thank you for playing!! \o/ glad my game could make you think, hehe.
your comparisons aren't juvenile at all. i mentioned this in my afterword, but i do think part of why fandom behavior like this has gotten worse is because, on a larger level, we're all stuck on an internet where we have to use the same 5 hellsites, and none of us really have an anonymous presence anymore. also, the disappearance of online third spaces (like forums, etc.)...
Another thing I thought about while playing is that while I was never someone to police others in fandom spaces like this, I've definitely impulsively cut off friends out of nowhere for giving me the "ick" in even a more benign way or out of fear that their preferences would reflect negatively on me. So while the terror that Annie experiences isn't relatable to me per se, I did feel guilt for cutting off people in my life out of the blue.
same, same. i feel immense guilt when i block people over small fandom stuff on tumblr or w/e because i feel like "oh god, i'm denying them the opportunity to talk to me. i'm creating an echo chamber." but then i have to contend with "but if i don't block, my brain will overheat and i'll ruminate, which'll make it hard for me to function."
I do think it felt a little contrived that Annie wouldn't just return to her house in walking distance. Also, Sunny having bad breath/not brushing her teeth might've detracted a bit from her scariness tbh - I think she would've been even more terrifying if she was completely presentable to her workplace and just acted insane at home/online.
yeah... i wonder if it would've felt less contrived if i mentioned what that walking distance was? my story's set in the waterville area in maine, so i mapped out where the different locations were... and the walking distance between anita's apartment and sunny's house is over two hours. so when i was writing those scenes, i had that in mind, haha. maybe i could've included a comment from inner anita or something...
with the bad breath comment, i 100% see where you're coming from. i think people who know how to keep a presentable front in public, but act insane at home are terrifying... and then you can piece together why they were able to get away with the abuse they did for so long.
thank you once again for playing my vn! i'm glad you could get something out of it.