[i]March 14th[/i] *set collage_talverton true You and Alex follow the cobblestone path over the bridge and into the village. The buildings—a motley assortment of stone, stucco, and brick—interconnect to create a picturesque wall of two and three story shops and houses. Ivy envelopes some of the buildings like a winter coat, leaving only the windows visible. You come to a stop in front of a wooden storefront. The antique green paint stands out against the red brick building. Two window seats flank the recessed door, and hand-painted gold lettering promises [i]cakes, cookies, breads, and pies[/i] within. "Shall we?" you ask Alex. $!{a_they} shrugs. "Sure, if you want to." *page_break *set collage_sugar_and_spice true *set meet_j true The bell hanging over the door frame jingles as you enter the bakery. Warm light bounces off the white shiplap walls and brightens the gloomy spring morning. A few of the tables are occupied, but there's no line. A short woman with beige-colored skin appears behind the counter. She wears her black hair in pigtail braids with ribbons that match her blue, horn rimmed glasses. "Welcome to [i]Sugar & Spice[/i]!" she says with a smile. "I haven't seen you around here before." "We just moved here," Alex says. "Oh! Are you the ones who bought the manor?" You and Alex glance at each other. In a town of 5,000, you've found, it's impossible to remain unknown for long. "That's us," you confirm. "How exciting! I'm Judy. This is my bakery." Your eyes widen in surprise. Judy seems young, maybe even younger than you. "What can I get for you today?" she asks, gesturing to the display case that separates you. You take a step closer. "I'll have—" *fake_choice #"—a chocolate cupcake." *set var "cupcake" #"—a lemon bar." *set var "lemon bar" #"—a cinnamon bun." *set var "cinnamon bun" #"—a peanut butter cookie." *set var "cookie" You take a step closer, nearly pressing your nose against the glass as you eye the selections. Tapping the glass with your index finger, you say "I'll have a ${var}." Judy grabs your ${var} with a piece of tissue paper and turns to Alex. "And for you?" "Could I get a slice of cheesecake?" "Of course." "I got this," you say to Alex. "Go grab us a table." As Alex retreats from the counter—not before grumbling about paying ${a_their} own way—you lean closer to Judy. "Could you help me with something?" Judy's eyes brighten, and she waits for you to continue. "My friend's birthday was two days ago. Do you have any candles?" She beams at you. "I will take care of it," she promises with a wink. "I'm ${name}, by the way. And my friend's—" "Alex," Judy finishes. She laughs at the puzzled look on your face. "You didn't think the gossip would be all over town by now? Believe me, Sebastian has spread the word near and far." *fake_choice #"Is that so?" I fiddle with my ${tic}. You chew on your bottom lip and fiddle with your ${tic}. "Is that so?" *set awk %+ 5 "Don't worry," Judy says in a soft voice. "It was all good." "Hmm?" "What Sebastian said—it was all good. He was really excited that you came." "Oh," you say. "I'm glad. I hope his excitement isn't misplaced." #"I hope he told you how good-looking and intelligent we are as well," I wink. *set cha %+ 5 You flash a wide smile at Judy. "I hope he told you how good-looking and intelligent we are as well," you say with a wink. Judy laughs, and her eyes twinkle. "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you there." "Darn," you say. "I'll have to have a talk with him." #"You know, now that I think about it, that's not surprising at all," I sigh. *set gen %+ 5 You sigh and nod. "You know, now that I think about it, that's not surprising at all." "So you already know Sebastian pretty well," Judy says with a giggle. "He seems like he means well," you say, the high pitch of your voice betraying your uncertainty. #"Not Sebastian!" I say. "What a shock." *set gen %- 5 You roll your eyes and chuckle. "Not Sebastian," you say, tone dry. "What a shock." "Shocking indeed!" Judy agrees. "Did he tell you all my deepest and darkest secrets too?" "Oh yes, naturally." You sigh theatrically. "[i]What[/i] am I gonna do with him?" "Sebastian is one of a kind, that's for sure—" she smiles "—but he's a good friend to have. [i]Especially[/i] since he's the mayor." "Good to know," you laugh. "Now I'll be right back," Judy leans in to whisper, giving you another conspiratorial wink before disappearing into the back. You head over and take a seat facing the counter. Alex is staring out the window and tapping a complex rhythm against the table with ${a_their} fork. "Old habits die hard, huh?" you ask. $!{a_they} looks up at you. "Huh? Oh, yeah—" ${a_they} stops mid-beat "—you can take the drummer out of the line but not the line out of the drummer. Or something like that." "What do you think of the town?" "It's nice." You wait for ${a_them} to continue, but ${a_they} seems satisfied with [i]nice[/i]. "[i]Just[/i] nice?" "Sorry," ${a_they} sighs. "I'm distracted." *if (gen <= 55) "I couldn't tell." $!{a_they} rolls ${a_their} eyes at you. "Come on, tell your oldest and bestest friend what's wrong." *else "I'm a pretty good listener if you want to talk." ${a_they} sighs. "It's nothing." $!{a_they} shrugs. "You're a bad liar." *if ((a >= 2) and (yr1_01_16_20 = 2)) *set yr1_03_14_20_a_1 true "I just—I miss home." *fake_choice #"So do I." *set gen %+ 5 You finger the edge of your napkin before sitting back in your chair. Looking your friend in the eye, you say, "So do I." "You do?" ${a_they} asks, one suspicious eyebrow raised. "Yeah, why wouldn't I?" "Maybe because you left home years ago?" "Doesn't mean I don't miss my mom and Jake." "Not your mamaw?" ${a_they} asks with a half grin. You frown. "I, uh, think I get enough of her via phone." $!