Part Timers

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<img src="https://i.imgur.com/Gh2bWKm.gif"> [[Start]] [[Scene Select]]

<<set $dream to 0>> My first day at the new job had a great start. I had immediately fallen asleep on the way to work. I was dreaming, too. My dreams were usually really vivid but this one in particular was sending me for a loop. I hadn't been able to sleep at all the entire night before because I was nervous, and 20 seconds into the drive I was out cold. What was I even dreaming about... [[That weird job application.]]

<<set $dream to 2>> That's right, I was having a weird dream about filling out the job application on my phone. I infinitely scrolled through all the bland questions, fighting against my phone that was putting in jumbles of letters instead of what I typed. The occasional answers I could force through were ones that wouldn't get me the job and would become unedittable as soon as they were entered. <<linkreplace "Any previous work experience?">>"Last Summer I tried working the graveyard shift restocking a clothing store but the hours made me insane."<</linkreplace>> <<linkreplace "You and another employee have a political disagreement, what do you do?">>"I kill them."<</linkreplace>> <<linkreplace "What are your goals?">> "Someday I want to be covered in so many weighted blankets I die."<</linkreplace>> <<linkreplace "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?">>"Dead."<</linkreplace>> <<linkreplace "10 years?">>Dead but now I'm a skeleton. <</linkreplace>> My body was suddenly slammed against some kind of wall, and I looked up to realize I was driving a car! [[Oh god!]]

<<set $dream to 1>> It had been a couple of years since I'd graduated at that point but I dreamt about High School constantly. Always a stress dream, always in my Senior year, and I'm always forgetting something. This one specifically was about dance team-a particular era of dance team I hated the most, of course. Lia Sam, long time awkward-acquaintance and most likely the person who left that dead snail in my locker, had kindly petitioned her mom to takeover as the new coach after our previous one moved to Utah. She'd been a cheerleading coach for a long time at Lancing High before. Too long. Even when Lia was still in pre-school she brought them to many hard fought victories, and promised a smooth transition of implementing her cheerleading skills into our dance routines for similar results. [[Sounded cool.]]

1.[[Dreaming and Driving|DND]] 2.[[Fairytale Hollow|Where are we going anyway?]] 3.[[Of Course|of course,]] [[<|Main Menu]]

<<set $dream to 3>> [[THUD.]]

It was like I'd been flying my whole life, but just never felt like doing it. With an easy leap I floated above them, smugly and impatiently waiting for them to form a wimpy little pyramid below. With a gentle lift I felt a shaky hand support each of my feet. Took them long enough! The lift continued though, and I'm suddenly moving up higher and higher. Up high enough that the landscape below stopped making sense- what I had thought was my school gym expanded outward into an open grotto, our High School swimming pool overgrown with vines and thorns. I started to lose my balance, knees wobbling as the air got tighter and colder. If only I had knew how to fly. The palms that held my feet went flat. [[And I fell.]]

Well, I made a very earnest attempt at violently fighting my entire dance team. Unfortunately, dream physics were in effect. My fists and feet flew weak and empty through the air in pathetic punches and kicks. It was like I was in a pool, flailing as I sank. All assaults falling short, the team laughed and laughed at how weak I was. Then I finally land a hit on Lia and she goes down hard. It felt as pathetic and unsatisfying as ever but my fist had officially rocked her world. The words she's trying to say make no sense at all until she finally squeaks out, "Where am I? Who are you? Can somebody please help me?!" I hit her so hard I gave her [[amnesia!!!]]

Jolted by a pothole, I woke up in the back of a van. Of all the places to wake up, a van is probably the most terrifying. Luckily this blow was eased because I knew where I was and remembered my decision to get in this van in the first place. It was surprisingly homey too- a heavily used but soft blue carpet covered the hard metal floor, and the hard metal walls were plastered in [[posters and photos.]] Dividing the driver's seat and the rest of the van was a rod of swaying [[t-shirts and jackets]], every once in a while giving me a glimpse of the driver. Directly across from me was [[a pile]] of backpacks, gym bags, and sleeping bags. Looking to my feet I saw [[my reflection]] in the phone that I'd dropped when I dozed off. Sitting across from me was one of my new coworkers, [[Vic]].

There were some I recognized and others that were so indie the only people that'd heard of them were their exhausted neighbors trying to get some sleep. There was Alligator Raid and Subhouse Club, an emo band and a pop-punk band I listened to non stop in the 8th grade. There's also some posters for some bands called Dancing Plague, N0nst0p (nzeronstzerop?), and Stirring Macaroni Sound Project. Also spotted was a poster that took me way too long to realize was actually a grocery list written on a cheeseburger wrapper and stuck to the wall with a fridge magnet. The walls were also dotted with small, squarish photos that looked like they were taken with an instant camera. Pictures of waterfalls in green forests, scarred deserts painted by a burning sun, grey waves breaching a foggy shore-they were all pictures of nature from the destinations [[the van|THUD.]] had seen. The only standouts were a couple of selfies of someone with a tired man behind them struggling to get his camera back.

During our initial meeting they did their best to assure me that they rarely ever sleep in the van. Van sleeps are designated for "slow months" where they don't pick up a ton of ghost bounties and need to save money for food or van repair. Usually they just opted for the nearest motel every night. After experiencing the Cheapest Motels Ever going on family vacations as a kid [[the van|THUD.]] was honestly sounding really good.

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/bNWpnK1.png"> <b>Jodi</b> She/her/hers 24-years-old Man, I look like shit. [[Anyway,|THUD.]]

<<timed 0.5s>> F <</timed>> <<timed 1s>> w <</timed>> <<timed 1.5s>> e <</timed>> <<timed 2s>> e <</timed>> <<timed 2.5s>> e <</timed>> <<timed 3s>> e <</timed>> <<timed 3.5s>> e <</timed>> <<timed 4s>> e <</timed>> <<timed 4.5s>> e <</timed>> <<timed 5s>> e <</timed>> <<timed 5.5s>> e <</timed>> <<timed 6s>> e <</timed>> <<timed 6.5s>> e <</timed>> <<timed 7s>> e <</timed>> <<timed 7.5s>> [[THUD.]] <</timed>>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/cwNs83f.png"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/7TwTncS.png"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EHlQQK3.png"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/PuXBu0J.png"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Vzovkma.png"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/ktCX2RG.png"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/uuKY1O7.png"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/ahPG11l.png"> [[>|DND]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/aTyW5GY.gif"> <div class="vic">Evenin' sleepyhead, you comfy over there?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/JEfJitZ.gif"> <div class="jodi">[[>"Truth be told my neck is killing me."]] [[>"Yeah! It was alright."]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/9RzobnJ.png"> <div class="jodi">Truth be told my neck is killing me.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/3qEHGBq.png"> <div class="vic">Oh yeah, the van'll do that to ya.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/jtAiqHx.png"> <div class="vic">We don't sleep in here often but when we do you know I'm starting the night with a baker's dozen of ibuprofen.</div> <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/PM3mMP0.png"> <div class="ike">I don't know why you don't just send a heal request in the app when you wake up. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/WMMkqHE.png"> <div class="ike">I've done it before, they'll fix you right up.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/X5gYNOs.png"> <div class="vic">Because it's a waste of money!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/PM3mMP0.png"> <div class="ike">Don't be a bad influence, using the app to heal up is a necessary part of the job.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/TXuWOtN.png"> <div class="ike">Plus you think anything smaller than losing an arm is a waste of money.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/HyOjZvl.gif"> <div class="vic">And that's why I don't have to order off the dollar menu at WcDonalds!</div> Ike waved his hand through the T-shirt wall. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/WMMkqHE.png"> <div class="ike">Whateverrr.</div> Vic stowed their phone in their backpack and produced a tattered old notebook that lost 3 to 5 stickynotes with each movement. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/jtAiqHx.png"> <div class="vic">Oh, that reminds me! This is your first actual hunt right? I got a list I made of stuff I wan't to make sure you've got ready before we're all in the middle of it.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/c6311tH.png"> <div class="vic">Is it cool if we go over it? </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/sbVnJWv.gif"> <div class="jodi">Uh, [[sure!]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/jbirXhu.png"> <div class = "jodi">Yeah! It was alright.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">Hah! Liar!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EI7zWVW.png"> <div class = "vic">It's cool though I know you're just being nice. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">This van is home but I'll be the first to admit a dumpster would probably be more comfy. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">Probably smell better too. </div> Ike's gruff, tired voice piped up from the driver's seat. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lcFRv6q.png"> <div class = "ike">Be nice to the van.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EI7zWVW.png"> <div class = "vic">Yeah, yeah. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">This thing's got a face only an Ike could love.</div> Vic stowed their phone in their backpack and produced a tattered old notebook that lost 3 to 5 stickynotes with each movement. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/e0w26AB.gif"> <div class = "vic">Alright, this is your first actual hunt right? I got a list I made of stuff I wan't to make sure you've got ready before we're all in the middle of it.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">Is it cool if we go over it? </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class ="jodi">Uh, [[sure!]] </div>

<<if $dream is 1>> Vic stowed their phone in their backpack and produced a tattered old notebook that lost 3 to 5 stickynotes with each movement. Vic: Alright, this is your first actual hunt right? I got a list I made of stuff I wan't to make sure you've got ready before we're all in the middle of it. Vic: Is it cool if we go over it? Jodi: Uh, [[sure!]] <<elseif $dream is 2>> Vic stowed their phone in their backpack and produced a tattered old notebook that lost 3 to 5 stickynotes with each movement. Vic: Alright, this is your first actual hunt right? I got a list I made of stuff I wan't to make sure you've got ready before we're all in the middle of it. Vic: Is it cool if we go over it? Jodi: Uh, [[sure!]] <<elseif $dream is 3>> <<set %fairydream to "true">> Vic stowed their phone in their backpack and produced a tattered old notebook that lost 3 to 5 stickynotes with each movement. Vic: Alright, this is your first actual hunt right? I got a list I made of stuff I wan't to make sure you've got ready before we're all in the middle of it. Vic: Is it cool if we go over it? Jodi: Uh, [[sure!]] <</if>>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">Nice, nice, great, nice. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/e0w26AB.gif"> <div class = "vic">First things frist then, the equipment.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">Did they send you the uh...that funky little...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/e0w26AB.gif"> <div class = "vic">The...Delivery...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/blz81Wu.png"> <div class = "ike">Support and Useage Delivery Portal. S.U.D.P.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/TyXurEg.png"> <div class = "ike">Sudpuh! </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EI7zWVW.png"> <div class = "vic">Ugh, yeah. Whatever he just said. We usually just say "threads" because they look like little glowing strings before you install them.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/e0w26AB.gif"> <div class = "vic">Did you get something like that?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class = "jodi">No... I haven't gotten anything from Observer yet.</div> Vic looked annoyed. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class = "vic">Of course of course, of course they'd forget something so important. Oopsy! Ugh.</div> They continued looking annoyed before looking up at me and snapping back into their poppy excited demeanor. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">[[Here, I'll order one for you on the house~|Vic: Here, I'll order one for you on the house~]]</div>

Most of the rack is taken up by normal looking hoodies and graphic tees but swinging amon them were a variety of souveniers from their previous supernatural expeditions. Sitting far back on the van I could just make out such shirts as: "Wipe your feet when you're Home on the Stone" "Wish you were here (at Dan's Cement Dinosaur Village)" "My other me is still trapped at the Santa Cruz mystery spot!" "I enjoyed Vermont's most bottomless pit on the hole" "Cursed by Wild Willy's Ghost Town" "If you're reading this I escaped the wrath of Jennifer's Haunted Jungle Cafe!" "FBI: Federal Billygoat Inspector" (Some kind of petting zoo?) I also noticed a strange mug at the corner of the doorway that seemed to function both as a mug and as pipe-though I'd never see it in use. It said, in a cloudy, toxic-green font: "I got smoked silly in Seaside, OR". Tired of reading things that were far away, I returned my focus to the rest of the [[van|THUD.]].

Vic put out their arm with the palm of their hand facing up, their fingers wiggling slightly as if subtly gesturing. At first I thought this was an invitation to a low-five but that implication quickly evaporated as I noticed one of the stars in their tattoo begin to glow. It was an LED light blue, but didn't hurt to stare at. If anything it felt nice? The glow of a Thread isn't like anything else on earth, not because it looks special but because it feels a certain special way to see it. The glow gradually got brighter until a spark erupted and floated above the glowing star, shifting and changing shape with a low hum. In a final burst the spark revealed itself to be a small vial that, finally gaining weight, landed with a gentle plop into Vic's other hand. It was all so much fascinating nonsense to me but Vic was not impressed by any of this bizarre display in the [[slightest.]]

I'd been filling out this thing on my phone instead of watching the road! My legs couldn't reach the breaks no matter how far I stretched them, the car swerved wildly with each dramatic turn of the steering wheel. I looked back down at my phone, the application was due soon and I didn't want to miss out on this opportunity. <<linkreplace"What will you bring to this company to accomplish our goal of best serving our customers?">>"I will kiss each and every one of your customers on the mouth."<</linkreplace>> <<linkreplace"What would you say is your biggest weakness?">>"I eat the Gogurt wrapper when I'm finished with it."<</linkreplace>> <<linkreplace"Why are you interested in this job?">>"She's not saying it but I think my mom wants to kick me out lol."<</linkreplace>> <<linkreplace"Why would she want to do that?">>"Because she works like 80 hours a week and I sleep in until 5 every day and don't help out."<</linkreplace>> I looked up from my phone as the car launched itself [[off an overpass.]]

