{(set: $sidebar to true)
(set: $button to false)
(set: $footer to true)
(if: (history:)'s last is "Congrats!")[
(set: $rtcount to 0)]
(if: (visited: "Congrats!") and not $nopass)[
(set: $pickles to false)]
(if: $joey)[
(set: $guard to "Joey")](else:)[
(set: $guard to "the guard")]
(if: $andre)[
(set: $kid to "Andre")](else:)[
(set: $kid to "the coffee guy")]
}(if: visits is 1)[You assignment today is to get into this building through the guarded front door. You know nothing about the guard or the situation, but you're about to change that...
You begin in an alley beside the building. You'll be able to reset to this moment at any point.](else:)[Time rewinds. You're back in the alley beside the building. (if: (history:)'s last is "Congrats!" and $pickles)[And you've inexplicably forgotten the passphrase...] ]
(if: $coffee)[ [[Wait to leave the alley until $kid is about to arrive->coffee]]
](if: $coffee)[ (link-goto: "Lurk in the alley to watch $kid arrive(if: $watched)[. Just in case you can glean anything new this time]","watch")
][[Step out of the alley and approach $guard->guard]]{
<!-- [[watch]] -->
}{(set: $elleman to false)
(set: $coffee to false)
(set: $sanders to false)
(set: $joey to false)
(set: $andre to false)
(set: $bourbon to false)
(set: $passphrase to false)
(set: $pickles to false)
(set: $poorandre to false)
(set: $trick to false)
(set: $nopass to false)
(set: $wallet to false)
(set: $A to false)
(set: $E to false)
(set: $C to false)
(set: $S to false)
(set: $rtcount to 0)
(set: $button to true)
(set: $idiot to false)
(set: $watched to false)
(set: $sidebar to true)
(set: $drink to false)
(set: $shate to false)
(set: $dumblie to false)
(set: $secret to false)
(set: $arrows to false)}{(set: $button to true)
(if: $joey)[(set: $guard to "Joey")](else:)[(set: $guard to "The guard")]
(if: visits is 1)[He's short but he's got muscles. He doesn't look happy to be here.
](else:)[$guard is still short, still muscly, and still looking grumpy.]}
(if: $pickles)[ [[Stop in front of him and look him dead in the eye. "Blueberry pickles at midnight."->open]]
](if: $wallet)[ [[Use your pickpocket skills to try to nab his wallet->pickpocket]]
](if: $sanders)[ [["Hi there. I've got a meeting with Sanders."->sanders fail]]
](if: $elleman)[ [["Hey, I need to get inside. Elleman sent me."->sent]]
](if: $joey)[ [["Hi, Joey."->hi]]
][[Walk past whistling->whistle]]
[[Walk right up to him. "Hey, how's it going?"->sup]](if: $joey)[(set: $guard to "Joey")](else:)[(set: $guard to "the guard")]"No loitering," $guard calls gruffly as you meander by.
[["I'm waiting for someone, actually."->waiting]]
[["Oh?" You stop and turn toward him. "But this is public property."->oh]]"I don't, you'll have to look elsewhere for someone to feed your disgusting habit."
(if: $coffee)[ [["Whoa, take it easy there, buddy. We all have our vices. I bet I can guess yours."->guess]]
] (else:)[ [["Whoa, take it easy there, buddy. We all have our vices."->vice]]
][["Fine. Maybe someone inside does?" You nod toward the door->maybe]]"I'm not here to chitchat," he answers gruffly. "Get lost."
[["I was just wondering if you have a light?"->light]]
[["Right. I was just wondering if I could get inside?"->ask]]"Not from this building you're not. Wait somewhere else."
[["Actually, they //are// coming from this building."->actually]]
[["Aw, man, you seem upset. Is something wrong?"->upset]]"Yeah, well my //doorway// isn't."
[["This sidewalk is part of the public right-of-way, though, so I'm legally allowed to be here."->public]]"Does it look like you can get inside? No, you can't, so scram."
[["How much are they paying you to keep people out? Maybe I could top it..."->bribe]]
[["But why not?"->why]]"Well not all of ours involve inconveniencing strangers who are trying to do their jobs," he mutters back. "Now get lost.""Oh?" Now you have his attention; he studies your face, frowning. "Who is it, then?"
