Infamous if (band wip) chap 3 (457k wrds) released (9/08/2024)

[Radiantbliss]

This conversation sure is something though. Keeps going round and round. I will point out in other IFs when an RO was checking the MC out, people got upset and accused them of leering and being creepy. There is just no winning. People flirt with the MC, people mad. People don’t flirt with the mc, people mad. Just kind of funny.
But ROs do react positively to the MC as do other characters and bands. All except Seven. Because Seven is Seven. Seven is a little grumpy gremlin. Determined to be grumpy and unhappy, which…sounds familiar.
I kind of like that the story lets you play “nice” but nice=/=everyone is going to like you immediately.

@Vayu

What’s the point of being the Main character then?

I think the comment is more that it is nice that there are characters whose universe doesn’t revolve around the MC. They are people too. They have their own personalities and agendas separate of the MC. They don’t exist just to make the MC/reader feel good/bad. They are actively part of the story regardless of whether they are romanced or not. They are more than just “relationship puppets” to throw nice tokens into in order to get a relationship. Proof of that one is, not all the nice options (especially with Seven) are the higher approval options. Which feels more natural and organic for characters.

[EvilChani]

@notapretzel

Sebastian flirts with the mc during the bar scene, he’s awkward about it but is still flirting the “you come here often” line. G flirts with the mc during their solo scene after the band is announced as the winner, “are you in love with me already?” an the mc can flirt back. If you choose to hug August during the photoshoot they say they don’t mind the physical contact because it’s you. Dakota, the casual hookup during the party, also flirts with you. You might not like these ro, but that doesn’ mean that no one is flirting with the mc.

Sebastian in the bar: I didn’t really think that was flirting. It seemed like a genuine question that the MC twisted into flirting. He was definitely awkward, so maybe that’s why it came off as not flirty to me. He did kind of check out the MC, but that was the closest anyone has come to doing so.

G’s comment: I think that was more about G’s ego than flirting. They’re used to having everyone fawn all over them.

August: I did notice that comment, but wasn’t sure if it was flirting or August just being nice, because they’re really nice.

Dakota: A lot of drunk people will try to fuck anything, and that’s kinda the vibe I got from Dakota (which is one reason my MC said no). An old friend of mine has a (really horrible) saying: “They all look the same in the dark.”

I’ll give you Dakota, though. Sebastian is iffy, but okay. G doesn’t count because of ulterior motives and I don’t think August is flirting (they’d probably say the same to their sister). So, okay, a drunk dude flirted and maybe the socially awkward dad. Only one of them is a RO, so yay! One out of four actually halfway flirted back!

@Radiantbliss

I will point out in other IFs when an RO was checking the MC out, people got upset and accused them of leering and being creepy.

Not I. I am extremely tired of games where the MC has to all but hump the RO’s leg and put up with being spat on until the RO decides, at the end, to give the MC the time of day. I’ve never understood why people think it’s creepy for someone to actually show interest.

@Radiantbliss

But ROs do react positively to the MC as do other characters and bands.

When do the male ROs act positively to the MC? Ignoring their interest isn’t positive, so Orion is out. Blake hates the MC. Seven hates the MC. G is not only married and in love with his wife (obvious from the diner scene, even if they do bicker), but is only interested in using the MC against Blake. Sebastian isn’t hateful, but the last conversation with him made my MC feel like a creep for giving Maya attention, so she’s backing off of that. And that’s the end of the barrel of male ROs.

@Radiantbliss

more that it is nice that there are characters whose universe doesn’t revolve around the MC.

I think there’s a stark difference between “not revolving around the MC” and the MC being a pariah, which they kind of are, at this point. Characters could actually like the MC, or at least be decent to them (without obviously using them as G is doing) and still not “revolve” around them.

I’m almost getting Night Market vibes from that comment, where the MC is just a vehicle for telling everyone else’s story, doesn’t matter to any of the actual characters, and basically doesn’t matter at all in the story.

[Anarore_Kriptih]

No, really, this is a lot of bad faith here and just creating a problem out of nothing. Yes, ROs don’t want to fling themselves at us in the first five minutes of meeting us, doesn’t mean that the MC is ugly or that ROs will stay that way forever. We barely met all of the available options (the photographer being the last), chill, people.

[Radiantbliss]

My dude, people have literally pointed out to you positivity. You just don’t see it. It doesn’t register for you. G may be married, and a tool, but they genuinely think MC is talented and find them attractive. idk. Are you expecting characters to scream I THINK YOUR HOT? Seb has a cheesy pick up line. How is that not hitting on the MC? He’s an awkward single Dad talking to a person at a bar that he is there with his daughter. He’s not smooth. At all. But he’s shown interest. Orion, well, he is busy trying to be a professional. Which makes sense. He is the manager. It’s bad optics to be flirting with MC. Especially since he just asked for them to take on a more leadership role with the band. Makes it look like favoritism and makes MC look bad like they are trying to sleep their way for favor. And Orion is very obvious a staunch personality where professionalism is key. So it’s trying to work through that barrier. Blake isn’t an RO. I don’t count them, but it wouldn’t make any sense at all to go from hate and suspicion to interest in a matter of days.

