happy birthday mickey

The game starts up and all the marbles assemble. The gang’s all here: `pichu_slapping_butt`, hellophia, `gravy_ETs`, librarylion, galuigi, walfhord, JamesKuoDraws, Yoskidroski, JohnsonRCool, boobypuppy, et cetera. A marble appears labeled spiderbabby, that’s you! :) The marbles are arranged around a large, circular saucer with a hole in the middle. The hole leads to the rest of the marble track. The timer counts down and the race begins, all the marbles roll towards the hole. [`Jared_Ong`: hole time! `Pual_n_`: may the best marble win. `yikes_lee`: lemme in the fricckin hole]<chat| [[Go in the hole]] [[Stay on the perimeter of the ring away from the hole]]

"Mysterious can," answers Janet. As she lowers the can to reply to you, you can see her teeth are stained red, her lips sticky with what appears to be... blood? [[Dude.]]

The redhaired woman enters the room, looking around approvingly. "Wow!" She says, in perhaps the fakest way there ever was. "Nice place!" [[Introduce yourself, and ask her what her name is.]]

A woman stands on the doorstep of the cabin, her pale cheeks flush from the cold. She has red hair tied back in a bun, and half hidden under a pink ballcap. She too wears a t-shirt and strangely patterned capri pants. For a moment you're surprised, since she is not as attractive or compelling as her, again, very attractive voice is, but that's fine. That's //FINE//. "Mind if I share your fire?" [["By all means," you reply. "Please come in."]]

"Suit yourself!" Janet shrugs and begins to drink from the can again, both hands on it now, her head tilted back. Her eyes shine, suddenly golden yellow in the light of the fire, wide and catlike, as she chugs what is now clearly blood from the unlabeled can. As you watch in horror, the blood spills from the can in a neverending deluge, her mouth widening to accomodate, her teeth stretching, needle like, red stained and ferocious. Her cat eyes shoot towards you as she sups. Janet grins. "It's a very special day!" More blood pours over her. "Very special!" [[Alright, enough of this. You look away, because this is gross. This does not happen in this game, not even on the Halloween map, where everyone is absolutely cooked at all times.]]

"Congratulations". (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[You have "gotten out of the pit".] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[:/] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[Sorry|apologypathetic]] ]

"Huh! I wonder who did!" [[Look around you for a makeshift weapon.]] [[Tell Janet there's a plum tree outside if she's hungry. Help herself!]]

<img src="mdf/twine03.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[Pet Bread->03Path1-1]]]] (after:1.5s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[Feed Bread->03path2-1]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1-01.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03Path1-2]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1-02.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[Whoa, sorry.->03Path1-3]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1-03.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03Path1-4]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1-04.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[No she isn’t. I’m your mom.->03Path1a-01]]]] (after:1.5s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[Can you help me find your mom?->03Path1b-01]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1a-01.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[Yes I am.->03Path1a-02]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1a-02.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[Yes I //am//.->03Path1a-03]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1a-03.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[You’re the one saying stuff that isn’t true.->03Path1a-04]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1a-04.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03Path1a-05]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1a-05.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03Path1a-06]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1a-06.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[Okay . . . //alright//->03Path1a-07]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1a-07.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[I said “//alright//!” I’ll leave. I was just kidding around.]] (after:2s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[Take a tentative step backwards.->03Path1a-08]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1a-08.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03Path1a-09]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1a-09.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[Continue to back away->03Path1a-10]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1a-10.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[You hesitate for a second->03Path1a-11]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1a-11.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[You turn around, and resume your way back up and out of the hatch->03Path1a-12]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1a-12.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[You ignore the child’s cries->03Path1a-13]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1a-13.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[You expected to feel pity at the sound of child’s begging. Instead, you feel repulsion.->03Path1a-14]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1a-14.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[His knowing, cloying whine only drives you further away. ]] (after:2s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[You leave him there, and shut the hatch door.->start]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1b-01.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03Path1b-02]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1b-02.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03Path1b-03]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1b-03.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[You can’t see anything.->03Path1b-04]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1b-04.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[You hesitate.->03Path1b-05]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1b-05.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03Path1b-06]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1b-06.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[You reach forward into the darkness.->03Path1b-07]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1b-07.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03Path1b-08]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1b-08.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[You feel something still, wet, and ice cold. You gently prod it.]] (after:2s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[You can sense it move - a tremor.->03Path1b-09]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path1b-09.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[You’re unsure if it’s moving by its own accord, or simply jostling against your touch.]] (after:2s)[(t8n: "fade")[The child seems satisfied. [[You decide to leave to wash your hands.->start]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path2-02.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03path2-03]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path2-03.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03path2-04]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path2-04.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03path2-05]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path2-05.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03path2-06]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path2-06.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03path2-07]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path2-07.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03path2-08]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path2-08.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[I can call 9-11. . . ->03path2-09]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path2-09.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[Do they always send cops? Is that an automatic thing, if you call 9-11?->03path2-10]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path2-01.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[You toss a mint in front of the child.]] (after:2s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[He catches it in his mouth.->03path2-02]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path2-10.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[Who is your doctor??! Hello?->03path2-11]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path2-11.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[Okay. I’ll be right back. Do you want anything else from the kitchen while I’m there?->03path2-12]]]]

<img src="mdf/twine03-path2-12.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[Leave.->start]]]]

[[You look up.]]

You are now the slimes. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[slimes is all you do.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[slimes is all you are.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[you are inconsequential...] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[ [[Wriggle in the dirt and slime (horrible)]] ]

Before you even realize what's happening, Janet has pulled out a knife. It appears to be made of bone. Where the hell did that come from? "Let's see what we've got!" she says, and jabs the knife into the can, opening it up. A coppery, sickly sweet smell begins to fill the small space. Janet looks pleased, and begins to drink from the can. [["... what's that you've got there, Janet?"]]

You avert your gaze from Disaster Janet. Seriously, why is she like this. Can't she be pleasant. Not everything has to be //Jigsaw this, Unfriended that//. Some things can be nice and fun, like Deadpool. Why can't Janet be more like Deadpool? Why can't ''EVERYONE'' be more like Deadpool? [[Anyway.]]

The awful glug of the can as it disgorges more blood into Janet's ravenous gullet makes you squeeze your eyes shut tightly, attempting to block out the sound as best you can, and then -- Success. There is no more noise. (link-reveal:"You look back at Janet.")[ (after:time+1s)[But (after:time+.5s)[Janet (after:time+.5s)[is (after:time+.5s)[gone.(after:time+2s)[ [[THANK GOD. Well, moving on with your life...]] [[Ok, this doesn't feel right. Where did she go?]] [["Janet? Janet, you little devil, where are you!"->Ok, this doesn't feel right. Where did she go?]]]]]]]]

You have decided to try climbing out of the pit. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[To do so, the invisible and arbitrarily cruel hand of fate presents to you a paira.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[What's a paira]] ]

You call down to Bowsette, who is at this point packing up her lemonade stand. “Why have you forsaken me, Bowsette, I just wanted some lemonade!” “Because!” she says “I’m evil!” Now go destroy a bridge or something, Godzilla, I’ve got other schmucks to screw over today.” She leaves you there, alone with your 50-ft thoughts. You feel silly, how could I be duped with the ol’ Gigantism Lemonade trick. Dang. You carefully find your way to the hills where you are adopted by a family of giants, one of whom had this same scam pulled over on them by a sexy Digimon. YOU SURVIVED. You carry out the rest of your giant life in peace, though still feeling kinda silly about the whole thing. [[THE END->start]]

): (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[ [[Roll my dice]] ]

CHEH. you think you can fight back against this marble? You’re just a little marble! Tiny!!! All your efforts come to naught, you only end up pissing off the Mean Marble. [`Mean_Marble`: HNNNGGHHH!!!! I’M ANGRY!!!!!]<chat| Mean Marble shakes. Marbles begin rising from the ground. They conform around the Mean Marble and create some kind of fucked up body made out of thousands of rolling, sliding, and undulating marbles. They are the dead marble of your chatters, now being controlled and manipulated by the giant Mean Marble. [execool_: help us micky!!! aslimylittleworm: save us…cough….cough……]<chat| The marbles body raises its hand, ready to slap you off the track and into oblivion. You are seconds away from burning in the fires of the marble fields for all eternity. You have to do something and do something NOW. (link-reveal:"But I'm just a little marble!")[ (link-reveal:"But I'm just a little marble!")[ (link-reveal:"But I'm just a little marble!")[ (link-reveal:"But I'm just a little marble!")[ (link-reveal:"But I’m just a little marble………")[ [[that knows jiu-jitsu]]]]]]]

There is no response. The place seems to be empty. [[Head inside. Your cabin now, bitch.->Head inside.]] [[Peer into the windows like a widdle teeny tiny cowardly baby.->Peer into the windows like a little cowardly baby.]]

tsk. Nothing bit... try again? [[yes]] [[no]]

Converting to comic sans.(live:1s)[.](stop:)(live:2s)[.](stop:)(live:3s)[.](stop:)(live:4s)[.](stop:)(live:5s)[.](stop:)(live:6s)[.](stop:)(live:8s)[<script> document.querySelector('tw-story').style.fontFamily = 'Comic Sans MS'; </script><br><br>SUCCESS!](stop:) (live:10s)[(goto:"Go inside the awful filthy cave")](stop:)

Start a fire or something. Regardless, you're able to slip back to where the cells are. You can hear screams in the lobby.{ (set:$guysharmed to it+5)} (display:"guys harmed") (display:"cell")

You avert your eyes and [[keep rolling]]…

A guard thinks you've escaped and brings you back to your cell. When you arrive, it's obvious that you are not Cool Dog because Cool Dog is still in their cell. In this befuddled state, you knock out the guard with ease. You check his pockets - there are no cell keys.{ (set:$guysharmed to it+1)} (display:"guys harmed") (display:"cell")

yep (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[ [[Fine|Roll my dice]] ]

She holds the can out to you. "Would you like some?" [["I'm good, thanks."]]

Yeah ok you eat the plum. It's fine, it's a plum you found on the ground. Actually no, there's a worm on it, and you eat the worm too. In this reality you can always eat the worms. As many as you wish. [[Go to the cabin already.->Head towards the cabin.]] [[Sorry, where am I?]]

Some sort of fight scene, followed by you slipping back to the cells.{ (set:$guysharmed to it+3)} (display:"guys harmed") (display:"cell")

Why do you want to try on the denim skirt? [[I dunno. Bored.]]

Your little round, digital marble glides towards the hole and drops into it. When the marble disappears into the hole, you feel a weird pull in the middle of your stomach. You lurch forward. [[Open your eyes]]

You have gone inside the dirty, filthy cave. <br> (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[Upon stepping inside, you immediately fall into a terrible pit. A pit full of (font: "Comic Sans MS")+(text-colour:#8ae619)+(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,transparent,0.5,(hsl:120,0.8039,0.5,0.4),1,transparent))[sludge].] <br> (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[You are now covered in] (text-colour:#8ae619)[(text-style:"smear")[(text-colour:#8ae619)[(font: "Comic Sans MS")[ <div id=textfade style ="top:-37px; left:250px;"><div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:-38px; animation-delay:0ms;">S</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:-15px; animation-delay:50ms;">L</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:2px; animation-delay:100ms;">U</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:22px; animation-delay:150ms;">D</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:45px; animation-delay:200ms;">G</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:67px; animation-delay:250ms;">E</div></div>]]]] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4.5s)[<p style ="top:-190px">[[Attempt to climb out of the pit]]</p>] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5.5s)[<p style ="top:-240px">[[I want to see the word sludge bigger]]</p>]

CHEH. Trying to exercise free will again I see, but you’re a marble and the marble goes where gravity and inertia want it to go, which is to the [[right track->Go right]].

You roll onto the right side of the divide and find your marble body shooting up into the air next to `pichu_slapping_butt`. [`pichu_slapping_butt`: sup lit mickey! Happy birthday!]<chat| Before you can reply, PSB goes off the track a little bit too far and you see their marble plummeting to the ground. [`pichu_slapping_butt`: AAAAHHHHHHHHGGHHHHHHHH]<chat| PSB hits the ground and dies. [[RIP PSB. That’s marbles!]] [[Wait, for real? DIES? Dead-dead???!->RIP PSB. That’s marbles!]]

oh my GOD! (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[What a success!] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[You've entered the horrible cave and come out on the other side --] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[and there is a reward waiting for you!] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[ [[What is the reward??]] ]

You enter the cabin. Aside from the small bed, the table and chairs, and the wardrobe in the corner, there's really not much going on inside. Oh, there's the denim skirt on the floor of course, and the label-less can beside it, but that doesn't really add much. The fire is the only sign anyone has been here recently, but they're sure not here now. [[Sit by the fire and get warm.]] [[Excuse me, I want to try on the denim skirt.]] [[Let me at that can!]]

The cabin is silent as you approach, save for the crackling of the fire. The door is open, just slightly, a sliver of warmth and light amid the increasing darkness. [[Head inside.]] [[Call out a tentative "Hewwo?"]] [[Peer into the windows like a little cowardly baby.]]

Oh god, oh fuck. It's wet down here. The cavern, that is. Your blouse is frilly and your pants tattered and soggy at the ankles. [Is this a candelabra in my hands?] You look up and see |her>[(link-reveal:"her")[(show:?thoughts)]]. Christine, gazing and walking slowly towards the Phantom as he scribbles furiously at his |organ>[(link-reveal:"organ")[(show:?slam)]]. [(replace:?organ)[organ]Damn her tits look good in that dress. Hey, don't get distracted! I know we're all thinking this (link-reveal:"but...")[ (show:?slam)]](thoughts|{ }[(replace:?her)[her]SLAM! The Phantom, in a fit of rage, begins hollering as Christine falls to the floor with his mask in hand. [[This looks bad.]]](slam|

oh ya? (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[Like what.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[type something impressive] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[ok. gimme a textbox]] ]

oh uh. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[Okay.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[do you wanna just like feel around in the slime] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[ [[Yeah feel around in the slime like a freak]] ]

Yeah, but since when? Since when do you wear the denim skirts? [[Oh, so I can't put on mysterious denim skirts I find in cabins now?]] [[Ok, Jesus, fine, sit by the fire and get warm.->Sit by the fire and get warm.]] [[Let me at that can!]]

Well, you did. Surely you did. By the way, the knocking is now accompanied by a voice. "Hello?" The stranger on the other side of the door sounds friendly, and also very attractive. [["Hey, stranger, come on in!" You open the door to meet your new friend.]] [[Shit. You know that voice.]]

wait for it... ####[(text-colour:#8ae619)[(text-style:"smear")[(text-colour:#8ae619)[(font: "Comic Sans MS")[ <div id=textfade style ="top:30px; left:250px;"><div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:0px; animation-delay:0ms;">S</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:30px; animation-delay:50ms;">L</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:60px; animation-delay:100ms;">U</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:90px; animation-delay:150ms;">D</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:120px; animation-delay:200ms;">G</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:150px; animation-delay:250ms;">E</div></div>]]]]] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4.5s)[ [[not big enough]] ]

"But you've already made this beautiful fire here!" [[I didn't make this one, Janet.->"Uh, yeah. Yeah, Janet, it is. I didn't make it though."]]

dont care. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[this is the game.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[fuck you] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[Rude? fuck you too buddy]] ](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[ [[i will take my rude punishments in stride and keep rolling the dice like a worm]] ]

i dont give a shit what you wrote. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[im not reading that] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[Okay|Okaaay]] ]

"My name's Janet," smiles the stranger. A tingling sensation begins crawling up the back of your skull. The hair there prickles. You do know her after all, though she clearly doesn't remember you. Or maybe it's all an act. Maybe she knows exactly who you are. Maybe she knew she'd find you here. "Wow, //great// fire," says Janet. [["Uh, yeah. Yeah, Janet, it is. I didn't make it though."]] [[Run for the door.]]

maybe (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[ [[Maybe? Why so coy?]] ]

At the masquerade ball, the Phantom makes his grand entrance. Meanwhile, you're in the corner fanning smoke his way. (link-reveal:"Sweat drips down your forehead")[ As quickly as he appeared to announce the opera, he vanishes in a flash of light. If only you could be so smooth… without magic, you have to fumble your way through the opera hall and make your way back down by [[foot.]]]

{(set:$dialogue to (a: "As the black miasma envelopes you in a swirling cloud, your eyes start to rapidly water as if someone were slicing an onion (or shallot) right in front of you. You shut your eyes tightly for a few seconds.", "(display:'gal image choice')" )) (set:$step to 1) }You let the mysterious black miasma enter your room. The stench becomes almost unbearable, as if you finished a long BJJ sesh and then rolled in rotten eggs while wearing your dank, sweaty Gi.[]<next| =====><= (text-style:"buoy")[▼]<continue|{ }(click-rerun:?continue)[(append:?next)[ (print:$dialogue's $step)(set: $step to it + 1)(if:$step > $dialogue's length)[(replace:?continue)[]]]]

The can has no label, and there is no way of knowing what is inside, or how much it might make you puke. Indeed, the thing could be full of literal puke, and you wouldn't know, because its puke label fell off. Also you have no way of opening it, so it's a moot point. [[I sit by the warmth of the fire.->Sit by the fire and get warm.]]

After being roughly shoved at you at the mouth of the hallway, Christine starts to trail behind. It's been maybe ten minutes. You think it'd be good to say something comforting? [(link-replace:"First time in the lair?")[(replace:?comfort)["First time in the lair?"](show:?next)] (link-replace:"The Phantom didn't mean it. He's working through stuff.")[(replace:?comfort)["The Phantom didn't mean it. He's working through stuff."](show:?next)] (link-replace:"...You good?")[(replace:?comfort)["...You good?"](show:?next)]]<comfort| [Christine shudders. "It was cold down there… but colder were his words." "Yeah… sorry about that. Good luck at the next show." You reach the surface, to more stone-laden halls. Christine gives you a weak smile and walks off to her [[room.]]](next|

There is absolutely nothing. Well, except the mysterious can. But Janet has just picked that up, and is inspecting it. [[Accept your fate. You are trapped here with Janet.]] [[Tell Janet there's a plum tree outside if she's hungry. Help herself! (You will barricade the door with the wardrobe when she leaves.)->Tell Janet there's a plum tree outside if she's hungry. Help herself!]]

As you zoom down the marble tube you glance down at the corn. It’s looking a little dry down there, the stalks have become brown and brittle. And instead of gleaming yellow kernels of corn peeking out of the ears, there’s something else. Instead of kernels of corn, little gleaming multi-color balls of glass glitter in the sunlight. The corn is made up of a bunch of marbles! Suddenly one of the ears of corn snaps off of the dried cornstalk and spills on the ground. Marbles go scattering everywhere and you realize that the ground itself is made up not of dirt, but piles and piles of marbles. [[Well that’s weird, but it’s not gonna ruin my day.->keep rolling]]

There doesn't seem to be much on the ground besides grass, so -- oh wait, there's a fresh plum. It must have just fallen. [[Head towards the cabin.]] [[Eat the plum.]] [[Sorry, where am I?]]

Yeap (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[ [[Okay now I actually am done with the worm stuff and want to go back to the game]] ]

I dunno. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[Just keep playing.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[Maybe that's not all you do.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[Okay, roll my dice again|Roll my dice]] ]

The cashier notices her checking the change, and, feeling immense pity, gives her the ticket for ''free'' Mickey walks into a dark secluded corner of the store and scratches the ticket (text-style: "blink")[BY JOVE] She’s done it!!! She sees that she has all the winning numbers, pissing and shitting herself in joy But now...she can afford to buy herself as many piss-less and shit-less pants as she desires.. [[THE END!->start]]

You dont trust it? (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[ [[No|noidont]] ]

From behind you comes a rumbling sound. You look behind you and following you down the track is a huge, blood-red marble with a skull embedded inside of it. That’s right, this marble is so big that it can encapsulate an entire human skull. You are so, SO little next to this thing, and it’s coming right for you! The evil-looking marble rolls down the track, knocking other chatters off of the course. They fly through the air and fall to their doom in the cornfield/marble graveyard below. The remaining dry corn stalks erupt into flame, and ignites an endless field of fire. [walfhord: Haha. Okay. sparklesprout: Ow, hot! mdfmdfmdf: Hello? I think I’m literally dying? swanparade: this sucks! helltran: I don’t really like this lol elkvelvet: i didnt even want to play marbles……..]<chat| You take a big breath and shout: “NOOOOOOO! Not my chatters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” You scream into the marble void as you spin down a twisting curly-q slide. The giant, Mean Marble taunts you. “You did this Mickey, you pitted your chatters against each other in the realm of marbles and now you will suffer the marble consequences!!!” The Mean Marble bumps you, and you can feel your little marble body careening wildly and threatening to fall off the track. [[Bump the Mean Marble back and force it off the track]] [[Slow down and focus your energy on keeping yourself on the track->Bump the Mean Marble back and force it off the track]]

Ok, alright. You put on the mysterious denim skirt. Your legs are much chillier. Oh, for the reassuring warmth of your unfortunately patterned capris! Alas, you have forsaken them. Great job. They were a gift from a beloved friend but fine, who cares, we all want you to be happy in whatever denim skirts you find on strangers' floors. [[Thank you. I sit by the warmth of the fire.->Sit by the fire and get warm.]] [[Ok, but I also want to check out that can.->Let me at that can!]]

Yeah. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[It's ok.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[You could've just googled that though.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3.5s)[kinda dumb of you] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4.5s)[ [[Ok. Please dont hurt my feelings any more. Roll my dise]] ]

Silence fills the cabin. You can barely even hear the crackle of the fire now, though it still flickers beside you. The can has been discarded on the floor, so empty now that it barely trickles a drop of blood at all. [[This is fine.->THANK GOD. Well, moving on with your life...]]

