High Above The Clouds

HIGH ABOVE THE CLOUDS a twine game by morgan kane (set: $hours to 1)(set: $mins to 06)(set: $ampm to "pm")(set: $tidy to 0)(set: $apocalypse to "It")(set: $sound to "none")(set: $clothes to "yesterday's clothes")(set: $bread to "cb")(set:$noodles to "cb")(set:$chocolate to "cb")(set: $milk to "fr")(set: $cheese to "fr")(set: $strawberries to "fr")(set:$songsplayed to 0)(set:$eaten to "false")(set:$eggs to "fr") (link-reveal: "Undone.")[ Everything's come (link-reveal: "undone.")[ When (link:"It")[(set: $apocalypse to "the End")(link:$apocalypse)[(set: $apocalypse to "the Apocalypse")(link:$apocalypse)[(set: $apocalypse to "Judgement Day")(link:$apocalypse)[(set: $apocalypse to "the Calamity")(link:$apocalypse)[(set: $apocalypse to "the Reckoning")(link:$apocalypse)[(set: $apocalypse to "the Great Undoing")(link:$apocalypse)[(set: $apocalypse to "the Fracture")(link:$apocalypse)[(set: $apocalypse to "the End Of Days")(link:$apocalypse)[(set: $apocalypse to "the End Of All Things")(link:$apocalypse)[(set: $apocalypse to "the End")(link:$apocalypse)[It(set: $apocalypse to "It")]]]]]]]]]]] happened, It ripped everything apart, tore the ground out from under your feet and scattered it out amongst the (link-reveal: "stars.")[ The cities crumpled and burned, everything you knew obliterated in an instant. You are alone. [[Start.]] ]]]

The time is $mins past $hours, $ampm. You wake up the way one falls down a well. Unfathomably slowly, ever since $apocalypse happened. Also, bruised, scraped, and cold. Thankfully, not wet, though the rain has been seeping through your window during the night. (link-reveal: "\"Maybe it'll water that tiny cactus on the sill.\"")[ Maybe. God knows you won't. Either way, you should probably get out of bed. [[Get up.->Bedroom]] [["Five more minutes couldn't hurt."->Sleep]] ]

(set:$mins = $mins + 1)(if: $mins > 60)[(set: $mins to $mins - 60)(set: $hours to $hours + 1)](if: $hours > 11)[(set:$hours to $hours - 12)(set:$ampm to "am")](if: $mins < 10)[The time is $hours:0$mins $ampm.](else:)[The time is $hours:$mins $ampm.](if: $hours > 4)[(if: $hungry is "true")[]](if: $hours is 8)[(if: $sound is "null")[You hear a noise from downstairs.(set:$sound="heard")]] (if: $songsplayed > 4)[(if:$songsplayed > 9)[Your fingertips are bleeding.](else:)[Your fingertips are ragged.]](if: $hours > 7)[(if:$eaten is "false")[ You're hungry.]] What do you want to do? [[Waste time.]] (link:"Tidy up.")[(set:$tidy = $tidy+1)(go-to:"Tidy")] [[Go to the kitchen->Kitchen]] (if:$blinds is not "done")[Open the blinds.(click-replace: "Open the blinds.")[(set:$blinds to "done")Best not to. It's always so bright outside.]](else:)[Open the blinds.(click-replace: "Open the blinds.")[I'm not ready yet.]] [[Change into something else.->Wardrobe]] (if:$ampm is "am")[[[Go to sleep.->Bed]]](else:)[Go to sleep.(click-replace: "Go to sleep.")[I'm not tired.]] (if:$ampm is "pm")[[[Leave.]]](else:)[Leave.(click-replace: "Leave.")[It's too late. It's not safe.]] (if:$hours > 7)[(if:$ampm is "am")[(go-to:"End3")]]

