Working as an office assistant has its ups and downs. You can't exactly remember how you ended up in this job, but it was likely somewhere between desperation and bills past due. It definitely wasn't something that you love, but it was stable enough for now. *if ((degree = "law") or (degree = "medical")) Of course, this job isn't your endgame either. As soon as you get enough money to return to school, you'll be kissing your 2,000 emails goodbye. On a normal day, you’d go to your cubicle, tap away on the computer, answer emails and forward complaints to other people. If it was a particularly slow day, you'd watch some show you’ve seen a thousand times. Today was a bit different though, since all anybody is talking about is the royal announcement. “It’s already trending online! No way!” Somebody exclaims from across the office. Definitely an intern, you think. No, actually, you think they've been working here for months. To be honest, besides the person you sat next to everyday, you didn’t talk too much to anybody else in the office. Speaking of your deskmate... You glance around for Liz, a curly-headed girl who was every bit fiery as her red hair. You finally spot her frantically trying to make a coffee and get back to her seat before the announcement began. You couldn’t help but chuckle as she plops down in her chair next to yours. “Good $!{player_first_name}, you already have it up on your computer! Look, I’m not even all into the whole royal thing or whatever, but I’m not gonna lie, this has me intrigued as hell,” Liz says, sipping on her coffee. You nod in agreement, about to add on to Liz’s sentiments when the Odessa National Anthem begins to play from your computer speakers. The entire office goes silent as the Royal Family appears. *page_break “Good afternoon, my people. Thank you so much for joining us this afternoon for this announcement,” King Frederick begins. He’s not dressed as formally as he was in the photo on the website you looked at last night, but he’s at least wearing his crown and an ivory colored button down with silver buttons. At his right side is Queen Ramona, whose bright white smile is on grand display. She proudly wears her crown and a bold red dress with long sleeves that almost cover both of her hands. At the King’s left side is $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} who looks as if ${royal_he_she_they} stepped right out of the photo you looked at last night. $!{royal_his_her_their} behavior, though, is a bit of a mystery to you. How does $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} act in front of the cameras? [i] Note: This is where you choose the royal's personality for the game, so select carefully! [/i] *choice #Pretty aloof. I can't remember the last time ${royal_he_she_they} smiled, at least when cameras were nearby. *set royal_personality "aloof" It was actually pretty rare to see $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} in public, but if the $!{royal_title} was, ${royal_he_she_they} always looked like ${royal_he_she_they} would rather be at home or in ${royal_his_her_their} room. $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} had maybe smiled once or twice in public, ever. The $!{royal_title} wasn’t smiling here either. $!{royal_he_she_they} looked like ${royal_he_she_they} wanted to be anywhere but in front of the camera. Still, ${royal_he_she_they} continues where ${royal_his_her_their} father left off. “Yes. Quite. We have some news to share about Odessa Dates, the website that has quickly become the most popular website in Odessa of all time,” $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} says. “It involves me, actually.” “Us, you mean! Well, anybody that’s signed up for Odessa Dates, that is,” Princess Mozelle corrects with a sweet smile towards her ${sibling_title}. *if (royal_gender = "non-binary") “Sure, Mozelle,” $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} says, not even bothering to make eye contact with their sibling. They cross their arms, signaling that they were done talking for now. *if (royal_gender = "female") “Sure, Mozelle,” $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} says, not even bothering to make eye contact with ${royal_his_her_their} sibling. $!{royal_he_she_they} crosses ${royal_his_her_their} arms, signaling that ${royal_he_she_they} was done talking for now. *if (royal_gender = "male") “Sure, Mozelle,” $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} says, not even bothering to make eye contact with ${royal_his_her_their} sibling. $!{royal_he_she_they} crosses ${royal_his_her_their} arms, signaling that ${royal_he_she_they} was done talking for now. “Actually, my daughter is correct,” King Frederick says. “We...haven’t exactly been truthful about Odessa Dates’ true nature.” *page_break Most of the office gasps around you. Immediately, the room erupts into noise. Half of the room was trying to figure out why the Crown would lie and what the website is for, while the other half was trying to get everybody to shut up so they could hear. Eventually, the explosion of noise dies down as the Queen continues. “Yes. While Odessa Dates is a true dating website that has successfully paired up over 100,000 profiles, it also had a second purpose,” Queen Ramona says, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She takes a deep breath and laces her fingers with her husband’s before continuing. “Odessa Dates was also created to find the most compatible people for $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name}, our eldest child. We are pleased to announce that we have invited the top 10 compatible profiles with the $!{royal_title} as matched through Odessa Dates, to Dia to compete in The Odessa Dating Games." King Frederick pauses, as if trying to gather courage to continue. Eventually, he does. “The Odessa Dating Games will be a competition for my eldest child’s hand. $!{royal_he_she_they} will marry the winner of the competition, which will put participants through a series of challenges in which the participant will have to prove that they can handle royal responsibilities, social responsibilities and much more.” There’s another pause, seemingly for the heir in question to fill. After attempting to hold in a groan, $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} uncrosses ${royal_his_her_their} arms and looks into the camera again. “Rest assured that Odessa Dates will still continue to be an active dating website for all of Odessa to enjoy. My father simply wishes to see if I can find the same happiness as many of you have,” $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} says, stuffing ${royal_his_her_their} hands into the pockets of ${royal_his_her_their} trousers. “I am looking forward to meeting the contestants in a few weeks.” The $!