The Mad Heir

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<b>Thank you so much for playing!</b> I cannot say enough how happy I am you took the time to play this game, no matter what stage it's in. If you want Behind the Scenes and NSFW snippets, you can check <a href="https://www.patreon.com/Rotting_Ink">my Patreon</a>! I also publish mini nsfw games with the RO's and maybe some of the NPCs in the future. Want frequent updates and the ability to shoot me any questions at anytime? Then check out and follow me on <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/blog/rotting-ink">my Tumblr</a>! You can also donate if you want to, on my <a href="https://ko-fi.com/therotofink">Kofi</a>. <<nobr>><div style="text-align: center;"><h1>SPECIAL THANKS TO:</h1> </div> <ul><div style="text-align: center;"><h1>''Contributors''</h1></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://poisonouslili.tumblr.com/">Lili</a></div> </ul> <ul><div style="text-align: center;"><h1>''Duckies''</h1></div> <div style="text-align: center;">Dandelion</div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://poisonouslili.tumblr.com/">Lili</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href=" https://angrelysimpping.tumblr.com/?source=share">Quiet</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.tumblr.com/quoththe-ravenn">Raven</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/blog/kathellll">Kat</a></div></ul> <ul><div style="text-align: center;"><h1>''Beta Testers''</h1></div> <div style="text-align: center;">Brit</div> <div style="text-align: center;">Dandelion</div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/mothrbs?source=share">El</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://poisonouslili.tumblr.com/">Lili</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;">Oceanodestrellas</div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href=" https://angrelysimpping.tumblr.com/?source=share">Quiet</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.tumblr.com/quoththe-ravenn">Raven</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/blog/kathellll">Kat</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/crushoncaleb">Emma</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sydneystarlights.tumblr.com/">Sydney</a></div></ul> <ul><div style="text-align: center;"><h1>''Decay Tier Patrons!''</h1></div> <div style="text-align: center;">Sierra Bri</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> Mickey Masters</div> </ul> <</nobr>> Without any of these people, this game would be... Well, bug riddled, filled with mistakes and not half as fun. A thousand thanks and kisses to my favourite people here. Also a big thanks to my patrons, each and everyone! They help alleviate other stresses so I can spend just a bit more time on working on my game! Sound effects and music from Pixabay! Light mode picture is Jean-Honoré Fragonard's The Swing (1767–8 ) and dark mode is Francisco Goya's Witches' Sabbath (1798). <<link "Replay the game">><<run UI.restart()>><</link>>

<<set $DCcustom to false>>The Mad Heir is a side game for <a href="https://v0id-b0nes.itch.io/the-rot-of-the-witchwood">The Rot of the Witchwood</a>. Set inbetween the second and third book, it follows the upheaval going on following the King's failing health. <h1>Content warnings: </h1> <b>Themes</b> <ul><li>An unravelling mental state, with ableism aimed at the MC for it. However, the player character doesn't actually suffer from any real world mental illnesses. There is also ableist sentiments aimed at people suffering from mental illness and physical disabilities. These are usually coming from Ivarsson, who has a LOT of internal hatred towards his own family and his leg injury.</li> <li>Infantilisation</li> <li>Delusions</li> <li>Hallucinations</li> <li>Stalking</li> <li>Threats of Arranged Marriage and Potential arranged marriage (H Angelov)</li> <li>Emotional Abuse from a Parental figure</li> <li>Age Gaps (Bryn Heron, J Braithwaite)</li> <li>Step-cest (C Von Mejer, A Von Mejer)</li> <li>Medical Malpractice</li> <li>More than my other work, this is aiming to be a horror game, with thoughts about the supernatural and demonic presences being discussed. From the other POV of the characters, they're basically trapped in a Silent Hill game.</li></ul> Also! I just want to add in, for people who want to play a transgender Heir, that is an egg that is going to be cracked during the game! The first section, you have to hit the options that are linked to being uncomfortable in your body, identity, etc etc. <b>This game will have a cameo from a Dantes MC from Rotwood (one of the asylum origins). Do you want to customise them?</b> <ul> <li>[[Yes|DantesCustomisation]]</li> <li>[[No|ROGender]]</li> </ul>

<<nobr>> <<cacheaudio "beginnings" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/uspug2xmapk2e6ekpf184/soft-piano-loop-192098.mp3?rlkey=2goo7ka0vaguusdolz0u9dzlh&st=ccebz7kc&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "interruption" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/b7xwobm8h8lmgzaqcj6ve/piano-cord-105889.mp3?rlkey=ead23zd5hemaphvvzj0ibxbde&st=5gfusx8r&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "whispers" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/0ay3o2lh5lsrfte2tkc6h/four_voices_whispering-6943.mp3?rlkey=lpwti442mktu0vbnw2xscb9p5&st=udfybpw6&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "echowhispers" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/s6xiw3ddxr6ys8w2ebp0u/four_voices_whispering_2_wecho-6755.mp3?rlkey=wg5opbn3u5dz25jqb9fyvn5bu&st=xwltjblf&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "LetItIn" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/gjthsutnlxk580xhn26kf/open-the-door-horror-268582.mp3?rlkey=g11jcxxv50ghp3uxlxwca7yev&st=4tlr1550&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "Drop" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/iqsu94usfi4yc68hhytss/horror-body-drop-152091.mp3?rlkey=knqfl6a06239mmcb9cypk29qv&st=g4da5ldn&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "BrynMbreathing" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/enariyuuncjeqoe0hyw9q/male-breathing-84775.mp3?rlkey=ien1qfc8lsqaaqlprq9ydw6w1&st=ljqvlowb&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "BrynFbreathing" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/roo1bnkxcapq00fdqr6zn/breathing-6811.mp3?rlkey=c1y4dl1vgaqjkzz3dnv2eqqap&st=boofu9ne&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "BoardCreak" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/oqaaxtuq5pknjz6pdbk1x/board-creak.mp3?rlkey=8rfp9ujeyt9gwdxcq71jcbvr1&st=x98s44n6&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "WallSqueeze" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/jyzd6yfme0uwhhisacbjc/wall-squeeze.mp3?rlkey=l9lbnmsy8d51hhvrdqbjw86ce&st=fkobhftj&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "Door" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/bskgl2mf6ws4koc8lvsx9/door.mp3?rlkey=jwylam0497opop1jizvjsd327&st=gzihmtnn&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "Birds" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/1jz8ujf8lzwdin2gccv0b/birds.mp3?rlkey=g5rchn6cco0qi7ffn1bqvkcz4&st=j029u7fs&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "Knock" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/7m7rb6wa8m7ll6mv2wx2c/Knock.mp3?rlkey=h2eil5hyg8vuc58l3k8ixttiw&st=85mt3lje&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "ThePast" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/bli1zojsazi5wumtrwd7h/The-Past.mp4?rlkey=1w3ar7h4camg17smuxx7h5g1j&st=evf7evps&dl=0">> <</nobr>>

<<audio "beginnings" play loop>>//Despite it all, he could have been quite happy. It had been a... Nice day. It was quite a good turn out, considering. The east wing tea room was nice and spacious and quite appropriate. Soft pastel floral wallpaper, blue curtains pulled all the way open, allowing sunshine to stream in. Refreshments on the table. It was a good room for children to play in. His siblings already had children, and half of them never saw their own spawn most of the time. His youngest sister even made an appearance, without her insufferable husband in tow, but with two of her own children instead, the oldest holding the youngest to peer into the crib. Ivarsson could see her sipping her champagne, and talking to their mother, along with two of his brothers. It was like a hospital took out all the sick patients to celebrate, while leaving the mad ones inside so they wouldn't spoil the party. No, their mother had taken measures to make this nice. There were musicians quietly playing, there was a good turn out with the family. Most of all, it was.... Surprising. No one else had a bastard that had such a turn out. Maybe because he was the heir. Maybe because he hadn't had any kids so far. No wonder his mother hadn't invited the very much <b>married</b> woman that had forced out a happy, healthy child from her cunt. There were also some plans being made in the back. He knew his parents (his mother and whatever remained of his father's grey matter) wanted to legitimise it. His child. Marry him off to a Contessa or a Marquess from abroad, claim it was a love match, marry, spend some time in the continent and come back with his baby.. Or something. Anything to put them in line for the throne after himself. Ivarsson slipped a cigarette free, ignoring the stern look from both the new nanny and his mother and tucked it against his bottom lip, a servant quickly stepping in to light it for him. "Y'know,<<cycle "$pronouns">> <<option "she" sheher>> <<option "he" hehim>> <</cycle>> is quite a pretty baby." His baby sister, Elisabet, said after a while. "You say that about all kids. Which is untrue. Babies are always fucking ugly." Ivarsson replied, flicking some ash off the end of his cigarette. "No, I don't." Elisabet said, rolling her eyes before sipping her drink again."I think babies look disgusting. Edwin came out looking like a piece of red clay. Wrinkled and lumpy. God no. Yours is cute though! Y'know. Doesn't even look like a little alcoholic dwarf." Ivarsson caught her eldest looking disgruntled at her words, and thank god, so did Elisabet. "Don't be like that, darling. You came out looking perfect. Edwin doesn't mind the truth, do you, Eddie?" Edwin just reached into the crib to poke Ivarsson's child.// [[Edwin looked back up. "It's staring at me." He mumbled.|PronounsSelect]]

