[[You are at a table in a cafe...->intro]] {(set: $obs to false)}You are at a table in a cafe.
This place is new, you think. The walls are painted soothing pastels and you smell baked goods. The sound of classical guitar rings softly in the air.
Across from you sits your [[date->them]].Lupah takes a sip of their tea through a long straw. You can tell they're a bit nervous by the twitching of their secondary earfins.
"Your planet is a bit warmer, on average," says Lupah. "Kulond has many ice marshes, even near the equator." Their accent softens their Ts and aspirates each S. (if: $obs is false)[
[[Observe them->observe]]]
[["Ice marsh?"->biomes]]Lupah hums thoughtfully. "Like... a flat place with wet land and ice floes. There are few tree kinds, and some water can be deep. The Earth marshes always look very warm instead."
[["What kind of animals live there?"->animals]]
[["What kind of plants live there?"->plants]]Lupah purrs. "There is an old story my mother told me and my siblings. A story about Mivott Lake..."
Lupah tells you a story of an alvedh hunter who went to the lake, ignoring warnings of strange events.
(link:"\"What happened to them?\"")["What happened to them?"
Lupah's taloned fingers curl in a pretend threat. "They returned, but they were... different. They never went too far from the village. Others asked what was wrong, but they never spoke of it. One day a brave group went to the lake, but where it used to be was a large pit with nothing inside."
After a moment, Lupah breaks the tension. "My mother probably told it to us so that we would not wander away. Mithkr always liked that story."
(link:"\"Mithkr?\"")["Mithkr?"
Their face suddenly falls. "They were a friend. Except..." Lupah looks as though they're [[arguing->past]] with themself.]]"Nnn... It is a little hard to explain. The ingredients are all different. It is meat from an animal called ulkodd, maybe like a deer."
Lupah tries to describe some of the flavors by comparing them to Earth foods. It sounds like ulkodd actually tastes more like chicken than venison or steak.
"The last time I had ulkodd, it was..." Lupah trails off.
[["It was...?"->past 2]]Lupah's earfins rise shyly. The patterns in their fur-feathers are mesmerizing. Their voice lowers into a whisper. "I have never talked about this before, but... After they left, I worry... That I will end up alone."
(link:"Hold their hand")[You reach for their hand, and they hesitantly reach back.]
[["I'll make sure you don't."->life 2]]
[["I'm afraid too."->life 3]]"H-... have you ever been with someone before?" Lupah blurts out. Their four eyes seem to glisten as they stare into yours. "Someone you thought you could trust?"
[["Yes."->love 2]]You and Lupah end up living together in the city, a glittering metropolis full of people from across the cosmos. It takes Lupah a little while to adjust to city life on another planet, but you're truly happy together.
It turns out Lupah has a fondness for stuffed animals and animal pillows, especially ones based on Earth's creatures. Many times, you find them [[sleeping->earth 2]] underneath a large elephant plush, making a mellow dove-like coo.Lupah's fur-feathers shimmer in fondness. "I am always surprised at how similar animals are, sometimes.
There are mostly small animals, koggat, like... Salamanders? Soft things with legs that swim. And there are buid, big things with very long legs. They walk, even in deep water."
Lupah eagerly describes some other animals that live in and around ice marshes. It turns out many Kulond animals have six limbs, like the alvedh.
(link:"\"You know a lot about animals.\"")["You know a lot about animals."
Lupah's lower eyelids rise, making a cat-like smile. "I always love studying animals - why they are shaped the way they are, their habits, and maybe what they think."
]
[["I'd love to see them."->space]]"Nnn... There are many large mushrooms, like Earth trees. Though, they are shaped different, more arms than mushrooms."
(link-reveal:"\"Arms?\"")[
"L-like branches, or feathers." Lupah makes a soft purring giggle. You take it they are a little embarrassed.
]
"Some of them get as long as a limm."
