Kissed by the Baddest Bidder: Eisuke
Mar. 1st, 2020 04:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alias_sqbrA maid at a fancy casino finds herself sold in a black-market auction to her mega-rich, cold-hearted boss!!
This is free this month, and didn't seem like my sort of thing at ALL but I got caught up in the prologue and ended up playing the whole route. It didn't really work for me as a romance, but I'm not into this sort of thing, and it was fun as ridiculous melodrama. I can see it being enjoyable for people into stockholm syndromey M/f with asshole LIs who are sorta squishy deep deep down but even at the end are still all "I own you, do as I say".
It was way less rapey than I expected though, no worse than your average otome. If anything I can see people with a "man literally owns woman" kink being a little disappointed. I mean there's still consent issues and a few sexy dubcon kisses but considering the premise it's pretty tame.
(Making a separate post cos it got long)
This has gender essentialist rapey M/f written all over it, and the free LI is described as an "arrogant alpha", so I'm not expecting to actually play any routes. But I'm curious, so let's try out the prologue.
Oh wow it OPENS with MC trapped in a bird cage in front of a masked audience o.O "A young healthy Japanese woman! Keep her as your slave, keep her as your toy...bidding starts at $50K!"
And now, flashback! MC is a maid at "Japan's first legal hotel and casino" Ah, and it looks like casinos DID just become legal there, how perfect for Sexy Exotic Casino Tropes. I wonder if this was written when it wasn't quite legal yet.
"IVC, the International VIP Convention". Sure, that totally sounds like a real thing and not just an excuse for human trafficking. MC is very "eh, celebrities, I just want to do my job well".
If this was Western romance I'd expect some rapey brown foreign dudes but that's hopefully not going to be a thing in an otome.
MC is pushed into a Hot Mean VIP by groupies and gets yelled at by her hot mean girl coworker and...twin hot mean girl coworkers? Sorry game, I appreciate the effort, but that's not the kind of weird yuri I'm into.
Just as I was thinking they'd be the ones selling her into slavery, she happens across a man being dumped for cheating. He holds the mask his ex threw at him, looks at MC, and says "I need a date...don't run away, I'll explain everything when we get there." Dude she is a MAID let her WORK.
Is he dragging her into the ballroom in her MAID UNIFORM?? Apparently, yes, because he wanders off and she finds herself being asked by another guy for drinks. UGH, a Gross Fat Sexual Harasser shows up, shoulda seen that coming. There has to be SOMEONE to make the LIs look less rapey by comparison.
Haa they actually went to the effort of drawing a "LI turns his back on you" sprite, nice.
He dropped a glove so MC follows to give it back, and stumbles into a back room where men are handling BRIEFCASES FULL OF GUNS?? :D Talking in Chinese :/
A man grabs her and pins her to the wall, saying she has five seconds to leave and forget she saw anything. She runs, unsure if she should say anything and risk being killed, and goes back to doing her job on autopilot. And then bumps into some men carrying a fancy famous statue, which breaks. ARE WE ABOUT TO OURAN THINGS UP??
A fancy famous STOLEN statue :D
YEP. SHE IS AUCTIONED OFF TO PAY FOR THE STATUE.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE CREEPY FAT DUDE WILL WIN WITH A BID OF 2 MILLION DOLLARS...
WHEN AT THE LAST MINUTE SOMEONE BUYS HER FOR TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS
...why is the prologue still going, I was expecting it to stop and let me choose which LI bought her. But it turns out it was ALL OF THEM. Mean VIP (Eisuke, who owns the hotel), the cheating guy who dragged her to the party (Baba), the guy who treated her like a maid (Ota), and the guy who threatened her (Soryu). What a bunch of charmers!
MC: You can't just buy people!
Rich dudes: Pfft. This auction sells everything: stolen goods, secrets, even assassinations. And now, for the first time, people!
Soryu: Reckless as always. She's not worth anything.
Eisuke: It'll be fun thinking up ways to use her ;)
MC: What gives you the right to decide that?
Eisuke: Who gave you permission to speak? >:(
aaaand yeah I am not sure I'll actually play this guy. Still, this has been a fun ride.
Baba: Now we have to decide who gets you. I'm the only good guy here, you should pick me ;)
Dude she literally met you while you were being dumped for being a creep.
MC: Human trafficking is illegal, I'm calling the police!
Eisuke: Go ahead, there's a policeman right over there ;)
Mamoru is a rumpled detective who was sitting smoking by the window and seems like he'd rather be left out of the whole mess.
And NOW I get to choose. But man, Eisuke may be free but he's really not very appealing. I don't know who thought TWO cold billionaires was a good choice for the same month.
I picked Mamoru, expecting to be taken to the character selection screen, but it kept going!
Mamoru: What? I don't want to be stuck taking care of some kid!
But the other guys cheerfully push the two of them into his room.
MC: So are you really a detective?
Mamoru: Technically.
MC: Isn't this all HORRIBLY ILLEGAL??
Mamoru: Eh, take it up with them, I just work here.
MC: (wow, he is a crap detective) So, uh, I'll just go...
Mamoru: *opens the door*
Ota and Baba: NOPE :D
Mamoru: *closes the door* Look, I don't care, but it's best not to piss them off. I'm going to sleep, do what you want.
Ok this is delightful.
And NOW I get to the character selection screen! And there's nine LIs, including what looks like...a goth clown??? Gonna write down the ages since there's such a spread.
Eisuke: MC's coldly domineering boss. 29.
Soryu: Hong Kong mobster (actually not rapey! Just cold and mean! That's...I can't tell if that's diverse or xenophobic lol) 28
Baba: Womanising thief, 35.
Ota: Boyish, enigmatic artist, seems secretly sadistic. 24.
Mamoru: Slacker detective. Became dispirited due to SECRET ANGST. 30. Lol, he's not even that old.
Shuichi: Aloof diplomat in glasses. 31.
Luke Foster: Coldly mysterious English black market doctor who wants MC as an assistant. Wow an actual 100% white guy this game is SUPER diverse. 33.
