VN Ren'Py Summer's Gone [S1 Steam + DLC] [Oceanlab]

[Pl@y3r]

She most likely wasn't, however, considering she's been keeping secrets I wouldn't completely rule that out. Imagine if during that scene where Nami tells Nika they're gonna watch a porno, they saw Nojiko on screen instead of that woman.

 

[LHDLLB]

I can imagine plenty of ways to make SUmmer stay gone, but be a fixed point that Nika navigates the story by. In my mind, Summer is a direction that he has to walk away from. It's quite easy for her to have impact and to be more than just a starting point without her dominating the narrative. I would hope that Nika uncovers his past and retrieves the parts of himself that he though he lost, not just build himself up from the ground and ignore who he was. I suspect that bringing Nia's story into things, Ocean will have plenty of material with Summer, therapy flashbacks or memories taht NIka comes to terms with, and he grows past those mental issues as he accepts the grief is part of moving on.

I can also imagine scenarios where the Zanes feel guilty for what happened to Nika's parents. What if Vic got the scholarship for the same reason, that the Zane's felt responsible for her being an orphan? That is SG the Zanes try to fix some of the damage they caused by getting to the top?

By cloak and dagger, I don't mean the teenage detective shenanigans, I mean the mafia/gang angle. Yes it's 100% there in WiaB, and we know it's still there in some ways now, but it's not necessarily a major focus of SG. ALso, we don't know how it will be in WiaB. So far it seems more like organised crime than a gang, there's a lot more subtlety to Leia's operations. So yes WiaB has the cloak and dagger and mysteries, SG so far is just Nika's mysteries. The Zanes do have a legitimate business, and Noji might be simply a legitimate doctor.

I can see your point about Summer and I agree, is more a matter of preference. Just that having the Zanes being responsible for whatever happened with Summer too "good", like it fit the two ends of the story in the more predicable way possible, I kinda prefer when stories don't answer all the questions. Summer disappearance being something that Nika has to walk away from is perfect, having this incident be related with the overall plot... seem really cheap to me.

I guess this depends in how WiaB ends. I kinda don't like that angle, part of me would like to see the Zanes as antagonist in this story, not villains, but a contrarie force to Nika in some way. Personally, depending on how dark WiaB gets - and I expect quite a bit, having repent William and Leia given scholarship out of guilt is kinda boring, but not impossible.

My bad, I get you now. Yeah, I don't think it will be the focus either, but I think it will have with characters as Vanessa, Nicole, the cop, I see many pity falls laid out for Nika. for the rest I agree.

Unless she was Emilia's work colleague:
View attachment 4176136
View attachment 4176139
View attachment 4176145

Nah. Noji pornstar would be out of the left field. It is to make us wonder about Noji, much of the book club is to make was questioning what we thought we know. Nojiko knowing a pornstar is odd but plausible, a pornstar being in a bored housewife bookclub of riche old ladies is surreal to me. The book club itself I don't think there is much to it, but some people of the bookclub are gonna be important. Jenna, Ana, Charlie, the author.

 

[Krytax123]

I can see your point about Summer and I agree, is more a matter of preference. Just that having the Zanes being responsible for whatever happened with Summer too "good", like it fit the two ends of the story in the more predicable way possible, I kinda prefer when stories don't answer all the questions. Summer disappearance being something that Nika has to walk away from is perfect, having this incident be related with the overall plot... seem really cheap to me.

I guess this depends in how WiaB ends. I kinda don't like that angle, part of me would like to see the Zanes as antagonist in this story, not villains, but a contrarie force to Nika in some way. Personally, depending on how dark WiaB gets - and I expect quite a bit, having repent William and Leia given scholarship out of guilt is kinda boring, but not impossible.

Im kinda whatever about summer, she can stay away or come back (if the comeback is good and not cringe/stereotype) but there really needs to be some closure/explanation at some point imo otherwise this is all too nonsensical.

I think it would have worked best (exploring mental health problems) if summer simply would have died but it doesnt look like thats the case and if shes alive, she will come back at some point anyway.

I would hate the Zane's as antagonists, they have way to much advantages and the odds would be stacked way too much against Nika, and him still being able to handle that (despite all his problems) would feel cringe/undeserved/mary sue like.

