Presentbound

(set: $satisfaction to 25) Please enter your name (or leave blank for default). (input-box:2bind $name,"=XX=") [[Submit->Home/Present]]

(if: $name is 0)[(set:$name to "Jay") ^^Your name has been set to (text-colour:green)[Jay]^^] //BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.// Your alarm clock jolts you awake. Quickly, you push yourself out of bed. For days, weeks, and months you've been working on a ''time machine''. It's consumed so much of your time that other aspects of your life seem to have fallen so far behind, you feel it'd be pointless to try and catch up. You feel anxious over not keeping in touch with your close friends and loved ones, but reassure yourself by keeping in mind that once the time machine works, everything will be different. You can't seem to stop yourself from thinking about anything but the ''non-present''. You dislike your past. You feel your parents did you a disservice growing up, failing you when you needed them most. You feel you have no identity, that you are a formless jumble of experiences and memories and preferences with no firm grasp on any personality. You wish you could ''remake'' your past and fix the person that you've become. The future fills you with dread. You'd do anything to know when life finally gets ''better''. You wish you could just see into your future and know what lies ahead to stop your worries and concerns, to know where to fuel your passions. You completed the final test last night - the time machine is armed and ready. It will ''send'' your consciousness into your sleeping past/future self. You'll wake up as yourself while your alternate consciousness stays suspended. To ''return'', you just go back to sleep. Where do you start? [[Fix your past->PastNav]] [[See your future->FutureNav]]

Current Satisfaction Level: $satisfaction% As you make decisions, your satisfaction level will rise or fall. Reaching 100% satisfaction will ensure your present life is comfortable and happy. (if:(history: where its name contains "Past1A")'s length is 0)[[[November 17th, 2008, 2:08:10 AM:->Past1A]]] The day you became afraid. (if:(history: where its name contains "Past2A")'s length is 0)[[[July 3rd, 2017, 5:12:57 PM:->Past2A]]] The day you lost love.

Current satisfaction: $satisfaction% As you make decisions, your satisfaction level will rise or fall. Reaching 100% satisfaction will ensure your present life is comfortable and happy. (if:(history: where its name contains "Future1A")'s length is 0)[[[May 16th, 2034, 10:45:13 AM->Future1A]]] The day you go on a walk (if:(history: where its name contains "Future2A")'s length is 0)[[[January 18th, 2058, 11:54:39 PM->Future2A]]] The day you say goodbye

You're in a bed, soft and plush and warm. Sunlight shines through a window onto your bed, dancing over the blanket. You turn and nearly scream when you see another person laying beside you. "Uh...honey?" you say gently, nudging their arm. With a yawn, they roll over and blink sleepily at you. "Yes, dear?" //Who is this? What is their name?!// "I'm gonna make breakfast, do you want any?" you say, eager to slip away and find out what's going on. //Just act natural.// "Just some coffee," says the stranger. You leave the room to look for the kitchen. The house is grand - you imagine it must be several hundred square feet with its tall ceilings and wide walls. It takes you a couple minutes to track down the kitchen, where you find a little girl shoveling cereal into her mouth. "Good morning," she says. "Can I stay home from school today?" You're bewildered. //Is this my daughter?// "Um... sure?" She squeals in delight, jumping up and down. "Yes, yes! I'm gonna find so many bugs outside! Could we walk through the forest together? Pleeeeeease?!" You consider that it might be nice to walk around, figure out where exactly you live. "Yeah, we can." You toast a bagel and make some coffee for your spouse before slipping on some shoes and heading outside, the little girl right behind you. She bounces along the sidewalk as you stroll casually. You'd been so caught up in figuring out what was happening to appreciate it. The future seemed incredible! You have a family, a wonderful house, and delicious bagels to eat. //RINGRING! RINGRING!// You pull your phone out from your pocket - the contact reads Todd from Work. //Work? The little girl said it was a schoolday, so that means I should be at...// You answer the phone. "$name, I ought to fire you right now. Third time this month. Third time! Now, I don't like getting all riled up over little things..." He seemed to be pretty riled up. "But this is unexcusable! What have you to say?" (link:"\"I\'ll be right in, sir! Could you just remind me where we work at?\"")[(set: $satisfaction -= 10)(set: $lastChoice to 1)(set: $satisfactionChange to -10)(goto: "Future1B")] (link:"\"Todd, I\'m sorry, but I\'m having an emergency. I will be in tomorrow.\"")[(set: $satisfaction += 10)(set: $lastChoice to 2)(set: $satisfactionChange to 10)(goto: "Future1B")] (link:"*Just hang up the phone*")[(set: $satisfaction -= 20)(set: $lastChoice to 3)(set: $satisfactionChange to -20)(goto: "Future1B")] (link:"\"You won't fire me, I\'m indispensible. In fact, I didn\'t come in today because I didn\'t get the raise I wanted.\"")[(set: $satisfaction += 20)(set: $lastChoice to 4)(set: $satisfactionChange to 20)(goto: "Future1B")]

