We are the Abyss is a character-driven interactive fiction addressing topics such as mental health issues, suicide, substance use, illegal activities, toxic relationships, death and grief
Slice of life, drama, friendship, romance, LGBTQ+, mental health,...
Last year wasnât kind to you.
Your life has always been great. Simple. Planned. But fate had another plan for you. To make everything crash.
Itâs been a year since your father died and you dropped out of college. You and your mother now share your house with an awful stepbrother and your mom's new partner.
Thereâs something in the air. Change.Â
Your best friend comes back to town for the summer and theyâre determined to make the most of it. And you have no other choice but to follow their lead.
You have one summer to change your life. Will you touch the sky, or fall into the darkest depths of the abyss?
Customize your MC:Â
Name, nicknames, gender and pronouns (including transgender options), looks, sexuality, personality, and more!
Romance or befriend one or more* of the 6 romanceable characters.Â
 (optional) Live your relationships in your own way by choosing to play as aromantic and/or asexual and/or touch-averse
*2 poly routes!
A cat. And you can choose its name, sex and color. What more could you ask for?
Break the laws. Will you give in to your dark side or will you stay clean and good?
She does her best to make it work. She wants things to be perfect for everyone. Especially you. But you canât miss the way she keeps biting her perfectly polished nails. Or the way she stares into space when she thinks nobodyâs watching.
You know she doesnât want to worry you, but you know where she hides her pills.
†Damiano â Stepfather - 41
Sometimes he tries. To be a father. To talk to you, to bond, to find his place in your familyâŠBut most of the time, he just looks like a stranger in your house. Maybe he needs to try more. Maybe it's useless.
†Gabriel â Stepbrother - 23
Rude, cold, arrogant, pretentious⊠You could spend hours listing all the reasons why heâs an idiot. He despises you. No matter what you do or say, itâs never good enough for him. And donât you dare interrupt him while heâs working, some people actually do something with their life.
†Ulysse â Father - 43
Your father saw the world through the lens of his camera. Your entire childhood is displayed on the walls of your house, immortalizing every stage of your life. Except it abruptly stops when you turn 13. When your parents divorced and your father moved to another city. After that, everything seems blurry. The summers spent together, the calls, the fear, the visits, the dread, this call.
What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?
Y: Deep kisses, this mix between urgency and gentleness. Like this feeling when you get your hands on something precious; when you crave to hold it but you are also scared of letting it fall and shatter.
There's no other place they want to kiss more than your lips.
No matter where you prefer to kiss them, it becomes their favorite place to be kissed.
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F: Sweet, peaceful kisses. Soft as a hug, warm as a morning cuddle. They are in no hurry and they want to savor every second of every kiss.
When they are not kissing your lips, they like to kiss the rest of your face. Especially your cheeks, as childish as it may seem.
A kiss on their clavicle is the quickest way to make their heart flutter.
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M: Most of the time, their kisses are playful and unseriousâthey like to squish your cheeks as they kiss you or start a kiss fight during a movie nightâbut, sometimes, there's this one kiss that let you feel the true weight of their feelings for you.
Anywhere is fine, but they like to kiss and be kissed on the chest.
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L: Surprisingly soft with an underlying tension. They like french kisses better than closed-mouth kisses.
They like when kisses are a bit spontaneous. Like when your/their head is lying on them/you and you/they plant a kiss right there. No leaning, no reaching, no pulling...just a kiss made on the spot.
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E: Quick kisses, nothing extravagant. Only their hands cupping your jaw and their lips on yours. They love to kiss a lot, though. No matter where you are or how many people are around. Screw them; if they want to kiss you, they will.
They like to kiss their partner on their temples, they are often the tall one in the relationship so it's the easiest spot.
If you somehow are taller than them (or wait for them to sit down) and plant a kiss against their temple, you might make them fall even harder. Just saying.
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Z: Lazy kisses, like it's the most normal, non-event thing that happened today. It's not that they don't careâthey do. It's just that you are not a outer comet anymore, you became a whole planet of their system.
Leaning down towards you and kissing your forehead.
