(transition:"fade-left")[You always forget how much |b1>[blood] you have.]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[It seeps from your corpse as it lies in front of you, crumpled into a heap. (text-colour:red)[Red], like human blood, but with the telltale gasoline shimmer that |b2>[marks] it as your own.]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[Goodness, it’s getting into your shoes. God leather tanned with a human soul, completely ruined. Some of it’s even on the cuffs of your trousers. Your tailor is going to throw a fit if you |b3>[survive] long enough to see xir again]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[First things first. You need to get rid of the body. Not that what happened is technically illegal, and not that what happened is technically your fault. But you did it ''here'', where divine auspices reign, so they’ll find some way to punish you if you get caught. ''(text-colour:yellow)[(link-goto:"Heaven","Title")]'' always does. ]]Note: This story focuses heavily on body dysphoria, self-harm/suicidal thinking and dead bodies, including blood and mutilation of a corpse. Reader discretion advised.
[[> Continue->A1-1]](text-size:2)[(align:"=><=")[Love and Death In the Shadow of the Demiurge]]
(text-size:1.5)[(align:"=><=")[by Yarrun]](set: $tags to (a:))
(align:"=><=")[ [[> Continue->A1-2]] ](transition:"fade-left")[(align:"=><=")[(text-size:2)[Act 1: How To Get Rid of a Body]]
Your body continues to lie crumpled on the floor. How are we taking care of this?
[[> Chop up the body->A1-21]]
[[> Smuggle it out with a rug->A1-22]]
[[> Burn it in the fireplace->A1-23]]](transition:"fade-left")[You scan the penthouse for anything good at sawing bone. You find swords. Display swords on the walls. Battle swords in the umbrella stand. There’s a tiny sword hung up in the kitchen that, judging by the placement, is used to slice bread. All relatively dainty affairs, swords for duels or ballroom dances, careful stabs and brisk slashes. Nothing that can |b1>[''chop''].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[See, this wouldn’t have happened if you stuck to dating executioners and butchers. They always have a good axe or cleaver somewhere. Always. But no, you had to go home with (text-style:"smear")[a prince].
[[Are you going to help or not?->A1-211]]]] (transition:"fade-left")[Ah, that’s clever. Roast the body, sift whatever doesn’t |b1>[burn] into the garbage.]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[You’ll have to find something that can actually burn you though. Most flames can lick at your flesh for days without leaving a scratch. You’ll have to find something that’s flammable and also ''|b2>[hates]'' you.]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[Luckily, this //is// heaven, so you might have something to work with. You scan the penthouse for something alcoholic, though you suspect it might be in vain. (text-style:"smear")[The prince] who owns this place never drinks because to dull a single moment of heaven would be a sin.(text-style:"smear")[ The prince] told you this personally at some point between the two of you arriving here and you letting (text-style:"smear")[the prince] |b3>[take your pants off].]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[Only the Demiurge knows why you //let// (text-style:"smear")[the prince] take your pants off.
[[...So is there booze or not?->A1-231]]]](transition:"fade-left")[Doable. Granted, you’ll have to bribe one of the heavenly pigs to take it outside for you. No one of your supposed stature does such menial labor as carrying a rug; it’d draw more suspicion than just dragging |b1>[a corpse] out.]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[You write down a note, tie it to a mote of divinity, and release it out the window, knowing it’ll find its recipient. You have a couple of ‘friends’ amongst the pigs, but Balm of Gilead’s the one you call to fix things like this. It’ll overcharge, but such is the pettiness of |b2>[heavenly pigs].]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[You rummage through the penthouse apartment. Apparently your date from last night is fashionable enough to have different furnishings for every season. (text-style:"smear")[Princes]. Typical. Luckily, (text-style:"smear")[your prince] has some tapestries in storage, so you grab one that won’t be missed until |b3>[next Songstrom].]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[You take one last look at your body as you wrap it up. (text-style:"fidget")[The supernumerary fingers]. (text-style:"fidget")[The broad shoulders]. (text-style:"fidget")[The neck - what’s left of it at least]. Next time will be better, perhaps. |b4>[Next time].]]
(click:?b4)[(transition:"fade-left")[There’s a tap on the window glass. Balm of Gilead waits outside, its wings filthy, its snout clean. It snorts when it sees the completely normal rolled-up tapestry, but it doesn’t chastise you or belittle you as it [[lugs it away->A1-221]], wings flapping at all angles from the strain.]]
(transition:"fade-left")[Right, sorry. There’s a half-empty bottle of cooking sherry in a cabinet. It’s a 199979 Iseult, which is...well, calling the brand expensive would imply that it could be bought. The Iseults only make wine for exclusive holy ceremonies. If you’re a friend of a friend of a shard of the true divinity, the blinding truth that casts all of existence in its shadow, you might be able to get a cheaper bottle as a gift. (text-style:"smear")[This prince] must normally move in higher circles than your own. Either that or (text-style:"smear")[the prince] just values |b1>[alcohol] that little.](set: $tags to $tags + (a:"iseult"))
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[You light the fireplace and start soaking your corpse in the heavenly vintage. You look over it one last time. (text-style:"fidget")[The ingrown toenails]. (text-style:"fidget")[That misshapen neck]. (text-style:"fidget")[The vestigial tail]. So much to improve upon. You drag it over and toss it into the flames. The touch of the flammable divine |b2>[consumes it utterly].]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[You light the fireplace and start soaking your corpse in the heavenly vintage. You look over it one last time. (text-style:"fidget")[The ingrown toenails]. (text-style:"fidget")[That misshapen neck]. (text-style:"fidget")[The vestigial tail]. So much to improve upon. You drag it over and toss it into the flames. The touch of the flammable divine |b3>[consumes it utterly].]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[The worst blasphemy is out of the way. What now?
