(if:visits is 1) [ This is it. The big date. You've been waiting slowly for months. Every joke, ride home, FaceTime chat, mutal invite to an event, funny video, and GIF, has lead to this, and now, you'll be seeing the movies together. You were brave to ask her out. Good job!]
[Wait, this IS a date right?]
["HONK HONK!"]
[ Oop! is she here already? Maybe she's early! No time to worry about the specifics of your proposal!]
[[ Go downstairs]] or [[ Get one last spray of cologne]]
[You lightly jog downstairs, throw on your chucks and head out the door to see... no one? her red Mazda isn't outside. Just a woman rushing to get in her impaitient boyfriend's Black Mercedes. just then, you get a call from her.
//"Hey, I'm on my way"//
A few minutes later, she arrives! sunglasses, on and ready for...your...date?
It's a date, right?
"Get in loser! we're going shopping!"]
[[The Parking Lot]][You rush from your bedroom to your bathroom to grab the spray, (//'Ocean Tide//', nice!) then quickly rush down the stairs.]
(after:4s) [Oops! you slipped down the stairs on the very last step!]
(after:8s) [You tweaked your ankle a lil bit. ]
[[Grab an ice pack]] or [[Continue to leave]][You frustratingly hobble back upstairs and into the kitchen, grab an ice pack from the fridge, and proceed take a seat on the nearby chaise. CRAP! This night sucks! //I should text her.//]
(after:5s)[//Siiigh.// you wiggle out your phone to tell her the bad news.]
[''Heyyy, so funny thing happened....'']
You continue to type out he rest of the details, and immediently after pressing send, she responds.
[''OOOOMG! i'm so sorry that happened to you! are you okay? can you walk?'']
[Well, can you?]
[[ ''A lil' bit'']] or [['' Unfortunately not'']][You hobble outside, and look around for her red Mazda. It's nowhere to be found. We see a black Mercedes SUV down the street with the engine running.]
[//HONK HONK! //]
[A girl runs out of her house with a //oopsies// look on her face. We hear a voice from inside the vehicle. "Come babe! I've been waiting forEVER." They drive off.]
[She's not even here yet. you've injured yourself for nothing! You text her to see where she's at, and sure enough, she's still getting ready... //Sigh...//
You tell her what happened, and she responds: [''Wait there! I'll be right over!'']]
[Woooah whuuuut!? She's making a move! or is she? Let's see what the Ol' Brain has to say.
[[''We can just FaceTime'']] This night feels like a bust, you've been romaticizing walking in the theatre, maybe putting your arm around her as you buy all the tickets and popcorn. You wanted to show her a good time. You wanted to show her that you could be THE MAN, and it had to be now! Oh well, your room is messy from all the rejected fashion choices on what to wear tonight anyway.
[[''Come over'']] Woah there tiger! That's quite the suggestion knowing that you're home alone this evening. I hope you have something in mind that's absolutely approprite and endearing of your still somewhat new friendship!][''Okayyy. Well see you soon.'' And you do. ]
You hobble around you get to the parking lot, it's kinda awkward. And painful. but other than that it's fine.
[[Head inside]] ''Damn, okay:( well what do you want to do? I //haven't even left yet.//''
(after:3s) [//WOT?//]
(after:4s) [Your heart sinks to your butt. The shock hits like a ton of bricks. //She hasn't even left yet!?//]
(after: 11s)[You've rushed and injured yourself for nothing! you remind yourself to take a deep breath, there's still a chance here. After all, she's giving you options...]
[[''Come over'']] or [[''We can just FaceTime'']][A few minutes later, she arrives... with popcorn, Pepsi, and Twizzlers! What a suprise? You sit down on the couch together, and look for something to watch on Netflix. The night goes well, laughs and all, you spit a little rizz here and there, and she likes it. You're quite the wordsmith after all. When the movie finishes, the two of you just chat about life. You make sure to thank her again for looking after you. She replies, "Of course, anything for a ''Friend.''"
And just like that, you've entered a new reality. ''THE FRIENDZONE''. After all this work, you figured you'd be able to get somewhere new, but apparently not. And...
that's okay. In this moment, you've realized that this isn't anything you've been in before.
Rejection after rejection has prepared you for this moment. This person, who you care about so much, who has made you laugh so hard, whose clearly willing to be there for you in tough times and deep talks, values you as one of her closest friends.
And it's not like you've joined the ride entirely for a romantic adventure either. Yes, she's pretty, but her heart is beautiful, and it's nice to have someone like that. It's rewarding to have someone with the same things in common, someone who accepts you for your complex humanity, your pain, and all your little idiosynchracies. In your youth leading up to adulthood you've learned that the Friendzone, the //true// Friendzone is not that of a prison, like the world makes it, but with the right person, it's rather a cozy loft filled with bookcases of inside jokes and endearing memories.
