Pendulums

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It is almost always difficult to will yourself to wake up in the mornings. Its cozy here, cocooned in pillows and sheets. Here, you don't have to answer to anybody. This is where you are now: drifting in and out of consciousness, halfway between awake and asleep. Unlike any morning before, however, a yet-unknown force is already upon you. You can faintly register a low buzzing coming nearer and nearer. When it reaches its loudest, you feel a sharp prick that makes your pulse quicken reflexively. A deep heat settles in the crook of your neck. The buzzing fades away. On the one hand, that sensation is a little ominous. On the other hand, you were having a great dream. [[Sleep]] [[Wake]]

The brain has a way of justifying anything. You ignore the ache in your neck and fall back into a deep slumber. The ache probably isn't important, anyway. It was probably just a pinched nerve, or a bugbite, or maybe just an extension of this dream! The brain sure is funny like that. You find yourself where you left off last time in your dream: standing alone in a dark corridor. There is a chair nearby, and a bright light coming from far down one direction of the corridor. You were in the middle of deciding what to do here. [[Sit in the chair.]] [[Walk towards the light.]] <<if visited("Wake") is 0>>[[Actually, wake up.|Wake]]<<endif>>

Yeah, its probably a good idea to wake up. Now that some of the heat is dissipating, that spot on your neck really stings. You roll out of bed and finally open your eyes. Your room is the same as always, no surprise. Dusty light leaks in through those garage-sale curtains you once thought were cool, and the sunlight bounces off that likewise grimy mirror you hung above your dresser. The only clock in your room (besides the one on your phone) ticks away. [[Look in the mirror.]] [[Look at the clock.]] [[Look out the window.]] <<if visited("Sleep") is 0>>[[Actually, go back to sleep.|Sleep]]<<endif>>

Your room isn't known for its "view", if you can even call it that. It looks out on what is less of a sidewalk and more of an alleyway between two apartment buildings. But, y'know, maybe the next time you try to pick up a date you'll find out that they just really love brick walls . If you lean far enough you can just make out the unmoving traffic on main street. Yeah. This is pretty standard for your part of town. Cheap apartments aren't known for their luxuries. On the bright side, at least you actually have windows. You're getting worried that you might accidentally make eye contact with someone if you stare outside too long. That'd be awkward. You close the curtains. Theres nothing really important out there anyway. [[Look in the mirror.]] <<if visited("Look at the clock.") is 0 >> [[Look at the clock.]] <<endif>>

<<if visited("Wake up.")>> Its you! Just as charmingly unshowered and beautifully mussed as you remember. You're still wearing last night's clothes. In your defense, you got home really late and sometimes you just can't help but collapse in exhaustion instead of actually change into pajamas. [[Fix your appearance.]] [[Look at the stinging spot on your neck.]] <<else>> Its you! Just as charmingly unshowered and beautifully mussed as you remember. You're still wearing last night's clothes. In your defense, you got home really late and sometimes you just can't help but collapse in exhaustion instead of actually change into pajamas. <<if visited("Look at the clock.") is 0 >> [[Look at the clock.]] <<endif>> <<if visited("Look out the window.") is 0 >> [[Look out the window.]] <<endif>> [[Fix your appearance.]] [[Look at the stinging spot on your neck.]] <<endif>>

Its just a boring pendulum clock hanging on the wall. Actually...even though the second hand is ticking, the pendulum seems to have stopped moving. That's pretty annoying. It was an heirloom you inherited from your greatgrandmother a few years back. Sure she died, but at least you got this sweet loot right!? Wrong. Anyways, it was working fine last night. You should probably set aside some time to fix it later. The perks of working part-time at a timekeeping store: you have vague knowledge on how to fix clocks. [[Look in the mirror.]] <<if visited("Look out the window.") is 0 >> [[Look out the window.]] <<endif>>

