{(set: $partner_name to "Dona")
(set: $p_color to #C86E8F)
}$partner_name: (text-colour: $p_color)[Yes! Nice to meet you! I take it you're Illia?]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[I am. I hope I didn't keep you waiting for long.]
$partner_name: (text-colour: $p_color)[Not at all! I only got here a couple minutes ago myself. I'm so sorry for dragging you all the way out here, by the way. I know you wanted to stay closer to Queens, but I saw they were having a special for Valentine's Day. ]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Oh, it's fine! Honestly, I've been trying to find an excuse to drag myself here anyways. ]
$partner_name: (text-colour: $p_color)[Then hopefully I've made a good one.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[I think you have.]
(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[You like where this is going.]]{(set: $partner_name to "Dennis")
(set: $p_color to #D52565)
}$partner_name: (text-colour: $p_color)[Yes! Nice to meet you! I take it you're Illia?]
Illia:(text-colour:#FEA241)[ I am. I hope I didn't keep you waiting for long.]
$partner_name: (text-colour: $p_color)[Not at all! I only got here a couple minutes ago myself. I'm so sorry for dragging you all the way out here, by the way. I know you wanted to stay closer to Queens, but I saw they were having a special for Valentine's Day.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Oh, it's fine! Honestly, I've been trying to find an excuse to drag myself here anyways. ]
$partner_name: (text-colour: $p_color)[Then hopefully I've made a good one.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[I think you have.]
(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[You like where this is going.]]$partner_name:(text-colour: $p_color)[I mean it! Aphrodite is truly lucky to have a creation so beautiful. I question that you aren't a goddess yourself.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[shut up]
$partner_name: (text-colour: $p_color)[You could even- ]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[stop]
$partner_name: (text-colour: $p_color)[-fool me into thinking you were made from the same sea foam.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[[...]]$partner_name: (text-colour: $p_color)[What's wrong?]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[[...I'm so fucked.]]$partner_name: (text-colour: $p_color)[I don't get it. What's...]
The ground shakes. Plates fall and shatter upon the floor. Restaurant patrons leap and cower on the floor.
The ceiling breaks. Tables are knocked over and broken in half by rubble and shingles. Servers dash to the kitchen to take cover.
[[Silence falls upon the restaurant.]]Godly feminine voice: (text-colour:#F520B0)[''WHO DARE CLAIMS TO RIVAL MY BEAUTY?'']
A godly hand, adorned in rings, an ethereal glow, and an stilletto shaped manicure, comes from above and snatches $partner_name into the air. You manage to jump out of the way before the hand's nails can rake you in the process.
Godly feminine voice: (text-colour:#F520B0)[''NONE SHALL SLANDER THE NAME OF THE GODDESS APHRODITE.'']
=|=
(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Run <- //run// ]]
=|=
(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Run <- //RUN// ]]
=|=
(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Fight <-//Fuck around and find out//]]
|==|
(set: $level1 to true)The hand points a finger at you with mere inches between you and its sharpened tip.
Aphrodite: (text-colour:#F520B0)[''You! You inconsequential, hubris-filled scum, you think yourself more beautiful than the gods who grant you mercy to even exist in our world? Do you believe yourself above Hades as well?'']
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[No! No, not at all!]
Aphrodite: (text-colour:#F520B0)[''I'll kill you. '']
You think through your options. You could try to talk this out, but you know that won't go anywhere. She's a greek goddess.
You could try to stay and fight.
Except she's a greek goddess. You've got a degree in Economics and Philosphy.
One final option crosses your mind.
You run. You run far.
As fast as your legs will carry you, you sprint into (text-colour:#27E2F3)[[the streets of NYC]].You grab a steak knife from the table and try to prepare yourself for the fight of your life.
(text-colour:#FEA241)[//Oh god, why did I do this? When was the last time I lifted anything over 5 pounds?//]
Before you fall much further into your final thoughts, a hand falls on your shoulder.
