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

[EvilChani]

@strawberrydelight

Uuuuhhh, I must have really really missed something there because when did THAT happen? Unless you’re referring to that one question about Seven’s music process.

I think it was the most recent Q&As (not the ones released Thursday or Friday, but before that). I’ll have to dig back through them to find it. But I don’t think it was Seven or Avina saying Seven is the best singer (because of course they would say that). I’ll browse through them after dinner and see if I can find the one that made me consider it canon that Seven is a better singer than the MC.

@attolia

Avina who is tired of watching Seven pine for MC from afar. Avina who is SICK of watching Seven and MC pretend not to look at each other on the tour bus because she can tell they are both idiots who are crazy about each other.

OMG, I think hell might freeze over first. I can’t see Avina helping Seven and the MC get back together or even trying to help Seven stop hating the MC. I think Avina would just feed that shit and try to make Seven hate them more.

@attolia

lmao let me daydream please

By all means, go for it. I’ll just be over here daydreaming about my MC throwing Avina off a bus… while it’s going 90mph, lol.

[attolia]

lmao let me daydream please

[Raptorofwar]

I mean, Avina is protective of Seven. If Avina does end up coming to the conclusion that MC doesn’t pose a threat towards Seven, and realizes both of them like each other, this could be fucking hilarious. In my fantasy world it’s Avina wingmanning Seven and Rowan wingmanning MC.

[EvilChani]

@Raptorofwar

I mean, Avina is protective of Seven. If Avina does end up coming to the conclusion that MC doesn’t pose a threat towards Seven, and realizes both of them like each other, this could be fucking hilarious.

If that actually happens, I’d feel bad for wishing bad things on Avina, lol. I just can’t see it since Avina wants Seven for themselves.

[h_neptune]

@Raptorofwar

In my fantasy world it’s Avina wingmanning Seven and Rowan wingmanning MC.

Avina and Rowan holding MC and Seven like dolls and pushing their faces together. “Now kiiith.”

@strawberrydelight

I really don’t get the Avina hate honestly. I don’t see how they’re fake just because they chose to be cordial and not to bite our heads off on the bus despite probably disliking us. And even that dislike comes from (as far as we know) knowing that in the past we’ve hurt a person who is very dear to them and who is still hurting because of us (not our fault Seven is not over it, but the fact that they’re hurting stands).

Yeeah, I don’t get it either. They were barely a blip on my radar when they were introduced. My feelings ranged from indifferent/neutral to ever so slightly positive due to their civility. And as for my MC, I felt that they’d just be relieved that someone from Seven’s band isn’t treating them with outright hostility.

Idk though, I’m not a jealous type. I’m not the type to feel threatened by side characters. I don’t assume that Seven’s and Avina’s relationship is necessarily like that and even if it were, I’m secure in the knowledge that I’m playing as the MC and they very likely will get Seven in the end if they want them (whether that is platonically or romantically). I’m also secure in believing that MC clearly means something to Seven, or else they wouldn’t be so pressed over them. Something, something the opposite of love isn’t hate but indifference?

The way I feel about it, Avina is not Jolene and she’s not going to steal my woman. (Or maybe we’re Jolene? That’d be funny.) I don’t mind if they’re close friends, either. And I wouldn’t care if they did get together if you don’t romance Seven.

[strawberrydelight]

Going against the current to say I think it would be hilarious if an ex-bff or ex that has moved on and trying to be friends again had the option to encourage/wingman Seven and Avina. I think Seven would implode if we tried to meddle in their affairs of the heart

[Saeka]

I feel like it would be more funny in the ex-bff route than ex route if we were trying to pair Seven and Avina but as an ex well the implosion would turn to an explosion in a minute

…I rather not be a chew toy chomped on from both sides if things went south and well Seven would do that anyways…worse case they’d think ex trying to get back with Seven or sabotage Seven and Avina friendship.

Not to say it wouldn’t give juicy gossip but geez media would have a ball…

[strawberrydelight]

Honestly the fact that the chances of us hindering instead of helping are higher is why I find it funny. Because Seven would definitely not trust us and think we’re up to no good But yeah it was just a scenario to think about I probably would feel bad playing through that lol

[Saeka]

Well gotta keep the dream alive.

