Alyson Ronan (born March 7, 1994) is one of two protagonists of Tell Me Why by Dontnod Entertainment. She is the identical twin sibling of Tyler Ronan.
Growing up and coming to terms with her childhood, Alyson and her brother seek out to understand why his memories are different from Alyson’s memories.
Appearance[]
Alyson has long light brown hair and light eyes. She is often depicted wearing a tan coat with a fluffy lining, a red sweater, a knit beanie, jeans, and boots. She alternately wears a red sweater with a snowflake design on it.
As a child, Alyson kept her hair in a ponytail with two pins.
Personality[]
Alyson can be a bit reserved, and likes to plan things out in notebooks. She can be awkward around new people or old friends, but reveals a more snarky and sarcastic side at times. In general, Aly seems to be caring and compassionate towards those she loves. She genuinely wants the people she cares about to get along.
Alyson has a passion for DIY projects and crafts. She also loves astronomy.
Alyson was deeply traumatized by the death of her mother— specifically the fact that Alyson stabbed Mary- Ann after watching her attempt to murder Tyler, and the fact that Tyler took the blame for it. She apologizes to Tyler over inconsequential things, and would rather sell their childhood home as fast as humanly possible than spend more time there.
Early life[]
Alyson grew up in Delos Crossing in rural Alaska, in the company of her twin brother Tyler. As children, Tyler and Alyson realized that they had a connection called ”the Bond” which allowed them to share thoughts and feel each other‘s feelings. At some point in their childhood, Alyson and Tyler created a board game similar to chutes and ladders named Luge and Tramway, although the game supposedly makes no sense and runs on pure imagination. Alyson also created the Book of Goblins.
As children Tyler asked Alyson to refer to him as Ollie rather than as his birth name. Alyson seems to have accepted this change without any problems.
On March 1, 2005, Tyler asked Alyson to cut his hair short. Alyson did so, and told Tyler that although it looked good she probably just gave him an awful haircut. Tyler told Alyson that he felt more like her brother than her sister, and Alyson told him that she would look out for him.
Tyler told Alyson that he was going to show Mary- Ann his haircut. Alyson seemed cautious about the idea, reminding Tyler that Mary-Ann had been withdrawn and easily upset lately. Tyler went to see Mary- Ann anyways.
Moments after Tyler left Alyson heard him screaming for her through the bond. She left the house to find Mary- Ann pointing a gun at her brother. Alyson stabbed Mary- Ann and collapsed on the dock as Mary- Ann’s body fell into the lake.
A traumatized Alyson repeated the words “I killed my mother” over and over as Tyler rushed to her. Tyler replied that no, he had killed Mary- Ann, and that’s what they would tell the police when they were questioned.
The twins were brought in to the police. Alyson told Tyler that she didn’t want to lie, that she wanted to confess to killing Mary- Ann, but was convinced to keep quiet. After their confessions and a trial, Alyson and Tyler were split up— Tyler was labelled as an at- risk youth and went to live at Fireweed, while Alyson seems to have lived with her legal guardian Eddy Brown.
Before the events of Tell Me Why, Alyson got a job at Veni Vidi Vecchi General Store. She also went to a sketchy online college for accounting for a short amount of time, but realized that the online college probably stole her credit card information.
Chapter 1: Homecoming[]
Long Time No See[]
At the beginning of the episode Alyson is seen in her room getting ready to collect her brother. Looking around her room, she has an interest in outer space and enjoys astronomy. Preparing to leave, she writes out her to-do list and itinerary and is seemingly nervous about the reunion between her and Tyler. After collecting her house keys, she then drives from Delos Crossing to Fireweed Residential Center, where she is due to reunite with Tyler. She had a stuffed bear as a present for him, but she throws it out the car window having decided it was inappropriate.
Arriving at the Center, she greets Tyler and the two hug and catch up after having not seen each other for ten years. The pair take the ferry to Delos Crossing.
The Crossing[]
While on the ferry, the two talk about the surroundings and life in Delos Crossing. Alyson offers Tyler a ring— a gift from her adoptive guardian and adoptive uncle, Eddy Brown. Alyson is apprehensive about offering the ring as she knows Tyler dislikes Eddy for splitting up the twins after Mary- Ann’s death. Tyler may keep the ring, turn down the gift, or throw the ring into the water. Alyson expresses disappointment if Tyler cannot accept the ring, saying she hoped they could start this new chapter of their lives with a "grand gesture."
A Big Wooden House[]
Tyler and Alyson arrive at Delos Crossing and return to their childhood home, 12 Cannery Road. Tyler is relatively happy to be back, while Alyson is far more nervous. She also seems more bitter, saying she wouldn't care if the new owners tore the whole house down.
Alyson realizes the keys she brought don’t work as someone has changed the locks. The twins remember an entrance underneath the house where they used to play, and attempt to remove the boards to access the crawl space. However, Tyler is unable to remove the boards without a screwdriver so they explore the shed to retrieve one. While trying to access the shed, Tyler and Alyson feel odd, and see a memory of their past selves in the shed, cleaning up.
