! Act II: "Suspended In the Air so that All of Your Weight Is Concentrated on a Single Point Halfway Down Your Spine"
<p><span class="menuheader">How to play:</span><br/>Read each page and select links to make choices and/or advance the story.</p><p>Characters are color-coded, and will retain their colors throughout all acts.</p><p>Italicized links, like the ones below, will take you to different passages and advance the story. Once you've made a choice, you cannot go back: you must bear out its consequences.</p><p><span class="menuheader">Our cast for this act is:</span><br/><span class="red">A handsome and charming, if quick-tempered and immature, man.</span><br/><span class="green">A quick-thinking and witty, if selfish and manipulative, woman.</span><br/><span class="purple">A kind and gentle, if naive and sheltered, woman.</span></p>\
----
<div class="centered"><<id "credits-popup">><<link "Credits">><</link>><</id>> ● <<id "content-popup">><<link "Content Warnings">><</link>><</id>> ● <<link "Begin" "Hub">><<set $woundSize to 1>><<set $hooked to true>><<set $lookable to false>><<set $talkable to false>><<set $timesLooked to 0>><<set $timesSwung to 0>><<set $timesTalked to 0>><<set $actionsTaken to 0>><<set $currentAction to null>><<set $momentum to 0>><<set $doorHighlighted to false>><<set $firstCall to false>><<set $lightSeen to false>><<set $pilesMentioned to false>><<set $swingingAppropriate to false>><<set $woundHighlighted to false>><<set $doorHeld to false>><</link>></div>\
<div class="centered"><<class "actone">>[[I|https://overthinking.itch.io/rgb-act-one]]<</class>> ● <span class="acttwo">II</span> ● <<class "actthree">>[[III|https://overthinking.itch.io/rgb-act-three]]<</class>></div>\
<<clickdialog "#credits-popup" "Credits">>\
Conceptualized, written, and programmed by Charm Cochran.
Created for the Neo-Twiny Jam 2024 and the Love/Violence Jam.
Special thanks to Julia Byrne, Nathan Ray, and Tommy Sullivan-Lovett for beta testing.
MACROS
Attribute macros by //[[Hituro|https://github.com/hituro/hituro-makes-macros/tree/main/attr-macro]]//
Live update macros by //[[Cyrus Firheir|https://github.com/cyrusfirheir/cycy-wrote-custom-macros/tree/master/live-update]]//
Popup macros by //[[Mike Westhad|https://github.com/mikewesthad/twine-resources/tree/master/macros/clickdialog]]//
<</clickdialog>>\
<<clickdialog "#content-popup" "Content Warnings">>\
Violence, murder, and gore
<</clickdialog>>\
[[->Hub]]\<span class="black" id="hidden1">Blood </span><<class "drip gray">><<linkreplace "drip..." t8n>><<toggleclass "#hidden1" "black appear">><<toggleclass "#hidden2" "black appear">><<set $lookable to true>><<update>>drips <</linkreplace>><</class>><span class="black" id="hidden2">from your fingertips onto the floor.</span><<set $woundSize to 1>>
<<set $hooked to true>>
<<set $lookable to false>>
<<set $talkable to false>>
<<set $timesLooked to 0>>
<<set $timesSwung to 0>>
<<set $timesTalked to 0>>
<<set $actionsTaken to 0>>
<<set $currentAction to null>>
<<set $momentum to 0>>
<<set $doorHighlighted to false>>
<<set $firstCall to false>>
<<set $lightSeen to false>>
<<set $pilesMentioned to false>>
<<set $swingingAppropriate to false>>
<<set $woundHighlighted to false>>
<<set $doorHeld to false>>
<<set $hearMe to "Can anybody hear me?">>
<<set $noResponse to "No response.">>
<<set $theyDont to "They don't">><div class="centered outputwrapper"><span id="output"><<include "Drip">></span><<liveblock>><<if $swingingAppropriate is true>>
