<!--[[TEST PAGE->YOU DIED]] -->
{
(enchant: ?page, (background: (gradient: 90, 0.6, #0e0d16, 0.98, #534c3a, 1, #b3ad9f)))
}
(set:$number to (random:1,100)) (if:$number < 2)[Oops, like you've died in your sleep! Oh well.
[[//WAIT, WHAT!?//->YOU DIED]] ]
(if:$number > 1)[You wake up, bleary-eyed and disorientated, to the sound of your alarm.
It reads ''5:57AM''. A sense of dread sinks into your heart.
[[It's another beautiful morning and you're afraid of going outside.->Waking Up]]]
{(display: "START TEXT")
(set: $hrs to 5)
(set: $ampm to "AM")
(set: $mins to 58)
(set: $score to 0)
}{
(enchant: ?page, (background: black))
}
<img src="portfolio/you_died.gif">
[[Try again?->BEGIN]]{
(enchant: ?page, (background: (gradient: 90, 0.6, #0e0d16, 0.98, #534c3a, 1, #b3ad9f)))
}
But [[you have to->context1]], because your job interview is today.
You can only pray that your luck is good, that today's technology
The interview starts at 9AM. You have three hours to get there.
(text-colour:#acffb8)[(either:"Your bed suddenly springs up at the headboard, sliding your half-conscious body down to the headboard.",
"Your bed suddenly launches you off. You hit the cold floor and lay there momentarily.",
"You roll out of bed."
)]
(link: ">Get ready")[(set: $inc_mins to it + 1)(go-to: "Getting ready")]
(link: ">Rush out the door")[(go-to: "Go without getting ready?")]{
(enchant: ?page, (background: (gradient: 90, 0.6, #0e0d16, 0.98, #534c3a, 1, #b3ad9f)))
}
You start your day with breakfast.
(text-colour:#acffb8)[(either: "Your stove is non-defunct. Again. You forsake breakfast. (set: $hungry to true)" ,
"Your stove demands a sacrifice of leaves before it cooks for you. Something about the environment. You sigh and comply with it's demands. You're running low on leaves.. (set: $inc_mins to 1)",
"Your coffee pot needs a pod today instead of grounds. This is your last pod.",
"The hidden extenders on the floor activate. You can't make breakfast this way. You decide you don't have time for this shit and settle for untoasted bread. It'll suffice. (set: $inc_mins to 1)",
"Your coffee machine decides (font:'Times New Roman')[NO COFFEE FOR YOU]. You forsake coffee. (set: $decaffeinated to true)"
)
{(either: "Your bathroom sink doesn't provide water. You brush your teeth without wetting the toothpaste and rinse off with a water bottle. It'll have to do.",
"You jump in the shower, of course. The shower doesn't run. After foolishly standing there naked in the shower for about a minute, you look at your other options (set: $showerbroken to true) (set: $inc_mins to 1)",
"Your bathroom sink suddenly shifts direction and sprays water all over you! Your fresh new work clothes are wet. You have to use the drier. (set: $needsdrying to true)")}
{(if: $needsdrying is true)[(either: "The drier does not work.
Tough luck! Find some other way to dry your clothes. You wear your usual clothes—not interview-appropriate—and tuck your interview clothes in your bag (set: $badattire to true)", "You spend an extra 30 minutes drying your clothes. To make efficient use of your time, you go over your interview training. (set: $bigdelay1 to true) (set: $preparation to it + 1)" )]
(if: $showerbroken is true)[(either: "You instead spend 30 minutes manually filling a large pot with water from the sink and using that to rinse instead. It's not as thorough as you want it, but at least you won't smell bad. (set: $bigdelay1 to true)", "The sink doesn't work either. Not only can you not brush your teeth, but you'll have to disguise your BO with copulous amounts of deodorant and cologne.
You should have accounted for this. Why didn't you shower last night? <b>Now you smell bad.</b> (set: $BO to true)")]}]
(link: ">Next")[(go-to: "What to do next")]
###OVERVIEW
TOUGH LUCK! is a short, sweet, simple game that speculates on a future where all technology is chance-based. It's dark humor is based upon the casual cruelty of the world.
