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<span class="title">__THE GREAT PROTECTOR__</span> <span class="author">by <a href="https://greatprotector-if.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">cassian</a></span>

<<nobr>> <li>[[stats]]</li> <li>[[characters]]</li> <li><<link "credits">><<script>> Dialog.setup("Credits"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("credits").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>><</link>></li> <</nobr>>

!!!MANY YEARS AGO. *[[Continue.|cont 1]]

/* define your story variables here */

/* custom widgets go in here */ <<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>> <<widget "es">><<switch $plural>><<case true>><<case false>>es<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "re">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>re<<case false>>s<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "ve">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>ve<<case false>>s<</switch>><</widget>>

UNDER CONSTRUCTION <<button "Return" $return>><</button>> /* or <<link "Return" $return>><</link>> */

UNDER CONSTRUCTION <<button "Return" $return>><</button>>

[[Sugarcube 2 Documentation|https://www.motoslave.net/sugarcube/2/docs]] [[OpenDyslexic Font by Abbie Gonzalez|https://opendyslexic.org]] [[Notify Macro by Chapel|https://github.com/ChapelR/custom-macros-for-sugarcube-2]] [[Live Update Macro by Cycy|https://github.com/cyrusfirheir/cycy-wrote-custom-macros]]

<<set $they to "They">><<set $plural to true>>\ Here's an example of how the 'Live Update' macro by Cycy works: *<<link "She/Her">><<set $they to "She">><<set $plural to false>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "He/Him">><<set $they to "He">><<set $plural to false>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "They/Them">><<set $they to "They">><<set $plural to true>><<update>><</link>> <<liveblock>> $they <<are>> super fun and love<<s>> cupcakes. <</liveblock>> You can also use it to update the dialog labels! Try it by opening the settings menu and toggling the dialog labels button :) <<liveblock>> *<<link "Choice with flirt label $flirt_label" "4">><</link>> *<<link "Choice with info label $info_label" "4">><</link>> <</liveblock>>

ok! <span class="next"><<button "Next" "3">><</button>></span>

Some helpful resources: [[Sugarcube 2 Documentation|https://www.motoslave.net/sugarcube/2/docs]] [[Twine Cookbook|https://twinery.org/cookbook]] [[Beginner’s Guide to Twine 2.1|http://www.adamhammond.com/twineguide]] [[The Twine Grimoires|https://gcbaccaris.itch.io]] [[Quick Twine Tutorial|https://catn.decontextualize.com/twine]] [[r/twinegames|https://www.reddit.com/r/twinegames]] Macros/Sample code: [[Chapel's Custom Macros|https://github.com/ChapelR/custom-macros-for-sugarcube-2]] [[Cycy's Custom Macros|https://github.com/cyrusfirheir/cycy-wrote-custom-macros]] [[HIEv's Sample Code|https://qjzhvmqlzvoo5lqnrvuhmg-on.drv.tw/UInv/Sample_Code.html#Main%20Menu]] Other Sugarcube 2 templates: [[1 by Cerberus|https://ccrberus.itch.io/twine-sugarcube-template]] [[2 by Vahnya|https://vahnya.itch.io/twine-template]] [[3 by Nyehilism|https://nyehilism.itch.io/sugarcube-template]] [[4 by Nyehilism|https://nyehilism.itch.io/twine-template]] [[5 by Strandworks|https://strandworks.itch.io/gradient-template]]

When publishing to itch.io, you have a couple options for how to have your game display in mobile browsers. As a general rule, make sure to choose 'Click to launch in fullscreen' in the 'Embed options' section and click the checkbox to enable 'Mobile friendly' under the 'Frame options'. To force the game to always display in portrait mode on mobile, select 'Portrait' for the orientation. To display in landscape mode, select 'Landscape'. Easy peasy<3 Note: The latest update to the template has styling for both portrait and landscape modes for mobile, so have fun playing around with each to decide which option works best for your game! <span class="next"><<button "Next" "5">><</button>></span>

