Immortal

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It was supposed to be... well, maybe not a simple job, but it wasn't your first time being hired to track down a teenage runaway. But this one... you had a weird feeling about this one from the start. As the dreams you've suffered from your whole life start getting more intense, and your missing persons case becomes a murder case, you begin to realise you've bitten off far more than you can chew. Now the only person who seems to have the answers you seek is a professor on a culture that has been extinct for centuries - and all you know about them is that they're hiding something. Find the meaning behind your mysterious dreams. Will they lead you to catch your mysterious killer? Or lead you straight into their clutches? Immortal is an 18+ interactive fiction novel created in Twine using Sugarcube. Content warnings will include death and murder, and animal death (skippable). List will be updated in the future. __''Features''__ * Play as a male, female or nonbinary private investigator - cis or trans. Customise your appearance and personality, and choose how you wish to proceed with your case * You're not you when you dream. Who are you? Customise your mysterious dream figure, including gender (male or female, cis or trans) and appearance. * A single gender-selectable RO. Get to know the secrets they keep hidden and enter into a deeper relationship - or spend time together as friends. * Find the answers to the dreams that plague you. Repeat the mistakes of the past - or make whole new ones. [[Customise your investigator|character creation]]

__''Prologue''__ Every breath you took was agony, an icy needle in your throat, a shard of glass in your smoke-filled lungs. You could no longer feel your legs but for the ground coming up to meet you with each stumbling, desperate step, each jarring collision sending tremors through your body. Your panting was loud in your ears as you desperately held back a cough that would only slow you down, your eyes too dry from the smoke for the desperate tears you knew would otherwise overwhelm you. When had your shoe come off? Would you have even noticed the cuts that now littered your foot if not for the blood that was beginning to stain your mud-streaked toes? You risked a glance behind you, glimpsing the red glow of flames that had long-overtaken the encampment on the horizon. The sky above was black, but you couldn’t remember if it was because it was nighttime or if the smoke was simply that thick. How long had you been running? Flashes of memories burned in your mind, glimpses of another fire, of beloved lives lost you would never see again. You pushed them out. You couldn’t afford to fall to sentimentality now. It was an unseen tree root that brought your headlong flight to a sudden halt, sending you crashing to the dirt ground in an explosion of dust and pebbles. You finally lost your battle with your throat and lungs, coughing violently between desperate gasps as you tried to regain the air that had been knocked out of you. With trembling limbs you tried to push yourself upright, muscles straining even under your own weight. There was no chance of getting on your feet and running again. Not with your legs spasming involuntarily in exhaustion. Not with your vision swimming as though the long grass of the fields that bordered your path seemingly running cartwheels around you. Ignoring the countless cuts on your arms, stinging under your freshly ruined sleeves, you dragged yourself to the edge of the road. Collapsing against the thick, gnarled trunk of the very tree that had so spectacularly halted your progress. The branches swayed in a breeze you couldn’t feel as you glared up at them, glared up at the red-tinged darkness that had spread over the sky. Somewhere through that smog was the same sky you had looked up at since your childhood, the constellations whose names and stories had been regaled to you by your lover on cool nights on the balconies of the Sovereign’s palace. You knew you’d never be hearing those stories again. As your breathing began to steady, your pounding heart finally settling in your chest, you became aware of a sound carrying on the breeze. You strained your ears, trying to make it out even as you blinked back the blurriness from your vision – there it was again. A voice, calling a name. Was that your name? You couldn’t remember. It didn’t sound right. What was your name? Someone crested the hill you’d only recently passed over, and you became aware that they were the one trying to call to you. You couldn’t make out their words as you tried to focus instead on their figure – <<link 'The familiar figure of a man' 'caught'>><<set $Rue_gender to "male">><</link>> <<link 'The familiar figure of a woman' 'caught'>><<set $Rue_gender to "female">><</link>>

<<set $Rue_gender to "male">> <<set $Soul_gender to "male">> <<set $MC_gender to "male">> <<set $Soul_sex to "null">> <<set $Soul_person to "mystery">> <<set $MC_sex to "null">> <<set $Soul_they to "they">> <<set $Soul_theycap to "They">> <<set $Soul_them to "them">> <<set $Soul_themcap to "Them">> <<set $Soul_their to "their">> <<set $Soul_theircap to "Their">> <<set $Soul_theirs to "theirs">> <<set $Soul_theirscap to "Theirs">> <<set $Soul_themself to "themself">> <<set $Soul_themselfcap to "Themself">> <<set $Mx to "Mx">> <<set $MC_name to "First">> <<set $Soul_name to "Name">> <<set $MC_last to "Last">> <<set $MC_person to "person">> <<set $MC_they to "they">> <<set $MC_theycap to "They">> <<set $MC_them to "them">> <<set $MC_themcap to "Them">> <<set $MC_their to "their">> <<set $MC_theircap to "Their">> <<set $MC_themself to "themself">> <<set $MC_themselfcap to "Themself">> <<set $MC_personality to "insane">> <<set $hobby to "chilling">> <<set $talent to "nothing">> <<set $travel to "walking">> <<set $cleanliness to "unknown">> <<set $uncooperative to false>> <<set $Soul_flirt to "horrendous">> <<set $Soul_skin to "haze">> <<set $Soul_eye to "missing">> <<set $Soul_hair to "demonic">> <<set $Soul_length to "horryfying">> <<set $Soul_style to "aggressive">> <<set $Soul_height to "none of your business">> <<set $MC_skin to "unknown">> <<set $MC_eye to "unknown">> <<set $MC_hair to "unknown">> <<set $MC_length to "unknown">> <<set $MC_style to "unknown">> <<set $MC_height to "unknown">> <<set $looks to "unknown">> <<set $fidget to "fidgeted">> <<set $police to 0>> <<set $kind to 0>> <<set $blunt to 0>> <<set $playful to 0>> <<set $intimidating to 0>> <<set $Brand_card to false>> <<set $crime_scene to false>> <<set $Abby_background to false>> <<set $MC_mute to false>> <<set $MC_touchaverse to false>> <<set $Soul_mute to false>> <<set $Soul_touchaverse to false>> <<set $money to "unknown">> <<set $background to "unknown">> <<set $family to "unknown">> <<set $cautious to 0>> <<set $impulsive to 0>> <<set $Frankie to false>> <<set $Brand to false>> <<set $Cayde to false>> <<set $Liam to false>> <<set $Rue_met to false>> <<set $Zealot_met to false>> <<set $wake_up to false>> <<set $dream to false>> <<set $Frankie_kind to false>> <<set $Frankie_blunt to false>> <<set $Frankie_playful to false>> <<set $hesitate to false>> <<set $kids to "meh">> <<set $Ethan_out to false>> <<set $Vanessa_comfort to false>> <<set $Vanessa_card to false>> <<set $Ethan_job to false>> <<set $Vanessa_job to false>> <<set $Brand_card to false>> <<set $Abigail_dreams to false>> <<set $Abigail_secretive to false>> <<set $Ethan_dragon to false>> <<set $Ethan_llama to false>> <<set $laptop to false>> <<set $Vanessa_kind to false>> <<set $Vanessa_blunt to false>> <<set $Vanessa_playful to false>> <<set $suspicion to 0>> <<set $arrest to "free">> <<set $struggle to false>>

<<if $Rue_gender is "male">><<set $Rue_person to "man">><<set $Rue_they to "he">><<set $Rue_theycap to "He">><<set $Rue_their to "his">><<set $Rue_theircap to "His">><<set $Rue_them to "him">><<set $Rue_themcap to "Him">><<set $Rue_theirs to "his">><<set $Rue_theirs to "His">><<set $Rue_themself to "himself">><<set $Rue_themselfcap to "Himself">><<else>><<set $Rue_person to "woman">><<set $Rue_they to "she">><<set $Rue_theycap to "She">><<set $Rue_their to "her">><<set $Rue_theircap to "Her">><<set $Rue_them to "her">><<set $Rue_themcap to "Her">><<set $Rue_theirs to "hers">><<set $Rue_theirscap to "Hers">><<set $Rue_themself to "herself">><<set $Rue_themselfcap to "Herself">><</if>>You could barely be certain whether the $Rue_person was real or imagined until $Rue_they was falling to $Rue_their knees by your side on the ground, black armour cold as $Rue_they reached for you. Squinting at $Rue_them in an attempt to make out $Rue_their features, you found $Rue_they remained hazy like a long-forgotten memory no matter how you tried to focus. Your body responded regardless, allowing $Rue_them to pull you into strong arms as you felt yourself beginning to relax. Sharp edges of armour dug into your skin through your thin layers of clothing as $Rue_they clutched you tightly against $Rue_their chest. Body sagging with the suddenly overwhelming sense of safety, you buried your face snugly into $Rue_their neck. The smell of smoke on $Rue_their sweat-slick skin assaulted your senses, and you couldn't help the shudder that ran through your body, but you clung to $Rue_them tighter even so, arms reaching to wrap around $Rue_their waist as though $Rue_they might disappear. Your throat was so raw you wouldn't have been able to speak no matter how you might have wanted to, your eyes stinging with unshed tears, A choked sob escaped your lips, and $Rue_they understood your fear even without a need for words. $Rue_theircap grip tightened around your shaking body, and you felt $Rue_their chapped lips against your ear. "I know," $Rue_they whispered <<if $Soul_length is "bald">>against your skin<<else>>into your $Soul_hair hair<</if>>, salty tears damp on your shoulder. Was the crack in $Rue_their voice from emotion or the fire? You couldn't tell. "I love you so much, $Soul_name - I'm so sorry." You didn't have a chance to react to $Rue_their apology before the dagger was plunged between your ribs. [[Wake Up]]

<<set $wake_up to true>>You gasped awake into a coughing fit, trying to fight off the taste of smoke and the burning in your lungs, fighting against tangled too-hot sheets until you could lurch out of your bed. Your chest heaved, and your probing fingers felt over your ribs in search of a wound that still ached sharply. Your skin was smooth and unmarred despite the pain, and you staggered towards the ensuite. Another dream. Your mind might know the truth, but your body still needed time to tell the difference. Time to recover from the still overwhelming phantom sensations that kept your limbs shaking and your heart racing. Leaning heavily on the sink, you turned the tap on cold to splash the water on your face, the shock helping to wake you up and push down the nightmare you’d woken from. Your hands still trembled as they grasped the nearby cup in order to fill it, so busy focusing on your breathing that it almost overflowed before you remembered to turn off the tap. <<link 'Sip it slowly' 'water'>><<set $cautious += 1>><</link>> <<link 'Gulp it down' 'water'>><<set $impulsive +=1>><</link>>

<<set $hobby to "music">>Music had always been your love, an escape from the darkness that often filled your day-to-day life. Unfortunately, most instruments wouldn’t fit into your travel bag and besides, you highly doubted your temporary neighbours would appreciate if you were to turn your room into a de facto concert hall at 2am. Instead, you began digging through a side pocket of your travel bag where you kept your most important items, searching around until you found your mp3 player and headphones. Tossing yourself into the lumpy armchair in the corner, you turned the device on and set it on shuffle, tilting your head back to look at the ceiling. Deep breaths in and out, allowing the familiar music a chance to wash over you. The lingering feelings of unease were gently brushed aside as the music filled your senses. It took you to another place and time, made you feel at home, made you feel like you. And as your body finally relaxed and you mind began to drift you felt your eyes grow heavier and heavier, and the music began to fade away as you finally succumbed to your exhaustion. [[And so you dreamed...]]

<<set $hobby to "art">>Art had always been what got you through your days, your escape from the world and the darkness that so often lurked within it. To create something from nothing, watch it be built from the ground up with nothing but your own skill to guide it. Unfortunately, most mediums were quite messy, and you were certain whatever passed for room service wouldn’t appreciate if you turned your room into a de facto art studio at 2am. Instead, you began digging through a side pocket of your travel bag where you kept your most important items, searching around until you found the notebook you used for your cases and an extra pen. Tossing yourself into the lumpy armchair in the corner, you flipped through the pages crammed full of notes from your last job, margins and empty space already taken up by doodles, until you found an as-of-yet untouched page. It didn’t stay that way for long. Deep breaths in and out, allowing the familiar movements and focus on what you were doing a chance to wash over you. The lingering feelings of unease were gently brushed aside as the process of creation embraced you. It made you feel at home, made you feel like you. And as your body finally relaxed and your mind began to drift you felt your eyes grow heavier and heavier, and the doodles you were working on began to grow blurry as you finally succumbed to your exhaustion. [[And so you dreamed...]]

<<set $hobby to "sports">>Sports had always been your escape. Pushing your body to its limits to distract your mind from the darkness you often encountered day to day – or to ensure you could respond to it when you did come across it. The burn of exertion, the thrill of shaping your body until it was ready for anything your chosen sport could throw at you. Unfortunately, you highly doubted your temporary neighbours would appreciate if you were to turn your room into a de facto gym at 2am. It was frustrating, having so much pent-up energy simmering under the surface with nowhere to go. Deep breaths in and out as you paced back and forth over the worn, dull carpet, switching a lamp on to avoid a stubbed toe or knee. You stretched your arms out as you walked, going through the process of a cool down in the hopes of settling your mind ready for bed. The lingering feelings of unease were gently brushed aside by the familiar routine, the comfortable stretch in your muscles, the urge in your body to move. You felt more like you than you had in a long time. And as your body finally relaxed and your mind began to drift you felt your eyes grow heavier and heavier. You allowed yourself to slump into the lumpy bed, eventually settling into a half-way comfortable position as you finally succumbed to your exhaustion. [[And so you dreamed...]]

<<set $hobby to "writing">>Writing had always been your freedom. The brush through which you created worlds into which you could escape from the darkness of your every day life. The creation of something from nothing with words alone, shaped by your imagination into something new. It was convenient, too, having a hobby that you could access anywhere you went – even in a seedy motel room at 2am. Digging through the side pocket of your travel bag where you kept your most important items, you searched around until you found the notebook you used for your cases, and an extra pen. Tossing yourself into the lumpy armchair in the corner, you flipped through the pages crammed full of notes from your last job until you found an as-of-yet untouched page. It didn’t stay that way for long. Deep breaths in and out, allowing your thoughts and feelings and the lingering sense of unease to flow out of you and onto the paper. To cleanse yourself of all of your feelings of anxiety until you finally felt at home – finally felt like you. And as your body finally relaxed and your mind began to drift you felt your eyes grow heavier and heavier, and the words you were writing began to grow blurry as you finally succumbed to your exhaustion. [[And so you dreamed...]]

<<set $hobby to "TV">>TV had always been your escape from the darkness you faced every day. The freedom to put yourself in someone else’s world – but also to feel some form of companionship if ever you were lonely. To see familiar faces and to hear their voices and feel as though there was somebody else in the room with you, someone to sit and talk to you when you were overwhelmed and distressed. Unfortunately, however, you highly doubted your temporary neighbours would appreciate if you were to turn your room into a de facto cinema at 2am. Digging out the remote from the drawer you turned on the TV, muting the sound as you tossed yourself into the lumpy armchair in the corner ready to flick through the channels. There weren’t many options at this time of night, but you mindlessly channel surfed regardless, searching for anything that might distract you from the remnants of the dream and the lasting traces of unease that came with it. Deep breaths in and out as you finally settled on some sort of asinine drivel that would feel like a fever dream once the sun had risen, and you sank deeper into your seat, eyes fixed on the screen. The bright lights from the heavy set washed over you, the lingering feelings of unease gently brushed aside by the unfamiliar figures. They made you feel less alone, more at home, more like you. And as your body finally relaxed and your mind began to drift you felt your eyes grow heavier and heavier, and the bright screen you were watching began to grow blurry as you finally succumbed to your exhaustion. [[And so you dreamed...]]

<<set $hobby to "reading">>Reading had always been your great love. The opportunity to disappear into another world in order to escape the darkness of the one that you lived in – or even the recesses conjured up by your own mind in your dreams. There was nothing as comforting for you as the welcoming embrace of a book you had read countless times before, the words as warm as though spoken to you by a beloved friend. It was convenient, too, having a hobby that you could access anywhere you went – even in a seedy motel room at 2am. Digging through the side pocket of your travel bag where you kept your most important items, you searched around until you found the well-worn paperback you’d selected as your companion for your trip. Tossing yourself into the lumpy armchair in the corner, you flicked through the book until you found where you had left off and began reading. Deep breaths in and out as your mind painted pictures of the world you’d immersed yourself in, allowing the imagery to wash over you. The lingering feelings of unease were gently brushed aside by the familiar words. They made you feel at home, made you feel like you. And as your body finally relaxed and your mind began to drift you felt your eyes grow heavier and heavier, and the words you were reading began to grow blurry as you finally succumbed to your exhaustion. [[And so you dreamed...]]

