hiraeth-if

[hiraeth-if]

I see that we can customize the MC's sexuality, yet the Ex's gender is set to he/they. Wouldn't that clash with the idea of a lesbian MC?

That’s a really thoughtful question! I don’t really see it as a clash, but rather as a reflection of how relationships and self-discovery—especially in adolescence—can be messy and complicated. Magnus identifies as non-binary and uses he/they pronouns now, but that wasn’t always the case. As a a kid and teen Magnus still identified with the gender they were assigned at birth. To reflect that, you can choose Magnus’s birth sex—and in flashbacks, they’ll be referred to as she or he. However, since Magnus’s gender identity is fixed as non-binary in the present, I don’t consider him as gender-selectable. Sex and gender are two different things, and I wanted to acknowledge that distinction.

This setup allows for different interpretations of the MC’s journey. A lesbian MC might have dated a male-identifying Magnus as a teen and later realized the relationship was comphet, or they could have dated a female-identifying Magnus and always known they were a lesbian. Similarly, a straight or gay MC could have always known their sexuality or discovered it after leaving home. That said, Magnus fully respects the MC’s sexuality. While he still cares deeply for MC and may have lingering romantic feelings, those feelings will only remain romantic if the MC is attracted to their gender. For a straight male MC or a lesbian MC, those feelings have naturally shifted into a strong, platonic love over time. Magnus loved MC once and still values them, regardless of what form that love takes now.

My goal is to allow the MC to reflect on their identity—whether they’ve always been sure or are still figuring things out—while also respecting Magnus’s own journey with gender. I want to explore sexuality and gender identity in a way that feels natural and layered, while giving players room to shape their MC’s experiences. Hope that clears things up!

[hiraeth-if]

☽ ⋆ ｡☆ ─update─ ☆｡⋆ ☾

Sorry for the radio silence these past few weeks—midterms have been kicking my ass, but I’m finally crawling out of the academic abyss. I should be back to regularly answering asks and posting lore sneak peeks soon!

On a more exciting note, I’ve been working with an artist friend to get some official character portraits done! They just sent me some sneak peek sketches of Nicco, and I need you all to hype them up. This is their first time working on character portraits for an interactive fiction, but they’ve been a huge supporter of this project from the start. They’re also shifting their focus to more art content, so if you want to see more of their work (and encourage them to keep blessing us with amazing art), go follow them!

Find them at @Mwahve on Instagram & TikTok and @Mwahv3 on Tumblr!

As for the demo, my goal is to have something ready by the end of spring break, but I’m not making any promises because learning Twine is still an uphill battle (send help).

— Peach 🍑

[hiraeth-if]

Duh. Some people these days are so obsessed with AI that they see it in everything.

Thank you so much, I've literally been so stressed about that ask. It discredited so many months of work, losing work, missing out on hang outs to lock in, writing and rewriting, and so much more. I understand hating AI but if you're so obsessed with it that you're discrediting actual artists then you need to reevaluate the way you express your activism.

[hiraeth-if]

You wrote the intro post with AI. So far, you don't have a demo, so I won't bother, but if you do make a demo and it's written by AI, it'll be very easy to expose it.

This community doesn't take lightly "writers" whose entire work is figuring out how to come up with a prompt line.

I’m genuinely so confused about where this even came from. I’ve been working on this introduction post for months now and have never used AI at any point. My friends, family, and professors have all looked over my work and proofread it for me, and they can confirm that AI was never involved. This is such a wild and baseless claim to make with literally zero evidence when there is none to be found. I come from a family of artists, writers, and designers, and I’m strongly against AI because it steals from creatives. I have backlogs on both Word and Notion showing the development of my work and how my writing style has evolved over the past five months as I’ve worked on my introduction and writing for Hiraeth. Here are some screenshots from my Notion and my school writing portfolio, which include an older version of a scene where MC and Casper are at their mother’s funeral. These show that my writing style has remained consistent—something AI struggles to achieve. I’d implore you to stay off my blog if you’re just going to make baseless accusations and bring negativity to my community.

[hiraeth-if]

What about MC's brother? Is he older? What's their relationship like? Who is he in the town?

Casper is the MC's younger brother, with a six-year age gap between them. He just turned 19, the same age the MC was when they left home. As a kid, Casper was like their little shadow, always tagging along with MC and their friends. The MC never minded—they thought it was cute, and the two were super close. After their dad left when the MC was 12, their mom fell apart, leaving the MC to step up and essentially raise Casper.

