one thing i do wish for is a ‘chapter select’, as well as the option to change the custom attributes possibly from the character stats page. i didnt know how much appearance would matter so i chose ‘female’ and got locked into she/her (im nonbinary). though tbh, such a rigid society would likely not even entertain the idea of queerness at all. perhaps they could discover queerness through the books (and then let players ‘transition’ accordingly). i appreciate the hints of intent for romantic/subtle options!
i absolutely loved this game omg. 10/10. my only complaint is that i wish there were options to be a trans man/trans woman. there is a nonbinary option which is absolutely wonderful so thats not to say there is no trans representation, but it is a little disheartening to have to choose between either a body that doesnt represent me or a gender that doesnt lol. mainly for the explicit scenes and the mention of what the citizens are forced to go through. really a lovely story though!! the music adds so much to it!! and oh my goodness to see youre the creator of cantata too!! recently finished a playthrough of it and absolutely adored it so this was super exciting :))
Thank you! I completely understand the desire for a trans option. This was my first attempt at writing fiction in decades, and with the world of Viatica as restrictive and prohibitive as it is, I didn’t think I could faithfully write a trans MC in such a setting. I am much more confident in my storytelling skills now and I’ve included those options in Cantata, which I’m happy to hear you’ve also read!
Genuinely a masterpiece. 10/10 experience and something I would re-read again. I loved everything about the story - especially how it makes the reader feel!!!
I recently finished reading for the second time and I am going to just say wow. After I saw that it had been updated to include extra content I was more than willing to read through a second time having already enjoyed it so much the first. This time I decided to choose the Robin route, as opposed to Lion as I did the first, and can I just say that I was not disappointed in the slightest. Everything about this is just chefs kiss. From the amazingly written story, to the beautiful art in the background and of the characters before even getting to the story, and even the music just perfectly sets the scene with great ambiance for reading. And can I just say as well Chapter 10, OMG, as a person who often doesn't get attached to characters or emotional about fictional characters I was on the verge of tears for the second time whilst reading it, and that I think shows just how well these characters were written that I was able to get attached enough to them in such a short amount of time that they made me emotional. At some point I definitely plan on reading through the Ferret and Heron routes as well because I just can't get enough of this.
Thank you so much! I am delighted that you returned to Viatica, and even tried a new route! I’m glad you enjoyed the story and that you connected with the characters. ❤️
I stumbled across the recommendation for this game on reddit earlier today. I decided to give it a shot since it’s the exact genre I usually gravitate towards. I finished this IF in a few hours quite literally, I was hooked and I probably should’ve paced myself but it was just so good. I definitely plan on replaying for other romance routes, since I did the Ferret route. This is the only IF that I’ve ever finished. I even shed a tear during Fawn and Bison’s end. It reminded me deeply of 1984, Fahrenheit 451, The Handmaidens Tale, The Giver, hell even The Hunger Games and so much more. I truly loved this experience. The music was prefect and helped set the mood. Thank you for writing and releasing this. I hope to read more of your work if you ever decide to release another story. 10/10, I have to go recommend this to my friends now!
Thank you for your kind words, and for taking a chance on my story! This is adapted from a novella I wrote nearly 30 years ago, and I was a BIG fan of dystopian fiction at the time; 1984, Fahrenheit 451 and Anthem were all my inspiration. 😁
I have a new IF in the works, Cantata, you can find on my creator page. Thank you again, and thanks for recommending my work! ❤️
Thank you for writing this! It has become the best IF I have ever read, hell even the best thing I’ve read all year. Thank you for all the hard work! The dystopian themes popped out a lot, which I adore it’s my favorite genre. I am reading Cantata and I’m enjoying it a lot!
i just finished it, and i haven't stopped crying since the deaths until the end. this, people, is a perfect example of why knowledge is powerful! keep reading! keep asking questions! for ignorance is the start of doom! thank you for bringing this story to life, this has been an amazing experience <3
The first IF i ever finished fully- I AM IN LOVEEEEEE! Amazingly written with scenes that break and make my heart. Absolutely beautiful. Also Lion is coming home with me.
Ahhhhh! Ferret, it's so good to be reading about you again as well as Keiko! 💜💜Your spirit continues to live on in my Cantata pet, they certainly have the same attitude. 🦦
Thank you for the extended dialogue, Fir! It was so nice to see not only the updated format of the story, but all the characters again after re-reading. Chapter 10 will forever be heartbreaking though 😭.