YOu misspelled dice . (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[its spelled] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[" dice"] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[ [[nice typos dumbass]] ]

I cant say. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[youre the one playing who became the slimes.](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ Im just the prewritten text.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[(text-style:"blur")[ It's your] (text-style:"blurrier")[dream] (text-style:"blur")[after all]] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[ [[Makes sense]] ]

ok im getting bored. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[do you want to roll the stupid dice already] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[Yes|Roll my dice]] ]

Thats what I thought (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[ [[Collect reward|What is the reward??]] ]

Ok cool. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[ it was probably worth it though completionism etc.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[i dunno.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[just click here] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[ [[Roll my dice]] ]

When you open your eyes you are hurling down a smooth tube high in the sky. You realize that You are INSIDE the marble course and that you yourself are the marble. Your hard little marble body flies down the tubes, whirling and twisting around loop-de-loops and ricocheting off twists and turns. [WordAnotherWord: Yay this is so fun! awall512: is this supposed to happen? zoetroupe: this is fun but im getting a little nauseous wonderswaan: best day of my LIFE!!!]<chat| Your friends are on all sides of you, having a blast. It’s exhilarating, it feels like you’re on a rollercoaster- the smoothest, fastest roller coaster that’s suspended thousands of feet in the air. From up here, the corn looks like little miniature lollipops. [[Look closer at the corn]] [[Definitely don’t look too close at the corn]]

There's a small bed, a table with two chairs, and a battered wardrobe inside the one room cabin. A denim skirt lies on the floor. A mysterious, unlabeled can sits beside it. The fire in the stone fireplace looks well fed, it should last awhile yet. There is no sign of any inhabitant. [[Head inside. Your cabin now.->Head inside.]] [[Call out a tentative "Hewwo?"]]

you have rolled a zero. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[wow fell for the old fake dice trick huh.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[enjoy the pit for the rest of your life moron] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)[ [[we got off on the wrong foot. let's start this all over. i apologize and would like to resume the game.]] ] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6.5s)[ [[i will never apologize... Fuck you]] ]

really? (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[you want to take the cheaters path?] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[Yes|Yeeees]] ]

(enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 123, 0,#197fe6,0.4617,(hsl:240,0.8039,0.5,0.45),1,#197fe6)))happy bday! thanks for playing my route mickey (and discord)! love gb :) <img src=https://i.imgur.com/QJ0S4wA.png></img> [[the end->start]]

{(track: 'quelaag-sword', 'play') }Quelaag turns her gaze back coldly towards you, and says, “''Those who defy the pact, may you feel the depth of our wrath.''” [[[Lay down sword on the ground - you do not want to fight!->alone]] (link-replace:"Swing at Quelaag")[(replace:?choices)[It’s better to just end her here, as you are really scared of long-term commitment. And plus this probably will be good for Lyle’s sake, too. You’re just not sure what your (link:"chances of winning are…")[(if: (random: 1, 3) is 3)[(go-to:"success")](else:)[(go-to:"fail")]]]]]<choices|

From the pile of marbles rises a tombstone. On it is written “Here Lies `pichu_slapping_butt`, Slapped Butts their whole life. May they slap more butt in the continuing afterlife. Their slaps will be missed.“ [[Oh my god PSB is dead!!!!!!]] [[There’s no way that’s real, I mean this whole thing feels real but PSB is still alive out there somewhere, right???? RIGHT???->wrong]]

no lmao [[Okaaay]]

You play a delightful game of Vampire Survivors and later have a splendid time playing DayZ and chatting to your friends who love you. [[the end->start]]

You are festering in the mud at the bottom of the pit. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:0.5s)[Pathetically, you attempt to roll your dice to escape from the pit.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[You must roll midnight (boxcars)] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[or (font: "Comic Sans MS")[(text-colour:yellow)+(text-style:"shudder")[SNAKE EYES]]](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ to escape this horrible pit of slime.] (set: $die1 to (random: 1,6))(set: $die2 to (random: 1,6))(set: $result to ($die1 + $die2))(set: $counter to it + 1)(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2.5s)+(text-style:"rumble")[(text-colour:#ab84e7)[Rolling 2d6:] ] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[You have rolled a (text-style:"smear")[(text-colour:green)[$die1]] and a (text-style:"smear")[(text-colour:green)[$die2]]. You've now rolled your dice (text-colour:red)[$counter time(s).]] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4.5s)[ (if: $result < 3)[ WOW! (text-colour:yellow)+(text-style:"shudder")[snake eyes.] very nice. [[Successfully climb out of the pit]] ] (else-if: $result > 11)[ (text-colour:magenta)+(text-style:"shadow")[<p style="top:-50px">boxcars... midnight. incredible. you should be proud</p>] <p style="top:-100px">[[Successfully climb out of the pit but in midnight mode]]</p> ] (else:)[<p style="top:-100px"> (text-style:"blur")[FAILURE!] You attempt to climb out of the slimy pit. but your slimy body cannot grasp the true form of the pit. (font: "Comic Sans MS")+(text-colour:#fea9fe)+(text-style:"fade-in-out")[You are pathetic] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s)[ [[Roll my dice again |Roll my dice]]</p> ] ] (if: (history:) contains("I dont want to roll dice i want to do something else") and $result > 2 and $result < 12)[] (else-if: $result > 2 and $result < 12)[ (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s)[<p style="top:-350px"> [[I dont want to roll dice i want to do something else]]</p> ] ] (if: $counter > 3 and $counter < 7 and $result > 2 and $result < 12 and not ((history:) contains("Is this all I do in this game? Roll dice to escape the pit of sludge?")))[ (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s)[ <p style="top:-400px; left:600px">[[Is this all I do in this game? Roll dice to escape the pit of sludge?]]</p> ] ] (if: $counter > 6 and $counter < 10 and $result > 2 and $result < 12 and not ((history:) contains("Do I have to keep doing this")))[ (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s)[ <p style="top:-500px; left:700px">[[Do I have to keep doing this for real|Do I have to keep doing this]]</p> ] ] (else-if: $counter > 9 and $counter < 12 and $result > 2 and $result < 12 and not ((history:) contains("I'm kind of getting bored though")))[ (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s)[ <p style="top:-600px; left:700px">[[I'm kind of getting bored though]]</p> ] ] (else-if: $counter > 11 and $result > 2 and $result < 12 and not ((history:) contains("Please let me just climb out of the pit")))[ (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s)[ <p style="top:-700px; left:700px">[[Please let me just climb out of the pit]]]</p> ] ]

You're talking back? (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[You know what happens to people who talk back?] (if: (history:) contains("Convert to comic sans"))[(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ they have to wait 10 seconds before they get to play the rest of the game] (live:12s)[okay that's enough waiting [[Roll my dice again please|Roll my dice]] ](stop:)] (else:)[ (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[What|Whathappens]] ] ]

"Whoa! Where we going?" asks Janet, who is unfortunately closer to the door than you are. Suddenly you are nearly nose to nose with her. She smells great, honestly. [[I'm going out to gather firewood, Janet.]]

ok. this is it. im not making it any bigger. #[(text-colour:#8ae619)[(text-style:"smear")[(text-colour:#8ae619)[(font: "Comic Sans MS")[ <div id=textfade style ="top:110px; left:250px;"><div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:-30px; animation-delay:0ms;">S</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:50px; animation-delay:50ms;">L</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:110px; animation-delay:100ms;">U</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:180px; animation-delay:150ms;">D</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:255px; animation-delay:200ms;">G</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:330px; animation-delay:250ms;">E</div></div>]]]]] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4.5s)[ [[nice|nicemwah]] ]

You continue your previous game: the end of Chapter One. Everyone seems to get hung up here! But not you—not anymore. You are determined to beat this boss! But what build will you choose for your Armored Core mech? [(link-reveal:"A speedy build with double bubble guns")[(replace:?choice1)[//A speedy build with double bubble guns!//(show:?choiced1)]] (link-reveal:"A balanced build with lots of weapon choices")[(replace:?choice1)[//A balanced build with lots of weapon choices!//(show:?choiced1)]] (link-reveal:"A hulking tank with real big guns")[(replace:?choice1)[//A hulking tank with real big guns!//(show:?choiced1)]] [[Hmm I don't want to play this after all->zoebail]]]<choice1|{ }|choiced1)[ An excellent choice! You struggle with the boss at first, but you defeat it! Uh oh, wait—that was just a miniboss. You forgot about BALTEUS, the big helicopter mech. How do you proceed? [(link-reveal:"Git gud!")[(replace:?choice2)[//Git gud!//(show:?choiced2)]] (link-reveal:"Be patient!")[(replace:?choice2)[//Be patient!//(show:?choiced2)]] [[*Another* boss? No thank you!->zoebail]]]<choice2|{ }|choiced2)[ You continue attempting to bring BALTEUS down, honing your gamer skills with each run. You make small adjustments to your build and notice you get closer to defeating BALTEUS with every run. And finally: you defeat him!! Congratulations! [(link-reveal:"Maybe you should quit playing this adventure game and stream Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon for real!")[(replace:?choice3)[//Maybe you should quit playing this adventure game and stream Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon for real!//(show:?youwin)]] (link-reveal:"You're having fun playing Text Adventure Armored Core—let's beat the whole game this way!")[(replace:?choice3)[//You're having fun playing Text Adventure Armored Core—let's beat the whole game this way!//(show:?gameover)]] [[That's enough Armored Core for one day, thank you very much]]]<choice3|{ }[ You're having so much fun thinking about all the possibilities FromSoftware's Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon offers gamers that you have decided to stop playing this text adventure game and *finally* stream Zoe's 2023 Game of the Year (Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon). Everyone in chat is really happy about it, hooting and hollering, etc! Double congratulations to you!! [[And now...->start]]](youwin|{ }[ You spend a couple hours each day playing through Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon. It rules. When you finally get the True Ending on the third playthrough, you feel an immense sense of accomplishment. Zoe would be proud... if only this were REAL LIFE. GAME OVER, MICKEY [[And now...->start]]](gameover|]]

No. It couldn't be. You killed her. ...didn't you? [[Maybe it's best if you pretend you don't recognize her. Maybe she forgot. You open the door.->"Hey, stranger, come on in!" You open the door to meet your new friend.]]

oh? (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[cancel? ] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ you think youre so smart just because you can click cancel?] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ ##[[Yes. im a genius]] ] <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[^^[[i actually just clicked okay without entering text]]^^]

How wonderful, to be bathed in warmth after the terrible chill of the outside. Whoever made this fire did a wonderful job -- even the way it crackles is pleasant, bringing a peaceful restfulness to one's heart. The only thing that could improve th [[Wait hold on. What was that?]]

You are in a clearing at dusk. Around you looms a dark, dense treeline. In the distance, the mating call of a boar can be heard. It's a terrible sound. Above you, there's a rustle in the branches of the plum tree. Your attention snaps upwards, searching the branches, but you see nothing. Perhaps 'twas a bird. [[Head towards the cabin.]] [[Look down and check out what's in the vicinity.]]

You load up the marble’s website. The bright colors and garish graphic design sear your eyeballs. You choose a map at random and the game loads up a marble track placed high in the sky above an endless field of corn. The bright green corn leaves swaying gently in the digital breeze. Flashes of bright yellow corn kernels peek out between stalks. Nothing can hurt you in the corn, nothing at all. [[!play joining the game of marbles yourself]] [[Stay on the sidelines and spectate the race. After all, this is a chatter’s game]]

Nice try, but you’re a marble with no control over your little marble body, so you roll towards the hole anyway and drop straight [[into it->Go in the hole]].

You watch your chatters race down the marble track. Several chatters fly off the track and die, but a few make it through to the end. `pichu_slapping_butt` is the winner, congrats PSB! You log into DayZ and have a wonderful time playing and chatting with your friends who love you very, very much. [[the end->start]]

<img src="mdf/twine02.jpg"> (after:1s)[(t8n: "fade")[[[▶->03]]]]

You have successfully gotten (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[(text-colour:yellow)+(text-style:"shudder")[snake eyes]] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[(very bad ass) --] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[and climbed out of the pit.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[At the other end of the cave, you see a doorway with a sign above it that says "reward".] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s)[Do you enter the door and collect your reward?] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)[ [[Yes. Collect my reward|What is the reward??]] ] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6.5s)[ [[No reward. Dont trust it]] ]

ooh... (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[midnight mode.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[very sleek. ] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[what do you mean you cant see the difference. ] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5.5s)[did you expect the color black to get even darker] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:7s)[...] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8s)[anyways] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:9s)[congratulations on escaping the pit. ] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s)[you see a barely lit path at the other end of the cave. there is a doorway enveloped in light.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:11s)[ [[Go towards the lit up doorway and enter it]]]

You sit down on the bed in the corner, pulling its mothbitten blankets around you for warmth. Maybe that was all just a bad dream. After all, there are no Janets in the real world, tracking your every move, stalking you through the dark of night, luring you with unattended fires, trying to get you to consume human gore, hiding above you in plum trees and (link-reveal:"Wait.")[ //Hiding above you in plum trees?// (after:time+2s)[<span class="blood">(link-goto:"A droplet of red hits your hand.")</span>]]

As you call down to Bowsette, she begins to pack up her lemonade stand. “YOU LEAVING ALREADY?” you shout. “Well I’m not just gonna leave my lemonade stand here!” She says with a grin. Bowsette, knapsack in hand, clambers up the side of your pant leg, placing herself snugly in your pocket. “Let’s hit the beach!” She exclaims. “I wanna show you my new bikinis!” Though you can admit this wasn’t how you expected to day to go, it’s not a terrible turn of events. You stride off toward the shore with your new large-but-small-to-you lizard girlfriend in your pocket. YOU SURVIVED. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICKEY. Enjoy a nice refreshing Gatorade and celebrate. To receive your Gatorade navigate back to the beginning of this adventure and look in your fridge. [[THE END->start]]

You take Quelaag’s hand and she helps you up onto her back. You join Lyle and you all lovingly renew your vows of marriage to each other. The three of you thoroughly enjoy your evenings together before you return home. In the wee hours of the morning, Quelaag gives you a ride up the sewer, and [[you get back to your room.->start]]

You pull the object from your pocket and look at it: it’s a little round, blood red marble with a tiny, miniscule skull embedded on the inside. How did they get something so small in there you wonder. And where have you seen this marble before??? As you scrutinize the marble, the little skull turns to you and winks “[teehee! ;)]<chat|” [[THE END.->start]]

"Oh, I know," smiles Janet. She doesn't move to the door though. She has picked up the mysterious can on the ground instead. [[Accept your fate. You are trapped here with Janet.]] [[Look around you for a makeshift weapon.]]

You beat BALTEUS, sort of. What else could Zoe POSSIBLY want from you? It's time to go do [[something else->start]], damn it!

Cool Dog is finally free. They say to you: "Thank you for freeing me and harming $guysharmed guys in the process. That's exactly the amount of guys I like to be harmed." The two of you sneak out of Cool Jail together and they decide to lay low at [[Mickey's place.->start]]

Okay well, after some singing, you are being beckoned over. He is ordering you to take Christine back above ground. But do you even know how to get there? [[Let's find out.]]

The cashier notices that she has given him the incorrect amount of change!! She is arrested for trickery and is sentenced to 2.9 years in prison [[DEAD END->start]]

You see something glowing in the distance. A portal??? No, it's just a lamp. But running towards it, you spot something else on the floor. (link-reveal:"Thank god it's your phone.")[ After unlocking it, you see a single app loaded up. [[That flashing music note never felt so much like home.->start]]]

You stumble into a hole in the floor, splashing into the pond of the lair. It's actually rather deep and you wonder if you could just drown instead of continuing to see the plot through. [[It turns out you can… and in the darkness you envision a flashing music note, the familiar and bright tone that signals the end of a video…->start]]

You arrive at the lobby of Cool Jail. You try to convince the guards that Cool Dog would never do such a thing, but they are unmoved. Guess you'll have to do this the old-fashioned way. (display:"guys harmed") (link-reveal:"Use your status as a famous Twitch streamer to convince the guards to let you pass.")[ This does not work - these cops appear to be uncultured swine who have never even heard of Mickey Z] [[Create a distraction]] [[Disguise self as Cool Dog]] [[Engage the guards in hand to hand combat.]]

Please! I don’t want to be big! You cry down to Bowsette - she regards you with astonishment. “What? Like, for real? You don’t wanna be huge?” You explain to her that your home isn’t built for a giant woman, which she takes personally. “Wow, rude” she says, as she packs up her lemonade stand. “Guess I’ll take my business elsewhere.” She beats it down the road, leaving you alone with your giant thoughts, doomed to forever dissect this awkward interaction. YOU SURVIVED, though you are still giant, and that could be an issue. You’re also really bummed that you hurt Bowsette’s feelings. Which is kind of a downer. [[THE END->start]]

That was a knock at the door. [[I literally don't remember even closing it.]]

When you wake up you are surrounded by your closest chatter, that is, the chatter that lives close to you. “James??? Jame Kuo???? Wh-what happened??” James: “You passed out on stream! It was scary!” James has called the doctor and she hands you a prescription sheet “You were like, really dehydrated. You should really drink more water.” She says it in kind of a judgmental way that sort of pisses you off even though she literally just saved your life. The prescription sheet just says “drink more water” on it. “What the fuck.. I literally drink water all the time.” You think to yourself. And it’s true, you’re like the king of drinking water. You angrily shove your hands into your pockets, but jump when your fingers touch something cold… cold and round. [[Take your hands out of your pocket]]

Two sixes... 12. That's why its called Midnight (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[ [[Oh|Ohuhh]] ]

(enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 123, 0,#e68019,0.4617,#80e619,1,#197fe6)))INCREDIBLE! (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[(text-colour:magenta)[YOU'VE STUMBLED UPON AN ENTIRE STOCKROOM...] ] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[(text-colour:magenta)[FILLED WITH BRAND NEW COPIES OF RAV!] ] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s)[(text-colour:magenta)[EVERY SINGLE VOLUME!] ] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:7s)[ (text-colour:red)[Everyone gets their own SIGNED copies of RAV FOR FREE!] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8.5s)+(text-style:"shudder")[ (text-colour:red)[THIS IS AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE STREAMER MICKEY ZACCHILLI!!!!!!!!] ] ] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s)[ (text-colour:black)[CONGRATULATIONS ON FINISHING THE CAVE!] ](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:11s)[ [[Click for endscreen|Pooky endscreen]] ]

A paira dice. You must roll (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[boxcars (MIDNIGHT)] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ or (font: "Comic Sans MS")[(text-colour:yellow)+(text-style:"shudder")[SNAKE EYES]]](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ to escape this horrible pit of slime.] (set: $counter to 0) (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[ <p style ="top:-50px">[[Roll my dice]]</p> ] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s)[ <p style="top:-200px">[[What is midnight (boxcars)]]</p> ]

FULL CONVERSION TO... (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[COMIC SANS!] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[WHAT|Convert to comic sans]] ]

it give you the fantastic user experience of the beautiful typeface comic sans (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[ dont you want to see all this text all over again but in gorgeous high res comic sans] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[Yes|Convert to comic sans]] ] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[No'nt|Convert to comic sans]] ]

A few more schemes, a dead body and busted chandelier later, you have grown absolutely sick of the Phantom. Sure it's fun to watch him on stage, but you can only take so much of shining his shoes and listening to his grunts while he writes his next [[opera spectacle.]]

