It’s my favourite online insult! Coming from a complete internet stranger, it stings even more!
Not that I would want to hurt your feelings GreenWizzerd, you have to understand that I hold no ill will towards you. After all, noone loves you more than I do.
On the surface, it’s the same as saying “I love you more than anyone else,” but the structure of the sentence causes the person to hear/read a negative thing halfway through the sentence (Nobody loves you) before the speaker turns it positive toward themselves. There’s a cruel subconscious play here, putting Ethan’s need to feel loved in jeopardy and then setting herself up as the only one to meet that need. And if called on it, she has the innocent defense that she just meant she loves him more than anyone. You should always assume that a person meant to… Read more »
In all honesty, this is a good way to convey the issues to those who might be in a similar situation but not know it.
I was in a toxic work environment and just thought I wasn’t good enough, but later when I heard others talk about it, I realised how bad the workplace was. I wish I knew about these things earlier so I could have gotten out of there before by soul was destroyed.
That’s my main gripe with this arc. People who are like this IRL aren’t this blatantly bad with no redeeming features. That’s what makes their bullshit so easy to handwave once you’re entrenched in it. She would have been a much more impactful character if she had split the comments section.
I think it’s more that Tim is focusing on showing us the times where she is being toxic. Ethan sees the times that we don’t which is why he’s so blinded to the warning signs. He’s commented that she has been hurt in the past, which hasn’t been shown to us. It all depends on the goal. I think Tim wants us to see the manipulation and the cruelty and to experience the distress of seeing Ethan be drawn in despite it. Toxic people don’t always show their nice side to outsiders. That’s part of the strategy. Allow others to… Read more »
Think more about where Ethan is right now as well. Where his head is at going into this relationship. With his powers gone, he’s had to deal with feeling more physically fragile than he has in a long time, and then he watches Lucas find this relationship with Ben. And while it’s great, it’s taking Lucas away at this vulnerable moment for Ethan (and amplifying his own desire for a similar relationship amidst worries he’ll never find one). So yes, the dial on Nicole is ratcheted up a bit for the audience’s sake, but think about what she’s bringing to… Read more »
I brother was in a bad relationship, and when he was told “You can do better,” he shot back with, “Okay. With who?” He wasn’t looking, and no one was offering. So he stayed.
People lock themselves into these things, and usually it’s because they are people who care about commitment and are good folks. They see the reasons to keep going, instead of the reasons to get away.
You hit the nail on the head. Assomeone who has been chronically single for most of my life, nothing burns me up more than someone saying “you can do better.” In this day and age, I’ve literally given up because I don’t think I could ever do better than the crap I’ve had in the past. At this point I’m better off single. Although it’s a subtle difference, telling someone “you DESERVE better” is a far better way to get through to them. Because even if that person never finds another person again, telling someone that they deserve better than… Read more »
Well as someone whose been in emotionally abusive relationships, you have nailed this incredibly. The fact that there isn’t any real disagreement on her being toxic shows how clear it’s been made that this is toxic. And we see how easily she manipulates someone as vulnerable as Ethan is. I worry for the fallout in his brain when this comes to a sticky end. Will he blame Lucas (ie “you never liked her, you drove her away”) Or will he realise how toxic she was despite her being able to make him feel “good” even if just for a few… Read more »
Not every “villain” needs a redemption story and complex motives that many people can relate to.
And we certainly don’t need to be gaslighted into accepting why a gaslighter is justified in her gaslighting.
