*disable_reuse

*if (oldroyal_personality = "aloof")
    We don’t say much else on our walk to the gardens. It wasn’t too far from the Great Hall, but the distance is long enough that the silence is almost unbearable. All that can be heard is the clicking of my shoes and the occasional soft sigh from $!{player_first_name}. A worker or two pause and bow towards me every so often, but neither one of us caves and says a word as we reach the gardens.

    I stand back a bit, allowing $!{player_first_name} to take a good look at ${player_his_her_their} surroundings. I had seen these gardens hundreds of times.

    Flowers from each and every part of the rainbow dot the gardens as far as the eye could see. $!{player_first_name} and I are at the beginnings of a cobblestone pathway that leads towards the east and west areas of the gardens. In the center of the gardens is a large fountain that spurts water at regular intervals.

    These gardens have been the backdrop for many proposals, weddings and other events. I was sure that some part of the competition would take place here. Lost in my thoughts, I don’t realize that $!{player_first_name} is no longer near me until I notice ${player_him_her_them} over by a few camellia bushes. 

    I follow after ${player_him_her_them}, stopping a decent distance away. $!{player_first_name} looks up, an unknown facial expression on ${player_his_her_their} face.

    “I, er, assume you probably have some questions, right? About me, or the competition in general? Feel free to ask me anything you’d like,” I offer, moving a bit closer to the camellia flower bush. 
    *page_break
    *goto aloofquestions

    *label aloofquestions
    *fake_choice
        #“When did you find out about all of this? The competition and everything?”
            "Pretty much after Lyon did," I answer, remembering how frantic Father was. I had never seen him so giddy and excited about sticking his nose into my love life. 
            
            "The minute he was made aware that you were my highest match, he began to dispatch different guards to head towards the other contestants places. All the while, creating and drafting what he would say for the news conference," I finish.
            
            In truth, I really haven't had time to digest the news and competition myself, but what difference did it make anyway? I would still have to do it, like it or not. I always thought it was best not to think too hard about the things I didn't have the ability to change.
            *page_break
            *goto aloofquestions
        #“You don’t think you and I are actually that compatible, do you?”
            "No," I answer, rather quickly. $!{player_first_name}'s eyes widen and ${player_he_she_they} quickly busies ${player_himself_herself_themselves} with messing with the flowers again.
            
            A bit abrupt, but it was the truth. I've said it a hundred times, but I simply didn't believe that a computer system could determine my spouse. Sounds like something straight out of a fairy tale or some crazy game.
            
            "I think we could have some chemistry, but it's simply too soon to tell," I say, attempting to add more detail to my previous statement.
            
            "I see," is all $!{player_first_name} says.
            *page_break
            *goto aloofquestions
        #“What do you like to do in your free time?”
            I nearly snort. Free time? The only time I was really free to do anything was when I was asleep. Even then, royal responsibilities and my own troubles still creeped into my dreams.
            
            "When I can, I like to read. I'm a fan of the classics," I answer, picking a flower off its stem, despite the "spoken unspoken" rule about leaving the flowers alone. 
            
            I am unable to read at the volume I did when I was younger, but I try to finish at least a book every few weeks. 
            
            "Besides reading, not much else. Mozelle likes to stick her hands into anything she can find though," I say, a smile playing at my lips. It soon vanishes as quickly as it came.
            *page_break
            *goto aloofquestions

        #“Are you nervous about this competition?”
            "Not really," I say, which seemed to surprise $!{player_first_name}.
            
            "Really? I mean, it's not really your cup of tea, is it?"
            
            Something like this wasn't, but I had to do it. If this competition didn't work, Father would keep trying and trying until I did finally find somebody to be with forever. 
            
            "Father's been trying to get me paired off with somebody ever since I was born. Things like this have become second nature at this point," I say. 
            *page_break
            *goto aloofquestions
        
        #“What’s it like being the $!{oldroyal_title}?”
            "Stressful, I suppose. Being told where to be at, when and why constantly gets old, but I do enjoy talking to the citizens, traveling when I need to. Really, it's more like a job or a duty to me," I answer.
            
            I used to despise going out in public and doing ambassador like events, but as I grew older, I became more and more comfortable with it. I have it a lot better my cousins, who basically ran their countries with little help and a lot of opposition. 
            
            I could definitely go down and volunteer in the park if it meant that I didn't have to do anything they were doing. At least not yet.
            
            "It's hard sometimes, but if I had a choice in where I would end up when I was born, I'd still choose to be a royal."
            *page_break
            *goto aloofquestions

        #$!{player_first_name} stops asking me questions.
            *page_break
            *goto_scene fauxend
        
*if (oldroyal_personality = "shy")
    We don’t say much else on our walk to the gardens. It wasn’t too far from the Great Hall, but the distance is long enough that the silence is almost unbearable. All that can be heard is the clicking of my shoes and the occasional soft sigh from $!{player_first_name}. 

    I fiddle with anything in my reach as we walk, a loose string on my clothes, my hands, just anything. I barely look at where I’m going, as I’m too busy looking away from $!{player_first_name}. 

