<<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><<noopen>><p>You don’t even both opening the note and look at its content, handing it instead back to Camille. She has always been somewhat eccentric. She would hand you just about the most random items you could think of every time she saw you. Once, you received a lewd drawing painted on a pebble —she claimed it wasn’t hers—. Another, she dropped an open book in front of you, with some graphic illustrations of dismembered corpses. Somehow, she would always find something in the strangest of places, and show you her ‘treasures’, as she called them. //They were just a bunch of junk…// Most often, you wished these items never passed your hands. </p>
<p>You roll your eyes at her disappointed face. You did not come here to be the butt of the joke. Even if you hoped to find something… //normal//, you know better than to take that change. You know better than to follow her instruction. You’ve been burnt times and times again. </p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Not this time!//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>“Ugh… Typical,” she mumbles, crumbling the note in anger before putting it back in her purse.</p>
<p>“Don’t be like that, Camille!” you huff. “You always hand me strange stuff. I’m already having a hard time here. Why would your //antics// change that?”</p>
<p>“Hey—” Renaud tries to interject.</p>
<p>“I just… You looked like you needed the distraction, $mc.name.”</p>
<p>“How is distracting me going to solve anything, huh? Why would I want to bother with that when I have actual problems, right now?”</p>
<p>“That’s uncalled for, $mc.name!” Renaud snaps. “She only wanted to show you something funny. You don’t have to take everything so seriously.”</p>
<p>“And here comes the fucking knight in his fucking shiny armour,” you roll your eyes. “Always rushing to help the poor damsel in distress. Trying this hard will not get you in her pants.”</p>
<p>“Fuck. You.”</p>
<p>Renaud jumps from his chair, almost flipping the table in the process. His nostrils open wide as he exhales, seething from your words. Camille grabs her companion by his arm, trying her best to pull him back to his seat. Stubborn, he does not move an inch but stares intensely at you, ready to fight.</p>
<p>//It is all for show… He would never harm his precious fingers.//</p>
<ul><li><<link '//His money makers.//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>Save for a handful of customers whispering to one another as they gawk towards the scene, the terrace is quiet once more. You sit back, smirking. You know full well this will taunt him even more, but you can’t help yourself. His smugness was always something that ticked you. </p>
<p>//Always trying to be the bigger person… What a joke!//</p>
<p>Camille mumbles something to him, seemingly to calm him down —or trying to, at least—. Renaud refuses to back down, moving just a bit closer still. //Why did he have to put his little panties in a twist?// I was only telling the truth… As if she could hear your thoughts, Camille throws daggers at you with her eyes.</p>
<ul><li><<link "It sends a shiver down your spine." `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 4>><p>“I…” Camille gets up in turn, putting herself between Renaud and you. “This… this was a mistake… I think… we should go… it was… it was nice to see you, $mc.name.”</p>
<p>Though she smiles faintly as she speaks, her words trouble you. <<if def $mc.nickname>>//Why didn’t she call me $mc.nickname?// <</if>>Not just her words, but her tone as well. You’ve known her long enough to realise something is wrong. //She… she can’t be lying… can she?// You can hardly believe there is little truth to her last few words.</p>
<p>Neither of them give you space to respond, as they awkwardly make their way out of the terrace, leaving you as quickly as they arrived. </p>
<p>//Fucking friends they are!//</p>
<p>Shocked to be abandoned by the ones who suggested this meeting in the first place, you are fuming inside. Your hand shakes the <<glass>> as you force yourself to finish the insipid <<if $mc.drink isnot "spirit">>$drink<<else>>beer<</if>>.</p>
<ul><li><<link "You bolt soon after." `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 5>><p>//Fuck them!//</p>
<p>You can’t believe they made you waste your last coins for an undrinkable overpriced liquid only to pick a fight with you. Not only that, but you are now forced to starve yourself… for nothing in return!</p>
<p>//Fuck. Them!//</p>
<p>And to think you were hoping they would be the solution to your problems. That they would make you feel better, console you about your hardships. Instead, they mocked your haggard discomposure and worked together to play a joke on you!</p>
<p>//Fucking fakes…//</p>
<p>Aren’t friends supposed to help one another out when things get tough? Things have been nothing but fucking tough for you lately. //They didn’t even bother asking me what was wrong! //</p>
<p>You throw your empty notebook on your desk before slumping over it. Your head snuggles in your arms and you sob quietly. The funk you had been ignoring all day, the one you were trying to escape, is still hovering above. Not only did this outing do little to resolve this, it made everything so much worse.</p>
<ul><li><<link "Continue" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><<titlepage>><<endpage>><<endings>><div><h1>Fin.</h1></div>
<div> </div>
<div><<link "Menu" "Title">><<unset $text, $choice>><<set $choice to {}>><</link>>|<<link "Credits">><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Credits");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></div>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><<nogame>><p>“Err… <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Merci, mais non merci'>><<popover>>Thanks, but not thanks<</popover>><</link>></span>… I… I think I’ll pass.”</p>
<p>You hear a soft //Oh// coming from Camille’s lips. Both your friends look disappointed by your response, as they probably hoped you would jump on the occasion to do something different, to have some fun for once.</p>
<p>“Why not?” Renaud asks.</p>
<p>“Don’t poke the bear, Renaud!”</p>
<p>“Oh, come on, Camille. Why can’t I ask a simple question to our friend?”</p>
<p>“It’s… fine, Camille,” you wave her worry off. “I just don’t see the point of it? It just seems childish to me, having rhyme or reason.”</p>
<p>“But that’s the point! That’s what makes it fun!”</p>
<p>“Listen, R—”</p>
<p>“Cut it out, Renaud. <<They>> <<dont>> want to play it, respect <<their>> decision for once.”</p>
<p>“But—”</p>
<p>She throws daggers with her eyes, silencing him. You see Renaud recoil in his seat and crossing his arms in defeat. Camille takes back the stained note, read the sentence before putting it back in her purse.</p>
<p>“That is a shame though,” Camille sighs. “The game only becomes fun when more than two people play the game. No offence, Renaud.”</p>
<p>“See what you have done, $mc.name,” he points at his neighbour. “Can’t you—”</p>
<p>“Renaud, that’s enough! You know guilt-tripping <<them>> won’t work. You’ll just end up fighting each other.”</p>
<p>“But you—”</p>
<p>“I can express my disappointment without ulterior motives, Renaud. I don’t have to change <<their>> mind just for my entertainment. That’d be wrong.”</p>
<p>“Spoil sport,” he grunts in his corner.</p>
<p>“Err… Anyway…” you say, uncomfortable. “What have the two of you been up to lately? It has been a while since we last saw each other…”</p>
<ul><li><<link "This time, your words are met with silence…" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>You can almost hear the breeze passing through the terrace, as it became that silent. Renaud exchanged his defeated mood for a more flustered one, fixating on his shoes as he avoid your gaze. Camille seems similarly embarrassed, though she has a look of pity in her eyes. //What…//</p>
<p>You had expected them to be angry at you, for not reaching out earlier or not keeping up with the papers —they both appeared in numerous ones over the past weeks—. But their awkward behaviour makes you almost uncomfortable. //Have I said…//</p>
<p>“What… what is going on?” you ask again. With silence being your only response, you press further. “I heard some pretty impressive things happened to the both of you. Isn’t that something we should celebrate? I… really want to hear it all from you,” you force a smile.</p>
<p>“It’s just…” Camille starts, tapping the table with her nails. “We heard //things// about you, too.”</p>
<p>“Things? What things?” You chuckle nervously. “Not bad, I hope.” You meet her pitying eyes. “Who cares about that? I want to hear all about my friends’ success!”</p>
<p>“We didn’t want to rub salt in the wound.”</p>
<p>“P-chat,” you wave your hand. “What is one more failure at this point… Can’t I live vicariously through you for just a moment?”</p>
<p>“We heard about your agent dropping you,” Renaud confesses.</p>
<ul><li><<link "“Ah… That.”" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>While you skipped on the fun, last week by avoiding Benji’s intense party and now again with your friends’ little game —and now regret missing those experiences—, you are glad you answered Camille’s summon. Seeing your friends worry about your condition and the adversity you had gone through in those past months warmed your heart. Still, it was hard to put to recount those events, even to your closest friends. You were not prepared to face their judgement —or lack thereof, surprisingly— over your past actions. Nevertheless, you told the truth<<if $choice.lie is true>>, and only the truth<</if>>.</p>
<p>It took Camille and Renaud some time to warm up and provide you with detailed accounts of their recent successes. They knew how it stung you to know they were doing better, much better, than you. Of course, you were happy for them —who wouldn’t want to see their friends succeed?—, but you couldn’t help being jealous, when you saw yourself as the colossal failure you rightly were.</p>
<p>The time spent at that overpriced café may have passed faster than you had liked, as your friends soon had to say their goodbyes; catching up with Camille and Renaud may have brought back light and warmth into your life; you may have caught a sunburn or two cooking under the rays on that terrace; at the end of the day, you are not quite sure whether you truly feel better than before.</p>
<p>//When is that funk going to end?//</p>
<ul><li><<link "Continue" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><<titlepage>><<endpage>><<endings>><div><h1>Fin.</h1></div>
<div> </div>
<div><<link "Menu" "Title">><<unset $text, $choice>><<set $choice to {}>><</link>>|<<link "Credits">><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Credits");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></div>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>A single round was more than enough for you to get the gist of their weird ‘game’. As nonsensical as it is, you don’t understand all the fuss your friends made about it. This was not that fun… This disappointing experience almost erases your regrets about missing Benji’s party last week. Almost… Knowing him, you would probably have been stuck playing rounds after rounds of the ‘game’ at his insistence. //The curse of being a writer…//</p>
<p>Glancing around the table, you find your friends being as disappointed as you are, though more because the game ended more quickly than they’d like. Camille even started pouting as soon as you shook your head. //Was that truly necessary? //</p>
<p>You tried their game, as she pushed you to. It is not your fault you don’t like it as much as they do. //That ‘game’ is only making a mockery of my craft… Would they like it if we did the same with a brush? or a piano?// She knows how much writing means to you. </p>
<ul><li><<link '//Why did she think this would be a good idea to begin with?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>“Anyway…” you mumble, hoping to move their attention towards another subject. “What have the two of you been up to lately? It has been long since we last saw each other…”</p>
<p>“And whose fault is that, $mc.name?” Camille snipes back, still salty about your refusal. “You are the one who refused all invitations until now.”</p>
<p>“Invit— You //summoned// me, Camille…” You wave the air, as if brushing it off. “And you know how busy I have been…”</p>
<p>“Right. Busy,” she rolls her eyes. “Fighting that //dreaded// white page of yours, were you? Sitting at your little desk, in your little room, all alone. Has your muse bothered to stop by at all? Oh, wait!” She nods at the notebook. “Of course, it hasn’t. Or you wouldn’t be here, behaving like a toddler.”</p>
<p>“Camille,” Renaud whispers. “That is a bit uncalled for, don’t you think?”</p>
<p>“How’s that going for ya, huh?” Camille ignores her companion. “Still happy with your choices?”</p>
<p>“Like you could even understand…” you huff.</p>
<p>“Of course, I don’t! What’s the point of torturing yourself like this? You have nothing, nothing to show for it!”</p>
<p>“Camille!”</p>
<p>“Can it, Renaud,” she barks. “I’ve kept it inside for much too long. I am tired of not speaking my mind and being afraid of brushing the poor, little, privileged writer the wrong way. We are not five anymore, for fuck’s sake! I think <<they>> can take a little reality check.”</p>
<p>Her nostrils widen as she inhales loudly to gather herself. //Oh, no…// You’ve seen this before. You know she won’t hold back. She has been this angry before, though only a handful of times, neither event ended happily.</p>
<ul><li><<link '//Oh, no…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>“We know you were dropped by your agent, $mc.name. Not only that, I found out this was the fifth one who dropped you. The fifth one, $mc.name! In two years!”</p>
<p>“It’s not—”</p>
<p>“Zip it!” Her brows furrow. “I don’t want to hear your weak excuses. I know the //literary// world is cut-throat —all artistic paths are, you are not special—, but that’s not a reason to be an absolute knobhead to the person who can make or break your career!”</p>
<p>“I wasn’t… It was just a few—”</p>
<p>“My God… Are you deaf as well? Un-be-liev-a-ble,” she shakes her head. “Listen here, you dimwit. If I could find this information —and it was not particularly hard to find, to be honest—, <span class="mouseover"><<link 'il y a une très grande chance tout le monde l’a appris d’une manière ou d’une autre'>><<popover>>there is a very big change everyone learned about it one way or another<</popover>><</link>></span>. Don’t you understand what that means for you, $mc.name?”</p>
<p>“You are over—”</p>
<p>“It is all over for you, $mc.name! No matter how hard you will continue to try, or how long you will spend in front of that white page… It won’t matter. It won’t change anything. There is absolutely no way you’ve not been blacklisted everywhere after that mess.”</p>
<p>“What?!,” her words take you aback. “No. No, no, no. Come on, Camille. You must be joking.” </p>
<p>Your eyes plead for her to take it all back. </p>
<p>“Right?” </p>
<p>Lacking a response, you turn to Renaud: </p>
<ul><li><<link "“Right?”" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 4>><p>Your friend looks away to avoid your gaze. His hand brushes Camille’s arm, as he asks her to tone it down. He does not want a scene, not here. Camille pulls her arm back and glares at him, disgusted. She grabs the pencils and the notes, shoves it in the bag, and gets up from her seat. She takes a few steps before turning back.</p>
<p>“A word of advice, $mc.name. Never stab the hand that feeds you.” She bites her lips. “Actually… A better advice would be to tell you to… just. Go. Back. Home. There is nothing here for you but despair and failure.” She shakes her head and sighs. “But even I know you won’t have the balls to admit this to yourself. Your dream is over.”</p>
<p>She mumbles <span class="mouseover"><<link 'poltron'>><<popover>>coward<</popover>><</link>></span> as she leaves the terrace. You are left speechless. A shadow moves in the corner of your eye. Instinctively, your head turns and you see your //so-called// friend trying to slip away.</p>
<ul><li><<link '//Et tu, Brute?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 5>><p>“Really, Renaud? You too?”</p>
<p>“Err…” he stops, frozen. “Good-bye?”</p>
<p>“Were you seriously going to leave without a word? After what she said? What a friend you are…”</p>
<p>“Listen, $mc.name,” he sighs. “This… was bound to happen. Especially since your fa—” He stops and grimaces. “You know what? Never mind.”</p>
<p>“Wait… what? My father? What… what do you mean?”</p>
<p>“It does not matter, anyway. She was right. She is always right.”</p>
<p>“Don’t you dare leave,” you grab his arm, restraining him, “before telling me the truth! She did it, apparently. Why can’t you?”</p>
<p>“We… we had to bite our tongues… for your sake. That’s… that’s what he asked of us. When you —we— left home, he wanted you to be true to your word and make it on your own. Completely on your own. That was his condition to help us convince our families… We hoped you’d realise at some point what you were doing… We tried to give you signs… I guess you didn’t…”</p>
<p>“You fucking what?”</p>
<p>He does not bother responding. There is nothing else he could say to make things any better. Before walking away, he urges you to go home as well. </p>
<ul><li><<link '//What’s with them? I’m never going back!//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 6>><p>You had hoped to catch up with your friends, and have a good time in the process. This was the only reason you answered Camille’s summon. //Invitation, who was she kidding?// Her words had been so harsh, her tone so angry… You did not leave your room to get a sermon! Not only that, but you also did not expect them to drop you like this, and for no good reason —like all those agents have before—.</p>
<p>//And why were they pushing me to go home?// You swore never to set foot in that cursed village, not if you could avoid it. Not since that argument you had with him. //I’d rather be set on fire than go back there…// Only his obituary would change your mind. //And even then…//</p>
<p>You throw your empty notebook on your desk and punch the wall beside it. //Today was a complete disaster.// Thanks to that little idiotic game of theirs, everything seems to be so much worse. Finding out he still made sure you would fail not matter what was bad enough, but learning you were nothing more but a convenience to your //friends// hurt much more. //And here I thought they would help me get out of that funk…//</p>
<ul><li><<link "Continue" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><<titlepage>><<endpage>><<endings>><div><h1>Fin.</h1></div>
<div> </div>
<div><<message "Show statistics">> You have written 2 adjectives, no nouns and no verbs.<</message>></div>
<div><<link "Menu" "Title">><<unset $text, $choice>><<set $choice to {}, $game to 0>><</link>>|<<link "Credits">><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Credits");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></div>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>You glance at the written note on the table, abandoned by Camille in one of her fits, reading the nonsensical results. <<= $phrase.toUpperFirst()>>. <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Quelle stupidité…'>><<popover>>How idiotic…<</popover>><</link>></span></p>
<p>“So, $mc.name,” Renaud asks again, “are you in or not?”</p>
<p>“Err… I think I’ll pass. There’s been enough excitement for me already,” you faint a smile.</p>
<p>“Shame. It really is not as fun when you play in tandem,” Camille laments. “Can’t you find it in your heart to play another round? Just for me?”</p>
<p>You sigh. What you thought could have been a pleasant distraction turned into childish shenanigans. //Is this truly what the Académiciens are cooking up in their fancy offices nowadays? What a load of horseshit…//</p>
<p>“$mc.name?”</p>
<p>“Huh? Sorry,” you try to hide your grimace. “I think I’m good for now.”</p>
<p>“Really?” Camille pouts a bit.</p>
<p>“It won’t be as fun is <<they>> <<fake>> their enthusiasm for the game, deary,” Renaud puts his arm around her shoulder. “Don’t push <<them>>. It is already a miracle <<they>> <<are>> outside!”</p>
<p>“Wait… you don’t like this game, <<name>>?” she asks, disappointed. “I thought you writers loved word games. I’m pretty sure you were laughing as hard as we did earlier.”</p>
<p>“It is… alright,” you shrug. “I understand why it can be fun at parties, especially when drunk. But I don’t think I am getting as much amusement out of it as you both are.”</p>
<p>“Bummer…” she mumbles, leaning back on her chair. “What a bore you’ve become…”</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//I just wanted some personal time with my friends…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>You brush off her comment, knowing how correct she was. //How she always is.// Rebutting the truth would lead you nowhere. You used to be fun, adventurous, daring. You were not afraid of anything, of anyone, of anyplace. Your courage —or stupidity— was something people admired about you —or, at least, talked about—. //Now…// you are only a washed out version of your former self. All pretends, no substance.</p>
<p>“So… if we are not playing,” Renaud glances at the both of you. “What now?”</p>
<p>“I had been hoping to catch up with you two from the beginning, to be honest. It has been a while since we last saw each other. I know,” you hold your hand up. “I know it is my fault, and my own only, I’ve been so out of the loop…”</p>
<p>“And whose—” Camille starts, sulking.</p>
<p>“I don’t have any good excuses for it,” you smile tentatively at her. “I know that too.” You look down to hide the desperation in your eyes. “I just… missed you… a lot.”</p>
<p>“And we missed you too, $mc.name,” Renaud pats your back. “Didn’t //we//, Camille?”</p>
<p>In her corner, the woman grumbles but agrees. Still, you are not convinced she means it. And you can’t blame her, your many shortcomings have her too many times. Renaud softly shakes her shoulder, gently pushing her to let bygones be bygones. She ignores him at first, but finally relents under the promise of a substantial order of //piquette// <span class="mouseover"><<link 'pour faire passer le tout'>><<popover>>to wash it all down<</popover>><</link>></span> —an offer reluctantly made by Renaud—.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//I should have bribed her too…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>It has now been a couple of hours since you parted ways with your friends at the café. Heading in the opposite direction, you were sad to see their backs disappearing into the crowd. //Did… did I imagine their hands getting intertwined just before… //While you had hoped for this meeting to last longer, you realise now you had become more of a third wheel than an active participant by its end. //Did I miss something there?//</p>
<p>If you had to be honest with yourself, everything happened pretty quickly. In between the deliveries of jugs of //piquette//, Camille and Renaud would share glances and whispers. //They never said anything to me…// They were more than happy when you suggested leaving the café. While you had wanted to move to a different establishment —that waiter kept staring uncomfortably—, they had readied themselves to leave. Without you. You didn’t have the heart to correct them, less so when Renaud generously covered the whole bill.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Why did it have to end so early?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 4>><p>The street lights slowly get a shine as dusk settles in above your head. You’ve been wandering, aimless, all this time. You paid little attention to the path you took since leaving the café. Almost out of habit, your feet led you back to the cursed building you left this morning. As they got to the door, dread would overwhelm you and you would feel your heels turning away, your hand never reaching the handle. You would walk away, until calm reign over you once more, before your aimless wandering you drag you back.</p>
<p>Waves of dread submerge your mind. You dread stepping inside that building. You dread getting up the creaking stairs. You dread opening that door and standing in that small room you are supposed to call home. You dread seeing the mess you left all around. </p>
<p>Worst of all, you dread facing that blank page again.</p>
<p>//I should have agreed to play longer…//</p>
<ul><li><<link "Continue" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><<titlepage>><<endpage>><<endings>><div><h1>Fin.</h1></div>
<div> </div>
<div><<message "Show statistics">> You have written 2 adjectives, 2 nouns, and no verbs.<</message>></div>
<div><<link "Menu" "Title">><<unset $text, $choice>><<set $choice to {}, $game to 0>><</link>>|<<link "Credits">><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Credits");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></div>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>“I… I think I’ll pass,” you faint a smile.</p>
<p>“Already had enough fun? That’s unlike you, $mc.name,” Camille snickers.</p>
<p>“Ah. I am not against having fun,” you mindlessly let your finger fun circles on the rim of your glass. “I do want to have more fun with the two of you. But… I don’t think it should only involve this game.”</p>
<p>“Huh…” Renaud’s eyebrows furrow. “Didn’t you like the game? I thought you were enjoying yourself there.”</p>
<p>“It was fine.”</p>
<p>“Just… fine?”</p>
<p>“Yes. Just fine.”</p>
<p>“Then why did you continue playing it if you weren’t having fun?” Camille asks. “It kind of puts a damper on things…”</p>
<p>“I didn’t say I wasn’t having fun, Camille,” you shake your head. “I just… wasn’t having as much as the two of you.”</p>
<p>“Why didn’t you stop earlier?”</p>
<p>“I just wanted to try all the spots before making up my mind. Now, I know. It is not really for me.”</p>
<p>“But you… you like words!” Camille exclaims. “And games! And this combines the two! How… How can you not understand…”</p>
<p>“I understand the gist of the game just fine, Camille. It just doesn’t do it for me. That’s all.”</p>
<p>“Bummer…” Renaud pats her shoulder. “I know how much you were hoping <<they>>’d like it as much as we do…”</p>
<p>“But <<they>> should have…”</p>
<p>“Camille… If you were trying to recreate Benji’s party, we should have ordered much more booze to begin with…”</p>
<p>Camille frowns, then smiles mischievously once more as she hails the waiter.</p>
<p>“Camille, no,” Renaud protests.</p>
<p>“Camille, yes!” she cackles in return.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Oh, brother…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>Watching your friends argue, you can’t help but selfishly feel glad they forgot about you —for a moment, at least—. There is much you need to make up since your little disappearing act during the past few weeks —//or was it months?//—. You know an apology would not cut it, and would most likely bring down the mood again. //Still… I will need to…//</p>
<p>Your heart fills with warmth as they bicker over such a trivial thing —the appropriate amount of //piquette// to order, and whether Camille should pace herself with her drinks—. In turns, each tries to bring you to their side, claiming to have the moral high ground, even if neither really does. Like Switzerland, though, you avoid playing their game, preferring to stay neutral.</p>
<p>Finally agreeing on a sensible number of jugs —to the annoyance of the waiter, having followed the argument all this time—, and chugging down a few rounds, Camille and Renaud’s need for competition flames up once more. They decide to turn the rundown of events you missed during your hibernation into a game of who could share the most gossip or most fantastical piece of news. From rowdy patrons to implausible pairings, unexplainable theft to strange behaviours, your head spins from the torrent of information your friends gathered all this time. You try your best to keep up with the words spewed out of their mouths, but ultimately fail crowning a winner.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//I have missed so much…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>As the sun rose this morning, so must it fall. Dusk now colours the sky, as time ticked away much faster than you hoped. Even if you could barely say a word at the end, sitting around that table left like the three of you were in a world of your own. Safe from the reality, the harshness, the disappointment.</p>
<p>You are greatly annoyed when the waiter comes back, slamming the bill on the table, pushing you to leave. You had yet to realise you and your friends had hogged that table for most of the day, having affected the man’s commission in the process with your cheap orders. The café was now closed, and had been for some time already.</p>
<p>With a few jugs in her stomach by now, Camille jumps from her chair, ready to fight whomever stands in her way of fun, whether it be the waiter or her friends. Renaud tries his best to hold her back, but fails to account for her unpredictable movements as she fights to break free. </p>
<ul><li> <<link '//<b>CRACK</b>//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 4>><p>The three of you turn into stone when the sound of the jug crashes onto the pavement resonates in the now quiet terrace. Your faces pale at the accident. With his quick thinking, Renaud empties his wallet on the table, grabs both you and Camille by the arms and runs away under the yells and threats of the waiter.</p>
<p>Blood rushes to your face as you try to keep with your friends sprinting down the street, giggling like toddles. //Last time we ran away like this… was it when Maître Rouzet found us breaking into the school?// Lost in your recollection, you don’t notice Camille’s foot hitting on an uneven pavement stone and her body falling face first into the ground. </p>
<ul><li> <<link "You snort, earning you a playful small punch to the arm by Renaud." `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 5>><p>Somehow, the three of you finish this wild race at the door of your building. Not willing to part way just yet, you propose to have another drink at a bar close by. Though the offer was tempting, that little run sobered up your companions enough to realise something. You are avoiding going home.</p>
<p>They decline, gently, by babbling incomprehensible excuses. You reiterate your offer, this time in the cosy setting of your quaint room. Their refusal continues, as they now speak of prior engagements they must get ready for. Seeing your disappointed face, they promise to see you very soon —as long as you don’t turn into a hermit again—.</p>
<p>They leave you by the door of that damned building. Still dreading pushing the heavy piece of wood separating you from the gloomy abode you call home, you stand planted outside a moment longer. You pat your pocket, uncertain on whether you should pray for the disappearance of your key when you fled the café.</p>
<p>//Excuses, excuses… Don’t you have enough excuses?//</p>
<p>While you find it eventually —unfortunately—, it was not the only thing to graze your searching fingers. The torn pages of your notebooks, the ones used for Camille’s little game, found their way into your pocket, somehow. You smile.</p>
<p>//Those cheeky bastards…//</p>
<ul><li><<link "Continue" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><<titlepage>><<endpage>><<endings>><div><h1>Fin.</h1></div>
<div> </div>
<div><<message "Show statistics">> You have written 2 nouns, 2 adjectives, and 1 verb.<</message>></div>
<div><<link "Menu" "Title">><<unset $text, $choice>><<set $choice to {}, $game to 0>><</link>>|<<link "Credits">><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Credits");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></div>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>“You did, huh… uhm…”</p>
<p>Wanting to avoid riling her, you try to think of the best words to say. You know full well how she can get when things don’t go her way. She will push until she gets it, even if it hurts the other person in the process. You don’t want her to bring back those //uncomfortable// questions.</p>
<p>“Are you alright, $mc.name?” she squints at you, concerned.</p>
<p>“Huh? Oh, yes. Yes. Quite alright. Why do you ask?”</p>
<p>“You don’t seem quite… there.”</p>
<p>“<<They>> <<have>>n’t been quite there since <<they>> arrived,” Renaud whispers to her.</p>
<p>“I know //that//. I can see //that// with my own two eyes! I meant compared to <<their>> usual… state.”</p>
<p>“I promise you, I am //fine//.”</p>
<p>“You don’t look fine,” Renaud now squints at you. “We can clearly see how you’ve been taking care of yourself —or have not, in your case—.”</p>
<p>“Have you eaten recently? Should we order some food?” Camille raises her hand to hail the waiter when she sniffs the air and recoils at the smell. “When was the last time you even showered?”</p>
<p>“I am not a child! I //can// take care of myself just fine!”</p>
<p>“Sure,” Renaud leans back on his chair, not believing a word you said. “<span class="mouseover"><<link 'Et Camille est la Reine d’Angleterre'>><<popover>>And Camille is the Queen of England!<</popover>><</link>></span>!”</p>
<p>“That settles it, then. I’ll order some food,” Camille waves her hand frantically to catch the attention of the bored waiter. “<span class="mouseover"><<link 'Garçon'>><<popover>>Waiter<</popover>><</link>></span>!”</p>
<p>You try to stop her, but she does not budge. She never does when her mind is set. As much as you want to convince your friend that nothing is wrong with you —well, nothing more than usual—, you fail to change their view. The more you try, the more they become concerned by your aberrant state. Your frail rebuttals hold little weight compared to the facts.</p>
<p>Ignoring your every interference, your friends start hatching plans on how to move forward with you. From scheduling sleepovers, to meeting for meals, or even planning appointments at the barbers, they leave you with little say on the matter. You slump on your chair, embarrassed to have your friends taking over your life like that.</p>
<ul><li><<link '//They always end up solving my messes for me, don’t they…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>As Renaud and Camille leave you at the door of your building some hours later, they remind you of your next meeting with them. Having settled on a schedule —destroying your notebook in the process as they drafted plans after plans—, you are to meet Camille in a few days for a much needed scrub at the public bath. Like a child, you are made to repeat where and when you must arrive. //Must they really infantilize me so…//</p>
<p>Though Renaud stops her, Camille is tempted to walk you to your room. He knows better than to let her see how filthy you had become. Your state was already bad enough, she may not be able to handle the rest. He reminds her that, unfortunately, that task —helping you sort out and clean your room— had fallen onto him.</p>
<p>You should feel grateful for their help, you landed yourself in a deep mess. You know you could not ask for better friends, who would move around their other engagements just to see you safe and sound. Still, something does not feel right to. It is only when you sit, alone, on your bed, scanning through that schedule, that you realise the meaning of their plan. </p>
<ul><li> <<link '//They… they can’t be… The traitors!//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>From getting you a new haircut to changing your wardrobe, sorting out through your affairs and settling your accounts, everything was now clear. Their worries were just a front of what was to come. Their concerned looks were just a façade for their true feelings. //They… they always knew I would never make it, didn’t they? And they let me believe the contrary. They never cared!//</p>
<p>//And how could they still care when you behave this way, when you refuse to change, to grow…// You were the ball chained to their feet, dragging behind. The constant reminder that their freedom was conditional. The ‘friend’ they could never escape as long as you were still in town. The charge they had to care even if you fought and screamed. The person who would request all their attention without giving an inch in return. //Of course, they had to break…//</p>
<p>There was one date left on your schedule that was left empty on your page. One you could swear was filled in their copies. You had peeked then, but can’t say for sure what was written. You have an inkling, though. </p>
<p>//I can’t believe them… After all I told them about that place… They will still ship me back? Those traitors!//</p>
<ul><li><<link "Continue" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><<titlepage>><<endpage>><<endings>><div><h1>Fin.</h1></div>
<div> </div>
<div><<message "Show statistics">> You have written 2 nouns, 4 adjectives, and 1 verb.<</message>></div>
<div><<link "Menu" "Title">><<unset $text, $choice>><<set $choice to {}, $game to 0>><</link>>|<<link "Credits">><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Credits");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></div>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>“If you think we will stop by playing another round, Camille,” you start chuckling, but are unable to finish your sentence.</p>
<p>“Alright, alright… I get it.”</p>
<p>“No, no. You don’t understand,” Renaud takes a crack at it, holding his stomach. “You started it when you set up the game!”</p>
<p>Camille looks at the two of you with a straight face, not seeing the joke. In return, she is met with more laughter. She crosses her arms and pouts, frustrated. This helps her case very little, as her reaction tickles that sweet spot in your brain, unleashing another burst.</p>
<p>“God… The two of you are such children…”</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Better that than…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>Renaud admits he had been quite worried about you, seeing your state when they first arrived at the café. He had long wondered how far into the deep end you had gotten, but seeing you laugh this hard has brought more reassurance than he thought he would need. You are not very surprised by his change of heart. Unlike Camille, he often needs very little to be convinced. //Oh, the trouble we got him into…//</p>
<p>On the other side, Camille is more reserved about her judgement. She has surely not forgotten about your lack of answers and —worse— your avoidance of the subject. Cunning as she is, she knows there is much more to the story than you let on and is not willing to let it all drop because you laughed a bit too long or a bit too hard. //She will never let it go… Not until she is satisfied…//</p>
<p>Still, you can’t bring yourself to return to those subjects yet, nor are you willing to put forward any indication that you are not feeling better. In truth, while you have had the most fun you ever had in a while, you dread going back home. You knew this meeting would temporarily put a damper on your… misadventures, but you are not ready to admit how far you had got. </p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Not to them… not yet…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>You’ve noticed Camille has become more selective in the topics discussed around the table, pushing on further some dying conversations while ignoring interesting ones —to you at least—. She does not outright ask you what she wants to know, instead tip toeing around the bush and testing the water. What unnerves you the most is her lack of jabs, even when you or Renaud purposefully set it up for her. <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Elle va me passer un savon, hein…'>><<popover>>She is going to give me a hard time, eh…<</popover>><</link>></span></p>
<p>Between the lines of updating you with what you had missed, you gather she is not happy with you. Not only your lack of presence in the past few weeks had her quite worried, but you still had not apologised for anything so far. You had come around and went on as if nothing happened —well, nothing happened, that was the problem—. </p>
<p>Further down the conversation, you finally understand how bleak your future may be looking from her point of view. Having burned down so many bridges in the past two years —you still don’t believe you were in the wrong—, there seem to be little for you to do still before you are forced to leave town to find greener pastures —or worse, being forced to work odd jobs to survive—.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//You really screwed the pooch there…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 4>><p>While goodbyes always felt bittersweet, these felt more bitter than anything. Camille insisted on walking you home, for some obscure reason, and spent the whole way there chastising you very covertly. So much so, Renaud seemed completely oblivious to her whole act, responding as if it were a normal conversation. With every step taking you back to that cursed building, and Camille scolding you like the child you seem to be, you start to feel small and just wish to disappear. //Wouldn’t it be easier that way?//</p>
<p>Before you cross the front door, Camille stops you. She looks frustrated with you and somewhat apologetic for her behaviour. //That makes one of y//— She takes your hand and folds some crumpled paper within. She does not say a word, and neither do you. Her face says it all, and yours… well you are not quite sure. There is much you want to say, much you should say, much you are afraid to say. Still, no words pass your lips.</p>
<p>You watch their backs shrink and disappear into the crowded street, leaving you still at the door alone. You open your hand to find the torn pages, the one the three of you used to play that silly game of theirs. Exquisite Cadaver, they called it. Sitting on the porch, you flip through the pages and read the unusual sentences. </p>
<p>//This isn’t much, but maybe… Maybe it is enough.//</p>
<ul><li><<link "Continue" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><<titlepage>><<endpage>><<endings>><div><h1>Fin.</h1></div>
<div> </div>
<div><<message "Show statistics">> You have written 4 nouns, 4 adjectives, and 1 verb.<</message>></div>
<div><<link "Menu" "Title">><<unset $text, $choice>><<set $choice to {}, $game to 0>><</link>>|<<link "Credits">><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Credits");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></div>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>“If either of you want to avoid getting hurt, we should maybe stop here… don’t you think?”</p>
<p>“Oh, //hic//… you are no fun, //hic//… $mc.name,” Renaud complains, as he fights a fit of hiccup.</p>
<p>“See,” you tell Camille, pointing at him, “this is what I mean!”</p>
<p>“D-don’t you worr-ry ab-bout him,” she still giggles.</p>
<p>Afraid neither of them would take your answer seriously, you take your notebook from the table and hide it back in your pocket. Both Camille and Renaud groan in return about how much of a party pooper you are. You let their teasing pass over you, knowing they will quickly move on to another topic sooner rather than later. For now, you enjoy watching them catch their breath and try to finish their glass without spilling.</p>
<p>With their thirst quenched and their body calmed, your friends indeed set their sight on a mightier task: finding whether you heard of a specific piece of news or gossip during your little hibernation. Though you are glad to get up to speed on what you missed, you find this little game less entertaining. And so do Camille and Renaud. </p>
<ul><li> <<link '//After all, there is very little you know…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>Before long, having exhausted the list of riveting morsels of information, Camille hails a waiter and order a copious amount of //piquette//, at the horror of her neighbour. Your body tenses. //This can only mean…// There are only a few reasons for Camille to surround herself with booze: she wants to forget something, she wants to soften the blow of announcing something less-than-positive, or she needs some liquid courage before dwelling with less-than-ideal issues. //Seeing her face…//</p>
<p>She waits for the jugs to be served, staying awkwardly silent until then, and for you to chug a few ounces of liquor before she opens her mouth again. She inhales loudly and both you and Renaud hold your breath. You have an idea of what she could say, but pray it does not involve you.</p>
<p>“I can’t keep this in any longer,” she starts. “I have held my tongue long enough, but this had to stop now.”</p>
<p>“Camille…”</p>
<p>“No, Renaud. You… We can’t keep quiet anymore. You’ve seen as well as I where our actions have let <<them>> towards. <<They>> shut <<themselves>> out from the worlds and didn’t leave <<their>> room for weeks! For weeks, Renaud! Maybe even months!”</p>
<p>“But, Camille, we—”</p>
<p>“We are as guilty as //him//, Renaud. We should have never…” She stops, shaking. “This wasn’t right. What we did was wrong, Renaud. I can’t go back and fix it. God, I wish I could… You don’t know how much I wish we could go back and refuse…” Her lip quivers. “I never thought…”</p>
<p>“Camille, it can’t be just our—”</p>
<p>“Even if it is not, we should still…” She hides her face in her hand. “God, I feel like I am back in church, hearing the sermon of the <span class="mouseover"><<link 'curé'>><<popover>>pastor/priest<</popover>><</link>></span>… We need to atone for our actions, Renaud. I don’t care whether there is a Hell or not, I just… I won’t feel at peace until then.”</p>
<p>“This won’t—”</p>
<p>“I haven’t slept in days, Renaud! Since $mc.name straight up… disappeared, it has been eating at me.” Tears roll down her cheeks. “I keep replaying that day in my head. It won’t stop!”</p>
<p>“I…” Renaud lowers his head, finally relenting.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//What is going on here?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>Shocked is too small of a sentiment to describe what you felt when she explained herself. You were so sure she would inquire further about your state and what led you down the dark path you were walking, but you had not expected what came out of her mouth. //Not one bit!// You were ready to continue avoiding her question and answering in very vague ways, forcing them to pry any information from you instead. //How could I even imagine she…//</p>
<p>You always knew something was afoot here, long before Camille opened her mouth. Even since you arrived into town, something did not feel right to you. You always brushed it off as jitters, and down the line as paranoia, but the sentiment never left you. The success of both your friends was strange to you, even more while you continued to lag behind. This always ticked you, though you were certain it stemmed from your jealousy. //Not now…// You could never prove your suspicions, and knew no one would believe you either. //I knew it! I knew I could not be in the wrong here…//</p>
<p>//…but… Aren’t you still?//</p>
<p>You were not surprised to learn he was at the centre of it all. This whole scheme sounded very much like something he would do in retaliation. //He// never liked to be wrong, to be wronged, to be challenged. //And boy did I give him one…// You had hoped //he// would have stayed true to //his// word as you had with yours. You had fulfilled his conditions, but he continued to meddle with your affairs. //Like he always did…// You knew the reason why. You knew the goal for it all. You only wanted to take your own path, in spite of it.</p>
<ul><li> <<link 'T//hey are trying to atone… are you?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 4>><p>Until now, your friends had supported you unconditionally —as ordered, apparently—, they picked up the tabs when you fell short, helped you when you were in a dire situation —all in //his// goal to make you suffer longer—. They never berated you for your shortcomings, save for a little jab or two here and there. Their mouths were filled with compliments and praises for your work, nothing lesser of that were kept to the back of their minds. You always thought this was what was expected from a friendship, even if you reciprocated very little.</p>
<p>//Are they truly the only ones to blame?//</p>
<p>Looking back, you now realise how little you paid attention to them. Their reactions to your news, their mannerisms that often betrayed them, their a-bit-too-long pauses that could say it all… You were always so focused on yourself to see the signs they desperately sent you. The signs you unconsciously forced yourself not to see. //But why… why now?//</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Are you so blind you can’t see your mistakes?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 5>><p>When questioned, neither Camille nor Renaud would explain why they had waited over two years to reveal the truth. You could not understand how they could watch you fall deeper and deeper into darkness without guiding you back to the light; how they could listen for hours to your sorrows and failures without pushing you to the path of success; how they could stand by and receive your due accounts without sharing even a little; how they could know about it all and never confess about their involvement in your troubles. //How could they…//</p>
<p>And yet, you could not find it in your heart to hate them for what they did and did not do. You were angry, sure, but there was no hate for them. You saw how guilt was tearing them apart, how their heart were hurt throughout it all. For over two years, they had diligently fulfilled their part of the deal with //that man// —though you thought of //him// more as a devil for doing //that// to his own child—, just to stay close to you. They hoped you would realise at one point what they were forced to do, but you never let down your blinders. //They suffered enough… I don’t need to add onto it…//</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//You are not the saint you think you are…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 6>><p>You left the café shortly after, leaving behind your —so-called— friends. They pleaded with you to stay a bit longer, but, after this revelation, you could not be in their presence a minute longer. Their actions still appalled you. Even though they explained in length their reasons to agree to //his// conditions, you could not fathom how they could still throw this friendship away for a measly payment. You needed time, alone, to process their betrayal.</p>
<p>Still, you couldn’t hate them. //Only him…//</p>
<ul><li><<link "Continue" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><<titlepage>><<endpage>><<endings>><div><h1>Fin.</h1></div>
<div> </div>
<div><<message "Show statistics">> You have written 4 nouns, 4 adjectives, and 2 verb.<</message>></div>
<div><<link "Menu" "Title">><<unset $text, $choice>><<set $choice to {}, $game to 0>><</link>>|<<link "Credits">><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Credits");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></div>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>“Maybe… maybe we should stop here.”</p>
<p>“Already had enough fun, $mc.name?” Camille smirks.</p>
<p>“Not when I am around the two of you,” you smile. “It’s just… <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Comment dire…'>><<popover>>How to say…<</popover>><</link>></span>”</p>
<p>“It’s not hard to say it,” Renaud grumbles. “That game bores you.”</p>
<p>“Yes.” Realising what you just said, you shake your hands: “No! No, it has nothing to do with the game… Well… Not really.”</p>
<p>“Not really? What…” Renaud frowns. “What do you mean by not really? It either has something to do with the game or it does not, $mc.name. It’s can’t be //both//.”</p>
<p>You look away, to stop yourself from revealing your true motive for ending the game this early. It would crush them to know the truth: that you felt forced, by their bickering, to do so. The game may have been a reason why —they always were competitive when playing—, but they were rarely short of pulling each other’s hair in the process! Even if you relented to being dragged outside today, you had hoped to spend this afternoon in conversations. //Not have the entertainment shoving them at each other’s throat…//</p>
<p>“Well?!” Renaud asks, impatiently. “It can’t be //that// complicated for you to put things into words!”</p>
<p>“If…” Camille mutters, “this is about the last round… I am sor—”</p>
<p>“Don’t, Camille,” he stops her. “Just don’t… If <<they>> felt slighted by a single round of this game that did not go as planned… Something’s wrong with <<them>>, not you.”</p>
<p>“But it’s—”</p>
<p>“Don’t apologise…” He stares at you. “Not until <<they>> <<explain>> <<themselves>>.”</p>
<ul><li> <<link "Tell the truth. They deserve at least that from you." `passage()`>><<set $choice.truth to true, $text +=1>><</link>></li>
<li> <<link "Make up something. They would not take the truth well." `passage()`>><<set $choice.truth to false, $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><<if $choice.truth is true>><p>“I…” you sigh. “I didn’t like where //this// was heading…” you look away. “I was afraid you… I just couldn’t… I didn’t want…”</p>
<p>“//This//? Afraid? Couldn’t? <<name>>…” Camille jitters in front of your indecisiveness. “Stop talking in riddles. You are not making any sense!”</p>
<p>You take a deep breath. //This is what you chose to do… you wanted to tell them the truth… you can’t back out now!//</p>
<<else>><p>“You were right, Renaud. I was the game all along. I couldn’t take it anymore.”</p>
<p>You look at them, hoping they would buy your little white lie. But the coloured orbs glaring back, scrutinising every inch of your face, do not leave you with much confidence.</p>
<p>“<<They>> <<are>> not telling the truth, <<are>> <<they>>?” you hear Camille whisper.
