SnootGame/game/script/13C.fang-and-anon-go-to-beach-and-prom.rpy

label chapter_13C:

    #Prom is Suprising

    play music "audio/OST/Beach Chill Out.ogg" fadein 1.0

    scene stair2 with Dissolve(2)
    pause 1

    "Lucy comes downstairs in a white dress."

    "The back of the dress trails down the stairs behind her."

    "Can’t say I’d imagined she’d ever willingly wear one of these."
    window hide
    window auto

    pause 2.0
    scene home fang night
    show fang c prom happy:
        xalign -0.3
    show anon prom neutral flip at acenter
    with fade

    A "Yeah, been here a while."

    A "Your dress looks great, Lucy."
    show fangmom neutral flip with dissolve:
        xalign 1.4
    LM "Oh, doesn’t it?"

    LM "When I got the school’s email, I knew right away that the precious little getup I saw shopping the day before would be just perfect, and I even got Nasers’ outfit while I was at it!"
    show fang with ease:
        xalign -0.7
    show anon prom neutral flip with ease:
        xalign 0.0
    show naser neutral prom flip with dissolve:
        xalign 0.8
    show anon prom neutral behind fang with dissolve
    Nas "I would have been fine just going in church clothes, for the record."

    LM "Oh, hush. The two of you look just like your Father and I when we met at a school dance!"

    "We all look at Nasers’ rather colorful getup for a moment."

    "It was somehow still less loud than his usual jacket."

    A "Come again?"

    LM "Oh yes, I remember it fondly. Right dear?"

    "Lucy’s father hasn’t moved from his seat."

    LD "I don’t know.{w=0.2} Do I?"

    LM "Oh yes, I remember you in that snazzy zoot suit."

    LM "You saw me by the punchbowl, strode right up, and offered a dance-"

    show fang c prom considering with dissolve

    Lucy "Mom, stooop!"

    show fang c prom neutral with dissolve

    "I’m trying to create the mental image."

    "Nope, can’t do it."

    "That look her Dad is giving me…"

    "It’s saying ‘You’ll be upgraded to a {i}putter{/i} if you never speak of this to anyone.’"

    "I can see where Fang gets her temper from now."

    "Fine by me."

    LM "Awww.{w=0.2} But Lucy, you look so precious in that dress."

    LM "Oh! We need more pictures!"

    "The tiny pterosaur tries to push Lucy next to her father, fighting with the duo to pose properly."

    "I glance at Naser, who seemingly resigns himself to countless more photos."

    A "Uhh… I think we’re going to be late if you take any more pictures."

    "Both Lucy and Naser nod in agreement to that."

    LM "Oh, just a couple pictures! You’ll be able to show these when your own children are going to prom!"

    "A bit early to think of something like that."

    "I feel a tug on my arm and spin around to Naomi giving me a look of…"

    "Unfiltered frustration."

    LM "Oh Lucy, there's a string coming out of your dress! Where are the scissors?"

    N "I’ll get them! Anon, come with me."

    A "Why, I don't even live here?"

    N "It's uh… {w=0.2}the scissors are kept on the top shelf and I can’t reach!"

    "She pushes me towards the kitchen, I don't even know how Naser doesn’t catch on to what she’s doing."
    stop music fadeout 1.0
    play music "audio/OST/The Top of the Social Ladder.ogg" fadein 1.0
    scene kitchen
    show anon prom neutral at aleft
    show naomi prom angry flip at sright
    with fade

    A "What’re you up to, Naomi?"

    "She pinches the bridge of her nose and exhales slowly."

    N "Look, normally I would be thanking you from the bottom of my warm heart for fixing Lucy and Naser's relationship, they're siblings and that's how it should be--"

    A "Then what's the big fucking d--"

    N "Let me finish."

    N "However, I don't think Lucy is COMPLETELY fixed. She's still not talking to me, she just runs away from everyone at school now, and Naser keeps texting her-"

    N "I had to call him out on it that he was slacking on his school duties, behaving like a crass idiot like you, JUST like you. What have you done to them both?"

    A "The only thing I’ve ‘done’ is support her. I didn’t do it for you or your stupid plan."

    A "I just want to have a good time with Lucy without any more bullshit."

    N "Anon, I swear to God almighty, if my night with Naser is ruined because of Lucy’s-"
    show naomi prom happy flip with dissolve
    "Naomi’s sneer vanishes, replaced with her usual false smile."

    N "But okay!"

    N "Of course! You two deserve it after everything you’ve done."

    "Suddenly I feel another tug on my arm, this time Fang’s mom dragging me back into the middle of the room."
    scene home fang night
    show anon prom neutral flip at acenter
    show fangmom neutral at fmleft
    with dissolve
    stop music fadeout 1.0
    play music "audio/OST/appreciating_the_scenery.ogg" fadein 1.0
    LM "No need for scissors anymore! Oh Anon, I never got any pictures of you and Lucy yet!"

    "Oh please god no more pictures."

    A "Fine but we really should get going if we want to-"

    LM "Just a couple! I can even send these ones to your parents, I bet they’re just as proud of you as we are of Lucy and Naser!"
    scene home fang night
    show anon neutral prom at acenter
    show fang c prom happy at sleft
    with fade
    "I’m sure they’re just as surprised that I’m actually going to prom."

    "Posing with Lucy is nice, but I make sure to be extra careful where my arms go in front of her dad."
    window hide
    window auto

    pause .5

    scene black with dissolve
    pause .5

    play sound 'audio/effects/camera.ogg'
    pause .275
    scene home fang night
    show anon prom neutral flip:
        yalign 0.1 xalign -0.1
    show fang c prom neutral flip:
        yalign 0.0 xalign 0.8
    with Fade(.1, 0, .4, color="#fff")

    pause .25

    play sound 'audio/effects/camera.ogg'
    pause .275
    scene home fang night
    show anon prom grin flip:
        yalign 0.1 xalign 0.5
    show fang c prom happy flip:
        yalign 0.0 xalign 1.2
    with Fade(.1, 0, .4, color="#fff")

    pause .25

    play sound 'audio/effects/camera.ogg'
    pause .275
    scene home fang night
    show fang c prom shocked flip:
        yalign 0.0 xalign 0.9
    show anon prom shock flip:
        yalign 0.1 xalign 0.5
    with Fade(.1, 0, .4, color="#fff")

    pause .25

    play sound 'audio/effects/camera.ogg'
    pause .275
    scene home fang night
    show fang c prom unimpressed flip:
        yalign 0.0 xalign -0.2
    show anon prom sad flip:
        yalign 0.1 xalign 0.5
    show fangdad neutral flip:
        yalign 0.1 xalign 1.0
    with Fade(.1, 0, .4, color="#fff")

    pause .25

    play sound 'audio/effects/cameraMult.ogg'
    pause .275
    scene black with Fade(.1, 1, 2, color="#fff")

    scene home fang night blurred with dissolve
    pause 0.1
    scene home fang night lessblurred with dissolve
    pause 0.1
    scene home fang night barelyblurred with dissolve
    pause 0.1
    scene home fang night
    show anon prom neutral flip at acenter:
        xalign 0.7
    show fang c prom happy at sleft:
        xalign -0.1
    with Dissolve(1)
    pause .5

    "The searing strobe lights finally end and I can {i}feel{/i} my early onset of blindness."

