Grocery Shopping for One

Welcome to Grocery Shopping for One. This game was made for Jam Sandwich 2018 over a period of 30 hours by (colour:green)[Benjamin Williams] (writing and coding) and (colour:blue+white)[Natasha Anderson] (art). The theme of the jam was "Good Old Days". Start the game by clicking [[here->Apartment 1]].

Tristan threw off his backpack as he entered his dark apartment. He reluctantly flipped the lights, and fell face first onto his bed. This door-bed proximity was one of the small benefits of his new studio apartment. "Work was miserable as usual," Tristan thought to himself, releasing a short groan into his duvet. "HR sounded so good on paper; a bit of paperwork, a handful of emails. No-one mentioned that the head of department was a spiteful old cow. Plus with all the investigations going on, everyone is too scared to talk to me." Tristan picked himself up and went over to his fridge. He opened it expectantly, only to be greeted by yellow broccoli, a near-empty bottle of cheap rosé and the industrial-sized block of cheddar donated by his mother. Mrs. Chrysler was a kind woman but was surprisingly oblivious to her surroundings. "Thanks Mum," thought Tristan, finishing the last sip of wine. "Most people give plants but, on reflection, cheese is defintely the ideal house-warming gift. His father used to buy all the gifts, even his own. Anyway, I need proper food." [[To the Supermarket->Outside 1]] (set:$mental to -1) (set:$health to 0) (set:$excitement to 0) (set:$apathy to 0)

The supermarket was well-lit and fairly empty, with only a handful of patrons wandering the aisles. Tristan grabbed a small trolley and threw his bags into it. He considers taking off his coat, but he can't imagine being here for long. Tristan's routine is unwavering. He goes through supermarkets following the same route every time. Vegetables, then main meals, carbohydrates then a drink. Even at university, his friends made fun of him for it but it never fazed him. Tristan rolls through the first couple of aisles; newspapers and magazines, relics of a bygone era. Festive decorations, better suited for those with people to celebrate with. He headed to the fresh fruit and vegetables. As inconsistent as his eating habits could be, Tristan has always been a fan of fruit and often feels like he should be healthier, and that nagging sensation always pushes him into the [[grocery aisle->Grocery aisle 1]].

Tristan never looks forward to grocery shopping, but always takes pleasure in it. Something about picking food for the days ahead affords him a sense of calm. It is like art in a way; no-one buys the same thing. Like interior design for your refrigerator. Tristan arrived at Lefty's supermarket, a bundle of plastic bags in hand. It's a fairly big shop with plenty of variety, not like the crappy mini-mart at the corner of his street. The clerks were much friendlier, and didn't judge him based on his purchases. "A grown man can buy 4 bottles of wine," Tristan thought indignantly, "like if they had a lot of dinner parties to go to, or they were hosting a wine tasting, or something." "Ok, I should buy food, I need food to live, and living is generally useful," he mumbled dryly. Feeling the cold, he [[went inside->Entrance 1]].

The fresh produce looks so good, but it was difficult to buy for just one person. Tristan often talks himself out of buying punnets of grapes or heads of lettuce because he knows he won't finish them. Standing alone in the aisle, Tristan puts his hand to his chin, theatrically stroking his non-existent beard. "So what would I like today? [[Hmm...->Grocery Choice 1]]"

Having selected the cruciferous vegetable, Tristan felt like it was more of a burden than a delicacy: one cabbage contains a lot of cabbage. Tristan thinks he can look up a fun cabbage recipe online, even if fun and cabbage do not sound like words that belong together. [[Next, the fridge aisle->Fridge Aisle 1]]. (set:$health to it + 2) (set:$apathy to it - 2) (set:$excitement to it - 2) (set:$grocery to 'cabbage')

As he looked at the firm white cabbage, Sam mused to himself "(either:"What does cabbage taste like again?","It looks like a shiny pearl except with more veins.", "It looks more like a ball than a vegetable, I bet I could hurl it pretty far.")" [[Back to the aisle->Grocery Choice 1]] [[Take the cabbage->Cabbage 1]]

Carefully placing the orange in his trolley, Tristan rolled out of the aisle. He was happy with his choice, however, he knew that he might forget about the orange and it might sit and rot in his fruit bowl over the coming weeks. Next...[[the fridge aisle.->Fridge Aisle 1]] (set:$health to it + 1) (set:$apathy to it - 1) (set:$grocery to 'orange')

Looking at the citrus fruit Sam thought "(either: "The orange's skin is swelling with sweet, acidic juice. It looks so juicy that it might burst.", "I remember eating oranges when I was a kid, making smiles out of the skin.", "I usually prefer orange juice, but I guess eating the fruit itself is more natural.")" [[Back to aisle->Grocery Choice 1]] [[Take the orange->Orange 1]]

Tristan made a small grin as he picked up the little bunch of bananas. The phallic fruit brought back lots of memories of ridiculous arguments with his parents. They would buy a big bunch for the family to share, but by the time one of them wanted one, they were all gone. "I think if I tried that now, I'd be sick," Tristan said to himself. "Now I need an actual [[main course->Fridge Aisle 1]]." (set:$health to it + 1) (set:$apathy to it + 1) (set:$grocery to 'banana')

As Tristan eyed up the best bananas in the crate, he thought about (either: "how something so soft and mushy could survive over such a long importing process.", "how he ate so many bananas when he was a child that his parents used to hide them.", "potassium. He didn't know what it did, but it was good for you and was in bananas.") [[Back to the aisle->Grocery Choice 1]] [[Take the bananas->Banana 1]]

Tristan grabbed the apple firmly. He thought about rubbing it against his jacket, then realised he wasn't going to eat it yet so it would be a waste of time. He dropped the apple into his trolley and started looking for the [[refrigerated section->Fridge Aisle 1]]. (set:$health to it + 2) (set:$apathy to it + 1) (set:$excitement to it - 1) (set:$grocery to 'apple')

Looking at the crispy green apple, Tristan thought, "(either: "It's just an apple, but it looks tastier than most.", "I tried that 'Apple a day' thing back in primary school, I lost my teeth so fast.", "Don't apple seeds contain cyanide? Can't be much, I imagine...")" [[Back to the aisle->Grocery Choice 1]] [[Take the apple->Apple 1]]

(colour: grey)[. . . . . . . . .] (colour: red + black)[As apathetic as Tristan could be, he was loath to spend money on unnecessary takeaways, even to the extent of not eating and going to bed early. One of the reasons why he adopted such a strict supermarket route was the memory of a particularly miserable December night in student lodgings without any heating or food. He shivers just thinking about it. Or it could be from the refrigerated aisle. Who knows.] [[What to buy...->Fridge Choice 1]]

Tristan considered the produce in front of him. A shiny green [[apple->Apple 1]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Apple 1]] was jumping out at him, however there was also a tempting [[orange->Orange 1]]. [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Orange 1]] There was a small bunch of perfectly ripe [[bananas->Banana 1]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Banana 1]] beside them. Even the [[white cabbage->Cabbage 1]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Cabbage 1]] looked crisp and delicious.