    A worker or two pause and bow towards me every so often, but neither one of us says a word as we reach the gardens.

    I stand back a bit, allowing $!{player_first_name} to take a good look at ${player_his_her_their} surroundings. I had seen these gardens hundreds of times, but the first time seeing it was always special for most visitors. 

    Flowers from each and every part of the rainbow dot the gardens as far as the eye could see. $!{player_first_name} and I are at the beginnings of a cobblestone pathway that leads towards the east and west areas of the gardens. In the center of the gardens is a large fountain that spurts water at regular intervals.

    These gardens have been the backdrop for many proposals, weddings and other events. I was sure that some part of the competition would take place here. Lost in my thoughts, I don’t realize that $!{player_first_name} is no longer near me until I notice ${player_him_her_them} over by a few bellflower bushes. 

    I follow after ${player_him_her_them}, stopping a decent distance away. $!{player_first_name} looks up, ${player_his_her_their} fingers resting on the petals of the flowers.

    “These are nice,” $!{player_first_name} says. “I’ve never seen these flowers in $!{player_hometown}.” 

    I smile slightly. Mother planted them when she first arrived in Odessa. They were supposed to mean unwavering love when you gave them to somebody. I wasn’t sure how true that was, but they were still pretty to look at.

    “So, I was wondering if I could ask you some questions?” 

    I nearly jump as $!{player_first_name}’s question breaks me out of my thoughts. Though I was a bit apprehensive, I nod.

    “Sure,” I answer, eyes shifting away from the bellflower bush.
    *page_break
    *goto shyquestions

    *label shyquestions
    *fake_choice
        #“When did you find out about all of this? The competition and everything?”
            “Probably a couple of hours before the press conference,” I answer. 
            
            Father held in this news about everything until it was nearly time to go on air, much to my dismay. He claimed that he didn’t want to stress me out or freak me out, but I was sure that those were lies.

            If Father could’ve found some way to have the press conference without me, I’m sure he would’ve done it.

            “That soon? We basically found out about the same time,” $!{player_first_name} replies with a shake of ${player_his_her_their} head. $!{player_first_name} waits a few moments, seemingly expecting me to continue talking more about the situation, but eventually moves on when I don’t say anything further.
            *page_break
            *goto shyquestions
        #“You don’t think you and I are actually that compatible, do you?”
            “I don’t know, $!{player_first_name},” I answer. “Father’s team seems pretty competent.”

            This whole idea was pretty far fetched in my mind, but it was too late to do anything about it. Where could Father have even gotten an idea like this from?

            “I guess we’ll see,” $!{player_first_name} replies.
            *page_break
            *goto shyquestions
        #“What do you like to do in your free time?”

            My eyes widen a bit at that question. It’s been so long since I was asked a basic, well, first date question like that. It takes me a minute to come up with an answer.

            “Usually, I like to get away. Go to places like this,” I begin, looking away from $!{player_first_name}. “Sometimes I garden. Maybe sketch.”

            None of the plants and flowers that I tended to were in this particular garden, but I recognized most, if not all of them here. Some were mother’s specialties or plants from other countries, but overall, I liked to think of myself as an expert in all things flowers and gardening.

            Sketching, on the other hand, was probably one of the only things that Father didn’t mind if I stayed in my room for days and solely focused on it. I still shudder at the numerous times I had to explain my entire thought process about a simple drawing of a dog to foreign dignitaries. 
            *page_break
            *goto shyquestions

        #“Are you nervous about this competition?”
            Very.

            Mother tried to keep me out of the public’s view when I was younger, as all I would do was cling to her leg and pout until the event was over. Media and royal training helped a bit as I got older, but I still tried to find ways to get out of events, or make Mozelle go in my place. Of course, there’s only so many things you can bribe your sister with until she eventually just tells you to suck it up and go.

            This competition is the largest event I have ever been apart of, besides a few royal weddings on my Mother’s side of the family. There was no hiding, no bribing, no way to not participate. 

            So yes, I’m nervous about this competition, about the millions of ways it could go wrong and how I could potentially be just as alone as I was at the beginning of all of this. However, I don’t tell $!{player_first_name} all of this and instead say,

            “Not really.”
            *page_break
            *goto shyquestions
        #“What’s it like being the $!{oldroyal_title}?”

            “Hm, lots of meetings. Impressing people. Stress,” I chuckle, which makes $!{player_first_name} smile. “But it could be worse. I try to avoid things where a lot of the media will be at, except something like the competition, of course.”

            As I push Mozelle to do a lot of the heavily royal things, I’m definitely not as involved as I probably should be. That probably was a better question for her instead of me.

            *page_break
            *goto shyquestions
        #$!{player_first_name} stops asking me questions.
            *page_break
            *goto_scene fauxend
        
*if (oldroyal_personality = "jerk")
    We don’t say much else on our walk to the gardens. It wasn’t too far from the Great Hall, but the distance is long enough that the silence is almost unbearable. All that can be heard is the clicking of my shoes and the occasional mumble or grunt from $!{player_first_name}. 