    LM "These photos need to have a special album all their own. Honey! We need another photo album!"

    show fang c prom unimpressed with dissolve
    Lucy "MOM!"

    LM "Oh fine, make sure to have fun at prom!"

    show anon prom neutral with dissolve
    "I glance over and Lucy’s dad catches me dead in the eyes."

    show fangdad unimpressed flip at nright with easeinright:
        xalign 1.2
    LD "Home by midnight."

    show anon prom neutral flip
    show fang c prom happy flip
    with dissolve

    hide fang
    hide anon
    with easeoutleft
    "I only manage a weak nod as Lucy rushes me towards the door."
    scene black with fade
    stop music fadeout 1.0
    "..."
    scene nascar night with fade
    "The ride in the NasCar is awkward and uneventful."

    "Naser didn’t chuck his jacket to the backseat as a divider, so Lucy and I can sit next to each other this time around."

    Nas "I heard that Spears might be giving a little musical number tonight."

    N "Naser, stop spreading rumors from the junior class."

    A "So that was just a rumor? Damn."

    Nas "What, you want to hear him sing some opera?"

    A "I’d certainly pay to see him try."

    Lucy "Good lord, no. My ears take enough abuse from him during the school day."

    Nas "He won’t be singing, but we did get Reed to be a DJ for the night."

    Nas "His only condition was that he got to wear that mascot costume, which is rather odd, but whatever."

    "Everyone aside from Naser involuntarily sighs."

    Nas "What?"

    Nas "Was it something I said?"

    "..."
    play ambient "audio/effects/teenageCrowdFarLoop.ogg" fadein 1.0
    scene outside school night
    show naomi prom neutral:
        xalign -0.2
    show fang c prom happy:
        xalign 0.9
    show naser prom neutral:
        xalign 0.1 yalign 0.1
    show anon prom neutral:
        xalign 1.1 yalign 0.1
    with fade
    "Pulling into the school’s parking lot by the gym, I take in the view."

    "The students strung up various strings of lights along the overgrowths of vines around the school."

    "The line to get in isn’t too long, and it only takes a few minutes to get inside."

    "Inside is about as well decorated as outside."
    "Those nerdy little chinese lanterns are strung about from wall to wall."
    play music "audio/effects/promChatterLoop1.ogg" fadein 1
    stop ambient fadeout 1
    scene prom
    show naomi prom happy:
        xalign -0.2
    show fang c prom happy flip:
        xalign 0.9
    show naser prom happy:
        xalign 0.1 yalign 0.1
    show anon prom neutral flip:
        xalign 1.1 yalign 0.1
    with fade
    N "Oh! Oh! They go with my dress!"

    "Wow, it’s almost like the person who planned the entire event has insider information on the decor?{w=0.2} Color me surprised."

    Lucy "Mumbling."

    "Fuck."
    Nas "I think I’ll hit up the catering first."

    Nas "What about you guys?"

    A "I’ll pass, I can’t afford any fancy food."
    show naser prom neutral
    show naomi prom neutral
    show fang c prom neutral flip
    with dissolve

    Lucy "What?"

    N "What?"

    A "What?"

    Nas "The price of the food is included in the tickets, man."

    Nas "How poor are you?"

    A "I live in Skin Row, remember?"

    Nas "Sorry, forget I asked."
    show naser prom happy
    show naomi prom happy
    show fang c prom happy flip
    with dissolve

    "The thought of being able to eat like an actual human for once already pushed Naser’s apology out of my mind."

    A "In that case, I’ll go get food for both me and Lucy."

    A "Waddaya want?"

    Lucy "Uhh, get me the closest thing they have to barbecue."

    N "Oh, Naser if you’re getting food too, could you get me a plate of kappamaki."

    "Wrong country."

    "Naser slugs me on the shoulder."

    A "Ow."

    Nas "Looks like we’re playing waiters for a bit."

    A "Seems that way."
    scene prom with fade
    show naser prom neutral flip at nright
    show anon prom neutral at aleft
    with dissolve
    "I follow him to the food table."

    "I don’t even recognize most of these dishes."

    "I get a heaping plate of seven or eight different dishes for Lucy, and pick out a steak for myself, grabbing a few nice looking sandwiches from the other end of the table."

    "Wait, I have to get drinks, too."

    "Fuck, my hands are already full."

    Nas "You got everything?"

    A "Don’t got drinks."

    Nas "We can always do a return trip."

    A "I guess."

    A "Hey, is this what Lucy would want?"

    Nas "Honestly man, you could probably get her to eat a rock if you told her it came from a cow."

    A "I see."

    "Naser starts heading back to where we left the other two."

    "He suddenly stops halfway through and I have to catch myself from dropping the plates."

    A "What’s wrong?"

    "Naser gestures forward."
    scene prom
    show naomi prom neutral:
        xalign -0.2
    show fang c prom neutral flip:
        xalign 0.1
    show naser prom neutral flip:
        xalign 0.9 yalign 0.1
    show anon prom neutral flip:
        xalign 1.1 yalign 0.1
    with dissolve

    "Naomi is attempting to talk to Lucy, overwhelming her with questions."
    stop music fadeout 1.0
    play music1 "audio/OST/west_coast_kicking.ogg" fadein 1.0 fadeout 1
    "Lucy's looking on edge, I should probably intervene quick."
    N "-dress is very nice, Lucy, we should go out together clothes shopping sometime!"

    Lucy "I-I uh…"

    N "Oh, come on, you’re in need of new friends right now, right? Why don’t we-"

    A "Heyyy, we’re back, and we have food."

    "Naomi turns her attention to the plates Naser and I are carrying."

    N "Oh! Naser, did you get the sukiyaki?"
    show fang c prom sad flip with dissolve
    Nas "Oh, guess I forgot, sorry. I’ll go run and get it."

    N "That’s fine! I was getting to be friends with Lucy and-"
    window hide
    window auto
    hide fang with easeoutleft
    "Lucy pushes herself away from the table and strides away."

    N "O-oh?"
    window hide
    window auto
    hide anon prom with easeoutleft
    "I leave the plate behind and chase after her."
    stop music1 fadeout 3
    scene prom with fade
    "Lucy has retreated to a back corner of the gym."
    show anon prom neutral flip at acenter
    show fang c prom sad at sleft
    with dissolve
    play music 'audio/ost/Appreciating the Atmosphere.ogg' fadein 1
    Lucy "I just can't, Anon."

    A "Then don't."

    Lucy "God, I'm doing it again, everyone just wants to have a good time and I'm ruining everything."

    A "It's alright."

    "I caught a glimpse of Naser and Naomi away at their seat enjoying themselves, I think Lucy saw the same thing because she snapped back to me and wrapped her arms around my waist."