Then, swirling nauseating colors as the car spun and rolled across the ground. It came to rest on a set of railroad tracks as my body hung lifelessly from the seatbelt. I felt so tired...I couldn't free myself, instead returning to the application. Something blared loudly in the distance as I fixed my eyes to the now cracked screen. <<linkreplace"Why do you do that?">>"I think there's something wrong with me."<</linkreplace>> <<linkreplace"Maybe you're just lazy?">>"Probably."<</linkreplace>> <<linkreplace"Maybe there's something wrong with your brain, and you'll never be able to function in this society because of it?">>"Also a possibility. You keep using question marks but I don't think these are questions?"<</linkreplace>> A train is coming!!! Or was, in my dream. Arms raised feebly in front of myself to brace for the impact, I closed my eyes and took my last moment to finish the application and hit [[submit.]]

<<linkreplace"Do you think this job will be different from your last one?">>"I need it to be."<</linkreplace>> Opening my eyes one final time, I noticed it wasn't a train anymore. It was a giant baseball. [[THUD.]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/YgMdhLM.png"> <b>Vic</b> They/Them/Theirs 23-years-old Vic was a livewire. Still is. Sporting stylish leather boots and magical sleeve tattoos, I was instantly drawn to them, only to be met with their contagious energy and excitement. The world was a dim room that Vic spent their time brightening up. I'm sure they had a serious side too, but they'd rarely let me see it. During our first meeting, Vic mostly wanted to ask me what my favorite movies and TV shows were or tell me bad jokes which was a good break from all the official paperwork and training videos. Sitting in the front seat driving this mystery machine was my other coworker, [[Ike]].

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/OgyFaY8.png"> <b>Ike</b> He/Him/His 26-years-old, but he looks 76. Ike was subtle and genuine. Genuinely subtle. Still is. He could only ever be seen wearing outfits that'd keep him comfy-especially his never-failing combos of bulky jackets and basketball shorts. The dark circles under his eyes told a story of someone world weary, but he did his best to keep the jaded parts of himself buried deep in favor of keeping his friends safe and comfortable. When I met up with him and his associate to see if I'd be a good fit for the team he was polite, but only concerned with the practicalities. Could I get enough sleep if I was travelling all the time, did I have any medications it might be hard to get on the road, did I have any big phobias that might prove to be vulnarabilities during a monster attack-blah blah [[blah.]]

Then we were doing pyramids within the week. Afraid of heights and hyper aware of how much I weighed, I hated this. I hated that, to prove she wasn't favoring Lia, everyone had to get a chance at the top of the pyramid. I hated that this was how I ended up sitting out dance team the first semester with a cast on my arm. The dream was like that day, but definitely different. It was my turn to get on top of the pyramid, and everyone was pissed off about it, openly mocking me in a way people only do in dreams. I'm mortified but also quick to a righteous, violent anger like nothing I've felt in my life. They thought I was this ugly clumsy thing that could only be good for a laugh. I wanted to prove them wrong. [[So I lept up to the top like gravity didn't exist.]] [[So I started thrashing them.]]

Hurdling like a rocket face-first towards the ground, I felt my heart fall far behind me and leave my chest empty. Down, down, down, [[THUD.]]

Suddenly all the violent anger was gone as I crumbled on the gym floor a mess of cold guilt and anxiety. I was a bad person, I hurt someone. Lia's life was ruined. Her mom was going to be so mad at me! And she was. You could tell because she was stomping across the gym to me, dragging an enormous metal bat behind her. I'm frozen in place as she rises up over me and readies the bat-it was going to be a straight-down swing to the top of my head. See how I liked having my brain scrambled. It moved so fast and hard it whistled like an [[atomic bomb.]]

They deposited the vial in my hand with a bubbly <img src="https://i.imgur.com/e0w26AB.gif"> <div class = "vic">There ya go!</div> and I gave it a thorough lookover. Inside the thin glass was, as explained, a small thread about as long as my thumb glowing a supernatural green. It became hard to move my eyes away from it as Vic continued talking. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/e0w26AB.gif"> <div class = "vic">This thing is going to act like a door that the higher ups can send you equipment and supplies through. Weapons, little gizmos. You just pop open that vial and touch that thread to something you want to turn into a door!</div> Despite it looking like this fragile, precious thing the gunmetal gray cork came out of the vial really easily. With a little shake the glass tube emptied and I let the Thread sit in the palm of my hand. It felt so light I hardly felt it at all. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class = "jodi">[[>Your tattoo lit up, does that mean...?]] [[>Where should I put it?]] </div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class="jodi">Your tattoos lit up, does that mean you put your thread in your arm?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class="vic">Yeah! Well a ton of them actually. I arranged them into the shapes I wanted, let them sink in, and blammo!-bomb ass glowing sleeve tats!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class="jodi">Whoa...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EI7zWVW.png"> <div class="vic">Yeah, it's pretty cool.</div> It was cool but something felt really unsafe about it. I didn't know anything about this weird technology and I got the gut feeling it was a bad idea. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lcFRv6q.png"> <div class="ike">Eugh, it's not cool it's nasty... </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lcFRv6q.png"> <div class="ike">What if it gives you some freaky scifi-skin disease? Did you even check with the manager before you did that?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EI7zWVW.png"> <div class="vic">It's fineee. Feels tingly when I use them. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Lhxu3aB.png"> <div class="ike">Probably the radiation.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/HtUxTme.png"> <div class="vic">Shut upppppp, you don't know that. It's probably some harmless ghost-magic-energy stuff. Who cares.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class="vic">Plus I just gotta hit a button in the app and they'll dissapear.</div> I wondered if it was really that easy-I knew Observer technology was really advanced but could they remove a piece of tech from a human with the press of a button? <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class="jodi">Do you think they'll leave a scar or something if you do that?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class="vic">God I hope so, I've never tried but that would be [[sick!|slightest.]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class = "jodi">Where should I put it?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">That's up to you! I'd recommend somewhere you have easy access to and you can't lose too easily.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/e0w26AB.gif"> <div class = "vic">Ike put some in the sleeves of his nasty old jacket so he can kinda flick out his arms and stuff comes flying out magician style. </div> They flexed their right bicep, giving me a sick gunshow and making their tattoos glow again. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EI7zWVW.png"> <div class = "vic">And you can tell pretty easy where I put mine.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">Do you have something you'd be fine taking everywhere and using for on-the-job junk teleportation? </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class = "jodi">[[>My watch, if that'll work.]] [[>How about my class ring?]]</div>

<<set $watch to true>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class = "jodi">My watch, if that'll work.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">Ooh, poifect.</div> I took one end of the Thread between my thumb and index finger and brought it above the face of my watch. Anxious about doing it wrong, my eyes got caught watching the green glow reflecting in the glass and casting the clock's face in an alien light. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/e0w26AB.gif"> <div class = "vic">You just gotta place it so the two ends are touching. It should take care of the rest by itself.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/jbirXhu.png"> <div class = "jodi">If I mess this up, can I do it over?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">You can't mess it up.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/e0w26AB.gif"> <div class = "vic">But if you find a way to mess it up we just gotta get another one.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">[[Next]] one wont be free though!</div>

<<set $watch to false>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class = "jodi">Jodi: How about my class ring?</div> I put my hand out to show off the ring, a chunky piece of amalgam silver stamped with "Hollow High Class of 2024" and dotted by a roundish, fire-red spinel. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EI7zWVW.png"> <div class = "vic">Ah, Jostens got to you, huh?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lsYjpZM.png"> <div class = "jodi">...yep. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class = "jodi">Well, they got to my mom. She loves stuff like this.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class = "jodi">Plus I got entered in a giveaway to go to a themepark if I got one.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">With how much those things cost they should've just given you the ticket.</div> Ike's voice broke through the T-shirt wall again. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/TyXurEg.png"> <div class = "ike">I think they're cool. If I had the money at the time I'd definitely have gotten one.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/blz81Wu.png"> <div class = "ike">Something in gold maybe. No, silver. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">Yeah, silver!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Lhxu3aB.png"> <div class = "ike">Hmm...Maybe gold then.</div> While they bantered-on my eyes darted back and forth between the the red gem'd ring on my right hand and the glowing [[green thread]] in my left palm.

<<set $health to false>> <<set $map to false>> <<set $item to false>> <<set $manager to false>> <<set $budget to false>> With the precision of one of those cool surgeon robots I laid the thread in a near perfect circle around the edge of the dial. The ends connected, and they did so in such a perfect way I wasn't sure if I had done it or if they connected themselves on their own like magnets. Then, just as Vic said it would, the thread took things from there. It began to glow brighter and brighter, emitting a bit of warmth as it etched itself into the glass. The light I'd found comfortable before started to leave bright spots in my eyes like the sun. In the second it took me to try and blink the bright light out of my eyes, the thread had become nothing more than a dull green circle around the face of my watch. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">Noice. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">Alright now that the Thread is settled, let's make sure the app is all synced up and ready. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">Have you checked that out at all?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class = "jodi">[[Only a little bit.]]</div>

<<if $health == true and $map == true and $item == true and $manager == true and $budget == true>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/y6pJWeI.png"> Despite how interesting I'd found the app after its unusually short download time, I hadn't taken a lot of time to explore it. It was filled with all sorts of buttons and commands, and knowing what kind of tools Observer employees used to fight monsters there was a decent chance of me miss-clicking something and setting off a grenade in my bedroom. Put on the spot in front of Vic (and maybe Ike? It was hard to tell if he was paying attention) it was finally time to give this thing a once over. The interface of the initial screen was surprisingly simple, a menu of 5 options in a simple font. [[Magic(tm) InstaHealth]] [[Traces Map]] [[Budget]] [[Item Order]] [[Manager Line]] <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">Sweet, if you're all done checking out the app [[let's try out your new thread real quick]], and the rest we'll figure out once we're actually on the ground out there.</div> <<else>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/y6pJWeI.png"> Despite how interesting I'd found the app after its unusually short download time, I hadn't taken a lot of time to explore it. It was filled with all sorts of buttons and commands, and knowing what kind of tools Observer employees used to fight monsters there was a decent chance of me miss-clicking something and setting off a grenade in my bedroom. Put on the spot in front of Vic (and maybe Ike? It was hard to tell if he was paying attention) it was finally time to give this thing a once over. The interface of the initial screen was surprisingly simple, a menu of 5 options in a simple font. [[Magic(tm) InstaHealth]] [[Traces Map]] [[Budget]] [[Item Order]] [[Manager Line]] <</if>>

I took one end of the Thread between my thumb and index finger and brought it above the red spinel on the ring. Anxious about doing it wrong, my eyes got caught watching the green glow dancing through the gem's facets. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">You just gotta place it so the two ends are touching. It should take care of the rest by itself.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/jbirXhu.png"> <div class = "jodi">If I mess this up, can I do it over?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">You can't mess it up.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">But if you find a way to mess it up we just gotta get another one.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EI7zWVW.png"> <div class = "vic">[[This time]] it wont be free though!</div>

<<set $health to false>> <<set $map to false>> <<set $item to false>> <<set $manager to false>> <<set $budget to false>> With the precision of someone painting a name on a grain of rice I laid the thread in a near perfect circle around the spinel. The ends connected, and they did so in such a perfect way I wasn't sure if I had done it or if they connected themselves on their own like magnets. Then, just as Vic said it would, the thread took things from there. It began to glow brighter and brighter, emitting a bit of warmth as it started to sink into the topmost facet of the spinel. The light I'd found comfortable before started to leave bright spots in my eyes like the headlights of a car. In the second it took me to try and blink the bright light out of my eyes, the thread had dissapeared, changing the red spinel into some kind of dull green stone. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">There ya go. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">Alright now that the Thread is settled, let's make sure the app is all synced up and ready. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">Have you checked that out at all?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class = "jodi">[[Only a little bit.]]</div>

<<set $health to true>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/U9cvdom.png"> The "Magic(tm) InstaHealth" page contained a diagram of a human bearing my name, dotted with little nodes that, when tapped, would reveal more information about a body part and the status of it. For the most part the nodes were all a comfortable, healthy green aside from an orange node attached to my jaw-tapping it opened a pop-up informing my of a cavity forming on one of my teeth with the option to fix it for $65. The only other thing on the page was a drop down menu for something called "Processing" that was set to "Battle Automatic". <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class = "jodi">What's the "[[process]]" thing about?</div>

<<set $map to true>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/60qnj32.png"> The Traces Map, as I had guessed from the name, contained a simple map of the surrounding area. It had been a while since I glanced out a window but the map confirmed my suspicions that we were snaking our way through a forest on a road clinging to the side of a mountain. Overall it didn't look much different from any map you could look up online except for the occasional, colorful shimmer over certain areas of the map. They were small clusters of pixels you could mistake easily mistake for dead pixels on your phone and they faded away as soon as I'd get a good look at them. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class="jodi">So...what's the Traces Map for?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class="vic">Oh, that's how we find the monsters we're looking for.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class="vic">The way they kind of fade in and out of existence makes it tough to really drop a target on them, so we follow these...uh...traces? To find them.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class="vic">I actually don't know what the traces even are actually...</div> They turned towards the driver's seat with a look of mild confusion. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class="vic">Ike, you have any idea?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/WDNEhGt.png"> <div class="ike">I think it's like...electromagnetic interference they cause when they move? Or some kind of miasma...huh...</div> Vic turned back to me with a concerned smile. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class="vic">Eh, don't worry about it. They're not paying us to know what stuff is!</div> Still a bit curious but putting it on the backburner, I looked back down to [[my phone.|Only a little bit.]]

