<<nobr>>
<<set $gamechapter = "Chapter One: The Beginning of the End">>
<div class="centered-image">
[img[images/intro.png]]
</div>
<</nobr>>
A soft knock on your door pulls you out of a deep sleep. You jerk awake, groggy as you blink at the celing. Your childhood room stares back at you as you sit up, running a tired hand down your face. Early morning sunlight pours through the window, and you realize you'd slept like the dead since you got home late last night.
You hear your mom calling your name on the other side of your door, her voice full of barely-restrained excitement.
What name does she use?
<div class="choice">[[Choose from male names.]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Choose from female names.]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Choose from neutral names.]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Input your name...|choose own name]]</div>\by Dakota Smith<span class="foo">$gamechapter</span><<set $gamechapter to "Chapter One: ">>
<<set $mentalhealth to 10, $maxMentalhealth to 100>>
<<newmeter 'mental_health' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Mental Health: $mentalhealth %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<set $name to "">>
<<set $nickname to "">>
<<set $surname to "">>
<<set $bmonth to "">>
<<set $ftopsurg to false>>
<<set $mtopsurg to false>>
<<set $female to false>>
<<set $male to false>>
<<set $ftm to false>>
<<set $mtf to false>>
<<set $ftnb to false>>
<<set $mtnb to false>>
<<set $nb to false>>
<<set $agender to false>>
<<set $theirs to "">>
<<set $theyre to "">>
<<set $themself to "">>
<<set $they to "">>
<<set $their to "">>
<<set $them to "">>
<<set $They to "">>
<<set $Theyre to "">>
<<set $Their to "">>
<<set $Them to "">>
<<set $hair_c to "">>
<<set $hair_l to "">>
<<set $hair_p to "">>
<<set $hair_s to "">>
<<set $eye_c to "">>
<<set $skin_c to "">>
<<set $height to "">>
<<newmeter 'mom_friend' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Friendship: $mom_friend %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<set $mom_friend to 80, $maxMom_friend to 100>>
<<set $metkiran to false>>
<<set $metcami to false>>
<<set $metaub to false>>
<<set $metkendall to false>>
<<set $metconnor to false>>
<<set $metrei to false>>
<<set $metjosie to false>>
<<set $metmorgan to false>>
<<set $metryn to false>>
<<set $metemery to false>>
<<set $kiran_friend to 50, $maxKiran_friend to 100>>
<<set $kiran_love to 0, $maxKiran_love to 100>>
<<set $cami_friend to 20, $maxCami_friend to 100>>
<<set $cami_love to 0, $maxCami_love to 100>>
<<set $aub_friend to 30, $maxAub_friend to 100>>
<<set $aub_love to 0, $maxAub_love to 100>>
<<set $kendall_friend to 10, $maxKendall_friend to 100>>
<<set $kendall_love to 0, $maxKendall_love to 100>>
<<set $connor_friend to 10, $maxConnor_friend to 100>>
<<set $connor_love to 0, $maxConnor_love to 100>>
<<set $rei_friend to 20, $maxRei_friend to 100>>
<<set $rei_love to 0, $maxRei_love to 100>>
<<set $josie_friend to 20, $maxJosie_friend to 100>>
<<set $josie_love to 0, $maxJosie_love to 100>>
<<set $morgan_friend to 50, $maxMorgan_friend to 100>>
<<set $morgan_love to 0, $maxMorgan_love to 100>>
<<set $ryn_friend to 20, $maxRyn_friend to 100>>
<<set $ryn_love to 0, $maxRyn_love to 100>>
<<set $emery_friend to 20, $maxEmery_friend to 100>>
<<set $emery_love to 0, $maxEmery_love to 100>>
<<set $intelligence to 5, $maxIntelligence to 100>>
<<set $physical_strength to 5, $maxPhysical_strength to 100>>
<<set $dexterity to 5, $maxDexterity to 100>>
<<set $charm to 5, $maxCharm to 100>>
<<set $pride to 50>>
<<set $impulse to 50>>
<<set $humor to 50>>
<<set $kind to 50>>
<<set $emotional to 50>>
<<set $guile to 50>>
<<set $kiran_isfemale to false>>
<<set $kiran_ismale to false>>
<<set $kiran_malefemale to "">>
<<set $kiran_manwoman to "">>
<<set $kiran_menwomen to "">>
<<set $kiran_boygirl to "">>
<<set $kiran_sondaughter to "">>
<<set $kiran_capsondaughter to "">>
<<set $kiran_fathermother to "">>
<<set $kiran_brothersister to "">>
<<set $kiran_husbandwife to "">>
<<set $kiran_heshe to "">>
<<set $kiran_hisher to "">>
<<set $kiran_himher to "">>
<<set $kiran_hesshes to "">>
<<set $kiran_caphisher to "">>
<<set $kiran_capheshe to "">>
<<set $kiran_caphesshes to "">>
<<set $kiran_himherself to "">>
<<set $caminame to "Unknown">>
<<set $cami_isfemale to false>>
<<set $cami_ismale to false>>
<<set $cami_malefemale to "">>
<<set $cami_manwoman to "">>
<<set $cami_menwomen to "">>
<<set $cami_boygirl to "">>
<<set $cami_sondaughter to "">>
<<set $cami_capsondaughter to "">>
<<set $cami_fathermother to "">>
<<set $cami_brothersister to "">>
<<set $cami_husbandwife to "">>
<<set $cami_heshe to "">>
<<set $cami_hisher to "">>
<<set $cami_himher to "">>
<<set $cami_hesshes to "">>
<<set $cami_capheshe to "">>
<<set $cami_caphisher to "">>
<<set $morgan_isfemale to false>>
<<set $morgan_ismale to false>>
<<set $morgan_malefemale to "">>
<<set $morgan_manwoman to "">>
<<set $morgan_menwomen to "">>
<<set $morgan_boygirl to "">>
<<set $morgan_sondaughter to "">>
<<set $morgan_capsondaughter to "">>
<<set $morgan_fathermother to "">>
<<set $morgan_brothersister to "">>
<<set $morgan_husbandwife to "">>
<<set $morgan_heshe to "">>
<<set $morgan_hisher to "">>
<<set $morgan_himher to "">>
<<set $morgan_hesshes to "">>
<<set $morgan_capheshe to "">>
<<set $morgan_caphisher to "">>
<<set $morgan_hesshes to "">>
<<set $kendall_isfemale to false>>
<<set $kendall_ismale to false>>
<<set $kendall_malefemale to "">>
<<set $kendall_manwoman to "">>
<<set $kendall_menwomen to "">>
<<set $kendall_boygirl to "">>
<<set $kendall_sondaughter to "">>
<<set $kendall_capsondaughter to "">>
<<set $kendall_fathermother to "">>
<<set $kendall_brothersister to "">>
<<set $kendall_husbandwife to "">>
<<set $kendall_heshe to "">>
<<set $kendall_capheshe to "">>
<<set $kendall_hisher to "">>
<<set $kendall_himher to "">>
<<set $kendall_hesshes to "">>
<<set $kendall_capheshe to "">>
<<set $kendall_caphisher to "">>
<<set $rei_isfemale to false>>
<<set $rei_ismale to false>>
<<set $rei_malefemale to "">>
<<set $rei_manwoman to "">>
<<set $rei_menwomen to "">>
<<set $rei_boygirl to "">>
<<set $rei_sondaughter to "">>
<<set $rei_capsondaughter to "">>
<<set $rei_fathermother to "">>
<<set $rei_brothersister to "">>
<<set $rei_husbandwife to "">>
<<set $rei_heshe to "">>
<<set $rei_hisher to "">>
<<set $rei_himher to "">>
<<set $rei_hesshes to "">>
<<set $ryn_isfemale to false>>
<<set $ryn_ismale to false>>
<<set $ryn_malefemale to "">>
<<set $ryn_manwoman to "">>
<<set $ryn_menwomen to "">>
<<set $ryn_boygirl to "">>
<<set $ryn_sondaughter to "">>
<<set $ryn_capsondaughter to "">>
<<set $ryn_fathermother to "">>
<<set $ryn_brothersister to "">>
<<set $ryn_husbandwife to "">>
<<set $ryn_heshe to "">>
<<set $ryn_hisher to "">>
<<set $ryn_himher to "">>
<<set $ryn_hesshes to "">>
<<set $emery_isfemale to false>>
<<set $emery_ismale to false>>
<<set $emery_isnonbinary to false>>
<<set $emery_malefemalenb to "">>
<<set $emery_manwomannb to "">>
<<set $emery_menwomennb to "">>
<<set $emery_boygirlperson to "">>
<<set $emery_sondaughterchild to "">>
<<set $emery_capsondaughterchild to "">>
<<set $emery_fathermotherparent to "">>
<<set $emery_brothersistersibling to "">>
<<set $emery_husbandwifespouse to "">>
<<set $emery_heshethey to "">>
<<set $emery_hishertheir to "">>
<<set $emery_himherthem to "">>
<<set $emery_hesshestheyre to "">>
<<set $aubname to "Unknown">>
<<set $aub_isfemale to false>>
<<set $aub_ismale to false>>
<<set $aub_isnonbinary to false>>
<<set $aub_malefemalenb to "">>
<<set $aub_manwomannb to "">>
<<set $aub_menwomennb to "">>
<<set $aub_boygirlperson to "">>
<<set $aub_sondaughterchild to "">>
<<set $aub_capsondaughterchild to "">>
<<set $aub_fathermotherparent to "">>
<<set $aub_brothersistersibling to "">>
<<set $aub_husbandwifespouse to "">>
<<set $aub_heshethey to "">>
<<set $aub_hishertheir to "">>
<<set $aub_himherthem to "">>
<<set $aub_hesshestheyre to "">>
<<newmeter 'Intelligence' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Intelligence: $intelligence %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'Physical_strength' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Physical strength: $physical_strength %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'Dexterity' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Dexterity: $dexterity %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'Charm' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Charm: $charm %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'kiran_friend' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Friendship: $kiran_friend %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'kiran_love' 1>>
<<colors '#ffb6c1'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Romance: $kiran_love %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'cami_friend' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Friendship: $cami_friend %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'cami_love' 1>>
<<colors '#ffb6c1'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Romance: $cami_love %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'morgan_friend' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Friendship: $morgan_friend %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'morgan_love' 1>>
<<colors '#ffb6c1'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Romance: $morgan_love %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'kendall_friend' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Friendship: $kendall_friend %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'kendall_love' 1>>
<<colors '#ffb6c1'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Romance: $kendall_love %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'aub_friend' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Friendship: $aub_friend %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'aub_love' 1>>
<<colors '#ffb6c1'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Romance: $aub_love %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'rei_friend' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Friendship: $rei_friend %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'rei_love' 1>>
<<colors '#ffb6c1'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Romance: $rei_love %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'connor_friend' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Friendship: $connor_friend %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'connor_love' 1>>
<<colors '#ffb6c1'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Romance: $connor_love %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'ryn_friend' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Friendship: $ryn_friend %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'ryn_love' 1>>
<<colors '#ffb6c1'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Romance: $ryn_love %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'emery_friend' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Friendship: $emery_friend %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'emery_love' 1>>
<<colors '#ffb6c1'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Romance: $emery_love %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'josie_friend' 1>>
<<colors '#92B2BB'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Friendship: $josie_friend %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<newmeter 'josie_love' 1>>
<<colors '#ffb6c1'>>
<<sizing '18rem' '1.5em'>>
<<label 'Romance: $josie_love %'>>
<</newmeter>>
<<set $toldmom to false>>
<<set $sandwiches to "">>
<<set $rememberwaffles to false>>
<<set $showerch1morning to false>>
<<set $shower to "">>The Unseelie<<widget "are">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>are<<case false>>is<</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "were">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>were<<case false>>was<</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "s">><<switch $plural>><<case true>><<case false>>s<</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "fair_minus">><<fair_plus $args[0] -$args[1]>><</widget>>
<<widget "opposed_stat">><<nobr>>
<div class="statBar"><<set _args2 to Math.round($args[2])>>
<div style="float:right"> $args[1] <<= 100 - _args2>>% </div>
<div class="statLeftBg" @style="'width:' + _args2 + '%'"> </div>
<div> $args[0] _args2%</div>
</div>
<</nobr>><</widget>>
<<widget "intelligence">><<set $intelligence to Math.clamp($intelligence + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "physical_strength">><<set $physical_strength to Math.clamp($physical_strength + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "dexterity">><<set $dexterity to Math.clamp($dexterity + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "charm">><<set $charm to Math.clamp($charm + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "pride">><<set $pride to Math.clamp($pride + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "impulse">><<set $impulse to Math.clamp($impulse + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "humor">><<set $humor to Math.clamp($humor + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "emotional">><<set $emotional to Math.clamp($emotional + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "guile">><<set $guile to Math.clamp($guile + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "kind">><<set $kind to Math.clamp($kind + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "mental_health">><<set $mentalhealth to Math.clamp($mentalhealth + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "mom_friend">><<set $mom_friend to Math.clamp($mom_friend + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "kiran_friend">><<set $kiran_friend to Math.clamp($kiran_friend + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "kiran_love">><<set $kiran_love to Math.clamp($kiran_love + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "cami_friend">><<set $cami_friend to Math.clamp($cami_friend + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "cami_love">><<set $cami_love to Math.clamp($cami_love + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "kendall_friend">><<set $kendall_friend to Math.clamp($kendall_friend + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "kendall_love">><<set $kendall_love to Math.clamp($kendall_love + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "morgan_friend">><<set $morgan_friend to Math.clamp($morgan_friend + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "morgan_love">><<set $morgan_love to Math.clamp($morgan_love + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "aub_friend">><<set $aub_friend to Math.clamp($aub_friend + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "aub_love">><<set $aub_love to Math.clamp($aub_love + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "josie_friend">><<set $josie_friend to Math.clamp($josie_friend + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "josie_love">><<set $josie_love to Math.clamp($josie_love + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "connor_friend">><<set $connor_friend to Math.clamp($connor_friend + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "connor_love">><<set $connor_love to Math.clamp($connor_love + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "ryn_friend">><<set $ryn_friend to Math.clamp($ryn_friend + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "ryn_love">><<set $ryn_love to Math.clamp($ryn_love + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "rei_friend">><<set $rei_friend to Math.clamp($rei_friend + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "rei_love">><<set $rei_love to Math.clamp($rei_love + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "emery_friend">><<set $emery_friend to Math.clamp($emery_friend + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>
<<widget "emery_love">><<set $emery_love to Math.clamp($emery_love + $args[0], 0, 100)>><</widget>>[[you]]
[[your relationships]]
[[index]]<<nobr>>
<<if $surname is "">>
You still feel like you're half asleep...
