I mentioned this as well. With what we know of Kira, would that have worked? Wouldn't her twin know this? What would Pearl have done if Kira had lost and refused to leave?
She did not have any plan further, chasing Kira away was not a fully developed plan either because she was not even sure her father would believe her.
While their methods were different, what Pearl did wasn't that different from what Selena did. Pearl was putting her sister's wellbeing over that of Eliza & the MC. In Selena's case, the MC could've murdered her sister in cold blood to get even. Pearl doesn't even get an angry look.
You can choose the angry path, then not follow after her. She literally said she did not deserves MC's forgiveness and if MC does not follow her, that will be considered he kinda agrees on that.
You don't sense a certain imbalance there?
I honestly don't. It would be more or less my reaction to those situations. I think, which I mentioned before, the biggest difference is putting someone under active danger and passive danger through consequences of your actions. Selena actively sought to become friends with MC and Eliza, even the quest was a sham. So that makes their meeting was malicious from the start. Pearl and Kira's meet with MC was natural. MC needed a ship, they could provide, so they met. Then, Selena became their friend by the order of Taron, that was fake too. There is a possibility she felt real friendship through the process but her friendship was fake. Pearl and Kira's friendship was not fake, they did not even wanted to become one at the beginning. MC was only a debt getting paid back. Then, Selena lured Eliza by herself, taking active part then took part in kidnapping, so Taron could lure MC too. Pearl did not involved with Chalice search at all. Also, she did not put MC or Eliza in any sort of danger. She just stole an artifact. We don't know the depths of MC and Pearl talks but as far as we know he stated an artifact that can help someone back at home. No more details there. MC might even be lying about it as far as Pearl knew, maybe he was treasure hunting and lying to them about the treasure. So, Selena was aware of the consequences while it was ambiguous for Pearl. If MC could not find it, there was not going to be any betrayal. Next, Selena's gloating at the cell. She even said neither MC nor Eliza was going to survive, which meant she was aware of the danger she was putting them in. You can soften it all you want by assuming things about her but the action stands. Pearl was regretful and apologetic about the whole situation. When MC confronted Selena and later Eliza, she was basically implied she was ready to everything again. While, Pearl owned her mistakes and said she should have chosen different path. Cherry on top, Selena was assuming their forgiveness while Pearl said she did not deserve any forgiveness. Let's not forget, Selena called Eliza a bitch because Eliza was angry when she was sniffing around the place they were staying.
All in all, Selena brought the situation to MC and Eliza, so she could benefitted from their misery. While, Pearl had to take an action to a situation that brought to her by MC. To top that, MC was the one helping to Selena while Pearl was the one helping MC. So, even their power dynamic were different.
All of this has no bearing on how the MC should feel about the chalice getting stolen by someone he trusted.
He's at this island because it's said to contain the only artifact able to heal Eliza. And Pearl steals it, dooming Eliza to never walk again.
He's at that island because he feels he failed to keep Eliza safe, that he's responsible... That getting her to walk again would absolve him. It would be his every right to be furious with Pearl.
This part is not exactly wrong but you are missing a few crucial points. First of all, Selena left both MC and Eliza's faith into hands of Taron. As Dalen said they could have died there. While in other case, Eliza's life was not in danger. Chalice was a long shot from the start and after the vampire talk, MC was not even sure it was the way. So not the same type of danger, nor the same type of actions.
Secondly, MC's immediate response can be anger. It's left to players to choose. Then, he has enough time to cool down and think about it calmly, so when they met enough time has already passed him to make logical decisions. Same goes for Selena btw, MC could have choose to spare them and even allow her to repair what she has broken. I never choose that, because I don't think she deserves it but still, it's up to players there.
Finally, there is sort of additional factors there. At the betrayal points. MC has no relationship with Samarah, so Eliza got hurt because of a stranger. He has either romantic or friendly relationship with Kira, so Pearl's betrayal meant Eliza's cure was in danger because of wellbeing of someone he likes.
That's fair. But should that mean that all is forgiven? That the trust that was lost is entirely gained back?
Would the MC who murdered Selena's sister just let it go? Or would a guy like that want something to hold over Pearl to make sure she'll never betray him again?
Now, we do agree on this point. I think Selena's betrayal and how he handled is mishandled by the dev. Even on dark path, MC would not punish an entirely innocent person to make a point. There are indications for that. Also, as I see it MC is kinda forgiving person, even on dark path. So, him forgiving Pearl and even understand her actions is within his character. But when you put Samarah's murder there, you need to create a darker path from there. Because up until there, MC, even if you choose all the dark paths, still is a nice guy. So, MC should have had darker personality and should not be that forgiving, if players chose the neckbreaker path.
This is an aspect of this game's writing that I don't really enjoy either. For some reason, every LI has to be pure. None of the women have ever been with a man, except for the MILF who says she only had sex once in her life. It's ridiculous how this world is filled with 20 y/o virgins. Even that sex-craving Brenda-chick went out of her way to say that she's only been with her toys.
Dude, same there. I understand Kira and Pearl being virgin, they are captains and daugthers of Blackbeard but what about Kelly? She was easy going, a little gullible, was into romance and docks and seas are never lacking people who would take advantage of that. Her mother's case was more terrible, why was nothing going on for her for a long while? As far as we know, she is not the loyal type. Some do make sense. Eliza, Alice, Luna, up to a point Kira and Pearl but some others not at all.
Though, I have a headcanon for MC's charm. It came from his father. So, his angel side creates an aura to fall women for him. I would suggest how his mom became giddy after she met the angel. Still though, it lowers the value of the story by making story unbelievable. I know it does not have the greatest writing but the story is interesting enough, so I would not want this in this story.