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alias_sqbrMasterlist and guide
So I found myself enjoying the way this AU mildly plays around with gender roles, and ended up playing all the remaining free stories, as well as Mitsuhide's epilogue. Now that I know I don't have to hoard coins, these events are nice little condensed versions of the main romance arcs, which is handy, since playing any of the full arcs takes a MILLION YEARS.
Hideyoshi: Interesting and bittersweet
Inuchiyo: Dull and conventional
Mitsuhide: Quietly sweet
Nobunaga: Ok, in a Nobunaga-y way
Content Note: It's a tropey AU casting historical Japanese warlords as sex workers, so, yeah. Consent issues etc.
waterscroll wrote me some nice summaries of Hideyoshi and Inuchiyo's routes for this event, which (a) let me know I'd be ok playing them and (b) means I can avoid summarising them myself. Since while it was all way more consensual than I was worried about (I have been BURNED by sex worker AU fanfic) it was still sexual enough that I'd find going into detail squicky.
I got around to looking up the real Inuchiyo on Wikipedia which was pretty interesting. He and Nobunaga were both kabukimono, flamboyantly dressed thugs who used European/women's clothes etc to look Cool and Edgy.
And oh man, the real Hideyoshi was something. He was a peasant turned warrior, yet forbade peasants from doing the same once he reached power, and confiscated their swords to make into a giant buddha. He crucified a bunch of Christians, and invaded Korea. He forced daimyos (lords) to perform Noh plays with him as the star. To avoid a succession crisis he murdered a bunch of his younger relatives. Also he had daughters of Nobunaga and Inuchiyo as concubines.
Even based on my very shallow understanding of the history, cutting everyone's kids out of the picture looks like it removes a lot of the motivations, angsty betrayals etc.
Inuchiyo and Hideyoshi were good friends and Nobunaga called them "dog" and "monkey" respectively, and based on my entirely arbitrary date of 1564 they'd be 26 and 27. And they're BOTH painted with big ol' moustaches, though not as glorious as Nobunaga's.
Anyway!
Hideyoshi
Hideyoshi's route was enjoyably hot and bittersweet. She's not trying to save him, just enjoying his company while quietly feeling sad that he's a really awkward person to fall in love with. I find this a lot more believable than with Mitsunari since they have time to get to know each other and he's quite sweet in a "hiding his sadness with smiles" sort of way.
She says his name softly to herself as he leaves for work after they've been hanging out discussing fish life cycles. He strides back before giving her a very sexy kiss.
MC: :D
Hideyoshi, holding out his hand expectantly: My kisses are expensive you know ;)
MC: (Ok now I'm not sure what that kiss meant...) I have no money?
Hideyoshi: Then you'll just have to come see me every day so I can keep an eye on you until you can afford to pay me ;)
He's implied to have never kissed anyone before which is an amusing example of how this AU combines sexy prostitute tropes with sexy virgin tropes and it is exactly the sort of ridiculous nonsense I enjoy.
About half the stat checks are my overall points gathered rather than the points for this particular guy, which sped things up a little. Especially once I, uh...realised that regular energy and events energy use the same energy bar which is why it kept mysteriously getting empty >.>
Inuchiyo
THANKFULLY Inuchiyo does NOT immediately start sexily touching MC when he walks into the room like the other two did, instead he just stares awkwardly.
She has a flashback to him leaving a few months ago, refusing to say where he was going. Knowing he was leaving to become a sex worker to pay off her family's debts is pretty sad (I'm playing a sex worker AU, gotta roll with the ridiculous cheese)
Inuchiyo, grabbing her arm: Go home. You clearly wandered in here not knowing what you were getting into.
SHE CAN GO TO A BROTHEL IF SHE LIKES, INUCHIYO.
MC: I'm here as a caterer :P And why are YOU here? If you need help...
The only escape from the pleasure quarter is completing your indentureship, buying your freedom, or death D:
MC: Don't you remember how we promised to protect each other as children?
Inuchiyo: Things have changed for me.
MC: It's only been a few months, you can't have changed that much!
Inuchiyo: Want to test that theory? *pushes her against a wall*
...I guess I spoke too soon /o\
But he doesn't actually do anything and she shoves him off and runs away.
She returns, determined to understand what happened, but after she sees him cheerfully saying goodbye to a patron decides THE MAN SHE KNEW IS GONE. Wow ok MC, that's pretty judgemental.
"Maybe it's best if I don't meet with Inuchiyo any more"??? Sorry your childhood friend who got sold into sex slavery is too slutty for you now, I guess :/
But then he rescues her from a skeeze and wow his controlling overprotective big brother shtick is still annoying even in this context. But she gives him a hug and says "you're still you" so I guess she's into it.
