Example - Cephalopod Dating (Harlowe: Variables)
It is the year 80XX and humans have moved into space. And they are not the only ones. Cephalopods have come along with us.
You stand in front of the bar on a small mining moon. It's late, and you want to meet someone new. Maybe get lucky. Maybe get a story. If nothing else, a drink, some conversation, and then a bed.
(set: $knowSam to false)
(set: $know278 to false)
(set: $knowJoan to false)
(set: $hasDrink to false)
[[Enter the bar]]Not many people tonight. A handful catch your eye, and you built a list in your head.
You see:
(if: $knowSam is true)[
[[Sam]]
](else:)[
[[A cute squid on the dance floor->Sam]]
]
(if: $know278 is true)[
[[278]]
](else:)[
[[A handsome nautilus over by the tables->278]]
]
(if: $knowJoan is true)[
[[%Joan%]]
](else:)[
[[A suave octopus over by the bathrooms->%Joan%]]
]
You can visit:
[[(Get a drink)]]
[[Dance floor]]
[[Tables]]
[[Bathrooms]]
[[(Leave the bar)]](if: $knowSam is true)[
[[(Dance with Sam)]]
](else:)[
[[(Dance with cute squid)->(Dance with Sam)]]
]
You can visit:
(if: $hasDrink is false)[
[[(Get a drink)]]
]
[[Tables]]
[[Bathrooms]]
[[(Leave the bar)]](if: $know278 is true)[
[[(Talk to 278)]]
](else:)[
[[(Talk to the handsome nautilus)->(Talk to 278)]]
]
You can visit:
(if: $hasDrink is false)[
[[(Get a drink)]]
]
[[Dance floor]]
[[Bathrooms]]
[[(Leave the bar)]](if: $hasDrink is true)[
You already have a one. You should drink the one you have before you get another one.
You see:
(if: $knowSam is true)[
[[Sam]]
](else:)[
[[A cute squid on the dance floor->Sam]]
]
(if: $know278 is true)[
[[278]]
](else:)[
[[A handsome nautilus over by the tables->278]]
]
(if: $knowJoan is true)[
[[%Joan%]]
](else:)[
[[A suave octopus over by the bathrooms->%Joan%]]
]
You can visit:
[[Dance floor]]
[[Tables]]
[[Bathrooms]]
[[(Leave the bar)]]
](else:)[
You walk over wave at the bartender.
Moments later, you hear a telepathic message. "What can I get you?"
You concentrate on your drink of choice and the bartender nods and moves away.
Less than a minute later, you have your drink.
(set: $hasDrink to true)
You see:
(if: $knowSam is true)[
[[Sam]]
](else:)[
[[A cute squid on the dance floor->Sam]]
]
(if: $know278 is true)[
[[278]]
](else:)[
[[A handsome nautilus over by the tables->278]]
]
(if: $knowJoan is true)[
[[%Joan%]]
](else:)[
[[A suave octopus over by the bathrooms->%Joan%]]
]
You can visit:
[[Dance floor]]
[[Tables]]
[[Bathrooms]]
[[(Leave the bar)]]
](if: $hasDrink is true)[
You know you can't take drink onto the dance floor.
You can visit:
[[Tables]]
[[Bathrooms]]
[[(Leave the bar)]]
](else:)[
It's a large dance floor, but only only one person catches your eye.
You see:
(if: $knowSam is true)[
[[Sam]]
](else:)[
[[A cute squid->Sam]]
]
You can visit:
[[(Get a drink)]]
[[Tables]]
[[Bathrooms]]
[[(Leave the bar)]]
]
You see:
(if: $know278 is true)[
[[278]]
](else:)[
[[A handsome nautilus->278]]
]
You can visit:
(if: $hasDrink is false)[
[[(Get a drink)]]
]
[[Dance floor]]
[[Bathrooms]]
[[(Leave the bar)]]You see:
(if: $knowJoan is true)[
[[%Joan%]]
](else:)[
[[A suave octopus->%Joan%]]
]
You can visit:
(if: $hasDrink is false)[
[[(Get a drink)]]
]
[[Dance floor]]
[[Tables]]
[[(Leave the bar)]](if: $hasDrink is true)[
You drink what's left of your drink and return the glass to the bar.