All night you've been waiting to to get things just right, to make a special moment, when in reality, you've (painfully) had your work cut out for you.
YOU HAVE EARNED (text-style:"shadow")+(text-colour:magenta)[[ THE POWER OF UNDERSTANDING]]
YOU HAVE BUILT A (text-style:"shadow")+(text-colour:#ffe066)[[BEAUTIFUL FOUNDATION]] DoubleXP
THE END.]
[[Try again?]]
[//oh okay:(// She's dissapointed, and so are you. You quickly hobble upstairs and get back in your bed, and set up the call...
"Hey," You both say simeltainously, followed by an awkward laughter.
"How's your ankle?"
"It's alright, just icing it..".
Suddenly, the Ol' Brain gets an Idea!
"We can watch a film on Teleparty!"
She smiles, it's a good idea after all. 25 minutes of joking and bickering over a movie to watch later, one is decided. And it's enjoyable. Tonight wasn't perfect but this a good improvisation. This should make for a good memory, although in this position, it doesn't seem like the right time to tell her how you feel, and instead to rather keep things mellow for now.
Right?
Or maybe it's not too late...?
(text-style:"shudder")+(text-style:"emboss")+(text-colour:#f03e3e)[HEART]]
[[I...I can still do this!]]
(text-style:"buoy")+(text-style:"emboss")+(text-colour:#ae3ec9)[BRAIN]
[[Naw, just leave it alone!]][She hasn't exactly cancelled out all oppritunites for there to be something more. And good foundations is what's needed to build a relationship anyways, and maybe she'd be open to seeing what that looks like!]
Good job! [[Try again?]] [You've gained a new level of maturity and self love. Gone are the days of feeling like you're not enough for a girl that you like, when relationships, and being wanted by a significant other are not the be all, end all of life. In fact, they're meant to add to your happiness, not take up sole responsiblity of it. Whatever happens between you two, as long as you're respectful of one another, you're going to be okay;)]
[[Try again?]] [After jamming out to some mutal tunes you both didn't know you had, you arrive.]
["Ready, Freddy?"]
["Ready sphagehetti!"]
[She lets out a laugh, "What? That's the strangest thing i've ever heard you say."]
["I'll take that as a compliment!"]
You poke and prod and each other, giggles all around. Her smile is beautiful, the late afternoon sun brings out her dark irises, and her dewy skin radiates.
[[Head inside]]["Hey, can I tell you something?"]
[She looks over at you. The music is fully off now. The entire world has gone quiet, except for bristles of some nearby trees blown by the summer breeze. You smoothly, funily, tell her about your your lightly deep feelings for her. And she's shocked. Stoic. but shocked. She had a suspicion but didn't really know.
She didn't know about about the first time you realized how pretty she was when eating lunch with your friend group,
or how special you felt when she invited you over for lunch after school, where you met her family.
You ask if she has any mutal feelings. She says she appreciates your words, and that it's a lot to take in...]
[But it doesn't stop her her from gushing at the mentioning of her beauty, leaning in the your shoulder and holding your hand, 'Awwws' all around. Her fingertips are so soft. She puts two and two together of why you paid for everything tonight. "I was trying to be the man, yo man." you say. Things are quite light, and mature. This is the first time, you been let down maturely without it being awkward. Being an adult is cool.
You can sense it though, she's not in the in the same palce as you, and sure enough, she lets you know that. Relationships aren't a life goal right now, but that doesn't mean you're not a priority. She sure to share about how you're one of her "Closest Friends" she thinks you're gennuinely kind, and "DATEABLE". ]
[Well that's something to be proud of. It wasn't an ouright no, and ya'll are still cool. you decide to wait for her, in hopes that maybe she'd be open to something more.]
[You two seperate, and wave goodbye to each other, "See you next week."]
[[ONE WEEK LATER!]]
YOU HAVE EARNED (text-style:"shadow")+(text-colour:magenta)[[ THE POWER OF UNDERSTANDING]]
YOU HAVE BUILT A (text-style:"shadow")+(text-colour:#ffe066)[[BEAUTIFUL FOUNDATION]] DoubleXP
[Good idea!]
[You two have a nice convo about life, and in between, you drop hints about your feelings through future goals and desires in relationships. It may not be an exact win, but a setup for a future success. You both laugh a little more before wrapping things up.]
["Goodnight! feel better soon."]
["Thanks, uh you too- I mean-whoops..."]
[One final giggle. "Goofball"
THE END.
