Hey there! Thanks so much for playing, and even moreso for sharing your thoughts here!
First and foremost, I really love hearing about people's thoughts and interpretations of the characters in LoveSick Darlings - so I don't wanna take away from your understanding, especially because I like what you said about Nacho's own interpretation about the painting and how he is related to it. I also like the thought that Nacho could be a part of Syd's past he's trying to repress! I mean, who knows... there may be a reason Syd is so averse to Nacho! Almost as if he has experience with seeing people hurt his loved ones and can't stand for it... but I won't say too much more here!
But, to answer your question, I did want to write Nacho to be a bit more complex than "douche who manipulates Maisy that players are meant to hate." I think the argument at the art exhibition is one of the more revealing looks at his character, and I genuinely wanted to shock players with this info:
Nacho IS intelligent.
Because manipulators, unfortunately, ARE intelligent. And that's an uncomfortable truth to have to consider.
It's so easy to sit around thinking that every manipulative douchebag out there is stupid, and it's even more tempting as a writer to present them that way.
But the thing is, to treat someone like Nacho treats Maisy requires a level of calculation that can't be found in someone dim-witted. I think that's what I wanted to show in this scene: Nacho isn't a meathead. Hell, if he used his intelligence in other more genuine ways he probably wouldn't have to lie to Maisy, and they might still be in a relationship anyway. But he doesn't know how to do this. Nacho grew up in our world where it wasn't kindness or consideration that got people to the top - it was ruthlessness and using people. It's people who are willing to do anything that are consistently rewarded by society - and he understood that from an early age. He's lived his whole life manipulating and using people to get ahead - and so far, it's gone well. Sleeping with lots people is something his circle of friends and world rewards and praises him for - it's another way of gaining social standing and asserting dominance. In his eyes, it's no different than winning a prize or competition. Each girls he sleeps with is another medal. Another one to add to the "conquest" and will add to his reputation. And to him, it's so easy because all he has to do is look good and lie - which is especially effective on girls younger than him. I don't think he even has a thing for younger girls - they just happen to be the easy way of "scoring points." It's very calculated in that way, and I genuinely think he enjoys the displays of dominance and control moreso than the actual sexual acts he performs with these girls. He's really messed up!
But anyway, that's my long (and perhaps unwanted!) analysis of the silly villainous side-character in LoveSick Darlings! It's hard to explore him in-game, because on some level I do think he's a product of a toxic environment... but also, he's an absolute douchebag who views people as trophies and objects. He deserves the hatred, and it'd take a long time for someone like him to make up for the damage he causes to the world.
Plus, the entire game is from Syd's point of view and... Syd doesn't really care how much of Nacho's shitty behaviour is his fault! In his eyes, Nacho is just a douchebag who deserves whatever he has coming. And I think that's valid.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! I really enjoyed reading them. Again, I don't want my thoughts as a writer to affect or change your headcanon. I just felt like sharing them in case they were interesting!