<<if visited("Wake up.")>> You are not known for having your priorities straight. If one of your friends were around this would no doubt be the time when they'd make some snide comment about this fact. You quickly throw on a new pair of jeans and a t-shirt, brush your hair, and do something to cover up that B.O.. You have that stylish "I care, but not too much" look that is all the rage nowadays (or at least, thats what you tell yourself). That foul dream-breath made you feel disgusting, so even this little amount of cleanup makes you feel better. <<set $appear = 1>> [[Look at the stinging spot on your neck.]] <<else>> You are not known for having your priorities straight. If one of your friends were around this would no doubt be the time when they'd make some snide comment about this fact. You quickly throw on a new pair of jeans and a t-shirt, brush your hair, and do something to cover up that B.O.. You have that stylish "I care, but not too much" look that is all the rage nowadays (or at least, thats what you tell yourself). Now that you look less like you've just been thrown out of a moving vehicle, you should probably look at your neck. <<set $appear = 1>> [[Look at the stinging spot on your neck.]] <<endif>>

<<if visited("Touch it again.") is 0>>After putting it off for as long as you could, you finally get around to looking at your neck. You shouldn't be so nervous, really. Its probably nothing. Up close you can see a red pinprick. The skin around it is slightly raised and there is a thin line of smeared blood. It seems like a pretty standard bugbite until you touch it. Thats when you learn that, yes, being nervous was the correct thing to be feeling. When you touch it, it pulses under your fingers and shoots searing pain throughout your neck and shoulder. There are several waves of this before the pain fades to a dull heat. When you can think about something besides how much that hurt , you can see that the "spot" is no longer a "spot". It looks like an ornamental lattice or honeycomb - bright white threads that pattern your skin in a radius of several inches from the central spot. Well, that happened. <<else>> What are you going to do about this honeycomb tattoo on your skin, genius? <<endif>> <<if visited("Wake up.") is 0>>[[Find something to cover it up.]] [[Punch the mirror.]]<<endif>> <<if visited("Touch it again.") is 0>>[[Touch it again.]]<<endif>> <<if visited("Wake up.")>> [[Cover your neck with a scarf and go find that girl.|MeetMentor]] <<endif>>

Actually, no. Touching it again is the last thing you want to do right now. And you won't be doing it anytime soon, for that matter. At least not directly. [[Yeah, okay|Look at the stinging spot on your neck.]]

You search your room for a minute before just deciding to throw on a scarf to cover it up. Its simple enough, and this way the only question you might get will be "Why are you wearing a scarf in this weather?" and not "What the hell is wrong with your neck? Oh my god. Should I take you to the hospital?!". At least with scarves you can tell people you're doing it for your #Aesthetic. As you adjust your scarf, you hear someone unlocking your front door and walking in. Weird. You weren't expecting anyone to come by today - let alone anyone with a key. <<set $scarf = 1; $blood = 0>> [[Confront the culprit.]]

Seeing no other immediate release for your flare of aggression, you take a swing at the mirror. You punch it so hard that it shatters into pieces. You might feel better emotionally, but now you have a bloody hand and seven years of bad luck. Way to go. You don't have time to rethink your life's decisions before you hear someone unlock your front door and walk in. <<set $scarf = 0; $blood = 1>> [[Confront the culprit.]]

<<if visited("Confront the culprit.") is 1>> You exit your room cautiously to investigate the unexpected visitor. There is some rustling in the kitchen. Its probably a murderer... or a thief... or a murderer/thief. On second thought, maybe you should go back and grab a weapon, just in case. You peek around the corner as the visitor turns around. They greet you with a big, off-putting grin that only grows when they actually see you. "Hello my little Sweetie Bug!" Oh. Its your Mom. So not quite as bad as a murderer/thief. You are seriously getting jumpy. "[[What are you doing here?|Confront the culprit.]]" Ignore her and [[Leave through the front door.]]<<endif>> <<if visited("Confront the culprit.") is 2>> <<if $scarf>> "I'm here to see you of course, Pumpkin!" She walks towards you with a teasing pout while one of her hands reaches for your scarf. "But now, I am very curious about this new fashion sense of yours. Are you hiding something from me?" <<elseif $blood>> "I just had a feeling my pookie pie would get into some trouble and get their lil hands all hurt today..." She walks towards you slowly, but there is a glint in her eye when she flicks her forked tongue over anticipating lips. "C'mere, Momma can kiss it all better for you, I promise!"<<endif>> Yeah. This is definitely unsettling. Your mom is... not like this. Ever. The only thing even vaguely normal about her right now is her ablility to spout sickeningly sweet petnames. You should probably go. [[Make up an excuse and leave as quickly as possible.|Leave through the front door.]]<<endif>>