"Hey. Hey, wake up, it's time to go." //Ugh...// You peel your cheek off the wooden bar counter. Your vision is swimming, your stomach is turning, and your head is throbbing. Why are you an //alcoholic// in the future? The bartender looks at you uncaringly, as if he were bored. "Come on, get movin'. I got dinner waitin' for me at home." You force your legs to move, and step by step shuffle your way out the bar door. Your lungs fill with cold, refreshing air, waking you up, but you're quickly soaked with rain. Thunder booms overhead. You feel for your phone, hoping for a missed call, a text, something to tell you what was going on - but your phone isn't in your pocket. Only your wallet with your ID and a couple cards. Why wouldn't you have your phone? A car silently slides down the street, parking in front of the bar. You pay it no attention and keep walking until the window rolls down and someone shouts your name. "$name! What're you doing? Get over here," she says. The backseat door opens and you collapse inside. "Where are we? Who are you?" you ask, the world a haze. "Oh my //gosh//, shut up," the girl says. "Why didn't you answer my call?" "I don't have my phone," you say. "Phone. You don't have your... What are you talking about? Do you have memory loss or something? You're so old, I'm going crazy. Tap the little spot behind your ear." You reach behind your right ear and feel something, very small and cool to the touch, like metal. When you tap it, you suddenly see a huge interface floating in front of you, covered with icons and notifications. Three missed calls from someone named 'Butterfly', several texts from a variety of random people... "What is this...?" you mumble to yourself. (text-colour:yellow)[//Hello, $name, how are you doing today? You're looking at your optical comm. overlay. It seems you're heavily intoxicated.//] "There's a voice in my head!" you shout. The girl in the front sighs, shaking her head. She taps her own ear-interface-thing. (text-colour:yellow)[//It's just me, Robin, your personal A.I. assistant. Your NeuroChip has been updated to version 6.2.3.//] "You're speaking through...," you say, then stop. //You're speaking through my head?// you think. //Robin... Did I name you Robin?// (text-colour:yellow)[//Yes. It's a good name. Your daughter, Lila, has muted audio feedback. I believe she is quite fed up.//] //Lila...// (text-colour:yellow)[//Yes. I'm not detecting any anomalies in your brainstate, so I'm not sure why you can't remember these things.//] //Where are we driving?// (text-colour:yellow)[//Lila has set the destination for "Home."//] You watch the rain streak across the dark windows, thinking. This isn't the future you expected. //Am I happy here?// Robin hesitates. (text-colour:yellow)[//... Although most with your lifestyle do not consider themselves 'happy', you do not typically show signs of depression, anxiety, or general hopelessness. It appears you are content with your life. However, since the bartender awoke your sleep, your emotional state appears radically altered.//] //So my life sucks, but at least I'm happy.// (text-colour:yellow)[//I believe your life is great, but maybe not by your definition. You have Lila, who's life is brimming with potential, so either way you think about it, your impact has been made upon this world.//] You look at Lila in the front seat, bopping her head to some music, and feel proud. //Can I send her a message? Over this neuro...thing.// (text-colour:yellow)[//Sure. What would you like to say?//] (link:"Hi Lila. Sorry for drinking so much. Hope you don't hate me.")[(set: $satisfaction += 10)(set: $lastChoice to 1)(set: $satisfactionChange to 10)(goto: "Future2B")] (link:"You are my highest achievement, Lila. I know you\'ll do wonderful things in this life.")[(set: $satisfaction += 20)(set: $lastChoice to 2)(set: $satisfactionChange to 20)(goto: "Future2B")] (link:"Is this car driving itself?! That\'s insane!")[(set: $satisfaction -= 20)(set: $lastChoice to 3)(set: $satisfactionChange to -20)(goto: "Future2B")] (link:"When I get back to the present, Lila, I\'ll do everything different. I\'ll make things better, I swear.")[(set: $satisfaction -= 10)(set: $lastChoice to 4)(set: $satisfactionChange to 10)(goto: "Future2B")]