Inuchiyo: One day I'll be the most famous courtesan in this town, just like Lord Nobunaga!
MC: This idea makes me sad for some reason?
And then he says he loves her? But he can't go back to the world or protect her, so he can only wish her well and tell her to go.
MC: ALAS, I NOW REALISE I LOVE HIM TOO. But I can never see him again ;_;
Me: Yeah, yeah. This is all a bit bland and Wholesome for a sex worker AU.
MC: Guess I have to hire him!
Except then in walks Nobunaga, who is remarkably rapey and arrogant for a prostitute with a client (he's all WHO ARE YOU TO THINK YOU GET TO SAY NO, PEOPLE BEG TO HAVE SEX WITH ME), but somehow still the most entertaining part of this route.
Inuchiyo: GET AWAY FROM HER!
Nobunaga, pulling MC's hand onto his chest: She's an adult, she can be with who she wants :P
MC: STOP THAT
Me: Yeah she is...clearly not choosing you, Nobunaga, hard as you may find that to understand
Inuchiyo: I'll do anything you ask, if you seduce anyone but her :(
Nobunaga: Meh, I'm not into this any more. Fine, leave, both of you >:/
And then MC and Inuchiyo are boringly romantic but at least MC initiates the sex.
Lol when MC wakes from her dream Inuchiyo is all "Were you having a sex dream about Lord Nobunaga, you groaned and said his name :/" and she KINDA WAS, SORRY DUDE
Ha and thinking back she was kinda having a sexy dream about Hideyoshi on the Mitsunari path, too. I wonder if Mitsuhide!MC will be into Nobunaga as well.
ANYWAY. TIME FOR BEST BOY MITSUHIDE.
(I had to wait a few days for him and Nobunaga to unlock, or I'd have played him first)
Mitsuhide
The moment he walks into the room he sees that she's nervous and asks if something's wrong, giving her a chance to explain. This is why you're best boy, Mitsuhide.
He coldly tells her to leave, but when he later sees her being harassed by an overly aggressive sex salesman claims she's his patron. Aww and he was looking for her to apologise for being so rude?
He gives her a cord to wear showing she's in the good graces of his shop, then whispers "I hope you do partake of my services" and elegantly walks away, leaving her transfixed.
We see him cheerfully think to himself that she is unlikely to bring in much money but he suspects she'd be a boon in her own right.
The next time she brings sweets, wondering who's eating so many, Mitsuhide handles the payment. She finds this odd and he says administration is his true vocation, and he rarely entertains clients. They have a nice chat every time she brings sweets, and he is endearingly flattered when she makes him special food as a token of her esteem.
Mitsuhide: Your kindness reminds me of the woman who ran this shop. She took me in as an orphan, so owing her my life I decided to become a courtesan.
Well that's a pretty un-angsty backstory, comparatively speaking. He seems so much happier as a courtesan than a warrior. Like, he's not into having sex as a job, but it makes him less sad than killing people. I mean from the other routes the shop is complicit in human trafficking which... is BAD but...man, idk, I'm not going to try and untangle the ethics of a tropey AU of a form of historical sex work I know very little about.
They bond about feeling like it's their duty to protect the shops left by their parental figures.
Me: I wonder when and how the angst will kick in.
MC: Oh no I cut myself!
Me: IS THIS WHERE MITSUHIDE TURNS OUT TO BE A VAMPIRE??
No, self, this isn't that kind of AU.
Aw, instead he is endearingly distressed that she's injured and insists on treating it himself. MC is charmed and also super into him touching her, especially when he starts talking about how pretty her hands are.
She comes to the bittersweet realisation that she's in love with him. She assumes his gently flirtatious kindness is Just How He Is.
We see him look at his hands, melancholy.
And then the orders stop. It occurs to MC that if she wants to see Mitsuhide again she might...have to hire him?? How would he treat her then? Oh man that's...that's not going to make thing LESS fraught, MC.
But then NOBUNAGA ARRIVES
Nobunaga: WHERE IS THE WOMAN WHO MAKES SWEETS? WHY HAVE THE SWEETS STOPPED??
When he finds out it's because his store stopped making orders he mutters under his breath and demands she bring him "some of those little crinkly ones", then caresses her cheek and says "I wonder what you taste like" (I KNEW IT). As she pulls away he notices the cord Mitsuhide gave her.
Nobunaga: Ah. He tends to mark women he thinks will bring in extra money so he won't forget them, then treats them with extra courtesy. If he's failed to call for you, it's so you'll call on him on your own.
