(after:1s)[zzz...]
(after:2.0s)[zzz...]
(after:3s)[zzz...]
(after:4s)[...[[wake up->Bed]]! You're late!]You scramble to the the bathroom, your feet slipping across the floor.
Quick, a hiding spot!
[[To the toilet!->Toilet]]
[[Under the sink!->Sink]]You wake up in your bed made of couch stuffing and paper shreds.
//Noon already... oh snap, tonight's that [[party->That party]]!
Hmm, wasn't I supposed to bring something?//
[[Drinks mayhaps?->Drinks]]
[[Food perchance?->Need cheese]]//Of course! The cheese! What kind of mouse party would it be without// cheese//??//
//Well, better [[start->Get up]] now.//
//Or [[stay in bed->Stay]]?////Drinks? No, not this time. Besides, the party'll be in the attic, we'll probably be drinking water from that leaky pipe anyway.//
[[Hmm->Bed]]You get up, (text-style:"buoy")[streeetch], and start heading towards the door.
//I can't stop thinking about how this party is going to go... I won't know anyone except my friend, what if I hate it?//
This party is gonna suck. (mouseover: "suck.")[It's going to be loud and crowded and I won't know anyone so [[I'm gonna be alone the whole time->Alone]].]
"It'll be alright." (mouseover: "alright.")[I can hang out with my friend, and this is a great opportunity to [[meet other mice->Meet mice!]]!]//Five more minutes can't hurt, right?//
(after:4s)[Five more minutes is too short... maybe if I stay here I won't have to go to the party. Would anyone notice? I think I'll just live here in my bed forever.....]
(after:10s)[Welp, it's been ten minutes, I should [[get up->Get up]].]Sigh. //Well at least people might like me if I bring the cheese.//
//Okay, [[let's get some cheese->Bedroom]].////Yeah! It'll be fun! Can't be any worse than staying cooped up in here, that's for sure.//
I'm ready, [[let's get this cheese->Bedroom]]!You exit your hole in the wall and are greeted by the underside of a bed. (A human one.) It is a large, wooden structure that supports a soft interior (which makes good bedding material!). The wall behind it made a good hiding spot for your home.
You scamper to the other side of the bed and enter the "the house." More specifically, one of the "bedrooms." Next to the bedstand there is a towering wooden [[nightstand->Nightstand]] that contains all kinds of trinkets. There is an enormous [[mirror->Mirror]], a desk, some shelves, and a closet.
Finally, there is the [[door->Hallway]] which leads to the great expanses of the house.//My friend convinced me to go. I'm pretty nervous. Why did I agree to go again?//
[[Ahhh->Bed]]You run up to the nightstand. It is a tall structure that has many levels that open to reveal entire (conveniently) mouse-sized rooms full of loot.
//I've found all sorts of stuff here. Coins, hairclips, rocks, paper, unactivated gift cards...//
[[Good times.->Bedroom]]The mirror looks just like the room, but you can't cross to the other side. You can see yourself! A mouse.
I look like a mess. (mouseover:"mess")["Eeek! I have (text-style:"sway")[nightmare eyes]. [[I don't know->I don't know]] about this party.]
Lookin' good. (mouseover:"good")[Today's gonna be a [[great day->Great day]]!]You step into the hallway. A row of doors awaits. One to the [[bathroom->Bathroom]], one to the [[other bedroom->Other bedroom]], and one to the [[living room->Living Room]].
You also could go back to the [[bedroom->Bedroom]].You scurry across the kitchen floor, across the living room, across the hallway towards the bedroom and (link-reveal:"finally-")[=
A giant paw steps in front of you, blocking your path!
//Oh no! The cat!!//
Cat: "Aha! The mischevious thief has been caught! Nothing can escape the all-seeing guardian of this house unseen! How do you imagine you'll ever escape?"
[[I'll run!->Run]]
[[Are you hungry?->Give cheese]]
[[I'm an invincible mouse!->Invincible!]]
[[I can't.->Give up]]You: "I can’t. I won’t. You win, I give up. Just eat me."
Cat: "Oh… well… now you’re making me feel bad... like at least play along and make this entertaining. It's pretty boring around here."
[[Okay, well, actually I think I will run then...!->Run]]
[[Do you want some cheese?->Give cheese]]You start running back the way you came. You hear the cat's pounding footsteps in close pursuit.
Quick, which way?
[[Bathroom!->Hide in bathroom]]
[[Living room!->Hide in living room]]You: "I'm an invincible mouse! You can't kill me, I am the protagonist and have plot armor!"
Cat: "Maybe that'd work in a novel. But we aren't in a novel, are we?"
[[No...->Death]]You have died as a result of your hubris.
[[It's rewind time!->Enter cat]]You get ready to say goodbye and leave but can't find the cheese.
You: "Hey where'd the cheese go?"
Cat: "Oh, um, I ate the rest of it. I hope you don't mind."
You: "Well um, can I have more cheese? I needed it for this party I'm going to."
Cat: "A party? Wow, I just spared your life, and you're gonna ask me for free cheese without even inviting me?"
