#mtas lore

Upon meeting Pen, the Builder quickly learns that he is a rude man whose capacity for self-idolatry and smug superiority is boundless. People are chess pieces to be played by him, which means every moment Pen is awake he is strategizing against the world. He is his own fortress built so secure that no one could ever enter.

There is a hint of light inside.

For those who romance him, to be close to Pen is to be inches and miles apart at once. His mask and his persona are kept at quite a distance.

Pen is driven by ego. He is a man who will take but never give. He uses others for personal gain then moves to the next. He could kill anyone for any reason without remorse.

Pen’s boasting is truer than false, regardless of subject matter.

In Sandrock's jail he is mostly honest with the Builder. The letter, challenge, and gifts goodbye are as heartfelt as he could muster. The Builder lit a tiny spark inside the vast dark void of Pen’s internal fortress.

“I can fix him.”

No, no, that is untrue. His walls are far too fortified for one pickaxe to break through. None of the reasons are Pen’s fault. However, he is at fault for his actions. It begs the question of whether he is redeemable.

This theory will answer that question.

[It may also spoil act two, My Time at Atara. Please forgive me.]

The History – The Story so Far

My Time at Sandrock is act one of a three act story. The series foreshadows a sequel, My Time at Atara, followed by My Time at Lucien.

Act One has many pop culture references. Pen’s story, specifically, alludes to The Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and A Journey to the West (TV). While the first two stand out the third may not be recognizable.

In the JTTW TV series, Peng is an antagonist. In one famous scene, a magical weapon known as the Ji Flask is used by Peng to trap his enemies. His nemesis, Sun Wukong, is unable to defeat Peng directly, so he sneaks into Peng’s lair and alters the flask’s internal balance to render it ineffective. This tampering plays a crucial role in neutralizing Peng’s advantage, thus allowing the protagonist, Sun, to eventually subdue him.

The adapted TV story fits the events of the first battle at Martle’s Square.

The TV series alters key plot points from the novel to fit the format. Because the novel differs, it may foreshadow act two of Pen’s journey. It may also reveal Pen's true character. Knowing the NPCs in play at the end of Portia and Sandrock, my theory is act two will follow Peng's journey in the novel.

Note: Mythological folklore and JTTW hints at Pen's family connections, so continue at your own risk.

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The Divinity – Pen’s Act Two

Behind the game counters in Portia and Sandrock is a prize; a book titled, Journey to the East. This easter egg hints that upcoming plotlines could mirror a Journey to the West, which is the story of Sun Wukong, The Legendary Monkey King.

In the novel, Sun Wukong is a monkey born from a stone who acquires supernatural powers through Taoist practices. After rebelling against heaven, he is imprisoned under a mountain by the Buddha. Five hundred years later, he accompanies the monk Tang Sanzang, and two other disciples, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, on a journey to obtain Buddhist sutras.

Howlett’s Hunters, with Haru in the role of Tang Sanzang and Logan as Sun Wukong, follow the pilgrims path. The gang will probably be tracking Pen, who escapes from maximum security prison.

Side note: Logan plays an important role in Pen's journey. In act two, Logan’s story will continue his "Logan years" Wolverine path (more later), while also tying into Pen’s story via Sun Wukong’s path.

Pen is in the role of Great Peng, and he will have two, yet unknown, allies. The action sequences that follow the novel are summarized and theorized below.

On the westward pilgrimage led by Tang Sanzang, the disciples face many trials, yet none as formidable as the Golden-Winged Great Peng. Sun Wukong cannot defeat him alone. Midway along their route lies Lion Camel Ridge, a fortress positioned along the historic passage from China to India. Once a refuge for monks seeking sacred scriptures, it becomes Peng’s chosen stronghold—isolated, defensible, and placed to control the path. Driven by revenge, arrogance and hunger for power, Peng plots to capture Tang Sanzang and perform a ritual granting immortality and ultimate power. His pride pushes him to defy the celestial order, believing himself strong enough to challenge even divine authority, including the Buddha himself. To secure his domain, Peng and his two allies—the Azure Lion Demon and the Yellow-Tusked Elephant Demon—wage war on all who approach, striking travelers and gods alike, spreading violence through the region to strike terror into the hearts of people.

