Untitled

Muriel's perception of himself as unloved is a part of his worldview from an incredibly young age. Without knowing his parent's reasons for sending him away, he believes he's unwanted, and with the rejection of all the other orphans at the dock for not being violent for them, that belief is reinforced. The only reason he's able to bond with Asra in the first place is because they exist to defy rules, but even then, the commitment is unfairly one-sided. While Asra moves out to explore and fall in love, Muriel retreats further into the woods, only drawn out for a period of time when Lucio weaponizes Muriel's one human connection to blackmail him into enslavement as a gladiator. Abandoned by the few people meant to love him, and endangered by the one love he has for his friend, it's no wonder that all he wants is to be forgotten. If there is something to wonder at, it's the fact that he still has enough heart left in him to care so deeply.

How Muriel loves the MC:

The biggest relational hurdle in Muriel's route isn't figuring out what a relationship with you looks like, it's convincing him that a relationship with you is worth the added chaos, uncertainty, and potential heartbreak that comes with it. There are two beliefs he holds firmly: "I am unloveable", and "loving someone means hurting and being hurt by them". It also doesn't help that MC as a person is deeply unsettling to him on multiple counts: they're the reason his best friend left him behind, they've already died once and seem to be a disaster magnet, and they've required constant babysitting ever since due to their missing memories. Muriel knows how seriously he takes responsibility and he is not ready to be responsible for someone like that. He's also so convinced that he's impossible to love that any time MC shows him affection or consideration or expresses loving intentions, he has to choose between assuming that they're lying or questioning the foundation of his own identity. If MC is right and he is loveable, it makes the pain of of being unloved a thousand times worse.

Which is why, when he does choose you, it's a fully cognizant commitment that comes with a painful affirmation of his own worth. He's already calculated the potential cost and weighed the hurt it could cause him. He's held up who he knows you to be and the depth of his feelings for you in front of his pessimism and decided "worth it". It's not an impulsive decision made out of passion, or a depth of love he's helpless against, or the relief of having someone to challenge his loneliness. It's you proving that the gentleness and warmth and love you bring into his life is better than the comfort and safety of his own solitude. It's getting his first taste of being fully wanted and cared for and thinking "I'll give this one more try, even if it kills me."

The Muriel/MC dynamic:

Muriel's upright ending remains true to both himself and the goal of his route, which is A Good Kind of Normal. He still lives in his hut in the self-sustainable fashion he that he built, it's just full of his Khokuri roots and your presence now. He still prefers simplicity and solitude, he's just found a new way to practice it that doesn't include isolation and deprivation. MC's love has beckoned him out of the survival mode that he's spent so many years recovering in, and now the warmth and emotional safety of being accepted for who he is has allowed him to blossom. As time goes on, he will likely continue to uncover and explore the parts of himself that went neglected, constantly revealing new and beautiful aspects of himself in his typically steady and introspective way.

Muriel makes for a wonderful partner to the MC in turn. His trust, loyalty, protection, and care are difficult to earn and incredibly deep as a result. He'd move heaven and hell for them if they needed him to, but he'd do it because he's consciously sticking to a commitment he carefully chose, not because he's helpless in the face of his love. His clear sense of who he is, independence, and firm boundaries allow for a peaceful coexistence built on respect and empowered choice, which in turn allows MC to be fully themself without worrying about overpowering him (he won't let them). Muriel extends the same acceptance to MC that's been so important to him and that makes it possible for them to be part of his unique lifestyle without having to completely give up on their own. His gentle, nurturing nature means that there is no difficulty MC could face that he wouldn't be ready to care for them through.

The kinds of players that tends to draw:

AGAIN, DISCLAIMER THAT THIS IS A GROSS GENERALIZATION OF MURIEL LOVERS AND IS JUST A TREND THAT I HAVE OBSERVED/THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME (PLEASE DON'T KILL ME)

Muriel is strong, but gentle, nurturing, but boundaried, quiet, but creative, and intensely understanding to boot. If he hasn't experienced a specific type of pain he's probably been through something similar and once he's decided he loves you you'll never have to fear for your safety again. I notice that a lot of players who prefer him tend to have been through experiences that leave them with a strong appreciation for safety, stability, boundaries, and healing; and those are all values that Muriel builds his life around. When it comes to physicality, he has both the strength to provide protection and the delicacy and sensitivity to ensure enthusiastic consent for the smallest gestures of affection. A relationship with you isn't something he needs, it's something he chooses, and something he expects you to have freely chosen as well. Autonomy is a must.