Again.
I didn't get the job [[<u>//again.//</u>->Describe Alex]]``*You finally got out of bed for the first time today.*``
``*Instead of seeing that warm smile you always hope to see, you were greeted by a note with some food next to it.*``
"Had to come into work early today! I was going to wake you up, but you didn't get much sleep last night. Enjoy your breakfast babe! <3 Alex"
What an angel...
I don't deserve them.
They always take such good care of me and what do I do to give back? Get fired, can't get a job for over a year, and can't even pay bills.
I'm just a [[<u>//burden//</u>->Describe Taylor]] to Alex.
Why are they still with me?``*ping*``
``*ping*``
``*ping*``
"Always an honor to do some good in this world"
"This praise isn't needed, but appreciated"
"All in a day's work"
Oh. Taylor's bragging about their accomplishments.
Again.
Why do they always have it so good? They have their dream job, constantly getting raises, a loving family.
They're great, but ever since we were little, Taylor always had [[<u>//everything.//</u>->Depressed Protag]]You know what?
I don't wanna deal with any of this right now.
I just want to get some [[<u>//sleep.//</u>->Choose Power]]Ugh.
I feel terrible.
I can't see anything with this light in my face, my throat feels so dry, and my feet are trembling.
What the heck.
[[<u>//Close the curtain.//</u>->Sure You Wanna Do This?: Light]]
[[<u>//Drink some water.//</u>->Sure You Wanna Do This?: Water]]
[[<u>//Grab some socks.//</u>->Sure You Wanna Do This?: Metal]]The light's annoying, but is it really that unbearable?
[[<u>//Ugh, I hate this. I could've slept in longer.//</u>->Discovers Powers: Light]]
[[<u>//I'm way more thirsty than I thought.//</u>->Discovers Powers: Water]]
[[<u>//My feet are really cold.//</u>->Discovers Powers: Metal]]I'm thirsty, but I think I can manage. Should I still get some water?
[[<u>//My throat feels weird, so I should drink some water soon.//</u>->Discovers Powers: Water]]
[[<u>//I can't even grab my water if I don't do something about this light in my face.//</u>->Discovers Powers: Light]]
[[<u>//My feet are freezing.//</u>->Discovers Powers: Metal]]My feet are cold, but I really don't want to get out of bed. Should I still grab some socks?
[[<u>//Some cozy socks sound really good right now.//</u>->Discovers Powers: Metal]]
[[<u>//Where's my sock drawer even at? I can't see anything like this.//</u>->Discovers Powers: Light]]
[[<u>//My throat feels itchy. I really need to drink some water.//</u>->Discovers Powers: Water]](set: $light to true)
``*Just as you move your hand forward, the light in your face does too.``
Huh?
``*You swing your hand back and forth. The light follows your movements.*``
HUH?
I'm still dreaming right?
``*You face your palm towards your mirror to find that light is being reflected with every move your hand makes.*``
[[<u>//WHAT???//<u/>->Protag in Disbelief]]
WHAT'S GOING ON???(set: $water to true)
``*Just as you move your hand forward, the water in your bottle does too.``
Huh?
``*You swing your hand back and forth. The water follows your movements.*``
HUH?
I'm still dreaming right?
``*You spin your hand around to find a whirlpool being created inside of your bottle.*``
[[<u>//WHAT???//<u/>->Protag in Disbelief]]
WHAT'S GOING ON???(set: $metal to true)
``*Just as you move your hand forward, the metal handle of your sock drawer does too.``
Huh?
``*You swing your hand back and forth. The metal follows your movements.*``
HUH?
I'm still dreaming right?
``*You move your finger around to see a knot being created with your actions.*``
[[<u>//WHAT???//<u/>->Protag in Disbelief]]
WHAT'S GOING ON???Am I even awake right now...?
This has to be some kind of dream.
I'm sure I just saw all of that happen, though...
Did...
Did I [[<u>//actually//</u>->Protag Feels Important]] just do all that?I...
did that.
I did that.
I have superpowers!
I'm like a [[<u>//superhero//</u>->Who to Tell?]] now right?!Oh my god, I should tell someone about this!
``*You check your phone to see a missed call from Alex and an unread text from Taylor.*``
Should I tell someone about my powers?
