Bacchanal Demo

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<<set $showclothing to true>> <div style="text-align: center;"> ✤ ✤ ✦ ✤ ✤ <h1>PROLOGUE</h1> ✤ ✤ ✦ ✤ ✤ </div> <br> In London, the Season of 1742 has begun—a procession of dances, suppers, and carriage rides beneath a canopy of restless starlight. To some, it is a season ripe with promise and anticipation, a time for polite inquiries, new acquaintances, and confidences exchanged in low voices amidst shaded corners. For others, it is a calculated game, each word and gesture measured with care, where reputation and alliance thrum like the strings of a finely tuned instrument, each note struck with deliberation, each pause artfully placed. <br><br> For you, however, this Season unfolds much as you imagine countless others have before—a ceaseless tide of faces and voices that come and go, while you observe from a slight remove. There was a time—before the years cast their quiet shadow across your days—when companionship seemed as sure as the dawn, and affection as natural as breath. One face, one voice, once filled each moment with quiet assurance. There was a closeness that needed no words, laughter shared freely, unguarded by consequence. Yet such days were fleeting, and now this bond rests in the past, neither forgotten nor wholly understood, like a book left closed before its final page, its meaning half-formed. <br><br> And so, you find yourself moving within the Season’s intricate rhythm, yet unbound to any one soul. True connections elude you—your reserve polite, your distance deliberate. In each encounter, there is a space you maintain, a quiet remove that neither discomforts nor beckons. From one acquaintance to the next, you drift, some faces familiar, others entirely new. Each exchange is cordial, fleeting, unremarkable—an existence measured in moments neither troubling nor wholly comforting. Thus, you take your place amid the laughter and silk, treading paths set before you, each step falling where it ought, each conversation dissolving as effortlessly as it began. <br><br> Yet even within the rhythm of these evenings, there are moments—quiet as the breath before a song, subtle as a glance held a shade too long—when something stirs, distant and undefined. A feeling, a question, an unfamiliar longing. It is as though another path lies hidden from view, waiting beyond the edges of sight, to be discovered in that unguarded hour when the heart is least prepared for it. <br><br> The night settles softly over London, and you drift to sleep with the knowledge that, at dawn, the city will turn its calendar to the first of June. All is as it has been—quiet, unchanged, unremarkable. Yet the faintest murmur lingers, like the promise of a breeze on still air, whispering that change may yet come, though it hides itself from you still. <hr> [[(Proceed)|Chapter One]]

You rise from the bedsheets, the remnants of sleep yielding as you approach Francis with <<cycle "$specs">> <<option "bleary eyes as you reach for your spectacles," true>> <<option "vision gradually clearing," false>> <</cycle>> prepared to meet $p.them with the steadiness the moment demands. Francis's eyes soften as you <<listbox "$height">> <<option "arch your neck up to" -2>> <<option "peer up at" -1>> <<option "stand level before" 0>> <<option "peer down at" 1>> <<option "arch your neck down to" 2>> <</listbox>> $p.their middling frame and ruddied, pale face. Throughout the span of your existence, Francis has consistently fulfilled the role of a devoted guardian, far surpassing the duties of a mere $fr.attendant. Where your forebears were distant, Francis was ever-present—through moments of joy, success, and warmth; through times of fear, conflict, and counsel; and always through love. $p.They nursed you from infancy and continued to support you, even long after you had outgrown $p.their care, unwavering in $p.their devotion to nurture your growth—unlike your parents, who saw you as little more than a burden, hastily relieved by placing you in Francis's capable hands. <br><br> Having provided such steadfast support through all your years, Francis's rare display of alarm heightens your awareness of the gravity of the matter at hand. $p.They <<seats>> $p.themself at the foot of the bed, inviting you to sit beside $p.them, that you may speak comfortably. "I cannot fathom what this is about, but I take no pleasure in it," $p.they <<remarks>>, ever the one to answer before you’ve had a chance to ask. "The old man seemed dreadfully upset." <br><br> You cannot readily recall when last you had personally displeased your father—whether dreadfully or otherwise. In truth, you struggle to remember him ever showing any particular interest in your affairs, beyond ensuring that your education was met and that you adhered to the expected decorum. It feels strange indeed to be the subject of his grief, and it is, quite frankly, rather unsettling given his usual irritable disposition. <hr> <<link [['"By what right does he now presume to command me?"'|Reaction To Wakeup]]>> <<set $last_option to "assertive">> <<set $stat_ma -= .05>> <</link>> <<link [['"Perhaps it is not as dire as it seems."'|Reaction To Wakeup]]>> <<set $last_option to "joyful">> <<set $stat_mj -= .05>> <<set $stat_nw += .025>> <</link>> <<link [[You remain silent.|Reaction To Wakeup]]>> <<set $last_option to "neutral">> <</link>> <<link [[You turn, at last, to despair.|Reaction To Wakeup]]>> <<set $last_option to "melancholic">> <<set $stat_mj += .05>> <</link>> <<link [[You nod your acceptance.|Reaction To Wakeup]]>> <<set $last_option to "meek">> <<set $stat_ma += .05>> <</link>>

<<if $gender is "f">> <<set $g to { mx : "Miss", mastress: "mistress", person : "woman", child : "daughter", }>> <<elseif $gender is "m">> <<set $g to { mx : "Mr.", mastress: "master", person : "man", child : "son", }>> <<else>> <<set $g to { mx: "Mx.", mastress: "mastress", person: "person", child: "child", }>> <</if>> <<if $pronouns is "f">> <<set $p to { they: "she", They: "She", them: "her", their: "her", Their: "Her", theirs: "hers", themself: "herself", }>> <<set $plurals to true>> <<elseif $pronouns is "m">> <<set $p to { they: "he", They: "He", them: "him", their: "his", Their: "His", theirs: "his", themself: "himself", }>> <<set $plurals to true>> <<else>> <<set $p to { they: "they", They: "They", them: "them", their: "their", Their: "Their", theirs: "theirs", themself: "themself", }>> <<set $plurals to false>> <</if>> /* ____________________Styling__________ */ <style> .grid-container { display: grid; grid: auto-flow / 1fr 1fr; column-gap: 1em; margin-bottom: 2em; } .grid-column-1 { text-align: right; } .grid-column-2 { text-align: left; } .divider { grid-column: 1 / span 2; text-align: center; margin: .5em; } </style> /* ____________________Player Pronoun Input__________ */ <div class="grid-container"> <div class="divider">You are //$n $ln,// and are to be referred to as:</div> <div class="divider">I.</div> <div class="grid-column-1">Title:</div> <div class="grid-column-2"> <<cycle "$g.mx" autoselect>> <<option "Mx.">> <<option "Miss">> <<option "Mr.">> <</cycle>> </div> <div class="grid-column-1">Form of Address:</div> <div class="grid-column-2"> <<cycle "$g.mastress" autoselect>> <<option "Mastress" mastress>> <<option "Mistress" mistress>> <<option "Master" master>> <</cycle>> </div> <div class="grid-column-1">Sense of Self:</div> <div class="grid-column-2"> <<cycle "$g.person" autoselect>> <<option "person">> <<option "woman">> <<option "man">> <</cycle>> </div> <div class="grid-column-1">Parental Address:</div> <div class="grid-column-2"> <<cycle "$g.child" autoselect>> <<option "child">> <<option "daughter">> <<option "son">> <</cycle>> </div> <div class="divider">────── ❖ ──────</div> <div class="divider">II.</div> <div class="grid-column-1"><<textbox "$p.they" $p.they>></div> <div class="grid-column-2">(They/She/He)</div> <div class="grid-column-1"><<textbox "$p.them" $p.them>></div> <div class="grid-column-2">(Them/Her/Him)</div> <div class="grid-column-1"><<textbox "$p.their" $p.their>></div> <div class="grid-column-2">(Their/Her/His)</div> <div class="grid-column-1"><<textbox "$p.theirs" $p.theirs>></div> <div class="grid-column-2">(Theirs/Hers/His)</div> <div class="grid-column-1"><<textbox "$p.themself" $p.themself>></div> <div class="grid-column-2">(Themself/Herself/Himself)</div> <div class="divider">────── ❖ ──────</div> <div class="divider">III.</div> <div class="grid-column-1">Are your verbs rendered in plural forms?</div> <div class="grid-column-2"> <<cycle "$plurals" autoselect>> <<option "no (awakens)" true>> <<option "yes (awaken)" false>> <</cycle>> </div> </div> <hr> [[✑ Confirm these forms of address|Confirm MC]]

/* Set Francis's terms */ <<if $g.person is "woman">> <<set $fr to { attendant: "lady's maid", dama: "mum", Dama: "Mum" }>> <<elseif $g.person is "man">> <<set $fr to { attendant: "valet", dama: "dad", Dama: "Dad" }>> <<else>> <<set $fr to { attendant: "attendant", dama: "dama", Dama: "Dama" }>> <</if>> <style> .grid-container { display: grid; grid: auto-flow / 1fr 1fr; column-gap: 1em; margin-bottom: 2em; } div .grid-container .grid-column-1 a.link-internal { text-align: left; display: block; } </style> <div class="centered"> You are //$g.mx $n//; a //$g.person//, and the //$g.child// of James and Grace //$ln.// <br> Your pronouns, as well as Francis's, are //$p.they; $p.them; $p.their; $p.theirs; $p.themself//; and your verbs remain // <<if $plurals>> pluralised. <<else>> singular. <</if>>// </div> <hr> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="grid-column-1">[[✑ I wish to alter the terms by which I am known|Set Pronouns]]</div> <div> <<link [[You rise from the bedsheets.|Set Specs And Height]]>> <<set $showname to true>> <</link>> </div> <div class="grid-column-1">[[✑ I wish to alter my name|Change Name]]</div> </div>

/* __________Debug Area__________ */ /* __________Player Name__________ */ <div id="player-name"> <<if $showname is true>> $g.mx $n $ln <</if>> </div> /* __________Description__________ */ <div class="mc-description"> /* __________Features */ ''Features:'' <<if $showhair>> <<if $hlength is "bald crown">> Your head is without hair. <<else>> Your locks are $hlength, $hcolor, and of a $htexture texture. <</if>> <</if>> <<if $showeyes>> Your eyes possess an exquisite hue of $ecolor. <</if>> <br> /* __________Hair */ ''Coiffure:'' <<if $showhairstyle>> <<if $hstyle is "ramwig" or $hstyle is "tetwig">> You don a <<if $hstyle is "ramwig">> ramillies <<else>> tête de mouton <</if>> wig. <<elseif $hlength is "bald crown">> Your $hlength is styled <<if $hstyle isnot "bare">> under your $hstyle. <<else>> $hstyle. <</if>> <<else>> Your hair is styled into <<if $hstyle is "sheen">> a soft sheen. <<elseif $hstyle is "bonnet">> a neatness under your bonnet. <<elseif $hstyle is "headwrap">> a neatness under your headwrap. <<elseif $hstyle is "hijab">> a neatness under your hijab. <<elseif $hstyle is "afro">> an afro. <<else>> a loose braid. <</if>> <</if>> <<else>> Your coiffure awaits attention. <</if>> <br> /* __________Clothing */ ''Attire:'' <<if $showclothing>> $clothing. <<else>> You have not yet selected your attire. <</if>> <br> /* __________Adornments */ ''Adornments:'' <<if $showadornments>> <<if $perfume>> You are perfumed in $scent. <</if>> <<if $rouge>> Your cheeks are flush with rouge. <</if>> <<if $bmark>> A beauty mark is placed on your $bmarkplace. <</if>> <<else>> You are presently unadorned. <</if>> <br> /* __________Hobby */ ''Favored Pastime:'' <<if $showhobby>> <<if $hobby is "glamour">> Glamour Magic <<elseif $hobby is "animal">> Animallinguis <<elseif $hobby is "spirit">> The Study of Spirits <<else>> <<print $hobby.toUpperFirst()>> <</if>> <<else>> You have yet to declare. <</if>> <br> /* __________Possessions */ ''Possessions:'' <<if $inventory.length is 0>> You carry nothing of particular note at present. <<elseif $inventory.length is 1>> $inventory. <<else>> <<=$inventory.join(', ')>>. <</if>> </div> /* __________Show Stats__________ */ <div class="stat-header">Identity</div> <div class="ui-stat-container"> <<if $showrp is true>> <div class="stat-name"> $r_term / $p_term </div> <<showmeter "Romantic/Pragmatic" $stat_rp>> <div class="stat-description"> How you approach matters of the heart </div> <hr> <</if>> <div class="stat-name"> Naïve / World-Wise </div> <<showmeter "Naïve/World-Wise" $stat_nw>> <div class="stat-description"> How acquainted you are with worldly truths </div> <hr> <div class="stat-name"> Meek / Assertive </div> <<showmeter "Meek/Assertive" $stat_ma>> <div class="stat-description"> How you (un)leash your tongue </div> <hr> <div class="stat-name"> Melancholic / Joyful </div> <<showmeter "Melancholic/Joyful" $stat_mj>> <div class="stat-description"> How your emotions tend to sway </div> <hr> <div class="stat-name"> Sensitivity </div> <<showmeter "Sensitivity" $stat_s>> <div class="stat-description"> Proficiency in reading others </div> </div> /* __________Show Courtships__________ */ <<if $showcourt>> <div class="stat-header">$c_term</div> <div class="ui-stat-container"> <<if $showcourt_f is true>> <div class="stat-name"> $f </div> <div class="stat-description"> $f_rel </div> <hr> <</if>> <<if $showcourt_r is true>> <div class="stat-name"> $r </div> <div class="stat-description"> $r_rel </div> <hr> <</if>> <<if $showcourt_b is true>> <div class="stat-name"> $b </div> <div class="stat-description"> $b_rel </div> <hr> <</if>> <<if $showcourt_u is true>> <div class="stat-name"> $u </div> <div class="stat-description"> $u_rel </div> <hr> <</if>> <<if $showcourt_e is true>> <div class="stat-name"> $e Egerton </div> <div class="stat-description"> $e_rel </div> <hr> <</if>> <<if $showcourt_t is true>> <div class="stat-name"> $t Baker </div> <div class="stat-description"> $t_rel </div> <</if>> </div> <</if>> /* __________Show Relationships__________ */ <div class="stat-header">Relations</div> <div class="ui-stat-container"> <div class="stat-name"> James </div> <<showmeter "James" $stat_chj>> <div class="stat-description"> $chj_rel </div> <<if $show_e_rel is true>> <div class="stat-name"> Ellis </div> <<showmeter "Ellis" $stat_che>> <div class="stat-description"> $che_rel </div> <<else>> <</if>> <<if $showfriendship_t is true>> <div class="stat-name"> $t_name </div> <<showmeter "Tamsin/Thomas" $stat_cht>> <div class="stat-description"> $cht_rel </div> <<else>> <</if>> </div>

In Progress

<<switch $last_option>> /* __________ASSERTIVE__________ */<<case "assertive">> "By what right does he now presume to command me, after a lifetime of neglect?" you question. Francis nods in acknowledgment, though the wrinkles of sympathy 'round the corners of $p.their eyes cannot suppress the impish gleam sparked by your indignation. You <<cycle "$mod_ma">> <<option "have, after all, never been one to mince words." -.05>> <<option "are known to speak frankly now and then." 0>> <<option "cannot be sure where such boldness arises." .05>> <</cycle>> For a moment, $p.they <<ponders>> your query, then releases a deep sigh. //Rare is the occasion when Francis is so silent,// you muse, observing this deviation from $p.their usual demeanor. You <<cycle "$mod_mj">> <<option "sift through the implications" 0>> <<option "offer a reassuring smile" -.05>> <<option "don a tired frown" .05>> <</cycle>> until Francis at last, squaring $p.their shoulders, begins to speak. /* __________JOYFUL__________ */<<case "joyful">> "Perhaps it is not as dire as it seems," you remark, your voice tempered with a measured hope, as though speaking the words aloud might lend them greater substance. You are resolved <<cycle "$mod_ma">> <<option "to keep faith that your record of obedience may yet serve you." .05>> <<option "to approach this with quiet strength and balance." 0>> <<option "not to let it disturb your peace." -.05>> <</cycle>> Francis listens with $p.their customary attentiveness, nodding in quiet acknowledgment of your sentiment. Yet, even as the words leave your lips, you observe how they flicker and fade, scarcely finding purchase upon $p.their kind features. For a moment, the silence between you grows heavy, until at last, like embers stirred to life, your efforts kindle a smile from the ashes of $p.their reticence. <br><br> "Would that I had your cheerful faith," $p.they <<replies>>, $p.their tone tinged with equal parts admiration and gentle reproach. You know, as $p.they <<does>>, that your faith <<cycle "$mod_mj">> <<option "has a habit of exceeding the bounds of prudence." -.05>> <<option "is uncertain." 0>> <<option "is sorrowfully contrived." .05>> <</cycle>> In such moments as these, you find yourself wishing, with a pang of longing, that Francis were less perceptive. $p.Their clarity, though cherished, has an unsettling way of peeling back the fragile veils you cast about your hopes, leaving you exposed to the stark truths $p.they <<sees>> so plainly. /* __________NEUTRAL__________ */<<case "neutral">> You remain silent, the weight of your thoughts pressing heavily upon you. Francis, ever attuned to the nuances of your demeanor, bids you meet $p.their gaze with a quiet gesture that speaks of neither command nor supplication but rather an unspoken assurance. There, in the quiet depths of $p.their sincere expression, you discern a patient understanding, as though your silence <<cycle "$mod_ma">> <<option "had been anticipated long before the words you failed to muster." .05>> <<option "is, in its own way, entirely reasonable." 0>> <<option "was unexpected and worthy of regard." -.05>> <</cycle>> <br><br> "Perhaps it is not so dire as it seems," $p.they <<ventures>> at last, $p.their voice measured and deliberate, the tone more an act of reassurance than a conviction truly felt. Yet even as the words escape $p.them, they linger in the space between you, fragile and insubstantial, their faint hope unraveling like a thread in the wind. You <<cycle "$mod_mj">> <<option "offer a tepid smile," -.05>> <<option "sift through the implications," 0>> <<option "don a tired frown," .05>> <</cycle>> but Francis, however, is undeterred. With a resolute tilt of $p.their chin, $p.they <<squares>> their shoulders, as though to steel $p.themself against the tide of doubt, and press on with greater fervor. /* __________MELANCHOLIC__________ */<<case "melancholic">> You turn, at last, to despair, the weight of your unspoken fears too great to bear alone. Without hesitation, Francis draws you into a tender embrace, $p.their capable arms encircling you with a warmth that feels both steadfast and fragile, as though shielding you from the tempest within your own heart. For a fleeting moment, you allow yourself to lean into $p.their strength, the steady rhythm of $p.their breath grounding you amidst the storm of your thoughts. <br><br> <<cycle "$mod_ma">> <<option '"I suppose there is nothing for it,"' .05>> <<option '"I must be prepared for whatever comes of it,"' 0>> <<option '"Who is he command me now?"' -.05>> <</cycle>> you murmer, the words slipping from your lips like a sigh—a reluctant surrender to the inevitability of what lies ahead. <br><br> "Perhaps it is not so dire as it seems," Francis replies, $p.their voice low and deliberate, an attempt at reassurance that falls just short of conviction. The words hover in the space between you, fragile and ephemeral, as though neither of you truly believes them. You <<cycle "$mod_mj">> <<option "feel deeply otherwise," .05>> <<option "cannot bring yourself to suppose it," 0>> <<option "would like to imagine it so," -.05>> <</cycle>> and yet, what does it matter, that which you feel? The world is indifferent to such sentiments, as are the forces that shape your path. <br><br> Still, you cannot bring yourself to say this aloud. Instead, you remain in Francis’s embrace, the silence stretching between you—a silence not empty but full, a vessel for the truths neither of you dares to name. In $p.their arms, there is solace, however fleeting, and for now, it is enough. /* __________MEEK__________ */<<case "meek">> You nod your acceptance, <<cycle "$mod_mj">> <<option "though the gesture feels hollow, your uncertainty weighing heavily upon it." 0>> <<option "truth of your feelings remains elusive." -.05>> <<option "morose to his whims." .05>> <</cycle>> Francis observes you closely, $p.their features tightening in a manner you have come to recognize—a subtle pinch of frustration, mingled with the enduring affection $p.they cannot conceal. <br><br> "You are exceedingly patient with that man," $p.they <<remarks>> at last, $p.their voice edged with a restraint that struggles to temper $p.their frustration. "Whatever his grievance, it is beyond me." The words carry the weight of an unspoken judgment, not of you but of the man whose presence continues to cast a shadow over your life. $p.They <<does>> not wait for your reply but <<rises>> abruptly from the bed, $p.their movements brisk and restless, as though to distance $p.themself from the vexation that seems to pull at $p.their very being. <br><br> With a furrowed brow, $p.they <<begins>> to pace the room, $p.their steps brisk and purposeful, the faint sound of $p.their tread upon the floor marking the rhythm of $p.their restless thoughts. $p.Their hands begin gesturing faintly as though to give shape to the thoughts that spill, half-formed, from $p.their lips; a litany of indignations spoken not for your approval but to unburden $p.their own heart. "You deserve better," $p.they <<mutters>>, $p.their words low but fervent, as though voicing them aloud might summon the justice $p.they so ardently <<believes>> you are owed. "Far better than this—than //him//." $p.Their voice grows quieter, though no less intense, as $p.they <<continues>> to list the many things $p.they <<claims>> you deserve—peace, respect, tenderness—qualities of life that, while noble in their conception, you <<cycle "$mod_ma">> <<option "have no intention nor ambition to pursue." .05>> <<option "find as distant and intangible as a star glimpsed through clouded skies." 0>> <<option "quietly acknowledge yet hesitate to believe fully." -.05>> <</cycle>> <br><br> At length $p.their pacing slows, and $p.they <<returns>> to you, settling beside you once more upon the bed, $p.their countenance rather more flushed than before. For a moment, $p.they <<voices>> nothing, $p.their breath still slightly quickened from the passion of $p.their declarations. You sense $p.their turmoil, not only for your sake but for $p.their own helplessness in the face of your trials, and you wonder if the fire in $p.their words was meant to kindle strength in you or to extinguish the frustration burning within $p.them. <</switch>> /* __________CONTINUE__________ */ <br><br> "It isn't agreeable," $p.they <<sighs>>, $p.their eyes averted as though to avoid your piercing scrutiny, "But I suppose one must endure these unpleasantries now and again." Silence follows, save for the soft crackling of the wood in the fireplace, and it is in the fire's glow that you grow mindful of the weary sorrow it illuminates—sorrow so deep it seems to etch itself into the very contours of $p.their face. <br><br> $p.Their once-steady gaze now wavers, flickering like the flames dancing in the hearth, $p.their inner light withdraws in a manner you <<cycle "$mod_s">> <<option "cannot quite fathom." 0>> <<option "sense stretches far beyond the morning’s theatrics." 0.1>> <</cycle>> Alas! This change is no stranger to you. You have observed it before, though always fleeting, elusive—a specter you could never quite grasp. Now, with the glow of the hearth illuminating $p.their countenance, the shift becomes undeniable. You watch, captivated, as those dear cornflower-blue eyes, once radiant, darken with a heaviness of thought, their depths withdrawing far from the present. From the recesses of memory, you recall how this expression would overtake $p.them in quieter moments, often during some small chore, when $p.their hands moved with purpose though $p.their mind seemed elsewhere. And yet, at the first flicker of your presence, $p.they would return—the Francis you knew, unwavering and true. To witness it now, so close and unguarded, fills you with a tremor of unease. //What thoughts,// you wonder, //could so utterly captivate $p.their spirit, leaving you adrift in $p.their absence?// <br><br> As though sensing your unease, Francis lays a gentle pat to your hand, plucking you from your own wandering reverie. "Come now, lamb," $p.they <<commands>> with a tender firmness, "off the bed!" At $p.their behest, you comply, just as you did in your childhood, and the simple act brings with it a measure of comfort. <br><br> And there $p.they <<is>> again—the Francis you have always known—present, whole, and steadfast. Yet even as you savor this moment, it slips through your grasp like smoke, vanishing before you can hold it fast. <hr> [[You make your way to your dressing room.|Set Pet]]