{a_they} laughs. "How did you... cope when you first moved away?" "Not well." You laugh. "I missed the trees. But eventually... I fell in love, I guess." "But you still wanted to leave. When you graduated, I mean." You lean back in your chair and tap your fingers against the table. "Well yeah. It was just time to move on." *page_break Alex rests ${a_their} elbows against the table. "I've never left home. It feels wrong." "I'll never forget the night mom, Jake, and I left for New York." You rub your chin. "It was chaos. All my stuff was strewn across the house, didn't finish packing until after midnight. Couldn't have gotten more than a few hours of sleep before we left that morning." Alex snorts. "Sounds like the morning after you convinced me to quit my job and follow you out here." You smile. "Welcome to the club. The entire summer after we graduated, I just had this pit in my stomach—this dread, and it never really went away. Until it did. It happened so gradually that I didn't notice it at all. I just... adapted. You will too." *page_break #"When you've got someone as great as me?" I grin at ${a_them}. *set cha %+ 5 You nudge Alex's knee under the table with your own and grin at ${a_them}. "When you've got someone as great as me?" Alex rolls ${a_their} eyes at you, but at least ${a_they} laughs. "[i]Excuse me[/i] for failing to appreciate you." "I suppose I can forgive you just this once." "Wonders never cease." You lean back in your chair and cross your legs. "It's not so different from college. Yeah, you were only an hour drive away from your parents, but it's not like you saw them every day or even every weekend. There are more miles between you and them now, but the phones work just as well from here as they did from Georgetown." Alex crosses ${a_their} arms. "Maybe you're right." "Of course I'm right! Besides, at least now you have something to talk about when you call home." "Yeah, I'm sure they'd love to hear all about the fact that we go to a gym to shower every day because we still don't have hot water or electricity." "It'll make for a good story one of these days," you laugh, "but you're right, we should probably keep that under wraps for now." *page_break Alex smirks and leans forward. "If the phones work so well here, then why haven't you called your grandparents to tell them where you are." You shoot ${a_them} a dirty look. "That's different." "How?" Alex laughs at your discomfort. "They worry." "And my parents don't??" "I don't think my grandparents have realized that I'm a grownup yet. And I can hardly blame them since it's a revelation to me too, but... They're still convinced that I'm going to move home. What they think I'm going to do in Valley Creek, Kentucky with a master's degree in literature, I don't know, but they expect me to come home regardless." "I up and quit my job and moved out of the country within four days. Your grandparents can hardly be more surprised that you're [i]not[/i] coming home than my parents were that I left." "You'd be surprised. They have a pretty unique blind spot when it comes to me." *page_break #"[i]Blame it all on my roots[/i]," I begin to sing, hoping to make ${a_them} laugh. *achieve serenade *set org %- 10 *set yr1_03_14_20_a_2 true You clear your throat and take a deep breath. "[i]Blame it all on my roots,[/i] "[i]I showed up in boots![/i]" Alex shoots a dirty look at you. "What are you doing??" ${a_they} hisses. "[i]And ruined your black tie affair[/i]—" Your voice grows louder, and the other customers are beginning to look over at your table. "[i]The last one to know, the last one to show, I was the last one you thought you'd see there—[/i]" You let your natural Kentucky twang, the one you've spent the last decade suppressing, come out to join the party. "[i]And I saw the surprise and the fear in his eyes[/i]—" "I'm gonna put some fear in [i]your[/i] eyes if you don't shut up!" "—[i]when I took his glass of champagne, and I toasted you[/i]—" you pick up the sugar shaker sitting on the table and raise it at Alex in a toast. "[i]Said honey we may be through, but you'll never hear me complain!" *page_break Alex sighs deeply like the long-suffering butler of an eccentric billionaire. "[i]Cause I've got friends in low places[/i]," ${a_they} joins in. "[i]Where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my[/i]—" Judy emerges wide-eyed from the back room with Alex's cheesecake. "—[i]blues away, and I'll be okay.[/i] [i]I'm not big on social graces, think I'll slip on down to the oasis.[/i] [i]Oh, I've got friends in low places![/i]" You grin at your best friend before nodding at Judy that you're ready for the cake. She brings it over and sets it in front of Alex before adding the sparkler candles and lighting them up. "Happy birthday," she says with a smile. "I guess we don't need to sing happy birthday," you joke. Alex raises an eyebrow at you. "I think one recital is enough for today." Turning to Judy, ${a_they} adds, "Thank you. Both for the candles and for putting up with us." Judy laughs. "It's my pleasure." She retreats and allows the two of you to dig into your treats. The other customers continue to glance over at you every once in a while, but no one is brave enough to speak to the two of you after your performance. "I didn't realize that Garth Brooks meant [i]bakery[/i] when he said 'low places,'" Alex quips. "I bet you were too busy being embarrassed by me to remember to miss home." $!{a_they} looks up at you mid bite and laughs. "I [i]was[/i] actually." "Then mission accomplished." *if (a_feelings = true) #I reach out and touch ${a_their} forearm. ♥ *set a_rom +1 You lean forward and reach out and place your hand lightly on Alex's forearm. $!{a_they} looks up at you. "It'll all work out," you promise. The tightening of ${a_their} mouth reveals ${a_their} skepticism, and ${a_they} pulls away, leaning back in ${a_their} chair. "[i]I believe in you. You just gotta believe in yourself." *else *page_break *if (yr1_03_14_20_a_2 = false) Before you can continue, Judy emerges from the back room holding Alex's cheesecake. She makes eye contact with you, and you nod for her to come over. Alex, sitting facing the street, doesn't see her approach or light the sparkler candle in the middle of the slice. The candle hisses and shoots white sparks upward like the tail of a comet. "[i]Happy birthday to you[/i]—" you begin to sing. $!