(link-reveal: "A mile off the shanty market trail, in the middle of an open field, there is a door.")[
(link-reveal: "It stands alone, unconnected to any structure—man-made or natural.")[
(link-reveal: "It is still and unmoving even as the gentle evening breeze makes waves in the long grass around it.")[
(link-reveal: "The sun has just set, the world is dark, the stars are out.")[
[[And that door that leads to nowhere seems to work just fine.->Title Page]]]]]]<h1>Weird Old House</h1>
<h2>a game by Alex Basinski</h2>
[[Open the door.->Front Lawn]](if: (history:) contains "Front Lawn")[In front of you, there is an old house.
It has aged visibly, but not ungracefully: the paint is not too chipped, and it seems to be structurally sound.
You are standing on what used to be a stepping stone pathway in what appears to be an overgrown front yard.
The grass is long and unkempt, and weeds and bushes mark the ground unevenly.
Beyond the borders of the lawn and house, there is nothing but an empty, vast black expanse. That's not surprising, per se, but not necessarily comforting.
It gives you the (not entirely wrong) impression that all that exists is this house and you.
It's dark, it's *so* dark. You're convinced that your gift is the only reason you can see at all.(if: $hasnecklace is false)[
There is [[something glinting on the ground->Get Stone Necklace]] just in front of you. Not with light (since there isn't any), but it catches your attention in the way special things do.]
The house has a single front door, and a garage that looks rusted shut.
[[Enter front door.->Front Hallway]](if: $itemcount > 4)[
[[Exit the way you came.]]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[In front of you, there is an (link-reveal: "old house.")[
It has aged visibly, but not ungracefully: the paint is not too chipped, and it seems to be (link-reveal: "structurally sound.")[
You are standing on what used to be a stepping stone pathway in what appears to be (link-reveal: "an overgrown front yard.")[
The grass is long and unkempt, and weeds and bushes mark the ground (link-reveal: "unevenly.")[
Beyond the borders of the lawn and house, there is nothing but an empty, vast black expanse. That's not surprising, per se, but (link-reveal: "not necessarily comforting.")[
It gives you the (not entirely wrong) impression that (link-reveal: "all that exists is this house and you.")[
It's dark, it's *so* dark. You're convinced that (link-reveal: "your gift is the only reason you can see at all.")[(if: $hasnecklace is false)[
There is [[something glinting on the ground->Get Stone Necklace]] just in front of you. Not with light (since there isn't any), but it catches your attention in (link-reveal: "the way special things do.")[
The house has a single front door, and a garage that looks (link-reveal: "rusted shut.")[
[[Enter front door.->Front Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]]]]]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'frontlawn')(if: (history:) contains "Living Room")[You walk into the living room.
Despite the dust and disarray of the place, it still manages to feel cozy. There is a carpet laid down in the center of the room, on top of which a coffee table sits.
A couch and some comfortable-looking seats are arranged around the coffee table in a semi-circle. Sitting on a small table across the room, facing the seats, is [[an old CRT television->Old TV]]—old even for a home from this era. It's glinting at you faintly.
There is an open passageway that leads back into the hallway, and opposite that a door that appears to lead to the back porch.(if: $cornerthing is 'livingroom')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Go to back porch.->Back Porch]]
[[Back into hallway.->Back Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You walk into (link-reveal: "the living room.")[
Despite the dust and disarray of the place, it still manages to feel cozy. There is a carpet laid down in the center of the room, on top of which (link-reveal: "a coffee table sits.")[
A couch and some comfortable-looking seats are arranged around the coffee table in a semi-circle. Sitting on a small table across the room, facing the seats, is [[an old CRT television->Old TV]]—old even for a home from this era. (link-reveal: "It's glinting at you faintly.")[
There is an open passageway that leads back into the hallway, and opposite that a door that appears to lead to (link-reveal: "the back porch.")[(if: $cornerthing is 'livingroom')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Go to back porch.->Back Porch]]
[[Back into hallway.->Back Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'livingroom')(if: (history:) contains "Kitchen")[You are now standing in a relatively small kitchen. It is long and thin, and probably can't comfortably accomodate more than one person.
It is grimy from disuse. Everything is covered in a thin layer of dust, and anything that can rust has started to do so.
Some of the cabinets are open, revealing old dishware.(if: $hasplate is false)[ A single dinner plate is sitting on its own on the kitchen counter, [[glinting at you.->Get Chipped Dinner Plate]]] Most of the dishes you can see are chipped.
There are two doors in this room that open right into each other, one going into the dining room and one opening into the back portion of the hallway.(if: $cornerthing is 'kitchen')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Go into dining room.->Dining Room]]
[[Enter back hallway.->Back Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You are now standing in a relatively small kitchen. It is long and thin, and probably can't comfortably accomodate (link-reveal: "more than one person.")[
It is grimy from disuse. Everything is covered in a thin layer of dust, and anything that can rust (link-reveal: "has started to do so.")[
Some of the cabinets are open, revealing old dishware.(if: $hasplate is false)[ A single dinner plate is sitting on its own on the kitchen counter, [[glinting at you.->Get Chipped Dinner Plate]]] Most of the dishes you can see (link-reveal: "are chipped.")[
There are two doors in this room that open right into each other, one going into the dining room and one opening into the (link-reveal: "back portion of the hallway.")[(if: $cornerthing is 'kitchen')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Go into dining room.->Dining Room]]
[[Enter back hallway.->Back Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'kitchen')(if: (history:) contains "Dining Room")[You enter the dining room, and take a look around.
In the center of the room is a long dining table, with space for about six people to sit. It looks like it's the extendable kind, though, and might fit even more in its full length.
There are yellowing, dead potted plants all around the edges of the room, and there are a couple on the table too. (if: $haskey is false)[Now that you are looking over the room again, you actually [[notice something glinting in one of the pots.->Get Rusted Key]]]
There is a window that looks out on the front lawn. It frames the door that brought you to this strange place in a way that almost feels intentional.
There is a door that leads back into the front hallway, and another door that leads into what looks to be the kitchen.(if: $cornerthing is 'diningroom')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Enter kitchen.->Kitchen]]
[[Back to hallway->Front Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You enter the dining room, and (link-reveal: "take a look around.")[
In the center of the room is a long dining table, with space for about six people to sit. It looks like it's the extendable kind, though, and might fit (link-reveal: "even more in its full length.")[
There are yellowing, dead potted plants all around the edges of the room, and there are (link-reveal: "a couple on the table too.")[
There is a window that looks out on the front lawn. It frames the door that brought you to this strange place in a way that (link-reveal: "almost feels intentional.")[
There is a door that leads back into the front hallway, and another door that leads into what (link-reveal: "looks to be the kitchen.")[(if: $cornerthing is 'diningroom')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Enter kitchen->Kitchen]]
[[Back to hallway->Front Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'diningroom')(if: (history:) contains "Front Hallway")[You are now standing in a small, quiet hallway.
There are slight scuffmarks along the bottom edges of the walls, and the various shoes and decor are all in disarray.
You see a door in the front wall of the house that you assume leads to the garage.
You see a a single open doorway on your left, leading into what appears to be a dining room.
On your right further down the hall, there is a door leading into another room.
The hallway continues farther into the house.(if: $cornerthing is 'fronthallway')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Enter garage.->Garage]]
[[Enter dining room.->Dining Room]]
[[Enter door on the right.->Bedroom]]
[[Continue along hallway.->Back Hallway]]
[[Go back outside.->Front Lawn]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You are now standing in a small, quiet (link-reveal: "hallway.")[
There are slight scuffmarks along the bottom edges of the walls, and the various shoes and decor are all (link-reveal: "in disarray.")[
You see a door in the front wall of the house that you assume (link-reveal: "leads to the garage.")[
You see a a single open doorway on your left, leading into what appears to be (link-reveal: "a dining room.")[
On your right further down the hall, there is a door leading into (link-reveal: "another room.")[
The hallway continues farther into (link-reveal: "the house.")[(if: $cornerthing is 'fronthallway')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Enter garage.->Garage]]
[[Enter dining room.->Dining Room]]
[[Enter door on the right.->Bedroom]]
[[Continue along hallway.->Back Hallway]]
[[Go back outside.->Front Lawn]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'fronthallway')(if: (history:) contains "Alan's Office")[You enter what looks to be someone's office.
It's a small-ish room, there is a window across from you that opens out into the emptiness outside and a respectably-sized desk pushed against the wall to your right.
On the desk is a desktop computer hooked up to two monitors. (if: $hasradio is false)[There is also [[an old dissassembled radio->Get Broken Radio]] glinting at you on the desk, tucked neatly and carefully underneath one of the monitors. ]The desk looks neatly organized, even though it's covered in dust. There is a circular stain on the table where a mug might have once sat.
There is a spinning office chair in front of the desk. This room doesn't seem to have much other furnishing.
The only entrance to the room is the door you came through.(if: $cornerthing is 'alanoffice')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Back into hallway.->Back Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You enter what looks to be (link-reveal: "someone's office")[
It's a small-ish room, there is a window across from you that opens out into the emptiness outside and a respectably-sized desk pushed (link-reveal: "against the wall to your right.")[
On the desk is a desktop computer hooked up to two monitors. (if: $hasradio is false)[There is also [[an old dissassembled radio->Get Broken Radio]] glinting at you on the desk, tucked neatly and carefully underneath one of the monitors. ]The desk looks neatly organized, even though it's covered in dust. There is a circular stain on the table (link-reveal: "where a mug might have once sat.")[
There is a spinning office chair in front of the desk. This room (link-reveal: "doesn't seem to have much other furnishing.")[
The only entrance to the room is (link-reveal: "the door you came through.")[(if: $cornerthing is 'alanoffice')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Back into hallway.->Back Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'alanoffice')(if: (history:) contains "Caern's Office")[You enter what looks to be some sort of studio.
The room is filled to the brim with dead plants. Potted plants of every size, shape, and species cover most of the walls: some placed on the floor, some hanging from hooks on the walls or the ceiling.
There is a large desk on the other side of the room with papers and drawing implements scattered across it, and its edges are ringed with plants as well. Sitting proudly on one side of the desk is [[what was once a desktop computer->Overgrown Desktop]], which appears to have been converted into another plant repository. It's glinting at you expectantly.
There is a blue tarp in the middle of the floor that has a respectable amount of dirt on it.
The room is not an especially small one, but there's so much clutter it almost feels claustrophobic.