Hikaru: Coworker with a DARK SECRET. 26.
Rhion 'Mad' Hatter: FROM AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE??? 24. He looks like the Tim Burton Mad Hatter and his description is a Lot:
Eisuke Route:
Siiigh since Eisuke's free I'll replay the prologue and check out what happens if I pick him. Maybe he'll win me over.
Ahaha omg so MC is understandably taking a while to decide which dude she wants to be enslaved by so Eisuke says "Time's up" and HOISTS HER OVER HIS SHOULDER.
He takes her to his room, throws her on the bed, and explains the rules:
-Don't talk back.
-You may answer questions with yes or ok.
MC: Those are the same thing!
Eisuke: I said no talking back. I bought you, got it? So I can do what I want with you. If you understand, then undress.
UH.
WHERE IS THIS GOING.
I WAS EXPECTING RAPEYNESS BUT NOT STRAIGHT-UP RAPE. WE'RE STILL IN THE PROLOGUE.
WELL OK THE PROLOGUE ENDS THERE SO TECHNICALLY IT. UH.
(On the plus side, MC is trepidatious but relatively chill for someone facing rape, which makes it less squicky for me. We're in Porn Logic Land here)
FLASHFORWARD TO THE NEXT DAY ARE YOU KIDDING ME
OK WE FLASH BACK
He pulls on her shirt and the buttons pop open, then he just leaves the room??
Baba and Ota come in and are like 'lol looks like he had his way with you' then flirtatiously banter with her WHILE HER SHIRT IS STILL OPEN. Apparently Eisuke sent them to show her around, which Ota says is "taking bad care of his pet".
The next morning Eisuke coldly tells her to go back to work as usual until he thinks of a use for her.
And then he decides: HIS GIRLFRIEND.
MC: But I saw you with a woman before, aren't you dating?
Eisuke: She approached me so I entertained her.
He calls MC's manager to the penthouse lounge.
Eisuke: For the time being...what was your name again?
MC: MC :/
Eisuke: I'll be using MC here, so she'll need to be intermittently excused from work.
Manager: Very good, sir.
He VERY INSULTINGLY dresses her up for the party. Once there he uses her to shoo away other women, then takes her to a back room...THE MAD HATTER'S TEA PARTY.
Aw it's just the auction, that's boring. The Mad Hatter is the auctioneer. The only regular staff member who knows is the manager, all the auction staff are MAFIA.
Haaa in the main foyer Eisuke puts on a sweet smile to introduce her to everyone as his girlfriend and MC and I are both just "Whoa he actually has a nice smile?"
MC keeps being rescued from confrontations with Mean Girls by fellow maid Chisato and I ship it.
Just as MC is thinking that the concierge Takahiro is kind and nice unlike Eisuke, the pager Eisuke gave her vibrates and she has to run.
Eisuke gives her a new outfit with lower heels "So she won't walk like a duck" and she realises he noticed the high heels the previous night hurt her feet.
I just realised Eisuke is Heisuke minus the H and now keep thinking of it as 'eisuke, like he's a cockney.
The woman Eisuke "entertained' demands MC say how much a boring girl like her paid for his attentions, and Eisuke rudely tells her to get out of his sight.
MC: You didn't have to be so mean.
Eisuke: She's of no use any more.
OMG AN ACTUAL ITALIAN. HMM I WONDER IF HE'S IN THE MAFIA LOL
Eichi is such a suckup to powerful people he wants something from.
Mr Bucci: Oh, you have a girlfriend. My daughter will be disappointed. You'll still show her around when she comes to Japan?
Me and MC: Ahhhh I see why he needs a fake girlfriend
Eisuke's pleased that she figured it out, and says it's easier than turning down a mob boss's daughter or having to deal with a real girlfriend with FEELINGS.
Eisuke: If you perform well enough to get me this deal I'll let you free.
MC: :D
Eisuke: But you were a terrible girlfriend *pushes her onto the couch* you need to stop flinching when I touch you.
MC: D:
Eisuke: If this makes you nervous you have a rough road ahead. In a few days I'll make you mine.
MC: D: D:
All the other LIs tell Eisuke he's pressuring MC too much.
Soryu: Your mistake was using a normal girl. You should have just hired a prostitute.
The next day Eisuke gives her the day off, and she's annoyed at herself for feeling grateful to be given a whole HALF HOUR to respond to her pager.
SIIIGH the mob boss's daughter Carolina is basically Miss Piggy. Eisuke attempts to fob her off onto Soryu who is not amused.
MC: I guess even Eisuke has his troubles.
Soryu: She's just another card for him to play. There are always many reasons behind everything he does. If you ask him why he runs the auctions, I think you'll understand his way of thinking a little more.
Eisuke is all soft smiles and "I fell for MC because I just want to protect her" which she finds disconcerting.
I love that he has a "turning his back to MC" sprite, it says so much about him.
Things go well enough with Carolina that he lets MC go back to her employee dorm as a reward. BUT SHE IS CAPTURED BY TWO MYSTERIOUS MEN!!
MEN DRESSED LIKE CAROLINA'S GOONS
MC wakes in an abandoned warehouse, with Carolina telling her to break up with Eiusuke.
My options are "You don't deserve him either" "Talk to Eisuke about it" and "I LOVE HIM", let's go full melodrama.
Her internal narration is not remotely in love with him lol just seeing it as keeping up the charade. I'm not sure what episode I'm on but this is very unshippy so far. Fun! But not shippy. Closest it's come is a few times when he's less of an asshole than he's pretending to be, and quietly surprised and pleased to notice MC being observant. But this is more fun than when the MC just immediately falls for the slightest sign of kindness from the asshole LI. Right now she thinks he's disconcertingly hot, but awful. Soryu/Eisuke has more material right now, they actually have a cute friendship in a crime boss/right hand man kinda way.
One of the goons takes out a gun! MC freezes...but is rescued by Eisuke and Soryu!
haha aw Carolina was just going to coat her with skunk scent!
