A/Swallow The Moon

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<header> <div class="decoration-i">☾</div> <div class="decoration-ii">☾</div> <div class="decoration-iii">☾</div> <div class="decoration-v">☾</div> <div id="header-top">  <nav class="social-media" data-passage="social media"> </nav> <div class="middle">  <div class="title" data-passage="story title"> </div>  <span id="menu-toggle"> <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i> </span> </div>  <nav class="tools"> <span id="header-settings-button"><i class="fas fa-cog"></i></span> <span id="header-restart-button"><i class="fas fa-undo"></i></span> <span id="header-saves-button"><i class="fas fa-save"></i></span> <span id="header-fullscreen-button"><i class="fas fa-expand-arrows-alt"></i></span> </nav> </div> <div id="header-body"> <div class="content">  <nav class="tools"> <span id="menu-settings-button"><i class="fas fa-cog"></i></span> <span id="menu-restart-button"><i class="fas fa-undo"></i></span> <span id="menu-saves-button"><i class="fas fa-save"></i></span> <span id="menu-fullscreen-button"><i class="fas fa-expand-arrows-alt"></i></span> </nav>  <div class="logo-image" data-passage="story logo"> </div>  <ul id="story-menu" data-passage="story links"> </ul>  <div class="social-media" data-passage="social media"> </div> </div> <div class="credit">✦ Template by <a href="https://outoftheblue-if.tumblr.com" target="_blank">Vahnya</a> ✦</div> </div>  </header> <div id="main"> <div class="decoration-separator"> <span>☾</span> <span>☾</span> <span>☽</span> <span>☽</span> </div> <div id="passages"> </div> <div class="decoration-separator"> <span>☾</span> <span>☾</span> <span>☾</span> <span>☾</span> </div> </div>  <footer>  <span id="backwards-button"><i class="fas fa-chevron-left"></i></span> <span>☾</span> <span id="forwards-button"><i class="fas fa-chevron-right"></i></span> </footer>

// FOR SETTING STATS THAT NEED TO BE IN PLAY AT THE START OF THE STORY <<set $kind = 50>> <<set $cruel = 50>>

<span style="display: block; text-align: center;"> <<link "«Return to game" $return>><</link>> </span> <div class="box header"> <h1>$name.</h1> <span class="star">☾</span> <ul class="facts"> <li></li> <li></li> <li></li> </ul> </div> <div class="box"> <h3>Appearance</h3> <i><<if $mchairlength is "bald">> You're bald. <<else>> You have $mchaircolor, $mchairtype, $mchairlength hair. <</if>> Your eyes are $mceyecolor. You're eye catching. </i> </div>  <div class="box">  <h3>Personality</h3> <div class="stat-group"> <div class="stat"> <div class="stat-labels"> </div> </div> <div class="stat"> <div class="stat-labels"> </div> </div> Your Personality Has Not Yet Been Decided. </div> </div> <div class="box"> <h3>Skills</h3> <div class="stat-group"> <div class="stat"> <div class="stat-labels"> Your Skills Have Not Yet Been Decided. </div> </div>  <span style="display: block; text-align: center;"> <<link "« Return to game" $return>><</link>> </span>

<<if $mcfinished is "set">>\ <li> <<link "Stats" "Stats">><</link>> </li> <</if>>

<div class="box header"> <h1>$name.</h1> <span class="star">✦</span>  <div class="box blank"> <h3>Appearance</h3> <i>$firstname is tall and of average size with golden blond hair and pale skin.</i> </div>  <div class="box blank">  <h3>Personality</h3> <div class="box blank"> <h3>Skills</h3>  <span style="display: block; text-align: center;"><<link "« Return to game" $return>><</link>></span>

<div class="main"> <nav> <<link "Resume Game">><<run Save.autosave.load()>><</link>> <<link "Load Game">><<run UI.saves();>><</link>> </nav> <div class="story-banner"> <div class="content">  <h1 class="story-title">Swallow The Moon</h1>  <i class="fa-solid fa-book"></i>  <h2 class="story-subtitle"></h2> <span>☾</span>  <h3 class="story-author">By <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/blog/dipmyquillinmoonlight"></a>Luna.</h3> </div> </div> <nav> <<link "New Game" "Chapter I">><</link>> <<link "Settings">><<run UI.settings();>><</link>> </nav> </div> <div class="credit">✦ Template by <a href="https://outoftheblue-if.tumblr.com" target="_blank">Vahnya</a> ✦</div>

Hello! Welcome to //Swallow The Moon,//. My name is Luna, and first of all, I would like to thank the creator of this fantastic template. Hopefully, as I become more skilled with coding, I'll be able to create one of my own. Though, for now, Vanya, thank you. Now, before we begin: There are [two] gender customizable love interests. [[Set their genders now]], or wait until you come across them. __As a ''warning,'' this story's intended for mature audiences. There will be strong language, heavy subjects, and potentially suggestive content. This story is a work in progress. Some aspects may change.__ <<button "Next." "Start">><</button>>

<a href="https://www.tumblr.com/blog/dipmyquillinmoonlight" target="_blank"><i class="fab fa-tumblr"></i></a>

<h1>Swallow The Moon</h1>  <i class="fa-solid fa-moon"></i>  <h2>By Luna.</h2>

<div class="story-banner"> <div class="content">  <h1 class="story-title">Swallow The Moon</h1>  <i class="fa-solid fa-book-open"></i>  <h2 class="story-subtitle">Turn The Page.</h2> <span>☾</span>  <h3 class="story-author">By Luna.<a href="#"></a></h3> </div> </div>

<<notify>>Autosave complete!<</notify>> This passage autosaves, and the next time the game opens the player will be able to resume from here.

<h1>$name</h1>  <div class="stat-passage"> </div> <br><br> <div class="box blank"> <h2>Appearance</h2> <i>$name has $mchairtype, $mchairlength, $mchaircolor hair, and beautiful $mceyecolor eyes. </i> </div>  <div class="stat-passage"> <div class="box blank">  <h3>Personality</h3> <h3>Skills</h3> Your skills have not been decided yet.  <span style="display: block; text-align: center;"><<link "« Return to game" $return>><</link>></span>

!Heading 1 !!Heading 2 !!!Heading 3 Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. //emphasised text//. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. ''strong text''. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. __underlined text__ Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. ---- !!!Unordered List: * List item 1 * List item 2 !!!Links [[testy 2]]

<<fadein 10s>>sup<</fadein>> !!! Checkbox: <<checkbox "$checkboxVar1" false true autocheck>> Checkbox option 1 <<checkbox "$checkboxVar2" false true autocheck>> Checkbox option 2 <<checkbox "$checkboxVar3" false true autocheck>> Checkbox option 3 !!! Cycle: <<cycle "$cycleVar" autoselect>> <<option "Option 1⤳">> <<option "Option 2⤳">> <<option "Option 3⤳">> <<option "Option 4⤳">> <<option "Option 5⤳">> <</cycle>> !!! Listbox: <<listbox "$listboxVar" autoselect>> <<option "Option 1">> <<option "Option 2">> <<option "Option 3">> <<option "Option 4">> <<option "Option 5">> <</listbox>> !!! Radiobutton: <<radiobutton "$radiobuttonVar" "option 1" autocheck>> Option 1 <<radiobutton "$radiobuttonVar" "option 2" autocheck>> Option 2 <<radiobutton "$radiobuttonVar" "option 3" autocheck>> Option 3 !!! Textarea: <<textarea "$textareaVar" "Type text here..">> !!! Textbox: <<textbox "$textboxVar" "Type answer here">> <<button "Autosave" "Autosave">><</button>>

<<fadein 5s>><div class="beginheh">Chapter I.</div><</fadein>><<fadein 7s>><div class="beginheh2">It couldn't have happened anywhere but in little old New York.</div><</fadein>> <div class="book">"The ballroom becomes deafeningly quiet. There isn't a single sound to be heard. The noblewoman scoffs as she looks down at me, where I've collapsed."</div> On a Monday in New York, rain fills a quaint coffee shop. You've been seated at a booth for twenty minutes, and you already have Saoirse's manuscript loosely in your fingers—this has become a regular occurrence. Each time you meet up—which isn't very often—you read what Saoirse has written for the sequel to //Swallow The Moon//, a novel she'd been working on since college. Despite the exhaustion heavy in your bones, you push past the pulsing behind your eyes and continue to read. Saoirse hasn't gotten very far—there are hardly ten pages—but she seems completely stressed about the quality of the words. <div class="book">"Something cold slides against my scalp, and I watch as water drips from my hair onto the floor below me. I clench my fists, refusing to make eye contact. 'Pathetic,' A hostile voice tells me, 'You're—' The person yelps and the glass falls from their grip only inches from my face. When I raise my head, I see Emile—" </div> You tear your gaze from the book in hand with a frustrated sigh. With the pounding inside your head, it's impossible to get another word in. Saoirse looks at you hopefully from across the table, and you <<cycle "$cycleVar" autoselect>> <<option "frown.⤳">> <<option "groan.⤳">> <<option "huff.⤳">> <</cycle>> You know you've read a similar scene in //Swallow The Moon//—this seems to happen to the heroine a lot. "Well," She wiggles her hands for the manuscript back, and you oblige, "What do you think? Is it getting somewhere?" Her eyes are bloodshot, and she looks fresh from downing her fourth coffee of the morning, but you suspect you don't look much different. She sets the story on the table between you, taking her eyes off it to stare at her—fifth—coffee. [["It is, but..." You smile softly, telling her what you think as gently as possible.->SweetResponse1]] [["What do you think, Saoirse? How do you feel about it?" Your question is entirely earnest, your eyebrows lifting.->friendresponse1]] [["I don't know," You say honestly, leaning back in your chair. It's rough. She's being pressured by her publisher, so it's unsurprising.->honestresponse1]] [["Listen, Saoirse. I love you. But, neither of us is in the state to be talking about this fucking book." You run a hand over your tired face, having no qualms about speaking your mind.->bluntresponese1]]

