Okay so this is a long list of educated guesses o Drayton, his childhood, his parents etc... cus I love him.
Firstly where tf are his parents??? He is not the direct child of grandma and grandpa, as he refers to them as such. I believe that Drayton has been alive long enough to have seen a, at least partially, 'normal' life. As said, he was raised in meat, so he was probably raised in the abuse/ torture or violent killing of animals (the slaughterhouse) so there was still something wrong with the Sawyer family, but it wasn't near the extent it is now. I think the human killing came after his parents passing.
Im boring, and I think that Drayton's parents just died. If they died before the killing, they wouldn't've been in the practice of mummifying their dead loved ones yet. I think they died when Drayton was young, and the other brothers too young to have any memories of their existence (why they don't mention them). If they died when Drayton was incapable of getting a job (his brothers young and needing to be looked after, grandpa too incapacitated etc...) that would lead to poverty, starvation and then the cannibalism. This would also explain why his brothers are less 'self aware' than him. The killing is all they've ever known, so they are more comfortable with it, even take great pleasure in it, but Drayton, "does not take pleasure in killing." (he also delivers the speech about shame on the 2nd movie). Due to his glimpse of a life before all the brutality, he could have a better sense of right and wrong. (not good by any stretch of the imagination but better...)
That explains could be why they aren't mentioned by him. He doesn't want to touch on his youth because it was likely traumatic, and all he says is that he was forced to look after his brothers alone.
I think the only character that has something similar to Drayton's shame is Chop Top. (I somehow manage to make him a part of every conversation) but, he went to war, and he had a chance to at least hear about other 'normal' lives, outside the Sawyers, and from a different perspective. This assumption come from the Cornbugs lyrics, "what do you expect? I never had a chance." I think he has a slight envy for something 'normal'. Even if he does enjoy the death of others it could be a want for a choice, or opportunities outside his upbringing. (Possibly why he is fussed about stuff like going to the movies and the radio, much more regular than grave robbing... cough cough Nubbins...). I wonder if he could've accomplished something more after that experience if it wasnt for Nubbins' death and his PTSD.
I wish Cornbugs was cannon :(
I think by the time TCM2 rolls around Drayton is closer to the insanity of his brothers. He clearly gets enjoyment out of the killing, he now states the he chooses who to kill, instead of picking up random passers by. I think this is because the prospect of making money/ becoming rich overpowers his inner moral compass. If he grew up in poverty, he would shoot his shot a wealth any-day, I think human meat is only involved as the results are so good, and he knows how to cook with it well.
I think his greed overpowered his guilt and drove him the same 'love of the game' killing the rest of the family partakes in, "It's a dog eat dog world, and from where I stand, there 'aint enough damn dogs."
I do think Drayton loves his brothers alot, but he will always have a resentment towards them for forcing him to look after them and reducing the family to what it is now, never giving Drayton a proper shot at life. I do believe the sawyers have always been odd, but the death of Drayton's parents was the final push to lead them down the rabbit hole.
Drayton is actually one of my favourite characters in the franchise, and I think he is grossly underrated. I also know that there is no way the writers thought about the lore this much, but I absolutely love making stuff up to fantasise about.
''So ask yourself before you get in
Know insurance won't cover this
Are you the rabbit or the headlight?
And is there room in your life
For one more breakdown?''
*
Pt 3
Pt 2
Intro
Warnings: some horror I think, Malon panicking a bit, stranger danger, maybe ooc Leatherface(but I love him like that so don't you judge me T^T)and Drayton, mention of yelling and scared Bubba, nice Drayton
Don't hesitate to tell me if I did any mistakes, I would love to know! Likes, comments and reblogs mean the world though <3
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Malon woke up with a tired groan, feeling the surface she was lying on. She had a frown on her face, until she felt some pains in her hands and knees, the memories coming back to her as her brows creased and she carefully sat on the comfortable bed, hearing some talking, or more like almost screaming, outside the room she was in. The male voices made her frown as she didn't know where she was, her breathing starting to pick up. The place was totally unfamiliar, and she didn't even know who got her there, the only thing she remembers before passing out is strong arms around her... and an animal - ish squeal?... Oh, and the bones. A shiver went through her, her eyes looking around frantically before she got up, taking care of not making any noises as she hopped down the mattress, a blanket sliding off of her and to the ground. Looking around since she tried to find something to defend herself, she realized that it almost seemed like a kid's room, some blankets and pillows, literally anything, just thrown around the room, but not too messy. There even were some sheets of papers and some pencils on a desk in the corner, which took the little girl's interest.
Walking closer, she saw some scribbles on the top sheet, what looks like a face drawn. It was messy, but she could still see that it took some time.