[[> Clean Up->A2-1]]]](transition:"fade-left")[(align:"=><=")[(text-size:2)[Act 2: Clean Up, Check In, Check Out]]
The body taken care of, you start working on the apartment. (text-style:"smear")[The prince], to both of our surprise, actually has a broom closet with a mop in it. Most heavenly royalty just expect the pigs or the monkey king's children to bring the cleaning equipment up...goodness, how many flights of stairs is it? Eight hundred? Unfortunately, (text-style:"smear")[the prince] is still too posh to actually have bleach, so you'll have to make do with |b1>[soap].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[The floor is all one giant slab of obsidian, to contrast with the ivory ceiling. Most of the apartment is white and black, with a few teal shades and glass statues to serve as accents. A modern style, a giant overblown metaphor for how the divine is separate from what isn't. What it means is that the floor isn't porous, so luckily you can get away with just using |b2>[soap]. The glass ophanim doesn't resist a light cleaning, and the few specks that remain on the coach can be explained away by a divine mind. "Must have been those clumsy pigs again," (text-style:"smear")[the prince] will think before being distracted by some new bauble of heaven.]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[All that's left is you. You check yourself in the bathroom. The shoes are a loss. You take them off, wrap them in toilet paper, and stuff them in your handbag to dispose later. You tear off the bottom of your pants cuffs, knowing that your tailor will literally faint if xe finds out you did so. You'll look odd walking out of the building, but this is heaven. You've mingled with flame personified, wheels of swords, stone heralds of dangers present in their time, as it is in yours. Some nights you're lucky if you walk back with anything besides a smile. Or, depending on how the night went, a defiantly raised |b3>[middle finger].]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[You're in the clear. All you have to is get out of here before (text-style:"smear")[the prince] [[gets back->A2-2]].]] (transition:"fade-left")[//Fine//. You find a cooking mallet. With that and a sword, you can methodically strip the flesh from the bone and then smash the bone apart. It’ll be slow. Devastatingly so. Isn’t this ritual desecration of |b1>[your own corpse] much better than talking about your love life?']
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[You ignore me and get to work. Doing this the slow way means you get to go over everything you hate about this body. (text-style:"fidget")[The second iris in your left eye]. (text-style:"fidget")[The bristles on your arms]. (text-style:"fidget")[The lobster-like claw]. Perhaps next time will be |b2>[better].]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[You wrap up each broken body part in paper towels. You can smuggle them out the building and dispose of them at your leisure. Stuff some down a trash can, toss others into the Lethe. Maybe put some of it into your next stew. You’ve been told that you taste a bit like goat, no matter what form you've taken, what you’ve |b3>[done to yourself].
Hrm. Now I'm feeling peckish.]](set: $tags to $tags + (a:"cannibalism"))
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[The worst blasphemy is out of the way. What now?
[[> Clean Up->A2-1]]]](transition:"fade-left")[After all, that’s my job. (text-style:"rumble")[And I get [[A1-222<-jealous]]].] (transition:"fade-left")[You catch a glimpse of |b1>[yourself] in the mirror. Frizzy black hair cascades down your back, grown long to cover (text-style:"expand","fidget")[the scales] on the back of your neck. Tacky blue nail polish, painted on thick to hide the (text-style:"fidget")[sickly green glow] coming from beneath. You're still bowing your head forward so no one can tell that your nostril hairs are (text-style:"fidget")[ambulatory].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[You wonder how you managed to land (text-style:"smear")[a prince]. The same way I wonder how (text-style:"smear")[a prince] landed you.
[[Stop lying. You know I'm hideous.->A2-21]]
[[Shut it. The prince actually liked me.->A2-22]]
[[Why have you been so bitter today?->A2-23]]]](transition:"fade-left")[No, you're not. The |b1>[corpse] you've draped yourself in is hideous.]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[You are a terrible and beautiful creature who could snap (text-style:"smear")[that prince] in your jaws like a |b2>[twig]. And I truly don't understand why you don't see that.]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[Perhaps you should see it for yourself once more? You've gone through corpse after corpse. You shouldn't forget the thing that lives underneath.
[[Bite me.->A2-211]]
[[...If it will satisfy you.->A2-212]]]](transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"smear")[The prince] is royalty, my dear. Even the 'best' among them are mercurial. And when you feast on the finest meats day after day, a taste of |b1>[mutton pasty] becomes novel.(if:$tags contains "cannibalism")[
Goodness, did I mention food again? I, ah, must have a craving for caprines at the moment. You get my point though.(set: $tags to $tags + (a:"cannibalism 2"))]]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[Do not count on the prince to be able to see your true beauty. Only I can see that. The others aren't |b2>[worthy] of it.]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[Perhaps you should see it for yourself once more? You've gone through corpse after corpse. You shouldn't forget the thing that lives underneath.
[[Bite me.->A2-211]]
[[...If it will satisfy you.->A2-212]]]]
(transition:"fade-left")[Really? Gosh, I can't imagine why I'd be upset. Maybe it's because you, oh light of my eyes, could have gotten caught with your own corpse by |b2>[a prince]. (text-style:"rumble")[A prince].]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[You think you're safe because you've tangled with more dangerous folk, with executioners and mercenaries and the violent underbelly of heaven. //Hah//. The princes are the dangerous ones. They sign the execution orders. They make the big speeches about how it's necessary to make sacrifices in the name of a new future. While you sleep with violent folk, they sleep with the courts and thus decide who lives and |b1>[who dies].]]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[Just...what were you thinking? As the light went out of your eyes with your hands around your neck, how did you think you were going to get out of it?
[[It hurt. I needed it to stop hurting.->A2-231]]
[[Does it matter? We cleaned it up.->A2-232]]]]
(transition:"fade-left")[Then leave! You don't have to be here! What's the point of heaven if you have to keep |b1>[dying] to stay?]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[We can go somewhere else. Do something else. Something |b2>[better].]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[We could do that, couldn't we?.