Finally appeased, you turn back to Papa and ask, “When am I gonna get to learn how to use a sword?” “Let me finish this game with your brother first, and then I can teach you whenever you want.” “Okay.” “Pass,” says Eli from the table in front of you. He has his cards spread out like a fan covering the bottom half of his face, very obviously trying to hide the way he’s grinning ear to ear but failing miserably. “I don't trust that face, Eli.” Papa glances down at you, and suddenly his beard doesn’t look as grey as you remember. “Can I have my hand back, please?” You reluctantly release his fingers, and he starts to sort through his cards. *[[Continue.|cont 1.2]]

“What's he got, $mcname?” Eli asks you. “Don’t cheat, Eli,” Sera scolds. “I’m not cheating! I’m just asking a question.” You peer up at Papa’s cards. He doesn’t seem to care that you’re looking—not that you could give much away, he’s got an awful hand. “Spades,” you reply, always happy to be of absolutely no help to your brother. “... //What// of spades?” “Like… multiple spades.” He rolls his eyes. “I don’t know why I asked you. Doesn’t matter, anyway.” Eli turns his giddy smile on Papa and says, “I’m gonna win on the next turn, Pa.” “We’ll see about that, pup.” “He’s bluffing,” Sera pipes up at the same time you say, “He’s lying.” “Be quiet,” Eli says, but there’s no heat in it. And then he looks at Papa and asks, “Whaddya think?” You reach into Sera’s bowl and pull out an uneven apple slice with jagged sides. She must've cut it herself; if Papa or Eli did it, it would've been nice and even. Papa peers intently at Eli’s face, which makes him giggle and raise his cards even higher to hide it. Papa pinches a card in between his fingers, and your teeth sink into the apple with a sharp crunch. *[[Continue.|cont.1.3]]

!!!TWO DAYS AGO. *[[Continue|cont1.4]]

!What is your name, Great Protector? <<textbox "$mcname" "" "name1.1">> [[Continue.|name1.1]]

!Your name is $mcname. Is that correct? [[Yes.|BEGINNING]] [[Hold on...|NAME]]

Papa’s hands are tough like he’s wearing leather gloves. You tug at his fingers and poke at the bumps on his palms, careful not to do it too hard just in case. You’re curled up on the couch with your knees up to your chest, your feet cold despite the way they’re pressing up against the fluffy red blanket Sera has draped over her lap. You nudge her in the leg with your foot. “Whaddya think, pup?” Papa asks you. He’s holding all his cards in his other hand—yours aren’t big enough to do that yet, but he tells you they will be soon. He’s not smiling, as per usual (or maybe you just can’t see it through his beard), but there’s something about his eyes that make him look happy anyway. “Your skin is so rough, Papa,” you say, running your fingers along the lines of his palm. “It’s very rough,” he says agreeably. “Years of sword fighting and then even more years of farming does that to ya.” You mull that over for a moment, but your feet are still cold. You kick your sister again. “What?” she asks. She fishes a piece of dried mango out of her bowl and throws the entire thing in her mouth. “Blanket.” She untucks that side of the blanket and throws it over your feet, then settles back and continues to eat. *[[Continue.|cont 1.1]]

Nine hours is a good amount of sleep. Most people in your village never get that much. The woman next door stays out at the tavern til midnight, yet she’ll still wake you up right before dawn with the sound of her slicing beets rattling past your thin walls. But you and your siblings have always had good sleep schedules (or as good as beet lady can allow), as is necessary when you’re working on a farm. Eli told you once when you were younger that Sera told him that Pa told her that you have to be alert and well-rested or you’ll go for the pumpkin stem and hack off your finger instead, though you’re fairly certain it was all Eli. It's been years since that conversation however, and you have not slept in thirty two hours—and you will continue to not sleep for the next nine. There are gulls crying off in the distance, though you can’t see any in the stretch of blue sky before you. The boat is so small you can feel the water rolling almost directly beneath your feet, hear it as if you’re neck deep. The boat is too small, in fact, for the three grown adults packed into it, and every sudden creak of wood has you gripping the side of the vessel for dear life. You don’t know if the thing’s supposed to be moving so much—you’ve never even been on a boat before, and you always thought that if the time came, your family would be there at the docks to see you off. *[[Continue.|cont1.5]]