(colour: grey)[. . . . . . . . .] (colour: red + black)[Tristan looked at the variety of protein available to him. There was a chilled [[rotisserie chicken->Chicken 1]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Chicken 1]] that looked tender, with crispy skin. There was also some fresh [[shellfish->Shellfish 1]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Shellfish 1]]that would make a fantastic stir-fry, or salad. There was a variety of microwaveable [[ready meals->Ready Meal 1]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Ready Meal 1]]. There's a new flavour: lamb rogan josh. Finally, there was some [[minced beef->Mince 1]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Mince 1]]: a reliable student staple that never loses its charm.]

(colour: grey)[. . . . . . . . .] (colour: red + black)[Tristan scooped up the tastiest-looking chicken with both hands and carefully placed it in his trolley. It was a bit big, but he reasoned that he could keep it for a few meals. Assuming he could exert some self-control, which was highly debateable. The chocolate raisin disaster of 2017 serves as a cautionary tale for Tristan as well as his flatmates at the time. However, he knew he couldn't just eat chicken by itself, so he headed to the] [[dry food aisle->Cupboard Aisle 1]] (set:$health to it - 1) (set:$apathy to it + 2) (set:$excitement to it + 1) (set:$fridge to 'chicken')

(colour: grey)[. . . . . . . . .] (colour: red + black)[Tristan eyed up the roast chicken and (either:"thought about the family Sunday roasts that, more often than not, devolved into a screaming match, followed by a tense silence.", "leered at the juicy drumsticks. Dark meat was always better than white meat.", "pictured himself ripping the carcass open with his bare hands and tearing off chunks like an animal. 'It would be fun, but is it worth making all the mess?' Tristan pondered.")] [[Back to aisle->Fridge Choice 1]] [[Take the chicken->Chicken 1]]

(colour: grey)[. . . . . . . . .] (colour: red + black)[Against his better judgement, Tristan put a packet of prawns in his basket. He knew that it would be difficult to prepare, and he would have to look up a recipe, but it's good to cook something new every so often. "Variety is the spice of life," he thought to himself. Tristan put black pepper on pretty much everything, so pepper was more his spice of life, but he felt like trying something new regardless. "What goes well with prawns..." he said thoughtfully, heading towards] [[the dry food aisle->Cupboard Aisle 1]] (set:$health to it + 1) (set:$apathy to it - 2) (set:$fridge to 'shellfish')

(colour: grey)[. . . . . . . . .] (colour: red + black)[Tristan picked up the shellfish and inspected the package closely. (either:"The prawns were almost translucent, their flesh was firm but yielded to to the touch.","The prawns were surprisingly big, nothing like the shrimp cocktails he would prepare for his parents' dinner parties.","The prawns looked like they did on TV. He wonders whether he could make tempura, and whether it would look taste as good as it looked.")] [[Back to aisle->Fridge Choice 1]] [[Take the shellfish->Shellfish 1]]

(colour: grey)[. . . . . . . .] (colour: red + black)[Tristan seized a Rojan Josh from its ranks and slung it into the trolley. He liked Indian food, and he knew most of the other flavours, so why not? Everyone has a sphere of expertise: Tristan knew a lot about ready meals. Where to pierce them for perfect heat distribution, the different microwave settings, the best ones to eat cold. He used to give advice (often unasked for) to his flatmates about using the microwave. "If you want to do something right, you should copy an expert." Tristan reasoned to himself. Ready meals were often too small, so he would subsidise his dinner with something [[from the carbohydrate aisle->Cupboard Aisle 1]].] (set:$health to it - 1) (set:$apathy to it + 3) (set:$fridge to 'ready meal')

(colour: grey)[. . . . . . . . .] (colour: red + black)[The ready meals were lined up along the fridge, like knights ready for battle, each one protected by cardboard armour. (either: "Tristan thought back to the pile of ready meals that he would buy before exam season, and the terrible diarrhoea caused by a Turkey Tuna Pasta Bake.", "Tristan wondered who designs these meals and how unnatural they are. He questioned whether you could cook them over an open fire.", "Tristan picked up a random one and shook it up. The white sauce pooled slowly to the transparent lid, revealing a very unappetising pair of stuffed cannolonis.")] [[Back to aisle->Fridge Choice 1]] [[Take the ready meal->Ready Meal 1]]

(colour: grey)[. . . . . . . . .] (colour: red + black)[He grabbed the minced meat and dropped it into the trolley. What was he going to make with it? He would have to think of something when he got home, but he was excited for it. It was very much a comfort food for Tristan, no matter what form it ended up taking. Plus, he could make two portions with the pound of meat, and save himself from cooking again. Unless he was really hungry. Or drunk. Or both... "Now, what should I have with it..." Tristan pondered, his finger on his lips. He walked over to the] [[carbohydrates aisle->Cupboard Aisle 1]]. (set:$excitement to it + 2) (set:$fridge to 'mince')

(colour: grey)[. . . . . . . . .] (colour: red + black)[The bright red minced meat shone like a traffic light. It was so fresh it made all of the other packets look frozen. (either: "Tristan always liked mince, it was so flexible. You want a pie? Mince and puff pastry? Only have mince? Chili con carne. What a food.", "Mince has always been apart of Tristan's life. Family meals like cottage pie, student meals like spaghetti bolognese, the possibilities were endless.","Some people argued spam and corned were better, because you can eat them raw. Tristan knew better, his mum told him spam caused cancer, so he wasn't going to risk it so he stuck to mince.")] [[Back to aisle->Fridge Choice 1]] [[Take the mince->Mince 1]]

(colour:grey)[ Leaving the wall-to-wall fridges behind, Tristan unzipped his coat and rolled his trolley to the dry foods aisle. He often held a large reserve of carbohydrates, pasta or potatoes or something, but after spending days not leaving the house, his supplies had been depleted.] (colour:black)[Tristan thought back to the week he ate 3 kilos of pasta, "I was still moving in and it was so easy to make. All of my other pans were still in the boxes somewhere. It was really weighing down on my stomach by the 4th day though. Felt like shit by the end." Either way, still need to] [[stock up->Cupboard Choice 1]].