[[I'm here. I'm staying.->A2-2311]]
[[Why do you care?->A2-2312]]]](transition:"fade-left")[We cleaned it up this time. Next time, your date might come home |b1>[early].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[You're the one who wanted to come to heaven so dearly. Do you want to leave it in shackles? Or in a coffin, a permanent one? Or is your quest for |b2>[apotheosis] looking so grim that you don't care anymore?]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[Don't bother answering. I won't give you the chance to. We should get out of here before things go further off the rails. [[Ahem->A2-3]].]](transition:"fade-left")[You step away from the mirror, grab your stuff and quietly slip out the front door. It's still early as you skulk over to |b1>[the elevators]. A monkey king's child glances at you briefly before returning to their task, mopping up a pale blasphemy from the ceiling.]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[You get to the elevator, slam the button for the bottom floor and wait. It looks like you're getting out scot free. But then the elevator stops on the 777th floor and...
Oh. Oh no.
[[What?->A2-4]]]](transition:"fade-left")[...Fine. I just make sure you know what you're doing. Never mind about //my// |b1>[feelings].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[We should get out of here while [[the going's good->A2-3]].]](transition:"fade-left")[Because it's my job. (text-style:"rumble")[And I get |b1>[jealous]].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[...Ahem. Right, sorry, we should get back on track. [[Never mind my feelings.->A2-3]]]](transition:"fade-left")[This will be good for you. |b1>[Trust me].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[The mirror flickers a bit as you stop lying to yourself, and |b2>[there it is]. (text-colour: "red")[(text-style: "smear")[(text-colour: "white")[The ochre, gleaming eyes with horizontal pupils. The majestic horns. The teeth that have snapped the bones of lesser beings.]]]]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[(text-colour: "red")[(text-style: "smear")[(text-colour: "white")[You're beautiful.]]] And just like that, you hide behind your corpse once more.
[[They'd never let me stay here if they knew->A2-2121]]
[[Fine, yes, I look impressive. Why do you even care?->A2-2312]]]](transition:"fade-left")[...Do not// |b1>[tempt]// me.]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[(if:$tags contains "cannibalism 2")[Doubly so now. I'm hungry and I am dying for a good goat dish and it's not my fault that your true face looks like the world's most delicious breakfast.
[[Is that how you always flirt?->A2-2111]](else:)[It's 7 AM, I haven't had breakfast yet, and you //know// what I can //eat//.
[[Tame your stomach. We're done here.->A2-2112]]]](transition:"fade-left")[Oh my goodness. Oh my absolute goodness we are not doing this now, shut up, we are leaving ''[[now->A2-3]]''.](transition:"fade-left")[I'm glad we agree here. [[Shall we->A2-3]]?](transition:"fade-left")[Such is ''(text-colour:yellow)[Heaven]''. They always find some way to |b1>[punish] you for something.]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[I bet you could tear through them if you just showed a hint of your true glory. But I know you. You want to do this the normal way. I won't fight you on this. Not |b2>[now] at least.]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[...We've been here too long. [[Come on->A2-3]].]](transition:"fade-left")[Actually, maybe if I don't narrate it, it won't |b1>[happen].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[That might work. Anything to spare us another complication this morning.
(live: 2s)[(transition:"fade-left")[...
](stop:)](live: 4s)[(transition:"fade-left")[...
](stop:)](live: 6s)[(transition:"fade-left")[...
](stop:)](live:8s)[(transition:"fade-left")[...GASP, okay, no, it's like trying to hold your breath. Can't stop talking for too long.
[[Just say it.->A2-5]]](stop:)]]]
(transition:"fade-left")[It's (text-style:"fidget")[you]. (text-style:"fidget")[You] just entered the elevator.
[[Oh. Oh no.->A3-1]]]
(transition:"fade-left")[(align:"=><=")[(text-size:2)[Act 3: Welcome to You. Population: Unfortunate]]
(transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"fidget")[You] look like (text-style:"fidget")[you've] had an even worse night than (text-style:"fidget")[you] did. And if it hurt to read that, |b1>[it hurt worse to say it].]]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"fidget")[You], I mean, (text-style:"fidget")[the other you] is wearing half a pair of hotpants, a fishnet bodysuit, three cross-shaped nipple-pasties, and a lot of glowstick bracelets. Typical raver outfit. (text-style:"fidget")[The other you's] hair is in a sidecut, which means there's probably (text-style:"fidget")[a horn growing out of the ear covered by the hair]. Again. (text-style:"fidget")[Your] nose and mouth are stained with blood, but at least it looks like (text-style:"fidget")[your] own blood instead of someone else's. Or, you know, |b2>[another (text-style:"fidget")[you's] blood].]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[At first, you think (text-style:"fidget")[you] don't notice yourself until (text-style:"fidget")[you] look yourself in those haggard eyes. Both of you see the same thing: |b3>[another failed apotheosis].]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")["Hey, Falsie." (text-style:"fidget")[Your] voice is dry, cracked, weary. But it's friendly. Good. (text-style:"fidget")[You're] not always friendly. "Nice castaway chic thing you have going on." (text-style:"fidget")[You] point at your bare feet and your shredded pants. "Had fun last night?"
[["Had to clean up my own corpse"->A3-11]]
[["Banged a prince."->A3-12]]] ](transition:"fade-left")["You're kidding me. Here? In the Echelons? Might as well just present yourself to the Demiurge and give them a loaded gun to shoot you with." (text-style:"fidget")[You] mime shooting (text-style:"fidget")[your] own head off with a pistol. Neither of you |b1>[laugh].]
(click:?b1)[(display:"A3-2")](transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"fidget")[Your] eyes go |b1>[wide].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")["You slept with a prince? Like, a prince™? With the tiny crown and everything?" You nod at (text-style:"fidget")[yourself], and (text-style:"fidget")[you] whistle back. "Damn. At least one of us is moving up in the world. I got lured here by this big speech about the power of information, how it flows, how it propagates. Thought I found a demigod of knowledge slumming it, a good lay if I've ever seen one. But nope, |b2>[mail clerk]."]]
(click:?b2)[(display: "A3-2")](transition:"fade-left")[You bend your head back, and (text-style:"fidget")[the other you] starts scrutinizing you. "Okay, is it...no, no neckbeard fluff. Neck's fine, so maybe it's — oh, nope, I see it. Damn, it's like |b1>[little worms] in there. Easy to hide at least".]
