Mug Quest

<Center>''MUG QUEST'' <a href="https://40.media.tumblr.com/5bb657ce5aeeb3dc4e66493030a5435f/tumblr_nx60nvdSVZ1sein28o1_1280.png"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/5bb657ce5aeeb3dc4e66493030a5435f/tumblr_nx60nvdSVZ1sein28o1_540.png"></a> //A game by <color="hotpink">Nonstop</color>.// //For more Numbers, check out <a href="www.numbers-story.tumblr.com">the Tumblr.</a>// (set: $start to "yes") [[Let us begin.->Lit Room 1]]</center> (set: $pokemug to "no") (set: $skeletonmug to "no") (set: $electricity to "on") (Set: $weapon to "none") (set: $food to "no") (set: $water to "no") (set: $romance to 0) (set: $obversepartner to "none") (set: $22partner to "none") (Set: $obversehealth to "healthy") (set: $22health to "healthy ") (set: $scream to (text-style:"shudder")) (set: $amaranthine to (text-style:"rumble") + (text-style:"expand")) (set: $mazemug to "no") (set: $mug to 0) (set: $amaranthines to "no") (set: $pondmug to "no")

The room is made of spruce wood and fading carpets. A table sits near a heavily-chained door. A few lights flicker on an electric chandelier, showing the only light in the entire room. On the table is a mug of some sort, a paper bag, and a small chest. The entire place smells like wet animal. [[Inspect mug.]] [[Inspect paper bag.]] [[Inspect small chest.]] [[Inspect chained door.]]

The mug is empty, although the stains at the bottom and smell suggest that it once held coffee. The front is decorated lovingly with a handpainted message: "#1 Best Gladar." You pocket the mug. (set: $mug to 1) [[Return to the room at large.->Lit Room]] (set: $start to "no")

The bag is surprisngly soggy at the bottom. Within the paper bag lies a few crumbled bread crusts. You discard the crusts on the floor and dig in deeper. There is a small note, written in the nicest handwriting you've ever seen. //1 mug out of 10// Well. That's different. [[Return to the room at large.->Lit Room]] (set: $start to "no")

The small chest is finely made from iron and wood. Although you expect it to be locked, it is actually not! Within it lies a small key. It looks gold, but with a bit of rubbing, you find it to simply be gold spraypaint. How mysterious. Who went through the trouble of putting the key in the chest and then leaving through a //locked// door? Either way, you pocket the key. It may help later. (set: $key to "gold key") [[Return to the room at large.->Lit Room]] (set: $start to "no")

The door has so many chains on it that you can barely see the oak wood behind it. There is a comically large padlock in the middle. You're not sure how this works, but it probably does. (if: $key is "gold key" and $mug is "No mug")[You have a key, but you feel like you're missing something else. [[Return to the room at large.->Lit Room]]] (if: $key is "no key" and $mug is 1)[You need to find a key to unlock this stupid padlock. [[Return to the room at large.->Lit Room]]] (if: $key is "gold key" and $mug is 1)[You have a key and this weird mug. It's time to get out. [[Let's go!->Long Hallway]]] (if: $mug is "No mug" and $key is "no key")[You'd best head back. You haven't finished searching yet. [[Return to the room at large.->Lit Room]]] (set: $start to "no")

(set: $key to "no key")You insert the key into the padlock. With a creak, the door opens, but the key is jammed in the lock and won't come out. You attempt to tug it out, but it breaks off. Oops. Hopefully you wouldn't need that later. What stretches before you is a long, long hallway. Along either side are paintings that are shifting and moving. You begin the long walk through. While you walk, perhaps it's time to wrack your memory. Let's start with the basics: your name. [[Twenty-two.->Silent Hallway]]

Yes, Obverse. That was it. The comfort of remembering your name brings back a few bits and pieces of memory. Your group of friends; Everlasting, Ongoing, Persistent. Killing Continuum in a fit of (link:"rage")[rage (//sorry, not sorry//)]. You've lived a pretty decent life. You have vast, powerful magics at your fingertips, an entourage of loyal bastards, and a cushy Universe that you can return to at any time. All you're missing is a pretty spouse and a child or two, and you're not even sure that you could get away with that if you tried. You're only interested in pushing Beginning's buttons somewhat. You hold out your hand, letting a few sparks of magic fly, as a demonstration to yourself of your powers. Absolutely nothing happens. You frown. Maybe this area had magic-dampening metals embedded into the walls. If so, you should probably get out of here asap. You speed up your pace. As you walk down the hall, you notice that it seems to be getting darker. Come to think of it, you don't remember having seen any lights at the beginning of it, either. Tiny lights flicker on either side of you. You smash your hand against one and come back with the remains of a firefly. Why are there fireflies in here? You're still in that building, right? There's noises up ahead. At first, you're pretty sure it's running water. But as you get closer, you realize that it's voices. [[Head for the voices.->Forboding Oak Door]]

Right, 22. That's you. That's always been you. Always. 22. You nearly forgot. That was scary. You never forget. 22 is you. 22 is //you//. 22 is //''you''//. The hallway is eerily silent. You mumble "22" to yourself, more as a form of comfort than anything else. The paintings disappeared long ago. As you step on, you notice the floorboards creaking and the gradual decomposing of the wooden walls. It's like you're stepping through time with every step, the hallway aging as you pass through. You bump into a wall. Literally just a wall. That's it. You stare up at it for a few seconds before your gaze travels downwards. There's a mug there. It's brown and simple and far cleaner than your other one. You pick it up. (set: $mug to "2")It's a compulsion. And, hey, now you have two mugs. Well, that seems the end of that. It's time for a new plan. [[How about we turn around?->Go back (22)]] [[Try breaking the wall.->Break wall (22)]]

Yes, those are most definitely voices. You head closer and come to a large oak door that is at least twice your height. While somewhat terrifying, you don't let fear show on your face. You //never// let fear show on your face. You're the mighty Obverse, fixer of disasters, coaxer of problems. That doesn't stop the worry from churning in your guts, though. You can hear them now. //"Ay, yeah, we'll fuck him up real good-"// //"He's never gonna know what him 'em!"// Well. It sounds like they're talking about you, doesn't it? [[Throw open the door. Time for a fight!->Battle Time (Obverse)]] [[Let's try a sneak attack.->Sneak Time (Obverse)]]

Double-click this passage to edit it.

You turn on your heel and head back down the hallway. It only gets more and more disturbing the further you go. The place smells like decaying corpses, and you're sure that you've spotted a few bones sticking out of the walls. This is not the same hallway you went down at first. You crouch down and put your hands over your head. This is all far too much. You don't deserve this. You've never hurt anybody. "Hey." You peek up. A tall gray Gladar is staring back down at you, red eyes narrowed. There's a rather large lance strapped to his back. <center><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/14f068b1ab7ff91c720bf1723d356b88/tumblr_nx96s6Ov7l1sein28o1_500.png" alt="obverse neutral"></center> [["Obverse?"->Greet him (22)]] [["Leave me alone."->Deny Obverse (22)]]

You feebly slam your fists against the wall, to no avail. Exasperated, you take a step back and charge up a magic blast, thrusting your hands at the wall to attack. Absolutely nothing happens. A small bit of magic fizzles into oblivion. That's... going to be a problem. You hug yourself and mumble "22" a few times to remind yourself that everything's going to be fine. You hear shouting from the other side of the wall now. [[Try harder to break it.->Break the wall more (22)]] [[Let's give it up.->Go back (22)]] (set: $breakattempt to "yes")

Wait, that wasn't your name. [[Haha, yeah, it's actually Twenty-two.->Silent Hallway]]

It really doesn't work. You're far too weak. Your punches and kicks and scratches do nothing. It's like the wood was mixed with steel. You lean against the wall, panting. You haven't even put a dent in it. Past the wall, you hear the sounds of screams and then blood gushing. You tense. Sounds like a murder. [[Let's get out of here.->Go back (22)]]

(set: $obversepartner to "friendly")"Obverse?" You can't believe that of all the Gladar in all the Universes, you're stuck with //Obverse//, murderer of Gladar, creator of disasters, ruiner of days. He's an asshole, through and through. And now you're stuck with him. "That's my name. Don't wear it out." he offers you his hand. You accept, and he pulls you up. He's taller than you by about a foot, although that's more of a comfort than an annoyance now. You'd like someone that could protect you, even if it's Obverse the Damned. The hallway still reeks. You wipe your eyes. "W-Where are we?" "Hell if I know. I woke up in some dingy-ass room and picked up a cup." he digs into his jacket pocket and produces a bright white and pink polka-dotted mug. "If you want it, you can have it." You take the mug quietly. (set: $mug to 3)Obverse doesn't comment on the other two that you've stuffed into your inner cape pockets. "We have to get out of here," you mumble, playing with your hands. "Especially //here//." "You don't have to tell me twice." Obverse turns around, heading further into the decaying hallway. You hestitate, but follow. You don't want to be left behind. "There was a fork in the road back where I was. I came down this way because I could hear you sobbing." Your cheeks color. Did he really hear that? He pauses. There's an absolutely massive gaping hole in the floor, the boards rotted around it. There is nothing but blackness past it. Your stomach churns at the sight. [["Obverse... can you... help me?"->Obverse assists (22)]] [[Make the jump on your own.->Jump the hole (22)]]