"It is, but..." You smile softly, "Maybe you could think about it more—start it somewhere more interesting? Not to say that it isn't!" You giggle nervously. "But everyone's looking forward to the sequel. They have been for a while." You think that's why Saoirse is rushing so hard, and you know it's true the moment her expression crumbles. "You're right," She says, "Scotty is so pushy about getting his hands on it, and I haven't even gotten past the first chapter." Scotty—Saoirse's publisher. He wasn't a big name in the publishing business until //Swallow The Moon//, and because of the novel's immense success, he was hungry for more of Saoirse's work. You make a sympathetic sound and reach over the table to touch your hand to hers. You've spoken with the man on several occasions, and none of the conversations were pleasant. "Please, don't stress. You care about this story, and so do your readers. They want the best possible story, and I know you do too." Saoirse squeezes your fingers, blue eyes twinkling with gratitude. "You always know just what to say. I'll stay up extra late tonight to work on it!" She nods, determined, but you frown. She turns to her backpack propped against her side, unzips it, and forces the manuscript inside. "Uh—maybe you should—" The clock on your phone buzzes from its place on the table, cutting off your words. <<button "Next." "SaoirseConvo">><</button>>

"What do you think, Saoirse? How do you feel about it?" Your question is entirely earnest, your eyebrows lifting. Saoirse's face scrunches; she stares intensely at the manuscript. "I think," Her voice is thoughtful, "I can do better—for the readers and myself." She has a fire in her eyes, and you can see it as clear as day. "Scotty will just have to wait for it!" Your ears prickle at the familiar name—Scotty—Saoirse's publisher. He wasn't a big name in the publishing business until Swallow The Moon, and because of the novel's immense success, he was hungry for more of Saoirse's work. You smile, proud of her. "If that's how you feel." Saoirse's body flinches with a sudden burst of energy. "I'll make sure to work extra hard on it tonight! No breaks!" "Uh—Saoirse, maybe you shouldn't—" The clock on your phone buzzes from its place on the table, cutting off your words. <<button "Next." "SaoirseConvo">><</button>>

"I don't know," You say honestly, leaning back in your chair. It's rough. Saoirse's publisher is pressing her, so it's unsurprising. "Maybe try a different approach?" Saoirse's eyes widen, and she gives you an expectant look. "I don't know what that approach is," You sigh at her. Her face sours so quickly it nearly gives you whiplash. "I'll just have to work harder on it tonight," She says suddenly, "Harder and longer. Scotty won't stop bugging me about it." Scotty—Saoirse's publisher. He wasn't a big name in the publishing business until Swallow The Moon, and because of the novel's immense success, he was hungry for more of Saoirse's work. You jump out of your thoughts when Saoirse cracks her knuckles. "Uh, maybe you should take a break—" The clock on your phone buzzes from its place on the table, cutting off your words. <<button "Next." "SaoirseConvo">><</button>>

"Listen, Saoirse. I love you. But, neither of us is in the state to be talking about this fucking book." You run a hand over your tired face. "You look drained, so take a break and come back to it later." Your words are born from pure concern. Saorise drops her head onto the table with a groan, "I hate it when you're reasonable." Pride floods you at her words. "But," Her head raises, and you instantly deflate, "If I work a little extra tonight, I could be able to finish." "No—you should—" The clock on your phone buzzes from its place on the table, cutting off your words. <<button "Next." "SaoirseConvo">><</button>>

You switch your alarm off and lay it screen first on the table, work now fresh in your mind. You have nearly an hour until your shift at Tom's Diner begins. It's not long after sunrise, but there's no sun in sight from where you sit. The rain has harshened; you wonder if your little umbrella can withstand it. You listen to thunder boom in the distance as silence settles between Saoirse and you. She smiles slightly over at you. "It was a lot easier when we were kids. In high school? College?" Saoirse laughs, smoothing a hand over her hair. "It feels like yesterday when I started writing //Swallow The Moon.// What's it been? Three years now?" It has been three years. <<nobr>><<cycle "$choice2" autoselect>> <<option "You much preferred your life now than then.⤳">><<option "You long for those simpler times as well.⤳">><<option "Your life was awful then, and it's just as bad now.⤳">><</cycle>><</nobr>> Saoirse closes her eyes and perches her elbow on the table, leaning her cheek against her palm like she's thinking back to those days. "I wonder if I would change anything if I had the chance to do it again." <<button "Remember." "customize">><</button>>

"I'll read it," You tell her with a soft smile. You pluck the novel from Saoirse's hands, turning it over to examine it from all angles. "Hopefully, I can start on it again tonight." She squeals in her seat as you tuck the novel safely into your bag. While it's open, you take your umbrella from inside as well. Saoirse has called now, standing from her seat with a dramatic frown. "Be careful out there," She asks of you, grabbing onto your shoulders. "It's storming hard—don't get swept away," She allows a small smile to creep through as she speaks, but there's worry still in her eyes. "I won't." You remove her gently from your shoulders and squeeze her wrists. "I'll be careful." Saoirse looks satisfied with your response, and if she isn't, she doesn't tell you otherwise. Instead, she slaps your arm fondly and grabs her satchel's strap. "I'll pay," She assures you, "Wait at the door?" <<button "Next." "thedoor">><</button>>

"Fine, fine—!" You clench the book's cover aggressively in your fingers. "I'll read the damn thing." You tear open your bag and shove the novel inside. You make sure to grab your umbrella, as well. She stands from her seat with an energetic jump. She's smiling, but she quickly grows serious. "Be careful out there," She asks of you, grabbing onto your shoulders. "It's storming hard—don't get swept away," She allows a small smile to creep through as she speaks, but there's worry still in her eyes. You peel Saoirse from you with eyebrows raised exasperatedly. "Yeah, yeah. I got it—I'll make sure to grab onto something." Saoirse looks satisfied with your response, and if she isn't, she doesn't tell you otherwise. Instead, she slaps your arm fondly and grabs her satchel's strap. "I'll pay," She assures you, "Wait at the door?" <<button "Next." "thedoor">><</button>>

"You're lucky you're cute, or I would've ditched you years ago," You take the book. Saoirse's cheeks flush, and she swats at the air dismissively. She's smiling as you tuck the novel into your bag and grab your umbrella. She gets to her feet with a somber expression. "Be careful out there," She asks of you, holding onto your shoulders. "It's storming hard—don't get swept away," She allows a small smile to creep through as she speaks, but there's worry still in her eyes. You slide away from her, the corners of your lips curling. "I'll be sure not to." You raise your eyebrows at her. "Now, how about using those well-earned royalties to pay for the coffee?" Saoirse looks satisfied with your response, and if she isn't, she doesn't tell you otherwise. Instead, she slaps your arm fondly and grabs her satchel's strap. "I'll pay," She assures you, "Wait at the door?" <<button "Next." "thedoor">><</button>>

<div class="beginheh2">Three Years Ago.</div> Saoirse is sprawled out on your bed in your dorm room, visiting for the night and scribbling in her notebook as you type on your computer at the small desk in the corner. The night has gone by very slowly, and your schoolwork is sadly untouched—courtesy of Saoirse, who pipes up continuously to get your input. This time, it's a repeated question: "Can't you help me with the character?" Saoirse sits up, crossing her legs and rocking back and forth with her writing supplies in hand. "Is it with the antagonist again?" Your fingers hover over the keyboard as you speak, staring at the blank space under the questions. "Yes!" Saoirse holds up a finger, silent until you swivel in your chair to stare at her. "I've been thinking about it for the past hour, and I need help!" She hops from the bed and shoves the notebook into your face, where her nearly illegible handwriting rests on a worn page. If you squint hard enough, you can make out the vague description of her <<link 'character.'>> <<pronouns>> <</link>> [Customize Identity.] "Wait!" Saoirse turns the notebook so you can no longer see. "I'll read it to you, so tell me what you think? Okay?" She practically buzzes, bubblegum-pink fingernails digging eagerly into the paper. [[You roll your eyes playfully but entertain her: "Okay, let's hear it."->cu1]] [[You smile brightly. "Okay! Read it!"->cu2]] [[You groan, tipping your head back to stare at the ceiling. "Just read it."->cu3]] [[You sigh, "Alright, you can read it."->cu4]]

<<link 'Who are you?'>> <<pronouns>> <</link>> [[Next->testss]]

?he <<verb 'waits'>>

The slightest bit of noise rips your attention away from your schoolwork every time, and you're no closer to completing it than you were two hours ago. Saoirse had come under the guise of studying together, but as soon as she'd walked in the door, she'd whipped her notebook out and seated herself shamelessly on your duvet. <<cycle "$cycleVar" autoselect>> <<option "Though you welcomed it—you hated school with a burning passion, and it would never change.⤳">> <<option "And despite your peculiar affinity for studying, you quite liked when Saoirse stole you away from it.⤳">> <<option "You couldn't bring yourself to order Saoirse away—so you merely dealt with it.⤳">> <<option "You did the same to Saoirse often—the two of you were real pains to your professors.⤳">> <</cycle>> After a long moment of peering uselessly at your computer screen, Saoirse appears behind you and follows your gaze. "Well, here's the problem—you haven't even put your name!" She leans around you and, in a flash, types your name out and walks away as if she's solved world hunger. But she'd be right, at least. Your first name now sits prettily above the magnitude of questions you had for homework: <<message 'View Feminine Name Suggestions.'>>\ [[Aurora;]] __Dawn.__ [[Mira;]] __Admirable.__ [[Larissa;]] __Cheerful.__ <</message>> <<message 'View Masculine Name Suggestions.'>>\ [[Leo;]] __Lion.__ [[Corvus;]] __Raven.__ [[Namid;]] __Star Dancer.__ <</message>> <<message 'View Gender-Neutral Name Suggestions.'>>\ [[Lynx;]] __Wild Cat.__ [[Marin;]] __Of The Sea.__ [[Asia;]] __Rising Sun.__ <</message>> <<textbox "$name" "">> <<button "Next." "type">><</button>>