{a_they} looks at you with wide eyes and turns to see Judy. "[i]Happy birthday to you![/i]" Judy joins in and even encourages the other customers to sing. "[i]Happy birthday dear ALEX[/i]—" you emphasize ${a_their} name "—[i]Happy birthday to you![/i]" Everyone in the bakery claps for Alex, and Judy passes out paper birthday hats. You laugh and eagerly put yours on. "I know it's a couple days late—" Alex shakes ${a_their} head and looks up at you, ${a_their} eyes glistening with emotion. "This is just the right time." You grin. "Happy birthday, old *if (a_gender = "f") lady." *if (a_gender = "m") man." "This is on the house," Judy announces. "Happy birthday!" *page_break You pick at your ${var} as you chat with Alex, but the sound of the bell draws your attention to the door. Charlie has walked in and shuffled over to the counter, not noticing you and Alex in the corner. *if (per >= 57) She blushes slightly as she gives her order to Judy, who tugs lightly at her braids. Alex notices Charlie's entrance and leans closer to you. "Should we invite her over?" *choice #"Sure thing." *set yr1_03_14_20_1 1 *set c +1 "Sure thing," you agree. *if (org <= 55) You give Charlie your best wolf whistle, and she turns to you with wide eyes and a deep blush, but when she sees who it is, she rolls her eyes at you. "Come here often?" you ask her with a chuckle. "Too often if I'm starting to cross paths with the likes of you two." "And here I thought you liked us," Alex pipes up. *else "Well look who it is," you call across the bakery. Charlie turns to you, and *if (c >= 2) her face lights up. *else she smiles. "Wanna join us?" you ask. She glances back at Judy and then turns to you. "Yeah, that would be nice." *page_break Charlie takes a seat across from Alex and facing the counter. She takes a look at the discarded candle on Alex's plate and asks, "Is it your birthday?" "It was a couple of days ago," Alex answers. Charlie's face lights up. "Happy birthday! How old are you?" She slaps a hand over her mouth. "You don't have to answer that!" Alex laughs. "It's alright—I'm twenty-five." *if (gen <= 45) "Nearly over the hill," you quip. *else "Just five years until your youth is dead," you taunt. $!{a_they} shoot you a dirty look. "You're next." "But I'll always be younger than [i]you[/i]." $!{a_they} roll ${a_their} eyes at your smug smirk. "Younger and [i]dumber[/i], too." You stick your tongue out at ${a_them}. "You all are something else," Charlie says. *fake_choice #"Aw, don't tell me you and Frankie and Bertie never roast each other?" I ask. "Aw, don't tell me you and Frankie and Bertie never roast each other?" you ask. Charlie wrinkles her nose. "Bertie was always one for pretty words, but me and Frankie preferred to... Shall we say, take matters into our own hands?" "What made Bertie so special?" you ask with a snort. Charlie shrugs her shoulders. "$!{b_they}'s not much older than me, but there's only a year between me and Frankie. I think ${b_they} liked to play judge when we got into squabbles over our stuffed animals." "Oh to be an only child," Alex sighs with a grin. "You never got lonely?" Charlie asks. "Nah, not really. Plus I got all of my mom and dad's attention." You can see it from both sides. Jake is nearly ten years older than you, so by the time you got grown, you were basically an only child anyway, but you'd still be sorry not to have him around. "And all their scrutiny too," you add. "It wasn't that bad," Alex argues. "They weren't that strict." You raise an eyebrow at ${a_them}. "Whatever you say." "I smell a story here," Charlie says with a grin. You answer her grin with one of your own. "Alex and I have different definitions of strict. If [i]my[/i] mom had expected me to tell her everywhere I was going and every person I was seeing—throughout [i]college[/i]—I don't think I'd call her 'not that strict,' but maybe that's just me." "Maybe your mommy just doesn't love you as much as mine," Alex retorts. You laugh. "Maybe so." #"What are you up to today?" I ask, changing the subject. "What are you up to today?" you ask. Charlie glances over at the counter. "I like to come here on the weekend and get something sweet. Something of a tradition I guess—a reward for surviving another week." You take a bite of your ${var}. "I can get on board with that. Honestly, anything to get away from the sounds of construction is welcome at this point." "Has Bertie driven you wild yet?" *gosub_scene mechanics_setup flirt_style *if (b_rom > 1) *if (style = 1) You smirk slightly. "No—but ${b_they}'s welcome to, anytime." *else You blush slightly at the question. Charlie's jaw drops. "No! Are you for real?" *if (style = 1) You laugh. "It was just a joke, no need to go planning the wedding." *else "I don't know what you're talking about." Alex raises ${a_their} eyebrows at you, but Charlie isn't so subtle and continues to prod you for answers. When you won't give in, she sighs and leans back in her chair. "At least you have good taste." "You just said ${b_they} was maddening!" you protest with a laugh. She waves her hand in dismissal. *if (style = 1) "[i]It was just a joke[/i]," *else "[i]I don't know what you're talking about[/i]," she repeats your words back to you. *else "You're the one who recommended ${b_them}," Alex laughs. "Well I gotta get ${b_them} out of the house somehow." "Out of your house and into ours then?" you ask. "It's as good a place as any." "Well I guess we know who to complain to when things go wrong." Charlie laughs. "You can complain all you want, but it'll be falling on deaf ears." *page_break You take the last bite of your ${var} and look over at Alex. $!