General Manager: (text-colour:#B6D3F3)[Ma'am, I'm so sorry. We need to ask you to leave. ]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Please.]
General Manager: (text-colour:#B6D3F3)[We can't handle the property damages. You need leave.]
With no other options, you flee to (text-colour:#27E2F3)[[the streets of NYC]].
(set: $steakKnife to true)Hours pass, not one of them silent. You talk the entire time, about work and hobbies, jobs and dreams. At one point, when $partner_name leave to use the bathroom, you check your phone and realize you've been at this table for well over two hours. It didn't even feel like 30 minutes. Once they sit down, you meet each others again eyes. This is it. This is the person you've been looking for all this time.
(text-colour:#FEA241)[//This is what a spark feels like.//]
$partner_name: (text-colour:$p_color)[Okay, I have to say it now before I lose the courage, but I need to tell you that you really are gorgeous.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Oh my gosh, stop it. You're so sweet.]
$partner_name: (text-colour:$p_color)[No, really. Like, Aphrodite could only wish to have a beauty like yours.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[[... hahahahaha. what.]](align:"=><=")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXXXXXX===")[
Aphro(text-colour:#F520B0)[''die'']te
Fight For Love]
[[First Date <- Starting Cutscene]]
(if:$level1 is true)[[Level 1; Hestia <- Chapter 1: Hestia and the Home Store]]
(if:$level2 is true)[[Level 2; Hades <- Chapter 2: Hades at Work.]]
It's night, but the city doesn't sleep, and neither do you. You dash through the advertisement-lit streets. You're tired, exhausted, and running out of stamina, but you need help. You need someone on your side.
(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Streetcart Vendor]]
(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Passerby]]
(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Dog-walker]]
(set: $vendor to false)
(set: $passerby to false)
(set: $walker to false)(text-colour:#FEA241)[//Well... here's to try number 23.//]
You step into a high-class, chic restaurant filled with $56 bottles of wine and couples galore. It's Valentine's day.
(text-colour:#FEA241)[//Cute. That could be me.//]
It couldn't. The last 22 dates you've been on crashed and burned after 45 minutes of one-sided conversation and interesting political opinions. You should probably stop listening to Gloria about the "cute singles" she's in contact with, but she guilted you into one more date.
(text-colour:#FEA241)[//At least this person seems to care. Maybe the 80 minute MTA ride was worth it after all.//]
Scanning the room you find the one table with a single occupant. They wave at you excitedly and stand to greet you.
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Hi! Are you...]
=|=
>(text-colour:#FEA241)[[Their name is Dona <- Dona?]]
=|=
>(text-colour:#FEA241)[[Their name is Dennis <-Dennis?]]
|==|
You hear the voice in the distance and freeze. You look around you. The street, though busy, is filled with people unconcerned with your plight.
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Who said that?]
A Soft Voice: (text-colour: #FFD267)[[Do you seek safety, young one?]]No one else pays mind to the voice. You aren't sure if they can even hear it.
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Yes! Who are you?]
A Soft Voice: (text-colour: #FFD267)[[Come near, young one.]]Following the voice leads you to enter a home decor store. "(text-colour: #FFD267)[Hearth and Home Decor]", reads the sign above.
Opening the door, you're immediately hit by warm air and a lightly ringing bell. A woman no younger than seventy-five sits in an ornate wooden chair, sipping from a large mug by a fireplace. She glances back to the door and smiles.
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Why hello there! Can I help you?]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Were you... calling me?]
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[I don't think so. Did you have an order for pick up?]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[No.]
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Then I can't say that I have. Was that all you needed?]
=|=
>(text-colour:#FEA241)[[No, I need help.]]
|==|You run to a streetcart vendor, his cart full of hot dogs.
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[I need your help, please.]
Streetcart Vendor: (text-colour:#B6D3F3)[I can offer you a hot dog.]
