One more of the lists of things that the author made my character think that I just headcanon that didn’t happened: before we call M to help us in the bathroom the detective is uncertain because they are naked and M… and M what dude? Seriously, I didn’t think for a minute that M would do something other than help the detective. And then the detective got surprised because M didn’t say any shit about them being naked. Bestie, you are on shock, I don’t think this is sexy.

(But, even if in my opinion the author assuming my detective thought like this is awful, I got a really soft spot for the first book scene where, if we make a playful comment with the detective almost dying M, says “look at you, sweetheart, you are all wet” LOL)

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That list of things I have to headcanon gets longer and longer. I was wondering if I was the only one who took issue with that shower scene. Dezh’s only problem with it was admitting she needed help, not M seeing her naked. FFS, he’s seen her naked enough to draw a map of her body (at least in my head, he has).

The MC’s POV in all of the “paths” was really bad in this one. I refuse to lean into playing an UwU tween. Adults need to act like adults. Drama happens, but forced drama based on stupidity or the author’s desire to drag shit on forever is just annoying.

I love that scene. It fit for where they were then–barely knew each other but were attracted–and was cute. I loved it.

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I hate Mary Sue’s with a burning passion, and I really don’t care for my MC to be around Rebecca at this point. There’s just a vibe that the character emits that feels deranged. Because it would make a lot of sense, I’m really hoping she is secretly losing her mind over the death of her husband. How is she stating she wants a better relationship, but she’s not there to offer comfort during any of the times the MC got hurt in Book 3? It’s a cycle that keeps repeating itself.

I fully understand your perspective on the LI’s, but I also understand why M and A’s paths are being dragged out. I believe Sera would have done better to recommend these paths for those who enjoy or are content with pursuing the LI, as that is essentially what their paths entail. At the same time, I can’t deny that Book 4 needs to be the last book in which the MC isn’t officially in a relationship (by choice) with M or A because a percentage of her readers aren’t interested in the process being dragged out at this point. Since this series will have seven books and take at least a decade or more to complete if Sera doesn’t make any changes, she should have informed the readers when our MC’s can actually end up in an official relationship with M and A. The problem with that argument is that M and A have always been advertised as slow burns.

I understand what you’re saying, but I can’t relate. From my perspective, A is barely emotionally available, which is why they continue to refuse to start a relationship with the MC, aside from their fear holding them back. As for M, I think your statement was meant to be taken in a general sense, but with the way I’m playing the game, there’s been nothing sexual aside from the kiss in Book 2 during the physical training scene. I like the slow route because I personally don’t believe my MC has known them long enough to be in a relationship. Even my MC’s with N and F aren’t in relationships. I still understand why a lot of readers are frustrated, upset, and tired of not having a choice to start a relationship with them, especially because of the last question answered on Tumblr, which pretty much states it was a possibility with M. She should’ve never answered it; honestly, it comes across and can be taken in a negative light.

Enemies to lovers with A would’ve been way more exciting, and that’s essentially what Book One is. Sera should’ve continued with that direction for A.

Alima is such a non-factor that I doubt she’ll bring much, if anything, to the game. Her eyelashes are secretly green with envy; I wouldn’t worry about her.

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For instance, when you get the chance to tell N you love them, it feels very anticlimactic and forced. Like you have this sudden realisation and blurt out a half-assed ‘I love you’…

MC: ‘Oh…I think I love you…’
N: ‘You think you love me?’
MC: ‘No I mean I do love you.”

Something along those lines.

A simple heartfelt ‘I love you N” without the useless mc inner monologue (same as in M’s route) would have been so much better. N could ofc be surprised or shocked, and the mc could just reiterate that they love them, no need for all the nonsense around it. On the other hand, when N says ‘I love you’ to the detective it feels very organic, there’s build up to it. So I do have some hope for A. M on the other hand… seeing the current trend, Mishka would find a way to ruin it on tumblr if it’s a wholesome moment in book.

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No, the problem is that M and A are forced to repeat the same behavior over and over again and that any progress is immediately retconned or ignored so the MC can get nowhere with them.

Had she allowed things to flow more naturally–instead of being married to the idea that M will not realize it’s love until the point she designated before she started writing–then it would’ve been slow burn, because M did realize in b3, though she kept them from using the words. And now that will be reset because she decided the natural character growth doesn’t matter–all that matters is what she wants to offer and she doesn’t want M-mancers to be able to be happy yet. Given how much she clearly dislikes M (as discussed further up this thread, and it appears she dislike M-mancers just as much for choosing M), it’s really not a surprise.