But the old man glaring back at you from the stern is where you were directed to get off the mainland undetected, so this is where you are. His pockets are heavy with you and your companion’s hard-earned gold. (Well. //Yours// was hard-earned. You can’t speak for //them//.) He’s doing a good enough job of guiding the sails so far, at least—the force of his wind blowing past you is making your ears turn numb, but whatever gets you to your destination faster. He has his gray brows furrowed as he gazes up at the sail. When he kicked off from shore, he had his arms out to put more power behind his magic, but they’re down at his sides now—which makes sense, you don’t know how anyone could keep their arms up for over half an hour. Other than that though, his outfit is completely brown, and he is wholly uninteresting to look at. There's a scratch in the back of your brain. You tear your eyes away, searching for something else to occupy yourself with. There really isn’t much in a boat so small, and outside of it, it’s just a bunch of water. No matter where you turn, the water looks relatively the same—blue-green and wavy, with a little sea foam here and there. Bubbles, too. Closer to shore, there’d been seaweed and sea grapes, but you haven’t seen any of that in a while. And you’re not sure if you’re so keen on paying super close attention to the water just in case you catch a glimpse of something you don’t like. It feels a little too awkward to try to get an eyeful of the person sitting beside you, what with them being so close, so you eye your lap instead, where your hands are balled together. Your skin is uncomfortably dry, all the crooks are ashy. You haven’t had a whole lot of time to take care of yourself lately. But even if you had, self-care would probably be the furthest thing from your mind. *[[Continue.|cont.1.6]]

Flecks of water splatter against your skin, cool. You can’t see it, but you can feel it, and, ah—there's that scratching again. You can’t remember the last time you had the opportunity to just… think. You can’t believe it’s only been a couple days at the most since the only worry you had was whether the cucumbers you planted were getting enough sun or not. You can’t believe you’re //here//, on a boat with two strangers, so far already from the only home you’ve ever known. Maybe the real kicker of it all is that you don’t even know if you’ll have a home to come back to, when this all blows over. //If// it blows over. *[[You always knew you'd leave home someday. You love your family, but you've always wanted to see the world outside of your little village. You just thought it would happen on your own terms.|cont1.7]] *[[You didn't know what was going to happen, really. Whether you'd stay at your village or move somewhere new. But you suppose it doesn't matter anymore. The decision's been made for you.|cont1.7]] *[[You wanted to stay in your village forever. Whether the place was perfect or not didn't matter—it was yours, and it was home. You never thought you'd be forced to leave like this.|cont1.7]]

A cold blast of wind practically flattening your nose into your face startles you out of your daze. You scrub your hands down your face, heart thrumming against your ribcage. Even that little movement has you knocking shoulders with the person crammed in beside you. <<cycle "$hairwhip" autoselect>> <<option "You apologized the first four times, but then promptly gave up since your arms are all but sewed together at this point. They don’t seem to care anyway.">> <<option "You never bothered to apologize any of the times you accidentally touched them. It’s not like they haven’t accidentally touched you, anyway, and they never apologized. Maybe they never even noticed.">> <</cycle>> At least you don’t have to deal with their long hair whipping across your cheek anymore. Thank the gods they’d tied it back into a low bun after only a few seconds of suffering at the beginning of the voyage—even if it took them nearly elbowing you in the face in the process. “Penny for your thoughts?” Speak of the devil. You take a second to collect yourself, but eventually, you slide your hands down to uncover your eyes. You glance at your voyaging companion in your peripheral. They’re not facing you, and you don’t turn to face them, either. *[[At least you don’t have to worry about being nose to nose with them, you're so tall, but you’re sitting so close together that turning towards them would just be awkward regardless of height.|cont1.8]] *[[You’re not much taller than them sitting down, and certainly not tall enough that you could make staring directly at them with barely two inches between you not awkward.|cont1.8]] *[[You’re sitting so close that a single shake of the boat could plaster your face to theirs, and that’s just… not ideal.|cont1.8]] *[[You’re only a little bit shorter than them and sitting down you’re practically the exact same height. You don’t know if you want to be kissing distance from a complete stranger today.|cont1.8]] *[[You don't want their chest in your face, thank you very much. They'll have to take you to dinner first.|cont1.8]]