There is a window looking out into the empty void around the house, and the only door into this room is the one you came through.(if: $cornerthing is 'caernoffice')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Back into hallway.->Back Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You enter what looks to be (link-reveal: "some sort of studio.")[
The room is filled to the brim with dead plants. Potted plants of every size, shape, and species cover most of the walls: some placed on the floor, some hanging from hooks (link-reveal: "on the walls or the ceiling.")[
There is a large desk on the other side of the room with papers and drawing implements scattered across it, and its edges are ringed with plants as well. Sitting proudly on one side of the desk is [[what was once a desktop computer->Overgrown Desktop]], which appears to have been converted into another plant repository. (link-reveal: "It's glinting at you expectantly.")[
There is a blue tarp in the middle of the floor that has (link-reveal: "a respectable amount of dirt on it.")[
The room is not an especially small one, but there's so much clutter it almost feels (link-reveal: "claustrophobic.")[
There is a window looking out into the empty void around the house, and the only door into this room is (link-reveal: "the one you came through.")[(if: $cornerthing is 'caernoffice')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Back into hallway.->Back Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'caernoffice')(if: (history:) contains "Bedroom")[You step into a quiet bedroom.
It somehow feels dimmer in here than it does in the rest of the house, like it's the middle of the night and you should be sleeping.
There is a queen-sized bed in the middle of the room that has been neatly made. It looks dusty and unused.
There is a large dresser, and a closet that is lying open. They both look thoroughly ransacked.
There is a nightstand next to the bed. (if: $hasclock is false)[Sitting on top of it is [[a broken alarm clock->Get Alarm Clock]], which draws your attention. ]Its drawer is halfway open, and empty.
There is a door leading into a master bathroom, and a door leading back into the hallway.(if: $cornerthing is 'bedroom')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Enter master bathroom.->Master Bath]]
[[Go back into hallway.->Front Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You step into (link-reveal: "a quiet bedroom.")[
It somehow feels dimmer in here than it does in the rest of the house, like it's the middle of the night and (link-reveal: "you should be sleeping.")[
There is a queen-sized bed in the middle of the room that has been neatly made. (link-reveal: "It looks dusty and unused.")[
There is a large dresser, and a closet that is lying open. They both look (link-reveal: "thoroughly ransacked.")[
There is a nightstand next to the bed. (if: $hasclock is false)[Sitting on top of it is [[a broken alarm clock->Get Alarm Clock]], which draws your attention. ]Its drawer is halfway open, (link-reveal: "and empty.")[
There is a door leading into a master bathroom, and a door leading (link-reveal: "back into the hallway.")[(if: $cornerthing is 'bedroom')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Enter master bathroom.->Master Bath]]
[[Go back into hallway.->Front Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'bedroom')(if: (history:) contains "Garage")[You are now in the garage.
In the center of the room is an [[old pickup truck->Broken-Down Pickup Truck]]. It is perfectly still, it almost looks welded to the ground.
On the side wall of the garage, there are shelves and hooks on which various tools rest. They have all aged relatively gracefully, but they have still definitely seen better days.
There is a table standing against the house-side wall of the garage with a half-finished woodworking project on it. You can't tell what it was, as it has fallen apart in the time since it was first assembled.
There is a trapdoor that you presume leads into the attic(cond: $atticopen is false, ", but you can't get it open. It's locked from the inside", ""). The only other working door is the one you came through, as the garage's main entrace is stuck closed.(if: $cornerthing is 'garage')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
(cond: $atticopen is true, "[[Climb into attic.->Attic]]", "~~Climb into attic.~~")
[[Go back into hallway.->Front Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You are now in (link-reveal: "the garage.")[
In the center of the room is an [[old pickup truck->Broken-Down Pickup Truck]]. It is perfectly still, it almost looks (link-reveal: "welded to the ground.")[
On the side wall of the garage, there are shelves and hooks on which various tools rest. They have all aged relatively gracefully, but they have still (link-reveal: "definitely seen better days.")[
There is a table standing against the house-side wall of the garage with a half-finished woodworking project on it. You can't tell what it was, as it has fallen apart in the time (link-reveal: "since it was first assembled.")[
There is a trapdoor that you presume leads into the attic(cond: $atticopen is false, ", but you can't get it open. It's locked from the inside", ""). The only other working door is the one you came through, as the garage's main entrace is (link-reveal: "stuck closed.")[(if: $cornerthing is 'garage')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
(cond: $atticopen is true, "[[Climb into attic.->Attic]]", "~~Climb into attic.~~")
[[Go back into hallway.->Front Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'garage')(if: (history:) contains "Attic")[You climb up into the attic.
It's brighter up here, relatively speaking. You get the impression of sunlight streaming in through the window in the roof, even though there is neither sun nor light here.
The attic is mostly take up by makeshift living space. There is a circular carpet in the middle of the room, upon which a number of beanbag chairs sit. There are several mattresses pushed to one side of the room.
Sitting precisely in the center of the carpet is a jewelry box. (if: $hascrescent is false)[A [[necklace in the shape of a crescent moon->Get Crescent Necklace]] glints at you from inside. ]Its lid is covered in dust.
The only entrance to this room is the trapdoor you came through.(if: $cornerthing is 'attic')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Climb back down into garage.->Garage]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You climb up into (link-reveal: "the attic.")[
It's brighter up here, relatively speaking. You get the impression of sunlight streaming in through the window in the roof, even though (link-reveal: "there is neither sun nor light here.")[
The attic is mostly take up by makeshift living space. There is a circular carpet in the middle of the room, upon which a number of beanbag chairs sit. There are several mattresses (link-reveal: "pushed to one side of the room.")[
Sitting precisely in the center of the carpet is a jewelry box. (if: $hascrescent is false)[A [[necklace in the shape of a crescent moon->Get Crescent Necklace]] glints at you from inside. ](link-reveal: "Its lid is covered in dust.")[
The only entrance to this room is (link-reveal: "the trapdoor you came through.")[(if: $cornerthing is 'attic')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Climb back down into garage.->Garage]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'attic')(if: (history:) contains "Master Bath")[You step into the master bathroom.
It looks like it was nice enough, once, with a stone countertop double-sink and a separate bath and shower. Now, though, parts of the stone are slightly cracked and the dust that pervades the whole house coats everything.
There are a number of plants hanging around the room that would have, in life, made it feel lush and bright in here. But now they are dead, lending the room a sort of dry pallor.
Hanging above the sink is [[a long mirror->Cloudy Mirror]], the length of the countertop. Its surface is clouded, but it still shines to you.
The only entrance is the one you came through.(if: $cornerthing is 'masterbath')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Go back into bedroom.->Bedroom]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You step into the (link-reveal: "master bathroom.")[
It looks like it was nice enough, once, with a stone countertop double-sink and a separate bath and shower. Now, though, parts of the stone are slightly cracked and the dust that pervades the whole house (link-reveal: "coats everything.")[
There are a number of plants hanging around the room that would have, in life, made it feel lush and bright in here. But now they are dead, lending the room (link-reveal: "a sort of dry pallor.")[
Hanging above the sink is [[a long mirror->Cloudy Mirror]], the length of the countertop. Its surface is clouded, but (link-reveal: "it still shines to you.")[
The only entrance is (link-reveal: "the one you came through.")[(if: $cornerthing is 'masterbath')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Go back into bedroom.->Bedroom]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'masterbath')(if: (history:) contains "Bathroom")[You step into the bathroom.
Except for the grime it has accumulated, it is unremarkable. The floor is tile, there is a sink, a toilet, a combination bathtub/shower, and a mirror.
There is a dead potted plant sitting on the toilet. (if: $hastoothbrush is false)[On the sink, standing up in a plastic cup, are [[several toothbrushes->Get Toothbrushes]] that are catching your eye. ]The sink could use some cleaning, the mirror needs to be dusted, and the room generally feels abandoned.(if: $cornerthing is 'bathroom')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Exit bathroom.->Back Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You step into (link-reveal: "the bathroom.")[
Except for the grime it has accumulated, it is unremarkable. The floor is tile, there is a sink, a toilet, a combination bathtub/shower, (link-reveal: "and a mirror.")[
There is a dead potted plant sitting on the toilet. (if: $hastoothbrush is false)[On the sink, standing up in a plastic cup, are [[several toothbrushes->Get Toothbrushes]] that are catching your eye. ]The sink could use some cleaning, the mirror needs to be dusted, and (link-reveal: "the room generally feels abandoned.")[(if: $cornerthing is 'bathroom')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Exit bathroom.->Back Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'bathroom')(if: (history:) contains "Back Porch")[You step onto the back porch.
It overlooks the backyard, which stretches a bit away from the house before abruptly giving way to the endless void. It seems that, if the yard had a fence, it didn't survive whatever brought the house here.
There is what used to be an extensive garden in the backyard—although what it contained is anyone's guess, considering the current state of the plants.
There is a shed towards the edge of the backyard, small and wooden. Probably for storing gardening tools.
On the porch near you, there is what appears to be a workbench. It has various rusting tools laid neatly out on it.
[[Sit at workbench.->Workbench]]
[[Step out into backyard.->Back Yard]]
[[Back into the house.->Living Room]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You step onto (link-reveal: "the back porch.")[
It overlooks the backyard, which stretches a bit away from the house before abruptly giving way to the endless void. It seems that, if the yard had a fence, it didn't survive (link-reveal: "whatever brought the house here.")[
There is what used to be an extensive garden in the backyard—although what it contained is anyone's guess, considering (link-reveal: "the current state of the plants.")[
There is a shed towards the edge of the backyard, small and wooden. (link-reveal: "Probably for storing gardening tools.")[
On the porch near you, there is what appears to be a workbench. It has various rusting tools (link-reveal: "laid neatly out on it.")[
[[Sit at workbench.->Workbench]]
[[Step out into backyard.->Back Yard]]
[[Back into the house.->Living Room]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'backporch')(if: (history:) contains "Workbench")[You sit down at the workbench.
Sitting at the bench, you are facing out towards the garden. There is very little of the backyard you cannot see from here.
The tools in front of you look like they haven't been touched in centuries. You're half-convinced they've rusted themselves into the table, stuck forever in those neat little rows. (if: $hasmug is false)[Upon closer inspection, the [[coffee mug->Get Mug]] has something painted onto it. It's glinting at you.] It doesn't look like there are any gardening tools on the workbench, though. They look like tools for repairing electronics.