<<nobr>><<if $pronouns is "sheher">> <<set $they to "she">> <<set $cthey to "She">> <<set $their to "her">> <<set $ctheir to "Her">> <<set $theirs to "hers">> <<set $ctheirs to "Hers">> <<set $them to "her">> <<set $cthem to "Her">> <<set $themselves to "herself">> <<set $cthemselves to "Herself">> <<set $title to "Princess">> <<set $sibling to "sister">> <<set $csibling to "Sister">> <<set $child to "daughter">> <<set $cchild to "Daughter">> <<set $ruler to "Queen">> <<set $grandchild to "granddaughter">> <<set $cgrandchild to "Granddaughter">> <</if>> <<if $pronouns is "hehim">> <<set $they to "he">> <<set $cthey to "He">> <<set $their to "his">> <<set $ctheir to "His">> <<set $theirs to "his">> <<set $ctheirs to "His">> <<set $them to "him">> <<set $cthem to "Him">> <<set $themselves to "himself">> <<set $cthemselves to "Himself">> <<set $title to "Prince">> <<set $sibling to "brother">> <<set $csibling to "Brother">> <<set $child to "son">> <<set $cchild to "Son">> <<set $ruler to "King">> <<set $grandchild to "grandson">> <<set $cgrandchild to "Grandson">> <</if>><</nobr>>//"$cthey isn't an "It", Edwin." His mother spoke up. "Your cousin is a $they." "And $they is a very pretty baby!" Elisabet followed up and put her drink aside. "Come here, my darlings, maybe if you stop distracting $them, $they'll go to sleep." Her eldest took the youngest by the hand and led them back over. Ivarsson felt something sink in his stomach. It was a family myth really. Total nonsense. No need to pay heed to it. Not at all. He rubbed his knee in between the teeth of the leg brace. He had come out with two of his limbs completely twisted and warped. His right arm eventually had to be taken off and replaced with a prosthetic, but his leg was still pulling through. And best of all, it meant he wasn't going to spend his old age drooling and screaming at the walls, like half of his immediate family. You could smell it on Elisabet's eldest child already, the hazy look in their eyes as they played with their younger brother, who could do nothing but spit up pieces of lung from time to time. And if his $child came out... Well, fine. Sweet. Cherubic. It meant- No. He didn't fuck some inbred little cunt. He diluted his own blood by going for a nice, tight, pretty body whose entire family probably had never even seen a blue blood before. No, all that incest shit was for the older generations. Great great great great grandfather Magnus, also known as King James and his fucking... Aunt-wife. Then, the poisonings that led to great great great grandfather William becoming king, alongside his wife, Queen-Consort Aksana and her family of sibling fucking. No, all that shit should be left behind them. His $child, his heir, his perfect baby, would be the first one that was <span class="drunk">normal</span>. He knew he was disparaging the members of his family that just had to move with canes, or needed to be bed bound but were completely... Fine. But he couldn't help it. He was right. Ivarsson's child would be fucking... Normal. Not mentally fucked, or bodily fucked. $cthey'd be normal and become $ruler.// [[There was a bang from beyond the double doors.|KingIntro]]

<<audio "interruption" play>>//There were a few raised voices, that cut across the piano playing. The double doors were thrown open and there he was. The King. His fucking father. An ancient bear skin hung from his broad shoulders, his pure white hair long and wild. But his eyes remained the same as ever. Sharp, bright. Teeming with insanity. He was always ''there'' but never truly... Seeing what everyone else did. His father, half naked, his forearms and hands covered with his own bite marks, strode in. Two footmen awkwardly moved after him, reaching out but unable to touch him until he did something violent. "H... Henry?" "Papa?" "Father?" "Fuck off." He spat at the three of them, his mother, his sister and him. His other two brothers didn't say anything. Abel couldn't anyway, but Maddox just stared down into his drink, swirling it a bit. Smart boy. The musicians shielded their eyes, Mother pulled Edwin close and Elisabet reached for her eldest, but Father was too quick. He scooped up the child, their fingers scrabbling to grip the bear fur over his shoulder. "Hello, hello, little thing." Father murmured, bouncing them a bit. "Sleeping well?" "No." They mumbled, staring at the fur instead of their grandfather. They stroked it warily, as if it was still alive. "Then don't. Safer that way. Now, let's have a look, hm?" The King switched them to his other shoulder. "Papa, please," Elisabet started, standing up slowly, as if she was afraid to startle a wild animal. He ignored her. Ivarsson just stayed seated, taking another pull from his cigarette... Until his father started heading towards the crib. "Don't you fucking dare, you old loon." He shot up, ignoring the spike of pain shooting through his leg at the movement. "Ivar!" His mother hissed. "Henry, put them down. You should go back to your room. I was going to bring you some food and the pocket portrait-" "Don't want to look at some fucking pocket portrait. C'mon. We all want to see the heir." Ivarsson's stomach dropped. Just a figure of speech. He was the eldest. His $child was his only child. Yes, in another thirty years, they'd take over. Or something. That's what he meant. The King took his grandchild back over to the crib, bending over, the bear fur slipping to reveal the deep needle marks in his side and back, The entire room seemed to hold their breath. His fingers reached out to tug the blanket down from their chin, getting a better look. "Oh. Yes. $cthey'll do good. Don't you think?" "Dunno, your majesty." "No, 'your majesty' is reserved for those who don't know. You'll know. $cthey'll know." His father gave his grandchild a kiss to the temple before finally putting them down. They scurried back to Elisabet. Ivarsson's father finally scooped up his grandchild. Held them aloft with a strange reverence. It made him... Feel fucking sick. "Mother. Stop him-" His hiss was cut off. "Welcome to the world my heir." His father announced. Ivarsson's stomach dissolved into nothing. [[It can't be...|P.O]] //<<audio "beginnings" stop>>

<<set $DCcustom to true>>What is your Dantes' first name? Suggestions for feminine names [[Ivy|DC.Creation][$DCname to "Ivy"]] [[Emmaline|DC.Creation][$DCname to "Emmaline"]] [[Linnet|DC.Creation][$DCname to "Linnet"]] [[Georgina|DC.Creation][$DCname to "Georgina"]] Suggestions for masculine names [[Eodwulf|DC.Creation][$DCname to "Eodwulf"]] [[Chance|DC.Creation][$DCname to "Chance"]] [[Cicero|DC.Creation][$DCname to "Cicero"]] [[Achille|DC.Creation][$DCname to "Achille"]] Suggestions for gender-neutral names [[Cynder|DC.Creation][$DCname to "Cynder"]] [[Morgan|DC.Creation][$DCname to "Morgan"]] [[Shep|DC.Creation][$DCname to "Shep"]] [[Anatole|DC.Creation][$DCname to "Anatole"]] <li><<click "Insert a custom name">><<toggleclass "#section16" "hidden">><</click>> </li> <div id="section16" class="hidden"> <<textbox "$DCname" $DCname>> <<button "Confirm">> <<set $DCname to $DCname.trim()>> <<set _invalidNames to ["Loralei", "Luther", "Seir", "Sienna", "Simeone", "Starling", "Victor", "Victoria", "Zaniyah", "Zachariah", "Saleos", "Emil", "Emilia", "Quincy", "Luke", "Amber", "Ambrose", "Dorothea", "Dietrich", "Edwin"]>> <<if $DCname is " ">> <<replace "#textbox-error">>Please enter a name.<</replace>> <<elseif _invalidNames.includes($DCname)>> <<replace "#textbox-error">>This name is already in use during the story.<</replace>> <<else>> <<replace "#textbox-error">><</replace>> <<goto "DC.Creation">> <</if>> <</button>> </div> <span id="textbox-error"></span>

<<audio "beginnings" play loop>><div style="text-align: center;"><h1><span class = "bigfont"><span class='fadeIn'>''Prologue'': He Could Have Been Happy</span></span></h1></div> <<timed 6s>> <<if $DCcustom is true>><<goto "DC.Beginnings">><<else>><<goto "Beginnings">><</if>><</timed>>

Create your Dantes! Their hair is <<listbox "$DChaircolour" autoselect>> <<option "ebony black">> <<option "tawny brown">> <<option "chestnut brown">> <<option "honey blond">> <<option "ash blond">> <<option "strawberry blond">> <<option "dark blond">> <<option "deep red">> <<option "bright red">> <<option "ivory white">> <<option "ginger">> <</listbox>> and <<listbox "$DChairtexture" autoselect>> <<option "straight">> <<option "wavy">> <<option "curly">> <<option "corkscrew curls">> <<option "coily">> <<option "braided">> <<option "dreadlocked">> <</listbox>> and it's <<cycle "$DChairstyle">> <<option "shaved" "shaved">> <<option "shorn" "shorn">> <<option "in cornrows" "in cornrows">> <<option "short" "short">> <<option "shoulder-length" "shoulder-length">> <<option "reaches the middle of your back" "middle-back">> <<option "down to your hips" "hip-length">> <<option "usually tied up" "done up">> <<option "kept covered" "kept covered">> <</cycle>> They have <<cycle "$DCeyecolour">> <<option "black" "black">> <<option "dark brown" "dark brown">> <<option "light brown" "light brown">> <<option "hazel" "hazel">> <<option "light green" "light green">> <<option "dark green" "dark green">> <<option "light blue" "light blue">> <<option "dark blue" "dark blue">> <<option "near red" "near red">> <<option "grey" "grey">> <<option "yellow" "yellow">> <<option "lavender" "lavender">> <</cycle>> eyes, striking against <<cycle "$DCskincolour">> <<option "pale" "pale">> <<option "rosy" "rosy">> <<option "tawny" "tawny">> <<option "tanned" "tanned">> <<option "bronze" "bronze">> <<option "golden" "golden">> <<option "russet brown" "russet brown">> <<option "dark brown" "dark brown">> <<option "warm black" "warm black">> <<option "cool black" "cool black">> <<option "deep black" "deep black">> <</cycle>> skin. Speaking of, they have <<cycle "$DCfreckles">> <<option "a few freckles." "a few freckles" >> <<option "many freckles." "many freckles" >> <<option "no freckles." "none">> <</cycle>> Do they have <<cycle "$DCbeautymark">> <<option "a beauty mark by their eye" "a beauty mark by their eye">> <<option "a beauty mark by their lip" "a beauty mark by their lip">> <<option "many beauty marks" "many beauty marks">> <<option "a beauty mark on their cheek" "a beauty mark on their cheek">> <<option "no beauty marks" "none">><</cycle>>? Do they have...<<cycle "$DCglasses">> <<option "no glasses?" "none">> <<option "glasses?" "glasses">> <</cycle>> [[If Dantes has Heterochromia click here|DC.Heterochromia]] [[Continue|DC.Functions]]

