</style>
<img width="750" height="280" border="0" alt="The network you are on blocks the images and sounds for this game" src=https://sequester.yolasite.com/resources/sequester.png>
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College is rough. But you're lucky enough just to be here. You've got a midterm due tomorrow for one of your required classes.
Your essay is good for your major, and you'll need to do well in order to get a good job.
(set:$score to 4) Expected success level: $score
[[Write your essay]]
[[Party]]
(set:$awkward to 0)
(set:$talkedKid to false)
(set:$canPoi to false)
//by Kellie Lu, Elliot Kahn, and Rahul Rangwani//200 words.
(set:$score +=1) Expected Success Score: $score
[[Keep writing]]
[[Go party instead|Party]]
//[[Sleep|Day 2]]//(if: $500words is 0)[ ...And you stopped yourself. Yeah, you've never committed to an essay in your life.] THIS is what college is for, isn't it?
A kid from your hall who you don't really like is approaching you. You'd honestly rather have a drink, but maybe you should give them a chance.
[[Have a standard drink|Drink1]]
[[Talk to the kid]]
(set: $score to $score -1)
500 words. You're on a roll. Nothing can stop you now.
(set:$score +=1) Expected Success Score: $score
[[Just keep writing]]
[[Go to party|Party]]
//[[Forget about the essay and go to sleep|Day 2]]//
(set:$500words to 0) <!--This tracks whether you abandoned your essay in the "Party" passage.-->2000 words--already? It feels like no time has passed at all. You are doing very well. You will likely get a good grade on this.
(set:$score +=1) Expected Success Score: $score
//[[Sleep|Day 2]] //
(set:$wroteEssay to true)The sun blares in your eyes and the alarm clock beams into your ears. Another day, another coffee.(if: $blackOut is true)[ Wait ... it's morning? You must have blacked out. Again.] You go to your classes. They're all in the morning today, which sucks but means you have the afternoon off.
When you get back, your phone whines and you see that your TA sent you an email. It's probably the reminder to complete the class' weekly response.
Expected success level: $score
Awkwardness: $awkward
[[Open your TA's email]]
[[Disregard your TA]]
(set:$creativeProject to false)
(set:$startedFinalEssay to false)You down it. Ugh, tequila. Last time you had that, you vomited all over the floor. You're okay for now, but if you drink a bit more, you'll be pret-ty drunk.
[[Have another drink|Drink2]]
[[Talk to the kid]]The kid smiles at you. "Hey, Adrian! I've been wanting to tell you--you're reeally cool," the kid blurts out.
"Me?"
"Yyeah! Your dancing thing? Man, I wish I could do something like that."
You laugh in embarrassment. "Thanks. Ballroom is weird, I guess."
"Yeah, but, like, who does that? I guess I kind of do something similar. You wanna hang out ... ? Sometime?"
"I mean ... why not? You're just down the hall, right? What's your name again?"
"Tay."
(set:$talkedKid to true)
Huh, didn't go as badly as you thought. A little awkward, but flattering.
//[[Nice to meet you!|Day 2]]//
(set:$awkward +=1)You're thereeeee.
[[Have some drinks|Drink3]]
[[Talk to the kid|Talk Kid Fail]]How many drinks have you had?? You grab another.
//[[Driink|Day 2]]//
(set:$blackOut to true)You take your time to locate that kid from your hall. Down here ... Oh, is this a wall? Did you just walk into a wall? You squeeze your way past someone, who ends up falling over. You try to mumble an apology.
Finally, you find the kid. You attempt to speak.
[[Heyy, what ... whatdidju ... Wanna talk?|Kid can't understand]]
[[What'ssssappp??|Kid can't understand]]The kid is making a face at you, leaning away as you talk. It seems like your message isn't getting through. Oh, well. You didn't come here to talk. You didn't want to talk to anyone, anyway. Just like in high school: Adrian the Lone Wolf.
//[[Drink down the embarrassment|Day 2]]//(if:$wroteEssay is true)[It //is// reminder for the the weekly response. You're very on top of things--you knew your consistent efforts would certainly pay off in the long run.
[[Write your weekly response|Work]] ]
(else:)[Dear Adrian,
I haven't received your essay yet. As a reminder, each day you turn in an assignment late reduces the grade by one-third of a letter. This is the fourth assignment this quarter that you have turned in late.
Why don't we meet sometime to talk about your grade?
[[Meet your TA]]]
[[Disregard your TA]]"Hi, Adrian, how are you doing?"
"Good. How are you?" You keep playing with your sleeve.
"Good."
What on earth do you say? "That's good."
"Yeah."
"So, uhh ... What did you want to call me in for?"
"I wanted to check up on you. Your grades have been dropping, and I think."
"Can I do a make-up project or something?"
"You still have the final essay. If you do well on that, you can bump up your grade."
[[Go work on the final essay|Work]]
[["Can I do a creative project?"|Creative Project]]Emails stress you out. It's always someone creating another obligation, another complication in a life that could otherwise go so smoothly. You know you //should// check them, since when you don't you often miss deadlines ... If only people would let you live your life.
