I do hope more is revealed about the leader of the rogues or we can have a face to face with them even if we get to confront them in another book. Mishka seems to be using the same formula with the main villain that she uses with the LI (or mainly with A and M) one step forward, two steps back and endless teasing… ngl it’s becoming a bit predictable and repetitive. But I’m happy for people that wants to romance a villain and I hope they can get more than I got in 3 books with A 
I don’t get why everything has to be about soulmates though? Unless her intention is for the villain to turn to the MC’s side through the power of pure love (or better even if the MC turns evil but we know it’ll never happen) I don’t see why it has to be a soulmates kind of love all the time.
This is ironic because I believe themes like this are what Sera wanted to avoid, but there’s tons of abusive situations throughout all of the books thus far. It’s a bit strange when thinking about it.
I didn’t even think of how her and the MC’s life could’ve been put in danger from that situation. It would be interesting if we learned later on that we needed to sporadically move to avoid danger. It would be a good addition to the story, if so.
Rebecca’s frozen state of mourning led to her neglecting the MC. It makes me wonder: wouldn’t the agency make it a requirement for her to go to therapy after the tragic loss of her husband? Especially to make sure she’s in the right state of mind in order to do her job sufficiently. Maybe this will come up in the following few books.
That’s a fair perspective. I’m just hoping there’s something interesting that explains her bizarre behavior other than that’s just how she is. Which would then lead me to believe that Rebecca is highly unintelligent.
Romances
Too true. There’s hardly any romantic scenes in this game, at least not the way I’m playing it. I wish I could have taken the initiative and romanced A, whether they accepted it or not. That’s simply one of the tropes they’re playing. Honestly, based on how N was portrayed in Book One, you’d expect them to be courting the MC before having sex or establishing a relationship, yet it’s F who’s doing that.
You’re asking for the scene if we’re romancing N and M is the BFF?
A love relationship between M and N makes more sense to me than their friendship. If N was romantically interested in, in love with, or dating M, N would rarely, if ever, pass judgment on M’s actions. In a logical sense, I also believe A and F would make an interesting pair. A would help ground F, while F would occasionally help A become more free. It makes me wonder how the game would have played out if one of Unit B’s members had been the protagonist instead, and we could date inside our unit. I’m curious how A and M’s relationship might look.
I suppose we could roleplay this scenario in the game, but it wouldn’t be the same. For example, I don’t see M worrying if some random individual comes in and takes over the investigation; I think they’d ignore A and let them do whatever they wanted while doing their own thing, disconnect from the group conversation, and refuse to participate in any way. They would never start yelling in the workplace.
The irony is that M expected N to criticize them and believe that they’re a horrible choice for the MC, yet N will feel that way about themselves when dating the MC. I wonder if that’s a sign that N projects a lot.
N could compel M to utilize their pheromones on the MC, or they could remove their necklace and cause turmoil for everyone. I’m wondering if M could beat N or do damage to them. I know the game says A can physically beat N, but how can you physically beat someone who has mind control on their side?
Exactly. This is typically how people should deal with the whole push-and-pull behavior if they don’t like the chase.
I’m hoping this is just more miscommunication between the readers and the author regarding M.
That scenario would have worked better if the sexual tension had been built up for a longer period of time. It also fails because many N-mancers expected N to be more conventional and romantic when it came to having sex with them, which they weren’t. According to some of the screenshots I’ve seen, it was a quickie on the pool table rather than a sensuous moment.
That’s rather immature for a vampire. At least A’s avoidance (and maybe the MC’s avoidance of A) makes logical sense depending on how you end Book 3, but it’s insulting coming from everyone else. All they have to do is tell the MC that their blood is becoming too much for them to deal with, warn Rebecca, and then make accommodations and exercise caution. Because the MC has actually expressed a lot about their emotions on things, whether we want them to or not, and the MC has also provided comfort over the sufferings that Unit B has suffered, which makes F, N, & M come across as disrespectful.
It’ll be one of those TV scenarios when the LI avoids the MC, but when they’re in danger, they want to talk.