When the MC moved away at 19, they wanted to take Casper with them but couldn’t figure out how to juggle their own dreams and the legal responsibility of raising a 13-year-old. Casper understands why they had to leave and is proud of them, but there's still some lingering bitterness. Despite this, he fiercely loves the MC—he’d fight anyone who so much as whispered something bad about them. His attitude toward their messy family dynamic is: it’s a disaster, but it’s my disaster. Casper is still figuring out his path in life. He’s incredibly smart with loads of potential, but he’s unsure of what he wants to do. Right now, he works at the local theater while sorting it all out.

Fun fact: Casper’s name started as a baby bump nickname. The MC had just watched Casper the Friendly Ghost and suggested the name because “it means he’ll be good.” Their parents found it adorable, and it stuck so hard they couldn’t imagine calling him anything else. Casper pretends to hate the movie but he secretly likes the story behind his name, and only the MC is allowed to bring it up or call him by his full name—everyone else has to stick with "Cas."

Not-so-fun fact: Casper was their mom’s favorite because he reminded her of herself, while she saw too much of their dad in the MC. Ironically, as Casper got older, he became the spitting image of their father.

[hiraeth-if]

What kind of Artist? Something with music? Painting? Sculpture? Architecture? Origami?

And Writer MC, have they written any bestsellers yet? 😁

Artist MC is a studio artist who primarily works with paintings. They’ve had success online and done a few collaborative projects, which has led to the opportunity for their first solo gallery debut! Writer MC has had one bestseller and is currently working on a follow-up, with a ton of pressure from their publisher to make it just as successful. Honestly, all of the MC’s jobs come with a lot of career and social pressure—because what's life without a little drama to stress them out? 😅

[hiraeth-if]

Why is there only one female RO ? I never really care too much about writers not having gender selectable ROs but there’s normally a balance of gender options between them.

Hey, thanks for the ask—that’s a totally fair question! Honestly, it came down to balancing "me time" with releasing something I’m proud of. This is my first interactive fiction project, so I decided to keep the cast limited to four core love interests while I figure things out. Between college, writing, and learning to code, I wanted to make sure each character gets the development they deserve.

I had tons of ideas for other love interests (a lot were women or non-binary), but I had to trim things down to keep it manageable. If I get more confident and find the time, I might add them back as full cast members or secret love interests. For now, after a lot of deliberation the main four felt like the strongest fit for great emotional arcs—independent of being love interests and I'm excited to explore them further. It wasn’t a conscious choice to have Thea as the only romanceable girl; it just worked out that way. But who knows? In the future, she might have some company!

[hiraeth-if]

DEMO (TBD) | INTROS | PLAYLIST | PINTEREST

Hiraeth is an 18+ supernatural mystery, that explores the complexities of love, loss, and the unshakable pull of home, set against the backdrop of a town shrouded in mystery and darkness.

You’ve built a successful career, started a new life, and finally found your place among new friends, miles away from the small town you once called home. But just when you thought you’d left that life behind, your brother calls in a panic—your mother has died suddenly in her sleep. Now, you’re forced to return and confront the past you tried so hard to escape.

As you settle your mother’s affairs, long-buried memories and forgotten connections begin to resurface. Your home town has always felt off, but it turns out to be steeped in unsettling mysteries that seem to revolve around your family, pulling you into a dark web of supernatural forces and ancient secrets. With each discovery, the line between your family’s past and the town’s fate becomes more blurred, and the closer you get to the truth, the more dangerous it becomes.

Can you unravel the truth behind your mother’s death, navigate the town’s strange supernatural forces, and maybe even find love amidst the chaos? Or will the town’s dark pull consume you before you can save yourself—or anyone else?

Content warnings include: explicit language, sexual themes, substance use, violence, death, grief, trauma, and possible unhealthy relationship dynamics.

Design Your MC: Customize everything from your character’s name, appearance, clothing style, living situation, to their sexuality and gender identity. Tailor your MC to fit your vision.

Career Choices: Choose from 5 distinct jobs—Artist, Writer, Teacher, Private Investigator, or Bartender—each with unique scenes, stats effects, and side characters to interact with, influencing how you approach the town’s mysteries and the bonds you build.