<br>
<<else>>
<<if $nickname is "$name">>
You are <<print $name>> <<print $surname>>.
<br>
<<elseif $nickname is not "$name">>
You are <<print $name>> "<<print $nickname>>" <<print $surname>>.
<br>
<</if>>
<</if>>
<br>
<<showmeter 'mental_health' `$mentalhealth / $maxMentalhealth`>>
<br>
<<showmeter 'Charm' `$charm / $maxCharm`>>
<br>
<div class="statss">
<<opposed_stat "Proud" "Modest" $pride>>
<<opposed_stat "Hasty" "Logical" $impulse>>
<<opposed_stat "Witty" "Earnest" $humor>>
<<opposed_stat "Emotional" "Subdued" $emotional>>
<<opposed_stat "Dishonest" "Honest" $guile>>
<<opposed_stat "Kind" "Cruel" $kind>></div>
<br>
[[Return to game.|$return]]
<</nobr>><<nobr>>
<<if $surname is "">>
Time to wake up, you've got things to do and people to see.
<<else>>
<div style="font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;">Liliana $surname, your mom.</div>
<<showmeter 'mom_friend' `$mom_friend / $maxMom_friend`>>
<br>
<</if>>
<<if $metkiran is true>>
<div style="font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;">Kiran Patel</div>
<<showmeter 'kiran_friend' `$kiran_friend / $maxKiran_friend`>>
<<showmeter 'kiran_love' `$kiran_love / $maxKiran_love`>>
<br>
<</if>>
<<if $metcami is true>>
<div style="font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;">$caminame Ramos</div>
<<showmeter 'cami_friend' `$cami_friend / $maxCami_friend`>>
<<showmeter 'cami_love' `$cami_love / $maxCami_love`>>
<br>
<</if>>
<<if $metmorgan is true>>
<div style="font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;">Morgan Byrnes</div>
<<showmeter 'morgan_friend' `$morgan_friend / $maxMorgan_friend`>>
<<showmeter 'morgan_love' `$morgan_love / $maxMorgan_love`>>
<br>
<</if>>
<<if $metkendall is true>>
<div style="font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;">Kendall Bennett</div>
<<showmeter 'kendall_friend' `$kendall_friend / $maxKendall_friend`>>
<<showmeter 'kendall_love' `$kendall_love / $maxKendall_love`>>
<br>
<</if>>
<<if $metrei is true>>
<div style="font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;">Rei Suzuki</div>
<<showmeter 'rei_friend' `$rei_friend / $maxRei_friend`>>
<<showmeter 'rei_love' `$rei_love / $maxRei_love`>>
<br>
<</if>>
<<if $metryn is true>>
<div style="font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;">Ryn Cooper</div>
<<showmeter 'ryn_friend' `$ryn_friend / $maxRyn_friend`>>
<<showmeter 'ryn_love' `$ryn_love / $maxRyn_love`>>
<br>
<</if>>
<<if $metjosie is true>>
<div style="font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;">Josephine "Josie" Ellington</div>
<<showmeter 'josie_friend' `$josie_friend / $maxJosie_friend`>>
<<showmeter 'josie_love' `$josie_love / $maxJosie_love`>>
<br>
<</if>>
<<if $metconnor is true>>
<div style="font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;">Connor Adwell</div>
<<showmeter 'connor_friend' `$connor_friend / $maxConnor_friend`>>
<<showmeter 'connor_love' `$connor_love / $maxConnor_love`>>
<br>
<</if>>
<<if $metaub is true>>
<div style="font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;">$aubname</div>
<<showmeter 'aub_friend' `$aub_friend / $maxAub_friend`>>
<<showmeter 'aub_love' `$aub_love / $maxAub_love`>>
<br>
<</if>>
<<if $metemery is true>>
<div style="font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;">Emery Fitzpatrick</div>
<<showmeter 'emery_friend' `$emery_friend / $maxEmery_friend`>>
<<showmeter 'emery_love' `$emery_love / $maxEmery_love`>>
<br>
<</if>>
<</nobr>>
[[Return to game.|$return]]//Keep playing to unlock index entries.//<div class="choice">[[Conan|after name][$name to "Conan"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Julian|after name][$name to "Julian"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Lonán|after name][$name to "Lonán"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Casimir|after name][$name to "Casimir"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Sylvan|after name][$name to "Sylvan"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Gabriel|after name][$name to "Gabriel"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Faolán|after name][$name to "Faolán"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Jin|after name][$name to "Jin"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Input your name...|choose own name]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Actually, I was named something else...|choose new name]]</div>\<div class="choice">[[Willow|after name][$name to "Willow"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Neassa|after name][$name to "Neassa"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Áine|after name][$name to "Áine"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Sofia|after name][$name to "Sofia"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Ophelia|after name][$name to "Ophelia"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Eilís|after name][$name to "Eilís"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Reina|after name][$name to "Reina"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Jun|after name][$name to "Jun"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Input your name...|choose own name]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Actually, I was named something else...|choose new name]]</div>\<div class="choice">[[Robin|after name][$name to "Robin"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Aeron|after name][$name to "Aeron"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Shea|after name][$name to "Shea"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Quinn|after name][$name to "Quinn"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Caron|after name][$name to "Caron"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Jude|after name][$name to "Jude"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Dylan|after name][$name to "Dylan"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Laurel|after name][$name to "Laurel"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Input your name...|choose own name]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Actually, I was named something else...|choose new name]]</div>\What were you named?
<<textbox "$name" "" "after name">>
[[Actually, that doesn't sound right...|choose new name]]
[[Continue...|after name]]What name is your mother calling?
<div class="choice">[[Choose from male names.]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Choose from female names.]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Choose from neutral names.]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Input your name...|choose own name]]</div>\"$nickname, honey, are you awake?" She sounds like she's trying to rein in her excitement to see you, "I'm making waffles, if you want some."
You're just wondering why she's not in bed right now. She works night shifts at the hospital, meaning she probably hadn't even been asleep yet.
<div class="choice">[["Yeah, I'm awake." You groan, "Unfortunately."|unfortunately concious]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[["Ma, why aren't you asleep?" You slur out, rubbing your eyes, "We could both use it."|why are you concious]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[["I'll be down," You yawn, stretching your arms, "Gonna shower first."|shower now]]</div>\What is the nickname most of your friends and family use?
<<textbox "$nickname" "" "after nickname">>
[[Continue...|after nickname]]"Alright, hun." You can hear the smile in her voice, "I'll be downstairs whenever you're ready."
You hear her footsteps retreating shortly after. Swinging your legs down off the bed, you stretch as you stand and make your way to where your suitcases are thrown haphazardly on the ground.
Shuffling through it all, you hang your lanyard with your student ID on one of the knobs of your dresser. A younger you stares back, the picture having been taken your freshman year during orientation.
[[What surname is printed on the ID?]]<<nobr>>
<<set $rememberwaffles to true>>
<</nobr>>"I didn't get to see you last night because of work, so I figured I'd stay up and make breakfast. It's just like when you were little! Remember the heart shaped waffles?"
You remember them well. When you were in kindergarten your mom had started her now-vast collection of waffle makers. Hearts, dinosaurs, various animals, she had purchased them all. She'd even found a building brick one, though trying to play legos with waffles and syrup had left the both of you a mess. Not that she ever minded a mess; messes were just the price to pay for fun, she used to say.
"Yeah," You can't help but huff a laugh, "I remember."
She laughed too, "How could you forget, right? Anyways, whenever you're ready, just come on downstairs."
You hear her footsteps retreating shortly after. Swinging your legs down off the bed, you stretch as you stand and make your way to where your suitcases are thrown haphazardly on the ground.
Shuffling through it all, you hang your lanyard with your student ID on one of the knobs of your dresser. A younger you stares back, the picture having been taken your freshman year during orientation.
[[What surname is printed on the ID?]]<<nobr>>
<<set $showerch1morning to true>>
<</nobr>>"Alright, hun, I'll be downstrairs."
You hear her footsteps retreating shortly after. Swinging your legs down off the bed, you stretch as you stand and make your way to where your suitcases are thrown haphazardly on the ground.
Shuffling through it all, you hang your lanyard with your student ID on one of the knobs of your dresser. A younger you stares back, the picture having been taken your freshman year during orientation.