You roll your eyes playfully but entertain her: "Okay, let's hear it." Saoirse moves to fall back on your bed again, clears her throat, and reads—albeit awkwardly—in a big voice: "?She <<verb 'was'>> once a scrappy child, <<cycle "$mchaircolor" autoselect>> <<option "raven⤳">> <<option "sandalwood⤳">> <<option "blood red⤳">> <<option "golden⤳">> <<option "snow white⤳">> <<option "dark ash⤳">> <</cycle>> hair falling uncut over <<cycle "$mceyecolor" autoselect>> <<option "chilly blue eyes.⤳">> <<option "mysterious green eyes.⤳">> <<option "fathomless brown eyes.⤳">> <<option "hard grey eyes.⤳">> <<option "cruel hazel eyes.⤳">> <</cycle>> But now, ?she <<verb 'was'>> powerful and sharp. ?Their <<cycle "$mchairtype" autoselect>> <<option "waves⤳">> <<option "curls⤳">> <<option "straight strands⤳">> <</cycle>> of hair, <<cycle "$mchairlength" autoselect>> <<option "were long and luscious.⤳">> <<option "laid on calm shoulders.⤳">> <<option "hugged a level skull.⤳">> <<option "were no more.⤳">> <</cycle>> ?He—" Saoirse coughs, eyes glancing up and over the notebook to look at your face. You stare at her, <<cycle "$ccle4" autoselect>> <<option "confused.⤳">> <<option "blankly.⤳">> <<option "processing.⤳">> <</cycle>> She has an expectant expression, even as she starts again. Saoirse continues, "—?she welded ?their magic with precision and accuracy, unlike how it had been when ?she—" [[You cut her off hesitantly. "It sounds like you're describing me."->shy1]] [[You make a few bemused noises. "Wait, wait, wait. Did you put me into your book?"->confused]] [["That sounds awfully familiar. Why, it's almost like you're describing me," Your lips quirk as you speak.->amused1]] [["Why did you do that? Couldn't you have thought of any other features to use?" You frown slightly at her.->embarass]]

You smile brightly. "Okay! Read it!" Saoirse moves to fall back on your bed again, clears her throat, and reads—albeit awkwardly—in a big voice: "?She <<verb 'was'>> once a scrappy child, <<cycle "$mchaircolor" autoselect>> <<option "raven⤳">> <<option "sandalwood⤳">> <<option "blood red⤳">> <<option "golden⤳">> <<option "snow white⤳">> <<option "dark ash⤳">> <</cycle>> hair falling uncut over <<cycle "$mceyecolor" autoselect>> <<option "chilly blue eyes.⤳">> <<option "mysterious green eyes.⤳">> <<option "fathomless brown eyes.⤳">> <<option "hard grey eyes.⤳">> <<option "cruel hazel eyes.⤳">> <</cycle>> But now, ?she <<verb 'was'>> powerful and sharp. ?Their <<cycle "$mchairtype" autoselect>> <<option "waves⤳">> <<option "curls⤳">> <<option "straight strands⤳">> <</cycle>> of hair, <<cycle "$mchairlength" autoselect>> <<option "were long and luscious.⤳">> <<option "laid on calm shoulders.⤳">> <<option "hugged a level skull.⤳">> <<option "were no more.⤳">> <</cycle>> ?He—" Saoirse coughs, eyes glancing up and over the notebook to look at your face. You stare at her, <<cycle "$ccle4" autoselect>> <<option "confused.⤳">> <<option "blankly.⤳">> <<option "processing.⤳">> <</cycle>> She has an expectant expression, even as she starts again. Saoirse continues, "—?she welded ?their magic with precision and accuracy, unlike how it had been when ?she—" [[You cut her off hesitantly. "It sounds like you're describing me."->shy1]] [[You make a few bemused noises. "Wait, wait, wait. Did you put me into your book?"->confused]] [["That sounds awfully familiar. Why, it's almost like you're describing me," Your lips quirk as you speak.->amused1]] [["Why did you do that? Couldn't you have thought of any other features to use?" You frown slightly at her.->embarass]]

You groan, tipping your head back to stare at the ceiling. "Just read it." Saoirse moves to fall back on your bed again, clears her throat, and reads—albeit awkwardly—in a big voice: "?She <<verb 'was'>> once a scrappy child, <<cycle "$mchaircolor" autoselect>> <<option "raven⤳">> <<option "sandalwood⤳">> <<option "blood red⤳">> <<option "golden⤳">> <<option "snow white⤳">> <<option "dark ash⤳">> <</cycle>> hair falling uncut over <<cycle "$mceyecolor" autoselect>> <<option "chilly blue eyes.⤳">> <<option "mysterious green eyes.⤳">> <<option "fathomless brown eyes.⤳">> <<option "hard grey eyes.⤳">> <<option "cruel hazel eyes.⤳">> <</cycle>> But now, ?she <<verb 'was'>> powerful and sharp. ?Their <<cycle "$mchairtype" autoselect>> <<option "waves⤳">> <<option "curls⤳">> <<option "straight strands⤳">> <</cycle>> of hair, <<cycle "$mchairlength" autoselect>> <<option "were long and luscious.⤳">> <<option "laid on calm shoulders.⤳">> <<option "hugged a level skull.⤳">> <<option "were no more.⤳">> <</cycle>> ?He—" Saoirse coughs, eyes glancing up and over the notebook to look at your face. You stare at her, <<cycle "$ccle4" autoselect>> <<option "confused.⤳">> <<option "blankly.⤳">> <<option "processing.⤳">> <</cycle>> She has an expectant expression, even as she starts again. Saoirse continues, "—?she welded ?their magic with precision and accuracy, unlike how it had been when ?she—" [[You cut her off hesitantly. "It sounds like you're describing me."->shy1]] [[You make a few bemused noises. "Wait, wait, wait. Did you put me into your book?"->confused]] [["That sounds awfully familiar. Why, it's almost like you're describing me," Your lips quirk as you speak.->amused1]] [["Why did you do that? Couldn't you have thought of any other features to use?" You frown slightly at her.->embarass]]

You sigh, "Alright, you can read it." Saoirse moves to fall back on your bed again, clears her throat, and reads—albeit awkwardly—in a big voice: "?She <<verb 'was'>> once a scrappy child, <<cycle "$mchaircolor" autoselect>> <<option "raven⤳">> <<option "sandalwood⤳">> <<option "blood red⤳">> <<option "golden⤳">> <<option "snow white⤳">> <<option "dark ash⤳">> <</cycle>> hair falling uncut over <<cycle "$mceyecolor" autoselect>> <<option "chilly blue eyes.⤳">> <<option "mysterious green eyes.⤳">> <<option "fathomless brown eyes.⤳">> <<option "hard grey eyes.⤳">> <<option "cruel hazel eyes.⤳">> <</cycle>> But now, ?she <<verb 'was'>> powerful and sharp. ?Their <<cycle "$mchairtype" autoselect>> <<option "waves⤳">> <<option "curls⤳">> <<option "straight strands⤳">> <</cycle>> of hair, <<cycle "$mchairlength" autoselect>> <<option "were long and luscious.⤳">> <<option "laid on calm shoulders.⤳">> <<option "hugged a level skull.⤳">> <<option "were no more.⤳">> <</cycle>> ?He—" Saoirse coughs, eyes glancing up and over the notebook to look at your face. You stare at her, <<cycle "$ccle4" autoselect>> <<option "confused.⤳">> <<option "blankly.⤳">> <<option "processing.⤳">> <</cycle>> She has an expectant expression, even as she starts again. Saoirse continues, "—?she welded ?their magic with precision and accuracy, unlike how it had been when ?she—" [[You cut her off hesitantly. "It sounds like you're describing me."->shy1]] [[You make a few bemused noises. "Wait, wait, wait. Did you put me into your book?"->confused]] [["That sounds awfully familiar. Why, it's almost like you're describing me," Your lips quirk as you speak.->amused1]] [["Why did you do that? Couldn't you have thought of any other features to use?" You frown slightly at her.->embarass]]

You cut her off hesitantly. "It sounds like you're describing me." Saoirse trails off; drops the notebook into her lap with a nervous little giggle. "What? Don't be silly!" She avoids looking at you—she always has been a terrible liar. "Saoirse," You start, "I'm not mad, so don't lie to me." "Okay, okay. I did base ?her—off of you, so," Saoirse still avoids your gaze. "It's okay, right? No one would know—it's not like anyone other than me will read it! It's a gift!" [["Fine, fine," You relent softly, "It won't hurt anything."->softy]] [["You're such a handful," You huff airily at her, "Alright—I don't mind."->handful]] [[You don't like it—but you can't find a reason to tell her no. "Okay."->upset2]] [["Can't you use my appearance for someone other than the antagonist?" You whine at her.->pls]]

You make a few bemused noises. "Wait, wait, wait. Did you put me into your book?" Saoirse looks like she's going to try to lie about it, but in the end, she says: "Not you exactly—just your body. Anyone could have the same eyes and hair!" She avoids looking at you. "I'm just imagining ?her as you—that's all. It's a gift." You're still staring blankly at her. [["Fine, fine," You relent softly, "It won't hurt anything."->softy]] [["You're such a handful," You huff airily at her, "Alright—I don't mind."->handful]] [[You don't like it—but you can't find a reason to tell her no. "Okay."->upset2]] [["Can't you use my appearance for someone other than the antagonist?" You whine at her.->pls]]

"That sounds awfully familiar. Why, it's almost like you're describing me," Your lips quirk as you speak. Saoirse waves her hand like what you've said is pure nonsense, but the nervous smile that's formed on her face tells you otherwise. "Hmm," You hum and bite back a laugh, "Should I be flattered—do you like my face that much?" Saoirse directs her attention to her notebook as her face flushes. "No one will even know, really—this is just for me. I'm just going to imagine you. It's a gift." [["Fine, fine," You relent softly, "It won't hurt anything."->softy]] [["You're such a handful," You huff airily at her, "Alright—I don't mind."->handful]] [[You don't like it—but you can't find a reason to tell her no. "Okay."->upset2]] [["Can't you use my appearance for someone other than the antagonist?" You whine at her.->pls]]

"Why did you do that? Couldn't you have thought of any other features to use?" You frown slightly at her. Saoirse pouts, the lie she was going to tell already dying in her throat—no doubt at your blunt response to the passage. "I was stumped—and your features just so happens to be right here!" Saoirse smiles. "Come on—I'm the only one who'll even read it! It's just for my own enjoyment, I promise! It's a gift!" Your frown doesn't ease. [["Fine, fine," You relent softly, "It won't hurt anything."->softy]] [["You're such a handful," You huff airily at her, "Alright—I don't mind."->handful]] [[You don't like it—but you can't find a reason to tell her no. "Okay."->upset2]] [["Can't you use my appearance for someone other than the antagonist?" You whine at her.->pls]]

"Fine, fine," You relent softly, "It won't hurt anything." Saoirse makes a little mark on the page, her grin lighting up her face. "It's a compliment! Really!" You give her a fond smile and turn back to your schoolwork. <<button "Next." "customize2">><</button>>

"You're such a handful," You huff airily at her, "Alright—I don't mind." Saoirse makes a little mark on the page, her grin lighting up her face. "It's a compliment! Really!" You give her a fond smile and turn back to your schoolwork. <<button "Next." "customize2">><</button>>

You don't like it—but you can't find a reason to tell her no. "Okay." Saoirse makes a little mark on the page, her grin lighting up her face. "It's a compliment! Really!" You give her a fond, hesitant smile and turn back to your schoolwork. <<button "Next." "customize2">><</button>>

"Can't you use my appearance for someone other than the antagonist?" You whine at her. Saoirse shakes her head at you, and though you pout, she doesn't seem like she plans to change her mind. "You're perfect for the antagonist role!" "Gee, thanks," You say to her fondly and turn back to your schoolwork. <<button "Next." "customize2">><</button>>

<<set $name to "Aurora">>You take your textbook from its place on the desk and flip it to the index. "Have you done anything for your literature class, Saoirse?" Your friend mumbles, "It's boring." That's a no, then. You finally find what you're looking for; you prop the textbook up to the side and begin to type the answer to the first question. [[Contemporary art emerged following which two movements? (Art and Design Major.)]] [[As a caregiver, the nurse addresses which of the following needs of a patient? (Nursing Major.)]] [[What did Solomon Asch's famous line experiment demonstrate? (Psychology Major.)]] [[Which of the following did Shakespeare add to his plays? (Literature Major.)]]

