Jay Lives Through the Day: A fanfiction: The Game

You are Jay Merrick, plucky boy detective. You spend your time hunting down your old friend Alex Kralie, living in [[hotels|1]], being stalked by faceless [[entities|44]], and generally trying not to [[die|0]].

But nobody came[[.|1]]

You died! That wasn't very smart. Final score: 0 points. [[Try again?|START]]

Your first order of business for today is to review more of the many, many, many, many tapes Alex left behind. The first one you grab seems to consist of nothing but Alex sharpening machetes while “In the End” by Linkin Park plays in the background on repeat. You watch for 10 minutes before you decide you're not drunk enough for this. You head out of your hotel room for a [[liquor store|6]] run...maybe a [[fast food|2]] run, too, while you're at it.

You head to the liquor store closest to your hotel. You haven't been in this town long enough for the staff to know you yet, but it's only a matter of time, honestly. You go to grab a bottle of your favorite whiskey, but then you notice there's a pretty good deal on some 12-packs of beer. Also there's some wine coolers on sale as well. You've only got the budget for one, though. Which do you pick? [[(Wine coolers)|7]] [[(Beer)|8]] [[(Whiskey)|9]]

You go by your favorite fast food joint. You try the drive-thru first, but the speaker is so staticky you can't understand the cashier, and you don't think they can understand you. After yelling a few times, you give up and pull into a parking space to go [[inside.|3]]

Once inside, you see a group of “'cool' kids” sitting at a table. They definitely look like the kind of guys who have touched at least one weed and maybe even seen a boob. One of them, who seems to be the leader, motions you over. You get closer, and you see that they're all wearing leather jackets that say “THE WEED STONERS” on them in studs. “Hey, man,” says the leader, “you wanna get high with us?” What do you say? [[(Yes)|4]] [[(No)|5]]

You go out back of the restaurant with the Weed Stoners. They offer you a “'doobie.'” You touch it and spotaneously combust! You died! Final score: -420 points. [[Try again?|START]] (This Twine brought to you by the D.A.R.E. program.)

“No way, man,” you say. “Drugs are for losers!” “Whatever, man,” says the leader. “I'll just grow my hair out and start a band and maybe join a popular YouTube gaming channel.” //What the fuck is YouTube//, you think as you place your order at the counter. You get your food without incident and decide to take it back with you to the hotel, to avoid the baleful glares of the Weed Stoners. Then you hop back in your car to go get some nice, wholesome [[alcohol.|6]]

You grab the wine coolers, figuring that it doesn't make much difference. As you walk back to the far end of the parking lot, you get the familiar feeling of [[being watched.|10]]

You grab the beer, figuring that it doesn't make much difference. As you walk back to the far end of the parking lot, you get the familiar feeling of [[being watched.|21]]

You grab the whiskey, figuring that it doesn't make much difference. As you walk back to the far end of the parking lot, you get the familiar feeling of [[being watched.|21]]

You shrug it off and put the alcohol in your trunk. You then get the feeling of [[being tackled.|11]]

Tim Wright, wearing that saucy mask of his, got the drop on you! You grapple with Tim for a minute before kicking him in his bad knee a few times and escaping to your car. One of the store cashiers runs towards Tim, who is rolling around on the ground yelling some X-rated swearing. You [[drive off|13]]...but maybe not before pulling up next to Tim and getting in a [[sick burn|12]].

You utterly fail to deliver a sick burn. You drive back to the [[hotel|14]] in shame.

You roll down your window and yell, “Nice mask! M...masky...” before driving back to your hotel. //Nailed it//, you think while reflecting on your sick burn on the way back to your [[room.|14]]

You're in your hotel room, safe—relatively speaking. You look at your pile of tapes. //Great//, you think, cracking open a wine cooler. You manage to get 1.5 swigs into your drink before you realize you have to pee. You wander to the [[bathroom|16]], still absentmindedly holding your beverage.

You set your drink down on the bathroom counter and take a leak. As you finish up, you hear a strange noise [[behind you.|16a]]

You get yourself re-pantsed in record time and run to the mirror. You look in and see...Alex? But not Alex. He's wearing makeup and a lot of very cheap jewelry and a bright pink crop-top. He's also winking at you and drinking your wine cooler. “Hey, cutie,” he says. “Wanna come party with me? This hotel is a dump.” He extends the non-drink-holding hand through the mirror. You have no idea who he is or where you're going. On the other hand, he's cute and wherever he's taking you, it's probably not a hotel room filled with tapes. Do you elope with the handsome stranger and get a one-way ticket out of your horrible, horrible life? [[(Yes)|18]] [[(Hell yes)|18]]

You take Mirror Alex's hand and climb onto the counter and through the mirror, into a new life. Congratulations! You won! Final score: 69 points. [[Play again?|START]]

You almost rip your dick off in surprise as you see an arm reaching out of the mirror to [[grab your drink.|17]]

You shrug it off and put the alcohol in your trunk. You then get the feeling of [[being tackled.|22]]

Tim Wright, wearing that saucy mask of his, got the drop on you! You grapple with Tim for a minute before kicking him in his bad knee a few times and escaping to your car. One of the store cashiers runs towards Tim, who is rolling around on the ground yelling some X-rated swearing. You [[drive off|24]]...but maybe not before pulling up next to Tim and getting in a [[sick burn|23]].

You utterly fail to deliver a sick burn. You drive back to the [[hotel|25]] in shame.

You roll down your window and yell, “Nice mask! M...masky...” before driving back to your hotel. //Nailed it//, you think while reflecting on your sick burn on the way back to your [[room.|25]]

You're in your hotel room, safe—relatively speaking. You look at your pile of tapes. //Great//, you think, getting yourself a drink. You resume watching the machete-sharpening tape from earlier. After sharpening a few more machetes, the tape distorts, then cuts out. It resumes with Alex doing Jazzercise. After another few minutes, it cuts out again, then cuts to Alex playing DOTA for seven hours before the tape ends. You reach for your phone, and tweet: “Just found a tape of Alex being a pro gamer. This changes everything.” before passing out. Congratulations! You successfully lived through the day. Final score: 44 points. [[Play again?|START]]