You open your eyes. The world is suddenly much larger. It's nighttime, and you're in the backseat of an SUV, the light from passing streetlights illuminating your parents sitting silent in the front seats. Your memory of this night feels fuzzy, far away. You really only recall a singular visual snapshot, of this moment in particular, you looking towards the windshield at a dark highway dotted with bright lights. You struggle to see how this night could have changed anything. Your parents pull into a gas station. Your father goes inside while your mom smokes a cigarette outside your window. You knock to get her attention, but she just glances at you, looking away with annoyance. As your father comes back out, he says something to your mother, causing her to retort back, sparking an argument between the two. They point in each others faces, yelling and screaming about something seemingly very important. An uncomfortable feeling begins to well up inside you, familiar in the present but unfamiliar to your past self. Your train of thought is the same as it was back then: even two people who ''loved'' each other very much could, in a moment's notice, seem to ''hate'' each other. Their arguments were getting more frequent, and had begun to turn on you. The look your mother gave you flashes through your mind. You try to pull yourself back together. You're here to change this moment, not relive its pain. But what could be changed? Your mom gets back into the car. She sits there, quiet, and you see a tear fall from her cheek. Looking up at her, you say: (link:"\"I\'m sorry you\'re in so much pain, Mom. I\'m going to fix this.\"")[(set: $satisfaction += 10)(set: $lastChoice to 1)(set: $satisfactionChange to 10)(goto: "Past1B")] (link:"\"Could I get some candy before we leave? I'll get you some, too.\"")[(set: $satisfaction += 20)(set: $lastChoice to 2)(set: $satisfactionChange to 20)(goto: "Past1B")] (link:"\"It makes me sad when you fight with Dad.\"")[(set: $satisfaction -= 10)(set: $lastChoice to 3)(set: $satisfactionChange to -10)(goto: "Past1B")] (link:"\"Mom, listen, I\'m from the future. You and Dad need to stop fighting. Okay?\"")[(set: $satisfaction -= 20)(set: $lastChoice to 4)(set: $satisfactionChange to -20)(goto: "Past1B")]

"$name! Are you okay?!" You open your eyes. Your vision is blurry, and someone is leaning over you, looking you in the face. "Did you get a concussion? You hit your head pretty hard... Oh, great, here he comes." They step away, leaving you on the ground. You sit up, feeling hot concrete beneath your hands. Your head is swimming, pounding, and your eyes struggle to focus. You know exactly where you are, but didn't expect to arrive at this moment. Your significant other, Robin, who you'd been seeing for about two years, is going to dump you in four hours. You finally have the chance to do things differently. "Come on, $name, I didn't push you that hard. Plus, I told you not to come, this is between me and Robin," says a tall, gruff teenager, his chest puffed out, shoulders square. His name is Ellis, and he's Robin's step-brother. "I can bring $name with me wherever I want! If you have something to say, you can say it in front of both of us," Robin retorts. "Fine." You know what Ellis is about to say, but it doesn't hurt any less. "Mom and Dad don't think you should be staying together. And...I don't either. Your grades suck, you don't care about your art anymore." "Why do you care what I care about? This isn't any of your business, Ellis! Coming over here pushing people around, telling us what to do...," Robin squats beside you again, rubbing your arm. "Can you stand?" While your head still hurts, the world had stopped spinning. You push yourself to your feet, Robin's arm around you. Looking up at Ellis, you say what you've been thinking of saying for the past five years: (link:"\"I\'ve been distracting Robin too much, you\'re right, but I\'m determined to turn that around. We\'re going to inspire each others\' growth.\"")[(set: $satisfaction += 20)(set: $lastChoice to 1)(set: $satisfactionChange to 20)(goto: "Past2B")] (link:"\"You\'re a loser, a bum, you\'re boring, and you\'re just rude.\" *Punch Ellis in the face*")[(set: $satisfaction -= 20)(set: $lastChoice to 2)(set: $satisfactionChange to -20)(goto: "Past2B")] (link:"\"Leave Robin alone. Everyone goes at their own pace in life. You need to focus on yourself.\"")[(set: $satisfaction += 10)(set: $lastChoice to 3)(set: $satisfactionChange to 10)(goto: "Past2B")] (link:"\"Ellis, I\'ve seen the future. I can help you. Just leave Robin alone.\"")[(set: $satisfaction -= 10)(set: $lastChoice to 4)(set: $satisfactionChange to -10)(goto: "Past2B")]