    I adjust the crown on my head every so often, but otherwise, my arms are folded tightly against my chest. I would dump $!{player_first_name} in the gardens and head back to my quarters, but I really wasn’t in the mood to hear Father yell at me for 30 minutes after the fact. 

    A worker or two pause and bow towards me every so often but neither one of us says a word as we reach the gardens. For the workers’, that’s an improvement. Usually I would glare back.

    I stand back a bit, allowing $!{player_first_name} to take a good look at ${player_his_her_their} surroundings once we arrive in the gardens. The next time ${player_he_she_they} saw the gardens, it wouldn’t be because of a forced tour and I definitely wouldn’t be anywhere nearby.

    Flowers from each and every part of the rainbow dot the gardens as far as the eye could see. $!{player_first_name} and I are at the beginnings of a cobblestone pathway that leads towards the east and west areas of the gardens. In the center of the gardens is a large fountain that spurts water at regular intervals.

    These gardens have been the backdrop for many proposals, weddings and other events. I was sure that some part of the competition would take place here.

    “Well, you saw the flowers. Now if you’ll excuse me--”

    What I didn’t expect next was for $!{player_first_name} to:
    *fake_choice
        #Sigh and turn back on ${player_his_her_their} heel to go back inside.
            *set aloof +1
            “Hey, wait!” I exclaim. “We did not walk all the way over here for you to turn around and leave.”

            I start to reach out for ${player_his_her_their} elbow, but I think better of it. Just because my father didn’t have boundaries doesn’t mean that I had to ignore them.

            $!{player_first_name} stops and turns around slightly. “Look, you don’t have to like this, or even me, but if this is how you’re going to act when it’s just us two, you’re going to have a really hard time when the other contestants come.”

            I sigh, as ${player_he_she_they} did have a point. Swallowing down an apology, I glance behind my shoulder.

            “Alright. I’ll show you a few bushes, you ask a few questions, if you have any and then we’ll call it a day. Deal?” I say.

            “Deal,” $!{player_first_name} replies.
            *page_break
            *goto jerkquestions
        #Bite down on ${player_his_her_their} lip and play around with ${player_his_her_their} fingers, sniffling softly.
            *set shy +1
            Oh for God’s sake. Please tell me $!{player_first_name} isn’t about to start crying. 

            “Hold the waterworks, $!{player_first_name},” I say, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Look, we can go look at the flowers. Hell, you can ask me questions if you want. Just don’t cry.”

            I almost feel bad. $!{player_first_name} looks like how Mozelle used to get when I would tease her too much. $!{player_first_name} still seems a bit sullen, but does get around to speaking, finally.
            *page_break
            *goto jerkquestions
        #Grab on to my elbow and yank me back to face ${player_him_her_them}.
            *set jerk +1
            "Who the hell do you think you are?" I ask, immediately yanking my elbow out of ${player_his_her_their} grip. The nerve of $!{player_first_name}! For somebody that seemed so good at following royal customs, $!{player_first_name} was doing a bad job of following them at the moment. 
            
            "Well, I'm not your damn punching bag, so drop the attitude. You can't just dump me here and not tell me how to leave or go somewhere else," $!{player_first_name} says. "What's wrong with you?"
            
            I narrow my eyes and boy, the string of curse words I want to direct ${player_his_her_their} direction was growing longer by the second. 
            
            "We have maybe an hour or so left and then you can go back to ignoring me and yelling at anybody that breathes. King Frederick said that you might be able to answer some questions I had. You want to answer them, or do you want to continue being a dick?" $!{player_first_name} finishes. 
            
            I close my eyes and try to center myself. I take quite a few deep breaths, still feeling that red hot rage deep inside of me, but at least the string of curse words I wanted to throw at $!{player_first_name} shrunk significantly. 
            
            "Just ask already," I say. 
            *page_break
            *goto jerkquestions
        #Smile and pick a nearby flower off its bush, asking me what kind it was.
            *set charming +1
            "Excuse me?" I ask in disbelief. Here I was being, well, a jerk, and $!{player_first_name} was just letting it roll off of ${player_his_her_their} back like it was nothing. 
            
            "This flower? What is it? I've never seen it before," $!{player_first_name} repeats.
            
            "Of course you haven't seen them before. They're foxgloves," I reply with a roll of my eyes. "They have some sort of silly meaning, but I can't remember what it is."
            
            $!{player_first_name} smiles a little and pockets the flower before turning ${player_his_her_their} attention back to the flower bush. 
            
            "Thanks for telling me. Do you mind if I ask you other questions?"
            
            I snort. "Of course I do. What makes you think I want to even talk to you?"
            
            $!{player_first_name} thinks for a second before shrugging. "I mean, you've already answered my last two questions."
            
            I groan and lean against a nearby bench. "Go ahead and ask before I change my mind," I tell ${player_him_her_them}. 
            *page_break
            *goto jerkquestions
        #Pout playfully, bat ${player_his_her_their} eyelashes and ask, “You’re not really leaving me here, are you?”
            *set flirty +1
            "Yes. Are you hard of hearing?" I ask, resuming my walk back towards the palace.
            