(if: $sanders)[ [["Sanders."->sanders]]
][["I'm not at liberty to say."->liberty]]"Oh, I don't know, maybe it's just the getting hassled by strangers when I'm trying to do my job in peace?"
[["Isn't getting hassled by strangers part of your job, though?"->hassled]]
[["I'm not trying to hassle you, I just want to wait for my friend."->friend]]"Is that so." He folds his arms and continues to regard you. "Well, I wasn't told anything about this."
[["Of course //you// weren't."->scoff]]
(if: $sanders)[ [["All right, fine. His name's Sanders."->sanders]]
](if: $elleman)[ [["All right, fine. Elleman sent me."->elleman]]]"Yeah, this smells fishy," he growls, taking a menacing step closer. "Get lost, or I'll //make// you get lost.""Well." He crosses his arms and just looks at you. "You know what to do, then."
{(if: $pickles)[(link-goto: "Look him in the eye and say, \"Blueberry pickles at midnight.\"", "open")
](else-if: visits is 1)[...Except, unfortunately, you don't. Yet.
](else:)[...Except, unfortunately, you still don't.]}"What are you, a lawyer? I //told// you to get lost."
[[Put on an offended tone. "Are you threatening me?"->threatening]]
[["You can't tell me where I can and can't walk!"->can't]]"And what if I am?"
[[Burst into fake sobs. "...Sorry, I'm just so lonely, chatting with strangers on the street is the only way I can get human interaction!"->sob]]
[["I'll call the cops on you!" You won't actually -- ACAB -- but he doesn't know that.->cops]]He stares at you. "Fucking hell, pull yourself together. Go hassle someone else, look, there's a guy at that bus stop down the block. I'm not your fucking therapist."
[["How can you be so cruel to me in my moment of vulnerability?"->cruel]]
[["...You're right. I'm //your// therapist!"->therapist]]{(set: $idiot to true)(if: $joey)[(set: $guard to "Joey")](else:)[(set: $guard to "the guard")](if: $andre)[(set: $kid to "Andre")](else:)[(set: $kid to "the coffee guy")]
}"I don't give a fuck about your vulnerability. Get lost, this is your last warning."
He takes a step toward you. As you step back, you bump right into (if: not $coffee)[a young man holding a cup of coffee. Or, he was, before your collision sent it splattering across the sidewalk.](else:)[$kid, sending the coffee splattering across the sidewalk.]
"//Fuck!//" $guard yells, turning his attention to the consternated young man. "You idiot! Go back and get me a new one."
{[[Watch to see how this plays out->plays]]
(set: $coffee to true)
}(set: $elleman to true)He snorts. "Nice try. You think Elleman's gonna hire people who can be //bribed//? Now scram, before I make you."
Aha. You've got his employer's name now. Could be useful...(set: $button to true)(if: $andre)[(set: $kid to "Andre")](else:)[(set: $kid to "the coffee guy")]After a few minutes of waiting, you step out of the alley as $kid is arriving.
[[Bump into him and spill the coffee on the two of you->bump]]
[[Grab his arm and pull him into the alley before the guard sees him->grab]]"Apparently," he grudgingly admits.
[[Stand there in awkward silence->silence]]
[["And isn't it nice to get in a little conversation? It must be awfully boring just standing by that door all day..."->boring]]"Is that so. Is this 'friend' anyone I would know?"
(if: $sanders)[ [["Sanders."->sanders]]
](if: $andre)[ [["Andre."->lol]]
](if: not $sanders and not $andre)[...This would work better if you had a name to give him...]"Well?" he fixes his gaze on you. "Are you leaving, or what?"
[[You sit down. "Really, I won't do any harm. Let me just wait a few more minutes?"->sit]]"You know what's worse than being bored?" he snaps back. "Getting harassed by wise-asses. Now beat it!"(if: $andre)[(set: $kid to "Andre")](else:)[(set: $kid to "the coffee guy")](if: $joey)[(set: $guard to "Joey")](else:)[(set: $guard to "the guard")]He's staring at you in disbelief as you settle against the side of the building when (if: not $coffee)[ a young man holding a coffee cup walks up.(set: $coffee to true)] (else:)[$kid walks up with the coffee.] "Hey... who's your friend?" he asks, glancing curiously at you.
"No one," $guard growls, snatching the coffee from his hand.
