Clair Obscur Expedition 33: Maelle & Verso - Playthrough/Cutscenes Part 4 (ENDING)

Well, this is the first ending I came to, I might play the other one to see how it ends but there is a reason I ended up siding with Verso and Renoir. 1. Our first encounter with Renoir: If you remember he warned Maelle at first. 2. The confrontation of Maelle, Gustave & Verso, their conversation was a reality check, he was speaking to Maelle through Verso when he explained that they'll come to understand. 3. We begin to see more of the story unfold of who Maelle is really, who Verso is and Renoir. (I'm sure we've figured out the masked girl right? It was an especially easy clue of foreshadowing) 4. The Gestrals conversations; they all say she is sweet, nice and were made to be of happiness and joy. Does that sound like a cruel person wanting to erase you every year? 5. The Battle of Paintress (AKA Versos Mother), near the end of the battle after part 2, when she's laying on the ground, did you notice she buffed you a shell every turn? She was helping you near the end, did you see that oddity? Why would the Paintress do that if she wanted her husbands disillusions gone? 6.When we see the shadow boy in every major turning point, he tends to talk about how he paints, how it used to be a happy place and that he's tired. This shows how Verso knows that it's his younger self, his inner child never truly happy in this painting scape when he himself loved music. He says this in the beginning of Act 2 camp. 7. I think this is the biggest reason why I ended up betraying Lune, Maelle and Sciel is because when Renoir was speaking about how it's killing them and he doesn't want to lose them to the powers of being in the canvas. I couldn't help but understand both sides, a grieving mother who greatly wanted to live in her beloved sons painting to be closer to his piece of soul. And the Father who wanted his family to grieve no longer in such a painful, harmful way that seem to only hurt them, further. He seem to want them to enjoy their family as what it was now. But couldn't because they were stuck in the past. However, Maelle wanted to keep her brothers memory alive while having her family redevelop in happiness by moving on. But we see in cruel reality as Renoir has said; it's not that simple. He, too is grieving for the loss of his son but he believes, like Clea, the family should be in reality and not the canvas. Finally, I came to the conclusion that Gustave/Verso were still the same person in a way, just almost as if they were night and day, pessimism vs optimism. As Renoir, the epilogue, has shown us, the fire is what burned Alicia's face. Verso sacrificed himself to save Alicia and she has survivor guilt and that is why she is hell bent on keeping her brothers final piece of soul alive. Which, I think is completely right in her own morale but due to her also killing herself slowly like her mother. I believed it would be the complete opposite of what Verso wanted. Verso wouldn't of sacrificed himself for Alicia if that was the case. (Another point of evidence is when they get to the Monolith; "My beautiful sister doesn't need a mask", which meant he wanted her to live, to be seen, to continue on and know that her scars shouldn't prevent her from living. Verso would have wanted Maelle to choose life, he'd sacrifice himself for his sister again if he had to. That is why I ultimately betrayed Maelle and chose to forcefully save her life. Also I realized too when the Gestrals were talking that she brought joy and life meaning she didn't wanna erase it like Renoir wanted, but I understand where he's coming from seeing his family die over the past. She was keeping them alive, it was Renoir who was forcing the hand. Aline represented life while Renoir represented death. "Your mother paints life whilst your father paints death".