[[Well ... maybe you'll read the email.|Open your TA's email]]
[[You have better things to do.]]You sit down, pull open your laptop, and start writing. 100 words.
(set:$score +=1) Expected Success Score: $score
[[Keep writing|Keep writing 2]]You open your mouth. "Hey, can I try?"
The woman glances at you, smiles, and hands you two of the tennis balls. She still has two in her hands. "People think juggling goes in a circle, but you're actually throwing them back and forth, one after the other." She gives a little demo. One of the older women watching smiles at you.
You watch the juggler intently and try to imitate her motions. Okay, right hand, left hand, and ... !
(if: (either: 0, 1, 2) is 0)[The balls hop from one hand to the other! You're juggling! You're //juggling!// You're--spilling the balls on the ground. But for a quick moment, you did it!]
(else:)[The balls fly out and bounce over the sidewalk. You barely manage to catch one before it flys out into the street. //Come on, Adrian. Way to embarrass yourself.// You've always been clumsy. (set: $awkward +=1)]
She gives you a card. "I'm Rita. You should check out the juggling club."
Hmm, isn't juggling sort of cause and effect? You have to throw one ball to catch another. Maybe it wasn't what your TA was expecting, but, hey, points for creativity, right?
[[Catch the bus back home, just in time for dinner|Day 3]]
(set: $juggleRef to true) (set: $score to $score -1)
400 words. You're doing pretty well!
(set:$score +=1) Expected Success Score: $score
[[Just keep writing|Just keep writing 2]]...And finally, 700 words. That's a good place to stop.
(set:$score +=1) Expected Success Score: $score
(set: $startedFinalEssay to true)
//[[Go to bed|Day 3]]//You've got some time before bed; you could totally just slack off and rest, or you could try to be productive.
(if: $talkedKid is true)[
Maybe you could visit Tay today. That drunken conversation ... you shiver from the cringe. Trying to forge relationships from sloppy party talks doesn't always go well, but if the kid was genuine, maybe it could be cool.
[[Visit Tay and risk the awkwardness]]] (if: $creativeProject is true)[
You could also give up on that creative project, and do this essay.
]
[[Work]]
//[[Chill on your laptop and go to bed|Day 3]]//You know you're not going to do well on that essay. They're just not your strong point--you can't concentrate for that long, and it's so impossible for you to put your thoughts into words. You watch your TA's expression.
"Well, maybe ..."
You jump right in. "We've been talking about patterns and cause and effect, right? Couldn't I go observe something like that?"
"I really think you should work on the final essay."
"It could count as my makeup essay! I'll take a trip downtown and everything." (set: $creativeProject to true)
[[Leave the office and take a bus trip downtown|Go downtown]]Another day, another coffee. Sunday - free of classes! The world is your oyster.
Expected success level: $score
Awkwardness: $awkward
(if: $juggleRef is true)[
Your hands itch to juggle again. You're feeling it in your bones.
[[Let's find Rita|Rita's Juggling Club]]] (if: $startedFinalEssay is true and $wroteEssay is false)[You did get 700 words into that essay yesterday. Now that you think about it, that's not very much for a whole day.
[[Get back to that grind|Why not write?]]] (if: $startedFinalEssay is false and $creativeProject is false and $wroteEssay is false)[You haven't touched that final paper.
[[Get on that grind|Write day 4]]] (if: $startedFinalEssay is false and $creativeProject is true and $wroteEssay is false)[You also have the option to give up on that creative project, and do this essay.
[[Get on that grind|Write day 4]]] (if: $wroteEssay is true)[You could get ahead on the class's final paper... it's not like you've got much else going on.
[[Get back to that grind|Why not write?]]]
//[[Take the day easy and chill out in your room.|You've got a text.]]//
(set: $canJuggle to false)You open your door, picking up your phone and Student ID before you close your door behind you. The door down the hall is slightly ajar. So Tay's in. There's a sweater spilled across the floor. Gross. Big messes stress you out. You remember that that's part of the reason you stayed away from Tay.
You slow down. Drunk decisions are NOT the best decisions. Maybe you should play it safe and head back.
[[Knock awkwardly on the door]]
//[[Go back and go on your laptop for the rest of the day|Day 3]]//"Hey, Tay?" You knock on the door. No response. You reach to push the door--maybe not. What if Tay's NOT in there and it looks like you're breaking in? But what if Tay's there and waiting for you to open the door? (set:$awkward +=1)
All this is making your hand dart back and forth like you're tapping Morse code on Tay's door. You look around. Another person from your floor, Su, is staring at you from the end of the hall. You try smile at her appeasingly. (if: (either: 0, 1, 2) is 0)[She gives an awkward smile a little back and keeps walking.](else:)[She grimaces at no one in particular and walks away quickly.(set:$awkward +=1)]
[[Push open the door]]You push open the door slightly. Wait--what if Tay's doing something really weird? But it's too late, the door's opening, and--
Tay's sitting at his desk, headphones on. The room's super messy, but not //weird//. You let go of your held breath. Tay turns to look.
"Oh, hey, Adrian!" Tay throws off his headphones and runs up. I didn't think you'd actually come--I mean, it's cool that you did, because you're cool--uhh ... Thanks!"