[["Wait, I'm not no one!" You jump to your feet and stick out your hand to $kid. "I'm J. Burgman." (You're not)->intro]]He frowns at you, a frown full of analysis and uncertainty. "Okay, so... who are you?"
(if: $sanders)[ [["I'm Sanders."->dumblie]]
]{(if: not $sanders)[[["Someone whose identity you don't need to know."->someone]]
](else:)[ [[Put on your best serious face. "Someone important."->door]] ]}(if: $joey)[(set: $guard to "Joey")](else:)[(set: $guard to "the guard")]Coffee drenches you both. "Hey!" $guard yells. "That was my fucking coffee!"
(if: $idiot)[ [[Do what $guard would do: "You idiot!" you shout at $kid. "Go get him another one!"->go]]
][["Oh, I'm so sorry! Let me go get you another one."->sorry]]
[["And this was my favorite shirt!"->shirt]](if: $andre)[(set: $kid to "Andre")](else:)[(set: $kid to "The coffee guy")]"Huh?" $kid seems absolutely baffled as you drag him into the alley, but he doesn't struggle. "What are you doing?"
(if: $andre)[ [["Andre, listen. I need your help."->need]]
](if: $elleman)[[["What do you know about Elleman?"->ask Elle]]
][["What can you tell me about that guy guarding the door?"->guy]]
[[Shush him and take the coffee ->take]]"Oh yeah?" He crosses his arms, looking at you skeptically.
[["Coffee."->coffee guess]]"Sanders? The fuck? Why would he..." He glances up at the windows of the higher stories, then down at the radio on his belt. "Nah, he would've told me." His gaze hardens.
(if: $elleman)[ [["Elleman isn't going to be happy when they hear about this..."->bluster]] ](else:)[Time to go.](set: $dumblie to true) His eyes narrows. "Fuck off, joker. I don't know what your game is, but I'm done with it."(set: $passphrase to true)"Come in, Sanders? Someone says they're waiting for you out here...?"
"Well, I'm not expecting anyone," a voice crackles back from the radio. "Did they say the passphrase?"
"...No."
"Then what the fuck are you bothering me for?!"
The connection goes dead. The guard glares at you. You're gonna need to figure out this passphrase...He snorts. "Yeah, well, everyone's hooked on coffee. It's hardly a vice."
(if: $andre)[ [["Yes, but you're so addicted you need Andre to bring you some every hour during your shift, right?"->every]]
](set: $C to true)(set: $A to true)"Not every-- Hey, how do you know about Andre? How do you know he brings me coffee?"
[["Because I'm one of you, asshole."->here]]
(if: $joey)[ [["Because I'm psychic, Joey."->psychic]]](set: $andre to true)"No," he grumbles, "just move along. Andre? Hurry up and get me another coffee!"(if: $joey)[(set: $guard to "Joey")](else:)[(set: $guard to "the guard")]"Oh shit," Andre whispers, staring at you with wide eyes. "You know my name. You're a spy. You're doing spy shit!"
[["Yes, that's right. Will you help me?"->help]]
[["Nope. No spy shit." You grab the coffee and go to $guard->take]]"Sorry," he answers, with... sympathy in his eyes? "Unfortunately, I can't let you inside."
[["But this was your employee's fault."->fault]]
[["Please? Just for a minute?"->minute]]"Unfortunately, he's the boss's nephew, so..."
(if: $sanders)[ [["You mean Sanders?"->mean]]
](if: $elleman)[ [["You mean Elleman?"->elle]]
][["Ah. Nepotism. Sucks."->sucks]]"He's not //my// employee. I wish I had that kinda power."
[["Oh yeah? What else would you do if you did?"->power]]His brow creases. "I gave you your answer already. Just go down the street."
Looks like this method is a no-go.He starts. "No, Sanders ain't the boss. Wait, how do you know that name?"
[["I'm one of you. That's why I'm here."->here]]"Sure does. I shoulda told him to get you a coffee too, to make up for the..." He gestures.
[["It's okay. I appreciate the thought."->appr]]
[["That's okay. But how about letting me inside to wash up?"->wallet]](set: $sanders to true)"I dunno, maybe put //Sanders// on guard duty for once. See how he likes it."
[["Sanders?"->askS]](set: $shate to true)"My dumbass co-worker. Got promoted over me, but whatever. Anyway..." He gives you an apologetic glance, but you've clearly been dismissed."All right well, hope you didn't have to be anywhere important." He returns to his post.(set: $wallet to true)He winces. "Sorry. No can do. But here..." He pulls out his wallet and hands you a $50 bill. "For dry cleaning."
Hmm. If you could get your hands on that wallet, maybe you could learn some more useful info..."...Hi," he says after a moment of studying your face. "Do I know you?"
(if: $andre)[ [["No, but I'm a friend of Andre's!"->lol]]
](if: $sanders)[ [["Only kind of. Sanders is a pal of mine."->pal]]
][["No, but I know you."->know]]He stares at you, mouth open.
[["So, yeah, you should let me inside. Or else I'm gonna use my brain powers to //make// you let me inside."->make]]
(if: $passphrase)[ [["And that's why you're going to tell me the passphrase. Because otherwise, I'll pull it from your mind and break your brain in the process."->break]] ]He narrows his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"
(if: $elleman)[ [["I'm from Elleman."->from]]
] [[You put on an innocent face. "Nothing."->innocent]]"I don't believe you," he finally blurts out. "You're not psychic."
(if: $sanders)[(link-reveal-goto: "\"Oh? Then how do I know you have a co-worker named Sanders?\"", "also")[(set: $S to true)]
](if: $elleman)[ (link-reveal-goto: "\"Oh? Then how do I know you work for Elleman?\"", "also")[(set: $E to true)]
](if: $coffee and not $andre)[(link-reveal-goto: "\"Oh? Then how do I know you're waiting for someone to bring you coffee?\"", "also")[(set: $C to true)]
](if: $andre)[(link-reveal-goto: "\"Oh? Then how do I know you're waiting for a kid named Andre to bring you coffee?\"", "also")[(set: $A to true)]] {
<!-- [[also]] --> }He frowns at you. "...Really? They didn't tell me they were sending anyone..."
(if: $andre)[ [["I'm here in Andre's place. He's sick. But no coffee for you today."->no]]
][["I don't care what you were or weren't told. I just need you to open the door."->door]](if: $andre)[(set: $kid to "Andre")](else:)[(set: $kid to "The coffee guy")](if: $joey)[(set: $guard to "Joey")](else:)[(set: $guard to "the guard")]$kid gapes at you as you hurry up to $guard. The man's eyes focus on the cup in your hand as you approach, then jump to your face. "Hey, who are you?"
[["Your new coffee deliverer!"->new]]
[[Drink the coffee->drink]](set: $drink to true)He stares at you. "The fuck!?"
(if: $passphrase)[ [["I'll buy you another one if you give me the passphrase."->if]]](else:)[...You're not sure what you were hoping to gain from this. It was good coffee, though.]"...Okay. What do you need me to do?"
(if: $passphrase)[ [["Tell me the passphrase."->tell]]
](link-goto: "\"Distract him.\"(if: $wallet)[ You could use the opportunity to pickpocket his wallet]", "distract"){
<!-- [[distract]] -->
}(set: $shate to true)"Aw, fuck. That bastard sent you here to fuck with me? Well, get lost, and tell him I'll deal with him later."(set: _ifcheck to false)"...There are other ways you coulda learned that," he says, but he shifts uncomfortably, and doesn't sound as confident.
(if: $sanders and not $S)[(set: _ifcheck to true)(link-reveal-goto: "\"I also know you have a co-worker named Sanders.\"", "also2")[(set: $S to true)]
](if: $elleman and not $E)[(set: _ifcheck to true)(link-reveal-goto: "\"I also know you work for Elleman.\"", "also2")[(set: $E to true)]
](if: $coffee and not $andre and not $C)[(set: _ifcheck to true)(link-reveal-goto: "\"I also know you're waiting for someone to bring you coffee.\"", "also2")[(set: $C to true)]
](if: $andre and not $A)[(set: _ifcheck to true)(link-reveal-goto: "\"I also know you're waiting for a kid named Andre to bring you coffee.\"", "also2")[(set: $A to true)]
](if: not _ifcheck)[...Unfortunately, you don't yet have any other info you could use to convince him...]{
<!-- [[also2]] --> }(set: $footer to false)(if: $pickles)[He straightens up immediately, regarding you with reserved curiosity. "Hoist the rotten sails at dawn." ]He keys in the keycode and the door opens.
You're in.