Despute the absurdist premise, there's a layer of truth to our lived reality within all this wacky wahoo stuff going on.
After all, fiction is a reimagining of reality.
(text-colour:black)[-]
###READINGS AND CONCEPT
''Speculative Fiction'' - The main text that inspires this story. Within a setting far outside the cones of PPPP, the story explores what's within the cones for this setting.
Even here, it's ''probable'' (click: "probable")[that society as a whole will stagnates to keep the 1% in power], it's ''plausible'' (click: "plausible")[that technology will still advance to accommodate for disabilities and different bodies, simply because it's profitable], it's ''possible'' (click: "possible")[that the commodification of technology gives society an excuse to be apathetic to the struggles of the working-class due to this new accessibility]. And there's a ''preferable'' (click: "preferable")[in that we learn to come together to fight for meaningful change in that system, in order to make that happen].
(text-colour:black)[-]
''What Can A Body Do'' - In this story, the world will accommodate itself for all kinds of bodies.
  //`"Among disabled people there's a [term]... called life on 'crip time.' ['crip' being a reclamation of a once-degrading term]. 'Crip time' is flexible shorthand in disability culture, used to indicate a range of uneasy relationships to the pace of contemporary industrialized life, with its relentless and clock-driven organization of hours and days. As a disabled person, to say you're on crip time on a Tuesday might signal the extra time that it takes you to get to the train platform or in and out of a public bathroom.
Crip time, then, can describe an out-of-sync plotting of life in its mismatched state. But the term can wield a pointed critical bite, too. How long does it take, or should it take, for a body to move through the world, the forty-plus-hour workweek, the demands of caregiving for children or ailing parents, the daily commute of the body?" `// (Hendren 146-147)
So in a sense, everyone in this world is on 'crip time', regardless of how able-bodied they are. Accommodations now become an excuse for even harsher institutional time and an unforgiving industrialized life in this world.
(text-colour:black)[-]
''Humor'' - Uses the absurdity of the concept to create dark humor throughout the story. Even when some parts feel a little too familiar, it's important we get a chuckle out of this.
  //"Humour of this kind is the amusement that springs from things being out of order estranged or defamiliarised, deprived for a moment of their allotted role in the overall scheme of things. We laugh when some phenomenon seems suddenly out of place, when things go off the rails or are thrown out of kilter. Such comedy represents a momentary respite from the tyrannical legibility of the world"// (Eagleton 27)
(text-colour:black)[-]
###HOW IS IT USELESS OR USEFUL
On it's surface, the core idea of this speculative fiction is absurd and falls far outside what's possible. But through a satirical lense, it is also critiques institutional time and the current state of the job market.
Getting a job is hard enough. But what if securing it is even harder?
If you can see a reflection of lived reality in a story, I'd argue it's at least somewhat useful.
(text-colour:black)[-]
###CREDIT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
To dizzydonut for in-game clock: found here (click:"found here")[(goto-url: https://intfiction.org/t/implementing-a-game-clock-in-harlowe-3-1-0-twine-2-3-5/44708)]
To the authors of the readings that inspired this, of course.
To Blair and Helen, who were so supportive of me and all around awesome :)
### (text-colour:#acffb8)[   RETURN (click:"RETURN")[(undo:)]]
-[[ABOUT->PRESENTATION]]
(text-colour:#acffb8)[RESTART (click:"RESTART")[(restart:)]]
^^((text-colour:#72AFFF)[Blue] text brings you to the next passage. (text-colour:#acffb8)[Green] text is chance-based events. (text-colour:#FF86CC)[Pink] text gives additional context.)^^
{ <!-- The actual game clock passage which does the math-->
(set: $mins to it + $inc_mins)
(if: $mins > 59)[(set: $mins to it - 60)(set: $inc_hrs to $inc_hrs + 1)]
(set: $hrs to $hrs + $inc_hrs)
(if: $hrs > 11)[
(set: $hrs to it - 12)
(if: $ampm is "PM")[
(set: $inc_day to true)(set: $ampm to "AM")]
(else:)[(set: $ampm to "PM")]
] }
---
(unless: (passage:)'s name is "BEGIN" or (passage:)'s name is "ENDING")[It is currently ''$hrs:(if: $mins < 10)[0]$mins $ampm''.]