<<switch $pet>> <<case "canary">> <<set $inventory.push("A strikingly yellow canary")>> <<case "mouse">> <<set $inventory.push("A wee field mouse")>> <<case "snake">> <<set $inventory.push("A smooth snake")>> <</switch>> <<switch $last_option>> /* __________LINENS__________ */<<case "linens">> "Would you kindly fetch me a clean shift? I should like to be dressed promptly," you request, your tone measured with humility. The wisdom of your words seems to ripple through the room, and a murmur of relief passes among the attendants. With brisk efficiency, a freshly pressed shift is produced and laid before you, the pristine fabric a small but welcome reprieve from the weight of the morning’s demands. <br><br> Francis, ever attentive, moves with purpose toward the wardrobe, $p.their hand poised upon its polished door. "How shall I dress you?" $p.they <<inquires>>, $p.their voice calm yet imbued with a readiness that mirrors $p.their steady gaze. /* __________SPONGE__________ */<<case "wash">> "If you would be so kind as to prepare me a wash," you request, your tone gentle but resolute, carrying with it the quiet dignity of one who carries themself with propriety even in moments of vulnerability. At your word, the attendants spring to their task with practiced precision, their movements swift yet soundless, filling the room with the faint rustle of fabric and the muted clink of porcelain. A basin of fine china is set before you, its surface gleaming in the flickering light of the hearth, accompanied by a sponge soft as down and a pitcher of warm water, the gentle steam curling upward in ghostly tendrils, as though whispering promises of comfort. <br><br> Without hesitation, the ritual begins. The water flows in a measured stream, its warmth spreading like a balm as it meets the chill of the morning air. The sponge is dampened, its surface imbued with your favorite fragrance, and applied with care to your skin. Each movement is deliberate, precise, yet imbued with a quiet reverence, as though the act were less a chore and more an offering. You, for your part, allow the warmth of the water to anchor you in the present moment, banishing the shadows of thought that linger on the edge of your mind. <br><br> Francis, ever attentive, moves with purpose toward the wardrobe, $p.their hand poised upon its polished door. "How shall I dress you?" $p.they <<inquires>>, $p.their voice calm yet imbued with a readiness that mirrors $p.their steady gaze. /* __________BATH__________ */<<case "bath">> "I would be most obliged if you could arrange for a bath," you dare to request, your voice calm yet firm, though you are acutely aware of the weight such a request might carry. At once, the faces of the attendants blanch; they exchange furtive glances, their hesitation betraying the unease that has taken root among them. The mere suggestion seems to ripple through the room like a stone dropped into a pond, its implications extending far beyond the simplicity of the act itself. <br><br> "$n," Francis begins, $p.their tone a mixture of admiration and caution, as though striving to temper your boldness with their own pragmatism. "Much as I admire your brass, he's in a devil of a mood already. Best not to worsen it." <br><br> <<cycle "$mod_ma">> <<option '"Let him stew in his ill temper,"' -.05>> <<option '"Pray, allow me this,"' 0>> <</cycle>> you rejoin, resolute in your desire not to forsake this small comfort, no matter his present temperament. Your voice does not rise, but the steadiness with which you speak carries a force all its own. You refuse to yield to the shadow of his moods, determined not to forsake this modest reprieve. Francis regards you for a moment, $p.their expression caught between reluctant approval and the unease $p.they cannot quite suppress. At last, with a faint sigh of resignation, $p.they <<directs>> the servants to see to your request. "Very well," Francis murmurs, the words half to $p.themself as though to reconcile $p.their own misgivings. <br><br> The room stirs to life with renewed purpose. The soft shuffle of hurried feet and the clatter of buckets break the stillness, their rhythm measured but unmistakably brisk. The tub is delivered and set carefully in its place, a handsome yet serviceable vessel whose polished surface gleams faintly in the flickering light of the hearth. Buckets of steaming water are poured into it in swift succession, the vapor rising in delicate curls to shroud the air with a hazy glow, softening the harsh edges of the early hour and lending it an almost otherworldly warmth. <br><br> Francis, accordingly, moves toward your wardrobe with $p.their usual efficiency, though the faint crease upon $p.their brow speaks to $p.their lingering unease. $p.They <<turns>> to you, $p.their arms crossed in a posture that seems at once practical and protective. "How shall I dress you then, dear?" $p.they <<inquires>>, $p.their voice carrying a note of careful neutrality, as though to keep the tension of the morning from seeping further into the sanctuary of the moment. <</switch>> <br><br> /* __________CONTINUE__________ */ Meanwhile, the accoutrements of your routine await with quiet precision. Upon the dressing table, the <<listbox "$htool">> <<option "brush">> <<option "wide-tooth comb">> <<option "pomade">> <</listbox>> for your <<listbox "$hlength">> <<option "cropped hair" cropped>> <<option "short hair" short>> <<option "shoulder-length hair" shoulder-length>> <<option "long hair" long>> <<option "waist-length hair" waist-length>> <<option "hip-length hair" hip-length>> <<option "bald crown" bald crown>> <</listbox>> , <<cycle "$hairprotective">> <<option "not set" false>> <<option "set" true>> <</cycle>> in a protective style, is laid neatly upon your dressing table. Francis glances toward you, awaiting your reply with patient attentiveness, $p.their hand already grazing the silks and cottons that fill your wardrobe. <hr> <<link [[$nbSym + '"A banyan robe with waistcoat and skirt,"'|Set Hair]]>> <<set $clothing to "A banyan robe with waistcoat and skirt">> <</link>> <<link [[$femSym + '"An overcoat and nightgown,"'|Set Hair]]>> <<set $clothing to "An overcoat and nightgown">> <</link>> <<link [[$mascSym + '"A banyan robe with waistcoat and breeches,"'|Set Hair]]>> <<set $clothing to "A banyan robe with waistcoat and breeches">> <</link>>

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"yields">><<if $plurals>>yields<<else>>yield<</if>><</widget>>

<<if $hlength is "bald crown">> <<set $htool to "pomade">> <<set $hairprotective to false>> <</if>> <<if $hairprotective>> <<set $htool to "pomade">> <</if>> "$clothing, pray," you reply. Francis deftly arranges your <<switch $last_option>> /* __________LINENS__________ */<<case "linens">> garments, and once you have finished washing your face, /* __________SPONGE__________ */<<case "wash">> garments, and once you've done toweling off, /* __________BATH__________ */<<case "bath">> garments as you bathe, and once you've done toweling off, <</switch>> $p.they <<pulls>> your shift over your <<if $g.person is "person">> <<listbox "$chest">> <<option "cloth-bound" bound>> <<option "bosomed" bosom>> <<option "smooth">> <<option "tufted">> <</listbox>> <<elseif $g.person is "woman">> <<listbox "$chest">> <<option "bosomed" bosom>> <<option "smooth">> <<option "cloth-bound" bound>> <<option "tufted">> <</listbox>> <<else>> <<listbox "$chest">> <<option "cloth-bound" bound>> <<option "tufted">> <<option "smooth">> <<option "bosomed" bosom>> <</listbox>> <</if>> chest with practiced hands. Soon, you are clothed and seated once more at the dressing table, wrapped in the comfort of clean, impeccably tailored homewear. <br><br> Gathering your $htool, $p.they deftly <<maneuvers>> it <<if $hlength is "bald crown">> over your $hlength, styling it <<listbox "$hstyle">> <<option "bare" bare>> <<option "under your bonnet" bonnet>> <<option "under your headwrap" headwrap>> <</listbox>> . <<elseif $hairprotective>> over your <<listbox "$htexture">> <<option "braided">> <<option "twisted">> <<option "loc'd">> <</listbox>> locks, fashioning them into a <<if $hlength is "cropped" or $hlength is "short">> <<listbox "$hstyle">> <<option "soft sheen" sheen>> <<option "neatness under your bonnet" bonnet>> <<option "neatness under your headwrap" headwrap>> <</listbox>> <<else>> <<option "soft sheen" sheen>> <<option "loosely tied bundle" tied>> <<option "neatness under your bonnet" bonnet>> <<option "neatness under your headwrap" headwrap>> <</if>> . <<else>> through your <<listbox "$htexture">> <<option "cloudy">> <<option "coiled">> <<option "curly">> <<option "wavy">> <<option "straight">> <</listbox>> locks, fashioning them into a <<if $hlength is "cropped" or $hlength is "short">> <<listbox "$hstyle">> <<option "soft sheen" sheen>> <<option "neatness under your bonnet" bonnet>> <<option "neatness under your headwrap" headwrap>> <</listbox>> <<else>> <<listbox "$hstyle">> <<option "soft sheen" sheen>> <<option "loosely tied bundle" tied>> <<option "neatness under your bonnet" bonnet>> <<option "neatness under your headwrap" headwrap>> <</listbox>> <</if>> . <</if>> A familiar melody escapes $p.their lips, stirring echoes of yesteryears, when life bore fewer burdens, and faults seemed but fleeting wisps. In those days, your parents' intermittent neglect afforded you the liberty to indulge in your own whims, and you seized those moments with relish. It was a time of freedom, in its own way, but all was forever altered on that terrible day when your most cherished companion withdrew, and with them, the illusion of permanence. //It is said that the only constant is change,// you muse, as the song ends abruptly and the fleeting respite is cut short, the $htool returned to its rightful place. <br><br> "There it is," $p.they <<finishes>> with a touch of pride. In all $p.their care and expertise, $p.they <<has>> renewed you, <<if $htool isnot "oil">> highlighting your best features and inviting your confidence. It <<else>> and It <</if>> is remarkable how so mundane a routine might invigorate the soul. <hr> [[(Proceed)|Dressing Room Dove]]

<<switch $pet>> <<case "canary">> <<set $inventory.splice(0, 1, "A strikingly yellow canary named $pn")>> <<case "mouse">> <<set $inventory.splice(0, 1, "A wee field mouse named $pn")>> <<case "snake">> <<set $inventory.splice(0, 1, "A smooth snake named $pn")>> <</switch>> <<set $showeyes to true>> <<switch $last_option>> /* __________NICE__________ */<<case "nice">> You think it a charming sight to be greeted by such a handsome creature. Indeed, its soft, caramel feathers possess a lovely sheen, catching the light with an almost golden glow, and its eyes—so finely round, glossy, and, you daresay, a touch intelligent—seem to regard you with a serene confidence. /* __________ODD__________ */<<case "odd">> One cannot help but find it peculiar—the way it remains so still, peering into the room with an intensity that borders on unnatural. Yet, there is something admirable in its neat, caramel-hued plumage, so sleek and polished, and its large, gleaming eyes. Eyes, one might venture, that seem to possess a curious intelligence, as though the bird were studying the world with a knowledge beyond its kind. /* __________PECULIAR__________ */<<case "peculiar">> You find its scrutiny peculiar and discomfiting, the way it fixes its gaze so unwaveringly upon you, its stillness imbued with an almost uncanny air. Its caramel feathers, though lovely, provide little comfort against the sharpness of its stare, which seems to penetrate beyond the surface and seek the very depths of your thoughts. Indeed, its eyes carry an uncommon glint of intelligence—keen and unrelenting, a reminder that nature, too, can unsettle as much as inspire. <</switch>> <br><br> You rise and advance to the window on soft, deliberate footsteps, captivated by the bird’s presence, yet mindful not to startle it. The dove, however, remains perched and unperturbed, its composure unbroken by your approach. For a moment, it permits you to observe it at leisure, puffing its chest and wings with a regal flourish, as though to ensure its full splendor is properly noted. Then, with a gracious nod of its head, it emits a low coo and, in a single graceful motion, takes flight. Its wings beat against the air in a flurry, carrying it beyond the window and into the vast expanse of sky, leaving no trace of its brief sojourn save the memory of its quiet presence. <br><br> You linger for a moment, watching as the dove vanishes into the distance, the sight of its departure stirring within you a strange mix of loss and quiet awe. A span of silence stretches between you and Francis, marked only by mutual hesitation, as though both of you are reluctant to break the spell of the moment. At last, it is Francis who stirs, laying a steady hand upon your shoulder and gently breaking the quiet. <br><br> "We mustn't give way to distraction any longer, lamb," $p.they <<says>>, $p.their voice soft but firm. "It is time we were off." <br><br> You turn from the window, <<cycle "$mod_ma">> <<option "chin lifted with quiet pride" -.05>> <<option "fortifying your resolve" 0>> <<option "humbling yourself" .05>> <</cycle>> and make your way toward the chamber door. Francis steps ahead, $p.their hand light upon the latch, and opens it, the door creaking faintly as it swings wide. <hr> [[(Proceed)|Walk To Breakfast]]

You make your way to the dressing room, where a breakfast tray—heaped most generously with your favored victuals—awaits upon a little side table. The delicate aroma of warm bread and ripe fruits mingles with the subtle steam rising from the <<cycle "$beverage">> <<option "tea">> <<option "coffee">> <<option "drinking chocolate" chocolate>> <</cycle>> in its porcelain decanter, evoking a sense of comfort that momentarily eases the tumult of the morning. Seating yourself upon your silken dressing stool, you lift the fine china cup to your lips, savoring the drink's soothing warmth as it flows over your tongue, down your throat, and into the very depths of your being. <br><br> Your gaze, however, cannot help but wander. A surreptitious glance back towards the bedchamber reveals the familiar sight of your beloved <<listbox "$pet">> <<option "pillow" false>> <<option "canary">> <<option "field mouse" mouse>> <<option "snake">> <</listbox>> , resting in serene contentment. How splendid it would be, you muse, to return to that state of peaceful repose—to banish the pressing duties of the day and indulge in the sweet embrace of slumber. But such indulgence is not to be. <br><br> As if summoned by your reluctant thoughts, the morning attendants arrive with the promptness of clockwork. Their brisk movements betray an unmistakable agitation, a hurriedness foreign to their usual measured grace. Their expressions, though subdued by the conventions of propriety, reflect a shared unease—a clear reflection of the unusual circumstances. As Francis foretold, your father expects haste, and his will is seldom to be trifled with. The room stirs to life around you as the attendants commence their tasks, yet your mind lingers on the warm cocoon of rest you have left behind, longing for its quiet solace even as the obligations of the hour draw you forward. <hr> <<link [['"Would you kindly fetch me a clean shift?"'|Get Dressed]]>> <<set $last_option to "linens">> <<set $stat_chj += .05>> <<set $stat_ma += .05>> <</link>> <<link [['"If you would be so kind as to prepare me a wash."'|Get Dressed]]>> <<set $last_option to "wash">> <</link>> <<link [['"I would be most obliged if you could arrange for a bath."'|Get Dressed]]>> <<set $last_option to "bath">> <<set $stat_chj -= .05>> <<set $stat_ma -= .05>> <</link>>

The first light of dawn bathes the walls of the townhouse in soft pastels, casting shy pinks and blushing yellows. Your shadows traverse the immaculate floors, stairs, and gilded halls—slipping into niches and outlining somber busts perched atop pedestals like sentinels—casting them in a cool, bitter blue. <br><br> With each step towards the breakfast room, /* ______________________________MEEK__________ */ <<if $v_meek >= .65>> your demeanor remains composed and compliant. /* __________JOYFUL */ <<if $v_joyful >= .55>> You reassure yourself that you've never given your father cause for consternation, and this faith grants you courage, coaxing a tepid smile from your lips. /* __________MELANCHOLIC */ <<elseif $v_melancholic >= .55>> Nevertheless, a lump forms in your throat, burdened by the weight of dread. /* __________NEUTRAL */ <<else>> Oh, how you hope this is naught more than a trifle! <</if>> /* ______________________________ASSERTIVE__________ */ <<elseif $v_assertive >= .65>> you steel yourself, firming your /* __________JOYFUL */ <<if $v_joyful >= .55>> resolve, and command a smile, confident that whatever lies ahead is well within your ability to confront. /* __________MELANCHOLIC */ <<elseif $v_melancholic >= .55>> resolve, and will yourself to ignore the lump in your throat as the burden of dread weighs on your every tread. /* __________NEUTRAL */ <<else>> resolve. Oh, how you hope this is naught more than a trifle! <</if>> /* ______________________________MELANCHOLY__________ */ <<elseif $v_melancholic >= .55>> a sense of foreboding settles upon your shoulders like a shroud. The air thickens with an eerie silence, as if the house itself holds its breath. /* ______________________________JOYFUL__________ */ <<elseif $v_joyful >= .55>> your movements become notably seamless. With every footfall, you manage to temper your doubts and untangle your nerves, fastening a smile to your lips as you maintain faith in the good. /* ______________________________NEUTRAL__________ */ <<else>> a whirlwind of thoughts and concerns vies for your attention, requiring all your focus to remain on task, as you maintain composure amidst the uncertainty, determined to navigate the appointment with steadfast resolve. <</if>> <br><br> Francis strides behind, a concerned furrow creasing $p.their brow, offering $p.their quiet support, and you can't help but smile at the way $p.they naturally <<assumes>> protection over you. <hr> <<link [[You usually rise early and join your father for breakfast.|Walk To Breakfast 2]]>> <<set $last_option to "father">> <<set $stat_chj += .05>> <</link>> <<link [[You usually await your father's departure before breaking your fast.|Walk To Breakfast 2]]>> <<set $last_option to "avoid">> <<set $stat_chj -= .025>> <</link>> <<link [[You usually take your breakfast at your leisure.|Walk To Breakfast 2]]>> <<set $last_option to "neutral">> <<set $stat_chj -= .05>> <</link>>

<h1>Thank you for reading!</h1> <br><br> This is the end of the demo. You may support development by pre-ordering for the full nsfw content! <br><br> By pre-ordering you shall receive: <ul> <li>A discount. The pre-order is $3, while the final game shall be $5 after release.</li> <li>Access to the complete nsfw version of the game. The sfw version shall be entirely free as a demo, but without sex scenes and other depravities―these shall fade to black.</li> <li>Access to the nsfw game wip and every update.</li> <li>Access to the nsfw blog which contains spicy asks, drabbles, and art.</li> <li>Exclusive nude portraits of Edith, Edward, Tamsin, and Thomas.</li> <li>Access to the Discord.</li> <li>PLEASE NOTE: The current wip does not have any nsfw content yet. As such, it is currently the same as the demo.</li> </ul> For information and updates, please visit the <a href="http://bacchanal-if.tumblr.com">development blog</a>

/* __________Modify Stats__________ */ <<set $stat_rp += $mod_rp>> <<set $stat_nw += $mod_nw>> <<set $stat_ma += $mod_ma>> <<set $stat_mj += $mod_mj>> <<set $stat_s += $mod_s>> /* __________Modify Relationships__________ */ /* __________T */ <<switch $mod_tActions>> <<case "shy">> <<set $tShy += 1>> <<case "bold">> <<set $tBold += 1>> <<case "spiceShy">> <<set $tSpiceShy += 1>> <<case "spiceBold">> <<set $tSpiceBold += 1>> <<case "friend">> <<set $tFriend += 1>> <<case "rebuff">> <<set $tRebuff += 1>> <</switch>> <<switch $mod_tThoughts>> <<case "pine">> <<set $tPine += 1>> <<case "spice">> <<set $tSpice += 1>> <<case "platonic">> <<set $tPlatonic += 1>> <<case "hurt">> <<set $tHurt += 1>> <<case "no">> <<set $tNo += 1>> <</switch>> /* __________E */ <<switch $mod_eActions>> <<case "shy">> <<set $eShy += 1>> <<case "bold">> <<set $eBold += 1>> <<case "spiceShy">> <<set $eSpiceShy += 1>> <<case "spiceBold">> <<set $eSpiceBold += 1>> <<case "friend">> <<set $eFriend += 1>> <<case "rebuff">> <<set $eRebuff += 1>> <</switch>> <<switch $mod_eThoughts>> <<case "pine">> <<set $ePine += 1>> <<case "spice">> <<set $eSpice += 1>> <<case "platonic">> <<set $ePlatonic += 1>> <<case "no">> <<set $eNo += 1>> <</switch>> /* __________F */ <<switch $mod_fActions>> <<case "shy">> <<set $fShy += 1>> <<case "bold">> <<set $fBold += 1>> <<case "spiceShy">> <<set $fSpiceShy += 1>> <<case "spiceBold">> <<set $fSpiceBold += 1>> <<case "friend">> <<set $fFriend += 1>> <<case "rebuff">> <<set $fRebuff += 1>> <</switch>> <<switch $mod_fThoughts>> <<case "pine">> <<set $fPine += 1>> <<case "spice">> <<set $fSpice += 1>> <<case "platonic">> <<set $fPlatonic += 1>> <<case "no">> <<set $fNo += 1>> <</switch>> /* __________R */ <<switch $mod_rActions>> <<case "shy">> <<set $rShy += 1>> <<case "bold">> <<set $rBold += 1>> <<case "spiceShy">> <<set $rSpiceShy += 1>> <<case "spiceBold">> <<set $rSpiceBold += 1>> <<case "friend">> <<set $rFriend += 1>> <<case "rebuff">> <<set $rRebuff += 1>> <</switch>> <<switch $mod_rThoughts>> <<case "pine">> <<set $rPine += 1>> <<case "spice">> <<set $rSpice += 1>> <<case "platonic">> <<set $rPlatonic += 1>> <<case "no">> <<set $rNo += 1>> <</switch>> /* __________B */ <<switch $mod_bActions>> <<case "shy">> <<set $bShy += 1>> <<case "bold">> <<set $bBold += 1>> <<case "spiceShy">> <<set $bSpiceShy += 1>> <<case "spiceBold">> <<set $bSpiceBold += 1>> <<case "friend">> <<set $bFriend += 1>> <<case "rebuff">> <<set $bRebuff += 1>> <</switch>> <<switch $mod_bThoughts>> <<case "pine">> <<set $bPine += 1>> <<case "spice">> <<set $bSpice += 1>> <<case "platonic">> <<set $bPlatonic += 1>> <<case "no">> <<set $bNo += 1>> <</switch>> /* __________U */ <<switch $mod_uActions>> <<case "shy">> <<set $uShy += 1>> <<case "bold">> <<set $uBold += 1>> <<case "spiceShy">> <<set $uSpiceShy += 1>> <<case "spiceBold">> <<set $uSpiceBold += 1>> <<case "friend">> <<set $uFriend += 1>> <<case "rebuff">> <<set $uRebuff += 1>> <</switch>> <<switch $mod_uThoughts>> <<case "pine">> <<set $uPine += 1>> <<case "spice">> <<set $uSpice += 1>> <<case "platonic">> <<set $uPlatonic += 1>> <<case "no">> <<set $uNo += 1>> <</switch>> <<set $stat_chj += $mod_chj>> <<set $stat_che += $mod_che>> /* __________Assign Stat Values__________ */ <<set $v_romantic to $stat_rp>> <<set $v_pragmatic to 1- $stat_rp>> <<set $v_naive to $stat_nw>> <<set $v_worldwise to 1- $stat_nw>> <<set $v_meek to $stat_ma>> <<set $v_assertive to 1- $stat_ma>> <<set $v_melancholic to $stat_mj>> <<set $v_joyful to 1- $stat_mj>> /* __________Reset Mods__________ */ <<set $mod_rp to 0>> <<set $mod_nw to 0>> <<set $mod_ma to 0>> <<set $mod_mj to 0>> <<set $mod_s to 0>> <<set $mod_t to " ">> <<set $mod_e to " ">> <<set $mod_f to " ">> <<set $mod_r to " ">> <<set $mod_b to " ">> <<set $mod_u to " ">> <<set $mod_chj to 0>> <<set $mod_che to 0>> <<set $mod_cht to 0>> /* __________Clamp Stats__________ */ <<set $stat_rp to Math.clamp($stat_rp, $statmin, $statmax)>> <<set $stat_nw to Math.clamp($stat_nw, $statmin, $statmax)>> <<set $stat_ma to Math.clamp($stat_ma, $statmin, $statmax)>> <<set $stat_mj to Math.clamp($stat_mj, $statmin, $statmax)>> <<set $stat_s to Math.clamp($stat_s, 0, 1)>> <<set $stat_chj to Math.clamp($stat_chj, $statmin, $statmax)>> <<set $stat_che to Math.clamp($stat_che, $statmin, $statmax)>> <<set $stat_cht to Math.clamp($stat_cht, $statmin, $statmax)>> /* __________Set Relationship Text__________ */

<<switch $last_option>> /* __________FATHER__________ */<<case "father">> <<set $waketime to "early">> You usually rise early and join your father for breakfast, but never so early; it would be another hour before your clock chimed. How considerable an hour can feel, you ponder, and how unusual for him. /* __________AVOID__________ */<<case "avoid">> You usually await your father's departure before breaking your fast, knowing well his precise routine. It's a <<cycle "$waketime">> <<option "great inconvenience, as you both rise early, yet Francis never fails to bring small tidings to hold you over." early>> <<option "simple routine, you rising gently with the dawn while he leaves bed in its wake." neutral>> <<option "natural rhythm for you, as you often rest longer than the norm, while he is accustomed to rising with the dawn." late>> <</cycle>> /* __________NEUTRAL__________ */<<case "neutral">> You usually take your breakfast at your leisure, <<cycle "$waketime">> <<option "even though both you and your father are early risers." early>> <<option "preferring to wake gently, indifferent to his early rising." neutral>> <<option "preferring to rest longer than is generally done." late>> <</cycle>> <</switch>> <br><br> Your father is a creature of habit and has not been known to break it. Awake at half-past five, he expects breakfast to be served promptly at six. The menu remains unchanged—eggs, sausage, and buttered bread, accompanied by a modest spread of jam. His coffee is black, with neither cream nor sugar, and the morning paper, fresh from the press, is always laid at his place. Conversation at the table is subdued, family only speaking when spoken to. <<if $v_worldwise >= .55 or $stat_s >= .05 >> <br><br> His unwavering commitment to routine extends far beyond breakfast. At half-past six, he departs for his office to conduct letters and rapid meetings, all conducted at the same hours each day. Lunch is to be taken promptly at noon, never deviating from his preferred fare. Evenings follow a similarly rigid pattern: full reports from the housekeeper, steward, and Head Guard, upon which he invariably finds fault; supper at eight, in a familiar rotation of courses; and an hour of bourbon and profitable reading before retiring for the night. <br><br> <<else>> At half-past six, he departs for his office. <br><br> Evenings are equally predictable: supper at eight, followed by a glass of bourbon and then retirement to bed. The time between is dedicated to work, and woe to those who dare disturb it. <</if>> His life is one of strict order and structure, each week mirroring the last. As you contemplate his adherence to routine, a nearby clock chimes four times. <hr> [[(Proceed)|Reach Breakfast Door]]

<<set $show_e_rel to true>> The scene before you is a dreary one. Your mother sits at the far corner of the table, stifling a yawn with an air of indifference. Ellis, your elder sibling, occupies the middle, moving food around their plate with dogged fixation. And your father—enthroned at the head, absorbed in the morning paper—casts a pall over the room with his evident rage. Upon the wall behind him, emerging from his shoulders like a severe Medici collar, stands the room’s defining feature: a grand mirror. Reflecting the family at a downward angle, it appears to regard them with the stern gaze of a hard-nosed judge. Its structural sides and sloping pediment give it the semblance of a house, with its inhabitants resembling tragic dolls, confined within its mirrored walls. Your reflection, caught within its frame, feels at once distant and unnervingly close, as though you are gazing at a version of yourself sealed behind glass. <br><br> And there, similarly trapped, is Ellis. Their reflection appears as solemn as their presence, yet the mirror captures something the eye often overlooks—the weariness etched in their posture, the slight tremor of their hands when they believe no one is watching. What might seem like careless motions as they push food around their plate is in truth a carefully crafted mask of detachment, a shield against the man who demands so much and offers so little in return. Compassionate, delicate Ellis. //Lairde// Ellis, you remind yourself. <br><br> Despite their marriage, Ellis never truly moved in with their wife, Lady Danielle Gainsborough, Marchioness of Hamonshire. Their union is a dismal one, and Lairde Ellis prefers to linger within the familiar confines of home, while their dowry finances her indiscretions. Their chambers, adjacent to yours, remained vacant for but a fortnight after the wedding. Naturally, your father arranged the match, just as he did for your other four siblings, with as much success as the rest—if you measure success as he does: securing influence. Yet, the titles he gained through his children never did serve him in the end. You cannot help but feel <<cycle "$mod_che">> <<option "terribly for Ellis, for you love them dearly." .2>> <<option "indifferent to Ellis, as you have always been." 0>> <<option "nothing toward their predicament, for you never much liked Ellis." -.2>> <</cycle>> <br><br> Your mother, ensnared by the grand narrative of her own making, spares you not even a fleeting glance, her focus consumed by the leading roles in the grand opera of her life. Here, your father takes the commanding role of the baritone, wielding the keys to the world, while she assumes the part of the love-struck maiden, captivated by the melody of her own desires. As for her children, they are but voices in the chorus—ill-defined, easily overlooked. Only Ellis looks up as you settle <<cycle "$mc_seat">> <<option "beside them," beside>> <<option "elsewhere," nearby>> <<option "far from your father," far>> <</cycle>> offering a sympathetic glance. A plate of food is set before you, and with a sharp, abrupt motion, your father violently flips the page of his paper. <hr> <<link [['"For what purpose am I summoned?"'|Set Betrothal News Reaction]]>> <<set $last_option to "speak">> <<set $stat_ma -= .1>> <<set $stat_chj -= .1>> <</link>> <<link [[You clear your throat.|Set Betrothal News Reaction]]>> <<set $last_option to "throat">> <</link>> <<link [[You wait for him to acknowlege you.|Set Betrothal News Reaction]]>> <<set $last_option to "wait">> <<set $stat_ma += .1>> <<set $stat_chj += .025>> <</link>>