(colour:grey)[ Tristan looked through the dry goods in front of him. The [[pasta->Pasta 1]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Pasta 1]] came in a variety of styles, but he knew he was a fusili man. There was something new on the top shelf, [[quinoa?->Quinoa 1]]. [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Quinoa 1]] Sounds tasty, why not? Of course, there were a variety of [[potatoes->Potato 1]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Potato 1]] in sacks and boxes. The [[bread->Bread 1]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Bread 1]] looked soft, but would contribute to Tristan's reliance on cheese-on-toast.]

(colour:grey)[ Tristan grabbed a big bag of pasta and dropped it into his trolley. He promises himself that he won't eat all of it in 2 days. Unless he has a really good reason. Like if his battle-axe boss shouts at him all day. Or an actor from an old sitcom dies. Now for something to] [[wash it down->Drinks Aisle 1]]. (set:$apathy to it + 2) (set:$excitement to it + 1) (set:$cupboard to 'pasta') (if: $fridge is 'mince')[(set:$excitement to it + 1) (set:$mental to it + 1) ]

(colour:grey)[ Browsing the pasta shelf, Tristan thought back to (either: "his first days of university and cooking pasta three to four times a week.", "his mother's lasagna, made only on special occasions.", "the terrible mishap with his favourite t-shirt and the tomato sauce that made him vomit all over it.")] [[Back to the aisle->Cupboard Choice 1]] [[Take the pasta->Pasta 1]]

(colour: grey)[ After taking a small jar of the quinoa, Tristan was already nervous about his decision. What if it tasted terrible? Or was really hard to cook? Or was for dogs? "Oh well," he sighed, "We'll see." Now for something to] [[quench his thirst->Drinks Aisle 1]] (set:$health to it + 2) (set:$apathy to it - 2) (set:$excitement to it - 1) (set:$cupboard to 'quinoa')

(colour:grey)[ Tristan considered the unfamiliar... grain, "(either: "Is it a cereal? I could Google it... Maybe later.", "It comes in a jar, that must mean it's good for you because it is too natural to be in plastic.", "I bet it would feel nice to run my hands through, or to play in Scrabble.")" ] [[Back to the aisle->Cupboard Choice 1]] [[Take some quinoa->Quinoa 1]]

(colour:grey)[ Tristan grabbed a pair of potatoes from one of the sacks and dropped them into his trolley. He wondered about that potato gun he saw on TV when he was a kid, and made a mental note to check eBay when he got home. Carbs bought, now time for] [[a drink->Drinks Aisle 1]] (set:$health to it - 1) (set:$apathy to it + (random:-1,1)) (set:$excitement to it + (random:-2,2)) (set:$cupboard to 'potatoes')

(colour: grey)[ Tristan approached the potatoes, grabbed one and rolled it around in his hands. (either: "He gave it a good whiff. It didn't smell of anything, maybe a little bit like dirt. He put it down and wiped his hands on his jeans.", "He picked up a second potato and tried to juggle the two. They collided in mid-air and fell to the ground. Tristan nudged the fallen potatoes away with his feet.", "He squeezed the potato. It yielded slightly. Tristan wondered if that meant anything, like it does for avocados, and put the potato down.")] [[Back to the aisle->Cupboard Choice 1]] [[Take some potatoes->Potato 1]]

(colour: grey)[ Tristan looked through the loaves, checking the expiration date. If he was going to buy a big loaf, he didn't want it to go bad over the next couple of days. Now he just needs] [[a drink.->Drinks Aisle 1]] (set:$health to it - 1) (set:$apathy to it + 1) (set:$excitement to it - 2) (set:$cupboard to 'bread')

(colour:grey)[ Sorting through the loaves, Tristan wondered about (either: "how hard it was to make bread when he tried it with his flatmates.", "what a flax seed was, and why it was stuck to the top of one of brown breads.", "how many pieces of toast he had eaten in the aftermath of his many drunken nights out.")] [[Back to the aisle->Cupboard Choice 1]] [[Take a loaf->Bread 1]]

(text-colour:black)[ Looking at his trolley, the $grocery held in place between the side and the $fridge, with the $cupboard on the other side, Tristan wondered what sort of drink would go best with his previous choices. He never used to be a big fan of alcohol, only drinking on social occasions while at university. However, as he grew more disenfranchised, his taste for it increased. He always knew which cheap wine to buy because he had tried many of the others within its price range. At least buying in bulk saved him money. Tristan pushed the trolley, almost excitedly, into] [[the drinks aisle->Drinks Choice 1]].

(text-colour:black)[ Tristan browsed the seemingly endless rows of bottles. The [[sparkling water->Sparkling 1]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Sparkling 1]] looked like plastic champagne bottles: fancy but also cheap. Tristan liked the bitterness. There was a new [[craft cider->Cider 1]] . [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Cider 1]] from one of the local producers. It's important to help local businesses, after all. Of course, there was the usual variety of [[colas->Cola 1]], [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Cola 1]] some with lime, others were caffeine free. Tristan thought they all kind of tasted the same. The [[wine bottles->Wine 1]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Wine 1]] were grouped by colour and country of origin. The cheaper bottles were always on the lower shelves. Tristan thought that maybe there was some symbolism in that.]

(text-colour:black)[ He placed the plastic bottle into the trolley without agitating it too much. One of the benefits of his route: fizzy drinks spent the least amount of time in the cart. Sometimes his fruit gets squished, but he'd go back and get a different one when that happens. Everything seems good today though, no hiccups. "Let's [[go and pay->Checkout 1]] then." Tristan mumbled.] (set:$drink to 'sparkling')

(text-colour:black)[ Tristan always thought that people were sleeping on sparkling water. He always found that (either: "the bitterness was an excellent palate-cleanser and the bubbles cleared your throat.","it went excellently with every alcohol, not just gin. He used to mix lots of drinks with it back at university.","it was quite helpful to have around the house, especially for getting ketchup stains out of clothes.")] [[Back to aisle->Drinks Choice 1]] [[Take a bottle of sparkling water->Sparkling 1]]

(text-colour:black)[ "It better taste good, for the price." grumbled Tristan under his breath. He laid the bottle against the back of the trolley and looked back at the bottles of wine he had left behind. He thought perhaps that wine was not so sophisticated, craft ciders could be the most mature bottle on the market. It's comparable to that whole 'real ale' business, probably. Cutting off his wandering thoughts, Tristan headed to the] [[checkout->Checkout 1]] (set:$health to it - 2) (set:$excitement to it + 1) (set:$drink to 'cider')