Okay. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[you wriggle in the slimes. it feels enormous.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[you kind of already did the wriggle thing earlier though] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[Ok. What else does the slimes do]] ]

You pinch yourself. Nope its not a dream. You’re as big as a skyscraper and twice as badass. It’s time to show downtown whos the boss around here. You tromp off down the road with a “Thanks Bowsette!” The rest of your afternoon is spent punching holes in board rooms, penthouses and bank vaults. The papers call you a menace, but to the people you are forever a hero. YOU SURVIVED, though the military does drive you into the ocean where you begin hibernation only to be awoken decades later due to atomic testing. [[THE END->start]]

You feel around in the slime like a freak. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[it is uncomfortedly getting weird.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[oozles of sludge impermeate your skin and pores.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[like a worm in the rain...] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[your sexual perversions are dilating.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s)[ [[get even weirder]] ]

the cheaters path for babies? (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[pathetic babies who are going to cry?] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[Yes. im going to cry. please give me the cheater's path]] ]

...ok (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[ [[Lets go roll that dice again baybee i live for this|Roll my dice]] ]

ok genius. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[if youre so smart, then roll the friggin dice already.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[Please god yes. ive been at the bottom of the pit for so long. roll my dice already]] ]

Alright. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[i'm giving you the cheaters path then.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [["Successfully" cheat your way out of the pit]] ]

=><= (after:1s)[<img src="em/happybirthday.jpg" style="width:100%"> (after:time+3s)[ [[the end->start]] ]]

{(track: 'quelaag-rose', 'play') }Quelaag smiles warmly and says, “''Give yourself to Quelaag’s flame.''” She reaches a hand towards you. [[Take her hand.]] [[Refuse her hand.->alone]]

you’re pretty thirsty, but look at all these colorful magnets and pictures of all the great times you had with your discord pals. there’s the polaroid from Janet’s day-z themed birthday party, there’s a small hentai drawing that Sophia made, such memories! Okay, time to open the fridge. [[open the fridge]]

Quelaag turns away. ''“Let us leave, my beloved Lyle. I wish not to be with this craven being any longer, who shall never enter my flame again.”'' Quelaag and Lyle leave.[]<next| =====><= (text-style:"buoy")[▼]<continue|{ }(click-rerun:?continue)[(append:?next)[ The black miasma hand reappears, surrounds you once more in its vaporous grasp, and soars up through the sewer and arrives back into your room. It dissipates as you dejectedly settle back into your chair, [[thinking about what could’ve been.->start]](replace:?continue)[]]]

its ok iguess... (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[Anyways you see a doorway lit up at the end of the cave.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[Your reward is inside.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[Yippee! Enter the door|What is the reward??]] ]

You confidently cry out “ONE LEMONADE PLEASE!” in your most impressive voice. Bowsette can see that you’re not wasting any time. You need a cold bev and you need it now. She selects a paper cup and begins dispensing the lemonade. As she hands it to you she says “this one’s on the house” and winks in your direction. [[insist on paying]] [[slam the ‘nade]]

You stand before the Mighty Bowsette, she stares at you blankly as you admire her horned crown, crystal blue eyes and tumescent bosom. Your knees begin to tremble, all of the blood in your body rushes directly to your head. It’s impossible to hide your tomato-like complexion. Passers-by begin to laugh at you. Things start to blur as you reach toward your nose. Oh no, not a nosebleed, how embarrassing... but this isn’t just any nosebleed. Damn, its a GUSHER! You spray blood all over Bowsette and her humble lemonade stand. As things start to go dark you fall forward onto the folding table. Your last memory is the sound of crashing glass and lemons as the table collapses, the jug of lemonade falls to the ground and you yourself tumble into the jugs of the stunned Bowsette. You pass away right there on the spot, covered in blood, lemonade, and the embrace of the lizard queen. [[YOU HAVE DIED OF THIRST. Damn.->start]]

you ask for a burger with (link-replace:"cheese")[sorry no cheese...] (link-replace:"onion")[great, you got onion(set:$hasOnion to true)] (link-replace:"ketchup")[sorry no ketchup...] (link-replace:"mustard")[sorry no mustard...] (link-replace:"lettuce")[sorry no lettuce...] (link-replace:"bun")[......] [[yes that's what I want]]

{(set:$onionbait to false)(set:$toblerbait to false) (if:$hasOnion is true)[|baitonion>[(link-replace:"Bait the hook with onion")[You (if:$toblerbait is true)[also ]baited the hook with onion. (set:$onionbait to true)(unless: $endingT and $endingO)[(replace:?baittoblerone)[]] ]]<br><br>] (if:$hasToblerone is true)[|baittoblerone>[(link-replace:"Bait the hook with toblerone")[You (if:$onionbait is true)[also ]baited the hook with toblerone. (set:$toblerbait to true)(unless: $endingT and $endingO)[(replace:?baitonion)[]] ]]<br><br>] }(link:"Cast!")[(display:"casting")]

{(set:$turns to 0) }You arrive at Cool Dog's cell. Cool Dog explains in bow wows and woofs that they are innocent. You reassure them that you believe them and you're going to break them out. (link-repeat:"Try to pick the lock.")[(if: (random: 1, 3) < 3)[ Failure! Try again?{ (set:$turns to it+1) (if:$turns is 3)[(go-to:"guard")] }](else:)[(link-goto:" The prison door swings open.","The prison door swings open.")(replace:"Try to pick the lock.")[Try to pick the lock.](replace:"Think. Maybe you'll come up with another idea.")[Think. Maybe you'll come up with another idea.]]] (link-repeat:"Think. Maybe you'll come up with another idea.")[ Nothing springs to mind, but maybe if you think even harder, something will come to you.(set:$turns to it+1)(if:$turns is 3)[(go-to:"guard")]]

{(enchant: "yikes_lee", (text-colour: #352bae) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "Jared_Ong", (text-colour: #ec5428) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "Pual_n_", (text-colour: #377d22) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "execool_", (text-colour: #2731a4) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "sparklesprout", (text-colour: #d3a541) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "mdfmdfmdf", (text-colour: #a5ca4f) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "galuigi", (text-colour: #f0855b) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "R2Shelby2", (text-colour: #6e9ce7) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "pichu_slapping_butt", (text-colour: #f3e55a) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "sparklesprout", (text-colour: #d3a541) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "elkvelvet", (text-colour: #d3a541) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "spiderbabby", (text-colour: #542625) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "grist", (text-colour: #ed74b2) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "zoetroupe", (text-colour: #d3a541) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "JamesKuoDraws", (text-colour: #75f98d) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "hellophia", (text-colour: #377d22) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "WordAnotherWord", (text-colour: #a4312a) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "franpooch", (text-colour: #7d70f6) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "knittedsweater_", (text-colour: #f0855b) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "JohnsonRCool", (text-colour: #4091f7) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "gravy_ETs", (text-colour: #0028f5) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "swanparade", (text-colour: #4091f7) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "walfhord", (text-colour: #a4312a) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "wonderswaan", (text-colour: #f2abd1) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "boobypuppy", (text-colour: #4a885c) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "awall512", (text-colour: #471eb0) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "Yoskidroski", (text-colour: #ed74b2) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "helltran", (text-colour: #a4312a) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "Mean_Marble", (text-colour: #a4312a) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold'))(enchant: "aslimylittleworm", (text-colour: #a5ca4f) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold'))(enchant: "kirbystarflower", (text-colour: #c66e33) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "mysweettreasure", (text-colour: #ed74b2) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold')) (enchant: "librarylion", (text-colour: #ed74b2) + (font:'Roobert TWHINT Bold'))}

you dig around for a few minutes... [you find an empty toblerone box]<toblerzone| [keep searching? you could swear there's something in here... (link-repeat:"yes")[(if: (random: 1, 10) < 10)[(append:?toblerzone)[ you find an empty toblerone box]](else:)[(replace:?questions)[you find a delicious toblerone, fully sealed and intact, and it looks good enough to eat(set:$hasToblerone to true) You put it away for later [[you hear that familiar sound again...->listen closer...]]]]] (link-replace:"no")[(link-goto:"you hear that familiar sound again...","listen closer...")]]<questions|

{(set:$ibuprofens to 0) }Mickey got a leg cramp. She is in immeasurable pain. Mickey rolls around in pain and drag herself to get some ibuprofen (link-repeat:"Take an ibuprofen.")[ Mickey takes an ibuprofen.(set:$ibuprofens to it + 1)] (link:"That is enough ibuprofen")[{ (replace:"Take an ibuprofen.")[] }DAMN GIRL Mickey swallowed all $ibuprofens ibuprofens dry and now her throat is scratchy, also, she’s not sure if that was a good amount to take Mickeys leg suddenly feels much better so she walks towards the (t8n: "slide-left")[(link-goto:"kitchen")]]

{(set:$countdown to 10) }(after:1s)[Gulp] =><= (after:1.5s)[Gulp] ==> (after:2s)[Gulp] <== (after:3s)[The burst of sugar convinces her to purchase a (text-style: "mark")[lottery ticket]] (after:4s)[the cashier’s eyes drift into a wall-eyed stare as she drops her buckets of change on the counter] =><= (after:5s)[(live: 1s)[$countdown(set:$countdown to it-1)(if:$countdown is 0)[(go-to:"Trust in the lord and saviour Jesus Christ Almighty")]]<countdown| <== (after:time+1s)[{ }[[Mickey Double checks her change]] [[Trust in the lord and saviour Jesus Christ Almighty]]]]

As you stare into the cup you think to yourself “might as well not turn down a free drink from a beautiful lizard queen” and you gulp it back. Bowsette says “you’ll see what I mean in a second,” which you admit does sound pretty suspicious. But before you have a chance to question it your body begins to quake. Shooting pains run through your arms and legs as they begin to extend before your very eyes. It seems Bowsette has given you some kind of GROWTH POTION! Your head high above the neighborhood, you stare down at your easily 50-foot frame. Bowsette calls up to you from below - “Pretty neat, huh!!!?” [[YEAH! I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE HUGE!]] [[WHAT!? NO!! PLEASE FIX THIS I CAN’T FIT IN MY HOUSE ANYMORE!]]

(after:5s)[(t8n: "fade")[The sun is setting.] (after:time + 2s)[(t8n: "fade")[You find yourself in a clearing, beside a lone plum tree. A cold wind bites through your t-shirt and your (unfortunately patterned) capri pants, reminding you that it would be best to soon find shelter for the night, and perhaps a source of warmth. (after:time + 2s)[(t8n: "fade")[In the distance, you see a small cabin, its windows glowing, smoke rising from its chimney. There's a fire within. (after:time + 2s)[(t8n: "fade")[{ }[[Head towards the cabin.]] [[Look down and check out what's in the vicinity.]] [[Sorry, where am I?]]]]]]]]]

{(set:$guysharmed to 0) }You check your voicemail. There are two messages. Choose one. [(link-replace:"this one&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;")[(append:?messages)[ One from the Babby judge's panel, who inform you that one of this year's nominees has been cancelled.]]](link-replace:"that one")[(append:?messages)[ One from Cool Dog, who (in bow wows and woofs) explains that they've been sent to Cool Jail because they were framed for a murder they obviously did not commit bc they're too chill. [[Ignore Cool Dog's plea for help->start]] [[Vow to break Cool Dog out of prison.]]]][]<messages|

{(set:$endingT to true)(set:$hasOnion to false)(set:$hasToblerone to false) }you catch a beautiful eel and she has barely even touched your toblerone dinner is served [[... .... ....->you feel like]]

{(set:$endingO to true)(set:$hasOnion to false)(set:$hasToblerone to false) }mr. beast and all his frends are there. They've taken pity on you and give you gifts. you get a twenty dollar bill and a mr. beast chocolate bar. dinner is served You are not given an opportunity to plug your tiktok... :·( [[... .... ....->you feel like]]

you catch the beautiful eel and she's happy to see you. Mr. beast and his friends nod and smile slyly and all give you thumbs up. You go viral online and mr. beast gives you his banking information. Within the week you are a fortnite skin. You have your own dance, "going mickey mode". It's a hit. That rumbling hole in your stomach... it's no longer there. [[the end->start]]

You fight Quelaag. But, you’ve been playing too much DayZ and are in “first person shooter” mode, so your swordfighting skills are out of practice. In one moment, you think you have a chance at lunging at her, but at the last second Quelaag spider’s maw spews lava right at you. The molten rock sears into your skin as you are knocked to the ground. You look up and Quelaag disdainfully raising her firesword above you, about to strike. In your last breath, you think about how things could’ve gone differently in another life. <img src="gal/image5.png"> [[And everything fades to black.->start]]

Step. (after:time+1s)[Step. (after:time+1s)[Step. (after:time+1s)[These old-timey shoes are clacky and fun, but you miss your sneakers.(after:time+1s)[ <span style="float: left;">[[Turn left?]]</span><span style="float: right;">[[Turn right?]]</span>]]]]

How many squats do you do? (link-replace:"No squats")[Mickey goes to write in her journal but all she can write is the word squats (link-replace:"No squats")[Mickey goes to get some coffee but then suddenly gets the urge to do some squats (link-replace:"No squats")[Mickey put on her headphones to listen to some tunes but finds the song she’s listening to is called “squats” (link-replace:"NO SQUATS")[Mickey’s brain is consumed by thoughts of getting absolutely (t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 5s)[YOLKED]]]]] (link:"Some squats")[(if: (random: 1, 10) < 7)[(go-to:"cramped leg")](else:)[(go-to:"strong leg")]]

{(set: $roses to false) (set: $sword to false) }You open the window. It’s a brisk, beautiful autumn day! Except… A sharp stench of ripe sewage swirls into your nostrils. You look down and see a usually non-descript manhole on your street with its cover off, and a black miasma drifting out of it. You can see the miasma making its way towards your window… [[Let it enter… ]] [[Close the window immediately!->start]]

When you reopen them, you see two items floating in front of you: <img src="gal/image4.png" width="400"> <img src="gal/image3.png" width="400"> (link:"Reach for the beautiful bouquet of roses.")[(set: $roses to true)[(go-to:"grabbed")]] (link:"Reach for the gleaming silver sword.")[(set: $sword to true)[(go-to:"grabbed")]] [[Ignore these items and close your window immediately.->start]]

<img src="gal/image2.png" style="width:100%;"> It’s Chaos Witch Quelaag! And…''Lyle''?? Is riding on her back! <img src="gal/image1.png"> Chaos Witch Quelaag looks down at you and bellows sexily ''“Well well well…look who finally made it to the vow renewal ceremony. It’s as if you almost forgot that you were married to the both of us, Mickey.”'' (if: $roses is true)[(link-goto:"You offer Quelaag and Lyle the roses you brought.")] (else:)[(link-goto:"Quelaag notices the silver sword in your hand.")]

Your body begins to transform into that of a worm. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[you are getting longer...] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[wormier...] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[and you are one with the slimes] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[ [[Accept new life as the slimes]] ]

you walk down to the ocean it's beautiful... the waves and so on...a seagull is there... you see the perfect secluded spot to fish [[cast your line?]]

You’re outside! The sun is shinin’, the birds are chirpin’ and the wind is fuckin’, now what about that drink... [[looks like the neighbors have a lemonade stand]] [[is that a hose!?]]

ah, the fridge! the perfect place to find a cool beverage. now what? [[admire fridge magnets]] [[open the fridge]]

{(set:$dialogue to (a: "After what seems like an hour, you finally see the glow of torches approaching and the miasma hand finally lets go of you – surprisingly, it gently plops you down so you land softly on your butt, (if: $roses is true)[the bouquet of roses safely in your arms.](else:)[sword firmly in your grasp.]", "As you get up, you hear some footsteps approaching from the darkness. A LOT of footsteps, like maybe four people??", "(display:'gal spouse arrival')" )) (set:$step to 1) }(if:$roses is true)[You reach for the bouquet of roses. As you make contact with its vase,](else:)[You reach for the silver sword. As you make contact with its hilt,] the miasma encircles you like a giant smoky hand curling its fingers around you, and all of a sudden it pulls you out of your window and into =><= the ==> manhole! <== You are pulled deeper and deeper into the sewery manhole and fly down past different levels of ancient wooden platforms with giant, diseased rats scurrying around, zombie dogs snapping at you, skeletons patrolling, and oozy pale slime blobs clinging to the walls. Huh, this seems kind of familiar… Of course, all the while it (color: #c4c200)[STINKS.][]<next| =====><= (text-style:"buoy")[▼]<continue|{ }(click-rerun:?continue)[(append:?next)[ (print:$dialogue's $step)(set: $step to it + 1)(if:$step > $dialogue's length)[(replace:?continue)[]]]]

A guard comes along and catches you where you're not supposed to be. You knock him out with ease and take his keyring. You use one of the keys to open the cell.{ (set:$guysharmed to it+1)} (display:"The prison door swings open.")

[Guys harmed: $guysharmed]<guysharmed|

showControls: false

quelaag-rose: ./gal/quelaag-roses.wav quelaag-sword: ./gal/quelaag-sword.wav

good for you. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[theres no way for this engine to tell the difference.] (if: (history:) contains("Convert to comic sans"))[ (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[Roll my dice]] ] ] (else:)[ (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[Restart in Comic Sans|Convert to comic sans]] ] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[Why would i restart the game in comic sans. what does that give me. what does that do for the common good]] ] ]

aggressive... bold... brave. i like your style. tell you what, ill actually let you roll the dice again. no tricks. [[Really?]]

good. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[know thine place] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[Roll thine dice. Mine dice. my dice|Roll my dice]] ]

You object to the giant woman’s kindness, “please I couldn’t possibly not pay for such efficient service” you say as you move for your pocket to perhaps at least present some cash as a tip. Bowsette places a hand on your shoulder. “I can tell you need this, it’s my //special recipe//” [[drink]]

that’s right, water from a hose. you approach the long green straw, snakelike in it’s repose next to the bushes. you pick up the nozzle and clench it between your teeth. your hand firmly grasps the faucet. (link-replace:"turn clockwise")[the faucet doesn’t budge, oops] [[turn counter-clockwise]]

cool. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[so you just like doing deep dives on dialogue paths?] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[yup|yahup]] ](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[no my twitch audience is just forcing me to]] ]

<img src="james/Mickey EVA jameskuo treefix.jpg" style="width:100%;"> ==> [[⮕->james2]]

=><= Vision After the Sermon (Mickey Wrestling with the Angels) ==> <img src="james/Mickey Angel 01.jpg" style="width:100%;"> ==> (link:"⮕")[<img src="james/Mickey Angel 02.jpg" style="width:100%;"> ==> (link:"⮕")[<img src="james/Mickey Angel 03.jpg" style="width:100%;"> ==> (link:"⮕")[<img src="james/Mickey Angel 04.jpg" style="width:100%;"> ==> (link:"⮕")[<img src="james/Mickey Angel 05.jpg" style="width:100%;"> ==> [[⮕->james3]]]]]]

=><= 4-5 Impact Giveaway <img src="james/Mickey 4-5 Impact Giveaway.jpg" style="width:100%;"> ==> you can (not) advance (no, really) [[⮕->start]]

BOOF! Suddenly you find yourself jammed in a pile of marbles yourself. There’s a fork in the road and all the marbles have piled up around the two diverging tracks. <span style="float: left;">[[Go left]]</span>{ }<span style="float: right;">[[Go right]]</span>

Are you thirsty? (link-reveal:"no, I’m already full of gamer fuel.")[(replace:?otheranswer)[] You don’t have to piss, do you? (link-reveal:"No I’m good, I went before")[ [[Okay, good, very responsible.->start]]]][ [[yes, I need a sippy.]]]<otheranswer|

Mickey enters the kitchen ...and finds that she completely forgot to buy groceries yesterday. She’s going to starve if she doesn’t get some yummy for her tummy food right this (link-reveal:"second!!")[ Mickey sees her neighbour’s pear tree has an abundance of pears, ready to be plucked and eaten.. [[Mickey will STEAL the pears. Leaves no pear untaken.->take...]] [[Mickey walks over to the nearest 7/11 and gets a big gulp ->do not take]]]

You are waiting in queue to load into a game of DayZ. One of your wonderful, beauticious chatters suggests playing a rousing game of marbles to pass the time. [[Start up an exhilarating game of marbles]] [[Reject the tyranny of marbles and instead pay the enlightened game of Vampire Survivors]]

it's your stomach asking you for food so you... [[resign yourself to being hungry->start]] [[go fishing]] (if:$hasToblerone is false)[{ }[[check your couch cushions]]{ }] (if:$hasOnion is false)[{ }[[call the burger restaurant]]{ }]

You approach the small folding table, it is decorated charmingly with a sign that says “Lemonade One Dollar” the “e” at the end of Lemonade is backwards, classic. The quite large in stature Lemonade Stand Attendant has their back turned to you, as they turn around you recognize a familiar face, it’s your beautiful next-door neighbor, Bowsette! [[blush and knock over all of the lemonade]] [[say hi]]

(after:3s)[(t8n: "fade")[<img src="mdf/twine01.jpg">]] (after:4s)[(t8n: "fade")[It’s hard to see.]] (after:5s)[(t8n: "fade")[(link-goto:"Step forward")]]

OOh look at you hot shit mouse clicker. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[Ooh i dont even have to type i just click shit.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[Thats you.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[Thats what you sound like] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[ [[I can type stuff]] ]

thanks (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:0.5s)[ [[Now go back to the game|Go inside the awful filthy cave]] ]

you walk home... the ocean, while still beautiful, strikes you as a cold, lonely place... [[you begin to hear that familiar sound again...->listen closer...]]

hell yes. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[go for it twitch audience.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[make mickey do all the paths.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3.5s)[10 hour stream baybee!] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s)[ [[Roll my dice]] ]

You rolled snake eyes to get here. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[now you just want to go back to not getting the reward.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[really?] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[Yes for real]] ] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[ [[Okay nevermind i actually do want the reward]] ]

ok... ###[(text-colour:#8ae619)[(text-style:"smear")[(text-colour:#8ae619)[(font: "Comic Sans MS")[ <div id=textfade style ="top:70px; left:250px;"><div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:-5px; animation-delay:0ms;">S</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:40px; animation-delay:50ms;">L</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:76px; animation-delay:100ms;">U</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:120px; animation-delay:150ms;">D</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:165px; animation-delay:200ms;">G</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:210px; animation-delay:250ms;">E</div></div>]]]]] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4.5s)[ [[still not big enough]] ]

(set: $input to (prompt: "Enter text since youre so smart and good at typing", "")) (if: $input is "")[(goto:"Shmancel")] (else:)[(goto:"Inputted text")]

whoosh, a cold blast of air hits your face, damn that’s refreshing. You momentarily reflect on the impermanence of life. Ooh, Gatorade! [[quench thy thirst]] [[shut’eth thy fridge]]

In fact, //Don Juan Triumphant// is now complete! You could cry tears of joy. It's been months and in all that time, you've searched every corner of the dungeon for some way out of this world. You've even thought, (link-reveal:'"I never want to hear or watch this musical again"')[ At least he was thoughtful enough to give you a fun mask too. [[It's glittery red to match his fit.]]]

(either: "(enchant: ?page, (background: #6dcaf7))(bg:#f4f1ee)[Yum! (font:'Comic Sans MS')+(color: #6dcaf7)[Arctic Blitz!] You’re so grateful for this blessed blue elixir. Your HP is restored to full! Your skin is clear and your hair is radiant. [[Thanks Gatorade.->start]]]", "(enchant: ?page, (background: #cc3867))(bg:#f4f1ee)[Yum! (font:'Comic Sans MS')+(color: #cc3867)[G2 Fruit Punch!] As dependable as always, less calories and more importantly less sodium, maybe? I am not going to check! Says here you’ve gained a temporary boost to your Speed! Neat! [[Thanks Gatorade.->start]]]", "(enchant: ?page, (background: #d7e856))(bg:#f4f1ee)[Yum! (font:'Comic Sans MS')+(color: #d7e856)[Lemon Lime.] Yep, just regular ‘ol Lemon Lime, like the first flavor they ever made probably. You take a swig and stare out the window for a few minutes. You look down at the bottle in your hand. Time has passed. [[Thanks Gatorade.->start]]]", "(enchant: ?page, (background: #ee8534))(bg:#f4f1ee)[Yum! (font:'Comic Sans MS')+(color: #ee8534)[Mango Xtremo!] This is one of the rarest flavors of Gatorade according to the Gatorade wiki. You’re probably one of the few to have actually tasted this orange concoction. It’s mind-wrending flavor not only powers up your physical AND mental stats, but also… hmm is that tajín? spicy sweet! [[Thanks Gatorade.->start]]]", "(enchant: ?page, (background: #ec7e74))(bg:#f4f1ee)[Yum! (font:'Comic Sans MS')+(color: #ec7e74)[Strawberry Lemonade.] Described by experts as “One of the uncommon flavors of Gatorade. At whatever picture you're looking at, the flavor can come in 2 distinct shades of red. It has no additional variants, and it shouldn't be confused with ‘G2: Raspberry Lemonade’.” [[Thanks Gatorade.->start]]]", "(enchant: ?page, (background: #cd81f7))(bg:#f4f1ee)[Yum! (font:'Comic Sans MS')+(color: #cd81f7)[Summit Storm!] alluring purple hue, electrifying purple flavor. You feel your brain coursing with purple energy. +10 to your Magic Power and -10 to your thirst. [[Thanks Gatorade.->start]]]", "(enchant: ?page, (background: #b3b3b3))(bg:#f4f1ee)[Yum! (font:'Comic Sans MS')+(color: #b3b3b3)[Frost Glacier Cherry Zero!] A chill runs down your spine like ice through your veins like fire in your eyes. Light shoots from your finger tips and toes, a crystal prism forms around you. You are transported to a dimension entirely made of electrolytes. Here there is no such thing as dehydration. You are at peace. GG. [[Thanks Gatorade.->start]]]")

You re-enter the damp hideaway and see the Phantom brooding again. This is gonna be rough. (link-reveal:'"Hey there Phantom… what\'s next?"')[ "Letters!" he exclaims. "We must have them replace that nauseating Carlotta with my sweet angel of music. Letters to each and every one of those fools – Firmin, Andre, the Vicomte and even Carlotta herself!" [He shoves a handful of manuscript paper at you.] "Got it boss!" you yelp. He hovers over your shoulder as you write, ranting about and telling you to make them sound more threatening and sharp. [[Worst job ever.]]]