{a_they} nods at you to communicate that ${a_they}'s also ready to go. "We need to get out of here," you tell Charlie. "Got some errands to run today." Charlie smiles at the two of you. "Happy birthday again, Alex." Alex thanks her, and you make your way out the door. #"Yeah, and let's see if we can convince Judy to hang out for a while too." *set c +1 *set j +1 *set cj +1 "Yeah, and let's see if we can convince Judy to hang out for a while too." You slide up next to Charlie at the counter just out of her sight and wait for her to notice you. "Argh!" she sputters when she turns around and sees you. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" "What's life without a little excitement?" "Pleasant," Charlie retorts. You laugh. "Wanna join us?" you ask, cocking your head toward Alex in the corner. "It's ${a_their} birthday! Or it was a couple days ago anyway." Charlie's eyes light up. "Oooh—yes!" "You should come too," you say to Judy as she returns to the counter with Charlie's order. You eye the white chocolate monstrosity in Judy's hands with distaste. "Got a sweet tooth?" Charlie grins. "Maybe a little." Judy clicks her tongue. "A little?? Charlie's the only one in town over the age of ten who'll eat these things. I don't think I would continue to sell them without her." "I can't help it if every one else has bad taste," Charlie pouts. Judy smiles. "Let me wipe down the counter, and I'll come sit with you guys for a bit. *page_break The three of you sit in the corner near the window and wait for Judy to join you. Outside, Talverton is beginning to wake up in earnest. Couples and families stroll along the village streets despite the gray morning sky. Judy appears at your table with a glass jar filled with light pastry puffs. She takes the seat diagonally across from Charlie. "Chouquettes?" she offers. "They're left over from making cream puffs this morning." Charlie, despite being only half finished with her white chocolate truffles, immediately sticks her hand into the jar and grabs a couple. Judy shakes her head and laughs. "Happy birthday," Charlie says to Alex through a mouthful of sugar. "Thanks—one more revolution around the sun. I'm on a real streak here." *fake_choice #"What do you guys do for your birthdays?" I ask. *set yr1_03_14_20_1 2 "What do you guys do for your birthdays?" you ask. "Birthdays are pretty much the same here as anywhere else," Charlie says. "Cake, presents, singing. I was a summer baby, so mom and dad always took us to the beach. I can still remember Bertie's sand castles—until Frankie kicked them down." She turns to Judy. "What about you?" "My mom makes me seaweed soup." Charlie wrinkles her nose. "What? It's good! I could make you some—if you want to try it?" *if (per >= 57) Charlie twirls a loose curl between her index finger and thumb. "I would like that." "What do you guys do?" Judy asks. You shrug. "Birthdays aren't very big in my family—there are too many of us. We'd have to have a party every weekend to celebrate everyone." "Yeah, how terrible would that be?" Alex teases you. You bump ${a_their} shoulder with your own. "Come talk to me when you've got eight kids under the age of twelve and all their parents in one house. It's a wonder we get through Thanksgiving and New Years every year." "I like big family gatherings," Alex says. "I didn't say I [i]disliked[/i] them. All things, [i]especially[/i] family, in moderation." *page_break Charlie turns to Alex. "How do you do birthdays?" *if ((a >= 2) and (yr1_01_16_20 = 2)) The question comes out before you can deflect. *else she asks. Alex sighs. "Normally it'd be me, my mom, and my dad. We usually go out to eat. This is the first birthday I've ever had without them." You pat ${a_their} shoulder while Charlie looks down at her lap. "I didn't mean to kill the mood, guys," Alex laughs. "It's not a big deal. This one here—" ${a_they} gesture at you "—probably hasn't been home for ${their} birthday in years." You roll your eyes. "That's beside the point. It's not a contest for who's had the loneliest birthdays." $!{a_they} smirks at you. "Oh—I don't believe for a second that you were [i]alone[/i]. You just weren't home." You kick ${a_them} under the table, but ${a_they} only laughs. "I'll be fine, really. I just miss home." #"What kinds of things do people celebrate around here?" I ask. *set yr1_03_14_20_1 3 "What kinds of things do people celebrate around here?" you ask. "Most people do Christmas and Easter, and there's also the New Year, but it really depends on where you are or who your family is," Charlie says. "My family celebrates Lunar New Year," Judy adds. "There aren't many major holidays—" Charlie cocks her head to the side, thinking, "—but Talverton Day is really fun." "Talverton Day?" Alex asks. "It's like a fair or a festival for the anniversary of the founding of Talverton. It's really fun—you guys should go." "When is it?" you ask. "Sometime in July, always on a weekend. Do you guys have anything like that?" You shake your head. "New York has some pretty [i]memorable[/i] traditions, though." Judy's eyes perk up. "Like what?" "You guys already know about the ball drop on New Year's Eve, of course." Charlie and Judy nod their heads in confirmation. "Ever heard of Santa Con?" "Santa like Santa [i]Claus[/i]?" Charlie asks. "The very same." *page_break "Every December," you continue, "half the city dresses up like Santa and goes on a bender, hopping from bar to bar until the [i]whole[/i] city is miserable." "But what about the kids?" You shake your head. "I'm not sure what parents do during Santa Con—probably barricade themselves inside their apartments. It's not a pretty sight. We also have a Halloween parade. That one's more fun. Do you guys do Halloween?" "Not really," Judy says. "But I wish we did! I love the movies." "And I love the candy," Charlie adds with a laugh. "Mayhap we ought to do something about that," you say as you lean back in your chair. "What kind of something?" Charlie sits up and practically bounces up and down. You cross your arms. "A magician never reveals ${their} secrets." Charlie