Cats

Meow! A game by Kai Ruiz Made for the Autistica game jam [[Start]] [[Learn More]]

"Alright, you're all set up!" [todo] add Micah Sprite [continue] Micah smiles as they give you your shirt. It's a bright green with "VOULENTEER" In bold, white lettering on the back. "We're very happy to have you on the team!" They spout, clasping their hands together. Micah continues, "I'll show you the basics first, but you've been here so many times you most likely know it by heart!" They weren't wrong. You've been here every week for a while, waiting until you were old enough to voulenteer here on your own. [[You nod at Micah.]]

Micah smiles. "Well, uh, are you going to put on the shirt?" [[You put it on top of your comfy long sleeved shirt. It's a little large, but you manage.]]

"So! Since you're just taking care of the cats, here's what you need to know. Lemme find the..." They trail off, looking around. [after 3s] "Ah, here are the keys" Micah gestures to a bin with keys. They're each a different color, and they're all attached to lanyards. [after 7s] "The binder for them is right here too. Just _sign out when you take a key, and sign in when you bring it back._ Don't lose them, or Michael is going to have a fit." Wait wait- keys? [[You ask them what the keys are for]]

Ah ok, pause. Here's the issue; 1. You don't even know if she knows anything beyond basic ASL 2. Even if she did, how will she know you're asking a question? There's no "?" in ASL, and facial expressions are kinda hard. Do you [[Attempt to ask anyways]] or do you [[Remain silent]]

You steadily sign the words: *Key for?* You do your best at a questioning face, even though you've been told before that you just look angry. [if random.coinFlip] Micah scrunches up their face before nodding their head and smiling. "Ah, the keys are for the cat's cabinets. You can unlock them and play with them." "That reminds me! If a client wants to set up a meet-and-greet with a cat, _they can ask the front desk for a ticket._" "If they come back with one, that means the cat is still up to adopt, and you can unlock the door with the key so they can meet them!" [[You nod]] [else] Miah's eyebrows furrowed. You take that as a cue to write it down on a piece of paper and hand it to them. Micah reads it, nodding. "Ah, the keys are for the cat's cabinets. You can unlock them and play with them." "That reminds me! If a client wants to set up a meet-and-greet with a cat, _they can ask the front desk for a ticket._" "If they come back with one, that means the cat is still up to adopt, and you can unlock the door with the key so they can meet them!" [[You nod]]

You remain silent. "Alright! You're ready to start working!" Micah gives you another thumbs up before going back to their paperwork. [[You find something to do.]]

"Alright, you're ready to go!" Micah gives you a thumbs up before going back to their desk. [[You find something to do.]]

You make your way to Cat room A. It's so cold you get goosebumps, but your long sleeved shirt gives you a little comfort. [[Visit room B]] [[Play with some of the cats]]

KAI RUIZ 2020 This was made for the Autistica Game Jam, with the theme "Communication" ASL is a valuable tool for those with autism, as it means they can communicate in a way that's not only comfortable for them, but also because it helps with motor skills and verbal skills. I highly encourage you to do research on this topic, and please don't have my little game be the only source of info. This is my first time using random events, and hopefully it works well! Hopefully there won't be any weird things that pop up :) [[Thank you!->Opening]]

Cat room B is still just as cold, and there are {reveal link: 'two other voulenteers in here', text: ' One of them has shiny, short hair in pigtails. The other has curly hair that's uncomfortable to look at.'} [[Visit room A]] [[Say hi to the other voulenteers]] [[Play with some of the cats]]

You try to open up one of the doors, but they're locked. [[Grab a key]] {back link, label: 'Play with them later'}.

While you're mulling over how you're supposed to even get their attention, the girl with pigtails turns to you. [[Smile at her]] [[Wave hello]]

You're in Cat room A. They've turned the music on, and the soft piano calms you. [if random.d4 === 1] You're about to leave when a mom and her little girl barges open the door. "Excuse me, do you work here?" Without pausing to let you answer, she continues. "I think it's terrible idea that we have to _wait_ in the line just to meet one of the cats. I've been waiting here all day." [[Sign to her that you have no control over it.]] [[Try to use your voice.]] [[Tell her to fuck off in sign.]] [if random.d4 === 2] There's a lady there who waves for your attention. "Excuse me, they gave me a ticket up front to meet with a cat, but I don't know what to do next." [[Mime to her to wait a second and get a key.]] [if random.d4 === 3] [[Visit room B]] [[Play with some of the cats]] [if random.d4 === 4] [[Visit room B]] [[Play with some of the cats]]