You cheerfully greet the giant lizard woman with a “waaaazzzzzzzzzuuuuuuuuuuup.” Bowsette matches your intonation. The two of you stand there for 30 seconds, uninterrupted, saying WAAAAAZZZZZUUUUUUUUUUUP, like from the tv commercial. [[ask for a drink]]

You are suddenly overcome with the urge to not hydrate. You close the fridge and log on to the internet. Oh my god, its all here, all of the world’s information at your fingertips. You click play on an MP3 “Know Your Chicken” off Cibo Matto’s 1996 album VIVA! LA WOMAN, crack your knuckles and start surfing the ’net. Unfortunately you get absorbed in the scroll, and because you didn’t tend to your thirst before you sat down your eyes start to bake from the blue light of the screen. your fingers crack and sting with every keystroke, your hair becomes crispy as it protrudes out of your black hoodie. Your bones grow weak, but you’re too busy racking up VRs in Apex to notice. Your posture begins to slip... Your vision grows blurry as your hand drifts off of the mouse to rest limply at your side. Thats right, gamer, what they say is true. Hydrate.... or DIE-DRATE [[YOU HAVE DIED OF THIRST.->start]]

You quaff that shit down, yummy. Immediately you begin to feel strange. Your body begins to quake - you look at Bowsette and she lets out a small chuckle. Something is not right. In an instant your bones begin to feel like they’re made of pure fire as your head skyrockets above the clouds. This isn’t regular lemonade after all, but some kind of GROWTH POTION! Your head high above the neighborhood, you stare down at your easily 50-foot frame. Bowsette calls up to you from below - “HOW’S THE WEATHER UP THERE” [[BOWSETTE WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS???]] [[THIS IS SICK, I CAN SEE THE OCEAN!]]

{(set:$hasOnion to false) (set:$hasToblerone to false) (set:$endingO to false) (set:$endingT to false) }you think you hear something... a gust of wind? a cat outside your window? Some little guy living in the walls? [[listen closer...]] (link-reveal:"ignore it")[ (after:time+1s)[.... .... ... (after:time+1s)[there it is again... like a knocking noise or a grumbling rolling type thing]]]

(group: 'playing', 'stop')<div class="responsive-three-columns"><div><div class="central" style="justify-content:right;"><img src="start/fran.gif">(text-style: "shudder")[(link-goto:"squats","fran")<span class="tooltiptext">fran</span>]<tooltip|</div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:right;"><img src="start/gal.gif">|tooltip>[(link-goto:"Open your window","gal")<span class="tooltiptext">gal</span>]&emsp;&emsp;</div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:center;"><img src="start/zoe.gif">|tooltip>[(link-goto:"You decide to boot up Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon","zoe")<span class="tooltiptext">zoe</span>]</div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:left;"><img src="start/james.gif">|tooltip>[(link-goto:"get in the f-word robot","james")<span class="tooltiptext">james</span>]</div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:left;"><img src="start/kris.gif">|tooltip>[(link-goto:"marbles.","kris")<span class="tooltiptext">kris</span>]</div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:center;"><img src="start/em.gif">|tooltip>[(link-goto:"Play DayZ.","em c")<span class="tooltiptext">em</span>]</div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:right;"><img src="start/mdf.gif">|tooltip>[(link-goto:"go into the hatch","mdf")<span class="tooltiptext">mdf</span>]&emsp;&emsp;</div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:right;"><img src="start/kevin.gif">|tooltip>[(link-goto:"think about if you are thirsty","kevin")<span class="tooltiptext">kevin</span>]</div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:right;"><img src="start/booby.gif">|tooltip>[(link-goto:"!petbread","booby")<span class="tooltiptext">bob</span>]</div> </div> <div style="text-align:center;"> <img src="start/mickey.gif"> you are mickey z. you're sitting in your room. what will u do? </div> <div> <div class="central" style="justify-content:left;">|tooltip2>[(link-goto:"listen for sounds","slimy")<span class="tooltiptext">slimy</span>]<img src="start/slimy.gif"></div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:left;">&emsp;&emsp;|tooltip2>[(link-goto:"You check your voicemail.","emma")<span class="tooltiptext">emma</span>]<img src="start/emma.gif"></div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:center;">|tooltip2>[(link-goto:"browse tiktok","sunmi")<span class="tooltiptext">sunmi</span>]<img src="start/sunmi.gif"></div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:right;">|tooltip2>[(link-goto:"Go inside the awful filthy cave")<span class="tooltiptext">gb</span>]<img src="start/gb.gif"></div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:right;">|tooltip2>[(link-goto:"go for a WALK")<span class="tooltiptext">evan</span>]<img src="start/evan.gif"></div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:right;">|tooltip2>[(link-goto:"chill in yard","pual")<span class="tooltiptext">pual</span>]<img src="start/pual.gif"></div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:center;">&emsp;&emsp;|tooltip2>[(link-goto:"read graveyard ducks","jared")<span class="tooltiptext">jared</span>]<img src="start/jared.gif"></div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:center;">|tooltip2>[(link-goto:"Take a nap","exe")<span class="tooltiptext">exe</span>]<img src="start/exe.gif"></div>{ }<div class="central" style="justify-content:left;">&emsp;&emsp;|tooltip2>[(link-goto:"Drum your fingers on the table","wedro")<span class="tooltiptext">wedro</span>]<img src="start/wedro.gif"></div> </div> </div>

for real? ##[(text-colour:#8ae619)[(text-style:"smear")[(text-colour:#8ae619)[(font: "Comic Sans MS")[ <div id=textfade style ="top:80px; left:250px;"><div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:-30px; animation-delay:0ms;">S</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:30px; animation-delay:50ms;">L</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:90px; animation-delay:100ms;">U</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:150px; animation-delay:150ms;">D</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:210px; animation-delay:200ms;">G</div> <div id="spin" style="top: -49px; left:270px; animation-delay:250ms;">E</div></div>]]]]] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4.5s)[ [[STILL not big enough]] ]

Mickeys legs feel stronger than ever, her muscles (t8n: "pulse")[pulsate] Mickey goes to the mirror to admire her gains <img src="fran/image1.png"> Mickey sheds a single a tear of joy Mickey suddenly realizes she needs to get her protein in to keep her intense physique Mickey saunters towards the (t8n: "slide-left")[(link-goto:"kitchen")]

You fight Quelaag and Lyle. Summoning all your strength and agility, you weave in and out of her legs, evading her attacks. Eventually during this dance, you find the perfect moment to leap into the air from behind her and show off your BJJ black belt skills by executing a rear naked choke on the Chaos Witch. You then quickly drive your shining sword into her heart. Her (human half of her) body crumples in your beefy arms. Lyle - who stood off to the side during the fight - walks up to you from the shadows and looks at you mournfully. ''“Mickey, how could you…?” '' You look deep into Lyle’s eyes. ''“I’m sorry, babe. You know we had to cut her off for good. There’s only one room for one hot spider babe - or should I say “babby” in this town.”'' You wink at the camera and envelope your husband into a tight hug. You both ascend and escape the sewer with your respective fighting skills and platforming, thrashing the poisoned rats, undead dogs, slimes, and skeletons. When you finally climb out of the manhole and are back on the streets of Providence, Lyle gives you one more embrace, and promises he’ll be back soon. He hurries away, presumably to get back to Belka. You finally get back into your house. You are exhausted, sad, but also have a sense of freedom and relief. You settle back into your room and [[wonder what you’ll do next->start]].

{(set:$text to (a:"Here's a Day-Z clip of a guy you met one time pumpkin farming."," Here's the latest update of that lady who's digging a tunnel under her house."," Finally, you come across a mysterious, dimly lit video that reminds you of the music box with that monkey from The Phantom Of The Opera. (link-reveal:'Wait a minute…')[ (link-reveal:'It IS that music box with the monkey from The Phantom Of The Opera!')[ The clanging cymbals and twinkling melody transfixes you. Rumbling sounds build in the distance, as the iconic opening notes bellow on the organ [[you are sucked into your phone!!!]]]]")) }You're bored enough, it's time for phone. The TikTok logo expands and loads up your daily slew of |contentlink>[(link-rerun:"content.")[(append:?content)[(print:$text's 1st)(set:$text to (rotated: -1, ...$text))(if:$text's 1st is "Here's a Day-Z clip of a guy you met one time pumpkin farming.")[(replace:?contentlink)[content.]]]]] []<content|

Mickey gorges herself on pears, while the squirrels and birds look on in horror OH FUCK OH SHIT! Mickeys neighbour (text-style: "rumble")[catches] her! Mickey is arrested for fruit murder and goes to jail for 75.6 years [[DEAD END->start]]

Suddenly you remember that you’re not just a little marble, you’re Mickey Zacchilli and you’re a black belt in the fine art of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. You’ve dedicated years of your life to practicing this martial art, and you tap into your well-honed and hard-won jiu-jitsu talents. You turn your marble body around and grab the Mean Marble by its marble shoulders. As you roll backwards, you harness your momentum and toss the Mean Marble into the air. Then you kick it straight in the marble gut, performing a flawless Tomoe Nage throw. Mean Marble goes flying, it hits its head on the skybox and explodes into thousands of marbles that rain down on top of you. [Yoskidroski: Whee!!!!! kirbystarflower: We’re free! hellophia: Thank you Mickey!!! mysweettreasure: We’re still marbles and still dead but this is better than being puppeted by that asshole!]<chat| You laugh aloud: “AHAHAHAHAHA!! SUCK IT!!!!” Sheer euphoria charges through your veins. As you revel in your victory, one of your marble chatters (probably Gal) lands straight on your head and knocks you out. [[Wake up]] [[Take a little nap (pee break)->Wake up]]

*squeak squeak* The tap is on! water flows freely down your gullet. MMM, refreshing! Metallic! [[now that we’re not thirsty anymore, let’s check out that lemonade stand->looks like the neighbors have a lemonade stand]]

hahaha (if: (history:) contains("Convert to comic sans"))[(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[you th- wait. oh... i was gonna convert your life to comic sans. but it turns out you already converted to comic sans.] (if: (history:) contains("we got off on the wrong foot. let's start this all over. i apologize and would like to resume the game."))[(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[why did you do this same dialogue line again?] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[Bored|Boreduuuh]]] ] (else:)[(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[its true]]]] ] (else:)[(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[you think i would let a wimp like you just do what you want] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ im gonna put you back where you started.... but this time in COMIC SANS!] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ (font: "Comic Sans MS")[[[Attempt to climb out of the pit but this time in Comic Sans|Convert to comic sans]]]] ]

WRONG!!!!!!!!! [[PSB IS DEAD!!!!!!->Oh my god PSB is dead!!!!!!]]

well in that case, (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[i'll start you over so you can see all this great dialogue again] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[Thanks take me back to the beginning of the pit|Go inside the awful filthy cave]] ]

tsk. Nothing bit... Mavbe some bait would help.. try again? [[yes]] [[no]]

you get your burger delivered. It looks so good.(if:$hasOnion is true)[ You're very happy to see there's so much onion.] You put it away for later. [[you hear that familiar sound again...->listen closer...]]

[[go to fridge]] [[go outside?]]

(font:"Lora")+(t8n:"slide-right")+(transition-time:3s)[MICKEY IS ISEKAI'D INTO THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA...] ==> (after:2.5s)[(transition-time:1s)+(t8n:"slide-left")[as the Phantom's assistant!]] =><= (after:4s)[(t8n:"fade")[<img src="sunmi/mickey.jpg" style="width:80%">]] <== (after:5s)[(t8n:"fade")[or...]] ==> (after:6s)[(t8n:"fade-left")+(transition-time:2s)[{ }[[I Was Reincarnated As A Henchman To The Phantom Of The Opera!]]{ }]]

... you feel like there could be more out there for you... maybe love... maybe going incredibly viral... (link:"listen to your gut")[{ }[[you hear that familiar sound again...->listen closer...]]{ }] [[call it a day->start]]

You boot up Armored Core VI. You've yet to make much progress, but you remember the oath you made to Zoe: "I swear on my life and livelihood that I will beat Armored Core VI," you recall saying one time with vivid clarity. [[Select "Continue" from the Main Menu]] [[Actually, you don't want to play Armored Core VI->zoebail]]

"Zoe will understand," you lie to yourself. You have grown numb to the immense shame you once felt. But you have accepted the truth: you are a coward who will never beat Armored Core VI. Anyway, you decide to do [[something else->start]]

{(set: $WATER to it +1) (set: $WATERS to it -1) (set: $THIRST to 0) }[[the shopkeep GLARES at you. you take a sip of water and STUMBLE out of the shop->keep going]](if: $CAT is 1)[ , the CAT follows behind you]

you have reached the BEACH. it is very warm. the white SAND glows in the afternoon sun. (if: $CAT is 1)[the cat's EYES glint in the sun.] you are getting THIRSTY. (set: $THIRST to 1) (if:$WATER >= 1)[[drink WATER->drink WATER beach]] (if:$GATORADE >= 1)[[drink GATORADE->drink GATORADE beach]] (if:$GATORADE is 0 and $WATER is 0)[[i don't have a drink->thirsty beach]]

you EAT the blue ice pop. it is nice and COLD, you are getting less THIRSTY. you feel GREAT. (if: $CAT is 1)[the cat WAITS by your side, licking his paw.] [[time to go to the beach >; )->exit near beach]] (set: $THIRST to -2)

you EAT a fudgecicle. (if: $CAT is 1)[the cat LOOKS at you with distain.] it is nice and COLD, but you are still THIRSTY. [[better go back for an ice pop->better not]] (set: $HEAT to -1)

you start digging in the sand (click-replace: "you start digging in the sand")[nothing yet] (click-replace: "nothing yet")[keep digging](click-replace: "keep digging")[nothing yet](click-replace: "nothing yet")[keep digging](click-replace: "keep digging")[keep digging](click-replace: "nothing yet")[keep digging](click-replace: "keep digging")[keep digging](click-replace: "nothing yet")[keep digging](click-replace: "keep digging")[keep digging](click-replace: "nothing yet")[keep digging](click-replace: "keep digging")[keep digging](click-replace: "nothing yet")[keep digging](click-replace: "keep digging")[keep digging](click-replace: "nothing yet")[keep digging](if:$PENDANT is 1)[(click-replace: "keep digging")[you didn't FIND anything]](click-replace: "keep digging")[you FOUND something!](click-replace: "you FOUND something!")[it is a gold PENDANT. (if: $CAT is 1)[the cat is GRINNING at you. ][[EXAMINE pendant->pendant]]] [[give up->go back to the SAND]] (if: $IMMUNE is 0)[ (set: $THIRST to it +1) ]

you cup your hands under the STREAM and allow them to fill. you DRINK a big gulp of the water. it is the BEST water you have ever tasted, but something is happening. . . (if: $IMMUNE is 0)[a strange feeling washes over you. you don't know quite how to describe it. you SIT still for a time, unable to move. finally you tip over, and as everything starts to go DIM, the last thing you see is that CAT, grinning at you from across the clearing](click-replace: "a strange feeling washes over you. you don't know quite how to describe it. you SIT still for a time, unable to move. finally you tip over, and as everything starts to go DIM, the last thing you see is that CAT, grinning at you from across the clearing")[(link-replace:"your senses fade away slowly")[[[you have been CURSED by the fountain->wake at home]]]] (if: $IMMUNE is 1)[a strange feeling passes over you, but it is gone almost instantly.](click-replace:"a strange feeling passes over you, but it is gone almost instantly.")[(link-replace:"you have been protected by the power of the MYSTERY POP")[[['huh, that's weird', you say->FOUNTAIN]]]] (set: $FOUNTAINDRINK to 1)

(if: $MIPPYDONE is 1 or $FOUNTAINDRINK is 1)[you look back to the FOUNTAIN](if: $MIPPYDONE is 0 and $FOUNTAINDRINK is 0)[you APPROACH the fountain]. ornate carvings of SEA LIFE adorn the white-flecked black marble, and a trickle of water flows gently out the centrepiece, a FISH'S HEAD. you feel CONFLICTED. on the one hand you LOVE sea life, but you HAVE NO STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT statuary. an ominous HUM fills the air around you, as if all the cicadas were singing in unison. in front of the fountain sits an EMPTY marble bowl, waiting to be filled. [[make an OFFERING]] [[DRINK the water]] (if: $MEMORY is 1 and $MIPPYDONE is 0)[[examine your SURROUNDINGS]]

you STUMBLE into the gas station. there is a big sign that says "NO CATS" in the window. (if: $CAT is 1)[the cat FOLLOWS you in.] the attendant LOOKS up from his magazine. you can't HELP but notice that the magazine is called "VACANT LOT". what's that about? he glares (if: $CAT is 1)[at the CAT, then ]at YOU. (if: $CAT is 1)[the attendant says "we don't allow CATS in here."] [[tell him you're very thirsty]] [[say nothing->saynothing beach]]

[[a popsicle is a DRINK, change my mind]] [[that's nonsense keep looking]]

you poke your head into one of the SHRUBS. a group of mice are doing a MOUSE RITUAL (text-style:"mirror")[ᑅᕻ⁐̤ᘙ] ᑅᕻ⁐̤ᘙ (text-style:"mirror")[ᑅᕻ⁐̤ᘙ] ᑅᕻ⁐̤ᘙ (text-style:"mirror")[ᑅᕻ⁐̤ᘙ] ᑅᕻ⁐̤ᘙ (text-style:"mirror")[ᑅᕻ⁐̤ᘙ] ᑅᕻ⁐̤ᘙ one of them turns and sees you PEERING in. you have INTERRUPTED their ritual. they scatter. (text-style:"flat")[(text-style:"mirror")[ᑅᕻ⁐̤ᘙ]] (text-style:"upside-down")[(text-style:"flat")[ᑅᕻ⁐̤ᘙ]] (text-style:"flat")[(text-style:"mirror")[ᑅᕻ⁐̤ᘙ]] (text-style:"flat")[ ᑅᕻ⁐̤ᘙ] (text-style:"flat")[(text-style:"mirror")[ᑅᕻ⁐̤ᘙ]] (text-style:"flat")[(text-style:"mirror")[ᑅᕻ⁐̤ᘙ] (text-style:"upside-down")[ᑅᕻ⁐̤ᘙ]] [[[better keep going->interior lot]]]

you grab a MYSTERY pop. it's the same size and shape as a REGULAR popsicle. the wrapper is all SHIMMERY like oil slick, and the ice is jet BLACK. (if: $CAT is 1)[the cat WATCHES you, knowingly.] [[eat it]] [[better not]]

you CONTINUE to lie in the sand. TIME passes. little CRABS crawl over your legs. GULLS float above you. [[it is getting HOTTER->REST a bit more]]. (if: $IMMUNE is 0)[ (set: $THIRST to it +1) ] (if: $THIRST is > 0 and $SWIM is 0 and $PENDANT is 0)[[you feel like there is more to do here, but you are getting thirsty. time to LEAVE the beach->time to LEAVE]](if: $THIRST is > 0 and $SWIM is 1 and $PENDANT is 1)[[you are getting thirsty. time to LEAVE the beach->time to LEAVE]](if: $THIRST is > 0 and $SWIM is 1 and $PENDANT is 0)[[you feel like there is more to do here, but you are getting thirsty. time to LEAVE the beach->time to LEAVE]](if: $THIRST is > 0 and $SWIM is 0 and $PENDANT is 1)[[you feel like there is more to do here, but you are getting thirsty. time to LEAVE the beach->time to LEAVE]] (if: $IMMUNE is 1 and $SWIM is 0 and $PENDANT is 0)[you are immune to the effects of the heat. you can stay as long as you like. . . .](if: $IMMUNE is 1 and $SWIM is 1 and $PENDANT is 0)[you are immune to the effects of the heat. you can stay as long as you like. . . .](if: $IMMUNE is 1 and $SWIM is 0 and $PENDANT is 1)[you are immune to the effects of the heat. you can stay as long as you like. . . .](click-replace:"you are immune to the effects of the heat. you can stay as long as you like. . . .")[[. . . .but you eventually grow TIRED of spending time here. there's MORE to do down by the water->go down to the WATER]](if: $IMMUNE is 1 and $SWIM is 1 and $PENDANT is 1)[you are immune to the effects of the heat. you can stay as long as you like. . . .](click-replace:"you are immune to the effects of the heat. you can stay as long as you like. . . .")[[. . . .but you eventually grow TIRED of spending time here. you've done EVERYTHING there is to do at the beach->time to LEAVE]]

you walk out on to the SAND. it is HOT (if: $IMMUNE is 1)[but you feel nothing except the power of the mystery pop] (if: $IMMUNE is 0 and $THIRST < 1)[but you don't mind so much, you are cool enough FOR NOW]. (if: $THIRST < 1)[you pick a SPOT near the water and chill out for a bit. the sound of the WAVES is very soothing. FLUFFY white clouds drift overhead. GULLS laugh in the distance. (if: $CAT is 1)[the cat lounges by your side.]](if: $THIRST > 0)[you are getting WARM.] (if:$THIRST <=0)[[REST a bit more]] (if:$THIRST <=0)[[go down to the WATER]] (if:$THIRST <=0 and $IMMUNE is 0)[[time to LEAVE]](if: $IMMUNE is 1)[[time to LEAVE]] (if:$THIRST > 0 and $IMMUNE is 0)[[you are TOO warm to stay on the beach, time to leave->time to LEAVE]]