(set: $inc_mins to 0)
(set: $inc_hrs to 0)
(set: $inc_ampm to false)
{
(enchant: ?page, (background: #0e0f1d))
}
(enchant:?passage,(b4r:"solid","none","none")+(b4r-size:15)+(b4r-colour:black,white,white))
You can't keep living like this, shutting yourself in the safety of your home, always reliant on others. You need to get a steady income. You need this job.
(click: "this job")[You need to make a good impression.]
(click: "good impression")[You need to be on time.]
(click: "on time")[You need to succeed with this interview. ]
(click: "interview")[You need to.]
[[Okay....->Waking Up]] {
(enchant: ?page, (background: (gradient: 90, 0.6, #0e0d16, 0.98, #534c3a, 1, #b3ad9f)))
}
Are you sure you don't want to get ready? Interviews are serious business. You need to make a good impression.
(link: ">Yes")[(set: $rushed to true)(set: $hungry to true)(set: $decaffeinated to true)(set: $BO to true)(go-to: "Subway Station")]
[[>Oh crap, you're right->Getting ready]]
[[>Let me think about it->Youre awake at least]]{
(enchant: ?page, (background: (gradient: 90, 0.6, #0e0d16, 0.98, #534c3a, 1, #b3ad9f)))
}
(link: ">Get ready")[(set: $inc_mins to it + 1)(go-to: "Getting ready")]
(link: ">Rush out the door")[(set: $inc_mins to it + 1)(set: $rushed to true)(set: $hungry to true)(set: $decaffeinated to true)(set: $BO to true)(go-to: "Subway Station")]{(if: $bigdelay1 is true)[(set: $inc_mins to 60)]
(else:)[(set: $inc_mins to 30)]
(if: $BO is true)[The walk to the ground floor (you don't trust that elevator) got you a little sweaty. Hopefully, nobody notices how bad you smell...]
(else-if: $badattire is true)[You really shouldn't be going to an interview in these clothes. There's a laundromat not too far out of the way of the subway station. Maybe you can dry your clothes there instead? At the very least, every washing machine should be working.]}
{(either:"You try to leave your apartment. The entrance door slams in your face. You open it to try and leave again, but it just slams in your face again. And again.", "The door has changed into a revolving door. It reverses direction just as you're about to leave it. You manage not to get stuck in a perpetual loop.", "What the hell happen to the apartmenr door? You nervously step out, look all around you. Nothing. Still fearing the worse, you skedaddle on outta here!")}
{(unless: $hungry is true or $decaffeinated is true)[You're feeling fine, just a little nervous.] (unless: $badattire is true or $BO is true)[You straighten your fancy new interview clothes and give yourself a quick sniff. You're ready.]}
{(if: $hungry is true)[Because you skipped out on breakfast (the most important meal of the day), you feel hungry.]
(else-if: $decaffeinated is true)[You really need some coffee...]
(else-if: $hungry is true and $decaffeinated is true)[The lack of both caffeine and food in you is really affecting you already. Maybe you have time to stop by the deli?]}
(link: ">Head straight to the subway station")[(go-to: "Subway Station")]
(if: $hungry is true or $decaffeinated is true)[(link: ">Go to the deli")[(go-to: "Deli")]]
(if: $badattire is true or $BO is true)[(link: ">Go to the laundromat")[(go-to: "Laundromat")]](if: $rushed is true)[(set: $inc_mins to 7) You rush out of your apartment, leap down both flights of stairs, and stagger out. You don't even take notice of how the entrance door works today.
You're hungry, you smell bad, your clothes are sweaty, and you're only kept awake by nerves. But at least you'll be there very early. Maybe that'll be enough.]