<<if visited("Sit in the chair.") is 1>>You sit in the chair, feeling the need to rest after an exhausting night of laying down in bed. Nothing happens.<<elseif visited("Sit in the chair.") > 1 and visited("Sit in the chair.") < 3>> Nothing continues to happen. What an action-filled dream. Maybe you should do something else?<<else>> Is sitting here the best possible option? <<endif>> <<if visited("Sit in the chair.") < 3 >>[[Keep sitting.|Sit in the chair.]] [[Walk towards the light.]] <<else>> "[[Sitting here is the best possible option|You wait for eternity.]]" <<endif>>

Eventually you walk far enough down the corridor to make it to the source of light. Namely, an endless room of also endless light. Mood-lighting has obviously never been heard of in this dream realm, unless the mood here is supposed to be "disillusionment with white fluorescent lighting". At least you can't go blind in a dream. [[Explore|Explore the light.]]

<<if visited("You wait for eternity.") is 1>> You aren't sure how long you've been sitting here, but it definitely does seem like the best thing you could be doing right now. You feel like you've forgotten something, but just as soon as you think you've remembered what you've forgotten it slips away again. Are you waiting for something? <<elseif visited("You wait for eternity.") is 2>> That's right, you are waiting for something. You just can't remember what you're waiting for exactly. It happens to the best of us - funny how that is. More time passes as you look straight ahead, waiting for something (though you still aren't sure what). You figure you might at least get comfortable and relax a bit more into the wooden frame of the chair. It's so comfortable here. You wouldn't mind waiting for all eternity, would you? <<else>> The moment those words fill your mind, you realize that this is exactly what you were waiting for. You weren't waiting for something to arrive, you were just waiting forever! You can't help but smile at the thought. You've been waiting so long that you can't feel your legs or arms anymore anyway. It would just be silly to even try to get up! You wait, and time passes. You relax, and lose all feeling. You smile, and lose all thought. END. <<endif>> <<if visited("You wait for eternity.") is 1 >>"[[I am waiting for something.|You wait for eternity.]]" <<elseif visited("You wait for eternity.") is 2 >>"[[I would love to wait for all eternity.|You wait for eternity.]]" <<endif>>

Surprisingly, there isn't much to see nearby. You find a fake potted plant, an upside-down card table, and a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses. There are also several pendulums from clocks floating here and there like some surrealist painting, and one giant clock right overhead. The clock is weird too - aside from just being giant - theres a 0 where there would normally be a 12, and the clock's hands are moving counter-clockwise. <<set $clockFace = 5>> Examine the: [[Potted Plant]] [[Card Table]] [[Sunglasses]]

<<set $clockFace -= 1>> <<if $clockFace is 0>> When the clockface hits 0, a slow and tinny chime rings out. At least now you'll know what the damned thing was counting down for. You look up at it just as the floor beneath you falls away. You feel your stomach catch in your throat. [[This doesn't look good.|clockface]] <<else>> Upon closer inspection, you confirm that the plant is fake. You also find a little note tied to one of its branches. It reads: Water Me! <<if visited("Sunglasses")>> The other side is written in some kind of invisible ink, apparently, because you can only read it with these sunglasses on. It reads: SAVE THE BEES! You can always count on your subconscious to bring bee propaganda into your own dream.<<endif>> The clockface ticks and now reads <<print $clockFace>>. Examine the: [[Card Table]] <<if visited("Sunglasses") is 0>>[[Sunglasses]]<<endif>> <<endif>>