<<set $name to "Mira">>You take your textbook from its place on the desk and flip it to the index. "Have you done anything for your literature class, Saoirse?" Your friend mumbles, "It's boring." That's a no, then. You finally find what you're looking for; you prop the textbook up to the side and begin to type the answer to the first question. [[Contemporary art emerged following which two movements? (Art and Design Major.)]] [[As a caregiver, the nurse addresses which of the following needs of a patient? (Nursing Major.)]] [[What did Solomon Asch's famous line experiment demonstrate? (Psychology Major.)]] [[Which of the following did Shakespeare add to his plays? (Literature Major.)]]

<<set $name to "Larissa">>You take your textbook from its place on the desk and flip it to the index. "Have you done anything for your literature class, Saoirse?" Your friend mumbles, "It's boring." That's a no, then. You finally find what you're looking for; you prop the textbook up to the side and begin to type the answer to the first question. [[Contemporary art emerged following which two movements? (Art and Design Major.)]] [[As a caregiver, the nurse addresses which of the following needs of a patient? (Nursing Major.)]] [[What did Solomon Asch's famous line experiment demonstrate? (Psychology Major.)]] [[Which of the following did Shakespeare add to his plays? (Literature Major.)]]

<<set $name to "Leo">> You take your textbook from its place on the desk and flip it to the index. "Have you done anything for your literature class, Saoirse?" Your friend mumbles, "It's boring." That's a no, then. You finally find what you're looking for; you prop the textbook up to the side and begin to type the answer to the first question. [[Contemporary art emerged following which two movements? (Art and Design Major.)]] [[As a caregiver, the nurse addresses which of the following needs of a patient? (Nursing Major.)]] [[What did Solomon Asch's famous line experiment demonstrate? (Psychology Major.)]] [[Which of the following did Shakespeare add to his plays? (Literature Major.)]]

<<set $name to "Corvus">>You take your textbook from its place on the desk and flip it to the index. "Have you done anything for your literature class, Saoirse?" Your friend mumbles, "It's boring." That's a no, then. You finally find what you're looking for; you prop the textbook up to the side and begin to type the answer to the first question. [[Contemporary art emerged following which two movements? (Art and Design Major.)]] [[As a caregiver, the nurse addresses which of the following needs of a patient? (Nursing Major.)]] [[What did Solomon Asch's famous line experiment demonstrate? (Psychology Major.)]] [[Which of the following did Shakespeare add to his plays? (Literature Major.)]]

<<set $name to "Namid">>You take your textbook from its place on the desk and flip it to the index. "Have you done anything for your literature class, Saoirse?" Your friend mumbles, "It's boring." That's a no, then. You finally find what you're looking for; you prop the textbook up to the side and begin to type the answer to the first question. [[Contemporary art emerged following which two movements? (Art and Design Major.)]] [[As a caregiver, the nurse addresses which of the following needs of a patient? (Nursing Major.)]] [[What did Solomon Asch's famous line experiment demonstrate? (Psychology Major.)]] [[Which of the following did Shakespeare add to his plays? (Literature Major.)]]

<<set $name to "Lynx">>You take your textbook from its place on the desk and flip it to the index. "Have you done anything for your literature class, Saoirse?" Your friend mumbles, "It's boring." That's a no, then. You finally find what you're looking for; you prop the textbook up to the side and begin to type the answer to the first question. [[Contemporary art emerged following which two movements? (Art and Design Major.)]] [[As a caregiver, the nurse addresses which of the following needs of a patient? (Nursing Major.)]] [[What did Solomon Asch's famous line experiment demonstrate? (Psychology Major.)]] [[Which of the following did Shakespeare add to his plays? (Literature Major.)]]

<<set $name to "Marin">> You take your textbook from its place on the desk and flip it to the index. "Have you done anything for your literature class, Saoirse?" Your friend mumbles, "It's boring." That's a no, then. You finally find what you're looking for; you prop the textbook up to the side and begin to type the answer to the first question. [[Contemporary art emerged following which two movements? (Art and Design Major.)]] [[As a caregiver, the nurse addresses which of the following needs of a patient? (Nursing Major.)]] [[What did Solomon Asch's famous line experiment demonstrate? (Psychology Major.)]] [[Which of the following did Shakespeare add to his plays? (Literature Major.)]]

<<set $name to "Asia">>You take your textbook from its place on the desk and flip it to the index. "Have you done anything for your literature class, Saoirse?" Your friend mumbles, "It's boring." That's a no, then. You finally find what you're looking for; you prop the textbook up to the side and begin to type the answer to the first question. [[Contemporary art emerged following which two movements? (Art and Design Major.)]] [[As a caregiver, the nurse addresses which of the following needs of a patient? (Nursing Major.)]] [[What did Solomon Asch's famous line experiment demonstrate? (Psychology Major.)]] [[Which of the following did Shakespeare add to his plays? (Literature Major.)]]

<<set $college to "art">> You type out the answer, with your strained eyes flicking to the bold text on the white page beside you. You only have an hour left before it's due, and time is ticking away at you. It's always ticking away at you. <<button "You Blink Out Of The Memory." "wonderr">><</button>>

<<set $school to "care">> You type out the answer, with your strained eyes flicking to the bold text on the white page beside you. You only have an hour left before it's due, and time is ticking away at you. It's always ticking away at you. <<button "You Blink Out Of The Memory." "wonderr">><</button>>

<<set $college to "psych">> You type out the answer, with your strained eyes flicking to the bold text on the white page beside you. You only have an hour left before it's due, and time is ticking away at you. It's always ticking away at you. <<button "You Blink Out Of The Memory." "wonderr">><</button>>

<<set $college to "lit">> You type out the answer, with your strained eyes flicking to the bold text on the white page beside you. You only have an hour left before it's due, and time is ticking away at you. It's always ticking away at you. <<button "You Blink Out Of The Memory." "wonderr">><</button>>

<<notify>>Autosave complete!<</notify>> <div class="beginheh2">Present.</div> Saoirse bumps the hand you have on the table with her knuckles, jolting you back into the now. "You had a look on your face—were you thinking about college?" She watches you with curiosity, even though she likely already knows. [[You stretch a bit. "I was—it really was a long time ago. And only one of us is successful now." You give her a good-natured look, and she glances away with a small smile.->goody]] [[You hum, "I couldn't help it after you brought it up. How did you manage to be successful when you never did any work?" You didn't mean to include it, but there's a note of bitterness in your words.->bitter]] [["I was!" You smile, scratching your cheek as you glance away. "I've been thinking about college a lot lately."->sign]] [[You nod but don't give her a verbal answer. The past was the past, and you didn't want to dwell on it any longer.->quiett]]

You stretch a bit. "I was—it really was a long time ago. And only one of us is successful now." You give her a good-natured look, and she glances away with a small smile. Saoirse shakes her head at you. "That was pure luck," She insists, "You'll get your shot soon!" The way she says the words sounds entirely convincing. <<cycle "$choicerand3" autoselect>> <<option "But you know they aren't true—you'd been patient, and it didn't pay off.⤳">> <<option "And you want to believe it—maybe things can turn around for you?⤳">> <<option "But you're just so tired—only a shell of what you were. Life had sucked everything from you.⤳">> <</cycle>> "I'm rooting for you," Saoirse says, raising her fists in an encouraging manner, and you <<cycle "$choicerand4" autoselect>> <<option "can't help but smile.⤳">> <<option "can't help but mirror her.⤳">> <<option "can't help but sigh.⤳">> <</cycle>> The wood of the cafe table is chilly under your palms, and the surface vibrates when your second alarm sounds from your phone. It's an exhausting feeling—one so deep in your being it makes you wonder if you'll ever feel differently. Saoirse's smile saddens—turns bittersweet. She reaches over the table to place her fingers on your own—the ones that remain on the table as you switch your phone off. "You're always working," Saoirse points out, "You've forgotten how to live—what it means to be alive." She rubs your hand. "You need to be reminded." You <<cycle "$choicerand5" autoselect>> <<option "smile⤳">> <<option "squeeze her hand⤳">> <<option "frown⤳">> <</cycle>> when you pull away from her. <<button "Next." "bookie">><</button>>

You hum, "I couldn't help it after you brought it up. How did you manage to be successful when you never did any work?" You didn't mean to include it, but there's a note of bitterness in your words. Saoirse either doesn't notice or chooses to ignore it. She shakes her head at you. "That was pure luck," She insists, "You'll get your shot soon!" The way she says the words sounds entirely convincing. <<cycle "$choicerand3" autoselect>> <<option "But you know they aren't true—you'd been patient, and it didn't pay off.⤳">> <<option "And you want to believe it—maybe things can turn around for you?⤳">> <<option "But you're just so tired—only a shell of what you were. Life had sucked everything from you.⤳">> <</cycle>> "I'm rooting for you," Saoirse says, raising her fists in an encouraging manner, and you <<cycle "$choicerand4" autoselect>> <<option "can't help but smile.⤳">> <<option "can't help but mirror her.⤳">> <<option "can't help but sigh.⤳">> <</cycle>> The wood of the cafe table is chilly under your palms, and the surface vibrates when your second alarm sounds from your phone. It's an exhausting feeling—one so deep in your being it makes you wonder if you'll ever feel differently. Saoirse's smile saddens—turns bittersweet. She reaches over the table to place her fingers on your own—the ones that remain on the table as you switch your phone off. "You're always working," Saoirse points out, "You've forgotten how to live—what it means to be alive." She rubs your hand. "You need to be reminded." You <<cycle "$choicerand5" autoselect>> <<option "smile⤳">> <<option "squeeze her hand⤳">> <<option "frown⤳">> <</cycle>> when you pull away from her. <<button "Next." "bookie">><</button>>