<<set $DCheterochromia to true>> //Left eye is...// <<cycle "$DCLeyecolour">> <<option "black" "black">> <<option "dark brown" "dark brown">> <<option "light brown" "light brown">> <<option "hazel" "hazel">> <<option "light green" "light green">> <<option "dark green" "dark green">> <<option "light blue" "light blue">> <<option "dark blue" "dark blue">> <<option "near red" "near red">> <<option "grey" "grey">> <<option "lavender" "lavender">> <<option "yellow" "yellow">> <</cycle>> //and their right eye is...//<<cycle "$DCReyecolour">> <<option "black" "black">> <<option "dark brown" "dark brown">> <<option "light brown" "light brown">> <<option "hazel" "hazel">> <<option "light green" "light green">> <<option "dark green" "dark green">> <<option "light blue" "light blue">> <<option "dark blue" "dark blue">> <<option "near red" "near red">> <<option "grey" "grey">> <<option "lavender" "lavender">> <<option "yellow" "yellow">><</cycle>> [[Continue|DC.Functions]]

<<if "$DCbeautymark" is "beauty mark by their eye" or "$DCbeautymark" is "beauty mark by their lip" or "$DCbeautymark" is "many beauty marks" or "$DCbeautymark" is "beauty mark on their cheek">><<set $DCbm to true>><</if>> <<if "$DCfreckles" is "a few freckles" or "$DCfreckles" is "many freckles">><<set $DCfr to true>><</if>> <<goto "DC.Recap">>

//What are Dantes' Pronouns?// <ul class="a"> <li>[[He/him|DC.PronounsSort][$DCpronouns to "hehim"]]</li> <li>[[She/her|DC.PronounsSort][$DCpronouns to "sheher"]]</li> <li>[[They/them|DC.PronounsSort][$DCpronouns to "theythem"]]</li> <li>[[It/its|DC.PronounsSort][$DCpronouns to "itits"]]</li> </ul>

<<nobr>><<if $DCpronouns is "sheher">> <<set $DCthey to "she">> <<set $cDCthey to "She">> <<set $DCtheir to "her">> <<set $cDCtheir to "Her">> <<set $DCtheirs to "hers">> <<set $cDCtheirs to "Hers">> <<set $DCthem to "her">> <<set $cDCthem to "Her">> <<set $DCthemselves to "herself">> <<set $cDCthemselves to "Herself">> <<set $DCtitle to "Miss">> <<set $DCsibling to "sister">> <<set $cDCsibling to "Sister">> <<set $DCchild to "daughter">> <<set $cDCchild to "Daughter">> <</if>> <<if $DCpronouns is "hehim">> <<set $DCthey to "he">> <<set $cDCthey to "He">> <<set $DCtheir to "his">> <<set $cDCtheir to "His">> <<set $DCtheirs to "his">> <<set $cDCtheirs to "His">> <<set $DCthem to "him">> <<set $cDCthem to "Him">> <<set $DCthemselves to "himself">> <<set $cDCthemselves to "Himself">> <<set $DCtitle to "Sir">> <<set $DCsibling to "brother">> <<set $cDCsibling to "Brother">> <<set $DCchild to "son">> <<set $cDCchild to "Son">> <</if>> <<if $DCpronouns is "theythem">> <<set $DCthey to "they">> <<set $cDCthey to "They">> <<set $DCtheir to "their">> <<set $cDCtheir to "Their">> <<set $DCtheirs to "theirs">> <<set $cDCtheirs to "Theirs">> <<set $DCthem to "them">> <<set $cDCthem to "Them">> <<set $DCthemselves to "themselves">> <<set $cDCthemselves to "Themselves">> <<set $DCtitle to "Ser">> <<set $DCsibling to "sibling">> <<set $cDCsibling to "Sibling">> <<set $DCchild to "child">> <<set $cDCchild to "Child">> <</if>> <<if $DCpronouns is "itits">> <<set $DCthey to "it">> <<set $cDCthey to "It">> <<set $DCtheir to "its">> <<set $cDCtheir to "Its">> <<set $DCtheirs to "its">> <<set $cDCtheirs to "Its">> <<set $DCthem to "It">> <<set $cDCthem to "It">> <<set $DCthemselves to "itself">> <<set $cDCthemselves to "Itself">> <<set $DCtitle to "Ser">> <<set $DCsibling to "sibling">> <<set $cDCsibling to "Sibling">> <<set $DCchild to "child">> <<set $cDCchild to "Child">> <</if>><</nobr>>What is Dantes' gender? <ul class="a"> <li>[[Male|DC.CharacterRecap][$DCgender to "Man"]]</li> <li>[[Trans Male|DC.PronounTRANS][$DCgender to "Trans Man"]]</li> <li>[[Woman|DC.CharacterRecap][$DCgender to "Woman"]]</li> <li>[[Trans Woman|DC.PronounTRANS][$DCgender to "Trans Woman"]]</li> <li>[[Nonbinary|DC.PronounTRANS][$DCgender to "Nonbinary"]]</li> <li>[[Intersex|DC.PronounTRANS][$DCgender to "Intersex"]]</li> </ul>

$DCname Dantes has $DChairtexture $DChaircolour hair that <<if $DChairstyle is "shaved">>is completely shaved.<</if>><<if $DChairstyle is "shorn">> is clipped very closely to your scalp. <</if>><<if $DChairstyle is "in cornrows">> is in cornrows.<</if>><<if $DChairstyle is "short">> is clipped around $DCtheir ears.<</if>><<if $DChairstyle is "shoulder-length">>brushes $DCtheir shoulders.<</if>><<if $DChairstyle is "middle-back">>just about reaches the middle of $DCtheir back.<</if>><<if $DChairstyle is "down to your hips">>flows all the way down to $DCtheir hips.<</if>><<if $DChairstyle is "done up">>is usually tied up, out of $DCtheir face.<</if>><<if $DChairstyle is "covered">> is kept covered with nice fabric.<</if>> <<if $DCheterochromia is true>>$cDCthey <<if $DCpronouns is "theythem">>have<<else>>has<</if>> two different coloured eyes, $DCtheir left eye is $DCLeyecolour and $DCtheir right eye is $DCReyecolour. Very rare, and makes $DCthem stand out.. For better or worse... <<else>>$cDCthey also <<if $DCpronouns is "theythem">>have<<else>>has<</if>> striking $DCeyecolour eyes. <</if>><<if $DCbm is true>>$cDCthey <<if $DCpronouns is "theythem">>have<<else>>has<</if>> $DCbeautymark.<</if>><<if $DCfr is true>>$cDCthey <<if $DCpronouns is "theythem">>have<<else>>has<</if>> freckles.<</if>> Are you happy with this?<<set $DCcustom to true>> [[Yes|ROGender]] [[No|DantesCustomisation]]

<<if $DCgender is "Intersex">> As Dantes is an intersex character, here you can modify some options on how they are presented. What gender were you raised from birth?<<listbox "$DCraisedgender" autoselect>> <<option "male">> <<option "female">> <<option "neither">> <</listbox>> What gender do they pass as most of the time? <<listbox "$DCpassinggender" autoselect>> <<option "male">> <<option "female">> <<option "neither">>a <</listbox>> [[Continue|DC.CharacterRecap]] <</if>> <<if $DCgender is "Trans Man" or $DCgender is "Trans Woman" or $DCgender is "Nonbinary">> The Dantes MC still is at a young age, but they can already be experiencing some dysphoria or discomfort with their gender. If you don't want reference to their transgender identity (more likely in a disparaging way, from Ivarsson), you can go back and pick something else. <<set $DCtransgender to true>> What is their deadname? <<textbox "$DCdeadname" $DCdeadname>> <<button "Confirm">> <</button>> What is their assigned gender at birth?<<listbox "$DCagab" autoselect>> <<option "Man">> <<option "Woman">> <<option "Intersex">> <</listbox>> [[Continue|DC.CharacterRecap]] <</if>>