<p>“I don’t think <<they>> <<are>>, no.”</p>
<p>They frown, crossing their arms. They keep silent at any word, any moment, any look from you. They only stare back, waiting for one thing: the truth. //They won’t stop until they get it, will they? //You sigh.</p><</if>>
<p>“I couldn’t spend another second seeing the two of you arguing like this!”</p>
<p>“Arguing? Us?” Renaud scoffs. “$mc.name… you should know by now, when it comes to play—”</p>
<p>“This was not like when we were ten, Renaud! I know the difference between teasing your opponent and being so frustrated with the other you are //this// close to burst!”</p>
<p>“<<name>>, this was not—”</p>
<p>“Don’t patronise me, Camille! I know what I saw… And your eyes didn’t say //teasing// when you were…”</p>
<p>You hold your head in your hands, barely keeping it together. //This wasn’t a good idea… Why did I…//</p>
<p>“What,” Camille chuckles nervously. “What makes you think that, <<name>>?”</p>
<p>“What hasn’t?” you scoff back. “The glances, the scolding for little things, the change of subjects when you don’t like the topics—”</p>
<p>“Now you are just projecting, $mc.name… you are the one—”</p>
<p>“See, Camille? Renaud just did it!” Your hands point at your friend. “I have enough to deal with on my own… I can’t handle all of this… whatever //this// is!”</p>
<p>Your friends exchange another glance before lowering their heads.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Really? That was enough?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>“I think you may have… misunderstood—”</p>
<p>“How could I have—”</p>
<p>“Let her finish, $mc.name,” Renaud growls.</p>
<p>“… misunderstood what those… actions meant <<name>>,” she continues, her head still down. </p>
<p>“We are not having an argument… well, not really,” Renaud smiles awkwardly, realising he used the same words he scolded you for.</p>
<p>“It’s just…” Camille sighs. “I don’t know how to say //it//…”</p>
<p>They look at each other again, Camille biting her lips and Renaud scratching his head. They mutter to each other something incomprehensible, pleading something from the other.</p>
<p>“For God’s sake! Can you stop with the glances and say what you have to say already?” You hit the table with your palms. “Did something happen? Did you have an accident I don’t know about? Did someone,” you whisper, “die?”</p>
<p>“No,” Camille replies, as they both shake their heads. “Nothing of the sort. No one died.”</p>
<p>“Then what. Is. Going. On?</p>
<p>Camille looks at Renaud again, who seems to relent —to what, you could not say—. She puts her bag on the table, her hand looking for something inside. With every passing second, she pales and her hand jitters. Renaud asks her if she lost it —//what did she lose?//— but she denies ever taking it out of her bag. Finally, she takes her hand out of her bag in triumph and slam it on the table. Under a palm is a crumpled envelope with a familiar handwriting.</p>
<p>//A letter… From him?//</p>
<ul><li><<link "Continue" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><<titlepage>><<endpage>><<endings>><div><h1>Fin.</h1></div>
<div> </div>
<div><<message "Show statistics">> You have written 4 nouns, 6 adjectives, and 2 verb.<</message>></div>
<div><<link "Menu" "Title">><<unset $text, $choice>><<set $choice to {}, $game to 0>><</link>>|<<link "Credits">><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Credits");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></div>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><<stuck>><p>Instead of providing Renaud with an answer, you choose to remain silent. Sitting back and crossing your arms, you know there is very little that would satisfy the man. //Or Camille, for that matter…// You are not the type to get on your knees and grovel for forgiveness when you have done very little wrong here! </p>
<p>//They should be the one to check themselves…// You grimace, staring back at your accuser. Both your friends know of your situation —you’ve lost count of the amount of times they commented on your shabby abode— and how little funds you have left to your name! They know not to expect much from you. The days when you could reward generously their loyalty and take them out for expensive meals are long gone… </p>
<p>//It’s not my fault they got their hopes up!// Even before you went into hibernation, you rarely showed your face places. The shame of your utter failure compared to your friends’ (or their friends’) success would often stop you from crossing the door. //How are they surprised I didn’t show…//</p>
<ul><li> <<link '<b>SPAT</b>' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>With liquid slime dripping down your face, you are left stunned. It had happened so fast: Renaud jumping to his feet, his face distorting very uglily, and the spit leaving his lips… You had expected him to do something in retaliation —he had always done so when Camille would get hurt—, but you had not expected that from him. A punch or two may have landed on your nose in the past, but the exchange of bodily fluids was something the both of you stayed away from.</p>
<p>You look up, to the shaded form towering over you and find an enraged and red-faced Renaud painting. //Did this little effort already leave him out of breath? Pathetic…// You defiantly brush the spit with the back of your had, still locking eyes with your friend. You snort. Neither his posture, nor his little show of strength, scares you one bit. //This is as far as he would take it…//</p>
<p>Having stayed silent all this time, Camille winces at the tableau before her eyes, before grabbing her arms to hug herself. Then, she grabs her purse and flees the table. You —or Renaud— wouldn’t have noticed she had stirred from her stillness if she hadn’t knocked one glass in her sudden departure, leaving it to fall and break on the paved terrace.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '“This is all your fault…”' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>“This is all your fault, $mc.name.”</p>
<p>“This is all your fault, Renaud,” you say in unison, neither attempting to run after Camille.</p>
<p>With the confidence and maturity of two toddlers seeing their toys be taken away in punishment, Renaud and you attempt to fully put the blame of the situation onto the other; neither willing to accept their part in the matter. You would both rather argue in bad faith, eroding the little friendship left between the two of you, than go look for your friend or work on the issue at hand. Multiple times, the both of you come close to throw your glass at the other —neither wanting to use or hurt their hands in the process—, barely stopped each time by the sight of the waiter passing by.</p>
<p>With the fight’s intensity increasing with each passing moment, your little childish quarrel becomes a nuisance to the patrons at the terrace. Having had to deal with your noisy table for too long, they press the waiter to boot you out of the café. As your table brought more annoyance than profit, the waiter is more than happy to comply, sending the both of you on your way —but not before ensuring payments due were filled in full.</p>
<p>Realising you would not be able to pony up your share, you take advantage of a distracted Renaud arguing with the waiter to make your exit. If your refusal to apologise had not yet crushed your lifelong friendship, //this// would be surely be the last nail on its coffin.</p>
<p>Should they have expected less from you?</p>
<ul><li><<link "Continue" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><<titlepage>><<endpage>><<endings>><div><h1>Fin.</h1></div>
<div> </div>
<div><<message "Show statistics">> You have written 5 nouns, 6 adjectives, and 2 verb.<</message>></div>
<div><<link "Menu" "Title">><<unset $text, $choice>><<set $choice to {}, $game to 0>><</link>>|<<link "Credits">><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Credits");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></div>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><<giveup>><p>“I…”</p>
<p>You lean back on your chair, at a loss for words. //What is there left to say…// You know full well you cannot make up for the lost time, the unfulfilled promises, the hurt you cause. You wouldn’t even know where to begin if you wanted to try. //What’s the point…// </p>
<p>You know whatever you would try, it would never be enough for them. They would want more of your time, more of your effort, more of you at their mercy. They would scrutinise every word you would say, every action you would do, never truly believing your intention. They would never trust you as they once did. //Why should I bother…//</p>
<p>The more you think about it, the more you realise there may not be anything left to salvage at this point. The schism between you and your friends had grown too large, making it impossible to cross to the other side.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//What is the point anymore…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>“Are… are you really not going to say anything?” Renaud asks, almost disappointed you would not fight back.</p>
<p>Instead of responding, you just sigh loudly and annoyed. You reached the inevitable conclusion, why couldn’t they? It was obvious to you now —the writing was on the wall when Camille summoned you—, there was no way around it. //There is nothing left to fight for. Not anymore…//</p>
<p>This little meeting had been Camille’s last hurrah for reconciliation, the last one before she would resign herself about your flakiness. After weeks and months of let downs, she had to try one last time. //And if it did not meet her standards…// It is clear to you whatever test she had in store for you today, you failed it.</p>
<p>“Nothing to say, huh…” he continues. “You know, $mc.name… I always thought this would happen. When life got too hard, you would just… give up. I’m only surprised you stuck around town this long…”</p>
<p>You roll your eyes so hard they start to hurt. W//hy would he keep sticking around if he believed I would give up on them?// Like this, there were things about Renaud you never understood; paths he had taken, words he had uttered, in complete opposition to his beliefs. The only reason you could think of why he would continue to tag along when he seemed to think little of you would be… //of course, he would be after// that//!//</p>
<p>Annoyed at the increasing agitation of your neighbour, you move your eyes towards Camille. She had not said a single word since her little outburst.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Is she finally seeing what I am seeing too?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>To say this afternoon ended in a bust would be an understatement. You were not too surprised by the outcome, though; you had a feeling when you arrived at the café this day would not end will. And as predicted… You regret having left the comfort of your small abode for that. The loss had been greater than the expected return. Not only you walked away from your… //friends// with fewer coins in your purse, you could now cross //their// name out as well.</p>
<p>You dive into your bed, your heart in shambles. It still stung to find you could not count on the closest people you had to support you through thick and thin. They were more interested in being in your life through the thick rather than the thin. It was easier to be around you when things went well —you know how boring of a hermit you can become when you had little going on—, but you hadn’t expected them to drop you for such a trifle. //Wasn’t I there when they had a bad day? Didn’t I help them?//</p>
<p>//What… now?//</p>
<ul><li><<link "Continue" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><<titlepage>><<endpage>><<endings>><div><h1>Fin.</h1></div>
<div> </div>
<div><<message "Show statistics">> You have written 5 nouns, 6 adjectives, and 2 verb.<</message>></div>
<div><<link "Menu" "Title">><<unset $text, $choice>><<set $choice to {}, $game to 0>><</link>>|<<link "Credits">><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Credits");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></div>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>“I think…” you start, “I think we can just put the whole thing behind us. This has brought us enough excitement for today, don’t you think?”</p>
<p>“And you want to stop even though it could bring us more fun?” Camille asks, confused. “Sometimes, I don’t get you <<name>>…”</p>
<p>“I meant more… how to explain… We’ve only played a handful of rounds and already… I don’t know about you, but that,” you tap on the last used page, “was too underwhelming to make me want to play again… I don’t want us to become more disappointed if we force ourselves to continue.”</p>
<p>“But what if it doesn’t?” she insists. “Shouldn’t we try?”</p>
<p>“I’d rather not to…”</p>
<p>“I’m with $mc.name on the one,” Renaud chimes in. “I would prefer we do something else, like maybe… drinking?”</p>
<p>Camille rolls her eyes and pouts, but still pushes her glass forward, which is gladly filled by her companion. Drowning her wish to play further with the little //piquette// left, she moves her attention towards the discarded sheet of paper, chuckling at the past rounds results. She folds them in half, neatly, before shoving them back in your notebook and handing it back to you. She smiles as she does so, but you can see in her eyes she still seems saddened by your decision.</p>
<p>“What shall we do next?” Renaud asks.</p>
<ul> <li> <<link "Drink some more, what else?" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li>
<<if $mc.smoke isnot false>><li><<link 'You would kill for <<if $choice.smoke isnot true>>a smoke<<else>>another cigarette<</if>>.' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li><</if>>
<li> <<link "Engage in another riveting conversation?"`passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>“How about we—” you start.</p>
<p>“I want to know something,” Camille cuts you off, smiling now mischievously.</p>
<p>“Camille, for the last time, I did not take your—” Renaud stops, seeing his friend’s confused face. </p>
<p>“Err… Not where I was going, Renaud,” her brows furrow. “But now, you got me intrigued. What //did// you not take?”</p>
<p>“N-nothing?”</p>
<p>“Hm-mhh… Are you sure about that?”</p>
<p>“Y-yes,” his eyes keep glancing between Camille and you. “Your… erm… //book// is still—”</p>
<p>“Oh,” she mutters, her face getting flushed.</p>
<p>“You read now?” you ask Renaud, snarkily. “And here I thought the only things you’d let your eyes scan were your <span class="mouseover"><<link 'partitions'>><<popover>>music sheet<</popover>><</link>></span> and maybe the funny columns in the Sunday newspaper.”</p>
<p>“Ha-ha, $mc.name, very funny,” he says sarcastically. “Yes, I do read actual books.”</p>
<p>“Camille’s lending you her lovey-dovey romance books, then?”</p>
<p>“Erm… sure…”</p>
<p>“Renaud…” you sigh, barely noticing him reddening. “You really ought to read //proper// literature, you know? Maybe some adventure or gothic horror instead? I hear <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Proust'>><<popover>>Marcel Proust, French Novelist<</popover>><</link>></span>’s last—”</p>
<p>“If you mention him one more time, I will personally march to your place and burn down every last copy you have —even the signed ones—!”</p>
<p>You open your mouth to protest, but, afraid of the repercussion if you said something wrong, you bite your tongue instead.</p>
<ul><li> <<link "Propose another round of drinks to loosen the tension." `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li>
<li> <<link "You might regret it, but ask Renaud for a cigarette?" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li>
<li> <<link "Start another conversation with a different subject." `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>“Could—”</p>
<p>“You, shh,” Camille stops you. “And you!” She turns to Renaud. “Don’t sidetrack the conversation again. I almost forgot what I wanted to say!”</p>
<p>“I won’t, I won’t,” he crosses his heart as a promise. “But… what did you want to know?”</p>
<p>“Some time earlier, someone said something very… interesting,” she crosses her fingers to hold her head. “We were so focused on the round at hand, we forgot to ride back to the subject.”</p>
<p>“W-what subject?” you ask, feeling cold sweat dripping down your neck.</p>
<p>“Don’t worry $mc.name,” Renaud whispers, “there is no way she—”</p>
<p>“Herm,” Camille clears her throat, side-eyeing her neighbour. “As I was saying… If you recall, a few rounds ago, you and I were trying to remember the name of a less-than-agreeable creature, one whose hand had been promised to an acquaintance of ours.”</p>
<p>“Oh, no,” you mumble under your breath.</p>
<p>“A name that escaped us, but which was strangely proclaimed by our //good// friend <<name>>,” she continues. “You were quite fast to find it, weren’t you?”</p>
<p>“No, I wasn’t,” you protest.</p>
<p>“Not only you were,” she disregards it, “you remembered her full name as well!”</p>
<p>“No, I didn’t!”</p>
<p>“Ha! Look how <<they>> <<blush>>,” Renaud points at you. “What else are you hiding from us, $mc.name?”</p>
<p>“Nothing!”</p>
<p>“I can recognise the face of someone who did something they shouldn’t have when I see it,” Renaud adds. “What did you do with… <span class="mouseover"><<link 'c’était quoi son nom, déjà'>><<popover>>what was her name again?<</popover>><</link>></span>?”</p>
<p>“Honorine Lavaud,” you cover your mouth, but not before the name escaped your lips.</p>
<p>“Ah-ha!” Camille exclaims in triumph. “You did pork her, didn’t you?”</p>
<p>“Camille!” Renaud tries to shush her.</p>
<p>“But <<they>> did, didn’t <<they>>?”</p>
<p>“Not so loud,” he glances around. </p>
<p>“You did, right <<name>>?” she asks again.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//A lover never tells.//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 4>><p>You refuse to answer her ridiculous question, not because she is wrong… //It is not their goddamn business!// Still, your silence is all Camille needs to confirm her suspicions. Even if you were to deny it all now, she would not believe you one bit. Hungry for juicy details, as the good gossip she is, Camille presses you further on your dalliance with an engaged woman —//she was not at the time!//—, but your lips stay sealed. //I promised Honorine…//</p>
<p>And if you were to keep at least one promise today, this one would surely be the smartest one. Without hearing the words coming out of your mouth, Camille’s newest piece of gossip would never leave this table —thank God, she knew better than to spread unconfirmed rumours—. Still, the news of your involvement leaking would most likely destroy any chance of //rehabilitation//. Honorine’s father has arms long enough to ensure you would not be offered a position anywhere in town, //any// position.</p>
<p>You silently lament your loss. It had been weeks since you had last seen her —slightly longer than your last meeting with your friends— and she had not once reached out since then. //Her wedding must be happening soon…// You knew this little flirtation would not last —she was still engaged, after all—, but you had hoped it would last a bit longer. //It was doomed from the start.// Still, you knew better than to broadcast this private connection to the rest of the world.</p>
<p>“Why don’t you ask her for a writing job?” Camille asks. </p>
<p>//Yes… why don’t I?//</p>
<ul><li><<link "Continue" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><<titlepage>><<endpage>><<endings>><div><h1>Fin.</h1></div>
<div> </div>
<div><<message "Show statistics">> You have written 6 nouns, 6 adjectives, and 2 verb.<</message>></div>
<div><<link "Menu" "Title">><<unset $text, $choice>><<set $choice to {}, $game to 0>><</link>>|<<link "Credits">><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Credits");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></div>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>“I think we all need a break after… erm… don’t you think?”</p>
<p>Instead of intelligible words, your friends respond with either shrugs or grunts. This takes you by surprise, as they had been the ones to push you to play this game, even if you were not sure you should continue at times. You wonder whether they would have reacted differently if you had accepted to play another round.</p>
<p>Stranger still, both your friends avoid each other’s eyes. Renaud is searching for something in his pockets, getting increasingly frustrated when his hands turn up empty. You are not too surprised, considering everything. //He barely had time to cool off…// You’d imagine he’d kill for a cigarette right now <<if $mc.smoke isnot false>>, and frankly you would too<</if>>.</p>
<p>On the other side, Camille seems equally annoyed. Whether about her stains still not coming off, no matter how hard she tried to dab them away, or her companion rudely ignoring her, you could not say —though, you’d wager both came into play—. You are sad she lost her chipper self.</p>
<ul><li><<link '//What’s with those two?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>“Err…” </p>
<p>You truly feel at a loss here. Stuck between your two closest friends behaving like strangers, you are unsettled by their lack of interactions. You are used to them playfully taunting the other, or, worse, fighting —you’ve already gone through a few of these this afternoon alone—, but not seeing them give each other the silent treatment —that’s //your// M.O.—. You want to say something, start a new conversation, but cannot think of a topic, even less of words. //How can such a stupid accident sour the mood so quickly?//</p>
<p>Glancing around the table, you find your friends with their back turned from the other. Renaud, having found his cigarettes pack, has taken upon himself to bother his neighbour further, blowing his smokes past his shoulder and towards her. You frown.// What is he trying to achieve here?// </p>
<p>On the other side, Camille, when not fighting with the small grey cloud and muttering some insults under her breath, has moved her attention towards the jugs of piquette still on the table, ready to finish every single last one. //This is not going to end well…//</p>
<ul><li><<link '//This… this was not what I imagined would happen…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>“A-hem,” you hear a voice behind you.</p>
<p>Turning your head towards the voice’s origin, you find the waiter —the one unhappy to serve your table when your friends arrived— looking at you with pity. //Well…// pity wouldn’t begin to define it, and it would be too kind to you.</p>
<p>“If you all are done here,” he starts. “Can you… scram? I’d rather have more favourable patrons than the three of you,” he rubs his thumb on the tip of his index and middle fingers.</p>
<p>“Are you kicking us out?” you squeak. “What wrong have—”</p>
<p>“Your table has been nothing but disturbing since… the beginning, frankly. Your //loudness// has vexed many of our usuals! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”</p>
<p>“We may have been less than… mindful of our manners. But this is not a reason to make a public display like this, my good man. Don’t you know the client is—”</p>
<p>“King?” the waiter scoffs, exasperated. “Have //you// forgotten what we do to kings? We haven’t retired the guillotine yet… I’m sure <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Louisette'>><<popover>>A popular nickname for the guillotine in France, after its inventor Antoine Louis.<</popover>><</link>></span> wouldn’t mind adding a few of your kind on her list.”</p>
<ul><li><<link '//What the fuck?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 4>><p>“What the actual f—?” Camille hisses. “Who do you think you are, threatening my friend like this? Renaud,” she nudges her neighbour, “did you hear what that deranged man just say?”</p>
<p>Fuming as well, Renaud gets up from his seat again —less abruptly, this time—. He takes a few steps towards the waiter and stands tall, his head towering menacingly over him. He grabs the man’s collar.</p>
<p>“I don’t think I caught everything… I’m sure he wouldn’t mind repeating, would he?” Renaud shakes the man a little.</p>
<p>“This is why I didn’t want to serve //your lot// in the first place,” the waiter grimaces, “but the boss doesn’t turn away coins… <span class="mouseover"><<link 'le juifard ferait tout pour un billet'>><<popover>>(deregatory) the jew would do anything for a banknote<</popover>><</link>></span>…” he spits on the ground.</p>
<p>Hearing those words, Camille sees red, pushing her chair back, ready to lunge at the man. She’s heard many of those insults in the past, and each time it boiled her blood. She never cared if it would land her in trouble —as it often did—; she was not one to back down from a fight, especially when the reason hit too close to home. Afraid she would start a new fight, you try to get between her and the man. But, she reluctantly stops when Renaud raises his hand.</p>
<p>“Are you quite mad?” His voice gets louder, as if trying to get the attention of other seated customers: “Threatening law-bidding citizens with an impromptu execution… How unrepublican!”</p>
<p>Around you, the terrace has become quiet, save for the scornful whispers of a few patrons. Many look annoyed to see their free time being disrupted so. By the café’s door, you spot an old man frowning, as he cleans his hands on his apron.</p>
<ul><li><<link '//Is that the owner? Did Renaud get us into more trouble again?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 5>><p>“Are you maybe one of those <span class="mouseover"><<link 'perturbateurs'>><<popover>>disruptors<</popover>><</link>></span> from the other side of the border?” Renaud presses.</p>
<p>“Calling me a <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Boche'>><<popover>>A deregatory term for Germans.<</popover>><</link>></span>, you wimp?” the man pushes your friend. “How dare you?! I fought against them in the <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Grande Guerre'>><<popover>>Another term for WWI.<</popover>><</link>></span>!” He looks your friend up and down. “You look like you did—”</p>
<p>“That is quite enough, Rémy!” the old man growls afar.</p>
<p>The waiter freezes at the sound and pales. The old man, who you now firmly believe to be the owner, gets closer, shaking his head in disappointment. Before he reaches you, the waiter weasels himself from Renaud’s grasp and cowers back to safety behind the café’s walls, avoiding his <span class="mouseover"><<link 'patron'>><<popover>>boss<</popover>><</link>></span> in the process…</p>
<p>“That’s not the end of it, Rémy,” the man yells. “You best believe it!” Then turning back to you: “Let’s move a bit aside, shall we? I think these fine folks don’t need to hear more of this,” he grumbles, motioning you to follow him.</p>
<ul><li><<link '//I don’t like where this is going…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 6>><p>“I am sorry, folks, for Rémy’s… behaviour,” the old man says, somewhat disingenuously. “He can be a bit rough sometimes. He’s had one of those shell-shocks in the trenches. Makes him a bit… unpredictable.”</p>
<p>“Doesn’t excuse his foul words,” Camille snipes. “How can //you// not be insulted?”</p>
<p>“Hahaha,” he laughs. “I know he means nothing by it. I mean, it’s not like I am one of those bent noses.”</p>
<p>“How—” Camille starts, before you put your hand on her mouth.</p>
<p>“To be quite honest with you lot, I would rather not see this little interaction escalate for nothing. Rémy is still my hardest worker here. I would hate to see him go if you were to mention something to the wrong ear.”</p>
<p>“Then, maybe, your little waiter should have thought about this before he opened his mouth,” Renaud retorts, holding his clenched fist back. “We have done nothing wrong here.”</p>
<p>“Aside from implying my worker to be a spy?” His brows furrow. “I could report you for such accusation, you know?”</p>
<p>“It hardly compares to threatening my friend,” he points to you, “with the guillotine!”</p>
<p>“Ah… Again?” the old man sighs. </p>
<p>“Again?!” Camille shrieks. “What do you mean ‘again’?”</p>
<p>“Never you mind that,” he shakes his hands. “How about this… I will wipe your tab, and we all forget about this incident.”</p>
<p>“Br—” Renaud stops and scratches his chin. “Your //proposal// doesn’t seem fair to us. After all—”</p>
<p>“I’ll add one of our unopened bottles.”</p>
<p>“Of our choosing?” Camille asks, having freed her mouth.</p>
<p>“Err… Fine,” the man relents before scanning your group. “You, the quiet one,” he points to you. “Come pick the bottle. And you two,” he waves at your friends. “I think it’d be best <span class="mouseover"><<link 'si vous décampiez'>><<popover>>if you skedaddled<</popover>><</link>></span>.”</p>
<ul><li><<link '//Follow the man inside the café to get the promised bottle.//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 7>><p>When you get back out, the newly gained bottled scarcely hidden under your coat, your friends are nowhere to be seen. Remembering the veiled threat of the owner moments ago, you fidget anxiously as you scan the terrace. Though your search is less than fruitful, a kind customer, seeing your distressed face, points you towards a side-street away from the café, where your friends apparently took refuge.</p>
<p>When you reach them, walking as fast as your legs allow you, Camille and Renaud scold you for taking so long to rejoin their party. Still, even if you took your time back inside the café, their faces look relieved to see you safe and sound, and without a scratch on your face —it has happened before…—. <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Camille s’est sûrement fait des films…'>><<popover>>She imagined the worst of scenarios.<</popover>><</link>></span> </p>
<p>It does not take long before their worries dissipate and the conversation moves on to your choice of a liquor. Renaud had joked how heavy of a responsibility your shoulders carried. Camille agreed with the words, but not the tone; she was more serious about the content of your bounty.</p>
<p>“Of course that old geezer would you choose you, <<name>>,” she laments. “He knew I would have raided his most precious bottle, and assumed Renaud would most likely do the same.”</p>
<p>“How little faith you have in me!” you protest. “I still have some taste!”</p>
<p>“For your kind of hoity-toity background, you certainly have not,” Renaud laughs. “Last time we quizzed you, you could not make the difference between—”</p>
<p>“Don’t remind <<them>> of that, Renaud,” Camille slaps his chest. “<<They>> still <<have>> <<their>> hands on the goods. Do you want <<them>> to run with the bottle?”</p>
<ul><li><<link '//Should I run with it?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 8>><p>Renaud shakes his head and grumbles a faint apology. Camille, then, entreats you to reveal the mystery label of the liquor, eager to find how much you swindled out of the rude owner —<span class="mouseover"><<link 'Ça l’apprendra à traiter ses clients comme ça'>><<popover>>That’ll teach him to treat his client that way.<</popover>><</link>></span>, you knew she hoped to say—. </p>
<p>Taking the bottle from under your coat, you turn your face away from your friends and close your eyes, afraid of their reactions —and of another scolding—. It is only when they rejoice of your choice, you open your eyes and see their excited and surprised face. Unbeknownst to the owner —and you, for that matter, though you would never profess—, you had swiped a particularly good <span class="mouseover"><<link 'millésime'>><<popover>>vintage (collect of grapes)<</popover>><</link>></span> on a Bordeaux: a 1875 <span class="mouseover"><<link 'cuvée'>><<popover>>vintage (put into barrel)<</popover>><</link>></span>. //I can’t tell them I picked it because it was the dustier one…// </p>
<p>Excited about the prospect of tasting a bottle as old as their parents, your friends propose to stop by the grocer and pick some cheese, bread and other snacks as an <span class="mouseover"><<link 'accompagnement'>><<popover>>side (dish/ingredient)<</popover>><</link>></span>, before setting for the banks of the //Seine// for an impromptu picnic. You smile.</p>
<p>//This was not how I thought today was going to play out…//</p>
<ul><li><<link "Continue" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><<titlepage>><<endpage>><<endings>><div><h1>Fin.</h1></div>
<div> </div>
<div><<message "Show statistics">> You have written 6 nouns, 6 adjectives, and 3 verb.<</message>></div>
<div><<link "Menu" "Title">><<unset $text, $choice>><<set $choice to {}, $game to 0>><</link>>|<<link "Credits">><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Credits");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></div>
<</switch>><style>.cover:after {display: none;}</style><h2>Wecome to the Endless Mode.</h2>
<p>''How do you want to play?''</p>
<ul><li> [[Regular Way|EndlessRound][$game =+1]]</li>
<li> [[Adjective Only|EndlessAdj]]</li>
<li> [[Noun Only|EndlessNoun]]</li>
<li> [[Verb Only|EndlessVerb]]</li></ul>
<hr>
<center><<button "Return to the Start">><<goto "Title">><</button>></center><style>.cover:after {display: none;}</style><<countgame>><<PlayerNames>><<if $game is 601>><<include "Endless End">><<elseif $round is "adj">><<include "AdjEnd">>
<<liveblock>><<nobr>>
<<if ndef $end>>
<<button "Continue">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to "next">>
<<update>>
<</button>>
<<elseif $end is "next">>
<<timed 12s>><<button "Continue">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to "almost">>
<<update>>
<</button>><</timed>>
<<elseif $end is "almost">>
<<timed 7s>><<button "End Round">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to true>>
<<update>>
<</button>><</timed>>
<<else>>
<<timed 6s>>
<ul><li><<link [[Play another round|EndlessRound]]>><<set $game +=1>><<unset $end>><</link>></li>
<li><<link [[Return to Endless Menu|Endless Mode]]>><<unset $end>><</link>></li></ul>
<</timed>>
<</if>>
<</nobr>><</liveblock>>
<<elseif $round is "noun">><<include "NounEnd">>
<<liveblock>><<nobr>>
<<if ndef $end>>
<<timed 7s>><<button "Continue">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to "next">>
<<update>>
<</button>><</timed>>
<<elseif $end is "next">>
<<timed 13s>><<button "Continue">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to "almost">>
<<update>>
<</button>><</timed>>
<<elseif $end is "almost">>
<<timed 1s>><<button "End Round">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to true>>
<<update>>
<</button>><</timed>>
<<else>>
<<timed 6s>>
<ul><li><<link [[Play another round|EndlessRound]]>><<set $game +=1>><<unset $end>><</link>></li>
<li><<link [[Return to Endless Menu|Endless Mode]]>><<unset $end>><</link>></li></ul>
<</timed>>
<</if>>
<</nobr>><</liveblock>>
<<else>><<include "VerbEnd">>
<<liveblock>><<nobr>>
<<if ndef $end>>
<<timed 14s>><<button "Continue">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to "almost">>
<<update>>
<</button>><</timed>>
<<elseif $end is "almost">>
<<timed 12s>>
<<button "End Round">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to true>>
<<update>>
<</button>><</timed>>
<<else>>
<<timed 6s>>
<ul><li><<link [[Play another round|EndlessRound]]>><<set $game +=1>><<unset $end>><</link>></li>
<li><<link [[Return to Endless Menu|Endless Mode]]>><<unset $end>><</link>></li></ul>
<</timed>>
<</if>>
<</nobr>><</liveblock>>
<</if>><style>.cover:after {display: none;}</style><<PlayerNames>><<include "AdjEnd">>
<<liveblock>><<nobr>>
<<if ndef $end>>
<<button "Continue">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to "next">>
<<update>>
<</button>>
<<elseif $end is "next">>
<<timed 12s>>
<<button "Continue">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to "almost">>
<<update>>
<</button>>
<</timed>>
<<elseif $end is "almost">>
<<timed 7s>>
<<button "End Round">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to true>>
<<update>>
<</button>>
<</timed>>
<<else>>
<<timed 6s>>
<ul><li><<link [[Play another round|EndlessAdj]]>><<unset $end>><</link>></li>
<li><<link [[Return to Endless Menu|Endless Mode]]>><<unset $end>><</link>></li></ul>
<</timed>>
<</if>>
<</nobr>><</liveblock>><style>.cover:after {display: none;}</style><<PlayerNames>><<include "NounEnd">>
<<liveblock>><<nobr>>
<<if ndef $end>>
<<timed 7s>>
<<button "Continue">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to "next">>
<<update>>
<</button>>
<</timed>>
<<elseif $end is "next">>
<<timed 13s>>
<<button "Continue">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to "almost">>
<<update>>
<</button>>
<</timed>>
<<elseif $end is "almost">>
<<timed 1s>>
<<button "End Round">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to true>>
<<update>>
<</button>>
<</timed>>
<<else>>
<<timed 6s>>
<ul><li><<link [[Play another round|EndlessNoun]]>><<unset $end>><</link>></li>
<li><<link [[Return to Endless Menu|Endless Mode]]>><<unset $end>><</link>></li></ul>
<</timed>>
<</if>>
<</nobr>><</liveblock>><style>.cover:after {display: none;}</style><<PlayerNames>><<include "VerbEnd">>
<<liveblock>><<nobr>>
<<if ndef $end>>
<<timed 14s>>
<<button "Continue">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to "almost">>
<<update>>
<</button>>
<</timed>>
<<elseif $end is "almost">>
<<timed 12s>>
<<button "End Round">>
<<ctpAdvance "all">>
<<set $end to true>>
<<update>>
<</button>>
<</timed>>
<<else>>
<<timed 6s>>
<ul><li><<link [[Play another round|EndlessVerb]]>><<unset $end>><</link>></li>
<li><<link [[Return to Endless Menu|Endless Mode]]>><<unset $end>><</link>></li></ul>
<</timed>>
<</if>>
<</nobr>><</liveblock>><<ctp "all">><div class="speech you"><div class="side pyou"></div>
<div class="main"><div class="name">You</div><div class="text"><span id="you1">You are starting this round. What will you write?