A’s… is just a fucked up mess. A emotionally abuses the MC, recognizes they’re emotionally abusing the MC (at Addie’s in b3), then continues to do it without remorse. A is really fucked up in the head, when you boil it down. The man/woman needs help, and it’s more than the MC can provide. If they’re truly that damaged by things that happened 900 years ago and are incapable of getting past it, they need to see a therapist before continuing with the MC. I do agree with you and others that have said it, that an enemies to lovers story would make more sense for A and the MC. It would explain the indecision much better, and while it wouldn’t excuse the emotional abuse from A, it would at least make sense.

Pretty much everything she says regarding M is negative, so this is nothing new.

Then why delay M realizing just so Alima can be rubbed in the MC’s face in b4 (apparently)? Some sort of stupid tween bullshit drama will come from it. I have no doubt about that. And, even if your M-mancer doesn’t care about Alima, the text will force the issue and show how upset the MC really is. We aren’t allowed to decide our MCs’ feelings, Sera decides for us. From Rebecca to Bobby to the LI, she tells us how the MC feels, no matter what choices you make.

There’s a lot of that in b3. Last night on the way to my mom’s, my husband was playing his LT route and got to the “date” scene. He pointed out at least 10 places where the narrative screwed up the entire mood of the scene and the writing (the overflowery purple prose) was so wordy that the meaning got lost in it. More words doesn’t always equal more powerful. Sometimes a short sentence can have more impact than a long paragraph.

Interestingly, the “I love you” moment with N doesn’t happen in the LT, but you can still have pool table sex. He was playing through and I was reading and he asked what happened to pool table sex (he kept choosing Ava every time) then made me go back from the car ride with Ava to get pool table sex. He was laughing because, apparently, N doesn’t need to hear the MC is in love to want to bone as long as Ava is a threat. He’s not wrong.

Another interesting point: when the building caves in on the MC, in the LT, you can choose A to come help. It is the exact same scene you get in A’s solo route. My husband was like, “Danger is dating Nat, and Ava comes, but Nat doesn’t show up at all? That’s a little fucked up…”

Oh yeah, and in the pool playing scene, Nat acts like she went to Verda’s with him, even though he took Ava. Guess no one ever caught it. Anyway…

Mishka will ruin anything that happens with M, that’s a given. And why she wouldn’t allow the MC to just say they love M, since M would’ve realized and it would’ve been enjoyable. Anything to fuck over M-mancers and drag it out till the end.

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Given how differently me and the author view romance I think her really trying might be the worst thing that could happen to the M path. Please keep disliking us, thanks.

On a different note, anybody else annoyed that we have a crummy apartment and crappy car while Verde and Tina can entertain us at seemingly nice houses despite the fact that we seem to be at least Tina’s supervisor and our mother was a ruling member of a world wide organization? I’m not saying I want a mansion, but at least somewhere that’s not a collapsing slum with death trap plumbing would be nice and affordable on a detective salary even in a small town.

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I don’t know if you read a lot of Sera blog but she stated that A romance is actually love at first sight. Plus A is canonically, demisexual. That where I got emotional thing from because M and A routes are suppose to be duality of each other. M is sexually attracted to the detective regardless of how you play the game. They would like to get into your pants but lack the emotional aspect A has. But we’re all aware of why that is now……

And lot of people loved M route this time around, from Tumblr to Reddit. The glaring reason for why M route came out on top during this book was because there was gradual progress. Even if you “decide” not to get into a relationship with them due to your own head canons, you got to see M change as a person. We see them make less sexual innuendos as the book goes on and they take genuine concern for you……

We don’t get that with A, they’re still the same indecisive asshole from the second book. I don’t count them as a slow burn because the whole point of a slow burn is both parties slowly fall in love and become different people with each other.

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Valid point.

And yes, I’m also annoyed at the crappy apartment. She tried to explain it away that Tina inherited the house, but then Tina made a comment about mortgage payments, so she apparently inherited the mortgage? Either that or Mishka has no clue how owning a house works.

It’s ridiculous that the MC is painted as too poor to have a decent apartment but can afford bookoodles of electronic devices, if that’s what you pick. It’s like, really? Plus, the MC is stuck with that piece of shit car. It’s more of the forced narrative, if you want to boil it down. That way F can make fun of the MC’s apartment and car for “laughs”. And make F look like more of a dick…

Honestly, I can’t believe the Agency wouldn’t go ahead and pay for a place on the outskirts of town for the MC. Keeps them away from others (thereby reducing the risk of neighbors noticing the supernatural when they come after the MC) and makes it easier to defend.

