Perndemonium Pt 2

Pernilla's bike is a 30 year old mountain bike with fat tyres and a wire basket on the front. It provides a bomb proof and stately ride. (display: "bike menu")

You can leave this location and go to: { (set: $currently to $destination) |standalonelink>[ (if: (history:) contains "pern-stage8") [(link: "Squat Rave House") [(set: $destination to "warehouse")(goto: "Bicycle")]] (else-if: (history:) contains "terminal location" and "pern-stage4" and not ((history:) contains "parcel3") and ($destination is not "bruins")) [(link: "Bruins East ") [(set: $destination to "bruins")(goto:"Bicycle")]] (else-if: (history:) contains "pern-stage2" and not ((history:) contains "terminal location") and ($destination is not "biscuits")) [(link: "Biscuits Logistics") [(set: $destination to "biscuits")(goto: "Bicycle")]] (if: $destination is not "highgatewholefoods" and $gotyuzu is false) [(link: "Highgate Wholefoods") [(set: $destination to "highgatewholefoods")(goto: "Bicycle")]] (if: (history:) contains "pern-stage5" and ($destination is not "bicycleworkshop") and not ($fixedpuncture is true)) [(link: "Bicycle Workshop") [(set: $destination to "bicycleworkshop")(goto: "Bicycle")]] (if: $destination is not "chummy") [(link: "Chummy Lodge") [(set: $destination to "chummy")(goto: "Bicycle")]]] } Or (link: "stay where you are")[(goto: (history:)'s last)]

{(if: $time_of_day is "morning")[ (either: "The streets are quiet and still warm from the day before.", "The sky is a solid blue with almost no gradient to it.", "People are just starting to leave their houses in the mid morning heat.")] (if: $time_of_day is "midday")[ (either: "It feels like the hottest part of the day.", "You try to cycle in the shade to avoid the sun's penetrating glare.", "The tarmac under your wheels feels sticky in the heat.")] (if: $time_of_day is "afternoon")[ (either: "The sun is so low it only appears behind certain buildings, for the majority of the ride you cycle in shadow.", "The shadows between buildings look blue." )] (if: $time_of_day is "evening")[ (either: "You ride out into the darkness, the bike's lights turn on by themselves to light the way." ) ]}

(if: $currently is "bicycleworkshop")[You roll the bike out of the shop and set off.](else-if: $destination is "chummynight")[The same manservant who took the bike from you earlier wheels it back out to you.](else:)[ You unlock Pernilla's bike from (either: "a railing", "a lampost", "the bike rack"), and set off.] (display: "bicycle ambience") (display: (text: $destination) + "_bicycle")

The Biscuits Logistics building is in a gloomy looking warehouse in Crouch End. An untended verge next to the building is filled with a towering mass of Buddleia Davidii. Bees and butterflies swarm around the spikes of purple flowers. The door of the building has a laserjet printed sign stuck up with brown parcel tape. It says PUBLIC ENTRANCE. |standalonelink>[[[enter biscuits logistics->biscuits interior]]]

(either: "You have to get off and push to summit the hill Chummy Lodge sits on top of", "You make it to Chummy Lodge drenched in sweat", "Chummy Lodge sits at the top of a colossal hill, you downshift and spin serenely to the top of it"). You can hear the sound of (either: "Sweet Harmony by Liquid", "Cages by Paula Temple", "Trouble Will Find Me by The National", "Concrete Angel by Hannah Diamond", "Dior by Pop Smoke", "Western Union by Bladee", "Crucible by Scalameriya", "Alienated by LaFontaine", "Bring by Randomer") coming from Pernilla's open window as you lock the bike. |standalonelink>[[[enter Chummy Lodge.->Chummy Lodge (interior)]]]

The murals around Bruins East seem even more vibrant in the summer sun. Annoying looking people are loitering around, carrying tote bags and wearing outfits. As you lock the bike next to a vintage racing frame you overhear someone walking past talking about "verticals". Who are these people. |standalonelink>[[[Enter Bruins East->bruins interior]]].

The coordinates Pernilla sent to your phone weave you through the city, onto a canal tow path, past an allotment and then, emerging from a small pedestrian tunnel you realise you have been day dreaming, piloting the bicycle in a hypnogogic state or maybe without looking up from the blue line your phone's navigation screen had overlayed on the map of London. You look up and it seems you've left the city and are in the Hertfordshire countryside, softly undulating, surrounded by fields dazzling with bright yellow flowers of oilseed rape. You arrive at the top of a gated gravel drive lined with oak trees. An engraved stone sign in the side of the gate says Scotgrave House. |standalonelink>[[[Enter Scotgrave House->warehouse interior]]]

Everything around you feels calm and nonthreatening. Even the traffic as you reenter North London seems civilised. The taxis and food riders all seem to be piloting electric vehicles, gliding soundlessly over the cooling tarmac. The uncollimated light of the streetlights casts a multitude of shadows. You don't even notice the hill until you're at the top of it. The flat's window is closed and the lights are off. You lock the bike. |standalonelink>[[[enter Chummy Lodge->chummynight]]]

Every shop front on Highgate High Street looks like it's been painted with paint from Farrow and Ball. There are buses and high performance 4x4s idling along the street. You lock your bike to a railing and walk through the tourquise frontage. |standalonelink>[[[Enter Highgate Wholefoods->highgatewholefoods]]].

The bicycle workshop is on a nondescript bit of road, between a dry cleaners and a shuttered shop that looks like it was a clothing boutique. The large shop window frames a bike attached to a workstand. You roll your bike through the door. |standalonelink>[[[Enter The Bicycle Workshop->bicycleworkshop]]]

{ (if: $fixedpuncture is false)[(display: "bicycleworkshop-puncture" + (text: $puncturestage))] (else:)[(display: "bicycleworkshop-fixed")] }

The woman with he dorky short brimmed cap is looking at the single speed on the workstand and musing to herself. "It's a sweet ride but it needs a lot of work doing." (display: "bike menu")

There's a woman with one of those dorky short brimmed caps that bike people wear in the shop. She's looking at a sticker covered single speed on the work stand when you walk in but she nods approvingly at Pernilla's bike. "Cool bike." she says. "Very tasteful. Did you build this?" (set: $puncturestage to 1)[["It's my friend's, but it has a puncture, I think?"->bicycleworkshop]]

The woman with the dorky cap nods. "It's quiet today, everyone's out riding their bikes not getting them fixed. I can do it for you in five?" |standalonelink>[(set: $puncturestage to 2)[[Hand over the bike->bicycleworkshop]]]