Even more as all his sheming skills and his cunning just really really sucks ass, all his ideas in this department are super idiotic immature bullshit lmao (its similar to young willy )

I kiiiinda maaaaaaybe like the idea of Nika and Nami being kids of the wiab antagonist(s), would still make Nika somewhat of a "prince" but of a dead legacy/lineage.

Nah. Noji pornstar would be out of the left field. It is to make us wonder about Noji, much of the book club is to make was questioning what we thought we know. Nojiko knowing a pornstar is odd but plausible, a pornstar being in a bored housewife bookclub of riche old ladies is surreal to me. The book club itself I don't think there is much to it, but some people of the bookclub are gonna be important. Jenna, Ana, Charlie, the author.

I disagree about this, and people like Emilia are there because its not (just) a bookclub, its more like a unisex gentlemens club, yeah they read books but its mainly to chat and to establish or keep connections. These are (partially) powerful women and not bored housewifes.

but some people of the bookclub are gonna be important. Jenna, Ana, Charlie, the author.

Add Claire, Nojiko, Katie, Amber, Sasha, Robin, adriana (problabl Miru's daughter), maybe Emilia to that list and whos left at this point anymore?

 

[LHDLLB]

Im kinda whatever about summer, she can stay away or come back (if the comeback is good and not cringe/stereotype) but there really nees to be some closure/explanation at some point imo otherwise this is all too nonsensical.

I think it would have worked best (exploring mental health problems) if summer simply would have died but it doesnt look like that case and if shes alive, she will come back at some point anyway.

I would hate the Zane's as antagonists, they have way to much advantages and the odds would be stacked way too much against Nika, and him still being able to handle that (despite all his problems) would feel cringe/undeserved/mary sue like.

Even more as all his sheming skills and his cunning just really really sucks ass, all his ideas in this department are super idiotic immature bullshit lmao (its similar to young willy )

I kiiiinda maaaaaaybe like the idea of Nika and Nami being kids of the wiab antagonist(s), would still make Nika somewhat of a "prince" but of a dead legacy/lineage.




I disagree about this, and people like Emilia are there because its not (just) a bookclub, its more like a unisex gentlemens club, yeah they read books but its mainly to chat and to establish or keep connections. These are (partially) powerful women and not bored housewifes.



Add Claire, Nojiko, Katie, Amber, Sasha, Robin, adriana (problabl Miru's daughter), maybe Emilia to that list and whos left at this point anymore?

Nah. I really hate the idea of Summer coming back. The Zane could start as antagonist but later on they team up, or they don't directly work against Nika, I just like the idea of conflict between the Nika and the Zanes in some form. The rest I agree, Nika's thought are quite juvenile at times but he is young and inexperienced I can forgive that. Nika could be a Zane and Nami the antagonist daughter or the other way around. Not a bad idea.

I made a similar point not long ago, most of the women there are successful one, in some way or another. My point is that the people at the book club are important, not the bookclub in itself. Yeah but does Amber, Clarie, Robin and other there knows everything ? I get the feeling that is not that much of a open secret.

 

[Krytax123]

Nah. I really hate the idea of Summer coming back. The Zane could start as antagonist but later on they team up, or they don't directly work against Nika, I just like the idea of conflict between the Nika and the Zanes in some form. The rest I agree, Nika's thought are quite juvenile at times but he is young and inexperienced I can forgive that. Nika could be a Zane and Nami the antagonist daughter or the other way around. Not a bad idea.

I made a similar point not long ago, most of the women there are successful one, in some way or another. My point is that the people at the book club are important, not the bookclub in itself. Yeah but does Amber, Clarie, Robin and other there knows everything ? I get the feeling that is not that much of a open secret.

Yeah dunno how i feel about Summer but im sure she would have been simply dead if ocean didnt had any intention to bring her back sooner or later.

Ah you were talking about being important related to the Nika/Nami secret, yeah in that case i imagine youre right and only a few know about that stuff. I thought you were talking about important in general in the story

 

[BobTheDuck]

Nah. Noji pornstar would be out of the left field. It is to make us wonder about Noji, much of the book club is to make was questioning what we thought we know. Nojiko knowing a pornstar is odd but plausible, a pornstar being in a bored housewife bookclub of riche old ladies is surreal to me. The book club itself I don't think there is much to it, but some people of the bookclub are gonna be important. Jenna, Ana, Charlie, the author.

