VN Ren'Py Love & Jealousy [Act 3] [Professor Amethyst Games]

[Diosvincenccio]

In act 1 it seems like so, but she underlines how she is not a lesbian.

She also says, except Anna if drunk and Veronica anyday, and platonic love with Kelly. But jokes aside. She may not have the sexual part of it, but the emotional thing for Lacey is there, and now is for both. Maybe she dosent even understand it herself.

"There was a cute emo girl at a rave I went to in my freshmen year of college, and she made me cum really hard with her tongue"
M "Not that I didn't have fun with her, but I knew I was just confused and there wasn't a future for me down that road."

So it seems that is not the case, but she would still go down on a woman easily imo

Since english is my fifth language maybe im reading it wrong but, cant that way of expressing it refer to that she didnt have a future with the emo girl in specific? Its a little ambiguous to me.

 

[DeviantFun]

She also says, except Anna if drunk and Veronica anyday, and platonic love with Kelly. But jokes aside. She may not have the sexual part of it, but the emotional thing for Lacey is there, and now is for both. Maybe she dosent even understand it herself.


Since english is my fifth language maybe im reading it wrong but, cant that way of expressing it refer to that she didnt have a future with the emo girl in specific? Its a little ambiguous to me.

Emotional for sure, she wants Lacey for herself 100%, it was one of my points for why she was such a bitch to MC.

No it was my fault:

M "She was cool and all, but that's about the time I realized I wasn't actually into girls."
M "Not that I didn't have fun with her, but I knew I was just confused and there wasn't a future for me down that road."

I should have posted the whole thing.

5 languages? congratulations man, I speak 2 and a half and it is already an hassle.

 

[Diosvincenccio]

No it was my fault:

M "She was cool and all, but that's about the time I realized I wasn't actually into girls."
M "Not that I didn't have fun with her, but I knew I was just confused and there wasn't a future for me down that road."

No no, its okay. I kind of remember vaguely that convo, but i wasnt sure.

 

[AL.d]

hah, could be, but Lacey act 2 takes quite a lot, to the point of going against Mc seeing her as a good person and self accusing herself of narcissism.
If it was act 1 I woulld be 100% with you.

From AI mostly sourcing Psychology Today.

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I will believe she is genuinely changing, if she stops trying to turn MC into something between a cuck and a manslut. What I'm seeing, is her still manipulating him into disassociating sex from intimacy, just from a different perspective than act 1.

Which is the main reason I still believe she is the same Lacey from college and from act1. Her goal should have been about her doing everything she can, to get closer to his relationship values. Because she has obviously experienced what her disassociation has caused. It allowed her to do all those things that she claims to hate and regret. Then why treat that as a "fix" for him? Also it's obviously far more ethical to try and change yourself, than try to "reprogram" another person.

But she isn't doing that, because in the end, it's always about herself first and foremost.

I just hope act 3 doesn't force any sharing scenarios. In my main save, I want true no fun route. No Vegas threesomes, no cheating, hell I'll even say no to vanilla anniversary date with the toxic bitch. She should have stayed home instead of slutting it up for others when it was the actual date.

Just let him find the nearest Nevada cliff (he loves those), get a 6pack and let him spend the night skywatching for UFOs or some shit.

 

[Chaoticjustice]

From AI mostly sourcing Psychology Today.

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I will believe she is genuinely changing, if she stops trying to turn MC into something between a cuck and a manslut. What I'm seeing, is her still manipulating him into disassociating sex from intimacy, just from a different perspective than act 1.

Which is the main reason I still believe she is the same Lacey from college and from act1. Her goal should have been about her doing everything she can, to get closer to his relationship values. Because she has obviously experienced what her disassociation has caused. It allowed her to do all those things that she claims to hate and regret. Then why treat that as a "fix" for him? Also it's obviously far more ethical to try and change yourself, than try to "reprogram" another person.

But she isn't doing that, because in the end, it's always about herself first and foremost.

I just hope act 3 doesn't force any sharing scenarios. In my main save, I want true no fun route. No Vegas threesomes, no cheating, hell I'll even say no to vanilla anniversary date with the toxic bitch. She should have stayed home instead of slutting it up for others when it was the actual date.

Just let him find the nearest Nevada cliff (he loves those), get a 6pack and let him spend the night skywatching for UFOs or some shit.

For whatever reason on the no fun route it would be interesting to see the MC shut down everything

But I'm mainly curious to see what would happen to Lacey once sex and red bra nights come off the table and she has to deal with it in an actual adult way and not just do what she wants and blame it on anyone and everything else

 

[anongamer1983]

I want to see if anyone is willing to challenge the concept that MIA is the worst character in the story.
Come at me "Mia is a good girl" boys, come at me.

Lacey's father

EDIT: I was mostly posting just to be an ass if you couldn't tell. Mia is definitely the character in present day who is most toxic. It's one of the reasons why I really hope she gets dealt with in a future Act, preferably sooner than later

 

[anongamer1983]

For whatever reason on the no fun route it would be interesting to see the MC shut down everything

But I'm mainly curious to see what would happen to Lacey once sex and red bra nights come off the table and she has to deal with it in an actual adult way and not just do what she wants and blame it on anyone and everything else

I'm of the opinion that Red Bra night will only end as a sort of "graduation" from therapy

 

[anongamer1983]

BYW, I asked my AI agent to describe Lacey's character, this is what it said


Based on my analysis of the RPY files, here's what I can tell you about Lacey's character:

Lacey is the central female character and primary love interest in "Love and Jealousy." She's a deeply complex,
emotionally wounded woman with several key characteristics:

Background:
- Suffered severe childhood neglect and abuse that left lasting trauma
- Met the MC as children at a playground and became his inseparable best friend
- Has exceptional artistic talent across multiple forms of creative expression
- Currently works as a junior graphic designer at The Brimley Corporation

Personality:
- Described as a "beautiful, but tortured artist"
- Emotionally damaged and self-aware of her brokenness
- Desperately craves connection, especially with the MC
- Can be articulate but vulnerable, sometimes tripping over words when emotional
- Has physical symptoms of stress (upset stomach, anxiety)

Relationship with MC:
- Calls him her "other half" and "the only half that matters"
- Their bond formed in childhood when she was "too broken to love" romantically
- Now married to the MC but their relationship is troubled and complex
- Left him to attend college, which created deep hurt and the main story conflict
- Feels tremendous guilt for abandoning him when he needed her most

Current State:
- Self-describes as "a mess" and being in emotional "delirium"
- Deeply apologetic and regretful about past decisions
- Still desperately in love with the MC despite their problems
- Represents themes of trauma recovery, codependency, and the healing power of love

Lacey's character explores how childhood trauma affects adult relationships and the difficult journey of healing
through love while dealing with deep psychological wounds.

 

[DeviantFun]

From AI mostly sourcing Psychology Today.

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I will believe she is genuinely changing, if she stops trying to turn MC into something between a cuck and a manslut. What I'm seeing, is her still manipulating him into disassociating sex from intimacy, just from a different perspective than act 1.

Which is the main reason I still believe she is the same Lacey from college and from act1. Her goal should have been about her doing everything she can, to get closer to his relationship values. Because she has obviously experienced what her disassociation has caused. It allowed her to do all those things that she claims to hate and regret. Then why treat that as a "fix" for him? Also it's obviously far more ethical to try and change yourself, than try to "reprogram" another person.

But she isn't doing that, because in the end, it's always about herself first and foremost.

I just hope act 3 doesn't force any sharing scenarios. In my main save, I want true no fun route. No Vegas threesomes, no cheating, hell I'll even say no to vanilla anniversary date with the toxic bitch. She should have stayed home instead of slutting it up for others when it was the actual date.

Just let him find the nearest Nevada cliff (he loves those), get a 6pack and let him spend the night skywatching for UFOs or some shit.

Sure that narcissistic trait exist, but did Lacey ever lost control over MC? hell he is defending her in front of Dianne.
He is sure to be at fault every time, she speaks about her mistakes when he is not present, she tries to talk with Dianne by her own volition and wants Mc to listen.
She doesn't need to admit fault, MC has already lost.

Listen to words that could make her lose her grip and she is definitely scared to lose MC after the pimp wonderful revelations, she even tell his that he is too damaged because he doesn't find fault in her but only in himself.

Lacey's objective is for MC to recover some of the lost experiences of those 4 years, it is her repentance.
It is the only thing she can give him to try and fix the mess she made: make him feel wanted, worthy and remove the feelling of having lost years of carefree fun.

Is she manipulative in this? sure, she is scared shitless that someone will snatch him, in her conversations with Kelly she freely admits that she is half the woman Kelly is, she is just damaged goods, Kelly would be much better.

So, no, I don't think she is the same person, surely not the same person from college, like not in a million years, even just for the fact that she is not using K at every chance she has.

Being a better version of herself and reprogramming MC for the best (in her mind) are two parallel concepts, she is doing both and she is putting her ass on the line because as much as she can manipulate everyone (a bit of a silly plot point) nothing is really under her control, her best friend just staged a coup.

Like aside from our own feelings, I think there are clear indications in the whole story that Lacey is making some steps forward, will she fall again in act 3? For sure, the author will not let that sleep, I hope he doesn't honestly, but there will be ambiguity and some shock value stuff, probably related to the other side.

Remember when you saw the video and thought: I KNEW IT, I don't want to sound boring, but it was the product of your own hang ups with her, a well crafted trap for people that do not believe in her growth and path to redemption (impossible redemption if you ask me, what she has done is unforgivable).

Your suggestion for her is not bad, sit there and be a good wife, other characters say that to her such as Anna and the pimp.
But will she be fine waking up having to look at the man you love and understand you damaged him forever?
Wouldn't you want to do something more active to repair the damage you have done? Lacey is not a patient person, like at all, zero patience.

If you think that resentment will help MC feel better about it all, you gameplay surely has it's merits, I have one too exactly as you do.
What I think tho, is that in act 1 Lacey had to be a good wife, shut the fuck up, suck the D and stop doing stupid shit.
In act 2 Lacey could have prepared an amusement park for him, let him have fun while being loyal and try to give him whatever she can, to atone, to repair and to trust.
She will atone by suffering as he did, because MC doesn't only suffer because she had sex with others, he suffers because he lost her, lacey will stay on the wooden horse with that lingering fear.

And the author said no forced sharing from now on so....you will be able to fuck someone in front of Lacey tho.

 

[Chaoticjustice]

Sure that narcissistic trait exist, but did Lacey ever lost control over MC? hell he is defending her in front of Dianne.
He is sure to be at fault every time, she speaks about her mistakes when he is not present, she tries to talk with Dianne by her own volition and wants Mc to listen.

Listen to words that could make her lose her grip and she is definitely scared to lose MC after the pimp wonderful revelations, she even tell his that he is too damaged because he doesn't find fault in her but only in himself.

Lacey's objective is for MC to recover some of the lost experiences of those 4 years, it is her repentance.
It is the only thing she can give him to try and fix the mess she made: make him feel wanted, worthy and remove the feelling of having lost years of carefree fun.

Is she manipulative in this? sure, she is scared shitless that someone will snatch him, in her conversations with Kelly she freely admits that she is half the woman Kelly is, she is just damaged goods, Kelly would be much better.

So, no, I don't think she is the same person, surely not the same person from college, like not in a million years, even just for the fact that she is not using K at every chance she has.

Being a better version of herself and reprogramming MC for the best (in her mind) are two parallel concepts, she is doing both and she is putting her ass on the line because as much as she can manipulate everyone (a bit of a silly plot point) nothing is really under her control, her best friend just staged a coup.

Like aside from our own feelings, I think there are clear indications in the whole story that Lacey is making some steps forward, will she fall again in act 3? For sure, the author will not let that sleep, I hope he doesn't honestly, but there will be ambiguity and some shock value stuff, probably related to the other side.

Remember when you saw the video and thought: I KNEW IT, I don't want to sound boring, but it was the product of your own hang ups with her, a well crafted trap for people that do not believe in her growth and path to redemption (impossible redemption if you ask me, what she has done is unforgivable).

Your suggestion for her is not bad, sit there and be a good wife, other characters say that to her such as Anna and the pimp.
But will she be fine waking up having to look at the man you love and understand you damaged him forever?
Wouldn't you want to do something more active to repair the damage you have done? Lacey is not a patient person, like at all, zero patience.

If you think that resentment will help MC feel better about it all, you gameplay surely has it's merits, I have one too exactly as you do.
What I think tho, is that in act 1 Lacey had to be a good wife, shut the fuck up, suck the D and stop doing stupid shit.
In act 2 Lacey could have prepared an amusement park for him, let him have fun while being loyal and try to give him whatever she can, to atone, to repair and to trust.
She will atone by suffering as he did, because MC doesn't only suffer because she had sex with others, he suffers because he lost her, lacey will stay on the wooden horse with that lingering fear.

And the author said no forced sharing from now on so....you will be able to fuck someone in front of Lacey tho.

One thing I would like to see in act 3 which does require Lacey to be out and out honest , is for the MC to actually get to know the current her , like he has said his version of Lacey is essentially dead and that he's married to a stranger, so I'd like to see something like that progress , maybe an actual date or two between the MC and Lacey as I don't actually ever recall them going on proper dates

 

[DeviantFun]

One thing I would like to see in act 3 which does require Lacey to be out and out honest , is for the MC to actually get to know the current her , like he has said his version of Lacey is essentially dead and that he's married to a stranger, so I'd like to see something like that progress , maybe an actual date or two between the MC and Lacey as I don't actually ever recall them going on proper dates

MC is fully aware that she is not the Lacey he loved, she is sometimes, but he often complains that the current Lacey killed her.

In reality something different happened and it ties with what I really mean when I want to see her past uncovered fully.
You can't know the Lacey of now and she will forever be a smudged character until we know WHO killed the original Lacey.

Until she can't be fully honest with him, they will never know each other, no matter how much MC knows all the tricks to mget her out of her head or make her cum.

 

[AL.d]

Sure that narcissistic trait exist, but did Lacey ever lost control over MC? hell he is defending her in front of Dianne.
He is sure to be at fault every time, she speaks about her mistakes when he is not present, she tries to talk with Dianne by her own volition and wants Mc to listen.
She doesn't need to admit fault, MC has already lost.

Listen to words that could make her lose her grip and she is definitely scared to lose MC after the pimp wonderful revelations, she even tell his that he is too damaged because he doesn't find fault in her but only in himself.

Lacey's objective is for MC to recover some of the lost experiences of those 4 years, it is her repentance.
It is the only thing she can give him to try and fix the mess she made: make him feel wanted, worthy and remove the feelling of having lost years of carefree fun.

Is she manipulative in this? sure, she is scared shitless that someone will snatch him, in her conversations with Kelly she freely admits that she is half the woman Kelly is, she is just damaged goods, Kelly would be much better.

So, no, I don't think she is the same person, surely not the same person from college, like not in a million years, even just for the fact that she is not using K at every chance she has.

Being a better version of herself and reprogramming MC for the best (in her mind) are two parallel concepts, she is doing both and she is putting her ass on the line because as much as she can manipulate everyone (a bit of a silly plot point) nothing is really under her control, her best friend just staged a coup.

Like aside from our own feelings, I think there are clear indications in the whole story that Lacey is making some steps forward, will she fall again in act 3? For sure, the author will not let that sleep, I hope he doesn't honestly, but there will be ambiguity and some shock value stuff, probably related to the other side.

Remember when you saw the video and thought: I KNEW IT, I don't want to sound boring, but it was the product of your own hang ups with her, a well crafted trap for people that do not believe in her growth and path to redemption (impossible redemption if you ask me, what she has done is unforgivable).

Your suggestion for her is not bad, sit there and be a good wife, other characters say that to her such as Anna and the pimp.
But will she be fine waking up having to look at the man you love and understand you damaged him forever?
Wouldn't you want to do something more active to repair the damage you have done? Lacey is not a patient person, like at all, zero patience.

If you think that resentment will help MC feel better about it all, you gameplay surely has it's merits, I have one too exactly as you do.
What I think tho, is that in act 1 Lacey had to be a good wife, shut the fuck up, suck the D and stop doing stupid shit.
In act 2 Lacey could have prepared an amusement park for him, let him have fun while being loyal and try to give him whatever she can, to atone, to repair and to trust.
She will atone by suffering as he did, because MC doesn't only suffer because she had sex with others, he suffers because he lost her, lacey will stay on the wooden horse with that lingering fear.

And the author said no forced sharing from now on so....you will be able to fuck someone in front of Lacey tho.

I meant forced for MC not Lacey. Like Anna's scene for example.

What I think will make MC feel better about this, is him leaving that whole den of snakes behind him for good. But obviously that would be early game over, so I'm just biding my time.

Actually the moment the video showed love bombs for the fat old bastard, I knew it was fake. Before that part, it had gotten me.

 

[DeviantFun]

I meant forced for MC not Lacey. Like Anna's scene for example.

What I think will make MC feel better about this, is him leaving that whole den of snakes behind him for good. But obviously that would be early game over, so I'm just biding my time.

Actually the moment the video showed love bombs for the fat old bastard, I knew it was fake. Before that part, it had gotten me.

I understand.
By the way you know what I disliked the most about the Anna scene?

First, you can't say no.
Second, MC never kisses her and yet it is the best sex ever for her (it is not a one night stand in a club darkroom)
Third, he compares her to Lacey WITH LACEY

Yeah sorry Anna, since you haven't sucked a quadrillion dicks you are not as skilled at deepthroathing, so it was nothing special.
The girl can never win, dissed for her "poor" skills and then left behind for the trip to vegas.

MC is called an asshole for million normal things and then it is alll good when he is an actual asshole.

 

[Diosvincenccio]

until we know WHO killed the original Lacey

Lacey killed Lacey, lets not forget personal responsability here. She made every choice along the journey of this story. Now for college, you can say Mia handed her the gun and pointed her to the target.

I meant forced for MC not Lacey.

Yep, she even told MC, avoiding it its not gonna be an option, at least not the first time or with some characters. (The pimp seems to be the first in line, and comes with an extra intention, make her get past her trauma)

By the way you know what I disliked the most about the Anna scene?

Even worst, her special time is used as a way to calm down the MC, its not even for her own sake, its in a way another sacrifice she made.

 

[DeviantFun]

Lacey killed Lacey, lets not forget personal responsability here. She made every choice along the journey of this story. Now for college, you can say Mia handed her the gun and pointed her to the target.


Yep, she even told MC, avoiding it its not gonna be an option, at least not the first time or with some characters. (The pimp seems to be the first in line, and comes with an extra intention, make her get past her trauma)


Even worst, her special time is used as a way to calm down the MC, its not even for her own sake.

You misunderstand me, sure Lacey killed Lacey, but WHO is this Lacey?
Is it a suicide from original Lacey, is it phase 1 Lacey? is it terminal Lacey?
What did she do? when did MC became an afterthought? when her own self hatred prevail? Was she miserable as she says? was she having fun? both?

We need to know, at the moment we know a few scraps of information that is indicative but inconclusive cause if the contradicting information and gaslighting.

Anna sacrificed herself there for the man she loves, because deep down she knew that was exactly that, a bedwarmer to help him though the night.
She loved the D tho, I think she gave it a good review. (sorry)

 

[Diosvincenccio]

but WHO is this Lacey

For now a roleplay of a good wife.

The answer to your questions, YES. She loved him, lost herself in the "fun games" and worst, lost him. Then got a literal wake up call.

Is she the same one that loved him? (Child, before college) No. That one is gone.

Now she is recovering some pieces of her former self, but it will never be the inocent her again. Like the game said, diferent pieces of the puzle.

Does the new Lacey still love him?, sure, not more than everything but yes, she loves him. Is she capable of sacrifice for him? She says yes, but so far failed every oportunity to prove it.

Now act 2 reinforces the improvement over her college times, no, it dosent fix the damage on both of them, as nothing will, but it can create a path for the future, one where she actually shows that she loves him through actual effort. (Really, as fun they are to read, her magical fixes are really fucked up things to do)

In the future acts we can (i hope) see how she ditches all those magic plans, if Dianne or the therapyst can covince her, and see her put slow and steady love back in the table (The garden). That is what's gonna convince MC to trust her again. Her choosing effort, self restraint and conexion (Sex with attachments as idealogy for both of them) is whats gonna show that she ditched her past (college) self.

Edited for flagrant grammar mistakes.

 

[Lestrouduc]

For me, the biggest problem right now is Lacey's big secret. Indeed, after watching the passage from the Deep Fake video for the third time, I notice that Lacey is moving on to the narration, asking herself questions about being able to tolerate this other side, whether for her or for him, even if it means hiding the truth from him forever, if possible.

I don't think her "other side" is related to her binary behavior of good Lacey/bad Lacey. Mc already knows this; she's told her several times herself. I have no idea what it could be, but it's clear it must be very, very heavy, and when Mc finds out, it's going to be a huge drama. We might get more into it in Act 3 or later, but for now, it's going to be a real time bomb, with the fuse lit by Lacey herself because, once again, she's not being honest. I remind you that she's asking herself these questions before even knowing what's in this video, and she's already panicking before even seeing the "magic duo" Barty/Bernie. This thing will come back like a boomerang in her manipulative face but I'm afraid that once again there will be a whole bunch of stupid explanations from Lacey and her little gang.

 

[Player51]

I've really enjoyed the VN and been horrified, but I guess that's the show right.
I believe I know what Lacey's secret / other side is.

I'll put it into a spoiler so those that don't want to read don't have to, but I hope those really analyzing do.

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[DeviantFun]

I've really enjoyed the VN and been horrified, but I guess that's the show right.
I believe I know what Lacey's secret / other side is.

I'll put it into a spoiler so those that don't want to read don't have to, but I hope those really analyzing do.

Spoiler

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Some of the things you say are kind of already explored by the game.
We "know" Lacey was not enjoying the whole third phase, she would hurt most of the time.

The idea is not bad at all, I had one similar myself, all tied to her self hatred.

The issue with this is the punish path, Lacey tells MC that she liked when MC slapped her, so it is not exactly a deep and hidden secret.
The concept of self punishment / masochism would essentially overlap with this, even if punish act 2 is relatively tame.

So it might be that she wants to be hit, not only degraded, but the door for this was already open with the punish path and it would not make much sense narratively to backpedal.

We also know she is not performing self harm too.

For me, the biggest problem right now is Lacey's big secret. Indeed, after watching the passage from the Deep Fake video for the third time, I notice that Lacey is moving on to the narration, asking herself questions about being able to tolerate this other side, whether for her or for him, even if it means hiding the truth from him forever, if possible.

I don't think her "other side" is related to her binary behavior of good Lacey/bad Lacey. Mc already knows this; she's told her several times herself. I have no idea what it could be, but it's clear it must be very, very heavy, and when Mc finds out, it's going to be a huge drama. We might get more into it in Act 3 or later, but for now, it's going to be a real time bomb, with the fuse lit by Lacey herself because, once again, she's not being honest. I remind you that she's asking herself these questions before even knowing what's in this video, and she's already panicking before even seeing the "magic duo" Barty/Bernie. This thing will come back like a boomerang in her manipulative face but I'm afraid that once again there will be a whole bunch of stupid explanations from Lacey and her little gang.

You know, that is what I would have liked act 2 to be, Lacey growing but hiding this other side and MC trying to understand.
No big bads on the horizon, just the emotional damage.

I honestly hope that the other side is not sex related, even if my hopes are sort of low, her truma is very related to sexual stuff so the chances of the other side being something involving some sort of sex is high.

Considering how it is presented, it has to be heavy, very heavy and I hope we won't get a devolution to act 1 behaviour.

For now a roleplay of a good wife.

The answer to your questions, YES. She loved him, lost herself in the "fun games" and worst, lost him. Then got a literal wake up call.

Is she the same one that loved him? (Child, before college) No. That one is gone.

Now she is recovering some pieces of her former self, but it will never be the inocent her again. Like the game said, diferent pieces of the puzle.

Does the new Lacey still love him?, sure, not more than everything but yes, she loves him. Is she capable of sacrifice for him? She says yes, but so far failed every oportunity to prove it.

Now act 2 reinforces the improvement over her college times, no, it dosent fix the damage on both of them, as nothing will, but it can create a path for the future, one where she actually shows that she loves him through actual effort. (Really, as fun they are to read, her magical fixes are really fucked up things to do)

In the future acts we can (i hope) see how she ditches all those magic plans, if Dianne or the therapyst can covince her, and see her put slow and steady love back in the table (The garden). That is what's gonna convince MC to trust her again. Her choosing effort, self restraint and conexion (Sex with attachments as idealogy for both of them) is whats gonna show that she ditched her past (college) self.

Edited for flagrant grammar mistakes.

I agree with the first part, we kind of know all this, the problem is the how.
Ok drugs, ok self punishment, ok following the pimp.

But how all the other "fun" things materialize?

Where was the Lacey that spent her time crying listening to MC cuck song?

It doesn't add up with all of hers and with some of the pimp recounts.
MC needs to heal and to do so, he can't heal over false premises, because if anything came up that woulld shake those premises, we would be at square one, wounds open and gashing again.

Lacey definitely loves him to an unhealthy extent, but one thing that we could speculate comes from the other side lines of dialogue.

L "I don't really know how to make all of you understand this."
L "There's this other side to me."
L "Maybe Mia gets it? But maybe not."
L "I'm not happy or proud of it."
L "And it's not... healthy."
L "I've got so much trauma, so much pain."
L "And the only thing that kept it in check was [MCFirst]."
L "When I left him to go to school..."
A "Abandoned."
L "What?"
A "You didn't leave him."
A "You abandoned him."
L "(sigh)"
L "When I abandoned him to go to school, to try and stand on my own,"
L "all that pain just became a constant battle to try and keep at bay."

and

LN "There are pieces of me he's not ready to face."
LN "There are pieces of me that I'm not ready to face."
LN "There are two things that bind me to him."
LN "My undying love and the debt I can never repay."
LN "Even if the unthinkable happened and I somehow fell out of love."
LN "The debt still holds me to his side."
LN "I can never leave him."
LN "He already has to share me."
LN "He has to share me with my past, my addiction, my brain damage."
LN "And without knowing it, he has to share me with my other side."
LN "But he's not ready for that."
LN "He just isn't."
LN "A couple times I almost broke down and told him."
LN "But I can't risk him finding out before he's ready."
LN "Or maybe he'll never be ready. Then what?"
LN "Somehow make sure he never finds out?"
LN "I don't think I can hide it forever."

So, at the beginning, for two years she used alcohol and K to keep this other side at bay.
Was the sex another way to hold everything together?
If so, half of the explanations from Lacey are fallse or half truths again, even those that don't make her look good.

The second dialogue is grim and probably gives us a hint of some sort of bad end.
Lacey doesn't love Mc anymore but she is bound to him and will suffer forever obeying his desires that hurt her over and over.

If you mix the first and second dialogue it is clear that Lacey depends on MC not only for love or gratitude, there is a deeper dependency, which was the point that many of us made.
But it is not really outlined perfectly, just hinted at.

 

[Lestrouduc]

Some of the things you say are kind of already explored by the game.
We "know" Lacey was not enjoying the whole third phase, she would hurt most of the time.

The idea is not bad at all, I had one similar myself, all tied to her self hatred.

The issue with this is the punish path, Lacey tells MC that she liked when MC slapped her, so it is not exactly a deep and hidden secret.
The concept of self punishment / masochism would essentially overlap with this, even if punish act 2 is relatively tame.

So it might be that she wants to be hit, not only degraded, but the door for this was already open with the punish path and it would not make much sense narratively to backpedal.

We also know she is not performing self harm too.




You know, that is what I would have liked act 2 to be, Lacey growing but hiding this other side and MC trying to understand.
No big bads on the horizon, just the emotional damage.

I honestly hope that the other side is not sex related, even if my hopes are sort of low, her truma is very related to sexual stuff so the chances of the other side being something involving some sort of sex is high.

Considering how it is presented, it has to be heavy, very heavy and I hope we won't get a devolution to act 1 behaviour.

So if it's sex-related, there's no reason to hide it from her husband... unless it's sex-related, which she can't do without other men, like the Damian thing. But that would contradict the fact that she doesn't want to be shared with other men. Wow, all this confuses me even more, but if it's really sex-related, then I can only see one reason she wants to hide it so badly: starting over with other guys at random, whether in front of her husband (like Damian) or behind his back (pure Jared-style cheating).