<<set $budget to true>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/fhju8cj.png"> The budget button took me to an even simpler page that was mostly taken up by a large number displaying the cash amount, $1500. Below that was an empty section labeled "expenses" that seemed like it could become an itemized list of costs at some point. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class="jodi">$1500? Is that our pay or-</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class="vic">Yeah! Usually standard monsters only net you like 350 max but we're hunting big game baby!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class="vic">Probably not gonna keep that whole amount though. They charge you for stuff as the night goes on like healing injuries, ordering special items to help you track and fight monsters, or repairing damage you caused to the surroundings during the fight.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class="vic">Would you believe the most powerful, wealthy, privately owned monster fighting service in the universe nickle and dimes you for every stupid little thing?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lsYjpZM.png"> <div class="jodi">[[I have a feeling...|Jodi: I have a feeling...]]</div>

<<set $item to true>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/2xW5SLp.png"> The "Item Order" page was primarily taken up by a scrollable list of weird purchaseable items, aside from a small number in the upper right corner reading "$1500", a searchbar, and a drop-down menu labeled "Weapon Order" currently set to "gesture" . The list seemed to scroll on infinitely with equipment I'd never heard of and couldn't decipher. There would occasionally be some nouns here and there that made some sense but usually combined with some scifi nonsense to throw me off its trail. A [[quick glance]] at the descriptions didn't get me too far.

<<set $manager to true>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/DjVKqA5.png"> Before I could even ask, Vic saw me looking at the Manager Line button and cut in. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class = "vic">Do not, under any circumstances, press that button.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/HtUxTme.png"> <div class = "vic">Not even if I'm dying.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lcFRv6q.png"> <div class = "ike">Maybe if Vic is dying, but never ever for any other reason ever.</div> They sounded dead serious. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/jbirXhu.png"> <div class = "jodi">[[Wh-what would happen if I did...?]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">Oh, that's a setting for how and when you want them to heal your injuries. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">Some people, like moi, prefer to be able to choose what gets healed.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">Like if I get a scrape on my knee I can deal with that, I don't need to get that instantly healed and lose 20 bucks.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">It can get dicey sometimes, but I'm careful enough to not get my shit rocked too hard out there lol.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">You should probably keep yours set to 'battle auto' until you're used to things though. That'll heal whatever damage is done to you in a fight.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">It can get a bit spendy, but you're basically invincible!</div> A familiar voice chimed in from the driver's seat, more tense and genuinely irritated than I'd heard it before. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lcFRv6q.png"> <div class = "ike">That's [[not true]], don't say it like that.</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/lcFRv6q.png"> <div class = "ike">If you get too hurt, or hurt a bunch of times in quick succession, your budget will drop below zero and your done here. No more job, out on your ass.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lcFRv6q.png"> <div class = "ike">And that's the best case scenario.</div> I couldn't see his face, but I felt enough of an aura of intimidation in his voice to figure that it had twisted into something more serious and intense. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/uBT5tsx.png"> <div class = "ike">You could also get hurt so bad you can't get healed at all.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class = "vic"> C'mon man, don't be such a bummer-</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/uBT5tsx.png"> <div class = "ike">Head chopped off, reduced to dust, drowned, melted. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lcFRv6q.png"> <div class = "ike">There's some stuff you can't come back from no matter what.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lcFRv6q.png"> <div class = "ike">And then you're on your parent's porch, a little pod filled with ash.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lcFRv6q.png"> <div class = "ike">So be careful above all else, and-</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Sl5xtGe.png"> <div class = "vic">AND don't worry too much because we'll have your back out there, and someday you'll have ours!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">Me and Ike have been around doing this forever now because we take care of each other. Mostly me taking care of Ike.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Lhxu3aB.png"> <div class = "ike">Only because you get mad if I try to help you out.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class = "vic">You 'helping me out' is just getting in my way! </div> With that there was a sort of awkward pause <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class = "jodi">[[>What's the worst you've seen someone get hurt and live?|Jodi: What's the worst you've seen someone get hurt and live?]] [[>*I decided not to push stuff any further and got back to looking at my phone.*|Only a little bit.]]</div>

Ike let out a noise of either annoyance or disgust, but Vic smiled and seemed excited. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">One time, before we started doing this road trip thing,</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">I worked patroling the streets of P-town every night with a budy of mine.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">One night the maps on our phones start lighting up like crazy around this old alley.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">Totally the middle of nowhere, nothing special at all to set it apart from the hundreds of other alleys in the city.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">So we investigate it and find this...hellhound the size of a bear.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">Biggest, meanest ghost dog you've ever seen with burning red eyes and this moving shadow chained to its leg. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">We found out later there had been a local ghost story about a demon dog who was forever guarding the soul of their deceased owner and so many people believed in it and were scared of it-it manifested into a real thing.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">Real, really BIG thing.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">My buddy takes the first swing at it-he had a pair of gauntlets for his main weapon, which you will soon learn is a really bad idea.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">He moves to land a solid hit on this monster dog, square in its jaw.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Sl5xtGe.png"> <div class = "vic">But it snaps its mouth open at the last minute and now my buddy's fist is in this things throat. Then-</div> Vic clacked their teeth together. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">[[CHOMP!]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">The monster took his arm off from the elbow down. Cleanest cut ever, you'd think it was done with a laser.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">He passes out, IMMEDIATELY. On the ground like a free meal to this dog. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">Somehow in this like, adrenaline-shock-chaos state I managed to toss him back and defeat the demon dog.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">I was really hoping it would drop his arm once it faded away but no dice, that arm was gone forever. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">So I ran back over to my friend, expecting him to be bleeding out everywhere but NOPE.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">There's already a new arm on him. He almost thought it was just a dream when I woke him up.</div> Vic looked at their shoes a little wistfully. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">He quit right after that because the whole thing really got to him. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">Which was a bummer, loved hanging out with him. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EI7zWVW.png"> <div class = "vic">He could keep me up all night talking about his annoying family. Funniest dude ever.</div> They seemed to snap out of a trance and looked back up at me. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">So uh, try not to get your arm chomped off!</div> I politely smiled and wondered if there was a scenario where I'd get the same advice bagging groceries somewhere. After a little time I returned my gaze to [[my phone.|Only a little bit.]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class = "vic">You would be connected to a very annoying guy.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class = "vic">Our manager, Jacob. Real boring piece of crap.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/uBT5tsx.png"> <div class = "ike">He sucks big time.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class = "vic">Yeah, he sucks, if you haven't heard.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/HtUxTme.png"> <div class = "vic">Unsympathetic, mean little creep who goes on and on telling boring stories. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/uBT5tsx.png"> <div class = "ike">Yeah, he sucks.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png "> <div class = "vic">One time he made me listen to him for two hours while he talked about some stupid shoes he got for his girlfriend that didn't fit.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/HtUxTme.png"> <div class = "vic">Said it was important to the mission so I couldn't hang up.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class = "vic">Real garbage guy.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/uBT5tsx.png"> <div class = "ike">Sucky guy.</div> I got the feeling this guy sucked. Not wanting to make them think about this guy anymore, I got back to my [[phone.|Only a little bit.]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class="vic">Alright, let's start off by opening up the Item Order tab in the Observer app.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class="vic">We're looking for some safety goggles. There's a lot of junk on there so you're better off using the search bar.</div> Alright easy enough so far. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class="jodi">Got it.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class="vic">Now you just gotta hit the "order button" and the rest should take care of itself.</div> Oh? I hadn't thought it'd be that easy- <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class="vic">OH, oh, and this is critical!</div> I looked up from my phone, eyes wide with anxiety and concern at Vics serious face, finger a molecule away from hitting the order button. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class="vic">Try not to freak out! It's gonna be weird, but you'll be fine.</div> <<if $watch is true>> [[ORDER|orderwatch]] <<else>> [[ORDER|orderring]] <</if>>

<<linkreplace ">Ghast Grenade">> <b> >Ghast Grenade -- $14.99</b> I had no idea what it would look like or how it would operate, but context clues made me think it was something that'd be good for blowing off one of my limbs.<</linkreplace>> <<linkreplace ">Floater">> <b> >Floater -- $14.99</b> Not a clue. I struggled to think of anything I'd heard referred to as a floater in my life that I'd want to pay 15 bucks for.<</linkreplace>> <<linkreplace ">Warming Field">> <b> >Warming Field</b> <s>$10.99</s> -- <i>$5.50!</i> This one was on sale! The thrifter in me weighed the option of buying whatever the hell this was before the sale ended.<</linkreplace>> <<linkreplace ">Mummy Morter">> <b> >Mummy Morter -- $24.99 </b> Aw. This one's name was pretty cute for what I assumed was some kind of mummy destroying device. RIP mummies. Again.<</linkreplace>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class = "jodi">[[Hey, Vic...This is like a...list of tools they give us, right?|Hey, Vic...]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">That's the supply store. Sometimes we need something other than weapons to solve our problems, if you could believe it.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">Stuff like <i>different</i> weapons, lights for dark places, shields. Pretty much everything we could need, for usually too much money.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">You select whatever you want and they charge you for it, then it should pop out of your Thread portal ready to use. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class = "jodi">Oh, sounds cool.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EI7zWVW.png"> <div class = "vic">Yeah, you'd think. Order enough ghost flashlights and it'll start losing its charm though.</div> Vic looked off wistfully as if remembering some ghost flashlight exploit, or maybe tragedy. I thought about letting them be, but remembered something else on the screen that had me a bit confused. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class = "jodi">And this right here...What's the "Weapon Order" thing [[about]]?</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">OH yeah forget to tell you about that.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">So, when youre out there hunting the ghoulies, you're bound to end up getting caught off guard at some point.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">And fishing out your phone to open the app and scroll through a list to pay money -its all gonna add up to a lot of time that should be better spent not getting your eyes sucked out by a weird eyeball ghost.</div> That was such a specific example that gave me a lot of questions on its own, but I continued to listen intently. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">So to save time, you can set your weapon to be summoned via "gesture"</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">Which basically means you have to do something with intent, like flicking your wrist or stomping your foot. Literally anything. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">I've even seen people do nothing, they just wanted their weapon to show up and it did, simple as that.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/WDNEhGt.png"> <div class = "ike">Nah it can't be nothing.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/WDNEhGt.png"> <div class = "ike">Maybe they blinked a special way or rolled their tongue.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class = "vic">Just because you can't do it doesn't make it not possible! </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/WDNEhGt.png"> <div class = "ike">Can you do it?</div> Vic turned back to me as if they hadn't seen Ike in their entire life and didn't intend to. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">The main thing you gotta do is just, like, want your weapon to appear. The Observer bros can use their tech and just figure out that's what you want.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">I don't know if they can scan our brains or what, but it hasn't failed either of us yet!</div> I took a look at my hand and wiggled my index finger hesitantly. All I had to do was want my weapon to show up? Just a little flick of my finger and- <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Sl5xtGe.png"> <div class = "vic">[[WAIT A MINUTE THOUGH!]]</div>

Vic's eyes had grown wide, a panicked smile took over their face. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Sl5xtGe.png"> <div class = "vic">LET's wait until we're outside the van to test out your weapon, alright?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class = "vic">Close quarters and all that. For all we know your weapon could be a...ghost...molotov cocktail! And then we'd all be in trouble.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/WDNEhGt.png"> <div class = "ike">A van can only withstand a certain number of molotov cocktails in its lifetime.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/WDNEhGt.png"> <div class = "ike">I'm betting this one's is about...3. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class = "jodi">[[>Don't I get to choose my weapon?]] [[>*I resumed looking at my phone.*|Only a little bit.]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class = "jodi">Don't I get to choose my weapon?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class = "vic">Well, eventually you can try some other stuff out.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class = "vic">But the first weapon you summon is decided by the Manager. Eugh.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lcFRv6q.png"> <div class = "ike">Eugh.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class = "jodi">...Eugh?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class = "vic">Yeah, well they take a bunch of data from Observer about you, past hobbies and memories, personality profile, tissue samples...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/AaMNy20.png"> <div class = "jodi">Huh?!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/WDNEhGt.png"> <div class = "ike">Well, the tissue sample thing is more of a theory of ours than anything.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lsYjpZM.png"> <div class = "jodi">Still...it's kinda weird that they'd know all the stuff about me.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class = "jodi">well like, I had a feeling with all the social media stuff and that ancestry tracing company they bought.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lsYjpZM.png"> <div class = "jodi">And the digital assistant my family's had since I was a baby.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lsYjpZM.png"> <div class = "jodi">Eugh...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class = "vic">Yep. Eugh.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/lcFRv6q.png"> <div class = "ike">Eugh.</div> This reflection on the way things were, and had been longer than we'd been alive, hung in the air like a heavy, [[stale fog.]]

Once the specter of Observer's hypercapitalist surveilance state had thinned in the slightest, Vic continued. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EI7zWVW.png"> <div class="vic">Anyway... Since we can't change any of that right now...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class="vic">Basically the first weapon that appears for you is going to be one specifically made for you.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class="vic">Usually people just kinda stick with the first one they get because it feels most natural to use. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/TyXurEg.png"> <div class="ike">Would you believe Vic's weapons are combat explosives?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class="vic">You best start believing!</div> My imagination became fun and playful in a way it hadn't since I was a kid, back when me and my friends would pretend we all had special powers and pretended to fight all kinds of bad guys. What kind of weapon would be for me? I pictured a sword bigger than me engulfed in blue flames, a bow that shot an endless barage of laser arrows, of course there was always a gun...but like a...ghost gun. I wasn't even sure what the Observer, keeper of all the information about what made me...me would even be drawing from. There wasn't anything I was that good at, or anything I'd used to fight something off before. There wasn't anything special about- ... I decided to get back to looking at [[my phone.|Only a little bit.]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/9rSE29r.png"> The face of my watch went blank with a piercing neon green glow, the air become quiet and thin. It was a familiar feeling-like the anticipation of waiting for your ears to pop. Dull noise and tension until finally, CRACK! A sparking, shining glimmer of green erupted from the watch, slowly floated up before me, and took on familiar shape. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/3On1mLM.png"> The glasses seemed to look into my own eyes as if they intended to speak to me, but all I could hear was a low, atmoshperic hum that had filled the van when they appeared. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9Evo9k9.png"> Then the light quickly faded and, as if a string had been cut, they dropped with a gentle plop in my hands. Tinted with the green of the light that had brought them to me, they didn't seem any different than a normal pair of flimsy, plastic safety glasses. It was enchanting. I'd seen a lot of new technology come out of Observer I'd grown accustomed to, but nothing that had felt so much like magic before. It took me a second to realize [[Vic|vicanyway]] had resumed talking to me.