(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"blur")+(t8n-time:2s)(click-goto:?page,"start") ==><== (after:3s)[<img src="https://i.imgur.com/ekuwT6c.png">]

(if:$WATER >= 1)[[drink WATER->drink WATER]] (if:$GATORADE >= 1)[[drink GATORADE->drink GATORADE]] (if:$WATER is 0 and $GATORADE is 0)[[i don't have a drink]]

{(set: $SCARE to (random: 1, 50)) }(if: $SCARE >= 5)[you scare the attendant. he COWERS in fear and retreats to the BACK ROOM, leaving his WEIRD MAGAZINE. the GAS STATION is now yours (set: $ATTENDANT to 0) [[let's get a look at that MAGAZINE]] [[better get a drink->go to the cooler]]](else:)[{ }he doesn't even bother to respond (set: $ATTENDANT to 1) [[better get your drink and get out->go to the cooler]]]

you go up to the ICE CREAM STAND. there is no ATTENDANT, all the treats are in a big BARREL. there are three KINDS: [[CHOCOLATE fudgecicle]] [[BLUE ice pop]] [[MYSTERY pop]]

"how are you today?" the cat looks at you, then licks his paw i guess that's an answer. what now? [[go RIGHT]] [[go LEFT]]

you say "i'm going out. do you want to come with me?" the cat stands up and looks READY to follow you what now? [[ask the cat WHERE he wants to go]] [[just start WALKING->go FORWARD]] (set: $CAT to 1)

"where to?" you ask. the CAT gestures towards the [[corner store->go to the shop]] (set: $CAT to 1)

(set: $THIRST to -1) (if: $SQUID is 0)[you get out of the WATER. you feel REFRESHED and full of energy.](if: $SQUID is 1)[you stand up and LOOK around. you feel the POWER of the mystery pop returning.(if: $CAT is 1)[ the cat gazes at you, KNOWINGLY.]] [[DIG in the sand]] [[leave the beach->time to LEAVE]]

you reach back into the BARREL [[CHOCOLATE fudgecicle]] [[BLUE ice pop]] [[MYSTERY pop]]

you are certain the money is a trap. you glance back at the cat. he WINKS, then he gets up. he looks READY to follow you [[ask the cat WHERE he wants to go]] [[leave him, just start WALKING]]

you (if: $CAT is 1)[and the cat ]walk towards the LOT. there are SHRUBS and TALL GRASS obscuring your view of the interior. it is VERDANT. the smell is INTOXICATING. as you weave your way further in, you can hear the RUSTLING of small creatures all around you. [[INVESTIGATE rustling]] [[keep going->interior lot]] [[leave the lot->go back to the INTERSECTION]]

you flip to the CLASSIFIEDS section. the first ad jumps out at you "MMEET ME AT THE CURSED FOUNTIN AT NOON. ~UR SECREWT LOVER~" woah, wonder who that's for. . . . . [[[okay this is great but you're still thirsty->go to the cooler]]] (set: $MEMORY to 1)

you flip to the CLASSIFIEDS section. the first ad jumps out at you "MMEET ME AT THE CURSED FOUNTIN AT NOON. ~UR SECREWT LOVER~" woah, wonder who that's for. . . . . [[[maybe we should check out the LOT across the street->check out the LOT]]] (set: $MEMORY to 1)

good thing you REMEMBERED to bring gatorade (click-replace: "good thing you REMEMBERED to bring gatorade")[ you DRINK some of the gatorade] (click-replace: "you DRINK some of the gatorade")[you are no longer thirsty] (click-replace: "you are no longer thirsty")[[[keep going->keep going]]] (set: $THIRST to it -1)

good thing you REMEMBERED to bring water (click-replace: "good thing you REMEMBERED to bring water")[ you DRINK some of the water] (click-replace: "you DRINK some of the water")[you are no longer thirsty] (click-replace: "you are no longer thirsty")[[[keep going->keep going]]] (set: $THIRST to it -1)

you EAT the mystery pop. it has no taste but you are getting less THIRSTY. you feel GREAT. (if: $CAT is 1)[the cat PURRS loudly.] you are now IMMUNE to the effects of THIRST and HEAT. you feel a newfound POWER coursing through your veins. [[time to go to the beach >; )->exit near beach]] (set: $THIRST to -273.15) (set: $HEAT to -273.15) (set: $IMMUNE to 1)

(after:3s)[(link:'<img src="https://media.tenor.com/ZpBMkWyufhMAAAAC/dead.gif" style="display: block;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;width: 50%;">')[(t8n-depart:"dissolve")+(t8n-arrive:"blur")+(t8n-time:2s)(go-to:"start")]]

you look around the BASE of the fountain. there is something very very very small leaning against the marble. you squint, "MIPPY?!?? Wow, what are you doing here??" she ignores your question. "WAHT TOOK U SO LONNNNNNG?? I've been waiting here allllll afteroon and NOBODY came. I had my intern take out THREE ADS in the magaziens. I have to go meet my boyfriedn jellysprout and I LOST the jewel I made him at the beach. I send my interns to find it but NONE OF THEM came back. U HAVE THE JEWELLE, RIGHT????" (if: $PENDANT is 1 and $OFFERPENDANT is 0)[[[is this yours?(show pendant to MIPPY) ->show pendant]]] (if: $PENDANT is 1 and $OFFERPENDANT is 1)[[[MIPPY wtf are you talking about??(lie) ->lie pendant]]] (if: $PENDANT is 0)[[[MIPPY wtf are you talking about??->no pendant]]] (set: $MIPPY to 1)

you turn back towards the BEACH. finally you are ready to go out on the [[SAND]]

whew that was close, what if you'd gotten THIRSTY out there? [[[head for the DOOR->get hat?]]] (set: $WATER to it +1)

you are now VERY VERY VERY thirsty (click-replace: "you are now VERY VERY VERY thirsty")[you are now too WEAK to walk] (click-replace: "you are now too WEAK to walk")[you collapse in the SAND] (click-replace: "you collapse in the SAND")[the SUN beats down on you] (click-replace: "the SUN beats down on you")[your HAT can't save you now] (click-replace: "your HAT can't save you now")[(if: $CAT is 1)[the cat is GRINNING at you. his gaze pierces your psyche. ][[everything starts to go DIM->everything starts to go DIM]]]

you pick up the magazine. it is BEAUTIFUL. there are photos of a myriad of SEA LIFE on every page. you are ENTHRALLED. you flip to the back. there is a POEM and a CLASSIFIEDS section. [[read the POEM]] [[who cares about poems show me the CLASSIFIEDS]]

[[[head for the DOOR->get hat?]]]

{(set: $GATORADE to it +1) (set: $GATORADES to it -1) (set: $THIRST to it -1) }(if: $ATTENDANT is 0)[[you grab a gatorade and take a SIP. why not grab a SNACK, as long as the attendant isn't here->go to the snacks]] (if: $ATTENDANT is 1)[[you grab a gatorade and take a SIP. you are no longer THIRSTY. time to leave this HORRIBLE store. you SLINK out->exit near beach]](if: $CAT is 1 and $ATTENDANT is 1)[, the cat FOLLOWS you.]

you grab your HAT [[head for the DOOR]] (set: $HAT to 1)

you got the KEYS oh shit what if you get thirsty?? you need a DRINK [[fill water bottle]] [[get gatorade from fridge]] (set: $KEYS to 1)

whew that was CLOSE, what if you'd gotten thirsty out there? [[[head for the DOOR->get hat?]]] (set: $GATORADE to it +1)

WAIT, what about your HAT? [[get HAT]] [[fuck it i don't need HAT->head for the DOOR]]

(if: $HATLESS is > 0 and $TARP is 0)[[[you search the AREA. there is a big paper BAG on the ground. you FASHION a makeshift hat from the BAG->never mind all that let's go to the BEACH]]](if: $HATLESS is > 0 and $TARP is 1)[[[you FASHION a makeshift hat from your TARP->never mind all that let's go to the BEACH]]] (if: $HATLESS is 0 and $TARP is 0)[[[you search the AREA. there is a big paper BAG on the ground. you FASHION a makeshift hat from the BAG->never mind all that let's go to the BEACH]]](if: $HATLESS is 0 and $TARP is 1)[[[you FASHION a makeshift hat from your TARP->never mind all that let's go to the BEACH]]] (set:$PREBEACHHAT to 1)

you WALK straight ahead. the CAT follows you. you walk a few blocks. you are ENJOYING the scenery. the temperature is FAIR. you see a TARP lying on the sidewalk. [[pick up the TARP]] [[walk over it]]

you head LEFT. you walk a few steps. you see a SHINY new 10 dollar bill on the ground. [[pick it up]] [[better not touch it]]

you head RIGHT. you walk a few steps. you see a shiny new ACORN on the ground. [[pick it up]] [[who cares]]

you WALK back the way you came. everything is very LUSH and (text-colour:#82c91e)[GREEN]. you ADMIRE the greenery once more. the afternoon sun is (text-colour:yellow)[SHINING]. you bask in the LIGHT. (if: $CAT is 1)[the cat FOLLOWS not far behind you.] you come to that same five-way INTERSECTION. on one corner you see a vacant LOT. it is overgrown with SHRUBS and TALL GRASSES. there are grasshoppers SINGING and there is a gentle BREEZE nearby, in the shadow of a house you see a tattered MAGAZINE [[check out the LOT]] [[pick up the MAGAZINE]] (if: $SWIM is 0 and $PENDANT is 0)[[[never mind all that let's go to the BEACH->prebeachhat]]] (if: $HATLESS is > 0 and $IMMUNE is 0)[[[look around for something to use as a hat->gethat]]] (if: $HATLESS is > 0 and $TARP is 1 and $IMMUNE is 0)[[[use your TARP to fashion a makeshift HAT->gethat]]]

"too much WORK for too little PAYOFF", you say to yourself [[leave the BEACH->time to LEAVE]] [[REST a bit more]] [[go for a SWIM]]

you VENTURE down to the water. (if: $CAT is 1)[the cat remains by the SAND. ]the waves LAP agaist the shoreline, which stretches as far as you can SEE in both directions. there is PLENTY of sand here too. you can see something MOVING in the water a ways off shore. [[DIG in the sand]] [[go for a SWIM]]

you RUN to the water and dive in. it is WARM and SLIPPERY. you can SEE fish, crabs, lobsters, jellyfish, sea stars, snails, limpets, and sea cucumbers. you are surrounded by all manner of SEA LIFE. you love SEA LIFE. further out you can see SOMETHING moving. [[swim further out]] [[better head back in]] (set: $SWIM to 1)

oh shit right you need your KEYS [[get KEYS]] [[fuck it i don't need KEYS]] (set: $KEYS to 0) (set: $HAT to 0) (set: $HATW to 0) (set: $WATER to 0) (set: $GATORADE to 0) (set: $MEMORY to 0) (set: $TARP to 0) (set: $THIRST to 0) (set: $CAT to 0) (set: $ATTENDANT to 0) (set: $TOBLERONE to 0) (set: $WORM to 0) (set: $PENDANT to 0) (set: $PREBEACHHAT to 0) (set: $WATERS to 1) (set: $GATORADES to 69) (set: $HATLESS to 0) (set: $IMMUNE to 0) (set: $LOT to 0) (set: $CURSE to 0)) (set: $OFFERPENDANT to 0) (set: $MIPPYDONE to 0) (set: $FOUNTAINDRINK to 0)

there are only two kinds of DRINK in this dump. what gives? there are $GATORADES GATORADES and $WATERS WATER in the cooler [[take a gatorade->gatorbeach]] (if: $WATERS > 0)[[take a water->waterbeach]]

you move to the cooler. there are $GATORADES GATORADES and $WATERS WATER in the cooler [[take a gatorade->takegator2]] (if: $WATERS > 0)[[take a water->takewater2]]

you STUMBLE into the shop. there is a big sign that says "NO CATS" in the window. (if: $CAT is 1)[the cat FOLLOWS you in.] the shopkeep LOOKS up at you from her magazine. you can't HELP but notice that the magazine is called "OCEAN FLOOR". what's that about? she looks (if: $CAT is 1)[at the CAT, then ]at YOU. (if: $CAT is 1)[the shopkeep says "we don't allow CATS in here."] (if: $THIRST is > 0)[[tell her you're very thirsty]] (if: $CAT is 1)[[say nothing]]

you LOOK at the snacks. there are only two snacks in this good for nothing GAS station, a giant GUMMY WORM, and a TOBLERONE [[take the worm->wormbeach]] [[take the toblerone->toblerbeach]]

you open the DOOR and step OUTSIDE, it's a beautiful sunny (text-colour:#228be6)[SUMMER] day. the roads are (text-colour:grey)[EMPTY] of cars. the (text-colour:red)[CICADAS] are singing and a few big white (text-colour:white)[clouds] FLOAT overhead. everything is lush and (text-colour:#82c91e)[GREEN]. there's a (text-colour:#fd7e14)[HUGE] orange tomcat sitting next to your door. [[ask him how he is]] [[ask him to ACCOMPANY you]] [[ignore him]]

you are very very thirsty. there is a shop nearby that sells drinks. [[go to the shop]] [[i'll be fine, it's not a big deal]]

you are very very very thirsty (click-replace: "you are very very very thirsty")[you are now too weak to walk] (click-replace: "you are now too weak to walk")[you collapse on the ground] (click-replace: "you collapse on the ground")[that cat is GRINNING at you] (click-replace: "that cat is GRINNING at you")[his gaze pierces your PSYCHE] (click-replace: "his gaze pierces your PSYCHE")[[[everything starts to go DIM->everything starts to go DIM]]]

you LOOK at the snacks. there are only two snacks in this HORRIBLE shop, a giant GUMMY WORM, and a TOBLERONE [[take the worm->take the gummy worm]] [[take the toblerone]]

you INGORE the cat. he INGORES you. [[go RIGHT]] [[go LEFT]]

you keep moving further INTO the lot. the greenery is getting DENSER. the sound of the cicadas and grasshoppers is DEAFENING. (if: $CAT is 0)[you NOTICE it is getting darker.](if: $CAT is 1)[you notice the cat has LEFT your side.] you are SURROUNDED by thick greenery. you can't even tell you are in a city anymore. (click-replace:"you can't even tell you are in a city anymore.")[suddenly, you STUMBLE into the centre of the lot] (click-replace: "suddenly, you STUMBLE into the centre of the lot")[(link-replace:"you see a small clearing in front of you, at the far side is a short stone wall with a bubbling FOUNTAIN built into the side")[[[approach the FOUNTAIN->FOUNTAIN]]]]

you WALK a few blocks more. everything is very LUSH and (text-colour:#82c91e)[GREEN]. you ADMIRE the greenery. the sun is (text-colour:yellow)[SHINING]. you bask in the LIGHT. (if: $CAT is 1)[the cat FOLLOWS not far behind you.] you come to a five-way INTERSECTION. on the corner to your right you see a vacant LOT. it is overgrown with SHRUBS and TALL GRASSES. there are grasshoppers SINGING and there is a gentle BREEZE on your left, in the shadow of a house you see a tattered MAGAZINE [[check out the LOT]] [[pick up the MAGAZINE]] [[never mind all that let's go to the BEACH->prebeachhat]] (if: $HATLESS is > 0 and $IMMUNE is 0)[[[look around for something to use as a hat->gethat]]] (if: $HATLESS is > 0 and $TARP is 1 and $IMMUNE is 0)[[[use your TARP to fashion a makeshift HAT->gethat]]]

you walk for a few MINUTES. you are free of that damned CAT. you are ENJOYING yourself, but it is getting SUNNIER. the heat is becoming OPPRESSIVE. (if:$HAT >= 1)[[put on your HAT->put on your HAT]] (if:$HAT is 0)[[you are HATLESS. if only you'd REMEMBERED your hat. without it you will OVERHEAT. LOOK around for something to use as a hat ->gethat]]

you pick up the copy of VACANT LOT magazine. it is VERY STRANGE and BEAUTIFUL. there are photos of SHRUBS, GRASSES, and broken ASPHALT on every page. you are ENTHRALLED, you LOVE shrubs, grasses, and broken asphalt. you flip to the back. there is a POEM and a CLASSIFIEDS section. [[read the POEM->poembeach]] [[who cares about poems show me the CLASSIFIEDS->classifiedsbeach]]

"EEEEEEEK DON'T LIE TO ME I KNOW YOU FOUND IT!!!! I CAN SMELL THE BEACH ON YOU FROM HERE" you FAIL to trick her. "Sorry Mippy, I just feel bad is all. I put your pendant in the offering bowl and the FOUNTAIN took it." [["that's the LAST straw!!! ur FIRED!!!!! get OUT OF MY SIGHT!!!" she disappears behind a blade of grass->FOUNTAIN]] (set: $MIPPYDONE to 1)

(if: $FOUNTAINDRINK is 1)[you have a feeling that the wrong choice will have DIRE consequences] (if: $KEYS is 1)[[offer KEYS]] (if: $TARP is 1)[[offer TARP]] (if: $WATER > 0)[[offer WATER]] (if: $GATORADE > 0)[[offer GATORADE]] (if: $WORM > 0)[[offer WORM]] (if: $TOBLERONE > 0)[[offer TOBLERONE]] (if: $PENDANT is 1 and $MIPPYDONE is 0 and $OFFERPENDANT is 0)[[offer PENDANT]] (if: $FOUNTAINDRINK is 1)[[screw this i'm walking home->walk home]]

[[go for a WALK]]

(if:$PREBEACHHAT is 1)[that's better, your HAT protects you from the HEAT] [[you walk a few more BLOCKS. you are getting very close to the BEACH. there will be lots of SEA LIFE there. you love SEA LIFE. it is very SUNNY->BEACH]] (set: $HATLESS to 0)

"WHAAAT??? u don't HAVE it?? get ur BOOTIE down there adn LOOK FOR IT NOWWWWW" [[you have no choice, you run straight to the BEACH->BEACH]] (set: $CAT to 0)

you POUR about 3 inches of gatorade into the bowl. once you stop pouring, it SHIMMERS for a moment before spouting directly upwards into the sky. the HUM that filled the air a moment ago suddenly stops. stunned, you GAZE at the fountain's fish head centerpiece for a moment before realizing that you too are rising up, up, up into the air. SOON, you are so high up that you can't even make out your house below. it's cold up here, the air is very THIN, and you are getting light headed. (click-replace: "it's cold up here, the air is very THIN, and you are getting light headed.")[[[everything starts to go DIM->everything starts to go DIM]]]

you place your KEYS into the bowl. they start to VIBRATE and SPIN around. you start to say 'hmmm, i'm not sure this was...', but you're cut off mid-sentence. you can't move! the last thing you see is your feet and legs turning into metal. hope you struck a FLATTERING pose! (click-replace: "hope you struck a FLATTERING pose!")[[[everything starts to go DIM->everything starts to go DIM]]]

you place the PENDANT into the marble bowl. the humming around you CEASES. the pendant VANISHES before your eyes. [[nothing happened.->FOUNTAIN]] (set: $OFFERPENDANT to 1)

you FOLD up your tarp as small as it will go. it fits NEATLY over the top of the bowl without touching the ground. as you WAIT for something to happen, the WIND starts to pick up. the tarp stats to FLAP in the breeze. suddnely, a big GUST of wind picks up the tarp and blows it straight onto you. you FLAIL and STRUGGLE to escape the grasp of the tarp, but to no avail. the GRIP of the tarp is too strong to fight any longer. it's getting hard to BREATHE.(click-replace: "it's getting hard to BREATHE.")[[[everything starts to go DIM->everything starts to go DIM]]]

you remember the TOBLERONE stashed in your back pocket. surely, this will be a satisfactory offering. you PLACE the toblerone into the bowl. it's too long to fit! 'uhh, i hope that's not a problem', you mumble as a strange FEELING starts to wash over you. your arms press hard into your sides and your heels snap together as you feel your body shrinking and HARDENING. what a CRUEL fate, to be turned into a chocolate bar. as the tinfoil envelops you, you see that cat grinning at you. (click-replace: "as the tinfoil envelops you, you see that cat grinning at you.")[[[everything starts to go DIM->everything starts to go DIM]]]

you POUR some water into the bowl. instead of filling up the bottom, an EVEN LAYER forms over the whole inner surface. it SHIMMERS for a moment before being absorbed. the HUM that filled the air a moment ago stops suddenly. as you GAZE at the fountain's fish head centerpiece, a strange feeling comes over you, as if - like the water into the bowl - you yourself were being absorbed into the ground below you. (click-replace: "as you GAZE at the fountain's fish head centerpiece, a strange feeling comes over you, as if - like the water into the bowl - you yourself were being absorbed into the ground below you.")[[[everything starts to go DIM->everything starts to go DIM]]]

you remember the giant GUMMY WORM you grabbed earlier. surely, this will be a SUITABLE offering. you PLACE the worm into the bowl and stand back. you hear a delicate CHIME as the worm stirs. eel-like, it slithers out of the bowl and into the fountain! it SWIMS in the water for a moment before diving right into the mouth of the fish head centerpiece. the fountain begins to GLOW. soon the light is so bright that you can't see anything else. (click-replace: "soon the light is so bright that you can't see anything else.")[[[you're enveloped in the cleansing light of the WORM->you WIN]]]

the pendant GLINTS in the sun. there is a drawing of something VERY SMALL carved into it. it looks like a FIGURE but you can't quite make it out. the engraving underneath says (text-style:"bold","shadow","expand","flat")[FOR J -"M"] you POCKET the item [[go back to the SAND AREA->SAND]] (set: $PENDANT to 1) (if: $IMMUNE is 0)[(set: $THIRST to it +1)]

it was a clever TRAP (click-replace: "it was a clever TRAP")[a NET springs up around you] (click-replace: "a NET springs up around you")[you have been caught in a SNARE] (click-replace: "you have been caught in a SNARE")[that cat is GRINNING at you] (click-replace: "that cat is GRINNING at you")[his gaze pierces your PSYCHE] (click-replace: "his gaze pierces your PSYCHE")[[[everything starts to go DIM->everything starts to go DIM]]]

you pick up the copy of FOUNTAIN magazine. it is VERY STRANGE. there are photos of FOUNTAINS and STATUARY on every page. you DON'T CARE, you HAVE NO STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT fountains and statuary. you flip to the back. there is a POEM and a CLASSIFIEDS section. [[read the POEM->poembeach]] [[who cares about poems show me the CLASSIFIEDS->classifiedslot]]

you got the TARP. good thing too, there is a big hole under there. you can't see the bottom. you're very [[THIRSTY]] (set: $TARP to it +1) (set: $THIRST to it +1)

you begin to READ the poem. you are suddenly very TIRED. the poem is about the VACANT LOT nearby. the words are very SOOTHING. you are very very very TIRED (click-replace: "you are very very very TIRED")[you are now too TIRED to walk] (click-replace: "you are now too TIRED to walk")[you collapse to the GROUND] (click-replace: "you collapse to the GROUND")[(if: $CAT is 1)[the cat is GRINNING at you. his gaze pierces your psyche. ][[everything starts to go DIM->everything starts to go DIM]]]

you walk a few more blocks. you are ENJOYING yourself, but it is getting SUNNIER. the heat is becoming OPPRESSIVE. (if:$HAT >= 1)[[put on your HAT->never mind all that let's go to the BEACH]] (if:$HAT is 0 and $IMMUNE is 0)[[you are HATLESS. if only you'd REMEMBERED your hat. without it you will OVERHEAT. LOOK around for some thing to use as a hat->gethat]] (if:$HAT is 0 and $THIRST < 0)[[you are HATLESS. if only you'd REMEMBERED your hat. without it you will OVERHEAT. LOOK around for some thing to use as a hat ->gethat]] (set: $HATLESS to 1) (if:$IMMUNE is 1)[[i'll be FINE, i ate that WEIRD popsicle->prebeachimmune]] (set:$PREBEACHHAT to 1)

you keep walking in the same direction, towards the OCEAN on the corner to your right you see a vacant LOT. it is overgrown with SHRUBS and TALL GRASSES. there are grasshoppers SINGING and there is a gentle BREEZE on your left, in the shadow of a house you see a tattered MAGAZINE [[check out the LOT]] [[pick up the MAGAZINE]] [[never mind all that let's go to the BEACH]]