"I was!" You smile, scratching your cheek as you glance away. "I've been thinking about college a lot lately." Saoirse shakes her head in agreement. "That's a sign," She insists, "You'll get your shot soon!" The way she says the words sounds entirely convincing. <<cycle "$choicerand3" autoselect>> <<option "But you know they aren't true—you'd been patient, and it didn't pay off.⤳">> <<option "And you want to believe it—maybe things can turn around for you?⤳">> <<option "But you're just so tired—only a shell of what you were. Life had sucked everything from you.⤳">> <</cycle>> "I'm rooting for you," Saoirse says, raising her fists in an encouraging manner, and you <<cycle "$choicerand4" autoselect>> <<option "can't help but smile.⤳">> <<option "can't help but mirror her.⤳">> <<option "can't help but sigh.⤳">> <</cycle>> The wood of the cafe table is chilly under your palms, and the surface vibrates when your second alarm sounds from your phone. It's an exhausting feeling—one so deep in your being it makes you wonder if you'll ever feel differently. Saoirse's smile saddens—turns bittersweet. She reaches over the table to place her fingers on your own—the ones that remain on the table as you switch your phone off. "You're always working," Saoirse points out, "You've forgotten how to live—what it means to be alive." She rubs your hand. "You need to be reminded." You <<cycle "$choicerand5" autoselect>> <<option "smile⤳">> <<option "squeeze her hand⤳">> <<option "frown⤳">> <</cycle>> when you pull away from her. <<button "Next." "bookie">><</button>>

You nod but don't give her a verbal answer. The past was the past, and you didn't want to dwell on it any longer. Saoirse seems to take your silence as sadness. "Don't worry," She insists, "You'll get your shot soon!" The way she says the words sounds entirely convincing. <<cycle "$choicerand3" autoselect>> <<option "But you know they aren't true—you'd been patient, and it didn't pay off.⤳">> <<option "And you want to believe it—maybe things can turn around for you?⤳">> <<option "But you're just so tired—only a shell of what you were. Life had sucked everything from you.⤳">> <</cycle>> "I'm rooting for you," Saoirse says, raising her fists in an encouraging manner, and you <<cycle "$choicerand4" autoselect>> <<option "can't help but smile.⤳">> <<option "can't help but mirror her.⤳">> <<option "can't help but sigh.⤳">> <</cycle>> The wood of the cafe table is chilly under your palms, and the surface vibrates when your second alarm sounds from your phone. It's an exhausting feeling—one so deep in your being it makes you wonder if you'll ever feel differently. Saoirse's smile saddens—turns bittersweet. She reaches over the table to place her fingers on your own—the ones that remain on the table as you switch your phone off. "You're always working," Saoirse points out, "You've forgotten how to live—what it means to be alive." She rubs your hand. "You need to be reminded." You <<cycle "$choicerand5" autoselect>> <<option "smile⤳">> <<option "squeeze her hand⤳">> <<option "frown⤳">> <</cycle>> when you pull away from her. <<button "Next." "bookie">><</button>>

You grasp your bag's strap in your fingers and sit it on the table. The outside is still storming—the rain has doubled in its force. <<cycle "$choicerand5" autoselect>> <<option "It's not a welcoming sight.⤳">> <<option "You've always liked the rain.⤳">> <<option "It doesn't bother you—but it doesn't spark joy in you either.⤳">> <</cycle>> Saoirse silently sits as you stand, but before you can shrug your bag over your shoulders, she pulls something from her brown satchel. She holds it close to her chest until you direct your attention to it. The object she has is a decked-out copy of //Swallow The Moon.// The collector's edition. The cover dons dozens of shining stars, all of which settle around the title. Your fingers twitch, and your chest aches—the sight of the novel sparks something inside of you—but what— Saoirse speaks and jolts you from the strange daze, "I know you're busy." She chews at her bottom lip and holds the book over to you. "But I may need your help—with writing. And you'll need to know the basics of the universe. What do you say?" [["I'll read it," You tell her with a soft smile.->sweetie2]] [["Fine, fine—!" You clench the book's cover aggressively in your fingers. "I'll read the damn thing."->gruffy1]] [["You're lucky you're cute, or I would've ditched you years ago." You take the book.]] [[You take the book without a fuss.->nofuss]]

You take the book without a fuss and store it inside your bag—amongst the rest of your things. One of them is an umbrella, which you grab and tuck under your arm. Saoirse gets to her feet with a pleased smile, but it falls in the face of your silence. She flicks a strand of hair from her forehead and speaks, "Be careful out there." She grabs onto your shoulders. "It's storming hard—don't get swept away," She allows a small smile to creep through as she speaks, but there's worry still in her eyes. You brush her away with a deep inhale of air. "Don't worry," Is all you say. Saoirse looks satisfied with your response, and if she isn't, she doesn't tell you otherwise. Instead, she slaps your arm fondly and grabs her satchel's strap. "I'll pay," She assures you, "Wait at the door?" <<button "Next." "thedoor">><</button>>

You peer through the glass door into the vast streets known as New York. You've known them and walked them for years, but they always feel unfamiliar—like a stranger. It's never felt like home. Staring out at the rain, you feel a sense of deja vu. How long has your life been such a tiresome routine? Since college? Before that? The heavy burden of debt weighs your shoulders down. Even as a child. [[Even as a child, you weren't free from it.->badparents]] [[The orphanage you resided at was never very well off either. (Orphan.)->sadkiddie]] <<set $mcfinished to "set">>

<<set $orphan to "no">>Your parents had given you a generous taste of poverty at a young age. So, when you finally hit the ripe age of eighteen and moved out, you were left mostly on your own in terms of funds. And in the end, you did go to college under the idea that you'd pay off the loans with the job you obtained. But, as of late, the only job you had was full-time at a diner. And, occasionally, an odd job when there was time. <<button "Loan Sharks Are Not Very Patient." "sharkies">><</button>>

<<set $orphan to "yes">>You, of course, never had to want for a meal or a place to sleep. But you had to work for it all, which left callouses you'd never be able to scrub off. So when you hit eighteen, no longer a child, you were left: mostly on your own in terms of funds. And in the end, you did go to college under the idea that you'd pay off the loans with the job you obtained. But, as of late, the only job you had was full-time at a diner. And, occasionally, an odd job when there was time. <<button "Loan Sharks Are Not Very Patient." "sharkies">><</button>>

They promised you a great deal—they gave you a great deal. They reached out when you felt you had nowhere to go, and, foolishly, you believed. And now, each month, they come to collect. <<if $orphan is "yes">> Saoirse didn't know about it. You had nearly told her on several occasions. <<cycle "$choicerand6" autoselect>> <<option "But you could never bring yourself. What would she think? What would she say?⤳">> <<option "But you knew she'd try to help, and it was your mess. You'd take care of it on your own.⤳">> <<option "And you still planned to.⤳">> <</cycle>> <<else>> Neither Saoirse nor your parents knew about it. You'd nearly told them on several occasions. <<cycle "$choicerand6" autoselect>> <<option "But you could never bring yourself. What would they think? What would they say?⤳">> <<option "But you knew they'd try to help, and it was your mess. You'd take care of it on your own.⤳">> <<option "And you still planned to.⤳">> <</cycle>> <</if>> You watch a waterdrop glide down the glass window like a tear, and <<cycle "$choicerand7" autoselect>> <<option "it almost makes you want to cry yourself.⤳">> <<option "your hand reaches out as if to wipe it away.⤳">> <<option "you turn away from it, averting your gaze elsewhere.⤳">> <</cycle>> <<button "Next." "letsgo">><</button>>

A hand slips into the crook of your elbow, and you turn to see Saoirse's bright eyes at your side. She winks at you, holding her credit card up like a throwing star between her index and middle finger. "I took care of it," She says as she tucks the laminated object away in her clutch, "Let's get going." You <<cycle "$choicerand8" autoselect>> <<option "happily⤳">> <<option "begrudgingly⤳">> <<option "calmly⤳">> <</cycle>> let her drag you out the door and onto the sidewalk outside. <<button "Next." "newyorkstreets">><</button>>

You open your umbrella, and Saoirse finds refuge under the transparent material, snug at your side. Her coat is bright and yellow; also rainproof. So, there's no real reason for you to walk her to the subway. But, she insisted. Saoirse tilts her head back to watch the rain splatter against the outer canopy, a content expression on her face. "I hope the rain clears up soon." She extends an arm to feel the water against her fingertips. "The book signing is outside today." <<if $college is "lit">> <<cycle "$litlit" autoselect>> <<option "Your jaw clenches a bit. You knew her book was sucessful, so why did she need to rub it in?⤳">> <<option "You feel your heart ache, but you're still happy for her.⤳">> <<option "You remain unaffected. Her book's success wasn't to spite you.⤳">> <</cycle>> <<else>> <<cycle "$choicerand6" autoselect>> <<option "You know writing must be difficult. You're proud of her.⤳">> <<option "You hope her success rubs off on you.⤳">> <<option "You remain unaffected by her comment.⤳">> <</cycle>> <</if>> "Let's hope it doesn't last for long," Saoirse says. <<button "Next." "subway">><</button>>

You reach the subway and pause just before the entrance as Saoirse stays clung to you, even though you've arrived at her destination. People swarm around you, and the threat of being late to your job hangs over your head. "Promise to meet with me soon?" Saoirse holds at her pinky finger, a hopeful look on her face. "Promise me." [["I promise," You oblige, linking your pinkies together. "We'll meet again soon." You give her a sweet smile.->pie]] [["Just because we do this—" You take Saoirse's pinky, amused— "Doesn't guarantee that you'll get what you want."->hon]] [[You swat Saoirse's hand with annoyance. "Quit that—we're not kids anymore. We'll see each other when we see each other."->meanieee]] [[You don't promise Saoirse, but you tell her: "I'll try to make time."->timee]]

