How to Romance Evan in Moonlight Peaks – Gift & Heart Event Guide

Notes of the Past

To start Evan’s first heart event, find them any time after reaching your first heart with them. They’re holding a violin that belonged to their dad, Orlock, given to them as a kid, and haven’t touched it in years because of everything tangled up in it.

Dialogue Choices:

• React to the reveal,
  • “Huh. Didn’t take you for a violinist.” (“This violin was my dad’s. He gave it to me when I was a kid. I didn’t want to play it for years.”)
  • “Since when do you play violin?” (same story follows either way.)

• Ask why they stopped,
  • “Why not?” (“Every time I look at this violin, I think about the kind of person he is, and how we don’t really talk anymore. I don’t like asking him for help. We’re just not that close.”)
  • “Because of your dad?” (same admission follows either way.)

• Once they offer to play what they’ve been practicing,
  • “You’re definitely improving.” (“Thanks, {Player}. I’ll keep practicing. Maybe someday it’ll sound how it’s supposed to.”)
  • “Listen to that! You’re getting better!”

By the Fire

Evan is having a genuinely rough day and, unusually for them, actually says so, describing the heaviness as a big black dog lurking in the shadows. Part of it traces back to their dad Orlock: he means well, but he still slips into misgendering them years after they came out as nonbinary, calling them “him” or “boy,” and it stings every time, especially coming from someone who’s supposed to have their back.

Dialogue Choices:

• Once they’ve said their piece and apologize for dumping it on you, reassure them:
  • “You’re not bringing me down, Evan.” (“Thanks… Sometimes I forget how much better it feels to get things off my chest. I really appreciate you listening.”)
  • “No need to apologize. I’m happy to listen.”

Strings of Connection

You catch Orlock actually coaching Evan through violin practice, patiently, and even apologizing outright for not always getting things right with them. Evan is visibly thrown by it, half wondering if their dad’s been hit with a spell of kindness, since this isn’t the dynamic they’re used to.

Dialogue Choices:

• React to the surprising scene,
  • “Was that encouragement? From Orlock?” (“Right? I almost wondered if he’d been put under a spell of kindness or something.”)
  • “That seemed… intense. You all right?” (same disbelief follows either way.)

• Once Evan admits it actually felt kind of nice, respond,
  • “It kind of seems like Orlock’s actually trying.” (“Yeah. He is. I can tell he’s putting in the effort. Maybe things are starting to shift.” Evan even floats the idea of a private concert sometime.)
  • “I’d be upset too.” (same cautious hope follows either way.)

Comfortable Coffins

Turns out Evan naps on the job at Coffee & Coffins, curled up in one of the shop’s coffins for the stillness and quiet, no distractions, no expectations. When you catch them dozing, they half-jokingly, half-seriously invite you to join them for a lie-down sometime.

Dialogue Choices:

• Respond to the invitation,
  • “I’ll grab you some coffee. That should help.“
  • “Then maybe I’ll take you up on that.” (“Wait, really? You’d want to?”)

The Stars Up There

Evan has a coping ritual: counting stars, out loud, for as long as it takes to quiet their head, sometimes well past a thousand. It’s repetitive on purpose, a way of staying present when things feel like too much, and they ask if you’ll just sit and count alongside them for a while.

Dialogue Choices:

• When they ask if you’ll stay,
  • “Sure, I’ll stay.” (“Thanks. It’ll be nice to have someone else to count with.”)
  • “Maybe next time.” (“No worries. Maybe some other time, then.”)

Home Is Where the Flowers Are

Evan hands you black tulips and opens up about something they’ve been sitting with for a while: a history of relationships where they couldn’t tell if they were happy or just afraid of being alone, and a long-held doubt about whether they were even capable of feeling happiness the way other people describe it. They mention their sister Mina has noticed more light in them lately, and they think she’s right.

Dialogue Choices:

• Once they admit they’re learning to be gentler with themself, respond,
  • “You’re doing better than you think, Evan.” (“It feels easier to say now that you’re here. I want things to stay this way between us.”)
  • “That takes a lot of strength to realize.”

• When they describe what they have with you as a quiet joy rather than a loud, exuberant one, respond,
  • “You’ve got me, Evan. Always.” (“Thank you, {Player}… This quiet joy I feel with you? That’s all I need.”)
  • “I’m here for you, no matter what.”