#maybe then

while i do think it‘s a sweet thought if you‘re a meronia shipper, to me it‘s a bit brutal tbh. because you have two fully fleshed out individuals who handle whatever the story throws at them in their own way… and then you go „it‘s predestined and the highest form they can achieve together is basically another person, a better, an ultimate one.“ sure, they‘re meant to represent L as a split character and they can only overcome their personal obstacles by working together, becoming L or be even better than him. but that‘s only part of the story we get told and let‘s be real, the show gives us so little insight into anyones personal life except for light‘s that if we subscribe to this idea of mellos and nears relationship as being not complete until they like eachother, work together or become one, we reduce fully fleshed out individuals with their own problems to a sweet but shallow metaphor.

When I draw them in the same frame, I'm always compelled to draw Norton being under Fool's Gold's mercy. As if all of the bad things about him has taken form and now overpowers him. I believe it's the purest form of self-loathing, perhaps you know and see all of the bad things about yourself but instead of fighting it to be better you let it lead you.

It's a little toxic in my head, but at first maybe Norton hates every second of it whenever Fool's Gold manifests. He turns his gaze away, hating the way everything on that rock monster is basically just a walking reminder of the incident. Was the universe mocking him of what he's done? To let guilt eat at his consciousness? If there was a god, was this his punishment? What's worse is that the face on top of it all belongs to no one else but himself.

Soon down the line, I imagine Norton learning to tolerate his presence. It's how things naturally go anyway. Once he did though, Fool's Gold doesn't just stand tall while staring at him menacingly anymore, he follows Norton almost like a dog, but a lot more like a vengeful spirit. His face still fixed into that mocking grin, his every step still followed by a loud, ground-shaking thud that only Norton is allowed to hear. It's still nerve-racking every time he suddenly manifests, but he's used to it by then.

Now, to talk about the actual shipping and intimate nortcest part... is to have a gun to my head.