Soryu: If you really loved him you wouldn't do anything to upset him.
Carolina: Aw, Soryu, you care about me enough to give love advice! MC, you can have Eisuke, because now I have Soryu!
Soryu: D: D:
Eisuke: All according to plan :D
Soryu: *backwards facing sprite*
MC: Thanks for saving me.
Eisuke: I don't like it when other people touch my things.
He has a GPS tracker in the pager because 'he likes to know where his things are'.
Aw but he gives her a GENUINELY NICE SMILE telling her she did a good job of keeping up the girlfriend thing under pressure.
There's a repeated theme where MC is just getting into hanging out with Takahiro when she gets paged.
Another girl gets auctioned and MC is furious. Eisuke implies she consented but MC can't believe it and calls him a scumbag profiting off other people's misery. He says she's too immature to understand the games adults play, I wonder if this is this woman's kink or something.
Eisuke: Anything can be sold if there's something to buy it. We're just the sponsors, we don't have to think of the participant's circumstances.
She spends several days worried about the woman, only to find out she was the abused ex of a yakuza boss who needed a way to get together with the guy who bought her. SURE. The other guys say there's a reason they all trust Eisuke and she should too, I wonder if they 'knew' he wouldn't really rape her at the start too. COULDA MADE THAT CLEAR TO HER BUT SURE.
MC apologises to Eisuke, who says it doesn't matter what she thinks of him, and laughs at the idea that he is actually nice.
MC: People will misunderstand you and think you're cruel. Like I did. I want to get to know the real y-
Eisuke: Enough. I won't get hurt again. Go to bed and stop spouting nonsense.
Stockholm syndrome is kicking in, and MC doesn't mind being ordered around as much.
Takahiro takes MC out on a It's Totally Not A Date You Just Seem Like You Need To Relax to Ota's art exhibition. MC, I totally get you being INTO Takahiro but you're known to be dating an incredibly famous guy, maybe don't act like you're cheating on him in public.
MC: Are you sure I can't pay you back for dinner?
Takahiro: I'm your boss, I can't make you pay for dinner!
But you can ask her out when she's dating YOUR boss. I'm assuming he's a serial killer or something.
UUUURGH and they're seen by Carolina and Soryu.
Carolina: I KNEW YOU WERE FAKING I'M CALLING DADDY!!
Soryu, calling Eisuke: Your woman screwed up.
He shows up, and pulls her towards him.
MC, whispering: We're in trouble.
Eisuke, whispering: Shut up.
Eisuke, with a soppy smile: You're late, I wouldn't wait for anyone but you. But bad girls deserve to be punished *kisses her*
And then he says MC had asked him if it was ok to talk to Takahiro about something work related.
MC: I can't believe you kissed me in front of everyone!
Eisuke: I had to convince them somehow. And whose fault was that?
MC: ...sorry :(
Eisuke: Anyway. That wasn't a real kiss. THIS is a kiss.
He pushes her against the elevator wall and kisses her so sexily her knees go weak. The elevator bings and he tells her to go back to her room.
(Yeah ok that was kinda hot)
The Italians go home and it's time to celebrate the successful deal. MC keeps thinking about the kiss, Eisuke notices her attention and teases her about it much to her annoyance.
Soryu: Admit it, she's growing on you.
Ota: Isn't her job done? What happens next?
MC feels oddly depressed, and drinks too much. She wakes up in Eisuke's room, with him a little distance away on his laptop saying she passed out.
MC: But why am I in your room?
Eisuke: *approaches bed*
MC: *tenses*
Eisuke: You don't have to be scared, I'm not that desperate :P
MC: Then why did you rip open my shirt on the night of the auction?
Me: Omg they're going to address it! I bet it's something cheesy, did he think he had a wire or something?
HE'S SEARCHING FOR A WOMAN WITH BURN SCARS ON HER CHEST
OF COURSE
OF COURSE HE IS
HIS SISTER?!
OMG DUDE
DUDE
YOU THOUGHT SHE WAS YOUR SISTER???
AND YOU LET HER THINK YOU WERE GOING TO RAPE HER????
Ok so his angsty backstory is he came from a different prestigious business family but the company was betrayed, his mother died, and his father vanished. So he got adopted by the family he's currently heir to.
MC: Is this to do with why you run the auctions? Soryu said...
Eisuke: Running his mouth off again. I run them because they're fun...but also I thought they might help me form underground connections and find clues about the man who bankrupted my father.
MC: Have they?
Eisuke: No :( But it was years ago, I don't need revenge. I just want to know the truth.
All he knows is that his sister is somewhere safe, and happy. When MC tries to talk more he gets annoyed at himself for opening up, lies down next to her and goes to sleep. She watches his vulnerable sleeping face and has confused Feelings.
The next morning MC realises she doesn't mind being overworked by the Mean Girls, or being paged by Eisuke. THIS IS JUST HER LIFE NOW.
Just as she's thinking she actually sort of enjoys Eisuke's company these days, he pages her. He puts his arms around an unfamiliar woman and coldly says "I'm done with you". ROMANCE.
She wanted to be free so badly, so why is she unhappy? Don't ask me, MC.
Takahiro takes her out for drinks, and asks her out, saying he'd never make her sad like Eisuke does.
Before she can answer, Eisuke shows up, looking disdainful.
Takahiro, clasping her hand: I won't hide.
Eisuke: :/ *walks away*
Takahiro: I take it that's his answer. You don't have to answer right away, MC, just when everything calms down. Anyway, we came here to cheer you up, so let's have pizza!
Game you are really not selling me on Eisuke as the better boy here.
Buuuuut MC can't stop thinking about him. He shows up just to pointedly reject her in a public place. I'm guessing he heard someone was going to murder her for being his girlfriend or something, there's been vague foreshadowing along those lines.
A random dude harasses MC in public only for Soryu to show up and scare him off.
Soryu: Eisuke didn't set you free so you could get in trouble with some punk.