You nod. "... Yeah."
But Tay bounces right back up. "Look at this!" Oh, no, is he really about to pull out some toy? But when he gets back to you, he holds up the box and you see: "Beginning Poi Kit."
"What is this?" you ask. It looks like two white balls about the size of your palms and some cords.
"In middle school, I went to a camp that had kids who did this. You attach these to ropes, and swing them in cool patterns. Oh, and they light up! The balls do. It looks so sick at night, like hand-fireworks. Or something. And people who are really good look like they're dancing. They're used a lot at raves."
Yeah, Tay is weird. But this Poi is pretty cool. Maybe this was a good decision, after all.
//[[Hang out with Tay for the rest of the day|Day 3]]//
(set:$score -= 1)
(set: $canPoi to true)Rita's card takes you a brownstone a short bus ride away. It's pretty dark in here. Rita is juggling alone in the corner of a living room. This is clearly Rita's apartment.
"The usual group is at the State Juggling Expo".
"Okay," you say. This is weird. Rita tosses you two of her balls.
"Watch me -" she takes the left ball and tosses it in an arc, toward her right hand. Towards the tip of this ark, she tosses the ball still in her right hand in an arc going the opposite direction. As she releases, the first ball lands where the second was, and a moment later, ball number two is caught as well.
"Trust me, you need to get this down first."
You trust Rita. Planting your feet, with a ball in each hand, you feel this is what you've always known you were put on Earth to do.
You release with your left hand, then the right. The left ball has been tossed straight upwards though, and much harder than Rita. Rita has low ceilings, and it returns in a downward direction much sooner than you might expect. The ball from your right hand is flying foward actually, an axis you had not even thought about just moments ago.
This might not be as easy as you thought.
[[Keep at juggling]]
[[Give up at juggling]]You try again.
Left up, then right... Yes! No! Lets try again, feet planted this time.
Left, then right... no, the arc needs to be wider than *that*
Not +that+ wide!!!!
This one was good! The right ball ended up a little in front of your body, but the timing was spot on, actally!
Let's do this for a couple of hours- you really like this.
[[You practice juggling]]You return home, but you just can't stop thinking about that timing.
One - two.. catch! No wait, wasn't it more like.. One, twoCatch? It must be, because with that third ball, that third tossup would be put in during that pause, right? You visualize this.
The timing's not dissimilar from a waltz - you never knew how to dance, but your younger sister used to take you around the living room, waltzing, didnt she? When she was in the second grade and they were doing the dance unit in Phys Ed? Your parents loved that, you remember. The Turkey Tango they all learned for Thanksgiving and the Christmas waltzes - your sister would be so eager to practice them when she got home, and you loved being that partner afternoon in the living room - or at least you loved the attention from your parents that joining in got you.
You think about this at night, as you keep the desk light on, juggling in the center of the room, in the glow.
(set: $identifyScore = 1)
(set: $canJuggle to true)
//[[Good night|You've got a text.]]//After grabbing some food, you realize it's getting a little late; but you're feeling a little restless.
[[Go out and party!]]
[[Stay in with a friend]](set:$friend to 'Chad')
What a crazy couple of days these have been, right?
You can't help feeling like you know a little more about yourself. It's a bit of a weird feeling. Maybe that whole Circus thing was good, in some way, some how.
But that's not who you're going to continue to be - no! You're going to go out to a party. There's a big event going on at one of the frats on campus, and you find a couple of hallmates to go with.
Once there, your friend asks if you want a drink.
"Of course!"
"What do you want?"
You grab a drink and down it.
[[Go to the dance floor and get groovy]]Instead of going out, you decide to have a quiet night in, and hang out with a friend. What a crazy couple of days these have been, right? You need a little quiet time to think about it.
But first, you think about who to invite over. (if: $savedTay is false and $abtChad is true)[You can't believe that whole business with Chad. You should catch up with him and make sure everything's good.]
(if:$savedTay is true)[
[[Ask Tay what he's up to]] ]
[["CHAD! It feels like YEARS since I've seen you. Come over tonight!"]]You and your friend are dancing and having a great time. You friend really digs the music.
"This music is amazing! I want to go up to the DJ and make a song request, but can you come with me? I don't want to go by myself."
[["Yeah, why not!"]]
[["I'll just wait for you here!"]]"Actually, your music taste is much better than mine and I don't really know what to request. Can you request a song for me??"
You go up to the DJ.
"You're doing such a great job DJing! Can I make a song request? My friend wanted to but doesn't know what song to request!"
"Of course! What song do you want?"
[["Stronger" by Kanye West]]
[["SICKO MODE" by Travis Scott]]
[["Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson]]
[["Mo Bamba" by Sheck Wes]]Your friend reeealy doesn't want to go alone.
"Please! Come with me, it'll only take a second!"
[["Ok, fine!"]]"Actually, your music taste is much better than mine and I don't really know what to request. Can you request a song for me??"
"Ugh. Sure."
You go up to the DJ.
"You're doing such a great job DJing! Can I make a song request? My friend wanted to but doesn't know what song to request!"
"Of course! What song do you want?"
