Anya (Mouthwashing)

This article's content is marked as Mature The page Anya (Mouthwashing) contains mature content that may include coarse language, sexual references, and/or graphic violent images which may be disturbing to some. Mature articles are recommended for those who are 18 years of age and older. If you are 18 years or older or are comfortable with graphic material, you are free to view this page. Otherwise, you should close this page and view another page.

Do-Gooder
Full Name	Anya (surname unknown)
Alias(es)	Nurse Anya
Origin	Mouthwashing
Occupation	Nurse of the Tulpar Freighter
Powers / Skills	Psychological evaluation Medical knowledge
Hobby	Hanging out and celebrating with the crew. Talking to Curly. Studying. Running. Binging reality TV and fast food.
Goals	Protect herself from Jimmy after he raped and impregnated her. Administer Curly his painkillers (failed). Put Curly out of his misery (abandoned). Kill herself (succeeded).
Family	Unborn child †
Friends / Allies	Jimmy (formerly) † Curly Swansea † Daisuke †
Enemies	Jimmy
Type of Hero	Suicidal Victim

“	I have to believe our worst moments don't make us monsters, Jim.	„
	~ Anya to Jimmy.

Anya is one of the two tritagonists (alongside Daisuke) of the 2024 psychological horror game Mouthwashing, developed by Swedish developer Wrong Organ.

She was the nurse aboard the Tulpar freighter, a large ship carrying cargo across the system for Pony Express, when the co-pilot, Jimmy, steered the ship into an asteroid, marooning the crew and plunging them into chaos. Shortly before the crash, Anya had been non-consensually impregnated by Jimmy, with only Curly to turn to for guidance—arguably the only crew member she felt truly comfortable with. While stranded on the ship, Anya was tasked with administering Curly’s pain medication following his horrific disfigurement, but all the while, she was emotionally and verbally abused and manipulated by Jimmy. Under the pressures of pregnancy, and the general tragedy of the situation, Anya eventually committed suicide by taking oral medication.

Appearance

Anya is an adult woman with fair skin, black eyes, and black hair styled in a wolf cut. She wears a Pony Express overall over a pink, green, and white turtleneck, paired with brown sandals and white socks. Her downturned eyes, prominent eyelashes, and constant pout give her a perpetually sorrowful look.

Personality

On the surface, Anya is a quiet, reserved, and somewhat gloomy woman who often appears nervous. She has a gentle, soft-spoken manner and tends to be shy around the rest of the crew, though she tries to do right by them, even when mistreated. Prone to anxiety and breakdowns, Anya tends to withdraw from others when overwhelmed. Before the crash, Curly was usually the one to comfort and reassure her during these moments, especially in matters related to her relationship with Jimmy—a significant factor in her subsequent sense of dejection.

Despite the hand she was dealt, Anya retains a semblance of optimism, kindness, forgiveness, and inner strength beyond most, looking for a way out and wanting to believe that "our worst moments don't make us monsters"—a sentiment related to both Jimmy and Curly, especially the latter, whom she continued to care for after the crash despite his grave lapse in judgment by enabling Jimmy. Although she may appear timid and standoffish at first glance, she demonstrates a high level of accountability and resilience, especially in contrast to Jimmy, who, despite being controlling and self-assured, found it emasculating to respond to pressure responsibly or humanely, instead reacting with impulsivity and abuse rather than with the rationality and maturity that Anya displayed.

However, the immense tragedy of her situation—including her pregnancy, the physical loss of her once dependable captain, and the feeling of having nowhere to turn—overwhelms Anya with sadness and dread but also defiance, ultimately leading her to take her own life.

Biography

Anya has attempted to get into medical school eight times without success and is only permitted to practice as a nurse on Pony Express because of her nursing classes. She joined Pony Express to earn money while continuing to pursue medical school. Despite her success in keeping Curly alive with minimal medical supplies, Jimmy frequently questions her skills as a nurse.

Trivia

• From what can be seen on Anya's ID card, fans have speculated that her last name could be Musume.
• Her appearance resembles that of Wendy Torrace from the Shining, which was an intentional choice on the developers part. This is stated in the Mouthwashing Developer diary #1 on their Steam page.
• Anya quotes the words from the positive affirmation poster in her medical office when she says, "Our worst moments don't define us."
• Anya has many nursing books in her office, such as "Human Anatomy 101," "Epidemiology 101" by Dr. Byrgenwerth, "First Aid on the Frontline" by Dr. M. Sarang, "First Year Nurse," "Medical Diagnosis & Treatment," and "Intro to Medicine."
  • There are also fiction books on her shelves, such as "Stories from Overlooked Hotel."
  • She has other books, such as "Pipeline" and "Up or Down? Illusion of Choice" about pain perception in fish.
    • The book "Up or Down? Illusion of Choice" is a reference to another game by Wrong Organ, How Fish Is Made.
• The name Anya in Latin means grace, delicate, strength, and in Hungarian, it means mother.
• Anya's favorite Pokémon is Glaceon.
• Anya spends most of her free time studying.
• She runs to clear her head.
• When she needs to zero out, she binges on the worst reality television and fast food known to man, though she would never admit to that.
• Anya's office was inspired by classic, dingy, middle school nurse rooms. This was to highlight the absurdity of the ship's design, where giving the crew comfort by the company is always done in a soulless, ineffective way.

External Links

• Anya on the Mouthwashing Wiki