rolls her eyes. *page_break The bell over the door rings as a couple enters the bakery. "Duty calls," Judy says as she rises from the table. *if (per >= 57) Charlie's shoulders slump. You take a look at the time on your phone. "We should probably head out too." Charlie smiles at the two of you. "Happy birthday again, Alex." Alex thanks her, and you make your way out the door. #"Nah, we'll see her later. We oughta get going anyway." You glance up at a clock on the back wall of the bakery. "Nah, we'll see her later. We oughta get going anyway." "Yeah, you're probably right," Alex agrees. "I want to get a look at those goats before it gets too late in the day." "I've got an errand to run too." "Regroup after?" "Yeah, for sure." The two of you stand up and take your dishes over to the counter. "Hey!" Charlie says when she sees you. "I see you've found the best shop in town." "We did indeed," you agree, "but now destiny pulls us in another directions." "We'll catch you around later," Alex adds, and the two of you make your way to the exit. *if (a_feelings = true) #"Nah, today's about me and you," I say leaning closer. ♥ *set per %- 5 *set a_rom +1 You lean closer to Alex. "Nah, today's about me and you." Alex shifts in ${a_their} seat and pulls out ${a_their} phone. "It's getting kinda late. I want to check out the guy with the goats before the day gets ahead of us." You frown and nod. "Yeah, there's an errand I wanted to run as well." "Regroup after?" "Yeah, for sure." The two of you stand up and take your dishes over to the counter. "Hey!" Charlie says when she sees you. "I see you've found the best shop in town." "We did indeed," you agree, "but now destiny pulls us in another directions." "Shame," Charlie *if (c >= 1) says with a small frown. *else says. "We'll catch you around later," Alex adds, and the two of you make your way to the exit. "Where are you headed?" Alex asks when you get outside. *choice #"I'm going to go to the library to see if I can find anything about Darbury." *set yr1_03_14_20_2 1 #"I'm going to go check out the farmers market to get a feel for it." *set yr1_03_14_20_2 2 *if (yr1_03_14_20_2 = 1) "I'm going to go to the library to see if I can find anything about Darbury. I figure I should brush up on the history of the place if we're gonna open it to the public," you explain to Alex. *elseif (yr1_03_14_20_2 = 2) "I'm going to go check out the farmers market to get a feel for it. We're probably gonna be spending a lot of time there, especially when the harvest comes in in the summer. I want to get an idea of what kind of competition we're up against," you explain to Alex. *else *bug "That's a good idea. I'm going to go meet up with that rancher to check out the kids. See you back at Darbury for dinner?" "Yeah, sounds good." *page_break *if (yr1_03_14_20_2 = 1) You push through the double oak doors of the library, and the musty scent of old books hits you in the face. The pitter-patter of your footsteps against the marble floor echoes through the cluttered library that was once a home. You turn from the foyer into what was once, you suspect, the dining room. Thick, wooden bookshelves divide the room into a maze, and you glance over the titles to get a sense of where you are. You run your finger along their spines to feel the rough texture of the site-bound titles. You've landed in a section devoted to classics, and an old favorite jumps out at you. You pull it out and read the gilt title. *fake_choice #[i]A Hero of Our Time[/i] *set cha %+ 5 *set book "A Hero of Our Time" #[i]Hadji Murat[/i] *set dir %+ 5 *set book "Hadji Murat" #[i]Northanger Abbey[/i] *set gen %- 5 *set book "Northanger Abbey" #[i]These Happy Golden Years[/i] *set gen %+ 5 *set book "These Happy Golden Years" #[i]Frankentstein[/i] *set hum %+ 5 *set book "Frankentstein" #[i]The Count of Monte Cristo[/i] *set org %+ 5 *set book "The Count of Monte Cristo" #[i]The Awakening[/i] *set org %- 5 *set book "The Awakening" #[i]Wuthering Heights[/i] *set yie %- 5 *set book "Wuthering Heights" You thumb through the book and tuck it under your arm to check out—a little bit of familiar. Heading deeper into the library, you try to get a sense of its organization—what's fiction, what's non-fiction—but you just get confused by the maze. You find your way back into a hallway at the end of which lies the help-desk. The lady sitting there raises her head, and *if ((yr1_02_05_20_i = 0) or (yr1_02_05_20_i = 1)) you groan. *elseif ((yr1_02_05_20_i = 2) or (yr1_02_05_20_i = 3)) your eyes widen in surprise. *else *bug It's Ines Duchamp. You've had little luck finding anything that will teach you more about Darbury Manor, and Ines could probably help. If she's the librarian here, she knows this place inside and out, and she's already demonstrated how much she knows about the estate. *if ((yr1_02_05_20_i = 0) or (yr1_02_05_20_i = 1)) However, you didn't exactly make the best first impression on her. *choice #Ask her for help. *set yie %+ 5 You walk up to the help desk, and Ines glances up to see you. Her glasses, attached to a chain of glass beads, sit on the tip of her nose. *if (yr1_02_05_20_i = 0) She frowns at your approach. *elseif (yr1_02_05_20_i = 1) She purses her lips at you. *elseif (yr1_02_05_20_i = 2) *set i +1 She raises her eyebrows at you. *elseif (yr1_02_05_20_i = 3) *set i +1 She smiles at you. *if ((yr1_02_05_20_i = 0) or (yr1_02_05_20_i = 1)) "Yes?" *elseif ((yr1_02_05_20_i = 2) or (yr1_02_05_20_i = 3)) "How can I help you?" *else *bug "I'm looking for information about the manor," you explain. "I was hoping to find a book, a history maybe." *if (yr1_02_05_20_i = 1) Her expression softens somewhat. *elseif ((yr1_02_05_20_i = 2) or (yr1_02_05_20_i = 3)) Her expression brightens. She stands abruptly. "Follow me." You scurry after her as she leads through the old building. The floorboards creak under your weight, and the tap-tap-tap of Ines' heels creates a quick and complementary rhythm. *if ((yr1_02_05_20_i = 0) or (yr1_02_05_20_i = 1)) *set yr1_03_14_20_2_i 2 *if (height >= 70) For all that you tower over the tiny, fiery lady, you *else You can barely keep up with her pace, and you're beginning to wonder whether she's [i]trying[/i] to outrun you. An unnecessary endeavor, considering you don't even know where you're going. She maintains an icy silence. *fake_choice *if (yr1_02_05_20_i = 0) #"I shouldn't have spoken to you the way I did the other day..." *set yr1_02_05_20_i 4 *set hum %+ 5 *set yie %+ 5 You steel yourself with a deep breath. "I shouldn't have spoken to you the way I did the other day..." She slows her pace enough to look at you sideways, but her posture remains rather stiff. "I thank you for the apology." Maddening woman! You suppress a huff of frustration. *if (yr1_02_05_20_i = 1) #"I'm sorry I wasn't of much help when you dropped by the other day." *set hum %+ 5 *set yie %+ 5 *set i +1 You glance sideways at the older lady. "I'm sorry I wasn't of much help when you dropped by the other day." She slows her pace a bit, and the tension leaves her shoulders. "I believe—" she pauses "—I owe you an apology as well. I should not have... barged in the way I did." She glances at you out of the corner of her eye. *if (((dir >= 55) or (gen >= 55)) or (yie >= 55)) You let out a sigh of relief. "I accept your apology." *else You brush off her apology. "It's no big deal." #Make small talk. *set awk %- 5 *set dir %- 5 *set gen %- 5 *set per %- 5 *set yie %- 5 "Talverton is much more similar to my hometown than I expected," you venture. *if (yr1_02_05_20_i = 0) "How interesting," Ines says in a flat tone. You fiddle with your ${tic}, at a loss for how to continue such a vapid conversation with an unwilling partner. *elseif ((awk <= 45) or (cha >= 55)) "How so?" Ines asks, daring a sideways glance at you. "The climate for one. It isn't exactly as [i]Mediterranean[/i] as I would have expected." Ines nods. "The altitude." *else "Indeed?" Ines asks. You pull at your ${tic}. "Well—yeah..." #Say nothing. *set cha %- 5 *set yie %- 5 The silence continues uninterrupted. The two of you turn a corner. "Here we are," your chaperone announces. *if (yr1_02_05_20_i = 0) She leads you to a bookshelf and watches you like a hawk. The hair on the back of your neck stands on end in agitation, and you grit your teeth. It's not as if you're going to steal anything! The whole point of library is that people take the books! *elseif (yr1_02_05_20_i = 1) She leads you to a bookshelf. "This is where all the local histories are. If you find something, you can bring it back to me to check out." You turn to thank her, but she disappears back down the labyrinth without waiting for your response. After a few minutes, you manage to find a history of Eprea with a few mentions of Talverton and Darbury Manor. You pluck the book from its resting place and *if (yr1_02_05_20_i = 0) turn to Ines. "I'm ready to go." She marches through the door without preamble, and you scramble to follow her. *if (yr1_02_05_20_i = 1) head back to the check out desk. *if ((yr1_02_05_20_i = 2) or (yr1_02_05_20_i = 3)) "How are the renovations coming?" "Well," you answer cautiously. "Bertie seems to be in ${b_their} element now. We're in the middle of wiring the place, and plumbing will start next week." *if (yr1_02_05_20_i = 2) "So quickly?" she asks, but she doesn't wait for an answer. "I remember when we first had indoor plumbing." "I look forward to that day, I have to admit." She glances at you and smiles. "Something tells me that it won't be your first experience with the marvel of the flush toilet." "No quite," you agree, "and I hope that this winter will be the first and [i]last[/i] I have to go without such marvels." *else "You have no plumbing or electricity?" Ines gasps. She stops suddenly and turns to face you. "No—how silly, of course you don't—but how are you surviving? Do you need a place to stay?" You shake your head at her. "It's a very generous offer, but Alex and I are fine. Thank you though." She narrows her eyes and examines you closely. What she hopes to find, you can only imagine. "Very well. But if you need [i]something[/i]—" she pokes you in the chest "—you will come to me." *if (yie >= 55) "Of course," you reply, wide-eyed. *elseif (yie <= 45) "It really won't be necessary," you assure her with a smile. *else You smile and decide to humor her. "Of course." *if (yie > 45) She nods at you, *else She wags her finger at you, and you're off again. *page_break The two of you round a corner. "Here we are," Ines announces. *if (yr1_02_05_20_i = 2) *set yr1_03_14_20_2_i 2 "This is where all the local histories are. If you find something, you can bring it back to me to check out." You thank her, and she turns to leave. After a few minutes, you manage to find a history of Eprea with a few mentions of Talverton and Darbury Manor. You pluck the book from its resting place and head back to Ines. *else *set yr1_03_14_20_2_i 3 "I know just the book." She leads you to a shelf in a dusty corner and thumbs through the titles. "Here we are!" She pulls the book out of its hiding place and brushes the dust off before handing it to you. [i]A History of the British Empire's Hidden Jewels Vol. VIII: Darbury Manor[/i] You grin. "Perfect." Ines reciprocates with a warm smile. "Come—let's get you checked out." #Continue to look for a book on my own. *set yie %- 5 *rand roll 1 2 You slip back into one of the book rooms without drawing her notice and follow the bookshelves as far as they go. When you open the door at the end of the room, you find yourself in an old kitchen. Faded yellow wallpaper with a daisy motif hangs on the walls, and the hum of an ancient refrigerator fills the long but narrow space. Two tables split the room in half. You take a look inside the old wooden boxes sitting on top. Unlike the books in the rest of the library, the books in this room retain their original covers. Bright colors and clashing designs draw your attention. A