Regaining Eden Demo

Your browser lacks required capabilities. Please upgrade it or switch to another to continue.

Loading…

Mr. Wheezy was a good employee, he had the perpetual reek of cigars about him and could always be found not too far from King Dice at any point in time. That's...all Pir knew about the man, really. They'd never really had any meaningful interaction- aside from meeting up in the kitchens to grab a cup of coffee and gripe about the customers, the crappy coffee and their loving <s>tyrant</s> manager. Speaking of <<linkappend "which...">> "I thought Dice would be here as well," She admits, resisting the urge to look around as if he'd portal in out of nowhere and leer cheerfully at them like always. Wheezy's face near winces at the mention of the manager's name. <<linkappend "Oh no.">> King Dice had been the one to hand down the orders. <em> All of them</em> had been fired, including the Devil's Right Hand Man. Even so, none of them were surprised that he'd been left to do the dirty work for the big boss. Breaking the news, handing them their last paycheck and all but throwing them out and locking the door behind them. Pir had thought he'd just gone to yell at the Devil before leaving Hell with the rest. <<linkappend "Apparently not.">> <<button "[['Do you think the Devil did something to him...?'|devil hurt dice]]">> <</button>> <<button "[[If YOU don't know, maybe he didn't want to be found.|job was everything]]">> <</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>>

<<linkappend "It's cold.">> Hell has never been so cold before. The cavern looks even bigger in the suffocating gloom, the spewing volcanos have shrunk black and cool. Immediately, her cheeks and nose sting in the cold and she regrets not bringing a hooded coat. There's a sensation of heavy air crowding up against them despite the unnatural emptiness and both of them refuse to break the silence. With a mute shrug Wheezy nods towards her and does a strangely fluid flick to send a contained fireball into orbit around them to light the way. [img[pic/fireball.png]] With Wheezy at her back, Pir straightens her hunched shoulders and wonders which way to head first. <<button [[The Casino might have some imps hanging around.|closedcasino]]>><</button>> <<button [[The Throne Room is usually open no matter what.|throneroom]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <<audio "wind" loop volume 0 fadeto 0.25>> <<audio "fire" stop>>

To be honest, she doesn't give a fig about ticking off <<linkappend "the Devil">> (when is he <strong>not</strong> mad honestly?)<</linkappend>>. Oh no, Pir's more afraid of what she'll do if he won't take her back on. For nearly thirty years Pir has worked for the Devil's Casino. She's forgotten how to function back with regular society. Every room she sleeps in now is chilly- compared to the sweltering temperatures she grew used to working in Inkwell Hell. It wasn't just the heat but the <<linkappend "<em>magic</em>.">> Interesting customers from all over the world and under it. Every contract, every fight was infused with an electric neon tang of lights and signs and hellfire displays. She <em>thrived</em>. It was familiar and <<linkappend "comforting.">> It was more home than her now sparkling apartment. All the others she's talked to feel the same. They might not say it- might rage and scoff and even spit on their ex-boss' name. But they haven't found permanent jobs- haven't moved away from the Isles. So it's up to her. Her and...[[Mr.Wheezy|meeting wheezy]] <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>>

You are <strong>Pirouletta</strong>, retired ballerina, crack-shot and the best damn roulette croupier the Devil's Casino employs. [img[pic/pirwork.png]] <<linkappend "Well....">> employ<em>ed</em>. Pir had been fired a <<linkappend"week ago.">> After getting through her backlog of trashy novellas to read, cleaning her apartment top to bottom and moping around for a couple days, she's decided she's had enough and has come to either beg, bargain or threaten the Devil for her job back. <<button [[Let's try not to get arrested.|pirouletta intro]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>>\ <</linkappend>>\

His mouth opens, but snaps shut with an audible click. He looks down and Pir feels a pang of regret at the too sharp observation. It wasn't what he needed to hear. "Yeah," he breathes out, not looking at her, "maybe you're right. I just-" Wheezy cuts himself off and turns to look at the closed door before them. With a sudden knot of apprehension in her belly, Pir [[does the same.|locked casino door]] <<set $trustdice -= 1>>

Strangely enough, that seems to set Wheezy at ease. He straightens up and pats himself for a cigarette, smiling widely. "Ha! Not possible. I've seen the job contract Dice wrote up and got the Devil to sign." He finds a crumpled up box of cigs and taps one out, shaking his head, "Those two...they've got the whole thing sealed up tight enough that there's no way the Devil could even get into a friendly <em>pillow fight</em> with Dice, much less cause actual harm." Oh, that was right. The [[Contract.|the contract]] <<set $trustdice += 1>>

The Contract was, by all accounts, something of a legend in Hell's bureaucratic circles. The Devil would always smile proudly and literally pat himself on the back anytime it was brought up. It was an insufferable habit of his, and one Pir found herself growing reluctantly fond of. When she didn't feel like breaking his smug hand in retaliation, that is. Years ago, back when <em>she</em> was still the Casino Manager, she saw potential in a fresh-faced confidant con-man that rigged all the tables he played at. By the end of the night, he'd brazenly cleaned out half the casino floor and merely laughed at being invited to play against the Owner. That man...was <<linkreplace"Dice.">><em>King</em> Dice. [img[pic/ydice.gif]] <<audio "clapping" volume 0.20 play>> She saw something in him back then- and still sees it now. Cleverness and self preservation and a strangely genuine sense of humor that makes- made- him a scarily efficient gambler. It's what made her choose him as <<linkappend "a successor.">> A successor who- after one game with the Devil- came out of it with his soul intact, a new job and <<linkappend "The Contract." t8n>> [img[pic/contractbook.png]]<<audio "thud" play>> An unsettling red leatherbound book, every page neatly transcribed in Dice's loopy handwriting, and also coincidentally the size of a small infant. Two of the most pedantic, long-winded, crafty bastards she knew made a deal with each other and the Isles had never really been the same since. His loyalty bought and bartered off completely, Dice was the one man in all of Inkwell with the least to fear from the Devil and his temper. "You know how those two are then, I'm sure the Devil will have some idea of where Dice is- at least- if we can even get in." Pir sighs. <<button [[Check out the locked door.|locked casino door]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkreplace>>