[["Stronger" by Kanye West]]
[["SICKO MODE" by Travis Scott]]
[["Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson]]
[["Mo Bamba" by Sheck Wes]]The DJ smiles.
"Love that song! I'll play it next. Why don't you come behind the booth and help me out a bit?"
[[You go behind the booth]]The DJ smiles.
"Wow, that's a banger! Love Drake's verse at the end! I'll play it next. Why don't you come behind the booth and help me out a bit?"
[[You go behind the booth]]The DJ smiles.
"Wow, a classic! I'll play it next. Why don't you come behind the booth and help me out a bit?"
[[You go behind the booth]]The DJ smiles.
"Oh, this is going to get the people going! I'll play it next. Why don't you come behind the booth and help me out a bit?"
[[You go behind the booth]]"Hey dude! My name's Chad. I've been DJing for a couple years now. Love it as a hobby."
"What kind of music do you usually work with?"
"Oh man, I love some good EDM!"
"I've never made music or anything, but I love listening to it."
"Why don't you come by my crib tomorrow, and I'll show you my setup?"
"Oh, that would be AWESOME!"
//[[Go back to your room and crash|Day 5 DJ]]//You invite Tay over.
"Hey Tay! How's it going?"
"Hey Adrian! I'm okay, just glad to be here."
You start talking about how things are, and Tay thanks you.
"I'm so stupid. You saved me ... I can't believe I was going to steal. Man, if I'd gotten caught ..." He looks sheepish. "Chad //is// a jerk, though. He acts super bro-y to me, like we're friends, but I know he makes fun of me to his //real// friends."
"That sucks. He's always been nice to me."
"It does, but I don't really care what he says. It's more that, like, that someone could be that fake. Like, what do you really want in life? Why are you deluding yourself like that?"
You realize, actually for maybe the first time, that there's more to Tay than that just the weirdness.
There's silence for a few moments. But it's not all that awkward. You get up. "Hey Tay, let's play a video game. I have a few -- you choose!"
"No, it's your place, so you choose!"
[[The Stanley Parable]]
[[Universal Paperclips]]
[[Let's Play: Ancient Greek Punishment]]
(set:$awkward -=1)
(set:$friend to 'Tay')Chad drops by. (if: $savedTay is false and $abtChad is true)[He admits that he's a little shaken, but fine. ]This is a great opportunity to catch up with him.
You catch up, talk about life, and decide to play some video games.
"What do you want to play, Chad?"
"Your room, your choice!"
[[The Stanley Parable]]
[[Universal Paperclips]]
[[Let's Play: Ancient Greek Punishment]]
(set:$friend to 'Chad')"Wow, this is fun! I really like this game. SO many endings!"
"Yeah! Isn't it cool?"
You continue playing, and talking about how things have been going.
$friend talks about how they's picked up a new hobby of DJing and producing EDM music.
"Wow. That's awesome. I love EDM music, but I've never really made any, only listened."
"It's a lot of fun! You should come over tomorrow and check out my setup!"
[["Oh absolutely! That sounds amazing."]]
[["Ah, I don't think I will - listening is more my thing."]]"Wow, this game is really weird. So many wacky mechanics. All for paperclips!"
"Yeah! Isn't it wild?"
You continue playing, and talking about how things have been going.
$friend talks about how they've picked up a new hobby of DJing and producing EDM music.
"Wow. That's awesome. I love EDM music, but I've never really made any, only listened."
"It's a lot of fun! You should come over tomorrow and check out my setup!"
[["Oh absolutely! That sounds amazing."]]
[["Ah, I don't think I will - listening is more my thing."]]"Wow, this is really frustrating! You can't really do much in this game other than fail..."
"Yeah! Isn't it awesome?"
"Hmm, not really!"
You continue playing, and talking about how things have been going.
$friend talks about how they've picked up a new hobby of DJing and producing EDM music.
"Wow. That's awesome. I love EDM music, but I've never really made any, only listened."
"It's a lot of fun! You should come over tomorrow and check out my setup!"
[["Oh absolutely! That sounds amazing."]]
[["Ah, I don't think I will - listening is more my thing."]]You and $friend continue to hang out and have a great time. Actually!
"Hey, this was great! I'll see you tomorrow!"
"Yeah, for sure. Looking forward to seeing the setup!"
After $friend leaves, you clean up and go to bed.
//[[Wake up the next morning|Day 5 DJ]]//$friend turns to you.
"Hey, why not? It'll be fun, and worst case you'll just get to hear me produce music."
[["I guess... why not?"]]You and Chad continue to hang out and have a great time catching up.
"Hey, this was great! I'll see you tomorrow!"
"Yeah, for sure. Looking forward to seeing the setup!"
After Chad leaves, you clean up and go to bed.
[[Wake up the next morning|Day 5 DJ]]You, after getting dressed, head downtown to search for the museum. When you step off the bus, there are a few people gathered around something on a side street.
You step a little closer. The people are gathered around a woman who is moving ... moving their arms? They're juggling! You don't know much about juggling, but it looks like a lot of fun. Those are tennis balls flying around. Suddenly, the pattern changes. It's an infinity sign now.