Congratulations, Fir! I can't believe it's already been a year, I'm glad to have been able to read this since the day of it's release. Will always be a supporter here and there when you need me 💜💜.
Played the update... Safe to say, even more tears shed than last time. Absolutely beautiful story and ethereal music to go with it, viatica has become a comfort game of mine especially with all the stuff happening in the US. You're game gives me hope that one day, I as well will have the freedom to be who I am. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart🥲
same, I too feel so much comfort from this game, I wish I had such a sweet community family just like theirs wish I wasnt as afraid and could be brave enough to escape that fear (silence is death) but for me silence is my only way of living in real life. (signed disabled Trans in US)
This story was so, so beautiful. It has deeply moved me in a way not many other stories have, and I'm so grateful you have written it. This is easily one of my favorite IF's on this site so far. Please never stop writing.
This is quite possibly the only IF that has ever made me cry over a slinky but it did. And I mean that in the best way possible. This whole story is presented so beautifully, with such a haunting presence throughout. I feel so much with each page. By the ending I was crying many happy tears. What a wonderful experience. Thank you, so much, for sharing this.
Reading this novel was one of the best experiences of my life. The relationships you build with your partners feel so genuine, and the story is captivating.
Hi! I love Cantata and I've just started reading this too and oh dear am I already hooked! This is probably a stupid question, but is there a way to save your progress in this game? Or have multiple save files?
Well, if you get out of the game, your progress is saved automatically. However, there can be only one save file. So if you plan on doing every route, you'd have to restart from the beginning :))
The IF was made using Twine Chapbook, which is the easiest for people who've never coded before, but it has limited functionality (aka the lack of saves).
Hello, and thank you! The other commenter is correct. The game saves in your browser as you play, but there are no multiple save slots, I'm afraid. I understand this is a bit of an inconvenience and I appreciate you playing regardless!
I started reading this story when it was still a WIP months ago, and I remember putting it on hold when the dreaded chapter 10 came out, because I wasn't mentally ready to face it.
Now I've finally come back to finish it, and I'm proud to announce that I only cried a little in chapter 10, but what really made me cry was the last option in the epilogue, when I had the option to choose that my MC was expecting Robin's baby 🥺
There is something so beautiful and hopeful about it, especially after all the trauma they both went through in the chamber, that I just couldn't take it and before I knew it I was crying like a baby. For me, it's canonical that when their baby was born, Wren and Robin named them Fawn or Bison in tribute to their friends.
Now I'm going to replay it to do Ferret's route, but I felt I had to leave this message here to join the chorus of people praising the author, because really, this story was one of the best experiences I've had with IFs to date. Thank you for this beautiful story, author ❤️
This was wonderful. The world-building, the character development, the humor, the themes, all of them are done masterfully. One of the best on the goddamn site!
The world-building was excellently done. I am amazed at how much you gave with so few words. Thank you for not just having an info-dump chapter, and spreading it out. The journal entries were fantastic, and really conveyed how good intentions slowly but surely warped into something truly dystopian. I loved how you even brought that up.
I really felt like the characters mattered. I adored each of them, and the deaths of [you know who] shattered me. Phenomenal work.
The dialogue, especially (albeit surprisingly) the humor, was very well-done. I laughed a lot, and that's really nice during stories such as these. I had such a sense as to the raw emotion from the characters. They truly came alive.
The themes were really the strongest part of this. I had to step back and ponder to myself during the choice to fight or flee. You've really captured the essence in why I love what I call "optimistic dystopian", that is, really really dark, but with hope and ideals to guide the characters.
Lastly, the music... by God the MUSIC! I cannot praise you enough for the choice and placements of it. At first, I thought it'd be distracting, but it very much added to the experience.
One slight critique is that I'd love to be able to save and load playthroughs, because I got stuck in the 'Character Traits' menu and... yeah.
All-in-all, this was a masterclass in how to do this kind of story, and I adore it. Well done.
P.S. I romanced Ferret, who you did an excellent job with and may I just say that I've only cried once before during a sex scene, and that has now happened twice. So... good job with the smut!