<<textboxPlus "Enter an adjective: " "$MCad1" `{placeholder: "Type here"}`>></span></div></div></div>
<<ctpNext t8n>><<replace "#you1" t8n>><div><<print either($RANDOMOK)>><br>
//You've written $MCad1.//</div><</replace>>
<<timed 1s>><div class="ospeech otherp"><div class="oside play1"></div>
<div class="omain"><div class="name">$Player1</div><div class="text"><span id="s1"><div class="dot-pulse"></div></span> <<timed 3s>><<replace "#s1">><<print either($RANDOMOK)>><</replace>><</timed>></div></div></div><</timed>>
<<timed 6s>><div class="ospeech otherp"><div class="oside play2"></div>
<div class="omain"><div class="name">$Player2</div><div class="text"><span id="s2"><div class="dot-pulse"></div></span> <<timed 3s>><<replace "#s2">><<print either($RANDOMOK)>><</replace>><</timed>></div></div></div><</timed>>
<<timed 12s>><div class="speech you"><div class="side pyou"></div>
<div class="main"><div class="name">You</div><div class="text"><span id="you2">It is your turn. What will you write?
<<textboxPlus "Enter an adjective: " "$MCad2" `{placeholder: "Type here"}`>></span></div></div></div><</timed>>
<<ctpNext t8n>><<replace "#you2" t8n>><div><<print either($RANDOMOK)>><br>
//You've written $MCad2.//</div><</replace>>
<<timed 1s>><div class="ospeech otherp"><div class="oside play1"></div><div class="omain"><div class="name">$Player1</div><div class="text"><span id="s3"><div class="dot-pulse"></div></span> <<timed 3s>><<replace "#s3">><<print either($RANDOMOK)>><</replace>><</timed>></div></div></div><</timed>>
<<ctpNext t8n>><<adjsE>>
<div class="result"><div class="side presult"></div><div class="main"><div class="name nameres">Result</div><div class="text"><span id="res">Result Coming Up Shortly...
<div class="dot-pulse"></div></span> <<timed 5s>><<replace "#res">>$phrase<</replace>><</timed>></div></div><div class="endside presult"></div>
</div><</ctp>><<ctp "all">><div class="ospeech otherp"><div class="oside play1"></div>
<div class="omain"><div class="name">$Player1</div><div class="text"><span id="s1"><div class="dot-pulse"></div></span> <<timed 5s>><<replace "#s1">><<print either($RANDOMOK)>><</replace>><</timed>></div></div></div>
<<timed 6s>><div class="ospeech otherp"><div class="oside play2"></div>
<div class="omain"><div class="name">$Player2</div><div class="text"><span id="s2"><div class="dot-pulse"></div></span> <<timed 5s>><<replace "#s2">><<print either($RANDOMOK)>><</replace>><</timed>></div></div></div><</timed>>
<<timed 12s>><div class="speech you"><div class="side pyou"></div>
<div class="main"><div class="name">You</div><div class="text"><span id="you2">It is your turn. What will you write?
<<textboxPlus "Enter a verb:" "$MCverb" `{placeholder: "Type here"}`>></span></div></div></div><</timed>>
<<ctpNext t8n>><<replace "#you2" t8n>><div><<print either($RANDOMOK)>>
//You've written $MCverb.//</div><</replace>>
<<timed 1s>><div class="ospeech otherp"><div class="oside play1"></div><div class="omain"><div class="name">$Player1</div><div class="text"><span id="s3"><div class="dot-pulse"></div></span> <<timed 5s>><<replace "#s3">><<print either($RANDOMOK)>><</replace>><</timed>></div></div></div><</timed>>
<<timed 6s>><div class="ospeech otherp"><div class="oside play2"></div>
<div class="omain"><div class="name">$Player2</div><div class="text"><span id="s4"><div class="dot-pulse"></div></span> <<timed 5s>><<replace "#s4">><<print either($RANDOMOK)>><</replace>><</timed>></div></div></div><</timed>>
<<ctpNext t8n>><<verbsE>>
<div class="result"><div class="side presult"></div><div class="main"><div class="name nameres">Result</div><div class="text"><span id="res">Result Coming Up Shortly...
<div class="dot-pulse"></div></span> <<timed 5s>><<replace "#res">>$phrase<</replace>><</timed>></div></div><div class="endside presult"></div>
</div><</ctp>><<ctp "all">><div class="ospeech otherp"><div class="oside play2"></div>
<div class="omain"><div class="name">$Player2</div><div class="text"><span id="s2"><div class="dot-pulse"></div></span> <<timed 5s>><<replace "#s2">><<print either($RANDOMOK)>><</replace>><</timed>></div></div></div>
<<timed 6s>><div class="speech you"><div class="side pyou"></div>
<div class="main"><div class="name">You</div><div class="text"><span id="you1">It is your turn. What will you write?
<<textboxPlus "Enter a noun:" "$MCnoun1" `{placeholder: "Type here"}`>></span></div></div></div><</timed>>
<<ctpNext t8n>><<replace "#you1" t8n>><div><<print either($RANDOMOK)>>
//You've written $MCnoun1.//</div><</replace>><<set $end to "almost">>
<<timed 1s>><div class="ospeech otherp"><div class="oside play1"></div>
<div class="omain"><div class="name">$Player1</div><div class="text"><span id="s1"><div class="dot-pulse"></div></span> <<timed 5s>><<replace "#s1">><<print either($RANDOMOK)>><</replace>><</timed>></div></div></div><</timed>>
<<timed 6s>><div class="ospeech otherp"><div class="oside play2"></div>
<div class="omain"><div class="name">$Player2</div><div class="text"><span id="s3"><div class="dot-pulse"></div></span> <<timed 5s>><<replace "#s3">><<print either($RANDOMOK)>><</replace>><</timed>></div></div></div><</timed>>
<<timed 12s>><div class="speech you"><div class="side pyou"></div>
<div class="main"><div class="name">You</div><div class="text"><span id="you2">It is your turn. What will you write?
<<textboxPlus "Enter a noun:" "$MCnoun2" `{placeholder: "Type here"}`>></span></div></div></div><</timed>>
<<ctpNext t8n>><<replace "#you2" t8n>><<print either($RANDOMOK)>>
//You've written $MCnoun2.//<</replace>>
<<ctpNext t8n>><<nounsE>>
<div class="result"><div class="side presult"></div><div class="main"><div class="name nameres">Result</div><div class="text"><span id="res">Result Coming Up Shortly...
<div class="dot-pulse"></div></span> <<timed 5s>><<replace "#res">>$phrase<</replace>><</timed>></div></div><div class="endside presult"></div>
</div><</ctp>><<notify 6s>>Was it worth it?<</notify>><<set setup.achievement.endlessmax to true>><p> You have played 600 games in a row... Have an achievement!</p>
<p> But seriously... you should probably take a break?</p>
<center><<button "Play another round!">><<set $game to 1>><<goto "EndlessRound">><</button>> | <<button "Return to the Menu">><<set $game to 0>><<goto "Endless Mode">><</button>> | <<button "Return to the Start">><<goto "Title">><</button>></center><<if ndef $name>><p><<if ndef $clear>>Before this story starts, let’s set a few things first.<<else>>You were not happy with <<if $preset is true>>the preset. Let’s edit it!<<else>>>your previous choices. Let’s try this again.<</if>><</if>>
</p>
<<textboxPlus "''What is your name?'' " "_name" `{placeholder: either($PlayerName)}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains(_name)>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a name.<</replace>><<else>><<set $mc.name to _name>><<goto "MC2">><</if>><</button>></center>
<<else>><p>You don’t think $mc.name fits you.<span id= "namea"></span></p>
<span id="namea2"><<textboxPlus "''What is your name then?'' " "_name" `{default: $mc.name}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains(_name)>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a name.<</replace>><<else>><<set $mc.name to _name>><<replace "#namea">>You prefer $mc.name instead.<</replace>>
<<replace "#namea2">><p>''Do you have a nickname to go with it?''</p>
<ul><li> <<link "Yes">><<replace "#namea2">>
<p>''What is that nickname?''</p>
<<textboxPlus "" "_nickname">>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains(_nickname)>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a nickname.<</replace>><<else>><<set $mc.nickname to _nickname>><<goto "MC6">><</if>><</button>></center>
<</replace>><</link>></li>
<li> <<link 'No, $mc.name is enough for you.' "MC6">><<if def $mc.nickname>><<run delete $mc.nickname>><</if>><</link>></li></ul>
<</replace>><</if>><</button>></center></span><</if>><<if ndef $nickname>><p>Your name is $mc.name<span id="name">. ''Would your friends call you by a nickname?''</span></p>
<span id="name2"><ul><li> <<link "Yes">><<replace "#name" t8n>>, but your friends sometimes call you by a nickname.<</replace>>
<<replace"#name2">><<textboxPlus "''What is that nickname?'' " "_nickname">>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains(_nickname)>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a nickname.<</replace>><<else>><<set $mc.nickname to _nickname>><<goto "MC3">><</if>><</button>></center>
<</replace>><</link>></li>
<li> <<link "No">><<replace "#name" t8n>><<if def $mc.nickname>><<run delete $mc.nickname>><</if>>, and your friends only call you as such.<</replace>>
<<replace "#name2">><ul><li> [[Continue|MC3]]</li></ul>
<</replace>><</link>></li></ul></span>
<<else>><p>You like $mc.name but $mc.nickname doesn’t have a nice ring to it. <span id="names">''Do you want a new nickname?''</span></p>
<span id="names2"><p></p>
<ul><li> <<link "Yes, I want a new nickname.">><<replace "#names" t8n>> ''So your friends sometimes call you by…''<</replace>>
<<replace "#names2">><<textboxPlus "" "_nickname" `{placeholder: "Type here"}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains(_nickname)>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a nickname.<</replace>><<else>><<set $mc.nickname to _nickname>><<goto "MC6">><</if>><</button>></center>
<</replace>><</link>></li>
<li> <<link "No, I don’t want any nickname.">><<replace "#names" t8n>><<run delete $mc.nickname>>So your friends only call you by $mc.name.<</replace>>
<<replace "#names2">><ul><li> [[Continue|MC6]]</li></ul>
<</replace>><</link>></li></ul></span>
<</if>><p><<if ndef $prono>>Now that you’ve settled on a name<<if $mc.nickname>> and a nickname<</if>>, ''what pronouns would you want to use?''<<else>>You don’t feel like <<if $mc.pronouns is "Custom">><<They>>/<<Them>><<else>>$mc.pronouns<</if>> is right for you. Let’s try that again. ''What are your preferred pronouns?''<</if>></p>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.pronouns" "He/Him" autocheck>> He/Him </label></ul>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.pronouns" "She/Her" autocheck>> She/Her </label></ul>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.pronouns" "They/Them" autocheck>> They/Them </label></ul>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.pronouns" "Ae/Aer" autocheck>> Ae/Aer </label></ul>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.pronouns" "E/Em" autocheck>> E/Em </label></ul>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.pronouns" "Custom" autocheck>> Custom Pronouns</label></ul>
<center><<button "Confirm">><<nobr>>
<<if $mc.pronouns is "He/Him" or $mc.pronouns is "She/Her" or $mc.pronouns is "Ae/Aer" or $mc.pronouns is "E/Em">><<set $mc.plural to false>><<if def $prono>><<goto "MC6">><<else>><<goto "MC4">><</if>><<elseif $mc.pronouns is "They/Them">><<set $mc.plural to true>><<if def $prono>><<goto "MC6">><<else>><<goto "MC4">><</if>><<elseif $mc.pronouns is "Custom">><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Custom Pronouns");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Custom Pronouns").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>>
<</if>><</nobr>><</button>></center><style>#ui-dialog-body{min-width: 420px;}</style><<set $pronoun to {}>><h3>''Subject:'' //It was nighttime when ''they'' returned.//</h3>
<<textboxPlus "" "_they" `{default: "they"}`>>
<h3>''Object:'' //I keep seeing ''them'' in random places.//</h3>
<<textboxPlus "" "_them" `{default: "them"}`>>
<h3>''Possessive Adjective:'' //What is ''their'' new address?//</h3>
<<textboxPlus "" "_their" `{default: "their"}`>>
<h3>''Possessive:'' //This coat is actually ''theirs''.//</h3>
<<textboxPlus "" "_theirs" `{default: "theirs"}`>>
<h3>''Reflexive:'' //They preferred to work by ''themself''.//</h3>
<<textboxPlus "" "_themself" `{default: "themself"}`>>
<h3>What verb tense do these pronouns use?</h3>
<ul><label><<radiobutton "$mc.plural" "true" autocheck>> Plural (they ''are'')</label></ul>
<ul><label><<radiobutton "$mc.plural" "false" autocheck>> Singular (<<print either("she","he","ae","e")>> ''is'')</label></ul>
<hr>
<center><<button "Confirm">><<set $pronoun.they to _they.toLowerCase(), $pronoun.them to _them.toLowerCase(), $pronoun.their to _their.toLowerCase(), $pronoun.theirs to _theirs.toLowerCase(), $pronoun.themself to _themself.toLowerCase()>><<run Dialog.close()>><<if def $prono>><<goto "MC6">><<else>><<goto "MC4">><</if>><</button>></center><p><<if ndef $drink>>So, <<name>>… I’m afraid to say you are known to drink quite a bit. ''What is your poison?''<<else>>$mc.drink does not sit well on your stomach. ''What drink makes you happy?''<</if>></p>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.drink" "coffee" autocheck>> Coffee. You don’t think you could function without this fix.</label></ul>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.drink" "tea" autocheck>> Tea. And you do not understand why anyone would think it tastes like ground.</label></ul>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.drink" "beer" autocheck>> Beer. Any kind will do.</label></ul>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.drink" "wine" autocheck>> Wine. You love grapes, in all of its forms.</label></ul>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.drink" "spirit" autocheck>> Spirits. Nothing less will have an effect on you.</label></ul>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.drink" "cocoa" autocheck>> Hot cocoa. You are not that edgy, even if you get strange looks when you order it.</label></ul>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.drink" "water" autocheck>> Water. Hydration is really important. Or so you’ve been told.</label></ul>
<p></p>
<ul><li> <<if def $drink>>[[Continue|MC6]]<<else>>[[Continue|MC5]]<</if>></li></ul><p><<if ndef $smoke>>Drinking may not be your only vice. ''Do you smoke?''<<else>><<if $mc.smoke is false>>It seems you are a smoker. ''Do you actually partake in that vice?''<<else>>$smoke does not seem to be your poison. ''Do you smoke something else instead?''<</if>><</if>></p>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.smoke" "pre-rolled" autocheck>> Yes, pre-rolled cigarettes.</label></ul>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.smoke" "hand-rolled" autocheck>> Yes, and you roll them yourself.</label></ul>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.smoke" "hashish" autocheck>> Yes, you smoke hashish.</label></ul>
<ul> <label><<radiobutton "$mc.smoke" false autocheck>> No, you don’t smoke.</label></ul>
<p></p>
<ul><li> [[Continue|MC6]]</li></ul><p>So, $mc.name<<if def $mc.nickname>>, or should I say $mc.nickname<</if>>. You’ve settled on using <<if $mc.pronouns is "Custom">><<They>>/<<Them>><<else>>$mc.pronouns<</if>>. You are also often seen drinking $mc.drink<<if $mc.smoke isnot false>>, and smoke $mc.smoke<</if>>. ''Is this all correct?''</p>
<ul><li> [[Yes, this is correct.|P1]]
<li> [[Nothing is correct. You want to choose everything from the beginning.|MC1][$clear to true]]
<li> <<linkappend "No, something is not correct.">>
<ul><li> <<link 'You are not named $mc.name.'>><<goto "MC1">><<set $name to true>><</link>></li>
<li> <<link 'Your friends <<if $mc.nickname>>do not call me by $mc.nickname<<else>>call you by a nickname<</if>>.'>><<goto "MC2">><<set $nickname to true>><</link>></li>
<li> <<link '<<if $mc.pronouns isnot "Custom">>$mc.pronouns<<else>><<They>>/<<Them>><</if>> are not your pronouns.'>><<goto "MC3">><<set $prono to true>><</link>></li>
<li> <<link 'You do not drink $mc.drink.'>><<goto "MC4">><<set $drink to true>><</link>></li>
<li> <<link '<<if $mc.smoke isnot false>>You do not smoke $mc.smoke<<else>>You actually smoke<</if>>.'>><<goto "MC5">><<set $smoke to true>><</link>></li></ul>
<</linkappend>></li>/*Start new MC */
<<widget "clear">><<unset $mc, $preset>><<set $mc to {}>><</widget>>
<<widget "cleared">><<if def $name>><<unset $name>><</if>><<if def $nickname>><<unset $nickname>><</if>><<if def $prono>><<unset $prono>><</if>><<if def $drink>><<unset $drink>><</if>><<if def $smoke>><<unset $smoke>><</if>><<if def $clear>><<unset $clear>><</if>><</widget>>
/*MC Name */
<<widget "name">><<if ndef $mc.nickname>>$mc.name<<else>><<print either($mc.nickname, $mc.name)>><</if>><</widget>>
/*MC Pronouns */
<<widget "They">><<switch $mc.pronouns>><<case "He/Him">>He<<case "She/Her">>She<<case "They/Them">>They<<case "Ae/Aer">>Ae<<case "E/Em">>E<<case "Custom">><<= $pronoun.they.toUpperFirst()>><</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "they">><<switch $mc.pronouns>><<case "He/Him">>he<<case "She/Her">>she<<case "They/Them">>they<<case "Ae/Aer">>ae<<case "E/Em">>e<<case "Custom">><<= $pronoun.they>><</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "Them">><<switch $mc.pronouns>><<case "He/Him">>Him<<case "She/Her">>Her<<case "They/Them">>Them<<case "Ae/Aer">>Aer<<case "E/Em">>Em<<case "Custom">><<= $pronoun.they.toUpperFirst()>><</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "them">><<switch $mc.pronouns>><<case "He/Him">>him<<case "She/Her">>her<<case "They/Them">>them<<case "Ae/Aer">>aer<<case "E/Em">>em<<case "Custom">><<= $pronoun.they>><</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "Their">><<switch $mc.pronouns>><<case "He/Him">>His<<case "She/Her">>Her<<case "They/Them">>Their<<case "Ae/Aer">>Aer<<case "E/Em">>Eir<<case "Custom">><<= $pronoun.they.toUpperFirst()>><</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "their">><<switch $mc.pronouns>><<case "He/Him">>his<<case "She/Her">>her<<case "They/Them">>their<<case "Ae/Aer">>aer<<case "E/Em">>eir<<case "Custom">><<= $pronoun.they>><</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "themselves">><<switch $mc.pronouns>><<case "He/Him">>himself<<case "She/Her">>herself<<case "They/Them">>themselves<<case "Ae/Aer">>aerself<<case "E/Em">>emself<<case "Custom">><<= $pronoun.themselves>><</switch>><</widget>>
/* MC VERBS */
<<widget "do">><<if $mc.plural is true>>do<<else>>does<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "dont">><<if $mc.plural is true>>don’t<<else>>doesn’t<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "look">><<if $mc.plural is true>>look<<else>>looks<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "use">><<if $mc.plural is true>>use<<else>>uses<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "need">><<if $mc.plural is true>>need<<else>>needs<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "fake">><<if $mc.plural is true>>fake<<else>>fakes<</if>><</widget>>
<<widget "are">><<switch $mc.plural>><<case true>>are<<case false>>is<</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "have">><<switch $mc.plural>><<case true>>have<<case false>>has<</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "feel">><<switch $mc.plural>><<case true>>feel<<case false>>feels<</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "explain">><<switch $mc.plural>><<case true>>explain<<case false>>explains<</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "like">><<switch $mc.plural>><<case true>>like<<case false>>likes<</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "blush">><<switch $mc.plural>><<case true>>blush<<case false>>blushes<</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "were">><<switch $mc.plural>><<case true>>were<<case false>>was<</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "s">><<switch $mc.plural>><<case true>><<case false>>s<</switch>><</widget>>
<<widget "re">><<switch $mc.plural>><<case true>>'re<<case false>>'s<</switch>><</widget>><div class="parent">
<div class="menu" data-passage="sidemenu"> </div>
<div class="gametitle" data-passage="gametitle"> </div>
<div class="cover"><div class= "inside"><div id="passages"></div></div></div>
<div class="navig" data-passage="navigation"> </div>
</div><<set $menu to true>>
<<set $game to 0>>
<!--MC-->
<<set $mc to {}, $mc.name to "Jean-François", $mc.nickname to "Jeannot", $mc.pronouns to "He/Him", $mc.plural to false, $mc.drink to "spirit", $mc.smoke to "pre-rolled">>
<<set $choice to {}>>
<!--Story Mode-->
<<set $noun1 to 0, $noun2 to 1, $adj1 to 9, $adj2 to 8>>
<<set $story to {}, $story.game to 0, $story.adjs to 0, $story.nouns to 0, $story.verbs to 0>>
<<set $ssentences = []>>
<<set $snouns = []>>
<<set $sverbs = []>>
<<set $sadj = []>>
<!--Endless Mode-->
<<set $endless to {}, $endless.game to 0, $endless.adjs to 0, $endless.nouns to 0, $endless.verbs to 0>>
<<set $esentences = []>>
<<set $esnouns = []>>
<<set $esverbs = []>>
<<set $esadj = []>>
<!--Achievements-->
<<set setup.achievement to {}>>
<<set $PlayerName = ["Manon", "Juliette", "Roméo", "Edmund", "Charles", "Camille", "Renaud", "Édouard", "Benjamin", "Stéphanie", "César", "Claude", "Jean", "Gertrude", "Paul", "Peggy", "Mina", "Ernest", "Walter", "Charles", "Pablo", "Willa", "André", "Coco", "Sylvia", "James", "Louis", "Theodore", "Clément", "Clémentine", "Emannuel", "Philippe", "George", "Tristan", "Céline", "Francis", "Zelda", "Igor", "Serge", "Sergei", "Vaslav", "Denise", "Kees", "Berenice", "Marc", "Fernand", "Francis", "Darius", "Arthur", "Germaine", "Léonard", "Dora", "Josephine", "Kiki", "Alice", "Robert", "Colette", "Ninon", "Simone", "Jean-Paul", "Albert"]>>
<!--Other-->
<<include "Adjectives">>
<<include "Nouns">>
<<include "Verbs">>
<<set $RANDOMOK to ["done", "your turn!", "next", "you'll never guess what I wrote."]>><<titlepage>>
<div><h1>Exquisite<br>
Cadaver</h1></div>
<div> </div>
<div><<if Save.autosave.ok() and Save.autosave.has()>><<link "Resume Game">><<script>>Save.autosave.load()<</script>><</link>> | <</if>><<link "New Game" "Title">><</link>><br>
<<link "Load Game">><<run UI.saves()>><</link>> | <<link "Settings">><<run UI.settings()>><</link>></div><p><h2>Welcome to //Exquisite Cadaver//, a surrealist interactive game.</h2></p>
<p><span style="font-family: var(--cursive); font-size: 150%;">cadavre exquis</span> - //a method by which a collection of words or images is collectively assembled, each collaborator adding to the composition in sequence, following a previously fixed rule.//</p>
<p>Aspiring to be a writer since you were quite little, you’ve always dreamt of striking it big with your words and being showered with the never-ending adoration of your many, many fans. Fame was one of the reasons you left your dull inconsequential village for the dazzling capital —along with your two closest childhood friends, Camille and Renaud—.</p>
<p>Now, some two years later, you have very little to show for it. Worse still, you are buried deep in writer’s block. Unable to put down a single word on a page, you will stop at nothing to get your mojo back! Even if it means having to waste your time, for just an afternoon, at the request of your friends —friends you have not seen in weeks—.</p>
<p>It is at the terrace table of a local café that they will propose to play a few rounds of a strange game: //Exquisite Cadaver//. Hilarity ensues?</p>
<center><ul><<if setup.endless isnot true>><li> [[Start the Game!|Story Mode]]</li>
<<else>><li> [[Play more of the Story|Story Mode]]</li>
<li> [[Play Endlessly|Endless Mode]]</li><</if>></ul></center>
<hr>
<center><<button "Menu Legend">>
<<dialog "Menu Legend">><style>#ui-dialog {min-width:0px; width:350px} #ui-dialog-body {width:inherit}</style><p>If you can hover over the icons, or have trouble reading the hovertip, you can find the legend of the menu here!<p>
<center>Side Menu</center>
<p><i class="fa-solid fa-paperclip"></i> - Toggle Menu</p>
<p><i class="fa-solid fa-i-cursor"></i> - Player Character</p>
<p><i class="fa-solid fa-file-lines"></i> - Played Sentences</p>
<p><i class="fa-solid fa-thumbtack"></i> - Achievements</p>
<p><i class="fa-solid fa-signature"></i> - Credits</p>
<p><i class="fa-solid fa-bookmark"></i> - Saves</p>
<p><i class="fa-solid fa-paragraph"></i> - Settings</p>
<p><i class="fa-solid fa-eraser"></i> - Restart</p>
<center>Bottom Menu</center>
<p><i class="fa-solid fa-quote-left"></i> - Back</p>
<p><i class="fa-solid fa-note-sticky"></i> - Random Words</p>
<p><i class="fa-solid fa-bug"></i> - Bug Report </p>
<p><i class="fa-solid fa-quote-right"></i> - Forward</p>
<</dialog>>
<</button>> <<button "Content Warning">>
<<dialog "Content Warning">><style>#ui-dialog {min-width:0px; width:350px} #ui-dialog-body {width:inherit}</style><p>This game is rated 16+ for:</p>
<ul><li>Alcohol (ab-)use</li>
<li>Drug induced hallucination (optional)</li>
<li>Mild swearing</li>
<li>Mentions of: crime, depression, drugs, sex, unhealthy relationships, violence.</li>
<li>Ending Specific: Round 9 (antisemitic slurs)</li> </ul>
<</dialog>>
<</button>></center>
<h5>The game contains words and phrases in French, <span class="mouseover">formatted this way</span>. Their translations are provided by clicking on them!</h5><p>Below, you can choose which Story Round you’d like to jump back to.<br>
<br>
<u>Please note:</u> you will be sent to the last part of that round, before you can choose to end or continue the game. It may render a sentence (and show the last one completed, from the story or endless).</p>
<div class="rounds"><<if hasVisited("G1-Reveal")>><<button "Round 1">><<goto "G1-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G2-Reveal")>><<button "Round 2">><<goto "G2-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G3-Reveal")>><<button "Round 3">><<goto "G3-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G4-Reveal")>><<button "Round 4">><<goto "G4-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G5-Reveal")>><<button "Round 5">><<goto "G5-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G6-Reveal")>><<button "Round 6">><<goto "G6-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G7-Reveal")>><<button "Round 7">><<goto "G7-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G8-Reveal")>><<button "Round 8">><<goto "G8-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G9-Reveal")>><<button "Round 9">><<goto "G9-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G10-Reveal")>><<button "Round 10">><<goto "G10-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G11-Reveal")>><<button "Round 11">><<goto "G11-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G12-Reveal")>><<button "Round 12">><<goto "G12-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G13-Reveal")>><<button "Round 13">><<goto "G13-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G14-Reveal")>><<button "Round 14">><<goto "G14-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G15-Reveal")>><<button "Round 15">><<goto "G15-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G16-Reveal")>><<button "Round 16">><<goto "G16-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G17-Reveal")>><<button "Round 17">><<goto "G17-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G18-Reveal")>><<button "Round 18">><<goto "G18-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G19-Reveal")>><<button "Round 19">><<goto "G19-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G20-Reveal")>><<button "Round 20">><<goto "G20-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G21-Reveal")>><<button "Round 21">><<goto "G21-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G22-Reveal")>><<button "Round 22">><<goto "G22-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G23-Reveal")>><<button "Round 23">><<goto "G23-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G24-Reveal")>><<button "Round 24">><<goto "G24-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G25-Reveal")>><<button "Round 25">><<goto "G25-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G26-Reveal")>><<button "Round 26">><<goto "G26-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G27-Reveal")>><<button "Round 27">><<goto "G27-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G28-Reveal")>><<button "Round 28">><<goto "G28-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G29-Reveal")>><<button "Round 29">><<goto "G29-Reveal">><</button>><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G30-Reveal")>><<button "Round 30">><<goto "G30-Reveal">><</button>><</if>></div><div class="title">Exquisite Cadaver</div><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-quote-left"></i>'>><<run Engine.backward()>><</link>> | <span title="Random Words"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-note-sticky"></i>'>><<script>>
Dialog.setup('Random Words');
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("randomwords").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></span> | <span title="Bug Report"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-bug"></i>'>><<script>>
Dialog.setup('Bug Report');
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Bug Report").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></span> |<<if State.length === State.size>><i class="fa-solid fa-quote-right"></i><<else>><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-quote-right"></i>'>><<run Engine.forward()>><</link>><</if>><ul><li> ''Game Version:'' v2.01 </li>
<li> ''Current Passage:'' <<print passage()>></li>
<li> [[Report a Bug|https://forms.gle/szZAuQwK9zNR4CJR8]]</li> </ul><p title="Toggle Menu"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-paperclip"></i>'>><<set $menu = !$menu>><<update>><</link>></p>
<<liveblock>><<if $menu is true>><<if hasVisited("P1")>><p title="Player Character"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-i-cursor"></i>'>><<script>>
Dialog.setup(State.variables.mc.name);
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("PlayerPage").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></p><</if>>
<<if hasVisited("G1-Reveal")>><p title="Played Sentences"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-file-lines"></i>'>><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Played Sentences");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Sentences").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></p><</if>>
<p title="Achievements"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-thumbtack"></i>'>><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Achievements");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Achievements").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></p>
<p title="Credits"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-signature"></i>'>><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Credits");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></p>
<p title="Saves"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-bookmark"></i>'>><<script>>UI.saves();<</script>><</link>></p>
<p title="Settings"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-paragraph"></i>'>><<script>>UI.settings();<</script>><</link>></p>
<p title="Restart"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-eraser"></i>'>><<script>>UI.restart();<</script>><</link>></p><</if>><</liveblock>>/*Maybe have a lil bit about the player? */
<p>//''Story Mode''//</p>
<p>You have played $story.game <<if $story.game lte 1>>round<<else>>rounds<</if>> with Camille and Renaud.</p>
<p>You have written:</p>
<ul><li> $story.adjs <<if $story.adjs lte 1>>adjective<<else>>verbs<</if>></li>
<li> $story.nouns <<if $story.nouns lte 1>>noun<<else>>verbs<</if>></li>
<li> $story.verbs <<if $story.verbs lte 1>>verb<<else>>verbs<</if>></li>
</ul>
<br>
<p>//''Endless Mode''//</p>
<p>You have played $endless.game <<if $endless.game lte 1>>round<<else>>rounds<</if>> in Endless mode.</p>
<p>You have written:</p>
<ul><li> $endless.adjs <<if $endless.adjs lte 1>>adjective<<else>>verbs<</if>> </li>
<li> $endless.nouns <<if $endless.nouns lte 1>>noun<<else>>verbs<</if>></li>
<li> $endless.verbs <<if $endless.verbs lte 1>>verb<<else>>verbs<</if>></li>
</ul><style>
#ui-dialog-body {
background-image: url(large_leather2.png);
border: none;
padding-top: 0;
}
</style>
<p style="color: transparent;">a</p>
<center><<button "Export Everything">><<set $all to {}, $all.storysentence to $ssentences, $all.endlesssentence to $esentences, $all.storynoun to $snouns, $all.storyverb to $sverbs, $all.storyadjective to $sadj, $all.endlessnoun to $esnouns, $all.endlessverb to $esverbs, $all.endlessadjective to $esadj>><<export $eswords 'Story Words' 'text'>><</button>></center>
<hr>
<section class="paper">
<article class="paperheader">Story Mode</article>
<<for _i to 0; _i lt $ssentences.length; _i++>>
<<print _i + 1>>. <<= $ssentences[_i].toUpperFirst()>> .
<</for>>
</section>
<p style="color: transparent;">a</p>
<center><<button "Export Sentences">><<export $ssentences 'Story Sentences' 'text'>><</button>> | <<button "Export Played Words">><<set $sswords to {}, $sswords.noun to $snouns, $sswords.verb to $sverbs, $sswords.adjective to $sadj>><<export $sswords 'Story Words' 'text'>><</button>></center>
<hr>
<section class="paper">
<article class="paperheader">Endless Mode</article>
<<for _i to 0; _i lt $esentences.length; _i++>>
<<print _i + 1>>. $esentences[_i]
<</for>>
</section>
<p style="color: transparent;">a</p>
<center><<button "Export Sentences">><<export $esentences 'Endless Sentences' 'text'>><</button>> | <<button "Export Played Words">><<set $eswords to {}, $eswords.noun to $esnouns, $eswords.verb to $esverbs, $eswords.adjective to $esadj>><<export $eswords 'Story Words' 'text'>><</button>></center><h2>Basic Unlocks (4):</h2>
<ul>
<li> <<if setup.endless is true>>Endless Mode Unlocked.<<else>>You need to play the //Story Mode// a bit longer to unlock this.<</if>></li>
<li> <<if setup.achievement.tutorial is true>>''Tutorial Completed!''<br>Now, you know the rules of the game!<<else>>Learn about the rules of the Cadavre Exquis.<</if>></li>
<li><<if setup.achievement.blank is true>>''You can’t leave it blank!''<br>You left the textbox blank. Why? Don’t you like the game?<<else>>Go against the game<</if>></li>
<li><<if setup.achievement.double is true>>''Are you even trying?''<br>You’ve used the same noun or adjective during a round. How boring…<<else>>You will have to be uncreative to unlock this.<</if>></li>
</ul>
<h2>Story Mode Achievements (8):</h2>
<ul>
<li><<if setup.achievement.noopen is true>>''Alienating your friends.''<br>You refused to open the page. What are you afraid of?<<else>>Blowing your first choice…<</if>></li>
<li><<if setup.achievement.nogame is true>>''Not even once.''<br>You did not even try to play one game. Party pooper.<<else>>Embrace the blandness of life. You are a boring adult.<</if>></li>
<li><<if setup.achievement.apolo is true>>''Righting a Wrong.''<br>You apologised to your friend for your actions<<else>>Face your wrongdoings.<</if>></li>
<li><<if setup.achievement.stuck is true>>''Stuck to your principles.''<br>You refused to apologise to your friend, believing your actions should be judged in the context of your situation.<<else>>Refuse to face the truth.<</if>></li>
<li><<if setup.achievement.giveup is true>>''Give up on your last standing relations.''<br>You tried to apologise for your action, but realised the schism between you and your friends was too large to be mended.<<else>>Face a different kind of truth.<</if>></li>
<li><<if setup.achievement.impossible is true>>''One in a forty million, give or take.''<br>Camille or Roland used the same word during their round. That probability was suuuper low.<<else>>This will require a lot of luck to unlock.<</if>></li>
/*o You’ve played enough to get this pity unlock. Click here!