Well, it really depends on how Emilia is introduced and if Noji is introduced in WiaB. What if Noji was a student trying to pay her way through med school and got employment at Leia's club? She then shuts off that part of her life, but keeps the wild friend who goes and maybe becomes a pornstar in WIlli and Zoeys porn studio idea (if that happens). If it's Emilie, the chance is certainly there, slight change of story... she certainly seems antagonistic to the Zanes, maybe she felt used and dumped by them?

Even if we were discussing something else, Emilia shows that the bookclub is not one cohesive conspiracy, she's almost a cat among the pigeons as much as Nika is.

Im kinda whatever about summer, she can stay away or come back (if the comeback is good and not cringe/stereotype) but there really nees to be some closure/explanation at some point imo otherwise this is all too nonsensical.

I think it would have worked best (exploring mental health problems) if summer simply would have died but it doesnt look like that case and if shes alive, she will come back at some point anyway.

I would hate the Zane's as antagonists, they have way to much advantages and the odds would be stacked way too much against Nika, and him still being able to handle that (despite all his problems) would feel cringe/undeserved/mary sue like.

Even more as all his sheming skills and his cunning just really really sucks ass, all his ideas in this department are super idiotic immature bullshit lmao (its similar to young willy )

I kiiiinda maaaaaaybe like the idea of Nika and Nami being kids of the wiab antagonist(s), would still make Nika somewhat of a "prince" but of a dead legacy/lineage.

I disagree about this, and people like Emilia are there because its not (just) a bookclub, its more like a unisex gentlemens club, yeah they read books but its mainly to chat and to establish or keep connections. These are (partially) powerful women and not bored housewifes.

Add Claire, Nojiko, Katie, Amber, Sasha, Robin, adriana (problabl Miru's daughter), maybe Emilia to that list and whos left at this point anymore?

When I think Summer can be an endless mystery, I'm kinda thinking of things like Twin Peaks, or Jeff Vandermeer's writings. There's something compelling about always being on the verge of understanding what is happening, but never getting the full picture. BUt that's just my preference. The length of development has made it hard for Ocean to have a simple explanation though, we have to be "wow! outrageous! such applause!" for it to be a satisfying explanation. If Emilio just gives Nika an email address after 10 minutes search, that would punk us cruelly. I personally prefer her remaining a memory haunting Nika, but I don't get to chose.

The kids of the WiaB antagonist thing I think would be a really interesting angle, kinda what I was thinking about maybe the Zane's are looking after them out of guilt. What would NIka's reaction be if he found out that the Zane's were responsible for every car crash in Wollust??? Failed brakes you say officer? How strange... Dylan's a mechanic right?

I kinda wonder how they all meet for the bookclub, they're quite a diverse range of people, but it's a ridiculously over the top mansion. So I wonder if the core of the club new each other prior, and this is just their way to hang out with friends (and drink too much wine)? I don't think there's special significance in the actual bookclub, it's just there's a lot of interesting people with interesting connections. We'll see the same at the golf/tennis club, at Ayua's studio, the gala, there will be Nika feeling like an outsider while everyone throws meaningful stars and whisper about him. Probably.

You forgot Kelly at very least ...and more importantly, Alyson:

 

[Penfold Mole]

...
When I think Summer can be an endless mystery, I'm kinda thinking of things like Twin Peaks, or Jeff Vandermeer's writings. There's something compelling about always being on the verge of understanding what is happening, but never getting the full picture. BUt that's just my preference. The length of development has made it hard for Ocean to have a simple explanation though, we have to be "wow! outrageous! such applause!" for it to be a satisfying explanation. If Emilio just gives Nika an email address after 10 minutes search, that would punk us cruelly. I personally prefer her remaining a memory haunting Nika, but I don't get to chose.
...