<<timed 600ms t8n>><<include "Swinging">><</timed>><</if>><<if $actionsTaken gte 7>><<include "Narrative">><</if>><</liveblock>></div>
<<nobr>><<liveblock>>
<div class="inputwrapper">
<<if $hooked is true>>
<table class="choices">
<tr>
<td id="choiceLook">
<<if $lookable is true>>
<span id="firstlook"><<timed 500ms t8n>><<include "LookAround">><</timed>></span>
<</if>>
</td>
<td id="choiceTalk" class="unbordered">
<<if $talkable is true>>
<<timed 500ms t8n>>
<<addclass "#choiceTalk" "leftborder">>
<<removeclass "#choiceTalk" "unbordered">>
<<include "CallOut">>
<</timed>>
<</if>>
</td>
<td id="choiceSwing" class="unbordered">
<<if $actionsTaken gte 4>>
<<timed 500ms t8n>>
<<addclass "#choiceSwing" "leftborder">>
<<removeclass "#choiceSwing" "unbordered">>
<<include "Swing">>
<</timed>>
<</if>>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br />
<table class="secondrow">
<tr>
<td>
<<if $doorHeld is false and $momentum gte 8>>
<<timed 700ms t8n>>
<<link "Grab Door">>
<<set $doorHeld to true>><<set $actionsTaken += 1>>
<<set $swingingAppropriate to false>>
<<replace "#output">>
When you swing near enough, you reach out and grasp the door handle.
<</replace>>
<<update>>
<</link>>
<</timed>>
<<elseif $doorHeld is true>>
<<timed 700ms t8n>>
<<include "PullDoor">>
<</timed>>
<</if>>
</td>
<td id="choiceRelease" class="unbordered">
<<if $doorHeld is true>>
<<timed 700ms t8n>>
<<removeclass "#choiceRelease" "unbordered">>
<<addclass "#choiceRelease" "leftborder">>
<<link "Release Door">>
<<set $doorHeld to false>><<set $actionsTaken += 1>>
<<set $swingingAppropriate to true>>
<<replace "#output">>
You let go and begin swinging once more.
<</replace>>
<<update>>
<</link>>
<</timed>>
<</if>>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<<else>>
<<include "FloorChoices">>
<</if>>
</div>
<</liveblock>><</nobr>>\
[[->Finale]]\<<if $actionsTaken lt 23>>
<<link "Look around">>
<<if $woundHighlighted is false>><<set $timesLooked += 1>><</if>>
<<set $actionsTaken += 1>>
<<set $currentAction to "looking">>
<<replace "#output">><span class="appear">
<<if $woundHighlighted is true>>
<<set $woundHighlighted to false>>
The oversized hook pierces through you, into your back and out of your belly. It’s attached to a chain running from the ceiling.
<<elseif $timesLooked eq 1>>
An unfamiliar dark room. Light creeps underneath a shut door.
<<elseif $timesLooked eq 2>>
A black pool of blood congeals on the stone floor below.
<<elseif $timesLooked gte 3 and $actionsTaken gte 4 and $doorHighlighted is false>>
<<set $doorHighlighted to true>>
<<if $timesLooked is 4>>An idea occurs to you: maybe<<else>>Maybe<</if>> if you swing to the door, you can get it open.
<<else>>
<<if $pilesMentioned is false>><<set $pilesMentioned to true>>Vague piles line the walls, but you can’t identify anything in the gloom. <</if>>You can’t make much more out right now.
<</if>>
</span><</replace>>
<<set $talkable to true>>
<<if $momentum gt 0 and $doorHeld is false>><<set $momentum -= 1>><</if>>
<<update>>
<</link>>
<<else>>
<<link "Look around" "Finale">><</link>>
<</if>><<if $actionsTaken lt 23>>
<<link "Call out">>
<<set $timesTalked += 1>><<set $actionsTaken += 1>>
<<set $currentAction to "talking">>
<<replace "#output">><span class="appear">
<<if $timesTalked eq 1>>
<span class="red">"Hello?"</span><br/><br/>$noResponse
<<elseif $timesTalked eq 2 and $actionsTaken lt 10>>
<span class="red">"$hearMe"</span><br/><br/>$noResponse
<<elseif $timesTalked eq 3 and $actionsTaken lt 10>>
<span class="red">"Darling, are you there?"</span><br/><br/>$noResponse Perhaps you can't be heard through the door.
