iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

[Fatamoru RFI SPOILERS] Insults everywhere!! 🤣 Incredible stuff happening in Requiem for Innocence.

Fatamoru: Requiem for Innocence. Morgana, Maria, Ceren and Jacopo are attending a festival.

Maria: "Jacopo, we send you out on *one* little errand, and you can't even manage to pull that off. Worthless grunt."
Jacopo: "Now *who* needs a lesson in acting like a girl?!"
Maria: "Oh, I'm *soooo* sorry, Jacopo! Thank you so, soooo much for going out there in the big, scary crows just for us~
Jacopo: "I'm gagging from the sheer volume of bullshit erupting from your mouth!"

The scene continues.

Jacopo: "Hear me out, though. While I may not have been able to get the crowns you asked for, I *was* able to acquire an exclusive, one-of-a-kind flower. Now so worthless now, am I! (Thank you, flower girl whose name I never got!)

Maria: "Yeeeeah, not feelin' it. If you were three, maybe I'd be proud of you."

Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

She gets it. I love the reference to "pretending" here. It directly links to the future, when Jacopo creates 3 keys to ensure someone is always there with him so he doesn't accidentally drop his "act" as a lord. Beneath that act, beneath all the masculine bravado, lies a wounded sensitive boy.

In the same scene, Ceren says to Jacopo: "For all you try to pretend otherwise, deep down, you're a real sweet guy, Jacky."

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

[Fatamoru RFI SPOILERS] He has a heart! He cares! This is his real self. His true nature. I believe in his goodness. 🥹 I love you, my problematic fave.

Fatamoru: Requiem for Innocence. Jacopo is talking to Ceren. He tells her: "It's your life, and your body to take care of. It's no one's responsibility but your own."

Jacopo continues: "Do what you think is best for yourself, not what you think you should be doing for others."

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

[Fatamoru RFI SPOILERS] AHHHHHHH, Requiem for Innocence is getting so good!!! I'm losing my mind. It's starting to make me feel how the original game made me feel. I love the psychological depth given to its characters. I love Morgana. I love these themes!! I love Fatamoru. 10/10 GOAT-tier story.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

The other thing I really love about it so far is all the beautiful nature imagery. It reminds me a bit of Non Non Biyori for this reason, which is another anime I love. Also! The crisp, autumn temperatures before winter sets in. I love that feeling, and it's captured perfectly. So cozy.

Rin riding her bicycle down a road, surrounded by beautifully drawn trees.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I've started watching Yuru Camp! 2 episodes in. Rin is very relatable to me. Her preference for solitude, to be immersed in nature by herself without having to be bothered by other people, is very similar to how I can be. She can be antisocial, but I get it.

Rin, sitting on a chair outside a camping tent. She's located on a grassy field and reading a sheet of paper.

Rin sits outside a camping tent. She's sipping a beverage while reading a book.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Uh... is she okay? Like, girl. Morgana is RIGHT in front of you.

A screenshot from Fatamoru: Requiem for Innocence. An unknown girl stands in front of the brothel, screaming: "KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOOOOOOOOOOOOCK!"

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Heh heh heh 😈 I feel lucky to have one now. Though I'm still missing Vol 6.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

[Fatamoru RFI SPOILERS] Halcyon days... This is such a beautiful scene. A precarious moment, made all the more tragic with the knowledge of what comes after. Requiem for Innocence is a very fitting title. 😥

Clouds are shown in the background as Jacopo lies on the grass, looking up and listening to Morgana sing. He narrates:

"Listening to her sing, I sprawled out on the grass.

The blue sky spread out above me as far as the eye could see, and as I gazed up into it, all my problems seemed to fade away.

That I lived in a dirty slum.

That the lord was digging his claws even deeper into the city.

That I was in the middle of a makeshift graveyard for those who had no one else.

It all just... disappeared.
I felt almost as though I had ascended to Heaven."

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

[Fatamoru RFI SPOILERS] This made me laugh. 🤣 Never change Morgana.

Morgana talks to Jacopo in a graveyard. She says: "...For one, it's impossible for the dead to rest in "peace" with you around."

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

[Fatamoru RFI SPOILERS] I'm spamming Fatamoru posts. One more... All these references to smiling are heartbreaking. Especially thinking back to the final conversation between Morgana and Jacopo in the original game. 😭😭😭

A screenshot from Fatamoru: Requiem for Innocence. It shows the inside of the brothel. Morgana thinks to herself: "He could have let me go, but he didn't. He got angry, but he told me to stay. Put ointment on me. Smiled, even."