You're hooked.
[[Go over to the juggler]]You sit down, pull open your laptop, and start writing. 100 words.
(set:$score +=1) Expected Success Score: $score
[[Keep writing|Keep writing 3]]400 words. You're doing pretty well!
(set:$score +=1) Expected Success Score: $score
[[Just keep writing|Just keep writing 3]]...And finally, 700 words. That's a good place to stop.
(set:$score +=1) Expected Success Score: $score
(set: $startedFinalEssay to true)
//[[Go to bed|You've got a text.]]//You sit down, pull open your laptop, and start writing. 800 words.
(set:$score +=1) Score: $score
[[Keep writing|Keep writing 4]]1100 words. You're doing pretty well!
(set:$score +=1) Score: $score
[[Just keep writing|Just keep writing 4]]...And finally, 1400 words. That's a good place to stop.
(set:$score +=1) Score: $score
//[[Go to bed|You've got a text.]]//As you're getting ready to go to bed, your phone starts to whine. (if:$score < 6)[Normally, you'd ignore it, but you're getting a ton of messages.] It seems like something might be wrong.
It's Tay. He's never texted you before like this.
"Hey"
"Need help"
"Have you seen my poi kit, its very important"
"Its lost and I think somepne took it"
"*someone"
(if:$canPoi is false)[
What on earth is "poi?" A typo?
]
[["Have you checked where you last saw it?"]]
[[Ignore him. He can find it himself.]]
(set:$savedTay to false)Expected success level: $score
Awkwardness: $awkward
Another day, another coffee - just kidding. It's not morning. You're woken up to insistant knocking on your door.
[[Open it]]This was not for you.
Rita sees you, and by glancing at her reaction to your face, you realize how sad you are, and that it's showing.
She shuffles over to pick up the second ball, and you start to protest - you just want to leave. And as you feel the words get caught in your throat, you also realize you're choking up.
You think a lot the way back home on the bus.
Why don't things just work out? Shouldn't they? Isn't that why you're even here, in college? To make things work out... better?
[[Take a moment for yourself]]Turning around to walk home has given you a new perspective to view this lamp post though - and it's got a flyer on it too.
CIRCUS- 9:15 till noon Mondays. In the big brown building right ahead!
(if: $talkedKid is true and $canPoi is true)
[The poster has a big picture on it - it's Tay!! He looks like he's spinning around an egg on a rope - it must be Poi! It's weird; you feel a little proud?]
(if: $talkedKid is true and $canPoi is false)
[The poster has a big picture on it - it's Tay! He looks like he's spinning around an egg on a rope, but it's so hard to tell in black and white.]
(if: $juggleRef is true and $canJuggle is true)
[Your fingers actually twitch and the prospect of juggling right now. What are the chances of finding a place to juggle, on campus of all things!
You do think about it for a moment, however. If get super passionate about this, you regognize it may be hard to think about school. And for the rest of your quarter, it's at the same time as your 9:30.
[[Drop by The Circus Club]]]
(if: $juggleRef is true and $canJuggle is false and $talkedKid is true)
[Your belly actually twitches and the prospect of juggling - and not in a good way. You're actually a little embarrased about being so excited about something, and having failed, you relaize.
You do think about it for a moment, however. Tay is there - maybe at least you could drop by? Say hi or something?
[[Drop by The Circus Club]]]
(if: $juggleRef is true and $canJuggle is false and $talkedKid is false)
[God, if only you knew some people who would be into this kind of thing. And who gets up so early to do something so pointless? It seems a little colder out here than a moment ago.]
(if: $startedFinalEssay is true)
[You did cut into that essay a bit. Spend College Break Day working?
[[Get back to that grind|Write pt 2]]]
(if: $startedFinalEssay is false and $creativeProject is false)
[You haven't touched that final paper. Spend College Break Day working?
[[Get on that grind|Write pt 2]]]
(if: $startedFinalEssay is false and $creativeProject is true)
[It also isn't too late to give up jugging as a creative project... want to spend College Break Day working?
[[Get on that grind|Write pt 2]]]You sit down, pull open your laptop, and start writing. Today's progress - 100 words
(set:$score +=1) Expected Success Score: $score
[[Keep writing|Keep writing a1]]400 words. What prose, what phrasing!
(set:$score +=1) Expected Success Score: $score
[[Just keep writing|Just keep writing a2]]...And finally, 700 words. That's a good place to stop.
You sit back. This is ready to submit.
(set:$score +=1) Expected Success Score: $score
(set: $startedFinalEssay to true)
//[[Go to bed|Day 5- BORING ENDING]]//Dear Adrian,
The amount of work you put into this final project speaks for itself. You've certaintly turned this quarter around, and I'm sure you feel proud of the sacrifices you've made to get there.
I'm excited to tell you I will also by TA-ing the remainder of the sequence, and I am excited to continue reading excellent papers, which I am sure you will continue producing.
Expected success level: $score
//End//Tripping on the steps up to the front door of the building, you remember that only losers would join a club to do this. Do what? Well... pretend to not be in college, you think.
It's a disconcerting thought. You open the classroom door.
