kit-s1-epilogue

"Sir, I--" I attempt to speak, but Captain Perrault continues his diatribe as if I hadn't moved. I wave my hand in front of his face. He doesn't react.\n\nHe can't see me. At least, this version of me.\n\n<<Captain>>\n\nAround me, [[precinct activity continues|Dream of the Precinct]].

<<if $conversation is 0>>She smiles a bit. "Thanks for taking me out, boo. This is nice." I wince involuntarily. Hearing her voice again is painful.<<endif>>\n<<if $conversation is 1>>She giggles a bit. My heart jerks in my chest at the sound. "I know. You're cute. I love you so much."<<endif>>\n<<if $conversation is 2>>"Mmm? I don't know, tell me more." I can tell that her deep brown eyes are twinkling. I can't meet them.<<endif>>\n<<if $conversation is 3>>Her expression changes. "I don't know what you mean by that. What does that mean."<<set $patience to 4>><<endif>>\n<<if $conversation is 4>>She shakes her head. "I'm not mad, no, I just don't know what to say to that."<<set $patience to 3>><<endif>>\n<<if $conversation is 5>>She draws in a breath and lets it out slowly. "I just ... I cannot believe you."<<set $patience to 3>><<endif>>\n<<if $conversation is 6>>Even without looking at them, I can feel her angry stare. "I don't know why I even try. I deserve better than this."<<set $patience to 1>><<endif>>\n<<set $conversation += 1>>

"Wherever you're sleeping," the crone chuckles. "Certainly not here. Isn't it a bit early for you to be asleep? Taking a nap to help your brain get going?"\n\n"No, I ... I was ambushed," I reply. "A faerie in a black jester's outfit threw dust at my face."\n\n"Oh dear," the crone replies, shaking her head. "If what you say is true, you'll be waking up soon, and won't have a very nice time of it."\n* [["What should I do?"|Advice]]\n* [["Can you help me?"|Help]]\n* [["Am I in danger?"|Danger]]

//Last time, on Connected Kit...//\n\nI stumble backward, sputtering as the sparkling powder fills my nose.\n\nTrying to scramble in my satchel for my pistol, I can feel my strength ebb from inhaling whatever that stuff was.\n\n"Rookie mistake," I manage to mutter before I tumble to the floor and my vision goes black.\n\n[[While I'm unconscious, I have strange dreams...|Dream of the Precinct][$captain = 0]]

Machere was always a cop's cop. If I could handle teamwork better, I would have liked to have him as a partner. If nothing else, it would have been nice to have somebody who could stomach paperwork helping me out. He was also the only other person of color in the office, so that might have helped me feel less alone.\n\nWe never really got to know each other. I wonder how he's doing.\n\n<<Captain>>\n\nAround me, [[precinct activity continues|Dream of the Precinct]].

Perched on a table nearby is a small figure, clad all in black, wearing a theatrical 'tragedy' mask and a black jester's hat. There are dark bells on the end, but they don't make a sound as the figure moves.\n\n"Time to get up, friend," the figure growls. "You're in trouble."\n\n[[End Epilogue]]

Captain Perrault had always been a severe man. He was probably in his fifties, but he looked both older and younger than that. The hard edge of his eyes and creased skin of his face gave the impression of a man in his twilight years, but his muscular physique made him look early middle age from a distance.\n\nI always figured he'd live forever, but his smoking habit thought otherwise. I wonder if the new Captain is as much of a dick.\n\n<<Captain>>\n\nAround me, [[precinct activity continues|Dream of the Precinct]].<<if $captain < 6>> I think about trying to [[talk to the Captain]].<<endif>>

This bottle of Prosecco cost me half a week's pay. I couldn't help but wonder whether Rebecca actually likes the stuff or ordered it because it was expensive and she likes costing me money.\n\nThe bottle's <<if $bottle is 6>>most of the way full. <<if $glass < 3>>I think about [[refilling my glass]].<<endif>><<else>><<if $bottle > 3>>about half full. <<if $glass < 3>>I think about [[refilling my glass]].<<endif>><<else>><<if $bottle > 0>>almost empty. <<if $glass < 3>>I think about [[refilling my glass]].<<endif>><<else>>empty.<<endif>><<endif>><<endif>>\n\n<<Rebecca>>\n\nAround me, the hushed conversation of [[the bistro|Dinner Date]] continues.

As I sit down, everything [[starts moving again|Dream of the Precinct]].

