pre:Black Life Red Planetint: 5
speech: 5
mana: 0
eddyCount: 0
sound.ambient.jungle.url: 'sound/jungle.mp3'
sound.ambient.jungle.description: 'midday forest sounds'
--
It's a regular Friday morning. You're awoken by the sound of leafblowers right outside the window, and the intermittent chattering of their landscaper handlers.
Rolling out of bed, you make your way to the bathroom sink.
The rejuvenating effects of your expensive skincare routine set your mind at ease. While brushing your teeth you wander into the living room, and stare out over the balcony through the partially opened blinds.
There's not much to do today, and it's the weekend. You could start the day however you want...
*I think I'll...*
[[make some coffee.->The Intellectual]]
[[check Twitter.->The Socialite]]
[[take an edible.->The Geeker]]int: int +1
speech: speech + 1
--
After finishing your morning routine, you head to the kithcen.
You grind some Ethiopian coffee beans, and get your french press going.
[after 4000ms]
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee entices you, and you eagerly pour a cup. Savoring the first sip, you feel `smarter` somehow.
You go to dump the used coffee grounds in the trash can, and the bag is incredibly full.
*I should've taken this shit out yesterday.*
You grab a new bag from under the kitchen sink, and quickly replace it before [[heading out->A Strange Book]].int: int - 1
speech: speech +2
--
You sit on the couch, taking in slivers of sunlight from the balcony. The group chat is blowing up all of a sudden. You unlock your phone and take a look.
Your friends are in the group chat reacting to a headline:
**Billionaire (46) and Son (14), First Commerical Passengers to Tour Martian Atmosphere**
The chat is flying a mile a minute. GIFs flash across the screen, emoji reacts multiply wildly. You've **got** to get a comment in.
Twitter fingers flying, you say: *{cycling link for: 'text', choices: ['imagine if it imploded like that submarine lol', 'shoulda been me fr']}*
*[[Send->The Socialite, cont.]]*Might as well. It's not like there's anything else to do. You check the stash.
[after 3000ms]
It's empty. Too bad you don't have a plug here. No choice but to go to the cornerstore.
It's a breezy day, but not too cold. You dash out of the house in just a T-shirt, sweatpants, and some sandals.
The wind tickles your scalp along the short walk. Some older neighbors are out walking their dogs. Its an idyllic, somewhat cliche scene.
The corner store isn't far, but you still put a bit of pep in your step. It's a good day to get fried out of your mind and watch some cartoons.
The *perfect* day.
[[*Open the door.*->The Cashier and His Conspiracy]]
With the somewhat heavy trash bag in tow, you head to the communal dumpster.
After tossing it in, you notice a leather bound book on the ground. It's worn, but seems to be made with high quality material. The tome lies closed, but its edges don't appear to be damaged.
> [[Feeling insightful, you pick it up and inspect its contents.]]
> [[Feeling whimsical, you take it home immediately.]]
> [[Feeling suspicious, you leave it on the ground.]]
You chuckle to yourself, and continue lazing around on the couch.
[after 3000ms]
*knock, knock*
[after 5000ms]
Someone's at the door...
[after 7000ms]
Softened by the thick door, a voice cries out, "Maintenance!"
[[*Get up*.->Speech Event]]int: int +1
--
Strange runes and diagrams fill every page, and illegible script runs along the margins. You feel a puzzle slowly unraveling before you, but it's taking all of your **brainpower** to make even a little sense of it.
Upon further inspection, the pages appear to contain instructions for some sort of {reveal link: 'device', text: 'magical propulsion device'}...
You close the book for now, and turn to walk back to the apartment.
[after 6000ms]
Stopping you in your tracks, a familiar voice calls out from a short distance.
"I was looking for that!" yells the mainenance man.
He jogs a bit to catch up with you, a concerned look on his face. [[You face him plainly.->Lost and Found]]It's a short walk home, and you stop by the dog park to enjoy the weather for a bit before heading back inside.
You snap a photo of the newly acquired book, and send it to the group chat with a short message attached: *{cycling link for: 'message2', choices: ['hmm found this book laying around', 'in my wizard era lmao']}*
[[*Send*->DM Event]]
It's a short walk home, and you stop by the dog park to enjoy the weather for a bit before heading back inside.
You watch the dogs frolic about, but from the corner of your eye, you spot the maintenance man leaving one of the unleased apartments with a worried look on his face.
You try to get a peek inside, but the angle isn't quite right.
> [[Speech: What's going on?]]
[note]
speech needs to be 7
[if speech + random.d4 > 8]
*(Success.)*
You're feeling `Confident` today. You call out to the maintenance man.
*Yo! Is everything okay?*
He turns to face you, expression slightly softened by your earnest inquiry. He strolls over and asks, "You seen my book laying around? It's brown leather, kinda old looking."