The silky sheets felt divine compared to the scratchy bedding you were accustomed to, and you burrowed into them in delight, nuzzling your face into the cool pillow. The chill air of the bedroom was a welcome reprieve from the summer heat outside, waning as it was in preparation for the harvest months. The bed dipped gently behind you, accompanied by a deep chuckle as the $Rue_person stretched out beside you, mindful to keep a distance between your bodies. You wriggled onto your side so that you were facing $Rue_them, and… <<set $LinkText to "Snuggled closer. You'd never had an issue with touch, least of all with $Rue_them.">><<link '$LinkText' 'snuggles'>><<set $Soul_touchaverse to false>><<set $snuggles to true>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "Snuggled closer. You didn't enjoy being touched without permission, but you wanted $Rue_their contact right now.">><<link '$LinkText' 'snuggles'>><<set $Soul_touchaverse to true>><<set $snuggles to true>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "Smiled softly at $Rue_them. You didn't enjoy being touched, and you didn't feel up to it right now.">><<link '$LinkText' 'no snuggles'>><<set $Soul_touchaverse to true>><</link>>

You rolled over onto your back,<<if $snuggles is true>>your partner releasing you without complaint as you manoeuvered your body out of $Rue_their reach<<else>>putting a little more space between the two of you.<</if>> The room was dark, the thick curtains closed securely against the early evening sun. The alchemical lights were set to cast only a low, intimate glow over the room. If you hadn’t walked through the halls yourself to get there, you wouldn’t have been able to guess by looking that the room was one of the finest in the Sovereign’s palace. It was decorated simply, the elaborate carvings in the wooden pillars hidden by the plant life that had been set up around the room. Shelves full of exquisite clay figures that may have pointed to the wealth of the occupant if you hadn’t known that $Rue_they had crafted each one by hand. “Kinosi,” your bedmate provided, following your gaze to the clay spider you had found yourself staring at. “The King of Spiders. Ey are the patron of artisans.” Your eyes trailed over the spider before moving on to the figure directly beside it, one that was so lifelike you might have had to do a double take were it big enough to be life-sized. It was a wolf, sat back on its haunches but with a paw raised as if it were about to bolt, looking round with its ears flat to its head, expression frozen in a warning snarl that sent chills up your spine. <<link '"And the wolf?" You asked $Rue_them softly.' 'wolf'>><<set $Soul_mute to false>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "//'And the wolf?'// you signed once $Rue_their attention was back on you.">><<link '$LinkText' 'wolf'>><<set $Soul_mute to true>><</link>>

“I can’t help but feel I’ve been neglecting you, my z’reia.” $Rue_theycap told you gently, and for a moment you couldn’t tell if $Rue_they were teasing you or if $Rue_they were completely serious. Before you could work it out, $Rue_they reached for you, offering you $Rue_their hand. You <<listbox "$shy1" autoselect>><<option "accepted it, smiling as your hand was brought up to meet soft lips.">><<option "smiled softly but kept your distance, relieved by the acceptance.">><</listbox>> You felt yourself flushing at $Rue_their easy affection, wondering how it could come so easily to $Rue_them. “Do you know that you’re <<listbox "$looks" autoselect>><<option "stunning">><<option "handsome">><<option "gorgeous">><<option "beautiful">><</listbox>>, $Soul_name?” $Rue_they asked genuinely, the complete earnestness in $Rue_their voice catching you off-guard. You stared at $Rue_them wide-eyed, momentarily too stunned to respond. <<if $Soul_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "'//Thank you,//' you mumble shyly.">><<link '$LinkText' 'Soul shy 1'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//I think you're $looks, too,//' Refuse to meet $Rue_their gaze,">><<link '$LinkText' 'Soul shy 2'>><</link>><<else>><<link '"Thank you," you mumble shyly.' 'Soul shy 1'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "\"I think you're $looks, too.\" Refuse to meet $Rue_their gaze.">><<link '$LinkText' 'Soul shy 2'>><</link>><</if>>

The surprised laugh you startled out of $Rue_them was almost musical, and it was enough to drive out your lingering concerns over $Rue_their god's potential presence in the room. "Not at all," $Rue_they assured you, the affection and amusement that was clear in $Rue_their voice warming you to your core. "I've left you feeling neglected, haven't I, my z'reia? Perhaps I should tell you how <<listbox "$looks" autoselect>><<option "stunning">><<option "handsome">><<option "gorgeous">><<option "beautiful">><</listbox>> you are?" <<if $Soul_mute is true>>//'Am I now?'//<<else>>"Am I now?"<</if>> "Moreso than any piece of artwork the Sovereign may hope to possess." <<if $Soul_mute is true>>You smiled widely at the sudden earnestless in $Rue_their tone, thoroughly reassured by the flirtation. //'Do you think we should fear the Sovereign stealing me away from you?'//<<else>>"Oh?" You let out a chuckle in an attempt to diffuse from the sudden earnestness in $Rue_their tone, though you were thoroughly reassured by the flirtation. "Do you think we should fear the Sovereign stealing me away from you?"<</if>> "Would you go if she tried?" $Rue_they teased. <<if $Soul_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "\"//No,//\" you told $Rue_them honestly">><<link '$LinkText' 'Soul bold 1'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "\"//Yes,//\" you told $Rue_them without hesitation">><<link '$LinkText' 'Soul bold 2'>><</link>><<else>><<link '"No," you told $Rue_them honestly' 'Soul bold 1'>><</link>> <<link '"Yes," you told $Rue_them without hesitation' 'Soul bold 2'>><</link>><</if>>

You felt $Rue_their huff of amusement even as you kicked yourself at your nervous response. $Rue_theycap didn’t let you feel awkward for long, however, pressing closer to you with a hum, and you felt like you were something precious to $Rue_them. Something irreplaceable. “No need to thank me for the truth, my dear,” $Rue_they insisted. “Though you feel very warm. Are you coming down with something?” You let out a snort of laughter as $Rue_they cackled, swatting at $Rue_their arm. <<if $Soul_mute is true>>'//Don't be mean,//' you signed at $Rue_them,<<else>>“Don’t be mean,” you mumbled to $Rue_them,<</if>> and $Rue_they hummed placatingly. “Never to you, z’reia.” <<link 'End prologue' 'Chapter 1'>><<set $dream to true>><</link>>

The silence that followed your admission was heavy and intense. When $Rue_they pressed closer to you with a hum, you felt like you were something precious to $Rue_them. Something irreplaceable. “Oh my z’reia.” The reverence in $Rue_their whispered words made you breathless, and you couldn’t help the shiver that passed through your body. “You have no idea, do you?” <<if $Soul_mute is true>>'//What?//' You asked $Rue_them nervously, '//What do I not know?//'<<else>>“What?” You asked $Rue_them nervously, “What do I not know?”<</if>> “To me, you are everything.” <<link 'End prologue' 'Chapter 1'>><<set $dream to true>><</link>>

You felt $Rue_them soften beside you at your honest assurance as $Rue_they wriggled closer to you atop the bedsheets, and you <<listbox "$bold1" autoselect>><<option "slipped readily into the offered embrace">><<option "watched your partner fondly but made no move to touch">><</listbox>>. “I would never allow anyone to have you if it wasn’t your will,” $Rue_they vowed, and you knew $Rue_they was deadly serious. <<if $Soul_mute is true>>'//I know,//' you toold $Rue_them simply, your smile bright and fond. '//My big strong warrior.//'<<else>>“I know,” you told $Rue_them simply, your smile bright and fond. “My big strong warrior.”<</if>> <<link 'End prologue' 'Chapter 1'>><<set $dream to true>><</link>>

$Rue_theircap sudden laughter was loud, boisterous and unexpected, and you couldn’t help but bite your lip to hide your answering smirk. <<if $Soul_mute is true>>'//She is very wealthy,//'<<else>>“She is very wealthy,”<</if>> you pointed out matter-of-factly as you <<listbox "$bold1" autoselect>><<option "slipped readily into the offered embrace">><<option "watched your partner fondly but made no move to touch">><</listbox>>. “Then I will have to work all the harder to keep you by my side,” $Rue_they vowed, and you knew $Rue_they was deadly serious. <<if $Soul_mute is true>>'//I think I'd like to see that,//' you signed fondly, '//My big strong warrior.//'<<else>>“I think I’d like to see that,” you murmured fondly. “My big strong warrior.”<</if>> <<link 'End prologue' 'Chapter 1'>><<set $dream to true>><</link>>

__''Chapter 1''__ The early autumn chill slipped easily through your layers of clothes, and you irritably speedwalked the route from your motel room. The cold was doing little to help the aches and pains through your shoulders and neck from last night’s sleeping position, and while you knew you had no one but yourself to blame, you still chose to be grumpy instead at the less than ideal weather conditions. It smelled like there was rain coming, which of course would be the next thing on the list after your already awful start to the day. Naturally, you’d started the day to find <<if $hobby is "music">>your mp3 player was long since out of charge, sitting dull and unresponsive on your lap.<<elseif $hobby is "art">>your pen had disappeared into the confines of the armchair, and you’d had to almost tear the thing apart to retrieve it.<<elseif $hobby is "writing">>your pen had disappeared into the confines of the armchair, and you’d had to almost tear the thing apart to retrieve it.<<elseif $hobby is "sports">>your body was aching from the ancient mattress, and not even in the satisfying manner that was preceded by a good workout.<<elseif $hobby is "TV">>the TV remote had disappeared from your lap, and you’d had to spend precious time searching before you’d found it under your chair.<<elseif $hobby is "reading">>your book had disappeared from your lap, and you’d had to spend precious time searching before you’d found it under your chair.<</if>> As if that wasn't enough, even your dreams were mocking you – and your nonexistant love life. And yet the real kick to the teeth had come from the news channel as you were getting dressed – an unidentified body found, only a ten minute walk from your motel – and now here you were. Hurrying towards the small crowd standing around the police cordon, and the somewhat familiar figure standing to watch over them. You only vaguely recognised Officer Frankie Vega from your limited dealings with them. You typically worked out of Lanville, and while the university town of Crescent Hill could be considered local, not many jobs brought you out that way – even less that would require you to work with the police department there. But they were a familiar face, and you’d heard they were protective of the kids on campus that made up the majority of their wards. “<<listbox "$Mx" autoselect>><<option "Mx">><<option "Mr">><<option "Miss">><<option "Ms">><<option "Doctor">><<option "Professor">><<option "Lord">><<option "Lady">><<option "Liege">><</listbox>> $MC_last,” they greeted you as you reached them, though there was none of their typical cheer in their tone as they gently led you away from the crowd. Couldn’t blame them for that, the white tarp behind them hiding the corpse from hungry stares would put a damper on anyone’s mood. <<link '"Good morning, Frankie," you greeted them with a respectful nod.' 'Frankie'>><<set $MC_mute to false>><</link>> <<link 'You gave your greeting in sign, grateful that Frankie was fluent.' 'Frankie'>><<set $MC_mute to true>><</link>>

__''$Soul_name''__ The figure whose life you live in your dreams is a $Soul_person. $Soul_theycap <<if $Soul_they is "they">>have<<else>>has<</if>> $Soul_eye eyes, $Soul_skin skin, and $Soul_length $Soul_hair hair in a $Soul_style style. $Soul_theircap height is $Soul_height. $Soul_theycap <<if $Soul_they is "they">>are<<else>>is<</if>> $Soul_flirt when flirting and <<if $Soul_sex is "allo">>$Soul_they enjoys sex.<<elseif $Soul_sex is "ace">>$Soul_they has no interest in sex.<<else>>$Soul_their sex life is none of your business.<</if>> <<link "return">><<script>>Engine.backward()<</script>><</link>>

Written by Afixxia

<<link 'The Investigator' 'You'>><</link>> <<link 'Dream Figure' 'Dream Figure'>><</link>> <<link 'Notebook' 'Notes'>><</link>> <<link 'Inventory' 'Inventory'>><</link>>

__''$MC_name $MC_last''__ Your investigator is a $MC_person. $MC_theycap <<if $MC_theycap is "They">>have<<else>>has<</if>> $MC_skin skin, $MC_eye eyes and $MC_hair hair. $MC_theircap hair is $MC_length and $MC_style. When investigating, $MC_they tend to have a <<if $kind > $blunt and $kind > $playful>>kind<<elseif $blunt > $kind and $blunt > $playful>>blunt<<elseif $playful > $blunt and $playful > $kind>>playful<<else>>well-rounded<</if>> approach, and $MC_their talent lies in $talent. $MC_theircap hobby is $hobby. $MC_theycap <<if $MC_gender is "nonbinary">>travel<<else>>travels<</if>> by $travel. As things stand, $MC_their relationship with the police is<<if $police is 0>> abysmal.<<elseif $police is 1 or 2>>... well, they know $MC_their name. $MC_they <<if $MC_gender is "nonbinary">>don't<<else>>doesn't<</if>> know if that's a good thing or not.<</if>> <<if $impulsive > $cautious>>$MC_name tends to be impulsive.<<elseif $cautious > $impulsive>>$MC_name tends to be cautious.<<else>>$MC_name tends to adapt how $MC_they <<if $MC_gender is "nonbinary">>respond<<else>>responds<</if>> to a given situation.<</if>> <<link "return">><<script>>Engine.backward()<</script>><</link>>

__''Inventory''__ At present you have: <<link 'Notebook' 'Notes'>><</link>> and pen <<if $hobby is "music">>Mp3 player<</if>><<if $hobby is "reading">>Your favourite book - a wellworn paperback<</if>> <<if $Brand_card is true>>Detective Brand's business card. It has her details. You doubt you'll need them.<</if>> <<if $travel is "car">>Car keys. You need those!<</if>><<if $travel is "motorbike">>Keys to your motorbike, and your helmet. You need those!<</if>><<if $travel is "public transport">>Travel pass. You need that!<</if>> <<if $Ethan_dragon is true>>A tiny dragon. Abigail gave it to Ethan to bring him luck, and now he gives it to you in hope of the same.<</if>><<if $Ethan_llama is true>>A tiny llama. Abigail gave it to Ethan to bring him luck, and now he gives it to you in hope of the same.<</if>> <<if $laptop is true>>Abigail's laptop. Hopefully it will give you some clues.<</if>> <<link "return">><<script>>Engine.backward()<</script>><</link>>

__''Characters''__ <<if $Rue_met is false>>You haven't met this character yet<</if>> <<if $Frankie is false>>You haven't met this character yet<<elseif $Frankie is true>>Officer Frankie Vega is one of the officers in the Crescent Hill Police Department. You don't know them very well, though your professional lives have crossed once or twice - enough for you to recognise them on sight. They have always seemed the friendly sort, and they're well known around the campus and wider town. Students and faculty always have something kind to say about them.<</if>> <<if $Brand is false>>You haven't met this character yet<<elseif $Brand is true>>Detective Celia Brand is one of the top officers in the Crescent Hill Police Department. You've heard rumours about her, though nothing thad would explain why she's being so cold to you.<</if>> <<if $Cayde is false>>You haven't met this character yet<<elseif $Cayde is true>>Vanessa and Rasheed Cayde are the parents of Abigail and Ethan, and the people who hired you to find her. They're a comfortable middle class family. Vanessa is a surgeon, while Rasheed is a stay-at home dad. Abigail was hoping to follow her mother into a career as a doctor while Ethan is doing ... whatever it is that four-year-olds do. Both parents seem devoted to their kids, as far as you can tell they were a regular, happy family until this happened to them. Now they're desperate for answers, and they want you to find them.<</if>> <<if $Liam is false>>You haven't met this character yet<</if>> <<if $Zealot_met is false>>You haven't met this character yet<</if>> <<link "return">><<script>>Engine.backward()<</script>><</link>>

__''Notebook''__ <<link 'Read about your case' 'Case Notes'>><</link>> <<link 'Read about your dreams' 'Dream Notes'>><</link>> <<link 'Read about the people you have met so far' 'Characters'>><</link>> <<link 'Read about what you know of the world' 'World'>><</link>> <<link "return">><<script>>Engine.backward()<</script>><</link>>

__''Case Notes''__ <<if $wake_up is false>>You know nothing.<</if>><<if $wake_up is true>>You are investigating the disappearance of Abigail Cayde, a sixteen-year-old runaway from Lanville.<</if>> <<if $Abigail_background is true>>Abigail had been missing for less than two days. She'd gone for a sleepover with a friend, but when questioned the friend claimed to know nothing about this. CCTV showed her getting on the bus to Crescent Hill, a university town about an hour away she would have no reason to visit. Her disappearance makes no sense to you. Where was she going? Why?<</if>> <<if $crime_scene is true>>A body was found in a remote alleyway in Crescent Hill, about half an hour from the university. Detective Brand, the detective in charge of the investigation, seems certain it's Abigail, though it seems you'll be waiting on dental records to get a positive identification. You don't know how she died, but you've been tasked with making contact with her family.<</if>> <<if $Vanessa_job is true>>You promised Abigail's mother Vanessa you would find out for sure what happened to her daughter, and bring justice to her killer if there is one. You hope you've made the right choice.<<elseif $Ethan_job is true>>You promised Abigail's brother Vanessa you would find out for sure what happened to his sister, and bring justice to her killer if there is one. You hope you've made the right choice.<</if>> <<if $Abigail_dreams is true>>Abigail's friends said she'd been very tired in the time leading up to her disappearance. They believed that she'd been having bad dreams in that time. You can't help but think of your own, though you don't imagine they're related.<</if>> <<if $Abigail_secretive is true>>Abigail's mother Vanessa thought she had been acting more secretive leading up to her disappearance, particularly around her laptop. Hopefully the device will tell you why.<</if>> <<if $laptop is true>>Abigail's father Rasheed found her laptop after your last visit. You hope the information on there will be helpful.<</if>> <<link "return">><<script>>Engine.backward()<</script>><</link>>

__''Your dreams''__ <<if $wake_up is false>>You know nothing<<else>>You've been having dreams of another life for as long as you can remember. Last night, you dreamed of your murder at the hands of someone you trusted. You don't yet know what this means.<</if>> <<if $dream is true>>You dream of a lover, though you couldn't make out $Rue_their features. It seems even your dreams are mocking your non-existant love life now. Was this the mysterious $Rue_person who was responsible for your gruesome fate?<</if>> <<link "return">><<script>>Engine.backward()<</script>><</link>>

Tell me about yourself. You are a: <<radiobutton "$MC_gender" "male">> cisgender man <<radiobutton "$MC_gender" "female">> cisgender woman <<radiobutton "$MC_gender" "trans man">> transgender man <<radiobutton "$MC_gender" "trans woman">> transgender woman <<radiobutton "$MC_gender" "nonbinary">> nonbinary person Your name is <<textbox "$MC_name" $MC_name>> <<textbox "$MC_last" $MC_last>> You are: <<radiobutton "$MC_height" "very tall">> very tall <<radiobutton "$MC_height" "tall">> tall <<radiobutton "$MC_height" "average">> average height <<radiobutton "$MC_height" "short">> short <<radiobutton "$MC_height" "very short">> very short Your skin colour is: <<radiobutton "$MC_skin" "pale">> pale <<radiobutton "$MC_skin" "rosy">> rosy <<radiobutton "$MC_skin" "fair">> fair <<radiobutton "$MC_skin" "tanned">> tanned <<radiobutton "$MC_skin" "bronze">> bronze <<radiobutton "$MC_skin" "brown">> brown <<radiobutton "$MC_skin" "ebony">> ebony Your eye colour is: <<radiobutton "$MC_eye" "blue">> blue <<radiobutton "$MC_eye" "green">> green <<radiobutton "$MC_eye" "brown">> brown <<radiobutton "$MC_eye" "black">> black <<radiobutton "$MC_eye" "grey">> grey <<radiobutton "$MC_eye" "hazel">> hazel Your hair colour is: <<radiobutton "$MC_hair" "black">> black <<radiobutton "$MC_hair" "brown">> brown <<radiobutton "$MC_hair" "golden">> golden <<radiobutton "$MC_hair" "sandy">> sandy <<radiobutton "$MC_hair" "red">> red <<radiobutton "$MC_hair" "grey">> grey <<radiobutton "$MC_hair" "silver">> silver <<radiobutton "$MC_hair" "white">> white Your hair length is: <<radiobutton "$MC_length" "bald">> bald <<radiobutton "$MC_length" "shaved close">> shaved close <<radiobutton "$MC_length" "short">> short <<radiobutton "$MC_length" "chin length">> chin length <<radiobutton "$MC_length" "shoulder length">> shoulder length <<radiobutton "$MC_length" "waist length">> waist length It is styled to be: <<radiobutton "$MC_style" "bald">> bald <<radiobutton "$MC_style" "loose">> loose <<radiobutton "$MC_style" "braids">> in braids <<radiobutton "$MC_style" "locs">> in locs <<radiobutton "$MC_style" "afro">> in an afro <<radiobutton "$MC_style" "bun">> in a bun <<radiobutton "$MC_style" "ponytail">> in a ponytail [[confirm|MC appear]]