“Uh…” you mumble, voice raspy from disuse. “What?” “You look like you have a lot goin’ on up there,” they respond. “And I feel like we have a bit of a kinship, y’know? What with us both being here ‘n all. Honour among thieves, or whatever the saying is.” You think you catch them grinning through your peripheral. “Not that I know you’re a thief. And not that //you// know //I’m// a thief.” You… are not a thief. You wouldn’t be here if you were. You rub your palms over your knees like you’re trying to wipe off your hands. Of what, you’re not sure. “I don’t think that’s the saying,” you mutter. “Well, it is now, ‘cause I just said it.” Fair enough. “This is your first time on a boat like this, huh?” they ask. “I can tell. But don’t worry, you get used to it pretty quick.” “I’m not here to get used to anything,” you say, shifting uncomfortably in your seat. “I won’t be gone long.” They bark out a laugh, raising their hand to mimic a toast. “Cheers to that!” *[[Continue.|cont1.9]]

<<nobr>> <<set $yuzename to false>> <<set $yuzeelement to false>> <<set $yuzestory to false>> <<set $yuzemcname to false>> <<set $yuzemcnameknown to false>> <</nobr>> Your companion shifts to rest their elbow on the undoubtedly wet side of the ship, propping their cheek up in their palm. They lean all the way over the side of the boat so they can twist around to face you without being eyelash to eyelash. It's the first time you've been able to get a good look at them. There’s a jagged pink scar running through their left eyebrow to the top of their lip, but it does little to mar the youthful glow in their heavily freckled face. “Let’s play a game, yeah? I dunno about you, but I’m not too keen on just sittin’ here ‘n twiddlin’ my thumbs for nine hours.” Then they hold up their free hand like they’re waiting to speak in a classroom. “How ‘bout twenty questions?” Actually, that’s a terrible idea. Answering questions is the last thing you want to be doing right now. You purse your lips. “... Why that game?” “‘Cause I’m bored?” they respond bluntly, innocently batting their eyelashes at you. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m likin’ how you look all haunted and mysterious, but I bet gettin’ to know you a bit better would be great too.” You can’t help but wonder how wet their elbow must feel right now. Isn’t it slippery? Aren’t they worried that the boat will jerk and they’ll lose their balance? But even the relaxed smile on their face can’t mask the rust coloured stains on the cuff of their shirt, and what they really look like is that they don’t care about any of that. *[[Fine. You'll agree just so they'll stop bugging you.|choice1.1]] *[[Maybe a distraction is what you need. You'll play.|choice1.2]] *[[You're quite interested in getting to know more about this stranger. You'll play.|choice1.2]]

Gods, you’re too fucking tired for this. You rub your eyes so hard that when you open them again, it takes a couple blinks for your vision to return. “Okay, fine,” you mumble. They pump a fist in the air. “Great! I’ll go first.” Of course they will. They turn around so they’re fully facing you, kicking a leg up to cross their ankle over their knee, not caring that their leg is jabbing into your thigh. "Element?" *[[Water.|qna water]] *[[Fire.|qna fire]] *[[Earth.|qna earth]] *[[Air.|qna air]]

"Sure," you say, allowing a smile. "Let's play." They pump a fist in the air. “Great! I’ll go first.” They turn around so they’re fully facing you, kicking a leg up to cross their ankle over their knee, not caring that their leg is jabbing into your thigh. "Element?" *[[Water.|qna water]] *[[Fire.|qna fire]] *[[Earth.|qna earth]] *[[Air.|qna air]]

Another page to do whatever you want with! I really just wanted another page to fill out the footer menu<3 ---- !Heading 1 !!Heading 2 !!!Heading 3 <<cycle "$cycling" autoselect>> <<option "Cycling link 1">> <<option "Cycling link 2">> <<option "Cycling link 3">> <</cycle>> <<textbox "$textbox" "Type here...">><<button "Submit">><</button>> * List item 1 * List item 2 * List item 3

<<if $yuzename is false and $yuzemcname is false>>\ *[[Ask them their name.->qna 1.1]] <</if>>\ <<if $yuzeelement is false>>\ *[[Ask them their element.->qna 1.2]] <</if>>\ <<if $yuzestory is false>>\ *[[Ask them what they did to get here.->qna 1.3]] <</if>>\ <<if $yuzeelement is true and $yuzestory is true>>\ *[[End of questioning.]] <</if>>\