MC: More like he was done using me :/
Soryu: He can be reckless, and so cruel it gives me shivers...sometimes I think I can't put up with him any more, but...he's not the kind of man who would hurt someone for no reason. I thought you understood that. Lots of things have changed since you broke up with him. Was it all bad?
She realises that the mean girls stopped bullying her. I continue to ship Soryu/Eisuke.
haaa this is apparently the first time he ever actually bothered telling someone they were dumped. ROMANCE. But it works for MC, who is all HOW COULD I FORGET HOW KIND HE CAN BE I REALISE NOW THAT I AM IN LOVE.
haa she has a soppy happy memory of the time Eisuke let her sleep in BEFORE coldly demanding she make him coffee. And when they woke up together he said she made a nice warm body pillow. "If he really hated me he wouldn't say that"
honey set your standards higher.
A creepy dude is all "You're Eisuke's girlfriend right? I have the woman he's been looking for" and so MC is all TAKE ME TO HER but of course it's a plot by a business rival to make Eisuke break the mob deal for MC's safety.
MC is convinced Eisuke won't come for her, so decides she has to free herself.
Me: Yeah, go MC!
MC: I can't die until I apologise to Eisuke and tell him how I feel!
Me: *sigh*
Eisuke shows up...and coldly says MC is nothing to him. "I used her as my girlfriend, she was a disposable pawn. But as it happens, I was just thinking that it's dangerous to work with the mob alone. Here's a business contract for us to work together."
Rival: Now we're partners! I hope this means we can be friends!
Me: Seriously? You just tried to kidnap his girlfriend.
But it was actually a signal for goons to come out and attack Eisuke! He ends up tied up on the floor being kicked, and one of the goons takes out a knife!
My options: "Plead for his life", "Offer yourself in exchange", "Scream for help"
Offer yourself seems the most dramatic, but regardless it is to no avail.
But then! The goon holding MC cuts her free and takes down the one about to kill Eisuke. He rips off his mask to reveal...that he was Baba all along!
Ota: I worked hard on that mask!
Baba: Making a scene was more important ;)
Mamoru: Hands in the air, everyone *yawn*
Rival: Well I still have this business deal!
Eisuke: Except it's invalid because you're not the CEO any more. Your VP took over this morning and told everyone about your embezzlement :)
Eisuke asks MC if she's ok, and helps her stand, then whispers "I'm sorry".
Eisuke: Why did you go to so much trouble for me when I'd abandoned you?
But he leaves before she can answer.
Haa the woman he was around was the rival's VP and they just talked business. Of course.
Good Ending:
MC asks Takahiro out so she can properly turn him down before she declares her feelings to Eisuke. But while she's waiting her phone rings.
Eisuke: Come here. Now.
MC: How do you have my number?
Eisuke: You belong to me. I know everything about you. But that's not important. Come to my room. You have five minutes.
MC: But I'm on the boardwalk!
Eisuke: Fine. I'm on my way. *hangs up*
MC: He's coming to me? o.O
Eisuke: You're the first woman I've ever gone after, you know that? I'll let you stay with me.
MC: What?
Eisuke: You're the only woman who's stuck with me this long. You're the only one who can satisfy me. Stay with me.
Me: Ok I am kinda into this somehow??
Takahiro: You've done nothing but make her suffer.
Me: On the other hand he does have a point.
Eisuke just puts the key to his room in her hand and walks away.
Takahiro: If you're with him he'll just keep pushing you around, are you ok with that?
MC: Yes.
Takahiro: Then I'll be a man and step aside, but only if you come to work with a smile on your face tomorrow.
MC goes to the penthouse. Eisuke says "You're late" then pulls her into an embrace. She tells him she loves him and they kiss.
The others show up and Eisuke grumbles about being interrupted but lets the two of them be dragged downstairs to chat. MC is overjoyed to get a CHAIR for the first time ahaha /o\
Ota: So why did you choose Eisuke over someone actually nice?
Eisuke: I can give her a happiness no other man can ;)
Ota: Look at that huge smile on your face, are you a masochist, MC?
And before she can answer Eisuke says "Enough chit-chat" and throws her over his shoulder and goes upstairs. He puts a ring on her finger and says "Proof that I own you" and she is charmed.
THE END
Happy Ending:
This time on the boardwalk Eisuke actually gives MC a chance to reply, and she says she chooses him.
Takahiro: If she means anything to you, please don't cause her any more pain.
Eisuke: I can't promise anything. I'm going to keep doing what I want to do. She's the one who wants to be with me.
Me: Wow
Eisuke: But...I'm going to give you all the happiness in the world.
MC: Ok :)
Me and Takahiro: I mean...I guess... :/
MC: I'm sorry I said all those mean things to you before, even though I knew you're nice deep down.
Eisuke: I'm not. Anyway, tell me how you feel.
MC: I love you. I want to work hard to be worthy of you.
Me: In what universe are YOU not good enough for HIM
Eisuke: Enough *gives a sexy but affectionate kiss*
Me: Aw, that's almost-
Eisuke: We're going to the bedroom.
MC: S-so soon?
Eisuke: I'm not asking I'm telling.
The next morning he orders her around some more but she's into it and it's sort of cute.
THE END
Well! I never fully shipped it but she seemed happy, and I can't really blame the story for being the genre it is. Aw, Takahiro isn't even a LI, afaict this is not a game where nice guys get the girl. But the fact I got all the way to the end despite not really being into this sort of thing is a complement to the writing, I guess.
I tried the first episode of Mamoru since it's free and it was more of him being bored and irritated, not sure how I'd feel about his full route.
This is free this month, and didn't seem like my sort of thing at ALL but I got caught up in the prologue and ended up playing the whole route. It didn't really work for me as a romance, but I'm not into this sort of thing, and it was fun as ridiculous melodrama. I can see it being enjoyable for people into stockholm syndromey M/f with asshole LIs who are sorta squishy deep deep down but even at the end are still all "I own you, do as I say".
It was way less rapey than I expected though, no worse than your average otome. If anything I can see people with a "man literally owns woman" kink being a little disappointed. I mean there's still consent issues and a few sexy dubcon kisses but considering the premise it's pretty tame.