In Pen’s story, the stronghold represents his isolation and fear of the world around him. He is an eagle trapped in a cage of mind, ready to strike out at any threat. Pen is all base instincts with high intelligence. A weapon.

The fortress is a manifestation of Pen’s insecurities, arrogance, and desire for retribution at all costs.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng, born of the primordial phoenix, stands as the sibling of the Peacock Mahāmāyūrī and uncle, through her, to the Buddha. His brilliance and ferocity can only be contained by greater spiritual power. The Azure Lion and Yellow-Tusked Elephant, once noble beast disciples of the bodhisattva Samantabhadra, now serve him in rebellion, turning Lion Camel Ridge into a fortress that instills fear in those who dare approach it.

In the My Time series, Mali is the Peacock and Howlett is the primordial Phoenix. That means Howlett fled Duvos and left behind a young Mali and infant Pen.

When Tang Sanzang becomes separated from his disciples, the demons seize their moment. They capture the monk and imprison him within the ridge, preparing a ritual sacrifice to claim his spiritual essence. Realizing Tang’s disappearance, Sun Wukong tracks the demons to their lair and infiltrates their fortress.

At this point, Pen may be setting a trap for Logan by kidnapping Haru as bait. Pen is known to administer poison via a “pen” syringe to his enemies - especially poisons that work slowly as a means of torture.

Wukong first confronts the Azure Lion Demon, a vast, radiant beast of golden-blue fur and unmatched agility. Calling upon the lion’s master, Manjushri Bodhisattva, Wukong witnesses the divine descent that restores the lion to his true form as a mount. The next battle is against the Yellow-Tusked Elephant, an immense and mighty opponent, until Samantabhadra answers Wukong’s summons and reclaims his mount.

At last, Peng himself appears, more powerful than either ally. Wukong’s strength falters as Peng’s fury overwhelms him, forcing the disciple to invoke the Buddha for aid. The Buddha answers, revealing Peng’s true form and compelling him to surrender.

Now the stories will diverge into a woven narrative for a compelling resolution. The Buddha role is split into two characters set to aid Logan and defeat Pen.

The alternate Buddhas are Mali, and Django.

Mali, as a Flying Pig and Pen’s sister, is most likely working to track Pen in parallel with Howlett’s Hunters. The two groups may converge at just the right time to rescue Haru and Logan.

In My Time at Portia, Django fought to aid the Flying Pigs against the Rogue Knight. Logic would dictate that if Mali were tracking her psychotic-cold-blooded-killing-super-soldier-younger-brother, he would be a good choice to have as back up.

After the battle, Wukong frees Tang Sanzang, and the pilgrims reunite to continue their journey. Humbled, Peng is taken to Vulture Peak, the mountain sanctified by the Buddha’s presence. There, he submits to divine wisdom, serving the Buddha in atonement and bringing his reign of terror to an end.

To build the narrative, Django – the Storm Knight - is modeled after Vajrapāṇi - 'holder of the thunderbolt', who is one of the earliest-appearing bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism.  He is the protector and guide of Gautama Buddha and rose to symbolize the Buddha's power.

During the battle between Pen and Django, Logan's family connection may be revealed by Pen. The result of such revelation could open the door to a more mutual understanding.

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The Family – Pen’s Familial Ties

Howlett and Logan are names that belong to Wolverine. In Pen’s past he was experimented on by the military to make him stronger (it was shared by a Duvos soldier in earshot of the builder). Moreover, it foreshadows that Pen’s story is adapted from aspects of Weapon X.

Together, Howlett, Logan, and Pen form a triangle representing three periods of Wolverine’s life and reflect the consequences of Howlet’s choices during those times.