<<audio "beginnings" play loop>>//Despite it all, he could have been quite happy. It had been a... Nice day. It was quite a good turn out, considering. The east wing tea room was nice and spacious and quite appropriate. Soft pastel floral wallpaper, blue curtains pulled all the way open, allowing sunshine to stream in. Refreshments on the table. It was a good room for children to play in. His siblings already had children, and half of them never saw their own spawn most of the time. His youngest sister even made an appearance, without her insufferable husband in tow, but with two of her own children instead, the oldest holding the youngest to peer into the crib. Ivarsson could see her sipping her champagne, and talking to their mother, along with two of his brothers. It was like a hospital took out all the sick patients to celebrate, while leaving the mad ones inside so they wouldn't spoil the party. No, their mother had taken measures to make this nice. There were musicians quietly playing, there was a good turn out with the family. Most of all, it was.... Surprising. No one else had a bastard that had such a turn out. Maybe because he was the heir. Maybe because he hadn't had any kids so far. No wonder his mother hadn't invited the very much <b>married</b> woman that had forced out a happy, healthy child from her cunt. There were also some plans being made in the back. He knew his parents (his mother and whatever remained of his father's grey matter) wanted to legitimise it. His child. Marry him off to a Contessa or a Marquess from abroad, claim it was a love match and come back properly. Or something. Ivarsson slipped a cigarette free, ignoring the stern look from both the new nanny and his mother and tucked it against his bottom lip, a servant quickly stepping in to light it for him. "Y'know,<<cycle "$pronouns">> <<option "she" sheher>> <<option "he" hehim>> <</cycle>> is quite a pretty baby." His baby sister, Elisabet, said after a while. "You say that about all kids. Which is untrue. Babies are always fucking ugly." Ivarsson replied, flicking some ash off the end of his cigarette. "No, I don't." Elisabet said, rolling her eyes before sipping her drink again. "I think babies look disgusting. Edwin came out looking like a piece of red clay. Wrinkled and lumpy. God no. Yours is cute though! Y'know. Doesn't even look like a little alcoholic dwarf." Ivarsson caught her eldest $DCchild looking disgruntled at her words, and thank god, so did Elisabet. "Don't be like that, darling. You came out looking perfect. Edwin doesn't mind the truth, do you, Eddie?" Edwin just reached into the crib to poke Ivarsson's child.// [[Edwin looked back up. "It's staring at me." He mumbled.|DC.PronounsSelect]]

<<nobr>><<if $pronouns is "sheher">> <<set $they to "she">> <<set $cthey to "She">> <<set $their to "her">> <<set $ctheir to "Her">> <<set $theirs to "hers">> <<set $ctheirs to "Hers">> <<set $them to "her">> <<set $cthem to "Her">> <<set $themselves to "herself">> <<set $cthemselves to "Herself">> <<set $title to "Princess">> <<set $sibling to "sister">> <<set $csibling to "Sister">> <<set $child to "daughter">> <<set $cchild to "Daughter">> <<set $ruler to "Queen">> <</if>> <<if $pronouns is "hehim">> <<set $they to "he">> <<set $cthey to "He">> <<set $their to "his">> <<set $ctheir to "His">> <<set $theirs to "his">> <<set $ctheirs to "His">> <<set $them to "him">> <<set $cthem to "Him">> <<set $themselves to "himself">> <<set $cthemselves to "Himself">> <<set $title to "Prince">> <<set $sibling to "brother">> <<set $csibling to "Brother">> <<set $child to "son">> <<set $cchild to "Son">> <<set $ruler to "King">> <</if>><</nobr>>//"$cthey isn't an "It", Edwin." His mother spoke up. "Your cousin is a $they." <<nobr>> <<if $DCpronouns is "itits">>Elisabet quickly cleared her throat and gave a pointed look ato her mother. Her $DCchild was pouting. Oh. That. "And $they is a very pretty baby!" Elisabet said after a moment after the silence hung over the room, and put her drink aside. "Come here, my darlings, maybe if you stop distracting $them, $they'll go to sleep."<<else>>"And $they is a very pretty baby!" Elisabet followed up and put her drink aside. "Come here, my darlings, maybe if you stop distracting $them, $they'll go to sleep."<</if>><</nobr>> Her eldest took the youngest by the hand and led them back over. Ivarsson felt something sink in his stomach. It was a family myth really. Total nonsense. No need to pay heed to it. Not at all. He rubbed his knee in between the teeth of the leg brace. He had come out with two of his limbs completely twisted and warped. His right arm eventually had to be taken off and replaced with a prosthetic, but his leg was still pulling through. And best of all, it meant he wasn't going to spend his old age drooling and screaming at the walls, like half of his immediate family. You could smell it on Elisabet's eldest $DCchild already, the hazy look in $DCtheir eyes as $DCthey played with $DCtheir younger brother, who could do nothing but spit up pieces of lung from time to time.<<if $DCtransgender is true>> In his own opinion, this was as worse as $DCthey were going to get. $DCdeadname- Fuck. $DCname, whatever, was already whining about the oddest things. That $DCtheir clothes weren't feeling right, so now everyone just... Indulged them. He even got a smack if he didn't. He shook his head. No, his own child would come out normal. The family myth was that those who come out strange off the bat were to be saved from... Mental disintegration...<</if>> And if his $child came out... Well, fine. Sweet. Cherubic. It meant- No. He didn't fuck some inbred little cunt. He diluted his own blood by going for a nice, tight, pretty body whose entire family probably had never even seen a blue blood before. No, all that incest shit was for the older generations. Great great great great grandfather Magnus, also known as King James and his fucking... Aunt-wife. Then, the poisonings that led to great great great grandfather William becoming king, alongside his wife, Queen-Consort Aksana and her family of sibling fucking. No, all that shit should be left behind them. His $child, his heir, his perfect baby, would be the first one that was <span class="drunk">normal</span>. He knew he was disparaging the members of his family that just had to move with canes, or needed to be bed bound but were completely... Fine. But he couldn't help it. He was right. Ivarsson's child would be fucking... Normal. Not mentally fucked, or bodily fucked. $cthey'd be normal and become $ruler.// [[There was a bang from beyond the double doors.|DC.KingIntro]]

<<audio "interruption" play>>//There were a few raised voices, that cut across the piano playing. The double doors were thrown open and there he was. The King. His fucking father. An ancient bear skin hung from his broad shoulders, his pure white hair long and wild. But his eyes remained the same as ever. Sharp, bright. Teeming with insanity. He was always ''there'' but never truly... Seeing what everyone else did. His father, half naked, his forearms and hands covered with his own bite marks, strode in. Two footmen awkwardly moved after him, reaching out but unable to touch him until he did something violent. "H... Henry?" "Papa?" "Father?" "Fuck off." He spat at the three of them, his mother, his sister and him. His other two brothers didn't say anything. Abel couldn't anyway, but Maddox just stared down into his drink, swirling it a bit. Smart boy. The musicians shielded their eyes, Mother pulled Edwin close and Elisabet reached for $DCname, but Father was too quick. He scooped up the child, $DCtheir fingers scrabbling to grip the bear fur over his shoulder. "Hello, hello, little thing." Father murmured, bouncing $DCthem a bit. "Sleeping well?" "No." $cDCthey mumbled, staring at the fur instead of $DCtheir grandfather. $cDCthey stroked it warily, as if it was still alive. "Then don't. Safer that way. Now, let's have a look, hm?" The King switched $DCthem to his other shoulder. "Papa, please," Elisabet started, standing up slowly, as if she was afraid to startle a wild animal. He ignored her. Ivarsson just stayed seated, taking another pull from his cigarette... Until his father started heading towards the crib. "Don't you fucking dare, you old loon." He shot up, ignoring the spike of pain shooting through his leg at the movement. "Ivar!" His mother hissed. "Henry, put $DCname down. You should go back to your room. I was going to bring you some food and the pocket portrait-" "Don't want to look at some fucking pocket portrait. C'mon. We all want to see the heir." Ivarsson's stomach dropped. Just a figure of speech. He was the eldest. His $child was his only child. Yes, in another thirty years, $they'd take over. Or something. That's what he meant. The King took his grandchild back over to the crib, bending over, the bear fur slipping to reveal the deep needle marks in his side and back, The entire room seemed to hold their breath. His fingers reached out to tug the blanket down from $their chin, getting a better look. "Oh. Yes. $cthey'll do good. Don't you think?" "Dunno, your majesty." "No, 'your majesty' is reserved for those who don't know. You'll know. $cthey'll know." His father gave $DCname a kiss to the temple before finally putting $DCthem down. $cDCthey scurried back to Elisabet. Ivarsson's father finally scooped up his grandchild. Held them aloft with a strange reverence. It made him... Feel fucking sick. "Mother. Stop him-" His hiss was cut off. "Welcome to the world my heir." His father announced. Ivarsson's stomach dissolved into nothing. [[It can't be...|P.O]] //<<audio "beginnings" stop>>

<<audio "whispers" play>><<audio "LetItIn" play loop>>//The footmen looked at each other. Then at him. His mother and siblings looked at each other. Then at him. Mad King Henry looked at his grandchild. And never at him. It was a proclamation. It was an announcment. As this man, clad in the skin of a bear once hunted to be a wedding present to his great great great grandmother, held aloft his grandchild, and let it be known. That after his death, his child would be the one to take the throne. Not $their father.// [[And that's when it all crumpled to dust.|PreludeEND]]

<div style="text-align: center;"><h1><span class = "bigfont"><span class='fadeIn'>But it never really did matter anyway</span></span></h1></div> <<timed 6s>><<goto "WakeUp">><</timed>><<audio "whispers" stop>>

