VN Ren'Py Our Red String [Ch. 13.1 Full] [Eva Kiss]

[ffive]

Ian has ex-girlfriend issue and career problem. Lena has ex-issue, family issue, and financial problems.

Technically Ian also has financial problems -- he just doesn't complain about them too much and he doesn't get a perverted millionaire willing to solve them for him. Just a dad who pays him a small stipend each month. Ian's relationship with his dad is also pretty strained. He just, again, isn't as dramatic about it as Lena has option to be.

Lena has more love interests than Ian does; she can romance both men and women, Ian can only date women

Ian's love interests: Holly, Cindy, Cherry, Emma, Louise, Alison, Minerva, Jess
Lena's love interests: Holly, Axel, Seymour, Mike, Jeremy, Louise, Ivy, Stan (lol), Robert (lolol), Jack, Marcel, Mark

Taking into account a number of these are simple hook ups or joke options, the range of available actual love interests is about even for them both.

 

[donorys]

Technically Ian also has financial problems -- he just doesn't complain about them too much and he doesn't get a perverted millionaire willing to solve them for him. Just a dad who pays him a small stipend each month. Ian's relationship with his dad is also pretty strained. He just, again, isn't as dramatic about it as Lena has option to be.

Hm... true. But while strained, his dad doesn't suffer from any kind of sickness. Then again, we haven't really entered Ian's family life, have we?

I guess it's an accurate part of Eva Kiss's writing because in my experience, we guys don't really like to make a big deal out of things. But we do share our burdens to our best buddies too. But yeah, Ian is somewhat more financially challenged because he just doesn't have that much working opportunities as Lena does. Unless...

...unless Minnerva is the woman variant of Seymour for Ian?

 

[ffive]

...unless Minnerva is the woman variant of Seymour for Ian?

Just wait for Andrea9999 to show up and explain how it'll be Seymour renting Ian out to Agnes.

 

[GokutheG]

Technically Ian also has financial problems -- he just doesn't complain about them too much and he doesn't get a perverted millionaire willing to solve them for him. Just a dad who pays him a small stipend each month. Ian's relationship with his dad is also pretty strained. He just, again, isn't as dramatic about it as Lena has option to be.

Yeah Ian has it much easier than Lena. Not only does he get financial support from his dad he gets cheaper housing from living with Perry(and this is after Perry's friend got Ian kicked out). Ian just doesn't have to worry as much for money compared to Lena(unless fired) since he's supported by his dad and friend. This is compared to Lena where she barely scrapes by with no help from her family and in fact she's the one who tries to help them since her dad is recovering from illness.

 

[donorys]

Just wait for Andrea9999 to show up and explain how it'll be Seymour renting Ian out to Agnes.

What? Noooo, Ian... Minnerva is the one

 

[ffive]

But there is a big difference between Lena and Ian is that he has job stability and she doesn't

Ian can get literally fired early on if he fails to get his employment ducks in a row. And his "stability" now hinges entirely on his job performance, something that's actually a part of the gameplay that will be resolved in one of next installments.

This is compared to Lena where she barely scrapes by

After the beach trip my Ian has 1 (one) coin to his name. You don't really scrape by more barely than this.

 

[donorys]

(and this is after Perry's friend got Ian kicked out)

Wait, which update is this or how does this happen? Who is this friend?

 

[amber111]

As a gay man, I like Ian

But I can't help there seems to be some sort of imbalance about Lena and Ian in the story. Lena has bigger circle of network, judging by their agenda list. Lena has more emotional/mental baggage; Ian has ex-girlfriend issue and career problem. Lena has ex-issue, family issue, and financial problems. And there's Seymour who seems to want to take advantage of her. It's easier for Lena to raise her stats and money than Ian does. Lena has more love interests than Ian does; she can romance both men and women, Ian can only date women

Basically, the game seems to favor Lena in terms of storyline, relationships, and development than Ian

I think it is because Eva is a Female writer, and unless you are a phenomenally good writer, there are going to be biases in the way characters are written. Just in the way, some male writer's portrayal of female characters might not be liked by women.
That is also the reason Eva avoids trans characters because she thinks she cannot do justice to their portrayal. GGGB being only a female perspective game to now 2 MCs, it is no surprise things are like this.
I think Eva still manages it decently well, specifically with so many paths for both MCs.