<li>Probabilities are for suckers.*/
<li><<if setup.achievement.nopage is true>>''No more pages.''<br>You emptied your notebook playing with your friends. Time to buy a new one.<<else>>Have you truly finished the Story mode? *<</if>></li>
<li><<if setup.achievement.multi is true>>''Multi-verse theorem confirmed.''<br>You really put $mc.name through the grinder to reach all those endings, huh?<<else>>This will require many restarts of the game. *<</if>></li></ul>
<h2>Endless Mode Achievements (1):</h2>
<ul><li><<if setup.achievement.endlessmax is true>>''Was it worth it?''<br>Play over 600 rounds of Regular Game in Endless<<else>>Play the game many, many, many times.<</if>></li></ul>
<p></p>
<p>* Currently unachievable.</p><h1>Exquisite Cadaver</h1>
<p>was created, written and built by ''manonamora'' on Twine/Sugarcube, based on the popular French surrealist word game //Cadavre Exquis//.</p>
<ul><li> <i class="fa-brands fa-tumblr"></i> [[@manonamora-if|https://manonamora-if.tumblr.com/]]</li>
<li> <i class="fa-brands fa-itch-io"></i> [[@manonamora|https://manonamora.itch.io/]]</li>
<li> <i class="fa-solid fa-mug-saucer"></i> [[@manonamora|https://ko-fi.com/manonamora]]</li></ul>
<h5>[[Last patch notes|https://manonamora.itch.io/exquisite-cadaver/devlog]]<br>
[[Find the template of this game here|https://manonamora.itch.io/twine-sugarcube-templates]]<br>
This game is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual person, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.</h5>
<hr>
<p>This project was made possible thanks to the resources and individuals below:</p>
<h1>Macros/Code:</h1>
<ul><li> [[Chapel|https://twinelab.net/custom-macros-for-sugarcube-2/demo/]]</li>
<li> [[Cycy|https://github.com/cyrusfirheir/cycy-wrote-custom-macros/tree/master/live-update]]</li>
<li> [[HiEv|https://qjzhvmqlzvoo5lqnrvuhmg-on.drv.tw/UInv/Sample_Code.html]]</li>
<li>[[SjoerdHekking|https://www.writtenhorror.com/]]</li>
<li>[[TME|https://gist.github.com/tmedwards]]</li></ul>
<h1>Assets:</h1>
<ul><li> [[Dafont|https://www.dafontfree.io/]]</li>
<li> [[FontAwesome|https://fontawesome.com/]]</li>
<li> [[GoogleFonts|https://fonts.google.com]]</li>
<li>[[Toptal|https://www.toptal.com/]] </li>
<li> [[Transparent Textures|https://www.transparenttextures.com/]]</li></ul>
<h1>Other:</h1>
<ul><li> [[Sugarcube 2 Documentation|https://www.motoslave.net/sugarcube/2/docs/]]</li>
<li> [[Twinery.org|https://twinery.org/]]</li>
<li> [[Intfiction.org|https://intfiction.org/c/authoring/twine]]</li>
<li> [[Reddit r/twinegames|https://www.reddit.com/r/twinegames/]]</li>
<li>[[W3 School|https://www.w3schools.com/]]</li>
</ul>
<h2>Special thanks to [[Albie|https://gamesbyalbie.tumblr.com/]], [[Arlo|https://magiciansvoyage.tumblr.com]] and [[Jinx|https://lapinlunairegames.tumblr.com]] for their help and ideas.</h2><p><<message "I need an adjective.">>
<ul><li><<print either($Adjective)>></li>
<li><<print either($Adjective)>></li>
<li><<print either($Adjective)>></li>
<li><<print either($Adjective)>></li>
<li><<print either($Adjective)>></li>
<li><<print either($Adjective)>></li></ul><</message>></p>
<br>
<p><<message "I need a noun.">>
<ul><li><<print either($Noun)>></li>
<li><<print either($Noun)>></li>
<li><<print either($Noun)>></li>
<li><<print either($Noun)>></li>
<li><<print either($Noun)>></li>
<li><<print either($Noun)>></li></ul><</message>></p>
<br>
<p><<message "I need a verb.">>
<ul><li><<print either($Verb)>></li>
<li><<print either($Verb)>></li>
<li><<print either($Verb)>></li>
<li><<print either($Verb)>></li>
<li><<print either($Verb)>></li>
<li><<print either($Verb)>></li></ul><</message>></p><<set $Adjective to ["abandoned", "abducted", "aberrant", "abominable", "abhorrent", "abiding", "ambitious", "abject", "able", "abnormal", "abolishable", "abominable", "above", "abrasive", "abridgeable", "abridged", "abroad", "abrupt", "absent", "absolute", "absolved", "absorbed", "absorbent", "absorbing", "abstinent", "abstract", "absurd", "abundant", "abysmal", "accelerated", "accelerating", "accented", "acceptable", "acceptant", "accepted", "accepting", "accessible", "accidental", "accommodable", "accommodating", "accompanied", "accompanying", "accomplished", "accountable", "accredited", "accumulated", "accumulative", "accurate", "accusing", "accused", "achievable", "achromatic", "achy", "acidic", "acidulent", "acidulous", "acknowledgeable", "acknowledged", "acoustic", "acquainted", "acquired", "acquitted", "acrobatic", "acting", "activated", "activating", "active", "actual", "adaptable", "adaptative", "adapted", "addicted", "addictive", "adept", "adequate", "adjacent", "admirable", "admired", "adopted", "adorable", "adored", "advanced", "advancing", "advantaged", "advantageous", "adventuresome", "adventurous", "advised", "aerobatic", "aeronautic", "affected", "affectionate", "affiliated", "afflicted", "affluent", "affordable", "aforementioned", "afraid", "ageless", "aggravated", "aggravating", "aggressive", "agile", "aging", "agitated", "agonizing", "agoraphobic", "agreeable", "agreeing", "aimless", "alarmed", "alarming", "alert", "alien", "alienated", "alive", "alleged", "allegoric", "allotted", "alluring", "allusive", "almighty", "aloof", "alpine", "alterative", "alternate", "altruistic", "amateur", "amazed", "amazing", "ambiguous", "ambitious", "ambivalent", "amenable", "amended", "amiable", "amicable", "ammoniac", "amnesic", "amoral", "amphibious", "ample", "amused", "amusing", "anachronistic", "anaemic", "analogous", "analytical", "analyzed", "anatomical", "anchorless", "ancient", "androgynous", "anecdotal", "anemic", "anesthetized", "angelic", "angelical", "angered", "angled", "angry", "animated", "annihilated", "announced", "annoyed", "annoying", "annual", "anonymous", "answering", "antagonistic", "antagonizing", "anticipated", "anticlimactic", "antiquarian", "antiquated", "antique", "antisocial", "anxious", "apathetic", "apocalyptic", "apolitical", "apologetic", "appalled", "appalling", "apparent", "appealing", "appeasing", "applied", "appointed", "appraised", "appreciated", "appropriate", "approved", "approximate", "apt", "aquatic", "aquiline", "arabesque", "arachnidan", "arachnoid", "arboreal", "arcane", "archaeological", "archaic", "arched", "arching", "architectural", "archival", "archived", "ardent", "argent", "arguable", "arguing", "argumentative", "arid", "aristocratic", "armed", "armless", "armored", "aromatic", "aroused", "arranged", "arrested", "arriving", "arrogant", "artful", "articulated", "artificial", "artisanal", "artistic", "ascending", "asexual", "ashy", "asinine", "asking", "asleep", "asocial", "asphyxiated", "aspirant", "assassinated", "assertive", "assigned", "assisting", "assorted", "assumed", "asthmatic", "astigmatic", "astonishing", "astounding", "astral", "astrological", "astronomical", "asymmetric", "asymptomatic", "asynchronous", "atomic", "atonal", "atrocious", "attached", "attacking", "attainable", "attained", "attentive", "attested", "attractive", "atypical", "auburn", "audacious", "audible", "augmented", "augmenting", "auspicious", "austere", "authentic", "authorised", "authoritarian", "autistic", "autobiographical", "autocratic", "automated", "automatic", "autumnal", "auxiliary", "available", "avengeful", "avenged", "average", "averse", "avid", "avoidable", "awaited", "awake", "awakened", "awakening", "aware", "awed", "awesome", "awful", "awkward", "axillary", "azure", "babbling", "baby", "back", "backboned", "backboneless", "backbreaking", "backed", "backhanded", "backless", "backstage", "backward", "bacterial", "bad", "baffled", "baffling", "baggy", "baked", "baking", "balanced", "bald", "balky", "balmy", "bamboo", "banal", "bandaged", "banging", "bankrupt", "banned", "bantering", "barbarian", "barbaric", "barbecued", "bare", "bared", "bargain", "barky", "baroque", "barred", "barren", "barricaded", "baseless", "bashful", "basic", "bastard", "bated", "battered", "battled", "bawdy", "beached", "beaded", "beady", "beamy", "bearable", "bearded", "beastly", "beat", "beaten", "beautiful", "becoming", "bedded", "bedridden", "beefy", "beguiled", "beheaded", "behind", "beige", "bejeweled", "belated", "believable", "belittled", "belligerent", "beloved", "bemused", "bended", "bending", "benefic", "beneficial", "benevolent", "benign", "bent", "berserk", "besieged", "bespoke", "best", "bested", "bestial", "betraying", "betrayed", "betrothed", "bewildered", "bewitched", "biannual", "biased", "bicentennial", "big", "bighearted", "bilingual", "billed", "bimillenary", "bimonthly", "binary", "binding", "biodegradable", "bionic", "biracial", "birch", "bisexual", "bitchy", "biting", "bitten", "bitter", "bittersweet", "biyearly", "bizarre", "black", "blackened", "blamed", "blameful", "blameless", "bland", "blank", "blasphemous", "blazing", "bleached", "bleak", "bleeding", "blemished", "blended", "blessed", "blighted", "blind", "blinded", "blindfolded", "blinking", "blissful", "blistered", "blizzardy", "bloated", "blocked", "blond", "blooded", "bloody", "bloomed", "bloomy", "blown", "blowy", "blue", "blunt", "blushing", "blurry", "bodied", "bogus", "boiled", "boiling", "bold", "bolted", "bombastic", "bonded", "boned", "bony", "booked", "bookish", "booming", "bootlicking", "boozy", "bordered", "bordering", "borderless", "borderline", "bored", "boring", "born", "bossy", "botanical", "botched", "bothered", "bothersome", "bottom", "bottomless", "bouffant", "bought", "bouncing", "bouncy", "bound", "boundless", "bourgeois", "bovine", "bowed", "bowing", "boxed", "boyish", "bracing", "bragging", "braided", "brainless", "brainy", "branded", "brash", "bratty", "brave", "brawny", "brazen", "breached", "breakable", "breaking", "breathing", "breathless", "breathtaking", "breathy", "breeched", "breeding", "breezy", "brick", "bricky", "bridal", "brief", "bright", "brilliant", "brisk", "brittle", "broad", "broadcast", "broadside", "broiled", "broke", "broken", "bronze", "bronzed", "bronzy", "brooding", "broody", "brotherly", "brown", "browned", "browny", "bruised", "bruising", "brunette", "brusque", "brutal", "brute", "brutish", "bubbly", "bubonic", "budgetary", "buff", "bugged", "buggy", "building", "built", "bulgy", "bulky", "bullied", "bullying", "bumpy", "bunchy", "buoyant", "burdened", "bureaucratic", "buried", "burlesque", "burnt", "burst", "bursting", "bushed", "bushy", "busted", "busty", "busy", "butch", "buttery", "buttoned", "buzzing", "cacophonic", "cacophonous", "calamitous", "calculated", "calculating", "calibrated", "callous", "calm", "calming", "caloric", "calved", "camouflaged", "camp", "campy", "canary", "cancelled", "cancerous", "candid", "candied", "canicular", "canine", "canned", "cannibalistic", "canonical", "capable", "caped", "capital", "capitalist", "capitalistic", "capitulated", "capricious", "captivated", "captivating", "captive", "caramel", "carbonated", "carcinogenic", "cardboard", "cardiac", "cardinal", "carefree", "careful", "careless", "caressing", "caring", "carnal", "carneous", "carnivorous", "carpeted", "carsick", "carved", "cased", "cashed", "cast", "castrated", "casual", "cataclysmal", "catastrophic", "catchable", "catching", "catchy", "categorized", "catty", "causal", "causative", "causeless", "cautious", "cavalier", "cavernous", "cayenned", "ceaseless", "celebrated", "celebratory", "celestial", "celiac", "celibate", "cellular", "censored", "censured", "centaurian", "centenarian", "centenary", "centennial", "center", "centered", "central", "centralized", "centrist", "ceramic", "cerated", "ceremonial", "ceremonious", "cerise", "certain", "certifiable", "certified", "cerulean", "chagrined", "chained", "chainless", "challengeable", "challenging", "chambered", "champion", "chanceful", "chanceless", "changeable", "changed", "changeful", "changeless", "changing", "chanted", "chaotic", "charged", "chargeful", "chargeless", "charismatic", "charitable", "charmed", "charming", "charmless", "chaste", "chatty", "chauvinistic", "cheap", "cheating", "checkered", "cheeky", "cheerful", "cheering", "cheery", "cheesy", "chemical", "cherished", "cherry", "chestnut", "chic", "chicken", "chief", "chiffon", "childly", "chill", "chilled", "chilly", "chipped", "chipper", "chiseled", "chivalrous", "chocolate", "chocolaty", "chopped", "chosen", "chromatic", "chubby", "chunky", "cinematic", "circular", "citric", "citrous", "citrus", "civil", "civilized", "clairvoyant", "clandestine", "clarified", "clarifying", "classic", "classical", "classy", "claustrophobic", "clean", "cleaned", "cleansed", "clear", "cleared", "clement", "clever", "climatic", "clingy", "clinical", "cloaked", "clockwise", "close", "closed", "closing", "clothed", "cloudy", "cloven", "clownish", "clueless", "clumsy", "coarse", "cocky", "coconut", "coercive", "coherent", "cohesive", "coincidental", "cold", "collapsed", "collected", "collective", "colonial", "colonialist", "colonized", "coloured", "colourful", "colourless", "comatose", "combatant", "combustive", "comedic", "comfortable", "comforted", "comforting", "comical", "compact", "completed", "complex", "complying", "composed", "compressed", "concealed", "concealing", "conceded", "conceding", "conceited", "concerned", "concise", "concrete", "condemned", "condensed", "condescending", "confessed", "confident", "configured", "confined", "confining", "confirmed", "conflicting", "confused", "congenial", "congratulant", "connected", "conquered", "conscious", "consenting", "conservative", "conserved", "constant", "constipated", "constrained", "constraining", "constricted", "constructive", "consumed", "consummated", "contactual", "contained", "contaminated", "content", "contestable", "contested", "controlled", "controlling", "converted", "conveyed", "convict", "convicted", "convinced", "convincing", "convivial", "convoluted", "cooked", "cool", "cooled", "cooperative", "coordinated", "copied", "copious", "coppery", "coquettish", "coral", "cordial", "corked", "corky", "cornered", "corny", "corporal", "correct", "corrected", "correctional", "corrective", "corrigible", "corrosive", "corrupt", "corrupted", "corruptible", "corrupting", "cosmetic", "cosmic", "cosmopolitan", "costal", "costly", "costumed", "cosy", "counterfeit", "courageous", "courteous", "covered", "covert", "coveted", "coward", "cowardly", "cowering", "coy", "cozy", "crabby", "crafty", "cranky", "crass", "crazy", "creamy", "creative", "credible", "credited", "credulous", "creeping", "creepy", "crematory", "criminal", "crimson", "crinkled", "crinkly", "crippled", "crippling", "crisp", "crispy", "critical", "criticized", "croaking", "crocus", "crook", "cropped", "crossed", "crouched", "crowded", "crowned", "crowning", "crucial", "crude", "cruel", "crumbly", "crushable", "crushed", "crushing", "crustacean", "crusted", "crusty", "crying", "cryptal", "cryptic", "cryptical", "crystal", "crystallized", "cubic", "cubist", "cuddly", "culinary", "culminant", "cultish", "cultivated", "cultural", "cultured", "cultureless", "cumberless", "cumbersome", "cunning", "curable", "cured", "curious", "curled", "curly", "current", "cursed", "cursing", "cursive", "curved", "curvy", "cushy", "cussed", "custodial", "custom", "customable", "customary", "cut", "cute", "cutting", "cyan", "cybernetic", "cyclical", "cylindrical", "cynical", "cyprian", "damaged", "damp", "dangerous", "deafening", "decent", "decisive", "delicate", "dep", "delicious", "delightful", "delusional", "depressed", "desperate", "detailed", "discreet", "disturbed", "dizzy", "doubting", "dry", "drunk", "dull", "dusty", "dynamic", "dysfunctional", "eager", "easy", "eatable", "educated", "efficient", "elated", "elegant", "elite", "embarrassed", "embarrassing", "emotional", "empty", "enchanting", "energetic", "enormous", "entertaining", "enthusiastic", "equal", "erratic", "ethereal", "evasive", "excellent", "excited", "exciting", "exclusive", "exotic", "expensive", "faint", "false", "familiar", "famous", "fanatical", "fast", "federal", "festive", "fierce", "filthy", "first", "five", "flat", "flawless", "foamy", "foolish", "foreign", "fragile", "frantic", "freezing", "fresh", "frightened", "frightening", "full", "future", "fuzzy", "gainful", "general", "gentle", "gigantic", "gifted", "glamorous", "global", "glorious", "godly", "good", "gorgeous", "graceful", "grateful", "gray", "greasy", "great", "greedy", "green", "grotesque", "grubby", "grumpy", "guilty", "habitual", "handsome", "handy", "happy", "hard", "hard-boiled", "harsh", "hated", "hateful", "healthy", "heavenly", "heavy", "helpful", "helpless", "high", "hilarious", "historical", "hollow", "honorable", "horrible", "hospitable", "hot", "huge", "humorous", "hungry", "hurried", "hurt", "hushed", "husky", "hypnotic", "hysterical", "icky", "icy", "idiotic", "ignorant", "ill", "illegal", "imaginary", "imminent", "impartial", "imperfect", "impolite", "important", "impossible", "impressive", "incompetent", "inconclusive", "incredible", "infamous", "informed", "inner", "innocent", "inquisitive", "insidious", "intelligent", "interesting", "invicible", "irritating", "jade", "jaded", "jaggy", "jailed", "jammed", "jaundiced", "jazzy", "jealous", "jellied", "jerking", "jerky", "jestful", "jesting", "jewelled", "jiggly", "jinxed", "jittery", "joking", "joyful", "joyless", "joyous", "jubilant", "judgmental", "judicious", "juicy", "jumbo", "jumpy", "junior", "just", "justifiable", "justified", "juvenile", "keen", "kempt", "kept", "key", "keyed", "keyless", "kickable", "kicked", "killing", "killed", "kilted", "kin", "kind", "kindred", "kinetic", "kingdomless", "kingless", "kingly", "kinky", "kneeling", "knightly", "knitted", "knobbed", "knobbly", "knobby", "knocked-down", "knotted", "knotty", "knowable", "knowing", "knowledgeable", "known", "kooky", "kosher", "large", "last", "late", "lavish", "lazy", "lean", "learned", "lethal", "lewd", "light", "likeable", "liquid", "little", "living", "logical", "lonely", "long", "longing", "loud", "lovely", "low", "lucky", "lyrical", "macabre", "mad", "magenta", "magical", "magnificent", "malicious", "marvelous", "mature", "mean", "measly", "mellow", "melted", "merciful", "messy", "milky", "mindless", "modern", "moaning", "moldy", "mundane", "mute", "mysterious", "naive", "nappy", "narrow", "nasty", "natural", "naughty", "nauseating", "neat", "nebulous", "necessary", "needy", "nervous", "new", "nice", "nifty", "nimble", "noiseless", "noisy", "nonchalant", "normal", "nostalgic", "nosy", "nutty", "null", "nutricious", "oak", "obconic", "obedient", "obese", "objectionable", "oblatory", 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"original", "ornamental", "ornamented", "ornate", "orphan", "orphaned", "oscillating", "ostentatious", "otherworldly", "outdated", "outdone", "outdoor", "outdoorsy", "outermost", "outgoing", "outlandish", "outlawed", "outraged", "outrageous", "outspoken", "oval", "overbearing", "overblown", "overcritical", "overdressed", "overdue", "overexcited", "overheated", "overindulgent", "overjoyed", "overnight", "overprotective", "overscrupulous", "oversea", "oversensitive", "oversimplified", "overstuffed", "overt", "overwhelmed", "overwhelming", "overzealous", "ovular", "owed", "owned", "ownerless", "painful", "pale", "past", "pathetic", "peaceful", "plain", "pleasant", "pointless", "poised", "poisonous", "poor", "popular", "powerful", "practical", "precious", "pretty", "productive", "protective", "proud", "pure", "purple", "pushy", "puzzled", "quack", "quaint", "qualified", "quarrelsome", "quartered", "quarterly", "queasy", "queenly", "queer", "questionable", "quick", "quiet", "quirky", "quotable", "quotidian", "rampant", "rapid", "rare", "ready", "real", "realistic", "reasonable", "recent", "receptive", "red", "redundant", "reflective", "relevant", "relieved", "regular", "resolute", "rethorical", "rigged", "right", "righteous", "rigid", "ripe", "roasted", "robust", "romantic", "rotten", "round", "rough", "royal", "rude", "rural", "rustic", "sad", "salty", "scandalous", "scary", "scattered", "secretive", "shallow", "short", "sick", "silly", "simple", "skillful", "sleepy", "smart", "smelly", "smiling", "soft", "solid", "sore", "sparkling", "spectacular", "spicy", "spooky", "stale", "standing", "strong", "stupid", "sudden", "superficial", "suspicious", "sweet", "taboo", "tacky", "talented", "tall", "tame", "tangible", "tasteless", "tasty", "temporary", "tender", "tense", "terrible", "terrific", "tested", "thin", "thirsty", "thoughtful", "thoughtless", "threatening", "tight", "tired", "tiresome", "tough", "traditional", "tranquil", "trashy", "tremendous", "tricky", "troubled", "true", "truthful", "ugly", "ultra", "undesirable", "unfair", "unhealthy", "united", "unique", "unkempt", "unnatural", "unruly", "upbeat", "upset", "uptight", "used", "useful", "utopian", "vacant", "vaccinated", "vacuous", "vagabond", "vagrant", "vague", "vain", "valiant", "valid", "validated", "validating", "valuable", "valued", "valved", "vampiric", "vanished", "vanishing", "vanquished", "vapid", "vaporized", "variable", "variant", "varnished", "vascular", "vast", "vegetal", "vegetarian", "vegetative", "veiled", "veined", "veiny", "velvet", "velvety", "venerable", "venerated", "vengeful", "venomous", "ventilated", "veracious", "verified", "veritable", "vernacular", "versatile", "vertebrate", "veteran", "vexed", "vexing", "viable", "vibrant", "vibrating", "vicarious", "vicious", "victimized", "victorious", "vigilant", "vigorous", "villainous", "vindicated", "vindictive", "vintage", "violent", "violet", "viral", "virgin", "virile", "virtual", "virtuous", "visible", "visionary", "visiting", "vital", "vitriolic", "vivacious", "vivid", "vixen", "vocal", "voiced", "voiceless", "volatile", "volcanic", "volumed", "voluminous", "voluntary", "voodooistic", "voyeuristic", "vulcanian", "vulgar", "vulnerable", "wacky", "wailing", "waisted", "waiting", "waking", "walking", "walnut", "wandering", "waney", "wanted", "warm", "warming", "warning", "warped", "warranted", "washable", "washed", "wasted", "wasteful", "watchful", "waterproof", "watertight", "watery", "wavy", "waxed", "wayfaring", "weak", "weakened", "weakening", "weakly", "wealthy", "wearable", "weary", "weaving", "wed", "wedgy", "weeded", "weedy", "weekly", "weeping", "weighted", "weighty", "weird", "welcoming", "well", "west", "western", "wet", "whacked", "whacky", "wheeled", "wheeling", "wheezy", "whimsical", "whining", "whiny", "whirling", "whiskered", "whispering", "white", "whitened", "whitewashed", "whole", "wholesome", "whopping", "whorish", "wicked", "wide", "widowed", "wieldy", "wiggly", "wild", "willed", "willful", "willing", "wilted", "wimpy", "winding", "windless", "windy", "winey", "winking", "winning", "wintery", "wired", "wireless", "wiry", "wise", "wised", "wishful", "witching", "witchy", "withdrawn", "withered", "withering", "witless", "witnessed", "witty", "wobbling", "wobbly", "wonderful", "wondering", "wonky", "wooden", "woodsy", "woody", "woolly", "wordless", "wordy", "worked", "working", "workless", "worldly", "worn", "worried", "worrisome", "worrying", "worsened", "worsening", "worshipped", "worshipping", "worst", "worthless", "worthwhile", "worthy", "wounded", "woven", "wrapped", "wrathful", "wrathless", "wrecked", "wretched", "wrinkled", "wrinkly", "written", "wrong", "wronged", "wrongful", "wrought", "wry", "wuthering", "yawning", "yearlong", "yearly", "yearning", "yeasty", "yelling", "yellow", "yellowed", "yellowish", "yielding", "yolky", "young", "younger", "youngish", "youthful", "yucky", "yummy", "zaniest", "zany", "zealous", "zenithal", "zeolitic", "zestful", "zesty", "zigzagy", "zingy", "zippy", "zonal", "zoological", "zoomorphic", "zoophilous", "zoophobous"]>><<set $Verb to ["called", "calls", "enforced", "enforces", "inherited", "inherits", "kept", "keeps", "keyd", "keyed", "kicked", "kicks", "kidnaps", "kidnapped", "killed", "kills", "kissed", "kisses", "kneaded", "kneads", "knees", "kneed", "knew", "knows", "knifes", "knifes", "knighted", "knights", "nagged", "nags", "nailed", "nails", "named", "names", "napped", "naps", "narrated", "narrates", "navigated", "navigates", "needed", "needs", "neglected", "neglects", "neutralized", "neutralizes", "nicknamed", "nicknames", "nominated", "nominates", "normalised", "normalises", "noted", "notes", "noticed", "notices", "notified", "notifies", "nudges", "nudged", "nuked", "nukes", "nullified", "nullifies", "nursed", "nurses", "nurtured", "nurtures", "obeyed", "obeys", "obfuscated", "obfuscates", "objected", "objects", "objectifies", "objectified", "obscured", "obscures", "observed", "observes", "obsessed over", "obsesses over", "obstructed", "obstructs", "obtained", "obtains", "occupies", "occupied", "offended", "offends", "offered", "offers", "offset", "offsets", "ogled", "ogles", "opened", "opens", "operated", "operates", "opposed", "opposes", "oppressed", "oppresses", "optimized", "optimizes", "orchestrated", "orchestrates", "ordered", "orders", "outshined", "outshines", "overcame", "overcomes", "owed", "owes", "owned", "owns", "talks to", "talked to", "teaches", "teached", "tears", "tore", "telephones", "telephoned", "tells", "told", "tempts", "tempted", "tests", "tested", "throws", "threw", "ties", "tied", "trades", "traded", "transports", "transported", "undermines", "undermined", "understands", "understood", "unites", "united", "upsets", "upset", "urges", "urged", "uses", "used", "vacated", "vacates", "vaccinated", "vaccinates", "vacuumed", "vacuums", "validated", "validates", "valorized", "valorizes", "valued", "values", "vandalized", "vandalizes", "vaporized", "vaporizes", "varnished", "varnishes", "veneered", "veneers", "ventilated", "ventilates", "verbalized", "verbalizes", "verified", "verifies", "vetoed", "vetoes", "vexed", "vexes", "victimized", "victimizes", "videotaped", "videotapes", "viewed", "views", "vilified", "vilifies", "vindicated", "vindicates", "violated", "violates", "visited", "visits", "vocalized", "vocalizes", "vomited", "vomits", "voted for", "votes for", "vouched for", "vouches for", "wagered", "wagers", "waited for", "waits for", "waived", "waives", "waked", "wakes", "walked", "walks", "walked with", "walks with", "waltzed with", "waltzes with", "wanted", "wants", "warded off", "wards off", "warmed", "warms", "warned", "warns", "washed", "washes", "wasted", "wastes", "watched", "watches", "waved", "waves", "waved at", "waves at", "weakened", "weakens", "wears", "wore", "weaveed", "weaves", "wedded", "weds", "welcomed", "welcomes", "wet", "wets", "whacked", "whacks", "whipped", "whips", "whisked", "whisks", "whispered", "whispers", "wins", "won", "winked at", "winks at", "wiped", "wipes", "wished for", "wishes for", "withdraws", "withdrew", "withheld", "withholds", "worked", "works", "worked for", "works for", "worshipped", "worships", "wound", "wounds", "wrapped", "wraps", "wrecked", "wrecks", "wrestled", "wrestles", "writes", "wrong", "wrongs", "wrote", "yapped", "yaps", "yearned for", "yearns for", "yelled", "yells", "yellowed", "yellows", "yielded", "yields", "yodeled", "yodels", "yowled", "yowls", "zapped", "zaps", "zested", "zests", "zigzagged", "zigzags", "zoomed","zooms"]>><<set $Noun to ["ardvark", "abalone", "abbess", "abbey", "abbot", "abdication", "abdicator", "abdomen", "abduction", "abductor", "aberration", "ability", "abnormality", "abode", "abolisher", "abomination", "absence", "absentee", "absinthe", "abstention", "abstinence", "abuser", "abyss", "academia", "academy", "accent", "access", "accessory", "accident", "acclaim", "accolade", "accommodation", "accomplice", "accompt", "accord", "accordion", "account", "accountant", "accuracy", "accused", "accuser", "acetone", "ache", "achievement", "achiever", "acid", "acidity", "acknowledgement", "acolyte", "acorn", "acquaintance", "acquisition", "acquittal", "acre", "acrobat", "acropolis", "act", "acting", "action", "activation", "activism", "activist", "actor", "actress", "acumen", "acupuncture", "adaptability", "adaptation", "adapter", "addict", "addiction", "address", "adept", "adieu", "adjective", "admin", "administration", "administrator", "admiral", "admiration", "admirer", "admissibility", "admission", "admonishment", "admonition", "admonitor", "adolescence", "adolescent", "adopter", "adoption", "adoration", "adorer", "adornment", "adrenaline", "adsorption", "adult", "adulterer", "adulteress", "adultery", "adulthood", "advancement", "advances", "advantage", "advent", "adventure", "adventurer", "adventuress", "adverb", "adversary", "adversity", "advertisement", "advertiser", "advice", "adviser", "advisor", "advocacy", "advocate", "aeon", "aeration", "aerodrome", "aerodynamicist", "aerologist", "aerology", "aeronaut", "aeroplane", "aerosol", "aerospace", "aesthetic", "aether", "affair", "affaire", "affection", "affiche", "affidavit", "affiliate", "affiliation", "affinity", "affirmation", "affliction", "affluence", "affluent", "afflux", "affranchisement", "affront", "afterburner", "aftercare", "aftermath", "afternoon", "aftershock", "aftertaste", "afterthought", "afterword", "age", "agency", "agenda", "agent", "agglomeration", "aggravation", "aggression", "aggressor", "agility", "agitator", "agony", "agora", "agraffe", "agreeability", "agreeableness", "agreement", "agriculture", "agronomy", "aid", "aide", "aiglet", "aigret", "aigrette", "aiguille", "aiguillette", "aileron", "ailette", "ailment", "aim", "air", "airbrush", "airburst", "airbus", "aircraft", "aircrew", "airdrome", "airfield", "airflow", "airfoil", "airframe", "airhead", "airline", "airplane", "airport", "airship", "airsickness", "airspace", "airwave", "airway", "aisle", "alarm", "alarmist", "albacore", "albatross", "albino", "album", "alchemist", "alchemy", "alcohol", "alcoholic", "alcove", "ale", "alert", "algae", "algebra", "algorism", "alias", "alibi", "alien", "alienation", "alienator", "alienist", "alignment", "aliment", "alimony", "allegation", "alleger", "allegiance", "allegory", "allergen", "allergy", "alley", "alliance", "alligator", "alliteration", "allowance", "alloy", "allure", "allusion", "ally", "almanac", "almandine", "almighty", "almond", "aloe", "alpaca", "alphabet", "altar", "alteration", "alternative", "altitude", "altruism", "altruist", "alure", "amalgam", "amateur", "amazement", "ambassador", "ambassadress", "amber", "ambiance", "ambiguity", "ambition", "ambivalence", "ambulance", "ambuscade", "ambush", "ambusher", "amendment", "amenity", "amethyst", "amiability", "amicability", "ammoniac", "ammunition", "amnesia", "amnesiac", "amnesic", "amnesty", "amoretto", "amount", "amphetamine", "amphibian", "amphitheater", "amphitheatre", "amphora", "ampoule", "amputation", "amputee", "amusement", "amygdala", "anachronism", "anaconda", "anaesthesia", "anaesthesiologist", "anaesthesiology", "anaesthetic", "anaesthetist", "anagram", "analog", "analogy", "analyser", "analysis", "analyst", "analyzer", "ananas", "anarch", "anarchist", "anarchy", "anatomy", "ancestor", "ancestress", "ancestry", "anchor", "anchorage", "anchovy", "androgyny", "android", "andromeda", "anecdote", "anecdotes", "anemia", "anemone", "anesthesia", "anesthesiologist", "anesthesiology", "anesthetic", "anesthetist", "aneurysm", "angel", "anger", "angle", "angora", "angst", "anguish", "animal", "animation", "animator", "anime", "ankh", "ankle", "annalist", "annex", "annexation", "annihilator", "anniversary", "annotation", "announcement", "announcer", "annoyance", "annoyer", "annual", "annulment", "anointer", "anointment", "anomaly", "anonym", "anonymity", "answer", "ant", "antagonist", "antecedent", "antecessor", "antediluvian", "antelope", "antenna", "anterior", "anthem", "anthology", "anthrax", "anthropology", "antic", "anticipant", "anticipation", "anticyclone", "antidote", "antihero", "antioxidant", "antipathy", "antipode", "antiquarian", "antiquary", "antique", "antiquity", "antirust", "antiseptic", "antithesis", "antler", "antonym", "anvil", "anxiety", "anybody", "anything", "aorta", "apartment", "apathy", "ape", "aperitif", "aphrodisiac", "apiculture", "apiculturist", "apnea", "apocalypse", "apologia", "apologiser", "apologist", "apology", "apostate", "apothecary", "apparatus", "apparel", "apparition", "appeal", "appearance", "appendage", "appendix", "appetite", "appetizer", "applause", "apple", "appliance", "applicant", "application", "appointee", "appointment", "appraisal", "apprentice", "approach", "approbation", "approval", "approximation", "apricot", "apron", "aptitude", "aquaculture", "aquamarine", "aquanaut", "aquaphobia", "aquarelle", "aquarellist", "aquarist", "aquarium", "arabesque", "arachnid", "arbalest", "arbiter", "arbitrage", "arbitrary", "arbitration", "arbitrator", "arborescence", "arboriculture", "arborist", "arc", "arcade", "arcanist", "arch", "archaeologist", "archaeology", "archangel", "archbishop", "archdeacon", "archduchess", "archduchy", "archduke", "archeology", "archer", "archery", "archetype", "archipelago", "architect", "architecture", "archive", "archivist", "area", "arena", "areola", "argent", "argile", "argonaut", "argument", "argumentation", "aridity", "aristocracy", "aristocrat", "arithmetic", "ark", "arm", "armada", "armadillo", "armament", "armature", "armband", "armchair", "armhole", "armistice", "armoire", "armor", "armory", "armpit", "armrest", "army", "arnica", "aroma", "arousal", "arouser", "arpent", "arrangement", "array", "arrest", "arrival", "arrogance", "arrondissement", "arrow", "arsenal", "arsenic", "arson", "arsonist", "art", "artery", "artichoke", "article", "artifact", "artifice", "artillery", "artisan", "artist", "artistry", "artwork", "asbestos", "ascendance", "ascendancy", "ascendant", "ascension", "ascent", "ash", "ashram", "asp", "asparagus", "aspartame", "aspect", "asphalt", "aspirant", "aspirator", "aspirin", "assailant", "assassin", "assassination", "assault", "assaulter", "assemblage", "assembler", "assembly", "assent", "assessment", "assessor", "asset", "assignee", "assimilation", "assistance", "assistant", "associate", "association", "assortment", "assumption", "assurance", "assured", "assurer", "asterisk", "asteroid", "asthma", "asthmatic", "astonishment", "astringent", "astroid", "astrologer", "astrology", "astronaut", "astronomer", "astronomy", "asylum", "asymmetry", "asynchrony", "atelier", "athlete", "atmosphere", "atoll", "atom", "atonement", "atrocity", "attachment", "attack", "attacker", "attempt", "attendance", "attendant", "attention", "attic", "attire", "attitude", "attorney", "attraction", "attribute", "auberge", "aubergine", "aubergines", "auburn", "auction", "auctioneer", "audacity", "audience", "audio", "audit", "audition", "auditorium", "auger", "augment", "augmentation", "augur", "august", "aunt", "aura", "aureole", "aurora", "auspice", "austerity", "austral", "auteur", "authentication", "authenticity", "author", "authoress", "authorisation", "authoritarian", "authority", "authorization", "authorship", "auto", "autobiographer", "autobiography", "autobus", "autocracy", "autocrat", "autograph", "automation", "automaton", "automobile", "autonomy", "autopilot", "autopsy", "autoroute", "autotomy", "autumn", "avail", "availability", "avalanche", "avant-garde", "avant-gardism", "avarice", "avatar", "avenger", "avenue", "average", "aversion", "aviation", "aviator", "aviatress", "aviatrix", "aviculture", "avidity", "avocado", "avoidance", "awakening", "award", "awe", "awesomeness", "awfulness", "awkwardness", "axe", "axel", "axillary", "axiom", "axis", "axle", "axman", "basis", "bird", "blood", "boyfriend", "brother", "camera", "category", "cell", "chemistry", "child", "city", "client", "collection", "combination", "communication", "community", "competition", "computer", "concept", "control", "country", "customer", "data", "dealer", "death", "decision", "definition", "department", "depression", "depth", "development", "difference", "direction", "discussion", "disease", "disk", "distribution", "driver", "emission", "emotion", "empathy", "emperor", "emphasis", "empire", "employee", "employer", "employment", "emporium", "empowerment", "empress", "emprise", "emulator", "emulsification", "emulsifier", "emulsion", "enabler", "enactment", "enactor", "enamel", "encampment", "encasement", "enchainment", "enchanter", "enchantment", "enchantress", "enchilada", "enclave", "enclosure", "encoder", "encompassment", "encore", "encounter", "encouragement", "encourager", "encrinite", "encyclopaedia", "encyclopedia", "end", "endearment", "endgames", "endeavor", "endeavour", "endgame", "ending", "endive", "endocrine", "endorsement", "endurance", "endurer", "enemy", "energy", "engagement", "engine", "engraver", "engraving", "enhancement", "enhancer", "enigma", "enjoyment", "enlargement", "enlightenment", "enlisting", "enlistment", "enmity", "ennoblement", "ennui", "enormity", "enquirer", "enquiry", "enragement", "enrichment", "enrollment", "ensemble", "enshrinement", "ensign", "enslavement", "enslaver", "entanglement", "entente", "enterprise", "entertainer", "enthusiasm", "enthusiast", "enticement", "entitlement", "entity", "entourage", "entrance", "entrepot", "entrepreneur", "entry", "envelope", "environment", "environmentalist", "envoy", "envy", "enzyme", "eon", "epaulet", "epaulette", "epic", "epicenter", "epicure", "epidemic", "epigraph", "epilation", "epilator", "epilepsy", "epilogue", "episode", "epitaph", "epoch", "equal", "equaliser", "equalitarian", "equality", "equation", "equator", "equatorial", "equestrian", "equilibrium", "equinox", "equipment", "equity", "equivalence", "era", "eradiation", "eradicator", "eraser", "erasion", "erasure", "erosion", "errand", "erratic", "error", "erudition", "eruption", "escadrille", "escalade", "escalator", "escalope", "escapade", "escapism", "escapist", "escargot", "eschalot", "escort", "escrow", "esophagus", "espadrille", "espagnolette", "espionage", "esplanade", "espresso", "esprit", "esquire", "essay", "essence", "establishment", "estate", "esteem", "esthetic", "estimate", "estimation", "estrade", "estrangement", "eternity", "ethane", "ethanol", "ether", "ethic", "ethylene", "etiquette", "etymology", "eucalyptus", "eulogy", "eunuch", "euphemism", "euphoria", "euthanasia", "evacuation", "evacuator", "evacuee", "evaluation", "evaporation", "evasion", "eve", "evening", "event", "eventuality", "everglade", "everlasting", "eviction", "evidence", "evil", "evolution", "evolvement", "exactitude", "exactness", "exaggeration", "exam", "examen", "examination", "examiner", "example", "exasperation", "excavation", "excavator", "excellence", "excellency", "excentric", "exception", "excerpt", "excess", "excessiveness", "exchange", "exclamation", "exclusion", "exclusive", "exclusivity", "excursion", "excuse", "execution", "executioner", "executive", "executor", "exempt", "exemption", "exercise", "exercitation", "exfoliant", "exhaustion", "exhibit", "exhibition", "exhumation", "exhumer", "exile", "existence", "existentialism", "existentialist", "exit", "exode", "exodus", "exoplasm", "exoskeleton", "exotic", "expanse", "expansion", "expatriate", "expatriation", "expectation", "expedition", "expeditor", "expenditure", "expense", "experience", "experiment", "expert", "expertise", "expiration", "expiry", "explainer", "explanation", "exploit", "exploration", "explorer", "explosion", "explosive", "export", "exposure", "expression", "expresso", "expressway", "expulsion", "exquisiteness", "extender", "extension", "extent", "exterior", "extermination", "exterminator", "extern", "extinguisher", "extortion", "extra", "extract", "extraction", "extravagance", "extravaganza", "extravert", "extreme", "extremist", "extremity", "extrovert", "extruder", "exuberance", "eye", "eyebrow", "eyeglass", "eyelash", "eyelid", "eyeliner", "eyepatch", "eyesight", "fact", "failure", "family", "farmer", "father", "feedback", "finding", "fishing", "flight", "food", "fortune", "foundation", "freedom", "friendship", "funeral", "garbage", "gate", "gene", "girl", "girlfriend", "grandfather", "grandmother", "goal", "government", "grocery", "growth", "guest", "guidance", "guitar", "hair", "hall", "hat", "health", "heart", "height", "highway", "historian", "history", "home", "homework", "honey", "hospital", "hotel", "house", "housing", "idea", "imagination", "importance", "income", "industry", "inflation", "information", "instance", "insurance", "internet", "introduction", "investment", "judge", "judgement", "knowledge", "king", "lab", "ladder", "lady", "lake", "language", "law", "leader", "leadership", "length", "library", "literature", "location", "loss", "love", "magazine", "management", "map", "marriage", "math", "meaning", "meat", "medecine", "media", "member", "message", "method", "moment", "month", "mood", "mother", "movie", "music", "nation", "nature", "negociation", "news", "newspaper", "night", "obligation", "office", "operation", "opinion", "opportunity", "orange", "organization", "outcome", "oven", "owner", "painting", "paper", "passion", "payment", "percentage", "performance", "person", "perspective", "philosophy", "phone", "photo", "player", "policy", "population", "power", "president", "problem", "product", "property", "quality", "queen", "quantity", "reaction", "reality", "recipe", "recommendation", "recording", "reflection", "region", "relationship", "replacement", "reputation", "requirement", "resource", "response", "responsibility", "restaurant", "revenue", "revolution", "river", "road", "role", "safety", "scene", "science", "security", "setting", "shopping", "sister", "situation", "skill", "society", "software", "soup", "speech", "statement", "story", "strategy", "student", "studio", "success", "system", "tale", "tea", "teacher", "teaching", "technology", "television", "temperature", "tension", "theory", "thing", "thought", "tongue", "tooth", "topic", "town", "tradition", "trainer", "transportation", "truth", "uncle", "union", "unit", "university", "variation", "variety", "vehicule", "version", "village", "video", "virus", "volume", "warning", "way", "wealth", "wedding", "week", "wife", "woman", "wood", "world", "writer", "writing", "xenophile", "xenophobe", "xenophobia", "xylophone", "xylophonist", "yacht", "yack", "yak", "yale", "yam", "yard", "yarn", "year", "yeast", "yell", "yeoman", "yesterday", "yeti", "yield", "yo-yo", "yodel", "yodeler", "yoga", "yoghurt", "yogi", "yogurt", "yoke", "yolk", "youngberry", "youngling", "youth", "yucca", "yuppie", "zeal", "zealot", "zealotry", "zealots", "zebra", "zebu", "zen", "zenith", "zephyr", "zeppelin", "zest", "zestfulness", "zigzag", "zinc", "zipper", "zodiac", "zombie", "zone", "zoning", "zoo", "zoologist", "zoology", "zoom", "zoophile", "zucchini"]>><<if not hasVisited("P1")>><p><h2>Welcome to the Story Mode.</h2></p>
