#i mean I'm hopeful I won't have to react to Isabeau's crush because one source i found kinda by mistake said it wasn't known if sif is aro

[vampiromano]

so I've got some In Stars and Time thoughts. spoilers up to act 3 I think. I'm on pause as we SPEAK.

1. mirabelle my beloved. I love her story re: romance and how she Doesn't Want It but feels forced to have it and, loving her religion so much, just can't fathom leaving it for JUST THAT even though it makes her so uncomfortable and feel so bad. like I love the resolution tbh with how Siffrin just sort of tells her to Change by Changing the tradition instead of by forcing herself into it, the way she once told him housemaidens did sometimes (if re: clothes in that instance). it's just really cute.

2. I also love how you can kind of make a contrast between her not wanting to change bc she's so happy the way she is and this conflicting with her Change beliefs, and Isa joining the House of Change because he WANTED to change; Mira is happy with herself/at odds with the House's traditions, and Isa is at odds with himself/happy following the House's traditions.

also cis aroace/trans allo lmao

3. I SWEAR TO GOD I'M SIMULTANEOUSLY PUSHED BY THE URGE TO COMPLETE THE GAME ROMANCE INCLUDED, AND MY COMPLETE AND UTTER DISGUST OF ROMANCE BEING DIRECTED AT ME/THE GUY I'M PLAYING AS. EVERY TIME I'M ALONE WITH ISABEAU I'M SHAKING WITH FEAR HE'LL GO ALL ROMANCEY ON SIFFRIN AND I'LL JUST HAVE TO PAINSTAKINGLY SIT THROUGH IT AND MAYBE EVEN SAY YES. I'D GO INSANE. compulsion to avoid romance vs compulsion to absorb all gameplay available. immovable object vs unstoppable force. fight

4. i don't think the head housemaiden is a real person within the game. either that or she's responsible for the time loops and even the king. and definitely the island. I can feel at least one of these things is true in my BONES. she's just too nice and too respected with too much authority. and also she didn't fight the king herself which is a red flag.

but we'll see I guess! I'm really liking the game thus far. might even draw about it