[[Stand back up.->Back Porch]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You sit down (link-reveal: "at the workbench.")[
Sitting at the bench, you are facing out towards the garden. (link-reveal: "There is very little of the backyard you cannot see from here.")[
The tools in front of you look like they haven't been touched in centuries. You're half-convinced they've rusted themselves into the table, stuck forever in those neat little rows. (if: $hasmug is false)[Upon closer inspection, the [[coffee mug->Get Mug]] has something painted onto it. It's glinting at you.] It doesn't look like there are any gardening tools on the workbench, though. (link-reveal: "They look like tools for repairing electronics.")[
[[Stand back up.->Back Porch]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'workbench')(if: (history:) contains "Back Yard")[You step onto the backyard's dead grass. It crunches under your feet.
It looks like the yard was once artfully landscaped, but now it is simply dead.
Scattered among the plants is a large amount of junk: old telephones, old televisions, even a minifridge. However, it doesn't look like they were simply dumped there. Each and every piece of junk has been carefully filled with soil, and the dead foliage grows out of them and clings to them.
There are some bags of soil sitting at one end of the garden, next to a sun hat and some gardening gloves. (if: $hastrowel is false)[Catching your eye, [[an old garden trowel->Get Filthy Trowel]] is planted in the dirt by the gloves. ] It looks like it hasn't been moved since the last time this house had someone in it.
The door to the shed is slightly ajar; it looks like there is something on the floor inside.
[[Enter back shed.->Back Shed]]
[[Back to the porch.->Back Porch]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You step onto the backyard's dead grass. (link-reveal: "It crunches under your feet.")[
It looks like the yard was once artfully landscaped, (link-reveal: "but now it is simply dead.")[
Scattered among the plants is a large amount of junk: old telephones, old televisions, even a minifridge. However, it doesn't look like they were simply dumped there. Each and every piece of junk has been carefully filled with soil, and the dead foliage (link-reveal: "grows out of them and clings to them.")[
There are some bags of soil sitting at one end of the garden, next to a sun hat and some gardening gloves. (if: $hastrowel is false)[Catching your eye, [[an old garden trowel->Get Filthy Trowel]] is planted in the dirt by the gloves. ] It looks like it hasn't been moved (link-reveal: "since the last time this house had someone in it.")[
The door to the shed is slightly ajar; it looks like (link-reveal: "there is something on the floor inside.")[
[[Enter back shed.->Back Shed]]
[[Back to the porch.->Back Porch]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'backyard')(if: (history:) contains "Back Shed")[You step into the back shed, and immediately almost trip and fall flat on your face.
You look down at the floor to find the culprit, and you find that...
The entire floor of the shed is completely covered in (cond: $hastennisball is true, "tennis balls", "[[tennis balls->Get Tennis Balls]]"). Hundreds (thousands?) of them. (if: $hastennisball is false)[All of them are glinting at you.] All of them are nearly identical and slightly filthy.
You can see gardening tools and supplies lining the shelves that are attached to the walls of the shed, but the floorspace is completely dominated by tennis balls. You don't feel comfortable walking any deeper into the shed for fear of falling.
[[Exit shed.->Back Yard]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You step into the back shed, and (link-reveal: "immediately almost trip and fall flat on your face.")[
You look down at the floor to find the culprit, and (link-reveal: "you find that...")[
The entire floor of the shed is completely covered in (cond: $hastennisball is true, "tennis balls", "[[tennis balls->Get Tennis Balls]]"). Hundreds (thousands?) of them. (if: $hastennisball is false)[All of them are glinting at you.] All of them are nearly identical (link-reveal: "and slightly filthy. ")[
You can see gardening tools and supplies lining the shelves that are attached to the walls of the shed, but the floorspace is completely dominated by tennis balls. You don't feel comfortable walking any deeper into the shed (link-reveal: "for fear of falling.")[
[[Exit shed.->Back Yard]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'backshed'){(set: $itemcount to 0)
(set: $objectcount to 0)
(set: $currentroom to 'frontlawn')
(set: $cornerthing to 'attic')
(set: $atticopen to false)
(set: $hasnecklace to false)
(set: $hasplate to false)
(set: $hastennisball to false)
(set: $hasradio to false)
(set: $haskey to false)
(set: $hasmug to false)
(set: $hastrowel to false)
(set: $hastoothbrush to false)
(set: $hascrescent to false)
(set: $hasclock to false)
(set: $seenradio to false)
}(if: $hasnecklace is true)[ - [[Stone Necklace]]
](if: $hasplate is true)[ - [[Chipped Dinner Plate]]
](if: $hastennisball is true)[ - [[A Tennis Ball and a Tennis Ball and a Tennis Ball and a]]
](if: $hasradio is true)[ - [[Broken Radio]]
](if: $haskey is true)[ - [[Rusted Key]]
](if: $hasmug is true)[ - [[Mug with an Eye Painted On]]
](if: $hastrowel is true)[ - [[Filthy Trowel]]
](if: $hastoothbrush is true)[ - [[7 Disposable Toothbrushes]]
](if: $hascrescent is true)[ - [[Crescent Moon Necklace]]
](if: $hasclock is true)[ - [[Cracked Alarm Clock]]
]
(cond: $currentroom is 'frontlawn', "[[Back->Front Lawn]]", $currentroom is 'fronthallway', "[[Back->Front Hallway]]", $currentroom is 'backhallway', "[[Back->Back Hallway]]",$currentroom is 'garage', "[[Back->Garage]]", $currentroom is 'bedroom', "[[Back->Bedroom]]", $currentroom is 'diningroom', "[[Back->Dining Room]]", $currentroom is 'masterbath', "[[Back->Master Bath]]", $currentroom is 'caernoffice', "[[Back->Caern's Office]]", $currentroom is 'alanoffice', "[[Back->Alan's Office]]", $currentroom is 'kitchen', "[[Back->Kitchen]]", $currentroom is 'bathroom', "[[Back->Bathroom]]", $currentroom is 'livingroom', "[[Back->Living Room]]", $currentroom is 'backporch', "[[Back->Back Porch]]", $currentroom is 'workbench', "[[Back->Workbench]]", $currentroom is 'backyard', "[[Back->Back Yard]]", $currentroom is 'backshed', "[[Back->Back Shed]]", $currentroom is 'attic', "[[Back->Attic]]", "ERROR: Lost Room Location")You picked up the *Stone Necklace*.
[[View in Inventory->Stone Necklace]]
[[Back->Front Lawn]]
(set: $hasnecklace to true)
(set: $itemcount to $itemcount + 1)A pendant necklace on a silver chain. The pendant is an ordinary, unpolished, cracked stone—about the size of a quarter—wrapped in silver wire.
(cond: $currentroom is 'attic', "You can feel the connections to the necklace humming...[[scry on it?->Scry on Necklace]]", "You can feel the connections tangled up around the necklace...[[scry on it?->Scry on Necklace]]")
[[Back to Inventory->Inventory]](if: $currentroom is 'attic')[I'm standing in the attic, alone.
No, not alone. There is Something in the Corner.
I am...consoling it? I feel so sorry for it, I think I am crying.
It is whispering to me, telling me to get out, to run before it hurts me.
I can tell it doesn't really want me to go, but it is right. I have to.
The walls are close, close, close. Closer than they should be. Closer than they have ever been. I hear Alan yelling for me.
"We have to go! It's getting too dark down here, soon we won't be able to see the way out!"
I don't want to leave. We are leaving everything behind.
But I turn and run.
The walls are getting closer closer closer, there are more corners than there should be. More things in the corners than there should be.
The front door is so far away. It should have been right there?
Alan finds my hand, and he pulls me towards the door. We barely fit through it, the walls are so close close close.
There is another door now, and nothing else. I take one last look at my home, Alan stops with me.
I start to unfasten my necklace, Alan asks me:
"What are you doing?"
"Leaving it something to remember us by."
Alan looks at the necklace, and nods. He's crying too.
I drop the necklace, and turn with Alan to leave through the weird door.
It closes behind me and I don't look back.](else:)[(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I'm standing]] in the attic, alone.
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[No, not alone. There is]] Something in the Corner.
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I am...consoling it? I feel so sorry for it, I think I am crying.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[It is whispering to me, telling me to]] get out, (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[to run before it hurts me.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I can tell it doesn't really want me to go, but it is right. I have to.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[The]] walls (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[are close, close,]] close. (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Closer than they should be. Closer than they have ever been. I hear Alan yelling for me.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["We have to go! It's getting too dark down here, soon we won't be able to see the way out!"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I don't want to leave. We are]] leaving everything behind.
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[But I turn and run.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[The]] walls (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[are getting]] closer closer closer, (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[there are]] more corners (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[than there should be. More]] things in the corners (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[than there should be.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[The]] front door (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[is]] so far (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[away.]] It should have been right there?
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Alan finds my hand, and he pulls me towards the door. We barely fit through it, the]] walls are so close close close.
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[There is another door now, and nothing else. I take one last look at my home, Alan stops with me.
I start to]] unfasten my necklace, (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Alan asks me:]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["What are you doing?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Leaving it something to remember us by."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Alan looks at the necklace, and nods. He's crying too.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I]] drop (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[the]] necklace, (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[and turn with Alan to leave through the weird door.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[It closes behind me and I don't look back.]]
*It looks like you don't have a strong enough connection to this item to get a proper look at its connections. You'll have to see if a specific location or object can strenghten your connection with it.*]
[[Back->Stone Necklace]](set: $cornerthing to 'attic')There is nothing in the corner.
It is looking at you.
There is something in the corner.
Nothing but shadows...
There is nothing in the corner.
It is looking at you. It is looking at you. It is looking at you.(if: $haskey is true)[
The *Rusted Key* is burning a hole in your pocket. You can feel the desire like it's a string pulling at a marionette. It wants you to give it the key, will you? [[(yes, yes, yes)->Give the thing the Rusted Key.]]]
