<<set $dinner to "fancy">><<if $venue is "home">>It's amazing what you can get on the internet these days - full silver service, rare steak, a personal chef, all without leaving your cosy cocoon.<<endif>><<if $venue is "park" or $venue is "movies">>These days the REALLY fancy restaurants won't even take bookings... but since it's just you, you can sneak past the crowds and be ensconced in a cosy corner, just you and the wine list. (or a selection of the finest quality hot chocolate - it's your day!)<<endif>>\n\n[[Let's go!|date]]

"I.... okay I guess? I'm getting there. I hate myself and I want to punch myself in the face, but there's more there than there was last month." \n\n"Oh yeah, I feel you. How long have you got to go?"\n\n"I'm about halfway through. That's like nearly done! ...right???"\n\n"Yeah! You got this!"\n\n\n[[chat|chat]]\n

"You look amazing!" \n\nYou blush prettily. \n\n"Thank you. <<if $dress is "glam">>I put a lot of effort into this." <<endif>><<if $dress is "casual">>I'm glad you like it!"<<endif>><<if $dress is "relaxed">>It's all about confidence."<<endif>>\n\n[[compliment|compliment]]\n[[chat|chat]]\n

<<set $foodchat to false>><<set $projects to false>><<set $world to false>><<set $compliment to false>>@@font-weight:bold;font-size:large;Dancing With Myself@@\nFreeplay Award Submission for Microgames 2018\n\nby Barbara Kerr ([[Ms .45|https://twitter.com/ms45]])\n\n[[start|where]]

You should talk to your date. You don't want you to feel like you're being ignored. \n\n<<if $foodchat is false>><<if $dinner is "home" or $dinner is "fast" or $dinner is "fancy">>[[Talk about the food|dinnerchat]]<<endif>><<endif>>\n<<if $projects is false>>[[Talk about work or school|projects]]<<endif>>\n<<if $world is false>>[[Talk about the world|world]]<<endif>>\n<<if $compliment is false>>[[Compliment|compliment]]<<endif>>\n[[Sit and enjoy the silence|silence]]\n\n\n

<<set $venue to "home">>Home - the place where you can dress in The Emperor's New Clothes and have no-one question your worth. \n\nAre you going to dress up for this?\n\n[[Glam to the max, baby!|glam]]\n[[Cute but casual - the point is to be relaxed and destressed, after all|casual]]\n[[Trakkie dacks, moccasins and wiping the sleep from my eyes. Maybe.|relaxed]]

<<set $dress to "casual">>Not so fancy as to stress yourself out, but not so casual as to make you think you don't care about yourself. That jumper really highlights your eyes, by the way. \n\n[[dinner?|dinner]]