You sign the words: *NOT MY FAULT, SORRY* [if random.d10 === 1] Her face goes blank and she taps her foot, trying to figure out what to do next. She slowly apologizes before walking out, most likely to find an employee she can yell at without seeming ablist or something. [[Go to room B->Visit room B]] [if random.d10 === 2] Her face goes blank and she taps her foot, trying to figure out what to do next. She slowly apologizes before walking out, most likely to find an employee she can yell at without seeming ablist or something. [[Go to room B->Visit room B]] [if random.d10 === 3] Her face goes blank and she taps her foot, trying to figure out what to do next. She slowly apologizes before walking out, most likely to find an employee she can yell at without seeming ablist or something. [[Go to room B->Visit room B]] [if random.d10 === 4] Her face goes blank and she taps her foot, trying to figure out what to do next. She slowly apologizes before walking out, most likely to find an employee she can yell at without seeming ablist or something. [[Go to room B->Visit room B]] [if random.d10 === 5] Her face goes blank and she taps her foot, trying to figure out what to do next. She slowly apologizes before walking out, most likely to find an employee she can yell at without seeming ablist or something. [[Go to room B->Visit room B]] [if random.d10 === 6] Her face goes blank and she taps her foot, trying to figure out what to do next. She slowly apologizes before walking out, most likely to find an employee she can yell at without seeming ablist or something. [[Go to room B->Visit room B]] [if random.d10 === 7] Her face goes blank and she taps her foot, trying to figure out what to do next. She slowly apologizes before walking out, most likely to find an employee she can yell at without seeming ablist or something. [[Go to room B->Visit room B]] [if random.d10 === 8] Her face goes blank and she taps her foot, trying to figure out what to do next. She slowly apologizes before walking out, most likely to find an employee she can yell at without seeming ablist or something. [[Go to room B->Visit room B]] [if random.d10 === 9] Her face goes blank and she taps her foot, trying to figure out what to do next. She slowly apologizes before walking out, most likely to find an employee she can yell at without seeming ablist or something. [[Go to room B->Visit room B]] [if random.d10 === 10] She heaves a heavy sigh. "Well, tell a supervisor or something, ok?" She storms out with her daugher in tow. [[Go to room B->Visit room B]]

You attempt to talk, but using your voice is just too much. In tears, you [[rush back to the office->office]] before the lady can say anything.

You sign the words: FUCK YOU Her face goes blank and she taps her foot, trying to figure out what to do next. She slowly apologizes before walking out, most likely to find an employee she can yell at without seeming ablist or something. In a panic, you rush back to [[the office->office]]

Her face seemed to crinkle at you before she turned away. [[Retreat to room A->Visit room A]] [[Ignore them and see if there's something else to do->Visit room B]]

The girl with pigtails waves back, but she turns back to her friend with a crinkled face and mutters something. [[See if there's anything else to do in here->Visit room B]]

You hold a finger up as a way to say "One moment" before running to get a key. When you come back you open up the kennel on her ticket, and let her play with the cat. It's a cute, muted calico girl. She's very little, and the lady seems very happy. She rants to you about how her dog recently passed, and how she's excited to have another pet in her life. When she's done, she goes back to the front desk to adopt her, and you lock the kennel while she does. [[You go to return the key->office]]

You grab a key from the office, signing it out. You unlock the cat kennel, taking a moment to glance at the sign posted on it. [if random.coinFlip] *Spicy, 1 year old, Female, Black shorthair* Spicy paws at the glass door as you unlock it, shoving her face into your hand to pet her. You oblige, letting her lean on you as you scratch her head. After a bit, you put her back in the kennel and lock the door before [[going back to the office to return the key->office]] [else] *Pumpkin, 2 years old, Female, muted tortie* Pumpkin lazily trots up to you when you unlock the glass door before sitting in front of you. You give her a pat on the head and offer a little toy, and she lazily bats it. After a bit, you put her back in the kennel and lock the door before [[going back to the office to return the key->office]]

Micah is at the desk, working on some paperwork. [[Sign out for the day]] [[Go to room A->Visit room A]]

You sign out, grab youjr stuff and head out. It's been a long day. [[The End]]

Thank you for playing! It's a shoddy little game, but I hope you enjoyed nonetheless. {restart link, label: 'Restart'}