(Making a separate post cos it got long)
This has gender essentialist rapey M/f written all over it, and the free LI is described as an "arrogant alpha", so I'm not expecting to actually play any routes. But I'm curious, so let's try out the prologue.
Oh wow it OPENS with MC trapped in a bird cage in front of a masked audience o.O "A young healthy Japanese woman! Keep her as your slave, keep her as your toy...bidding starts at $50K!"
And now, flashback! MC is a maid at "Japan's first legal hotel and casino" Ah, and it looks like casinos DID just become legal there, how perfect for Sexy Exotic Casino Tropes. I wonder if this was written when it wasn't quite legal yet.
"IVC, the International VIP Convention". Sure, that totally sounds like a real thing and not just an excuse for human trafficking. MC is very "eh, celebrities, I just want to do my job well".
If this was Western romance I'd expect some rapey brown foreign dudes but that's hopefully not going to be a thing in an otome.
MC is pushed into a Hot Mean VIP by groupies and gets yelled at by her hot mean girl coworker and...twin hot mean girl coworkers? Sorry game, I appreciate the effort, but that's not the kind of weird yuri I'm into.
Just as I was thinking they'd be the ones selling her into slavery, she happens across a man being dumped for cheating. He holds the mask his ex threw at him, looks at MC, and says "I need a date...don't run away, I'll explain everything when we get there." Dude she is a MAID let her WORK.
Is he dragging her into the ballroom in her MAID UNIFORM?? Apparently, yes, because he wanders off and she finds herself being asked by another guy for drinks. UGH, a Gross Fat Sexual Harasser shows up, shoulda seen that coming. There has to be SOMEONE to make the LIs look less rapey by comparison.
Haa they actually went to the effort of drawing a "LI turns his back on you" sprite, nice.
He dropped a glove so MC follows to give it back, and stumbles into a back room where men are handling BRIEFCASES FULL OF GUNS?? :D Talking in Chinese :/
A man grabs her and pins her to the wall, saying she has five seconds to leave and forget she saw anything. She runs, unsure if she should say anything and risk being killed, and goes back to doing her job on autopilot. And then bumps into some men carrying a fancy famous statue, which breaks. ARE WE ABOUT TO OURAN THINGS UP??
A fancy famous STOLEN statue :D
YEP. SHE IS AUCTIONED OFF TO PAY FOR THE STATUE.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE CREEPY FAT DUDE WILL WIN WITH A BID OF 2 MILLION DOLLARS...
WHEN AT THE LAST MINUTE SOMEONE BUYS HER FOR TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS
...why is the prologue still going, I was expecting it to stop and let me choose which LI bought her. But it turns out it was ALL OF THEM. Mean VIP (Eisuke, who owns the hotel), the cheating guy who dragged her to the party (Baba), the guy who treated her like a maid (Ota), and the guy who threatened her (Soryu). What a bunch of charmers!
MC: You can't just buy people!
Rich dudes: Pfft. This auction sells everything: stolen goods, secrets, even assassinations. And now, for the first time, people!
Soryu: Reckless as always. She's not worth anything.
Eisuke: It'll be fun thinking up ways to use her ;)
MC: What gives you the right to decide that?
Eisuke: Who gave you permission to speak? >:(
aaaand yeah I am not sure I'll actually play this guy. Still, this has been a fun ride.
Baba: Now we have to decide who gets you. I'm the only good guy here, you should pick me ;)
Dude she literally met you while you were being dumped for being a creep.
MC: Human trafficking is illegal, I'm calling the police!
Eisuke: Go ahead, there's a policeman right over there ;)
Mamoru is a rumpled detective who was sitting smoking by the window and seems like he'd rather be left out of the whole mess.
And NOW I get to choose. But man, Eisuke may be free but he's really not very appealing. I don't know who thought TWO cold billionaires was a good choice for the same month.
I picked Mamoru, expecting to be taken to the character selection screen, but it kept going!
Mamoru: What? I don't want to be stuck taking care of some kid!
But the other guys cheerfully push the two of them into his room.
MC: So are you really a detective?
Mamoru: Technically.
MC: Isn't this all HORRIBLY ILLEGAL??
Mamoru: Eh, take it up with them, I just work here.
MC: (wow, he is a crap detective) So, uh, I'll just go...
Mamoru: *opens the door*
Ota and Baba: NOPE :D
Mamoru: *closes the door* Look, I don't care, but it's best not to piss them off. I'm going to sleep, do what you want.
Ok this is delightful.
And NOW I get to the character selection screen! And there's nine LIs, including what looks like...a goth clown??? Gonna write down the ages since there's such a spread.
Eisuke: MC's coldly domineering boss. 29.
Soryu: Hong Kong mobster (actually not rapey! Just cold and mean! That's...I can't tell if that's diverse or xenophobic lol) 28
Baba: Womanising thief, 35.
Ota: Boyish, enigmatic artist, seems secretly sadistic. 24.
Mamoru: Slacker detective. Became dispirited due to SECRET ANGST. 30. Lol, he's not even that old.
Shuichi: Aloof diplomat in glasses. 31.
Luke Foster: Coldly mysterious English black market doctor who wants MC as an assistant. Wow an actual 100% white guy this game is SUPER diverse. 33.
Hikaru: Coworker with a DARK SECRET. 26.
Rhion 'Mad' Hatter: FROM AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE??? 24. He looks like the Tim Burton Mad Hatter and his description is a Lot:
The true identity of the mysterious Mad Hatter. Coming from an alternate universe, he resides in the depths of the Hotel Tres Spades in the hidden Tea Room. He refers to you as 'Alice' for reasons noone can quite understand...
*Rhion Hatter is a character originally introduced in the Japanese PARTY version of Kissed By The Baddest Bidder. As such, details of his story may differ from the Bidder universe of this app.
Eisuke Route:
Siiigh since Eisuke's free I'll replay the prologue and check out what happens if I pick him. Maybe he'll win me over.
