Luchen

Luchen is the het ship between Alex Chen and Ryan Lucan from the Life is Strange fandom.

Chapter 1: Side A
On April 28, 2019, Alex arrives to Haven Springs, Colorado to reunite with her estranged older brother, Gabe Chen. Prior to Alex’s arrival, Gabe informed the residents of the small town of his sister’s advent. While Gabe is busy patching things up with his girlfriend, Charlotte Harmon, Alex decides to walk across the street to the town’s record store. Not long into entering the store, a man informs Alex that the store is actually closed, though how that’s also confusing since it’s clearly open. Upon getting a better a look at her, the man asks if she’s Alex. Alex confirms that she is with the man remarking how Gabe has been talking about her coming to town since “forever”. The man extends his hand out, formally introducing himself as Ryan. Though nervous, Alex takes his hand and they shake.

From Gabe, Ryan already knows Alex is from Portland, Oregon, and he asks what she thinks of Haven Springs so far. Depending on player choice will determine her answer: still deciding or cool. With a CD in his hands, Alex takes notice that what Ryan is picking up must be “pretty important” as the store is closed. He sheepishly raises his hand to show what he’s holding – “An Outdoorsmen's Guild to the Calls of Common Birds”. Depending on player choice will determine her answer: different or nerdy.

Different = Alex tells Ryan him picking up that CD is “not what she was expecting at all”. Ryan jokes, calling it a “pretty obscure record,” additionally saying that the National Park Service “gave it five stars”. Alex tells Ryan him picking up that CD is “the nerdiest thing she’s ever seen,” before claiming that she owned two Schoolhouse Rock albums. Instead of lying and saying it’s for his work, Ryan’s honest and says it’s “totally for fun”.
 * -|Nerdy=

Ryan’s embarrassment is clear, though joking manner earns a giggle from Alex. Alex asks what he is with Ryan informing her that he’s a Colorado state park ranger, leading to Alex claiming that it’s “all coming into focus”.

Alex expresses her disappoint that the store’s closed as she had wanted to get Gabe a record, reminiscent when they were children. She begins to wonder if he even still listens to records when Ryan tell her that he does, further stating that Charlotte had gifted him a record player for his birthday. Ryan remembers Gabe having put a record on the store’s hold list and begins to search for it, with no luck. He asks Alex to help him and the two begin to look around for it. Alex locates the list underneath store cat Valkyrie. Unable to get her to move, Alex and Ryan now begin the search for Valkyrie’s cat toy to coax her away to another area. As they look, Alex and Ryan banter over what they think Gabe listens to until they find the toy in a junk box. Toy in hand, Ryan wishes Alex to be “safe out there” as she lures Valkyrie off of the hold list. List in hand, it shows Gabe’s latest record hold being the Kings of Leon.

Ryan rings Alex up for the record when store manager/radio host Steph Gingrich comes storming out of the on-air radio booth with a red aura surrounding her that only Alex can see. Steph argues with someone over the phone and Ryan quickly takes notice of Alex’s changing behavior; her stepping back, her tapping her heal to match Steph’s tapping, her nails clawing against the checkout desk. Seeing how Steph’s anger is affecting Alex, Ryan steps into action and walks over to Steph. He tells her he can take over her job while she goes to handle what has her so upset. Steph is grateful and immediately her anger dissolves, with Alex also feeling relief. As Steph leaves the store, Ryan cautiously walks up to Alex, asking if she’s okay. Depending on player choice will determine her answer: never better or better now.

Never Better= Alex tells Ryan’s she’s “great,” before thanking him. As Steph left the store, she had revealed that her anger was because of a LARP she was organizing, this LARP becoming “hard”. Ryan calls her “Queen of Haven’s nerds,” and Alex jokes that there’s “unrest in the kingdom”. Alex apologizes, claiming how she was “just a little thrown for a moment,” before thanking Ryan.
 * -|Better Now=

Ryan begins to say something, however he and Alex are interrupted by Gabe entering the store. Seeing how Alex’s record gift to Gabe is still placed on the checkout desk, Ryan moves to position himself in front of the desk while the three of them make pleasantries. Gabe questions what they’ve been up to; depending on player choice will determine Alex’s answer: talking about birds or checking out the place. Ryan soon pulls Gabe aside, giving Alex the opportunity to grab the record and put it in her traveling backpack. Gabe asks Ryan if he’d like to tag along, but since Steph is gone, he’s “got a radio show to host” and he’ll catch up with them later. As Gabe and Alex are leaving the store, Alex and Ryan share an unspoken look, leading to Ryan smiling as he watches her go.

Later in the evening, Alex and Gabe are sitting and chatting on the rooftop garden of the Black Lantern bar. Ryan comes up to them, asking if they’ve seen Ethan Lambert, a local child of the town. With a mining blast scheduled for 9pm that night, all three head for the mines located on the mountains as earlier Ethan had informed Alex of his plan to explore the area.

Up in the mountains, they encounter a locked Typhon Mining gate. Using Ryan’s sat-phone, Gabe calls Typhon’s safety manger, Mac Loudon to postpone the blast. Ryan searches for a way around and finds an opening in a destroyed wall. He calls for Alex and offers his hand to assist her in stepping over the debris. To search in different ways, Gabe breaks off, ending with Alex and Ryan partnering together. They ultimately group back up and head for the ravine seen in the distance as is where the comic book Ethan created is showing where he could have gone.