Father - Howlett:

Wolverine: "Born as James Howlett to a wealthy Canadian family at the end of the 19th century, he was forced to abandon his family after the tragic manifestation of his bestial abilities of accelerated healing factor, keenly enhanced senses and sharp bone claws in each hand."

MTAS: Howlett abandoned his family due to circumstances beyond his control. He later married Carmen at the Blue Moon, and they opted to make Sandrock their home. They remained a family until Logan turned four years old. It was then Carmen quietly abandoned Howlett and Logan, never to return. In this mirror, Carmen symbolizes karma.

Folklore: The Fenghuang has positive connotations. It is a symbol of virtue and grace. In Chinese mythology, the Fenghuang is believed to have a close association with the emperor and is considered a symbol of the imperial family.

It is often depicted alongside the dragon, which represents the emperor himself.

Together, the Fenghuang and the dragon symbolize the balance between yin and yang, representing the harmony and unity of nature.

Legend holds that in primordial times, the original phoenix (Fenghuang), the leader of flying beings, gave birth to the peacock and to the eagle named the Golden-Winged Great Peng.

Howlett, (Yin/Phoenix) is the brother of the Emperor of Duvos (Yang/Dragon).

Sister - Mali (eldest)

Mali is a known adventurer, and based on her mythological counterpart, could be an expert dealing with poisons and venom. It’s likely that her skill set will save the lives of Haru and Logan during the fight with Pen at his stronghold.

Mali is antithetical to Pen and is sure to be a strong ally to the Alliance. She will most likely play an important role in the lives of Pen and Logan in the future.

My Time at Portia: Mali is a tough adventurer with the Flying Pigs who arrives during the main plot, briefly interacts with the player, and features in missions tied to accessing the Western Plateau and nearby ruins; later in the All Source storyline, she reports her aircraft was ambushed and shot down over the Eufaula Desert but survives and returns to aid the effort against the Sky Sharks.

Folklore: Mahāmāyūrī Vidyārājñī means “Great Peacock Wisdom Queen.”

Mahamayuri is believed to have the power to protect devotees from poisoning, either physical or spiritual.

In Buddhism, her demeanor is in contrast to the wrathful attitudes of male personifications of the Wisdom Kings.

She dispels curses, demons, and malevolent spirits, and may grant wishes, protect kings, and ensure safe journeys.

Pen - The Middle Child

Wolverine: "Unfortunately, by acting as a lone wolf, Logan was an unwitting subject of the Weapon X Program and had his bones coated in indestructible Adamantium, thus becoming an even more lethal asset."

The key word is unwitting. Logan (Wolverine) never chose what happened to him. He was deceived into believing he was serving a greater cause but was seized and remade into a weapon—his body reforged in adamantium. He was broken by relentless torture then torn open then remade against his will.

Like Wolverine, Pen is both a victim and a dangerous weapon.

Psychologist Suzana E. Flores interprets Weapon X as a study of torture—the psychology of both victim and perpetrator, and how systems transform people into instruments of cruelty.

It explores objectification: the reduction of a being to function, denying autonomy, identity, and subjectivity.

Flores compares the scientists of Weapon X to the medical professionals of 40’s Germany, drawing parallels to well-known obedience studies.

Through this lens, Pen’s story becomes one of dehumanization and survival, where his pride is forged from pain (and a denial of autonomy).

MTAS: Due to Howlett’s abandonment - whether by force, choice, or duty - Pen had to endure life under the emperor’s thumb. One day he finds himself on a mission to Sandrock - only to come face to face with the father who left (or fled?) Duvos when he was an infant, and a half-brother who could threaten his very future.

Pen’s instincts are dark. The death of Howlett is more complex than initially established in Sandrock. If Pen knowingly dished out his sense of justice against Howlett - was it revenge? anger in the moment? a sense of justice?

