I usually share your opinions mostly but this time i disagree. I think the development of the MC/Allie relationship is completly fine, we have to consider that just a few days passed at all since they really started to reconnect.
Allison being already asleep didnt really mattered imo in this case as both have already confirmed that they feel/felt like that, to other people and even to each other (at the ball for example), it was more about the MC realising it himself.
And i dont consider allison being aroused around the MC as character regression, she wasnt just eager for his cock, she is and was eager to share all these things together. Being the one who sits up front in deliah, being the one waking up in his arms and yeah of course being the one having sex with him. Its all part of the same thing: A life together.
Its kinda obvious that she never stopped wanting this and felt forced to divorce the MC, i think the possibility of the two of them breaking up simply never crossed her mind even when their relationship was bad.
And really the evening/night just after you had this future-deciding conference where you have been standing and talking all day long, isnt really the best time to have a deep emotional conversation about the past and future.
I think when being back home and esp after receiving the good information about lily's health is a way better opportunity for that.
It's obviously a matter of interpretation, but to me Allison made a much bigger leap of faith when she invited the MC over for dinner after teaming up with him for the banquet. By that point she'd clearly recognized her conflicting feelings and made some level of peace with them. Hell, even when Allison wakes up with the MC cuddling her, she just thinks about how much she enjoys it rather than assuming the MC is pulling something, so clearly she's not blindsided by her feelings.
Given that, you'd think she or the MC would at least acknowledge the elephant in the room, but neither does so. Instead they keep acting surprised when the other DOESN'T lash out at them, despite that being the norm in their relationship since the game started. I know the game has only been short time relative to their backstories, but it's been a very memorable time. That makes it feels like we're stuck going in circles rather than actually moving forward (however slowly).
In that context, focusing on Allison's libido was exactly the wrong move IMHO. First, because I don't buy it. If Allison hasn't started to come around on the MC, I don't think she'd be attracted to him in the slightest no matter how horny she was; if anything, she'd have taken any lingering sexual frustration out on the MC for groping her. Even if she had started coming around on the MC enough to feel aroused, she wouldn't stick around in bed enjoying the sensation. She'd get up and fret about how to handle these feelings - from a safe distance.
Second, I worry this is going to be used as an excuse for Allison to start getting lewd scenes with the MC without them getting back together, and that would probably kill her character for me. I get that it's not much fun having to turn down most of the game to solo Allison, but I really think that's what the circumstances demand. Allison's LI path needs to be focused on rebuilding the emotions and trust the two used to have to the exclusion of all else; trying to sexualize things before that should be a surefire ticket to the MC cheating on her again.
I see some people have already complained about Allison going topless and in general I agree that it feels out of character for her. I get that Allison has a wild side, but this isn't a spring break beach in Cancun, it's a business conference. Going topless here is just plain unprofessional, and Allison has always struck me as someone who understands the difference between work and play. Combine that scene with her bizarre reaction to the MC's boner and the inability for either character to discuss the real issues and I get frustrated. And a little nervous.
Its kind of the same like my answer to the first point but he got this money like 40 hours or something ago and had to prepare for the conference, there just wasnt really enough time (or at least its plausible that there may have not been time).
I think this will feels less confusing after the next episode is released and were playing it in one go.
I guess, but how long does it take to swing by the institute and fund the next level of care? You can't tell me Cooper would be offended if the MC missed the cookout for that.
But even if the MC didn't have time or doesn't need more payments at the moment, the game needs to do a better job of explaining this. The
overriding goal of the story has been to get money for Lily's treatment. The plot suddenly hands the MC a giant stack of cash and Cooper says to take care of Lily... then we proceed to spend the whole update doing everything but that. It's a really weird writing choice.
Something else i not really noticed since i did a new playthrough just now, Allison started to wear her wedding ring again since the ball if the mc takes her with him which is kinda funny.
Given the giant blue gemstone, I'd assumed that was just a ring Allison wears in place of the wedding ring in formal settings, either to snub the MC a little more, or to discourage would-be paramours. Or both.
Also, she isn't wearing the ring when the MC picks her up, but she is when he wakes her up at the hotel, then she isn't again in the lobby. Maybe she just likes to fidget with it?
