The scene in "The true face" comic where we are shown the confrontation between Mizi and that dogshit npc is so fascinating, and the worldbuilding! Even though Alien Stage's universe doesn't function in the same ways as ours, it is to be expected that some of our world would be reflected in theirs, as long as a society exists. Heteronormativity and misogyny exist in some ways in their world. And it is taught, Mizi knows and it is reiterated to her that as a female it is expected for her to only find mates in the other gender, not friendship, she feigns obliviousness to this when the npc asks her about her about Till, and to note- she is quick to make it clear that he's her friend, because she knows how they're percieved. Her reaction when that sentiment is shut down by the NPC and he begins trying to subtly convince her to acknowledge him too- is repulsion
It's interesting because she's aware of the expectations people have of her, and how she's forced to oblige them or else she won't survive. She's aware of how superficial the world around her is, and it disgusts her, especially in another scene where, in a way, she confronts Till about his feelings for her, even reiterates that she truly only has room in her heart for Sua (I think this ties back to the fact that she's repulsed that man and woman are a strict norm, because she doesn't believe in it and that's such good background info skdjufh) and again, she's repulsed when he tells her he likes her because she's pretty, not because of anything meaningful or because of her as a person, something that shows he sees her but because of another aspect of the facade and get-up that she hates. It disappoints her, yet she can't express that, she pretends to laugh it off whilst feeling bitter inside
When the NPC then hits her for her response and lashes out at her, (for context the translated comic is free on Vivinos's patreon) this shift in her personality is just so visceral, while she's trying to gain her bearings, she breaks down, very visceral fear reflected in her demeanor because he sees right through her and she's scared and trying to escape the dangerous and overwhelming situation by feigning obliviousness again, that's how you know it's her defense mechanism with the way she grapples for it in this moment to defend herself, it's not to reveal that she's a manipulator or malicious like the npc is accusing her of being. Because in this moment, Mizi looks genuinely scared and confused, this method is how she adapts and how she's been trying to survive up to this point, how people perceive her equates to her value, and she truly hates it
The comic nailed the uncomfortable reality that women in our world face, reflected through Mizi's perspective. Her identity is traced directly to her appearance, what she is rather than who she is, and she hates it. It conveys the suffering Mizi went through that we didn't see, and what the other characters didn't see either and how exactly that affected her, because the truth is- the people around her may have pitied or envied Mizi or didn't even think anything over her, just saw her as a bubbly and overwhelmingly positive person because that's what she showed others, but nobody understood her, the ignorance they had even put her in danger or left her lonely. That's why it's shown the NPC thought she was "cunning" and "manipulative" for acting the way she did, acting oblivious and stupid while everyone adored her for it. That's what ignorance and the empathy barely anyone had for Mizi, because they thought she had it so good, resulted in .
Even Sua, on her part, didn't truly understand or sympathize so much with Mizi because of the perception she had of her; she sees Mizi in some places and in others she doesn't. She believes Mizi's facade to be real because that's what Mizi showed her. It was easy to fall for it because Sua herself was using Mizi as a balm for her own pain, and that, only seeing Mizi as her unshifting and peaceful paradise that she could forget the entire cruel world with. And as Mizi played into it, that's what also fed into her resentment. Mizi was somebody dear to her, but it's not surprising that Sua resented Mizi for seemingly having it so "easy" in comparison to herself
That's why I really like this scene, the way Mizi responds to the way Sua sounds when she subconsciously expresses this to Mizi, and Mizi then hits her, shows Mizi's pain, having nobody who truly understands her
It's important to highlight that Mizi didn't hit Sua out of ill will, she's scared of what she did after she's done it, she's hurt, and she's trying to hide it because she's relieved to be with Sua, but Sua's words, that same "It must be nice being so lucky and not having any worries at all, yes?" sentiment that directly paralleled what that NPC said to Mizi was a trigger because Mizi was violated and hurt, she's not always treated well, her agency was ignored. Sua may not have known the details, but that ignorance is why Mizi responds that way. When she lives every day with her pain, never being acknowledged and having to act like she isn't bothered, this is a logical, immediate response on Mizi's part, ( or in a more metaphorical sense, to give back the same pain she was given) even if it's obviously not okay, This environment fosters these types of interactions, this is just the reason (not the justification).
It's so interesting how Alien stage explored Mizi's perspective this way, how she's constantly perceived as fortunate in a terrible situation, she inspires adoration and devotion just as much as she is the subject of ridicule and resentment, yet she has to take it and adapt even if it means being the person everyone assumed she was to ensure her survival, again that's how she adapted to this environment and acts the way she acts according to what others already think and expect of her, to survive. The honest truth is that she was trying.
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