What will you play? (link-reveal: "Something hopeful.")[(set: $songsplayed to $songsplayed + 1)(set:$song to "hopeful")(set:$mins to $mins + 20)(go-to:"Music")] (link-reveal: "Something romantic.")[(set: $songsplayed to $songsplayed + 1)(set:$song to "romantic")(set:$mins to $mins + 20)(go-to:"Music")] (link-reveal: "Something mournful.")[(set: $songsplayed to $songsplayed + 1)(set:$song to "mournful")(set:$mins to $mins + 20)(go-to:"Music")] [[Never mind.->Bedroom]]

(if: $tidy is 1)[Empty bottles, packets, unwashed plates, all litter the room. But who's going to care? Not you. [[Best leave it for now.->Bedroom]]](if: $tidy is 2)[You look at the disarray your room is in. You think about maybe doing something to tidy up. Instead, you end up getting distracted and end up doing something else to take your mind off of it.(set: $tidy to 2)(set: $mins to $mins + 27) [[Good call.->Bedroom]]](if: $tidy > 2)[It's a mess. [[Deal with it tomorrow.->Bedroom]]]

(set:$mins = $mins + 1)(if: $mins > 60)[(set: $mins to $mins - 60)(set: $hours to $hours + 1)](if: $hours > 12)[(set:$hours to $hours - 12)(set:$ampm to "am")](if: $mins < 10)[The time is $hours:0$mins $ampm.](else:)[The time is $hours:$mins $ampm.](if:$sound is "heard")[If something was making a noise, it's gone now(set:$sound = "investigated")] What do you want to do? [[Check the fridge.->Fridge]] Check the freezer.(click-replace: "Check the freezer.")[Nothing here belongs to you. It wouldn't be right to take it.] [[Check your cupboard.->Cupboard]] Wash the dishes.(click-replace: "Wash the dishes.")[Not your dishes, not your problem.] [[Go back to your room.->Bedroom]]

Are you sure you want to go outside? [[Yes.->Preend 1]] [[Maybe not.->Bedroom]]

Five minutes turn into ten, then twenty, then thirty. You don't care. (set:$mins to $mins + 30) [[Get up when you're good and ready.->Bedroom]]

Going outside might destroy you. You know what's out there, right? $apocalypse. [[I don't care.->Preend 2]] [[I don't want that.->Bedroom]]

(align:"=><=")[(css: "font-size: 250%; color: black;")[(transition:"dissolve")[High Above The Clouds]]] (align:"=><=")[(css: "font-size: 75%; color: black;")[(transition:"dissolve")[was written and programmed by Morgan Kane]]]

You probably won't ever come back. You've seen what's out there. [[I might come back.->Preend 3]] [[I don't want to see it again.->Bedroom]]

I don't want you to leave me here. [[I do.->Preend 4]] [[I need you.->Bedroom]]

I'm scared to not exist. Aren't you? [[Yes, but I'm coping.->Preend 5]] [[I'm scared.->Bedroom]]

(text-style: "subscript")[Please.] [[You can't stop me. I'm going outside.->End]] [[I still need you.->Bedroom]]

Time enjoyed wasting is not time wasted. Or so you've been told. Read a book.(click-replace: "Read a book.")[Why not let me tell you a story instead?] [[Play the guitar.->Guitar]] Write something.(click-replace:"Write something.")[Who's going to read it? [[Try and write anyway.]]] [[Play with me.]] [[I can't right now.->Bedroom]]

For how long? [[A little while.->Play]] [[A medium while.->Play]] [[A long while.->Play]] [[I shouldn't.->Bedroom]]

(set:$rand to (random:1, 5))(if:$rand < 5)[You try to write something interesting, but inspiration won't come. Any ideas you do have have just been done already, and better. Eventually, you just give up, and do something else. (set: $mins to $mins + (30 + (random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10))) [[It was worth a shot.->Bedroom]]](if:$rand is 5)[You write some faux-deep meta shit that doesn't really mean anything, but it sounds introspective and meaningful. You feel like a total sellout, and the concept of art, now fully obsolete, passes away under your watch. (set: $hours to $hours + 1)(set: $mins to $mins + ((random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10))) [[Save it for a game jam next time.->Bedroom]]]

