applepie68

Member
Feb 5, 2018
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The red string is a reference of Japanese folklore/mythology. Meaning that two people love each other are destined to meet each other don't matter what the situation and the consequences. It's the destiny.
You see this in many animes


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I heard it as a Chinese concept all the way back in elementary school. It could have perhaps found its way into Japanese culture as Japan has a habit of borrowing from China culturally as its sort of the little brother in that sense. For example a kitsune is very similar to a hulijing.

According to EvaKiss:
ORS is about how people relate to one another and how they build, navigate and mess up those relationships. It's not so much about fate or destiny, but about what those relationships mean to us, or something like that. To be honest I didn't think too thoroughly about the themes, and I'm discovering new meaning in my own work as I keep progressing the story. I think having both male and female MCs has turned out to be more than a simple gimmick, but everyone is free to find their own meaning, that's the cool thing about art.

So, no, I guess. Sometimes Google is not your friend :sneaky: In my understanding the red string of a story is something that connects its parts.
oh that's cool was that from her patreon page or something? I'm subscribed and I don't think she allows PMs. I'm really curious about this whole name thing especially since I started digging into Chinese myths.
 

dundun

Active Member
Jul 6, 2017
709
2,248
oh that's cool was that from her patreon page or something? I'm subscribed and I don't think she allows PMs. I'm really curious about this whole name thing especially since I started digging into Chinese myths.
That is from her last Q&A from Dec 16, 2021.
 

LHS441025

Newbie
Dec 1, 2019
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I think this is a general knowledge.
Ancient China was very influential in Asia, and many cultural traditions spread to Japan and South Korea.
 

BloodyMares

Well-Known Member
Dec 4, 2017
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We can conclude that at the start, Ian is not from Lena's league.
I guess it depends on how you look at it. Lena is pretty and confident, sure, but she's also just a waitress / amateur model, somewhat aimlessly going with the flow. Ian on the other hand already strives for greatness with his book writing that he takes seriously while being crushed on both by Holly and Alison (and desired by Minerva) at the same time. If Lena is mostly guided by her Charisma and Lust (by default), Ian is proficient in Wits and Money (fewer expenses, support from family). So I'd say they're in the same league thanks to their different strengths that could compliment each other.
 

Geralt From Rivia

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Jun 15, 2022
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I guess it depends on how you look at it. Lena is pretty and confident, sure, but she's also just a waitress / amateur model, somewhat aimlessly going with the flow. Ian on the other hand already strives for greatness with his book writing that he takes seriously while being crushed on both by Holly and Alison (and desired by Minerva) at the same time. If Lena is mostly guided by her Charisma and Lust (by default), Ian is proficient in Wits and Money (fewer expenses, support from family). So I'd say they're in the same league thanks to their different strengths that could compliment each other.
I will add a little more, they have different problems and challenges. And, accordingly, a different reaction to them, maybe that's why they use different strengths.
Ian wants to be a good writer and his only problem is his bitch boss. Ian is not in a financial hole.
Lena has a much stronger lack of money. Her father has cancer, she has a crappy job, and Seymour is spinning his own web...and it's very tempting to go down the path of Lust to make a quick buck. So to speak, go to the Dark Side, and it is much easier, as Master Skywalker said. Especially for an attractive girl, this is a very easy way - Onlyfans, naked modeling, influencing...
Two people and such different paths.
Of course Ian can also give up his dream and use his body like a man - in kickboxing. The game seduces to easy paths..
 

dolfe67

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Apr 25, 2020
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I guess it depends on how you look at it. Lena is pretty and confident, sure, but she's also just a waitress / amateur model, somewhat aimlessly going with the flow. Ian on the other hand already strives for greatness with his book writing that he takes seriously while being crushed on both by Holly and Alison (and desired by Minerva) at the same time. If Lena is mostly guided by her Charisma and Lust (by default), Ian is proficient in Wits and Money (fewer expenses, support from family). So I'd say they're in the same league thanks to their different strengths that could compliment each other.
Lena is at least a league above Ian imo (unless he becomes rich with his book). Doesn't mean they can't end up together, there are many cases irl.
 

