robot retirement home rework

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<<nobr>><div class="left">''Employee Sign-in Sheet''</div> <style> a { color: #5980d4; } table, th, td { border: 1px solid black; font-size: 20px; } tr:nth-of-type(3){color: #FFF;} tr:nth-of-type(4){color: #FFF;} tr:nth-of-type(5){color: #FFF;} th { padding-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 12px; text-align: left; background-color: #0E86D4; color: white; } </style> <div class="left"> <table style="width:100%"> <tr> <th width="20%">Date</th> <th width="10%">Time</th> <th width="40%">Name</th> <th width="30%">Comments</th> </tr> <tr> <td>12/07/2201</td> <td>8:05</td> <td>//[[*Write your name*->signin]]//</td> <td><<cycle "$commentbox" autoselect>> <<option "best employee :)">> <<option "so tired x_x">> <<option "pls give me a raise ;)">> <<option ":P">> <</cycle>> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>congrats</td> <td>on</td> <td>finding</td> <td>this ;)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>have</td> <td>a</td> <td>nice</td> <td>day!</td> </tr> <tr> <td>you</td> <td>de</td> <td>serve</td> <td>it</td> </tr> </table> </div> <</nobr>>

//Enter last name.// <<textbox "$lastname" "" "nameconfirm">>

<<set $name = $name.toUpperFirst()>><<set $lastname = $lastname.toUpperFirst()>>$name $lastname. [[No, my name is...->signin]] [[That's me! ->inassociationwith]]

//Enter first name.// <<textbox "$name" "" "lastname">>

<<set $name to "">> <<set $lastname to "">> <<set $pronouns to "">> <<cacheaudio "opening" "media/audio/opening.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "theme" "media/audio/theme.wav">> <<cacheaudio "opcredits" "media/audio/openingcredits.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "gamenight" "media/audio/gamenight.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "extras" "media/audio/extrasloop.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "dreamofstars" "media/audio/dreamofstars.mp3">> <<set $frel to "">> <<set $trel to "">> <<set $mrel to "">> <<set $jrel to "">>

<<script>>{UIBar.unstow(true);}<</script>>''1. A Storm on the Horizon'' <<nobr>><<if $pronouns is "he/him">> <<set $their to "his">> <<set $theirs to "his">> <<set $them to "him">> <<set $they to "he">> <<set $themself to "himself">> <<set $is to "is">> <<set $do to "does">> <<set $theyve to "he's">> <<elseif $pronouns is "she/her">> <<set $their to "her">> <<set $theirs to "hers">> <<set $them to "her">> <<set $they to "she">> <<set $themself to "herself">> <<set $is to "is">> <<set $do to "does">> <<set $theyve to "she's">> <<elseif $pronouns is "they/them">> <<set $their to "their">> <<set $theirs to "theirs">> <<set $them to "them">> <<set $they to "they">> <<set $themself to "themself">> <<set $is to "are">> <<set $do to "do">> <<set $theyve to "they've">> <</if>><<endnobr>> //"According to this morning's forecast, we'll be seeing sunny weather for the rest of the week and beyond."// //"Today takes us to a record-breaking 890 clear days in a row."// //"Isn't it lovely though? Beautiful blue skies."// //"Absolutely John, you could take your family out for a picnic-"// The radio hosts chat on as you look up at the sky, their voices emitting from the small portable radio on your hip. In Tierton, the quiet town where you live, you're enjoying a warm afternoon on a hill. The grassy hill overlooks the rest of the town and the towering buildings of the megalopolis far beyond it, but lying on your back your world is a field of endless blue; not a cloud in sight, let alone a town or a megalopolis. The hill is rather large, and besides providing a nice spot to nap it also supports the building where you both work and live. Thinking of work, you suppose you'd better go do your job and check on everyone. With a sigh, you swing yourself into an upright sitting position. And then, with some reluctance, you force yourself to your feet. Hopefully the residents haven't gotten themselves into any trouble while you've been away. [[Next ->1.1.1]]

"Mattie, no aerocar today? Did you" - you raise a hand to your mouth in mock horror - "take the bus here?" Most visits, they would arrive on the hill in their red Francisco 372 - the fanciest, fastest, and shiniest aerocar on the market right now - chauffeured by their driver droid, Bertram. <<if $dc is "on">> //Leo: Right so you might be noticing a few artistic references here. These are references to printmakers: Matisse is named for Henri Matisse, the Francisco is named after Francisco Goya. There are a few reasons for this - um, I like their art, a., and b. I took a short printmaking course, it was fun, and it inspired me, what can I say? Had to use a scrap of that knowledge somewhere.// <</if>> Today, however, there's no sight of the Francisco or its driver. They roll their eyes playfully. "Bert dropped me off at the town centre because I had a few stores I wanted to stop by. I told him I could walk the rest of the way here, and I did." "So you did." "I suppose you'll tease me now for my dishevelled state?" You give them a good-natured grin. "Maybe another time." You gesture behind you. "Shall we? Allan has been excited all morning." [[Next]]

"Hey Mattie," you smile. "Hey," they say. "How is everyone?" "They're all doing well. Where's Bertram?" Most visits, Matisse would arrive on the hill in their red Francisco 372 - the fanciest, fastest, and shiniest aerocar on the market right now - chauffeured by their driver droid, Bertram. <<if $dc is "on">> //Leo: Right so you might be noticing a few artistic references here. These are references to printmakers: Matisse is named for Henri Matisse, the Francisco is named after Francisco Goya. There are a few reasons for this - I like their art, a., and b. I took a short printmaking course, it was fun, and it inspired me, what can I say? Had to use a scrap of that knowledge somewhere.// <</if>> Today, however, there's no sight of the car or its driver. "He dropped me off at the town centre because I had a few stores I wanted to stop by. I told him I could walk the rest of the way here." "I see. Well then," you gesture behind you, "Shall we? Allan has been excited all morning." [[Next]]

