Predictions about the story and thoughts on bonus

[NickNKVD]

What do you think will happen to Brad and the girls? Share your hypothesis here
Did you manage to get the bonus?

We can discover from the bonus that [spoiler]mysterious woman/Serenthia and Lorien are elves, in fact they speak Sindarin an elvish languages invented by Tolkien[/spoiler]

[Wolfschadowe]

Well...I think they'll...

Oh, wait. I can't really speculate, can I?

Still, I think that it will be a fun thread to watch. Thanks for starting it NickNKVD!

[spoiler]The small use of Sindarin in the game, and books also, is a tip of the hat in respect to Tolkien. The game universe was born during a discussion at a party many years ago that was indirectly inspired by a discussion of where the Elves actually went at the end of the Lord of the Rings. That discussion planted the seed that grew over the years to the universe in the game. The universe is completely separate from Tolkien's though.[/spoiler]

[d22249]

Hard to say what is going to happen. It's very early and we've only gotten a very small taste of the adventure part of this erotic adventure. Kind of like trying to guess how Star Wars is going to turn out when all you have seen is a spaceship fly over a planet.

Still, here's what I know about the adventure so far [spoiler]There are a couple of elves, one of which probably uses magic to make you not notice her, Azumi is different in a what the hell is she kind way and someone was murdered[/spoiler].

As far as the girls go, so far (again, with limited info) Emily is high maintenance, Faith is clingy, Natalie is damaged, Jasmine has a crush, Serenthia is conflicted and I can't wait to explore each and every one of them because they are so much more than those somewhat offensive labels.

[ExLibris]

As far as the girls go, so far (again, with limited info) Emily is high maintenance, Faith is clingy, Natalie is damaged, Jasmine has a crush, Serenthia is conflicted and I can't wait to explore each and every one of them because they are so much more than those somewhat offensive labels.

I definitely wouldn't describe Faith as clingy, even with the limited information provided so far (the opposite if anything). I wouldn't describe Natalie as damaged, or Emily as high maintenance either.

[d22249]

I definitely wouldn't describe Faith as clingy, even with the limited information provided so far (the opposite if anything). I wouldn't describe Natalie as damaged, or Emily as high maintenance either.

Color me unsurprised...

Looks like I got Jasmine and Serenthia right...

So, using only one word for each girl, how would you correct my opinion?

[ExLibris]

Jasmine = teenager
Natalie = independent
Faith = commitment-shy (free spirit if I'm allowed two words)
Emily = responsible (with the caveat that her break up causes her to behave out of character)

I do think conflicted is plausible for Sere though.

I'd be interested in knowing why you came to the conclusions you did.

[d22249]

Jasmine = teenager
Natalie = independent
Faith = commitment-shy (free spirit if I'm allowed two words)
Emily = responsible (with the caveat that her break up causes her to behave out of character)

I do think conflicted is plausible for Sere though.

I'd be interested in knowing why you came to the conclusions you did.

Fair question. I'll start with Natalie.

We are told early on that Natalie is a lesbian. She likes Brad but that can be explained by the fact that he tips very well. We find out that she had a serious relationship with Azumi. We find out from Azumi that Natalie is not bi-sexual, indeed Azumi's attempt to get Natalie to participate in a bi-sexual threesome is what ended their relationship. The end of that relationship had a profound and negative effect on Natalie, so much so that she is now considering having a relationship with a man. That leads me to believe that she has not healed and an unkind way to say that is damaged. The fact that Azumi also has access to a mind control ability (and whatever else) could also have contributed to Natalie's current dysfunction. I like Natalie's character by the way. I think Brad should help her re-find her pre-Azumi self. Which means no sex with Brad, which runs counter to most "sex games" but would IMHO fit in well with this story.

[d22249]

Jasmine's crush on Brad seems obvious enough. She changed how she dresses around him, let's him have a nice look down her top and wiggles her ass in his face. Then she sits on the desk with her crotch in his face.

Faith as clingy is a hunch. I may be wrong, but Wolfshadowe's use of Faith in his example and the way he described how he models things led me too that hunch. Won't bother me a bit if I'm wrong as Faith is my favorite.

[d22249]

Emily has been flashing her panties at Brad intentionally. While I don't know for how long it seems like it had been going on for some time. While she was engaged. This does not give me a "responsible" vibe. But I said high maintenance (and since I used two words I can hardly fault you ).

I get a "high maintenance" feeling from Emily during the various outcomes during the bar scene. In several of them she uses Brad to feel better and then leaves. (One of the reasons I like Faith is that she "helps" Brad out after some of those times). Another reason that I feel she is high maintenance is because [spoiler]sometimes she swallows and sometimes she pukes, and then gets mad at Brad[/spoiler]

[Sebastian]

First off we have to remember that all of our thoughts and theories are all based off of 1st or in Emily's case 2nd impressions. We have only seen all of these characters once or twice in Emily’s case. Too soon in my opinion to have a firm grasp on anyone’s psyche. However in the spirit of wild theory’s let me throw my two cents in.