(text-colour:#FEA241)[//I don't think this person can help me any.//]
(set: $vendor to true)
(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Give up]]
(if: $passerby is false)+(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Passerby]] (if: $passerby is true)+(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Give up]]
(if:$walker is false)+(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Dog-walker]](if: $walker is true) +(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Give up]]
You run to a woman in office clothing.
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Ma'am? Ma'am, can you please help me?]
She keeps walking.
Illia: (text-colour: #FEA241)[Ma'am, please, I'm begging you. I'm going to die, I just need-]
She walks a little faster and puts her headphones in her ears.
(text-colour:#FEA241)[//I think she's trying to run from me now.//]
(if:$vendor is false)+(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Streetcart Vendor]](if: $vendor is true)+(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Give up]]
(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Give up]]
(if:$walker is false)+(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Dog-walker]](if: $walker is true)+(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Give up]]
(set: $passerby to true)You go to approach a person with several dogs in hand. They seemed very wrapped up in a couple of leashes and are doing their best to keep three of the dogs from fighting each other.
(text-colour:#FEA241)[//They... have a lot going on. I can't get them involved.//]
(if:$vendor is false)+(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Streetcart Vendor]](if: $vendor is true)+(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Give up]]
(if: $passerby is false)+(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Passerby]] (if: $passerby is true)+(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Give up]]
(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Give up]]
(set: $walker to true)Exhausted, you stop running. Your lungs are aching. Your legs are drained. The street stretches on forever. If you can't fight a goddess alone, you can't outrun one either.
(text-colour:#FEA241)[//I guess I've lived a good life. It's not like I had a 401k to look forward to.//]
A Soft Voice: (text-colour: #FFD267)[[Do you seek shelter, young one?]] Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[I guess.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[[Yes! Yes, of course. Anything!]]Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[No, I need help. Please. I'm desperate.]
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Well that's no good at all. I'd be glad to help you.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Really?]
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Of course. If you're willing to help me with a task first, that is.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[[Yes! Yes, of course. Anything!]]
The old woman smiles warmly and unsteadily stands to lead you to the back of the store.
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Good. I have a customer order ready in the backroom, but it's much to heavy for me to carry alone. Do you think you could bring it here for me?]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Oh, is that's all you want me to do?]
The old woman shakes her head and opens the door to the backroom.
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[I also have my dinner in one of the fridges back there. If you could fetch that for me as well, I'd be indebted to you.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Of course! It's just a small favor. [[I don't mind at all.]] ]
Weapons:
(if: $steakKnife is true) [Steak Knife:
* A simple steak knife. It's not fancy, particularly effective against gods, or even useful in most situations.]
(if: $HestiaWeapon is true)[Hestia's Fire Poker:
* Gifted to you by the goddess Hestia, this Fireplace Poker is effective at, well, poking. Best for striking one enemy for a moderate amount of damage.]
Power ups:
NoneAs you walk and talk, the air changes once you step into the back room. The warmth is still there, but there's no fire or heater to attribute it to. It's almost ethereal, really.
More pressingly, there's a lamp in front of you. It's staring at you, menacingly.
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Does that lamp have eyes?]
You look back to see that the Old Woman has explicitly not crossed the threshold with you. Instead, she hands you a fireplace poker and promptly shuts the door on you. You can hear her voice on the other side still.
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[[Good luck!]]
(set: $CustomerOrder to false)
(set: $HestiaDinner to false)
(set: $HestiaDinner to false)(if:(history: where its name contains "Good luck!")'s length is 0)[Other furniture seem to spring to life as soon as the door shuts. Chairs start to wander, carpets slink across the floor, and the rattling of a broken mirror sends shivers down your spine..