'Young's Home for Retired Robots' is a retirement home for old and/or dysfunctional robots that no longer work as they should, or that have simply been cast out and replaced by newer models. While many assisted living facilities and aged living innovations exist for humans, Young's Home for the Retired Robot (or 'Young's' for short) is the only establishment of its kind. Most robots without owners or at the end of their working lifespan would find themselves repurposed, recycled, either for their materials or to be remade anew, or just thrown out. Thus, only certain robots end up at Young's. [[Next ->1.1]]

The two-storeyed building boasts an impressive history of 165 years, said to have been built when the home was founded in 2036. It sits on a concrete foundation but the walls are made from cream yellow-painted stone, roughly cut into the shape of large bricks and fit together. Being the resident caretaker and sole employee, your responsibilities vary from day to day. From interacting with the residents to ordering supplies to cleaning and maintaining the building, each day since you started this job has brought new tasks to tackle, new objectives to complete, new problems to conquer and overcome. The only things you haven't had to do, thankfully, are duties like bookkeeping. That's handled by the owner of the home - you just have to make lists of supplies you need. <div class="center"> <p>~🌼*🤖*🌼~</p></div> Given the description of the place, one might assume your job, while busy, is fairly peaceful. On the contrary, while some days are quieter than others, the home can get quite hectic - easily sliding into chaos the moment you ease your guard. Keeping up with a group of robots (especially this lot) is not an easy job. However, on those days that //are// quieter than others, you like to steal away some time for yourself to relax privately with a peaceful activity; such as your afternoon-lie down today. [[Enter the building with Matisse. ->1.2]]

<<widget "are">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>are<<case false>>is<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "were">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>were<<case false>>was<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "s">><<switch $plural>><<case true>><<case false>>s<</switch>><</widget>> 'Click to start/continue widget + code:' <<widget "widgetname">><<goto "name of passage">><</widget>> <div onclick="$.wiki('<<widgetname>>')"> DIV CONTENTS </div>

<<link "Employee Profile">> <<script>> Dialog.setup("Employee Profile"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("stats").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>> <</link>> <<link "Townsfolk & Those from afar">> <<script>> Dialog.setup("Townsfolk & Those from afar"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("characters").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>> <</link>> <<link "Residents">> <<script>> Dialog.setup("Residents"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("residents").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>> <</link>> <<link "Achievements">> <<script>> Dialog.setup("Achievements"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("achievements").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>> <</link>> <<link "Glossary">> <<script>> Dialog.setup("Glossary"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("glossary").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>> <</link>>

- Ate some food. - Watered the flowers. - Had a nice lie-down out front.

''Name:'' <<print $name>> <<print $lastname>> ''Pronouns:'' <<print $pronouns>> <div class="underline">''Relationships''</div> ''Matisse'' - <<if $mrel is "friends">>They only come to the home every now and then, but you've come to be quite friendly with them. <<elseif $mrel is "crush">>They only come to the home every now and then, but you've come to be quite friendly with them. You like them, what can you say? They're a bit oblivious, but that's charming too. <</if>> ''Tom'' - <<if $trel is "friends">>He's a good friend of yours, someone you've come to know through your time in Tierton. <<elseif $trel is "crush">>You have feelings for the dependable postman, which you haven't yet made known. <</if>> ''Frankie'' - <<if $frel is "friends">>She's a friend you're grateful for; both to have, and to have met. <<elseif $frel is "crush">>You have a crush on her, and you're not quite sure yet what to do with these feelings. <</if>> ''Jules'' - <<if $jrel is "">>Jules is... Jules.<</if>>

The automatic doors slide open when you approach, a gust of cool air hitting you instantly from the air con inside. "Ah, $name!" An old robot approaches you, with the voice of a man in his 60s. His face is a pixellated, neon blue display on the black screen of his blocky, rectangular head - comprised of oval eyes, a moustache and a mouth. He looks dapper as usual in his neatly ironed butler uniform, specially tailored to suit his compact body. It's the same one he's owned since he was made in the 80s, and the fabric is starting to look worn out, but he wears it as proudly as he did the first day he was powered on. "And Matisse!" He brightens up considerately at the sight of them entering behind you, his eyes becoming downturned crescents. "Oh, I'm so excited for game night with you." <<set $allanmet to "yes">> <<link "Resident profile unlocked: Allan">> <<script>> Dialog.setup("Residents"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("residents").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>> <</link>> Allan is a butler android who used to work for the Hewbury household. Matisse brought him to the home a few years ago, after their parents had him replaced with a newer model in his line - despite all their pleas to keep him. Despite their aggravation at the whole affair, Allan himself, when asked, seemed to bear no ill will towards Mr. and Mrs. Hewbury; though he was sad to part from Matisse. He'd been originally purchased after all, not long after their birth, with the main purpose of helping to raise them. Allan turns to you, with a somewhat grave expression. "I'm glad you're back, <<cycle "$id" autoselect>> <<option "lad" m>> <<option "lass" f>> <<option "love" nb>> <</cycle>>. We've run out of stickers." "Ah." Upon hearing his words, you stride forward and look around until you find a small robot huddled up in a corner of the room. <<set $sticksmet to "yes">> <<link "Resident profile unlocked: Sticker bot">> <<script>> Dialog.setup("Residents"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("residents").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>> <</link>> Sticks shivers as he stares desolately into the air, his flat metal fingers held tightly on top of his eye boxes. If a robot could wilt, this is what it would look like. To his side is an empty, discarded sticker sheet. "No more... stickers..." he mutters to himself. "Ahh... okay. Don't worry buddy, just hold tight alright? Tom will be here soon with more stickers." You turn on your heel and stroll past Allan and Matisse, who are cheerfully catching up, and [[head out of the building. ->1.3]]