Any which way, Pen attacked Howlett for a whole lot more than his uncovering of the Duvos operation.

My initial asks were if Pen felt betrayed by Howlett? Was he raised to hate Howlett as an enemy of Duvos? Did he think Howlett and Logan were threats to his lineage? All or none of the above?

At the Starship Ruins, Pen was confronted by Logan, the Builder, and Justice. His brother and the builder were now allies waging battle against him. And he lost.

At the end, Pen's perception could be that he was imprisoned because of actions taken by Howlett, Logan, and the emperor. I'm curious to learn Pen's interpretation of events and whether his past experiences alter how he interprets the world.

Speculative Title: The Crown Prince of Duvos

[Side note: My interpretation is that Pen did not attempt to kill Justice and the Builder, but he did want them out of the way. It's why when Logan intervened, instead of firing at them, he sealed them behind a door. Interpretations may vary.]

Half Brother - Logan (mother is Carmen, youngest)

Wolverine: "Adopting the name Logan, he wandered the world, living a long life filled with blood, war, and betrayal, having vile Sabretooth as his archenemy, and the Japanese warrior Ogun as his sensei. "

Act two of Logan’s self-discovery is set to follow the westward path as he ventures to uncover his origins. Pen mirrors Sabretooth as his rival, though his journey follows that of Great Peng. Django likely embodies Ogun, in that he will eventually become Logan's mentor.

Logan’s travels with Howlett’s Hunter's draws him back into a world of blood, war, and betrayal, where he faces the consequences of his father’s past.

Yet, despite the chaos in his family, Logan is resilient. His early years were steadied by a strong support system; even with Howlett’s detachment, Logan’s foundation allowed him to develop solid values. His mother’s disappearance leaves an emotional scar, yet it does not consume him—it strengthens his empathy instead.

As the timeline unfolds, Logan’s understanding deepens. He will first uncover the truth about Carmen and her side of the family in My Time at Evershine, before learning of Pen and Mali in My Time at Atara. Each revelation brings him closer to comprehending the full scope of his family legacy and his place in it.

Uncle/Father Role - The Emperor

He is the mystery - the one who is placed in the Buddha role.

Succession: The title of emperor was hereditary, traditionally passed on from father to son in each dynasty. There are also instances where the throne is assumed by a younger brother, should the deceased emperor have no male offspring. By convention in most dynasties, the eldest son born to the empress consort succeeded to the throne.

In an attempt to resolve after-death disputes, the emperor, while still living, often designated a crown prince.

Even such a clear designation, however, was often thwarted by jealousy and distrust, whether it was the crown prince plotting against the emperor, or brothers plotting against each other.

Heir: If Mali is the eldest, it explains why Howlett left shortly after Pen was born. Pen was never meant to be Howlett’s son. Mali was a byproduct of the male succession line. Her childhood is unknown.

During a play date, Pen stated he was fighting as early as he could remember. To that end, he lived an incredibly violent life. In turn, he was praised everywhere as the Crown Prince.

Pen could feel untouchable if he had the protection of the emperor. To commit violent and illegal acts without fear of retribution could make Pen feel God-like in his power. He may look down on everyone, by design.

It seems Pen is a man who gets what he wants, when he wants it, with no regard for anyone else.

However, the emperor volunteered Pen for an experiment to make him stronger. We do not know exactly what was done, but he may have been broken, twisted, and reformed into something else.

Relationship: Mali, Pen, and Logan’s uncle. Brother to Howlett.

Mother - The Empress

Mother (to Mali and Pen): If the emperor was unable to produce children he may have ordered his brother, Howlett, to produce an heir through the Empress’s family to secure the line of succession. Once Pen was born, Howlett's purpose was fulfilled.