Your Satisfaction is now $satisfaction ((if:$satisfactionChange > 0)[+]$satisfactionChange) (if:$lastChoice is 1)[Your mother looks back at you with a painful smile. She looks away, closing her eyes, shaking her head. "Thank you, honey, but there's nothing you can do. We've already made the decision. We're getting a divorce, we're splitting up."](if:$lastChoice is 2)[Your mother looks back at you in surprise, as if she forgot you were sitting there. She smiles at you and says with a small laugh, "Sure, honey, go get us some chocolate." You take some cash and hurry inside. You see your Dad at the register, buying some beer and lottery tickets. He doesn't notice as you turn down the aisle to look for the chocolate. You grab a bar and get in line behind your Dad. He turns around to leave and finally notices you. "What... Put that down, come on." He yanks the chocolate from your hand and pulls you by your arm outside. "But Mom said I could have-" you say. "With my cash?" he interrupts, taking the three dollar bills from you. He stops you just outside the door, sighing and squatting to meet you at eye-level. His breath reeks of smoke and booze. "Listen, we don't have much money. Your damn..." his expression falls, but he gathers himself, "your mother and I are getting a divorce. We need to save every penny. Alright?" He stands and continues ushering you towards the car.](if:$lastChoice is 3)[Your mother wipes her cheek, turning toward you, "I'm sorry, honey, I'm sorry. One day you'll forgive us, I hope. We're going to get a divorce." Her eyes quickly well with tears again.](if:$lastChoice is 4)[Your mother whirls toward you, confusion crossing her face. Then, she shakes her head, letting out a small laugh. "Honey, I wish we could, but I'm sorry. Your father and I have grown too far apart." She glances at him through the window. "We're going to get a divorce. We already decided."] The significance of this night rushes back to your memory, like a name on the tip of your tongue. ''This'' is the night your parents decided to get a divorce - but you have the chance to keep your parents together. Surely, that would improve your miserable circumstances in the present - or at least make it partially better. You arrive a motel down the street. Your mom helps you out, and you stand on the empty gravel parking lot, bathed in a (text-colour:green)[green neon glow] from the motel sign. Your mom hands you your small backpack, grabbing the rest of their belongings herself. "Mom, why can't you figure out a way to stay together? If you guys loved each other once, you can do it again," you say, your voice sounding small and powerless. What could an eight-year-old reasonably say to stop a divorce? She stares into the neon light behind you, saying nothing, a look of defeat heavy on her face. You know that look. You understand her, you've felt that feeling tens, hundreds of times - not now, but in the present. //What is there to possibly say to give her hope? What would you say to yourself?// You think of nothing. You know some things ''can't be changed''. So what is there to do? Your dad leaves the motel lobby, keys swinging from his hand. You and your mother follow him to the room, dropping your bags and sitting on one bed together while your dad takes the other. He's asleep moments later, the A/C on high blast. Even if you had the energy, you doing anything would ''change nothing''. As you fall asleep yourself, you say to your mom: (link:"\"Whatever happens, Mom, I\'ll always be by your side.\"")[(set: $satisfaction += 10)(set: $lastChoice to 1)(set: $satisfactionChange to 10)(goto: "PresentNav")] (link:"\"I\'m scared, Mom. I don\'t think I can change the inevitable.\"")[(set: $satisfaction += 20)(set: $lastChoice to 2)(set: $satisfactionChange to 20)(goto: "PresentNav")] (link:"\"Please promise me you\'ll give Dad another chance. He can change.\"")[(set: $satisfaction -= 20)(set: $lastChoice to 3)(set: $satisfactionChange to -20)(goto: "PresentNav")]