<<if $MC_gender is "male">><<set $MC_person to "man">><<set $MC_they to "he">><<set $MC_theycap to "He">><<set $MC_their to "his">><<set $MC_theircap to "His">><<set $MC_them to "him">><<set $MC_themcap to "Him">><<set $MC_theirs to "his">><<set $MC_theirs to "His">><<set $MC_themself to "himself">><<set $MC_themselfcap to 'Himself'>><<elseif $MC_gender is "trans man">><<set $MC_person to "man">><<set $MC_they to "he">><<set $MC_theycap to "He">><<set $MC_their to "his">><<set $MC_theircap to "His">><<set $MC_them to "him">><<set $MC_themcap to "Him">><<set $MC_theirs to "his">><<set $MC_theirscap to "His">><<set $MC_themself to "himself">><<set $MC_themselfcap to 'Himself'>><<elseif $MC_gender is "female">><<set $MC_person to "woman">><<set $MC_they to "she">><<set $MC_theycap to "She">><<set $MC_their to "her">><<set $MC_theircap to "Her">><<set $MC_them to "her">><<set $MC_themcap to "Her">><<set $MC_theirs to "hers">><<set $MC_theirs to "Hers">><<set $MC_themself to "herself">><<set $MC_themselfcap to "Herself">><<elseif $MC_gender is "trans woman">><<set $MC_person to "woman">><<set $MC_they to "she">><<set $MC_theycap to "She">><<set $MC_their to "her">><<set $MC_theircap to "Her">><<set $MC_them to "her">><<set $MC_themcap to "Her">><<set $MC_theirs to "hers">><<set $MC_theirs to "Hers">><<set $MC_themself to "herself">><<set $MC_themselfcap to "Herself">><<else>><<set $MC_person to "person">><<set $MC_they to "they">><<set $MC_theycap to "They">><<set $MC_them to "them">><<set $MC_themcap to "Them">><<set $MC_their to "their">><<set $MC_theircap to "Their">><<set $MC_theirs to "theirs">><<set $MC_theirscap to "Theirs">><<set $MC_themself to "themself">><<set $MC_themselfcap to "Themself">><</if>>So your investigator is a $MC_gender, named $MC_name $MC_last. $MC_theycap <<if $MC_gender is "nonbinary">>are<<else>>is<</if>> $MC_height, and <<if $MC_gender is "nonbinary">>have<<else>>has<</if>> $MC_skin skin, $MC_eye eyes, and $MC_hair hair. $MC_theircap hair is $MC_length and kept in a $MC_style style. [[This is correct|Soul creation]] [[No, this is incorrect|character creation]]

When you dream, you dream of another life. Who do you see when you look in the mirror? Your dream figure is a: <<radiobutton "$Soul_gender" "male">> cisgender man <<radiobutton "$Soul_gender" "female">> cisgender woman <<radiobutton "$Soul_gender" "trans man">> transgender man <<radiobutton "$Soul_gender" "trans woman">> transgender woman <<radiobutton "$Soul_gender" "nonbinary">> nonbinary person Their name is <<textbox "$Soul_name" $Soul_name>> They are: <<radiobutton "$Soul_height" "very tall">> very tall <<radiobutton "$Soul_height" "tall">> tall <<radiobutton "$Soul_height" "average">> average height <<radiobutton "$Soul_height" "short">> short <<radiobutton "$Soul_height" "very short">> very short Their skin colour is: <<radiobutton "$Soul_skin" "pale">> pale <<radiobutton "$Soul_skin" "rosy">> rosy <<radiobutton "$Soul_skin" "fair">> fair <<radiobutton "$Soul_skin" "tanned">> tanned <<radiobutton "$Soul_skin" "bronze">> bronze <<radiobutton "$Soul_skin" "brown">> brown <<radiobutton "$Soul_skin" "ebony">> ebony Their eye colour is: <<radiobutton "$Soul_eye" "blue">> blue <<radiobutton "$Soul_eye" "green">> green <<radiobutton "$Soul_eye" "brown">> brown <<radiobutton "$Soul_eye" "black">> black <<radiobutton "$Soul_eye" "grey">> grey <<radiobutton "$Soul_eye" "hazel">> hazel Their hair colour is: <<radiobutton "$Soul_hair" "black">> black <<radiobutton "$Soul_hair" "brown">> brown <<radiobutton "$Soul_hair" "golden">> golden <<radiobutton "$Soul_hair" "sandy">> sandy <<radiobutton "$Soul_hair" "red">> red <<radiobutton "$Soul_hair" "grey">> grey <<radiobutton "$Soul_hair" "silver">> silver <<radiobutton "$Soul_hair" "white">> white Their hair length is: <<radiobutton "$Soul_length" "bald">> bald <<radiobutton "$Soul_length" "shaved close">> shaved close <<radiobutton "$Soul_length" "short">> short <<radiobutton "$Soul_length" "chin length">> chin length <<radiobutton "$Soul_length" "shoulder length">> shoulder length <<radiobutton "$Soul_length" "waist length">> waist length It is styled to be: <<radiobutton "$Soul_style" "bald">> bald <<radiobutton "$Soul_style" "loose">> loose <<radiobutton "$Soul_style" "braids">> in braids <<radiobutton "$Soul_style" "locs">> in locs <<radiobutton "$Soul_style" "afro">> in an afro <<radiobutton "$Soul_style" "bun">> in a bun <<radiobutton "$Soul_style" "ponytail">> in a ponytail [[confirm|Soul appear]]

<<if $Soul_gender is "male">><<set $Soul_person to "man">><<set $Soul_they to "he">><<set $Soul_theycap to "He">><<set $Soul_their to "his">><<set $Soul_theircap to "His">><<set $Soul_them to "him">><<set $Soul_themcap to "Him">><<set $Soul_theirs to "his">><<set $Soul_theirs to "His">><<set $Soul_themself to "himself">><<set $Soul_themselfcap to 'Himself'>><<elseif $Soul_gender is "trans man">><<set $Soul_person to "man">><<set $Soul_they to "he">><<set $Soul_theycap to "He">><<set $Soul_their to "his">><<set $Soul_theircap to "His">><<set $Soul_them to "him">><<set $Soul_themcap to "Him">><<set $Soul_theirs to "his">><<set $Soul_theirscap to "His">><<set $Soul_themself to "himself">><<set $Soul_themselfcap to 'Himself'>><<elseif $Soul_gender is "female">><<set $Soul_person to "woman">><<set $Soul_they to "she">><<set $Soul_theycap to "She">><<set $Soul_their to "her">><<set $Soul_theircap to "Her">><<set $Soul_them to "her">><<set $Soul_themcap to "Her">><<set $Soul_theirs to "hers">><<set $Soul_theirs to "Hers">><<set $Soul_themself to "herself">><<set $Soul_themselfcap to "Herself">><<elseif $Soul_gender is "trans woman">><<set $Soul_person to "woman">><<set $Soul_they to "she">><<set $Soul_theycap to "She">><<set $Soul_their to "her">><<set $Soul_theircap to "Her">><<set $Soul_them to "her">><<set $Soul_themcap to "Her">><<set $Soul_theirs to "hers">><<set $Soul_theirs to "Hers">><<set $Soul_themself to "herself">><<set $Soul_themselfcap to "Herself">><<else>><<set $Soul_person to "person">><<set $Soul_they to "they">><<set $Soul_theycap to "They">><<set $Soul_them to "them">><<set $Soul_themcap to "Them">><<set $Soul_their to "their">><<set $Soul_theircap to "Their">><<set $Soul_theirs to "theirs">><<set $Soul_theirscap to "Theirs">><<set $Soul_themself to "themself">><<set $Soul_themselfcap to "Themself">><</if>>So your dream figure is a $Soul_gender, named $Soul_name. $Soul_theycap <<if $Soul_gender is "nonbinary">>are<<else>>is<</if>> $Soul_height, and <<if $Soul_gender is "nonbinary">>have<<else>>has<</if>> $Soul_skin skin, $Soul_eye eyes, and $Soul_hair hair. $Soul_theircap hair is $Soul_length and styled in $Soul_style. [[And so, our story begins with a dream...|It started with a dream...]] [[Wait! The dream figure is someone else...|Soul creation]]

<<if $MC_person is $Soul_person and $MC_hair is $Soul_hair and $MC_eye is $Soul_eye and $MC_skin is $Soul_skin and $MC_height is $Soul_height>><<set $Mirror to "true">><</if>><<if $MC_name is $Soul_name>><<set $Name to "true">><</if>>

<<if $cautious > $impulsive>>The trembling in your hands slowly began to subside as you sipped slowly at the water, leaning against the sink in the darkened bathroom. The cool water soothed your dry mouth and burning throat, and you took deep breaths to manage your body as your heart rate began to steady, ignoring the glimpse of exhausted $MC_eye eyes in the mirror. <<else>>You almost upended the glass over yourself in the desperation to get the cool water down your aching throat. You managed to get a few gulps down before you choked, slamming the cup down loudly on the edge of the sink as you almost collapsed over it. The water you’d downed almost came back up as you coughed violently into the sink, attempting a slower sip to try and get your choking under control. <</if>> Just a dream, you reminded yourself again. You’d suffered them for as long as you could remember; flashes of a life not your own. A face in the mirror that wasn’t yours, a name that didn’t belong to you but was as familiar as your own. Though of course the most vivid you’d had in recent memory would be the one in which you’d experienced being murdered. Your dreams had never been like that before. Sure, cuts and scrapes and bruises, but nothing so violent. Wary of leaning back into your unconscious mind, you pushed out that thought. The glass was grounding as you clutched it in your hands, feet padding over cold tile until they reached the threadbare carpet of the cheap, seedy motel room you’d taken up residence in for the night. 1:43am, the alarm clock’s bright numbers blinked accusingly at you. You’d be useless if you didn’t get any more sleep before tomorrow, but those scratchy sheets were far from calling to you. Discomfort aside, you found yourself wary of what further surprises your dreams might hold for you. Not ready to return to the bed, you instead found your mind wandering to how you might usually spend your time… [[Creating music |music]] [[Creating art |art]] [[Being active |sports]] [[Creating with words |writing]] [[Watching movies or shows |TV]] [[Curling up with a good book |reading]]

<<if $Soul_touchaverse is false>>You'd always enjoyed physical contact. It was an act of love and companionship that made you feel wanted and safe and secure, and you took full advantage of that now as you pressed yourself into $Rue_their embrace.<</if>><<if $Soul_touchaverse is true>>You weren't always comfortable with physical contact. Sometimes it could feel like it burned, or like you wanted to scratch and scratch until you could peel off your own skin - especially if you didn't expect it. But other times, like right now as you pressed yourself into $Rue_their embrace, you could understand why so many people adored it so.<</if>> $Rue_theycap hugged you back tightly, and though you couldn't make out $Rue_their features as though through a haze of time, $Rue_their skin was warm when $Rue_they held you, encasing you in the scent of lavender. Soft lips brushed against your neck, quirked in a smile as you bared it for $Rue_them, uncaring of $Rue_their thick black hair that fell across your face. $Rue_theircap finger ghosted along your thigh, and you… <<link 'Shiver as $Rue_they leaves a trail of goosebumps along your bare skin (you enjoy sex)' 'mirror'>><<set $Soul_sex to "allo">><</link>> <<link 'Swat at $Rue_them playfully as your nightshirt gets bunched up (you have no interest in sex)' 'mirror'>><<set $Soul_sex to "ace">><</link>>

You weren't always comfortable with physical contact. Sometimes it could feel like it burned, or like you wanted to scratch and scratch until you could peel off your own skin - especially if you didn't expect it. Right now was not an exception, and you smiled at $Rue_them as $Rue_they lay beside you but didn't move to close the distance. You couldn't make out $Rue_their features, as though peering at $Rue_them through a haze of time, but somehow you knew the dimple that formed on one side of $Rue_their returning smile, knew that $Rue_their expression was warm and unjudging. Even without the present want for physical contact, there was no awkwardness between the two of you as $Rue_they hummed quietly, allowing you to play with strands of $Rue_their thick black hair. <<link 'Your skin was bare between the bedsheets (the dream figure enjoys sex).' 'mirror'>><<set $Soul_sex to "allo">><</link>> <<link 'The extra layer of your nightclothes was reassuring (the dream figure has no interest in sex).' 'mirror'>><<set $Soul_sex to "ace">><</link>>

Your companion was silent for a long few moments, and you turned your gaze on $Rue_them inquisitively. “Faervehl.” $Rue_theycap told you finally, gaze fixed on the figure. “God of justice.” It felt … threatening, for a symbol of justice. Like the wolf was ready to come to life and eat you, and you struggled to tear your eyes away, some primal part of your brain afraid it might actually come to life and attack you if you dared. You suppressed the shudder that wanted to pass through your body, rolling over so that you were facing your partner once more and steadfastly ignoring the concern you could feel radiating from $Rue_them. You could still feel the wolf's eyes on you. <<if $Soul_mute is false>><<set $LinkText to "\"So, do you intend for us to spend the entire time I'm in your bed discussing your sculptures?\" You've always been bold when it comes to flirtation.">><<link '$LinkText' 'Soul bold flirt'>><<set $Soul_flirt to "bold">><</link>><</if>><<if $Soul_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "//'So, do you intend for us to spend the entire time I'm in your bed discussing your sculptures?'// You've always been bold when it comes to flirtation.">><<link '$LinkText' 'Soul bold flirt'>><<set $Soul_flirt to "bold">><</link>><</if>> <<set $LinkText to "You smiled shyly at $Rue_them. You'd always been shy when it came to flirtations, and you hoped $Rue_they could take charge of the conversation.">><<link '$LinkText' 'Soul shy flirt'>><<set $Soul_flirt to "shy">><</link>>

“Good morning, $MC_name,” they replied, rubbing at their eyes wearily. “It’s good to see you but if you’re hoping for information I can’t help you. This is an active crime scene, you know I can’t give you any details.” You stared past them at the white-robed crime techs weaving between each other, ducking in and out of the white tarp that hid the end of the alleyway from view. Did they set that up for every death that occurred, no matter how it happened? The news hadn’t given much away beyond simply the ‘discovery of a corpse’, and you had no clue who they were or how they had died. But you had a sinking feeling in your gut, one that in your years doing your job you had learned to listen to. You couldn’t just give Frankie space to do their job, not when you needed to know if this had anything to do with yours. <<if $MC_mute is false>><<set $LinkText to "\"I understand the position you're in. I just need you to tell me if it's the girl I'm looking for or not. Her parents are worried sick.\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'Kind'>><<set $kind +=1>><<set $police +=1>><<set $Frankie_kind to true>><</link>><</if>><<if $MC_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "//'I understand the position you're in. I just need you to tell me if it's the girl I'm looking for or not. Her parents are worried sick.'//">><<link '$LinkText' 'Kind'>><<set $kind +=1>><<set $police +=1>><<set $Frankie_kind to true>><</link>><</if>> <<if $MC_mute is false>><<set $LinkText to "\"We all have jobs to do. I just need to know if it's the girl I'm looking for.\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'Blunt'>><<set $blunt +=1>><<set $police +=1>><<set $Frankie_blunt to true>><</link>><</if>><<if $MC_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "//'We all have jobs to do. I just need to know if it's the girl I'm looking for.'//">><<link '$LinkText' 'Blunt'>><<set $blunt +=1>><<set $police +=1>><<set $Frankie_blunt to true>><</link>><</if>> <<if $MC_mute is false>><<set $LinkText to "\"Are you sure you won’t let me break open your case for you? I might be able to identify her.\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'Playful'>><<set $playful +=1>><<set $Frankie_playful to true>><</link>><</if>><<if $MC_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "//'Are you sure you won’t let me break open your case for you? I might be able to identify her.'//">><<link '$LinkText' 'Playful'>><<set $playful +=1>><<set $Frankie_playful to true>><</link>><</if>>

<<set $Frankie to true>>You dug in your jacket pockets for the photo of the girl you were looking for as Frankie sighed, though you knew from their forlorn expression that they would agree – even before they nodded to you. They gently accepted the photo from you and peered at her with sad green eyes. “I’ll take this to Detective Brand,” they told you softly, “but I can’t make any promises. She’s in charge of the scene, it’s her call.” You nodded in answer, and they turned to walk away towards the tarp. You briefly considered leaning against the nearby wall while you waited for them, but then when you eyed the filth around the alleyway you were fast to change your mind. Best just stand and wait for the officer to return. Gaze fixed on the tarp, you anxiously <<listbox "$fidget" autoselect>><<option "tugged at your clothes">><<option "tugged at your hair">><<option "bit your lip">><<option "chewed the inside of your cheek">><<option "shifted your weight between your feet">><<option "drummed your fingers against your thighs">><<option "hugged your chest">><</listbox>>. You desperately hoped you were wrong, but that gut feeling you so relied on was screaming otherwise. In your head you were already running scripts for how you might tell her parents. The part of your mind that wasn’t running such thoughts through your head was too busy hoping – desperately – that you were wrong. But your luck had never been that good. When it wasn’t Frankie’s figure that emerged from beneath the tent, but a broad-shouldered woman wearing a scowl that immediately fixed on you, you knew for certain that your instincts had been correct. She beckoned to you, expression unchanging, and you ignored the stares of the crowd as you ducked under the police cordon, weaving between the crime techs until you were stood in front of her. [[Next|Brand]]

<<set $Frankie to true>>You dug in your jacket pockets for the photo of the girl you were looking for as Frankie watched you, their expression remaining neutral. “Show me.” You handed them the photo, and they gently accepted it, sad green eyes examining the sixteen-year-old’s face before they looked back to you. “I’ll take this to Detective Brand. We’ll see what we can do.” You nodded in answer, and they turned to walk away towards the tarp. You briefly considered leaning against the nearby wall while you waited for them, but then when you eyed the filth around the alleyway you were fast to change your mind. Best just stand and wait for the officer to return. Gaze fixed on the tarp, you anxiously <<listbox "$fidget" autoselect>><<option "tugged at your clothes">><<option "tugged at your hair">><<option "bit your lip">><<option "chewed the inside of your cheek">><<option "shifted your weight between your feet">><<option "drummed your fingers against your thighs">><<option "hugged your chest">><</listbox>>. You desperately hoped you were wrong, but that gut feeling you so relied on was screaming otherwise. In your head you were already running scripts for how you might tell her parents. The part of your mind that wasn’t running such thoughts through your head was too busy hoping – desperately – that you were wrong. But your luck had never been that good. When it wasn’t Frankie’s figure that emerged from beneath the tent, but a broad-shouldered woman wearing a scowl that immediately fixed on you, you knew for certain that your instincts had been correct. She beckoned to you, expression unchanging, and you ignored the stares of the crowd as you ducked under the police cordon, weaving between the crime techs until you were stood in front of her. [[Next|Brand]]