(else:)[(set: $inc_mins to 15)]
You arrive at the subway station.
The level transtition today is (text-colour:#acffb8)[(either: "stairs", "a ramp")]. You go down without issue towards the turnstiles where you'll pay. (text-colour:#acffb8)[(either: "The fare has doubled. You grit your teeth and pay.", "You find only one turnstile works. There's a bit of a queue.", "The turnstiles are gone today! Yay, free trip!")]
[[Next->Second Level Transtition]](set: $inc_mins to it + 5)
(if: $decaffeinated is true)[You go to the deli and order a coffee. You don't really have time to sweeten it how you like, so you pour a bit of milk and call it there.
(if: $badattire is true or $BO is true)[(link: ">Go to the laundromat")[(go-to: "Laundromat")]]
(link: ">Head straight to the subway station")[(go-to: "Subway Station")]
(set: $decaffeinated to false)]
(if: $hungry is true)[You go to the deli and inspect their selection of sandwiches. What will you have?
[[Bacon Egg & Cheese->Selection Made]]
[[Cream Cheese Bagel->Selection Made]]
[[BTL->Selection Made]]
[[Ham and Cheese->Selection Made]]
(link: ">Tuna-Garlic Sandwich")[(set:$selection to "ew")(go-to: "Selection Made")]
(link: ">Croissant")[(set:$selection to "french")(go-to: "Selection Made")]
](set: $inc_mins to 5)
It's a five minute walk from your apartment to the laundromat. It'll take a little longer to get to the interview, but the right attire is incredibly important.
It's been years since you visited. All the machines look wildly different.
{(if: $BO is true)[As you figure out how your chosen drier works, a kind stranger informs you that the laundromat now has a shower. The price is a bit ridiculous, but... ]}
(if: $BO is true and $badattire is not true)[
[[Take a shower->Shower]]
[[You don't have time->No shower.]] ]
{(else-if: $BO is true and $badattire is true)[
{ As you figure out how your chosen drier works, a kind stranger informs you that the laundromat now has a shower. The price is a bit ridiculous, but... }
{[[Take a shower while your clothes dry->Shower]]}
{[[Just wait for your clothes to dry->No shower.]] ] }
(if: $BO is not true)[You dry your clothes and (link: "leave")[(go-to: "Subway Station")]](set: $inc_mins to 30)
You didn't even know that laundromats now offer showers until now. Maybe it simply isn't a common practice yet? You think it should be.
The shower is a pain to figure out, but it works. You're left fresh and clean, and offered a complementary towel for when you step out. (if: $badattire is true)[Your clothes have finished drying, so you take them and head into the changing room to change.] (else:)[You also make sure to wash your clothes in the shower and dry them. Hey, it does the job.]
You feel so much more confident already! (set: $preparation to it + 1)
(if: $hungry is true or $decaffeinated is true)[(link: ">Go to the deli")[(go-to: "Deli")]]
(link: ">Go to the subway")[(set: $inc_mins to it + 15)(go-to: "Subway Station")]
(set: $BO to false) (set: $badattire to false)
(set: $inc_mins to 30)
It's just not worth the price...
(if: $badattire is true)[You take your dried clothes, change into them in the changing room (they have those here now?), and head out.]
(else:)[This was a waste of time.]
[[Go to the subway ->Subway Station]]
(if: $hungry is true or $decaffeinated is true)[(link: ">Go to the deli")[(go-to: "Deli")]]
(set: $badattire to false)You wait for your food, antsy.
Once you get it, do you (link: "eat it fast")[(set:$ate to "fast")(go-to: "yummers")] or (link: "take your time")[(set:$ate to "slow")(go-to: "yummers")]?(set: $inc_mins to 3)
(if: $ate is "fast")[You eat it in a hungry. (set: $inc_mins to 1)]
{(if: $selection is "french")[Unfortunately, croissants are messy. You get crumbs all over your dress shirt. You try to brush it off, but some grease remains.
