Yeah, I totally agree. The theory can be stretched to explain most of the story so far. But it would not have any sense I guess. That's why I don't believe in it myself. But it was entertaining to think about it as a possible plot. I just remembered about it when I read a reminder (for the 100th time i guess) in a post above that the story is being told from the MC's perspective and he is not a trustworthy teller.
Sure. But I suspect that the other reason that memory came back to you is that there is a very good chance the MC is hallucinating right now. There is almost no chance that Lacey actually gave the "you are a pathetic cuck" speech to the MC in the bar and Gristle just imagined it. Did black bra Lacey give the "I'm going to divorce you" speech to the MC or did he hallucinate it?
My guess is that the next bit drama on the horizon will focus on this - the MC will come to accept that he is just imagining his wife saying things. Then Kelly will admit that she was fucking with him and he was never having auditory hallucinations in the office. Then the MC will accuse Lacey of doing the same - saying terrible things and gaslighting him to into believing that he is hallucinating.
. . . . . .
Bit of a tangent but I think it's important that to understand that the MC is not the only narrator. This is a subset of a subset of a subset of first person narration. First person, unreliable narrator with POV switching Or Game of Thrones style where one chapter is titled "Jamie" one chapter is titled "Tyrion" Notice that in every scene only one character gets to have thoughts and secondary characters only have thoughts when the main narrator leaves. We have more than one distorted viewpoint.
In creative writing classes you are discouraged to use this technique because readers often get confused - sometimes the only way to identify the narrator is wait for the narrator to think or feel something.
Writing down guesses about The Monster as I go, I hope this won't be really hammy like with Jared, it'll also be pretty terrible if it turns out it's him. Could be the chunky red head lady who called the fmc a narcissist. Though I'm also thinking maybe Kelly, she'd be techy enough to do some phone shenanigans? Oh there's a dude so neither of them. Though wait the dude that's an antagonist isn't the same as The Monster that's actually helpful. Huh, Veronica comes into this all somehow, I did think it was weird when they said it was a team keeping the mmc on track. I'm starting to suspect this is gonna be very hard to all come together in a way that feels natural.
Alright Erica I think instantly jumped to one of the hottest girls in the game. I thought it would be funny if Will gets cucked like Jared did, though I guess a little repetitive, so maybe if Lacey fucked her revenge style this time (not that that'd make any sense). But seems he's fine with her being a pornstar/whore anyhoo, so ehh.
I dunno what I think about it being a gameover is arsehole points hit 0. The wife said she'd do whatever he wanted a bit of kinky roleplay shouldn't be something she gets so weird about. It could change the nature of their interaction over time, but just straight game over feels poor. Does make more sense with the secret BJ from Anna, though that only sets you back half the amount.
For a second there I thought Lacey was even more messed up than previously indicated, and what a good manipulative girl that'd make her. Turns out it was just a deepfake.
I get his wife died but Barty suddenly going evil genius just doesn't really work for me, especially as he'd have had to made those recordings of the wife way earlier on. I could maybe buy him as a complete idiot pawn like Will, and I know he's not the top of the chain but he seems to be doing too much of the driving to me. Also Cal is a bit too much of an incel stereotype with the Asian stuff, kinda hammy.
I didn't like Abby from the get go, I haven't forgotten her drug debts to Jared were why he got a mole (even if it turned out to be Christine) in the company. The whole it's in the mmc's best interests and it'll all be for some end goal was just her feeding her own ego. There's no reasonable way for her to know how things would go down with these people she'd just met, and it was so irresponsible to fuck with other people's lives like that. At least there was a reason Lacey was being such a docile pawn, as otherwise I'd be a bit disappointed in her.
The BDSM club was weirdly tame, but I guess that's how they'd have to be to be a functioning business. Blonde stripper kinda reminded me of Veronica if she was more dolled up, which then made me realise while they've worn different clothes we've never really seen them have different looks, like Lacey all gothed up in black lipstick or anything. Well I guess a lil' at the end there all in his head.
As they've got a massive house now the first thought I had was I kinda hope all the other crew move in. Maybe Vanessa is too successful to do it as she can deffo afford her own place, but Mia et al would probably do well to save on rent. Then Lacey, lord bless her, was basically angling for the same thing. I think Vanessa's loneliness / joint motherhood angle could get her in. So her and Jamie are still my top 2 picks. Very weird a house that size didn't have more guest rooms, but I'm sure some of the others could be repurposed as them.
I still wanna see Vanessa go all lezdom on Lacey. Tell her she's gotta please her or she'll steal away the mmc. Then it end with making Lacey watch the mmc and Vanessa fuck all romantic like, while Vanessa talks about how she wants to be his new wife... and then at the end give Lacey a chance to eat the creampie out of her to lower the chance of pregnancy. I have 0 idea why that series of event would happen, but it just kept popping in my head.
The mmc is sorta becoming more of a bitch for no reason. When Stephen joined the company it's not a big deal, the wife did everything perfectly, which is crazy because she normally does everything terribly, and managed to do so even though Mia was telling her the wrong thing. I kinda feel like at this point it's not a thing to get stressed about and I wish he'd just be easier on her. Though Steveo was a dick later on, and after running his mouth to Will deserves a bit of an arse kicking.
