rot with me

rot with me is a short yuri kinetic novel that asks players to sit with the delicate line between resting and rotting while living with a chronic condition. The piece pairs roughly 4,700 words of prose with over ninety drawn and collaged images to create an intimate 20–30 minute playthrough, and it is designed for readers who prefer narrative focus over interactive mechanics. The experience is largely linear, with a single choice at the very end that determines one of two possible endings, and extras include a free hEDS self-screening and mature content warnings.

Key Features

⭐ rot with me is a narrative-driven yuri kinetic novel centered on disability, rest, and emotional introspection.

⭐ Approximately 4.7k words in total, offering a concise 20–30 minute playtime for a single session.

⭐ Includes more than 90 drawn and collaged images that set tone and atmosphere throughout the story.

⭐ Presents two endings with only one player decision at the very end, keeping interaction minimal and story-focused.

⭐ Extras bundle a free hEDS self-screening and clear 18+ content advisories.

⭐ Mobile scrolling and presentation have been smoothed out with community code support for a better handheld reading experience.

Advantages

✅ rot with me delivers a tightly paced, single-session narrative that is easy to experience in one sitting.

✅ Authentically informed by its creators, both of whom live with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which adds lived-experience depth to the themes.

✅ Strong visual collage work complements the writing and reinforces emotional beats.

✅ Extras include a free hEDS self-screening and avenues to support EDS research for players who want to contribute.

✅ The kinetic novel format is ideal for players who favor literary storytelling over complex mechanics or lengthy playtime.

Disadvantages

❎ Very limited player agency: only one choice appears at the end, so those seeking branching gameplay may be disappointed.

❎ Short length and only two endings reduce replay value for players looking for extensive exploration.

❎ Mature 18+ themes make the title unsuitable for younger audiences.

Development Team

The project was created by a two-person team: Bird King handled concept, art, programming, and music while Elephant Bird provided writing and embroidery elements. Both developers identify as living with hEDS, and the release credits an editor and community contributors who assisted with mobile scrolling and other technical touches. Other visual and audio assets were sourced from public-domain material and documented in the project devlog. Support and donation options are available, and contributors are asked to indicate funds intended for the visual novel so the team can allocate them appropriately; donations to EDS research are also welcomed.