You think for a moment, trying to recall whether or not you've seen the book in question.
*I saw one over there by the dumpster. [[I'll show you.->Lost and Found Intro]]*
[else]
*(Failure.)*
You're not feeling `Confident` today. The words bubble up in your throat, but refuse to come out.
You feel awkward for some reason.
If you weren't so scared and nervous, maybe the day would have turned out differently?
{restart link, label: 'Run it back?'}speech: speech + 1
--
[if message2 === "hmm found this book laying around"]
A '?' emoji react appears from thin air underneath your message.
A friend replies, "What's in it? Seems like a journal or something." You nod in agreement. You hadn't thought to open it previously, but decide to take a look now.
Strange runes and diagrams fill every page, and illegible script runs along the margins. You feel a puzzle slowly unraveling before you, but can't any sense of it.
You reply, *idk. it's weird though, could be a journal after all.*
You close the book for now, and start to head back to the apartment.
[[*Go home.*]]
[else]
A laughing emoji react appears from thin air underneath your message.
A friend replies, "you prolly ain't got enough mana to use it lol."
You chuckle out loud a bit. You hadn't thought to open it previously, but decide to take a look now.
Strange runes and diagrams fill every page, and illegible script runs along the margins. You feel a puzzle slowly unraveling before you, but can't any sense of it.
You reply, *lol. it's weird though, i might not even fuck with this shit fr*
You close the book for now, and start to head back to the apartment.
[[*Go home.*]]
{ambient sound: 'jungle', volume: 0.5}
You open the door, and a slight chime informs the cashier of your entrance. Engrossed in his phone, though, he doesn't even look up. You eye the rows full of snacks and tobacco product, picking up an aloe juice on the way to the glass counter at the back where the real prize is.
With a stupid grin on your face, you point at the package of gummies through the glass pane.
*Let me get a pack of those,* you all but shout, gleefully.
You wait for a human response from the cashier, to no avail. His eyes never meet yours, instead glued to his phone screen.
You can't resist a [[glance at his phone.->Insight Event]][if random.d10 >= 4]
(Success.)
You're `Slick` today.
A weird YouTube video is on the screen. The speaker, a man with a long beard and a bald head, furrows his brow above his glasses while ranting about alien-related government conspiracies.
The volume isn't loud enough for you to hear it clearly, but you can tell what the topic at hand is because there's photos and videos in the background, with the speaker's body overlayed. It must be a video essay of some sort, but the channel doesn't seem very popular. It only has 164 subscribers and 1,832 views.
[[*Look up.*-> Cashier, cont.]]
[else]
(Failure.)
You're not `Slick` today.
The cashier locks his phone screen, and moves over to ring you up.
After paying, you leave silently, being eyed by the cashier the entire time.
You make your way home, edibles in hand.
For some reason, you thought today might've turned out a little more interesting...
{restart link, label: 'Run it back?'}You open the door to a familiar face. The maintenance man is a nice guy, it's a shame you never remember his name. He greets you every time you cross paths, and is always willing to talk about cars or complain about day to day blue collar woes.
Today seems different, however. There's a shadow cast over his face, and he looks worried...
[after 3000ms]
"Yo! What's going on?" you inquire earnestly.
[after 4500ms]
His eyes dart around, before settling to meet yours.
"You seen my book laying around? It's brown leather, kinda old looking."
You think for a moment, trying to recall whether or not you've seen the book in question.
[[Doesn't ring a bell. I haven't been outside at all today either. Sorry!->Socialite Ending 1]]
[[Damn, nah. I haven't. Want me to help you look?->Speech Event 2]][if random.d4 + speech >= 10]
*(Success.)*
You're feeling `Confident` today.
"Really? I'd appreciate your help!" the old maintenance man replies. A smile warms his face, and you feel good for having offered assistance.
You slip on some sandals and begin to [[search->A Strange Book v2]].
[else]
*(Failure.)*
You're not feeling `Confident` today. The words bubble up in your throat, but refuse to come out.
"I guess not, huh?" says the maintenance man, taking your silence and awkward facial expression as an implied *no*.
He somberly hobbles away, and you feel bad for not being able to properly express yourself.
You close the door, and an awkward feeling fills you from within.
Alas, the day passes without further incident.
Nothing of interest occurs.
{restart link, label: 'Run it back?'}"Is that so?" says the maintenance man, "Well, thanks anyway!"
He somberly hobbles away, and you feel bad for not being able to help at all.
You close the door, and {reveal link:'an awkward feeling fills you from within...', text: 'an awkward feeling fills you from within...maybe you missed something?'}
Alas, the day passes without further incident.
Nothing of interest occurs.
{restart link, label: 'Run it back?'}The two of you split up, searching the apartment complex high and low for the book in question.
[after 3000ms]
It's not in the dog park.
[after 5000ms]
It's not by the tennis court.