Didn’t he though? She certainly is attentive to him, which is generally considered a positive trait in a partner. Certainly seems to love him, even if she takes it to extremes. And while a comic character, she’s drawn in a way that seems to make her supposed to be physically attractive, she’s certainly in good shape. She loves to share her interests, even if she does that to the exclusion of others. I think the main problem isn’t that she doesn’t have positive traits, it’s that she has positive traits which, when turned to extreme levels, become toxic. Her traits… Read more »
Saying she has positive traits taken to extremes suggest that this could just be made better if she held back a little, which is hogwash. This isn’t love, this is ownership. This isn’t attentiveness, this is supervision. This isn’t sharing her interests, this is forcing her interests. Asking her to “limit her traits” would essentially just be a slightly more subtle manipulation. This cannot be made good. There is no saving the relationship, because there is no relationship. There was an audition for the role of “my boyfriend” and he got the part, and will continue to get the part… Read more »
Think of someone who has been in many relationships and something bad always happens. Maybe the person got them into a game and they played it very heavily before the partner screwed with the person. That person is now so far into the game that he/she may not be able to go to anything else. Also the person may have been cheated on so much that by now they seem to always be on the defense or a little paranoid. I am not going to say she is a good person, but I do agree that perhaps due to her… Read more »
I’m not saying that this person can’t eventually have good, healthy relationships. But I think it’s done here. Even if a rogue relationship counselor falls out of the sky and clocks her in the head and she realizes everything she’s doing wrong – the patterns are set, the expectations are set, and this has been going since day 1. It’s hard to return to “normal” when your relationship has never had a “normal,” especially because Ethan’s patterns of behavior will be centered around being directed and controlled by her. And yes, these things could also be broken with effort, but… Read more »
He’s doing a great job putting in all the toxic spouse stereotypes into a single character. And that’s not that much of fiction, as many people meet others like that, when they’re desperate to find someone. The fallout will be spectacular (and I’m only using that word here, because it’s fiction – I wouldn’t dare using it in a real situation like this).
In fact, I think that Tim’s being rather kind to his audience, because in real life you usually wouldn’t get hit over the head with this as badly. You would have moments when they were honestly really great. That’s what would make the manipulation so terrible, because you wouldn’t know for sure if it was you being selfish, or her being manipulative.
If anything, Tim’s showing us about a gaslighting relationship while very clearly not gaslighting the audience, which is hard to do and I applaud.
‘
Yes, she’s a great character. I like her just as much as Dolores Umbridge…
Gonfrask
11 days ago
Can be possible Ethan is starting to notice the tendency?
Flars
11 days ago
Ok so at the beginning Nicole sounded just like a stereotypical hypermacho dude, just gender swapped. But this is now much more than that, which makes me join the crowd that thinks that Tim has had direct experience with this kind of person (either in his own relationship or with someone else). Either direct experience, or a lot of really in depth research, because this is so close to how these people operate, it physically hurts me in real life, both from the cringe but also from the memories. Can’t wait for the resolution of the plot. Poor Ethan, no… Read more »
BBG
11 days ago
You know it’s good writing, when it starts to feel very personal.
StepGamer Dad
11 days ago
The Ellipsis at the end of the last panel make me hopeful that Ethan is starting to realize the truth. Especially after Lucas’ speech about the giving and taking in a relationship and how it’s wrong for one partner to do all the giving while the other does nothing but take.
Mor
11 days ago
Damn, she’s so toxic, Joker would turn ten times over…
valorant better than Baldure’s Gate 3 ? that’s another red flag !
Robert
11 days ago
Ah, the classic “let´s do my idea first and see if I can´t distract you from your idea later on” trope. Been there, sadly. This character resonates so well with us.
ReaverRogue
11 days ago
Oh GOD say it’s starting to fucking click for him.
Get out man! Run!
pookysgirl
11 days ago
Making a motion to change this chapter’s name to “The Cringe.” Any seconds?
Paula
11 days ago
That is so cringe…Come’on Nicole, would it kill you to play BG just a little? It pains me to see Ethan so disappointed.
sacremon
11 days ago
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m just waiting until she kills Ethan, which when he learns he can still respawn.
MVG
11 days ago
So we are all in agreement that she is going to murder him and that is how he will discover he still has his powers right?
