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Set up: you are just logging off of Discord after an hour of working on your latest final in the series of many with two other classmates.
[[You close Discord on your computer->Intro]]
/* Y'all can add some more narration / change the pov this is just a reminder that this part of the story goes here */
<<set $roomcounter = 0>>
<<set $maddiecode = 0>>
<<set $damellacode = 0>>
<<set $kaicode = 0>>
The room is dark, hints of light around the door as the blackout curtain does it's job with what little there is of starlight.
The gap of the rod allowing the silver glow to creep across the ceiling like ethereal fingers.
There is distant shuffling. [[Investigate->shuffling]]
A bookshelf has something shiny on it. [[Check it out->bookshelf]]
<<set $keyget to 0>>
<<set $keyneed to 0>>
<<set $investi to 0>>
<<set $shiny to 0>>
<<set $texture to 0>>
<<set $book to 0>>
<<if $Shortcut == 1>>
I've done this song and dance before, I just want to see the other options!
[[very well ansty pants, this way.->smug]]
<<endif>>You are kicked off the zoom call. Again.
This time while in the middle of explaining the research portion of your final presentation.
Your internet keeps breaking up, deepening the already wide distance between yourself and the rest of your MICA colleagues.
Your computer keeps crashing. Your files disappearing.
<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/3o6EhQUJNhJ1TVO1cQ" width="480" height="270" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/glitch-pc-crystal-castle-sad-eyes-3o6EhQUJNhJ1TVO1cQ">via GIPHY</a></p>
You blame yourself, wondering what You're doing to make everything go bezerk. "Why are you like this?" you sigh, waiting to rejoin the Zoom.
You yawn. It's time to [[take a break|take a nap]].<b><table style="width:800px">
<tr class="email">
<td>☐</td>
<td>☆</td>
<td>Linkedln</td>
<td><a data-passage="Email 1"><span style="font-size:7px">Ǐ̷̡̧͖͇̯͈̦̩͒̑̏͗̋̒͘̕͝ḁ̸̛̘̟̙̗̪̥͆̓k̸̛̜͔̭̼̭̈́̾ ̸̟͚͎̻̫͖̙͕́̊̎̽ļ̸̨̛̛̘͉̟̫̖͓̙͔͓͇̔̓̇̀̅͒̀͘͝ẻ̵̡͕̰̤̲̯̰̘̑l̴̞̝̤̉̽̌̽̃͛̚͜͝͝͝͝ī̴̗̓̃̆̃̽̈́̊̌̃͊t̷͈̠́̽̉̀̆͂͊̌̓͝͝ŗ̶̹̳̥̩̭̟̩͕̼̤̜̊͛̅̇̉̇͘</span>'s invitation is waiting for your response</a></td>
<td>8:38 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr class="email">
<td>☐</td>
<td>☆</td>
<td>Campus Services</td>
<td><a data-passage="Email 2">Spring 2021 Semester Update: ISSUE 05</a></td>
<td>4:20 PM</td>
</tr>
<tr class="email">
<td>☐</td>
<td>☆</td>
<td>Interaction as Art</td>
<td><a data-passage="Email 3">Session 13 - Appearance Tutorials and finals dates</a></td>
<td>12:59 PM</td>
</tr>
</table></b>[[Quit browsing emails, and close the laptop->Close computer]]M:
The house is rather quiet. The normal occupant of this room isn't there, that discord call ended hours ago.
[[Perhaps look around?->Maddie's Route]]
D:
The computer's screen seems to flinch, seems like another error is about to crash the screen.
[[Maybe move the mouse?->Damella's Route]]
K:
On the last screen, an disheveled junior checks his email for what he hopes is the final time tonight. He's been wearing the same pajama pants for the last four days, but hey, it's not like you can tell.
[[Take a peek at some emails->Kai's Route]]
You exit the room, and to the background noise of shuffles and scratches you find the door as promised and go down the stairs, finding the exit and jumping the fence as instructed. but as you walk down the street, something brushes against you're leg you reach down and grab it.
[[What is it?->Maddie End]] <<set $maddiecode += 1>>
<<if $roomcounter == 0 and $maddiecode lte 1>>
[[Puzzle End 1]]
<<elseif $roomcounter == 1 and $maddiecode lte 1>>
[[Puzzle End 2]]
<<elseif $roomcounter == 2 and $maddiecode lte 1>>
[[Puzzle End 3]]
<<else>>
This tale was already explored
[[Go back to the start->Intro]]
<</if>>
<<set $Shortcut = 1>>
<<set $damellacode += 1>>
<<if $roomcounter == 0 and $damellacode lte 1>>
[[Puzzle End 1]]
<<elseif $roomcounter == 1 and $damellacode lte 1>>
[[Puzzle End 2]]
<<elseif $roomcounter == 2 and $damellacode lte 1>>
[[Puzzle End 3]]
<<else>>
You have already completed this story
[[Go back to the start->Intro]]
<</if>>
<<set $kaicode += 1>>
<<if $roomcounter == 0 and $kaicode lte 1>>
[[Read the paper->Puzzle End 1]]
<<elseif $roomcounter == 1 and $kaicode lte 1>>
[[Read the paper->Puzzle End 2]]
<<elseif $roomcounter == 2 and $kaicode lte 1>>
[[Read the paper->Puzzle End 3]]
<<else>>
[[Credits->Surprise End]]
<</if>>
<<set $roomcounter += 1>>
The numbers 020 are typed out onto a weathered sheet of paper.
[[Play a differnt route?->Intro]] <<set $roomcounter += 1>>
The numbers 012 are typed out onto a weathered sheet of paper.
[[Play a differnt route?->Intro]] <<set $roomcounter += 1>>
The numbers 312 are typed out onto a weathered sheet of paper, rips on both ends.
[[Play a differnt route?->Intro]] <<if $roomcounter is 1>>
1/3 complete: 012
<<elseif $roomcounter is 2>>
2/3 complete: 012312
<<elseif $roomcounter is 3>>
3/3 complete: 012312020
You've found the code! Now where on the site do you use it?
<<else>>
You have currently found nothing.
<</if>>
<<back>>Slowly, you push open the bedroom door. The hallway is dark. Fingers tracing the edge of the walls as to find your way around in the dark, you carefully make your way down the staircase.
Once downstairs, you turn on the smallest kitchen light, grab a mug from the cabinet, and start filling the kettle with water.
With the stove on, and water waiting to boil, you turn towards the fridge to aquire your snack.
[[Open the fridge->The fridge]]Peering into the fridge you see [[an overipe avacado->avacado]], [[a block of swiss cheese->cheese]], [[an almost empty bag of honey BBQ flavored chips->chips]].
You might need to go grocery shopping. But right now it's either choose a snack or [[get back to work without one->no snack]].
<<set $snack1 to false>>
<<set $snack2 to false>>
<<set $snack3 to false>>
[[Look at the other snacks->The fridge 2]]
<<set $snack1 to true>>
You slip the avacado into the pocket of your sweatshirt.
[[Look at the other snacks->The fridge 2]]
<<set $snack2 to true>>
You stick the cheese in your mouth, because it would weirder to carry it any other way.[[Look at the other snacks->The fridge 2]]
<<set $snack3 to true>>
Do you have an addiction to these chips? Maybe. But it doesn't matter if it boosts your serotonin levels. You tuck the bag of chips under your arm. You look back at the fridge with a slight aura of dissapointment before dragging yourself back upstairs to continue working on your homework.