Of course, had I been writing it, a bathtub wouldn’t have fallen through the MC’s bedroom ceiling. I’d have had the Trappers attack the MC where they live, necessitating them to move immediately and permanently (maybe have them a place purchased and renovated by the Agency while they’re staying with UB).

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I wrote too many paragraphs

This is pure speculation on my part, but I wonder if she feels that once the relationship begins between the MC and M and A, it won’t be as entertaining for her readers? She seems to think that the majority of her readers will find the push-pull strategy exciting and entertaining. Despite the fact that some people enjoy the problems on the A and M routes, it’s also important to consider those who don’t. I like reading viewpoints that are different from my own, so I have seen people express complaints about the writing, characters, pace, etc. on this site, Tumblr, Reddit, and even on their own blogs. Surprisingly, more people are angry about N’s route (on Tumblr) than A’s or M’s.

Again, this is just my speculation, but it’s possible that this has something to do with the fact that M was initially very hostile before Sera decided to lessen that aspect in order to make them a RO. Additionally, given that M is still very hostile in Book 1, is it possible that the author didn’t anticipate that many people would want to put up with M’s antics after Book 1?

You’ve mentioned A being emotionally abusive a few times, but to be fair, I don’t think it matters all that much given that this could apply to all the ROs in various ways. M can verbally insult and demean the MC during Book 1, F can be seen being dismissive of A’s feelings during Book 2 in the LT, and N is controlling, willfully ignores the MC’s anger following their argument, and presents themselves as someone they aren’t but tries to be, and the MC can play with A and N’s emotions during the LT. I’m not trying to minimize how you feel towards A, but they’re all full of shit at certain points. The only difference is that M has improved to the point where they seem like a different character to me, and I wouldn’t be surprised if A were going to make this same improvement over time, while people continue to get fed up with F and N, especially N.

I’ve read her posts, and unfortunately, this is true. M is always depicted as not giving a shit in those posts, while in the game they seem to care the most.

I believe Alima has more to do with influencing M than the MC. In all fairness, those MCs should already be aware of how to handle this situation if they have Bobby as an ex who can frequently appear where the agent is, show up at the agent’s house, possibly kiss the agent, etc. Naturally, it won’t be written that way, but it should influence the MC’s response. We were bound to find ourselves in this predicament at some point or another, given how promiscuous M is and how many of their coworkers they have slept with.

Alima’s presence is likely intended to “help” M realize that their feelings for the MC are those of love, which will give them the confidence to confess to the MC. She’ll likely participate in one official conversation with us as the MC, and that will be it. Since Sera likes her, I wouldn’t be surprised if she reluctantly supported our relationship with M because she “feels” like we make them a better person or some other nonsense. Alima seems to be a Book 2 Bobby—someone who can make the LIs react.

According to Book 3, we can choose the option of never wanting for anything in regards to Rebecca’s parenthood. Why are we still wanting for a better car? She stopped providing gifts for us once we turned 18, and a car wasn’t one of them? That bucket seems like a struggle car that we worked hard for, and it’s barely functional.

This was such a huge mistake on her part. Actually, if they weren’t in love with us at first sight, it would make sense why A was reluctant to be intimate with or have a relationship with the MC. A one-sided romance on the part of the MC is another way that A’s romance path could have been written. They aren’t able to reciprocate because they haven’t developed an emotional bond with the MC, yet. However, there is a counterargument that suggests you don’t necessarily share an emotional bond with someone just because you are in love with them.

That’s fair; I think the term “slow burn” can have various meanings for each individual. For instance, M and A’s path can be classified as a romantic slow burn because the romance is happening at a slow rate, with M making significant improvements. There are people who would classify A’s path as a slow burn because they haven’t given in to their feelings entirely. It makes sense why A’s route isn’t a slow burn from your own perception, and that’s valid.

I would have had the apartment building catch on fire (with the MC still inside) by having the Trappers or Auctioneer use the abilities of a supernatural that they’ve captured. We manage to survive while caked in soot from head to toe; a piece of our clothing manages to catch on fire, and the firefighters from Book 2 spray us with the hose set to low water pressure in order to create the desired wet scene. Regarding our mementos from Book 2, simply state that we are grateful that we left those items in the room we have at the warehouse.

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This has always bothered me, I can understand A being drawn to the detective at first sight but in love with them? Seriously? I’m sorry but Mishka just made A demisexual for inclusivity points and didn’t bother with an accurate representation.

What a mess! But yeah the LT is just recycled dialogues from the solo routes. I remember when getting back to the warehouse after meeting with Unit Victor, I picked A for the chat and the detective acted as if they went to Haley’s with A instead of N.

