Joshy92
Message Maven
- Mar 25, 2021
- 13,058
- 31,238
I liked the MC's old hairstyle from before the game.
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- Thread starter monroe
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- Oct 29, 2021
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motseer
Forum Fanatic
- Dec 17, 2021
- 4,318
- 11,074
Finally, Lucy getting the love she has always deserved! Nice render and thanks for making Lucy every bit as hot as her sister!
cxx
Message Maestro
- Nov 14, 2017
- 73,053
- 37,375
motseer
Forum Fanatic
- Dec 17, 2021
- 4,318
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sparrow0812
Newbie
- Aug 17, 2024
- 21
- 24
bruh this shit's beyond stupid im on chap 11 as of now and was liking emma but she's just beyond stupid and then she says I'm not a child anymore dayum this is ridiculous no one falls in love that ridiculously even at her age or anyone isolated like her , bitch even deteriorated my points with suzi , and god I feel for ma boi david man got beat up only to thought of as mean by a bitch like emma , I mean prove yourself your not a child and that starts with avoiding idiocy rather just charging headfast towards it 
Is it realistic for a shy, immature 18-year-old girl to assert that she is not a child anymore, even though she acts like one?
ChatGPT said:
Yes, it is entirely realistic for a shy, immature 18-year-old girl to assert that she is not a child anymore, even if her behavior contradicts her claim. This dynamic reflects a natural tension between identity, maturity, and self-perception. Here’s why:
1. Age and Milestones
Turning 18 is often seen as a symbolic entry into adulthood, with legal and societal responsibilities attached. Even if a person doesn’t feel fully mature, they may assert their adulthood to affirm their independence or because they believe they are expected to do so.
2. Emotional Immaturity vs. Perception of Adulthood
Many 18-year-olds are still figuring out who they are, and their emotional maturity may lag behind their chronological age. Despite this, they may feel compelled to assert their adulthood as a way of claiming their identity or pushing back against perceived condescension.
This gap between behavior and self-perception is common and reflective of the journey from adolescence to adulthood.
3. Rebellion Against Authority
If she feels others are treating her like a child or undermining her autonomy, she might overcompensate by emphatically declaring that she is no longer a child. This response can be a defensive mechanism to establish boundaries or gain respect.
4. Desire for Independence
Even if she’s shy or immature, she may yearn for freedom, self-determination, or validation as an adult. This desire can drive her to assert her adulthood, even if her actions don’t fully align with that role yet.
5. Lack of Self-Awareness
Immaturity often comes with a limited ability to reflect on one’s own behavior. She may genuinely believe she’s acting like an adult, not recognizing how her actions might appear childish to others.
6. Social and Cultural Influences
Cultural expectations around adulthood might play a role. In some cultures, reaching 18 is heavily tied to becoming an adult, regardless of emotional readiness. This societal pressure can lead her to assert her maturity prematurely.
7. Emotional Complexity
Asserting adulthood while acting like a child can reflect the complexity of her feelings. She may simultaneously want to embrace her newfound independence and cling to the safety and simplicity of childhood, creating a tension in her behavior.
Conclusion
This kind of contradiction—declaring “I’m not a child” while behaving immaturely—is not only realistic but also quite common during the transition to adulthood. It provides an excellent opportunity for character development, highlighting the challenges of growing up, navigating independence, and understanding oneself. This dynamic could be used effectively in storytelling to add depth and relatability to her character.
How easily can a shy, sheltered 18-year-old girl, who was abandoned by her father, fall in love with a handsome bodyguard who gives her lots of attention?
ChatGPT said:
The scenario you’ve described provides fertile ground for a romantic connection to develop, especially in a fictional or dramatized context. Here's an analysis of the factors at play:
Emotional Vulnerability:
A shy and sheltered girl may have limited exposure to relationships and emotional connections outside her immediate circle. This can make her more receptive to someone who shows genuine interest or attention, especially if she feels emotionally neglected.
Being abandoned by her father could result in a longing for security, validation, and male attention, potentially making her more susceptible to forming an attachment to someone who fulfills these emotional needs.
Dynamic of the Relationship:
The bodyguard's role naturally involves protecting and prioritizing her well-being. This dynamic can create a sense of safety and trust, which are foundational for emotional intimacy.
His handsomeness and attentiveness could amplify her attraction, especially if she hasn't experienced much positive male attention before.