<<audio "echowhispers" play>>You opened your eyes slowly, covered in a fine sheen of sweat. The headache was back. The sound of wind thrashed against your window, but you knew better. The curtains were shut tight, sewn together by Braithwaite a few years ago. Your caretaker had nailed the fabric to the sill and stitched the rest down. They were open again, though. Like they always were. Not all the way, just waving with the airflow through the window. You slipped your foot through the ankle restraint. It wasn't like a cuff, or a chain. Just some fabric made from old sheets, to stop you from sleep walking. You always told Braithwaite, your father, everyone that you never sleepwalked, no, you got up at night on purpose. You just happened to be sleeping as you went. They never believed you. Lowering your feet to the floor. Feeling your nightgown drop down to just above your knee, from its pushed up, rumpled state from when you were sleeping in bed. You got closer to the window. The curtains ripped wide open, showing the glass was gone from your window. So were the bars. You gripped the sill and pulled yourself up, through it. Your face felt like it was being scratched by fine glass, barely bigger than granules of sand. The garden was below. Far below. The moon was bright enough to see it clearly. Barely kept garden. Everything overgrown. Your headache was killing you... You'd love to be able to walk around the garden again. It was too hot. You slipped your night gown off and let it flutter down, looking like it was dancing. Then died as it hit the gravel. [[It would be... Good. Nice. To go all the way down.|Fall]]

<<audio "whispers" stop>><<audio "LetItIn" stop>><<audio "Drop" play>><<audio "echowhispers" stop>>You let yourself drop from the window. Falling was lovely. Airborn, barely any wind, just the feeling of fresh air. Then you hit the ground. And you woke up. [[Insert Password|AlphaBuildPassword]] [[Credits]]

<<audio "Birds" play>>//It awoke. The bird song had roused $them from a fitful sleep. Windows barred, nailed shut, no sound slipped past except for the sound of the Gardener tending to the garden. New, new, new thing to wake up to. $cthey tried to twist, but couldn't. Legs bound tight, bulging strangely, bones pressing on the skin, fall, shatter, twist, grate and grinding and marrow gushing free. $cthey finally opened $their eyes. Head, bandaged, wobbly stitches criss-crossing from one eye up into $their hair. There was blood in $their eye, flaring out from the outer right side corner. Blood vessels popping, straining, veins buldging. $cthey looked around, senses dulled and drugged and dried, cracked lips. Eyes drag to the window, throbbing memory trying to fix an open wall to it, burst open. None. Little window, standing tall, looking like a sunrise over the horizon, letting watery light in, spilling across the sheets. Not $their window, not $their bed, not $their legs. Not $their legs. Lumpy and shattered and numb, numb, numb. Sluggish and slow and stupid, patting and pulling and unable to understand that jumping from their caged room had gotten $their wings clipped. Crumbled, snapped bone. Bird, broken on the floor, neck wrenched the wrong way, open eyes, open beak, no sound. Just flapping one wing until it stops. Does $they know? Tucked in the attic, weighed down by useless, misshapen bone. Does $they know? No. Not if going by $their ceaseless scratching and rising panicking. An animal, in a cage, bashing its brain in. [[You opened your mouth and everything went black when the first scream ripped through your throat.|0.2]]//

You woke up. Your tongue was dry. Your lips felt cracked. Smacking them together didn't change anything. Shifting your legs brought a stab of pain again, but this time dulled. Wasn't going to make the same mistake twice, and so you settled down. The light streaming in from the window was tinted orange. Sunrise? Sunset? It was hard to tell. There was a cup of water on the rickety nightstand, along with <<cycle "$ffood" autoselect>> <<option "a plate of fruit slices" "fruit">> <<option "a plate of neatly sliced sandwiches" "sandwiches">> <<option "a small bowl of stew" "stew">> <<option "a small bowl of broth" "broth">> <<option "a plate of arranged meats" "meat">> <<option "a bowl of prepared vegetables" "veggies">> <</cycle>>, your usual on the days when you were being, as Braithwaite called it, "Difficult". There was also a piece of folded paper, against a faded green bottle. You leaned over and took several grateful gulps of water, finally getting to wet your dry mouth after who knows how long of being parched. You eat a little bit, your stomach feeling uncomfortably taut as if it had somehow shrunk in your time //below//. After a while, you finally got to lie back again, only then picking up the meticulously folded paper. Picking it up and flipping it open, you saw Braithwaite's tight, neat writing. //Good Afternoon/Evening...// <ul class="a"> Suggestions for feminine names <li>[[Safija|0.3][$name to "Safija"]]</li> <li>[[Pandora|0.3][$name to "Pandora"]]</li> <li>[[Selene|0.3][$name to "Selene"]]</li> <li>[[Luna|0.3][$name to "Luna"]]</li> <li>[[Celeste|0.3][$name to "Celeste"]]</li> Suggestions for masculine names <li>[[Magnus|0.3][$name to "Magnus"]]</li> <li>[[Emeric|0.3][$name to "Emeric"]] </li> <li>[[Cosmo|0.3][$name to "Cosmo"]] </li> <li>[[Orion|0.3][$name to "Orion"]] </li> <li>[[Atlas|0.3][$name to "Atlas"]]</li> Suggestions for gender-neutral names <li>[[Rowan|0.3][$name to "Rowan"]]</li> <li>[[Harper|0.3][$name to "Harper"]]</li> <li>[[Angel|0.3][$name to "Angel"]]</li> <li>[[Solaris|0.3][$name to "Solaris"]]</li> <li>[[Aster|0.3][$name to "Aster"]]</li></ul> Insert a custom name *<<textbox '$name' ''>> <<button "Confirm">> <<goto "0.3">> <</button>>

<<if $name is "" or $name is "undefined">>Please pick a name. [[Go back|0.2]]<</if>><<if $name is "Anatole" or $name is "Anouk" or $name is "Clement" or $name is "Clémentine" or $name is "Clementine" or $name is "Julius" or $name is "Julianna" or $name is "Bryn" or $name is "Hristijan" or $name is "Hristina" or $name is "Baal" or $name is "Ivarsson">>This name is already in use during the story. [[Go back|0.2]]<<else>> //Good Afternoon/Evening $name, Don't try to move your legs again. Your father is on the way, and I've already had to explain to him that his only $child had decided to take a flying leap out of a window after the wall had come away. If he arrives and somehow they have fallen off, I will never hear the end of it. Which means you will never hear the end of it. Sit down. Eat up. Don't move. Drink the medicine. I am out for the rest of the day to bring back someone who can do more than set a simple splint. J. Braithwaite// You put the note back on the table and quietly, diligently, as if under the scathing eye of someone everpresent, reached for the scratched up green bottle and using the spoon, dangling from the worn string wound around the neck and kept in place with wax, to measure out the amount. You were surprised there wasn't already a set amount, kept in a glass or something. Braithwaite was either always needing to be in control or the trust from $Jthem wasn't there. Could be both. Most probably both. Must have been in a rush. You swallow the bitter liquid down with an awkward gulp. If you had to take the next dose yourself, you were definitely going to put a little bit less on the spoon. Awful stuff. But good. Your vision went swimmy soon afterwards. Your legs ached less. The bed didn't seem as uncomfortable. The window being open was.... Nice. Braithwaite stopped allowing your bedroom windows to be open a long time ago. Did the birds sing all throughout the day? Or did they... Only sing... When... [[Slipped back under...|0.4]] <</if>>

//Sleeping. Sleeping in the attic, like servants did before, sometimes a child, all looking out the same semi-circular window, and when the moon drifted into place, it showed what was always there to begin with, an eye looking back.// A moment to breach. $cthey inhaled deeply, as if $they hadn't breathed for just a minute too long. Eyes flicking open, darting back and forth wildly before settling on an empty spot. A moth scuttles to and fro, as if unsure how to escape $their eye-line. When $their eyes finally do shut, it flutters its wings and lazily flaps to the window. It lands. A breath, a heart beat, a thought. //A resounding tap. A finger against a thin wall. A knock on the door. Drifting up through the still house. So many empty beds. The chef comes up from the town at the bottom of the winding hill. Scared to sleep in the manor, with half its face sunken in from disrepair. The caretaker's bed, folded neatly, untouched. Not back. Not yet. But soon. Always returning, to lift, to tuck, to care, to take. The only heartbeat in the house in the attic, throbbing incessantly against the night's pressure, weighing against the house, the walls, the roof, all of it bending under the strain.// Again, awake. Tongue dry again. But water out of reach. Sweating in the warm air. Legs cramping. Or mending. What is the difference between an ache to hurt and an ache to heal? Whether you have medicine on hand maybe. Out of reach. The bottle glowing under the moonlight. A holy grail to put you back to sleep. //You do that anyway. Back down down down, water rushing over your face. The pond in the garden. Circled with stones with holes in them. Grown over with scum, even with the incessant raking of the gardener. Maybe not so incessant. Maybe halfheartedly dragging at the algae before a match strikes and smoke curls up as the stagnant gardener stares up at the windows, waiting for a curtain to lift or a shadow to move or a window to open or a door to close. Nothing, and the cigarette is left in the stagnant water, and footsteps leading back to the cottage.// Once more, awake. The night is forever. Waiting for the light to break and a door to open and a cold hand to lift $their chin and make the pain go away again. Maybe the heart wants that cane tapping against the floor, a cold hand, fingers stiff against $their forehead. $ctheir foot gives a twitch, like the last spasm of a dying animal. Waiting, just like $them, for a dawn to break and a sun to rise. //Back down. Just floating now. Waiting. Drifting on the water. Unaware that a light is slowly making its way up from deep below in the valley, held aloft, like a lone firefly making its way up, leaving the happy and sane and the good behind. Making its way up to Yvesway House. Back home.// [[And you finally wake to the sun once more.|0.5]]

