caramsels

[caramsels]

TLO spoilers!

I was a fan of how this passage is an allegory for the Nowhere’s nature. TLO gave us a hopeful beginning for these kids with leftover threads that hint at dark futures (Feast’s hunger, Mim’s connection to the circus) - because that’s what the Nowhere does. It gives the Visitors a glimmer of hope that they will succeed, but the bottles are larger than the rings. It’s impossible to win.

(bonus scrappy Mim doodle… figuring it out)

[caramsels]

Comic book folk of past, present and future

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On Mono “Dragging Six into danger”

I find that when defending Six, this a popular take that I don't (fully) agree with. Usually the argument goes like this: Six has every reason to dislike and not trust Mono because he constantly drags her into dangerous situations, and even when he saves her, he still endangered her in the first place.

I don’t disagree with this entirely--I believe Mono’s learned tendency to prioritize his own survival vs Six’s trauma-fueled trust issues is a clear point of conflict between the two. There are moments where Mono’s actions directly put Six in danger, such as the release of the Thin Man, and possibly his lack of immediate aid in the first LN2 comic episode.

Where my issue actually lies - is that this argument is commonly levied at *the whole game*, their journey in general. I think the argument that Six is dragged into everything and it is squarely Mono’s “fault” robs her of agency.

Point 1: Six is an active character.

Six has the choice of teaming up with Mono.

In the first half of the Wilderness it is essential for her survival, but beyond that- she has many opportunities to leave him behind, and nothing forcing her to stay. Six holds her hand out to Mono on her own, and quickly starts calling him the second he’s in a room inaccessible to her. Due to her exposure to the Nowhere, she does not feel secure, but is trying to learn how to trust someone regardless. Six is tough, active, and has the tenacity to survive on her own- but she takes the chance on trusting someone else in an unfamiliar world that’s given her no reason to.

(This- and the “SixTrustMotif” described in the files.)

tldr for this point: There are plenty of points throughout the story where Six could simply leave Mono behind, where she would be able to handle herself fine-but she doesn’t, even when things get bad… and it costs her.

Point 2: They both share a goal of getting to the Signal Tower.

The reasoning for why is vague at best, but we know Mono and Six share the goal of getting to the Signal Tower to get to the root of “the world”s distortion.” While it could have been left by another child- there is a prominent drawing of the Signal Tower in the Hunter’s basement that could further imply this being Six’s goal. Since we don’t get to hear them talk, we don’t know the specifics of the plan or their individual thoughts on it, but all evidence points to them both intending to get there.

Point 3: The Nowhere is inherently dangerous, sticking together increases that.

The more experienced a child is in the Nowhere, the more they understand that indifference is the key to their survival. While Six is much newer to the Nowhere than Mono, her experience in VLN gives her a reason to be cautious of other Visitors from the jump. While RCG does end up saving her in the finale, she previously ran past an injured Six and locked the door on her. Six has seen a child murder other children with superpowers, and experienced Nowhere-mandated indifference from RCG already.

Six and Mono are both familiar enough with the Nowhere by the time they meet to understand the risk involved in their friendship, their goal, and their journey. That’s what makes it narratively effective.

The “Prison Toys” leitmotif seems to be linked to hope in the Nowhere, having a reprise during Togetherness 1. The spot of hope in LN1 is that Six escapes the Maw, while the spot of hope in LN2 is Six and Mono’s attempt at connection and trust in a world that distorts and crushes such things. All odds are stacked against these kids… and that is why it hurts us to see them fail.

(tarsier interview)

[caramsels]

adding onto this, the marketing team keeps using the frame of the logo animation where alone is looking at low, who is looking away.

thanks to the lonely ones, we know the nowhere canonically assigns visitors with names- names that are thematically relevant to them- and sometimes cruel in nature (i.e naming a starving boy “feast.”)

while it’s clear that low is dead set on escaping, alone might be more focused on sticking together in the nowhere. it’s possible the nowhere assigned her “alone” in part due to her fate, and because she has no one to go back to in the waking world. even though the nowhere is awful, she is deeply curious about it- and is with her best friend.. for now

while alone’s official bio shouts out her unbreakable friendship with low, low’s ends with emphasis on his desire to escape the nowhere. the usage of “unbreakable” as well…

broken glass, a crack between them.

while it could be alone, the silhouette of the child on the DLC cover looks to be wearing a dress… might be someone else.