sign sitting on top says that the library has no use for these donated books. They're free to a good home. You sort through a few titles, mostly trashy romance novels. *fake_choice #Take one. *set yr1_03_14_20_2_i_2 true You grab a cover that reminds you of your mother. You can still remember sitting at the kitchen table on rainy Saturdays and eating lunch in silence while your mom devoured her novel. On this one, an overly-muscled man in a ripped, white shirt holds a woman in his arms. You can barely read the title in its flowery, purple script: [i]Silks of Heaven[/i]. With a second treasure in hand, you head #Leave them. You give the box one last glance before turning away and heading through the door on the other side of the room. This room returns to the familiar. A living room, you think, stuffed full of towering bookcases. You leaf through the books on the nearest shelf, and you're relieved to find some history. *if (roll = 1) *set yr1_03_14_20_2_i 2 After a few minutes, you manage to find a history of Eprea with a few mentions of Talverton and Darbury Manor. You pluck the book from its resting place and decide to head to check out. *else *set yr1_03_14_20_2_i 1 After half an hour of searching, you still can't manage to find any relevant titles. You give up and head back to the desk to check out [i]${var}[/i]. *page_break You set your *if ((yr1_03_14_20_2_i != 1) or (yr1_03_14_20_2_i_2 = true)) books *else book down on the counter and wait for Ines to process them. She eyes your copy of [i]${book}[/i] and looks up at you. "Interesting choice." "An old favorite," you explain. *if (book = "A Hero of Our Time") "I have not read this Lermontov." You smile softly. "It's an odd novel. Hardly a novel at all really." "Then what is it?" "Russian." Ines scrunches her eyebrows at you as if to say, "well [i]obviously[/i] it's Russian." You fight the urge to grin. "It was one of Russia's [i]first[/i] novels," you explain. "It came out a little funny but no less interesting." She nods at you, but you can tell she's not convinced. *if (book = "Hadji Murat") "I had not realized that Tolstoy was capable of writing a book of less than one thousand pages." You smile. "He wrote a lot of things actually. Short stories, fairytales." *if (book = "Northanger Abbey") "Most would have chosen [i]Pride and Prejudice[/i] instead." Her raised eyebrows invite you to explain. "Another favorite, but far more serious. And how could I not channel my inner Catherine while living in a gothic manor of my own?" *if (book = "Little Women") She purses her lips in distaste. "Not a fan?" "Far too moralizing." "Maybe," you agree, "but perhaps more subversive than it appears on the surface." Ines frowns and shakes her head. *if (book = "Frankenstein") "Are you planning to create any monsters in that castle of yours?" she asks with a raised eyebrow. Your eyes twinkle with mischief. "What's the fun of a gothic manor without a little Romanticism?" *if (book = "The Count of Monte Cristo") She nods. "A very good choice." "An adventure tale while I'm having an adventure of my own," you mumble. *if (book = "The Awakening") *if (gender = "m") "I wonder that it is a favorite of [i]yours[/i]..." "You mean because I'm a man." She doesn't contradict you. "A man can be a feminist too." *else She looks up at you from her seat behind the counter and examines you. Her eyes light up in a strange way, and you can't imagine what exactly she's thinking. *if (book = "Wuthering Heights") "Hoping to find ghosts in your manor?" she asks. You think back to your first night with Alex and the mouse. "I think I would be quite content with a perfectly un-haunted, gothic manor." *if (yr1_03_14_20_2_i_2 = true) Her eyes flit between [i]${var}[/i] and [i]Silks of Heaven[/i]. "Quite a disparate selection of texts." *if (awk >= 58) You blush slightly. *else You laugh. "I have quite [i]eclectic[/i] tastes." "Clearly" *if ((yr1_03_14_20_2_i != 1) or (yr1_03_14_20_2_i_2 = true)) She stacks your books *else She sets your book on the counter and hands you a slip of paper. "Due back on the 25th of next month." "Thank you." *if (yr1_02_05_20_i = 0) She nods. *if ((yr1_02_05_20_i = 1) or (yr1_02_05_20_i = 4)) "Of course." *if ((yr1_02_05_20_i = 2) or (yr1_02_05_20_i = 3)) She smiles at you. "It was my pleasure." You take your bounty and slip out of the library, ready to head home. *set var "" *if (yr1_03_14_20_2 = 2) You wander into the open air market. Bright tents break up the space into tidy geometric patterns that direct foot traffic from one vendor to the next in an efficient stream. Trees, just now coming into bloom, provide an additional layer of shade and protection, but on this cloudy day you feel the absence of the sun. A low buzz of conversation pervades the square and seems to catch on the breeze. You amble among the tents, stopping to smell the inviting flowers and examine the vendors and their wares. "What're you on the hunt for today?" The peppy tone startles you out of your contemplation, and you look up with a getting-along-with-strangers smile. The vendor is an unremarkable woman. Average height, dark hair with wisps of gray. She's wearing a set of olive green overalls and a straw hat. An array of jams in a rainbow of colors sit in neat pyramids on her stand. *if (awk >= 55) You find a flavor you like and buy a small jar. The lady beams at you as she hands your purchase over. "Thank you for the business!" You nod with a small smile and disappear into the crowd. *elseif (awk <= 45) "Could I sample your raspberry jam?" you ask. "Certainly!" She hands you a small wooden spoon with a dollop of ooey-gooey, pink jam. It's just the right balance between tart and sweet, and you hand over a handful of coins for a small jar. "Thank you for the business!" "Thank you for the jam." You smile and disappear into the crowd. *else "Just browsing today," you say. The lady smiles at you. "I hope you'll keep me in mind the next time you need some jam!" "Will do," you