VN Ren'Py Leaving DNA [Ep. 4.3a] [Impious Monk]

[John972]

I'd have to replay and grab a screenshot but I found it weird there was a render outside the firm showing someone named Jennifer with a different last name. The focus of the shot was clearly on her. Giant red herring or relevant?

It's after Rockford learns of the break-in and after the co-worker gets her missing badge replaced.

As for it being Malena, that's an interesting theory and I can't immediately think of a reason to dismiss it.

Yeah, I remember that render. She was Jennifer Hanamoto, Legal Secretary in the DA's office.

In terms of Malena, there's all these unresolved threads with her story arc:

Malena's father was assassinated in front of her as a child. Her dream ends when the assassin walks up to her and fires his pistol again. Who was Malena's father? Who was the assassin? Was the assassin an Orc? Why is Malena still alive? Did the assassin intentionally let her live? If so, why?

Who exactly does Malena work for now? Is her military contractor associated in any way with Senator Carrington.

Malena gives her reasons for helping Rockford learn to defend himself, but is that all there is to it? Why is she so obsessed with teaching Rockford to defend himself?

What if there is more than her friendship with Emmeline and now Rockford?

What if Melana has a task of protecting/watching over/monitoring Emmeline, Colleen, and now Rockford in some way (as children of Orcs)? If so, on who's authority? Why does she get so pissed at Rockford expressing a desire to want a relationship with Hobbs (especially as game variables reward telling her that even murders deserve a chance of redemption)?

I'm only spitballing here. I don't know what's going on to explain why Malena is so enigmatic.

I think its more likely that Malena is working for Andras (or at least something similar like her company works for the government/andras and so on).

I think something like her being "gone for weeks" could happen if - for example - Jamison tells Andras that he wants to get out of prison lol.

I dont think Malena is in the right mindspace to care about someone like Coleen anyway. She needs someone like Emmeline to pull her up (from her heavy past) not really the other way around at least at this point in time imo.

I figured that Seo Jun knows from Carrington/the foundation as the foundation apparently was used to finance rockfords college too, there possibly was data about his father or she asked Carrington at some point.




I posted the screenshot you mentioned a few pages ago, not sure what to make out of it and if she could be the omnious Jennifer. But if Jennifer is a fake-identy, why use the real name there in the first place?

Edit: Carrington knows who she is tho, that could/should/will be relevant

The thing about Seo Jun, what she says to Rockford indicates she doesn't know Jamison confirmed to Rockford his "father's death".

As for Seo Jun knowing of his "father's" death from the Carrington Foundation, why didn't she tell Rockford when they dated for six months? Seo Jun dated Rockford sometime between Rockford breaking up with Aghavni (roughly five years before present) and Vega (Rockford's last girlfriend)

 

[Maviarab]

Yeah, I remember that render. She was Jennifer Hanamoto, Legal Secretary in the DA's office.

In terms of Malena, there's all these unresolved threads with her story arc:

Malena's father was assassinated in front of her as a child. Her dream ends when the assassin walks up to her and fires his pistol again. Who was Malena's father? Who was the assassin? Was the assassin an Orc? Why is Malena still alive? Did the assassin intentionally let her live? If so, why?

Who exactly does Malena work for now? Is her military contractor associated in any way with Senator Carrington.

Malena gives her reasons for helping Rockford learn to defend himself, but is that all there is to it? Why is she so obsessed with teaching Rockford to defend himself?

What if there is more than her friendship with Emmeline and now Rockford?

What if Melana has a task of protecting/watching over/monitoring Emmeline, Colleen, and now Rockford in some way (as children of Orcs)? If so, on who's authority? Why does she get so pissed at Rockford expressing a desire to want a relationship with Hobbs (especially as game variables reward telling her that even murders deserve a chance of redemption)?

I'm only spitballing here. I don't know what's going on to explain why Malena is so enigmatic.



The thing about Seo Jun, what she says to Rockford indicates she doesn't know Jamison confirmed to Rockford his "father's death".

As for Seo Jun knowing of his "father's" death from the Carrington Foundation, why didn't she tell Rockford when they dated for six months? Seo Jun dated Rockford sometime between Rockford breaking up with Aghavni (roughly five years before present) and Vega (Rockford's last girlfriend)

And people wonder why the guy has trust issues

 

[Maccabbee]

Yeah, I remember that render. She was Jennifer Hanamoto, Legal Secretary in the DA's office.

In terms of Malena, there's all these unresolved threads with her story arc:

Malena's father was assassinated in front of her as a child. Her dream ends when the assassin walks up to her and fires his pistol again. Who was Malena's father? Who was the assassin? Was the assassin an Orc? Why is Malena still alive? Did the assassin intentionally let her live? If so, why?

Who exactly does Malena work for now? Is her military contractor associated in any way with Senator Carrington.

Malena gives her reasons for helping Rockford learn to defend himself, but is that all there is to it? Why is she so obsessed with teaching Rockford to defend himself?

What if there is more than her friendship with Emmeline and now Rockford?