MC: D:
Me: :D
And then Mitsuhide comes to collect Nobunaga, only acknowledging MC with a cold glance.
MC: Oh, now he knows I know about his plan, he's cutting me off :( I suppose this is what I get for losing my heart to someone whose job it is to steal hearts :(
And now I need SEVEN THOUSAND points to continue which will take at LEAST a day to gather ugh.
OK. DONE. UGH.
Mitsuhide: Do you know how much money you just lost us? I'll find somewhere else to get cake.
Nobunaga: But I want her cake >:( What's the problem, she knows what you are now, she's not going to turn down our money.
Mitsuhide: :/
Nobunaga: Don't tell me you've...
MC is all "I am a sensible grownup woman who isn't pining and is just focussing on work" right until she hears there was a minor fire in the pleasure district at which point immediately runs through pouring rain to make sure he's alright.
He pulls her inside and gives her towels and fresh clothes and tea, then says "Why are you here? I hurt you. And I have nothing to offer you. There's no reason to care about the likes of me."
But she says she knows there was truth to some of what she saw of him, and even knowing he was manipulating her, she still cares about him. I'm not sure how much of his behaviour was manipulation, since she doesn't have much money, but am not going to overthink it.
Mitsuhide: No matter how much I try to hide my heart, you always see the truth...
He pulls her into a hug and gives her a gentle kiss, and they declare their mutual feelings and kiss some more and it's very sweet.
MC wakes up to a cheerfully affectionate Mitsuhide, who thinks her dream was a cute example of how every version of him loves her, aww.
Mitsuhide: But this me loves you the most.
MC: :)
Mitsuhide: Also sounds like courtesan!me never actually gave you any sex, I should fix that.
MC: :D
The ad for his epilogue starts with them having an earnest conversation about the nature of their relationship instead of SEXY ANGST like the others and I was like "Huh I guess this route is more about romance. I can roll with that" but then it got rather sexier. So, let's see what I get for my 2 pearls!
MC thinks to herself that she and Mitsuhide have just made out a lot and it's great but also leaves her a bit confused.
MC: Are we lovers?
Mitsuhide: Oh! Um. I'm a terrible courtesan, I've never thought about romance before. And I've never been touched by a woman except for patrons, certainly never anyone as precious as you. So I've never actually had a relationship before, and I'm not sure how they work?
MC, charmed: Phew, I was worried you didn't want anything between us to be official!
Mitsuhide: I want us to be side by side for the rest of our lives. Does that qualify as lovers? I cannot say.
MC: Well, if you want to do something that lovers do... ;)
SHE MEANT GOING ON A DATE
So they do and it is very cute.
I was not expecting to be headcanon-ing him as grey aromantic and asexual (but not minding sex if the other person wants it) but here we are.
They go back to his shop and Mitsuhide says he hasn't touched her before because he was worried about treating her like a patron. But now he's so overflowing with love he doesn't care about that. They have fade to black sex and it's sweet.
Huh, that wasn't any more explicit or detailed than the free sex scenes. I mean I don't mind, I was just wondering if the business model was to paywall the porn but I guess not.
Anyway! That was cute, but didn't add a whole lot extra, so I won't bother with the other epilogues. 2 pearls is like $2, which is a moderate amount for such a short scene imo but I hate spending money. At least you get to replay it whenever you like without tickets etc.
She seemed pretty chill with him staying a courtesan as long as she gets to be his girlfriend, which was an interesting contrast to Inuchiyo.
SO. ALL THAT'S LEFT IS NOBUNAGA.
He was entertaining on the other routes but I'm not sure he'll be as much fun as the love interest.
Based on his...everything, I can see this maybe being too rapey for me, but since he's the last one left I can just stop playing at any point and not have it be a big deal.
So let's give him a shot.
Nobunaga
Ha he walks in, gives MC a once over, and is like "You seem out of your element", which gives her a chance to explain. SEE, MITSUNARI AND HIDEYOSHI, HOW HARD IS THAT.
haaaaa and then he gets rapey anyway. MC is more into it than she'd like, though, and since this is all MC's fantasy anyway I can deal with it.
Nobunaga: No woman has ever refused me before, and I...WAIT IS THAT CANDY
And then he flops down, eats all the candy, and imperiously demands she come again tomorrow with more. She finds she's lost the desire to protest because that is apparently her kink.
Mother: More candy?
MC: Yes, I've taken up with someone bothersome.
Mother: Will you be alright?
MC: Yes, he never listens to anyone and likes to issue orders but it'll work out.
Mother: You sound oddly cheerful about it.
MC, blushing: Don't be ridiculous!
Haha ok then MC.
Interesting, she called him "Lord Nobunaga" in all the other routes but is calling him "Courtesan Nobunaga" now.