Oh yes, I was just thinking the other day (just two days ago, to be exact) how many similarities there actually are between Summer's Gone and Twin Peaks while listening Twin Peaks soundtrack music (the official release and other musical pieces featured in the series) - one of my all time favorite TV series.
I mean:
- Both have an unsolved mystery going on that we get occasional glimpses about, mostly as flashbacks. (And I would also prefer it to remain a mystery to the end or at least as long as possible)
- About a half or more of the cast are students with their daily shenanigans.
- Likely something truly sinister going on behind the curtains, at least in the past, if not the present.
- The whole beautiful dreamy misty environment - the city and forest AND a lake. Gorgeous views of it as a back drop for the scenes.
- AND last but not least, the beautiful soundtrack that matches it and keeps haunting you long after you stopped playing / watching it.


I wonder, who's the log lady equivalent is or is going to be?

 

[Krytax123]

When I think Summer can be an endless mystery, I'm kinda thinking of things like Twin Peaks, or Jeff Vandermeer's writings. There's something compelling about always being on the verge of understanding what is happening, but never getting the full picture. BUt that's just my preference. The length of development has made it hard for Ocean to have a simple explanation though, we have to be "wow! outrageous! such applause!" for it to be a satisfying explanation. If Emilio just gives Nika an email address after 10 minutes search, that would punk us cruelly. I personally prefer her remaining a memory haunting Nika, but I don't get to chose.

Haha for me it would feel more like the shows "Lost" or "The blacklist", endless mystery without (or with utterly shit) reward in the end. I really really REALLY hate stuff like that

The kids of the WiaB antagonist thing I think would be a really interesting angle, kinda what I was thinking about maybe the Zane's are looking after them out of guilt. What would NIka's reaction be if he found out that the Zane's were responsible for every car crash in Wollust??? Failed brakes you say officer? How strange... Dylan's a mechanic right?

Yeah i could imagine something like the zane's rushing the antagonists mansion in the end, killing everyone inside and the end is William seeing a 3 year old Nika and Nami sitting next to the bed where he just killed their parents.

The Frohn's got casually killed like some goons by willy somewhere inbetween

Just like, you know, written by someone who can write and is more creative than me and im not sure if it would be this cool myself, just trying to come up with more original solutions lol

I kinda wonder how they all meet for the bookclub, they're quite a diverse range of people, but it's a ridiculously over the top mansion. So I wonder if the core of the club new each other prior, and this is just their way to hang out with friends (and drink too much wine)? I don't think there's special significance in the actual bookclub, it's just there's a lot of interesting people with interesting connections. We'll see the same at the golf/tennis club, at Ayua's studio, the gala, there will be Nika feeling like an outsider while everyone throws meaningful stars and whisper about him. Probably.

I thought that was kinda obvious wasnt it? These arent random people who joined a bookclub and did meet each other there. The bookclub seems to be a creation of the zpr + their kids and "friends" conglomerate and i think its exactly like you mentioned that there are multiple locations like that.

I still (delusionaly) hope for a scene at the holgerson gala where Stefan Holgerson insults Nika and intends to throw him out just to be put in his place by Leia in front of everyone who's protecting/supporting Nika out of nowhere and everyone watching so confused whats happening (bella's tits lactating just by watching out of curiosity as nika would call it)


Oh and another important thing i noticed:



Noji's butt is perfect! Everything is forgiven!

 

[Dr.TSoni]

Oh and another important thing i noticed:

View attachment 4177203

Noji's butt is perfect! Everything is forgiven!

 

[vampires69'in]

Oh yes, I was just thinking the other day (just two days ago, to be exact) how many similarities there actually are between Summer's Gone and Twin Peaks while listening Twin Peaks soundtrack music (the official release and other musical pieces featured in the series) - one of my all time favorite TV series.
I mean:
- Both have an unsolved mystery going on that we get occasional glimpses about, mostly as flashbacks. (And I would also prefer it to remain a mystery to the end or at least as long as possible)
- About a half or more of the cast are students with their daily shenanigans.
- Likely something truly sinister going on behind the curtains, at least in the past, if not the present.
- The whole beautiful dreamy misty environment - the city and forest AND a lake. Gorgeous views of it as a back drop for the scenes.
- AND last but not least, the beautiful soundtrack that matches it and keeps haunting you long after you stopped playing / watching it.