(text-colour:black)[ This new cider looked quite interesting. There was a handful of independent cider-makers in this part of the country, they often made pressed juice as well. (either:"This time they had made a mixed fruit cider, with raspberry and pear. Sounds tasty!","Their logo used to be a pig with an apple in its mouth, until their rebranding. It's now an apple in a headband and sunglasses.","The bottles are clear, but the cider is so cloudy that you can't see all the way through it.")] [[Back to aisle->Drinks Choice 1]] [[Take a bottle of cider->Cider 1]]

(text-colour:black)[ Tristan grabbed a bulky 2 litre bottle of cola with lime. He wouldn't be able to taste the difference, but it was 75 pence cheaper. He thought about how few things have a lime flavour. The only other one that came to mind was Starburst. He nestled the heavy bottle against the $cupboard and headed towards the] [[checkout->Checkout 1]]. (set:$health to it - 1) (set:$apathy to it + 1) (set:$excitement to it + 1) (set:$drink to 'cola')

(text-colour:black)[ Tristan likes cola but does not buy it often. He drank a lot of it as a child, (either:"which got him in trouble with the dentist. But at least he lost his teeth the quickest out of all his friends.","which turned him off desserts, because they would always make the cola taste less sweet.","which made him belch non-stop. He became rather well-known for the volume and resonance of his burps at university.")] [[Back to aisle->Drinks Choice 1]] [[Take a bottle of cola->Cola 1]]

(text-colour:black)[ Feeling almost poetic, Tristan mused aloud, "Ah, the peculiarly-shaped bottle of Mateus. Its form is only out-classed by its flavour. Its majesty... is... umm..." He stops abruptly, unable to think of something suitable to finish the verse. He checks whether anyone else witnessed this catastrophic failure. Fortunately, he is standing alone in the aisle. He shuffled his trolley to the [[checkout->Checkout 1]] before he embarrassed himself further.] (set:$health to it - 1) (set:$apathy to it - 1) (set:$drink to 'wine') (if:$fridge is 'ready meal')[(set:$mental to it - 2)(set:$apathy to it + 1)]

(text-colour:black)[ The wine racks looked classy and sophisticated, with a wide variety of vintages to choose from. Tristan got onto his hands and knees and surveyed his favourites.(either: "He cradled a bottle of Echo Falls affectionately. It tasted like garbage, far inferior to his usual Mateus rosé, but it brought back memories of Edward Roséhands, a drinking game/ritual carried out every Freshers Week.","He looked towards a white Barefoot bottle. It recently won an award apparently. Tristan wondered how you would get onto such a judging panel, he was definitely well-qualified.","He caught sight of a dreadful Merlot. After trying it, he said he would use it as vinegar. That is, if he cooked. Or liked vinegar.")] [[Back to aisle->Drinks Choice 1]] [[Take a bottle of Rosé->Wine 1]]

Putting food on the conveyor belt always excited Tristan. At one point in his life, he wanted to be a cashier, so he could use the barcode scanner. He would ask to borrow it, but he didn't want to be awkward or weird. [[At least the cashier is friendly...->Checkout convo 1]] (if:$health is 4 or 5)[(set:$mental to it + 2)] (if:$health is 2 or 3)[(set:$mental to it + 1)] (if:$health is 1)[(set:$mental to it + 1)] (if:$health is -1 or -2)[(set:$mental to it - 1)] (if:$health is -3 or -4)[(set:$mental to it - 2)] (if:$excitement is 5)[(set:$mental to it + 3)] (if:$excitement is 3 or 4)[(set:$mental to it + 2)] (if:$excitement is 1 or 2)[(set:$mental to it + 1)] (if:$excitement is 0)[(set:$mental to it - 1)] (if:$excitement is -1 or -2)[(set:$mental to it - 1)] (if:$excitement is -3 or -4)[(set:$mental to it -2)] (if:$apathy is 7)[(set:$mental to it - 4)] (if:$apathy is 5 or 6)[(set:$mental to it - 3)] (if:$apathy is 3 or 4)[(set:$mental to it - 2)] (if:$apathy is 2)[(set:$mental to it - 2)] (if:$apathy is 0 or 1)[(set:$mental to it - 1)] (if:$apathy is -1 or -2)[(set:$mental to it + 1)] (if:$apathy is -3 or -4)[(set:$mental to it + 2)] (if:$apathy is -5)[(set:$mental to it - 2)] (if:$apathy is -6 or -7)[(set:$mental to it - 2)]

"How's it going, Tristan?" said the clerk with a youthful smile. "Not bad, yourself?" Tristan replied. He couldn't recall their name, and they weren't wearing a name tag. "Pretty good, pretty good. Got a few extra shifts this week, so you'll be seeing more of me." The cashier gave a slightly melancholy grin as they scanned the $cupboard. "Nice. Work is work, right?" Tristan replied, trying to be relateable while filling his carrier bags. "You aren't wrong there. So, cash or card?" Time to [[head home->Meanwhile 1]].