''Residents of Young's Home for the Retired Robot:'' <br> <br> <<if $allanmet is "yes">> <<link "Allan">> <<toggleclass "#allanprofile" "hide">> <</link>> <br> <span id="allanprofile" class="hide">A butler robot programmed with housekeeping functions. He's able to exert high strength in order to carry out roles like house repair and furniture building, but his limiter has become faulty with age, and this causes him to use too much strength at times (resulting in a broken door or two or three). </span> <</if>> <br><br> <<if $sticksmet is "yes">> <<link "Sticker bot (Sticks)">> <<toggleclass "#sticksprofile" "hide">> <</link>> <br> <span id="sticksprofile" class="hide">A teaching assistant robot used in kindergartens and primary schools. Small and friend-shaped, his role was to aid teachers in handing things out to and collecting sheets from students, and to give out stickers for particularly good work. He was deemed faulty and tossed out from his school after several warnings because he would give stickers to every student. <br><br> When asked about his actions, he said he thought every student was doing well, and that he wanted to encourage everyone. </span> <</if>> <br><br> <<if $dmmet is "yes">> <<link "Dance Machine (DM)">> <<toggleclass "#dmprofile" "hide">> <</link>> <br> <span id="dmprofile" class="hide">An entertainment android designed to dance and sing for people. Although his communication is limited to the lines programmed for his voicebox, he's always full of pep.</span> <</if>> <br><br> <<if $billmet is "yes">> <<link "B177 (Bill)">> <<toggleclass "#billprofile" "hide">> <</link>> <br> <span id="billprofile" class="hide">A janitor robot who loves the beach. He used to work in a shopping centre but was ultimately replaced by newer, faster models. His dream is to own a collection of Hawaiian shirts, and he also wants to try surfing one day. </span> <</if>>

''TIERTON TOWNSFOLK:'' ''Thomas (Tom) Jakatis'' - The local postman. Has been vexed as of late, since his job is under threat of being given over to robots. //Appearance:// Dark blue, deep-set eyes, and sandy beige skin, with freckles on his cheekbones and across the bridge of his nose that reflect his life of delivering mail under the sun. Has thick eyebrows and short black hair that's always a mess in the mornings. He usually combs it with his fingers into a slightly unkempt middle parting that stops around the level of his eyebrows. 5'9 and has a solid, athletic build, with sharp features. ''Francis (Frankie) Pullover'' - The owner of Young's Home for the Retired Robot. Whispers amongst the townsfolk say she's actually a robot. //Appearance:// Expressive large, round, light brown eyes, and ivory skin. Round face shape, with pinchable cheeks that flush easily, and dimple when she smiles. She has long, fluffy, light ash blonde hair. 5'5, and has an average build. ''INHABITANTS OF THE MEGALOPOLIS:'' ''Matisse (Mattie) Hewbury'' - Child of Huetech Corp.'s head, Randy Hewbury. They're set to take over the company from their father someday. Comes to visit Allan, but often also helps out at the home on their visits. Occasionally, they bring along their little sister Matilda. //Appearance:// Tawny brown skin, and deep brown eyes. They have tight curly black hair, which they leave natural, but keep cut short. They have two dimples and a toothy smile that makes their whole face light up, and usually wear an earring on their right ear. 6'0 tall, with an average build. ''Jules Verity Sawyer'' - A sardonic, workaholic lawyer who you left behind when you decided to leave the megalopolis. //Appearance:// Porcelain skin, stormy grey eyes, and long dark brown, almost black, hair that falls in soft waves to her mid-back. She has several piercings in her ears and multiple small tattoos, mostly around her collarbones and shoulders. 5'7, and slender, with an oval face shape and V-shaped jawline.

You jog forward, to the point where the hill begins to slope. Scanning the path into town, you breathe a sigh of relief when you find what - or rather, who - you're looking for: Tom Jakatis, the local <<link "postman.">> <<script>> Dialog.setup(""); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("postman").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>> <</link>> The young man in question is currently riding a bicycle up the path towards the hill, dressed in his usual uniform of a light blue short-sleeved button-up shirt tucked into shorts. You call out to catch his attention. "Tom!" For a moment you're not sure if you've been heard, but then he looks up and lifts a hand in greeting. "Stickers?" you shout. He nods and stops his bike, gettting off to open up his satchel. He takes out a pack of sticker sheets and an automatic propeller clip which he attaches to the pack before throwing it your way. The automatic propeller clip activates, the little blades rotating speedily to carry the sticker pack through the air and into your waiting hands. "Thank you!" He flashes you a thumbs up and you run back inside, detaching the propeller clip as you go. [[Next ->1.4]]

''2. The Storm'' Ding. Ding ding ding. Ding ding ding ding ding ding ding- The incessant ringing of the reception counter bell plagues the home at what you assume must be a ridiculous hour, as you blearily stumble into the lobby to face it. "Ah, finally." Upon noticing you, the man standing in front of the reception desk stops ringing the bell, turning to face you with a sneer. Still in your PJs, you feel vastly underdressed next to him in his tailored tweed suit, with a handkerchief neatly folded and tucked into the breast pocket. Under different circumstances you might have gotten changed before coming out to greet a visitor, but usually visitors are much more patient than this man has been so far. "Can I help you?" You rub your eyes, trying your best to be polite despite feeling half asleep. "I'd like to see the one in charge here." "That would be me." He lets out an exasperated sigh like he's greatly disappointed by your answer. "I see." "Is there... something I can help you with?" "I have come with an important message," he says, looking at you expectantly. He taps his foot impatiently and it begins to dawn on you that he's waiting to be invited in. "Ah. Of course, please, right this way." He clears his throat (rather self-importantly you think) and follows you into the dining room with pompous steps. "I'll have a coffee. No sugar, and just a splash of milk." [[Make his coffee.]] [[Make his coffee but make it wrong.]] [[Pretend you've run out of coffee.]] [[Refuse.]]

