"I can't believe you're going to sing! Do you know what you're going to sing?"

You smile a bit and turn to your roommate, who was sliding on ${roommate_his_her} shoes. 

"As a matter of fact…"

*fake_choice
    #"I'm going to sing something dark and haunting...about pain and loss."
        *set songtype "dark"
        $!{roommate_name}'s eyes widen at your choice. 
        
        "About pain and loss? Wow, you want to get everybody tearing up, huh?"
        
        You shrug, as that's not your intention, but if it happens, oh well.
        
        "I just hope nothing happens technical wise that will make me mess up," you answer, smoothing a hand over your outfit one final time before heading towards the hotel room door. "Ready?"
        
        $!{roommate_name} nods and follows up behind you. "Yep, let's get to the car before we're late."
        *page_break
        *goto singing
    #"I'm going to sing upbeat and joyful. I want people to smile the whole time."
        *set songtype "upbeat"
        $!{roommate_name} grins. "Awesome! That is sure to be a popular choice."
        
        You nod in agreement and smooth a hand over your outfit one final time before turning to your roommate. 
        
        "Let's go. Our car should be waiting for us downstairs."
        
        *page_break
        *goto singing
    #"I'm going to sing something that gets people laughing."
        *set songtype "funny"
        $!{roommate_name} grins. "Awesome! That is sure to be a popular choice."
        
        You nod in agreement and smooth a hand over your outfit one final time before turning to your roommate. 
        
        "Let's go. Our car should be waiting for us downstairs."
        
        *page_break
        *goto singing
    *selectable_if (degree = "music") #"I'm singing something I wrote in my college years. I managed to finish it while in Dia."
        *set songtype "college"
        "No way, really?" $!{roommate_name} asks. "I can't wait to hear it!"
        
        You grin and nod, hugging the sheets of paper to your chest before you fold them up and slip them into your pocket. 
        
        "I remember you used to work on it constantly in your room, all times of the day and night. I thought you forgot all about it, to be honest," $!{roommate_name} says, slipping on ${roommate_his_her} shoes as ${roommate_he_she} talks. 
        
        "Nope. All it took was a change of scenery, I guess," you reply, looking over your outfit one final time before heading to the door to leave. "Ready?"
        
        $!{roommate_name} smiles and all but bounces out of the door. "Extremely ready. Hope your vocal chords are, Roomie."
        
        $!{roommate_name} grins. "Awesome! That is sure to be a popular choice."
        
        You nod in agreement and smooth a hand over your outfit one final time before turning to your roommate. 
        
        "Let's go. Our car should be waiting for us downstairs."
        
        *page_break
        *goto singing
    #"I'm singing something loud and shocking."
        *set songtype "loud"
        $!{roommate_name} smirks. "Oh, something like the music I listen to that you swore you didn't like?"
        
        You scoff and playfully roll your eyes. "I like a lot of music. I just don't like hearing yours at 3 a.m.," you reply. "But sure. My song is similar to what you like to listen to."
        
        $!{roommate_name} grins triumphantly. "It better have lyrics I can yell."
        
        "You'll see soon enough," you reply, already having one foot out of the door. 
        
        "Wait for me!" $!{roommate_name} exclaims, nearly getting shut into the door frame as ${roommate_he_she} races to follow after you.
        
        *page_break
        *goto singing
    #"I'm singing something pro-Crown."
        *set songtype "procrown"
        "Wow, pro-Crown?" $!{roommate_name} asks with raised eyebrows.
        
        "Yeah, why not? Wouldn't hurt to get a few extra points with the Royal Family," you reply with a shrug.
        
        $!{roommate_name} hums but offers no other comment other than a "let's go, before we're late!"
        
        You smooth down your outfit before following after your roommate, humming your song choice underneath your breath as you walked.
        
        *page_break
        *goto singing
    #"I'm singing something likely...anti-Crown."
        *set songtype "nocrown"
        Your roommate's eyebrows shoot up to their hairline. "Anti-Crown, no way!"
        
        "Yes way. Nothing treasonous, but definitely not pro-Crown," you continue, smoothing your hands over your outfit to make sure it's perfect. 
        
        "I'll cheer you on either way, $!{player_first_name}. I bet it will sound amazing regardless," $!{roommate_name} says with a grin in your direction. "But are you ready to go?"
        
        "Definitely," you say and follow your roommate out of the hotel room towards your awaiting car.
        
        *page_break
        *goto singing
        
*label singing
Your courtyard arrival was pretty uneventful. Instead of being introduced as you arrived, your song would do the introducing, according to the competition's host, a person named Tiggy. The stands are packed to the brim with all sorts of celebrities, media people and faces you didn't recognize. You're barely out of the car for a minute before people start cheering for you, even though you haven't done anything yet. The cheering is so loud, you almost miss your roommate telling you good luck. 

"See you later," $!{roommate_name} says before heading to ${roommate_his_her} own seat. 

Now you're all alone, preparing to take the makeshift stage with your selection in mind.