#As for whether or not L is a cheating cheaterson - i guess that depends on whether or not you consider torturing people to try and break

[oatmealcrisp-freak]

Near is only interesting to me if Matsuda is correct and he's actually the type who will cheat to win tbh

#there's authorial intent to make him a childish brat and a bit eviler and i think that supports matsuda's theory nicely #it distinguishes near as his own person beyond a switch in colour and gimick and calls a lot of things into question which i think make for #an interesting reversal/reappraisal of the dynamics #it shows that he's willing to forge his own path and that the L title - while meaningful - is a tool to be used and not something to live #up to #something that also distinguishes him further from mello who saw footsteps too vast too fill and so tried to not even bother and lashed out #i don't understand why the idea that he'd cheat makes people so irritated. it'd be a really interesting character decision and it'd fit in #thematically to the 'everyone is an asshole - theres no good guys' thing too #As for whether or not L is a cheating cheaterson - i guess that depends on whether or not you consider torturing people to try and break #them down mentally vs just exerting will via a mystical artifact 'cheating' #normally i would but in death note the way it's played somehow doesn't feel like it. it's an odd distinction to make. i guess it's because #everyone is so strong-willed that it actually becomes a legitimate tactic to pit brain against brain and even so L still LOSES that game