Ass in the Woods

You really had to take that nap, didn't you? And right before |1>[Midsummer Night]. (click:?1)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[You wake. It's dark, and you remember the stories. They say the fae themselves take over the woods on such a night. But surely these are |2>[myths from a time long passed].] (click:?2)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[That is, you hope so. For while the woods are usually silent by this time, to your left you hear people yelling while a burst of applause resounds to your right. [[Look for the yelling -> Find the Troupe]] [[Investigate the applause -> Find Bottom]] [[Take a moment to look around -> Look at the Forest]]] (set:$Bottometer to 0) (set:$TroupeMeter to 0) (set:$TroupeFound to false) (set:$BottomFound to false) (set:$Name to "that stranger")

(set:$TroupeFound to true) \You fumble through the woods towards the voices. |1>["Bottom!"] \(click-replace: ?1)[|2>["Where is that man?"]] \(click-replace: ?2)[|3>["This is going to ruin the play"]] \(click-replace: ?3)[You finally reach the voices; a flamboyantly dressed group in an absolute mess. They stop their yelling in all directions as |noticed>[they notice you]] (click:?noticed)[(colour:red)["You! Have you seen a (colour:blue)[|man>[man]] lost in these woods?"]] (click:?man)[(colour:#4BCC54)["Or a wicked ass-headed beast?" another adds.] (t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[|CH1>[|A>["Can't say that I have?"] |B>["What... what's happened?"]]]] (click:?A)+(replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["Can't say that I have?"] (t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)+(colour:yellow)["We're a troupe rehearsing but we were... beset upon by a monstrous half-ass-half-man creature. A man's body, yet an equine muzzle and hooved hands. We barely escaped, losing our star Bottom during the chase."] (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)|Bottom>[[["...Star Bottom?"->Bottom the Star]](stop:)](stop:)] (click:?B)+(replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["What... what's happened?"] (t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)+(colour:red)["We're a troupe rehearsing but we were... beset upon by a monstrous half-ass-half-man creature. A man's body, but an equine muzzle and hooved hands. We barely escaped, losing our star Bottom during the chase."] (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)|Bottom>[[["...Star Bottom?"->Bottom the Star]](stop:)](stop:)]

(set: $TitaniaFound to true) \A woman stands leaning beside a tree. Tall, fair, dress flowing tendrils among the underbrush. But there's not much fair about her words, as she |speaks>[speaks into a bouquet of bloomed geraniums.] (click:?speaks)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[(colour:#27F5D6)["No, I know. It's ridiculous. On Midsummer! The man's a nightmare, you just know he's going to show up with that obnoxious jester of his, Puck. Yeah, that one. I'm not giving him a moment of my time. It's my one night out. I'm going to enjoy it. Yeah no, he's obsessed with everything I do. I can't even water a shrub without him asking "Who's it for?" or "Wow, aren't you a talent." Well it's not my fault his job's to pass wind about all day-"] |See>[Noticing you, she rolls her eyes.]] (click:?See)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[(colour:#27F5D6)["Hold on a moment, love."] She |snap>[[[snaps her fingers.->Wake up 2]]]]

[You've walked these woods a hundred times. |YouHaveNot>[Haven't you?]] (click:?YouHaveNot)[You can't tell... The mist, the brush, the moss. The foxes are quiet. And the smell.. something sweet? |moonlight>[Even the moonlight... ] (click:?moonlight)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Everything's (cycling-link: "Different", "Odd", "Otherly", "Strange", "Weird") (live:4s)+(text-style:"shudder")[|Giggle>[(colour:purple)["Tee-Hee-Heeee!"]]]]] (click:?Giggle)[It's from a figure, right ahead. Their back to you, crouching behind some rocks. Whatever's on the other side the source of |quiet>[his amusement.(stop:)] (click:?quiet)[You must keep |snap>[absolutely quiet...] (click:?snap)[|twig>[A twig (text-style: "blink")[snaps] under your foot!(stop:)](stop:)](stop:)] (click:?twig)[The figure turns, (colour:purple)["Hey now, you don't play a part in this!"] [[Part of... what?-> Meet Puck]] [[I'm just trying to leave-> Meet Puck]]]]

(colour:#C35AE8)["How did I miss you? This is why I say, "All for one prank, one prank for all". Now, you'll ask "Who I am? - I'm Puck" and "Why am I here? - Pranks". Questions done and sorted. Now, we can *have fun*."] |Lovers>[He points beyond the rocks he was hiding behind.] (click:?Lovers)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[A group of youngsters in the midst of bitter quarrels, something about unrequited love, misplaced affection, envious longing... (colour:#C35AE8)["Poor lovers got switched up, hah! I |prank>[pranked a theatre troupe], too. Glorious!"] |A>[(if: $TroupeFound is true)|Troupe>["You set the half-ass-half-man on the theatre troupe?"] \(if: $BottomFound is true)|Bottom>["Wait... Bottom said it was the Troupe who pranked him?"] (if:$TitaniaFound is true)|Titania>[[["Puck? That irate lady mentioned you, you're in for hot water!"->Puck via Titania]] ]]] (click:?Bottom)+(click:?Troupe)+(replace:?A)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#C35AE8)["Did I turn one of them into a half-ass-half-man beast? Yes. Have I had a hand in any consequential events thereafter? No. I'm but a jester Puck, I prank, and leave it at that!"] [[You WHAT?!->Repeat]] (if: $TroupeFound is true)[[You turned Bottom into the half-ass-half-man beast?->To Bottom]] \(if: $BottomFound is true)[[Bottom is a man? And his Troupe's still out in the woods?->To the Troupe]]]

(colour:#C35AE8)["A beast? I turned him into a (text-style:"shudder")[STAR!] Go ahead,] (colour:blue)[[[Seek and see for yourself.->Find Bottom 2]]](colour:#C35AE8)["]

(colour:#C35AE8)["Bottom's more than a man. One little spark and I brought it all out of him. Don't blame a poor Puck that his Troupe can't see it. Puck's many things, including honest! Go ahead,] (colour:blue)[[[Seek and see for yourself ->Find Troupe 2]]](colour:#C35AE8)["]