            "No, I'm just heartbroken," $!{player_first_name} sighs exaggeratedly. I hear ${player_him_her_them} flop across a nearby bench and sigh yet again.
            
            I turn around, face scrunched up in annoyance. "Heartbroken? Do you ever give up that flirty act?" I ask. Surely somebody couldn't be that much of a flirt all the time.
            
            "What act? Yet again, you wound me, $!{oldroyal_title} $!{oldroyal_first_name}. The only way you can repay me now for being so mean is by answering my questions," $!{player_first_name} says, making ${player_himself_herself_themselves} comfortable on the bench.
            
            "I'm good," I shoot back, turning around yet again to continue my walk. Of course, $!{player_first_name} couldn't leave me the hell alone each step that I made.
            
            Finally, I give in, only because doing something drastic wouldn't be good for anybody.
            
            "Alright. Don't ask me anything stupid and we'll be alright.
            *page_break
            *goto jerkquestions
            
            
        #Hold out a hand to stop me in my tracks and raise ${player_his_her_their} eyebrow.
            *set sarcastic +1
            "Just what do you think you're doing?" I ask $!{player_first_name}. 
            
            "Being a traffic cop, obviously. I'm stopping you $!{oldroyal_title} $!{oldroyal_first_name}," $!{player_first_name} answers, eyebrow dropping. 
            
            "For, Officer?" 
            
            Two can play at the sarcastic game.
            
            "Failure to stop being a dick and failure to not answer my remaining questions," $!{player_first_name} replies. "I can let you off with just a warning if you do answer them though."
            
            I roll my eyes and cross my arms, hoping that would give $!{player_first_name} an answer. 
            
            "Go ahead, Officer," I sigh.
            *page_break
            *goto jerkquestions

    *label jerkquestions
    *fake_choice
        #“When did you find out about all of this? The competition and everything?”
            I snort. “Pretty much the same time you did. Maybe 30 minutes prior,” I reply. I could already feel my eye twitching again as I thought about how Father essentially ordered me to get in front of a camera and pretend I cared.

            I obviously didn’t, which I made abundantly clear in front of the whole nation. It took days for the ringing to die down in my ear after he chewed me out afterwards. 
            *page_break
            *goto jerkquestions

        #“You don’t think you and I are actually that compatible, do you?”
        “Of course not,” I reply. Anybody that believed that a computer system could match up anybody, much less a royal, was crazy. Father included. 

        “You’re so...average. Ordinary, you know? I only date models, people with star power. People on my level,” I say with a wave of my hand. 
            *fake_choice
                #“So you tend to only date other people that act like dicks? Seems to be the only level you’re on,” $!{player_first_name} says, causing me to choke on air.
                    *set jerk +1
                    "Did you just call me a dick?" I ask, once I was able to recover. 
                
                    "Yes, I can say it again if you want," $!{player_first_name} answers, crossing ${player_his_her_their} arms. "Also, glad to see that you only took away the fact that you're acting like a dick and not anything else."
                
                    I can already feel a headache coming on. 
                
                    "Whatever. Insult me all you want. You'll probably be eliminated as soon as the competition starts and we'll be all the better because of it."
                
                    $!{player_first_name} smirks. "Oh, I do believe I've rattled you, $!{oldroyal_title} $!{oldroyal_first_name}. Let's move on before you really go off the deep end."
                
                    "Yes. Lets," I reply through gritted teeth.
                    *page_break
                    *goto jerkquestions
                
                #"Well I think you're so...royal. Extra, you know? I only date whomever I want to because everybody is on my level, because I don't discriminate," $!{player_first_name} replies with a sniff of ${player_his_her_their} nose.
                    *set sarcastic +1
                    "I-Is that sarcasm or something?" I ask ${player_him_her_them}. "If so, it's not very good."
                
                    "Yet, you're tense," $!{player_first_name} says, motioning to my clenched fists. I quickly hide my hands behind my back. 
                
                    "Look, it's nothing personal. I have royal blood and you don't. It's only natural for me to want to be with somebody of my caliber," I say with a shrug. 
                
                    "So what if you have royal blood in you? Unless it has some magical healing powers, it's basically the same as mine. Get over yourself," $!{player_first_name} shot back. 
                
                    "Whatever," I say, feeling my fists clench again. At least $!{player_first_name} couldn't see them this time. 
                    *page_break
                    *goto jerkquestions
                #"I'm sure I'd be on your level if you gave me a chance," $!{player_first_name} replies with a smile. 
                    *set charming +1
                    "Ha. Doubt it," I say, giving $!{player_first_name} a good look up and down. "I think we're the farthest from being compatible."
                
                    $!{player_first_name} chuckles and looks away from me, watching the garden fountain. "I mean, we're basically a perfect match for one another if you take into consideration Odessa Dates. But you're entitled to your opinion."
                