(cond: $currentroom is 'frontlawn', "[[Back->Front Lawn]]", $currentroom is 'fronthallway', "[[Back->Front Hallway]]", $currentroom is 'backhallway', "[[Back->Back Hallway]]",$currentroom is 'garage', "[[Back->Garage]]", $currentroom is 'bedroom', "[[Back->Bedroom]]", $currentroom is 'diningroom', "[[Back->Dining Room]]", $currentroom is 'masterbath', "[[Back->Master Bath]]", $currentroom is 'caernoffice', "[[Back->Caern's Office]]", $currentroom is 'alanoffice', "[[Back->Alan's Office]]", $currentroom is 'kitchen', "[[Back->Kitchen]]", $currentroom is 'bathroom', "[[Back->Bathroom]]", $currentroom is 'livingroom', "[[Back->Living Room]]", $currentroom is 'backporch', "[[Back->Back Porch]]", $currentroom is 'workbench', "[[Back->Workbench]]", $currentroom is 'backyard', "[[Back->Back Yard]]", $currentroom is 'backshed', "[[Back->Back Shed]]", $currentroom is 'attic', "[[Back->Attic]]", "ERROR: Lost Room Location"){
(print: "<script>$('tw-story').removeClass(\)</script>")
(if: (passage:)'s tags's length > 0)[
(print: "<script>$('tw-story').addClass('" + (passage:)'s tags.join(' ') + "'\)</script>")]
}(if: (history:) contains "Back Hallway")[You enter the back half of the hallway. It somehow feels even quieter back here, sleepier.
The back half of the hall hasn't fared any better than the front, and the two paintings on the wall are badly misaligned and quite dusty.
There are a lot of doors very close to each other here:
On the right side of the house, you see two similar doors—one nearer to the front of the house, and one nearer the back.
After that second door, the hallway turns to the left. From there, it opens up into the living room.
At the end of the hallway is a bathroom, and there is an entrance to the kitchen to the left of it.(if: $cornerthing is 'backhallway')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Enter frontmost door.->Caern's Office]]
[[Enter backmost door.->Alan's Office]]
[[Enter living room.->Living Room]]
[[Enter kitchen.->Kitchen]]
[[Enter bathroom.->Bathroom]]
[[Go back up the hallway->Front Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")](else:)[You enter the back half of the hallway. It somehow feels even quieter back here, (link-reveal: "sleepier.")[
The back half of the hall hasn't fared any better than the front, and the two paintings on the wall are badly misaligned and (link-reveal: "quite dusty.")[
There are a lot of doors (link-reveal: "very close to each other here:")[
On the right side of the house, you see two similar doors—one nearer to the front of the house, and one (link-reveal: "nearer the back.")[
After that second door, the hallway turns to the left. From there, it opens up into the (link-reveal: "living room.")[
At the end of the hallway is a bathroom, and there is an entrance to the kitchen to the (link-reveal: "left of it.")[(if: $cornerthing is 'backhallway')[
[[There is something in the corner.]]]
[[Enter frontmost door.->Caern's Office]]
[[Enter backmost door.->Alan's Office]]
[[Enter living room.->Living Room]]
[[Enter kitchen.->Kitchen]]
[[Enter bathroom.->Bathroom]]
[[Go back up the hallway->Front Hallway]]
(cond: $itemcount > 0, "[[Inventory]]", "~~Inventory~~")]]]]]]]
(set: $currentroom to 'backhallway')An old box-set TV, complete with slightly bent antennas.
You can feel the connections to the TV humming...[[scry on it?->Scry on TV]]
[[Back->Living Room]]
(if: (history:) contains "Old TV")[](else:)[(set: $objectcount to $objectcount + 1)]A white ceramic dinner plate with a blue lacquered edge. There’s a good sized chip missing, and a couple small fractures.
You can feel the connections to the plate humming...[[scry on it?->Scry on Plate]]
[[Back to Inventory->Inventory]]Several filthy tennis balls. You swear you only picked up one, but you definitely have more than that now. You guess there is somewhere between 3 and 5 of them, but every time you try to count precisely how many there are you get a headache and have to start over.
You can feel the connections to the tennis balls humming...[[scry on them?->Scry on Tennis Balls]]
[[Back to Inventory->Inventory]]A portable radio that is missing its front face, leaving its innards exposed. You found the radio's missing face lying next to it, but the screws that would fix it in place are nowhere to be seen.
(cond: $currentroom is 'workbench', "You can feel the connections to the radio humming...[[scry on it?->Scry on Radio]]", "You can feel the connections tangled up around the radio...[[scry on it?->Scry on Radio]]")
[[Back to Inventory->Inventory]]A desktop computer that has been laid on its side and filled with soil and houseplants. Dead ferns are sticking out of every hole in the computer’s casing.
You can feel the connections to the desktop humming...[[scry on it?->Scry on Desktop]]
[[Back->Caern's Office]]
(if: (history:) contains "Overgrown Desktop")[](else:)[(set: $objectcount to $objectcount + 1)]A slightly rusted padlock key with no keychain.
(cond: $currentroom is $cornerthing, "You can feel the connections to the key humming...[[scry on it?->Scry on Key]]", "You can feel the connections tangled up around the key...[[scry on it?->Scry on Key]]")
[[Back to Inventory->Inventory]]I notice that I am out of tea, and get up from my desk. On my way to the kitchen, I discover that I have not moved for several hours and now need to use the restroom.
...
Why is there a dinner plate sitting in one of the potted plants in the restroom? This is getting ridiculous.
I pick up the dinner plate, and take it into the kitchen to wash it. Caern walks in as I am doing this, and I address him calmly and levelly so as not to seem antagonistic:
"Bug, you know I love both you and your art, but you *really* have to stop leaving the dinnerware in random places. In a potted plant? Really?"
He looks at me with something glinting in his eyes. Just what, I can't quite tell.
"Okay, one: you know putting random things in plants is kind of my brand at this point, but two: that wasn't me. I thought you were the one leaving plates everywhere!"
"What?" I reply with some indignity. "You are well aware of the fact that I cannot stand dirty dishes lying around the house."
"I mean, yeah, but these ones were clean."
"I don't see how that's relevant!"
"Oh yeah neither do I, I believe you hun. But it definitely also wasn't me, so...who's been moving our dishes around?"
[[Back->Chipped Dinner Plate]](set: $cornerthing to 'bathroom')There's another tennis ball on the ground.
I chuckle a little bit, and bend over to pick it up.
Alan is sitting at the workbench he set up on the back porch, fiddling with that old radio again.
"Oh darling!" I call out in the worst british accent I can manage, "Would you care to play a little bout of..."
He groans and puts the radio down, turning to me.
"*Tennis?*"
"No, bug," he replies with what is *probably* mock seriousness, "I'm afraid I don't have time for a 'little bout of te-'"
He stops short as I am hit in the back of my head with something, it falls to the ground in front of me.
It's another tennis ball.
"Oh darling!" I call out in exactly the same manner as before, "Would you care to-"
Alan breaks out in laughter before I can finish my sentence. "Oooohhh, okay. I have to give you that one, that time it was funny. But that time only!"
"Did you see where it came from?" I ask, "I was facing the other direction at the time, as you may recall-"
"No, I was a little distracted by your performance. I didn't see it until it bounced off that thick head of yours."
"Oh well, I guess they're both going in with the others."
I turn towards the back shed, tennis balls in hand, and open the door.
The floor is already completely covered in a pile of nearly identical tennis balls.
I add the ones I am holding to the pile.
[[Back->A Tennis Ball and a Tennis Ball and a Tennis Ball and a]]You picked up *A Tennis Ball and a Tennis Ball and a Tennis Ball and a*
[[View in Inventory->A Tennis Ball and a Tennis Ball and a Tennis Ball and a]]
[[Back->Back Shed]]
(set: $hastennisball to true)
(set: $itemcount to $itemcount + 1)You picked up the *Chipped Dinner Plate*.
[[View in Inventory->Chipped Dinner Plate]]
[[Back->Kitchen]]
(set: $hasplate to true)
(set: $itemcount to $itemcount + 1)(if: $currentroom is 'workbench')[(set: $seenradio to true)I'm sitting at a workbench. On the table in front of me is an old radio with its face plate removed and its inner wiring exposed.
The work bench is on the back patio, and I can see Caern gardening in the backyard nearby.
I am attempting to repair the radio with a variety of tools and a non-zero amount of duct tape. My movements are practiced and precise. I must do this sort of thing pretty often.
I sigh and pull away from the radio, leaning back in my chair. I put some batteries into it, and attempt to turn it on.
*KKSKSKSHSKHSKSHSHSHSSKHKHSKKHKS-ank you for tuning in to Dawn of Truth, America's most trusted early morn-*
I push back from the table in surprise, and raise my hands in victory.
Caern looks up from his garden, and then stands up with his hands on his hips.
"Did'ja finally fix that thing?" he asks, raising his voice to be heard over the radio.
"Yeah! I got it to work! Turns out someone else had actually botched a repair job on it already, and I had to go back and undo all the frankly ridiculous changes they made. But it works now!"
*-ese unprecedented times, where the Truth is finally being revealed to the faithful. The world is changing, friends, and the time of our savior is dawing ne-*
"What station is that? Some sort of conspiracy talk show?" Caern asks.
"I don't actually know, I didn't touch the radio's channels. I've just been messing with its wiring. Sounds like it, though."
*-now, with the mainstream news outlets FINALLY deciding to come clean and reveal the Truth, the whole world knows that our world is nearing its end. They call it the 'supernatural,' but that's devil tal-*
My head whips towards the radio. "Woah woah woah, what did he just say?"
Caern looks just as confused as I do. "Hold on, do you wanna grab my phone and fact-check that one?"
His phone is on my workbench. I hand it to him as he walks up to the porch. I peer impatiently over his shoulder as he opens his browser.
It's everywhere. Social media, news outlets, even his email is full to the brim with the news.
'A phenomenon experts are describing as the 'Distortion' has been observed to be altering the world in ways that do not obey the natural laws as we understand them. These effects have been observed to be increasing in intensity over time.'
'Sources say that most people have actually already encountered the effects of the Distortion and have either chosen to ignore them or had their accounts dismissed as hoaxes.'
The newspapers manage to make it so clinical. Everyone else has different words for it.
Magic, apocalypse, alien influence, another dimension leaking into ours, everyone has a different idea of what this might mean.
But as I turn to look at Caern in shock, and he mirrors me, we're thinking what everyone else is too:
This changes everything.](else:)[(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I'm sitting at a workbench. On the table in front of me is an]] old radio (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[with its face plate removed and its inner wiring exposed.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[The work bench is on the]] back patio, (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[and I can see Caern gardening in the backyard nearby.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I am attempting to repair the radio with a variety of tools and a non-zero amount of duct tape. My movements are practiced and precise. I must do this sort of thing pretty often.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I sigh and pull away from the radio, leaning back in my chair. I put some batteries into it, and attempt to turn it on.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[*KKSKSKSHSKHSKSHSHSHSSKHKHSKKHKS-ank you for tuning in to*]] *Dawn of Truth,* (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[*America's most trusted early morn-*]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I push back from the table in surprise, and raise my hands in]] victory.