What most of the employees referred to as "The Casino Door" was more of a seamless wall of mountain rock that slammed down on the rare occassion that Hell was completely closed. There was no seam, no hand-grip and no way to drill through the magically protected rock. This... was part of the reason she'd hoped to find Dice here as well. He alone had the only key. <<if visited ("the contract")>> Wheezy gently nudges her to the side, rubbing his hands briskly together like a showman preparing to release a flurry of doves from his sleeves. He picked that up from Dice, she'd bet money on it. She doesn't have time to dryly remark on it because his hands start to create heat whorls in the air and then...<strong><span style="color:orange;">[[glow.|wheezykey]]</span></strong> <<else>> Wheezy skirts around her to place himself squarely in front of the doorway and without any fanfare, briskly rubs his hands together til they're warping the air around them and they begin to...<strong><span style="color:orange;">[[glow.|wheezykey]]</span></strong> <<endif>>

"Watch this," he breathes out and presses his hands and the flaming key within them to the door. <<linkappend"It shudders open.">> Looking at the strange bright pink of the flames, so different from his usual orange fire- Pir inhales sharply at the <<linkappend"realization.">> "Wheezy, that's <em>soul</em> magic." He winks at her, "Need a soul to barter in Hell don't you? As long as I get back out through this way, I'll get it back." There's something- less substantial about him now, and Pir shivers. Soul magic, not her wheelhouse. <<button[[Eerie, but whatever works.|emptyentrance]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <<audio "fire" play>>

[img[pic/casinodoors.png]] Only when their echoing footsteps are muffled by the red carpet, does Pir seem to feel safe enough to relax a bit more. There's something about this eerie empty Hell that unsettles her She never thought the sweltering heat she'd grown to love would ever go out. At least, not <<linkappend "<em>again</em>.">> "Think Dice found a way to 'break' the heating system in here again?" She joked weakly. Wheezy snickered quietly next to her. The manager was known to despise the high temperatures and would probably love to live in a cold, dank cave if it meant never sweating again. There was an Incident that no one ever proved was caused by the man where the Casino was plunged into near cool temperatures for a whole day. Still smiling slightly, Pir hustled forward to <<linkappend "try the door.">> <strong>Locked.</strong> She swears under her breath. Well that was a dead end. Turning back to Wheezy she opened her mouth to tell him but found that he'd shuffled off to the side where the unlit [[floor sconces were.|phearlapstie]] <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>>

<<if visited ("hallwaystart")>>The eerie lack of warmth usually present here, at the entrance to Hell proper, is something that she'll never get over. Shivering, Pir focuses on finding a hint of where Dice would hide a key. She looks around." <<button [[Check the dark corners|coldcorner]]>><</button>> <<button [[Check the throne again|thronesit]]>><</button>> <<elseif $dicekey is true>>Pir hopes that the Devil won't mind his chair being slightly mutilated. Wheezy snorts and says, "He likes you the best, so he won't maim you for that." Pir hums, "I thought Dice was the favorite?" "He doesn't count. But you're actual <em>friends</em> with our big boss, aren't you?" Now that he mentioned it... she was. Huh. <<button [[Entrance|emptyentrace]]>><</button>> <<button [[Hallway|hallwaystart]]>><</button>> <<else>>Somehow, Pir expected the empty throne room, but was still dissapointed to see no trace of life at all. "There's no sign of a fight." Wheezy mutters, squinting at the floor for some hint of scrapes or magic scorching. Pir glances around, noting the open door leading to the casino's second floor. Maybe if she just... <<button [[YELLED FOR HER WAYWARD BOSS!|throneyell]]>><</button>> <<button [[Sat on his throne like she's always wanted to.|thronesit]]>><</button>> <</if>> <<audio "wind" stop>> <<audio "stage" stop>>

[img[pic/riptie.png]] His face is unusually serious as he looks up at her. "I don't think this is the leftovers of a wild imp party, Pir." Gazing at that limp ragged bowtie, Pir feels the ringing silence converge on them once more as dread pools within her. She straightens up <<linkappend "her coat">>, glad she thought to bring her usual revolver with her.<</linkappend>> Wheezy presses his lips together tightly and nods sharply, tucking the tie away and almost springing to his feet, ever surprisingly light on his feet for such a big guy. <<if visited ("infrontcasino")>>"This place could not get any creepier, I say we finally <em>leave</em>." Wheezy mutters, pocketing the bowtie. <<set $pheartie to true>> Pir can only agree. <<button[[Get out.|infrontcasino]]>><</button>> <<else>>"Let's try to get in through the throne room," Wheezy offers, keeping a wary eye out on the gloom past their little light. Pir does the same. <<button [[Head to the Throne Room|throneroom]]>><</button>> <<set $pheartie to true>> <</if>>

<<set $dicekey to false>>\ <<set $trustdice to 5>>\ <<set $scissors to false>>\ <<set $pheartie to false>>\ <<set $bossdice to false>>\ <<cacheaudio "wind" "audio/howlingwind.wav">> <<cacheaudio "fire" "audio/fire.wav">> <<cacheaudio "thud" "audio/thud.wav">> <<cacheaudio "clapping" "audio/clapping.wav">> <<cacheaudio "death" "audio/youdied.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "rumbling" "audio/rumbling.wav">> <<cacheaudio "rattle" "audio/rattle.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "chime" "audio/chime.wav">> <<cacheaudio "step" "audio/footstep.wav">> <<cacheaudio "stage" "audio/stage.wav">> <<cacheaudio "unlock" "audio/unlock.wav">> <<cacheaudio "rip" "audio/ripcloth.wav">> <<cacheaudio "getout" "audio/getout.wav">> /<<waitforaudio>>

[img[pic/throneyell.png]] <<timed 3s>>\ Pir shrugged at the scandalized look Wheezy sent her. It was worth a try. All that was left was [[Dice's office then.|dicehallway]] <</timed>> <<audio "chime" volume 0.50 play>>

<<if visited ("hallwaystart")>>Only her self-control prevented her from collapsing on the chair. Self-control and Wheezy snickering at her from his investigation of the pillars. <<button [[Search around the throne|circlethrone]]>><</button>> <<button [[Lift the seat cushion|seatcushion]]>><</button>> <<button [[Check the arms|thronearm]]>><</button>> <<button [[Hallway|hallwaystart]]>><</button>> <<else>><<linkappend "It was..." t8n>> <<linkappend "<em>comfort.</em>">> Like a thousand angels came from on high to handstitch the finest velvet lining onto a soft cloud. The bounce was probably dark magic and she feels like she could just melt down into it and it would support her spine perfectly. For something she's seen the Devil use as a personal scratching post, it was remarkably free from wear and tear. <<linkappend "Actually...">> She leans closer to look at the <<linkappend "right arm cushion.">> Right there! [img[pic/thronearm.png]] A nearly invisible line of neat stitches to show there HAD been some damage by her boss' claws. Pir rolls her eyes. She couldn't imagine the Devil threading a needle and sewing up his things. And not because it was too <<linkappend "mundane.">> She'd borne witness to him patiently sucking out yolks from eggs and filling them back in with paint to throw at townsfolk. But doing it when he could have just asked Dice to do it? Far more likely. Anything to get the prim man to pull the world's most long suffering face and get to work on the no-doubt menial task. Pir guessed that just left Dice's Office to [[try next.|dicehallway]] <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</if>>