[[<u>//Alex deserves to know. We're dating together after all.//</u>->Sure You Wanna Do This?: Tell Alex]]
[[<u>//Taylor knows everything about me. They'll find out eventually anyway.//</u>->Sure You Wanna Do This?: Tell Taylor]]
[[<u>//Wait, why should I? They could end up telling people behind my back.//</u>->Sure You Wanna Do This?: Tell No One]]Would it be best to keep this to myself though? Can I handle this on my own?
[[<u>//I need to prove to myself that I'm not worthless.//</u>->Tells No One]]
[[<u>//I trust Alex. I should tell them.//</u>->Tells Alex]]
[[<u>//Taylor's been there for me my entire life. I can trust them.//</u>->Tells Taylor]]I love Alex, but what will they think of me after knowing?
[[<u>//Alex loves me. I should just tell them.//</u>->Tells Alex]]
[[<u>//Taylor wants to hang out tomorrow. This would be the best time to tell them.//</u>->Tells Taylor]]
[[<u>//I might scare people away, so I shouldn't tell anyone at all.//</u>->Tells No One]]Taylor might just brag about me to make them seem even more successful. Should still I tell Taylor?
[[<u>//Taylor wouldn't put me in danger for a stupid reason like that.//</u>->Tells Taylor]]
[[<u>//Alex always tells me that they'll be there for me no matter what. I should tell them instead.//</u>->Tells Alex]]
[[<u>//Why should I even tell anyone? I'll just look like a freak of nature in their eyes.//</u>->Tells No One]]What am I even thinking? No one should know about these powers but me.
I was blessed with these abilities.
I am stronger than anyone can possibly be.
I can change the world.
Those stupid companies that rejected me, Taylor and their stuck up ego, Alex and their neglectiveness.
Everyone will [[<u>//regret//</u>->Protag Grows Distant]] ever looking down on me and making me feel useless.How will Alex react, though?
Will they be upset? Scared? Angry?
Ah, this is so stressful to think about!
...
Alex won't [[<u>//leave me...//</u>->Alex Comes Home From Work]]
will they?``*You text Taylor that you're still able to hang out tomorrow.*``
How will Taylor react, though?
Sure, Taylor's like family to me.
But is this really a [[<u>//good idea?//</u>->Protag at Taylor's House]] Taylor's been really stuck up recently...
Ah, this is so stressful to think about!```*You spend the next few months honing your powers in a nearby forest.*```
"Hey Taylor, it's Alex. Have you been talking to your best friend recently?"
//"Oh, I was actually about to call you about that. Every time I try to contact them lately, their phone always brings me straight to voicemail or they don't read my texts. Did you two get in a fight or something?"//
"We haven't, no. I honestly rarely see them around anymore. They're barely home and when they are, they [[<u>//don't even talk//</u>->Alex Confronts Protag]] to me. I'm really worried, but not sure how to approach them."
//"Well shoot. Just talk to them, Alex. I'm sure that if they don't open up right away, they'll at least appreciate the gesture. Let me know what happens."//
"Alright Taylor, thanks."```*You come back from training to find Alex waiting for you in the living room.*```
"Babe? Can we talk?"
...
"Is something going on? Did I do something wrong? How come you never talk to me anymore?"
...
"Where do you go off to everyday?"
...
"Do I...still make you [[<u>//happy//</u>->Protag and Alex Fight]]?"
...
No. No you don't.```*You hear someone call your name as you leave to train.*```
"Yo, what's up with you and Alex. First you ignore me, and now them? Are y'all good?"
...
"I asked you a question, bruh. What happened?"
...
"Dude, just answer me! I've been [[<u>//worried//</u>->Protag and Taylor Fight]] sick about you two!"
...
Why do you even care?```*You find yourself at your training grounds.*```
//I did that for us!//
//It's even gotten in the way of work, ya know!//
What do they even know? They never actually cared about me. They just kept me around for their own benefit.
...
Why were they never there for me?!