(set: $obversepartner to "annoyed")"Leave me alone." Obverse's expression is unreadable. He looks somewhat annoyed. "No." You draw your knees up closer to your chest. "Why?" "You need to come with me. I'm getting you out of here." You sniffle. While that sounds good, you know better than to trust Obverse further than you can throw him. And you can't even pick him up. Then he picks //you// up. You blink as Obverse hefts you over one shoulder, legs dangling against his chest. "That wasn't an option. I'm getting you out of here whether you want my help or not." He carries you back down the hallway. The trip is mostly silent. You can't see where he's walking, although eventually he sets you down and you can turn around. There's an absolutely massive gaping hole in the floor, the boards rotted around it. There is nothing but blackness past it. Your stomach churns at the sight. Obverse walks forward, pushing a pink-white polka dot mug into your hands. You realize he's about to jump the hole. (set: $mug to 3) [["Wait! Obverse... can you... help me?"->Obverse assists (22)]] [[You can make the jump on your own!->Jump the hole (22)]]

"Obverse... can you... help me?" Obverse turns around, a look of annoyed disgust coloring his face. You step back, immediately regretting asking. To your surprise, Obverse strides over and sighs before picking you up. (set: $romance to it + 1)He's... actually not as strong as you expect. After all, this is the guy that murdered a handful of Gladar and keeps a bunch of war-addled Gladar under wraps in his house. He does manage to heft you up, though. His wings slightly unfurl and he jumps, beating them once. You both glide over the hole with ease. Obverse lands on the other side, expression smugly proud. You stare up at him quietly. He then remembers that he's holding you and hurriedly drops you. "Come on," he says, yanking his jacket collar up further. "We can't mope around. We need to get out." "Thank you." Obverse squares his shoulders and heads off without another word. You dart afterwards. [[You follow Obverse down the other fork.->Dead Room (22)]]

You watch Obverse easily hop across. While you're not nearly as confident in your abilities, you take a few steps back and make a running leap. The sensation of flying over nothingness is terrifying. It's made even more terrifying by a hand shooting out of the abyss and latching onto your ankle. You scream and crash against the other side, fingers digging into the floorboards. The hand yanks, made of sickly black smoke, like Fallen Gladar. You mumble your final words before the hand suddenly lets go. You crack open your eyes, glancing up. Obverse is standing above you, holding a rather long, red lance. Blood is dripping from the tip. You glance behind yourself at the receding hand, which now has a gash in it. The next thing you know, Obverse scoops you up into his arms. It takes him a few seconds to pick you up. "Be more fucking careful, dumbass," he hisses in your ear. "If we're getting out of here, we're getting out together, understand? Don't go and get yourself killed." (set: $romance to it + 2) He doesn't let go, either, walking down the hallway, still holding you. "I can walk," you protest weakly. "Evidently not, considering you got your ass nearly killed by... that //thing//." Obverse scowled. "I don't know what the hell is going on. It's pissing me off." You fall silent. The rest of the walk is quiet. [[You come to the room past the fork in the road.->Dead Room (22)]]

The room you two enter is very dark. (if: $bonemaze is "no")[Obverse uses a bit of magic to lit a candle. The entire room is suddenly bathed in warm light, all the candles lighting up along the edges. There's a corpse in the middle. You scream and jump back. (if: $obversepartner is "friendly")[Obverse takes a step back and wraps his arms around you. Your heart races. (set: $romance to it + 2)] (elseif: $obversepartner is "annoyed")[Obverse takes a step back, bumping into you. You instinctively wrap your arms around him. To your surprise, he doesn't try to push you away. (set: $romance to it + 1)] The corpse flickers and disappears, as if it were never there. You both are left panting, hearts racing. "I don't like it here," you whine out. "Same," Obverse grumbles, stepping forward.] The room is also very quiet. It's tense, and you cling to Obverse as you head in. He doesn't seem to mind. The place is covered with (link:"bones")[bones (//are those... pony bones?//)] and what looks like muscle pulled over the walls. Obverse keeps an arm around your shoulder, glancing around. He pulls out his lance. There's a door on the other side of the room. (if: $bonemaze is "yes")[It leads to the bone maze.] (if: $romance >10 and $bonemaze is "yes")[[["Do you want to kiss?"->"Do you want to kiss?"]]] [[Let's look around.->Look around Dead Room (22)]] [[Inspect the area the corpse was in.->Corpse checkout (22)]] [[Let's talk to Obverse.->Obverse dialogue begin (22)]] [[Head through the door.->Bone Maze (22)]]

You and Obverse pick around the room, searching for... anything, really. The atmosphere is terrifying, and you're not sure if you want to linger here any more. (if: $mug is 3)["Hey." You glance over at Obverse, who is reaching behind one of the wall tendrils. You nearly vomit as he pulls something out. "I found another one of those cups for you." This one has confetti printed on the sides. It smells like (link:"milk")[milk (//why would anyone drink milk in a room of bones and sinew?//)]. Someone apparently had a good time in... wherever this is. (set: $mug to 4)](else:)[This is where you got the confetti mug that smelled like milk. Obverse pulled it out of the wall. You don't want to think about it all that much.] Now what? [[Inspect the area the corpse was in.->Corpse checkout (22)]] [[Let's talk to Obverse.->Obverse dialogue begin (22)]] [[Head through the door.->Bone Maze (22)]]

You and Obverse scoot over to the center of the room. The corpse left behind a bit of blood. Obverse sticks a finger in it and tastes it. (set: $obversehealth to "sick") "Why?" is all you can manage, covering your mouth. "It's not fresh," he says, narrowing his eyes at the stain. "So the corpse //didn't// leave this. Something else did. Or the corpse did, but a very long time ago, and it didn't look that decomposed to me." "I don't want to analyze this." "This was your choice, buddy." Nothing of value seems to have been gained. (if: $obversehealth is "sick")[Obverse coughs slightly. You wonder if tasting that blood was such a good idea.] Now what? [[Let's look around.->Look around Dead Room (22)]] [[Let's talk to Obverse.->Obverse dialogue begin (22)]] [[Head through the door.->Bone Maze (22)]]

You should swap stories with your current partner. Maybe he knows more than you do, and maybe you can piece together this puzzle. "Hey, Obverse?" He glances over from inspecting one of the candles. "Yeah, 22?" (set: $talktoobverse to "yes") [["Do you have any idea what's going on?"]] [["What...do you think of me?"]] [["Nevermind. Let's look around."->Look around Dead Room (22)]] [["We should check out that corpse."->Corpse checkout (22)]] [["Let's get out of here."->Bone Maze (22)]]

(set: $bonemaze to "yes")You enter the next room. It looks like a bunch of hallways that branch off into other hallways. The walls are lined with skeletons; it feels like some sort of catacomb. There is a large dais in the center of the floor; you take care to not bump into it. "Looks like a maze," Obverse comments. "Kinda like a hub of sorts, I guess? We could always come back here to check out the other rooms."(if: $romance is >=50)(if: $mazemug is "no")[ You glance down at a mug. You're finding these things everywhere. (link:"You pick it up.")[You pick it up, pocketing it. (set: $mug to it + 1) (set: $mazemug to "yes")]] [[Check the dais.]] [[Head to the stagnant pool of water.->Quiet Pond]] [[Head to the Dead Room.->Dead Room (22)]] [[Head to the "Bone Zone".->Bone Zone]] [[Head to the throne room.->Throne of Femurs]] [[Head to the theatre room.->Theatre Room]] (if: $skeletonmug is "no")[[[Head to the Skeleton Door.->Skeleton Door 1]]](if: $skeletonmug is "yes")[[[Head to the Skeleton Door.->Skeleton Door 2]]]

"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Obverse averts his eyes. "As much as you do, buddy." "You're lying." "Am not." "Look at me," you manage, crossing your arms in an attempt to look formidable. Obverse laughs and flicks your eyepatch. You squeak, hands flying up defensively. (set: $romance to it + 1)He grins down at you. "Trust me, if I knew, I would've told you. I gain nothing from keeping secrets from you. We're stuck here together." "Where did you wake up?" "Some dark room. I headed out of a door and into another room. Found that mug in there." It still feels like Obverse is hiding something from you, but you guess it can't be bothered. [["What...do you think of me?"->"What...do you think of me?"]] [["Nevermind. Let's look around."->Look around Dead Room (22)]] [["We should check out that corpse."->Corpse checkout (22)]] [["Let's get out of here."->Bone Maze (22)]]

"What...do you think of me?" Obverse blinks. (if: $romance >=10)["You're really nice. I like being around you. I mean, I'm glad I'm stuck here with you, you know? You're not the worst partner to have." he gives a small laugh and ruffles your hair. You grumble and fix your hat.](else:)["You're a decent guy. I mean, we haven't really talked, but it's kinda cool that you managed to find your identity again after a Fallen Gladar stole it." he gives you a tiny smile.] "What do you think of //me//?" he spins on you. [["I like you a lot."]] [["You're okay."]] [["I hate you."]]