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Caern looks up from his garden, and then stands up with his hands on his hips.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Did'ja finally fix that thing?" he asks, raising his voice to be]] heard over the radio.
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Yeah! I got it to work! Turns out someone else had actually botched a repair job on it already, and I had to go back and undo all the frankly ridiculous changes they made. But it works now!"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[*-ese unprecedented times, where the]] Truth (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[is finally being]] revealed (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[to the faithful. The]] world is changing, (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[friends, and the time of our savior is dawing ne-*]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["What station is that? Some sort of]] conspiracy (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[talk show?" Caern asks.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["I don't actually know, I didn't touch the radio's channels. I've just been messing with its wiring. Sounds like it, though."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[*-now, with the mainstream news outlets FINALLY deciding to come clean and reveal the Truth, the whole world knows that our world is nearing its end. They call it the 'supernatural,' but that's devil tal-*]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[My head whips towards the radio. "Woah woah woah, what did he just say?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Caern looks just as confused as I do. "Hold on, do you wanna grab my phone and fact-check that one?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[His phone is on my workbench. I hand it to him as he walks up to the porch. I peer impatiently over his shoulder as he opens his browser.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[It's everywhere. Social media, news outlets, even his email is full to the brim with the news.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")['A phenomenon experts are describing as the]] 'Distortion' (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[has been observed to be altering the world in ways that do not obey the natural laws as we understand them. These effects have been observed to be]] increasing in intensity (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[over time.']]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")['Sources say that most people have actually already encountered the effects of the Distortion and have either chosen to ignore them or had their accounts dismissed as hoaxes.']]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[The newspapers manage to make it so clinical. Everyone else has different words for it.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Magic,]] apocalypse, (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[alien influence, another dimension leaking into ours, everyone has a different idea of what this might mean.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[But as I turn to look at Caern in shock, and he mirrors me, we're thinking what everyone else is too:]]
This changes everything.
*It looks like you don't have a strong enough connection to this item to get a proper look at its connections. You'll have to see if a specific location or object can strenghten your connection with it.*]
[[Back->Broken Radio]](if: $cornerthing is $currentroom)[The ladder to the attic is down, and the door is open. I can hear the teens talking and laughing up there. I climb up the ladder enough to poke my head into the attic.
"Hey, were you guys calling for me?"
The five of them are sitting in a circle on the rug playing a card game. The one with the nose ring (I haven't memorized their names yet, to my embarrasment) looks down at me and says, "Oh right! Sorry! We got locked out and wanted your help to get back in, but we figured it out. Thanks anyway, though!"
Locked out????
"How did you get locked out? The padlock is on the inside of the door? You can't leave the attic if the door is locked?"
The one with bright yellow hair (it HAS to be hair dye, right?) answers, "Oh we left out the window last time."
"Why? May I ask? Ladder not exciting enough for you?"
"More exciting out the window." replies the one in the leather jacket. "Also, feels less intrusive on your whole space. We take up enough as it." continues the nose ring one.
"Well, I've told you all at least like, six times to treat this house like it's your own. You're all guests here! You are NOT imposing. Frankly, it's less lonely when we have people up here."
"Oh, have you had other people up here?" asks Nose Ring.
"Only once or twice, passing through after getting forced out of their homes—like y'all. That's not what we're talking about right now though, how did you get up here? Did you climb the side of my house?"
"No, actually!" says Yellow Hair, "we got the corner thing to help us out."
"The corner thing?"
"You know, the thing that just sort of hangs out in the corner sometimes and looks at you."
"Oh, I thought that was just me being paranoid. It's an actual, physical thing?"
"Actually," the quiet one with the really long bangs starts sheepishly. "I don't think physical is the right word. We think it's a ghost."
"Yeah," continues Nose Ring, "we gave it the keys and it unlocked the door for us."
"Just like that?" I ask. A chorus of "yeah"s is my response.
"Huh. glad we got a friendly ghost, then. Well, take care!"
I climb back down the ladder.](else:)[(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[The ladder to the]] attic (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[is down, and the door is]] open. (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I can hear the teens talking and laughing up there. I climb up the ladder enough to poke my head into the attic.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Hey, were you guys calling for me?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[The five of them are sitting in a circle on the rug playing a card game. The one with the nose ring (I haven't memorized their names yet, to my embarrasment) looks down at me and says, "Oh right! Sorry! We got]] locked out (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[and wanted your help to get back in, but we figured it out. Thanks anyway, though!"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Locked out????]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["How did you get locked out? The]] padlock (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[is on the]] inside (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[of the door? You can't leave the attic if the door is locked?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[The one with bright yellow hair (it HAS to be hair dye, right?) answers, "Oh we left out the window last time."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Why? May I ask? Ladder not exciting enough for you?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["More exciting out the window." replies the one in the leather jacket. "Also, feels less intrusive on your whole space. We take up enough as it." continues the nose ring one.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Well, I've told you all at least like, six times to treat this house like it's your own. You're all]] guests (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[here! You are NOT imposing. Frankly, it's less lonely when we have people up here."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Oh, have you had other people up here?" asks Nose Ring.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Only once or twice, passing through after getting forced out of their homes—like y'all. That's not what we're talking about right now though, how did you get up here? Did you]] climb (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[the side of my]] house?"
"No, (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[actually!" says Yellow Hair, "we got the corner thing to help us out."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["The corner thing?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["You know, the thing that just sort of hangs out in the corner sometimes and looks at you."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Oh, I thought that was just me being paranoid. It's an actual, physical thing?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Actually," the quiet one with the really long bangs starts sheepishly. "I don't think physical is the right word. We think it's a]] ghost."
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Yeah," continues Nose Ring, "we gave it the keys and it unlocked the door for us."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Just like that?" I ask. A chorus of "yeah"s is my response.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Huh. glad we got a friendly ghost, then. Well, take care!"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I climb back down the ladder.]]
*It looks like you don't have a strong enough connection to this item to get a proper look at its connections. You'll have to see if a specific location or object can strenghten your connection with it.*]
[[Back->Rusted Key]](set: $cornerthing to 'garage')I am kneeling in the dirt, using a trowel to remove weeds from my garden. It is lush and cramped, so I have to be very careful.
It's hot out, so I go back up to the back porch and take a sip from the water bottle I left on the workbench.
*The shortest route between two points is a line. The fastest way to turn left is to turn left. The world is a thin gossamer sheet floating above the void. The-*
Again?
I sigh, and kick my filthy shoes off before stepping through the back door into the living room. Sure enough, the TV is on even though no one is in the room.
I don't recognize the show or channel it's on (as usual). It's displaying a man in a sharp suit talking into the camera, although the feed is not particularly clean and there are a lot of cuts and jumps in the video.
*The shortest route between two points is a circle. The fastest way to turn left is to turn right three times. The world is a thin gossamer sheet with a hole in it. The-*
"Alan!" I call out without removing my gaze from the screen, "It's happening again!"
Alan stumbles into the room and quickly moves over to the television.
*The shortest route between two points is left. The fastest way to turn in a line is to turn right three times. The worl-*
"Oh, this one is *weird*." he observes.
"Yeah, who watches this kind of stuff?" I ask him.
"Beats me, bug. Let me see if I can figure out which station it is-"
He reaches for the control knobs on the television's face, but the instant his finger makes contact the television turns off with a click.
"Huh." he says.
"Huh." I say. "Do you think it's haunted?"
"Well, if it was I would have thought we would have noticed earlier. We got this thing when we moved in 5 years ago, and it didn't do anything weird then."
We sit and look at the television for a moment.
"Well, I think I'm just going to unplug it while we're not using it." Alan concludes.
"That's fine by me."
[[Back->Old TV]]I am filling a desktop computer with dirt.
Well, that's not entirely true. I am filling the *case* of a desktop computer with dirt. It is sitting on the blue tarp in the middle of the room, so that the dirt does not get on the floor.
I walk back over to my desk and consult some sketches depicting the computer case with lush, leafy vines growing out of it. I walk back over to the computer and carefully start making a hole in its side for the plants to grow through.
"What are you doing?" Alan asks. I hadn't noticed him in the doorway.
"Making my next piece?" I thought that would be rather obvious.
Alan shakes his head and exhales sharply, like I'm missing something obvious.
"How? How can you still be focusing on this stuff? There are bigger things going on than an art piece that only we will ever see!"
He sounds upset, but I'm not sure why. "I mean, that's true, but it's not like I can really do much about the bigger things. And this computer isn't gonna seed itself."
He's becoming visibly frustrated. "What do you mean you can't do much about the bigger things? This stuff affects *us!* It is *in* our *house!* It's *been* here for 2 years, and we *didn't even know!*"
"What are you talking about?"
"What do yo-" he stops himself abruptly, and starts again. "The dishes. The tennis balls. The *television*. It all matches the descriptions of the Distortion in the news. It's *already here!* And we have *no idea what it's doing to us!* What it even *is!*"
"I mean, I know that but-"
"But *WHAT?* Caern, I know it's in your nature to go with the flow but the fact that you are just sitting here and *ignoring* all of this is just plain *stupid!* I need your help, but here you are sitting in your studio. Fucking. Playing with dirt! Like *nothing's wrong!*"
...
...
...
A look of intense regret comes over his face.
"I'm. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I wasn't thinking, I, I, I know this is important to yo-"
"Stop. I accept your apology. And I am *perfectly aware* of the fact that our home is getting...affected. But if I don't keep making my art, I feel like I am going to lose my footing and fall apart. So, if you please, I would like to finish this piece now."
He nods glumly. "I'm sorry." he repeats.
"I know."
[[Back->Overgrown Desktop]](set: $cornerthing to 'caernoffice')You picked up the *Broken Radio*.
[[View in Inventory->Broken Radio]]
[[Back->Alan's Office]]
(set: $hasradio to true)
(set: $itemcount to $itemcount + 1)An old mug with a dark, circular stain marking its insides. There is a crude painting of a stylized eye on its side that is chipping and peeling off of the mug.