<<set $Frankie to true>>Frankie’s shoulders slumped at your words, and the puppy dog eyes the young officer threw at you were almost enough to make you feel guilty for your levity. In the brief interactions you’d had with them before they had always seemed to enjoy your wit, but it was clear that they were uncomfortable with it at this time. “Who do you think it is?” they asked you quietly, watching as you searched through your jacket pockets for the photo of the girl you’d been looking for. They accepted the photo from you when you offered it, sad green eyes examining the sixteen-year-old’s face before they looked back to you. “I’ll give this to Detective Brand. If it’s her, we’ll let you know.” You nodded in answer, and they turned to walk away towards the tarp. You briefly considered leaning against the nearby wall while you waited for them, but then when you eyed the filth around the alleyway you were fast to change your mind. Best just stand and wait for the officer to return. Gaze fixed on the tarp, you anxiously <<listbox "$fidget" autoselect>><<option "tugged at your clothes">><<option "tugged at your hair">><<option "bit your lip">><<option "chewed the inside of your cheek">><<option "shifted your weight between your feet">><<option "drummed your fingers against your thighs">><<option "hugged your chest">><</listbox>>. You desperately hoped you were wrong, but that gut feeling you so relied on was screaming otherwise. In your head you were already running scripts for how you might tell her parents. The part of your mind that wasn’t running such thoughts through your head was too busy hoping – desperately – that you were wrong. But your luck had never been that good. When it wasn’t Frankie’s figure that emerged from beneath the tent, but a broad-shouldered woman wearing a scowl that immediately fixed on you, you knew for certain that your instincts had been correct. She beckoned to you, expression unchanging, and you ignored the stares of the crowd as you ducked under the police cordon, weaving between the crime techs until you were stood in front of her. [[Next|Brand]]

<<set $Brand to true>>“Officer Vega tells me you’re a private investigator,” she began before you even had a chance to <<if $MC_mute is true>>raise your hands<<else>>open your mouth<</if>>. <<if $Frankie_kind is true>>"They told me you’re very kind." Somehow you felt she didn’t put much stock in their opinion of you.<<elseif $Frankie_blunt is true>>"They told me you’re very professional." Somehow you felt she didn’t put much stock in their opinion of you.<<else>>Somehow under her scrutiny you felt she didn't think very much of you.<</if>> “Licence.” It was customary on the Continent to be given a licence as a private investigator once you’d qualified for the role. Something for clients, so they knew they weren’t hiring a fraud, something for law enforcement to identify someone who might be working with them. An opportunity for jobs for yourself, too, should you decide to add your name to online lists that people could use to hire you. Living in Lanville had thus far given you no shortage of clients, however, so you’d never seen fit to place yourself on such lists. Patting down your pockets once more, you retrieved your licence from your pocket and handed it to her, standing awkwardly in front of her as she examined it. She <<if $MC_height is "very tall" or "tall" or "average" or "short">>was shorter than you,<<else>>the same height as you - a rarity as you were accustomed to looking up at people, and had learned not to find that a cause for concern,<</if>> but somehow you still couldn’t help but feel intimidated as she held the licence up to compare your photo. It wasn’t your most flattering, but it got the job done. Unless you had a doppelganger running around somewhere that you didn’t know about, there was no way it could have been mistaken for somebody else. You had to admit you were a little more dishevelled than usual this morning – you hadn’t got much sleep to begin with, and had had to run out of the motel room in the middle of your morning routine. Your clothes were creased, and you felt self-conscious as you discretely <<if $MC_length is "bald" or "shaved close">>ran a hand over your head<<else>>tried to fix your $MC_hair-coloured bedhead<</if>>. Finally, it seemed that she was satisfied, and she handed your identification back to you along with the photo. “Tell me everything you know about my victim.” Your stomach dropped with the confirmation – even if you’d already been expecting it, and you found your hands were shaking as you made to return your things to your pocket. You swallowed, taking deep breaths as you tried to decide on how to proceed. <<link 'Cooperate' 'Cooperate'>><<set $police +=1>><<set $uncooperative to false>><</link>> <<link 'Absolutely not' 'Nah'>><<set $uncooperative to true>><</link>>

<<if $MC_mute is true>>//'I really don't-'// The detective held up a hand to stop you before you could continue, and you were left standing there in shock as she stepped away without a word, disappearing back under the tarp. You stood awkwardly for a few moments, unsure of what to do with yourself, before she returned with Frankie in tow. They offered you a grimace that might have passed for a smile if your stomach wasn't twisting itself in knots, and as the detective gestured to you to continue you realised she'd brought them there to translate. You had to hold yourself back from rolling your eyes as you continued, Frankie translating as you went. '//I really don't know much - I've had the case for less than a day,//' you told her honestly, giving a small shrug. '//Abigail Cayde was supposed to go to a sleepover after school two nights ago but never showed - turned out the friend knew nothing about it. Local police decided she was a runaway, but there was no history and she hadn't packed any more than the overnight bag. Her parents hired me yesterday to find her. Cameras showed her getting on a bus to come here and it arrived yesterday morning. That's all I know.//'<<else>>“I really don’t know much – I’ve had the case for less than a day,” you told her honestly, giving her a small shrug. “Abigail Cayde was supposed to go to a sleepover after school two nights ago but never showed – turned out the friend knew nothing about it. Local police decided she was a runaway, but there was no history and she hadn’t packed any more than the overnight bag. Her parents hired me yesterday to find her. Cameras showed her getting on a bus to come here and it arrived yesterday morning. That’s all I know.”<</if>> The detective looked thoughtful as she absorbed your information, hazel eyes glancing behind her at the tarp, and you wondered momentarily if she had forgotten that you were there. That wasn’t the case for long, however, as she quickly shook herself out of her introspection and turned back to you<<if $MC_mute is true>>, gesturing to Frankie to move on. They exchanged a surprised look with you, shifting uncertainly before leaving with a lingering apologetic glance. It was clear your opportunity to speak was over, regardless of whether you had anything more to say.<</if>> “Finish your job, $Mx $MC_last,” she told you finally. “Inform the girl’s family that we’ll need access to dental records for identification. Tell them we’ll be in touch for questioning once a positive identification is made.” //Dental records//? You felt a chill run through you at the words. She held out a card for you, and you tilted your head to read her name, typed in a neat print above her contact details. Plain and efficient in the same way you were certain she herself was attempting to emanate. Detective Celia Brand. <<link 'Take the card' 'gone'>><<set $Brand_card to true>><<set $police +=1>><<set $crime_scene to true>><</link>> <<link 'Ignore it and walk away' 'gone'>><<set $Brand_card to false>><<set $crime_scene to true>><<set $police-=1>><</link>>

<<if $MC_mute is true>>//'Just a-'// The detective held up a hand to stop you before you could continue, and you were left standing there in shock as she stepped away without a word, disappearing back under the tarp. You stood awkwardly for a few moments, unsure of what to do with yourself, before she returned with Frankie in tow. They offered you a grimace that might have passed for a smile if your stomach wasn't twisting itself in knots, and as the detective gestured to you to continue you realised she'd brought them there to translate. You had to hold yourself back from rolling your eyes as you continued, Frankie translating as you went. '//Just a runaway I was hired to track down,//' you told her with a dismissive shrug, schooling your expression to ensure it remained impassive. '//I only just got the case, I hadn’t had time to get any more details than that.//'<<else>>“Just a runaway I was hired to track down,” you told her with a dismissive shrug, schooling your expression to ensure it remained impassive. “I only just got the case, I hadn’t had time to get any more details than that.”<</if>> You weren’t sure the detective believed you, hazel eyes glancing over her shoulder at the tarp, long enough that you wondered momentarily if she had forgotten that you were still standing there. That wasn’t the case for long, however, as she quickly shook herself out of her introspection and turned back to you<<if $MC_mute is true>>, gesturing to Frankie to move on. They exchanged a surprised look with you, shifting uncertainly before leaving with a lingering apologetic glance. It was clear your opportunity to speak was over, regardless of whether you had anything more to say.<</if>> “Finish your job, $Mx $MC_last,” she told you finally. “Inform your clients that we’ll need access to dental records for identification. Tell them we’ll be in touch for questioning once a positive identification is made.” //Dental records//? You felt a chill run through you at the words. She held out a card for you, and you tilted your head to read her name, typed in a neat print above her contact details. Plain and efficient in the same way you were certain she herself was attempting to emanate. Detective Celia Brand. <<link 'Take the card' 'gone'>><<set $Brand_card to true>><<set $police +=1>><<set $crime_scene to true>><</link>> <<link 'Ignore it and walk away' 'gone'>><<set $Brand_card to false>><<set $police-=1>><<set $crime_scene to true>><</link>>

Detective Brand gave you no further acknowledgement as she turned away to leave, and you found yourself stood in place almost in shock at her abrupt departure<<if $Brand_card is true>>, card clutched in your hand<</if>>. Shaking yourself out of it, you raised your hood against the fine layer of drizzle that was beginning to fall and locked eyes with Frankie, who had returned to their position at the cordon. Their eyes trailed over you in concern for a moment<<if $MC_mute is true>>, and you could see the apology in their gaze<</if>>, before they <<if $Frankie_kind is true>>smiled warmly at you. You returned the gesture as you approached, and they held up the cordon so that you could pass beneath. <<elseif $Frankie_blunt is true>>gave you a respectful nod. You returned the gesture as you approached, and they held up the cordon so that you could pass beneath. <<elseif $Frankie_platful is true>>regarded you for a moment with those same puppy eyes, and you nudged their shoulder with your own. That finally earned you a smile – a small one – and they held up the cordon so that you could pass beneath.<</if>> You hugged yourself against the autumn chill as you walked away, intent on avoiding having to look back at the tarp now that you knew for certain who lay beneath it. Dental records kept replaying in your mind as you picked up the pace to escape the small crowd that remained, <<if $hobby is "music">>bringing your headphones up over your ears to block everything out despite your mp3 player still being out of charge.<<else>>pressing your hands tightly over your ears to block everything out.<</if>> You intended to make it your mission not to return to Crescent Hill any time soon, and that started with your motel room. You needed to get the rest of your things and leave. <<set $LinkText to "That task would be simple. You’d always been a neat person.">><<link '$LinkText' 'motel'>><<set $MC_cleanliness to "neat">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You were dreading the task. You’d always been messy.">><<link '$LinkText' 'motel'>><<set $MC_cleanliness to "messy">><</link>>

<<if $MC_cleanliness is "neat">>As expected when you returned, anyone who may enter your room would be hard-pressed to realise that there was anybody staying in it. Everything had been left exactly how it was when you had arrived, the bed made neatly and the curtains pulled back to flood the room with natural light. The only sign that you’d been there was the small selection of shower products that had been left out of place when you’d had to run from the room so suddenly. Your travel bag was tucked neatly under the bed, and you carefully pulled it out in order to pack away the last few things you’d left out. Being as neat as you were was certainly a perk when it came to being able to leave places like this quickly.<<else>>As expected when you returned, your motel room looked as though a bomb had hit it – and you couldn’t even entirely blame the staff. You weren’t entirely sure how you’d made such a mess considering you’d only been staying there for the one night, but your clothes were strewn across the room from when you’d hunted down your night clothes, and last night’s takeout had only half made it into the bin. You didn’t have a choice about getting it cleaned though, basic decency for the staff aside, you needed to ensure you didn’t leave anything behind. It took you a while to find where your travel bag had wandered off to (the bathroom? For … some reason?) and you started stuffing your things haphazardly into it, unmindful of how it ended up. Unfortunately, being as messy as you were was not helpful when it came time to leave places like this, and it took you about an hour to get your things together and be confident you hadn’t forgotten anything.<</if>> Packing done, you only had one thing left to do in order to get started for the journey back to Lanville. <<link 'You grabbed your car keys from the side table.' 'travel'>><<set $travel to "car">><</link>> <<link 'You grabbed your motorbike keys and helmet from where you’d stashed them.' 'travel'>><<set $travel to "motorbike">><</link>> <<link 'You searched the pocket of your bag for your trusty travel pass.' 'travel'>><<set $travel to "public transport">><</link>>

<<if $travel is "car">>Your car! Comfortable and reliable. You couldn’t get your job done without it. Keys in hand, you dropped your room key off at the front desk before heading out to the car park.<<elseif $travel is "motorbike">>Your motorbike! Sleek and beautiful. It was one of your most prized possessions. Keys in hand and helmet under your arm, you dropped your room key off at the front desk before heading out to the car park.<<else>>You preferred to travel by public transport – buses and trains. Safer, greener, and allowed you to go through your case files while you were travelling, even if it did mean getting from A to B a little slower. Travel pass in hand, you dropped your room key off at the front desk before heading out to the nearest bus stop that would take you home.<</if>> It was about an hour’s drive from Crescent Hill back to Lanville, the city you worked out of and where Abigail Cayde’s family lived. It made for a pleasant drive; the university town you were travelling from was surrounded by forest, with only one road in and out that would lead you eventually to the city. One bus that only travelled between the two, popular with the student population who wanted to go home for the weekend. A scarcely populated train service if you wished to go further afield, though you were out of luck if you missed your train; you’d be waiting hours for another. This to say that the journey back to Lanville was one that gave you ample time to think. About your case, about Abigail, about what you could potentially say to Abigail when you got there. You’d only seen them yesterday to receive the job, they certainly wouldn’t be expecting you back so soon. Your next port of contact was intended to be a phone call at some point in the next two days with an update on the case, not … this. Not bringing their worst nightmares true. The case itself had been an odd one from the start, purely because she didn’t fit with the other runaways you’d been tasked with finding. She wasn’t the type, there were no signs of concern in the home that you might typically look out for when being hired for a case like this. And yet there was no question that Abigail had left for Crescent Hill of her own free will. Abigail Cayde had told her parents she was going to a sleepover with a friend – a friend they were familiar with and knew well. When their daughter hadn’t come home at the agreed time the next morning, with no word as to why, they had called the friend in question to find she had no knowledge of any such thing. A clearly premeditated departure that led to local law enforcement labelling her a runaway, despite having no history of doing so in the past, and shrugging off her parents’ concerns. You had been hired less than a day later. Less than 48 hours after the CCTV footage of Abigail getting on that bus to Crescent Hill she’d been found. ‘Victim’, Detective Brand had called her. Not ‘deceased’. Not ‘body’ if she was feeling particularly callous. You hadn’t been allowed to see the body. It could only be identified through dental records. An autopsy had yet to be conducted, but that sounded like foul play to you.<<set $Abigail_background to true>> [[What had you gotten yourself into?|arrival]]

The Caydes lived in a semi-detached, three bedroom house on the outskirts of Landville. The kind that looked like all the other houses around it. Two storeys, space for two cars on the driveway. Big freshly manicured lawn with abandoned toys strewn over it that you assumed belonged to the younger brother, Ethan. Typical middle-class home for the area. <<if $Mx is "Lord" or "Lady" or "Liege">><<set $LinkText to "You couldn't relate. You'd grown up wealthy.">><<link '$LinkText' 'wealthy'>><<set $money to "wealthy">><</link>><<else>><<set $LinkText to "You couldn't relate. You'd grown up poor.">><<link '$LinkText' 'Poor'>><<set $money to "poor">> <<set $LinkText to "You could relate. You'd grown up middle class yourself.">><<link '$LinkText' 'middle'>><<set $money to "middle class">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You couldn't relate. You'd grown up wealthy.">><<link '$LinkText' 'wealthy'>><<set $money to "wealthy">><</link>><</if>>

As far as you were concerned, a home like this was lavish. Some part of you was aware that these people still had their struggles, had their times when things were difficult, but you found it difficult to sympathise. Not when you’d spent your own childhood living paycheck to paycheck the way you had, not knowing for sure where your next meal would be coming from, or if you would still have a roof over your head by the time the next school year came around. There had been two cars in the driveway yesterday, though now there was only one. You had to shake off the question of how they could afford two, especially when Abigail’s father was a stay-at-home parent. Even such a small thing was like a luxury to you. <<set $LinkText to "You’d grown up with your birth parents, and you were close.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parents close'>><<set $background to "birth parents">><<set $family to "close">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You’d grown up with your birth parents, though you rarely stayed in touch.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parents distant'>><<set $background to "birth parents">><<set $family to "distant">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You’d grown up in a single-parent household, and you were close.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parent close'>><<set $background to "single parent">><<set $family to "close">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You’d grown up in a single-parent household, though you rarely stayed in touch.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parent distant'>><<set $background to "single parent">><<set $family to "distant">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You were adopted, and you were close to your parents even if you weren’t related by blood.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parents close'>><<set $background to "adopted">><<set $family to "close">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You were adopted, but you weren’t close to the people who had taken you in.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parents distant'>><<set $background to "adopted">><<set $family to "distant">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You’d grown up in foster care. There wasn’t any room to develop lasting relationships with your caregivers.">><<link '$LinkText' 'foster'>><<set $background to "fostered">><<set $family to "none">><</link>>

It was all so familiar. The area, the lifestyle, the neighbours twitching at their curtains every time someone new appeared on the street – all of it. The picture-perfect homes that actually had to work for it. There had been two cars in the driveway yesterday, one for each parent, though now there was only one. <<set $LinkText to "You’d grown up with your birth parents, and you were close.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parents close'>><<set $background to "birth parents">><<set $family to "close">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You’d grown up with your birth parents, though you rarely stayed in touch.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parents distant'>><<set $background to "birth parents">><<set $family to "distant">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You’d grown up in a single-parent household, and you were close.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parent close'>><<set $background to "single parent">><<set $family to "close">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You’d grown up in a single-parent household, though you rarely stayed in touch.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parent distant'>><<set $background to "single parent">><<set $family to "distant">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You were adopted, and you were close to your parents even if you weren’t related by blood.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parents close'>><<set $background to "adopted">><<set $family to "close">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You were adopted, but you weren’t close to the people who had taken you in.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parents distant'>><<set $background to "adopted">><<set $family to "distant">><</link>>

It all seemed so quaint to you, compared to the grand properties and the acres of land that you grew up on. Being so isolated from other people while still surrounded by enough staff to maintain a property the size of your family’s. <<if $Mx is "Lord" or "Lady" or "Liege">>The pressure of growing up with the knowledge that you could well be one of the, if not the, most powerful people in your country one day. It was a lot to live up to.<</if>> There had been two cars in the driveway yesterday, one for each parent, though now there was only one. Like you’d said before – quaint. <<set $LinkText to "You’d grown up with your birth parents, and you were close.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parents close'>><<set $background to "birth parents">><<set $family to "close">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You’d grown up with your birth parents, though you rarely stayed in touch.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parents distant'>><<set $background to "birth parents">><<set $family to "distant">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You’d grown up in a single-parent household, and you were close.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parent close'>><<set $background to "single parent">><<set $family to "close">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You’d grown up in a single-parent household, though you rarely stayed in touch.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parent distant'>><<set $background to "single parent">><<set $family to "distant">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You were adopted, and you were close to your parents even if you weren’t related by blood.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parents close'>><<set $background to "adopted">><<set $family to "close">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You were adopted, but you weren’t close to the people who had taken you in.">><<link '$LinkText' 'parents distant'>><<set $background to "adopted">><<set $family to "distant">><</link>>

Perhaps that was a way in which you could relate a little. From what you had been able to see of the family during your visit yesterday, the Cayde family was close-knit. The parents obviously adored their children, and it was clear to see those children felt the same way. You yourself hadn’t seen your family in a while, and seeing the dynamic truly made you miss them. [[next|house]]

In a way it made you feel even more distant from them. From what you had been able to see of the family during your visit yesterday, the Cayde family was close-knit. The parents obviously adored their children, and it was clear to see those children felt the same way. You yourself hadn’t experienced a dynamic like that in a long time, and it brought up the faint stirrings of envy in your stomach. [[next|house]]