The trees, they really are |tall>[taller...] (click:?tall)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Taller than any tower of London, and those |branches>[branches...]] (click:?branches)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Antlers draped with leaves and gore, lifeblood of the forest. (live:1.2s)[|CH1>[|A>[Cower at the figure; shaped by fright.] |B>[Prepare to fight the form; dreadful as eternal night.(stop:)] |C>[Gaze at the dark; that could douse all light.(stop:)]]]] (click:?A)+(replace:?CH1)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(text-style:"shudder")+(colour:#C35AE8)["Tee-Hee!"(stop:)] (live:1s)[Puck giggles as a tall, stately figure steps out of the woods; moonlight its mantle.] (live:2s)[(colour:yellow)["This can't be real."(stop:)]] (live:3s)[(colour:orange)["No..."(stop:)]] (live:4s)[(colour:#6BAAB5)["Puck..."] [[It whispers->Goodbye Puck]]]] (click:?B)+(replace:?CH1)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(text-style:"shudder")+(colour:#C35AE8)["Tee-Hee!"(stop:)] (live:1s)[Puck giggles as a tall, stately figure steps out of the woods, moonlight like a mantle about it. ] (live:2s)[(colour:yellow)["This can't be real."(stop:)]] (live:3s)[(colour:orange)["No..."(stop:)]] (live:4s)[(colour:#6BAAB5)["Puck..."] [[It whispers->Goodbye Puck]]]] (click:?C)+(replace:?CH1)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(text-style:"shudder")+(colour:#C35AE8)["Tee-Hee!"(stop:)] (live:1s)[Puck giggles as a tall, stately figure steps out of the woods, moonlight worn like a mantle.] (live:2s)[(colour:yellow)["This can't be real."(stop:)]] (live:3s)[(colour:orange)["No..."(stop:)]] (live:4s)[(colour:#6BAAB5)["Puck..."] [[It whispers->Goodbye Puck]]]]

Quick as a dream, the figure disappears and |Gone>[takes Puck with it.] (click:?Gone)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[The woods lighten, the mist lifts. Night recedes, daybreak comes, |free>[whatever had befallen the woods has departed.] (click:?free)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:yellow)["That thing. Those *things*. They're gone."(stop:)] (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:red)["Can we please just leave now?"(stop:)]] (live:3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)|Go>["Obviously? Let's go."(stop:)]]] (click:?Go)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 3s)[(colour:orange)["No..."(stop:)] (live:4s)[[|CH1>[|A>["What?"(stop:)] |B>["You've got to be kidding me."(stop:)]]]]] (click:?A)+(replace:?CH1)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Bottom lies curled on the ground. |body>[His hands(stop:)]...|head>[His head.(stop:)] |Bottom>[He's changed back?]](click-replace:?body)[No longer hooves.(stop:)](click-replace:?head)[No longer that of a donkey.(stop:)] \(click:?Bottom)[(colour:orange)[(live:1s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["My audience.(stop:)] (live:3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[My show.(stop:)] (live:5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[This can't happen.(stop:)](live:7s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[ This mustn't happen.(stop:)] (live:9s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[I had nothing... then I had it all.(stop:)] (live:11s)[It's gone, everything.] (live:13s)[They can't just take it away!(stop:)] (live:15s)[They loved me.(stop:)] (live:18s)[They loved *me*!(stop:)] (live:21s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Now I'm just..."(stop:)]] (live:23s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[|A1>[[["That wasn't you."->Memories]]] |A2>[[["A fool who fell for a trick." ->Memories]] |A3>[[["..."->Memories]]]]]] \(click:?B)+(replace:?CH1)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Bottom lies curled on the ground. |body1>[His hands(stop:)]...|head1>[His head.(stop:)] |Bottom1>[He's changed back?]](click-replace:?body1)[No longer hooves.(stop:)](click-replace:?head1)[No longer that of a donkey.(stop:)] \(click:?Bottom1)[(colour:orange)[(live:1s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["My audience.(stop:)] (live:3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[My show.(stop:)] (live:5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[This can't happen.(stop:)](live:7s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[ This mustn't happen.(stop:)] (live:9s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[I had nothing... then I had it all.(stop:)] (live:11s)[It's gone, everything.] (live:13s)[They can't just take it away!(stop:)] (live:15s)[They loved me.(stop:)] (live:17s)[They loved *me*!(stop:)] (live:19s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Now I'm just..."(stop:)]] (live:23s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[|A1>[[["That wasn't you."->Memories]]] |A2>[[["A fool who fell for a trick." ->Memories]] |A3>[[["..."->Memories]]]]]]

(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["Look, I-I just don't know what to do. I don't know where I go wrong. It's all gone and every time I get there again it just slips away somehow and I..."(stop:)]] (live:2.5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["I'm sorry."(stop:)]] (live:4s)[(colour:red)["You know what your problem is, Bottom? It's you, and you'll never see it. You want it your way, do it your way. Drive your carriage off the cliff, but keep us out of it."(stop:)]] (live:7s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["No, Please, we can just try-"(stop:)]] (live:9s)[(colour:red)["We're done trying."(stop:)]] (live:10s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[The Troupe make their way out the forest, leaving Bottom in the clearing, |alone>[alone.](stop:)] (click:?alone)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 2s)[(colour:orange)["Just... go. I... just leave."(stop:)] (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Bottom curls up, inconsolable as he awaits an audience that won't return. Those trees, weren't they sinister and encroaching before? They've straightened up, seeking daylight perhaps and revealing the way out of the woods... |End>[an end(stop:)] to this midsummer night.(stop:)]] (click:?End)[(go-to:"Credits")]

(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:red)["You //are// an ass, sure, but you're our ass."(stop:)]] (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:yellow)["You don't make it easy, but you'll always have a spot in our cast."(stop:)]] (live:4s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#4BCC54)["Those ovations won't stand themselves!"(stop:)]] (live:6s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["Really? Begging me to come back now you've seen what I can do without incompetent amateurs in my way? Not surprised."(stop:)]] (live:9s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:red)["You piece of..."(stop:)]] (live:11s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["You're not dragging me down anymore."(stop:)]] (live:13s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Bottom walks off |alone>[into the woods.(stop:)]] (click:?alone)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#4BCC54)["Will he be okay?"(stop:)] (live:1.5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:yellow)["Not our concern... Show must go on."(stop:)]] (live:3.5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:red)["Good riddance."(stop:)]] (live:5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Looking around. Those trees, weren't they sinister and encroaching before? They've straightened up, seeking daylight perhaps and revealing the way out of the woods... |End>[an end(stop:)] to this midsummer night.(stop:)]] (click:?End)[(go-to:"Credits")]

(colour:yellow)["No matter what, you'll never consider yourself even slightly at fault, will you?"(stop:)] (live:1.5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:red)["Go your own way, Bottom. Drive your carriage off that cliff, we'll have nothing to do with it."(stop:)]] (live:2.5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["Of course you'll have nothing to do with it. I don't share the stage with the subpar. Must've been great for you having some actual talent around. Some actual competency to keep things from falling apart...(stop:)]] (live:5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)[Enjoy mediocrity, amateurs."(stop:)]] (live:8s)[Bottom storms away, |Woods>[disappearing into the woods.(stop:)]] (click:?Woods)[(live:1s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:yellow)["Well, that went about as expected..."(stop:)]] (live:3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#4BCC54)["I hope he'll be okay."(stop:)]] (live:5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:red)["Not our concern, let's just get out of here."(stop:)]] (live:8s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[The Troupe leaves... It will pain them for some time but you stand by your choice of words. It's what's best for them, right?(stop:) Those trees, you could swear they were sinister and encroaching before, but now they've straightened up. Seeking daylight perhaps and revealing the way out... |End>[an end(stop:)] to this midsummer night.(stop:)]] (click:?End)[(go-to:"Credits")]