(if: $light is true) [``*Your mind becomes clouded with rage. Concentrated rays of light shoot out of your palms, burning nearby trees.*``] (else-if: $water is true) [``*Your mind becomes clouded with rage. Schoring hot water blasts out of one hand while the other is freezing cold.*``] (else-if: $metal is true) [``*Your mind becomes clouded with rage. Sharp blades of metal shoot out of your hands.*``]
"AHHHHHHHH! SOMEONE [[<u>//HELP ME!//</u>->Protag Goes Crazy in the City]]"
```*You turn to the noise and see someone fleeing from you.*```
```*You chase after them.*``````*Your mind is empty as you chase after the bystander towards the city.*```
(if: $light is true) [``*Everything in your path is melting before you. Windows are reflecting your power, creating a dangerous net of intense light.*``] (else-if: $water is true) [``*Giant cyclones of scorching and freezing water are forming from fire hydrants in the streets, destroying everything around them.*``] (else-if: $metal is true) [``*Cars, lamp posts, buildings. Everything metal has either been crushed or formed to create piercing blades.*``]
```*You watch as people scream and run for their lives.*```
```*There's a silhouette standing right in front of you.*```
[[<u>//Wait...Alex?//</u>->Save Alex?]]
[[<u>//Is that...Taylor?//</u>->Save Taylor?]](set: $save_alex to true)
``*Tears travel down Alex's face as they tremble in front of you. They run their hands through their hair, still not being able to face you.*``
[[<u>//Tell Alex to run away//</u>->Alex Runs]]
[[<u>//Attack Alex//</u>->Protag Attacks Alex]](set: $save_taylor to true)
``*Taylor slowly backs away from you, their face becoming paler every second. They hold their hands to their stomach, as if they could vomit at any moment.*``
[[<u>//Tell Taylor to run away//</u>->Taylor Runs]]
[[<u>//Attack Taylor//</u>->Protag Attacks Taylor]]...go.
Run Alex! Get away from me!
```*Alex stops in confusion. They look like they want to say something, but they close their mouth and do as told.*```
Why...
Why?!
```*Before you realize it, you shoot an attack at Alex. Their hair gets chopped off as they continue to run.*```
```*You stand in horror.*```
(if: $save_taylor is false) [[[<u>//Taylor?//</u>->Save Taylor?]]](else-if: $save_alex and $save_taylor is true) [[[<u>//Wh-what am I doing...?//</u>->Protag Flees, End]]]```*Before you realize it, you shoot an attack at Alex. Their hair gets chopped off as they wail.*```
"Please babe..."
"Don't kill me, please..."
...
What have I done...?
```*You stand in horror.*```
(if: $save_taylor is false) [[[<u>//Taylor?//</u>->Save Taylor?]]](else-if: $save_alex and $save_taylor is true) [[[<u>//Wh-what am I doing...?//</u>->Protag Flees, End]]]Get out of here Taylor!
Stay away from me!
```*Taylor freezes. They run away from you, but glance and mutter something with a solemn look.*```
Why did it come to this...
Why?!
```*Your hands move faster than you can think. You attack Taylor, scraping their ribs. Taylor keeps running.*```
```*You stop in your tracks.*```
(if: $save_alex is false) [[[<u>//Alex?//</u>->Save Alex?]]](else-if: $save_alex and $save_taylor is true) [[[<u>//Wh-what am I doing...?//</u>->Protag Flees, End]]]```*Your hands move faster than you can think. You attack Taylor, scraping their ribs.*```
"I'm sorry bestie, really..."
"Please...don't kill me..."
...
Why did I do that...?
```*You stop in your tracks.*```
(if: $save_alex is false) [[[<u>//Alex?//</u>->Save Alex?]]](else-if: $save_alex and $save_taylor is true) [[[<u>//Wh-what am I doing...?//</u>->Protag Flees, End]]]```*Your body trembles at the thought of actually killing Alex and Taylor.*```
```*You feel your entire body weaken as you stare at your hands.*```
```*Sirens blare in the background and your legs move as fast as they can.*```
How did it end up this way?``*You jolt up as you hear your front door being unlocked.*``
"Hey babe, I'm home."
``*Alex enters the living room and finds your eyes glued to the floor, legs jumping up and down.*``
"Hey, what's [[<u>//wrong//</u>->Alex Finds Out]]?"``*They carefully sit next to you as you begin.*``
I really need to tell you something...