<<set $clockFace -= 1>> <<if $clockFace is 0>> When the clockface hits 0, a slow and tinny chime rings out. At least now you'll know what the damned thing was counting down for. You look up at it just as the floor beneath you falls away. You feel your stomach catch in your throat. [[This doesn't look good.|clockface]] <<else>> Yep, this is definitely an overturned card table. It's leg is missing and some hooligans seem to have stuck their gum to the underside of it. Disgusting. You also notice that even upside down where it doesn't need to rely on a leg it looks a bit lopsided. The clockface ticks and now reads <<print $clockFace>>. <<if visited("Potted Plant") is 0>>[[Examine the Potted Plant|Potted Plant]]<<endif>> <<if visited("Sunglasses") is 0>>[[Examine the Sunglasses|Sunglasses]]<<endif>> [[Move the Card Table]] <<endif>>

<<set $clockFace -= 1>> <<if $clockFace is 0>> When the clockface hits 0, a slow and tinny chime rings out. At least now you'll know what the damned thing was counting down for. You look up at it just as the floor beneath you falls away. You feel your stomach catch in your throat. [[This doesn't look good.|clockface]] <<else>>You effectively "examine" the sunglasses by putting them on your face. Nice. The clockface ticks and now reads <<print $clockFace>>. [[Potted Plant]] [[Card Table]] <<endif>>

Your stomach is just about the only thing going "up" as you plummet to your death. With all the trippy pendulums around you feel like you're supposed to be on your way to Wonderland, chasing a White Rabbit. You remind yourself that once you hit the ground you'll wake up. It doesn't take long for you to realize that there isn't actually a ground for you to hit. Try as you might, you have no control over the scenario anymore (did you ever?). So much for lucid dreaming. You're going to be stuck here for a very long time. END.

<<set $clockFace -= 1>> <<if $clockFace is 0>> When the clockface hits 0, a slow and tinny chime rings out. At least now you'll know what the damned thing was counting down for. You look up at it just as the floor beneath you falls away. You feel your stomach catch in your throat. [[This doesn't look good.|clockface]] <<else>> The card table is easily scooted off to the side, revealing what looks to be a trap-door underneath. The handle of this must have been what was making the table skew. The clockface ticks and now reads <<print $clockFace>>. [[Open trap-door]] <<endif>>

It takes a few tugs to get it un-stuck, but you manage to open it. Looking inside reveals little. With no ladder down, it looks to just be a bottomless pit. The only sign that there is something different down there is a warm breath of hot air that blows your hair out of your face. "[[Wait...a warm breath?|back to wake]]"

<<if visited("back to wake") is 1>>Yeah, it was definitely a breath. Hot and humid and smelling of a thousand things you never wanted to imagine being eaten by anything, ever. It makes you back up, a bit nauseated. No way in hell are you going to even try to go down there. A slow and tinny chime rings out as the clock's hands reach 0. At least now you'll know what the damned thing was counting down for. You look up at it just as the floor beneath you falls away. You feel your stomach catch in your throat as you begin to fall... and then rise again. You're slowly being blown upwards by whatever foul-breathed creature was under the trap-door. Well... at least its better than falling to death. <<else>> Your eyesight starts to get a bit bleary, the world fading in and out around you. Can smells in dreams work like smelling salts? Well, if all you're doing is being blown upwards, you might as well also wake up. <<endif>> <<if visited("back to wake") is 1>> "[[It really does smell terrible, though.|back to wake]]"<<else>> [[Wake up.]]<<endif>>

