Celeste was released five years ago, and I started playing it soon after.
The dialogue in the game resonated with me in a way I'd never felt before. It was the impulse that got me to think about a certain Part of Me. As I thought about this part of me more, I started writing down my thoughts. I started calling her "her". Eventually I started talking to an artist friend, the incredible Ritte, and commissioned her to design the appearance of this aspect of me. I gave her a name, arborelia, which became my name, because I became her.
Madeline wasn't revealed to be trans in canon yet. Maddy Thorson, the game designer, wasn't out as trans yet either. But I got the message anyway.
Celeste is a truly meaningful game to me, but that doesn't mean I'm good at it. I've never actually finished the B-sides. I think now is a great time to play this game fresh, and maybe I'll even get farther eventually.
Going live soon:
