I think some people here missed the plot completely.
Painting what Lacey was doing as being "promiscuous" as she was a girl that had a couple of hookups here and there is really an unhinged take.
She was in a self hate and self destructive loop that is clearly psychopathlogical.
And she did know that she was destroying any sort of chances to ger back with MC (read end of phase 3) and she did know she was hurting MC, because they were supposed to be together etc (in act1 it is actually kind of hinted that they were a kind of couple).
Now, how can someone read MC as misoginistic in one of the most womancentric novel that was ever written is beyond any sort of rational thinking.
Mc is shown as caring, hurt, kind and very emotional, and not once offers judgement over people sex lives if they do not infronge on his feelings (Lacey) or his morals about maeriages (act 3).
Not only that he literally forgives anyone that slights him and literally provides no consequences to any woman, no matter the level of betrayal he is subjected to (Mia, Anna, Veronica , Christine ,Abby , Jeanette, Kelly).
In fact, this is so underlined, that it seems that MC is the only character that has no right to his feelings.
Even Isaac does ffs.
Now that we cleared some air, there are a few actually interesting points about the game.
Lacey and the other side:
In the "tennis morning" Lacey acts very cruelly with MC, which is then explained with her taking K, at that time, I just thought it was another magical drug moment, but it could also be Lacey lying to MC (about the drug effect) and the other side showing.
In act 2 it is clear Lacey still wants to keep that hidden.
Same thing with Bastion, Lacey is obviously very in control and acts very cruelly again.
She says that the k did not disassociate her because "MC made sex pleasurable" which, sorry, but it is obviously bs.
It coukd have been the other side influence again.
I am not a great fan of the mpd or did angle, but it definitely can give us several explanation to some things that were, at first glance, forced drama.
What gives me the creeps is the dialogue in the anniversary dinner.
She states that she had to reinvent herself and went with being a good person because that was what MC wamted.
I am a bit confused by that, and it strips Lacey a bit (even in other games she is described as a good egg).
I mean she was able to become a "sister" to Anna in one year of keeping in touch, care about Mia a great deal (substitute MC?).
She clearly feels bad for Isaac and I think Lorenzo.
And she is also pretty naive with Jared (unless you go with the full "she knew what she was doing" angle).
She is very weak to complimemts (this is not a good trait per se) and is actualky gentle in her flirting up until act 3.
So, was it all a ploy? I definitely do not think so, but I have a hard time reconciling her words there with act 1 and act 2 if that is not the case.
Unless, again, all the bad stuff she did was her outting down the mask.
Was Lacey never sweet or caring?
I do not mind the angle of "I will be shatever you want me to be" but the imolied deception towards MC definitely does.
Maybe we can chalk up all the horrible vegas arc to the other side too that came out with the loss of inhibitions (I mean she gets a crush on a guy in act 1 because he looks like MC and then goes full on trailer trash with Emilio), but I don't see it honestky.
So any opinions on these topics aside from "rewrite Vegas"?
Edit: we can chalk up the smiling pictures to OS as well? K was not involved, so maybe the smiles are meant for something else?
Can we also chalk the last hurrah as such, I think it fits perfectly, the OS is very degrading towards her and "likes" K and her self hate....this one makes a lot of sense to me.
What about Isaac last fuck after the call? I can see her spiral and despair with a huge flare up of the OS.
What I cannot reconcile again is the "I am doing it for him" stuff that she says whike crying listening to the happy bday song, but there is, if prof wants, definitely an explanation. (Which could also depend on which phase we are looking at)