 

[donorys]

I think it is because Eva is a Female writer, and unless you are a phenomenally good writer, there are going to be biases in the way characters are written. Just in the way, some male writer's portrayal of female characters might not be liked by women.
That is also the reason Eva avoids trans characters because she thinks she cannot do justice to their portrayal. GGGB being only a female perspective game to now 2 MCs, it is no surprise things are like this.
I think Eva still manages it decently well, specifically with so many paths for both MCs.

I think she wants to have two main character as the centerpiece because of the title too? It kinda warrants it; how Ian and Lena connected to each other via the people they meet, be enemies or friends with. Even if they don't end up becoming lovers, they are still connected in some way, hence the "red string". Maybe just me though

But it seems like the game favors Ian and Lena to be the official couple. Not that I mind~

 

[GokutheG]

Wait, which update is this or how does this happen? Who is this friend?

In the beginning of the game when all of Ian's friends meet at the bar for the first time Perry tells the story of how on Ian's birthday he had a party at his parents' house. Perry's friend was so high/drunk and he trashed the place so bad that Ian's parents kicked him. That's why he's staying with Perry now.

After the beach trip my Ian has 1 (one) coin to his name. You don't really scrape by more barely than this.

Keep in mind not only can Lena also be in this position much earlier in the game her expenses are also much higher.

 

[Socrambus]

Technically Ian also has financial problems -- he just doesn't complain about them too much and he doesn't get a perverted millionaire willing to solve them for him. Just a dad who pays him a small stipend each month. Ian's relationship with his dad is also pretty strained. He just, again, isn't as dramatic about it as Lena has option to be.


Ian's love interests: Holly, Cindy, Cherry, Emma, Louise, Alison, Minerva, Jess
Lena's love interests: Holly, Axel, Seymour, Mike, Jeremy, Louise, Ivy, Stan (lol), Robert (lolol), Jack, Marcel, Mark

Taking into account a number of these are simple hook ups or joke options, the range of available actual love interests is about even for them both.

And his relationship with his mother seems to be almost non existant. The difference is that as emotionally unavailable as Ian's parents are at least they seem to be successful enough to support themselves and ever help their son financially.

Also, it's possible that Nat, Louise, Ivy and Gillian are added to Ian's list sometime in future updates.

 

[donorys]

In the beginning of the game when all of Ian's friends meet at the bar for the first time Perry tells the story of how on Ian's birthday he had a party at his parents' house. Perry's friend was so high/drunk and he trashed the place so bad that Ian's parents kicked him. That's why he's staying with Perry now.

Oh wait. I misread that. I thought Ian could get kicked out of Perry's apartment within the timespan of the story. Not reminiscing

Something tells me that Ian's family is actually quite loaded too. This may be stereotyping, but birds of a feather flock together. And it's not common for politicians to keep the people of the same reputation or higher within their circles, yes?

 

[donorys]

Keep in mind not only can Lena also be in this position much earlier in the game her expenses are also much higher.

With high income comes great expenses. Ivy demonstrates that well enough...
In my last playthrough, at the end of episode 12, my Lena still have $10 while Ian has $4

I would be surprised if people who have lots of money don't spend their money excessively though. Especially if they're new money. Well, maybe some enterpreneurs or businessmen don't, but for average joes and sues...

 

[GokutheG]

Oh wait. I misread that. I thought Ian could get kicked out of Perry's apartment within the timespan of the story. Not reminiscing

Something tells me that Ian's family is actually quite loaded too. This may be stereotyping, but birds of a feather flock together. And it's not common for politicians to keep the people of the same reputation or higher within their circles, yes?

Yeah I think both of Ian's parents are successful in some form. That's why Ian's dad can help him out financially without breaking the bank. He only wants Ian to get to a position where he doesn't need the help anymore.

With high income comes great expenses. Ivy demonstrates that well enough...
In my last playthrough, at the end of episode 12, my Lena still have $10 while Ian has $4

I would be surprised if people who have lots of money don't spend their money excessively though. Especially if they're new money. Well, maybe some enterpreneurs or businessmen don't, but for average joes and sues...

I'm talking about before Lena even has the chance to really make money that's when things are expensive. This is more so if you don't have her sleep with Robert to keep the restaurant job things get tight. Especially if you don't have her go down Stalkfap/Seymour's routes. The cafe becomes the only stable form of income and that's in jeopardy if you don't help turn the buisness around(or be a complete slime ball and steal from them). This on top of sending money to the parents(I'm still hoping that there will be some payoff down the line). It's like Eva is trying to drive the player towards Seymour or atleast Stalkfap with how behind the hole Lena's finances can get. Especially if you want to customize her at all with mall items.

