September 19th, 2020. (set: $Friendship to 3)(set: $Dining to 0)(set: $Games to 0)(set: $Bathroom to 0)(set: $PartyStage to 1)
[[Knock on the door.->Enter]]You hear the murmur of conversation behind the door to Austin's house.
(text-colour:magenta)["Welcome, baby! Glad to see you!"]
[["Good to see you too, Austin!"->Into the House]]
[["Shalom, baby!"->Into the House]]
Though he's wearing a mask, you can tell Austin had a genuine smile. He beckons for you to enter the house as he steps into the foyer.
[[Step inside.->Foyer]]Austin motions to the coat rack and then to a row of shoes. You see a pair of fine Italian leather shoes, combat boots, a pair of golden slippers, and some dirty converse high tops. You take off your Adidas tracksuit and hang it with the rest of the coats.
(text-colour:magenta)["Get comfortable, baby! We might have to be socially distanced but this is still going to be one shagadelic shin dig,"] says Austin from the living room. You kick off your shoes and step inside. You feel a little nervous as you step in because...
[[This is my first Bar Mitzvah.]]
[[I know how important this is to Austin.]]
[[I really, really just want to go home.]]Maybe it won't be your last!
[[Walk into the living room.->Living Room]](set: $Friendship to it + 1)You're a good friend.
[[Walk into the living room.->Living Room]](set: $Friendship to it - 1)Let's hope Austin doesn't hear you say that.
[[Walk into the living room.->Living Room]]You step into the living room. Austin is in the kitchen, while Scott, Doctor Evil, and Goldmember are in the living room. (if:$Bathroom is 0)[You know that Fat Bastard was invited, but you don't see him anywhere.](if:$Games is 0)+(if:$PartyStage<3)[You see Doctor Evil, Scott, and Goldmember playing charades.] (if:$PartyStage is 1)[While it is not currently in use, you see that Austin has a purple speaker system with an iPod Nano docked to it. You allow yourself a smile at the sight of such old tech. Austin always had a hard time keeping up with the rapidly changing technology of the 90s and 2000s after being thawed out.](if:$PartyStage is 2)[The rabbi should be showing up any second now.](if:$PartyStage > 2)[You can hear Austin pacing back and forth in the kitchen.]
(if:$Games is 0)+(if:$PartyStages <3)[[Join the game of charades.->Games]](if:$Games is 0)+(if:$PartyStages is 3)[[Start up a new game of charades.->Games]]
(if:$Dining is 0)[[Go to the dining room to try some of the snacks.->Dining]]
(if:$Bathroom is 0)[[Go to the bathroom to freshen up.->Bathroom]]
(set: $Games to 1)(set: $PartyStage to it + 1)(if:$Partystage <3)[You sit down on an empty loveseat in the living room. Goldmember waves at you. Doctor Evil is rubbing his chin as Scott enthusiastically does the chicken dance.](if:$PartyStage is 3)[You enter the living room and propose that you start up a new game of charades. Scott and his father pair up, leaving you and Goldmember in a team together. Scott draws a piece of paper from the bowl, sighing, and Goldmember sets a timer om his phone. Scott begins to do the chicken dance. This carries on for half of their alotted time.]
"Throw me a friggin' bone here Scott! I'm not a mindreader!" Just as Doctor Evil says this, (if:$PartyStage <3)[a](if:$PartyStage is 3)[the] timer on Goldmember's phone rings shrilly. Goldmember laughs and claps.
"Your fahja does not even know ze chicken dance!" He says in between belly laughs. "Deesh ist very funny!" Scott sits down and sighs. His relationship with his father used to be pretty strained but, with time, you've seen them grow to respect each other. Maybe not as father and son traditionally do, but in their own unique way.
Goldmember silently passes the bowl to you. You draw...
[[The word "spy."->Spy]]
[[The word "spaceship."->Spaceship]]
(set: $Dining to 1)(set: $PartyStage to it + 1)You walk into the dining room and see a wide spread of kosher snacks. There's a bowl of Oodles Chews, which you grab a handful of and toss into your mouth. It looks like Austin has put a lot of thought and care into these snacks, making sure that everyone would have something they like. That's what makes you so bummed out when you realize that nobody has touched any of it, yet.
(if:$PartyStage is 2)[[Head back to the living room, chewing on your Oodles.->Party Event One]](if:$PartyStage is 3)[[Head back to the living room, chewing on your Oodles.->Party Event Two]](if:$PartyStage is 4)[[Head back to the living room, chewing on your Oodles.->Party Event Three]](set: $Bathroom to 1)(set: $PartyStage to it + 1)As you approach the bathroom door, you see it is closed. You knock and the door creaks open slightly. You hear a voice with a thick, Scottish accent come from inside.