Perhaps that was a way in which you could relate a little. From what you had been able to see of the family during your visit yesterday, the Cayde family was close-knit. The parents obviously adored their children, and it was clear to see those children felt the same way. You yourself hadn’t seen your <<listbox "$parent" autoselect>><<option "dad">><<option "mum">><<option "renny">><</listbox>> in a while, and seeing the dynamic truly made you miss them. [[next|house]]

In a way it made you feel more distant from them. From what you had been able to see of the family during your visit yesterday, the Cayde family was close-knit. The parents obviously adored their children, and it was clear to see those children felt the same way. You yourself hadn’t experienced a dynamic like that with your <<listbox "$parent" autoselect>><<option "mother">><<option "father">><<option "parent">><</listbox>> in a long time, and it brought up the faint stirrings of envy in your stomach. [[next|house]]

It was raining heavily by the time you reached the Cayde home. Strongly enough that it had gone dark outside despite not even being midday yet, and the heavy sheen of rain obscured your vision of the road and the houses lined alongside it. Heavy enough for the torrential downpour to be loud in your ears despite <<if $travel is "motorbike">>the muffling effect of your helmet.<<else>>the safety of your vehicle.<</if>> You could hear the rumble of thunder in the distance. How reluctant you were to be wholly at the mercy of the elements once you <<if $travel is "car">>got out of the car.<<elseif $travel is "bus">>got off of the bus.<<else>>had to remove your helmet.<</if>> <<if $travel is "bus">>There was a bus stop just a few roads away from the house. The short walk gave you time to compose yourself, though you now had to hold your jacket above your head in an attempt to stave off the heavy rain, your travel bag heavy on your hip.<<elseif $travel is "car">>There was space to park on the road in front of the house, giving you a moment within the privacy of your car to compose yourself before you unwillingly subjected yourself to the downpour, pulling your jacket up over your head in an effort to stave it off.<<else>>There was space to park on the road in front of the house, and you allowed yourself a short moment to compose yourself under the protection of your helmet and bike jacket, wary of any eyes that might be on you, before you removed your helmet and climbed off of your bike.<</if>> With every step to the front door you felt your stomach tightening, your heart pounding faster and faster at the thought of what you had to do. You’d been going over and over in your head on the journey here what you might say to Abigail’s parents when you saw them, but suddenly all of those words had disappeared from your head as though they had never been there. <<set $LinkText to "You hesitated. You'd never done this before, and you didn't think you could do it.">><<link '$LinkText' 'hesitate'>><<set $hesitate to true>><</link>> <<link 'You knocked.' 'door'>><<set $hesitate to false>><</link>>

It shouldn’t have been as intimidating as it was, that plain white door – number 83 emblazoned upon it in a welcoming font. The simple knocker front and centre and ready for guests, the small frosted window that glinted in the low light. And yet you stared at that rain-streaked door as though it would open up into a dragon’s den rather than the family home you knew lay behind. Your hands clenched and unclenched by your side, as you urged yourself to just. Knock on the door. Just do it. Put yourself – and them – out of your misery and knock. What right had you to be upset by that girl’s death? You would go in there, you would give her family the news, and then you would get to leave afterwards. You would get to move on with your life as though it had never happened. To never think of the name ‘Abigail Cayde’ again, if that was your wish, while her family would become stagnant – haunted by her. What right had you to grieve a girl you didn’t truly know? Just knock, say the words, and put this awful job behind you. [[Just knock|door]]

<<set $Cayde to true>>The knocker clattered loudly as you dropped it against the door – so loudly you could’ve sworn you felt eyes on you from the surrounding houses. The hairs on the back of your neck raised and you kept your gaze stubbornly fixed on the white door, unwilling to consider if your concerns might be founded or not. Your imagination did that well enough for you, giving you a glimpse of the curtains twitching, the neighbours looking at you. Was it because you didn’t belong? Or did they already know of the purpose for which you had come? You didn’t have to stand there for very long. Barely had your knock faded into silence than the door was being wrenched open before you, and you found yourself face to face with Vanessa Cayde – Abigail’s mother – her ten-year-old son half-hidden behind her, staring at you. She was wrapped in a stained pink dressing gown, auburn hair in a messy bun on top of her head that was scraggly, greasy hair falling out into her eyes so that she had to keep shaking her head to brush it out. Her eyes were red from crying, and she looked as though she hadn’t slept since the last time you had seen her. Vanessa’s eyes widened when she saw you standing there, darting around as though hoping to see her daughter loitering somewhere out in the downpour before they focused on you. “Good morning, $Mx $MC_last, I wasn’t expecting you.” She quickly stepped back to allow you space to enter, and you <<if $hesitate is true>>hesitantly<</if>> did so, relieved to be out of the rain. You carefully toed off your <<listbox "$shoes" autoselect>><<option "shoes">><<option "boots">><<option "trainers">><<option "sandals">><</listbox>> and left them <<if $cleanliness is "neat">>neatly<</if>> by the door as she closed it behind you. Your sopping wet jacket was hung on the banister by her as you shucked it off and she guided you through to the living room. “Let me get you a drink – <<listbox "$drink" autoselect>><<option "coffee">><<option "tea">><<option "hot chocolate">><<option "juice">><<option "soda">><<option "water">><</listbox>>, right? Will you watch him for a moment while I get it? Thank you.” Vanessa had deposited her son and was disappearing into the kitchen before you could get a word in edgeways, leaving you with no real choice in the matter than to do as she had asked. <<set $LinkText to "You stared at the child. You didn't much like kids, but you should make sure it didn't die or anything.">><<link '$LinkText' 'stare'>><<set $kids to "bad">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You stared at the child. Kids were fine, but that didn’t mean you were about to go out of your way when one was just dropped on your lap.">><<link '$LinkText' 'stare'>><<set $kids to "chill">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You got down on the floor to play with Ethan. You didn’t care much for kids, but a few minutes was fine.">><<link '$LinkText' 'play'>><<set $kids to "bad">><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You got down on the floor to play with Ethan. You liked kids well enough, this was fine.">><<link '$LinkText' 'play'>><<set $kids to "chill">><</link>>

The child stared back at you with wide, pale blue eyes, unblinking and unflinching. You didn’t know enough about kids to know if this was normal behaviour for one his age or not. Was he broken? Had you broken him with your mere presence? Or did he simply know why you had come? [[You kept staring|stare 2]]

The apathetic expression Ethan had been wearing since your arrival seemed to brighten immediately as you settled on the floor beside him, and he scurried away to fetch two toys from his collection that was strewn around the room. He shuffled back on his knees to present them to you, waiting for you to choose. [[You chose the teacup|teacup]] [[You chose the sheep|sheep]]

There was a part of you that was competitive. A part of you that was insisting that you not lose this … whatever it was. The rest of you was positing out that you were currently engaged in a staring contest with a ten-year-old and that was stupid, but that part of you was quickly quashed by the part that was insisting that you. Must. Win. Ethan’s attention was on you alone, the toys strewn across the living room floor completely ignored. He was intent on you as though you were the only thing in the world, as though you held the very answers to the universe itself. [[You kept staring. You couldn't let him win.|stare 3]] [[What were you doing? That was a child - you stopped staring.|stare stop]]

This kid just wasn’t backing down from your mutual stare, and it was beginning to creep you out. How long had you both been staring at each other for? The very world could have ended outside and you would have been none the wiser, fixated on this child. Your entire perception had narrowed to those two bright blue eyes – you felt almost as though you were being sucked into a black hole. This kid was unsettling, to say the least. The sound of the kitchen door opening made you jump, and both you and Ethan swiftly swivelled your heads around to stare at Vanessa as she re-entered the room, your $drink in her hand. You carefully accepted it from her as she moved to sit in the sofa across the coffee table from you, apparently oblivious to what had been happening in the room before her arrival. As you finally dared the first glance at Ethan since she’d entered you saw that he’d retreated to a corner of the room, a stuffed otter in hand. [[next|Vanessa]]

You averted your gaze from the boy, a little embarrassed that you had allowed things to get as far as they had. You were simply unaccustomed to being around children, that was all it was. That didn’t change that you were the adult in the room, however, and you should have known better than to allow yourself to get so drawn in. The sound of the kitchen door opening made you jump, and both you and Ethan swiftly swivelled your heads around to stare at Vanessa as she re-entered the room, your $drink in her hand. You carefully accepted it from her as she moved to sit in the sofa across the coffee table from you, apparently oblivious to what had been happening in the room before her arrival. As you finally dared the first glance at Ethan since she’d entered you saw that he’d retreated to a corner of the room, a stuffed otter in hand. [[next|Vanessa]]

The sofa you settled into groaned under your weight as you sank into it, as though it fully intended to absorb you – and there was a part of you that wished you could allow it to do so rather than go through with passing on the news you knew you had to bring. <<if $drink is "juice">>Your cool drink in your hands served to help focus your mind<<elseif $drink is "soda">>Your cool drink in your hands served to help focus your mind<<elseif $drink is "water">>Your cool drink in your hands served to help focus your mind<<else>>your warm drink in your hands served to chase away the chill you’d felt all morning<</if>>, and you took the opportunity to take a look around the room. It was a mess – and it wasn’t entirely due to Ethan’s toy collection. A mug beside the sofa had fallen and been left unattended, long enough that you could tell there would be no saving the carpet from the stain that had already sank into it (a fine metaphor for what this poor family was going through; you might have found it poetic under any other circumstances). While the storm brewing outside shrouded the home in darkness, there had been no move to switch on any of the lamps, and it was clear both Vanessa and Ethan had just been waiting in the dark. You weren’t sure where Rasheed, Vanessa’s husband, was right now, but it didn’t seem he’d been home in a while. You couldn’t say you blamed Vanessa for the state she was in, considering the circumstances under which you’d been meeting her and her family, though you felt the stirrings of concern deep within for both her and her child. “What news do you have, $Mx $MC_last?” Her voice was full of cautious hope and you couldn’t help the deep sigh that fell past your lips, your hands shaking hard enough that you had to set your drink to one side in order to avoid a spillage. <<if $MC_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "'//Can we send Ethan out first, Mrs Cayde?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'Ethan leave'>><<set $Ethan_out to true>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//Police found a body in Crescent Hill this morning.//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'body tell'>><<set $Ethan_out to false>><</link>><<else>><<link '"Can we send Ethan out first, Mrs Cayde?"' 'Ethan leave'>><<set $Ethan_out to true>><</link>> <<link '"Police found a body in Crescent Hill this morning."' 'Ethan stay'>><<set $Ethan_out to false>><</link>><</if>>

You solemnly chose the teacup with a <<if $MC_mute is false>>murmur<<else>>nod<</if>> of thanks to your host, and he carelessly tossed the sheep aside to pull out another cup for himself and a teapot. He ‘filled’ both cups carefully, hands steady and attention solely on what he was doing, before sitting beside you so you could drink together. “You’re the $MC_person looking for my sister.” The only thing more surprising to you than Ethan breaking his silence was his choice of topic. His words were statement rather than question, his voice was sure of himself as he didn’t even look up from what he was doing. <<if $MC_mute is true>>You nodded.<<else>>"Yes."<</if>> You saw no reason not to be honest with him. Not about this, at the very least. “I hope you find her soon,” he confided earnestly. “Mummy cries all the time, and daddy doesn’t come home anymore.” Taken aback by the information he’d chosen to stare, you found yourself at a sudden loss for words. Thankfully, the door swung open before you had to work out how to form a reply to such a comment, and both of your heads swivelled round to stare at Vanessa as she re-entered the room, your $drink in her hand. You carefully accepted it from her as she moved to sit in the sofa across the coffee table from you, apparently oblivious to what had been happening in the room before her arrival. As you finally dared the first glance at Ethan since she’d entered you saw that he’d retreated to a corner of the room, a stuffed otter in hand. [[next|Vanessa]]

You solemnly selected the sheep with a <<if $MC_mute is false>>murmur<<else>>nod<</if>> of thanks to your host, and he carelessly tossed the teacup aside to retrieve a toy cow and a large wooden farmstead that they clearly both belonged to. He set it up beside you and silently walked his cow over to eat from the trough. You had your sheep join, and for a few minutes you played together in silence. “You’re the $MC_person looking for my sister.” The only thing more surprising to you than Ethan breaking his silence was his choice of topic. His words were statement rather than question, his voice was sure of himself as he didn’t even look up from what he was doing. <<if $MC_mute is true>>You nodded.<<else>>"Yes."<</if>> You saw no reason not to be honest with him. Not about this, at the very least. “I hope you find her soon,” he confided earnestly. “Mummy cries all the time, and daddy doesn’t come home anymore.” Taken aback by the information he’d chosen to stare, you found yourself at a sudden loss for words. Thankfully, the door swung open before you had to work out how to form a reply to such a comment, and both of your heads swivelled round to stare at Vanessa as she re-entered the room, your $drink in her hand. You carefully accepted it from her as she moved to sit in the sofa across the coffee table from you, apparently oblivious to what had been happening in the room before her arrival. As you finally dared the first glance at Ethan since she’d entered you saw that he’d retreated to a corner of the room, a stuffed otter in hand. [[next|Vanessa]]

<<if $MC_mute is true>>She didn’t know sign, so you wrote it down in your notebook as you had the morning before. She fumbled in the pocket of her pink dressing gown for her reading glasses, squinting at the words as she processed them.<</if>> Vanessa looked at her son in surprise, as though she’d forgotten that he was still in the room. Otter clutched to his chest as he sat curled up in his corner, the boy had been staring at you impassively as you spoke to his mother. “Ethan, go to your room,” she told him firmly, though you could tell that she could barely look at her son. He stared at her for a long few moments, expression unchanging, before getting to his feet, hugging his plush to his chest as he left the room. You listened to the sound of his light feet pattering up the stairs, almost inaudible below the rain pounding against the window behind you, and waited for his wooden door to be closed behind him before you turned back to Vanessa. Taking a deep breath as she sat back in her seat, the woman visibly steeled herself before giving you a nod to begin. <<if $MC_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "'//Police found a body in Crescent Hill this morning.//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'body tell'>><</link>><<else>>[["Police found a body in Crescent Hill this morning."|body tell]]<</if>>

“A body?” Vanessa repeated once you'd heard his steps disappear up the stairs, and his door close behind him. Her voice was choked with the beginnings of a sob as her expression crumpled. “Not my Abby?” <<if $MC_mute is true>>'//I don't believe a formal identification has been made,//' Your hands shook as you wrote. '//I showed the police Abigail's photo, and they've asked for access to her dental records.//'<<else>>“I don’t believe a formal identification has been made,” you told her softly, your voice shaking as you spoke. “I showed the police Abigail’s photo, and they’ve asked for access to her dental records.”<</if>> “Her //dental records//?!” <<if $MC_mute is true>>'//I'm so sorry.//'<<else>>“I’m so sorry.”<</if>> The wail that came out of the small woman then was like no sound you had ever heard before, and it cut you right to your core. As she buried her face in her hands and broke down in fresh sobs, you averted your gaze out of respect and uncertainty. Eyes falling instead on the doorway out into the hall, you were surprised when they met pale blue ones half hidden by the door. Ethan quickly realised he had been spotted and ran, leaving you once more alone in the room with his mother. Stared at from all directions by photos of Abigail Cayde and her family, by bright smiles and innocence <<if $family is "close">>that you deeply missed<<else>>that you had never experienced<</if>>. No clue what was coming their way. You needed to move. You needed to do //something//. You couldn’t just sit here like this. <<link 'You followed Ethan.' 'Ethan follow'>><<set $Ethan_follow to true>><</link>> <<link 'You sat beside Vanessa to comfort her.' 'Vanessa stay'>><<set $Vanessa_comfort to true>><</link>> <<link 'You stayed where you were and made no move to comfort' 'Vanessa stay'>><<set $Vanessa_stay to true>><</link>>

<<if $MC_mute is true>>She didn’t know sign, so you wrote it down in your notebook as you had the morning before. She fumbled in the pocket of her pink dressing gown for her reading glasses, squinting at the words as she processed them.<</if>> “Ethan, go to your room,” she told him firmly, though you could tell that she could barely look at her son. He stared at her for a long few moments, expression unchanging, before getting to his feet, hugging his plush to his chest as he left the room. “A body?” Vanessa repeated once you'd heard his steps disappear up the stairs, and his door close behind him. Her voice was choked with the beginnings of a sob as her expression crumpled. “Not my Abby?” <<if $MC_mute is true>>'//I don't believe a formal identification has been made,//' Your hands shook as you wrote. '//I showed the police Abigail's photo, and they've asked for access to her dental records.//'<</else>>“I don’t believe a formal identification has been made,” you told her softly, your voice shaking as you spoke. “I showed the police Abigail’s photo, and they’ve asked for access to her dental records.”<</if>>> “Her //dental records//?!” <<if $MC_mute is true>>'//I'm so sorry.//'<<else>>“I’m so sorry.”<</if>> The wail that came out of the small woman then was like no sound you had ever heard before, and it cut you right to your core. As she buried her face in her hands and broke down in fresh sobs, you averted your gaze out of respect and uncertainty. Eyes falling instead on the doorway out into the hall, you were surprised when they met pale blue ones half hidden by the door. Ethan quickly realised he had been spotted and ran, leaving you once more alone in the room with his mother. Stared at from all directions by photos of Abigail Cayde and her family, by bright smiles and innocence (that you deeply missed/that you’d never experienced). No clue what was coming their way. You needed to move. You needed to do //something//. You couldn’t just sit here like this. [[You followed Ethan|Ethan follow]] <<Link 'You sat beside Vanessa to comfort her' 'Vanessa stay'>><<set $Vanessa_comfort to true>><</link>> <<Link 'You stayed where you were and made no move to comfort her' 'Vanessa stay'>><<set $Vanessa_comfort to false>><</link>>

"Will you check on him, please?" So desperate were her heaving sobs, you could barely understand her words. You hesitated once you did, but you weren’t sure Vanessa even noticed the nod you offered her before you stood up from your seat to slip quietly out of the room. You had heard Ethan run up the stairs again, and so that was where you went. Three doors stood as sentinels on the landing at the top of the stairs. The one directly ahead, plain and unadorned, was closed firmly against intruders. On your left, the door bearing Ethan’s name was open to reveal dragons and firetrucks, and dragons //in// firetrucks, but no sign of the room’s ten-year-old occupant. You turned instead to the room on your right, lingering in the doorway. Abigail Cayde’s room was just as it had been during your brief search the day before. It gave the impression of a happy, confident teenage girl. Bright colours, photos and collages of family and friends – lots of friends, if the photos were to be believed. It told the story of an intelligent young girl with everything to live for, whose life had been tragically cut short. Yet from where you were standing, it was a story as baffling as it had been when you had first step foot here yesterday. Because Abigail Cayde just up and disappearing from her life //didn’t make sense//. It took a moment to remind yourself that it was no longer your job to wonder at that – that was for the police to work out now. Instead, you turned your attention on to Ethan, who was regarding you from where he was curled up on his big sister’s bed, eyes rimmed red and cheeks wet with tears. “Is Abby coming back?” You got the sense that he already knew the answer to his question. He’d heard his mother’s outburst, and clearly had an inkling as to what it meant. But it wasn’t your place to confirm or deny, to decide how he would be told of what had happened to his sister. He seemed to realise you wouldn’t or couldn’t answer. You supposed that was answer enough in itself. “I want you to put who did it in jail.” <<if $MC_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "'//Then I suppose I should talk to your mum again.//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'Ethan accept'>><<set $Ethan_job to true>><</link>><<else>><<link '"Then I suppose I should talk to your mum again."' 'Ethan accept'>><<set $Ethan_job to true>><</link>><</if>> <<set $LinkText to "You frowned. That wasn't your job, whether you might want it or not.">><<link '$LinkText' 'Ethan convince'>><</link>>