You stand around awkwardly whilst the woman in the cap deftly fixes the puncture without even taking the wheel off the bike. You don't feel inadequate. You have other skills and are happy to pay someone to do something you can't do as easily. "It really is a nice bike." the mechanic says as she hands the bike back. "Thanks! I'm just borrowing it." you say. (set: $fixedpuncture to true)(display: "bike menu")

The Biscuits Logistics front office contains a series of elaborate rope barriers as though there are regularly queues of hundreds of people here. Right now it's completely empty. The room smells of fresh paint. At the end of the rope maze is an {(if: (history:) contains "terminal location")[old style terminal](else:)[(link: "old fashioned glowing screen")[(go-to: "terminal")]]} with green text on it. {(if: (history:) contains "terminal location")[Now that you know where the parcel has been delivered you can leave this location and return to (link: "Chummy Lodge")[(set: $bread_status to "autolyse")(set: $destination to "chummy")(goto: "Bicycle")]]}

SELECT YOUR OPTION - [[PARCEL INFO->terminal collection]] - COLLECT PARCEL - REJECT PARCEL - INSPECT PARCEL - [[OTHER->terminal other]]

ENTER PARCEL NUMBER: - [[<6M994-994-GB>->terminal unknown]] (link: "- BACK")[(goto: (history:)'s last)]

*ERR* PARCEL NUMBER NOT FOUND. SWITCH TO MANUAL PARCEL SEARCH [[Y->terminal search]]/N? (set: $parcel to (a:) )

DESCRIBE PARCEL SIZE - (link: "LARGE")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"LARGE")) (goto:"terminal weight")] - (link: "SMALL")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"SMALL")) (goto:"terminal weight")]

DESCRIBE PARCEL WEIGHT - (link: "HEAVY")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"HEAVY")) (goto: "terminal velocity")] - (link: "MEDIUM")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"MEDIUM WEIGHT")) (goto: "terminal velocity")]

DESCRIBE PARCEL LAST KNOWN VELOCITY - (link: "STATIONARY")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"STATIONARY")) (goto: "terminal wrapper")] - (link: "MOBILE")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"MOBILE")) (goto: "terminal wrapper")]

DESCRIBE PARCEL WRAPPER - (link: "PAPER")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"PAPER WRAPPED")) (goto: "terminal stiffness")] - (link: "PLASTIC")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"PLASTIC WRAPPED")) (goto: "terminal stiffness")] - (link: "CARD")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"CARD WRAPPED")) (goto: "terminal stiffness")]

DESCRIBE PARCEL STIFFNESS - (link: "HIGHLY RIGID")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"HIGHLY RIGID")) (goto: "terminal class")] - (link: "LOW RIGIDITY")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"LOW RIGIDITY")) (goto: "terminal class")]

DESCRIBE PARCEL CLASS - (link: "DREADNOUGHT")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"DREADNOUGHT CLASS")) (goto: "terminal tenderness")] - (link: "BATTLECRUISER")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"BATTLECRUISER CLASS")) (goto: "terminal tenderness")]

DESCRIBE PARCEL TENDERNESS - (link: "EXTREMELY TENDER")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"EXTREMELY TENDER")) (goto: "terminal bouyancy")] - (link: "UNYIELDING")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"UNYIELDING")) (goto: "terminal bouyancy")]

DESCRIBE PARCEL BUOYANCY - (link: "FLOATING")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"FLOATING")) (goto: "terminal activation")] - (link: "SINKING")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"SINKING")) (goto: "terminal activation")]

DESCRIBE PARCEL ACTIVATION - (link: "FULLY ACTIVATED")[(set: $carb to "carbs")(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"FULLY ACTIVATED")) (goto: "terminal summary")] - (link: "INACTIVE")[(set: $parcel to $parcel + (a:"INACTIVE")) (goto: "terminal summary")]

SEARCHING FOR A (for: each _item, ...$parcel)[_item, ] PARCEL IS THAT CORRECT [[Y->terminal location]]/[[N->terminal search]]

SEARCHING 29489 ENTRIES ... ... PARCEL <6M994-994-GB> FROM `<TBTBUNKER>` to `<CHUMMY LODGE>` MARKED AS DELIVERED TO BRUINS EAST THANK YOU FOR USING BISCUITS LOGISTICS [[EXIT->biscuits interior]]

BISCUITS LOGISTICS TERMINAL SYSTEM V3.99.8 ABOUT: BLTS V3.99.8 release date 12th September 1994 (link: "- BACK")[(goto: (history:)'s last)]

(if: (history:) contains $bread_status)[(display: (text:$bread_status) + "_description")](else:)[(display: (text:$bread_status) + "_clickable")]

There's a jar of [[beige goo->$bread_status]] sitting here.

The jar of levain bubbles quietly in its patch of sunlight.

Pernilla sniffs the beige goo. "The levain isn't quite ready yet." she says. "but it will be soon, everything is going over pretty fast in this heat." She puts the jar back in the patch of sunlight and pats it affectionately. |standalonelink>[(link: "Return")[(goto: (history:)'s last)]]

There's a [[glass bowl->$bread_status]] covered with a teatowel on the counter.

The dough sits quietly, waiting for the kneading to begin.

You pull back the teatowel to look at the dough. It's a stringy mass. |standalonelink>[(link: "Return")[(goto: (history:)'s last)]]

There is a teatowel on the kitchen worktop which seems to be covering [[something->$bread_status]].

The dough ball sleeps soundly beneath its teatowel blanket.

You peek under the teatowel to find a taut round of bread dough. Pernilla motions at you to put the teatowel back. "She's resting." she mouths, before returning to her call. |standalonelink>[(link: "Return")[(goto: (history:)'s last)]]

There's a [[wicker basket->$bread_status]] covered with a teatowel next to the window.(set: $action to "peel")

(display: "lastaction") { |standalonelink>[ (if: $pot is "in" and $oven is "on")[ (link: "Wait for a while")[ (set: $pot to "hot") (set: $action to "checkfridge") (goto: "proofed")]] (if: $pot is "hot")[ (link: "Put the dough in the pot.")[ (set: $pot to "full") (set: $action to "doughpot") (goto: "scoring")]] (if: $pot is "full")[ (link: "Wait for a while longer")[(goto: "finale")] ] ] }

{ (if: $action is "peel")[You pull back the teatowel to look at the dough. It's puffy and moves like jelly as you pick it up and bring it to the kitchen. The dough mixer and risotto pan have been cleaned and put away. You spend a couple of seconds peering at the control knobs on Pernilla's oven to work out if it's gas or not. It's not, so you crank the heat up to max and put the cast iron pot inside to pre heat.(set: $pot to "in")(set: $oven to "on")] (else-if: $action is "checkfridge")[You have a look in the fridge. The risotto Pernilla was making earlier is there, along with about fifty different jars with different home made pastes and pickles. (if: $gotyuzu)[You grab the jar of yuzu pickled cucumber you bought earlier and fish one out with a fork. It tastes crunchy and refreshingly sour. ](else:)[You close the fridge.]] (else-if: $action is "doughpot")[You score the dough, carefully slide it into the cast iron pot, put the lid on and put it back in the oven.] }