(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["Look, I-I just don't know what to do. I don't know where I go wrong. It's all gone and every time I get there again it just slips away somehow and I...(stop:)]] (live:2.5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)[I'm sorry."(stop:)]] (live:4s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:red)["You're an ass.(stop:)]] (live:6s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:red)[But you're our ass."(stop:)]] (live:8s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:yellow)["You don't make it easy... but you always have a spot in our cast."(stop:)]] (live:10s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#4BCC54)["Those ovations won't stand themselves."(stop:)]] (live:12s)[The Troupe, now full cast, |Look>[notice you're still there.](stop:)] (click:?Look)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["And you... Free tickets for life!"(stop:)] (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#4BCC54)["Intermission drinks included!"(stop:)]] (live:4s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:yellow)["Just do be mindful of any backstage activites, it is a work space."(stop:)]] (live:6s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Those trees, weren't they sinister and encroaching before? They've straightened up, seeking daylight perhaps and revealing the way out of the woods... |End>[an end(stop:)] to this midsummer night.(stop:)]] (click:?End)[(go-to:"Credits")]

The half-ass-half-man opens his mouth but does not bray. Instead, |speaks>[he speaks]. (click:?speaks)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["The lights were too low to fully capture my expression, I shall need them higher for my next performance." ] (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[A fairy nods, "Right away, Bottom!" |fireflies>[adding more fireflies to a lantern.(stop:)]]] (click:?fireflies)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["And what was that at the love scene? More petals! Some glamour! Some oomph! A little extra effort, is that too much to ask?"] (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Another fairy begins to pluck petals even more enthusiastically from a |flowers>[bouquet of iridescant flowers.(stop:)]]] (click:?flowers)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[The creature sinks further into it's lushous bed of nature, arms extended as the fairies begin to buff its hooved hands. (colour:orange)["So? |A>[(colour:blue)[Tell me more about my performance]."]]] (click:?A)[(live: 1.5s)+(text-style:"buoy")[(either: "'Marvelously done!'", "'I'd never seen such artistry'", "'A masterclass!'", "'Emotion made manifest!'", "'Oh, Bottom, please sign my wing!'")] The half-ass-half-man smiles, truly content looking around at the hoard of faefolk fawning over him. [[Until he sees you.]]]

His ears pin back, and what joy was in his eyes are replaced by absolute annoyance... (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour: orange)["So, the troupe has finally sent you to ask for me to come back, hmm? Oh, don’t act so coy. After the prank they pulled at rehearsal earlier, leaving me alone. Guess they’ve realised now they’re absolutely hopeless without their star."] [["What are you talking about? Who are you? What is this!?"->Neutral Bottom]] [["Nobody’s sent me… but I can see why they'd leave you."->Negative Bottom]] [["They left you? That’s rough..."-> Positive Bottom]](stop:)]

(set: $BottomFound to true) \The applause has died down by the time you reach the clearing. In it's centre lies a slab of rock, and a crowd of |fairy>[small winged creatures.] They're fussing over |figure>[a figure] sprawled upon a bed of nightmoss and dewy-touched brush. (click-replace:?fairy) [... fairies?] (click: ?figure) [|body>[It's body?]...|head>[It's head?] |normal>[That's not normal]] (click-replace:?body)[The body of a man?] (click-replace:?head)[The head of a donkey!?] \(click: ?normal)[[It's a dream or a trick or a lie or something... ->Bottom]]

(set:$Bottometer to $Bottometer -1) \The fairies pause their fussing and scowl at your insult. Yet you glimpse pain in half-ass-half-man's equine eyes, though he's quick to hide it under an |air>[air of nonchalance.] (click:?air)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["Oh, truly? Your envy is adorable. Been with the troupe for years, have we sold a ticket? Nay. But one solo act and the whole forest knows my name; Bottom. Sure, the crowd's not quite as I'd imagined, but as they say; a true artist always finds an audience.(stop:)] (live:3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)[Look, much as I'd love to hear more of your clawless snipes, I really don't have the time. Got another performance coming up so either (colour:blue)[[take a spot->Bottom Play]] or (colour:blue)[[[run along back to those amateurs->Forest]](stop:)](colour:orange)[."]]]]

(set: $Bottometer to $Bottometer +1) \He tries to hide it, but |sorrow>[a glimpse of sorrow] stirs in the half-ass-half-man's equine eyes. (click:?sorrow)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["We don't always see eye to eye. I've been with the troupe for years, have we sold a ticket? Nay. But one solo act and the whole forest knows my name; Bottom. Sure, the crowd's not quite as I'd imagined, but as they say; an artist needs an audience...] (live:3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)[Look, I've got another performance coming up so either (colour:blue)[[take a spot->Bottom Play]] or (colour:blue)[[[run along back to the troupe->Forest]]](colour:orange)[."](stop:)]]]

(box:"=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=")[<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/pdSLB6SK/play.png" height="450" width="765">] \Bottom takes to the stage and for a brilliant moment in time, the entire forest bursts out to soak in every second of the performance of a lifetime. His voice clear over the crowd. Pose powerful, confident, moving with a spark only passion could convey. A half-ass-half-man before an audience of woodland creatures. Absurd... yet so genuine. [[You've seen better->Play Ends]] [[He's got some serious presence up there->Play Ends]] [[Is that raccoon... playing an air lute?->Play Ends]] (set:$BottomPlay to true)

RULES Bottometer starts at 0, defines positive/negative of Bottom-side endings. TroupeMeter starts at 0, defines positive/negative of Troupe-side endings TroupeFound value is to track player has met the Troupe BottomFound value is to track player has met Bottom -- this is to direct players to the not yet found party once they meet Puck TitaniaFound - allows for progression of Titania storylet @ Puck, @ Oberon

(colour:yellow)["Bottom, the only man who could possibly play a lover noble as Pyramus."] (colour:red)+(live: 2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s) ["Oh get off it, he's an ass, everything he does is just to get his own way. He insisted on rehearsing here in the first place."(stop:)] (colour: yellow)+(live: 5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s) ["Off it yourself. He's more talent than all of us combined."(stop:)] (colour:red)+(live: 7s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Please! It's always; say it this way, enact it that with him. We should've focused on blocking, but he wouldn't quit with the prop placement. He spent all our earnings on stage torches, while we hardly had coin left for food!"(stop:)] (colour:#4BCC54)+(live: 11s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s) ["The lights were a hit, you have to admit."(stop:)] (colour:red)+(live: 14s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Good riddance, I say."(stop:)] (colour:yellow)+(live: 16s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["His enthusiasm's... an acquired taste, but I don't see you taking any initiative."(stop:)] (colour:red)+(live: 18s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["I would rather have a plan that we stick with."(stop:)] (live:19.5s)[(go-to:"Troupe Breaks")] \(live:6s)|Grip>[(live: 1s)+(colour:blue)[(either:"''Get a grip, people!''", "''Enough!''", "''Stop arguing!''")](stop:)] (click:?Grip)[(go-to: "Grip")]