Wheezy raised an eyebrow at her as they crossed the short bridge. "Had fun?" Pir would not show any trace of shame. She did it. And she got away with it. First rule of the Devil's Casino: that means she <strong>won</strong>. Winners show no <<linkappend "shame.">> But they <em>may</em> obfuscate.... <<if visited ("thronesit")>> <<button [[Completely innocent question: does Dice know how to sew?|dicesewing]]>><</button>> <<else>>\ <<button [[Oh look! Here already! How time flies!|diceoffice]]>><</button>> <<endif>>\ <</linkappend>>\ <<audio "chime" stop>>\

<<set $trustdice += 1>>\ Wheezy blinks in surprise. For such a mild reaction, she notices his magic flame sputter almost to nothing before flaring back up and lighting the empty hallway. <<linkappend "Hm.">> A good pokerface. No wonder Dice made him Assistant Manager. "He used to-" Wheezy starts, before biting his lip. A strange expression passes his face and Pir is worried before <<linkappend "realizing-">> He's holding back <em>giggles.</em> [img[pic/dicesewing.png]] "He used to -haha- have to hem up his own slacks because he was so short." <<linkappend "<strong>What.</strong>">> "What." Pir flatly asks. Slowly realizing that what she's feeling isn't a bad reaction to the sandwich she had for lunch, it's <em>glee</em>. Dice, of all people, Mr.'I tower over you and won't hesitate to remind you of that', used to be a <em>shrimp</em>? "Oh we HAVE to find him now" She says, smiling widely. Wheezy stops laughing. The strange heavy mood is back like it never <<linkappend "left.">> Pir winces. "We'll find him, Wheeze." She quietly reassures, pressing her shoulder against the man briefly as they stop in front of the closed door bearing a simple tasteful plaque that reads: Manager. "Yeah." He repeats faintly, as if to himself. They [[go into the office.|diceoffice]] <</linkappend>>\ <</linkappend>>\ <</linkappend>>\ <</linkappend>>\

<<if visited("hallwaystart")>>It's still so eerie to be here without the man's humming in the background, or to not find the Devil curled up on one of the chairs, cackling and puffing up a storm while they talk shop. <<button [[Check the desk|opendrawer]]>><</button>> <<button [[Throne Room|throneroom]]>><</button>> <<button [[Hallway|hallwaystart]]>><</button>> <<else>>"This is...odd." Wheezy wonders aloud, a worried line between his eyebrows as he strides in and stops in the middle of what seemed to be the aftermath a very picky hurricane. The usually neat space now has papers thrown over the floor, a packet of cards burst open by the <<linkappend "coat rack.">> "His suit jacket is here." Pir notes, worry beginning to build up. Dice was usually so fussy about those kinds of things, staying neat and buttoned up at all times when inside the Casino proper. Only a handful of times has she even seen him roll up his sleeves. Does that mean Dice is running around in his vest and slacks? <<linkappend "How positively scandalous.">> Wheezy strides forward, not to the desk but to the hilariously ostentanious portrait of Dice bemusedly tipping over a half full wineglass. It was a joke...she thinks. <<linkappend"Hopes.">> [img[pic/painting.png]] It was a birthday present, if she recalls correctly. But the man feels along the bottom of the frame and unlaches something that makes the portrait <<linkreplace "swing forwards">>swing forward and expose a fancy safe. Pir is surprised despite herself. Okay. That was unexpected. A flurry of clicks sound and he opens the safe to rummage through files and clinks of coins. Because of <em>course</em> Wheezy knows the secret combination for the hidden safe in Dice's office. <<linkappend "Of course.">> He starts muttering to himself and Pir moves over to the desk before her eyebrow permanently stays stuck an inch higher. <<button [[Explore the desk (try not to think too hard about it.)|dicedesk]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkreplace>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</if>>

Pir finds a scattered stack of documents, an unstoppered inkwell that's nearly dry and no helpful note that details Dice's last known whereabouts. Or the Devil's. <<linkappend "Drat.">> Looking closer, she realizes that these are the terminated contract for all the employees. They've got the Devil's usual neat spiked signature, and Dice's swirling one, along with a great, red big 'FIRED' written on the corner. [img[pic/wheezycontract.png]] Wheezy's is at the very top. Maybe he doesn't need to see that right now... <<button [[Quickly and nonchalantly shuffle the contracts around.|shuffledcontracts]]>><</button>> <<button [[Leave it as is, Wheezy's a grown man, he can take it.|wheezyseescontracts]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>>

Thumbing through the contracts, and quietly slipping Wheezy's to the very bottom, Pir spies her own contract and sees something...off. She plucks it out of the pile and <<linkappend "looks closer at the signatures.">> <<linkappend "It's-">> <strong>Not ink.</strong> [img[pic/sigs.png]] It's stiff and a weird color that's a shade off from brown. Pir scrapes at it and little flakes fall off. Ink doesn't do that. "What the hell," she breathes, looking back down at what she's almost 100% sure is <<linkappend"<em>blood.</em>">> "What?" The sudden voice to her left makes her near twitch out of her own skin. <<linkappend "It's Wheezy.">> Of course it is. The entire place is deserted. She wordlessly hands him the contract while her heart settles back down in her chest. "What the hell is this." He growls flatly, mouth twisted up in a snarl as he tosses it back onto the desk like it'd contaminate him. [img[pic/shuffled.png]] Pir follows the sad flutter of parchment down until she spies a soft glint dissappear under creamy paper. Shooting out a hand to enclose around the object, she breathes out a quiet sigh when it doesn't move in her grasp. <<button [[Open hands.|cluepennib]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>>

She goes over the entire desk, finding nothing atop it except for <<linkappend "the papers.">> Shrugging, she goes to pick them up and see if there's a clue in the contract themselves. A helpful "we went out to lunch!" or something. A hand plucks the top contract before she can touch it- nearly scaring the soul out of Pir. <<linkappend "Wheezy-">> It was just Wheezy. Of course. The entire place is deserted. Still, she internally griped, would it kill him to make some noise? Wheezy gazes down at his own terminated contract, face unreadable. [img[pic/wheezysees.png]] "Did you know," He starts, softly and with an eerie flat tone,"That one of the most common ways to cheat at cards is with <<linkreplace '<q>bottom-dealing?</q>'>>'bottom-dealing?' It wasn't Dice's favorite move, but one he'd use as often as he could get away with." He places the notice back onto the rest of the stack and with a flourish that feels more forced than anything, flicks out the last contract in the pile. "Ta-da." He mocks. Sure enough. <<linkappend"It's Dice's.">> <<button [[Look closer.|nosigpaper]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkreplace>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <<set $trustdice -= 1>>