[[What surname is printed on the ID?]]<div class="choice">[[Nadeau|after surname][$surname to "Nadeau"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Garcia|after surname][$surname to "Garcia"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Sato|after surname][$surname to "Sato"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Liu|after surname][$surname to "Liu"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Diaz|after surname][$surname to "Diaz"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Levesque|after surname][$surname to "Levesque"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Input your surname...|choose own surname]]</div>\Beneath your picture, you'd opted in to show your pronouns on your student ID. They read...
<div class="choice">[[She/Her|she/her]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[He/Him|he/him]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[They/Them|they/them]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Xe/Xem|xe/xem]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Input custom pronouns...|select pronouns]]</div>\What surname is on your ID?
<<textbox "$surname" "" "after surname">>
[[Continue...|after surname]]<div class="choice">[[Actually, she's using your nickname...]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[You have no nickname.|after nickname][$nickname to "$name"]]</div>\It's being back here, you know. Your hometown. Nipa Beach is full of memories, most good and some horribly bad. A chill lingers on your skin; a warning, an omen.
You can't shake the feeling that something is //wrong//. Maybe it's the memories, or the missing people, or the disembodied animals found in the woods, or the stolen bodies from the hospital's morgue. You're tempted to blame your anxiety on the notion of a psycho killer haunting your home, but it's beyond that. You can feel it in the air.
You swallow hard as you look at yourself. Your mom has your highschool photos framed along the hallway, your face smiling and happy. That kid sure has grown up.
Your eyes are dimmer, for one, yet the color remains the same...
<div class="choice">[[Black|after eyes][$eye_c to "black"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Blue|after eyes][$eye_c to "blue"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Gray|after eyes][$eye_c to "gray"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Brown|after eyes][$eye_c to "brown"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Green|after eyes][$eye_c to "green"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Hazel|after eyes][$eye_c to "hazel"]]</div>\Your hair has remained pretty much the same since your last visit home...
<div class="choice">[[It falls down to your hips.|after hair][$hair_l to "long"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[It reaches just past your chest.|after hair][$hair_l to "long"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[It's around shoulder length.|after hair][$hair_l to "shoulder length"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[It reaches about chin length|after hair][$hair_l to "chin length"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[It's short, barely brushing your ears.|after hair][$hair_l to "short"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[It's buzzed.|after hair][$hair_l to "buzzed"]]</div>\And the color is...
<div class="choice">[[Pale blond|after hair color][$hair_c to "pale blond"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Blond|after hair color][$hair_c to "blond"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Ginger|after hair color][$hair_c to "ginger"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Chestnut brown|after hair color][$hair_c to "chestnut brown"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Dark brown|after hair color][$hair_c to "dark brown"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Black|after hair color][$hair_c to "black"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Dyed green|after hair color][$hair_c to "green"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Dyed blue|after hair color][$hair_c to "blue"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Dyed pink|after hair color][$hair_c to "pink"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Dyed purple|after hair color][$hair_c to "purple"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Dyed red|after hair color][$hair_c to "red"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Bleached white|after hair color][$hair_c to "white"]]</div>\As for the texture of it, your hair is...
<div class="choice">[[Coily|after hair pattern][$hair_p to "coily"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Tightly curled|after hair pattern][$hair_p to "very curly"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Loosely curled|after hair pattern][$hair_p to "curly"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Wavy|after hair pattern][$hair_p to "wavy"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Straight|after hair pattern][$hair_p to "straight"]]</div>\<<nobr>>
<<if $hair_p is "coily">>
And style wise...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[It's currently in locs|after style][$hair_s to "locs"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[It's currently in braids|after style][$hair_s to "braids"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[It is not in a protective style.|after style][$hair_s to "none"]]</div>
<<elseif $hair_p is "very curly">>
And style wise...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[It's currently in locs|after style][$hair_s to "locs"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[It's currently in braids|after style][$hair_s to "braids"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[It is not in a protective style.|after style][$hair_s to "none"]]</div>
<<else>>
You take stock of yourself for a moment, thinking back to your prior thoughts. Grown up? Is that really a phrase you can use to describe yourself yet?
<br><br>
[[Maybe, maybe not...|meet the besties]]
<</if>>
<</nobr>>You take stock of yourself for a moment, thinking back to your prior thoughts. Grown up? Is that really a phrase you can use to describe yourself yet?
[[Maybe, maybe not...|meet the besties]]You look at yourself quietly in the mirror as the water runs in the background, the bright light of the bathroom making it hard to ignore the truth before you.
Your skin holds an unhealthy pallor, looking rather ashen in comparison to it's usual tone...
<div class="choice">[[Fair|after shower skin][$skin_c to "pale"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Light beige|after shower skin][$skin_c to "light"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Medium tan|after shower skin][$skin_c to "tan"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Golden brown|after shower skin][$skin_c to "brown"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Dark copper|after shower skin][$skin_c to "dark"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Deep black|after shower skin][$skin_c to "black"]]</div>\It's being back here, you know. Your hometown. Nipa Beach is full of memories, most good and some horribly bad. A chill lingers on your skin; a warning, an omen.
You can't shake the feeling that something is //wrong//. Maybe it's the memories, or the missing people, or the disembodied animals found in the woods, or the stolen bodies from the hospital's morgue. You're tempted to blame your anxiety on the notion of a psycho killer haunting your home, but it's beyond that. You can feel it in the air.
You swallow hard as you look at yourself. Your mom has your highschool photos framed along the hallway, your face smiling and happy. That kid sure has grown up.
Your eyes are dimmer, for one, yet the color remains the same...
<div class="choice">[[Black|after shower eyes][$eye_c to "black"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Blue|after shower eyes][$eye_c to "blue"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Gray|after shower eyes][$eye_c to "gray"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Brown|after shower eyes][$eye_c to "brown"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Green|after shower eyes][$eye_c to "green"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Hazel|after shower eyes][$eye_c to "hazel"]]</div>\Your hair has remained pretty much the same since your last visit home...
<div class="choice">[[It falls down to your hips.|after shower hair][$hair_l to "long"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[It reaches just past your chest.|after shower hair][$hair_l to "long"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[It's around shoulder length.|after shower hair][$hair_l to "shoulder length"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[It reaches about chin length|after shower hair][$hair_l to "chin length"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[It's short, barely brushing your ears.|after shower hair][$hair_l to "short"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[It's buzzed.|after shower hair][$hair_l to "buzzed"]]</div>\And the color is...
<div class="choice">[[Pale blond|after shower hair color][$hair_c to "pale blond"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Blond|after shower hair color][$hair_c to "blond"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Ginger|after shower hair color][$hair_c to "ginger"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Chestnut brown|after shower hair color][$hair_c to "chestnut brown"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Dark brown|after shower hair color][$hair_c to "dark brown"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Black|after shower hair color][$hair_c to "black"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Dyed green|after shower hair color][$hair_c to "green"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Dyed blue|after shower hair color][$hair_c to "blue"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Dyed pink|after shower hair color][$hair_c to "pink"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Dyed purple|after shower hair color][$hair_c to "purple"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Dyed red|after shower hair color][$hair_c to "red"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Bleached white|after shower hair color][$hair_c to "white"]]</div>\As for the texture of it, your hair is...
<div class="choice">[[Coily|after shower hair pattern][$hair_p to "coily"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Tightly curled|after shower hair pattern][$hair_p to "very curly"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Loosely curled|after shower hair pattern][$hair_p to "curly"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Wavy|after shower hair pattern][$hair_p to "wavy"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Straight|after shower hair pattern][$hair_p to "straight"]]</div>\<<nobr>>
<<if $hair_p is "coily">>
And style wise...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[It's currently in locs|after shower style][$hair_s to "locs"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[It's currently in braids|after shower style][$hair_s to "braids"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[It is not in a protective style.|after shower style][$hair_s to "none"]]</div>
<<elseif $hair_p is "very curly">>
And style wise...
<div class="choice">[[It's currently in locs|after shower style][$hair_s to "locs"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[It's currently in braids|after shower style][$hair_s to "braids"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[It is not in a protective style.|after shower style][$hair_s to "none"]]</div>
<<else>>
You take stock of yourself for a moment, thinking back to your prior thoughts. Grown up? Is that really a phrase you can use to describe yourself yet?
<br><br>
[[Maybe, maybe not...|continue shower]]
<</if>>
<</nobr>>You take stock of yourself for a moment, thinking back to your prior thoughts. Grown up? Is that really a phrase you can use to describe yourself yet?
[[Maybe, maybe not...|continue shower]]As you strip, you toss your night clothes into the empty hamper and eye your bare chest in the mirror.
<div class="choice">[[Your chest has no scars from surgeries.|after chest]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[The scars from your top surgery are faded, but still visible on the flat expanse of your chest.|after chest][$mtopsurg to true]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[You had gotten top surgery, the scars from your augmentation hidden under your breasts.|after chest][$ftopsurg to true]]</div>\<<nobr>>
<<if $shower is "warm">>
You finally step beneath the warm spray as the mirror begins to fog before you, the water running down your body and washing away yesterday's travel.
<<elseif $shower is "hot">>
You finally step beneath the hot spray as the mirror begins to fog before you, the water running down your body and washing away yesterday's travel.
<<elseif $shower is "cool">>
You finally step beneath the cool spray, the water running down your body and washing away yesterday's travel.
<<else>>
You finally step beneath the cold spray, the water running down your body and leaving goosebumps in its wake.
<</if>>
<br><br>
You're in and out in record time, the promise of your mother's cooking acting as incentive. It was one of the things you'd missed most while you were away at college; the food at the dining hall just couldn't quite compare.
<br><br>
[[You close the bathroom door behind you after you get dressed; you have a cat that loves knocking things over and you really don't want to have to buy new shower gel.|meet the besties after shower]]
<</nobr>><<nobr>>
<<set $pgen = 1>>
As for your gender...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned female at birth and identify as such.|fem]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned female at birth but identify as male.|f to male]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned female at birth but identify as nonbinary.|f to nb]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned male at birth and identify as such.|m]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned male at birth but identify as female.|m to f]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned male at birth but identify as nonbinary.|m to nb]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You identify as nonbinary.|nonbinary]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You don't care about gender or the binary in general.|no gender]]</div>
<</nobr>><<nobr>>
<<set $pgen = 0>>
As for your gender...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned female at birth and identify as such.|fem]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned female at birth but identify as male.|f to male]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned female at birth but identify as nonbinary.|f to nb]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned male at birth and identify as such.|m]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned male at birth but identify as female.|m to f]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned male at birth but identify as nonbinary.|m to nb]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You identify as nonbinary.|nonbinary]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You don't care about gender or the binary in general.|no gender]]</div>
<</nobr>><<nobr>>
<<set $pgen = 2>>
As for your gender...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned female at birth and identify as such.|fem]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned female at birth but identify as male.|f to male]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned female at birth but identify as nonbinary.|f to nb]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned male at birth and identify as such.|m]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned male at birth but identify as female.|m to f]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned male at birth but identify as nonbinary.|m to nb]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You identify as nonbinary.|nonbinary]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You don't care about gender or the binary in general.|no gender]]</div>
<</nobr>><<nobr>>
<<set $pgen = 3>>
As for your gender...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned female at birth and identify as such.|fem]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned female at birth but identify as male.|f to male]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned female at birth but identify as nonbinary.|f to nb]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned male at birth and identify as such.|m]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned male at birth but identify as female.|m to f]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned male at birth but identify as nonbinary.|m to nb]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You identify as nonbinary.|nonbinary]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You don't care about gender or the binary in general.|no gender]]</div>
<</nobr>>Configure your pronouns in a lowercase format. Fill out all boxes before selecting continue.
he, she, they...