I try to speak to Rebecca. My mouth moves and I hear a sound, but I seem to have no control over it. I can't understand the words, but Rebecca seems to.<<set $patience to 5>>\n\n<<rebeccareaction>>\n\nAround us, the hushed conversation of [[the bistro|Dinner Date]] continues.

"Mm," the crone gives the question a moment of thought. "Whatever you're inclined to, I think. Just keep yer peepers open. You're a bright one. At least, I assume."\n\n"Um." I feel strange.\n\n"Well, it's just about time for you to be off." The crone goes back to stirring her soup.\n\n"Wait!" I exclaim. "What was this? Is this actually happening?"\n\nThe crone laughs out loud. "Oh dear," she mutters. "What a question!"\n\nThen the floor dissolves, and I [[fall into darkness|waking up]].

"Just an old crone," the crone chuckles. "But enough about me. It's just a bit early for you to be asleep. Taking a nap to help your brain get going?"\n\n"No, I ... I was ambushed," I reply. "A faerie in a black jester's outfit threw dust at my face. Am I awake yet?"\n\n"No, dear," the crone replies, shaking her head. "If what you say is true, you'll be waking up soon, and won't have a very nice time of it."\n* [["What should I do?"|Advice]]\n* [["Can you help me?"|Help]]\n* [["Am I in danger?"|Danger]]

Dansky and Feldman are muttering to each other. Feldman has a clipboard and a pencil, but isn't doing anything with it. Both of them keep looking over this way.\n\nThose assholes always spent more time goofing around than working, but they're white townies, so Perrault never gave them the kind of grief that he gave me.\n\n<<Captain>>\n\nAround me, [[precinct activity continues|Dream of the Precinct]].

I wake up slower than I wish I could. I'm not feeling any pain, but I feel groggy and doped up, like I'm on heavy painkillers.\n\nMy eyes flutter open. It's dark in here, but not pitch black. I try to move my body, and discover that my limbs have been restrained. As feeling returns to my limbs, I deduce that I have been tied to a chair.\n\nThere's another item off the Private Investigator bucket list.\n\n"Oh good, you're awake," a squeaky yet somehow menacing voice says. [[I look up.|captor]]

My uniform feels tight.\n\nOr loose, one of those. I look down at it. There's my badge. 'Calhoun'. Huh. I'm wearing a pistol, too.\n\n<<Captain>>\n\nAround me, [[precinct activity continues|Dream of the Precinct]].

Connected Kit Yanked into the Faerie Court, Season 1 epilogue

I'm sitting at a table for two at Bistro 5. The lights are low and the sounds of quiet music piped in through unseen speakers mingle with background conversation.\n\nOn the table, a votive candle and a [[bottle of Prosecco]] rest. <<if $glass is 3>>A full [[glass of wine|wineglass]] stands near the corner of my place setting.<<endif>><<if $glass is 2>>My [[wineglass]], about half full, beckons.<<endif>><<if $glass is 1>>My [[wineglass]], almost empty, sits in front of me.<<endif>><<if $glass is 0>>My [[empty glass]] sits in front of me.<<endif>>\n\n[[My girlfriend Rebecca]] occupies the seat across from me, all curves of smooth dark skin and satin. There's [[a wineglass]] in front of her too. \n\n<<Rebecca>>\n\nMy heart thuds a heavy, sodden beat in my chest. I think about [[getting up]], walking away.

<<if $patience > 1>>\n<<if $patience is 5>>Rebecca smiles a bit at me. <<endif>>\n<<if $patience is 4>>Rebecca turns her wineglass in its place, her manicure gleaming in the light. Her expression is hard to read. <<endif>>\n<<if $patience is 3>>Rebecca raises her eyebrows expectantly, and I recognize impatience in her demeanor. <<endif>>\n<<if $patience is 2>>Rebecca leans back in her chair, visibly annoyed at my silence. <<endif>>I think about [[saying something to her]].<<set $patience -= 1>>\n<<else>><<if $patience is 1>>"If that's how you're going to act," Rebecca finally says, her voice like ice. "I'm leaving." She stands up and walks away, leaving me alone with the bottle of wine and the bill.<<set $patience -= 1>><<else>>Rebecca is gone.<<endif>><<endif>>

Rebecca's wineglass is almost full.\n\nShe used to do that a lot: order a bottle of wine and then nurse a single glass for the entire meal. I'd usually drink the rest of the bottle out of nerves, and then she'd criticize me for getting drunk.\n\n<<Rebecca>>\n\nAround me, the hushed conversation of [[the bistro|Dinner Date]] continues.