I’m thinking she’s secretly that Captain Prime lady, or whatever her name is, the Supe who shows up after they deal with the problem
Naustghoul
11 days ago
Nerp… The gauntlet is thrown and the writing is on the wall. I say that she is going to follow the arc of old lover falling for heroes arch-nemesis. That way we are all sad/happy/conflicted over that outcome.
Drew
11 days ago
For God’s sake, lady! He OWNS A VIDEO GAME SHOP!!! I think he might have SOME clue what a good game is.
I think it has less to do with growing a spine and more to do with realizing he’s being manipulate and gaslit. As the reader it is easy for us to see, but if you ever met someone in a abusive relationship the victim often doesn’t realize they’re a victim.
Chris
10 days ago
I had this premonition that Ethan is going to break up with her, and she’s going to go axe-murder crazy on him, and then he’s going to realize that he still has his super power.
And then it’s going to be awkward.
Carlos
10 days ago
Seriously though… Tim, shouldn’t the recent comics bring some sort of… trigger warning?
I mean, I have never been through any of this, and it gives some really fucked up feelings
But like it has been said before in the comments, this is also a “digestable” to let people know and understand about these toxic relationships
some guy
10 days ago
The red flag parade has so many red flags by now, it could span an entire country.
Ocramot
10 days ago
Please, Tim, stop, my pain is getting to a point where I don’t want to read this anymore
I’m a *dude* and it’s painful. And the worst female manipulation I ever dealt with wasn’t even really like this (waaaay more explicit that my hobbies / perferences were “dumb” … coming from a raging boozer).
It is a bit over the top EXCEPT that if a dude is getting “treasure type O” out of it, he’ll put up with it s lot more. Probably the most unrealistic part is how little they’re actually fighting, most guys aren’t nearly as passive… but the arc is called Showdown, so we’ll see.
There’s something fishy going on here and I can’t wait to see it!
Mildar
10 days ago
What if Ethan actually gets better than her? That seems like a very dangerous territory
Figgly
10 days ago
dang, she almost got SO CLOSE to maybe not sounding like a complete dinkwad in this one.
Phaet
10 days ago
Awwww. She’s so nice to him.
Tales
10 days ago
Ninety-nine red flags
Waving in the summer sky
Baldur’s Gate or Valorant
Play them both which ones worse!
Oh the screen springs to life
Lights up the eager eye
And changing focus on the fly
when ninety-nine red flags go by
KingZantair
10 days ago
I swear to god, if it’s her making light of good video games that snaps him out of it, i’m gonna do something terrible.
B b
10 days ago
It’s gonna be such a bait and switch if this arc isn’t about abusive relationships but is just an allegory for how soul destroying competitive multiplayer is.
Mattias
10 days ago
A tad much with the whole toxic stoey arch, it has been a while since I have had a laugh here
Roger
10 days ago
I’m starting to be the one to develop PTSD after seeing that thing disguised under the skin of a woman. Nothing is OK with her. She’s the worst partner you can ever have, except she does not hurt him physically. But she’s hurting him nonetheless.
But really, I’m having trouble to stand reading this story. That’s how bad I don’t want to see her ever again.
I gotta ask. And, this by no means indicates anything regarding Tim’s current marriage.
Does Tim have personal experience with this type of relationship (either by himself or knowledge about a friend/family member)?
From my experience it is very accurate, and it just seems something may be hitting a bit close to home.
Last edited 10 days ago by Nik
Sparkax
10 days ago
DANGER!!! DANGER!!! DANGER WILL ROBINSON!!!!
Sweetos
10 days ago
oh hell to the fuck no, no one disses on BALDUS’S GATE 3 like that. light the fire, Ethan. burn the bridges
Giggity Goo
10 days ago
Me over here trying to figure out if her dissing Baldur’s Gate 3 is what finally pushes him over the edge, or if he goes back to Lucas saying “I dunno… Maybe Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t as good as I thought it was…” and when Lucas tries to point out how brainwashed he’s getting it drives a wedge even further between them.
