#it’s not pretty- it’s understandable in encepahlous culture to be pretty horrid to your out-group

[whatudottu]

So I’m reading through your ideas for Ben 10 and seeing the “cliquey and territorial cerebrocrustaceans” one is making me realize how absolutely hysterical it would’ve been if at the beginning of Alien Force Brainstorm was incredibly kind and affectionate towards Gwen more so than Ben usually is meanwhile he’s just disgusted by Kevin’s entire existence.

Brainstorm: “Oh, Gwendolyn! I have a surprise for you! I witnessed you express an interest to see a feature film that has recently debuted, so I decided to purchase two tickets so that you may go and see it with a colleague of your choosing! And there’s no need to worry about refreshments: I’m more than happy to lend you the proper fare required for you and your chosed companion to purchase all of your favorites!”

Gwen, genuinely put off as Ben’s never been this nice to her before: “Umm…thanks?”

Kevin: “Hey Ben, do you know where the bathroom is?”

Brainstorm: “T H E  G R O U N D  U P O N  W H I C H  Y O U  S T A N D.”

(Of course, as Ben gradually warms up to Kevin, Brainstorm eventually grants him one of the highest honors he can bestow: permission to touch him without needing his consent first)

Oh hell yeah this got me cracking up!

Ben 10 rarely ever explores the differing psychology between Ben’s humanity and all the aliens he does transform into- well, save for Rath that is! Sure, the smarter aliens he transforms into affect his intelligence, but academic IQ is a completely different ballpark to social instincts, and the idea that Brainstorm who - being a cerebrocrustacean who’s social evolution centres on a severe in-group vs out-group - would interact quite differently with his peers than in his human base form.

Hah, Gwen may be confused and perhaps slightly off-put given Ben - while affectionate and caring of her - isn’t quite so open and hmm… what’s the term… considerate? Attentive? About her interests that he’d spend the money on them for her. At least for the sake of their present closeness Brainstorm wasn’t on 10 year old Ben’s playlist, Gwen would have been on the outest of out-groups you’d need to have been a criminal actively harming him to get it worse.

*looking at Kevin* Ah right yes, that criminality- Kevin would HATE Brainstorm like it was personal, even after Ben the human gets to trust him more and drop the suspicions. Would probably groan whenever he shows up again, it’s almost like Kev treats Brainstorm like an entirely different person (in a similar but opposite way Ben sees his transformations as people), even after he becomes part of Brainstorm’s in-group. Can’t handle the saccharine :P Understandable-