Those stairs lead down to the lobby. Should I go down them yet, or sit back down for now?\n\n[[Go down the stairs|Dinner Date][$glass = 3; $bottle = 6; $patience = 5; $conversation = 0]]\n[[Sit back down|Resume]]

I'm sitting in a small cabin that, by the smooth, vertical grain of the walls, seems to have been carved out of the center of a huge tree. My seat is a contoured stool in front a polished wooden table.\n\nAn old crone -- three feet tall, clad in rags, standing in front of a storybook hearth complete with a bubbling pot -- stops stirring for a moment to peer over her shoulder at me.\n\n"You're a bit early, then, aren't you?"\n* [["I have no idea."|Um]]\n* [["Where am I?"|Where]]\n* [["I'm sorry, but who are you?"|Who]]\n* [["Am I still dreaming?|Dreaming]]

Branches whip my face, roots and stones threaten to trip me. I can scarcely see more than a foot in front of me by the moonlight.\n\nBehind me, I hear the inhuman snarls of my pursuer, the crash and rustle of something big, something nasty.\n\nI push on, my lungs fit to burst. Then my boot hits a divot in the ground, I stumble, I hit something gut-first.\n\nThen I'm tumbling down, [[falling|treehouse]] --

"Most of us rarely, do, dearie," the crone chuckles. "It's just a bit early for you to be asleep. Taking a nap to help your brain get going?"\n\n"No, I ... I was ambushed," I reply. "A faerie in a black jester's outfit threw dust at my face. Am I awake yet?"\n\n"No, dear," the crone replies, shaking her head. "If what you say is true, you'll be waking up soon, and won't have a very nice time of it."\n* [["What should I do?"|Advice]]\n* [["Can you help me?"|Help]]\n* [["Am I in danger?"|Danger]]

My glass is empty. <<if $bottle > 0>>I think about [[refilling it|refilling my glass]]<<else>>The bottle is too<<endif>>.\n\n<<Rebecca>>\n\nAround me, the hushed conversation of [[the bistro|Dinner Date]] continues.

I got partnered with Leahy more than most anyone else, but never really got to know her. She was always the watching and listening type, which meant that she saw and heard everything, but never did or said shit about it. That always kind of pissed me off.\n\nI hear she quit the force.\n\n<<Captain>>\n\nAround me, [[precinct activity continues|Dream of the Precinct]].

Thank you for playing //Connected Kit Yanked into the Faerie Court//!\n\nFrom here you can go back to the [[Episode Index|index.html]]...\nOr play some of my other games at my website, [[inurashii.xyz|http:inurashii.xyz]]!\n\nIf you're interested in being part of the //Connected Kit// interactive serial novel, please consider subscribing to my Patreon at the following address:\n[[http://patreon.com/inurashii]]\nAny donation at all allows you to play episodes of //Connected Kit// as they are released, and your input will affect the canon of future episodes.\n\nThanks so much for playing.\nLove,\nCaelyn Sandel

I'm sitting at my desk in the main precinct office. My former coworkers mill and bustle around me, but none of them seem to realize I'm here. My [[old uniform]] doesn't fit right.\n\nDansky and Feldman are goofing off at [[their desks|Dansky and Feldman]], just across from mine. Behind me, [[Sergeant Machere]] types furiously. Further away, leaning against the entrance to the break room, [[Leahy]] watches the scene while sipping a cup of coffee.\n\n<<Captain>>\n\nI think about <<if $captain < 6>>ignoring Captain Perrault and<<endif>> [[getting up from my chair|Getting Up]].

As I stand up, both background and foreground noise cease.\n\n<<if $captain < 6>>Captain Perrault freezes mid-lecture, a half-formed gesticulation waiting to continue. It's not just him, either: <<endif>>Everyone is frozen in place. Dansky and Feldman pause mid-gossip, Machere's fingers hold their brutal attack on his keyboard. Leahy doesn't look much different, but she barely moves anyway.\n\nEverything is deadly quiet and still.\n\nI consider [[sitting back down|Resume]] just to dispel the unnerving silence. I know, in that way that you know in dreams, that if I sit back down, everything will start going again.\n\nI eye [[the stairs]].