Logging back onto your laptop, it [[looks like there was an email you forgot to read?]] It looks kind of important...[[Inventory->Inventory]]You yawn, joints cracking loudly as you stand up from your desk.
The clock now reads 2:00AM
[[It's the perfect time for a snack->Kai's story]]
[[← Back To Inbox->Kai's Route]]
!!!<span style="font-size:7px">Ǐ̷̡̧͖͇̯͈̦̩͒̑̏͗̋̒͘̕͝ḁ̸̛̘̟̙̗̪̥͆̓k̸̛̜͔̭̼̭̈́̾ ̸̟͚͎̻̫͖̙͕́̊̎̽ļ̸̨̛̛̘͉̟̫̖͓̙͔͓͇̔̓̇̀̅͒̀͘͝ẻ̵̡͕̰̤̲̯̰̘̑l̴̞̝̤̉̽̌̽̃͛̚͜͝͝͝͝ī̴̗̓̃̆̃̽̈́̊̌̃͊t̷͈̠́̽̉̀̆͂͊̌̓͝͝ŗ̶̹̳̥̩̭̟̩͕̼̤̜̊͛̅̇̉̇͘</span>'s invitation is waiting for your response
<p style="line-height:1">
<span style="font-size:11px">Ǐ̷̡̧͖͇̯͈̦̩͒̑̏͗̋̒͘̕͝ḁ̸̛̘̟̙̗̪̥͆̓k̸̛̜͔̭̼̭̈́̾ ̸̟͚͎̻̫͖̙͕́̊̎̽ļ̸̨̛̛̘͉̟̫̖͓̙͔͓͇̔̓̇̀̅͒̀͘͝ẻ̵̡͕̰̤̲̯̰̘̑l̴̞̝̤̉̽̌̽̃͛̚͜͝͝͝͝ī̴̗̓̃̆̃̽̈́̊̌̃͊t̷͈̠́̽̉̀̆͂͊̌̓͝͝ŗ̶̹̳̥̩̭̟̩͕̼̤̜̊͛̅̇̉̇͘ (via LinkedIn) <messages-noreply@linkedin.com> <u>Unsubscribe</u>
To me</span> ▾
<span style="font-size:9px">Ǐ̷̡̧͖͇̯͈̦̩͒̑̏͗̋̒͘̕͝ḁ̸̛̘̟̙̗̪̥͆̓k̸̛̜͔̭̼̭̈́̾ ̸̟͚͎̻̫͖̙͕́̊̎̽ļ̸̨̛̛̘͉̟̫̖͓̙͔͓͇̔̓̇̀̅͒̀͘͝ẻ̵̡͕̰̤̲̯̰̘̑l̴̞̝̤̉̽̌̽̃͛̚͜͝͝͝͝ī̴̗̓̃̆̃̽̈́̊̌̃͊t̷͈̠́̽̉̀̆͂͊̌̓͝͝ŗ̶̹̳̥̩̭̟̩͕̼̤̜̊͛̅̇̉̇͘</span> invited you to connect 6 days ago.
<b><span style="font-size:9px">Ǐ̷̡̧͖͇̯͈̦̩͒̑̏͗̋̒͘̕͝ḁ̸̛̘̟̙̗̪̥͆̓k̸̛̜͔̭̼̭̈́̾ ̸̟͚͎̻̫͖̙͕́̊̎̽ļ̸̨̛̛̘͉̟̫̖͓̙͔͓͇̔̓̇̀̅͒̀͘͝ẻ̵̡͕̰̤̲̯̰̘̑l̴̞̝̤̉̽̌̽̃͛̚͜͝͝͝͝ī̴̗̓̃̆̃̽̈́̊̌̃͊t̷͈̠́̽̉̀̆͂͊̌̓͝͝ŗ̶̹̳̥̩̭̟̩͕̼̤̜̊͛̅̇̉̇͘</span></b>
General Student in the College College College of College
</p>[[← Back To Inbox->Kai's Route]]
!!!Spring 2021 Semester Update: ISSUE 05
<p style="line-height:1"><span style="font-size:11px"><b>Campus Services</b> <campusservices@college.edu>
To Students</span> ▾</p>
!!!!Welcome!
Welcome to issue 05 of Recap, our college's regular communication on the College’s progress and planning around the return to campus for Spring 2021 and beyond.
Ha, you optimistic fools think you're going to get a semster in person ever again? You think we have plans for you? We have plans for US and that includes opening our dorms again to fund our institution, even though there aren't any plans to have in person classes next semster
Also, international students, please refrain from emailing internationaleducation@college.edu as everyone in that office has currently been furloughed.
And as always, while Recap is intended to be a general update on reopening efforts, some information may not apply to all programs and constituents, such as Open Studies. For specific information, please see the full plan layout on our website.
Happy Holidays![[← Back To Inbox->Kai's Route]]
!!!Session 13 - Appearance Tutorials and finals dates: Interaction as Art
<p style="line-height:1"><span style="font-size:11px"><b>Interaction as Art </b><notifications@instructure.com>
To me</span> ▾</p>
Hello everyone!
Please check the new tutorials to change the appearance of your Twine project, and keep up with the good work, I'm really looking forward for the final delivery next Monday.
The deadline is Monday December 7th at 5PM EST - Send an email with the file and attachment directly to my email muguzzoni@mica.edu
Next week we are going to meet all together at 8PM EST, I'll send the zoom link Sunday evening.
Talk soon,
MatteoSnack obtained, you drag yourself back upstairs to continue working on your homework.
Logging back onto your laptop, it [[looks like there was an email you forgot to read?]] It looks kind of important...<table style="width:800px">
<tr class="email">
<td>☐</td>
<td>☆</td>
<td><b>Class</b></td>
<td><b><a data-passage="Email 4">Your Final Project</a></b></td>
<td><b>Yesterday</b></td>
</tr>
</table>[[← Back To Inbox->Panic]]
!!!Your Final Project
<p style="line-height:1"><span style="font-size:11px"><b>Class</b><notifications@instructure.com>
To me</span> ▾</p>
Hello everyone!
At least a third of you have not turned in your final essay that was due last week. I am giving you until tomorrow moring before our class at 11:30AM to turn your assignment in on Canvas, or else I will be deducting a letter from your grade.
Best,
Your ProfessorOh f***
Oh s***
You definitely do not remember finishing this final, which means you definitely did not do it.
Above the noise of your panicking mind, you hear a strange noise coming from you closet.
[[Wait, what?->You don't have TIME for this]]You most decidely do not have TIME for this.
[[Pointedly ignore it like every other slightly important and mildly concerning thing you choose to ignore]]
or
[[Investigate the closet]]
<<set $timecounter = 3>>
<<set $essaycounter = 0>>
<<set $rest = 0>>
<<set $cursedcounter = 0>>Peering into the fridge you see [[an overipe avacado->avacado]], [[a block of swiss cheese->cheese]], [[an almost empty bag of honey BBQ flavored chips->chips]].