<<if visited("Wake up.") is 1>>You wake up to smelling salts being shoved in your face. With a groan, you smack them away and roll over. It is then that you realize that you had not just rolled over in your own bed, but are in fact laying on the laminate floor in your kitchen. You slowly peel open your eyes and are wide awake when you register and odd, bloodied mass beside you. "[[Gross.|Wake up.]]" <<elseif visited("Wake up.") is 2>>A small figure stands by the door, cleaning off her umbrella with the hem of her skirt. She must have been the one with the smelling salts. When she hears you, she pipes up. "I'm glad you woke up, I was afraid you were a goner there for a few minutes! Anyway, don't freak out or anything. That thing on the floor isn't actually your mom. It tried to eat you and I had to stop it - you know how it goes." "[[Right...of course.|Wake up.]]" <<elseif visited("Wake up.") is 3>>You did not know anything about these kinds of things at all. You're just a part-timer in an apartment. What the hell? Who is this kid? "I'll give you a bit to get ready, I'll explain everything when you are. I'll be just outside, kay?" She opens the front door and pauses for a moment, giving you a dark smile. "Oh, and don't touch that thing on the floor. It is still alive. Do yourself a favor and avoid it like the plague." "[[Gee, thanks.|Wake up.]]" <<elseif visited("Wake up.") is 4>>You have very little idea about what is going on. You aren't entirely sure what to think about that little girl, or what to make of her... story. Well, you'll be able to get your explanations soon. For now you should probably make sure you aren't severely injured. [[Go back to your room and look in the mirror.|Look in the mirror.]] <<endif>>

<<if visited("Wake up.")>> The odd little girl is waiting just outside your front door, checking her phone. She looks up at you when you walk out. "<<if $appear>>Oh good, you got cleaned up a tiny bit! <<endif>>I guess now is when I introduce myself, then? My name is Lark." "[[Right. Hello.|chatL]]" "[[I have questions.|chatL]]"<<else>> <<if visited("MeetMentor") is 1>>You somehow manage to pry yourself out of the grip of that monster and run out the front door. The monster isn't swayed by this at all and comes bolting after you. Great. It lashes out at you again. [[Dodge left|MeetMentor]] [[Duck Right|MeetMentor]]<<endif>> <<if visited("MeetMentor") is 2>> You barely miss being evicerated by the thing's awful claws. It comes at you again, but all remaining avenues of escape are very narrow. [[Duck left|MeetMentor]] [[Jump over the railing|MeetMentor]]<<endif>> <<if visited("MeetMentor") is 3>> You move quickly, but not quickly enough. The monster knocks the wind out of you in one swift motion and you are sent to the ground. This is not what you expected when you woke up this morning. You watch dazed as a small figure runs up, opens her umbrella, and completely obliterates your "Mom" into a steaming pile of organs and flesh. She hums in content and helps you back up with a sweet smile. "Sorry for nearly being too late! I'm Lark. Pleased to finally meet you." "[[Right. Hello.|chatL]]" "[[I have questions.|chatL]]"<<endif>><<endif>>

In a momentous attempt to win over a monster through the good-natured folly of youth, you attempt to channel all the superheroes and heroines you watched on TV and read about in comic books. You know deep in your heart that love can overcome all challenges. Unfortunately for you, you forgot that the Power of Love was an ability gained over at least several episodes (if not several seasons) worth of plot - and in RPG terms, you wouldn't nearly be at a high enough level to even know the skill yet! You strike a pose and declare that you will defeat this foe in the name of love, and some other embarassing stuff. When you finish, the monster gives you a pitying laugh and pats you on the head. In those three shared seconds before she brutally tears into your flesh, you think you've accomplished something. She spends the next three hours lovingly devouring every single part of your corpse. END.

You quickly mumble something about having places to be and dart for the front door.<<if $scarf>> Your mother's arm whips out and grips your forearm with shocking strength and speed. Her skin bubbles - parts of it hardening into sharp bone and other parts flaking off completely. When her nails lengthen into dark red claws you're pretty sure you're done for. "We both know you have nowhere to be right now, kid."<<elseif $blood>> Before you can make it two steps, her tongue wraps around your bloodied hand. Waking up this morning was your first mistake - making eye-contact with her is your second. Her pupils shift into vibrant slits that stare you down, and you are forced to watch in abject horror as her skin writhes and breaks. Two new, long arms unknit themselves from her back. "You're not going anywhere without eating breakfast first, sweetie. You look just about good enough to eat."<<endif>> Her voice is heavy and animalistic, now, and you are very sure of a few things: There is at least a 90% chance that this woman is not, in fact, your mother. She also most likely intends you great harm, and is most definitely worse than a murderer/thief. So what are you going to do? [[Use the Power of Love to fight!|PowerLove]] [[Tear yourself away and run!|MeetMentor]]

