[i]March 31st[/i]

The drilling in the background has become the sound track of your life.
Unfortunately, it has also become the cause of your head ache.
When all the workers go home at night, you can still hear it like the residual effects of an explosion.
You rub your temples to try to avert the throbbing.

Bertie's commandant-esque voice echoes from down the hall as ${b_they} gives out orders.
You're holed up in the make-shift headquarters making final selections.

Subway tile or travertine?
[i]Subway, of course[/i].
You didn't spend the last five years in New York for nothing.
Marble or butcher block?
[i]Butcher block[/i].
Just like home.

Your manor, like you, will be a lifetime's collection of quirks and idiosyncrasies.
A little bit of Kentucky, a little bit of New York, a lot of you.

You close your eyes and continue to massage your aching head.

*page_break

A knock at the door grabs your attention, and you open your eyes to a familiar face.

"Judy!" you say.
"What brings you here?"

Deciding that's invitation enough, she slides into the room and pulls a paper box out of her canvas bag.
"I brought you some pastries!"

She sets the box in front of you, and you peak inside, headache momentarily forgotten.
Your mouth practically waters at the sight of the chocolate croissants.

Judy laughs.
"They're not for decoration—eat one!"

You don't have to be asked twice.
You grab one and tear a piece off to shove straight into your mouth.
It's still warm, and it melts on your tongue.

*page_break

"Thanks," you say through a mouthful of pastry.
"This is good.
Real good."

Judy blushes with pleasure.
"They're a favorite down at the bakery.
We usually sell out within an hour, but I wanted you to have some."

"Bless your heart," you moan.

She giggles.
"I'm glad you like it.
I brought several, so you can share with Alex—" you raise a skeptical eyebrow at her "—or not!"

"I guess I'll have to wait and see what kind of mood ${a_they}'s in."

"Your secret's safe with me!"
She winks at you for good measure.

"How'd you get to be a baker anyway?" you ask.
"You're so..."

"Young?" she finishes for you with a light laugh.

"Maybe just a tad."

"I finished school pretty young.
I started out with a cart that I hauled down to the square every morning.
Eventually I saved up enough money for a truck, and then I traded the truck for an actual building.
Everyone in Talverton was pretty enthusiastic about supporting me."

*choice
  #"I'm not surprised you've been so successful with as hard as you've worked," I say.
    *set gen %+ 5
    You think about how much time and effort it takes to make the croissants sitting on the corner of your desk.
    "I'm not surprised you've been so successful with as hard as you've worked."

    Judy smiles at the praise.
    "I've had a lot of help."

    "Did any of that 'help' get up at the crack of dawn with you?" you ask.

    She giggles.
    "Not exactly."

    "Then let the record reflect that you do in fact work very hard.
    "And it shows," you add as you take a big bite of your croissant.
    "Or perhaps it tastes?"

    "I have a feeling you work pretty hard too."

    *if (gen <= 42)
      "Oh yes, I've broken a real sweat picking out these—" you gesture to the catalogues around you "—materials and colors."
    *else
      "I don't get up at the crack of dawn, though."

    Judy looks at you knowingly.
    "Let's see how long that lasts."

    You laugh.
    "That's what Alex is for."
    *page_break
  #"With chocolate croissants like these, who wouldn't be?" I joke.
    *set gen %- 5
    You take another bite of your croissant and talk through the mouthful.
    "With chocolate croissants like these, who wouldn't be?"

    Judy chuckles.
    "I didn't have the chocolate croissants at the beginning.
    I didn't even have an oven!"

    "I can sympathize.
    Where did you bake everything that you sold?"

    "My parents' house.
    I'd get up at the crack of dawn, bake as much as I could before morning rush, and then scurry off to the square to sell my creations."

    "I miss having an oven.
    And a stove.
    Hell, I'd take a microwave at this point."

    "You could always come cook with me?"
    The invitation is tentative; she's feeling out the waters.

    *fake_choice
      #"That would be fun!" I agree.
        *set yr1_03_31_20_j 1
        Your eyes light up at the possibility.
        "That would be fun!"

        Judy grins.
      #"Maybe," I say, buying myself time to consider the proposal.
        *set yr1_03_31_20_j 2
        You keep your eyes fixed on Judy rather than looking at all the unfinished projects sitting within your line of sight.
        Just the thought of standing in front of an oven for a few hours exhausts you.
        "Maybe," you agree vaguely.

        Judy nods.
  #"Do you think the locals will hold my foreign-ness against me?" I ask.
    *set hum %+ 5
    You play up your Kentucky drawl.
    "Do you think the locals will hold my foreign-ness against me?"

    Judy scrunches up her mouth.
    "For the most part—no, I don't think so, but there might be some people who are a little... hesitant."

    "People like Ines Duchamp?" you ask.

    "You said it, not me.
    She's [i]protective[/i] of this place."

    *if (((yr1_02_05_20_i = 0) or (yr1_02_05_20_i = 1)) or (yr1_02_05_20_i = 4))
      "Don't I know it," you mumble.  
    *else
      "Is she really so bad?"

    "She's pretty stubborn, but she's also really loyal.
    Her grand${g_child} is definitely worse."

    "Worse how?" you ask, equal parts curious and alert.

    "$!{g_they}'s a real ass!"

    You laugh.
    "Tell us how you really feel."  
    *page_break    
  #"That bodes well for this place," I say.
    *set hum %- 5
    "That bodes well for this place," you say.

    Judy nods.
    "Talverton's a pretty small place.
    The novelty of having a new business—and a new person—will carry you pretty far."

