Pierrot, Harlequin, and Colombina's relationship was not what it seems (and that's important)
OKAY, so we all know by now the basic idea between the three. Pierrot was in a relationship Colombiana, Harlequin was jealous of Pierrot. But is that actually true?
In Neko's ama, someone asks about Jester's opinion on their relationship, to which he replies with this.
This doesn't imply the same jealousy that Jester's story has. Infact, it kind of implies the opposite. That the three got along with eachother just fine, and that Harlequin's actions were more related to the human's than Pierrot.
Now, this made me re-think something. Jesters play in his tent- how much of it can we believe? Obviously it's not a one-to-one recreation of what happened, but how much of it is a lie? We know for a fact Harlequin was lying in his story about Colombiana being a willing sacrifice. We know this because of the "flashback" in her mirror tells us. It also tells us that Harlequin eats her not out of jealousy but desperation.
In Colombiana's mirror, we get an important fact I think most people missed.
She asks for Harlequin's help, not Pierrot's.
I think their relationship is much more complicated than what's been let on. Let's think about their namesakes, a Pierrot is typically a stock character, mostly known for sad love- Pinning for Colombiana, who typically chooses Harlequin over him.
Now we don't know how much this idea applies to the monsters. But having the three names be the same is very important. Did Pierrot and Colombiana actually ever have a romantic relationship? How much was Harlequin actually involved?
This brought me to think about the games planned endings. A solo ending, a bad ending, One with each Pierrot and Harlequin individually, and one with both them together. Now, this is a dating sim. It's not uncommon that players can't pick and want to date multiple characters at once. But I thought it was interesting that having both was always and intended option. For two characters who supposedly hate eachother, it's kinda funny that you can be with both of them at the same time isn't it?
Maybe that's because it happened before.
Here's what I've been leading up to say: I think that Harlequin, Pierrot, and Colombiana were all in a relationship together. It's implied that Pierrot and Harlequin's rocky relationship only started after what happened with Colombiana. So it's fully possible that the two were actually closer than first said. I think that's why their relationship is what it is now. Pierrot is heartbroken not just because the monster he loved was taken away from him, but because she was taken by someone else he also loved.
Harlequin is constantly antagonizing Pierrot, getting into his business and trying to court MC solely because he sees Pierrot's interest in them. I don't think this comes from a place of hate, I think it comes from desperation. He misses Pierrot, he can't spend time with him like they used to. Pierrot hasn't forgiven him and probably refuses to even acknowledge Harlequin in most cases. The only way Harlequin can get his attention is through fighting.
That's why he's constantly starting things with Pierrot, that's why he tries to court MC in the first place. Not because they caught his eye, but because he knows he'll get the other monster's attention that way. I think the 3 endings between them will be very complex. With Pierrot's route leaving Harlequin to be forgotten, Harlequin's route to be about moving on from the past, and their together route to be about forgiveness.
Of course, this is all just a theory. I'm grasping at straws here. But I figured I'd share it because I'm desperate to know what anyone else thinks and if my impression even makes sense. Please ya'll talk to me about this I'm going insane.