    Lucy "You know what, no need to be upset. Naser and Naomi aren't my prom dates, just you."

    "She breathes in and lets out a comforting sigh. I looked around for any witnesses, feeling very smug."

    Lucy "...but that suit does kinda stink."

    "Confidence shattered."
    show spears neutral flip at sright with easeinright
    Sp "Oh, there you two are."
    show anon prom neutral with dissolve

    "Our principal strides over to us, signing off a few papers on a clipboard he has."
    show fang c prom neutral with dissolve
    Sp "Lucy, there you are. That ‘surprise’ you wanted is about ready."

    Lucy "Surprise?"

    Sp "Yeah, the one you filed papers for a few weeks back."

    Sp "Everything’s ready for it."

    A "Is the surprise you giving an opera number?"

    Sp "I’m on a pretty tight schedule tonight, Anon, don’t have a lot of time for jokes."

    Sp "Follow me."
    scene black with fade

    "Spears leads us around the crowd to behind the temporary stage set up at the other end of the gym."
    scene prom
    show spears neutral at sleft
    show anon prom neutral at acenter
    show fang c prom neutral at sleft
    with fade
    A "You signed up for something?"

    Lucy "I don’t think so…"

    Sp "Alright, you’re on in ten or so minutes."
    show fang c prom shock with dissolve
    "Lucy freezes."
    stop music fadeout 1.0
    play music "audio/OST/Summertime Synth.ogg" fadein 1.0
    A "On?"
    window hide
    window auto
    pause .25
    show trish prom bass flip at sright
    show rosa prom neutral flip at sright behind trish
    show stella prom neutral flip behind trish:
        xalign 1.155
    with easeinright
    pause .25
    T "Surprise!"

    A "Oh no.{w=0.4} Oh nooooooo."

    "Trish, Rosa, and Stella are carrying around various instruments and equipment."

    "Trish is visibly exhausted and stressed."

    Lucy "..."

    Sp "I'll leave you to it, you'll get in after Reed's done with his DJ bit."
    hide spears with easeoutright
    show fang c prom surprised with dissolve
    A "What the hell is this?!"

    T "So… Fang?"

    T "Fang, we get to play at the prom!"

    Lucy "..."

    T "We have all the instruments ready, I brought in a regular guitar for you to play, I don’t mind!"

    T "We can play whatever you want!"

    T "What do you say?"

    "Lucy is completely catatonic by this point, unable to respond."

    A "I-- what?"

    T "Oh, Anon! didn't see you there! You look less dorky with a suit on, let me tell you haha."

    T "You came with Fang? That's sweet."

    T "Reed's also coming! I don't know if he'll manage in the costume but he'll play the drums!"

    T "What do you say?"

    A "Whose idea was this?"

    Ro "It was a group effort!"

    St "We’re here to help, right?"

    Ro "We’ve noticed Lucy’s been struggling by herself!"

    "The expectant stares of the trio snap Lucy from her stupor."
    window hide
    window auto

    show fang c prom sad flip with dissolve
    hide fang with easeoutleft
    show anon prom neutral with dissolve

    stop music fadeout 3

    "She flinches a bit, then bolts out of the backstage area."

    show anon prom neutral flip
    show stella prom sad flip
    show rosa prom closed flip
    with dissolve

    "Rosa and Stella look as though they’re only just now thinking this was a bad idea."
    show anon prom neutral
    show trish prom sad flip
    with dissolve

    "Trish’s smile melts from her face."
    stop music fadeout 1.0
    play music "audio/OST/ballad_of_the_boot.ogg" fadein 1.0
    A "What were you thinking?!"

    Ro "E-eh?"

    T "Anon, please tell me, is Fang fine?"

    A "She {i}was{/i} fine, Trish. Now look what you’ve done."

    A "Where do you think you're going?"

    "Trish tries to leave but I manage to grab her shoulder."

    T "I'm-I’m going after her!"

    Ro "Wait, Anon!"
    hide trish with easeoutleft
    "Damn it, Rosa pulls my arm free, letting Trish run after Lucy."

    Ro "Let them solve this, I'm sure Lucy's at a point where she can deal with this."

    A "She most definitely is NOT, Rosa."

    A "God dammit, why’d you have to pull this stunt {i}today{/i} of all days?"

    A "Couldn’t you have tried this bullshit any other time?!"

    Ro "Who are you to say I didn't? I've been talking to Lucy for a while trying to get her to make amends with Trish."

    A "...?"

    A "She never told me."

    St "I drew her The World and The Sun, past this night she'll achieve completion, fulfillment. It's a good thing, Anon!"

    A "For your sake I hope they were upright."

    Ro "Does it matter if they're upright?"

    St "What do you mean?"

    St "I flipped the cards after I got back from the bathroom, Rosa what did you do?"

    Ro "I peeked, The world was upside down, so I fixed it."

    A "..."

    St "Anon, go get Fang."

    "No need to tell me that."

    "I leave the incompetent bunch behind to look for Lucy."
    show anon prom neutral flip at acenter
    hide anon with easeoutleft
    Ro "Is that important, Stella? I thought it was just for play."

    scene prom
    with fade
    "Back in the gymnasium I find Lucy huddled in a corner."

    "Her hands are on her head as she tries to block out Trish."

    "Trish for her part is only shouting even louder."

    "Loud enough for me to hear as I make my way to my girlfriend."
    show fang c prom hiding:
        xalign -0.6
    show trish prom indignant flip at scenter
    with dissolve
    T "You never thought about me all this time?"

    T "Seriously, say something!"

    Lucy "Trish, I can't even look at you anymore."

    T "Why?"

    T "Is it still what I said?"

    T "I accept you and Anon, seriously! You and him are cute together or something, I didn't mean any of what I said about you two!"

    show fang c prom angry with dissolve

    Lucy "It wasn't just that, it was everything else, shit you did and said - making me question YEARS of my life."

    T "What are you talking about, Fang?"

    T "Come on, let's play! This’ll be VVURM DRAMA’s biggest show to date!!"

    Lucy "I!{w=0.1} Don't!{w=0.1} Want!{w=0.1} To!"

    T "Come on, let's go!"

    Lucy "NO!"

    show anon prom neutral flip at aright with dissolve

    A "Trish!"

    show trish prom indignant flip at scenter with dissolve

    "My shout shocks the desperate triceratops away from Lucy."

    show trish prom happy with dissolve

    "I glower as she turns a sickeningly sweet smile towards me."

    T "Anon, if I did or said anything that hurt you then I'm sorry."

    T "But please tell Fang I'm sorry too, this isn't right!"

    A "..."

    "I hear footsteps behind me and I already know it's the rest of the loser patrol without looking."

    Ro "Lucy, you have to give Trish one more chance, if you're not gonna do it for her then at least do it for me."

    St "Please Lucy, you need to hear her out!"

    show trish prom happy flip with dissolve

    T "Me and Reed miss {i}us{/i}! Together, shooting the shit, playing songs, making fun of Naser-"

    Lucy "NO! FUCK OFF!"