<<audio "Birds" play>>Strangely enough, with medicine seeping through your veins and the open window, this was the best you had ever slept. Or maybe it was because you couldn't sleep walk anymore. You would sometimes wake up in the hallway, in one of the other bedrooms. One time in the kitchen, standing in the dark and only waking up when the Cook opened the back door and started screaming at the sight of you. Braithwaite had to make your food that day. Then after that, the dishes got a bit less fancy. Local cook? Everything was stiff. Your neck, from the one, hard pillow, from the bed, from your separated gaps between sleeping, where it felt more like a fever than being alive... Awake. Dragging yourself up against the headboard was like pulling two useless sacks of rock across the bed. They twinged. You took some more of the medicine. Disgusting. There was no food on the table next to you, yesterday's water, the note still where you left it. Your muscles were sore. Your mouth and tongue felt like cotton. You glanced to the window and it looked back, in its lidded, semi-circle stare. Beneath, a moth lay, dead, wings stiff. There were faint sounds of movement in the house. Footsteps or maybe its bones were settling, as they did every night. The window, still on the latch, let in the sound of bird songs. It was nice, getting to wake up to it. The wind gently ruffled what used to be the curtain, hanging uselessly at the side, making the threads dance in the breeze. You gently flexed your fingers. Looked around. Breathed in. Listened to a bird closer than the rest, straining to be the loudest. Singing its little guts out. Hm. Could one do that? Sing and sing and sing and then your entrails seep out of your mouth. Do you just keep singing? Maybe it makes you a better singer. Lighter? Breath out. Twinge in your thigh, if it's still even there. What if you just had these lumps forever? You had an uncle with lumps. Mumps? Bumps. In a wheelchair with one of the -umps. Wait. He had a hump. That was it. Was it? You hadn't seen Uncle Barry or Barty or Bartholomew in years. Was he dead yet? Somehow, listening the birds got boring. Yes, yes, sing the same song over and over and over again. And you had been accused of being strange in the head. Well, worse words had been used other than strange, but- Was that a horse head? A stuffed horse head, by the door leading into the attic. Staring. Stuffed. Like one of those ones that had boars or stags, or wolves, stuffed after being killed in a hunt. Except it wasn't an infallible, proven fallible, beast, with claws and fangs and thick skin. It was a horse. Horses were... Well. Not that. Which one of your ancestors had been so proud to take down a horse, to the point of preserving the kill? You stared at it. It stared back. It was as if, for the first time, you had a roommate. [[Only right to name the thing. It was polite.|0.51]] [[Stupid horse. Like your ancestors before, you already loathed this thing. At the first chance, you were going to kick it out.|0.52]]

What gender are the romances? //Is Anatole/Anouk von Mejer, the step-sibling, a <<cycle "$Agender">>? <<option "male" "male">> <<option "female" "female">> <</cycle>> Is Clement/Clémentine von Mejer, the step-parent, a <<cycle "$Cgender">>? <<option "male" "male">> <<option "female" "female">> <</cycle>> Is Julius/Julianna Braithwaite, the Caretaker, a <<cycle "$Jgender">>? <<option "male" "male">> <<option "female" "female">> <</cycle>> Is Bryn Heron, the Gardener, a <<cycle "$Bgender">>?// <<option "male" "male">> <<option "female" "female">> <</cycle>> Is Hristijan/Hristina Angelov, the Fiance, a <<cycle "$Hgender">>? <<option "male" "male">> <<option "female" "female">> <</cycle>> // [[Onwards|RO Gender]]

<<nobr>> <<if $Agender is "female">> <<set $Athey to "she">> <<set $cAthey to "She">> <<set $Atheir to "her">> <<set $cAtheir to "Her">> <<set $Atheirs to "hers">> <<set $cAtheirs to "Hers">> <<set $Athem to "her">> <<set $cAthem to "Her">> <<set $Athemselves to "herself">> <<set $cAthemselves to "Herself">> <<set $Atitle to "Miss">> <<set $Aname to "Anouk">> <<set $Asibling to "sister">> <<set $cAsibling to "Sister">> <<set $Achild to "daughter">> <<set $cAchild to "Daughter">> <</if>> <<if $Agender is "male">> <<set $Athey to "he">> <<set $cAthey to "He">> <<set $Atheir to "his">> <<set $cAtheir to "His">> <<set $Atheirs to "his">> <<set $cAtheirs to "His">> <<set $Athem to "him">> <<set $cAthem to "Him">> <<set $Athemselves to "himself">> <<set $cAthemselves to "Himself">> <<set $Atitle to "Mister">> <<set $Aname to "Anatole">> <<set $Asibling to "brother">> <<set $cAsibling to "Brother">> <<set $Achild to "son">> <<set $cAchild to "Son">> <</if>> <<if $Cgender is "female">> <<set $Cthey to "she">> <<set $cCthey to "She">> <<set $Ctheir to "her">> <<set $cCtheir to "Her">> <<set $Ctheirs to "hers">> <<set $cCtheirs to "Hers">> <<set $Cthem to "her">> <<set $cCthem to "Her">> <<set $Cthemselves to "herself">> <<set $cCthemselves to "Herself">> <<set $Ctitle to "Lady">> <<set $Cname to "ClÃ©mentine">> <<set $Cparent to "mother">> <<set $cCparent to "Mother">> <<set $Cspouse to "wife">> <<set $cCspouse to "Wife">> <</if>> <<if $Cgender is "male">> <<set $Cthey to "he">> <<set $cCthey to "He">> <<set $Ctheir to "his">> <<set $cCtheir to "His">> <<set $Ctheirs to "his">> <<set $cCtheirs to "His">> <<set $Cthem to "him">> <<set $cCthem to "Him">> <<set $Cthemselves to "himself">> <<set $cCthemselves to "Himself">> <<set $Ctitle to "Lord">> <<set $Cname to "Clement">> <<set $Cparent to "father">> <<set $cCparent to "Father">> <<set $Cspouse to "husband">> <<set $cCspouse to "Husband">> <</if>> <<if $Jgender is "female">> <<set $Jthey to "she">> <<set $cJthey to "She">> <<set $Jtheir to "her">> <<set $cJtheir to "Her">> <<set $Jtheirs to "hers">> <<set $cJtheirs to "Hers">> <<set $Jthem to "her">> <<set $cJthem to "Her">> <<set $Jthemselves to "herself">> <<set $cJthemselves to "Herself">> <<set $Jtitle to "Misters">> <<set $Jname to "Julianna">> <</if>> <<if $Jgender is "male">> <<set $Jthey to "he">> <<set $cJthey to "He">> <<set $Jtheir to "his">> <<set $cJtheir to "His">> <<set $Jtheirs to "his">> <<set $cJtheirs to "His">> <<set $Jthem to "him">> <<set $cJthem to "Him">> <<set $Jthemselves to "himself">> <<set $cJthemselves to "Himself">> <<set $Jtitle to "Mister">> <<set $Jname to "Julius">> <</if>> <<if $Bgender is "female">> <<set $Bthey to "she">> <<set $cBthey to "She">> <<set $Btheir to "her">> <<set $cBtheir to "Her">> <<set $Btheirs to "hers">> <<set $cBtheirs to "Hers">> <<set $Bthem to "her">> <<set $cBthem to "Her">> <<set $Bthemselves to "herself">> <<set $cBthemselves to "Herself">> <<set $Btitle to "Mrs">> <</if>> <<if $Bgender is "male">> <<set $Bthey to "he">> <<set $cBthey to "He">> <<set $Btheir to "his">> <<set $cBtheir to "His">> <<set $Btheirs to "his">> <<set $cBtheirs to "His">> <<set $Bthem to "him">> <<set $cBthem to "Him">> <<set $Bthemselves to "himself">> <<set $cBthemselves to "Himself">> <<set $Btitle to "Mister">> <</if>> <<if $Hgender is "female">> <<set $Hthey to "she">> <<set $cHthey to "She">> <<set $Htheir to "her">> <<set $cHtheir to "Her">> <<set $Htheirs to "hers">> <<set $cHtheirs to "Hers">> <<set $Hthem to "her">> <<set $cHthem to "Her">> <<set $Hthemselves to "herself">> <<set $cHthemselves to "Herself">> <<set $Htitle to "Miss">> <<set $Hname to "Hristina">> <</if>> <<if $Hgender is "male">> <<set $Hthey to "he">> <<set $cHthey to "He">> <<set $Htheir to "his">> <<set $cHtheir to "His">> <<set $Htheirs to "his">> <<set $cHtheirs to "His">> <<set $Hthem to "him">> <<set $cHthem to "Him">> <<set $Hthemselves to "himself">> <<set $cHthemselves to "Himself">> <<set $Htitle to "Mister">> <<set $Hname to "Hristijan">> <</if>> <</nobr>> <<goto "BeginningsPrelude">>

You stared into the glass, aimless eyes that seemed to be quite crooked. Okay. Names... Names for your first roommate. It was hard to decide... [[Horace?|0.53][$horse to "Horace"]] [[Admiral|0.53][$horse to "Admiral"]] could be good... Oh, wait, [[Tangie|0.53][$horse to "Tangie"]]. [[Bucephalus |0.53][$horse to "Bucephalus"]] could be fun. Oh, [[Glue!|0.53][$horse to "Glue"]], that was very good. Very, very good. Or maybe... *<<textbox '$horse' ''>> <<button "Confirm">> <<goto "0.53">> <</button>>