It's certaintly "popping" in here! Someone's playing that cheesy carnival song on their little bluetooth speaker, and it's a pretty cool backdrop to watch the five members in the room each doing their own thing. One guy's doing a handstand near the wall, one girl's balancing on a slackline tied between two cabinet doors. (if: $talkedKid is false)[There's even a kid that look's like he's spinning an egg on a rope. You are genuinely worried the egg might crack.]
(if: $savedTay is true and $canPoi is true)
[And there's Tay! Tay's actually killing the poi, all things considered. You raise your hand to say hi, but Tay's got earbuds. Tay has a big darn smile on their face after seeing you. They're clearly in the middle of a routine though, so you figure it might be worth it to let them keep going.]
(if: $savedTay is true and $canPoi is false)
[Wait, there's Tay...right? He's the one spinning the ball on a string from the poster - hey, well at least it's not false advertising.
You take a step over to say hi, and this startles Tay a bit. Tay drops the ball, it rolls for a second, and Tay takes an earbud out of his ear, which you didn't see before.
"Hey!" Tay says.
"Whats up? you reply.
It genuinely looks like Tay now doesn't know how to continue the conversation. Tay nods, and smiles. You smile, too.
There isn't much else to say. You look around for something to talk about, but in that time, Tay puts the earbud back in the ear.
Darn. You try to look busy for a moment.]
(if: $canJuggle is true)
[But you know why you're //really// here... the fire in your belly that just won't go away baby. The big crate in the corner has pins in it... a scooter.. and aha!! Juggling balls. You take a couple from the bin.
One twoCatch... one twoCatch... one twoCatch oh man oh man!!! Now's the chance, you think. You take a third ball from the bin.
You've already thought this timing through, and you know exactly when you're gonna throw it. You hold two balls in one hand, and envision exactly what you're going to do. With all the confidence in the world, you toss one ball from your hand, followed by one from your other - and at that perfect peak moment, you release the third and final ball. You can actually feel someone's eyes on you. You imagine it's Tay.(if:$savedTay is false)[That's awful that he's going to be kicked out ... maybe you should talk?]
But before you have even a moment to think about him, with grace never before seen in your life, you catch all three - but as you plan to stop, you instinctively throw - and without pause or even visable hesitation you just keep going, and going, and going. It's almost like dancing: flowing, free.
You juggle those three balls, non-stop, for over half an hour.
If you continue juggling, you could make this your passion, forever. You could reallly be the best. But, man, this feels a bit too much. There's a lot more out there to explore. At the same time, the rhythm in your arms reminds you that if you take this on, you could be incredibly successful.
//[[I want my life to be juggling.|JUGGLING ENDING]]//]
[["I think I'll pass. This just isn't for me."]]
<audio src="https://sequester.yolasite.com/resources/circus%20theme.mp3" autoplay>
(set:$awkward +=1)The bus drops you back near campus.
(if: $creativeProject is true)[You're back home and you didn't even observe cause and effect or whatever... unless you could make a creative project about a stupid failed juggling experience, and you know even //you// couldn't pull something out of that. I guess you could just pretend that meeting never happened, and write a normal essay? You're feeling pretty down about it, either way.]
(if: $startedFinalEssay is true)[
[[Spend the remainer of your day writing the essay?|Write day 4]]]
(if: $startedFinalEssay is false)[
[[Spend the remainer of your day writing the essay?|Why not write?]]]
//[[Browse the web until you fall asleep|You've got a text.]]//"And that's how it all began," you imagine saying to the audience members who would crowd up to your tent door after your circus' grand performance. Your circus would be the last remaining circus in the world after conquering all the others. You think this over and over, as you walk from door to door, slipping flyers with your face and your GoFundMe page under the cracks.
You're not succeeding in the traditional sense, no. But you don't care about college's expectations of success and what that means. You crave success, but you crave it in your own way.
Juggling overcomes. It overcomes essays, it overcomes grades, it overcomes college. And you hope, you pray, it overcomes student loan debt. This is your passion, and you're going to follow through with it to become the greatest circus ringleader in the world. Nothing can stand in your way.
(set:$score to 0) Expected success level: $score
Actual success level: ?
//End//
<audio src="https://sequester.yolasite.com/resources/CircusEnding.mp3" autoplay>You try to sleep.
Tay is so weird to text you about his "stolen" stuff at this hour.
(if:$savedTay is true)[You're glad you could do something to help. Tay isn't someone you'd normally really hang out with, and it's not like you've known him for very long, either. But it feels good to have done something good in the world, even if it's not something that personally benefits you.
Just knowing good stuff's out there in the world.](else:)[(if:$ignoredTay is true)[He's freaking out for no reason. (if:$score > 9)[He should be concentrating on his work instead.] Yet, you can't help a bit of nagging guilt. Maybe something really was wrong.] ]
[[Think on all this]]You roll over and go to bed. People misplace things all the time only to find them later. (if:$score < 6)[He's super messy, anyway, so he probably just misplaced it.]
(if:$talkedKid is true)[At the same time, it feels bad just to ignore him like this. (if: $canPoi is true)[Poi really is important to him.