The Ally – Django (not family)

My Time at Portia: Django is a Peach Plaza restaurateur and rumored ex-knight who owns The Round Table. He spends days cooking or practicing swordplay outside the door and serves as a well-liked hub for town gossip. Late in the story he intervenes in The Final Battle and reveals his “Storm Knight” prowess against the Rogue Knight,

Folklore: Django is modeled after Vajrapāṇi, also called Chana Dorji and Chador and extensively represented in as one of the earliest three protective deities or bodhisattvas surrounding the Buddha.

The Solidarity – Pen and Logan Bond

At the end of My Time at Atara. The three warriors, Django, Logan, and Pen will take on a role like that of bodhisattvas and become true protectors. Each will symbolize one of the Buddha's virtues:

Mañjuśrī (Pen) manifests all the Buddhas' wisdom,

Avalokiteśvara (Logan) manifests all the Buddhas' immense compassion, and

Vajrapāni (Django) protects Buddha - and manifests all the Buddhas power.

The trio could then journey to Lucien with Mali and The Flying Pigs to prepare for war against Duvos.

The Destiny - A Brotherhood of Justice

Future: Due to Pen’s actions, he may be removed from the line of succession. Thus meaning, that the next heir to the Duvos throne -could be his brother Logan.

As for Pen’s redemption arc and future as a romanceable character, well - as Django once quoted -

"A noble knight's burden is a curse of loneliness; to silently give while expecting nothing in return. Those who see the lone knight see a man surrounded by a hard shell of cold armor, and yet, they are unable to imagine the tenderness that lies beneath."

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Closing Thoughts: To those who romanced Pen – it impacted him. He felt something “deeper than a space punch.” It might have meant more to him because the builder didn’t know his identity. He was free to let himself be open, even if only but a little.

After all, he dropped a ring, and an easter egg for the builder to find. To get that far was maybe enough to put a dent in the fortress surrounding Pen’s heart.

It will be curious to meet the version of Pen who will appear in act three. Will he be a sacrificial lamb? An eligible bachelor? A stalwart protector? A mighty warrior? All the above?

One thing for sure is that his next iteration is going to break us. At least now we know he’ll do it figuratively, instead of literally.

Until then, “stay humble.”

Source links:

A Journey to the West (Great Peng, Sun Wukong)

The Golden-Winged Great Peng (links to Fenghuang/Peacock/Buddha) - Pen

Fenghuang/Phoenix (link to Buddha/Dragon) - Howlett

The Great Peacock/alt Buddha (links Vajrapani) - Mali

Sun Wukong - Logan

Vajrapāṇi/alt Buddha - Django

Dragon/Buddha/Emperor - all the same

Wolverine - Howlett/Logan/Weapon X

A Logan Story Comic - no link

However, it was Pen's story that incorporated Wolverine’s history and fighting ability. Pen was experimented on by the military, which made him stronger. That created a triangle between the three characters, where each point represents a characteristic of Wolverine. Except, the triangle was broken because Pen did not have a connection to Howlett or Logan, but what if he did? What if Pen is "Weapon X?"

Was Pen’s role in the Duvos mission purely for country, wealth and fame, or was there a personal motive in play as well? What if Howlett’s death was about much more than his stumbling upon Pen’s Duvos mission?

In Sandrock, Pen was 31 years old, and Logan was 28. That put them three years apart, with Howlett marrying Logan’s mom in ’71. Before Howlett married, did he spend time in Duvos or adjacent to it? Could he have had a relationship with Pen’s mother?

If Pen were a major part of Howlett’s backstory, could that connect the last point of the triangle? It would make sense that Pen knew more than he was letting on during the events in Sandrock. What if he knew of Howlett in a different capacity? What if we witnessed the ramifications of Pen knowing that Howlett was his estranged father?

If we did, was the hatred of Logan because Pen was denied a relationship with Howlett? Did Pen blame Howlett, and in turn Logan, for his circumstances and the experimentation he endured at the hands of Duvos? Could we learn something about Howlett that may alter our perceptions of him and thus Pen’s actions toward him? Nevertheless, it was curious that when Pen talked to the Builder, he only ever mentioned his mother in passing.