Power Imbalance and Heroic Perception:
The bodyguard might be perceived as strong, capable, and dependable—qualities that might stand out to someone who feels vulnerable or inexperienced in relationships.
The power imbalance in their relationship (his role as a protector and her dependence on him for safety) could lead her to idealize him, even if unintentionally.
Pacing of Emotional Connection:
If he is consistently kind, supportive, and attentive over time, her feelings could naturally deepen. However, the intensity of her emotions might also be heightened by her sheltered upbringing, as the experience could feel novel and overwhelming.
Psychological Projection:
She might subconsciously project her need for security and love onto him, mistaking gratitude or admiration for romantic love.
Potential Complications:
The relationship’s foundation matters. If her feelings stem solely from dependency or lack of experience, the bond may be less stable in the long term.
The bodyguard's response to her feelings would also influence the outcome—whether he reciprocates, maintains professional boundaries, or exploits her vulnerability.
In summary, it's quite plausible for a shy, sheltered girl to develop strong feelings for a protective and attentive bodyguard, given her background and emotional needs. The depth and authenticity of her love would depend on how the relationship evolves and whether it allows her to grow beyond her initial vulnerabilities. This dynamic could work well in a story, creating room for emotional complexity and character development.
ChatGPT said:
Yes, it is entirely realistic for a shy, immature 18-year-old girl to assert that she is not a child anymore, even if her behavior contradicts her claim. This dynamic reflects a natural tension between identity, maturity, and self-perception. Here’s why:
1. Age and Milestones
Turning 18 is often seen as a symbolic entry into adulthood, with legal and societal responsibilities attached. Even if a person doesn’t feel fully mature, they may assert their adulthood to affirm their independence or because they believe they are expected to do so.
2. Emotional Immaturity vs. Perception of Adulthood
Many 18-year-olds are still figuring out who they are, and their emotional maturity may lag behind their chronological age. Despite this, they may feel compelled to assert their adulthood as a way of claiming their identity or pushing back against perceived condescension.
This gap between behavior and self-perception is common and reflective of the journey from adolescence to adulthood.
3. Rebellion Against Authority
If she feels others are treating her like a child or undermining her autonomy, she might overcompensate by emphatically declaring that she is no longer a child. This response can be a defensive mechanism to establish boundaries or gain respect.
4. Desire for Independence
Even if she’s shy or immature, she may yearn for freedom, self-determination, or validation as an adult. This desire can drive her to assert her adulthood, even if her actions don’t fully align with that role yet.
5. Lack of Self-Awareness
Immaturity often comes with a limited ability to reflect on one’s own behavior. She may genuinely believe she’s acting like an adult, not recognizing how her actions might appear childish to others.
6. Social and Cultural Influences
Cultural expectations around adulthood might play a role. In some cultures, reaching 18 is heavily tied to becoming an adult, regardless of emotional readiness. This societal pressure can lead her to assert her maturity prematurely.
7. Emotional Complexity
Asserting adulthood while acting like a child can reflect the complexity of her feelings. She may simultaneously want to embrace her newfound independence and cling to the safety and simplicity of childhood, creating a tension in her behavior.
Conclusion
This kind of contradiction—declaring “I’m not a child” while behaving immaturely—is not only realistic but also quite common during the transition to adulthood. It provides an excellent opportunity for character development, highlighting the challenges of growing up, navigating independence, and understanding oneself. This dynamic could be used effectively in storytelling to add depth and relatability to her character.
How easily can a shy, sheltered 18-year-old girl, who was abandoned by her father, fall in love with a handsome bodyguard who gives her lots of attention?
ChatGPT said:
The scenario you’ve described provides fertile ground for a romantic connection to develop, especially in a fictional or dramatized context. Here's an analysis of the factors at play:
Emotional Vulnerability:
A shy and sheltered girl may have limited exposure to relationships and emotional connections outside her immediate circle. This can make her more receptive to someone who shows genuine interest or attention, especially if she feels emotionally neglected.
Being abandoned by her father could result in a longing for security, validation, and male attention, potentially making her more susceptible to forming an attachment to someone who fulfills these emotional needs.
Dynamic of the Relationship:
The bodyguard's role naturally involves protecting and prioritizing her well-being. This dynamic can create a sense of safety and trust, which are foundational for emotional intimacy.
His handsomeness and attentiveness could amplify her attraction, especially if she hasn't experienced much positive male attention before.
Power Imbalance and Heroic Perception:
The bodyguard might be perceived as strong, capable, and dependable—qualities that might stand out to someone who feels vulnerable or inexperienced in relationships.
