Plantasma Floria

SU "Laramie & Martha"

Added 2024-07-23 04:29:12 +0000 UTC

Here I was playing with the fresh design for Martha, Lars's mother.

We weren't given a lot to go off of other than how they looked and the brief description that Martha was quirky and clumsy-thus an embarrassment to Lars.

Working from that, Paul and I wanted to explore the idea that Lars was once a very open and happy child and that mostly-external influences exacerbated his mental condition. His parents don't understand what he's going through because they were "weird" but in more socially acceptable ways than Lars is. They can't imagine what he actually goes through at school.

Lars resents his parents because he feels they lied to him: the world is NOT a wonderful place where everyone can be themselves--he's been nothing but punished for "being himself".

This would then be why he has such resistance to Steven. He has TRIED what Steven is preaching but it did not work for him. How do you reach someone who already tried?

Lars is a Steven who lives in "the real world:" Public school systems, untreated mental illness, judged for his sensitivity.

Also present is ambiguity about his gender. At this point in the series, I was aware of headcanons that Lars was trans. I support it but the characters are obviously not mine so I don't have a "final" say.

I wanted to leave it open at least. No matter what, Lars doesn't feel enough like a "man" and a lot of his issues do stem from it, regardless of what arbitrary biology he has.

I saw a chance where we could reveal more information, by revealing that 'Lars' Is only a part of his name. I pitched the name "Laramie" specifically because it was unisex and means "Tears of Love". Also "Leafy Bow" Which is a sad coincidence.