"Oh. It's just you," Fat Bastard opens the door the rest of the way and you are hit in the face by what is clearly marijuana smoke. You see a roach floating in the bowl of the toilet. Fat Bastard's eyes are bright red and bloodshot. "Thanks for knocking." He coughs.
[["Got any more?"->Smoke]]
[["What the hell are you doing, dude?"->Admonish]]Immediately, you know what to do. You begin doing a goofy dance, clearly imitating Austin.
<img src=https://i.ibb.co/WcQ1rdg/austin2.gif>
Goldmember hesitates then says "You are...you are Austin!" You shake your head. You hold up one finger, which Goldmember understands to mean one word. Then, you hold up one finger on the other hand, to which he says "One word...one syllable..."
You resume the dance, this time with more posing. Then, with laughter, Goldmember cries out.
"Shpy! You are an international man of mystery!" You emphatically say yes. Scott and Doctor Evil cheer for you.
(if:$PartyStage is 2)[[You are having a great time.->Party Event One]](if:$PartyStage is 3)[[You are having a great time.->Party Event Two]](if:$PartyStage is 4)[[You are having a great time.->Party Event Three]]You think for a second, considering what might resonate with Goldmember. You hold up one finger, which he understands to mean one word. You hold up two fingers on the other hand, to which he says "One word...two syllablesh..."
You strike a pose, one hand on your hip, the other like you're holding a plate.
<img src=https://i.ibb.co/HHJQgvB/Big-Boy.gif>
Then, you point up at the sky and pantomime flying upwards. Scott laughs, then leans over to whisper to his dad. Doctor Evil laughs a little too. Goldmember sits silent, totally confused. The timer on Scott's phone rings, and you tell him that the word was "spaceship." He looks confused and motions for Scott and Doctor Evil to explain it to him.
(if:$PartyStage is 2)[[You are having a great time.->Party Event One]](if:$PartyStage is 3)[[You are having a great time.->Party Event Two]](if:$PartyStage is 4)[[You are having a great time.->Party Event Three]]Some time passes in the living room...
[[Relax->Late]]Some time passes in the living room...
[[Relax->Phone]]Austin silently enters the living room, sits in his blue velvet recliner, and strips off his disposable face mask.
(text-colour:magenta)["Rabbi Johann's not going to be able to make it tonight. Sorry for dragging you all out here for nothing."]
There's an awkward silence in the room. Nobody really knows what to do. Scott is the first one to speak.
"Oh man...we're sorry..."
Austin nods, earnestly. You can tell that the words, no matter how few, mean a lot to him right now.
[["Who says this was for nothing, Austin?"->Kind Words]]
[[Silently start cleaning up the party.->Cleanup]]
(if:$Friendship > 4)[[Pat his shoulder.->Comfort]](if:$Friendship < 2)[["Well this was a waste of time."->Mock]]
"I just so happen to have plenty."
He pulls out a cigarette packet which has four joints in it. You pull out the one closest to you and hold it between your fingers. Fat Bastard fishes in his pockets and pulls out a plaid-patterned Zippo lighter. You stick the joint in your mouth and lean forward to light it on the flame. You inhale, then exhale slowly. A wave of relaxation spreads through your body.
"Oh shit," Fat Bastard says as footsteps come from the hallway. He yanks the joint out of your mouth and tosses it into the toilet before flushing. "Act casual."
Austin rounds the corner. (if:$PartyStage is 3)[Even from a distance, you see tears in his eyes.]
(set: $Friendship to it - 1)(text-colour:magenta)["I'm not stupid. I know what you two are doing. Just...knock it off will you?"]
He looks disappointed in you.
(if:$PartyStage is 2)[[Awkwardly walk back to the living room.->Party Event One]](if:$PartyStage is 3)[[Awkwardly walk back to the living room.->Party Event Two]](if:$PartyStage is 4)[[Awkwardly walk back to the living room.->Party Event Three]]"Lay off, will you? I self-medicate."
He pulls out a cigarette packet which has four joints in it. He pulls one out, then fishes through his pocket for his lighter. His hand emerges holding a plaid-patterned Zippo lighter and lights the joint.
In a moment of anger, you yank the joint out of his mouth and toss it into the toilet before flushing. You try not to raise your voice too loud as you scold him for doing this at an event so important to Austin, but it doesn't really look like he cares. As you turn to leave, you see Austin standing in the hallway. He heard all of that.
You see tears in his eyes.
