Poll: Chapter 13 and Mayhew
Added 2023-01-08 16:29:33 +0000 UTC
I've been chatting with a few people over on Itch and it got me wondering...
How does Alex in your main playthrough feel about Mayhew, particularly after having played through Chapter 13?
If so inclined, let me know what you think in the comments (possible spoilers)!
Note: This post is public so keep any comments SFW, please!
Comments
I adore Mayhew
Toni K
2023-07-17 12:52:40 +0000 UTC@orannis, good point. Mayhew alludes to a couple things while talking with Alex in the gallery, but also one of the possible endings in Chapter 13 is pretty dark (while another kind of validates Mayhew's code of honor).
Bound By Night
2023-01-11 10:39:22 +0000 UTCThanks for sharing that! Fundamentally that's what I've been aiming for with how to portray him, though people also have plenty of reason to distrust him.
Bound By Night
2023-01-11 10:37:14 +0000 UTCWell to be fair there’s a lot to like in a certain Blue Dog…and Ro can be likable in a certain light. But one could also argue that snuggles 🥰 may be a factor since it is a cute pic
Ryan Fox
2023-01-11 05:46:16 +0000 UTCEven if he doesn't get bored of Alex, we know their relationship can only go so far because Ch. 13 spoilers (for anyone scrolling through who hasn't played it yet).
Orannis
2023-01-11 04:37:22 +0000 UTCI'm in the camp of "Mayhew is doing what he believes to be best (and what will probably see the crisis resolved quickly with minimal casualties) and seems to be upfront with what he understands are Alex's holdbacks, but we should walk carefully while working with him." I'm also trying to look at Mayhew's choices through the lens of "I'm over 200 years old and have seen what happens when Elders DON'T make the choices that are in front of me".
Orannis
2023-01-11 04:26:03 +0000 UTCWe are just merciful with you, otherwise he would end much much worrrrrrse :-)
Pilgrim
2023-01-10 23:09:33 +0000 UTCOof! Mayhew is slipping in the polls. Top two options were at a solid 50% Sunday night... now down to 41%! I suspect some werewolf-trickery at play!
Bound By Night
2023-01-10 15:53:04 +0000 UTCUhuh, certainly in some special creepy way :-))
Pilgrim
2023-01-10 11:20:44 +0000 UTCNot sure…but I have to believe if he believed that…we would’ve already met a childe of his 😉 Could be wrong though…he may be a romantic and believe there’s a soulmate of his out there, he just hasn’t found them yet or is very very protective of them
Ryan Fox
2023-01-10 00:30:28 +0000 UTCYou don't think Mayhew believes "love is eternal"? 😘
Bound By Night
2023-01-09 23:15:37 +0000 UTCI suppose the other very real concern and question one must have….Mayhew is interested in Alex for the moment…what happens when he gets bored? As oft would happen with a vampire, after a time, one should think.
Ryan Fox
2023-01-09 23:06:29 +0000 UTCTorn between thinking Mayhew is a sociopath or he is actually good deep down and struggles to contain the beast so to speak. (In more way than one.)
JS031986
2023-01-09 15:55:31 +0000 UTCThe way I see it, Nick's idea that he can somehow take Mayhew down is delusional. Even worse, take him down and you will have a war that hurts so many innocents that it cannot simply be up to me and him to make that decision. Meanwhile Mayhew does have a point that those creatures are extremely dangerous and something needs to be done with them plus Alex is in the best position to do something about it. And crossing Mayhew just seems like a completely stupid choice so I think you have done an excellent job building some illusion of choice on working with him; obviously the VN needs you to do so and choosing otherwise just seems like the bad choice on every angle. Ofc it doesn't help that this is an erotic VN and on that side of the equation Nick and Mayhew are my two favourites so I will keep playthroughs to explore both. I would like to be able to stay suspicious of Mayhew and still get to be with him though.
C.K.
2023-01-09 06:12:06 +0000 UTC@Pilgrim I don't believe that the fact of living many years will inevitably cause you to lose consciousness and become a monster... I think it is too reductionist. What I'm saying is that, by living so many years, he may have done many questionable things and it depends on whether he regrets something or doesn't care at all. There are despicable human beings in real life who have only lived a few decades and already use and discard the people around them without any regret, so...
YD
2023-01-09 05:28:09 +0000 UTCThank you very much for your words. I'm glad I have enough writing level to be understandable 😂 In fact I have improved watching content like yours in English 😊 Thanks to that I no longer have to use a translator to understand each sentence while playing BBN hahahaha!