You slap the banneton onto some baking paper and the dough pops out with a thud. It's time to score it. |standalonelink>[[[Score a cross, simple and utilitarian->proofed]] [[Score an off center line, deceptively straightforward->proofed]] [[Score a hatch pattern, somewhat extravagant->proofed]]]

{ (if: $oven is "on")[The oven is on.] (else:)[The oven is off.] }

{ (if: $pot is "in")[The cast iron pot is in the oven.] (else-if: $pot is "hot")[The cast iron pot has pre heated.] (else-if: $pot is "full")[The cast iron pot is in the oven with the dough inside and the lid on.] (else:)[There's a cast iron dutch oven on the counter, ready to bake the bread in.] }

You pour yourself a glass of water and lean against the kitchen worktop to drink it whilst the oven hums quietly. You feel tired, still humming slightly from the party but not like you're ready to go to sleep just yet. You hear the flat door open and Pernilla appears. "It turns out we just had to spoof the shipping container's location to convince it that it was at port. Once we did that it opened easily." she says. "I put the bread in the oven." you say, though it's redundant to mention. The whole room has filled with the smell of baking bread. Pernilla fills herself a glass of water and comes to lean against the counter next to you. You both look silently at the oven as the bread inside slowly bakes under a [[warm yellow light->finale2]].

[<img src="http://coffeeshop.riazmoola.com/img/Label_end.png" class=center>]

Bruins East is a luxury clothing boutique and as such, has no one shopping inside it. In place of a crowd of shoppers, all of the clothes are hung from wires attached to the high ceiling, which makes the space feel like it's inhabited by puppets or trees. (display: "insolent display") |standalonelink>[ [[browse the racks->browse]]] {(if: (history:) contains "insolent")[There doesn't seem to be any more leads here. You might as well leave and head back to [[Chummy Lodge->parcel]] if you're done searching the racks.]}

You flip through the hangers and find a (either: "pair of Sketchers", "Prada backpack", "White Gucci 1955 horsebit small shoulder bag", "Chopova Loewna cork pleated asymmetric checked midi skirt", "pair of Balenciaga x Vibram pink sock boots", "Red Simone Rocha embroidered tulle evening dress", "pair of Maison Margiela grey tabi socks", "Craig Green coordinating jacket and trousers in a vibrating floral pattern", "pair of Black Prada boots with a chunky lug sole", "long navy Pleats Please coat",). |standalonelink>[[[browse the racks->browse]]] {(if: (history:) contains "insolent")[or if you're done with that you could head back to [[Chummy Lodge->parcel]].] (else:)[(display: "insolent display")]}

You open the door of Bruins East to step outside when a woman in a Biscuits Logistics uniform hands you a PDA and a stylus. "Sign here please." she says. [["I don't live here."->parcel2]] [["You've made a mistake."->parcel2]]

The BL driver doesn't seem to hear you as they place a parcel at your feet and take the PDA back. "Thank you." she says. [["This isn't for me."->parcel3]] [["I didn't even sign for it."->parcel3]]

Continuing to ignore you, the BL driver turns and sprints full speed back to their van which they dive into like a gymnast before indicating, checking both mirrors and seamlessly pulling out into traffic. In a moment they're gone. You look down at the parcel they've left you. It's addressed to: (font: "Courier New")[P PERSSON FLAT 2 CHUMMY LODGE UP THE BIG HILL NORTH LONDON THE POSH BIT] How convenient. You pick the parcel up and (link: "walk away")[(set: $destination to "chummy")(goto: "Bicycle")](set: $bread_status to "shaping")

An {(if: (history:) contains "insolent")[insolent youth is here, tapping rapidly on their phone screen.](else:)[(link: "insolent youth")[(go-to: "insolent")] is here, scrolling on their phone]}

The insolent youth is loitering in a corner of the store and thumbing through their phone. They're wearing a babydoll t-shirt which doesn't cover their navel and and says "(font: "sans-serif")+(colour: #FF00FF)[MORE TRAUMA PLEASE]" in a pink, sans serif font. You assume it'll be hard to get their attention but as soon as they hear you approach they visibly startle before turning to give you their full focus. "Wow, gosh, you scared me," they say. "I find this shop so gosh darned scary. All the clothes! Suspended, like they're hovering or flying. Scary. It's easy to get snuck up on. It's a tactical nightmare." [["Hi"->insolent2]] [["I wondered if you could help me"->insolent2]]

"Gosh, I actually, if I'm honest, I'm not really into clothes. My mum still picks my outfits for me. But she only does it because she hates my dad, because he thinks she should stop picking clothes for me, because he loves me and wants me to learn to live and express myself in the world, but I hate expressing myself through clothes, I prefer to do it with my music, so I love my mum for picking out all my clothes for me. Who picked out your clothes?" [["I did."->insolent3]] [["Sorry, I'm looking for a parcel that was delivered here by mistake, could you help me?"->insolent3]]

"I'm actually a hardcore gamer. I was a streamer for a bit but I was actually too good. I got picked up by Team GLOB-PRO and now I'm playing for them. I'm actually just doing reaction time training right now." They show you their phone, which is displaying a void populated by grid lines and strobing shapes. [["You mean you don't work here?"->insolent4]] [["I'm sorry, I thought you worked here. Do you know anyone if there is anyone who does?"->insolent4]]

"Work? Gosh darned right I work. I put in that work. I get it, you know? I grind, I'm on the grind and I get it. But no I'm not affiliated with Bruins, Bruins East any Bruins shareholders or the Bruins board of directors. I'm just an insolent teen hanging in and staying out of the heat, it's hot as heck out there." [["Right..."->bruins interior]]

{ (if: $buypickle is true)[The handsome boy at the checkout looks dewy in the heat. "It's so hot in here." he says, trying to make conversation with you as he rings up the pickle.(set: $buypickle to false)] (else:)[Highgate Wholefoods is filled with narrow aisles and high wooden shelving stacked with endless jars, bottles, pouches, and packages of ingredients and food stuff.]} { |standalonelink>[(if: not $gotyuzu)[[[browse the aisles->highgatebrowse]]] [[ride elsewhere->bike menu]]] }

You find (print: $highgateitems's 1st) { (set: $highgateitems to (rotated: 1, ...$highgateitems)) |standalonelink>[[[browse some more->highgatebrowse]] (if: $gotyuzu is true)[(link: "Buy the yuzu pickled cucumber")[(set: $buypickle to true)(goto: "highgatewholefoods")]] [[ride elsewhere->bike menu]]]}