It just comes off the expectation of “I flirted with you a couple times you owe me immediate returned interest” while ignoring key parts of their characters that may be things your character and them need to work through.

Also love the Night Market. Unapologetically so. You don’t. shrug Love the story. Love the characters. To each their own. But it’s funny since the MC is very literally the core of the entire story when you finally figure it all out.

[zhirzzh]

Sebastian literally says “So, you come here often?” After the narration says he is out of place at the bar, but fully smiles when talking to you. It is literally the most archetypical flirting scene possible, with the most overdone line in the book.

[agraysparrow]

He does also backpedal immediately. I do think he didn’t mean it flirtatiously, I think he genuinely was curious about the MC.

Like, highlights his more innocent golden retriever disposition than anything flirty, at least to me

[Eiwynn]

@Radiantbliss

This conversation sure is something though. Keeps going round and round.

So far, in my opinion, it has been productive with various people throwing in their two cents.

I really hope the fans of this work will know when to pull back from discussing something and when to engage.

Restating that you think Seven is a narcissist for the 100th time in response to another stating Seven is a Tesundre for the 500th time really does not help the author.

@EvilChani

Sebastian in the bar: I didn’t really think that was flirting.

Sebastian seems to me to be the clueless (perhaps asexual – please keep in mind I do not believe all asexual people are clueless) type of guy that wouldn’t know flirting (either initiated by him or the other party) if his daughter spells it out for him (which she kinda does)

I sort of view any relationship with him as him + his daughter, even though she is supossed to be 18 and a college freshman, I still get the vibes of 16/17 for her, especially in her familial relationship.

For my initial complete run, I feel Victoria is the best romance, because she really gives off the 90’s supermodel hookup vibe that is so lovingly toxic.

I do hope @radicallytamed comes in and engages with the community here. I feel doing so would help her take this project to the next level.

[batmansrobin]

I am glad someone else finds it overall productive! I like this WIP and have been keeping an eye on the thread. I personally think it’s useful feedback if there’s division in places where it was or wasn’t the author’s intent.

[EvilChani]

@Anarore_Kriptih

Yes, ROs don’t want to fling themselves at us in the first five minutes of meeting us,

I don’t think anyone expects the ROs to fling themselves at the MC (especially Seven, who freaking hates the MC). What we’re saying is that we’d like some sort of positive reaction in lieu of the nothing but negative reactions.

This is an issue that I’ve seen in a lot of games lately, though. For some, it may not be an issue, but for myself and others, it is a big issue and ends up making the MC feel like a doormat.

When the only vibes you can get from the ROs is dismissive, negative, or downright murderous, with everything happening to the MC with no ability for the MC to affect their own destiny, it stops feeling like a game and starts feeling more like a novel where the MC is everyone’s punching bag. Is there reason for it here? Yes, and we’re only two chapters in, but there is a lot of story that happens in those two chapters, with a lot of interaction with the possible ROs, none of which feels positive toward the MC and one is blatantly abusive to the MC. And this isn’t a yandere game where the ROs are obsessed with the MC, so… it makes for a miserable setting. But I get the feeling that it’s supposed to be miserable, so good job?

@Radiantbliss

G may be married, and a tool, but they genuinely think MC is talented and find them attractive.

There is literally not one instance where it’s obvious that G finds the MC attractive. Or that they have any use for them outside of whatever plan they have. Even the author’s tumblr implied that G isn’t really attracted to them and just “sees something” in them.

@Radiantbliss

Are you expecting characters to scream I THINK YOUR HOT?

No, I’m expecting that the ROs in a game that is clearly somewhat romance focused to have ROs that don’t act like the MC is a non-entity or, worse, a pile of diarrhea.

@Radiantbliss

Seb has a cheesy pick up line.

It was not a pickup line. Others have said the same thing. Sebastian is older and quite awkward. He is also shown as genuine. So this wasn’t a pickup line, it just happened to coincidentally be a question that is used as a pickup line, which is why, I think, he got so flustered after saying it. He didn’t mean it that way–the dude isn’t going to try to pick up a slam piece when he is out with his daughter!

@agraysparrow

He does also backpedal immediately. I do think he didn’t mean it flirtatiously, I think he genuinely was curious about the MC.