The fact that Azumi also has access to a mind control ability (and whatever else) could also have contributed to Natalie's current dysfunction.

I don’t think of Azumi's powers as mind control. She seems more empathic to me than controlling anything other than our emotions.

We are told early on that Natalie is a lesbian. She likes Brad but that can be explained by the fact that he tips very well. We find out that she had a serious relationship with Azumi. We find out from Azumi that Natalie is not bi-sexual, indeed Azumi's attempt to get Natalie to participate in a bi-sexual threesome is what ended their relationship. The end of that relationship had a profound and negative effect on Natalie, so much so that she is now considering having a relationship with a man. That leads me to believe that she has not healed and an unkind way to say that is damaged.

I have known a few lesbians, who have at some point after they considered themselves lesbians, to get involved with a man. It is sometimes for a very short period of time (maybe just one night), sometimes in an actual relationships. Love/lust is messed up that way. We are just attracted to someone, sometimes whether we want to be or not. I would agree to a certain extent that Natalie is damaged but she is obviously healing at least a little because she is able to work with Azumi again. She also still seems to have a little feeling for Azumi left because of what happens on the stage and the fact that the “spot” still works for Azumi.

Jasmine's crush on Brad seems obvious enough. She changed how she dresses around him, let's him have a nice look down her top and wiggles her ass in his face. Then she sits on the desk with her crotch in his face.

I would agree with both of you that Jasmine is both young and has a crush. She is trying to attract brad by using her dress and letting him look at her body.

Faith as clingy is a hunch. I may be wrong, but Wolfshadowe's use of Faith in his example and the way he described how he models things led me too that hunch. Won't bother me a bit if I'm wrong as Faith is my favorite.

Faith is not clingy, she is complicated. She likes to watch and be watched and yet she has never attempted to do anything with Brad until after she saw that she could trust him by how he acted with Emily.

Emily has been flashing her panties at Brad intentionally. While I don't know for how long it seems like it had been going on for some time. While she was engaged. This does not give me a "responsible" vibe. But I said high maintenance (and since I used two words I can hardly fault you ).

I get a "high maintenance" feeling from Emily during the various outcomes during the bar scene. In several of them she uses Brad to feel better and then leaves. (One of the reasons I like Faith is that she "helps" Brad out after some of those times). Another reason that I feel she is high maintenance is because [spoiler]sometimes she swallows and sometimes she pukes, and then gets mad at Brad[/spoiler]

Emily unfortunately strikes me as both an inexperienced woman as well as a tease. The swallow/not swallow thing could simple be that we do things drunk/messed up that we wouldn’t normally do sober. The flashing panties thing is the tease part I’m talking about. She was engaged at the time yet she flashes her panties at another man. I don’t like Emily just for that reason. Cheating is not just a physical act and by doing that to with Brad she is cheating on her fiancé. Once a cheater always a cheater.

Not saying you two are wrong and I’m right, just wanted to throw another perspective out there.

[ExLibris]

Jasmine's crush on Brad seems obvious enough. She changed how she dresses around him, let's him have a nice look down her top and wiggles her ass in his face. Then she sits on the desk with her crotch in his face.

Faith as clingy is a hunch. I may be wrong, but Wolfshadowe's use of Faith in his example and the way he described how he models things led me too that hunch. Won't bother me a bit if I'm wrong as Faith is my favorite.

I'd personally describe Faith as a free spirit, someone who doesn't necessarily follow the rules or do what convention dictates. The most obvious demonstration of that is when she openly flashes Brad at the bar. I have to admit that part of the reason I think this is because of her juxtaposition with the much more conventional Emily, which emphasises her wildness. She's also the least interested in a normal relationship, as demonstrated by the fact that if Emily appears at the bar Faith is interested in meeting up with both Brad and Emily again ("Bring her back tomorrow and maybe I'll show you how wild I can be.").

I agree that Jasmine having a crush on Brad is a plausible explanation for her behaviour. However, I don't read as much into the fact that she shows off for Brad because that's something that's true of nearly every female character in the game. Personally, I find Brad's ogling of Jasmine a bit awkward given that they're discussing her being sexually harassed by a different older man. I'd also describe Jasmine as selfish and overconfident, so 'teenager' covers all the bases. Oh, and she's pretty devious as well (eg. blackmailing her professor, or 'testing' her app by using it to spy on Emily even though that's not its intended purpose).

[ExLibris]

Emily has been flashing her panties at Brad intentionally. While I don't know for how long it seems like it had been going on for some time. While she was engaged. This does not give me a "responsible" vibe. But I said high maintenance (and since I used two words I can hardly fault you ).

