VN Ren'Py Our Red String [Ch.13.3.6] [Eva Kiss]

[Hatsume Kill]

Does Emma need to be dating Ian to unlock the bathroom scene in chapter 13?

 

[SearingFive]

Does Emma need to be dating Ian to unlock the bathroom scene in chapter 13?

Yes

You didn't really ask if it was after weed?
Am I weird because I immediately realized that it's an “easter egg” and not a bug? I would really be interested in an honest survey.

Conceptual Reality is a dead giveaway.

 

[ffive]

If the boyfriend is Mike, then he is cheating her.

On this note, i'm a little surprised there wasn't any Lena/Mike content in both Ch.12 and 13 so far. Even if they didn't sleep together Lena has potentially the music collab with him lined up, so you'd expect at leasts some texts regarding that... but there's literally nothing.

Maybe Gillian has found out he's been cheating on her and decided to resolve the matter... permanently.

 

[Gicoo]

On this note, i'm a little surprised there wasn't any Lena/Mike content in both Ch.12 and 13 so far. Even if they didn't sleep together Lena has potentially the music collab with him lined up, so you'd expect at leasts some texts regarding that... but there's literally nothing.

Maybe Gillian has found out he's been cheating on her and decided to resolve the matter... permanently.

Didn't Mike called Lena out after she was mad for him fucking Ivy? So now the two have some "break", ignoring that they don't have an official relationship, with Mike being taken.

 

[SearingFive]

Didn't Mike called Lena out after she was mad for him fucking Ivy? So now the two have some "break", ignoring that they don't have an official relationship, with Mike being taken.

FFive's talking about the non-relationship path with Mike. Where he asks Lena to collab with him. For Mike/Lena relationship path it makes sense.

 

[Gicoo]

FFive's talking about the non-relationship path with Mike. Where he asks Lena to collab with him.

He always asks for a collab, thats independent from the romance/fuck path.
So the collab is happening either way as long as Lena agrees. The question was why there wasn't content before it and my assumption is that Lena and Mike are currently not into it after the Ivy mess.

 

[SearingFive]

He always asks for a collab, thats independent from the romance/fuck path.
So the collab is happening either way as long as Lena agrees. The question was why there wasn't content before it and my assumption is that Lena and Mike are currently not into it after the Ivy mess.

I don't think Lena gives a rats ass about Mike's relationship if she is not with him romantically. She even says it in her monologue that it's not her problem or concern but eh..it doesn't matter Mike got sidelined for a reason. Pretty sure he will be popping up more in MMA and after Billy's arc.

 

[ffive]

Didn't Mike called Lena out after she was mad for him fucking Ivy? So now the two have some "break", ignoring that they don't have an official relationship, with Mike being taken.

I don't have Lena fucking Mike in my playthrough so i wouldn't know, but it doesn't really explain complete lack of contact if they agreed to have the music thing going and didn't have a fight over Ivy. But as it is, he's only very briefly mentioned that Lena "hasn't heard from him for a few days and that's for the best" if they had a fight. And offhand mention as possible candidate for MMF threesome.

 

[Lord Bradley]

I don't know what is the term called when things are introduced in plot, but later either not explored (forgotten/abandoned) or changing trajectory (bait and switch?), but I have noticed it increasing within ORS unfortunately. I'm reaching a point where I hope this gets wrapped up no matter how shitty ending and Eva Kiss starts new project with rejuvenated passion/creativity. Am I just an asshole? I dunno. "Big Dogs" in the industry have left me quite disappointed lately...

 

[Blurpee69]

I don't think Lena gives a rats ass about Mike's relationship if she is not with him romantically. She even says it in her monologue that it's not her problem or concern but eh..it doesn't matter Mike got sidelined for a reason. Pretty sure he will be popping up more in MMA and after Billy's arc.

From the sounds of that status update. Ian will be having his second bout while Lena is out doing Billy's thing. It will depend on how the events line up timewise, but it sounded like both events were happening next chapter.

 

[Gicoo]

but it doesn't really explain complete lack of contact if they agreed to have the music thing going

But in this case they aren't close to begin with, so why would he constantly text her every week that he is looking towards the collab? He texted her even once about it after she agreed to it. I don't see a strong need for Mike to communicate with her regularly if she isn't on his path, doesn't seem to be in-character to be as communicative and talkative either.

I don't know what is the term called when things are introduced in plot, but later either not explored (forgotten/abandoned) or changing trajectory (bait and switch?), but I have noticed it increasing within ORS unfortunately. I'm reaching a point where I hope this gets wrapped up no matter how shitty ending and Eva Kiss starts new project with rejuvenated passion/creativity. Am I just an asshole? I dunno. "Big Dogs" in the industry have left me quite disappointed lately...