The handsome boy at the checkout looks dewy in the heat. "It's so hot in here." he says, trying to make conversation with you as he rings up the pickle.(set: $boughtpickle to true) |standalonelink>[[[ride elsewhere->bike menu]]]

{ (set: $bread_status to "levain") (set: $time_of_day to "morning") (set: $gotyuzu to false) (set: $givenyuzu to false) (set: $fixedpuncture to false) (set: $destination to "chummy") (set: $puncturestage to 0) (set: $highgateitems to (a: "almond halwa", "yuzu pickled cucumber (set: $gotyuzu to true)", "vegan chocolate", "a bag of pistachios that costs twenty pounds", "compostable dental floss", "something called a 'laundry nut'", "high lycopene ketchup", )) }

[[<img src="http://coffeeshop.riazmoola.com/img/Label.png" class=center>->Chummy Lodge (exterior)]]

Ideas: Bread progresses from Levain -> Autolyse -> Bulk Fermentation -> Proof Literal transition fro fashion to logistics. Pern is trying to buy the matching trousers to her TB Suit but she can't get them there's soething wrong with the logistics they're marked as "delivered" but they are not Basic structureof known/unknowns is romos with ppl to talk to, but conversations only run once, multiple choice answers.

You are outside Chummy Lodge, a Streamline Moderne grade II listed block of flats. It is high summer, the gardens are in full bloom and the grass is dead. You can feel a layer of London grime adhering to the sweat on your skin. The lodge curves around you on two sides. Ahead of you is the front door to the building, to your left the window to one of the ground floor flats is slightly open. You can hear (either: "Sweet Harmony by Liquid", "Cages by Paula Temple", "Trouble Will Find Me by The National", "Concrete Angel by Hannah Diamond", "Dior by Pop Smoke", "Western Union by Bladee", "Crucible by Scalameriya", "Alienated by LaFontaine", "Bring by Randomer") playing through the open window. |standalonelink>[[[knock on the window->Chummy Lodge Intro]]]

Nothing seems to happen. You wonder if you should press the buzzer when you see your dear friend Pernilla appear behind the door glass. She is wiping her hands on a tea towel slung over her shoulder but her face lights up when she sees you waiting outside. "There you are!" she says, her voice muffled by the door glass. She opens the door and [[lets you in->Chummy Lodge (interior)]]

You are inside one of the ground floor flats of Chummy Lodge. The room has a high ceiling and a huge window through which you can see the gardens. The open window provides a welcome slight breeze. { (if: (history:) contains "parcel" and "pern-stage8")[Pernilla is still on her facetime call.] (else-if: (history:) contains "parcel")[(link: "Pernilla")[(go-to: "pern-stage6")] is here. She is facetiming a horse.] (else-if: (history:) contains "terminal location" and "pern-stage3")[Pernilla is messing with the speed of the stand mixer.] (else-if: (history:) contains "terminal location")[(link: "Pernilla")[(go-to: "pern-stage3")] is here. She is gradually pouring water into the bowl of a stand mixer.] (else-if: (history:) contains "pern-stage1")[Pernilla is gently stirring the risotto.] (else:)[(link: "Pernilla")[(go-to: "pern-stage1a")] is here. She is attending to a pot of risotto on the stove.] } (display: "bread description") { (if: (history:) contains "parcel")[The Thome Browne garment bag hangs open and empty.] (else-if: (history:) contains "tb_suit") [A Thom Browne blazer hangs on the outside of an overstuffed wardrobe. ](else:) [There's a white garment bag with a white red and blue trim hanging on the outside of Pernilla's wardrobe. There's (link: "something")[(go-to: "tb_suit")] inside it. ]} { (if: (history:) contains "pern-stage5a" and not ((history:) contains "risotto-eating"))[There's some of the [[risotto->risotto-eating]] Pernilla was making earlier in a bowl on the counter. ] (if: not $gotyuzu and (history:) contains "pern-stage1")[There's a note on Pernilla's fridge that says "BUY YUZU PICKLED CUCUMBER FROM HWF"] (if: $gotyuzu and not $givenyuzu)[You can give Pernilla the [[yuzu pickle->giveyuzu]]] (if: (history:) contains "pern-stage2" and not ((history:) contains "bike menu")) |standalonelink>[[[ride elsewhere->bike menu]]] (else-if: (history:) contains "pern-stage2") |standalonelink>[[[ride elsewhere->bike menu]]] }

The risotto is creamy, shot through with vibrant green peas and topped with mint. (if: (history:) contains "parcel")["It's good right?" says Pernilla, turning from her call for a second.](else:)["It's good right?" says Pernilla, over the sound of the stand mixer.] "I had to make a stock from the pea shells, it looked like a chroma key." |standalonelink>[(link: "Return")[(goto: (history:)'s last)]]

(set: $givenyuzu to true)You brandish the yuzu pickled cucumber as though you know all about it and would have bought it yourself. Pernilla seems shocked that you went out of your way to get it. "Wow, you didn't need to do that! I was going to pick some up tomorrow. Wow. We can have this with the bread tonight." |standalonelink>[(link: "Return")[(goto: (history:)'s last)]]

There's a grey blazer in here. It looks at first glance to be a part of a child's school uniform. The proportions seem shrunken, the sleeves are surely too short. But it's made in four different wool fabrics, in four different shades of gray and the woven wool itself seem to have a sheen and a drape that doesn't have anything in common with children's clothes. |standalonelink>[(link: "Return")[(goto: (history:)'s last)]]

You are inside one of the ground floor flats of Chummy Lodge. The room has a high ceiling and a huge window with the blinds pulled down. (display: "bread description") The Thom Browne garment bag hangs open and empty.

Pernilla rushed back to the stove as soon as she let you in and is standing there now with a wooden spoon. "Argh, sorry I can't look you in the eye whilst talking to you. I have to keep stirring this risotto for the next five minutes. Do you want anything? There's some soup in the fridge, maybe some bread in the freezer. I'm doing another loaf right now though. Hopefully it'll be proved when we get back from the party tonight. It feels like ages since I saw you last." [["Months, I think."->pern-stage1b]] [["Nearly a year."->pern-stage1b]] [["What are you talking about, I was here last weekend."->pern-stage1b]]

"Oh yeah. Of course. Duh. You lent me that Lorca collection. I've nearly finished it. You can have it back if you need it." [["You can keep it. What's the plan for today?"->pern-stage1]]

"I'm waiting for a parcel actually." Pernilla says. "The matching trousers for my Thom suit are meant to be arriving today. I thought you might be the delivery driver." "Have you checked the tracking number?" "Tracking... Number... " "Yeah, did they not email you a tracking number?" "E...mail... All my emails get forwarded to a cloud server which prints them onto postcards and sends them to me. I normally receive them after 2-3 business days. Can you check my mailbox? The key is hanging up by the [[door->pern-stage1c]]"

You walk to the lobby where you use Pernilla's key to open a brass mailbox. Inside is a stack of identical postcards which you bring inside. She starts sorting through the pile whilst continuing to stir the risotto with her other hand. "Hmm... Flour of the month subscription renewal... Friends Of The Pickle Factory newsletter... Ah hah Thom Browne Trouser Bunker dispatch notification." She pulls a [[postcard->biscuits postcard]] out of the stack.

