[That's...quite a lot for one person to know without digging into a more private file.]
His symptoms point to a form of dissociative identity disorder, taking on the bodies and identities of persons he's killed. He cannot resist his urges, and as you've said he disfigures the faces of his victims.
On some level they probably understand their ability, and have a sense of identity instability because of it. (I say "they" as Frankie is of an indeterminate gender. Male as far as we know—but only as far as we know. It's for simplicity's sake.) They're malleable in body, so why not in mind? I suspect once Frankie questions himself Frankie has the impulse to adopt someone new to become. They kill out of envy for someone else's secure existence, targeting victims who are very well self-defined. Someone who is certain about themselves and where they are in life. Then, once they are successful in taking over someone's life they...Start over. Arguably the stress or a trigger prompts Frankie to go after another, and another...
It has been difficult to pinpoint his movements or even a pattern beyond that single trait, but over time the desire for a more and more specific identity fueled Frankie to target someone no one could mistake. He became frenzied and sloppy as a result...But he's more cunning than he'd let on. A superb actor. Luckily he was brought to the asylum shortly thereafter, and has stayed there since. Until now.
The only thing that appears to remain consistent is that need. That constant drive that makes him antsy and perhaps even constantly on edge. That and the appearance of Frankie Nichols himself. He favors that form for reasons no one can tell.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2011-07-02 07:26 pm (UTC)His symptoms point to a form of dissociative identity disorder, taking on the bodies and identities of persons he's killed. He cannot resist his urges, and as you've said he disfigures the faces of his victims.
On some level they probably understand their ability, and have a sense of identity instability because of it. (I say "they" as Frankie is of an indeterminate gender. Male as far as we know—but only as far as we know. It's for simplicity's sake.) They're malleable in body, so why not in mind? I suspect once Frankie questions himself Frankie has the impulse to adopt someone new to become. They kill out of envy for someone else's secure existence, targeting victims who are very well self-defined. Someone who is certain about themselves and where they are in life. Then, once they are successful in taking over someone's life they...Start over. Arguably the stress or a trigger prompts Frankie to go after another, and another...
It has been difficult to pinpoint his movements or even a pattern beyond that single trait, but over time the desire for a more and more specific identity fueled Frankie to target someone no one could mistake. He became frenzied and sloppy as a result...But he's more cunning than he'd let on. A superb actor. Luckily he was brought to the asylum shortly thereafter, and has stayed there since. Until now.
The only thing that appears to remain consistent is that need. That constant drive that makes him antsy and perhaps even constantly on edge. That and the appearance of Frankie Nichols himself. He favors that form for reasons no one can tell.