Alyson and Tyler talk briefly about their Bond, and how they were able to share thoughts and feelings as children. The reliving of memories is completely new to them, however. The two focus on another memory in front of the shed to find a hidden key to let them enter to retrieve the screwdriver.
Tyler unscrews the boards blocking the crawl space entrance. Alyson expresses concern that they don't know what might be living inside, but Tyler heads in. While underneath the porch, Alyson communicates telepathically through the Bond with Tyler, confirming that their recollection of doing so as kids was not a fantasy. Eventually Tyler finds the hatch into the house and lets Alyson in through the front door. Alyson hesitates before stepping through the door frame, almost afraid to go in.
Eventually Tyler and Alyson search through their childhood bedroom and find the Book of Goblins, a book full of stories they and Mary-Ann wrote back when the twins were young. The twins see a memory of Tyler confronting his mother after she steals his diary. In this memory Mary-Ann misgenders Tyler multiple times, causing him to be distressed in the present. Tyler tells Alyson that he wants to find his diary, and to do that they have to search in the one place they’ve avoided up until now— Mary-Ann’s room. Alyson is hesitant to venture into their mother's room, but agrees since it's important to Tyler.
The twins head back downstairs. Mary-Ann’s room has a puzzle on the door. Alyson hands Tyler the Book of Goblins and tells him that the door reminds her of the Princess’s Party chapter in the book. Alyson prefers to solve the puzzle and is disappointed if Tyler decides to break the door in instead.
Tyler and Alyson enter Mary-Ann’s room, which is illuminated by a patterned turning light. They search through the room, and Tyler finds his diary. Alyson looks at the books on Mary-Ann's desk and finds a pamphlet about a Christian conversion therapy camp as well as a book about parenting a transgender child. Tyler is shocked by this and goes out onto the house’s deck.
Uninvited[]
Alyson joins him, and they talk about what’s been going on. Alyson is apprehensive about digging further into Mary-Ann but knows Tyler won't let go. She is also hurt the two of them have been able to see each other for three years but Tyler wouldn't visit her or allow her to visit him. They agree to continue on with selling the house, but to also investigate what happened to Mary-Ann and why she might have attacked Tyler if she wasn’t set off after learning about his being trans.
Alyson stays out on the deck for a moment while Tyler walks back into the house. When she enters the living room she finds Sam Kansky, a family friend, pointing a gun at Tyler. Alyson tells Sam that this is her brother. Sam reacts with surprise and makes several transphobic comments about how Tyler “looks like a real man”. Depending on player choice Tyler may be confrontational towards Sam.
Tyler asks Sam about Mary- Ann’s death but doesn’t get much information as Sam is quite drunk. Alyson suggests that Sam leave the house, and has to remind him to leave multiple times before he realizes that it’s time to go. Alyson and Tyler leave the house and head out to downtown Delos Crossing to pick up supplies.
Rashomon[]
Alyson and Tyler arrive in downtown Delos in the late afternoon. Alyson introduces Tyler to her coworker and best friend Michael. The two can either go straight into Veni Vidi Vecchi General Store or look around in the small playground outside of the store, where they’ll see a memory of Alyson and Tyler playing on a domelike playground structure.
Alyson greets Tom Vecchi as the twins enter the store. Tom cheerfully greets the twins. Alyson picks up an all purpose cleaning product, candles, drinks, and snacks. She can also speak to Tyler about a variety of items around the General store, as well as speak to Micheal.
As Alyson and Tyler check out their groceries, Tessa Vecchi runs in. The twins speak with her, but Tessa is extremely avoidant and doesn’t give them any information on Mary- Ann. After Tessa leaves the twins sense a memory nearby with their Bond. Alyson walks over and sees a memory in which Mary- Ann and the twins, after shopping, are confronted by an angry Tessa Vecchi who demands to speak to Mary- Ann. Tyler tells Alyson that he remembers the incident differently, and shows a memory in which an angry Mary- Ann refused to speak to a calm Tessa. Alyson is tasked with deciding which memory to believe.
If Alyson trusts Tyler’s memory, she and Tyler will see a memory of Mary- Ann angrily going with Tessa to her office. If Alyson trusts her own memory, Tyler will tell her that he wishes she had trusted him, and they see a memory of Mary- Ann being convinced by an angry Tessa to speak with her.
Either way, Alyson and Tyler will be convinced that Tessa knows something more than what she’s telling them. They turn on the piece of music that was playing during both of their memory visions, which brings back a flood of old memories.
The twins go through the store viewing these memories and learn that Mary- Ann and Tessa could have been arguing over the former’s debts to Tessa or Tessa’s transphobic views towards Tyler. Alyson looks through Tessa’s office and can find two pieces of evidence— a debt book from 2004, stating that Mary- Ann stopped paying Tessa back for things like food, fuel, and clothes in October 2004; and an email to Tessa from a conversion therapy camp. Alyson and Tyler confront Tessa with this information, and if the player can remember facts about both of these pieces of evidence Tessa will share the full story with the twins.