The power imbalance in their relationship (his role as a protector and her dependence on him for safety) could lead her to idealize him, even if unintentionally.
Pacing of Emotional Connection:
If he is consistently kind, supportive, and attentive over time, her feelings could naturally deepen. However, the intensity of her emotions might also be heightened by her sheltered upbringing, as the experience could feel novel and overwhelming.
Psychological Projection:
She might subconsciously project her need for security and love onto him, mistaking gratitude or admiration for romantic love.
Potential Complications:
The relationship’s foundation matters. If her feelings stem solely from dependency or lack of experience, the bond may be less stable in the long term.
The bodyguard's response to her feelings would also influence the outcome—whether he reciprocates, maintains professional boundaries, or exploits her vulnerability.
In summary, it's quite plausible for a shy, sheltered girl to develop strong feelings for a protective and attentive bodyguard, given her background and emotional needs. The depth and authenticity of her love would depend on how the relationship evolves and whether it allows her to grow beyond her initial vulnerabilities. This dynamic could work well in a story, creating room for emotional complexity and character development.
Joshy92
Message Maven
- Mar 25, 2021
- 13,058
- 31,238
I'll never treat Emma like a child. She is a beautiful, intelligent and amazing young woman.
I sometimes feel like some people can't see how smart she is.
I sometimes feel like some people can't see how smart she is.
- Jul 26, 2023
- 14,536
- 32,649
bruh this shit's beyond stupid im on chap 11 as of now and was liking emma but she's just beyond stupid and then she says I'm not a child anymore dayum this is ridiculous no one falls in love that ridiculously even at her age or anyone isolated like her , bitch even deteriorated my points with suzi , and god I feel for ma boi david man got beat up only to thought of as mean by a bitch like emma , I mean prove yourself your not a child and that starts with avoiding idiocy rather just charging headfast towards it
- May 1, 2024
- 2,060
- 6,548
While I can understand it fully, personally I just don't see Emma that way and I'm not judging anyone that does btw. For me she's like a daughter to the MC and while I will try out her content when it comes, Charlotte will always be my queen.
Each to their own though, that's the good thing about having choices in the game.
- May 1, 2024
- 2,060
- 6,548
I think that this game isn't for you "bruh"bruh this shit's beyond stupid im on chap 11 as of now and was liking emma but she's just beyond stupid and then she says I'm not a child anymore dayum this is ridiculous no one falls in love that ridiculously even at her age or anyone isolated like her , bitch even deteriorated my points with suzi , and god I feel for ma boi david man got beat up only to thought of as mean by a bitch like emma , I mean prove yourself your not a child and that starts with avoiding idiocy rather just charging headfast towards it
sparrow0812
Newbie
- Aug 17, 2024
- 21
- 24
I think you missed the part where I said I was "liking" emma. I said I'm on chap 11 as of now didn't I ? maybe I may change my opinion as the game unfolds for me. Still, I ain't a know-all to tell someone whether a game's for somebody or not "bruh", and maybe you have played it till the recent update and I ain't there yet and I can understand that but why are you so defensive did I say I absolutely hate emma or something? I just meant she's too much sometimes like how TF can she be this naive she literally pushes people who care about her away thinking they are either mean like David, (buddy got ganged up for her) and she thought he was mean you would think that after witnessing her friend with that little idiot she would develop some kind of maturity she's 18 for f*cks sake, but no she said her friend was at fault , same with MC he isn't a friend whom she's been close to for a month but how much has she known or talked to that so called love of his life? she never questioned why he was mean when he asked her out saying " even if you're fat I don't mind and all that" or when he asked for her pic I mean where's the thinking, BUT maybe things change as I play and perhaps she will start to see things and judge things clearly I ain't judging the whole game or anything heck I even want the charlotte marriage thingy to come true soon and maybe a good end with kaylah and lucy, just some things which in my personal opinion I find strange and ridiculous that's it, cuz I have never come across a girl so naive at her age I mean not at that kind level and I have had my fair share of knowing girls in high school, college and even in university but that's just my opinion .
Last edited:
- May 1, 2024
- 2,060
- 6,548
*Sigh* I don't know why I'm doing this but here goes...
You also called Emma a "bitch" a few times, that's a long way to go from apparently liking someone.
Ok so after spending a little time breaking down your post (please use paragraphs for easier reading), I will attempt to explain the Emma situation as I see it.