MC: Do you like it?
Nobunaga, with a bored expression and a mouth full of cake: Not bad.
Then he says he feels weird about her calling him Courtesan Nobunaga so she switches to Lord Nobunaga, out of respect for how much more high status he is than her.
She comes every day with more sweets. Is he paying her? Or is she just there to enjoying sitting next to a hot classy guy scarfing lollies?
MC: How did you become an oiran?
Nobunaga: It's not very interesting. My house fell to ruin and I came here at a young age. I thought I would never leave the confines of this quarter...but I heard tales from Europeans of a whole world beyond the sea. I dreamed of being free. And I'll achieve that dream with a bit more money.
MC feels sad at the thought of him being gone.
She sees a beautiful rich woman at the shop and wonders, feeling gross, whether she's there for Nobunaga. But the woman leaves angrily: she offered Nobunaga a serious courtship, and many gifts of sweets, and when he refused flew into a rage.
Nobunaga, with a long suffering sigh: Women like her impose their affections on people whether they want them or not, and expect something in return. It's disgraceful.
MC: Poor Nobunaga, unable to trust anyone :(
Me: LOL BECAUSE HE WOULD NEVER BE DEMANDING OR SEXUALLY PUSHY AMIRIGHT
omg and then she apologies because she's been enjoying seeing him enjoy her food and that's DEMANDING SOMETHING FROM HIM. MC, honey, you can do better. Mistuhide is just down the hall!
Bluh the rich woman tries to ruin MC's restaurant financially out of jealousy. I hate jealous Other Woman plots :/
Time for another 7000 points but the double points window runs for like 10 hours today.
The woman offers to settle their debts if MC's pretty younger brother becomes her servant D:
But then Nobunaga arrives, and casually tosses a bag of money at the money lender's feet. It's enough to pay the debt in full. The woman tries to backtrack but Nobunaga dismisses her angrily.
MC: That was the money for your dream!
Nobunaga: I can save it again.
MC: We'll feed you the best of all our food as thanks!
Nobunaga: Obviously?
Ok that's pretty cute.
MC: But why did you give up all the money for your dream?
Nobunaga: I have reason to stay in the pleasure quarter for a while *kisses her*
MC: bzuh
Nobunaga: Don't forget my sweets tomorrow! *saunters off, very happy with himself*
The next day he just sits and eats the sweets, and she thinks maybe she imagined the whole thing. But just as she's about to leave he kisses her, and says he doesn't think of her as a patron any more, but as a woman he esteems.
MC: I also find you unspeakably attractive.
Nobunaga: :D Then tell me what you want me to do to you...
Lol she didn't say she liked him, but they're both happy, so good for them, I guess.
MC wakes from her dream, deeply embarrassed at how dirty it was. Come on, Inuchiyo!MC was less embarassed, and you're dating Nobunaga.
Nobunaga: Are you saying my dream self was better in bed? >:( I'LL SHOW HIM!
The epilogue looks like it's about Nobunaga having only ever known how to please others and MC figuring out what he wants (in bed, I guess?) and that's sweet in principle but I'm just not sure I would enjoy "Lord Nobunaga learns to be more selfish" as a plot.
So that's the end of the Event! I ended up casting my last few votes for Mitsunari to get some extra closet space, and overall the votes are so easy to game they really don't mean much. But for what it's worth, Saizo is winning. It was pretty easy to get through all the free content, even with the "buy the epilogues and votes for your fave" stuff it's a lot less pressure to spend money than the events currently happening in the other freemium phone games I play. Assuming you are ok being patient.
Part of my brain's a bit OH GOD THIS IS ALL VERY PROBLEMATIC, and I have to wonder how, like, an actual Japanese sex worker would feel about it or whatever. There's certainly a notable lack of male patrons. But eh, it's set in the 16th century, and it is what it is. And I mostly enjoyed it.
So I found myself enjoying the way this AU mildly plays around with gender roles, and ended up playing all the remaining free stories, as well as Mitsuhide's epilogue. Now that I know I don't have to hoard coins, these events are nice little condensed versions of the main romance arcs, which is handy, since playing any of the full arcs takes a MILLION YEARS.
Hideyoshi: Interesting and bittersweet
Inuchiyo: Dull and conventional
Mitsuhide: Quietly sweet
Nobunaga: Ok, in a Nobunaga-y way
Content Note: It's a tropey AU casting historical Japanese warlords as sex workers, so, yeah. Consent issues etc.
waterscroll wrote me some nice summaries of Hideyoshi and Inuchiyo's routes for this event, which (a) let me know I'd be ok playing them and (b) means I can avoid summarising them myself. Since while it was all way more consensual than I was worried about (I have been BURNED by sex worker AU fanfic) it was still sexual enough that I'd find going into detail squicky.I got around to looking up the real Inuchiyo on Wikipedia which was pretty interesting. He and Nobunaga were both kabukimono, flamboyantly dressed thugs who used European/women's clothes etc to look Cool and Edgy.
