Speaking of the love path I doubt this would happen but would be great if there is a way to go from being in a throuple to a NTS path while being in a throuple.
This.
Don't want to turn it into an argument on whether it was or wasn't, factually, a humiliating experience for John. Point is, it would have taken very little for the author to have made it a scene to feel good about. All it would take would be for John to be excited about Claire's readiness to be a slut, respond to the challenge, tell Marie why don't we show them they're not the only ones who can have fun - or whatever, show that he was absolutely enjoying it. Would it have been too much if Claire could have been a slut FOR JOHN, Kat style? I wanted to avoid comparisons but... failed.
Also don't really care about Marie either, as a side-character, and I'm not saying John should have objectified her by making it a competition (whether with Paul or Claire) but if he really was excited to see Claire being a slut, he would have been hard for it and could have really fucked Marie. Instead, she pampered him as if she was consoling a disappointed child. The author made a point to show us she didn't even cum (while Paul made Claire squirt and borderline pass out); never once did Marie tell John how good it was for HER; she was treating him like a MILF to a virgin boy but couldn't even help boosting his confidence. In the end, she tells him that Paul is like that, takes what he wants, women go crazy about it, don't overthink it. In other words, it's the same old alpha/beta trope.
It was pure kinetic trash. I want to watch Claire. not be forced to fuck some useless side chick.
I wish I could enjoy the game by just focusing on Claire being a slut, but there's a reason I don't play NTR. Can't go over the fact that you're seeing John's perspective most of the time, he IS the main character, and he got completely played there. Maybe I should play a few female protagonist slut games to get a thicker skin for partners being trampled on.
In the scene with Damien, Claire was in control. Even if she cheated, Damien wasn't the agent, he was just taking what was given. In the "swinging" scene, Paul orchestrated and profited at the expense of John (and Marie? She wasn't thrilled either). Claire wasn't in control, she was "taken". Adding to the little things, this is something I hate. Viscerally. May have been just for an hour, but during that time, Paul stole Claire and gloated about it. I guess the author would count it as a success having triggered deep emotions of jealousy, dread and helplessness, but isn't that what NTR games are about? If this scene is to remain in the other paths LIKE THIS, it's not going to please (all) those who are in it for sharing instead.
Again, all it would take would be for John to man up to the moment, in whichever way, and it would be really easy to focus on Claire being a slut. Instead, it makes it's reinforcing a vibe from the aftermath of the Damien episode, where John was clearly excited but then Claire was dominant and took complete control. This time, there's no fuck before sleep - biologically understandable, but still reinforces a narrative where John is increasingly passive.
Don't take this as an attempt to sell my view as the ultimate truth. It would actually be nice to get the author's own view on how the scene was intended to play, but ofc we won't get that. I can't stand MC passivity or the dynamics of little (or loss of) confidence. Claire with some Kat vibes would be a dream Claire. Or the problem my lie entirely on John being too passive.
Vented too much yesterday, but it seems like I still have some venting in me LOL