[img[pic/bloodynib.png]] <<if visited("shuffledcontracts")>>\ <<linkappend "Wheezy steps closer to her.">> "...Where's the rest of the pen? It was a gaudy purple thing." Wheezy quietly asks, not looking away from the bloody nib in her hands. "I didn't see it on the desk anywhere." She replies, just as quiet. She had been getting used to the chill that pervaded the entire Casino now, but she feels the temperature dip <<linkappend "even more-">> Knows that if she were to breathe out, there'd be a foggy stream left behind. It was getting colder. <<button [[Check around the desk.|opendrawer]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <<elseif visited("wheezyseescontracts")>>\ <<linkappend "Wheezy steps away from her.">> "...where-" He clears his throat, "Where's the rest of the pen. Gaudy purple thing?" He can't seem to look at the bloody nib in her hands. "I didn't see it on the desk anywhere." She replies, shivering. She had been getting used to the chill that pervaded the entire Casino now, but she feels the temperature dip <<linkappend "even more-">> Knows that if she were to breathe out, there'd be a foggy stream left behind. It was getting colder. <<button [[Check around the desk.|opendrawer]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</if>>

→ Without a transition We—We should <<linkappend "take">> away their METAL BAWKSES<</linkappend>>! → With a transition I spy with my little <<linkappend "eye" t8n>>, a crab rangoon<</linkappend>>. → Without a transition You see a <<linkprepend "robot">>GIANT <</linkprepend>>. → With a transition I <<linkprepend "like" t8n>>do not <</linkprepend>> lemons. → Without a transition I'll have a <<linkappend "cupcake">>slice of key lime pie<</linkappend>>, please. → With a transition <<linkappend "You'll //never// take me alive!" t8n>>On second thought, don't hurt me.<</linkappend>>

[img[pic/nosig.png]] "He didn't sign his..." Pir notes, mind whirring and trying to make sense of everything. It feels like a puzzle that's got too many missing middle bits to properly start building together. Wheezy crosses his arms. His leather jacket creaks quietly in the <<linkappend "absolute silence.">> "That means his contracts still in effect. The Devil can't harm a single pip on his head-" He seems to want to continue but instead presses his lips tight. Pir finishes his thought: "The reverse isn't true though...is it?" <<linkappend "It isn't.">> Theoretically...Dice could attack the Devil and suffer no consequences. He COULD, if he somehow maintained his loyalty to the Devil while doing so, to avoid breaking the contract. If there was anyone able to find a loophole like that- it'd be Dice. That's not a comforting thought- <<linkappend "Wait.">> What was <em>that?</em> [img[pic/shine.gif]] <<button [[Grab it?|cluepennib]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>>

[img[pic/opendrawer.png]] <<if visited ("hallwaystart")>>Nothing seems to have moved. <em>Not that Pir was expecting things to move</em>. There's no one here, after all. It'd be silly otherwise. Ha, ha. Ha... <<button [[Check the side drawer again.|rattle]]>><</button>> Or she could rifle through Dice's things... <<elseif $dicekey is true>>Nothing seems to have moved. <em>Not that Pir was expecting things to move</em>. There's no one here, after all. It'd be silly otherwise. Ha, ha. Ha... Pir makes her way to the desk again, a curious Wheezy at her heels. This better be worth it, Pir is getting the feeling that the empty Hell won't tolerate their presence here longer than it has to. <<button [[Use the key on the drawer|rattle]]>><</button>> <<else>>Hm, no purple pen. But there are other interesting things... <</if>> <<if $scissors is true>>The suspicious outline of where scissors once lay.<<else>>A pair of fancy scissors, [[take?|tookscissors]]<</if>> <<if $bossdice is true>>"Sorry Mister King Dice, I have <em>no idea</em> where your lucky pair o' ivories dissappeared to."<<else>>Boss Dice's special boss dice, [[admire?|bossdice]]<</if>> <<if visited ("examinethread")>> A gently disturbed red thread. [[Examine again?|examinethread]]<<else>>Needle and thread, [[examine?|examinethread]]<</if>> <<if visited ("examinethread", "bossdice", "tookscissors")>> <<button [[Oh! There's a small side drawer!|rattle]]>><</button>> \ <<else>>\ <</if>>\

[img[pic/scissors.png]] Booyah. Scored a fashionably sharp object! <<linkreplace "Careful not to get cut.">> Property of Pirouletta. <<set $scissors to true>><</linkreplace>> <<button [[See what else there is to steal.|opendrawer]]>><</button>>

[img[pic/bossdice.png]] She's only heard whispered tales of them in the staff breakroom. The pips are painted with actual gold. The die carved out of the bones of an old dead demon. The varnish is made out of a million pure angelic tears and grounded down flight wings. They never fail to roll snake-eyes. Hell yes she's keeping <em>these babies.</em> <<linkreplace "Pocket them.">>Only death itself could make Pir give them up. <<set $bossdice to true>><</linkreplace>> <<button[[Check the drawer for anything else|opendrawer]]>><</button>>

[img[pic/thread.png]] <<if visited ("dicesewing")>>Ha! She was right. The Devil totally had his favorite lackey do something as menial as sew up his throne cushion. <em> She wishes she could have seen it.</em> <<else>> Strange...the thread wasn't purple like she'd expected. But a bright, lush red. She swears she's seen that color before. But where...?<</if>> <<button [[See what else there is to snoop.|opendrawer]]>><</button>>

[img[pic/shakingdrawer.gif]]\ <<if $dicekey is true>>Holding the still rattling drawer with one hand, Pir inserts the King Key and turns. <<linkappend "<strong>Click.</strong>">><<timed 1s>><<audio "unlock" play>><</timed>> [img[pic/magiclock.gif]] There's a complicated chain of small, squiggling symbols that give Pir a headache if she tries to read them all jutting out like thin fine strands of chains from the lock. They pulse a violent pink once and then disperse into nothing. "Told ya." Wheezy murmurs, she kicks his ankle lightly and has to hop back as he retaliates. Oh, that's a challenge if she's seen one. "Ow! Alright, alright. Open it, then." <<button [[Another win for Pirouletta, everybody!|unlockeddrawer]]>><</button>><</linkappend>>\ <<elseif visited ("hallwaystart")>>The drawer keeps on rattling. At times it seems to pause and then continue to shake with renewed energy. Pir narrows her eyes suspiciously at it. Hmm... <<button [[Back to the hallway|hallwaystart]]>><</button>> <<else>>\ "AH!" Wheezy made a weird yelp flinching back. Pir stops to look over at him- he's clutching the leather above his heart and wheezing quietly. "Sorry- sorry," He huffs, "I - <em>hate</em>- this spooky shit." <<linkappend "Pir raises an eyebrow.">> "Don't judge me, just open the drawer alright?" He grouses, getting his apparent bout of fear-related asthma under control. <<button [[Open the drawer before Wheezy has a stroke.|lockeddrawer]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</if>> <<audio "rattle" play>>