Yes. Like you, I see him as more innocent than anything. He doesn’t seem the type to be flirty, especially not when he’s with his daughter, who he clearly loves deeply and worries about. Someone like him would be appalled at the very idea of trying to pick someone up with his kid there.

@Eiwynn

Sebastian seems to me to be the clueless (perhaps asexual) type of guy that wouldn’t know flirting (either initiated by him or the other party) if his daughter spells it out for him (which she kinda does)

Exactly. My MC didn’t flirt with him in front of his kid (tacky!) but I perused the code and saw that. I really get the asexual vibe from him, too. And, like you, I get more of a 16/17 year-old impression from Maya than someone who is college-aged. She seems really young and kind of immature for her age.

@Eiwynn

For my initial complete run, I feel Victoria is the best romance, because she really gives off the 90’s supermodel hookup vibe that is so lovingly toxic.

If only I was into playing MCs with women ROs. I really like her. But, again, her being married is a no-go. Though, I’m really wondering how difficult a triad poly with her and G would be to trigger. G’s a creep, but I think he’s decent beneath it all, just jaded and spoiled from being so famous and rich at a young age. Victoria needs some help handling him…

[ViIsBae]

I promise this’ll be the only off-topic post I post, but this was too good not to share with everyone (and it seems like the convo might be getting a bit tense for some, so a laugh can’t hurt, right?)

Ain’t no way lil’ bro put this on steam, with that description, with THESE TAGS and got very positive on 10k reviews

[djinnism]

@EvilChani

Exactly where have you seen these golden unicorns (well, minus the therapy speak… no thanks to that)?

I play a lot of IF. Published IF, WIPs, on itch.io and on sites that have probably caused my phone and computer irreparable damage because of how sketchy they are. I’ve noticed a lot of the time, when the LIs aren’t completely unnecessary to the story, and unnecessary in general outside of basically being collectible accessories for the MC, they’re oddly sanitized. They always say the right thing at the right time in perfectly neutral ways that won’t get the author accused of writing an abusive RO. Seven is a potential enemies-to-lovers route and I like that the author isn’t shying away from the fact that they don’t like MC right now, regardless of what MC does. It’s not the route for everyone and that’s fine.

[Radiantbliss]

I do not know how you would clock Seb as ace just because he is awkward….or bad at flirting (you can feel how you feel about whether that pick up line was genuine or not). Unless you’re making assumptions. While I’m all for ace rep (across the entire ace spectrum), it ain’t it chief. I don’t catch any vibes from him. He sounds like a typical awkward Dad trying to be cool in a place he doesn’t fit in. Which has zero to do with sexuality and just being the stereotype dad thing.

Pretty sure he is not ace tho. Considering the information on the tumblr about him. Maybe…maybe demi?? But that is assuming an awful lot based on very little. I do think making assumptions on aces as a whole like that is awfully…ick.

[Anarore_Kriptih]

@EvilChani

When the only vibes you can get from the ROs is dismissive, negative, or downright murderous,

G tells us we are something else several times, Seven can’t help themself to console us with the parent call, Orion comes in later after the actual call, Seb acts nicely all the time and just wants healthy boudaries. Everyone, except for Seven, but even them can’t stay away and not come to our help, treats the MC nicely, they just don’t strip the second we make a move, because they all have their reasons.
Also if you tell Dakota that you don’t do random hookups, she’ll give you her number, implaying she is ready do us sober, or at least go out of her way to get drunk with us specifically.

@Eiwynn

I do hope @radicallytamed comes in and engages with the community here. I feel doing so would help her take this project to the next level.

Nah, she learns about this discourse from people who run to her crying, and they won’t be running saying “hey, peeps here really wanna talk to about clarifying tone for some scenes”, it will be more like “OMG, they think that the MC is ugly”. I wouldn’t wanna hang around this kinde of people.

Also if Seb is an asexual and is the only one with the kid, one he made at his teens - I will die from laughter, that would be gold.

[EvilChani]

@ViIsBae

Ain’t no way lil’ bro put this on steam, with that description, with THESE TAGS and got very positive on 10k reviews

I watched the video on the game’s page. It looks… weird. I’ll stick with Typing of the Dead and shooting zombies with my words when I want weird! That did give me a laugh, though.

@djinnism

They always say the right thing at the right time in perfectly neutral ways that won’t get the author accused of writing an abusive RO

I haven’t played those, apparently. The closest I can think of is Hadrian from TGR, but he’s just more overly nice and ridiculously subby and blushy, not really neutral.

I’ve never seen that sort of extreme in a game, really. It usually goes to the other extreme, like in this game.

I’m just saying that maybe, just maybe, everything doesn’t have to be so extreme. More give and take from both sides instead of just the MC being shit on and begging, while the RO never bends their necks once.