<<switch $last_option>> /* __________SPEAK__________ */<<case "speak">> "For what purpose am I summoned?" you inquire, your voice steady despite the knowledge that you tread upon treacherous ground. The question hangs in the air, its weight palpable. His fury, already considerable, swells at your words, manifesting in the violent crumpling of the paper in his hand. He grips it with such force that it threatens to tear, a stark and sobering reminder of the precariousness of your situation. <<if $v_meek >= .6 >> A shiver of apprehension courses through you as you recognize the gravity of your words, and a twinge of regret gnaws at your conscience for daring to speak out. <<elseif $v_assertive >= .65>> Yet you hold firm, unwilling to yield to his ire. <<else>> You falter, tinged by regret for your impertinence, yet unable to retract your words. <</if>> <br><br> He inhales sharply, his chest swelling as though he might unleash a thunderous reproach, but the storm does not come. Instead, he exhales—slowly, deliberately, a measured release of simmering fury. His gaze remains fixed upon the crumpled paper in his hand, though it is clear his eyes no longer absorb its contents. The room descends into a silence so profound that even the faintest movement feels like a transgression, as though to stir might shatter the fragile equilibrium and invite calamity. The stillness looms heavy, unbroken—a palpable force that presses down upon all present, daring no one to breathe. <br><br> The tableau of horror is stark. Ellis, your mother, the attendants, and yourself—all remain frozen, breath held, as though even the act of drawing air might provoke his wrath. The only motion in the room is the slow retreat of color from each face, leaving you pale specters of your former selves, adrift in the suffocating tension that clings to the chamber like a shroud. You dare not look to the others; it takes every ounce of your resolve simply to endure the weight of the moment. <br><br> /* __________THROAT__________ */<<case "throat">> You clear your throat—a small, unassuming sound—yet by some perverse marvel, it serves only to stoke his already considerable fury. His grip on the paper tightens, vice-like, his knuckles whitening as though sheer force might bend the parchment to his will. His eyes tear across the paragraphs with renewed intensity, each sharp flicker of his gaze betraying his mounting frustration. A deep inhale follows, filling the room with the ominous sound of breath drawn audibly—a harbinger of the tempest yet to come. Then, a long, deliberate exhale escapes his lips, its measured release no less alarming for its restraint. <br><br> With a sharp, decisive motion, he turns the page, the rustling of paper splitting the silence like the crack of thunder. Though his expression remains carefully stoic, the undercurrent of his mounting displeasure is palpable, an invisible weight pressing down upon all present. Ellis, your mother, the attendants, and yourself—all remain motionless, breath held as though the simple act of exhaling might provoke his wrath. The room is suspended in a tableau of shared horror, the tension swelling, suffocating, pressing against your chest. Time stretches unbearably, each moment bleeding into the next as his focus remains fixed on the text before him. <br><br> Finally, after allowing the unease to reach its zenith, he speaks. /* __________WAIT__________ */<<case "wait">> You wait for him to acknowledge you, your patience <<if $v_meek >= .6>> remaining intact <<else>> thinning <</if>> as your eyes drift across the other faces at the table in search of a clue as pertains to his intentions. Your mother sits unmoved, her expression a mask of serene detachment, as though the charged atmosphere were of no consequence to her. <<if $stat_che >= .5>> By contrast, Ellis meets your gaze with a covert shrug, their lips pressing into a thin line that betrays their unease. The gesture, slight as it is, offers little reassurance. <<else>> Likewise, though more attuned to the present, Ellis continues to focus on their breakfast. <</if>> <br><br> Your father inhales deeply, the sound filling the room like the drawn breath of a storm gathering its strength. He exhales slowly, expelling the air in one long, deliberate stream, his focus still fixed on the paper clutched tightly in his hand. The crinkling of the pages punctuates the silence, an understated yet unyielding reminder of his authority. You lower your gaze to your plate, studying the intricate pattern etched into the porcelain <<if $v_meek >= .6>> with practiced discipline, unwilling to provoke his ire. <<elseif $v_assertive >= .6>> in vexation, resisting the urge to speak your mind. <<else>> in a deliberate effort to distance yourself from the tension enveloping the room. <</if>> <br><br> At length, and only after the silence has thickened to its peak, he clears his throat. The sound, sharp and decisive, reverberates through the room, silencing even the faint clatter of cutlery as all eyes turn toward him, drawing the attention of every soul present, though none dare move or speak. <br><br> <</switch>> "Your wedding shall take place in one month's time," he declares with malice, the finality in his tone leaving no room for protest or negotiation. "Prepare accordingly." <br><br> The decree lands with the weight of a gavel, reverberating through the room like the toll of an iron bell. Ellis’s gaze flickers between you and your father, their expression shifting in a fleeting dance of apprehension and uncertainty. Meanwhile, your mother continues her meal with unnerving calm, her composure unbroken, her face betraying not the slightest flicker of reaction. She does not so much as glance upward, each movement deliberate, precise, as though the effects of the moment exist only for others to bear. <hr> <<link [['"How dare you!"'|Betrothal News Reaction]]>> <<set $b_reaction to "bolt">> <<set $stat_ma -= .1>> <<set $stat_chj -= .2>> <</link>> <<link [['"Please, father! Don't!"'|Betrothal News Reaction]]>> <<set $b_reaction to "beg">> <<set $stat_mj += .05>> <<set $stat_chj -= .1>> <</link>> <<link [[You turn to Ellis with a heavy heart.|Betrothal News Reaction]]>> <<set $b_reaction to "ellis">> <<set $stat_mj += .05>> <<set $stat_che += .05>> <</link>> <<link [[You turn to your mother, yearning for her support|Betrothal News Reaction]]>> <<set $b_reaction to "mother">> <<set $stat_nw += .05>> <</link>> <<link [[You stare at him, mouth agape.|Betrothal News Reaction]]>> <<set $b_reaction to "stare">> <<set $stat_chj -= .05>> <</link>> <<link [[$romSym + 'Your lonesome heart clenches within your breast, for it is already spoken for.'|Betrothal News Reaction]]>> <<set $b_reaction to "spoken">> <<set $tPine += .1>> <<set $tpast_feelings to "always">> <</link>> <<link [[You nod in acceptance.|Betrothal News Reaction]]>> <<set $b_reaction to "accept">> <<set $stat_ma += .1>> <<set $stat_chj += .01>> <</link>> <<link [[You collapse within your chair.|Betrothal News Reaction]]>> <<set $b_reaction to "collapse">> <<set $stat_mj += .05>> <</link>> <<link [[Your vision blurs.|Betrothal News Reaction]]>> <<set $b_reaction to "faint">> <<set $stat_ma += .05>> <<set $stat_mj += .1>> <</link>>

<<switch $b_reaction>> /* __________BOLT__________ */<<case "bolt">> "How dare you!" The words escape your lips before you can temper them, your voice ringing through the room with a force that shocks even yourself. You rise abruptly from your chair, the motion so sudden it sends a ripple of alarm across the table. For a fleeting moment, even your father looks taken aback by your audacity, though the brief flicker of surprise in his eyes is quickly replaced by a cold, smoldering fury. Your fingers clutch the edge of the table, nails digging into the polished wood as though to anchor yourself against him. <br><br> Your mother’s reaction is swift and cutting—a glare of icy contempt that slices through your defiance with precision. Her disapproval is palpable, her lips pursing into a tight line as she remains otherwise immobile, refusing to dignify your outburst with words. Ellis recoils in surprise, their hand pausing mid-motion as though caught between instinct and disbelief. Their wide eyes dart between you and your father, searching for some indication of what might come next. <br><br> "You //will// sit while I am seated!" your father bellows, his voice booming with the authority of one who has never been defied without consequence. Your resolve crumbles beneath the weight of his command and you slump back into your seat, <<if $v_assertive >= .6>> the sharp edges of your defiance dulled by the sheer magnitude of his will. <<else>> the sheer magnitude of his will overpowering your ire. <</if>> Your grip loosens on the table as your hands retreat to your lap, trembling faintly with the remnants of your anger. The room falls into a brittle silence, thick with unspoken tensions, as you avert your gaze, unwilling to meet his piercing stare. <<if $uncovered_b is true>> Your suspicions, once harbored in silence, now ring with clarity, the truth more staggering in its revelation than you had ever imagined. <</if>> /* __________BEG__________ */<<case "beg">> "Please, father! Don't!" you implore, your voice trembling with foolhardiness, yet ringing clear in the oppressive stillness of the room. <<if $uncovered_b is true>> Your worst suspicions have been confirmed, the truth more staggering in its revelation than you had ever imagined. <</if>> For a moment, you dare to hope that your words might pierce the icy veneer of his resolve. But when his eyes meet yours—cold, unforgiving, and utterly devoid of mercy—you know that your plea has already fallen on barren ground. <br><br> His gaze, sharp and disdainful, weighs heavily upon you, rendering your entreaty futile. The contempt etched into his features is unmistakable, as though he silently scoffs: //What foolishness is this?// And yet, despite the futility, you could not refrain from trying. The words had leapt from your heart unbidden, a final, desperate grasp for some shred of reprieve that now dissolves beneath his stony glare. <<if $v_assertive >= .65>> You straighten your posture, the movement slow and deliberate, as though piecing together the fragments of your shattered composure, striving to rebuild what remains. The shame of your outburst clings to you, heavy and oppressive, burning hot against your cheeks and threatening to bow your head once more. Yet, you resist. Somewhere deep within, beneath the crushing weight of his unyielding conviction—a force that looms over you like a damning verdict—a spark of defiance stirs. <<elseif $v_meek >= .6>> Your heart sinks, leaden with the futility of your efforts as the truth takes hold—a truth you have long tried to evade but can no longer deny. How many times had you sought his approval, tailoring your words, your actions, your very self to meet the impossible standard he set before you? You had labored earnestly, reshaping your desires, restraining your tongue, yet it seems now, as it always has, that you were destined to fall short. His gaze, cold and imperious, is a silent condemnation—a reminder that in his eyes, you have always been wanting. <<elseif $v_melancholic >= .55>> Tears well in your eyes, hot and insistent, threatening to spill over and betray the depth of your despair. For a moment, you feel the sting of them gather at the corners of your lashes, a tangible reminder of the storm raging within. Yet, with a determined breath, you blink them away, your resolve hardening like steel against the onslaught of emotion. You will not allow a single tear to fall—not here, not now—where their presence might be read as weakness, an admission of defeat. <<elseif $v_joyful >= .55>> The wellspring of hope within you, once so vivid and abundant, trembles under the shadow of his unyielding presence, its flow stifled by the weight of his dominion. <<else>> You cannot bear the thought, yet it presses upon you with an inexorable weight, refusing to be dismissed. Deep down, you know the truth of it: his heart is as unyielding as granite, impervious to mercy or compassion. No entreaty, no tearful plea, could ever soften the iron grip of his resolve. <</if>> /* __________ELLIS__________ */<<case "ellis">> You turn to Ellis with a heavy heart, for if anyone in the world can understand the weight of your burden, it is them. Their gaze meets yours, and there is no need for words, for they, too, have borne the yoke of his cruelty, and a silent acknowledgment of shared suffering passes between you. <<if $uncovered_b is true>> Though you had suspected as much, nothing could have truly prepared you for the harshness of this reality. <br><br> <</if>> <<if $stat_che > .6>> In their gaze, you see a reflection of your own sorrow, rippling like a pool stirred by the soft but unrelenting touch of rain. <<if $mc_seat is "beside">> Under the table, unseen by the others, their hand stealthily finds yours. The touch is light, hesitant, yet steadfast, their fingers curling around yours with a quiet but resolute strength. It is a gesture of solidarity, of solace—a reminder that in this moment, you are not entirely alone. <<else>> Their hand hovers uncertainly above the table, as if hesitant to reach out, as though the very act of offering solace might invite their father’s wrath. <</if>> The fear of him runs so deep within Ellis that it has long since extinguished any embers of rebellion they might once have carried. They have surrendered all fight, their spirit bent beneath the weight of his dominance, allowing your father to wield his power over them unchecked and unchallenged. This submission, though pragmatic, pains you to witness, for you see in Ellis <<if $value_assertive >= .65>> the shadow of <</if>> what you fear you might become—a soul dulled by resignation, too weary to resist. <br><br> And yet, in this moment, their quiet bravery in producing their hand for you speaks volumes. Though they dare not do more in the face of your father’s all-encompassing authority, their compassion endures, and it is this enduring humanity that gives you the strength to meet your father’s gaze once more, knowing that, at least in Ellis, you have an ally who understands the depth of your struggle. <<else>> They bow their head, a subtle gesture of sympathy, though they offer nothing more under the weight of your father’s gaze. The fear of him runs so deep within Ellis that it has long since extinguished any embers of rebellion they might once have carried. They have surrendered all fight, their spirit bent beneath the weight of his dominance, allowing your father to wield his power over them unchecked and unchallenged. This submission, though pragmatic, pains you to witness, for you see in Ellis <<if $value_assertive >= .65>> the shadow of <</if>> what you fear you might become—a soul dulled by resignation, too weary to resist. <</if>> /* __________MOTHER__________ */<<case "mother">> You turn to your mother, a flicker of hope stirring within you despite everything, yearning for her support in this moment of need. But the hope is fleeting, extinguished almost as soon as it arises, as your gaze meets hers. Her attention remains fixed on your father, her concern revolving solely around him. The furrow of her brow, the slight tilt of her head—each speaks of her unwavering focus on his mood, his needs. You should have known better. <br><br> Her actions—or, more pointedly, her inaction—have spoken volumes over the years, enumerous declarations of where her loyalties truly lie. Time and again, when you sought her shelter, her protection, she remained an unmoving figure, distant and impenetrable as stone. <<if $stat_s >= .1 and $v_melancholy >= .55>> You cannot fathom why you sought comfort from her in the first place, but desperation has a way of driving one to cling to even the faintest hope, however misguided. How foolish it was to expect anything different after all these years. Seeking validation from someone incapable of offering it is a futile endeavor, one that yields only heartache and leaves wounds deeper than before. <<elseif $v_naive >= .55>> Once, you told yourself her silence was born of fear, that she too was a prisoner of his dominion. But now, through the clarity of countless disappointments, you can no longer deceive yourself. Her allegiance, whether by choice or by necessity, is not yours to claim. <<else>> It is a bitter truth to confront, but one you have grown accustomed to over time. The sharp edges of disappointment have worn down with repetition, leaving behind a hollow, aching resignation. <</if>> <br><br> You glance away, unwilling to seek her gaze any longer, unwilling to see the indifference in her eyes or the absence of the support you had <<if $v_naive >= .55>> so desperately <</if>> sought. /* __________STARE__________ */<<case "stare">> You stare at him, mouth agape, struggling to find meaning in his words. They descend upon you like the weight of a heavy stone dropped into a still lake, dragging your heart down with it. Numerous inquiries and pleas rise within you, each one clamoring for release, but under the weight of your father's unyielding gaze, they remain trapped, festering into a growing unease that threatens to consume you entirely. <<if $uncovered_b is true>> Though you had suspected as much, the cold reality is far more staggering than you could have imagined. <</if>> <br><br> Ellis's expression mirrors your own—shock and disbelief etched across their features. Meanwhile, your father's countenance twists in disdain, his nose wrinkling with evident distaste. /* __________SPOKEN__________ */<<case "spoken">> That one soul from days long past yet lays claim to your heart, and it is to them that your thoughts now turn. You saw them but yesterday, as you did the day before, and yet the gulf between you seemed as vast as the Atlantic, its waters cold and unyielding, unbridgeable for all your longing to cross it. Their presence, so near and yet so removed, only deepens the ache within you—a poignant yearning that reverberates through your heart, a painful reminder of what once was and what might have been, had fate not conspired otherwise. Surely, it is folly to cradle their memory so tenderly, to cling to a bond that time and distance have stretched to the finest thread. And yet, you cannot bring yourself to let go. The charm of their laughter, the gentle radiance of their smile, the way their very presence once cast the world in hues brighter and more vivid—these are treasures too dear to relinquish, no matter how impractical or painful such longing may be. <br><br> Still, a cloud of doubt pierces through your reverie: would this cherished friend of your youth, this keeper of your most tender affections, even wish to return such love now, after all that has unfolded between you and all that has kept you apart? As yet, this love is not one you could ever freely proclaim, for the chasm of station, the relentless tide of circumstance, and the weight of absence conspire against you. It exists in silence, a fragile truth whispered only within the chambers of your soul. To give it voice would be to shatter the delicate balance of your world, to risk unraveling all that is held together by the finest threads of decorum and duty. It is a love confined, restrained, and unspoken, yet it burns unrelenting, consuming every corner of your heart, leaving no sanctuary for another to dwell. //How might your heart,// you consider, //belong to a stranger, when it has already been given away, wholly, so long ago?// It was not by conscious choice that they came to occupy this sacred place, but by the inevitability of a love born in moments too profound to fade, moments etched into the very fabric of your being. <br><br> And now this betrothal—this hasty union—threatens to extinguish the faint ember of hope you have so carefully shielded all these years. How cruel it is to be asked to offer your hand when your heart has already been claimed, its affections bound to a past that refuses to loosen its hold, no matter how fervently you might will it to be otherwise. /* __________ACCEPT__________ */<<case "accept">> You nod in acceptance, a small, deliberate gesture that acknowledges the inevitable. <<if $uncovered_b is true>> It is just as you'd <<if $v_melancholic >= .55>> feared; <<else>> thought; <</if>> your <<else>> Your <</if>> path has been charted for you, its course set without your consent or counsel, and yet you <<if $v_meek >= .65>> abide it willingly. <<else>> cannot summon the strength to resist. <</if>> Your gaze falls to your untouched breakfast, its edges blurring as your thoughts spiral inward. The weight of a wedding planned with such unseemly haste presses upon you, its gravity made all the more oppressive by the fleeting month allotted for its preparation. A month, you reflect, is scarcely enough to ready oneself for a union that will bind two lives irrevocably together. <br><br> Yet the logistics, though daunting, soon fade from the forefront of your mind, eclipsed by other considerations. What expectations will be placed upon you? What duties, spoken or unspoken, will you be bound to fulfill? These questions gather like storm clouds, their implications too heavy to name aloud. <<if $mc_seat is "beside">> Beside <<else>> Across from <</if>> you, Ellis shifts, the subtle motion drawing your attention. Their face, so often composed, now betrays a flicker of pain as they wince at your easy acquiescence. To them, your nod must seem an act of surrender, a relinquishment of the agency they themselves have long since forfeited. You wonder if your silent acceptance has deepened their own sense of powerlessness, reflecting the resignation that has so completely taken root within them. <br><br> Your father’s eyes remain fixed upon you, watchful and unrelenting. They are not hardened, yet there is no trace of warmth within them. His expression reveals neither approval nor disapproval, only the implacable certainty of a man whose will has been carried out. You cannot tell if your compliance satisfies him, nor <<if $v_meek >= .5>> does it matter. <<else>> do you care to know. <</if>> /* __________COLLAPSE__________ */<<case "collapse">> You collapse within your chair, <<if $v_melancholic >= .625>> letting despair engulf your very being. <<elseif $v_joyful >= .55>> your once-cheerful demeanor now overshadowed by a growing sense of resignation. <<else>> enveloped by a sense of resignation. <</if>> <<if $uncovered_b is true>> Though you'd suspected as much, the harshness of the reality strikes you all the same. <</if>> Was destiny ever truly yours to mold, you wonder, or were you always bound to a life dictated by duty and obligation? The thought gnaws at the edges of your mind, an unyielding specter of a bitter truth you can neither fully accept nor entirely deny. Your dreams, fragile and unspoken, seem now like distant phantoms, their outlines fading with each passing moment. <br><br> Ellis’s wince does not escape your notice. Their gaze flits toward you, lingering briefly before falling to their hands, which rest uneasily atop the table. The tension in their jaw and the faint crease of their brow betray the depth of their empathy, though they dare not speak. Their heart, burdened by the weight of your plight, seems to echo your silent despair. In their eyes, you glimpse a reflection of your own struggle, a shared understanding of lives sculpted by forces neither of you could ever hope to command. <br><br> Yet, as your attention shifts, it catches on a different figure—a stark contrast to Ellis’s quiet sorrow. Your father’s lips curl into a cruel smile, fleeting yet unmistakable, and it sends a chill coursing through you. It betrays a hint of satisfaction at your visible distress, as though your resignation were not merely expected but savored. His pleasure, subtle though it may be, cuts deeper than any scolding, sharper than the harshest reproach. You avert your gaze, unwilling to endure the full weight of his triumph, yet his presence looms still—an unyielding shadow over your thoughts, a fervent reminder of the power he wields. /* __________FAINT__________ */<<case "faint">> Your vision blurs, a piercing ring fills your ears, and a dreadful weakness seeps into your limbs. Cold sweat slicks your skin as you sway unsteadily in your seat. Ellis <<if $mc_seat is "beside">> reaches out, their arm extending <<else>> rushes <</if>> to steady you, the panic in their movements unmistakable as their eyes dart to the servants for aid. Yet fear and confusion paralyze the room, each person too wary of provoking your father’s wrath to act. The burden falls squarely upon Ellis, who stands frozen, torn between their instinct to help and their uncertainty of what to do. Through the haze, as if watching from some distant plane, you catch a fleeting glimpse of your father’s mouth curling into a sneer just before the weight of it all overtakes you, and the world slips into darkness. <br><br> When consciousness begins to trickle back, you find yourself slumped awkwardly in your chair, disoriented and dazed. Your vision clears in uneven patches, the dizziness ebbing slowly but stubbornly. Ellis hovers close, their worried gaze fixed upon you, their hand trembling as it rests on your shoulder. Your father’s expression, by contrast, remains coldly unchanged, his satisfaction unmistakable. <br><br> Ellis extends a supportive arm, and with <<if $v_assertive >= .5 >> regaining composure, <<else>> trembling hands, <</if>> you grasp it, allowing them to help you upright. The room spins faintly as you rise, but their steady presence grounds you. Beneath your father’s unyielding gaze, you dare not meet his eyes, your vulnerability laid bare before him, a fragile figure dwarfed by the weight of his will. <<if $uncovered_b>> No amount of foresight could have prepared you for the reality. <</if>> <</switch>> <hr> <<link [[The announcement strikes you unexpectedly.|Set Age]]>> <<set $last_option to "unexpected">> <<set $stat_nw += .05>> <<set $stat_s -= .025>> <</link>> <<link [[The announcement is hardly a surprise.|Set Age]]>> <<set $last_option to "no shock">> <<set $stat_nw -= .05>> <<set $stat_s += .025>> <</link>>

<<switch $last_option>> /* __________UNEXPECTED__________ */<<case "unexpected">> The announcement strikes you unexpectedly—though in truth, it ought not to have come as a surprise. <<if $uncovered_b is true>> You’d harbored your suspicions just beyond these doors, after all, having <<else>> You had <</if>> witnessed this same dismal card fall to each of your siblings, dealt by that same pitiless hand, with no regard for their desires or dreams. /* __________SURPRISE__________ */<<case "no shock">> The announcement is hardly a surprise, having witnessed this same dismal card fall to each of your siblings, dealt by that same pitiless hand, with no regard for their desires or dreams. <<if $uncovered_b is true>> In any case, you’d harbored your suspicions just beyond these doors. <</if>> <</switch>> And now, it seems, the deck has turned over to you. <br><br> Your father’s gaze sears through you, with <<if $stat_chj <= .41>> a hatred <<else>> disdain <</if>> so sharp and unrelenting on his features that it pierces the very core of your being. His eyes burn with <<if $stat_chj <= .41>> an intensity that feels all-consuming, <<else>> such intensity, <</if>> as though they might reduce you to ash beneath their merciless scrutiny. In that moment, you come to understand—deep within your heart—that this anger, this unbridled contempt, is not born of anything you have done. There are no words you might utter, no action you could take, no transgression you could commit that would ever render you deserving of such ire. His disdain is immutable, a force as unyielding as the tide, and you are powerless to turn it aside. <br><br> "Had you been a more suitable prospect," he sneers, his voice slicing through the air like a dagger into your breast, "it should not have come to this." The words are delivered through clenched teeth, each syllable laden with venom, as though he struggles to contain the rancor festering within him. The injustice of his accusation <<if $v_assertive >= .5>> is entirely unwarranted, and you must clamp your jaw to check your tongue. <<else>> strikes you with such force that it steals the very breath from your lungs, nearly doubling you over with its <<if $b_reaction is "faint">> ruthlessness and threatening to cast you into another swoon. <<else>> ruthlessness. <</if>> <</if>> <hr> <<link [[You are past the age of 30, never having found any prospects you'd consider suitable.|Set Rom Spec]]>> <<set $age to 3>> <</link>> <<link [[You are not yet 30, still navigating the merciless marriage market.|Set Rom Spec]]>> <<set $age to 2>> <</link>> <<link [[You are merely 18 years old, having only just come out into society. |Set Rom Spec]]>> <<set $age to 1>> <</link>>