I like Rhea and Nadine, I hope they show back up again, I'm glad they didn't get their feelings hurt when the, again bitch, mmc was a bit antagonist calling them out thinking they were doing corporate espionage. I sent the other one off with the Jock, but don't hold it against her. But there's so many characters now then even if they're some of the more nicely generated ones I can get not letting this could-be-harem getting outta whack.
I obviously thought Kelly was fucking with him initially with the slips of the tongue, but then when he got a bit crazier I gave her the benefit of the doubt as he was imagining stuff. Then especially when the boss was next to her I thought, ohh it is in his head then. Absolutely nuts she's trying to mindfuck a guy who's on the precipice of getting put into a sanitorium. She might be the most fucked up of them all, I really hope signing all that stuff over doesn't go south, she's kind of a new addition I don't get why he trusts her so much.
I still feel there's no enough choice going on. I'm still engaged, normally I wouldn't be with this low level of choice/branching, as it's well written but I kinda need to feel like I'm playing god and ruining lives. I know they're doing a fine job of that themselves and there'll be some degree of a railroaded story to tell, but I need some say over events, far more than we've been getting.
Hasn't Lacey said she was gonna throw out that bikini like 3 times now, it's getting weird.
This was rough
, because I want her to be happy but waaay prefer small tits. I'd pay for Jamie's to fem her up some more but Yue's is going the wrong way, if anything I want to give Veronica a reduction. I was real happy when Jamie started growing out his hair and got on HRT.
Is that what it's called? Isn't it something more like escrow.
remember
aggressive
yourself
Writing down guesses about The Monster as I go, I hope this won't be really hammy like with Jared, it'll also be pretty terrible if it turns out it's him. Could be the chunky red head lady who called the fmc a narcissist. Though I'm also thinking maybe Kelly, she'd be techy enough to do some phone shenanigans? Oh there's a dude so neither of them. Though wait the dude that's an antagonist isn't the same as The Monster that's actually helpful. Huh, Veronica comes into this all somehow, I did think it was weird when they said it was a team keeping the mmc on track. I'm starting to suspect this is gonna be very hard to all come together in a way that feels natural.
Alright Erica I think instantly jumped to one of the hottest girls in the game. I thought it would be funny if Will gets cucked like Jared did, though I guess a little repetitive, so maybe if Lacey fucked her revenge style this time (not that that'd make any sense). But seems he's fine with her being a pornstar/whore anyhoo, so ehh.
I dunno what I think about it being a gameover is arsehole points hit 0. The wife said she'd do whatever he wanted a bit of kinky roleplay shouldn't be something she gets so weird about. It could change the nature of their interaction over time, but just straight game over feels poor. Does make more sense with the secret BJ from Anna, though that only sets you back half the amount.
The GG points in general have shifted in purpose, if before they were designed to underline "bad" decisions that were directly hurting Lacey, now they are put there to punish any sort of action that MC does with other women, even when sanctioned by Lacey.
Considering the creative definition of cheating set in place in act 3, which goes against everything shown in act 1 and 2, nothing that MC could be considered cheating if you think about it.
For a second there I thought Lacey was even more messed up than previously indicated, and what a good manipulative girl that'd make her. Turns out it was just a deepfake.
I get his wife died but Barty suddenly going evil genius just doesn't really work for me, especially as he'd have had to made those recordings of the wife way earlier on. I could maybe buy him as a complete idiot pawn like Will, and I know he's not the top of the chain but he seems to be doing too much of the driving to me. Also Cal is a bit too much of an incel stereotype with the Asian stuff, kinda hammy.
I didn't like Abby from the get go, I haven't forgotten her drug debts to Jared were why he got a mole (even if it turned out to be Christine) in the company. The whole it's in the mmc's best interests and it'll all be for some end goal was just her feeding her own ego. There's no reasonable way for her to know how things would go down with these people she'd just met, and it was so irresponsible to fuck with other people's lives like that. At least there was a reason Lacey was being such a docile pawn, as otherwise I'd be a bit disappointed in her.
Still very disappointed in the writing of Lacey, if you think about it, nothing that happens that day makes sense.
It was forced drama covered by a weak crutch (drugs).
The next day makes it even worse.
The girls are aware of everything that happens, Lacey as a drug addict is aware that she is being spiked and is completely fine with it (she was also an alcoholic in college, weird that she can also handle alcohol easily).
Additionally, all three girls are attracted to MC, yet with this magic drug, they ignore him completely but are very attentive and reactive with everyone and everything else.
Did you notice that Lacey doesn't care about MC as soon as they get on the plane? (first flight for her, first trip together, anniversary....from what I have read until now about her, I would have imagined her insisting to be close to MC and give him attention, the author could have still have the drama with Abby and Mia chatting next to them).
Not a single kiss at the concert?
Drops a few expositions in front of a stranger that MC was not privy to? (Lacey is BIG on "explaining" things to MC so he can understand her)
Forces MC to recite the rules in front of others? (Mc is reluctant to tell them even in front of her while they are alone)
Worst writing we have seen from the professor by far.