You could do with some sleep. To sleep, perchance, to dream. That's Hamlet. It's a little fitting, you think, that the Immortal Bard proved to be just that. To think he could survive this, when so little else did, is almost poetic. Shakespearian, even. Or maybe it's just sad. [[Try to get some sleep.]] [["I can't waste my time on sleep."->Bedroom]]

(if:$eaten is "false")[You're too hungry to sleep. [[Get something to eat.->Kitchen]]](else:)[[[There goes another day...->EndB]]]

(if: $mins > 60)[(set: $mins to $mins - 60)(set: $hours to $hours + 1)](if: $hours > 12)[(set:$hours to $hours - 12)(set:$ampm to "am")](if: $mins < 10)[The time is $hours:0$mins $ampm.](else:)[The time is $hours:$mins $ampm.] You are wearing $clothes. (link:"Wear the first things you can find.")[(set:$time = $time + 5)(set:$clothes to "casual clothes")(go-to:"Mirror")] Wear something a little nicer.(click-replace: "Wear something a little nicer.")[All your best 'public' clothes are dirty right now. (link-reveal: "Wash some. ")[In what, the sink?]] (link:"Wear something you couldn't normally.")[(set:$time = $time + 23)(set:$clothes to "███████")(go-to:"Mirror")] (link:"Wear nothing at all.")[(set:$time = $time + 3)(set:$clothes to "nothing")(go-to:"Mirror")] [[Never mind.->Bedroom]]

(if:$clothes is "nothing")[This is your body, whole and pure. Same as it's always been. You hate it. Fix it.(click-replace: "Fix it.")[(set:$time = $time + 5)You fixate on every flaw, delicately carving and excising everything you hate from this husk. You want to be better. You want beauty. You want perfection. You want to stop looking at yourself before you're sick. You want to throw yourself out the window and take your chances with $apocalypse.] [[Turn away.->Bedroom]]](if:$clothes is "casual clothes")[This isn't you. Not really. You're dead, or maybe the person whose skin and clothes you're wearing is dead. You know exactly where you end and the detestable intruder in the mirror begins. You want to cut him out out out out out out out out out [[Stop looking.->Bedroom]]](if:$clothes is "███████")[You are perfect. You are whole. You are light, and light, and light, and light. Keep looking.(click-replace: "Keep looking.")[(set:$time = $time + 5)You are not enough. Keep looking.(click-replace: "Keep looking.")[(set:$time = $time + 5)You are a stranger in your own clothes. You are a stranger in your own home. You thought everything would be okay. You were wrong. This is wrong.(click-replace: "This is wrong.")[(set:$time = $time + 5)This isn't right. This isn't right this isn't right this isn't right this isn't right]]] [[Stop looking.->Bedroom]]]

It's late. Early? Whatever. Time isn't even a real thing anyway. You crawl onto your bare mattress and pass out before your head even hits the pillow. Another day done. Who knows how many more to go? [[That's tomorrow-you's problem.->EndB]]

(align:"=><=")[(css: "font-size: 250%;")[(transition:"dissolve")[High Above The Clouds]]] (align:"=><=")[(css: "font-size: 75%;")[(transition:"dissolve")[was written and programmed by Morgan Kane]]]

(set: $rand to (random:1, 3))(if:$rand is 1)[(set: $hours to $hours + (random: 1, 6))(set: $mins to $mins + ((random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10)))You don't get to choose. I get to choose. [[Okay.->Bedroom]]](if:$rand is 2)[(set: $hours to $hours + (random: 1, 6))(set: $mins to $mins + ((random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10)))I say when we're done. Not you. [[Okay.->Bedroom]]](if:$rand is 3)[(set: $hours to $hours + (random: 1, 6))(set: $mins to $mins + ((random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10) + (random: 1, 10)))As if you get a say in this. [[Okay.->Bedroom]]]

