Hi to all!
Weiter gehts! (Let us continue)
Kathleen: Oh Kath, a really nice antagonist for our MC. A functional psychopath and sadist, sophisticated (for someone scoring 10+ points on the "Hare list") and in a save position. Not someone to take lightly. Especially since we learn she has played her "games" for far longer than PC exists, using and abusing her charities and enterprises.
A welldone and rounded antagonist, since she also loves her husband as far as an empathyless sadist can love, but her biggest problem are not the MC or Ian. It is her own hungry antisocial tendencies. She has been successful with her schemes and shielded from consequences for so long that she becomes careless. Those knowing her well can recognise this, for example August does. He mentions to Otto that both Kath and Chuck´s "peculiarities" are getting stronger and hints at the possibility that their mental disorders are beginning to win.
I agree with this assessment, because Kath´s plan to take over the PC club is textbook antisocial, psychopathic behaviour. Even when everything runs smoothly in their favour, many psychopaths still want to inflict more hurt, gain more power and thrill.
Kath knows her planned revolt has only a chance to succeed with more support, so she gained help from Abel and Sophia. I find it poetic irony that Kath in her greed for power completely overlooks that Abel and Sophia´s plans for the PC club do not include her at all and that the two doctors will kick her out as well. To top it off, Abel himself warned, if convoluted and cryptic, Kath twice early in the game, if she was truly sure to do her revolt.
Inviting Elias into the club is another sign that Kath is starting to overplay her hand.
Abel: I am really interested what Abel van Doren´s story with the Club is, beside "helping" Kath. He loaths the PC leaders, most of it´s members and works towards said leadership´s downfall, esp. Chuck´s downfall. Testing Sophia´s sex drug is a joke, the 2 doctors have access to topnotch black ops labs with far less risks than testing it in the PC club. Able is a humanitarian, several examples are mentioned over the run of the game. An in-game example is when Abel wins a bet, he gives the money to Hana, who can donate it to a charity of her chosing. Something other members would never do.
Considering his special loathing of Chuck, as I wrote in earlier posts, I think Abel being in the club has either a deeply personal reason, maybe one of the women Chuck broke/killed was a relative or he might be a punchclock villain. Abel and his protege Sophia stick out terribly, being alone or in very small groupings most of the time. He does not really partake in the Club. That this does not arouse more suspicion is in my opinion the fact that most members concentrate on their fun and that Abel sometimes showboats, e.g. his offer of Sophia to Chuck. Which was not a real offer, Abel knew that Chuck has a deep-seated need to win something first before he can enjoy it.
Sophia was never in danger in that case. It also shows how well Abel and Sophia are informed on the people in the PC club. They know e.g. Hana´s situation with her mom, Chuck´s pathological need to win, Kath´s nasty disposition and how to use it for their own gain, a lot of the skeletons in the cellar, our hero´s situation and some things more.
It might be due to English being a second language for me so I read more into it than it means, but in one early scene it seemed to me that Abel knows our MC from a distance.
I theorise going to Abel and Sophia for help e.g. with Grace will bring him wholly on their side with the old Club later either dismantled and/or continuing on under new managment. It could be both since we know so few things about Abel´s motives.
More when I have time.