YOU HAVE BUILT A (text-style:"shadow")+(text-colour:#ffe066)[[BEAUTIFUL FOUNDATION]]
XP Earned.]
[[Try again?]]
[The night is going to plan, everything you've fantasized in your head during late nights in the last month has finally come to reality. You buy the snacks and the seats, enjoy the previews, and giggle throughout the horror movie. She's impressed that you're going all out! Afterwards you talk for a bit before heading to the car.]
[[Back to your place]][You pull up to your garage, and park the car. The moonlight, gleams off the leftover Reese's peanut butter cup package, with R&B playing at lvl.3. You two begin to chat about the future and relationships. You drop subtle hints about your feelings towards her. You're not sure if she's picking up what you're puttin' down. You feel the conversation dwindiling down, you heart is wanting more, perhaps an evolution of her becoming your..."Special Friend." Not nesccasrilly a big commitment of a serious relationship, but a subspace between "Friendship" and "Significant Other" where you two are currently interesed in each other and only each other and knowing that is good enough.
Plus it sounds cute!]
["Well, I had a good time, what about you?"]
[//Gulp!// Your Ol' brain is saying: The window's closing! What are you gonna do? Is this another night built towards something better? or can we go for the gold, tell her what's on your heart in the hopes that she feels the same way, and maybe even kiss!]
(text-colour:#adb5bd)[(text-style:"smear")[''[[Play it safe]]'']]
(text-colour:#c92a2a)+(text-style:"emboss")[(text-style:"shudder")[''[[SHOOT THY SHOT!]]
'']][You choose your brain over your heart. Lets focus on working that foundation. All of these moments are mutally special, because you value her as a special person. if it's meant to be, the right time will come.]
["Something on your mind?' She asks, You look peturbed."
She wants to know. She won't, for now, and it's okay.]
[You two seperate, and wave goodbye to each other, "See you next week."]
YOU HAVE BUILT A (text-style:"shadow")+(text-color:#ffe066)[[BEAUTIFUL FOUNDATION]]
You HAVE EARNED (text-style:"shadow")+(text-colour:#3b5bdb)[[PAITENCE]] DoubleXP
THE END.
[[Try again?]]
[You two are in class again. drull, and depressing. it's not your favourite part of the day, but something suddenly brightens it.
*BZZ BZZ*
No. WAY.
A text at this time in the day. who could it be from? the only time you get any phone activity at this time is from your mom who isn't shy to remind you to clean your room or how your bathroom looks like "a tornado has ran through it."...again. But this time, it's diffrent, it// feels //diffrent. you pick up your phone, your heart drops! In a response to a risky text you sent last night saying,
''Can we still keep hanging out?''
she says:
''I'd like that. I'd like it a lot:)'']
YOU HAVE UNLOCKED(text-style:"smear")[(text-style:"fade-in-out")[ (text-style:"Emboss")+(text-colour:green)[[ A SECOND CHANCE]]]][You meet up for a picnic. it's rewarding. Joyful laughter and all. But your heart is beating. There's stakes to this, this is more than just a hangout, it's a, it's a....date? right?
The conversation comes up.
"So about last week..."
"Yeahhhh..."
Beat.
"I'm not sure about progressing into anything huge, but..."
"Yeah?" the world has gone quiet again. you sit atop a vibrant green hill, with downtown in the distance, the sun gleams on both of you.
"I wanna be... "Special Friends."
YES!!
"Really?!.." Your voice hits an alto. "*ahem* Really?"
She giggles "Yeah, I've had some time to think, and I think we have a good thing going. I mean, you're one of my closest friends, we have a lot in common, and you're kinda cute."
*Teehe* She called you cute.
"So, is this a date?"
"Yeah!"
"Can we kiss?"
She rolls her eyes with a smile. "Sure."
"YAY!"
She laughs out loud. "Dork."
You two imbrace. *smooch*]
YOU HAVE GRADUATED FROM (text-style:"shadow")+(text-colour:grey)[[JUST FRIENDS ]] to
(text-style:"shadow")[(text-style:"smear","buoy")[(text-style:"emboss")+(text-colour:blue)[[SPECIAL FRIENDS]]]]
[This is niicce and all...I guessss.
You're close friends with cute girl.
But it's not what you reeeealy want..][What you've wanted all along! A partner in crime! You like each other but you keep it lowkey, you treat each other as friends, but aren't exempt from:
Tickiling
Holding hands
Hugging
and (text-colour:#fcc419)+(text-style:"emboss","buoy")[Ocasasional Kissing ]
(text-style:"emboss")[(text-colour:#fcc419)[''NEW ABILITIES UNLOCKED!'' ULT XP]]
If things don't work out it's okay. It's never too serious to go past a point of irreprable damage. In this stage it's safe to demote back to the friendzone!