<p>You can create your own writer or use the preset values.</p>
<<else>><p><h2>Welcome back to the Story Mode.</h2></p>
<p>You can create a new writer, use the preset values or play the story once more with your previous writer. <<if $story.game gte 1>>You can also jump back to a previously played round.<</if>></p><</if>>
<ul><li><<link [[Create your writer|MC1]]>><<clear>><</link>></li>
<li><<link "Use the Preset">><<dialog "Preset">><<set $mc to {}, $mc.name to "Jean-François", $mc.nickname to "Jeannot", $mc.pronouns to "He/Him", $mc.plural to false, $mc.drink to "spirit", $mc.smoke to "pre-rolled", $preset to true>><p>You are Jean-François, an aspiring writer. Your friends often call you Jeannot and refer to you with masculine terms. You are known to drink Spirits and smoke pre-rolled cigarettes.</p>
<hr>
<center><<button "Play the Game">><<run Dialog.close()>><<goto "P1">><</button>> | <<button "Edit your writer">><<set $clear to true>><<run Dialog.close()>><<goto "MC1">><</button>></center><</dialog>><</link>></li>
<<if hasVisited("P1")>><li>[[Play with the same writer|P1]]</li><</if>>
<<if $story.game gte 1>><li><<link "Jump to a played Round" "JumpTo Round">><</link>></li><</if>></ul><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><<cleared>><p>Sitting by a table on the terrace of some nameless café, you await the arrival of your two closest friends, Camille and Renaud. <span class="mouseover"><<link "Les Trois Mousquetaires de nouveau ensemble">><<popover>>The Three Musketeers, together again<</popover>><</link>></span>, you chuckle.</p>
<p>How you have been looking forward to this little reunion! //How long has it been since…// You have trouble recollecting when was the last time you even crossed paths with them. Your friends’ schedules have left little room for you as of late. It chagrins you to think about—</p>
<p>//No, $mc.name! You know full well why…//</p>
<p>Oh, how you have missed them! Their presence always brought you comfort and joy —feelings you’ve encountered little lately—. You hadn’t realised how deep your need for their company was until Camille’s note was delivered by your door a few days prior.</p>
<p>//You should be more honest with yourself, $mc.name…//</p>
<ul><li><<link '//Until Camille summoned me…//' `passage()`>><<set $text += 1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>The sun may be shining bright above the terrace, you barely notice its warm rays showering you and the few other customers around. You’ve had a hard time caring about… //anything// lately. Everything seems to be passing you by. It feels like you barely have a chance to tag along.</p>
<p>//Excuses, excuses, $mc.name…//</p>
<p>A few weeks back, you learnt about Camille’s triumphant art exhibition. //Especially considering her… background.// The whole town was praising her eye for composition and skills —or so you heard—. You meant to stop by the gallery at some point, and see her laudable work for yourself. She had an invitation delivered to you specifically, after all. //But…// you never found the… energy to leave.</p>
<p>//Still…// It shocked you to hear the baker from around the corner gushing about her paintings. </p>
<ul><li><<link '//What does he know about art, anyway?//' `passage()`>><<set $text += 1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>Bringing your <<glass>> of <<if $mc.drink isnot "spirit">>$mc.drink<<else>>of cheap beer —//unfortunately//—<</if>> to your lips, you lean back on your chair, hoping to enjoy the forced purchase a little. The waiter would not let you sit down <span class="mouseover"><<link 'sans consommation'>><<popover>>without consuming [a drink]<</popover>><</link>></span>. The liquid barely touches your tongue before you need to restrain yourself from spitting it out.</p>
<p>//What’s wrong with it? It… it tastes like… <<if $mc.drink isnot "water">>nothing<<else>>dirt<</if>>!//</p>
<p>For a brief moment, you are tempted to let the <<glass>>’s content spilling on the ground. You would not want to torture your taste buds with this atrocity. But, for the price you had to shell out, you know you will force yourself and drink every last drop. Your fingers brush the flat <span class="mouseover"><<link 'portefeuille'>><<popover>>wallet<</popover>><</link>></span> you left on the table. Things have been… tight lately, funds-wise.</p>
<p>And yet, you resisted only a little when the server announced the charge. Though you could not believe it would cost you this much to wait for your friends at this table, you still handed him your last coins. You had expected to skip a meal or two by meeting your friends here, not ten!</p>
<p>//If only I struke Renaud’s luck…//</p>
<p>To say you may be jealous of his success would be the understatement of the year. His musical prowess attracted the spotlight wherever his fingers landed. It wasn’t long until he was showered with requests for private shows in influential and wealthy circles.</p>
<ul><li><<link '//He’s been raking in the dough, the bastard…//' `passage()`>><<set $text+= 1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 4>><p>//Where are they?//</p>
<p>Letting out a long sigh, you pity your agonising fate. You never had to wait for anyone before, or anything. Words would appear on your pages. Things would be brought to you. People would stand ready for your arrival. You were the one waited on, the one to arrive last, the one… //Until now…//</p>
<p>You take out Camille’s note, scan it again and check the time from your pocket watch. //Almost twelve…// Even with your chronic tardiness getting the best of you, making you miss her summon to the strike of eleven, you never imagined being the first one to get here!</p>
<p>//I should not have come…//</p>
<p>Contemplating the possibility of your friends playing a rude trick on you, you wonder whether you would have waited even longer had you left your room on time. Camille had pleaded for you to be timely. //Did she think I…//</p>
<p>It was not uncommon for you to arrive late, or even miss a meeting altogether. Time was never your priority, less so when you’d find yourself deep in conversations with your phantasmic muse and your pen. Ink pots would be drained before your feet would cross the door. </p>
<ul><li><<link '//Still… //' `passage()`>><<set $text += 1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 5>><p>While you continue to lament your fate, you have to agree your room is not much better than this overpriced café. </p>
<p>//At least I am not stuck inside…//</p>
<p>Still standing, though barely, under the roof of a decrepit building, the tight four walls and handful pieces of furniture were your only company for arguably much too long; partly because your finances won’t allow you the upgrade you think you deserve.</p>
<p>//Lies…//</p>
<p>Mostly because you had not managed to physically leave it. The days have come and gone, leaving you with little to show for but a blank page stained with ink. Staring at the ceiling, hoping for your muse to grace you with inspiration once more —you don’t require much, only a word or two to get started—, you slipped in a funk you can’t see yourself swimming out of.</p>
<ul><li><<link '//What am I doing here?//' `passage()`>><<set $text += 1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 6>><p>“<<= $mc.name.toUpperCase()>>!” </p>
<p>Your head turns towards the shouter, ready to give them a piece of your mind about addressing manners. Who do they— You are pleasantly surprised to find Camille waving at you from the other side of the street. Right by her, you see Renaud looking around for oncoming traffic and pulling her companion back to safety. //Always a stickler to caution this one…// It is only when the coast is clear that they make their way to join you, Renaud’s hands on Camille’s shoulders.</p>
<p>//Finally…//</p>
<p>“Ouf… Look at <<them>>, Renaud. <<They>> <<look>>… awfully haggard, <<dont>> <<they>>?” you catch Camille whispering as they get closer.</p>
<p>Though it still hurts, you try not to take her comment personally. //She is right, after all…// You do look sickly. With your bloodshot eyes and large dark bags right under, one would assume you’ve not slept a wink in days. //And they’d be right too…//</p>
<p>“We’ve missed you at Benji’s party last week, $mc.name. You should have come by,” Renaud starts, grabbing a seat at the table.</p>
<p>“Goodness,” Camille continues, following her companion. “We had such fun there! Why didn’t you join us, <<name>>? It would have done you some good.”</p>
<ul><li><<link '//How would she know if it would have…//' `passage()`>><<set $text += 1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><p>“Errr…” You try your best to stay collected. “I had been hoping to finish a… piece of writing… yes… that’s why…”</p>
<p>“Ha!” she claps her hands. “Your muse came back, didn’t it? I knew you’d have a good excuse.”</p>
<p>“N—”</p>
<p>“What great news! <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Hein'>><<popover>>Eh<</popover>><</link>></span>, Renaud?”</p>
<p>“If you say so,” your friend says carefully, preferring to leave the cheering duties to Camille.</p>
<p>“We were so worried for you, you know, $mc.name.” Her eyes water, just a bit. “But if you were struck by inspiration, it is understandable.”</p>
<p>“You don—”</p>
<p>“I mean,” she chuckles nervously, “who would want to sequester themselves until they were done. Ha… haha… ha…”</p>
<p>Neither you nor Renaud laugh along. The latter rolls his eyes, while you just lower your gaze to your feet. //Is… is that a hole in my shoe?// You sigh.</p>
<p>“You did end up writing something, $mc.name?” Renaud asks.</p>
<p>“Err…”</p>
<p>“Right?”</p>
<ul><li><<link "Lie, or try to. You know they would think less of you if they knew the truth." "P2">><<set $choice.lie to true>><<unset $text>><</link>></li>
<li><<link "There is no point denying it. You made zero progress on that novel of yours. Or was it a short story?" "P2">><<set $choice.lie to false>><<unset $text>><</link>></li></ul>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><<if $choice.lie is true>><p>“Yes?” Your face etches a forced smile.</p>
<p>“That is not very convincing, $mc.name,” Renaud sighs.</p>
<p>“You can tell us the truth, darling,” Camille tries to grab your hand, but you take it away. “We won’t… get mad. I…” She glances at her neighbour. “We promise.”</p>
<p>You look down again, as your hand shuffles things around in a pocket and extracts a notebook, throwing it onto the table.</p>
<p>“I… I guess you can find that out for yourself.”</p>
<p>Camille grabs and flips through the pages.</p>
<p>“It… It’s empty, $mc.name. Are… are you sure you brought the correct one?”</p>
<p>“Of course, <<they>> did, Camille. <<They>> only <<use>> one at a time, and that is the one I got <<them>> for <<their>> birthday.”</p>
<p>“Maybe… Maybe <<they>> left the pages back in <<their>> room…” Camille looks at you. “Right?”</p>
<p>“I… No,” you finally admit, unable to lie any longer. “I… I’ve been sitting in front of this… goddamn blank page for… fucking weeks now!”</p>
<<else>><p>“I… Err…” Your hand shuffles things around in a pocket and extracts a notebook, throwing it onto the table. “No, I wrote… nothing,” you admit angrily. “I’ve been sitting in front of this… goddamn blank page for… fucking weeks now!”</p><</if>>
<p>Sitting awkwardly at the table, the silence leaves you with your heavy panting and pulse buzzing in your ears. You glance around, hoping to get a reaction from your friends, but only find them speechless by the revelation. Worse, your loud proclamation turned other customers on the terrace mute, ogling back at you —whether your outburst annoyed them or they are only looking for juicy gossip, you could not tell—.</p>
<p>//Goddammit, $mc.name!//</p>
<p>This… this probably was not the way to start this friendly and long-awaited gathering. You cover your mouth with your hand, afraid you’d slip further. Renaud scratches the back of his neck, seemingly tense, while Camille surprisingly does not look much bothered by this ordeal. Instead, you find her looking deep in her purse for something.</p>
<ul><li><<link '//Oh, no… she’s already leaving…//' `passage()`>><<set $text += 1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><p>“Err…” you want to say something to diffuse the situation, but your words fail you. “I… It’s just…” Dejected, you look away. “I know I would have been poor company… had I gone along with you.”<p>
<p>“You can’t be sure of that, $mc.name,” Renaud tries to comfort you with a smile.</p>
<p>“Save it,” you snipe back. “It is no secret few enjoy my presence. Even less when I am in a—”</p>
<p>“There it is!” Camille interjects, having paid little attention to your deprecating attitude. “Here, <<name>>. Read this.”</p>
<p>She hands you a piece of paper she had extracted from her bag. Folded on itself like you would a letter, the small note has a large purple stain covering part of the paper. //Wine?// You bring the sheet closer and discern some writing through the paper —though, you are not able to read it without opening it—. You glance back at her, confused, but she only responds with a smile, pressing you to open the folded note and uncover its secrets.</p>
<ul><li><<link 'Open the note. Camille seems excited about its content. //What’s the harm?//' "P3">><<set $choice.reluctant to false>><<unset $text>><</link>></li>
<li><<link 'Open the note, but reluctantly. //This is not going to end well, is it?//' "P3">><<set $choice.reluctant to true>><<unset $text>><</link>></li>
<li><<link 'Give the note back without opening it. Camille has always been eccentric, handing you things you wished never passed your hands.' "Ending A">><<unset $text>><</link>></li></ul>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><<if $choice.reluctant is false>><p>Shrugging, you open the stained note with little reluctance. You could have waited a minute and guessed its content, but, seeing Camille’s excited face, you struck the idea down. You unfold the sheet carefully and notice your friends getting more animated with each movement. It had been long since you saw such joy on someone’s face. You bite your lips, containing a laugh.</p>
<p>Within each fold, you make out a word, each written in a different handwriting. //What in the…// You pause before the note is completely unfolded, glaring confused at your companions. They press you to continue. You flip the paper open and read the following:</p>
<<else>><p>You glance once more towards your friends, who giddily wait for you to open the note.<p>
<p>“This… this won’t be something… weird, is it?” Seeing the blank faces on your companions, you continue: “You always hand me //peculiar// things, Camille. I just it hope this won’t be like last time.”</p>
<p>“Oh, my, god, <<name>>. //That// was a joke.”</p>
<p>“//That// wasn’t funny, Camille. I threw up my lunch!”</p>
<p>“We had a good laugh out of it, didn’t we?” She nudges her neighbour.</p>
<p>“No, w—”</p>
<p>“Anyway, it is not a ‘weird’ thing. I promise.”</p>
<p>You squint at her, unconvinced, before turning to Renaud.</p>
<p>“Is she telling the truth? Do you know what is in there?”</p>
<p>“Yes, $mc.name,” he smiles. “It is fine. Just… open it already, will ya?”</p>
<p>Your fingers tremble as they unfold the sheet. You don’t even dare glaring at the page as you lay it flat on the table, afraid to find something lewd or disgusting. //It has happened before.// Your friends chuckle at your demeanour, almost mocking your reluctance. It is only when the note is completely unfolded that you take a peek at it. You find a handful of words, each writing in a different handwriting, forming the following:</p><</if>>
<center><<link '//The exquisite corpse drank the new wine.//' `passage()`>><<set $text += 1>><</link>></center>
<<default>><p>“<span class="mouseover"><<link 'Hein'>><<popover>>What?<</popover>><</link>></span>?” you titter, puzzled by the words. “This makes…” You glance back at the page to read the sentence once more. “What? How?!” You look up at the smiling faces of your friends. “This does not make any sense!”</p>
<p>“I know!” Camille laughs. “Isn’t that funny?”</p>
<p>“How… Why…” you fail to articulate your confused thoughts.</p>
<p>“That is what you missed, when you decided to skip yet another party, $mc.name,” Renaud chimes in.</p>
<p>“What?”</p>
<p>“We played it all night!” Camille says, ignoring your question.</p>
<p>“Benji wanted to try this new game he heard about from his colleagues at the <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Académie'>><<popover>>Referring to the Académie Française, the council presiding over the French language.<</popover>><</link>></span>,” Renaud explains. “<span class="mouseover"><<link 'Le Cadavre Exquis, c’est ce qu’il l’appelait'>><<popover>>Exquisite Cadaver, that is how they called it<</popover>><</link>></span>. One person writes a word on a sheet of paper, folds it down enough to hide what they wrote, and passes it to their neighbour, who does the same. The note is folded and passed around until the sentence is completed. Then, the whole thing is unfolded, and the sentence is read aloud for everyone to enjoy!”</p>
<p>“But… how? How do you make the sentence… work? How can it still be structurally correct, if you do not know what the previous player wrote?” you ask, still confused. “It already does not make a single thread of sense… How… how can this even work?!”</p>
<p>“It’s quite simple, actually,” Renaud puts his hand on your shoulder warmly. “The game follows the same formula every round. Adjective—Noun—Verb—Adjective—Noun. And—”</p>
<p>“And we must agree on some rules beforehand too,” Camille cuts in. “No plural nouns. Or proper nouns. And only use the ‘//the//’ article. Makes things easier.”</p>
<p>“Then… why? Why would anyone want to… create sentences devoid of any sense?! This does not make much… well, sense!”</p>
<p>“Because it’s fun, you dummy!” She nudges you playfully. “Why don’t we play a couple of rounds so you can try and see it for yourself?”</p>
<p>“Oh, yes! Let’s play!” Renaud claps in anticipation.</p>
<ul><li><<link "Agree to play a few rounds. It could be fun, after all. What do you have to lose?" "G1-Start">><<set $choice.rounds to true>><<unset $text>><</link>></li>
<li><<link "Agree to play at least one round. You are not quite sure about this ‘game’ of theirs." "G1-Start">><<set $choice.rounds to false>><<unset $text>><</link>></li>
<li><<link "Refuse to play. This just seems childish. What is the point of writing nonsensical sentences?" "Ending B">><<unset $text>><</link>></li></ul>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><<if $choice.rounds is true>><p>It takes little persuasion from your friends to agree to play that little game of theirs. //What do I have to lose?// Being stuck in front of those blank pages for too many days has taken a toll on your mind. It may be fun, after all, to try out something new. //Maybe…// It may end up being the remedy you so desperately need to get out of this writer’s block. //What’s the harm in playing a few rounds, anyway?// At this point, you would try anything if it meant never seeing another white page ever again.</p>
<p>//Hell… I’d probably sell my soul to the devil!//</p>
<<else>><p>It takes a bit of persuasion from your friends for you to agree to play at least one round. You don’t believe that little ‘game’ of theirs would solve anything or make you feel any better, but you don’t want to offend Camille, mostly. //She seemed so excited…// You hope she continues to stay in a good mood like this. </p>
<p>//She won’t like what I have to tell her…//</p><</if>>
<p>“How about <<name>> starts?” Camille proposes.</p>
<p>“Me?! I—”</p>
<p>“Come on, $mc.name,” Renaud’s elbow nudges you. “<span class="mouseover"><<link 'Ne soit pas une poule mouillée!'>><<popover>>Don’t be a chicken!<</popover>><</link>></span> It is not //that// hard to think of a random word. If Camille can do it…” he laughs. “It should even be easier for you, since you are a writer and all!” </p>
<p>Though his dig may have touched a sore spot for you, you lament internally how true his comment is. It is not supposed to be this hard for you to find a word to write. Writing is what you are supposedly passionate about, what you have been praised since childhood, what you have spent hours working on and improving, what you have put your soul into. </p>
<p>//And yet…// And yet, you’ve had nothing but troubles in putting a word, any word, onto those blank pages. Not a single word met their end at the end of your pen in weeks.</p>
<ul><li><<link '//Why do I feel so anxious to start?//' `passage()`>><<set $text += 1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><p>Your indecisiveness getting on his nerves, Renaud picks up the empty notebook you threw on the table earlier and rips out a page with little care. He grabs one of the pencils Camille is handing out, scribbles something on the page, and hands it to you. A messy ‘//the//’ adorns the top of the sheet. You stare blankly at the paper, unsure about what to add next.</p>
<p>“Err… what am I supposed to do, again?”</p>
<p>“Every sentence starts with //The// —I wrote it down for you—,” Renaud explains once more. “Then comes an adjective —what you need to write—. When you are done, you fold the paper to hide what your wrote before handing it to Camille. She will add a noun, and I a verb. You will have to add another adjective, and Camille another noun to complete the sentence. I will unfold the page and read the result.”</p>
<p>“Right…”</p>
<p>“So now, you need to add an adjective.”</p>
<p>“Yes, yes. I got it.”</p>
<p>You take the last pencil laying on the table and put it on the paper, as instructed.</p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter an adjective: '' " "$MCad1" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCad1)>><<blank>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<else>><<unset $text>><<goto "G1-Next">><</if>><</button>></center>
<<tutorial>><</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>So, next to the previously written //The//, you end up writing ''$MCad1'' on the page. Following Renaud’s meticulous instructions, you fold the paper neatly to just hide your handwriting before handing it to Camille. </p>
<p>Like you, she needs some time to think about what to add under the fold. Impatient, Renaud pushes her to get moving. She reminds him how hard it is for her to come up with words; she is more known to express herself with shapes rather than letters. She is not you, after all. You hesitate to say something, that you currently share her struggles, but you restrain yourself. You are not sure either of them would believe you, anyway.</p>
<p>She finally passes the newly folded sheet to Renaud, who swiftly writes something, folds the paper once more, and hands it to you. //He must have had a word in mind all this time… //</p>
<p>When your fingers graze the note, you are struck with curiosity. What if… You are greatly tempted to unfold it right there and then, just to see what your friends added to the page. //<<if $choice.rounds is false>>I still don’t get the fuss about this game. With so much randomness to it, the sentence will absolutely make no sense!<<else>>It could help me get inspired and find my next word quicker. Surely they won’t mind…<</if>>//</p>
<p>“I can’t believe it,” Renaud smirks. “$mc.name trying to cheat… Where have I seen that before?”</p>
<p>“Ah! No!” Camille cries out. “<<name>>, don’t peek!”</p>
<p>“I… No… I wasn’t,” you try to object. “See!” You bring the note closer to them. “See, the paper is still folded!”</p>
<p>“Ha!” Renaud slaps your back. “We’re just teasing. Of course, you would never want to cheat,” he winks. “Come on. Put it back down and write your next word.”</p>
<p>“Yes, yes… Let me think for a second, ok?”</p>
<p>“Hurry up,” Camille presses you. “Aren’t you eager to see the result?”</p>
<p>At their insistence, you rush yourself and scribble something without much thinking.</p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter an adjective: '' " "$MCad2" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCad2)>><<blank>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<elseif $MCad2 is $MCad1>><<doubleword>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a different word.<</replace>><<else>><<set $text += 1>><<goto `passage()`>><</if>><</button>></center>
<<default>><p>Before handing the page to Camille, and let her finish the first sentence, you think you wrote ''$MCad2''. This time, it doesn’t take her as long to find and write a word she is happy with. She folds the sheet neatly once more and hands it to Renaud. The latter clears his throat, but does not unfold the note just yet.</p>
<p>“A-hem! <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Êtes-vous prêts?'>><<popover>>Are you ready?<</popover>><</link>></span>” He waits for the heads around the table to nod before continuing: “Let’s see what crazy concoction our brains have put together!”</p>
<p>His fingers shake a little as he carefully opens the note, as if he were turning the pages of an antique manuscript. His eyes scan the sheet and he gasps playfully.</p>
<p>“Oh, come on!” Camille leans back and crosses her arms. “You can’t leave us hanging like this, Renaud! We’ve teased <<name>> enough for being a snail.”</p>
<p>“Must you foil my attempt at building suspense,” he gasps again dramatically. “I was giving it an… artistic flair!”</p>
<p>“Get a move on, already!”</p>
<p>“Fine! Here is it…” </p>
<ul><li><<link '//He clears his throat once more.//' "G1-Reveal">><<unset $text>><<adjs>><</link>></li></ul><</switch>><p>“<<= $phrase.toUpperFirst()>>.”</p>
<p>For a few seconds, the world seems to stand completely still. Silence has overcome the table, as well as the neighbouring ones, from which some nosey customers had been eavesdropping all along. Your eyes shift from Renaud to Camille and back, who both look more amused than confused. //What…//</p>
<p>“What… what in the world,” you babble.</p>
<p>“This is so… weird,” Camille laughs. </p>
<p>“How… how did we even…” a burst of confused laughter stops you from finishing your sentence.</p>
<p>“Do you get it, now?” she asks.</p>
<p>“But… sense…”</p>
<p>“Who cares about making sense, as long as it’s fun?”</p>
<p>“I…”</p>
<p>“So, $mc.name,” Renaud presses your shoulder. “Do you want to play another round?”</p>
<ul><li><<link '<<if $choice.rounds is false>>You were correct the first time around. One round was enough for you to understand the gist of the ‘game’. It is not<<else>>One game might have been more than enough for you. You think you understand the gist of it, but feel a bit disappointed to not find it<</if>> as fun as your friends made it out to be.' "G1-End 1">><<unset $text>><</link>></li>
<li><<link '<<if $choice.rounds is false>>Maybe you should play another round after all. You are more than ready to play another round.<<else>>You can’t make up your mind with just one!<</if>> There is something about this game that tinkers with your brain. //Somehow…//' "G2-Start">><<unset $text>><</link>></li></ul>
<<impossible>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>Something about this game itches your brain. You are not quite sure how or why, but you are left wanting more. One round was not enough to make up your mind. You couldn’t say yet whether it is as enjoyable as your friends described it to be. //And that result… <<= $phrase.toUpperFirst()>>… Who in the world could come up with it?// As such, you agree to play another round. You want to see where it takes you.</p>
<p>“I really missed something at Benji’s, huh…” you mumble.</p>
<p>“You really did!” Camille claps. “I realise we won’t be able to recreate the whole ambiance of the party, here —we would need so much booze, it would bankrupt us all—, but I hope we can still have as much fun as we did then.”
“Speaking of booze… <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Garçon'>><<popover>>Waiter!<</popover>><</link>></span>!”</p>
<p>Renaud stops a waiter, who takes his order with an attitude —it has been over two years since you arrived in town, but it still shocks you every time—. You wonder whether this man has a grudge against artists, known for being a rowdy crowd, or whether he realised how little a commission he would make with your table, as Renaud’s order was only filled with their cheapest <span class="mouseover"><<link 'piquette'>><<popover>>"Wine mixed with water, very bad quality.<</popover>><</link>></span>.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//We should have met at a different place…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>“Was there truly that much alcohol flowing? I know Benji likes his beverages plentiful and his guests satiated, but I don’t recall seeing many bottles out last time I came.”</p>
<p>“You can’t ever remember anything,” Camille laughs. “Not when you pass out before the good stuff comes out of the cellar.”</p>
<p>“I don’t always pass out that early,” you rebuke.</p>
<p>“It is often early enough for you not to see us lining the empty bottles from the main door to the garden window!”</p>
<p>“And I’ve lost count of the amount of time we had to drag your ass through town to get you home safe and sound,” Renaud slaps your back. “For a writer, you really can’t hold your liquor.”</p>
<p>“You can’t fault <<them>> for trying <<their>> best, Renaud,” Camille suppresses a chuckle. “<<They>> just <<need>> more practice.”</p>
<p>“No amount of practice will help, at this point.” Renaud turns to you, showing his most serious face. “$mc.name. I am sorry to say. But,” he bites his lips, holding his staccato breath, “this is terminal. You will never be able to out-drink <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Cocteau'>><<popover>>Jean Cocteau, a French writer known for having fallen in drug and alcohol addiction.<</popover>><</link>></span>! I know—” A brief laugh escapes his mouth. “I can only imagine how terrible of a blow this much be for you. I am so, so very, sorry.”</p>
<p>Camille is the first one to break, with a crystal-like laugh, rippling around the table, as both you and Renaud join her. You may not be able to drink either of them under the table —and you surely would never beat Cocteau—, but you appreciate their attempts at making your laugh and lifting your mood. //How I missed this…//</p>
<ul><li> <<link "You wish this moment would never end." `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><p>The waiter comes back with a small jug and a couple of glasses. Renaud argues with the man, as he had ordered enough for you to pass out —though little is needed, it is still much greater than what was brought over—. The waiter begrudgingly relents, promising to return shortly.</p>
<p>In the meantime, Camille has started sharing the goods, having already had a glass herself. //For tasting//, she had said. Her speed makes you wonder if she truly tasted anything…</p>
<p>“Since I started last round,” you say, as you rip a new page from your notebook, “who will start this time around?”</p>
<p>“Gimme the paper.”</p>
<p>Renaud snatches it from your hand and, again, quickly scribbles something down. He folds the sheet before handing it to you. Being next, you try to recall the rule mentioned earlier. //What as it again? Adjective—Noun—Verb…//</p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter a noun: '' " "$MCnoun1" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCnoun1)>><<blank>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<else>><<unset $text>><<goto "G2-Next">><</if>><</button>></center>
<</switch>><p>With $MCnoun1 nested on the page, you fold the note and hand it again to Camille. For a long moment, she stares blankly at the white sheet. She puts her pencil down, finishes her glass, and returns to her thoughts.</p>
<p>“Is this… game the only thing I missed at the party? I mean… this is fun and all, but I don’t really see Benji’s crowd silently passing around a paper to add a word or two.”</p>
<p>“You know we are— never mind,” Renaud shakes his head. “Even if you don’t remember much of his parties, you must recall how it goes… well, starts, at least,” he chuckles. “People get drunk, with some passing out —usually you—; some hog around the kitchen, leaving only crumbs behind them; some will hide behind the curtains and… you know…” he motions to some lewd movements.</p>
<p>“Oh God, they were not even hiding anymore by the end,” Camille hands her folded sheet to her neighbour. “Didn’t you catch Anatole and Gwen blocking the way to the bathroom?”</p>
<p>“Anatole and Gwen,” you look at them, shocked. “Really?!”</p>
<p>“Don’t remind me,” Renaud covers his eyes. “They almost made me piss myself, hiding in the dark like that. Did I tell you she tried to grab my ass after that scare? The gall of that woman!”</p>
<p>“Anatole and Gwen… I thought they hated each other!”</p>
<p>“I am sure they still do! It’s not like //that// looked like your typical drunk intercourse,” he adds. “They were pretty much fighting the other for control. I swear I never saw two people hate-fuck this hard in my life! And I’ve walked in on my fair share of people…”</p>
<p>“I seem to recall Anatole being engaged to that bourgeois heiress, isn’t he?” Camille asks. “You know… Hélène? Hermine? Oh, what’s her name again? It was in the papers not that long ago. Help me out, you two!”</p>
<p>“Honorine Lavaud,” you reply without thinking.</p>
<p>“Yes! Honorine! <span class="mouseover"><<link "Elle et son stupide petit caniche qu’elle trimbale partout">><<popover>>Her and her stupid little dog she carries around (deregatory)<</popover>><</link>></span>…” </p>
<p>“Then… it does not surprise me Anatole was doing the dirty with Gwen that night, not when he has //that// waiting for him at home. Poor guy…” Renaud says with pity, as he hands you the newly folded note.</p>
<p>“Come on. She is not that bad.”</p>
<p>“How would you know that, <<name>>?” Camille puts her hands on her knuckles, staring at you. “Do you know Mlle Lavaud, by any change?”</p>
<p>“I— Err… I should finish this round…”</p>
<p>You avoid her eyes, focusing on the folded note and what you should write next.</p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter a noun: '' " "$MCnoun2" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCnoun2)>><<blank>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<elseif $MCnoun2 is $MCnoun1>><<doubleword>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a different word.<</replace>><<else>><<nouns>><<goto "G2-Reveal">><</if>><</button>></center><p>After swiftly writing $MCnoun2 on the page and folding it yet again, you hand it to Camille, still avoiding her eyes. You pray she won’t press the subject further. //Not that there is much to tell…// Even an inch is enough for her imagination to run wild.</p>
<p>Thankfully, she seems more interested in the content of the page than irrelevant gossip. Still, your mind can’t help but worry she would come back to that subject and pull answers out of your mouth. While she writes very little, she is an avid reader, with the gossip columns standing supreme on her reading list.</p>
<p>You hear her snort, as she reads the mystery sentence. Unlike Renaud, she quickly unrolled the note, ready to read it aloud.</p>
<p>“Get ready for this,” she announces, her knee jerking in excitation. “<<= $phrase.toUpperFirst()>>!”</p>
<p>//Now…// You muffle a giggle with your hand. //This is just absurd!// You scan around the table, looking at the reaction of your friends. Camille reads the sentence again and again, getting more agitated as her eyes pass the words. Renaud, on the other hand, tries his best to drink his laughter away.</p>
<p>The containment of your laughter does not last long, however, as the three of you burst into hysterics. The roars are accompanied by Renaud’s //piquette// spit, as he failed to swallow the liquid in time. //This is so silly…// </p>
<p>“Let’s…” Camille stutters in between fits of laughter. “Let’s play another round!”</p>
<p>“Are you sure?” Renaud asks, looking amused at his friend holding her stomach from laughing so hard. “Do you think you can take it in your state?”</p>
<p>“Ha!” She slams her hand on his shoulder. “I lasted at last five rounds last time. And I was more drunk than now!” She breathes loudly, as she tries to calm herself. “I wouldn’t propose if I could not endure the oh-so-grand pain of joy!”</p>
<p>“Alright, alright. Do you maybe need another drink?” Seeing her nod frantically, Renaud fills her glass. “So, $mc.name… are you up for it as well?”</p>
<ul>
<li> <<link "Of course! You can’t remember the last time you had this much fun. You wouldn’t want it to end just yet." "G3-Start">><<set $choice.excited to true>><</link>></li>
<li> <<link "Maybe… maybe another round wouldn’t hurt. There is still a turn you have not tried yet. You might as well do the ‘full’ experience before stopping." "G3-Start">><<set $choice.excited to false>><</link>></li>
<li> <<link 'You’d rather pass. There has been enough //excitement// for today. You had been hoping for some more //personal// time with your friends.' "G2-End 2">><</link>></li>
</ul>
<<impossible>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>“So, $mc.name,” Renaud asks, “are you up for it?”</p>
<p>“<<if $choice.excited is true>>Definitely!<<else>>Sure… why not?<</if>>”</p>
<p>Both Camille and Renaud reach for the notebook and freeze when their hands touch. Renaud awkwardly retracts his before going for the jug. Camille tentatively picks up the notebook and rips a page from it.</p>
<p><<if $choice.excited is true>>You feel a smile pushing your cheeks. You cannot remember the last time you had this much fun. //Was it… when we arrived in town?// You are certain you went to a handful of parties since, but nothing as felt as enjoyable as sharing a few drinks between good friends and playing a silly game such as this one. It almost makes up for the rough couple of weeks you’ve had. <<else>>As your interest is piqued by this ‘game’, you want to do it justice by getting the ‘full’ experience before giving judgement. There is still a turn you had yet to try —this one—. Maybe it will be enough for you after it. Maybe you will want to continue. You will make up your mind then.<</if>></p>
<p>You notice Camille giggling, as her pencil dances on the paper. //What’s so funny?//</p>
<p>“You better not start with something lewd, Camille,” Renaud scolds her.</p>
<p>“You will never know,” she laughs.</p>
<p>“Come on, Camille! Be a team player, here. You ruined so many rounds at Benji’s by playing that way!”</p>
<p>“I did not,” she scoffs, looking offended. “They were hilarious! Everyone kept refilling their glass because they were laughing so hard.”</p>
<p>“They were not…” he sighs. “They kept drinking to avoid being rude to you.”</p>
<p>“Nu-huh!”</p>
<p>“Ye—”</p>
<ul><li><<link "Interrupt them or their fight will go on forever." `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>“Have either of you ever wondered,” you cut in, “how Benji always managed it?”</p>
<p>Your friends turn to you, startled by your interruption. They look at each other, mouthing their confusion.</p>
<p>“Managed… what?” Renaud finally takes the bait.</p>
<p>“The constant parties,” you explain, “with the expensive booze flowing at wish and dishes that would be the envy of the fanciest crowds… all this to please nothing more than a handful of guests each time! Wouldn’t that cost… an arm? Even for one? And even if it did not, the recurrence of those parties must add up at the end of the month.”</p>
<p>“Now that you mention it…” Camille says. “I never really thought much about how he manages to have this much liquor ready when anyone comes over. He must be a <span class="mouseover"><<link 'caviste'>><<popover>>wine merchant<</popover>><</link>></span>’s favourite customer, <span class="mouseover"><<link 'si tu considères ce qu’il doit dépenser'>><<popover>>if you take into account what he must spend<</popover>><</link>></span>…”</p>
<p>“Really?” Renaud looks incredulous. “Neither of you ever thought about it?” His question is answered with head shakes. “Seriously… It would definitely not come from the same of those pitiful poems of his! Those could not bring a speck for sure.”</p>
<p>“You don’t think…” she smirks.</p>
<p>“… that he may or may not have rendered some… special services to a few lovely individuals,” you finish her thought. “Of course, our dear light-fingered friends would never dare imply such a thing about one of his closest friends,” you laugh. “It would be ridiculous!”</p>
<p>“Did <<they>> just call me—”</p>
<p>“Here, Renaud,” Camille waves the folded sheet in front of his face. “It’s your turn.”</p>
<p>Renaud opens his mouth, before closing it and reluctantly taking the note from her fingers. Mumbling under his breath, he scribbles something on the page. Camille playfully pretends to get closer and take a peek. Renaud grumbles, trying his best to hide his writing from the childish onlooker. He swiftly folds the sheet, pushes the teasing woman and hands it to you.</p>
<p>Unfortunately (or fortunately), this will be your shortest round yet. Recollecting Renaud’s rule —//Adjective—Noun—Verb//—, you only need to add one word this time. Camille looks at you mischievously and slowly slides to your side of the table. Your pencil flies on the page, and you fold your part before she can get close enough to read it.</p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter a verb: '' " "$MCverb" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCverb)>><<blank>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<else>><<set $text +=1>><<goto `passage()`>><</if>><</button>></center>
<<case 3>><p>Folding the page was what you thought you did. But Camille had snatched it long before your fingers creased the paper. You barely managed to hide $MCverb when her hand hovered over the note. A devilish smile forms on her face.</p>