 

[Socrambus]

Oh wait. I misread that. I thought Ian could get kicked out of Perry's apartment within the timespan of the story. Not reminiscing

Something tells me that Ian's family is actually quite loaded too. This may be stereotyping, but birds of a feather flock together. And it's not common for politicians to keep the people of the same reputation or higher within their circles, yes?

Ian's dad seems to have a good job and they are probably well off but not rich. It looks like he lives of his (good) salary but he's not loaded like a Seymour type is.

I'm talking about before Lena even has the chance to really make money that's when things are expensive. This is more so if you don't have her sleep with Robert to keep the restaurant job things get tight. Especially if you don't have her go down Stalkfap/Seymour's routes. The cafe becomes the only stable form of income and that's in jeopardy if you don't help turn the buisness around(or be a complete slime ball and steal from them). This on top of sending money to the parents(I'm still hoping that there will be some payoff down the line). It's like Eva is trying to drive the player towards Seymour or atleast Stalkfap with how behind the hole Lena's finances can get. Especially if you want to customize her at all with mall items.

I agree, Lena's financial problems and urges seem to be designed to make her "corruption" path more tempting.

 

[donorys]

I agree, Lena's financial problems and urges seem to be designed to make her "corruption" path more tempting.

The more I play the game, the more I'm curious how much transformation in terms of character can Lena undergo. I think even Holly can also be corrupted, depending on our choices as Lena. But to be honest, I'm scared of seeing Holly transform too much, to the point she loses her gentle, creative soul in exchange for more confidence and "slutty". But I'm also curious how would that end for her

Does Ian also have a corruption path or something? From the gallery, I think she and Minnerva can have a love/hate dom/sub affair, but I don't know if that counts

 

[Jplays512]

Does Ian also have a corruption path or something? From the gallery, I think she and Minnerva can have a love/hate dom/sub affair, but I don't know if that counts

I don’t think Ian has a corruption route his is more does he become an asshole or not. Does he sleep around / steal his friend’s girls or is he a kind loyal BF and friend. I don’t think we will see a full corruption he is selling himself for drug money tho.

 

[donorys]

I don’t think Ian has a corruption route his is more does he become an asshole or not. Does he sleep around / steal his friend’s girls or is he a kind loyal BF and friend. I don’t think we will see a full corruption he is selling himself for drug money tho.

So basically taking a page out of Jeremy's book. Gotcha. Being an asshole is kinda corrupted too I take it

 

[BlandChili]

The more I play the game, the more I'm curious how much transformation in terms of character can Lena undergo. I think even Holly can also be corrupted, depending on our choices as Lena. But to be honest, I'm scared of seeing Holly transform too much, to the point she loses her gentle, creative soul in exchange for more confidence and "slutty". But I'm also curious how would that end for her

Does Ian also have a corruption path or something? From the gallery, I think she and Minnerva can have a love/hate dom/sub affair, but I don't know if that counts

Lena isn't really an MC that fits into the stereotypical theme of corruption like Holly. Lena is already a confident and liberated woman with sexual experience and desires of her own. So corruption for Lena comes in the routes where she is made to cross boundaries she might be resistant to, in ORS that's Seymour as his desire to possess her, which contrasts with her liberated sense of self. Axel and Mike can also be seen as corrupting rotes as they deal directly with Lena's history with cheating in different ways, but Mike's doesn't really come across as corrupting since Lena embraces it rather readily.

 

[Socrambus]

Does Ian also have a corruption path or something? From the gallery, I think she and Minnerva can have a love/hate dom/sub affair, but I don't know if that counts

It depends on what we understand as corruption. For example, does fucking your friend's girlfriend behind his back count as corruption?. That's Ian replicating his trauma with Gillian's cheating on his friend Wade, but this time Ian is not the victim, is the bad guy. Sex with Emma when Ian knows Perry is in love with her might also count. The casual sex he might have with his best friend Alison degrading her, bimbofication included. On the whole, Ian's chad and dom path has him behaving in ways unthinkable for the Ian at the beginning of the game.

Also, Ian is very dependant of Seymour career wise. He works for his company and his hopes to be a writer hang on a literary contest also organized by Seymour. And I think it has been hinted, specially if Lena is not on Seymour's path, that Seymour will try to compromise Ian.