Doppelgang

Member
Jul 5, 2022
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I guess it depends on how you look at it. Lena is pretty and confident, sure, but she's also just a waitress / amateur model, somewhat aimlessly going with the flow. Ian on the other hand already strives for greatness with his book writing that he takes seriously while being crushed on both by Holly and Alison (and desired by Minerva) at the same time. If Lena is mostly guided by her Charisma and Lust (by default), Ian is proficient in Wits and Money (fewer expenses, support from family). So I'd say they're in the same league thanks to their different strengths that could compliment each other.
I think the "depends on how you look at it" part is true also from the protagonists' point of view. A Lena who only wants to have fun, is at least close to being out of Ian's league in practice. Looks wise she's a level above him, and as a woman she can have anyone she wants to a degree Ian can't. In that scenario Ian seemingly also feels inferior to her, shown in the threat he sees from the übermensch posterboy ex-boyfriend, from Robert, and Jeremy's comments about her as a model and how she's not relationship material.

If Lena is interested in something more with Ian, the dynamics are different. Then Lena seemingly feels inferior—he's a lot closer to following his dreams than Lena, and both Alison, Holly and Cherry act as threats that make her feel more insecure.

In most playthroughs it's probably a mix of those ingredients, and all in all it probably adds up to them being more or less in the same league. But it's definitely more interesting that it varies so much depending on the situation.
 

Samuel Hidayat

Well-Known Member
May 16, 2019
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Lena is at least a league above Ian imo (unless he becomes rich with his book). Doesn't mean they can't end up together, there are many cases irl.
Honestly, all of that confidence and sexual experience doesn't matter if you're still a high-tier wagecuck. Ian, while stuck in a boring job and a bitchy boss, at least can get help from his father and improve his office job with the right choice. On the other hand, Lena has to work two unstable part-time jobs, infrequent live drawing sessions, and is hunted by a perverted rich dude. Her parents, to put it bluntly, are deadweights who relies on their financially struggling daughter.

I say Ian is winning in life for now.
 

dolfe67

Forum Fanatic
Apr 25, 2020
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Honestly, all of that confidence and sexual experience doesn't matter if you're still a high-tier wagecuck. Ian, while stuck in a boring job and a bitchy boss, at least can get help from his father and improve his office job with the right choice. On the other hand, Lena has to work two unstable part-time jobs, infrequent live drawing sessions, and is hunted by a perverted rich dude. Her parents, to put it bluntly, are deadweights who relies on their financially struggling daughter.

I say Ian is winning in life for now.
At the start he has a more stable job, that's all. And it's if he follows his boss orders, otherwise he also needs money and can ask his father for some. He might become rich with writing, but Lena might become rich with stalkfap or modelling, or even music.

But when we talk about "league", it's about dating. Familial situation is irrelevant unless your family is rich/famous.
 

Samuel Hidayat

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May 16, 2019
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By the way, this is a question about Lena's parents. This is a moral dilemma. Do you think such behavior on their part as "milking Lena" is normal and justified? Is Lena's father's illness an excuse?
Justified.
>Boomers with low education level, so Mom couldn't even get accepted in a half-decent job.
>Tried bakery business or some shit, but it failed.
>Dad is on meds for his illness, so they need to pump out money constantly.
 
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Samuel Hidayat

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May 16, 2019
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but Lena might become rich with stalkfap or modelling, or even music.
All options are useless since Seymour is still alive and wealthy. Except maybe music since the small music store is still running independently.

That's why I'm curious at how Lena and her gang will handle Seymour's blackmail. Let's hope Chapter 10 will deliver.
Familial situation is irrelevant unless your family is rich/famous.
Jordan Peterso-I mean Ian's Dad is implied to be rich, and his Mom isn't far behind. Ian's style and sexual experience are the only things that are "out of league", everything else isn't bad imo.
 