You might need to go grocery shopping. Otherwise, if you've grabbed enough snacks, its time to [[get back to work->Go back upstairs]]. You don't have time for any nonsense. It's already <<=$timecounter>>AM, it's time to get started on speed writing your essay on:
[[How structuralism in architecture led to the appropriation of minority identities.->design topic]]
[[How we should be applying Roland Barnes' "Death of the Author" criticisms to critique we mythologize celebrities in artistic industries.->art history topic]]
[[I̸̠͈̤̫͈̼͍̼̙͈͙̻̮̞͓̙͇̭͉̋͗͑̊̇ͅt̴̡̗̤͙̭͈̖͙͚̱̜̩̮̝͚̃͜͜'̸̢̢̛̼̬̺̖͎̫͚̬̹̤͎͉̱͇̹̣́̑̊́̋̈́́̋̆̌̏̀̍̍́̿ͅs̸̢̛̖͈̥̟͖̜̺̺̹̗̟͖̮͖̑͊̃̈́͗͑̿̒̔̆̋̅̃̏̌̾̍̔̌̚̕͠ ̵̠͌̈́̉͗͒͌̽̕̚a̸̧̛̤̮̯̲̳̗͓͇̘͈̙̹̗̱̮̻͌̈́̈́̀̈̆̈́́̒́̀̊̂̀̕̚͠b̵̡͕̼̹͓̰͈́̉̓͆͘͠͠ờ̵̦͖͖͕̖̈́̅͊͒͆͘͠ͅu̸̡̢̮͙̪̫̗̻̬͖̭̫̩̼̖̥̳͙̓̀̈̾̎͐̎́̒̂̀̈́͆̌̂͗͋͐͜͠t̷̬̖̥̝̭͚͕̙͙̹̖̭̟̣̗͙͙̯̥̍̿͗̆̊̄͋̇̓̑͛̃͜͜͝͝ͅͅ ̸̛̩̺̖̟͌̅͑̓͛̽̉͋̎̎̓͊̓͂͐̾͗́͒̋̚͠͝n̸̨̗̞̣̜͙͉̰͚̗̦̞̝͐͒͗̓̋͛̾͗̊͗͂͛͒́͂̉̋̂̀̈́͜͝͠͝ͅo̴̢̢̖͖͖̱̰͓̦̘̯̜̹͔͛̈͊͑̃̆̓̈̆͐͆̀̈̃͂͊͋̄͘̚͘͘͠t̵̨̧͔̟̜̗͕̹̞̦̞̤̜͚̦͉͖̗̏h̷̡̰̮̬̅̔͆͋̿̄̎͠i̷̢̢̧̢̞̜̤̥͎͉̰̼̦̤̙̤̬̦͎̺̹͖͇̦͕̖̠͆͒n̷̢̤̳̩͍̟̞̯̥̼͍̳͇̓̑̾͗̊͛͊̊͐͊͐͂͝g̸̢̢̢̡̱͕̣̮̠̯̥͍̣͇̏͗͊̎̏̃̇͌̅̔̀́͒̍́̈́̅̃͆̓͗͗͐͑́̓̕ͅͅ,̵̟̩̰̲̖̻̳̤̲̳̰̖̮̙̘̗̠̃̐̄̎̔́̈́̈̓̀̊̂̋̈́̋̍̀̔̒̎̀͒͘͝͝ ̷̨̲̯̻̞̮̩̹̣̠͚̙̙͙̰̄̔͒̓͌͘n̵̡̲̥̗̝̝͖͖̂̿̿ò̷̡̧͍͔̖͚̙̼̮̝͎̼͛̒̅̃͆̋̄̎͆̐̎͒̒́͑͆̀̌̈̋̓̂̀͆̓̚t̴̯̯̯̼̲͐̆̊͒̌̓̉̓͐͒͌͌̓ḧ̸̨̠̮͖̘̟͚̰̖͉̳̥̖̪̰̙̺̖̞͐͛į̷̡̧͙̰̥̤͙̠͛̑͛̽̈̿̄̃̿̾̋̈́̿̏͊̽n̷̨͉̩̘̗͕̙͖̫͖͕͔̿̅̉̏̋̈̋̅͜g̷͇̩̒̎̋̀͆͌͗̍̒́̓̈́̉̑̑́͂̀͗͘̚ ̴̨̜̙̙̝̯͕͇̗̼̪̱̯̙̟̭͖̩͉̩͔̰͕̼̄̂̿̀͋͐̈͋͋̐̈́̊̈́͐̿̎͛̐͛͘a̷̛͕̍̍̓̄̅̍̎̀͒̽͊̚t̴̗̻̻̼͍̭̘͕͓̘̣̥̖̫͊͌̒̎̆̉̒͝ ̶̨̤̣̬͚̲̹̳̺̟̬͕̙̹͚̳̲̭̤̩̯̦̫͕̣̙̄̇ͅą̵̛͕̦̭͇̤̻̹̰͓̥͎̳͕̙̫͙̻̆̑̽̐̐͗̽̃͐̎͂̎̏͐̀͒͆́̈́͘͜͝l̵̦̹͍̪̳̜̝͙̮̬̪̬̮͈͕͍̥̹̤̰̖̈̍̓͊͋̎̒̒̂̎͋͗͝͝ͅͅl̶̢̢̡̨̗̲̠̝̤̤͈̬̖̥̩̗̺͙͈̘̲͑̆ͅͅ.̴̫̮͔͕͈̰̩͌͑̑̀͑̓̅̉̉̍͋̓̽̽͑̅͌̀́̂̃͘͘̚̕͠͠->Don't know]]
<<set $topic1 to false>>
<<set $topic2 to false>>
<<set $topic3 to false>>
<<set $closetinvestigation to false>>The sound seems to be more reminicient of a grumbling sound as you get closer. There's also a faint ticking noise almost undetectibly below that. Stopping in front of the closet, you can see a faint whafting of black smoke coming from the cracks in the door.
It could be your eyes and ears playing tricks on you. Or there's a broken alarm clock about to explode in your closet.
[[Open the door]]
[[Go back to ignoring it->Pointedly ignore it like every other slightly important and mildly concerning thing you choose to ignore]]
Ẏ̸̦̇̈o̸̢͉̽̏͂͜ù̸͕̙̈́ ̷͈̪̀ơ̸̡͖p̴̧̈́e̴̗͑͛n̴̩̟̤͑ ̴̦̈̐ů̷͔͌̈́͜p̸̡̀ ̸̬͐͘ä̸̮͈͓́́ ̸͍͓̈̋̃d̵̲͆̃o̷̺̤͆̾̑c̴͍̋ͅu̷̗̿͐m̵̟̄̄e̷̛̝̦̽n̵͍̠̈́̉͊ẗ̷͕̘̱̍̆ ̵̱̙̰͆͋ȁ̷̦͋n̸̮̩͝͝d̷͕͆ ̸̡̭̼͒̄̆s̵͖̭̤̾t̵̡̥͔̃a̴̻͖̐̕r̷̩͎̅ẗ̶̺̥̬́͋ ̵̲̖̊w̴̬͌̀̍r̸̬̯̻͝͠i̴͔̖̅́͌t̷̟̗̰͑̔i̷̭͕̙͂̎ṅ̷̺̀ǧ̸͓̝̹̈́.̶̘̦̔̓̎
<<set $topic3 to true>>
<<set $cursedcounter += 1>>
[[Continue to research and write]]
[[Take a break]]
You open up a document and start writing.
<<set $topic1 to true>>
[[Continue to research and write]]
[[Take a break]]
You open up a document and start writing.
<<set $topic2 to true>>
[[Continue to research and write]]
[[Take a break]]The closet is empty. There's nothing on the floor because the floor was built at an angle.
<<if $snack1 is true or $snack2 is true or $snack3 is true>>
Something seems to be compelling you to place your snack on the ground anyway. So you [[place a bit of your snack on the ground]].