That damn car is just there for comic relief and I hate it with a passion. And agrees that we should have been moved on the outskirts of Wayhaven, the detective is a security threat ffs!

Because N doesn’t even feel like N. They’re a M copycat with the overly sexual innuendos and the odds sex scenes. Not to mention the overbearing behaviour that is just addressed by the detective with passive aggressive comments instead of a normal conversation.

The main problem of twc is that it thrives in angst and those two routes are drag out so much just for the sake of angst.

I truly hope not, imo it cheapens this very important moment so much. Why the need to add an ex for M to figure that out especially if Alima is just one of M’s many flings. They never been together or share significant moments for M to realise that with Alima wasn’t love but with the detective is something truly special.

Every time I see the author talking about Alima my blood pressure spikes because I just can’t stand that forced narrative. Why is Alima even important at this point? We don’t see Mishka talking about N’s or F’s exes and they both have dated other agents and especially in N case, Mishka said on her patreon that N was very committed but never in love. Why a M’s random fling is so important?

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Too damned long

I highly doubt it. She just likes angst better than anything else, and in those two routes, all she wants is angst. But, at the same time, she promised to give “just as many moments” for A and M as for N and F. So what happens is that she allows these “moments” that are awesome, then either pretends they didn’t happen, retcons them, or A/M suddenly take ten steps backwards with no explanation or reasoning for the sole purpose of dragging it on longer.

This says it all:

And if you doubt that, all you need to do is read the tumblr post where she said she had to interrupt the MC from telling M they loved them because M would’ve realized they are in love, too, and this was not when she wanted it to happen!

I think you may be on to something here. She clearly disliked M in the novels she had planned, and had made M a very hateful, distrusting, rude person who refused to trust the MC no matter what (i.e., she likely used M to make the reader feel sorry for the poor, abused MC for having to put up with the horrible treatment from M). I don’t think she has ever let go of her hatred of the character, and that’s where all the negativity regarding M asks comes from, trying to convince everyone that M’s horrible, while at the same time shoving the narrative that “some day way in the future” they’ll actually care enough to realize they care.

So I could totally buy that she figured no one would put up with M or want to do the route after b1, and figured b2 (getting screwed and waking up alone) would seal it. Her clear displeased surprise over people loving M’s route in b3 could stem from the fact that she figured everyone would give up after the slam pig comment.

Oh, I agree. B3!M before chapter 13 is pretty fucking emotionally abusive, too, and suffers from the same bullshit that A does (hot/cold treatment, acting like they care right before they give the cold shoulder or say something awful). And I agree about N and F as well. F is very abusive to their friends, particularly M, A, and the MC on their paths. With friends like that–intentionally saying stuff they know will upset A/M and make them pull away from the MC more–who the fuck needs enemies?

Yeah, I know. I wouldn’t be surprised if she tries to remove that in the future so the narrative will match her words.

Again, I agree with @notapretzel that this is a terrible idea. Alima shouldn’t have a damned thing to do with M’s realization, because it totally lessens it. Especially when we now know M would’ve realized if the MC had said the words first. To take that away just so one of M’s ex slam pieces can say something to make them realize it is just all kinds of fucked up.

That said, I can see Mishka doing it just to ruin M’s revelation. She took away the best place for it, so obviously she has something in mind that could ruin the whole damned moment.

What does the MC wanting a better place to live and a better car have to do with Rebecca? The MC has a job and pays their own bills.

The point here is that the text intentionally paints the MC as barely being above a hobo, unable to afford an apartment that’s bigger than a Cracker Jack box and a car that isn’t better suited for the junkyard than for anyone to drive. Yet, despite both of those things, the MC makes enough money to fill their house with electronics, so unless they bought said electronics off the back of a truck behind a deteriorating building, it doesn’t add up.

What’s more, Tina–who is also a police officer who started work around the same time as the MC–can afford a house with a mortgage. Verda can be explained away that his husband is loaded, but Tina cannot.

So the reason for the MC having a shitty car and a cruddy apartment is because that’s how the author wants it for laughs. And, really, to show just how horrible everything is for them while UB lives in an underground mansion and drives a shiny new SUV and Rebecca has a McMansion of her own that sits unused because the woman is mental.

The wet scene could’ve come elsewhere, where it made sense. There was no need for it here. It’s just one more of those “moments” that are forced in because she thinks they’re cool, but they make no sense at all (sorry, I would never have gotten in my car while dripping wet and covered in plaster, because not only is it gross, it’s unhealthy and only a complete and utter moron–or someone who was drunk off their ass–would do such a thing).