(set: $Friendship to it + 1)(text-colour:magenta)["Thank you,"] are the only words he says before walking off.
(if:$PartyStage is 2)[[Head back to the living room.->Party Event One]](if:$PartyStage is 3)[[Head back to the living room.->Party Event Two]](if:$PartyStage is 4)[[Head back to the living room.->Party Event Three]](set: $Friendship to it + 1)You see a smile in his eyes again, despite his mask.
[[Return to the party.->Living Room]](set: $Friendship to it - 1)Austin doesn't say anything. He walks back to the kitchen.
[[Return to the party.->Living Room]]Austin walks into the living room, looking a little anxious. He checks the clock that hangs over the faux fireplace, and frowns.
(text-colour:magenta)["Rabbi Johann should be here already..."]
[["I'm sure he'll be here in no time!"->Encourage]]
[[Shrug.->Shrug]]You can hear Austin talking in the kitchen. You walk out there and see him on his home phone. You try not to eavesdrop, but can't help but hear him.
(text-colour:magenta)["A funeral? I understand...yes...of course, Rabbi. No-no it really is okay...thanks for telling me."]
[["What was that about, Austin?"->Eavesdropping]]
[[Leave him be.]](text-colour:magenta)["Nothing. Really. Why don't you go back out and see the others?"]
[["You can talk to me, Austin."->Go away!]]
[[Leave him be.]](text-colour:magenta)["Just go away, would you?!"]
He doesn't mean to yell, but he does.(set: $Friendship to it - 1)
[[Awkwardly go back to the living room.->Living Room]][[Head back to the living room.->Living Room]]You start off just patting his shoulder, but it quickly turns into a hug. He sobs into your shoulder. You can feel all the pain he's held onto for years let out in big, wet tears.
By the time he stops sobbing, Fat Bastard's already left.
(text-colour:magenta)["Thank you all for being here. Truly."]
[["Thank you for having us, Austin."->Ending]](set: $Friendship to it - 3)Austin's face turns bright red. It looks like he's going to say something, something filled with bile, but then he just leans forward with his face in his hands.
(text-colour:magenta)["Just leave. All of you."]
[[Get ready to leave.->Ending]]Austin remains seated in his recliner. You and Goldmember start cleaning up the party for him, taking down decorations. You hear Fat Bastard's car outside, driving off into the night. Doctor Evil and Scott are packing up the leftover snacks and putting them away.
Austin's crying, silently.
[[Finish cleaning up->Ending]](text-colour:magenta)["You really are kind."](set: $Friendship to it + 1)
Everyone chimes in to let Austin know that they're here for him. That he matters. That his hurt is seen. And, most importantly, that they'll be here for the rescheduled event.
[[Get ready to leave.->Ending]]You're the last party guest at the door. As you make to leave, Austin stops you.
(if:$Friendship < 0)[(text-colour:magenta)["Don't ever come back."]](if:$Friendship is 0)[(text-colour:magenta)["Don't ever come back."]](if:$Friendship is 1)[(text-colour:magenta)["You were a real jerk to me tonight, you know that?"] Before you can respond, he hands you your coat. (text-colour:magenta)["This was really important...to me at least."]](if:$Friendship is 2)[(text-colour:magenta)["I wish things had gone better tonight."] He says this somewhat coldly...like he isn't just talking about the party.](if:$Friendship is 3)[(text-colour:magenta)["Thanks for being here,"] he says. (text-colour:magenta)["I'll let you know when we reschedule."]](if:$Friendship > 3)+(if:$Friendship < 6)[(text-colour:magenta)["You're a good friend. Thank you. For everything."]](if:$Friendship is 6)[(text-colour:magenta)["You've always been my best friend. I know tonight wasn't...spectacular or exciting. Wasn't even shagadelic, baby. But it is good to know that at the end of the day I'll have you here. It wasn't easy embarking on this journey, but, in a way, I've done this before. I got frozen, I got thawed, just like that I'm being reborn now."] He pats your shoulder with platonic love. You're a true friend.]
[[And with that, you leave.->Credits]](if:$Friendship < 0)[You got the Ex-Friends ending!](if:$Friendship is 0)[You got the Ex-Friends ending!](if:$Friendship is 1)[You got the Real Jerk ending!](if:$Friendship is 2)[You got the Unsteady Friends ending!](if:$Friendship is 3)[You got the Normal Friends ending!](if:$Friendship > 3)+(if:$Friendship < 6)[You got the Good Friends ending!](if:$Friendship is 6)[You got the Best Friends Forever ending!]
[[Replay->Begining]]