<<else>>
[[Close the closet]]
<</if>>
<<set $timecounter += 1>>
<<set $closetinvestigation to true>>You place a bit of your snack on the ground, and slowly close the closet door. You'll probably have to pick it up later, so no bugs get to it, but for now you close the closet and leave it be.
Taking one last glance at the closet, it seems to have quieted down.
You turn your laptop on, as its time to [[get back to work->work after]]
<<set $timecounter += 1>>You close the closet. It doesn't matter anymore.
[[Get back to work->work after]] You take another look at the clock, and it's <<= $timecounter>>AM already. Fingers tapping in anxiousness as you open up a blank document, it looks like you'll have to pick a simplier essay topic then you planned to.
[[A brief analysis on Damien Hirst's The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living->Easy topic]]
[[I̸̠͈̤̫͈̼͍̼̙͈͙̻̮̞͓̙͇̭͉̋͗͑̊̇ͅt̴̡̗̤͙̭͈̖͙͚̱̜̩̮̝͚̃͜͜'̸̢̢̛̼̬̺̖͎̫͚̬̹̤͎͉̱͇̹̣́̑̊́̋̈́́̋̆̌̏̀̍̍́̿ͅs̸̢̛̖͈̥̟͖̜̺̺̹̗̟͖̮͖̑͊̃̈́͗͑̿̒̔̆̋̅̃̏̌̾̍̔̌̚̕͠ ̵̠͌̈́̉͗͒͌̽̕̚a̸̧̛̤̮̯̲̳̗͓͇̘͈̙̹̗̱̮̻͌̈́̈́̀̈̆̈́́̒́̀̊̂̀̕̚͠b̵̡͕̼̹͓̰͈́̉̓͆͘͠͠ờ̵̦͖͖͕̖̈́̅͊͒͆͘͠ͅu̸̡̢̮͙̪̫̗̻̬͖̭̫̩̼̖̥̳͙̓̀̈̾̎͐̎́̒̂̀̈́͆̌̂͗͋͐͜͠t̷̬̖̥̝̭͚͕̙͙̹̖̭̟̣̗͙͙̯̥̍̿͗̆̊̄͋̇̓̑͛̃͜͜͝͝ͅͅ ̸̛̩̺̖̟͌̅͑̓͛̽̉͋̎̎̓͊̓͂͐̾͗́͒̋̚͠͝n̸̨̗̞̣̜͙͉̰͚̗̦̞̝͐͒͗̓̋͛̾͗̊͗͂͛͒́͂̉̋̂̀̈́͜͝͠͝ͅo̴̢̢̖͖͖̱̰͓̦̘̯̜̹͔͛̈͊͑̃̆̓̈̆͐͆̀̈̃͂͊͋̄͘̚͘͘͠t̵̨̧͔̟̜̗͕̹̞̦̞̤̜͚̦͉͖̗̏h̷̡̰̮̬̅̔͆͋̿̄̎͠i̷̢̢̧̢̞̜̤̥͎͉̰̼̦̤̙̤̬̦͎̺̹͖͇̦͕̖̠͆͒n̷̢̤̳̩͍̟̞̯̥̼͍̳͇̓̑̾͗̊͛͊̊͐͊͐͂͝g̸̢̢̢̡̱͕̣̮̠̯̥͍̣͇̏͗͊̎̏̃̇͌̅̔̀́͒̍́̈́̅̃͆̓͗͗͐͑́̓̕ͅͅ,̵̟̩̰̲̖̻̳̤̲̳̰̖̮̙̘̗̠̃̐̄̎̔́̈́̈̓̀̊̂̋̈́̋̍̀̔̒̎̀͒͘͝͝ ̷̨̲̯̻̞̮̩̹̣̠͚̙̙͙̰̄̔͒̓͌͘n̵̡̲̥̗̝̝͖͖̂̿̿ò̷̡̧͍͔̖͚̙̼̮̝͎̼͛̒̅̃͆̋̄̎͆̐̎͒̒́͑͆̀̌̈̋̓̂̀͆̓̚t̴̯̯̯̼̲͐̆̊͒̌̓̉̓͐͒͌͌̓ḧ̸̨̠̮͖̘̟͚̰̖͉̳̥̖̪̰̙̺̖̞͐͛į̷̡̧͙̰̥̤͙̠͛̑͛̽̈̿̄̃̿̾̋̈́̿̏͊̽n̷̨͉̩̘̗͕̙͖̫͖͕͔̿̅̉̏̋̈̋̅͜g̷͇̩̒̎̋̀͆͌͗̍̒́̓̈́̉̑̑́͂̀͗͘̚ ̴̨̜̙̙̝̯͕͇̗̼̪̱̯̙̟̭͖̩͉̩͔̰͕̼̄̂̿̀͋͐̈͋͋̐̈́̊̈́͐̿̎͛̐͛͘a̷̛͕̍̍̓̄̅̍̎̀͒̽͊̚t̴̗̻̻̼͍̭̘͕͓̘̣̥̖̫͊͌̒̎̆̉̒͝ ̶̨̤̣̬͚̲̹̳̺̟̬͕̙̹͚̳̲̭̤̩̯̦̫͕̣̙̄̇ͅą̵̛͕̦̭͇̤̻̹̰͓̥͎̳͕̙̫͙̻̆̑̽̐̐͗̽̃͐̎͂̎̏͐̀͒͆́̈́͘͜͝l̵̦̹͍̪̳̜̝͙̮̬̪̬̮͈͕͍̥̹̤̰̖̈̍̓͊͋̎̒̒̂̎͋͗͝͝ͅͅl̶̢̢̡̨̗̲̠̝̤̤͈̬̖̥̩̗̺͙͈̘̲͑̆ͅͅ.̴̫̮͔͕͈̰̩͌͑̑̀͑̓̅̉̉̍͋̓̽̽͑̅͌̀́̂̃͘͘̚̕͠͠->You still don't know]]
<<set $topic4 to false>>
<<set $topic5 to false>>You start writing.
<<set $topic5 to true>>
[[Continue to research and write]]
[[Take a break]]
Ẏ̸̦̇̈o̸̢͉̽̏͂͜ù̸͕̙̈́ ̷͈̪̀ơ̸̡͖p̴̧̈́e̴̗͑͛n̴̩̟̤͑ ̴̦̈̐ů̷͔͌̈́͜p̸̡̀ ̸̬͐͘ä̸̮͈͓́́ ̸͍͓̈̋̃d̵̲͆̃o̷̺̤͆̾̑c̴͍̋ͅu̷̗̿͐m̵̟̄̄e̷̛̝̦̽n̵͍̠̈́̉͊ẗ̷͕̘̱̍̆ ̵̱̙̰͆͋ȁ̷̦͋n̸̮̩͝͝d̷͕͆ ̸̡̭̼͒̄̆s̵͖̭̤̾t̵̡̥͔̃a̴̻͖̐̕r̷̩͎̅ẗ̶̺̥̬́͋ ̵̲̖̊w̴̬͌̀̍r̸̬̯̻͝͠i̴͔̖̅́͌t̷̟̗̰͑̔i̷̭͕̙͂̎ṅ̷̺̀ǧ̸͓̝̹̈́.̶̘̦̔̓̎
<<set $topic4 to true>> <<set $cursedcounter += 1>>
[[Continue to research and write]]
[[Take a break]]
<<set $timecounter += 1>>
<<set $essaycounter += 1>>
You continue working on your essay.
<<if $timecounter lte 12>>
It's <<= $timecounter>>AM.