Ha. As if they’re going to have time to play Baldur’s Gate 3.
He’s “So close to being good, he just needs more practice.” They’re going to be playing Valorant all night, and when he complains that they never tried BG3, it’ll be because he sucked at Valorant.
“This game sucks anyways” happens on a future night, when she makes a big show of letting him decide what they do.
ThatGuy
10 days ago
I know folks say they think she’s a Troll plant, but I don’t believe so. She’s just awful in her own crazy way.
If anything, this could be the origin story to her becoming a new villain for Ethan and Lucas.
Quinn
10 days ago
Translation: Your interests are a waste of time, my interest are actually important. Here’s an empty promise I’ll make sure I never have to keep. Enjoy some toxic reinsurance that I value you and nobody else does or will but me.
Kevin Greenbaum
10 days ago
Ethan is almost carrying the red flag for her and is just to color blind to see it.
I think he is seeing it, the baldur’s gate thing may very well have been a test, hence his silence at the end, cause she absolutely failed that test.
Justin
10 days ago
ethan… u deserve better man…..
Brett
10 days ago
I’ll have to sit out reading this chapter till it’s finished. It hurts to read more than when I was reading the ending of CTRL ALT DEL version 1 for the first time. :'(
24
“Nobody loves you more than me” is such a vile thing to say to somebody.
It’s my favourite online insult! Coming from a complete internet stranger, it stings even more!
Not that I would want to hurt your feelings GreenWizzerd, you have to understand that I hold no ill will towards you. After all, noone loves you more than I do.
lmao, I will remember to use this line next time I need to absolutely nuke someone in an online shitfest
On the surface, it’s the same as saying “I love you more than anyone else,” but the structure of the sentence causes the person to hear/read a negative thing halfway through the sentence (Nobody loves you) before the speaker turns it positive toward themselves. There’s a cruel subconscious play here, putting Ethan’s need to feel loved in jeopardy and then setting herself up as the only one to meet that need. And if called on it, she has the innocent defense that she just meant she loves him more than anyone. You should always assume that a person meant to… Read more »
Actually a very fitting line. I like her about as much as i like the orange guy saying stuff like “nobody is less racist than me”
They way she means it, yes.
Good god this arc hurts me in the trauma
Same. 😳
Oof
Jesus Christ, Tim, who hurt you or a relative of you?
In all honesty, this is a good way to convey the issues to those who might be in a similar situation but not know it.
I was in a toxic work environment and just thought I wasn’t good enough, but later when I heard others talk about it, I realised how bad the workplace was. I wish I knew about these things earlier so I could have gotten out of there before by soul was destroyed.
Agreed. Emotional abuse is insidious.
I really can’t wait until she’s gone… I’m getting flashbacks from an old ex thanks to this girl.
I love all the comments she’s getting.
That means that Tim is doing a really great job writing this character.
Also he’s wasted no time giving her any positive traits so that we’d feel conflicted in disliking her.
I dunno, she’s big and shredded. Definitely positive traits to me.
Sure, she’s a control freak but, I’m just saying it would have been 10/10 for me till she started talking.
That’s my main gripe with this arc. People who are like this IRL aren’t this blatantly bad with no redeeming features. That’s what makes their bullshit so easy to handwave once you’re entrenched in it. She would have been a much more impactful character if she had split the comments section.
I think it’s more that Tim is focusing on showing us the times where she is being toxic. Ethan sees the times that we don’t which is why he’s so blinded to the warning signs. He’s commented that she has been hurt in the past, which hasn’t been shown to us. It all depends on the goal. I think Tim wants us to see the manipulation and the cruelty and to experience the distress of seeing Ethan be drawn in despite it. Toxic people don’t always show their nice side to outsiders. That’s part of the strategy. Allow others to… Read more »
Think more about where Ethan is right now as well. Where his head is at going into this relationship. With his powers gone, he’s had to deal with feeling more physically fragile than he has in a long time, and then he watches Lucas find this relationship with Ben. And while it’s great, it’s taking Lucas away at this vulnerable moment for Ethan (and amplifying his own desire for a similar relationship amidst worries he’ll never find one). So yes, the dial on Nicole is ratcheted up a bit for the audience’s sake, but think about what she’s bringing to… Read more »
And that’s how people are being trapped in cults. You nailed that.