<<textbox "$they" "" "after pronouns">>
him, her, them...
<<textbox "$them" "" "after pronouns">>
his, her, their...
<<textbox "$their" "" "after pronouns">>
himself, herself, themself...
<<textbox "$themself" "" "after pronouns">>
his, hers, theirs...
<<textbox "$theirs" "" "after pronouns">>
he's, she's, they're...
<<textbox "$theyre" "" "after pronouns">>
[[Continue...|after pronouns]]<<nobr>>
<<set $pgen = 4>>
<<set $They to $they.toUpperFirst()>>
<<set $Their to $their.toUpperFirst()>>
<<set $Them to $them.toUpperFirst()>>
<<set $Theyre to $theyre.toUpperFirst()>>
As for your gender...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned female at birth and identify as such.|fem]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned female at birth but identify as male.|f to male]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned female at birth but identify as nonbinary.|f to nb]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned male at birth and identify as such.|m]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned male at birth but identify as female.|m to f]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You were assigned male at birth but identify as nonbinary.|m to nb]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You identify as nonbinary.|nonbinary]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[You don't care about gender or the binary in general.|no gender]]</div>
<</nobr>><<nobr>>
<<set $female to true>>
<<if $showerch1morning is true>>
Your bag with all your toiletries is quickly found, and you're rather glad the shampoo, conditioner, and other various liquid items didn't explode during the two hour car ride.
<br><br>
You grab an outfit as well before heading into your small bathroom and dumping it all on the counter. Turning on the water, you set the faucet to...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Let it warm up.|shower][$shower to "warm"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Let it get steaming hot.|shower][$shower to "hot"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it cool.|shower][$shower to "cool"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it ice cold.|shower][$shower to "cold"]]</div>
<<else>>
You dig an outfit out of your bag and toss it onto your bed. You dress quickly before turning to the mirror by your wardrobe.
<br><br>
Your skin holds an unhealthy pallor, looking rather ashen in comparison to it's usual tone...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Fair|after skin][$skin_c to "pale"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Light beige|after skin][$skin_c to "light"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Medium tan|after skin][$skin_c to "tan"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Golden brown|after skin][$skin_c to "brown"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Dark copper|after skin][$skin_c to "dark"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Deep black|after skin][$skin_c to "black"]]</div>
<</if>>
<</nobr>><<nobr>>
<<set $ftm to true>>
<<if $showerch1morning is true>>
Your bag with all your toiletries is quickly found, and you're rather glad the shampoo, conditioner, and other various liquid items didn't explode during the two hour car ride.
<br><br>
You grab an outfit as well before heading into your small bathroom and dumping it all on the counter. Turning on the water, you set the faucet to...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Let it warm up.|shower][$shower to "warm"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Let it get steaming hot.|shower][$shower to "hot"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it cool.|shower][$shower to "cool"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it ice cold.|shower][$shower to "cold"]]</div>
<<else>>
You dig an outfit out of your bag and toss it onto your bed. You dress quickly before turning to the mirror by your wardrobe.
<br><br>
Your skin holds an unhealthy pallor, looking rather ashen in comparison to it's usual tone...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Fair|after skin][$skin_c to "pale"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Light beige|after skin][$skin_c to "light"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Medium tan|after skin][$skin_c to "tan"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Golden brown|after skin][$skin_c to "brown"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Dark copper|after skin][$skin_c to "dark"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Deep black|after skin][$skin_c to "black"]]</div>
<</if>>
<</nobr>><<nobr>>
<<set $ftnb to true>>
<<if $showerch1morning is true>>
Your bag with all your toiletries is quickly found, and you're rather glad the shampoo, conditioner, and other various liquid items didn't explode during the two hour car ride.
<br><br>
You grab an outfit as well before heading into your small bathroom and dumping it all on the counter. Turning on the water, you set the faucet to...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Let it warm up.|shower][$shower to "warm"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Let it get steaming hot.|shower][$shower to "hot"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it cool.|shower][$shower to "cool"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it ice cold.|shower][$shower to "cold"]]</div>
<<else>>
You dig an outfit out of your bag and toss it onto your bed. You dress quickly before turning to the mirror by your wardrobe.
<br><br>
Your skin holds an unhealthy pallor, looking rather ashen in comparison to it's usual tone...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Fair|after skin][$skin_c to "pale"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Light beige|after skin][$skin_c to "light"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Medium tan|after skin][$skin_c to "tan"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Golden brown|after skin][$skin_c to "brown"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Dark copper|after skin][$skin_c to "dark"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Deep black|after skin][$skin_c to "black"]]</div>
<</if>>
<</nobr>><<nobr>>
<<set $male to true>>
<<if $showerch1morning is true>>
Your bag with all your toiletries is quickly found, and you're rather glad the shampoo, conditioner, and other various liquid items didn't explode during the two hour car ride.
<br><br>
You grab an outfit as well before heading into your small bathroom and dumping it all on the counter. Turning on the water, you set the faucet to...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Let it warm up.|shower][$shower to "warm"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Let it get steaming hot.|shower][$shower to "hot"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it cool.|shower][$shower to "cool"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it ice cold.|shower][$shower to "cold"]]</div>
<<else>>
You dig an outfit out of your bag and toss it onto your bed. You dress quickly before turning to the mirror by your wardrobe.
<br><br>
Your skin holds an unhealthy pallor, looking rather ashen in comparison to it's usual tone...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Fair|after skin][$skin_c to "pale"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Light beige|after skin][$skin_c to "light"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Medium tan|after skin][$skin_c to "tan"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Golden brown|after skin][$skin_c to "brown"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Dark copper|after skin][$skin_c to "dark"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Deep black|after skin][$skin_c to "black"]]</div>
<</if>>
<</nobr>><<nobr>>
<<set $mtf to true>>
<<if $showerch1morning is true>>
Your bag with all your toiletries is quickly found, and you're rather glad the shampoo, conditioner, and other various liquid items didn't explode during the two hour car ride.
<br><br>
You grab an outfit as well before heading into your small bathroom and dumping it all on the counter. Turning on the water, you set the faucet to...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Let it warm up.|shower][$shower to "warm"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Let it get steaming hot.|shower][$shower to "hot"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it cool.|shower][$shower to "cool"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it ice cold.|shower][$shower to "cold"]]</div>
<<else>>
You dig an outfit out of your bag and toss it onto your bed. You dress quickly before turning to the mirror by your wardrobe.
<br><br>
Your skin holds an unhealthy pallor, looking rather ashen in comparison to it's usual tone...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Fair|after skin][$skin_c to "pale"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Light beige|after skin][$skin_c to "light"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Medium tan|after skin][$skin_c to "tan"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Golden brown|after skin][$skin_c to "brown"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Dark copper|after skin][$skin_c to "dark"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Deep black|after skin][$skin_c to "black"]]</div>
<</if>>
<</nobr>><<nobr>>
<<set $mtnb to true>>
<<if $showerch1morning is true>>
Your bag with all your toiletries is quickly found, and you're rather glad the shampoo, conditioner, and other various liquid items didn't explode during the two hour car ride.
<br><br>
You grab an outfit as well before heading into your small bathroom and dumping it all on the counter. Turning on the water, you set the faucet to...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Let it warm up.|shower][$shower to "warm"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Let it get steaming hot.|shower][$shower to "hot"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it cool.|shower][$shower to "cool"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it ice cold.|shower][$shower to "cold"]]</div>
<<else>>
You dig an outfit out of your bag and toss it onto your bed. You dress quickly before turning to the mirror by your wardrobe.
<br><br>
Your skin holds an unhealthy pallor, looking rather ashen in comparison to it's usual tone...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Fair|after skin][$skin_c to "pale"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Light beige|after skin][$skin_c to "light"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Medium tan|after skin][$skin_c to "tan"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Golden brown|after skin][$skin_c to "brown"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Dark copper|after skin][$skin_c to "dark"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Deep black|after skin][$skin_c to "black"]]</div>
<</if>>
<</nobr>><<nobr>>
<<set $nb to true>>
<<if $showerch1morning is true>>
Your bag with all your toiletries is quickly found, and you're rather glad the shampoo, conditioner, and other various liquid items didn't explode during the two hour car ride.
<br><br>
You grab an outfit as well before heading into your small bathroom and dumping it all on the counter. Turning on the water, you set the faucet to...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Let it warm up.|shower][$shower to "warm"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Let it get steaming hot.|shower][$shower to "hot"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it cool.|shower][$shower to "cool"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it ice cold.|shower][$shower to "cold"]]</div>
<<else>>
You dig an outfit out of your bag and toss it onto your bed. You dress quickly before turning to the mirror by your wardrobe.
<br><br>
Your skin holds an unhealthy pallor, looking rather ashen in comparison to it's usual tone...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Fair|after skin][$skin_c to "pale"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Light beige|after skin][$skin_c to "light"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Medium tan|after skin][$skin_c to "tan"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Golden brown|after skin][$skin_c to "brown"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Dark copper|after skin][$skin_c to "dark"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Deep black|after skin][$skin_c to "black"]]</div>
<</if>>
<</nobr>><<nobr>>
<<set $agender to true>>
<<if $showerch1morning is true>>
Your bag with all your toiletries is quickly found, and you're rather glad the shampoo, conditioner, and other various liquid items didn't explode during the two hour car ride.
<br><br>
You grab an outfit as well before heading into your small bathroom and dumping it all on the counter. Turning on the water, you set the faucet to...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Let it warm up.|shower][$shower to "warm"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Let it get steaming hot.|shower][$shower to "hot"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it cool.|shower][$shower to "cool"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Keep it ice cold.|shower][$shower to "cold"]]</div>
<<else>>
You dig an outfit out of your bag and toss it onto your bed. You dress quickly before turning to the mirror by your wardrobe.
<br><br>
Your skin holds an unhealthy pallor, looking rather ashen in comparison to it's usual tone...
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[Fair|after skin][$skin_c to "pale"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Light beige|after skin][$skin_c to "light"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Medium tan|after skin][$skin_c to "tan"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Golden brown|after skin][$skin_c to "brown"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Dark copper|after skin][$skin_c to "dark"]]</div>
<div class="choice">[[Deep black|after skin][$skin_c to "black"]]</div>
<</if>>
<</nobr>>One thing is certain, however, and that's the fact that you've already outlived far too many people. The harsh reminder of this is pinned to the cork board on your wall.
A picture of four friends at the beginning of your senior year of high school; a group of teenagers who had no idea what hell awaited them. Only three made it to graduation, and another was lost your freshman year of college.
On the far left...
<div class="choice">[[Kiran Patel. He's the only friend you have left.|male kiran]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Kiran Patel. She's the only friend you have left.|female kiran]]</div>\You pause as you're about to walk out the door, your eyes catching on the cork board hanging on your wall. The memories hit you all at once, and you're reminded once again of why you struggle with coming home.
A picture of four friends at the beginning of your senior year of high school; a group of teenagers who had no idea what hell awaited them. Only three made it to graduation, and another was lost your freshman year of college.
On the far left...