    "And Alex and I will carry it the rest of the way," you declare.

    She smiles at you.
    "I've no doubt.
    And besides, I'm sure everyone will want to meet the cute new farmer."

    *if ((gen <= 42) or (hum >= 58))
      "I'll be sure to introduce them to Alex then."

      Judy swats at you.
      "Learn to take a compliment!"

      "You can't teach an old dog new tricks!"

      "Good thing you're not a dog then," she retorts.
 
      You shake your head and laugh.

    *elseif ((cha >= 58) or (hum <= 42))
      You grin.
      "I'm very cute, aren't I?"

      "Fabulously," she agrees with an emphatic nod.
    *elseif (awk >= 55)
      You laugh nervously, and Judy punches your shoulder.
      "It's true!" she insists
    *else
      "Whatever you say," you say with a laugh.
      
    *if (b_rom > 0)
      "Besides," she continues, "rumor has it, you've already caught a certain someone's eye, hmm?"

      *gosub_scene mechanics_setup flirt_style
      *if (style = 1)
        "Pshaw, a little harmless flirtation is nothing to write home about."
      *else
        "I don't know what you're talking about," you mumble, fixing your gaze on the chocolate croissant in front of you.

      "Uh-huh, sure."

    *page_break
      
She glances at the clock sitting on the old dining table that you're using as a desk.
"I better get back to the kitchen.
Gotta get ready for the lunch rush!"

"Thanks for bringing these by."

"Letting me see the inside of this place is thanks enough."

You look around at the room you're in.
A fine layer of plaster dust coats the chipped wooden floorboards.
Stacks of catalogues and magazines sit on your table and on the floor below.
It's not, to say the least, a [i]regal[/i] sight.

"Well, at least you're easy to please."

Judy laughs.
"The [i]after[/i] will be even more impressive for my having seen the [i]before[/i]."
*if (j > 0)
  She gives you a quick hug
*else
  She waves
and makes her way out the door.

As much as your mouth might think otherwise, these croissants are too good to keep to yourself.
*fake_choice
  #I decide to take some to Alex.
    *set yr1_03_31_20_2 1
    *set a +1
  #I decide to take some to Charlie.
    *set yr1_03_31_20_2 2
    *set c +1
    *set cj +1

*if (yr1_03_31_20_2 = 1)
  ALEX
  You step out of the office and head for the gardens.
  As expected, you find Alex in one of the fields, flinging carrot seeds at the freshly plowed dirt.
  You wave ${a_them} down, and ${a_they} scurries over to the edge of the field.
  
  "Wasn't expecting to see you until later today," ${a_they} says.

  You point to the box of croissants in your hands.
  "Special delivery."

  You can practically see ${a_their} mouth water.
  But then ${a_they} frowns.
  Holding ${a_their} hands up to eye level, you see the problem.
  They're covered in dirt.
  Or [i]Earth[/i] as your grandmother would insist.

  A smile forming on your lips, you repress a laugh when a look of deepest despair overcomes your friend's face.
  "Don't get your britches in a wad," you chide as you take a step closer to ${a_them}, careful not to get mud all over your definitely-not-intended-for-the-fields sneakers.

  You grab one of the croissants, touching it only with the tips of your thumb and middle finger.
  When Alex opens ${a_their} mouth, you set the croissant
  *if (a_rom > 0)
    tenderly onto ${a_their} tongue.
  *else
    in ${a_their} mouth.

  $!{a_they} bites at it, about as elegantly as one of the kids going after their bottles, and you laugh at ${a_their} enthusiasm.
  "Shut up," ${a_they} mumbles through ${a_their} mouthful.

  *if (a_rom > 0)
    When ${a_they}'s finished, you wipe ${a_their} chin off with a napkin.
  The two of you chat for a few minutes before duty calls again.

  At last you head back to the manor, and Alex returns to the field.

*if (yr1_03_31_20_2 = 2)
  You set off toward the property line, shrugging into a jacket as you exit the manor.
  Atop the old stone fence, you can see a figure in the distance, tending to a flock of sheep.

  As you get closer, you're satisfied to confirm your suspicions.
  Charlie waves at you, frightening one of the sheep who makes a run for it, its flight quickly curtailed by the watchful dog nearby.

  "What brings you here this morning?" she calls out to you.

  "Special delivery!"
  When you get close enough, you open up the box and offer one of the croissants to Charlie, who doesn't hesitate to take advantage of your generosity.

  "Judy brought them by this morning," you tell her.

  *if (per >= 56)
    Her eyes snap up to yours.
  "Oh?" she asks.
  "And how was she?"

  "Good, I think.
  I thought you might like one."

  Charlie laughs.
  "You thought right.
  I love Judy's croissants."

  *if ((yr1_03_14_20_1 = 2) or (yr1_03_14_20_1 = 3))
    *if (per >= 58)
      "Just her croissants?" you ask, a smile teasing your features.
 
      Charlie eyes you.
      "Most of her stuff."

      "Mmhmm."

      "What?"

      You shrug, schooling your features into a neutral expression.
      "Nothing."

      "Whatever," Charlie says, turning her nose up at you.
      "I'm eating a croissant, so it's impossible to get a rise out of me."

      "Whatever you say,"
  *else
    "They're really good," 
  you agree.
  "Well I better get back to it."

  Charlie nods.
  "I know the feeling."

  You wave your goodbye and head back to the manor.
  




*if (i > 0)
  *page_break
  *goto_scene story_20_04_06
*else
  *finish