{(set: $HATW to 1) }you put on your HAT that's BETTER. you keep walking in the same direction, towards the OCEAN on the corner to your right you see a vacant LOT. it is overgrown with SHRUBS and TALL GRASSES. there are grasshoppers SINGING and there is a gentle BREEZE on your left, in the shadow of a house you see a tattered MAGAZINE [[check out the LOT]] [[pick up the MAGAZINE]] [[never mind all that let's go to the BEACH]]

you begin to READ the poem. you are suddenly very TIRED. the poem is about the SEA LIFE. the words are very SOOTHING. you are very very very TIRED (click-replace: "you are very very very TIRED")[you are now too TIRED to walk] (click-replace: "you are now too TIRED to walk")[you collapse to the GROUND] (click-replace: "you collapse to the GROUND")[that cat is GRINNING at you] (click-replace: "that cat is GRINNING at you")[[[everything starts to go DIM->everything starts to go DIM]]]

you exit the BEACH. there is an [[ICE CREAM STAND]] on the corner.

the CAT looks at the shopkeep. the SHOPKEEP looks at the cat. the cat's eyes PIERCE her psyche. she puts down her magazine, stands up, and walks into the back room, closing the door behind her. with the shopkeep GONE, the store BELONGS to you. you can take a DRINK or a SNACK (if:$WATER is 0 and $GATORADE is 0 and $THIRST is 0)[[take me to the snacks->i'm not thirsty]] (if:$WATER is 0 and $GATORADE is 0 and $THIRST is 0)[[take me to the drinks->go to the cooler1]] (if:$WATER >= 1 or $GATORADE >= 1)[[take me to the snacks->i'm not thirsty]] (if:$WATER is 1 and $GATORADE is 0)[[i've already got water, but what i really want is a gatorade->go to the cooler1]] (if:$WATER is 0 and $GATORADE is 1)[[i've already got gatorade, but what i really want is a water->go to the cooler1]] (if:$WATER is 0 and $GATORADE is 0 and $THIRST is 1)[[i'm very thirsty, take me to the drinks->go to the cooler1]] (if:$WATER is 0 and $GATORADE is 0 and $THIRST is 1)[[i can live without a free drink, i'll be fine, it's not a BIG DEAL->i'll be fine, it's not a big deal]] [[forget about all that i want to read OCEAN FLOOR magazine]]

you LOOK at the attendant but say nothing. he looks back down at his WEIRD magazine. you are TOO thirsty to care about his bull shit. you [[go over to the cooler->go to the cooler]]

you hand her the pendant "OH MY GOWD THAT'S IT!!!! BYEEEEEEeeee" [[she snatches it and disappears behind a blade of grass->FOUNTAIN]] (set: $MIPPYDONE to 1)

you get out of the WATER. you feel EXHAUSTED. you need a moment to rest. you lie FLAT on your back and watch the clouds DRIFT by as the surf licks your FEET. you stay like this for a few minutes. (click-replace: "you stay like this for a few minutes")[(link-replace:"phew, that's BETTER")[[[better head back in->better head back in]]]]

you swim FURTHER out. you can no longer see the SEA FLOOR. whatever was moving earlier is coming TOWARDS you. you are filled with FEAR. (if: $IMMUNE is 0)[(click-replace: "you are filled with FEAR.")[you turn around and start PADDLING back towards the shore](click-replace: "you turn around and start PADDLING back towards the shore")[but you aren't fast enough. the THING has caught up to you](click-replace: "but you aren't fast enough. the THING has caught up to you")[a TENTACLE wraps around your body](click-replace: "a TENTACLE wraps around your body")[(if: $CAT is 1)[just before ]the GIANT SQUID pulls you under(if: $CAT is 1)[, you see the CAT watching you calmly from the shore]](click-replace: "just before the GIANT SQUID pulls you under, you see the CAT watching you calmly from the shore")[[[everything starts to go DIM->everything starts to go DIM]]](click-replace: "the GIANT SQUID pulls you under")[[[everything starts to go DIM->everything starts to go DIM]]]] (if: $IMMUNE is 1)[(click-replace: "you are filled with FEAR.")[you turn around and start PADDLING back towards the shore](click-replace: "you turn around and start PADDLING back towards the shore")[you feel the POWER of the mystery pop. you are very FAST](click-replace: "you feel the POWER of the mystery pop. you are very FAST")[a TENTACLE reaches out for you, but you just avoid it](click-replace: "a TENTACLE reaches out for you, but you just avoid it")[you avoided the GIANT SQUID, how fortunate](click-replace: "you avoided the GIANT SQUID, how fortunate")[[[you are nearly back at shore, better get out of the water->squidescape]]]] (if: $IMMUNE is 1)[(set: $SQUID to 1)]

you TAKE a gatorade. the shopkeep gestures towards the door. you SLINK out the door(if: $CAT is 1)[ with the cat close behind]. you take a sip of gatorade. (set: $GATORADE to it +1) (set: $GATORADES to it -1) (set: $THIRST to it -1) [[keep going]]

"that was my last water" says the shopkeep. [["too bad, you should have thought of that before buying so much gatorade" (take the water anyway)]] [[take a gatorade instead->take a gatorade]] [[say nothing (take the water ANYWAY)]]

you take your GUMMY WORM and [[[exit the shop->keep going]]](if: $CAT is 1)[, the CAT follows behind you] (set: $WORM to it +1)

you take the TOBLERONE and [[[exit the shop->keep going]]](if: $CAT is 1)[, the CAT follows behind you] (set: $TOBLERONE to it +1)

[[you take a sip of gatorade and STUMBLE towards the exit. wait a second, with the shopkeep gone. you can also get a SNACK->i'm not thirsty]] (set: $GATORADE to it +1) (set: $GATORADES to it -1) (set: $THIRST to 0)

[[you take a sip of water and STUMBLE towards the exit. wait a second, with the shopkeep gone. you can also get a SNACK->i'm not thirsty]] (set: $WATER to it +1) (set: $WATERS to it -1) (set: $THIRST to 0)

the shopkeep says "get your drink and get out" you move to the cooler. there are $GATORADES GATORADES and $WATERS WATER in the cooler [[take a gatorade]] (if: $WATERS > 0)[[take a water]]

"i'm just here to get a drink, mister" you SAY. he says "i don't like your whole vibe, just get your drink and get out" [[go to the cooler]] [["MISTER i'm gonna kick your ass if you don't get out of my sight right now" (THREATEN the attendant)->THREATEN the attendant]]

past the ICE CREAM STAND there is a [[GAS STATION]]

the effects of the SUN and SAND are too much. your HAT no longer protects you. you are very very thirsty. you need a DRINK asap [[i'll be fine, it's not a big deal->fine beach]] [[retreat and look for a DRINK]]

you EXIT the beach(if: $CAT is 1)[ along with the CAT.] (if: $SWIM is 1)[[go back to the INTERSECTION]] (if: $THIRST > 0)[all that time at the beach made you THIRSTY, you need to do something about that](if: $THIRST <=0)[you are not thirsty...] (if: $THIRST > 0 and $WATER is 0 and $GATORADE is 0)[[go look for a DRINK->retreat and look for a DRINK]] (if: $THIRST > 0 and $WATER >= 1)[(link-replace:"take a drink of water")[(set: $WATER to it -1)you are no longer thirsty] ] (if: $THIRST > 0 and $GATORADE >= 1)[(link-replace:"take a drink of gatorade")[(set: $GATORADE to it -1)you are no longer thirsty] ] (if: $PENDANT is 0 or $SWIM is 0)[(click-replace: "you are no longer thirsty")[(link-replace:"you think about LEAVING, but something tells you there is MORE to do at the beach")[[[go down to the WATER->go down to the WATER]]]]] (if: $PENDANT is 0 or $SWIM is 0)[(click-replace: "you are not thirsty...")[(link-replace:"you think about LEAVING, but something tells you there is MORE to do at the beach")[[[go down to the WATER->go down to the WATER]]]]](if: $PENDANT is 1 and $SWIM is 1)[(click-replace: "you are not thirsty...")[(link-replace:"you think about LEAVING. a little voice tells you there is NOTHING left to do at the beach")[[[go back to the INTERSECTION->go back to the INTERSECTION]]]]] (if: $PENDANT is 1 and $SWIM is 1)[(click-replace: "you are no longer thirsty")[(link-replace:"you think about LEAVING. a little voice tells you there is NOTHING left to do at the beach")[[[go back to the INTERSECTION->go back to the INTERSECTION]]]]] (if: $THIRST > 0 and $WATER > 0 or $GATORADE > 0)[(set: $THIRST to -2)]

you take your TOBLERONE and [[[get out->exit near beach]]](if: $CAT is 1)[, the cat FOLLOWS you] (set: $TOBLERONE to it +1)

You WAKE with a start. You're lying on your couch. Did you really SLEEP the whole day? You feel very GROGGY and you can't recall laying down. The last thing you remember is thinking about going for a WALK (click-replace:"You WAKE with a start. You're lying on your couch. Did you really SLEEP the whole day? You feel very GROGGY and you can't recall laying down. The last thing you remember is thinking about going for a WALK")[a strange feeling washes over you. don't know quite how to describe it. after a few moments, you finally begin to feel like your old SELF again](click-replace:"a strange feeling washes over you. don't know quite how to describe it. after a few moments, you finally begin to feel like your old SELF again")[you blurt out 'Wow, I sure do love it here! I think I'll stay in PROVIDENCE forever!'](click-replace: "you blurt out 'Wow, I sure do love it here! I think I'll stay in PROVIDENCE forever!")[(link-replace:"'huh, that was WEIRD', you mumble")[[[THE END->THE END]]]]

'no way is this gonna work out in my favour', you say as you STUMBLE back out of the vacant lot. 'what a WEIRD place, i'm outta here!' you CONTINUE back the way you came until you reach your home. (if: $keys is 0)[you REACH into your pocket but your keys aren't there. 'did i leave them at home??' you mutter. no matter, your DOOR is wide open.] you go inside. everything SEEMS normal. you settle in and turn on the TV. (set: $MICKEYSFAVOURIEANIME to "MICKEYSFAVOURITEANIME") instead of the usual $$MICKEYSFAVOURIEANIME you see that damned orange CAT staring back at you! his gaze pierces your psyche. [[[everything starts to go DIM->everything starts to go DIM]]]

you step over the TARP (click-replace: "you step over the TARP")[it was a clever TRAP] (click-replace: "it was a clever TRAP")[the ground gives way below you] (click-replace: "the ground gives way below you")[you fall and fall and fall] (click-replace: "you fall and fall and fall")[you've fallen into a bottomless pit] (click-replace: "you've fallen into a bottomless pit")[[[everything starts to go DIM->everything starts to go DIM]]]

(set: $WATER to it +1) (set: $WATERS to it -1) (set: $THIRST to it -1) (if: $ATTENDANT is 0)[[you grab a water and take a SIP. why not grab a SNACK, as long as the attendant isn't here->go to the snacks]] (if: $ATTENDANT is 1)[[you grab a water and take a SIP. you are no longer THIRSTY. time to leave this HORRIBLE store. you SLINK out->exit near beach]](if: $CAT is 1 and $ATTENDANT is 1)[, the cat FOLLOWS you.]

you glance back at the cat. he WINKS, then he gets up. he looks READY to follow you [[ask the cat WHERE he wants to go]] [[leave him, just start WALKING]]

you flip to the CLASSIFIEDS section. the first ad jumps out at you "MMEET ME AT THE CURSED FOUNTIN AT NOON. ~UR SECREWT LOVER~" woah, wonder who that's for. . . . . (if: $THIRST > 0)[[[okay this is great but you're still thirsty->go to the cooler1]]] (if: $THRST is 0)[[[okay this is great it's time to check out the snacks->i'm not thirsty]]] (set: $MEMORY to 1)

you take your GUMMY WORM and [[[get out->exit near beach]]](if: $CAT is 1)[, the cat FOLLOWS you] (set: $WORM to it +1)

after a time the light FADES. you find yourself back at HOME, on your couch. you feel RELAXED and CONTENT. [[[everything is right with your life.->THE END]]]

{(set:$centipede to false) (set:$pterodactyl to false) (set:$brush to false) }the yard is peaceful and quiet. a [[cat]] sits licking its paw, and a nearby [[raccoon]] is rolling in some dead leaves in the well known popular style of elden ring. the sky is a hazy pink and you can see a pterodactyl flying peacefully beneath the clouds, distant, but possibly just close enough to shoot with a [[suitable long-range weapon]].

you try to think what this cat might be called. from its face it looks like it could be (link-replace:"called...")[called (link-reveal:"my shitty princess,")[ or (link-reveal:"captain colin,")[ or (link-reveal:"thuggy dongle,")[ or even (link-reveal:"pickle willy.")[ there is no way to really know. in a way, that's a relief. is it a new [[stray]], or has it escaped from the [[surplus cat management area]]?]]]]]

{(set:$centipede to true) }you defeat the raccoon easily, although it does briefly explode, causing a minor HP reduction. It drops the Cracked Romanticist (link-reveal:"Opera Duellist armor set")[, which you look fucking great in], (link-reveal:"a jelly centipede")[, delicious], and (link-reveal:"Bone Broth (5)")[, which you can use to upgrade your spirit mice]. The cat is startled by the rough and tumble of battle, bolting off down the street, yelling "eeeeehh!!" You wonder if you should check the [[surplus cat management area]] for missing inventory, or quickly [[shoot this stupid pterodactyl->suitable long-range weapon]].

You pull out your Kraber .50-Cal Sniper rifle and train its sights on the (link-reveal:"pterodactyl")[, but it dips behind a (link-reveal:"cloud.")[ An ominous high-pitched squeal comes from its mouth(click:"squeal")[ (link-reveal:"\"eeeeehh!!\"")[ You zipline to the roof of your neighbor's house, trying to get a better vantage point on the abominable sky lizard. The foul devil reptile is beginning to (link-reveal:"circle back")[ when you hear a pitiful leathery mewing coming from the (link-reveal:"other side of the roof.")[ You leap in that direction, landing in a defensive battle crouch behind an open (link-reveal:"Care Package container")[ Inside the Care Package container there's a [[baby pterodactyl]]]]]]]]]

you approach the passive-seeming cat, which continues to ignore you. you wonder if it would like to be [[petted]], or if you should just check the [[surplus cat management area]] instead.

You lazily swing open the door of (link-replace:"the cat warehouse.")[the cat warehouse,(link-reveal:" the stench and noise of hundreds of feral cats assaulting all of your senses at once.")[ (link-reveal:"you sometimes wonder if you've been pulled in too deep into this black market cat farm,")[ (link-reveal:"but sales have been satisfyingly strong recently.")[ You wonder if it would be best to [[check the cages for signs of an unauthorised cat exit transgression first]], or [[look at what is in the admin "out" box]].]]]]

as you lean in to pet the cat, it partially bares its teeth in a seemingly mocking grimace. you notice that it's not a stray, but has a tarnished silver name tag visible, lying flat againt the matted fur on the back of its neck. The tag bears the legend "Cory Maims". As the beast leaps at you, pain and confusion swim together in your startled mind, much as the pink of the sky and the blood running from your lacerated eyeballs also merge into one hideous watercolour wash of horror. [[THE END->start]]

The building extends for what looks like miles ahead of you, like those shots of an infinite warehouse in Indiana Jones, except with high walls of cats in cages instead of crates full of plundered ancient artifacts. You start walking down the nearest aisle, looking to see if any of the cages have been broken open. The smell of cat urine is slightly overpowering. Very quickly you're totally lost. Do you turn [[left]] or [[right]]?

You pick up a handful of files from the out box; these are the ones which should be due for transfer or release. Every cat here has its own information pack, and you look at these files with a sense of quiet pride; you know you've done a good job of drawing each and every fucking cat and making their file look appealing to potential blackmarket buyers. You've fucking nailed the graphic design, and the sheets of little stickers came out looking pretty dope too. None of these ones look like the cat you saw outside though. Suddenly the phone rings. You wonder if you should [[answer it]], or [[ignore it and check the cages for signs of an unauthorised escape->check the cages for signs of an unauthorised cat exit transgression first]].

(if:$centipede is true)[(set:$pterodactyl to true)You offer it the remains of the (link-reveal:"delicious jelly centipede.")[ It caws appreciatively as it swallows the tubular gummy treat, then casts you an (link-reveal:"adoring look.")[ It now not unreasonably believes you are its (link-reveal:"parent.")[ You stroke its outstretched (link-reveal:"head.")[ The adult pterodactyl is now no longer to be seen, so you [[zip-line back to the yard]].]]]]](else:)[It's a cutie! You (link-reveal:"reach out to pat it.")[ The ungodly Mesozoic menace is so fast to react that before you can catch a breath, its deadly beak has whiplashed across your field of vision, taking most of your throat with it. You fall backwards and slide slowly from your neighbour's roof, smearing a trail of fresh blood as you go, that last breath already a lost memory. If you are at all conscious, the last thing you hear is a piercing shriek from the Jurassic juvenile's grotesque blood-flecked maw, an unnatural cry in no known language, but which sounds strangely like a garbled shriek of "I'm the baby!" [[THE END->start]] ]]

You turn a couple of corners, suddenly seeing one of the centipod interns ahead of you. (click:"centipod interns")[Centipods are house centipedes which have been forcibly evolved to stand upright and be able to handle basic practical or administrative tasks within the cat farming business.{ }(click:"stand upright")[ This one is strikingly statuesque. (click:"statuesque")[Noticing you they gasp, and pull the box of cat biscuits they're holding reflexively up to their voluminous swelling breasts. (click:"voluminous swelling breasts")["Ah!!" they say. You figure you should probably say something reassuring.]{ }(click:"say something reassuring")[ You opt for a cheerful "Hey, how's it going?" (click:"Hey, how's it going?")[They gasp again and turn and run up the metal steps of the nearest gantry (used to access the forty stories of stacked-up cat cages), their chitinous boobs bouncing in panic. They seem distressed, you wonder if you should [[follow them]], or [[leave them to their work]] and carry on checking cages.]]]]]

You head right, but suddenly your feet hit something heavy and you trip. What the hell was that?? It was Bready, taking a nap in the warehouse! "Dammit Bread, get out of here boy!" you shout. As Bread runs off deeper into the maze-like warehouse, you notice that he has a Magic The Gathering card that you don't recognise stuck to one of his back legs. It looked like it was an entirely new land type. You're tempted to give in to your curiosity and [[chase Bread to get a better look at the card]], but perhaps you should [[continue on with checking for empty cages->left]].

You answer the phone. It's Brishanna in the sales dept. She's explaining that the client at the national ski flume centre is happy with the huge patch of Chicken Finger you've designed them, but now they're saying they'll need it bigger. There's a new type of ski flume jacket coming onto the market next year which everyone will be wearing, and it will be twice the size of a normal jacket, so the 60x40 design you've provided will need to be at least 60% larger, and with five more colors. You tell Brishanna that you'll deal with it, then (link-reveal:"hang up.")[ What to do next? You ponder if you should [[redesign the patch from scratch]] or head to the ski flume centre and [[aggressively explain to the client in person how to simply increase the image size by 60%]].]