<<if $venue is "home">><<if $dinner is "home">>You clean up the kitchen and get to prepping your favourite comfort food. The rhythm and organisation relax you, and you get to nibble the ingredients! Pour yourself a drink and make the magic happen. \n\nYou lay out the table neatly, with all your favourite condiments and nibbles at hand, matching crockery and cutlery (or just your favourites - no-one's judging your cracked Bunnikins bowl here). \n<<endif>><<if $dinner is "fancy">>You fire up your favourite takeout website and spend a pleasant hour fiddling around with your order. Do you feel like Indian? Chinese? Afghan? Eventually you fill up your selection - 10% off and a free entree, nice - and press ORDER. \n\nForty-five minutes later a pleasant young <<print either("lady","gent")>>with a cluster of plastic bags turns up and hands over your food. You bid each other good evening and you settle in with your spread - bowls and boxes of delicious, carefully prepared food that smells divine. \n<<endif>><<if $dinner is "fast">>\nYou fire up your favourite takeout website and spend a pleasant hour fiddling around with your order. Pizza, kebabs, chips - if you wanted, you could get beer home delivered. Eventually you decide on exactly the winning combination of fat, sugar and salt and press ORDER. \n\nForty-five minutes later a pleasant young <<print either("lady","gentleman", "person")>> with a cluster of plastic bags turns up and hands over your food. You bid each other good evening and you settle in with your spread - mountains of carbohydrated goodness.<<endif>>\nYou settle in with your favourite stuff - a movie, a video game, a good book. No-one interrupts you, or asks for anything. Your time is your own. You spend several hours mucking around in any way you see fit.<<endif>><<if $venue is "park">>Clothing sorted, you head outside and take yourself to the nearest park, nature reserve or generally tree-ish place. <<if $dinner is "home">>You've bundled some eats into your bag with a bottle of something nice for yourself.<<endif>><<if $dinner is "fast">>You drop in to the drive through on your way and pick up a Sooper Dooper Mega Box, just for yourself. It has a toy in it! One of the ones you have to assemble yourself.<<endif>> \n\nFinding a nice spot, you throw down a blankie and get comfortable. <<if $dinner is "home">>You pull a snack out of your bag and start nibbling. A dog comes up to you and starts sniffing, and you'd share but its owner comes and calls it away.<<endif>> It's a beautiful day!\n<<if $dress is "glam">>There's not a lot of people here. A couple of girls come up to you and say "Hey, sharp threads". You thank them.<<endif>><<if $dress is "casual">>You feel super cute, but comfy as well. Your clothes are perfect for the weather.<<endif>>\nAn old lady walking her scottie dog smiles and says good evening. You get to pet the doggo!\n\n<<if $dinner is "fancy">>The park includes a reception terrace for weddings and the like. It's open, and you ask the maitre'd if she can fit just one for dinner.\n\n<<if $dress is "relaxed">>She looks at you a little oddly, but<<endif>> "Of course," she trills, and leads you to a little pocket at the end of the verandah. You order a glass of something expensive and contemplate the scenery, which is bubbling over with people enjoying the sunset. <<endif>>\n<<endif>>\n<<if $venue is "movies">>You head down to your favourite movie place<<if $dinner is "home">>, sneaking in some cookies and iced latte you made at home. Take THAT, outrageous concession stand prices!<<else>> and treat yourself to the concession stand.<<endif>> Sitting in the darkness with your choc-top, you avidly watch the previews - some naff, some look pretty exciting. You mentally draw up your summer viewing list. \n\nThe movie comes on. It's good! You emerge from the darkness thinking you want to tell everyone to see this.\n\n<<if $dinner is "fancy">>Now that it's early evening, you take yourself to that fancy restaurant you promised yourself.<<if $dress is "relaxed">> The staff don't want to let you in looking like a schlub, but they ruffle through lost property and give you a vintage smoking jacket to put on over your t-shirt.<<endif>> The maitre'd finds an ideal spot for a single person, with a lovely view, and leaves you to read the menu and drinks list. <<endif>> <<if $dinner is "fast">>You bundle into your favourite deep fried comfort food place and order a 27-piece bucket of crumbed lard with a litre of soft drink. <<if $dress is "glam">>You get some stares and some smiles for your over the top clothing. You figure they're envious of your mighty swag and wave like a rock star.<<endif>><<endif>><<if $dinner is "home" or $dinner is "none">>You mosey on home, reflecting on what you've just seen.<<endif>><<endif>>\n\n[[Chat to your date|chat]]

<<if $venue is "home">>After a pleasant few hours of doing nothing in particular, you yawn and put yourself to bed. You fall asleep almost immediately, having had an absolutely perfect day.<<endif>>\n<<if $venue is "movies" or $venue is "park">>Eventually you find yourself getting a bit tired and decide to go home. <<if $venue is "movies">>You excitedly post your thoughts about the movie to your favourite social media hangout.<<endif>><<if $venue is "park">>You excitedly post "I met a cool doggo!" to your favourite social media hangout.<<endif>>\n\nYou get home and kill a few hours doing nothing in particular. Eventually, you yawn and put yourself to bed. You fall asleep almost immediately, having had an absolutely perfect day.\n<<endif>>\n\n!!!THE END\n\nthanks for playing! [[<3 barb|https://twitter.com/ms45]]\n\n[[start again|Start]]

"You know, I really admire how resilient you are."\n\n"Really? I don't //feel// resilient."\n\n"That just shows how tough you are. I mean, you're here, right?"\n\n"I guess so. Thanks!"\n\n[[compliment|compliment]]\n[[chat|chat]]