(set: $romance to it + 6)(set: $obverselove to "lovestruck")"I like you a lot." <center><img src="https://36.media.tumblr.com/8f1690f91e273d38ba7d5005145bcee2/tumblr_nx5ufryk4b1sein28o1_500.png"></center> You've never seen Obverse turn red in anything but anger before. He looks surprised, to say the least. Well, 'surprised' isn't giving him enough credit. He looks astonished. "What?" "I like you a lot. You're pretty nice, and you saved me back there." "B-But," he sputters. "Y-you don't hate me?" "Not really." Obverse turns back around, shuffling through everything else in the room. He's avoiding your gaze. [["Do you have any idea what's going on?"]] [["Nevermind. Let's look around."->Look around Dead Room (22)]] [["We should check out that corpse."->Corpse checkout (22)]] [["Let's get out of here."->Bone Maze (22)]]

(set: $romance to it +2)"You're okay." Obverse gives you a tired smile. "Thanks. I don't get that a lot, you know." He turns back to sifting through the random objects in the room. [["Do you have any idea what's going on?"]] [["Nevermind. Let's look around."->Look around Dead Room (22)]] [["We should check out that corpse."->Corpse checkout (22)]] [["Let's get out of here."->Bone Maze (22)]]

(set: $romance to it -3)(set: $obversepartner to "angry")"I hate you." Obverse frowns sharply. "You should consider that I've saved your sorry ass twice already before saying stuff like that, 22." He turns back to his work, arms crossed. [["Do you have any idea what's going on?"]] [["Nevermind. Let's look around."->Look around Dead Room (22)]] [["We should check out that corpse."->Corpse checkout (22)]] [["Let's get out of here."->Bone Maze (22)]]

friendly "say hello to obverse" annoyed "leave me alone" angry "i hate you" lovestruck "i like you a lot" obversehealth sick "licks blood" healthy "eats food"

You are now in the "Bone Zone". The neon sign above the entrance tells you that drinks and food are offered here. The room seems to be an abandoned bar. A few skeletons sit at the counter, slouched over, as if they had simply died while drinking. The place doesn't smell as bad as the other rooms, although it's definitely not peachy. Like almost everything else, the furniture and walls are made of various shades of wood. (if: $electricity is "on")[You notice that the lights are on, which probably means anything else electric here works.](else:)[The lights are off. The room is dark.] "What a wreck," Obverse mumbles, kicking a few bones out of his way. "Do you think there's anything that could get us out of here in this dingy piece of shit?" [[Investigate behind the counter.]] [[Poke around the tables.]] [[Inspect skeletons.]] [[Explore the far wall.]] [[Back to the maze.->Bone Maze (22)]]

You and Obverse are now in the throne room. It's not actually that wide; it's about half the size of the other rooms. A red carpet extends from the entrance to a massive seat made of more skeletons. You're beginning to tire of this bone theme, actually. It's not so scary anymore. The walls are lined with torches and windows, although past the windows is only heavily-packed dirt. You don't think trying to dig your way out is a good idea. "Gonna look for another mug in here?" Obverse teases lightly. [[Inspect the throne.]] [[Chat with Obverse.]] [[Poke around the room.]] [[Leave.->Bone Maze (22)]]

You and Obverse are in what looks like a normal cave carved out from a rock. The entire place is very damp and musty. Grass surrounds a small pool of somewhat-dirty looking water in the center of the area. No flowers grow here. (link:"Get some water.")[ You grab some of the water from the pool. (set: $water to "yes")] [[Have a seat.]] [[Get in the pool.]] [[Leave.->Bone Maze (22)]]

There is a huge door made of various bones. Ribcages line the inside, while skulls form the outer border. The handles are made of what looks like broken femurs. You're beginning to hate this place. "This must be the way out," Obverse murmurs, putting a hand on the door and sizing it up. It's over twice his height, and he's almost twelve feet tall. You're completely dwarfed. "I'll bet you anything it's locked." (if: $romance >30)[ Oh, hey, you notice (link:"something you haven't seen before.")[something you haven't seen before. It's a mug decorated with hearts. How funky. You pocket it.(set: $mug to it + 1)(set: $skeletonmug to "yes")]] You tug on the handles with all your might. Obverse wraps his arms around your waist and helps you pull. Alas, the door does not budge. [[Return to the maze.->Bone Maze (22)]]

You lean over the counter, searching for anything at all. (if: $bottle is "full")[While you find no mugs here, you do find something else: a bottle of unopened red wine. You lean back and show it to Obverse. "Holy hells," he says, picking it out of your hands. "This is the really expensive stuff to mortals, isn't it? I've had some of this before. It's super good." "I don't drink alcohol," you say nervously as Obverse pops it open. "Pussy," he says, rolling his eyes. You silently watch as he chugs about a quarter of the bottle in one fell swoop. Obverse lowers the bottle and wipes off his mouth. "Ay, 22, you need to try this." (set: $obversedrunk to "yes") "I'm twenty-two," you whisper to yourself. "Yeah, and you should have some of this!" [["You shouldn't drink so much...."->CHUG]] [["I don't want any."]] [["I bet you can't chug it!"->CHUG]]](else:)[You nearly knock over the bottle of wine that Obverse drank earlier. Unfortunately (for him, at least) there's no other bottles that you can find. He watches you, still looking somewhat drunk. You really hope that's not going to affect his response time. Your fingers close around something else, however. "Anything else? We could pour you a shot," he offers. "No." you lean back. "There's nothing else but this." It's a manilla folder. You open it and peer inside. There's a few sheets of paper, talking about some sort of experiments. Building rooms that reflect one's mental state. Testing out how Fell magic affects Gladar. You feel ill and put it back under the counter. Perhaps you shouldn't unturn every stone in here. "You alright?" "Yeah." [[Back away from the counter.->Bone Zone]]]

You poke around the tables a little. There's some scraps of food here and there. It doesn't smell expired or rotten, and there's absolutely no flies around here. There's a few scraps of meat around. Obverse frowns at you. "You aren't thinking of eating that, are you?" (if: $obversehealth is "sick")["I don't know. Did you really think licking that blood was a good idea?" you scoff.](else:)["Maybe. What do you think?"] [[Eat the food yourself.]] [[Force Obverse to eat it.]] [[Nevermind.->Bone Zone]]

You check out the skeletons. There's shards of a broken mug here, which you pocket. (set: $mug to it + 1) Obverse raises an eyebrow at your new mug-hoarding tendancies, but doesn't ask any questions. That's probably for the better. "It's like someone dumped a whole city here... wherever 'here' is," Obverse says quietly, picking up a femur. "Do you think these were Gladar or mortals?" "I hope they're not Gladar. I don't want to end up like them," you whisper. Obverse glances at you. "You won't, trust me. Let's dig around a little more." [[Investigate behind the counter.]] [[Poke around the tables.]] [[Explore the far wall.]] [[Back to the maze.->Bone Maze (22)]]

You take a bite of the food. Obverse makes a retching noise behind you, although you know he isn't actually vomiting. The food tastes fine. Somewhat underseasoned, but fine. You pocket some of it for later. (set: $food to "yes") [["You should eat some yourself."->Force Obverse to eat it.]] [[That's enough snacking.->Bone Zone]]

Obverse makes a disgusted face as you offer him a scrap of the meat. "No way in hell." "Please eat it?" His expression sours further. You put on your best pitiful look, eye wide, pouting. "Fine," he grumbles, snatching it out of your hands. "Don't expect me to eat anything else." He swallows it. (set: $obversehealth to "healthy")"Disgusting," he mumbles, "but I do feel a little better, I guess." He puts some in his jacket pocket. (set: $food to "yes") Now that that's settled, you two can do something else. [[Investigate behind the counter.]] [[Inspect skeletons.]] [[Explore the far wall.]] [[Back to the maze.->Bone Maze (22)]]

You crack open your eyes. Everything is darkness around you. You can't feel your (link:"horn")[ horn (//do I even have a horn?//)] or wings. Everything is numb, and your ears are ringing. The past millenia of your life are nothing but a blur. You can't even remember your own godsdamned name. (set: $key to "no key") (set: $mug to "No mug") (set: $bonemaze to "no") (set: $magic to "no") (set: $bottle to "full") (link:"Let's turn on the lights.")[Lights should definitely be your first priority. You find the switch after fumbling around for a few seconds. The room is made of spruce wood and fading carpets. A table sits near a heavily-chained door. A few lights flicker on an electric chandelier, showing the only light in the entire room. On the table is a mug of some sort, a paper bag, and a small chest. The entire place smells like wet animal. You attempt to teleport, but your magic won't even activate. It's as if someone flicked a switch, and you can't even use it. [[Inspect mug.]] [[Inspect paper bag.]] [[Inspect small chest.]] [[Inspect chained door.]]]