She's 18 in the game sure, however she has been very sheltered by Charlotte and Suzi to the point where she is now very naive and easily manipulated by Zak the actor boy that she has a crush on. The MC and Charlotte even discuss this a few times and they are well aware of it. Charlotte has wanted to keep her so protected that she has almost stopped her from growing up and maturing, mostly due to Charlottes terrible experiences with men in the past.
Emma never asked David for anything and neither was she aware of his obsession with her. Can you really say that he handled that situation in the best way? Just straight up telling Emma that he loves her, when it seems like she barely knows him even as a friend. Not to mention his reaction to her telling him that she doesn't feel the same and only sees him as a friend.
As for catching Zak with Jenny, her crush on Zak and her strained friendship with Jenny led her to believe that Jenny had seduced him. She had fantasised for years about her and Zak someday getting married etc, while in her mind Jenny had invited her to a party and embarrased her on purpose by not telling her that it was a bikini/pool party.
You are free to post your opinions of course, but try and be civil and polite and not start your first post here with "bruh this shit's beyond stupid"
Pristis.Microdon
Newbie
- Dec 22, 2020
- 40
- 115
I apologize for taking so long to respond. Your comment is so wonderful that it would be so unforgivable not to reply. And communicating with an interesting person is always educational.
Of course, the first step to treatment is admitting the problem. Only Charlotte partially admits her problem at the time of version 0.12 (and 0.15.1. too), that she has some psychological problems that affected her personality (here I will describe those that I saw in her, and not those that she admitted to herself):
A. Lack of fulfillment of a dream/opportunity:
1. As a child, she dreamed of a big and charming wedding, but her ex-boyfriend did not ask her to marry. (Although this is easy to fix);
2. She became a famous world model, the queen of Hillside, but she never realized her dream. She initially came to conquer Hillside as an actress, not a model. Even though she shot in several films, coming to the cinema as an already established and known model, but suddenly Mr. Wolff set her conditions - if you want to be an actress, then you must sleep with me. Charlie did not agree with that. She was not ready to pay such a price for her dream. And she would not have had the opportunity to gain independence in such conditions; she would have become a doll, a thing in the hands of Wolff.
B. Her group social identity was rejected and devalued - I will assume that Charlie dreamed of a big and happy family (Charlie did not have an abortion, and gave birth to two beautiful girls, despite the fact that her modeling career was at its very beginning, and she was not married, which means that children are important and primary for her). But suddenly, out of the blue, her beloved man leaves (I want to know for what reason), leaving her alone with two young children. Thus, he rejected her (as a woman), devalued her aspirations (he did not need either a family or children). Considering that PTSD appeared only 4 years ago (as far as I remember, 4 years ago, before the beginning of the game's narrative, Charlie was attacked by Jason), and Charlie's loneliness has lasted for 17 years, therefore, she could not find a suitable man for 13 years. Perhaps (!), in response to the trauma she had experienced, Charlie rejected and devalued men, afraid to repeat the experience, the feeling of loss and resentment. I can also assume that she did not want the girls to become attached to her partner, who could leave and hurt them. For Charlie, children are great value.
C. PTSD and loss of basic safety needs - safety issues have snowballed on her. At first, money problems (after giving birth, she needs to get in shape and get back to work, and her ex may have left her without money at all), the need to find and buy a home (I don’t remember exactly whether Charlie bought the house after her breakup with her ex or not) plus she has two children on her hands, then ambiguous hints and actions towards little Emma on the set (Charlie's overprotection and anxiety for Emma begins here). Then there was various sexual harassment from employers and workers on the set (remember the photographer who gave her a tranquilizer and wanted to rape her (he had already taken off his pants and was waving his dick in front of Charlie’s face), but the makeup artist (Amy?) and Lucy intervened in time), an attempted rape by Wolff (Charlie was able to fight back and escape). And, finally, a beating by Jason. First, she got anxiety syndrome, then PTSD appeared. In order to forget about her problems and emotional wounds for a while and find some relief from it, Charlie started drinking alcohol, which only aggravated her anxiety syndrome and panic attacks appeared, which forced her to turn to the best psychiatrists/psychotherapists of Hillside. They prescribed her an anxiolytic and tranquilizer - Diazepam, which is not prescribed for more than 2 weeks according to WHO recommendations (dependence develops), which means that they only relieved her acute condition associated with anxiety, fear and insomnia. After some time, she had to switch to another, soft drug, receive psychotherapy and provide herself and her family with protection (to hire a bodyguard) - she did none of this. Probably because Diazepam made her feel better and, being a strong personality with strong-willed character traits, she was able to continue living for the sake of her children and not give up everything, leaving for another country, state or city. She took on obligations and continued to fulfill them, remaining deeply unhappy. Lucy tells us (players, not the MC) that the best therapists in Hillside could not help her - this is fair enough, because until the patient wants to be healthy, even the best doctors will not succeed...