<p>“Camille… Play fair,” Renaud chastises her.</p>
<p>“You are no fun!” she pouts. “And that is not fair to make me wait this long for my turn…”</p>
<p>“Can you at least wait for $mc.name to fold the sheet properly before you take it? You are threading a very thin line here…”</p>
<p>Her cheeks redden as she hands you the note back. She mumbles unconvincingly that she did not read a thing, anyway. Under the watchful eye of her companion, she waits for you to be done with that final task, her leg twitching impatiently. You playfully feign giving her the folded sheet a couple of times, pulling it back when her hand would get too close.</p>
<p>“Cut it out, $mc.name,” she complains, before finally managing to get hold of the paper.</p>
<p>Pouting, she takes her pencil and finishes her turn, handing it finally to her neighbour. Renaud rolls his eyes —you understand why—. Camille always turns into a spoilsport when things don’t go her way, especially when it comes to games. You remember the many time boards had been flipped over because she had not won. She would often stomp out of the room, hoping you or Renaud would relent to her <span class="mouseover"><<link 'caprices'>><<popover>>whims/tantrums<</popover>><</link>></span> and beg her to rejoin the game —with rules to her advantage, obviously—. You never let her have her way, no matter how much Renaud you plead you to. </p>
<ul><li> <<link "It was your house, after all." "G3-Reveal">><<unset $text>><<verbs>><</link>></li></ul>
<</switch>><p>Muttering your name, Renaud waves the folded note above your eyes. Camille pokes your arm, hoping to wake you from your reveries. You smile at them, snatching and unfolding the note. Your eyes widen before the words.</p>
<p>“<<= $phrase.toUpperFirst()>>,” you read aloud. “What… Why… Why would you choose that?”</p>
<p>“What went into your brain to pick that one, $mc.name?” Renaud jokes.</p>
<p>“Hey!” Camille says. “Did you notice I did not write anything lewd either?”</p>
<p>“But it doesn’t make any sense!” you ignore your friend <<cycle "_purpose">><<option "on purpose">><<option "not on purpose">><</cycle>>.</p>
<p>“Hey!”</p>
<p>“That’s the point!” Raymond follows suit. “As much as you could try, you won’t be able to predict what the previous person wrote. It’s… it’s impossible!”</p>
<p>“Hellooo!”</p>
<p>“Of course, it’s possible,” you exclaim. “If you know the person well enough, you can make pretty good guesses on what they could write about, especially if you know their state of mind. Take Camille, for example.”</p>
<p>“Really? Talking about me but not to me?”</p>
<p>“She would most likely write something inappropriate. More so if she is drunk.”</p>
<p>“Fair,” Renaud agrees. “But… It wouldn’t be much fun if the sentences actually made any sense, now would it?”</p>
<p>“Wow! Ignoring me? Very childish.”</p>
<p>“Well… I can’t say… I guess I would need to see it first before making up my mind?”</p>
<p>“I can… yield to that,” he concedes.</p>
<p>“I can’t believe it…”</p>
<p>“Anyway,” Renaud taps on your notebook. “Up for another round?”</p>
<ul><li>
<<link "Pass on the offer. You tried every spot possible. You understand the gist of the game. It was entertaining enough, but you did not come here to play a game." "G3-End 3">><</link>></li>
<li><<link "Agree to play another round. You are not quite ready to end the fun just yet." "G4-Start">><</link>></li></ul>
<<impossible>><<unlockend>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>“Let’s… let’s continue!”</p>
<p>Camille cheers as you rip another page from your notebook, seemingly having forgotten being completely ignored a minute earlier. Renaud shakes his head in disbelief.</p>
<p>“What?” she asks, having noticed her companion.</p>
<p>“You are unbelievable, you know that?”</p>
<p>“What did I do now?”</p>
<p>“You…” he stops. “Never mind…”</p>
<p>“Ok…” she looks confused, but avoid pressing the issue further. “So… are we playing or what?”</p>
<p>“Yes, dear,” Renaud crosses his arms. “We are. See…” he nods your way. “$mc.name is starting.”</p>
<p>You glance down at the page before you, your eyes staring at the blankness of the sheet. A tingle makes its way through your fingers and you feel your hand shaking before you can even think of a word to write. You try to stop it, but your hand shakes harder. Your breathing fastens, as you fail to control yourself. The corners of your eyes start to darken. Colours turn grey. A chill runs down your spine.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//You thought you could escape by simply leaving that room? How ludicrous…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>>
<p>“$mc.name?” a familiar voice brushes the strange feelings away.</p>
<p>“<span class="mouseover"><<link 'Hein'>><<popover>>Huh?/What?<</popover>><</link>></span>?”</p>
<p>“Are you alright, friend?” Renaud looks concerned.</p>
<p>“Yes. Why?”</p>
<p>“You… haven’t moved in a while,” Camille answers.</p>
<p>“She managed to chug down two glasses since you ripped those page out.”</p>
<p>“I…”</p>
<p>“Do… you need help starting the round? Should we change the order?” Renaud proposes. “I mean, I don’t mind starting, if you want.”</p>
<p>“What? No, no. It’s fine. //I’m// fine.”</p>
<p>“You don’t look fine,” Camille clicks her tongue. “You’re all pale.”</p>
<p>“Am I?” you whisper, your hand brushing your face.</p>
<p>“$mc.name… What’s going on with you?”</p>
<p>“Nothing! //Everything// is fine.”</p>
<p>You shut their further questioning by scribbling on the page and folding it.</p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter an adjective: '' " "$MCad1" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCad1)>><<blank>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<else>><<unset $text>><<goto "G4-Next">><</if>><</button>></center>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>Before folding and handing the page to Camille, you are pretty certain you wrote $MCad1 down. Though you are not quite sure. You just wanted to scribble something and end your turn as swiftly as you could, distracting them from asking too many questions. You shiver. The chill you felt running down your spine is still there, somehow. The voice… is quieter, but still there as well. You should not be surprised. It has not left you in months. </p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Have I ever left you…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>“I heard something… interesting last week,” Camille says, half paying attention to the page.</p>
<p>“What have you heard?” Renaud sighs, asking before she repeats herself.</p>
<p>“Someone has lost their agent… Again!”</p>
<p>“Oh!” he claps, excited. “Literary? Acting? Gallery? It can’t be a music-related one, or I’d have heard about //that//.”</p>
<p>“It is much closer than you think,” she winks.</p>
<p>You look up and see her smile at you. But not the kind of smile you expected. Not a happy one or a comforting one. More of a ‘//I’m onto you//’ kind of smile. You bring your glass to your lips and let the liquid linger in your mouth, unable to swallow it. As Camille hands Renaud the newly folded note, she gives him a look and nods toward you, hoping he would catch on as well.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//You are so screwed…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>“$mc.name?! Are you… kidding me? Again?!”</p>
<p>“I… Err…”</p>
<p>“I… I can’t… How did you manage that one?”</p>
<p>“Like <<they>> always <<do>>, Renaud,” she shrugs. “Not meeting deadlines, being an absolute twat, or they realised there was no prospect in getting //anything// off the ground with $mc.name’s name attached. Or… those three together.”</p>
<p>“You can’t mean that, Camille. You must be exaggerating, here,” you try to defend yourself. “I am not //that// bad.”</p>
<p>“$mc.name…” she massages her temple, thinking carefully about her next words. “How can you be so oblivious to your own behaviour?”</p>
<p>“Isn’t it… like what… the fifth one that dropped you?”</p>
<p>“Yes, it is, Renaud. In two short years. Five in two years, $mc.name!” She almost shouts. “My God… Even the big names don’t go through agents as quickly as you do!"</p>
<p>“You really have to get a grip on yourself, $mc.name. It can’t continue that way, or…”</p>
<p>“Or? Or what?”</p>
<p>“You will end up being blacklisted, $mc.name. There are only so many establishments left whose door you could knock on.”</p>
<p>“Like any would take a gamble on <<them>> at this point,” Camille growls. “Especially with so little —sorry, no— publication under <<their>> name!”</p>
<p>“That’s not—”</p>
<p>“A short story in a nameless newspaper does not count, $mc.name,” <span class="mouseover"><<link 'elle réponds to tac au tac'>><<popover>>she answers, without missing a beat<</popover>><</link>></span>. “Not when it was just a one off.”</p>
<p>“I…”</p>
<p>“Really, $mc.name…” Renaud shakes his head, disappointed.</p>
<p>Knowing your friends would not stop their remarks until all would be out of their system, you take the folded note and shut their voices out. You ignore their attempts at getting any answer from you or pleading to think about your future. It is bad enough you lost your publishable support—again—, you don’t need another lecture on the subject. M. Focard had already laid it on quite thickly before he kicked you out. </p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter an adjective: '' " "$MCad2" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCad2)>><<blank>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<elseif $MCad2 is $MCad1>><<doubleword>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a different word.<</replace>><<else>><<set $text += 1>><<goto `passage()`>><</if>><</button>></center>
<<case 4>><p>Avoiding their eyes, you end up writing $MCad2 on the page, before folding and handing it to Camille. She continues to probe you further, with the help of Renaud, but you remain silent. //How… how did they find out about this?//</p>
<p>You were certain M. Focard would never mention the incident outside of his office —or even within—, for it would have not only ruined out, but him as well. It was already bad enough to be known as your agent, but being found out as having been warned by his <span class="mouseover"><<link 'confrères'>><<popover>>colleague<</popover>><</link>></span> about you would detrimental to his career. //How could they have known?//</p>
<p>You keep your head down, only nodding at the folded sheet. Camille still needs to finish her turn.</p>
<ul><li> <<link "//They can’t know about that… can they?//" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><p>“You can’t keep your issues unresolved,” Renaud reminds you.</p>
<p>“It has worked so far,” you shrug.</p>
<p>“Has it, $mc.name? Tell me truly… has it worked so far?”</p>
<p>“Well… yes,” you answer stubbornly.</p>
<p>“It can’t… it won’t work forever. You must know that, $mc.name,” he warns you. “One day… it will come and bite you in the ass.”</p>
<p>“My God… you sound just like //him//…” you mumble.</p>
<p>“What was that?”</p>
<p>“Nothing!”</p>
<p>“Here, Renaud,” Camille hands him the note. “Don’t bother.”</p>
<p>“But, we—”</p>
<p>“<<They>> won’t say anything else. Read that instead,” she nods at the folded paper.</p>
<p>Renaud rolls his eyes, but relents as he opens the folded note. </p>
<ul><li> <<link '//How did they find out?//' "G4-Reveal">><<unset $text>><<adjs>><</link>></li></ul>
<</switch>><p>Though the question lingers in your mind, you are afraid to say those words. If you did, you know you would not be able to take that subject off the table. It will be hard to avoid it, especially since Camille brought it forward. She has this knack for reminding people she knows things they wished she didn’t, and she is not afraid to push them in their face when needed. You know full well she will push you to face it —everything— eventually. //She has done it before…//</p>
<p>“Fine… Let us see what is in there,” Renaud sighs. “<<= $phrase.toUpperFirst()>>.”</p>
<p>While you would have been able to cut the tension with a knife a few minutes ago, it suddenly disappeared as soon as Renaud proclaimed those even little words. Camille holds her forehead in her hands, smirking confusingly, and her neighbour lets out a snort. The question echoes louder in your mind. //How did they find out?//</p>
<p>“Oh, goodness!” Renaud looks up, holding on to the tears in between fits of laughter. “This never fails to break me.”</p>
<p>“You can say that again,” Camille laughs along. “Right, $mc.name?”</p>
<p>Their hearty laughs quiet down around you. Drops of sweat form on your forehead as your pulse picks up its pace again. Your friends’ faces twitch and smirk as their laughter increases —even if you can’t hear a thing—. Only one thought remains. //How the hell did they find out?//</p>
<p>“$mc.name?”</p>
<p>“Huh?”</p>
<p>“I asked if you still wanted to play?”</p>
<ul>
<li> <<link 'Another round would be a welcomed distraction from that lingering thoughts. //Could it distract them as well?//' "G5-Start">><</link>></li>
<li> <<link 'It might be best to stop the game here. You know your friends would use it as a distraction to probe you further. //Who knows what else they will make me say?//' "G4-End 4">><</link>></li></ul>
<<impossible>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>“Why… not?”</p>
<p>You dab your sweaty forehead with your sleeve, hoping Camille does not realise your agreement would distract both her and Renaud from //that// issue. Camille nods before ripping out a new page from your notebook, which she hands to her other neighbour.</p>
<p>“Are you sure you are alright, $mc.name?” Renaud squints again, delaying the start of the round. “You’ve been acting… strangely since we arrived. Is it because we—”</p>
<p>“Stop it, Renaud,” Camille snaps. “We asked, <<they>> won’t answer. If we continue to press <<them>>, you know <<they>> will run away. Remember the //bérêt// issue?”</p>
<p>“<<They>> <<are>> not five anymore! <<They>> should be able to talk to us when <<they>> <<have>> a problem, and not… <span class="mouseover"><<link 'faire l’autruche'>><<popover>>turn a blind eye<</popover>><</link>></span>!”</p>
<p>“And <<they>> will, when <<they>> <<feel>> ready. Won’t you, $mc.name?”</p>
<p>You lower your eyes to avoid their judgement face —Renaud’s especially—, and, looking like a beaten dog, you reluctantly nod. Renaud sighs in frustration —you are pretty sure he rolled his eyes at you, hard—. You hear his pencil chipping on the page and the sheet being subsequently folded. Before the note reaches you, Camille stops his hand.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Not again…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><p>“Tell us, $mc.name…” Camille’s honeyed voice sings. “What have you been working on?”</p>
<p>“I—”</p>
<p>“Or pretending to work on…”</p>
<p>“Renaud, seriously!” She takes your hand. “Don’t listen to him, $mc.name. He’s just bitter he’s not good with words like you are. Any idea on that project of yours?”</p>
<p>“Er…”</p>
<p>“Tell us. What is it about? Have you settled on a genre? Or a setting? Or a trope?”</p>
<p>“I mean…”</p>
<p>“Oh! Will it be a murder-mystery? Those are pretty popular nowadays.”</p>
<p>“Hmm…”</p>
<p>“See Camille,” Renaud sneers. “I told you. It’s only show and charade with <<them>>. <<They>> <<have>> nothing to show for it. And <<they>> never will! It has always been like this. It’s a miracle <<they>> managed to survive in town this long, without having done anything of substance…”</p>
<p>“For the love of— Renaud! You promised!”</p>
<p>“I did no such thing… Does it even matter when <<they>>—”</p>
<p>“How… how is everything going with you, Renaud?” you try to change the subject.</p>
<p>“Oh, no, $mc.name! It may have worked last time, but you can’t keep deflecting the subject any longer. Why can’t we ever know what is happening with you? Do you know people are asking after you? Do you know how awkward it makes us, when we have literally nothing to say?”</p>
<p>“It’s just… there is not much to say,” you mumble. “My life is not as exciting as yours, or Camille’s…”</p>
<p>“That is not a reason to shut us out, $mc.name! We are supposed to be your friends! You can’t—”</p>
<p>“Renaud!” Camille’s sharp tone startles the both of you. “That’s enough!”</p>
<p>You take this opportunity to snatch the torn piece of paper from his hand and finish your turn.</p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter a noun: '' " "$MCnoun1" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCnoun1)>><<blank>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<else>><<unset $text>><<goto "G5-Next">><</if>><</button>></center>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>Having written $MCnoun1 on the page, and slid the folded note to Camille, you lean back on your chair in silence. You feel like a third wheel at the table, as your friends are still jousting on the topic of decorum and how best to handle you. Not only that, but you also feel like a burden to them. </p>
<p>You realise how much they looked after you since the three of you stepped into town, while you reciprocated very little. They pushed through and achieved much in the past two years, while you made little to no progress in getting closer to your goal. </p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Am I holding them back?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>“If you must know,” Renaud says, annoyed at having lost his futile fight against Camille. “I am dealing with a $mc.name at work as well.”</p>
<p>“Renaud!” Camille’s tone feels like a slap in the face.</p>
<p>“Fine… with a pain in my ass,” he grimaces.</p>
<p>“I don’t know how to feel about that…” you whisper quietly.</p>
<p>“He has been such a knobhead to everyone at the Conservatory, yelling at every minor mishap, blaming us when anything goes wrong even when he is the one creating the issue in the first place.”</p>
<p>“I don’t like where this is going…” you whisper still.</p>
<p>“An example. He made,” Renaud continues, seemingly unaware of your comments,“ the wrong movement during rehearsals. The percussions did not follow at first, as it was the complete opposite of what was on the sheets. But he made that same movement again, frowning furiously at them. So they followed. That asswipe stopped the rehearsals just to call the percussions out on their mistake.”</p>
<p>“He must have done that on purpose… that can’t…” Camille seems shocked.</p>
<p>“When I pointed out the percussions were not in the wrong but he was, he flipped his stand —his music sheets flew all around—, walked up to me and started to yell in my face. He was //this// close to punch me! God, I hate that fuckward…”</p>
<p>“Am… am I //that// bad with other people,” you mumble, barely audibly.</p>
<p>“So, what did you do?” Camille hands him the sheet, with her addition tucked inside. “I hope you didn’t punch him back… did you?”</p>
<p>“If I didn’t value my position… Honestly, I would have. How could I not want to? He does not deserve to be a <span class="mouseover"><<link 'chef d’orchestre'>><<popover>>orchestra conductor<</popover>><</link>></span>. I don’t know how he even got the position to begin with when he is a fucking nobody shit conductor! He thinks he knows better than anyone —for some reason— and that everyone should bow down to his taken. Talent,” he scoffs, “my ass. A dirty sewer rat would have more talent than him.”</p>
<p>“Do I really have nothing to show her?” you lament silently, letting your head fall in your palms.</p>
<p>“What. Did. You. Do. Renaud?” Camille repeats, worried.</p>
<p>“Nothing!” He scribbles something on the page, mindlessly. “I just stood there and took it. I stayed silent the whole time, I swear!”</p>
<p>“But…”</p>
<p>“No, no, no…. I can’t be like that!” you try to convince yourself.</p>
<p>“I just… stared back.”</p>
<p>“You idiotic man,” she brings her palm to her face. “You were taunting him. The man holds your spot in his hands, you are aware of that, right? He could kick you out for no reason!”</p>
<p>“He can try,” Renaud waves her off. “I have been too valuable to the director for that to happen.”</p>
<p>“You don’t mean…” you smirk inquisitively.</p>
<p>“How dare you imply that I secure my pay like Benji does,” he pretends to be offended. “No, of course not. I just perform now and then at his boring little parties. Once in a while. Just to remind him.”</p>
<p>“Mm-hmm… performing like a good little monkey,” you blurt out.</p>
<p>“<<= $mc.name.toUpperCase()>>! I swear to God,” Camille snaps. “If you start this, I won’t put myself in the middle anymore!”</p>
<p>“It was just a—”</p>
<p>“I do not care, this is my last warning.”</p>
<p>“Just… write down your word,” Renaud hands you the note.</p>
<p>“You are no fun,” you mutter as you take the paper.</p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter a noun: '' " "$MCnoun2" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCnoun2)>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<blank>><<elseif $MCnoun2 is $MCnoun1>><<doubleword>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a different word.<</replace>><<else>><<set $text += 1>><<nouns>><<goto `passage()`>><</if>><</button>></center>
<<default>><p>With $MCnoun2 added to the page, you hand the folded sheet once more to Camille. She gives you a look, one of disappointment mixed with warning, making you recoil on your seat. You know better than to get on her bad side, even if you often try to push her boundaries. </p>
<p>//Renaud, on one hand…// you could handle the consequences, and get to the other side with only a black eye… or two. With Camille, however, you would end up with a broken ego and a shattered heart. You’ve seen her tear a new arsehole on someone who slighted her. I was not pretty to see then, it would most certainly not feel good now.</p>
<p>“Shall we see what this one says?”</p>
<ul><li> <<link "Nod." "G5-Reveal">><<unset $text>><</link>></li></ul>
<</switch>><p>Both you and Renaud nod quietly, under the watchful eye of the self-appointed deputy. As her eyes move down the page, you see her losing her composure.</p>
<p>“<<= $phrase.toUpperFirst()>>,” you manage to make out, as Camille tries her best to suppress a laugh.</p>
<p>Your neighbour elbows you, telling you with a nod to watch her closely. She reads the note again, and again, and another time, not believing that this sentence came to be. With each new iteration comes a snort or a giggle, which she tries to quiet. She finally looks up and sees the both of you watching her intensely.</p>
<p>“What? Is there something on my face?”</p>
<p>Renaud shares a look with you before the two of you burst into laughter. Her confused face made it all the better. //<<cycle "_option">><<option "And the sentence was pretty good too!">><<option "Though the sentence was just fine…">><</cycle>>//</p>
<p>“Just tell me! Do I have something on my face?”</p>
<p>The laughter doubles, as she frantically looks for her compact mirror in her purse. After opening it, and assuring herself nothing was wrong, she casts an irritated look your way.</p>
<p>“<span class="mouseover"><<link 'Bon, quand vous aurez fini avec ces gamineries…'>><<popover>>So, when you are done with your childishness…<</popover>><</link>></span> how about we play another round?”</p>
<ul>
<li> <<link "Stop here. It is likely you will end up even more childish as the game continues, and annoy your friend further." "G5-End 5">><</link>></li>
<li> <<link "You are not ready to stop yet! You want to the fun to continue a bit longer." "G6-Start">><</link>></li></ul>
<<impossible>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>Without waiting for your answer, Renaud rips a sheet from your notebook and hands it to Camille.</p>
<p>“You’re not mad at us, right?” he looks at her with puppy eyes.</p>
<p>“I…” She sighs. “Stop that, Renaud.”</p>
<p>“Stop what?” he exaggerates his grimace further.</p>
<p>//“That//,” she waves at his face. </p>
<p>Renaud nudges you to join him. You do as you are asked.</p>
<p>“No… no, don’t,” Camille pleads. “Not the two of you… That’s not fair!”</p>
<p>“But, but, but,” Renaud teases, “we know you can’t stay mad at us. Now when…” he grimaces again.</p>
<p>“You are incorrigible…,” she says, looking away. “The both of you!”</p>
<p>“You can’t avoid looking at us Camille…”</p>
<p>“Oh, I will spend the rest of this afternoon avoiding your face if you try me.”</p>
<p>“You don’t mean that…”</p>
<p>“Try me, Renaud. Try. Me.”</p>
<ul><li> <<link "“I missed you two…”" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>> <p>Camille and Renaud stop their bickering to turn towards you. Their faces seem shocked from the words that passed your lips. You had not even realised you had said them until they turned silent.</p>
<p>“What now? Did I hear you correctly?” he gushes, mockingly. “Did $mc.name express a feeling? I can’t— Hey!” he cries out, his body jerking to the side from Camille pinching him.</p>
<p>“Stop teasing, Renaud.”</p>
<p>“Oh, cruel world,” he brings dramatically the back of his hand to his forehead and pretends to swoon. “Why must I restrain from expressing myself so?”</p>
<p>“Don’t ruin the moment,” she says, passing him the folded note. “Can’t you enjoy <<their>> declaration of love like a normal person?”</p>
<p>“It wasn—”</p>
<p>“My, my…” he uses the folded note as a fake handkerchief, “Declaring <<their>> love… $mc.name is growing so fast!”</p>
<p>“Renaud…” she sighs. “We… we missed you too, $mc.name. We really missed seeing you.”</p>
<p>“Yes, we did.” Renaud slams the table. “I missed you two so much!”</p>
<p>“Did… did you two not see each other for a while either?” you ask.</p>
<p>“Oh, don’t mind him. He is just playing. We had lunch a few days ago.”</p>
<p>“And I missed you so much since,” Renaud takes her hand, pretending to cry.</p>
<p>“The joke is getting old, Renaud. <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Tu peux pas changer de disque'>><<popover>>You sound like a broken record.<</popover>><</link>></span>?”</p>
<p>“Fine,” he relents, before pausing. “In all seriousness… I wasn’t sure any of us would make it today.”</p>
<p>“What? You can’t mean that, Renaud. I would agree with you that <<name>> might not have left <<their>> room.”</p>
<p>“Hey!” you protest quietly.</p>
<p>“But you and I… we would have found a way, even if it was for a few minutes.”</p>
<p>“I… I don’t know Camille. I’ve been so swamped lately, running from unnecessarily long rehearsals to different parties around town. I almost forgot today was…” He sighs, slumping on the table. “I don’t even get to enjoy myself… anywhere! God… I’m just… everyone’s personified jukebox! $mc.name is right… I’m a performing monkey…”</p>
<ul>
<li> <<link "“Renaud… I… I only meant it as a joke.”" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><<set $choice.silent to false>><</link>></li>
<li> <<link "Stay silent." `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><<set $choice.silent to true>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>“<<if $choice.silent is false>>Renaud… I… I only meant it as a joke.<<else>>Renaud, I am sure <<they>> only meant it as a joke.<</if>>”</p>
<p>“But it’s true, <<if $choice.silent is false>>$mc.name<<else>>Camille<</if>>. <<if $choice.silent is false>>You<<else>><<They>><</if>> may not have realised it… but it is!”</p>
<p>Renaud buries his face in his arms, hiding in shame. Camille rubs his back gently whispering things in his ear you can’t quite catch. Still, he refuses to move.</p>
<p>“I… I know the rich may look down on other people,” you say, emptying the void, “but they wouldn’t —couldn’t— stoop this low!”</p>
<p>“Easy for you to say, richling,” you hear him grumble. “Just because you don’t see us that way does not me no one else does.” He gets back up, his eyes burning with fury. “//They// don’t really think of us as people, $mc.name. Never have, never will.”</p>
<p>“I’m sure—”</p>
<p>“When was the last time you went to one of those gatherings, $mc.name? One where your patron invited you to perform for their crowd?” Seeing you looking down, he continues: “They never think of putting any food or drink aside for us. If it weren’t for their staff, I would most certainly play the whole time starving or dehydrated.”</p>
<p>“You can’t—”</p>
<p>“One host, just last week, ordered me to play from the moment his guests arrived until they left. He forbade me to even pause during that time, for any reason. No break. Not to drink. Not to eat. Not even to get a smoke!”</p>
<p>“And to think we have to suck up to them for scraps,” Camille shakes her head.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//They can’t be all like that!//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 4>><p>“You… you are exaggerating, right?” you look from one friend to the other. “Right? They… they can’t all be that bad… There must be some kind ones out there!”</p>
<p>“Well,” Renaud scratches his chin. “The only kind one I can think of was your father, $mc.name.”</p>
<p>“Don’t m—”</p>
<p>“But so was that social circle, now that I think about it,” he continues. “You know, the aristos and wealthy living outside the city…”</p>
<p>“It’s the air,” Camille corroborates.</p>
<p>“That can’t be real,” you shake your head, unconvinced. “Not all—”</p>
<p>“Of course, not all rich ones are bad, $mc.name” Renaud cuts you off again. “Some may be nice. Some may even go above and beyond for us. But there are too few of them. Too few to matter.”</p>
<p>Camille nods along, approving the words, while you feel a wave of guilt washing over you. You look down, ashamed, though you don’t really understand why.</p>
<p>“Are we finishing this round, or what?” Camille asks.</p>
<p>“Right! I forgot it was my turn…”</p>
<p>Renaud scribbles something and hands the folded note to you. You hand hovers over the note, but you hesitate for a second to take it. You want to say something to your friends. But you are not sure what —or why—. Renaud rolls his eyes at your indecision and drops the paper in front of you. Your hand shakes when you grab your pencil.</p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter a verb: '' " "$MCverb" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCverb)>><<blank>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<else>><<set $text +=1>><<goto `passage()`>><</if>><</button>></center>
<<case 5>><p>After adding $MCverb to the page, you silently slide the note to Camille, who continues the game unbothered. Neither of your friends seem to pay much attention to you, which surprises you a little. Renaud continues to ramble about ungrateful and entitled hosts, their rude guests, and the measly pay for those private performances. Camille nods along kindly, gasps in shock at the appropriate moment and provides him with kind words when needed. </p>
<ul><li> <<link "They don’t notice you sulking in your little corner of the round table." `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 6>><p>You can clearly remember your friends sometimes keeping you company during your family’s long dinner parties. You hated spending this time alone, sitting quietly on your chair, waiting for time to pass. You were not allowed to leave the table or bring a book to distract you, because <span class="mouseover"><<link '‘c’est très grossier’'>><<popover>>it is really rude<</popover>><</link>></span>. You could not even have your dinner in the kitchen with the help, and spend the rest of the evening in your room, because <span class="mouseover"><<link '‘tout le monde a fait l’effort de venir juste pour te voir’'>><<popover>>everyone made the effort to come just to see you<</popover>><</link>></span>.</p>
<p>You would beg your parents to invite them at every turn, even if they had other plans. They would relent to your pleads sometimes and have both Camille and Renaud brought over. You relished the time the three of you would spend. You even recall one guest pointing out how livelier the house would become when your companions joined. You were still confined to the dinner room, but you did not wish to leave anymore. //Not with those two around…//</p>
<p>During those long evenings, your father would often ask Renaud to play a tune or two on the piano. Your friend would always comply —<span class="mouseover"><<link 'avec plaisir'>><<popover>>gladly<</popover>><</link>></span>, he would say—, knowing he could expect praise from the host and his guests about his god-given talent. //Did Father throw him some coins after the party ended?//</p>
<p>Reminiscing now about the good all days leaves you somewhat bitter. //Were they actually good days?// An anxious voice shouts in your mind. //Even if they were for you, would you be able to say the same for them? Have you ever… asked them what they felt? Have you even ever stopped and thought about this… you selfish prick? Have you ever thought about what they were going through?//</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//You are only good to wallow in your stupid lack of imagination…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 7>><p>“<span class="mouseover"><<link 'Youhou'>><<popover>>Woo-hoo!<</popover>><</link>></span>! $mc.name?”</p>
<p>Some dark shadows dance in front of your eyes.</p>
<p>“Earth to $mc.name.” You hear paper shake close to your face before the voice continues. “Is there anyone there?”</p>
<p>“Seriously, $mc.name. You gotta stop doing that!” This other voice grumbles. “How could we not worry about <<them>> when <<they>> keep… Ugh…”</p>
<p>“I know, Camille… I don’t know what’s wrong with <<them>> either. Listen.” Renaud pauses. “If <<they>> still <<dont>> reply, slap <<them>>.”</p>
<p>“What?! No, Renaud…”</p>
<p>“That’ll wake <<them>> up!”</p>
<p>“I don’t want to…”</p>
<p>“Then I’ll do it!” Silence again. “Are you ready?” A shorter pause. “<<= $mc.name.toUpperCase()>>!”</p>
<ul><li><<link "“Yes… Yes. I’m here…”" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><<verbs>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><p>“Yes… Yes, I’m here… I was just… in thoughts.”</p>
<p>“I hope you were thinking really hard about the next word you were going to write. Otherwise, that’d be //rude//,” Renaud frowns.</p>
<p>“I wouldn—”</p>
<p>“You were missing Renaud’s //epic// tirade about his rude clients. Well… it wasn’t that epic. But you missed a joke or two.”</p>
<p>“Oh,” you look disappointed. “Could you tell it again?”</p>
<p>“Eh…” Renaud shrugs. “The moment’s passed. It won’t be as funny now.”</p>
<p>“Why don’t you read the mystery sentence instead, $mc.name?” Camille suggests.</p>
<p>You grab the sheet of paper Renaud shakes in front of your eyes and unfold it.</p>
<p>“<<= $phrase.toUpperFirst()>>,” you read out with a monotone voice, as you decipher the words.</p>
<p>“Say that again,” Camille puffs.</p>
<p>“The—”</p>
<p>“No, no, no, $mc.name!” Renaud bites his lip, shaking. “With the same voice!” </p>
<p>“The… <<= $phrase.toUpperFirst()>>?” you look at them confused, but comply to their request.</p>
<p>“Again!” Renaud orders.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//What in the…//' "G6-Reveal">><<unset $text>><</link>></li></ul>
<</switch>><p>Taken aback more by his tone than his request, you look up. Renaud wipes tears from his eyes, barely able to keep it together. Another go at the sentence would probably push him to the floor. Camille, on the other side, is laughing so hard, she slams the table with her palm, holding her stomach with the other.</p>
<p>“<<= $phrase.toUpperFirst()>>…”</p>
<p>Laughter explodes around the table, as your companions give the little decorum they had left. You smirk mischievously, tempted to repeat the sentence once more. You open your mouth, ready to rile your friends, but are stopped by the dark glances from the other customers seated at the terrace. You let go of the paper in your hands and stay quiet, waiting for Renaud and Camille to calm down instead. However, your placid demeanour adds onto their tormented spasms of hilarity. You try your best not to pay attention to them, by filling their glasses and handing them out.</p>
<p>“S-so…” Camille barely manages to say. “An-another r-round?”</p>
<ul><li> <<link 'Another round wouldn’t hurt, at least not you. //Isn’t laughter supposed to prolong your life, anyway?//' "G7-Start">><</link>></li>
<li> <<link "Maybe it would be best if you stopped there. You wouldn’t want your friends getting hurt because of a silly little game." "G6-End 6">><</link>></li></ul>
<<impossible>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>You happily agree to another round, hoping to share more laughs with your friends. You gladly let Camille take your notebook and rips another page from it. //Glad it’s finally getting some use…// Still, you are confused to see her scribbling something. //Wasn’t it her//—</p>
<p>“Hey!” Renaud exclaims. “What do you think you are doing, Camille? It isn’t your turn yet. It’s $mc.name’s!”</p>
<p>“I know, I know… I’m not actually writing a word,” she hands you the piece of paper.</p>
<p>“Oh…” you mutter, seeing the doodling she had drawn, with flowers in each corner and a pseudo-calligraphed ‘//the//’ on the top of the page. </p>
<p>“There is a word,” Renaud retorts, after glancing at the sheet.</p>
<p>“That is barely a word, Renaud,” she rolls her eyes. “It doesn’t count. It can’t count!”</p>
<p>“//The// is a word, Camille. Ask $mc.name, you’ll see.”</p>
<p>“Well—”</p>
<p>“I wasn’t writing it, anyway,” she sticks out her tongue.</p>
<p>“Writing… drawing… stop arguing with semantics!”</p>
<p>“You did it on a previous round as well, Renaud. You big hypocrite…”</p>
<p>Renaud puts his finger up and opens his mouths. He hesitates in contesting her argument, knowing full well she is not only right but arguing in bad faith. Bringing his hand down to his pockets, he takes out a page of cigarettes instead. He lights one and takes a puff.</p>
<ul><li> <<link "Scold him. He was supposed to quit." `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><<set $choice.smoke to false>><</link>></li>
<<if $mc.smoke isnot false >><li> <<link "Ask for one yourself. You left yours at home." `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><<set $choice.smoke to true>><</link>></li>
<<if $mc.smoke is "hashish">><li> <<link "Ask whether he has something stronger…" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><<set $choice.smoke to "weed">><</link>></li>
<</if>><</if>>
</ul>
<<case 2>><<if $choice.smoke is false>><p>“I thought you quit, Renaud,” you frown. “I clearly remember you asking me to throw out your pack in the river last <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Saint Silverstre'>><<popover>>New-Year's Eve<</popover>><</link>></span>.”</p>
<p>“I did, $mc.name, I did indeed,” he puffs again. “And then I didn’t.”</p>
<p>“We all know how well he keeps his New Year’s resolutions,” Camille sips her glass, smirking. “Even if it could save his life.”</p>
<p>“It was either that or becoming a drunk,” Renaud shrugs. “And the latter was already taken,” he smirks back.</p>
<p>“Why you—” Camille puts her hand up, warning him.</p>
<p>“I jest, Camille. You know that,” he taps the cigarette on the rim of the ash urn. “They keep booking me for anything and everything, these days. There is only so much stress I can take, you know? And being inebriated makes for a poor performer.”</p>
<p>“That’s going to kill you one day, //dear//,” Camille leans back smugly, crossing her arms.</p>
<p>“Well, that’s nothing compared to the fury of our beloved conductor,” he mumbles, the cigarette between his lips. “I can’t imagine the scandal it would create if I went on stage drunk…”</p>
<p>“There would be no way back from that,” you nod in approval.</p>
<p>“What if you played in those small bars in the //Quartier Latin//? They wouldn’t mind you having had a little too much to drink.”</p>
<p>“I would not be bothered much, that is for sure. But these are not the kind of crowd I would want to entertain, anyway.”</p>
<p>“Why… not?” Camille asks. “It would be less stressful. You wouldn’t have to deal with that knobhead of a conductor or those entitled patrons. I’m sure the bar would let you drink them blind. I can’t see… Unless…”</p>
<p>“Unless? Unless what?” you ask, confused.</p>
<p>“Bingo!” Renaud winks at her.</p>
<p>“You would really—”</p>
<p>“It pays like shit, Camille. And these,” he wiggles his fingers, “have become spoiled little things. They only want to play on the best instruments for the most outrageous bills.”</p>
<p>“Eh… Always the professional,” you chuckle, as you mindlessly play with the sheet of paper.</p>
<p>“Instead of making snarky comments, $mc.name,” Camille turns to you, her glass on her lips again, “how about you write something? You know… to make this round happen…”</p>
<p>“Aye, aye, captain!”</p>
<<elseif $choice.smoke is true>><p>“Mind if…” you put your hand out.</p>
<p>“Be my guest,” he shrugs, sliding his pack of smoke to you.</p>
<p>“You too, $mc.name?” Camille shakes her head, disappointed. “You both know how I hate those… //things//.”</p>
<p>“Don’t knock it until you try it,” Renaud puffs some smoke her way.</p>
<p>“Disgusting,” she coughs. “Those are just disgusting. How can you make yourself smoke these? It can't be good for your health.”</p>
<p>Renaud and you share a glance.</p>
<p>“It makes me look cool,” Renaud grins.</p>
<p>“Helps with the stress,” you respond at the same time.</p>
<p>“Oh, yes! That,” he frantically points to you, his cigarette in his mouth. “You have no idea how relaxing this makes me after I have to deal with our beloved conductor’s mood.”</p>
<p>“Or when I have to pull an all-nighter to meet a deadline, one of those,” you puff, “keeps me focused until I am done.”</p>
<p>“You two sound like those… deviants.”</p>
<p>“Camille, don’t compare us to some junkies,” Renaud frowns. “This is not an illicit drug. Otherwise, our former President would not become the head of one of the biggest manufacturer in the country!”</p>
<p>“They wouldn’t advertise them at every corner if they were truly bad for us,” you add.</p>