    Ro "Lucy!"

    St "Come on..."

    A "Guys, you're overwhelming her, back off for a sec-"

    show fang c prom hiding with dissolve

    show trish prom angry with dissolve

    T "Stay out of this!"

    stop music fadeout 2.0

    show trish prom neutral flip with dissolve
    show anon prom neutral with dissolve

    A "Rosa, Stella. Take a look around. At this current situation."
    play music "audio/OST/Many Such Cases of Being So True.ogg" fadein 1.0
    A "Once you realize what you’re doing, please just leave us alone and don’t bother us for the rest of the night."

    "The two shut up and sheepishly back away a few steps."

    show trish prom angry with dissolve

    T "What, are you two flaking on me as well?!"

    Ro "Trish, I’m thinking An-on’s right here… {w=0.2}We shouldn’t be intruding on their special night…"

    St "Er, yeah, my reading was wrong, soo…"

    show anon prom neutral flip with dissolve

    T "I can’t believe you two!"

    T "Fang, we’re playing now. I’m not asking again."

    show trish prom angry flip with dissolve

    "She takes hold of Lucy’s forearm and moves to take her back to the stage by force."
    show anon:
        xalign 1.0
    show trish:
        xalign 0.75
    show fang prom angry:
        xalign 0.4
    with ease
    show rosa prom closed flip with easeinright:
        xalign 1.3

    "Rosa blocks her way long enough for me to grab her wrist."
    show anon behind trish
    show trish prom angry
    with dissolve

    T "Wh- Rosa, hey!!"

    show fang prom sad with ease:
        xalign -0.4

    "Trish glares at me with murderous intent."

    A "Try again another time."

    "She yanks her hand away from me in disgust, glancing between Stella and Rosa’s disappointed stares and Fang’s baleful leer."

    T "I guess that’s it then."
    hide trish with easeoutright
    "She backs off into the crowd."

    show anon prom neutral flip at acenter with ease:
    show rosa prom closed flip with ease:
        xalign 0.7
    show stella prom sad flip with easeinright:
        xalign 0.8

    A "Lucy, are you alright?"

    Lucy "Yeah… {w=0.2}I think I need to get away from the crowd…"
    stop music fadeout 2.0
    hide stella
    hide rosa
    with easeoutleft
    "I wave off Stella and Rosa and lead Lucy away into the hallway."
    play music "audio/OST/Skinrow Soul.ogg" fadein 1.0
    scene hallway
    show anon prom neutral flip at aright
    show fang c prom sad at sleft
    with fade

    "We find another corner near the bathrooms unpopulated aside from a few students passing by for smokes."

    "Lucy looks like her entire world has crumbled."

    A "Are you alright? Let me help you-"

    Lucy "Anon, please..."

    Lucy "I just want to move past it."

    A "Okay then."

    Lucy "I don't wanna see or talk to anyone anymore, not even Rosa or Stella, just us."

    Lucy "I just wanna see you."

    Lucy "Only you."

    A "It's alright. You won't see anyone else anymore tonight."
    show fang c prom soft smile with dissolve
    "Lucy’s chuckle is choked back as she offers me a strained smile."

    Lucy "There, I did it again, I ruined everything for everyone again."

    "How do I respond to that?"

    A "None of this is your fault."

    "She sighs."

    Lucy "I need to go to the bathroom."

    A "It's ok. I’ll go get some water or something while you’re in, won’t take a minute."

    Lucy "Yeah, sure."

    A "Okay."
    scene prom
    show anon prom neutral at acenter
    with fade
    "I watch her enter the restroom and reenter the gym."

    "Think there’s lemonade and stuff by the food tables."
    show trish prom neutral flip at sright with easeinright
    T "Hey, you."

    "Raptor Jesus on His cross of rock, give me strength."

    A "Hey."

    T "Is Fang...ok?"

    A "No."

    T "Tell me about Fang, are they happy?"

    A "I'd say so, she and Naser are on speaking terms."

    T "Did Fang say anything about me? Would they ever forgive me?"

    A "Look Trish, this shit? It ends now."

    A "She said she would have constant nightmares of you wanting to talk to her."

    show trish prom sad flip with dissolve

    A "Maybe this could’ve been sorted out, but not today."

    A "You're doing more harm by staying here, though. I advise that you stay clear of her for now."

    "Trish is getting teary, I better shut up, now."

    T "It's ok. Tell Fa--{w=0.2} Lucy, I only want her to be happy. I won't be a bother anymore, she'll never see or hear from me again. I told Spears to cancel the performance, I'm going home."

    A "Maybe there will be another chance sometime."

    T "Bye Anon."
    hide trish with easeoutleft
    "She left.{w=0.3} Oh well."

    scene hallway with fade
    show anon prom neutral at aleft with easeinleft

    "I get the drinks and return to Lucy."

    "She downs the whole glass in one shot."

    A "You good?"
    show fang c prom happy flip at sright with easeinright
    Lucy "Yeah! Fuck! Splashing your face with water works wonders, I’m good to go."

    "I look at the crowd gathering around the stage."

    "Principal Spears moves to the podium set there and taps on the microphone."

    A "Yeah, good to go…{w=0.2} speaking of."

    A "I uh… wanna get some fresh air?"

    "Finally I see a real smile from Lucy."

    Lucy "Yeah. Fresh air sounds pretty good right now."

    "I hold my hand out and Lucy’s hand links with it."
    stop music fadeout 2.0
    play ambient 'audio/effects/nightLoop.ogg' fadein 2
    scene outside school night
    show anon prom neutral at acenter
    show fang c prom happy at sleft
    with fade
    "Walking out of the stuffy gymnasium we’re met with the cooling evening air."

    "I feel all the tension leave my body as Lucy’s body presses close to my side."

    A "Cold?"

    Lucy "A little. I’m uh… not used to wearing these things."

    "My hand leaves hers. Before Lucy can balk I wrap my arm around her."

    A "How’s this?"

    Lucy "I can one up this."

    "Right, wings."

    "Her wings wrap around both of us as a feathered cloak of warmth."

    A "You want me to call a taxi or something?"

    Lucy "Nah, we can walk home…"

    "It’s a fifteen minute walk to her neighborhood, which is filled with comfortable silence for most of the way."

    "I guess Lucy is as glad as I am to put everything that happened tonight behind us."

    play music "audio/OST/Tracy was fired from her real job.ogg" fadein 1.0
    stop ambient fadeout 1
    "As we round the corner past the bus stop, I let out an audible groan as my eyes land on a particular cart."

    "It’s that same hot dog vendor from before, illuminated under a street light in the same spot."

    "She notices us almost immediately and begins wildly waving."

    Lucy "Does she know you?"

    "I shrug and shake my head as we as continue to approach the vendor."
    show tracy neutral:
        xalign 1.1
    with dissolve
    SV "Well if it isn’t my favorite skinnie! And you brought your lady friend!"

    A "It’s like ten at night, you can’t get that many customers this late, right?"

