Michael Abila

**Michael Abila** (Born on January 18) is Alyson‘s best friend and coworker. He is part of the local Alaskan Tlingit community, specifically Raven moiety.

## Appearance

Michael has dark brown eyes, tan skin, and dark hair. Michael wears black glasses and various piercings, including a septum ring and ear piercings.

## Personality

Michael is outgoing and laid back. He is a reliable friend to Alyson, and has been supportive of her throughout their time growing up together, especially in high school. Michael helps Alyson when she has a panic attack in Chapter 3; he talks to her calmly, and holds her. This serves in showing him to be understanding, caring, and a good supportive friend.

He is an aspiring chef and wants to move from Delos Crossing to Juneau with Alyson. The two plan on being roommates when they move there.

Michael enjoys fishing and seems to be quite dedicated and willing to work hard, often waking up at 4 am to go fishing before work.

He is happy and eager to become friends with Tyler, immediately sharing his fishing spot and encouraging him to move with them to Juneau, promising good food if they live together.

## History

Alyson and Michael went to high school together; not much is known about this other than that he helped her get through that period in her life. During their high school years Alyson and Michael planned on going to a theater camp together, but Alyson was told by Eddy that she didn't get in.

In high school, Michael he dated a guy but had to keep quiet about it and hide his sexuality. 2011 was a very rough year for Michael. He might not have survived had his uncle not taken him to the JCE where Michael found a loving and supportive community where he no longer had to hide who he was.

Michael is a part of the local Tlingit community, and is dedicated to the traditional dance group in the area. Alyson confirms that he has been helping with planning a potlach with the clan. He is part of the Raven moiety, Octopus clan, which Chief Eddy is also a member.

## Chapter 1 - Homecoming

Alyson and Tyler visit Michael while he is working at Veni Vidi Vecchi General Store. Michael introduces himself to Tyler and talks with Alyson about moving to Juneau. Michael talks to Tyler about going fishing together and heads back into the store.

Michael can be seen taking inventory inside of the store. Alyson has the option to speak to him while in the shop, and can choose to be lighthearted about her reunion with Tyler and return to their childhood home or to be more serious about her feelings of stress and worry. Michael later brings Aly and Tyler’s groceries out to Alyson’s car.

## Chapter 2- Family Secrets

Michael is seen in the background when Alyson and Tyler enter the General Store to speak to Tessa Vecchi. He admonishes Alexander Gershwin when the latter admits to hunting moose outside of his permit range. After Alyson and Tyler finish speaking to Tom, Michael asks if Tyler and Alyson want to help him close up the store, and tells them that Tessa went to the graveyard. Michael says that they can help him close up at the store and then go to the graveyard with him, as he wants to visit his uncle’s grave.

Michael goes to the storage room to take inventory and asks Tyler to help him while Alyson works behind the counter. Tyler joins Michael, who asks him to count various items in the storage room such as cans of tomato sauce and jugs of bleach. After these two requests, Michael asks Tyler to take a look at a sketch he’s done of Tyler.

Michael asks Tyler to count the number of Tom Vecchi plushies in a box, and once Tyler answers Michael throws a plushie at him. This begins a plushie fight in the storage room. Michael can win or lose this fight, depending on the player’s actions as Tyler. After this Michael sits down in his and Alyson’s break area of the storage room to actually write up the inventory list. Tyler looks around the break area before sitting down as well.

While sitting in the break area Tyler and Michael can speak about various things, including a poster for a band, a poster for a LGBT+ group, and the Vecchi’s. Michael is flirtatious throughout the conversation, and Tyler can choose to accept his compliments or stay distant.

Alyson arrives from the counter and asks if Michael and Tyler are ready to go. At the cemetery, Michael can be found at his uncle's grave. If Tyler and Alyson approach, he will step away to talk with them about his uncle and the significance of Tlingit history in the graveyard. He also checks in with Alyson about how she is holding up.

## Chapter 3

Michael shows up at Alyson's door with Tom Vecchi after she calls in sick to work. Michael expresses his concern for Alyson's anxiety. As the two discuss their upcoming apartment in Juneau, Alyson experiences a panic attack. Whether Alyson tells him about the hallucinations she's experienced or not, Michael is supportive and validates Alyson's feelings. He encourages her to take care of herself and seek therapy.

Alyson voices her apprehension about seeing Tyler again, and Michael offers to visit the old house to talk with him. Whether or not Alyson believes it's a good idea, Michael goes. At the house, Tyler is exhausting himself trying to recall the memory of Mary-Ann and the mysterious man at the doctor. Michael takes Tyler fishing as a distraction.

The two talk about the fight between Tyler and Alyson, building a chosen family, and the trickiness of relationships. Tyler can decide to enter a romantic relationship with Michael, culminating in a kiss. At the end of fishing, the two promise to call each other later, whether they are just friends or more.

### Epilogue: Lock-Up & Go

Michael moves to Juneau and is roommates with Tyler and Alyson. Depending on player choices, he and Tyler are either in a romantic relationship or are just friends.

### Epilogue: A New Chapter

Michael moves to Juneau. Depending on player choices, he and Tyler may be in a romantic relationship. If not, Michael is in a relationship with a man named Antonio, and the two have adopted a cat together.

## Trivia

* Michael is queer and the game addresses how he has dealt with homophobic experiences.
* Michael's last name, Abila, is Spanish/Galician in origin. Given his darker skin complexion, it's possible that Michael has partial Hispanic ancestry.
* Michael’s favorite dish to cook is grilled trout.
* Michael is not a fan of cats and calls them "fur tyrants."
* For fishing excursions, Michael makes a special hot cocoa with dark chocolate, butter, vanilla, and cardamon.

## References

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/TellMeWhyGame/status/1314623765322567693