A screenshot of the graveyard. Jacopo thinks to himself: "Maybe she'll smile for once."

Jacopo continues thinking: "I'd like to see that. Someday."

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

[Fatamoru RFI SPOILERS] RIP 🪦

A screenshot from Fatamoru: Requiem for Innocence. Jacopo complains that Morgana treats corpses better than she treats him. She replies: "You'd be correct. If you want me to be nice to you, go die."

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

[Fatamoru RFI SPOILERS] As someone with OCD and who struggles with intrusive thoughts, including sexual ones, this conversation feels a bit painful. I've been in therapy for this, and it's important to keep in mind that thoughts are just thoughts. Thoughts are not actions.

Screenshot from Fatamoru: Requiem for Innocence. Jacopo warns Morgana that men may assault her. The conversation continues:

Morgana: "...Appalling."
Jacopo: "Aren't they? Which is why you should be a little more careful."
Morgana: "You are an appalling man."
Jacopo: "Why am *I* appalling?!"
Morgana: "Because the thought crossed your mind."

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

The time has come. Pray for me. 🙏

The title screen for The House in Fata Morgana: Requiem for Innocence, showing portraits of Jacopo and Morgana with butterflies between them.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Lara (Goodbye Lara) and Sato (Paranormasight) would absolutely be the best of friends. They're so similar to each other, especially in the way they use TV to learn about the human world. It's so sad they never get the chance to meet each other.

Lara and Mari sitting on a couch. Lara is crying as she watches TV. There's a tissue box in front of Lara and a plushie on her lap.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Today marks the 1st anniversary of my mom's passing. I miss you mom. I wish you were still here. ❤️

Picture of me and my mom cuddling when I was a child

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

No Frieren for you. Only for me. ( •̀⤙•́ )

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Methode is single handedly saving Frieren S2. All she wants is to headpat girls. And hug them. 10/10 character. Look how happy she is with Frieren. And now we have a jealous Fern too. 🤭

Methode giving Frieren headpats in a dark forest. She looks very happy. Frieren is reading a Grimoire, offered to her by Methode in exchange for permission to headpat her.

Methode giving Frieren a hug. Fern looks at them.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Today marks the one year anniversary of when I started playing Iwakura Aria. It's such a beautiful story... it may have its flaws, and I understand why people dislike it, but it's a genuinely emotional tale with great artwork, music, characters, and beautiful writing. +

Screenshot of Aria from the game Iwakura Aria. Ichiko is thinking to herself: "I wonder if anyone ever looked at me like that......or loved me with all of their heart......even once in my life".

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The 10th episode of Witch Hat Atelier is up there with 3 & 5 as my favourites. Really great disability representation. Especially with how it shows the strengths that Tartah has, and how simply having a supportive person alongside him can boost his confidence in himself. +

Tartah looks down, his face partially covered by his hand. One of his eyes are visible.

Tartah looks across a sheet of paper, which he's holding at eye-level in front of him.

A flower reintegrates from a bottle, thanks to magic. Tartah holds his hands out and looks at the flower with an expression of happiness.

Coco and Tartah sleeping. Coco is in bed while Tartah is on the floor, his upper body leaning over the side of the bed.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Even better if you can find the courage to talk and open up. But I know from personal experience that this can be difficult. Vulnerability is scary. If all else fails, you can always put pieces of yourself into art. If you don't already create, you can always start. Express yourself and heal. 💛

Screenshot from The House in Fata Morgana. The White-Haired Girl says to Bestia: "Sometimes, talking about things... can lighten the burden they place on you."

The Maid says to Jacopo: "If you do not put them into words, your feelings will never make it through to anyone."

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

And this scene... Tetia: "That dragon looks really happy, huh? I think this is the first time I've ever made someone happy with a spell. Who'd have thought it'd bring you such joy?" Coco looks so happy when Tetia says this. 🥹

Tetia looks happy as she talks to Coco about how the scene makes her feel.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Coco's plan to deal with the dragon in episode 5 is literally to show it kindness. She's giving me Nausicaa vibes. And look how excited and happy she is. I love her. I love her. I love her. I love her. I love her. Witch Hat Atelier is wonderful.

Coco draws up a plan to make the dragon happy by building a comfy bed for it.

Coco being excited about spreading kindness.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

It's been over a year since I finished Until Then. Happy to return to this world and its characters. 💛

Screenshot from Until Then: Afterimages. Sofia enters an apartment with another woman.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

I'm 3 episodes into Witch Hat Atelier and omg this has such a beautiful fantasy world. The animation & environmental art direction are stunning. Absolutely gorgeous. Coco is very cute and she even has a little sidekick now, just like classic magical girl shows. It makes me happy.