A murder investigation, if that was even what this was, had never been a part of your plan. Such a thing was well beyond any job you had accepted before. But looking at Abigail’s family now, stood at the door to her room, on the threshold of the remnants of her life, you couldn’t help but want to find justice for her. Ethan’s shoulders sagged in relief at your words, tears welling in his eyes once more. “I’ll stay here this time, he promised, and as you turned to head back down the stairs you saw him curling tighter into a ball on the bed. Back in the living room, Vanessa had calmed a little. She still sat in the same spot on the sofa, face buried in her hands, but her sobs had subsided. The mother was hunched over silently in her seat, though she was aware of your entrance, looking up to watch you as you came back in. Hesitantly, you took your seat opposite her, waiting until you knew she saw you through the glassy glaze over her eyes. <<if $MC_mute is true>>'//I want to take the job.//'<<else>>“I want to take the job.”<</if>> [[next|accept]]

Ethan almost physically withered under your uncertain frown before sitting up and sliding off the bed, passing by you in the doorway and going back into his own bedroom across the landing. You leaned against the doorframe for a little longer, unsure if you were meant to follow after him or not. You didn’t have to wait for long before he was returning, a gently jingling piggy bank clutched in his chubby hands. He remained just inside the room rather than returning to Abigail’s bed and pulled the cork free, awkwardly shaking the pig one-handed so that a handful of dull coins tumbled out into his outstretched palm. “I’ll pay you,” he insisted, holding the coins out to you. “Everything I have.” <<if $MC_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "'//I'll talk to your mum,//' you told him, turning to leave without reaching for the coins.">><<link '$LinkText' 'Ethan accept'>><<set $Ethan_job to true>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//Keep your money,//' you insisted, not even reaching for the coins. '//I'll do what I can to help.//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'Ethan accept'>><<set $Ethan_job to true>><</link>><<else>><<set $LinkText to "\"I'll talk to your mum,\" you told him, turning to leave without reaching for the coins.">><<link '$LinkText' 'Ethan accept'>><<set $Ethan_job to true>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "\"Keep your money,\" you insisted, not even reaching for the coins. \"I'll do what I can to help.\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'Ethan accept'>><<set $Ethan_job to true>><</link>><</if>>

<<if $MC_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "reading">><<else>><<set $LinkText to "hearing">><</if>><<if $Vanessa_job is true>>Vanessa's shoulders sagged in relief and the tears in her eyes began to spill over upon $LinkText your acceptance. It was as though a weight had physically been lifted from her shoulders.<<elseif $Ethan_job is true>>Vanessa's head shot up to stare at you as you relayed to her the news, her brown eyes wide and searching. Whatever she saw in your expression, you were stunned to see them fill with tears. "You'll find the monster who did this to my baby girl?" You nodded firmly, and she sagged in relief, the tears beginning to spill over upon seeing your acceptance. It was as though a weight had physically been lifted from her shoulders.<</if>> "Thank you so much," she managed through her sobs. She moved to hug you tightly before you could register what was happening, and you... <<link 'Allowed it. It may have been sudden, but you had no issue with touch, and she clearly needed it right now.' 'awkward'>><<set $MC_touchaverse to false>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "Allowed it. You normally didn't enjoy being touched without permission, but it was clear that she needed it.">><<link '$LinkText' 'awkward'>><<set $MC_touchaverse to true>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "Gently extricated yourself. You had no issue with touch usually, but you weren't comfortable with it right now.">><<link '$LinkText' 'awkward'>><<set $MC_touchaverse to false>><</link>> <<link 'Gently extricated yourself. You greatly disliked being touched, especially without permission.' 'awkward'>><<set $MC_touchaverse to true>><</link>>

[[Rosuta]] [[The Continent]] <<link "return">><<script>>Engine.backward()<</script>><</link>>

Rosuta is the former name of a land to the east of the Continent - in present day it's referred to as the Duchy by those who live there. The Rosutan people have been extinct for centuries. The topic of those who once lived in the small collection of territories that made up the Rosutan 'Empire' can still be a taboo subject on the Continent due to their utmost refusal to give up their belief in their gods, which led to the war between the two regions. <<link "return">><<script>>Engine.backward()<</script>><</link>>

The Continent is the greatest power in modern day Riku, and is made up of three countries working in alliance; Dragoness, Huntress and Lioness - each named for their patron god. Riku's gods have long decreed that they step back from the mortal realm, but belief in them remains widespread. <<link "return">><<script>>Engine.backward()<</script>><</link>>

<<if $Vanessa_comfort is true>>Vanessa didn’t react when you moved to the seat beside her, nor even when you rubbed her back in an attempt to be soothing.<</if>>As you waited <<if $Vanessa_comfort is true>>patiently<<else>>awkwardly<</if>> for her to calm enough to speak, you found yourself chewing over what you might be able to say to her. <<if $MC_mute is true>>'//Is there anyone I can call for you?//' You asked her gently when she had recovered enough to read your words. '/Mr Cayde, maybe?//'<<else>>“Is there anyone I can call for you?” You asked her gently when she had recovered enough to meet your gaze. “Mr Cayde, maybe?”<</if>> She shook her head almost violently at that. “I’ll tell Rasheed,” she assured you. She remained calm for a few moments before breaking down in fresh sobs. “He went out looking for her right after you left – he’ll be devastated…” You swallowed down the bile in your throat, ignoring the judgemental stares of the family photos. <<if $MC_mute is true>>'//Detective Brand of the Crescent Hill Police Department seems to be in charge of the case,//' you told her. '//She said police will be in touch with questions soon.//'<<else>>“Detective Brand of the Crescent Hill Police Department seems to be in charge of the case,” you told her. “She said police will be in touch with questions soon.”<</if>> <<if $Brand_card is true>><<set $LinkText to "Give Detective Brand's card">><<link '$LinkText' 'Vanessa card'>><<set $Vanessa_card to true>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "Hold onto Detective Brand's card">><<link '$LinkText' 'Vanessa card'>><<set $Vanessa_card to false>><</link>><<else>>[[next|Vanessa card]]<</if>>

<<if $MC_mute is true>>'//You must know I can't do that,//' you were almost begging as you wrote, and you didn't even care if she could detect your distress or not.<<else>>“You must know I can’t do that,” you were almost begging as you spoke, and you didn’t even care if she could detect your distress or not.<</if>> “I know that you’re not the police,” she acknowledged, brown eyes swimming with tears as she implored you, “but of the two of you, you’re the only one who cares enough to be here. You’re the only one who cared enough to look for her when she was missing. I need to know whoever is on this case is thinking about my baby first." <<if $MC_mute is true>>'//We don't know how she died - if it's even her,//' you pointed out, '//it may not have been murder.//'<<else>>“We don’t know how she died – if it’s even her,” you pointed out, “it may not have been murder.”<</if>> “Then at least I’ll know, one way or the other.” Vanessa (turned to face you fully/moved to sit on the sofa beside you). “$Mx $MC_last, please. I’ll give you everything I have. Please just help me.” <<if $MC_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "'//Fine,//' you relent. '//I'll take the job.//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'accept'>><<set $Vanessa_job to true>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//Keep your money,//' you insisted. '//Ethan needs it more than I do.//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'accept'>><<set $Vanessa_job to true>><</link>><<else>><<set $Link Text to "\"Fine," you relent. "I'll take the job.\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'accept'>><<set $Vanessa_job to true>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "\"Keep your money," you insisted. "Ethan needs it more than I do.\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'accept'>><<set $Vanessa_job to true>><</link>><</if>>

<<if $Vanessa_card is true>>Vanessa clutched the card tightly in her hand before nodding, seemingly unconvinced by your suggestion, and setting it down on the nearby side table.<<else>>Vanessa nodded, seemingly unconvinced by your suggestion.<</if>> She watched you closely, expression thoughtful, before she finally put words to something she’d clearly been considering for a while. “I want //you// to take the job instead,” she told you firmly. “I want you to find who killed my little girl.” <<set $LinkText to "Absolutely not – even if that was your job, you didn’t even know for sure that she’d been murdered.">><<link '$LinkText' 'Vanessa convince'>><</link>> <<link 'You stared at her, watching her as she stared intently back at you, before you finally gave a small nod of agreement.' 'accept'>><<set $Vanessa_job to true>><</link>>

Vanessa let out a mumbled apology as she took a wide step back, clearly stunned by her own outburst and a little embarrassed that she'd just hugged a near stranger<<if $MC_touchaverse is true>>, particularly with how tense you'd gotten with her sudden touch<</if>>. You backed up as she did, choosing not to say anything, and as you both took a moment to allow the awkwardness of the situation to pass, you returned to your original position on the sofa opposite her. "Rasheed found Abby's laptop," she told you as you both settled, clearly wanting to put the incident out of her mind by focusing on the case. You reclaimed your now room temperature drink as she spoke, brow rising in surprise. Abigail's parents hadn't been able to find her laptop yesterday, it had been assumed that she'd taken it with her. "Take it, if you think it will help. Anything you need to find who did this, just tell me.” That would be useful; teenagers were typically attached to their gadgets, and since you didn’t know if the police would allow you access to her phone her laptop would be the next best thing. For now, however, you had your mind on the more immediate aid her mother could offer you. A potential murder investigation changed the job completely from what you’d been expecting when you were first here the day before. A completely different dynamic; one you weren’t familiar with or trained in. You could only hope you would ask the right questions. <<if $MC_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "'//Have Abigail's friends told you anything that might be helpful?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'friends'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//Had she mentioned anyone new in her life? Boyfriend or girlfriend, maybe?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'new'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//Did she mention someone she didn't get on with? Someone who might want to hurt her?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'hurt'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//Had she been acting out of character at all recently?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'out of character'>><</link>><<else>><<set $LinkText to "\"Have Abigail's friends told you anything that might be helpful?\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'friends'>><</link>> <<link '"Had she mentioned anyone new in her life? Boyfriend or girlfriend, maybe?"' 'new'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "\"Did she mention someone she didn't get on with? Someone who might want to hurt her?\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'hurt'>><</link>> <<link '"Had she been acting out of character at all recently?"' 'out of character'>><</link>><</if>>

Their parents had refused to let you talk to them before, and without consent you wouldn’t have been able to get in contact. You doubted their minds would be changed now that Abigail was dead. Perhaps the police would have better luck than you when it came to questioning them personally. “They insisted they didn’t know anything about her disappearance or anything that could help. Only…” you raised your gaze from your open notebook to stare at her, silently prompting her to continue. “They said she’d been more tired than usual. Falling asleep in her classes, which wasn’t normal for her. Bad dreams, they thought. She never said anything to us.” Dreams? You suppressed a shudder as a sudden chill ran down your spine, mind automatically straying to your own. Best try not to overthink it.<<set $Abigail_dreams to true>> <<if $MC_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "'//Had she mentioned anyone new in her life? Boyfriend or girlfriend, maybe?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'new'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//Did she mention someone she didn't get on with? Someone who might want to hurt her?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'hurt'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//Had she been acting out of character at all recently?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'out of character'>><</link>><<else>><<link '"Had she mentioned anyone new in her life? Boyfriend or girlfriend, maybe?"' 'new'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "\"Did she mention someone she didn't get on with? Someone who might want to hurt her?\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'hurt'>><</link>> <<link '"Had she been acting out of character at all recently?"' 'out of character'>><</link>><</if>>

“She was always too focused on her studies for anything like that,” Vanessa admitted, shaking her head firmly. “Rasheed wanted her to slow down a little. Enjoy her teenage years while she had them – she had the rest of her life to work.” She almost choked on the words, brow furrowing in grief. “I kept her working hard. She wanted to be a doctor, like me. I told her … I told her you don’t become a doctor by slacking off…” she gasped, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue from a nearby box. “I wish I’d let him convince her now.” <<if $MC_mute is true>>'//I'm sorry,//' you wrote down hesitantly,<<else>>“I’m sorry,” you told her quietly,<</if>> unsure what else you could say in this situation. “She’s been more secretive recently,” Vanessa told you finally and you sat up, pen at the ready. “Spending time on her laptop. I’d thought it was school work, but maybe she was talking to someone. I don’t know now.” Good that you had access to her device, then. You should make that a priority.<<set $Abigail_secretive to true>> <<if $MC_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "'//Have Abigail's friends told you anything that might be helpful?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'friends'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//Did she mention someone she didn't get on with? Someone who might want to hurt her?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'hurt'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//Had she been acting out of character at all recently?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'out of character'>><</link>><<else>><<set $LinkText to "\"Have Abigail's friends told you anything that might be helpful?\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'friends'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "\"Did she mention someone she didn't get on with? Someone who might want to hurt her?\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'hurt'>><</link>> <<link '"Had she been acting out of character at all recently?"' 'out of character'>><</link>><</if>>

“No!” Vanessa seemed aghast at the very suggestion, the protest falling from her lips before you’d even had a chance to finish asking the question. “She had disagreements with her friends sometimes – they were teenagers! – but never anything like that!” <<if $MC_mute is true>>You nodded in acknowledgement,<<else>>You hummed in acknowledgement,<</if>> deciding to move on quickly from that topic. <<if $MC_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "'//Have Abigail's friends told you anything that might be helpful?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'friends'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//Had she mentioned anyone new in her life? Boyfriend or girlfriend, maybe?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'new'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//Had she been acting out of character at all recently?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'out of character'>><</link>><<else>><<set $LinkText to "\"Have Abigail's friends told you anything that might be helpful?\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'friends'>><</link>> <<link '"Had she mentioned anyone new in her life? Boyfriend or girlfriend, maybe?"' 'new'>><</link>> <<link '"Had she been acting out of character at all recently?"' 'out of character'>><</link>><</if>>

<<if $Abigail_secretive is true>>“Other than being more secretive on her laptop,” you clarified.<</if>> Vanessa took a long few moments to consider the question before she finally gave you an answer, uncertainty obvious in her voice. “<<if $Abigail_secretive is true>>Other than being more secretive, she<<else>>She<</if>> was actually being more like herself than she had in a long time,” she admitted. “She’d been withdrawn for almost a year now. But she’d started playing with her brother again, started spending time with us as a family. It was like a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders, we thought we finally had our baby back.” Vanessa’s chest heaved with barely contained sobs, but as she bowed her head in her hands and wept, you knew you wouldn’t get much more out of her. <<if $MC_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "'//I'll do all I can to help you. Is there anything more I can do here in the meantime?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'laptop'>><<set $kind +=1>><<set $Vanessa_kind to true>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//I swear to you, if there's a person to be found, I will find them.//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'laptop'>><<set $blunt +=1>><<set $Vanessa_blunt to true>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//So, I'll be off then. Looking for a potential murderer.//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'laptop'>><<set $playful +=1>><<set $Vanessa_playful to true>><</link>><<else>><<set $LinkText to "\"I'll do all I can to help you. Is there anything more I can do here in the meantime?\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'laptop'>><<set $kind +=1>><<set $Vanessa_kind to true>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "\"I swear to you, if there's a person to be found, I will find them.\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'laptop'>><<set $blunt +=1>><<set $Vanessa_blunt to true>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "\"So, I'll be off then. Looking for a potential murderer.\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'laptop'>><<set $playful +=1>><<set $Vanessa_playful to true>><</link>><</if>>

<<if $Vanessa_kind is true>>Vanessa nodded through her sobs, reaching for your hand before apparently thinking better of it and wrapping her arms around her chest instead. "Thank you," she managed eventually, and you knew your words meant more to her than she could presently express.<<elseif $Vanessa_blunt is true>>Your calm words and demeanour seemed to have a soothing effect on Abigail's mother. She took in a few deep breaths, rubbing at her arms almost self-consciously. "Thank you," she managed, gaze more focused than it had been since your arrival.<<else>>Vanessa stared at you, and it was clear she had no idea what to make of your words even as you kicked yourself for saying them in the first place. This wasn't the time or place for humour, but then you'd never been great at finding the right moment to be serious. "I ... thank you. For doing that for me," she managed, uncertainty clear in her voice, and you offered her a tight, apologetic smile in return.<</if>> "Before you leave though..." Vanessa was gone from your side almost before she’d finished speaking the words, and you stood awkwardly in the living room for only a moment before she returned almost as quickly. Clutched in her hands was a pink laptop – or at least you thought it was pink. It was difficult to make out the original colour beneath all the stickers that layered its surface. “I hope you can use this to find out who hurt my daughter.”<<set $laptop to true>> <<if $MC_mute is true>>'//I'll bring it back when this is over,//" you promised, returning your notebook to your pocket so you could accept the laptop like it was something precious, holding it gently to your chest.<<else>>“I’ll bring it back when this is over,” you promised, accepting the laptop like it was something precious and holding it gently to your chest.<</if>> You followed your host out into the corridor so you could reclaim your $shoes, and Vanessa held the door open for you to leave. The rain was still heavy, though it had eased off a little from when you had first arrived at the house. As you readied yourself to step back out onto the driveway you glanced back to give a final reassurance. Before you could do so, however, you heard a shrill “Wait!” from within the house that had both of you looking around in confusion. Ethan came charging down the stairs a few moments later, face flushed red with exertion as he held his hands out to you. “Abby gave me these for luck,” he told you, showing you the tiny wooden toys – a dragon and a llama. “You should take one with you. To help.” <<link 'You accepted the dragon' 'leave'>><<set $Ethan_dragon to true>><</link>> <<link 'You accepted the llama' 'leave'>><<set $Ethan_llama to true>><</link>>

<<if $Ethan_dragon is true>>The tiny wooden dragon was mottled green with red spikes and talons, wings flared and fierce jaws gaping as though ready to breathe its flames. It looked to be hand-painted, probably from a store near to your own home that you knew to sell such things.<<else>>The tiny wooden llama was a fancy looking thing, Bright pink with fluffy-looking wool, and as you squinted at it you were certain it was wearing shades. It looked to be hand-painted, probably from a store near to your own home that you knew to sell such things.<</if>> You gently accepted the small toy from him, closing your fingers gently around it as you gave him an <<if $kids is "chill">>encouraging smile<<else>>acknowledging nod<</if>>, and his mother pulled him back in. You regarded them both for a moment, thinking about what you were setting out to do. Their life would never be the same after this, and there was a part of you that felt that the same would be said of your own. As you made to head back to <<if $travel is "car">>your car<<elseif $travel is "motorbike">>your bike<<else>>the bus stop<</if>>, Abigail’s laptop was heavy in your arms, but this new job weighed even more heavily on your mind. [[End chapter 1|Interlude 1 warnings]]

