Probably the focus on poly in this thread at least is because the title of this thread is "obligatory poly." Obligatory mono is the norm, and a very common type of romance in video games. Other companions cater to players seeking monogamy for their characters. So the "focus on the poly," in terms of why I'm commenting at least, is because it's being called that in the title.

To address you personally Cowoline, with the intention of clearing up a misconception, there are actually forms of polyamory that are practiced by poly people that are foremost about forming bonds with other people for no-strings attached sex. That is not a stain on the name of polyamory; it does not further negative stereotypes about what polyamory is when people live that way. Polygamy on the other hand, which is about having multiple spouses, would be an arrangement where people bring in expectations for something that's not sex so I'm not sure if that's a typo but you're right that's absolutely not what Halsin says he likes.

But polyamory, which is used as an umbrella term in the society I'm from for a vast number of types of bonds people form while remaining nonmonogamous, includes many community members who practice free love and are free agents and are primarily poly not to form structured, entwined bonds, but to have sex. They like what they like, and that's okay. They're not creating misconceptions about poly in the world; they're rad, sweet, generous, interesting, kind, thoughtful people who care about the bonds they form, however short-term and focused on sex those bonds may be! Poly people, and people who practice poly, who do nonmonogamy in a way that foregrounds having sex with nontraditional commitments/no commitments are part of our poly community too if they want to be. They are not a shame on the public perception of poly: they are navigating a non-traditional lifestyle in a mononormative culture.

I like that in this romance, we can, in a certain playthrough (spoilers for Halsin ending)
send him off with WAGON-LOADS OF KIDS. S:DLfk;as I'm not fucking normal about it at alllll actually I want us to pile on even MORE. He says he's wanted family, this ending is SO happy for him!! I LOVE that the player/player character can work the system to bring about this ending that absolutely buries him in tiny tots. It's SO GOOD. It perfectly dodges the issue of the player character being involved physically in giving him kids since he yearns for family so ofc I'm like, ok dude I Will Provide. I don't have to think about, ok is this PC going to get pregnant? I, the player, can give him kids with my gameplay. And it will be really hard for me to do a playthrough where I don't do this for him lol. And my player character is responsible for those kids being in his life, so it's like my PC, whether or not I make them able to carry a pregnancy or not, can give him this bevy of kids (by making the decisions to get there ofc)!! I fucking love it. I'm abnormal over it actually. it's so smart. Feral, screaming, vibrating, etc. In future content I want even more. More! More! More kids for Halsin, it's not enough! The wagons weren't enough!!! If we get dlc there better be another wagon of kids to bring to Halsin! #1 BIG DADDY!!! I love himmm I love him lol he's amazing. I forget who it was who posted this, I'm really sorry, I hope I find you again, but they said: Our PC should have all the lines about being able to tell him he will be an amazing father. Yes yes yes yes yes! I haven't got to this dialogue if it's already in the game, and if there's nothing like it, this is what I'm begging for! And getting to squee with him about how he'll have the best time with all his kids, and later getting to hear him gush/complain/reflect about being a dad and all the lessons it brings. Dude ahhhh AHHHHHH to me this is his good ending, it fills my heart to bursting with joy. And we do that! If player character didn't make the decisions to get to that ending, it doesn't happen for him. I will work for it, I will do it for him!!!

Last edited by Tharrow; 15/09/23 05:40 PM. Reason: changed 'western society' to 'the society I'm from'