Charlie's difficult life path to becoming a world-famous model and the queen of Hillside has taken its toll on her. How can she be helped now? The safety problems are partially solved: she has money, a house, parental and professional obligations are coming to an end, and a protector has appeared. While the MC is nearby, nothing threatens her. Charlie has stopped drinking, the number of panic attacks has decreased, but PTSD has not gone away. The MC cannot help with PTSD. And as soon as the MC leaves, the feeling of safety will disappear with him. Charlie continues to live with the trauma (she periodically has nightmares about that ill-fated alley). Based on real psychiatric practice, Charlie is a difficult patient who requires treatment; she cannot cope with these problems on her own; she needs the help of a psychotherapist to work through this trauma and get rid of it. She cannot build a healthy relationship with the MC without a psychotherapist.
"Yeah she's conflicted, very understandably, her flashbacks are sick... and while I never went through what she went, I've dealt with past traumas for most of my life, sometimes it's trivial, you just need to understand what 'mental switch' you have to press, at other times it's more complicated..."
She is contradictory because she continues to live cyclically, experiencing her trauma. She understands in her mind that it is time to change something in her life. She sincerely wants to feel the warmth of communication and relationships with men, but fear does not allow her to break free, to get out of this vicious circle. Someone succeeds, and someone doesn't. In Charlie's case, she needs help.
"Charlotte [...] I think her inner conflict is well-written, conflict there wouldn't be at the first place if he didn't treat Emma right."
That's right, she wouldn't let the MC be so close to her in such a short time (it's been 2 months since the MC appeared in their house). She needed an outside opinion about the MC (Emma had talked about him before and had experienced almost the same thing as Charlie, so her opinion was decisive). And Charlie, finally remembering the conversations with Emma-model in the French café, decisively forms a clear opinion about the MC - a good, kind, sweet guy, who protected Emma as much as he could, although she was not his client and did not pay him for his work. He did it because he thought it was right.
"Lucy, [...] She deserves someone in her life, but as long as she doesn't deal with her youth, those relationships will falter as fast as they came. She has to see herself, and love herself, first and foremost, [...] She also has to understand her life isn't defined by her sister".
My thoughts exactly! Lucy wouldn't be able to solve her problem on her own. All this time she lived her sister's life - worked as her agent, helped her daughters, protected Charlie from the dirty, depraved hands of influential men. But during all this time, Lucy never built her own family nest, and did not have her own children. If in 10–20 years she could not understand this, reflect, separate herself from her sister, love herself and start living her own life, then it is unlikely that she will be able to do everything right any time soon. In this situation, avoiding conflict (moving away from Charlie) will not resolve it. Lucy needed to face this conflict and talk to her sister - to say to her face everything that had accumulated over the years. She can find a psychologist who could help her do this faster.
"And Emma, [...] In her case, like you said, she wants to be treated like a little princess [...]"
Here I mean that her boyfriend/husband fulfills all her wishes and whims, playing the role of a father, because she did not receive his love in childhood, so she will want everything at once. At first, it will be touching, but then become irritating and eventually lead to a breakup.
"In her case, perhaps Jenny will actually wake her up to the real world, cause it sure won't come from the people around her".
This is also true, but I'm not sure about Jenny, especially after she gave up their friendship. But Kaylah can become a guide to the adult world for Emma.
There is a psychological technique for Emma and Suzi's case, when, even without knowing how your parent looks like, you can imagine him and picture him, talk to him. Again, they need the help of a psychotherapist, although they can limit themselves to the help of a medical psychologist.
"[...] I'll include the MC in all that, cause it's the same for him, he has the same conflicts with the actual Emma than with the former one, but he made the whole situation his redemption, it goes deep".
