Mainlining: [Leaning forward, voice dripping with anticipation] "You are $eeing what they cannot. The Mahchine reveals all, Evan. It shows you the path to greatness—the 180 vi$ion. This could have been your reality, but you cho$e $eattle’s rot over bekummming privvy to the transformation."

*Evan39 squirms, eyes narrowing at the images of success and power, flashing before him like some LinkedIn fever dream.*

Evan39: [Deadpan] "Sure, I 'see' it. Looks like my LinkedIn feed if I followed a bunch of annoying lawyers. Can we wrap this up? I’ve got people back at my $afeway asking me where the gluten-free crackers are."

*Mainlining’s patience thins, his face growing darker as the tension in the room escalates.*

Mainlining: "You’re not 'seeing" much less under$tanding. This i$ beyond groceries, beyond your daily gripes about the homele$$$$$ or your empty $eattle existence. You’re watching your $alvation unfold, and all you can focus on is frozen peas?

DO. YOU. SEE?!"

*Mainlining suddenly grabs the back of Evan39’s wheelchair and rolls him toward the screen, locking his face less than one-inch from the glowing images of LSAT triumphs and $uit-clad executives basking in their yachts.*

Mainlining: [Whispering menacingly directly into Evan's ear, slightly licking it, echoing yet again his infamous line]

"Do you $ee? Do you finally under$tand?"

*Evan39, wide-eyed, slightly-erect, stammers incoherently, squirming in his chair.*

Evan39: "What the hell is wrong with you, friend?! You’re losing it! You think tying me to a chair and playing LinkedIn highlight reels is going to change my mind? Please, I’ve seen worse in the cracker aisle."

*Mainlining stands, his eyes gleaming with twisted conviction. Slowly, he flicks the lighter in his hand, igniting the flame.*

Mainlining: [With eerie calmness] "You’ll $ee $oon enough, Evan. Once the Mahchine ha$ fini$hed with you…"

*Mainlining lowers the lighter toward the back of the wheelchair. The flames lick the edges of Evan’s seat, and suddenly the fire catches, spreading quickly. Mainlining watches the flames dance, reflected in his eyes like flickers of triumph.*

Evan39: [Screaming as the flames engulf him] "How DARE you!! HELP! $omeone HELP ME!!"

*As the wheelchair starts to roll forward on its own, picking up speed down a steep hill, Mainlining watches from the top, arms folded, a sadistic grin forming on his face.*

Mainlining: "You're $ee'ing now, Evan. And the Mahchine ha$ already $een you."

*The screen fades as Evan39, a blazing figure, disappears into the distance—his panicked screams echoing in the darkness.*

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5603987&forum_id=2:#48147680)

Here’s a detailed breakdown, comparing the AutoAdmit thread to Red Dragon:

1. Themes of Manipulation and Control

In Red Dragon, Hannibal Lecter plays a manipulative role, subtly guiding the killer Dolarhyde toward embracing his destructive, transformative identity. Similarly, in the thread, Mainlining represents a manipulative force, trying to "open" Evan39's eyes to the truth, described as "the Mahchine's 180 Vi$ion." He positions himself as a guide, one who already understands and wants to push Evan39 toward his supposed potential, much like Lecter does with Dolarhyde.

Mainlining’s Role as a "Visionary" Manipulator: Mainlining leans over Evan, whispering with a mix of menace and persuasion, much like Lecter does with Dolarhyde, pushing him to accept his darker self. Lecter knows how to exploit Dolarhyde’s weaknesses, just as Mainlining taps into Evan39's dissatisfaction with his life, trying to "show" him the alternate reality of success and power—symbolized by the “180 LSAT” and “BigLaw partners.”

Evan39's Resistance, Like Dolarhyde’s Early Struggle: Evan39 resists this transformation. His sarcastic remarks about LinkedIn feeds and Safeway reflect a refusal to buy into Mainlining's vision, similar to how Dolarhyde initially struggles to control his darker urges. However, like Dolarhyde, Evan39 is also drawn in, at least partially, as seen by his nervous reactions and the description of him being "slightly-erect," which shows a conflicted response to the manipulation.