<<set $dinner to "fast">>Deep fried, high fat, sugar dusted, carbonated, bring it on baby! \n\n[[Let's go!|date]]

<<set $foodchat to true>><<if $dinner is "home">>"That dinner you made was pretty awesome. Thanks for doing that."\n\nYou beam. "Thank you! I've worked hard to get this good." \n\nYou nod in agreement. "Well, it's really paid off. Good for you!" <<endif>>\n<<if $dinner is "fancy">>You survey the luxurious spread. "This was an excellent choice. You have good taste."\n\nYou smile. "I do, don't I? And that entree is to die for." \n\n"More drinks?"\n\n"Don't mind if I do."<<endif>>\n<<if $dinner is "fast">>\n"I'm starting to feel sick."\n\n"Should we stop?"\n\n"Fuck no. Get more onion rings."\n<<endif>>\n\n\n\n[[chat|chat]]\n

<<set $dinner to "none">>Food isn't the centre of your life. You'll deal with it when you need to. \n\n[[Let's go!|date]]

<<set $compliment to true>>You want to compliment your date, but there are a lot of things you could compliment, some more effective than others. What should you say? \n\n[["Looking good babe"|appearance]]\n[["Nice work on that thesis/essay/project"|nicework]]\n[["You sure are a tough lil' bastard"|tough]]\n[["You've really done a lot lately"|progress]]

Dancing With Myself

<<set $dress to "relaxed">>No need to stress yourself out. It's your day - make yourself cosy! \n\n<<if $venue is "park" OR $venue is "movies">>Just remember - you have to wear *something*.<<endif>>\n\n[[dinner?|dinner]]

<<set $venue to "park">>A pleasant picnic in a public park, not with anyone but not totally alone either. Maybe you'll meet a nice dog!\n\nAre you going to dress up for this?\n\n[[Glam to the max, baby!|glam]]\n[[Cute but casual - the point is to be relaxed and destressed, after all|casual]]\n[[Trakkie dacks, moccasins and wiping the sleep from my eyes. Maybe.|relaxed]]

"OH GOD OH GOD WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME???"\n\nYou reach over and pat your arm sympathetically. \n\n\n\n\n[[chat|chat]]\n

"Pretty good! I've made a lot of progress and learned a bunch of stuff," You says. \n\n"That's wonderful!" you say. "What have you learned?"\n\nYou chat about tech and artistry, about project management and procrastination, and how you beat that demon self-doubt into the ground with your sheer badassery. \n\n[[chat|chat]]\n

<<if $dinner is "home" and $venue is "home">>You clean up the kitchen and get to prepping your favourite comfort food. The rhythm and organisation relax you, and you get to nibble the ingredients! Pour yourself a drink and make the magic happen. \n<<endif>>\n\n<<if $venue is "home" and $dinner is "home">>You lay out the table neatly, with all your favourite condiments and nibbles at hand, matching crockery and cutlery (or just your favourites - no-one's judging your cracked Bunnikins bowl here). \n<<endif>><<if $dinner is "fancy" and $venue is "home">>You fire up your favourite takeout website and spend a pleasant hour fiddling around with your order. Do you feel like Indian? Chinese? Afghan? Eventually you fill up your selection - 10% off and a free entree, nice - and press ORDER. \n\nForty-five minutes later a nice young lady with a cluster of plastic bags turns up and hands over your food. You bid each other good evening and you settle in with your spread - bowls and boxes of delicious, carefully prepared food that smells divine. \n<<endif>>\n<<if $venue is "home">>You settle in with your favourite stuff - a movie, a video game, a good book. No-one interrupts you, or asks for anything. Your time is your own. You spend several hours mucking around in any way you see fit, and go to bed when you feel like you've had enough. <<endif>>\n\n\n<<if $venue is "movies">>You head down to your favourite movie place and treat yourself to the concession stand. Sitting in the darkness with your choc-top, you avidly watch the previews - some naff, some look pretty exciting. You mentally draw up your summer viewing list. \nThe movie comes on. It's good! You emerge from the darkness thinking you want to tell everyone to see this.\n<<if $dinner is "fancy">>Now that it's early evening, you take yourself to that fancy restaurant you promised yourself. The maitre'd finds an ideal spot for a single person, with a lovely view, and leaves you to read the menu and drinks list. <<endif>>\n<<endif>>