It wouldn’t surprise me, but it would lower my perception of these books, especially because they have great potential. An author should write what they want to write, but it’s okay to listen to their audience from time to time.
Oh, that makes a bit more sense from an author’s perspective as to why it’s never mentioned, but it also messes up the story because it’s not believable that everyone is ignoring the obvious solution.
LMAO! I’m not interested in any of the hide-and-seek (now you see me, now you don’t) games that the LI and the MC will play in Book 4. Imagine the MC and LI arguing about the blood, and the MC responds in classic Twilight fashion, “Then take my blood; I don’t want it!”
This isn’t even a vampire story. I don’t mean to be rude, but they don’t act like vampires. If Sera wanted to write about vampires who don’t really act like vampires, I feel she should’ve picked one area in which they always act like vampires, which could’ve conceivably been the way they fight. The Twilight vampires behave more like vampires than Unit B, at least in terms of hunting for their own meal.
Thank you very much for telling me how to keep Sanja alive and also protecting the LI. I truly appreciate all the help you’ve provided.
The best dynamic to write, and I’m sure deep down Adam appreciates the challenge and excitement that Dezh gives him.
Theories
This would be a good way to really put the vampires and the MC out of commission. The MC would have to defend themselves against the antagonist and Unit B.
Now that I think of it, I’m surprised we haven’t had an opponent that wants to murder the MC rather than use them in some manner. A foe that wants us dead because our blood is too lethal in the wrong hands is a good justification for taking this stance.
Good question; maybe they have a supernatural being that uses their powers to do it? Or they could be using advanced technology to extract it. Wasn’t there a woman who wielded magic against us while we were in the cell? She could be the one extracting their powers.
Having the LIs turn into humans for a while would be pretty cool. It would be interesting to observe how the LIs respond to being human. I wonder if it would be safe for M to regain their memories. Other than the trauma the memories induce, they really got their memories taken away because of their pheromones, correct? Aside from their trauma, I believe M would benefit the most from being human again.
I don’t believe Sera has addressed this, but I’m curious whether N’s abilities are a result of how they were as a human. Perhaps N was manipulative as a human, so they were given the ability to compel others.
You were right about us getting a kiss from A during Book 3, and I believe you’re right about this as well. N already knows exactly what’s going on; they’re just upset because they have no control over the situation, but it would be nice if the LT wrapped up in Book 4 as well. A person can only act deluded for so long before they come across as being highly ignorant. As for M, I agree that they’ll be last as far as an official relationship goes, with it becoming official in Book 5. Unless we’re given a gift from the gods and both A and M’s relationships become official by the end of Book 4.
Oh, okay, that makes sense then. As for Dezh, at least it’s possible for her to avoid meeting Alima, depending on how we play the game. I’m actually glad that it isn’t set in stone because I don’t understand what’s there to discuss; she had her discussion with M to gain closure, and anything more seems unnecessary. Are you going to try and avoid the Alima scene or see how it plays out first? I’m not sure if you read the code while playing.
So Dezh has become insecure after starting this situation with Mason? Damn, again, hopefully M regressing is just miscommunication between the author and the readers, but considering they’ll be avoiding the MC, that’s the most typical way to misconstrue another person’s intent.
He’s waiting for the strap! That’s all I kept thinking of when reading how many times he straddled her, lmao.
I’ll have to play this at some point, thanks for letting me know.
This is shocking! I mean, none of my MCs allowed Bobby in either, but I thought Dezh would. Have any of your MCs kissed Bobby? Also, I think you’ve spoken about MBTI before; if you’ve assigned one, I was wondering which MBTI is Dezh?
Bobby is obnoxious, yet that’s one of her best-written characters in Wayhaven. The irony. Plus, if she’ll allow the MC to date a villain, Bobby seems like a possibility if the idea were pitched in the right way, maybe.
A bit? That’s an understatement. A and M’s paths are a lot of rinse and repeat. M!3 at least seemed to progress, but b4 will likely make that step back to the bakery scene, so M can be a dick again and we start all over with the “derrrp, I don’t understand!” bullshit all the way through the end of b4. At which point, it may seem progress was made only to reset again for the b5 angst where it’ll all be undone again.