She observed it with a curious face and hopped on the chair near the desk, forgetting about the yelling outside and that she's in a stranger's house. Her curious eyes absorbed the scribbles, her small fingers touching the deeply drawn lines before she got down with sudden realization, hearing footsteps coming towards the room. Some indistinguishable words could be heard through the door, louder and louder as she frantically got down and rolled under the bed, seeing the door open.
The scared girl muffled her breathing as she watched two pairs of feet enter, until they stop as the persons realized she isn’t there, the talking/yelling stopping. She heard a scoff, her eyes wide opened as one of the people got out with a grumble, the other murmuring something— she still couldn’t tell what— under their breath. When they closed the door, she could guess the person is a male, since she could clearly see half of his body. He had big strong hands that made her think of her dad, or about how he could just snap her neck as goosebumps rose on her body. He seemed pretty big too, which didn't reassure her.
A scared tear travelled down her cheek as she tried to calm herself, watching as the stranger sat at the chair at the desk and let out what seemed like a low squeal of distress and some mumbles…. Maybe he couldn’t speak, but it still really scared her…
She jumped out of her skin when she realized she hadn't been paying attention and didn’t see him now face level with her.
''AAH-'' As Malon let out a scared and startled scream, the masked stranger, let out another squeal of distress, falling on his butt as he looked wide eyed at the girl.
It was silent for a moment as poor Malon looked at the man before her, her brows creasing and her worries lessening a tiny bit. His mask looked made out of leather or something, which hid all of his face except his fluffy hair at the top. It made her think of her dad again, especially the no talking part. When she saw him as less of a threat, after examining him and his non-threatening position, she silently got out from under the bed, her eyes wide and fixed on the kneeled stranger as he just looked at her and played with the strings of the pale apron he's wearing. ''Please.. P-please don't kill me. '' She murmured as she sat before him and they looked at each other, until the bulky man got up and let out some noises she couldn't understand, rubbing the back of his head. He seems to be trying to make some words, before he abandoned and shook his head from left to right. Since he didn't talk, she took the movement as a sign he wasn't going to kill her. He would have probably done it earlier if he was going to, he looked more scared than anything...
It was pleasant for a small while, the two just looking at each other curiously, and the atmosphere softening... Before the desk caught the girl's eyes again. A small gasp left her lips when she saw the cover of a familiar book, and she got up, making the man tense. He looked at her as she went towards the desk and picked it up, opening the first page to see her mother's name and initials, 'M.J'. ''That's my mom's book! Where did you find it..? '' She said as if she was asking a question to her friend, surprising the stranger that her behavior changed from scared to trusting. Thinking that she wants an answer, he shrugged. His brother didn't tell him, so he didn't know. ''Is it okay if I keep it?...'' She continued as he nodded, now playing with his fingers. He didn't have anything he could do with it, he was too scared to erase of smudge one of the pages.
Before the two could do anything else, the door opened with a slam, a familiar man appeared in the doorway, his brows jumping up his head when he saw Malon on the matress. ''Oh, my... Hello again, little lady.'' The girl's face lightened a bit when she recognized him as the man at the gaz station and she hopped down. Her brows furrowed again as she was oblivious to the other man still being in the same spot he was. ''C-can I go back to my parents....??'' The red haired girl asked, barely above a whisper, as she played with the end of her dress. The gaz station man bent down before speaking again, a softer look on his face. ''Don't worry 'bout it, I'll take you back to them.'' Malon's face lit up again. ''D'you remember where they were?'' He took a moment as he looked down before looking back out with a side smile ''....Near the old house?'' A nod is what he got as he let out a small chuckle, going back to his full height. ''C'mon, I'll take you there.''
--
The man, that she know knew as Drayton, drove her to the old house where the van's parked.
Getting out of the truck as they were here, Malon ran to her parents and hugged them tightly, her mother letting out a cry as she fell to the ground and took he rin her arms. As for Jason, as soon as he finished hugging his daughter, he looked towards Draton, a tense and barely there smile on his unmasked face.
He didn't trust anybody, even if the man had saved and given them back their precious daughter. There was just this gut feeling that he couldn't get out. It was like his guts twisted, and he didn't like that, not one bit, he knew something was a bit weird about the man... He didn't think much about it when he saw MJ with happy tears running down her face. Eric, who got out of the van from searching for a snack in the cooler, hugged and took Malon by the hand, looking at her and patting her up and down with some tickling, while Drayton told her parents what happened and how his brother, Bubba, found her.
They were a relieved to hear nothing bad happened, but they were still pretty much scared...After some talking, the small group decided to take on the offer to go have dinner at the man's house, kind of a thank you for helping Malon out and giving her back. Plus, it would be pretty interesting for their vacation, a turn on the good road again.
As they got in the van to get to the Sawyer's house, Malon pulled on her mother arm, making her look down with a gasp as she saw her lost book. Without any words exchanged, she hugged her tightly, carrying her in her arms and towards the car, a big smile on her face as she felt the cover of her sketch book.