And oh man, the real Hideyoshi was something. He was a peasant turned warrior, yet forbade peasants from doing the same once he reached power, and confiscated their swords to make into a giant buddha. He crucified a bunch of Christians, and invaded Korea. He forced daimyos (lords) to perform Noh plays with him as the star. To avoid a succession crisis he murdered a bunch of his younger relatives. Also he had daughters of Nobunaga and Inuchiyo as concubines.
Even based on my very shallow understanding of the history, cutting everyone's kids out of the picture looks like it removes a lot of the motivations, angsty betrayals etc.
Inuchiyo and Hideyoshi were good friends and Nobunaga called them "dog" and "monkey" respectively, and based on my entirely arbitrary date of 1564 they'd be 26 and 27. And they're BOTH painted with big ol' moustaches, though not as glorious as Nobunaga's.
Anyway!
Hideyoshi
Hideyoshi's route was enjoyably hot and bittersweet. She's not trying to save him, just enjoying his company while quietly feeling sad that he's a really awkward person to fall in love with. I find this a lot more believable than with Mitsunari since they have time to get to know each other and he's quite sweet in a "hiding his sadness with smiles" sort of way.
She says his name softly to herself as he leaves for work after they've been hanging out discussing fish life cycles. He strides back before giving her a very sexy kiss.
MC: :D
Hideyoshi, holding out his hand expectantly: My kisses are expensive you know ;)
MC: (Ok now I'm not sure what that kiss meant...) I have no money?
Hideyoshi: Then you'll just have to come see me every day so I can keep an eye on you until you can afford to pay me ;)
He's implied to have never kissed anyone before which is an amusing example of how this AU combines sexy prostitute tropes with sexy virgin tropes and it is exactly the sort of ridiculous nonsense I enjoy.
About half the stat checks are my overall points gathered rather than the points for this particular guy, which sped things up a little. Especially once I, uh...realised that regular energy and events energy use the same energy bar which is why it kept mysteriously getting empty >.>
Inuchiyo
THANKFULLY Inuchiyo does NOT immediately start sexily touching MC when he walks into the room like the other two did, instead he just stares awkwardly.
She has a flashback to him leaving a few months ago, refusing to say where he was going. Knowing he was leaving to become a sex worker to pay off her family's debts is pretty sad (I'm playing a sex worker AU, gotta roll with the ridiculous cheese)
Inuchiyo, grabbing her arm: Go home. You clearly wandered in here not knowing what you were getting into.
SHE CAN GO TO A BROTHEL IF SHE LIKES, INUCHIYO.
MC: I'm here as a caterer :P And why are YOU here? If you need help...
The only escape from the pleasure quarter is completing your indentureship, buying your freedom, or death D:
MC: Don't you remember how we promised to protect each other as children?
Inuchiyo: Things have changed for me.
MC: It's only been a few months, you can't have changed that much!
Inuchiyo: Want to test that theory? *pushes her against a wall*
...I guess I spoke too soon /o\
But he doesn't actually do anything and she shoves him off and runs away.
She returns, determined to understand what happened, but after she sees him cheerfully saying goodbye to a patron decides THE MAN SHE KNEW IS GONE. Wow ok MC, that's pretty judgemental.
"Maybe it's best if I don't meet with Inuchiyo any more"??? Sorry your childhood friend who got sold into sex slavery is too slutty for you now, I guess :/
But then he rescues her from a skeeze and wow his controlling overprotective big brother shtick is still annoying even in this context. But she gives him a hug and says "you're still you" so I guess she's into it.
Inuchiyo: One day I'll be the most famous courtesan in this town, just like Lord Nobunaga!
MC: This idea makes me sad for some reason?
And then he says he loves her? But he can't go back to the world or protect her, so he can only wish her well and tell her to go.
MC: ALAS, I NOW REALISE I LOVE HIM TOO. But I can never see him again ;_;
Me: Yeah, yeah. This is all a bit bland and Wholesome for a sex worker AU.
MC: Guess I have to hire him!
Except then in walks Nobunaga, who is remarkably rapey and arrogant for a prostitute with a client (he's all WHO ARE YOU TO THINK YOU GET TO SAY NO, PEOPLE BEG TO HAVE SEX WITH ME), but somehow still the most entertaining part of this route.