You cut in, interrupting their argument... [|CH1>[|A>["Ever told him he's such a handful?"] |B>[[["Wow. You're really not cut out to work together"->Negative Troupe]](stop:)]]] (click:?A)+(replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["Ever told him he's such a handful?"] (t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)+(colour:red)["Hah, good luck telling him, he'll probably break down. We've all here seen it."(stop:)] (live: 2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#4BCC54)["The sheep culling really got to him. What's a weaver without wool?"(stop:)]] (live:3.5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:yellow)["He's part of the troupe, and we should look out for him."(stop:)]] (live: 5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s) [|CH2>[|A1>[[["Maybe you should tell him. For your own sake."->Positive Troupe]]] |B1>[[["Some people need to find their own way."->Negative Troupe]](stop:)]]]]

(set: $TroupeMeter to $TroupeMeter -1) \(colour:red)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 2s)["I'm just a smith with a theatrical hobby trying to make it through these blasted half-ass-half-man haunted woods... I can't keep on like this."] (colour:yellow)+(live: 2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Might be right..." (stop:)] (live: 3.5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s) [|CH1>[|A>["Does he know he's such a handful?"] |B>["Wow. You're really not cut out to work together"(stop:)]]] (click:?A)+(replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["Does he know he's such a handful?"] (t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)+(colour:red)["No, because if you tell him, he'll probably break down. We've all here seen it."(stop:)] (live: 2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#4BCC54)["He's worse since the sheep culling. What's a weaver without wool?"(stop:)]] (live: 3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s) [|CH2>[|A1>[[["Maybe do that. For your own sake."->Positive Troupe]]] |B1>["Some people need to find their own way."(stop:)]]]] (click:?B1)+(replace:?CH2)[(colour:blue)["Some people need to find their own way."] (t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)+(colour:red)["Astute. I'm back to my iron and steel once this is all over."(stop:)] (live: 2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[(colour:Yellow)["That's it, then? Who //are// you even, meddling about? Go on now, good luck through the woods. That beast is still out there."(stop:)]] (live:3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[|End>[Continue on](stop:)]] (click:?End)[(go-to:"Forest")] (click:?B)+(replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["Wow. You're really not cut out to work together"] (t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)+(colour:red)["Yeah, I'm done. We'll find Bottom and get out of here, but I'm back to my iron and steel after that."] (live: 2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[(colour:Yellow)["That's it, then? Who //are// you even, meddling about? Go on now, good luck through the woods. That beast is still out there."(stop:)] (live:3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[|End>[Continue on](stop:)]] ] (click:?End)[(go-to:"Forest")]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=")[<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/BZVrqG2T/Little-Title-2.png" height="200" width="750">] \(button:)+(box:"=X=")+(text-colour: Blue) [[Play->Wake up!]] \(button:)+(box:"=X=")+(text-colour: Blue)[[Credits->Credits]]

(set:$TroupeMeter to $TroupeMeter +1) \(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:red)["Look, I'll admit, he is the strongest thespian among us. But I can't keep on like this..."(stop:)] (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[(colour:yellow)["He's been having a rough time, guess the play's his way of getting his mind off the sheep culling... Let's just find him."(stop:)]] (live:3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[|CH1>[|A>["I'll keep an eye out for him, too."(stop:)] |B>["Do I look like a woodland watchman?"]]]] (click:?A)+(replace:?CH1)[(set:$Name to "that good fellow")(colour:blue)["I'll keep an eye out for him, too."] (t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[(text-style: "rumble")[(colour:#4BCC54)["and for half-ass-half-man beasts!"(stop:)]] (t8n-arrive: "fade")[[Continue on->Forest]](stop:)]] (click:?B)+(replace:?CH1)[(set:$Name to "that woodland watchman")(colour:blue)["Do I look like a woodland watchman?"] (colour:yellow)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["I don't recall us asking you to do anything"(stop:)] (t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 2s)[(colour:green)["You sort of do... but please!"(stop:)]] (live:1.5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:blue)[|Continue>["Fine, I'll keep an eye out."](stop:)]]] (click:?Continue)[(go-to:"Forest")]

(set:$TroupeMeter to $TroupeMeter -1) \(colour:red)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 2s)["I'm done with him if you ask me. I'm just a smith with a theatrical hobby and now I'm lost in some half-ass-half-man haunted woods..."] (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[(colour:yellow)["We've got a lot to talk about... Who are you even, meddling about the woods? Go on, good luck out there, that beast's still around."(stop:)] (live:3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[|End>[Continue on](stop:)]] (click:?End)[(go-to:"Forest")]

|Troupe>[Player has found the Troupe] |Bottom>[Player has found Bottom] |Titania>[Player has found Titania] (click:?Troupe)[(set: $TroupeFound to true)] (click:?Bottom)[(set: $BottomFound to true)] (click:?Titania)[(set: $TitaniaFound to true)] [[Go to Puck -> Meet Puck]] [[Go to Puck & Titania ->Puck via Titania]]

(colour:#C35AE8)["Okay, let me repeat that..."] (live:2s)[(go-to:"What")]

(colour:#C35AE8)["Did I turn one of them into a half-ass-half-man beast? Yes. Have I had a hand in any consequential events thereafter? No. I'm but a jester Puck, I prank, and leave it at that!""] [["I don't get it..."->Repeat]] (if: $TroupeFound is true)[["Bottom is the half-ass-half-man beast, that you turned him into?"->To Bottom]] \(if: $BottomFound is true)[["Bottom is a man... and his Troupe's still out in the woods?"->To the Troupe]]

(set: $BottomFound to true) \The applause has died down by the time you reach the clearing. In it's centre lies a slab of rock, and a crowd of |fairy>[small winged creatures.] They're fussing over a |figure>[figure] sprawled upon a bed of nightmoss and dewy-touched brush. (click-replace:?fairy) [... fairies?] (click: ?figure) [|body>[It's body?]...|head>[It's head?] |Bottom>[It's Bottom]] (click-replace:?body)[The body of a man.] (click-replace:?head)[The head of an ass!] \(click: ?Bottom)[[No dream. No trick. No lie. Bottom, turned into a half-ass-half-man. ->Bottom 2]]

(set:$TroupeFound to true) \You fumble through the woods towards the voices. |1>["Bottom!"] \(click-replace: ?1)[|2>["Where is that man?"]] \(click-replace: ?2)[|3>["This is going to ruin the play"]] \(click-replace: ?3)[You finally reach the voices; a flamboyantly dressed group in an absolute mess. They stop their yelling in all directions as |noticed>[they notice you]] (click:?noticed)[(colour:red)["You! Have you seen a (colour:blue)[|man>[man]] lost in these woods?"]] (click:?man)[(colour:#4BCC54)["Or a wicked ass-headed beast?" another adds.] (t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[|CH1>[|A>["Yes, both, in a sense..."] |B>["So, you're Bottom's troupe."]]]] (click:?A)+(replace:?CH1)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:yellow)["We were rehearsing when we were... beset upon by a monstrous creature. We barely escaped, losing our star Bottom during the chase. Have you seen him?"] |Bottom>[[["He //is// the beast, playing solo now. He thought you ran away as a joke."->Bottom the Star 2]] [["Yeah, I've met him. Acting exactly as he looks, half like a man and half like an ass."->Bottom the Star 2]] ]] (click:?B)+(replace:?CH1)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:yellow)["You've heard of us? We were rehearsing when we were... beset upon by a monstrous creature. We barely escaped, losing our star Bottom during the chase."] |Bottom>[[["He //is// the beast, playing solo now. He thought you ran away as a joke."->Bottom the Star 2]] [["Yeah, I have, acting exactly as he looks. Half a man and half an ass."->Bottom the Star 2]]]]