"I promise," You oblige, linking your pinkies together. "We'll meet again soon." You give her a sweet smile. Saoirse's eyes sparkle in response to your words. "Good luck today," She says, "There's something fantastic about to happen—I know it." "Do you?" You tilt your head at her as she steps back, yanking her coat's hood over her hair. "I do, and it'll happen to you—I know it," Saoirse's voice is singsong as she begins to descend into the subway. "So, keep your chin up!" And then, she's gone. <<button "Next." "streets">><</button>>

"Just because we do this—" You take Saoirse's pinky, amused— "Doesn't guarantee that you'll get what you want." "I say that it does." Saoirse's eyes sparkle in response to your words. "And, good luck today," She says, "There's something fantastic about to happen—I know it." "Do you?" You lift your eyebrows at her as she steps back, yanking her coat's hood over her hair. "I do, and it'll happen to you—I know it," Saoirse's voice is singsong as she begins to descend into the subway. "So, keep your chin up!" And then, she's gone. <<button "Next." "streets">><</button>>

You swat Saoirse's hand with annoyance. "Quit that—we're not kids anymore. We'll see each other when we see each other." Saoirse pouts at your harsh words but otherwise seems undaunted. "Anyways, good luck today," She says, "There's something fantastic about to happen—I know it." "Do you?" You cross your arms at her as she steps back, yanking her coat's hood over her hair. "I do, and it'll happen to you—I know it," Saoirse's voice is singsong as she begins to descend into the subway. "So, keep your chin up!" And then, she's gone. <<button "Next." "streets">><</button>>

You don't promise Saoirse, but you tell her: "I'll try to make time." Saoirse seems to take your words as a promise anyway. "Anyways, good luck today," She says, "There's something fantastic about to happen—I know it." "Do you?" You ask her as she steps back, yanking her coat's hood over her hair. "I do, and it'll happen to you—I know it," Saoirse's voice is singsong as she begins to descend into the subway. "So, keep your chin up!" And then, she's gone. <<button "Next." "streets">><</button>>

You walk the streets alone. The sky remains just as gray and stormy as it has all morning, and you cut through the sea of people on the slick sidewalk. Nearly all the businesses are open for the morning rush, and figures go to and fro from the cafes and the eateries, coffee and brown paper bags in hand. Everyone seems on a tight schedule—like every moment of their lives have become so predictable that they don't even deem to react anymore. Faces pass you in blurs, but the expressions you do catch are prosaic and weary. <<nobr>><<cycle "$choiceran8" autoselect>> <<option "New York really does bring the best of people out, you muse sardonically.⤳">><<option "You pity those who live only for their jobs, even though you seem to fit into the same category.⤳">><<option "You wonder if you look the same way.⤳">><</cycle>><</nobr>> <<button "Next." "toms">><</button>>

Tom's Diner sits lackluster on the corner, a spectacle for all those accustomed to fine dining. It receives magnitude customers on good days and nowhere near enough on bad days. The words //Tom's Diner// are faded and eroded by rain, sleet, and snow. They once were a brilliant blue—you've heard—but now they're dirty white. And, when one grew close enough, a bird nest was visible inside the big //O// of Tom's name—which had been removed several times but always returned. You elbow the door open once you reach it, shutting your umbrella before stepping through the threshold. <<button "Next." "insidetom">><</button>>

Inside, it seems that it's going to be a slow day. The bell above greets you as you step onto the black and white checkered floor; you witness the lack of patrons. A total amount of four people are inside—excluding yourself. Micky, your coworker—one of the four people present—waves from where they stand once they spot you. There's nothing on the grill behind them, and everyone seems to have received their respective orders. You approach, standing your umbrella behind the counter along with your bag. Micky is a brown-haired person who's worked at the cafe longer than you have: but somehow still seems inexperienced. They leaned against the sticky-looking counter with both elbows, eyes hidden behind a pair of lurid shades. "It's about time you showed up." Micky grins wide at you. "It was getting terribly boring." [["Was it?" You laugh as you shrug your coat off. "I'm so sorry."->awe]] [["Oh, please," You scoff at Micky as you rid yourself of your coat, "You just need someone to do the work you don't want to do."->pls2]] [["Oh no!" You smile at them. "We can't have that."->ohno]] [[You give Micky a blank look as you take off your coat, silent.->blan]]

"Was it?" You laugh as you shrug your coat off. "I'm so sorry." "No, no—don't apologize!" Micky says, "You're here now! Ready to work your ass off for the next few hours?" You smile at Micky and lay your coat over the back of a chair, striding to join them behind the counter. "Do I have any choice in the matter?" Micky sucks air through their teeth, "I suppose you don't." Their voice is overly cheerful. <<button "Time Passes." "time">><</button>>

"Oh no!" You smile at them. "We can't have that." "We most certainly cannot," Micky replies, nodding at you with their eyes closed. You gently discard your jacket onto a nearby chair, then slide behind the counter beside Micky. "Well?" They ask you, "Are you ready?" "Ready for what?" You raise your eyebrows at them. "Ready to work your ass off for a measly paycheck?" Micky nudges you, and you bite back a sigh. "I guess I am," You say. <<button "Time Passes." "time">><</button>>

"Oh, please," You scoff at Micky as you rid yourself of your coat, "You just need someone to do the work you don't want to do." Micky presses a hand to their chest as if you've physically wounded them with your words. "You're so cruel to me, $name." You throw your coat onto a chair and join Micky behind the counter, an annoyed expression on your face. "Am I?" "And to think I was looking forward to our shift together," Micky tsks through the words. "Don't I make the hours fly faster?" "Not really," You reply, and Micky laughs. <<button "Time Passes." "time">><</button>>

You give Micky a blank look as you take off your coat, silent. Micky pouts as you lay the clothing item on the back of a nearby chair. "You can't just leave me in silence," They raise their hands exasperatedly. "I'm on the edge of my seat for your every word." "Mm," You reply, stepping behind the counter beside Micky, who changes the topic immediately. "Are you ready to work your ass off?" Micky grins. "Hm?" You sigh. <<button "Time Passes." "time">><</button>>

<div class="beginheh2">Hours Later.</div> You've lost track of the hours you stand behind the counter—you also lose track of the number of customers that come and go from the establishment. It's rained the entire day—not a single moment has it cleared—and you've had a clear view from the several large windows the building sports. Your shift goes by in a daze—it feels exactly like any other shift you've ever worked; the occasional difficult patron and the frequent glances at the clock on the wall. But when the time finally comes to go, your manager pulls you aside. <<button "Next." "manny">><</button>>

Your manager—his name is Tom—is an older man in his late forties. His pale blonde hair is balding, and his stomach protrudes far enough forward that his feet can't be visible when he looks down. He always wears a smile—<<cycle "$choicerand9" autoselect>> <<option "but you suspect he isn't very friendly at all.⤳">> <<option "and you've always tried to treat him similarly.⤳">> <<option "but you have a bad feeling about the man.⤳">> <</cycle>> Tom is watching the people pass outside when he speaks to you: "You've been working well lately." He scratches his cheek, avoiding looking you in the eye. [["Lately?" Your lip curls. "What's that supposed to mean?"->curll]] [["Thank you," You tell him, gaze to the side. Just lately?->late]] [["Is that what you wanted to tell me?" You ask, your mouth set in a thin line.->sternn]]

"Ah!" Tom raises his eyebrows, a smile on his face. "Did I say lately? I mean, you're always working well." He finally looks over at you, but he keeps his vision on a space beside your head. "Right," You huff at him. "What is it that you want? You never go out of your way to talk to me." Tom twists his fingers together. "That's not true! You remember wrong," He insists, but you aren't. "You're so feisty, ha—uh—" You see him look over at Micky, who's occupied with setting the final few chairs onto the tables. "I know you took money from the cash register," Tom finally tells you, and the air around you immediately grows cold. You stand there befuddled, and your mind flashes blankly. "What?" "Come clean," he continues hastily, "and pay back the money, and I won't tell the big guy." [[Quit and walk away—you aren't going to let him manipulate you.]] [[Quit and slap him—who does he think he is?]]

"No problem, no problem!" Tom swats at the air, laughing a bit. "You're so amicable, $name." He finally looks over at you,n but keeps his vision at a spot just beside your head. "Uh—thank you—again." You nod at him. "Is that what you wanted to ask me?" "No, no." You watch him look over at Micky, who's occupied with setting the final few chairs onto the tables. "I know you took money from the cash register," Tom finally tells you, and the air around you immediately grows cold. You stand there befuddled, and your mind flashes blankly. "What?" "Come clean," he continues hastily, "and pay back the money, and I won't tell the big guy." [[Quit and walk away—you aren't going to let him manipulate you.]] [[Quit and slap him—who does he think he is?]]

"Is that what you wanted to tell me?" You ask, your mouth set in a thin line. "No! No!" Tom holds his hands up as if in defeat. "Right to the point, aren't you, $name?" He laughs, but it sounds a bit nervous. While you wait for him to speak, you see him look over at Micky, who's occupied with setting the final few chairs onto the tables. "I know you took money from the cash register," Tom finally tells you, and the air around you immediately grows cold. You stand there befuddled, and your mind flashes blankly. "What?" "Come clean," he continues hastily, "and pay back the money, and I won't tell the big guy." [[Quit and walk away—you aren't going to let him manipulate you.]] [[Quit and slap him—who does he think he is?]]

You take shelter at a bus stop and sort through your bag, only to discover you'd left your umbrella at the diner. You deflate, sitting with a heavy sigh and a heavy weight on your shoulders. Why was everything going so wrong? <<cycle "$choicerand10" autoselect>> <<option "Why did everything always go wrong?⤳">> <<option "You couldn't look at the bright side this time.⤳">> <<option "You were so fucking lucky, weren't you?⤳">> <</cycle>> The speaker at the bus stop above your head pauses its mournful music to announce an oncoming bus, and it screeches to a halt in front of you. The last bus of the night. You climb on. The driver is an older gentleman who greets you with a warm smile. You pay the small fee, and you sit close to the front. <<button "Next." "talkie">><</button>>

Quit and walk away—you aren't going to let him manipulate you. You take your nametag from your vest and calmly sit it in his hand. "I won't be clocking in again." Tom huffs, trying to force the nametag back into your hands. "Don't be like that. Just pay it back, and the trouble ends there!" You let the tag fall with a clatter to the tiles below and exit the establishment. <<button "Tom doesn't follow you out, but Micky does." "darns">><</button>>

Quit and slap him—who does he think he is?]] You snatch your nametag from your vest and shove it into his hands. "Eat shit, Tom—I'm not doing this." A vein bulges in Tom's forehead, and he tries to force the nametag back to you. "Don't be like that! Pay the money—dammit—and there's no trouble!" The air stings your palm as you slap the man, and he's stunned into silence. You walk out before you do something worse. <<button "Tom doesn't follow you out, but Micky does." "darns">><</button>>

Micky holds your bag out to you with a nonchalant gesture. "So, you're quitting. Should I quit too?" They don't look entirely serious, though they never really do. [["Only if you're the one that took the money," you tell them.]] [["Let's boycott the place," you suggest playfully, but the mirth doesn't leak into your voice well.]] [["Do you want to?" You frown at them.]]