They love it when you kiss them on the shoulders, especially while you hug them.
Ok, well, now that it's been said, I just wanted to give news. Not really good news.
My mental health is really not good. I couldn't write anything in months. I tried many times to come back, like when I updated the ROs descriptions, I started over the prologue gain and again and again and again. And every single time I erased everything the next morning because nothing ever felt good enough. So I resigned and just stopped trying for a while. Told myself I needed to take a step back from my work. To remember WHY I started writing this. But it's hard to remember why you do something when you just want to stop doing anything at all, isn't it?
But in a way, it still worked. Because this story and these characters are still in my mind 24/7, and I love them deeply. That's why I say it again: I am NOT abandoning them.
I just wanted to tell you what's going on. Thank you for your patience and the kindness you've been throwing in my face since the first post. And sorry you'll have to wait more.
I am still very open to chat in my inbox, so feel free to say anything, ask questions or just idk say some shit if you'd like <3
And in case I don't have the opportunity to talk with you soon... Good Afternoon, Good Evening, and Goodnight :)
Quick question: What kind of MC do you like to play? (personality)
When I write choices/dialogues, I like to put a lot of choices to portray all the different personalities that MC can have. Even if it doesn't always have a huge impact on the plot, I think it still feels more immersive.
I made a list with some big personality-types (and I try to make at least one choice for each), but I think it could be cool if you shared what kind of MC you like to play. If I already have it on my list then it's cool, if I don't then it could be fun to add it!
(For exemple: quiet and grumpy, overexcited, shy, rude without realizing it, naive, kind with anyone, silent/don't talk a lot...)
If you want to share you can tell me here in the comments or in my inbox :) - you can suggest several if you want
E is Lâs best friend but E is nothing like L. For what you know. And you donât know much. Actually, you know only two things about them.
First, people like them. LOVE them.Â
Second, they are trouble. The kind of person that screams âdangerâ in bold, flashing red lightsâbut suddenly red is everyoneâs favorite color and theyâd all be willing to do stupid things without questions. That must be the smile. That damn charming smile they never get rid of no matter what. One canât just be so happy all the time. Everyone knows that.
But everyone is also happy to be fooled by this smirk, these jokes and this shameless attitude.
Will you ever know them better, or will they remain hidden behind their mask?
APPEARANCE
Height: tall
Body: wiry
Skin: tanÂ
Eyes: slightly upturned hazel eyes
Hair: (M) brown hair, shaved sides and longer on top.
(F) straight brown hair, past shoulder length with an undercut. Sometimes styled in double braids.
Clothing style: Casual style. Jeans or sweatpants, plain t-shirts, denim jacket, sneakers, caps or beanies.
(F) eyeliner and lip gloss.
Other distinguishing features: a tooth with a broken corner
They have always been part of the background of your life and your paths have crossed countless times since you were both little kids. You took the same bus to go to the same school and sit in the same class. Listen to the same teachers. But thatâs all theyâve ever been: a classmate. Someone you saw in the corridors. A familiar face.
Over time, they became friends with M, but never with you. You thought they were shy or maybe they didnât like you. Everything you know about them, you learned it from your best friend; they played soccer and tennis, they love theater and go to as many concerts as they can afford. You suppose M told them about you too.
And thatâs how things are between you two. How things have ever been. How they are meant to beâŠunless you decide to rewrite the end of the story, the day your paths cross again.
APPEARANCE
Height: very tall
Body: lanky
Skin: dark brown
Eyes: thin almond shaped onyx eyes
Hair: coiled black hair, usually with a mullet haircut but they love to try different hairstyles (slicked back, braids, extensions, buns, accessoriesâŠ)
Clothing style: Something between preppy and hipster. Band t-shirt or a sweater over a shirt, straight pants or skirts. Boots. Ties and bows. Brown, beige, white and navy color palette. Smokey makeup.
Other distinguishing features: ear stretchers
Y and their parents moved in the house next to yours some time ago. Still, you donât know anything about them. Their father is a cop, their mother is a journalist. And your knowledge ends here.Â
They are a quiet family. Each interaction lasts no longer than a âgood morningâ, a smile, a polite nod.