I wonder, who's the log lady equivalent is or is going to be?

 

[Ray_D]

Oh yes, I was just thinking the other day (just two days ago, to be exact) how many similarities there actually are between Summer's Gone and Twin Peaks while listening Twin Peaks soundtrack music (the official release and other musical pieces featured in the series) - one of my all time favorite TV series.
I mean:
- Both have an unsolved mystery going on that we get occasional glimpses about, mostly as flashbacks. (And I would also prefer it to remain a mystery to the end or at least as long as possible)
- About a half or more of the cast are students with their daily shenanigans.
- Likely something truly sinister going on behind the curtains, at least in the past, if not the present.
- The whole beautiful dreamy misty environment - the city and forest AND a lake. Gorgeous views of it as a back drop for the scenes.
- AND last but not least, the beautiful soundtrack that matches it and keeps haunting you long after you stopped playing / watching it.


I wonder, who's the log lady equivalent is or is going to be?

Then we will never know who killed Summer or why she disappeared.

 

[masterwaya]

holy shit what a game! I did not expect that! Thank you! Can not wait for season 2

 

[Maviarab]

You forgot Kelly at very least ...and more importantly, Alyson:

View attachment 4176879

 

[RNasc4444]

Then we will never know who killed Summer or why she disappeared.

No shot Summer is dead. She just left town. You know she has to come back at some point so that can be the peak emotional height of the story because what the fuck else is there? MC finding out who Mommy and Daddy are?

SG isn't the game it once was. The stakes are way, way, wayyyy lower now. This is teen drama territory. This is The OC, Dawson's Creek, Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl etc beat by beat.

I wish to everything that is holy that Summer is dead. I really, really do. But there's just no way...

 

[LHDLLB]

Well, it really depends on how Emilia is introduced and if Noji is introduced in WiaB. What if Noji was a student trying to pay her way through med school and got employment at Leia's club? She then shuts off that part of her life, but keeps the wild friend who goes and maybe becomes a pornstar in WIlli and Zoeys porn studio idea (if that happens). If it's Emilie, the chance is certainly there, slight change of story... she certainly seems antagonistic to the Zanes, maybe she felt used and dumped by them?

Even if we were discussing something else, Emilia shows that the bookclub is not one cohesive conspiracy, she's almost a cat among the pigeons as much as Nika is.



When I think Summer can be an endless mystery, I'm kinda thinking of things like Twin Peaks, or Jeff Vandermeer's writings. There's something compelling about always being on the verge of understanding what is happening, but never getting the full picture. BUt that's just my preference. The length of development has made it hard for Ocean to have a simple explanation though, we have to be "wow! outrageous! such applause!" for it to be a satisfying explanation. If Emilio just gives Nika an email address after 10 minutes search, that would punk us cruelly. I personally prefer her remaining a memory haunting Nika, but I don't get to chose.

The kids of the WiaB antagonist thing I think would be a really interesting angle, kinda what I was thinking about maybe the Zane's are looking after them out of guilt. What would NIka's reaction be if he found out that the Zane's were responsible for every car crash in Wollust??? Failed brakes you say officer? How strange... Dylan's a mechanic right?

I kinda wonder how they all meet for the bookclub, they're quite a diverse range of people, but it's a ridiculously over the top mansion. So I wonder if the core of the club new each other prior, and this is just their way to hang out with friends (and drink too much wine)? I don't think there's special significance in the actual bookclub, it's just there's a lot of interesting people with interesting connections. We'll see the same at the golf/tennis club, at Ayua's studio, the gala, there will be Nika feeling like an outsider while everyone throws meaningful stars and whisper about him. Probably.

You forgot Kelly at very least ...and more importantly, Alyson:

View attachment 4176879

So Nojiko was a sex worker on her young days ? I don't find impossible Nojiko being friend with a pornstar with out having being a sex worker. I don't know, it could be is not just where my mind goes when I think about it. If I was to bet Nojiko has ties with Miru. I think Emillia and Emillie being the same person make perfect sense but I was under the impression Ocean had stated that it was not the case or was about Emillie still being in the WiaB with fat Dana being a thing now ? Don't remember. Yeah the bookclub is a really odd mix of different people, with different backgrounds and money, hard to imagine all those people as a single group, they being long friends makes sense, if it is so we will see them on WiaB. My bet is that at least one of them worked for Leia.