The Troupe follow you, growing more curious, anxious, frustrated as the fairy applause grows louder. You can see the half-ass-half-man between the trees, mid-performance. (live:1s)+(colour:#4BCC54)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["That thing's... Bottom?"(stop:)] (live:2s)+(colour:yellow)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Oh, Gods be good."(stop:)] (live:3s)+(colour:red)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Let's just get this over with."(stop:)] (live:3.5s)[You |breathe>[breathe in... (stop:)]](click:?breathe)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[|step>[And step into the clearing]] (click:?step)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[Bottom's performance falters as he notices you and the troupe. (live:1s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["You."(stop:) (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:blue)[|silent>[''The audience falls silent''.(stop:)]]]]]] (click:?silent)[(go-to:"Out With It")]

The half-ass-half-man, Bottom, opens his mouth but does not bray. Instead, |speaks>[he speaks]. (click:?speaks)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 2s)[(colour:orange)["The lights were too low to fully capture my expression, I shall need them higher for my next performance." ] (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[A fairy nods, "Right away, Bottom!" |fireflies>[Adding more fireflies to a lantern.(stop:)]]] (click:?fireflies)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 2s)[(colour:orange)["And what was that at the love scene? More petals! Some glamour! Some oomph! A little extra effort, is that too much to ask?"] (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Another fairy begins to pluck petals even more enthusiastically from a |flowers>[bouquet of iridescant flowers.](stop:)]] (click:?flowers)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Bottom sinks further into a lushous bed of nature, arms extended as the fairies begin to buff his hooved hands. (colour:orange)["So? |A>[(colour:blue)[Tell me more about my performance]]."]] (click:?A)[(live: 1.5s)+(text-style:"buoy")[(either: "'Marvelously done!'", "'I'd never seen such artistry'", "'A masterclass!'", "'Emotion made manifest!'", "'Oh, Bottom, please sign my wing!'")] (colour:orange)["Ahah, won't ever get old,"] Bottom grins, (colour:orange)["And now, my lovelies! Lights, curtains, action!"] [[Take a spot in the audience->Bottom Play 2]] [["Hey Bottom, your Troupe's looking for you!"-> Bottom sees you]] [["Aren't you forgetting your Troupe, you ass?"-> Bottom sees you]]]

His ears pin back as he notices you, and what joy was in his eyes are replaced by absolute annoyance... (colour: orange)["So, the troupe has sent you, an absolute stranger, to ask for me to come back, hmm? Oh, don’t act so coy. After the prank they pulled at rehearsal earlier, leaving me alone. Guess they’ve realised now they’re absolutely hopeless without their star."] [["I've met the Troupe, and I can see their issue with you"->Negative Bottom 2]] [["They're actually really worried about you"-> Positive Bottom 2]] [["I'm just trying to get through all this nonsense."->Neutral Bottom 2]]

(colour: orange)["Ah, ha-ha. Still playing, are we? Well, this," (colour:white)[he gestures about to the fawning fairies,] (colour:orange) ["is my audience. And this," (colour:white)[he gestures about even wider to the forest,] (colour:orange) ["is my stage. See? I'm doing just fine. I don't need their approval, never have."]]] (colour:blue)[|CH1>[|Ass>["It's the time of your life, fine. But at least tell your Troupe."(stop:)] |Ass2>["Do you not see how this is just some fae trick?"(stop:)] |Ass3>["Well, the Troupe thinks you're a beast that attacked them."(stop:)]]] (click:?Ass)+(replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["It's the time of your life, fine. But at least tell your Troupe."] (colour:orange)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Fine. (colour:blue)[|Reunion>[Take me to them]], I'll tell them as much..."(stop:)]] \(click:?Ass2)+(replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["Do you not see how this is just some trick of the fae?"] (colour:orange)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Hah, perhaps in appearances. But the talent? The skill? That's all me."] (live:1s)+(colour:blue)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[|Continue>["Sure. But you should still talk to the Troupe."(stop:)]] (click:?Continue)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["Fine. (colour:blue)[|Reunion>[Take me to them]]."(stop:)]]] (click:?Ass3)+(replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["Well, the Troupe thinks you're a beast that attacked them."] (live:1s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["That's ridiculous! (colour:blue)[|Reunion>[Take me to them]], I'll tell them as much..."(stop:)]] ] (click:?Reunion)[(go-to:"Bottom to Troupe")]

(set:$Bottometer to $Bottometer -1) \The fairies pause their fussing and scowl at your insult. Yet glimpse pain in half-ass-half-man's equine eyes, but he's quick to hide it under an |air>[air of nonchalance.] (click:?air)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["Oh, truly? Your envy is adorable. Been with the troupe for years, have we sold a ticket? Nay. But one solo act and the whole forest knows my name - Bottom. Sure, the crowd's not quite as I'd imagined, but as they say; a true artist always finds an audience."] (colour:blue)[|CH1>[|Ass>["Surely you can't be okay with the new look."(stop:)] |Ass2>["Do you not see how this is just some trick of the fae?"(stop:)]]]] (click:?Ass)+(replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["Surely you can't be okay with the new look."] (colour:orange)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["So, I'm half an ass?! I've lost my head and hands but found everything, the time of my life."] (live:1s)+(colour:blue)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[|Continue>["Well, the Troupe thinks you're a beast that attacked them."(stop:)]]] \(click:?Ass2)+(replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["Do you not see how this is just some trick of the fae?"] (colour:orange)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Could just as easily be a gift. //You// didn't see //that// now, did you?"] (live:1s)+(colour:blue)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[|Continue>["Sure, as you say. But the Troupe's convinced you're a beast that attacked them."(stop:)]]] \(click:?Continue)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:orange)["Rubbish. (colour:blue)[|Reunion>[Take me to them]], I'll tell them as much..."]] (click:?Reunion)[(go-to:"Bottom to Troupe")]