(set: $bottle to "empty")"I can drink as little or as much as I want!" Obverse howls. "And I don't care if you think I need more or less!" You blink as he downs another quarter. This might've been a bad idea. Obverse is teetering on his feet. "Are you really that lightweight...?" you ask. "That's just wine." "SHUT UP." Alright, he really is that lightweight. Go figure. You always thought Obverse could drink anything. He downs the last half of the bottle before you can say anything else and slams it on the counter. You frown and watch him slide into a barstool, patting the one next to him. "Come sit with me." You linger. "Come sit." You sit down next to him. "I don't think getting drunk is a good idea right now," you mumble. Obverse scoffs and lies his head down on the counter. "I'm fuckin' stuck in the middle of some underground Fallen Gladar city with 22. I can get drunk if I want." Your heart stops. "Wait. Fallen Gladar?" "Yeah," he mumbles, waving a hand. "Killed one off earlier. Was talkin' about you, actually." "What?" "But that ain't important, is it?" Obverse sneers, leaning in. He's close enough for you to smell his breath. You gulp. (if: $romance >=10)["Gimme a kiss." (set: $romance to it + 10) "What?" is all you can manage. "We're stuck down here, ain't we?" Obverse waves his hands around again. "Might as well make the most of it." You open your mouth to protest, but your words are eaten as the taller Gladar abruptly leans forward and sloppily presses his mouth to yours. You sit there, half in-shock as Obverse attempts to kiss you. He's drunk right now; he's not the best kisser you've ever experienced. He does seem to be enjoying himself, though, by the way that his hands are tugging at your cape clasp and the noises that he's making in his throat. A hard push on his chest is all it takes to get him off. "Obverse." "Why'd you have to go and do that?" he whines. "I was just-" "Obverse, you're drunk, for one. For two, //why//?" you cross your arms, for added measure. He glances at his hands, frowning for a second. You note the light red on his cheeks again. "W-Well, I-" "-Is this really because we're alone in here?" you press. "No." You fall silent. "I-I mean, I guess, but like... you're... I don't know." Obverse sighs. "I mean, you came back from being Fell. You found yourself after the Fallen Gladar stole your identity, and you're the only Gladar that has done that. Ever. That's the ultimate form of problem-solving, if you ask me." Your glare softened. This was... weird. Unusual. You'd often joked that Obverse couldn't care for anyone but himself. "So, like, I always kinda wanted to... talk to you, I guess. And now we're stuck here." A worry gnaws at your stomach. "Did you set this all up?" Obverse jumps. "What?! No! Of course not! I'm not dumb enough to build such an elaborate trap that I get stuck //with// you." You roll your eyes. Obverse leans forward again. "Do you want a drink or not?" he murmurs, breath against your ear. [["I'm good, thanks."]] [["Well, one drink can't hurt...."]]](else:)[(set: $obversepartner to "drunk")Obverse leers at you for a second before leaning back. He lies his head back down on the table. "Just carry on without me, babe." You decide to ignore the nickname. [[Poke around the tables.]] [[Inspect skeletons.]] [[Explore the far wall.]] [[Back to the maze.->Bone Maze (22)]]]

"I-I don't want any." you curse your perpetual stutter. Obverse's frown deepens. He leans closer to you. "You //sure//?" "Yes." He sighs, setting the bottle on the counter. "Suit yourself then, //baby//." "22." "It was an insult," he grumbles. "I'm twenty-two," you press, hugging yourself. "I'm just twenty-two. Thirty minus eight, twelve and ten, fourty-four divided by two. Don't call me anything but 22." Silence befalls you two. "Alright," Obverse says, somewhat uncertainly. (set: $romance to it - 2) [[Resume searching.->Bone Zone]]

"I'm good, thanks." Obverse hisses and leans back, frowning. He looks sorely disappointed. "A drink can't hurt you, 22," he says, but you shake your head. He sighs, glancing around before standing up, slightly wobbly. You offer your hand for support, and he takes it. It's warm. (set: $romance to it + 1) "I'm twenty-two." "Yeah, that's you. We might as well 'keep looking around, then," he mumbles. [[Poke around the tables.]] [[Inspect skeletons.]] [[Explore the far wall.]] [[Back to the maze.->Bone Maze (22)]]

"Well, one drink can't hurt...." (set: $romance to it + 5)A massive grin breaks out on Obverse's face. It then occurs to you that he drank the entire bottle. How is he- He leans forward and kisses you again, the smell of alcohol permeating his breath. While the smell is gross, the kiss is not. Obverse seems to have sobered after your tiny chat, his kissing far better than the mess earlier. It doesn't last too long. Obverse pulls his face away from yours and rests his head on your shoulder. He slides forward, face falling down until it lands squarely in your lap. "You're a real sweetheart, 22," he whispers. The room is blessingly quiet. You close your eyes. "I'm twenty-two." "Yes, yes you are." You sit like that for a while longer. It feels like half an hour before you nudge Obverse, who sneezes and sits up, blinking. "We should get back to looking," you say, nudging him. "I wanna get out of here." Obverse sleepily nods, rubbing his eyes. Had he been napping? "Yes, you're right." [[Resume searching.->Bone Zone]]

You check the dais. It's wide and circular, with two sets of numbers that seem to change every time you look at them. Next to the numbers are faded descriptions, explaining each. (print: $mug) MUGS (print: $romance) ROMANCE POINTS "I wonder what this all means?" Obverse mumbles. "Maybe it has something to do with the door." [[Ignore the dais for now.->Bone Maze (22)]]

You and Obverse rush out of the hellhole you were trapped in. There's stairs after the door. Obverse scoops you up and runs up them. There's a trapdoor. You nearly groan, but Obverse slams an elbow into it and it flies open. He sticks his head out first, then motions to you that it's safe. You crawl out of the hole. You're both standing in a derelict part of Universe Core, far away from civilization. The wind is howling and the moon is hanging in the sky, but you're //free//. You're ''FREE''. You can escape. You start laughing. It's just too much, after the bones and skeletons and corpses. Obverse picks you up and swings you around, laughing the whole while. You meet his laughs with a kiss. It doesn't take long to stumble back to the City of Gladar. Everyone that's still awake seems surprised to see you - and even more surprised to see Obverse //smiling//. And then they notice you're both holding hands. They don't say anything, but a few glance your way when Obverse drags you into his house. You follow in step behind him, smiling. "Fuck the Fallen Gladar," he says, pulling you close again and hugging you. You hug back. "Agreed." You stay like that for a few minutes before pulling away. You're both out of breath for some reason. "Hey, um... 22?" Obverse begins, letting go of your arms. "Yeah?" He glances back at you, tugging on his jacket collar. "So, um, where does this all leave us?" "What do you mean?" "Like, all of that stuff down there. The kissing, the hanging out, the confessions and stuff." he swallows. "Is... are we a thing now? Or was that just kinda left there?" You take a minute to appreciate the fact that you're probably the only person to see Obverse nervous. "It's real," you assure him, taking his hand. He blinks for a few seconds before smiling. He looks like a dork. "Th-thanks, 22. Do we tell anyone-?" "Not unless you want to. Want: verb, '//have a desire to possess or do (something); wish for//'." you hug him. "It doesn't matter to me." Obverse wraps his arms around you, hugging tight. "That's good. It doesn't matter to me, either. As long as you're happy." You both stay like that for a while. <center>[[End Credits]]</center>

"Do you want to kiss?" Obverse nearly drops his lance and turns to face you, eyes wide, cheeks flushed. "What?" "Do you want to kiss?" you repeat. "W... why?" "Why not?" Obverse stares at you for a second longer before leaning forward and pressing his mouth to yours. It's a very light kiss, very shy, as if Obverse isn't sure he's ready to explore his passions yet. When he finally does pull away, it's with a small smile and red cheeks.(set: $romance to it + 4) <center><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/acd67cd09fc30684b87f2b20e0b9f7ed/tumblr_nx96s6Ov7l1sein28o2_500.png" alt="obverse happy"></center> "That was nice," he mumbles. [[Back to the task at hand.->Dead Room (22)]]

You head over to the far wall. Obverse (if: $obversedrunk is "yes")[stumbles](elseif: $obversepartner is "drunk")[remains by the counter.](else:)[follows quietly] behind you. This area isn't as interesting. There's a light switch labelled "MAIN POWER"(if: $weapon is "none")[, and a broken steel pipe next to it]. The wallpaper here is peeling. It smells like someone stuffed a dead body in the walls. You're beginning to wonder what edgy tryhard built this place. (if: $electricity is "on")[(link: "Flip the switch.")[You press the switch. The lights abruptly turn off. It takes a few blinks to get used to.(set: $electricity to "off")]](if: $electricity is "off")[(link: "Flip the switch.")[You press the switch. The lights abruptly turn on. The light is blinding. (set: $electricity to "on")]] (if: $weapon is "none")[(link: "Take the steel pipe.")[You pick up the pipe, swing it around a few times. Now you're armed and don't have to be fully dependent on Obverse. (set: $weapon to "steel pipe")]] [[Return to the room at large.->Bone Zone]]

The throne is made of various skulls and ribs. It actually looks somewhat badass, unlike everything else here.(if: $mug is > 6)[ You're starting to become desensitized. You're not sure if that's good or bad.] Obverse's face lights up at the sight of it. He runs towards it, unstrapping his lance. "Oi, 22, watch this!" He slides into the seat easily. You initially wince, expecting him to be injured by the various bones sticking out, but he doesn't look pained at all. "What do you think? Does it suit me?" he strikes a pose - lance over his lap, arms crossed in his lap, one leg over the other, smirking down at you. [["Sure, tryhard."]] [["Of course it does."]] [["Not at all."]]