Ahaha omg so MC is understandably taking a while to decide which dude she wants to be enslaved by so Eisuke says "Time's up" and HOISTS HER OVER HIS SHOULDER.
He takes her to his room, throws her on the bed, and explains the rules:
-Don't talk back.
-You may answer questions with yes or ok.
MC: Those are the same thing!
Eisuke: I said no talking back. I bought you, got it? So I can do what I want with you. If you understand, then undress.
UH.
WHERE IS THIS GOING.
I WAS EXPECTING RAPEYNESS BUT NOT STRAIGHT-UP RAPE. WE'RE STILL IN THE PROLOGUE.
WELL OK THE PROLOGUE ENDS THERE SO TECHNICALLY IT. UH.
(On the plus side, MC is trepidatious but relatively chill for someone facing rape, which makes it less squicky for me. We're in Porn Logic Land here)
FLASHFORWARD TO THE NEXT DAY ARE YOU KIDDING ME
OK WE FLASH BACK
He pulls on her shirt and the buttons pop open, then he just leaves the room??
Baba and Ota come in and are like 'lol looks like he had his way with you' then flirtatiously banter with her WHILE HER SHIRT IS STILL OPEN. Apparently Eisuke sent them to show her around, which Ota says is "taking bad care of his pet".
The next morning Eisuke coldly tells her to go back to work as usual until he thinks of a use for her.
And then he decides: HIS GIRLFRIEND.
MC: But I saw you with a woman before, aren't you dating?
Eisuke: She approached me so I entertained her.
He calls MC's manager to the penthouse lounge.
Eisuke: For the time being...what was your name again?
MC: MC :/
Eisuke: I'll be using MC here, so she'll need to be intermittently excused from work.
Manager: Very good, sir.
He VERY INSULTINGLY dresses her up for the party. Once there he uses her to shoo away other women, then takes her to a back room...THE MAD HATTER'S TEA PARTY.
Aw it's just the auction, that's boring. The Mad Hatter is the auctioneer. The only regular staff member who knows is the manager, all the auction staff are MAFIA.
Haaa in the main foyer Eisuke puts on a sweet smile to introduce her to everyone as his girlfriend and MC and I are both just "Whoa he actually has a nice smile?"
MC keeps being rescued from confrontations with Mean Girls by fellow maid Chisato and I ship it.
Just as MC is thinking that the concierge Takahiro is kind and nice unlike Eisuke, the pager Eisuke gave her vibrates and she has to run.
Eisuke gives her a new outfit with lower heels "So she won't walk like a duck" and she realises he noticed the high heels the previous night hurt her feet.
I just realised Eisuke is Heisuke minus the H and now keep thinking of it as 'eisuke, like he's a cockney.
The woman Eisuke "entertained' demands MC say how much a boring girl like her paid for his attentions, and Eisuke rudely tells her to get out of his sight.
MC: You didn't have to be so mean.
Eisuke: She's of no use any more.
OMG AN ACTUAL ITALIAN. HMM I WONDER IF HE'S IN THE MAFIA LOL
Eichi is such a suckup to powerful people he wants something from.
Mr Bucci: Oh, you have a girlfriend. My daughter will be disappointed. You'll still show her around when she comes to Japan?
Me and MC: Ahhhh I see why he needs a fake girlfriend
Eisuke's pleased that she figured it out, and says it's easier than turning down a mob boss's daughter or having to deal with a real girlfriend with FEELINGS.
Eisuke: If you perform well enough to get me this deal I'll let you free.
MC: :D
Eisuke: But you were a terrible girlfriend *pushes her onto the couch* you need to stop flinching when I touch you.
MC: D:
Eisuke: If this makes you nervous you have a rough road ahead. In a few days I'll make you mine.
MC: D: D:
All the other LIs tell Eisuke he's pressuring MC too much.
Soryu: Your mistake was using a normal girl. You should have just hired a prostitute.
The next day Eisuke gives her the day off, and she's annoyed at herself for feeling grateful to be given a whole HALF HOUR to respond to her pager.
SIIIGH the mob boss's daughter Carolina is basically Miss Piggy. Eisuke attempts to fob her off onto Soryu who is not amused.
MC: I guess even Eisuke has his troubles.
Soryu: She's just another card for him to play. There are always many reasons behind everything he does. If you ask him why he runs the auctions, I think you'll understand his way of thinking a little more.
Eisuke is all soft smiles and "I fell for MC because I just want to protect her" which she finds disconcerting.
I love that he has a "turning his back to MC" sprite, it says so much about him.
Things go well enough with Carolina that he lets MC go back to her employee dorm as a reward. BUT SHE IS CAPTURED BY TWO MYSTERIOUS MEN!!
MEN DRESSED LIKE CAROLINA'S GOONS
MC wakes in an abandoned warehouse, with Carolina telling her to break up with Eiusuke.
My options are "You don't deserve him either" "Talk to Eisuke about it" and "I LOVE HIM", let's go full melodrama.
Her internal narration is not remotely in love with him lol just seeing it as keeping up the charade. I'm not sure what episode I'm on but this is very unshippy so far. Fun! But not shippy. Closest it's come is a few times when he's less of an asshole than he's pretending to be, and quietly surprised and pleased to notice MC being observant. But this is more fun than when the MC just immediately falls for the slightest sign of kindness from the asshole LI. Right now she thinks he's disconcertingly hot, but awful. Soryu/Eisuke has more material right now, they actually have a cute friendship in a crime boss/right hand man kinda way.
One of the goons takes out a gun! MC freezes...but is rescued by Eisuke and Soryu!
haha aw Carolina was just going to coat her with skunk scent!
Soryu: If you really loved him you wouldn't do anything to upset him.
Carolina: Aw, Soryu, you care about me enough to give love advice! MC, you can have Eisuke, because now I have Soryu!
Soryu: D: D:
Eisuke: All according to plan :D
Soryu: *backwards facing sprite*
MC: Thanks for saving me.
Eisuke: I don't like it when other people touch my things.
