petty.yu

(Before delving into game details, I wanted to note that I have referenced some of Pepsi’s post and general information that can be searched online)

I will support myself with three pieces of evidence which led me to the conclusion that MG works at the Hawkwell Wellness Clinic: Hawkwell Pen, Cory Vance: Missing Person, and Motive.

Hawkwell Pen

The pen is an item found in the route where you choose to “Help Ash” close the convenience store. It has physical attributes worth noting when interacting with it.

Described as “impossibly clean despite the muddy, wet ground” as well as “heavy and made of metal”

Time of appearance was “dropped here not long ago”

Was “expensive” and “made for someone special” that “belonged to someone important”

Throughout the game, MG is often described to be an extremely well-groomed, and fortunate man.

First encounter at “Reserved Bloom”—wearing “expensive and spotless” clothing

Both bad ending encounters—his umbrella is described as “pristine” and “dressed impeccably for the weather”

The pen could have been associated with the missing person, Cory Vance (which will be discussed further in this post) but I believe that is not the case and that the physical description of MG is not a coincidence.

While not mentioned in the game, Pepsi has made posts which briefly reveal MG’s personality as a person and when perceived by others.

A “respectful” and “important role in the town

Presents a “charming, calm and kind personality”

A deep fascination with life and death

Desensitized to blood and violence

When considering the setting of the game (a rural mountain town with a population made up of mostly old people), there are a few occupations that are deemed as “important” in these areas (searched via Google): economics, agriculture, and medical. 

Agriculture can be immediately ruled out since the working environment for jobs in that field are more gritty, which already contradicts his “sleek” physical descriptions. Economics can be a possibility, since education falls under it and is also a respected and important job (the orphanages in the town and his intelligence). However, this also contradicts his desensitization to blood, as well as fascination with the concept of life and death: since he would not be exposed to these concepts which fuels his infatuation (only exception is if he taught biology).

Therefore, his occupation and public image has the most relation with the medical field—with the pen supporting the idea. 

Cory Vance: Missing Person

“Cory Vance” is the name of the missing person on the flyer when you “Clean the bulletin board” after going down the route to “Help Ash”.

The flyer has a vague description on what leads they have about Cory.

The condition of the flyer “wasn’t faded or torn”

Last known location was Hawkwell Clinic

On the flyer itself it mentions he was “leaving his night shift” and was “employed” there

His disappearance was three weeks ago, most likely on September 19th, 2020 (MC mentions that it’s October 10th, with the year being calculable by adding Cory’s age to the year he was born)

During the beginning cut scene after exiting the train, MC mentions that they got a “receptionist job”. Now knowing that Cory is a similar age to the LI and employed at Hawkwell Clinic, it is likely that MC will substitute in his place as the receptionist. Additionally, some parts of the situation could have been already manipulated by MG—such as the flyer. Despite the flyers outside being demolished, it was ironic that Cory’s flyer was both recently placed on the bulletin board, and was also in pristine condition.

His disappearance supports another characteristic of MG that mentions how he will “manipulate or completely ruin someone’s life if it helps him get what he wants”. Referring back to the “Hawkwell Pen” and MG’s personality, it can be assumed that he is quite a meticulous person and will plan carefully as well as (allegedly) kill when necessary.

Because of his calculative nature, I would assume that if MG (allegedly) had killed Cory he might not have dumped the body at the convenience store; as mentioned in-game that the trash looks like it has been there for “weeks on end” and with people continually clocking in and out of shift, they may discover it. 

(However, it is still possible that MG could’ve disposed of the body at the back of the convenience store—but that can be further explained IF I also do an analysis on the flowers on the Main Menu of the game) 

(Note, this last point for the “Cory Vance: Missing Person” section is purely hunches and Google searches—there are no in-game dialogue or tumblr posts that support this point: feel free to skip).

One additional aspect worth noting is the meaning of Cory’s name (website of choice is "Ancestry”). 

“Cory” meaning “Hollow” or “Secluded Place”

“Vance” meaning “Marshland”

If MG had allegedly murdered Cory, then his name could be foreshadowing that he was killed in an isolated area, and his body was disposed of in a marshland (though the geological setting makes the “marshland” sort of unlikely). 

Motive

I believe that there are also many moments that allude to the idea that MG was already around the area, and depending on how you chose to interact with the environment; it will change his approach later within the game.

Anytime you enter and exit the convenience store—a “lone figure stands in the rain” and when approached, it will disappear (can be brought up to Ash after finding him at the back, and before buying the painkillers)

When choosing to “Close the (backroom) door”, MC will describe that the “door resists for a second before clicking into place” and that it was "definitely broken”

After you “Accept the offer” from Ash, when drinking the medication MC notes to themselves that they “feels eyes watching you”

If you choose not to further investigate or increase MC’s guilt (e.g not eating Jackie’s sandwich, not cleaning the bulletin board, throwing the trash, and choosing not to bet with Ash etc.) MG will call (as the stranger on the other side of the phone refers to MC as “sweet daisy”)

MG mentions that he sees us in the convenience store

Doesn’t choose to confront MC yet because “a flower can bloom when it’s nurtured slowly”

In another route where you meet MG, but do not increase the MC’s guilt—you hear a phone call inside the convenience store (which does not belong to either Ash or MC)

Pepsi confirms that MG does “like to stalk” MC

In all these points, MG was already stalking MC and the pen found at the back of the convenience store was an accidental mishap on his end.

MG’s entire purpose for bringing MC to Hawkwell is to rekindle their memories when they were children (through interacting with her personally). Therefore, routes that increase MC’s guilt will result in a more forward approach from MG and while routes that leave the MC ignorant will result in a passive approach.

It’s relevant to bring up his “Motive” because MG can without a doubt kidnap MC without struggle (as seen in both Bad Endings), but he prefers to play the waiting game since it would be more difficult to bring back MC’s memories if forced to, and can control certain aspects of MC’s life to his desired outcome.