You agree to go with Lark. Considering what this kid did to that monster, she seems just about the safest person to be with right now. She is pleased with your answer, and quickly begins leading you down the street. "Here is the lowdown: We are currently walking around in the converging realms of the Living and Limbo. Time in the realms is currently a bit broken. You can only walk around right now thanks to an injection my friend gave you - that's whats up with your neck. We are heading towards a place called the Pendulum. Now, start asking questions and I'll answer as many as I can before we get where we're going." Ask about: [[Limbo.]] [[Pendulum?]] [[Lark.]] [[Why am I here?]] [[Injection.]]

To Lark's dismay, you turn around and start walking in the opposite direction of where she wanted.<<if $tree>> Ginkgo waves one of its branches "goodbye" and readjusts on your shoulder. At least it doesn't seem to care that you're abadoning your quest.<<endif>> You really don't want the stress of any more life or death situations. Besides, whos to say that girl is to be trusted? She proved that shes more dangerous than most things out here! Considering how not-normal things are currently, avoiding all other ominous people and places seems like a great idea. [[Wander aimlessly|nEnd]]

<<if visited("Tree.") is 1>>Lark directs you to stop in front of a very large and out-of-place redwood tree. She explains, "This is my friend, Ginkgo. I thought they might be able to help us so I'm making a stop." "[[Where are they?|Tree.]]"<<endif>><<if visited("Tree.") is 2>>Lark laughs and points at the tree. "Right here!" You can just make out some vaguely human facial features in the wood before it begins to shift and speak. "Hello..." it says. "[[You're a tree?|Tree.]]"<<endif>><<if visited("Tree.") is 3>>"Yes... more or less. I'm a shapeshifter, but ages ago I became unable to return to any form unlike my current one. I took the name of the first tree I was stuck as: Ginkgo. A bunch of stuff happened, I met Lark, and now I'm here..." "[[So you're a tree that can shapeshift into other trees? That doesn't seem very convenient.|Tree.]]"<<endif>><<if visited("Tree.") is 4>>"No. It usually isn't convenient at all." You think you hear a hollow sigh coming from Ginkgo's tree branches. "So, Lark, what do you need? I suspect its something having to do with time being broken again..?" They exchange a few words back and forth. Lark thinks that Gingko could help them negotiate with the "Keepers" down at the Pendulum. They ask you what you think would be best. [[Bring Ginkgo with you.|cPendulum]] [[Leave Ginkgo behind.|bPendulum]]<<endif>>

It takes another thirty minutes to reach the edge of the Pendulum. The Pendulum, it turns out, is much, much larger than Lark had made it sound. Spread out before you is a substantial expanse of black valleys and grey trees. According to Lark this is just the "overlap of the realms" that manifests in the pendulum, and the place you were walking to is still a couple minutes from here. A cool grey fog rolls out between the trees. Lark opens her umbrella and skips a few steps, motioning for you to follow. "It'll be a bit dangerous going forward, so make sure not to stray from the path."

You really don't see the point in even trying to bring a shapeshifting tree person with you, so you decline to bring Ginkgo along. <<display Pendulum>> [[Keep walking.|Find bees.]] [[You're really not feeling this whole "Journey to fix Time" thing anymore.|mAlone]]

<<if visited("cPendulum") is 1>>You're kind of curious to see how a tree could even travel with you at this point, so you agree to bring Ginkgo with you. Ginkgo takes a moment to shift down into a tiny bonsai tree. They pull up their roots and use them like legs scuttle up your side and onto your shoulder. You can't decide if its creepy, or cute.<<set $tree = 1>> [[Either way, add it to the growing list of weird things you've seen today.|cPendulum]]<<else>> <<display Pendulum>> [[Keep Walking.|Find bees.]] [[You're really not feeling this whole "Journey to fix Time" thing anymore.|mAlone]] <<endif>>

