it would make sense that she's scared of people bullying her for being "stupid" or something because she can only think with her loins, like with what you said in your spoiler. She could also be scared that someone could make a fake accusation against her, and she would be shunned a lot more because everyone would assume it's true given her duplo-ness.
Not for a condition that has historic precedence throughout presumably human history, there would be about as many takes on it as you find on any gender in antiquity, it would be silly to assume they were all negative. So yeah ultimately I do agree, you might find fringe nonsense(probably mostly online like it is our modern world), but actual society wide discrimination? From all corners? Nah.
It isn't very comparable to really anything we have in our current world in terms of societal upheaval I admit, its an additional gender but by that same metric, I am also taking the reasonable leap of logic by that by the turn of the modern age, that stuff would mostly be regulated to petty personal cruelties from the typical corners.
Ciaran8023
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- Jun 4, 2018
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Well, not just that, body image is a very powerful thing. Having a skewed body image can lead to an extreme amount of serious mental illnesses for example, so being 'different' in terms of your body can be a huge source of shame.
A close friend of mine took nearly 20 years to tell people that he was born with a third nipple. It's innocuous and most people wouldn't really realize unless they looked close, but nonetheless he was scared shitless that he would be treated worse or different because of it.
Birdnman993
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- Dec 6, 2021
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I'm surprised how many people still believe Delilah is the blackmailer, I think if there's one thing we can take away from this episode it's that it's not her, if anything she's being manipulated like with Ashe, first of all she didn't know that Ashe is a Duplo until after the sleepover, and secondly all the clues pointing to her are so blatantly obvious, it's like Dev is waving shiny keys around with one hand for us to see while flashing his middle finger with the other. 
And you might wonder what the blackmailer has on Delilah to blackmail her, Delilah may be childish, but not stupid, imagine that the person she loves will be exposed to the world like the outcasts that Duplos are in this universe, obviously she would do anything to keep the secret of the person she loves even do whatever the blackmailer wants, probably that's why she so desperately needed to go to the party because she was ordered to for the blackmailer's plan.
And you might wonder what the blackmailer has on Delilah to blackmail her, Delilah may be childish, but not stupid, imagine that the person she loves will be exposed to the world like the outcasts that Duplos are in this universe, obviously she would do anything to keep the secret of the person she loves even do whatever the blackmailer wants, probably that's why she so desperately needed to go to the party because she was ordered to for the blackmailer's plan.
Ciaran8023
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- Jun 4, 2018
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.. Unless she believes that she can be the "knight in shining armour" for Ashe. 'Even if the world turns against you, I won't, so just trust me'.
It's one of the theories I have about her behaviour, if she's the one either doing the blackmailing or having hired someone to do it, it would explain why she blurted out her knowledge of Ashe being a duplo on the bus, as an attempt to assuage Ashe's fears. It would also tie in with her romanticization of Ashe and her overall naivety, believing that what she's doing is the right thing for Ashe.
Of course, we're all just dealing with theories, but there are credible theories that point towards Delilah, so I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss them.
wasn't the first message after the sleepover as well? And her "source" for how she learned about Ashe was a lie, she could have possibly known for a while. She also somehow knew Ashe told Fiona.I'm surprised how many people still believe Delilah is the blackmailer, I think if there's one thing we can take away from this episode it's that it's not her, if anything she's being manipulated like with Ashe, first of all she didn't know that Ashe is a Duplo until after the sleepover, and secondly all the clues pointing to her are so blatantly obvious, it's like Dev is waving shiny keys around with one hand for us to see while flashing his middle finger with the other.
And you might wonder what the blackmailer has on Delilah to blackmail her, Delilah may be childish, but not stupid, imagine that the person she loves will be exposed to the world like the outcasts that Duplos are in this universe, obviously she would do anything to keep the secret of the person she loves even do whatever the blackmailer wants, probably that's why she so desperately needed to go to the party because she was ordered to for the blackmailer's plan.
Dessolos
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- Jul 25, 2017
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Honestly I was 50 / 50 on Delilah being the blackmailer still am actually. But reading this post made me think of something just now. It's a theory with no proof or anything to back it up just a wild theory. But could the blackmailer be Delilah's boss. If I recall correctly she is working as an intern as a journalist and she spilled coffee on her boss. Could be her boss is using her to help with blackmailing Ashe as leverage for her to get the job.I'm surprised how many people still believe Delilah is the blackmailer, I think if there's one thing we can take away from this episode it's that it's not her, if anything she's being manipulated like with Ashe, first of all she didn't know that Ashe is a Duplo until after the sleepover, and secondly all the clues pointing to her are so blatantly obvious, it's like Dev is waving shiny keys around with one hand for us to see while flashing his middle finger with the other.