(visited:"Laundromat")[You just dried your clothes too! You won't have time to wash this again!] (else:)[You won't have time to wash //and// dry it at the laundromat.]
You'll just have to go to the interview with crumbs on your shirt.
(set: $crumbsonshirt to true)]
}
{(if: $ate is "slow")[Not wanting to get your clothes dirty, you take your time. (set: $inc_mins to 3)]}
{(if: $selection is "ew")[Your decision to eat that unholy abomination they call a sandwich causes you to have bad breath. You waste even more time buying a mint, and get distracted by the cool new plush toy collectible set. (set: $inc_mins to 6)]}
(if: $badattire is true or $BO is true)[(link: ">Go to the laundromat")[(go-to: "Laundromat")]]
(link: ">Head straight to the subway station")[(set: $inc_mins to it + 10)(go-to: "Subway Station")]Another flight of stairs, wide enough for four to walk side by side, will take you to the downtown (text-colour:#FF86CC)[[[45th->context2]]] (heh) train, which you'll need to take.
A wheelchair-bound woman rolls herself up besides you.
(set: $2ndtr to (either:"stairs", "the ramp"))
(text-colour:#acffb8)[(if: $2ndtr is "the ramp")[(She sees $2ndtr, then hesitates.) ]
(else:)[(She sees the $2ndtr and sighs in annoyance.)]]
You understand. This level transtition constantly changes. Nobody knows what it will be when you arrive or when it will change. It could change as you're walking down it. Complaints have been sent to the transportation company, but still, nothing has been done.
[[Walk down slowly->Slow descent]]
[[Run down->Fast descent]]
[[Wait and see->Guarantee]]
[[Talk to the lady->Analise]]You remember the 69 meme. Then the 67 meme. Now we have the 45 meme.
[[Good times.->Second Level Transtition]] (set: $safety to true)
(text-colour:#acffb8)[(either:"You take your time, ready to react if it changes. Fortunately, it remains $2ndtr the whole way down, and you make it safely.", "You take your time, ready to react if it changes. Once you feel the shift, you jump. (set: $slowdescentif to true)")]
{(if: $slowdescentif is true)[
(if: $2ndtr is "stairs")[You're able to slant your feet despite the awkward angle and slide down part of the way, gradually re-gaining your footing. The wheelchair lady smoothly rolls down with you once the level transtition changes.]
(else:)[Your feet hit the edge of the step. You wobble, but manage to steady yourself. The woman in the wheelchair decides to take a rolling leap and does a sick 360 down the stairs. You've seen feats like this quite a few times from all sorts of people with disabilities, but you're still very impressed!
Everyone has their own ways of adaption.]]}
[[Next->The train]](text-colour:#acffb8)[(either:"You managed to get all the way down without it changing. Once you're safely at the bottom, you take a moment to catch your breath and thank... whatever force drives your luck. God, the universe, whatever.", "You hear the woman's voice call behind you. (set: $deathbychange to true)")]
(if: $deathbychange is true)[The level transtition changes! You're not prepared. The shift causes you to stumble down the stairs, breaking several bones. (text-colour:red)[One of those being your skull, on that last step.]
[[Maybe be more careful this time...->YOU DIED]]](set: $inc_mins to 7) (set: $safety to true)
You play it safe. Sure enough, the level transtition changes.
Confident you can make it down in term, you make your way down.
{(if: $2ndtr is "stairs")[The woman in the wheelchair sighs in relief and rolls her way down.]
(else:)[Presumably not willing to wait for it to change back, the woman in the wheelchair decides to take a rolling leap and does a sick 360 down the stairs. You've seen feats like this quite a few times from all sorts of people with disabilities, but you're still very impressed!
Everyone has their own ways of adaption.]}
[[Next->The train]](set: $inc_mins to 3) (set: $preparation to it + 1)
Her name is Analise, and she works as a librarian. She's very sweet. Her job sounds hectic, but she tells you she manages with a smile. (set: $metanalise to true)
"I know this transtition like the back of my hand." She tells you confidentially.
