level. She was fierce and seemed impenetrable, especially to a little kid who idolizes their caregiver in the face of abuse, and I think that influenced why Tim's brain made a protector like Masky that is simultaneously feminine aligned out of the blue and so aligned with defending people/defensive violence.
Because yes, Masky is violent, and often they do threaten/attack Alex with "Hoody," but that could easily be because they remember the fact Alex attacked them in Entry 56/57 along with stuff like the fact "Hoody" most likely told them about how Alex killed him and needs to be taken care of. They know Alex is dangerous, and so a lot of their actions are protective or in an attempt to save other people.
Like, in Entry 35, their motives can be hard to read, yes, but if they just wanted to fight someone they could have easily gone for Jay instead of running past him to get Alex. I actually think they could've easily been waiting here because they knew Alex was following Jay and this was the last place Jay was, and they wanted to stop Alex from getting to him because he could (and literally does) try to kill Jay.
Along with this incident, they stop Alex from shooting Jay and Jessica in Entry 52, and seemingly distract him while those two escape and drive away to safety. They also act to protect/save Jessica from the Operator and Alex with Hoody in Entry 76. They also seemingly only stop directly working with Hoody after he hurts Tim, i.e. causing him to have a seizure to trigger them out, which Masky seeming to sever their partnership over.
Listen, there's no answer as to why Masky is feminine, and maybe there doesn't need to be, but based on how DID works and Masky's general behavior, to me it is obvious that they took subconscious inspiration from something, and I think it could be how their mom protected them and Tim.
Note: This is not to say Masky and Tim have a maternal/parental relationship, even if Masky is partially based on their mom in an abstract sense.
In my opinion, they have a relationship almost similar to like, how siblings will go through trauma together and be bonded by that fact because they wholly understand what the other person is going through, or how a slightly older child might try to take care of a younger one and be parent-ified but still while not holding the authority and control of a parent, though obviously different because they're a system. I guess my main point though is that they're equals, and Masky loves Tim very much.
Masky does have some power over Tim because they cause amnesia when they front during traumatic episodes and accidentally puts him in danger sometimes, but ultimately they have a more push-pull relationship to me, even if Tim isn't aware of it. Because, even if Masky does front sometimes, Tim is usually the one in control almost all of the time.
But really that's another post I could make lmao.
Either way, whatever way you think Tim got DID, one thing is clear. His life fucking sucks.
-
If you want my personal belief on what his childhood is like, taken with a bit of salt, I don't think Janet Wright is purely innocent, (she could've very easily been incidentally neglectful given the vagueness of the circumstances,) but I do think that Tim's dad could have been a shithead if only because of how it parallels my Alex headcanons and I like that, along with Masky being based on their mom aesthetically to some extent.
Do you have headcanons for Brian and Masky's interactions while their alliance?
like, How do you think its dynamics have been?
Ohhh do I ever! Brian in relation to systim, especially Masky, is something I think about a lot because of the inherent tragedy in those two's alliance. Brian was systim's first friend but he also led Masky away from his job/duty to the system¹, and ended up betraying them², something that led to everyone but Tim dying.
1. He had Masky do dangerous things like harassing Alex and Jay, leading them in circles but also putting Tim in danger and eventually getting their body's leg broken
2. Entry 61 with the seizure as a direct betrayal to Masky, but also him letting Jay go after Tim trapped him
I think Brian in a lot of ways understood systim better than Masky did, and while he cared a lot for him, he did use his understanding of systim to his advantage against the Operator and Alex, too caught up in his chess game to realize how bad his actions might be.
In a lot of ways, Jay and Brian share a similarity here, since as Marble Hornets progresses, Jay gets less and less conscious of how invasive/weird his recording of things is, a fact brought up and implied heavily at the start of Season 3. Except while Jay's recording is (I would argue) self interested, Brian's interest is more focused on a vague "greater good," or these guerrilla warfare tactics almost against a paranatural entity. But I digress.
I think Brian knew more alters than even Masky was aware of, from how when Masky was able to access front, it basically opened a backdoor to sometimes let other people in too, as only really Tim could fully lockdown front. (And even then, triggers still sometimes got through him.)
I think there was a lot of trust between Masky and Brian too though, as for a while, even though Brian was having Masky do things for him and you could argue he was using Masky, to Masky it felt like an equal relationship.
Brian wanted things, and Masky wanted to supply, to help their best friend, to be cared for and for once not have to make decisions.
Masky has been a protector for their system since they were a little kid, and no matter how much they love Tim, they are exhausted from it, as anyone would be. Getting to follow for once is relieving, and the way Brian claims he wants to hurt this entity that has been haunting and tormenting the person Masky cares about most—it is a breath of fresh air, something hopeful almost.
I think a part of Masky knows that Brian is putting their body in danger with what he asks of them, but Masky is too eager to help someone and not be in charge for once, and they not only trust Brian and more important, want to trust him.
I think it helps that the Operator is almost a weak spot for Masky, a topic that makes them angry and makes their protector instincts flare. It clouds their judgement a bit, and that makes them more willing to do something they're not supposed to.