I was grinning like a fool just by the first sentence you wrote! Then the rest of your comment… 🥹
I really appreciate everything you wrote, thank you! I was particularly pleased with the comment about “optimistic dystopian” and the inclusion of hopeful themes and dialogue. It’s very important to me that the ultimate message is a hopeful and uplifting one, and I’m glad that came across. (I’m also glad you appreciated the smut scenes, lol. Those took me foreverrrr! 😅)
I completely understand the frustration at the lack of saves, my apologies. I built this using Twine Chapbook which was the easiest for someone like myself who has never coded before, but it has limited functionality. My newest IF is in Sugarcube for this reason.
Thank you SO much for not only making an account to comment, but taking the time to write out such kind and encouraging words! ❤️
Omg!!! This was beautiful, I went in expecting it to be good due to the comments and I was still blown away. I got so into it I somehow read it all in one night. Never have I laughed and cried so much at an IF before. Wholeheartedly, I recommend anyone and everyone to read/play this and then do it all again, maybe even a third time for luck.
Thank you so much for making this game - seriously - it is genuinely one of the best things I've ever had the chance to read/play. I found this after playing Cantata, and it made me feel so many emotions - it is so beautifully written. It takes a lot of skill and patience to write something like this, and it takes a lot to be able to write something that actually moves people.
I played through the entire game in two sittings spanning two days (I got VERY into it LOL, it was hard to stop playing once I started) and enjoyed every second of it. I plan to play through it a few more times to go through the other romance routes, but I will take a bit of a break between then, my heart can only take so much, haha! I romanced Robin on this (my first) playthrough and I adore them. As someone who is also young non-binary person, similar age to Robin, I found I could relate to them immensely, and found some things they said particularly moving (although, the whole game was moving). Having to be put into a box of either "man" or "woman" is very draining - I was born a woman and will sadly always be seen as a woman to some people - especially since I present feminine. While it is hard, people around you truly make a difference - my friends, family, and other queer people around me remind me that I am not alone, and there are so many people like us.
I genuinely cannot overstate how much representation means to so many people, and to have a character who also feels the same way as I do in certain aspects really is comforting. Thank you so much for writing such a wonderful story and deciding to share it with us!!
Do you have a discord/etc for this community? Totally okay if not! I know a lot of people don't know or aren't interested in using platforms like that, and no pressure or anything if there isn't! If you a discord in particular I'd love to join! Or, if you wanted, I know I and multiple other people would love to help you create one! It'd be a lovely way to be able to talk more about the game, share fanart / fanfictions about the series (both this one + Cantana, and other games you have made), and so you can let people know when updates are released and stuff! (I forget to check itch.io a lot LOL) ! No stress if not though, just thought I'd throw the idea out there, haha!
Thank you so much again, I'll be patiently waiting for updates with Cantana!! :D <3
Never apologize for such a kind and heartfelt comment such as this! 🥹❤️ I’m grinning like a fool reading this, I’m so grateful, thank you! I’m glad you were able to relate to Robin and the story as a whole. I think it’s more important than ever to build an inclusive community and support each other.
And on that note, I do not have a discord but I’m very active on tumblr. I invite you to find me there! The link is on my creator page. I’m afraid I don’t have the skill to build a discord server, nor the time to moderate it. If you and others were to create one, I’d be happy to join! You’re not the first to ask, but I’m afraid it’s not something I can commit to. I hate to put the burden onto others, but I want to be upfront about my capacity and time.
Thank you again for this lovely comment! It made my day! 🫶🏻
I don't usually use tumblr but I'll def consider making an account!! I'll also consider making a discord server! I enjoy making them haha, and no worries!! I don't expect you to moderate or anything, would just be fun to be able to interact with you over there:D
I loved this game sm!!! I didn't know I was capable of reading so much in one setting with my fried attention span until now LOL The story blew me away and I grew so fond of the characters. Heron being my fav! Playing this game hits a little harder now when we take into mind the current political state of the world. Just like in this game, our voices matter and we have the right to fight back against tyrannical forces. Would 100% recommend this game to others!
Thank you so much! ❤️ I’m glad you liked it, and especially Heron. This story is based on a novella I wrote 25 years ago; it’s crazy and unfortunate that’s it’s hitting so true now.