I also suspect Eva is a bit burned out of it, since five years is a good chunk of your life and creative artists usually want to explore other and new areas. Unless the cynicsm wins and its just milking this game for retarded patreons who effectively want to consoom this game forever and dictate its course through payment. Some plotlines stall, some have run its course, some need to find they end. Its currently the middle section of the story, which is usually the hardest to get around. You may not want to rush to the end and reward and have to keep the MCs busy somehow.

I'm not too excited about the open relationship and swinging paths, when the game will become a fuckfest and everyone fucks everyone without any emotion behind it. While moving out can open up many routes due to the many partners, I hope its just an epilogue thing, so the game doesn't drag out even further by branching it in several flats and new roommates Ian and Lena can share. So yeah, wrap it up and have it end rather in chapter 16 than chapter 20. Should the game end in 1,5 years or another 5 years? I hope Eva goes for the former.

 

[Chartog]

Is chapter 14 Billy's event? I'm hoping for a major fuckfest at that thing. Also who are the confirmed girls going to it (Lena and Ivy for sure. Hoping Holly tags along)

 

[ffive]

But in this case they aren't close to begin with, so why would he constantly text her every week that he is looking towards the collab? He texted her even once about it after she agreed to it. I don't see a strong need for Mike to communicate with her regularly if she isn't on his path, doesn't seem to be in-character to be as communicative and talkative either.

Not constantly texting the same thing, but there being some progress on that path. Like maybe Lena texting him this time with her feedback on what he'd sent her. Or Lena spending some time on this project in her spare time instead of just running off for another round of shopping.

It just feels a bit too much like another Robert thing, who falls off the face of Earth until Lena wants to scratch an itch and is looking for a dick. Which is fine in case of Robert, but a little disappointing when the game seemed to have Lena/Mike as more than just that.

 

[BlandChili]

I don't have Lena fucking Mike in my playthrough so i wouldn't know, but it doesn't really explain complete lack of contact if they agreed to have the music thing going and didn't have a fight over Ivy. But as it is, he's only very briefly mentioned that Lena "hasn't heard from him for a few days and that's for the best" if they had a fight. And offhand mention as possible candidate for MMF threesome.

To be completely honest I get the feeling Eva is struggling with how to structure Lena's story material outside of Seymour.

The way Ian randomly got a major update after Lena barely had any story progression after the beach house, thrown in right when Lena was actually going to go do something that wasn't optional. But also how her StalkFap content barely progressed in terms of perversion, and how a lot of time seems to pass between new events such as this Mike thing and whatever independent modelling efforts she might get to attempt. Add to that, that recently things at the cafe develop more in regards to Perry instead of Lena, a detail Ian influences rather than her, and there isn't a lot left for her besides litteral sex to fill out content with.

 

[manscout]

To be completely honest I get the feeling Eva is struggling with how to structure Lena's story material outside of Seymour.

The way Ian randomly got a major update after Lena barely had any story progression after the beach house, thrown in right when Lena was actually going to go do something that wasn't optional. But also how her StalkFap content barely progressed in terms of perversion, and how a lot of time seems to pass between new events such as this Mike thing and whatever independent modelling efforts she might get to attempt. Add to that, that recently things at the cafe develop more in regards to Perry instead of Lena, a detail Ian influences rather than her, and there isn't a lot left for her besides litteral sex to fill out content with.

The bigger problem is the lack of content for defying Seymour. Going against Seymour isn't just a "eww, old man, hard pass" choice, its supposed to be a whole statement about how Lena won't sell out and then Seymour showing his true colors trying to fuck with her life and then...she doesn't really do anything?

Considering we got a Lena x Emma scene, couldn't that have been tied into a larger event where Lena starts getting involved with Emma's political activism or helping out in that old movie theater they are repurposing? We also still have that whole Charles the bum silver bullet against Seymour, I know EK is probably saving it for a larger event but I wouldn't have minded seeing that side of the plot developed some more if Lena is opposing Seymour.

 

[BlandChili]

The bigger problem is the lack of content for defying Seymour. Going against Seymour isn't just a "eww, old man, hard pass" choice, its supposed to be a whole statement about how Lena won't sell out and then Seymour showing his true colors trying to fuck with her life and then...she doesn't really do anything?

Considering we got a Lena x Emma scene, couldn't that have been tied into a larger event where Lena starts getting involved with Emma's political activism or helping out in that old movie theater they are repurposing? We also still have that whole Charles the bum silver bullet against Seymour, I know EK is probably saving it for a larger event but I wouldn't have minded seeing that side of the plot developed some more if Lena is opposing Seymour.

Yes and it could even tie in to how Ian and Lena influence Emma's style. Eva kinda jumped the gun already with that, but I thought it could have been fun if there could have been a background cooperative, or alternatively tug-of-war, influence set where Lena and Ian could each pull Emma towards the feminine and hot spectrum, or keep her comfy with her own style.

