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I'm so glad that you didn't mind the long ass comment. It didn't occur to me until after commenting that it was in fact a whole wall of text to get through. I just had so many thoughts because again, this game is like one of the most interesting things I've seen in a while. I love seeing all the bits of context and information you leave in the comments. It's nice to know a bit more about the characters and your thought process behind certain things. 

 I know I touched on the MC's characterization before but I forgot to mention that I really appreciate the option of agency that's given. They don't have to be passive and just let shit happen to them with no pushback. There are opportunities to pull away or stand up to Benji and Ellis. (how well they take that is... besides the point) But I think that's part of the reason that the mc feels so grounded and not like a cardboard cut out.

Also I had a few questions, which I totally get if you can't answer because of spoilers. First off, what the fuck is wrong with Benjamin? I get that what happened in high school was definitely extremely traumatizing, but like that guy is intense even considering that. (his reaction to MC's self harm comes to mind) I guess I was just wondering if there were any other factors that inform his outlook/needs and how he goes about relationships, specifically his relationship with MC. And has their relationship always been unhealthy or was it that incident that sparked it? The both of them reference "how it was before". MC talks about how much she used to lean on him and how after college she decided to stop. I’m curious about what that time was like for them and what made MC want to change? And last question I promise, just out of morbid curiosity, what is Benji’s ideal situation when it comes to the MC?

Sorry if that was one too many questions. I am just endlessly curious about them. I’m sure you can tell but Benji specifically makes me feel many different emotions and none of them should be possible to feel at the same time! I’ve already done a bit of fanart and I’d love to share but I just need to work up the nerve. (reddit scares me lol)

I literally didn't have an account before but this game was so amazing that I made one just to leave this comment. Like idek where to start everything is just so beautifully made. The mc resonates with me so very much from their sense of humor to their deeper issues to all the avoidant attachment bullshit, and I can tell a lot of care was put into handling their struggles. 

Benji is... a disgusting creature but I'm obsessed with him. Explorations of codependency in media are some of my favorite things, so he definitely scratches that itch. There's just something about a weird and messy friendship with so much history behind it, and freaked romantic tension that never gets addressed bubbling beneath.

I appreciate how despite his desire for more control in mc's life it's still kinda hard to be intimidated by because he's just so pathetic? (and I LOVE a pathetic man) Like it's all driven by his desperation to stay in our life and painfully obvious yearning. Just his flippant disregard of even attempting to sound healthy or well adjusted says it all. I mean the man literally confessed that he would do anything, be anyone, if we so desired. Like boundaries? What the fuck are those??? Just intense and clingy all around, to the point that it's a known problem that effects all his relationships. He is catnip to me specifically and there is no rehab in sight.

The "I miss you" text message scene stuck out to me in particular. The way the music starts when you choose to feed into behavior that is decidedly wrong. Like it's signifying a point of no return or something, cementing the same old pattern that they've both been unable to tear themselves from. It makes me feel a lot more when it's not the explicitly romantic route. Because what do you mean that you miss a friend so much you cant sleep and you're counting the hours until you can see them again...like omg shut the fuck up. I could yap about him for ever and ever but in short I want to know everything about him, and I want to see him worse, and I want him to ugly cry.  

 And I know I spent like way too much time talking about that other asshole but Ellis is so very near and dear to my heart. There's something so endearing about his everything. The way he speaks and that whole gothic Victorian thing he's got going on is so sweet. Everything about him is so tragic and whimsical, I am enthralled and mystified by this strange man and his misunderstanding of social conventions. The weddings tomorrow and you're invited!

I love that despite the red flags literally everywhere that there's still a weird innocence and chaste sincerity to him. He just wants real connection and after everything he's been through it's extremely difficult not to empathize with him. He has so much to give that it scares most people off. I was almost surprised by the escalation in his more negative endings but then I thought about it for like a couple more seconds and no yeah that checks out.

If Benji is a dog waiting by the front door, Ellis is a stray cat out in the rain. Crossing my fingers for polyamory ending (I know my greed is sickening) but I think they might just end up killing each other? In all seriousness this is not just my favorite visual novel but like my favorite thing right now. I was devastated when I finished the game because I knew I'd have to wait a while for more. (I am capable of patience please take all the time you need) it's been on my mind since I finished playing it. I swear there needs to be more fanart and stuff, I might need to be the change I want to see in the world. If someone was trying to trap me, under the box being propped up by a stick would be this game.