I remember reading in an interview that originally they were toying with the idea that L was both Mellow, and Near's father. They even designed them to make it look that way but discarded the idea entirely, but the look is still there.

I can't see that working with Mellow, but with Near I totally can. And oh my word, source? Is there more pictures like this, or the style? It's so adorable I could barf rainbows.

(apologies for not logging out of RP journal)