Hi! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, even in a “summary” version (which already says a lot, thank you!).
The concept for the options was to either have a Chloé question more the relationship and acknowledge she is lost in it, or instead deny it and refute what she feels. But it was indeed one of my worries: I didn’t want to portray Chloé as a “perfect” victim, because there are no such things as a perfect victim, and I often see people blame victims of abuse because they didn’t manage to put a stop, or even worse, “encourage” their abusers to abuse them (these people don’t realise victims can find a sense of safety in their situation because it is familiar; in Chloé’s case, she associates that with Matthieu’s protection, since he’s the one who put an end to her abuse). And I wanted to show that Chloé is not to blame at all, because she was the one being abused and trying to navigate through it and, ultimately, the two endings have the same conclusion: Chloé has either grown enough out of her situation to be the one giving the advice, or she receives it — and both endings are meant to be hopeful, because all victims process things at different speed.
And thanks, I’m glad you felt uncomfortable! (Wait, why does is sound so wrong?). And I’ll admit the Bastien being horrified with be my favourite, but clown Lucie was a funny sprite to draw!