{(set: $dossCounter to 60)
|stickyNumber>[|amount>[$dossCounter] seconds left]
(live: 1s)[
(set: $dossCounter to it - 1)
(if: $dossCounter is 0)[(go-to: "timesUp")]
(replace: ?amount)[$dossCounter]
]}
|dossSectionHead>[You]
|dossSubHead>[Name:]
- $selfFirstName $lastName -
|dossSubHead>[Age:]
- $selfAge (Loth years) -
|dossSubHead>[Origin:]
- $selfOrigin -
|dossSubHead>[Parents:]
- $selfParents -
|dossSubHead>[Favorite Food:]
- $selfFood -
|dossSubHead>[Quirks:]
- $selfQuirk1 -
- loves $selfQuirk2 -
|dossSectionHead>[Them]
|dossSubHead>[Name:]
- $partnerFirstName $lastName -
|dossSubHead>[Age:]
- $partnerAge (Loth years) -
|dossSubHead>[Origin:]
- $partnerOrigin -
|dossSubHead>[Parents:]
- $partnerParents -
|dossSubHead>[Favorite Food:]
- $partnerFood -
|dossSubHead>[Quirks:]
- $partnerQuirk1 -
- hates $partnerQuirk2 -
- $partnerQuirk3 -
|dossSectionHead>[Relationship]
You met at $metAt. Your first kiss was at the $firstKissTime of the relationship, and it was $firstKissLoc. You are both $bothJob. You have now been married for $marriedLength. The beginning of your relationship was $relationStart, and now you couldn't be without the other. More than anything, you want to $futurePlans, and with your winnings you plan to $moneyPlans.
[[finished->timesUp]]
{
(set: $selfFirstName to (either:"Markou","Xinthe","Trilbi"))
(set: $partnerFirstName to (either:"Xan","Neelai","Umra","Keshel"))
(set: $lastName to (either:"Meere","Carconel","Fengson","Yvur"))
(set: $selfAge to (random: 15, 30))
(set: $partnerAge to (random: 15, 30))
(set: $selfOrigin to (either:"Earth","Loth"))
(set: $partnerOrigin to (either:"Earth","Loth"))
(set: $selfFood to (either:"synthgrapes","spicy rationmeal","grub-getti"))
(set: $partnerFood to (either:"synthgrapes","spicy rationmeal","grub-getti"))
(set: $selfParents to (either:"old money","asteroid miners","military"))
(set: $partnerParents to (either:"landlords","food truck owners","writers"))
(set: $selfQuirk1 to (either:"emotional","patient","sarcastic"))
(set: $selfQuirk2 to (either:"art","Earth history","to exercise"))
(set: $partnerQuirk1 to (either:"good at sex","trusting","open minded"))
(set: $partnerQuirk2 to (either:"cleaning","their job","exercising"))
(set: $partnerQuirk3 to (either:"loves war films","penchant for cooking","always wears purple"))
(set: $metAt to (either:"an Earth concert","a ration line","work"))
(set: $firstKissLoc to (either:"in Earth low orbit","at a movie","in a dive bar"))
(set: $firstKissTime to (either:"first week","second week","first date"))
(set: $marriedLength to (either:"3 months","1 year","5 years"))
(set: $bothJob to (either: "space truckers","ration dispensery workers","accountants"))
(set: $relationStart to (either: "rocky","serendipitous","a dream"))
(set: $futurePlans to (either: "grow and thrive on Loth","have lots of kids","stick together no matter what"))
(set: $moneyPlans to (either: "save for your future kids' ration funds","buy a flat","pay off your combined ration debt"))
(set: $ourTeamPoints to 0)
(set: $otherTeamPoints to 50)
(set: $numRound2Right to 0)
}I heard a timer go off in the distance, and I hurriedly closed and deleted the dossier from my arm mount. It was time. I glanced at my co-pilot and hoped to Jupiter that they were better at this than me.
I was ushered onto the set. Blinded, the first thing I could focus on was the host, who made herself known from center stage. "WELCOME, GENTLEFOLKS, to AFFECTION CONNECTION!"
There was muffled applause. I couldn't tell if it was real or not.
The host, a flamboyant robot in purple feathery garb, gestured to one of the stands.
"Our first contestants are Mr. and Mx. Zol! They made a long journey, and are hoping to use their money to move out of the fungus farming district and maybe pay some of their ration debt!"
The eyestalks of the male-presenting contestant were shaking like a cheap resonator. He bristled, and his partner put a hand on his back.
"And lastly, we have the... uh... beautiful (print:$lastName+"s")! Who will win the prize? Let's find out!"