I could see it as something that could be a comedy bit if the author of the story wanted it to be lighthearted but not sure Seven want to fix what’s not broken with MC…feels like pulling nails and teeth to get any non snark from them.

Unless it’s going to be how much we can see the red face of Seven or that throbbing vein it would be that sadistic route.

Basically or

[Raptorofwar]

See, I’m not sure that’s true. We’ve known them for not even 3 chapters, and the author has already noted that Sevina would not work for as yet unspecified reasons. I feel like we’ll see more as things progress. All this is to say I’m very much looking forward to what comes next!

[EvilChani]

@Jamo

To be fair, I have totally understood where you’re coming from in certain things, but am choosing a more optimistic route to keep me sane lol.

It’s actually kind of funny–me choosing the more pessimistic route and embracing the darkness of the story is what will keep me sane while playing it. My first couple of runs, I was playing it from the perspective of the MC being, well, the MC. I assumed it would be work to “win” the contest, but I didn’t realize they’d start totally bottomed out and have literally everything against them.

So playing it with any sort of hope of things getting better was making me miserable (since every passage just made things seem worse!). Especially knowing that it would get even worse as the story progresses, and that the romances are all uber slow burn angst (read: miserable), so the MC won’t even have someone loving them and supporting them to help with it all. Quite the opposite, since it feels like the MC has no support system at all.

Once I embraced the dark (and the “suck” for the MC), I got into it easier. It’s still not fun (playing a depressed character who very little going for them can’t be fun), but it’s interesting. And it’ll be interesting to see how my depressed MC responds to yet more pain. I may end having to head canon a lot of self-harm scenes, but I can plug then in wherever the MC can partake of booze and drugs, so it’ll work.

I should’ve known when I saw that angst is king in this game, and just expected the worst right off the bat, since authors promoting “angst” is the equivalent of “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here”. Now, at least, any surprises will be pleasant ones, because I sure as hell won’t be surprised when more people play a round of “kick the MC” or Seven spits in the MC’s face.

@Jamo

But I’m not trying to be in a poly in Seven’s route, don’t want to be fighting for Mc’s partner’s attention, you feel me?

Totally. And I feel the same way.

@Jamo

What kinda thing are you hoping to see on their route?

Well, what I hope for isn’t going to happen. My problem with Seven’s route right now is exactly what you said about Seven and Avina being joined at the hip. Because I don’t think that will ever stop, given the circumstances. I mean, let’s look at the facts:

1. Seven can’t sleep alone
2. MC won’t be touring with SV
3. Avina will be there and they’ve shared a bed for three years

So, chances are, Seven will continue being in bed with Avina whenever they’re on the road. That just doesn’t seem right. They can say they’re just friends all they want, but if they’re sleeping together every night and cuddling, that is–at the very least–emotional cheating (something that Amy has said the MC can do with G and/or V). That’s not cool.

So I don’t see how Seven’s attachment to Avina will ever not be a problem (at least for my MC). Seven may be all-in for the relationship if it happens, but Avina isn’t going anywhere. And entering into a relationship with Seven will basically be a V-poly, given their attachment to Avina and need to sleep/cuddle with someone every single night. “As friends”, but if Avina is in love with Seven, how the hell long till something happens with them?

So yeah, I like the idea of Seven/MC getting together (or back together), I just don’t see how it’ll ever work when there’s a permanent fixture in Seven’s life that will routinely be in Seven’s bed (unless Seven finds someone else to spoon them at night when they’re away from the MC). Amy has said that any new relationship with Seven would be nothing like it was before, and I’m wondering if that means there will always be a distance between them that can never be bridged (since she said they were too close to each other before). Throw in a permanent bed partner for Seven–with the MC unable to voice any concerns or object to it–and I can’t see Seven/MC lasting, unless the MC just accepts the fact that they’re a third wheel in the Avina/Seven “friendship”.

@Raptorofwar

the author has already noted that Sevina would not work for as yet unspecified reasons.

Because Seven has to grow up some and get over their irrational hatred of the MC, moving on from them instead of having that defunct relationship acting as a specter haunting them for eternity. I mean, that much is pretty obvious.