                    I raise an eyebrow. Why was $!{player_first_name} so…nice? Everybody that was nice to me tended to have some ulterior motive.
                
                    "Look, I don't know what you want, but you'll have to give up the act eventually," I say. 
                
                    $!{player_first_name} seems confused, but moves on without saying anything further.
                    *page_break
                    *goto jerkquestions
                #"Oh, I seem average now. Wait until we get alone..." $!{player_first_name} winks.
                    *set flirty +1
                    I roll my eyes. Going to bed with ${player_him_her_them}? Yeah right. 
                
                    "This is going to be the first and last time we're ever alone," I tell $!{player_first_name}, which causes $!{player_first_name} to chuckle.
                
                    "What's so funny?" I ask, crossing my arms as I look at ${player_him_her_them}. 
                
                    "It's just, well…everybody says that. Until they come back for more," $!{player_first_name} replies, giving me another wink.
                    
                    "Yeah, alright," I say, rolling my eyes in response. "This conversation is over. Time to ask something else."
                    *page_break
                    *goto jerkquestions
                #"I'm not that average. Otherwise I wouldn't be here, you know?" $!{player_first_name} says softly. 
                    *set shy +1
                    My eyes soften, at ${player_his_her_their} words, which surprises me because that's something I didn't do often. My mind stumbles to spit out an apology, but my mouth works faster than I do.
                    
                    "Sure you aren't. Father's technology is a joke. We'll see if you really belong here once the competition starts," I reply.
                
                    "Right," $!{player_first_name} says, playing around with ${player_his_her_their} clothing.
                    *page_break
                    *goto jerkquestions

        #“What do you like to do in your free time?”
            "Wow, you actually asked a good question," I tell $!{player_first_name} before I ponder it. 
        
            What should I tell ${player_him_her_them} though?
        
            I enjoyed hanging around Mother. We didn't nearly have enough time together every day, but we always made sure our Tuesdays were free so we could be together. Sometimes we'd get coffee or watch some movie, but most of the time, we'd go to the gardens.
        
            Not the ones $!{player_first_name} and I were in, but a garden much more secluded. Mother would weed and I would lounge around on a bench and sing while she worked.
            
            "You should sing in public," she'd say to me occasionally. "You know you're pretty good, baby."
        
            "No thanks," I'd reply back before launching into another song.
        
            Of course Mother would say that I was good. It was basically her job to boost up her child.
        
            I was content to keep singing to her and only her. Mozelle would say anything that I did was amazing and well, Father would just tell me to pick a more practical hobby. 
        
            "Well?" $!{player_first_name} asks. 
        
            I blink rapidly for a few moments, attempting to come back to reality.
        
            "Er, I like poetry. So I read occasionally. That's about all I have time for," I answer. 
        
            It wasn't a total lie…I did like to read.
            *page_break
            *goto jerkquestions
        
        
        #“Are you nervous about this competition?”
            "Am I nervous about having a bunch of mostly unqualified people competing for my hand? No," I answer.
        
            I think I was more nervous having to give my first speech in front of dozens of City and Town Heads when I was 10. 
            *page_break
            *goto jerkquestions
        #“What’s it like being the $!{oldroyal_title}?”
            "Great."
        
            I grin to myself. Unlimited amount of money, no real obligations, can go and come as I please, within reason…what's not to like?
        
            Sure it was tiring at times and Father was a pain in my behind almost all the time, but I think if I had a choice to be a royal or being somebody average, I'd always choose to be a royal.
            *page_break
            *goto jerkquestions
        #“Why are you so rude?”
            Ah yes, the question that has been asked constantly since I was born. 
        
            "Well, because I can be?" I reply. "Take it or leave it. I'm not a people pleaser and could care less if somebody likes me or not."
        
            $!{player_first_name}'s eyebrows furrow in thought. God, was I about to be mentally dissected?
        
            "I think deep down you're pretty nice," $!{player_first_name} says and yeah, I think I would've rather been mentally dissected.
        
            "Oh please. Some people are just mean, $!{player_first_name}," I reply and roll my eyes. "Sorry to disappoint you."
            *page_break
            *goto jerkquestions
        #$!{player_first_name} stops asking me questions.
            *page_break
            *goto_scene fauxend
*if (oldroyal_personality = "charming")
    We don’t say much else on our walk to the gardens. It wasn’t too far from the Great Hall, but the distance is long enough that the silence is almost unbearable, at least for me. I was used to filling the silence with anything I could think of, but as $!{player_first_name} wasn’t saying anything, I decided to keep my thoughts to myself.

    A worker or two pause and bow towards me every so often and I smile in greeting, but neither one of us says a word as we reach the gardens.

    I stand back a bit, allowing $!{player_first_name} to take a good look at ${player_his_her_their} surroundings. I had seen these gardens hundreds of times, but the first time seeing it was always special for most visitors. 

    Flowers from each and every part of the rainbow dot the gardens as far as the eye could see. $!{player_first_name} and I are at the beginnings of a cobblestone pathway that leads towards the east and west areas of the gardens. In the center of the gardens is a large fountain that spurts water at regular intervals.