"Sticks!" You jog up to the little robot, and present the sticker pack. "I've got a delivery for you bud." He perks up immediately, stretching his digits out hopefully. "Stickers?" "Yep." You hand him the pack and watch as he opens it happily. //Phew.// He peels a sticker off a sheet right away, and holds it out to you. "For me?" He tilts his eye boxes down, then up - his version of a nod. "You did a good job." "Thanks buddy," you reply, letting him press the 'Good Work!' sticker onto your leg. When he's done, you kneel to his level and gently pat him. "Everything sorted?" You turn to see Tom at the door. He greets Mattie and Allan, and the three of them make their way over to you. "Everything sorted," you reply, standing up. "Now we just have to set up for game night." [[Next ->1.5]]

<<audio ":playing" fadeoverto 7 0>><<timed 7s>><<audio "gamenight" loop play>><</timed>>Game night is held once every few months at Young's. Although there's a recreation room in the building, game night takes place in the larger living room located in the back past the large staircase to the second floor. It's a night of fun, and friendly (though some might call it fierce) competition between residents of the home. Visitors are allowed, and although you have to host the event as part of your job, you usually end up participating in the games too. <div class="center"> <p>~🎲*🤖*🎲~</p> </div> "Where should I put these?" "Over there is fine." You're currently in the process of setting up for game night, which involves: putting out snacks for the humans, taking the games out of storage, and re-arranging the furniture. Matisse and Tom are helping you set up, along with Allan and a few other robots. You grip one end of the table you're standing in front of, and nod to Tom who's grabbing the other end. "On three. And a one, two, three!" You both lift it up together before bringing it to the centre of the room, parallel to other tables you've arranged in a row for the games to be played on. Stepping back, you admire your handiwork before smiling at Tom. "Thanks." "No problem." He returns your smile with a solemn nod, but that's just Tom. Under his stern countenance lies a gentle and kind-hearted personality. He applies the same seriousness with which he treats his job to the other aspects of his life as well, including his relationships with the people around him. No one feels unheard when they speak to Tom. [[It's one of the reasons why you've developed feelings for him.|1.6][$trel to "crush"]] [[You count yourself lucky to have a friend like him.|1.6][$trel to "friends"]]

You survey the rest of the room. To one side, a table has been lined up against the wall with an assortment of drinks and snacks ready to fuel you through the evening. On the other side of the room, sofas and an easel have been arranged for you all to play certain games like charades and pictionary. And in the middle of the room, of course, are the tables you've just set up for board and card games, with chairs around them. Perfect. You nod to yourself, satisfied. Everything is ready. Now you just need to gather everyone up. A quick check of your watch reveals the time to be 4.58pm, meaning the last guest for this month's game night should be arriving soon. You enter the lobby from the living room, just in time to see the main entrance doors slide open. There she is. "Hi Frankie." [[Your heart skips a beat at her presence.|1.65][$frel to "crush"]] [[You greet her with ease.|1.65][$frel to "friends"]]

You receive two newspapers - the local monthly news ('The Tierton Times') and the daily newspaper ('Megalopolis Daily'), which is consistent across the country. Every day, at precisely 7 am, the Megalopolis Daily is beamed out from the top of the big News Tower in the megalopolis. The information is then received by your radio newspaper printing machine, which - at the press of a button - prints it for you to read. The machine has an automatic printing setting, but the manual button push saves ink and paper should you not wish to read the paper that day. The local newspaper, on the other hand, is printed at the post office and delivered by the local postman, whom you shall meet in no time at all.

(The one who delivers your local newspaper.)

"Is everyone already in the living room?" "Almost everyone. We've just finished setting up, and I'm going to go call everybody else down now," you reply. "Wonderful, I'll wait for you with the others then." As an aside, it should be noted that the rumours floating around Frankie aren't intended to be malicious. Everyone in town loves her, and robot or not they would adore her just the same. Some people simply have too much time on their hands, and choose to use the spare of it to form wild speculations. [[Next ->1.75]]

"$name!" Before you can get anywhere, your name is called. The person trudging up the hill towards you (with some difficulty) is Matisse Hewbury, first child of the head of Huetech Corp. Huetech Corp. is a big name New Tech company, their cutting-edge inventions extending the frontiers of humankind's evolution at a consistently rapid pace. You see pictures of their HQ in the megalopolis in the <<link "newspaper">> <<script>> Dialog.setup("Newspapers"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("newspaper").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>> <</link>> from time to time (it's very big, and quite impressive). Needless to say, the Hewbury family is very rich. In Matisse's case that wealth has translated to a lack of fitness borne out of being constantly attended to, though it's also been compounded by their own personal disinterest in most physical activities. They manage to reach you before doubling over, hands on their knees for support as they regain their breath. <<set $mrel to "friends">> [[Tease them, like you often do.][$mtease to "yes"]] [[Greet them.][$mtease to "no"]]

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$fpoints - (+5 for swoop in to catch) $id - stat for gendered terms (male/female/nb)

<<audio ":playing" fadeoverto 7 0>>@@.fadein1s;//"Give me a 6, give me a 6..."//@@ <<timed 1s>><div class="right">//"Uno."// //"What, no way!"//</div><</timed>> <<timed 2s>>//"Ha, you've landed on my property. Pay up."//<</timed>> <<timed 3s>>You drift around from table to table, after having participated in a few games. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves, but something in the back of your mind starts to bother you, though you can't put your finger on what it is exactly, yet. The realisation doesn't strike you like lightning, rather it sinks in slowly like a stone descending to the bottom of a lake - B177 is missing. B177 (pronounced as 'Bill') was a janitor robot before he ended up at Young's. You don't have time to think about the specifics of his story though, you need to find him. He was here earlier, you recall, losing a round of Jenga, but seems to have disappeared since. "Allan-" You stop by the old robot, who's currently in the middle of a round of poker. "Did you see B177 leaving?" "Why, I can't say I did... Oh dear, has he run off again?" "Seems like it." You wrinkle your brows. "Shall I help you look for him?" "No no, you stay here. He can't have gone far." [[Or so you hope, at least. ->1.10]] <</timed>>

Brought to light - what we say when a robot is powered on for the first time. - games night, then after it's over alan tucks matilda in to sleep (pulling blanket up over her shoulders) - remark on frankie's last name at some point I hold within my heart a deep fondness for cheese. - sticks is good at memorising things because he had to memorise names quickly as part of his job that he was made for - alan's limiter is broken so he's very strong, but this can be useful at times! (if breaking and entering, say) - eminent domain [[That's part of why you love him|link to whatever passage][$romance to "tom"]] "If a product is broken, you should just throw it out." code for the start menu: .startmenu { max-width: 15em; margin: 0 auto; background-image: [img[media/images/startmenubg.png]]; background-size: cover; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 100% 100% !important; } glik: a dense but versatile material, resembling seamless brick with the texture of marbl

Although he hasn't been exactly pleasant, you make him a coffee anyways.

