Hello mari! I wanna know more about ilya - apologies if these questions were already answered, feel free to ignore if they are!
1- Is ilya's hair color real or dyed? I'm asking this because he has dark roots .
2- What are things he dislikes/hates in people?
3- What's his favorite song? I know he has a playlist of stuff he'd likely listen to, but if he has a specific favorite... It's definitely going to my playlist as well!
4- What does he like to do in his free time?
5- What if MC was bulked? Muscles and everything. Would ilya hesitate to do anything? (In the road/truck scene where he's asking to get a ride) Maybe ilya wouldn't attack in fear of MC overpowering him? Or would he not care and do it anyway?
Thats it! Sorry if these questions require too much thinking – i love your work by the way! I've known this game since the first month of its release . . . (⁎ᴗ͈ ⩊ ᴗ͈⁎)
dyed!
incompetence is at the top of the list, nothing bores him faster than someone who can't think for themselves. he has a visceral reaction to religious zealotry and forced optimism too. he sees the world as "it is" and anyone pretending otherwise is just lying to themselves. i can see him being okay with the mc showing their clumsiness or stuff like that, but he would be a little frustrated about it. he is patient though, so if it's not being done out of malice, he wouldn't say anything.
HMM this is actually difficult since most of the songs i have in mind mean something to him (que sera sera) or are important to the story, but favorite... maybe paint it black by the rolling stones? or climbing up the walls by radiohead
when he isn't working, he’s reading. he likes to occupy his brain…
i feel like it kinda depends on his interest as it does for everything else, but i definitely think it'd be tougher on him. if it came down to a physical struggle, he wouldn't mind getting his hands dirty. he's fast, and he knows where it hurts most. even if he ends up absolutely bloody and reduced to crawling, he wouldn't stop.
tysm for being here since the start!! <3
ok but how will Ilya fund my 5-step-and-counting skincare routine and my growing makeup addiction? How will he ship my Korean products directly to our home (The Murder House™)? And to say nothing of my perfume collection???
The MC yearns for glowing clear skin and glitter eyeshadow palettes and weird fragrances (shout out Zooligist I love smelling like deer musk and dry grass).
The Murder House™... im stealing that...
in typical fashion he'd be confused about the need for a extensive skincare routine in the first place LOL but he'd drive hours to the nearest big city just to find a mall that sells decent skincare, then come back with whatever he could grab that sounded fancy or good enough (a sad kicked puppy in the cosmetics aisle...) finding korean skincare at that time period and area would be a nightmare tho... at least he's trying his best!!!
Ilya can cook right..but can he bake? If he can then what would he make most of the time. omg wait what if mc could bake and he sits at the table while mc brings the food over to him, but the look in their eyes is off, and they smile at him sweetly but menacingly because they totallyy didn't poison anything. Sooo would he get suspicious? probably, but what if they were already in a romantic relationship would he still get suspicious are just think that mc is joking around?
oh he absolutely cannot bake. it's a sore spot for him HAHA (¬_¬)
if mc could bake, it would be a form of magic to him. i can honestly see him gazing at them (either by the table if they yelled at him to give them space, or hovering way too close to see what the process is like) would make him feel butterflies and a bit faint, almost.
for the poisoned pastry scenario, you've pretty much nailed the duality of it!
early on: he would be immediately suspicious because of their body language. he wouldn't eat it. he'd set it aside and say something calm like "you put something in this, didn't you?" the rest of the day would be very, very quiet. i could see him being petty enough to ask them to take a bite first just to bait them, though he doesn't actually expect the mc to do it or anything to come out of it.
later on: his suspicion is a bone-deep instinct, so a tiny, cold wire would tighten in his chest for a second at the look in their eyes, especially since they’ve known each other for so long atp. but i think he would honestly choose to play along, regardless of whether he thinks it’s a joke or not. he'd take a dramatic bite, clutch his chest, say something corny, and slump over the table while peeking through his lashes to see if they’re laughing.
it would be a pretty lame death(? lol i feel like he’d get sick if anything) if the mc was a real menace, but if it's by their hand that far into things... i’d say something more insightful but i’ll leave that for the poets LOL (´꒳`)
hi there! i’m mari / mira, the head honcho of mirawake studios ☁️
this page is my little corner for sharing updates, art, & behind-the-scenes peeks into my narrative games & projects.
my current projects are watch the road and wan2talk? they’re both slow-burn horror / romance visual novels – the demo(s) are out now!
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hi mari!! this is just a silly question i had for ilay: is he a city mouse or country mouse? (as in does he prefer a safe & “simple” life or risky but rewarding life) while i was leaning towards city mouse for ilay.. he seems more complex than that. i would love to see your take!
ngl i feel like he’s a country mouse who, at one point in time, really wished he could be or engage in the actions of a city mouse and what he does in the demo (sorry mc) was kind of a result of that. he does like the idea of a "simple" life, but his instincts are just a bit too feral and his loneliness is way too vast to ever actually make that transition.
he’s basically stuck in the in-between. he doesn't really know how to floruish in either world because he doesn't fit the mold for either one, so his only real solution is to try and carve out this tiny third world of his own... with a population of exactly two. sorry if this isn’t a satisfying answer! (￣ω￣;)
hi!! i hope you're having a lovely day <3 i really loved your game, it’s so immersive that after finishing it i didn’t even realize how much time i had spent trying to unlock all endings— i love that! the atmosphere is so beautiful and i genuinely think it’s a really innovative idea, so i hope you’re able to bring it to life just as you planned. i wanted to ask if at some point you could make a sfw alphabet for ilya, please? i’d love to get to know him a bit more. ◜ᴗ◝
i’m really happy you felt immersed!! hearing that you spent so much time unlocking the endings makes my heart do cartwheels ;;♡
sorry it took me so long to actually respond to this LOL
a - affection:
he's not used to receiving affection, so giving it is clumsy at first. he's incredibly hesitant with physical affection.