``*You glance at them. They're patiently waiting until you're ready to continue.*``
``*You take a deep breath.*``
I have superpowers.
...
...
...
"Haha, you're joking right?"
I woke up with them this morning and, as cool as they are, I don't know what to do now that I have them. I really wanted to [[<u>//tell you//</u>->Alex Sees Powers]] about it. Only you know.``*They stare at you in disbelief.*``
``*You take another deep breath.*``
(if: $light is true) [``*You move your hand towards your living room lamp. Alex watches intently as you create a heart out of light.*``](else-if: $water is true) [``*You move your hand towards your kitchen sink. Alex watches intently as you lift up water and create a heart.*``](else-if: $metal is true) [``*You move your hand towards your refrigerator. Alex watches intently as you manipulate the door handle into a heart.*``]
``*Their jaw drops.*``
"[[<u>//That...//</u>->Alex Talks to Protag]]was so cool!!! What else can you do?!"
...
...
...
What?
You're not freaked out or anything? You aren't going to leave me?
"Leave you? Why would I leave you? If anything, I thought you were going to break up with me."
Why did you think I would break up with you?
"You've been really out of it lately. You don't spend as much time with me when I'm home and when I'm at work, you don't even check up on me during my breaks like before. I was worried [[<u>//you//</u>->Protag and Alex Talk]] didn't want to be together anymore..."
``*Now your jaw drops.*````*Alex wipes your tears away. You didn't even realize you were crying until now.*``
[[<u>//Thank you, Alex.//</u>->Time Skip]] For everything you've done for me.
``*You hug them. You feel Alex's arms wrap around you and you feel so safe, so warm.*``
I love you too.
``*You both lean in.*``*5 years later*
"Babe! Taylor's on the phone!"
Hey Taylor, what's up?
//"Yo, still down for game night tomorrow at my place?"//
Yeah, as long as you keep your ego to a minimum, that is.
//"Well dang, no need to attack me like that! I got it."//
Alright, see you!
"Babe, I'm heading out to work now! Love you!"
Be safe, love you too!
"Well, looks like it's just [[<u>//you//</u>->Superbaby, End]] and me now, huh?""What's up bestie? You ready for game night?!"
``*You can't bring yourself to talk, so you just nod and enter their house.*``
"Can you believe that people have been giving me gifts at work? For a whole week straight?!"
...
"People are always so thankful to me and it just makes me feel so amazing!"
...
"Some people even give me their numbers! Everybody loves me! How can they not though, am I right?"
``*You want to be nervous, but feel frustration penting up instead.*``
"Yo, you good? Why are you so [[<u>//quiet//</u>->Protag Tries to Tell Taylor]]?"There's something important I need to talk to you about.
"Oh? What happened?"
...
I have superpowers.
``*Taylor laughs so hard they start crying.*``
"That came outta nowhere. Alright, tell the most amazing person in your life what's wrong now. And no, I'm not talking about Alex."
[[<u>//Why are you so full of yourself?//</u>->Be Mad at Taylor?]]
[[<u>//I'm telling you the truth.//</u>->Be Kind to Taylor?]]Saying this may be uncalled for. It's natural for Taylor to think I was playing around. Should I really get mad at them for that?
[[<u>//Taylor can't even take a hint about how annoyed I am. Why wouldn't I get mad?//</u>->Confront Taylor]]
[[<u>//I can talk to Taylor about how they've been acting later. I need to get this off my chest.//</u>->Taylor Finds Out]](set: $light to false)
(set: $water to false)
(set: $metal to false)
(set: $save_alex to false)
(set: $save_taylor to false)As much as I want to tell Taylor, I can't tell them in this state of mind. Should I still do this?
[[<u>//Just calm down and talk civilly.//</u>->Taylor Finds Out]]
[[<u>//No, I can't. I need to tell them off.//</u>->Confront Taylor]]What happened to you? Since when did you get so self-centered, huh?
"Hey, I was just being myself!"
Then why are you always bragging about every single award, gift, or whatever that happens to you huh?! It's good to be thankful, but you're always so obnoxious!"
"Oh. Oh, I get it."
"You're just jealous because you don't have a job, right? How's it feel to be freeloading in Alex's apartment?"
How dare you...
