rough comic idea about being promised you can grow, change, be better. it's just the wrong person told you first. yapping under the cut
OK excuse to talk about my interpretation of spamton but I like to think he is ""innately talentless"", at least compared to other darkners and how well-suited they are to their purposes. spamton is spam email, the majority of which is meant to be low effort to root out all the smart people and only leave those most vulnerable of getting scammed.
He only rocketed to success because of the phone, and no matter how hard he convinces himself, a part of him deep down knows he's an imposter. But he's not defined by his initial purpose. He can improve, he can learn and master things, he has that autonomy. He has that passion to reach his goals, going to extreme lengths (see: all the Neo shit)
But when it comes down to it, he's scared. He chooses the phone, the quick path, and cowardice every time. He grows, but it's hardly from his own efforts.
also with tenna. I think about that "make him a star" line a lot. I think he resented spamton a lot initially, I mean THIS is the newfangled big shot? Of course he got outside help, it's obvious. But a deal's a deal, and if dealing with this bumbling fool and making him competent will get tenna to unprecedented fame and a stable home, he'll do it.
And of course it's the slight narcissism of hehe, I'M the one to guide modern tech, I'M the one that will help this weird little freak reach true stardom. I'm not obsolete, I'm still superior, I have experience. But somewhere down there, I think there was real pride watching someone genuinely improve from his advice. He still matters to someone, he can be a guiding light to new people.
I think true happiness was very close. But tenna pulls away when things gets to personal, puts up "I" as a shield, completely shuts down when the phone rings. and spamton leaves without a word, refusing to leave behind the call. Sure, tenna leaves behind his coat, doesn't look at his notes. But nothing changes from his conversation. They themselves won't allow it.