<<if $yuzemcnameknown is true>>\ <<set $yuzemcname to true>>\ Their eyes light up. “$mcname.” “Haha. Very funny.” They start to cackle, far too delighted with their own joke. “I know.” You wait for them to tell you their real name. But they don’t look like they’re going to. *[[“No, really. What’s your name?”|qna 1.4]] *[[Drop it.|yuzeqnaintermission]] <<elseif $yuzemcnameknown is false>>\ <<set $yuzename to true>>\ “Bilbo.” You don’t know what kind of expression you made when they said that, but whatever it is, it makes them laugh. “What are you making that face for?” You touch your cheeks self consciously. “I wasn’t making a face.” “You very much were, but I get it. I don’t look like a Bilbo.” You suspect that there aren't many people in this world who do. *[[Continue.|yuzeqnaintermission]] <</if>>

<<set $yuzeelement to true>>\ They spread their hands and wiggle their fingers dramatically. “Take a guess!” … How the hell are you supposed to guess? Well. You'll just throw something out there. *[[Water.]] *[[Fire.]] *[[Earth.]] *[[Air.]]

<<set $yuzestory to true>> They perk up immediately at the question, looking more excited than you've ever seen them—which is saying a lot. “Friend, I’ve done lots of things. Like your mother, for one.” What an original! It's definitely the first time you've heard that one! “For the one who proposed this game," you say casually, "you aren’t very good at playing it.” “Oh, don’t mind them<<if $yuzemcname is true>>, $mcname<</if>><<if $yuzename is true>>, Bilbo<</if>>.” They make a show of obnoxiously patting themself on the back. “You’re doing beautifully.” *[[Continue.|yuzeqnaintermission]]

"You know what?" pipes up <<if $yuzemcname is true>>'$mcname'<<elseif $yuzename is true>>Bilbo<<else>>your companion<</if>> suddenly. "Let's do somethin' else, yeah?" You just sigh, rolling out your shoulders and preparing yourself for whatever the hell their next idea's going to be. "Fine by me. It was your suggestion, anyway." "Actually, hold up a minute." They surge forward and clap their hands on their knees, leaning a little bit too far into your personal space. "I have one last question." Startled, you back away. Gods, what is going on with this person? "What?" They tilt their head, flashing you an almost unnerving smile. A particularly strong wave crashes against the boat and sprays water over your arm. "What brought you here, anyway?" You don't like where this is going. The back of your neck prickles. You jab your thumb at the old man, who's been doing a very good job of pretending you two don't exist this entire time. "Him?" <<if $yuzemcname is true>>'$mcname'<<elseif $yuzename is true>>Bilbo<<else>>Your companion<</if>> snorts. "You know that's not what I meant. Your funny reaction to me pretending to recognize your name earlier got me curious." They cross their arms, a thoughtful expression on their face. "I mean, I know you must be runnin' from //someone//, if you're here and all. But I don't think an average pickpocket would be so jumpy about it. And with the way you were tremblin' back at the docks?" You tear your eyes away, swallowing the cotton in your throat. "It's none of your business." "We still have about eight hours left of this trip," they say playfully, cupping their face in their hands and leaning even closer to you on their elbows. "I think that's plenty of time to get to know each other and make it my business." The closer they get, the more your lungs constrict. You wrap your arms around yourself. They're so close, and the boat is so small, and there's nowhere to go if you need to leave. "You didn't tell me why //you're// here," you manage to say. "Can't... can't you just drop it?" The scar on their face stretches with their smile. Their eyes are shining. "Do you wanna know what brought me here?" they ask. "I'm happy to tell ya." //No.// You don't want to know, you don't want any more to do with them, you're exhausted and you haven't slept and you want //off// this fucking boat and you want to go back home to your family— The light in their eyes dims as they finally leave your personal bubble, returning to their half of the boat. A laugh bubbles out of them. "No need to look so alarmed. I was just kiddin'. Honour among thieves, remember?" You inhale sharply. You're going to kill them. They put their hands up in a placating gesture upon seeing the malevolence on your face. “Easy, tiger. You gotta be careful where you raise your voice,” they continue in that exact same impish tone. “There are eyes and ears everywhere.” “We’re in the middle of the //ocean.//” They wink. “That we are, friend.” The boat groans, and you squeeze yourself tighter. You are a long, long way from home. <<button "END OF DEMO (FOR NOW)">><</button>>