<<else>>
It's past 11:30AM
<</if>>
<<if $essaycounter == 4>>
[[Finished?]]
<<elseif $essaycounter == 3 and $topic4 is true>>
[[Finished?]]
<<elseif $essaycounter == 3 and $topic5 is true>>
[[Finished?]]
<<else>>
[[Continue to research and write]]
[[Take a break]]
<</if>><<set $timecounter += 1>> <<set $rest += 1>>
<<if $timecounter lte 12>>
It's <<= $timecounter>>AM.
<<else>>
It's past 11:30AM
<</if>>
<<if $rest lt 4>>
You scroll aimlessly through your phone for a bit.
[[Continue to research and write]]
[[Continue your break->Take a break]]
<<elseif $rest == 4>>
You're getting kind of sleepy
[[Continue to research and write]]
[[Continue your break->Take a break]]
<<else>>
[[...->You fall asleep]]
<</if>>You log into the class's Canvas page to turn into your paper.
...and the assignment is already locked.
[[Scream]][[...]][[...->...2]][[.̵̡̡̛̳͕͙̪̰̜̟̤͓͈̪̺̰͓͉̘͙͙̠̻̻̯̮̭̭̺̗̯͙͚̮̱̱͉̥̰͚̑́̐̈͌̄̏͒͛̍̐͐̇̓̇̋̔̋̈́͆̂̓̈́̿̇̀̇̓̉̾͆͋̔̂͐̔̽͆͘̕̚͘͜͝͝͝͝͝.̶̢̧̡̡̛̛̞͉͓̯̫̼̥͔͎̦̞̑̑́́͌̔͋̎̐̾̈́́̈͋̆͂́̓̀̋̑̉̈́̆͒͒̑̾͊͐̀͗̑̈́̕͠͠͠͝.̴̨̢̛͚͖͕̞͚̦̤̤̭͉̲̞̰̬̜͚̥̯͉̫̖͔̈́͌͋̈́̎̐̐͊̔́̆̒̌̎̑̓̈̓̇̈́̾̿̎̀̽̐̓͊͘̕͠->...3]]
<<set $cursedcounter += 1>>[[!]]You wake up suddenly, blinking the spots from your vision.
Daylight is creeping in from cracks in the blinds.
It's <<= $timecounter>>AM
<<if $timecounter lt 8>>
You might just have time to finish.
[[Continue to research and write]]
<<else>>
[[Your grades are done for]]
<</if>>Well you can't actually scream, as you don't want to wake everbody in the house and then neighborhood.
You settle for another soft grumble of explicatives, [[opening up your email once more.->open email]]
<<timed 1s>>!!!Title:Essay
<<next 2s>><p style="line-height:1"><span style="font-size:11px"><b>Your Email</b> <studentcanvas@college.edu>
To Teacher</span> ▾</p>
<<next 1s>>Hello!
<<next .25s>>It <<next .25s>>appears <<next .25s>>you <<next .25s>>have <<next .25s>>locked <<next .25s>>the <<next .25s>>assignment <<next .25s>>already <<next .25s>>on <<next .25s>>Canvas. <<next .25s>>Here <<next .25s>>is <<next .25s>>my <<next .25s>>finished <<next .25s>>essay. <<next .25s>>Please <<next .25s>>don't <<next .25s>>fail <<next .25s>>me.
<<next 1s>>Thanks.
<<next 1s>>[[Send]]
<</timed>>Just as you hit the send button, a loud thump startles you.
<<if $closetinvestigation is false>>
It's that closet again, isn't it.
[[Finally Investigate the closet->Investigate closet pt 2]]
<<elseif $closetinvestigation is true>>
The closet? Again? You thought you had already dealt with that properly.
[[Investigate the closet again->Investigate closet pt 2]]
<</if>>You crack open the closet door.
<<if $closetinvestigation is false>>
Ṭ̸̰̈́̃̑̒͑͋͑͑̏̑͠͝ḩ̷̖̜͉̣͖̝̯̮͕͗͆̇͘͜ͅȩ̶̤̝̥̲̞̖̅̿̔̽̇͐͒ ̷̧͖͙̺̈͆̽̌̒̿́̉̒̏͝ͅç̴̯͇̬͚͂̿͌͂̈́̈͑̑̏̓͋͑̀͜l̶̰̦͙̫̞͎̯͒̌̆͗̈́̈́̌̃́̋͆̚͘o̷̡̡̙̬͍̭̠̱̳͕͈̬̎̀̀͘ͅs̵͈͖̹̠̩͚̼̳͌́͆͑̏e̷̢̧͔͎̠̜̪̻͚͝ͅt̸̛̳̽̾͋̎͗͐̈́̆́͠ ̸̛̰͍̜̜̪͎̘͊̍̔̏͑͛̅͝ͅd̵̻̫̯̜̗̱̠̥͚̳̍̽̅̊̄̾̈́͛̊̅͆͛͘͠ͅơ̸̘̱̦͙̠̲͑͜ǫ̷̛̟̪̠̞̭͍̦̪̹̰͖̊̎̄̃̆͝͝ͅr̸̰̣̥̻͚̖͒̍̓̈́̆̊̐͒͝ ̷͕͍̗͎̹͙͌̄s̵̡̝͉͓̈́͐̈́́́͗̈́̅͛̂͒̚͠͠t̶̘͖̰͉̞̬̬̆̂̈̎̃̂͋͆͋̂͠ą̶̡̼̝͈͚̤̗͈̠̲̉͊r̶͎̪͕̬̉̂̽ę̸̨̘͈͚̥̙̦̦͈̝̤̬̑̐̃͝ͅṥ̴̡̳̟̱͕͖̪͚͔̳̜͓̓̍͊̓̃͛́ ̷̢͈̗̤̭͊͒̃͒̾͋̈́͘̚͠ḇ̸̢̟̹͚͇̘͎̼̖͙̖̓͋̈́̎̇̍̾͂̿̌́͑̕̕ả̵̰̫͉̥͖̓́͌̿̎̓͒̅̊̈́̍̚ċ̷̡̠̟̐͐̿̎̏̀̓͋̽̆̓̏̚k̴̥̺̈͜.̴̨̲̟̟͇͇̝͉̦̺͔̹̻̇͐͛̓̀̏͗̈́̑̓
[[Look at him back]]
<<elseif $closetinvestigation is true and $snack1 is true>>
Strange, it looks like the avacado is gone.
You peek your head into the darkness <<timed 3s>>[[and the ground tips forward]] <</timed>>
<<elseif $closetinvestigation is true and $snack2 is true>>
Strange, it looks like the cheese is gone.
You peek your head into the darkness <<timed 3s>>[[and the ground tips forward]] <</timed>>
<<elseif $closetinvestigation is true and $snack3 is true>>
Strange, it looks like the chips are gone.
You peek your head into the darkness <<timed 3s>>[[and the ground tips forward]] <</timed>>
<<else>>
You peek your head into the darkness <<timed 3s>>[[and the ground tips forward]] <</timed>>
<</if>>Would you like to get more time back?
[[Yes->sike]]
[[No->sike]]<<if $timecounter gte 12>>
It's past 11:30AM
<else>>
It's <<= $timecounter>>AM.
<</if>>
Would __you__ like to get more time back? Wouldn't we all?
[[Why is my closet talking to me?]]<<if $timecounter gte 12>>
It's past 11:30AM
<else>>
It's <<= $timecounter>>AM.