That's of course window-dressing, you are right that there's the whole political drama that Emma should ideally have independent content to, which would work fantastically in contrast with the Seymour route. Would have been fun if Lena could use her musical talents there, Emma is bound to know more alt-culture and pop-culture types, they often are involved with socio and enviromental political places. A free concert or two to entertain the hopeless, get Lena going as a musical brand in the indie scene.

 

[IlikebeingaDIK]

To be completely honest I get the feeling Eva is struggling with how to structure Lena's story material outside of Seymour.

The way Ian randomly got a major update after Lena barely had any story progression after the beach house, thrown in right when Lena was actually going to go do something that wasn't optional. But also how her StalkFap content barely progressed in terms of perversion, and how a lot of time seems to pass between new events such as this Mike thing and whatever independent modelling efforts she might get to attempt. Add to that, that recently things at the cafe develop more in regards to Perry instead of Lena, a detail Ian influences rather than her, and there isn't a lot left for her besides litteral sex to fill out content with.

I feel like Lena got too many "paths" for story progression between modeling, music, Stalkfap, Dubai toiletry and whatnot so it's hard to close in on any of em since there's too much branching. It gets overwhelming to write for so many case scenarios I assume.

Ian is relatively straightforward in comparison so each story update is pretty meaningful.

 

[BlandChili]

I feel like Lena got too many "paths" for story progression between modeling, music, Stalkfap, Dubai toiletry and whatnot so it's hard to close in on any of em since there's too much branching. It gets overwhelming to write for so many case scenarios I assume.

Ian is relatively straightforward in comparison so each story update is pretty meaningful.

I think the real problem is that it's a mish-mash of mostly "do or do not" paths. Lena can choose to entirely neglect Stalkfap for example and her options with Seymour, Billy and Mike are all structured as "would you like to" instead of one being a mutually exclusive option to another. Seymour and Billy could have easilly been mutually exclusive in the same way Ian pursuing Cindy or Holly is, instead of just being left openly available. The issue with allowing the player to do nothing is that, that then means you have a position 0 you need to develop on from as well as the various optional paths.

For example I think pursuing a more pornographic version of StalkFap and attempting to establish a professional modelling career independently should be mutually exclusive. Nothing much really happens with it if you don't choose to do explicit content. I think the other photographer dude besides Danny for example should have contacted Lena independently if you chose to not do explicit content for StalkFap and then let Lena structure her modelling portfolio from there. The difference between the two routes would be different sexual kinks and quicker cash for explicit StalkFap and a longer-term gain of similar value for non explicit StalkFap.
Perhaps Eva still has time to do that if she wants to, but so far choosing not to do explicit content doesn't really promise anything since Lena doesn't really work actively on her portfolio.

 

[ffive]

Seymour and Billy could have easilly been mutually exclusive in the same way Ian pursuing Cindy or Holly is, instead of just being left openly available.

They kind of are though -- if Lena is working for Seymour she's prohibited from doing other work, so she just tags along with Ivy as "vacation trip". Perhaps there's even going to be some choice for Lena at Billy's place to abide by that rule, or break it, with potential consequences. I'd imagine drug use might play into that, too.

 

[IlikebeingaDIK]

I think the real problem is that it's a mish-mash of mostly "do or do not" paths. Lena can choose to entirely neglect Stalkfap for example and her options with Seymour, Billy and Mike are all structured as "would you like to" instead of one being a mutually exclusive option to another. Seymour and Billy could have easilly been mutually exclusive in the same way Ian pursuing Cindy or Holly is, instead of just being left openly available. The issue with allowing the player to do nothing is that, that then means you have a position 0 you need to develop on from as well as the various optional paths.

For example I think pursuing a more pornographic version of StalkFap and attempting to establish a professional modelling career independently should be mutually exclusive. Nothing much really happens with it if you don't choose to do explicit content. I think the other photographer dude besides Danny for example should have contacted Lena independently if you chose to not do explicit content for StalkFap and then let Lena structure her modelling portfolio from there. The difference between the two routes would be different sexual kinks and quicker cash for explicit StalkFap and a longer-term gain of similar value for non explicit StalkFap.
Perhaps Eva still has time to do that if she wants to, but so far choosing not to do explicit content doesn't really promise anything since Lena doesn't really work actively on her portfolio.

I mostly agree with you. Tho I really think she has too many options to be manageable still, even if said paths can be exclusive from one another. Between Billy, Mike, Seymour, Agnes? (IIRC if you reject Seymour and Stalkfap you get her instead of Master Simp) with Axel being intertwined with her in some of those and the café which has 2 possible options as is?

Compare that to Ian which has Hierophant, the book contest and the amateur MMA career, that's fairly light and really streamlined in comparison.