[["Limm?"->fears]]"There are a couple giant animals on Kulond, like burnda and limm, big enough to swallow a large building." Lupah sees your eyes widen. "But they are deep in the ocean, where we can never swim. There are much scarier things," Lupah tries to reassure you.
[["Scarier things?"->stories]]Lupah's pupils widen, like a cat's eyes in the dark.
"You are so kind... I... I should ask..."
"What is it?" You ask as [[softly->love b]] as you can.Lupah reaches out to touch your shoulder with their tail tip.
"Maybe we can be alone together?"
(link:"Smile")[You smile gently. It's silent for a few moments.
After a while, Lupah shakes their head a little, as if to clear some [[thought->love]].]Lupah leans in close to you. "I... I am so scared."
You place your hand gently on their cheek. It's soft, like down feathers.
(link:"\"What are you scared of?\"")["What are you scared of?"
"That I will be hurt again. That I will hurt someone again."
(link:"\"It'll be okay.\"")["It'll be okay."
Lupah's primary eyes close, a gesture of extreme vulnerability.
[[Lean closer->love 3]]]]Lupah lowers their head and presses their soft forehead against yours.
"I want to believe you."
You close your eyes. You can hear their [[heart->love 4]] beating hard, twice as slowly as yours.
You kiss them.Your lips press against Lupah's muzzle. They're shaking.
Slowly, they grow still. You feel something in their soul settle, as though somewhere a tiny animal was finally shown kindness instead of scorn.
"Thank you," they [[whisper->love 4]].Lupah smiles in an Alvedh manner, their primary eyes closing a little, their face relaxing a bit. "Maybe next time we should meet on Kulond. I think humans do not need masks there... Though, some of the food may be poisonous."
(link:"Smile")[You smile. Lupah makes a quiet purring sound, like a laugh. "It should be no problem. The large cities have many humans visiting, so food is all labelled."]
[["What's your favorite food?"->food]]You and Lupah spend many days on Kulond near Lupah's hometown, a village in a mountainous region with many lakes in the valleys, and a constant view of the stars. It takes you a while to adjust, but you're truly happy together.
Lupah weaves you a coat from softened plant fibers to help with the cold. The material keeps warmth in, but Lupah is always [[warmer->Kulond 2]]. You find yourself asking them to hold you anyway. They happily comply."H-... have you ever been with someone before?" Lupah blurts out. Their four eyes seem to glisten as they stare into yours. "Someone you thought you could trust?"
[["Yes."->love 2b]]Lupah leans in close to you. "I... I am so scared."
Slowly, you place your hand on their cheek. It's soft, like down feathers.
(link:"\"What are you scared of?\"")["What are you scared of?"
"That I will be hurt again. That I will hurt someone again."
Lupah's primary eyes close, a gesture of extreme vulnerability.
[["I won't let it happen."->love 3b]]]"Maybe... Maybe this time will be different." The sun is setting, and streaks of red and orange bounce off the table. Their eyes catch the light, more beautiful than any gemstone.
Lupah purrs again, a little sadly. "I was told once that I spend too much time thinking of the heavens. I am glad I did... I am glad I met you."
[["And I, you."->next]]You spend some time gazing into each other's eyes and chatting. Your drink tastes a little sweeter than it did before.
The light of the sunset fades.
"Ah... It is getting late, is it?" Lupah looks a little down. It's clear they don't want your date to end. "I should be going..."
[["Maybe we can meet again on Kulond."->next 3]]
[["Would you like to stay at my place?"->next 2]]Lupah's fur-feathers shimmer. "Of course!" Their earfins twitch a bit.
You lead Lupah to your home. When it gets dark, you watch a movie together. When the credits roll, you look over and see that Lupah has fallen asleep, their head pressing against your [[shoulder->earth]].Lupah looks up at you excitedly, though their earfins twitch a bit with anxiety. "I would like that. Maybe we could visit my hometown?"
You exchange communication info. Lupah promises to help give you directions. "I will try to come find you if you get lost," they [[purr->Kulond]].A couple years ago your longest relationship came to an end. You guess you just weren't right for each other. After spending time with your loving friends, though, you've come back stronger than ever. You're ready, you feel, to be vulnerable again.