Inuchiyo: GET AWAY FROM HER!
Nobunaga, pulling MC's hand onto his chest: She's an adult, she can be with who she wants :P
MC: STOP THAT
Me: Yeah she is...clearly not choosing you, Nobunaga, hard as you may find that to understand
Inuchiyo: I'll do anything you ask, if you seduce anyone but her :(
Nobunaga: Meh, I'm not into this any more. Fine, leave, both of you >:/
And then MC and Inuchiyo are boringly romantic but at least MC initiates the sex.
Lol when MC wakes from her dream Inuchiyo is all "Were you having a sex dream about Lord Nobunaga, you groaned and said his name :/" and she KINDA WAS, SORRY DUDE
Ha and thinking back she was kinda having a sexy dream about Hideyoshi on the Mitsunari path, too. I wonder if Mitsuhide!MC will be into Nobunaga as well.
ANYWAY. TIME FOR BEST BOY MITSUHIDE.
(I had to wait a few days for him and Nobunaga to unlock, or I'd have played him first)
Mitsuhide
The moment he walks into the room he sees that she's nervous and asks if something's wrong, giving her a chance to explain. This is why you're best boy, Mitsuhide.
He coldly tells her to leave, but when he later sees her being harassed by an overly aggressive sex salesman claims she's his patron. Aww and he was looking for her to apologise for being so rude?
He gives her a cord to wear showing she's in the good graces of his shop, then whispers "I hope you do partake of my services" and elegantly walks away, leaving her transfixed.
We see him cheerfully think to himself that she is unlikely to bring in much money but he suspects she'd be a boon in her own right.
The next time she brings sweets, wondering who's eating so many, Mitsuhide handles the payment. She finds this odd and he says administration is his true vocation, and he rarely entertains clients. They have a nice chat every time she brings sweets, and he is endearingly flattered when she makes him special food as a token of her esteem.
Mitsuhide: Your kindness reminds me of the woman who ran this shop. She took me in as an orphan, so owing her my life I decided to become a courtesan.
Well that's a pretty un-angsty backstory, comparatively speaking. He seems so much happier as a courtesan than a warrior. Like, he's not into having sex as a job, but it makes him less sad than killing people. I mean from the other routes the shop is complicit in human trafficking which... is BAD but...man, idk, I'm not going to try and untangle the ethics of a tropey AU of a form of historical sex work I know very little about.
They bond about feeling like it's their duty to protect the shops left by their parental figures.
Me: I wonder when and how the angst will kick in.
MC: Oh no I cut myself!
Me: IS THIS WHERE MITSUHIDE TURNS OUT TO BE A VAMPIRE??
No, self, this isn't that kind of AU.
Aw, instead he is endearingly distressed that she's injured and insists on treating it himself. MC is charmed and also super into him touching her, especially when he starts talking about how pretty her hands are.
She comes to the bittersweet realisation that she's in love with him. She assumes his gently flirtatious kindness is Just How He Is.
We see him look at his hands, melancholy.
And then the orders stop. It occurs to MC that if she wants to see Mitsuhide again she might...have to hire him?? How would he treat her then? Oh man that's...that's not going to make thing LESS fraught, MC.
But then NOBUNAGA ARRIVES
Nobunaga: WHERE IS THE WOMAN WHO MAKES SWEETS? WHY HAVE THE SWEETS STOPPED??
When he finds out it's because his store stopped making orders he mutters under his breath and demands she bring him "some of those little crinkly ones", then caresses her cheek and says "I wonder what you taste like" (I KNEW IT). As she pulls away he notices the cord Mitsuhide gave her.
Nobunaga: Ah. He tends to mark women he thinks will bring in extra money so he won't forget them, then treats them with extra courtesy. If he's failed to call for you, it's so you'll call on him on your own.
MC: D:
Me: :D
And then Mitsuhide comes to collect Nobunaga, only acknowledging MC with a cold glance.
MC: Oh, now he knows I know about his plan, he's cutting me off :( I suppose this is what I get for losing my heart to someone whose job it is to steal hearts :(
And now I need SEVEN THOUSAND points to continue which will take at LEAST a day to gather ugh.
OK. DONE. UGH.
Mitsuhide: Do you know how much money you just lost us? I'll find somewhere else to get cake.
Nobunaga: But I want her cake >:( What's the problem, she knows what you are now, she's not going to turn down our money.
Mitsuhide: :/
Nobunaga: Don't tell me you've...
MC is all "I am a sensible grownup woman who isn't pining and is just focussing on work" right until she hears there was a minor fire in the pleasure district at which point immediately runs through pouring rain to make sure he's alright.