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/gGGBmqI.png"> The facetted face of the ring's spinel went flat with a piercing neon green glow, the air become quiet and thin. It was a familiar feeling-like the anticipation of waiting for your ears to pop. Dull noise and tension until finally, CRACK! A sparking, shining glimmer of green it erupted from the ring, slowly floated up before me, and took on familiar shape. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/3On1mLM.png"> The glasses seemed to look into my own eyes as if they intended to speak to me, but all I could hear was a low, atmoshperic hum that had filled the van when they appeared. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9Evo9k9.png"> Then the light quickly faded and, as if a string had been cut, they dropped with a gentle plop in my hands. Tinted with the green of the light that had brought them to me, they didn't seem any different than a normal pair of flimsy, plastic safety glasses. It was enchanting. I'd seen a lot of new technology come out of Observer I'd grown accustomed to, but nothing that had felt so much like magic before. It took me a second to realize [[Vic|vicanyway]] had resumed talking to me.

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class="vic">Alright, I think that wraps up what we can do in the van! So-</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/AaMNy20.png"> <div class="jodi">Whoa...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/blz81Wu.png"> <div class="ike">Hehe</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class="vic">It's always so cool seeing people use their Thread for the first time haha.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EI7zWVW.png"> <div class="vic">Sadly, you'll get kinda bored with it after a while.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class="vic">Or annoyed it's taking so long. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class="vic">Anyway, I think that's about all the work stuff we can do for now.</div> They leaned back into their throne of sleeping and duffel bags, crossing one leg over the other for dramatic effect. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EI7zWVW.png"> <div class="vic">So we can just kick back until our wonderful driver gets us to the job. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Lhxu3aB.png"> <div class="ike">Hmmph...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class="jodi">[[Where are we going anyway?]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/nBiLNj5.gif"> [[>]]

<<set $Vic = 0>> <<set $Ike = 0>> It was hard to see where we were this late in the night, this deep into the woods with no light source other than the van's headlights-but I eventually caught the sight of a sun bleached sign for a theme park named "Fairytale Hollow". Stepping onto the wet asphalt of the parking lot and looking in the overgrown trees to the North of us, I could see the entrance to the park. A zig-zagging staircase up a hill that had once led to a welcoming and colorful arch now led into a black void in the trees, the entrance now overgrown with plantlife and low hanging tree branches in the late hours of the night. Wet and rotting sticks and branches hung like teeth in a big mouth waiting to devour three unlucky strangers... <img src="https://i.imgur.com/7KCNLVl.png"> <div class="vic">Oh, did Erik manage to get the lights on in this place? </div> Vic hopped out of the van behind me as Ike exitted the driver's seat on the other side, turning off the headlights and bathing us in the dark. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/NCVaNmV.png"> <div class="ike">Of course not. He got the security down but that's it.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/UCuS0Vu.png"> <div class="vic">Uaghh! Great!</div> They rolled their eyes and slammed the van's door closed. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/pqBd6NI.png"> <div class="vic">Cool. Now we gotta pay for some light out of our own pockets.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/uws2vfG.png"> <div class="vic">Convenient for them, that!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/NCVaNmV.png"> <div class="ike">Yeah, yeah it sucks. I'll take care of it this time but next time's on you.</div> He whipped out his phone and methodically tapped and scrolled before pressing a spot on it with an audibly harsh tap, resulting in the beginning glow of a familiar light gathering in the [[right sleeve of his jacket.]]

<<if $watch is true>> Unlike the alien green of my watch or the neon blue of Vic's tattoos, the light coming from Ike's sleeve glowed a fiery orange. The process continued as usual, starting to become slightly familiar as I heard the hum of the item teleporting released by the gentle crack of a spark of light freeing itself from his sleeve and floating up before him. This time however, instead of taking on a specific shape and turning into an object, the light continued to float up until it hung above us. It grew lighter in color and then brighter in luminescence-illuminating everything around us for about 20 or so feet. While I was frozen, studying the light, I watched it slowly start to bob away with Ike as he and Vic began walking towards the stairs-causing me to do a stumbling jog to catch up with them. Their impressive and confident strut to the stairs suddenly broke as they each took different paths to the top, Ike hurriedly fast-walking the zig zag of stairs while Vic climbed under the railings, taking giant steps to scale them one zag at a time. It's hard to remember but I think I... [[I quickly followed Ike up the stairs.]] [[I tried Vic's approach.]] <<else>> Unlike the alien green of my ring or the neon blue of Vic's tattoos, the light coming from Ike's sleeve glowed a fiery orange. The process continued as usual, starting to become slightly familiar as I heard the hum of the item teleporting released by the gentle crack of a spark of light freeing itself from his sleeve and floating up before him. This time however, instead of taking on a specific shape and turning into an object, the light continued to float up until it hung above us. It grew lighter in color and then brighter in luminescence-illuminating everything around us for about 20 or so feet. While I was frozen, studying the light, I watched it slowly start to bob away with Ike as he and Vic began walking towards the stairs-causing me to do a stumbling jog to catch up with them. Their impressive and confident strut to the stairs suddenly broke as they each took different paths to the top, Ike hurriedly fast-walking the zig zag of stairs while Vic climbed under the railings, taking giant steps to scale them one zag at a time. It's hard to remember but I think I... [[I quickly followed Ike up the stairs.]] [[I tried Vic's approach.]] <</if>>

<<set $Ike to $Ike+1>> Careful to not slip on the weird vegetal slime of wet moss that covered them, I quickly followed Ike up the staircase at a fast-walk dangerously close to becoming a jog. <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/uws2vfG.png"> <div class="vic">Cowards, the lot of ya!</div> <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/fFdEUf3.png"> <div class="ike">Whateverrrr, it's not a race. </div> <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">Plus we got to keep fit somehow with Wcdonalds for dinner every night!</div> <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/pqBd6NI.png"> <div class="vic">Oh don't act like you hate it, I've offered to cook before-you just can't handle any any actual flavo-</div> <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/UCuS0Vu.png"> <div class="vic"><b>OW,</b> FFfffffffffff-</div> I glanced over and saw Vic nursing a sore knee they'd just smacked in their climb. <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/rgHqeu8.png"> <div class="ike">Hah.</div> <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/0i1GG7w.png"> <div class="jodi">A-are you okay?</div> All I could hear in response was annoyed grumbling as they reached the top of the stairs and continued to rub their scraped knee. Joining them at the top, we all began to slowly enter the hungry mouth of the woods that had swallowed [[the park.]]

<<set $Vic to $Vic+1>> Grabbing the wet metal of the hand railing, I followed Vic in climbing under the railing and taking a high step onto the next level of stairs. It took a little effort but it reminded me of being a kid, jumping and climbing the hills near my childhood home. <img src ="https://i.imgur.com/H1DYr3d.png"> <div class="vic">No one's here, just jump the line!</div> <img src ="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">Nah, I'm good. I follow the laws of society you freaks! </div> <img src ="https://i.imgur.com/qLDQXjb.png"> <div class="vic">Neeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrdddd!</div> <img src ="https://i.imgur.com/H1DYr3d.png"> <div class="vic">Jodi, join me in this.</div> Nervously, unsure about shoving myself into the dynamic of these, I joined in the holy chorus. <img src ="https://i.imgur.com/qLDQXjb.png"> <div class="vic">Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrddddddddddddddddddd~</div> <img src ="https://i.imgur.com/ZYZCojR.png"> <div class="jodi">...Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrddddddddddddddddddd~</div> All that could be heard in response was annoyed grumbling. We quickly reached the top of the stairs and waited for Ike to join us, now visibly more dishevelled from the jog. Reunited again, we all began to slowly enter the hungry mouth of the woods that had swallowed [[the park.]]

From the opening square of the park it was pretty easy to tell that this place had once been pretty nice when it was up and running. It had been built into the woods, made of cleanly paved sections and paths that had been interwoven with the nature around them instead of destroying it. Paths moved around large trees, accompanied by railings to prevent park goers from stomping and trampling wildlife and vegetation to get from path to path. Dotting the clean grays and rich, green life of the forest were cute and colorful statues and sets based in all kinds of fairytales. In the square alone 3 cute little fiberglass statues of pigs holding hands could be seen trotting off on some adventure. They weren't as cute as they had once been though, the years since the park's closing-and its closeness to the wet and muddy nature of the Pacific Northwest- had left everything faded, chipping, and rusted while also strangled by plantlife that had long ago began growing through the handrailings to claim the paths. Looking at the paint chipped pigs in the low light, all I could feel was the unnerving sense of something that had once brought so much joy and been so fun decomposing alone in the dark. Ike was the first to enter the park proper, walking over to a faded map that had been bolted to a [[sign post.]]

<img src ="https://i.imgur.com/OdvzGWC.png"> <div class="ike">Yes, this is perfect...</div> He took out his phone and began to look back and forth between the map and his phone, comparing the two. Vic did the same and I suddenly got the feeling it was a good idea for me to do the same. Looking over their shoulder I saw they were using the [[Traces Map|parktraces]] portion of the Observer app.

Looking at the map on my phone I saw that the little shimmers of color seen while we were on the road had become much larger and denser within the park-the little pixels overlayed on the map now resembling a weather forecast of dense storms. Most noteable were two smaller clouds to the East and West of us, as well as a much bigger cloud a lot farther to the North. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class = "ike">It looks like the big bad is North of here, somewhere called the...</div> He squinted at the dull text of the sign in the near-dark as the light above worked to give us the best visibility it could. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class = "ike">"Rocky's Roller Coaster". </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class = "ike">And the only way there is either through..."Wonderland Tea Party" or "Snow White's Forest".</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/7KCNLVl.png"> <div class = "vic">Oooh, cool.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class = "vic">My vote's on Wonderland, I loved reading Alice In Wonderland as a kid.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/OdvzGWC.png"> <div class = "ike">Ah man, but Snow White though!!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/OdvzGWC.png"> <div class = "ike">I really want to see what they did with the dwarves to be honest. Are they wholey original? Are they dangerously close to copyright infringing on a classic animated movie from the late 30's??</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/pqBd6NI.png"> <div class = "vic">You just want to see Sleepy, which makes a lot of sense actually you are short and tired all the time.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/OdvzGWC.png"> <div class = "ike">What can I say, I kin!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class = "vic">C'mon though, the Chesire Cat, Mad Hatter, all the weird little size changing potions. It'll be cool!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/PwD4v8z.png"> <div class = "jodi"> [[>"I want to check out Wonderland Tea Party."]]</div>

<<set $vic = $vic +1>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">Alright but you both owe me, next time we're in a run down fairy tale road-side attraction after dark I get to choose which way we go! </div> It seemed like he was being jokingly specific at first, but then I considered how likely this actually was to happen again soon doing this job. We followed the trail to the right for about 10 minutes, stepping over tree branches felled in windstorms and squeezing past rusted out snack carts, their glass cases broken and contents emptied. Though the light Ike had made definitely helped light up what would have been an impossible area to move through, the encroaching darkness that followed us began to feel claustrophobic. It was like we were a drop of water swallowed into an oily sludge, getting further and further away from the surface and closer and closer to...something. Something scary on a primal level that made my caveman brain shiver my body. I started to listen carefully to our footsteps and the sounds of snapping twigs under our feet. It was hard to track, but occasionally I was sure that I'd heard a fourth pair walking with the group. Maybe I imagined it, but I was on edge just the same. Ike, at the lead of the group, cried out: <img src="https://i.imgur.com/K7r3lOP.png"> <div class="ike">Oh, look! [[Hole!]]</div>

<<set $ike= $ike +1>> Vic: Whateverrr Vic: Guess I'll be fine since I'm with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum already. We followed the trail to the right for about 10 minutes, stepping over tree branches felled in windstorms and squeezing past rusted out snack carts, their glass cases broken and contents emptied. Though the light Ike had made definitely helped light up what would have been an impossible area to move through, the encroaching darkness that followed us began to feel claustrophobic. It was like we were a drop of water swallowed into an oily sludge, getting further and further away from the surface and closer and closer to...something. Something scary on a primal level that made my caveman brain shiver my body. I started to listen carefully to our footsteps and the sounds of snapping twigs under our feet. It was hard to track, but occasionally I was sure that I'd heard a fourth pair walking with the group. Maybe I imagined it, but I was on edge just the same. Vic, at the lead of the group, stopped for a moment and read another sign. Vic: "Haunted Forest Maze".... Vic: [[Hoo boy...]]

Specifically, it was a rabbit hole. The pathway came to a dead end featuring a pronounced and decorated fiberglass tunnel entrance, shaped as if it was a gap between the roots of a giant tree stump, that you would have to crawl through to get to the next section of pathway. Beside it, a statue of the titular Alice pointed into the tunnel, welcoming guests. Ike stood beside her, mimicking the pose. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/7KCNLVl.png"> <div class="vic">Oh, this sucks. I do not want to crawl through there.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">It's designed for kids, I think we'll be fine.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/bClMRC0.png"> <div class="vic">You say that now but what're you gonna say when you're crawling and put your hand through a wasp's nest or a dead animal?! </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">...I think I'm going to be <i>not</i> fine but I'm not sure if I'd tell you about it because it'd be funny.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/pqBd6NI.png"> <div class="vic">Ugh...I do not want to hear any whining about you getting your knees wet in a giant puddle I am sure is in there.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/OdvzGWC.png"> <div class="ike">It'll be fineee.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/OdvzGWC.png"> <div class="ike">Here, I'll even go first...</div> He gestured upward and then gestured into the tunnel, prompting the glowing light above us to slowly float down and enter the plastic burrow, painting the tunnel walls with a warm light. Getting down on the ground, Ike followed it in. After one more exasperated sight, Vic soon followed suit, vanished into the opening between the roots of the tree. [[Reluctantly, I followed.]]