<<elseif $actionsTaken gte 11 and $firstCall is false>>
<<set $firstCall to true>>
<span class="red">"My love, is that you?"</span><br/><br/>They don’t seem to hear you.
<<else>>
No answer is forthcoming. Better save your breath.
<</if>>
</span><</replace>>
<<if $momentum gt 0 and $doorHeld is false>><<set $momentum -= 1>><</if>>
<<update>>
<</link>>
<<else>>
<<link "Call out" "Finale">><</link>>
<</if>><<if $actionsTaken lt 23>>
<<link "Swing">>
<<set $actionsTaken += 1>>
<<if $doorHeld is false>>
<<set $timesSwung += 1>>
<<set $currentAction to "swinging">>
<<switch $momentum>>
<<case 0>>
<<set $momentum to 1>>
<<case 10>>
<<set $momentum to 10>>
<<default>>
<<set $momentum *= 2>>
<</switch>>
<<if $momentum gt 10>><<set $momentum to 10>><</if>>
<</if>>
<<if $momentum gt 0 and $doorHeld is false>><<set $swingingAppropriate to true>><</if>>
<<replace "#output">><span class="appear">
<<if $doorHeld is true>>
You can’t swing while grasping the door.
<<elseif $momentum is 1>>
You move your arms, building momentum.
<<elseif $momentum lte 4>>
You work your limbs, gathering more motion.
<<elseif $momentum gte 8>>
If you swing any farther, you’ll smash against the wall.
<<else>>
You work to build on your momentum.
<</if>>
<<if $timesSwung eq 1>>
<<set $woundHighlighted to true>> Your sternum wound screams.
<</if>>
</span><</replace>>
<<update>>
<</link>>
<<else>>
<<link "Swing" "Finale">><</link>>
<</if>><<switch $momentum>>
<<case 0>>
<<set $swingingAppropriate to false>>
Your swinging slows to a stop.
<<case 1>>
You swing slightly from side to side.
<<case 2 3 4>>
You swing back and forth.
<<case 5 6 7>>
You have a good swing going.
<<case 8 9 10>>
You swing wildly over the length of the room.
<</switch>><<if $actionsTaken is 7>><br /><br />
<<timed 700ms t8n>>
You hear womens’ voices from above, too faint to be intelligible.
<</timed>>
<<elseif $actionsTaken is 9>><br /><br />
<<timed 700ms t8n>>
The voices draw closer. You make out your wife and her mother.
<<next 100ms>><br />
<span class="purple">"... find him anywhere!"</span>
<<next>><br />
<span class="green">"... know him … around some … the garden?"</span>
<</timed>>
<<elseif $actionsTaken is 10>><br /><br />
<<timed 700ms t8n>>
The voices recede.
<</timed>>
<<elseif $actionsTaken is 12>><br /><br />
<<timed 700ms t8n>>
You hear feet cross the floor above, then climb some stairs.
<</timed>>
<<elseif $actionsTaken is 15>><br /><br />
<<timed 700ms t8n>>
You hear your wife rush inside.
<<next 100ms>><br />
<span class="purple">"... not there!"</span>
<<next>><br />
<span class="green">"... found something!"</span> her mother’s voice calls. <span class="green">"Come quickly!"</span>
<</timed>>
<<elseif $actionsTaken is 16>><br /><br />
<<timed 700ms t8n>>
You hear feet climb the stairs.
<</timed>>
<<elseif $actionsTaken is 19>><br /><br />
<<timed 700ms t8n>>
You hear them descend the stairs together. Your wife is weeping.