[No_This_Is_Patrick]

Seven romancers barging into Sevens life again

The Deep, back on the team!

[idonotlikeusernames]

@EvilChani

and see if I can find the one that made me consider it canon that Seven is a better singer than the MC.

I hope you do. This really adds to the depression fest for the poor mc though, since their voice was the one other thing and most importantly the only really visible thing mc had in addition to songwriting and for being the lead singer in a reality tv music contest being a super songwriter is just about the worst ability you can have since even if the songs are epic level quality they will be held back by mc’s sub-par performance abilities, which is all people watching TV will see. Like I said the moment Blake or G cover them mc’s songs will probably give them a super hit that stays on top of the charts for weeks, but when mc performs them they’re just…meh, okay…I guess…maybe, on account of how weak a performer the mc seems to be.

[EvilChani]

@Jamo

Do you think that’s something that might change during Seven’s character development? I feel like their whole thing is learning how to better cope with their emotions and learning how to be cool on their own without relying on others to be okay.

Maybe. It would be the sensible route for Seven to go, I’m just not sure how they can get there when they’re so dependent on Avina now. First, they’d have to recognize that what they’re doing with Avina is the same thing they did with the MC, and that they’re completely and utterly dependent on them, whether they’ve let them meet their mother or not.

I’m just not sure that’s what Amy has planned, given that Savina will be a thing if Seven isn’t romanced. Seven letting go of their hatred of the MC is an obvious thing that will happen. The rest? Not so much. I mean, there’s no real reason for them to move out of the “joined at the hip to Avina” thing, because there’s nothing to prompt it. People tend not to stop doing things that make them feel good, and Avina makes Seven feel good. Plus, they’re literally with each other all the time, given that they’re in the same band. It’s not a relationship like we see with G and their band, where there is clearly some distance between them (much like the MC and their band). There’s no daylight at all between Savina.

@Jamo

So they might change that whole thing with Avina, at least the sleeping thing. That and I think that might change out of respect for Mc even without them having to express it

Not sure about that. Amy implied on tumblr that MC and Seven won’t be very close this go around. Seven has their life, MC has theirs, and Seven is fine with that. So I’m not sure if that means Seven will respect them enough not to share a bed with Avina or if they’ll just be like, “This is what I’m doing. Yes, I’m with you, but I share a bed with them when I’m away. If you don’t like it, there’s the door.” That’s just my take on what she said in that ask, of course.

@Jamo

I’m sorta hoping Avina has a thing going on with someone else romantically just for extra extra reassurance.

That would be about the best I could hope for, were I the hoping type. Then I have to wonder if Seven will just go find someone else to cuddle with sans MC.

@Jamo

I lowkey feel like it’s a queerplatonic relationship between Avina and Seven

I’ve never been sure what that is, but yeah, I could see that. I could see it turning sexual at some point, though, because I think Avina wants it. Seven just probably hasn’t caught on yet.

@Jamo

I’d say it’s something that would be kinda uncomfortable for my Mc after reading how some of these relationships can be in nature.

Yep, which is why the whole Seven “romance” makes me very uncertain. Recently, there seems to be a trend toward ROs who are involved with other people and remain involved with other people even if they get with the MC. I have a bad feeling Savina is one of those. They may not have sex, but they’ll always be a thing, and the MC will just have to accept it if they want to be with Seven.

@idonotlikeusernames

This really adds to the depression fest for the poor mc though, since their voice was the one other thing and most importantly the only really visible thing mc had in addition to songwriting

Well, I mean, Amy can easily take away MC being a great songwriter, too. Savina will probably be shown as being way better than them, at some point. Or Seven, at the very least, since they’re better than the MC at everything else.

I looked for the Q&A I thought I read, but all I could find was everyone in SV, and Seven, saying Seven was the best singer in BotB. So maybe I remembered wrong. However, I did find that G is the one who is the best singer of all of them. So at least someone is better than Seven at something, even if it’s not the MC!

@idonotlikeusernames

but when mc performs them they’re just…meh, okay…I guess…maybe, on account of how weak a performer the mc seems to be.