<<if $age is 1>> You are but eighteen, having only just stepped out into society. None of your peers have yet secured a match; surely, he cannot fault you for that? <<elseif $age is 2>> You are not yet thirty, still navigating the merciless marriage market. Yet it is not lost upon you how swiftly he arranged matches for each of your kin as soon as they entered society. <<else>> You are past the age of 30, never having found any prospects you'd consider suitable, <<if $v_naive >= .6>> and by this stage in life, you had dared to hope you might have escaped his notice altogether. <<elseif $v_worldwise >= .55>> and, given the ill-fated unions of your siblings, you had hoped your father might have relinquished his ambitions of securing power through the marriages of his children. <<else>> and after so long a time, you had ceased to expect that marriage would ever be pressed upon you. <</if>> <</if>> For years, you had dwelled in the shadow of his expectations, always harboring the faint hope that his authority over you might gradually wane. Yet now, with this sudden announcement, all such hopes lie shattered. You cannot help but wonder if his words, so often steeped in derision, might conceal a kernel of truth. Is it possible that you are, indeed, as undesirable as he claims? Could the absence of proposals reflect your own inadequacies, as he has so often and so cruelly suggested? <br><br> And yet, his actions suggest otherwise, for here you are—summoned to be wed, and in but a month’s time! Surely, if you were as hopeless a prospect as he claims, he might have abandoned the endeavor altogether. Instead, you find yourself ensnared in this whirlwind arrangement, an agreement forged entirely without your consent. <<if $age isnot 1>> Could it be that he struggled to secure a suitable match for you all these years, thus his proclamations of your inadequacy? Or is <<else>> Is <</if>> he, perhaps, so eager to see you wed and gone from his household that patience and propriety have been cast aside in favor of expedience? The thought lingers, both unsettling and strangely validating, though it offers no true solace. <br><br> What strikes you most deeply—and, indeed, appalls you—is the realization that he has never once sought counsel with his children on so profoundly personal a matter. Not once has he paused to consider that your desires might hold merit, or that you, too, might wish for a voice in the shaping of your life. Marriage, with all its social and practical demands, remains to you <<cycle "$marriageView">> <<option "an affair of the heart, a bond not merely forged by duty or contract but kindled by love itself." love>> <<option "a transaction—a negotiation of fortunes, status, and utility in which you were never afforded a voice." transaction>> <<option "an unwelcome obligation, a yoke you have no desire to bear." unwelcome>> <</cycle>> Though you have long remained silent on the matter, you <<cycle "$romspec">> <<option "do harbor a quiet wish to know love, if only with the right person." allo>> <<option "are uncertain as to whether feelings such as love truly suit you, yet remain open to the prospect." flux>> <<option "are doubtlessly untouched by romantic inclination." aro>> <</cycle>> These, you reflect bitterly, are but wishes your father would deem entirely frivolous, if not laughable outright. <br><br> Your thoughts churn, awash with questions that refuse to settle, each more pressing than the last. How did this arrangement come to pass, hidden so thoroughly from your notice until now? What prompted such sudden urgency, such unseemly haste? And most pressingly of all: to whom are you to be wed? This question rises above all others, looming large. <hr> <<link [[(Proceed)|Set RO Genders]]>> <<switch $marriageView>> <<case "love">> <<set $stat_rp += .1>> <<case "transaction">> <<set $stat_rp -= .1>> <</switch>> <</link>>

<<switch $b_ruling>> /* __________REFUSE__________ */<<case "refuse">> You reject outright the notion of binding yourself to someone so underhanded, someone who remains, even now, a stranger to you. The very thought chills you to the core, for it is plain $ro.they cares nothing for your feelings or opinions, content to disregard you entirely in $ro.their <<if $knew_e is "knew">> calculated <</if>> pursuit of that most <<if $marriageView is "love">> sacred <<else>> enduring <</if>> union of souls. How could such indifference give rise to anything but misery? How could you ever consent to such a future, to such a person? Surely, there must be an alternative—a path to liberation from the cruel machinations that bind you. <<cycle "$mod_rp">> <<option "You refuse to be treated as mere property, exchanged from one hand to another." -.05>> <<option "You cannot face what awaits you in a marriage devoid of respect." 0>> <<option "And yet, some unfathomable part of you entertains the notion that perhaps this marriage could be something more." .05>> <</cycle>> <br><br> /* __________ACCEPT__________ */<<case "accept">> You have no choice but to accept, the decision having already been made, the course set long before your voice could be heard. Your father has given his consent, and already, the paper bears the news of your impending nuptials. The announcement is no private matter between families but a public decree, a binding promise laid bare before any who might read it. Bound by the unyielding chains of honor and convention, you find yourself unable to oppose the crushing weight of expectations that press upon you from every side. To resist would be unthinkable—a rebellion not merely against your father but against society itself, whose judgment would descend swift and severe. <<cycle "$mod_rp">> <<option "You must simply do what duty demands." -.05>> <<option "Any sentiments you harbor hold little consequence in such matters." 0>> <<option "And yet, as the thought lingers, you wonder if perhaps all might resolve itself favorably within this union." .05>> <</cycle>> <br><br> /* __________ADVANTAGE__________ */<<case "advantage">> You find yourself wondering whether the circumstances might yet yield some advantage to your own benefit. Might there not lie within them a path by which you could reclaim some measure of agency? If there exists even the faintest opportunity to turn this situation to your favor, surely it would be folly to disregard it. And yet, amidst these thoughts, you cannot help but wonder: is there space for considerations of <<if $romspec is "allo">> love <<elseif $romspec is "flux">> love or companionship <<else>> companionship <</if>> within such an endeavor? In pondering this at length, <<cycle "$mod_rp">> <<option "you find no simple answer." 0>> <<option "despite everything, a faint hope begins to stir." .05>> <<option "you sense that such a hope may not truly reside in your heart." -.05>> <</cycle>> /* __________SUSPICIOUS__________ */<<case "suspicious">> You harbor suspicion towards $ro.their intentions, the shadow of doubt darkening every corner of your thoughts. //Why, of all others, would $ro.they choose you? What makes $ro.them so certain that you are suited for this role, a role you had no hand in shaping? What expectations does $ro.they carry into this arrangement, and, more troubling still, what does $ro.they hope to gain from this union?// <br><br> As these questions linger, another, more personal one emerges, tentative yet persistent: Is there any possibility, however faint, of hoping for a marriage founded on <<if $romspec is "allo">> love? <<elseif $romspec is "flux">> love or companionship? <<else>> companionship? <</if>> <br><br> In pondering this at length, <<cycle "$mod_rp">> <<option "you find no simple answer." 0>> <<option "despite everything, a faint hope begins to stir." .05>> <<option "you sense that such a hope may not truly reside in your heart." -.05>> <</cycle>> /* __________LEAVE__________ */<<case "leave">> You care little for the identity of $ro.them, so long as this union offers an escape from your father’s relentless grasp. Too long have you endured his oppressive rule, and if marriage—even one wrapped in uncertainty—promises a measure of independence, then you find yourself willing to accept it. Indeed, wedded life is said to afford greater liberties, or so the whispers go. <<if $v_worldwise >= .55 and $v_melancholic >= .55>> You can only hope that, in seeking liberation, you are not trading one confinement for another. <<elseif $v_naive >= .65 or $v_joyful >= .55>> //Perhaps,// you muse, //this arrangement may be the solution you seek.// <<else>> One cannot know without daring the first step. <</if>> <br><br> Yet one question now looms in your mind: Could you dare to hope for a marriage rooted in <<if $romspec is "allo">> love? <<elseif $romspec is "flux">> love or, at the very least, companionship? <<else>> companionship? <</if>> In pondering this at length, <<cycle "$mod_rp">> <<option "you find no simple answer." 0>> <<option "despite everything, a faint hope begins to stir." .05>> <<option "you sense that such a hope may not truly reside in your heart." -.05>> <</cycle>> /* __________ADMIRE__________ */<<case "admire">> It is conceivable that $ro.Mx Egerton may indeed harbor some admiration for <<if $v_worldwise >= .55 or $knew_e is "knew">> you—though not without its challenges to your belief. <<elseif $v_assertive >= .65>> you, though if so, what a gutless approach to convey it! <<elseif $v_naive >= .65 or $v_joyful >= .55>> you—perhaps $ro.they lacked the courage to approach directly. <<else>> you, though you find yourself uncertain of such a notion. <</if>> The assumption, though faintly flattering, feels fragile—something delicate that you scarcely dare to hold too tightly, for fear it might crumble under closer scrutiny. To that end, can you allow yourself to entertain the prospect of a union built upon <<if $romspec is "allo">> love? <<elseif $romspec is "flux">> love or even companionship? <<else>> companionship? <</if>> In pondering this at length, <<cycle "$mod_rp">> <<option "you find no simple answer." 0>> <<option "despite everything, a faint hope begins to stir." .05>> <<option "you sense that such a hope may not truly reside in your heart." -.05>> <</cycle>> <br><br> /* __________LOVE__________ */<<case "love">> You surrender yourself to thoughts of <<if $romspec is "allo">> love, <<elseif $romspec is "flux">> love or companionship, <<else>> companionship, <</if>> unable to resist the longing that burns within—a quiet ache for that elusive connection, the intertwining of two souls in steadfast devotion. Yet, do you dare to truly hope for such a thing? <<if $knew_e is "everything">> What little you know of $ro.mx Egerton gives you pause, <<cycle "$mod_rp">> <<option "yet what is reward, if not worth the risk?" .05>> <<option "and you fear it may remain but a wistful dream." 0>> <<option "and you must consider its potential with care." -.05>> <</cycle>> <<else>> <<if $romspec is "allo">> <<set _loveTerm to "love">> <<else>> <<set _loveTerm to "connection">> <</if>> <<cycle "$mod_rp">> <<option "The flames of longing flicker within, whispering of a _loveTerm untainted and true." .05>> <<option "Such thoughts stir the spirit, though one must seek to temper one’s heart." 0>> <<option "Such a dream is indeed beautiful, though it lies, you fear, far beyond your reach." -.05>> <</cycle>> <</if>> <br><br> /* __________JUDGEMENT__________ */<<case "judgement">> You must withhold judgment until you meet $ro.them <<if $v_naive >= .6 and $knew_e is "everything">> yourself; there remains a chance that $ro.their reputation may mislead, and it would be unwise to rush to conclusions solely upon hearsay. Perhaps, upon meeting, $ro.mx Egerton shall reveal unexpected qualities or intentions. <<else>> yourself; only then might you truly grasp the intricacies of $ro.their character and the designs upon which $ro.they seeks to shape your destiny, for speculation alone cannot suffice. <</if>> Only in $ro.their presence, when words are exchanged and silences linger, might you glean some understanding of the $ro.person behind the name. Despite your reservations, an impulsive thought arises unbidden: Might you, in some measure, risk hoping for a union founded upon <<if $romspec is "allo">> love? <<elseif $romspec is "flux">> love or companionship? <<else>> companionship? <</if>> <br><br> In pondering this at length, <<cycle "$mod_rp">> <<option "you find no simple answer." 0>> <<option "despite everything, a faint hope begins to stir." .05>> <<option "you sense that such a hope may not truly reside in your heart." -.05>> <</cycle>> <</switch>> You must pause to collect yourself, allowing the tumultuous tide of reflections to settle just enough for the most meaningful sentiments to rise to the fore. Deep within, you yearn for <<if $b_ruling is "refuse">> <<listbox "$b_hope">> <<option "a means of escape" out>> <<option "your own means of gain" gain>> <<option "kindness and understanding" kindness>> <<option "a kindred spirit" friendship>> <<option "a stirring of desire" desire>> <<option "warmth and affection" affection>> <</listbox>> <<else>> <<listbox "$b_hope">> <<option "kindness and understanding" kindness>> <<option "a kindred spirit" friendship>> <<option "a stirring of desire" desire>> <<option "warmth and affection" affection>> <<option "your own means of gain" gain>> <<option "a means of escape" out>> <</listbox>> <</if>> , and yet you cannot help but dread the notion of <<listbox "$b_fear">> <<option "an uncaring companion" uncaring>> <<option "no shared rapport" rapport>> <<option "a lack of attraction" attraction>> <<option "a marriage devoid of love" loveless>> <<option "reaping naught from it" naught>> <<option "being forever entrapped" trapped>> <</listbox>> . <hr> <<link [[You rise abruptly.|Exit Breakfast]]>> <<set $last_option to "storm">> <<set $stat_ma -= .1>> <<set $stat_chj -= .1>> <</link>> <<link [[You set down your fork and rise from your seat.|Exit Breakfast]]>> <<set $last_option to "leave">> <<set $stat_ma -= .05>> <<set $stat_chj -= .1>> <</link>> <<link [[You remain seated.|Exit Breakfast]]>> <<set $last_option to "sit">> <<set $stat_ma += .05>> <<set $stat_chj += .025>> <</link>>

<<if $romspec is "aro">> <<set $r_term to "Companionable">> <<set $p_term to "Solitary">> <<set $c_term to "Connections">> <<else>> <<set $r_term to "Romantic">> <<set $p_term to "Pragmatic">> <<set $c_term to "Courtships">> <</if>> Your father proceeds as though he has not just upended the very foundation of your world. There is no trace of apology in his demeanor, no flicker of mercy in his actions. With practiced precision, he folds the newspaper and lays it upon the table, his hand pressing firmly against its surface. The gesture carries a weight of finality, a wordless declaration that his pronouncement is no invitation, no suggestion, but an edict to be obeyed. His eyes, sharp and unyielding, rest wholly upon you, scrutinizing your face with the detached authority of a man accustomed to having his commands met without question. <br><br> "You shall convene with <<cycle "$ro_gender">> <<option "Miss" f>> <<option "Mr." m>> <</cycle>> Egerton this afternoon,” he declares, his tone unyielding, heavy with the authority that has ruled over your life since its earliest days. There is no trace of leniency, no crack through which protest might slip. It is as though the matter has already been decided, your compliance but a mere formality to a plan long set in motion. <hr> [[✑ Establish the gender of all characters available for engagement|Set Knew E]]

<<if $ro_gender is "f">> <<set $ro to { mx: "Miss", lairde: "Lady", person: "woman", persons: "women", gentleperson: "lady", gentlepersons: "ladies", they: "she", They: "She", them: "her", their: "her", Their: "Her", theirs: "hers", themself: "herself" }>> <<set $t to "Tamsin">> <<set $e to "Edith">> <<set $h to "Henrietta">> <<set $l to "Lucia">> <<set $e_bust to "media/img/portraits/Edith_Bust.png">> <<set $t_bust to "media/img/portraits/Tamsin_Bust.png">> <<set $h_bust to " ">> <<set $l_bust to " ">> <<else>> <<set $ro to { mx: "Mr.", lairde: "Lord", person: "man", persons: "men", gentleperson: "gentleman", gentlepersons: "gentlemen", they: "he", They: "He", them: "him", their: "his", Their: "His", theirs: "his", themself: "himself" }>> <<set $t to "Thomas">> <<set $e to "Edward">> <<set $h to "Henry">> <<set $l to "Laurence">> <<set $e_bust to "media/img/portraits/Edward_Bust.png">> <<set $t_bust to "media/img/portraits/Thomas_Bust.png">> <<set $h_bust to " ">> <<set $l_bust to " ">> <</if>> //Egerton.// <br><br> <hr> <<link [[The name is unfamiliar to you.|Set Betrothal Ruling]]>> <<set $knew_e to "never">> <<set $stat_nw += .1>> <</link>> <<link [[The name is faintly familiar, though it conjures no specific face in your mind.|Set Betrothal Ruling]]>> <<set $knew_e to "name">> <</link>> <<link [["You are somewhat familiar with " + $ro.them + "."|Set Betrothal Ruling]]>> <<set $knew_e to "vague">> <<set $stat_nw -= .05>> <</link>> <<if $v_worldwise >= .5 >> <<link [["You are well acquainted with " + $ro.them + " reputation."|Set Betrothal Ruling]]>> <<set $knew_e to "knew">> <<set $stat_nw -= .1>> <</link>> <</if>>

<<set _complicitText to ' Or perhaps $ro.they is complicit in this transaction, $ro.their aspirations aligning neatly with his ambitions, leaving you little more than a pawn in their shared design.'>> <<switch $knew_e>> /* __________NEVER__________ */<<case "never">> The name is unfamiliar to you, and as it passes from your lips, it feels foreign and strange. You wonder if $ro.they, too, has been drawn into this arrangement without consent, $ro.their life upended with the same unfeeling efficiency that now marks your own. <<if $v_worldwise >= .55>> _complicitText <</if>> /* __________NAME__________ */<<case "name">> The name is faintly familiar, though it conjures no specific face in your mind. As the name passes your lips, a faint bitterness lingers, and you cannot help but wonder what manner of person awaits you at the altar. Pehaps $ro.they, too, has been drawn into this arrangement without consent, $ro.their life upended with the same unfeeling efficiency that now marks your own. <<if $v_worldwise >= .55>> _complicitText <</if>> /* __________VAGUE__________ */<<case "vague">> You are somewhat familiar with <<if $v_worldwise >= .6>> <<set $knew_e to "everything">> $ro.them—or rather, $ro.their notorious reputation precedes $ro.them. <<else>> $ro.them. <</if>> $ro.mx Egerton: a name spoken in hushed tones across parlors and ballrooms, a figure commonly deemed the wealthiest $ro.person in the realm. It is said $ro.their fortune commands a power that eclipses all others, whispered to surpass even that of your father, the venerable James $ln, whose amassed riches were once thought insurmountable. Such comparisons, made with awe and envy alike, have woven themselves into the fabric of $ro.mx Egerton’s infamy. Yet, for all $ro.their wealth and influence, what is $ro.they truly? A specter of rumor and speculation, little more than a name and a shadow in your mind. /* __________KNEW__________ */<<case "knew">> You are well acquainted with $ro.their reputation: $ro.mx $e Egerton, the wealthiest $ro.person in the realm and a formidable rival to your father's business empire. Whispers of $ro.their immense fortune weave through society’s corridors like an ever-present shadow, painting a picture so vast and unrelenting that even your father—the venerable James $ln—is said to pale in comparison. $ro.Their name alone carries an air of gravity, spoken in hushed tones at private gatherings and whispered over glasses of wine as though speaking it too loudly might summon $ro.them forth like some mythic figure from the depths of legend. To some, $ro.they is a paragon of ambition and success, a testament to what unyielding determination might achieve; to others, $ro.their rise is a tale of ruthless cunning, marked by the steady erosion of rivals who dared to stand in $ro.their way. <br><br> Though you have crossed paths with $ro.them, $ro.they has always remained a distant figure, a fleeting presence amidst the grandeur of ballrooms and the ceaseless murmur of society’s endless theater. $ro.Their gaze, if it ever fell upon you, would be considered more an afterthought than an appraisal—the briefest acknowledgment of your existence within their periphery. Never, in all your guessing, would you have imagined that $ro.they might truly take notice of you, let alone harbor intentions so binding. The thought strikes you as inconceivable, a sudden and significant intrusion upon the world you thought you understood. <</switch>> <br><br> Your musings falter as your gaze shifts to the folded newspaper, its creased pages lying half-concealed beneath your father’s firm hand. Its edges are worn and frayed, evidence that it has been thumbed through more than once, though now it lies inert, its chaotic sprawl of type and ink presenting neither sense nor order at first glance. And yet, as your eyes linger, drawn unwittingly to its cluttered print, something amidst the bold, upside-down headlines leaps out with startling clarity. Your name, paired so plainly with $ro.theirs, printed as fact for all the world to see. <hr> <<link [[You reject outright the notion of binding yourself to someone so underhanded.|Set Betrothal Romance/Hope/Fear]]>> <<set $b_ruling to "refuse">> <<set $stat_ma -= .1>> <</link>> <<link [[You have no choice but to accept.|Set Betrothal Romance/Hope/Fear]]>> <<set $b_ruling to "accept">> <<set $stat_ma += .1>> <</link>> <<link [[You find yourself wondering whether the circumstances might yet yield some advantage.|Set Betrothal Romance/Hope/Fear]]>> <<set $b_ruling to "advantage">> <<set $stat_nw -= .05>> <<set $stat_rp -= .1>> <</link>> <<link [["You harbor suspicion towards " + $ro.their + " intentions." |Set Betrothal Romance/Hope/Fear]]>> <<set $b_ruling to "suspicious">> <<set $stat_nw -= .05>> <<set $stat_s += .1>> <</link>> <<link [["You care little for the identity of " + $ro.them + ", so long as this union offers an escape."|Set Betrothal Romance/Hope/Fear]]>> <<set $b_ruling to "leave">> <<set $stat_nw += .05>> <</link>> <<link [["It is conceivable that " + $ro.mx + " Egerton may indeed harbor some admiration for you."|Set Betrothal Romance/Hope/Fear]]>> <<set $b_ruling to "admire">> <<set $stat_rp += .05>> <</link>> <<if $romspec is "allo">> <<set _romtext to "love.">> <<elseif $romspec is "flux">> <<set _romtext to "love or companionship.">> <<else>> <<set _romtext to "companionship.">> <</if>> <<link [["You surrender to thoughts of " + _romtext|Set Betrothal Romance/Hope/Fear]]>> <<set $b_ruling to "love">> <<set $stat_rp += .15>> <</link>> <<link [["You must withhold judgment until you meet " + $ro.them + " yourself."|Set Betrothal Romance/Hope/Fear]]>> <<set $b_ruling to "judgement">> <<set $stat_nw -= .07>> <</link>>

<<switch $b_hope>> <<case "romance">> <<set $stat_rp += .05>> <<case "desire">> <<set $stat_rp += .02>> <<case "gain">> <<set $stat_rp -= .05>> <</switch>> <<switch $b_fear>> <<case "loveless">> <<set $stat_rp += .05>> <<case "naught">> <<set $stat_rp -= .05>> <</switch>> <<switch $last_option>> /* ______________________________STORM__________ */<<case "storm">> <<set $leftbreakfast to true>> You rise abruptly, your fork clattering upon the plate as you excuse yourself, struggling against the tide of your emotions. <br><br> "You would not dare!" he cries, but your resolve holds firm. The chair scrapes against the floor as you push it back, his fury surging with the force of an oncoming tempest. His shouts pierce the air like lightning, sharp and blinding, while his voice reverberates through the room like the relentless roll of thunder. He stands, flinging his napkin aside with vehement disdain, his words lost amidst the tumult, a storm of rage crashing against you as you press onward, heedless of his wrath. Francis meets your stride at once. "I heard! I heard everything!" <br><br> “I must leave,” you declare, unwilling to linger a moment longer. /* ______________________________LEAVE__________ */<<case "leave">> You set down your fork and rise from your seat, the motion deliberate yet trembling with a quiet defiance that stirs within you. It is a silent protest, a fragile, instinctive attempt to reclaim some sliver of control in a world slipping beyond your grasp. The scrape of the chair against the floor cuts through the oppressive silence, louder than you intended, its echo drawing unwanted attention. For a fleeting moment, you dare to imagine that perhaps—just perhaps—you might leave without further trouble. <br><br> But then, a low growl emanates from the head of the table—a sound quiet yet steeped in menace, its undercurrent of brutal anger unmistakable. “You would not dare,” your father intones, his voice carrying the low, rumbling threat of a great predator poised to strike. /* __________ASSERTIVE */ <<if $v_assertive >= .8>> <<set $leftbreakfast to true>> <br><br> “Oh, but I would,” you reply. Your chair scrapes back with a grating protest; your father’s fury surges over, swift and severe; others startle at the thunderous eruption. His voice cuts the air like lightning, reverberating through the room like the crash of distant thunder, the storm of his rage unmistakable. He rises abruptly, flinging his napkin aside in disdain. His words, steeped in ire, are soon lost amidst the pounding of your heart. The attendants falter, frozen in place, unwilling to intervene. Left with no choice, you push through the tempest and forge ahead on your own path. Francis meets your stride at once. "I heard! I heard everything!" <br><br> "I must leave," you insist. /* __________NEUTRAL */ <<elseif $v_assertive >= .7>> <<set $leftbreakfast to true>> The threat coils around you like a vice, yet you steel yourself, determined to escape the oppressive atmosphere of the room, to find solace with Francis—anywhere but here. Your chair scrapes back with a harsh protest; your father’s fury swells, an unmistakable storm, as his shouts break forth like lightning, rolling in waves of thunderous disdain. He rises sharply, casting his napkin aside with scorn, words slipping beneath the roaring pulse of your heart. The attendants hesitate, stricken with caution, refusing to break his tirade. Left with no choice, you press through the din, determined to forge your own path. Francis meets your stride at once. "I heard! I heard everything!" <br><br> "I must leave," you declare. /* __________MEEK */ <<else>> Your fear of him bears down upon you, sharp and unrelenting, forcing you to falter. Your resolve, so tenuous and fragile, crumbles beneath the sheer force of his command. You feel your knees weaken as you sink back into your seat, the act of surrender as swift as it is inevitable. What were you thinking? You could never hope to defy him—not now, not like this. Your gaze drifts toward Francis, who stands just beyond the doorway, $p.their presence a faint beacon of solace. For a moment, the thought of escape flickers within you, but under your father’s withering glare, that hope withers almost as quickly as it had bloomed. His eyes, cold and unyielding, seem to pin you in place, a silent warning that any further act of rebellion will not go unpunished. You dare not budge; you dare not meet his gaze. Instead, you sit, your hands trembling faintly in your lap, your defiance reduced to a mere whisper within your heart. <br><br> In time, wearied of his silent fury, your father rises abruptly, the sudden motion reverberating through the room like the crack of distant thunder, prompting the rest of the party to follow suit. Their movements are cautious, each one rising with tentative precision as though fearful of drawing further provocation. His expression betrays no trace of emotion, yet you know his mind is already elsewhere—preoccupied with matters of profit, accounts to be balanced, and decisions to be rendered. The burden of a wayward $g.child such as yourself seems hardly to merit his sustained attention, though his presence lingers like a shadow over the gathering even as he departs. Relief washes faintly through the room as the door closes firmly behind him, its sound carrying away the oppressive weight of his authority, though the atmosphere remains taut with the remnants of tension. <br><br> You sink back into your chair, your shoulders easing their stiffness though the ache of what has transpired lingers still, a bruise upon your spirit that refuses to fade. For the first time since the meal began, you allow yourself a steady breath, yet its solace is fleeting. The silence, though no longer stifling, is no less laden with unspoken judgments, and your reprieve is short-lived. “That was a foolish thing to attempt,” your mother murmurs, her voice calm but edged with reproach as her gaze falls upon you with sharp precision. It is the first time she has addressed you directly since the ordeal began, and her words cut with the same tempered authority as your father’s, though laced with an unspoken impatience. <br><br> You remain silent, unable to muster a reply, for any words you might offer would surely be dismissed as inconsequential beneath the weight of her judgment. She allows the remark to linger in the charged air before dabbing her mouth with the meticulous grace of long-practiced decorum. Rising with an efficiency as poised as it is detached, she turns to depart, the soft rustle of her skirts the only sound marking her exit. You are left alone in the aftermath, surrounded by the silence she leaves behind—a silence that is both suffocating in its vastness and strangely liberating in its solitude. For a long moment, you remain unmoving, the events of the morning replaying in an unrelenting loop within your mind, until at last the stillness compels you to confront the questions you have so desperately sought to avoid. <<include [[Exit Breakfast Ellis Dialogue]]>> <</if>> /* ______________________________SIT__________ */<<case "sit">> You remain <<if $v_meek >= .6>> seated, showing deference to your father, unwilling to provoke him further. <<elseif $v_assertive >= .6>> seated with tense composure, holding back any words that might rekindle your father’s ire. <<else>> seated, unwilling to risk provoking your father any further. <</if>> <br><br> He stabs at the remnants on his plate, chewing with an exaggerated nonchalance, as though savoring the charged silence between you. You steady your thoughts on Francis, stationed beyond the door, careful to avoid your father’s dark gaze when it falls upon you. <br><br> At length, he wearies of watching, rising from his seat with brusque finality. The rest of the party follows in sync, each movement marked by quiet apprehension, eager to avoid further confrontation. There are profits to pursue and a burdensome $g.child to dispose of once again. <br><br> Relief settles over the room as the door closes firmly behind him. The quiet is fleeting, for your mother follows without a word, her footsteps echoing his as she departs. The silence that remains feels weighted yet somehow welcome. <<include [[Exit Breakfast Ellis Dialogue]]>> <</switch>> <br><br> "To the gardens, then," Francis proclaims. <hr> [[(Proceed)|Betrothal Retreat To Garden]]