(set: $Bottometer to $Bottometer +1) \He tries to hide it, but a glimpse of sorrow stirs in the half-ass-half-man's equine eyes. (colour:orange)["We don't always see eye to eye. I've been with the troupe for years, have we sold a ticket? Nay. But one solo act and the whole forest knows my name; Bottom. Sure, the crowd's not quite as I'd imagined, but as they say; an artist needs an audience..."] (colour:blue)[|CH1>[|Ass>["Surely you can't be okay with the new look."(stop:)] |Ass2>["Do you not see how this is just some trick of the fae?"(stop:)]]] (click:?Ass)+(replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["Surely you can't be okay with the new look."] (colour:orange)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["It's not easy. Who knew grass was so... chewy? But this is who I am, who I'm meant to be. They love me, they look after me..."] (colour:blue)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[|Continue>["Sure, as you say. But you should still talk to the Troupe."]]] \(click:?Ass2)+(replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["Do you not see how this is just some trick of the fae?"] (colour:orange)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Hah, perhaps in appearances. But the talent? The skill? That's all me."] (colour:blue)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[|Continue>["Sure, as you say. But you should still talk to the Troupe."]]] \(click:?Continue)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[He let's out an agonizingly equine sigh... (live:2s)+(colour:orange)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Alright, I owe them some form of closure, only to (colour:blue)[|Reunion>[smoothen things out]] to avoid the envy that success brings."(stop:)]] (click:?Reunion)[(go-to:"Bottom to Troupe")]

(colour:yellow)["Bottom's the beast? How in the-?!"] (colour:red)+(live: 1s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["So, he finally got the guts to go solo, huh?"(stop:)] (colour:yellow)+(live: 2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s) ["Just wait a moment before you shoot the hare there. I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation."(stop:)] (colour:red)+(live: 5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s) ["The explanation is that he's always thought he's better than us. It's always say it this way, enact it that with him. Or when he spent all our earnings on stage torches, we had no coin left for food!"(stop:)] (colour:#4BCC54)+(live: 11s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s) ["Does this mean he eats grass now?"(stop:)] (colour:red)+(live: 14s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Good riddance, I say."(stop:)] (colour:yellow)+(live: 16s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["His enthusiasm's... an acquired taste, but I don't see you taking any initiative."(stop:)] (colour:red)+(live: 18s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["I would rather have a plan that we stick with."(stop:)] (live:22s)[(go-to:"Troupe Breaks 2")] \(live:6s)|Grip>[(live: 1s)[(either:"Get a grip, people!", "Enough!", "Stop arguing!")]] (click:?Grip)[(go-to: "Grip 2")]

You cut in, interrupting their argument... [|CH1>[|A>[[["You're really not cut out to work together"->Negative Troupe 2]]] |B>["Your friend's turned into a beast and you're focused on his attitude?"] |C>[[["Ever thought to tell him he's such a handful?"->Positive Troupe 2]](stop:)]]] (click:?B)+(click-replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["Your friend's turned into a beast and you're focused on his attitude?"] (t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:red)["I'm just tired of always having to bend over backwards for him, that's all."(stop:)]] (live: 2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:yellow)["I'd hardly call finding our friend who's clearly bewitched bending over backwards..."(stop:)]] (live: 5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#4BCC54)["I'm sure it's all a misunderstanding. Oh, but look out for apples, he must be starving!"(stop:)]] (live:8s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)|A>["[I know where he is."(stop:)]] (click:?A)[(go-to:"Troupe to Bottom")]  ]

(set:$TroupeMeter to 0) (set:$Bottometer to 0) |Troupe>[Gib Troupe Positive] |Troupe2>[Gib Troupe Negative] |Bottom>[Gib Bottom Positive] |Bottom2>[Gib Bottom Negative] (click-rerun:?Troupe)[(set: $TroupeMeter to $TroupeMeter +1)] (click-rerun:?Troupe2)[(set: $TroupeMeter to $TroupeMeter -1)] (click-rerun:?Bottom)[(set:$Bottometer to $Bottometer +1)] (click-rerun:?Bottom2)[(set:$Bottometer to $Bottometer -1)] (live:3s)[|CH1>[|A>["Gods, Bottom. You might not look like one now but you're still an ass"(stop:)] |B>["You'll make the memories real again, some day"(stop:)] |C>["Let the Troupe talk to Bottom"(stop:)]]]] |End>[Last click] (click:?End)[(if:$Bottometer >= 0 and $TroupeMeter >= 0)[[Ending->Bottom Positive, Troupe Positive]](if:$Bottometer >= 0 and $TroupeMeter < 0)[[Ending->Bottom Positive, Troupe Negative]](if:$Bottometer < 0 and $TroupeMeter < 0)[[Ending->Bottom Negative, Troupe Negative]](if:$Bottometer < 0 and $TroupeMeter >= 0)[[Ending->Bottom Negative, Troupe Positive]]] [[Ending before ending->Memories]] [[Bottom Positive, Troupe Negative]] [[Bottom Negative, Troupe Positive]] [[Bottom Negative, Troupe Negative]] [[Bottom Positive, Troupe Positive]] [[Out With It]]

(set: $TroupeMeter to $TroupeMeter -1) \(colour:red)["As I said, he's always thought himself better than us. So now he's gone off on his own and found his success. Not like we matter, so good for him, right?"] (colour:yellow)+(live: 2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["I dont understand... there must be an explanation, right?"(stop:)] (colour:red)+(live: 3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["This stranger said they know where to find him. Let's go see for ourselves. Since you refuse to read the writing on the wall you can hear it from the ass's mouth."(stop:)] (live:4s)|Reunion>[Take them to Bottom(stop:)] (click:?Reunion)[(go-to:"Troupe to Bottom")]

(set:$TroupeMeter to $TroupeMeter +1) \(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:red)["Look, you're not wrong and I'll admit, he is the strongest thespian among us. But I just can't keep on with that attitude of his."(stop:)]] (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)[(colour:yellow)["He's just really not doing too good, not after the sheep culling... Let's just find him."(stop:)]] (live:3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1.5s)|A>["I know where he is."] (click:?A)[(go-to:"Troupe to Bottom")]

(colour:orange)["The artist's always recognized. Sooner, and you might get a piece of the magic. Later, and they're already gone. Too bad for-"(stop:)] Bottom's monologue is cut short as right past the latest tree |A>[the Troupe appears.] (click:?A)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour: red)["Look! It's $Name again, couldn't find your way out, could you? And now you've got a..."(stop:)] (live:1.5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#4BCC54)["He's got a half-ass-half-man! Get down!"(stop:)]] (live:3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[|A>[[["Just stop. I found your man."->Argument]](stop:)] |B>[[["That's Bottom."->Argument]](stop:)]]]

