You: Kel, age 19. Location: Your house. Fellow residents: two moms, two younger sisters. Goal: Help make dinner for your older sibling's family who are coming to visit! [[Begin|1]]You've just gotten home from work and joined your family in the kitchen. Before you've even asked how you can help... Sarrin (mom): "Oh, Kel, stir this for me?" [[Stir]] [["Sure, let me just take my shoes off first..."|shoes]](if: not (visited: "shoes"))[$deny1]She abandons the stove, and you step up. The broth smells good, and you slurp a sip from the spoon. Hmm. Could use a little more salt... [[Add salt|salt]] [["Okay if I add some salt?"|ask]] [[Leave it|no salt]]$scold1 $patience1 Sarrin: "Now, please!" (display: "Stir")Behind you, the sound of shattering ceramic. A piece slides to a stop near your foot. Trayna(unless: (visited: "no salt"))[ (youngest sister)]: "Shit!" Sarrin: "Language!" [[Help clean up|help]] [[Keep stirring|stir2]]$scold1 $patience1 You kneel to grab the nearest shards. Sarrin: "Kel, it's going to burn!" You quickly hand the pieces to Trayna and return to the pot. [[Finally...|beni]]$grumpy2 $deny1 $patience1 Trayna: "Ow!" Sarrin: "Of course it's sharp after you just smashed it!" Trayna: "It wasn't on purpose!" [[Finally...|beni]]{ <!--$grumpy2 $deny1 Trayna: "Ow!" Sarrin: "Of course it's sharp after you just smashed it!" Trayna: "It wasn't on purpose!" [[Finally...|beni]]-->}Vari steps up to the stove. "Here, I can take over." Beni (other sister): "Kel, I can't get this cork out, can you...?" [[Shoes first|shoes2]] [["Sure!"|cork1]]{(set: $scold to 0) (set: $scold1 to "(set: $scold to it + 1)") (set: $scold2 to "(set: $scold to it + 2)") (set: $grumpy to 0) (set: $grumpy1 to "(set: $grumpy to it + 1)") (set: $grumpy2 to "(set: $grumpy to it + 2)") (set: $deny to 0) (set: $deny1 to "(set: $deny to it + 1)") (set: $patience to 4) (set: $patience1 to "(set: $patience to it - 1)") (set: $stir to "[[Keep stirring|trayna]]") }$deny1 You (display: "cork2")$scold1 You grab the salt shaker, but... Vari (other mom, just coming in from the backyard): "Oh, no, that's being served with the spiced rice, it doesn't need any more salt!" $stir$deny1 Vari (other mom) comes in from the backyard and places a quick kiss on your temple. Trayna (youngest sister) bickers with Sarrin about counter space. $stir$grumpy1 $scold1 $patience1 "One sec," you tell Beni, and bend for your laces. Sarrin: "Kel, help your sister?" You straighten up again and (display: "cork2")Vari: "Almost ready! Let's get the table set. Kel?" Sarrin: "Oh, look at the floor... Kel, you got dirt all over!" (if: $scold >2)[$patience1 You: ... ... ... [[Leave]] ](else-if: $grumpy >1)[(if: $patience > 2)[(set: $patience to 2)](if: (visited: "ask"))[Vari: "What happened to the soup? It's way too salty!" ]Trayna: "Ugh, this is a disaster!" You: *discouraged sigh* <div class="center">ENDING: Everyone's grumpy (link: "Try again?")[(restart:)]</div> ](else:)[You: "Oh, sorry! Let me sweep it up, it will only take a second." When your older sib arrives, the floor is clean again and everyone's in a good mood. (if: $deny >2)[$patience1 ...Except you. You're not even sure why, but you have a lingering sense of irritation... <div class="center">ENDING: Self-denial (link: "Try again?")[(restart:)]</div>](else:)[And you have finally taken your shoes off. <div class="center">ENDING: Keep the peace (link: "Play again?")[(restart:)]</div>]]$grumpy2 Sarrin (distracted, chopping greens): "Sure, go ahead." Salt: added! $stirBeni finds you in your room (shoes tossed in a corner). You vent a little, and then Sar shows up, ruffling your hair, followed by Trayna and Vari. You: "What about the food?" Vari: "It's all ready, just waiting for our guests to arrive!" You: "Sorry I got mad..." Sarrin: "*I'm* sorry we didn't give you a moment before putting you to work." You (smiling): "Next time, at least let me take off my shoes?" <div class="center">ENDING: Catharsis (link: "Play again?")[(restart:)]</div>manage to pop the cork free. "Thanks." Beni smiles before she turns away to pour the water. [[Continue|dirt]]{(replace: ?Sidebar)[ (unless: (passage:)'s tags contains "time")[ Patience: $patience (replace:"0")[] (replace:"1")[⌛] (replace:"2")[⌛⌛] (replace:"3")[⌛⌛⌛] (replace:"4")[⌛⌛⌛⌛] (replace:"5")[⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛] ](else:)[]]}<br> <br> <div class="center"> <div class="title">[''Kel Versus the Kitchen'']</div> a <a href="https://alyshkalia.itch.io/structural-integrity" target="_blank">//Structural Integrity//</a> game <br> [[Play|start]] [[Credits]] </div>Written by Tabitha. Many thanks to playtesters Adam and Oliver! [[Back|title]]