"Hey, Obverse?" He glances at you. "Yeah, what is it?" [["Do you think we'll get out of here?"]] [["Are you holding up okay?"]] [["Do you need a break?"]] [["Do you know what those screams earlier were?"]] [["Nevermind."->Throne of Femurs]]

(if: $pokemug is "yes")[You dig around the room a little. Obverse quietly watches. (set: $explore to (either: 2,3,4,5)) (if: $explore is 2)[You lift the carpet. A few beetles scuttle away, the first sign of life you've seen so far.](if: $explore is 3)[You nudge around a few scattered bones. While amusing, it accomplishes nothing.](if: $explore is 4)[You're getting fed up with this piece of crap trap. You don't know why you're here, you don't know what the purpose of this all was, and wandering around is doing nothing. You kick the floor, scuff your toe, and then trip trying to cradle your injury. Obverse manages to catch you, giving you a worried smile. (set: $romance to it + 3)"You alright?" You hurriedly nod and right yourself again, ignoring the pain in your foot.](if: $explore is 5)[You glance up at the ceiling, and take note of the chandelier up there. (if: $electricity is "yes")[It's turned on, clearly electric, creaking slightly as it waves back and forth.](if: $electriity is "no")[The lights are off, and it's not moving. You wonder if that's signficant.]] [[You give up exploring.->Throne of Femurs]] [[You poke around a little more.->Poke around the room.]]](if:$pokemug is "no")[You dig around the room a little. Obverse quietly watches. (set: $explore to (either: 1,2,3,4,5)) (if: $explore is 1)[(set: $pokemug to "yes")You find a bloody mug that you hadn't noticed before. It's absolutely disgusting, as if someone had poured their guts into it. Obverse helps you clean it with the corner of his jacket and hands it to you.(set: $mug to it + 1)](if: $explore is 2)[You lift the carpet. A few beetles scuttle away, the first sign of life you've seen so far.](if: $explore is 3)[You nudge around a few scattered bones. While amusing, it accomplishes nothing.](if: $explore is 4)[You're getting fed up with this piece of crap trap. You don't know why you're here, you don't know what the purpose of this all was, and wandering around is doing nothing. You kick the floor, scuff your toe, and then trip trying to cradle your injury. Obverse manages to catch you, giving you a worried smile. (set: $romance to it + 3)"You alright?" You hurriedly nod and right yourself again, ignoring the pain in your foot.](if: $explore is 5)[You glance up at the ceiling, and take note of the chandelier up there. (if: $electricity is "on")[It's turned on, clearly electric, creaking slightly as it waves back and forth.](if: $electriity is "off")[The lights are off, and it's not moving. You wonder if that's signficant.]] [[You give up exploring.->Throne of Femurs]] [[You poke around a little more.->Poke around the room.]]]

"Do you think we'll get out of here?" Obverse's expression flickers for a second between surprised and confident. He settles on distressed. <center><img src="https://36.media.tumblr.com/2892f9216c24b0356dacbaf98517e6f0/tumblr_nx96s6Ov7l1sein28o4_500.png" alt="obverse worried"></center> "What? Of course we will! If push comes to shove, I'll just bust our way out. That door can't hold against me." You decide not to mention that Obverse had trouble even picking you up earlier, let alone ramming down a massive door made of bones and hard wood.(if: $breakattempt is "yes")[ Hell, you couldn't even break that wall earlier.] On top of that, neither of you can use your magic right now. "If you're really worried about that, don't be," he says, stepping close, voice lowering. "I know you probably don't want to be stuck here with me, but at least use that to boost yourself up: the faster we get out, the faster you can get away from me." [["I don't mind being stuck with you."]] [["Yeah, I'd rather be with literally anyone else."]]

"Are you holding up okay?" Obverse pauses to think, tapping his chin. (if: $obversehealth is "sick")["Not really. My stomach kinda hurts. Maybe I'm hungry? But thanks for asking, anyways. It means a lot."](else:)["Yeah, I'm doing good. Thanks for asking. It means a lot." (Set: $romance to it + 3)] You smile at him. "How about you?" he asks, glancing down. "You okay?" [["Yeah."]] [["...Not really."]]

"Do you need a break?" Obverse glances at the windows for a second before glancing back. (set: $obversebreak to (either: 1,2,3))(if: $obversebreak is 1)["No, I'm good, thanks. We should get back to searching." You nod.](if: $obversebreak is 2)["Yeah, but just a little one." You sit down together.(if: $food is "yes")[ You both nibble on the food you picked up in that bar.] Obverse cracks a few bad jokes. They aren't very funny, but you laugh anyways. "I'm feeling a bit better," he says. You stand up.(set: $romance to it + 2)](if:$obversebreak is 3)["I'm actually kinda tired, yeah." You both settle down on the floor. Obverse curls up,(if: $romance is >15)[ resting his head in your lap and] humming quietly. You both stay there for a while, catching your breaths. "I hope we escape soon," you mumble. "Me too." Eventually, Obverse shifts and pulls himself up. He rubs his eyes and gives you a small smile. (set: $romance to it + 5)You smile back.] [["Do you think we'll get out of here?"]] [["Are you holding up okay?"]] [["Do you know what those screams earlier were?"]] [["Nevermind."->Throne of Femurs]]

<center>Thank you for playing Mug Quest! While I've written a few text adventures before, this is one of the few that I've actually completed, and it means a lot to me that you played it. I would definitely recommend a few playthroughs. While nothing is too in-depthly changed, some little stuff is changed, depending on how you play. I'll just say that the starting rooms up until you pick your name don't matter, so you can easily just breeze through those. While the changes are mostly flavor text, you can take the romance down slightly different routes. Of course, you always need the same amount to beat the game: 50 or more points, and 10 mugs. Alright, I'd like to extend a thanks to <a href="http://flightrising.com/main.php?p=lair&tab=userpage&id=72899">Purnip</a> for being my amazing general helper and playtester! Without them, Mug Quest wouldn't have been possible. They assisted me with a ton of stuff, even if they didn't write anything directly. I also want to say thank you to everyone that's following Numbers on any platform. Without you guys, I don't know if I'd still have the energy to make all this stuff for it. It means a lot to me to see every note or reblog on my posts. If you're interested in making your own games, I reccomend the same engine I used: <a href="http://www.twinery.org/">Twine 2</a>, which is free, online, and vastly superior to the multiple other methods I've tried. I highly recommend it. You can also download it and Sugarcube, which uses the Twine 1 format, but you can't use Sugarcube online. All art and writing was drawn by <a href="http://www.i-nonstop.tumblr.com/">me</a>. If you're interested in keeping up with Numbers Story, check out the <a href="http://www.numbers-story.tumblr.com/">Tumblr</a>. There's a link to other sites that Numbers is on in that Tumblr, as well! If you'd like to do me a favor, I have a survey about Mug Quest that you can fill out <a href="http://goo.gl/forms/5yT0d3zcSs">here</a>. If you fill it out, I can make my next text adventure even better! Thank you again for playing!</center>

You and Obverse are now in the theatre room. It's not that impressive - a row of small seats sits in a line in front of a small, wooden stage. On either side of the stage are large red curtains. The current backdrop is a handpainted sky, with a line of grass at the bottom to signify the ground. The sun is smiling. There are very small skeletons in the seats. You think it best to not disturb them. "What a hellhole," Obverse mumbles. [[Look at the skeletons.]] [[Enter the stage.]] [[Leave.->Bone Maze (22)]]

There is a huge door made of various bones. Ribcages line the inside, while skulls form the outer border. The handles are made of what looks like broken femurs. You're beginning to hate this place. "This must be the way out," Obverse murmurs, putting a hand on the door and sizing it up. It's over twice his height, and he's almost twelve feet tall. You're completely dwarfed. "I'll bet you anything it's locked." (if: $romance <50 and $mug <10)[ You tug on the handles with all your might. Obverse wraps his arms around your waist and helps you pull. Alas, the door does not budge.](if: $romance >=50 and $mug >=10)[ You tug on the door, expecting it to remain locked. To your surprise, it swings open easily, although you didn't insert a key. You share a look with Obverse. [[Exit this hellhole.]]] [[Return to the maze.->Bone Maze (22)]]

"I don't mind being stuck with you." <center><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/acd67cd09fc30684b87f2b20e0b9f7ed/tumblr_nx96s6Ov7l1sein28o2_500.png" alt="obverse smiling"></center> (set: $romance to it + 2) A warm smile blossoms on Obverse's face. You smile back at him. "Thanks, 22. It means a lot to me. I don't mind being stuck with you, either." [["Are you holding up okay?"]] [["Do you need a break?"]] [["Do you know what those screams earlier were?"]] [["Nevermind."->Throne of Femurs]]

(set: $romance to it - 3)"Yeah, I'd rather be with literally anyone else." Obverse's smile becomes slightly more forced, even though //he// was the one who'd voiced the exact same idea two seconds earlier. "Right." This seems a lot more awkward now. "Why are you upset?" you press. The forced smile still doesn't leave his face. "I dunno, //maybe// that was kinda harsh? Ever think of that? I didn't expect you of all people to say something like that." You frown. "What do you mean?" "I mean, you don't seem like a mean person!" Obverse throws his hands up. "You're just kinda quiet and you do your own thing. You never let anyone bother you! You're independent and you literally pulled yourself back from the brink of death! That's why I respected you!" You blink. "What?" "Y-yeah, I said I respected you," he sputters, rubbing his arm. "It's no big deal." [["I... I always thought that you were a massive jerk who hated everyone."]] [[Drop the convo.->Throne of Femurs]]