Dawn hovers, though its pastels are now awash with blue. Dew clings to leaves and railings, poised to vanish into the morning air rather than yield to the ground below. Despite the unseasonal chill for early June, you embrace the crispness of it, breathing in with a quiet gratitude, even as the cold catches you unprepared. //How refreshing it feels to be alone with one’s thoughts,// you consider, //to wander freely through the townhouse’s expansive gardens, untethered, away from the oppressive confines of its walls.// In the quietude afforded by Francis's discretion, you find yourself at last able to marshal your thoughts, and this chance to gather yourself feels less a luxury and more a pressing need. It is the first moment today in which you may deliberate on how best to spend it, with countless pursuits awaiting, each holding its own allure. <br><br> There are words to be penned or perused, melodies to be coaxed from strings, and poetry to be sung. You might channel your thoughts through the stroke of a brush or the delicate work of needle and thread. Your body might find vigor in the art of fencing. The ordinary holds a timeless enchantment, yet there are also true Magics. <br><br> Glamour Magic, though not a common pursuit, holds a revered place among the elite and affluent. Those skilled in this artistry often grace extravagant gatherings, where they enthrall guests with illusions that defy reality: rain that sparkles but does not wet, food transformed into ornate displays of gold and jewels, ethereal birds dancing to melodies, and countless other marvels limited only by the wielder's skill and imagination. Such displays of Glamour are meant to leave a lasting impression, sparking conversations that endure for weeks. Esteemed merchants employ Glamour to enhance their boutique wares. These enchantments, while fleeting, attract loyal customers who return to renew their splendor, if only for another night. Some individuals practice Glamour in private, using it as a form of self-expression or to alter their appearance at will. <<if $v_worldwise >= .7>> Indeed, there are less savory applications of Glamour Magic, readily embraced by those with wicked intent. Criminals often exploit this type of magic for their own purposes, leveraging illusions to deceive and manipulate unsuspecting victims. <<else>> <</if>> <br><br> The practice of Animallinguis, although less common than Glamour Magic, is renowned for its delicate nature. This form of magic relies not only on the ability but also the willingness of creatures to communicate with humans, and most Animallinguists share this gift with one or two cherished animal companions. Those who dedicate themselves to the study of the natural sciences or possess the luxury of leisure are typically the ones who pursue this art. While Animallinguis may lack immediate practical applications, practitioners argue that there is no greater magic than the profound understanding forged between unalike species. <br><br> Then there is the Study of Spirits: the deliberate endeavor to construct a bridge between the earthly departed and the terrible beings that should never cross it—or so it is claimed. Those who delve into this realm are exceedingly rare, often conducting their studies in utmost secrecy. Even rarer are those who boast of successfully forging such a connection, and rarer still are those who believe them. If rumors are to be believed, the pursuit of Spirit Study exacts a toll on one's life, consuming it entirely for what? At best, skeptics dismiss such tales as mere folklore; at worst, there are those who cannot tolerate the existence of such practitioners. Merely seeking the fabled tomes of Spirit Study invites scrutiny and judgment, making discretion an absolute necessity. <hr> <<link [[For your part, you dismiss such tales as mere superstition.|Choose Hobby]]>> <<set $spirit_ruling to "dismiss">> <</link>> <<link [[For your part, the very idea fills your heart with terror.|Choose Hobby]]>> <<set $spirit_ruling to "terror">> <</link>> <<link [[For your part, you hold some belief in its truth.|Choose Hobby]]>> <<set $spirit_ruling to "truth">> <</link>> <<link [[For your part, you hold steadfast belief in its authenticity.|Choose Hobby]]>> <<set $spirit_ruling to "believe">> <</link>>

<br><br> Only you and Ellis remain at the table now. /* _____ELLIS GOOD */ <<if $stat_che > .6>> Their nervous laughter, meant to diffuse the tension, hangs in the air, only serving to amplify it. Ellis winces under the weight of the ensuing silence <<if $v_joyful >= .55>> until, quite unexpectedly, a genuine, bewildering laugh escapes your lips—a sound as liberating as it is perplexing—bringing a faint smile to Ellis’s lips in return. <<else>> until it becomes unbearable and demands to be broken. <</if>> "Ellis," you murmur, letting your voice trail off, knowing they will catch its meaning without need for words. <br><br> <<if $last_option is "leave">> "That was rather bold of you," Ellis observes, a hint of awe threading through their voice. "I half-expected Father to disinherit you on the spot." Their words linger with a hesitant pause. You wait, breath held, as if anticipating some revelation. At length, Ellis continues, <<else>> The silence stretches, each of you waiting for the other to break it. Finally, Ellis speaks first, <</if>> their tone shadowed with unease as they say, "I had hoped that the tragedy of my marriage would be the last." <<if $v_joyful >= .55>> Whatever relief you had felt moments before vanishes, as you focus entirely on concealing your astonishment. <<else>> It takes all your composure to mask the shock that threatens to break through. <</if>> They have never spoken of it before. <br><br> "Oh, Ellis," you begin, but a slight shake of their head quiets you at once. "I had merely hoped otherwise," they say, their tone brooking no further commentary. You nod, gently allowing the subject to rest, yet holding in your heart the hope that, one day, they might entrust you with more. <<if $v_joyful >= .55 and ($b_ruling is "admire" or $b_ruling is "love")>> “It may yet turn out well,” you say, uncertain if the reassurance is for your sake or theirs. Ellis shifts uncomfortably but offers a faint nod, conceding, perhaps, to bring you some small comfort. <<else>> //Dearest Ellis,// you think, //ever so eager to push aside the unpleasant.// It has ever been their nature, though to witness it now pricks at your heart. <</if>> <br><br> "I daresay Francis waits beyond the door," they remark, gently steering the conversation from such troubled waters. "Yes, $p.they walked me to the door," you confess. Not for the first time, you wish Ellis had a guardian as attentive as Francis; perhaps they might then be less solitary. They were resolute in wishing not to be a burden to Francis, who did their utmost to convince them otherwise until, despite $p.their sincerest efforts, $p.they was constrained to honor Ellis's wishes. You’ve seldom known them to have a friend beyond yourself. <br><br> "You shall always have me, Ellis," you say in promis. In your heart, you hope that, in time, they might be moved to confide in you, to lay down the weight they bear alone. Until then, you remain available, ready to offer whatever solace may be within your power. Their genuine smile—a sight nearly lost since the marriage to Lady Danielle—softens their features, warming your spirit. With a rare glint of humor, Ellis nudges you gently. "Go on," they urge, "I daresay $p.they has kept an ear to the door all this while, hot poker in hand, awaiting the moment of need." You can picture the scene vividly. Though you would gladly linger in Ellis’s company, they are correct that Francis ought not to be left in undue suspense. <br><br> "Very well," you reply, "I shall take my leave presently. It would be remiss to leave $p.them fretting; you know how $p.they <<stews>> over such things." As you make your way toward the door, Ellis’s smile falters, giving way to a weary sigh. You hesitate, a step away from turning back, but the door opens at that instant, /* _____ELLIS BAD */ <<elseif $stat_che < .5>> You have no wish to linger and bear witness to their discomfort, for the sight of it only serves to deepen your own unease. Rising with deliberate grace, you murmur a polite excuse and step away from the table, for though the room is emptied of its most imposing presence, it remains stifling, the air heavy with the lingering echoes of tension. As you make your way toward the door, a faint, weary sigh reaches your ears. The sound is so soft, so nearly imperceptible, that it seems to cling to the stillness like a whispered confession meant for no one at all. You do not turn back; the thought of doing so feels beyond you, as though to acknowledge their pain would only serve to magnify your own misgivings. <br><br> And so, with steady steps and a heart burdened by the weight of unspoken sorrows, you slip quietly from the room, the opened door /* _____ELLIS NEUTRAL */ <<else>> The once-stifling presence of your father has departed, yet the weight of his authority lingers in the room like an unwelcome guest. Ellis fidgets uneasily, their meager confidence faltering now that you are alone together. They seem unsure of what to say or whether to say anything at all, their fingers nervously tracing the edge of their napkin as their gaze flits between you and the door. <br><br> "I am sorry," they eventually whisper, their voice barely audible above the stillness. The words, though simple, carry a weight that is not lost on you. You nod in understanding, a faint gesture of appreciation for the sentiment, however brief and inadequate it might seem. It is not Ellis’s fault, after all, that you find yourself bound by circumstances neither of you can control. <br><br> "Francis waits for me," you murmur, your thoughts already drifting elsewhere, unable to focus on anything other than the need to leave this oppressive space. They nod in farewell, granting you the solitude you crave without protest. As you rise and make your way toward the door, a faint, weary sigh escapes Ellis’s lips, though you do not turn back. The door opens before you reach it, <</if>> revealing Francis, hands clasped in anxious anticipation. $p.Their eyes search yours immediately, wide with worry and intent, $p.their stance both alert and uncertain. "$n, I heard all," $p.they <<says>>, $p.their voice hushed but steady, a blend of concern and determination that steadies you. <br><br> "I would rather find somewhere quiet," you reply thoughtfully, your tone carrying the weight of your resolve.

<<set $showhobby to true>> <<switch $hobby>> /* __________READING__________ */<<case "reading">> You yearn for the quiet solace woven within the pages of a well-loved tome. The estate’s truest refuge of serenity lies in the chamber overflowing with novels, encyclopedias, essays, rare editions, verses, journals, maps, and dissertations—every manner of written word gracing the shelves that rise to the very heights of the walls. Some volumes await your eager perusal; others bear the gentle scars of countless readings. Most importantly, this sanctuary remains untouched by others. Your father and Ellis have assembled their collections elsewhere, and your mother, indifferent to literary pursuits, has left this haven to your discretion alone. /* __________WRITING__________ */<<case "writing">> The familiar weight of the quill, that marvelous instrument, calls to you—a tool unmatched in its ability to corral the restless thoughts that stir within your mind. At your writing desk, nestled among ink blots and scattered notes hastily jotted down, you find both solace and purpose. Here, the world recedes, leaving only you and the quiet rhythm of ink meeting paper. Each stroke becomes a bridge between heart and hand, an outlet for the sentiments that cannot be voiced aloud. /* __________MUSIC__________ */<<case "music">> Your fingertips yearn for the spectral embrace of an unseen instrument, coaxing forth melodies privy to your ears alone. Music dwells in the very heart of your essence, its rhythmic cadence pulsing through your veins like a vital current. In your discerning ears, each composition is far more than a mere arrangement of notes; it becomes a profound declaration, articulating sentiments that lie beyond the reach of language itself. It speaks in a language that transcends all barriers, communing directly with the soul. /* __________SINGING__________ */<<case "singing">> Your voice longs to break free, harboring a melody that stirs deep within. As your lips part and the first tremors of sound take flight, you become enveloped in the pure release of expression. Each note, every rise and fall, and the subtle cadence of every word becomes a channel for your soul, carrying the weight of the lyric and the soul you weave into it. /* __________DRAWING__________ */<<case "drawing">> Your fingers ache for the reassuring embrace of a brush, that miraculous tool through which the world takes shape anew, refracted through your singular perspective. Your haven lies within the studio; dried oils and stacks of canvases bear witness to countless hours spent capturing fragments of your soul. The sharp scent of turpentine, the soft rustle of mixing colors, and the rhythmic motions of the brush offer a profound sense of purpose. /* __________NEEDLEWORK__________ */<<case "needlework">> Your fingers yearn for the steady rhythm of needle and thread, craving the delicate dance that transforms humble fibers into artistry. Your chambers overflow with gloves, handkerchiefs, bed linens, and cushions—all marked by your intricate designs, each piece a testament to your craft. This art of quiet contemplation allows each stitch to fall with purpose, forming intricate patterns and granting the unmatched satisfaction of creating beauty from the tangible. /* __________FENCING__________ */<<case "fencing">> The call of the blade stirs within you an exhilaration unmatched, the sharp, resonant ring of steel meeting steel awakening a spark in your chest. The hilt rests in your hand with the familiarity of an old companion, its weight a steadfast anchor, its balance a silent promise of mastery waiting to be claimed. In the salle d’armes, where polished floors gleam like mirrors, your focus sharpens to a razor’s edge. Time itself bends, stretching each moment into eternity, each movement a deliberate act, each strike a calculated declaration. Here, where precision weds dexterity, fencing transcends mere sport; it becomes a duel of minds, a wordless dialogue of parries and ripostes spoken fluently in the language of steel. /* __________GLAMOUR__________ */<<case "glamour">> Glamour, that bewitching craft, allows you to wield light, hue, and shape upon the very canvas of perception itself. With deft hands and practiced intuition, you conjure marvels that dazzle the senses and ensnare the mind. Each movement, each subtle shift, is a careful choreography, designed to speak directly to the soul of the observer—stirring emotion, awakening wonder, and sparking the embers of imagination. In your hands, the air itself becomes enchanted, as you weave scenes both wondrous and fleeting, like morning mist dissipating under a rising sun. /* __________ANIMALLINGUIS__________ */<<case "animal">> You crave reprieve from the ceaseless chatter of human voices, seeking solace in the honest communion shared with creatures of the natural world. The ability to listen to and understand the language of animals is a gift beyond measure; animals, unlike humans, remain unfailingly genuine, unshaped by artifice or duplicity. In truth, the boundaries dividing our worlds are delicate and ever-shifting, revealing an interconnected web that binds all living beings together. To honor this connection is both a privilege and a calling, nurturing a harmony that is all too often overlooked. /* __________SPIRIT__________ */<<case "spirits">> You yearn for the sanctuary of your hidden collection of books, a trove known only to Francis. The world beyond beckons with its treasury of arcane secrets, both perilous and alluring, tempting you to plunge into its forbidden depths. In moments of solitude, you find yourself envisioning the ancient tomes and brittle scrolls tucked away in the recesses of your chamber, adorned with annotations in myriad languages, both ancient and modern—tongues you have painstakingly mastered to decipher the concealed truths, or perhaps mere fables, scrawled upon their pages long ago. Each exploration enriches your insight and leaves your own impressions upon their margins, a legacy of thought mingling with the wisdom of ages. <</switch>> Indeed, that is what you shall do. <br><br> As you gather your thoughts, the scene around you unfolds with familiar faces. The newest member of the canine guard, Bulwark, patrols the inner perimeter with a dedicated air. Nearby, Whiskers, the seasoned feline, stretches luxuriously by the kitchen door, thoroughly absorbed in the pleasures of a sunny patch with a contentment earned through years. And just a few paces off, Francis stands as vigilant as ever, a reassuring figure, always prepared for conversation should you desire it. Though the gardens beckon with their tranquil beauty, it feels only fitting to share a moment with one of these cherished companions before retreating into solitude. <<include [[Hobby Chosen - Links]]>>

<<set $whiskers to true>> <<set _acceptedLoveValues to [ "love", "romance" ]>> <<if $last_passage is "francis">> You approach Whiskers after concluding your discussion with Francis, who gives a subtle nod as the cat lazily flops onto his side, feigning disinterest in your approach. <<else>> You approach Whiskers, who flops onto his side as though unimpressed by your presence. <</if>> Not quite ancient, yet past the age where mere mice suffice, Whiskers bears a slight rotundity—a testament to the extra bowls of cream each kitchen aide clandestinely slips him each day. His eyes drift shut as you bend to stroke the length of his soft, purring gray body. Patches of white adorn his muzzle, belly, and paws, marking the sacred regions forbidden to touch—as past reprimands can attest. Though content to rest in leisure, his ears and tail betray the vestiges of a keen hunter, subtly following the faintest sounds of creatures he would rather observe than chase. With a slow, deliberate roll onto his back, he dares you to reach for the softness of his exposed belly, all the while eyeing you with a discerning glint in his sea-green gaze. <br><br> "Have you caught any mice today?" you inquire, your fingers brushing gently over the crown of his head. <<if $pet is "mouse">> "I know it is your duty," you continue with a wry smile, your tone tinged with affection, "but I thank you kindly for sparing my dear little $pn." <</if>> <br><br> <<if $hobby is "Animallinguis">> "None yet," he replies, leisurely extending a sharp paw as though contemplating the effort. His expression shifts as though recalling something, and he rolls back onto his feet, curling his tail into an inquisitive question mark. "Your father upset you?" he inquires with characteristic bluntness. Whiskers, though ever observant, seldom voices such insights, preferring to offer quiet understanding through his steadfast companionship. Yet this morning seems set apart from others. <<if hasVisited("Meet Bulwark")>> Your father's agitated march across the garden must have made quite an impression, prompting even Whiskers to break his usual silence. <<else>> He must have witnessed your father's march <<if $leftbreakfast>> from the garden <<else>> toward the garden <</if>> block, a modest yet steadfast edifice of red brick. Its two stories carry an air of unassuming authority. Within those solid walls lies the grand chamber, where your father holds his most critical gatherings, and his private office, the very heart of estate affairs. Storerooms guard ornamental treasures awaiting their destined place within the splendor of the main house, while attic quarters shelter members of the staff not directly engaged in the day-to-day life of the household below and across. <</if>> <br><br> <<if _acceptedLoveValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope)>> "It does concern him," you murmur with a sigh, though your disquiet reaches well beyond the mere topic at hand to his very manner and bearing. <<else>> "It does concern him," you murmur with a sigh. <</if>> Whiskers nods in agreement, as though measuring your answer against his own understanding. With gentle insistence, he nudges his head against your hand, a small yet profound gesture of consolation. <br><br> Before you can dwell further, <<else>> Whiskers flexes a sharp paw in leisurely acknowledgment before rolling to his feet, his tail curling with quiet inquiry. Ever the perceptive companion, he has surely sensed your unease, now poised to offer sympathy in the unspoken way that only an animal can—without judgment or expectation. You find unexpected solace in his gesture, grateful for his understanding presence, one that requires no explanation. You delight in his purrs until <</if>> the kitchen door swings open, and Mr. Cooke—his name as fitting as his profession—appears, his expression one of mild exasperation. He pauses, catching sight of you, and offers a humble apology for Whiskers’ wandering ways. With an impatient wave, he beckons the cat back inside, muttering, “the lazy thing!” as he shoos him indoors, ending your visit sooner than you would wish. Whiskers, unperturbed, sends one last glance of concern your way before placating Mr. Cooke with a long, affectionate bunt to the calves as he slips past. As the door closes behind him, you are left with a faint sense of emptiness, keenly bereft of Whiskers's comforting presence. <<set $last_passage to "whiskers">> <<include [[Hobby Chosen - Links]] >>

<<set $bulwark to true>> <<if $last_passage is "francis">> You approach Bulwark, <<else>> You approach Bulwark after concluding your conversation with Francis, <</if>> his ears pricking at the sound of your footsteps. With a keen yet somewhat clumsy enthusiasm, the young Mastiff bounds toward you, his oversized paws thudding against the ground. As per the traditions of the estate, he remains formally nameless—a sentinel without a title—yet in private, you have dubbed him “Bulwark.” His aspirations to guard the estate far exceed his current skill, though his loyalty remains unshakable. In truth, he should not have abandoned his post, for disrupting him was not your intent. You had meant to approach him quietly, but as the other dogs lie far beyond your line of sight, you decide there is little harm in this wayward greeting, so long as it remains brief. <br><br> Under your gentle hand, Bulwark fairly glows, his dark eyes alight with a joy that shatters all attempts at restraint. His sturdy frame quivers as he struggles to sit, his eagerness overwhelming any effort at composure. "Ah, Bulwark," you murmur affectionately, scratching behind his long, folded ears. "What might the others say, should they find you here, forsaking your post?" His eyes crinkle within the deep folds of his face, his tongue lolling in contentment as he presses into your hand. Though he has begun to grow into the imposing presence of his kin, there lingers a coltish softness to his form, a hint of youthful clumsiness as he savors this rare moment of unguarded affection. <br><br> <<if $hobby is "Animallinguis">> "Vile person," he murmurs. Your hand halts, lingering mid-motion as the words settle. Spoken with such ease, they seem almost an afterthought, yet a curious weight lies beneath them. Bulwark’s instincts, still unrefined, waver between idle curiosity and true discernment. "A vile person?" you ask, coaxing more clarity. "Yes, vile soul. Small house," he confirms, pulling his tongue back and casting a meaningful glance towards the garden block, his tail giving a pointed wag. <<else>> He tucks his tongue behind his teeth as if bringing some distant memory to mind, releasing a low, rumbling growl, though his tail maintains its steady rhythm. Your hand stills as you follow his gaze, fixed upon the garden block beyond the carefully tended grounds. <</if>> <br><br> <<if not hasVisited("Meet Whiskers")>> The garden block rises as a modest yet steadfast edifice of red brick, its two stories carrying an air of unassuming authority. Within those solid walls lies the grand chamber, where your father holds his most critical gatherings, and his private office, the heart of estate affairs. Storerooms guard ornamental treasures awaiting their destined place within the splendor of the main house, while attic quarters shelter staff members not directly engaged in the household below. <br><br> <</if>> You surmise that he seeks to caution you regarding your father. The image of James $ln striding through the garden, bearing the unmistakable weight of wrath, must indeed have unsettled poor Bulwark. <br><br> Your gratitude for his belated warning is sincere, though the notion that he should view the master of the estate—a figure to whom he owes his loyalty—as a cause for alarm unsettles you deeply. You respond to his earnest pride with a quiet acknowledgment, tempered by the weight of reality. While you appreciate his attempts to aid you in his own canine fashion, it is clear he ought to return to his station in the courtyard, resuming his role as a proper guard. For the other dogs, seasoned and disciplined, may not share the same leniency with a young companion who abandons his post. <br><br> "Oh, Bulwark, what am I to do with you?" you murmur, ruffling his soft, velvety ears. <<if $hobby is "Animallinguis">> <br><br> "Pets," he replies, pressing his head into your hands as though the answer were as plain as day. <<else>> He nudges his head into your hands, unmistakably desiring further indulgence. <</if>> Yet even as he revels in the moment, the cavalry of seasoned mastiffs comes into view, each flicking an ear in his direction—a silent censure. <br><br> "Much as I am fond of your company, you must return to your post," you gently chide, giving him one last affectionate scratch. His expression, if it could be called such, surely reflects his reluctance, yet even he cannot resist that ancient instinct—ingrained over countless generations—to protect his grounds. At last, Bulwark heeds your words, trotting off to resume his vigil along the perimeter as though he had never abandoned it, while the elder hounds exchange knowing glances at his departure. <br><br> <<if $hobby is "Animallinguis">> You attempt a few conciliatory words, taking on the responsibility yourself in the hope of preserving Bulwark’s good standing, but the other dogs remain intent upon their structured duty, conversing solely through commands relayed by the estate's Animallinguist Guard Liaison, who submits accounts to the head of security and, ultimately, your father. <<else>> If only you possessed the skill to offer apologies to the other dogs, perhaps shouldering the responsibility on Bulwark's behalf; yet such arts elude you. Their communication remains bound to commands issued by—and reports relayed to—the estate’s Animallinguist Guard Liaison, who submits accounts to the head of security, and, in turn, your father. <</if>> Their evident annoyance speaks volumes; they harbor doubts about Bulwark's future in his current role. <<if $v_worldwise >= .55 or $v_melancholic >= .6 or $stat_s >= .1>> With quiet resignation, you cannot deny the truth of their judgment. As the moment of Bulwark’s dismissal draws nearer, <<else>> The very notion troubles you deeply, and should Bulwark's dismissal become necessary, <</if>> you resolve to ensure he remains well cared for, his companionship retained, and his loyalty honored, far removed from the rigors of duty. <<set $last_passage to "bulwark">> <<include [[Hobby Chosen - Links]] >>