    SV "Hey, you’re here, aren’cha?{w=0.2} Now what can I get for you two lovebirds? Nothing says date night like some steamin’ hot franks!"

    A "I think we’re good, we were just on our way back and-"

    "{i}*GRRRRRRRRRLLLL*{/i}"
    show fang prom neutral with dissolve
    "Fang’s face glows bright red as she grasps her stomach."

    Lucy "Er… we left before we could eat, didn’t we?"

    A "Oops. Well, nobody ever misses Prom food, right?"
    show tracy tease with dissolve
    SV "Prom?!{w=0.2} Oh man, I was the life of the party at mine! Tell me you kids got Reef City’s dumb mascot?"

    "We shake our heads."

    SV "WHAT?!{w=0.2} Well you at least spiked the punch, right?"

    "More shaking."

    SV "Seriously? {i}Please{/i} tell me you egged the principal’s car."

    A "No, we, er…"

    Lucy "Got into a fight…"
    show tracy unimpressed with dissolve
    "The vendor winces, but just as quickly puts on her smile."

    SV "Ooh, that’s a bummer. You know, prom was where I discovered hot dogs were my true calling."
    SV "They could be yours too, y’know."
    show tracy neutral with dissolve

    A "{cps=*0.6}Riiiight{/cps}. I don’t think it will be."

    Lucy "Look, can we just like, get some food? Our night’s been a fuckin’ wash."

    SV "Night’s still young, though."

    "I listen to the sizzling meat as we wait."

    SV "Look kids, Prom? It’s not that special if you ask me."

    SV "What makes something special is on you. For me I think back to the shit I can actually remember."

    SV "Carfe’s a helluva drug."

    SV "I’m getting off-topic. Point is, the night isn’t over yet."

    "She motions to the table for us to sit at."

    SV "Enjoy your ‘dogs, think about something to do with the rest of your night."

    SV "Make it something worth remembering."

    SV "I’m gonna start packing for the night though, so that’s enough chatter from me."

    A "Thanks."

    hide tracy with dissolve
    show anon prom neutral flip with dissolve:
        xalign 0.55

    "Lucy and I sit at the plastic folding table with our artery-clogging grease tubes."

    Lucy "Dad grills these sometimes, but I’ve never had one that wasn’t just ketchup and mustard…"

    Lucy "Actually, I can’t even tell what’s all on this, there’s so much junk dumped on."

    A "They’re just plain chili-cheese dogs."

    A "Been a hot minute since I had one, figured why not?"

    Lucy "Mm…"

    Lucy "..."

    A "She made a good point, what {i}should{/i} we do with the rest of the night?"

    "Lucy chews contemplatively."

    "Not sure if she heard me or is giving a silent review."

    Lucy "..."

    Lucy "Whatever we do, I want to get out of this dress first."

    Lucy "It’s freezing."

    A "Think your dad will let us watch some movies or something?"

    Lucy "Dunno, maybe. We only have cop movies and hunting documentaries, though."

    A "I’m down for it."
    stop music fadeout 2.0
    play ambient 'audio/effects/nightLoop.ogg' fadein 2
    scene home fang outside night
    show anon prom neutral flip at acenter
    show fang c prom happy at sleft
    with fade
    "After finishing we wave goodbye to the vendor and start down Lucy’s neighborhood."

    "Oddly enough there’s no cars in the driveway when we arrive."

    A "Your folks get groceries this late at night?"

    Lucy "They probably took the opportunity to go on a date themselves."

    Lucy "Don’t remember the last time they took the occasion though. Been maybe… Three years?"

    "Lucy kicks over a rock in the walkway and gets the key taped under it."

    A "Your parents put it there instead of under the doormat?"

    Lucy "Nah, I put this here. They don’t know about it."

    Lucy "Get kicked out for the night one too many times, you find ways back in on your own."

    "Lucy stretches when we walk in."
    stop ambient fadeout 2
    scene home fang night with fade
    Lucy "I’ll change back into normal clothes, hang here a while, kay?"
    show anon prom neutral flip at aright with dissolve
    "I nearly sit in my normal place on the couch when I notice the armchair."

    "The now vacant armchair."

    "That’s for Lucy’s Dad only."

    "Oh how it calls to me…"

    show fang happy at sleft with dissolve

    Lucy "{i}Phew{/i}, that’s better."

    Lucy "... Anon?"

    A "Lucy, what are you doing up this late at night?"

    A "You better not be listening to that ratchet again."

    Lucy "Oh my G-"

    Lucy "Anon, get out of there before you leave your scent."

    A "Scent? You can’t be serious."

    Lucy "Hey, it’s your head on the line."

    Lucy "Naser sat there once and he ended up with a new scar."

    "Suddenly, I find myself seated in my normal spot after all."

    Lucy "Think they actually are on a date. If that’s the case the house is ours for at least an hour."

    A "Oh, sweet. We gonna raid your dad’s liquor cabinet then?"

    Lucy "He doesn’t have one. Mom won’t let him."

    "Damn it. He really is whipped."

    A "So, movie night then?"

    Lucy "Well, I was thinking…"

    "Lucy took hold of the coffee table in the middle of the room and started pushing it aside."

    A "Er… Why are you doing that?"

    "With the living room now more open Lucy approaches an antique stereo in the corner."

    Lucy "I was really looking forward to dancing with you tonight, Anon."

    "Double damn it. Thought I managed to get out of that."

    "But the look in Lucy’s eyes…"

    "I nod my head."

    Lucy "Yes!{w=0.2} I’ve always wanted to try out mom’s lights."
    stop music fadeout 1.0
    play music "audio/OST/its_footloose_now.ogg" fadein 1.0
    "The music playing from the stereo sounds positively ancient."

    "Probably one of her parents’ CDs. If it even uses CDs."

    A "Wait what was that about lights?"

    "Lucy practically skips to the light switch and dims them."

    scene home fang dim
    show anon prom blacklight neutral flip at aright
    show fang blacklight happy at sleft
    with dissolve

    "She then flicks a hidden switch that casts the room in a hazy violet glow."

    "My eyes are drawn to the glowing marks all across her."

    "Wow."

    Lucy "Like what you see?"

    "She turns back to me and the anticipation in her eyes makes me feel more nervous."

    "Shit I just remembered."

    A "Just so you know, I can’t dance."

    A "And I mean, I REALLY can’t dance."

    A "Like, quadraplegic with down syndrome can’t dance."

    A "But-"

    Lucy "Yes! I’ve been waiting since forever!"
    show fang blacklight happy at scenter:
        xalign 0.3
    show anon prom blacklight neutral flip:
        xalign 0.7
    with ease

    "Her hand clasps mine, and Lucy doesn’t seem bothered at all with how moist my palms are."

    "We move to the impromptu dance floor hand in hand until we manage to find an open space."

    A "Right, okay. Like this?"

    "Right hand on her hip I think."

    "I try to take her right hand with my left, but Lucy shakes her head."

    "Both of her arms wrap loosely around my neck."

    "Lucy’s body is pressed against mine, the contours of her lithe frame fitting very well with mine."