He has a GPS tracker in the pager because 'he likes to know where his things are'.
Aw but he gives her a GENUINELY NICE SMILE telling her she did a good job of keeping up the girlfriend thing under pressure.
There's a repeated theme where MC is just getting into hanging out with Takahiro when she gets paged.
Another girl gets auctioned and MC is furious. Eisuke implies she consented but MC can't believe it and calls him a scumbag profiting off other people's misery. He says she's too immature to understand the games adults play, I wonder if this is this woman's kink or something.
Eisuke: Anything can be sold if there's something to buy it. We're just the sponsors, we don't have to think of the participant's circumstances.
She spends several days worried about the woman, only to find out she was the abused ex of a yakuza boss who needed a way to get together with the guy who bought her. SURE. The other guys say there's a reason they all trust Eisuke and she should too, I wonder if they 'knew' he wouldn't really rape her at the start too. COULDA MADE THAT CLEAR TO HER BUT SURE.
MC apologises to Eisuke, who says it doesn't matter what she thinks of him, and laughs at the idea that he is actually nice.
MC: People will misunderstand you and think you're cruel. Like I did. I want to get to know the real y-
Eisuke: Enough. I won't get hurt again. Go to bed and stop spouting nonsense.
Stockholm syndrome is kicking in, and MC doesn't mind being ordered around as much.
Takahiro takes MC out on a It's Totally Not A Date You Just Seem Like You Need To Relax to Ota's art exhibition. MC, I totally get you being INTO Takahiro but you're known to be dating an incredibly famous guy, maybe don't act like you're cheating on him in public.
MC: Are you sure I can't pay you back for dinner?
Takahiro: I'm your boss, I can't make you pay for dinner!
But you can ask her out when she's dating YOUR boss. I'm assuming he's a serial killer or something.
UUUURGH and they're seen by Carolina and Soryu.
Carolina: I KNEW YOU WERE FAKING I'M CALLING DADDY!!
Soryu, calling Eisuke: Your woman screwed up.
He shows up, and pulls her towards him.
MC, whispering: We're in trouble.
Eisuke, whispering: Shut up.
Eisuke, with a soppy smile: You're late, I wouldn't wait for anyone but you. But bad girls deserve to be punished *kisses her*
And then he says MC had asked him if it was ok to talk to Takahiro about something work related.
MC: I can't believe you kissed me in front of everyone!
Eisuke: I had to convince them somehow. And whose fault was that?
MC: ...sorry :(
Eisuke: Anyway. That wasn't a real kiss. THIS is a kiss.
He pushes her against the elevator wall and kisses her so sexily her knees go weak. The elevator bings and he tells her to go back to her room.
(Yeah ok that was kinda hot)
The Italians go home and it's time to celebrate the successful deal. MC keeps thinking about the kiss, Eisuke notices her attention and teases her about it much to her annoyance.
Soryu: Admit it, she's growing on you.
Ota: Isn't her job done? What happens next?
MC feels oddly depressed, and drinks too much. She wakes up in Eisuke's room, with him a little distance away on his laptop saying she passed out.
MC: But why am I in your room?
Eisuke: *approaches bed*
MC: *tenses*
Eisuke: You don't have to be scared, I'm not that desperate :P
MC: Then why did you rip open my shirt on the night of the auction?
Me: Omg they're going to address it! I bet it's something cheesy, did he think he had a wire or something?
HE'S SEARCHING FOR A WOMAN WITH BURN SCARS ON HER CHEST
OF COURSE
OF COURSE HE IS
HIS SISTER?!
OMG DUDE
DUDE
YOU THOUGHT SHE WAS YOUR SISTER???
AND YOU LET HER THINK YOU WERE GOING TO RAPE HER????
Ok so his angsty backstory is he came from a different prestigious business family but the company was betrayed, his mother died, and his father vanished. So he got adopted by the family he's currently heir to.
MC: Is this to do with why you run the auctions? Soryu said...
Eisuke: Running his mouth off again. I run them because they're fun...but also I thought they might help me form underground connections and find clues about the man who bankrupted my father.
MC: Have they?
Eisuke: No :( But it was years ago, I don't need revenge. I just want to know the truth.
All he knows is that his sister is somewhere safe, and happy. When MC tries to talk more he gets annoyed at himself for opening up, lies down next to her and goes to sleep. She watches his vulnerable sleeping face and has confused Feelings.
The next morning MC realises she doesn't mind being overworked by the Mean Girls, or being paged by Eisuke. THIS IS JUST HER LIFE NOW.
Just as she's thinking she actually sort of enjoys Eisuke's company these days, he pages her. He puts his arms around an unfamiliar woman and coldly says "I'm done with you". ROMANCE.
She wanted to be free so badly, so why is she unhappy? Don't ask me, MC.
Takahiro takes her out for drinks, and asks her out, saying he'd never make her sad like Eisuke does.
Before she can answer, Eisuke shows up, looking disdainful.
Takahiro, clasping her hand: I won't hide.
Eisuke: :/ *walks away*
Takahiro: I take it that's his answer. You don't have to answer right away, MC, just when everything calms down. Anyway, we came here to cheer you up, so let's have pizza!
Game you are really not selling me on Eisuke as the better boy here.
Buuuuut MC can't stop thinking about him. He shows up just to pointedly reject her in a public place. I'm guessing he heard someone was going to murder her for being his girlfriend or something, there's been vague foreshadowing along those lines.
A random dude harasses MC in public only for Soryu to show up and scare him off.
Soryu: Eisuke didn't set you free so you could get in trouble with some punk.
MC: More like he was done using me :/
Soryu: He can be reckless, and so cruel it gives me shivers...sometimes I think I can't put up with him any more, but...he's not the kind of man who would hurt someone for no reason. I thought you understood that. Lots of things have changed since you broke up with him. Was it all bad?