The MC's psychological problems were not so obvious before version 0.15.1. His mother played a huge role in his character and trauma. His stepfather beat him and her (possibly raped her), and the MC could not help. Having become older and stronger, he was able to fight back, but he could not completely get rid of his stepfather (=save his mother), because she asked his son not to do this (in fact, his mother was in a codependent relationship). The MC's desire to help others, especially women, stems from his childhood, as a compensatory reaction - I could not help my mother, so I will help others. His choice to serve in the army meant to protect the homeland and society, plus, having found himself on the street, he had a choice: to go into crime or join the army / police academy. Being well-mannered and smart, he understood that crime would not give him anything good. And subsequently, his choice to be a bodyguard also stems from trauma.
What is worth paying attention to and exploring is the presence of PTSD in the MC's mind. He was at war, saw people and his comrades in arms die. War leaves its mark on everyone involved in it. So, did he have such an experience that the MC somehow harmed his loved ones? Perhaps he now deliberately avoids close relationships with women, afraid of harming them and can't help them. I remember that DB once wrote that the MC was twice dumped by girls who cheated on him. But what is hidden under this? It is fascinating to know...
“Like I said, I agree with your 'worst-case' scenarios, I just don't think it's as doomed as you seem to think, I think there's a possible 'redemption' for all of them [...]”.
Both a happy and an unhappy outcome are possible for all the main characters. It is clear that the ending in this VN will be a happy ending, because only a few works of literature, cinema and games have had a truly tragic/dramatic ending. All art serves one purpose - to give a person hope and faith in the best. But if we extrapolate the plot further and take real life as a basis (outside the VN, which is what Smarmint suggested), then after a few years the feelings of novelty and passion will go away, falling in love will turn into a habit, and everyday life will reveal internal conflicts and problems. Love cannot grow on scorched barren land and bear fruit. Because you need to invest your own efforts in a relationship, not to let this fire turn into a small and weak flame, which can go out with a weak breath of wind. And in order to give something to someone, you need to have the resources for it yourself.
Each woman of the Lloyd family has not worked through their problems to the end, and sooner or later they will have to do this, otherwise the boat "family" will crash on the rocks of the "problem", and it will not be possible to build a healthy relationship (the characters are not yet ready to admit their problems).
“Whenever I feel an AVN has the right amount of psychology in it, I kind of feel inspired, so pardon my long reply”.
Me too. There is something to think about. Mr. DB is doing a great job! And your answer is wonderful!
"What I disagree with, is your final assessment, I don't think they can't develop healthy relationships, cause I believe everybody can heal, sometimes even without professional help, they just have to accept they have problems, first and foremost."
Of course, the first step to treatment is admitting the problem. Only Charlotte partially admits her problem at the time of version 0.12 (and 0.15.1. too), that she has some psychological problems that affected her personality (here I will describe those that I saw in her, and not those that she admitted to herself):
A. Lack of fulfillment of a dream/opportunity:
1. As a child, she dreamed of a big and charming wedding, but her ex-boyfriend did not ask her to marry. (Although this is easy to fix
);2. She became a famous world model, the queen of Hillside, but she never realized her dream. She initially came to conquer Hillside as an actress, not a model. Even though she shot in several films, coming to the cinema as an already established and known model, but suddenly Mr. Wolff set her conditions - if you want to be an actress, then you must sleep with me. Charlie did not agree with that. She was not ready to pay such a price for her dream. And she would not have had the opportunity to gain independence in such conditions; she would have become a doll, a thing in the hands of Wolff.
B. Her group social identity was rejected and devalued - I will assume that Charlie dreamed of a big and happy family (Charlie did not have an abortion, and gave birth to two beautiful girls, despite the fact that her modeling career was at its very beginning, and she was not married, which means that children are important and primary for her). But suddenly, out of the blue, her beloved man leaves (I want to know for what reason), leaving her alone with two young children. Thus, he rejected her (as a woman), devalued her aspirations (he did not need either a family or children). Considering that PTSD appeared only 4 years ago (as far as I remember, 4 years ago, before the beginning of the game's narrative, Charlie was attacked by Jason), and Charlie's loneliness has lasted for 17 years, therefore, she could not find a suitable man for 13 years. Perhaps (!), in response to the trauma she had experienced, Charlie rejected and devalued men, afraid to repeat the experience, the feeling of loss and resentment. I can also assume that she did not want the girls to become attached to her partner, who could leave and hurt them. For Charlie, children are great value.