You grab some paper and head out of the warehouse to look for Chicken Finger, as well as some general inspiration for the new patch. (click:"new patch")[You don't know much about ski-flume culture. It's kind of a weird, confusing mix of winter sports and a water park. You think that a drawing of Chicken Finger chilling in a pool could work. (click:"pool")[Yeah, looking cool at the pool seems like a safe bet. Timeless, right? You jump in the Rav and head for the leisure centre. You get Bread to drive so that you can start scratching out some ideas on the edge of an old pizza leaflet. (click:"ideas")[You're in a creative focus-tunnel but are rudely startled from your diligent labour by the sound of a siren. What the hell??{ }(click:"What the hell")[ Seems like the cops are behind you, signalling for you to pull over. You wonder what they could want. (click:"pull over")[Bread pulls in to a layby and you wind down the windows. "Hey mister!" shouts the cop. You suddenly remember that Bread doesn't have a license and shouldn't technically be driving (although, technically-speaking, his driving is actually perfect). Should you try to [[talk your way out of this]], or [[just tell Bready to hit the gas?]]]]]]]

{(set:$brush to true) }"Hey Mister!" shouts the cop. "This fell from the roof of your vehicle" he says, and reaches through the window to pass a brush to Bread. "Oh god, I'm so sorry!!" you say. You're suddenly remembering that you still owe 2 or 3 "brush Bread" redeems to your loyal Twitch chatters, who have mostly been stoically silent on the matter, despite the obvious pain and ongoing psychic deterioration it naturally has caused them.{ }(click:"psychic deterioration it naturally has caused them")[ You make a mental note to Brush bread at least 2 or 3 times when you get home. "Thank you officer!" you shout, and you continue on your way to [[the pool]].]

Bread slams his paw down and you screech off back onto the highway. In the rear-view mirror you see the cop on his knees, sobbing and holding his clenched hands to the sky. Bread looks very cool. Honestly, you kind of do too. Shortly, you pull off onto a supply road and see [[the pool building->the pool]] in the distance.

You land and put away your rifle. The cat is there again, seemingly unperturbed. is it a new [[stray]], or has it escaped from the [[surplus cat management area]]?

You take a deep breath, then when you reach the next small upward hump in the flume, you shift your body weight and somehow find the momentum to leap over next to Bread on the parallel track. Honestly, you're not really sure how exactly you do it, but not thinking about it too much definitely helps. (click:"not thinking about it too much definitely helps")[You grab onto Bread's butt and you both shoot into a dark pipe just in time, with the frustrated monsters snapping at your rapidly disappearing asses. The ice on the floor of the pipe starts to accumulate more into snow and you find yourselves gradually slowing to a halt. (click:"slowing to a halt")[An automatic light comes on and you see you're in front of an elevator door.{ }(click:"elevator door")[ Entering, the lift carries you upwards for a couple of minutes, until eventually the door opens again and you realise you're stepping into the Branding office. Hurray! Even better, you're pretty sure you've just had an amazing idea for a new patch design. (click:"a new patch design")[You pull out your spirit loom and shake your magical bone broth snowglobe, thus summoning your hard-working spirit mice. You let them probe your mind discreetly, their ethereal whiskers tickling your brain, and then they set to work weaving the patch you've mentally designed. (click:"weaving the patch you've mentally designed")[It's the perfect size, about 100x60, and shows a dynamic Bread in a cool visor, doing a backflip on his skis through a geometric pattern of silver pterodactyls and glittering snowflakes. The wavy text at the bottom reads "Flume Dog Life=Skill". It's perfect. (click:"It's perfect")[You pet Bread gratefully. You see the Flume-Centre design staff walking towards you with an oversized cheque and flutes of champagne. You're exhausted. And you really need the loo. But this all seems to have worked out pretty well this time! [[THE END->start]]]]]]]]

You decide it's best to keep to your lane. How the hell would you make it over to Bread's flume? You can't do cool tricks like he does. Daft dog. You feel like you've been descending forever, but you finally reach the bottom, where the flume immediately begins another sharp ascent. You really have some momentum happening now, and even seem to have finally shaken off the pesky pterodactyls, purely with your speed. You think idly of how much your route through the park so far has reminded you of a Marbles On Stream map, and so aren't hugely surprised when you find yourself reaching the flume's peak and being rudely catapulted off the end into an empty void. This really isn't how this should end, you think to yourself. The void gives no reply. [[THE END->start]]

You slowly begin to climb after them. The steps go up in alternating diagonals giving access to the service platforms to reach the cages, and they're already a couple of levels above you, their rich, husky panting getting ever fainter. You continue upwards. (click:"upwards")[When you finally reach the top level, some 20 metres up, you're also starting to feel a little out of breath. The first thing you see, however...{ }(click:"The first thing you see")[ is an empty cage! (click:"an empty cage")[Aha! You dip your head to look at the info card on the cage front. (click:"cage front")[As you peer at it, however, you hear an ominous squeaking rustle from both sides. You're surrounded by looming centipods{ }(click:"centipods")[, the one you followed is stood behind some others, their balloon-like chest heaving and an anxious look on their flushed insectoid face. You stand up straight and try a chirpy "Whassup guys!" (click:"Whassup guys!")[The breasty centipod moves to the front of the aggressive-looking crowd. They lean in towards your face, and you feel their hot breath against your cheek, and a scent like warm orange Gatorade, as their mandibles close in a forceful nip on your neck, sending a powerful venom coursing into your body. (click:"powerful venom")[Time seems to slow to one improbable unending second with everything that happens next seeming as if in an awful fractured dream. You feel multiple wriggling appendages grab you as at least two angry centipods lift you aloft, their muscular myriapod limbs for once serving nature's original intentions, rather than the twisted economic demands of a boutique hobbyist black market cat factory that's somehow spiralled out of control. A small dribble of drool leaks from the corner of your mouth and down your nose as they throw your limp body from the gantry. As you fall you wonder how you could ever get out of this. (click:"how you could ever get out of this.")[(if: $pterodactyl is true)[Time still seems to move slowly, and despite the ground being only some 20 metres beneath you, it feels like whole minutes pass as you feel the soft air rush around your falling body. Still only semi-conscious from the effects of the toxic venom, you laugh a little at the surreal feeling as your body seems to briefly rise back up again. Opening your eyes, you see that you've actually been caught by a huge pterodactyl, which is flying you back out of the door of the warehouse into the warm daylight. It places you carefully on the roof of your neighbor's house, where the baby pterodactyl squeals a friendly welcome. You're gravely ill and can feel your consciousness slipping away. In your half-aware state, the prehistoric pre-schooler appears like an angel as it regurgitates some jelly centipede for you, lovingly poking it into your slack mouth. You breathe your last breath, happy in the knowledge that you were loved. [[THE END->start]]](else:)[Time still moves slowly, and the 20 metre drop seems to last nearly a lifetime. You have one last seemingly-unending thought of the undulating pillowy centipod boobs before your mind snaps to a whip-sharp black nothingness as your body hits the floor with a deadly thud. [[THE END->start]]]]]]]]]]]

"Oh well", you think. Sometimes it's best not to make the mistake of projecting too many human emotions or motivations onto the centipods, even if they do have surprisingly stacked racks for a sexy upright insect. Stupid sexy insects. You walk down another couple of long aisles of cages, then are surprised to find that you're back at the warehouse entrance. Poking your head outside into the yard, it's obvious that the cat is long gone anyway. Oh well. This has all been a lot of hard work and you really need the loo, and you suddenly fancy some orange gatorade too (weird), so you head back into the house for a well-earned rest. [[THE END->start]]

You run off after Bread, who is heading down a side aisle, setting off all of the nearby cats to yowling and mewing. He's heading towards an old grain chute that leads to an opening high in a side wall of the warehouse. (click:"opening")[Seeing his furry butt wiggle through swiftly the hole, you figure you'd better follow him up. You don't actually even know what's on the other side of the wall.{ }(click:"other side of the wall.")[ Something to do with grain? This is only supposed to be a cat farm godammit. You climb the chute and follow Bread through the hatch in the wall. (click:"hatch in the wall.")[On the other side is another huge room. Bread has run out across a narrow wooden beam that extends from the opening, a sheer drop beneath. You start to edge out onto the beam to follow him, wary not to fall. Peering below, you notice that you're walking over some large tanks. It occurs to you that it'd be terrible if you slipped now. You're not sure how lucky you're feeling. (click:"how lucky you're feeling.")[Before you even have time to work out the odds of your luck being this bad, you've slipped on the glossy Magic card, which had fallen from Bread's tail and onto the beam. You tumble into the churning tank below with a desperate cry: "eeeeehh!!" (click:"churning tank")[You land with a soft thud in what appears to be a huge tank full of Magic cards, most of which look totally unfamiliar to you. Has your housemate started producing and selling blackmarket trading cards too?? Why didn't they tell you? As you scramble to grasp handfuls of them, you feel yourself sinking deeper into the tank, unable to move your legs due to the crushing pressure. Soon the cards are up to your neck and you can't move your arms. You can see one with a pretty cool painting of a sort of gangly thorn-covered spirit whippet, but you know you could've drawn it better. "Goddamn it" you think as your face slowly sinks beneath the surface of its vice-like cardboard grave, a muffled woof from Bread the last thing you hear. [[THE END->start]]]]]]]

You park by the pool and head past the reception and up the stairs to the pool area. It all looks absolutely perfect, with the 80s hair metal playing and the many multi-coloured lights reflecting on the water while the sun beats through the open roof. Now you just need one more thing. (click:"one more thing")[Chicken Finger. (click:"Chicken Finger")[You look around the pool and see that Chicken Finger is sitting at the top of one of the lifeguard towers, a small group of children in the water below, laughing and splashing as they shout his name and point. You shout his name too. (click:"You shout his name")["Chicken Finger!!" (click:"Chicken Finger!!")[Chicken Finger drops down the ladder and trots around the pool towards you, occasionally stopping to reflexively shake a little water off a paw with a resigned grimace. You explain the job and the pose you need to Chicken Finger{ }(click:"pose")[, pointing out the rubber ring you'd like them to recline on. Chicken Finger seems unconvinced. (click:"unconvinced")[They're not sure about going too near the water. (click:"near the water")[You wonder how you can convince them. (click:"how you can convince them")[(if:$brush is true)[(display:"brush")](else:)[(display:"nobrush")]]]]]]]]]

Unfortunately, it seems like Chicken Finger's being a bit of a little bitch about the whole thing. They love it at the pool, but aren't so keen on the water. Eventually however you convince them to go into the water on Bread's back. Bread jumps in with a loud splosh. (click:"loud splosh")[You and Chicken Finger both climb on board, and Bread begins to zoom you both around the pool. (click:"zoom you both around the pool")[(The speed that you're travelling is a little disorientating, but you pull out your spirit loom and set to work on the new patch design.) (if:$centipede is true)[(display:"nobrush broth")](else:)[(display:"nobrush nobroth")]]]

Oh, great idea, you remember that you have Bread's brush and that Chicken Finger likes to be groomed too. (click:"groomed")[You scratch them all over with the brush, which they greately enjoy. They start to drool a little but also their fur is starting to sparkle with a definite "cool guy" vibe. They hop into the inflatable ring and float out into the centre of the pool. You pull out your spirit loom. (click:"spirit loom")[(if:$centipede is true)[(display:"brush broth")](else:)[(display:"brush nobroth")]]]

You shake your magical bone broth snowglobe. The subsequently summoned spirit mice appear on Bread's back and rapidly take their positions at the loom and begin embroidering the patch. Unfortunately they're only at level 4 and Bread starts to struggle a little under the extra weight. You need to get this patch done quickly! fortunately they're fast workers, but you still watch a little nervously as the patch starts to take shape. (click:"take shape")[It's big, at least 80x50, not quite as big as you wanted, but it'll probably do. It's looking decent, at least. (click:"looking decent")[The image appearing shows Chicken Finger and Bread frollicking semi-submerged in the water, not looking particularly cool but at least they're having fun. Well, you hope that the ski-flume execs are gonna like it. Hey, [[who fucking knows]].]]

You shake your magical bone broth snowglobe, which you were able to upgrade to +5 after defeating the Cracked Romanticist raccoon. The subsequently summoned spirit mice rapidly take their positions at the loom and begin embroidering the patch, drawing generously on the strong "cool vibes" in the vicinity. Such good workers! You watch as the massive patch starts to take shape. (click:"take shape")[It's huge, at least 100x60, and looks sick as hell. You're very pleased with it. (click:"very pleased with it")[The final image shows Chicken Finger wearing shades and doing finger guns whilst slowly spinning on the ring against a dazzling rainbow emerald background, with a vertical side legend reading "Let's get em boys!!" You know that the ski-flume execs are gonna fucking love it. Good job!! Now there's little else to do but head to the cocktail lounge for a refreshing Mountain Dew. You wander off in that direction. Bread has jumped into the pool and you chuckle at the sight of him swimming towards Chicken Finger, children screaming and splashing as he passes them. All in all, it's been a pretty good day! [[THE END->start]]]]

You shake your magical bone broth snowglobe. It's only at level 4 but it pretty much gets the job done. The subsequently summoned spirit mice rapidly take their positions at the loom and begin embroidering the patch, drawing generously on the strong "cool vibes" in the vicinity. Such good workers! You watch as the massive patch starts to take shape. (click:"take shape")[It's big, at least 80x50, not quite as big as you wanted, but it'll do. You're pretty pleased with it. (click:"pretty pleased with it")[The final image shows Chicken Finger looking cool and aloof in a suave "Running Man" pose on the ring, with disco lights and fruit around them. You hope that the ski-flume execs are gonna like it. Hey, who fucking knows. You help Chicken Finger out of the pool and start to dry them off with your t-shirt. with hindsight, you hadn't really thought this through. Ah well, maybe you'll take Bready and Chicken Finger home and treat all of you to a Gatorade powder. It feels like things worked out pretty okay in the end! [[THE END->start]]]]

You shake your magical bone broth snowglobe. The subsequently summoned spirit mice appear on Bread's back and rapidly take their positions at the loom and begin embroidering the patch. thankfully you were able to upgrade them to +5 after defeating the Cracked Romanticist raccoon, meaning that Bread barely notices the extra weight. They're good workers, and you watch with satisfaction as the large patch starts to take shape. (click:"take shape")[It's huge, at least 100x60, and looks pretty dope. (click:"pretty dope")[The final image shows Chicken Finger and Bread wearing shades and shooting across the pool together, with scattered semi-legible text reading "zoomin life". The image is slightly blurred from all the movement, and including Bread wasn't in the brief, but you think the ski-flume execs are still probably gonna like it. [[Phew, good job!!]]]]

(if:$onionbait is true)[ (if:$toblerbait is true)[ (go-to:"ending3") ](else:)[ (go-to:"ending2") ]](else-if:$toblerbait is true)[ (go-to:"ending1") ](else:)[ (go-to:"Cast!") ]

You grab Bread and jump in the rav and drive to the ski flume centre. The sport has really blown up in the past year, so you're kind of interested to see what all the fuss is about. It's a bit of a drive, but you listen to some It's a bit of a drive, but you listen to some Carly Rae Jepsen, so the time flies by{ }(click:"flies by")[ and you soon arrive at the National Ski-Flume Centre. You and Bread head straight through the foyer, following the signage pointing to the Branding Dept, which leads you to to an elevator. (click:"an elevator")[The elevator seems to go (link-reveal:"up")[ and (link-reveal:"up")[ and (link-reveal:"up")[ and up forever, until finally you exit onto a metal platform high up near the cloud line. (click:"cloud line")[You're looking out over a massive elaborate flume park covering a huge area, with multiple water or snow-filled open flumes and pipes with long downward descents leading into shorter upwards curves or snaking around in loop de loops like a roller coaster. An assistant asks where you're going and you tell them you're looking for the Branding Dept. (click:"Branding Dept.")[They provide you and Bread both with long skis, as well as a grapple system that reminds you of the zip line functionality from Apex, used to attach at a distance to mobile drones that will help you up some of the steeper inclines. The assistant briefly explains the route, then you step into the shallow running water at the top of the first slide and [[you're off!]]]]]]]]]

Bread is a natural and shoots ahead of you. You take it a little slower to start with but soon start to get the hang of it and catch him up a little, even managing a small loop while only briefly getting stuck. As a drone is pulling you up one of the steeper flumes, there's suddenly an announcement that the arena is closing, and startled, you see that the edge of the sphere is indeed closing in. (click:"indeed closing in")[(link-reveal:"Fuck!")[ It's bad timing, you really need to get to the branding office! On a parallel track, you also think you see a ghostly vision of Helltran passing you by, before realising it must just be a record of her winning time on this course. This is [[so weird!]]]]

You go down a fast slope into a corkscrew then slowly ascend towards another very high flume peak, again pulled by the drone. Where the hell is the branding office? As you draw nearer the top of this particularly high flume, you look to the low clouds that touch its peak and see some bird-like shapes. (click:"bird-like shapes")[On reaching the top you realise that they're actually pterodactyls, and they look angry! So it's a relief to see that the other side of the peak is a similarly high and steep drop back downwards and away from the Triassic terrors. You're also entering a snow zone, with the ice lining the flume adding slightly less friction to the skis, making you move even faster. Nonetheless, the maniacal monsters fly at you noisily and aggressively, making you unsteady on your skis as you're buffeted by the air from their leathery flapping wings as they (link:"pass close by.")[ (if:$pterodactyl is true)[(go-to:"pterodactyl")] (else:)[(go-to:"nopterodactyl")] ]]

Suddenly a smaller pterodactyl flies before you (click:"flies before you")[ - it's the baby from the roof of your neighbour's house! It's been reunited with its family! The aerial abberations aren't angry, they're cawing at you appreciatively. (click:"appreciatively")[One of them grabs the neck of your hoodie in its beak and lifts you off the flume. (click:"off the flume")[It flies you towards a high-up nearby building with the other four or five adults and the baby ptero flying with you in formation. This has given you a great idea! (click:"a great idea")[You can already imagine a new bigger patch design with an image of you on your skis being carried by the winged beast. Who cares about Chicken Finger - they're a menace! The centre is going to love this! (click:"The centre is going to love this!")[The dinosaurs drop you at the entrance to the Branding and Design office, and the baby gives you an affectionate nip with its beak before they fly off back into the clouds. You walk into the office feeling confident and energised about your new patch idea. (click:"new patch idea")[So it comes as a surprise to see that Bread is already there, stood with a few staff members fussing around him. But not only that (click:"not only that")[ - behind Bread is a huge patch, that seems freshly made. It looks a bit like your style but they've obviously gotten someone else to do it, and it shows Bread on his skis, flying in a corkscrew through a spiral of colourful stars. What the fuck? (click:"What the fuck")[Suddenly your mobile rings. It's Brishanna. (click:"Brishanna")[She explains that the centre has found a new design they love, and no longer require your services. As you hang up, you see a few burly security guards wearing rapid-fire gun-skis coming towards you. It's obviously time to leave. (click:"time to leave")[Oh brother! [[THE END->start]]]]]]]]]]]]

The group of lairy lizards is getting closer with each pass, snapping at you with their razor-sharp beaks, circling you and the flume in ever tighter circles. What the hell do you do? (click:"What the hell do you do?")[Suddenly, from your left, there's a loud woof. (click:"loud woof")[It's Bready, on a parallel track! He looks super-cool, shooting along so naturally on his skis. He barks again. It sounds like he says "jump!" Should you [[risk it]], or [[stay your course?]]]]