You proceed towards the heart of the garden <<if $last_passage is "francis">> after concluding your discourse with Francis, who watches from a courteous distance, offering silent encouragement. <<else>> while Francis maintains a respectful distance. <</if>> The garden unfurls before you in stately array, with each side adorned by nature’s finest—peonies, lavender, honeysuckle, and a host of others, each bloom a rare jewel resting upon verdant beds. Their rich perfumes rise, mingling into a single, heady fragrance borne on the gentle morning air. Bees, industrious and undeterred, hum a rhythm known only to them, weaving from bloom to bloom with tireless devotion. Overhead, the branches sway with a rustling grace as the breeze stirs, carrying with it faint birdsong from city-dwelling finches and thrushes. <br><br> Within this secluded bower—a rare, private garden enclosed by the manor's accompanying buildings—resides a memory, one of many cherished recollections from days long past. It was at this very month, you and your dearest friend, $t, once plucked berries, ripe and syrup-laden, from the bushes that flourished near the kitchen. Together, you savored the sweetness of the season, heedless of Francis's exasperated chidings. The vision of $t’s lips, stained deep berry-red with laughter, lingers vividly, dimples etched like delicate carvings upon cheeks flushed with mirth—a moment sealed in the amber of memory, untouched by the ravages of time. <br><br> Absentmindedly, your fingers graze the petals of a rose, marveling at their velvet softness even as you remain keenly aware of the treacherous thorns concealed beneath. The garden around you stretches forth, a tableau of nature’s most exquisite offerings; yet, for all its beauty, it fails to command your attention entirely. Your thoughts turn inward, drawn irresistibly toward the shadow of $t, whose presence <<if $b_reaction is "spoken">> is so deeply entwined with your soul that even in $ro.their absence, $ro.they remains a palpable echo, haunting the chambers of your heart and <<else>> lingers faintly in this place, a whisper on the air, haunting the <</if>> garden like an unbidden guest. $t, who was once your closest and dearest companion, now little more than a spectral presence within the confines of the London estate grounds. As Francis's only child and now the gardener at your father’s city household, $ro.they carries $ro.their duties with an air of discreet competence, yet always from a distance that speaks to a greater chasm. $ro.Their gaze, so resolute in its avoidance, holds a deliberate precision that wounds by its very intent; $ro.their silence, steadfast and unyielding, hangs between you like an impenetrable curtain, weighted with an unbearable sense of loss and <<if $b_reaction is "spoken">> <<set $tpast_feelings to "always">> betrayal. <<else>> betrayal. <<cycle "$tpast_feelings">> <<option "$ro.They was your one true friend, a bond unlike any other." friend>> <<option "Your once-budding feelings for $ro.them never stood a chance to blossom." budding>> <<option "$romSym\u0000Your heart beat for $ro.them then, and it beats for $ro.them still." always>> <</cycle>> <</if>> <br><br> Yet this estrangement was no slow and sorrowful divergence, no natural drifting apart over time, but the violent rending of a bond once thought inviolable. It is this suddenness, this single, devastating moment that haunts you most. Without warning or explanation, $ro.they withdrew completely, ceasing to be the $t you had known and cherished. $ro.They began to avoid your presence, to disregard your calls, to flee from you with an urgency that cut to the quick, as though your very existence had become intolerable. The wounds left by that inexplicable fracture remain unhealed, their cause a mystery, their resolution <<cycle "$tpast_resolution">> <<option "an ever-distant hope." hope>> <<option "an object of uncertainty." uncertain>> <<option "impossible to claim." impossible>> <</cycle>> <br><br> The memory of that day looms in your mind, vivid <<cycle "$tpast_memory">> <<option "as though you could live through it eternally," vivid>> <<option "though you have sought to rid yourself of it," rid>> <</cycle>> yet no clarity ever emerges in accompaniment to its recollection. Not even Francis, who otherwise spares no detail, ventures to broach the subject. The lines of weariness etched upon $p.their face appear to deepen whenever your inquiries stray too close, and the tremor in $p.their voice reveals a reluctance to speak of that which weighs upon you both. Long ago, you ceased asking, resigning yourself to an unceasing chasm of unanswered, unspoken, untouched questions that, like dust, have quietly accumulated in the years since. <br><br> Time, with its cumulative gifts of wisdom, has offered no clarity, <<if $b_reaction is "spoken">> <<set $tpast_feeling to "still">> nor has it <<else>> <<cycle "$tpast_feeling">> <<option "nor has it" still>> <<option "though it has" softened>> <</cycle>> <</if>> softened the edges of this loss. Whatever truth lies buried in that moment remains sealed, its lock set, leaving you to ponder, perhaps indefinitely, <<cycle "$tpast_answers">> <<option "searching for meaning in the abyss of silence," want>> <<option "though you seek to tamper with it no longer," ignore>> <<option "though you've mindfully rid yourself of its greater burden," forget>> <</cycle>> while the ghost of $t lingers ever on the periphery—neither fully present nor wholly gone. <hr> <<link [[(Proceed)|First See T]]>> <<if $b_reaction isnot "spoken" and $tpast_feelings is "always">> <<set $tPine += 1>> <</if>> <</link>>

You round the bend, and as if summoned by the very force of your recollections, $t stands there amidst the shrubs, smiling as $ro.they once did in days long past. $ro.Their eyes meet yours, and $ro.they smiles! In that moment, your gaze flickers behind you, searching for Francis—yet $p.they are nowhere to be found. The garden seems to hold its breath, and you wonder if it is merely a trick of the mind, the work of fatigue and nostalgia conspiring to deceive you. But no—surely it is $t who steps forward, each measured footfall silencing the world around you. <br><br> Only when $t stands so near that the sunlight catches the honeyed strands of $ro.their hair, casting a glow upon the golden warmth of $ro.their sun-kissed complexion, do you begin to trust the evidence of your senses. Radiant yet wrenching, $ro.their smile carries an ageless quality that tugs at the heart; $ro.their eyes, an entrancing blend of green and gold, glisten with tears left unshed, their depths brimming with words unspoken and emotions long restrained. At last, when $ro.they speaks, $ro.their voice reaches you, tender and ephemeral, like a whisper carried by the gentlest of breezes, bearing the weight of the single word $ro.they has borne in silence for all these years. <br><br> "$n." <hr> [[(Proceed)|Chapter Two]]

/* __________Test Area________________________________________ */ /* __________Set UI________________________________________ */ /* <<set UIBar to UIBar.stow(true);>>*/ <<set $showname to false>> <<set $showhair to false>> <<set $showhairstyle to false>> <<set $showeyes to false>> <<set $showadornments to false>> <<set $showclothing to false>> <<set $showhobby to false>> <<set $clothing to "Nightclothes">> <<set $inventory to []>> <<set $showrp to false>> <<set $showcourt to false>> <<set $showcourt to false>> <<set $showcourt_t to false>> <<set $showcourt_e to false>> <<set $showcourt_f to false>> <<set $showcourt_r to false>> <<set $showcourt_b to false>> <<set $showcourt_u to false>> <<set $show_j_rel to false>> <<set $show_e_rel to false>> /* __________Set MC Stats________________________________________ */ <<set $stat_rp to .5>> <<set $stat_nw to .5>> <<set $stat_ma to .5>> <<set $stat_mj to .5>> <<set $stat_s to 0>> <<set $statmax to .95>> <<set $statmin to .05>> /* __________Set MC Stat Meters */ <<newmeter "Romantic/Pragmatic" 0.5>> <</newmeter>> <<newmeter "Naïve/World-Wise" 0.5>> <</newmeter>> <<newmeter "Meek/Assertive" 0.5>> <</newmeter>> <<newmeter "Melancholic/Joyful" 0.5>> <</newmeter>> <<newmeter "Sensitivity" 0>> <<colors #9d7777 #677E99 #a19285>> <</newmeter>> /* __________Set Character Names */ <<set $all_firstNames to [ "James", "Grace", "Ellis", "Danielle", "Francis", "Tamsin", "Thomas", "Edith", "Edward", "Henrietta", "Henry", "Lucia", "Laurence" ]>> <<set $all_lastNames to [ "Gainsborough", "Baker", "Egerton" ]>> /* __________Set Relations Stats________________________________________ */ <<set $stat_chj to .3>> <<set $stat_che to .5>> /* __________Set Relations Meters */ <<newmeter "James" 0.5>> <<colors #9d7777 #677E99 #a19285>> <</newmeter>> <<newmeter "Ellis" 0.5>> <<colors #9d7777 #677E99 #a19285>> <</newmeter>> /* __________Set Character Relationship Text________________________________________ */ <<set $t_rel to " ">> <<set $e_rel to " ">> <<set $f_rel to " ">> <<set $r_rel to " ">> <<set $b_rel to " ">> <<set $u_rel to " ">> <<set $chj_rel to " ">> <<set $che_rel to " ">> /* __________Set Mods__________ */ <<set $mod_rp to 0>> <<set $mod_nw to 0>> <<set $mod_ma to 0>> <<set $mod_mj to 0>> <<set $mod_s to 0>> <<set $mod_tActions to " ">> <<set $mod_eActions to " ">> <<set $mod_fActions to " ">> <<set $mod_rActions to " ">> <<set $mod_bActions to " ">> <<set $mod_uActions to " ">> <<set $mod_tThoughts to " ">> <<set $mod_eThoughts to " ">> <<set $mod_fThoughts to " ">> <<set $mod_rThoughts to " ">> <<set $mod_bThoughts to " ">> <<set $mod_uThoughts to " ">> <<set $mod_chj to 0>> <<set $mod_che to 0>> /* __________Story Variables________________________________________ */ /* __________Global */ <<set $francisjoin to false>> /* __________Chp 1 */ <<set $uncovered_b to false>> <<set $leftbreakfast to false>> <<set $bulwark to false>> <<set $whiskers to false>> /* __________Chp 2 */

<div class="centered"> <<if $all_firstNames.includes($n)>> <h1>Another individual in your orbit bears the given name $n.</h1> Do you bear the same one? <br> <<else>> <h1>You have the first name of:</h1> <</if>> <<textbox "$n" $n>> <br><br> <<if $all_lastNames.includes($ln)>> <h1>Another individual in your orbit bears the last name $ln.</h1> Do you bear the same one? <br> <<else>> <h1>You have the last name of:</h1> <</if>> <<textbox "$ln" $ln>> </div> <hr> [[✑ I accept this as my name|Set Pronouns]]

The house remains silent, interrupted only by the cadence of your steps and the strirrings of your mind. Theories dance within the corridors of your thoughts, intricate and elusive, their threads winding inexorably toward the altar of riches—a place where all paths of reason seem to converge, no matter how fervently you resist their pull. /* ______________________________WORLDWISE__________ */ <<if $v_worldwise > .55>> <<set $uncovered_b to true>> Each thought tugs insistently at another, drawing you deeper into a tangled web of conjecture that grows tighter with every passing moment, for amid this labyrinth of possibility, doubt lingers—a shadow at the edge of a flickering flame. Suspicions dart across your consciousness, /* __________JOYFUL */ <<if $v_joyful >= .55>> swiftly dismissed with a determined shake of the head. Surely, it cannot be the case. Francis catches your eye in a silent inquiry, but discerning your resolve, $p.they graciously <<relinquishes>> the unspoken question, allowing it to dissolve into the ether. /* __________MELANCHOLIC */ <<elseif $v_melancholic >= .55>> fleeting yet insistent, each one pricking your conscience with its cruel plausibility. Your steps falter, your heart wavering beneath the weight of what might be true. Surely, he would—he has before. <br><br> Francis catches your elbow, $p.their firm grasp halting your unsteady momentum. The motion steadies you, but it cannot quell the tempest raging within your chest. "Might he? Do you think he would?" you ask, the words trembling as they slip from your lips, burdened with the fear of what the answer might reveal. $p.Their eyes widen, a flicker of understanding flashing through them like the strike of a match. "Mercy!" $p.they <<exclaims>>, $p.their voice carrying both shock and resignation. "I had hoped he would never stoop to such a thing, but we cannot yet be certain." <br><br> $p.They <<prods>> you forward, $p.their hand pressing lightly yet insistently at your arm, urging you onward. "Come," $p.they <<says>>, $p.their tone brisk, leaving no room for the thought to linger. "There is no sense in dwelling on what we do not yet know." Your feet move again, though your steps are unsteady, your mind lingering on the unspoken horrors that hover at the edges of possibility. /* __________NEUTRAL */ <<else>> their whispers impossible to ignore. You falter, your foot catching upon the polished floor, the sound unnervingly loud in the stillness, as though laying bare the tremor of your heart. For a moment, the thought seizes you, sharp and undeniable, and your lips part just enough to let escape a single word: //No.// The whisper is faint, scarcely audible even to your own ears, yet it seems to reverberate through the fragile calm, like the ripple that breaks the surface of a still and silent pool. <br><br> You dispel the thought as best you can, though your heart falters in protest, its rhythm uneven, betraying the unease you had hoped to suppress. Francis, keen of ear, lays a hand upon your arm, halting your motion with a touch both gentle and firm. $p.Their presence, steady and grounding, draws you momentarily back from the precipice of your spiraling uncertainty. $p.Their eyes meet yours, the concern within them unmistakable, even in the dim light. <br><br> "$n?" $p.they <<inquires>>, $p.their voice low yet deliberate, threading through the silence with a care that brooks no pretense. It is not an accusation, but neither is it idle curiosity; the weight of the question lingers in the still air between you, pressing lightly but insistently upon your resolve. <br><br> "It is nothing," you reply too quickly, your words hurried as though to forestall further inquiry. The falsehood feels thin and brittle as it leaves your lips, a meager defense against the scrutiny narrowing $p.their gaze. Francis does not press further, though $p.their silence speaks volumes. $p.They <<releases>> your arm with a look that seems to convey both patience and expectation, then incline $p.their head, bidding you to move on. Obliging, you step forward once more, your movements resuming with mechanical precision, though the rhythm of your thoughts remains discordant. <</if>> <br><br> The echoes of your travel fade as you reach the breakfast room door all too soon, and standing <<else>> The echoes of your travel fade as you reach the breakfast room door, without having come to any conclusion. Standing <</if>> before it now, you find yourself truly beholding it for the first time. The rich mahogany panels, adorned with intricate carvings, seem to possess a knowing air, as if privy to some hidden truth. Each mark left by the chisel appears to hold a secret, exuding an almost smug superiority. The wood is immaculate—the surface gleaming with fresh oil, devoid of any trace of dust in the tortuous crevices. It is an odd fascination, to be captivated by an entrance, but in this moment, you find yourself drawn to its intricacies as never before. <br><br> A liveried man stands before it, his countenance reflecting the weariness of the few others you have encountered along the way. His hand rests upon the handle, the other held neatly behind his back, though his posture betrays a quiet resignation. Despite the fatigue etched upon his features, there lingers a trace of compassion in his eyes, for he, too, bears the burdens of those who dwell within. <br><br> You <<cycle "$mod_mj">> <<option "draw a deep breath," 0>> <<option "mask your distress," .025>> <<option "cling to a fragile sense of optimism," -.025>> <</cycle>> and, at your side, Francis steps forward. "I'll be right outside should you need me," $p.they <<says>>, positioning $p.themself opposite the attendant, offering a forthright assurance that $p.they shall be there for you. The man before you opens the door, leaving you no choice but to proceed inside. With a final look at Francis, you cross the threshold into whatever fate awaits you beyond. <hr> [[(Proceed)|Meet Your Father]]

<<set $last_passage to "francis">> <<set _acceptedAcceptanceValues to [ "accept", "leave", "admire", "love" ]>> <<set _acceptedLoveValues to [ "love", "romance" ]>> <<set _acceptedOutValues to [ "refuse", "suspicious", "out", "spoken" ]>> <<set _acceptedGainValues to [ "advantage", "gain" ]>> You approach Francis, eager to converse. $p.Their countenance is as stormy as a brewing tempest on the horizon, $p.their cheeks flushed with the heat of smoldering embers, betraying a simmering anger barely contained. <br><br> <<if _acceptedOutValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope)>> "Please, Francis, what has occurred?" you query. "Reassure me that I am mistaken, if you would." <<elseif _acceptedLoveValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope)>> "Tell me, Francis, what has happened? Might it be that I am merely dreaming?" <<else>> "Pray, tell me what has transpired, Francis," you inquire, though the answer seems evident. <</if>> The expression on Francis's face is one of weariness as $p.they <<begins>> with a sigh. <br><br> "It seems your father has made another regrettable decision," $p.they <<says>>, "though I suspect there is more to it than he allows—secrets he has yet to divulge." $p.Their words linger in the air, casting a veil of unease over your thoughts. <div class="appendedText"> </div> <br> /* __________WHO ARE THEY__________ */ <span id="whoAreTheyLink"> <<link '"What do you know of this $ro.mx Egerton?"'>> <<if _whoAreTheyClicked !== true>> <<set _whoAreTheyClicked to true>> <<append '.appendedText'>> <div class="fade-in-text"> <br> <<set _naiveText to '“Are you certain, Francis?” you falter, the weight of these revelations pressing upon you. “This all sounds most severe. Is it possible—might there be some exaggeration to it?” Francis observes you thoughtfully.'>> <<set _naiveText2 to '“I understand your doubt, but I assure you, $ro.their reputation is hardly overstated,” $p.they responds, noting your crestfallen look. With a gentler tone, $p.they continues, “Even if there is some embellishment, a reputation of this nature seldom arises without cause.”'>> "What do you know of this Mr. Egerton?" you inquire. At your words, Francis’s expression darkens, a cloud settling upon $p.their features. <br><br> “Indeed,” $p.they <<replies>> gravely, “I am acquainted with the name.” <<if $knew_e is "knew">> <br><br> “I am aware of $ro.them,” you acknowledge, “but I would prefer to hear your thoughts, Francis. Your insights are invaluable to me.” <br><br> <<else>> <<set $knew_e to "francis">> <</if>> Francis hesitates, visibly torn between reluctance and necessity, but at length $p.they acquiesces, leaning closer as though to impart confidences better left alone. “It is essential that you comprehend the weight of the matter,” $p.they <<concedes>>, “though I would that I might shield you from so harsh a truth. I shall not temper it, much as my heart inclines me otherwise.” $p.Their pause is deliberate, $p.their gaze steady, as $p.they <<continues>>, shaping each word with meticulous care. "$ro.mx Egerton is, in some respects, the very devil in disguise," $p.they <<scowls>>, "wielding an influence over this city that defies all challenge. $ro.They is cunning and without scruple, adept at finding the faintest chink in one’s armor and exploiting it without mercy. Few can withstand $ro.their mastery of manipulation, or so it is said." Here, $p.they <<pauses>>, as though to steady $p.their thoughts. "There are many who have come to rue the day of that fateful acquaintance, bound inextricably to $ro.their schemes. $ro.mx Egerton’s name is synonymous with ruthless ambition, $ro.their methods so unrelenting as to leave even the most unscrupulous wary. <<if $v_meek >= .6>> If you find yourself resigned to this union, I urge you to consider it with the utmost caution. Brace yourself for a life ensnared in manipulation and deceit, for it seems $ro.they revels in dominion and will employ every means to maintain it. Contemplate well the consequences of binding your fate to one who holds their own designs above all else." <<else>> If you should choose to oppose $ro.them, know this: you must prepare for a formidable engagement, for $ro.they commands influence in the loftiest spheres of society and wields even greater power in those elusive circles seldom spoken of. To underestimate $ro.them would be folly of the highest order. Rest assured, however, I would count it my honor to stand by you in such a challenge." <</if>> Having imparted $p.their message, $p.they <<awaits>> your response, $p.their expression solemn, $p.their gaze fixed steadily upon you. <br><br> <<if _acceptedOutValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope) and ($v_melancholic >= .6 or $v_meek >= .65)>> As Francis's words sink in, an involuntary shiver courses through you, and a deep uncertainty settles over your heart. Resolute though you were to escape the marriage, faced with this bleak reality, doubts now creep into the corners of your resolve. It feels as though shadows held at bay have been brought sharply into view, revealing the true peril that awaits. “Your candor is a boon, Francis,” you reply with solemnity. “Though I may not have chosen this path, rest assured, I am no willing victim for $ro.their schemes.” <<elseif _acceptedOutValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope) and $v_assertive >= .6>> In light of Francis’s warnings, your resolve only hardens. Though the specter of $ro.mx Egerton’s influence looms large, you will not yield to fear or intimidation. “Your counsel is invaluable, Francis,” you declare, your voice steady with conviction. “If anything, your words have only strengthened my determination to resist $ro.them. I shall not be ensnared in $ro.their web of manipulation.” Francis regards you with a blend of worry and admiration, $p.their brow furrowed yet $p.their gaze unwavering. <br><br> “I trust you grasp the full gravity of this course,” $p.they <<says>> in a voice gentle yet firm, $p.their tone tinged with caution. “But know this: I shall stand with you, whatever may come.” The sincerity in $p.their tone stirs something within you, a gratitude so profound that it nearly overwhelms. <br><br> “Your loyalty is a comfort beyond words, Francis,” you reply in earnest, allowing the warmth to reach your voice. <<elseif _acceptedLoveValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope)>> Francis's words resonate deeply, and as they settle, <<if $v_naive >= .65 and $v_joyful > .55>> you are loath to believe it could truly be as dire as $p.they <<claims>>. <<else>> your heart grows heavy with disappointment. Hope had bloomed within you for a future rich in affection, not marred by manipulation and deceit. <</if>> <<if $v_naive >= .65>> _naiveText <br><br> _naiveText2 <<if $v_melancholy > .5>> The image you had woven in your mind begins to unravel, leaving bare the troubling threads that Francis has laid before you. Each word lingers, chipping away at the delicate vision of warmth and trust you had once dared to believe possible. A quiet ache settles within, an unwelcome guest now accompanying the thought of this union, casting a long shadow over the future you had only begun to imagine. <<elseif $v_joyful > .55> You cling to the thought that perhaps this stranger, your betrothed, holds more in their heart than rumors reveal. Perhaps there are hidden depths yet untouched by the world’s judgment, a softer part that might open itself to affection if given the chance. This hope, however slender, lights within you like a single candle in a dim room, enough to illuminate the possibility of something tender amidst the uncertainty. <<else>> While the image of your betrothed grows more complex, you resolve to withhold judgment until you’ve had the chance to see them with your own eyes. The path before you is uncertain, yet you feel prepared to tread carefully, taking note of both cautionary tales and the potential for something yet unseen. <</if>> <<else>> You draw in a steadying breath, seeking comfort amidst this disillusionment. “Thank you, Francis, for your candor,” is all you can manage, though your tone betrays the depth of your dismay. <</if>> <<elseif $v_naive >= .65>> _naiveText <br><br> _naiveText2 <br><br> You incline your head, allowing $p.their words to settle within you. “I am grateful for your frankness, Francis,” you murmur at last, though the weight of uncertainty still lingers. <<else>> You nod gravely, appreciating Francis's candor. “Your warning is well received, Francis. It is valuable counsel, and I shall heed it with the utmost care.” <<if $knew_e is "knew">> You had anticipated the need for caution, yet hearing the tremor in Francis's voice renders you all the more acutely aware of the perils that lie ahead. <<else>> The union now looms before you with unforeseen complexities—ones you can neither dismiss nor fully anticipate. <</if>> <</if>> </div> <</append>> <<replace "#whoAreTheyLink">> <span class="inactive-link">"What do you know of this $ro.mx Egerton?"</span> <</replace>> <</if>> <</link>> </span> /* __________WHAT TO DO__________ */ <span id="whatToDoLink"> <<link '"What am I to do now?"'>> <<if _whatToDoClicked !== true>> <<set _whatToDoClicked to true>> <<append '.appendedText'>> <div class="fade-in-text"> <br> "What am I to do now?" you inquire. Francis meets your gaze with steady resolve, $p.their voice both firm and tempered. <br><br> "What you must do, my dear, is cleave to your hope. We shall proceed with caution, weighing each step with the utmost care. There may yet be a way to turn these circumstances to your advantage, though it shall demand both patience and craft. We must not act in haste," $p.they cautions. "Take heart, lamb; all is not yet lost. I pledge to seek whatever course might best protect your interests." <br><br> <<if _acceptedOutValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope)>> <<if $v_assertive >= .55>> $p.Their words kindle a fire within, stirring a faint yet resolute hope. In $p.them, you perceive both strategist and steadfast compass, guiding you through the tumult toward a possible victory. Together, you may yet devise a scheme to shift the tide in your favor. <<else>> You consider $p.their words, yet an uneasy weight presses upon your mind—the urgency of mere weeks, a month at most—underscoring the gravity of inaction. Nonetheless, $p.their steady reassurance sparks a faint hope, reminding you that there remains a chance, however slender, to turn the tide. <</if>> <<elseif _acceptedGainValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope)>> You nod slowly, absorbing the weight of $p.their counsel, and feel the faint stirrings of a resolve not wholly extinguished. "Yes," you reply after a moment’s thought, your voice quiet but gaining strength with each syllable. "I should like to know what my options are for turning this in my favor." <<if $v_meek >= .6>> The declaration feels strange upon your lips, as though spoken by another, yet its truth resonates within you. <</if>> <br><br> "It is no mere trifle we seek, yet we shall endeavor to find a way," Francis declares with steadfast resolve. "By heaven, I shall not rest until we do." You find your thoughts drifting, untethered, to the possibilities such a match might offer, your imagination, perhaps, betraying a certain recklessness in its flight. <<elseif $b_hope isnot "out" and ($b_ruling is "accept" or $b_ruling is "love")>> You listen attentively before interjecting, "My query pertains to the arrangements for the impending nuptials." <br><br> “Oh,” $p.they <<frowns>>, a weariness settling over $p.their eyes. “Heavens above—yes, of course, lamb. I daresay the household staff will see to most of it, whether here or at $ro.mx Egerton’s estate. That was, after all, how Ellis’s wedding was arranged,” $p.they <<recounts>> with a faint sigh. “But let us not rush; there is still ample time,” $p.they <<adds>> gently, though their tone carries a faint note of apprehension. You nod, sensing their unease, as $p.they <<sighs>> again, their concern etching deeper lines upon $p.their features. “It troubles me deeply, knowing you are at the mercy of two such unyielding wills. Yet you must believe, $n, that I shall do all within my power to safeguard your happiness and well-being. Only promise me this: that you will take the time to consider fully the burdens and difficulties that may follow such a swift commitment.” <br><br> At length, you nod, meeting $p.their gaze with a measured determination that belies the uncertainty still swirling in your heart. “I understand, Francis, and I cannot cherish you more for your guidance,” you reply, the sincerity in your tone softening the heaviness that lingers between you. $p.They <<assumes>> a reluctant smile, $p.their features warmed by your gratitude, though a shadow of concern remains. For a fleeting moment, the weight of the future seems lighter, as though shared rather than borne alone. <<else>> "I find myself in a quandary, Francis," you confess, your voice tinged with hesitation. "All of this feels so overwhelming, and I have yet to discern my true sentiments. I <<if $b_hope is "romance">> yearn for an affectionate connection, yet <<elseif $b_hope is "desire">> ache for the stirrings of true attraction, yet <<elseif $b_hope is "friendship">> long for companionship, yet <<elseif $b_hope is "kindness">> seek a means of escape, for <<else>> yearn for clarity, for <</if>> I <<if $b_fear is "loveless">> harbor reservations as to whether a marriage founded upon genuine love is possible." <<elseif $b_fear is "attraction">> fear there may be no natural affinity between us." <<elseif $b_fear is "rapport">> dread that no friendship will bloom between us." <<elseif $b_fear is "uncaring">> am loath to encounter cruelty in $ro.them." <<else>> my thoughts are clouded and my mind much perplexed." <</if>> <br><br> "I understand, my dear," $p.they <<says>>, exuding a warmth that soothes and steadies. "Hope and fear oft hold hand in hand." <br><br> <<if $v_melancholic >= .6>> "But what, then, is the purpose of it all, Francis?" you ask, your voice trembling with quiet despair. "Perhaps it is best that I resign myself to my fate." Francis regards you with a steady, knowing gaze, $p.their expression a blend of compassion and resolve. <br><br> "I understand your disillusionment, my dear," $p.they replies softly, "but resignation is not the answer. We must summon fortitude to proceed, even when the path before us is obscured by uncertainty." <<else>> "But how am I to discern what is truly right?" you ask, your voice weighted with uncertainty. <br><br> "Certainty is a rare gift," Francis responds, a faint edge of bitterness coloring $p.their tone. "Yet remember this: what is right for you will seldom align with what is expected of you." <</if>> A solemn nod is all you can offer in response, the weight of your thoughts pressing heavily upon you. <</if>> </div> <</append>> <<replace "#whatToDoLink">> <span class="inactive-link">"What am I to do now?"</span> <</replace>> <</if>> <</link>> </span> /* __________WHY EARLY__________ */ <span id="whyEarlyLink"> <<link '"Why, pray, do you suppose my father found it necessary to rouse me at such an hour?"'>> <<if _whyEarlyClicked !== true>> <<set _whyEarlyClicked to true>> <<append '.appendedText'>> <div class="fade-in-text"> <br> "Why, pray, do you suppose my father found it necessary to rouse me at such an hour for this?" you inquire, your tone carrying a note of exasperation. <br><br> "Your supposed betrothal has evidently unsettled his sense of decorum—though why, I am scarcely in a position to say," Francis replies with unflinching candor. "It seems, however, that he seeks his solace by imposing a similar disturbance upon you." There is little more to be said, for such behavior is entirely in keeping with your father’s disposition, and to question it further would be to invite only frustration. You can but sigh inwardly, resigned to the reality of his capriciousness. </div> <</append>> <<replace "#whyEarlyLink">> <span class="inactive-link">"Why, pray, do you suppose my father found it necessary to rouse me at such an hour?"</span> <</replace>> <</if>> <</link>> </span> /* __________FATHER__________ */ <span id="fatherLink"> <<link '"How little must father think of me?"'>> <<if _fatherClicked !== true>> <<set _fatherClicked to true>> <<append '.appendedText'>> <div class="fade-in-text"> <br> "How little must father think of me?" you <<if $v_meek >= .65>> lament softly, "to treat me in such a dismissive manner, as though my feelings or opinions hold no value at all." <<elseif $v_assertive >= .6>> query, your tone edged with quiet indignation. <<else>> say with a sigh, "to treat me so? <</if>> <br><br> "I cannot pretend to comprehend your father's motivations," $p.they <<replies>> gently, their tone measured and soothing. "Yet his views, as fickle as they may be, cannot diminish your worth, lamb. Let him face his own folly, if fate so wills it." </div> <</append>> <<replace "#fatherLink">> <span class="inactive-link">"How little must father think of me?"</span> <</replace>> <</if>> <</link>> </span> /* __________FRANCIS STAY__________ */ <span id="francisStayLink"> <<link '"Francis, shall you stay by my side?"'>> <<if _francisStayClicked !== true>> <<set _francisStayClicked to true>> <<append '.appendedText'>> <div class="fade-in-text"> <br> “Francis, will you remain by my side?” you ask softly, your voice barely rising above a whisper. <br><br> “Lamb, of all the questions you might think to ask!” $p.they <<returns>>, a faint smile playing upon $p.their lips, though it does little to conceal the earnestness in $p.their tone. “Not for all the riches in the world would I abandon you; such assurances are needless.” $p.Their words, though expected, carry a steadfast warmth that lingers in the air, easing the tension that has settled so heavily upon you. <br><br> In truth, you had anticipated their response, yet to hear it spoken aloud fortifies your faith anew in a companion whose loyalty you know to be unshakable. </div> <</append>> <<replace "#francisStayLink">> <span class="inactive-link">"Francis, shall you stay by my side?"</span> <</replace>> <</if>> <</link>> </span> <<include [[Hobby Chosen - Links]] >>