"I... I always thought that you were a massive jerk who hated everyone." Obverse's eyes flick to the floor. "Yeah, I know. Everybody does. But, like, I'm not //that// much of a jerk." You cross your arms. "Okay, well, I know a lot of people don't like me because they //perceive// my actions to be jerk-ish." You continue to wait patiently. "...Okay, yeah, sometimes I'm an asshole." You decide not to press further. This is the best you're going to get out of him. He sits down, slowly. "I don't really mind it, I guess, but it does push away people I want to talk to and get to know better. I mean, I don't think of myself as mean. I'm blunt, sure, but somebody's gotta say the truth every once in a while. And I always fix whatever I mess up." "But you mess up stuff on purpose," you continue, "like Continuum. When you killed him." "He's fine now, isn't he? Reformed in hours." "That's not the point," you argue. "You //killed// him." Obverse rolls his eyes. "Oh, come on, now you sound like Nonstop." You can feel anger simmering in your stomach. "That's ''not'' the point! What the HELL, Obverse?! Don't you have a concept of the worth of life?" "He's just going to reform. It's not a big deal." "What if he //didn't//?" "He was going to." You stare at Obverse bitterly.(if: $romance is >20)[ While you liked being around him so far, it's times like these that really hit home why you avoided him previously.] He's sitting on the ground, one knee up, arm resting on his knee, staring back up at you. "You don't get it," you finally manage. He makes a face. "22, c'mon. Let's just stop-" "-No. You really don't get it. Maybe - maybe it's not the same thing. But I've died before, too." Obverse blinks. "You've never had to reform. You've never faced down a Fallen Gladar." Realization dawns on his face. "It's not just that he's going to reform later," you insist. "It's not a given that he's coming back. When I died, I reformed far away from the City because no body went looking for me - they all assumed that I'd been consumed." "22-" "-Shut up. A phrasal verb of shut. //'Stop (or cause someone to stop) talking.'//." Obverse shuts up. "I reformed right next to a Fallen Gladar. And guess what happened to me? Actually, no, I'll straight-up tell you: it took //everything// from me. It took my old name, my old appearance, my voice, my clothes, my magic, my dignity, my reputation, my friends, my family. I was stripped to nothing. I wandered for ''millenia''." Obverse is blessedly silent, staring up at you with wide eyes. "So, no, reforming isn't just a simple 'oh, it'll happen for sure!' I'm sure Continuum wouldn't have had his identity stolen the way I did, but it's... death means a lot more to me than just a way to come back from our base forms. I'm not the old me anymore. I'll never get to be that person again. All I remember of that life is it being ripped away from me. I have to stand here and live knowing that a huge chunk of myself is missing, that I'm... I'm not...." Everything is hazy. Your head's spinning. "I... I'm... not the real...." Obverse mumbles a curse. You see him scramble to his feet before you teeter and fall over, clutching your head. It hurts. You can't remember what you are. Or where you are. Someone's shaking you. "You're 22," Obverse manages. "U-um, thirty minus eight, twelve-" "-plus ten," you finish as the world stops rotating. You blink, and slowly look up at Obverse. "22. That's me." "A-are you okay?" he looks legitimately worried. "What happened?" "I... it doesn't happen a lot anymore," you say, pressing closer to him. "But... sometimes I get confused - or stuck, really. I mean... I don't remember my old life, and sometimes it makes me dissociate. I can't really explain it better than that, sorry...." Obverse wraps his arms around you. He's silent for a few minutes. "That's okay," he says, finally. "I think I get it. Don't talk about that stuff anymore, okay?" "Okay," you whisper. It's nice to have someone understand. (set: $romance to it + 10)You rest in his arms for a while, catching your breath and mumbling ways to get to twenty-two. [["Are you holding up okay?"]] [["Do you need a break?"]] [["Do you know what those screams earlier were?"]] [["Nevermind."->Throne of Femurs]]

"Sure, tryhard." Obverse's expression quickly goes from smug to offended. "Excuse me?" "It suits you," you continue, leaning your weight on one foot and grinning. You try to hide it with your hand, but the other Gladar has already caught sight of it. "Oh, you think I'm edgy, don't you," he hisses, grinning back, picking up on the joke. You shrug. "A little." He narrows his eyes. "Okay. A lot. Lot: pronoun, informal. '//a large number or amount; a great deal//.'" "Don't make me come down there," he warns, the grin widening. (set: $romance to it + 5) "Go ahead," you tease. You blink, and suddenly Obverse is right in front of you, smiling down at you. You glance up at him, opening your mouth to speak.(if: $romance is >=30)[ Obverse cuts you off by cupping your face and rather passionately kissing you. You blink, at a loss for words. He pulls away after a few seconds. "I warned you," he says, still grinning.(set: $romance to it + 4) "Yes," you manage, blinking, "yes, you did."](else:)[ Obverse sticks his hand in your mouth. You choke inititally, then bite down. He retracts his hand with a yelp, nursing his injuring fingers. "What the heck!?" you sputter. "I warned you," Obverse grumbles, eyeing the fresh bite marks. You stick out your tongue in disgust. "Have you washed your hands at all?" "There aren't any running sinks in here, are there, dumbass?" he fires back. You both glare at each other for a few minutes before you both burst into laughter. Obverse claps you on the shoulder with his uninjured hand.] [[Chat with Obverse.]] [[Poke around the room.]] [[Leave.->Bone Maze (22)]]

"Of course it does." Obverse grins even more. "Wanna see something hilarious?" "Sure," you say, crossing your arms and leaning against the far wall. Obverse clears his throat. He covers his right eye, then shouts in a high-pitched voice: "My name's Beginning and I hate everyone, blah blah blah! Do this, listen to me, I'm so smart!" You raise an eyebrow. "Wait," he says, in his normal voice, "//there's more//." Obverse fake-cries and hunches over. "I'm Restless and I'm the biggest doormat in town. I fuck my mortals. Daily. Sadface." That one gets a light laugh out of you. While you don't have such a sour opinion of the Cacaesthesia, seeing //Obverse// do this is kinda funny. Plus, it's pretty cute that he's trying to make you laugh. "I'm Neverend," he continues, beaming, this time hefting an imaginary axe. "I would suck Beginning's dick. If she had one. Violently." You burst into laughter. Obverse's smile widens, clearly pleased. He coughs, wrapping his collar around his neck to mimic a sweater. "And I'm Nonstop. There's a stick so far up my ass that not even Continuum could fuck it out." You double over, laughing. This is far too much. There's something about the crude way Obverse is speaking - the council members would //never// publicly use such language, and to imagine them doing so - it's hilarious. Obverse looks absolutely proud of himself, grinning, watching you laugh. This was totally worth it. (set: $romance to it + 5) You eventually recover, and Obverse slides off the throne and rejoins you. [[Chat with Obverse.]] [[Poke around the room.]] [[Leave.->Bone Maze (22)]]

"Not at all." (set: $romance to it - 4) Obverse rolls his eyes. "Haha, very funny, 22." "I'm not joking." He stares at you. "I'm really not. You don't look good at all." "Fine," he snaps, sliding off and dusting his pants off. He attaches his lance to his back again, scowling the whole while. You watch silently. He glances at you a few times. [[Chat with Obverse.]] [[Poke around the room.]] [[Leave.->Bone Maze (22)]]

"Yeah." Obverse smiles quietly at you. "That's good. Just lemme know if you're stressed out, okay? We can take a little break. There's no time limit here." "Thanks," you manage. [["Do you think we'll get out of here?"]] [["Do you need a break?"]] [["Do you know what those screams earlier were?"]] [["Nevermind."->Throne of Femurs]]

"...Not really." Obverse's smile is wiped off his face. "What's the matter?" [["I'm stressed."]] [["I want to go home."]] [["I'm hungry."]] [["Nevermind."->Throne of Femurs]]

"I'm stressed." Obverse's frown softens. "You're stressed out...? Oh, 22." He walks over quietly, holding out his arms. You collapse into the hug. (Set: $romance to it + 1) "What are you stressed about?" "Everything," you mumble, closing your eyes. "We're stuck here and I'm tired and I don't deserve this and it's not fair at all." You feel Obverse's fingers gently running through your hair. It's comforting. "...I know that a lot of that seems like it's out of our control, but... hey, consider that the more we press on, the faster we'll find out how to escape, and the sooner we can get out of there. Does... does that help?" While it's clearly obvious that Obverse has no idea how to comfort people, the thought is reassuring, and the bit of logic does help. You nod against his chest before pulling away. "Feeling any better?" he asks, not unkindly. "Yeah." [["Do you think we'll get out of here?"]] [["Do you need a break?"]] [["Do you know what those screams earlier were?"]] [["Nevermind."->Throne of Femurs]]

"I want to go home." "Oh." Obverse blinks. "...Oh." You say nothing as he steps forward and gently hugs you. "I'm sorry," he manages. "I... I promise I'll do my best to get us out of here, as fast as I can." "I can help," you mumble, but you lean into the hug anyways and wrap your arms around Obverse. He's warm. (set: $romance to it + 2) [["Do you think we'll get out of here?"]] [["Do you need a break?"]] [["Do you know what those screams earlier were?"]] [["Nevermind."->Throne of Femurs]]

"I'm hungry." Even if Gladar aren't 'supposed' to hunger or feel starvation, Obverse doesn't comment.(if: $food is "yes")[ Rather, Obverse beams as he pulls out some of the food you acquired from the Bone Zone. He offers it to you, and you snack a little. While not entirely filling, it does take the edge off the hunger. (Set: $romance to it + 4)](elseif: $food is "no")[ Obverse just winces. "We don't have any food. But there might've been some in that bar, the Bone Zone. If you want, we can go check it out.] "Are you thirsty, too?" he asks. You nod.(if: $water is "yes")[ Obverse pulls out a flask, the one you got from the quiet pool. While you're sure the water is full of bacteria, you don't find yourself caring. It's not like you'd get sick from it, anyways. You chug it when he offers it to you. (Set: $romance to it + 4)](if: $water is "no")[ Obverse frowns. "We don't have any water. But we could get some from that pond we saw earlier if we backtrack."] "Feeling any better?" he asks kindly. You shrug. [["Do you think we'll get out of here?"]] [["Do you need a break?"]] [["Do you know what those screams earlier were?"]] [["Nevermind."->Throne of Femurs]]

1. #1 Best Gladar: found at start 2. Pink/White Polka dots: Obverse finds this in the empty room 3. Brown/simple/clean: 22 finds this at the end of the hallway 4. Festive red/green mug: [main character] finds this in the maze of bones or flower crossway 5. Confetti mug. Found in either dead room (22) or garden room (obverse) 6. Broken mug. Found in either BONE ZONE (22) or waterfall cave (obverse) 7. Either GRUESOME MUG or FLOWER MUG. found in throne of femurs (22) or petal cave (obverse) 8. Cup of Tea. Main stage (22) or Fairy Circle (obverse) 9. Paper coffee cup. Quiet stagnant water (22) or Cake room (obverse) 10. Heart mug: [main] finds this once romance points reach 20, in the final room (big skeleton door or big rainbow door).