I brother was in a bad relationship, and when he was told “You can do better,” he shot back with, “Okay. With who?” He wasn’t looking, and no one was offering. So he stayed.
People lock themselves into these things, and usually it’s because they are people who care about commitment and are good folks. They see the reasons to keep going, instead of the reasons to get away.
You hit the nail on the head. Assomeone who has been chronically single for most of my life, nothing burns me up more than someone saying “you can do better.” In this day and age, I’ve literally given up because I don’t think I could ever do better than the crap I’ve had in the past. At this point I’m better off single. Although it’s a subtle difference, telling someone “you DESERVE better” is a far better way to get through to them. Because even if that person never finds another person again, telling someone that they deserve better than… Read more »
Let’s also not forget that his trust was badly damaged with the Zeke situation, so he’s even less likely to listen to their feedback on Nicole.
Well as someone whose been in emotionally abusive relationships, you have nailed this incredibly. The fact that there isn’t any real disagreement on her being toxic shows how clear it’s been made that this is toxic. And we see how easily she manipulates someone as vulnerable as Ethan is. I worry for the fallout in his brain when this comes to a sticky end. Will he blame Lucas (ie “you never liked her, you drove her away”) Or will he realise how toxic she was despite her being able to make him feel “good” even if just for a few… Read more »
Not every “villain” needs a redemption story and complex motives that many people can relate to.
And we certainly don’t need to be gaslighted into accepting why a gaslighter is justified in her gaslighting.
Didn’t he though? She certainly is attentive to him, which is generally considered a positive trait in a partner. Certainly seems to love him, even if she takes it to extremes. And while a comic character, she’s drawn in a way that seems to make her supposed to be physically attractive, she’s certainly in good shape. She loves to share her interests, even if she does that to the exclusion of others. I think the main problem isn’t that she doesn’t have positive traits, it’s that she has positive traits which, when turned to extreme levels, become toxic. Her traits… Read more »
Saying she has positive traits taken to extremes suggest that this could just be made better if she held back a little, which is hogwash. This isn’t love, this is ownership. This isn’t attentiveness, this is supervision. This isn’t sharing her interests, this is forcing her interests. Asking her to “limit her traits” would essentially just be a slightly more subtle manipulation. This cannot be made good. There is no saving the relationship, because there is no relationship. There was an audition for the role of “my boyfriend” and he got the part, and will continue to get the part… Read more »
Think of someone who has been in many relationships and something bad always happens. Maybe the person got them into a game and they played it very heavily before the partner screwed with the person. That person is now so far into the game that he/she may not be able to go to anything else. Also the person may have been cheated on so much that by now they seem to always be on the defense or a little paranoid. I am not going to say she is a good person, but I do agree that perhaps due to her… Read more »
I’m not saying that this person can’t eventually have good, healthy relationships. But I think it’s done here. Even if a rogue relationship counselor falls out of the sky and clocks her in the head and she realizes everything she’s doing wrong – the patterns are set, the expectations are set, and this has been going since day 1. It’s hard to return to “normal” when your relationship has never had a “normal,” especially because Ethan’s patterns of behavior will be centered around being directed and controlled by her. And yes, these things could also be broken with effort, but… Read more »
He’s doing a great job putting in all the toxic spouse stereotypes into a single character. And that’s not that much of fiction, as many people meet others like that, when they’re desperate to find someone. The fallout will be spectacular (and I’m only using that word here, because it’s fiction – I wouldn’t dare using it in a real situation like this).
