@mysticiiisms I finally redrew her to post!
The life of the stranger before falling into the star fissure is unknown so I like to think she bumped her head somewhere on the way in and ended up with amnesia.
Which is probably for the best considering the Myst games take place in the 18th century and she is autistic and unable to mask. The only reason she was not sent to an asylum (which would as awful as it is- be period accurate) was because she’s she grew up in a small community in the country and they didn’t mind she wouldn’t speak if she did well with helping out with day to day life and preparing for the winter. (There probably was still some awful things that happened to her because of it though)
The D’ni seem far more understanding and advanced than humans, and Atrus is especially kind. He lets Esmé stay with him and his family after the events of Riven. Esmé eventually decides to restore and live in Myst, the family having abandoned it after the betrayal of Sirrus and Achenar.
She remains close with Atrus and his family. After the events of Exile she requests to learn The Art, and Atrus excitedly agrees. Esmé also loves Yeesha, and listens intently while she talks for hours.
As for being genderqueer- I’ve decided she figured that out and what that meant after visiting a bunch of ages and learning what Americans in the 18th century would have hidden and called taboo.
