What do you think compelled Mono to cooperate and help Six? Judging from all the external media like DTN and the digital comics that wasn’t normal behavior for him. In DTN he would at most help Hush once because she showed kindness first and it was “reclutantly” as described by the developers.
So what might have changed? What or why exactly did Mono decide to help and save Six, so many times?
Thank you so much for asking! I have revolved the same question in my brain since the LN2 comics and I am thrilled DTN still left it “unanswered.” I personally believe in… a mix of reasons. Familiarity from their “real” lives, repayment of a debt, a shared goal that develops into a genuine bond, and the two being incredibly similar.
REASON #1: Interdimensional Familiarity (this is most theory - based one)
Six is usually a very focused and strategic character. She slips up at times of course, being a child in a world that hates her… but her first encounter with Mono feels markedly different compared to choosing the wrong hiding spot or falling for a trap due to hunger. I also don’t see it as (just) shock at encountering another child, as we know Six has already encountered children, dead and alive, in the Nowhere at this point. Six doesn’t just seem surprised here, she seems to be in some sort of awe. Her jaw is dropped, and most notably — she moves out of the cover of the tree as if in a trance. I personally read this as Six experiencing some sort of familiarity that she can’t place. We know from TSON, TLO, and LN3, that Visitors can just… feel when a character or location is familiar to them. As both are from the Counties, the transmedia implies Six went missing decades ago, and Mono’s (Thin Man more accurately lol) human self is an adult in TSON and DTN’s timeline, it lines up that these two could have encountered or at least known about the other in the Counties. Whatever’s going on with, I think they are connected in both worlds.
REASON #2: The protectiveness towards Six is developed, rather than Mono’s base state
I personally don’t see LN2 as a“Mono is naively fixated on Six and Six is over it” situation. I see the dynamic as much more mutual in terms of their character development, trust, and distrust towards the other. Mono’s different behavior towards Six, rather than an immediate compulsion to go save and work with her specifically (which he’d suck at if this is the case since she’s down there for a Good While) could be that while he is pragmatic and survivalist character, he is still a child who hasn’t given up hope. He is >sometimes< empathetic and operates on an “eye for eye” system. Hush saved him in the first issue, and so when her situation was dire, he saved her back and that was that. In episode 6 of the comics and issue 4 of DTN, Mono is in equal danger compared to the other children present and thus might mentally lack a debt to repay. This can also tie to him immediately suspecting and accusing Hush of being a threat when he notices her arm. Neither is at more risk than the other, so no one owes each other anything. In this case, upon encountering Six again (the tallies imply he did not come to help her immediately) He, in addition to the possible #ANOTHERLIFE connection, feels compelled to repay her for the fact that he was the one who distracted her into getting caught in the first place. He repays her by helping her escape imprisonment … then the rest of his actions towards her are more of a gradual build than an immediate attitude switch. Six repeatedly shows that she is active, intelligent, and interested in working with him throughout chapter 1 after their rough start. She shocks him by tricking him to run free, is the one to initiate the hand holding, when she catches him you can hear his part of togetherness play, and she gently shakes him to see if he is alright after the Hunter’s death. All this to say, I believe their dynamic didn’t start with an immediate “ride or die” from Mono. We get a lot of cues in the first chapter that can be read as him starting to really value her beyond just following through on a debt… which is one of the reasons I think he becomes protective of, and decides to stay with her. This is a part of my read of the wonderful “boat” cutscene that connects them to Pale City. If you watch the animations, Six is seemingly rattled from the Wilderness/Hunter’s death, while Mono is unphased and staring at her in thought. He’s going over whether or not he should break his usual stride and stay with her for this “mission.” To note, I think Six has a similar perspective, but the ask is about Mono’s behavior and perspective so I’ll stay focused on that. Just wanted to shout her out
REASON 3: Their mission
If they initially act out of their usual parameters and stick together for some sort of goal, what is it?
This one is just canon but not talked about much, but Mono and Six share a goal in LN2.
(This is one of multiple times it’s been stated but it’s my favorite because it’s sweet, naive and tragic so I’m using it.)
We don’t know why it is that Six is aware of the Transmission and aims to stop it, but even outside of game descriptions and blogs, this is communicated environmentally by the large central drawing she did of the Signal Tower in the Hunter’s basement. I think this is a huge reason why they decide to work together, they are working towards the same location, for similar reasons. It’s intriguing in what it implies about Six. Her goal is not to escape the Nowhere, but to make it more habitable. It is this binding goal that initially causes both characters to step outside of their comfort zone and trust/work with another child.
Even with moments of distrust and uncertainty between the two, their relationship grows into something very genuine but fragile. That’s why I believe he saves her so many times, and she saves him back. They go from a partnership of necessity, to accepting the vulnerability and risk of friendship and connection in the Nowhere. They end up caring so much (despite being on edge about whether the other cares about them in return at times) that they both can be seen risking their lives to save each other.
A final point is that beyond all this, the two are very similar. While their dynamic starts with a possible inter-dimension mystery link and a shared end goal, they connect on a lot of shared traits. They’re both strange and ominous children who are used to being on guard and working alone. Mono and Six are both constantly described as active and driven characters, which is something they match wavelengths on compared to a duo like Hush and Mono. (Love Hush though and I am 100% intrigued by protagonist duos who are incompatible as a team)
Even in the ways that they differ, I think are often complimentary. Mono’s blunt fighting style + Six’s strategic flight. Mono being native to the Nowhere with his muted colors and locked fate + Six’s presence as this brightly colored thorn in the Nowhere’s plans, and more I will cut myself off from yammering about.
To conclude because I could talk about this for days probably, I interpret it as a mix of these factors. Rather than an inciting incident causing Mono’s personality or behavior to flip prior to the beginning of LN2, I think he’s the same character as he is in DTN and the LN2 comics. He starts the story with a more pragmatic view of his rescue- but is pushed to grow by his blossoming friendship with Six. They have the same goal, connect on a personal level, work well together, and possibly knew each other in another world.
Thank you for reading if you’re down here, AE next week!!!