Over the following week, (if:$mental is 1 or 2)[Tristan's office did not feel as oppressive as previously. He met some of his co-workers in accounts in the cafeteria one day, and plans to eat with them again in future.](if:$mental is 3 or 4)[Tristan's office did not feel as oppressive as previously. He met some of his co-workers in accounts in the cafeteria one day, and plans to eat with them again in future.](if:$mental is 5 or 6)[Tristan's office did not feel as oppressive as previously. He met some of his co-workers in accounts in the cafeteria one day, and plans to eat with them again in future.](if:$mental is 7 or 8)[Tristan's office did not feel as oppressive as previously. He met some of his co-workers in accounts in the cafeteria one day, and plans to eat with them again in future.](if:$mental is 0 or -1)[work at Tristan's office continued drearily. He took frequent bathroom breaks to avoid the gaze of his supervisor and browse through Reddit (which was blocked from the company server).](if:$mental is -2 or -3)[work at Tristan's office continued drearily. He took frequent bathroom breaks to avoid the gaze of his supervisor and browse through Reddit (which was blocked from the company server).](if:$mental is -4 or -5)[work at Tristan's office continued drearily. He took frequent bathroom breaks to avoid the gaze of his supervisor and browse through Reddit (which was blocked from the company server).](if:$mental is -6 or -7)[work at Tristan's office continued drearily. He took frequent bathroom breaks to avoid the gaze of his supervisor and browse through Reddit (which was blocked from the company server).](if:$mental is -8 or -9)[work at Tristan's office continued drearily. He took frequent bathroom breaks to avoid the gaze of his supervisor and browse through Reddit (which was blocked from the company server).](if:$mental is -10 or -11)[work at Tristan's office continued drearily. He took frequent bathroom breaks to avoid the gaze of his supervisor and browse through Reddit (which was blocked from the company server).] In terms of fitness,(if:$health is 4 or 5)[Tristan felt much healthier, which gave him more energy in a general sense. He was reading more, sleeping earlier, generally feeling better.](if:$health is 2 or 3)[Tristan was slowly shrugging off his poor eating habits. Meals were prepared and consumed in moderation, for the most part (Barry Chuckle died and he was inconsolable).](if:$health is 0 or 1)[Tristan was slowly shrugging off his poor eating habits. Meals were prepared and consumed in moderation, for the most part (Barry Chuckle died and he was inconsolable).](if:$health is -1 or -2)[Tristan was still stuck in his ways. He ate all of his $cupboard in one sitting. He also donated his last old pair of running shorts to charity.](if:$health is -3 or -4)[Tristan spent the majority of his free time on his laptop. He didn't cook, he didn't clean, he didn't shave. He forgot about his $grocery completely. He did, however, take up speedrunning, and got the 19th best time for completing The Surge.] Over the weekend, (if:$excitement is 4 or 5)[Tristan took a spontaneous trip to visit his friend in the next city over. They had some drinks and shared work horror stories until the trains stopped running. Fortunately they had a spare room for Tristan to stay in.] (if:$excitement is 1 or 2)[Tristan felt like a weight was lifted from his shoulders. He laughed a little louder when he watched Youtube videos, he smiled at passers-by and approached friendly-looking dogs in the street.](if:$excitement is 3)[Tristan felt like a weight was lifted from his shoulders. He laughed a little louder when he watched Youtube videos, he smiled at passers-by and approached friendly-looking dogs in the street.](if:$excitement is -1 or -2)[Tristan sat and stewed in his flat, watching time go by from his windows. He ventured out once, to collect a takeaway from the front door. In his dressing gown.](if:$excitement is 0)[Tristan sat and stewed in his flat, watching time go by from his windows. He ventured out once, to collect a takeaway from the front door. In his dressing gown.](if:$excitement is -3 or -4)[Tristen spent his time scrolling through Facebook and Instagram, following the lives of his old friends, his exes, anyone he could find. He came to the conclusion that their lives must be better than his own.] Finally, (if:$apathy is 6 or 7)[Tristan barely got out of bed. He lay there, miserable, under the duvet with his computer and phone. He posted vague Facebook statuses and subtweeted about friends who he had lost contact with. However, he did get out of bed to go to the bathroom and get more toilet paper.](if:$apathy is 5)[Tristan barely got out of bed. He lay there, miserable, under the duvet with his computer and phone. He posted vague Facebook statuses and subtweeted about friends who he had lost contact with. However, he did get out of bed to go to the bathroom and get more toilet paper.](if:$apathy is 3 or 4)[Tristan spent a lot of time in his flat, but didn't do much with it. Cooking was kept to a minimum, his flat just got messier and messier. Running out of surfaces, he placed a plate on the outdoor window sill, which was forgotten and eventually fell a couple of storeys to the pavement.](if:$apathy is 2)[Tristan spent a lot of time in his flat, but didn't do much with it. Cooking was kept to a minimum, his flat just got messier and messier. Running out of surfaces, he placed a plate on the outdoor window sill, which was forgotten and eventually fell a couple of storeys to the pavement.](if:$apathy is -0 or 1)[Tristan tried to push himself to go out and meet people. He went out to a bar alone, joined a small group of lads and got a couple of pints with them before losing them in the crowd. He still had fun.](if:$apathy is -1)[Tristan tried to push himself to go out and meet people. He went out to a bar alone, joined a small group of lads and got a couple of pints with them before losing them in the crowd. He still had fun.](if:$apathy is -2 or -3)[Tristan did some research about gyms in his areas and met with one of the personal trainers for a consultation. The idea of exercise was intimidating, but less than he thought.](if:$apathy is -4)[Tristan did some research about gyms in his areas and met with one of the personal trainers for a consultation. The idea of exercise was intimidating, but less than he thought.](if:$apathy is -5)[Tristan went jogging for the first time in years. His throat was sore, his legs ached and his confidence was broken. One long shower later, he lay on his bed to recover, fell asleep and woke up at 3 am the next morning.](if:$apathy is -6 or -7)[Tristan went jogging for the first time in years. His throat was sore, his legs ached and his confidence was broken. One long shower later, he lay on his bed to recover, fell asleep and woke up at 3 am the next morning.] [[A week later...->Outside 2]]

Tristan walked through the threshold of his apartment, dropped off his backpack, picked up his carrier bags and left the flat. He had no time to feel sorry for himself. There was no food in his apartment. He was hungry and, despite wanting a takeaway, forced himself to go to the supermarket. [[He is literally running.->Entrance 2]]

Tristan did not have time to admire the view of Lefty's supermarket because his stomach was eating away at itself. His constant refusal to buy a takeaway comes from the idea that he is too mature to be so poorly organised: takeaways are a symbol of defeat. [[Whereas grocery shopping was a victory->Grocery Aisle 2]].

Back in the grocery aisle. Tristan is following his routine as usual despite his urgency. He is starving so cannot stand around admiring the scenery. He grabs a trolley, hurls his bags into it, and dashes to the first aisle. "Time to [[buy something healthy->Grocery Choice 2]]." he said between laboured breaths.

Tristan looked over the produce crates. (unless:$grocery is 'apple')[The [[apples->Apple 2]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Apple 2]]looked crunchy and delicious. No red delicious though.] (unless:$grocery is 'orange')[There was a big pile of [[oranges->Orange 2]], [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Orange 2]] many of which were a bit unripe however there was one that looked amazing.] (if:$grocery is 'apple')[The apples today look wrinkled and sour, no thanks.](if:$grocery is 'orange')[The oranges today looked shrivelled and sour.] (unless:$grocery is 'banana')[There were some [[bananas->Banana 2]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Banana 2]] that were a bit small but were the perfect level of ripeness.](unless:$grocery is 'cabbage')[The [[white cabbage->Cabbage 2]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Cabbage 2]] again was tempting, it was such a bright white that it had to taste good.](if:$grocery is 'banana')[The bananas today look brown and mushy, no thanks.](if:$grocery is 'cabbage')[The cabbages today look yellow and wet.]