(font: "Courier New")[DISPATCH NOTIFICATION FROM >>BISCUITS LOGISTICS<< PARCEL <6M994-994-GB> FROM `<TBTBUNKER>` CHANGED STATUS TO `<DELIVERED>` ON `<THISMORNING>`] |standalonelink>[[[Return->pern-stage2]]]

"Eugh, it says it's already been delivered? But I was in all morning, I didn't hear anything?" You're about to say something when Pernilla's phone begins to clatter. "Whops, that's the alarm for my risotto. Could you deal with this? I know this courier company, they're just down the road." She hands you the postcard. "You can take my bike!" [["Sure!"->Chummy Lodge (interior)]] [["Uhm."->Chummy Lodge (interior)]]

Pernilla heads back to the kitchen and looks in her fridge. "I thought I had some yuzu pickled cucumber in here." she says to herself. "I should go to Highgate Wholefoods." [["Uh."->Chummy Lodge (interior)]]

Pernilla doesn't look at you whilst you explain the situation with the parcel, she's fully absorbed in the situation with the stand mixer. "Bruins East?" she murmurs. "Why there? How bizarre. This dough seems wet. Is it the heat? Could you get down to Bruins and see if the parcel is there?" [["I don't know."->pern-stage4]] [["It could be."->pern-stage4]]

"Are you talking about going to Bruins East or about the wetness of the dough?" [["Uhhh..."->pern-stage5]] [["I mean..."->pern-stage5]]

"It's fine. I think I can save it." She turns a dial on the mixer and the dough hook begins rotating faster. "You go check if the parcel is at Bruins. If you're hungry you can have some of the risotto, I had some earlier, it's delicious." [["Sure, why not."->pern-stage5a]]

"Oh, is the front tyre on the bike OK? I think it has a slow puncture. It takes like two days to go down though. I called my dad about it. He said it would be fine so I think it'll be fine. I trust my father." [["I haven't noticed anything."->pern-stage5b]]

"Great. Don't worry about it. I pumped it up before you arrived and I'll cycle it to Bicycle Workshop tomorrow to get it fixed." [["Ok."->Chummy Lodge (interior)]](set: $time_of_day to "midday")

"Wow you are such a handsome boy aren't you?" Pernilla says to the horse on her phone screen. "He's eaten all his hay too," says the horse, before the phone angle moves and it becomes clear Pernilla is talking to her mother. "Hold on just a second," Pernilla replies."My friend is [[here->pern-stage6a]]."

She beeps the phone onto hold. "What's in the box, is it the trousers?" she asks as she takes the box from you and begins to open it. "Oh my god, it is, yesss, thank you." She pulls a pair of Thom Browne trousers made of three different grey wool fabrics from the tissue paper inside the box. "Amazing! Oh let me try them on." she disappears behind the door of her bedroom and continues talking to you from behind it. "This is great, this suit is exactly what I wanted to wear to squat rave house tonight." [["Aren't you worried something will happen to the suit?"->pern-stage7]]

"What? No, I'll get it dry cleaned, but nothing's going to happen. It's very chill there." Pernilla reappears from behind her room door wearing the suit and strikes a few poses. The suit looks like someone stitched together three or four different private school uniforms into a suit. Or like an alien landed in the wardrobe of a senior partner at a law firm, decided this is what life on this planet look like and tried to impersonate one. Pernilla's phone makes the still on hold sound and interrupts her posing. "OK, I have to get back to this call, then I'll finish shaping the bread, then I'll meet you at squat rave house." [["Squat...rave?"->pern-stage8]]

"I'll message you a pin with the location." she says and gets her phone out to resume the call. [["OK"->Chummy Lodge (interior)]](set: $time_of_day to "evening")

(display: "thread0-" + (text: $thread0_chapter))(set: $thread0_chapter to it + 1)

(display: "thread1-" + (text: $thread1_chapter))(set: $thread1_chapter to it + 1)

(display: "thread2-" + (text: $thread2_chapter))(set: $thread2_chapter to it + 1)

(display: "thread3-" + (text: $thread3_chapter))(set: $thread3_chapter to it + 1)

(display: "thread4-" + (text: $thread4_chapter))(set: $thread4_chapter to it + 1)

(display: "thread5-" + (text: $thread5_chapter))(set: $thread5_chapter to it + 1)

(display: "thread6-" + (text: $thread6_chapter))(set: $thread6_chapter to it + 1)

(display: "thread7-" + (text: $thread7_chapter))(set: $thread7_chapter to it + 1)

(display: "thread9-" + (text: $thread9_chapter))(set: $thread9_chapter to it + 1)

(display: "thread10-" + (text: $thread10_chapter))(set: $thread10_chapter to it + 1)

(display: "thread11-" + (text: $thread11_chapter))(set: $thread11_chapter to it + 1)

A manservant appears to valet park Pernilla's bike from you whilst another gives you a cool towelette to wipe your face with and ushers you through two sets of [[double doors->warehouse interior2]].

The reception room of Scotgrave House seems to be in the early hours of a large dinner party. There are thirty or so people milling around in large or small groups, most in formalwear but many in more casual clothing because of the host's inability to enforce a dress code. You decide to lurk on the sidelines until Pernilla arrives but before you can get a solid lurk going, a charismatic middle aged woman wearing a ballgown appears at your elbow, grasps your upper arm and begins steering you around the room and talking nonstop. "AAaahh Pernilla's plus one how brilliant I suppose the lady herself will be arriving shortly she sent word of your arrival by bicycle and since Gregory mentioned to me that he had taken guardianship of the aforementioned I knew that you must have arrived I am extremely pleased to meet you my name is <todo: think of a name> and of course I know who you are, it's essential I introduce you to some of my friends here, now would you say you're more of an uppers or a downers type?" (link: "Uppers, for sure.")[(set: $current_thread to 0)(goto: "convointro")] (link: "I normally go for downers.")[(set: $current_thread to 1)(goto: "convointro")]