They will, I’m sure. They’ll actually get a complete romance, had I to bet, while we M- and A-mancers get fucked over with more hot/cold crap. It’d be hilarious if they actually get a full-on relationship, something M-mancers will apparently never fucking get.
I don’t either, at least not for a LI that will only be available for one book in the series.
Perhaps she just has a different definition of toxic than we do? For example, I don’t think she sees A as emotionally abusive–it’s clear she thinks that behavior is romantic. With N, from what she’s said on tumblr, it seems she sees N’s “overprotectiveness” as a possible problem for some MCs, but not as a red flag, or as toxicly overly controlling. On the other hand, I think she sees M as toxic because of their lack of manners instead of the hot/cold behavior that is emotionally abusive, even if unintentional. In the same way she sees N’s horny behavior as acceptable while M’s is not.
I think this makes sense. Staying in one place when you’re being hunted is stupid, especially once word gets out that you’re there!
I wouldn’t count on it. Every member of UB needs therapy, but they don’t get it. The Agency’s solution seems to be to leave their employees to their own devices unless they are a danger to others, in which case they just wipe their memories like they did to M. Helping them isn’t on the agenda.
I mean, look at a kidnapped Tapeesa/Vieno/Elidor in b3. They don’t show up to work for days–and they all seem to live there–and no one tries to find them. If I just didn’t show up to work (online, since I work remotely) or answer calls, they’d be calling my emergency contact or trying to hunt me down. The Agency doesn’t seem to give a shit.
I think Sera meant for them to be non-controlling of their agents, but it goes past that point into them not giving a damn about those in their employ. It also goes into the realm of allowing people in the field who aren’t emotionally/psychologically capable of being there. Rebecca is just one example. It’s like they only do extremes–completely leave people alone to figure it out themselves or wipe their memories/lock them in a torture box, with no in between. Nothing personal to fit the case or employee.
Basically, the Agency really sucks.
Personally, I think she’s an idiot. Or severely damaged to the point where she shouldn’t be making calls about anything.
Romances
It’s the same with the way I’m playing it, except for M!3 from chapter 14 (the not-a-date) until the end of the chapter where M shows up at the MC’s room. The last chapter was just freaking weird and forced. There was nothing romantic about it, and it seemed like it was just tacked on as an afterthought.
Yeah, I don’t get that. N was presented as this romantic, not wanting to have a date until the pressure was off and not even making out with the MC before that. Then, they jump right into a relationship and turn hornier than M. It’s not suave, it is weird. It’s like she decided she wanted N to be the best at romance and the best at sex, trying to get them to fill M’s trope as well as their own.
Hm. That’s an interesting observation. I felt bad for M when reading the N bff scene (and it makes me glad that A is the one Dezh is closest to by far–A is ahead by like 10 points by the end of b3, lol). M is used to N judging them, that much is apparent.
OMG, that’d be bad. And interesting as hell.
This is why I really think Sera has a problem writing A or M in a way where they are the ones to make the effort to seek out the MC to repair things between them or to progress things. It’s always on the MC to do.
I wouldn’t count on it. She’s determined to drag this shit out with M as long as possible.
It was. My husband played it on one of his LT routes (originally he went with Ava, then made me hit back and choose Nat when I told him Danger could bang Nat on the pool table, lol). He thought the scene was bizarre and ill-fitting to Nat’s character, since it was just Nat staring at his ass then wanting to fuck (and that was fucking, not a sensual expression of love for N and the MC). He was shocked because the closet he got to that in his Morgan run was car sex after dinner, and it was just as meaningless, just weirder and less sexy in how it was written.
Agree with all of this. A is the only one that makes sense, but even then… ffs, the MC just became a full-time member of UB and they begin the dynamic with avoiding the MC? How the hell are they supposed to be a team, then? Even if it’s just the LI avoiding the MC and not the entire team, it is a bad way to start out things.
Like you said, it’s really disrespectful of F, N, and M to do this. I wouldn’t be surprised if M and A re the only ones who make it obvious, just to “hurt” the MC since there’s nothing between them yet.