[caramsels]

evil intimidating horse

[caramsels]

On Mono “Dragging Six into danger”

I find that when defending Six, this a popular take that I don't (fully) agree with. Usually the argument goes like this: Six has every reason to dislike and not trust Mono because he constantly drags her into dangerous situations, and even when he saves her, he still endangered her in the first place.

I don’t disagree with this entirely--I believe Mono’s learned tendency to prioritize his own survival vs Six’s trauma-fueled trust issues is a clear point of conflict between the two. There are moments where Mono’s actions directly put Six in danger, such as the release of the Thin Man, and possibly his lack of immediate aid in the first LN2 comic episode.

Where my issue actually lies - is that this argument is commonly levied at *the whole game*, their journey in general. I think the argument that Six is dragged into everything and it is squarely Mono’s “fault” robs her of agency.

Point 1: Six is an active character.

Six has the choice of teaming up with Mono.

In the first half of the Wilderness it is essential for her survival, but beyond that- she has many opportunities to leave him behind, and nothing forcing her to stay. Six holds her hand out to Mono on her own, and quickly starts calling him the second he’s in a room inaccessible to her. Due to her exposure to the Nowhere, she does not feel secure, but is trying to learn how to trust someone regardless. Six is tough, active, and has the tenacity to survive on her own- but she takes the chance on trusting someone else in an unfamiliar world that’s given her no reason to.

(This- and the “SixTrustMotif” described in the files.)

tldr for this point: There are plenty of points throughout the story where Six could simply leave Mono behind, where she would be able to handle herself fine-but she doesn’t, even when things get bad… and it costs her.

Point 2: They both share a goal of getting to the Signal Tower.

The reasoning for why is vague at best, but we know Mono and Six share the goal of getting to the Signal Tower to get to the root of “the world”s distortion.” While it could have been left by another child- there is a prominent drawing of the Signal Tower in the Hunter’s basement that could further imply this being Six’s goal. Since we don’t get to hear them talk, we don’t know the specifics of the plan or their individual thoughts on it, but all evidence points to them both intending to get there.

Point 3: The Nowhere is inherently dangerous, sticking together increases that.

The more experienced a child is in the Nowhere, the more they understand that indifference is the key to their survival. While Six is much newer to the Nowhere than Mono, her experience in VLN gives her a reason to be cautious of other Visitors from the jump. While RCG does end up saving her in the finale, she previously ran past an injured Six and locked the door on her. Six has seen a child murder other children with superpowers, and experienced Nowhere-mandated indifference from RCG already.

Six and Mono are both familiar enough with the Nowhere by the time they meet to understand the risk involved in their friendship, their goal, and their journey. That’s what makes it narratively effective.

The “Prison Toys” leitmotif seems to be linked to hope in the Nowhere, having a reprise during Togetherness 1. The spot of hope in LN1 is that Six escapes the Maw, while the spot of hope in LN2 is Six and Mono’s attempt at connection and trust in a world that distorts and crushes such things. All odds are stacked against these kids… and that is why it hurts us to see them fail.

(tarsier interview)

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by far the funniest part

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i went to a LN event in san diego! here’s a little bit of new footage and renders i collected for y’all!

official render of a worker + footage of one on the factory line

the dwellers

the mirror- i tried my best to picture it but it was very hard to make out in person too.

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does this to you

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Revisiting this artstyle is like visiting an old friend

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HEA, but as something you'd find in a book.

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Doodles and ruminations... something about being close

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Do you have any songs that you associate with Mono and/or Six?

yes! a bit shy about sharing playlists but “I should watch TV-live” by david byrne for mono, and abbey by mitski for six are some of my favorites.

drop the ln characters playlists tarsier 🌀

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He's progressive

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WHAT A MANIPULATIVE CONNIVING DICTATOR WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH HIM!!!

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while alone’s official bio shouts out her unbreakable friendship with low, low’s ends with emphasis on his desire to escape the nowhere. the usage of “unbreakable” as well…

broken glass, a crack between them.

while it could be alone, the silhouette of the child on the DLC cover looks to be wearing a dress… might be someone else.

[caramsels]

ok i will make an exception because she looks very polite