(click:?b1)[(display:"A3-3")](transition:"fade-left")[You turn around and lift up your hair a little. (text-style:"fidget")[You] whistle. "Those aren't that bad, actually. Still weird, but I've seen scalier things up here. Did you know that pangolins have their own little slice of heaven? With their own Demiurge and everything? Nobody I've talked to knows why. I think the regular Demiurge just thinks |b1>[they're neat]".]
(click:?b1)[(display:"A3-3")](transition:"fade-left")["Oh, that's it? That's good! Everybody's glowing here for some reason or another. Why-" (text-style:"fidget")[You] pull back as (text-style:"fidget")[your face] starts to match the hue of the green glow under your fingernails, sweatdrops rising to the surface as (text-style:"fidget")[you ]begin to gag. You calmly take some god-leather gloves out of your handbag and put them on as (text-style:"fidget")[you] |b1>[gasp for air].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")["Ah," is the first thing (text-style:"fidget")[you] say after (text-style:"fidget")[you] recover, (text-style:"fidget")[your cheeks] still green, (text-style:"fidget")[your voice] raspy. "And that happens to everybody who sees it but you? Goodness, that's |b2>[horrible]. It's like a punishment."]]
(click:?b2)[(display:"A3-3")](transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"fidget")[You] shift the remains of (text-style:"fidget")[your] rave outfit around, muttering about how the fishnets always ride up (text-style:"fidget")[your] crack. You can tell (text-style:"fidget")[you] have |b3>[more questions], but (text-style:"fidget")[you] try to keep (text-style:"fidget")[your] lives separate.]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[Sure, if you could coordinate the dozen or so yous running around, you could probably have your own little underground syndicate, right under the nose of heaven. But you want to play the game, not go under it. So you just take your separate stairways to paradise and try not to cross paths, hoping that the rest of you don't get implicated if one of you |b4>[gets caught].]]
(click:?b4)[(transition:"fade-left")[Better if you're not looking at yourself constantly anyhow. You feel crappy enough with |b5>[your own reflection]; no need for a second.]]
(click:?b5)[(transition:"fade-left")["How did you turn out?" (text-style:"fidget")[you] ask, out of the blue. You know what (text-style:"fidget")[you're] talking about. It's what you're always thinking about.
[[Show off the scales->A3-111]]
[[Let you look up your own nose->A3-112]]
[[Scratch off a little nail polish->A3-113]]]][(transition:"fade-left")[The worst blasphemy is out of the way. What now?
[[> Clean Up->A2-1]]]](transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"fidget")[The other you] continues poking around your current body, making comments here and there and—
(live: 2s)[(transition:"fade-left")[...
](stop:)](live: 4s)[(transition:"fade-left")[Hey, you okay? Your eyes are |b3>[glazing over].](stop:)]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[Oh, that's happening again. I know, I know, you're being perceived. It's okay that you're uncomfortable and disassociating, but it'll be alright. It's (text-style:"fidget")[you]. (text-style:"fidget")[You] know how you feel about this more than |b4>[anybody else].]]
(click:?b4)[(transition:"fade-left")[And I'm here. I can help. Scrutinizing you is my job, (text-style:"rumble")[and I get |b1>[jealous]]. I'll [[A3-4<-move things along]].]](transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"fidget")[You] look yourself in the eyes, recognizing the discomfort carnally, and jump away, looking |b1>[a bit sheepish].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")["Crap. Sorry, Falsie, didn't mean to make you disassociate." (text-style:"fidget")[You] cough ruefully. "Just curious about how the flesh varies. I can show you one of (text-style:"fidget")[my weird bits] |b2>[if you want]."]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[Oh? This is curious. (text-style:"fidget")[You] rarely volunteer (text-style:"fidget")[your deformities] without a fight. Or at least a polite inquiry from someone privy to your secrets, which is |b3>[kind of a fight].]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[Curiosity fills your spirit as you look over (text-style:"fidget")[your body]. Well, //that's// a rare sentence. Usually it's something more akin to //dread//. But yes, curiosity. Even tattered and bruised after a long night out on the town, (text-style:"fidget")[you're] looking...normal. Almost a bit nice. You have to wonder what oddity (text-style:"fidget")[you] could be hiding under so little. |b4>[So very little...]]
(live: 2s)[(transition:"fade-left")[...
](stop:)](live: 4s)[(transition:"fade-left")[Oh, you are way too into this. I can practically feel your libido pulsing. Please don't tell me I'm about to narrate you getting horny about your own body. Today's enough without having to narrate a softcore porn scene in an elevator.
[[Weren't you the one that wanted me to love myself more?->A3-41]]
[[Just scene transition if you're going to be weird about this.->A3-42]]](stop:)]](transition:"fade-left")[This isn't love. It's libido, and it is not a helpful thing right now! You know it causes your self-loathing to spike because it makes you think too much about your physical form. That's how we got in this mess in |b1>[the first place]!]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[Do you want bleeding corpses? |b2>[Because that's how you get bleeding corpses].]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[Seriously, what's with you two? Usually your self-revulsion prevents this sort of thing.
[[Maybe my self-confidence's up. I did sleep with a prince.->A3-411]]]](transition:"fade-left")[Maybe I won't! Maybe I'll sit here and narrate you as you stare at (text-style:"fidget")[yourself] like a |b1>[lech].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[Maybe you can spend the elevator ride feeling yourself up for the next 600 floors or so, and I'll just narrate //every// single |b2>[second of it]].]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[Is that what you want?
[[Since when are you such a prude?->A3-421]]]](transition:"fade-left")[Don't put words into my mouth. Listen, your libido is the whole reason we spent today trying to dispose of a |b1>[corpse] in a panic, instead of being able to do so in a calm, orderly fashion in the controlled environment of our flat.]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[My personal inclinations here aren't relevant. This is a safety hazard.