(set: $typewriterText to "...irrelevant.")(if:visits < 4)[Your Satisfaction is now $satisfaction ((if:$satisfactionChange > 0)[+]$satisfactionChange)] (if:visits < 4 and $satisfaction <= 25)[You wake up in the Present, and feel...the same. So far, your decisions have only kept your satisfaction with life relatively low. You're surprised - you thought with even a single trip into the past or future you could radically improve your life. In reality, nothing has changed. Although discouraged, you have high hopes for next time. You turn your attention to the time machine:](if:visits < 4 and $satisfaction <= 50 and $satisfaction > 25)[You wake up in the Present, and feel slightly better! Even though nothing has really changed, your decisions have made your outlook on life a little better. This small success fuels your determination. You grab a quick bite to eat before turning your attention back to the time machine:](if:visits < 4 and $satisfaction <= 75 and $satisfaction > 50)[You wake up in the Present, feeling much better! Your decisions have made life seem much more tolerable. Although nothing has actually changed, you feel your mindset moving on a better path. You give yourself a pat on the back, but you also tell yourself you can still do better. You turn your attention back to the time machine:](if:visits < 4 and $satisfaction <= 500 and $satisfaction > 75)[You wake up and feel fantastic! Nothing has changed in the Present, but it doesn't matter: your outlook on the world has seen a revolution. With such extreme satisfaction in your life, you decide to keep going - after all, you've only made things better thus far. You turn your attention back to the time machine:] (if:visits is 4)[Your Satisfaction is now... (live:3s)[(text-color:yellow)[(display: "Typewriter")](stop:)]](if:visits < 4 and (history:where its name contains "PastNav")'s length < 2)[[[Fix your past->PastNav]]] (if:visits < 4 and (history:where its name contains "FutureNav")'s length < 2)[[[See your future->FutureNav]]] (live:8s)[(if:visits is 4)[[[Continue->GameEnd]]]]