<</if>>
Would __you__ like to get more time back? Wouldn't we all?
[[Yes->Yes Time]]
[[No->No Time]]You would, wouldn't you.
To bad it doesn't currently work like that.
[[You'll get it on the next assignment.->Intro]]
<<if $cursedcounter gte 2>>
<<timed 2s>>[[If only you hadn't taken so long of a break->Continue to research and write]]<</timed>>
<</if>>[[Back to the character selection->Intro]]
This page is a wip.This is very much a possiblity of too much caffiene and not enough sleep. Maybe there really was something burning in your closet, and you are currently having hallucinations from smoke inhalation. But you'll entertain the thought anyway.
Would __you__ like to get more time back?
[[Yes->Yes Time]]
[[No->No Time]]Are you sure?
[[Probably]]
[[No, I'd like to change my mind->No Time]]<<if $timecounter gte 12>>
Well, you've still missed class today, but hey, you win some, you lose some.
<</if>>
So many assignment to finish still, but you wouldn't want more time.
More time for teachers to give you more work?
More days before you can end the semester for a break?
Take longer to finish your semester?
You don't really know why you just said this into your closet. Maybe you'll need a nap later today.
Closing the closet door, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the front.
[[You take a closer look->Kai End]]<<if $timecounter gte 12>>
It's past 11:30AM
<<else>>
It's <<= $timecounter>>AM.
<</if>>
You have:
<<if $rest gte 1>><<= $rest>> hours from resting.
[[Offer up said hours]]<</if>>
<<if $cursecounter gte 1>><<= $cursecounter>> parts of an essay that the he seems slightly intrigued by.
[[Read your essay out loud]]<</if>>
<<if $rest == 0 and $cursecounter == 0>>
You have nothing to bargain with. <</if>>
[[Decide not to bargain->No Time]]
<<set $timecounter-=$rest>>
[[Continue->Continue to research and write]] You pull your essay out- what was it about again? Oh yeah i̷͓̽̒͐͑̉͒̚͜ͅt̴̡̨̢̨̲̼͚͔̬̖̤̲̠̠̳͉̋̈́'̴͖͓͎̺̻̻̹̼͇͖͑̀̌̈́̂̈́͛̈͊́̉̋͗́̍͊̔̕̚͘͝s̴̗̘̈́̑̓͑̿̆̒̀͜͝͠ ̵̨͎̻̮̦̜͉̘̮̠͚̹͑̈̾͌̓̀͐͊̄͌̈́̿̽̚͘͜a̷̧̲̜̜͑̈́̌̅̒b̴̢͈̦͚̺͉͚̮͈̯̞̣̤̟̜̠̥̦̱̹͎̄̌̋̓̔̂̃́̋̕͘̚ͅo̵̡̢̳̘̫̪͕͔̙̫͍̩̻̻̗͑͋̉̉̍̐̏̚͜͝͠ụ̴́̏̋̓͂̎͋̇̄͑͂͗̑̒͂͊̄́̕̕͘͝͝t̷̢̠̘̠̭̭̬̳͖͍̙̺͈͚͔͗̋̏͊̈́ ̸̱̯͈̹̱̖̠͓̟̫̖̔͂͒́́̎͒͂͐͒̇̄̍́̆͆̕͝n̶̘͛̏̉ŏ̷̝̹̼̫̝̭̗̓͊͊̈̿͒̽͝͠ͅţ̶̛̛̩͉͇̩̠̔͛̍̒͌͊̆̿͐̔͗̌́̂̇̿͐̏̽͛͊͆̓̔͘h̸̝̝̝̹̝͔̺̥̺͑͆̀̋͋̊͆̊̈́̈́́͋̉́̀̾͘͘̕͠͝ȋ̸̛͚̩͓̩͖̗͊͛͊̉̈́͋̊͂̆̇͆̋͒͐͗̀͌͂͘͘͝͠n̴̢̨̢̲͖̳̣̖͓̩̥̣̹̜͍͙͚̘̟̟̎̋̾͐͋̇̈̍̽͛͒͆̀́͂͛̀̍̚̕͝g̷̢̮͚̖̥̟͈̘͇̙̯̦̼̼̥̻̱̭̰͗̌͗̕͘͜,̴̢̛̖̮͉̩̱͔̩̣̣̩̂̑́̓̅̽͐̑̽̊ ̷̳̫̝̝̤͇͕̐́̈̉ͅň̵̢̡͕̩̙̫͖̘̩̩̪͎̜̻͉̫̦̦̲̰̜̫ǫ̶̢̛̰̝̜͎̳̱͓̫͎̋̃̈́̓͒͗̇́̏̀̐̅̋̔̆̕̕̚̕͝͝͠ͅt̸̡̨̫̠̥̭̻̭̮͚͇̟͙̎̍̿̈́̃͑̊͛̊̓͠h̷̖͔̺͈̮͚̣̗̻̜̟̥̬̻͎͊͗͜i̷̧̢̧̦͇̞̭̹̦̦̩̳̱̻̟̝̜̳̰̹̠͕̝̪͇̎̅̇̈́̒̅͌͗͗̈͛̍̀̅ͅn̴̡̛̬̫̿͆͛̎͒̇̇͌̀̿̔͆̈̚͝g̸̨̖̪̲͖̪͇̮̰̘͕̙̜͚͚͕̰͇͈̘̣͙͎̜͉̺͔̊̽̒͂̉͑̅͛̎͘ ̶̧̨̢̧̛̻͇̠̗̤̠̤̭̖͈̱̮̟̣̲̗̟̭͙̞͗̈́͐̎̈̾̀̊̏̎͆̀͗̍͗̔̆́͘̕͜͜͜å̵̢̠͈̼͉̜̤̒̈́̋͂̉̐̔̃̽̍́̃͐̋̈̏̋͝ͅt̶̡̛̲̯̜͉̬͕̱̺̝̞͉͕̤̟̮̱̍́͐́̂̋̓̿̂̔̉̽̉̀́̚͜ ̴̢̳͇̩̽̊̌̒͆̆̓͑̈͐̋͐̾͘͝ą̷̻̱̰̤̫̺͍̥̰̗̟̤̖̫̪͇͕̮̋́͛̆̈̽͊͘ͅl̸̝͚͔̘̹͙͕̩̪̻̼̦̄͛̂͋͒͑͗̏̅͝l̵̨̦͔̞͕͇̜̖͔̙̝̺̋́͋̌͆͑̎̿̓͗͂̿̃̀͂̿̂̂́́́͌̅͠͠.̷̢̨̨̥̬͓͔̦̦̱̟̲̭͙̠̰͛͜͝.
YO u can sense a slight aura of enjoyment.
[[A piece of paper falls from the tallest shelf.->Kai End]] Once in your room, you sit on your bed, rubbing your eyes tiredly. "How can you cheer yourself up?" you ask yourself.
"Aha," you head to the corner of your room, where you put your discarded broken bedframes.
During the beginning of Quarantine, you had hung up those colored dryer ball lights, creating a small cozy corner cordoned off by your clothing rack.
You crawl on the floor, reaching to insert the plug into the wall. And then, right when the lights switched on, you feel the force [[suck you in]].
The force is strong enough to pull in your hand. Squatting, you manage to yank your hand out, but your hand is covered in dust and debris.
Which then began floating slightly above your hand, whispering quietly.
The sprites! They were known around here to cause this kind of chaos, to suck the energy of the space, causing the electromagnetic waves in the dwelling to go haywire.
