Peace in Politics and Daddy Issues in Portia
*Spoilers will be discussed later regarding Mint’s romance missions and will have a second warning before they start!
So. I finally caught Mint often enough to level his friendship some and triggered the peace in politics missions in which he asks for help with his relationship with gust. Which to me was funny because I’m already married to the guy yet the game is obvs coded the same regardless so I wandered around getting tips from his family and Albert.
The reason for the tension is what was really interesting to me though...pardon the crappy phone photo.
And then the next day
I noticed also that gust doesn’t go home for lunch and Mint is there now. Not sure if that’s because he paints in spring or what, but it was interesting.
Now I’ve stalked the hell out of gust in my quest for his love lol and he really rarely speaks of his father minus the boyfriend dialogue about being glad he let him pursue his dream over politics, so until this I never considered any kind of jealousy/feeling of neglect...until I recalled the mission Gale’s Worries, where Gale mentions he “hasn’t been much of a father” when asking for your help getting Gust strong materials.
The following day Gust will mention you being nosy because he knew it was you who helped his dad, but gives you like 40 relationship points for it. Clearly it meant something to him, whether it be the moment with his father being openly supportive or the player character bothering to help him out, or maybe a little of both.
But back to this mission and its aftermath
Realizing who the gift was from (book, bacon fish roll or umbrella) he assumes Mint just wants to get points with him in order to have a good rapport with Gale. Which made me wonder...is that part of why he’s so cold toward the player initially? Assuming this new builder wants in with the mayor and buttering up his family isn’t that crazy. Between unresolved grief over his mother, guilt in how he treated Ginger growing up and I assume the fear of losing her to this mystery illness and a strained relationship with his dad his closed off behavior makes more sense.
Soilers below for Mint romance!
Especially considering how involved Gale gets if the player romances Mint and essentially sets you two up from the beginning with the Dinner with Friends mission and Mint Condition...and even the proposal. Whereas there’s no involvement whatsoever in your attempts to friend or woo his actual son...which would have been useful in the early stages where he basically tells you to fuck off every time you say hi lol.
Spoilers end
It all works out in the end though and it’s nice to see Mint joining Gust and Albert for lunch at the round table and eating with the family at Gale’s home, and while I’m happy Mint now has this father figure he deserves, it also makes me somewhat sad that it’s almost like Mint is the son Gale wanted and Gust is the one he has, even though he obviously does care regarding that early mission.
Anyway hope someone found my rambly thoughts interesting! I’ll end on a happier screenshot lol