Your Satisfaction is now $satisfaction ((if:$satisfactionChange > 0)[+]$satisfactionChange) (if:$lastChoice is 1)["$name is right," says Robin. "We're going to grow together. So leave, and tell Mom and Dad I'm not going anywhere." Ellis shakes his head. "Those are lies and I know it. You two idiots are both so young, you have no idea how doomed you are." He gets back into his truck and slams the door. Then, he says out the window, "Just think about it, Robin." Robin flips him off as he speeds away. Robin helps you back into the apartment. You collapse on the couch, your body aching, while Robin heads into the kitchen. "I'll get you a drink." You sink into the warm couch. So far, things were going well. Last time, Robin had ended up leaving with Ellis only to return hours later to collect her things. You had stumbled back inside by yourself, then fell asleep on the floor. Robin returns, handing you a glass of tea and some medicine, sitting beside you, and putting on a TV show. You sip the warm tea and begin to doze off...](if:$lastChoice is 2)["$name! What are you doing?!" Robin yells, pushing you away. Ellis falls to one knee, hands on his face, groaning in pain. "Agh, you little piece of-" Ellis stumbles to his feet, pulling back his arm to hit you, but Robin blocks his path. //"Stop!"// Robin shouts. "Just stop. $name, go back inside. I'm going to go with Ellis and talk to my parents. I'll be back, okay?" You reluctantly nod, your knuckles burning from the hard punch. At least you did what you should've done all those years ago. You watch Robin get into the passenger seat of Ellis's truck. "Who's the loser now?" Ellis says with a smirk, hopping in the driver's seat. Your stomach sinks as you watch Robin disappear down the street. You stumble back to your room. Everything hurts. You fall on the couch but miss, landing on the carpet instead. You slowly drift off to sleep...](if:$lastChoice is 3)["Yeah, well, she'd be at a better pace without you dragging her down," Ellis says with disdain. "$name is right, Ellis. Look at yourself. What've you done outside of the chores Mom and Dad force you to do?" Robin says. "I, uh...I've been playing the guitar. I'm good at it, too," Ellis says, clearly defensive. You hold back a laugh. "This isn't about me, it's about you. You're too young, Robin, just move back in with us!" Robin turns to you, holding both of your hands. "I trust you, $name. I'm not going to listen to him." Robin hugs you tightly while Ellis groans in defeat, getting back into his truck. "You'll see, Robin," he says, speeding away. Ignoring him, Robin helps you back into the apartment, where you shamble into the kitchen and collapse onto your bed. Robin brings you a glass of water, staying beside the bed to rub your arm. You want to say something, to reiterate that Ellis is wrong, but your head is throbbing. You close your eyes for just a moment, and fall fast asleep...](if:$lastChoice is 4)["What?" Robin asks, looking at you with utter confusion. "See? Completely crazy, Robin, I told you," Ellis says. Robin steps between you and Ellis, looking at you seriously. "What'd you mean by that? You've seen the future? What?" "It won't make sense to you - it barely makes sense to me - just know that I'm not lying, I know what's gonna happen. Actually, I'm here to fix what's gonna happen," you say. "Fix what?" Robin looks concerned. "I said something stupid, Robin, the first time I went through this years ago, and you left me that day. I'm here to take back what I said and put us on the right track," you say. Robin slowly steps away from you, saying nothing. She whispers something in Ellis's ear, then gets in his truck. "You're weird," Ellis says, getting in the truck too. They drive off and disappear down the street. You stare in disbelief... You turn around and go back inside, collapsing on the couch, your head aching. You decide to take a nap.] ============================================================== "$name? Hey, $name, wake up." You snap awake. Surprisingly, you're not back in the present. //Why didn't the time machine pull me back...?// Robin is sitting next to you with a somber expression. "I'm sorry to do this to you, but I have to go. I can't live here anymore. We can't be together." "Why?" you ask. Your heart skips a beat. "C'mon. You know why." You don't really know why. Robin stands, crossing over to the door where a pile of packed bags lay. "It was great while it lasted. I'll look back on everything, our relationship, you, with appreciation." "How?" you ask, more for your future/present self. "Because I learned that life isn't fair. Even though we love each other, we can't be together. But you know what?" "What?" "One day, we'll find someone we can be with, and things won't seem so dark. They're only dark now, really, because we've seen the light." Robin leaves, shutting the door softly. You're not really sure why this happened, how to feel, or what to do. Was there any point to this? What's the point of doing something different if everything always turns out the same? Emotional and distraught, you send Robin one last text before falling asleep, confident you'll wake up in the present this time: (link:"Even though it\'s over, I\'m glad to have shared a small part of my life with you. Goodbye.")[(set: $satisfaction += 20)(set: $lastChoice to 1)(set: $satisfactionChange to 20)(goto: "PresentNav")] (link:"This SUCKS! Life SUCKS! WHEN WILL THE PAIN END???")[(set: $satisfaction -= 20)(set: $lastChoice to 2)(set: $satisfactionChange to -20)(goto: "PresentNav")] (link:"I should have done more. I\'m sorry I wasn\'t enough, but it is what it is. P.S. Tell Ellis he sucks at guitar")[(set: $satisfaction += 10)(set: $lastChoice to 3)(set: $satisfactionChange to 10)(goto: "PresentNav")]