In fact, I think that Tim’s being rather kind to his audience, because in real life you usually wouldn’t get hit over the head with this as badly. You would have moments when they were honestly really great. That’s what would make the manipulation so terrible, because you wouldn’t know for sure if it was you being selfish, or her being manipulative.
If anything, Tim’s showing us about a gaslighting relationship while very clearly not gaslighting the audience, which is hard to do and I applaud.
‘
Yes, she’s a great character. I like her just as much as Dolores Umbridge…
Can be possible Ethan is starting to notice the tendency?
Ok so at the beginning Nicole sounded just like a stereotypical hypermacho dude, just gender swapped. But this is now much more than that, which makes me join the crowd that thinks that Tim has had direct experience with this kind of person (either in his own relationship or with someone else). Either direct experience, or a lot of really in depth research, because this is so close to how these people operate, it physically hurts me in real life, both from the cringe but also from the memories. Can’t wait for the resolution of the plot. Poor Ethan, no… Read more »
You know it’s good writing, when it starts to feel very personal.
The Ellipsis at the end of the last panel make me hopeful that Ethan is starting to realize the truth. Especially after Lucas’ speech about the giving and taking in a relationship and how it’s wrong for one partner to do all the giving while the other does nothing but take.
Damn, she’s so toxic, Joker would turn ten times over…
Australia’s wildlife fears her
I have never felt more gaslighted than reading this. Ethan pls! I get you want some security from dying… brother get out!
Is there a colour more red than red? Cuz I’ve got a flag to paint.
Redder? Reddest?
Reddit
Infrared?
DBZA Goku: Is that also a red flag?
DBZA Piccolo: Crimson!
You’re in the splash zone.
Red rum?
valorant better than Baldure’s Gate 3 ? that’s another red flag !
Ah, the classic “let´s do my idea first and see if I can´t distract you from your idea later on” trope. Been there, sadly. This character resonates so well with us.
Oh GOD say it’s starting to fucking click for him.
Get out man! Run!
Making a motion to change this chapter’s name to “The Cringe.” Any seconds?
That is so cringe…Come’on Nicole, would it kill you to play BG just a little? It pains me to see Ethan so disappointed.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m just waiting until she kills Ethan, which when he learns he can still respawn.
So we are all in agreement that she is going to murder him and that is how he will discover he still has his powers right?
That’s a good theory. I was thinking she was in league with the troll…
So I’m not the only one who thinks that.
I’m thinking she’s secretly that Captain Prime lady, or whatever her name is, the Supe who shows up after they deal with the problem
Nerp… The gauntlet is thrown and the writing is on the wall. I say that she is going to follow the arc of old lover falling for heroes arch-nemesis. That way we are all sad/happy/conflicted over that outcome.
For God’s sake, lady! He OWNS A VIDEO GAME SHOP!!! I think he might have SOME clue what a good game is.
But you don’t understand, his view is SUBjective, HER view is DOM-I mean-OBjective
DOMjective?
I really, REALLY dislike her. Let’s hope Ethan grows a pair soon and confronts her about that behavior
I think it has less to do with growing a spine and more to do with realizing he’s being manipulate and gaslit. As the reader it is easy for us to see, but if you ever met someone in a abusive relationship the victim often doesn’t realize they’re a victim.
I had this premonition that Ethan is going to break up with her, and she’s going to go axe-murder crazy on him, and then he’s going to realize that he still has his super power.
And then it’s going to be awkward.
Seriously though… Tim, shouldn’t the recent comics bring some sort of… trigger warning?
I mean, I have never been through any of this, and it gives some really fucked up feelings
But like it has been said before in the comments, this is also a “digestable” to let people know and understand about these toxic relationships
The red flag parade has so many red flags by now, it could span an entire country.