And you might wonder what the blackmailer has on Delilah to blackmail her, Delilah may be childish, but not stupid, imagine that the person she loves will be exposed to the world like the outcasts that Duplos are in this universe, obviously she would do anything to keep the secret of the person she loves even do whatever the blackmailer wants, probably that's why she so desperately needed to go to the party because she was ordered to for the blackmailer's plan.
The main question is why would the boss want to blackmail Ashe or know she is a duplo. Well I can see maybe she wants to run a story, wasn't that other duplo that killed herself outed in the media? So maybe she just wants to expose her like with that other duplo but the main question for me with this wild tin hat theory is how would she find out and who is the boss?
I haven't read the dialogue on the cuckpath but could it be possible the boss is Stella maybe? as I recall she went out on a date with the mother and maybe she used that as a way to get close to Ashe?
Now i do admit one thing with this wild theory makes no sense if the black mailer just wants to expose Ashe why the blackmail. My thinking is maybe the blackmailer knows but doesn't have the proof just yet and plans to expose her either way?
( I didn't give the blackmailer the photo of Ashe in the update so unsure how that scenes plays out if the photo is good enough proof or not, I assume it is)
So yeah there are flaws in my theory but I think it could be closer to the truth maybe if Delilah is being forced.
Birdnman993
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She blurted it out on the bus because something happened between when she went to her interview that caused her to discover Ashe's identity, probably from the blackmailer, and if that was the case, that means she couldn't have sent those messages on the night of the sleepover, she didn't know that until that moment, so in conclusion, it's not her.
Is there actual precedence that the worldbuilding puts up? Like actual science and not religion or "common knowledge" or anything. I might have to do a replay but what I recall on the subject is the one celebrity being outed and that ending tragically, Ashe's general issues that can be attributed to her being pretty mentally unwell for various reasons, and her getting some comfort from her mom about the whole thing. I think that the degree to which people care might be exaggerated in Ashe's mind thanks to her issues and the media but dismissing the possibility that such discrimination is so widespread seems naive to me.
Also I do think that the general theme of discrimination for something one can't be tied to the plot here. Even if it's a bit clunky. I think some comments have made comparisons to trans folks but also recall something about the dev being against that comparison. Don't really remember such stuff too well.
Ciaran8023
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That's not a given. She could have been told about Ashe's identity from whomever she decided to work with, and if she has an accomplice then it wouldn't even need to be her to send the messages.
That accomplice could also have their own agenda that they're working with for example, and figured that Delilah's little 'play' would be the best opportunity for it.
Basically, there's nothing pointing towards Delilah's innocence, she's definitely involved, but there's also nothing pointing towards to which extent and how she's involved. Simply saying "nah it ain't her, full stop" is a bit disingenuous.
it still seems like she knew Ashe told Fiona, she coulda bugged Fiona's phone or something. Maybe that doesn't make her the blackmailer, but i still don't get how she would have known those 2 talked about it.
pitao
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- May 18, 2023
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Yep, Siren Ashe should just own it and deal with the consequences if gets public that she is a duplo. That is why this whole blackmail shit is unnerving, specially in that route. I was waiting and waiting for a choice to Ashe just say "Fuck it, just do what ever the hell you want. Expose me but once I find who you are I will also make your life miserable." But it was just wishful thinking, I know that Ashe isn't there yet in behavior/personality wise, she still needs to grow more confident, but the dev better make her get there or will disappoint those who want a more assertive Ashe in that route.
Birdnman993
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That sounds like far-fetched theories to me rather than anything with any basis, anyway it will be a very long few months until the next update.
Delilah didn't know that Fiona knew that Ashe was a Duplo, she only said that excuse because Ashe mentioned it first, if Delilah had mentioned it before Ashe said it I would agree with you, but that's not the case.
Ciaran8023
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It's more likely than her being completely removed from the scenario atleast, her behaviour is far too on the nose and the fact that it changed a fair bit right after Ashe started getting blackmailed.
There are just too many threads tied to her for her to be innocent.
But yeah, it'll probably be 12 - 15 months for next update or something like that.
pitao
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- May 18, 2023
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Yep gonna be long months of circling discussions and speculations about the blackmail plot, and how Ashe character development should grow specially in the Siren route and not to forget about if Natasha is a rape cop or not discussion
.Edit: I'm gonna place a "bet" that until the next update this thread will reach page 500 or get very near it
- Jun 10, 2017
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She's more the pivot point.