They are [[Lupah->cafe 1]], a young alvedh visiting Earth from their home planet of Kulond, fascinated by the people, the land, the life.You don't know much about Alvedh beauty standards, but Lupah's swirling patterns and gentle demeanor draw your gaze. Lupah doesn't notice at first - it seems they were studying you as well. Their fur-feathers ripple like a [[blush->cafe 2]].As an Alvedh, Lupah has a serpentine body covered in brown-gray blades of fur, and standing a foot or two taller than you. Patterns of darker and lighter fur-feathers run their length, diamonds and stripes and spots. They have six limbs; the first limbs are considered arms, the next pair are forelegs, and the last pair are hind legs. You think of depictions of Eastern dragons. {(set: $obs to true)}
Their draconic face has four large teal eyes, two main eyes and two smaller ones above them, with slit pupils like a cat's. Their head ends in four earfins, which look especially soft.
[[Stop staring->cafe 2]]
[[Admire their form->staring]]"It was with... An old friend." Lupah shifts a bit, and their tail coils into a tight spiral. "We... Don't talk anymore."
[["What happened...?"->anxiety]]
[["You don't have to talk about it."->not talking]]"It was good in the beginning. But later, we were unhappy. I would always say the wrong things, and when they were upset, they would say things too." Lupah can't meet your gaze. "So we became separate."
[["I'm sorry."->life]]"I... I should tell you. About my... old friend."
[[Listen->anxiety]]
[["You don't need to, if you don't want to."->not talking]]Lupah is looking downwards at their drink, rubbing two fingers together anxiously.
[["So... What's an ice marsh?"->biomes]]Star-Crossed
In this game, it is impossible to lose - your actions will only affect which path you take. There are no wrong choices.
(link:"Content warnings")[Content warnings: breakups, PDA]
[[Begin->start]]Lupah lowers their head gratefully. Their tail uncoils a little. "I apologize."
(link:"\"It's okay.\"")["It's okay."
After a moment, Lupah takes a deep [[breath->life]], breathing in more than any human could.]One day you lie at the top of a snowy hill. You don't feel cold.
The stars are reflected in nearby lakes, still water acting as a mirror. Looking upwards, you actually spot Earth - a blue dot, small from this distance but shining proudly.
You feel close to Lupah, in a way unlike any other. Beneath the stars, they tell you they feel the same way.
Every day, you have something to look forward to.
[[Ending->thank]] 2 of 2: KulondOne day you're on the roof, watching the sun set. Lupah never tires of it - they tell you there's not really a day-night cycle on Kulond. They listen to you describe the seasons and eclipses and solstices with great enthusiasm.
With their head in your lap, Lupah tells you that you are unique in all the universe, that they're not afraid anymore.
You take their hand, and kiss them on the forehead.
[[Ending->thank]] 1 of 2: EarthThank you for playing! I hope you enjoyed it.
<img src="image/lupah.png" width="636" height="690" alt="An image of Lupah." />
(link:"Fun facts")[Fun facts
- A lot of Lupah's body language is based on cats.
- Lupah's name comes from Lupa or Lupus, Latin for wolf.
- Kulond's rotation is like our moon, where one side always faces the sun and one always faces away. Lupah's hometown is near the edge of the cold and hot sides, but it's on the cold side so it's always night time.]
(link:"IPA Pronunciations")[IPA Pronunciations (approximately)
ɐ and ä are interchangable
- Lupah = /ˈlupɐh/ (the h isn't silent)
- Kulond = /ˈkulɑnd/
- alvedh = /ɐlˈveð/
- koggat = /ˈkɑɡɐt/ or /ˈkɑɡɪt/
- limm = /lɪm/
- burnda = /ˈbuɹndɐ/ or /ˈbɹndɐ/
- ulkodd = /ˈʊlkɑd/
- Mivott = /ˈmivɑt/]
[[Restart->start]]