What if Melana has a task of protecting/watching over/monitoring Emmeline, Colleen, and now Rockford in some way (as children of Orcs)? If so, on who's authority? Why does she get so pissed at Rockford expressing a desire to want a relationship with Hobbs (especially as game variables reward telling her that even murders deserve a chance of redemption)?

I'm only spitballing here. I don't know what's going on to explain why Malena is so enigmatic.



The thing about Seo Jun, what she says to Rockford indicates she doesn't know Jamison confirmed to Rockford his "father's death".

As for Seo Jun knowing of his "father's" death from the Carrington Foundation, why didn't she tell Rockford when they dated for six months? Seo Jun dated Rockford sometime between Rockford breaking up with Aghavni (roughly five years before present) and Vega (Rockford's last girlfriend)

My impression of Seo-Jun's comment was that it was based on an assumption, not based on any real information. He's been looking for his whole adult life, and found nothing, and he himself thought his father was probably dead. She was probably referring to that.

 

[Krytax123]

The thing about Seo Jun, what she says to Rockford indicates she doesn't know Jamison confirmed to Rockford his "father's death".

As for Seo Jun knowing of his "father's" death from the Carrington Foundation, why didn't she tell Rockford when they dated for six months? Seo Jun dated Rockford sometime between Rockford breaking up with Aghavni (roughly five years before present) and Vega (Rockford's last girlfriend)

We have no clue when she got the information, it could have been even her who did send rockford the package in the beginning on carringtons orders. Or she was instructed to not tell Rockford earlier, we dont know anything about the relationship between Seo Jun and Carrington but he seems to trust her with the foundation.

 

[camube]

okay im glad i wasn't spoiled on the twist. and i like the way leaving dna pulled episode 4 twist better than some other game that did similar thing

all in all, nice update!

 

[doovel]

Just leaving it here for clarity sake. Need a scene where he uses her head as an arm rest while standing.

Perfect to rest your arm on and hold your drink!

 

[Impious Monk]

PS - separate question for Impious Monk:

Spoiler: puzzling statement from Seo Jun in Ch 3

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Spoiler

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[John972]

My impression of Seo-Jun's comment was that it was based on an assumption, not based on any real information. He's been looking for his whole adult life, and found nothing, and he himself thought his father was probably dead. She was probably referring to that.

We have no clue when she got the information, it could have been even her who did send rockford the package in the beginning on carringtons orders. Or she was instructed to not tell Rockford earlier, we dont know anything about the relationship between Seo Jun and Carrington but he seems to trust her with the foundation.

Spoiler

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Spoiler

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[camube]

Yeah, I remember that render. She was Jennifer Hanamoto, Legal Secretary in the DA's office.

In terms of Malena, there's all these unresolved threads with her story arc:

Malena's father was assassinated in front of her as a child. Her dream ends when the assassin walks up to her and fires his pistol again. Who was Malena's father? Who was the assassin?

let's see if i can use spoiler properly,

Spoiler

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i want cassie to be elevated to Main Character instead of Side Character tbh. What little we see of her seems interesting

 

[John972]

let's see if i can use spoiler properly,

Spoiler

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i want cassie to be elevated to Main Character instead of Side Character tbh. What little we see of her seems interesting

Spoiler

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[John972]

Here's a random thought for shits & giggles...

Is Malena the mysterious "Jennifer" who visits Colleen? This obviously suggests there is way more going under the hood with Malena than we currently know.

Why do I think this is possible? It depends if the following two points are purely coincidental or not:

1. Malena, by her own admission: "I don't have any travel planned right now. But sometimes I get a call and I'm gone the next day. And then I might be gone for weeks."

2. Mary at the clinic [talking about Jennifer, supposedly from the Carrington Foundation]: "She'll come in like a few weeks in a row and then we won't see her for a while." Seo Jun later confirms to Rockford there is no employee named Jennifer with the Carrington Foundation, since Seo Jun is the only employee.

More circumstantial evidence against Malena:

Spoiler

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[Maccabbee]

More circumstantial evidence against Malena:

Spoiler

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You think the Orcs, or Andras' new "group" (which looks like it's just his kid), are the only people capable of this type of stuff? That's very untrue. The Orcs started off as a Delta Force team, but there were others. Other countries have special forces. Malena's dad, if that was truth, was a Cartel head, all of whom have teams of very violent people capable of planning hits and other mayhem. Malena was a combat trainer in the Army, and went private after her discharge. If she is being paid that well (and she commented that she's very well paid), she is definitely not working for Andras, as that is a US government black ops team, and doesn't get paid much, though they get operational funds. It sounds more like she works for a military contractor (like Blackwater, or Academi as they call themselves now).

 

[moskyx]

You think the Orcs, or Andras' new "group" (which looks like it's just his kid), are the only people capable of this type of stuff? That's very untrue. The Orcs started off as a Delta Force team, but there were others. Other countries have special forces. Malena's dad, if that was truth, was a Cartel head, all of whom have teams of very violent people capable of planning hits and other mayhem. Malena was a combat trainer in the Army, and went private after her discharge. If she is being paid that well (and she commented that she's very well paid), she is definitely not working for Andras, as that is a US government black ops team, and doesn't get paid much, though they get operational funds. It sounds more like she works for a military contractor (like Blackwater, or Academi as they call themselves now).