Suddenly you hear a shout from the side of the pool. It's the cop! He's looking pretty angry, and is pointing to a "strictly no dogs in the pool" sign.{ }(click:"strictly no dogs in the pool")[ you tell bread to get out, and he leaps in an elegant gazelle-like arc, landing on the side with you and chicken finger still clinging to his back. He shakes himself vigorously{ }(click:"shakes himself vigorously")[, you both manage to hold on but the cop shrieks "eeeeehh!!" as he is splashed with small but rapidly moving amounts of water. Stashing the finished patch up your shirt, you direct the spirit mice to turn their attention to the police officer.{ }(click:"turn their attention to the police officer")[ he shrieks again as they swarm over him, using the spirit loom magic to unstitch his physical being. there's a humming blur of fleshy pinks and police blues as he's gradually unravelled, eventually falling in a pile of tangled puce-coloured crochet remnants on the poolside floor. you take this as your cue to leave. it's been a wild kind of day! but you got your job done, and now it's time to drive you all home, perhaps you'll cook up a hearty pumpkin and two onions bone broth to warm you all up, and you can all have a good laugh about your fun day. [[THE END->start]]]]]

Suddenly you hear a shout from the side of the pool. It's the cop! He's looking pretty angry, and is pointing to a "strictly no dogs in the pool" sign.{ }(click:"strictly no dogs in the pool")[ you tell bread to get out, and he struggles to the side with you all still on his back, eventually slowly climbing out. You wonder if you can just run past this police dweeb. You notice that the mice have just finished the patch. But oh no! What the fuck is this?? (click:"What the fuck is this??")[The cop has knocked the spirit mice's creative focus off balance, and they've ended up including him at the edges of the final patch design. This is not good.{ }(click:"This is not good")[ Cops are a notoriously disliked group within the worlds of both casual and competitive ski-flume sports, everyone knows that. Hey, maybe you can say it's ironic. Oh well. (click:"Oh well")[This has not gone well, the spirit mice are starting to complain, and now you really need the loo. You decide to give the mice one last instruction, and feel a sense of relief from life's pressures as they rapidly begin the task, knitting you and Bready and Chicken Finger into a nearby towel. Existence as a two-dimensional embroidered figure will be limited, but at least it will allow you to chill out for a bit, and it's somewhere where the cops and ski-flume execs will never find you. [[THE END->start]]]]]]

{(set:$ducks to (a:"(text-rotate-z:2)[Mathy- a cool (link-reveal:'duck')[(append:?ducks)[(print:$ducks's $duckcount)(set:$duckcount to it + 1)]];]"," (text-rotate-z:-1)[Donut- a (link-reveal:'duck')[(append:?ducks)[(print:$ducks's $duckcount)(set:$duckcount to it + 1)]] from out of town,]"," (text-rotate-z:1)[Dirkie- a (link-reveal:'duck')[(append:?ducks)[(print:$ducks's $duckcount)(set:$duckcount to it + 1)]] named after Micky's mom;]"," (text-rotate-z:2)[and Edvvard- smart for a (link-reveal:'duck')[(append:?ducks)[(print:$ducks's $duckcount)(set:$duckcount to it + 1)]].]"," (text-rotate-z:-1)[there is also SPHINX, who is a (link-reveal:'monument oracle')[(append:?ducks)[(print:$ducks's $duckcount)(set:$duckcount to it + 1)]].]"," There is also a [[pond]].")) (set:$duckcount to 1) }GRAVEYARD DUCKS is about some ducks that live in a graveyard. They are: []<ducks| (click:"They are")[(append:?ducks)[(print:$ducks's $duckcount)(set:$duckcount to it + 1)]]

{(set:$duckcount to 1) }(font:"DotGothic16")[GRAVEYARD DUCKS by mickey zacchilli] <div style="display:flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center;width:100%;text-align:center;">[ << ]<left| [<img src="jared/graveyardducks-1.jpg" style="max-width:80% !important">]<graveyard| [ >> ]<right|</div> <div style="text-align:center;">[<img src="jared/misc-01.jpg" style="width:25%">]<ads|</div>{ (click-rerun:?left)[(if:$duckcount > 1)[(replace:?graveyard)[{ (set:$duckcount to it - 1) (set:$link to '<img src="jared/graveyardducks-' + (text:$duckcount) + '.jpg" style="max-width:80% !important">') $link }]]] (click-rerun:?right)[(if:$duckcount < 14)[(replace:?ads)[{ (if:$duckcount < 3)[(replace:?ads)[<img src="jared/misc-01.jpg" style="width:25%">]] (else-if:$duckcount < 6)[(replace:?ads)[<img src="jared/misc-02.jpg" style="width:25%">]] (else-if:$duckcount < 9)[(replace:?ads)[<img src="jared/misc-03.jpg" style="width:25%">]] (else-if:$duckcount < 12)[(replace:?ads)[<img src="jared/misc-04.jpg" style="width:25%">]] (else:)[(replace:?ads)[<img src="jared/misc-05.jpg" style="width:25%">]] }](replace:?graveyard)[{ (set:$duckcount to it + 1) (set:$link to '<img src="jared/graveyardducks-' + (text:$duckcount) + '.jpg" style="max-width:80% !important">') $link }]](else:)[(go-to:"afterword")]]}

(after:1s)[mothers news !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (after:time+1s)[no!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (after:time+1s)[my fav newspaper!!!!!!!! (after:time+1s)[a great run to say the least! mothers news is my fav newspaper that ran a great run, and contained my fav writing and my fav comics…………….. (click:"comics")[including my own comic graveyard ducks, certainly the best comic strip i’ve ever stripped, hopefully to someday be continued!!!!!!! (after:time+1s)[maybe in an alternate reality version of (link-reveal:"mothers news")[ altho mothers news is gone and i am sad, you can still support mothers news’ editor and various future endeavors by buying stuff like old copies and mugs and tees!! (click:"future endeavors")[SEE U IN THE SKY, MOTHERS NEWS!!!!!!! (after:time+.5s)[<3(after:time+.5s)[<3(after:time+.5s)[<3(after:time+.5s)[<3 (after:time+1s)[. (after:time+.5s)[. (after:time+.5s)[. (after:time+1s)[[[THE END->start]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

{(set:$headphones to false) }Your bed lies partially made in the corner, inviting you to partake in slumber's sweet embrace, if only for a moment. (link:"Take a nap")[You settle in to the once beguiling bed sheets only, looking for the right position to be just comfortable enough that you can doze without falling asleep completely. Something is off however, and you toss and turn, becoming more exhausted by the effort. Suddenly, with a loud crack, the window springs open and a gusty wind blows into the room, swirling around your bed and lifting it into the air and out the suddenly massive window. The bed flies spinning through the air and you hang on for dear life. You sail through the sky on your bed, flying over countryside, water and mountains. You eventually gently land in a forest clearing. [[Shout to see if anyone is around]] [[Explore quietly]]]

{(set:$dialogue to (a: "You hear an angry response from up in a tree, \"Shut up! You're disturbing my nap!\"", "\"Yay! Somebody's here!\" you cry out. You run from tree to tree til you come across a thin striped orange cat with a runner's build lounging in a tree. The cat is wearing a pair of wooden blocks on its ears, like a pair of headphones. The cat is bald. [[Ask who the cat is]] [[Ask about the headphones]]" )) (set:$step to 1) }"Hey, is anyone around?!" you call out. Your voice carries through the wood and you hear no response. You call out again, "Hey is anyone here!?"[]<next| ==> (text-style:"buoy")[▼]<continue|{ }(click-rerun:?continue)[(append:?next)[ (print:$dialogue's $step)(set: $step to it + 1)(if:$step > $dialogue's length)[(replace:?continue)[]]]]

You creep silently through the forest. You eventually come across a tree with a thin striped orange cat sleeping in it. The orange cat has a runner's buildand is wearing a pair of wooden blocks on its ears, like a pair of headphones. The cat is bald. [[Push the cat off the tree and into the nearby stream]] [[Steal the cat's headphones]] [[Wake the cat up]]

You stealthily ascend the lower branches of the tree just below the cat. Holding your breath, you deftly snatch the blocks from the cat's head. You dash off in to the forest before the cat can wake up. Once you are on your own, you see inside the blocks several birds tweeting a song. The song is "Talk that Talk" by Twice. After a few moments of you staring, the birds fly away, and the blocks are silent. [[Continue on->village]]

"Shut up! You're disturbing my nap!" The cat grumbles and glances in your direction sleepily. [[Ask who the cat is]] [[Ask about the headphones]]

You stealthily ascend the lower branches of the tree just below the cat. Holding your breath you give the cat a sharp shove and it goes flying out above the grass and splashing into the river with a shriek. "Aaaah!!! Aaah!! NOOOO!!" The cat screams as it bobs under the water, coming back up only one more time to mournfully cry "Glub, my one weakness, drowning!" You are horrified by what you have done. You slowly wander through the forest in a daze. [[village]]

{(set:$dialogue to (a: "\"You want to know who I am? What a joke! Don't you recognize my stripes? I'm the boss of this forest, Michael Magnificat!\" He raises his arms to stretch from his nap, but loses balance and topples out of the tree, falling on his head. He snaps up, grasping his head, \"Owie ow ow!\"", "\"Are you okay?!\" you ask. \"Shut up!\" He straightens up, dusting himself off and trying to play it off like his fall was on purpose. (if: (history:) contains \"Ask about the headphones\")[{ }[[Ask about a way out of the forest]]](else:)[{ }[[Ask about the headphones]]]" )) (set:$step to 1) }"So, who are you?" you ask.[]<next| ==> (text-style:"buoy")[▼]<continue|{ }(click-rerun:?continue)[(append:?next)[ (print:$dialogue's $step)(set: $step to it + 1)(if:$step > $dialogue's length)[(replace:?continue)[]]]]

"Oh, these?" A smug grin spreads across his face as he pulls them off, exposing the inside of the blocks. Inside you see several small birds tweeting raucously a certain tune that after a few moments you recognize as "Talk that Talk" by Twice. "I bet you are jealous!" (if: (history:) contains "Ask who the cat is")[{ }[[Ask about a way out of the forest]]](else:)[{ }[[Ask who the cat is]]]

{(set:$dialogue to (a: "Something suddenly occurs to him as he looks you over and a look of fear falls across his face.", "\"You're dangerous! Keep back!\" He runs up the nearest embankment with only partial success.", "\"I'm not dangerous!\" you say.", "\"Then what is that black belt for?!\" he cries with increasing panic.", "Before he can get further into his convulsion, you both hear a high pitched tune that you soon realize is a flute. A look of genuine fear replaces itself on his face.", "\"That's the Terror Witch's cop! Or, as we like to call it, the T-Witch cop! We have to get out of here!\" He drags you into nearby shrubbery and as you both hide there, you see a tall man dressed as a bug float by, riding on a flying log.", "\"Look!\" He points and you see another cat near the river, lounging unawares. Suddenly, the bug man points his wand at the cat, and with a pulse of light, the cat is transformed into one of those rubber band balls, but with a mysteriously humanoid shape.", "\"He's been banded! We have to get out of here!\" he whispers furiously to you.", "\"Ever since that guy has shown up, he has been turning all the creatures of the forest into rubber band balls! He's a real jerk. They say he works for the terror witch, but who knows why they want everyone to be rubber band balls.\"", "The cat leads you to the edge of the forest. \"Get going! You should be thankful the boss of the forest took an interest in you!\" He looks like he is about to go then looks at you thoughtfully. ", "\"Here, take this as a souvenir. It might come in handy.\" He removes his wooden block headphones. The birds look like they are about to fly away, but he suddenly snaps an until now unseen cover over the holes, trapping the birds within. \"Don't let them escape!\"(set:$headphones to true) [[Continue on->village]]" )) (set:$step to 1) }"A way out of the forest huh?" He looks you up and down. "I've never seen the likes of you before, you're a suspicious character!"[]<next| ==> (text-style:"buoy")[▼]<continue|{ }(click-rerun:?continue)[(append:?next)[ (print:$dialogue's $step)(set: $step to it + 1)(if:$step > $dialogue's length)[(replace:?continue)[]]]]

You stumble out of the forest into a picturesque scene of a village along the coast. You walk down the slope, and you realize that it has been almost 30 minutes since you drank any water. You fall to your knees. One of the villager children runs up to you with a bottle of 9.5 PH water. "Are you okay?? Have a sip!!" He offers the water to you. [[Sip]] [[Don't sip]]

{(set:$dialogue to (a: "\"Quick, lets hide in here!\" The villager guides you to a cluster of barrels and you both jump in one.", "\"I'm Jarody. I am sorry to say, but that sinister guy out there is my brother. He left the village a long time ago, but then came back working for the terror witch. I have no idea why!\"", "You hear the hear the familiar whistle of the flute, but this time it has a odd quality to it that makes you feel dizzy.", "\"Oh no! His flute will hypnotize us! What can we do?!\" (if:$headphones)[{ }[[Think of something!->gotheadphones]]](else:)[Unable to resist the allure of the flute playing a tune that sounds suspiciously like Hips Don't Lie by Shakira, you stand up out of your barrel, as does Jarody. The barrels topple over and begin rolling down the hill, with you in them, eventually crashing into a well at the center of town. The two of you slowly get up, entranced by the music. You turn toward the twitch cop and start walking. He turns and shoots you both with a beam, transforming you into rubber band balls. [[you wake up in your bed, more tired than you were before->start]]]" )) (set:$step to 1) }You take a long sip of the bottle and are fully refreshed. Just in time too, as you suddenly hear the cries of other villagers and then spy the sinister silhouette of the bug themed witch's apprentice zooming around on his log.[]<next| ==> (text-style:"buoy")[▼]<continue|{ }(click-rerun:?continue)[(append:?next)[ (print:$dialogue's $step)(set: $step to it + 1)(if:$step > $dialogue's length)[(replace:?continue)[]]]]

30 minutes? That isn't that long. Come on. You think these things to yourself as you push the bottle away. "I'm fine." you hear yourself say. A worried expression sets upon the villager's face. "Well if you are sure..." You suddenly hear the cries of other villagers and then spy the sinister silhouette of the bug themed witch's apprentice zooming around on his log. "Quick, lets hide in here!" The villager guides you to a cluster of barrels. He jumps in one and directs you to follow. Dizzy with thirst, you trip, smashing face first into the side of the barrel. The twitch cop glances in your direction and fires off a beam of blue light, which strikes you in the rear, transforming you into a rubber band ball in the shape of one who has just faceplanted. [[you wake up in your bed, more tired than you were before->start]]

You prudently wait until dark. You casually walk through the empty town until you reach the harbor. There are two ships at the harbor, but it is too dark to see which ship is the one the rubber band balls went into. It is also too dark to see the signs labeling the ships. You would get closer but... There is a man standing between the ships with his back turned to you. Call out to the man? [[Hey Mister!]] [[Sneak into the left ship->Board the ship for terror island]] [[Sneak into the right ship->Board the ship for the ends of the earth]]

You make your way to the harbor by dashing from rolling band ball to band ball, many times just barely dodging out of view of the flying twitch cop. There are two ships at the harbor. You see a sign by the docks indicating that that the ship on the left is bound for terror island, and the ship on the right is bound for "The Ends of the Earth". You see that the rubber band balls are bouncing into the ship bound for terror island. [[Board the ship for terror island]] [[Board the ship for the ends of the earth]]

{(set:$dialogue to (a: "As you disembark from the ship, you and Jarody dash through the castle, dodging a dragon shaped robot that periodically bursts through walls and shoots fireballs at you. The two of you narrowly escape each time and finally end up in what one might consider a \"boss room\" (wide circular arena). With a sense of deep foreboding and a touch of nostalgia you can't quite comprehend, a sinister skeletal figure floats into view.", "\"Eee Hee Hee, I am the terror witch! If you can guess my real name I'll spare your life!\" [[High Lord Wolnir->exewrong]] [[Sans Undertale->exewrong]] [[Skelly from Hades->exewrong]] (if: (history:) contains \"Board the ship for the ends of the earth\")[[Revenant from Apex]]" )) (set:$step to 1) }You board the ship (if:(history:) contains "Wait until dark")[on the left](else:)[to terror island], making your way past piles of rubber bands everywhere. You didn't notice it at first, but its almost as if the entire ship is made of rubber bands. You and Jarody settle in for the voyage, napping behind a crate that oddly reminds you of a certain athletic yet glabrous (that means bald) cat you encountered previously. You can't help but be struck by the injustice of the situation.[]<next| ==> (text-style:"buoy")[▼]<continue|{ }(click-rerun:?continue)[(append:?next)[ (print:$dialogue's $step)(set: $step to it + 1)(if:$step > $dialogue's length)[(replace:?continue)[]]]]

{(set:$dialogue to (a: "\"Oh ho ho! Why, we're heading for the ends of the earth!\" Bellows an oddly Captain Nemo-esque ships master.", "The cruise is pleasant, and you disembark in a cool desert lined coastal town. As you walk down shore you come upon a small green haired lion lounging in a pool chair with a tropical drink.", "\"Oh, hey, I thought you might be coming this way. I am Emily the knowledgeable Sphinx. Remember when we all played apex together? That was fun right?\"", "You are not sure what this sphinx is talking about but you chit chat for a while and then eventually make your way back to the harbor. You see that there is now a ship bound for terror island. [[Stay at the ends of the earth]] [[Go to terror island->Board the ship for terror island]]" )) (set:$step to 1) }You board the right ship. As you make your way around you realize there are no sign of any rubber band balls anywhere. Are they hidden? But you soon realize.. You picked the wrong ship.[]<next| ==> (text-style:"buoy")[▼]<continue|{ }(click-rerun:?continue)[(append:?next)[ (print:$dialogue's $step)(set: $step to it + 1)(if:$step > $dialogue's length)[(replace:?continue)[]]]]

{(set:$dialogue to (a: "As the figure turns around, the man's face is revealed to be hideous mass of rubber bands. He sticks out his fingers and rubber bands shoot out and wrap around you, slowly crushing the life out of you.", "Nevertheless, you think to yourself, \"it was worth it\". [[you wake up in your bed, more tired than you were before->start]]" )) (set:$step to 1) }You call out to the figure with your classic catch phrase "Hey Mister!"[]<next| ==> (text-style:"buoy")[▼]<continue|{ }(click-rerun:?continue)[(append:?next)[ (print:$dialogue's $step)(set: $step to it + 1)(if:$step > $dialogue's length)[(replace:?continue)[]]]]

You and Jarody accept the futility of battling such an otherworldy force, and mourn the demise of his family by living the easy vacation life a tourist town provides. You two end up working for Emily the knowledgeable sphinx as scuba instructors and parasailing guides. [[you wake up in your bed, more tired than you were before->start]]

{(set:$dialogue to (a: "You rush forward, realizing this is your old friend Revenant.", "\"I'm sorry... Its just that... Its been so long... There was no other way to get your attention... I hope you will forgive me!\"", "Revenant explodes into ash, deleted from the game. All the rubber band balls around you suddenly begin shining with a white light. As the light diminishes, you see all the villagers and animals in their place, unharmed. Jarody is overjoyed.", "The knowledgeable sphinx walks up, licking a lollipop.", "\"He was sustained only by his hatred for you for abandoning him. Once he saw that you had remembered him, he had nothing left to keep him going.\" Emily places a paw on your shoulder.", "\"Now you must move on to the next story. Farewell!\" [[A white wind begins swirling around you, and before you know it you are back in your bed, back in your room, fully rested.->start]]" )) (set:$step to 1) }"Aaaaugh!!" A light flashes around the terror witch and they fall to the ground.[]<next| ==> (text-style:"buoy")[▼]<continue|{ }(click-rerun:?continue)[(append:?next)[ (print:$dialogue's $step)(set: $step to it + 1)(if:$step > $dialogue's length)[(replace:?continue)[]]]]

WRONG! The creature shrieks and you instantly transform into a rubber band ball, with a pop. [[you wake up in your bed, more tired than you were before->start]]

(font:"Aleo")[The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog] (font:"Bitter")[Waltz, bad nymph, for quick jigs vex.] (font:"Crimson Text")[Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.] (font:"DotGothic16")[How vexingly quick daft zebras jump!] (font:"Lato")[Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.] (font:"Lora")[The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog] (font:"Noto Sans")[Waltz, bad nymph, for quick jigs vex.] (font:"Overpass Mono")[Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.] (font:"PT Serif")[How vexingly quick daft zebras jump!] (font:"Playfair Display")[Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.] (font:"Poppins")[The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog] (font:"Press Start 2P")[Waltz, bad nymph, for quick jigs vex.] (font:"Roboto Slab")[Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.] (font:"Zilla Slab")[How vexingly quick daft zebras jump!]

{(set:$goodtimes to (a:"(t8n:\"fade\")[When you first got him.]", "(t8n:\"fade\")[ When you put a silly object on his head.]", "(t8n:\"fade\")[ When he caught something in the air in a cool way.]", "(t8n:\"fade\")[ When he barked at a scarecrow for 2 hours.]", "(t8n:\"fade\")[ When he did an ollie at your wedding.]", "(t8n:\"fade\")[ When he nuzzled you when you were (link-reveal:\"sad\")[ (from eating too many cannolis) (after:time+2s)[(t8n:\"fade\")[You keep petting, and he gently wakes up. He doesn’t move, he just opens his eye, looks at you, wags his tail a bit, and smiles. (after:time+1s)[(t8n:\"fade\")[You two enjoy a nice, quiet minute together. (after:time+1s)[.(after:time+1s)[.(after:time+1s)[. (after:time+1s)[(t8n:\"fade\")[Thanks for playing my twine game, mickey. Hbd! ([[Happy bread dog->start]])]]]]]]]]]]]")) (set:$times to 1) }(after:1s)[(t8n:"fade")[You walk over to Bread. (after:time+1s)[(t8n:"fade")[He’s lying peacefully in a sunny spot, snoozing the day away. (after:time+1s)[(t8n:"fade")[You sit next to him and give him gentle pets, so you don’t wake him. (after:time+1s)[(t8n:"fade")[His fur looks golden in the sunlight. It reminds you of (link-reveal:"toast")[… toasted bread. (after:time+1s)[(t8n:"fade")[You remember some [(link-rerun:"good times")[{ }(if:$times is $goodtimes's length)[(replace:?goodtimes)[good times](append:?times)[(print:$goodtimes's $times)]](else:)[(append:?times)[(print:$goodtimes's $times)](set:$times to it+1)]]{ }]<goodtimes| with him. []<times|]]]]]]]]]]]

{(set:$dialogue to (a: "However, the other villagers are not so lucky. After the twitch cop zooms off, you look out to see piles of rubber band balls everywhere. All of the sudden, to the tune of the flute, the balls begin bouncing and rolling toward the docks. You see down there a sinister looking ship. As you look over to Jarody, you see tears streaming from his eyes.", "\"My whole family was banded...\" He wipes the tears from his eyes. \"They are going to the ship in the harbor. I don't know where it goes. Won't you help us?!\" [[Sneak into the harbor now]] [[Wait until dark]]" )) (set:$step to 1) }Thinking quickly, you pull out the wooden block headphones given to you by Michael. You jump into the same barrel as Jarody and push your heads together, snapping a block on each of your ears. The bird chirping drowns out the flute playing (and brings you closer to Jarody) and the two of you are able to manage to resist the urge to walk out into the square.[]<next| ==> (text-style:"buoy")[▼]<continue|{ }(click-rerun:?continue)[(append:?next)[ (print:$dialogue's $step)(set: $step to it + 1)(if:$step > $dialogue's length)[(replace:?continue)[]]]]

You feel a sudden rush of nostalgia.{ }(click:"nostalgia")[ Let’s boot up... (after:time+1s)[Apex Legends. (after:time+1s)[A popup announcing a new update appears. Install? [[Yes]] (link:"Cancel")[uhhh, it seems you can’t skip this, bummer. Why the hell do they add a cancel button then?]]]]

You look impatiently to the loading screen, anticipating all the shooting and sliding that will happen in a a few moments. Something feels unfamiliar tho. Did they change the font? You try to look closer, but then a strange glitch breaks the image into a sequence of flashing colors. Then it fades to black. Some fanfare starts playing. This is gonna be one of those videos that introduces a new season... But you don’t recall reading of any announcement of a new season yet. What is going on? Some silhouette of a character wearing an absurdly large hat appears. A new Legend? But then there’s the voice…{ }(click:"voice")[ “HEY MISTER” (after:time+1s)[No. (after:time+1s)[It can’t be. (after:time+1s)[You start sweating. Your mind is spinning. (after:time+1s)[That’s unmistakably YOUR voice. [[Freak out and log out.->start]] [[Keep playing]]]]]]]

Oh right, that Legend is definitely you. What ultimates is she gonna have? Guess that when you sold rights to your likeness for EA and did mocap and recorded those lines they were gonna use it somehow. You take a gold bar from the stash of cash you’re sitting in and give it to Bread for him to play with while you shoot and loot with your avatar. [[THE END->start]]