"Only if you're the one that took the money," you tell them. "Me?" Micky waves their hand. "Why would I do that? As if I would." "Mmh," you sigh and take your bag from them. "You won't be seeing me for a while." "I'm not so sure," they say. <<button "The door shuts, and Micky disappears back inside." "meanday">><</button>>

"Let's boycott the place," you suggest playfully, but the mirth doesn't leak into your voice well. Micky grins. "I'm all for it, of course. I'll quit right away. They couldn't possibly do without me." You laugh, but it's half-hearted, and you can't bring yourself to add more energy to it. "You won't be seeing me for a while." "I'm not so sure," they say. <<button "The door shuts, and Micky disappears back inside." "meanday">><</button>>

"Do you want to?" You frown at them. Micky shrugs a bit. "I've never been one to //want/ to work. It's a hassle, but it puts food on the table. Now that you're going," they pause to bump your shoulder, "I don't see a reason to stay //here.//" You smile softly, but it borders on weak. "You won't be seeing me for a while." "I'm not so sure," they say. <<button "The door shuts, and Micky disappears back inside." "meanday">><</button>>

The bus seats are empty. You shrug your bag into the space beside you and recline as far back as the seat will allow. Your back aches. Your head pounds. You shut your eyes tight. "Where are you going?" The bus driver asks you, startling you from your half-hearted rest. You hadn't expected him to speak to you. [[ "I'm going home," you reply with as much cheer as you can muster.->wooo]] [["The next stop," you tell the man bluntly, "Where the bus stops next."->eee]] [["I'm not so sure," you sigh, "It feels like everywhere I go is a dead-end."->soo]]

"I'm going home," you reply with as much cheer as you can muster. The man chuckles. "Are you now?" You see the back of his head bob as he nods to the air. "And how far is that?" You begin to understand that his question isn't as simple as you'd thought. "It's not too far," you answer him, "I hope we get there soon." "We will." The two of you fall into a silence interrupted only by the rumble of the bus. <<button "Next." "timeto">><</button>>

"The next stop," you tell the man bluntly, "Where the bus stops next." The man chuckles. "Oh?" He adjusts his hands on the wheel. "That's not too far from here. You'll be in the rain again soon. I hope you brought an umbrella." "I didn't." "A shame," he laments. <<button "Next." "timeto">><</button>>

"I'm not so sure," you sigh, "It feels like everywhere I go is a dead-end." The man hums. "That's not the case. Everywhere you go isn't the right path for you." He smiles, and you see his reflection in the glass before him. "You'll know it when you stumble onto it." "Will I?" You tilt your head. "Everyone does." <<button "Next." "timeto">><</button>>

The steady hum of the bus and the occasional bump in the road keep you from sleeping, and your phone refuses to flicker on no matter how many times you press the power button. You have nothing to do until you notice that your bag is only half-closed. You shift to close it, and light makes the cover of //Swallow The Moon// shimmer—like it's calling you, beckoning you. Your fingers brush against it. And then you pull it out. You brush past the dedications page that bears your name. It'd been a while since you picked it up, and your memory of the details is minor. So you start from the beginning. You start from the beginning. <<button "And you don't recall drifting to sleep, but you must have." "dreamy">><</button>>

!!Set Genders. !!!N: <<radiobutton "$ngender" "female" autocheck>> Neera. <<radiobutton "$ngender" "male" autocheck>> Nero. !!!D: <<radiobutton "$dgender" "female" autocheck>> Diem. <<radiobutton "$dgender" "male" autocheck>> Dien. <<button "Next." "check">><</button>>

N's gender is $ngender? D's gender is $dgender? [[Yes.->Chapter I]] [[No.->Set their genders now]] <<set $gendersset to "set">> <<if $dgender is "female">>\ <li> <<set $dhe to "she">> </li> <<set $dhim to "her">> <<set $dhis to "hers">> <<set $dher to "her">> <<set $dhimself to "herself">> <<set $dHe to "She">> <<set $dHim to "Her">> <<set $dHis to "Hers">> <<set $dHer to "Her">> <<set $dHimself to "Herself">> <</if>> <<if $dgender is "male">>\ <li> <<set $dhe to "he">> </li> <<set $dhim to "him">> <<set $dhis to "his">> <<set $dher to "his">> <<set $dhimself to "himself">> <<set $dHe to "He">> <<set $dHim to "Him">> <<set $dHis to "His">> <<set $dHer to "His">> <<set $dHimself to "Himself">> <</if>> <<if $ngender is "male">>\ <li> <<set $nhe to "he">> </li> <<set $nhim to "him">> <<set $nhis to "his">> <<set $nher to "his">> <<set $nhimself to "himself">> <<set $nHe to "He">> <<set $nHim to "Him">> <<set $nHis to "His">> <<set $nHer to "His">> <<set $nHimself to "Himself">> <</if>> <<if $ngender is "female">>\ <li> <<set $nhe to "she">> </li> <<set $nhim to "her">> <<set $nhis to "hers">> <<set $nher to "her">> <<set $nhimself to "herself">> <<set $nHe to "She">> <<set $nHim to "Her">> <<set $nHis to "Hers">> <<set $nHer to "Her">> <<set $nHimself to "Herself">> <</if>>

The dream you have is strange. The sound of drums echoes through the streets. Fire blazes violently across buildings, lighting the night and destroying homes. Screams tear from the people's throats, and mothers run with bundles in their arms. Men clad in golden armor, wearing the sun carved on their breastplates, wield swords and carry strange vials at their hips. They chase after scattering children, begging parents, and are led by an older man whose face dons an elaborate helmet. And you stand amongst it all, a mere spectator. <<button "Next." "ooo2vhapyer">><</button>> <<if $mchaircolor is "raven⤳">> <<set $mchaircolor to "black">> <</if>> <<if $mchaircolor is "sandalwood⤳">> <<set $mchaircolor to "brown">> <</if>> <<if $mchaircolor is "blood red⤳">> <<set $mchaircolor to "red">> <</if>> <<if $mchaircolor is "golden⤳">> <<set $mchaircolor to "blonde">> <</if>> <<if $mchaircolor is "snow white⤳">> <<set $mchaircolor to "white">> <</if>> <<if $mchaircolor is "ash brown⤳">> <<set $mchaircolor to "ash brown">> <</if>> <<if $mceyecolor is "chilly blue eyes.⤳">> <<set $mceyecolor to "blue">> <</if>> <<if $mceyecolor is "mysterious green eyes.⤳">> <<set $mceyecolor to "green">> <</if>> <<if $mceyecolor is "fathomless brown eyes.⤳">> <<set $mceyecolor to "brown">> <</if>> <<if $mceyecolor is "hard grey eyes.⤳">> <<set $mceyecolor to "grey">> <</if>> <<if $mceyecolor is "cruel hazel eyes.⤳">> <<set $mceyecolor to "hazel">> <</if>> <<if $mchairtype is "waves⤳">> <<set $mchairtype to "wavy">> <</if>> <<if $mchairtype is "curls⤳">> <<set $mchairtype to "curly">> <</if>> <<if $mchairtype is "straight strands⤳">> <<set $mchairtype to "straight">> <</if>> <<if $mchairlength is "were long and luscious.⤳">> <<set $mchairlength to "long">> <</if>> <<if $mchairlength is "laid on calm shoulders.⤳">> <<set $mchairlength to "medium-length">> <</if>> <<if $mchairlength is "hugged a level skull.⤳">> <<set $mchairlength to "short">> <</if>> <<if $mchairlength is "were no more.⤳">> <<set $mchairlength to "bald">> <</if>>

You're only able to turn your head. You feel like a ghost witnessing a memory, not your own. But there is, without a doubt, something familiar about it all. [[Focus on a screaming child with pity.]] [[Watch a man uncap a bottle of something with curiosity.]] [[You can do nothing but blankly watch things unfold.]]

?They <<verb 'struggles'>> against a soldier's grip, ?their ratty hair falling greasy over ?their eyes. You wish you could intervene, despite it only being a dream. But your feet stay glued to the ground, and you can do nothing but partially move your head at each crash and shout. "Lemme go!" The child screams in protest, and though you're hardly there, the air becomes hot on your skin. There had to be a reason for the change, and it couldn't have been the child and ?their suddenly blazing hands. ?He <<verb 'flails'>> dangerously and, miraculously, the man <<verb 'keeps'>> hold of ?them as if completely unaffected by the strange abilities ?he seemed to possess. The symbol—sigil—on the soldier's chest glows a blinding white, and the child's evident inexperience with wielding ?their power keeps ?them from escaping with it. The soldier clasps a strange-looking band around the child's wrist and yanks ?him into a nearby cart with a crowd of children that look about the same age. <<button "Next." "seekid2">><</button>>

A soldier takes a vial from his belt and struggles to pull the cork from the top. In a fit of anger, he throws the bottle instead, and it lands a few feet ahead and smashes into a cloud of purple smoke. Some are unable to avoid running right through the substance and drop to the ground with coughing fits. The incapacitated children are pulled from the ground and tugged from their parent's arms, then tossed into carts chained to the back of large horses with strange markings on them—unlike any horses you'd ever seen. <<button "Next." "seekid">><</button>>

Your eyes dart back and forth from scene to scene, family to family, the carts of children. It's pure chaos—there's no doubt. One man stands in front of a group of children that don't seem to belong to him. He's sweating profusely and holding his hands in front of him to stop the advance of two soldiers. "Stay away!" The man screeches with his eyes shut, "You can't take 'em!" He plants his feet on the ground, but he's no wall compared to the soldiers that pause before him. He's swiped away with an arm, and he lands on the ashy, cobbled ground with a burst of dust. But he jumps right back up, running at the duo with vigor. And he's met with a sword in the chest—he splits open as the blade glows white with light. Your eyes widen at the graphic scene, at the splatter of blood across the soldier's face—at the look of horror in his partner's expression—the screams and cries of the children. And everything feels so much more real. <<button "Next." "seekid">><</button>>