[after 7000ms]
It's not in the leasing office.
[after 9000ms]
Just when you're about to give up, you spot something lying near the communal dumpster.
There's a leather bound book on the ground. It's worn, but seems to be made with high quality material. The tome lies closed, but the edge of the pages don't appear to be damaged.
[[*Pick it up.*->Lost and Found]]"Thats it!" says the maintenance man, "My book!"
He's visibly relieved and reaches out to take it from you.
You offer up the tome, but remain intrigued.
[if int === 7]
[[Intelligence: What's a guy like you doing with a grimoire?->Int Event]]
[else]
[[Speech: What's so important about that book anyway?->Speech Event 3]]
"We're not the only intelligent life forms, y'know," says the cashier, vaguely.
He has a thick but indecipherable accent, and yellowing bloodshot eyes. He could be a decade or more older than you, with slighly graying dreadlocks. Despite his long, dark nails and dry hands, his attire is impeccable – a Polo Bear rugby, a black Polo puffer jacket, and cozy Nike Tech Fleece sweatpants.
[after 2000ms]
You're mildly jealous of the outfit, at least.
[after 4000ms]
His comment lingers in the air as you consider how to respond.
[[Yeah man, I agree. I wonder what else is out there.->The Strange Room]]
[[I'm a little skeptical. If there was anything else, wouldn't we have made contact by now?->Skepticism]]
You stroll back over to the communal dumpster, this time with the maintenance man in tow.
He's a nice guy, it's a shame you never remember his name. He greets you every time you cross paths, and is always willing to talk about cars or complain about day to day blue collar woes.
Today seems different, however. There's a shadow cast over his face, and he looks worried.
You feel good that you've been able to help him today.
[after 4000ms]
You arrive, and the book is exactly where you left it.
[[You pick it up and hand it to him.->Lost and Found]]
int: int + 1
mana: mana + 2
speech: speech + 2
--
Your words spark his interest. He's *Intrigued* by your response. Maybe you're kindred spirits, after all?
After handing you the goods you paid for, the cashier turns to where his ash tray lies on a shoddy folding table behind the counter.
"Different in body, aligned in mind," he continues, esotericism increasing with every word, "this is the basis for social living."
He turned out to be quite the philosophical fellow, but it isn't necessarily unwelcome.
[[I always wondered how we'd interact with another intelligent species. All we can do is wait and see what happens, I guess."->The Strange Room, cont.]]
[[*Stay silent.*->Skepticism 2]]The cashier gives you a stern look, as if condemning you to death.
"Idiot *boy*," he growls, "Can you conceive the vastness of the world?"
He sternly hands you the receipt and the bag with your goods. The hostility is tangible, and you quickly make your exit.
***
[after 4000ms]
You make your way home without further incident, but the converation with the cashier lingers in your mind.
Awkward regret forms a knot in your stomach.
In another world, maybe things unfold differently?
{restart link, label: 'Run it back?'}[if random.d4 + speech >= 10]
The cashier turns to face you, expelling voluminous smoke clouds directly in your face. He gives you a smug look, taking your silence for awe.
"Are you the type that needs to see to believe?" he prods.
He returns the stubby end of a cigar to its resting place, and saunters over to a door in the back labeled "Employees Only".
[[This is weird. *Leave.*]]
[[*Take a step closer*->The Strange Room, cont.]]
[else]
The cashier turns to face you, expelling voluminous smoke clouds directly in your face. He gives you a stern look, as if condemning you to death. He takes your silence for disagreement, feeling betrayed.
"Idiot *boy*," he growls, "Have you not a limitless compassion?"
He sternly hands you the receipt and the bag with your goods. The hostility is tangible, and you quickly make your exit.
Awkward regret forms a knot in your stomach.
In another world, maybe things unfold differently?
{restart link, label: 'Run it back?'}mana: mana +1
speech: speech + 1
_insight: mana + int
--
[if mana + random.d4 >= 5]
The cashier turns to face you, expelling voluminous smoke clouds directly in your face. He gives you a smug look, like a magician amidst his greatest trick.
"Why wait?" he prods.
He returns the stubby end of a cigar to its resting place, and saunters over to a door in the back labeled "Employees Only".[[The Strange Room, fin.]]
[if _insight + random.d8 >= 16]
feel vibe, assume magical, show room, reveal need for book
[[The Strange Room, fin.]]
[else]
<span class="drunk">Drunk text goes here.
</span>
[CSS]
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}sound.ambient.jungle.url: 'jungle.mp3'
sound.ambient.jungle.description: 'midday forest sounds'
sound.ambient.jungle.playing: true
sound.ambient.jungle.playing: true
--
It's a beautiful day.
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--
{embed image: 'images/BLRP.png', alt: 'Black Life, Red Planet'}
[align center]
[[START->Intro]]
You hastile exit the convenience store, thinking the cashier's actions strange.