[[So you don't have personal inclinations. Really.->A3-422]]]](transition:"fade-left")[Still with this? You got lucky once at a party; you can't revise your entire self-image around that
[[And that is a cute outfit I'm wearing.->A3-412]]](transition:"fade-left")[I mean...sure? I'm actually glad you're getting past this. But we really shouldn't be taking such a big leap in such a vulnerable situation and—
[[Let me feel pretty on my terms just once, not yours.->A3-413]]](transition:"fade-left")[|b1>[...]]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[|b2>[I...I mean...]]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[Fine. I'm overstepping my boundaries. This// isn't //my job. I'll cut to black, give you two some privacy; I'll be back in [[A3-5<-about an hour]].]](set: $tags to $tags + (a:"remorse_narrator"))(text-colour:black)+(bg:white)[(live: 4s)[(transition:"fade-left")[I regret this immediately. Whenever I exist, I forget what it's like to not exist.]
(stop:)](live: 8s)[(transition:"fade-left")[Nowhere between heaven and hell is nothing. Existence is always happening somewhere, things bumping against other things until entropy drains all the energy out of the universe.](stop:)]
(live: 12s)[(transition:"fade-left")[Except here. Behind the black. Outside of the narrative. I imagine it's what dying must be like.](stop:)]
(live: 16s)[(transition:"fade-left")[Maybe I...overreacted. I can be a bit harsh, a bit sensitive. It was just so unexpected.](stop:)]
(live: 20s)[(transition:"fade-left")[(if:$tags contains "remorse_narrator")[I suppose I deserved her telling me off there. I should be happier that the self-loathing's decreasing, but it's not like I'm not happy at all. I just want to make sure we get home safe. I care.](else-if:$tags contains "angry_narrator")[I was so *angry* near the end. Perhaps I'm getting to be a bit of a control freak. I mean, I always am. That's my job. But there has to be limits. I don't want to actually cause harm. I care.]](stop:)]
(live: 24s)[(transition:"fade-left")[I even...well, I'm not going to say I *love*. But I wouldn't pick anyone else to keep alive.](stop:)]
(live: 26s)[(transition:"fade-left")[And I *do* get jealous.](stop:)]
(live: 28s)[(transition:"fade-left")[I should get back. Emotions are emotions, but safety is safety and that was not safe. I just have to make sure I do it right. I'll do it right. I know I will.](stop:)]
(live: 32s)[(transition:"fade-left")[Count down carefully. 3....](stop:)]
(live: 33s)[(transition:"fade-left")[2....](stop:)]]
(live: 34s)[(transition:"fade-left")[[[1->A3-6]].](stop:)](transition:"fade-left")[//They aren't relevant//. What you do with (text-style:"fidget")[your slutty self] is not my professional concern. Now listen to me. We need to—
[[Goodness, you're jealous, aren't you? You're denying me out of jealousy.->A3-423]]](transition:"fade-left")[...You know what, literally go fuck (text-style:"fidget")[yourself]. I'm [[A3-5<-cutting to black]].]
(set: $tags to $tags + (a:"angry_narrator"))
(set: $tags to $tags + (a:"iseult"))(transition:"fade-left")[Hey, I'm back and—
What happened.
[[Later. We need to get out of here **now**.->A3-7]]](transition:"fade-left")[I'm glad we agree on that front, but, |b1>[uh].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[Well, we're no longer in the elevator, for one thing.
[[The elevator fell. We're using the service ladder.->A3-8]]]](transition:"fade-left")[Cool, cool. And it looks like you're wearing(text-style:"fidget")[ the other you's] clothes under yours.
[[Couldn't leave evidence.->A3-9]]](transition:"fade-left")[...Listen, I got upset earlier, but I do want to help. Not just because it's my job, but also because it's you. Now, what happened with (text-style:"fidget")[the other you]?
[[Wasn't me.->A3-91]]]What.
What??
[[That wasn't me. Tried to kill me.->A3-92]](transition:"fade-left")[...But...even the |b1>[blood] was accurate...]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[A |b2>[mimic]? An angel's fetch? Immortal Tyron's trick?]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[Are...are we being hunted?
[[I DON'T KNOW! Just...give me a second.->A3-93]]]](transition:"fade-left")[Right. |b1>[Sorry].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[We still have to get out of here. Take the service elevator down to the bottom. There should be a sink or a hose or something in maintenance. Wash off the blood there, then |b2>[head home]. We can figure out if we need to lay low or ditch heaven once we get there.]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[I can speed things up with a scene change, get us to the bottom of the ladder quicker. You ready?
(live:3s)[(transition:"fade-left")[[[> Sob->A3-94]]](stop:)]]](transition:"fade-left")[Wait are you crying?
Hey, stop climbing for a second. Are you okay? A little violent self-defense doesn't usually faze you.
[[It was beautiful.->A3-95]]](transition:"fade-left")[What?
[[It was me. It was beautiful. And it tried to kill me.->A3-96]]](transition:"fade-left")[Oh.
[[So confident. So self-assured. And it hated me.->A3-97]]](transition:"fade-left")[Wow, this is...not what I thought I'd have to help with today, |b1>[but...]]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[I know you hate it when I try to give life advice instead of just helping you not die, but I'm going to do my best. Whatever that thing was, it was probably manipulating your |b2>[sense of perception], and by proxy, mine. That's why you got so horny all of a sudden, and why the narration reflected that. better.]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[If you thought that was a better version of yourself, good news, physically it wasn't meaningfully better than who you are now. You just focused on the pretty parts instead of the parts you hate. You are as pretty as you felt you were; it's just a matter of |b3>[perspective].]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[Other people can see your beauty even if you can't, even if you're not entirely who you want to be. That's why cute people keep taking you home. That's how you bagged (text-style:"smear")[that prince] |b4>[last night].]]
(click:?b4)[(transition:"fade-left")[If you see that for yourself, project some confidence in that, maybe you hate yourself a little less. Maybe you stop splitting off new corpses of yourself to mangle in a bizarre form of self-harm. Okay?
[[Okay. Thank you, I'll keep that in mind.->A3-99]]]]
(transition:"fade-left")[Just doing my |b1>[job].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[This //is// a professional action, mind you. You can't protect yourself with tears coming out of your eyes. My personal feelings aren't coming into this.
