It's not something I've really thought too much about, but holy shit it's so nice to have a game that's very distinctly for lesbians, with the comments about presentation and all that, and as a huge plus is trans inclusive. And poly with all the ROs. And it has an old vampire protagonist. Literally couldn't get any better. Been having a rough couple days due to transphobia and this just makes me so happy.
So this is a particular question that, if one wanted to act upon it (like to incorporate this different perspective), would require a ton of work but I can't help but ask. Why are we being so secretive and wanting to leave (if relevant, I'm going through the room, haven't gotten to any of the updates past that yet)? Like we keep thinking we're some sort of imposter that needs to hide, but putting myself in the situation, I'd think something happened to me and I lost my memory, and just need help from everyone. Definitely wouldn't jump to "I'm a fake and I can't let them know" (at least no more than my layered multi-faceted imposter syndrome makes me think).
The subject matter of this story is, to put it lightly, very difficult for me. I'm hoping, by continually pushing myself through it, I'll be able to handle the idea better, of death in general. Other similar stuff, too, but obviously that's not the focus of this.
This'll sound dumb but I hope it *doesn't* have some nice happy ending, as much as I need it. Just from what's here, I feel like it would negate the themes and messages of it.
Sorry for this kinda rambling totally devoid of content comment. Just, I'm hoping this story will be able to help me and some sources of my depression and awful moods, and I wanted to say something about it since I think this story is decidedly unique, at least in the realm of IF.
Assuming you found the right thing, I do feel it's worth mentioning for the sake of being responsible that she's, uh, kinda problematic :/. Not anywhere near GTM levels but not great... In any case I hope you liked the song. I was kinda worried about putting the specific lyrics, that you or someone else would look it up and then do digging and a mess would come of it. And I realize as I type this that bringing it up is only going to lead to that but I'm too stubborn and too far in to not send this reply :///
I really enjoyed this. I wasn't into Tumblr in this era, but I've watched enough of a YouTuber to have an idea, and I think you nailed the feeling. At the very least I can instantly tell it feels like the internet in that era. I see myself massively in Karla, in like every action. It, it made the story more real. All of the little things did that. Everyone had a distinct realistic voice and it had the bad uncomfortable stuff, it just sells it so well. I don't know what more to add. I read the postmortem, so I know you're kinda conflicted with how it turned out, but I think it did what was intended better than anything else could.
Oh, and you may find it interesting, I was pretty conflicted when trying to come up with a blog name. I just couldn't think of anything. But, then a line from a song I like popped into my head, since I use it as the "about" for my discord account, "And the wind I know it's cold", so I went with that and really liked it. Felt very Tumblr. Then I ended up turning out to be a Keeper of Wind who likes Luna, the Auger of Ice. So clearly it was fated. Also I now use it for my actual Tumblr, to fit the aesthetic of the site more than my previous one :)
Have to say a scene in Chapter 3 at the secondary comms (avoiding spoilers) was done very well. I saw elsewhere that was an option, and I knew I'd feel as uncomfortable as I do with it. You did a fantastic job of making it feel real, with that choice with that character. I didn't at all expect it would truly be an option (at least not so seemingly early in the story), and while I will still always choose it, it makes me very uncomfortable as I'm sure was fully intentional. So, again, great job with that. I'm not quite uncertain of my choice but I recognize the morality of it very well and I don't like being made aware >:(.
"I never thought I'd be marrying my childhood friend turned antagonist turned lover who was also a princess all along"
Damn it you got me to read a classic friends-to-enemies-to-lovers-and-was-secretly-a-princess story >:C
Oh, since I'm commenting anyway, I really wish I could blur my deadname irl :/
The whole thing with Aida reminded me so much of me and my girlfriend. It was enough to get me to go back and not flirt with anyone at at all because I know I couldn't. I really hope that goes well...
Also, the red for the text when not hovered over is extremely hard to see for my protanopia self (the brighter red when hovering is pretty clear, at least). Would it be possible to add an option to change it or something?
Oh, no idea how I forgot. VAMPIRES
I like that we can actually be a shitty rude person :D I was so happy to just take the damn thing (the chapter one thing) like a complete bitch without needing to go through a whole moral quandary that is the standard in RPGs/IFs.
While I do have a personal issue with the idea (us being non-magical), I like how you've done it. How we totally break or ignore all magic. It's a cool power on it's own, even though it's not to my taste intrinsically. This is very well done as a whole, really. Characters feel pretty legitimate (no blatant, boring tropes), you can react in varied ways, the UI is fantastic, the writing is great.
As a minor annoyance, at least on the paths I took it felt there were a lot of STAT INNEFFECTIVE "checks"*. It made my stats feel pretty pointless very often. But I'm writing this right after grabbing the Chapter One thing (sorry for the vagueness in all of this, trying to minimize spoiling for anyone), so maybe that gets better. And it might've just been the path I took. I also feel I wasn't always able to react as I wanted, just kind of in relation to characters. Like I wasn't able to be, well, rude as much as I would've liked.
Either way, I'm enjoying this quite a lot :)
*now that I'm thinking about it, I think there was literally just two, but they were back to back so it stuck in my brain
Just to give my input, I agree with being put off due to it not having a female love interest. It sucks not getting that option. That said, I have played through this a couple times and I really enjoyed it, and that's with not being on good terms with Cove. This game is still really well made and plenty enjoyable even when rudely ignoring all of the dudes. At no point did I feel like I was getting a lesser game/story for not being friends with them. Since it's free, I'd completely recommend giving it a try. There won't be a romance aspect, but it's still great without.
Something that really stood out is the comments on Sam's and the dude twin's heights. I was expecting your height to be set because of that (and it made me very sad), but then the options came up. Those comments appear before you choose your own, so unless they are pushing seven feet, they could be wildly inaccurate if you are tall yourself.
Also, is it an intended or expected reaction to hate (nearly) everyone? It wouldn't be the first time I have such a wrong reaction, but I feel like it may be one of the reactions you were expecting. I just don't want to go with those feelings if it was unintended.
Unrelated, I really appreciate your collections :)