<<notify>>Autosave complete!<</notify>>The sounds become overwhelming. You think you can smell the sulfur in the air—you //can// smell it. The carts begin to move, hauling along sobbing girls and boys and kids. You watch small hands reach through wooden bars and notice the strange bands on their wrists. They call for their parents, their siblings, for //something.// But some of them call for nothing. You meet eyes with one of them—the same child you'd witnessed fighting against the soldier just moments before. You meet eyes with them and notice through the fire and hurt and screaming that they look eerily like the ones you've seen in the mirror—$mceyecolor—but these are shiny with tears, shiny with tears and hatred. <<button "Chapter II." "ChapterII">><</button>>

The sounds become overwhelming. You think you can smell the sulfur in the air—you //can// smell it. The carts begin to move, hauling along sobbing girls and boys and kids. You watch small hands reach through wooden bars and notice the strange bands on their wrists. They call for their parents, their siblings, for //something.// But some of them call for nothing. You meet eyes with one of them—one strangely familar. You meet eyes with them and notice through the fire and hurt and screaming that they look eerily like the ones you've seen in the mirror—$mceyecolor—but these are shiny with tears, shiny with tears and hatred. <<button "Chapter II." "ChapterII">><</button>>

This is all that's currently available for the demo! This is its rough form, so there are bound to be some mistakes in there. But I will come around to them! I'll add more text in new updates as well! Thank you so, so much for reading the demo. I promise new content is coming soon. Please feel free to see my development blog on tumblr and find out more about the ROs and the story!

You take your textbook from its place on the desk and flip it to the index. "Have you done anything for your literature class, Saoirse?" Your friend mumbles, "It's boring." That's a no, then. "$name!" You finally find what you're looking for; you prop the textbook up to the side and begin to type the answer to the first question. [[Contemporary art emerged following which two movements? (Art and Design Major.)]] [[As a caregiver, the nurse addresses which of the following needs of a patient? (Nursing Major.)]] [[What did Solomon Asch's famous line experiment demonstrate? (Psychology Major.)]] [[Which of the following did Shakespeare add to his plays? (Literature Major.)]]

<<set $mcfinished to "set">> <<fadein 5s>><div class="beginheh">Chapter II.</div><</fadein>><<fadein 7s>><div class="beginheh2">There are no second chances in life, except to feel remorse.</div><</fadein>><<notify>>Stats Unlocked!<</notify>> <div class="book">"As Celestia stood there amongst the hustle and bustle of her soon-to-be peers, a fire lit in her chest—and it overtook her entire body. She wouldn't waste this chance. All those years in the Temple, serving The Goddess—she was only a shell of what she could be. A whisper at the beginning of a song she'd yet to sing. And as the sun glittered through the window onto the marble floor at her feet, she knew that her life began then." — Swallow The Moon, Chapter One. </div> <<button "Next." "wakeup">><</button>>

You lay still on satin sheets for what feels like a lifetime, unable to move your limbs. You weren't sure how long you'd been awake—or even if you were still asleep. Something told you that you were. You were staring at a replica of the night sky, stitched into the canopy hanging overhead. Your eyes weren't seeing it clearly for a long time. When you could finally move, you stretched out your legs far, marveling at the sheer size of the mattress underneath you. Your bones ached as you sat up, but not in the way you were used to—there was no weight settled there—no weight that held you down. Your eyes blinked freely, without the pain that usually sparked within them. The beauty of a dream, it seemed. And it wasn't the first time you'd dreamt of waking up in a foreign place. Whether it was your brain's way of escaping from reality, you didn't know. Most of the time, the dreams were pleasant. Your feet hit the glossy, wooden floor, and the feeling of it was so real it had to be a lucid dream. It was a far cry from what you'd be dreaming at first—with the child. There are several long, oblong windows across from you, hidden by embroidered, dark curtains. Like the canopy, stars pepper the material in gold, shiny patterns. There's a small sitting area with a small sofa beside what looks like a faux fireplace. There's no fire going, and no wood sits ready to be set aflame. Either an imperfection—which dreams typically have—or it was purely for decoration. Parallel to the bed is a vanity made from dark, heavy-looking wood. The mirror is elaborate and curves all different ways to give the glass a unique shape. And besides a plain wardrobe right near it, the room holds no other secrets. <<cycle "$choicerand11" autoselect>> <<option "A shame it's lackluster—your dreams are usually much more exciting.⤳">> <<option "Not too different from other dreams—yours have always been to the point.⤳">> <</cycle>> [[Look around the place—see what your mind has conjured for you.]] [[Move the curtains and peer out the window.]]

You wander a bit, brushing a hand along the back of the small sofa and marveling at how real the material feels. You feel inclined to collapse in it, as it's sure to be comfortable. You, however, swat away the urge and move along to the fireplace. You ran your hand over the marble, leaning slightly down, to stare inside the black abyss. It stares back at you, it seems. You direct your attention elsewhere and find yourself drawn to the vanity. You look through the drawers on it to discover them all empty. Not a speck of dust either. Your $mceyecolor eyes glance up to the glass mirror, finding not a smudge or fingerprint on the impeccably clean surface. But you also find yourself staring back at you. You still //look// like yourself—well, if you were years younger. You can't help yourself and reach up to touch your cheek. You look like you had when you'd just begun college—it was surreal. <<button "You Touch It—Your Refelction." "theirbody">><</button>>

You brush your fingers against your wide eyes, and suddenly, a shift—your reflection shifts. It happens subtly at first—a blink and then the twitch of an eyebrow. And then, your face twists into a burning scowl. You balk, trying to pull away when a pair of fingers sink out of the glass like a trick of the light and grab hold tightly onto your wrist. There's an impossible strength, and you're yanked forward head first into the mirror, your legs scratching the stool accompanying the vanity as you're dragged inside. You look up to see yourself in a black void—the only other thing inside is yourself. Well, what you think is you. Your doppelganger stares menacingly down at you, then tugs you harshly to your feet. "You—" Their palm darts out, and they wrap their hands around your throat. "What ill-mannered spirit are you? Who summoned you? How dare you steal my form, you—" Breath stutters in your throat, and pain sparks against your skin. Your lungs are failing—that much is true. [[Vicously claw at the figure's face—you have to get free, whatever it takes.]] [[Try to get words out—there has to be some misunderstanding!]] [[Try to wake up—something must be restricting your breathing in real life.]]

You see nothing but the sky. Clouds obscure the view of the ground, and there are no buildings or strange statues for you to see. It looks as if the room you're in is the only thing your mind deemed necessary to create. The sun is also strange, bright, but comfortable to look at right on. You pull away, finding yourself drawn to the vanity. You abandon the window for it. You look through the drawers to discover them all empty. Not a speck of dust either. Your $mceyecolor eyes glance up to the glass mirror, finding not a smudge or fingerprint on the impeccably clean surface. But you also find yourself staring back at you. You still //look// like yourself—well, if you were years younger. You can't help yourself and reach up to touch your cheek. You look like you had when you'd just begun college—it was surreal. <<button "You Touch It—Your Refelction." "theirbody">><</button>>

You rapidly blink as they disappear in a cloud of dark smoke, their body no longer holding you down. But the smoke doesn't float away—it's as if your body absorbs it, taking it in like oxygen through your skin. You touch your body in a daze, <<cycle "$choicerand12" autoselect>> <<option "on the verge of tears.⤳">> <<option "anger and confusion at war inside of you—what the hell was happening?⤳">> <<option "completely numb.⤳">> <</cycle>> <<button "Next." "middle">><</button>>

You reach up and dig your fingernails into their face—your face. And you feel real flesh—skin. You can't linger on the thought, so you press deeper. The moment you draw blood, the figure retracts with a hiss. "You—! How dare you—!" They reach up to feel their cheek. There's a heated moment where nothing happens, and they raise their arms. The cold realization that you'll die if you don't get back through the mirror settles on your shoulders, and you turn towards the bedroom behind the glass and dash for it. You hear a curse behind you and then hear footsteps—they're running after you—and then a weight on your back as they tackle you to the ground. <<button "Then All Pressure Is Gone." "inside1">><</button>>

Your breath stutters and your voice falters against the hands holding you prisoner. "Stop—" You hardly manage to get a word out, and your captor listens to you not. They shift, a chill growing in the air. But then their face changes from anger to surprise. <<button "Then All Pressure Is Gone." "inside3">><</button>>

You clench your eyes closed and try to rouse yourself from the dream world. But nothing happens, and you feel yourself on the verge of passing out. Something is wrong—so terribly wrong. The realization that you aren't dreaming comes to you like a slap to the face. <<button "Then All Pressure Is Gone." "inside2">><</button>>

You rapidly blink as they appear to gasp for breath themselves. They fade away into a cloud of dark smoke. But the smoke doesn't float away—it's as if your body absorbs it, taking it in like oxygen through your skin. You touch your body in a daze, <<cycle "$choicerand12" autoselect>> <<option "on the verge of tears.⤳">> <<option "anger and confusion at war inside of you—what the hell was happening?⤳">> <<option "completely numb.⤳">> <</cycle>> <<button "Next." "middle">><</button>>

<div class="book">"Celestia hadn't heard much of Neomair—only that life there was bleak. When she'd asked //that// student what it'd been like, all had gone silent. She figured it was a sore subject, then. She'd make sure not to ask again." —Swallow The Moon, Chapter Two.</div> <<button "Next." "Untitled Passage">><</button>>

<div class="beginheh2">Somewhere On The Coast.</div> It's stormy, and the sky is dark with angry clouds that have yet to spill. It's unwise to tread so near the water on days such as this, but prince Emile cares not about the danger. Thunder rolls in the distance as the man stares at the sea solemnly. Though, a voice cuts through his solitude like a knife: "You cannot sulk forever." <<if $gendersset is "set">>\ <li> A stiff figure stands behind him, arms tightly behind his back. </li> <</if>> <<set $gendersset to "set">>

This is all that's available currently! There is more to be written, I just wanted this to be out there to let everyone know that the game is still in development! There will be more soon!