Their smile turns sly. "I already told you." You stare at them, and they stare back, unflinching. "Do you actually have the same name as me?" "'Course I do! Y'know, your lack of trust in me hurts." They thump a fist to their chest, sniffling very loudly. "Right here. Hurts right here." ... Okay, then! Guess that's the most you're going to get out of them on that topic. *[[Continue.|yuzeqnaintermission]]

<<nobr>><<set $yuzeelement to true>> <</nobr>> “Water.” “Oh? Me too! This is great, we’re best friends already!” They hold their hand up for a high five. It’s extra awkward considering how close together you’re sitting. *[[High five them, deadpan. “Maybe it was fate that brought us together today.” (sarcastic)]] *[[You deadpan. “Maybe it was fate that brought us together today.” (sarcastic)]] *[[High five them.]] *[[Just nod along because you have no idea how else to react to that.]] *[[Ignore them.]]

“Really? Huh. Wasn’t expectin' that.” You just blink at them, unsure how you’re supposed to reply. “What were you expecting?” “Hmm…” they stroke their chin like they’re really thinking about it. That innocent smile of theirs remains all the while. “Like, fuckin' earth? Some quiet kid shit. When I imagine a fire person I generally imagine someone who looks less dead on the inside." Gods. Okay then. *[[Continue.|Ask them a question.]]

They let out a dramatic gasp, slapping their hand on their chest as if they’ve been personally affronted. “And you’re leavin' poor old Gramps to fend for himself?” You've never done this before, you don't know how to help him! But your companion doesn't wait for a response. "Well," they continue, heaving a deep, faux disappointed sigh, "I guess there's a reason you're here. Shoulda known you'd be the heartless type. Truly, there's no one else out there with as fine a character as I..." What the fuck are they talking about. *[[Continue.|Ask them a question.]]

Their eyes light up at the crisp slap of your hands. “Friend, I was thinking that exact same thing.” "I was being sarcastic." They shrug, grinning. "I know." Then they wink at you. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it? Anyway, it's your turn to ask!" *[[Continue.|Ask them a question.]]

They let their hand drop back to their side, looking completely unperturbed. “Friend, I was thinking that exact same thing.” "I was being sarcastic." They shrug, grinning. "I know." Then they wink at you. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it? Anyway, it's your turn to ask!" *[[Continue.|Ask them a question.]]

Their eyes light up at the crisp slap of your hands. "Oh, that was a good one." Then they wink at you. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it? Anyway, it's your turn to ask!" *[[Continue.|Ask them a question.]]

They let their hand drop back to their side, looking completely unperturbed. Then they wink at you. "That wasn't so bad, was it? Anyway, it's your turn to ask!" *[[Continue.|Ask them a question.]]

They throw their hands up to the sky and let out a long whoop. “Yeah, that’s right! That’s me!” You had a one in four chance of getting it right, and you got it. They seem very pleased. You should give yourself a pat on the back. *[[Continue.|yuzeqnaintermission]]

They tilt their head, stroking their chin thoughtfully. “Oh yeah. I can see that.” You don't know how you're supposed to interpret that. "What's that supposed to mean?" you ask, a little defensively. "You just seem like one of the types," they respond in a casual voice. "The type to like rocks and plants and dirt and shit. No offense, but I can see you bein' right at home surrounded by grass 'n chickens." They give you a nonchalant shrug as if they can't see anything wrong with what they're saying. "Bet you have your own garden 'n everythin'." You decide not to dignify that with a response. If they knew you came from a life of farming, who knows what they'd say. *[[Continue.|Ask them a question.]]

They let their hand drop back to their side, looking completely unperturbed. Then they wink at you. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it? Anyway, it's your turn to ask!" *[[Continue.|Ask them a question.]]