I stand up, and suddenly everyone is looking at me.\n\nSomeone else stands up too. I turn ... and there's my mother, standing in front of a large table, tearful and pointing at me. The table is full of adult figures from my childhood: my father, my preacher, my teachers, my old principal, my girl scout leader. They're all frowning, shaking their heads.\n\n"That's my baby!" My mother wails. "That's my little girl! What did I do wrong? Don't you love your father? Don't you love God?"\n\nMy flight instinct kicks in and [[I run]].

I'm having trouble looking directly at her. Even in my mind's eye, Rebecca is one of the most beautiful people I've ever met. Her dress is a smooth, sharp red, standing out against her smooth, dark skin.\n\nMy time with her was one of the longest relationships I've ever had, but that's not saying much. Four months. Four of the longest months I can remember.\n\n<<Rebecca>>\n\nAround me, the hushed conversation of [[the bistro|Dinner Date]] continues.

"Mm," the crone gives the question a moment of thought. "No, don't think so. Not now, at least. Just keep yer peepers open. You're a bright one. At least, I assume."\n\n"Um." I feel strange.\n\n"Well, it's just about time for you to be off." The crone goes back to stirring her soup.\n\n"Wait!" I exclaim. "What was this? Is this actually happening?"\n\nThe crone laughs out loud. "Oh dear," she mutters. "What a question!"\n\nThen the floor dissolves, and I [[fall into darkness|waking up]].

<<set $glass -= 1>>I lift my wineglass and take a drink<<if $glass is 0>>, draining it<<endif>>.\n\n<<Rebecca>>\n\nAround me, the hushed conversation of [[the bistro|Dinner Date]] continues.

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"Oh, yes, certainly," the crone chuckles. "A bit early for it, don't you think? Taking a nap to help your brain get going, eh?"\n\n"No, I ... I was ambushed," I reply. "A faerie in a black jester's outfit threw dust at my face."\n\n"Oh dear," the crone replies, shaking her head. "If what you say is true, you'll be waking up soon, and won't have a very nice time of it."\n* [["What should I do?"|Advice]]\n* [["Can you help me?"|Help]]\n* [["Am I in danger?"|Danger]]

<<set $bottle to ($bottle - (3 - $glass))>><<set $glass to 3>>I reach out and grab the Prosecco, pulling it to my side of the table. <<if $patience > 0>>Rebecca gives me a critical eye, but doesn't say anything about it.<<endif>>\n\nI pour myself another glass of wine<<if $bottle < 0>>, emptying the bottle,<<endif>> and set the bottle back down.\n\n<<Rebecca>>\n\nAround me, the hushed conversation of [[the bistro|Dinner Date]] continues.

Caelyn Sandel

<<if $captain is 0>>[[Captain Perrault]] stands next to my desk, glaring down at me. "We've got to talk, Calhoun."<<endif>>\n<<if $captain is 1>>[[Captain Perrault]] grimaces. "Yes, //now//. Or do you have something so important to do that you can't take time to listen to feedback from a superior officer?"<<endif>>\n<<if $captain is 2>>[[Captain Perrault]] leans back and folds his arms. "Look. Nobody's questioning your efficacy, Calhoun. You've got a good nose and you're the best researcher on the squad. But that's not good enough."<<endif>>\n<<if $captain is 3>>[[Captain Perrault]] continues his tirade. "But you're not a fucking freelancer. This pick and choose bullshit has got to end. You do the cases you are assigned. Period."<<endif>>\n<<if $captain is 4>>[[Captain Perrault]]'s voice gets louder and louder as he works himself up to a lather. "Maybe your superiors let you do your own thing in Connecticut, but here I expect you to work the cases I tell you to work, //when// I tell you to work them!"<<endif>>\n<<if $captain is 5>>[[Captain Perrault]], building up a head of steam, is now loud enough to be heard by the entire office. "And for God's sake, take an office day and get that mountain of paper in your inbox taken care of! Paperwork is //not// optional."<<endif>>\n<<if $captain is 6>>The Captain leans toward me and jabs an accusatory finger as he sends hot, foul breath into my face. "You're useful, Calhoun, but don't think for a second you can't be replaced. Now shape up or pack your things!" Having said his peace, the Captain whirls and stomps away with long steps. He enters his office and slams the door behind him.<<endif>>\n<<if $captain > 6>>The Captain is gone, leaving hushed whispers in his wake. People are gossipping about me being in trouble again.<<endif>>\n<<set $captain += 1>>