(cond: $currentroom is 'alanoffice', "You can feel the connections to the mug humming...[[scry on it?->Scry on Mug]]", "You can feel the connections tangled up around the mug...[[scry on it?->Scry on Mug]]")
[[Back to Inventory->Inventory]](if: $currentroom is 'alanoffice')[I look away from my computer and reach for my mug of tea. I smile smugly when I see it sitting there, exactly where I left it.
Caern peeks through the doorway. "Hey, have you ordered the seed for the next pro- ... Did you paint an eye on your mug?"
"Yes!" I answer cheerfully.
"Why?"
"Oh, I am *so* glad you asked. So, you are aware how at this point all of our various plates and dishes and cups and whatnot have taken up the habit of wandering around the house of their own accord?"
"Painfully so, yes?"
"And you recall the fact that never once, in the nearly a decade of them doing this, have we actually seen them moving?"
"Also yes?"
"Well, *I* thought, that maybe we never saw them moving because they only move when *no one is looking.* Makes sense so far, yes?"
"Yeah, I follow." Caern's face has softened up now that we have started our little game of 'I take an unnecessarily long time to explain something I'm proud of.'
"So, I tested it out. I stared at my tea mug for several hours, and not once did it move the whole time!"
"That seems, excessive?"
"It was what science required of me!" I state overdramatically. "Anyway, so after doing that particular experiment I was pretty sure my hypothesis was correct."
"Breaking out the nerd words are we?"
"Shut up, yes, so I decided then to test if it had to be a *person* watching. So I set one of our webcams to be watching the mug, and left it alone for several hours. And, when I came back, *voila!* It was still there!"
A twinkle enters Caern's eyes. "I think I'm starting to see where this is going..."
"Well, let me finish! I'm having fun!"
"Oh yes, please continue, good scientist." he replies with mock formality.
"Thank you! So then, I tried the same experiment with the camera *off.* And the mug still stayed in place! So it doesn't *actually* need to be watched, it just needs to *think* it is being watched."
Caern is nodding along.
"So, finally I tried drawing an eye on a piece of paper and setting it up facing the mug. It worked! This:" I hold up the mug, triumphantly displaying the painted eye on its side, "is the final version. Now the mug watches itself, and it doesn't move at all anymore!"
Caern starts clapping vigorously, and cheers as if he were an audience.
I take a small bow, still sitting down in my chair. "Thank you, thank you."
"Ok, honestly, it is actually really amazing that you figured that out! I'm proud of you!"
"Oh please," I try not to blush.
"But, minor problem."
"Yeah?"
"That is *definitely* gonna come off in the wash."
"Well, we can just hand-wash our dishes from now on?"
"I suppose it's better than finding them in our bedsheets."](else:)[(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I look away from my computer and reach for my]] mug of tea. (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I smile smugly when I see it sitting there,]] exactly where I left it.
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Caern peeks through the doorway. "Hey, have you ordered the seed for the next pro- ... Did you paint an eye on your mug?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Yes!" I answer cheerfully.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Why?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Oh, I am *so* glad you asked. So, you are aware how at this point all of our various]] plates (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[and dishes and cups and whatnot have taken up the]] habit of wandering around the house (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[of their own accord?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Painfully so, yes?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["And you recall the fact that we have]] never (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[once, in the nearly a decade of them doing this, have we actually]] seen them moving(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Also yes?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Well, *I* thought, that maybe we never saw them moving because they only move when *no one is looking.* Makes sense so far, yes?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Yeah, I follow." Caern's face has softened up now that we have started our little game of 'I take an unnecessarily long time to explain something I'm proud of.']]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["So, I tested it out. I stared at my tea mug for several hours, and not once did it move the whole time!"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["That seems, excessive?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["It was what science required of me!" I state overdramatically. "Anyway, so after doing that particular experiment I was pretty sure my hypothesis was correct."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Breaking out the nerd words are we?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Shut up, yes, so I decided then to test if it had to be a *person* watching. So I set one of our webcams to be watching the mug, and left it alone for several hours. And, when I came back, *voila!* It was still there!"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[A twinkle enters Caern's eyes. "I think I'm starting to see where this is going..."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Well, let me finish! I'm having fun!"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Oh yes, please continue good scientist." he replies with mock formality.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Thank you! So then, I tried the same experiment with the camera *off.* And the mug still stayed in place! So it doesn't *actually* need to be watched, it just needs to *think* it is being watched."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Caern is nodding along.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["So, finally I tried drawing an eye on a piece of paper and setting it up facing the mug. It worked! This:" I hold up the mug, triumphantly displaying the]] painted eye (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[on its side, "is the final version. Now the mug watches itself, and it doesn't move at all anymore!"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Caern starts clapping vigorously, and cheers as if he were an audience.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I take a small bow, still sitting down in my chair. "Thank you, thank you."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Ok, honestly, it is actually really amazing that you figured that out! I'm proud of you!"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Oh please," I try not to blush.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["But, minor problem."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Yeah?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["That is *definitely* gonna come off in the wash."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Well, we can just hand-wash our dishes from now on?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["I suppose it's better than finding them in our bedsheets."]]
*It looks like you don't have a strong enough connection to this item to get a proper look at its connections. You'll have to see if a specific location or object can strenghten your connection with it.*]
[[Back->Mug with an Eye Painted On]](set: $cornerthing to 'alanoffice')You picked up the *Mug with an Eye Painted On*.
[[View in Inventory->Mug with an Eye Painted On]]
[[Back->Workbench]]
(set: $hasmug to true)
(set: $itemcount to $itemcount + 1)You picked up the *Rusted Key*.
[[View in Inventory->Rusted Key]]
[[Back->Dining Room]]
(set: $haskey to true)
(unless: (history:) contains "Get Rusted Key")[(set: $itemcount to $itemcount + 1)]A garden trowel completely covered in some sort of filth. It’s impossible to tell whether it’s dirt, rust, or both.
You can feel the connections to the trowel humming...[[scry on it?->Scry on Trowel]]
[[Back to Inventory->Inventory]]I check to make sure my trowel is fastened to my belt, and start hefting some bags of dirt into the bed of the pickup truck. The first couple make a loud banging noise, but the next few are cushioned by the bags beneath them.
Alan pokes his head in from the hallway. "Uh. What are you doing?"
I turn towards him and flash him an enormous grin. "Ah, Alan! Just the man I wanted to see!"
He flushes a little at that. It almost feels like cheating, how easy it is.
Almost.
"So," I continue, "you know how gravity has been getting a little...experimental...in some parts of the neighborhood and it's making everyone on the street uncomfortable and generally contributing to a growing sense of dread?"
"Uh. Yes?"
"Well, *I* thought now would be an excellent time to try and raise morale with a neighborhood beautification initiative! Weird sort-of-apocalypse edition!"
Alan smiles at this, and puts his face in one of his hands. "Yeah, okay. Yup. Sounds about right."
"Look, I have an idea that will make people stop *dreading* this whole business and start looking at it as just another way of life! I think. I dunno, really I'm just doing it for me and hoping it helps."
"Ok, what's your grand plan?"
"Well, some of the weird gravity stuff has made it so that you can walk on the walls of some people's houses like it's the floor."
"This is true, yes."
"And like, I'm talking outside walls."
"Ok, that makes a little more sense vis-a-vis neighborhood beautification initiative. Go on?"
"So," I can't help but start grinning again, "I thought, if these walls can be used as floors, that's a lot of external floorspace that didn't used to exist."
Alan looks at the bags of dirt, and I can see realization starting to spark in his eyes. "Wait, you're planning on-"
"That's a lot of new real estate to start flower gardens on!"
Alan lets out a bit of a laugh, and then quiets down for a bit and thinks about it. "So, you're telling me, that you saw people getting vacuumed up their house walls and getting stuck up there, and you went, 'oh I bet that could use some flowers'?"
"Yeah!"
"..."
"What?"
"I think I love you, and I think you're a genius."
"What??" That is not quite what I was expecting.
Alan looks simultaneously very serious and like he's about to break into laughter. Intense. "No really, that's actually...an excellent idea? It'll definitely take a lot of work, like, we can't just start with dirt. We have to make, like, planter boxes first."
"Oh yeah, whoops."
"Yeah, but honestly? I feel like planting flowers on the weird gravity walls would make them a lot less menacing! Harder to take them seriously, you know?"
"Exactly! That's exactly what I was thinking!"
"Yeah! Now, get that dirt out of the truck. We need to talk with our neighbors first, and then we need to acquire some construction materials."
"Hell yeah! Post-apocalypse gardening project!"
"Wait, do you think it's going to be dangerous?"
"I have no idea! Let's do it anyway!"
"...yeah, ok. Not like I'm doing anything else important."
[[Back->Filthy Trowel]](set: $cornerthing to 'garage')You picked up the *Filthy Trowel*.
[[View in Inventory->Filthy Trowel]]
[[Back->Back Yard]]
(set: $hastrowel to true)
(set: $itemcount to $itemcount + 1)Seven toothbrushes made of colorful plastic. Their brush heads are yellowed with what you hope is age.
You can feel the connections to the toothbrushes humming...[[scry on them?->Scry on Toothbrushes]]
[[Back to Inventory->Inventory]]I hear a commotion coming from down the hall. Our guests must be waking up.
I leave my office, and walk towards the noise. The five of them are all crowded in and around the bathroom, all in various stages of their morning rituals. A couple are still in pajamas (which we provided), while the others are all at least half-dressed. Two are brushing their teeth, one is brushing their hair, another is using the blow-dryer, and one is desperately squirming towards the mirror while they try to put makeup on.
It's a very lively scene, to say the least. They look like they're having fun.
"Good morning. How are you all doing?" I ask them.
"Oh! Mr....uh...Alan?..sir! It's good! It's great! Thank you so much for helping us out!" the nearest one manages.
"Please, just call me Alan. And you're welcome, it's the least we could do."
"I mean, the least you could do would have been to shut your door in our faces, technically. So, thanks for not doing that." replies the one applying makeup.
"Oh, please. We're relatively safe here, and we have plenty of supplies. We had to help you. But, if I may ask, why are you all crowded in there at once?"
"Well," answers the one who just finished using the blowdryer and is now putting toothpaste on a toothbrush of their own, "we wanted to be out of your hair as quickly as possible. Once we're done in here, we can hit the road."