@djinnism

Seven is a potential enemies-to-lovers route and I like that the author isn’t shying away from the fact that they don’t like MC right now, regardless of what MC does. It’s not the route for everyone and that’s fine.

True. I get why people see the appeal of romancing Seven. My MC, after restarting it, went with still being in love with Seven. It just seems like it’s going to be endless emotional torture that lasts for the whole game, though, given Seven’s attitude and unwillingness to even listen to a MC who is apologetic for bouncing them out of the band.

@Anarore_Kriptih

G tells us we are something else several times, Seven can’t help themself to console us with the parent call, Orion comes in later after the actual call, Seb acts nicely all the time and just wants healthy boudaries. Everyone, except for Seven, but even them can’t stay away and not come to our help, treats the MC nicely, they just don’t strip the second we make a move, because they all have their reasons.

With G: I’ve said that to be people in a very negative way… it can easily be one of those “cut them with a smile on your face” comments. And that does seem like G’s jam, to do something like that.

For Seven and the consoling: I’ll give you that, but it was still cold, and I got the feeling it was more about Seven than about comforting the MC. Not sure why yet, though…

For Seb: Agreed that he is nice but not in a “I’m interested” way. Much like August, I get the feeling that he’s just a nice guy. Entirely focused on his daughter, hence the desire for healthy boundaries.

For Dakota: In the past, I have, regretfully, given my number to people when I had one too many. It didn’t mean I wanted to hook up with them, it just meant I was too buzzed to have any sense. I really don’t miss college days at all…

[Radiantbliss]

@EvilChani

Do you know that for a fact, chief? Or are you making assumptions as well?

All I can tell you is the vibe I get. And that’s the vibe I get. That’s not on me, that’s on the text.

No but it’s never polite to assume someone’s sexuality based on so called stereotypical behaviors. I also read the tumblr and the author has not at all said they were ace or even suggested it. Assumptions would have to be made to fill in the gaps. Which could be made of ANY of the ROs. But to say you clock the aceness just because of the clueless or awkward behavior is cringe. Know plenty of gay and straight people who are clueless and awkward. It’s not a sexuality trait.

[Anarore_Kriptih]

@EvilChani

For Dakota: In the past, I have, regretfully, given my number to people when I had one too many. It didn’t mean I wanted to hook up with them, it just meant I was too buzzed to have any sense. I really don’t miss college days at all…

She is a subRO for f’s sake, I kinda think she meant it.

So, Seb and August are nice ROs, they just don’t trip over themselves to get us into bed, I don’t see a problem here.
And sure, G is a creep and they use us, but they mean as well as they can.
I’m just saying that yes, the MC is a bit of a sad bitch and tends to mop a bit, and some people don’t like us very much, they are not here to just wipe feet with them and are surrounded by people, who wish them well. These people just won’t give them head during the first half of the second chapter, how dare they.

@Radiantbliss

No but it’s never polite to assume someone’s sexuality based on so called stereotypical behaviors.

My man, you’re being more upset for asexuals that actual asexuals themselves. There is, like, nothing wrong with no thoughts, just vibes.

[FatedFlame]

Let us try to calm down, dont wanna scare the poor author for when they wake up lmao

[parisgracex]

@Anarore_Kriptih

Nah, she learns about this discourse from people who run to her crying, and they won’t be running saying “hey, peeps here really wanna talk to about clarifying tone for some scenes”,

Well that sucks would be good to get some insight and answers into certain things. Plus I like it when authors engage with fans.

[djinnism]

@EvilChani

I’m just saying that maybe, just maybe, everything doesn’t have to be so extreme. More give and take from both sides

@EvilChani

True. I get why people see the appeal of romancing Seven. My MC, after restarting it, went with still being in love with Seven. It just seems like it’s going to be endless emotional torture that lasts for the whole game, though, given Seven’s attitude and unwillingness to even listen to a MC who is apologetic for bouncing them out of the band.

Seven is a character that feels in extremes. That’s who they are. I’m sure there’ll be a chance for change and apologies later on, but if you don’t like them, if you think they don’t work for your character, why even engage with the character? Outside of a couple of instances that are completely outside the character’s control (their establishing introduction and the scene where you choose the bus), you don’t have to interact with them even once. We’re a chapter and a half in, it’s not like there’s been a lot of room for character growth.

And you do not have to take their barbs lying down. I can’t reiterate enough how much you don’t have to be nice to them, even if your MC is an otherwise friendly or meek person. You can romance them while hitting back, even. I’m not sure why anyone thinks MC has to roll over and just accept the hostility. That doesn’t happen unless you want it to happen. You choose MC’s reactions.

[Anarore_Kriptih]

Amy is very active on Tumblr, you can ask something there!