[[Congrats!]]{(set: $sidebar to false)(set: $footer to true)
**Achievements**
}
(text-color: yellow)[Solution 1: (if: $trick)[Ooooh Joey, I'm psychic!]
~~Solution 2:~~ (Removed)
Solution 3: (if: $poorandre)[Thanks, Andre!]
Solution 4: (if: $nopass)[Smooooth. You got in without (unless: $passphrase)[-redacted-](else:)[the passphrase!]]
(if: $rtcount is <= 20)[-You got inside in 20 loops or fewer!
](else:)[?
](if: $drink)[-Mmm. You taste-tested the coffee.
](else:)[?
](if: $dumblie)[-You told the worst, most pointless lie.
](else:)[?
](if: $secret)[-You told Joey your secret identity!
](else:) [?]]
=><=
(text-color: white)[**Reset count: (print: $rtcount)**]
{<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkJfun_639IYOCOF3iSxYaospsAG9Ldf5NMG6wntqGR9pvCA/viewform?embedded=true" width="640" height="1451" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading…</iframe>
}If you'd like to keep playing...Andre swallows and glances around nervously. "But... shouldn't you already know it? If you're, you know, one of us?"
(if: $elleman)[ [["Elleman forgot to give me the updated one."->forgot]]
](if: $sanders)[ [["Dumb old Sanders gave me the wrong one."->dumb]]
][["...I'm not actually technically one of you, but I really need to get in there."->really]]"Okay..." Andre goes on to $guard, pretends to trip, and spills the coffee on him. (if: $joey)[(set: $guard to "Joey")](else:)[(set: $guard to "The guard")]$guard throws up his hands, swearing and shouting at Andre.
(if: $wallet)[ [["Gentlemen, is something wrong here?" you say as you walk up to them, putting one hand on $guard's shoulder while swiping his wallet with the other->steal]]
][[Take the opportunity to study the door's keypad while $guard is distracted->keypad]](if: $joey)[(set: $guard to "Joey")](else:)[(set: $guard to "the guard")]"No," $guard says through clenched teeth. "Just leave us alone."
(set: $joey to true)You do, taking the wallet back to the alley, where you look through it. A couple of $50 bills, a driver's license identifying the man as Joey Thompson--and that's it.He looks at you with increasing anger in his eyes. "Fuck you. Get out of here before I make you.""Oh shit." He straightens up. "Well, what did you need?"
[["To get inside."->inside]]Now he glares at you and steps forward menacingly. "All right, I've had enough of this nonsense."He shifts his weight, a scowl forming on his face. "Oh yeah? Then what the fuck are you here for?"
(if: $passphrase)[ [["I need to get inside. And they forgot to give me the stupid passphrase, so just let me in, okay?->just]]](else:)[...You're not sure where you were going with this...](set: $button to true)(set: $joey to true)(set: $watched to true)(if: $andre)[(set: $kid to "Andre")](else:)[(set: $kid to "the coffee guy")]You wait a few minutes so you can spy on how this interaction would go without your presence. "Hey, Joey," $kid says as he walks up. "Got your joe! Ha, get it?"
(if: $andre)[(set: $kid to "Andre")](else:)[(set: $kid to "The coffee guy")]Joey takes the coffee roughly without a word. "Get lost." $kid slinks off the way he came.
[[Approach the guard now. "Hi, Joey."->hi]]{(if: $joey)[(set: $guard to "Joey")](else:)[(set: $guard to "The guard")]
"Nice to meet you," $kid says, shaking your hand. "I'm Andre."
(set: $andre to true)}
$guard grabs Andre by the shoulder. "Quit with the socializing. And you"--he rounds on you--"//get lost//."
Time to go."Okay..." His expression shifts toward irritation; he seems impatient with your vagueness. "And what exactly do you mean by that?"
(if: $elleman)[ [["We have a... mutual acquaintance." (You mean Elleman.)->elleman]]
][["I'm pyschic, Joey."->psychic]]His posture relaxes at that, and he rolls his eyes. "Yeah, right. Fuck off, loser."
Hmm. This might work better if you knew more...(set: $pickles to true)(set: $trick to true)"... Fuck." He stares at you with wide eyes, looking either awed or frightened or both. "All right, all right, I believe you! The passphrase is 'blueberry pickles at midnight.' "
You grin at him. "Much appreciated."(set: _ifcheck to false)"That still doesn't prove you're psychic!" He sounds, and looks, a little desperate now. Like he doesn't want to believe you, but soon he might not be able to help it...