I was thinking that maybe this is an excuse to have most of the game be about the villain (since we have so many POVs from them or from non-MC characters in this one), but also to focus more on Verda, Tina, Bobby, and Douglas. In reality, we only have three or four actual scenes with the LI per book, anyway, it’s just less obvious because the MC is around the whole team so much and the LI is there as well. It’s going to become a lot more obvious if those scenes don’t include the LI and if the “work” scenes are all about the Tina/Verda and Bobby/Douglas paths.
From what I can tell, she listens to her audience–the ones that tell her everything is perfect…
The same can be said for the progression of A and M. There are ways it could be written where things would happen faster (she even admitted this about the MCs who were trying to tell M they loved them, but she didn’t allow it because M would’ve known that’s how they feel, too, and she wants to drag this shit out for another book or two). For a choice game, this game has very few choices that actually affect the story.
I can’t even see an argument happening with two of my MCs. In b3, when Mason said he was tempted every day be her blood, her first response would’ve been, “Then drink some… it would probably help.” In her eyes, it’d be like her sitting in a room full of chocolate croissants and not being able to eat one. Let her eat one and that “I want a damned croissant!” feeling would fade. She would’ve offered in a heartbeat.
I think it was @JBento who said it, and was correct, in that UB acts more like Fae than vampires. Murphy kind of behaved like an actual vampire. UB does not. Not one of them.
Any time!
Theories
Yep. I am all for this and think it would be a great plot for one of the installments. If it were done right, anyway.
I thought the same thing about the plot for b3, but the execution was terrible and the plot was all over the place instead of focused on the fact that the Trappers were trying to get the MC. I get that she was trying to make it so that all the people were kidnapped in a way to draw the MC out, but it was kind of… stupid. Kidnapping random people and someone the MC has talked to twice (unless it’s Elidor, but it’s still not someone the MC is close to) was a dumb plan, and the MC really shouldn’t have been so broken over the rando lady being taken. Especially not given that UV came right out and said that the facility is a rumor mill, which is how they knew about the LI.
But yeah, having someone out to kill the MC to “protect” either supernaturals or humans (or both) would be perfect.
I agree. This would be a great way to have them get their memories back and deal with it, without having to worry about them killing themselves or anyone else while they are working through it.
Yeah, I think for the LT that everything will come out by the end of b4, with N either confronting A or the MC, or the MC breaking down and admitting their feelings for A to N, or even A finally breaking and kissing a LT MC (extra angst if N catches them, but I’m not sure Sera would do that). I don’t think it would get immediately resolved, with the choice being made, but I think it will be out in the open. That’s why I figure A will fully commit to the MC at the end of b4–if that happens on the solo route, then the LT route can finally come to a head.
Yeah I figure the end of b5. Sanja’s comments to M at the carnival indicated M has to figure things out before the “darkness” comes or whatever. I figure Sera won’t allow that, so we’ll go through b5 with the MC fighting to save M from whatever shit happens to them (memories returning, maybe?) with M still fighting against acknowledging their own feelings until it’s almost too late (I’m also thinking there may be a choice to stay away from UB or just the LI for most of the book and only save them at the end).
Well, firstly, I am convinced we will never get an actual “official” relationship with M, given things she has said (the MC will just “know” after M figures out their feelings, which they won’t actually voice in direct words). So instead of an official relationship, it will just be M realizing things.
Secondly, she won’t let A and M both stop fighting the MC at the same time because she refuses to let things happen at the same time. Plus, A is in love with the MC, just fighting it. M is not and is still fighting against the idea of it meaning anything. So M will have to take longer. Plus, she hates M, so she will delay it as long as possible, lol. That means end of b5.
I’ll see how it plays out. I don’t read the code while playing, but the first time I play, I play in the browser so I can see what variables are changing.
If it’s an obvious choice (like: “go talk to Alima”), then Dezh would avoid it. She has no desire to talk to Ms Perfect and have her nose rubbed in the fact that she’s just a piece of ass for Mason–she already knows that. And since b4 will be M avoiding her, she’s going to assume that M is done with her, unless M comes right out and says it’s because of her blood. In which case, she’d tell him to just drink some. The problem with this whole setup is that she isn’t going to want to remain a part of UB if Mason refuses to have anything to do with her. She’d immediately ask for a transfer, but that won’t be allowed. Yet another thing that will require me to rewrite scenes.