<<set $horsehate to true>><<set $horse to "The Horse">>It didn't matter why the thing was taken down. No doubt it deserved it. Your evil, staring room companion, $horse. A title in itself. Like when you got to steal the newspaper from the kitchen table before Braithwaite threw it out, and got to read your Grandfather's words, warning against The Enemy. Your enemy? The Horse. Your grandfather would- A twinge in your leg. Your hands immediately flutter to uselessly grip your bandaged thigh. Your face throbs with the feeling, the memory of crashing into gravel making you flinch. You could feel the scrape of stone against your teeth, scratching the corner of your eye, your skin splitting when it hit one of the bricks lining the walkway. You raised a bandanged finger and dragged it along the thick stitches alongside your temple. It was hard to imagine Braithwaite getting out $Jtheir thread and needle and sewing you back together, your head on $Jtheir lap. Piecing you back bit by bit, from your mangled legs to the small cuts on your fingers. A thought gently nagged at you. Why <b>did</b> you fall? You remember, your hands resting on the broken bricks of the wall. You remember that, even though you didn't remember most things when you sleep walked. Another twinge. This one forced a gasp from your mouth. The room felt so much colder as sweat began to bead at your temples. It was as if all the medicine all at once had ebbed away, leaving you with your... Your fucking lumps of legs in nerve destroying pain, as if you could feel each splinter of broken off bone, each torn tendon, every piece of you that had been crushed. You felt like you were going to be sick. Bile burned the back of your throat. It made your eyes mist over with tears, your nose sting. Somehow not enough saliva and too much was in your mouth, as your stomach churned. The room felt like it was shaking and spinning and you were wondering if you were even breathing anymore, if you were going to piss yourself, if you screamed would anyone come running- [[The door opened.|0.521]]

<<set $horsehate to false>>Yes... $horse. Excellent. A dignified name for a dignified companion. A twinge in your leg. Your face throbs with the feeling, the memory of crashing into gravel making you flinch. You could feel the scrape of stone against your teeth, scratching the corner of your eye, your skin splitting when it hit one of the bricks lining the walkway. You raised a bandanged finger and dragged it along the thick stitches alongside your temple. It was hard to imagine Braithwaite getting out $Jtheir thread and needle and sewing you back together, your head on $Jtheir lap. Piecing you back bit by bit, from your mangled legs to the small cuts on your fingers. A thought gently nagged at you. Why <b>did</b> you fall? You remember, your hands resting on the broken bricks of the wall. You remember that, even though you didn't remember most things when you sleep walked. Another twinge. This one forced a gasp from your mouth. The room felt so much colder as sweat began to bead at your temples. It was as if all the medicine all at once had ebbed away, leaving you with your... Your fucking lumps of legs in nerve destroying pain, as if you could feel each splinter of broken off bone, each torn tendon, every piece of you that had been crushed. You felt like you were going to be sick. Bile burned the back of your throat. It made your eyes mist over with tears, your nose sting. Somehow not enough saliva and too much was in your mouth, as your stomach churned. The room felt like it was shaking and spinning and you were wondering if you were even breathing anymore, if you were going to piss yourself, if you screamed would anyone come running- [[The door opened.|0.531]]

"Good morning." Braithwaite raised a dark eyebrow. "So my etiquette lessons haven't gone to waste. Greeting, small talk, onto main conversation." "The weather is-" "Your window." "But I didn't do anything! I didn't break it!" "I don't think you broke it. It's an old house, the wall easily could have come away during the night after the storm last week." $cJthey scoffed gently. "No, you going out the window. You jumped." The last two words gave you pause. You didn't. You fell. "I didn't. I lost my footing." Braithwaite's pale lips parted for a moment, as if to immediately refute you, only to give pause. A beat. A moment. $cJtheir tongue wet $Jtheir bottom lip before sighing. "$name, the gardener saw you. $cBthey saw you jump from the hole in the wall." The gardener? What was $Bthey doing out late at night? And able to see you fall? Fall! Not jump. $cBthey definitely lied to Braithwaite to get you into trouble. The gardener... Heron? You've heard your caretaker call their name a few times from your window when going into the garden. Anyway, Heron wasn't allowed in the house, and $Bthey stuck to $Bthemselves all the time. Sometimes you looked outside your window and caught $Bthem staring up at the house, black hair shielding $Btheir scowling face. Liar. Braithwaite was watching your face closely as you thought. "Very well. $cBthey must have been mistaken." $cJthey finally said before gathering up the clutter on your bedside table. "I shall be back up in a little while to give you medicine and a proper meal. You don't get to skip out on actual food just because you're injured." [[You watched them leave and slumped back into your pillows.|0.7]] [["Wait! Could you come up and sit with me? Later?" You didn't want to be alone too long again.|0.71]]

Braithwaite frowned further, reaching up to push $Jtheir glasses up $Jtheir nose. "Flattery won't get you anywhere." $cJthey said with a sigh. "Your hair looks really-" "Your window." "But I didn't do anything! I didn't break it!" "I don't think you broke it. It's an old house, the wall easily could have come away during the night after the storm last week." $cJthey scoffed gently. "No, you going out the window. You jumped." The last two words gave you pause. You didn't. You fell. "I didn't. I lost my footing." Braithwaite's pale lips parted for a moment, as if to immediately refute you, only to give pause. A beat. A moment. $cJtheir tongue wet $Jtheir bottom lip before sighing. "$name, the gardener saw you. $cBthey saw you jump from the hole in the wall." The gardener? What was $Bthey doing out late at night? And able to see you fall? Fall! Not jump. $cBthey definitely lied to Braithwaite to get you into trouble. The gardener... Heron? You've heard your caretaker call their name a few times from your window when going into the garden. Anyway, Heron wasn't allowed in the house, and $Bthey stuck to $Bthemselves all the time. Sometimes you looked outside your window and caught $Bthem staring up at the house, black hair shielding $Btheir scowling face. Liar. Braithwaite was watching your face closely as you thought. "Very well. $cBthey must have been mistaken." $cJthey finally said before gathering up the clutter on your bedside table. "I shall be back up in a little while to give you medicine and a proper meal. You don't get to skip out on actual food just because you're injured." [[You watched them leave and slumped back into your pillows.|0.7]] [["Wait! Could you come up and sit with me? Later?" You didn't want to be alone too long again.|0.71]]

Braithwaite's dark eyebrow slowly raised and $Jthey let out a soft huff of breath. "I don't think you broke it. It's an old house, the wall easily could have come away during the night after the storm last week." $cJthey scoffed gently. "No, you going out the window. You jumped." The last two words gave you pause. You didn't. You fell. "I didn't. I lost my footing." Braithwaite's pale lips parted for a moment, as if to immediately refute you, only to give pause. A beat. A moment. $cJtheir tongue wet $Jtheir bottom lip before sighing. "$name, the gardener saw you. $cBthey saw you jump from the hole in the wall." The gardener? What was $Bthey doing out late at night? And able to see you fall? Fall! Not jump. $cBthey definitely lied to Braithwaite to get you into trouble. The gardener... Heron? You've heard your caretaker call their name a few times from your window when going into the garden. Anyway, Heron wasn't allowed in the house, and $Bthey stuck to $Bthemselves all the time. Sometimes you looked outside your window and caught $Bthem staring up at the house, black hair shielding $Btheir scowling face. Liar. Braithwaite was watching your face closely as you thought. "Very well. $cBthey must have been mistaken." $cJthey finally said before gathering up the clutter on your bedside table. "I shall be back up in a little while to give you medicine and a proper meal. You don't get to skip out on actual food just because you're injured." [[You watched them leave and slumped back into your pillows.|0.7]] [["Wait! Could you come up and sit with me? Later?" You didn't want to be alone too long again.|0.71]]

The abrupt love confession didn't even hinder $Jthem. "You've already tried that before." Braithwaite said flatly. "... When?" "You were eleven. You locked yourself in the basement and the door got stuck. You wouldn't stop screaming until I took the hinges off. You thought I'd be angry and kept saying you were sorry and that you loved me." $cJtheir stern expression wavered for a moment before hardening once more. "Which won't work again." "But-" "Your window." "But I didn't do anything! I didn't break it!" "I don't think you broke it. It's an old house, the wall easily could have come away during the night after the storm last week." $cJthey scoffed gently. "No, you going out the window. You jumped." The last two words gave you pause. You didn't. You fell. "I didn't. I lost my footing." Braithwaite's pale lips parted for a moment, as if to immediately refute you, only to give pause. A beat. A moment. $cJtheir tongue wet $Jtheir bottom lip before sighing. "$name, the gardener saw you. $cBthey saw you jump from the hole in the wall." The gardener? What was $Bthey doing out late at night? And able to see you fall? Fall! Not jump. $cBthey definitely lied to Braithwaite to get you into trouble. The gardener... Heron? You've heard your caretaker call their name a few times from your window when going into the garden. Anyway, Heron wasn't allowed in the house, and $Bthey stuck to $Bthemselves all the time. Sometimes you looked outside your window and caught $Bthem staring up at the house, black hair shielding $Btheir scowling face. Liar. Braithwaite was watching your face closely as you thought. "Very well. $cBthey must have been mistaken." $cJthey finally said before gathering up the clutter on your bedside table. "I shall be back up in a little while to give you medicine and a proper meal. You don't get to skip out on actual food just because you're injured." [[You watched them leave and slumped back into your pillows.|0.7]] [["Wait! Could you come up and sit with me? Later?" You didn't want to be alone too long again.|0.71]]