Having selected the cruciferous vegetable, Tristan felt like it was more of a burden than a delicacy: one cabbage contains a lot of cabbage. Tristan thinks he can look up a fun cabbage recipe online, even if fun and cabbage do not sound like words that belong together. [[Next, the fridge aisle->Fridge Aisle 2]]. (set:$health to it + 2) (set:$apathy to it - 2) (set:$excitement to it - 2) (set:$grocery to 'cabbage')

Carefully placing the orange in his trolley, Tristan rolled out of the aisle. He was happy with his choice, however, he knew that he might forget about the orange and it might sit and rot in his fruit bowl over the coming weeks. Next...[[the fridge aisle.->Fridge Aisle 2]] (set:$health to it + 1) (set:$apathy to it - 1) (set:$grocery to 'orange')

Tristan made a small grin as he picked up the little bunch of bananas. The phallic fruit brought back lots of memories of ridiculous arguments with his parents. They would buy a big bunch for the family to share, but by the time one of them wanted one, they were all gone. "I think if I tried that now, I'd be sick," Tristan said to himself. "Now I need an actual [[main course->Fridge Aisle 2]]." (set:$health to it + 1) (set:$apathy to it + 1) (set:$grocery to 'banana')

Tristan grabbed the apple firmly. He thought about rubbing it against his jacket, then realised he wasn't going to eat it yet so it would be a waste of time. He dropped the apple into his trolley and started looking for the [[refrigerated section->Fridge Aisle 2]]. (set:$health to it + 2) (set:$apathy to it + 1) (set:$excitement to it - 1) (set:$grocery to 'apple')

Looking at the crispy green apple, Tristan thought "(either: "It's just an apple, but it looks tastier than most.", "I tried that "Apple a day" thing back in primary school, I lost my teeth so fast.", "Don't apple seeds contain cyanide? Can't be much, I imagine...")" [[Back to the aisle->Grocery Choice 2]] [[Take the apple->Apple 2]]

(colour: red + black)[With one of his five-a-day in his trolley, Tristan headed past the milk to the fresh meat and fish counter. He feigned interest at the exotic items he would never even think of buying. He carried on until he reached the usual aisle. There was a peculiar looking man in a long coat and a fedora. He turned to face Tristan, paused and then started frantically gesturing towards him. "Why is this guy waving at me?" thought Tristan nervously, "Do I wave back?" "He's coming over, what do I do,] [[what do I do?!"->Friend Encounter 2]]

(colour: red + black)[It turned out that the peculiar stranger was actually an old acquaintance of Tristan's. It was Kevin, one of Tristan's flatmates in First Year. He is currently living here, working as a financial manager for a small, venture capital company. "So, I'm hosting a little shindig at my place this weekend, you should come," said Kevin with a grin. Tristan was torn between intense jealousy for this ridiculous person and the desire to get out more and meet new people. "I'll think about, add me on Facebook, I'll message you nearer the time." Tristan replied, maintaining a polite smile despite his inner turmoil. "Nice on! Ok, I gotta bounce, see ya l8r, dood." said Kevin, walking away, making a shaka sign with his hand. Tristan was left alone in the aisle, slightly dumbfounded that Kevin still existed. Just think, most the people who you've ever met, even briefly, still exist and lead independent lives. That kid who sat next to you in primary school still exists, isn't that crazy? Back to shopping. [["What am I hungry for?"->Fridge Choice 2]] wondered Tristan.]

(colour: grey)[. . . . . . . . .] (colour: red + black)[Tristan looked at all the different meats in the fridges. (unless:$fridge is 'chicken')[There were some [[rotisserie chickens->Chicken 2]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Chicken 2]] with little pools of cooled fat at the bottom of the tray.](unless:$fridge is 'shellfish')[There was a jumbo pack of [[shellfish->Shellfish 2]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Shellfish 2]]that would require a quick cooking refresher and a Google search to prepare.] (if:$fridge is 'chicken')[The chicken today looks terrible, very small and burnt...](if:$fridge is 'shellfish')[The prawns look awful today, like they are going green.] (unless:$fridge is 'ready meal')[The [[ready meals->Ready Meal 2]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Ready Meal 2]] were standing to attention, lined up to fill the rushing masses in a time and cost efficient way.] (unless:$fridge is 'mince')[The [[minced beef->Mince 2]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Mince 2]]: was bright and clean, the long strands of ground meat almost ressembling a compacted plate of spaghetti.](if:$fridge is 'ready meal')[All the ready meals have been replaced by fake empty ready meals. How peculiar.](if:$fridge is 'mince')[The minced meat looks strange today, I know this isn't Tesco, but maybe it isn't beef...] ]

(colour: grey)[. . . . . . . . .] (colour: red + black)[Tristan scooped up the tastiest-looking chicken with both hands and carefully placed it in his trolley. It was a bit big, but he reasoned that he could keep it for a few meals. Assuming he could exert some self-control, which was highly debateable. The chocolate raisin disaster of 2017 serves as a cautionary tale for Tristan as well as his flatmates at the time. However, he knew he couldn't just eat chicken by itself, so he headed to the] [[dry food aisle->Cupboard Aisle 2]] (set:$health to it - 1) (set:$apathy to it + 2) (set:$excitement to it + 1) (set:$fridge to 'chicken')

(colour: grey)[. . . . . . . . .] (colour: red + black)[Against his better judgement, Tristan put a packet of prawns in his basket. He knew that it would be difficult to prepare, and he would have to look up a recipe, but it's good to cook something new every so often. "Variety is the spice of life," he thought to himself. Tristan put black pepper on pretty much everything, so pepper was more his spice of life, but he felt like trying something new regardless. "What goes well with prawns..." he said thoughtfully, heading towards] [[the dry food aisle->Cupboard Aisle 2]] (set:$health to it + 1) (set:$apathy to it - 2) (set:$fridge to 'shellfish')

(colour: grey)[. . . . . . . . .] (colour: red + black)[Tristan seized a Rojan Josh from its ranks and slung it into the trolley. He liked Indian food, and he knew most of the other flavours, so why not? Everyone has a sphere of expertise: Tristan knew a lot about ready meals. Where to pierce them for perfect heat distribution, the different microwave settings, the best ones to eat cold. He used to give advice (often unasked for) to his flatmates about using the microwave. "If you want to do something right, you should copy an expert." Tristan reasoned to himself. Ready meals were often too small, so he would subsidise his dinner with something [[from the carbohydrate aisle->Cupboard Aisle 2]].] (set:$health to it - 1) (set:$apathy to it + 3) (set:$fridge to 'ready meal')

(colour: grey)[. . . . . . . . .] (colour: red + black)[He grabbed the minced meat and dropped it into the trolley. What was he going to make with it? He would have to think of something when he got home, but he was excited for it. It was very much a comfort food for Tristan, no matter what form it ended up taking. Plus, he could make two portions with the pound of meat, and save himself from cooking again. Unless he was really hungry. Or drunk. Or both... "Now, what should I have with it..." Tristan pondered, his finger on his lips. He walked over to the] [[carbohydrates aisle->Cupboard Aisle 2]]. (set:$excitement to it + 2) (set:$fridge to 'mince')

(colour:grey)[ Leaving the wall-to-wall fridges behind, Tristan unzipped his coat and rolled to the dry foods aisle. He has not been buying in bulk recently: he doesn't want to carry everything home. Maybe he will get a delivery some time. Either way, he still need to] [[buy something filling->Cupboard Choice 2]].