<<if visited("Find bees.") is 1>>You continue to follow Lark for a few more minutes, walking through the fog, before coming to an area littered with bee-boxes. Lark clears her throat and calls out for "Mr. Keeper!". Strings of bees swarm out of the boxes, packing together into a cloud. They shift and morph their cloud into a dark, buzzing, human figure. "Lark, you're finally here. And you've brought the clockmaker...<<if $tree>> And your lovely tree friend, too! Ginkgo, was it? Its always a pleasure to meet a source of pollen like yourself.<<endif>>" [[So what's going on?|Find bees.]]<<endif>> <<if visited("Find bees.") is 2>> Lark<<if $tree>>, Ginkgo,<<endif>> and the Keeper try to fill you in. According to the Keeper, the broken timepiece isn't even the biggest problem anymore. Its been revealed that some other hunters like Lark have been trying to force the realms into joining once and for all. They seem to hate being split, coming and going all the time. And, to top it all off, they've been going around killing off entire districts of Keepers and their food sources. (Apparently even Limbo is facing a problem with a severe decline in bee population. Who knew?). The group calls themselves the Centric. [[What's the plan?|Find bees.]]<<endif>><<if visited("Find bees.") is 3>>There is pretty much only one plan at this point: confront the Centric and fix the clock. <<if $tree>> Although, with the way the Keeper keeps hanging on Ginkgo, it gives you the idea that you could probably just ignore the time thing and focus on helping the bees survive. A shapeshifting tree would probably be a great asset to the Pollen economy.<<endif>> [[Confront the Centric|clockS]] <<if $tree>> [[Help the bees instead.|nEnd2]] <<endif>><<endif>>

<<if visited("clockS") is 1>>The Centric is apparently just hanging out at the center of the Pendulum, which makes them very easy to find. You kick open a rusty door and find the three members of Centric sitting on the floor playing a game of Go Fish. They look up at you when you walk in. One of them smiles and waves at you, while the other two stare at Lark. The walls of the room are covered in shifting gears and misc. clock parts, but nothing seems broken. The only thing you even spot that might be causing all this "Broken Time" nonsense is a flipped lever with the labels "On" and "Off" at opposite ends. "[[Hi...|clockS]]" <<else>>"Hiya clockmaker! We've been waitin' for ya!" The smiling member of Centric says with a drawl. "It's a mighty bummer that you had to bring lil Lark along though. What'd she tell ya? That we're evil? All we did was flip a switch to get ya down here! Now, you should be more worried about her. She's known for bein a good liar. You should trust us instead. Help us out." Lark rolls up her sleeves and bounces her umbrella impatiently. "Are you kidding me right now? Its these guys? I mean, I'm really sorry that you technically don't have to actually fix anything since all they did was flip a lever, but please tell me you trust me when I say that I really want to send them to hell." [[Trust Lark|Best Ending!]] [[Trust the Centric|Worst Ending!]]<<endif>>

Yeah, right, like you're actually going to trust the Centric? You step back and give them a pitying look. They seem confused until Lark lunges forward and spends the next 30 minutes tearing them apart.<<if $tree>>Ginkgo also helps by turning into several different types of dangerous plants.<<endif>> It becomes very clear to you that Lark has a lot of pent-up aggression. When she's done, she apologizes for the mess and asks if you'd like to do the honors of flipping the switch. You do, and the balance of time is restored. She walks you back home, makes sure the remains of your monster-mom are all cleaned up, and says she'll visit you soon. Everything is back to normal. You can't help thinking that today has been inconveniently long and dangerous for someone who didn't really need to do anything besides flip a switch. One thing is for sure: you're going back to sleep. END.

