I'm pouring one out for all the unrequited love for Ted!MCs, because i feel like this chapter was a doozy for yall lmao it was awkward enough to have my stray/roommate/situationship sulking in the corner while my only friend/dad figure lamented about work and his marriage and getting sucked on by a Jinn
A much lighter chapter than the previous ones, but i really liked it a lot because it focuses more on Mc and Flea's relationship (and by proxy, Mc and Ted's relationship and where it began).
My most amused surprise that Flea is the Worst when he's jealous. I kinda figured he would be, but the way he is so petty and hissy about sharing space with Ted, having his meal times interrupted is so like. oh, he's not used to this at all, he's handling this so badly. and normally i find jealousy behavior like this off putting but something about Flea makes it a little endearing. Maybe because he's just as put off by his own reactions as Mc is. His desperation is tragic, rather than threatening.
The way he frantically backpedaled when he threw an ultimatum at Mc, tried to make himself unobtrusive and small so he won't be thrown away, but then forward and appealing to entice Mc to keep him around. It was really disconcerting to see, and really well written how pulled in two different directions he was. You could tell he was scared. Mc has no one else in their life, except Ted, and exceptions usually pertain to One Thing in general, so Flea felt threatened at his tenuous position in Mc's life.
Alongside this tho, is the realization that the Mc i had created had undergone a character arc during the course of these last 6 chapters right under my nose and i hadn't really noticed until now. The hunter i made at the start of chapter 1 would've easily and with no question put Jenny as a monster, and would've chosen the more aggressive option at the threat to Ted's well being.
I had hovered over the "She is a monster" choice before it came to me that her stance on demons have shifted since meeting Flea. It's not like they're all good, law abiding demons or something, but demons have to eat, it's their nature, and it wouldn't be fair to judge Jenny on that, who really is taking it pretty easy on Ted, when we've seen the damage done by demons who have decided to cross the line, rules be damned.
And honestly choosing this option to see what happens made me sad. To be regarded as an 'exception' is not a good notion at all, when the baseline is "monster who ruins human lives". So, she decided to ask nicely, to no avail. But my authentic gameplay creating a character arc was a delight to discover!
And this new development to Flea and Mc's relationship is honestly, quite positive to what it was, the last couple chapters. No more uneasiness for Flea's living situation, he's got a key, he'll get wages, i like that a lot. He's gonna hate working a job LOL
"I'm your parasite." - didn't think i'd ever find this romantic and intimate but here we are. Flea is our parasite <3