Masky felt extremely guilty over Brian's near death when they properly learn about it, (which is pretty early before they start working together,) and blames herself partially for it. Brian was their best friend after all, and she should have protected him, she had been there and she failed. (If you believe that Entry 51 happened the day after Entry 56/57)
Never mind the fact the Operator showed up and fucked everything up, she refuses to take that as an excuse.
Masky and Brian are very physically affectionate to me, though almost entirely because Masky is. Brian doesn't feel like a person anymore and struggles to reciprocate hugs and the like, but Masky wants to badly to pull him close, to hold him, to shield him. She almost wishes that she could just pull him into their head, so she could properly keep him safe, but sometimes she gets nervous that what they are (a system) will put Brian off.
I think Brian is nonjudgmental though. Its hard to be judgmental of anything like DID when you have faced horrors beyond imagining.
I think he did care very deeply for Tim and his system, and he didn't want to hurt them, but stopping Alex and the Operator took precedent in his mind. They killed him and changed him fundamentally. He wants them to pay.
I think he nearly regrets it though, sometimes, when he is laying on his mattress at night and feels the cold and mildew setting into his bones, sinking past his skin which he is sure he is rotting.
(He wishes Masky was there, to check, like it had in the past. It has so much experience dealing with delusions and he wishes it was here to help with his—but he knows he has burned that bridge.)
I think when he realizes he is out of his depth, after Jay's death, he panics. He feels a sort of reckless almost frenzy, and it completely jeopardizes whatever small fragility he had. It is why he tries to go contact Masky again, to get her help.
✰ Some of Gage's Tim Wright DID Headcanons/Ideas (DIDeas, hey get it?)
Ok so I have talked a fair bit on my blog about Tim being a system, but I wanted to make a post real quick talking about several ideas I have around his systemhood bc I am going crazy and need to share them.
✦ Hey! If you like this and want to hear more about my Tim system stuff, check out my tag #ng.systim.
Alright, so I think a lot of/most of Tim's system has been around for a very long time, as in he doesn't split too often. Usually when they do, parts end up getting reabsorbed, leading to a very small system count that the active parts are aware of.
(Of course, there are always some parts hiding in headspace/the subconscious, but they're impossible to find unless they want to be.)
I think Tim's system doesn't have a headspace in the stereotypical sense, and generally when they're not fronting, it is sort of like they're asleep, though I think people like Masky would object to that characterization because he doesn't ever really sleep/dream. Usually when he goes to bed, Tim wakes up.
✱ Speaking of "Masky"!
I have talked about this a couple times but I think he would end up going by the name "Angel" after hearing about the concept of Guardian Angels, as that is literally what he is to Tim.
I also see him as a sort of "Protector" archetype, having formed probably around the same time that Tim did as a young child and acting to take on dealing with the trauma for him.
I think Masky's femininity comes from the fact that they (the system as a whole) as a young child idolized their mother as this protective force, this bulwark that was impenetrable and fierce and powerful. They tied all that to her femininity to some extent, and when Masky formed, they were feminine because that was what they associated with strength and protection.
I think Tim and Masky are somewhat equals though, but Masky is also deeply in love with Tim in the way only a protector alter can be. "My purpose is to keep you safe and I love you for it." It is this genuine deep affection, and I think if Tim were to discover Masky, there could be some proper feelings returned eventually after the initial scare.
"Ok but if Masky loves Tim so much why does he work with Brian and get their leg broken??"
Well, I think Brian was both of their first best friend. Whenever Tim was overstimulated and/or scared, whether that be by people or an upcoming final, Masky would front. Brian obviously didn't know this and was just like, "huh wow my buddy Tim is being weird and quiet!" And his kindness left a profound effect on Masky.
Early in Marble Hornets, Masky visits Brian's house regularly despite him being long gone, locking it when he isn't there. Yeah it is a mess, but its being watched over.
I think Brian approached him after Jay got the tapes to ask for his help. I think before then, Brian was in hiding but this isn't a post about him. I think despite being a protector, Masky agreed to help Brian because of how kind he was to him, a mistake he later fully rescinds when Brian causes Tim to have a seizure.
Masky deeply regrets this, and is in turmoil after it for the rest pf the series, leading to their spotty fronting besides protecting Tim in Entry 65 after once again being triggered out by seizures.
Ok that is enough rehashing of other older points lets talk about the idea of—
✱ Other Parts
I think its very possible that Tim at least has a little alter. I haven't given it too much thought, but I think there is stuff hidden around their living space for the little¹, crayons and pencils and spare papers, these doodles hidden under the bed. I also think they have a stuffed animal from when Tim was a kid at one, something Tim keeps meaning to throw out but always ends up back in bed.
[1] An alter/part that earnestly believes they are and acts younger than the body. They aren't real kids but often will experience distress at being reminded of that or not treated like a kid, and generally will struggle with emotional reasoning or processing stuff, as a child might.
Often they're the most protected members of a system.