Vagas could have been amazing with happiness and "genuine" drama instead we got unrealistic and incoherent stuff.
The author has shown that they can do so much better than this.
Abby is a monstruous character that has to be Mia2.0 since now Mia needed a small redemption after being a failed character for 2 acts, in the end, as usual there are no consequences for ruining the anniversary and roofing strangers (just a bit of fun, right?) , to add insult to injury MC apologizes to HER.
She acts like an ass and no one calls her out, sober or not, just to be able to fit in some forced drama, resulting in her being a very unlikeable character for anyone with more than 2 working brain cells.
Oh and cherry on top? Jeanette now wants to be friends with Lacey, after bonding with her over humiliating MC, because, and I quote: "It was so much fun".
I guess that a day of fun can erase all the stuff from act 1.
Character assassination 101.
At least people can now see that Mia did what she did for her own benefit and abused Lacey's trust and damaged state.
It was only hinted in act 2, adding her motivations, confirmed in act 3, and how can that be accepted by MC (Lacey is weird) is a mystery that will follow us forever.
The BDSM club was weirdly tame, but I guess that's how they'd have to be to be a functioning business. Blonde stripper kinda reminded me of Veronica if she was more dolled up, which then made me realise while they've worn different clothes we've never really seen them have different looks, like Lacey all gothed up in black lipstick or anything. Well I guess a lil' at the end there all in his head.
BDSM club was the worst part because then the writing tries to gaslight the reader to cover up the "no forced NTR" rule the author made.
BDSM clubs can be WAY "worse" than that irl, but I am not american so maybe it is just over here.
The mmc is sorta becoming more of a bitch for no reason. When Stephen joined the company it's not a big deal, the wife did everything perfectly, which is crazy because she normally does everything terribly, and managed to do so even though Mia was telling her the wrong thing. I kinda feel like at this point it's not a thing to get stressed about and I wish he'd just be easier on her. Though Steveo was a dick later on, and after running his mouth to Will deserves a bit of an arse kicking.
You miss the point of the existence of Stephen in their lives and what it means for MC.
I hope you remember who Stephen is from act 1, I hope you remember what Lacey says and I hope you remember the "nothing is special" act 1 dialogue than picked up in act 3.
TThe issue with Mc is that he is written like a witness with no agency, or as I'd like to call him now, a dashcam as he can only see the crashes without being able to do anything about them (we could talk about his weakness to Lacey making sense, but with all the other characters?).
I like Rhea and Nadine, I hope they show back up again, I'm glad they didn't get their feelings hurt when the, again bitch, mmc was a bit antagonist calling them out thinking they were doing corporate espionage. I sent the other one off with the Jock, but don't hold it against her. But there's so many characters now then even if they're some of the more nicely generated ones I can get not letting this could-be-harem getting outta whack.
They are invited to the pool party and have their own folder.
They will be back.
You missed the message of the scene and what does it mean for MC or better, why he acts that way.
I obviously thought Kelly was fucking with him initially with the slips of the tongue, but then when he got a bit crazier I gave her the benefit of the doubt as he was imagining stuff. Then especially when the boss was next to her I thought, ohh it is in his head then. Absolutely nuts she's trying to mindfuck a guy who's on the precipice of getting put into a sanitorium. She might be the most fucked up of them all, I really hope signing all that stuff over doesn't go south, she's kind of a new addition I don't get why he trusts her so much.
I still feel there's no enough choice going on. I'm still engaged, normally I wouldn't be with this low level of choice/branching, as it's well written but I kinda need to feel like I'm playing god and ruining lives. I know they're doing a fine job of that themselves and there'll be some degree of a railroaded story to tell, but I need some say over events, far more than we've been getting.
Definitely the lack of choices hurts the story a bit, especially since we were told that choices would be getting more meaningful from act 2 onwards.
You have still forced LIs, even some you might not want and are forced down your throat.
Overall one of the issues seems to be that the prof forgot about the paths, as they get less meaningful in act 2 and completely disappear in act 3 (wasted potential in Vegas for example) and he doesn't give space to the relationship building aspect.
For example:
MC loves Mia, Mia loves MC...how did it happen? when did it happen? They literally talk about Lacey and various issues for the whole game, she tries to drug her just a few weeks before going to Vegas, MC says that their relationship has grown colder...but he is fully ready to accept the "proposal".
Hasn't Lacey said she was gonna throw out that bikini like 3 times now, it's getting weird.
This was rough
View attachment 5531857
, because I want her to be happy but waaay prefer small tits. I'd pay for Jamie's to fem her up some more but Yue's is going the wrong way, if anything I want to give Veronica a reduction. I was real happy when Jamie started growing out his hair and got on HRT.
Yeah the resurrection of the black dress and gold bikini, especially the latter in the KW really does not fit, as we had the same dialogue 3 times now.
Yue needs G cups, and don't you dare touch Veronica .
What doesn't fit well with Yue and such, is that Bradley is involved, even if it is Yue's business if she wants an enhancement or not, how would you take a friend that pays for your gf implants?
Weird that it is not even taken into consideration by someone like MC.