Yeah, but Andras' project is said to be a complete failure, as only one guy is still alive. So it's possible that the army fired Andras and then he started his own venture (or joined some private militar contractor) and hired Malena when she was discharged too. So nowadays Malena could perfectly be working for Andras but not under the government umbrella anymore.

 

[John972]

You think the Orcs, or Andras' new "group" (which looks like it's just his kid), are the only people capable of this type of stuff? That's very untrue. The Orcs started off as a Delta Force team, but there were others. Other countries have special forces. Malena's dad, if that was truth, was a Cartel head, all of whom have teams of very violent people capable of planning hits and other mayhem. Malena was a combat trainer in the Army, and went private after her discharge. If she is being paid that well (and she commented that she's very well paid), she is definitely not working for Andras, as that is a US government black ops team, and doesn't get paid much, though they get operational funds. It sounds more like she works for a military contractor (like Blackwater, or Academi as they call themselves now).

Yeah, but Andras' project is said to be a complete failure, as only one guy is still alive. So it's possible that the army fired Andras and then he started his own venture (or joined some private militar contractor) and hired Malena when she was discharged too. So nowadays Malena could perfectly be working for Andras but not under the government umbrella anymore.

I never said that Malena was part of the Orcs et al, or part of a US government organization. The story so far hints that she has similar training for similar clandestine tasks as the Orcs. She herself admits she's done terrible things. Obviously, Senator Jack Carrington will know of all kinds of military and private organizations than conduct clandestine operations for the US Government.

I am simply wondering if she, for whatever reason, is tasked by her employer (whomever that may be) to look out for Colleen and Emmeline or to monitor them.

 

[Maccabbee]

I never said that Malena was part of the Orcs et al, or part of a US government organization. The story so far hints that she has similar training for similar clandestine tasks as the Orcs. She herself admits she's done terrible things. Obviously, Senator Jack Carrington will know of all kinds of military and private organizations than conduct clandestine operations for the US Government.

I am simply wondering if she, for whatever reason, is tasked by her employer (whomever that may be) to look out for Colleen and Emmeline or to monitor them.

If my theory is true (and there's no evidence that it is or isn't), Malena could be watching Colleen and Emmeline specifically to find Andras and his son to take them out. She doesn't have to be working with them.

 

[John972]

If my theory is true (and there's no evidence that it is or isn't), Malena could be watching Colleen and Emmeline specifically to find Andras and his son to take them out. She doesn't have to be working with them.

Any theory supported by what's in the story is valid. If I've learned one thing by the end of Epi 4, Impious Monk drops little clues/hints throughout the story leading to bigger revelations later on. It's understandably hard to find such clues ahead of time and make sense of them, but once a revelation is made, these earlier clues kinda seem blindingly obvious in hindsight

 

[Maccabbee]

Any theory supported by what's in the story is valid. If I've learned one thing by the end of Epi 4, Impious Monk drops little clues/hints throughout the story leading to bigger revelations later on. It's understandably hard to find such clues ahead of time and make sense of them, but once a revelation is made, these earlier clues kinda seem blindingly obvious in hindsight

That's the mark of great writing: The reveal seems obvious in retrospect only, and more so on future readings/viewings. Fight Club, Sixth Sense, The Usual Suspects. All of them are completely different once you already know the secret.

 

[John972]

For anyone invested in the LeavingDNA story, below I present a timeline of events up to Day 1 on 1st September 2022 (the first actual day of the AVN), based on information given within the story so far up to and including Episode 4.

Obviously, this timeline contains spoilers relating to the main crime plots of LeavingDNA, but not to any events occurring on or after Day 1. I don't recommend this timeline to anyone who has not played LeavingDNA to the end of episode 4.

The timeline is solely based on my interpretation, thus it is not official, and any errors contained therein are entirely my own.

LeavingDNA has a very complex and dense storyline, and it can be hard to contextualize events from the past that are referred to throughout the story. Thus, I hope this timeline can help others as it helped me.

Spoiler: HEAVY SPOILERS - TIMELINE 1962-2022

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[Greebz]

Hi Greebz. Sorry, no content spoilers other than what's in the dev notes on the OP. I only recommend the game if you're playing for story, not for any particular fetish.

Hello dev,
I am back after playing your masterpiece. To be honest I am just speechless and cannot say anything besides I love this game. The writing is superb! I have seldom felt such investment in a story even outside of adult game. You have a knack for this! Even outside me wanting certain content I am sure you know what is best for your story. Best of luck and I cannot await future developments and I will support you financially. Maybe consider to port your game to another, more popular and less adult engine (after finishing it) to give access to a wider audience. I full heartedly believe the story alone could get this game mainstream. Sorry for glazing everyone but those are my heartfelt feelings after I finished this game. Best of success to the dev!

 

[DevinHesi]

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