"Absolutely not!" I respond with as much authority as I can manage. "When you arrived last night, it looked like you hadn't slept or eaten in days. You need more than a single night's rest to recover from that, and if you *don't* recover before heading back out there you are going to put yourselves in *much more risk* than you need to."
They look at each other as if considering it, then back to me.
"Look, I realize that if you are really in a hurry or really want to leave, we can't—and won't—keep you here." I elaborate, "But! We would really rather prefer that you actually recovered your strength before getting back out there. It's incredibly dangerous, as I'm sure you are aware."
They all get a dark look on their faces when I say that. I suppose they didn't make it here unscathed, then.
"We have supplies and space for you. Stay here for as long as you need, and not a second shorter than that. Does that sound good to you?"
"One second." They move to talk with each other, and I move away to give them some privacy. After a short bit, they motion me back over.
"If you'll have us, it would be great if we could stay here for about a week, and then we'll be gone. Is that okay?" The one wearing makeup asks tentatively.
"Yes, it's settled then! Now, chose *one* of you to be using that bathroom and take turns, for goodness sake. If there were any more of you, you wouldn't even fit in that room!"
"Heh, yeah." says makeup, in a tone of voice that tells me perhaps I said something I shouldn't have.
Didn't make it here unscathed, indeed. I hope that, wherever they're going, they won't have to run anymore.
[[Back->7 Disposable Toothbrushes]](set: $cornerthing to 'backhallway')You picked up the *7 Disposable Toothbrushes*.
[[View in Inventory->7 Disposable Toothbrushes]]
[[Back->Bathroom]]
(set: $hastoothbrush to true)
(set: $itemcount to $itemcount + 1)(link-reveal: "You walk back over to the door that brought you to this weird old house.")[
(link-reveal: "On the door's other side will be the empty field with grass like waves, just how you left it.")[
(link-reveal: "If you leave this place, you're not certain you will ever be able to come back.")[
[[Stay here for now.->Front Lawn]]
[[Leave this place.]]]]](link-reveal: "You realize that you are still carrying some of the things you have found in the house.")[
(link-reveal: "Do you wish to take them, or leave them?")[
[[Take them.]]
[[Leave them.]]]](link-reveal: "You decide to take the items with you, and you step through the door.")[
(link-reveal: "You don't hear it close behind you.")[
(link-reveal: "When you look back, the door is gone and you are standing alone in the field with nothing but the stars for company.")[
[[The End]]]]](link-reveal: "You gently place all of the items from the house on the ground, carefully laying them out.")[
(link-reveal: "You don't feel the need to put them back where you found them. You have a hunch they can handle that on their own.")[
(link-reveal: "After one last look, you turn and exit through the door.")[
(link-reveal: "It closes behind you, and you are standing in the starlit field again.")[
(link-reveal: "Nothing has changed a bit since you last saw it. The grass, the trees, the sky. The door. It's exactly as you left it.")[
(link-reveal: "And, you guess, it will probably stay that way long after you are gone from it.")[
[[The End]]]]]]]]<h1>THE END</h1>
<h2>You found $itemcount out of 10 collectable items.
You found $objectcount out of 4 stationary objects.</h2>
<h2>Thank you for playing!</h2>You reach for the key, but you can't find it.
You look for the thing, and it is gone.
(cond: $currentroom is 'frontlawn', "[[Back->Front Lawn]]", $currentroom is 'fronthallway', "[[Back->Front Hallway]]", $currentroom is 'backhallway', "[[Back->Back Hallway]]",$currentroom is 'garage', "[[Back->Garage]]", $currentroom is 'bedroom', "[[Back->Bedroom]]", $currentroom is 'diningroom', "[[Back->Dining Room]]", $currentroom is 'masterbath', "[[Back->Master Bath]]", $currentroom is 'caernoffice', "[[Back->Caern's Office]]", $currentroom is 'alanoffice', "[[Back->Alan's Office]]", $currentroom is 'kitchen', "[[Back->Kitchen]]", $currentroom is 'bathroom', "[[Back->Bathroom]]", $currentroom is 'livingroom', "[[Back->Living Room]]", $currentroom is 'backporch', "[[Back->Back Porch]]", $currentroom is 'workbench', "[[Back->Workbench]]", $currentroom is 'backyard', "[[Back->Back Yard]]", $currentroom is 'backshed', "[[Back->Back Shed]]", $currentroom is 'attic', "[[Back->Attic]]", "ERROR: Lost Room Location")
(set: $haskey to false)
(set: $atticopen to true)
(set: $cornerthing to 'attic')A reflective white crescent moon pendant on a short black cord. Despite being covered in dust, its color has not faded or yellowed at all.
You can feel the connections to the necklace humming...[[scry on it?->Scry on Crescent Moon Necklace]]
[[Back to inventory->Inventory]]I'm sitting on the back porch, looking out at the garden. It's a sunny afternoon.
The leader of the group of teens pokes their head out of the back door, and they see me. "Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Yeah, sure thing! What is it?"
They step out of the door and stand awkwardly, as if unsure what to do with themselves. I pat the bench next to me.
"Well, come on and sit down!"
They oblige, tentatively. "So, we're gonna be leaving soon. Tomorrow or the next day, probably. But I wanted you to have this."
They hand me what looks like a necklace. It's a white crescent moon on a short black cord. I've never seen any of them wearing it.
"Why? What is this?"
"It belonged to a friend of ours. I think it belongs here now."
"Ok, so, a couple of questions. One, why is this no longer in your friend's possession and two, why are you giving it to me?"
There is a pained expression on the teen's face. This must be hard for them, I should probably tone it down a little...
"She, uh, didn't make it here with us. We lost her to one of those cascade things a while back, and her necklace showed up in my bag a couple days later."
"Ah, I see." That's what I was afraid of. "I'm so, so sorry that you've all had to go through this. Don't you want to hang onto it, though? As a memento? Why give something so precious to someone you essentially just met?"
"Well, the thing is. You know that thing that hangs out in the corner sometimes?"
"Yeah, the one you guys think is a ghost?"
"Well, it always shows up whenever we talk about her. It comes closer when we play her favorite songs or talk about home. Once, I think I even heard it laughing! I think she isn't really gone."
"Huh. That is, uh. I don't really know what to say to that? Why give this to me, and not to her?"
"I've tried giving it to her, she doesn't seem to want it. We've given her some stuff before, *before* we figured out who she was, and most of it just seems to...go away. Like, poof, gone. So I think she might be afraid?"
"Ok, but why me? Why not keep it for her?"
"I mean, she can't leave the house."
"Wait, what?" I ask. This is news to me.
"Yeah, I only ever see her in the house. I've tried to like, summon her outside but the best I've ever gotten is seeing her through the window. And, like, it kinda makes sense? Your house is, and I mean this in like a good and cool way and not a mean way, MEGA-weird. It has the highest concentration of completely harmless supernatural shit I have ever seen, and I've seen my fair share of supernatural shit! So I think, maybe she's bound to it?"
"I see." I take a moment to process what they just told me. "And so, since you figured she's gonna be stuck with us we might as well have her necklace."
"Yeah, I want it to be near her. I think she does too."
"Ok, ok. I'll take it." And I do. "I'll put it somewhere she can look at it."
"Thank you so much. For this, and everything else you've done for us. I really, really can't thank you enough."
They look like they're out of words, so I make the next move.
"Well," I say, standing up, "I'm gonna go see if we have a box or something to display this in. Thank you, for trusting us with it. I promise we'll take good care of her."
"Thank you." They get up, and move to go back inside.
"Oh, wait!" I stop them before they close the door. "What was her name?"
Their face scrunches up with anger and sadness. They look like they're going to cry.
"That's the problem." they choke out, "I can't remember. None of us can."
[[Back->Crescent Moon Necklace]]You picked up the *Crescent Moon Necklace*.
[[View in Inventory->Crescent Moon Necklace]]
[[Back->Attic]]
(set: $hascrescent to true)
(set: $itemcount to $itemcount + 1)A long mirror that has become cloudy with dirt and grime, making it almost feel like a window. You can see yourself in it as if through a fog.
You can feel the connections to the mirror humming...[[scry on it?->Scry on Mirror]]
[[Back->Master Bath]]
(if: (history:) contains "Cloudy Mirror")[](else:)[(set: $objectcount to $objectcount + 1)]I am shaving in front of the bathroom mirror. Caern is taking a shower; the steam is fogging up the room a little, but not enough for me to mind.
I finish shaving, and wash my face. Caern steps out of the shower, dries himself off, and wraps the towel around his waist. He moves up to the sink next to me, and looks at me in the mirror.
"You know, we *should* talk about it at some point. Like, explicitly." he says.
"About what, specifically?" I ask. I think I know the answer, but I'm not sure.
"You know. Everything. The laws of physics just up and changing, everyone in the world crying 'apocalypse'. Everything."
"Yeah, we uh. Haven't really had a conversation about it, have we?" I only realize what I'm saying is true after I've said it. I chuckle a little. "Two years we've known about it, and we've lived with it for twice as long. And not once have we sat down and talked about it."
"We could talk about it now?"
"I suppose we already are, aren't we?"
"Yeah."
He puts some toothpaste on his toothbrush, and looks at me directly—not through the mirror.
"Well," I start, "I suppose I should start with an apology. In the beginning this stuff all hit me pretty hard, but I took it out on you a little and that was, frankly, unacceptable. I'm sorry."
"*You*," says Caern, "have already apologized for that. Several times! And I forgave you, so, maybe you should start actually forgiving yourself for it."
I grumble. It doesn't feel like I should be doing that, but I know he won't hear it.
He sighs, and puts down the toothbrush. Caern takes my hand, and gently pulls me into a hug. "Darling, this has been hard on both of us. In different ways. And neither of us have spent all that much time processing it, so let's process it! You start. How does knowing, for a fact, that the supernatural exists make you feel?"
I let him pull me in, and sigh a little. "It shook the foundations of my worldview, you know? Like, I had spent so long refusing the idea of any higher powers that, when they just...showed up...I was terrified! I *am* terrified. I spent a long time getting some of the things my parents taught me out of my head, and they just. All came roaring back. And I hated it. Hate it."
"See, isn't that better?"
I grumble. He is frustratingly good at this, it's not fair. "Yeah, yeah I guess it is. What about you?" I ask, wrapping my arms around him, "You just sort of buried your head in work, why?"