"Not a problem, won't be long." He nods and takes a seat at a dining table, looking around the room disdainfully.

"We don't have any coffee right now, sorry." He sniffs, turning his nose up with disdain. "Of course you don't. Small towns... Very well. I'll take a tea insted, with-" "I'm afraid we don't have any tea, either."

Double-click this passage to edit it.

There's a reason why a megalopolis is called a 'megalopolis', and not a city. True to the very nature of its name, the megalopolis is, well, gigantic.

You start with the most obvious places: his room, and the Anti-Gravity Adventure Lab in the rec room (yes — to your surprise, you found that some of the robots in the home started using it, making it a pretty good purchase after all). Both are empty, leading you back to your first conclusion which you'd hoped would be proved wrong: //[[He's tried to go to the beach. ->1.11]]//

You slide into the chair opposite him. "Right, let's get down to business then." He taps his watch and a holographic screen pops up. He swipes it a few times, then taps several spots, each movement precise and methodical. With one last tap, **something not papers because this is sci fi lol).

"I think we may just have to accept it." "So that's it then. That's it? You're just giving up?" "...Yes. Yes, I think- it's over I'm afraid." "This is rubbish. What will happen to Alan and the other robots?" You start to speak in the middle of her sentence. "Now hold on just a second, who said anything would happen to them? Yes, we may lose the building but we can find a new one. Make a new home."

DM lines: - How's everybody doing tonight? - Are you all ready for a groovy time? - let's get this party started - sure, i'll give it a shot - you got it - anything for you handsome/beautiful/gorgeous - 'woah' and 'oh' and 'yeah' and 'aw yeah' and 'uh huh' - everybody having a good time? - come on, cowboy - only for you

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<<audio ":playing" stop>><<audio "opening" volume 0.5 play>> <div class="entrancetitle">''Young's Home for Retired Robots''</div> <div class="startmenu">''[[Play ->presents]]'' <<link "''Load''">><<script>>UI.saves();<</script>><</link>> <<link "''Settings''">><<script>>UI.settings();<</script>><</link>> ''[[Extras]]''</div>

<<audio "opening" stop>><<audio "opcredits" loop play>><div class="fadeintext"><div class="whitetext"><div class="left"> 23rd Century Lion presents</div></div></div><div class="polaroid rotate_right"><img src="media/images/polaroid1.jpg" width="284" height="213"><p class="caption"><div class="rightpadding">05/04/98</div></p></div><<timed 3s t8n>><<goto "nameselect">><</timed>>

<<audio "theme" loop play>><<timed 0.5s>>Young's<</timed>> <<timed 1s>>Home<</timed>> <<timed 1.5s>>for<</timed>> <<timed 2s>>Retired<</timed>> <<timed 2.5s>>Robots<</timed>> <<timed 5s t8n>><<goto "1">><</timed>>

<<audio ":playing" fadeoverto 2.5 0>><<timed 2.5s>><<audio "opcredits" stop>><</timed>> <div class="fadeintext"><div class="whitetext">A Story by Leo</div></div> <<timed 2.5s t8n>><<goto "welcome">><</timed>>

Photo credits: Polaroids: Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@jacob_talking?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Jakub Pabis</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a> (Jakub pabis, unsplash) Titlecard: Photo by joe ting on Unsplash

<<script>>UIBar.stow(true); Fullscreen.request();<</script>> <<link "(Click to Start)">><<goto "titlecard">><</link>> <div class="whitetext">//* Please turn on your sound//</div>

<div class="fadeintext"><div class = "whitetext"><div class="right">In association with CompletelyMadeUp Studios</div></div></div><div class="polaroid rotate_left"><img src="media/images/blueskybg.jpg" width="284" height="213"><p class="caption"><div class="rightpadding">15/08/94</div></p></div> <<timed 3s t8n>><<goto "pronouns">><</timed>>

<<audio ":playing" stop>><<audio "extras" loop play>><div class="center"> Extras Director Commentary //(In progress)// [[How to Draw Bill]] Director Interview //(In progress)// [[Return to Menu ->titlecard]]</div>

''Leo'' //Art Director, "Young's Home for Retired Robots"// Hi, I'm Leo! Today I'm going to teach you how to draw Bill. B177, or Bill as he's affectionately called, is probably the easiest character to draw in the whole game. He's also the only character I've drawn. I'm not an artist. There's no art in this game. But let me show you my own process for drawing him! So I like to start with a rectangle and two lines (I've actually only ever drawn him once), like antennae coming off a TV. Then I draw two small circles, decently far apart, for his eyes. <div class="center"><img src="media/images/bill head.png" width="25%"></div> It's ok if it's not perfect, they don't even have to be even - it looks better actually if it's a bit janky in my opinion. For his body, imagine his head being on a trapezium, and then a wide rectangle under that. It's a pretty simple shape, like this: <div class="center"><img src="media/images/bill body.png" width="25%"></div> As I'm describing this to you, I'm starting to realise that while he's easy to draw, it's a bit trickier than I thought to actually describe what I'm doing here, but I'll do my best. //(mutters)// For that sweet, sweet content. //[Clears throat]// So Bill has two screws in the bottom corners of his body, those are just octagons coloured in - again, it's ok if it's not perfect. And then top right you can draw a rectangle and write in 'B177', that's his nametag. <div class="center"><img src="media/images/bill body2.png" width="25%"></div> And now for the arms you can just draw a curved line down on each side, end it in a horseshoe shape and that's his hands done! A short line to connect it to his body and then you have his arms! There are some lines around his shoulder area, one line starts from his armpit then goes up diagonally to make a triangle, then from the same point you can draw an armband of sorts going across his arm with vertical lines in it: <div class="center"><img src="media/images/bill arms.png" width="25%"></div> I've got four lines in the band in my picture, so you might want to keep yours to four just to keep it consistent, but honestly I don't think it matters - art is totally free and wild, you know. //[Laughs in why are you still here reading this]// Finally we're on to the legs, and this was actually the hardest part of his design for me. Uh, all I can say is there are no hard and fast rules for his legs. Just keep in mind they're wide, there's a thin band around his knee areas, and you can draw his feet as thin rectangles. <div class="center"><img src="media/images/bill.png" width="25%"></div> Nice and easy. And that's how you draw Bill! [[Back ->titlecard]]

