Canned Coffee Conversation Club

config.style.backdrop: '#fddfb6' config.style.page.color: '#20263a on #fef3e2' config.style.page.link.font: 'italic' config.style.page.link.color: '#cc008b' config.style.page.link.lineColor: '#810075' config.style.page.link.active.color: '#cc008b on #f4b8da' config.style.page.fork.divider.style: 'solid' config.style.page.fork.divider.color: '#fbca87' config.style.page.verticalAlign: 'top' -- > [[Enter.->oracle]]

target: "lucky duck of your dreams" -- "The Oracle is on the upper floor," advises the sign on the door, "Visit there first to decide your destiny." You climb the steep steps at the back of the establishment and find a warmly-lit room strewn with books, cushions, and shelves. A disshevelled, shorthaired twentysomething is sprawled amongst the mess. "Good morning," xe says, "Would you like your fortune regular or large?" > [["Regular..?"->crystal]] > [["Which do you recommend?"->crystal]] > [["What?"]]

"Lemme ask the crystal ball." The oracle taps impatiently at a mobile phone until it bleeps. Staring at the screen, xe picks out three tarot cards from a scattered pile beneath an atlas. "Pick a card," xe says. > [[The Electrician.]] > [[The Baker.]] > [[The Bore Operator.]] > [["What?"->confused]]

ending: 'ending-power' -- THE ELECTRICIAN {embed passage: ending} {embed passage: 'down'}

ending: 'ending-love' -- THE BAKER {embed passage: ending} {embed passage: 'down'}

roll_card: random.d4 card (roll_card === 1): 'The Electrician.' card (roll_card === 2): 'The Baker.' card (roll_card === 3): 'The Bore Operator.' card (roll_card === 4): 'The Costumemaker.' -- "It's a deck of my own design," the oracle says, "Still a work-in-progress." You stare blankly. Xe hands you a card: <blockquote> {embed passage: card}

ending: 'ending-release' -- THE BORE OPERATOR {embed passage: ending} {embed passage: 'down'}

"We do things differently," xe explains, "Ending first, then coffee." You stare blankly. {embed passage: 'crystal'}

people: "talking" water: "boiling" air: "aromatic" -- You head back downstairs and walk into the scene. The coffee shop is bustling and the queue is well-attended. {embed passage: 'atmosphere'} The wide front window is dark. > [[Join the queue.]]

queue: 'Join the queue.' queue (random.d12 === 3): 'Wait.' -- You are waiting in the queue. {embed passage: 'atmosphere_roll'} > {link to: queue, label: 'Wait.'}

People are {people}, water is {water}, and the air is {air}.

target: "barista" -- You reach the front of the queue. "Can I take your order?" the {target} asks, poised to input. > [["I'll have a coffee, thanks."]] > [["What's your name?"]] > [["Can I take YOUR order?"]] > [["No."]]

connect_roll: random.coinFlip connect: 'whatever' connect (connect_roll): 'happy' -- "You have the loveliest eyes," you add. "Thank you," the {target} says, "I worked hard on them." > {link to: connect, label: "Any plans for the future?"} > {link to: connect, label: "How are you feeling?"} > {link to: connect, label: "What's your favourite memory?"} > [[Bail.->"No."]]

"I'm sorry, we're not looking for vacancies." You stare each other down, neither giving in. [after 4 seconds] The {target} politely asks you to leave the queue. [continued] > [[Order a coffee.->"I'll have a coffee, thanks."]] > [[Leave the queue.->sit]] > [[Run away.->"No."]]

coffee: random.d12 + 1 -- "Coming right up." The {target} sighs, pushes a button, and a coffee brews. {embed passage: 'sit'}

You dash out the door and straight into the void. "Is it over already?" your waiting friend exclaims, "What a waste!" You shake your head. "I've had enough. Let's go home. Ugh, fine, I'll try again." {embed passage: 'title'}

You and the {target} live together happily in a little hut in the desert.

roll_gender: random.d4 gender (roll_gender === 1): "person" gender (roll_gender === 2): "woman" gender (roll_gender === 3): "man" gender (roll_gender === 4): "stranger" roll_trait: random.d10 trait (roll_trait === 1): "strong" trait (roll_trait === 2): "kind" trait (roll_trait === 3): "shy" trait (roll_trait === 4): "fierce" trait (roll_trait === 5): "sweet" trait (roll_trait === 6): "inscrutable" trait (roll_trait === 7): "approachable" trait (roll_trait === 8): "scruffy" trait (roll_trait === 9): "fashionable" trait (roll_trait === 10): "sparkly" target: trait + " " + gender -- You see a table where a {target} is sitting. > [[Sit at the table.]] > [[Check the next table.->tables]] > [[Leave.->"No."]]

Now you have to choose where to sit. {embed passage: 'tables'}

</blockquote> > [[Pocket the card and go.->downstairs]]

You and the {target} become successful business partners, innovating the world over from a tall tower.

You and the {target} take charge of theatre and demand a rewrite. The whole performance collapses and you run into the night.

ending: 'ending-peace' -- THE COSTUMEMAKER {embed passage: ending} {embed passage: 'down'}

You and the {target} seek predictability, but all you find is a secret ending!

people_roll: random.d4 people (people_roll === 1): 'talking' people (people_roll === 2): 'boiling' people (people_roll === 3): 'aromatic' people (people_roll === 4): 'annoying' water_roll: random.d4 water (water_roll === 1): 'talking' water (water_roll === 2): 'boiling' water (water_roll === 3): 'aromatic' water (water_roll === 4): 'annoying' air_roll: random.d4 air (air_roll === 1): 'talking' air (air_roll === 2): 'boiling' air (air_roll === 3): 'aromatic' air (air_roll === 4): 'annoying' -- {embed passage: 'atmosphere'}

{embed passage: 'story'} The {target} is interested, and the two of you form a bond. You arrange to call each other another day. Many phone calls later, you have found a new life. {embed passage: ending} Then one day you decide to book a ticket to a coffee shop... {embed passage: 'title'}

{embed passage: 'story'} Unfortunately, your conversation trails off, and the {target} has to leave. {embed passage: 'tables'}

You listen to the {target}'s thoughts, nod profusely, and share a few of your own.

coffee: coffee - 1 drink: 'Stare into the empty can.' drink (coffee > 0): 'Drink your coffee.' -- The {target} is looking at you. > {link to: 'Sit at the table.', label: drink} > [[Introduce yourself.->"What's your name?"]] > [[Get cold feet.->"No."]]