He pulls her inside and gives her towels and fresh clothes and tea, then says "Why are you here? I hurt you. And I have nothing to offer you. There's no reason to care about the likes of me."
But she says she knows there was truth to some of what she saw of him, and even knowing he was manipulating her, she still cares about him. I'm not sure how much of his behaviour was manipulation, since she doesn't have much money, but am not going to overthink it.
Mitsuhide: No matter how much I try to hide my heart, you always see the truth...
He pulls her into a hug and gives her a gentle kiss, and they declare their mutual feelings and kiss some more and it's very sweet.
MC wakes up to a cheerfully affectionate Mitsuhide, who thinks her dream was a cute example of how every version of him loves her, aww.
Mitsuhide: But this me loves you the most.
MC: :)
Mitsuhide: Also sounds like courtesan!me never actually gave you any sex, I should fix that.
MC: :D
The ad for his epilogue starts with them having an earnest conversation about the nature of their relationship instead of SEXY ANGST like the others and I was like "Huh I guess this route is more about romance. I can roll with that" but then it got rather sexier. So, let's see what I get for my 2 pearls!
MC thinks to herself that she and Mitsuhide have just made out a lot and it's great but also leaves her a bit confused.
MC: Are we lovers?
Mitsuhide: Oh! Um. I'm a terrible courtesan, I've never thought about romance before. And I've never been touched by a woman except for patrons, certainly never anyone as precious as you. So I've never actually had a relationship before, and I'm not sure how they work?
MC, charmed: Phew, I was worried you didn't want anything between us to be official!
Mitsuhide: I want us to be side by side for the rest of our lives. Does that qualify as lovers? I cannot say.
MC: Well, if you want to do something that lovers do... ;)
SHE MEANT GOING ON A DATE
So they do and it is very cute.
I was not expecting to be headcanon-ing him as grey aromantic and asexual (but not minding sex if the other person wants it) but here we are.
They go back to his shop and Mitsuhide says he hasn't touched her before because he was worried about treating her like a patron. But now he's so overflowing with love he doesn't care about that. They have fade to black sex and it's sweet.
Huh, that wasn't any more explicit or detailed than the free sex scenes. I mean I don't mind, I was just wondering if the business model was to paywall the porn but I guess not.
Anyway! That was cute, but didn't add a whole lot extra, so I won't bother with the other epilogues. 2 pearls is like $2, which is a moderate amount for such a short scene imo but I hate spending money. At least you get to replay it whenever you like without tickets etc.
She seemed pretty chill with him staying a courtesan as long as she gets to be his girlfriend, which was an interesting contrast to Inuchiyo.
SO. ALL THAT'S LEFT IS NOBUNAGA.
He was entertaining on the other routes but I'm not sure he'll be as much fun as the love interest.
Based on his...everything, I can see this maybe being too rapey for me, but since he's the last one left I can just stop playing at any point and not have it be a big deal.
So let's give him a shot.
Nobunaga
Ha he walks in, gives MC a once over, and is like "You seem out of your element", which gives her a chance to explain. SEE, MITSUNARI AND HIDEYOSHI, HOW HARD IS THAT.
haaaaa and then he gets rapey anyway. MC is more into it than she'd like, though, and since this is all MC's fantasy anyway I can deal with it.
Nobunaga: No woman has ever refused me before, and I...WAIT IS THAT CANDY
And then he flops down, eats all the candy, and imperiously demands she come again tomorrow with more. She finds she's lost the desire to protest because that is apparently her kink.
Mother: More candy?
MC: Yes, I've taken up with someone bothersome.
Mother: Will you be alright?
MC: Yes, he never listens to anyone and likes to issue orders but it'll work out.
Mother: You sound oddly cheerful about it.
MC, blushing: Don't be ridiculous!
Haha ok then MC.
Interesting, she called him "Lord Nobunaga" in all the other routes but is calling him "Courtesan Nobunaga" now.
MC: Do you like it?
Nobunaga, with a bored expression and a mouth full of cake: Not bad.
Then he says he feels weird about her calling him Courtesan Nobunaga so she switches to Lord Nobunaga, out of respect for how much more high status he is than her.
She comes every day with more sweets. Is he paying her? Or is she just there to enjoying sitting next to a hot classy guy scarfing lollies?
MC: How did you become an oiran?
Nobunaga: It's not very interesting. My house fell to ruin and I came here at a young age. I thought I would never leave the confines of this quarter...but I heard tales from Europeans of a whole world beyond the sea. I dreamed of being free. And I'll achieve that dream with a bit more money.
MC feels sad at the thought of him being gone.