Geralt From Rivia

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Jun 15, 2022
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Justified.
>Boomers with low education level, so Mom couldn't even get accepted in a half-decent job.
>Tried bakery business or some shit, but it failed.
>Dad is on meds for his illness, so they need to pump out money constantly.
Yes, maybe from the point of view of Lena, they are her parents and mean a lot to her. But for the player, it means nothing, because we were not introduced to this storyline, we did not go through the script of the first eight episodes with them, so it's quite difficult to arouse the player's empathy. On the contrary, they often only annoyed: then Lena's mother asks her to return to Axel, then they beg for money and the problem of her parents is only revealed in Episode 9, when Ian and Lena discuss this topic in a cafe.
So they look like plot baggage that you want to get rid of.
 
May 6, 2017
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Yes, maybe from the point of view of Lena, they are her parents and mean a lot to her. But for the player, it means nothing, because we were not introduced to this storyline, we did not go through the script of the first eight episodes with them, so it's quite difficult to arouse the player's empathy. On the contrary, they often only annoyed: then Lena's mother asks her to return to Axel, then they beg for money and the problem of her parents is only revealed in Episode 9, when Ian and Lena discuss this topic in a cafe.
So they look like plot baggage that you want to get rid of.
Well, to be honest, a part of me thought that during chapter 9 Seymour was going to use Lena's parents' situation against her in order to force her to comply with their requests.
I mean establishing a kind of agreement with Lena in which he agrees to finance the medications or treatment of her father, as well as all his debts, in exchange for having total control over the contracts or artistic events of which Lena can or may not participate.
 

dontcarewhateverno

Engaged Member
Jan 25, 2021
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By the way, this is a question about Lena's parents. This is a moral dilemma. Do you think such behavior on their part as "milking Lena" is normal and justified? Is Lena's father's illness an excuse?
Loved one you deeply care for dying without the cash? Yeah. As hard as this is an ask for a 22 year old daughter, that's the sort of thing you do for family or anyone you really love in this situation.

If it gets to the point where they're asking her to blow a goat on her Onlyfans for it, well... that's a good suggestio.. er.. different situation. That's a different situation.
 

selberdreher

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Dec 29, 2017
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Is Lena's father's illness an excuse?
Apparently Lenas (step-)dad has cancer and is in remission?
I'd believe it would be hard to fake cancer and the treatments have noticeable side-effects, like e.g. his complete baldness. I am not familiar how much medication and medical care is actually needed while in remission, but compared to an ongoing therapy fighting acute cancer it should be way less.
Lenas dad had to sell his bakery due to his illness and seems to be partially disabled since then. He never recovered his old strength and isn't working full-time or at all. Lenas mom does a subpar job to cover for it and her brother is apparently also useless in that regard.
So it looks to me like her parents problem at the moment is mainly stemming from the income side than the expense side of their household budget.
While it is true, their current predicament is indeed based on his illness, i actually don't feel like there is enough effort from especially her mother and her brother to ease the situation. It's just not fair to rely to that degree on their also struggling daughter, who had to give up her college education already and is now working two jobs as a waitress, while her mother doesn't.
(...) Do you think such behavior on their part as "milking Lena" is normal and justified?
This would depend very much on their cultural background and the country they would live in. In most parts of the world, people have to rely on their families, because they have a non-existent social security system.
I can't recall if it is ever mentioned in which country ORS takes place, but from the mainly white cast with a rather high percentage of characters from other ethnic backgrounds it's imo safe to say it's either western europe, canada or the USA. The dominance of english given names point to either Great Britain (however i would expect at least one south-asian character there), or Canada or the USA.

While in the USA such behaviour may be normal and justified, i'd feel like not so much in the other two countries.

MyLena feels obligated to contribute, but only if her own situation allows spending money on her family. Thus myLena skipped at least one payment, but transferred money on other occasions.
 
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