<div class="choice">[[Kiran Patel. He's the only friend you have left.|male kiran]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Kiran Patel. She's the only friend you have left.|female kiran]]</div>\<<nobr>>
<<set $metkiran to true>>
<<set $kiran_ismale to true>>
<<set $kiran_malefemale to "male">>
<<set $kiran_manwoman to "man">>
<<set $kiran_menwomen to "men">>
<<set $kiran_boygirl to "boy">>
<<set $kiran_sondaughter to "son">>
<<set $kiran_capsondaughter to "Son">>
<<set $kiran_fathermother to "father">>
<<set $kiran_brothersister to "brother">>
<<set $kiran_husbandwife to "husband">>
<<set $kiran_heshe to "he">>
<<set $kiran_hisher to "his">>
<<set $kiran_himher to "him">>
<<set $kiran_hesshes to "he's">>
<<set $kiran_caphisher to "His">>
<<set $kiran_capheshe to "He">>
<<set $kiran_caphesshes to "He's">>
<<set $kiran_himherself to "himself">>
<</nobr>>He poses with an arm thrown across your shoulder, full lips pulled into a smile that's both wide and mischievous. His hair is a dark brown, cut short and laying in his natural waves. His skin is a medium brown, his eyes so dark they're nearly black, and a faint scar runs horizontally across the bridge of his nose.
You were just kids when he'd fallen from an oak tree he'd stubbornly insisted he could climb. The doctors had said he was lucky he only cut his nose on a sharp rock instead of breaking his neck with the fall.
His luck is extraordinary, and you're forever grateful for the fact. You couldn't imagine facing life without him.
Kiran was there through everything, after all. You'd become a two person support group, alternating the duty of anchor when the other began to drift.
On your other side in the photo, with gentle eyes and a wide grin...
<div class="choice">[[Camilo Ramos. You haven't spoken to him in over a year.|male cami]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Camila Ramos. You haven't spoken to her in over a year.|female cami]]</div>\<<nobr>>
<<set $metkiran to true>>
<<set $kiran_isfemale to true>>
<<set $kiran_malefemale to "female">>
<<set $kiran_manwoman to "woman">>
<<set $kiran_menwomen to "women">>
<<set $kiran_boygirl to "girl">>
<<set $kiran_sondaughter to "daughter">>
<<set $kiran_capsondaughter to "Daughter">>
<<set $kiran_fathermother to "mother">>
<<set $kiran_brothersister to "sister">>
<<set $kiran_husbandwife to "wife">>
<<set $kiran_heshe to "she">>
<<set $kiran_hisher to "her">>
<<set $kiran_himher to "her">>
<<set $kiran_hesshes to "she's">>
<<set $kiran_caphisher to "Her">>
<<set $kiran_capheshe to "She">>
<<set $kiran_caphesshes to "she's">>
<<set $kiran_himherself to "herself">>
<</nobr>>She poses with an arm thrown across your shoulder, full lips pulled into a smile that's both wide and mischievous. Her hair is a dark brown, just brushing her shoulders in her natural waves. Her skin is a medium brown, her eyes so dark they're nearly black, and a faint scar runs horizontally across the bridge of her nose.
You were just kids when she'd fallen from an oak tree she'd stubbornly insisted she could climb. The doctors had said she was lucky she only cut her nose on a sharp rock instead of breaking her neck with the fall.
Her luck is extraordinary, and you're forever grateful for the fact. You couldn't imagine facing life without her.
Kiran was there through everything, after all. You'd become a two person support group, alternating the duty of anchor when the other began to drift.
On your other side in the photo, with gentle eyes and a wide grin...
<div class="choice">[[Camilo Ramos. You haven't spoken to him in over a year.|male cami]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Camila Ramos. You haven't spoken to her in over a year.|female cami]]</div>\<<nobr>>
<<set $caminame to "Camila">>
<<set $cami_isfemale to true>>
<<set $cami_malefemale to "female">>
<<set $cami_manwoman to "woman">>
<<set $cami_menwomen to "women">>
<<set $cami_boygirl to "girl">>
<<set $cami_sondaughter to "daughter">>
<<set $cami_capsondaughter to "Daughter">>
<<set $cami_fathermother to "mother">>
<<set $cami_brothersister to "sister">>
<<set $cami_husbandwife to "wife">>
<<set $cami_heshe to "she">>
<<set $cami_hisher to "her">>
<<set $cami_himher to "her">>
<<set $cami_hesshes to "she's">>
<<set $cami_capheshe to "She">>
<<set $cami_caphisher to "Her">>
<</nobr>>Camila. She has an arm wrapped around your shoulders in the photo, pulling you close. Her skin is a warm brown and her chin-length curls are dark, cut nicely to frame her face. She has light brown eyes, crinkled in the corners by her smile, and you're glad it's immortalized behind glass.
You have a feeling you'll never see that grin again.
She's another friend you've known since kindergarten. Only you're not certain you can call her a friend anymore, at this point. You haven't spoken in a year, and the converstions the prior two years were hardly quality.
She drifted after both her parents died in a gruesome car accident toward the end of your senior year. Things had never been the same since and it only got worse from there.
The last time you spoke, //actually// spoke, was...Morgan's funeral.
Your eyes are drawn to the fourth person in the photo.
<div class="choice">[[Morgan Byrnes. His face is carved in your memory, yet sometimes you're scared you'll forget the sound of his voice.|male morgan]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Morgan Byrnes. Her face is carved in your memory, yet sometimes you're scared you'll forget the sound of her voice.|female morgan]]</div>\<<nobr>>
<<set $caminame to "Camilo">>
<<set $cami_ismale to true>>
<<set $cami_malefemale to "male">>
<<set $cami_manwoman to "man">>
<<set $cami_menwomen to "men">>
<<set $cami_boygirl to "boy">>
<<set $cami_sondaughter to "son">>
<<set $cami_capsondaughter to "Son">>
<<set $cami_fathermother to "father">>
<<set $cami_brothersister to "brother">>
<<set $cami_husbandwife to "husband">>
<<set $cami_heshe to "he">>
<<set $cami_hisher to "his">>
<<set $cami_himher to "him">>
<<set $cami_hesshes to "he's">>
<<set $cami_capheshe to "He">>
<<set $cami_caphisher to "His">>
<</nobr>>Camilo. He has an arm wrapped around your shoulders in the photo, pulling you close. His skin is a warm brown and his chin-length curls are dark, cut nicely to frame his face. He has light brown eyes, crinkled in the corners by his smile, and you're glad it's immortalized behind glass.
You have a feeling you'll never see that grin again.
He's another friend you've known since kindergarten. Only you're not certain you can call him a friend anymore, at this point. You haven't spoken in a year, and the converstions the prior two years were hardly quality.
He drifted after both his parents died in a gruesome car accident toward the end of your senior year. Things had never been the same since and it only got worse from there.
The last time you spoke, //actually// spoke, was...Morgan's funeral.
Your eyes are drawn to the fourth person in the photo.
<div class="choice">[[Morgan Byrnes. His face is carved in your memory, yet sometimes you're scared you'll forget the sound of his voice.|male morgan]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Morgan Byrnes. Her face is carved in your memory, yet sometimes you're scared you'll forget the sound of her voice.|female morgan]]</div>\<<nobr>>
<<set $morgan_ismale to true>>
<<set $morgan_malefemale to "male">>
<<set $morgan_manwoman to "man">>
<<set $morgan_menwomen to "men">>
<<set $morgan_boygirl to "boy">>
<<set $morgan_sondaughter to "son">>
<<set $morgan_capsondaughter to "Son">>
<<set $morgan_fathermother to "father">>
<<set $morgan_brothersister to "brother">>
<<set $morgan_husbandwife to "husband">>
<<set $morgan_heshe to "he">>
<<set $morgan_hisher to "his">>
<<set $morgan_himher to "him">>
<<set $morgan_hesshes to "he's">>
<<set $morgan_capheshe to "He">>
<<set $morgan_caphisher to "His">>
<</nobr>>He stands by Kiran in the photo, one arm entwined with Kiran's and his other hand throwing up a peace sign. His blond hair is straight and reaches just past his shoulders and his green eyes are bright. His skin was on the paler side, his nose and ears stained red from the sun in this picture.
He was always an idiot, never using sun block as often as he should've. His mom used to harp on him about skin cancer.
Seeing him happy and alive...
It feels like a punch in the face.
He had died your freshman year of college, on a perfectly normal evening that had quickly turned into a night that frequents your worst nightmares. It had been the final straw in your friendship with Cam, too. Where you and Kiran tried to reach out, to comfort, $caminame just pulled back more and more. Finally, $cami_heshe dropped out of college altogether, and you and Kiran could only watch.
Kiran was your anchor, your rock, and vice versa. Cam...you both tried for Cam, but $cami_heshe wouldn't let either of you close no matter how much you begged.
[[Losing two friends, one to death and one to grief, had been a hard pill to swallow.|after cam]]<<nobr>>
<<set $morgan_isfemale to true>>
<<set $morgan_malefemale to "female">>
<<set $morgan_manwoman to "woman">>
<<set $morgan_menwomen to "women">>
<<set $morgan_boygirl to "girl">>
<<set $morgan_sondaughter to "daughter">>
<<set $morgan_capsondaughter to "Daughter">>
<<set $morgan_fathermother to "mother">>
<<set $morgan_brothersister to "sister">>
<<set $morgan_husbandwife to "wife">>
<<set $morgan_heshe to "she">>
<<set $morgan_hisher to "her">>
<<set $morgan_himher to "her">>
<<set $morgan_hesshes to "she's">>
<<set $morgan_capheshe to "She">>
<<set $morgan_caphisher to "Her">>
<</nobr>>She stands by Kiran in the photo, one arm entwined with Kiran's and her other hand throwing up a peace sign. Her blond hair is straight and reaches just past her shoulders and her green eyes are bright. Her skin was on the paler side, her nose and ears stained red from the sun in this picture.
She was always an idiot, never using sun block as often as she should've. Her mom used to harp on her about skin cancer.
Seeing her happy and alive...
It feels like a punch in the face.
She had died your freshman year of college, on a perfectly normal evening that had quickly turned into a night that frequents your worst nightmares. It had been the final straw in your friendship with Cam, too. Where you and Kiran tried to reach out, to comfort, $caminame just pulled back more and more. Finally, $cami_heshe dropped out of college altogether, and you and Kiran could only watch.
Kiran was your anchor, your rock, and vice versa. Cam...you both tried for Cam, but $cami_heshe wouldn't let either of you close no matter how much you begged.
[[Losing two friends, one to death and one to grief, had been a hard pill to swallow.|after cam]]<<nobr>>
You step away from the photo with an admittedly heavy heart. Being back home was a hard reminder of all you'd lost.
<br><br>
<div class="choice">[[You'd been friends with Cam and Morgan nearly your whole life...things felt hollow without them, even if you and Kiran tried your best to make up for their absence.|no entanglements]]</div>
<<if $morgan_ismale is true>>
<div class="choice">/* [[morgan bf]] */<<link "Morgan's death was made even harder because you weren't just losing a friend, you were losing your boyfriend. Your first ever relationship, ended by tragedy. //(Past Relationship ♡)//" "morgan bf">><</link>></div>
<<else>>
<div class="choice">/* [[morgan gf]] */<<link "Morgan's death was made even harder because you weren't just losing a friend, you were losing your girlfriend. Your first ever relationship, ended by tragedy. //(Past Relationship ♡)//" "morgan gf">><</link>></div>
<</if>>
<<if $cami_isfemale is true>>
<div class="choice">/* [[cam f fwb]] */<<link "Camila and you...you'd always been complicated. Kiran had jokingly called the two of you best friends with benefits, and you know that's all Cam ever saw it as. //(Past Relationship ♡)//" "cam f fwb">><</link>></div>
<<else>>
<div class="choice">/* [[cam m fwb]] */<<link "Camilo and you...you'd always been complicated. Kiran had jokingly called the two of you best friends with benefits, and you know that's all Cam ever saw it as. //(Past Relationship ♡)//" "cam m fwb">><</link>></div>
<</if>>
<</nobr>>Sometimes you pass by your old highschool and you feel haunted. You can remember Morgan's laugh, Cam's soft smiles, the way you would all pile in Morgan's car on the weekends and drive around for hours because there was nothing else to do. When you'd all make fun of Morgan for the absolute culinary monstrosities $morgan_heshe was so fond of creating.