I started Viatica around a month ago and read up to almost the end of Chapter 11 in basically one sitting (although I did get up a few times lol) and only got round to finishing it today. I've laughed and cried (and I'm about to cry again while writing this) and wished death upon certain characters (and the music box ending made that wish come true :D), and I just have to say that this story, your story, is absolutely phenomenal. Through your writing, I grew so attached to these characters and regret none of my choices (except not talking to Heron more in the earlier chapters when I had the chance lol). Even so, however, I think the lack of ability to save was very fitting (even though the lack of save files wasn't a storytelling choice) because it made every choice more important and it prevented me from exploring every option to find out the answer I liked the best. I love how we were given the clear choice on whether we wanted nsfw content and that the sfw options were so lovely and cute and it didn't feel like we were missing out on the plot (because we weren't!) so I happily enjoyed a predominantly fluffy route with Lion. Character deaths were, without spoilers, impactful. I cried (and am about to cry again just thinking about it) because, just...wow. This is the first text only IF I've played on itch, and it was brilliant that even the way I treated the (technically) side characters had a huge impact (or so I assume, since I've only gotten one ending for now), but it seems to me that every choice holds weight, and I really like that. I am so grateful for the message of hope, even echoed in the journal entries, and it was definitely a message that I personally needed (guess who might actually cry this time) and it is definitely a message the world needs given how messed up things are right now. I just want to say thank you, because this story is a gift that I am glad that I decided to open it up and try it out. I'm definitely going to check out Cantata and the April Fools chapters when I have the time, but I'm still deciding on whether or not I want to try and get another ending, considering how satisfying the ending I just got was. We'll see, I guess. By the way, I also found a few grammatical errors/typos near the end and took some screenshots just in case you wanted to see, but I haven't attached them just in case you don't. Anyways, I want to end again with a thank you. Thank you for sharing this fantastic story with all of us, and thank you for the hope that came with it.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed the softer options in the romance scenes and chose the fluffy route with Lion. I appreciate that you gave my story a try, even returning to it after a break! Thank you! 🥰
And please feel free to add your screenshots here. I appreciate you asking first. I do try to make my IFs as close to final draft and error-free as I possibly can before publishing, but I do miss some things, and I’d like to correct that. 😊
Oop I'm so sorry it took me so long to respond! I finally sat down to actually annotate the screenshots so you don't have to hunt the photo for them so here they are :D (spoilers obviously if you're reading this but haven't played the game, so go play it now)
(unsure if this last one was intentional or not, but if it wasn't then the error here was the lack of punctuation just in case that didn't make sense)
Oh lol I just noticed a mistake in my own og comment, meant to write that this was my first text only IF since before this I've only played visual novels...ah well, might as well edit that now :3
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Comments
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the giver but make it hopeposting
one thing i do wish for is a ‘chapter select’, as well as the option to change the custom attributes possibly from the character stats page. i didnt know how much appearance would matter so i chose ‘female’ and got locked into she/her (im nonbinary). though tbh, such a rigid society would likely not even entertain the idea of queerness at all. perhaps they could discover queerness through the books (and then let players ‘transition’ accordingly). i appreciate the hints of intent for romantic/subtle options!
i absolutely loved this game omg. 10/10. my only complaint is that i wish there were options to be a trans man/trans woman. there is a nonbinary option which is absolutely wonderful so thats not to say there is no trans representation, but it is a little disheartening to have to choose between either a body that doesnt represent me or a gender that doesnt lol. mainly for the explicit scenes and the mention of what the citizens are forced to go through. really a lovely story though!! the music adds so much to it!! and oh my goodness to see youre the creator of cantata too!! recently finished a playthrough of it and absolutely adored it so this was super exciting :))
Thank you! I completely understand the desire for a trans option. This was my first attempt at writing fiction in decades, and with the world of Viatica as restrictive and prohibitive as it is, I didn’t think I could faithfully write a trans MC in such a setting. I am much more confident in my storytelling skills now and I’ve included those options in Cantata, which I’m happy to hear you’ve also read!
Genuinely a masterpiece. 10/10 experience and something I would re-read again. I loved everything about the story - especially how it makes the reader feel!!!