(text-style:"shudder")[|giggle>[(colour:#C35AE8)["Tee-Hee-Heeee...]]](live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#C35AE8)[ My prank's exposed, oh no! Fair play! But I told you, I told you! You're not supposed to be here. (if:$TitaniaPuck is true)[Meddling in Master's affairs, too! She hasn't caught me yet, see?] I think you should've kept waking up in the woods!"(stop:)]] (live:3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[|CH1>[|A>["Absolutely not!"(stop:)] |B>["I've had it with you, chaotic little cowpat pest!"(stop:)] |C>["Gods, no. Do whatever you want with them, just let me go!"(stop:)]]] (click:?A)+(replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["Absolutely not!"] (colour:#C35AE8)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Absolutely YES! Sleepy-sleepy!"(stop:)] (colour:#4BCC54)+(live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Uhh... are those trees growing taller?"(stop:)] (colour:red)+(live:4s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Those branches... are those (text-style:"shudder")[antlers?]"(stop:)] (colour:blue)+(live:6s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[|Oberon>[The trees grow dark...(stop:)]] (click:?Oberon)[(go-to:"Oberon has arrived")]] (click:?B)+(replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["I've had it with you, chaotic little cowpat pest!"] (colour:#C35AE8)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["That's no way to talk about the faefolk! But Puck know you're only joking, tee-hee! Off now to a woodland bed with you, sleepy-sleepy!"(stop:)] (colour:#4BCC54)+(live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Uhh... are those trees growing taller?"(stop:)] (colour:red)+(live:4s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Those branches... are those (text-style:"shudder")[antlers?]"(stop:)] (live:6s)[|Oberon>[(colour:blue)[The trees grow dark...(stop:)]] (click:?Oberon)[(go-to:"Oberon has arrived")]]] (click:?C)+(replace:?CH1)[(colour:blue)["Gods, no. Do whatever you want with them, just let me go!"(stop:)] (colour:red)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Truly? Wow..."(stop:)] (colour:#4BCC54)+(live:1s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Noooo..."(stop:)] (colour:#C35AE8)+(live:3s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["That's no fun... not when you put it that way. Fun dreams for you on a woodland bed then, sleepy-sleepy!"(stop:)] (colour:yellow)+(live:6s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Wait... those trees are growing taller!"(stop:)] (colour:orange)+(live:8s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Those branches... are those (text-style:"shudder")[antlers?]"(stop:)] (live:10s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[|Oberon>[(colour:blue)[The trees grow dark...(stop:)]]] (click:?Oberon)[(go-to:"Oberon has arrived")]]

(colour:orange)["Intermission!"(stop:)] The faefolk scatter as |address>[Bottom steps down from his stage](stop:) (click:?address)[(colour:orange)["Out with it then, I've nothing to say. You left me, so leave me be. It was the best thing that ever happened." (live:2s)+(colour:#4BCC54)["We didn't leave you"(stop:)] (live:3s)+(colour:yellow)["We thought you were a beast, not... you."(stop:)] (live:4s)+(colour:orange)[(if: $Bottometer is >0)["And you. You said they hadn't sent you. Why did you lie?"]] \(live:4s)+(colour:orange)[(if: $Bottometer is <0)["And you, liar! Of course you were in on all this, trying to tear me down earlier."]] \(live:4s)+(colour:orange)[(if: $Bottometer is 0)["And you. So much for not knowing the Troupe. Come to gloat some more?"(stop:)]] (live:4.5s)+(colour:blue)|No>[''"No-"''(stop:)]] (click:?No)+(replace:?No)[|I>[''"I-"'']] (click:?I)[(go-to:"Tee-Hee Puck 2")] ]

You manage to interrupt their spiral. (colour:blue)|Would>[''"Would-"''] (click:?Would)+(replace:?Would)[|You>[''"You-"'']] (click:?You)+(replace:?You)[|Please>[''"Please-"'']] (click:?Please)+(replace:?Please)[|Just>[''"Just-"'']] (click:?Just)[(go-to:"Tee-Hee Puck 2")]

[(colour:#C35AE8)["Tee...hee?"(stop:)] (live:1s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[An antlered skull of moss-stained ivory. Eyes alight with wuthering embers. (colour:#6BAAB5)["PUCK!"] |roar>[It roars(stop:)]]] (click:?roar)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#6BAAB5)["One single night only may I enter this realm and see my bitter Titania. So, I send my dearest jester, my loyal Puck, to prank that stubborn wife of mine. Why, dear-dear Puck, would you then waste it meddling in the midnight antics of mortals? Daylight arrives, and you have failed me. We have an entire year to discuss the consequences of your choices."] (live:4.5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)+(colour:#C35AE8)[But Your Majesty, if I just had more time... (if:$TitaniaPuck is true)[The mortal. That one. He saw her, he told me and threatened me and he's ruined everything!](stop:)] (live:5s)[Pucks pleading is of no use as the figure leans closer, |notice>[hardly giving you notice.(stop:)]]] (click:?notice)[|CH1>[|A>[[["Now hold on just a minute!"->Confront Oberon]] |B>[Just keep quiet(stop:)]]]] (click:?B)+(replace:?CH1)[The figure extends a hand of spiraled roots. Fingers deadly as bedberry thorns. [[They snap->Bottom Breaks]]]

(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[You said it, and the very trees seem to still.] (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#6BAAB5)["You command //me// to *'hold on'*? I, Oberon, King of Fae, who calls the wind that fells the leaves. Who parts the frost-clouds to beckon Spring. You would command that I //'hold on'//?"(stop:)]] (live:5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[|CH1>[|A>["We're not some playthings for your amusement."(stop:)] \|B>[ Be smart. be quiet(stop:)] \(if: $TitaniaPuck is true)|C>[ "Puck mentioned. It's not fair that your wife gets all the appreciation."] \(if: $TitaniaFound is true)[|D>[ "Yeah. Your wife had loads to say about you; jealous, domineering, insecure."(stop:)]]]] (click:?A)+(replace:?CH1)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Leaves sway, you could swear it's |laugh>[laughter.]] \(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)+(click:?laugh)[(colour:#6BAAB5)["Well, it would seem you're a bit inaccurate in your statement. While my tastes are more refined than that, many of my fae folk have indeed found you amusing. Until next time, little plaything."] Oberon extends a hand of spiraled roots towards Puck. Fingers deadly as bedberry thorns. [[They snap->Bottom Breaks]]] (click:?B)+(replace:?CH1)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[You reconsider and decide not to stand up to a literal force of nature. (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#6BAAB5)["Wise."(stop:)]] (live:4s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Oberon extends a hand of spiraled roots towards Puck. Fingers deadly as bedberry thorns.(stop:) [[They snap->Bottom Breaks]]](stop:)] (click:?C)+(replace:?CH1)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Air seizes in your throat from the sudden force of wind. Leaves snap at your face, your eyes, your cheeks. (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(text-style:"shudder")+(colour:#6BAAB5)["You dare meddle in my marital affairs? It is](colour:#6BAAB5)[ I] (text-style:"shudder")+(colour:#6BAAB5)[who meddles here!"(stop:)] (live:4s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[You could've kept quiet, you absolute... you just had to go and say it, |dumb>[didn't you?](stop:)] (click:?dumb)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[You're barely holding on as a crack of light shines through the canopy. Daybreak arrives. [[Midsummer ends and the fae are drawn back into their realm.->Bottom Breaks]] (stop:)]]] (click:?D)+(replace:?CH1)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Air seizes in your throat from the sudden force of wind. Leaves snap at your face, your eyes, your cheeks. (live:2s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(text-style:"shudder")+(colour:#6BAAB5)["You dare!"(stop:)] (live:4s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[You could've kept quiet, you absolute... you just had to go and say it, |dumb>[didn't you?](stop:)] (click:?dumb)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[You're barely holding on as a crack of light shines through the canopy. Daybreak arrives. [[Midsummer ends and the fae are drawn back into their realm.->Bottom Breaks]] (stop:)]]]

