Clair Obscure Expedition 33 - I chose Maelle's Ending - why I regret it.

When I chose Maelle's ending originally and decided to preserve the canvas, I thought I was choosing mercy. My feelings about sentience led me to think that because these people are thinking, feeling people with pasts and hopes, that it would be wrong to destroy the canvas regardless of what Verso believed. I also thought that Maelle may have needed an escape from the real world since she's burned and cannot speak. So my choice was one of empathy. I thought she could just leave when she wants anyway and she could be with her family irl.

I asked a few people about my view and I now see things a bit differently. The world is controlled by the Paintress - in this case Maelle. She can build whatever reality she wants. These "sentient" people are paintings, and as the paintress she can simply make people do what she wants. She wouldn't grow or grieve because she doesn't have to.

The point about her leaving was flawed too. I forgot to consider that her mother was corrupted by the world and essentially lived in this world as she was deteriorating irl. She chose fantasy over reality, and that's the future that the writers clearly think will happen to Maelle if she stays (her ending scene).

Even my point about her being free in the world was off base. I assumed that she'd be happier in the canvas because she can do thinga she can't irl, but people with disabilities aren't less worthy or otherwise less than. She could've learned to deal with her disabilities.

Credit to the writers of this game. This is the first time I felt genuine horror from my choices in game. The game has layera beneath the layers. If I could choose again, I'd choose Verso.