<hr> <<if hasVisited("Speak With Francis After Betrothal")>> <div class="inactive-link" style="text-align:right;">You approach Francis.</div> <<else>> [[You approach Francis.|Speak With Francis After Betrothal]] <</if>> <<if hasVisited("Meet Bulwark")>> <div class="inactive-link" style="text-align:right;">You approach Bulwark.</div> <<else>> [[You approach Bulwark.|Meet Bulwark]] <</if>> <<if hasVisited("Meet Whiskers")>> <div class="inactive-link" style="text-align:right;">You approach Whiskers.</div> <<else>> [[You approach Whiskers.|Meet Whiskers]] <</if>> [[You proceed towards the garden proper.|Description Of T]]

<<set $showcourt to true>> <<set $showcourt_t to true>> <<set $t_rel to "Someone you once knew.">> <<if $ro_gender is "f">> <<set $t_nickname to "Tamcat">> <<else>> <<set $t_nickname to "Tomcat">> <</if>> <div style="text-align: center;"> <h1>CHAPTER II</h1> //The Introduction// </div><br> Your name, spoken by $ro.their rosy lips, tolls like a sonorous bell, reverberating through dim corridors of memory and awakening echoes that have lingered, dormant and unspoken, like notes from a forgotten melody. Stirring chords you believed <<if $tPine > 0>> stifled <<else>> stilled <</if>> forever, now awaiting their moment to be heard again. For the first time since you were but thirteen, you stand near enough to truly behold $ro.them. You are struck by a wonder softened by the long march of seasons, unveiling a beauty ripened like fruit under the sun’s slow, patient <<if $tPine > 0>> care. <<else>> care—a beauty you had cherished in quiet reverence for years, though only from afar and through the lens of memories shaped by $ro.their beatific nature. <</if>> Time has not so much aged $ro.them as it has refined, drawing forth a grace that youth alone could never bestow. <br><br> $ro.Their skin, now bronzed with the warmth of daylight, is richer in hue than your memory recalls—evidence of countless hours spent beneath open skies. Where the freckles of youth once dusted $ro.their face like stars at dawn, they now gather in clusters, forming constellations born of both gaiety and toil. $ro.Their hair, once a wild tangle of brown that spoke of untamed days, has lightened, adopting the sun’s own burnished glow. <<if $ro_gender is "f">> Swept back in a simple yet graceful knot, her hair unveils a poise you had not before perceived. Though practicality binds it away, a few stray curls escape, dancing at her temples and nape as if spun from gold. A plain straw hat rests upon her head, shading her face, yet failing to dim the radiance that seems to shine forth from within her. Beneath its brim, tiny wildflowers are woven into her strands, as if nature herself had chosen to crown her <<else>> Trimmed to a modest length, it still holds the natural wave of his childhood, now settled into a deliberate style. No longer the unruly locks of youth, it carries an ease shaped by purpose. A few strands fall across his brow, catching the sunlight in a way that seems nearly enchanted. A simple straw hat perches on his head, shading his face, yet failing to dim the radiance that seems to shine forth from within him. Beneath the brim, a small sprig of wildflowers is tucked, as though nature herself had anointed him <</if>> one of her own. <br><br> Beholding $ro.them now, you cannot but marvel at how the years of labor have shaped $ro.them. <<if $ro_gender is "f">> Her simple bodice and plain, weathered gown of coarse linen, belted with a faded apron, do little to conceal the strength beneath. Where once her form held a softer aspect, it now bears the firmness of one who has coaxed life from the very soil—her frame tempered by long days beneath heaven's expanse. And yet, even in this sturdy work attire, there is a grace to her bearing, as though weathering the elements has bestowed upon her not only strength but also a quiet gentleness, shaping her to endure without yielding to hardness. <<else>> His loose shirt does little to conceal the strength beneath—broadened shoulders, firm arms shaped by years of wielding the tools of his trade with both care and skill. His frame has taken on a lean power, his waist cinched by a well-worn belt that secures his rough trousers. It is not the brute force of reckless labor but the patient strength of one forged by land and season. And yet, there is nothing coarse about him; his movements are tempered, as though the earth itself had shaped him for its service, granting him both strength and quietude in equal measure. <</if>> <br><br> In youth, there was a wildness to $ro.them—a freedom as boundless as the horizon. $ro.They was untamed, brimming with energy and unbridled hope, as though the very world could scarcely contain the breadth of $ro.their spirit. Yet now, a quiet gravity resides within $ro.them before you—a hesitation you had not seen in those early days. $ro.Their movements, once so unrestrained, now appear deliberate, attuned to the rhythm of life itself rather than set against it in rebellion. <br><br> Your hand rises, hesitating for a moment before smoothing the soft, expensive fabric of your sleeve. It is a small, instinctive act—born, perhaps, of years spent cultivating outward perfection. You wonder if $ro.they notices the gesture, and if $ro.they does, what $ro.they might discern in it. Would $ro.they see elegance, composure—or perhaps a sign of all the ways you have been reshaped by the roles demanded of you? There was a time when such careful regard for how you carried yourself—for how the world might perceive you—was unthinkable. Yet now, the layers of polish and precision feel as though they have become inseparable from who you are. It is not merely your appearance that has altered; it is the very way you inhabit yourself, the way you navigate the weight of expectations and the gulf between who you are and who you once were. And yet, <<cycle "$tpast_self">> <<option "you find your elegance to be a triumph, the culmination of years devoted to honing yourself into the ideal of your station." triumph>> <<option "it is who you are now—a path you have mastered with poise, even as its perfection feels like a gilded cage, growing ever smaller with each passing year." acceptance>> <<option "you long to shed the polish, if only for a moment, and rediscover the person who once ran wild beneath the open sky." shed>> <</cycle>> <br><br> $ro.Their eyes—those deep, hazel eyes—seem to pierce into you, as though they have journeyed through the full expanse of life and returned, bearing secrets only $ro.they can comprehend. Once bright with mischief, those eyes now hold a depth that quietly unsettles you, as if they see not merely the surface, but reach into the hidden recesses of your soul. <<if $tpast_memory is "vivid">> Parts even time itself could not erode. <<else>> The parts you believed lay safely concealed, visible only to your own reflection. <</if>> <br><br> $ro.Their smile—oh, that smile!—bears the weight of both joy and sorrow, softened by a tenderness you had not anticipated. It recalls the enchantment of your shared youth, as though time has folded back upon itself, spanning the years with but a single glance. Within that smile, you find <<if $tpast_feelings is "always">> the jewel upon the crown of a love quietly borne through all these years, like a flame kept safe from the wind. You are drawn back to those long-ago afternoons spent away from the country manor, yet within its bounds, where $ro.their laughter rang like birdsong—pure and full of light—filling your heart with a joy that words could scarcely hope to contain. <<else>> the essence of days when your greatest solace was found in $ro.their presence. You are carried back to those distant afternoons spent far from the estate manor, yet within its grounds—days bright with promise, the air alive with a joy that seemed to hold the entire world within its bounds. <</if>> $t's smile remains indelibly etched upon you, inseparably bound to your very soul. And now, as you look upon $ro.them, it <<if $tpast_memory is "rid" and $tpast_feelings is "friend">> <<cycle "$mod_t">> <<option "$platSym\u0000stirs a distant warmth, a soft echo of a friendship once set aside." platonic>> <<option "$romSym\u0000awakens an unfamiliar ache, a flicker of something new, yet not fully understood." pine>> <<option "draws forth a hollow longing, the bond you chose to release." hurt>> <</cycle>> <<elseif $tpast_feelings is "friend">> <<cycle "$mod_t">> <<option "$platSym\u0000stirs a familiar ache, a bond never entirely forgotten, nor free of its weight." platonic>> <<option "$romSym\u0000awakens a longing unexpected, an ache newly born within you." pine>> <<option "brings a pang sharper than the passage of time can ease, a wound unyielding to healing." hurt>> <</cycle>> <<elseif $tpast_memory is "vivid" and $tpast_feelings is "budding">> <<cycle "$mod_t">> <<option "$platSym\u0000stirs something quiet, the gentle warmth of a friendship long since set aside." platonic>> <<option "$romSym\u0000tugs at a thread thought buried, a faint longing, undiminished by time." pine>> <<option "brings a hollow ache, the shadow of what you chose to release." hurt>> <</cycle>> <<elseif $tpast_feelings is "budding">> <<cycle "$mod_t">> <<option "$platSym\u0000stirs a quiet ache, a bond never truly free of its weight." platonic>> <<option "$romSym\u0000tugs at a thread long hidden, an old yearning reawakened." pine>> <<option "brings a sharper pang than you can bear, a wound unhealed by the years." hurt>> <</cycle>> <<elseif $tpast_memory is "rid" and $tpast_feelings is "always">> <<option "$platSym\u0000stirs a distant warmth, a soft echo of a friendship once set aside." platonic>> <<option "$romSym\u0000stirs a flicker of longing, buried beneath years of silence." pine>> <<option "brings a hollow ache, the memory of love quietly carried all this time." hurt>> <</cycle>> <<else>> <<cycle "$mod_t">> <<option "$platSym\u0000awakens a familiar ache, a bond never free of its burden." platonic>> <<option "$romSym\u0000sets your heart racing, the same longing that has endured within you for so long." pine>> <<option "brings a sweet ache, the love held close in silence." hurt>> <</cycle>> <</if>> The features framing $ro.their mouth now bear the marks of time—so foreign, yet still so right upon $ro.their matured face, that you can yet bind it to that distant memory, and it is that which unsteadies you. <br><br> It is all you can do to behold both the stranger and the beloved—all that $ro.they has become, and all that $ro.they has ever been. It feels as though the quiet patience of the passing days has unveiled $ro.them more fully, guiding $ro.their image like a portrait brought to life by a masterful hand, each stroke imbued with profound care. The child you once knew has yielded to the bloom that overtakes the bud—familiar, yet wondrous in its transformation. You cannot help but marvel, for the effect is nothing short of striking. <br><br> As you stand there, regarding $ro.them, a reflective stirring rises within you—a recognition of the growth and change inherent in all things. You, too, have been shaped by the turning of seasons, your own form and spirit uncovered in ways you had not foreseen. Time, as it does for all who endure its passage, has revealed much about you. Chief among these revelations is the understanding of yourself—not merely in the guise by which the world perceives you, but in the name and form you have claimed as your own. <hr> <<if $g.person isnot "person">> <<link [['✑ You have become the ' + $g.person + ' you were ever destined to be.'|Choose T Nickname]]>> <<set $g.type to "trans">> <</link>> <<link [[✑ You walk a path beyond man or woman, a course entirely your own.|Choose T Nickname]]>> <<set $g.type to "nb">> <</link>> <<link [['✑ You have always known yourself as the ' + $g.person + ' you were born as.'|Choose T Nickname]]>> <<set $g.type to "cis">> <</link>> <<else>> <<link [[(Proceed)|Choose T Nickname]]>> <<set $g.type to "nb">> <</link>> <</if>>

<<set _acceptedUnhappyValues to [ "bolt", "beg", "sink", "faint", "refuse", "suspicious", "out" ]>> <<set _acceptedLoveEValues to [ "love", "romance" ]>> <<set _acceptedKnewEValues to [ "knew", "francis" ]>> <<if $t_mcname is "$ro.mx Baker">> "$t_mcname?" you say at last, their name escaping your lips with a weight borne of years unspoken. $ro.They starts, as though startled by the sudden formality of your voice—a voice that carries with it the distance that time has carved between you both. <<elseif $t_mcname is "$t">> “$t_mcname?” you reply, their name falling from your lips like a troubled benediction. $ro.Their smile deepens, soft and unguarded, as though the very sound holds a sweetness they had not yet tasted. For a fleeting instant, $ro.they pauses, $ro.their eyes fluttering shut, as if to partake of the moment and let it settle within their heart. <<else>> "$t_mcname?" you respond, the name slipping past your lips like a <<if $tpast_memory is "rid">> forbidden <<elseif $tpast_feelings is "always">> cherished <<else>> shared <</if>> secret, borne aloft with a weight you scarcely dare to name, yet cannot contain. $ro.Their response is but a soft whimper, fraught with unspoken emotion, trembling as though caught between sorrow and longing. <</if>> <br><br> “I have missed you,” $t_mcname rasps, the words spilling forth unbidden, as though they had slipped past a threshold long and carefully guarded. $ro.Their voice quivers ever so slightly, unprepared by the considerable disuse it has endured with you, burdened further by the swell of emotion now rising unbidden to the surface. In $ro.their gaze, you discern something more—a fondness, unmistakable and unspoken, lingering as though untouched by the ache of absence. And yet, $t_mcname falters, $ro.their composure wavering, unable to bring forth all that has lain hidden in the shadowed recesses of $ro.their heart for so long. <br><br> There is a cadence to $ro.them now, revealed in the careful curl of $ro.their lips and in the pause that lingers before $ro.they speaks, as though each word is weighed and measured with infinite care. It strikes you then, as though beckoned from some forgotten recess, that this hesitancy had already begun to find purchase in those final days. You recall how, in that time, the moments between you grew quieter still, as though the easy familiarity you once shared had yielded, almost imperceptibly, to a silence that bore no name but left its mark all the same. <br><br> “How early in the day for such matters! Has your father shared the news with you, I wonder?” $ro.they inquires, $ro.their tone striving for lightness, though there lingers a trace of something beneath it—a fleeting shadow, quickly smothered. /* __________ALWAYS__________ */ <<if $tpast_feelings is "always">> At $ro.their mention of your betrothal, a raw happiness blooms upon $ro.their features, lighting them with an ease that stirs a quiet twinge of disappointment within your breast. <<if _acceptedUnhappyValues.includesAny($b_reaction, $b_ruling, $b_hope)>> It is a cruel thing, you think, to bear witness to $ro.their untroubled joy, even as your own heart recoils from the weight of it. <<elseif _acceptedLoveEValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope)>> //All the more reason to embrace your new engagement,// you muse, seeking solace in this path. <<else>> The sentiment is unmistakable, and yet its brightness casts a pall upon your heart. <</if>> For all the years you had spent longing in $ro.their absence, the ache of hope now seems a cruel futility. It is clear, painfully so, that your affections were never meant to be acknowledged, let alone returned in kind. $ro.They could never harbor such feelings as those that have lingered, unbidden, within you. And yet, though resignation has long since taken root, your heart aches anew to see $ro.their gleeful acceptance of your union with another. <br><br> “Yes,” you respond, your tone carefully measured, a shield against the emotions that threaten to betray you, “we are to meet this afternoon.” /* __________LEAVE__________ */ <<elseif $b_ruling is "leave" or $b_ruling is "advantage">> You cannot help but wonder if $ro.they, too, regards this engagement as your one chance to slip the fetters of the life you have so long been made to endure, a life that has bound you in its quiet but unyielding constraints. <br><br> “Indeed,” you reply, “we are to meet this afternoon.” /* __________UNHAPPY__________ */ <<elseif _acceptedUnhappyValues.includesAny($b_reaction, $b_ruling, $b_hope)>> You recoil inwardly, disconcerted by the brightness in $ro.their eyes at the mention of your betrothal, a radiance that seems wholly out of place. How could $ro.they find such delight in this arrangement? <<if $v_worldwise >= .5>> Even more troubling, how had they come to know of it before you? The thought strikes you as both strange and unsettling, for such knowledge, unaired until now, carries an air of mystery that leaves you ill at ease. <</if>> “Yes,” you reply, your voice tempered to careful calm, though beneath its surface your thoughts ripple with unease. “We shall convene this afternoon.” /* __________ACCEPTEDLOVE__________ */ <<elseif _acceptedLoveEValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope)>> You <<if $v_meek >= .5>> shy away, your gaze faltering, <<else>> find yourself momentarily unbalanced, as though the ground beneath you has shifted, <</if>> never having imagined that the first to congratulate you would be the friend you had thought lost to time. <br><br> “Yes,” you reply, striving to steady the quickened rhythm of your heart, though each word feels a delicate thread, fragile yet binding. “And we are to meet this afternoon.” /* __________ELSE__________ */ <<else>> You marvel silently at how $ro.they came to know of this news before you could speak of it yourself. A faint unease begins to stir, intertwining with the weight of disappointment that now settles heavily upon your heart, its presence undeniable. <br><br> “Yes,” you reply at last, your voice tempered with measured calm, “and we shall convene this afternoon.” <</if>> <br><br> The exchange feels extraordinary, as though their hand has slipped into yours once more—a fleeting glimpse of a life that feels achingly near yet cannot be called your own. $ro.They speaks almost as though no time has passed, as if they were not the one who turned away all those years ago, leaving behind a void that has never truly lifted from your heart. And yet, you endure it, <<cycle "$t_hope">> <<option "if only to see this conversation through and bring it to its inevitable end." uninterested>> <<option "wary of what it might mean to let $ro.them draw near once more." hesitant>> <<option "for, despite everything, you cannot deny the faint spark of yearning for those days once spent in their company." reconnect>> <</cycle>> <br><br> “Indeed,” $ro.they continues, $ro.their eyes alight with a fervent gleam, “you must be most eager to proceed with this new arrangement—pray, forgive me, <<if $t_mcname is "$ro.mx Baker">> $n—beg your pardon, $g.mx $ln, <<else>> $n, <</if>> for I find it quite impossible to restrain my tongue. That this day should finally arrive! I feel as though I am caught in a dream. <<if $t_mcname is "$ro.mx Baker">> $g.mx $ln, <<else>> Dearest $n, <</if>> I implore you, say something, lest I continue to ramble on.” $t_mcname gazes at you with a hopeful anticipation, as though desperate for you to share in $ro.their joy. <div class="appendedText"></div> <br> /* __________PLEASED__________ */ <span id="pleasedLink"> <<link '"And so you are pleased with it?"'>> <<if _pleasedClicked !== true>> <<set _pleasedClicked to true>> <<append '.appendedText'>> <div class="fade-in-text"> <br> "And so, you are pleased with it?" you ask, <<if $tpast_feelings is "always">> your question veiling a deeper truth, one your heart dares not fully voice. You long to know if this betrothal carries the same weight for $ro.them as it does for you—whether they see it as the final end to what might have been, or if they, too, feel the sorrow of something now irretrievably lost. <<elseif _acceptedLoveEValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope)>> your words carrying more than mere curiosity—a quiet tremor of hope lying beneath, yearning for something beyond the bounds of duty, something that might awaken the heart and stir it to life anew. <<elseif _acceptedUnhappyValues.includesAny($b_reaction, $b_ruling, $b_hope)>> your voice cool and restrained, the words emerging with a composure that masks the quiet tumult roiling beneath the surface. <<else>> your tone measured, revealing none of the thoughts that stir within. The question hangs between you, free of bitterness or affection, a simple inquiry directed toward a path that feels inexorable. <</if>> $t_mcname furrows $ro.their brows, brushing a stray lock of hair from $ro.their forehead—a small gesture that betrays a fleeting hesitation, though $ro.they meets your gaze, $ro.their composure steady, $ro.their tone calm yet assured. <br><br> <<if $t_mcname is "$ro.mx Baker">> "Why, $g.mx $ln, <<else>> "$n, why <</if>> should I not be? It is but the beginning of all good things to come." </div> <</append>> <<replace "#pleasedLink">> <span class="inactive-link">"And so, you are pleased with it?"</span> <</replace>> <</if>> <</link>> </span> /* __________HARBORED__________ */ <<if $tpast_feelings is "always">> <span id="harboredLink"> <<link '"$romSym\u0000I have long harbored hope for something else."'>> <<if _harboredClicked !== true>> <<set _harboredClicked to true>> <<append '.appendedText'>> <div class="fade-in-text"> <<set $tBold += 1 >> <br> "I have long harbored hope for something else," you say, your voice low and deliberate, each word carefully chosen, hinting at that which lies too deeply within your heart to be spoken aloud. <br><br> $t_mcname's gaze meets yours, and for a moment, a flicker of confusion shadows $ro.their countenance before $ro.they composes $ro.themself once more. “Alas, I wish the circumstances were more favorable, <<if $t_mcname is "$ro.mx Baker">> but <<else>> $n. But <</if>> this is an opportunity unlike any before, and I pray it may offer you some small measure of solace.” </div> <</append>> <<replace "#harboredLink">> <span class="inactive-link">"I have long harbored hope for something else."</span> <</replace>> <</if>> <</link>> </span> <br> <</if>> /* __________HOW KNEW__________ */ <span id="howKnewLink"> <<link '"How did you come to know of it?"'>> <<if _howKnewClicked !== true>> <<set _howKnewClicked to true>> <<append '.appendedText'>> <div class="fade-in-text"> <br> “How did you come to know of it?” you ask, your curiosity stirred. <br><br> “It is hardly worth mentioning,” $t_mcname replies, $ro.their words accompanied by a faint, knowing smile. “Suffice it to say, I anticipated it.” </div> <</append>> <<replace "#howKnewLink">> <span class="inactive-link">"How did you come to know of it?"</span> <</replace>> <</if>> <</link>> </span> /* __________GRATEFUL__________ */ <span id="gratefulLink"> <<link '"I am grateful for your kind words."'>> <<if _gratefulClicked !== true>> <<set _gratefulClicked to true>> <<append '.appendedText'>> <div class="fade-in-text"> <br> "I am grateful for your kind words," you <<if $tPine > 0 and _acceptedLoveEValues.includesAny( $b_ruling, $b_hope)>> say, though a subtle tension underlies your voice, as if gratitude and longing were locked in quiet conflict. <<elseif $tPine > 0>> utter, though each syllable feels as though it carries a weight heavier than its sound, a burden unweighed yet keenly felt. <<elseif _acceptedUnhappyValues.includesAny($b_reaction, $b_ruling, $b_hope)>> say, though the words come hollow, crafted more from decorum than any true sentiment. <<elseif $v_worldwise >= .6 or _acceptedKnewEValues.includesAny($knew_e)>> say, though you must confess, their exuberance leaves you a touch bewildered, as though caught in a moment you cannot quite grasp. <<else>> say simply, allowing the words to pass without embellishment. <</if>> <br><br> “Kind words? I would pluck the stars from the very heavens to prove my joy to you!” $ro.they exclaims with a broad smile, the fervor in $ro.their eyes shining like a flame unrestrained. <<if $tpast_feelings is "always">> And yet, until this moment, you had not realized that words spoken with such gaiety could fill your heart with such sorrow. <</if>> </div> <</append>> <<replace "#gratefulLink">> <span class="inactive-link">"I am grateful for your kind words."</span> <</replace>> <</if>> <</link>> </span> <<if $knew_e is "francis">> /* __________PROPOSITION__________ */ <span id="propositionLink"> <<link '"And you are aware that the proposition originates from a known criminal?"'>> <<if _propositionClicked !== true>> <<set _propositionClicked to true>> <<append '.appendedText'>> <div class="fade-in-text"> <br> “And you are aware that the proposition originates from a known criminal?” you ask, your voice measured and steady, though the weight of such a truth bears heavily upon you. <br><br> “Indeed, I am well aware,” $ro.they replies, $ro.their composure shaken by your words. “Yet the agreement shall hold, unwavering. I would stake even my reputation upon its worth.” <br> </div> <</append>> <<replace "#propositionLink">> <span class="inactive-link">"And you are aware that the proposition originates from a known criminal?"</span> <</replace>> <</if>> <</link>> </span> <</if>> /* __________FORCED__________ */ <span id="forcedLink"> <<link '"Are you aware that I had no voice in the decision?"'>> <<if _forcedClicked !== true>> <<set _forcedClicked to true>> <<append '.appendedText'>> <div class="fade-in-text"> <br> "Are you aware that I had no voice in the decision?" you ask, your tone measured but firm. "I was given no choice in the matter." <br><br> "Forced? I suppose—well, yes, I suppose it was so. But, <<if $t_mcname is "$ro.mx Baker">> $n—$g.mx $ln, forgive me—I <<else>> $n, I <</if>> hoped you might find some measure of joy in it. No matter how it came to pass, surely that is of lesser consequence. I beg you to consider what this truly signifies—can there be any fault in it, when it holds such promise for the future?" </div> <</append>> <<replace "#forcedLink">> <span class="inactive-link">"Are you aware that I had no voice in the decision?"</span> <</replace>> <</if>> <</link>> </span> <<if $tPine > 0 or _acceptedUnhappyValues.includesAny($b_reaction, $b_ruling, $b_hope)>> /* __________WOUND__________ */ <span id="woundLink"> <<link '"You wound me deeply, $t_mcname."'>> <<if State.variables.woundClicked !== true>> <<set _woundClicked to true>> <<append '.appendedText'>> <div class="fade-in-text"> <br> "You wound me deeply, $t_mcname," you murmur, <<if $v_melancholic > .55>> your voice heavy with sorrow, each word bearing the weight of your disquiet. <<else>> the sting of hurt lying just beneath the calm façade of your tone. <</if>> <br><br> $t_mcname, visibly stricken by your words, lowers $ro.their gaze, the weight of your reproach pressing heavily upon $ro.them. “I had thought—indeed, I was certain—you would be pleased,” $ro.they insists, though a faint tremor now threads its way into $ro.their voice, betraying a hesitation $ro.they cannot entirely suppress. </div> <</append>> <<replace "#woundLink">> <span class="inactive-link">"You wound me with your joy."</span> <</replace>> <</if>> <</link>> </span> <</if>> <hr> [[(Proceed)|T Betrothal Reveal 2]]