promise before disappearing into the crowd. *page_break Just as you round the tent, you run straight into someone. You look *if (s_taller = true) up *else down at the man and see a familiar face. "Sebastian!" you exclaim in surprise. "${name}! How nice to see you." "Yeah, yeah, you too," you say as you regain your bearings. When you look back up again you realize that you aren't alone. You glance at the new faces and look back to Sebastian for introductions. When he just continues to grin at you, you cough and glance back at his companions. The woman rolls her eyes. "This fool's never gonna get your hints, honey." She steps forward and extends her free hand—the other holding a toddler securely on her hip—toward you. "I'm Dai—" "Oh-oh, yes! This is Daisy," Sebastian interrupts. "My wife." She has warm dark skin and an even warmer smile. Her curly hair sits just above her shoulders. "And this is Margot," she adds with a gesture at the toddler with chubby cheeks in her arms. An older boy steps forward, the spitting image of Sebastian but for a pair of thick glasses. "I'm Eddie," he says You shake each hand in succession. "I do believe we are missing someone Mrs. More," Sebastian announces in a theatrical voice. A smile plays at the corners of Daisy's lips. "You might just be right, Mr. More." Large brown eyes peek out from behind Daisy's skirt. "Where could that girl be?" *fake_choice #Bend down to say hello. *set cha %+ 5 *set s +1 You take a knee in front of the little girl. "Hello." "Hi," she mumbles through her mother's skirt. "I'm ${nickname}." *if ((cha >= 58) or (gen >= 58)) She peeks out a bit. "I'm summer." *else She tightens her grasp of Daisy's skirt. "This is Summer," Daisy completes for her. "It's nice to meet you, Summer." #Stay where I am. *set cha %- 5 "This is Summer," Daisy says. "It's nice to meet you, Summer. I'm ${first_name}." The girl peeks out from around the safety of her mother's legs. "It's nice to met you too," she mumbles. "What brings you to the market today?" Sebastian asks. He rests his hands on the shoulders of his son. "Just checking things out. I figure I'll be spending a lot of time here when the harvest starts to come in." "Are you the one who bought the manor?" Eddie asks excitedly. "The very one." Your lips twitch upward in amusement. "Is it true that you saw a ghost on your first night??" You suppress a groan. How did anyone hear about your adventure that night? [i]Was it Charlie?[/i] You shake your head—there's no use crying over spilled milk. You grin at the boy. "I sure did." "What did it look like?" "Like a puff of smoke—it glided like a moonbeam through the manor hall." Eddie looks up at his dad. "Can [i]we[/i] spend the night in the manor?" "I don't think that would be th-the best idea—" "Aww, come on dad, why not?" Sebastian sputters for a moment before Daisy picks up the conversation: "Because it's rude to invite yourself somewhere." She adjusts the boy's coat, and he squirms out of her reach before turning his puppy dog eyes on you. *fake_choice #"Uhh—" *set awk %+ 5 Your eyes go wide. "Uhh—" Daisy shoots him a reproachful look. "We will visit if and when ${name} invites us, and not before. Do I make myself clear?" "Yes ma'am," he answers in a deflated tone. #I wink at him. "Why don't we wait and see what the future holds?" *set cha %+ 5 You shoot him a conspiratorial wink. "Why don't we wait and see what the future holds?" Eddie's face shoots up to look at his father. "I heard what ${they} said, bud. We'll wait and see, okay?" Eddie practically vibrates with anticipation. #"Manor's full of construction workers right now, kid. Let's wait and see." *set dir %+ 5 You resist the grimace that rises to your lips. "Manor's full of construction workers right now, kid. Let's wait and see." His face falls a bit, but his mother shoots him a reproachful look. #"What would you do if you saw the ghost?" *set dir %- 5 "What would you do if you saw the ghost?" Eddie's eyes light up. "I would ask it who it was and why it's still in the manor and how it died and—" "Alright Eddie," Daisy interrupts with a laugh. "Why don't you make a list of all of those things when we get home, and if you ever get to meet this ghost, you'll be ready." Eddie nods emphatically. "What do you think of our little market?" Sebastian asks you. "Seems pretty normal," you say. "Do you guys usually come every weekend?" Daisy nods. "It's a good way to keep in touch with the community. Will you be setting up as a vendor soon?" "Probably not for a while. There's just too much going on on the estate to be gone the whole day, but hopefully we'll be able to make an appearance later this summer." Daisy shifts Margot to her other hip. "We'll be sure to stop by when you get set up." "Certainly!" Sebastian adds. *if (s >= 2) "That would be nice," you say with a smile. *else "I appreciate your support," you say. "It'll be our pleasure, but for now, we've got to wrangle these youngins home." You make your goodbyes and wander deeper into the market. *page_break It's too early in the season to see a diverse and colorful harvest, but there's still a lot to be seen, including the people themselves. An older man in a flannel shirt mans a liquor stand. The light trickles through the amber colored liquid and creates mesmerizing patterns on the ground. A few tents beyond, you come across a middle-aged lady who's selling hand-made scarves, gloves, and hats. The pastel colors contrast with the gray light, and you can't help but reach out to feel the soft, knitted material. You watch the customers as much as the vendors and find that there are no patterns. Men, women, the young, the old: everyone drifts through the market. A ${g_person} with curly brown hair and a leather jacket examines every item like an art critic. A baker selling fresh bread draws the attention of a mother with a stroller and two older children. Eventually you've had your fill of people watching, and you decide to return home. *finish