As for Y, you are not sure you even heard their voice before. They avoid everyone, their gaze fixed on their shoes every time you cross their path. They seem to prefer being alone in the woods, no matter the time of day or night, with their bicycle as their only company.
Will you ever be able to see what hides behind the walls they seem to have built? Will they give you the chance to?
APPEARANCE
Height: average-tall
Body: slim
Skin: light beige
Eyes: hooded, leaf green eyesÂ
Hair: (M) black hair with a slight wave, cut short, curtain bangs style. Sometimes slicked back.
(F) black wavy hair, shoulder-length. Sometimes tied in a low ponytail.
Clothing style: Classic, minimalist style. Less is more. Yâs style is all about simplicity and humble clothing. Simple jeans, chinos or skirts. Plain t-shirt. Black ankle boots. No patterns and limited colorsâbeige, white and a lot of black.
(F) simple bracelets and rings.
Other distinguishing features: a trail of moles from the side of their neck to their cheek
Theyâve always been the popular one, the one with many friends, the social butterfly. Everybodyâs friend. But you werenât like everybody. You were special.
You and M, M and you. Things have been this way for as long as you can remember. You have gone through the highs and the lows of life hand in hand and remained together in the end. Because itâs you two. Since forever.
Until they struck you with the news: they are going to a university abroad. They werenât going to be by your side anymore.
And just like that, your little bubble shattered and your whole life changed. Except it just kept getting worse. And you changed too.
You can only hope your relationship will survive these new challengesâbut thereâs no reason for it to go wrong, right? Youâve done it before.
Only this summer will tell, now that they're coming back to town.
APPEARANCE
Height: average-short
Body: curvy
Skin: brown skin
Eyes: round sepia eyes
Hair: (M) coiled black hair, short afro.
(F) coiled black hair, long afro. Generally styled with buns.
Clothing style: Streetwear. Low waist cargo pants, sneakers and zip-up hoodies. Their wrists are full of bracelets and wristbands from places they visited. On top they wear tank tops or (M) graphic or logo t-shirts.
(F) crop tops of all types and colorful makeup.
Other distinguishing features: dimples; many moles over the body and face
Theyâve been in your life for a long time. Much longer than you would have liked.
Thanks to your father who was friends with their grandparents, you spent many afternoons at Lâs house. It wasnât always a piece of cake. The adults were constantly trying to make you become friendsâwithout success. L hated you. From the first time you met. The very first glance they laid on you was one of pure aversion.
Initially, you thought they only disliked you. But you quickly realized they were hostile to everyone. Everything. The kid who just kept yelling at people. Their grandma, their brotherâŠThe only person they never yelled at was your father. They were too absorbed by his camera.
Growing up, they became quieter. Avoidant. Though, they never stopped loving photography, giving it a secure place on the short list of things they likeâphoto, cigarettes and E.
Perhaps one day, you too could be a part of it. Or maybe you will show them what happens when someone messes with you.
APPEARANCE
Height: short
Body: petite
Skin: fair skin
Eyes: protruding, downturned bright blue eyes
Hair: (M) ear-length blond curly hair. Sometimes kept in a tiny ponytail.
(F) neck-length blond curly hair. Often tied in a ponytail or a bun.
Clothing style: Oversized clothes that swallow their frame. Often layering their t-shirts with long-sleeved undershirts, paired with baggy distressed jeans. Loose hoodies and sweatshirts. Grunge inspiration.
Other distinguishing features: aquiline nose; scars and bruises
F was gentle and kindhearted to everyone, but they really had a soft spot for youâthey wouldâve followed you to the other side of the world. Youâve been best friends for a long time. F, M and you, a trio you thought was unbreakable.
F is the middle child of a big family. They have many supportive brothers and sisters at home, but school was a different story. You think your and Mâs presence made it a bit easier, but everyone could see how the shine in their eyes died every time they walked through the gate. They hated that M was so popular and youâd often feel torn between you two best friends.