''Leo'' //Director, "Young's Home for Retired Robots"// The Employee is the main character of the story, a bit of an underdog really. The whole story is basically told through their eyes. //Why are you wearing sunglasses?// Hm? //We're indoors, why are you wearing sunglasses?//

Selecting 'On' will turn on commentary from the director. //* Not recommended for first time viewing or immersion.// <<cycle "$dc" autoselect>> <<option "On" on>> <<option "Off" off>> <</cycle>> [[Back ->Extras]]

What are your pronouns? [[They/them|adventureby][$pronouns to "they/them"]] [[He/him|adventureby][$pronouns to "he/him"]] [[She/her|adventureby][$pronouns to "she/her"]] [[Let me tell you ->pronounselect]]

Will: //Hi $name, I'm Will, here on behalf of the Tierton Times. Thank you for agreeing to this interview.// $name: No problem Will, come in. Will: //We're all familiar with Young's, but I thought it'd be nice if we could get to know the residents a little more.//

<div class="underline">''Places''</div> ''Expo'' - The heart of Greater Advance. The biggest city, located right in its centre. ''Greater Advance'' - The formal name of the megalopolis.

You begin with the second door on the right, since the first is Allan's, following a simple routine: knock on the door, chat a bit with the resident inside, tell them they can come down now for game night. It flows smoothly, from Earl to Sally to Z31O, and it's not long before you arrive at the last remaining resident's door. On the second rap your knuckles have barely left the wood when it swings open, revealing one enthusiastic android. <<set $dmmet to "yes">> <<link "Resident profile unlocked: Dance Machine">> <<script>> Dialog.setup("Residents"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("residents").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>> <</link>> Dance Machine (though everyone just calls him DM) is one of several residents in the home that were designed to look humanoid. The robots of his line were manufactured to provide personal entertainment to their families through singing and dancing. With his spiky blonde hair and blue eyes he looks like a member of an old boy band, and his voice box is programmed with lines to match that persona. "What's cookin', good lookin'?" Well, not quite. You speculate that whoever was in charge of writing his voice lines was a bit out of touch with what boy band members are actually like. Some of his lines are quite cheesy, but like the other robots of his line, he's only able to say what he's been programmed to. Still, that doesn't stop him from communicating, and you've come to understand him quite well. "Game night's all set up, you ready to come down?" "I was born to rock 'n roll." "Great, let's go." [[Next ->1.9]]

Tierton, as it so happens, is a coastal town. The ocean lies to the south, but Young's Home for Retired Robots is tucked further inland on the other side of town, about 3.5 km from the beach. It's a short drive, but to try and walk there in the dark would be difficult. You only hope B177 hasn't wandered off in some strange direction. As you leave Young's, you start to think about the [[time you first arrived here. ->flashback]]

...Come to think of it, it was probably your suitcase that gave you away back then. At the time, you'd just felt as though she'd seen right through you, and understood what you'd really been looking for. "B177! ...B177!" Amongst the chirping of cicadas you call for him, but there's no response from the bot. "He can't have gotten too far," remarks Allan. //Wait, Allan?// "I thought I told you I'd handle the search on my own." "Don't be stubborn, it'll be easier if we help," another voice says. You turn to see Matisse on your other side. "Don't tell me Tom's with you too." "Hey. Frankie said she'd look after the others and keep things running, so I came to help." You turn around once more to see Tom walking up behind you with DM and Sticks flanking him. "They wanted to come too," he shrugs. Of course they did. You shake your head, but can't stop a smile from spreading across your face. [[Next ->1.13]]

"$name!" She greets you back brightly. <<nobr>> Francis Pullover is the owner of Young's Home for the Retired Robot, and the one who eventually hired you to run the place. <<if $frel is "crush">> Although you've tried to get rid of your crush, you can't help it - she's sweet, and kind, and just like her last name she's a warm and comforting presence. <<else>>She's always been kind to you, something you've been grateful for since your first meeting. <</if>> <</nobr>> She lives in town and swings by the home on occassion - randomly flitting in with no warning then disappearing like a sudden breeze. In all the years you've worked here, she's never questioned a single purchase you've asked for, and you're unsure whether this is because she trusted your judgement or just didn't care. You were sure, however, that she had to have some limit over what she'd let you buy - it's not like she was made of money, after all! Surely there'd be a point where she'd sternly rebuke you and say "Enough, that's too much!". And that's why there's now an <<link "Anti-Gravity Adventure Lab">> <<script>> Dialog.setup("Anti-Gravity Adventure Lab"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("antigravlab").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>> <</link>> (complete with trampoline walls) in the recreation room. You'd felt terribly guilty when she didn't refuse it and rushed to clarify it was just a joke and she didn't need to buy it, but she'd insisted: "It's ok! If you put it on the list you must have wanted it right? Besides, you deserve nice things too." [[So she'd said. ->1.67]]

All these years of knowing her, and somehow you're still not sure what goes on in her head. Or what she does when she's not at the home, for that matter. You've asked her about it before, and yet she manages to elude your questions every time. Some of the townspeople think she's secretly a robot. You've long decided to simply ignore the rumours, though it's easy to see how they originated - in this day and age, many advanced robots could pass for human. Not to mention, Frankie seems ageless, looking the same as she did when you first met her. But those people clearly haven't seen the way she laughs, and the way her eyes gleam when she recounts to you a story she heard in town. In any case, when it comes to Francis, you're more concerned with- "Ah!" -how clumsy she is. [[Catch her.]] [["Careful!"]]

