The "When There's Control I Lose It Penny/Lena Are Actually The Same Person Theory And Maybe Lily Too Honestly This Is Such A Dumb Theory I Could Literally Add Magic For It To Make Sense"
The Control Theory
Lily is the "narrator" obviously. And YOU, dear reader, are Penny. She calls Penny/You You. Or Penny.
So what does it mean when she says "you" when reffering to Lena?
One: The identity of "reader/you" momentarily switches, implying some distinct difference in when the reader is Penny or Not. What are the implications of YOU having some place in the story, with a shift in perspective? Even if we've never seen YOU as Lena, that doesn't mean it can't happen for some reason. But again, why? And who are YOU, the readers?
(1.5: its just a misinput. but it isnt. shush.)
Two: What i first considered, the real idea, is that Penny and Lena aren't exactly. Too seperate.
Penny/Lena are, simply, a system(/other words, im new to this in my own head too). (and maybe lily in some complicated ass way but)(or maybe it literally is some spiritual stuff iunno)
Momentarily, not in the moment, Lily might have referred to Lena as YOU for a moment because YOU were still YOU, but not Penny. Make sense? (It doesn't to me either)
Since the reveal of sister number the other one I've always wondered why the story is told like that. It's told as a story directly to the reader, in a very personal way, of course. YOU did this, YOU said that, YOU fucked your sister Lena. But why, exactly, would Lily be telling this to Penny/You?
I suppose, assuming it's non-diagetic in a way, it's just a way to tell a story. You did this, because it makes the story more "personal" even if it's not you or some self insert Y/N.
But. Assuming every single narrative piece is told in the exact same way in a "real" sense, as in talking to *Penny* in some sorta epilogue, then... why?
First theory: It's just kinda funny to tell your sister that time a few years ago(whatever amount of time) that all this happened. Iunno, seems pretty simple, low stakes, fits the theory and isn't likely to be too out there.
Second: Penny/Lena suffered some form of memory loss and is being retold just a bunch of stories of the past, mostly from Lily, because at this point in their lives is really the point of most contact. The parts Lily would know best, even if she didn't experience it first hand, told by Penny/Lena in more detail than we've seen so far. This is, I think, pretty simple in good and bad ways. One, it's nice, neat, kinda nice, and could lead to a more uplifting conclusion. Two... non-specific memory loss caused by mental condition, physical injury, etc. Just. Some kinda injury i guess.
Thinking again, this could be something... else along with the system line of thinking. Perhaps, potentially, "You" are a newly formed headmate. Lily could be telling this story to You, again, as a part of Your life story to understand more. (clarification: even if i do believe im plural to some degree, I still don't know everything. I have merely heard that some headmates could be created with literally zero knowledge of the systems past life.)
I suppose Lily using "you" every time would help establish a sense of familiarity, much like my proposed reason of second person being used so the story seems more "real" and "personal." Though, I guess it'd be a bit odd to only be using Penny as "you," when Lena is also involved. Though, that could definitely get confusing, even if it's they were seperate, so
It has been a bit since I've reread. Maybe some of this makes no sense, maybe there's more evidence that I forgot. Who knows?
Oh ueah. Fucked up and evil theory (half formed) three: Penny/Lena are a system, and "formed" when Lily actually assaulted them. Eh.
Personally, no matter how much of a wimp i may sound saying it, i just like happier endings. Not saying this doesn't have *some* possibility of a great conclusion with little fear or uncomfortable feelings, but yknow.
Potentially, similar to the Newly Formed You theory, she is trying to shape Your memories, though more inherently "false" with some kind of end goal. Whether this is Lily talking to Penny/Lena (though again, speaks TO the former more often), or a newly formed part, it's still "valid." Any one part, any still "missing" headmate could have the memories of the event, and only be able to vaguely understand what happened. Penny still feeling "off" after Lily is confirmed to have not assaulted Lena, simply having some memory of "bad" from Lily after but not quite understanding why (since it has been "second hand" whether by parents or again, their own collective memory.) Lena, as well, retroactively twisting the event into a positive light, gaining a new desire to be with her sister or. Something. Again, half formed.
Uh. I dunno if I have a conclusion.
One: I don't know if any of these theories even remotely make sense, and I dont exactly care. It'd be really cosmically funny if one of these were actually real based on a single slip up in the text.
Two: uhhhhhh okay Penny is trans and Lena isn't if they are actually a system. Simple answer, Penny is the "original" host or whatever. Also, Lena showing up could also be some kind of "reconnection." Yknow.
It's also important that like. Of course, vaguely unreliable narrator, but the actual events would be fairly off from how they're told if the whole system thing is concerned. I mean. Why would Moss or Lacy even give a damn if Penny/Lena are fucking? They don't both have like. Well yknow. Forms together in a physical sense. Guess it could just be shame/fear of being a system at all, or maybe the in head sister sex is also a bit weird to talk about. Yeah.
Three: I had something else j thjnk but forgot. I love gentlelovingsiscon she could give me the next installation in an arg style website hunt that'd be one paragraph long and id. Well i wouldn't do it because km lazy. But I would feel eternally sad unless someone else gave out the solutions. Because I'd wanna read it.
Four: fuck ive like. Never theorized about anything this much. I just got so invested, this was meant to be like two paragraphs