You lean in and nudge the skeletons slightly. They shift. "Hey, 22, don't touch those," Obverse says, eyeing them. "They don't look like adults. Leave 'em alone." "These must be mortals," you say. "There's no wingbones or horn bone, which means they can't possibly be Gladar. Where are we?" Obverse's hand comes down on your shoulder, and you jump. "I said, //leave them alone//," he hisses in your ear, voice dangerously low. (set: $romance to it - 4) You decide to leave the skeletons alone. [[Enter the stage.]] [[Leave.->Bone Maze (22)]]

You climb onto the stage. There aren't any props around, although there's a splatter of blood. You're not sure if it's real or not. You decide not to check. You glance around. Obverse climbs up after you. You offer your hand, and he accepts. You help pull him onto the stage. (Set: $romance to it + 2) "This place reeks," he complains loudly. From your new vantage point, you can see that the area behind the left curtain is walled off. (if: $amaranthines is "yes" and $romance <100)[You glance at the door to backstage. You don't want to head back there. Amaranthine might've recovered from the beating you gave him earlier, and you don't want another fight. [[Look at the skeletons instead.->Look at the skeletons.]] [[Leave the room.->Bone Maze (22)]]](if: $romance >=100)[You glance at the door to backstage. You don't want to head back there. Amaranthine might've recovered from the beating you gave him earlier, and you don't want another fight. But you do notice that there seems to be a new door embedded in the back of the stage. [[Enter new door.]] [[Look at the skeletons instead.->Look at the skeletons.]] [[Leave the room.->Bone Maze (22)]] ](else:)[To the right, however, there's a door - presumably to backstage. [[Check out backstage.]] [[Look at the skeletons instead.->Look at the skeletons.]] [[Leave the room.->Bone Maze (22)]]]

You head backstage with Obverse. It's quiet. Too quiet. The door creaks open. The area behind the stage seems to have been converted into an office of sorts. There are no props stored here. Rather, there are papers and computers everywhere.(if: $electricity is "off")[ They're all powered off now, though. You hope that whoever was on them saved beforehand.](else:)[ They're turned on. Most are set to a word processor, although one's on a solitaire game (albeit a stuck one).] Obverse frowns at them. [[Investigate papers.]]

You pick up some of the papers and sift through them. Most are documents signed by an 'Erratic' and an 'Eventual', like some sort of correspondence. Some talk about tests to use someone's mental state to reflect a building. Apparently Continuum cleared an area for them to build some sort of facility in, and that facility would change depending on who was currently living in it. There's an angry discussion about Obverse killing Continuum. The Eventual person was trying to soothe the Erratic, but apparently Erratic didn't want to hear any of that and was hellbent on revenge. You wonder if that's why Obverse is here with you, now, as some sort of revenge plot gone wrong. But why are //you// here? You dig through another stack of papers. These ones detail some sort of experiment to inflict a Gladar with Fell purposefully, then test the side effects of regaining identity. You feel rather ill suddenly. Obverse's hands come overtop of yours and he pushes. You put the papers down, shaking slightly. "Hey. That's not you." You turn around, eyes wide. "What?" "You said you wandered around, right? This is talking about keeping a Gladar in their city," Obverse says, hands coming up to rub your shoulders. "You found your identity all by yourself." "Yeah," you mumble. You aren't shaking as bad anymore. "Yeah. You're right. I'm 22." "You're 22," Obverse repeats, smiling softly. $scream["''HEY''!"] Both of you jump, swinging around to stare at the new voice. There's another Gladar here. They have a blue coat and pink hair, and they look pretty pissed off. They've just entered from another door buried in piles of papers (which is probably why you didn't see it at first), and they're holding a paper coffee cup full of tea. $amaranthine["What the hell are you doing here?"] he screeches. $amaranthine["And YOU, asshole! Look what you fucking did!"] He yanks down his vest collar to show a rather nasty cut. Obverse grins snidely.(if: $breakattempt is "yes")[ You remember the pained cries from past the wall you tried to break down.] "Shut your trap, Amaranthine," he says, reaching back to grab his lance. "Unless you'd like another to show Erratic?" (if: $weapon is "steel pipe")[You pull out the steel pipe from the bar, facing down Amaranthine. [[Attack!]]](else:)[You don't have a weapon. Something in the back of your mind nags that you could've grabbed one.] [[Let Obverse handle this.]] (set: $amaranthines to "yes")

$amaranthine["Hey, wait, I didn't say I wanted a fight-"] he lifts his free hand in a surrender. You and Obverse chose to ignore this, both of you darting forward. Amaranthine screams and tries to flee back into the other room. Obverse aims and then tosses his lance. It lands in the door with a //thunk// right above Amaran's hand. He squeaks and jumps back. You bring down your pipe on his head as hard as you can. It collides, making a pleasantly loud crunch. "Fuck," the other Gladar manages weakly, dropping his cup and grabbing his head. You swing again, pipe hitting his back as Obverse yanks out his lance and stabs it through his shoulder. He hits the ground. One more pipe to the head, and he's out cold, drooling slightly. Panting, you look up at Obverse. "Nice work," he says, grinning. (Set: $romance to it + 10) You pocket Amaran's cup. (set: $mug to it + 1) [[Head back into the theatre.->Theatre Room]]

$amaranthine["Hey, wait, I didn't say I wanted a fight-"] he lifts his free hand in a surrender. Obverse choses to ignore this, darting forward. Amaranthine screams and tries to flee back into the other room. You just back up slightly, feeling helpless. Obverse aims and then tosses his lance. It lands in the door with a //thunk// right above Amaran's hand. He squeaks and jumps back. Amaran swings around, but Obverse's fist meets his face. "Fuck," the other Gladar manages weakly, clutching his now-bleeding nose. Obverse tugs his lance out of the door and slams the blunt edge into the side of Amaran's face. He stumbles back, and Obverse drives the point into Amaran's chest. He hits the ground. A few more hard stabs to the head, and he's out cold, drooling slightly. Obverse, breathing heavily, turns around to look at you. He's splattered with blood. "Was I hot?" he asks, grinning. "Sure," you mumble. (set: $romance to it + 3) You pocket Amaran's cup. (set: $mug to it + 1) [[Head back into the theatre.->Theatre Room]]

//(text-style:"fade-in-out")[journal # 20,591,493] things have been... successful, to say the least. (text-style:"blurrier")[eventual] has congratulated me on a job well done. we've continued our work on fell magic. i know we aren't supposed to be dabbling in this sort of thing - at the very least, without the commander's blessing - but it's just so... interesting. we've run some tests. the war initiative is the perfect place to work on these sorts of projects, hidden from view from everyone else. i don't think the commander would approve of what we're doing, even if our weapons have already dispatched several of the council sympathizers. that's something that i think even he would look down upon. corruption of our fellow gladar. but it must be done. we need answers and a way to finally end this godforsaken war. after all, if gladar are made of arcane magic, and enlightened gladar are made of both arcane and black magic, then what of fell magic? can fell magic form a sentient being? if it can't, what parts does it lack that arcane and black don't? i want answers. is a fell creature possible? what would have to come about to cause such a thing? we are working on what will hopefully be a sentient fell creature. it is in the deepest war initiative room. we're hoping that with time, (text-style:"blurrier")[eventual] and i will be able to control it, perhaps teach it to act like a gladar. we will do what no one else has done. we built a lab to host it in, somewhere near the city of gladar. they don't even know how close we are, but we aren't stupid enough to engage the sympathizers yet. (text-style:"blurrier")[eventual]'s design for the building itself has been helpful beyond words. it's a reflection of the fell's mental state, and once it starts changing, we'll know if we have achieved sentience or not. today, i saw some of the walls flicker. bless this day, for we have taken strides that no one else has done. [[...]]//

//(text-style:"fade-in-out")[journal # 20,619,801] i made a mistake. trusting (text-style:"blurrier")[amaranthine] with any part of the war initiative was a foolish idea. i thought... i assumed he could be responsible enough to serve as a third pair of hands that i and (text-style:"blurrier")[eventual] so desperately needed - someone to look after the gladar not currently in use. we'd put the fell back in its jar, to keep it tame and contained while (text-style:"blurrier")[eventual] remolded the changing lab. we wanted to make it easier to read the fell's emotions, so she was going to reconfigure it more closely to the beast's thought patterns. the idiot touched the jar! i had clearly labeled it not for anyone to touch, especially (text-style:"blurrier")[amaranthine], but he apparently doesn't think before doing anything. the jar burst when neither i or (text-style:"blurrier")[eventual] was around, and now the creature runs amok among the gladar. we can't pull it out of the cities, now - the others are going to ask too many questions. we've managed to lock it in its jar again for a brief period, but we don't have much time until (text-style:"blurrier")[beginning] notices that the newest gladar has gone missing. i am so utterly livid that i cannot begin to describe my feelings currently. i think i need a break of some sorts. [[....]]//