<<if $trel is "crush" and $frel is "crush">>Thankfully, Tom is able to catch her in time, supporting her in his arms. <<else>>Thankfully, Matisse manages to grab her arm in time, stopping the poor woman from faceplanting.<</if>> This is a common occurrence for Frankie. You remember feeling very concerned the first few times you saw her trip and fall terribly, or accidentally drop or spill things on herself. Eventually you grew accustomed to it, learning to look out for her and prevent accidents where possible, but you still worry for her at times. Human or otherwise, it can't be good to be falling so often. [[Next ->1.7]]

<<if $frel is "crush">><<set $fpoints to $fpoints + 5>>You step forward and smoothly catch her in your arms. "Th-thank you," she stammers. "That's alright." "Um..." "Oh." Noticing how close you are, you quickly let her go, the two of you springing apart. You clear your throat bashfully as she stands up properly, a faint blush across her cheeks. <<else>>You grab her arm to help steady her before she can fall. "Th-thank you," she stammers. "No problem." <</if>> This is a common occurrence for Frankie. You remember feeling very concerned the first few times you saw her trip and fall terribly, or accidentally drop or spill things on herself. Eventually you grew accustomed to it, learning to look out for her and prevent accidents where possible, but you still worry for her at times. Human or otherwise, it can't be good to be falling so often. [[Next ->1.7]]

You bound up two flights of stairs to the second floor of Young's, where the resident rooms are. There are a few communication systems at Young's Home for the Retired Robot. One is the PA system, operated from the reception desk. The other is the intercom system. Each room (common rooms included) has its own intercom, connected to both the Articulaton at the reception desk, and the portable radio that lives on your belt. With either system it would be easy to call down the remaining robots, but you prefer to go up to them instead. Only several remain upstairs anyways, with most of the residents already lingering around downstairs in anticipation of game night. [[Next ->1.8]]

Together, the team of you easily search the hill and the path stretching beyond, still finding no sign of the bot. "Perhaps he's wandered into town?" suggests Allan. "Hold on, that might be him over there," Tom points. Streetlights are sparse along the main road, but to one side, past the line where they should be, you can see a smaller light combating the nighttime darkness. "I think you might be right, Mr. Jakatis." "Good eyes, Tom," Mattie compliments. It's a relief when you approach the light and find it is indeed coming from B177, specifically his <<link "eyes.">> <<script>> Dialog.setup(""); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("b177eyes").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>> <</link>> <<set $billmet to "yes">> <<link "Resident profile unlocked: B177">> <<script>> Dialog.setup("Residents"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("residents").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>> <</link>> "B177!" The robot slows when he hears you calling his name, allowing you to catch up. [["You sir," you shake your finger at him, "have been a bad robot."]] [["You haven't hurt yourself, have you?"]]

<<audio ":playing" stop>><<audio "dreamofstars" play>>"If you need accommodation, you could try Young's. It's just..." //Follow the main road through town, then go up the hill at the end...// Assuming 'Young's' was a motel of some sort, you'd followed the old lady's instructions and reached it with a bit of effort from lugging your suitcase all the way up the hill, but this place... isn't a motel at all. 'YOUNG'S HOME FOR RETIRED ROBOTS' The words are painted straight across in yellow, over a contrasting strip of dark blue. They're positioned over a wide arch that shelters the doorway, and you eye them warily. You're not quite sure what a home for retired robots is - although you could hazard a guess, it's your first time ever hearing of such a thing. More importantly, it definitely doesn't sound like a place where you could stay. You suppose this is what you get for acting on your impulses. You'd wanted to leave the megalopolis and go somewhere else for a while, escape for a bit. You'd been desperately needing a change of pace, some new scenery. Anywhere would've done really, you just hopped on the bus with some luggage and ended up hopping off at Tierton on a whim. In hindsight, you probably should've done some research first - or at the very least checked that there was accommodation available. <div class="center"> <p>~⛅*🤖*⛅~</p></div> With a sense of apprehension, you approach the entrance. The automatic doors slide open and you enter to find yourself intruding on a chaotic exchange. "Francis! Oh, Francis, I'm afraid I've done it again," a robot wails. He appears to have a door in his hand, which he waves around easily in the midst of his dismay, like it weighs nothing at all. You assume Francis is the woman next to him. She has long, light ash blonde hair, and light brown eyes, and looks to be in somewhere in her early 30s. "It's alright, Allan," she reassures the robot. "Just let go of the door first." "I was just trying to open it and somehow ripped it off its hinges like last time. I really didn't mean to, I promise." "We'll get you a new one, come on," she says gently. "No, no, this is the second one I've broken in just the past week." He sets down the door in his hand. His pixellated expression is positively downcast, and you're sure that if he was able to, his shoulders would be slumped right now. "I don't deserve a door," he mopes. "Of course you deserve a door, silly." She pats him on the shoulder and you wonder if this might be a good time to announce your presence. "Um..." On second thought, maybe you should leave. It's too late though, because Francis notices you. "Oh!" A look of surprise overcomes her face, but it quickly melts into a smile. "It's rare we get a visitor. Hi, welcome to Young's!" "Thank you," you reply awkwardly. "Sorry for the commotion just now. My name's Francis but you can just call me Frankie. This is Allan," she gestures to the robot, who waves. "Hello," Allan chimes. "I'm afraid you caught me at a shameful time, I do apologise." "Oh, that's okay, nice to... meet you both." "What can I do for you?" Frankie asks. "Were you thinking of housing a robot here?" "Oh, uh, not exactly. I just..." You glance around the lobby, taking in the cream walls and furniture of various turquoises and blues, and wonder if there's ever been a human guest here. You don't want to impose... maybe you could figure something else out. As if she can read your mind, her smile softens into something more tender. //"If you're looking for a place to stay, you're always welcome here."// [[Next ->1.12]]

They're simple round circles that are usually lit with a pale yellow light. He can make them a bit brighter at night to help him see ahead - like headlights on a car.

You give him a quick look-over, checking for any signs of scrapes or dents. "I'm — fine," he replies while you're fussing over him. "Ok good. That's good." You sigh, stepping back from the robot. "I'm glad you're ok." [["We can go to the beach tomorrow, how does that sound?"]]