but the moment he gets a taste of it, he chases after it feverishly. he wants more.
b - body language:
always composed and polite. he never lets his posture dip into what someone could mistake for aggression. his height does the intimidating for him when needed.
when he's tired, however, he lets his guard down and slouches a bit LOL.
c - comfort:
he’s surprisingly good at comforting others. his voice stays level, his movements are slow, and he’ll always offer you a glass of water before anything else.
when he needs comfort, he becomes unreachable and shuts you out. eventually, though, he'll murmur an apology if you come by again.
d – domesticity:
the mere concept of a “home” makes his chest ache, but he’d try so hard to build one with you. if there's anything you don't want to do (like cooking, or cleaning, even if you both take turns) he'll gladly take it up before you even complain.
if anything, he wouldn't want to overwork you. you'd have to argue with him about sharing the load. he would eventually relent, but again, wouldn't mind if you changed your mind.
e – excitement:
the closest he gets to excitement is fascination. he leans in when you talk about something you love and watches you earnestly, drinking in whatever you have to say.
i think, if he ever achieved something 'good' or 'happy', the fear of it being taken away would smother out any sort of excitement rather quickly.
f - flirting:
horrible at it whenever it's meant to count. but then, out of nowhere, he’ll say something shockingly earnest and hide a grin after you choke on water (or something haha)
g - gifts:
he prefers giving practical gifts, stuff he notices you need. i do think he'd become aware of your interests after living with you for a long time, thus he'd have more of an idea of what to get and/or bring you.
h - honesty:
....well.
let’s just say he’s very good at sounding sincere ^^
i – intimacy (nonsexual):
he’s actually very starved for it. things like brushing his hair, bandaging a scrape on his hand, or making eye contact while talking,, it gets to him. he'd never admit how much it affects him.
j – jokes:
notoriously horrible at them </3 his humor is incredibly dry, however if you laugh at a single one, he brightens up. suddenly, he’s trying all the terrible puns he can possibly think of. you’ve created a monster.
k– kisses:
if it's initiated by you first, ilya's surprised every time it happens. but once it starts, he doesn’t want it to stop. he kisses like it's the last time, every time.
l – laughter:
he hides his mouth when he laughs with the back of his hand, not boisterous at all about his joy.
the second you tell a stupid joke just to hear it again, his shoulders shake and he tells you to stop, though it's clear he's still smiling and trying to wipe a tear away.
m – mornings:
not a morning person.
if you try to slip out of bed early, he’ll groggily pull you back into his arms, mumbling that you both deserve five more minutes. the moment you leave, though, he’s up too.
n - night:
he's more alert after dark. you catch him staring out windows, like he’s waiting for something or someone.
sometimes, you wake up to find him already watching you. not in a edward cullen type of way HELP, more like he’s lost in thought and that he's memorizing your features (lovingly) in his mind.
o - obedience:
(ohhh boy.)
unfortunately, he's the type to sort of expect it at some capacity. he never raises his voice, because he doesn't need to. when he tells you to stay close, it's not meant to be a request.
that doesn't mean that he doesn't expect you to lash out or act against him, though. he won't be confused at that, because again, he can be surprisingly rational when he wants to be, especially right after the captivity route begins lol
however, it's better not to test him after a certain point. he has his limits.
p - promises:
he doesn't make them often, but he doesn't take them lightly, either.
q – quiet time together:
he loves sitting in silence next to you--reading, writing, just being. he cards through your hair and soaks in your presence.
r – rage:
never shouts. never breaks things. his voice goes quieter, if anything. of course, there's a broad range of how his rage would truly manifest, especially with the desperation that might be involved. ilya's meant to be a multifaceted individual :')
s - scars:
he has more than he lets on, but is reluctant to explain why they're there. if you ask, he deflects. if you insist, he changes the subject. some things he just doesn’t want to talk about.
t - time:
he's terrible at keeping track of it.
it's amazing, really, how hours slip through his fingers like sand. and yet he remembers the exact minute you met, the first smile you sent his way. the little things...
u – unhealthy habits:
tends to isolate, bottles up his anger, self-neglects when he’s overwhelmed.
v – valentine’s day???:
he’d be awkward and overthink everything, but he’d try exceptionally hard. not only would he spend a good two hours making a heartfelt card dedicated towards you, but he'd make a feast of anything and everything you enjoy. he'd probably practice for days beforehand to make sure he doesn't mess up, so with all the dishware lying around it's not exactly... subtle..
doesn't really expect anything in return lol
w – winter:
he enjoys it! the cold doesn't bother him that much. he'll stand outside for hours with a sort of childlike wonder, encouraging you to walk with him.
but the second you start shivering, he’s rushing you back inside. he’s not great with his own needs, but he watches yours like a hawk.
x - xtra:
likes to hum along to folk songs! he'd never sing with fervor, though.
y - yearning:
so. much. yearning. he wants, but he doesn’t know how to ask. you’ll catch him staring at your lips, your hands, etc. he wants to know all of you. the way you cradle your mug, your idiotic childhood stories, your worst memories, the curve of your handwriting, every possible tiny mundane detail.
z – ZZZ:
very light sleeper. his dreams are strange and often cause him to wake up in a sweat. when he does sleep, it’s fitful. his hands twitch and he can't help but keep you close to him.
feel free to share your own interpretations/headcanons/etc too, i love reading them!!