<strong>Locked.</strong> Rats. <<timed 0.4s s8n>> "I don't suppose there was a key in that safe?" Pir asks rhetorically, wondering if she could get away with just dismantling the desk itself. She's pretty sure there is an emergency hatchet down in the casino bar... [img[pic/axe.png]] "Hey, no-" Wheezy <<linkappend "interrupts.">> "I know that face, and wanton destruction won't work here." Killjoy. Wheezy tries the, still lightly shaking, drawer just to be thorough, "Dice wards all his stuff with sigils. It's the key or nothing." Pir is going to have <em>words</em> with Dice when they find him. And they will find him. There's prepared and then there's <<linkappend "<strong>paranoid.</strong>">> "Well" She huffs. "It's gotta be around here somewhere, c'mon." She starts to make her way to the hallway, "This rattling isn't helping my nerves." <<button [[To the hallway|hallwaystart]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</timed>>

<<if visited ("splitorstay")>> Her breath fogs out and Pir can see the swirling black shapes at the edges of her vision squirm closer. Oh, she doesn't like this <<linkappend"one bit.">> In fact, it's pretty safe to say she hates it. The only warm thing in the vicinity is the literal fireball Wheezy's conjured up and if it gets any colder, Pir is willing to jam her hand in it- and damn the consequences. <</linkappend>> <<else>>Pir shivers and turns to Wheezy to suggest going to check the bar and cellar first, but notices he's staring intensely at the shadows that swallow up the empty stage on the far right. [img[pic/dazedwh.png]] There's something odd about his gaze. Pir <<linkappend "grips his shoulder.">> "Hey-" He interrupts her, voice dazed. "Did you see that?" She looks over- squinting in the murky darkness beyond their pitiful light. Eerie dark shapes coalesce into the familiar outlines of the stage curtains and the old piano. <<button [[Convince him to stick together.|splitorstay]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>><</if>> <nobr> <<button [[Throne Room|throneroom]]>><</button>> <<button [[Hallway|hallwaystart]]>><</button>> <<button [[Casino Bar|thebar]]>><</button>> </nobr> <<audio "stage" loop volume 0.20 play>>

The throne room is down the hall or they could take the stairs down into the casino proper. Which way to go... <nobr> <<button [[Throne Room|throneroom]]>><</button>> <<button [[Dice's Office|diceoffice]]>><</button>> <<button [[Casino Floor|casinofloor]]>><</button>> </nobr> <<audio "stage" stop>>

<<if visited ("splitorstay")>>\ "My gut huh..." Wheezy muttered, directing the light to place itself where it could illuminate the most. "Yup." Pir replies. "The Devil is a trickster. His domain even more so- do not trust what you may see Wheezy- you're not a worker here anymore. That makes you a <strong>target</strong>." <<linkappend "That made both of them targets.">> Wheezy sighed, "More creepy weird things." "You worked for the <em>Devil</em>, you didn't expect creepy and weird?" Pir asked, beginning to rifle through the till while he looked under the counters and stools. <<linkappend "Nothing seemed out of place.">> "Correction: I worked for King Dice. The Devil was just the guy that signed off on the paychecks." "That...makes sense actually." Pir muses, now clinking through all the shelved bottles in desperation. "It's quite different working directly with the Devil." <<button [[There's nothing key-shaped here, check the cellar?|cellar]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <<elseif visited ("cellar")>> Everything still looks the same, eerie empty and LOCKED. Pir is starting to regret not bringing her own hatchet. <<button [[Back to the stairs.|casinofloor]]>><</button <<else>>Pir shakes her head and hopes her glare lets him know she'll knock him out and drag him if she has to. She knows better than to trust an empty Hell without the safety of a contract binding her soul to it. Reluctantly, he follows her to the bar. She notices he constant glances back. Tries to <<linkapppend"ignore it.">> It gets harder to do so the more they search around the stools, the counter and the shelves of expensive alcohol. She even turns the till near upside down and still- <<linkappends"Nothing.">> "Where the hell did that man hide his stupid key?" Wheezy mutters, rubbing his face and trying to hide his sneaking glances back at the empty stage. Desperately, Pirouletta clears her throat and points to the cellar door. Wheezy shrugs listlessly. "Might as well." <<button [[Try the cellar door.|cellar]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</if>>

Wow. This corner sure is dark! Glad she could verify this for sure. What a great detective she's making so far. Wait, if she's the hard-boiled detective, does that make Wheezy the teary dame whose searching for his missing lover? Pir <<linkappend"smirks.">>. She turns to tell this to Wheezy, if only to see his face, but instead passes a spot that seems to make the rest of the chilly casino downright tropical. [img[pic/coldcorner.png]] It was like all of the ice in the world coalesced into this spot and she chatters out a startled "W-what-t?" Another step <<linkappend"forward.">> And she's back to a comfortable existence. Downright balmy after the chill that seemed to seep into her soul. Well. She's had enough of <em>this</em> corner. Time to try [[something else.|throneroom]] <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>>

Pir circles the thone, pressing down on promising patches of gold, or odd scratches. But nothing happens. Hm, maybe she needs to try [[something else.|thronesit]]

She closes her eyes and prepares herself mentally, ready to see anything from gross magazines to finally proving once and for all that the throne is a secret toilet seat. She <<linkappend "yanks-!">> Sadly for the casino betting pool, it is <strong>not</strong> a covered toilet seat. There seems to be a generically satanic symbol carved into the gold, a scattering of aces, a single poker chip and a pencil??? Dissapointing. Yet hilarious all the same. Who knew their boss was a bit of a hoarder? Were these even his...? [[Try something else|thronesit]] <</linkappend>>