__''Interlude''__ <<set $suspicion +=1>>Your gasped breaths earned you mouthfuls of cold, stale air as you walked quickly down the steep, uneven passageway. Sinister shadows from torchlight – real flames, not the alchemy prevalent throughout the palace – flickered threateningly over the rough stone walls that echoed each panting breath and unsteady footstep. Your lover’s hand was warm clutched in yours as $Rue_they pulled you along, and you <<if $Soul_touchaverse is false>>wished $Rue_they would slow down enough for you to press yourself in close in search of $Rue_their comfort and body heat<<else>>though you usually might not want that touch, $Rue_they’d been so scared – moreso than you’d ever thought $Rue_them capable of – and you’d needed to feel $Rue_them close<</if>>. Heart pounding violently in your chest in fear, you stumbled, saved from falling only by $Rue_their firm grip on your arm as $Rue_they turned to catch you. $Rue_theycap paused for only a moment, dark eyes scanning over your exhausted form to ensure you hadn’t been harmed before $Rue_they gently tugged you upright and continued on – though at least not at such a rapid pace as before. You were beside $Rue_them now, rather than being tugged along behind, and $Rue_they offered you far more glances to ensure you were all right. You had no idea where you were. Seemingly in some sort of tunnel system carved into the underground of the Sovereign’s palace – an escape route for the nobility, at a guess. Deep below the ground and still sloping steeply downhill. Each step you took the air turned colder and colder until you had to use your free hand to pull your clothes more securely around yourself. “I’m so sorry, $Soul_name,” your partner told you, giving your hand a gentle squeeze as $Rue_they brought your knuckles to $Rue_their lips. “I don’t know why we were summoned down here, but it was not the sort that we could refuse.” <<if $Soul_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "'//So long as you make it up to me later,//' you tease, hoping to ease the tension a little.">><<link '$LinkText' 'tease'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "'//Why the secrecy?//' you pleaded, trying to blink back the panicked tears that welled up in your eyes. '//What's happening?//'">><<link '$LinkText' 'plead'>><</link>><<else>><<link '"So long as you make it up to me later," you tease, hoping to ease the tension a little.' 'tease'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "\"Why the secrecy?\" you pleaded, trying to blink back the panicked tears that welled up in your eyes. \"What's happening?\"">><<link '$LinkText' 'plead'>><</link>><</if>>

<<if $Soul_sex is "allo">><<set $LinkText to "innuendo">><<else>><<set $LinkText to "affection">><</if>><<if $Soul_mute is true>>It was tricky to get the signs out under the circumstances, but your beloved had never made you feel less than for your inability to speak, never made you feel as though you were unworthy of being listened to. And it was clear $Rue_they had no intention of changing that now. $Rue_theycap watched your hands intently, despite that it would have been more advisable for $Rue_them to watch where $Rue_they was going.<</if>> <<if $Soul_flirt is "bold">>You didn’t know $Rue_their face through the haze of forgotten memories but somehow you knew the smirk that would be flitting across $Rue_their lips at your suggestion. “I fully intend to do so, my z’reia,” $Rue_they promised, voice heavy with $LinkText, and you most definitely believed $Rue_them.<<else>>You could feel $Rue_their surprise at the uncharacteristic innuendo in your words, though you could feel the pleasure $Rue_they took in your sudden boldness in the way $Rue_they squeezed your hand encouragingly. “You know I will always take care of you, my z’reia,” $Rue_they promised, voice dripping with such honesty that your breath caught painfully in your lungs.<</if>> Despite the warmth $Rue_their words and presence invoked in your chest, and the warm smile that made butterflies flutter in your stomach, $Rue_they fell silent then. You got the sense you were nearing your destination, and though you wanted to keep up the distraction by talking to $Rue_them you found <<if $Soul_mute is false>>your voice caught in your throat when you tried to speak<<else>>your fingers were trembling to violently to shape into words<</if>>. <<link 'Enveloped by silence, you followed $Rue_them deeper into the darkness' 'darkness'>><</link>>

<<if $Soul_mute is true>>It was tricky to get the signs out under the circumstances, but your beloved had never made you feel less than for your inability to speak, never made you feel as though you were unworthy of being listened to. And it was clear $Rue_they had no intention of changing that now. $Rue_theycap watched your hands intently, despite that it would have been more advisable for $Rue_them to watch where $Rue_they was going.<</if>> $Rue_theycap looked round at you, and you didn’t know $Rue_their face through the haze of forgotten memories but somehow you knew the way $Rue_their brow furrowed in concern, $Rue_their worry emanating from $Rue_them though you were unsure if it was for you or the situation in general. But then $Rue_they turned away without answering, and you felt a dreadful chill pass through your body. $Rue_theycap would //never// go without reassuring your fears in such a way, unless… $Rue_theycap didn’t know. Somehow that thought was more terrifying to you than any of the scenarios you’d been imagining thus far – at least in those $Rue_they knew what was happening, had a plan to protect you. $Rue_theycap squeezed your hand in promise – no matter what was to happen, $Rue_they would remain by your side. You wouldn’t be left alone. Sensing that you were nearing your destination you wanted to question $Rue_them more, to have some form of warning of what was to happen. But you found that <<if $Soul_mute is false>>your voice caught in your throat when you tried to speak<<else>>your fingers were trembling to violently to shape into words<</if>>. <<link 'Enveloped by silence, you followed $Rue_them deeper into the darkness' 'darkness'>><</link>>

You hurried forward by $Rue_their side, trying not to allow your anxieties the opportunity to get the better of you. Attempting to get your panicked, fatigued breaths under control, you were caught off-guard when your rapid pace finally began to slow. Looking up from your poor feet you caught sight of a small group of five guards already looking around to witness your arrival. They parted like the sea to make a path for the sixth figure behind them and – //Gods//. There stood the Sovereign herself. Your companion hesitated, $Rue_their certain steps suddenly stumbling momentarily as $Rue_their grip tightened almost painfully on your hand. $Rue_theycap hadn’t expected this any more than you had – and it was also clear that $Rue_they weren’t comfortable with any of this. The Sovereign was a tall woman, at least a head taller than her guards though perhaps an inch shorter than your beloved. Dressed in long, rich red robes with draping sleeves that trailed along the ground, her personal guards bowed deeply to her as she passed them, though you knew by their grips on their weapons that their attention was on you even if their eyes were currently on the ground. You had heard rumours that she was a very beautiful woman, though those weren’t rumours that you could personally verify. Traditionally, any ruling Sovereign wore a veil whenever in the presence of outsiders, so you would never knowingly see her face. You could only guess as to the features that lay hidden behind the opaque fabric. “Your Eminence.” Your companion released your hand as $Rue_they bowed deeply to $Rue_their ruler, crossing $Rue_their arms across $Rue_their chest. You quickly imitated $Rue_them, staring at the floor, goosebumps trailing over your arms as you felt her scrutiny. “Why have we been summoned here?” The Sovereign tilted her head in acknowledgement of $Rue_their question, but somehow even through the veil you could feel that her gaze was fixed on you, never once straying to your lover. You didn’t know what you had done to bring yourself to her attention in such a manner, but you were certain that you wanted nothing less. <<link '"Allow me to show you."' 'show'>><</link>>

The Sovereign’s robes made no sound along the ground as she stepped aside, her guards also stepping back against the walls to allow you and your companion an unhindered view down the tunnel. Your wide-eyed stare was fixed on the Sovereign as you straightened only after your partner did, marvelling at how she seemed to glide even on such terrain as you now found yourself- -right up until the moment your eyes landed on what – who? – she and her guards had been concealing behind them. A corpse? It took you a moment to recognise them as something that might once have been a human-adjacent being; if not for the position of their body, you may not have guessed so quickly. They were frozen on their knees, sitting back on their heels, hands raised to their chest as though appealing to somebody, what was left of their face turned towards the ceiling in an expression of terror. Dark, empty eye sockets and a wide, gaping maw, skin that looked as though it had already began decomposing – brown and wrinkled and stretched tight over bones clearly visible where they weren’t hidden beneath tattered clothing. And the //smell//. You were no stranger to the battlefield, knew the putrid scent of the dead, but this was beyond what you had experienced before. Unhindered by the scent of lavender that wafted from your partner’s clothes, it permeated your senses until you could taste the vile odour of decay, bile rising in your throat. And all the while, the Sovereign’s eyes on you, scrutinising your every reaction. <<link 'You stared unflinching at the corpse.' 'unbothered'>><<set $suspicion +=1>><</link>> <<link 'You shuddered, averting your gaze.' 'shudder'>><</link>> <<link 'You flinched but tried to hide your reaction.' 'flinch'>><<set $suspicion +=1>><</link>> <<link 'You gasped, clamping a hand over your mouth.' 'gasp'>><</link>> <<link 'You gagged, clasping a hand over your mouth and turning away.' 'gag'>><<set $suspicion -=1>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "You couldn't help it. You turned away and emptied the contents of your stomach along the edge of the tunnel.">><<link '$LinkText' 'vomit'>><<set $suspicion -=1>><</link>>

You’d seen plenty of death on the battlefield, had witnessed your village burn – this may have been new, but the horrors that walked hand in hand with Death came in familiar forms. You merely narrowed your eyes as you stared at the body, thoughts racing as your brain tried to fill in the blanks. It made sense that you had been brought here now – this was no natural death, and outsiders were seldom welcomed within the Empire’s walls. The insular people would of course look to you as their first suspect in such an event. That was natural, though you deeply hoped you were wrong. That the Sovereign wouldn’t place the blame on you purely due to your status. You didn’t dare approach the body, choosing to simply step back out of the way as your companion stepped forward, expression inscrutable as $Rue_they knelt down beside the body. $Rue_theycap leaned over them, hands hovering without touching. “They were an outsider,” $Rue_they announced, eyes flickering briefly over to you. You looked at $Rue_them in surprise, but you could see now what $Rue_they meant. The ripped clothes they wore were clearly not in the style of the Empire. This changed things – hopefully for the better, insofar as your own circumstances were concerned. You couldn’t help the glance you cast towards the Sovereign, wondering what she was thinking regarding the whole affair. There was no doubt in your mind that her attention was still focused entirely on you – her gaze made your insides squirm unpleasantly and the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. She suspected you, that much was clear. Just as you had thought. It was enough cause for the fear to run down your spine despite that you had seen it coming. So much tension between the Empire and those from outside of its walls, there had never really been another way this would play out. <<link '"The body has been moved?"' 'moved'>><</link>>

The shudder that passed through your body was involuntary. You’d seen plenty of death on the battlefield, had witnessed your village burn – but this was new. This was a death your mind couldn’t explain, one that twisted your insides in fear and panic until you couldn’t help but look away, the terror of their expression ingrained on the insides of your eyelids. Had they brought you here as a suspect? It would make sense; this was no natural death, and outsiders were seldom welcome within the Empire’s walls. You hoped the Sovereign wouldn’t lay the blame at your feet based purely upon your status, but you knew you would draw the blame of the people. You couldn’t have made yourself approach the body if you tried, so you simply chose to step back out of the way as your companion stepped forward, expression inscrutable as $Rue_they knelt down beside the body. $Rue_theycap leaned over them, hands hovering without touching. “They were an outsider,” $Rue_they announced, eyes flickering briefly over to you. You looked at $Rue_them in surprise, but you could see now as you forced yourself to look to the corpse what $Rue_they meant. The ripped clothes they wore were clearly not in the style of the Empire. This would change things, though you didn’t know what it might mean for you. You glanced briefly towards the Sovereign, wondering what she was thinking regarding the whole affair. There was no doubt in your mind that her attention was still focused entirely on you – her gaze made your insides squirm unpleasantly and the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. She suspected you, that much was clear. Just as you had thought. It was enough cause for the fear to run down your spine despite that you had seen it coming. So much tension between the Empire and those from outside of its walls, there had never really been another way this would play out. <<link '"The body has been moved?"' 'moved'>><</link>>

Your flinch at the sight was involuntary. You’d seen plenty of death on the battlefield, had witnessed your village burn – but this was new. Your thoughts raced as your brain tried to fill in the blanks, schooling your expression in the hope the Sovereign would draw no suspicion from your reaction. It made sense that you had been brought here now – this was no natural death, and outsiders were seldom welcomed within the Empire’s walls. The insular people would of course look to you as their first suspect in such an event. That was natural, though you deeply hoped you were wrong. That the Sovereign wouldn’t place the blame on you purely due to your status. You didn’t dare approach the body, choosing to simply step back out of the way as your companion stepped forward, expression inscrutable as $Rue_they stepped forward to kneel beside the body. $Rue_theycap leaned over them, hands hovering without touching. “They were an outsider,” $Rue_they announced, eyes flickering briefly over to you. You looked at $Rue_them in surprise, but you could see now what $Rue_they meant. The ripped clothes they wore were clearly not in the style of the Empire. This changed things – hopefully for the better, insofar as your own circumstances were concerned. You couldn’t help the glance you cast towards the Sovereign, wondering what she was thinking regarding the whole affair. There was no doubt in your mind that her attention was still focused entirely on you – her gaze made your insides squirm unpleasantly and the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. She suspected you, that much was clear. Just as you had thought. It was enough cause for the fear to run down your spine despite that you had seen it coming. So much tension between the Empire and those from outside of its walls, there had never really been another way this would play out. <<link '"The body has been moved?"' 'moved'>><</link>>

The shudder that escaped your lips was involuntary, and you quickly clamped a hand over your mouth to hide it. You’d seen plenty of death on the battlefield, had witnessed your village burn – but this was new. This was a death your mind couldn’t explain, one that twisted your insides in fear and panic until your hands were shaking uncontrollably, the terror of their expression ingrained on the insides of your eyelids. Had they brought you here as a suspect? It would make sense; this was no natural death, and outsiders were seldom welcome within the Empire’s walls. You hoped the Sovereign wouldn’t lay the blame at your feet based purely upon your status, but you knew you would draw the blame of the people. You couldn’t have made yourself approach the body if you tried, so you simply chose to step back out of the way as your companion stepped forward, expression inscrutable as $Rue_they knelt down beside the body. $Rue_theycap leaned over them, hands hovering without touching. “They were an outsider,” $Rue_they announced, eyes flickering briefly over to you. You looked at $Rue_them in surprise, but you could see now as you forced yourself to look to the corpse what $Rue_they meant. The ripped clothes they wore were clearly not in the style of the Empire. This would change things, though you didn’t know what it might mean for you. You glanced briefly towards the Sovereign, wondering what she was thinking regarding the whole affair. There was no doubt in your mind that her attention was still focused entirely on you – her gaze made your insides squirm unpleasantly and the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. She suspected you, that much was clear. Just as you had thought. It was enough cause for the fear to run down your spine despite that you had seen it coming. So much tension between the Empire and those from outside of its walls, there had never really been another way this would play out. <<link '"The body has been moved?"' 'moved'>><</link>>

You couldn’t help it, your hands clamping over your mouth in an attempt to hold back the burning in your throat. You wouldn’t throw up in front of the Sovereign and her guards – you //couldn’t//. You’d seen plenty of death on the battlefield, had witnessed your village burn – but this was beyond anything you had experienced before. Your insides twisted in fear and panic until you had to turn your whole body away lest present company come to see what you’d eaten that day, the terror of their expression ingrained on the insides of your eyelids as your eyes welled with tears. They’d brought you here as a suspect, hadn’t they? You panicked at the thought, breaths coming thick and fast in your fear. Your status as an outsider would place you squarely as the suspect of the people, and the Sovereign would have no choice but to have you executed regardless of what she herself believed. You were only vaguely aware as your companion stepped forward to approach the body, expression inscrutable as $Rue_they knelt down beside them. $Rue_theycap leaned over them, hands hovering without touching. “They were an outsider,” $Rue_they announced, eyes flickering briefly over to you and you couldn’t help how your body straightened in surprise, meeting $Rue_their gaze. You could see it now, in their clothing – not the style of those who lived within the Empire’s walls. That would change things, you had no doubt – though you had no idea how. You risked a glance towards the Sovereign, wondering what she was thinking regarding the whole affair. There was no doubt in your mind that her attention was still focused entirely on you – her gaze made your insides squirm unpleasantly and the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. She suspected you, that much was clear, and you fidgeted anxiously as your blood ran cold. There was no other way this could have ended, and yet you couldn’t shake the chill from your system. <<link '"The body has been moved?"' 'moved'>><</link>>

You barely made it, stumbling away from the corpse and from your audience to fall heavily against the rough-hewn wall of the tunnel. Your body burned as your recent meal made a reappearance, eyes watering with the intensity as your stomach convulsed. You’d seen plenty of death on the battlefield, had witnessed your village burn – but this was beyond anything you had experienced before. Your now empty stomach twisted in fear and panic so overwhelming you barely had mind to be embarrassed as you wiped your mouth, waving your lover away as $Rue_they hovered over you in concern. The expression of terror was ingrained on the insides of your eyelids as your whole body shivered. They’d brought you here as a suspect, hadn’t they? You panicked at the thought, breaths coming thick and fast in your fear. Your status as an outsider would place you squarely as the suspect of the people, and the Sovereign would have no choice but to have you executed regardless of what she herself believed. Your companion gazed at you in worry before seeming to accept that $Rue_their hovering was unwanted, as $Rue_they turned away to move instead towards the corpse, kneeling beside them. $Rue_theycap leaned over them, hands hovering without touching. “They were an outsider,” $Rue_they announced, eyes flickering briefly over to you and you couldn’t help how your body straightened in surprise, meeting $Rue_their gaze. You could see it now, in their clothing – not the style of those who lived within the Empire’s walls. That would change things, you had no doubt – though you had no idea how. You risked a glance towards the Sovereign, wondering what she was thinking regarding the whole affair. There was no doubt in your mind that her attention was still focused entirely on you – her gaze made your insides squirm unpleasantly and the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. She suspected you, that much was clear, and you fidgeted anxiously as your blood ran cold. There was no other way this could have ended, and yet you couldn’t shake the chill from your system. <<link '"The body has been moved?"' 'moved'>><</link>>

The question was enough to draw your attention back to the inspection of the corpse, though you were careful to keep your attention on your partner rather than the body itself. And to your relief, the Sovereign finally paused her fixation on you in order to meet $Rue_their gaze. “It was,” she responded simply. “One of our patrols found it near the closest outsider settlement. It couldn’t be left there.” $Rue_theycap straightened from $Rue_their place near the corpse, body tense, and as $Rue_they stepped closer to you, you couldn’t help but gravitate towards $Rue_them in turn. The warmth of $Rue_their body so close to yours was particularly soothing in the cold tunnel, despite $Rue_their visible alarm as $Rue_they looked to $Rue_their ruler. “But this is-“ “Exactly.” <<set $LinkText to "Your eyes darted between the two of them in confusion, not sure what was happening though you weren't ready to ask.">><<link '$LinkText' 'confused'>><</link>> <<link 'You turned away from all of them, hoping to keep out of the conversation.' 'stay out'>><<set $suspicion +=1>><</link>> <<if $Soul_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "'//What's going on?//' You just asked them outright.">><<link '$LinkText' 'ask'>><</link>><<else>><<set $LinkText to "\"What's going on?\" You just asked them outright.">><<link '$LinkText' 'ask'>><</link>><</if>>