Please, Tim, stop, my pain is getting to a point where I don’t want to read this anymore
(oh, who am I kidding? I’m gonna read it anyway)
I’m a woman and I cannot for the life of me continue reading this 😖
I’m a *dude* and it’s painful. And the worst female manipulation I ever dealt with wasn’t even really like this (waaaay more explicit that my hobbies / perferences were “dumb” … coming from a raging boozer).
It is a bit over the top EXCEPT that if a dude is getting “treasure type O” out of it, he’ll put up with it s lot more. Probably the most unrealistic part is how little they’re actually fighting, most guys aren’t nearly as passive… but the arc is called Showdown, so we’ll see.
I’m a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess.
(Doubt anyone will even get this reference lol)
red green show!
There’s something fishy going on here and I can’t wait to see it!
What if Ethan actually gets better than her? That seems like a very dangerous territory
dang, she almost got SO CLOSE to maybe not sounding like a complete dinkwad in this one.
Awwww. She’s so nice to him.
Ninety-nine red flags
Waving in the summer sky
Baldur’s Gate or Valorant
Play them both which ones worse!
Oh the screen springs to life
Lights up the eager eye
And changing focus on the fly
when ninety-nine red flags go by
I swear to god, if it’s her making light of good video games that snaps him out of it, i’m gonna do something terrible.
It’s gonna be such a bait and switch if this arc isn’t about abusive relationships but is just an allegory for how soul destroying competitive multiplayer is.
A tad much with the whole toxic stoey arch, it has been a while since I have had a laugh here
I’m starting to be the one to develop PTSD after seeing that thing disguised under the skin of a woman. Nothing is OK with her. She’s the worst partner you can ever have, except she does not hurt him physically. But she’s hurting him nonetheless.
But really, I’m having trouble to stand reading this story. That’s how bad I don’t want to see her ever again.
Man. Been there.
Eww. Valorant on a controller. 🤮
ANY fps on a controller… eww
“…” is the sound of Ethan getting it.
This is just Cringe now
Okay.
I gotta ask. And, this by no means indicates anything regarding Tim’s current marriage.
Does Tim have personal experience with this type of relationship (either by himself or knowledge about a friend/family member)?
From my experience it is very accurate, and it just seems something may be hitting a bit close to home.
DANGER!!! DANGER!!! DANGER WILL ROBINSON!!!!
oh hell to the fuck no, no one disses on BALDUS’S GATE 3 like that. light the fire, Ethan. burn the bridges
Me over here trying to figure out if her dissing Baldur’s Gate 3 is what finally pushes him over the edge, or if he goes back to Lucas saying “I dunno… Maybe Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t as good as I thought it was…” and when Lucas tries to point out how brainwashed he’s getting it drives a wedge even further between them.
Oh, i hadn’t considered that angle… I just thought he was testing her here and is starting to get it. But yeah, this is a scary possibility too.
Ha. As if they’re going to have time to play Baldur’s Gate 3.
He’s “So close to being good, he just needs more practice.” They’re going to be playing Valorant all night, and when he complains that they never tried BG3, it’ll be because he sucked at Valorant.
“This game sucks anyways” happens on a future night, when she makes a big show of letting him decide what they do.
I know folks say they think she’s a Troll plant, but I don’t believe so. She’s just awful in her own crazy way.
If anything, this could be the origin story to her becoming a new villain for Ethan and Lucas.
Translation: Your interests are a waste of time, my interest are actually important. Here’s an empty promise I’ll make sure I never have to keep. Enjoy some toxic reinsurance that I value you and nobody else does or will but me.
Ethan is almost carrying the red flag for her and is just to color blind to see it.
I think he is seeing it, the baldur’s gate thing may very well have been a test, hence his silence at the end, cause she absolutely failed that test.
ethan… u deserve better man…..
I’ll have to sit out reading this chapter till it’s finished. It hurts to read more than when I was reading the ending of CTRL ALT DEL version 1 for the first time. :'(