    "Oh hey, those alarms aren’t broken."

    "My left hand lands on her hip too and now I can’t stop thinking about how Lucy molds against my body near perfectly."

    Lucy "J-just follow my lead, okay? Mom gave me some lessons."

    "I nod stiffly."

    show fang:
        xalign -0.6
    show anon:
        xalign 0.2
    with ease

    "Lucy mutters a one-two count before taking a left step back."

    "My right foot follows and lands on her toes."
    show fang blacklight neutral with dissolve
    Lucy "OW!"

    A "Sorry!"

    Lucy "Nonono. Don’t worry."

    Lucy "Just uh…{w=0.3} slowly, okay?"

    A "Y-yeah, okay."
    show fang blacklight happy at scenter:
        xalign 0.3
    show anon prom blacklight neutral flip:
        xalign 0.7
    with ease
    "Lucy repeats the step back. I step forward and manage somehow."

    "She then steps to the side and I try to follow."

    "Our awkward steps continue like this."

    "A couple successful steps and then I ruin it with a heavy step on her dainty toes."

    "But slowly those failures are less and less common."

    "By the third song Lucy and I are finally managing a basic waltz."

    show anon:
        ease_cubic 1.0 xalign 0.2
        pause 3
        ease_cubic 1.0 xalign 0.7
        pause 3
        ease_cubic 1.0 xalign 1.2
        pause 3
        ease_cubic 1.0 xalign 0.7
        pause 3
        repeat
    show fang:
        ease_cubic 1.0 xalign -0.5
        pause 3
        ease_cubic 1.0 xalign 0.3
        pause 3
        ease_cubic 1.0 xalign 1.25
        pause 3
        ease_cubic 1.0 xalign 0.3
        pause 3
        repeat

    "By the third song Lucy and I are finally managing a basic waltz."

    "As the night goes on, the dance becomes more natural."

    "In the light of the various strobes I’m able to relish the moment being this close, face to face."

    "Whenever one of the lights passes directly through her eyes they glow with the luster of cut amber, and her diamond pupils soften."

    "There's no one else in the room right now.{w=0.2} Just us."

    A "You think it’s going well?"

    Lucy "What?"

    A "Our Prom night."

    Lucy "It didn’t go as planned…{w=0.2} but I like where it’s taken us."

    Lucy "I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else right now."

    A "Me neither."

    "The last song slowly fades away, leaving us in a comfortable silence in each other’s arms."
    show fang:
        xalign 0.3
    show anon:
        xalign 0.7
    with ease

    "Under the blacklights I can fully take in Lucy’s beauty."

    "I felt humbled that she’d consider this horrible night to have still gone well."

    "Lucy’s eyes become lidded as she leans in towards my face."

    "I meet her half-way, our mouths melding together."

    "For all that happened tonight and still Lucy enjoyed it…"
    scene black with fade
    stop music fadeout 1.0
    "..."

    #start of new stuff
    "{cps=*0.2}-- Three Months Later --{/cps}"

    "Eight months since I first joined Volcano High and it felt like just yesterday."
    play ambient 'audio/effects/outdoorLoop.ogg' fadein 1.0
    play music 'audio/OST/she_fucks_human_men.ogg' fadein 2.0
    scene white with fade
    scene park
    show fang neutral at sleft:
        xalign 0.25
    show anon concerned behind fang at acenter:
        xalign 0.65
    show naser happy flip at nright
    with dissolve
    "The sun bears down on us in an atmosphere that’s more water than air."

    "Somehow, I feel like I’m the only one feeling the heat right now."

    "But the jacket stays on."

    "Naser finally took a day off from his part-time job working for GrubKlub, so the three of us went to the park for something of a picnic."

    show naser angry flip with dissolve
    Nas "I WILL NOT MAKE THE DELIVERY DANCE, ANON STOP ASKING ME TO DO IT!"

    show anon grin with dissolve
    A "At least tell me how often customers ransom your tips for it."

    show naser annoyed flip with dissolve
    Nas "Too often…"

    show naser unimpressed flip with dissolve
    Nas "Now stop asking!"
    window hide
    window auto

    show fang happy with dissolve
    #fries fly
    show chillicheesefries at sleft with dissolve:
        xalign 0.5 yalign 0.4
        ease_cubic 0.3 rotate 90 xpos 0.84 ypos 0.45
        ease_cubic 0.7 rotate 110 ypos 0.62

    show naser rstained unimpressed with dissolve:
        xzoom -1.0

    show chillicheesefries:
        ease_cubic 0.7 ypos 1.3

    hide chillicheesefries with dissolve
    "Lucy tosses a forkful of the chili cheese fries onto Nasers’ shirt."

    show naser rstained shocked with Dissolve(.22):
        xzoom -1.0
    "He jumps immediately to his napkin to wipe it off."

    Nas "Fr-{w=0.3} gah-{w=0.3} sh-{w=0.3} no!"

    Lucy "Relax, you’re wearing another anyway. How and why I still don’t know."

    Nas "It’s for conditioning! Can’t stop my training routine even in the off-season."

    Lucy "Naomi isn’t even here leering over you like always."

    show naser rstained neutral with dissolve:
        xzoom -1.0
    A "I’m dying here in just one jacket, how are you even alive?"

    show naser rstained explanatory with dissolve:
        xzoom -1.0
    Nas "Well, my skin is plate-"

    show chillicheesefries at acenter with dissolve:
        xalign 0.75 yalign 0.5
        ease_cubic 0.3 rotate 90 xpos 0.93 ypos 0.45
        ease_cubic 0.7 rotate 110 ypos 0.6
        ease_cubic 0.4 ypos 1.3
    hide chillicheesefries with dissolve

    show naser fullystained shocked with Dissolve(.22):
        xzoom -1.0
    "I toss over a fork of fries on the other half of his shirt."

    #move closer and back for fistbump
    show fang:
        ease_cubic 0.5 xalign 0.35
        pause 0.1
        ease_cubic 0.5 xalign 0.25

    show anon:
        ease_cubic 0.5 xalign 0.55
        pause 0.1
        ease_cubic 0.5 xalign 0.65

    "Lucy offers a fist for me to bump while he recoils with half-finished expletives."

    "I down the rest of my soda to keep alive and look down at my plate."
    show anon neutral
    show fang neutral
    with dissolve
    "Not really that hungry anymore. Should just toss-"

    show naser fullystained explanatory with dissolve:
        xzoom -1.0
    Nas "Hey whoa, don’t finish that thought. Gimme."

    "I shuffle my plate to him and rest my elbows on the picnic table."
    show naser fullystained happy with dissolve:
        xzoom -1.0

    show tracy neutral flip at sleft with easeinleft:
        xalign -0.4
    "A familiar voice, chock-full of cheeky energy, alerts me to her and her food cart’s arrival."

    show anon neutral flip:
        xalign 0.7
    show fang neutral flip behind anon
    with dissolve

    SV "Well, if it isn’t my favorite high school sweethearts! {w=0.5}Haven’t seen the two of you in quite a spell now!"