She sees a beautiful rich woman at the shop and wonders, feeling gross, whether she's there for Nobunaga. But the woman leaves angrily: she offered Nobunaga a serious courtship, and many gifts of sweets, and when he refused flew into a rage.
Nobunaga, with a long suffering sigh: Women like her impose their affections on people whether they want them or not, and expect something in return. It's disgraceful.
MC: Poor Nobunaga, unable to trust anyone :(
Me: LOL BECAUSE HE WOULD NEVER BE DEMANDING OR SEXUALLY PUSHY AMIRIGHT
omg and then she apologies because she's been enjoying seeing him enjoy her food and that's DEMANDING SOMETHING FROM HIM. MC, honey, you can do better. Mistuhide is just down the hall!
Bluh the rich woman tries to ruin MC's restaurant financially out of jealousy. I hate jealous Other Woman plots :/
Time for another 7000 points but the double points window runs for like 10 hours today.
The woman offers to settle their debts if MC's pretty younger brother becomes her servant D:
But then Nobunaga arrives, and casually tosses a bag of money at the money lender's feet. It's enough to pay the debt in full. The woman tries to backtrack but Nobunaga dismisses her angrily.
MC: That was the money for your dream!
Nobunaga: I can save it again.
MC: We'll feed you the best of all our food as thanks!
Nobunaga: Obviously?
Ok that's pretty cute.
MC: But why did you give up all the money for your dream?
Nobunaga: I have reason to stay in the pleasure quarter for a while *kisses her*
MC: bzuh
Nobunaga: Don't forget my sweets tomorrow! *saunters off, very happy with himself*
The next day he just sits and eats the sweets, and she thinks maybe she imagined the whole thing. But just as she's about to leave he kisses her, and says he doesn't think of her as a patron any more, but as a woman he esteems.
MC: I also find you unspeakably attractive.
Nobunaga: :D Then tell me what you want me to do to you...
Lol she didn't say she liked him, but they're both happy, so good for them, I guess.
MC wakes from her dream, deeply embarrassed at how dirty it was. Come on, Inuchiyo!MC was less embarassed, and you're dating Nobunaga.
Nobunaga: Are you saying my dream self was better in bed? >:( I'LL SHOW HIM!
The epilogue looks like it's about Nobunaga having only ever known how to please others and MC figuring out what he wants (in bed, I guess?) and that's sweet in principle but I'm just not sure I would enjoy "Lord Nobunaga learns to be more selfish" as a plot.
So that's the end of the Event! I ended up casting my last few votes for Mitsunari to get some extra closet space, and overall the votes are so easy to game they really don't mean much. But for what it's worth, Saizo is winning. It was pretty easy to get through all the free content, even with the "buy the epilogues and votes for your fave" stuff it's a lot less pressure to spend money than the events currently happening in the other freemium phone games I play. Assuming you are ok being patient.
Part of my brain's a bit OH GOD THIS IS ALL VERY PROBLEMATIC, and I have to wonder how, like, an actual Japanese sex worker would feel about it or whatever. There's certainly a notable lack of male patrons. But eh, it's set in the 16th century, and it is what it is. And I mostly enjoyed it.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-10 02:06 am (UTC)But Hideyoshi is fascinating, and one of my favorite SLBP characters, for all that I often find him horrifying. He's sweet and nice and well-intentioned, but highly manipulative and controlling. In his main route I was really worried for MC. But here the power dynamics are all in her favor so all his manipulations in the end only get her to spend time with him. I also really liked how when she woke up she was so unapologetic about what kind of dream she had and how much she enjoyed it.
Mitsuhide as grey-aromantic and asexual - yes, I can absolutely see it. In everything I've seen of him he hasn't had a relationship before but also has zero angst about it, like he didn't feel like he was missing anything. In other event stories (and a bit in his main route) it's established that he's kind of masochistic and submissive and I wish they had done something with that here.
Lol when MC wakes from her dream Inuchiyo is all "Were you having a sex dream about Lord Nobunaga, you groaned and said his name :/" and she KINDA WAS, SORRY DUDE
Yeah she was, and also Nobunaga was the hottest part of the dream. And she's the only one who doesn't tell the dream to her boyfriend. Guess I can understand why.
Re: Nobunaga's rich patroness - if I'm going to read it as a dream, I think this is MC trying to self-insert as someone who can demand sex from Nobunaga, which she wants to do but is very conflicted about. So she dreams about someone else demanding sex from him but not succeeding, and then in the dream tells herself that giving him all this candy is also asking for sex from him in a way.
In general I thought these routes were very clever in how they both summarized a lot of the emotional beats of the main routes and fixed problems with them, while at the same time piling on the fanservice.