Just jump when she tells you to. (set: $safety to true)
You make your way down. (either: "It doesn't change.", "When you hear her voice, you know to jump.") (if: $2ndtr is "stairs")[You're able to slant your feet despite the awkward angle and slide down part of the way, gradually re-gaining your footing. The wheelchair lady smoothly rolls down with you once the level transtition changes.]
(else:)[Your feet hit the edge of the step. You wobble, but manage to steady yourself. Analise decides to take a rolling leap and does a sick 360 down the stairs. You've seen feats like this quite a few times from all sorts of people with disabilities, but you're still very impressed!
"Inventing new ways of dealing with these damn things is sort of a hobby of mine." She explains casually, but she seems out of breath from that one trick. You smile at her as you both wait for the train.]
[[Next->The train]]
{
(if: $safety is true)[(set: $inc_mins to 7)]
(else:)[(set: $inc_mins to 1)]
(set: $trainArrv to (either:"missed", "early", "ontime", "late", "verylate"))
(set: $trainSp to (either:"vslow", "slow", "fast", "vfast"))
(if: $trainArrv is "missed")[ (text-colour:#acffb8)[ You missed your train. Even when you tried to be here early to account for sudden early depatures, you still missed the train.
You read the train schedule, and your heart drops. You have to wait 2 hours for the next one.] ]
(else-if: $trainArrv is "early")[ (text-colour:#acffb8)[You just barely made it on time!] ]
(else-if: $trainArrv is "ontime")[ (text-colour:#acffb8)[The train comes right on time! Relieved, you hop in.] ]
(else-if: $trainArrv is "late")[ (text-colour:#acffb8)[The train has been delayed, much to your displeasure. However, the delay is quite short, only about 10 minutes.] ]
(else-if: $trainArrv is "verylate")[ (text-colour:#acffb8)[The schedule has changed drastically. You have to wait an hour for your train.] ]
}
{
(if: $trainSp is "vslow")[ (text-colour:#acffb8)[Your train today looks very old and quite dirty. It chugs along it's path awkwardly, with many sudden stops. There's often very long delays. It's going to be a long subway ride.] ]
(else-if: $trainSp is "slow")[ (text-colour:#acffb8)[You got one of the decent train cars today. It still has it's fair counts of sudden stops and delays, but the delays are brief, few, and far in-between.] ]
(else-if: $trainSp is "fast")[ (text-colour:#acffb8)[You got one of the nicer trains. It's sleek and clean and runs like clockwork! You settle into your seat with a sense of relief.] ]
(else-if: $trainSp is "vfast")[ (text-colour:#acffb8)[You step on the train. It only gives you about 5 seconds to hop on before the doors close. You're half-afraid they'd crush you. The train zips off at lightning speeds, making you dizzy.
At least you'll get to your destination really quicky?] ]
}
[[Ride the train->To your job.]](set: $inc_hrs to 1)
{
(set: $trainArrv to (either:"missed", "early", "ontime", "late", "verylate"))
(set: $trainSp to (either:"vslow", "slow", "fast", "vfast"))
(if: $trainArrv is "missed")[ (set: $inc_hrs to 2) ]
(else-if: $trainArrv is "late")[ (set: $inc_mins to 10).]
(else-if: $trainArrv is "verylate")[ (set: $inc_hrs to 1) ]
}
{
(if: $trainSp is "vslow")[ (set: $inc_hrs to 2) (text-colour:#acffb8)[ It takes 2 hours to arrive. ] ]
(else-if: $trainSp is "slow")[ (set: $inc_mins to 90) (text-colour:#acffb8)[ It takes an hour and a half to arrive. ] ]
(else-if: $trainSp is "fast")[ (set: $inc_mins to 45) (text-colour:#acffb8)[ Your phone said it would take an hour to arrive, but you ended up at your destination in 45 minutes. ] ]
(else-if: $trainSp is "vfast")[ (set: $inc_mins to 25) (text-colour:#acffb8)[ You arrive at your destination in 25 minutes. It took all your willpower not to vomit for the whole ride. At least you can ground yourself again. ] ]
}
The building looms over you, tall and grey. You take a deep breath, steel your nerves, and step in.
