#lis gabe

[thealexchen]

Gabe Chen + text posts

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[thealexchen]

ALEX AND GABE CHEN ARE CHINESE-VIETNAMESE

ALEX AND GABE CHEN ARE CHINESE-VIETNAMESE

Alex and Gabe Chen are Chinese-Vietnamese!!!

I am so happy omg!!! They’re East AND Southeast Asian!! I’ve never seen mixed-ethnic Asians in a game before!

Also please read the whole article, it’s wonderful: “Life is Strange: True Colors interview – “diversity in art is so important”

[thealexchen]

With the game getting closer to release, I'd like to know your thoughts on something; Out of everyone in Haven Springs, who are your top three suspects on who could be responsible for what happened to Gabe? (One thing I worry about is having a "Jeffershit" repeat, and can hopefully avoid making the same mistake.)

I actually answered this back in May, and my answers haven't changed much:

I think Mac, Diane, and Duckie are looking sus. Here’s why:

1. In the “Meet the Cast” video, Mac is introduced with bruises on his face and ominously telling Alex, “We been together four years. She is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” He’s clearly a little unhinged about his girlfriend Riley. The Square Enix article further elaborates that he’s “brash” and ”hot-headed and prone to conflict, particularly with Gabe.” If anyone has a motive to hurt Gabe and is impulsive or violent enough to see it through, it’s Mac.

Also, the gameplay video from last week ended with Ryan telling Gabe, "Mac was here earlier and he really wants to talk to you." Gabe just flatly replies, "He knows where to find me." They're definitely not on good terms.

Finally, in the scenes where Ryan, Gabe, and Alex explore some sort of abandoned building or mine later that night, it looks like Gabe has a new bruise on his face too, implying he got into some sort of fight with Mac (maybe he was even responsible for the bruises on Mac's face when Alex meets him).

Another theory I have is that Gabe's fate has to do with his past in juvenile detention. I don't think teenage Gabe would have gone as far as to murder someone, but it had to be a serious enough offense to land him in juvie for at least a year or two. I suspect that part of the mystery of True Colors is figuring how and why Gabe's past may have finally caught up to him.

2. The same article reveals that Diane “has risen quickly through the ranks at her job and become the chief liaison on the massively valuable Colorado mining project.” She seems a little too put-together and too attached to Haven (”and now I’m never leaving!”) and might have some ulterior motive going on. Also, there’s that suspicious moment in the trailer where during the lantern scene, everyone has a yellow aura except Diane.

3. Duckie isn’t given a description at all in this article, so that makes it sound like his character bio might be filled with spoilers.

Thanks for asking!

[thealexchen]

Happy Birthday Gabe Chen (December 2nd, 1993)! 

[thealexchen]

How early do you think alex realized she's bi? And when did gabe find out?

Ooh, very interesting question! Thank you for asking, this was fun to write :)

I think she just slowly figured it out during her teen years. It’s possible she met at least one kid at the Helping Hands group home who ran away from homophobic parents and listened to their story, including how they figured it out. There were probably more younger kids than teens in the system, but maybe she even had a crush or two.

When Alex considers the possibility that she isn’t straight, she has to mull it over for a long time. The thought “I’m not straight" doesn’t make her panic or hate herself, but there’s no easy “aha” moment, especially when Alex doesn’t feel comfortable confiding in anyone about it. For a long time, “I’m not straight" is all she can say with certainty, until, after saying it to herself in the mirror, in the shower, in a whisper lying in bed in the darkness of her room, “I’m bisexual” gradually replaces it. It’s weighty and foreign and new to her and she just lets it sit with her for awhile.

Months later, when the words finally start to feel as natural as the strings of her guitar under her fingertips, she decides to call Gabe. She’s written out a script and rehearsed in the mirror, but all her words fall out of her brain when Gabe answers the phone. It’s not their usual Thursday night call and even though she can't see auras through the phone, Alex can still see concern creasing her brother’s forehead when he picks up. She mentally kicks herself for asking him to video call. She can barely make it through their usual greetings, and Alex skips her typical complaining about the group home food.

“Before I start, I want you to know that this is really important to me. And I hope this doesn’t change the way you see me,” Alex says. Gabe just nods, so Alex takes a deep breath and says it: “I’m… bisexual.”

“Is that it?” is all he says in response.

“Is what it?”

“Is that all you wanted to tell me?”

Alex gapes at Gabe like a dying fish. “Well, yeah, but—“

And then Gabe just laughs. “Dude, I thought you were gonna tell me you got in trouble! Like, legal trouble! This is like, the best news you could’ve given me.”

“Really?” Her voice is thin and almost squeaky with disbelief.

“Yes! I got arrested when I was your age. There are so many worse things you could be doing at 16."

“Did you… just make a joke about going to juvie?"

“That’s not the point. Alex, seriously, why were you so nervous?”

“Sorry. It was stupid,” Alex mutters, stumbling all over her words and feeling like an idiot now. “I mean, I figured— I hoped? I guess I knew in the back of my head that you’d be cool with it, but… it’s not an easy thing to say, Gabe. To anyone. And even after I figured it out… I couldn’t stop thinking about how I never got to tell Mom and Dad. I just needed to make sure you would accept me. I need that from a family member. From… someone who won’t leave.”

Gabe is silent for a long time. Alex thinks he looks almost disappointed— in himself? Maybe he'd have a blue aura right about now.

His voice is much quieter when he says, “You should never have to worry about something like that. I’m only sorry that I never made it clearer that I’d accept and support you no matter what.”

“Stop,” Alex forces out, before pressing her fists to her eyes to keep herself from crying.

“Oh no, I can’t now,” Gabe grins. “I’m gonna be like, obnoxiously supportive from now on. Just you wait."

"Okay," is all Alex can manage, smiling through her tears.

"Oh— sorry, I’d love to talk more but I have to go now. My shift starts in 15. Talk to you Thursday?”

“Talk to you Thursday. And Gabe… thank you.”