LockdownInTheLocalGameStore

Corver city is bustling with life, and the sound of crowds doing their last minute shopping fills the city center. The ever present rain apparently doing nothing to dissuade the locals from carrying on their plans. [[You decide you don't mind it.->Beginnings Part 2]]

In fact, you were doing the same. Up until about ten minutes ago, that is. Preparing for the monthly lockdown has become routine for you, as it has for all locals. Its supposed to start two days from now. You found it strange a couple of years back when you had just moved here with your partner. A strange country, and perhaps an even stranger city. Especially in comparison to your tiny home country, and for some ungodly reason you decided to study game design here. Now the lockdowns feel much more commonplace. As do most aspects of this city. [[You continue your walk back to your apartment.->Beginnings Part 3]]

The city is built practically on top of the ocean just off the northern coast of the country. Everytime you cross its many bridges, or climb up and down the stairs of its tower like structures, you wonder who even planned to build the city this way. Or even decided on its location in the first place. Honestly its just confusing. And as a result, everyone living here gets used to the usually regular lockdowns when the usually regular storm arrives. [[You put the thought out of your mind as you walk out of the city centre.->Beginnings Part 4]]

You arrive at the main path leading up to your neighbourhood. Out of the corner of your eyes to see the houses and stores that line the walkway. The arcade, the off licence, the bookshop, the second off licence, and at the very end, the local game store you regularly visit. Its name stands large on the sign. "THE GAME STORE" [[You figure the owner must have been feeling particularly uncreative when they named it.->Beginnings Part 5]]

The rain picks up a bit, but you dont really notice. Instead you remember the card game you love, Enchanters, just recently released a new expansion, and you feel like you might enjoy picking up a set of the new deck types to enjoy with your partner as you wait out the storm lockdown. You send a quick message to her to let her know you will be be home a bit later than expected. [[You enter THE GAME STORE.->The Card Shop Intro Part 1]]

Dog tackles your legs as you open the door into the store. The store owners unconventional naming sense spared not even their dog. [[You give Dog the attention he deserves.->The Card Shop Intro Part 2]]

A smile grows on your face as you pet Dog. You see the owner of the store, Nik, briefly nod to you, and turn back to their conversation with two of the other customers. Dog seems incredibly happy with the attention you are giving him. The Samoyed nudges you, eager for more. [[You continue petting Dog.->The Card Shop Intro Petting Part 1]] [[You gently push Dog away so you can finally enter the store proper.->The Card Shop Intro Part 3]]

You happily oblige Dog, and give him more pets. You feel content, and increasingly happy with your decision to continue petting Dog. [[Continue petting Dog.->The Card Shop Intro Petting Part 2]] [[Deciding thats enough, you gently push Dog away from your legs, to enter the store proper.->The Card Shop Intro Part 3]]

Dog follows you inside. You greet Nik, and the other customers. You don't spot all the regulars inside the store, but thats not surprising given the current circumstances. [[You walk up to the counter.->The Card Shop Intro Part 4]]

You give Dog more pets. Dog barks happily, ever eager. [[Pet Dog even more.->The Card Shop Intro Petting Part 3]] [[Now you decide enough is enough, and part ways from Dog to enter the store proper.->The Card Shop Intro Part 3]]

Watching the adorable face of Dog, and his adorable puppy eyes, you give in, and continue petting him. In the background, the store seems to have gone quieter, but you take no notice, and instead continue focusing on the task at hand. [[Enjoying your time still standing in the doorway, you keep on petting Dog.->The Card Shop Intro Petting Part 4]] [[Realising this might be going on for a bit long, you collect yourself, and gently push Dog away to enter the store proper.->The Card Shop Intro Part 3]]

You hear laughter coming from the store. Looking up, you find Nik looking at you and Dog, a fond smile on their face. Nik speaks up. "Are you ever going to leave that doorway?" Your face becomes serious. [["I am sorry, but this is highly important work. I do as Dog wills."->The Card Shop Intro Petting Part 5]]

Nik laughs again. "Well do your work inside the store then, you're letting the rain in." You hadn't noticed. [[You apologise, and move into the store.->The Card Shop Intro Petting Finale]]

Feeling still slightly admonished, you finally decide to greet Nik and the other customers as Dog follows you into the store. You dont spot any of the usual regulars at a glance, but thats not surprising given the circumstances. [[You walk up to the counter.->The Card Shop Intro Part 4]]

At this point, the conversation between the other customers and Nik had finished, and you see them browsing the shelves across the room. You turn to Nik, and inquire about the new expansion. "Oh! 'Homelands' the new Enchanters expansion, right? We should still have some stock left after our release events." [["Yeah that one, I want to pick up the Dead Things deck for myself, and the Vampire Ladies deck for my partner."->The Card Shop Intro Part 5]]