]
You are done for the night. You head out.
The end.(if: $hasDrink is true)[
You hear a feminine voice in your head. "Can I get that drink?"
You look over and the suave octopus is waving you over and pointing at the drink.
(if: $knowJoan is true)[
[[(Talk with %Joan%)]]
](else:)[
[[(Talk to octopus)->(Talk with %Joan%)]]
]
You can visit:
[[Dance floor]]
[[Tables]]
[[(Leave the bar)]]
](else:)[
(if: $knowJoan is false)[
The suave octopus looks you over as you approach.
You send a message. "Do I know you?"
The octopus responds immediately. "No, but I wouldn't mind getting to know your body some."
There is a delay and then an apology. "Sorry. No. I need to stop doing that. I'm, ah... I'm waiting on my partner. My name is %Joan%."
[[(Talk with %Joan%)]]
](else:)[
"Back again, huh? I'm still waiting."
[[(Talk with %Joan%)]]
]
You can visit:
[[(Get a drink)]]
[[Dance floor]]
[[Tables]]
[[(Leave the bar)]]
](set: $knowJoan to true)
(if: $hasDrink is true)[
Joan motions to the drink. "So, can I have it?"
[[(Give %Joan% a drink)]]
You can visit:
[[Dance floor]]
[[Tables]]
[[(Leave the bar)]]
](else:)[
Joan glances around. "I'd talk more, but, well, my partner isn't feeling well and I'd said I'd get a drink for her."
You can visit:
[[(Get a drink)]]
[[Dance floor]]
[[Tables]]
[[(Leave the bar)]]
]
You pass your drink over to %Joan% and watch. There's a couple knocks against the bathroom door and a hand reaches out to the drink in Joan's tentacle. The hand takes it and shuts the door.
%Joan% shrugs, and you both wait a moment.
Once nothing happens for a couple minutes, %Joan% begins to talk. "We shouldn't have come here tonight. I knew better."
Sensing a story, or at least a friendly face, you chat with %Joan% for awhile as you wait for her partner to get out of the bathroom.
Finally, the bathroom door opens and %Joan%'s partner comes out.
They offer to make the night up to you and you head out with them to another place.
The end.(if: $knowSam is true)[
Let's dance more!
[[(Dance more with Sam)]]
](else:)[
You dance through a couple songs and finally the cute squid comes closer to you. "Name's Sam!"
You nod and move close.
You both dance.
(set: $knowSam to true)
]
You can visit:
(if: $hasDrink is false)[
[[(Get a drink)]]
]
[[Tables]]
[[Bathrooms]]
[[(Leave the bar)]]You continue to get lost in the music. Song by song, you and Sam move closer together.
The touches are tentative at first. Accidents of the tight space.
And then it becomes purposeful, first from Sam and then from you.
Soon, you have forgotten the music and are caught up in the song of Sam's movements and body.
Sam leans in and shouts in your ear to be heard. "Want to get out of here?"
You agree and leave together.
The end.(if: $know278 is true)[
You feel a strong mental rebuff. "Not interested."
](else:)[
The handsome nautilus regards you cautiously. "Yes?"
[[(Attempt to seduce the handsome nautilus)]]
]
You can visit:
(if: $hasDrink is false)[
[[(Get a drink)]]
]
[[Dance floor]]
[[Bathrooms]]
[[(Leave the bar)]](set: $know278 to true)
You try to seduce the handsome nautilus.
It goes very poorly.
You get a name before a scowl forces you away. "My name is 278. Not interested."
You can visit:
(if: $hasDrink is false)[
[[(Get a drink)]]
]
[[Dance floor]]
[[Bathrooms]]
[[(Leave the bar)]]