hello! I have been working on my WIP for a little while now and I am planning to release the Prologue sometime next month, so I figured I would share the concept over here too!
The Colors Of August (Greek Island Slice-of-Life IF)
For as long as you can remember yourself, summertime has beckoned you to your grandmother’s home, in the idyllic island of Zakynthos, Greece. You have dipped your toes in the golden brown sand, delved into the crystal blue depths of the Ionian sea, and made memories to last you a lifetime beneath the scorching Mediterranean sun, your flock of close-knit family and friends always by your side in your carefree summer escapades. Your quaint seaside village has been a haven, a specter of a time bygone, a dreamland oasis.
However, this year, something dark and sorrowful stirs beneath the tides, a shared loss reflected in everyone’s eyes. A real estate mogul is aiming to purchase the seaside lot and re-purpose it into a luxury hotel. If they are successful in their endeavors, the familiar taverns, homes and shops, including your grandmother’s own coffeehouse, will be bulldozed over to make room for tall spires of concrete and marble.
The sunlit reverie of your youth is coming to an end. You may never get to spend another summer season like this in Zakynthos. There is thus only one thing left to do: Make the most of the time you have left.
The Romantic Options
The Local (Lukas/Lukia)
The boy/girl next door, L has been your steadfast companion every June through August. The only other kid in the village exactly your age, unlike you, L is a permament resident of Zakynthos and holds no desire to change that fact. Characterized by a sunny disposition, a zest for life and a complete lack of shame, you don’t believe you have ever seen L without a grin on their lips.
Close as you are, with how deeply they are entwinned with island culture, it is very likely that after this summer you will never see them again. The possibility makes longing swell in your chest, or could it be something else which is making your heart gallop?
Brother’s Best Friend (Atlas/Athena)
Though distant, stoic and often biting in their remarks, A acts as the group dad/mom, ensuring that you have drunk enough water, put on a sufficient amount of sunscreen or remembered to take your jacket with you.
A is also very honest and straightforward about their perception of you; you are just a kid they are obligated to watch out for through the bonds of friendhood. They are fiercely (sometimes annoyingly) protective of you and will support you through thick and thin, while buying you a stuffed toy like you are still five years old.
But what if you want them to see you as more than just a kid? Is this your last chance to make an impression on them?
The Tourist (William/Willow)
W had no intention of imposing on your grandmother’s hospitality so long, but a sudden break up has them deciding to prolong their stay in Zakynthos. Not that they infringe all that much, seeing as they are quiet as a mouse and twice as skittish.
W is in many ways a mystery, intentionally so, you get the impression. Driven by a thirst for knowledge and a need for change, they are the newest addition to your little group.
Will do you able to coax this intriguing stranger out of their shell? And perhaps most importantly, why do you want to so badly?
The Business Mogul (Stefan/Stefania)
S is a suave and confident playboy/girl, who seems to take a lot of pleasure in teasing you. Shameless in their hedonism and even more unashamed in their business acumen, S has come to Zakynthos to survey what they are determined to make their property. Having a wild summer while doing so, is really just a coincidental plus.
S also has their eye on you as their favourite person in the island already. Is that good or bad? You are tempted to find out, to dive deep into their dazzling and hazy world of glamor and grime, but you are not quite certain a single person in your life would approve of such an interest.
For anyone interested, here is my Tumblr, where I answer asks, give out updates, etc! @colors-of-august-if on Tumblr
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I’m a Christian myself and am always interested in seeing religious themes done well. As has been mentioned, it’s not a topic that’s commonly explored in games.