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I recently finished reading for the second time and I am going to just say wow. After I saw that it had been updated to include extra content I was more than willing to read through a second time having already enjoyed it so much the first. This time I decided to choose the Robin route, as opposed to Lion as I did the first, and can I just say that I was not disappointed in the slightest. Everything about this is just chefs kiss. From the amazingly written story, to the beautiful art in the background and of the characters before even getting to the story, and even the music just perfectly sets the scene with great ambiance for reading. And can I just say as well Chapter 10, OMG, as a person who often doesn't get attached to characters or emotional about fictional characters I was on the verge of tears for the second time whilst reading it, and that I think shows just how well these characters were written that I was able to get attached enough to them in such a short amount of time that they made me emotional. At some point I definitely plan on reading through the Ferret and Heron routes as well because I just can't get enough of this.
Thank you so much! I am delighted that you returned to Viatica, and even tried a new route! I’m glad you enjoyed the story and that you connected with the characters. ❤️
Masterpiece.
🫶🏻
I stumbled across the recommendation for this game on reddit earlier today. I decided to give it a shot since it’s the exact genre I usually gravitate towards. I finished this IF in a few hours quite literally, I was hooked and I probably should’ve paced myself but it was just so good. I definitely plan on replaying for other romance routes, since I did the Ferret route. This is the only IF that I’ve ever finished. I even shed a tear during Fawn and Bison’s end. It reminded me deeply of 1984, Fahrenheit 451, The Handmaidens Tale, The Giver, hell even The Hunger Games and so much more. I truly loved this experience. The music was prefect and helped set the mood. Thank you for writing and releasing this. I hope to read more of your work if you ever decide to release another story. 10/10, I have to go recommend this to my friends now!
Thank you for your kind words, and for taking a chance on my story! This is adapted from a novella I wrote nearly 30 years ago, and I was a BIG fan of dystopian fiction at the time; 1984, Fahrenheit 451 and Anthem were all my inspiration. 😁
I have a new IF in the works, Cantata, you can find on my creator page. Thank you again, and thanks for recommending my work! ❤️
Thank you for writing this! It has become the best IF I have ever read, hell even the best thing I’ve read all year. Thank you for all the hard work! The dystopian themes popped out a lot, which I adore it’s my favorite genre. I am reading Cantata and I’m enjoying it a lot!
i just finished it, and i haven't stopped crying since the deaths until the end. this, people, is a perfect example of why knowledge is powerful! keep reading! keep asking questions! for ignorance is the start of doom! thank you for bringing this story to life, this has been an amazing experience <3
You are so welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
The first IF i ever finished fully- I AM IN LOVEEEEEE! Amazingly written with scenes that break and make my heart. Absolutely beautiful.
Also Lion is coming home with me.
Lion and I thank you! 😉
Ahhhhh! Ferret, it's so good to be reading about you again as well as Keiko! 💜💜Your spirit continues to live on in my Cantata pet, they certainly have the same attitude. 🦦
Thank you for the extended dialogue, Fir! It was so nice to see not only the updated format of the story, but all the characters again after re-reading. Chapter 10 will forever be heartbreaking though 😭.
Congratulations, Fir! I can't believe it's already been a year, I'm glad to have been able to read this since the day of it's release. Will always be a supporter here and there when you need me 💜💜.
Thank you so much, Power, for being here nearly from day 1! ❤️ It’s wild to think it’s already been a year, and I’m excited for the next!
Really loved the journal entries at the beginning of the chapters. Idk if this literary device has a name, but it always works really well.
This IF made me cry but also filled me with hope (your choice of BGM was helpful in setting the tone), thank you.
Looking forward to exploring Cantata as it's being developed 🤎
Thank you for giving both of my stories a read! I’m glad you liked the journal entries in particular. I’m excited to share more of Cantata with you!
This game is so beautiful imma die ;0; peak story telling
( when i saw it updated i almost exploded )
Lol, thank you!
Slight spoilers but was that a Cantata reference at the end of Ferret’s epilogue??? Because if so that’s hilarious 💀
Hee hee. 🤭 If you did the rebellion ending, then yes! I sprinkled other Cantata references throughout!
Played the update... Safe to say, even more tears shed than last time. Absolutely beautiful story and ethereal music to go with it, viatica has become a comfort game of mine especially with all the stuff happening in the US. You're game gives me hope that one day, I as well will have the freedom to be who I am. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart🥲
You are so very welcome! I, too, live in the US and it’s very disheartening to see. Take care of yourself, and thank you for sharing that with me! ❤️
same, I too feel so much comfort from this game, I wish I had such a sweet community family just like theirs wish I wasnt as afraid and could be brave enough to escape that fear (silence is death) but for me silence is my only way of living in real life. (signed disabled Trans in US)
OH EM GEE... AN UPDATE!!! I literally love this game sm, ty for all your hard work!!!!
You are most welcome!
how did you even think to write this story? this is amazing and i'm not even done yet! i love this!
Thank you!
What a wonderful surprise to see an update, i'm eating it up right now mueheh
Lol, enjoy!
Beautiful game!
Thank you!
My english is not very good, but i must gush about this IF.
This IF is such a wonderful story. Parts of it made me stay glued my chair to keep reading while some parts made me take a walk outside to process.
Such a perfect mix of tragedy, hope and romance. I cant wait to recommend this to my friends.
Thank you for your kind words!
This story was so, so beautiful. It has deeply moved me in a way not many other stories have, and I'm so grateful you have written it. This is easily one of my favorite IF's on this site so far. Please never stop writing.
Thank you so much! I’ve only recently returned to fiction writing but I am definitely here to stay now, thank you! ❤️
This is quite possibly the only IF that has ever made me cry over a slinky but it did. And I mean that in the best way possible. This whole story is presented so beautifully, with such a haunting presence throughout. I feel so much with each page. By the ending I was crying many happy tears. What a wonderful experience. Thank you, so much, for sharing this.
Lol, that’s the best compliment about the slinky. 😆
Thank you for this lovely comment! I’m glad you enjoyed the story, it’s my pleasure to share. ❤️
Reading this novel was one of the best experiences of my life. The relationships you build with your partners feel so genuine, and the story is captivating.
Thank you very much!
Hi! I love Cantata and I've just started reading this too and oh dear am I already hooked! This is probably a stupid question, but is there a way to save your progress in this game? Or have multiple save files?
Well, if you get out of the game, your progress is saved automatically. However, there can be only one save file. So if you plan on doing every route, you'd have to restart from the beginning :))
The IF was made using Twine Chapbook, which is the easiest for people who've never coded before, but it has limited functionality (aka the lack of saves).
Hello, and thank you! The other commenter is correct. The game saves in your browser as you play, but there are no multiple save slots, I'm afraid. I understand this is a bit of an inconvenience and I appreciate you playing regardless!
Thanks! I just finished the whole thing (like 60 seconds ago) and omg!! This is a masterpiece. I am still crying fr fr. What a beautifully told story
Boy do I have news for you!
🤣🤣🤣
Finally finished this today! An absolute gem, that sadly seems to mirror what's been happening lately :')
Thank you! It is crazy and heartbreaking to think that a story I wrote nearly 30 years ago (the original novella) is somehow more relatable today.
I started reading this story when it was still a WIP months ago, and I remember putting it on hold when the dreaded chapter 10 came out, because I wasn't mentally ready to face it.
Now I've finally come back to finish it, and I'm proud to announce that I only cried a little in chapter 10, but what really made me cry was the last option in the epilogue, when I had the option to choose that my MC was expecting Robin's baby 🥺
There is something so beautiful and hopeful about it, especially after all the trauma they both went through in the chamber, that I just couldn't take it and before I knew it I was crying like a baby. For me, it's canonical that when their baby was born, Wren and Robin named them Fawn or Bison in tribute to their friends.
Now I'm going to replay it to do Ferret's route, but I felt I had to leave this message here to join the chorus of people praising the author, because really, this story was one of the best experiences I've had with IFs to date. Thank you for this beautiful story, author ❤️
Thank you for returning! I don’t blame you for stopping at Chapter 10; that Chapter broke me to write it. 😭 I adore the name tribute! 🥹
I hope you enjoy Ferret’s route just as much. Thank you for this lovely comment!
I created a damn account just to comment.
This was wonderful. The world-building, the character development, the humor, the themes, all of them are done masterfully. One of the best on the goddamn site!
The world-building was excellently done. I am amazed at how much you gave with so few words. Thank you for not just having an info-dump chapter, and spreading it out. The journal entries were fantastic, and really conveyed how good intentions slowly but surely warped into something truly dystopian. I loved how you even brought that up.
I really felt like the characters mattered. I adored each of them, and the deaths of [you know who] shattered me. Phenomenal work.