[img[pic/thronearm.png]] <<if visited ("throneyell")>>For something she's seen the Devil use as a personal scratching post, it was remarkably free from wear and tear. <<linkappend "Actually...">> She leans closer to look at the <<linkappend "right arm cushion.">> Right there! [img[pic/closeuparm.png]] A nearly invisible line of neat stitches to show there HAD been some damage by her boss' claws. Pir rolls her eyes. <<linkappend "Wait.">> She's seen that color before! Dice had the thread and needle in his desk! <em>He must have stitched it up.</em> <</linkappend>>\ <</linkappend>>\ <</linkappend>>\ <<else>>Pir now studied the neat stitched up line she'd noted before. Her guess that Dice was the one made to stitch it back up was proven because she saw the needle and thread used in his very desk. Pir almost made to pat her own back before she nipped that in the bud. "Nope. Not today Satan." <</if>> <<if $scissors is true>>Luckily, she did have a pair of scissors at hand... <<button [[Snip snip!|cutcushion]]>><</button>> <<else>>If only she had something to cut into the seams... <<button [[Try something else|thronesit]]>><</button>> <</if>>

<<set $dicekey to true>> <<audio "rip" play>>\ [img[pic/cutcushion.png]] That...madman. What was so important that he'd hide the key in the one place no one would ever dare touch? "What <em>happened</em>, Dice?" She murmurs to herself, clutching her hardwon key and stepping back from the ripped up cushion. She <<linkappend "shows it to Wheezy.">> He takes it between his thumb and forefinger, completely dwarfing the small key in his huge hands. [img[pic/key.png]] "So we know he was here, with it enough to thread a needle and stitch up a secret hiding place." He muses. Pir nods. "But why not just write out a note? If he knew there was going to be someone looking?" Wheezy looks at her out of the corner of his eye, the orange in his iris glinting in the darkness. <<if $trustdice lte 5>>"Maybe that was the point-" he says seriously, "Maybe he <strong>didn't</strong> want anyone to go looking. And if they did? He didn't want things to be easy to piece together." There's a piercing silence after that. Pir doesn't know if she wants that drawer open anymore. <<else>>"Maybe he wasn't sure exactly <strong>who</strong> would be looking. If he's going through all this..." Pir shivers. Resists the urge to look around. There's no one else. Hell is empty. At least, she hopes so. <</if>>\ <<button [[Get to opening that drawer.|hallwaystart]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>>

<<if $trustdice lte 5>>\ "Wheezy, you know how Hell gets sometimes." Pir tries, looking at his distant face with something like apprehension snaking up her spine. "Especially without the Devil here to keep an eye on things. Don't." He's not <<linkappend "listening.">> This...this isn't right. There's something... He looks down at her, eyes wide and voice barely loud enough to be heard. Pir <<linkappend "leans in closer to hear it.">> <em>"I swear I saw Dice walking backstage."</em> What? He looks like he believes it. Like this whole thing was a stupid prank and Wheezy's just dying to expose Dice in the middle of it. <<button [[Let him check it out, there's no harm.|split]]>><</button>> <<button [[Convince him to stay, that key seems important.|stay]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>>. <<else>>[img[pic/angrypir.png]] She grabs his hand, squeezing it with all her strength and feeling very smug at the wince it gets. He seems to blink back into common sense. "There is absolutely no way I'm splitting up in the middle of this eerie, creepy hellhole. Do not <em>test</em> me Wheezy." <<linkappend "He stares at her blankly.">> And then he rubs a hand across his face, as if trying to wake himself up. "No, no. You're right- I just-" He takes his hand back, shaking it out ruefully, all the while avoiding looking over at the dark maw of the stage. "I thought I saw something." Pir begins hustling them to the bar, also avoiding the stage. If he thought he saw something, it might have been real- or it might have been a trick. <<linkappend "Hell was fond of doing such things.">> Especially without it's master here to keep an eye on it. "Yeah well... sometimes it's better to trust your gut over your eyes. Especially here." <<button [[Check the bar|thebar]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</if>>

"Okay." Pir says, reluctantly. Wheezy smiles, claps her shoulder once and <<linkappend"turns to go.">> He changes his mind and flicks out a dinged up gold lighter to give to her. He tests it out and a flame rises out of it easy as nothing. Pir takes it. [img[pic/lighter.png]] "So you can see," he says, swirling one finger around to indicate the crowding gloom. Pir nods slowly and <<linkappend"flicks it on.">> He quickly becomes just another shadow moving in the darkness. When she holds her breath she can hear the distant thumping of his footsteps. This... doesn't feel right. But that might just be because she's alone here for the first time. In this dark caricature of the home she's lived in for 30 years. <<linkappend "Pir shakes her head.">> She isn't a child! Neither of them are children, she's just being paranoid. She turns to walk towards the bar, warm lighter in her hand cutting through the dark. There's a strange loud clatter behind her. Like a scream cut off at the throat. A warm glow lights the empty casino floor before flickering out <<linkappend "again.">><<audio "stage" volume 0.10 fadeout>> She spins around at that, searching for Wheezy's bulk, hand reaching for her <<linkappend "gun.">> <<audio "fire" volume 0.30 play>> She only has time to [[gasp-|death1]] <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>>

She restrains the urge to shake him- it's not like they're that familiar with each other. <<linkappend "But still.">> "What if you went with me?" He interrupts, intense gaze now focused on her- but absent. Like a part of him is still watching the stage. "You've got that peashooter of yours, and I've got my magic. What if there's something that'll tell us just <em>what in the hell</em> happened here?" <<linkappend"Shit.">> He's right. Forget that weirdly rattling drawer- what if they found an injured Devil? Or a knocked-out Dice? Time was of the essence here and it'd already been a week at the latest. <<button [[Follow him, keep him out of trouble.|stage]]>><</button>> <<button [[The key. Focus on that key.|thebar]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>>

<<if visited ("splitorstay")>>\ What do you know. It's locked. "I'm beginning to sense a theme here." Pir mutters under her breath, kicking at the sturdy door implanted on the floor. The imps were the ones to usually use it, keeping everything stocked and bringing up certain drinks and specialties from Hell itself for their more demonic patrons. [img[pic/imps.png]] Wheezy leaned over the bar counter. "Nothing?" <<linkappend"Pir sighed.">> "Nothing." Wheezy grins weakly, "Wanna get out of here?" "Oh, absolutely." <<button [[Leave the bar.|casinofloor]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <<else>> <strong>Locked.</strong> Why did Pir expect <<linkappend"otherwise?">> She resists the urge to try and kick the damn thing in out of frustration. Work in here 30 years and she knows that won't get her anywhere. The imps were the ones to usually use it, keeping everything stocked and bringing up certain drinks and specialties from Hell itself for their more demonic patrons. [img[pic/imps.png]] Wheezy's stare bores into her and she feels her resolve weakening. She knows what he wants to do. And she might be getting desperate enough to do it. <<button [[Try the stage.|stage]]>><</button>> <<button [[Go back to the stairs.|casinofloor]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</if>>