"God, stop being so [[<u>//sensitive.//</u>->Taylor Messages Protag, Bad]] If you don't appreciate my honesty, you can leave."
``*You leave to your apartment fuming and go straight to bed.*````*ping*``
What does Taylor want now?
"We need to talk. You better come over [[<u>//right now.//</u>->Taylor Has Powers, Bad]]"
Ugh.
``*You ignore Taylor's text and go back to sleep.*````*You take a deep breath.*``
I have superpowers. I woke up this morning and suddenly had them. I don't know what to do now, though, so I decided to [[<u>//tell you.//</u>->Taylor Talks to Protag]] Only you know.
``*Baffled, Taylor just stares at you.*``
``*You take another deep breath.*``
(if: $light is true) [``*You move your hand towards Taylor's living room lamp. They watch in awe as you move the light around the room.*``](else-if: $water is true) [``*You move your hand towards Taylor's kitchen sink. They watch in awe as you lift up water and swirl it around the room.*``](else-if: $metal is true) [``*You move your hand towards Taylor's refrigerator. They watch in awe as you manipulate the door handle into a knot.*``]
"Yo...this is amazing!"
...
Really? You aren't freaked out or anything?
"What? Of course not, this is really cool! I'm honored you decided to tell me about this. To think not even Alex knows!"
I'll tell them eventually. I just wanted to let you know first. I'm so used to telling you everything that it felt weird to not tell you about it.
"Really..."
"To be honest, I haven't been telling you [[<u>//everything.//</u>->Taylor Talks to Protag 2]] For a while now, actually."
Hm?``*ping*``
"I'm [[<u>//outside.//</u>->Taylor Has Powers, Good]]"
Really?
A call would've been nice, but alright."You won't believe what happened!"
(if: $light is true) [*``You watch as Taylor moves their hand around your room, your shadow following their every move.*``] (else-if: $water is true) [``*You watch as waves of electricity flow around Taylor's fingers.*``] (else-if: $metal is true) [``*You watch as Taylor opens their palm, a flame erupting in the center.*``]
How?!
"I woke up with them this morning! Like how you did!"
"You wanna train these powers [[<u>//together//</u>->Crime Fighting Duo, End]]?!"
Nah, I'm good.
``*Taylor looks extremely offended.*``
Of course I do!*A year later*
"I'll see you after work babe! I love you!"
Love you too babe, take care!
"Oh, hi Taylor! Don't make a mess with those superpowers again, you two!"
"Bye Alex, no promises!"
``*You and Taylor are about to watch a movie when the news catches both of your attention.*``
//As strange as it sounds, a criminal with super strength has just robbed a bank moments ago. How will they be apprehended?//
``*The two of you glance at each other and smile.*``
"Whoever catches them first buys the loser a new game!"
You're on!``*You're rudely awakened by a loud door slam.*``
"I thought I told you to meet me."
How-
"You gave me a spare key, idiot."
``*You're really regretting that decision right now.*``
"[[<u>//Explain.//</u>->Taylor Wants an Explanation]] This. Right. Now."
(if: $light is true) [``*You watch as Taylor moves their hand around your room, your shadow following their every move.*``] (else-if: $water is true) [``*You watch as waves of electricity flow around Taylor's fingers.*``] (else-if: $metal is true) [``*You watch as Taylor opens their palm, a flame erupting in the center.*``]...
...
...
You have powers too??? Since when?!
"HOW SHOULD I KNOW?!"
"I woke up this morning, felt weird, and bam, I had superpowers!"
What the heck? That's what happened to me too. That's what I was trying to tell you last night.
While you were being a [[<u>//jerk//</u>->Taylor Attacks Protag]], that is."I'm so tired of your shit!"
(if: $light is true) [``*Taylor manipulates shadows in the room to restrain you. You're stuck.*``] (else-if: $water is true) [``*Taylor shoots a bolt of electricity at you. You fall to the ground.*``] (else-if: $metal is true) [``*Taylor shoots a rush of flames at you. Your body gets burned and you can't move.*``]
"You know what? You're right. I have changed. I realized that I don't need trash like you in my life anymore!"
"You want to know why I kept you around for so long? To make myself feel even better about how amazing my life is! Because I have everything you don't! Everything you want! But now, I have loads of people doing your job for you!"