"AAAAah yes I should have known just from the sight of you well, let me introduce you to my friends here." She starts walking in a straight line towards a group of people chatting on the far side of the room, then when she thinks your velocity is high enough, she lets go of your arm, gives you a firm push to continue in the proposed direction and curves away on a tangent, like a military jet releasing its payload and peeling away to rejoin [[formation->conversation]]. { (set: $thread0_chapter to 1) (set: $thread1_chapter to 1) (set: $thread2_chapter to 1) (set: $thread3_chapter to 1) (set: $thread4_chapter to 1) (set: $thread5_chapter to 1) (set: $thread6_chapter to 1) (set: $thread7_chapter to 1) (set: $thread8_chapter to 1) (set: $thread9_chapter to 1) (set: $thread10_chapter to 1) (set: $thread11_chapter to 1) (set: $threads to (a: 0,1,2,3,5,7)) (set: $entry to "appear") (set: $partytime to 1) (set: $flavourtext to (a:"", "", "A laugh from the other side of the room reverberates across the party. ", "", "", "A man and a woman walk past in matching suits with matching pocket squares. ", "", "", "The last of the evening light starts streaming through the high windows of the great hall. ", "", "The room feels humid with so many bodies in it. ", "", "Voices echo throughout the hall. ", "", "Caterers begin to remove some of the buffet food and replace it with small cakes and other desserts. ", "", "", "A man with curly hair and an undercut starts walking around the party with a tray filled with turkish style coffee. ", "", "A man with white gloves begins to walk around the party lighting candles. ", "", "Almost everyone at the party wearing a bowtie has loosened it and let it hang loose. ", "", "", "The party crowd has thinned out somewhat. ", "", "Nearby, a large group of people are hugging each other. ", "", "", "Through a window you can see a crowd waiting for taxis in front of the house. ", "", "", "", "", "(set: $current_thread 10)", "", "" )) }

{(print: $flavourtext's ($partytime)) (display: "thread_intro_" +(text: $current_thread) + "_" + (text: $entry)) (set: $threadEnded to 0) (set: $partytime to $partytime + 1) (if: $partytime is 12)[(set: $threads to $threads + (a:9, 4, 6)) (if: $threads contains "1")[set $threads to $threads - (a:1)]] (elseif: $partytime is 28)[ (set: $threads to $threads + (a:10)) (if: $threads contains "2")[set $threads to $threads - (a:2)] (if: $threads contains "3")[set $threads to $threads - (a:3)]] } (display: "thread" + (text: $current_thread)) |standalonelink>[{ (if: $threads's length > 1 and $current_thread is not 9 and $current_thread is not 10)[ (set: $random to $threads - (a: $current_thread)) (set: $choice to (either: ...$random)) (link: "Circulate around the party")[(set: $entry to "appear")(set: $current_thread to $choice)(set: $noRemains to 0)(goto: "conversation")] ] (else-if: $current_thread is not 9 and $current_thread is not 10)[(set: $noThreads to 1)] } { (if: $threadEnded is 0 and $current_thread is not 9 and $current_thread is not 10)[ (link: "Continue listening")[(set: $entry to "remain")(goto: "conversation")]] (else-if: $current_thread is not 9 and $current_thread is not 10)[(set: $noRemains to 1)] (if: $noRemains is 1 and $noThreads is 1 and not ($current_thread is 10))[ (link: "Circulate around the party")[(set: $entry to "appear")(set: $current_thread to 10)(goto: "conversation")] ] }]

(set: $threads to $threads - (a: $current_thread))(set: $threadEnded to 1)

(either: "You think you see someone you know in a group and walk over to them", "You think you hear someone calling your name and find yourself talking to someone who introduces you to the rest of their friends.")

{(if: $thread0 is 0)[You find yourself entering the orbit of a crowd of a bunch of depressed looking people dressed in glittering outfits. The crowd seems so low energy you wonder if they're still alive.(set: $thread0 to 1)] (else:)[You find yourself near to the people in crystalline outfits, one of them invites you to come join them again.]}

You continue listening to the bejewelled people.

"We're not depressed." says one of the glittering people, this one wearing two tiaras. "We just stuck so many jewels and sequins to our outfits that we can't move much." "We do look great though." says a man who is wearing a domino mask covered in sequins. "Yeah but we're worried the jewels will fall off."

"Our jewels are so beautiful." "I can't believe people like real jewels, what snobs." One of the men is wearing many rings with huge coloured stones, he holds his hand in front of his eyes and stares at the light refracting through them. Coloured patterns dance across his face. "Why would I buy one real diamond, when I could buy so many crystals?" he says.

"Crystals are so powerful." says someone with a narrow mirrored scarf on top of their tuxedo. "Do you think it's ethical to steal crystals? They're so easy to steal, I feel like you're almost expected to, but I wonder if it damages their vibrations." You mentally run down your outfit, wondering if you're wearing anything whatsoever that sparkles. "You think STEALING damages vibrations more than partaking in CAPITALISM? Theft has better vibes than capitalism without a doubt."

A woman wearing huge earrings that look like shimmering waterfalls shakes her head. "Why do you guys have to try and make everything about something. Why can't crystals just be beautiful. I don't care about how something came into existence, I care about its lustre." "So you don't care about seeing the BLOOD of the WORKING CLASS staining the light your gems refracts?" The woman with the huge earrings shakes her head. "When I'm looking at a really good crystal. No, I don't."{(display: "endthread")}

{(if: $thread1 is 0)[You find yourself entering the orbit of a crowd of buff looking men in black t-shirts.(set: $thread1 to 1)] (else:)[Somehow you end up in the group of tech bros in black tshirts again.]}

You continue listening to the black t-shirt wearing men

"The last company he founded, he said they were going to 'bring an agile approach to supermarket logistics', and then when that failed, he started another company which he said would 'develop agile systems for just in time perishable delivery'" The other black t-shirt wearing men all nod in unison.

"I think his ideas are sound." one of them with a higher pitched voice pipes up. "But I don't know how he convinces people to give him so much funding. Sixty million dollars to bootstrap a web app?"

"Well his girlfriend doesn't go out with him for his emotional support or pleasant demeanour. Sixty million dollars probably goes some way to reminding her why she puts up with him."{(display: "endthread")}

{(if: $thread2 is 0)[You see a group of men all surrounding something intently and try to penetrate their ranks to work out what they're all looking at. In the center of the circle is a woman wearing a yellow ball gown.(set: $thread2 to 1)] (else:)[You circulate through the party until you find yourself next to the woman in a yellow ball gown surrounded by thirsty looking guys again.]}

You continue listening to the woman in the yellow ball gown

The woman in the group seems to be the only person talking. Whenever she stops, the men in the circle stand rapt waiting for her next word. After which they all nod and agree vigorously. "I tend to prefer the extraction I get with a steeper filter angle. It promotes a faster draw down, which I think leads to a cleaner cup."