More and more, I wonder wtf her beta testers did, because they missed a lot.

My main MC is going to blow that car to hell at one point in what I’m writing for her. She won’t miss it a bit.

Pfft, you expect anyone in Wayhaven to be allowed to have a normal conversation instead of passive-aggressive, tween angsting bullshit? Not in this lifetime!

Because Alima is one of her favorite characters (read: she’s gonna be a Mary Sue like Rebecca) and M hurt her, so she must be used to torment M-mancers and to make them look like shit if they don’t prostrate themselves to kiss her perfect feet.

Hell, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Mishka writes a scene with the MC being bitchy about Alima and M defends the woman.

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So I would agree here however I don’t think it’s really the case. You lock in your entire route in book 1 if she decided to drop the route during book 3 it would have caused backlash beyond belief, nothing is worse than a player whose decision is completely thrown away because the author “Didn’t like the romance”.

Watch it’s going to be you complain to M and they’ll say something like “Why does it bother you, we’re just fucking around…aren’t we?” and then you get the chance to tell her only to have Farah teleport from the other side of the earth to crack a joke.

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I swear, the next time F opens their mouth, I’m writing a fanfic where my MC damned well shuts it for them. She’s had it with Felix harassing Mason and making everything worse for her. And she’s not the type to mince words, either. She’d flat out say, “Shut your fucking mouth, Felix.Enough of this shit! And the next time I hear you utter a single fucking word to or around Mason about me, feelings, or how he behaves around me, you won’t have to worry about whether he’ll kick your ass or not. Because I’ll be doing it.”

But yeah, I can see something like that, too, regarding Alima. I just don’t think, in that situation, my MC would say it. She’d just turn around and fucking leave.

And good points about the M route. I which case, I don’t get Mishka’s reasoning with M at all, other than she hates M, which is obvious.

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Definitely I don’t think any of my MC’s would even put up with Alima being jealous to be honest, but you know how this type of thing goes.

IDK personally, I mean sometimes it definitely seems like she has some sort of dislike for the character but then at the same times it seems like she actually really likes M as it allows her to write a complete opposite to all the other RO’s as M is the only one who is direct in everything without all the angst a good 75% of the time.

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Especially when Alima is one of her favorite characters.

B3!M, from chapter 13 until the end, was perfect. I think we can all agree on that, only made less perfect by her post publication comments about M and that path.

I just have the feeling we ended up with b3!M because she does dislike M so much that she just wrote what she wrote and let it happen. With the others, she put tons of effort into their paths to make everything just so (angsty for A, N, and the LT, and “laid back” for F’s).

It seems the one place she did that with M was taking away the MC’s ability to declare their love for M to keep M from realizing how they feel. In other words, the one place in M’s path where she actually cared was something that was expressly to make their path less enjoyable for the player and to extend the “angst” of M’s forced stupidity for another full book or two.

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I just replayed B3 and honestly… i don’t know if I’ll have the patience to wait 3 to 5 years for B4… and I also don’t think i’ll be spending my money on it… like, Sera really needs to learn what the word “pacing” means, that’s my main issue with this series, I just can’t deal with this, at least with a rushed plot I would be getting what I want… this is just so slow and it pisses me off so fucking much, like the only thing I need is fucking character development and progression.
It makes me think 7 books is just… unecessary… if she could just let the story flow naturally and organically instead of dragging everything and writing filler scenes with irrelevant characters she won’t even bother to give detailled character arcs or a important role later on… if she just focused on developing the goddamn romance… we could have that ANGST FESTIVAL she always talks about in B5 to just end the series… plus she would finish writing those books so much faster… no long ass unecessary monologue to just make the book longer… no filler scenes… no bullshit plot devices for the sake of angst.
I’m sorry but i’m just TIRED, i dont give a fuck if the plot and characters are great (they are not)… if the pacing is shit, the whole thing will suck… and that’s what I’m seeing… Wayhaven not being a enjoyable story because of that HORRIBLE ASS PACING… is not just bad… IT DRAGS THE WHOLE FUCKING SERIES DOWN and it makes me wonder if Sera knows how tired/upset people are/will be getting if she keeps this up.
You can’t delay what the plot and the readers are asking for forever and hope that your audience’s interest level will stay the same.
It’s just so fucking stale, it goes nowhere… it’s predictable, you wait half a decade to see A’s character go back to B1, to see M’s realization being pushed back instead of them having a cohesive character arc, to see F… be the same as always, their route just doesn’t progress… and to see N get creepier.

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