She realises that the mean girls stopped bullying her. I continue to ship Soryu/Eisuke.
haaa this is apparently the first time he ever actually bothered telling someone they were dumped. ROMANCE. But it works for MC, who is all HOW COULD I FORGET HOW KIND HE CAN BE I REALISE NOW THAT I AM IN LOVE.
haa she has a soppy happy memory of the time Eisuke let her sleep in BEFORE coldly demanding she make him coffee. And when they woke up together he said she made a nice warm body pillow. "If he really hated me he wouldn't say that"
honey set your standards higher.
A creepy dude is all "You're Eisuke's girlfriend right? I have the woman he's been looking for" and so MC is all TAKE ME TO HER but of course it's a plot by a business rival to make Eisuke break the mob deal for MC's safety.
MC is convinced Eisuke won't come for her, so decides she has to free herself.
Me: Yeah, go MC!
MC: I can't die until I apologise to Eisuke and tell him how I feel!
Me: *sigh*
Eisuke shows up...and coldly says MC is nothing to him. "I used her as my girlfriend, she was a disposable pawn. But as it happens, I was just thinking that it's dangerous to work with the mob alone. Here's a business contract for us to work together."
Rival: Now we're partners! I hope this means we can be friends!
Me: Seriously? You just tried to kidnap his girlfriend.
But it was actually a signal for goons to come out and attack Eisuke! He ends up tied up on the floor being kicked, and one of the goons takes out a knife!
My options: "Plead for his life", "Offer yourself in exchange", "Scream for help"
Offer yourself seems the most dramatic, but regardless it is to no avail.
But then! The goon holding MC cuts her free and takes down the one about to kill Eisuke. He rips off his mask to reveal...that he was Baba all along!
Ota: I worked hard on that mask!
Baba: Making a scene was more important ;)
Mamoru: Hands in the air, everyone *yawn*
Rival: Well I still have this business deal!
Eisuke: Except it's invalid because you're not the CEO any more. Your VP took over this morning and told everyone about your embezzlement :)
Eisuke asks MC if she's ok, and helps her stand, then whispers "I'm sorry".
Eisuke: Why did you go to so much trouble for me when I'd abandoned you?
But he leaves before she can answer.
Haa the woman he was around was the rival's VP and they just talked business. Of course.
Good Ending:
MC asks Takahiro out so she can properly turn him down before she declares her feelings to Eisuke. But while she's waiting her phone rings.
Eisuke: Come here. Now.
MC: How do you have my number?
Eisuke: You belong to me. I know everything about you. But that's not important. Come to my room. You have five minutes.
MC: But I'm on the boardwalk!
Eisuke: Fine. I'm on my way. *hangs up*
MC: He's coming to me? o.O
Eisuke: You're the first woman I've ever gone after, you know that? I'll let you stay with me.
MC: What?
Eisuke: You're the only woman who's stuck with me this long. You're the only one who can satisfy me. Stay with me.
Me: Ok I am kinda into this somehow??
Takahiro: You've done nothing but make her suffer.
Me: On the other hand he does have a point.
Eisuke just puts the key to his room in her hand and walks away.
Takahiro: If you're with him he'll just keep pushing you around, are you ok with that?
MC: Yes.
Takahiro: Then I'll be a man and step aside, but only if you come to work with a smile on your face tomorrow.
MC goes to the penthouse. Eisuke says "You're late" then pulls her into an embrace. She tells him she loves him and they kiss.
The others show up and Eisuke grumbles about being interrupted but lets the two of them be dragged downstairs to chat. MC is overjoyed to get a CHAIR for the first time ahaha /o\
Ota: So why did you choose Eisuke over someone actually nice?
Eisuke: I can give her a happiness no other man can ;)
Ota: Look at that huge smile on your face, are you a masochist, MC?
And before she can answer Eisuke says "Enough chit-chat" and throws her over his shoulder and goes upstairs. He puts a ring on her finger and says "Proof that I own you" and she is charmed.
THE END
Happy Ending:
This time on the boardwalk Eisuke actually gives MC a chance to reply, and she says she chooses him.
Takahiro: If she means anything to you, please don't cause her any more pain.
Eisuke: I can't promise anything. I'm going to keep doing what I want to do. She's the one who wants to be with me.
Me: Wow
Eisuke: But...I'm going to give you all the happiness in the world.
MC: Ok :)
Me and Takahiro: I mean...I guess... :/
MC: I'm sorry I said all those mean things to you before, even though I knew you're nice deep down.
Eisuke: I'm not. Anyway, tell me how you feel.
MC: I love you. I want to work hard to be worthy of you.
Me: In what universe are YOU not good enough for HIM
Eisuke: Enough *gives a sexy but affectionate kiss*
Me: Aw, that's almost-
Eisuke: We're going to the bedroom.
MC: S-so soon?
Eisuke: I'm not asking I'm telling.
The next morning he orders her around some more but she's into it and it's sort of cute.
THE END
Well! I never fully shipped it but she seemed happy, and I can't really blame the story for being the genre it is. Aw, Takahiro isn't even a LI, afaict this is not a game where nice guys get the girl. But the fact I got all the way to the end despite not really being into this sort of thing is a complement to the writing, I guess.
I tried the first episode of Mamoru since it's free and it was more of him being bored and irritated, not sure how I'd feel about his full route.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-05 07:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-03-06 05:37 am (UTC)Hmm, maybe, I have very inconsistent squicks around consent but roughly speaking the more realistic it feels (especially when it comes to trauma) the worse a time I have. The world and characters in Kissed By The Baddest Bidder were working on ridiculous porn/romance logic, and MC isn't super bothered, so I could roll with it.
Plus even though everyone implied she was being sold into sex slavery Eisuke at least was just being a jerk and had no intent to do anything sexual until after they got together. He opened her shirt for entirely non-sexual reasons! I mean, HE THOUGHT SHE WAS HIS SISTER DURING THE WHOLE IMPLIED SEX SLAVERY SECTION SO...so I don't even know how to make that scene make total sense but I think it works best as "harmless" teasing in-universe that is only dub-conny to titillate the reader, rather than because the characters actually intend to imply they're going to violate MC's consent.