Coco meets Brushbuddy for the first time.

Brushbuddy climbs onto a magical orb as it floats on the water. Look at this lil guy. Adorable.

Coco stands in front of an environment with large, floating green balls of land.

Coco stands by a creek. She's wearing a red cape.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

For Anaru, some of the stuff with her character is so similar to me that it's eerie. The way she copies other people, not liking who she is, wishing she could become someone else vs finding her own identity. For much of my life, I feel like I imitate other people or try to become them in my head. +

Flashback from childhood. A young Anaru sits. She's wearing glasses and has shoulder length hair, and she has her hands on her knees.

Present day. Anaru holds her legs and is crying.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I'm watching Anohana. 3 episodes in and it's great so far. I can relate to both Jintan and Anaru. While I'm not a hikikomori, I can really empathize with Jintan being a social recluse and finding it hard to go out and interact with people. And some other stuff about his mom affects me as well. +

Jintan sits on a couch playing handheld video games.

Jintan attempts to go to school after being absent for a long time. His eyes are hidden behind his bangs and there's sweat on his face.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

I'm beginning to understand why some fans like to imagine Araragi as an unhatched trans girl. I mean, look at her! Gorgeous without even starting estrogen! I'm envious. 🥹

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

"In life, I never really understood what I lost to." 😢 Finished Suruga Devil. Another great Monogatari arc with some excellent mental health themes. Now that I fully understand the context behind Kanbaru and Numachi, it's become even more impactful. This show is so damn good sometimes.

Numachi lies on her back on a backetball court. Sun shines from above.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

The car ride with Kanbaru and Araragi in Part 4 of Suruga Devil is just 👌. What a scene. I LOVE the writing. All the stuff Araragi says about identity, the roles we play, the way we shape our personality to be liked by others vs doing what we *actually* want to do. ALSO HIS NEW LOOK & HAIR 😍

Araragi kneels in front of a light. He has long hair and is wearing a white jacket.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

[Fatal Frame 2 SPOILERS] I do not trust this thing. 💀

A room in Kiryu House, chapter 6 of Fatal Frame 2 Remake. A flashlight illuminates a manikin, sitting and covered by a cloth.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

I will never tire of Minako and her antics. 💃 This is a character who has tried to date two guys at the same time, and also became obsessed about whether she has a pure heart. Whenever she stars in an episode, you know it's gonna be good.

Sailor Moon Sailor Stars, episode 9. Minako enters a restaurant and punches Usagi while Usagi is trying to enjoy a drink.

Minako takes Usagi's seat and is about to start drinking Usagi's drink. Usagi stares at her dumbfounded.

Minako starts drinking. Usagi is crying and pointing at herself, saying: "That's mine..."

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

"Yet she lacks confidence and fears getting hurt." Mika is easily emerging as my favourite character in Skip and Loafer. She's just so damn relatable and I sympathize with her 100%.

Episode 8, Skip and Loafer. Mika is riding an elevator, looking sad/dejected.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Guys needing comfort: Hug a pillow (even though a guy friend is present) Girls needing comfort: Hug another girl Girl life > Guy life

Skip and Loafer, episode 6. Sousuke hugs a pillow while sitting on the floor next to a bed.

Sousuke hugs his pillow while his friend watches him.

Mitsumi looks up as Yuzuki approaches from behind and wraps her arms around her.

Mitsumi and Yuzuki laugh and look happy.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

I'm watching through Sailor Moon Sailor Stars and I just finished the Nehelenia arc. I was not expecting this, but Nehelenia has become my favourite Sailor Moon villain. I was worried it wouldn't go the direction I wanted, but my worries were for nothing. I LOVED the way it concluded her arc. ❤️

A young Nehelenia looks into a large mirror.

Young Nehelenia holds her hands out to her reflection, her hands almost touching the reflection's hands.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Skip and Loafer is soooo good. Episode 5... I empathize so much with Mika. 😥

A screenshot of Mika from Skip and Loafer. She's in a gym, looking back over her shoulder.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

3 episodes into Skip and Loafer and I'm loving it. Kurume is very relatable to me: her social anxiety & avoidance, difficulty making friends, etc. Some scenes in episode 3 remind me of my own life, trying to become comfortable meeting new people & going out for food, activities, etc. +

Kurume stands in front of the Student Council door, hesitant to enter. She has a bead of sweat on her cheek and looks anxious.