The dialogue, especially (albeit surprisingly) the humor, was very well-done. I laughed a lot, and that's really nice during stories such as these. I had such a sense as to the raw emotion from the characters. They truly came alive.
The themes were really the strongest part of this. I had to step back and ponder to myself during the choice to fight or flee. You've really captured the essence in why I love what I call "optimistic dystopian", that is, really really dark, but with hope and ideals to guide the characters.
Lastly, the music... by God the MUSIC! I cannot praise you enough for the choice and placements of it. At first, I thought it'd be distracting, but it very much added to the experience.
One slight critique is that I'd love to be able to save and load playthroughs, because I got stuck in the 'Character Traits' menu and... yeah.
All-in-all, this was a masterclass in how to do this kind of story, and I adore it. Well done.
P.S. I romanced Ferret, who you did an excellent job with and may I just say that I've only cried once before during a sex scene, and that has now happened twice. So... good job with the smut!
I was grinning like a fool just by the first sentence you wrote! Then the rest of your comment… 🥹
I really appreciate everything you wrote, thank you! I was particularly pleased with the comment about “optimistic dystopian” and the inclusion of hopeful themes and dialogue. It’s very important to me that the ultimate message is a hopeful and uplifting one, and I’m glad that came across. (I’m also glad you appreciated the smut scenes, lol. Those took me foreverrrr! 😅)
I completely understand the frustration at the lack of saves, my apologies. I built this using Twine Chapbook which was the easiest for someone like myself who has never coded before, but it has limited functionality. My newest IF is in Sugarcube for this reason.
Thank you SO much for not only making an account to comment, but taking the time to write out such kind and encouraging words! ❤️
Omg!!! This was beautiful, I went in expecting it to be good due to the comments and I was still blown away. I got so into it I somehow read it all in one night. Never have I laughed and cried so much at an IF before. Wholeheartedly, I recommend anyone and everyone to read/play this and then do it all again, maybe even a third time for luck.
Thank you so much!! 🥹❤️ I'm glad you gave my story a try and that you enjoyed it so much!
Hello!!
Thank you so much for making this game - seriously - it is genuinely one of the best things I've ever had the chance to read/play. I found this after playing Cantata, and it made me feel so many emotions - it is so beautifully written. It takes a lot of skill and patience to write something like this, and it takes a lot to be able to write something that actually moves people.
I played through the entire game in two sittings spanning two days (I got VERY into it LOL, it was hard to stop playing once I started) and enjoyed every second of it. I plan to play through it a few more times to go through the other romance routes, but I will take a bit of a break between then, my heart can only take so much, haha! I romanced Robin on this (my first) playthrough and I adore them. As someone who is also young non-binary person, similar age to Robin, I found I could relate to them immensely, and found some things they said particularly moving (although, the whole game was moving). Having to be put into a box of either "man" or "woman" is very draining - I was born a woman and will sadly always be seen as a woman to some people - especially since I present feminine. While it is hard, people around you truly make a difference - my friends, family, and other queer people around me remind me that I am not alone, and there are so many people like us.
I genuinely cannot overstate how much representation means to so many people, and to have a character who also feels the same way as I do in certain aspects really is comforting. Thank you so much for writing such a wonderful story and deciding to share it with us!!
Do you have a discord/etc for this community? Totally okay if not! I know a lot of people don't know or aren't interested in using platforms like that, and no pressure or anything if there isn't! If you a discord in particular I'd love to join! Or, if you wanted, I know I and multiple other people would love to help you create one! It'd be a lovely way to be able to talk more about the game, share fanart / fanfictions about the series (both this one + Cantana, and other games you have made), and so you can let people know when updates are released and stuff! (I forget to check itch.io a lot LOL) ! No stress if not though, just thought I'd throw the idea out there, haha!
Thank you so much again, I'll be patiently waiting for updates with Cantana!! :D <3
(and sorry for the long comment!!)
Never apologize for such a kind and heartfelt comment such as this! 🥹❤️ I’m grinning like a fool reading this, I’m so grateful, thank you! I’m glad you were able to relate to Robin and the story as a whole. I think it’s more important than ever to build an inclusive community and support each other.