Double-click this passage to edit it.

It was hard to tell from the outside, but the tunnel was made of a worn cement just a little ways past the colorful entrance. Considering that this tunnel was so old and went about 6 feet underground, this left me with less of a sense of betrayal and more a reassurance that I wasn't about to be crushed to death in some ancient, abandoned amusement park. The ground was smooth and cold under the palms of my hands in a way that reminded me of playing in my parent's garage as a kid. Cold smooth cement. I wanted to press my cheek to it, weirdly enough. Probably not a good idea though-we were lucky enough that no water had been collecting in the tunnel, but a thick layer of grainy dust and debris crunched under our knees and stuck to our hands. Hopefully none of it was bugs. It was hard to tell, Ike's light had been really useful up until now but once he took the lead in this tunnel it had become a beacon at the end-mostly blocked by the two butts crawling in front of me. The confident flashlight beam from before may as well have been a flickering match in my hand now. <img src=""> <div class = "monster">Llllluhh...</div> I froze up. The warbling voice had absolutely come from behind us, a strained and slurred groan from a voice like heavy sand. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/0i1GG7w.png"> <div class="jodi">Uh-uh-</div> My coworkers had continued their crawl forward as if they hadn't heard anything. Did I even hear it? I was definitely on edge from everything about this park. I continued as well, crawling a little [[faster.]]

Even though I had taken on a faster crawl, spending more time focusing on get out of there as soon as possible than listening for pursuers-the noises continued. Scratching, dragging, breathing... <img src="https://i.imgur.com/95mtZkL.png"> <div class="jodi">[[>THERE'S SOMETHING CHASING US!!!]] [[>*I looked over my shoulder*]]</div>

<<set $ike to $ike+1>> Hearing me yell for the first time, I saw my coworkers jump in suprise before quickening their pace. Crawling as fast as we could through the tunnel, it sounded like whatever was following us was doing the same. It scratched, it clawed, it panted a heavy breath I could feel moving my hair. Digging my fingers into any crack in the surface I could find, I basically began throwing myself forward. Not even realizing it, I had closed my eyes tight-I was flinching as if I was about to be thrown into the hungry mouth of whatever was so close to catching me. Desperately scrambling and yanking myself forward blindly, I suddenly collided with something solid. [[THUD!]]

<<set $vic to $vic+1>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/ezAmOSc.png"> <<timed 3s>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/CWwtOAv.png"> <</timed>> <<timed 7s>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/BwHhgX5.png"> <</timed>> <<timed 8s>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/95mtZkL.png"> <div class="jodi">[[>THERE'S SOMETHING CHASING US!!!]]</div> <</timed>>

The surface I had collided with was actually the tail end of Vic, and the impact of my strike had shot us out of the tunnel's exit like a cork out of champagne. Stumbling and trying to re-orient ourselves, we were both yanked to our feet by a desperate Ike. We watched the tunnels opening, waiting as whatever was pursuing us noisilly got closer and closer to the exit. My fists clenched so hard I felt a pain up my arms. <<linkreplace "Then it arrived." >> Then it arrived. The head of snarliing, feral rabbit, about the size of a monster truck tire, erupted from the tight confines of the tunnel with a chilling screech- <img src=""> <div class="monster">LUUUH....LLUHHAATEE.....LATE!!!!! </div> It's eyes, wet, the size of dinner plates, and blood red, looked right through me. I was nothing more than a rare meat to this thing. Then it freed itself and, the rest of its body...well, it was surprising. The rest of its body emptied out of the tunnel like cranberry sauce out of a can. A wet heavy cyllinder of white fur-embedded with what looked like...old suitcases? Slithered its way out of the void. About five yards in length the creature now seem to resemble a giant worm. Ike and Vic seemed to find this kind of funny, while I stood there shaking at the bizarre and frightening sight before me. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Gross!!! Hahahaha-!</div> Ike supressed a chuckle. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/OdvzGWC.png"> <div class="ike">Alright, enough, [[let's ready our weapons.]]</div> <</linkreplace>>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/7rdJkHz.png"> They both took a confident battle stance and I guessed... I guessed it was [[my turn...]]

<<if $watch is true>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/5Do8gra.png"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MptQws2.png"> <div class= "jodi">A bat..?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class ="vic">Whoa, that's sick!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/7KCNLVl.png"> <div class ="vic">Actually, since it's your first fight and this monster's like a useless little worm thing...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/robckvH.png"> <div class ="vic">Why don't you take care of it?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/rixKYrl.png"> <div class ="jodi">W-what?!</div> [[>FIGHT!]] <<else>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EbsNlZs.png"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MptQws2.png"> <div class= "jodi">A bat..?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class ="vic">Whoa, that's sick!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/7KCNLVl.png"> <div class ="vic">Actually, since it's your first fight and this monster's like a useless little worm thing...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/robckvH.png"> <div class ="vic">Why don't you take care of it?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/rixKYrl.png"> <div class ="jodi">W-what?!</div> [[>FIGHT!]] <</if>>

<<set $rabbit = 1>> <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/Jle6jwF.png"> <div class="battle">You are engaged in one on one combat with the White Rabbit! It writhes on the ground trying to right itself. It is perfectly healthy, in its own disgusting, monster way. What do you do?</div> [[>Attack]] [[>Guard]] [[>Ask for help]]

<<if $rabbit == 1>> <<set $rabbit = $rabbit -1>> I took a light swing but hit the creature surprisingly hard. Instead of becoming injured like a living, meaty, creature, it instead crunched and crumbled as if it was made of plastic and styrofoam. [[>|fight2]] <<else>> <<set $rabbit = $rabbit -1>> This time I was a little more confident and swung the bat harder. I felt the impact all the way up my arms as the creature howled and released some of the suitcases from its body. [[>|fight2]] <</if>>

<<if $rabbit == 1>> The creature managed to lunge at me but I mitigated any damage by absorbing the brunt of the attack with my bat. As it fell back to the ground it seemed to be rethinking its strategy for murdering me. [[>|>FIGHT!]] <<else>> The rabbit somehow fired off a suitcase from its body at me, but luckily I had my bat ready to strike it out of the sky. The suitcase exploded open and dumped clothes all over the ground. For a second I wondered if they were real clothes or some kind of illusion but quickly got my head back in the game. [[>|fight2]] <</if>>

<<if $rabbit == 1>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/rixKYrl.png"> <div class="jodi">I...I don't know if I can do this!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">You can do this Jodi!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/OdvzGWC.png"> <div class="ike">Yeah it looks scary but this is a real weak one.</div> My desperation met with cheerleading, I frustratedly turned my focus back to the monster. [[>|>FIGHT!]] <<else>> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/rixKYrl.png"> <div class="jodi">Do one of you think you could finish it off?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">No way! You're doing amazing so far!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/OdvzGWC.png"> <div class="ike">One more hit oughtta do it.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/H1DYr3d.png"> <div class="vic">Besides, it's not a good tutorial if we come over there and tut it all up for you!</div> Maybe they were right, maybe I could do it... [[>|fight2]] <</if>>

<<if $rabbit >=0>> <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/PFy539S.png"> <div class = "battle">You are engaged in one on one combat with the White Rabbit! It writhes on the ground trying to right itself, but now in a more pissed off way. It's definitely seen better days, specifically a few minutes ago before you thrashed it within an inch of its life. What do you do? </div> [[>Attack]] [[>Guard]] [[>Ask for help]] <<else>> <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/W72SRzT.png"> <div class = "battle">You have defeated the White Rabbit! Its negative energy has been cleansed and will return to the universe. You have gained: >$100 bonus! >Trauma! >Confidence!</div> [[>|rabbitresolution]] <</if>>

I watched in confusion as the creature before me became motionless, but then seconds later started to become light. It glowed as it began to fade and disassemble into sparks and colors-then, in a burst like sparks off a roaring fire, it faded into the sky. It was a strangely beautiful sight. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">That was nuts!! You handled it like a professional.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/OdvzGWC.png"> <div class="ike">Yeah, that went pretty well for your first try.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MptQws2.png"> <div class="jodi">It...where did it go?</div> They both looked at me funny like I had just asked them what a car was. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MptQws2.png"> <div class="jodi">I, uh...I knew these things existed but I guess I never thought about what happened to them once they got taken care of.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/7KCNLVl.png"> <div class="vic">Ohh, duh, okay. Sorry, you get so used to this kind of thing I thought it was like, common knowledge.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">It went back into the universe, entropy or whatever.</div> Ike wiggled his fingers dramatically. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/robckvH.png"> <div class="vic">Yeah, all the evil and negative energy that gets left behind when someone dies turns into things like that, and once you destroy it all that energy is forced to reset and feed the universe.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MptQws2.png"> <div class="jodi">[[>So if it works like that, won't people have to fight these things forever?]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/7KCNLVl.png"> <div class="vic">Hmm... </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/robckvH.png"> <div class="vic">Guess so.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">I don't know, Observer will probably figure out a solution for it eventually at this rate.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">They cured cancer last month.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/kDkJ489.png"> <div class="vic">Whoa, they can cure cancer?!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/fFdEUf3.png"> <div class="ike">Well, only if you have a Prime Membership.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MptQws2.png"> <div class="jodi">Huh...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MptQws2.png"> <div class="jodi">Well, I guess...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Ti8EXLP.png"> <div class="jodi">I guess...we should keep going?</div> Ike looked amused and Vic got a big smile on their face. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Ye-he-he-eah! That's the spirit!</div> And with that, we continued walking into [[Wonderland]].

A short walk past some giant fake mushrooms covered in real small mushrooms and a withered looking caterpillar using a cartoonishly oversized hookah, we found ourselves at the tea party. It looked like it had been a photo-op at one point, or maybe an area were you could hang out with a bunch of costumed characters-elaborately and intricately decorated but not a whole lot of interactivity. The main attraction, surrounded by worn wooden cut outs of painted rose bushes and animal topiaries, was a long dining table covered in easily a hundred tea pots and sets of tea cups. Giant plastic cakes were the main dish, surrounded by plates of little fake cookies and finger foods-all looking surprisingly delicious after all these years worn in the weather. The chairs surrounding the table came in all sorts of shapes and sizes and were all empty aside the one at the head of the table. There, in an elaborate throne, sat a cement statue of the Mad Hatter. It was posed a little strangely, chin in its hands and the brim of its hat hiding away its face. The low-lighting, like with most things once harmless in this park, was not doing the statue any favors. Behind the statue was a staircase marked by some kind of sign, but it was also hard to make out in the dark. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Oh man, I love this.</div> They picked up a chipped little teacup from the table and stuck their pinky finger out wildly. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qLDQXjb.png"> <div class="vic"><i>A very merry unbirthday to you!</i></div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/PwD4v8z.png"> <div class="jodi">Hahaha- </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Ti8EXLP.png"> <div class="jodi">It's been forever since I've seen that movie.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">[[I'm lost here.]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/robckvH.png"> <div class="vic">It's from the Alice in Wonderland movie I watched a ton as a kid.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/robckvH.png"> <div class="vic">Well actually I guess it was probably in the book too, but in the movie it's a song.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">Wait, which movie? The one from like 2010 or the one that came out a couple years ago with that Twitch streamer in it?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/7KCNLVl.png"> <div class="vic">No, no it was this cartoon movie from way back. When I was a kid we were cleaning out my grandma's storage unit and found an old DVD of it-</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/H1DYr3d.png"> <div class="vic">I watched it <i>easily</i> 200 times. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/robckvH.png"> <div class="vic">And at this part,</div> They gestured to the giant table of faux fine china and treats. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">The Mad Hatter and the March Hare are singing a song about it being their 'unbirthday', AKA the other 364 days its not your birthday.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/robckvH.png"> <div class="vic">And it turns into this wild scene where they're drinking tea out of nonsense tea pots and at one part the mad hatter takes a saucer and dips it in his tea like a cookie and takes a bite out of it.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">I have never wanted to eat a plate more in my life!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/PwD4v8z.png"> <div class="jodi">Yes! Same!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/PwD4v8z.png"> <div class="jodi">That part when they're slathering the white rabbit's pocket watch up with butter and jam and lemon juice.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Yeah!!!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/ChJBXYQ.png"> <div class="jodi">Delicious.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/fFdEUf3.png"> <div class="ike">I feel crazy what on earth are you talking about. Why would you want to eat a pocket watch?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Because it's a cartoon! Cartoons can make anything look yummy.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">True.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/OdvzGWC.png"> <div class="ike">I did see a cartoon about dinosaurs once as a kid that made me really want to eat grass.</div> <img src=""> <div class="monster">EEUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/d8UBMTt.png"> <div class="ike">?!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/kDkJ489.png"> <div class="vic">?!?!?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/95mtZkL.png"> <div class="jodi">?!?!?!?!?!?</div> [[It came from the end of the table.]]

