Do we need another “I’m with someone else” story line? If Zoey is with this guy we may as well rename the game “Being the Other Man”.
This wouldn’t bother me in the slightest if DPC actually explored the intricacies of relationships formed this way. I don’t need to see them in relationships with other guys but if you’re gonna tell me they are I wanna see that impact the plot.
Sage is basically monkey branching from Chad to MC and nobody bats an eye. Maya/Josy both cheated and never address that, just shrug and form a triad. Bella has discussed the finer points of orchid care more than her marriage thus far… I don’t mind that the girls are in relationships but why have them in relationships if it has precisely fuck all influence on the plot? That nobody mentions it? It’s ripe for characterisation. Maya and Josy might win back some sympathy from certain elements if they showed some level of remorse. Sage could define herself as a DIK leaning character justifying her infidelity.
We just don’t see consequences of these girls being in relationships which leads me to believe it was a catch all stalling tactic. If Zoey is in a relationship or was and it’s now complicated… I’m not fucking about with that for the 5th time. All the other times it’s been to the individual story arcs detriment that they’re technically with someone else. For all the difference it makes DPC should have Zoey in the army reserves or some shit to stall romance.
“I’m sorry MC, I never looked at you that way because my mind was elsewhere thinking of those 40 days a year im in military training”
“Oh we can’t be official, my heart belongs to the 335th Signal Command.”
It would make as much sense as her being with another guy.
Maya and Josy are a different matter in that their story at least is real
you are right but how can you give depth to the other LIs stories when they all have to be technically illibate?
once it's established that Chad wouldn't touch Sage with a stick what does their relationship matter?
once it's established that Tybalt will do anything to win Jill over except do something sensible, why should we care about him?
when the whole world (including MC) is pretending that Bella's marriage is just a formality, what do we care about her husband?
the fact that the girls are "engaged" would be a plus in the story if it was a real obstacle, instead it is not so much that with Sage Mc had to invent the rebound guy issue otherwise he would arrive too early on the Crossroad
another iconic scene from an Italian comedy "tomorrow I'm getting married, but nothing serious".
in a context like this Zoey would be noticed more if she was free and in love with MC, that would create a real conflict, but if she arrives with her problems she would get in line