Hi, this isn’t an ask I just wanna say how much I respect the creative decision to have Polly exit Basil's life after the incident: So many fanworks have her step up as Basil's mother figure but like, not only is it a bit of a tired trope at this point but she also doesn't have much personal motivation to hear him out or stay in his life after he turns violent, nor does she seem like she's particularly equipped to deal with that mess. Her leaving is profoundly tragic yet entirely mundane, which is one of the major appeals of OMORI in the first place.
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH 🥺🥺🥺 It means a lot to me, since I was doubtful at first because of how popular the idea is.
No disrespect to creators that keep her, of course- everyone works hard on their art and it deserves to be appreciated.
She's a kind lady- she truly is. But when I read through her dialogue, there's a persistent theme she is just not trained to take care of suicidal teenagers. She cares for Basil, but doesn't know what his problems are, or how to help him.
I'm really protective over Basil and emotional over topics of suicide. I feel very strongly about the correct ways to help suicidal people and what would and wouldn't help.
The most helpful thing for suicidal people is good support systems and people around you that are capable of helping. He needs a real psychiatrist and people around him that can look out for his signs. People that know him well enough to tell when he's fake smiling.
And she's very open about not knowing how to help! She outright says, to two teenagers, "If anyone can help him, it's you!". She expresses feeling incompetent and unsure of what to do repeatedly.
If Polly's known him for 2 years and doesn't get it now, she won't later. And she's very open about this!
I think she was mostly hired to take care of the grandmother. She probably knows how to do CPR, change catheters, bath and change the elderly, but when Basil's parents when they hired her had no idea Basil had any issues, so they didn't hire a youth specialist.
Basically... I think if he's going to survive, he needs better, and it will definitely get addressed in my comic.
Hypothetically, but he hasn't yet! But in case it's helpful, since White Space is imaginary people can do stuff like send him food and blankets. And lots of little Basils.