Half of each couple was [[ushered out]], and that included me. I followed along and did what I was told. I stood around and waited. Mr. Zol didn't speak, even though we were uncomfortably close.
A moment later and we were back on stage. The host was booming, "Alright contestants. Can you match your partners' answers?"
"First question: |questionText>[if your partner could only cook you one meal for the rest of your life, what would you want it to be?] Answer now!"
{(set: $foodArr to (shuffled: $selfFood, (either: "sweet loaf", "braised Earth cow"), (either: "bean soup", "scalearoni")))
(link:$foodArr's 1st)[(set: $pickedFood to $foodArr's 1st)(go-to:"pickedFood")](print:"
")
(link:$foodArr's 2nd)[(set: $pickedFood to $foodArr's 2nd)(go-to:"pickedFood")](print:"
")
(link:$foodArr's 3rd)[(set: $pickedFood to $foodArr's 3rd)(go-to:"pickedFood")]
}(set: $gotItRight to $pickedFood is $selfFood)I hestiated, but eventually offered an answer: "$pickedFood."
"You like $pickedFood, huh?" The host teased. "Well... (if: $gotItRight)[$partnerFirstName agrees! 50 points for you!"
I made eye contact with my partner. I got a curt nod.(set: $ourTeamPoints to it+50)](else:)[$partnerFirstName says otherwise! They thought you would prefer $selfFood! What a bummer, such a bad start..."
I made eye contact with my partner. They rolled their large, round eyes at me, and I knew I'd be in trouble later. But then I remembered it was just an act.] The host moved on to the next couple.
The Zols answered correctly. (if: not $gotItRight)[I felt like an idiot.]
"It's time for the next question. |questionText>[How would your partner finish this sentence: 'when $selfFirstName is alone around cute strangers, I'd like them to remember that I'm _____']"
{(set: $quirkArr to (shuffled: $partnerQuirk1, (either: "ready to fight", "jealous"), (either: "a good cook", "the cutest")))
(link:$quirkArr's 1st)[(set: $pickedQuirk to $quirkArr's 1st)(go-to:"pickedQuirk")](print:"
")
(link:$quirkArr's 2nd)[(set: $pickedQuirk to $quirkArr's 2nd)(go-to:"pickedQuirk")](print:"
")
(link:$quirkArr's 3rd)[(set: $pickedQuirk to $quirkArr's 3rd)(go-to:"pickedQuirk")]
}(set: $gotItRight to $pickedQuirk is $partnerQuirk1)Even though I felt awkard, I managed to give "$partnerFirstName" a wink before I said, "$pickedQuirk."
"They're $pickedQuirk? Ooh... interesting." The host wiggled a robotic eyebrow. "(if: $gotItRight)[(if: $ourTeamPoints is 50)[You two must be on the same wavelength](else:)[I guess it's comeback time], because $partnerFirstName said $pickedQuirk, too! Nice job.(set: $ourTeamPoints to it+100)](else:)[But it seems $partnerFirstName wrote '$partnerQuirk1.' Ouch!]"(set: $otherTeamPoints to it+(either:50,100))
My next answer was (if: $gotItRight)[right](else:)[wrong], too. At the end of the round, we had $ourTeamPoints and the Zols had $otherTeamPoints. All of us were worried.
It was my turn to answer first. As soon as our partners were out of earshot, the host began asking more questions and suddenly I felt a lot more pressure.
"Round two! First question. |questionText>[Which best describes your temperment in arguments: are you emotional, are you a patient listener, or are you sarcastic?]"
{(set: $quirkArr2 to (shuffled: "emotional","patient","sarcastic"))
(link:$quirkArr2's 1st)[(set: $pickedQuirk to $quirkArr2's 1st)(go-to:"pickedQuirk2")](print:"
")
(link:$quirkArr2's 2nd)[(set: $pickedQuirk to $quirkArr2's 2nd)(go-to:"pickedQuirk2")](print:"
")
(link:$quirkArr2's 3rd)[(set: $pickedQuirk to $quirkArr2's 3rd)(go-to:"pickedQuirk2")]
}I had one minute to look at [[our dossier->dossier]] before the game began. There was a note attached to it from the boss:
"Don't screw this up. Pretend you love each other. You know what's at stake."
{(display: "generateVars")}(if: $pickedQuirk is $selfQuirk1)[(set:$numRound2Right to it+1)]"I'm definitely $pickedQuirk," I said. The host wordlessly jotted it down, and then did the same for the other team.
"Moving right along. Now, |questionText>[if your partner could pick any one thing not to deal with anymore, what would it be?]"
