"Just don't go that route, bro."
Ah yes. The VN argument: you have choice. Which is still stupid.
Setting up a narrative that's inherently fallacious and stupid? Fantastic. It's still hamfisted, bad writing. As was the Interlude. As is the impact of choosing yes, making this project more bloated series of "if then" spaghetti scenarios where 1 line of dialogue changes "I don't care, choose me."
The problem is not some "out of sight" choice solution because of genre; it shouldn't have been one in the first place. It panders to this one very specific, obscure player who: 1) goes on Others, 2) gets tired of manwhoring, 3) suddenly wants some substance and thinks that's what Zoey is, because of windows and Joquinn Phoenix poses...?
Of course there's people like you who think choice trumps all, therefore, anything with choice is good. Being a DIK is good because it's...big? What a complete lack of criticism and critical thinking, as to the nature of even thinking like this
is a good thing.
Just write big stories! Big is good. More paper, more ink!
The MC is, as always, on the fence. As with most VNs, he's a dumb sod for a reason. What, flashbacks? To him, she was his girlfriend. But not technically. He was so ignorant and immature he had no idea what it was, and they never discussed it. They just fooled around and hung out, because he had no other friends, and his story is he was bullied and in detention. And apparently neither did she. But she left doing what was good for
her, not for
their relationship. DPC suddenly needs to give her some backstory! (Why?) It doesn't matter what MC
thinks of her;
she's gone. He doesn't have time to be thinking she's of some girl in his past. He's DROWNING IN WOMEN. And when she comes back, one should not even consider taking her seriously. Why would someone care about anyone who left them? It's a breakup. But our MC, like most other VN MCs, is a nice moron. Now, his life is being surrounded by 24+ women and friends who like him, who some have already given him way more amazing times and friendships. Who cares what he
thinks of someone
not in the picture, who came back to say h
i?
Now imagine the Interlude never existed and the same stuff with Zoey is in place. Does what she did have any value to the narrative? Or her DIk/Chick status? Does "I don't care, choose me?" that important to the narrative?
DPC checkho's gun what? Plot twist? This is an ass pull that destroys all your romantic choices -- even your Others -- just because.
No, it's just her DIK/Chick score. I'm always nice to Zoey because this MC doesn't really care; he's nice to everyone. DIK MC is aggressive with anyone, but then: whoopedy do? Why would he care...if nice to her now...or otherwise? It makes no difference, outside of DIK MC rejecting her outright. Good for Zoey being back? We've got dozens more attractive and present women in his life that are part of it and won't go away. Why address the past? MC has moved on regardless of what he
thinks of some girl in his
past, regardless of his and her DIK status, and regardless of whether the player knows his immediate backstory.
But choice
! Therefore everything's ok. Good writing all round. DPC can do no wrong! Just choose!
Nora is contrasted with the other teachers, but mostly compare to Lily and the Nicole choice/date. Nora is the Ultimate Female, the Greatest Other's choice of "playing the field." Whereas Jade and Cathy are just "hot for teacher" fantasy sex nonsense, and both are just used for sex (regardless of being nice to either), Nora is the wholesome, family desiring, Ultimate woman. She's more in contrast to Bella for her attitude to dating students; the difference being you find her through actual intention: dating on Swyper. She's just as kinky, but much more intelligent, mature, and healthy. And we don't need to get into personality and other details. She is the most attractive female on Others.
We don't need an entire aside for us to know "she's the most important person to the MC." How is she, going to learn to surf and do tattoo's, prove she's the most important person to the MC? The story is the other way around: the MC is the most important person to her. Who cares? (May as well have a Josy Interlude about her obsessing over him every day so we can explain her "wah" moment?) Unless I completely forgot the Interlude (which is very possible, since who the hell cares about Zoey's deciding
she likes a guy she was with for years?), I don't see how it had any impact on the narrative, characterization, or motivation of anyone.
If Zoey is a trope of the returning girlfriend, why do we need an immediate backstory going into the already obvious plot of "I want my guy back?" Or a useless DIK/Chick score? Zoey is more than just another girlfriend in Others -- she's the Destroyer of All Paths, including Others.
