How would a melody describe itself?

I think the fact that the Prototype is themed after a jester really just shows how far gone Elliot was at the point he made him.

He could have made him look human. He (probably) had that skill set: but, nope. He makes a toy. Because toys are all he knows. Toys are what he sees children as.

He thinks they’re interesting, sweet, little things for him to care about and dote on. Consciously, he’d never admit to this, of course. Probably doesn’t even realise this truth about himself. But he accidentally spoke that truth, with Poppy and Prototype’s designs.

Not to mention, if they look like… that (even though I think the prototype would have looked a lot friendlier and ‘cuter’ when Elliot first made him) they can never leave him. Because… how would you like in society (especially a heavily conformist 1960s society) looking like that?

Not to mention it’s implied that whatever they do to the kids when they transfer them over to new bodies stops physical aging, for example when Ms. Gracie says one of ‘her favourite things about being a toy is not having to worry about dying anymore’, although it’s still proven that they can be killed through violence, starvation, etc.

Well, the Prototype and Poppy are even more different. They don’t even need to eat. Was this the “secret inside 1006” that Harley kept going on about, and still hasn’t discovered?

Perhaps Elliot found the formula to create a living body that was entirely self sufficient and self regenerating (which is why it doesn’t age, and as seen with Huggy Wuggy and Poppy, the bodies can take quite a bit of physical damage before they succumb to their wounds. I’m not going to get into the whole debate of whether their maturity ages though. That’s a whole other can of worms).

The fact that the bigger bodies become more stable and advanced as the project progresses supports this, I believe, because it implies they were getting closer to figuring out the Prototypes “secret”. Additionally (although I could be misremembering) wasn’t it stated that being submerged in the Poppy gel for long periods of time is actually dangerous? What if this is because of its regenerative properties, and it causes cancer like symptoms, for cells to begin multiplying out of control?

ANYWAY the point is,

Elliot built bodies that don’t age, and can’t starve/die of thirst, for his children.

That all points to him seeing children as things to entertain him.

For the record I do NOT think this was a paedophilic interest— I think he’s obsessed with having lives to ‘take care’ of, probably because he struggles to take care of himself. Like paternal instincts gone wrong.

But in conclusion, the implications of that are terrifying. He didn’t think about what would happen to his immortal children when he died. He didn’t think about their ‘brighter futures’ in any way that wasn’t just a distant, abstract concept. A fun fantasy, to make the children, and him, happy.

He literally made them toys. Kids forever. Dependant on him. Even made it so they don’t need food. Why? Perhaps so he could forget about them whenever he wanted, knowing that they’d be physically fine.

This man is a selfish idealist, fundamentally broken, utterly insane, and even MORE wonderfully, he’s a “nice person”.

And Harley realises that, when Elliot kicks him out from the YGP. That’s why he hates him so much. Not just because of the injury to his ego, but because he realised that, to Elliot he was nothing more than a discardable plaything. Harley was the first one to see through Elliot Ludwig’s persona, all his bullshit, and no one believed him.

“You’re not good, you’re not bad, you’re just… NICE!” —Last Midnight

(I’ve seen people use that before for Elliot and I AGREEEE Harley would definitely say that to him, right??? Except idk, I think we can safely say that the reveals in chapter 5 has Elliot steamrolling into the “BAD” category).

Why is Elliot this obsessed with children though? I am convinced it was because of a deep wound sustained in his own childhood. Neglect? Abuse? The loss of a sibling… perhaps his mother died birthing him? War trauma as a young man? MAYBE he was an orphan who was never adopted, always being passed around in foster care, some parents abusive? Something encapsulating the themes of childhood, control and/or death. I’m sure of it.

Either way, whatever happened to Elliot it left a massive hole that he has been desperate, and unable, to fill. Hence his workaholic nature (implied in canon that this is probably why his wife left him), and obsession with children.

He gets away with it in canon, because of his charisma. His passion, his energy, his gentle nature. And the best part is, THAT ISN’T A LIE. He’s genuinely like that!! He’s just also… FUCKING INSANE!!

FUUUUUCK I LOVE ELLIOT. I LOVE HIM. I WANT TO STUDY HIM UNDER A MICROSCOPE. HE’S LIKE AN OVERBEARING MOTHER HEN THAT ACCIDENTALLY SUFFOCATES KIDS UNDER HIS FEATHERS,,, GOD HE IS SO ILL. WHATEVER ELSE HAPPENED TO HIM TO MAKE HIM LIKE THAT. SURELY THERE’S MORE. I NEED TO KNOOOOOW.