YD
2023-01-09 05:21:43 +0000 UTCI want so badly to joke and tease because it is my nature but I worry I'll upset people. 🥺 So, I'll just say... fair points! I think it's interesting how the poll is kind of split 50/50, which makes me really happy. It also makes me think *I'm* a sociopath but I'll take that up with my therapist. 🤣
Bound By Night
2023-01-09 02:50:26 +0000 UTCHmm…my Alex takes the same stance I do. Mayhew/Luke can’t be trusted…is a bloodsucking sociopath who has spent centuries perfecting his craft and consolidating his position in one Princedom or another…however…he’s also very powerful and likely extremely vindictive. Alex has something he needs…for the moment but he’s still a human…and if one leans into a certain puppy dawg in blue…I have a feeling that gives Alex a pressure point he could and would squeeze…bloodsucker. So best not cross him yet. I think Nick has been way too gouache in his attempt to bludgeon his way towards answers personally. Particularly since it appears there actually is a threat Mayhew seems scared of surprisingly. And…there is the option though…he is a bloodsucker…but working with him so long as he doesn’t target those Alex is close to…Santino…Connor…et al…it might not have to be entirely bad. There is that as an outside possibility Although I do believe it was Machiavelli who said…an alliance with the truly powerful can never be truly trusted.
Ryan Fox
2023-01-09 02:42:20 +0000 UTCI can see the logic of his argument, but wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him. Besides, he was always going to lose out to a hot Irish werewolf cop.
BearyBry
2023-01-08 22:47:17 +0000 UTCBad boys are sexy! But seriously, one of the things I said at the launch of BBN is I wanted to explore the idea of consent and desire even when you knew you were being manipulated. Alex knows there's a biological urge and he knows Mayhew has a different sense of right and wrong. I love seeing people looking at it and coming to different conclusions.
Bound By Night
2023-01-08 22:00:27 +0000 UTCThus far, I get the sense that Alex is quite allured by Mayhew, while fully aware that there is an eerie biological reason for this, at least for some of it. Much of it, perhaps. Despite this, he finds himself leaning into his attraction, while keenly aware that doing so seems rather dangerous. While Mayhew is mysteriously handsome, he is also ruthless. On the other hand, there's McGinnis with an exceedingly delightful ruthlessness of his own in a certain dim setting. Equally charming, perhaps a bit more down-to-earth, but especially handsome in blue. It seems unfair to put the officer in danger. Is it wrong to hope he wants it just as much? Nonetheless Mayhew has been quite charming, and Alex is surprised to find he isn't much troubled by the past for which Mayhew refuses to apologize, finding him to be pragmatic. He may, however, be slightly uncomfortable with the offer made to him, unaccustomed as he is to wealth and not wanting to come off as greedy. But the danger is enticing. Taking it all in, quite frankly, I think Alex likes the change of pace. It wasn't that long ago he found himself running into walls for lack of sleep while yearning for some excitement. Well, he's certainly found it.
donut bus
2023-01-08 21:44:30 +0000 UTCThanks for sharing that! And please, never apologize for your skill with a non-native language (and f*** anyone who says otherwise)! Many Americans have a poor grasp of English grammar, and few are able to read, write or speak another language. I also think your English is great; I understood it perfectly!
Bound By Night
2023-01-08 20:46:56 +0000 UTC*taking notes* 😈🧛♂️ I'm inspired to write about the lies of omission angle at some point. Love that. I will say one spoilerish thing flat-out, though. Alex was not drugged. That may be a bit me wanting to have my cake and eat it too, by creating that ambiguity and doubt for Alex (and the player) then saying "nope," but I will just say it: Mayhew was honest on that one. (It was already written, but something happens in the next update that goes a little to this as well.) @Pilgrim, totally open the difference of opinion! Ultimately, once I publish these updates, the characters are no longer in my hands!
Bound By Night
2023-01-08 20:43:36 +0000 UTC"...with the number of years that he has lived..." Exactly that's the point. He lost the sense for it... and if somebody lost it... = becames a monster. It would be absolutely perfect in a world where only vampires are living and no other species :)
Pilgrim
2023-01-08 20:35:37 +0000 UTC"...honestly maintain Mayhew is ethical..." I understand you feel like this, but cannot agree. He doesn't need to live for centuries only because some bastard had bited him in past. After taking revenge and helping dozen of poor orphans he could end his days himself as any other being. That's not about intolerance for diversity :-)
Pilgrim
2023-01-08 20:32:13 +0000 UTCI also think there have plenty of lies by omission. For instance, I think he knows way more about he ferals than he has told Alex to this point.
Brian's Sandbox
2023-01-08 20:11:03 +0000 UTCMayhew: "Seth and I were lovers. He wanted me to turn him, but when he didn't turn he became upset." So why did Mayhew throw him into "the dungeon"? I think he fully intended to feed Seth to the ferals.
Brian's Sandbox
2023-01-08 20:09:56 +0000 UTCMayhew: "You weren't drugged. You just couldn't move because you just 'froze'". Not buying it.
Brian's Sandbox
2023-01-08 20:07:58 +0000 UTCMayhew: "I wasn't going to bite you, but I saw you and Kai together and I lost control." He didn't get to be hundreds of years old by "just losing control" whenever a cute boy walks by him. I fully believe it was planned in order to get his hooks into me.
Brian's Sandbox
2023-01-08 20:05:45 +0000 UTCSantino: "Alex my boy, I care about you. You need to go out and get fucked tonight and come back tomorrow more relaxed and productive." This was Mayhew lying to me through Santino. It was all a set up to deliver me into Mayhew's clutches.