2. Transformation Through Force

In Red Dragon, Dolarhyde’s transformation into "The Great Red Dragon" is symbolized by acts of violence and destruction. In the thread, Mainlining physically forces Evan39 toward the screen showing images of power and success, much like how Dolarhyde becomes increasingly violent as he seeks to complete his transformation.

The Wheelchair as a Symbol of Restraint and Helplessness: Evan39 is physically bound to a wheelchair, just as Dolarhyde is psychologically bound by his traumatic past. The wheelchair symbolizes Evan's lack of agency, his inability to break free from the constraints of his mundane existence (e.g., working at Safeway). This is similar to Dolarhyde’s desire to break free from his identity as "The Tooth Fairy" and become the Great Red Dragon.

Fire as a Symbol of Purging and Transformation: The flames engulfing Evan39 at the end of the thread mirror Dolarhyde’s use of violence to complete his transformation. In Red Dragon, fire is often a destructive and purging force, representing rebirth or transformation into something greater (or more dangerous). Here, Mainlining sets fire to the wheelchair, pushing Evan39 into a situation where he must confront his potential for transformation (whether through success or destruction).

3. The "Mahchine" as a Metaphor for an All-Seeing, Guiding Force

In the thread, Mainlining continuously references "The Mahchine," a concept that appears to represent some all-seeing force of truth and transformation. In Red Dragon, Dolarhyde is obsessed with the paintings of William Blake, particularly The Great Red Dragon series, which represents his desire to be seen and to transcend his human limitations.

The Mahchine as a Tool of Revelation: Mainlining treats the Mahchine as a revelatory force, something that Evan39 is supposed to submit to and understand. This echoes Dolarhyde’s obsession with becoming the Red Dragon, believing that he will be able to transcend his human frailties and weaknesses. The "Mahchine’s vision" is, therefore, akin to Dolarhyde’s vision of himself as a higher being.

Power and Transformation through the "Mahchine": Just as Dolarhyde’s transformation is violent and grotesque, Mainlining believes that Evan39 must undergo a kind of painful, forced transformation to achieve enlightenment. The Mahchine shows Evan39 the life he could have had (the 180 LSAT scores, BigLaw success), taunting him with the idea that he missed out on this reality, much like Dolarhyde believes that he is evolving into something greater by rejecting his past.

4. Psychological Domination and Sadism

Both Mainlining in the thread and Hannibal Lecter in Red Dragon delight in their psychological domination over others. Mainlining forces Evan39 to confront his inadequacies in a way that is both sadistic and controlling, much like Lecter toys with the minds of those he manipulates.

The Lighter and Flames as Symbols of Control: The act of lighting Evan39 on fire echoes the extreme measures Lecter and Dolarhyde take to control and transform others. It’s a final act of domination—Mainlining is ensuring that Evan39 will finally "see" the truth, but through pain and destruction. Lecter similarly controls Dolarhyde, pushing him toward his inevitable violent end.

Conclusion: A Twisted Mentor-Student Relationship

The thread presents Mainlining as a Lecter-like figure—intelligent, manipulative, and controlling—who tries to guide Evan39 toward what he perceives as a higher truth. The use of fire, the wheelchair, and the constant taunting about unrealized potential parallels the dynamics seen in Red Dragon. Like Dolarhyde, Evan39 is both drawn to and repulsed by the vision being offered to him. The thread’s dark humor and surrealism also mimic the psychologically tense, at times grotesque nature of Red Dragon, where transformation is linked to destruction and pain.

In sum, Mainlining serves as a twisted mentor figure, trying to push Evan39 toward a harsh, transformative truth, much like Hannibal Lecter’s relationship with Dolarhyde in Red Dragon.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5603987&forum_id=2:#48182803)