"Well, we're still talking about yo-"
"Ah ah ah, no dodging the question. How did it make *you* feel?"
"Hm." he starts, "I really genuinely didn't know what to make of it at first. It was a total shock, for it to just be out in the open like that. Like, I always felt there was *probably* something more going on in the world, but I never expected anything like this. So I just decided to wait and see what would end up happening, but everyone's apocalypse talk got to me a little and waiting started to become really *really* stressful, so I started throwing myself into my work to reduce that a bit."
"That makes sense. All things considered, you definitely handled it better than I did."
"You can say that again."
"*Hey!* I thought we were being mutually supportive!"
"There is room for both love and truth in this discussion, my love." He says, trying not to crack a smile.
"Well, what do you think now?" I ask.
"Hm?"
"Well, you said you wanted to wait and see. And we have waited and seen, so what do you think now?"
"Oh, I suppose we have. Hm."
He thinks for a moment.
"I think," he says, with an uncharacteristic amount of consideration, "that I don't exactly like where it's going. It feels like the world we knew is falling apart—like an old piece of fabric—and something else is taking its place."
"I get that feeling too...It sounds a lot less dreadful when you say it out loud, doesn't it?" I observe, surprising myself.
"Yeah, I suppose so. Maybe something new won't be so bad for the world."
"We can only hope." I squeeze Caern a little tighter.
[[Back->Cloudy Mirror]]A pickup truck that is rusting at the edges. Its tires are flat and its windows are clouded with dust: it looks like it has decided to never move from the spot it sits ever again.
(cond: $currentroom is $cornerthing, "You can feel the connections to the truck humming...[[scry on it?->Scry on Truck]]", "You can feel the connections tangled up around the truck...[[scry on it?->Scry on Truck]]")
[[Back->Garage]]
(if: (history:) contains "Broken-Down Pickup Truck")[](else:)[(set: $objectcount to $objectcount + 1)](if: $cornerthing is $currentroom)[I pop open the hood of our pickup truck, and take a look inside. I roll up my sleeves and get ready to get to work, and I reach for my tools.
My tools aren't there.
I sigh, and look at the corner.
"I didn't give those to you, you know. Can I have them back?"
I get the impression of a giggle from the corner. I don't hear anything, of course, but I wasn't expecting to.
"That's not an answer, you know." I chide.
Caern opens the door and leans through it. He looks at me and says: "Hey, have you seen Casper? We're playing a game."
"Yes, it's in here. It seems to think I'm participating, as it has taken my tools. Without my permission!"
He scans the corners of the room until he sees it. "Well, that was rude! Give those tools back, Alan is working—not playing!"
We both get the strong, playful impression that it won't give the tools back unless we trade it something.
"Just give it your necklace again," I say to Caern, "it loves your necklace."
Caern grabs his necklace and makes a show of protecting it. "No! I'm afraid one of these days Casper isn't gonna give it back!"
There is the impression of more laughter from the corner.
"Are we set on Casper?" I ask, "I know it needs a name, but for some reason whenever I hear 'Casper' I think dog, not person."
"*Dog?* Darling, I regret to inform you that you are wrong. *Casper* is *not* a *dog name*. It's a *friendly ghost!* Naming it anything else would almost be blasphemy."
We both turn back to the corner, and find that the ghost is gone.
"Oh, looks like it moved on." observes Caern.
"Well, hold on, help me find it! It still has my tools!"
I walk past him into the house, he chuckles as he follows me.
I'm facing away from him, so I don't think he saw my smile.](else:)[(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I pop open the hood of our]] pickup truck(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[, and take a look inside. I roll up my sleeves and get ready to get to work, and I reach for my tools.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[My tools aren't there.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I sigh, and]] look at the corner.
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["I didn't give those to you, you know. Can I have them back?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I get the impression of a giggle from the corner. I]] don't hear anything, (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[of course, but I wasn't expecting to.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["That's not an answer, you know." I chide.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Caern opens the door and leans through it. He looks at me and says: "Hey, have you seen Casper? We're playing a game."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Yes,]] it's in here. (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[It seems to think I'm participating, as it has taken my tools. Without my permission!"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[He scans the corners of the room until he sees it. "Well, that was rude! Give those tools back, Alan is working—]]not playing(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[!"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[We both get the strong, playful impression that it]] won't give (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[the tools]] back unless (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[we]] trade it something.
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Just give it your necklace again," I say to Caern, "it loves your necklace."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Caern grabs his necklace and makes a show of protecting it. "No! I'm afraid one of these days Casper isn't gonna give it back!"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[There is the impression of more laughter from the corner.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Are we set on Casper?" I ask, "I know it needs a name, but for some reason whenever I hear 'Casper' I think dog, not person."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["*Dog?* Darling, I regret to inform you that you are]] wrong. (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[*Casper* is *not* a *dog name*. It's a *friendly ghost!* Naming it anything else would almost be]] blasphemy(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[We both turn back to the]] corner(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[, and find that the ghost is]] gone.
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Oh, looks like it moved on." observes Caern.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Well, hold on, help me find it! It still has my tools!"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I walk past him into the house, he chuckles as he follows me.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I'm facing away from him, so I don't think he saw my smile.]]
*It looks like you don't have a strong enough connection to this item to get a proper look at its connections. You'll have to see if a specific location or object can strenghten your connection with it.*]
[[Back->Broken-Down Pickup Truck]]A digital alarm clock with a huge crack down the middle of its display. It wasn’t plugged into the wall.
(cond: $seenradio is true, "You can feel the connections to the clock humming...[[scry on it?->Scry on Alarm Clock]]", "You can feel the connections tangled up around the clock...[[scry on it?->Scry on Alarm Clock]]")
[[Back to inventory->Inventory]](if: $seenradio is true)[The 5:00 alarm goes off, waking me up. I roll over in bed and clumsily slap it until it stops beeping. The sun isn't out yet, and the room is filled with a comfortable dimness.
I turn towards Alan. He's already awake.
He looks *really* tired. Did he get any sleep? "Hey, babe, you all right?"
He looks at me bleakly over our pillows. "It's getting worse."
Ah, yeah. "Yeah, it is."
"I couldn't sleep, I was thinking about it too much. Our neighborhood used to be relatively stable, but that's been changing lately. Half of our neighbors have already left. Some of the houses on the block are downright uninhabitable already."
"Yeah." I try to nod solemnly, but the effect is reduced by my face rubbing up against my pillow. I hardly know what to say. "It's...frightening. But...I can't say I want to leave. Not that I wouldn't, if we end up having to, but..."
Alan sighs and flops onto his back. "I agree. For all its strangeness, I love this house. I love living here with you. I don't want this to end."
"Neither do I." I let out a small, quiet laugh as I have a thought. "You know, we've spent most of our time living in this house dealing with the supernatural. Like, how long have we been here?"
"About 13 years, I believe."
"Yeah, and stuff started getting weird, like, 5 years in. It feels like this house is tangled up with all of this, in a good way. It's been almost peaceful, when we weren't worrying about the end of the world."
Alan is nodding. I can't see his face, but I think he might be tearing up. "And soon, we're going to have to leave it all. Make our way to one of the stable zones, like everyone else, and hope for the best."
"Who knows, maybe we have a stable zone right here? In this little house of ours?"
He lets out a quiet chuckle. "Wouldn't that be nice."
...
There is a long pause as we lay there in silence.
"It might be stupid of me," I start, "but I think we should stay here as long as we possibly can. There are too many memories here for me to feel comfortable just up and leaving."
"I think you're right." Alan says, with something that could have been a laugh or a sob. "It is stupid of you, and I think we should do it anyway."
That gets a laugh out of me. "Until then, we can earn our keep. Keep on planting flowers on the walls, right up until the day we're gone."
"I think I'd like that."
"Yeah, me too."](else:)[(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[The 5:00]] alarm (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[goes off, waking me up. I roll over in bed and clumsily slap it until it stops beeping. The sun isn't out yet, and the room is filled with a comfortable dimness.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[I turn towards Alan. He's already]] awake.
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[He looks *really* tired. Did he get any sleep? "Hey, babe, you all right?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[He looks at me bleakly over our pillows.]] "It's getting worse."
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Ah, yeah. "Yeah, it is."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["I couldn't sleep, I was thinking about it too much. Our neighborhood]] used to be (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[relatively]] stable, (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[but that's been changing lately. Half of our neighbors have already left. Some of the houses on the block are downright]] uninhabitable (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[already."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Yeah." I try to nod solemnly, but the effect is reduced by my face rubbing up against my pillow. I hardly know what to say. "It's...frightening. But...I can't say I want to leave. Not that I wouldn't, if we end up having to, but..."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Alan sighs and flops onto his back. "I agree. For all its strangeness, I love this house. I love living here with you.]] I don't want this to end.(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Neither do I." I let out a small, quiet laugh as I have a thought. "You know, we've spent most of our time living in this house dealing with the]] supernatural. (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Like, how long have we been here?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["About 13 years, I believe."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Yeah, and stuff started getting weird, like, 5 years in. It feels like this]] house is tangled up with all of this(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[, in a good way. It's been almost peaceful, when we weren't worrying about the end of the world."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[Alan is nodding. I can't see his face, but I think he might be tearing up. "And soon, we're going to have to leave it all. Make our way to one of the stable zones, like everyone else, and hope for the best."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Who knows, maybe we have a stable zone right here? In this little house of ours?"]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[He lets out a quiet chuckle. "Wouldn't that be nice."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[...]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[There is a long pause as we lay there in silence.]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["It might be stupid of me," I start, "but I think we should]] stay here (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[as long as we possibly can. There are]] too many memories (text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[here for me to feel comfortable just up and leaving."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["I think you're right." Alan says, with something that could have been a laugh or a sob. "It is stupid of you, and I think we should do it anyway."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")[That gets a laugh out of me. "Until then, we can earn our keep. Keep on planting flowers on the walls, right up until the day we're gone."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["I think I'd like that."]]
(text-style: "blurrier")[(text-style: "upside-down")["Yeah, me too."]]
*It looks like you don't have a strong enough connection to this item to get a proper look at its connections. You'll have to see if a specific location or object can strenghten your connection with it.*]
[[Back->Cracked Alarm Clock]]You picked up the *Cracked Alarm Clock*.
[[View in Inventory->Cracked Alarm Clock]]
[[Back->Bedroom]]
(set: $hasclock to true)
(set: $itemcount to $itemcount + 1)