"And now I have this power. I am still [[<u>//stronger//</u>->Enemies, End]] than you could ever be."
"You know what? I should get rid of the trash now."
``*Before they can land another attack on you, you manage to use your powers and escape. Taylor trails behind you.*````*You run for your life. Taylor shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.*``
``*You end up downtown when Taylor catches up to you.*``
"You know, you're just putting more people in danger here. I'm not going to hold back."
``*Taylor attacks you with everything they have as innocent people run for their lives.*``
``*You fend them off as much as you can, but you don't know how much longer you can take this.*``
How did it end up this way?Oh...
I didn't mean to make you feel that way at all. I felt that I was useless and that I was dragging you down. I didn't realize I was pushing you away. I'm sorry.
"I'm sorry too. I feel like I don't do enough for you since I'm always at work."
...
"Babe, I'm always going to be there for you. I love you and want to take care of you. Having superpowers isn't going to make me leave you. If anything, it makes me love you more. You're amazing."
...
"Thank you for trusting me with this knowledge, for dating me, and for [[<u>//loving me.//</u>->Protag is Happy with Alex]]"(if: $light is true) [``*An infant crawls around your room. Out of nowhere, you hear a fart noise and see a laser shoot out of her butt.*``] (else-if: $water is true) [``*You hear a weird noise from across your room. All of a sudden, an infant vomits tiny icicles that impale your TV.*``] (else-if: $metal is true) [``*You hear clapping from across your kitchen. An infant laughs as magnets are slowly being drawn to her.*``]
...
...
...
Oh my.
``*You can't wipe the enormous grin off of your face as you call Alex.*``
Uh, babe? I really need to tell you something..."Look, I'm sorry. I know I've been a real jerk lately..."
You think?
"Dang, alright."
"I'm just afraid of letting everyone down. A lot of people have high expectations of me and even look up to me at work. The pressure has been hitting hard, especially because I feel like I need to prove myself for once."
"I had it easy growing up and now that things are getting hard, I don't know how to handle it. I do all of that bragging on social media to convince myself of having some [[<u>//fake confidence//</u>->Protag and Taylor Talk]], hoping it'll become real."
...I...never noticed any of that. You know you can depend on me right?
"I know, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. It's just hard to reach out. I really just kept running away."
Well, if we're coming clean, I should let you know that I've been jealous of you since we were kids. Even now, too.
I never realized how the good things in your life were affecting you because all I could focus on were the good things. You have basically everything you ever wanted in life and here I am, jobless and scared that Alex will leave me because I can't treat them the way they deserve to be treated. Sorry for not letting you know sooner.
"Wow...I never noticed any of that either. Like you said, you can depend on me. I'll try harder to reach out, too. And trust me, Alex would never think you're treating them wrong because you're always there for them. For us."
...
"Wanna have a [[<u>//game night?//</u>->Taylor Messages Protag, Good]]"```*Alex's eyes water. They can't face you.*```
I don't understand what the big deal is. You were never around when I needed you. This is only fair, isn't it?
"I was working! I had to make money so that we could live comfortably! I did that for us!"
For us, huh? How do I know you didn't see anyone else while you were gone "working"? Or that you didn't just stay with me out of pity? Everything could have just been an act for your own amusement.
```*Alex wipes their tears away angrily.*```
"...I can't believe you. I did all that because I love you."
[[<u>//Love//</u>->Taylor Confronts Protag]], huh?
"I'm out of here..."
```*Alex heads out the door. You sit down where they sat.*```
```*You're numb.*```Oh, this is just your sick idea of entertainment, huh? You're just going to tell this to everyone at work so they'll feel sorry for you, making it easier to manipulate them, right?
"...what? What did you just say to me? I've been stressed out about why my best friend won't even talk to me! It's even gotten in the way of work, ya know!"
And there it is. This is all just about you. Everything always has to be about you, doesn't it?
"Wow..."
"I wonder how I even put up with you for so long. How did Alex even love [[<u>//trash//</u>->Protag Goes Crazy in the Woods]] like you? You're a piece of shit, you know that?"
...
```*Thoughts of frustration run through your mind as you leave Taylor in the hallway.*```