You talk to receptionist at the table. (if: $BO is true)[Her nose wrinkles—jeez, you smell bad.] (if: $crumbsonshirt is true)[She takes notice of the crumbs on your shirt.] (if: $badattire is true)[When you tell her you're here for an issue, she raises an eyebrow in disbelief, but directs you nonetheless.]
You go to the elevators. It is a wide corridor. There are six (yes, ''six'') elevators, three on each side. Feeling anxious, you press one of the UP buttons.
[[>Wait -> elevatorgamble]]
[[>Wait in the middle of the room -> saferide]](either: "You breathe a sigh of relief as a nearby elevator opens up.
[[Time for the interview.->Interview]]",
"The elevator that opens is all the way on the other side of the corridor. (set: $AUGH to true)")
(if: $AUGH is true)[
[[[>GODDAMNIT NOOOO!!! RUN! RUUUUUUN!! -> deathbyelevator]]
[[>Okay, sure, just wait for another elevator. Fuck me, I guess. Who the hell designed this building? -> saferide]]]
][(set: $inc_mins to 1)]
(if: $AUGH is not true)[In doing so, you're guaranteed to make it to an elevator on time.]
(else:)[You consider just taking the stairs, but the place where the interview is held is all the way on the 6th way. And you're not keen on climbing that many days. The next elevator is closer to you anyways. ]
[[Now onto the interview!->Interview]](either: "You made it!!
[[Go up to the 6th floor and do the interview->Interview]]", "You just barely make it. You're half-afraid the doors would crush you, but they open up just as the heavy metal sandwiches you into a near-panic. You're safely on.
[[Go up to the 6th floor and do the interview->Interview]]", "Apparently the sensors that detect if someone is walking through the door doesn't work. (text-colour:red)[The elevator doors crush you to death.]
[[...Are you kidding me? ->YOU DIED]]")This is it. The moment of truth.
Time to see if you're getting this job...
You greet the interviewer and take your seat.
(if: $BO is true)[He takes a whiff of your stench and grimaces. Not a good sign. You explain lamely that your shower wasn't working. He tells you, coldly and professionally, that there are places with functioning showers if you know where to look.]
(if: $crumbsonshirt is true)[He also takes notice of the crumbs on your shirt. Not a good start.]
(if: $badattire is true)[The interviewer looks at your attire, grimaces, and asks you if this is a joke. You try to explain your only professional set got ruined. He says that's not an excuse. You get a sinking feeling you're gonna blow it.]
[[See results->ENDING]](put: $preparation into $score)
(if: $hrs > 9 or $ampm is "PM")[(set: $score to it - 4)]
(if: $BO is true)[(set: $score to it - 2)]
(if: $crumbsonshirt is true)[(set: $score to it - 1)]
(if: $hungry is true)[(set: $score to it - 1)] (if: $decaffeinated is true)[(set: $score to it - 1)]
(if: $score < 0)[The interview didn't go so well. You got a rejection letter the next day.
[[There's always next time... At least you're alive...->BAD END]]
]
(else:)[You think the interview went pretty well.
After a few days of anticipation, you find an email from the company you're applying to...
It says you're hired!
[[Congratulations!! Despite the odds, you finally got yourself a job!->GOOD END]] ]
(if: $score > 1)[You really aced it, champ!]{
(enchant: ?page, (background: (gradient: 90, 0.6, #0e0d16, 0.98, #3a362d, 1, #999999))) }
//Despite what this game tells you, it's not actually your fault.
Sometimes, the world is unfair. And the institutions around us don't account for that.
You must be exhausted. Go rest.
And thank you for playing.//(enchant: ?page, (bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#c41b87,0.5,#5909a9,1,#0a0a8e)))
//Congratulations! You beat the odds and achieved the good ending!//
//Obviously, this world is too absurd to take seriously, but I still hoped you saw a bit of your own lived reality through this speculative future. Thank you for playing! ❤️//