The painted statue of the Mad Hatter groaned and shuddered like it was in pain. Cracks formed around the arms until one shattered and instead of falling apart, fell limp and loose like an organic, living arm. Then the other, bits of stone crumbling to the ground as the smooth arm became a mosaic of busted concrete held in place by an invisible force. The hands, now with moving, grinding fingers, clutched and clawed at the statue's head. The rest of the body shuddered and cracked as it struggled to pull away from its own frozen head. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/7KCNLVl.png"> <div class="vic">Wh-wha?!</div> With a sickeningly organic crack, the creature stumbled backwards and left it's stone face afloat in the air. The thing that walked around the end of a table and slowly approached us now had no face at all. Instead, a long and tattered hat wobbled along, attached to the stone body by a sinewy neck. Scittering out behind it, seeming to appear from nowhere, two giant tea cups painted with cartoony faces stood in front of it-it's guards? Minions? They moved about quickly on little needle-like legs like a strange bug, a strange liquid sloshing around within them at a rolling boil. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">It's looking like it's about time to-</div> [[>FIGHT!|hatfight1]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/XsKZwdE.png"> <div class="battle">Looks like this fight's three on three! The Mad Hatter is currently guarded by (2) Cupplings. What will you all do? Jodi: [[>Attack...!]] Vic: [[>Attack!]] Ike: [[>Attack.]]</div>

I bounded towards the cup creature to my right and delivered a hard, upward swing. The result was an opening blasted into its side with a shower of porcelain chips raining down. The boiling liquid flowed free of the creature as it lay on its side groaning, slightly scalding my leg. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/XRa9kaN.png"> <div class="jodi">Ah! Ow-!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8kK8G9Y.png"> <div class="ike">Careful!</div> [[>|hatterbattle2]]

<img src=""> <div class="vic">Tea time is over, idiots!</div> With unbelievably precise aim, Vic tossed one of their stick grenades at a tea cup monster to my right and landed it dead center in the boiling liquid with a hearty plop. Like a cherry bomb in a toilet bowl the poor creature burst with a loud crack-falling into about 5 pieces it released all of its strange contents on the ground. Some of the liquid splashed on Vic and burned them. They did their best not to show it though, wincing in pain but remaining silent. [[>|hatterbattle2]]

He moved in 3 calculated bursts, unraveling his glowing, orange whip and slashing at the cup to my right. The supernatural cable sliced through it like butter. It sliced so fast and easy that I almost thought it hadn't sliced at all until, a few seconds later, the cup creature slowly slid apart into 4 even pieces. The hot liquid it carried splashed loose on the ground, scalding Ike's legs. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/nuK5W7h.png"> <div class="vic">Ow, fffff-</div> He grunted and then put a safe distance between him and the enemies. [[>|hatterbattle2]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/vxcoRbM.png"> <div class="battle">A Cuppling has been defeated! Its negative energy has been cleansed and will return to the universe. Looks like this fight's three on two! The Mad Hatter is currently guarded by (1) Cupplings. What will you all do? Jodi: [[>Attack..!|jhatterattack2]] Vic: [[>Attack!|vhatterattack2]] Ike: [[>Attack.|ihatterattack2]]</div>

Learning from the last cup, I knew I had to find a way to keep myself safe from the...ghost tea?...that sloshed around inside it. It was worth a shot at least. Running up to it with my bat guarding my face, I gave it a hard shove with my foot and knocked it on its side. Rolling around, the liquid safely sloshed out as it let out a whine. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/OdvzGWC.png"> <div class="ike"> Nice thinking, Jodi.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Yeah, now finish it off!</div> Brimming with adrenaline from the support of my coworkers, I delievered a strike to the cup, reducing it to rubble with a satisfying crunch. [[>|hatterbattle3]]

Vic readied themselves to attack, but first took a few steps back to stay safe from the boiling liquid. Tossing a stick grenade to the left, it spins around the rim of the cup before it lands square in the sloshing tea. It explodes into several large chunks, spilling the hot liquid. Vic is unaffected, having put some distance in between. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/PwD4v8z.png"> <div class="jodi">Nice!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/OdvzGWC.png"> <div class="ike">Yeah! Throw the thing in the thing!</div> [[>|hatterbattle3]]

Anticipating another scorching splash, Ike crouched down and lashed at the small, needle-like legs of the cup. Just as planned, appendeges were knocked out beneath it, upending it onto its side, dumping the tea away from us. With an upward swing, Ike brings the whip to float in the air before slapping it back down and slicing the cup into two lifeless pieces. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/PwD4v8z.png"> <div class="jodi">Nice!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/fFymmTk.png"> <div class="vic">Yeah! Get 'em!</div> [[>|hatterbattle3]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/tlWvuOj.png"> <div class="battle">A Cuppling has been defeated! Its negative energy has been cleansed and will return to the universe. Looks like this fight's three on one! The Mad Hatter is currently unguarded and open to attack, but it's now clear he's weilding a cake knife menacingly. what will you all do? Jodi: [[>Attack.!|jhatterattack3]] Vic: [[>Attack!|vhatterattack3]] Ike: [[>Attack.|ihatterattack3]]</div>

I ran up the strange creature and swung at whatever it kept in its hat, only to be blocked by one of its large, stone arms. The bat bounced of the cracked cement and left me wide open. It somehow looked down at me hungrily with no visible eyes, raising its knife. <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/kDkJ489.png"> <div class="vic">HEY!</div> Vic jumped in front of me at the last second, taking the brunt of the cake knife's slash in their upper arm. Stumbling back, it became obvious it wasn't a deep enough cut to be of too much worry, but blood ran down it just the same. <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/0i1GG7w.png"> <div class="jodi">A-are you okay?!</div> <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/Ce10H8a.png"> <div class="vic">Yeah, let's jus-ah-let's just try to be more careful next time alright?</div> <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">This! </div> He whipped upward as the creature readied a second strike, slicing it where its face would've been and causing it to recoil in pain. It let out pained whimpers and covered its hat with its hands. <img src = "https://i.imgur.com/K7r3lOP.png"> <div class="ike">Is why you need auto heal turned on!</div> [[>|hatterbattle4]]

Vic ran up to the creature and tossed a stick grenade up into the hatter's face, caught off guard when the creature knocked away the bomb with its cake knife. As the bomb bounced off to incinerate one of the wooden cut outs in the background, the creature brought its knife down on Vic! <img src="https://i.imgur.com/95mtZkL.png"> <div class="jodi"> [[>*Attack the Mad Hatter!*]] [[>*Take the hit for Vic!*]]</div>

Ike took out his whip and aimed for the creatures face, letting loose a lash that fell flat as the creature grabbed the whip's end in its stone hand. It yanked on the glowing cable hard and brought Ike- gripping the whip tight either on instinct or as a part of the whip's technological function- to the ground with a solid thud. The creature took out its knife and prepared to strike! <img src="https://i.imgur.com/95mtZkL.png"> <div class="jodi"> [[>*Attack the Mad Hatter!*|clubhatter]] [[>*Take the hit for Ike!*]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/Z2PnvVg.png"> <div class="battle">Looks like this fight's three on one! The Mad Hatter is wounded and covers its face, er, hat. what will you all do? Everyone: [[>Attack all at once!]]</div>

Hello, thank you for checking out an extremely early build of Part Timers! As a quick warning, this game contains: -Horror elements throughout -Themes of depression and hopelessness at the top of the first chapter, titled "Dreaming and Driving" -Someone gets their eye hurt pretty bad at the end of the second chapter, titled "Fairytale Hollow" If any of these things are upsetting to you I suggest coming back to this game when you are in a place to be able to enjoy it more! In the meantime stay well and I wish you the best. Otherwise, click [[here|Main Menu]] to begin!

<<set $vic = $vic+1>> Thinking fast and acting on pure instinct, I jumped up and clubbed the creature in its hat-feeling it impact with something tender and alive. The creature stumbled back, grasping at where its face should be and letting out pained noises. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Thanks for the save! </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/PwD4v8z.png"> <div class="jodi">Y-yeah!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/PwD4v8z.png"> <div class="jodi">Of course.</div> [[>|hatterbattle4]]

<<set $vic = $vic -1>> I jumped in front of them, raising my bat to try and protect us both. No dice. The creature brought down its knife and sliced my upper arm, causing me to stumble back. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/XRa9kaN.png"> <div class="jodi">Ah! Ow!!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/kDkJ489.png"> <div class="vic">Jodi!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Ce10H8a.png"> <div class="vic">Are you okay?!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MptQws2.png"> <div class="jodi">Yeah, I think-</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/UCuS0Vu.png"> <div class="vic">Don't be stupid next time, I would've been fine!</div> Ike whipped upward as the creature readied a second strike, slicing it where its face would've been and causing it to recoil in pain. It let out pained whimpers and covered its hat with its hands. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/nuK5W7h.png"> <div class="ike">Give her a break! She's just looking out for you. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/uws2vfG.png"> <div class="vic">Augh! Whatever! Let's just get this thing already!</div> Nursing my wound, I looked down to see it had begun to glow and heal itself, closing like a zipper as the light advanced through it. Neat! Still hurt though. [[>|hatterbattle4]]

<<set $ike = $ike -1>> I jumped in front of them, raising my bat to try and protect us both. No dice. The creature brought down its knife and sliced my upper arm, causing me to stumble back. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/XRa9kaN.png"> <div class="jodi">Ah! Ow!!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/d8UBMTt.png"> <div class="ike">Jodi!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8kK8G9Y.png"> <div class="ike">Are you alright?! </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MptQws2.png"> <div class="jodi">Yeah, I think-</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8kK8G9Y.png"> <div class="ike">Th-thanks but please be careful next time!</div> Ike whipped upward as the creature readied a second strike, slicing it where its face would've been and causing it to recoil in pain. It let out pained whimpers and covered its hat with its hands. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qLDQXjb.png"> <div class="vic">He can dish it but he can't take it! He does the same thing for me all the time. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/fFdEUf3.png"> <div class="ike">whatever, let's just finish this thing off already!</div> Nursing my wound, I looked down to see it had begun to glow and heal itself, closing like a zipper as the light advanced through it. Neat! Still hurt though. [[>|hatterbattle4]]

<<set $ike = $ike+1>> Thinking fast and acting on pure instinct, I jumped up and clubbed the creature in its hat-feeling it impact with something tender and alive. The creature stumbled back, grasping at where its face should be and letting out pained noises. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/K7r3lOP.png"> <div class="ike">Ike: Who-! Nice hit. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/PwD4v8z.png"> <div class="jodi">Jodi: Th-thanks!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/fFymmTk.png"> <div class="vic">Vic: Yeah Jodi! Get its ass!!!</div> [[>|hatterbattle4]]

Ike was the first to make a move, diving past the struggling hat monster and jumping up onto the table behind it. In a flash a second whip had dropped out of the sleeve of his jacket, falling loose as Ike dropped his arms and then flying forward with purpose, accompanied by its partner. The fiery orange cords wrapped themselves securely around its arms as Ike yanked them back with all his strength-pulling the Mad Hatter's arms back and leaving its rumpled hat exposed. As if rehearsed, Vic acted next. Two new grenades dropped out of their glowing arm tattoos and Vic rocketted them at the monster's hat-face with perfect precision. I'm just going to call it a face from now on. Vic 's bombs finally burned away the frabric of the hat, revealing a brittle, yellowed tea pot. A face had been painted on it in a way that presented the spout as a nose, big red mouth painted and dripping below it. Examining it this closely I got the strange feeling it was made from...maybe bone? Something sinister composed it. Eyes darting around between Vic and Ike, I felt called to [[action.]]

My grip tightened around the handle of the bat. I lept up onto the table alongside Ike. I readied the bat over my shoulder, crouched in anticipation. Then I leapt into the air and delivered a deadly strike with all my might, reducing the deadly creature [[to dust]].

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/lQkbhkd.png"> <div class="battle">You have defeated the Mad Hatter! Its negative energy has been cleansed and will return to the universe. You have gained: >$650 bonus! >Confidence! >Belief in yourself! [[>|hatterresolve]]</div>

Vic did a little jump and laughed as the creature turned to light and sparks, floating away to become apart of the universe again. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class = "vic">Yes! That was amazing!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class = "vic">I can't believe this is only your first mission!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/OdvzGWC.png"> <div class = "ike">Yeah, that went down pretty well actually, good work.</div> Maybe it was the adrenaline from violently killing something after my own life in a desparate struggle, maybe it was that I hadn't been praised for my work like this at my old job, maybe ever, and maybe it was because it was now around 3am, at which hour I became wacky, but I had never felt more thrilled and proud of myself in my life. This was it! I was so relieved to have found the one thing that came naturally after screwing everything up all this time. Jodi the monster slayer. Jodi who returns the universe to balance, [[Jodi the hero.]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/PwD4v8z.png"> <div class="jodi">Ah, thanks.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/PwD4v8z.png"> <div class="jodi">I'm just trying my best!</div> I turned towards the nearby staircase, now noticing that it was marked with a sign featuring a cartoon, smilling mountain. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Ti8EXLP.png"> <div class="jodi">Alright, <i>Rocky's Roller Coaster</i>, the big one should be up ahead, right?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/PwD4v8z.png"> <div class="jodi">Let's get at it then! </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/4PeauHy.png"> <div class="vic">Hell yeah!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/K7r3lOP.png"> <div class="ike">Oh, I forgot we were so close. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/PwD4v8z.png"> <div class="jodi">Yeah, that all really flew by, huh? </div> I spun around, feeling [[light on my feet.]]

I practically floated my way up the stairs, taking the cracked stone steps two at a time, effortlessly pushing overgrown branches and blackberry vines out of my face. It felt like I'd had this enormous revelation, I felt at home for the first time in a long time. I had peers! I had an income! I was having fun at work! When was the last time I'd felt like this...maybe in High School before all my friends moved out of town? In no time at all I cleared the final step with a leap, skidding to a landing. We'd made it, we were finally at [[Rocky's Roller Coaster.]]

Rocky's Roller Coaster wasn't the biggest coaster I'd ever seen, but was certainly impressive for the size and complexity of this theme park. Wooden and structurally unsound after all these years of rain and wind, its highest peak standing about 2 stories tall. The wall of trees it once proudly stood against like a spotlit stage now slowly worked to reclaim it into the forest, some larger branches growing up under the tracks and lifting them up. The tracks looked surprisingly easy to access these days, the queue line missing most of its railings and the windows of the operator booth thoroughly smashed through. Getting the thing running again was probably not in the cards tonight though. Not only was all the power out to this place like Ike mentioned earlier, but the cars stood tarped, rusted out, and inert-one of them left at the top of the highest point of the coaster for some reason. It was also probably not in the cards because we would all certainly die if we rode that thing. A little ways away from the dismantled queue line was the customary garbage can for getting sick into and laying against that trashcan was... [[Huh...]]