Curate Your Personality: Shape how your MC reacts to the strange events of Hiearth, from calm and collected to impulsive and emotional. Your choices will influence how other characters view and interact with you.

Romance Options: Develop deep, meaningful relationships with 1 of 4 love interests, including your childhood best friend, your ex, a mysterious new comer, or the son of the town's most powerful family. Pursue solo or poly relationships, each with its own layers and dynamics.

Explore and Discover: As you dig into the town’s dark past and your own forgotten memories, you'll encounter supernatural elements, ancient family secrets, and long-buried powers that shape your destiny.

Branching Narratives: The choices you make don’t just affect you—they can mend or break relationships with other characters, help you discover certain clues, or effect the town, altering some of the course of the story.

Niccolo [he/him] – Niccolo, the son of Hiraeth’s most powerful family, is a few years older than you and a figure you’ve only heard about through rumors. Descending from one of the town's founders, his life is defined by privilege, yet wealth and indulgence never seem to satisfy him. He seeks out fleeting thrills—cycling through lovers, dabbling in drugs, or instigating fights—but only art truly captivates him. When he's not out partying, Nicco spends hours in galleries or locked away in his studio, trying to capture the beauty of life that constantly eludes him. His reckless nature is tempered by a charm that’s magnetic, flirty, and dangerous in equal measure, always hiding a deeper restlessness beneath the surface.

Appearance – Nicco has fawn skin, sharp features, and perfectly tousled black curls that add to his hauntingly elegant look. His dark, bottomless eyes exude a mysterious intensity, hinting at a life far older than his years. His style is tailored dark clothing, favoring leather jackets, sleek trousers, and crisp button-ups. Rings and necklaces complete his look, adding to his timeless sophistication, though his polished appearance conceals the chaos that brews just beneath.

Althea [she/her] – New to you and Hiraeth, Althea and her nomadic family recently moved into a once-abandoned apartment building at the town's edge. Their arrived is far from coincidental, and there’s more history between her family and the town than she realizes. Fiercely protective and quick to fight, Althea’s guarded nature hides a deeply loyal, soft side known only to her loved ones. Her sharp reflexes and predatory grace hint at something primal she struggles to control. When not skateboarding, she can be found ice skating at the local rink.

Appearance: Althea has mahogany skin and golden brown eyes that gleam dangerously when angered. Her shoulder-length black hair is styled in a full, natural afro. She favors practical, clothes like baggy tees, crop tops, high-waisted cargo jeans, and flannels, which conceal scars linked to her family's buried secret. Despite her tough style, she carries herself with a quiet elegance, always prepared for whatever comes her way.

Magnus [he/they] – Magnus is your ex, a childhood friend you’ve known since kindergarten and dated in high school. The two of broke up when you left for college, and you haven’t spoken to him since. They now run the Witch’s Brew café, a family business passed down from their mother’s side. When not managing the café, Magnus enjoys thrifting, gardening, and composing music effortlessly. His personality is bubbly and humorous, with a laugh that’s oddly melodic, capable of shifting between playful and reflective moods, always leaving people curious about the depths beneath.

Appearance: Magnus has honey brown eyes, golden skin, and a medium-length wolf cut styled half-up. His gender-neutral style blends earthy tones with pops of color, often wearing crocheted sweaters, embroidered vests, skirts, and loose pants. Their outfits are always paired with vintage jewelry, each with a story to tell. There's an ethereal quality to their appearance, as if they belong to another world, yet they fit perfectly into the one they inhabit.

Elias [he/him] – Elias is your childhood best friend, and like Magnus, you’ve known each other since kindergarten. His family, the MacConnells, have a longstanding rivalry with the mayor’s family, but Elias isn’t concerned with politics. He prefers books, writing, and swimming, which suits his quiet, disciplined nature. When not helping his mother with real estate or attending family events, Elias retreats to his cabin, finding peace in the lake where he feels a deep, ancient connection. Though calm and controlled now, he’s changed from the crybaby you once knew, becoming someone who hides his emotions beneath a serene exterior.

Appearance: Elias has pale cameo skin and long platinum-blond hair, often worn in loose waves. His sharp blue eyes, framed by glasses, add to his studious look. His style is comfortable and put together—Oxford platforms, knit sweaters, oversized sweatshirts, overalls, and well-worn jeans. He always carries a leather canvas bag filled with his many unfinished thoughts and stories.