All things considered, this is still better than Aphrodite. Still, you're left with a mission, a weapon, and a seemingly angry lamp. ]
(if:$CustomerOrder is false)+(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Customer Order]]
(if:$HestiaDinner is false)+(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Old Woman's Dinner]]
(if:$HestiaDinner is true)+(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Old Woman's Wine]]
After dancing between carpets and sprinting from a mob of lamps, you manage to find the shelf holding a desk and chair set in a box. You load it only a dolly and drag it back to the front .
(if:$HestiaDinner is false)+(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Old Woman's Dinner]]
(if:$HestiaDinner is true)+(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Old Woman's Wine]]
(if:$HestiaDinner is true)+(if:$HestiaWine is true)+(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Return to the Old Woman]]
(set:$CustomerOrder to true)You poke several holes into a leather recliner before pushing forward into an employee break room.
You pick up a small takeout container. You peak into the styrofoam container to find that it's 8 breadsticks, 3 tiny tubs of butter, and a stale pork chop. For a moment, you question if this the right container, but there's nothing else in the fridge. On top of it is a sticky note. It reads:
(text-colour: #FFD267)[''Don't forget your drink in the storage closet. Treat yourself''.]
(text-colour:#FEA241)[//I guess one more stop can't hurt...//]
(set:$HestiaDinner to true)
(if:$CustomerOrder is false)+(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Customer Order]]
(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Old Woman's Wine]]
After demolishing a mirror and a single seater sofa, you manage to find the "Storage Closet". Looking inside, it just shelves and shelves of wine storage. It's all the same wine too.
You're confused, but a task is a task. You take a bottle of wine with you.
(if:$CustomerOrder is false)+(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Customer Order]]
(if:$CustomerOrder is true)+(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Return to the Old Woman]]
(set: $HestiaWine to true)Carrying the dinner, wine bottle, and dragging the dolly behind you, you knock on the door again.
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Hi, I got what you asked for. Can you let me out, please?]
Theres a silence followed by the click of a lock. The Old Woman pokes her head through a crack in the door before opening it all the way for you. She takes the food and drink, and you drag the box of furniture behind you on the dolly.
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Oh, good! Thank you, child. I've needed this for awhile now.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[It's been awhile since I've been called a child. ]
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Oh, when you reach my age, everyone feels like a child to you.]
She hobbles over to her chair and eases herself back into the cushioned seat. She rests the styrofoam box on her lap and opens it up with a look of delight on her face. Slowly and methodically, she dips a bread into one of the mini butter tubs, and takes the smallest bite from it. She does this again.
And again.
And again.
(text-colour: #FEA241)[//... I'm going to be here for awhile.//]
=|=
(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Talk to her]]
=|=
(text-colour:#27E2F3)[[Wait awkwardly for her to finish.]]
|==|
Finally, she finishes gnawing on her porkchop and puts the entire container off to the side. She seems a little more energized by the meal. Without any fanfare, she picks up the wine, uncorks the bottle, and tips it to her lips until it's completely vertical.
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Oh, ma'am, please be careful.]
She doesn't slow down. In a couple of seconds, the contents of the bottle is gone. It's scarily impressive. Mostly scary.
She lets out a relieved breath and the sets the bottle down on the table next to her.
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Oh, goodness, it's been awhile since I've had a good meal. Thank you, Illia.]
You're confused at first. It seemed like a mediocre meal at best. Even so, the old woman stands and stretches out her arms. She begins to glow, faintly at first. She stretches out her hand to the fireplace, from which the flame leaps out to circle around her feat.
With grace and fury, warm and comforting flame rises and circles around her as she glows ever so bright. The flames are compelling, but bright. Despite your best efforts, you're forced to look away after a few moments of awe.
Once you look back, a much younger, veiled woman now stands before you with ringlets of brown hair framing her face. You aren't tall, and she isn't much taller than you, but you look up to her with a feeling that you've witnessed something infinitely larger than you can comprehend.
(text-colour: #FFD267)[ [[Hello, dear.]]]
(if:(history: where its name contains "Talk to her")'s length is 0)
[
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[So...]