It was an old, empty mascot suit I had a hard time identifying. Was it a rabbit? A dog? Maybe it was a bird but with...stripes? The more I dissected it with my eyes I began to see it wasn't any specific animal but many stitched together into some kind of theme park mascot chimera. It sat still and limp, but you could feel waves coming off of it- a feeling of unease and being watched. I took a step closer and its head snapped towards my direction. The black, hollow eyes of the head made my feet freeze in place. All the sound in the air around me was gone. My hands that confidently held the bat now shook. It slowly stood and and turned the rest of its body towards me. Sparks rose up my spine. It opened its arms for a hug. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">[[There it is.]]</div>

My coworkers now at my back, I stoked the cooled embers of my burning confidence from before, only temporarily extinguished by whatever this was. Why was it so scary anyway? It was a plush suit made of foam and mesh, cotton and fabric. I'd already downed a chomping rabbit creature on my first try. I'd smashed a monster mostly made of stone! Would it even take more than one hit to take this thing out? I could probably even do it with a bit of flair. Before Vic and Ike could join me, I readied my bat and leapt forward. [[>FIGHT!|andlose]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/QsGDldt.png"> <div class="battle">This fight is three on one, but you don't even need their help! The ?????? stands before you offering the most sinister and dangerous hug you've ever seen. What will you all do? [[>Fight!|umthathappened]] [[>Guard!|noway]] [[>Ask For Help!|shouldadonethis]]</div>

It took three big leaps forward, 1, 2, 3, then I jumped in the air, bat over my shoulder and wound up for a thunderous impact, and everything was suddenly in [[slowmotion.]]

No way was I not going to be the first one to make a move. I had the advantage, I had to strike first! [[>|andlose]]

Yeah, I really wish I did this! [[>|andlose]]

Sometimes, when I'd made a big mistake, time seemed to move slow before I faced the ramifications. Not literally, probably, I don't think I ever had time powers, but I was so aware of the moment. When I was 5 and rolled a basketball into the street as a car approached, absolutely obliterating it and making the driver really mad at me. When I was 11 and hit a speed bump with my skateboard and flew through the air, waiting forever to collide with the ground and break my thumb. When I lunged at that mascot monster and finally saw something shifting around in its hollow head once it was too late to turn back. These felt like the longest moments of [[my life]].

Some kind of appendage hidden within the creature, coiled like a snake in waiting, shot off like a bullet and struck my right eye. Either from the sheer force of the impact or out of an instinctual movement away from danger, I dove to the creature's left and tumbled across the pavement before coming to a stop in a crumpled heap-my bat clanging and rolling off into the distance somewhere. I'd never felt a pain like this before, a pounding and sharp pain radiating from my right eye that I couldn't blink away. I couldn't blink at all. All I could do was clutch at the right side of my face in agony and try to figure out why I could only see out of my left one. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/kDkJ489.png"> <div class="vic">YO!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/d8UBMTt.png"> <div class="ike">JODI!</div> Looking down at the ground I got dizzy seeing broken pieces of my safety goggles dotted by a couple drops of my own blood. Stupid cheap pieces of crap. Snapping. Someone was snapping in my face <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Ce10H8a.png"> <div class="vic">Hey, [[Jodi!]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/7KCNLVl.png"> <div class="vic">Jodi, up here.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Ce10H8a.png"> <div class="vic">Show me your eyes.</div> I looked up at them and saw them make the most pitiful face of discomfort and concern I'd ever seen. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/eIIr37n.png"> <div class="vic">Er...eye...</div> I couldn't focus, I was too disoriented and caught up in my own head. Eye. Ugh, my eye... It hurt so bad, I wanted to go home. I needed to get out of here. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/SoIy1SW.png"> <div class="vic">Just try to stay here and stay calm.</div> Everything felt awful and wrong, like my body couldn't settle-just manic thoughts and pains ricocheting around the inside of my head. But still, something bugged me. My right eye...why did the whole situation feel so familiar... <img src="https://i.imgur.com/SoIy1SW.png"> <div class="vic">Your eye should heal itself soon! </div> I'd hurt that eye before... <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Ce10H8a.png"> <div class="vic">Me and Ike are gonna go take care of this thing-</div> I could make out the shapes of Ike and the creature fighting in the background. He tried to restrain it with his whip but instead ended up squeezing the mascot suit like a tube of toothpaste. The creature ploomed out of the crushed suit like smoke and began to grow to an enormous size. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Ce10H8a.png"> <div class="vic">Y-you just stay put! I'll be right back!</div> Vic ran off and...I didn't know. Whatever. I was too busy waiting for my head to stop spinning. For my eye to...[[my eye...]]

I couldnt figure out why this felt so familiar-clutching my right eye while everyone worried about me. It was so distracting I hadn't even noticed the pain slowly ebb away as the eye glowed and began to return to normal. I just sat there thinking, when did my eye get hurt like this? When did something hit me in the eye? When did my right eye- My right eye... Oh goddamit. Of course it had to be the same eye from back then. Of course, [[of course,]]

<img src = "https://i.imgur.com/RzxTOAZ.gif"> [[>|9]]

Back when I was nine, I'd signed up for baseball. I was excited, and my dad was too-we'd made a thing of sitting together on Sunday mornings and watching baseball. I barely knew how any of it worked, or why some of the umpire's calls made him angry and others didn't. The most I could gather was that you hit the ball and ran around a whole bunch. Sometimes it went well, sometimes it went bad, and sometimes my dad got so excited he started yelling at the TV. It didn't matter that I didn't get it because it was just our thing, what we really bonded over. And actually <b>playing</b> baseball? That was going to be [[the coolest thing ever.]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class="vic">Yeah you would!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class="vic">OH, also.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class="vic">Don't let that number go below zero. Once you start costing the company money you're out of here.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class="vic">You probably wont even remember being here in the first place, I hear they wipe your memory so you don't spill company secrets or whatever.</div> They made a little concerned frown at me. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8XCi0NX.png"> <div class="vic">And then we wont be able to see each other ever again. Observer employees are forbidden from trying to remind ex-workers about their time here or we'll meet a similar fate. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/EkdbHvR.png"> <div class="vic">So, uh...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9xqtQXO.png"> <div class="vic">Keep an eye on that number and we get to keep hanging out and fighting creeps for mondo cash!</div> Vic seemed to want to be done talking about serious stuff like consequences, so I returned my attention to [[my phone.|Only a little bit.]]

I'd made it several weeks into the sport and had actually gotten a pretty good handle on the basics for a little kid. I managed to hit the ball eight times out of ten, I'd learned how to best zip my way around the bases without getting tagged, and I'd perfected the slide into home-something I thought only happened in the big leagues. And it was all the more amazing because my dad was there every second watching me from the stands, sometimes even standing against the fence to get as close as he could to the game. We didn't like a lot of the same things and really only had time to be together on Sundays, but now he was so excited about what I was doing that he was standing up and yelling like he did at the TV. It was amazing... [[Until...]]

I was at the plate, bat at the ready. We were facing off against a team from outside the city, and this kid walked up to pitch that looked especially mean. Maybe I just remember her that way, as someone who had intended on hurting me the entire time. She winds up the pitch and sends it my way. We were young enough it was supposed to be thrown underhand, but this one flew straight at me from her hand, nowhere near where I expected it to. Before I even had the time to swing and miss, the ball had blasted me in [[my right eye.]]

The memory got a bit blurry after that, and I wasn't invested in making it any clearer. I was this sobbing, screaming, snotty mess shoving my way through a crowd of concerned parents until I could burry my face in my dad's shirt. I don't even think the injury was that bad, it wasn't bleeding and I didn't get blinded. All the same I was just filled with so much shock and embarassment, pain and anger at god for letting this happen to me in front of everyone. And I knew it could happen to me again at any time! This was baseball! Why did I ever want to do this?! My dad took me home early, an [[inconsolable mess.]]

As soon as the tears were dry my hurt and fear became a stubborn rage against the sport of baseball. I refused to go to any games or practices anymore-throwing world ending tantrums at my dad's insistance that I pick up the bat and give it a go again. My dad was as patient as could be for the first couple of weeks, encouraging me to give it another try. But he eventually grew frustrated and gave up like I had. I had quit baseball, and even hanging out to watch games on Sundays felt like something more sour now. His excited cheering for these teams on TV used to be for me before I quit. The bat just sat in the corner of my room for the next three years until [[he died.]]

After that it started to almost make me feel sick seeing it there, leaned up between my dresser and my laundry hamper. It was evolving from an annoying symbol of how bratty I was as a kid into a symbol of what I almost had and lost. It was one of the few things we got a chance to connect about and I blew it because I was a dumb kid. I wasn't getting any more chances. And I couldn't even bring myself to pick it up to move it or put it away. I couldn't pick up that bat again. [[And now...]]

On my knees, head spinning in an abandoned theme park, coworkers in desparate need of some help fighting an otherworldly nightmare, I stared at the bat in the distance. In total disbelief at the parellels, flimsy and coincidental to others but burning hot lines in my brain, I slowly got to my feet and shakily made my way over to it. I brought it back to its home in my hands and held it tightly. The vision in my right eye finally returned. It was all so stupid, but I guess my weird broken brain was willing to take what it could get to heal even just a little bit. "Maybe it all means nothing at all", I thought a million miles away from my body as I planted my feet to sprint. Whatever, I needed to go [[help my friends.]]

The monster had changed a lot since it'd shot out my right eye and got squeezed out of its suit by Ike. One big difference was that I had to crane my neck to fully see it. The dark shape had reformed into something vaguely human shaped, now standing half a story taller than the roller coaster, steeped in so much darkness it could be mistaken as a 2-d image against the trees. Well it could be if it wasn't for the massive craters its stomps left in the ground. It was hard to tell for sure from the ground, but it also looked like some sort of vines had grown and tangled around it, limiting its movement slightly. From its head in the clouds glowed two white eyes, cutting through the forest like lighthouse beams across the sea. Occasionally I saw bursts of bright colors in its form. They reminded me of the lights the monsters had turned into after they had been defeated so far, though under the surface of this monster's skin they looked more like fireworks going off in a cloud of black smoke. Ike and Vic struggled to keep the creature [[at bay.]]

They both had to keep their movements quick and careful as the monster continued to try and stomp them as Ike sliced at it with his whip and Vic lobbed grenades at its knees trying to bring it down closer to them. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/UCuS0Vu.png"> <div class="vic">Stupid-thing-Ah!!</div> They quickly rolled to the side to avoid on of their grenades falling back down and going off where they once stood. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/uws2vfG.png"> <div class="vic">It's no use, we're just ankle biters down here. We need to get the head close enough to hit-!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/K7r3lOP.png"> <div class="ike">What do you think-</div> He sliced his whip through one of its ankles, but the monster didn't even flinch. <div class="monster">Fi fi fo...</div> Its voice echoed out like thunder. Giant hands reached over and ran themselves up the side of the wooden roller coaster, bursting supportive beams into splinters and jagged lumber. Coming to a rest, its fingers curled around something I heard crunch [[in the monster's tight grasp.]]

It was the roller coaster car I'd noticed earlier! It effortlessly lifted off the track like a toy car in its hand. I watched it curiously for a second, trying to figure out what on earth it was doing-it felt like watching a nature documentary about some animal I'd never seen before. It pulled its arm back and- and it was going to throw it at [[Vic and Ike!!!]]

<img src = "https://i.imgur.com/ILJUERT.png"> [[>|makecontact]]

There wasn't time to alert them, but I think I did manage to blurt something out anyway. All this got was Ike to look over his shoulder at me though. My feet left the ground. I had started moving without any plan at all, a creature as simple as the one above us, making a stupid move that had no business [[working as well as it did.]]

<img src = "https://i.imgur.com/8FMoeMv.png"> The roller coaster car had every business making us a variety pack of smears on the ground as I struck it with my bat, but something strange happened. Instead of bouncing off like a toothpick, the bat tore into the flesh of the coaster cart, stopping it still in the air as the plastic and metal crunched and ripped with cutting screeches and snaps. The strange and unreal physics soon caught up with it, the impact of my weapon blasting the vehicle to the side. In utter disbelief and confusion I watched the crunched cart clatter and roll to a stop, showering the ground in debris. Looking down at the bat I saw it hadn't suffered a scratch in the slightest, its only change in appearance being a slight green glow and a soft ploom of steam that burst off of it. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/d8UBMTt.png"> <div class="ike">W-whoa...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/kDkJ489.png"> <div class="vic">What kind of bat is that?! </div> I turned to my equally confused coworkers and returned [[the confusion.]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/AaMNy20.png"> <div class="jodi">I-I don't know!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/ZpLgrw1.png"> <div class="jodi">Are you two alright? </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/7KCNLVl.png"> <div class="vic">Yeah, we-</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8kK8G9Y.png"> <div class="ike">Are you?</div> I stopped for a second and felt around my right eye, noticing that all the pain was gone and my vision was possibly even better than it had been. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class="jodi">Y-yeah! </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class="jodi">Wow...</div> I stood in amazement for a second at how effective and powerful the health- <img src="https://i.imgur.com/kDkJ489.png"> <div class="vic">HEY!</div> They grabbed my wrist and yanked me forward as a wall of explosive sound blasted past from behind me-I had nearly just been stomped flat by [[the giant.]]