    These gardens have been the backdrop for many proposals, weddings and other events. I was sure that some part of the competition would take place here. Lost in my thoughts, I don’t realize that $!{player_first_name} is no longer near me until I notice ${player_him_her_them} over by a few flower bushes. I quickly follow behind them, giving them a smile.

    “I know the gardens like the back of my hands. I can show you the flowers native to $!{player_hometown}, some flowers in their prime, or anything else,” I offer, glancing at the bush beside ${player_him_her_them}. “You’re near some larkspur’s at the moment. Each color means something.”

    I pause, allowing $!{player_first_name} a chance to speak. I could go on about flowers all day if somebody didn’t stop me.
    
    "Ah, enough about flowers. You're welcome to ask me any questions you might have as we tour the gardens together," I say.

    I smile and sweep my hand across the span on the garden.

    “Pick and direction and ask away, $!{player_first_name},” I say, following ${player_his_her_their} lead once ${player_he_she_they} chose it.
    *page_break
    *goto charmingquestions
    
    *label charmingquestions
    *fake_choice
        #“When did you find out about all of this? The competition and everything?”
            "Ha, hours before the press conference," I answer. "Came as a total surprise to me, but I quickly tried to learn as much as I could before the cameras started rolling."
            
            I personally thought I did a great job seeming like I knew this was all going on. Years of media training paid off for sure.
            *page_break
            *goto charmingquestions
        #“You don’t think you and I are actually that compatible, do you?”
            I'm silent for a moment, thinking about the question. From what Father has told me about the website in the days since the reveal, loads of time, effort and money was put into it. He said that it was basically fool proof.
            
            "Well, to be honest, I have no idea. Maybe I'm meant to be with you, or maybe I'll be with the person with the lowest compatibility score. Either way, I'm honored to be doing this for myself and Odessa," I answer with a smile. 
            
            As shocking as this whole thing was, it would be pretty fun to meet people that in theory, I would be attracted to or the most compatible with. 
            *page_break
            *goto charmingquestions
            
        #“What do you like to do in your free time?”
            "Free time? Haven't heard that word in years," I joke, smiling over at $!{player_first_name} before continuing. 
            
            "I like a mixture of art and scientific pursuits. I danced in my younger years but since I've gotten older, I've taken to coding websites and apps for fun and tinkering around with computers," I answer. 
            
            "You seem pretty well rounded," $!{player_first_name} replies to which I nod.
            
            "I have to be. What kind of royal would I be if I wasn't good at nearly everything?"
            *page_break
            *goto charmingquestions
        #“Are you nervous about this competition?”
            "Truthfully, yes," I answer. "There's a lot riding on this, on me and my country."
            
            I chew on my bottom lip, a bad habit I had. I was next in line for the throne and with Mother and Father getting older, people were naturally starting to look towards me for leadership and advice. I had a sneaking suspicion that once we got towards the finals, or there are only a handful of individuals left in the competition, Father would announce his retirement. 
            
            Essentially, whomever makes it pretty far in this competition had to prepare themselves for ruling probably shortly after it is all over. 
            
            "I'm excited though," I add after a while. "Nervous but excited to see if a computer program can really determine soulmates."
            *page_break
            *goto charmingquestions
        #“What’s it like being the $!{oldroyal_title}?”
            "Hm, half job, half duty. I wouldn't give it up for the world though," I answer.
            
            I kiss babies, play with children, give speeches when necessary and much more. I'd be lying if I said that it was all peaches and cream everyday, but I truly could not see myself in any other role than the one I'm in right now. 
            *page_break
            *goto charmingquestions
        #$!{player_first_name} stops asking me questions.
            *page_break
            *goto_scene fauxend

*if (oldroyal_personality = "flirty")
    We don’t say much else on our walk to the gardens. It wasn’t too far from the Great Hall, but the distance is long enough that the silence is almost unbearable. I have some nice visuals of $!{player_first_name} to keep me occupied though. The way ${player_his_her_their} hips moved as ${player_he_she_they} walked, how vibrant ${player_his_her_their} skin was...well, I could go on, but we’re at the gardens now. 

    I stand back a bit, allowing $!{player_first_name} to take a good look at ${player_his_her_their} surroundings. I had seen these gardens hundreds of times and really didn’t care about them, but they were pretty awesome for a lot of people who weren’t from Dia.

    Flowers from each and every part of the rainbow dot the gardens as far as the eye could see. $!{player_first_name} and I are at the beginnings of a cobblestone pathway that leads towards the east and west areas of the gardens. In the center of the gardens is a large fountain that spurts water at regular intervals.

    These gardens have been the backdrop for many proposals, weddings and other events. I was sure that some part of the competition would take place here. Lost in my thoughts, I don’t realize that $!{player_first_name} is no longer near me until I notice ${player_him_her_them} over by a few flower bushes. I quickly follow behind ${player_him_her_them}, giving the ${player_him_her_them} a smile.