Things were better, then. Back when Kiran didn't twitch with the effort not to cry when your old favorite songs came on because they remind $kiran_himher of friends long past. Back when your friends were whole, and not ghosts of themselves or buried six feet beneath the ground.
You force yourself from your thoughts, walking down the stairs as you try and focus on other things. The smell of breakfast lingering in the air, your cat rushing to purr at your feet, anything...//anything// else...
Your mom's face falls when she looks up as you enter the kitchen quietly. She purses her lips, her nose crinkling like it always does when she's trying not to cry.
"Honey..." She coos sadly, wiping her hands off on a rag before coming to your side.
She cups your face in her warm hands like she used to when you'd have nightmares as a child. She presses one quick kiss to your forehead, and then another for good measure.
"Breakfast is ready," She says gently, "Come on. You should eat."
The waffles are fish shaped this morning, and you can't help but chuckle.
<<nobr>>
<<if $rememberwaffles is false>>
<br>
One of your moms weirdest hobbies is that she likes odly shaped waffle makers. She'd started her her now-vast collection when you were only in kindergarten. Hearts, dinosaurs, various animals, she had purchased them all. She'd even found a building brick one, though trying to play legos with waffles and syrup had left the both of you a mess. Not that she ever minded a mess; messes were just the price to pay for fun, she used to say.
<br>
<</if>>
<</nobr>>
<div class="choice">[[She'd fried bacon and eggs, too.|after diet no ship ver][$diet to "eats meat"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[She'd fried some eggs and meatless sausage, too. You don't eat meat, so she always has alternatives on hand.|after diet no ship ver][$diet to "vegetarian"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[She'd fried some meatless sausagen and has a whole bowl of different sliced fruits sat out as well. You don't eat any animal products, so she always has alternaives on hand.|after diet no ship ver][$diet to "vegan"]]</div>\<<nobr>>
<<set $morgandated to true>>
<</nobr>>Sometimes that grief still swallows you.
His laughter, the feel of his skin, the shape of his smile. Sometimes you're worried that you'll forget it all slowly. That when you try to recall him, nothing will come to mind.
When you pass your old highschool, you remember him driving the both of you to school every morning. You remember his godawful cooking creations and the love he had for creating his culinary monstrosities.
You remember the tattoo he'd gotten on his inner forarm...
<div class="choice">[[A carnation, because you were born in January.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "Jan"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A violet, because you were born in February.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "Feb"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A daffodil, because you were born in March.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "March"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A daisy, because you were born in April.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "April"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A lily of the valley, because you were born in May.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "May"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A rose, because you were born in June.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "June"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A larkspur, because you were born in July.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "July"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A gladiolus, because you were born in August.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "Aug"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[An aster, because you were born in September.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "Sep"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A marigold, because you were born in October.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "Oct"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A chrysanthemum, because you were born in November.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "Nov"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A narcissus, because you were born in December.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "Dec"]]</div>\<<nobr>>
<<set $morgandated to true>>
<</nobr>>Sometimes that grief still swallows you.
Her laughter, the feel of her skin, the shape of her smile. Sometimes you're worried that you'll forget it all slowly. That when you try to recall her, nothing will come to mind.
When you pass your old highschool, you remember her driving the both of you to school every morning. You remember her godawful cooking creations and the love she had for creating her culinary monstrosities.
You remember the tattoo she'd gotten on her inner forarm...
<div class="choice">[[A carnation, because you were born in January.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "Jan"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A violet, because you were born in February.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "Feb"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A daffodil, because you were born in March.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "March"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A daisy, because you were born in April.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "April"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A lily of the valley, because you were born in May.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "May"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A rose, because you were born in June.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "June"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A larkspur, because you were born in July.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "July"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A gladiolus, because you were born in August.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "Aug"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[An aster, because you were born in September.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "Sep"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A marigold, because you were born in October.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "Oct"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A chrysanthemum, because you were born in November.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "Nov"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A narcissus, because you were born in December.|after tattoo][$bmonth to "Dec"]]</div>\
<<nobr>>
<<set $camfwb to true>>
<</nobr>>Sometimes you remember Camila in a romanticised way, you think. She was soft and brutally honest at the same time. She never cared for you beyond friendship; the words were never said, but you could tell. You had your flings starting your senior year, it was true, and they were only increasing in frequency until everything went to shit.
You just wish she would have treated you with some level of care or respect. You were //best friends// and toward the end it felt like she only spoke to you when she wanted sex.
Distant wasn't even the word for it. Absent, maybe. Totally disconnected? That sounded right. She was going through a lot, and Morgan's death hit her even harder because she'd already lost her parents. You just wish she would've let you help.
You wish...you wish she could've realized how much you cared about her beyond the physical. As your friend, as whatever she wanted you to be.
[[So many regrets are sour in your mouth and bitter on your tongue.|after cam chat]]<<nobr>>
<<set $camfwb to true>>
<</nobr>>Sometimes you remember Camilo in a romanticised way, you think. He was soft and brutally honest at the same time. He never cared for you beyond friendship; the words were never said, but you could tell. You had your flings starting your senior year, it was true, and they were only increasing in frequency until everything went to shit.
You just wish he would have treated you with some level of care or respect. You were //best friends// and toward the end it felt like he only spoke to you when he wanted sex.
Distant wasn't even the word for it. Absent, maybe. Totally disconnected? That sounded right. He was going through a lot, and Morgan's death hit him even harder because he'd already lost his parents. You just wish he would've let you help.
You wish...you wish he could've realized how much you cared about him beyond the physical. As your friend, as whatever he wanted you to be.
[[So many regrets are sour in your mouth and bitter on your tongue.|after cam chat]]You force yourself from your thoughts, walking down the stairs as you try and focus on other things. The smell of breakfast lingering in the air, your cat rushing to purr at your feet, anything...//anything// else...
Your mom's face falls when she looks up as you enter the kitchen quietly. She purses her lips, her nose crinkling like it always does when she's trying not to cry.
"Honey..." She coos sadly, wiping her hands off on a rag before coming to your side.
She cups your face in her warm hands like she used to when you'd have nightmares as a child. She presses one quick kiss to your forehead, and then another for good measure.
"Breakfast is ready," She says gently, "Come on. You should eat."
The waffles are fish shaped this morning, and you can't help but chuckle.
<<nobr>>
<<if $rememberwaffles is false>>
<br>
One of your moms weirdest hobbies is that she likes odly shaped waffle makers. She'd started her her now-vast collection when you were only in kindergarten. Hearts, dinosaurs, various animals, she had purchased them all. She'd even found a building brick one, though trying to play legos with waffles and syrup had left the both of you a mess. Not that she ever minded a mess; messes were just the price to pay for fun, she used to say.
<br>
<</if>>
<</nobr>>
<div class="choice">[[She'd fried bacon and eggs, too.|after diet morgan ver][$diet to "eats meat"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[She'd fried some eggs and meatless sausage, too. You don't eat meat, so she always has alternatives on hand.|after diet morgan ver][$diet to "vegetarian"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[She'd fried some meatless sausagen and has a whole bowl of different sliced fruits sat out as well. You don't eat any animal products, so she always has alternaives on hand.|after diet morgan ver][$diet to "vegan"]]</div>\She smiles as you sit, claiming the chair across from you. Her eyes are still sad even as you begin to eat, and you know she understands what you're going through more than anyone else.
She'd lost your dad, after all. Meallán $surname, because he'd taken your mother's name when they married. You'd never gotten to meet him; he died before she'd even known she was pregnant with you.
There are pictures of him, though. You've known him your entire life, even if he's gone, your mother has made sure of that.
Their wedding photo, specifically, sits pride of place in the center of the fireplace mantle. She's in her wedding dress, a thing of fine white lace and pearls. Your father is wearing a traditional black suit in the photo, his tie a muted violet to match your mother's flowers. His black hair is long, reaching his shoulders, and half pulled up. His skin is a bronzed brown, and his $eye_c eyes are a carbon copy of your own.
You look nearly identical to your mother, except for your eyes.
Fleetingly, you wonder if she feels the same way you do passing your old highschool when she looks in your eyes. If she sees your father everywhere the same way you see Morgan.
[[Pushing the thoughts away, you eat breakfast and listen to your mom's updates on the ladies in her book club.|after breakfast]]You spend most of the day with your mom after breakfast. You'd bet money on Kiran still being passed out asleep; you've texted $kiran_himher twice by noon and get radio silence in response.
So you sit with her on the couch, talking and watching re-runs of shows you've seen a thousand times. Your cat, a yellow tabby apparently named Waffles by your late father because of his color, is curled up on your lap and purring contentedly.
The both of you end up laughing at the irony of television fiction and chatting about real life enough to dance around sadness until she goes to take a nap around noon. You insist, knowing she'd stay up if she thought you wanted her to. She doesn't need to be dead on her feet for her whole twelve hour shift.
That leaves you alone, so you wander out to the backyard and curl up on the wooden swing to scroll on your phone. Your mother used to tell you this was your father's favorite place to sit and watch the sunset. You would do the same as a child, trying somehow to meet him there across space and time as you watched the sky become a watercolor of orange and red.
Now it's just a little sad to sit where he once did, with the knowledge of grief and burden of love you now hold.
The wind blows, ghosts on the breeze as you watch the birds sitting on the fence, ruffling their feathers. Each holiday, each summer, every time you come home you always underestimate how hard your hometown is to face.
[[You phone buzzes in your hand, drawing your gaze back down.|kiran texting]]She smiles as you sit, claiming the chair across from you. Her eyes are still sad even as you begin to eat, and you know she never wanted any of this for you. She never wanted you to lose anyone important to, not like she'd lost your dad.
Meallán $surname, because he'd taken your mother's name when they married. You'd never gotten to meet him; he died before she'd even known she was pregnant with you.
There are pictures of him, though. You've known him your entire life, even if he's gone, your mother has made sure of that.
Their wedding photo, specifically, sits pride of place in the center of the fireplace mantle. She's in her wedding dress, a thing of fine white lace and pearls. Your father is wearing a traditional black suit in the photo, his tie a muted violet to match your mother's flowers. His black hair is long, reaching his shoulders, and half pulled up. His skin is a bronzed brown, and his $eye_c eyes are a carbon copy of your own.
You look nearly identical to your mother, except for your eyes.
Fleetingly, you wonder if she feels the same way you do passing your old highschool when she looks in your eyes. If she sees your father everywhere the same way you see your own ghosts.
[[Pushing the thoughts away, you eat breakfast and listen to your mom's updates on the ladies in her book club.|after breakfast]]Sometimes you pass by your old highschool and you just...feel haunted. You can remember Morgan's laugh, Cam's soft smiles, the way you would all pile in Morgan's car on the weekends and drive around for hours because there was nothing else to do. When you'd all make fun of Morgan for the absolute culinary monstrosities $morgan_heshe was so fond of creating.
Things were better, then.Back when Kiran didn't twitch with the effort not to cry when your old favorite songs came on because they remind $kiran_himher of friends long past. Back when your friends were whole, and not ghosts of themselves or buried six feet beneath the ground.