So, that explains your problem. But how are you going to fix it?
Should you just [[force the sprites out]], hoping they find another home?
Or should you try to [[keep them happy]], at least until finals are over?
Deciding the direct approach is the best approach, you spring into action. This is your room--you're already overpaying for rent. The sprites are the opposite of contributing, so out they go.
You decide that the best way to reverse their energy would be to [[turn on the fan]], propelling them out of the space.
"What do you want from me?" You ask resignedly.
"See that dust ball, it's on the floor--you knocked it over. We need you to put it back on its source."
"As you wish," you grumble.
As calmly as you can, trying to steady your hands, you [[reattach the dryer ball]].
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3NYB7JcwtI8?controls=0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
To give them an escape route, you crack open the door leading to your small balcony.
Returning to your cozy corner, you plug in the fan, and feel it whir.
You look toward the corner. It seems like they're getting the hint: you see a steady stream of dust reluctantly float out of their corner home, accross your room, and onto the balcony.
Now they're outside, you think with a sigh of relief. Surely, they'll dissipate into the wind, and be on their merry way.
Needing some fresh air, you[[walk onto your balcony]].
Easy enough. The light sparkled, somehow illuminating the whole room.
You feel the sprites sigh contendedly, buzzing.
After a good night's sleep, you start working on your Interaction as Art final project. You chug along on Twine for few hours, appreciating the smooth Wifi connection, not daring to hope that this time...
As you head upstairs to shower, you hear a harsh pop of anger force itself from your room. "We've been waiting for you."
You[[tiptoe inside|Twinkle]]
On your balcony, you sit on the railing. You watch the suncatcher spin in the faint evening light, hypnotized.
<video src=https://www.dropbox.com/s/471hjr33kxc9ru4/IMG_9560%202.MOV?dl=0" width="640" height="480">
</video>
<<if visited("Music Box Ballerina") > 0>>
As the sun finally sets, you breathe out a long sigh of relief, exhaling all the air from your body.
It's finals time. You got this.
[[THE END|Damella End]]
<<endif>>
<<if visited("Music Box Ballerina") == 0>>
Then, through your cracked door, you see the one of the dust ball spheres fall. you hear a crash, and you[[run inside]].
<<endif>>
My carefully-assembled shelves have collapsed, their contents strewn across your room.
A door slams.
You hear a faint crackling noise.
The fan is still whirring--you reach your hand to turn off it off, and your hand is sucked in. You cannot move.
"Do as we say," the whisper travels through your hand, up your arm, through the hairs on the back of your neck.
They were back.
"We do not appreciate being swept out like mere dust specks. Your little stunt cost us a good deal of energy. Now do as we say."
As your hand is released, you shake it quickly. You ground your feet in the floor.
You steady yourself, [[standing up tall|Twinkle]].
"The air is stale in here, no twinkle, we need extra twinkle for the holiday spirit!" the whisper says, getting more and more urgent with each word.
Thinking on your feet, you run downstairs and grab the Christmas box from last year. You bring it upstairs, hanging ornaments and stringing lights on every loose nail and free hook.
"Now turn on the lights, it's getting dark."
As you plug in cord, the image of next month's utility bill appears in your mind's eye.
"But what choice do you have?" You think resignedly.
Do you[[go along]] with this ludicrous request? This seems like the safest option.
Or do you[[say no]], taking the slim chance that this whole situation will work itself out?
Reluctantly, trying not to think about next month's electric bill, I plug in the christmas tree lights. My room is kich on steroids.
CLAP. The air exploded. A fizzle. A silent explosion.
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[[perhaps if I'd made another decision??->Twinkle]]"No." You say forcefully.
Silence. The room rumbles, and everything starts shaking.
You start: "Look, if we keep going down this route, we will run out of energy. I just want what's best for everyone here."
The shaking subsides, but still quivers, threatening to return.
You hurry on, "You stay here. Relax. Take a load off--we all know the holidays are a stressful time."
"It's true, the air is so think this time of year," the sprites reply wistfully.
You go to your closet, take a small music box, and [[wind it up|Music Box Ballerina]].
Placing the music box in your hand, you open it. A faint twinkle emenates, and the dainty ballerina inside spins.
<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/qdmz101SCivG8" width="480" height="288" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/hoppip-art-film-qdmz101SCivG8">via GIPHY</a></p>
The sprites dance, relaxed.
"Every day,I will play this box for you, when I awaken and when I go to sleep," you promise. "You have my word."
The sprites seem to be happy, but not convinced. But to seal the deal, you continue:
"Every day, I will send energy into your corner. I will center it in my movements, and clear out the stale energy. I will <<print either("do a sun salutation in your direction", "put a full-moon soaked rose quartz crystal in your space", "bestow upon your space a Peace Lily plant")>>."
"Thank you," the sprites sigh.
"You're welcome." It's over. You [[walk onto your balcony]].
<<if $keyget == 0>>
You creep up to the door, and the knob rattles. How? Aren't doors supposed to lock from the inside? wait, something must be wedging it from the other side. [[Maybe something in the room can help?->bookshelf]]
<<set $keyneed to 1>>
<<endif>>
<<if $keyget > 0>>
You try the handle. and the door slowly creaks open
[[exit->leaveRoom]]
<<endif>>
<<if $investi < 3>>
<<if $keyneed > 0>>
Let see if there's anything to unwedge the door!
<<endif>>
There's a few points of interest in the dark
<<if $shiny == 0>>
[[Something Shiny]]
<<endif>>
<<if $texture == 0>>
[[Something Textured]]
<<endif>>
<<if $book == 0>>
[[A Book]]
<<endif>>
<<endif>>
<<if $investi == 3>>
A loud bang startles you out of your skin. Must be [[the door]]
<<endif>>There's a turned over chair in your line of sight as you exit, the shuffling growing louder as another door before you looks open just a crack.There's a glow coming from inside.
You are however at the top of what seems to be a set of stairs. And at the base of those stairs is a door with a window showing the outside world. So you finally have it. That ability to prove yourself to be smarter then all those horror protagonists you yelled and screamed at for being absolutely stupid. But you're curious... aren't you?
[[Yeah, I am curious. Open that door->OpenDoor]]
[[Hell no! Get me out of here!!->Stairs]]
<<set $shiny to 1>>
<<set $investi +=1>>
catching the low light, a small ceramic box shapped like a heart sits in dust. you open the handmade gift to find only a paper wristband, like the kind used for amusement parks. The words for any clue as to what event this was for wore off a long time ago. Not tools though.. You close the box.
[[Keep Looking->bookshelf]]<<set $texture to 1>>
<<set $investi +=1>>
A large toy of a parasauralophus, the tail looked thin, but upon closer inspection won't be able to slide under the door. But this toy is obviously old and well loved if it's still on display.
[[Keep Looking->bookshelf]]<<set $investi +=1>>
<<set $book to 1>>
This book stood out from the rest due to it's cover being made of wood. The light to low to read anything in it as the text is tiny but a picture slips out of the cover. It's two girls, just sitting on a couch playing a video game. Funny, they both seem to be holding the same controller.. Hard to see. Still nothing useful...
[[Keep Looking->bookshelf]] After your heart has a moment to resume beating, you steel yourself.
<<set $keyget = 1>>
The shuffling is louder now
[[investigate->shuffling]] You're right. Maybe this isn't a horror movie. You push the door open. The room dark with more of the moon silver gleam cast across the space. These curtains must not be black-outs. sitting on the floor by the bed is a spindly thin human figure hunched in front of a laptop, the glow from the doorway.. Man do you feel stupid. It's just a- wait.