Haha for me it would feel more like the shows "Lost" or "The blacklist", endless mystery without (or with utterly shit) reward in the end. I really really REALLY hate stuff like that



Yeah i could imagine something like the zane's rushing the antagonists mansion in the end, killing everyone inside and the end is William seeing a 3 year old Nika and Nami sitting next to the bed where he just killed their parents.

The Frohn's got casually killed like some goons by willy somewhere inbetween

Just like, you know, written by someone who can write and is more creative than me and im not sure if it would be this cool myself, just trying to come up with more original solutions lol



I thought that was kinda obvious wasnt it? These arent random people who joined a bookclub and did meet each other there. The bookclub seems to be a creation of the zpr + their kids and "friends" conglomerate and i think its exactly like you mentioned that there are multiple locations like that.

I still (delusionaly) hope for a scene at the holgerson gala where Stefan Holgerson insults Nika and intends to throw him out just to be put in his place by Leia in front of everyone who's protecting/supporting Nika out of nowhere and everyone watching so confused whats happening (bella's tits lactating just by watching out of curiosity as nika would call it)


Oh and another important thing i noticed:

View attachment 4177203

Noji's butt is perfect! Everything is forgiven!

I think those events are gonna answer some of the questions we have, especially the Gala of the Holgerson - as do the Elena clu. We can know if Katie and Zoey are still a thing, how much they are involved with the Zanes, know more about the upper class of Wollust - that Nika has became a part of- Vanessa with Mario. I like the idea of Nika being a fish out of water, but I don't think it will remais like that for much longer, he will need to learn how navigate those waters.

A perfect butt indeed. And only Nick will enjoy it.

holy shit what a game! I did not expect that! Thank you! Can not wait for season 2

Yeah, buddy you can wait, cause gonna take a while for that.

No shot Summer is dead. She just left town. You know she has to come back at some point so that can be the peak emotional height of the story because what the fuck else is there? MC finding out who Mommy and Daddy are?

SG isn't the game it once was. The stakes are way, way, wayyyy lower now. This is teen drama territory. This is The OC, Dawson's Creek, Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl etc beat by beat.

I wish to everything that is holy that Summer is dead. I really, really do. But there's just no way...

I really get you, I am still hold hoping that the story will grow beyond teen drama. I see potential to a good story, even if not the one who was original conceived, even that is hard to say cause so far it has like 5 different version. It has meat, there are very interesting places it could go, but if like Summer get back for drama sake I will drop it. So far, in terms of plot at least, I am much more invested in WiaB.

 

[Krytax123]

A perfect butt indeed. And only Nick will enjoy it.

Im fine with that! I dont want to see it (lewds) but Nojiko deserves a realistic partner for her and to be happy!

And i really like that we for once apparently have a understanding, cool and friendly "stepdad" in a avn, and god knows that Nika needs a bit of male parental guidance. I liked how Nick talked to Nika when they had to leave their house, he wasnt forcing any stepdaddy bullshit on him but simply offered an ear to listen and understanding.

Him being Zara & Vanessa's dad (hopefully) is fun too. It was a nice surprise for me to see Zara there when i played it for the first time.

I think its good for storys when not every male is an asshole/dumb/pervert/antagonist. Characters like jeffrey, trey, dwight, Nick and so on can enhance a story without being LI rivals or enemys. Its just refreshing and makes the experience feel immediatly more realistic.

Its not really an achievement anyway to get the girl when youre the only (barely) acceptable guy in existance

Im so bored from the usual avn approach that 99% of the guys are morons (or dont exist).

 

[Krytax123]

Yeah, hey guys its me again

Another thing i noticed is how heavily Ocean changed the scene of Amber and Nojiko's first meeting. Its entirely different now in terms how Nojiko behaves. She doesnt exactly hide that she knows/heard good things about Amber.



Afterwards what stands out most that Nojiko doesnt confuse Miss Marla with Amber anymore, that part just doesnt exist anymore. Nika just introduces Miss Marla.