(colour:orange)[(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["Why can't they take the memory of it?(stop:)] (live:2s)[No, of course they wouldn't.(stop:)] (live:4s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[All that's left is the memory.(stop:)] (live:6s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[Why can't they take that, too?(stop:)] (live:8s)[Gods damn them!(stop:)] (live:10s)[Take that too!(stop:)] (live:13s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 2.5s)[Please."(stop:)]] (live:17s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)|Troupe>[Neither you nor the Troupe are entirely sure what to do.(stop:)] (click:?Troupe)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#4BCC54)["Bottom..."(stop:)] (live:2s)[(colour:red)["It's time to go home."(stop:)]] (live:3s)[|CH1>[|A>["Gods, Bottom. You might not look like one now but you're still an ass."(stop:)] (click:?A)+(replace:?CH1)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(set:$Bottometer to $Bottometer -1)Bottom scowls. [(if:$Bottometer >= 0 and $TroupeMeter >= 0)[[You wait to see what happens->Bottom Positive, Troupe Positive]](if:$Bottometer >= 0 and $TroupeMeter < 0)[[You wait to see what happens->Bottom Positive, Troupe Negative]](if:$Bottometer < 0 and $TroupeMeter < 0)[[You wait to see what happens->Bottom Negative, Troupe Negative]](if:$Bottometer < 0 and $TroupeMeter >= 0)[[You wait to see what happens->Bottom Negative, Troupe Positive]]]] \|B>["You don't need to be an ass to perform."(stop:)] (click:?B)+(replace:?CH1)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(set:$Bottometer to $Bottometer +1)Bottom sighs [(if:$Bottometer >= 0 and $TroupeMeter >= 0)[[You wait to see what happens->Bottom Positive, Troupe Positive]](if:$Bottometer >= 0 and $TroupeMeter < 0)[[You wait to see what happens->Bottom Positive, Troupe Negative]](if:$Bottometer < 0 and $TroupeMeter < 0)[[You wait to see what happens->Bottom Negative, Troupe Negative]](if:$Bottometer < 0 and $TroupeMeter >= 0)[[You wait to see what happens->Bottom Negative, Troupe Positive]]]] \|C>[Let them talk]]] (click:?C)+(replace:?CH1)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(set:$TroupeMeter to $TroupeMeter +1)[(if:$Bottometer >= 0 and $TroupeMeter >= 0)[[And so they do->Bottom Positive, Troupe Positive]](if:$Bottometer >= 0 and $TroupeMeter < 0)[[And so they do->Bottom Positive, Troupe Negative]](if:$Bottometer < 0 and $TroupeMeter < 0)[[And so they do->Bottom Negative, Troupe Negative]](if:$Bottometer < 0 and $TroupeMeter >= 0)[[And so they do->Bottom Negative, Troupe Positive]]]]]

(align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=")[ A Twine game by Alice Vartevanian Inspired by Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare Special Thanks to: Andrea Bjerregaard Brasch Charlene Putney William Shakespeare]

|Titania>[Only Titania found] |Puck>[Mentioned Titania to Puck] (click:?Titania)[(set: $TitaniaFound to true)] (click:?Puck)[(set: $TitaniaPuck to true)] [[Confront Oberon]] [[Tee-Hee Puck 2]] [[Goodbye Puck]]

The performance ends, and the woodland creatures scatter in chatter and glee. |continue>[Bottom disappears backstage with his fae crew.] (click:?Continue)[Somehow even more bewildered, you [[continue onwards->Forest]] through the forest.]

(box:"=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=")[<img src="https://i.postimg.cc/pdSLB6SK/play.png" height="450" width="765">] \Bottom takes to the stage and for a brilliant moment in time, the entire forest bursts out to soak in every second of the performance of a lifetime. His voice clear over the crowd. Pose powerful, confident, moving with a spark only passion could convey. A half-ass-half-man before an audience of woodland creatures. Absurd... yet so genuine. [[You've seen better->Play Ends 2]] [[He's got some serious presence up there->Play Ends 2]] [[Is that raccoon... playing an air lute?->Play Ends 2]] (set:$BottomPlay to true)

The performance ends, and the woodland creatures scatter in chatter and glee. |continue>[Bottom disappears backstage with his fae crew.] (click:?Continue)+(replace:?Continue)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[ Somehow, you're left even more bewildered... [[You follow him-> Bottom sees you]]]

You... |forest>[wake up in the forest again?] (click:?forest)[Folks are still yelling to the left of you, while applause still resounds to your right. [[Look for the yelling -> Find the Troupe]] [[Investigate the applause -> Find Bottom]]] (set:$Bottometer to 0) (set:$TroupeMeter to 0) (set:$TroupeFound to false) (set:$BottomFound to false)

(set: $TitaniaPuck to true) \(colour:#C35AE8)["So you've met the Master's wife, eh? I tell him, what's fruit without gruel for months? Or sun without first frost? That's him, all him! The bare trees and barren fields part. But does anyone appreciate it? No! They want the wife's blooming flowers all year long, always, always, always - boring! Oh, but so she's on to me! I do as my Lord wills and she's always criticized me for it. Many a fae would give their wings for this task, you know!"] |A>[(if: $TroupeFound is true)|Troupe>["The task of setting a half-ass-half-man on a theatre troupe?"] \(if: $BottomFound is true)|Bottom>["Give their wings to trick a beast into thinking their Troupe's abandoned them?"]] (click:?Bottom)+(click:?Troupe)+(replace:?A)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)[(colour:#C35AE8)["But you see, it's genius! All I did was turn one of them into a half-ass-half-man beast. Have I had a hand in any consequential events thereafter? No. I'm but a jester Puck, I prank, and leave it at that!"] [["You WHAT?!"->Repeat]] (if: $TroupeFound is true)[["You turned Bottom into the half-ass-half-man beast?"->To Bottom]] \(if: $BottomFound is true)[["Bottom is a man? And his Troupe's still out in the woods?"->To the Troupe]]]

[[(colour:#4BCC54)["Bottom? is that really you? You're an... you're a..."](stop:)] (live:2s)+(colour:orange)+(text-style:"shudder")["A STAR!"(stop:)] (colour: red)+(live: 4s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s) ["That's not how I'd describe it."(stop:)] (colour:#4BCC54)+(live: 6s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s) ["Do you actually eat grass now?"(stop:)] (colour:yellow)+(live: 8s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["We can fix it! There must be a way to fix it?"(stop:)] (colour:orange)+(live: 10s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s)["There's nothing to fix! You've just not an ounce of talent between you, that's not on me."(stop:)] (colour: red)+(live: 13.5s)+(t8n: "fade")+(transition-time: 1s) ["See? What did I tell you?"(stop:)] (live:2s)|Grip>[(live: 1s)+(colour:blue)[(either:"'''Not this again!'''", "'''Gods, please!'''", "'You're all impossible!'")](stop:)]] (live:15s)+(replace:?Grip)|Done>[(colour:blue)["Are you lot done yet?"](stop:)] (click:?Grip)[(go-to: "Enough")(stop:)] (click:?Done)[(go-to: "Enough")(stop:)]