The Centric has a pretty good point. Lark seems a little off, and these Centric people seem nice enough! You join their side with a shrug, and the moment you turn around to give an apologetic look to Lark, you feel yourself being stabbed. Looking down you can see a dark wetness spreading and dripping from the hole made by the spear going through you. This was the worst decision you have made today. Before your world goes completely black, you meet Lark's eyes. Shes standing there in shock and doesn't ready her umbrella in time to deflect another one of Centric's attacks. She loses her head to the sound of cheers and party poppers. END.

Eventually, you come to a creek and sit down. You are tired. Whatever is happening can happen without you. And it does. You pass a few hours here by the creek before a slow and tinny series of chimes ring out. They seem familiar but you can't place it now. The world around you snaps into focus at the last chime - everything becoming more rigid and shadowed. A few minutes after that, a snake monster rises up out of the lake. It slithers over and offers you a cigarette.<<if $tree>> Ginkgo suggests that the three of you play cards, and the snake agrees.<<endif>> You could get used to monsters if some are as friendly as this. In the distance you hear some screams and a siren, but you are content here and don't care at all. You light up a cigarette and smile. END.

<<if $blood>>"First, before I forget, here's a little something for that bloody hand of yours. It'd be a good idea to wrap it up before another monster decides it wants to get a taste." She pulls some gauze out of a pocket in her dress and hands it to you. <<endif>>"Theres not much time for questions, I'm afraid. We're on a little bit of a time constraint. But I'll fill you in as much as I can while you follow me. Come on!" [[Go with her.|mWith]] [[Go your own way.|mAlone]]

"Limbo is basically just the term we use for the place where all our monster friends hang out. Its cool except for when jerks try to impersonate your mom and try to kill you. It happens more often than you'd think." Ask About: [[Pendulum?]] [[Lark.]] [[Why am I here?]] [[Injection.]] [[No more questions.|Tree.]]

"The Pendulum is basically this big time-piece that keeps the realms in balance. You can't see it normally but, well, I did say that time was broken. If its not fixed, the realms would converge and that would not be very good. Nope. Not good at all." Ask About: [[Limbo.]] [[Lark.]] [[Why am I here?]] [[Injection.]] [[No more questions.|Tree.]]

"Me? I'm a human, like you, but I'm also a hunter - which is just a cool term for the designated monster sheriff for all time. I'm younger than you now but I have this whole reincarnation thing going on so I actually have massive skills and knowledge. And I have this sweet umbrella that I've rigged to channel my monster wards through! Its pretty cool." Ask About: [[Limbo.]] [[Pendulum?]] [[Why am I here?]] [[Injection.]] [[No more questions.|Tree.]]

"You actually don't know? Huh. Okay so, you're like this seventh kid of a seventh kid of a seventh kid - you've got totally massive descendency here is what I'm sayin, even if its not all kept track of in the human places. Anyway, as of a few years back when your grandma died, any major time issues have to fall to you. Time is broken and you're our only option right now. You're the clockmaker of the apocalypse, and I'm your bodyguard!" Ask About: [[Limbo.]] [[Pendulum?]] [[Lark.]] [[Injection.]] [[No more questions.|Tree.]]

You blow off your responsibilities in favor of helping the Keeper and Ginkgo rehabilitate the local bee districts. The Centric succeeds in joining the two realms, but with the help of your efforts they are unable to harm natural resources anymore. The bees buy you a cool leather jacket with "Killer Bee" embroidered on the back as thanks. When the Centric do try to cause some more violent problems a few months later, you are able to completely wipe out the entirety of them by calling on the help of your new bee gang. Life is relatively good. END.

"<<if $scarf>>I mean, judging by that lame scarf you're wearing, you definitely noticed that fancy new pattern on your skin.<<endif>> My little friend - you'll meet him soon, he's a Keeper down at the Pendulum - popped by your room this morning, stuck a needle in your neck, and pumped enough juice into you to make sure you could actually walk around and help us. The side effect is that honeycomb scar, but it doesn't look awful so its okay!" Ask About: [[Limbo.]] [[Pendulum?]] [[Lark.]] [[Why am I here?]] [[No more questions.|Tree.]]