Now with all in consideration, what if Pen volunteered for the mission in Sandrock for that reason? It would explain a lot as to why his attack against Logan at the Starship Ruins felt so extremely personal and why Pen so eagerly shared with Logan that he killed Howlett. Pen found joy in Logan’s suffering because it was his restitution.

The brother vs. brother theme is popular in Marvel comics. Logan and Victor in Origins may have been an inspiration for Logan in Sandrock, with the exception that he did not know the history of his father or of Pen’s familial existence. In Logan's upcoming journey in Evershine, we may learn more about Howlett's past, which could then reveal more about Pen. Howlett’s Hunters is also a homage to Marvel’s Howling Commandos, so they may surely meet up with Pen at some point.

In Sandrock, the fight between Pen and Logan in the Starship Ruins was a homage to another great battle between brothers. Pen played the role of Scar and Logan was Mufasa in the famous Disney cliff scene. Unlike the film, and despite Pen’s attempt to kill Logan, both live to fight another day. Sandrock also had a Beauty and the Beast reference by modeling Pen after Gaston. The homage extended to the overall Sandrock story where the Builder, in the nongendered “Belle” role, learned that sometimes, the guy pretending to be the hero is not, and the one perceived as bad turns out to be good.

Another thing we learned in Sandrock was that Pen’s a false narrator. We could only guess his truths from his lies, which included comments he made during interviews or standing behind bars at the Civil Corp. Everything he said in Sandrock was to cover his true intentions and his purpose for being there. All of it. From his “I’m the protector” to his “I coulda been a contenda” speech was all lies to hide the fact he was a pissed-off brother from another mother.

Where could this story take us? I predict that like Wolverine, Logan could come close to killing Pen. Although, much like when Elsie stopped the fight in front of city hall, she could stop this one. She could be the voice warning Logan that if he killed Pen, he would be just as bad.

[Logan killing a person is not something I want to see happen for the sake of the character. He is better than that and I genuinely believe Pen will not die by his hands.]

Elsie, as the monster whisperer, could help Pen by another means, which may trigger Pen’s inflection point. It could also be where Pen chooses the path to him becoming the Loki to Logan’s Thor. It is quite plausible they could team up to battle against a much bigger mutual enemy.

This is where I think Aadit could play a big role, as he may have been experimented on by Duvos as well. He very well may hold the key to helping Howlett's Hunters undo some of the damage inflicted on both Duvos men. I am very curious to see how his story plays out in Evershine.

After Pen was taken away, he mailed a goodbye letter to the builder where he directed them to a cave so they could obtain a treasure. For those who did not romance Pen, the cave was essentially a trap with many beasts inside.

The treasure included Gold (5), Diamond (1), and Gols (400). Here is the symbolism:

5 (五 wǔ) sounds like 呜 (wū), which is onomatopoeia for whimpering and crying. Therefore, it is generally considered an unlucky number.

1. Searching took me in several directions, but the closest match found was that its pronunciations in Chinese sounds similar to the phrase 一生一世 (lifetime or forever).

4 (四 sì) sounds like 死 (sǐ; to die). Because of its negative association with death, most people consider this number to be so unlucky that many buildings in China do not even have a “fourth” floor.

Basically, Pen wanted the builder to experience a very unpleasant death.

However, if the builder romanced Pen, it was a different story.

The romance goodbye letter read:

Having some time to think on things here in the maximum-security prison, I do sometimes regret not finding a way to bring you with me. Ah, well. My bad. Anyway, since you were easily one of the top three lovers I've ever known, and the only one I still have the address for, I've decided to offer a symbol of my forgiveness. That’s right, I forgive you. I don't think we can ever be together again, but at the end of the day, you were just doing your lame goodie-two-shoes thing that you do. I should have recruited you as soon as I started to have suspicions. So, I won't hold it against you. In fact, I have one last thing give you. A challenge! Deep in the core of the ruins, I've tucked away one of the most powerful possessions in existence! And it's yours for the taking! All you have to do is get past the waves and waves of ravenous beasts that guard it, but... that should be no problem for you, Skinny. Remember your training. We will not meet again, Pen.