He looks up at you, clumsily clasping his metallic claws together in front of his chest, and you start to feel oddly like you're trying to discipline a child who feels bad, but doesn't quite understand what they did wrong. "Ok, don't look at me like that." You sigh and turn away from his gaze. "You just- it's not safe to be running around at night, ok?" [["We can go to the beach tomorrow, how does that sound?"]]

"I think I know someone who might be able to help." "But?" Matisse asks, sensing your hesitation. "But... she's not going to be very happy to see me." "Well, it's still a start," Frankie cheers, trying to inspire some hope into the lot of you.

"Pro—mise?" "Yes, I //promise//. Now come on, let's get back to the home." You start to usher him in the direction of the path leading back, following closely behind him. "I saw you playing Jenga earlier, you know. Was it that bad? Is the beach that much better than game night?" "Yes." You cover your mouth, inhaling sharply. //No hesitation at all. Wow.// B177 lets out a small, monotonous laugh. "Heh." "Oh, I see. You're messing with me, aren't you?" You shake your head for the second time tonight. //Who knew robots could be so cheeky?// [[Next ->1.mat]]

—

A rare, soft smile grows on Tom's face as he trails behind, watching $name lead everyone back. "That's quite the fond expression you have there Mr. Jakatis." <<if $trel is "crush">>His eyes linger for a moment more before he turns to see Allan, also hanging back from the rest. "I didn't even realise," he muses, slowly raising a hand to his cheek. "I suppose I am quite fond of $name." "I see- Hold on," Allan stops in his tracks, trying to be sure he's processing Tom's words correctly. "Do you perhaps... have feelings of the romantic sort, for-" "Come along now, Allan," Tom continues walking. "We can't let them leave us behind." <<else>>He turns to see Allan, also hanging back from the rest. "I was just thinking about what a nice night this is," he murmurs. "It is a wonderful night, isn't it?" The robotic butler replies. Above them, the stars shine in clusters and constellations that hint at countless possibilities and promises the future might hold. It's a lovely night. <</if>> //[[End of demo (please save)]]//

"Say, um, would it be alright if I stayed the night at Young's?" Mattie asks, casually falling into step beside you as you encourage B177 forward. "Yeah, of course," you reply. "I'll prepare a spare room for you when we get back." "Thank you." They shove their hands into their pockets, hunching up their shoulders. "My dad's being stubborn again, and, well, your invitation to game night came at a good time. So. Thank you for that as well." [["What are friends for? You have a place here anytime."]] <<if $trel isnot "crush" and $frel isnot "crush">>[["You know I'd never object to seeing you more." (♥)][$mrel to "crush"]]<</if>>

<div class="storytitle">Young's Home for Retired Robots</div>

<div class="left">Pronouns: <<textbox "$pronouns" "they/them">> Their: <<textbox "$their" "">> Theirs: <<textbox "$theirs" "">> Them: <<textbox "$them" "">> They: <<textbox "$they" "">> Themself: <<textbox "$themself" "">> Is/are: <<textbox "$is" "">> Do/does: <<textbox "$do" "">> They've: <<textbox "$theyve" "">> </div> [[Next ->adventureby]]

Thank you so much for playing! This is the end of the current demo for Young's Home for Retired Robots, I hope you enjoyed your stay. The crew will be back to embark on their adventure in the next chapter, but in the meantime you can come hang out here if you'd like: [[inthetowncalledyesterday.tumblr.com|https://inthetowncalledyesterday.tumblr.com]]

Mattie shoots you a grateful smile. "Thanks." "You can — come to the beach with us tomorrow," B177 suggests. "Shall I? I don't think I've been to your beach yet." "Get up here," DM says. "We're going to have a rockin' time." [["What he said."]] [["I don't know how 'rockin'' it'll be, but yeah, you should come."]]

"We'll bring a beach ball with us to hit around, and build some sandcastles, or something," you continue. "That sounds pretty rockin' to me," Mattie remarks. "Oh you bet. Think you could beat me in a sandcastle competition?" "With ease." "Ha! Spoken like someone who hasn't seen my sandcastle-making skills." [[Next ->1.tom]]

"If you want to, of course," you add. "I'd love to," Mattie says. "It sounds like it'll be really nice." "Definitely! We can set up some beach towels and parasols if you want to relax that way. Or you could go for a splash in the ocean." [[Next ->1.tom]]

<<if $mtease is "yes">>Before your eyes, Mattie's face morphs through a variety of expressions; ranging from wide-eyed shock to flabbergasted, flustered stammering, before settling on a look of realisation. "Oh you." They let out a flustered laugh. "You're teasing me again!" "What? No-" "Always trying to get a rise out of me," they lightly swat your arm. "There's no need to be embarrassed," chimes Sticks, trying to be helpful. "Pl-please, I'm not embarrassed! What do I have to be embarrassed about?" You chuckle softly, looking away. Perhaps another day you'll make yourself clearer, but this is fine for now, you suppose. "And you," they turn back to you. "Don't laugh, this is your fault for saying misleading things!" //What!// "You wound me, Mattie." You clutch at your heart, as if pained, scrunching up your shirt in your fist as you do so. "I was being perfectly serious before, you know?" "...well now you're definitely teasing me," they mumble. <<else>>Before your eyes, Mattie's face morphs through a variety of expressions; ranging from wide-eyed shock to flabbergasted, flustered stammering, before settling on an abashed smile as they regain their composure. "That's very kind of you, thank you. I enjoy your company too." They chuckle nervously to themself, "Gosh, to think I almost misconstrued your words." "Hm?" You raise an eyebrow as Mattie speaks. "Well for a second I thought there was a," they clear their throat, somewhat self-consciously, "romantic... inclination? Intimation? To your words. Silly of me, I know." Oh, that's-" //because there was//, you want to say, but they cut you off before you can. "Nope, not a word out of you." "But-" "We'll head back to Young's now and you'll forget this silly moment," they say, quickening their pace. You let out an amused huff as you watch them, shaking your head. Perhaps another day you'll make yourself clearer, but this is fine for now, you suppose. <</if>>[[Next ->1.tom]]

- Rewrite DM's profile