Yeah, the bakery incident pretty much made her shut down with him. It’s like she’s walking on eggshells, waiting for him to be done. That’s one of the big reasons playing the Tina or Verda routes didn’t work for her–after the bakery, she would never ask Mason for anything, especially not something that resembles a date. There needed to be some other way to get him to go with her, but Sera didn’t provide it and made the MC beg, with M spitting in their face with the “not a chance” crap. Even if Dezh had gotten the will up to ask, as soon as Mason said that, she would’ve gone stone-faced and walked away without a word.
M regressing is going to suck. The worst part is that she’ll write the MC as UwU and begging about it, instead of being insecure or worrying that things are over and leaving it to the LI to come fix things. She never has M go to the MC to fix things. 
I know!!
On Dezh, Bobby, and personality
Dezh started out with a huge grudge against Bobby. It is beginning to fade. I didn’t like the whole “he stole your paper” thing (she wouldn’t really care–in fact, she would’ve written a paper for him, had he asked), so I had to come up with another reason for her canon. Still, she’s starting to let it go. It’s funny watching her become softer as time goes on, though in some ways I think it’s because Mason is breaking her, lol.
Both Z (Adam) and Triss (N) did. Z did it because she’s so flighty and Triss did it because he caught her off guard.
I didn’t assign one, but I took it as her. She’s an ISFP-T. Moderately introverted (68%), very observant (87%, which is funny, because she can’t read Mason at all), just barely feeling over thinking, very prospective (79%) and 55% turbulent. The description really fits her, too, except for some sites describe ISFPs as charming and she’s not unless she makes a conscious effort to be.
I totally want this to happen, and since a new unit gets introduced every single game, the MC could be cornered by UB, they lock eyes with the LI, whisper, “Please don’t…” Then a smoke-bomb or… the anti-vampire drug (I forget what it’s called) goes off and the MC gets whisked away by a unit in gas masks. The MC gets taken down to a bunker like area with all sorts of different weapons, the lights above are specially made UV lights that mimic the UV rays of the sun to weaken certain supernaturals, and when they take off their masks and we ask what kind of supernatural they are, they just go:
"The human kind. We're the ones that are called in if the supes can't be trusted to do their jobs. The secret unit that they're not allowed to know about. Special Ops. Unit Omega."
Omega being a team that everyone had been told disbanded or was cut entirely from the agency, keeping them as much a secret as possible.
As Chani said, I think Sera has a different concept of toxic than us folks here and people praising her left and right doesn’t help either, people just love that toxic drama apparently.
About Rebecca
iirc in B1 it said that the MC has spent pretty much their whole life in Wayhaven so no moving around for them. I think the Rebecca plot line isn’t as deep as we want it to be, it’s just her mourning for over 20 years her husband, neglecting her child while dedicating her life to the agency and now that their child is involved with said agency she wants to reconnect. Sera said that essentially Rebecca never wanted to be a mother and agreed to have a child just for Rook’s sake and after he died being around the MC was too painful for Rebecca because they reminded her too much of Rook. I tried to give Rebecca the benefit of the doubt when I first started this series but now I just see her as a very selfish parent that instead of trying to deal with her grief and be there for a child that has no other relative close to them left them to the cure of the nannies provided by the agency and called it a day until Murphy showed up.
About N
N!3 was so cringey, I’m still mourning what could have been. The first time we can be intimate with them is in the middle of a field after a workout or after doing research and the next time is on a freaking pool table, nothing about those scenes is romantic or sexy to me. I was expecting some romantic candlelit bedroom after the dinner date or something along those lines but nope. The only sex scene I like so far is the one with M in b2 at the detective’s apartment. Even the kiss with A was so anticlimactic and cringe and I’ve been waiting 3 books for it, I can’t even imagine how the first sex scene would go.