It was once the classes ended, after the bell rings for the last time, that your trio was really the greatest. But it didnât last forever. Seven years ago, they moved away with one of their parents, and you lost all contact.
Before they left, they gave you a present. Matching handmade bracelets to symbolize your friendship, and a promise: Theyâll never forget you.
APPEARANCE
Height: average
Body: regular
Skin: ivory with freckles
Eyes: almond shaped honey eyes
Hair: (M) short and messy red hair.
(F) mid-back length red hair. Often tied in ponytails or braids.
Clothing style: Retro style. Everything that comes out of a thrift store. Earthy and warm, bright colors. Patterns and layers, from flowing floral dresses to striped shirts, polka dots and checks. A patchwork of clothes that F puts together surprisingly well.Â
Other distinguishing features: a scar just above the right elbow; pierced ears
Hello everyone! I have one or two things to say before we start the year
First, I wish you all the best for the coming year. May 2026 be whatever you need it to be :)
Also, a big THANK YOU for all the support. I didn't expect so many people to be hyped by this game before I even uploaded anything. You can't imagine how happy and overexcited I was when I woke up the next morning and saw the messages in my inbox lol
So yeah, 231 thank yous
Now, some news about the game itself:
I haven't written much in the last few months, but that doesn't mean I haven't worked on it. Actually, I'm very satisfied with what I've done and I hope you'll like it too when it eventually comes up in the game.
Because the more I work on the game, the more I understand the characters, especially the ROs and I had so much fun expanding their background and personalities. Like OMG, I see Y and Z in a whole new light now and it's definitely for the better.
I also added new dynamics and backgrounds. For example, the dynamic between L and MC was a bit unclear---They know each other, don't like each other but...why?when?how?
Whywhenhow we now know. And they might have grew up closer than we thought.
And "expanded background" means "update the intro post".
In the next days I'll post the updated character descriptions, with all the new infos but also more detailed physical descriptions.
AAaaaand you get to choose which one I post first. (I'm pretty sure I already know who you gonna choose, but hey, you could surprise me)
Who?
Yann/Yuna
Felis/Flora
Maë/Maëlle
Lukas/Louve
Elijah/Erika
Zacharia
Voting ended onJan 2
One last thing: don't be surprised or disappointed if the update don't bring brand new informations about ALL the ROs. Some haven't changed much because they were already quite consistent.
Last last thing: Some of the new stuff won't be in the character descriptions---the only things that appear in the ROs' descriptions are elements that the MC is already aware of.
hi leo! i am SO SO hyped for this IF!!!!! im such a sucker for the enemies/rivals to lovers trope so 100% cashing in on L omg
aside from that though, im super interested in how this story is gonna explore mental health issues. im really excited to see where we are the abyss will go with this topic especially
i wonder how our decisions will influence the ROs perceptions of us too. i'm assuming we'll have the option to engage in the illegal activities and substances listed in the trigger warnings. are the ROs going to have their own opinions on that? is it gonna change how they see us? hope its not too spoilery to ask LOLOLOL
cant wait to see what you've got prepared for this story!
Hi! Thank you so much!!
I'm glad you like L because I'm currently rewriting the character descriptions and L got some new background linked to MC, soooo ;)
Now for your question, yeaaah it's a bit spoilery. Let's just say they all have their own opinion on the matter, but some of them are more intimate with all this stuff...
okayy, so the majority voted for no italics BUT a little bird told me that italics do help to determine the extent of the flashback section. And I agree. So I found a (slightly time-consuming) way to able/disable italics according to your preferences. Yayy!
I did some tests and it worked well every time. Let's just hope it doesn't, idk explode? for some reason.
If you wonder how many chapters this story gonna have, the answer is: I have no idea.
I really tried to plan everything, but the prologue changed sooo much. At this point, I'm just listing everything I want to happen in the story and then I might improvise a bit haha
Is it obvious that I have nothing interesting to say and just felt the need to say "heyyy I didn't gave up, you'll get to read my shit!" ? :)
And if you wonder how much I wrote these past days