C. PTSD and loss of basic safety needs - safety issues have snowballed on her. At first, money problems (after giving birth, she needs to get in shape and get back to work, and her ex may have left her without money at all), the need to find and buy a home (I don’t remember exactly whether Charlie bought the house after her breakup with her ex or not) plus she has two children on her hands, then ambiguous hints and actions towards little Emma on the set (Charlie's overprotection and anxiety for Emma begins here). Then there was various sexual harassment from employers and workers on the set (remember the photographer who gave her a tranquilizer and wanted to rape her (he had already taken off his pants and was waving his dick in front of Charlie’s face), but the makeup artist (Amy?) and Lucy intervened in time), an attempted rape by Wolff (Charlie was able to fight back and escape). And, finally, a beating by Jason. First, she got anxiety syndrome, then PTSD appeared. In order to forget about her problems and emotional wounds for a while and find some relief from it, Charlie started drinking alcohol, which only aggravated her anxiety syndrome and panic attacks appeared, which forced her to turn to the best psychiatrists/psychotherapists of Hillside. They prescribed her an anxiolytic and tranquilizer - Diazepam, which is not prescribed for more than 2 weeks according to WHO recommendations (dependence develops), which means that they only relieved her acute condition associated with anxiety, fear and insomnia. After some time, she had to switch to another, soft drug, receive psychotherapy and provide herself and her family with protection (to hire a bodyguard) - she did none of this. Probably because Diazepam made her feel better and, being a strong personality with strong-willed character traits, she was able to continue living for the sake of her children and not give up everything, leaving for another country, state or city. She took on obligations and continued to fulfill them, remaining deeply unhappy. Lucy tells us (players, not the MC) that the best therapists in Hillside could not help her - this is fair enough, because until the patient wants to be healthy, even the best doctors will not succeed...
Charlie's difficult life path to becoming a world-famous model and the queen of Hillside has taken its toll on her. How can she be helped now? The safety problems are partially solved: she has money, a house, parental and professional obligations are coming to an end, and a protector has appeared. While the MC is nearby, nothing threatens her. Charlie has stopped drinking, the number of panic attacks has decreased, but PTSD has not gone away. The MC cannot help with PTSD. And as soon as the MC leaves, the feeling of safety will disappear with him. Charlie continues to live with the trauma (she periodically has nightmares about that ill-fated alley). Based on real psychiatric practice, Charlie is a difficult patient who requires treatment; she cannot cope with these problems on her own; she needs the help of a psychotherapist to work through this trauma and get rid of it. She cannot build a healthy relationship with the MC without a psychotherapist.
"Yeah she's conflicted, very understandably, her flashbacks are sick... and while I never went through what she went, I've dealt with past traumas for most of my life, sometimes it's trivial, you just need to understand what 'mental switch' you have to press, at other times it's more complicated..."
She is contradictory because she continues to live cyclically, experiencing her trauma. She understands in her mind that it is time to change something in her life. She sincerely wants to feel the warmth of communication and relationships with men, but fear does not allow her to break free, to get out of this vicious circle. Someone succeeds, and someone doesn't. In Charlie's case, she needs help.
"Charlotte [...] I think her inner conflict is well-written, conflict there wouldn't be at the first place if he didn't treat Emma right."
That's right, she wouldn't let the MC be so close to her in such a short time (it's been 2 months since the MC appeared in their house). She needed an outside opinion about the MC (Emma had talked about him before and had experienced almost the same thing as Charlie, so her opinion was decisive). And Charlie, finally remembering the conversations with Emma-model in the French café, decisively forms a clear opinion about the MC - a good, kind, sweet guy, who protected Emma as much as he could, although she was not his client and did not pay him for his work. He did it because he thought it was right.
"Lucy, [...] She deserves someone in her life, but as long as she doesn't deal with her youth, those relationships will falter as fast as they came. She has to see herself, and love herself, first and foremost, [...] She also has to understand her life isn't defined by her sister".
My thoughts exactly! Lucy wouldn't be able to solve her problem on her own. All this time she lived her sister's life - worked as her agent, helped her daughters, protected Charlie from the dirty, depraved hands of influential men. But during all this time, Lucy never built her own family nest, and did not have her own children. If in 10–20 years she could not understand this, reflect, separate herself from her sister, love herself and start living her own life, then it is unlikely that she will be able to do everything right any time soon. In this situation, avoiding conflict (moving away from Charlie) will not resolve it. Lucy needed to face this conflict and talk to her sister - to say to her face everything that had accumulated over the years. She can find a psychologist who could help her do this faster.
"And Emma, [...] In her case, like you said, she wants to be treated like a little princess [...]"