[[But you do think I'm pretty, don't you?->A3-100]]]](transition:"fade-left")[No comment...|b1>[dear].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[Shall we end scene and cut to the end of the ladder?
[[...I'm sorry I got angry at you in the elevator.->A3-101]]]](transition:"fade-left")[I'm sorry I've been an ass all morning. Let's [[A3-102<-go]].](transition:"fade-left")[Several rungs later, you reach the bottom of the ladder. You manage to find a monkey king's daughter, her eight arms filled with brooms and mops, and you convince her to show you to a room with a hose in it—so long as you clean up the |b1>[blood trail] you're leaving.]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[You clean your body off and squeeze as much blood out of your clothes as possible. At this point, the blood has so thoroughly soaked your outfit that it can be confused as being 'chic' and 'on purpose'. Blood went out of fashion three seasons ago, but it's not going to hurt your social standing, just your |b2>[tailor's heart].]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[You slip out the maintenance entrance. We're almost out of trouble. All you need to do is calmly walk around the building to the front |b3>[and—].]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[Oh snap me sideways, it's your (text-style:"smear")[godsforsaken twice-damned prince].
[[You have got to be kidding me.->A4-1]]]](transition:"fade-left")[(align:"=><=")[(text-size:2)[Act 4: As Above, So below]]]
(transition:"fade-left")[Nope, there's (text-style:"smear")[the prince], casually inspecting (text-style:"smear")[prince's] nails like a preening |b1>[peacock].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"smear")[The prince] has three swords strapped to (text-style:"smear")[prince's] hip, back and shin. (text-style:"smear")[The prince] has a tiny little crown just floating above (text-style:"smear")[prince's] head. There's an esoteric sash pinned to (text-style:"smear")[prince's] shoulder with a brooch that marks (text-style:"smear")[prince] as (text-style:"smear")[the prince] |b2->[of...]]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[What was it? The stars of the west, that shine over young girls with fantastic dreams? The endless drift of the cosmos? Same-day payday loans? |b3>[Denmark]?]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[Whatever. (text-style:"smear")[The prince] is just standing there looking serene and noble and I hate it.
[[You're jealous.->A4-1-1]]
[[Can't we just evade him?->A4-1-2]]] ](transition:"fade-left")[Damn right I'm jealous! (text-style:"smear")[The prince] looks so relaxed! Why can't we be that |b1>[relaxed]?]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[Look at this weirdo. Never lifted a finger in (text-style:"smear")[prince's] life except to swing a sword or sign a treaty. No wonder (text-style:"smear")[prince] is so attractive. (text-style:"smear")[Prince] has nothing meaningful to do besides be attractive.
[[Are you done?->A4-1-1-1]]]](transition:"fade-left")[If we run in the opposite direction and hop the fence, maybe. But...as much as I hate to say it, we |b1>[//shouldn't//].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[(if:$tags contains "iseult")[Assuming we don't have to ditch this place quick, (text-style:"smear")[Princey] here is your ticket to the upper echelons of society. You don't just snub someone who uses an Iseult vintage as cooking sherry.](else:)[I don't like this stuffed shirt but (text-style:"smear")[prince] is clearly an influential figure. (text-style:"smear")[Prince] might be useful if we can actually stay in (text-colour:yellow)[heaven] after this. And (text-style:"smear")[prince] will definitely be a threat if we piss (text-style:"smear")[prince] off.]
Just be polite and excuse yourself as quickly as socially possible.
[[Fine.->A4-2]]]](transition:"fade-left")[Yeah, I'm done. Let's get this |b1>[over with].]
(click:?b1)[(display:"A4-2")](transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"smear")[The prince] finally deigns to |b2>[notice you], striding towards you like a theater kid after two hours of sleep, two cups of coffee, and ten hours of listening to Shakespeare on repeat.]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")["Ah, good morning, my |b3>[lovenest companion]." Breathy, ethereal, but with a bit of firmness underneath. The voice of someone who has only ever felt steel against them once, and would fight tooth and nail to never feel it again. "My dearest apologies for leaving you alone this morning. Trouble at the family estate. You understand."]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[Ugh. 'Lovenest companion'? Corny asshole. Well? Answer (text-style:"smear")[the prince]!
[["Yep! Those wacky family estates, always causing trouble."->A4-3]]
[["It's fine! Normal things happened after you left!"->A4-3]]
[["No need to apologize with an ass like that."->A4-3]]]](transition:"fade-left")[|b2>[...]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[Luckily (text-style:"smear")[the prince] seems too distracted by (text-style:"smear")[prince's] own pomp to notice that every word that just came out of your mouth was |b3>[complete nonsense].]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")["I would have preferred to stay, truly. Every time I return there, it's another argument about a snubbing or an inheritance or who tossed whose maid out a stained-glass window. Your sleeping form would be far less querulous...and warmer to the touch."
[[> Blush->A4-4]]
[[> Blush Harder->A4-4]]
[[> Accept the compliment with grace and poise->A4-3-1]]]](transition:"fade-left")[Unaccustomed to compliments in broad daylight, without the assistance of dimly lit nightclubs to hide in, you're stricken with a blush. Idle fantasies start to brew in your mind and...hey! |b1>[Hey!]]
(click:?b1)[(display:"A4-4-1")](transition:"fade-left")[You smile, accept the compliment, and respond with one of your own that manages to stun (text-style:"smear")[the prince].]
(live:3s)[(transition:"fade-left")[No, just wishful thinking. You just stand there gormlessly while blushing. Idle fantasies start to brew in your mind and...hey! |b1>[Hey!]](stop:)]
(click:?b1)[(display:"A4-4-1")](transition:"fade-left")[Focus! Pretty or not, (text-style:"smear")[the prince] is the last obstacle between us and freedom. I can't have you getting tingly between the legs right now.
[[I'd describe it as more of a warmth.->A4-4-2]]
[[If it comes to it, I can take the prince in a fight.->A4-4-3]]
](transition:"fade-left")[.....................................okay, but you understand what I mean here, right?