Nojiko and Amber greet each other with their surnames in front of Miss Marla but as soon as they are alone with Nika it switches immediatly to:



first name basis. And they didnt told each other their first names anymore (which was the case before the changes).

So yeah, all scenes where Nojiko "pretended" to not know Amber dont exist anymore.

Amber still gets confused afterwards somehow, for whatever reason tho

 

[BobTheDuck]

Yeah, hey guys its me again

Another thing i noticed is how heavily Ocean changed the scene of Amber and Nojiko's first meeting. Its entirely different now in terms how Nojiko behaves. She doesnt exactly hide that she knows/heard good things about Amber.

View attachment 4178151

Afterwards what stands out most that Nojiko doesnt confuse Miss Marla with Amber anymore, that part just doesnt exist anymore. Nika just introduces Miss Marla.

Nojiko and Amber greet each other with their surnames in front of Miss Marla but as soon as they are alone with Nika it switches immediatly to:

View attachment 4178164

first name basis. And they didnt told each other their first names anymore (which was the case before the changes).

So yeah, all scenes where Nojiko "pretended" to not know Amber dont exist anymore.

Amber still gets confused afterwards somehow, for whatever reason tho

View attachment 4178168

I never call any of my clients by their last name, and Noji would have given her full name when she booked the appointment (if we suppose she was a stranger). I also can't remember the last time a professional called me anything other than my first name, other than a receptionist. Maybe highschool? University, businesses, doctors, all the years I've been an adult, everythings been first name for more than 2 decades.

- Amber knows Noji's first and last name from when Noji made the booking, so it means little.
- Noji might refer to Amber by her job description so Nika takes therapy seriously, that's not unusual, more an appeal to the authority of her expertise.
- Nika was the first person to use Amber's first name in the scene
- Stephanie being introduced by her last name makes sense: most teachers prefer using their titles to their students to remind of the heirachy. Nika calling her by her last name might also be that he does know or can't remember her first name, or that he's showing deference to keep on the faculty's good side.
- Amber using last names while two clients are present is a failed attempt to preserve a sense of privacy - I'm sure Stephanie would prefer that her students DON'T know she's getting therapy, even if the second Nika sees her it's too late. Amber would not assume people in passing would want to chit chat in her reception area. Also, Nika set the precedent, which they continued until Stephanie was gone.
- Stephanie uses Noji's last name, most likely as an attempt to put faces to names - Nika introduces her as Noji, while to Stephanie, she's only seen Noji's name on forms.
- Amber uses Noji's full first name, she doesn't get too familiar.
- Amber get's flustered by Bella's appearance, and can't decide if it's okay to use Noji's first name in front of her daughter, as now there's a juxtaposition between professional and personal areas of Amber's life.
- Even with the bookclub, we don't know how well Amber and Noji know each other, only that they do.

Given how Amber tried to pretend she hasn't met Nika before as a professional courtesy, we can assume that Amber doesn't consider it improper to greet people by their first names. But that scene is odd for a different reason - Amber knew Nika as Bella's project partner already, so there is no reason to hide that she knows him, especially as the bookclub probably knows gossip about Nika and Bella.

 

[yossa999]

She most likely wasn't, however, considering she's been keeping secrets I wouldn't completely rule that out. Imagine if during that scene where Nami tells Nika they're gonna watch a porno, they saw Nojiko on screen instead of that woman.

Noji is keeping secrets, indeed. But I think you are looking in the wrong direction. She mentioned Scarlett once, she worked with her at the hospital until Scarlett retired.

Scarlett is one of the Zanes, Helen's roommate
In the old WiAB, when Willy (the main character of WiAB) was hospitalized, Scarlett treated him.

So, I think this is the main connection between Noji and WiAB - through Scarlett. By the way, it is quite possible that working in the hospital with Scarlett, the death of Nami and Nika's parents, and her becoming their landlady are related events.

 

[Pl@y3r]

So yeah, all scenes where Nojiko "pretended" to not know Amber dont exist anymore.

-Dev adds some mystery to a scene
-Dev realizes things will need to be explained
-Dev reworks the scene, removing the mystery
-Profit