"Of course the other thing that's essential is heat retention, a lot of people are still worried about burning their beans, but actually a lot of the burning flavour you can get is due to underextracting, sweeter notes tend to extract later." One of the listening men tries to verbalise his agreement by saying "I had heard that actually." but the woman in the yellow ball gown immediately starts talking over him.

"I like to use bagged, tabless filters. There's a couple of third party choices that are available, but none of them really work as well." "Do you have to import them from Japan?" "Yes, actually I do, how did you know?"{(display: "endthread")}

{(if: $thread3 is 0)[You go to get yourself a drink and find yourself the third party in a coversation between a guy in a Slipknot t-shirt and a guy in a barbour jacket.(set: $thread3 to 1)] (else:)[You turn to start circulating into a different conversation but find yourself walking straight back into the frenzied conversation about nu-metal.]}

You continue listening to the nu-metal conversation.

"Right," says Barbour jacket. "L.D.50 had a huge amount of potential, the basslines-" "Exactly, Ryan Martine's influence on that album can't be overstated." Slipknot t-shirt guy interjects enthusiastically.

"I think that the rhythm section of these bands did incredible work, Kenneth Lacey, Steve Benton, I hear the influence of these bands in modern pop music all the time." "You know what, I saw a video essay that proposed exactly that, the guy stripped back a bunch of tracks just to isolate the rhythm section and they were so unique, so energising. It was truly incredible." says the guy in the Slipknot shirt. "I really fell into a youtube video essay hole a couple months ago." says the guy in the Slipknot shirt. He takes a sip from his drink even though he just took one. "I was just watching a lot of youtube videos. It's not really a party topic. " The guy in the Barbour jacket nods at him and puts a hand on his upper arm. "We can talk about it another time."{(display: "endthread")}

{(if: $thread4 is 0)[(set: $thread4 to 1)Someone confuses you with someone else and steers you towards a conversation in an alcove. Judging by the state of their evening dress the people in the alcove have been at the party for a long time. A person in a tux with her bowtie undone is speaking. A few members of the group acknowledge you with silent nods.] (else:)[(either: "You overhear voices from the alcove you were in before and decide to see what they're talking about.", "Someone from the alcove conversation you were in previously nods you to come over again.")]}

You remain in the alcove, listening to the conversation.

"There's no limit to love. There's a limit to the energy a person has in a lifetime though. There's only so many times we can generate the energy needed to love." the person in the evening dress is saying. "Yes, that's a nice way of pretending to disagree with me whilst agreeing. It doesn't matter what the limit is. There's always a limit." says another member of the group, looking at their drink.

"Yes but my point is that it's this energy that runs down, not love." says someone with very round glasses. They don't sound hopeful as they say it. "Well so what, really. I'm tired of loving." "But that's fine. I always thought that it was fine to feel like that and to act on it, to withdraw, to spend time in your own head. It sounds weird but I don't think it is."

"I don't think it's weird. I think it's totally normal. If I may construct a strawman, I think that people want to think that people think it sounds weird, but it's really not." "You may NOT." "I may not what?" "You may NOT construct a strawman so help me GOD." "It was a mistake to come to this fucking party."{(display: "endthread")}

{(if: $thread5 is 1)[You don't actually need the bathroom but once again find yourself listening to the conversation the people who are still in the queue are having.] (else:)[(set: $thread5 to 1)In the line for the bathroom you find yourself eavesdropping on a conversation by two people ahead of you.]}

You continue listening to the conversation of the people in front of you.

"I think he's very nice, but I hate him anyway." "Oh god hahaha, oh god don't say that." "I'm sorry but this is what I've learned in therapy. It's O K for me to hate someone for no reason." "He's very nice to me. He's always been very kind."

"I'm glad he has been kind to you. He was never kind to me." "He's kind to a lot of people!" "Well he should try being kind to me next time!"

"I don't know how many more times I can go to my job and turn on my computer." "Why don't you change jobs." "Do you think I'll stop complaining when I change jobs? You're so naive. I'm just reaching a limit to the amount of times I'm ok with turning a computer on."

"I'm fine with my job, but I do agree with you. There's only so many times I can log onto a computer before my soul cracks. It won't shatter, it'll crack." "I'm reaching the limit, and changing jobs won't help. It's not going to rejuvenate the number." "Why is the login screen always a photograph from somewhere beautiful?"

"Yes, exactly, what psycho decided that every office worker, when they come in, should see a photograph from somewhere they'd like to see, but never will?" "I'm always first in and all I see is a sea of monitors with photographs from the rainforest or the grand canyon."{(display: "endthread")}

{ (if: $hazel is 1)[You find the person with the piercing hazel eyes who you were talking to before.] (else-if: $thread6 is 1)[(either:"You find yourself back in the outlandishly attired group you were previously speaking to.", "You find yourself back in the crowd with the barefoot person.")] (else:)[You compliment someone's shoes and they drag you over to speak to their other friends who are among the most outlandishly dressed people in the space. Most of them look like they're in tasteful fancy dress, but a few look like their outfits were designed by children. One of the people talking is not wearing shoes or socks.(set: $thread6 to 1)]}

{(if: $hazel is 1)[You continue listening to the person with piercing hazel eyes.] (else:)[You continue listening to the people describing items of clothing.]}

"OK, so it's a knee length dress, in dark blue. It's sort of an apron design? But the fabric is a kind of thick crepe. Not in a whispy, insubstantial way. It's very substantial." "No I think it's black, stretchy, with red polka dots and a lace trim. Floor length without a back."

"OK, what if it's a pair of trousers, a jeans cut, in red, with an allover damasque print, but from the hem to the shin its one colour, then another colour in the middle, then the top block is yet another colour." says someone with bleached blonde hair that sticks out luminously above their high collared black jacket. "That could work but what about a pair of denim trousers, with a zip off pleated skirt." replies another person in the group who is standing next to you.

"No, it should be a blouse, made of a two layer stretchy jersey, bottom layer a tropical beach scene, the top layer an iridescent gauze, fastened with a lace down the center, with orange edging on the neckline and the shoulders." "Yes, absolutely, and a coat, duffle styled, with a full hood, but made of black velvet."

Everyone seems to agree with what was just said extremely heartily. The person next to you in the group jostles your arm and you nearly spill your drink. "Oh dear I'm sorry," they turn away from the conversation. They have close cropped hair and piercing hazel eyes. "I don't know what they're talking about either, but it's sort of fascinating, the way they recall all these clothes, with this level of detail." "Yeah..." you say, feeling sort of transfixed(set: $hazel to 1)

"Do you think you could recall things about clothes like this? I had a girlfriend once who could never remember any date except her own birthday. But when it came to Ford Capris, the cars, she knew everything. Every detail of every model released." You try to think about something to do with cars, but you've forgotten almost everything except that you hate them. "I don't like cars." you say. They nod absently, but look like they're thinking deeply about something that may or may not include you.