A poly with N and M would be so good and I never realized how judgmental N is toward M until you pointed it out, I recognized a couple of instances but in truth there are so many. UB is supposed to have lived together for many years (maybe even a century in the case of M and N) and some of their dynamics are so toxic. It’s the same problem I have with F, their inappropriate comments are disguised/justified as banter, but they always end up making A or M uncomfortable and F keeps making them no matter how many times someone tells them to shut it. Whereas M or A are never judgmental, I can’t recall once when M said something out of line to one of the vamps and yes, A has some reservations and voice their concern but are still supportive.
That would be so interesting to see but probably too dark for Wayhaven, we’re 3 books in and these vampires have only drank blood from caprisun pouches.
I’ve been trying to avoid Sera’s tumblr for reasons, but istg every ask about M has been a character assassination and I just don’t get it. Making M go back to the bakery behaviour erases all their growth and I hope they have a better arc than that and some useless Alima drama.
I can also see Sera dragging it until B6. B4 is when N finally open their eyes, b5 with the big big evil when the MC realises who they want to be with and B6 when the MC makes their final decision. Having all this tension solved in B4 leaves 3 books of essentially A or N route with a brief mention here and there about how one or the other is silently suffering for having lost their soulmate or whatever. I mean if I were either A or N I would distance myself for some time, mostly in N’s case and especially if I was in a relationship with the MC and just got dumped for my best friend. Sticking around like a third wheel makes for such a healthy work environment 
Sera also said N&A will still be friends despite what happens with LT…
So I’m really curious how she will solve it because it could end up so anticlimactic.
If it wasn’t me who said it, I certainly THOUGHT it. Repeatedly. They even originate in a magical world where animals talk. All of these people are fairies, except they’re much incredibly stupider and would have their asses handed out to them by actual word-twisting fae.
Yeah, I agree with you. The LT is the one that will drag on the longest, for two reasons:
1 - once it resolves, you’re just left with an individual route; and
2 - the LT is the original canon route. It was supposed to be the linchpin of the series. This shit ain’t getting resolved any time soon.
Besides B1, Wayhaven has been nothing but anticlimactic anyway.
Well, as much as I love this idea, the Agency wouldn’t do it because they’re too damned incompetent. But it’s a really cool idea.
What kills me is that there are plenty of sources for non-toxic drama in this series, but it’s never touched. Instead, it’s just the LIs being emotionally abusive asshats when drama is desired (which it almost always is in A and M’s routes).
On Rebecca
Yep. That’s what I see as well.
When my husband was getting through his second LT character, there was a comment that could be made in with the chamber about Rebecca hiding that she was one of them. She basically just tells the MC that it was none of their business. Really? The MC is being summoned to the chamber and they had no business knowing anything that they were getting into? That MC of his loves Rebecca and forgives her for everything as time moves on, but that comment pissed her off so much she refused to let R go with her to meet the auctioneer. She doesn’t believe she can trust her anymore.
A and M are good friends to the rest of the team, MC included. F is the shittiest friend I’ve ever seen, and Dezh wants to kick his ass every time he opens his stupid mouth. And N… the judginess has gotten old.
This is why I’m convinced she hates M. Everything she says in asks confirms it, and it’s why she doesn’t mind jerking M-mancers around, because, “if you don’t like it, go try N’s route, hehehehehehe!” 
Don’t hold your breath.
And if you aren’t on her Patreon, I recommend not joining right now. The fall scenarios won’t even be with UB this go around–and it looks like one of the scenarios will be Alima, given the votes so far. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if it’s Alima and M fucking.
The LT
The part of me that writes wants to argue that having three books for the rejected member of the LT to deal with things and rebuild relationships would be a good thing. Mainly because it’s needed, instead of having the rejected one shrug, look pitiful for two minutes, then get over it.
The part of me that knows how Mishka has written these “romances” so far knows that you’re right, though. Dragging it out is more her style, even if N realizes what’s going on at the end of b4.