(colour:grey)[ Tristan surveyed the different carbohydrates. (unless:$cupboard is 'pasta')[The [[pasta->Pasta 2]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Pasta 2]] supposedly came from Italy, but he never really trusted labels.] (unless:$cupboard is 'quinoa')[After looking it up online, the [[quinoa->Quinoa 2]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Quinoa 2]] was less intimidating.] (if:$cupboard is 'pasta')["No fusilli?! No point in buying pasta!" grunted Tristan.](if:$cupboard is 'quinoa')["Not again, that stuff sucked." grunted Tristan.] (unless:$cupboard is 'potatoes')[The [[potatoes->Potato 2]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Potato 2]] were overflowing, filling all manner of containers.] (unless:$cupboard is 'bread')[The [[bread->Bread 2]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Bread 2]] was running low, but there was still an handful for Tristan to chose from if he so desired.] (if:$cupboard is 'potatoes')[The potatoes are growing through their containers, eww.](if:$cupboard is 'bread')[All of the loaves are close to expiration, so Tristan refuses to buy one.] ]

(colour:grey)[ Tristan grabbed a big bag of pasta and dropped it into his trolley. He promises himself that he won't eat all of it in 2 days. Unless he has a really good reason. Like if his battle-axe boss shouts at him all day. Or an actor from an old sitcom dies. Now for something to] [[wash it down->Drinks Aisle 2]]. (set:$apathy to it + 2) (set:$excitement to it + 1) (set:$cupboard to 'pasta') (if: $fridge is 'mince')[(set:$excitement to it + 1) (set:$mental to it + 1) ]

(colour: grey)[ After taking a small jar of the quinoa, Tristan was already nervous about his decision. What if it tasted terrible? Or was really hard to cook? Or was for dogs? "Oh well," he sighed, "We'll see." Now for something to] [[quench his thirst->Drinks Aisle 2]] (set:$health to it + 2) (set:$apathy to it - 2) (set:$excitement to it - 1) (set:$cupboard to 'quinoa')

(colour:grey)[ Tristan grabbed a pair of potatoes from one of the sacks and dropped them into his trolley. He wondered about that potato gun he saw on TV when he was a kid, and made a mental note to check eBay when he got home. Carbs bought, now time for] [[a drink->Drinks Aisle 2]] (set:$health to it - 1) (set:$apathy to it + (random:-1,1)) (set:$excitement to it + (random:-2,2)) (set:$cupboard to 'potatoes')

(colour: grey)[ Tristan looked through the loaves, checking the expiration date. If he was going to buy a big loaf, he didn't want it to go bad over the next couple of days. Now he just needs] [[a drink.->Drinks Aisle 2]] (set:$health to it - 1) (set:$apathy to it + 1) (set:$excitement to it - 2) (set:$cupboard to 'bread')

(colour:grey)[ Sorting through the loaves, Tristan wondered about (either: "how hard it was to make bread when he tried it with his flatmates.", "what a flax seed was, and why it was stuck to the top of one of brown breads.", "all the toast that he had eaten after drunken nights out.")] [[Back to the aisle->Cupboard Choice 2]] [[Take a loaf->Bread 2]]

Tristan was in no mood to muse. He desperately wanted something to drink. [[Time to choose a beverage->Drinks Choice 2]].

Tristan looked over the shelves full of bottles. (unless:$drinks is 'sparkling')[The [[sparkling water->Sparkling 2]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Sparkling 2]] looked Italian, but was probably made in Scotland.] (unless:$drinks is 'cider')[After looking it up online, the [[cider->Cider 2]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Cider 2]] was less intimidating.] (if:$drinks is 'sparkling')["No fusilli?! No point in buying pasta!" grunted Tristan.](if:$drinks is 'cider')[The expensive craft cider was comparable to cheap squash mixed with beer, so Tristan is reluctant to buy another bottle.] (unless:$drinks is 'cola')[The [[cola->Cola 2]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Cola 2]] looked sweet and tasty. It is so bad for your teeth though.] (unless:$drinks is 'wine')[The [[wine->Wine 2]] [[<img class='magnify-image' src='https://benjaminstwinestuff.yolasite.com/resources/magnify.png'></img>->Inspect Wine 2]] was plentiful, it was like living in France.] (if:$drinks is 'cola')[Tristan's teeth still hurt from the last bottle of cola, so he does not want more.](if:$drinks is 'wine')["Maybe I should drink less wine," thought Tristan, "It's kind of my crutch."]

(text-colour:black)[ He placed the plastic bottle into the trolley without agitating it too much. One of the benefits of his route: fizzy drinks spent the least amount of time in the cart. Sometimes his fruit gets squished, but he'd go back and get a different one when that happens. Everything seems good today though, no hiccups. "Let's [[go and pay->Checkout 2]] then." Tristan mumbled.] (set:$drink to 'sparkling')

(text-colour:black)[ Tristan always thought that people were sleeping on sparkling water. He always found that (either: "the bitterness was an excellent palate-cleanser and the bubbles cleared your throat.","it went excellent with every alcohol, not just gin. He used to mix lots of drinks with it back at university.","it was quite helpful to have around the house, especially for getting ketchup stains out of clothes."] [[Back to aisle->Drinks Choice 2]] [[Take a bottle of sparkling water->Sparkling 2]]

(text-colour:black)[ "It better taste good, for the price." grumbled Tristan under his breath. He laid the bottle against the back of the trolley and looked back at the bottles of wine he had left behind. He thought perhaps that wine was not so sophisticated, craft ciders could be the most mature bottle on the market. It's comparable to that whole 'real ale' business, probably. Cutting off his wandering thoughts, Tristan headed to the] [[checkout->Checkout 2]] (set:$health to it - 2) (set:$excitement to it + 1) (set:$drink to 'cider')

(text-colour:black)[ Tristan grabbed a bulky 2 litre bottle of cola with lime. He wouldn't be able to taste the difference, but it was 75 pence cheaper. He thought about how few things have a lime flavour. The only other one that came to mind was Starburst. He nestled the heavy bottle against the $cupboard and headed towards the] [[checkout->Checkout 2]]. (set:$health to it - 1) (set:$apathy to it + 1) (set:$excitement to it + 1) (set:$drink to 'cola')