[[Check in on him|"Have you checked where you last saw it?"]] ]]
//[[Go to sleep|Try to sleep]]//
(set:$ignoredTay to true)Tay is really freaking out. "No, I'm serious, its rly gone"
"I think that guy chat took it"
"*Chad"
Chad? You text Tay back. "Why would he take it??"
"Hes a jerk that's why"(if:$canPoi is true)[
"Please my poi kit is very important to me"]
"It was very expensive"
"I'm gonna get it back 1 way or the other"
(if:$talkedKid is true)["Plz can you come and help me?"]
(if:$score>7)[ There isn't much you could possibly do.(if:$score>9)[ You're very busy, and this is such a trivial problem.] ]
[[Tell him to ask the resident assistant, and get ready for bed]]
(if:$talkedKid is true)[ [[Hold in your groan, grab your stuff, and head over]] ]
(set:$abtChad to true)You knock on his door. "Tay?"
When he opens it, you can't believe your eyes. (if:$canPoi is true)[You thought he was messy before ... ]There is stuff on every surface. Pillows are on the floor, a chair is knocked over, papers are scattered everywhere - it's almost cartoony.
Tay's hair is puffed up, which make his eyes look huge. You've never seen his eyebrows before, and you're not sure you want to keep looking at them. He looks a little bit like Einstein. "Adrian, can you help me talk to Chad?"
Maybe you could help him search a little ... ew.
[[Flip over a pillow|Search]]
[[Push aside some papers|Search]]
(set: $searchNumber to 0)(set: _search to (either: 0,1,2,3,4)) (if:_search is 0)[You flip and fumble, but you don't find it. The room is so messy it feels like you've done nothing.] (if:_search is 1)[You bend over and search while Tay runs his hands through is hair. No kit.] (if:_search is 2)[All you find is more mess.] (if:_search is 3)[No, no, and nope. This is gross.] (if:_search is 4)[Hmm, you're actually getting into the groove of things. Wait--is this one--? No, it's not. It's a box of underwear.] (if:_search is 5)[Tay tries to help you search, but he's just flinging the stuff that you've flung aside back at you.]
Maybe this is just some dumb thing. You're tired, irritated, and you've got other things to do besides help someone find their lost toy. (if:$canPoi is true)[You immediately feel guilty for feeling that way. He did say the kit meant a lot to him. You'd probably be freaking, too, if you lost your stuff. Though, that doesn't mean it's worth it to keep going.]
(if:$searchNumber >=3)[
Hmm ... what if you asked Tay about his problems with Chad? It could be pretty awkward, but asking could get down to the heart of it.
[[Ask Tay about Chad]]] (if:$searchNumber <3)[
[[Keep searching|Search]]]
//[[You'll never find it. Give up|Try to sleep]]//
(set: $searchNumber +=1)You sit down, exhausted. "So, why do you think Chad took your stuff?"
"He was joking around with my poi when I was using it. Him and his friends were messing around with my stuff. He tried to play it off like a joke, but I got really mad, and ..." Tay stares at his hands. (if:$canPoi is true)["I learned poi at camp, but ... My great-grandpa is Maori. It makes me feel connected to him." Tay's voice cracks a bit.]
"Do you really think Chad stole it?" you ask. "I know Chad, and sure, he sucks sometimes, but I don't think he'd steal like that. Can't you order another set?"
"Yeah, well ... " Tay clenches his fists. "He can't get away with this."
[["What do you want to do?"]]
(if:$canPoi is true)[ [["You know what? I ordered a set after you taught me. I'll give it to you."]]]"You did? You - you like poi? Like, how I taught you?"
"Yeah, totally," you say.
Now you'll have to buy a new poi kit and pretend it was yours the whole time. Well, that's the price to pay. Tay smiles at you.
"Thanks a lot," he says, voice cracking again. You don't have the urge to cringe this time. You find yourself smiling back.
//[[Say goodnight to Tay, and go to bed.|Try to sleep]]//
(set:$savedTay to true)"I'll get my revenge," Tay mutters.
"Don't be too narrow-minded. Like, you're committed to this idea that it's Chad, but maybe it isn't."
"It is."
"Okay, but revenge isn't the only option, either."
"But he's such a--a bully."
(if:$awkward>2)["Look, why don't you just confront him? You don't need to do something drastic like that."
[[Offer to help Tay confront Chad|Convince Tay]] ]
//[["All right. If that's what you want ..."|Try to sleep]]//"Think of the bigger picture, Tay. This sucks, but is it gonna matter in the future? I'll go talk to Chad with you sometime. Now, can we go to bed?"
Tay looks at you warily. You're not sure how he's going to react to that ... he scrutinizes your face. You're holding your breath.
(if:(either:0,1,2,3,4) < $awkward)[Tay pauses, and then nods a little.
"I guess. I know you're probably busy and stuff. Thanks for coming here."
You shake your head. "I'm never too busy that I can't do what matters."
Tay lookks up at you. "But really, thanks."
//[["Let me know when you're going to do it. See ya around."|Try to sleep]]// (set:$savedTay to true)](else:)[Tay shakes his head. "You don't believe me. No one believes me." He stands up. "You're just pretending to be my friend, anyway! Whatever, just go away!