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Ah, ah ah! Let a feeble woman get a few uninterrupted bites, yes?]
=|=
(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Talk to her<-Try talking to her again.]]
=|=
(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Wait awkwardly for her to finish.]]
|==|
]{
}(if:(history: where its name contains "Talk to her")'s length is 1)
[
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Ma'am-...]
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Please, I won't be long to finish.]
=|=
(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Talk to her<-Try talking to her again.]]
=|=
(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Wait awkwardly for her to finish.]]
|==|
]{
}(if:(history: where its name contains "Talk to her")'s length is 2)
[
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Ma'am, can I ask you one thing?]
The old woman groans and sets her breadstick back down into the takeout container. She looks to you, giving you her full attention.
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Well, you're a stubborn one, aren't you? Go ahead.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Are you sure you weren't the one calling me?]
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[I haven't touched my phone all day, so I don't think so.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[No, in the street. I thought I heard your voice.]
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Would it offer you comfort if I said yes?]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[No. Well, maybe? I'm trying to figure out what's real right now.]
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[...Then I was, yes.]
She picks up her takeout container and begins to eat again, this time at a much slower pace.
=|=
(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Talk to her<-Keep talking.]]
=|=
(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Wait awkwardly for her to finish.<- Wait for her to finish.]]
|==|
]{
}(if:(history: where its name contains "Talk to her")'s length is 3)
[
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[How?]
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[You're asking questions about this, but not about the room I just locked you in?]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Honestly, I don't know what to question anymore.]
The old woman chuckles lightly and rips another piece of the breadstick into her mouth.
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Trust me, the sooner you stop asking questions, the sooner everything makes sense.]
She dips the bread back into the butter and continues to eat. The silence sits between you as she finishes her breadsticks.
=|=
(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Talk to her<-Keep talking.]]
=|=
(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Wait awkwardly for her to finish.<- Wait for her to finish.]]
|==|
]{
}(if:(history: where its name contains "Talk to her")'s length is 4)
[
You watch as she now picks up the large, dried porkchop from the container and starts to slowly nibble at it as well. All that's on your mind is the giant, ornate hand searching Manhattan for you.
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Do we have time for this? I don't think we have time for this.]
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Yes, we do.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[I really don't think that we do. ]
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Is there something so wrong with taking our time? If you feel so rushed, I'm sure you'll be able to find someone else to help you. The streets never rest.]
You pause. As tempting as that offer is, you think back to world outside of the store doors. You feel considerbly less hurried with her by your side.
=|=
(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Talk to her<-Keep talking.]]
=|=
(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Wait awkwardly for her to finish.<- Wait for her to finish.]]
|==|
]{
}(if:(history: where its name contains "Talk to her")'s length > 4)
[
You open your mouth to try and speak again, but the old woman cuts you off before you can get a sound out.
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[Young one, no one being holds all of the answers. The world is a complicated and contradictory, not just for men and mortals.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[What do you mean by that?]
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[What I mean is that I adore your questions, but as beautiful as your voice is, I would like to finish eating within the century.]
Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Oh, right.]
(text-colour:#27E2F3) [[Wait awkwardly for her to finish.<- Wait.]]
] This marks the end of the demo for:
(align:"=><=")+(box:"===XXXXXXXXXXXXXX===")[
Aphro(text-colour:#F520B0)[''die'']te
Fight For Love]
Thank you for playing!(align:"=><=")+(box:"X")+ (text-colour: #FFD267)[Hestia
Olympian 1 of 12
The Virgin Goddess of Hearth and Home]
You stare in awe. Of course. Of course she's a god. That makes as much sense as the rest of today has.
Hestia: (text-colour: #FFD267)[ [[How can I help you?]]]Illia: (text-colour:#FEA241)[Oh my god, you're a god.]
Old Woman: (text-colour: #FFD267)[That monotheism is a little hurtful, but I'll look past it for now.]