<<if $arrest is "dungeon">>Your mind fixated on the word ‘dungeon’ and for a terrifying moment your heart almost stopped. Then you realised the guards were approaching you and all you knew was that you had to get //out//. You wouldn’t receive a fair trial, not like this. Not when the people of the Empire saw you as no more than an outsider, a threat to be removed. You backed away from the guards, the tunnels cold at your back, blood running cold as you realised you had little option for escape. Where would you go, even if you could outrun them? The guards pushed forward, visibly readying themselves for a fight only for your lover to wave them away, plucking the manacles from their hands and stepping forward $Rue_themself. “It’s all right, my z’reia,” $Rue_they whispered softly, and you saw the guards fidget in uncertainty at the term of affection as $Rue_they slowly approached. “I promise you, we will sort this out. I will never allow anyone to harm you.” $Rue_theycap held the manacles out to you, expression imploring, and you stared at $Rue_them before you finally… <<link 'Relented. Better $Rue_them, like this, than the alternative.' 'relent'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "Tried to pull away. You couldn't do it. Not like this.">><<link '$LinkText' 'struggle 2'>><<set $suspicion +=1>><</link>><<elseif $arrest is "guards">>It shouldn’t have scared you as much as it did. You weren’t going to be locked in the dungeon, that should have been a comforting thought, but all you could think was that house arrest was an attempt to get you to let your guard down, to relax and walk right into their trap. You needed to get //out//. You wouldn’t receive a fair trial, and being allowed to stay free of the dungeon was simply an attempt to keep you blind to that. How could you be treated fairly, when the people of the Empire saw you as no more than an outsider? A threat to be removed? You backed away from your lover, the tunnels chill at your back, blood running cold as you realised you had little option for escape. Where would you go, even if you could outrun them? The guards were growing restless, clearly sensing your intentions only for your partner to wave them away, the manacles held loosely in $Rue_their hands as $Rue_they showed you $Rue_their palms in an attempt to placate you. “It’s all right, my z’reia,” $Rue_they whispered softly, and you saw the guards fidget in uncertainty at the term of affection as $Rue_they slowly approached. “I promise you, we will sort this out. I will never allow anyone to harm you.” $Rue_theycap held the manacles out to you, expression imploring, and you stared at $Rue_them before you finally… <<link 'Relented. Better $Rue_them, like this, than the alternative.' 'relent'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "Tried to pull away. You couldn't do it. Not like this.">><<link '$LinkText' 'struggle 2'>><<set $suspicion +=1>><</link>><<else>>You couldn’t help the visceral reaction your body had to seeing the chains, your need to escape. She’d said she thought you were //innocent//, why would she wrap you in chains?! You needed to get //out//. You were beginning to doubt that you would get a fair trial, and maybe the house arrest over putting you in the dungeons was simply an attempt to blind you to that fact. How could you be treated fairly, when the people of the Empire saw you as no more than an outsider? A threat to be removed? You backed away from your lover, the tunnels chill at your back, blood running cold as you realised you had little option for escape. Where would you go, even if you could outrun them? The guards were growing restless, clearly sensing your intentions only for your partner to wave them away, the manacles held loosely in $Rue_their hands as $Rue_they showed you $Rue_their palms in an attempt to placate you. “It’s all right, my z’reia,” $Rue_they whispered softly, and you saw the guards fidget in uncertainty at the term of affection. “I promise you, this is just to ensure you remain unharmed. I will never allow anyone to hurt you.” $Rue_theycap held the manacles out to you, expression imploring, and you stared at $Rue_them before you finally… <<link 'Relented. Better $Rue_them, like this, than the alternative.' 'relent'>><</link>> <<set $LinkText to "Tried to pull away. You couldn't do it. Not like this.">><<link '$LinkText' 'struggle 2'>><<set $suspicion +=1>><</link>><</if>>

<<if $Soul_mute is true>><<set $LinkText to "attempts to sign went ignored">><<else>><<set $LinkText to "protests fell on deaf ears">><</if>><<if $arrest is "dungeon">>The guards were quick to respond as you stumbled away, and this time there was no stopping them. One grasped your arm with little regard for your comfort as the other stepped forward to press the manacles around your wrists. Your lover could only watch helplessly as you struggled against their grasp, and the Sovereign let out a long sigh. “Take $Soul_them away,” she ordered firmly, and your heart pounded in your chest as the guards began to drag you less-than-gently away from the group. Your $LinkText as you were dragged away, and you wondered if they would ever matter to anyone again.<<elseif $arrest is "guards">>The guards were quick to respond as you stumbled away, and this time there was no stopping them. One grasped your arm with little regard for your comfort as the other stepped forward to press the manacles around your wrists. Your lover could only watch helplessly as you struggled against their grasp, and the Sovereign let out a long sigh. “The dungeons it is,” she ordered firmly, and your heart pounded in your chest as the guards began to drag you less-than-gently away from the group. Your $LinkText as you were dragged away, and you wondered if they would ever matter to anyone again.<<else>>The guards were quick to respond as you stumbled away, and this time there was no stopping them. One grasped your arm with little regard for your comfort as the other stepped forward to press the manacles around your wrists. Your lover could only watch helplessly as you struggled against their grasp, and the Sovereign let out a long sigh. “The dungeons it is,” she ordered firmly, and your heart pounded in your chest as the guards began to drag you less-than-gently away from the group. Your $LinkText as you were dragged away, and you wondered if they would ever matter to anyone again.<</if>> [[End interlude|end]]

<<if $arrest is "dungeon">>Your whole body was shaking as the guards approached you, but you knew better than to make an attempt at an escape. Even if you could outrun them, where would you go? The empty tunnel at your back led only back to the palace and a people who wouldn’t blink before selling you back to your execution. Perhaps there remained a chance for mercy if you refused to resist. You could feel the relief emanating from your companion as the guards gently clicked the manacles closed around your wrists and stepped back so that $Rue_they could reach for you. “It’s all right, my z’reia,” $Rue_they whispered softly, and despite allowing the contact you saw the guards fidget in uncertainty at the term of affection. “I promise you, we will sort this out. I will never allow anyone to harm you.” You watched $Rue_them as the guards pulled you away to guide you back down the uncaring cold tunnel, $Rue_their promise of protection was clear but how could you trust it? $Rue_theycap meant it, but even now $Rue_they were helpless to do anything but watch as the guards shepherded you away from the small group. All you felt was fear of what was to become of you as you began the arduous trek back uphill to the palace. Fear that you might not survive what was to come, that you might never get to see the outside world again.<<elseif $arrest is "guards">>Your body was shaking as your lover approached you, and you tried to reassure yourself as your muscles ached to try and escape. The Sovereign doubted your guilt, and confined to $Rue_their quarters you would at least have $Rue_them remain by your side. There was a chance of your innocence being proven, you just had to work with them for now, surely. You could feel the relief emanating from your companion as $Rue_they gently clicked the manacles closed around your wrists, $Rue_their breath warm on your face as $Rue_they stayed close to you. “It’s all right, my z’reia,” $Rue_they whispered softly, and you saw the guards fidget in uncertainty at the term of affection. “I promise you, we will sort this out. I will never allow anyone to harm you.” $Rue_theycap hung close to you as the guards gently prompted you to head back down the cold tunnel, beginning the arduous trek back uphill to the palace. $Rue_theycap meant $Rue_their words, fully intended to protect you. For now, you felt safe remaining by $Rue_their side, and could only hope you would continue to be allowed to do so.<<else>>Your hands were shaking, and yet you didn’t hesitate as you held them out for the manacles to be wrapped around your wrists. The Sovereign was certain of your innocence, there was no need to resist. You would trust her, trust your lover, to guide you through this intact. You could feel the relief emanating from your companion as $Rue_they gently clicked the manacles closed around your wrists, $Rue_their breath warm on your face as $Rue_they stayed close to you. “It’s all right, my z’reia,” $Rue_they whispered softly, and you saw the guards fidget in uncertainty at the term of affection. “I promise you, this is just to ensure you remain unharmed. I will never allow anyone to hurt you.” $Rue_theycap hung close to you as the guards gently prompted you to head back down the cold tunnel, beginning the arduous trek back uphill to the palace. $Rue_theycap meant $Rue_their words, fully intended to protect you. For now, you felt safe with $Rue_them. Confident that everything would be sorted out. You could only hope the future would prove you’d done the right thing.<</if>> [[End interlude|end]]

__''Content warnings''__ The following interlude will include: *depiction of a corpse *vomit <<link 'proceed' 'Interlude 1'>><</link>>

You kept your head down and turned away from the small group, hoping to keep out of the way and out of their notice. Despite your best efforts, however, you felt the moment the Sovereign’s stare returned to you. It was clear your attempts to avoid her attention had seemingly had the opposite effect, as she was once more focused entirely on you. Despite her interest in you, it was clear she had no intention of actually giving you an explanation for their discussion. Instead, she simply stared at you meaningfully as you tried your utmost to ignore what conversations were happening around you, to avoid looking up and meeting her gaze. “We need to decide what to do with $Soul_them.” <<if $suspicion is 0>><<link 'Your attention snapped back to her immediately.' 'house arrest'>><<set $arrest to "house">><</link>> <<elseif $suspicion is 1>><<link 'Your attention snapped back to her immediately.' 'guards'>><<set $arrest to "guards">><</link>><<elseif $suspicion is 2>><<link 'Your attention snapped back to her immediately.' 'guards'>><<set $arrest to "guards">><</link>> <<else>><<link 'Your attention snapped back to her immediately.' 'dungeon'>><<set $arrest to "dungeon">><</link>><</if>>

<<if $suspicion is 0>>The Sovereign returned her attention to you and tilted her head thoughtfully as you looked between everyone in the hope of an explanation. It took longer than you’d thought for her to respond to your confusion, and to your surprise she seemed almost conflicted. “That can be explained to you later,” she told you finally. “For now, we need to focus on next steps.”<<elseif $suspicion is 1>>The Sovereign returned her attention to you and tilted her head thoughtfully as you looked between everyone in the hope of an explanation. It took longer than you’d thought for her to respond to your confusion, and to your surprise she seemed almost conflicted. “That can be explained to you later,” she told you finally. “For now, we need to focus on next steps.”<<else>>The Sovereign returned to staring at you as you looked between everyone in the hope that they might take pity on you and respond to your confusion with an answer. It became clear under her intense scrutiny, however, that she had no intention of giving you an answer, and you wriggled uncomfortably under her gaze until she was sure you’d been successfully intimidated away from any attempt you might make to interrupt.<</if>> She stared at you you meaningfully as you watched everyone with panicked eyes, $fidget anxiously. “We need to decide what to do with you.” <<if $suspicion is 0>><<link 'Your attention snapped back to her immediately.' 'house arrest'>><<set $arrest to "house">><</link>> <<elseif $suspicion is 1>><<link 'Your attention snapped back to her immediately.' 'guards'>><<set $arrest to "guards">><</link>><<elseif $suspicion is 2>><<link 'Your attention snapped back to her immediately.' 'guards'>><<set $arrest to "guards">><</link>> <<else>><<link 'Your attention snapped back to her immediately.' 'dungeon'>><<set $arrest to "dungeon">><</link>><</if>>

The Sovereign’s attention focused on you once more, apparently not having expected you to actually say anything. <<if $suspicion is 0>>She tilted her head thoughtfully as she watched you, and it took longer than you’d thought it might for her to respond to your question. To your surprise, she seemed to be almost conflicted as she finally spoke. “That can be explained to you later,” she told you finally. “For now, we need to focus on next steps.”<<elseif $suspicion is 1>>She tilted her head thoughtfully as she watched you, and it took longer than you’d thought it might for her to respond to your question. To your surprise, she seemed to be almost conflicted as she finally spoke. “That can be explained to you later,” she told you finally. “For now, we need to focus on next steps.”<<else>>It was clear, however, that she didn’t actually intend to give an answer to your question, and you wriggled uncomfortably under her gaze until she was sure you’d been successfully intimidated away from any further attempt you might make to interrupt.<</if>> She stared at you meaningfully as you watched everyone with panicked eyes, $fidget anxiously. “We need to decide what to do with you.” <<if $suspicion is 0>><<link 'Your attention snapped back to her immediately.' 'house arrest'>><<set $arrest to "house">><</link>> <<elseif $suspicion is 1>><<link 'Your attention snapped back to her immediately.' 'guards'>><<set $arrest to "guards">><</link>><<elseif $suspicion is 2>><<link 'Your attention snapped back to her immediately.' 'guards'>><<set $arrest to "guards">><</link>> <<else>><<link 'Your attention snapped back to her immediately.' 'dungeon'>><<set $arrest to "dungeon">><</link>><</if>>

__''End of current demo''__ Thank you for reading! Please visit my Tumblr for further updates, and I hope to see you here again soon! -Robin

“I don’t think you did this.” There was no hesitation in the Sovereign’s voice when she spoke, no doubt in her decision, and you felt your shoulders sag in relief. The guards stepped back, and you knew that even if they disagreed with her judgement they wouldn’t argue. She believed that you were innocent, and there would be no changing her mind. No making her doubt her certainty. Your companion’s shoulders sagged in relief, and $Rue_they shot a smile your way upon hearing her words, before turning to bow deeply to $Rue_their ruler. “Thank you for your judgement, Your Eminence.” She nodded briefly in acknowledgement, though you could feel her gaze was still fixed on you. “That said, it will take longer to reassure the People of this. They know a murder has been committed, if not the details. They already mistrust you and will hold you responsible.” You felt your breath quicken at her words, but she seemed to sense your panic as she raised a hand to hold your attention. “I will not allow you to be harmed, $Soul_name. But I will ask that you remain under house arrest for a short while. Until the People can be as certain as I am.” One of the guards stepped forward to meet your beloved, a pair of manacles already in her hand. $Rue_theycap accepted them solemnly and turned to you. <<link 'You struggled.' 'struggle 1'>><<set $suspicion +=1>><</link>> <<link 'You accepted your fate.' 'accept your fate'>><</link>>

The Sovereign seemed to take a long time considering you before she finally came to a decision. When she did speak, her voice was uncharacteristically hesitant. “Put $Soul_them in the dungeon.” The guards stepped in immediately to follow the orders, despite the doubt you hoped you could make out in her voice. “Eminence please-“ perhaps your companion could detect her uncertainty as well, or perhaps $Rue_they were simply desperate. The Sovereign’s gaze swept over to $Rue_them and $Rue_they didn’t hesitate, $Rue_their focus entirely on her. “Please, Your Eminence, let me vouch for $Soul_them.” The Sovereign stared at $Rue_them for a long while before glancing back at you, apparently considering, and the whole room seemed to hold its breath. "$Soul_theycap will be your responsibility,” she decided finally, and the guards immediately stepped back from their positions around you. “$Soul_name will remain under house arrest in your quarters. I will have guards posted outside.” She continued to stare at $Rue_them, and even without her gaze fixed on you, you felt small under her scrutiny. “No one else is to be harmed. It will be on your head.” $Rue_theycap nodded solemnly, and the guards handed $Rue_them the manacles $Rue_they was to wrap around your wrists. <<link 'You struggled.' 'struggle 1'>><<set $suspicion +=1>><</link>> <<link 'You accepted your fate.' 'accept your fate'>><</link>>

“Put $Soul_them in the dungeon.” There was no hesitation in the Sovereign’s voice when she spoke, no doubt in her decision, and you felt your blood run cold. As you’d feared, she believed that you were responsible, and there would be no changing her mind. No making her doubt her certainty. It made sense, considering her position. She was a woman who couldn’t afford doubt. “Eminence please-“ your companion was clearly still optimistic – or desperate – enough to try and argue the point, but the guards that flanked their Sovereign readied their weapons when $Rue_they stepped forward to plead $Rue_their case. $Rue_theycap paused, eyes trailing over the weapons expressionlessly before focusing entirely on $Rue_their ruler. “Please, Your Eminence, let me vouch for $Soul_them. $Soul_theycap will be my responsibility, no one else will be hurt.” “$Soul_theycap <<if $Soul_they is "they">>were<<else>>was<</if>> already supposed to be //your responsibility.//” The Sovereign’s tone was scathing and mocking and $Rue_they quickly fell silent. “This whole event has me questioning your judgement. You don’t want my ire turned on you further.” Your beloved almost shrunk into $Rue_themself at her words, desperate eyes landing on you. $Rue_theycap had no choice but to watch helplessly as the guards, apparently satisfied that $Rue_they’d been placated, stepped forward to wrap the manacles around your wrists. <<link 'You struggled.' 'struggle 1'>><<set $suspicion +=1>><</link>> <<link 'You accepted your fate.' 'accept your fate'>><</link>>

<<if $Soul_touchaverse is false>><<set $LinkText to "reached for you, gently tracing your jaw">><<else>><<set $LinkText to "watched you, eyes longingly scanning your face">><</if>><<if $arrest is "dungeon">>$Rue_theycap stepped forward again as you gave in, relief visible on $Rue_their face. Your hands were shaking as you held them out to your lover. The manacles were cold against your wrists, and you flinched as they clicked closed around them. Your partner $LinkText. $Rue_theircap promise of protection was clear, but you weren’t sure if you could believe it. $Rue_theycap meant it, but even now $Rue_they was helpless to do anything but watch as the guards shepherded you away from the small group. All you felt was fear of what was to become of you as you began the arduous trek back uphill to the palace. Fear that you might not survive what was to come, that you might never get to see the outside world again.<<elseif $arrest is "guards">>$Rue_theycap stepped forward again as you gave in, relief visible on $Rue_their face. Your hands were shaking as you held them out to your partner. The manacles were cold against your wrists, and you flinched as they clicked closed around $Rue_them. Your lover $LinkText. $Rue_theircap promise of protection was clear. $Rue_theycap meant $Rue_their words, fully intended to protect you. For now, $Rue_they hung close to you as the guards gently prompted you to head back down the cold tunnel, beginning the arduous trek back uphill to the palace. You felt safe remaining by $Rue_their side, and could only hope you would continue to be allowed to do so.<<else>>$Rue_theycap stepped forward again as you gave in, relief visible on $Rue_their face. Your hands were shaking as you held them out to your partner. The manacles were cold against your wrists, and you flinched as they clicked closed around them. Your lover $LinkText. $Rue_theircap promise of protection was clear. $Rue_theycap meant $Rue_their words, fully intended to protect you. For now, $Rue_they hung close to you as the guards gently prompted you to head back down the cold tunnel, beginning the arduous trek back uphill to the palace. You felt safe with $Rue_them. Confident that everything would be sorted out. You could only hope the future would prove you’d done the right thing.<</if>> [[End interlude|end]]