<<link 'GLOSSARY'>> <<popup 'GLOSSARY' 'GLOSSARY'>> <</link>> <br><br> <<link 'ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS'>> <<popup 'ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS' 'ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS'>> <</link>>

<div class="centered"> <h1>Story:</h1> Penned by [[Naughty Cupid|https://naughty-cupid.itch.io/]] <br><br> ────── ❖ ────── <br><br> <h1>Portraits:</h1> Illustrated by [[Vasilique Mort|https://www.tumblr.com/vasiliquemort/]] </div>

<<set _acceptedLoveValues to [ "admire", "leave", "love", "romance" ]>> <<set _acceptedKnewE to [ "knew", "francis", ]>> <<set _acceptedOutValues to [ "refuse", "suspicious", "out", ]>> <<if _acceptedKnewE.includesAny($knew_e) or _acceptedOutValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope) or $tPine > 0>> "I would never have anticipated that you might recommend, let alone hold such high regard for $ro.mx Egerton," you remark, your words tinged with a quiet disbelief. <<else>> "I <<if not _acceptedLoveValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope)>> suppose I <</if>> am pleased to hear you speak so highly of $ro.mx Egerton," you remark, <<if $v_worldwise > .55>> your voice carrying a faint undercurrent of skepticism, unbidden yet unmistakable. <<elseif _acceptedLoveValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope) and $tPine is 0>> the faintest trace of hope threading through your words, though you dare not let it bloom fully. <<else>> your tone composed, offering little to reveal your thoughts. <</if>> <</if>> <br><br> $ro.They tilts $ro.their head with a measured curiosity, as though weighing each of your words with newfound gravity. The smile fades from $ro.their lips, surrendering to an expression of unmistakable confusion. “$ro.mx Egerton?” $ro.they echoes, the name lingering on $ro.their tongue as though it were an enigma demanding unraveling. <br><br> "Yes, $ro.mx Egerton," you repeat, your voice steady, each syllable a solemn confirmation. <<if _acceptedLoveValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope)>> “My betrothed,” you add, the title hanging in the air, heavy with the weight of irrevocable finality. <<else>> “To whom I am betrothed,” you continue, each word bearing the unyielding sense of a fate long since sealed. <</if>> <br><br> The color swiftly abandons $t_mcname's face, rendering $ro.them pale and ashen. “Betrothed?” $t_mcname rasps, the word escaping as if it were a venomous barb. “It cannot be. You are to be wed—to Egerton?” <br><br> $ro.Their body stiffens, $ro.their eyes widening in raw, unguarded horror as they search your gaze, desperate for even the faintest flicker of reassurance. Yet, when no trace of denial emerges in your expression, the <<if _acceptedOutValues.includesAny($b_ruling, $b_hope)>> dreadful <</if>> truth crashes down upon $ro.them with a finality that leaves $ro.them bereft of speech. A tremor courses through $ro.their frame, and $ro.their knees falter, as though the weight of the revelation has stripped $ro.them of all strength. <hr> <<link [[$romSym + 'You draw ' + $t + ' into your embrace.'|Set Strength]]>> <<set $last_option to "arms">> <<set $tBold += 1>> <</link>> <<link [['You extend your hands to steady ' + $ro.them + '.'|Set Strength]]>> <<set $last_option to "stabilize">> <</link>> <<link [[From the periphery steps Francis.|Set Strength]]>> <<set $last_option to "francis">> <</link>>

<<if $ro_gender is "f">> <<if $height is 2>><<set _heightDesc to "petite">> <<elseif $height is 1>><<set _heightDesc to "slighter">> <<elseif $height is 0>><<set _heightDesc to "even">> <<else>><<set _heightDesc to "lofty">> <</if>> <<else>> <<if $height is 2>><<set _heightDesc to "slighter">> <<elseif $height is 1>><<set _heightDesc to "even">> <<elseif $height is 0>><<set _heightDesc to "sturdy">> <<else>><<set _heightDesc to "towering">> <</if>> <</if>> <<set _FrancisEnter to "From the periphery comes Francis, stepping forth from whatever shadowed refuge had concealed $p.them, moving with an unerring grace, as though the very earth had parted to herald $p.their arrival.">> <<switch $last_option>> /* __________ARMS__________ */<<case "arms">> You draw $t into your embrace, cradling $ro.their _heightDesc frame with a <<cycle "$strength">> <<option "preternatural ease, as though guided by providence itself," 1>> <<option "steadfast resolve, unyielding as the ancient oak," 0>> <<option "tremulous effort, your very essence strained beneath the weight of $ro.their need," -1>> <</cycle>> as the fever coursing through $ro.them rages like a merciless flame, a cruel and consuming fire that brightens beneath your touch, as though your tender care becomes its fuel. $ro.Their form, so vividly alive yet teetering on the edge of fragility, presses close, sending a shiver through the very core of your being—a tremor not born of fear, but by something profound, something inexorable. <<cycle "$mod_t">> <<option "$romSym\u0000Your heart, unguarded, beats with the fervent wings of a lark in flight, bearing no shadow of doubt as to its meaning." pine>> <<option "$platSym\u0000A deep calm enfolds you, as though the universe itself sighs with relief at this union of souls." friend>> <<option "$noSym\u0000A poignant ache lingers in your soul, sweet and sharp, for though you share this moment, you are as strangers still." no>> <</cycle>> <br><br> $t_mcname's strength falters, receding like the tides drawn away from the shore, and $ro.they leans into you, $ro.their frailty seeking sanctuary within the steadfast harbor of your embrace. The weight of $ro.their trust falls wholly upon you, yet you bear it gladly, your arms encircling $ro.them with an instinct born of care. $t_mcname's head finds a gentle resting place upon your shoulder, and in the motion, $ro.their hat slips from its perch, tumbling to the earth, forgotten. The faint, lingering perfume of the garden clings to $ro.their unbound hair—a sweetness that enchants even as it wounds, a cruel counterpoint to the shadow of torment that clouds $ro.their gaze. <br><br> _FrancisEnter $p.Their approach is measured, deliberate, yet there is in $p.them a quiet strength, for the stillness enveloping you both fractures softly as $p.they draws near, $p.their presence a harbinger of purpose. /* __________STABILIZE__________ */<<case "stabilize">> You extend your hands to steady $ro.them, your touch finding $ro.their _heightDesc frame with a <<cycle "$strength">> <<option "gentleness light as the wings of the skylark," 1>> <<option "tempered firmness, born of quiet resolve," 0>> <<option "great strain, as though Atlas's task had fallen to your shoulders," -1>> <</cycle>> and $ro.their closeness <<cycle "$mod_t">> <<option "$romSym\u0000kindles a fire within, a fierce clarity of purpose that leaves you breathless." pine>> <<option "$platSym\u0000brings with it a soothing balm to your weary soul." friend>> <<option "$noSym\u0000awakens a quiet discord in your heart, tender yet haunting." no>> <</cycle>> The faint scent of the garden clings to $ro.their hair, a bittersweet adornment in this moment of frailty. It is a cruel fragrance, sweet as hope, yet resting upon one burdened by the weight of misery. _FrancisEnter /* __________FRANCIS__________ */<<case "francis">> _FrancisEnter. "$t?" $p.they inquires, their voice calm as still waters, even as $p.they moves to support $t_mcname with a practiced ease. You muse, had you been the one to bear $ro.their _heightDesc frame, it would have been done with <<cycle "$strength">> <<option "an easy grace," 1>> <<option "a steadfast effort," 0>> <<option "tremendous strain," -1>> <</cycle>> and the mere touch of $ro.their form would have <<cycle "$mod_t">> <<option "$romSym\u0000set your heart ablaze with longing." pine>> <<option "$platSym\u0000brought you the stillness of peace." friend>> <<option "$noSym\u0000left you restless, yearning for understanding." no>> <</cycle>> <</switch>> <br><br> "$ro.mx Egerton?" $t_mcname murmurs, disbelief trembling upon $ro.their lips. "$n is to be wed... to Egerton?" <br><br> Francis, $p.their attention fixed upon $ro.their faltering state, gives no heed to the query. "Come now, my dear, we must see you safely home," $p.they murmurs, steadying $t_mcname by the waist and guiding $ro.them toward the garden block where $ro.their quarters await. "$n, can you manage?" Francis calls over $p.their shoulder, $p.their glance lingering briefly upon you. "I must tend to $t; I bid you return to the house. I shall follow presently." <br><br> You offer Francis your assurance, though your gaze lingers upon their retreating forms until the door closes behind them, swallowing them from sight. Heaving a sigh, you turn at last back toward the house, casting away all that you had dared hope to find in this fleeting haven of the garden—its tender beauties, its intoxicating scents, its quiet promise of solace now turned to shadow. <hr> [[End Of Demo]]

<<if $spirit_ruling is "dismiss">> For your part, you dismiss such tales as mere superstition. Whispered rumors of encounters with otherworldly beings and ominous legends surrounding those who purportedly dabble in such dark arts hold no sway over your rational mind. Finding no evidence to support such phenomena, you regard them as mere products of overactive imaginations, tales embellished by storytellers eager to titillate and terrify. <<elseif $spirit_ruling is "terror">> For your part, the very idea fills your heart with dread. Whispered tales of otherworldly encounters and dark rumors haunting those who dared to delve into its depths make your blood run cold, igniting a primal fear that no comfort can dispel. The mere notion of such dark arts conjures images of entities lurking beyond sight, ready to ensnare the unwary. You dare not entertain such thoughts further, lest they consume you whole. <<elseif $spirit_ruling is "truth">> For your part, you hold a cautious belief in its truth. Whispered tales of otherworldly encounters and the dark rumors that enshroud those daring enough to explore its mysteries hint at something more than mere superstition. While you bear a healthy skepticism, you cannot wholly dismiss the notion that forces may linger beyond human understanding, hidden within the folds of folklore and legend. <<else>> For your part, you hold a steadfast belief in its authenticity. Whispered tales of otherworldly encounters and the dark rumors that follow those who venture into such mysteries compel you to think there are forces at play beyond mortal comprehension. Not merely the stories themselves, but centuries of folklore and the persistence of belief across cultures give you pause. <</if>> <br><br> While the hours may be passed in endless manner, there is but one pursuit which brings your heart its fullest measure of joy. It is not a mere pastime, nor a fleeting fancy, but something far deeper—a devotion, a solace, a sanctuary unto itself. <hr> <<link [[✑ The Solace of Reading|Hobby Chosen]]>> <<set $hobby to "reading">> <</link>> <<link [[✑ The Craft of Writing|Hobby Chosen]]>> <<set $hobby to "writing">> <</link>> <<link [[✑ The Pursuit of Music|Hobby Chosen]]>> <<set $hobby to "music">> <</link>> <<link [[✑ The Gift of Song|Hobby Chosen]]>> <<set $hobby to "singing">> <</link>> <<link [[✑ The Practice of Illustration|Hobby Chosen]]>> <<set $hobby to "drawing">> <</link>> <<link [[✑ The Finesse of Needlework|Hobby Chosen]]>> <<set $hobby to "needlework">> <</link>> <<link [[✑ The Discipline of Fencing|Hobby Chosen]]>> <<set $hobby to "fencing">> <</link>> <<link [[✑ The Enchantment of Glamour Magic|Hobby Chosen]]>> <<set $hobby to "glamour">> <</link>> <<link [[✑ The Communion of Animallinguis|Hobby Chosen]]>> <<set $hobby to "animal">> <</link>> <<if $spirit_ruling is "truth" or $spirit_ruling is "believe">> <<link [[✑ The Study of Spirits |Hobby Chosen]]>> <<set $hobby to "spirits">> <</link>> <</if>>

''Banyan Robe:'' A masculine, loose, informal dressing gown or robe worn at home. <br> ''Breeches:'' Knee-length trousers, fastened at the knee and worn with stockings, part of formal and everyday attire. <br> ''Chemise:'' An agender simple, lightweight undergarment serving as a base layer beneath clothing. <br> ''Coiffure:'' How one's hair is styled. <br> ''Frock Coat:'' A masculine long, fitted outer garment with full-length sleeves, typically worn over the waistcoat and breeches as part of formal daywear. <br> ''Queue Hair:'' A masculine fashionable hairstyle in which hair is tied back into a long braid or ponytail, often powdered. <br> ''Ramillies Wig:'' A masculine wig characterized by a long braided ponytail (queue) tied with a ribbon. <br> ''Salle d’Armes:'' A room or dedicated space for one to practice fencing. <br> ''Tête De Mouton:'' A feminine hairstyle featuring tightly curled hair close to the head, resembling the woolly appearance of a sheep. <br> ''Waistcoat:'' A masculine sleeveless garment worn over a shirt and under a coat, part of formal attire, often elaborately decorated.

<<switch $g.type>> /* __________TRANS__________ */<<case "trans">> You have become the $g.person you were ever destined to be, for the passage of years has only served to release you from an outward guise that was never truly your own, revealing at last the truth that lay waiting beneath. /* __________NB__________ */<<case "nb">> You walk a path beyond man or woman, a course entirely your own—a spirit moving freely betwixt and beyond the realms of man and woman, unbound by their narrow distinctions. /* __________CIS__________ */<<case "cis">> You have always known yourself as the $g.person you were born to be, and your growth has followed the subtler, inescapable rhythms of life’s unfolding, where the body progresses forward in its own unhurried course. <</switch>> You return, momentarily, to a chapter of your past, where lingers the sound of your name, once alight upon $t_mcname's child’s voice. <<if $g.type isnot "cis">> You have since <<cycle "$g.name">> <<option "altered the name given at your birth, as though rewriting the very tale of your own becoming." changed>> <<option "kept the name bestowed upon you at birth, for it has always felt right, and you have never taken issue with it." kept>> <</cycle>> <</if>> It is a marvel, indeed, to hear it now spoken with the depth and integrity of $ro.their matured tone. <br><br> The flow of thought, turns softly upon itself, as though the pages of memory unfold in reverse, drawing you back to a time when you assumed a name for $ro.them—a name tenderly imbued with the essence of your affection. Yet the tide of years, ever advancing since the day $ro.they took leave of your side, has silenced those cherished words upon your lips, and that name, like so many other relics of the past, <<if $tpast_memory is "rid">> you have long since let slip into silence. <<else>> has long since been stripped of its meaning. <</if>> <br><br> Still, the memories of those days, <<if $tpast_memory is "vivid">> sharp and vivid in your mind, <<else>> unbidden in their return, <</if>> gleam like sunlight pouring through the canopy of trees, casting fleeting illumination upon fragments of a bond once shared. You were but children of eight summers, darting with unbridled joy across the vast grounds of your family’s country estate, while Francis, ever watchful, guarded the remnants of your picnic against an army of determined ants. Small, eager hands covered your eyes as you began to count—each number deliberate, a slow cadence to grant just enough time to find a place of concealment and honor the spirit of the game. Yet when at last your eyes opened, there stood $t, motionless, as though rooted to the very earth, their form crouched low, intent upon something beyond your gaze. <br><br> “Unfair!” you cried out, your voice rising in playful indignation, though the words fell swiftly away as your curiosity turned toward the object of $ro.their focus. “He is hurt!” $ro.they exclaimed, $ro.their voice charged with a solemn urgency that stirred your own heart to action. Without hesitation you hurried to their side, and there, amidst the tangled underbrush, you beheld the source of their alarm: an orange tabby cat, its wide eyes gleaming with both terror and pain, its trembling leg marked by a streak of crimson that bespoke some recent misfortune. <br><br> “Alas, the poor creature has met with some grievous harm,” murmured Francis, $p.their brow furrowed in concern as $p.they stepped nearer. Yet before $p.they could speak further, $t declared with unshakable resolve that the animal must not be abandoned to its fate. Tears brimmed in $ro.their earnest eyes as $ro.they reached out with trembling hands, their voice soft and soothing as though to calm the wounded creature. Yet the cat, wary and untrusting, refused even the gentlest overtures of comfort, retreating further into the shadowed undergrowth. <br><br> It was only the lure of cold meats from your picnic that succeeded in coaxing the frightened animal from its hiding place, though once emerged, it seemed to forget its injury entirely in favor of the morsels placed before it. Believing the leg broken, $t set to work with the zeal and ingenuity of childhood, fashioning splints from the straightest twigs $ro.they could find and tearing strips from $ro.their own chemise to bind the makeshift bandage. Such earnestness shone in $ro.their countenance that even Francis seemed touched, though the wisdom of $p.their years bade $p.them restrain from interfering. When at last the cat was swaddled in $ro.their care and they resolved to carry it back to the estate for further tending, the creature, as though imbued with sudden strength, leapt from $ro.their grasp and vanished into the depths of the forest, swift and sure as though untouched by its ordeal. <br><br> “Fear not,” Francis intoned, $ro.their voice both gentle and firm, “for a tomcat such as he is born to roam unbound and free. He shall mend in his own time.” <br><br> At this, $t sighed, $ro.their young shoulders slumping as though the weight of Francis's words had fallen heavily upon them. Yet with quiet resolve $ro.they placed the last of the meats upon the grass—a parting gift to the vanished creature, knowing well it would serve the ants ere it met the cat’s hunger. And thus was your $t_nickname, pure of heart and steadfast, as constant as the azure heavens that stretched endlessly above that golden summer’s day. Now, as you gaze upon $t in the present, you cannot help but ponder how march of time has inscribed its marks upon $ro.their soul. <hr> <<link [['"' + $t + '?"'|T Betrothal Reveal]]>> <<set $t_mcname to "$t">> <</link>> <<link [[$platSym + '"' + $t_nickname + '?"'|T Betrothal Reveal]]>> <<set $t_mcname to "$t_nickname">> <<set $tFriend += 1>> <</link>> <<link [[$noSym + '"' + $ro.mx + ' Baker?"'|T Betrothal Reveal]]>> <<set $t_mcname to "$ro.mx Baker">> <<set $tRebuff += 1>> <</link>>

<div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="title">The Bacchanal</div> <div style="font-family: broadsheet, 'Estonia', serif;"> //or,// <br> <h1>A NIGHT OF FATED REVELRY</h1> <br><br> //Wherein a Heart May Find its True Sentiments <br> and <br> the Veil of Society is Momentarily Cast Aside <br><br><br> Being an Account of Passions Ignited Amidst Secret Gatherings and the Consequences Thereof <br><br><br> By "Naughty Cupid" <br> a Mischievous Hand// <br><br><br> <p style="font-size: .7em;"> //London:// <br> Printed for T. Wine & Co., Fine Publishers of Recreational Tales, <br> and Sold by All Notable Booksellers in Covent Garden. <br><br> Printed at the Workshop of The Twyne Engine, <br> By Appointment of the Society for Novel Experiences, <br> near St. James’s Square. <br> //Anno Domini MMXXIV// </p> </div> </div> <hr> [[(Proceed)|Dedication]] [[(Skip to Prologue)|Reader Note]]

<div style="text-align: center;"> ✤ ✤ ✦ ✤ ✤ <h1>TO THE READER</h1> ✤ ✤ ✦ ✤ ✤ </div> <br> It is a curious truth that, while the affairs of society present themselves as orderly and respectable, beneath such façades lie hidden desires and unseen movements, like the secret undercurrents of a still and silent lake. This tale, dear reader, concerns itself with one such hidden realm—a world where the heart, unshackled briefly from the dictates of rank and duty, may encounter its truest self. <br><br> What is here set before you is neither an apology for transgressions nor a mere dalliance with fancy. It is, rather, an account born of those sentiments that may stir in any honest soul who dares, however briefly, to question the course set by others. For within the cloistered halls of society, where convention holds sway and appearances are sacrosanct, there ever lies the possibility of a different path—a choice that quietly defies the solemnities of inheritance and station. <br><br> Should the reader find in these pages both caution and intrigue, it is hoped they will carry away a gentle reminder of the delicate dance between duty and desire, and perhaps even a measure of sympathy for those who, in one fleeting night, dared cast aside their masks to glimpse a truth the light of day may never reveal. <hr> [[(Proceed)|Reader Note]] [[(Skip to Prologue)|Reader Note]]

<div style="text-align: center;"> //To those hidden, wayward souls...// <br> ────── ❖ ────── <br> //May this tale echo your unspoken desires.// </div> <hr> [[(Proceed)|Preface]] [[(Skip to Prologue)|Reader Note]]

<div style="text-align: center;"> ✤ ✤ ✦ ✤ ✤ <h1>A NOTE ON YOUR JOURNEY</h1> ✤ ✤ ✦ ✤ ✤ </div> <br> As you step into this tale, dear reader, know that it offers you the opportunity to shape its course. Choices will arise, some colored by the hue of romance, others grounded in friendship, and still others marked by firm rejection. To better guide your hand, //symbols// can be enabled in the //settings menu//, revealing the nature of these responses. <br><br> This tale does not shy away from the complexities of human connection, including moments of //passion// and //intimacy//. Some scenes may delve into the //explicit//, offering a deeper reflection of desire and vulnerability. However, these moments are entirely optional—you may choose to engage with them or to skip them without diminishing the richness of the story. Your journey remains yours to shape. <br><br> To further enhance your reading, a //glossary// has been provided to clarify terms that may be unfamiliar, offering context and understanding where needed. Simply consult it when a word or phrase stirs curiosity, for the language of this tale seeks not to obscure but to enrich. <br><br> Additionally, the //settings menu// offers options for //dyslexic-friendly text// and a //light mode//, allowing you to tailor your reading experience to your comfort. It is the author’s sincerest wish that these pages be as welcoming and illuminating as the story itself, a journey shaped by your choices and discoveries. <hr> [[(Proceed)|Prologue]]