(text-colour:black)[ Feeling almost poetic, Tristan mused aloud, "Ah, the peculiarly-shaped bottle of Mateus. Its form is only out-classed by its flavour. Its majesty... is... umm..." He stops abruptly, unable to think of something suitable to finish the verse. He checks whether anyone else witnessed this catastrophic failure. Fortunately, he is standing alone in the aisle. He shuffled his trolley to the [[checkout->Checkout 2]] before he embarrassed himself further.] (set:$health to it - 1) (set:$apathy to it - 1) (set:$drink to 'wine') (if:$fridge is 'ready meal')[(set:$mental to it - 2)(set:$apathy to it + 1)]

Beep. Beep. **WHIRR** Beep. **WHIRR** Beep. [[The same cashier is here again.->Checkout convo 2]] (if:$health is 4 or 5)[(set:$mental to it + 2)] (if:$health is 2 or 3)[(set:$mental to it + 1)] (if:$health is 1)[(set:$mental to it + 1)] (if:$health is -1 or -2)[(set:$mental to it - 1)] (if:$health is -3 or -4)[(set:$mental to it - 2)] (if:$excitement is 5)[(set:$mental to it + 3)] (if:$excitement is 3 or 4)[(set:$mental to it + 2)] (if:$excitement is 1 or 2)[(set:$mental to it + 1)] (if:$excitement is 0)[(set:$mental to it - 1)] (if:$excitement is -1 or -2)[(set:$mental to it - 1)] (if:$excitement is -3 or -4)[(set:$mental to it -2)] (if:$apathy is 7)[(set:$mental to it - 4)] (if:$apathy is 5 or 6)[(set:$mental to it - 3)] (if:$apathy is 3 or 4)[(set:$mental to it - 2)] (if:$apathy is 2)[(set:$mental to it - 2)] (if:$apathy is 0 or 1)[(set:$mental to it - 1)] (if:$apathy is -1 or -2)[(set:$mental to it + 1)] (if:$apathy is -3 or -4)[(set:$mental to it + 2)] (if:$apathy is -5)[(set:$mental to it - 2)] (if:$apathy is -6 or -7)[(set:$mental to it - 2)]

"How's it going, Tristan?" said the clerk with their trademark smile. "Not bad, yourself?" Tristan replied. The customer service is so good, they don't even care if you can't remember their name. "Any exciting plans this week?" inquired the clerk. "I'm off to Tenerife with my overtime cash." "Maybe." replied Tristan pensively. "I bumped into an old friend and.." "Wait, you knew that fedora guy?!" interrupted the clerk. "I wasn't going to say anything, but what on earth was he?!" "I don't know either, not seen him in years, but if I find out, I'll tell you," responded Tristan with a wry smile. "Cool. So, cash or card?" [[Later that week...->Conclusion 2]] (if:$mental is 2)[(set:$party to 'yes')] (if:$mental is 3 or 4)[(set:$party to 'yes')] (if:$mental is 5 or 6)[(set:$party to 'yes')] (if:$mental is 7 or 8)[(set:$party to 'yes')] (if:$mental is 9 or 10)[(set:$party to 'yes')] (if:$mental is 11 or 12)[(set:$party to 'yes')] (if:$mental is 13 or 14)[(set:$party to 'yes')] (if:$mental is 15 or 16)[(set:$party to 'yes')] (if:$mental is 17 or 18)[(set:$party to 'yes')] (if:$mental is 19 or 20)[(set:$party to 'yes')] (if:$mental is 1)[(set:$party to 'no')] (if:$mental is -1 or 0)[(set:$party to 'no')] (if:$mental is -3 or -2)[(set:$party to 'no')] (if:$mental is -5 or -4)[(set:$party to 'no')] (if:$mental is -7 or -6)[(set:$party to 'no')] (if:$mental is -9 or -8)[(set:$party to 'no')] (if:$mental is -11 or -10)[(set:$party to 'no')] (if:$mental is -13 or -12)[(set:$party to 'no')] (if:$mental is -15 or -14)[(set:$party to 'no')] (if:$mental is -17 or -16)[(set:$party to 'no')] (if:$mental is -19 or -18)[(set:$party to 'no')]

(if:$party is 'yes')[Despite his initial impression, a spark of optimism pushes Tristan to go to the party later that week. He took a bus across to the wealthier side of town and walk from the stop to the house at the address given on Facebook. At a glance, it is a relatively new detached house, 3 or 4 bedrooms, a large garden. It's a far cry from what Tristan is used to, hopping between tight apartments and his mother's bungalow for the last 4 years. He entered the house with his gifts, a bottle of wine and a big bag of Doritos to be greeted by Kevin in a white suit. Kevin looks Tristan dead in the eyes, smiling, and raises his glass and says, "Welcome, my friend." This image seems familiar to Tristan... It's what Leonardo DiCaprio does in the Great Gatsby film! "...Is this guy for real?" thinks Tristan, attempting to laugh politely. After encountering discount Jack from 'Titanic', Tristan headed into the garden, where a small group of people were congregated around the "self-service bar" (drinks table). Feeling tense, Tristan reached for a glass of wine. His hand collides with someone else's and knocks over the glass. "Oi, what the fuck are y... Tristan?!" It's another one of Tristan's old housemates, Arnold. It turns out that despite Kevin's inherent unlikeability, he has done well to maintain contact with his old university crowd. Tristan spent an entertaining evening with some of his old friends, laughing, drinkng (but not too much) and reminiscing about old times. These people were not Tristan's closest friends, but they knew who he was and wanted to know who he has become. Tristan felt the same; he has held onto an out-dated identity of the Big Man on Campus, but now can use this opportunity to see who he could become.] (if:$party is 'no')[Tristan was at home in his bed, lying flat, facing his laptop. He was browsing Reddit as usual, watching time just slip away. There was a Youtube video on in the background, some sort of meme compilation, or meme review, or challenge or some other crap. In a moment of clarity, Tristan tore his eyes off of the screen and looked around himself. He was surrounded by crumbs and computers accessories. Hairs and skin cells have built up on his unchanged sheets, turning them from bright white to a light grey. Piles of tissues surrounded him, some stained by his tears, others by his sexual repression. His forehead covered in cold sweat, he throws off the covers and runs to the shower. He nearly scalds himself while scrubbing his skin of the dirt collected by spending 3 consecutive days in bed. He dashes back to his dresser and throws on his cleanest pair of jeans and old tight t-shirt. He calls a Uber while putting on his socks and shoes, tears of stress beading in his eyes. He knows he can get there, he knows he can change, he's been given a chance to be someone else. And he's going to take it, even if it kills him. He opens the door, jumps into the waiting car, and prays he can get there before it's too late.]