"...Your lumps?" "My legs." "Ah." Braithwaite glanced at them. "I had a doctor check on them while you were sleeping. He managed to put splints on them and will come back in a week to recheck them. But more importantly-" "Bu-" "Your window." "But I didn't do anything! I didn't break it!" "I don't think you broke it. It's an old house, the wall easily could have come away during the night after the storm last week." $cJthey scoffed gently. "No, you going out the window. You jumped." The last two words gave you pause. You didn't. You fell. "I didn't. I lost my footing." Braithwaite's pale lips parted for a moment, as if to immediately refute you, only to give pause. A beat. A moment. $cJtheir tongue wet $Jtheir bottom lip before sighing. "$name, the gardener saw you. $cBthey saw you jump from the hole in the wall." The gardener? What was $Bthey doing out late at night? And able to see you fall? Fall! Not jump. $cBthey definitely lied to Braithwaite to get you into trouble. The gardener... Heron? You've heard your caretaker call their name a few times from your window when going into the garden. Anyway, Heron wasn't allowed in the house, and $Bthey stuck to $Bthemselves all the time. Sometimes you looked outside your window and caught $Bthem staring up at the house, black hair shielding $Btheir scowling face. Liar. Braithwaite was watching your face closely as you thought. "Very well. $cBthey must have been mistaken." $cJthey finally said before gathering up the clutter on your bedside table. "I shall be back up in a little while to give you medicine and a proper meal. You don't get to skip out on actual food just because you're injured." [[You watched them leave and slumped back into your pillows.|0.7]] [["Wait! Could you come up and sit with me? Later?" You didn't want to be alone too long again.|0.71]]

Before too long you were all alone again... Medicine settling in your stomach. Prospect of food on the way. Your legs only giving the slightest of twinges. A gentle haze settled over you, blanketing everything in soft colours and a warm feeling. <<if $horsehate is true>>It even made The Horse less of an irritating presence. <<else>>Even $horse seemed to be enjoying its decapitated existence. Good for it, most wouldn't.<</if>> Braithwaite came up again later, when the light was painting your walls in a vivid orange. $cJthey watched over you as you ate every bite of a "proper" meal, not finding much need to bicker with $Jthem about it. Gone again. $horse and you sat quietly together, the sounds of the old house settling, soothing and gentle. As if itself was yawning and pulling up the covers to its chin. You rested your head against the pillow, looking at the half-lidded window, curtains fluttering gently, the warmth of the summer air outside slowly growing cold as the orange slipped away. A yawn. Shifting your body slightly. And finally. Sleep. [[But there was someone at the door?]]

Braithwaite glanced over $Jtheir shoulder at you, lips gently parted in surprise, dark eyebrows raised just a bit. "Oh... Yes. Of course. I'll bring up some things to keep you entertained. Something for us to do too, perhaps." Before too long you were all alone again... Medicine settling in your stomach. Prospect of food on the way. Your legs only giving the slightest of twinges. A gentle haze settled over you, blanketing everything in soft colours and a warm feeling. <<if $horsehate is true>>It even made The Horse less of an irritating presence. <<else>>Even $horse seemed to be enjoying its decapitated existence. Good for it, most wouldn't.<</if>> Braithwaite came up again later, when the light was painting your walls in a vivid orange. $cJthey watched over you as you ate every bite of a "proper" meal, not finding much need to bicker with $Jthem about it. Braithwaite stayed with you, playing some card games, even letting you win despite the fact you kept dropping yours, playing the wrong hand and dozing off from time to time. In the end, $Jthey started to read from a book $Jthey brought up. $horse and you sat quietly together, listening to $Jtheir husky voice, the sounds of the old house settling, soothing and gentle. As if itself was yawning and pulling up the covers to its chin. You rested your head against the pillow, looking at the half-lidded window, curtains fluttering gently, the warmth of the summer air outside slowly growing cold as the orange slipped away. A yawn. Shifting your body slightly. Braithwaite's voice pausing and the sound of a book slowly closing. And finally. Sleep. [[But there was someone at the door?]]

Alpha Build access for Patrons! <<textbox "$Password" "" "Password">>

<<if $Password is '4231'>>[[Unlocking further scenes!|0.1]]<<elseif $Password is not '4231'>>Incorrect- Try again.<<textbox "$Password" "" "Password">> Just take me to the [[credits|Credits]]<</if>>

<<audio "Door" play>>The door opened. Through the haze of tears, a <<if $Jgender is "female">>woman<<else>>man<</if>> stepped in, dressed darkly. If not for the perfect head of silver hair, you wouldn't have been able to recognise $Jthem at all. "B... B..." You tried, but could feel something crawling up your throat at every attempt at speech. You were going to die, right here, right now, something inside of you was going to crack open and be let out and all your ugliness and light would burst free and- An ice cold hand cooled your forehead. Soft. A tsking sound. The hand left before fingers pinched your chin. "Stop fussing." A familiar voice said. Scratchy, yet smooth, the same way your throat had felt after sneaking some of your father's whiskey. "Honestly, I'm away for ten minutes and it's like your nine years old and would cry every time I stopped holding your hand at bedtime." You couldn't even reply, not when $Jtheir fingers gently squeezed your bottom lip, forcing your mouth open like you were a baby bird and something cold and bitter poured down your throat. At first, nothing, even when $Jthey let go and patted your wet lips dry with a cloth. Then... Coolness. Washing over the heat of your legs, settling your stomach. "There, see? All better." The tears clouding your vision slowly lifted, blinked away slowly. "So..." Braithwaite came into focus. <<if $Jgender is "female">>Unimpressed as ever. Her long silver hair was in its usual plait. curling over her shoulder and resting the side of her bosom. Her Pince-nez glasses sat, as ever, upon her nose, of which you never believed she actually needed. But it made her cool, dark green eyes stand out all the more, when framed by the lenses. Her tall cheekbones were sharp, and gave her a cruel face, all sharp edges adn no softness, But you knew better. Julianna Braithwaite was a constant in your life and would never cease to be. She was eternal. You could tell by her face mainly. Despite the lines around her mouth and the crow's feet at her eyes, there was something... Youthful about her. Your father had more wrinkles than her, and he only started going grey last year. She had been old for as long as you knew her.<<else>>Unimpressed as ever. His short, wavy silver hair flowed naturally over his temples, with a few strands curling free. His Pince-nez glasses sat, as ever, upon his nose, of which you never believed he actually needed. But it made his cool, dark green eyes stand out all the more, when framed by the lenses. His tall cheekbones were sharp, and gave him a cruel face, all sharp edges and no softness.. But you knew better. Julius Braithwaite was a constant in your life, and would never cease to be. He was eternal. You could tell by his face mainly. Despite the lines around his mouth and the crow's feet at his eyes, there was something... Youthful about him. Your father had more wrinkles than him, and he only started going grey last year. He had been old for as long as you knew him.<</if>> $cJthey started to sort out your bedside table with a sigh. "So," $cJthey said again, both hands resting on $Jtheir hips, staring you down. As if waiting for you to speak first. <ul> <li>[["... Good morning!" You tried for a smile.|0.6]]</li> <li>[["You look nice today!" Charm, charm, charm.|0.61]]</li> <li>[["Before you say anything, I had nothing to do with the window." You cross your arms, trying to establish... Anything. Authority. Dominance. Your posture.|0.62]]</li> <li>[["I'm in love with you!" You blurted out, desperately trying to not broach the topic they were no doubt aiming for.|0.63]]</li> <li>[["So, how long do I get to keep my lumps?" You thought about wiggling your ex-legs but the memory of the pain made you feel a bit sick. Better not risk it.|0.64]]</li> </ul>

<<audio "Knock" play>>//Knock on the door...? <<timed 5s>><<audio "Knock" play>><</timed>><<timed 7s>><<audio "Knock" play>><</timed>> You cracked your eyes open. It was dark in the room. Warm. No breeze. Braithwaite must have come and closed the window. Why did $Jthey not come in? $cJthey always knocked thrice before entering the room, slow, precisely measured, but now? Knocks, but no enter. "Come in." You finally managed to rasp out, throat dry, but still. Nothing entered. "Come in!" You huffed gently and wriggled, legs twinging painfully as you pulled yourself up. The room was far hotter than it was before, and you glanced around for the window. But nothing. No moonlight to guide you. The knock. Harder. More insistent. Something prickled at your skin, as if someone was rolling something scratchy across it. "C... Come in!" You tried again. You put your hand out, wildly trying to reach for anything, but nothing. Your bedside table wasn't there. Too late you realised you put too much weight on extending your arm, your legs too stiff to roll yourself back and- You couldn't pull yourself back in time. You fell to the floor, legs throbbing with pain as you made impact, hitting the carpet and all the air escaping your lungs. The side of your chest hurt, your palm stung from the scrape across the floor. Wheezing, you tried to not move your legs too much, a strange clicking from what must have been your broken bones reverberating in the air. Patting around, your fingers skimmed something wrapped around your legs. Metal. You gripped it and tugged, feeling whatever it was slide strangely, and your thigh shifted with it. Oh. A brace? Did someone come and fit you while you had slept? You shifted your weight. Yes, there was pain. Throbbing and raw. But it... You could move. Just getting to your knees was a struggle, the metal digging in uncomfortably, but you were up. Breathing in slow and low, your eyes barely even managed to adjust to the darkness. Taking a few steps, you immediately stubbed your toe on something low and solid. A dresser? You hopped a bit and a surge of heat raced up the leg you put the weight on. [[A slice of light slowly cut it's way into the room.|0.8]]

<<audio "Door" play>><<timed 5s>><<audio "ThePast" play>> <</timed>>The door slowly opened. There stood... No one. Perhaps the knocking had come from the front door, or a branch against a shutter or... Or... But it had sounded so close? And- And... There was music.