Just finished up this update, and it reminds me a lot of the last update to Ripples:
- Pretty much the whole update is the party
- Lots of sexy time at the party
- Complaints that nothing plot-related happened at the party and/or that it's "filler"
- Lots of character development at the party
Unlike in Ripples, the party's still going at the end of the episode, though I get the feeling it's winding down.
I don't know at this point what's up with the "fact acquired" stuff--the only one I used was the photo of Hugo with his friend, and then there were more afterward. Seems kind of pointless, but maybe it will make more sense in Ep. 3.
As with Ripples, I don't agree that this is filler. Yeah, it isn't a lot of direct plot movement, but something big happens in the form of Clement. Even leaving aside what appears to happen to him at the end (and that cliffhangers are often misleading), he has a pretty good idea what's going on with MC--better than MC does, to all indications. MC suspects, and I agree with him, that he, Clement, and Lilian are alike in this regard. This still leaves a lot of questions, but it's one of few clues/leads we have in the "what happened to MC?" mystery.
But mainly, this was a chance to get more into many of the characters. And yes, even applying porn logic, it felt like we moved awfully fast (sexually) with, well, most of the characters. But...
Vineeta:
- As before, she has no filter.
- She's figured out that both Chloe and Grace are into MC
- No surprise at all with Chloe; when we first meet Vineeta at the school we learn that Chloe's been gushing about MC to her for years
- Apparently bet Chloe that MC and Chloe would kiss (was this just at the party? Or at all?)
- Grace is a bit more of a surprise, but I guess the incident after the swim meet was a clue. Grace isn't exactly subtle, but it didn't seem like Vineeta had known her very long.
- Almost seemed like she was stirring the shit on the phone with Grace--trying to get Grace and Chloe in competition. But I think it was more a matter of trying to motivate Grace to do something.
Grace:
- I know the "approved" answer was that she looked badass in her dress, and she did, but she also looked hot. Like, really hot.
- Chloe's shot of Grace with the rifle turns "badass and smoking hot" up to 11.
- Loved her and MC finally being honest with each other. And that MC was the first one to say it.
- More than a little surprised she's OK sharing MC, to the point of mentioning it unprompted--though she knows Cadence is there, even if she didn't know Cadence and MC were already messing around. But she doesn't yet know she'll be sharing him with her mom and sister(s?).
- My LI ranking relies heavily on the relationship between MC and the LI; this may have Grace threatening Stella's #1 spot in my book.
- Grace checks a lot of my blocks. Friends-to-lovers? Check. Childhood friend? Check. Years-long crush resolved? Check. And it was pretty obvious from the outset that it was going to happen, but now it has. One thing I think is holding me back is that it's so sudden on MC's part--physicial or sexual attraction is evident in the locker room after the swim meet, but I don't recall seeing that he's romantically interested in her until he says so. But still, "they're in love with each other" is a really big point in her favor.
- Incidentally, this is one of the places where I think this game's default to humor hurts the story a bit. MC says he loves her, says all these great things about her, and then says he's been in love with her since five minutes ago.
- OTOH, Stella's just so cute. Yes, she looks cute, but she also acts so cute. And literally everyone--Noelle, Chloe, Cadence, Ronald, Big Kelley, hell, even the photographer at the college--already thinks they're together, or at least that Stella's into MC. MC even thinks Stella's texting him like a girlfriend. The mutual attraction is obvious, and MC's attraction to her is clear pretty much from the time he meets her. Stella's hesitant "I think you're starting to become someone who's special to me," and MC's equally hesitant response, feel a bit more "real" to me than MC's confession to Grace, I think.
Chloe:
- I know it isn't really her look, but "dolled-up for the party" Chloe looked great, beautiful, and sexy, though not quite so overtly sexy as Grace or Miya.
- Interesting--and entirely believable--that she and Grace each look to the other as more attractive.
- We didn't get quite as far in terms of relationship as we did with Grace, but still big steps.
- But she couldn't wait ten minutes to call Vineeta and let her know they'd kissed. Her words to MC were reserved, but she was more excited than she let on.
Miya:
- So we took out the incest, but Miya has a massive mommy kink. Fair trade, I guess.
- I'm not sure at this point if she's really into MC, if she just wants specifically him sexually, or if she's just horny and he's an available dick.
- She obviously cares for MC a great deal, but it isn't clear (to me, at least) whether she's romantically interested in him. What I'm seeing in her lines sounds like it's more about the sex than about being in love with him (or anything in that direction).
- MC's finally been honest with someone about his situation. Well, mostly honest. He's right about his relationship with magic, but he stops short of admitting that he's alien to this world. And even though it does feel like he has the same relationships with Miya and the girls as he had before, it still isn't him. Whether he's traveled to a different world, the world's changed around him, or something else is unknown at this point.
- When he wakes up with Noelle next to him, he's doing the "magic thingy" like (she says) he always does--magnetism, which attracts her earrings. Our MC knows perfectly well he's never done this before.
- The Greg/Christ thing (which makes me wonder if Gary is a MST3k fan). That isn't anything to do with magic, it's just the lore of this world.
- Like Grace, Miya offers on her own to share MC. Of course, Miya knows MC and Cadence have been messing around--she may think she couldn't "win" against Cadence, so sharing is the next best thing.
- She can't not know how Grace feels about MC, and most likely knows how Chloe feels as well--she is their mom, after all, and Grace is about as subtle as a heart attack. With Chloe being more reclusive, it's possible Miya hasn't noticed with her. Don't know how she feels (or if she's even thought) about sharing MC with her daughters.
Cadence:
- She doesn't appear in this update at all, but dialogue with Grace, and internal monologue while with Miya, give a window into MC's feelings about her and their relationship.
- I've been kind of unclear and/or conflicted about their relationship, and it looks like MC's even more so.
- I think at some point you have to trust that she's telling the truth. She says she's very happy, and she has every reason to be--life with MC is an upgrade in every way from life with Lilian. Sure, Miya doesn't have Lilian's wealth, but she's willing to spend it on decent accommodations for Cadence.
- Likewise, I think we have to trust that she genuinely likes MC, though in what way is a little unclear. At a minimum, she appreciates what she understands as his rescuing her.
- So what about the blowjobs?
- Is it "just what slaves do"? I think that's MC's big concern, but he likes the blowjobs, so he keeps going back despite feeling that he's taking advantage of her.
- Is it simple gratitude? She seems to suggest this when she first offers. The suggestion here is that she doesn't have any particular desire to blow MC, but she's happy to do it out of gratitude for being rescued.
- Is she actually into MC?
- And, of course, her motivations can change.
- FWIW, I don't think it's simply, or even mostly, a sense of obligation as a slave. But between gratitude and attraction to MC, I don't know.
- Grace has good advice here, of course. Hopefully MC will take it and talk it out with Cadence.