[img[pic/stage.png]] The two of them walk as quietly as they can, dodging covered pool tables and the rows of slot machines. Luckily, the rich carpet muffles the thump of both their footsteps. But then, Wheezy seems to freeze up. <<linkappend "He bolts forward.">> Swearing, Pir follows after him, hand deftly reaching into her coat and taking out her gun as she dodges sudden obstacles that seem to crowd her. Wheezy's back jumping onto the stage is the last she sees of him before she hears him roar out into the empty stage, "<em><strong>DI-!</strong></em>" She scrambles onto the stage after him [[but-|wheezydissappears]] <</linkappend>>

How much do you trust him:$trustdice Do you have the key: $dicekey <<nobr>><div class="passage-footer"><<link "Saves">><<script>>UI.saves()<</script>><</link>></div> <div class="passage-footer"><<link "Restart">><<script>>UI.restart();<</script>><</link>></div><</nobr>> <div class="passage-footer">Inventory</div> <table class="inventory-buttons"> <tr> <th><<if $dicekey is true>>[img[image/dicekey.png]]<</if>></th> <th><<if $scissors is true>>[img[image/scissors.png]]<</if>></th> <th><<if $bossdice is true>>[img[image/bossdice.png]]<</if>></th> <th><<if $pheartie is true>>[img[image/pheartie.png]]<</if>></th> </tr> </table>

Before she can so much as pull the handle it bursts <<linkappend"open.">> [img[pic/gloves.png]] It's Dice's gloves! They wave at them frantically and begin to sign something, but it's too fast for Pir to translate. Wheezy reaches past her and scoops them up in one hand. "Slow down! Slow down, I caught half of all that." He gentles them and then frowns down at his palm. He makes <<linkappend"a weighing motion.">> "They're...heavy." He notes, wonderingly. The pair begin jumping up and down again, and the clink of metal is more apparent. Pir begins to move towards them and they still obligingly. <<button [[Pluck out one of the objects inside them.|employeebadges]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>>

<<button[[START|starthere]]>><</button>> <<button "LOAD SAVE">><<script>>UI.saves()<</script>><</button>>

<<timed 2s>> With a searing white that has Pir scrambling to cover her eyes, the entire casino is illuminated for a brief second before it's suddenly plunged back into a darkness that feels more absolute than ever. Wheezy's fireball is gone. As is <<linkappend "Wheezy.">> A bead of sweat tickles the back of her neck, but Pir lifts up her gun and tries to keep it steady. "Wheezy?" She whispers, eyes straining to catch a glimpse of anything in the gloom. Something brushes against the back of her head. Eyes closing, she inhales once and <<linkappend"turns.">> Her eyes <<linkappend"widen.">><<audio "step" play>> [img[pic/pireye.png]] She drops her <<linkappend"gun.">> [[Wh-|death2]] <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</timed>> <<audio "stage" stop>>

<<timed 2s>> <<button "LOAD SAVE">><<script>>UI.saves()<</script>><</button>> <<button [[RESTART?|splitorstay]]>><</button>> <</timed>> <<audio "death" play>>

[img[pic/pirbadge.png]] "It's...our employee badges?" Pir questions, holding one that, coincidentally, has her name engraved in the gold."<em>Dice</em> took them back...!" Wheezy laces fingers with them and upends the Gloves onto his other hand, letting all the badges cascade out. The last one that drops isn't a rectangle. <<linkappend"But a crown.">> [img[pic/kdbadge.png]] The Gloves, now free of their burden, begin to jump and float in the hair, signing only one message over and over. "Put them on. Put them on. The Boss said to put them on!" They use the namesign for Dice when they signed 'Boss' so Pir guesses she knows how they got in there. Dice definitely locked them in. She doesn't think he did it to be malicious, but to make sure <em>they</em> got these badges. <<button [[Well, if King Dice thought it important...|wearsbadge]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>>

[img[pic/pirwbadge.png]] It's...a relief to have the badge pinned back on her lapel. She knows it's probably a trick of the imagination, but she feels safer. More like the Pir of last week- powerful and smug and on the side of clever, crafty people that'll rig any game as long as it nets them a win. She missed feeling like <<linkappend"that person.">> She notices Wheezy looking down at the badges, making no move to pin his back on. <<if $trustdice lte 4>>"...what if it's a trap, Pirouletta?" Wheezy murmurs, restlessly shaking the badges in his hand like he's thinking of throwing them at the nearest wall. "All these complicated schemes...why didn't he go to <em>us</em> and ask for help?" Wheezy says. <<linkappend"Pir...">> Pir can hear the plaintive:<em> why didn't he ask me?</em> <<button [[Let him figure it out.|badbadge]]>><</button>> <<button [[Try to convince him.|okaybadge]]>><</button>><</linkappend>> <<else>>"Do you get the feeling..." He starts slowly, measuring out each word with a thoughtfulness that many never think the man capable of,"That this is bigger than we can understand?" Pir glances round the dimly lit office, like she can see into every dark nook and cranny that makes up the abandoned Devil's Casino. <<button [[Tell him.|goodbadge]]>><</button>> <</if>> <</linkappend>>

"You know Dice..." She starts weakly. <<linkappend"Wheezy scoffs.">> "Do I?" He raises his voice sharply, before settling down with chagrinned look, "<em>Do</em> I...?" He looks so crestfallen, Pir can't bear to keep pushing. Eventually he shoves all the pins at her, and she obligingly pockets them. She says nothing about how Dice's pin is missing. The Gloves wave at her from their snug places in Wheezy's jacket pockets. Weakly, she waves back and follows the slumped set of Wheezy's shoulders <<linkappend"out the office.">> <<button[[Leave the Casino|infrontcasino]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <<set $trustdice -= 1>> <<set $wheezypin to false>>

"I don't know what happened here."She states. "The sheer scope of it seems to be far beyond what I can even make a-a <em>guess</em> at." She raises her voice slightly, despite herself. She has his <<linkappend"attention, at least.">> "But you know Dice." She cuts off the stubborn look he gets at that. "You <em>know</em> him, don't lie to me Wheezy." She loses steam, not sure where she's going with this little <<linkappend"peptalk">> "And you know the Devil."He quietly replies, eyes daring her to contradict him. Pirouletta thinks back on thirty years, of late nights, busy workdays and the strange fearlessness that grew in her at his inhuman antics. Thirty years is a long time to live with someone and not grow fond of <<linkappend"them.">> "-Yeah."Pir finishes. "You know him, and I know <em>him</em>. There's no one better to find out if they need saving, or if they need a good thrashing." He laughs, and after a beat, pins his badge to his collar. The rest he hands to her. The Gloves dangle curiously from his jacket pocket. They head out. <<button [[Leave.|infrontcasino]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <<set $wheezypin to true>>