Your companion crosses their arms over their chest in an 'X', shaking their head mournfully. "Oh... so sorry. You got it wrong." <<cycle "$yuzeelementguess" autoselect>> <<option "Aw. Too bad.">> <<option "You literally could not care less that you got it wrong, but okay.">> <</cycle>> "S'alright, friend," they reassure you, giving you a quick pat on the shoulder. "I forgive you." *[[Continue.|yuzeqnaintermission]]

<<switch visited()>>\ <<case 1>>\ “So, stranger,” they drawl. “Where are you off to?” That’s funny. Even if you had a real destination in mind, you would not share it with Mx. Probably-A-Criminal here. You give them a half-hearted shrug. “Just passing through.” They tilt their head, corner of their mouth lifting in a lopsided grin. “S’that so? What a coincidence that that is also what I’m doing. We already have so much in common!” “... Right.” They ignore your monosyllabic response and just continue to babble. "Ever been to an opera before? Probably not, by the looks of ya. Me neither. But anyway, I'm thinkin' of goin' once we're back on land. Y'know... soakin' in the arts. Absorbin' the culture..." They give a crisp snap of their fingers and shoot you a smug grin. "I betcha you're thinking, //oh, rugged and well-dressed companion o' mine, how are you going to afford to get into such a prestigious activity?//" Amazing! They read your mind word for word! They place their hand on their heart. "Well, my good friend, to that I would answer: I'm rich, actually. So there's no need to worry. I'll get in just fine." This person's so full of shit you're actually bordering on impressed. *[[Continue.|Ask them a question.]] <<case 2>>\ <<set $yuzemcnameknown to true>>\ "Oh, hold on," starts your companion, "I forgot to ask. What's your name?" "$mcname." Your real name comes out naturally, and you try to suppress a cringe. A hush falls over the boat. For the first time since you met them at the docks, they are completely still. Your heart drums against your ribcage. "W... what?" Their eyes are wide, the pool of brown looking almost black against the light sky. "You... what? Like, //$mcname// $mcname?" Uh. Uh, what. Oh fuck. They don't—they haven't actually //heard// of you, have they? Did it spread that quickly? Gods, fuck, are you going to have to find a way off the boat? You must be miles from land, you'll have to— And then they start howling with laughter, shaking the boat with every wheeze. "I was just pullin' your leg, I've never hearda you in my life! That was a pretty great reaction, though. Gods, wish I could show you your expression, that was //beautiful.//" You clench your jaw to prevent yourself from saying something unsavory. "Haha," you grit out, skin still crawling. "We've got a real comedian over here." "Oh, thank you! No one else seems to appreciate it, but I think I've got some real talent." They tuck their hair behind their ear, still struggling to fully contain their giggles. "A-anyway. It's your turn to ask." *[[Continue.|Ask them a question.]] <<default>>\ "Hmm." They let their head loll back while they work on another question. If you're lucky, they'll fall off the boat and you'll never see them ever again. After a moment, they whip their head back up so fast it makes your own neck ache. "Any pets?" "No," you mutter. Regardless of whether you wanted pets or not, your Pa's allergic to both fur and feathers—and also apple skin. You know he always felt at least a little guilty about it, watching Sera play with the fishermen's dogs all the time, but there's nothing you can do. Your companion huffs and hangs their head back again. "That must be an awful life to live. I know because I don't either. Animals don't seem to like me very much." <<cycle "$animalslike" autoselect>> <<option "You can't relate. Animals love you. Your brother's always been awfully jealous.">> <<option "You can relate. Your brother's very smug about it, even though animals don't like him, either.">> <<option "You don't really like animals, so whether they like you or not doesn't matter so long as they stay a reasonable distance away.">> <<option "Have they ever considered that maybe no one likes them very much?">> <</cycle>> "This game's not as fun as I remember," they lament, hanging limply off the side of the boat like a ragdoll. You can hardly hear them. "I like answerin' questions better than I like askin' them. I can't think of anything." You raise a brow. "You're the one who said you wanted to get to know me better." "I mean—I //would//," they insist, popping up again. "But under better circumstances. Like... at a bar." They smile, a little wistfully. "After having a couple pints. It's not you, it's this stupid fuck." They slap the side of the boat a couple times. "Can't think straight with it wavin' me around like this." *[[Continue.|Ask them a question.]] <</switch>>