The work environment with UB is unhealthy period. From having Rebecca as the handler–and the fact that she has shown to be incapable of making the right decision when the MC is involved–to having two LIs who mindfuck the MC (since M is going to return to it in b4), a third who is turning into a yandere, and the fourth being… an overgrown child, the whole atmosphere is toxic, no matter who you’re romancing. Also throw in the fact that the LI is apparently overcome with temptation to get the MC’s blood but no opportunity to actually address it, and you have a disaster.
Oh, it will be, had I to bet.
Nate: “Well, I hope you’re happy together. You deserve it.” sniffle
A and MC: “Thanks.”
Everything goes back to normal…
I’d pay to see this…
Yep. Anywhere there has been an opportunity to actually have something climactic happen, it’s either interrupted or ruined.
I get that she’s into emotional edging, but there’s a point where you edge for so long and you just end up sore and turned off.
Weekly update is up:
A few things of note:
I need to switch from thinking about the romance as a long term thing that can grow over multiple books, to something that needs to start, get involved, and then end in one book!
I find it amusing that those romancing the villain will apparently get a more satisfying romance than A and M-mancers have gotten thus far, and it will actually progress instead of dragging on for books on end.
And the whole “growth” thing makes me shake my head, since A and M get resets at the beginning of every book. Resetting and retconning are not signs of growth. And I don’t consider it a treat to have her refusing to allow things to move forward in two of the romances by stopping character interactions that would move them forward, especially since it comes off as a way to just pad things enough to make seven books. And to torture players who choose one of those romances by never allowing gratification.
As for the spruce up of b1: Honestly, other than fixing the few bugs that still exist, I wish she’d leave it alone. I liked the prose in b1 better. It was still flowery, but far less so than b3, which is so overly flowery that it takes away the emotional punch of some scenes due to the sentence structure used.
I also can’t help but wonder if the “fixes” will make Murphy more cartoonish, like the b3 auctioneer, and spoil more of what’s going on as the book progresses. Murphy was the best villain thus far, and I’d hate to see him ruined so he matches the shallower, more ridiculous nature of the auctioneer. I think I’ll be saving the old chapters of the code, just in case.
I’ve the feeling Mishka says a thing only for saying the opposite the next post.
Yep. The only one who could be taken seriously.
But I also want to make sure there are points where you can end that romance if you want to, especially because it might get too intense for some people. Definitely want that exit option in there at multiple places!
No fair, the villain romance gets all the good stuff we want on the main routes!!
Tbh I would probably do the villain route out of curiosity alone and only if the character is actually interesting, I’m already kinda put off since it’s an one book only thing, depending on how much time passes in the book it’ll feel as only a fling for me most likely.
Yeah, like several different exit ramps (and likely entry points).
While we get that on N’s route ad nauseum (“Are you sure you don’t want to start a relationship? Really? Well, you’re in love with N, anyway, and it’s killing you to say no, no matter what you say!”), and even on F’s, we don’t get any entry points to M or A’s romance. And no temporary exit points to escape the emotional abuse.
I really wish A and M -mancers could do the villain romance as a fling. With A, it makes sense for the MC to move on, since A just told them it’s over for good. With M, since they can’t make up their mind and are too fucking stupid to realize they are in love–and given that they’re going to be retconned and avoid the MC in b4–then it makes sense there, too.
If A said anything, the MC could be like, “You said it’s over, even though we had nothing to begin with. Are you saying you lied?” And let A be in pain until they pull their heads out of their ass.
If M said anything, the MC could snort, “You called me a slam pig in public and are now avoiding me like I have the plague. Are you gonna tell me you haven’t been fucking anything with a pulse in all this time you’ve avoided me?” waves a hand “It doesn’t matter. You said I’m nothing to you but a sex toy, so why the fuck do you care what I do?” And let M either figure things out quicker or sulk until they do.
Yep. I actually did like Falk, but he wasn’t really a villain, so I don’t count him as such. The auctioneer was a damned joke.
I really wish this was an option or any option that stops the MC from being a perpetual punching bag really.
We can always use their own words against them too, they did say that there is and there will be nothing but a friends with benefits relationship with them, not to mention exclusivity was never even implied in their words.