"Sure thing, let me go grab those for you." You nod and take in the rest of the store. The rain seems to have picked up even more, beating heavily against the entrance. You dread the thought walking home in this weather with only your small umbrella, all while carrying your groceries. In the background you hear some sort of pop song playing. Probably coming from the small tv screen upstairs. Usually Nik has some music videos of bands they like playing there. You spot Justus walking down the stairs from the upstairs table area. He's another uni student you see here from time to time. Apparently you weren't the only regular here after all. [[You acknowledge each other with a small nod. As is tradition. Apparently.->The Card Shop Intro Part 6]]

The other customers from before are still browsing. You think they might be a couple, but you aren't sure, and don't particularly want to make assumptions. From what you can see however, is that the taller girl is introducing the other to Enchanters, and its expansions lining the shelves. [[It always brings a smile on your face seeing people learn about your favorite hobby.->The Card Shop Intro Part 7]]

Looking up, you spot a parent being taught much the same by their teenage child, sitting near the railing of the upstairs area. The store is fairly small, but usually you find there are a few more people than this when you come here. You figure its due to the lockdown being near, and people are busy preparing. Foot traffic always seems to slow down in these sorts of stores. [[You wonder then, if this is really the time for people to introduce their friends and family to this hobby.->The Card Shop Intro Part 8]]

Well, you think, maybe they can use the time in the lockdown to have some fun with it. "I have your decks for you, Erin." Hearing your name, you turn back around to face Nik. you reach for your wallet in your back pocket. [[Thats when you hear the warning sirens.->Lockdown Start Part 1]]

"Shit, is it early this month?" "So it seems" "Those were the ten minute warning sirens." [[There is no way you are gonna make it home now.->Lockdown Start Part 2]]

You quickly send a message to your partner and inform her you cant get home at this point. Immediately, she replies that you shouldnt worry, and to take care of yourself where you are. She also tells you shes closed the storm shutters on, and that, having checked on all the supplies in your apartment that she should be fine for the usually two day long storm. [[Your worries lessen.->Lockdown Start Part 3]]

You look around once more, and it seems everyone else is doing the same thing of contacting others, trying to get a better grasp of the situation. Nik decides this is the moment to speak up. "Uhh... Attention everyone. Legally speaking, I am kinda forced to close the storm shutters and keep everyone inside at this point. Even if you live close by, I can't let anyone risk going out in this condition. Just so you know." Behind them, you hear the rain and the howling wind picking up even more. The heavy storm shutters are also coming down. "So yeah. Looks like we are stuck here for the time being. That being said, please dont panic. Everything should be fine, really. I did stock up on supplies before today, and I live just above the store so, we should be good for a while. Usually the early storms end early as well, so I doubt we will be in any real trouble. Plus any stores here are required to have emergency supplies in case something happens while we are on lockdown." [[You look down at the grocery bag your holding. You should probably store them somewhere for the next day.->Lockdown Start Part 4]]

"Hey Nik" you say. They look at you. "Would you mind if stored some of this with you then?" "Oh, sure, absolutely. Really anything would help. Let me go fetch my keys and I can put them up into my fridge." [[You hand your groceries over to Nik.->Lockdown Start Part 5]]

"I'll be right back." Nik says as they go upstairs. The other customers seem to have calmed down a bit, and are resigning themselves to staying here for the time being. [[You do the same->Lockdown Start Part 6]]

As they dissapear into their apartment you hear: "In the meantime, why don't you all get situated at the table area, and we can find somethings to do to pass the time." Everyone moves to go upstairs and find a place to sit. [[You do too.->Introductions Part 1]]

There are only four long tables upstairs. The store really is pretty tiny when you think more about it, but somehow it never really registers when you are there with the regular crowds. Everyone is sitting seperately, only one table left empty. [[Sit with Justus.->Justus Intro Part 1]] [[Sit with the Parent and Teenager combo.->Family Intro Part 1]] [[Sit with the two girls.->Girls Intro Part 1]] [[Sit by yourself.->Partner and Nik Intro Part 1]]

THIS SECTION IS STILL WIP [[Move to the temporary end of the story.->Temp story end]]

You decide to sit down by yourself at the empty table. You take out your phone and decide to continue talking to your partner. Turns out she has started marathoning the new Netflix series in your abscence as something to do. You think she might be using this situation to avoid her school work for the time being. You don't judge though, you can barely believe she already survives the stresses of a graduate degree in physics so you are happy she has more of a chance to unwind from all that. [[You pass some time idly chatting and playing one of your mobile games.->Partner and Nik Short Intro Part 2]]

After about 15 minutes of this, you hear Nik coming back down. They seem to have taken the chance to ditch their work shirt and changed into what looks like a way more comfortable bright red jumper. They quickly join you at your table. "What's up?" [["Oh not much. Just texting Jodi."->Partner and Nik Short Intro Part 3]]

"Oh, Jodi. Your partner right?" "Yeah, thats her." THIS SECTION IS STILL WIP [[Move to the temporary end of the story.->Temp story end]]

Thanks for playing this unfinished story :). I definitely did not get as much writing done as I wanted to for this game jam, but I hope you enjoyed what you did read of it! I will most likely be updating it more over time!