i very rarely comment on things and honestly i have nothing coherent to say because i'm an emotional wreck but,, i loved this so muuuch - and i literally just started tearing up pls help.
i've loved literally every game you've put out (it was why i made an itch.io account in the first place, actually;;;) and i've definitely cried playing them (mochi's earlier experiences definitely hit home for me), but this!! was so!!! wholesome!!! despite periwinkle being so spicy haha
i've also been in love with pastille since first playing "syrup and the ultimate sweet," so getting to romance him (even from someone else's point of view) was a treat ;P
[spoils below for people who haven't played yet! GO PLAY IT IT'S GOOD]
seeing peri's mentality about committed relationships and how he came to think that way really resonated with me - i've been thinking a lot lately about how i get really emotional over romantic stuff, despite being on the aro spectrum. when peri talks about the relationship he had when he was young, and his insecurity about being "too intense," it just kinda. clicked for me. one of those "oh" moments about something that's really obvious in retrospect? as an autistic person, i get anxious of being too intense in platonic relationships, let alone romantic ones. that feeling of being "too much" for someone, especially when you're young and less experienced at life, definitely leaves an emotional mark.
i'm also pretty dang ace (demi? grey? generally,,, not thirsty???) so unlike peri, i haven't been much for casual flings, but i've definitely felt that loneliness that astragalus (is that her name??? my dyslexic ass had so much trouble with it adfhsl;;) describes in peri's magic. maybe this story made me so emotional because of where i'm at right now, in terms of... self-awareness, i guess? i never really let myself examine that feeling, but seeing it reflected in someone else is both comforting and uncomfortably eye-opening.
But Anyway - i love the way peri is written: outwardly confident, witty, hilarious, dramatic, flirty, absolutely fabulous, and completely unapologetic about all of the above, but still just as human and affected by emotions and insecurity as anyone else. i've seen similar characters handled with much less nuance; they tend to become "gag" characters, and it's disappointing.
the gender talk made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. as a transmasc person who enjoys dressing more feminine from time to time (but avoids doing so because of inevitably being misgendered), i love!! both of them!! and their senses of fashion. pastille's outfits in particular i found super adorable. the first date!!! the shop uniform (i love the kerchief so much on him)!!! the hairclip!!! the jacket!!! the star motif!! honestly all of his casual clothes are things i'd wear if i had the confidence lol
i also loved how often boundaries were discussed!! healthy communication!! we love to see it!!!!!
i'm sorry this is so long and ramble-y ladsfhj;alsjkf
TL;DR i love your work. thank you for providing us with such wonderful content!! i hope to see more from you soon!! (but also take care of yourself!! your worth is not defined by your productivity!!)
<3 kee