//Is it really a good idea to bring a cat to a mouse party? I mean he seems alright... and I do need that cheese...//
[[Um, never mind.->No cheese]]
[[Okay okay, you can come too.->Invite]]You enter the bathroom. It's a little cold, and the floor is slippery. There's a spacious sink, a spacious toilet, and of course an even more spacious bath. The space under the sink has been a good hiding spot before. Otherwise, there's not much useful here. You could drink water from the [[sink->Water]].
[[Enough of the bathroom->Hallway]]The living room. The largest room in the house. There's some wooden [[shelves->Shelves]] stacked sky-high with books, a TV overhead, and a [[couch->Couch]] with plenty of space to run around on. Off in the distance, there's also the [[dining room->Dining table]] and the [[kitchen->Kitchen]]. You catch a whiff of cheese scent coming from the shelves.
You could also run back to the [[hallway->Hallway]].There are some crumbs scattered around across the couch. Tasty, but not enough for a whole party. They'll make a decent snack though.
[[Nom nom nom->Living Room]]The shelves go higher than the nightstand, with even more levels. These ones are open but filled with books. The [[cheese scent->Mousetrap]] comes from the corner of the room, next to the shelves.
//I wonder what the humans do with all these books? Does the cat ever read them? Could I learn to read? I wonder if they teach mice how to read at college.//
[[Maybe.->Living Room]]The table looks really tall. Maybe there's something tasty at the summit, but you don't really feel like climbing that right now.
[[Maybe next time->Living Room]]There should be cheese in this room. There's a strong scent of cheese overhead. That's a very good sign! Looks like you won't have to find a way to open and enter the perilous fridge, but you'll have to climb up all the way to the top of the counter.
(link-reveal:"Up!")[
The smell of cheese gets stronger as you ascend higher.
(link-reveal:"Up!")[
(link-reveal:"Up!")[=
[There it is! At long last! A wedge of fine [[cheese->The cheese!]]! Conveniently placed alone on the top of this counter!]]]The cheese!!! Perfect!
You grab the cheese.
You look back down to the floor. It's a long way down.
//One slip and... scrunch! (mouseover:"scrunch!")[That's the sound of my bones breaking. Eeek!]//
What if I slip and fall? (mouseover: "fall?")[And then I die?? Is this cheese worth it? Was any of this worth it? [[I regret everything.->Go down]].]
"I've climbed all kinds of stuff before." (mouseover-: "before.")[I'll be just fine. It'll all be [[worth it-> Go down!]] when I get to the party!]Well, I can't just sit up here forever (even if I want to).
I am going to die.
[[Here I go...->Down]]Yeah! I can do this, no problem.
[[Here I go!->Down]]//Phew! Made it to the ground! This cheese is heavy, better bring it back home quick!//
[[Scurry along->Enter cat]]You rush into the living room, the cat hot on your heels.
Quick, to the [[couch!->Hide under couch]]You jump from the bathtub onto the- oops! It was open! You jump //into// the toilet! Soggy cheese...
The cat, who has caught up, grins mischeviously, delightied by the pitiful dilemma you have plunged yourself into.
Cat: "You better hope you can swim well!"
The cat pushes the silver lever with his paw and the water begins to swirl into the abyss below. You hold on for dear life, but the cheese is weighing you down.
[[Drop the cheese?->Drop the cheese]]
[[Hold on!->Flushed]]You hide under the sink. The cat barges into the bathroom (how rude!) searching for you.
Cat: "Meowwwwwww." He meows in frustration. He can't find you.
The cat leaves, and you are free to [[go->Cheese ending]].A few hours pass...
You've made it to the party, albeit without cheese. The door mouse greets you. //Hopefully no one notices that there's no cheese.//
//I guess, sometimes, staying alive is more important than a little social embarrassment.//
Let's party!A few hours pass...
You've made it to the party, cheese in hands! The door mouse greets you, eyeing the cheese.
//I did it! Everything turned out just fine! This is about to be a great party!//
Let's party!A few hours pass...
You've made it to the party, and with the cheese! And an extra friend. //I hope the host doesn't mind.// The door mouse is clearly alarmed by the cat but keeps her cool.
//Well, even if this party doesn't go well, at least I made one new friend!//
Let's party!You can't hold on for much longer... you feel yourself slip and //whoosh!//
//fwap!//
//splash!//
The cat pulls you out of the water??
Cat: "Don't think I was gonna let you off that easy, I need proof of my great deeds to show to my family! I stopped the thief! I saved the... the cheese! It's ruined! It's all soggy!! For this crime you will pay dearly!"
You are frozen in fear.
(mouseover:"fear")[
Cat: "Eww, you're all wet too. I'm not touching that. Uhh, just go I guess. This would be embarrassing for me. I think I'm gonna flush this stinky cheese."
[[Okay...->No cheese ending]]]You scramble to hide deep under the couch.
Looks like someone dropped the TV remote down here. Turn on the TV?
[[Yeah->Distract with TV]]
[[No!->Wait under couch]]The TV turns on to National Geographic, distracting the cat, who turns around to watch.
