it's dark. [[what's the plan, chief?->plan]]"get in, get out, celebration bubble tea in the morning", she says. you might have seen something flicker in her eyes. "you always say that", you retort. (click: "you always say that")[ "well, we always do get in. we always do get out. and i always bring extra bubble tea because you always want two flavours." you space out for a bit. the "pop!" of a straw stabbing the top of the bubble tea. sweet lychee and smoky oolong. high fives with your mouth full of pearls. "...blango had to get a bigger picnic basket becau-" "okay, okay, i get the point" (click: "okay, okay, i get the point")[ [[who's watching the doors?]] [[can i drive this time?]] [[do they know?]] ]]"blango, while you and i sneak in the back, dressed as waitstaff. the clothes from last time should still fit", she barks (click: "blango")[blango looks at you and toots confidently.] (click: "waitstaff")["don't give me that look, you look cute in a bow tie"] [[this better be worth it]] "i mean, not really" (click-replace: "not really")[nothing important] (click-replace: "nothing important")[nothing they didn't already know] (click-replace: "nothing they didn't already know")[what's the point in worrying about it?] [[this better be worth it]] "//worth// it? tomorrow morning we're gonna be absolutely //smashing// celebration bubble teas like it's a crispy summer afternoon", she says. ["yum, but-"], you interrupt. (click: "yum, but-")["besides, it's not like we're doing anything //wrong//", she swiftly interrupts back. "i didn't say we were..." (click: "i didn't say we were...")["...and, we're not!" there's a short pause. ] (click: "...and, we're not!")["...are we?"] (click: "...are we?")["of course not!", she exclaims. "it's more like sneaking into the //cultural// tunnels under the //cultural// city with barrels of //cultural// gunpowder in a plot to //culturally// detonate //cultural// parliament to //culturally// assassinate the //cultural// king." she stops to take a breath. "are you buying this?" [["actually, yeah"->agree]] [["i have to go"->disagree]] ] ]"you //always// say that, and we're taking the train" [[this better be worth it]] "you got everything packed?" "yeah, i think so" <script> var url = "https://ipapi.co/json"; fetch(url) .then(response => response.json()) .then(yum=>{ var city = yum.city; document.hmmmCity = city; }) </script> (click: "yeah, i think so")[ "blango?", she says. blango toots briskly, which your brain translates as the equivalent of a short nod. she goes on. "we only get one shot, so.... let's not mess it up. you //sure// you didn't forget anything? it's a long way back to <span id="city">your place</span>, and if you "accidentally" forget the bow ties again, nobody's going to believe you." <script> var city = document.hmmmCity; var postal = document.hmmmPostal; if (city) { document.getElementById("city").textContent = city; } if (postal) { document.getElementById("postal").textContent = postal; } </script> "that was different. oh, and now that you mention it, i think i forgot-" [["the glow in the dark stars"]] [["to floss my teeth, just a sec"]] [["my googly eyes"]] [["...something. i can't remember"]] {(live: 2s)[ (if: time > 15s)[ [["hold on, how did you know where i live?"]] ]]} ] "//heck// yeah", she says. she looks up triumphantly, closes her eyes, and silently fist pumps. (display: "pack")"whatever, your day job is super boring and always has been, so i know you're gonna come anyway", she rattles off. her posture softens, and the corners of her mouth turn upward. (display: "pack")you pop to the bathroom and hit your teeth with the minty string waltz. [[well, that's that->end]]was it...? were you supposed to....? ah, well. [[it's probably nothing->end]]she throws her hands up in the air. "see! we would have gone to all this trouble without even leaving a calling card!" [["i'll bring them, don't worry"->end]]"there's gotta be a better way to cover your camera," she says. [["ah, but this way is //cuter//"->end]]all packed and ready. only thing left to do now is [[wait]]it's still dark. {(live: 1s)[ (if: time > 3s)[ <a style="color: white; text-decoration; none": href="https://purplecon.nz">go back</a> ]]}"what?" she snaps. her mouth is smiling, but her eyes aren't. "it's a long way back, you said. but i've never told you where I lived," you say cautiously. (click: "i've never told you where I lived")[ the silence stretches. "it's okay," she reassures you. you somehow feel a little better. she goes on. "you can learn a lot of secrets by being a particularly good listener. one day, when i get bored of doing this, maybe i'll show you how." ... <hr> <a style="color: white; text-decoration; none": href="https://purplecon.nz">go back</a>]