CONGRATS! You have everything you wanted. Treat her right, have tough talks when you need to, speak your mind and never stop being yourself. This is a privilege, not a right. Hold it dearly, and be okay with the outcome.
THE END. [[Try again?]]][You've followed your (text-style:"emboss")[(text-colour:#f03e3e)[HEART]].
You can't contain that giddy, warm and power feeling anymore.
You tell her everything.
You let her know what's on your heart,
and it feels good.
You smoothly, funily, tell her about your your lightly deep feelings for her. And she's shocked. Stoic. But shocked. She had a suspicion but didn't really know.
She didn't know about about the first time you realized how pretty she was when eating lunch with your friend group,
or how special you felt when she invited you over for lunch after school, where you met her family.
Finally, you apoligize for things not going right this evening, as you had a way bigger plan.
You ask if she has any mutal feelings.
She goes quiet...
*Panik*
"It's okay" she laughs. "I appreciate your honesty, but I'm just not really looking for a relationship right now. But that doesn't mean we still can't hang out, I mean, you're one of my closest (text-style:"bold","emboss","shudder")[(text-colour:#c92a2a)[''Friends, DUDE.''"]]
GWAHHHH! THIS IS THE END! Your room turns pitch black. A mysterious yet powerful wind begins to sway you up in the air, bedsheets, pillows, rejected clothing choices for your original date and all! You're being sucked into a tornado like Dorthy from the Wizard of OZ! The room is spinning non stop until you finally fall back into your bed.
We're not in Kansas any more. We're in(text-style:"shadow")+(text-colour:#c92a2a)+(text-style:"fade-in-out")[[ THE FREINDZONE]]
*DunDunDunnnn*
"Hellooo? Anybody there?"
Just kidding it's not that bad. Your overactive imagination actually just zoned you out in a' Family Guy'-like cutaway to soothe your poor little heart like the overdramatic cinnamon roll that you are. In reality the the voice of of your crush got drowned out while speaking about how kind you are, and that you make for a DATEABLE person.
Not Bad!]
[You two have a mature conversation about the matter, and leave it at that. The friendship continues. it's all good...right? SIKE. (ooo, barz) You feel a lil sad but you'll get over it.
THE END. [[Try again?]] ][Welcome to the mythical subspace. You're in what seems to be in a front foyer of an office. Many poor souls who sit in chair beside you are waiting for their number to be called up.
A lady who seemingly looks like Flo from the 'Progressive' commercials is working admin behind a desk. "NUMBER 500"
We see a chump get up from their seat head down to the desk. She directs them to two elevators, one on each side of the desk.
"Make a choice please."
They grumble as they choose a room.
It sucks being here, even down to the label. Or does it?
Why feel lame over something that's not in your control?
"NUMBER 501" She points at your hands. You look down to see a piece of paper with the number on it. Oh?
She notices your confusion and gestures you to come meet her.
"Hi there!" She smiles. "First time hey? Please select a room. Both are vaild according to your beliefs..."]
[[Glass Half Empty]]
[[Glass Half Full]]
[The room is pitch black...and quiet. Suddenly we hear a voice!
Hi there!
Welcome to your personal hell. A place that others are mocked for being incarcerated in, yet feared by many. The place where you show up to your favourite screenning of the one you want but can't have. You're stuck behind a barrier where you watch your crush in every laugh, cry, and what //would be//a romantic moment shared with you //knowing// there's nothing waiting for you on the other side. And unless you get over them...
You're going to drive yourself nuts, over and over and and over again.
Just then, a portal opens...
Is that... your bedroom?
[[Try again?]] ]
[The room is pitch black...and quiet. Suddenly we hear a voice!
"Don't be so overdramaaaatic!
In your youth leading up to adulthood you've learned that the Friendzone, the //true// Friendzone is not that of a prison, like the world makes it, but with the right person, it's rather a cozy loft filled with bookcases of inside jokes and endearing memories.
Relationships aren't everything.
You'll be ok."
Just then, a bright white portal opens up in front of you! It's...your bedroom?
Back to[[Try again?]] ][It's a virtue. Das it, das all.
What more do you want? Turn around!
Okay, okay, maybe there's some more to this. On the bright side, you played your cards //very// well tonight. After results like that, you can't really ask for more (well actually, I mean you can cuz this is a game, but who's checking?). You'll see each other often so just continue to rest in where you're at, (play it cool boy, reeeeal coool) For all we know maybe she likes you too!]
[[Try again?]]