<<next 100ms>><br />
<span class="purple">“... always happen? All his things, gone!”</span>
<<next>><br />
<span class="green">“I know, dear, I know. Men are horrors, every one.”</span>
<</timed>>
<<elseif $actionsTaken is 20>><br /><br />
<<timed 700ms t8n>>
The voices recede.
<</timed>>
<<elseif $actionsTaken is 23>><br /><br />
<<timed 700ms t8n>>
You hear footsteps approaching.
<</timed>>
<</if>><<if $actionsTaken lt 23>>
<<link "Pull Door">>
<<set $woundSize += 1>><<set $actionsTaken += 1>>
<<set $currentAction to "pulling">>
<<replace "#output">>
<<switch $woundSize>>
<<case 2>>
It’s locked. The handle won’t turn. Instead, your efforts tear the hole in your sternum slightly wider. You groan in pain.
<<case 3>>
You pull again. Your wound tears ever wider.
<<case 4>>
<<set $hooked to false>>
With one final pull and an animal scream, you rip the hook out of your body though your left flank and fall to the floor.
<</switch>>
<</replace>>
<<update>>
<</link>>
<<else>>
<<link "Pull Door" "Finale">><</link>>
<</if>><table class="choices">
<tr>
<td>
<<timed 700ms t8n>>
<<if $actionsTaken lt 23>>
<<link "Crawl">>
<<set $actionsTaken += 1>>
<<replace "#output">>
There’s nowhere to go.
<</replace>>
<<update>>
<</link>>
<<else>>
<<link "Crawl" "Finale">><</link>>
<</if>>
<</timed>>
</td>
<td class="leftborder">
<<timed 700ms t8n>>
<<if $actionsTaken lt 23>>
<<link "Scream">>
<<set $actionsTaken += 1>>
<<replace "#output">>
Your throat is raw.
<</replace>>
<<update>>
<</link>>
<<else>>
<<link "Scream" "Finale">><</link>>
<</if>>
<</timed>>
</td>
<td class="leftborder">
<<timed 700ms t8n>>
<<if $actionsTaken lt 23>>
<<link "Bleed">>
<<set $actionsTaken += 1>>
<<replace "#output">>
What a mess you’ve made.
<</replace>>
<<update>>
<</link>>
<<else>>
<<link "Bleed" "Finale">><</link>>
<</if>>
<</timed>>
</td>
</tr>
</table><div class="centered outputwrapper">\
<<timed 500ms t8n>>The door opens, briefly blinding you. Standing silhouetted, you see your mother-in-law.<<next 1s>>
<<nobr>><<if $hooked is true>>
<span class="green">“I know your plans for my daughter,”</span> she says. <span class="green">“I won’t stand for them.”</span>
<<else>>
<span class="green">“Well,”</span> she says. <span class="green">“I came to slit your throat, but you seem keen to bleed out on your own.”</span>
<</if>><</nobr>><<next>>
As she approaches<<if $hooked is true>>, brandishing a knife<</if>>, you glance around. Piled along the walls are your belongings. Your books, your gramophone, your laptop—everything’s here.<<next>>
<span class="green">“She will heal,”</span> she assures you as <<if $hooked is true>>she slits your throat<<else>>your vision goes black<</if>>. <span class="green">“She always does.”</span><<next 2s>>
<div class="endcard">[[END ACT II]]</div><</timed>>\
</div>\Thank you for playing!
Conceptualized, written, and programmed by Charm Cochran.
Created for the Neo-Twiny Jam 2024 and the Love/Violence Jam.
Special thanks to Tommy Sullivan-Lovett for beta testing.
<div class="centered"><<link "Main Menu" "Main Menu">><</link>> ● <<class "actone">>[[Act I|https://overthinking.itch.io/rgb-act-one]]<</class>> ● <<class "actthree">>[[Act III|https://overthinking.itch.io/rgb-act-three]]<</class>></div>\