Very Restrained Summer Fun

''Very Restrained Summer Fun'' was written by ''Ether Nepenthes'' on Twine 2 with Harlowe (v3.3.9), with the help of the ''One Page Template'' by (link-repeat: "manonamora ⎘")[(open-url:"https://manonamora.itch.io/")]. <hr> ''You can read more of Ether's works'', including several pieces of micro interactive fiction, on (link-repeat: "Ether's itch.io page ⎘")[(open-url:"https://noxether.itch.io/")]. <hr> ''Fonts used'': * Alice by (link-repeat: "The Alice Project Authors ⎘")[(open-url:"https://github.com/cyrealtype/Alice")] under a (link-repeat: " SIL Open Font License, Version 1.1 ⎘")[(open-url:"https://openfontlicense.org/open-font-license-official-text/")] * Montserrat by (link-repeat: "The Montserrat.Git Project Authors ⎘")[(open-url:"https://github.com/JulietaUla/Montserrat.git")] under a (link-repeat: " SIL Open Font License, Version 1.1⎘")[(open-url:"https://openfontlicense.org/open-font-license-official-text/")] The theme colours are from the (link-repeat:"Warm Summer palette ⎘")[(open-url:"https://lospec.com/palette-list/warm-summer")] by Lumeish on Lospec. ( The Milk Carton favicon is by (link-repeat:"Freepik ⎘")[(open-url:"https://www.freepik.com/icon/milk-box_3500270#fromView=search&page=1&position=59&uuid=56c8b69f-3cbe-4599-b7ba-8f9b5e4047c3")] under a Free PNG Freepik license. The photograph used in promotional materials belongs to Ether Nepenthes, all rights reserved. <hr> ''Special thanks to'': * the Neo Twiny Jam for triggering the urge to write micro-fiction again; * Tootkin for finding a very funny name for this little story, * and to you, dear reader!

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<div id="title">Very Restrained Summer Fun by Ether Nepenthes (noxether.itch.io)</div>

You take off your glasses and rub the bridge of your nose. When you open your eyes again, the blank page stares back at you, bathed in the blue glare of your computer. You sigh. Nope, nicht, nada. Not happening. You've been at the computer all day. There's a tension behind your eyes all the way to the back of your neck. You stretch your arms and your shoulder blades go pop. And... you //stink//. The sun is a deadly lazer, but living with the shutters closed and the A/C perpetually humming in the background of your half-light days and half-dark nights has reduced your brain to a blob of not writing goo. You lick your lips. They taste like your sweat. ¤ If writing isn't happening, might as well scroll on Boreblr. [[Open the app.->boreblr]] ¤ You should hydrate. [[Let's get you a drink.->kitchen]] ¤ It's 10pm. There should be some illusion of fresh air outside. [[Go for a small walk.->walk]]

<div id="menu">(link-repeat:"Restart")[(restart:)]</div>

#Very Restrained Summer Fun ¤ [[Start|tired]] ¤ [[Credits]]

(if: visits is >1)[Once again, y](else:)[Y]our thumb scrolls down with a mind of its own on the greasy screen of your phone. (if: visits is >1)[Upsetting world news. Someone's thirst trap, but you can't ignore the mess in their bedroom in the background. A dog in a silly costume. Mmh. You're not sure the dog is enjoying that.](else:)[A somewhat cute cat picture. A tepid take. Someone's frankly uninteresting gamedev project. The comment are full of people raving about design choices you disapprove of.] You put your phone away. There is (if: (visits is >1))[truly ]nothing on the device. (if: (visited:"kitchen") is false)[¤ A snack. [[A snack is the perfect embodied, real-life, offline-world experience you crave right now.->kitchen]]] ¤ Time to give the outside world another chance. Let's go and [[take a walk.->walk]]

The kitchen simmers in the same gross humid hotness as the rest of the house. You make your way to the fridge. It also glares back at you in white, cold light. You scan its content for something (if:(visited:"boreblr"))[to eat](else:)[to drink]. Carrots, plain water, packaged meat, half a lettuce... none of that sparks joy. //At all//. You make a face. Unfortunately, you are still (if:(visited:"boreblr"))[snack-less](else:)[thirsty]. Come to think of it, you wouldn't say no to (if:(visited:"boreblr"))[a drink](else:)[a little snack] as well. You settle for a nice, tall glass of milk. Milk counts as a snack too, right? Right? ¤ Maybe there's something (if:(visited:"boreblr"))[new] on the device? [[Scroll Boreblr while you sip your milk.->boreblr]] ¤ A shower might help, but you'd rather take a short walk first. [[Let's get some fresh air.->walk]]

Outside, the edges of the night are red with light pollution. The air is breathable, and you let your feet guide you. Pools of golden light seep through faraway windows. The dark shadows of the trees. The faint glimmer of too few stars. Then, by the side of the road-- in a corner which no artificial light ever touches-- one single bright green jewel, one single bright green firefly, steadfastly broadcasting its existence to the world. (align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[''The End.''] //You have finished reading this story. Click on "restart" at the bottom of this page if you'd like to read it again.//