    “Slow down, Sweetness. I don’t want to let you out of my sight if I can help it,” I say, watching $!{player_first_name} kneel down to get a closer look at the flowers.

    “Those are bee balms,” I explain. “They are my personal favorite flower as it represents fertility, restful sleep and some other boring stuff. I doubt you would get much sleep if you’re ever in my bed, but whatever.”

    I wink and watch $!{player_first_name} rise up from ${player_his_her_their} kneeling position.

    “Do you always flirt in every sentence you speak?” $!{player_first_name} asks. I couldn’t tell if ${player_he_she_they} was annoyed, exasperated or felt a different type of way. 

    “Do you always ask such horrible questions, Sweetness?” I shoot back. “How about you ask me something better?”
    *page_break
    *goto flirtyquestions
    
    *label flirtyquestions
    *fake_choice
        #“When did you find out about all of this? The competition and everything?”
            "Ah, Father told me maybe a few hours before the press conference," I say, shaking my head at the memory. "I was yelling, he was yelling and Mozelle was laughing at the whole situation."
            
            My family was annoying, but I wouldn't give them up for anything. 
            
            *page_break
            *goto flirtyquestions
        #“You don’t think you and I are actually that compatible, do you?”
            "Sure hope so. You're definitely the most attractive person I've seen in a while," I say, biting down on my bottom lip as my eyes rake over ${player_his_her_their} form once again. 
            *fake_choice
                #$!{player_first_name} blushes and fumbles around for a response. 
                    *set shy +1
                    "You're adorable," I say with a soft sigh. "I love when they're shy."
                    *page_break
                    *goto flirtyquestions
                #$!{player_first_name} narrows ${player_his_her_their} eyes at me. I only grin in response. 
                    *set jerk +1
                    "What? You don't like my honesty?" I ask, pouting playfully. 
                    
                    "You really don't want me to be honest with you right now," $!{player_first_name} replies. 
                    
                    "O-Oooookay, moving in," I say quickly.
                    *page_break
                    *goto flirtyquestions
                #"Er, thank you," $!{player_first_name} says, glancing away from my gaze.
                    *set aloof +1
                    I smile and shrug my shoulders. "I wear my heart on my sleeves. Not a big fan of hiding what I think about anything."
                    
                    "Noted," $!{player_first_name} replies.
                    *page_break
                    *goto flirtyquestions
                #"I'm sure I am," $!{player_first_name} replies, crossing ${player_his_her_their} arms.
                    *set sarcastic +1
                    "What? You don't believe me, Sweetness?" I ask, holding my hand over my heart. "Would I lie to you?"
                    
                    "Do you really want me to answer that, $!{oldroyal_title} $!{oldroyal_first_name}?" $!{player_first_name} asks. 
                    
                    "Yesssssss," I say, grinning wide. "Unless it'll hurt my feelings. I'm rather sensitive."
                    
                    "Guess I won't be answering then."
                    *page_break
                    *goto flirtyquestions
                #$!{player_first_name} looks me up and down as well, a smirk on ${player_his_her_their} lips. "Hm, I wonder if sweet talk is all you're good at..."
                    *set flirty +1
                    I slowly advance forward, taking ${player_his_her_their} chin in my hand.
                    
                    "Wouldn't you like to know, Sweetness?" I ask, peering into ${player_his_her_their} eyes. $!{player_first_name}'s smirk only grows wider.
                    
                    "Naughty $!{oldroyal_title}," $!{player_first_name} breathes, getting close to my face, I could barely stand it. Before I had a chance to move forward, $!{player_first_name} backs away with a cheeky little grin.
                    
                    "W-what? You can't just leave me hanging like that," I huff, which causes ${player_him_her_them} to laugh.
                    
                    "Can't let you have everything before the competition starts now can I?" 
                    *page_break
                    *goto flirtyquestions
            
        #“What do you like to do in your free time?”
            "Depends. Do you want the safe for work version or the not safe for work version?" I ask before letting out a chuckle. "Acutally, don't answer that."
            
            I think for a moment before I decide on an answer. "Well, I like tinkering with different things. I like working with my hands, which I'm sure comes as a surprise to absolutely nobody."
            
            When I'm able to come in contact with a car, I like to mess around with the parts inside of it, but most of the time I'm limited to computers and phones. 
            
            "I can fix most things. Cell phones, tablets, broken hearts. You know. Easy stuff," I finish. 
            *page_break
            *goto flirtyquestions
        #“Are you nervous about this competition?”
            "Am I nervous about being surrounded by a group of rather attractive people that I may or may not get to sleep with? Hell no," I answer. "No matter what Father says, hooking up will be taking place, for sure."
            
            If everybody looks like $!{player_first_name}, I'll be in love. 
            *page_break
            *goto flirtyquestions
        #“What’s it like being the $!{oldroyal_title}?”
            "Hm, if I must be honest, I hate it. Too many people want to hook up with me just because I'm royalty! I wish people would take my looks into consideration too."
            