<img src = "https://i.imgur.com/YTs4o9l.gif"> [[>|sunday]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">we're making no progress down here </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/uws2vfG.png"> <div class="vic">yeah no shit, we have to try striking the head</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/UCuS0Vu.png"> <div class="vic">the weak spot is the head like 90% of the time</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/uws2vfG.png"> <div class="vic">but how do we get all the way up there? </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class="jodi"> [[>"Could we use that old roller coaster to reach it?"]] [[>"Maybe we can trip it somehow."]] [[>"We could try distracting it somehow."]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class="jodi">Could we use that old roller coaster to reach it?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class="jodi">Eh, it is a little bit away from it though...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/pqBd6NI.png"> <div class="vic">I have an impressive leap, I could probably make it-</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">No. Vetoed.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/7KCNLVl.png"> <div class="ike">Maybe we could get it closer. We lure it closer and stop it from moving somehow... </div> We all casually moved further from the monster as it took another slow, stomping step. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/kDkJ489.png"> <div class="vic">Oh! We trip it!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Ike, you need to tie like, an enormous tripline made out of your whips. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Maybe between one of the trees and a support beam on the roller coaster.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/robckvH.png"> <div class="vic">And [[while you're doing that...]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class="jodi">Maybe we can trip it somehow.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class="jodi">I don't know how, but if we could pull it off that'd get it on our level.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/K7r3lOP.png"> <div class="ike">That could be a way.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">We'd have to be really careful about knocking down something that big though. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">To avoid, uh, getting squished...</div> We all casually moved further from the monster as it took another slow, stomping step. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/kDkJ489.png"> <div class="vic">Oh! I know!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">We trip it, but into the roller coaster!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Ike, you need to tie like, an enormous tripline made out of your whips. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/robckvH.png"> <div class="vic">Maybe between one of the trees and a support beam on the roller coaster.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/robckvH.png"> <div class="vic">And [[while you're doing that...]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class="jodi">We could try distracting it somehow.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class="jodi">Or like, lure it somewhere we'd have better access to it.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/K7r3lOP.png"> <div class="ike">I think there's something there for sure, but like...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">Where should we try to get it to?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">Maybe near the top of the roller coaster, but getting it to stay is the hard part...</div> We all casually moved further from the monster as it took another slow, stomping step. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/kDkJ489.png"> <div class="vic">Oh! We trip it!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Ike, you need to tie like, an enormous tripline made out of your whips. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Maybe between one of the trees and a support beam on the roller coaster.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/robckvH.png"> <div class="vic">And [[while you're doing that...]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">I'll lure it in. My bombs can't make a dent but they annoy the hell out of it.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">The giant chases me, I lead it into your tripwire, and then KABOOM</div> They motioned an explosion with their hands. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/robckvH.png"> <div class="vic">It'll fall backward into the coaster like its a big 'ol painful armchair, where...</div> Vic's excitement for the plan faltered a little bit as they looked a bit concerned. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Ce10H8a.png"> <div class="vic">Jodi, do you think...you could be waiting on that coaster?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Ce10H8a.png"> <div class="vic">I know it's been a big night.</div> I faltered a bit, <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8kK8G9Y.png"> <div class="ike">Yeah, we should come up with something a little less intense. Maybe we could-</div> and then tightened my grip on the handle of my bat. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/zHUummE.png"> <div class="jodi">No, [[I can do it!]]</div>

I was never going to have any fun playing the whimpy new trainee. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class="jodi">You said its going to fall backwards right? </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class="jodi">So if we do it just right and he lands close to one of the tracks, I'll basically be level with the back of its head.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class="jodi">And then...if the coaster holds...</div> Okay the structural integrity of the coaster made me a little nervous regardless of newfound confidence. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/HUyvTMj.png"> <div class="jodi">I just have to run up and wail on it. </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class="jodi">If this bat can hit as hard as it did when I hit that roller coaster car I might be able to finish it in one swing! </div> Ike looked a little concerned and Vic was trying to hold back excitement at the bombastic nature of this plan. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/8kK8G9Y.png"> <div class="ike">I mean...If you think you can do it...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Yes!! I love this!! </div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Let's do it!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/4PeauHy.png"> <div class="vic">Let's-</div> [[>Fight!|giantfightike]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/ERNlzox.png"> <div class="battle">Looks like Ike's up first! The giant moves slowly but violently. What will he do? [[>Set Trap]] [[>Think]]</div>

As Vic lobbed two freshly produced grenades at the beast and distracted it, Ike took the moment to run between its feet to the trunk of a large tree a ways behind it. Both sleeves glowing an even brighter orange than before, he launched out four enormous whips, firing off and winding together into a thick cable that latched to one of the coaster's support beams. Perfect, so far so good. With things in motion I made a break for the roller coaster to begin my ascent. Meanwhile, Vic started moving more strategically. [[>Fight!|giantfightvic]]

Ike hesitated, visibly sweating and looking worried. I couldn't know for sure but he seemed like he was thinking, <div class="ike">"I hope everyone comes out of this in one piece, I can't handle losing anyone else..."</div> That was my guess at least... [[>|giantfightike]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/3xU4MyN.png"> <div class="battle">Looks like it's Vic's turn! The giant is slow, but has begun to notice something made it past its legs. What will they do? [[>Lure and Distract]] [[>Think|Victhink]]</div>

Now on the coaster, I began to run up the wooden path the steel tracks of the coaster had been laid on. Jumping and dodging holes and rotted wood, I looked over and saw Vic doing some jumping and dodging of their own. Like a practiced dancer they expertly switched between defensive slides and jukes that left the giant's attacks missing by a mile and offensive, precise tosses of their grenades that exploded and scorched around the giant's knees and ankles. Slowly but surely, the giant began to follow them towards Ike's tripwire, vision assumedly going red with annoyance at Vic's display. I picked up my pace, almost to where I was near certain the monster would land. Vic zipped between its legs, causing it to turn around. Then, whipping their glowing arms into the air, a barrage of a dozen grenades flew through the air. Blasting simultaneously as pins rained down, the giant stumbled backwards [[into the tripwire.]]

Vic looked especially determined, twirling the stick grenades in their hands between dodges and rolls out of the path of the giant's punches and stomps. I couldn't know for sure but they seemed like they were thinking, <div class="vic">"This is scary, but who cares if I get a little bit hurt as long as I can keep them safe!"</div> That was my guess at least... [[>|giantfightvic]]

It went off without a hitch. Losing its balance as its heels were caught in the orange cable, the giant tumbled through the air before colliding with the side of Rocky's Roller Coaster. The whole structure violently shook, boards from the opposite side popping loose as the ground fell and rose beneath me-knocking me to the ground as I rounded the track's corner. I lay face down on the shaking ground for a moment with my eyes closed, getting my bearings and holding myself close to the surface until I was sure that the structure had stopped moving. Opening my eyes, I couldn't believe [[how perfectly this had all come together.]]

At the end of the wooden track before me was the back of the giants head, a dark and ominous void sparked by bright colors-and also wedged in the broken wood, vulnerable to my attack. [[>Fight!|giantfightjodi]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/Otz2wly.png"> <div class="battle">The time has come! The giant seems to be incapacitated, the back of its head open for attack. What will you do? [[>Attack|jodigiantattack]] [[>Attack!|jodigiantattack]] [[>Go Get It!!!|jodigiantattack]]</div>

I sprinted across the shuddering and creaking boards with my arms wound to swing the bat. The giant's head began to move as if it was regaining its senses, the leaves wound around its sillhouette began to shudder. And then a pair of eyes opened in the back of its head, followed by a new, sharp-toothed mouth that was [[blinding bright.]]

Its face had shifted to the back of its head somehow! Opening its mouth even wider than before, its powerful jaw crushed and mangled the wood and steel. It kept repeating this, again and again tearing up the coaster and its track. Was it eating the coaster? Did these monster things need to eat? Oh, I realized, it was using its teeth to drag its head closer to me. Behind its advancing head its neck began to stretch and contort so it could easily access me to put an end to my attack before it even landed. and then the scariest thing of all happened: [[I didn't stop running towards it.]]

My body screamed for me to turn around. A cold chill stiffened my movements, an anxious fire burst from my already thundering heart, tearing through my body. My feet pounded the surface and threw my warry body forward faster and faster towards the deadly and hungry mouth of the creature. Vic and Ike had put themselves in too much danger for me to turn tail and run now. Whatever happened next, I was going for this [[homerun.]]

Planting and launching my foot off of a jagged and bent steel rail, I flew through the air into the face of the giant-splinters and dust floating around in the powerful white beams of its face as I myself tumbled down towards it, swinging down my bat on the top of its head with all the strength I had left. I had never felt a greater power before in my life. A crack of thunder ran through the air as if I'd struck with the hammer of [[the gods.]]

The giant caved in on itself with the impact of the strike, swirling in like a whirpool of bright colors streaked through tar. Hanging in the air above it, I could only watch in fascination and wonder as these colors rocketted past me into the sky in fantastic bolts. Hue by hue they left the creature until there was no creature left at all. Even moreso than all the creatures before it, I was floored by the beauty of it. This admiration quickly fell away as I realized there was nothing beneath me, leaping to attack the monster that was no longer there left me loose in the air where the coaster tracks had once been. With a sudden <img src="https://i.imgur.com/AaMNy20.png"> <div class="jodi">Eep.</div> I began [[tumbling down.]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/s0Dcsbx.png"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/bKBRl6R.png"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Qc1R7Fh.png"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/vkiP3jr.png"> [[>|tumblingsafe]]

We stood in silence for a moment, looking over the wreckage of where the giant had once been. Rocky's Roller Coaster still stood tall, but looked like someone had taken a giant bite out if. The splintered edges of the jagged timber stood with confidence against the moonlit sky. I whistled like an old man assessing the damage on a car engine. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MoRDET8.gif"> <div class="jodi">Do you think they'll be able to fix it?</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/K7r3lOP.png"> <div class="ike">Oh yeah, easily.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/H1DYr3d.png"> <div class="vic">We've broken much bigger stuff a lot worse.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/qUrgt4D.png"> <div class="ike">No, the real question is how much are they going to take out of our pay to fix it.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/fFdEUf3.png"> <div class="ike">Healing and items are instantaneous but collateral damage always takes a day or two and its always [[inconvenient.]]</div>

<img src =""> chapter title image here [[>|epilogue]]

I was laying on my stomach, getting sleepy eyed on the blue carpetting of the van, and watching videos with Vic on their phone when the sun started to rise in the back windows. We were on our way to a hotel but something about driving always made me especially relaxed and sleepy I couldn't replicate actually trying to sleep in the comfiest bed in the world. I could hear the road rolling by beneath me, the soft rumble accompanied by a slight coolness that seeped up through the floor. My eye lids drooped at the feeling... Vic: Oh my god, do you think that cat is okay?! Hahaha~ My eyes snapped open before my face clunked on the ground. Vic: Getting sleepy? Haha Vic: Stay strong, soon we're gonna be at the place with the best continental breakfast <i>ever</i>. They even have biscuits and gravy! Unlimitted orange juice dispensers. The ritz! Jodi: Ooooh that sounds so good right now... Jodi: I didn't eat at all before we came out here because [[I was so nervous.]]

Vic: For someone who was nervous you sure did absolutely demolish that mission lol. Vic: ...Thanks for sticking with us, by the way. Vic: It got kinda intense out there, and I wouldn't be mad if you wanted

Vic turned around and started a slow walk back to the stairs we'd taken up from the Wonderland Tea Party. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Let's not freak about that right now, because right now we are freakin' ROLLIN' in it!!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/fFymmTk.png"> <div class="vic">Screw whatever our plans were for tonight.</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">We could stay in a Motel <i><b>7</b></i> if we wanted to!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class="jodi">A big comfy bed does sound good right now...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/VNIH9bb.png"> <div class="ike">Maybe somewhere with a hot tub...</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">Now we're [[talking!!!]]</div>

Together we made our way down the steps and began our way back to the van, watching light pinks make their way into the sky. Feeling a lightness in my chest, I remember it felt like the closest I'd been to other people in the longest time. And for the first time in my life, I was looking forward to my next shift. [[>|fin]]

I blinked my eyes in disbelief. I was alive! I defeated that giant monster and survived! <img src="https://i.imgur.com/is6mIxA.png"> <div class="vic">You did it!!! Ah-ha-ha-ha!! </div> They jumped up and hugged my upside-down body and began shaking me and laughing like crazy. And it was soon impossible not to join them! It began to slowly sink in what I had just done and survived, what these two other weirdos had helped me do. I could do anything! We could do anything! My face going red from the blood rushing to my head and my stomach unsteady from all the tumbling, I laughed until there were tears in my eyes. Ike chuckled in relief. He wasn't as openly excited but was clearly happy to see this whole night over with. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MdSuBJc.gif"> <div class="jodi">Alright enough shaking Vic, I'm gonna barff-!</div> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/OdvzGWC.png"> <div class="ike">Alright, [[I better get you down from there|results]].</div>

<div class="battle"> You have defeated the The Giant! Its negative energy has been cleansed and will return to the universe. A weight has been lifted, and the remaining supernatural traces in the area will dissipate by morning. You have gained: >$1500 payout! >>-$250 eye repair >Confidence! >A Bond With Your Team! [[>|I better get you down from there]]</div>

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/mju2dlG.png"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/U0FxHpO.png"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/TIYQiL7.png"> Glancing up from whatever social media timeline they were using, Vic saw I was awake and became noticeably more [[excited.]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/K0k2M2Y.png"> >[[Main Menu]] >[[Author's Notes]]

There's a lot of work to do on this still, but thanks for reading what I have so far! I have so many ideas for what this could become but I am happy to have created just even a sliver of all that with this game. Special thanks to my boyfriend, friends, and family who were so patient with me while I threw all this together and abandoned all other responsibilities for a week. And thanks to my instructor April who taught me how to do *gestures wildly* all of this! Anyway see you all soon and I hope you get some time to relax before our next shift! - Aaron K PS! Check out some of my other work at: > https://aaronkemper.com/ > https://twitter.com/acertainaaron [[Main Menu]]