They haven't taken notice of you, just scratching their stylus across their tablet endlessly, on occassion tapping some keys on their keyboard.
On closer inspection their arms are attached to what seems to be fishing line. shifted and moved like a puppet. and now that you register. They have four arms. Thats how they're constantly scratching and typing all at once.
"He helped."
they mutter blank eyes dragging over you for a moment. this weird being really gives no care that you are in their personal abode do they?
You take this moment to look about the room, the scritching continuing on the the background
[[look at the walls]]You race down the stairs. Capital N on that huge helping of NOPE! THANK YOU VERY MUCH SIR!! You race out of the house and try to figure out where the heck you are, but as you walk away from nopeville. something brushes your leg. After a girlish yelp you will forever deny making, you grab the offending disturbance.
though there is also the sound of-
[[JUST TELL ME WHAT IT IS!!->Maddie End]]
~~something coming toward y-
never mindTold you you were curious..
[[SHUT UP!!]]What if I don't wanna?
[[I'll Make You!]]Oh Really now.. and you'll do what?
[[I uhhh.. ->continue]]Nothing. That's right. Now since you Distracted me, after I so graciously offered you a short cut. You have to work for it
[[grrrrr]]Come on! this way
[[really]]?little further
[[I swear to g-]]Ah Ah Ah, Be nice~~ Just a little further
[[you're playing me aren't you?]]
Whaaaat?! Me? A humble coder? I would never.
You're here. Continue on.
[[leaveRoom->fake]]There's a turned over chair in your line of sight as you exit, the shuffling growing louder as another door before you looks open just a crack.There's a glow coming from inside.
You are however at the top of what seems to be a set of stairs. And at the base of those stairs is a door with a window showing the outside world. So you finally have it. That ability to prove yourself to be smarter then all those horror protagonists you yelled and screamed at for being absolutely stupid. But you're curious... aren't you?
[[Yeah, I am curious. Open that door->doorfake]]
[[Hell no! Get me out of here!!->stairsfake]]You slowly creep into the door pressing at the door... and BOO!!
you perish of a heart attack, much like a weak bunny rabbit. How sad..
[[-_-->imsorry]]You turn and run down the stairs, absolutely NOT! In your haste however,
your foot catches and you slip. With a yelp you're tumbling down the stairs. What's worse you hear growling down below. Perhaps the door was safer.
and you were eaten. THE END! Ooohhh Ahhhh Much Code, Much wow!
[[-_-->imsorry]]Okay okay it was a fake I'm sorry. Couldn't help myself
[[uh-huh]]Honest, here you go, enjoy the other ending
[[This was not a shortcut]]Stop sassing me. Take your prize
[[leaveRoom]] The walls are relatively bear save for a few paintings, a quick glance to Scritch-A-Scratch telling you they don't mind if you go look. They're finger paintings, a crude method but there's something in them. They almost seem to speak. they have much more life than the hunched figure sitting behind you. the paint is almost scratched on in places. You turn away from the works. Wanting a small respite from their pained screaming. Some papers scattered over the mattress of the bed. A bed only covered in a sheet, with a crumpled up blanket and two pillows sitting next to the paper mess.
[[investigate the pages]]They're designs. Named and detailed as to what world they live in, their traits and skills, and what they do within that world. These look actually.. Pretty interesting as characters. You get more and more curious about seeing what the curled up artist is making right now.
[[Look]]
[[Dont]]
<<set $investi2 to 0>>You step over to the hunched figure, again noting the fishing line as you crouch to see what they're working on. You watch with relative contentment as they draw something. rather quickly completing the work and saving it before clicking to a page and submitting it somewhere.
They return to the art program and. Draw the same thing again..?
"It's not as involved anymore. But it gets the job done"
You notice their eyes have flicked to you. still scratching away.
[[what job done?]]There's really nothing else to do in here... umm. Theres a dresser? Do you want to waste your time looking through that?
[[Yes Gimme!]]
[[You're right I'll go look at what they're making->Look]]
You rummage uncaringly through this person's personal dresser, only to find it isn't their dresser.. well, probably. It's mostly towels and the occassional sock that no offense to scratchy-mc-johnson, but they're rather big. There is one drawer you have yet to open.
[[Go back and look at the artist's work->Look]]
[[Open the Drawer!]]
<<set $investi2 = 1>>You have investigator's syndrome... I like you!
The top drawer is full of little knickknacks, a few still wrapped at least in part by paper. Stocking stuffers from years past. and, oh Hey Chocolate!
[[Heck Yeah]]
[[Not a fan of chocolate]]
[[I'll respectivefully leave it be and continue with the game's narrative->Look]]
<<set $investi2 = 2>>You eat the chocolate. Hurray for this being a game and eating other people's food has zero consequences!
[[HURRAYYY!! but time to go back to the plot->Look]]*snap*
Excusez-Moi!?
[[i'm sorry]]hekkin better be continue with the plot. How dare you.hekkin better be continue with the plot. How dare you.
[[Look]]they chuckle a little.
"Putting my heart and soul into a work doesn't seem to make much of a difference. If anything, the less I put into it, the better it's recieved. So why bother?"
"Because you'll enjoy it more?"
"Will I really enjoy putting my love and energy into something just to have it spit in my face?"
[[fair point]]
<<set $showwall to 0>>
<<set $showpage to 0>>
<<set $showfigure to 0>>"exactly."
she turns back to her scratching.
something must get her attention.
<<if $showwall == 0>>
[[point to the painting on the walls]]
<<endif>>
<<if $showpage == 0>>
[[show her one of the pages from the bed]]
<<endif>>
[[give up]]
<<if $investi2 == 2>>
<<if $showfigure == 0>>
[[go back to the knickknacks]]
<<endif>>
<<if $showfigure == 1>>
You already disgraced their privacy. Stop it.
<<endif>>
<<endif>>
"Those? I painted like that to vent out and express myself. Classes always wanted a video of the process rather than just sitting for a minute to look and take it in. Wasn't worth the effort."
Well that was a bust.
[[Try Something Else?->fair point]]
<<set $showwall to 1>>"I'll be able to get to them eventually. Just have to get these done first. If I even feel like touching a pen after this bargain is done.."
They don't seem moved.
[[Try Something Else?->fair point]]
<<set $showpage to 1>>"Just don't end up like me and get out."
they snarl
"How did you get the uh.. You know"
"Extra arms? Part of the bargain. Really aren't that helpful when they only draw one thing. But it satisfies all requirements for any task so.. It works as advertized."
"Didn't read the fine print huh?"
"Want me to throw you out?"
"No-no. I'm going"
you stutter.
"He'll likely be waiting if you use the front door. Take the back. go down the stairs then go through the living room to find the basement stairs. Exit out there and jump the fence."
"He?"
"You aren't the first to show up you know"
"ahh.."
There's not much more to glean from that honestly...
[[Time to go->Maddie's Story]]You get up and walk back to the dresser, pulling it open. The artist peering over their shoulder a moment, but returning to their work.
there's a small box in here.
[[Take it]]You grab the box and open it. It's a figurine.
"HEY!"
they snap whirling around.
"Don't Touch That!"
a fifth arm snatches the figure and the box to repack and replace the moved item.
"Stupid Gen Z think they own everything.."
She mumbled under her breath
<<set $showfigure to 1>>
[[Try Something Else?->fair point]]