Here I mean that her boyfriend/husband fulfills all her wishes and whims, playing the role of a father, because she did not receive his love in childhood, so she will want everything at once. At first, it will be touching, but then become irritating and eventually lead to a breakup.
"In her case, perhaps Jenny will actually wake her up to the real world, cause it sure won't come from the people around her".
This is also true, but I'm not sure about Jenny, especially after she gave up their friendship. But Kaylah can become a guide to the adult world for Emma.
There is a psychological technique for Emma and Suzi's case, when, even without knowing how your parent looks like, you can imagine him and picture him, talk to him. Again, they need the help of a psychotherapist, although they can limit themselves to the help of a medical psychologist.
"[...] I'll include the MC in all that, cause it's the same for him, he has the same conflicts with the actual Emma than with the former one, but he made the whole situation his redemption, it goes deep".
The MC's psychological problems were not so obvious before version 0.15.1. His mother played a huge role in his character and trauma. His stepfather beat him and her (possibly raped her), and the MC could not help. Having become older and stronger, he was able to fight back, but he could not completely get rid of his stepfather (=save his mother), because she asked his son not to do this (in fact, his mother was in a codependent relationship). The MC's desire to help others, especially women, stems from his childhood, as a compensatory reaction - I could not help my mother, so I will help others. His choice to serve in the army meant to protect the homeland and society, plus, having found himself on the street, he had a choice: to go into crime or join the army / police academy. Being well-mannered and smart, he understood that crime would not give him anything good. And subsequently, his choice to be a bodyguard also stems from trauma.
What is worth paying attention to and exploring is the presence of PTSD in the MC's mind. He was at war, saw people and his comrades in arms die. War leaves its mark on everyone involved in it. So, did he have such an experience that the MC somehow harmed his loved ones? Perhaps he now deliberately avoids close relationships with women, afraid of harming them and can't help them. I remember that DB once wrote that the MC was twice dumped by girls who cheated on him. But what is hidden under this? It is fascinating to know...
“Like I said, I agree with your 'worst-case' scenarios, I just don't think it's as doomed as you seem to think, I think there's a possible 'redemption' for all of them [...]”.
Both a happy and an unhappy outcome are possible for all the main characters. It is clear that the ending in this VN will be a happy ending, because only a few works of literature, cinema and games have had a truly tragic/dramatic ending. All art serves one purpose - to give a person hope and faith in the best. But if we extrapolate the plot further and take real life as a basis (outside the VN, which is what Smarmint suggested), then after a few years the feelings of novelty and passion will go away, falling in love will turn into a habit, and everyday life will reveal internal conflicts and problems. Love cannot grow on scorched barren land and bear fruit. Because you need to invest your own efforts in a relationship, not to let this fire turn into a small and weak flame, which can go out with a weak breath of wind. And in order to give something to someone, you need to have the resources for it yourself.
Each woman of the Lloyd family has not worked through their problems to the end, and sooner or later they will have to do this, otherwise the boat "family" will crash on the rocks of the "problem", and it will not be possible to build a healthy relationship (the characters are not yet ready to admit their problems).
“Whenever I feel an AVN has the right amount of psychology in it, I kind of feel inspired, so pardon my long reply”.
Me too. There is something to think about.
Mr. DB is doing a great job! And your answer is wonderful!
cxx
Message Maestro
- Nov 14, 2017
- 73,053
- 37,375
every1, doubt mc has big pension coming and he can't work as bodyguard into his 60s+.Who needs money? Well, other than AVN devs...
motseer
Forum Fanatic
- Dec 17, 2021
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sparrow0812
Newbie
- Aug 17, 2024
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HOLY F*CKING SHIT BRO , GODDAYUMMM , TELL ME THERE'S A ROUTE WITH HER JUST LIKE KAYLAH OR MORE , DAYUM LOOK AT THOSE ARMS AND VEINS , JUST MY TYPE , FIT AND MUSCULAR SHE SAID SHE WAS IN ARMY NOW I SEE IT
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She's a side character. You will be able to have sex with her, but not much more.View attachment 4447564
HOLY F*CKING SHIT BRO , GODDAYUMMM , TELL ME THERE'S A ROUTE WITH HER JUST LIKE KAYLAH OR MORE , DAYUM LOOK AT THOSE ARMS AND VEINS , JUST MY TYPE , FIT AND MUSCULAR SHE SAID SHE WAS IN ARMY NOW I SEE IT