    SV "How are you two doing? What’cha been up to since graduation!?"

    show fang considering flip with dissolve
    Lucy "Oh you know, the usual. Dreading the future as an adult, trying to figure out what to do for a living. Stuff like that."

    SV "The more you think about it, the more daunting it becomes."

    SV "You just gotta let go of your expectations and see where life takes you!"
    show fang neutral flip with dissolve
    A "Lucy makes it sound worse than it is. We’ve only been out of school for like three months."

    SV "Only three months? Gosh, I could've sworn a lot more time had passed since then!"

    "Now that’s something I can wholly agree with. These last few months have felt like years to me, both in good and bad ways…"

    SV "So…{w=0.5} you two have any plans now that you’re both adults?"
    stop music fadeout 3.0
    show fang sad flip with dissolve
    "The vendor’s words, without realizing it, strike a very specific and very sore chord with Lucy."

    show fang very sad flip with dissolve
    "She suddenly wraps her arms around herself and shuts her eyes."

    "Before I can move to reassure Lucy, the street vendor notices the error of her words."

    SV "What’s wrong, sug? Was it something I said?"

    Lucy "N-no. I-{w=0.5}It’s nothing…"
    show naser fullystained sad with dissolve:
        xzoom -1.0
    show tracy unimpressed flip with dissolve
    "The street vendor gives Lucy a raised eyed look."
    show tracy neutral flip with dissolve
    SV "Now sug, I can tell when someone’s upset,{w=0.3} and you,{w=0.2} right now, are upset."

    SV "So what’s got you down all of a sudden?"

    "Lucy hesitates on hearing the words."

    "She takes a second to seemingly think about what she’ll say next before letting out a sigh."

    Lucy "It’s just…{w=0.5} things are changing so quickly. A-and… {w=0.5}and it feels like I’m losing everything that I’ve come to love recently…"

    "Lucy shoots me a loving gaze before returning her attention to the street vendor."

    Lucy "Th-there’s also… {w=1.0}the fact that I…{w=1.0} I’ll be so alone…"

    show tracy tease flip with dissolve
    SV "You, alone? What about that hunk of a boyfriend standing next to you right now?"

    "I do my best to try and hide the blush that’s no doubt forming on my cheeks."

    Lucy "H-he’s…. {w=1.0}I-I mean…"

    show fang sad with dissolve
    "Lucy lets out another sigh, this one more on the frustrated side."

    A "I’m... {w=0.5}actually leaving tomorrow..."

    show tracy neutral flip with dissolve
    SV "Oh!{w=0.3} Oh, my bad, I didn’t mean to uh…"

    A "Joined the military."

    "I hadn’t wanted to bring this up here, on the last date Lucy and I could have."

    Lucy "Yeah, he’ll be gone… {w=1.0}And…"

    Lucy "I… {w=1.0}I cut off contact with some…{w=0.5} people…"

    SV "Ah.{w=0.5} You fell out with your old friends."

    "Lucy gives the street vendor a sad nod."

    Lucy "I don’t really have any plans for the future."

    Lucy "I…{w=0.5} they always seemed to change and I could never decide... "

    "The street vendor gives my girlfriend a soft, understanding look as she places down her tongs and walks around her food cart so that she’s standing side by side with Lucy."
    show tracy:
        ease_cubic 0.4 xalign 0.0

    SV "I lost contact with my old highschool friends as well, so don’t go thinking anything’s your fault."

    SV "From what I see here, you still have what’s most important."

    "She gestures to me and then to Naser, who looks up from the remains of my leftovers like a deer being caught in headlights."

    show fang neutral
    with dissolve
    SV "Uh…{w=0.5} You got those from Berta, right? You know she puts sawdust in the fryer to save money?"
    show naser fullystained surprised at nright with dissolve:
        xzoom -1.0

    SV "Anyway, don’t fret about friends or people you’ve lost along the way."

    show naser fullystained unimpressed with dissolve:
        xzoom -1.0
    SV "I know it can be hard, but that’s not the end of the world. You still have your health. You still have your youth. You still have your family!"

    "The street vendor turns her gaze back to me and gives me a smile."

    show naser fullystained happy with dissolve:
        xzoom -1.0
    Nas "You haven’t managed to scare me off all these years, why’d I stop now?"

    SV "Oh, look at me getting sentimental like I’m my grandma!"

    SV "I shouldn’t be gushing like this, your situation is probably much more complex than I think."

    show fang neutral flip
    show tracy:
        xalign -0.25
    with dissolve
    Lucy "No, no, that helps…"

    Lucy "You’re right."

    show fang happy with dissolve
    Lucy "I still have lots of people here for me."

    "The street vendor seems satisfied with the answer."
    show fang happy flip with dissolve
    SV "Don’t get distracted by the what if’s, the should-have’s, and the if-only’s. Only the things that you choose for yourself are the truth of your world."
    window hide
    window auto

    show naser fullystained considering with dissolve:
        xzoom -1.0
    pause 0.5
    show naser fullystained considering with dissolve:
        xzoom 1.0
    pause 1.0
    hide naser with easeoutright

    show tracy behind fang:
        ease_cubic 0.5 xalign 0.0
        pause 0.1
        ease_cubic 0.5 xalign -0.2
    "The street vendor gives Lucy a pat on the shoulder before returning to the helm of her food cart, which she wheels around with surprising dexterity."

    SV "Hey. If you ever feel alone and need to chew someone’s ear off with your woes, me and my delicious hotdogs are always available!"
    window hide
    window auto

    show tracy neutral with dissolve
    pause 0.1

    hide tracy with easeoutleft
    "Without another word, the street vendor walks away in search of other customers to cater to, leaving me and Lucy to absorb her sagely advice."

    show naser neutral flip at nright with easeinright
    "Before either of us can truly process what had just happened, Naser walks up to us, all the while wiping his hands and mouth with a napkin."
    show naser explanatory flip with dissolve
    N "So… you guys ready to go?"

    show fang happy with dissolve
    "I give Lucy a glance. She returns it somewhat somberly."

    show naser happy flip with dissolve
    show anon neutral with dissolve
    "We both turn to look at Naser."

    Lucy "Yes…"

    stop ambient fadeout 2.0
    scene black with dissolve

    scene nascar day with dissolve
    "Naser drives us back to my place in relative silence."

    "He stops in front of my block and unlocks the doors."

    Nas "See you tomorrow, man."

    A "Yeah."

    Nas "Well…{w=0.5} Enjoy your last night together..."

    "Lucy and I step out of the car, and he speeds away like normal."

    scene emptyroomnight
    show fang neutral at sleft:
        xalign -0.2
    show anon neutral at acenter
    with fade
    play music "audio/OST/Skinrow Soul.ogg" fadein 1.0
    Lucy "..."

    "I’ve already shipped everything important back home and donated the books."

    "Even the T.V.’s gone."

    "All that remains is the basic commodities the place came with."