"No, Tay--"
"Just go!"
He's really heated now. You back away slowly, hands up in the air.
"Look, I'm sorry. I'll text you tomorrow," you venture, but he doesn't turn around. No amount of talk is going to convince him now.
As you walk down the hall to your room, you cast a glance back. You hope he gets over this soon.
//[[Get into bed, tuck the covers in, and drift off to sleep.|Try to sleep]]//]It's $friend
[[Of course]]He looks drunk.
Or maybe just excited!
"Hey, so sorry - I couldnt help myself."
"What's up"
"I want to show you my beats"
He actually goes to your bed, takes your hand, and leads you to his room.
[[Here we go]]And on $friend's desk is a launchpad, two turntables, and a monitor with some kind of program on it.
"It's called Fruit Loops" $friend says, not pointing or gesturing to any element of the setup. But this is still very impressive. Look - sorry I just couldn't sleep, I've been so into this beat I'm making. Listen.
$friend stumbles to the keyboard and presses the space bar. He has clearly had this set up to play with the press of a button, to look impressive.
[[boom ch boom ch]]This beat is clearly amature. Really amature.
But as you listen, you start to feel it. You go to the computer, with a bit of unexpected confidence. You know what this beat needs.
"Oh- oh yeah!! Yeah baby!! I forgot to put a punch and topper, but that sounds exactly right!!"
$friend seems really, really happy.
You both listen.
"Hey." he says. You glance up.
"Look," he says, "I'm not gonna lie. I think college isnt for me."
This is unexpected.
"I like this!" he starts. "I like beats. And discovery, and the feeling I get from the boom boom and the drops and the eechyecchy scratchy! I come back to my room at the end of the day and I always have something I can do besides work. Something that makes me feel something - where I improve in a new way, that only I can measure." He stammers. "And I have no one else to show it to."
He trails off.
[[...]]
<audio src="https://sequester.yolasite.com/resources/10%205%2018%20rahuls%20beat.mp3" autoplay>
He's looking down now. You can't help smiling.
You're smiling because you know this feeling.
You know what it's like to know something, really know it, know it well enough to make it and contribute, and to want to follow your dreams.
And you know that these waves of passion come and go, and attatch themselves to this or that, and after enough logistical errors or just plain old time they fade into nothing, until you enter that intermittant period where you search for wherever it's hiding next.
You think you know what $friend is trying to ask you.
To quit college, and do this with him.
It's insane, it's absurdest. It's adventurous, it's stupid. Maybe its just exciting //because// you might not be successful in whatever you do, or because you have a chance of succeeding against even your own expectations.
[[$friend, let's become DJs|DJ ending]]
[[...I'm staying here]]And with no time to think, and a full heart, you make the leap - a leap you know you're making with no running start.
You know this, and it fills you with excitement... so much excitement. Browing through wikis and Amazon pages for equipment, you feel like a super hero. Or maybe a hacker? A hacker or the system?
With only a week of training (granted, as you've locked yourself in your doom room, with the exception of droping by $friend's, it has been non stop training), your beats are thick and your wit is sharp. What will you tell your parents, when you come home for break in a week, and tell them your plan?
God only knows.
And you just can't wait.
(set:$score to 0) Expected success level: $score
Actual success level: ?
//End//
<audio src="https://sequester.yolasite.com/resources/finalbeat.mp3" autoplay>College is has a lot of things going on. Many things come into your life, and you can't be the best at all of them. Success is complicated.
But you're complicated.
//End//"no one believes me"
"fine"
"i don't care about any of you anyway"
//[[Try to sleep]]//
(set:$ignoredTay to true)Another day, another coffee. Monday - the week begins.
(if:$savedTay is false)[You've got two messages. One is an email.
"Dear Resident,
This is a reminder that thievery is absolutely unacceptable. Living in the residential halls is a privilege, not a right. Any violations of our rules is subject to removal from housing.
Thank you,
Housing and Residence"
You would have disregarded this as a generic housing email, except ... You've gotten a text from Su.
"OMG HAVE U HEARD????? Tay got KICKED OUT from housing!"
You stare at the screen in shock. Tay? Before you even get a second to text back, Su shoots another message.
"He STOLE (WTF??) from Chad! The resident assisstant caught him last night taking like a DJ kit!!! He's leaving in a few days!!"
You hope you're dreaming. Slowly, you pack your things.
]
You leave for your 9:30 class.
But wait - why is nobody walking this route to class?
Oh, my God... it's College Break Day.
You turn around, and start to trudge back home.
(if:$savedTay is false)[
You can't believe it ... Was that why Tay texted you...? Was there something you could have done?
]
Expected success level: $score
Awkwardness: $awkward
[[Trudge]]Is it even your place to help him? You can't help everyone in the world. You have to put yourself first, because no one else is going to. If you tried to help everyone in the world with every little thing you'd never get anything done. (if:$score <=7)[But maybe that's worth it. Maybe it's not about getting things done, but about doing them.
Well ... that's enough philosophy for one night.]
//[[Drift off to sleep|Day 4]]//