I get a "high maintenance" feeling from Emily during the various outcomes during the bar scene. In several of them she uses Brad to feel better and then leaves. (One of the reasons I like Faith is that she "helps" Brad out after some of those times). Another reason that I feel she is high maintenance is because [spoiler]sometimes she swallows and sometimes she pukes, and then gets mad at Brad[/spoiler]

Conventional is probably a better word that responsible. To me, Emily is the 'good girl', ie. someone who follows all the rules and takes her responsibilities seriously. She's businesslike and professional (as demonstrated by how she dresses compared to Jasmine). She complements Brad because he provides the technical skill and she provides the organisational ability that actually keeps their business afloat. She's the most sexually conservative (and least experienced) of the major female NPCs and I wouldn't be surprised if Eddie was the first guy she was in a serious relationship with (and the fact that she wants to marry him reflects how conventional she is).

I don't read too much into the flashing because it's something that nearly every female NPC does with Brad. It's not particularly laudable given that she's engaged, but I think it's pretty understandable if she and Eddie are having problems. She gets the thrill of knowing that she's still attractive to other men in a safe environment.

Then her whole life is turned upside down when Eddie dumps her (and she's probably going to find out that he was cheating on her as well; people like that don't jump unless they have someone to land on), so you have the conflict between her wanting to prove Eddie wrong and her conventional nature. I think that what you describe as her 'high maintenance' behaviour can be explained by that, along with both her inexperience and the fact that Brad is her friend and business partner so if anything goes wrong it'll make her life an even bigger mess than it is already.

[ExLibris]

Fair question. I'll start with Natalie.

We are told early on that Natalie is a lesbian. She likes Brad but that can be explained by the fact that he tips very well. We find out that she had a serious relationship with Azumi. We find out from Azumi that Natalie is not bi-sexual, indeed Azumi's attempt to get Natalie to participate in a bi-sexual threesome is what ended their relationship. The end of that relationship had a profound and negative effect on Natalie, so much so that she is now considering having a relationship with a man. That leads me to believe that she has not healed and an unkind way to say that is damaged. The fact that Azumi also has access to a mind control ability (and whatever else) could also have contributed to Natalie's current dysfunction. I like Natalie's character by the way. I think Brad should help her re-find her pre-Azumi self. Which means no sex with Brad, which runs counter to most "sex games" but would IMHO fit in well with this story.

Both Azumi and Candy tell Brad that Natalie is a lesbian, but we learn that that's not the whole story since Brad is able to successfully use her secret spot (twice), which he wouldn't have been able to if she felt no physical attraction to him or if their relationship was purely financial (by the same token, if she didn't at least consider Brad a friend why would she have breakfast with him?). So on the continuum of sexual identity, I'd tend to classify her as predominantly homosexual rather than exclusively. She's not interested in most men but there are exceptions, and thanks to his protagonist powers Brad is one of them. For that reason I don't really think that the end of her relationship with Azumi damaged Natalie or made her dysfunctional. She and Azumi are still pretty close (it's Azumi she normally goes to for comfort, for example) so it can't have been that traumatic.

I also don't think that Azumi typically used her mind control powers on Natalie. Azumi seems to genuinely care for Natalie and her happiness (it's actually Brad who is the devil on her shoulder) so I don't think she would use her powers to compel Natalie's feelings (otherwise she would have already used them to 'fix' the threesome incident). I also think that Natalie knows what Azumi is. It would be hard for them to be in a long-term relationship without that coming up, and Natalie's reaction to Azumi tempting Brad into a private dance seems to confirm it.

Anyhow, I get independent from Natalie's dislike of people trying to control or change her. You could read that as her having trust issues resulting from her breakup, but if that's the case why does she forgive Brad so easily when he 'betrays' her by using her secret spot against her? She's also chosen a lifestyle where she's dependent on as few people as possible.

[ExLibris]

The flashing panties thing is the tease part I’m talking about. She was engaged at the time yet she flashes her panties at another man. I don’t like Emily just for that reason. Cheating is not just a physical act and by doing that to with Brad she is cheating on her fiancé. Once a cheater always a cheater.

Not saying you two are wrong and I’m right, just wanted to throw another perspective out there.

While I can see your point, I don't think it's fair to place all the blame on Emily. After all it was Brad who decided to get desks without modesty panels so that he could manufacture exactly this kind of situation. Emily just seems to have decided that since Brad is going to look anyway (which he is), she might as well give him a show.

[NickNKVD]

In a path you can invite Faith in a date to strip club; what will be Natalie's reaction? Will she do a private dance to Brad and Faith?
I think Natalie will be disappointed, she will do her job but this will make her closer to Azumi.