The Launch

THE LAUNCH by BrandFluid Productions Summer 2019 <img src="https://brandtake.neocities.org/TheLaunch/launch.jpg"> (set: $clock to 415) (set: $Coins to 3) [[Play Game->PlayGame]]

Why did I dream of you last night? Now morning is pushing back hair with grey light Memories strike home, like slaps in the face: Raised on elbow, I stare at the pale fog beyond the window. So many things I had thought forgotten Return to my mind with stranger pain: - Like letters that arrive addressed to someone Who left the house so many years ago. Philip Larkin 1939 <script> var cricketSoundURL = 'file:///C:\\Users\\Brandtake\\Documents\\Twine\\Sounds\\crickets.mp3'; var rainSoundURL = 'file:///C:\\Users\\Brandtake\\Documents\\Twine\\Sounds\\raindrops.mp3'; var rainSound = undefined; var cricketSound = undefined; function playRainSound() { stopAllSound() if (rainSound === undefined) { rainSound = new Audio(rainSoundURL); playAudio(rainSound) } } function playCricketSound() { stopAllSound() if (cricketSound === undefined) { cricketSound = new Audio(cricketSoundURL); playAudio(cricketSound) } } function stopAllSound() { if (rainSound !== undefined) { rainSound.pause() rainSound.currentTime = 0; rainSound = undefined; } if (cricketSound !== undefined) { cricketSound.pause() cricketSound.currentTime = 0; cricketSound = undefined; } } function playAudio(audio) { audio.loop = true; var playPromise = audio.play(); if (playPromise !== undefined) { playPromise.then(function() { console.log('started'); }).catch(function(error) { console.log(error); }); } } </script> <div onclick="playRainSound()"> [[You hear raindrops->RainDrops]] </div>

It's night. At least, you think it's night. You approach your window, your head throbbing. Looking beside you, you see $Coins coins laid on the table. You know you have the ability to get it right this time.  (if: $Coins is > 0 ) ["But, first, [[a cup of tea.->FirstTeaCup]]"] (if: $Coins is 0) ["But, first, [[a cup of tea.->GameOver]]"]

Firing up the kettle, you meditate as the water brings itself to a boil. [[The clock->ClockDescript]] on the wall ticks steadily as you give your brain a respite. You can see a vague impression of yourself in [[the mirror->MirrorDescript]]. You seem to [[be alone->AloneDescript]] for the time being, but then again this room is frequently empty. After all, everyone is busy. It's the day of the [[launch->TheLaunch]] after all. Finally, the tea is done. (set: $clock to $clock + 5) [[Drink the tea->DrinkTea]]

The clock reads $clock (set: $clock to $clock + 5) [[How about that tea?->FirstTeaCup]]

Taking a second to ponder yourself in the mirror. Not quite the specimen you once were, you maintain most of your facial curves but with ever-so-slight wrinkles ever just slightly more pervasive than the prior year. A layer of fat covers your abdomen. You told yourself you'd be getting rid of it at the gym, but the realities and stresses of existence caught up to you. Capitulation? [[How about that tea...->FirstTeaCup]]

Yes, alone. Alone in the room. Alone in other ways, too? Big fucking deal. Everyone is alone. It's the human condition. Until we evolve hive minds, we are doomed to exist as singular beings. Is that really such a big deal? You chide yourself for wasting time. [[How about that tea...->FirstTeaCup]]

Ah, yes, the launch. How could one forget? It's only managed to be the single most absorbing facet of your life, your existence, for the past several months. A culmination of endless hours, endless stress. The ultimate legacy-creator. Do you fail today, or succeed? Moreover, do you even care anymore? [[How about that tea...->FirstTeaCup]]

You pour the hot water into your cup. Which flavor will you select? Ah, the burden of choice. A spot of [[Darjeeling->Darjeeling]] A spot of [[Earl Grey->EarlGrey]] A spot of [[English Breakfast->EnglishBreakfast]] A spot of [[some rather nasty Asian green->AsianGreen]]

The good stuff. [[Right, now where were we?->SugarOrMilk]]

Very pioneering of you. [[Right, now where were we?->SugarOrMilk]]

Can't go wrong. [[Right, now where were we?->SugarOrMilk]]

Adventurous today, I see. [[Right, now where were we?->SugarOrMilk]]

(set: $clock to $clock + 5) Smacking your lips to take a sip, your eyes glance to the pot of [[sugar->AddSugar]] or the delightful saucer of powderized [[cream->AddCream]]. You would be negligent in your duties to approach the day without at least considering a nice squeeze of [[lemon->AddLemon]]. Perhaps it's time to [[take a sip->SipTea]].

Perhaps some much-needed endorphin release to help you along your day? Or perhaps a risk of a later brain-dead feeling brought on by insulin production wasting away your body's natural cycles. You toss the cube in. (display: "SugarOrMilk")

Nothing like some cream to drown the flavor away and nurture your primal need to suckle at the curdled blood of a bovine. A splash of cream enters the cup. (display: "SugarOrMilk")

You squeeze a fresh lemon into the concoction. (display: "SugarOrMilk")

You sip down the tea, the caffeine infecting your veins with much-needed energy for the day. Glancing at the clock, you see that it's $clock [[Have another cup->FirstTeaCup]] Or, there's always [[the launch->LeaveTeaRoom]].

You approach the break chambers door and slide it open. Soon you find yourself in a long corridor with multiple doors. Time to get some work done on the day that nothing can go wrong, and everything has to go right. Where to first? (display: ("Hallway"))

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(set: $Coins to $Coins - 1) It's all over. [[Move on.->RainDrops]]

Only, this time, there is no cup of tea. This time there is no do-over. This time the dead will stay dead. Game Over. [[Credits->Credits]]

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[[Control room->ControlRoom]] [[Supply room->SupplyRoom]] [[Hangar->Hangar]] [[Laboratory->Laboratory]] <div onclick="playCricketSound()"> [[Lavatory->Lavatory]] </div> [[Womens Bathroom->Womens Lavatory]]

You push open the door and saunter in. No one is inside. You can't help but notice how women's bathrooms are always nicer than men's bathrooms. It's not fair, really. Where's the nice bench to sit on? Where's the tampon machine? Life is replete with injustice.