<<set $dress to "glam">>Nice! Top quality undies, sharp clothes, makeup on point if that's what you're into - you'll wow yourself! \n\n[[dinner?|dinner]]\n

All right! You're organised and energised. \n<<if $dress is "relaxed">>If you're not already, get into your most well-worn, beloved comfort gear. <<if $dress is "relaxed" and $venue is "home">>Throw any Garments of Oppression (bra, shoes, pants) into a corner and let your floppy bits fly!<<endif>> Ohhhhhh yeaahhhhhh.<<endif>><<if $dress is "casual">>You want to impress yourself, but without getting all wound up about the "best" way to do it. You pull out clothes that you've either gotten compliments for, or you're just super comfortable in, or you associate with good times.<<endif>><<if $dress is "glam">>Go hard or go home! <<if $venue is "home">>(Although in this case it's more "Go hard AND go home"!)<<endif>> You line up your sharpest clothes, ensuring they're perfectly pressed and stain free. Your eyebrows are on point, your hair is behaving itself and even your underwear is classy (and, if applicable, matchy-matchy). \n<<endif>>\n\n[[Excelsior!|date2]]

<<set $world to true>>You flick through your social media on your phone. It's not rude because your date is you.\n\n"I just don't know if the world is getting worse. Has it always been this bad?" \n\n"I don't know... it must have been worse, right?"\n\n"What can we do? I feel so helpless." \n\n"We could... not make it worse, I guess." \n\n"Remember Mr. Rogers. Look for the helpers."\n\n[[chat|chat]]\n

<<set $projects to true>>"So, how's your thingummy coming along?"\n\nYou pauses, trying to think of what to say. \n\n[[Not bad, I guess|notbad-project]]\n[[Actually, pretty bad|bad-project]]\n[[Pretty well!|good-project]]

"Nice work on that project. It was really innovative." \n\n"Thank you! I think it's my best work so far." \n\n"That's great!"\n\n[[compliment|compliment]]\n[[chat|chat]]\n

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<<set $venue to "movies">>A cool, quiet afternoon in the darkness, just you and a big box of popcorn. Excellent. \n\nAre you going to dress up for this?\n\n[[Glam to the max, baby!|glam]]\n[[Cute but casual - the point is to be relaxed and destressed, after all|casual]]\n[[Trakkie dacks, moccasins and wiping the sleep from my eyes. Maybe.|relaxed]]

Do you need/want to eat first, or nah?\n\n[[Nah, that's not what this is about|nodinner]]\n<<if $venue is "park" or $venue is "movies">>[[I'm gonna take myself out to the fanciest restaurant I can get without a booking!|fancydinner]]<<endif>><<if $venue is "home">>[[I'm ordering the fanciest dinner I can get home delivered!|fancydinner]]<<endif>>\n[[Good ol' Mickey D, he's our man|fastdinner]]\n[[I'm a good cook and I find it relaxing. I'll make something for myself.|homedinner]]\n

<<set $dinner to "home">>There's nothing more relaxing than heating up the oven and cutting, kneading and boiling your way to homecooked bliss. \n\n[[Let's go!|date]]\n

"I can't believe how far you've come this year. You've got so much done!"\n\n"...no I fucking haven't."\n\n"Sure, you haven't got all of what you wanted. But you got a shitload more than you would have just coasting. And, really, if you think about it, objectively you have a number of achievements. No-one can take that away." \n\n[[compliment|compliment]]\n[[chat|chat]]\n

Ms .45

You have a super important date tonight, with someone you should work very hard to impress. You don't want to get anxious, but you really do want to try your best.\n\nYou have a date with yourself, so you should make it a good one. \n\nWhere would you like to go?\n\n[[a public park, with maybe just a few people and dogs in the distance|park]]\n[[a movie matinee|movies]]\n[[I'm staying right here at home|home]]\n

You sit quietly with yourself, enjoying the atmosphere. Everything is super chill and you're feeling at peace with the world. \n\n[[end|end]]