(if: $sanders and not $S)[(set: _ifcheck to true)(link-reveal-goto: "\"And I know you have a co-worker named Sanders.\"", "tricky")[(set: $S to true)]
](if: $elleman and not $E)[(set: _ifcheck to true)(link-reveal-goto: "\"And I know you work for Elleman.\"", "tricky")[(set: $E to true)]
](if: $coffee and not $andre and not $C)[(set: _ifcheck to true)(link-reveal-goto: "\"And I know you're waiting for someone to bring you coffee.\"", "tricky")[(set: $C to true)]
](if: $andre and not $A)[(set: _ifcheck to true)(link-reveal-goto: "\"And I know you're waiting for a kid named Andre to bring you coffee.\"", "tricky")[(set: $A to true)]
](if: not _ifcheck)[Unfortunately, you don't yet have any other info you could use to convince him...]{
<!-- [[tricky]] --> }His brow furrows into a grimace. "Suuuure you do. I bet he just sent you here to fuck with me. Get lost."
...Oops.He takes a menacing step toward you. "Actually, I can, so beat it."
Time to go."Y-yes sir," $kid stammers. "I will." He scurries off, and then $guard's attention turns back to you.
"Well?" he demands. "What are you still doing here?"
No reason to stick around this loop any longer.(if: $joey)[(set: $guard to "Joey")](else:)[(set: $guard to "The guard")](if: $andre)[(set: $kid to "Andre")](else:)[(set: $kid to "The coffee guy")]$kid runs off, and $guard watches him with a scowl before turning to you. "Sorry about that. He's //useless//."
(if: $elleman)[ [["Agreed. Elleman should fire him already."->elle fire]]
][["Sure is. I'd fire him if I were you."->fire]]
[["No kidding." You make a show of looking down at your coffee-soaked clothes. "Could I use your bathroom to wash up?"->bathroom]](set: $passphrase to true)"Oh! Well then, just gimme the passphrase..."
...Oops. This play might not work after all... but at least now you know you need a passphrase to get in.{(set: $sidebar to false)(set: $footer to false)
<center>**You're a dumbass time agent!!**</center>
}
You complete your missions by fucking around until you stumble on a solution. You can say and do whatever nonsense you want, because you'll be able to reset time and make it so it never happened. (You still avoid getting hurt, though, because that's no fun.)
=><=
[[Begin your next mission->reset]](unless: $footer is false)[<br>
{(unless: $button is false)[(button: "=X=")[(link-reveal-goto: "Reset time", "reset")[(set: $rtcount to it + 1)]]]}
]{
(if: $arrows is false)[(replace: ?Sidebar)[]]
}(append: ?Sidebar)[**You know...**
(if: $joey)[Guard's name: Joey (set: $guard to "Joey")
](if: $sanders)[Co-worker's name: Sanders
](if: $shate)[$guard dislikes Sanders
](if: $elleman)[Employer's name: Elleman
](if: $coffee)[Coffee is on the way
](if: $andre)[Coffee guy's name: Andre
](if: $passphrase)[Need passphrase to get in
](if: $joey is false and $sanders is false and $elleman is false and $coffee is false and $andre is false and $passphrase is false) [Nothing. For now.]]"All right, all right, I'll call him and check." He grabs his radio.
[[Wait while he makes the call->call]]His frown deepens. "Oh yeah? Prove it."
...Unfortunately, you cannot.(set: $nopass to true)He lets out a "Heh" at that, his face softening. "All right, all right. Go on inside."
(link-goto: "\"Excellent, thank you.\"", "open")(if: $joey)[(set: $guard to "Joey")](else:)[(set: $guard to "the guard")]Unfortunately, you don't gain any insights from this examination, and after a minute, $guard notices you. "Hey. Get away from there."He just grunts. "The cops'll be on my side if I tell them you've been hanging around harrassing me."
