It's not about Maelle, Verso, Aline, not about the people of Lumiere. For me, it's about the young boy, a forever child, a fragment of a soul long gone selfishly forced into forever lingering on, slaving away at a whim of others. His canvas is violated, used, weaponized, populated by people and nevrons he never allowed to exist in the first place, and all of this while selfishly and diabolically proclaiming pure intentions and heartfelt motivations.
Verso's ending is not ideal in any way. There is nothing "good" or "happy" about it, just like it is just the same in real life. Still, this is the only ending that ends the vicious cycle of chronic grief and the inevitable suffering of everything and everyone. For as long as the canvas exists, there will be a temptation to enter it. And as long as there is a painter/ress residing within, there will be death and chaos and war.
In Maelle's ending, the last thing we see is Verso starting playing. Playing the very first song we hear when entering the game.
So the cycle ends, pauses, howers above the keyboard for a second under the scrutiny of yet another Paintress, and... Continues. From the beginning. From the game menu.
Try again.