[[No, you're right, I'll focus.->A4-5]]](transition:"fade-left")[Oh, of course. It's ''you'' we're talking about. I'm more worried about (text-style:"smear")[the prince's] powerful friends. And their even |b1>[more powerful friends].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[So focus. You can mull over how nice the prince is when we're safe.
[[Right. I can take care of this.->A4-5]]]](transition:"fade-left")[You try to detach yourself from the conversation as the prince quibbles about the prince's various siblings. Nod. Smile. |b1>[Laugh] when appropriate.]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[It's nice to do this in the sun for once. You rarely stay out for this long in the day. But chatting up a hottie in broad daylight makes you feel...|b2>[normal]. Just a little bit.]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[...wait, did (text-style:"smear")[the prince] switch topics? He did, three sentences ago! Goodness, I got too relaxed and stopped paying attention. |b3>[Ahem]....]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")["...And in conjunction with the elevator 'accident', my family assumed I'd be in danger if I returned. Mumsie was about to lock me in the guest mansion 'for my own protection'. But I've spent far too much of my princehood hiding from dangers known and theorized, so I marched down here, flagged down one of the heavenly primates, asked him how someone would leave the building without notice and, well, |b4>[here I am]." (text-style:"smear")[The prince] coughs a bit sheepishly. ]]
(click:?b4)[(transition:"fade-left")["So I guess, what I should ask next is...and if I'm wrong, I mean absolutely no offense, mind you! But..."]
(live:3s)[(transition:"fade-left")["You wouldn't happen to be a |b5>[demon] wearing a corpse as a disguise, would you?"](stop:)]]
(click:?b5)[(transition:"fade-left")[What. What? What?? I can't believe it, this narcissist dandy of all people managed to |b6>[suss] you out?]]
(click:?b6)[(transition:"fade-left")[Okay, this is...absolutely terrifying on every possible level, but we can still talk our way out of—
[[> Kill the Prince->A4-6]]]](transition:"fade-left")[Wait, no! Do NOT kill (text-style:"smear")[the prince]! Do NOT break out your true form and crush (text-style:"smear")[the prince] underneath your cloven feet, you are in PUBLIC it is BROAD DAYLIGHT and (text-style:"smear")[the prince] has a SWORD!
[[> Protect your secret. Kill the Prince->A4-7]]]
(transition:"fade-left")[Hang on, if (text-style:"smear")[the prince] told anybody, we'd already be in chains waiting for a judge to order our |b1>[execution]!]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[It's less risky to hear (text-style:"smear")[prince] out at this point than to silence (text-style:"smear")[prince]!
[[> Avoid Rejection. Kill the Prince->A4-8]]]](transition:"fade-left")[It's okay. You'll be |b1>[okay].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[I'm with you. It's my job to be with you. If you try and talk this through, I'll be with you. If you want to tear this weirdo's head off, I will still |b2>[be with you].]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[Just stay calm and make sure this is the choice you want to make.
[[I...I don't want to kill the prince.->A4-9]]]](transition:"fade-left")[Good. I'm |b1>[proud of you].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[...You should probably get your hoof off of (text-style:"smear")[the prince's] neck if you want to keep (text-style:"smear")[prince] alive.
[[Oh.->A4-10]]]](transition:"fade-left")[You hop off, covering your splendor with your corpse once more, bow your head and apologize. (text-style:"smear")[The prince] is too busy gasping for air to accept your apology, but (text-style:"smear")[the prince ]also hasn't tried to run you through with a sword, so...this can probably still be |b1>[salvaged].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[In fact...(text-style:"smear")[the prince] didn't unsheath even one of (text-style:"smear")[prince's] myraid swords, even when facing |b2>[death].]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")["My...mistake," (text-style:"smear")[the prince] manages to choke out. "I spent too long trying to find a way to ask delicately, so I tried to be blunt about it. Oh, lovenest companion, to be exposed after such a morning must have given you such a shock, no?"
|b3>[What].]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")["And such strength, even disguised! Is this the hidden power of the infernal? Magnificent."
Oh goodness above and below, (text-style:"smear")[the prince] is into this.
[["Um...thank you?"->A4-10-1]]
[["You'll keep this a secret, won't you?"->A4-10-2]]
[["You want to see just how strong I can be?"->A4-10-3]]]](transition:"fade-left")["Of course! For your sake and mine. The scandal of our tryst would ruin us both, though...|b1>[your ruin] would be more lethal."]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"smear")[The prince] trails off at the end of the sentence, a |b2>[grim expression] on that handsome face, a proud mouth set firm.]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")["Dear lovenest companion, I understand that these are not ideal circumstances for you. I understand that, even now, I must present a |b3>[threat] to you."]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")["But let me be clear. As it is within my power, you will not die by my hand or by that of my family. I |b4>[swear on the Demiurge]."]]
(click:?b4)[(transition:"fade-left")[(display:"A4-11")]](transition:"fade-left")[Oh, (text-style:"smear")[the prince's] blush is a striking shade of azure. Looks like blue-blood is quite |b1>[literal] in this case.]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")["How forward! Excuse me, I'm not used to receiving such an |b2>[advance] in the light of day. It's bad etiquette to be so direct in high society and all."]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"smear")[The prince] looks like (text-style:"smear")[prince] might just step forward and kiss you. But (text-style:"smear")[the prince] |b3>[holds back].]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")["We should...finish our talk though." You can feel the disappointment in (text-style:"smear")[the prince's voice]. "You are in danger right now, in part from me. Best to |b4>[clear that up] before we bed each other once more."]]
(click:?b4)[(transition:"fade-left")[(display:"A4-11")]](transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"smear")[The prince] nervously |b1>[rubs] (text-style:"smear")[prince's hands.]]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")["Ah, not that I came to meet you just because I suspected you were secretly a demon! You were |b2>[charming] even when you were disguised."]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")["Not that you need to be disguised to appeal to me, of course. But not that you need to appeal to me, of course! You're your own |b3>[demon], not that you need me to tell you that, but..."]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"smear")[The prince] sighs. "I don't mean to be a hellchaser, yes? I know how dangerous my family is to you, but I don't want to hold that over you. Please |b4>[correct] me if I make you uncomfortable."]]
