Victor

(if: $writing is true)[So let's begin. $V[Are we just going to dive in? Not going to give any set up?] Gah, fine.] It was a dark (font:"monospace")[Really? You're starting with that?] [[Excuse me?]]

$V[You know that's a cliche.] B-but who the frell are you? $V[[You know who I am.]]

(set: $V to (font:"monospace")) (set: $um to (link-goto: "...I don't know."))

...what do you want from me? $V[You mean besides a mediocum of talent?] Wait, seriously? My game is so bad it's starting to rebel against me? $V[You're a terrible coder too.] [[Great...]]

$V[So what do you even want to do with your thing?] [[Something whimsical.]] [[Something science-y.]] [[Well, it's supposed to be a horror thing.->Horror]] [[...I don't know.]]

$V[Okay, what's it going to be about?] [[Trying to have a conversation without making a fool of yourself.]] [[...I don't know.]]

$V[Okay, like what?] [[Like commanding a ship.]] $um

$V[What. What do you mean you don't know?] Alright, alright, I'll admit it. I'm a hack. $V[Why even start on a project if you can't be bothered to finish it? Just do something!] [[Okay, I'll do something.]]

Here's something. $V[No it's not. You're trying to get out of actually having to try.] Okay, okay, fine. [[Give me a prompt.]]

(if: $stanley is true)[$V[What about that idea earlier?] What, that idea I mentioned earlier? $V[Yeah, that one. You said it worked, didn't you?] Yeah, it worked for somebody else. [[Why should I?<-Why would it work for me?]] [[Do you expect me to top that?]]]\ (else-if: $horror is true)[$V[Here's your prompt: You're in a spot you don't quite understand.] That wouldn't work. That's my life, and it's kind of boring. [[Why should I?<-So is it really worth it?]]] \(else:)[$V[Oh so now you want me to write it for you?] You seem to know better than I do. $V[I know when somebody isn't trying.] [[Why should I?]]]

$V[Don't you want to make a game?] Not any more. I was just doing this because it seemed fun. And then here comes some bizarre glitch telling me I'm hopeless! $V[Don't be that hard on yourself...] [[Goodbye.]]

(if: $depressing is true)[$V[That might actually work.]]\ (else:)[$V[...what do you mean goodbye?]] $V[Hello? You still there?] $V[Good job, Victor. Good job.] (if: $depressing is true)[$V[You talked the poor soul out of something that might work.]]

$V[Okay, a conversation about what?] [[A writing project.]] $um

$V[Like we're having right now?] Oh rub it in, why don't you? $V[I'm trying to help. Why not base it off of the one we're having right now?] (set: $writing to true) [[Okay.->Hello]] [[Wait, this seems familiar...->Stanley]]

$V[Okay, what kind of ship?] [[Some sort of escape pod.]] $um

$V[Okay, what can this escape pod do?] [[Nothing; it's about isolation.]] $um

$V[It can't do anything? What's the point then?] (set: $isolation to true) What do you mean what's the point? $V[What's the point of the escape pod? Just drift into space?] [[Well, yeah->Drift]] [[No, it goes somewhere->Targeted]]

$V[Doesn't that seem a tad bit depressing?] [[Yeah, I guess it kind of is.->depress]] [[That's the point, isn't it?->so what]]

$V[Okay, where does it go?] [[Won't matter.->re-entry]] $um

I guess I'll just scrap the whole idea then. (set: $depressing to true) $V[[Goodbye.<-Wait, hold on.]]

$V[...what do you mean "that's the point"? You told me you wanted something "science-y", not a full blown existential piece.] Yeah, but that's where it went. Isn't the whole point of this sort of thing to subvert expectations? $V[I thought it was to express yourself.] What self? $V[WOW. You do not have a good self-image, do you?] I'm an introvert defined by other people, what did you expect? $V[Defined by other people?]  I don't have anything really going for me. $V[But you just came up with some decent ideas on the fly.] Calling them my ideas is incredibly charitable.`*cough*` To be perfectly honest, I've just been making things up off... oh. I see. Okay then, I'll be off. I'm gonna go think of more things to do with this. $V[Just stick with the idea you already have and keep building off it.] [[Bye!]]

$V[Wait, where are you going?] $V[I've lost him, haven't I?]

$V[What do you mean?] This sort of argument between the game and the player, or in this case, developer? This is the Stanley Parable! $V[One, I've never heard of that game.] I have it on Steam. You should try it ...if you can. $V[That's not important. What is important is that you go ahead anyway.] But won't people knock it for being a ripoff. $V[There's not much wrong with being upfront with your inspirations. Just keep on going with what you have. If somebody is going to complain because it's like that other thing, that person can safely be ignored.] But it's valid criticism, isn't it? $V[Not really. Just keep going with whatever you're doing.] (set: $stanley to true) [[But I don't know what I was doing.->...I don't know.]]

$V[Why should you? Just try something?] FINE! $V[Whoa. No need to get angry.] Why shouldn't I? It's not like you're doing anything to make this thing better! And besides, isn't that a bit hypocritical of you to tell me to keep going with something regardless of it's been done before when the first thing you did was interrupt me because I was spouting off some cliche. Would you just go away? $V[Oh. Is that it huh?] [[Yes.->frustrated]]

$V[Wait, don't go away...] $V[Are you still there?] $V[Good job, Victor. Good job. You talked the poor sap into abandoning a potentially great idea. Though you were fighting an uphill battle.]

$V[What do you mean, it won't matter?] All it's supposed to do is give the poor sap something to look forward to. $V[Isn't that kind of depressing?] So? Is that such a bad thing?

$V[Okay then, what makes you nervous? Uncomfortable?] [[useless<-It's not worth using. Too stupid.]] [[I don't want to talk about it.]]

$V[It can't be that bad, can it?] I'm afraid of dogs. $V[So? That's something you can work with, right?] Man's best friend? Cute cuddly things? $V[And you can't make that intimidating? Obviously they freak you out. Why don't you build on that?] Because the reason they bother me is kind of stupid. $V[Isn't that what fear is?] Nah, it couldn't work... $V[So what are you going to do?] $V[You stil there?] $V[Great, I'm never getting a response, will I?]

$V[Then what are you going to use?] (set: $horror to true) $um