"People sometimes become moved by objects in a way that is extremely profound. I think it's no coincidence or, or-" They stop talking and close their eyes whilst they think about what they're trying to say. "It's not something shallow, to find this profundity in the world of objects, of anything non human, non animate, even things that aren't singular or discrete objects, things that exist as continuums or networks, to be able to connect to things like this doesn't have to be considered on an unequal footing with human relationships." "Why isn't that guy wearing shoes?" you ask. "I don't know." says the person with the piercing hazel eyes. "It's disgusting."{(display: "endthread")}

{(if: $thread7 is 0)[Exploring Scotsgrave house you find yourself out on the terrace. There's no one else here except a group of smokers talking in low voices. You introduce yourself to avoid awkwardness.(set: $thread7 to 1)] (else:)[You walk out onto the terrace and find yourself in a group with the smokers again. The sun is beginning to set, casting long, crazy shadows on the patio.]}

You continue listening to the people on the terrace.

"Personally I can't stand cats." says a man with a Spanish accent. "They think they're so much better than me? So be it, leave me alone." "Agreed, I don't mind being inferior, but if that's what you think of me, then leave me to my squalor." replies someone who is backlit by a floodlight and appears to you as a shadowy figure with a rollup. "The inferior need to stick together." murmurs a third person wearing a beanie with their ballgown. You wonder why someone would need a beanie when it's still so hot outside. "I would like a pet bird. Birds are incredibly stupid you know. They're basically dinosaurs." "It's true, but with beautiful plummage."

"The dinosaurs probably had beautiful plummage too." "So be it! But I'm too stupid to know that." The person who was wearing a beanie takes it off, puts it into a small handbag, which it fills entirely, and returns to the party. "Do you not feel sad when you see a bird in a cage? I think if I had a bird I would end up letting it go." says the man with the Spanish accent. "What if it died?" "I'm not god or its mother. I didn't put it on this shit earth."

"You are a vegan though." says the person with the rollup, gesturing with their cigarette hand. "I wouldn't eat the bird." "He would. When he gets hungry his features take on a certain cast. A murderous one."{(display: "endthread")}

You disengage from the group you were talking to and go to take a little walk. You find yourself looking out the window onto the grounds of Scotgrave house, thinking about the day. It feels like it was years ago you arrived at Chummy Lodge. Someone touches your arm from behind and you spin around in your thin soled evening shoes. It's Pernilla!

"I'm sorry, I was trying not to scare you!" she says. [["I was just thinking about what a long day its been."->thread9-2]]

"I'm glad it's cooled down a bit so I can finally wear this Thom Browne Suit." Pernilla says, doing some vogueing to show off the suit. "Thom knows what's up but 120 wool is not it in high summer. Thank you, again, for helping me find the trousers. They were driving me IN-sane." Pernilla is about to say something else when her phone goes off, she checks the screen. "Ah, I have to go, I'm meeting someone in the rose garden. Go circulate, I'll catch up with you later." {{(display: "endthread")}} { (set: $random to $threads - (a: $current_thread)) (if: $random contains 10)[(set: $random to $random - (a: 10))(set: $random to $random + (a:11))] (set: $choice to (either: ...$random)) |standalonelink>[(link: "Circulate around the party")[(set: $entry to "appear")(set: $current_thread to $choice)(set: $noRemains to 0)(goto: "conversation")]]}

Three intellectual looking characters are finishing a conversation about a movie

"I thought it was a very gay movie. It had a gay subtext and a gay... The opposite of a subtext." "That's just a text, isn't it?" "No something else... A supertext." "Right, a gay supertext."{(display: "endthread")}

You run into Pernilla again just as she is making plans to meet up with someone.

"Yes, I'll take you for brunch. There's a middle eastern place we should go, it's great. We'll do it when you're back, I have it in my calendar." She notices you and smiles. "Ah, there you are, I've called us a taxi, it's on me don't worry. Lets go out to the steps and wait for it." You both walk with the flow of people leaving Scotgrave house. Some getting into taxis, others allowing their valeted bicycles to be brought out front. [["What about your bike?" you say "I rode it here."->thread10-2]]

"Oh yeah the bike. Well-" She is interrupted by her phone going off with about seven text message chimes one after another. She checks her phone and pulls a face. [["What's up?"->thread10-3]]

"Wow I just got about seven messages from my friend Finn. He's at Fold and needs me straight away. The new resident is stuck in a shipping container and they don't know where it is. Hmm. OK actually this works perfectly." "It does?" "Yes, I need to attend to this, you want to go home, one of us can take the taxi, the other one can ride the bike. I don't mind, it's totally up to you." (link: "I'll ride the bike")[(set: $transport to "bike")(goto: "thread10-4")] (link: "I'll take the taxi")[(set: $transport to "taxi")(goto: "thread10-4")]

"Oh perfect. Yes that sounds great. I actually kind couldn't face a (print: $transport) ride right now." Someone leaving the party comes up behind Pernilla and drawls out to her. "Are you DUTCH?" "No," Pernilla replies. "I do like Holland though." "IS that why you have a DUTCH FLAG on your jacket?" "Oh that. No that's like, the designer's logo." "I LIKE it. It's cute! It LOOKS great!" "Thank you! I like it too." Pernilla responds, graciously. { (if: $transport is "bike")[ A dark coloured sedan pulls up to the steps of Scotsgrave House and gestures to Pernilla. "Here's my ride," she says. "I'll see you back at the flat, I shouldn't be long." ] (else:)[ One of the Scotsgrave manservants rolls Pernilla's bike up to the steps of Scotsgrave House. (if: $fixedpuncture)["Madam's bicycle."] (else:)["We fixed a slow puncture on madam's bicycle"] ] } "Oh, one thing, if you get back to the flat before me could you turn the oven on to get it pre heated for the bread?" { (link: "\"Sure\"")[ (if: $transport is "bike")[ (set: $destination to "chummynight")(goto: "Bicycle")] (else:)[ (goto: "taxihome")] ] (set: $bread_status to "proofed") }

You wave goodbye to Pernilla and get in the taxi. The Scotsgrave manservant shuts the door for you as you buckle your seatbelt and the taxi accelerates smoothly into the night. Everything around you feels calm and nonthreatening. Even the traffic as you reenter North London feels civilised. you feel as though you're at an aquarium, looking through glass into water. The uncollimated light of the streetlights casts a multitude of shadows. The taxi driver finds Chummy Lodge without needing any directions from you. The gardens sit supremely still in the night heat. |standalonelink>[[[arrive->chummynight]]]