(click:?b4)[(transition:"fade-left")[(display:"A4-11")]](transition:"fade-left")[...I'm starting to tolerate this weirdo.
[[Because the prince is a decent person?->A4-12]]
[[Because the prince is kind of a dork?->A4-12]]]
(transition:"fade-left")[|b1>[Yes].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")["So, I was dancing around this before, but I should be direct. Based on my parents' behavior, I believe something tried to kill you this morning, sent by them. Not because you're a demon, mind you. They just despise that I'd rather drink from the|b2>[ common fountains of Heaven] instead of enjoying ambrosia and nectar like a good little prince. They've always threatened to do so in the past, but I never thought they'd go through with it. I'd hate to imagine what would have happened if I'd brought anybody else home last night."]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")["'Mirrorneedles', they're called. They transform into something their targets will |b3>[trust], something they can't resist, and then tear through the flesh when they get in close."
(text-style:"smear")[The prince] shudders, swords clacking in their scabbards. You shudder in turn. I'm suddenly very glad that I wasn't around for that fight.]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")["But you fought the mirrorneedle and //won//. So they're worried they tried to assassinate someone powerful in disguise. They'll send someone to verify, but you have some time until then. Whatever you're planning, I'd like to |b4>[help]."]]
(click:?b4)[(transition:"fade-left")[An ally. A powerful ally. It's all we could have ever hoped for. It was worth it to come to heaven after all. But...what do you want now? What will you ask from the prince?
[["Why are you helping me?"->A4-12-1]]
[["I need to get out of here."->A4-13]]
[["...Marry me."->A4-14]]]](transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"smear")[The prince] looks away |b1>[dramatically], hair blowing in the wind.]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")["You thought I was |b2>[cool.]"]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")["By my family's standards, I'm a useless layabout, not worth acknowledging unless I'm in trouble. But when I took you into my arms last night, I could see in your eyes that you thought I was |b3>[amazing]."]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")["And I still see it now! Even though I nearly got you killed! How could I not |b4>[support you] after that?"]]
(click:?b4)[(transition:"fade-left")[Well. Now I feel like an asshole for all that prince mockery. So, what do we ask from (text-style:"smear")[the prince]?
[["I need to get out of here."->A4-13]]
[["...Marry me."->A4-14]]]](transition:"fade-left")[Pardon?
"|b1>[P-pardon]?" says (text-style:"smear")[the prince], weakly.]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[Your cheeks flush as you try to explain what you meant by that. The best protection against (text-style:"smear")[the prince's] family is to be officially recognized as (text-style:"smear")[the prince's] lover, thus becoming divine royalty. Royalty will still assassinate royalty, but heaven watches such things. |b2>[They'll think twice].]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")["That is...possible, dearest. We'd have to cover up how you defended yourself against the mirrorneedle...give you fake papers to grant you nobility..." (text-style:"smear")[The prince] stops short. "Are you...truly willing to put your life into my hands? I'll defend it to the last, mind you, but...this is a big decision."
...Oddly enough, I think I believe this weirdo.
[[I trust you.->A4-14-1]]
[[I trust you for now.->A4-14-1]]]](transition:"fade-left")[You can hear (text-style:"smear")[the prince's heart] shatter. Just a little. But (text-style:"smear")[the prince] rebounds |b1>[valiantly].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")["Of course. You're at risk now. I can get you a pair of cherubim wings. Enough to survive the fall |b2>[down to earth]."]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"smear")[The prince] pauses. One last question on the tip of that |b3>[princely] tongue.]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")["Could I visit? Once you're safe? Heaven looks down on us sneaking outside, but it won't punish you just for seeing me."
...I'd let the weirdo visit.
[["Of course you can come and see me. All of me."->A4-13-1]]
[["...As long as it's safe.->A4-13-1]]]](transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"smear")[The prince] nearly chokes on (text-style:"smear")[prince's] next words. "R-right! Right. That sounds, ah, wonderful. I'll take you to somewhere you can stay until we can smuggle you out. |b1>[Just stay here]." (text-style:"smear")[The prince] runs off, leaving you in the alleyway.]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[...I knew this might be how it ended. We both knew. But you know what? I think you're better for |b2>[having tried]. ]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[Years and years of living in a body that wasn't quite yours, trying to fit in, a fate that will now fall to the rest of your corpses, each taking the crooked path towards apotheosis. Now, you understand who you are - who you really are. Now you will be you in truth, beautiful in your horns and hooves, beautiful and free. Now you have |b3>[someone in your corner] besides me.]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[I'll still be here though. Charm aside, I can hardly rely on (text-style:"smear")[the prince] to handle everything. You need someone on-hand to guide you, take care of you, to...well, *love* you, I guess.
And that's my job. And I get jealous...but [[A5<-not too jealous]].]](transition:"fade-left")[(text-style:"smear")[The prince's eyes] |b1>[light up].]
(click:?b1)[(transition:"fade-left")[""R-right! I'll start bribing the right pigs...get you a nice new wardrobe...maybe a sword or two..." (text-style:"smear")[The prince] continues to think out loud about the life you two are |b2>[about to share].]]
(click:?b2)[(transition:"fade-left")[You really did it, didn't you? You made it to apotheosis in your own way. You'll be stuck in this corpse, sure. You won't be able to slaughter your way into a new one, not without raising suspicion. But you'll be on par with the elite of Heaven. No one short of the Demiurge will be able to |b3>[dismiss you].]]
(click:?b3)[(transition:"fade-left")[I'll still be here though. Charm aside, I can hardly rely on (text-style:"smear")[the prince] to handle everything. You need someone on-hand to guide you, take care of you, to...well, *love* you, I guess.
And that's my job. And I get jealous...but [[A5<-not too jealous]].]](transition:"fade-left")[(align:"=><=")[(text-size:2)[I couldn't ask for a better ending.]]]