Brian's Sandbox
2023-01-08 20:03:20 +0000 UTCThe lies:
Brian's Sandbox
2023-01-08 20:02:10 +0000 UTCAnd obviously “ethical” is a continuum. If you ate human meat I would feel differently about you. If Mayhew drank only cow’s blood I would feel differently about him.
Brian's Sandbox
2023-01-08 19:09:41 +0000 UTCWell, in my game Alex started out suspicious of Mayhew, but he eventually ended up convincing him to help. Still Mayhew has yet to make it worth. Also, if he really wants Alex's trust, he needs to seriously apologize for how he started it all (especially how he tricked him with Santino) and find some way to show that Alex isn't just another piece on his board. The ethical question... It seems to me that, with the number of years that he has lived, quickly classifying him as good or bad is rash. We'll see how it develops and if he tells us more events about his past. *Sorry for my bad English
YD
2023-01-08 19:07:29 +0000 UTCI guess Mathew can be under the influence of Alex's point of view eventually and regain some humanity side. The fact that Alex at first work with Mathew is a srategic (and friendly) move. But dev can imagine a story in which Love can make a turn of the narativ ! Much love for all the team.
GRAPINDOR
2023-01-08 18:43:03 +0000 UTCThat's definitely part of what I'm trying to get at with him. I think there are a lot of political candidates who make certain promises on the campaign trail and then, once in office and confronted with a fuller picture and understanding, find themselves forced to make some hard decisions that are potentially morally compromising.
Bound By Night
2023-01-08 18:42:07 +0000 UTCOooooh, interesting. I have to ask, what do you think was a lie? (For anyone reading along, definite spoilers ahead.)
Bound By Night
2023-01-08 18:36:57 +0000 UTCYeah see part of it is that he lies so much that I don’t know what is bullshit and what is true so I’m not giving him the benefit of the doubt. 😂
Brian's Sandbox
2023-01-08 18:31:39 +0000 UTCFor me, Mayhew is very realistic because in his position I would be very similar to what he does. Control prevents the worst situation for everyone and better I take control and sort out threats instead of being too kind and letting someone worse than me hurt people. So I agree with what he says. But I also know someone like that wouldn’t reveal the entire truth to anyone. I can’t help but think Mayhew still has cards to play and that’s why I can’t fully trust him.
Posiedon1234
2023-01-08 18:29:36 +0000 UTCSo, joking aside, I honestly maintain Mayhew is ethical... or not completely unethical. I eat meat; some people would say that's unethical. I can accept that difference of opinion, but does that mean I'm completely unethical? (PETA stay out.) And I think Mayhew tried to make a case that he does try to mitigate the evil he does. Sounds like that didn't land for you, though, which is fair! (Or you just don't believe him, which is also fair!)
Bound By Night
2023-01-08 18:29:25 +0000 UTC^ This. In a lot of ways, Mayhew feels to me like the product of generations of unfortunate circumstances. I certainly sympathize with some things, but whatever his past has made him into, monster or otherwise, it's not something that I would feel secure in trusting. Nick and Connor are much more genuine, and I'd much sooner place my faith in them.
Terra
2023-01-08 18:25:52 +0000 UTCI know your being funny, but I think one story that is under-explored and always fascinates me is the “ethical monster”. Can someone who needs blood to survive mitigate or minimize the “evil” they do? Look at Conner - he could easily act unethically without much fear of facing consequences. But (as far as I know) he chooses not to. He seems like a good guy. So I have questions like, “are there ethical elders out there?” A guy with supernatural powers who chooses to be a jerk I’ve seen before. I want to see more of the opposite. (Maybe the guy in Portland? Portland’s pretty chill 😂)
Brian's Sandbox
2023-01-08 18:09:38 +0000 UTCWhat happened to respect for diversity? Just because he needs blood to survive and has an underdeveloped frontal lobe, suddenly he's a "monster"!? 😉😂 Time to pass ENDA (Elder Non-Discrimination Act) ! 🤣 We'll see what happens with the endings. I promised to include some sort of "happily ever after" ending and I will... but just one!
Bound By Night
2023-01-08 17:40:22 +0000 UTChahaha! great question. for me it's the old "the enemy of my enemy..." scenario. We need his help - for now - but i can't get past 1.) the initial lie in which he (and Santino) tricked me into going to the hotel where he bit me without my consent (and I don't buy that bullshit "i couldn't help myself" excuse he tried to lay on me), 2.) everyone who knows him keeps telling me not to trust him, and 3.) his whole life is about feeding on people - he uses them up and then discards them and I (Alex) have no reason to believe he would treat me any differently. I think he has lost his humanity and that makes him a monster not to be trusted. A powerful monster to be sure, but I'm hoping Nick, Conner, et al can come up with a great way to rid the city of him AND protect the city from the other elders.
Brian's Sandbox
2023-01-08 16:42:55 +0000 UTC