Now's your chance! [[Escape!->Cheese ending]]The cat claws under the couch but can't reach you. He decides to lay siege to the couch and wait patiently outside.
//I can't wait here forever...//
Cat: "I can't wait here forever you know. Come out here, I'm getting bored. Hand over the cheese, or at least run with it so I get to chase you more."
//What do I do?//
[[Give up the cheese->Give cheese at couch]]
(link-reveal:"Run! ")[No way!]
[[Wait some more->Wait longer under couch]]Cat: Okay, this is boring, I'm going in after you.
To your horror, cat squeezes under the couch.
//I'm gonna die!//
(after:4s)[The cat] (after:6s)[inches] (after:8s)[closer] (after:10s)[and closer,] (after:12s)[very] (after:14s)[slowly-] (mouseover:"slowly-")[
Cat: "Alllmoost there..."
He is not even halfway.
//Wait, he's stuck, why don't I just run now?//
[[Run!->Run from couch]]
]
You run from the couch! The cat is too slow and stuck under the couch to follow you.
[[Run!->Cheese ending]]You timidly crawl to the edge of the couch.
You: "Well, here's the cheese.
Cat: "The hero is victorious again! Now scram! Before I change my mind."
[[Yes sir!->No cheese ending]]You: "Want some of this cheese?"
Cat: "...you know what, sure. It'll be my appetizer." The cat licks his lips.
Cat: "I'm just kidding."
You nervously split the cheese and give half to the cat.
[[Are you allowed to eat cheese?->Eating cheese]]
[[What do you do around here?->Chat]]You: "So, your owners aren’t gonna be mad? That you’re eating their cheese?"
Cat: "Probably, but I don't really care. Besides I can just blame you.
You: "Oh, right."
Cat: "And then when I catch you I'll be the hero. Foolproof plan."
[[What do you do around here?->Chat]]Cat: "Eat, play with my toys, watch the fish, sleep, get pets, sleep more... my family wants me to catch mice but I've never caught one before. Sometimes I think I'm bad at being a cat."
The cat looks a little sad.
[[You don't need to catch mice to be a good cat!->Flattery]]
[[I'm sure your family still loves you.->Family]]You: "You don't need to catch mice to be a good cat! You can do so many other things... like... talk?"
Cat: "Meow?"
You: "Squeak squeak?"
Cat: "Yeah, I guess I don't need to catch mice. This is better than chasing you to be honest."
[[Cool->Ask for cheese]]You: "I'm sure your family loves you even if you don't catch mice."
Cat: "I don't know... and when they're gone I feel so alone... Can you be my friend?"
(link-reveal:"Ehh... ")[I should probably say yes for my own sake.]
(link-reveal:"Yeah!")[=
You: "Yeah, sure!"
Cat: "Excellent! We will be great friends."
[[Cool->Ask for cheese]]You: "Um, never mind, I don't need it."
The cat looks a little disappointed.
You: "Well, it was nice meeting you, I gotta go now."
Cat: "Alright, see you later."
[[Scurry off->No cheese ending]]You: "Yeah, sure! Of course you can come!"
The cat grins.
"Splendid! This is gonna be so fun!"
[[Yes it is->Cheese and cat ending]]You're not sure you even want to go get the cheese. If you don't want to go, why are you doing this?
[[Oh well->Bedroom]]You feel a boost of energy. You're gonna get the cheese and make everyone proud!
[[Let's go!->Bedroom]]You clamber up the sink, clasp your arms as far as they can reach around the knob, and start turning...
(after:4s)[Yes! Water starts dripping from the sink.
(link-reveal:"Take a drink")[=
You drink the cool dripping water. Refreshing!
//Okay, time to turn it back off. Gotta save water!//
You turn the water off and go back [[down->Bathroom]].]You crawl cautiously towards the smell of cheese.
//What's this?//
You spot the cheese, sitting atop the edge of a wooden table of sorts. The table is strange; opposite of the cheese is some silver frame of sorts, attached to a coil in the center.
//This might be enough cheese for the party. Should I just take this?//
[[Yeah->Death by mousetrap]]
[[Nah->Leave mousetrap]]The door is ajar. You can hear the deep, rumbling snoring of the cat behind it. Best not to enter this room.
[[Let's not die->Hallway]]//Goodbye cheese! I'm sorry I couldn't save you...//
Without the cheese weighing you down, you can hold onto the edge of the toilet for long enough to survive the would-be-deadly whirlpool.
Cat: "The cheese! I should've known you weren't stupid enough to hide in the toilet! You've flushed it down to your sewer-dwelling friends!! For this you must pay!!"
You are frozen in fear.
(mouseover:"fear")[
Cat: "Eww, you're all wet. I'm not touching that. Uhh, just go I guess. This would be embarrassing for me."
[[Okay...->No cheese ending]]](text-style:"rumble")[//Snap!//]
It was a mousetrap! You have died. No party this time, but at least you got the cheese.
[[Let's try this again.->Mousetrap]]//Nope, not falling for this one. That cheese does smell good though...//
[[Nice try.->Shelves]]