"I think that someone invaded our home," She states, brow deepening and her mouth twisting into a sneer, the more she <<linkappend"thinks about it.">> "I think someone nabbed our bosses, and Dice was the Devil's best bet of getting this clue to us. To get people <em>looking</em> in the first place." The air between them charges up with swirling magic, the same indignant anger reflected in his face. Wheezy rifles for his badge and Pir pretends she didn't see him slip Dice's crown pin up his sleeve. He puts it on and nods at her, ushering the Gloves into his jacket pocket. They slip in and pop back out to dangle curiously and peer at everything. <<button[[Leave. There's nothing left here.|infrontcasino]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <<set $trustdice += 1>> <<set $wheezypin to true>>

Walking slowly towards the bright exit Pirouletta stops and looks back, wondering... <<if visited("closedcasino")>> Her ruminating is cut short by the slightest motion in the far peaks of dormant Hell volcanos. She squints and seems to make out what looks like... an earthquake...? <<button[[What in the Hell...?|hellshaking]]>><</button>> <<else>> <<button [[Check the Casino entrance, just to be thorough?|closedcasino]]>><</button>> <<button [[Just leave, let's go, chop-chop.|hellshaking]]>><</button>> <</if>> <<audio "wind" volume 0 fadeto 0.25>>-

<<timed 1s>>\ "Try the key again, Wheezy." Pir asks hoarsely, after being put down. Panting Wheezy steps forward and presses his hands on the stone, they begin to glow a startling pink once more. [img[pic/glowhands.gif]] <<button [[I...don't think we're getting back in.|brokenlock]]>><</button>> <</timed>> <<audio "wind" stop>> <<audio "getout" play>> <<audio "rumbling" stop>>

<<timed 2s>>"RUN." Wheezy yells, not waiting for her reply before he scoops her up, flings her over one shoulder and barrels forward as fast as possible. Like this she's able to witness the entire structure begin to collapse in on itself, slow and unstoppable like a force of nature. <<linkappend"Tears prick at her eyes.">> [img[pic/hellshaking.png]] She's already been kicked out. Hasn't stepped foot in here for an entire week- but only now, seeing the king and queen crumble to dust, the cards break and fall- Now it feels like she's truly lost her home. <<if visited ("throneyell")>> <<button[[Listen closely.|theyell]]>><</button>> <<else>><<button[[Get out.]]>><</button>> <</if>> <</linkappend>> <</timed>> <<audio "rumbling" loop volume 0.40 play>>

Wait- that sounded <<linkappend"like-">> <em>H e r</em> <<button [[Get out.]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <<audio "chime" volume 0.20 play>>

"Nothing doing." Wheezy says after a while of pressing magic against the locked entrance. Pir has to agree, no matter how much it <<linkappend"pains her.">> Turning to the spread of Isle Three before them, they exchange looks. "Where to first then?" Wheezy asks, carefully patting the still excited pair of Gloves in his pocket. They like the danger. Wonder where they got <em>that</em> from. Pir sighs and tries to remember who has a place on Isle Three <<button[[Pip and Dot's apartment is close.|dominoapt]]>><</button>> <<button[[Mango and Chimes share a loft by the beach.|beachloft]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>>

Passing the theater and turning onto the right road into town, Pir sighs and halfheartedly points at the mountains separating the two Isles. "Think we can fit a Casino under that one?" <<linkappend"She jokes.">> Wheezy hums and tilts head to the side. "The boss is gonna have to shave a lil' off the top of those horns, but I think we can fit." They laugh, ignoring the tense edge to it. <<linkappend"A blockade stops them short.">> [img[pic/demo.png]] "Whoa- what's this?" "They're working on the road. It says here <strong>'Demo In Progress'.</strong>" Pir reads the huge sign, resisting the urge to sigh. "A good excuse for a break to be honest." Wheezy sighs and heads towards the nearest restaurant. "C'mon, nearly dying has me <em>hungry</em>." Pir had to agree. <<button [[She followed.|demoend]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>>

Walking along the beginnings of the boardwalk, Pir points out the broken mausoleum near the middle of town. "Seems like it's an infestation." She jokes, a bit flatly. Wheezy snorts. "Yeah, who do you call for stuff like that?" They both think about it for a <<linkappend"beat.">> "The Cup Brothers!" They both exclaim at the same time, grinning like mad, both ignoring the forced edge to their smiles. <<linkappend"A blockade stops them short.">> [img[pic/demo.png]] "Whoa- what's this?" "Roads under construction. It says here <strong>'Demo In Progress'.</strong>" Pir reads the huge sign, resisting the urge to sigh. "A good excuse for a break to be honest." Wheezy sighs and heads towards the nearest restaurant. "C'mon, nearly dying has me <em>hungry</em>." Pir had to agree. <<button [[She followed.|demoend]]>><</button>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>>

Thank you for playing my demo! I hope you enjoyed your stay and if you're interested in the progress on the fullgame, be sure to follow the devlog for updates! Tentative release date is <strong>Summer 2019</strong>! Big thanks to my wonderful beta testers, Gin and Bee- for bearing with me through all the broken macros and glitchy passages til it became a playable game. You both are literal angels, and not just because of your many eyes and sharp otherworldly teeth. <<button "LOAD SAVE">><<script>>UI.saves()<</script>><</button>> <<button "REPLAY?">><<script>>UI.restart();<</script>><</button>> - Credits: SFX from Freesound.org Cuphead belongs MDHR Studios You Died sound from Dark Souls >3c

<div class="container"> [img[image/pocketicon.png]] <div class="overlay"> <table class="bottom"> <tr> <table class="bottom"><tr>\ <th><<if $dicekey is true>>[img[image/dicekey.png]]<</if>></th> <th><<if $scissors is true>>[img[image/scissors.png]]<</if>></th> <th><<if $bossdice is true>>[img[image/bossdice.png]]<</if>></th> <th><<if $pheartie is true>>[img[image/pheartie.png]]<</if>></th> </tr></table></tr> <tr>\ <th><div class="passage-footer"><<link "Saves">><<script>>UI.saves()<</script>><</link>> | <<link "Restart">><<script>>UI.restart();<</script>><</link>></div></th>\ </tr></table> </div> </div>