<p>“You won’t listen to me, will you?” She continues after both you and Renaud shake your head. “Can you at least not blow my way. The smell is just… Ugh.”</p>
<p>“Can do,” you smile, puffing away from her.</p>
<p>“And can you start this round already, $mc.name? Or will you make us wait forever?”</p>
<p>“Can do,” you stick your tongue out.</p>
<<else>><p>“Do you have something… stronger by any chance?” you ask your friend, motioning wanting to smoke with your fingers.</p>
<p>“Stronger?” He looks at you, confused at first. “I don’t— Oh. Ooh… you mean that. I don’t th—”</p>
<p>“What?” Camille enquires. “What <<do>> <<they>> mean? What is //that//?”</p>
<p>“Nothing, Camille!” You shake your hands. “It’s nothing. Don’t… don’t worry about it.”</p>
<p>“I was only curious, but now…”</p>
<p>“Great, $mc.name. You made her suspicious.”</p>
<p>“I promise, Camille. It was nothing. I shouldn’t have asked. It’s not like Renaud would h—”</p>
<p>“Oh no, don’t you bring me into this! I hav—”</p>
<p>“If you didn’t make such a show of it, she wouldn’t have noticed.”</p>
<p>“Who asks for the Devil’s lettuce in broad daylight, $mc.name?” He pauses. “Oh… <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Oups'>><<popover>>Woops<</popover>><</link>></span>?”</p>
<p>“The Devil’s—” Her face crisps in horror. “//You// were asking //him// for some dr—”</p>
<p>“Not a—” Renaud starts. “Well… no. You are correct. It is a drug.”</p>
<p>“<<= $mc.name.toUpperCase()>> DOMINIQUE BEAULNE,” she almost yells. She is about to scold you further when the shushing of other customers around quiets her tone. “How… How did you learn of… Why would you… What were you thinking?”</p>
<p>You instinctively put your head down, looking guilty.</p>
<p>“This… this is wrong, $mc.name. Do…” she comes closer and whispers: “Do you want the pigs to come and throw you in a cell? Like some sort of… junkie!”</p>
<p>“It’s not that bad, Camille.” Renaud earns a dark glare. “In small quantity, once in a blue moon, around trusted friends… it’s not too harmful.”</p>
<p>“And how would //you// know that, Renaud?”</p>
<p>“I’ve used it once or twice,” he shrugs. “Made me mellow.”</p>
<p>“You too were tempted by… that… //thing//?! My God…” she covers her eyes. “I can’t believe my friends…”</p>
<p>“How are you surprised, Camille?” he asks. “It is very common for artists to be tangled with… stimulants. Everyone in our circle has tried out a little hashish…”</p>
<p>“I have not!” she scoffs. “Nor do I know anyone… until now!”</p>
<p>“Really, Camille? You really don’t know anyone who has ever used—”</p>
<p>“No, I do not!”</p>
<p>“Strange…” you say. “I seem to remember you complaining about the… musty smell in Benji’s kitchen.”</p>
<p>“But that could not have… I am sure no one would… Are you…”</p>
<p>“It can sometimes enhance your appetite,” Renaud comments.</p>
<p>“My… God… I have been around junkies all this time… I…”</p>
<p>“If that shocks you, wait till you hear about—”</p>
<p>“No, Renaud,” you whisper, shaking your head. “Don’t… That’ll break her…”</p>
<p>“But…” He pauses, looking at her rocking herself back and forth. “Hmm… You might be right…”</p>
<p>“I’ll… I’ll just start the game.”</p>
<</if>>
<p>You let your pencil run on the paper, before folding and sliding it to Camille.</p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter an adjective: '' " "$MCad1" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCad1)>><<blank>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<else>><<unset $text>><<goto "G7-Next">><</if>><</button>></center>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>With $MCad1 nested under the fold of the sheet you handed to Camille, you lean back on your chair. <<if $choice.smoke is false>>Still debating Renaud on the dire effect of smoking, your friend does not realise you are not waiting for her to continue the game. When she finally does, she points to her empty glass. As you fulfil her request, she brings her pencil to the page. <<elseif $choice.smoke is true>>Your friend waves her hands, trying to push away the smokes of your and Renaud’s cigarettes, trying to stop a fit of coughs. As much as you promised not to blow her way —and Renaud not promising anything—, the winds were not in her favour. Realising her glass is empty, you take the initiative and fill it up. She downs it before putting her pencil to the page.<<else>> Your friend is still rocking back and forth, shaken at the revelation of your misconduct —though you don’t believe that ever did you any harm—. You are not sure what else you could do to console her, as your denials only made her more suspicious. Seeing her empty glass, you remember she sometimes finds comfort in liquor. //Maybe that could help?// <</if>></p>
<p>“<<if $choice.smoke is false>>If I try to stop smoking again,<<elseif $choice.smoke is true>>Say I would try to stop smoking,<<else>>I know you have been berating me to quit for ages, Camille,<</if>>” Renaud starts, his cigarette, almost falling apart, wiggling as he speaks, “<<if $choice.smoke is false>>what will you give up, $mc.name?<<elseif $choice.smoke is true>>if we believe Camille’s claim of it being detrimental for our health… what should you give up, $mc.name?<<else>>and if I ever end up following your advice, I must have a friend supporting me. So, $mc.name… what would you give up?<</if>>”</p>
<p>“Hmm…”</p>
<p>“Brooding in their room,” Camille <<if $choice.smoke isnot "weed">>snorts<<else>>mumbles, focusing now on the page<</if>>.</p>
<p>Renaud chuckles and his cigarette detaches from his lips, diving in his cup. He swears as he tries to fish out the remains of burnt paper and tobacco for the cheap wine. Frustrated, he empties his glass under the table —there was little left, anyway— and opens his cigarette pack. This earns him a dark glare from his neighbour.</p>
<p>“Really, Camille?” He rolls his eyes, still taking one out. “<span class="mouseover"><<link 'C’est un peu l’hopital qui se fout de la charité, là'>><<popover>>Says the pot to the kettle.<</popover>><</link>></span>!”</p>
<p>“What do you mean?” you ask. “Why are you calling her a hypocrite?”</p>
<p>“Do you even have eyes, $mc.name?” He points towards your friend chugging another glass. “If she wants to criticise me about smoking because ‘it’s bad for my health’, she might want to take a closer look at her liver first!”</p>
<p>“Over-exaggerating as always, Renaud,” Camille protests<<if $choice.smoke is "weed">>, having now regained her senses<</if>>. “I don’t think that much. And definitely not as much as most people in our circles!” She looks behind her. “Speaking of drinks…” she mumbles, as she hails a waiter.</p>
<p>Renaud sees red.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Not again…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>“Not that much?” Renaud grimaces. “Camille, you drank at least half of this jug by yourself!” He shakes the empty recipient.</p>
<p>“Better add another one, then,” she tells the waiter, taking her order.</p>
<p>“Camille!”</p>
<p>“Fine,” she sighs. “And some water,” she adds to the waiter.</p>
<p><<if $mc.drink isnot "water">>“I’d like a $mc.drink, as well,” you ask, stealthily. “Please.”<<else>>“Oh, finally,” you whisper, tired of drinking that cheap //piquette//.<</if>></p>
<p>“This is not,” Renaud pinches the top of his nose, “what I mean, Camille. And you know it!”</p>
<p>“Will you relax? A drink never hurt anybody.” She hands him the folded note: “How about you write something instead, mhh?”</p>
<p>“Never hurt—” he scoffs in disbelief, pushing her hand away. “Would you like to repeat that to your opened eyebrow last week?”</p>
<p>“The pavement was not flat,” she grumbles. “Anyone could have hurt themselves.”</p>
<p>“Did she eat the pavement again because she had one too many drinks?” you sigh.</p>
<p>“Again?” Renaud turns to you, shocked.</p>
<p>As you cover your mouth, realising your mistake, Camille hits your side with her elbow. You recoil on your seat, trying to make yourself as small as you can and avoiding Renaud’s furious gaze.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Walked right into that one, eh…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>“What do you mean ‘again’, $mc.name?” he repeats, livid. “How… how many times has this happened before?”</p>
<p>“Oh, just once or twice,” Camille answers before you even open your mouth. “You know how badly the pavement is laid, here.”</p>
<p>“I didn’t ask //you//. $mc.name! How many—”</p>
<p>“Like she said,” you screech, as Camille pinches your leg. “Once or twice.”</p>
<p>“I… I can’t believe it. You claim to be this beacon of health, looking down on us vice-driven plebeians… But you are no better!”</p>
<p>“Will you stop nagging me for something this negligible? Maybe finish your turn instead?”</p>
<p>“I won’t drop the subject, Camille,” he warns her. “Not until—”</p>
<p>“Yes, yes,” she rubs her finger on the rim of her glass, not taking his warning seriously. “Can it wait for later? After we have some fun? You do remember why we came here for, right?”</p>
<p>“I, for one, would like to play my turn,” you chime in.</p>
<p>Reluctantly, Renaud furiously writes something and silently hands you the note. </p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter an adjective: '' " "$MCad2" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCad2)>><<blank>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<elseif $MCad2 is $MCad1>><<doubleword>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a different word.<</replace>><<else>><<set $text += 1>><<goto `passage()`>><</if>><</button>></center>
<<default>><p>Staying quiet to avoid another blunder, you take your time choosing a word. It seems you have all the time in the world, as both Camille and Renaud continue to squabble about whether or not she should be considered a drunk at this point.// She probably is//, you think, making a point of keeping it to yourself.</p>
<p>You end up writing $MCad2 on the page before meticulously folding the whole thing and handing it once more to your neighbour. She does not take the note right away, fuming instead at Renaud’s insistence of there being a problem with her level of alcohol consumption. You need to shake the sheet in front of her face before she pays any attention to you.</p>
<p>“Do you see, Renaud,” she motions at your frantic movements, “what a bummer of a situation you’ve created? We came here to help poor <<name>>, not to nag me about something so insignificant!”</p>
<p>“Insig—”</p>
<p>Renaud is cut off by the waiter coming back with the newly ordered jugs of //piquette//, as well as a few glasses of water. Camille grabs one of them and sips it leisurely, maintaining eye contact with him until all the liquid disappears. She places it back on the tables, still looking at him first, then moving her eyes to the glass before going back to him. Renaud huffs, as her display did little to remedy his discontentment. </p>
<p>They continue their idiotic staring contest, even while Camille writes something on the paper, folds it, and triumphally hands it to Renaud. The standstill continues for another couple of minutes, as neither would back down.</p>
<ul><li> <<link "Take the note and stop the madness. You can read it yourself." "G7-Reveal">><<set $choice.take to true>><<adjs>><<set $phrase2 to clone("the //"+$MCad1+"// "+_noun1+" "+_verb+" the //"+$MCad2+"//"), $nounc2 to _noun2>><<unset $text>><</link>></li>
<li> <<link "Let their idiotic charade play out a little longer. They will tire themselves out before long." "G7-Reveal">><<set $choice.take to false>><<adjs>><<set $phrase2 to clone("the //"+$MCad1+"// "+_noun1+" "+_verb+" the //"+$MCad2+"//"), $nounc2 to _noun2>><<unset $text>><</link>></li></ul>
<</switch>><p>“Fine,” Renaud relents, unfolding the note<<if $choice.tale is true>> before you have a chance to take it<</if>>. “<<= $phrase2.toUpperFirst()>>…” He stops, squinting at the last word. “I… Hmph.” He squints further. “No, I can’t read that last one.”</p>
<p>“How can you not, Renaud?” Camille slides next to him. “It’s obviously $nounc2!”</p>
<p>“What? No! //That// is just gibberish. How can you read $nounc2 there?”</p>
<p>“Look!” She puts her finger on the paper. “That’s clearly <<a>> <<= $nounc2.charAt(0)>>.”</p>
<p>“That clearly is not!”</p>
<p>“And then <<= $nounc2.charAt(1)>>,” she continues, unphased by the remark.</p>
<p>You move closer as well to take a peek at the mystery word. Below your last adjective, you see a scribble, which, like Renaud, you cannot read. You heard Camille mentioning $nounc2, but, for the life of you, you would never have guessed it would be that. Even knowing she had written $nounc2 —or so she claims—, you still can’t read the scribble as such.</p>
<p>“Isn’t drawing a word against the rules?” you ask, still confused by the scribble.</p>
<p>“Really, $mc.name? You too?” Camille now looks annoyed.</p>
<p>“If even I can’t make out a word,” you faint a smile, apologetic, “no one can, dear.”</p>
<p>“How are you surprised, Camille?” Renaud complains. “You were not looking at the page when you wr—… when you did //that//!”</p>
<p>“If you were not, how can we trust $nounc2 was truly what you wrote?”</p>
<p>“Oh, come on! Why would I lie? Whether it is $nounc2 or another word, does it matter?”</p>
<p>Renaud looks down at the open page and remains silent, focused on trying one last time to decipher that last word. Eventually, he grabs his pencil, scratches Camille’s scribble, and replaces it with $nounc2 instead. He glances at you, then at her, nods in confirmation, before clearing his throat. </p>
<p>“Right. Let’s try this again,” he says, somewhat frustrated. “<<= $phrase.toUpperFirst()>>.”</p>
<p>Nothing but silence can be heard around the table.</p>
<p>“Hmm,” you sign, disappointed. “It’s not as fun if you need to ask for an explanation. It really ruins the suspense of it all…”</p>
<p>Your friends echo your sighs, nodding in agreement.</p>
<p>“So…” Camille smiles mischievously again. “Another round?”</p>
<ul>
<li> <<link "Requests to stop here. Camille and Renaud have been at each other’s throat a bit too much for your liking. You are afraid it will get worse if you continue the game, especially if you end up with a failed round again." "G7-End 7">><</link>></li>
<li> <<link "Agree to play another round. You —and supposedly your friends— would rather wash this failed round away. It left a disappointing tasted in your mouth." "G8-Start">><</link>></li></ul>
<<impossible>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>You do not believe an answer is needed at this point, even less so when you pick up your notebook and rip another page from it. //Actions speak louder than words, they say…// You hand the flimsy paper to Renaud, while Camille orders the previously used sheets into a neat pile and counts them.</p>
<p>“HA!” Camille knocks on the table. “$mc.name is still in the game. Renaud?”</p>
<p>Her eyes still fixed on the pile, she motions to her companion to hand over something. </p>
<p>“What… what is going on, here?” you tentatively ask.</p>
<p>“Oh… nothing,” she smiles coyly. “Renaud…” she motions again.</p>
<p>“Did…” your mouth drops. “Did you bet on me… to do… something?”</p>
<p>“Us? Betting?” she chuckles nervously. “About our friend without <<their>> knowledge? Nooo…”</p>
<p>“For shame, Camille, for shame,” Renaud pretends to be shocked, reaching out for his wallet. “How could you bet on our poor little hermit to come out of <<their>> cave and play a certain amount of rounds while out with us? Tsk, tsk, tsk…”</p>
<p>“That seems…” you stop, at a loss for words, and look at your friends exchanging banknotes bewildered. “What… Why?”</p>
<p>“I was certain you’d like the game as much as we do, <<name>>!” Camille says, smugly nicking the notes from Renaud. “And I was right!”</p>
<p>“//That// was your reasoning? How can you say with certainty <<they>> <<like>> the game after… 6 measly rounds?”</p>
<p>“Seven, actually,” <span class="mouseover"><<link 'elle réponds du tac au tac'>><<popover>>she answers without missing a beat<</popover>><</link>></span>. “We forgot to count last time.”</p>
<p>“Still, you can’t believe someone likes a game—”</p>
<p>“Doesn’t matter, Renaud. We betted on 6 rounds. $mc.name played at least that. I win!”</p>
<p>“But… why?” you repeat yourself, your head still not wrapped around the whole thing.</p>
<p>“Why not?” she shrugs. “It’s not like Big League over here doesn’t have cash to spare,” she elbows her neighbour.</p>
<p>“Ho, ho, ho,” Renaud chuckles, trying to avoid another hit. “You’ll be joining me soon enough, Camille! And, you too—”</p>
<p>“Hold your horses, smooth talker,” she looks at him incredulously. “My skills are not as widely solicited as yours are. It will take more than a few exhibitions to reach your current level, Renaud. And even then…”</p>
<p>“Don’t underestimate yourself, Camille!” Renaud grabs her hand. “//That// <span class="mouseover"><<link 'exposition'>><<popover>>exhibition<</popover>><</link>></span> was grander than you think. You will reach my level. Faster than you think. I am sure of it,” he presses it, smiling. “I would even bet my whole savings on it.”</p>
<p>“That is… sweet of you, Renaud. Stupid, too. Incredibly so. But sweet, nonetheless.”</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Those two betted on me and still don’t care about what I feel?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>Seething with hurt and shock, you want to riot against your friends. //Who bet around like this? Against their friends? What terrible—// You not only do not understand why they would do such a thing, but find the whole matter unacceptable! //So rude!// On your feet, having jumped from your chair, you slam the table with your palm… and are met with complete indifference.</p>
<p>Not believing your eyes, you stare at your friends. They share a moment, looking warmly into each other’s eyes as Renaud continues to press her hand in his tenderly. He raises his free hand towards her before stopping his movement halfway. Biting his lip, he jerks both hands back and hides them under the table. Camille reddens just a smidgen, shaking her head to regain her composure —though it would barely be noticeable to someone unknown with her—.</p>
<p>“So… Hrm,” you clear your throat, having sat back down and feeling incredibly awkward. “I… heard some people talking… about your exhibition… at the bakery, the one right at the corner,” you lower your head almost in shame as the last words come out of your mouth.</p>
<p>“Have you now…” Camille replies, absent-mindedly.</p>
<p>“Yes, I have… I… I was surprised Mme Badeaux seemed so… //touched// by some of your paint—”</p>
<p>“Wait a second,” Renaud sits up. “Mme Badeaux? <span class="mouseover"><<link 'La concièrge'>><<popover>>The building’s guardian<</popover>><</link>></span>?”</p>
<p>“Indeed,” you nod frantically. “I didn’t take her for an art lover,” you scratch your head. “Not after the sermon she gave me last time I was short on— Well…”</p>
<p>“See, Camille?” His hand hovers over her shoulder for a brief moment, without ever touching it. “If… If your work has already reached the common fo— hrm… //everyone//, you can’t deny yourself being the talk of the town!”</p>
<p>“How… How is that a good thing, Renaud?” she leans back in her chair, crossing her arms.</p>
<p>“Requests will flock to you!”</p>
<p>“Request from whom, Renaud? Aristocrats won’t bother looking at my work anymore, not if they realise their workers like it as well! The buying classes just below will do the same —you know they will copy whatever those aristos do!—. Where does that leave me, huh?”</p>
<ul><li> <<link "There must be at least one aristo out there…" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1, $choice.audience to "aristo">><</link>></li>
<li> <<link "Mme Badeaux seemed to like her paintings. Maybe well enough to buy one?" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1, $choice.audience to "badeaux">><</link>></li>
<li> <<link "The common folks. That’s the only class left to be mentioned. Even if you don’t believe they could afford her painting —maybe if they banded together?—" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1, $choice.audience to "folk">><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 3>><<if $choice.audience is "aristo">><p>“Come on, Camille. There must at least be one aristo out there who would go against the grain and value your artistry as much as it sh—”</p>
<p>“I can’t sustain a career on one patron only, $mc.name! Even if I find that special unicorn… That would still leave me with little at the end…”</p>
<<elseif $choice.audience is "badeaux">><p>“Mme Badeaux seemed to like your—”</p>
<p>“Do you really think she has the space or the fund to purchase one of them, $mc.name? Even if I sold it at cost…”</p>
<p>“With what she is charging,” you scoff. “What if it were a gift? I could persua—”</p>
<p>“This is not…” she sighs. “I won’t solve anything…”</p>
<<else>><p>“The common f—”</p>
<p>“The common folks,” she repeats your words. “People like us, Renaud. Or have you forgotten that as well?” she slaps his arm. Do you truly think I can sustain a career on them alone? Can there be enough of them to afford a painting?”</p><</if>>
<p>“Oh, please,” Renaud waves her worries off. “Every artist found at the <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Salon des Refusés'>><<popover>>Refering to the exhibition of works rejected by the Paris Salon<</popover>><</link>></span> is beloved by all. Being seen by the lower classes is not the burden you think it is, Camille. You really should not look down on yourself like that!”</p>
<p>“I…” she starts before turning quiet and avoiding everyone’s eyes.</p>
<p>At a loss for comforting words, Renaud hands you the folded piece of paper in silence.</p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter a noun: '' " "$MCnoun1" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCnoun1)>><<blank>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<else>><<unset $text>><<goto "G8-Next">><</if>><</button>></center>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>With $MCnoun1 on the page, you slide the folded note to Camille, or, at least, try to. She is still avoiding your eyes, and even recoils when your hand approaches her. You leave the paper in front of her, turning to Renaud for an explanation.</p>
<p>“Isn’t it obvious?” he fidgets with his pen.</p>
<p>“What? Me?” you look puzzled. “I can’t afford her paintings, even if I wanted to!”</p>
<p>“No, $mc.name… not—”</p>
<p>“Don’t bring //him// into the conversation, Renaud. I would do anything for the two of you, but I draw the line at //him//.”</p>
<p>“$mc.name! No,” he sighs in frustration. “You’ve been a bad friend!”</p>
<p>“Hey! I know I have not been the more forthcoming lately,” you sneer, “but you don’t need to make me feel guiltier about that! I was not asking what I did wrong…”</p>
<p>“I can’t believe,” he side-eyes you, “I have to spell it out for you… You,” he pokes your chest, “never showed up at the gal—”</p>
<p>“I already explained why,” you push his hand away. “Some rounds ago. Or don’t you,” you poke him back, “remember?”</p>
<p>“Come on, $mc.name,” he rolls his eyes. “That weak excuse of yours? Do you think that would cut it? Her exhibition was open for days. Over a week, $mc.name. You had plenty of time to pop in for a short moment, wave hello to your friend, maybe compliment her on a painting or two. So many opportunities you chose to squander for no good reason.”</p>
<p>“I wasn’t—”</p>
<p>“Did you know,” he cuts you off, “she left your picture at the desk, so someone could tell her whether you came when she wouldn’t be there? Did you know she asked every time she had to step out if you showed? Do I have to describe you her disappointed face every time they shook their head in response?”</p>
<p>“I…” you look down.</p>
<p>“But that is not the worst thing, $mc.name… Do you know what is?” Though he waits for your answer, Renaud’s question is only met with silence. “Of course you wouldn’t know… It’s all <span class="mouseover"><<link 'moi-moi-moi'>><<popover>>me-me-me<</popover>><</link>></span> with you. Your problems. Your fears. Your excuses. You, and you only.” He sighs loudly and stares at you. “What is worse, $mc.name… is that you never apologised.”</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//But, I… Didn’t I… I’m sure…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><p>You open your mouth, ready to throw your rebuttal back at him, but are left speechless. Unable to say anything in return, you cowardly bury your head in your arms, hiding from the scornful eyes of your friend. Deep down, you know full well he had spoken nothing but the truth. </p>
<p>You avoided stepping outside of your little room already a few days before Camille’s exhibition opening and dreaded even leaving your bed during its run. Seeing any glimpse of your friends succeeding when you clearly have not made you morose, feel unworthy, a less-than-nothing. Hearing strangers rave about their work when you only hear criticism made you feel small, incapable, a disappointment.</p>
<p>You know you should have pushed those feelings aside and gone to the gallery, anyway. But you did not. You know you should have sent some flowers, or a nice bottle, to congratulate her. Even a small note would have made her care less about your absence. But you did not. </p>
<p>Instead, you convinced yourself that the excuse of your dwindling funds was sufficient of an excuse to decide against it all. You certainly could not afford a gift, even less so a proper attire to visit the gallery! You were sure your friends knew and understood your predicament in the matter.</p>
<p>//There is only so much understanding one can have before those excuses do not work anymore… I guess… I must have abused of theirs…//</p>
<p>“<span class="mouseover"><<link 'Tu vas encore faire l’autruche, là'>><<popover>>Are you going to look the other way again?<</popover>><</link>></span>?” Renaud remarks. “Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?”</p>
<ul> <li> <<link 'Remain silent. Both Renaud and Camille know how low you have fallen and how little you have left in your name. They know not to expect much from you. It is not your fault they got their hopes up.' "Ending C">><<unset $text>><</link>> </li>
<li> <<link 'Apologise to Camille. Regardless of your intent and situation, avoiding the situation made everything worse.' "G8-Apology">><<unset $text>><</link>></li></ul>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>For just a moment longer, you stay still. You know you should do something, say something, but you can’t help yourself delaying the inevitable. //Like you’ve always done…// Waiting until the last possible moment to do something. To say something. </p>
<p>Your arms shaking slightly, you try to prop yourself back up. Still, you keep your head down, not being able to bear looking at your friends. //And their ever-judging eyes.// You open your mouth and close it almost immediately. //Sorry…// You know that one little word you are supposed to say to resolve… everything. //I am so sorry…// To make everything back to the way they were. //I am so, so deeply, sorry…// But, anything you try to say ends up being stuck in your throat.</p>
<p>Struggling to do something, to say something, you let the silence linger around the table. //Why do I keep making things… awkward?// You sigh, loudly enough to know your friends will undoubtedly roll their eyes at its sound. You always seem to paint yourself as the victim in fights like this one, even when you are in the wrong.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Especially when you are in the wrong.//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>“I…” a soft sound passes your lips. “I know this won’t make up for any… things I’ve done —or not done—. There are no excuses I could say to make it up to you, or satisfy your more than justified anger in any way.” You look up to your friends, hoping to catch her eyes. “But I am sorry, Camille. I truly am.”</p>
<p>Your words are left hanging in the air, as neither Camille nor Renaud utter a thing in return. Having brought the subject, Renaud instead recoils in his seat, afraid of the blowback of his own action. //And Camille…// She only frowns.</p>
<p>“Is that all you have to say after all this time?” Her words feel like a slap in the face. “Is //this// truly your grand apology to make up for the face you promised —yes, $mc.name, you had promised— to come to my exhibition?” She raises her palm. “Don’t bother answering. I’d rather you not add anything you don’t mean…” She sighs. “Would… would you even have said anything if Renaud didn’t prompt you?”</p>
<p>“I…” you lower your face, ashamed.</p>
<p>“God…” she shakes her head. “I knew it… Didn’t I tell you, Renaud? Didn’t I say <<they>> would spew the same apology <<they>> gave me last time? A lame and vague apology without heart… Why did you even come if you weren’t planning on… Ugh… You know what,” she gets up and takes her bag. “I don’t need to do this to myself today…”</p>
<p>“Wait, Camille, no,” Renaud pleads, catching her arm.</p>
<p>“What did you expect, Renaud? That I would just let it roll down my back, like I’ve always done before? You think I could just take and take all the hurt <<they>> caused me all these years and say nothing? Don’t I deserve some respect at all?”</p>
<p>“Camille… Shouldn’t you let <<them>> try at the very least?”</p>
<p>“I //have// tried, Renaud. Time and time again. I have forgiven. I have turned the other cheek. And what does that get me? A friend stabbing me in the front and one in the back!”</p>
<p>“I… I know I have been a bad friend to you,” you still say. “To the both of—”</p>
<p>“Oh, shut it!” Camille snaps. “Since you’re so good at that…”</p>
<p>“I was just trying—”</p>
<p>“No, $mc.name,” Renaud interrupts. “You weren’t trying. You say that you do, but you never actually try, do you?” He pokes your chest. “If you did, you wouldn’t have to apologise this much!”</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//You do apologise quite a bit, don’t you… Have you never thought about why?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><p>“I…” You stop, biting your lip. “You’ve always said ‘actions speak louder than words’, Camille. Then… what… what can I do to make it up for my… shortcomings?”</p>
<p>“Can you make up for all the moments we lost,” Camille rolls her eyes, “because you would not deign to come?”</p>
<p>“I—”</p>
<p>“Can you make up for all the disappointment,” she continues, “because you could never keep your promise? Can you make up for all the worries we had because you’d disappear for days on end, without a word, only to come back as if nothing happened?”</p>
<p>“I nev—”</p>
<p>“Can you make up for all the times we needed you, but you would ‘forget’ to show?”</p>
<p>You lower your eyes, speechless.</p>
<p>“Your past actions already speak louder than words, $mc.name… How can we trust your future ones will be different?”</p>
<ul>
<li> <<link "You would try anything, do whatever it took, to regain their trust." "G8-Naive">><<unset $text>><</link>> </li>
<li> <<link "You can’t pretend you could make up for all the lost time, but you’re willing to fight for your friendship." "G8-Realist">><<unset $text>><</link>> </li>
<li> <<link 'This seems like a lost battle. //There might not even be anything to salvage still//…' "Ending D">><<unset $text>><</link>></li>
</ul><</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><<apolo>><p>“I would try anything, Camille. Anything to make things better.”</p>
<p>This was not the first time you asked for another chance from your friends, but this could be the first time you’ve felt this desperate —the first time it felt like it would be your last chance—. You know you made many proposes in the past, as many as you had failed to keep.</p>
<p>“Have you ever been this naïve, $mc.name?” she scoffs. “I am tired of pretending things can get better anymore. You’ve said you’d try too many times…”</p>
<p>“Please, Camille,” you fall to your knees in front of her. “Please, believe me when I say I would do anything. I really would,” you try to grab her hands. “Let me try, at least.” She pushes you away. “I… I can’t…” You fall on your ass, tears in your eyes. “I can’t lose you. The both of you. I can’t lose the last persons on this planet who believe in me. I can’t lose…</p>
<ul><li><<link "…the only family I have left…”" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>Once more, silence is set around the table. You never dared to pull that string before, fearing your friends would find it somewhat… //manipulative// —they are the only family you have left, especially because you made it so—. Instead, you kept it as a last resort, a final act before the curtain falls. //This is your last resort, $mc.name. If this fails…// Afraid of seeing indifferent faces, you keep your head down. </p>
<p>“You would //really// do anything?” Renaud asks, incredulous.</p>
<p>“Anything,” you nod frantically. “Whatever it would take!”</p>
<p>“By //any// means necessary?” Camille adds, unsure of your sincerity —you can’t blame her—.</p>
<p>“Some requests may… take a while, since I have little left from my first —only— advance. But, yes. If that is what it takes. By any means necessary.”</p>
<p>Your friends do not ask further questions, exchanging instead a long look. Words are not needed, not when the three of you have been around each other for this long. //And those two…// They needed it even less. You lamented in the past that Camille and Renaud had perfected this communication method between the two of them, enabling them to have long conversations with only a few looks and gestures, leaving you often behind of their fun.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//But this is not one of these times…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>This time, they look like they are having a full-blown argument about you —what to do with you—. When one sighs, the other huffs. For once, Renaud pleads for your case before an unforgiving Camille, as she shakes her head at every turn. It is your advocate that finally breaks the silence, whispering to Camille to stop being <span class="mouseover"><<link 'une tête de mule'>><<popover>>stubborn<</popover>><</link>></span>, and that, if she was still suspicious of your words, she should test you instead. He hints at the opportunity she now has in her hands: <span class="mouseover"><<link 'une carte blanche'>><<popover>>free reign<</popover>><</link>></span>; any request she could think of, you would execute, no matter how big or dangerous it could be. You hang on Camille’s every movement, hoping it would betray her thoughts.</p>
<p>“Fine!” She throws her hands in the air, unwillingly relenting to her companion’s pressure. “If that means the two of you will stop to gang up on me like this…”</p>
<p>“Wait… really?” you blink, dumbfounded. “You’re accepting my apology? You will forgive me?”</p>
<p>“Forgive you?” she frowns. “No… I can’t… not right now, at least. Not until your resolve this whole… //mess//, $mc.name.”</p>
<p>“I… understand,” you look down, disappointed.</p>
<p>“You shouldn’t be surprised at this, $mc.name,” Renaud chimes in. “You can’t expect us to just sweep everything under the rug and pretend like nothing happened. Especially Camille… There is still a lot you will need to straighten up before we can… trust you like before.”</p>
<p>“//This// is your last chance, $mc.name. You got that? I can’t… I can’t put myself through this another time.”</p>
<p>“Yes,” you mutter, your head still down. “I understand. Last chance.”</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Your last chance…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 4>><p>You get back to your seat in silence, unsure of what to do next. Usually your forte, words have not been on your side so far; and you know better than uttering vague and useless promises when those were the reason of this whole //kerfuffle//. </p>
<p>You don’t expect your friends to behave as if this argument never happened —//he// would, but not them—. Still, you hope this won’t be the end of this little gathering. You’d hate to see them leave so soon. Not on such a sour note. </p>
<p>You hear a pencil scribbling on a piece of paper. Looking up, you see Camille at work, leading her stylus in a familiar dance on the page, before she puts it down and folds the sheet.</p>
<p>“Let’s,” she sighs, “finish this round, shall we?” She hands the paper to Renaud. “I’d hate to see this round go to waste…”</p>
<p>“And let <<them>> walk, free of consequences?” he refuses to take the note. “After a—”</p>
<p>“<span class="mouseover"><<link 'Bien sûr que non'>><<popover>>Of course not<</popover>><</link>></span>, Renaud!” She tries to hand him the note again. “I just want to see this through first. And… I don’t know what to ask for…”</p>
<p>“You could ask for anything!”</p>
<p>“I know! Doesn’t make it easier to think of something… But,” she turns to you, “you better come running the second I tell you!”</p>
<p>“Yes, ma’am,” you salute her, stiffly.</p>
<p>Renaud tuts in disapproval over Camille’s wish for levity, even if he had pleaded for her leniency just moments before. //What’s his deal?// He sends a dark glare before taking the folded note, finishing his turn and sliding it to you for the final addition.</p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter a noun: '' " "$MCnoun2" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCnoun2)>><<blank>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<elseif $MCnoun2 is $MCnoun1>><<doubleword>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a different word.<</replace>><<else>><<set $text +=1>><<goto `passage()`>><</if>><</button>></center>
<<case 5>><p>With the final word, $MCnoun2, on the page, you fold the sheet one last time before handing it to Camille. She tentatively smiles back when her fingers claw on the paper; a smile that leaves you somewhat hopeful for the future. You sigh, relieved to know you have not lost everything dear to you. //Not yet, at least…//</p>
<p>“Shall we see what we have in here?” she grins, excited. “I wonder what words have crept out of your… demented minds,” she cackles.</p>
<p>“Demen—” Renaud gasps playfully, happy to see his companion’s good mood return. “I will have you know that //you// may be the most demented of us all, here!”</p>
<p>“Hm-mhh,” she plays along. “Says the man who thought it would be a most marvellous idea to mix absinthe with wine last week!”</p>
<p>“<span class="mouseover"><<link 'Sacrilège'>><<popover>>Sacrilege/sacrilegious<</popover>><</link>></span>!” you pretend to gasp in horror —though you are not sure whether you are truly pretending—. </p>
<p>“I know! The gall of this man trying to persuade us that this cocktail would revolutionise drinking for years to come,” she shakes her head in disbelief. “That atrocity of a //drink—// I can’t even find it in my heart to call //that// a drink…”</p>
<p>“That is unfair of you, dearest. Your palate must not be refined enough for those, I’m afraid. You can’t possibly hold me accountable to that… can you?”</p>
<p>“God… I must, Renaud, I truly must. The state of my brain the day after should have told you how this… concoction should only be used as a torture device!” She turns to you. “<<name>>, never under any circumstance allow Renaud to test his… //mixes//. You WILL regret it!”</p>
<p>“A better advice for you would be to never leave bottles in my hands by the end of the night,” Renaud winks.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Has the balance been… restored?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><<nouns>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 6>><p>“We should maybe…” Camille shakes the folded note. “Either of you interested in the result… or not?” She waits for Renaud and you to nod in agreement before unfolding the note. “Good! Here it is… <<= $phrase.toUpperFirst()>>.”</p>
<p>//Crickets…//</p>
<p>A deafening silence settles at the table, while life continues around. As the other patrons carry on with their conversations —and their lives—, the three of you are left with a strange sentence and a sense of //disappointment//. Leaving a pasty flavourless taste in your mouth, you try to understand where it had gone wrong. </p>
<p>This round had followed the past ones in every way. Neither you nor your friends had cheated or changed the rules or play since. Even without changes, something was still missing; something that trampled over your enjoyment of the game. You’d probably be lying to yourself if you didn’t think the fight had not played a role at all, but you couldn’t believe it would account for all that was wrong with this failure.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Did I ruin things again?//' "G8-Reveal">><<unset $text>><</link>></li></ul>
<</switch>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><<apolo>><p>“I… I can’t pretend I can make up for the past —it would ne naïve of me to think I could do so—. And… I understand anything I could say would sound… disingenuous, at this point. But… I don’t want to lose all of… //this//,” you let your palm fall on the table. </p>
<p>“All of this?” Camille lays back on her chair. “What is //this//, $mc.name? Friendship? You’ve been a lousy friend as of late… Were you even a good one to begin with?”</p>
<p>“You… and Renaud, are the two most important people in my life. Ever since we met… You are both my only—”</p>
<p>“Don’t you dare say ‘family’, $mc.name!” Renaud slams his fist on the table. “//You// made your choice, then. //We// did not have that choice. Remember?”</p>
<p>You swallow his words with difficulty. You remember Renaud banging at the house’s door, one night, sobbing loudly; his father having thrown him out when he refused to follow in his footsteps. Renaud’s delicate fingers would not have survived the gruelling work of manufacturing —you both knew it—. //He was barely an adult then… //Camille followed soon after, having ran away as well, to avoid a union years in the making. Your father had been kind enough to lodge them, until the three of you set ‘sail’ for the capital.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//I could still not imagine them as less than family members…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>“To me,” your voice falters a bit, as you try your best to lock your eyes with his angry ones, “you both are. No matter what happens. No matter what you say. I won’t give up on that. On you. Either of you. I don’t ever want to regret not fighting for you.”</p>