You force yourself from your thoughts, walking down the stairs as you try and focus on other things. The smell of breakfast lingering in the air, your cat rushing to purr at your feet, anything...//anything// else...
Your mom's face falls when she looks up as you enter the kitchen quietly. She purses her lips, her nose crinkling like it always does when she's trying not to cry.
"Honey..." She coos sadly, wiping her hands off on a rag before coming to your side.
She cups your face in her warm hands like she used to when you'd have nightmares as a child. She presses one quick kiss to your forehead, and then another for good measure.
"Breakfast is ready," She says gently, "Come on. You should eat."
The waffles are fish shaped this morning, and you can't help but chuckle.
<div class="choice">[[She'd fried bacon and eggs, too.|after diet no ship ver][$diet to "eats meat"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[She'd fried some eggs and meatless sausage, too. You don't eat meat, so she always has alternatives on hand.|after diet no ship ver][$diet to "vegetarian"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[She'd fried some meatless sausagen and has a whole bowl of different sliced fruits sat out as well. You don't eat any animal products, so she always has alternaives on hand.|after diet no ship ver][$diet to "vegan"]]</div>\''Kiran:'' //sorry i was asleep//
Another text comes in after that, followed by another and then another, all rapid fire.
''Kiran:'' //ur mom still on night shift?//
''Kiran:'' //if ur bored we could go hang at the beach or smth//
''Kiran:'' //get slushes and drive around?//
You call $kiran_himher, both too lazy to type out a proper response and also just wanting to hear a comforting voice.
"You can never just text me back," $kiran_capheshe says as soon as $kiran_heshe picks up your call, "Can you?"
It's silent for a moment as words form in your mouth but don't make it any farther than that.
"Hey," Kiran's voice turn gentler, "You good?"
<div class="choice">[["Yeah," You lie.|lie][$emotional -= 2]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[["No," You say.|i'm not][$emotional += 2]]</div>\The quiet lingers and you can tell Kiran doesn't really believe you. There's rustling on $kiran_hisher end, and you can hear car keys jingling.
"How about," $kiran_capheshe starts as you hear a few cabinet doors close, "I make some sandwiches becasue I know we're both broke as fuck and we hit the beach. The bit of coast near the woods? I can bring Luna."
"Don't put weird shit on the sandwiches," You huff a small laugh, already standing.
"Of course not," $kiran_heshe scoffs, "Who do you think I am-?"
$kiran_capheshe cuts $kiran_himherself off, but you already know the end of that sentence. You're familiar with the phrase, the gentle ribbing of the tone.
//Who do you think I am? Morgan?//
Kiran's next words are rushed, coming out a bit choked, "What do you want on them?"
<div class="choice">[[Ham & Cheese|sandwiches][$sandwiches to "hamandcheese"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Peanut Butter & Jelly|sandwiches][$sandwiches to "pbandj"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Peanut Butter, Banana, and Honey|sandwiches][$sandwiches to "pbandbh"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A basic Cold Cut|sandwiches][$sandwiches to "cold cuts"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Hazelnut Spread|sandwiches][$sandwiches to "hazelnut"]]</div>\The quiet lingers and you can tell Kiran is trying to figure out what to say. There's rustling on $kiran_hisher end, and you can hear car keys jingling.
"I know," $kiran_capheshe starts gently, and you hear a few cabinet doors close, "How about I make some sandwiches becasue I know we're both broke as fuck and we hit the beach. The bit of coast near the woods? I can bring Luna."
"Don't put weird shit on the sandwiches," You huff a small laugh, already standing.
"Of course not," $kiran_heshe scoffs, "Who do you think I am-?"
$kiran_capheshe cuts $kiran_himherself off, but you already know the end of that sentence. You're familiar with the phrase, the gentle ribbing of the tone.
//Who do you think I am? Morgan?//
Kiran's next words are rushed, and you can sense the regret in $kiran_hisher voice, "What do you want on them?"
<div class="choice">[[Ham & Cheese|sandwiches][$sandwiches to "hamandcheese"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Peanut Butter & Jelly|sandwiches][$sandwiches to "pbandj"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Peanut Butter, Banana, and Honey|sandwiches][$sandwiches to "pbandbh"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[A basic Cold Cut|sandwiches][$sandwiches to "cold cuts"]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Hazelnut Spread|sandwiches][$sandwiches to "hazelnut"]]</div>\You slowly migrate back into the house, tossing some things in a bag as you wait for Kiran to show up. You pointedly grab a towel, knowing you'll probably need one for when Luna inevitably end up getting soaked on the shore.
Should you tell your mom you're leaving?
<div class="choice">[[No, let her sleep.|let her sleep][$toldmom to false]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Yes, she'll be worried if she wakes up and you're just gone.|tell mom][$toldmom to true]]</div>\You head out to the front porch, the wood creaking slightly under your feet. You sit in one of the cushioned chairs and watch the end of the street for Kiran's 2014 Honda Civic to whip around the corner like it's a race car.
It doesn't take long, the little navy blue car fast approaching before halting with a lurch in front of your house.
"Uber for $surname," Kiran says as $kiran_heshe rolls down the passenger window to call out, "That you?"
A large german sherpherd then blocks your view of $kiran_himher as Luna pants excitedly, tail wagging and surely smacking Kiran once or twice.
You roll your eyes as you stand, sliding into the familar passenger seat before tossing your bag into the back. Your lap is immediately full of Luna, who never outgrew her lapdog phase despite being at least seventy pounds.
"Has she gotten bigger?" You ask, running your hands through her thick fur.
"Seems that way." Kiran laughs slightly, shoving Luna's tail away from where it was thwacking $kiran_himher on the thigh.
$kiran_capheshe glances you over, as if analyzing your state of being with a flick of $kiran_hisher eyes. Whatever Kiran might find, $kiran_heshe doesn't comment on it. Instead, $kiran_heshe turns the key in the ignition and gives you a grin.
"Ready?"
"Don't get a ticket our first day home," You admonish.
$kiran_capheshe gives you an offended look, "Me? Speeding? Surely you're joking!"
[[Then Kiran takes off with a swiftness that's almost certainly not reccomended by the law.|to the beach]]You head upstairs, stopping at your mom's door. You tap on it quietly, opening it just a crack.
"Mom," You call in, "I'm headed out. Kiran's making lunch and we're going to the beach."
"Oh," She says, half muffled in her pillow, "Tell Kiran I say and I love $kiran_himher...and drive safe."
You don't scoff, exactly, but you can't help your amusement at that. Kiran likes playing footsy with the law when it comes to driving, so that last request is unlikely.
"I'll let $kiran_himher know," You say in lieu of raising her blood pressure, "I probably won't be back before you go to work, so be safe, too."
Your mom's a nurse. She works at a hospital. She should be //fine//. Still, with bodies going missing and the town on edge...
She hums, "I will, hun. See you tomorrow morning, okay? I love you."
"Love you, too."
[[With that, you pull her door closed quietly, headed for the porch.|kiran pick up]]The drive through town barely takes fifteen minutes and soon you're breezing past all the houses and gas stations and you're surrounded on each side of the road by thick forests. Kiran takes a left and you can see the water on the horizon, glittering in the afternoon sun.
$kiran_capheshe parks by the treeline and hooks a leash to Luna's harness before glancing in the back, "Can you grab the cooler?"
You do, holding it in one hand and slinging your own bag over your other shoulder. You both walk down to the rocky coast in silence, and you suppose you're mutually lost in memories. If moving on was possible, you both would have already done it by now.
Kiran lets Luna off leash and she races for the water immediately.
"You bring a towel?" You ask wryly, already knowing $kiran_heshe forgot.
"No." $kiran_capheshe sighs, "No, I did not."
You two are the only ones here, but that's not surprising. You sit the cooler down on one of the rickety wooden benches and sit yourself down on another. You open your bag, thowing a towel Kiran.
"See?" $kiran_capheshe smirks, "This is why I keep you around."
"Sure," You laugh slightly, "//That's// why."
Kiran goes over to the cooler, opening it and nosing around inside, "I brought the sandwiches and water. I'd have brought chips, but dad ate 'em all last night."
$kiran_capheshe passes you one and a bottle of water. You both sit, side by side on the bench, watching Luna play with fire as she rushes at the geese and subsequently flees when they honk back.
Kiran tosses $kiran_hisher trash back in the cooler before leaning $kiran_hisher head back and looking up at the sky.
"We missed the anniversary," You say suddenly.
"It was in the middle of finals." Kiran says automatically, and you see $kiran_himher trying to shut out the rush of emotions and guilt that follow by closing $kiran_hisher eyes.
It's silent for a long moment after that. A pregnant pause, filled with things far too ugly to acknowledge.
"Should we go now that we're home?" Kiran speaks again before you get the chance, turning $kiran_hisher head to look at you, "It doesn't feel right to leave $morgan_himher alone so long."
You can see that $kiran_hisher eyes are wet, and you don't know how to fix this. Neither of you do, and never have. So you do what Kiran did earlier; it's your turn to play anchor.
"Yeah," You say quietly, "We'll go tomorrow."
Not today. Today is raw and your heart is bleeding and you can't do it today. Kiran must agree, nodding slightly.
"Sounds good," $kiran_capheshe says, hushed.
[[Neither of you speak for a few moments, holding a wake for one friend buried and another lost.|after morgan question]]The wood creaks slightly under your feet as you step outside. You sit in one of the cushioned chairs and watch the end of the street for Kiran's 2014 Honda Civic to whip around the corner like it's a race car.
It doesn't take long, the little navy blue car fast approaching before halting with a lurch in front of your house.
"Uber for $surname," Kiran says as $kiran_heshe rolls down the passenger window to call out, "That you?"
A large german sherpherd then blocks your view of $kiran_himher as Luna pants excitedly, tail wagging and surely smacking Kiran once or twice.
You roll your eyes as you stand, sliding into the familar passenger seat before tossing your bag into the back. Your lap is immediately full of Luna, who never outgrew her lapdog phase despite being at least seventy pounds.
"Has she gotten bigger?" You ask, running your hands through her thick fur.
"Seems that way." Kiran laughs slightly, shoving Luna's tail away from where it was thwacking $kiran_himher on the thigh.
$kiran_capheshe glances you over, as if analyzing your state of being with a flick of $kiran_hisher eyes. Whatever Kiran might find, $kiran_heshe doesn't comment on it. Instead, $kiran_heshe turns the key in the ignition and gives you a grin.
"Ready?"
"Mom said to tell you to drive safe. Don't get a ticket our first day home," You admonish.
$kiran_capheshe gives you an offended look, "Me? Speeding? Surely you're joking!"
[[Then Kiran takes off with a swiftness that's almost certainly not reccomended by the law.|to the beach]]You don't keep track of how long you're out there, sitting by the coast. Eventually Luna pads her way back to where you both sit, laying at Kiran's feet.
The two of you talk about everything and nothing at the same time; after all, it's not as if the smallest thing has gone unspoken between you. Kiran is literally your roommate during the spring and fall, and you still practically live together during the summer.
As the sun starts to go down, Kiran finally stands and stretches, "We should head back. Can I crash at yours? My parents will probably be in bed by the time we get home."
<div class="choice">[["No, you're not allowed." You roll your eyes. Kiran knows the door is already open; there's no need to ask.|sarcastic allowed]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[["Yeah, 'course." You stand as well, zipping your bag up.|genuine allowed]]</div>\Kiran pokes you in the side and you laugh, startled as you try and swerve to dodge $kiran_himher. You hit a branch, and the crack echoes.