Here, Pen was all over the place. He offered backhanded compliments. Regretted not “recruiting” them. He forgave them for fighting against him. Then, he warned the builder of the beasts waiting at the cave but assured them they would win.

He was really fucked up.

For this post, I’m not going to dissect his psyche (much). My focus is on his offered mission and what it represents to those who romance him.

When entering the cave, my first thought was, when did Pen set this up? It must have been before the first arrest because there would be no time after the invasion. It only made sense that it was after the builder fell from the cliff but before Pen caught Haru. That’s because once Haru was captured the chain of events was set into motion.

That fall from the cliff must have thrown Pen for a loop. After the builder returned Pen said he searched for them relentlessly but couldn’t find them. His personality shifted in that conversation because from then on, he suspected Logan got to the builder due to the cliff’s location.

[The dialogue is from memory as I couldn’t find a screenshot. On the wiki, Pen says the builder crawled back to him, but I think the dialogue was changed. If someone has a screenshot, please share. It’s been a while since I played that part of the game, but I remember the builder had options to respond. such as they hit a tree on the way down.]

At that point, Pen’s mission was in hyperdrive, and Logan was breathing down his neck. He only had a brief window to plan on how to “recruit” the builder. It was within that window that Pen bought the ring and set up the cave for the proposal. For Pen, I’d imagine the ravenous beasts were there as a challenge to deem the builder worthy of his hand in marriage. If the builder won, Pen would kneel in the blood, guts, and glory of battle to put a ring on it. The treasure was as follows: Gold (5), Diamond (2), The Protector (1), Gols (600).

Here is the symbolism:

2. According to Chinese numerology, pairs are auspicious. This helps explain why it's common to see 双喜 (shuāngxǐ “double happiness”) on wedding couplets.

(Using separate definitions, 5, 2, and 1 combined may mean something like crying in happiness at being together forever?)

6. Chinese culture views number six as auspicious since it resembles the words for "smooth" and "well-off." It is linked to prosperity, happiness, and good fortune. It is also thought that number six has fascinating meaning when it comes to relationships and love. It's a popular option for romantic occasions like wedding dates because it connotes the idea of a smooth and harmonious relationship.

521. Following the recognition of 520 as a symbol of romance, the number 521 also gradually became associated with love. Lovers in China have now bestowed the number 521 with the meaning "I am willing", and both May 20 and May 21 are celebrated as Online Valentine's Days in China every year.

600 (general meaning, not language specific). In Love and Relationships, 600 is a sign of balance, harmony, and stability. When this number appears to you it can indicate that your relationship is about to enter a new stage of growth. 

Pen surely had a plan to propose.

My headcanon is that when Pen saw the Builder, Logan, and Justice come to interrupt the excavation, he knew that not only was his mission in jeopardy but so was his proposal.

That is why I believe the builder’s involvement was one of the reasons Pen went super feral on Logan. We know that Howlett almost wrecked his mission, but now Logan was trying to wreck everything for him. It’s also why I think he was overly spiteful toward the builder at the jail. In Pen’s eyes, the builder betrayed him by taking Logan’s side.

Now, some may argue that it's foreshadowing Stev's journey to Evershine, but the dialog was written when they were making MTAS. At that point, they had no idea Stev would become popular enough to bring back for another game.

The context of this scene is set so the builder begins by listening to Burgess and Dan-bi speak with Pen. Afterward, it sets up the Builder to speak with Pen directly. The last step is to approach Stev before taking the stairs to leave.

The Duvos soldiers drop a few hints about Pen while in town, but this scene is pure foreshadowing. The entirety of it was designed to deliver the player a powerful message.