(if:$song is "hopeful")[You play a hopeful song. You can't hear it, because I didn't have time to record the audio I wanted to for the Jam, but it'd be really nice and upbeat and about how everything's going to work out alright in the end.](if:$song is "romantic")[You play a romantic song. You can't hear it, because I didn't have time to record the audio I wanted to for the Jam, but it'd be slow and pretty and have some pretty appropriate lyrics for the situation, in an ironic sort of way.](if:$song is "mournful")[You play a mournful song. You can't hear it, because I didn't have time to record the audio I wanted to for the Jam, but it'd be melancholy and bittersweet, and you'd love it.] [[Stop.->Bedroom]]

(set:$mins to $mins + 3)You pick through the fridge. You have: (if:$milk is "fr")[Half a bottle of milk.(click-replace: "Half a bottle of milk.")[You're not really in the mood for milk right now.]] (if:$cheese is "fr")[An unopened block of cheese.(click-replace: "An unopened block of cheese.")[You're saving it for a special occasion.]] (if:$strawberries is "fr")[Most of a punnet of strawberries.(click-replace: "Most of a punnet of strawberries.")[(set:$strawberries to "bin")You don't really like the look of those.]] (if:$eggs is "fr")[A questionable carton of eggs.(click-replace: "A questionable carton of eggs.")[(set:$eggs to "bin")Nope.]] [["I'm good."->Kitchen]]

(set:$mins to $mins + 2)In the cupboard you find: (if:$bread is "cb")[A loaf of bread.(click-replace: "A loaf of bread.")[ The bread is stale and covered in white and green patches. You don't know when you last looked in here. Do you [[eat it]] or [[throw it away]]?]](if:$bread is "gross")[A disgusting loaf of bread.(click-replace: "A disgusting loaf of bread.")[ [[Throw it away?->throw it away]]]] (if:$noodles is "cb")[(link-reveal:"A packet of cheap egg noodles.")[ [[Boil them.]]]] (if:$chocolate is "cb")[A tub of instant hot chocolate powder.(click-replace: "A tub of instant hot chocolate powder.")[ What are you supposed to do with this?]] [["I'm fine for now."->Kitchen]]

(set:$bread to "gross")You want to eat the mouldy bread? (link-reveal: "\"Yes.\"")[ Can I ask you a serious question? (link-reveal: "\"Go on.\"")[ Legitimately, what the hell is wrong with you? That's revolting. (link-reveal: "\"Is it really that bad?\"")[ It's worse than "that bad". I don't think you appreciate how utterly rancid this bread is. (link-reveal: "\"Describe it to me.\"")[ No. My stomach is churning just thinking about it. "[["Go on. I dare you."]]]]]] [["On second thought..."->Cupboard]]

(set:$mins to $mins + 2)You take the disgusting loaf of bread (thankfully still in its bag) and throw it into the bin. Or, rather, on top of the overflowing heap the bin has become.(set:$bread to "bin") [[Good riddance.->Cupboard]]

(set:$mins to $mins + 12)(set:$noodles to "eaten")You put the noodles into a pot of boiling water and wait. In the meantime, you browse your selection of seasonings. This isn't going to be pleasant. (link:"Add some hot chocolate powder.")[(set:$chocolate to "eaten")(go-to:"Eating")] (link:"Eat them plain.")[(go-to:"Eating")]

(if:$chocolate is "eaten")[(set:$mins to $mins + 5)You eat the noodles. The chocolate powder adds almost no flavour, somehow. It's a miserable slog of an experience, and you don't even finish eating them.](else:)[(set:$mins to $mins + 10)You eat the noodles. They taste like eating compacted sand, but somehow even more tasteless. It's a miserable slog of an experience, and you've never been more glad to see the bottom of a bowl.] (set:$eaten to "true") [[Ugh.->Kitchen]]

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This is supposed to be a serious, emotionally affecting experience, and you're desperately trying to be the foulest human being on the floating remnants of the planet Earth by cramming a slab of approximately 20% wheat flour and 80% potentially deadly fungus directly into your digestive system. (link-reveal: "\"You're spot on.\"")[ You disgust me. No, you cannot eat this festering biochemical weapon. Get out of my, by which I mean your, kitchen. [[You're no fun.->Kitchen]]]