{(set: $hateArr to (shuffled: $partnerQuirk2, (either: "my hobbies", "their morning routine"), (either: "in-laws", "debt collectors")))
(link:$hateArr's 1st)[(set: $pickedHate to $hateArr's 1st)(go-to:"pickedHate")](print:"
")
(link:$hateArr's 2nd)[(set: $pickedHate to $hateArr's 2nd)(go-to:"pickedHate")](print:"
")
(link:$hateArr's 3rd)[(set: $pickedHate to $hateArr's 3rd)(go-to:"pickedHate")]
}(if: $pickedHate is $partnerQuirk2)[(set:$numRound2Right to it+1)]I scratched my chin and thought back to the dossier. Eventually "$pickedHate" came to mind. The host scribbled.
Mr. Zol didn't hesitate. "Blisters." My stomach sank.
"Alright, this one is easy. |questionText>[Where did the two of you meet?]" the host gushed.
{(set: $metArr to (shuffled: $metAt, (either: "school", "a spaceport"), (either: "our apartment cell unit", "a parking lot")))
(link:$metArr's 1st)[(set: $pickedMet to $metArr's 1st)(go-to:"pickedMet")](print:"
")
(link:$metArr's 2nd)[(set: $pickedMet to $metArr's 2nd)(go-to:"pickedMet")](print:"
")
(link:$metArr's 3rd)[(set: $pickedMet to $metArr's 3rd)(go-to:"pickedMet")]
}(if: $pickedMet is $metAt)[(set:$numRound2Right to it+1)]"I think it was... at $pickedMet." Again, there was no response from the host.
I paid closer attention to the other team's answer. Mr. Zol hesitaded, then lamented, "on the farms."
The host obliviously beamed, "Now let's see what your partners have to say!"
(set:$ourTeamPoints to it+($numRound2Right * 50))(set: $otherTeamPoints to it+((3-$numRound2Right)*50))
They came out and answered. We got $numRound2Right correct match(if: not($numRound2Right is 1))[es], which brought our score to $ourTeamPoints. The Zols matched (print:3-$numRound2Right) answer(if: not ($numRound2Right is 2))[s] for a total of $otherTeamPoints. (if: $ourTeamPoints * 2 < $otherTeamPoints)[It wasn't looking great for us. I could feel my partner's anxiety, and wondered if they were thinking about what the boss would do to us if we didn't get the prize. I know I was.]
Before we had time to weigh our chances, the host piped up once again.
"Now it's time for the final round, where you can double your points... or half them! It's a tough one, so get ready."
"The final question is: |questionText>[if you divorced right now, who would deserve the money most?]"
I panicked. That wasn't on the dossier. And of course, I didn't have an earnest answer. Unable to look at "$partnerFirstName," I glanced at the other couple. Mr. Zol was shaking even more furiously.
They needed it.
{(link:$selfFirstName)[(set: $pickedFinal to $selfFirstName)(go-to:"pickedFinal")](print:"
")
(link:$partnerFirstName)[(set: $pickedFinal to $partnerFirstName)(go-to:"pickedFinal")](print:"
")
(link:"the Zols")[(set: $pickedFinal to "The Zols")(go-to:"pickedFinal")]
}(if: $ourTeamPoints >= $otherTeamPoints)[(set: $partnerFinal to "the Zols")](else:)[(set: $partnerFinal to (either:$selfFirstName,$partnerFirstName))](set: $gotItRight to $partnerFinal is $pickedFinal)I steeled myself and wrote "$pickedFinal" onto the worn tablet screen on the panel. It blinked and disappeared. Then I looked at my partner. They were softly crying, and I resisted the urge to comfort them for real. I'm still not sure if they were scared for us or for the Zols.
(if: $gotItRight)[(set: $ourTeamPoints to it*2)(set: $otherTeamPoints to it/2)Both of the Zols wrote each other's names.](else:)[(set: $otherTeamPoints to it*2)(set: $ourTeamPoints to it/2) Mr. Zol wrote "them" and Mx. Zol wrote "me". They simply looked at each other and smiled. His shaking stopped.]
Attention turned to us. I revealed my answer, and then my partner revealed theirs. It said "$partnerFinal."
The final scores left us at $ourTeamPoints and the Zols at $otherTeamPoints.
We (if: $ourTeamPoints > $otherTeamPoints)[won. But now, I'm not sure we really did.](else:)[lost. We're still trying to make it up to the boss. But I think it might be better that way.]
<center><iframe src="/html/departureContent.html" style="width:150px;height:150px;padding:0;margin:0;display:block;border:none;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></center>(align: "=><=")[|titleText>[Pretend You Love Each Other]
[[START->intro]]
|footerText>[By: Olivia C Dunlap]]