            $!{player_first_name} watches me pout for a moment before speaking again. "Seriously?"
            
            "Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit, but I really do enjoy being a royal. I think I would probably act the same regardless if I was royalty or not," I say with a shrug of my shoulders.
            *page_break
            *goto flirtyquestions
        #“I mean it, do you always flirt all the time? Doesn’t that get tiring?”
            I pretend to think for a moment before I shake my head. 
            
            "Nope!" I exclaim with a bright smile.
            
            Maybe it would've tired out the younger me, but I'm not young anymore.
            *page_break
            *goto flirtyquestions
        #$!{player_first_name} stops asking me questions.
            *page_break
            *goto_scene fauxend
*if (oldroyal_personality = "sarcastic")
    We don’t say much else on our walk to the gardens. It wasn’t too far from the Great Hall, but the distance is long enough that the silence is almost unbearable. 

    The occasional worker or maid passed by us, nodding or bowing towards me, but I barely pay them any mind. I just wanted to get this forced field trip over with.

    Once we arrive in the gardens, I stand back a bit, allowing $!{player_first_name} to take a good look at ${player_his_her_their} surroundings. I had seen these gardens hundreds of times and really didn’t care about them.

    Flowers from each and every part of the rainbow dot the gardens as far as the eye could see. $!{player_first_name} and I are at the beginnings of a cobblestone pathway that leads towards the east and west areas of the gardens. In the center of the gardens is a large fountain that spurts water at regular intervals.

    These gardens have been the backdrop for many proposals, weddings and other events. I was sure that some part of the competition would take place here.

    “Well, here’s the gardens. Don’t get lost, don’t pick the flowers and make sure you have your exit buddy. I’m out of here,” I say, turning my back to $!{player_first_name} as I make for the exit.

    “Wait!” $!{player_first_name} exclaims. “You can’t just leave me here.”

    I chuckle and stop in my tracks, turning around on my heel to face ${player_him_her_them}. 

    “I can and I will. What are you going to do? Tell Father?”

    I turn back around and I’m nearly back inside when $!{player_first_name} calls out to me again. I nearly trample down a few hydrangeas as I walk back over to ${player_him_her_them}, this time, much more annoyed.

    What do you want now? Want to interrogate me or something?” I ask, sure that if I could breathe out fire, I’d be doing it right now.
    *page_break
    *goto sarcasticquestions
    
    *label sarcasticquestions
    *fake_choice
        #“When did you find out about all of this? The competition and everything?”
            "Father decided to tell me mere moments before the stupid press conference," I say. "Pretty great timing, don't you think?"
            
            I shake my head and glance back at the hydrangeas.
            
            "He knew about it for a while but didn't bother telling me until it was convenient for him. As usual."
            
            "I see," $!{player_first_name} replies, probably just to move the conversation along. I let the subject drop.
            *page_break
            *goto sarcasticquestions
        #“You don’t think you and I are actually that compatible, do you?”
            "Please," I say, laughing a bit at the idea. "A computer program with the ability to determine somebody's love life? Sounds like the plot of some horrible game."
            *page_break
            *goto sarcasticquestions
            
            
        #“What do you like to do in your free time?”
            "Free time? Not sure if I know what that means anymore," I say, walking over to a bench near by to take a seat. 
            
            Back when I was younger, I had my hands in anything I could find. Writing poetry, archery, playing the piano, well, the list could go on. As I grew older, my responsibilities increased and, well, I barely had time to sleep, much less do anything else.
            
            "When I can make the time to not do my Father's bidding, I enjoy playing the piano. Maybe archery if I really have a lot of free time," I answer finally. 
            *page_break
            *goto sarcasticquestions
        #“Are you nervous about this competition?”
            "Not at all. In fact, I'm ready for all of this mess to be over," I reply, messing around with a string on my clothing. 
            
            I was in no way nervous about a bunch of people making fools of themselves just to get me to pay attention to them. If anything, it would just be incredibly entertaining.
            *page_break
            *goto sarcasticquestions
        #“What’s it like being the $!{oldroyal_title}?”
            "Well, $!{player_first_name}, think of your dream job. Whatever you went to school for, or dreamed about when you were a kid, or whatever you've always wanted to do. Think about that and how you've wanted to do it for so long and finally, you get to do it," I begin. I rub my eye and stay silent for a moment, before I continue. 
            
            "Then it turns out that well, you're always getting yelled at for doing your job wrong, or somebody blames you for something out of your control, or it turns out your dream job really isn't your dream anymore, but it's too late to leave or you physically can't leave. That's what it's like being a royal," I finish, letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding in. 
            
            In my eyes, the cons outweighed the pros. Sometimes I think I would've been better off not being a royal, but I'd never say that out loud.
            
            "Wow, I had no idea," $!{player_first_name} says. "That's a lot to take in."
            
            "You get used to it. Could be worse. I could have most of the country hate me like my cousins," I chuckle.
            *page_break
            *goto sarcasticquestions
        #$!{player_first_name} stops asking me questions.
            *page_break
            *goto_scene fauxend