Tessa explains that she recommended that Mary- Ann send Tyler to a conversion therapy camp because she thought that it was what would be best for both Tyler and Mary- Ann.
To Serve And Protect[]
Alyson and Tyler leave the general store and head to the police station to meet up with Eddy Brown and hopefully ask him about Mary-Ann’s death. It’s evening when the twins arrive at the station. Eddy greets Alyson and tells the siblings that he’s on a call at the moment. He gives Alyson the keys to the break room and says he’ll be done soon.
Tyler and Alyson head down to the break room, where they see numerous memories from their past via the bond— their younger selves being escorted into the police station by Eddy, being questioned about what happened, being separated. In one flashback a young Alyson is seen telling young Tyler that she can’t keep lying anymore and “can’t do this“. After viewing these memories Alyson and Tyler move back upstairs and speak to Eddy.
Eddy greets Tyler and the twins proceed to ask him about Mary-Ann’s murder. Eddy tells them that he didn’t hear anything unusual about her behavior before the incident, and that nobody saw her attempt to kill Tyler coming. Tyler asks Eddy if they can look at Mary-Ann’s file. Eddy replies that he can’t just open a case file at random, and that he has to follow procedure as the police chief. The conversation escalates as Tyler tells Eddy that his choice to separate the twins for seven years was cruel. Eddy retorts that Tyler didn’t visit Alyson even after he’d “graduated” from Fireweed and could come and go as he pleased.
Alyson tried to deescalate the situation but is forced to choose a side in the argument. If Alyson sides with Tyler, she explains to Eddy that separating her from Tyler did not help her heal. Eddy apologizes, and the three go out for dinner.
Chapter 2: Family Secrets[]
TBA
Chapter 3[]
TBA
Epilogue: Lock-Up & Go[]
In this ending, Alyson and Tyler maintain a close bond. The two are roommates with Michael in Juneau. Alyson is receiving therapy for her mental health.
Epilogue: A New Chapter[]
In this ending, Alyson and Tyler have a weak bond. Michael has moved to Juneau and Tyler has either followed (if they are in a relationship) or gone to Kodiak island. However, Alyson remains at the big wooden house. She has turned to the coping mechanisms of her mother of writing stories in the Book of Goblins. Her diary is full of jumbled and disjointed thoughts. One part contains thoughts of standing at the edge of a railroad and contemplating jumping.
Relationships[]
Tyler Ronan[]
Tyler is Alyson’s twin brother and one of the most important people in her life. The two have a good relationship despite having spent the past ten years apart. Alyson and Tyler are able to communicate telepathically through a mysterious connection they call their “voice” or “The Bond”.
As children Alyson and Tyler would argue frequently. Tyler would often act up or call Mary-Ann out on her broken promises and generally bad parenting, and both twins would receive harsh, time consuming chores as punishment. Despite this Alyson and Tyler looked out for each other, no matter what.
In the current day, Alyson apologizes to Tyler near constantly and can be extremely awkward around him. The two seem to have agreed to never talk about Alyson’s part in Mary-Ann’s death and often avoid the subject.
Michael Abila[]
Michael is Alyson’s best friend and coworker. The two speak together and hang out often, and are planning on moving to Juneau together. Alyson remarks to Tyler that she wouldn't have survived high school without Michael.
Mary-Ann Ronan[]
Mary-Ann was Alyson’s mother. The two once had a good relationship, but this deteriorated as Mary-Ann grew more distant and more unhinged from reality. Alyson seemed to be more aware of Mary-Ann’s fragile mental state than Tyler, and frequently tried to stop him from doing anything that could potentially set her off. Alyson killed Mary-Ann one night as her mother tried to kill Tyler, and was extremely traumatized by this.
In the present, Alyson despises Mary-Ann for attempting to kill Tyler. While exploring the Ronan’s childhood home, she frequently comments on Mary-Ann’s problematic behaviors such as breaking promises she’d made to the twins and watching the twins 24/7 through her bedroom window.
Gallery[]
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Trivia[]
- Alyson has a variety of books in her room, one of which is titled “Time and I Against Any Two”, an allusion to “The Art of Worldly Wisdom”, by Baltasar Gracian.
- Alyson played varsity hockey for three years in high school, but she hasn't been on the ice much since then.
- Alyson likes salt and vinegar chips.
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Characters in Tell Me Why
| |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Characters | |||||||
| Alyson Ronan • Tyler Ronan | |||||||
| Supporting Characters | |||||||
| Michael Abila • Mary-Ann Ronan • Eddy Brown • Tessa Vecchi • Tom Vecchi • Sam Kansky | |||||||
| Minor Characters | |||||||
| Alexander Gershwin • Tina West • Joshua Greggs • Denise Wilson • Helena Torrez • Christian Holt • Kendra Harris-Guidry • Leo Ronan | |||||||