//(text-style:"fade-in-out")[journal # 20,619,853] (text-style:"shudder")[it's not my fault, anyways!] (text-style:"blurrier")[eventual] $amaranthine[always] blames this sort of thing on me. i've been working with magic for millenia, and she wants to pretend like i don't $amaranthine[know what i'm doing?] i admit that inviting (text-style:"blurrier")[amaranthine] was a terrible idea in hindsight, but she always complained that i delegated too much work to her, so i figured a personal assistant would ease her workload. i do so much around the city that nobody even $amaranthine[acknowledges]! i designed the layout, i designed the wall structure and mixture, and i specially grow the crystals embedded inside the bricks. i molded this town to be the perfect base of operations for the enlightened gladar, and i am $amaranthine[SHAMED] for it. i've had enough. i don't even care about the fell creature at this point. let it run rampant. i'm done being taken for granted. i won't do a thing until the commander himself and the entire godsdamned cacaesthesia council comes to me on bended knee, begging for salvation - a salvation that they shall not recieve. it will be (text-style:"shudder")[''G L O R I O U S''].// [[You feel like you should leave.->Theatre Room]]

You head into the new room. The door swings shut behind you with a soft click. Your and Obverse's breathing is the only sound in the cramped room. It's dimly lit by a single lamp hanging from the ceiling. The entire room looks like it's been abandoned in a rush, with papers strewn everywhere. There's a desk against the far wall, with an office chair tucked in underneath it. A black jacket hangs off the chair. The papers are all labeled in very methodical, neat handwriting, and seem to detail some sort of journal. There are ripped and balled-up sheets of notebook paper all over the floor. You take care not to step on them. [[Read the papers on the desk.->the truth]]

(if: $pondmug is "no")[You sit down, and nearly end up sitting on a mug. You wince, jamming it in your pockets.(set: $mug to it + 1)(if: $mug is >= 4)[ You have a ton of these things now. You're running out of pocket room.] You sit down. The grass is cold under your hands and somewhat wet, but it's better than the bones everywhere else. Obverse sits down next to you and lays his head on your shoulder. (set: $romance to it + 5)You close your eyes, feeling at peace. [["Why do you think this pool is here?"]] [["What's your favorite color?"]] [["Do you have any hobbies?"]] (set: $pondmug to "yes")](else:)[You sit down. The grass is cold under your hands and somewhat wet, but it's better than the bones everywhere else. Obverse sits down next to you and lays his head on your shoulder. (set: $romance to it + 5)You close your eyes, feeling at peace. [["Why do you think this pool is here?"]] [["What's your favorite color?"]] [["Do you have any hobbies?"]]]

(set: $inwater to "yes")You lean over the pool's edge. It's not very deep, and it smells kinda weird, but you slide yourself in anyways. "I'm not doing that," Obverse loudly declares from his position near the exit. The water is very cold. You wince and hug yourself, wondering what it's doing here. This room is the most peaceful so far out of everything else you've experienced.(if: $amaranthines is "yes")[ Even the theatre room had a distinct feeling of foreboding. Probably from the skeletons.] It's almost jarring, this area of the facility. Facility? Huh. That word seems to fit, even though this place reeks more like a catacomb. You wonder what happened here, and why you woke up here. The water ripples as Obverse dips a finger in. "How can you like this?" he scoffs. "It's so fucking cold." "I-I'd probably f-feel better if you were here with me," you say. Obverse stares at you for a few seconds before he slides in, wincing the whole time.(if: $romance is >20)[He puts an arm over your shoulder affectionately. (set: $romance to it + 5)] While you both are wearing clothes, they don't feel wet at all. The silence is peaceful. You catch your breath. [["Why do you think this pool is here?"]] [["What's your favorite color?"]] [["Do you have any hobbies?"]]

"Why do you think this pool is here?" Obverse shrugs.(if: $inwater is "yes")[ The water shifts as he moves. You both remain eerily dry.] "I guess if I was the builder of this place, I'd want a break from skulls and shit like that, too," he says after a minute. "So I guess it's kinda a peaceful area. Do you think it's peaceful?" "Moreso than anywhere else," you mumble, closing your eye. You both remain there for a while. (if: $inwater is "yes")[Eventually you pull yourself out of the water. You initially shake to get rid of the wetness, but then you realize that you aren't wet at all. Obverse climbs out behind you, reaching around to hug you. (set: $romance to it + 5) "It's kinda weird. I really hope that that's water," he mumbles in your ear. "Me too."](else:)[Obverse reaches to hug you closer, closing his eyes and resting his head on top of yours. He actually sounds quite tired. (set: $romance to it + 6) "It's been a long day," he mumbles, one arm slung around your shoulder. "But I think we'll get through it." "Me too," you say, softly. The moment is soothing. (set: $romance to it + 4)Eventually, though, you both stand up.] [["What's your favorite color?"]] [["Do you have any hobbies?"]] [[Leave.->Bone Maze (22)]]

"What's your favorite color?" you ask Obverse. He thinks for a minute, blinking and glancing up at the roof of the cave. "Mmm, probably red. What's yours?" "I like red, too." He pauses to grin down at you. "Isn't it kinda funky that our eye color is so similar? Red. We could probably swap magic without a problem." You frown. "I don't think that's a good idea." "Well." Obverse shrugs. "Never said we had to, just that we could." (set: $romance to it + 6) [["Why do you think this pool is here?"]] [["Do you have any hobbies?"]] [[Leave.->Bone Maze (22)]]

"Do you have any hobbies?" Obverse pauses, biting the inside of his cheek for a few minutes. "Nothing super interesting. I play pool a bit. Golf." ...You can't imagine Obverse playing golf, dressed up to the nines in the proper attire and sitting in a golf cart. Well, you //can//, but the image is so hilarious that you crack a tiny smile. "What?" he narrows his eyes at you, head snapping back to face you. "What's funny?" [["That's adorable."]] [["That's hilarious."]]

"That's adorable." Obverse's face tinges red again. "What? Me playing golf is cute? //How//? It's just golf." "No, like," you wave a hand, "you'd look super cute all dressed up like that." "...Really?" if possible, Obverse's cheeks color further. "Y-you're into some weird stuff, 22." (set: $romance to it + 4) This attempt to deflect the compliment is admirable. [[Drop the convo.->Quiet Pond]] [[It's time to get physical. (Playfully) attack!]] [[Let's just straight-up kiss him.]]

"That's hilarious." Obverse narrows his eyes and glares at you, frowning. Your smile disappears. Oops. (set: $romance to it - 4) "Thanks, 22," he hisses, voice dripping with sarcasm. [[Drop the convo.->Quiet Pond]]

Obverse has but a second to prepare before you launch yourself at him, giggling. (if: $inwater is "yes")[You both go flying out of the pool, hitting the ground and rolling. ]He squeaks in surprise. It's not a noise you expect to hear from one of the most universally hated and feared Gladar. Intent on extracting revenge, you dig your fingers into his ribs. He bursts into laughter, writhing under your fiendish tickles. "22-" he barely manages between gasps for air and laughs, "you'd better - stop it right now!" (set: $romance to it + 6) There is no rest from the onslaught. Obverse is caught within your grasp, unable to wriggle free. Then, he counterattacks with a vicious tickle-attack of his own! You roll off of him as he rolls onto you, effectively turning the tables both literally and figuratively. You nearly have tears in your eye before Obverse finally releases you, grinning and panting. You blink up at him, still smiling. He sticks out his tongue. "Do you yield?" Obverse asks in his best imitation of Beginning's voice, covering his right eye and using his other hand as a pretend sword against your neck. "Never," you spit back, breathless, grabbing him by the shoulders and flipping your positions again. [[Kiss him while you're on top!->Let's just straight-up kiss him.]]

You lean forward just in time to catch Obverse mid-sarcastic quip. Whatever snide comment he had was eaten as your mouths meet. He tenses initially, blinking as you press yourself close. But the shyness doesn't last for long - he cups the back of your head, fingers threaded into your hair, closing his eyes. (set: $romance to it + 10) (if: $romance >=20)[ Obverse isn't holding himself back anymore - rather, he's kissing you with as much passion and fervor that he can muster. It's almost overwhelming... in a good way. You attempt to kiss back with the same ferocity, but Obverse just amps up his own kissing. (set: $romance to it + 10)] He finally pulls away with a rather wet noise, eyes-half lidded as he stares into yours. "That was nice," he murmurs. [[(Playfully) attack him while his guard is down!->It's time to get physical. (Playfully) attack!]] [[Return to the room at large.->Quiet Pond]]

"Do you know what those screams earlier were?" Obverse pauses for a minute, frowning. "Uh, yeah, actually." You tilt your head, giving him the chance to explain himself. "I... ran into Amaranthine earlier. He was spouting off some nonesense about stuff. He didn't seem like he was trapped, and he started threatening me, so I stabbed him with my lance. I kept walking, and then I bumped into you." Well. "Why is Amaranthine down here?" You can't place that name to a face. You've always had trouble connecting names and faces. Obverse shrugs. "Beats me. Didn't look like he was here by accident, though, like us. Maybe he's to blame." That's a little worrying. [["Do you think we'll get out of here?"]] [["Are you holding up okay?"]] [["Do you need a break?"]] [["Nevermind."->Throne of Femurs]]