Same here. Since M is being retconned and will be avoiding the MC, the MC needs to have a chance to actually say something about it. Or shut them out and make it damned obvious that they’re doing it. Going from b3!M from chapters 14-20 back to a chapter 4 bakery incident M shouldn’t be something the MC just automatically overlooks. If M wants to cut ties, fine, then cut ties and deal with the repercussions of it. Not a forced apology M doesn’t really mean and back to status quo of getting laid whenever M wants it.
And with A, I hope the MC can shut them down hard if they start their longing look bullshit again. You don’t get to tell someone that it’s “over” and then keep doing that shit. It’s not fair to the MC, and the MC needs to tell A shove it.
The worst part is that, in both cases, the MC will be forced to be mopey and forgiving no matter what A and M do to them. And likely, the MC will be the one going to them to beg for more.
Exactly. I really wish Mishka would allow M-mancers and A-mancers to fall into a semi-romance with the villain instead of just keeping it for those on the friend route. Maybe that would wake those two up.
Despite her falling into bed with Mason the first chance she got, Dezh isn’t the type to just fuck around and have a long list of f-buddies (she’s slept with three people, including Mason and Bobby). But this hot and cold crap with Mason is wearing on her to the point where, if Mason is blowing her off and appearing to fuck Alima or someone else, Bobby could probably get her into bed if he caught her at the right moment and wasn’t being a total dick to her. I’d like to see the villain do it instead, especially if they were actually nice and openly caring instead of fucking with her head the way Mason’s doing.
Same 
…ironically I think book 1 is her best writing out of all three books imo 
The worse part is that if it’s not retconned then M will probably be on A level of denial just so the drama can be extended and having an actual relationship with M would happen in later books.
I really hate that scene.
I doubt this will ever happen since we have the whole soulmate thing going on keeping us bounded to our RO and even though I agree that jealousy would wake them up at least a little bit, we probably won’t have any chance for that to be an option we get.
I actually suspect this is how it will be done. The temptation of the MC’s blood can be the “excuse” M has for distancing from the MC, and that distance will give them the supposed perspective they need to ignore everything they’ve been feeling and write off everything in b3 as them just being concerned for a team member. Until they see the MC again and then they’ll do the hot/cold thing, reminding the MC that they mean nothing and are just a slam pig to M, because they said from the beginning that it meant nothing. All while fighting the draw to the MC and shitting on the MC to push them away, convincing themselves that it’s better that way.
I’m wondering how Alima is going to be used to help M hurt the MC more. If the MC can choose to meet them or not, it’s possible that something happens to make the MC think M is banging Alima again, so there’s a choice to confront her or let it go. Confronting her will likely result in a better response from M than just ignoring it and letting it go that M supposedly screwed Alima, since Mishka rewards the things that create the most drama.
Me, too. I hated the whole idea of the MC going to the warehouse to beg M for a place to stay after the bakery thing. My MC would’ve slept in a ditch first. It worked for N and F-mancers, but not for A or M-mancers. Going there really should’ve been a choice, especially for M-mancers. M almost never makes the effort to seek out the MC, forcing the MC to always chase M like they’re desperate, but after the bakery thing it really needed to be M making the effort.
Anything that would get M to wake up won’t happen yet. I suspect A will stop fighting by the end of b4 for whatever reason, though, and the MC can start a relationship with them. M won’t, and we’ll go into b5 with M still being a damned imbecile and jerking the MC around.
Yep. I fear the “sprucing up” will be adding more over-the-top stuff and burying us in forty thousand extra words of flowery prose.
Having worked for the government (Army Strong, Baby) and having gone through the government standard version of “therapy”
The answer is: even if it was mandated in her case. It would’ve done absolutely nothing. Probably would’ve just made things worse. They’re not there to help you and since you’re not a paying customer to be milked like in the case of private sector therapists, they have no incentive to even keep you around at all. Plus Rebecca seems like the kind of person to just tell a therapist what they want to hear so she can leave.
Geez, army types can actually visit a therapist? I thought it was banned, like with severe flight and travel restrictions for anyone in goverment structures.
Nah you’re just not allowed to get any effective therapy
If you suddenly became a well adjusted and sane person you might start rethinking the military life