Your Satisfaction is now $satisfaction ((if:$satisfactionChange > 0)[+]$satisfactionChange) (if:$lastChoice is 1)["Where we work at? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?! Don't show up tomorrow, you're fired!" Todd hangs up the phone. (set: $hasJob to false)](if:$lastChoice is 2)["Emergency? You should've called in advance. This is your last warning, $name, last warning! Show up tomorrow or not at all." Todd hangs up the phone. You sigh in relief: you managed to keep your job.(set: $hasJob to true)](if:$lastChoice is 3)[(set: $hasJob to false)](if:$lastChoice is 4)["Oh, you think you're funny, do you? Well, you're right, we do need you... but no raise! It might take a year of clawing and digging, but I could find you a replacement if I really need to! Show up tomorrow or not at all!" Todd hangs up the phone.(set: $hasJob to true)] You put your phone down to see the little girl staring up at you. "Why didn't you go to work today?" "Why didn't you go to school today?" you say back. She shrugs, and you keep walking together. You see a walking trail winding into the treeline and head towards it. "Oh my gosh! Look at this bug!" the little girl says, holding up a centipede to your face. You watch as its tiny legs wiggle around in protest. "I like bugs," the girl says. "If I could be anything, I'd be a butterfly." "Why a butterfly?" you ask. "They're pretty. Remember that time when I accidentally stepped on one?! That makes me sad," she says. "When I see another one, I'll be very nice." You arrive at a rickety wooden bridge crossing a fast-flowing creek. The little girl peers down below at the water, pointing at different insects flying around. Although you don't know her, you feel an oddly intense, protective love for her. This wasn't what you expected from the future. You head back home, your daughter carefully holding an assortment of bugs. Your spouse, wearing a formal outfit and a nametag reading 'River', kisses you on the cheek as you walk inside. "Look! I got a worm, a beetle, a-" "Lila, what are you doing with all those?" River turns to you with a confused smile. "You let her get all these?" "She really wanted them," you say. "You look great in that outfit." "Whatever, I wear it everyday," River says, smirking. "What about you, are you going in late? The office didn't need you today?" (if:$hasJob is true)["Actually, I got fired," you say. River's expression falls. You feel guilt wash over you. "How did you get //fired//? $name, we have a daughter," River says, tone dead serious. "We need money, and I can't carry us both. What did you do?" "It doesn't matter. I have a question for you. Have I ever told you about the time machine I made?" you ask. River is almost quaking with anger. "Shut. Up. I'm leaving. Get your life together or I'll leave for good." The door slams in your face.](if:$hasJob is false)["I used a personal day. I'll go in tomorrow," you say. River nods. "I could use a personal day, or a new job. I just want some change, y'know?" River says. The word //change// sticks in your head. "I'll see you later. Bye, Lila!"] You quickly return to your bedroom. You love this future you've given yourself, and are terrified of seeing it disappear. Every second you spend meddling around with your future life, the more you may mess it up. //I can't be here any longer.// Lila appears in the bedroom doorway, looking up at you nervously. "Are you taking a nap already? You just woke up..." "Yeah, sorry, Lila, I'm not feeling very well," you lie. "Could I nap with you?" she asks. How long will it be until you see her again? (link:"\"Sure, butterfly.\"")[(set: $satisfaction += 20)(set: $lastChoice to 1)(set: $satisfactionChange to 20)(goto: "PresentNav")] (link:"\"I\'m really sick. Go play in the living room, okay?\"")[(set: $satisfaction -= 20)(set: $lastChoice to 2)(set: $satisfactionChange to -20)(goto: "PresentNav")] (link:"\"I\'m from the past, and I\'m leaving. It\'ll be awhile until I see you again. It was nice to meet you. Goodbye, Lila.\"")[(set: $satisfaction -= 10)(set: $lastChoice to 3)(set: $satisfactionChange to -10)(goto: "PresentNav")]