I think there is probably several points where they accidentally front in front of other people, but Tim's little is very anxious and quiet, leading to them being undetected.
I could honestly see them fronting while Tim and Jay are living at motels for that brief period of time, and Jay just being confused why Tim suddenly got emotional and started crying a bit and not communicating. (The little doesn't have their plush and is upset.)
Jay ends up sitting with him and rubbing his back, and it feels like such a crazy thing to do with Tim of all people—stalwart, endlessly brave Tim—but Jay does it, and it helps.
I think Jay doesn't mention it tomorrow because he doesn't want to upset/embarrass Tim and quite obviously, Tim doesn't remember.
I think Tim's childhood stuffed animal is a dog of some kind, and he simply forgot to bring it.
Alsooo I do not think Tim's system really has introjects²? (I say this mostly because I don't know what the fuck media they'd be from lmao.) But I do think there is an alter which holds more of the musical talent between them all. Not all of it, but they just remember more. I think they also know how to play piano along with ukulele and if given the chance they'd love to make little ditties to impress people.
[2] Alters whose personalities are based off of an interpretation of a character held by another specific alter or the general subconscious. Sometimes they think of themselves literally as the character but not always.
I don't have a name for them, as I don't really either for the little, but this bard I think would enjoy dressing a bit more colorful than Tim usually does.
Also could see them having a very aggressive persecutor³-trauma holder alter who split off of Masky during when they were in the hospital. Generally I think Masky was even more aggressive during this time due to his system feeling so threatened and dehumanized and him feeling powerless to protect/take care of them, and it resulted in a very harsh split after Masky lit the fire in the hospital to escape. This led to them "chilling out" a bit for college, but also a very aggressive persecutor who lurks in the back of their mind.
[3] Put it simply, a protector who doesn't know how to be a protector.
Persecutors are often very angry about the trauma and very hurt, leading to them lashing out and trying to reenact trauma or push people away or whatever. They tend to be very emotional and hurt, and its important to empathize with them as a way to help them heal. Unfortunately no one in systim has done this yet.
I think their appearance in headspace would almost be sort of fiery/charred, this representation of retribution and anger that lashes out when anyone gets close. I could see them also having a mask since they split off from Masky, and were this product of futile rage that developed into something new! Though also obviously their mask would look a bit different. I dunno, that'd be fun.
(For us, if alters split off from one another like that, like if they're a part of that alter which splits off or a specific trauma, they will often look to some degree similar!)
I think they would very rarely front, at least on their own. Masky would be very cautious about that, and about them hurting the body or other people by lashing out. Because even when Masky is helping Brian or angry, he usually still has somewhat enough of a mind to be careful and deep down his main priority is Tim. (Though he doesn't always behave wisely/good and we loveeee a flawed protector 😁)
Anyway yeah those are my main thoughts I am a bit tired rn lol I might rb this with more later I hope you enjoyeddd
I've talked about this with friends before but I guess I will make a post too—I find the idea that Tim would call "Masky" just that to be laughable. (Personally, I don't think he would refer to him at all but that's another story.)
I don't think his masked alter has a name of its own either though, especially if it formed (as I believe it did) in childhood due to extensive exposure to the Operator combined with an unsteady home life causing extensive dissociation.
I do think, however, that since it acts very much Guardian/Protector for Tim in a lot of ways, it would eventually latch heavily onto the name "Angel" because of this.
It is in a lot of ways his Guardian Angel after all, trying to protect him from the Operator and showing up in situations of extreme distress/stress (having a seizure, being Operatortured, etcetera).
Sidenote: I have reasons I think Angel/the masked alter stopped fronting/didn't front towards the end of the series, but that more has to do with system weirdness and interpretations I have of Systim as a system.
By and large also I think Angel/the masked alter was upset with Brian for causing Tim to have a seizure to trigger it out, as while it attacks Alex when Brian ties him up in Entry 67, it never works again with him or wears its mask.
I've not come up with a name or anything but I've always thought that the sudden death of Jay and Brian and even Alex in such quick succession would've in the aftermath of everything led to Tim developing another alter to cope, that or since it seems Masky fronts less and less, Masky merges with another alter. This time I think there'd be no real memory blockage as it's to help him cope and come to terms with everything.
YEAHHHHH. OK. Ehm. I actually do have a headcanon related to this but idk how well singlets will take it? But so, when systems experience substantial loss, its not uncommon to split an alter of the person you lost! Especially if they were of comfort. I could see Tim splitting an introject of Jay, who isn't actually Jay of course but is rather how Tim saw Jay.
The fact that systems' introjects are based off of a systems interpretation of a character/person and limited by that fact makes me feel so ill and crazy. I love it a lot and systems and grief is something obviously very personal to me that I think about a TON.
I think exploring Tim becoming aware of his system + splitting a couple of alters in the wake of his survivors guilt and grief? Erm, yes please! 😋
I really like the idea of Tim's alters sort of taking inspo from Tim's rough life and some of them having very abstract forms because of that. Tbh Masky is like that to me, which is why he used a mask. He doesn't identify with how the body looks at all.