Kurume, Mitsumi and Sousuke enjoy beverages at a shop.

A flashback of Kurume reading a book, while two other girls talk about her.

Kurume talks with Yuzuki while walking down the street. Yuzuki looks happy and engaged, while Kurume looks anxious.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Starting 📸👻👭🏻

Title screen for Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

ALSO, a part of me really likes Ononoki. She doesn't have as much psychological depth as some of the other characters, but she's very eccentric and quirky in a way I admire. I also like her design. And the way she speaks. She's different. She's weird. And I love that.

Ononoki is sitting and looking at the camera.

Ononoki gives the peace sign over one of her eyes.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

[Fatamoru SPOILERS] I LOVE MICHEL 🥹 HE'S SO AWKWARD AND INNOCENT, AHHHH (why did they put this scene behind an easily missed dead end route... it's so good... they're so precious 😭)

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Finished Fata Morgana! My final playtime: 126 hrs. I swear that's got to be a record or something... 😅 I don't know what else to say on top of the dozens of posts I've made over the past 3.5 months. It's a 10/10 visual novel, and one of the best stories I've read in my life. + [Image Spoiler]

Michel and Giselle embrace in the final scene of The House in Fata Morgana. A white flower can be seen on the right side of the screen.

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

[Fatamoru SPOILERS] My God, the scene with Didier... This may sound crazy, but that scene helped contextualize Jacopo's actions better. I wrote a lengthier write-up about my thoughts for this one. The writing in this game is brilliant.

Gosh, the scene with Didier near the end of Fata Morgana is really something. It's actually helping me to understand Jacopo better. There's this common theme coming up again and again in the game: the way in which our identity gets erased when we place labels on ourselves. What Didier did to Michel is similar in some ways to what Jacopo did to Morgana. Didier killed Michel, and he knew what he was doing was wrong. But he did it anyway. Why? Because he was a "knight". That identity label put shackles on "Didier", it chained his original identity. He did things not because he wanted to, but because he had to, to be a "knight". Similarly, after a certain point, Jacopo internalized the label of "lord". Everything he did became in service of that identity. And through that, he abandoned "Jacopo". Both characters lost who they really were, due to the chains of a label they felt they had to act within. And it ties in nicely with the theme of "reclaim yourself" that comes up in the story.

In short, I can understand Jacopo's betrayal of Morgana better when I frame it in the context of him having to continue being a "lord". In the same way that Didier betrayed himself and Michel because he had to be a "knight".

All this also comes back to the idea of seeing beyond the surface. Seeing beyond labels. Looking beyond the "knight" to see Didier beneath. Looking beyond the "lord" to see Jacopo beneath. Looking beyond the "witch" to see Morgana beneath. And so on. We look beyond the surface to see them as people, not as the surface label they try to behave as.

This idea is captured by the image of a helmet concealing Didier's face. On the surface, we see a knight's helm. Beneath that, exists Didier the person. Didier can't allow himself to be seen, for the world to see he's crying. He must continue being a "knight". Likewise, Jacopo needs to maintain the act of a lord, and to do so, he creates 3 keys to ensure Yukimasa and Mell were always with him when visiting Morgana. I recall…

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Without that closure, guilt or resentment can eat away at us. We may come to hate ourselves for our actions, or hate others for the pain they put us through. We all have our own stories... the reasons we do what we do... the things we felt. I hope people can learn to forgive themselves, and others.

Michel talks with Morgana. Michel says: "Perhaps, by forgiving them... you can come to forgive yourself."

Jacopo talks with Morgana.

Jacopo: "I don't expect you to reciprocate - or even accept - but if I don't put my feelings into words, I'll never get them through to you... I think that's how she put it, anyway."

Morgana: "............"

Jacopo: "So I ask for this one last chance... to put them into words..."

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Steph @stephen28.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

[Fatamoru SPOILERS] They did it! They did it! They did it! 🥹

Scene from near the end of Door 8 of The House in Fata Morgana. Michel speaks with Morgana.

The Witch, Morgana: "............"

The bite slowly drains from Morgana's voice, and in the quiet, I think I hear a muffled attempt to hold back a whimper. I pull away slightly, putting a hand under her chin and lifting her head. She quickly averts her eyes, but doesn't knock my hands away as I reach them into her hood, gently setting them against her cheeks.

The scene continues:

I run my fingers across the exposed flesh, then slowly pull back the hood covering her face.

Michel: "Well, look at that... you're quite pretty without your face hidden."

Morgana: "............"

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