Looks like this isn't gonna get you anywhere...{(if: $joey)[(set: $guard to "Joey")](else:)[(set: $guard to "the guard")](if: $andre)[(set: $kid to "Andre")](else:)[(set: $kid to "the coffee guy")]
Now you've got him speechless. But after a second, his attention shifts to something behind you, and you turn to see (if: not $coffee)[a young man holding a cup of coffee approaching.](else:)[$kid approaching with coffee in hand.]} "Finally," $guard says, stepping forward to take the coffee. (set: $coffee to true)
"Sorry," $kid says sheepishly. "Long line." His eyes move to you. "Who's your friend?"
[[Let the guard answer->answer]]
[["Hi!" You stick out your hand to $kid. "I'm J. Burgman." (You're not)->intro]]{(if: $andre)[(set: $kid to "Andre")](else:)[(set: $kid to "The coffee guy")]
"No one," $guard growls. "They were just leaving." $kid gulps and steps back. Time to go.}(set: $sanders to true)"...Hmm. I'm gonna call upstairs." He pulls a radio from his belt. "Hey, Sanders? Someone's here, says they're from Elleman?"
"What are you calling me for?" a voice crackles back. "You know how to tell if they're legit."
"Right, of course." The connection goes dead, and the guard levels his gaze at you, waiting..
(if: $pickles)[(link-goto: "\"Blueberry pickles at midnight.\"", "open")
](else:)[...You've got nothing.]He glares at you. "No, they don't. Now scram!"
Time to go.He shrugs, taking a step back, wide-eyed. "I dunno. He's grumpy a lot? Likes coffee? I have to bring this to him, he'll be mad..."
He edges away from you. Might as well let the poor kid do his job.(set: $elleman to true)"Well, you're //late//. Is Elleman only capable of hiring fuckups these days?" he grumbles as he takes the coffee from you. After a long drink, he gives you a look. "What are you hanging around for? Scram!"His face hardens. "That kid's having his friends come around here now? Boy, am I going to have words for him (if: (history:)'s 2ndlast is "watch")[next time he shows up..."](else:)[when he finally gets here..."]
(if: (history:)'s 2ndlast is "watch")[Welp. It was worth a try.](else:)[Better reset before you make Andre face an extra helping of this guy's wrath...]"Because I said so." His glare deepens. Better get going..."What?" He squints at you in utter confusion. "No, Elleman's... what? Who the fuck...?"
(link-reveal: "\"I'm a secret agent trying to infiltrate your base!\"")[
Immediately after saying that, you:(set: $secret to true)](set: $andre to true)"Fucking hell, Andre," $guard mutters, casting $kid a dirty look.
"Sorry!" Andre exclaims, darting off with fear in his eyes. He calls over his shoulder, "I'll get you another one!"
[["Ugh," you say, looking down at your coffee-soaked clothes. "Clumsy fucker. Could I use your bathroom to wash up?"->bathroom]]As you near $guard, you pretend to trip and stumble into him. "Watch it!" he exclaims, roughly shoving you away--before you have a chance to snag the wallet.
Maybe this would work if you had a better distraction...He looks at you wide-eyed, a little fearful, and takes a step back. "I can't talk about them, I'll get in trouble!" He hurries off with the coffee."Um..." He takes a step back, then another, back toward the street. "Sorry. I can't help you!"
...And he's gone."...They wouldn't do that," he says slowly, hunching his shoulders and giving you a suspicious look before bursting into a sprint toward $guard. "Joey! Joey! Someone's trying to sneak in!"
...Well, that didn't exactly go the way you hoped...(set: $pickles to true)(set: $poorandre to true)"Ohhhh, okay. Well then..." He glances around and lowers his voice. "It's 'blueberry pickles at midnight.'"
"Thanks, bud. You've done good." Better clean the slate before you try it, just to be safe.You suddenly have his full attention, a contemplative frown appearing on his face as he regards you. "Oh. Sorry, I didn't realize you were..." He lowers his voice. "One of us."
(if: $passphrase)[[["Sure am. Heading to a meeting elsewhere, and I don't have the passphrase to get in here, but do you think you could let me in to wash up quick?"->elsewhere]]
][["Indeed I am, and in fact, I need to get inside."->door]]He shifts uncomfortably, glancing from you to the door. "Look, I'd love to say yes, but I really shouldn't let you in without the passphrase..."
{(if: $shate)[ [["Aw, come on man, don't be like that asshole Sanders."->ahole]]
](else:)[Damn. Looks like you're need to keep trying.]}{(set: $arrows to true)
}tw-passage {
background: black;
padding: 30px;
border-radius: 20px;
}