Ashe whole sexuality resolve around the way she (well, the player) decided to react to Natasha's blackmail attempt. Starting there, routes are forced on the player; with still the possibility to not follow them at all.
I understand the need in regard of the whole story coherence, but I'm skeptical regarding the forced implications. That Ashe turn sub if she decide to submit to Natasha, okay, I have nothing to say; yet she could be switch or at least not be forced out of some routes because of that (except Lexi's one of course).
But that she become a mandatory cuck, instead of an optional one, if she let Rachel volunteer, is harder to swallow. That Rachel fall for Natasha in that route, okay, but Ashe could have just been happy for her and see this as a way to deal with the awkwardness of the feelings she have for her. Especially since herself starts to have a sex life, and then can put the feelings she had one years ago purely on her own sexual frustration.
It wouldn't really have implied more works on the game. The cuck scenes with Rachel would just be skipped on that route, and once in a while there will have been a small, "I'm happy for you", talk. So, globally it would have added just one or two hours, at most a day or two if it can't be inserted into a discussion between the two, and therefore need dedicated renders.
In the same time it wouldn't have let the player stuck with Natasha as mandatory enemy, what really feel like a forced attempt to put unnecessary tension into the story, by creating, on the siren route and possibly on the kitten one if the player decide to resist, an antagonist that isn't necessary; between her mind and her duplo condition, so far Ashe is already a wonderful antagonist to herself.
The worse being the fact that Natasha become a forced character on the kitten route. Either Ashe submit to her even if the player don't like the character (either personality or model), or she have Natasha as enemy. Unlike any other characters so far, there's just no way to say "nop, that one don't interest me at all, limit her to her story part like the other characters I'm not interested in".
And to come back to your "corruption" thoughts, it's precisely the fact that she become an enemy in the siren route that disqualify Natasha as corruption factor. She would have been one only if there were a way for her to recognize Ashe as a dome, and then slowly invite her in her own world. What would have been probably better than Ashe suddenly growing balls, and being confident after a full year of self lamentation, the instant she lost her virginity.
In all honesty, I'm surprised no-one suspects Nat of being the blackmailer, logically speaking she fits really well,
1.The moment in the gym saw Ashe leave her workout shorts/panties(?) out on the bench, most likely with seminal & Vaginal fluid in them, as noted by Nat looking right at them.
2.She is a cop so has access to forensic labs(which take time), accounting for when the 1st messages pop up.
3.if she saw Fiona meeting Ashe after the "bust" this could lead to Del who has a crush on Ashe thus could be "talked into" helping Nat to protect Ashe.(this would account for the time between the first and second sting of messages).
And that brings us to 4. The tone, The first messages where angry almost hateful, but the second string where calmer & more well thought out, so to think Nat got the info had a knee-jerk reaction then took time to consider her approach, After all if a Cop is found or suspected of blackmail that's game over, so she needs a "Fall girl", thus she digs into Ashe & Fiona and she finds her target (Del) and tells her to do X or the truth about Ashe gets out, this would also account for how innocent the first request was(bra & panties pic), after all, one would assume that someone willing to say "I know what you are, Duplo Bitch", would have at least demanded either nudes or a pussy pic, unless the person sending them changed between the ruffly 12 hours between.
That's just another tin-foil hat though lol
1.The moment in the gym saw Ashe leave her workout shorts/panties(?) out on the bench, most likely with seminal & Vaginal fluid in them, as noted by Nat looking right at them.
2.She is a cop so has access to forensic labs(which take time), accounting for when the 1st messages pop up.
3.if she saw Fiona meeting Ashe after the "bust" this could lead to Del who has a crush on Ashe thus could be "talked into" helping Nat to protect Ashe.(this would account for the time between the first and second sting of messages).
And that brings us to 4. The tone, The first messages where angry almost hateful, but the second string where calmer & more well thought out, so to think Nat got the info had a knee-jerk reaction then took time to consider her approach, After all if a Cop is found or suspected of blackmail that's game over, so she needs a "Fall girl", thus she digs into Ashe & Fiona and she finds her target (Del) and tells her to do X or the truth about Ashe gets out, this would also account for how innocent the first request was(bra & panties pic), after all, one would assume that someone willing to say "I know what you are, Duplo Bitch", would have at least demanded either nudes or a pussy pic, unless the person sending them changed between the ruffly 12 hours between.
That's just another tin-foil hat though lol
I think that this is one of the best NSFW futa visual novels that i did ever play, it did balance well the horny stuff with story, i'm very excited to the next episodes, the three different routes have a lot of potential.