Luna jolts awake, on her feet with her hackles raised in an instant. You blink as Kiran looks at her oddly, $kiran_hisher brow furrowed.
"It's okay, baby." Kiran tries to soothe her in a sweet voice reserved exclusively for $kiran_hisher dog, "It was just a branch, chill out."
Normally she would perk up at the sound, trodding over to Kiran's side despite not understanding the words. Now, she doesn't seem to even regsister Kiran's voice, turning to the treeline and snarling, baring all her sharp teeth as she slowly back up toward the water.
A chill runs up your spine. You glance over to Kiran and find $kiran_himher already looking at you, face pale.
The missing bodies and people. The mutilated animals. You don't want to be tomorrow's breaking news.
"Luna," Kiran's voice shakes ever so slightly, "Here, come here, baby."
$kiran_capheshe has her leash in hand, trying to inch toward her so she doesn't bolt. She stays frozen, staring at the treeline and hunkering down to the ground.
Kiran is a hair's breadth away when she whines, deep and low, and takes off. She follows the coast line before disappearing into the brush.
You both watch her go, horror stirring in your gut.
"I can't leave her here," $kiran_capheshe whispers, looking at you with wide eyes, "She's...the animals they've found..."
<div class="choice">[["And the people they haven't," You hiss back, "Kiran, please do not go traipsing in the woods while some psycho is out there."|do NOT]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[["We'll find her fast," You try to sound reassuring, "It'll be okay."|reassuring]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[You stay quiet, still frozen in fear as you watch the treeline. What's beyond there? Do you really want to find out?|fearful]]</div>\Kiran grins, throwing an arm around you. You laugh, swaying to the side, and snap a branch beneath your foot. The crack echoes.
Luna jolts awake, on her feet with her hackles raised in an instant. You blink as Kiran looks at her oddly, $kiran_hisher brow furrowed.
"It's okay, baby." Kiran tries to soothe her in a sweet voice reserved exclusively for $kiran_hisher dog, "It was just a branch, chill out."
Normally she would perk up at the sound, trodding over to Kiran's side despite not understanding the words. Now, she doesn't seem to even regsister Kiran's voice, turning to the treeline and snarling, baring all her sharp teeth as she slowly back up toward the water.
A chill runs up your spine. You glance over to Kiran and find $kiran_himher already looking at you, face pale.
The missing bodies and people. The mutilated animals. You don't want to be tomorrow's breaking news.
"Luna," Kiran's voice shakes ever so slightly, "Here, come here, baby."
$kiran_capheshe has her leash in hand, trying to inch toward her so she doesn't bolt. She stays frozen, staring at the treeline and hunkering down to the ground.
Kiran is a hair's breadth away when she whines, deep and low, and takes off. She follows the coast line before disappearing into the brush.
You both watch her go, horror stirring in your gut.
"I can't leave her here," $kiran_capheshe whispers, looking at you with wide eyes, "She's...the animals they've found..."
<div class="choice">[["And the people they haven't," You hiss back, "Kiran, please do not go traipsing in the woods while some psycho is out there."|do NOT]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[["We'll find her fast," You try to sound reassuring, "It'll be okay."|reassuring]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[You stay quiet, still frozen in fear as you watch the treeline. What's beyond there? Do you really want to find out?|fearful]]</div>\"It's Luna," Kiran begs, "Just...wait here, then. I'll be back in a second."
Then $kiran_heshe takes off, running in the same direction Luna went. You're standing there, a bit stunned at the nonsensical turn of the night. Still...
Still, your feet move. You know it's stupid, but you can't face the possibility of losing Kiran. It would be the final nail in your coffin.
You push through the brush, catching up to Kiran quickly. You both look every which way, trying to listen for Luna or spot her amidst the trees. You swallow slightly, putting on a brave face, and Kiran grasps your hand as you both move further into the woods.
[[The sun sets faster than you expected, and soon the pitch black night is upon you, aided by the canopy of leaves.|the split up]]$kiran_capheshe nods, shaky, and you both take off. You run in the same direction that Luna went, stumbling through the brush.
This might be foolish, but you would follow Kiran into worse things. Losing $kiran_himher...it would be the final nail in your coffin.
You both look every which way, trying to listen for Luna or spot her amidst the trees. You swallow slightly, putting on a brave face, and Kiran grasps your hand as you both move further into the woods.
[[The sun sets faster than you expected, and soon the pitch black night is upon you, aided by the canopy of leaves.|the split up]]Kiran watches you for a moment, waiting for something...anything...
Then $kiran_heshe takes off, running in the same direction Luna went. You feet are forced into action, moving on their own accord. The only thing that can override your fear is the possibility of losing Kiran. That would be the final nail in your coffin.
You stumble through the brush, grasping at Kiran's sleeve. You both look every which way, trying to listen for Luna or spot her amidst the trees. You swallow slightly, still trembling, and Kiran grasps your hand as you both move further into the woods.
[[The sun sets faster than you expected, and soon the pitch black night is upon you, aided by the canopy of leaves.|the split up]]Inching forward, you feel the goosebumps raise on your neck and spread to your arms. There are eyes on you...eyes watching your every move, ready to pounce.
You try to shake the paranoia away, gripping Kiran's hand tighter. You take a step forward, side by side, but your foot slides on the undergrowth. The wet coastal mud makes you tilt, and you realize there's no solid ground beneath these brambles.
Only a sharp slope down greets you.
"$name!" Kiran shouts, fear turning $kiran_hisher voice desperate as $kiran_heshe clutches your hand tightly when you slip to the side.
In the darkness, briefly, you can see horror twist $kiran_hisher face. Then the momentum breaks your grasp on $kiran_hisher hand and you're...
//[[You're falling.|you fell]]//You hit the ground with force that knocks you breathless. Your body registers the pain slowly as you turn over onto your back, staring up at the sky through a canopy of leaves.
When you can finally hear beyond the ringing in your ears, shouting is coming from above. Kiran? Is $kiran_heshe calling for you?
The ground is cold and your body aches. There's a metallic taste in your mouth now, and your head hurts whenever you move. You want to tell Kiran it hurts, but you can't even open your mouth.
The moon is high in the sky now, full and shining bright down on your crumpled form.
When the sound stops, the dread sets in. Kiran isn't calling for you anymore. Would $kiran_heshe be able to find you down here? Would //anyone//?
For a brief, fleeting moment, you wonder if this is how Morgan felt before $morgan_heshe died. They had told you it was quick; the paramedics that arrived on scene had said $morgan_hisher throat had been practically torn open.
$morgan_capheshe hadn't suffered.
[[Would you?|breeze]]You feel the breeze on your skin, the leaves rustling high above. Suddenly the pain recedes, the numbness fleeing your limbs. Groaning and hesitant, you sit up and look down at yourself. A few scuffs and places that are //definitely// going to bruise, but...
You're not dead. Somehow.
Now you just need to let Kiran know that.
You stand on shaking legs, still disoriented as you look around you. This part of the forest is darker, more tangled with roots and undergrowth. You drift forward, no path to guide you, when you see...
<div class="choice">[[Large, clawed animal tracks. Far too big to be Luna's, but they still look canine in nature.|werewolf]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[What looks to be footprints dragging a trail intermingled with blood across the forest floor.|vampire]]</div>\The tracks are coming from over the hill; is that the way back to the main path? You take a step forward when you hear shifting behind you.
Heavy breathing.
A snarl.
<div class="choice">[[Run, and fast.|wolf attack]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Turn slowly.|wolf attack]]</div>\The blood is coming from over the hill; is that the way back to the main path? You take a step forward when you hear shifting behind you.
A quiet chuckle.
The crunch of leaves.
A person?
<div class="choice">[[Run, and fast.|vamp attack]]</div>\
<div class="choice">[[Turn slowly.|vamp attack]]</div>\It's useless. The second you make to move, you're flat on your back again. The beast on top of you is huge, snarling and snapping. A wolf, you realize belatedly, and a fucking big one at that.
You throw your arms up to protect your face, but it's teeth sink into the flesh of your bicep and shoulder. You scream, thrashing and pushing, anything that might save you-
The wolf stops. Pulls back. Howls.
It growls as it pulls off you, looking as dazed as an animal possibly could be. You don't wait for it to regain its bearings; running on pure adrenaline, you scramble to you feet and flee.
Nothing follows you as you crest the top of the hill.
Nothing except the blood running down your arm and a sharp pain that ricochets through your body.
Someone is screaming again. Kiran?
No...it's you.
Your legs are shaking, so you lean against the trunk of a tree. When you look down at your hands, they aren't //yours//. Wicked claws are in place of where you fingernails used to be.
You don't have claws.
//You don't have claws.//
"$name?"
Kiran? You spin around, shaking, your teeth feeling too big for your mouth and every single one of your senses being attacked by noise and sight and taste-
It's not Kiran. $caminame?
$cami_capheshe steps out of the shadows of the trees, eyes wide and wary. You want to beg for help, but you can't speak beyond the small growls that escape when you try.
$caminame will help you. Things are...different now...but you've been friends practically your whole lives. You reach a hand out, pleading.
$cami_capheshe jerks back sharply, eyes narrowing.
You pause.
<<nobr>>
<<if $cami_ismale>>
[[He has a gun in his hand.|shot]]
<<else>>
[[She has a gun in her hand.|shot]]
<</if>>
<</nobr>>"How?" $cami_capheshe asks, voice breaking, "Why, $nickname?"
You want to ask what $cami_heshe means, but even if you could...$cami_heshe doesn't give you the chance.
$cami_caphisher jaw is clenched as $cami_heshe raises the gun. Brown eyes are flush with tears, but $cami_hisher hand is steady.
"People are dying." $caminame whispers, "I can't let it continue."
You don't know what $cami_hesshes talking about.
You don't get the chance to ask. The gunshot rings out, the bullet tears through the air.
[[It hits you in the chest.|u dead]]
Thank you for playing the Patreon version of the Unseelie! The next part is soon to come!It's useless. The second you make to move, you're flat on your back again. The man holding you down stares deep into your eyes, his own a fathomles black. When he snarls, you see wicked fangs where his canines should be.
You throw your arms up to protect your face, but he grabs them and shoves them to the side. He says something in a calm, soothing voice, but it has no effect on you. You scream, thrashing and pushing, anything that might save you-
The teeth sink into your neck regardless.
You feel yourself slipping away, toeing the line of consciousness further and further, when-
A howl?
The man snarls, pulling off you and standing once more. You blink and he's gone. You don't wait for him to return; running on pure adrenaline, you scramble to you feet and flee in the opposite direction.
Nothing follows you as you crest the top of the hill.
Nothing except the blood running down your neck and a sharp pain that ricochets through your body.
Someone is screaming again. Kiran?
No...it's you.
Your legs are shaking, so you lean against the trunk of a tree. Your body is burning, burning-
//You're burning.//
"$name?"
Kiran? You spin around, shaking, your teeth feeling too big for your mouth and every single one of your senses being attacked by noise and sight and taste-
It's not Kiran. $caminame?
$cami_capheshe steps out of the shadows of the trees, eyes wide and wary. You want to beg for help, but you can't speak beyond the small growls that escape when you try.
$caminame will help you. Things are...different now...but you've been friends practically your whole lives. You reach a hand out, pleading.
$cami_capheshe jerks back sharply, eyes narrowing.
You pause.
<<nobr>>
<<if $cami_ismale>>
[[He has a gun in his hand.|shot]]
<<else>>
[[She has a gun in her hand.|shot]]
<</if>>
<</nobr>>