As Ryan and Gabe shout Ethan’s name, Alex sees a purple aura illuminating ahead of the path. Knowing it has to be Ethan, she runs forward with Ryan and Gabe following suit. Alex finds Ethan alone and terrified across the ravine, with an old log acting as a bridge. Ryan tests the sturdiness of the log, proving that he or Gabe weigh too much for log to handle either of them. Despite Ethan’s fear being so strong and already affecting her, for his sake, Alex volunteers herself to be the one to go across. Ryan has Gabe anchor himself to a large tree stump by tying a belay, while Ryan then directs his attention to Alex. He asks of she’s okay. Depending on player choice will determine her answer: no, does it matter or I’m okay.

No=

Alex tells Ryan how her feelings don’t feel “relevant right now,” leading to Ryan asserting that it’s “relevant to him”. Alex lets him know that once she figures it out, she’ll in return let him know, with Ryan saying that he’ll hold that to her. Alex tells Ryan she’s okay in a nervous voice that she’s trying not to make sound so timid. Ryan expresses his uncertainty, questioning if she’s sure. He states that it’s okay if she’s not. Alex claims that “she’s good,” with Ryan telling her that “he actually believes her when she says that”.
 * -|Does It Matter?=
 * -|I’m Okay=

With Gabe secure to the stump, Ryan asks for Alex to make eye contact with him while he explains what he’s doing and what’s going to happen. Using the other end of the rope, Ryan attaches Alex to Gabe. Steadily Alex begins to move across the log to Ethan’s position, with Ryan giving her encouraging words. With Ethan in tow, Alex heads back where Ryan is there is pull her to safety. Due to the high stress of the situation: Ethan’s fear being so great and Alex needing to have felt Ethan’s fear to get him to cross with her, results in Alex collapsing to the ground, though smiling at a job well done for a successful rescue operation.

Moments later, sirens blare, an explosion sounds and the ground begins to shake. Everyone stands in confusion, trying to process what’s happening when Gabe is suddenly struck by a large boulder, sending him over the ravine’s edge. By the rope they’re still attached to, Alex is pulled toward the edge Gabe went over. Ryan is quick and runs for Alex, pulling the rope to keep her from going over as well. He turns back and sees more rocks and other boulders come streaming down the mountain. Ryan pulls out his outdoorsman’s knife and cuts the rope, all while Alex is screaming and pleading no. With Alex released, Ryan wraps his arms around her and pulls her back, shielding her with his own body as more rocks come flying overhead. As the chaos settles, Alex pries herself from Ryan and runs for the edge Gabe went over, devastated.

Life is Strange: True Colors
Chapter 1: Side A
 * Alex and Ryan jokingly banter over what they think Gabe listens to.
 * Ryan wishes Alex to be “safe out there” as she lures Valkyrie off of the hold list.
 * Alex praises Ryan for his idea about using Valkyrie’s cat toy.
 * Ryan quickly takes notice of Alex’s overwhelmed behavior.
 * Ryan asks if Alex is okay.
 * Alex’s gift to Gabe is still placed on the checkout desk, so Ryan moves to position himself in front of it.
 * Ryan and Alex share an unspoken look, leading to Ryan smiling as he watches her leave.
 * Ryan offers his hand to assist Alex in stepping over debris.
 * Ryan says encouraging words to Alex.
 * Ryan pulls Alex to safety.
 * Ryan pulls the rope Alex is attached to keep her from going over the ravine’s edge.
 * Ryan shields Alex with his own body as rocks and other boulders fly down the mountain.

Life is Strange: True Colors
"He seems cool… for a tree cop."

- Alex about Ryan, after learning he’s a park ranger, Chapter 1: Side A.

"You got this, Alex!"

- Ryan, as Alex begins to cross the log, Chapter 1: Side A.

Fanon
Prior to the release of Life is Strange: True Colors, Luchen had an incredibility small fanbase, while the majority of the fandom was already shipping Alex with her other love interest, Steph Gingrich. Most of the fandom seemed to be in fear that Ryan was going to be like the previous male love interests of the series, however favor for Ryan/Luchen quickly changed upon the game’s release when he was proven to be different in a better way. Support for the pair and their romance only rose higher as the days, weeks and months passed. While still considered a small ship compared to the other ships of the series, Luchen does have a decent fandom surrounding it with dedicated shippers.

Fandom
FAN FICTION
 * Alex/Ryan tag on FanFiction.net
 * Alex/Ryan tag on FanFiction.net
 * Alex/Ryan tag on FanFiction.net

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TWITTER

WIKIS
 * on

Variations

 * Luchenrich refers to the ship between Steph Gingrich, Alex and Ryan

Trivia

 * Alex and Ryan go mountain biking together on Saturday, May 11, 2019.
 * Alex joins Ryan in his annual watching of a nature documentary on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
 * During Alex and Steph’s foosball game, when Steph asks Alex if “she’s into girls,” should the player choose the ‘nope’ option, Steph will endorse Ryan, offering to hook Alex up with him.