{royal_title} looks away from the camera, leaving the King to wrap everything up, much to his chagrin. “I’m sure everybody has a lot of questions. We will have another press conference in a few days to answer more. For now, we will be focusing on preparing for the competition,” the King says. He straightens up, which seems to be some sort of signal between the Royal Family, because they all reach for each other’s hands, even the $!{royal_title}. “Godspeed and God bless Odessa,” they all say in unison before the feed is cut. *page_break *goto_scene chapter1_fallout #One word: rude. I've never seen a meaner royal. $!{royal_he_she_they} didn't seem to care about anything unless it revolved around ${royal_him_her_them}. *set royal_personality "rude" *goto_scene rudeannouncement #Incredibly shy. In fact, so shy, you can rarely find ${royal_him_her_them} in front of a camera. *set royal_personality "shy" Despite how much media training the Royal Family got throughout their lives, it never seemed to quite rub off on $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name}. The $!{royal_title} was just so dreadfully shy whenever ${royal_he_she_they} had to appear on camera. Today is no different, as the $!{royal_title} had ${royal_his_her_their} attention on a loose string on ${royal_his_her_their} shirt while the King talked. “It’s not easy to admit this, but Odessa Dates isn’t exactly all we’ve made it out to be,” Queen Ramona begins, glancing over at her eldest child. “Isn’t that right, $!{royal_first_name}?” $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} looks up from the string and nods, swallowing thickly before beginning to speak. “Right. Right, Mother. Odessa Dates is a dating website for the people of Odessa, of course. But it’s...well, it’s also for me as well,” $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} says. King Frederick nods. “Yes. Correct, $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name}. I created an account for my child on Odessa Dates to hopefully match ${royal_him_her_them} up somebody in Odessa. I’m pleased to say that Odessa Dates has not only matched ${royal_him_her_them} up with somebody, but numerous people." He nods over at his child and places his hand on ${royal_his_her_their} shoulder. "Said people will be joining us for a competition for $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name}'s hand.” *page_break Liz gasps, as does most of the office. “A competition? Surely the King is kidding?” She asks. “Doubt it,” you answer. “When have you ever known the King to joke?” “This is no laughing matter,” King Frederick says, as if he was right in the room with you and the rest of the office. “The profiles on Odessa Dates that are the most compatible with the heir have been contacted and will be arriving in Dia in a few weeks.” “There’s going to be another press conference soon to answer any questions you might have. Promise. For now, though, this is the end,” Princess Mozelle says. “Much to the relief of my sibling.” $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} actually lets out a small laugh at that. “Whatever, Mo." King Frederick sighs softly before giving his signature farewell, “Godspeed and God bless Odessa.” The feed cuts off shortly after he says those words. *page_break *goto_scene chapter1_fallout #Super charming, almost to a fault. The $!{royal_title} is the textbook definition of a perfect royal, right down to ${royal_his_her_their} behavior around the paparazzi, the fans and ${royal_his_her_their} family. *set royal_personality "charming" *goto_scene charmingannouncement #So flirty! It's almost insane how much the $!{royal_title} can flirt with just about anything that moves. It's almost even more insane how many people fall for it. *set royal_personality "flirty" Anybody with eyes could see how much the $!{royal_title} loved to play the field. When not in a relationship, ${royal_he_she_they} would cozy up in public to just about anybody ${royal_he_she_they} could find. You remember a snippet of an interview you saw one time when a reporter asked the royal about the frequency of ${royal_his_her_their} relationships. “What can I say? I love to love, but I love to hook up too,” $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} told them before giving the reporter a smirk. The reporter’s cheeks burned red and she quickly moved on to another question. $!{royal_his_her_their} most recent breakup was actually ${royal_his_her_their} longest public relationship. The eldest royal had a shopping list long of exes and it didn’t seem like the $!{royal_title} would be stop adding to that anytime soon. “Yes, thank you for joining us,” Queen Ramona adds on to her husband’s greeting, bringing you out of your thoughts. “We’re all here today to share some news about Odessa Dates.” $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} chuckles and wraps ${royal_his_her_their} arms around ${royal_his_her_their} mother’s shoulders. “Yep! Mother and Father, well, mostly Father, decided that he was tired of me chasing after trousers and skirt tails and left my love life in the hands of a computer program.” *page_break “Um. Right,” King Frederick says, appearing to try his hardest not to chastise his child in front of the entire nation. “Odessa Dates is still a premier website for Odessa citizens to find love, but it was also created to find my eldest child a partner. We have achieved that.” The screen in front of your eyes changes to the beginnings of an advertisement. “My team and I have gathered the most compatible profiles with my ${parent_title} on Odessa Dates and invited them to compete in a competition: The Odessa Dating Games,” King Frederick explains. “Over the course of a few months, my Father hopes that this little competition will help me find my match and future co-ruler of Odessa. There will be challenges, events and good old fashioned hooking up,” $!{royal_title} $!{royal_first_name} adds, obviously enjoying this entire thing. “There will not be hooking up,” King Frederick says firmly as the advertisement ends. He's completely annoyed at this point and doesn't bother to hide it from the cameras. “This will be a serious competition to find the future ruler of Odessa. My ${parent_title} might not be taking this seriously, but I and the contestants will. We will answer more questions when the time comes.” The firmness of ${royal_his_her_their} father’s words seems to wake up the $!{royal_title}. Before ${royal_he_she_they} could let out a word, though, the King cuts ${royal_him_her_them} off. “Godspeed and God bless Odessa,” King Frederick sighs before the feed cuts. As you and Liz looks at the black screen in front of you, she only has one word to say: "Sheesh." *page_break *goto_scene chapter1_fallout #Very sarcastic. The $!{royal_title} often toes the line between being serious and being sarcastic when stopped by the press, or anybody for that matter. *set royal_personality "sarcastic" *goto_scene sarcasticannouncement