<p>“Is there something left to fight for at this point?” Camille sighs, melancholic.</p>
<p>“Even if there was only one tiny speck left,” you grab her hand, “I would still fight for it! I…” you stop yourself. “I was going to say I would do anything for you, the both of you, but…” you chuckle nervously, “my track record is not praising my laurels currently. I still… I still want to do better. If you’d let me?”</p>
<p>“We have been waiting for you to do better, $mc.name,” she laments. “All this time, we had been hoping you would. You’ve said many times before you would! How… how can we even trust you, now?”</p>
<p>“Why should we even?” Renaud brushes your hand away from Camille’s.</p>
<p>You bite your tongue. //Yes… Why should they?// You’ve never really been a great friend to either of them. Or even a good one, for that matter. You are somewhat afraid Camille may be right: there might not be anything left to salvage anymore. You’ve done so much —well, not enough— that things ended fairing this bad. </p>
<ul><li> <<link '//I still don’t want to lose them…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>“Because…” you murmur, barely audible, “because you still love me?”</p>
<p>Your ‘question’ receives a loud and annoyed grunt in response.</p>
<p>“Goddammit, $mc.name,” Camille covers her face with her hand, embarrassed.</p>
<p>“//That// is not put into question,” Renaud adds. “But that is not enough. Not anymore. Not after… You just… The things you do —or don’t do— infuriate us to no end! We can’t…”</p>
<p>“I’ll do better. I pro—”</p>
<p>“Don’t bother, $mc.name… You promised and promised… And yet, here we are…”</p>
<p>“Please. Please, let me.”</p>
<p>Renaud sighs before your pleading composure, preparing to lay out all your mistakes on the table. Right here and now. He is soon distracted by Camille lightly tapping her fingers on the table, as if deep in thoughts. Unlike Renaud, she seems more inclined to give you another chance. //Most likely your last chance…//</p>
<p>Kept on your toes, you scrutinise her face and her every movement, dreading her decision. Her little pout opens a schism in your heart, while her smirk mends it right away. Every second passing without a sound from her lips is pure torture. </p>
<ul><li> <<link '//And you deserve every second of it…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 4>><p>Still silent, Camille’s body awakes from its torpor, as she grabs her pencil and starts writing on the discarded folded note. She adds another layer to the fold before handing it to her neighbour. Both you and Renaud stare at her incredulously.</p>
<p>“What?” she asks, confused.</p>
<p>“You’ve got to be joking… you’re just going to let all of… //this// slide?” Renaud asks, shocked by her lack of response.</p>
<p>“No… well… yes… maybe.”</p>
<p>“Camille!”</p>
<p>“Listen, Renaud,” she leans forward. “I can’t just make a decision right now. I agree with <<name>> —wait—” she holds her hand up. “Whether we like it or not, we are a family. We made yourself our own family. The day you… I… we left, it was decided. Like <<them>>, I can’t just turn my back without—”</p>
<p>“But <<they>>—”</p>
<p>“I know, Renaud! You don’t think I know //that//? It doesn’t mean…” She pauses and turns to you. “If you are truly willing to fight for th— us, $mc.name… you better show it. No more excuses. No more unfulfilled promises. No disappearing. This is your last chance… One strike and you are out. Understood?”</p>
<p>“Yes, ma’am,” you salute her, stiffly.</p>
<p>She looks you up and down, biting her nails, still uncertain about her decision. You try your best to give her a warm and inviting smile, hoping to brush away her worries, while Renaud grumbles in the corner about Camille giving you too much slack.</p>
<p>“Well,” she pokes his arm, “instead of begrudging my decision, how about you write something? I’d rather not let this round go to waste…”</p>
<p>Your friend grumbles further, but still executes the command. When he is done, he hands you the newly folded note. A final noun is needed to finish this game.</p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter a noun: '' " "$MCnoun2" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCnoun2)>><<blank>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<elseif $MCnoun2 is $MCnoun1>><<doubleword>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a different word.<</replace>><<else>><<set $text +=1>><<goto `passage()`>><</if>><</button>></center>
<<case 5>><p>With the final word, $MCnoun2, on the page, you fold the sheet one last time before handing it to Camille. She tentatively smiles back when her fingers claw on the paper; a smile that leaves you somewhat hopeful for the future. You sigh, relieved to know you have not lost everything dear to you. //Not yet, at least…//</p>
<p>“Shall we see what we have in here?” she grins, excited. “I wonder what words have crept out of your… demented minds,” she cackles.</p>
<p>“Demen—” Renaud gasps playfully, happy to see his companion’s good mood return. “I will have you know that //you// may be the most demented of us all, here!”</p>
<p>“Hm-mhh,” she plays along. “Says the man who thought it would be a most marvellous idea to mix absinthe with wine last week!”</p>
<p>“<span class="mouseover"><<link 'Sacrilège'>><<popover>>Sacrilege/sacrilegious<</popover>><</link>></span>!” you pretend to gasp in horror —though you are not sure whether you are truly pretending—. </p>
<p>“I know! The gall of this man trying to persuade us that this cocktail would revolutionise drinking for years to come,” she shakes her head in disbelief. “That atrocity of a //drink—// I can’t even find it in my heart to call //that// a drink…”</p>
<p>“That is unfair of you, dearest. Your palate must not be refined enough for those, I’m afraid. You can’t possibly hold me accountable to that… can you?”</p>
<p>“God… I must, Renaud, I truly must. The state of my brain the day after should have told you how this… concoction should only be used as a torture device!” She turns to you. “<<name>>, never under any circumstance allow Renaud to test his… //mixes//. You WILL regret it!”</p>
<p>“A better advice for you would be to never leave bottles in my hands by the end of the night,” Renaud winks.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Has the balance been… restored?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><<nouns>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 6>><p>“We should maybe…” Camille shakes the folded note. “Either of you interested in the result… or not?” She waits for Renaud and you to nod in agreement before unfolding the note. “Good! Here it is… <<= $phrase.toUpperFirst()>>.”</p>
<p>//Crickets…//</p>
<p>A deafening silence settles at the table, while life continues around. As the other patrons carry on with their conversations —and their lives—, the three of you are left with a strange sentence and a sense of //disappointment//. Leaving a pasty flavourless taste in your mouth, you try to understand where it had gone wrong. </p>
<p>This round had followed the past ones in every way. Neither you nor your friends had cheated or changed the rules or play since. Even without changes, something was still missing; something that trampled over your enjoyment of the game. You’d probably be lying to yourself if you didn’t think the fight had not played a role at all, but you couldn’t believe it would account for all that was wrong with this failure.</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Did I ruin things again?//' "G8-Reveal">><<unset $text>><</link>></li></ul>
<</switch>><p>“That was…” you mumble, fidgeting with your fingers.</p>
<p>“Underwhelming, right?” Camille grimaces. “How can such a fun game end so…”</p>
<p>“…disappointingly?” you try to finish her sentence.</p>
<p>“//That//,” she points at you.</p>
<p>“Did… did we do something wrong?” Renaud takes the note from Camille. “I could have sworn…” He reads the sentence again. “All the words are accounted for. We all followed the rules. I don’t understand…”</p>
<p>“Then, how? Why?” you tentatively ask, hoping you are not the answer.</p>
<p>“I… don’t know either.” Camille shrugs. “I guess it happens, sometimes?”</p>
<p>“I don’t recall //this// happening at Benji’s though,” Renaud frowns, annoyed. “Even when all of us were completely…”</p>
<p>“…trashed.”</p>
<p>“…inebriated, we never had this issue.”</p>
<p>The table return to silence again. With both your friends hard at work looking for an explanation, you sit still on your chair, feeling guilty and useless. //It is my fault, isn’t it?// Your knee shakes and you feel your fingers tapping on the table in apprehension.</p>
<p>“Oh, sod it!” Camille soon declares, giving up. “<span class="mouseover"><<link 'Ça ne sert à rien de pleurer sur ce qui est fait'>><<popover>>There’s no need to cry over spilled milk!<</popover>><</link>></span>! It’s not like it would make us feel any better if we ended up finding an explanation. Especially if one of us is the culprit.” </p>
<p>Both you and Renaud recoil in your respective seat.</p>
<p>“If I had to guess,” she continues, her finger playing with her glass, “I’d wager it would probably be a bummer. Don’t you think?”</p>
<p>You frantically nod in agreement, soon followed by your neighbour.</p>
<p>“Then, shall we put this behind us, and play another round?” Camille picks up your notebook.</p>
<ul><li> <<link "Agree to continue. You would need at least another round to wash out this sour taste from your mouth. Maybe you’d have more luck next time." "G9-Start">><</link>></li>
<li> <<link 'Stop the game here. You are afraid it would continue the same underwhelming path if you continued. //Especially since it became a bore so… quickly.//' "G8-End 8">><</link>></li>
</ul>
<<impossible>><<if ndef $text>><<set $text to 1>><</if>><<switch $text>><<case 1>><p>You only need to nod slightly before she rips out another page from your notebook. She does not even wait for Renaud to give his opinion to do so, either. //Doesn’t he always do what she asks, anyway?// Writing at the speed of light, Camille already hands him the piece of paper barely folded. </p>
<p>“Well, well, well…” he chuckles, refolding the sheet properly. “Aren’t you in a hurry, dear?”</p>
<p>“Every second I spend trying to find a word is a second I miss on conversations with you!” she complains. “It is much harder than you think to do two things at the same time, and it is even worse to try to think of two thinks at the same time!”</p>
<p>“Aren’t you worried you picked a… //bad// word?” he teases her.</p>
<p>“St—” She huffs. “You know what? I won’t entertain replying. You can’t make me worry about a dumb word. I’ve spent all my worries elsewhere already,” she looks away.</p>
<p>“Don’t tell me you are still worried about <<them>>, Camille! <<They>> left <<their>> room, <<they>> dressed ni— err… <<they>> got dressed. <<They>> even apologised…”</p>
<p>“At your insistence,” she mumbles.</p>
<p>“Nonetheless, shouldn’t all of //that// relieve you?”</p>
<p>“Write down your word instead of fooling around, Renaud,” she groans after a moment of silence.</p>
<p>“No,” he leans back and hides his hands in his pockets in protest.</p>
<p>“What?”</p>
<p>“I said no!”</p>
<p>“My God… You are behaving like a child,” she rolls her eyes. “I can’t… There is already one in our group,” she nods towards you. “Don’t become one too… Just write, will you?”</p>
<p>“Not until you tell us what’s wrong!”</p>
<p>“//Nothing// is wrong, Renaud!”</p>
<p>“Oh, please… It is visible from a mile away, Camille. You can’t deny it, not like $mc.name. Tell us what is wrong.”</p>
<p>“You are making a mountain out of a handful of dirt, Renaud,” she sighs. “I swear everything is fine.”</p>
<p>“I will be the judge of that.”</p>
<p>“I don’t want to pull the mood back to…” she murmurs before stopping.</p>
<p>“Well, now, you’ve got //me// worried!” Renaud takes her hand. “Tell us, Camille!”</p>
<p>“I am still a bit shaken,” she admits, whispering, “over that whole //Daucourt affair//.”</p>
<ul><li> <<link "“The Daucourt… what?”" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 2>><p>“How?” Renaud’s eyes widen. “How is that Mme Badeaux knows about Camille’s exhibition, but you haven’t heard about the Daucourt affair yet? It’s been everywhere! Every single newspaper has been covering this whole mess. Everyone has been talking about it. I wouldn’t even be surprised that even Mme Badeau, being the gossip that she is, knows about it too!” He shakes his head. “You are truly hopeless, $mc.name…”</p>
<p>Camille throws her pencil at him, along with a dark, menacing glare. </p>
<p>“Hey!” he screams, trying to avoid the projectile.</p>
<p>“What… happened?” you manage to ask through his shrieks.</p>
<p>“The Daucourt affair, as it was coined —Camille, stop, please” Renaud implores, as he still fights against Camille’s new ammunition: small nuts, pebbles, etc… “As I was saying, the Daucourt affair has—”</p>
<p>“… been a thorn in my foot! With so many talking about it, I was worried the gallery would stand empty throughout my exhibition… or worse, people would only show to talk about that damn forgery!”</p>
<p>“But that didn—”</p>
<p>“Forgery?” you ask. “The gallery was showcasing a forgery next to your art?”</p>
<p>“Goodness, no!” Camille snickers. “It happened at the Daucourt gallery—”</p>
<p>“Then why were you worried?”</p>
<p>“Because M. Daucourt funded this exhibition! It wasn’t really advertised, but his name was still there…”</p>
<p>“Ah… I see…”</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//Why is that name so familiar, though?//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>> </li></ul>
<<case 3>><p>“Why does that name sound so familiar, though?” you mumble.</p>
<p>“So <<they>> heard about it, after all!” Renaud rejoices.</p>
<p>“What? No! It’s just that name… I’ve heard it before… a while ago…”</p>
<p>“Probably because it is //the// gallery every hoity-toity go-getter spends their money to show off to their other hoity-toity friends.”</p>
<p>“Didn’t you go there <<name>>,” Camille inquires, “for some sort of assignment for one of your writing gig?”</p>
<p>“Maybe?” You ponder for a moment, ploughing your brain for the answer. “I really can’t recall… But, going back to the gallery… If they cater to such… deep pockets, wouldn’t they have some sort of secure protocol?”</p>
<p>“You’d think so, wouldn’t you? So did everyone else.” She pauses. “Still, the gallery got their hands on a beautiful antique dated back to the Middle Ages —or so they thought—. A supposedly piece from some Grand Master, which disappeared some time during some useless war a few centuries ago. With some curious circumstances, //that// piece was not only found recently, but made its way to the grubby hands of M. Daucourt-<span class="mouseover"><<link 'fils'>><<popover>>son<</popover>><</link>></span>, of the prestigious Daucourt gallery, before crossing any expert’s desk!”</p>
<p>“How… Did no one get ticked by this //story//? I’ve only just heard about it but even I can see it is suspicious from a mile away!”</p>
<p>“Prestige, $mc.name. And the need to one up their neighbour,” Renaud chimes back in. “Haven’t you met any of those people? They would sell their children if it meant owning an only-just-now-discovered antique…”</p>
<p>He hands you the folded note, but, wanting to hear more about this case, you delay taking it. Instead, you stare at Camille, as if hanging onto her every word even though she is silent. In return, she glances at the note before smiling at you. She will not utter another word if you do not continue the game. You relent, grabbing the piece of paper and your pencil, scribbling something while pouting.</p>
<<textboxPlus "''Enter a verb: '' " "$MCverb" `{placeholder: "Type here."}`>>@@#not-right;@@
<center><<button "Confirm">><<if ['', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' '].contains($MCverb)>><<blank>><<replace '#not-right' t8n>>Please enter a word.<</replace>><<else>><<set $text +=1>><<goto `passage()`>><</if>><</button>></center>
<<case 4>>
<p>You don’t even bother trying to recollect the verb your pencil drew on the paper, as you are boiling in anticipation of hearing the rest of this //strange// affair. You send the note flying her way with brusque movements, so much so she almost fails to catch it, barely avoiding it landing on a neighbouring table. Understanding your silent —but still visible— wish for her to continue her tale, she swiftly scribbles something in turn and passes the note to Renaud.</p>
<p>“So… Daucourt-//fils// has now the suspicious piece in hands,” you bring your chair closer. “What then?”</p>
<p>“Unsurprisingly, with the alluring prospects of filling the galleries coffers —and his pockets— with as many coins as humanly possible, M. Daucourt-//fils// ran to his father with the most astonishing proposition: advertise the story of this lost artefact before its sale.<br>
 “As some papers hinted, M. Daucourt-<span class="mouseover"><<link 'père'>><<popover>>father<</popover>><</link>></span> was sceptical about this whole lost art story, having encountered many swindled clients in the past. He apparently quizzed his son for hours about the piece’s origin, how it ended in his hands, whether one of their in-house experts had taken a look at it, etc… The whole shebang! His son, being oh-so-ever impatient, promised him all was in order, brushing over the truth here and there, to ensure the approval of daddy-dearest for this sale would be sealed.<br>
 “And so, they hung the piece front and centre in the Daucourt main gallery, without bothering broadcasting the object’s story —Daucourt-//fils// claims to have forgotten—. Without a couple of hours, due to a surprisingly rapid and efficient word-of-mouth, the place was packed with prospecting buyers, and an unofficial bidding war was already getting out of hand. A notary had to be rushed to the scene in order to regain some control and decorum among the guests —many of which were well-known aristocrats—. The piece was sold, no question asked, for fifty-thousands francs.”</p>
<ul><li> <<link "“FIFTY-THOU—”" `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<case 5>><p>“$mc.name!” Renaud tries to shush you. “Let her finish the story.”</p>
<p>“But… the amount is ind—”</p>
<p>“About as high as you could expect for an actual medieval antique,” Camille retorts. “Anyway… a couple of days later, there was a report of a big… //kerfuffle// at the lucky buyer’s house. Having procured that week’s artistic Graal, they could not wait to show it off to all their friends. Among them was a, by all accounts, well-known medieval art expert —though his name was never published—, who refuted there and then the piece being a fake, and a poorly made one at that!” She pauses, trying to suppress a giggle. “Im-magine… being t-told that your newly most-p-prized possession is nothing but a p-poor copy… And in front of all the people you are trying to impress!”</p>
<p>“<span class="mouseover"><<link 'La honte'>><<popover>>The shame/How shameful<</popover>><</link>></span>…” Renaud comments.</p>
<p>“Coincidentally in attendance as well, the <span class="mouseover"><<link 'Commissaire de Police'>><<popover>>Chief of Police (of a station mainly)<</popover>><</link>></span> opened an investigation, called upon dozens of experts to examine the piece —each ended up agreeing with their first //confrère//—, ran around town leaving no stone unturned to find the truth.”</p>
<p>“I would rather trust a monkey than that man…” Renaud adds.</p>
<p>“So… what //is// the truth?”</p>
<p>“We don’t know,” Camille shrugs. “No one really figured it out. M. Daucourt-//fils// still swears up and down that the piece sold by the gallery was the original, though he cannot prove it. He believes that if foul play truly happened, it must have done so after the sale went through. The buyer claims M. Daucourt-//fils// simply conned him and has sent their army of lawyers his way. M. Daucourt-//père// has been trying to settle the case before the gallery goes under because of this affair.”</p>
<p>“That… is somewhat underwhelming. I’d have thought a more satisfying answer would have been uncovered by now!”</p>
<p>“By God, $mc.name,” Renaud snickers. “What faith you have in our fine police force! Even when they can barely find things dangling in front of their nose, you still stand by them. How patriotic!”</p>
<ul><li> <<link '//I don’t blindly have faith in pigs…//' `passage()`>><<set $text +=1>><</link>></li></ul>
<<default>><p>Before you can protest, Renaud hands you the folded note, having added the last crease just moments before. As you open it and prepare yourself to reveal its content, he stops you again.</p>
<p>“Actually, Camille, there is one thing you forgot to mention.”</p>
<p>“No I didn’t,” she frowns, disapprovingly. “And if you mean what I think you do, it is only unproven gossip. I will not spread this… this nonsense!”</p>
<p>“Wait… what gossip?” you ask. “What nonsense? Is there more?”</p>
<p>“No, $mc.name, there is not.” Seeing your face, she still adds: “If you are so eager to know about idiotic theories, ask your idiotic friend over there!”</p>
<p>You glance inquisitively in the other direction.</p>
<p>“There is a reason—”</p>
<p>“Allegedly,” Camille interrupts.</p>
<p>“—allegedly, that M. Daucourt-//fils// was quite insistent to see the sale of that piece through, without doing his due diligence beforehand. M. Daucourt-//fils// has a lovely companion, who he cherishes very much, to the chagrin of Mme Daucourt-//fils//. M. Daucourt-//fils//, having taken quite a shine on this lovely companion, started having the regrettable habit of spending without much looking at the bottom of bill, even less so for said companion.<br>
 “It had become such a weakness of his, to look the other way at the end of his outings, that it is said he is in debt, And not just a few I.O.U.s around town, we are talking empty coffers and overdue loans, here. So, to fund his extravagant endeavours, M. Daucour-//fils// resorted to skimming on the finances of the Daucourt gallery. The companion, having caught on the disastrous capital of their lover, threatened him to be dropped like a hot potato.”</p>
<p>“Unless he regains his status,” you exclaim.</p>
<p>“Exactly! M. Daucourt-//fils// pleaded —allegedly—” he swiftly adds, having caught the dark glare of his neighbour, “his companion for help, and the two schemed out —allegedly— a plan. The companion supplied M. Daucourt-//fils// with the piece. And well, the rest is history.”</p>
<p>“That would explain why M. Daucourt-//fils// would be so insistent for his father’s approval.”</p>
<p>“Everything fits, doesn’t it?”</p>
<p>“Everything… except the companion, you dimwit!” Camille slaps the back of his head. “The man does not see any hussy on the side. His wife is like a hawk, hovering over him every minute of every day.” She shakes her head. “Enough about this whole stupid affair already. I’ve barely managed to keep this talk contained during the exhibition, I’d rather not have this entire day filled with it. $mc.name, if you please?”</p>
<ul><li> <<link "You lower your eyes to the unfolded paper and read aloud." "G9-Reveal">><<unset $text>><<verbs>><</link>></li></ul>
<</switch>><p>“<<= $phrase.toUpperFirst()>>.”</p>
<p>Silence is once more a guest at the table, with the only audible noises being the whispers of other customers around or the glasses on the table being refilled by a less-than-gentle hand. Camille brings one of the latter to her lips, while her free hand snatches the note from yours. She scans the note and snorts, her glass still pressed against her lips. A few drops of wine splash her face and drips to her shirt. </p>
<p>This prompts Renaud to laugh, without taking even a second to suppress it. Unable to control his laughter, he slams the table a bit too close to his glass, making it sway dangerously —though, your friend does not notice it—. The gravitational pull ends up being stronger than the pendulum balance, the glass lies on the table, spilling its content all over the table. Whether by chance or circumstances, some of the liquid drips onto Renaud’s pants.</p>
<p>“Ha!” Camille points at the newly formed stain and laughs heartily. “Karma’s a bitch, ain’t it?”</p>
<p>Renaud jumps from his seat, wanting to avoid getting a larger stain all over his clothes, but ends up bouncing against the table, smearing his attire with more of the periwinkle liquid. He takes a step back, brooding over the little accident, before disappearing into the café. </p>
<p>Rolling her eyes at his (over)reaction, Camille goes back to silently dabbing away the wine droplets from her own outfit. You try to get her attention, but she ignores your every attempt, getting frustrated at her lack of progress instead. </p>
<p>A few interminable minutes pass before Renaud comes back, less broody but still annoyed. By then, Camille had already given up on her cleaning endeavours, focusing instead on her returning companion. However, the latter chooses to ignore her —as she ignored you just before—, still aggravated by her comment.</p>
<p>“$mc.name?” he asks, sounding somewhat bored. “Do you want to continue the game?”</p>
<ul><li> <<link "Looking at your friends, you believe you all need a break from the game. You would not want any other accident happening…" "G9-End 9">><</link>> </li>
<li> <<link "You shake your head positively, wondering what other topic will accompany this new round." "G10-Start">><</link>></li></ul>
<<impossible>><p>Hi there,</p>
<p>You’ve reached the temporary story end of //Exquisite Cadaver//. But don’t worry, the story of $mc.name, Camille and Renaud is not yet over! </p>
<p>There are 21 more rounds left in story, being currently edited by yours truly (you can follow my Tumblr for news). They will be uploaded in chunks when they are ready!</p>
<p>If you’ve enjoyed playing so far, consider rating or commenting on this project.</p>
<p>Thank you for playing!</p>
<center><<link "Menu" "Title">><<unset $text, $choice>><<set $choice to {}, $game to 0>><</link>> | <<link "Credits">><<script>>
Dialog.setup("Credits");
Dialog.wiki(Story.get("Credits").processText());
Dialog.open();
<</script>><</link>></center><<widget "titlepage">><style>
.parent {
width: calc(75vh*1.33/2);
max-width: 533px;
background-color: transparent;
background-image: none;
}
.parent::after {
content: '';
position: absolute;
background-image: url('css/rope.png');
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-size: 100%;
width: 88%;
height: 10%;
left: 6%;
top: 0;
bottom: 0;
margin: auto 0;
}
.menu, .gametitle, .navig, .cover:after, .passage a::before {display: none}
.cover {
border-radius: 2% 5% 5% 2%;
border: 4px solid var(--hover);
}
.inside {
background-color: transparent;
background-image: none;
color: var(--white);
display: flex;
}
.rev .inside {
background-color: transparent;
background-image: none;
color: var(--rev-page);
}
#passages {
margin: 4% 6%;
width: 100%;
display: flex;
}
.passage {
text-align: center;
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
justify-content: space-between;
margin: -13% auto 0;
height: 100%;
}
.passage a {
color: var(--white);
font-size: 125%;
}
.rev .passage a {color: var(--rev-page);}
.passage a:hover {color: var(--page);}
.rev .passage a:hover {color: var(--rev-link);}
.passage img {width: 100%;}
p {text-indent: 0;}
h1 {font-size: 350%; }
@media screen and (max-height: 900px) {
h1 {font-size: 300%;}
.passage a {font-size: 110%;}
}
@media screen and (max-height: 790px) {
h1 {font-size: 275%;}
}
@media screen and (max-height: 700px) {
.parent {
width: calc(100vh*1.33/2);
height: 100vh;
}
}
@media screen and (max-height: 550px) {
h1 {font-size: 250%;}
}
@media screen and (max-height: 500px) {
h1 {font-size: 200%;}
.passage a {font-size: 100%;}
}
@media screen and (max-height: 410px) {
.passage {display: block;}
h1 {padding-bottom: 5vh;}
}
</style><</widget>>
<<widget "endpage">><style>
.cover {
border-radius: 5% 2% 2% 5%;
}
</style><</widget>><<widget "glass">>
<<if $mc.drink is "coffee" or "tea" or "cocoa">>cup<<else>>glass<</if>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "a">>
<<if $nounc2.charAt(0) is "a" or $nounc2.charAt(0) is "e" or $nounc2.charAt(0) is "i" or $nounc2.charAt(0) is "o" or $nounc2.charAt(0) is "u" or $nounc2.charAt(0) is "y">>an<<else>>a<</if>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "adjs">>
<<silently>>
<<set _noun1 to either($Noun)>><<set $noun1 to _noun1>>
<<set _noun2 to either($Noun)>><<set $noun2 to _noun2>>
<<set _verb to either($Verb)>>
<<set $phrase to clone("the //"+$MCad1+"// "+_noun1+" "+_verb+" the //"+$MCad2+"// "+_noun2)>>
<<set $ssentences.push($phrase)>>
<<set $sadj.push($MCad1)>>
<<set $sadj.push($MCad2)>>
<<set $story.game +=1>>
<<set $story.adjs +=1>>
<</silently>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "adjsE">>
<<silently>>
<<set _noun1 to either($Noun)>>
<<set _noun2 to either($Noun)>>
<<set _verb to either($Verb)>>
<<set $phrase to clone("the //"+$MCad1+"// "+_noun1+" "+_verb+" the //"+$MCad2+"// "+_noun2)>>
<<set $esentences.push($phrase)>>
<<set $esadj.push($MCad1)>>
<<set $esadj.push($MCad2)>>
<<set $endless.game +=1>>
<<set $endless.adjs +=1>>
<</silently>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "nouns">>
<<silently>>
<<set _adj1 to either($Adjective)>><<set $adj1 to _adj1>>
<<set _adj2 to either($Adjective)>><<set $adj2 to _adj2>>
<<set _verb to either($Verb)>>
<<set $phrase to clone("the "+_adj1+" //"+$MCnoun1+"// "+_verb+" the "+_adj2+" //"+$MCnoun2+"//")>>
<<set $ssentences.push($phrase)>>
<<set $snouns.push($MCnoun1)>>
<<set $snouns.push($MCnoun2)>>
<<set $story.game +=1>>
<<set $story.nouns +=1>>
<</silently>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "nounsE">>
<<silently>>
<<set _adj1 to either($Adjective)>>
<<set _adj2 to either($Adjective)>>
<<set _verb to either($Verb)>>
<<set $phrase to clone("the "+_adj1+" //"+$MCnoun1+"// "+_verb+" the "+_adj2+" //"+$MCnoun2+"//")>>
<<set $esentences.push($phrase)>>
<<set $esnouns.push($MCnoun1)>>
<<set $esnouns.push($MCnoun2)>>
<<set $endless.game +=1>>
<<set $endless.nouns +=1>>
<</silently>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "verbs">>
<<silently>>
<<set _adj1 to either($Adjective)>><<set $adj1 to _adj1>>
<<set _adj2 to either($Adjective)>><<set $adj2 to _adj2>>
<<set _noun1 to either($Noun)>><<set $noun1 to _noun1>>
<<set _noun2 to either($Noun)>><<set $noun2 to _noun2>>
<<set $phrase to clone("the "+_adj1+" "+_noun1+" //"+$MCverb+"// the "+_adj2+" "+_noun2)>>
<<set $ssentences.push($phrase)>>
<<set $sverbs.push($MCverb)>>
<<set $story.game +=1>>
<<set $story.verbs +=1>>
<</silently>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "verbsE">>
<<silently>>
<<set _adj1 to either($Adjective)>>
<<set _adj2 to either($Adjective)>>
<<set _noun1 to either($Noun)>>
<<set _noun2 to either($Noun)>>
<<set $phrase to clone("the "+_adj1+" "+_noun1+" //"+$MCverb+"// the "+_adj2+" "+_noun2)>>
<<set $esentences.push($phrase)>>
<<set $esverbs.push($MCverb)>>
<<set $endless.game +=1>>
<<set $endless.verbs +=1>>
<</silently>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "PlayerNames">>
<<if ndef $Player1>>
<<set $Player1 to either($PlayerName)>>
<</if>>
<<if ndef $Player2>>
<<set $Player2 to either($PlayerName)>>
<</if>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "countgame">>
<<if [3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 69, 72, 75, 78, 81, 84, 87, 90, 93, 96, 99, 102, 105, 108, 111, 114, 117, 120, 123, 126, 129, 132, 135, 138, 141, 144, 147, 150, 153, 156, 159, 162, 165, 168, 171, 174, 177, 180, 183, 186, 189, 192, 195, 198, 201, 204, 207, 210, 213, 216, 219, 222, 225, 228, 231, 234, 237, 240, 243, 246, 249, 252, 255, 258, 261, 264, 267, 270, 273, 276, 279, 282, 285, 288, 291, 294, 297, 300, 303, 306, 309, 312, 315, 318, 321, 324, 327, 330, 333, 336, 339, 342, 345, 348, 351, 354, 357, 360, 363, 366, 369, 372, 375, 378, 381, 384, 387, 390, 393, 396, 399, 402, 405, 408, 411, 414, 417, 420, 423, 426, 429, 432, 435, 438, 441, 444, 447, 450, 453, 456, 459, 462, 465, 468, 471, 474, 477, 480, 483, 486, 489, 492, 495, 498, 501, 504, 507, 510, 513, 516, 519, 522, 525, 528, 531, 534, 537, 540, 543, 546, 549, 552, 555, 558, 561, 564, 567, 570, 573, 576, 579, 582, 585, 588, 591, 594, 597, 600].contains($game)>><<set $round to "verb">>
<<elseif [2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38, 41, 44, 47, 50, 53, 56, 59, 62, 65, 68, 71, 74, 77, 80, 83, 86, 89, 92, 95, 98, 101, 104, 107, 110, 113, 116, 119, 122, 125, 128, 131, 134, 137, 140, 143, 146, 149, 152, 155, 158, 161, 164, 167, 170, 173, 176, 179, 182, 185, 188, 191, 194, 197, 200, 203, 206, 209, 212, 215, 218, 221, 224, 227, 230, 233, 236, 239, 242, 245, 248, 251, 254, 257, 260, 263, 266, 269, 272, 275, 278, 281, 284, 287, 290, 293, 296, 299, 302, 305, 308, 311, 314, 317, 320, 323, 326, 329, 332, 335, 338, 341, 344, 347, 350, 353, 356, 359, 362, 365, 368, 371, 374, 377, 380, 383, 386, 389, 392, 395, 398, 401, 404, 407, 410, 413, 416, 419, 422, 425, 428, 431, 434, 437, 440, 443, 446, 449, 452, 455, 458, 461, 464, 467, 470, 473, 476, 479, 482, 485, 488, 491, 494, 497, 500, 503, 506, 509, 512, 515, 518, 521, 524, 527, 530, 533, 536, 539, 542, 545, 548, 551, 554, 557, 550, 563, 566, 569, 572, 575, 578, 581, 584, 587, 590, 593, 596, 599].contains($game)>><<set $round to "noun">>
<<else>><<set $round to "adj">><</if>>
<</widget>>/*Need to add the notify text +set up*/
<<widget "unlockend">>/* game 3 reveal*/
<<if settings.notifications>><<if setup.endless isnot true>>
<<notify 6s>>Endless Mode is now available.
<</notify>>
<<set setup.endless to true>>
<</if>><</if>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "tutorial">>/* game 1 start*/
<<if settings.notifications>><<if setup.achievement.tutorial isnot true>>
<<notify 6s>>Tutorial Completed!
<</notify>>
<<set setup.achievement.tutorial to true>>
<</if>><</if>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "doubleword">>/*Only for noun/adj round (2nd textbox)*/
<<if settings.notifications>><<if setup.achievement.double isnot true>>
<<if $MCnoun1 eq $MCnoun2 or $MCad1 eq $MCad2>>
<<notify 6s>>Are you even trying?<</notify>>
<<set setup.achievement.double to true>>
<</if>>
<</if>><</if>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "impossible">>/*all rounds(reveal)*/
<<if settings.notifications>><<if setup.achievement.impossible isnot true>>
<<if $noun1 eq $noun2 or $adj1 eq $adj2>>
<<if passage() is "G3-Reveal" && setup.endless isnot true>>
<<timed 6500ms>><<notify 6s>>One ina forty million, give or take.<</notify>><</timed>>
<<else>>
<<notify 6s>>One ina forty million, give or take.<</notify>>
<</if>>
<<set setup.achievement.impossible to true>>
<</if>>
<</if>><</if>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "endings">> /*all endings */
<<if settings.notifications>><<if setup.achievement.multi isnot true>>
<<if hasVisited("Ending A") && hasVisited("Ending B") && hasVisited("Ending C") && hasVisited("Ending D") && hasVisited("G1-End 1") && hasVisited("G2-End 2") && hasVisited("G3-End 3") && hasVisited("G4-End 4") && hasVisited("G5-End 5") && hasVisited("G6-End 6") && hasVisited("G7-End 7") && hasVisited("G8-End 8") && hasVisited("G9-End 9") && hasVisited("G10-End 10") && hasVisited("G11-End 11") && hasVisited("G12-End 12") && hasVisited("G13-End 13") && hasVisited("G14-End 14") && hasVisited("G15-End 15") && hasVisited("G16-End 16") && hasVisited("G17-End 17") && hasVisited("G18-End 18") && hasVisited("G19-End 19") && hasVisited("G20-End 20") && hasVisited("G21-End 21") && hasVisited("G22-End 22") && hasVisited("G23-End 23") && hasVisited("G24-End 24") && hasVisited("G25-End 25") && hasVisited("G26-End 26") && hasVisited("G27-End 27") && hasVisited("G28-End 28") && hasVisited("G29-End 29") && hasVisited("G30-End 30") && hasVisited("EC-End Final")>>
<<notify 6>>
Multi-verse theorem confirmed.
<</notify>>
<<set setup.achievement.multi to true >>
<</if>>
<</if>><</if>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "noopen">> /*Ending A */
<<if settings.notifications>><<if setup.achievement.noopen isnot true>>
<<notify 6s>>
Alienating your friends.
<</notify>>
<<set setup.achievement.noopen to true>>
<</if>> <</if>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "nogame">> /*Ending B */
<<if settings.notifications>><<if setup.achievement.nogame isnot true>>
<<notify 6s>>
Not even once.
<</notify>>
<<set setup.achievement.nogame to true>>
<</if>> <</if>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "nopage">> /*Ending 30*/
<<if settings.notifications>><<if setup.achievement.nopage isnot true>>
<<notify 6s>>
No more pages.
<</notify>>
<<set setup.achievement.nopage to true>>
<</if>> <</if>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "blank">> /*all rounds */
<<if settings.notifications>><<if setup.achievement.blank isnot true>>
<<notify 6s>>
You can’t leave it blank!
<</notify>>
<<set setup.achievement.blank to true>>
<</if>><</if>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "apolo">> /*Apoligise */
<<if settings.notifications>><<if setup.achievement.apolo isnot true>>
<<notify 6s>>
Righting a Wrong.
<</notify>>
<<set setup.achievement.apolo to true>>
<</if>> <</if>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "stuck">> /*Dont apologise */
<<if settings.notifications>><<if setup.achievement.stuck isnot true>>
<<notify 6s>>
Stuck to your principles.
<</notify>>
<<set setup.achievement.stuck to true>>
<</if>> <</if>>
<</widget>>
<<widget "giveup">> /*loss */
<<if settings.notifications>><<if setup.achievement.giveup isnot true>>
<<notify 6s>>
Give up on your last standing relations.
<</notify>>
<<set setup.achievement.giveup to true>>
<</if>> <</if>>
<</widget>><<widget "textboxPlus">>
<<if ($args[1][0] !== "$") && ($args[1][0] !== "_")>>
/* Show error message for bad variable name. */
<span class="errmsg" data-msg="<<textboxPlus>> - Invalid variable name." @data-src="$args[1]"></span>
<<run $(document).one(":passagerender",
function (ev) {
$(ev.content).find(".errmsg").each(function (idx) {
throwError($(this), $(this).data("msg"), $(this).data("src"));
});
}
)>>
<<else>>
/* Create textboxPlus input box. */
<<if $args[1][0] === "$">>
<<set _textboxPlusName = "textbox-" + $args[1].substr(1).toLowerCase()>>
<<else>>
<<set _textboxPlusName = "textbox--" + $args[1].substr(1).toLowerCase()>>
<</if>>
<<if ndef $args[2]>>
<<set _textboxPlusOptions = {}>>
<<else>>
<<set _textboxPlusOptions = $args[2]>>
<</if>>
<<if ndef _textboxPlusOptions.placeholder>>
<<set _textboxPlusOptions.placeholder = "">>
<</if>>
<<if ndef _textboxPlusOptions.maxlength>>
<<set _textboxPlusOptions.maxlength = "">>
<</if>>
<<if ndef _textboxPlusOptions.spellcheck>>
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<</if>>
<<if ndef _textboxPlusOptions.autocomplete>>
<<set _textboxPlusOptions.autocomplete = "">>
<</if>>
<<if ndef _textboxPlusOptions.password>>
<<set _textboxPlusOptions.password = "">>
<</if>>
<<if ndef _textboxPlusOptions.readonly>>
<<set _textboxPlusOptions.readonly = "">>
<</if>>
<<if ndef _textboxPlusOptions.disabled>>
<<set _textboxPlusOptions.disabled = "">>
<</if>>
<<if ndef _textboxPlusOptions.onchange>>
<<set _textboxPlusOptions.onchange = "">>
<</if>>
<<if ndef _textboxPlusOptions.oninput>>
<<set _textboxPlusOptions.oninput = "">>
<</if>>
<<if ndef _textboxPlusOptions.onreturn>>
<<set _textboxPlusOptions.onreturn = "">>
<</if>>
<span class="textboxplus" @data-variable="$args[1]" @data-placeholder="_textboxPlusOptions.placeholder" @data-maxlength="_textboxPlusOptions.maxlength" @data-spellcheck="_textboxPlusOptions.spellcheck" @data-autocomplete="_textboxPlusOptions.autocomplete" @data-password="_textboxPlusOptions.password" @data-readonly="_textboxPlusOptions.readonly" @data-disabled="_textboxPlusOptions.disabled" @data-onchange="_textboxPlusOptions.onchange" @data-oninput="_textboxPlusOptions.oninput" @data-onreturn="_textboxPlusOptions.onreturn">
<label @for="_textboxPlusName">$args[0]</label>
<<if $args[0][$args[0].length - 1] === " ">>
<br>
<</if>>
<<if ndef _textboxPlusOptions.default>>
<<set _textboxPlusOptions.default = "">>
<</if>>
<<if ndef _textboxPlusOptions.passage>>
<<if _textboxPlusOptions.autofocus>>
<<textbox $args[1] _textboxPlusOptions.default autofocus>>
<<else>>
<<textbox $args[1] _textboxPlusOptions.default>>
<</if>>
<<else>>
<<if _textboxPlusOptions.autofocus>>
<<textbox $args[1] _textboxPlusOptions.default _textboxPlusOptions.passage autofocus>>
<<else>>
<<textbox $args[1] _textboxPlusOptions.default _textboxPlusOptions.passage>>
<</if>>
<</if>>
</span>
<</if>>
<</widget>>
<<script>>
$(document).on(":passagerender", function (event) {
/* Update textboxPlus input boxes. */
$(event.content).find(".textboxplus").each(function () {
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data = $(this).data("autocomplete");
if (data) {
options.autocomplete = data;
}
data = $(this).data("password");
if (data) {
props.type = "password";
}
data = $(this).data("readonly");
if (data) {
props.readonly = data;
}
data = $(this).data("disabled");
if (data) {
props.disabled = data;
}
$(this).find("input").each(function () {
if (props.type) {
$(this).removeProp("type").attr(options).prop(props);
} else {
$(this).attr(options).prop(props);
}
});
var changeCode = $(this).data("onchange");
if (changeCode) {
$(this).find("input").on("change", function (event) {
$.wiki(changeCode);
});
}
var inputCode = $(this).data("oninput"), parent = this;
if (inputCode) {
$(this).find("input").on("input", function (event) {
State.setVar($(parent).data("variable"), $(this).val());
$.wiki(inputCode);
});
}
var returnCode = $(this).data("onreturn");
if (returnCode) {
$(this).on("keyup", function (event) {
if (event.key === "Enter") {
$.wiki(returnCode);
}
});
}
});
});
<</script>>