Your Satisfaction is now $satisfaction ((if:$satisfactionChange > 0)[+]$satisfactionChange) (if:$lastChoice is 1)[Almost instaneously, you receive a message in response: (text-colour:magenta)[//It's okay. You're a good parent, just a bad person.//] You feel both pleased and insulted.] (if:$lastChoice is 2)[Almost instaneously, you receive a message in response: (text-colour:magenta)[//Wow. Thanks, I appreciate that.//] Lila's smile warms your heart.](if:$lastChoice is 3)[Almost instaneously, you receive a message in response: (text-colour:magenta)[//I'm glad you're not talking outloud, so I don't have to smell your terrible breath.//] You seriously wonder why you decided drinking in the future.](if:$lastChoice is 4)[Almost instaneously, you receive a message in response: (text-colour:magenta)[//You got me a present, but you want to make it better? What?//] You wish you were sober - it'd be so much easier to explain.] (text-colour:yellow)[//We've arrived at the destination. And $name, if I may ask... how exactly does your 'time machine' work?//] You pause. A chill runs down your spine. //What time machine? Do I have a time machine?// (text-colour:yellow)[//Not now. But you do in the year 2023, and you've suppressed the consciousness of the present $name in order to be here. What is your intent?//] Lila gets out of the car, opening the backdoor for you. You smile nervously at her. "Just one sec, Lila, I'll be right behind you." She gives you an odd look and turns away, going inside. //I don't have any intent. I'm just here to see what it's like. I hate not knowing what's going to happen.// (text-colour:yellow)[//I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I'll be sending you back to sleep in 3...2...//] //No! Wait! Let me talk to Lila, please, just one more time.// (text-colour:yellow)[//You have twenty seconds.//] You push yourself from the car and hurry into the house. Following the sound of music, you find Lila's bedroom and knock on the door. Ten seconds. "What now?" she says through the door. "Just open the door, please!" "Hmm..." Five seconds. (link:"\"Do better than I did. Enjoy life, relish the present, every second of it, Lila.\"")[(set: $satisfaction += 20)(set: $lastChoice to 1)(set: $satisfactionChange to 20)(goto: "PresentNav")] (link:"\"Fine, don\'t open it. In thirty years I\'ll make you regret it!\"")[(set: $satisfaction -= 20)(set: $lastChoice to 2)(set: $satisfactionChange to -20)(goto: "PresentNav")] (link:"\"Goodbye, Lila. I\'ll see you soon.\"")[(set: $satisfaction += 10)(set: $lastChoice to 3)(set: $satisfactionChange to +10)(goto: "PresentNav")]

(set: $typewriterText to "It's Robin. I hacked into your time machine and followed you here from 2053 - sorry about that. I can't let you go back or forward in time any more. Is it okay if I blow your time machine up?")(text-color: yellow)[(display: "Typewriter")] (live:5s)[(text-color: red)[ //~~NO! That is my life's work!~~ ~~Please don't, I haven't fixed my present life yet!~~ ~~SERIOUSLY, DON'T! DON'T DO IT!!!~~//] [[//Sure! I didn't want it anyways.//->GameEnd2]](stop:)]

{  (set: $typewriterPos to 1)  |typewriterOutput>[]  (live: 20ms)[  (append: ?typewriterOutput)[(print: $typewriterText's $typewriterPos)]  (set: $typewriterPos to it + 1)  (if: $typewriterPos is $typewriterText's length + 1)[ (stop:) ] ] }

(set: $typewriterText to "Your satisfaction isn't dependent upon your past or your future. Human beings can adapt to any situation, good or bad. Everyone has problems in life, there's no 'right time' to start truly living. Your satisfaction is irrelevant to the quality of your life because it is subjective. You decide whether you are satisfied with the life you have been given. Here, you can do it right now:") (text-color: yellow)[(display: "Typewriter")] (live:11s)[(text-color:green)[(link:"Stop and smell the roses")[(set:$lastChoice to 1)(goto:"GameEnd3")]] (text-color:red)[(link:"Continue living in misery")[(set:$lastChoice to 2)(goto:"GameEnd3")]](stop:)]

(if:$lastChoice is 1)[(set:$typewriterText to "It's best to accept the inevitable rather than change it. In a way, your time machine really did work. But I still have to blow it up. Again, sorry.")(set:$satisfactionChange to 500 - $satisfaction)(set:$satisfaction to 500)](if:$lastChoice is 2)[(set:$typewriterText to "You really want that? Okay, it's your life. Just know you can always undo that decision and start living in the present.")(set:$satisfactionChange to -500 + $satisfaction)(set:$satisfaction to -500)] Your Satisfaction is now $satisfaction ((if:$satisfactionChange > 0)[+]$satisfactionChange) (live:2s)[(text-color:yellow)[(display: "Typewriter")](stop:)] (live:7s)[//BOOM!!!// Your time machine promptly explodes. Robin is gone.] (live:10s)[//Thanks for playing! -Landon//(stop:)]