And on that note, I do not have a discord but I’m very active on tumblr. I invite you to find me there! The link is on my creator page. I’m afraid I don’t have the skill to build a discord server, nor the time to moderate it. If you and others were to create one, I’d be happy to join! You’re not the first to ask, but I’m afraid it’s not something I can commit to. I hate to put the burden onto others, but I want to be upfront about my capacity and time.
Thank you again for this lovely comment! It made my day! 🫶🏻
Ahh, I'm so glad!!
I don't usually use tumblr but I'll def consider making an account!! I'll also consider making a discord server! I enjoy making them haha, and no worries!! I don't expect you to moderate or anything, would just be fun to be able to interact with you over there:D
This!! This is a masterpiece!! Im fudging bawling right now. Ive read this IF after your Cantata. I really really love your works. ♥️
Aww, thank you!! ❤️
ok, I'd like 4 books an 8 season long show and 2 movies please
Erm, would you settle for an April Fools Day special? 😅
This comment gave me a good giggle, thank you!
exactly how I feel I just keep coming back to F&F's work T-T
I loved this game sm!!! I didn't know I was capable of reading so much in one setting with my fried attention span until now LOL The story blew me away and I grew so fond of the characters. Heron being my fav! Playing this game hits a little harder now when we take into mind the current political state of the world. Just like in this game, our voices matter and we have the right to fight back against tyrannical forces. Would 100% recommend this game to others!
Thank you so much! ❤️ I’m glad you liked it, and especially Heron. This story is based on a novella I wrote 25 years ago; it’s crazy and unfortunate that’s it’s hitting so true now.
I started Viatica around a month ago and read up to almost the end of Chapter 11 in basically one sitting (although I did get up a few times lol) and only got round to finishing it today. I've laughed and cried (and I'm about to cry again while writing this) and wished death upon certain characters (and the music box ending made that wish come true :D), and I just have to say that this story, your story, is absolutely phenomenal. Through your writing, I grew so attached to these characters and regret none of my choices (except not talking to Heron more in the earlier chapters when I had the chance lol). Even so, however, I think the lack of ability to save was very fitting (even though the lack of save files wasn't a storytelling choice) because it made every choice more important and it prevented me from exploring every option to find out the answer I liked the best. I love how we were given the clear choice on whether we wanted nsfw content and that the sfw options were so lovely and cute and it didn't feel like we were missing out on the plot (because we weren't!) so I happily enjoyed a predominantly fluffy route with Lion. Character deaths were, without spoilers, impactful. I cried (and am about to cry again just thinking about it) because, just...wow. This is the first text only IF I've played on itch, and it was brilliant that even the way I treated the (technically) side characters had a huge impact (or so I assume, since I've only gotten one ending for now), but it seems to me that every choice holds weight, and I really like that. I am so grateful for the message of hope, even echoed in the journal entries, and it was definitely a message that I personally needed (guess who might actually cry this time) and it is definitely a message the world needs given how messed up things are right now. I just want to say thank you, because this story is a gift that I am glad that I decided to open it up and try it out. I'm definitely going to check out Cantata and the April Fools chapters when I have the time, but I'm still deciding on whether or not I want to try and get another ending, considering how satisfying the ending I just got was. We'll see, I guess. By the way, I also found a few grammatical errors/typos near the end and took some screenshots just in case you wanted to see, but I haven't attached them just in case you don't. Anyways, I want to end again with a thank you. Thank you for sharing this fantastic story with all of us, and thank you for the hope that came with it.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed the softer options in the romance scenes and chose the fluffy route with Lion. I appreciate that you gave my story a try, even returning to it after a break! Thank you! 🥰
And please feel free to add your screenshots here. I appreciate you asking first. I do try to make my IFs as close to final draft and error-free as I possibly can before publishing, but I do miss some things, and I’d like to correct that. 😊
Oop I'm so sorry it took me so long to respond! I finally sat down to actually annotate the screenshots so you don't have to hunt the photo for them so here they are :D (spoilers obviously if you're reading this but haven't played the game, so go play it now)
(unsure if this last one was intentional or not, but if it wasn't then the error here was the lack of punctuation just in case that didn't make sense)
Oh lol I just noticed a mistake in my own og comment, meant to write that this was my first text only IF since before this I've only played visual novels...ah well, might as well edit that now :3
No way to download it? Its only in browser?
Yep, your data saves as long as you don't clear your browser cache
Correct, the game is only available in browser.