"Everyone deserves a second chance." In video games, yes, they do.

Some history to note is that players who participated in the MTAS early access may have a different opinion of Pen than late-comers due to Pen’s romance being a Kickstarter goal and not originally developed. Also, his character art was greatly improved after he was introduced (I’m basing this on Discord comments as I did not participate or see prior iterations of Pen). These details may put EA players in the “Pen’s romance and physical characteristics were an afterthought” camp, which is valid.

Regardless of the romance aspect, it was Pen’s story that was greatly developed. He was such a BIG character for 2/3 of MTAS. No one makes a character that big with that many parallels, hints, and ambiguities unless they plan to utilize them in the future. Pen may become a big deal, and his arc may likely have a strong emotional impact on the player.

The one thing we know is that Pathea can and may change their mind about storylines and character development based on player response. Many discussions regarding Pen’s future romance potential are read and possibly considered in how they will approach his story arc and resolution. The more we talk about it on Reddit and Discord, the more chance we have of helping to shape Pen’s outcome. Based on zede05’s comments, nothing is set in stone.

Now, with that said, I think the original direction they may have decided on, and why Pen was not a marriage candidate is because he’s going to take the true role of the anti-hero, and his ending will be his end. Please forgive me for typing it out, it’s not meant as a jinx, and I truly don’t want it to happen. However, I do think there is a strong possibility that the writers may decide or have already decided that this resolution needs to happen to counterbalance his actions in MTAS (and in future game(s) if he continues the villain path a while longer).

I’ve been wrong many times before, but I see Pen as being the main hero of the series at a great cost to himself. Aadit gets to go home, but Pen doesn’t. Pen may even be the one to save Aadit so he can return home to Portia’s builder.

Pathea doesn’t think players will be disappointed by “how” Pen ends up, not “where” Pen ends up. Granted, there are translations involved and they didn’t know whether Aadit would be the Rogue Knight or not by Portia’s end, so it’s all speculation. However, if Pen sacrifices himself for the greater good near the series end, zede05 would be right that we wouldn’t be disappointed. If anything, we would all be greatly moved by it and the emotional impact and payoff would be huge. Pen ends his story as a true hero.

I’m not sure how many games they plan for the series, but I’ll play the odds that Pen will be recurring until the end. I believe someone at Pathea mentioned using Marvel’s film series as a guideline for its continuing characters (in reference to Aadit and Pen).

To bring the discussion back to romance, I think Sandrock’s builder was the first time Pen ever felt something akin to affection or love. At the end of the Paradise Lost quest, we know he’s quite familiar with sex, but then sex doesn’t require emotions. He was unsure of what friendship was, and he didn’t understand the feelings he was left with after his dates with the builder. Pen only knew he liked it and wanted to spend more time with them. He comes off as very emotionally stunted, which aligns with his more narcissistic traits.

One comment that stood out to me was in response to a question about Pen becoming romanceable again in the future, zede05 replied, “But Pen only loves himself and his form of justice. Haha.” So, if anything, Pen must grow and learn to have concern for others not just himself. I think the builder’s relationship with him in Sandrock set that into motion, but we won’t know the impact until he’s reintroduced later on. While I wouldn’t be surprised if Sandrock’s builder has a role in his future, I believe at the very least they helped build the foundation for his potential redemption arc.

I don’t think Pathea will let him be romanced again until something happens to counterbalance his past crimes. So, if he does do the big thing to save the day and lives, then maybe the next game could see him become a marriage candidate. Although, I really like @pentition's idea of Pen heading off to find the builder or having them ride off into the sunset, preferably on Merle’s back. I’m a big fan of full-circle storylines, so Pen dating a new character comes off to me as slicing the pie in half and chucking it in the bin.

Regardless of what is to happen in the My Time series, we know that Pen will probably play a big role in it. I do hope that whatever road Pathea has laid out for him will ultimately lead to his redemption and that we are all left feeling proud of him and satisfied with his story.