Maybe the competition will give the MC a real chance to crush them all at some point. We know there’s a path to winning it all (only one, had a to bet), so it can happen if you code dive. And there are a ton of different endings with the ROs, which doesn’t bode well for any of those, unfortunately.

[idonotlikeusernames]

@EvilChani

We know there’s a path to winning it all (only one, had a to bet)

I almost dread what that will take for mc. Becoming America’s pity project instead of just G’s? That would be less crushing them all and more the definition of a pyrrhic victory.

@EvilChani

the competition will give

The competition only seems to want to take from the mc and tear them down (which is par for the course for reality tv as that attracts more viewers than anything constructive), not build them up and it is not like the mc has any kind of support network that actually cares about improving (things for) them.

@EvilChani

And there are a ton of different endings with the ROs, which doesn’t bode well for any of those, unfortunately.

Indeed probably only one “good” ending per RO with the rest being various fail-states.

[EvilChani]

@idonotlikeusernames

I almost dread what that will take for mc. Becoming America’s pity project instead of just G’s? That would be less crushing them all and more the definition of a pyrrhic victory.

Based on this ask, it’s more about gathering info on the crowds and performing in a way to suit them. For now, at least, that’s how it’s going to work, but she may change it.

As long as it stays that way, it’s not winning by pity, it’s actually winning. I’ll just code dive how to win each one for my MC and be done with it, because I don’t trust it’ll be possible every time and that certain personality types won’t be able to get the info.

So the romances may turn out mostly with bad endings, but at least we can get our MC to win, with the right choices. I did notice she said it would sometimes be randomized, which I guess means she’ll have dice rolls? That will suck, but that’s what the back button plugin is for. I hate dice rolls deciding my MC’s fate because I always get shit dice rolls.

@idonotlikeusernames

The competition only seems to want to take from the mc and tear them down (which is par for the course for reality tv as that attracts more viewers than anything constructive), not build them up and it is not like the mc has any kind of support network that actually cares about improving (things for) them.

Which is why you code dive and find how to get your MC the win. If meeting the “requirements” for the competitions decides who wins, instead of the surrounding drama, it should be okay. Otherwise, the MC would always lose, since pretty much everyone is out to get the them. Since we know there’s a path to win, that can’t be the case, unless it’s all dice rolls and chance.

But yeah, it’s a given that the showrunners want to tear the MC down completely, torture them every chance they get, and make sure they have no support network to help them not break. These shows are about destroying people for ratings, and the MC seems to be the main target.

[mercurial]

No, they didn’t. Unless my reading comprehension is also in the dumpster, lmao. From the code:
“I didn’t take any pictures of them, by the way.”
*fake_choice
#Laugh. “I had a feeling seeing as the lens cover was still on.”
*set serious %- 5
$!{ehe} grins, turning the camera to ${ehim} to look at it. “You’d expect they’d realize that but—” A shrug. “Actually, I don’t have much expectations for people like them.”

And:

#“Did you take a picture of me?”
$!{ehe} grins and shakes ${ehis} head. “Nah, sorry. I like to ask permission first.”

[Maldron]

Thanks for the info.

[An_Eyewitness]

@EvilChani

So the romances may turn out mostly with bad endings

Where is this information coming from? I think it’s a little early to say that most of the romances will turn out to have bad endings when we’ve barely started any of them.

[Mosie]

Regarding the Seven needs someone to sleep with situation, I’m going to go ahead and assume either their trauma will be explored and “resolved” (using that word very lightly here) or them and the MC will come up with a solution (like idk videocalls before bed.)
Even if Avina ends up being a supporting angel, like I personally thought they might back in my first playthrough, it would still feel a little weird to know your partner is sharing a bed with someone else. I’m not even the jealous type, but still it’s strange. Friends can be tactile, but when there’s a history hmm I’m less on board?

Quick note about Seb: I think he’s the least ““problematic”” (i hate this word, but you get it) alongside August, so I don’t see any problems there. The only thing which made me go was the line something something “as her idol you should set a precedent” which I guess, but also no thanks? (A choice which the game gives you, so all good on that end)
Personally I find maya too be too explosive, so I mostly don’t care, but Seb is definitely not a creep. The break a leg fiasco still lives rent free in my head