    "...But with Lucy here, it doesn't feel nearly as depressing as I thought it’d be."
    show fang:
        ease_cubic 1.0 xalign 0.0
    show anon behind fang with dissolve
    "She must have heard this as she pressed closer to me, her head resting on my shoulder."

    A "I can rent a movie on my phone for tonight. That sound like a plan?"

    Lucy "...Actually, I wanted to look back through the pictures we took together."

    "I nod in response."
    window hide
    window auto


    pause 1.0

    show fangphonevideocall call_ended_bg_black call_ended_poff at scenter with easeinbottom
    hide anon
    hide fang
    with dissolve
    "We curl together on my bed, staring at Lucy’s phone app boot up."

    show fangphonevideocall galleryapp1 with dissolve
    "The summer was well spent, Lucy and I got to go all over town."

    "A well documented series of escapades, from local Farmers’ Markets to a guided tour through a docked warship."

    "Lucy and I share frequent quips and anecdotes about our experiences."

    show fangphonevideocall galleryapp2 with dissolve
    "Eventually, the timeline goes back far enough for some familiar faces to start showing up."

    "Unwelcome familiar faces that quickly get swiped past."

    "As we keep swiping past older photos I can see something in Lucy’s eyes."

    "I find it hard to describe, a mix of sorrow and longing and something I can’t put my finger on."

    A "Lucy?"
    window hide
    window auto
    show fangphonevideocall call_ended_bg_black call_ended_poff with dissolve
    pause 0.5
    hide fangphonevideocall with easeoutbottom
    "My interjection snaps her out of her mood, and she sets her phone down gently on the empty computer desk."

    show fang sad at sleft
    show anon neutral flip behind fang at acenter
    with dissolve
    Lucy "Sorry, I…"

    "Her eyes linger on the cellular device."

    Lucy "I have at least two other phones with pictures in them…"

    Lucy "I don’t think I’ll ever look through those now."

    Lucy "Or maybe I'll do it when I really feel like letting go was the best decision."

    "Lucy casts her gaze around the barren room."
    show fang unimpressed with dissolve
    Lucy "It's not really fair to delete them though."

    Lucy "I could just forget about them."

    Lucy "I'm good at forgetting things on demand."

    "I take her hand and give it a reassuring squeeze."
    show fang neutral with dissolve
    "Lucy sighs, and her exhaled breath seems to expel her mood."

    "I look at the clock and nearly jump."

    "We had been looking at all the pictures for a long time."

    "Long enough that hunger once again finds us."
    window hide
    window auto

    show anon neutral with dissolve
    pause 0.5
    hide anon with easeoutright
    "I move to the kitchen, and look through my minifridge."

    "There isn’t much left, just some green onions, a few pieces of beef, and five eggs."
    window hide
    window auto

    show fang neutral flip with dissolve
    pause 0.5
    hide fang with easeoutleft
    "Meanwhile, Lucy looks through my pantry and cupboards for anything else to cook."

    "After a minute of searching, she comes across two cups of PachyMan Ramen just a week shy of their expiration dates."

    show fang happy at sleft with easeinleft
    Lucy "I’ve discovered a new recipe!"
    window hide
    window auto

    show fang:
        ease_cubic 2.0 xalign 2.5

    stop music fadeout 2.0
    pause 1.5
    hide fang with dissolve

    play music "audio/OST/Appreciating the Atmosphere.ogg" fadein 3.0
    "The meal prep doesn’t take too long for two adults."

    "It isn’t the most filling of dinners, but it would hold us over quite nicely until morning."

    "With our feast finished, and with nothing else to do now that all my stuff is packed and shipped off to Rock Bottom, Lucy and I just return to my bed."

    "I close my eyes for a bit, trying to get lost in my girlfriend’s warm embrace."
    window hide
    window auto

    show fang happy at scenter
    show anon neutral flip at aright:
        xalign 0.9
    with dissolve
    pause 1.5

    show fang:
        ease_cubic 0.3 xalign 0.6
        ease_cubic 0.3 xalign 0.5
    "Suddenly, I feel a jab on my ribs."

    "I look down at Lucy, who’s poking at my chest."

    A "Uh, Lucy… {w=0.5}what are you doing?"

    Lucy "Oh, just… {w=0.5}making sure..."

    A "Making sure of what?"

    Lucy "You know… {w=0.5}that you’re all healed up."

    A "Lucy… {w=0.5}it’s been five and a half months since the accident. I think I’m pretty healed by this point."

    show fang:
        ease_cubic 0.3 xalign 0.6
        ease_cubic 0.3 xalign 0.5
        pause 0.7
        repeat
    "Lucy doesn’t stop poking me."

    "If anything, she increases the ferocity of her pokes, going not just for my chest, but also for my stomach and my armpits."

    A "Lu-Lucy! Cut it out!"

    show fang:
        ease_cubic 0.2 xalign 0.6
        ease_cubic 0.2 xalign 0.5
        pause 0.2
        repeat
    "I try to be stoic, but I can’t help but giggle as Lucy turns into a literal tickle monster."

    show anon:
        ease_cubic 0.35 xalign 0.7
        ease_cubic 0.35 xalign 0.8
        pause 0.3
        repeat

    "I decide to return the favor by also poking at her, starting with her stomach, and gradually moving up to her chest and armpits."

    show anon grin flip:
        xalign 0.8
    show fang happy:
        xalign 0.5
    with dissolve
    "Finally, I hover a finger over her snoot, a mischievous grin spreading over my lips."

    show fang surprised with dissolve
    "Lucy’s eyes widen."


    Lucy "Anon…{w=0.5} Don’t you dare…"

    "I let out a giggle as I poke her snoot."

    show anon:
        ease_cubic 0.35 xalign 0.7
        ease_cubic 0.35 xalign 0.8
    A "Boop!"

    show anon:
        ease_cubic 0.3 xalign 0.65


    hide anon
    hide fang
    with dissolve
    show fang hug at acenter with dissolve

    "That seems to do it, and Lucy pulls me closer to her, wrapping me in a tight and warm hug."

    "I return the embrace, tempted to resume my tickling assault, but far too comfortable in my ptero gf’s embrace to care about anything else in the world."

    "As our laughter dies down, it comes to my mind that this might be the last time I get to hold her like this."

    "I’m going into the Army tomorrow."

    "I’m going to get shipped off to Raptor Jesus knows where… And there’s a good chance I might not be coming back…"

    "It brings my situation into a somber light..."

    "I double my embrace on Lucy, the more primal part of my mind unwilling to let go of her."

    "I raise her up and press my head against her chest."

    "Her heartbeat greets me."

    "It is soft yet hastened, like it’s trying so desperately to come off as calm and relaxed when it knows what terrible future awaits."

    "A heartbeat I may never again hear…"

    "It almost breaks my own heart."

    "I can feel Lucy’s hands trace along my shoulders and across my neck to cup my face."

    "Her angelic hands ever so gently guide me to look into her eyes."

    "She has a smile with a hint of mischief."

    "Before I realise where this is going, her finger lands on my nose."

    Lucy "Boop!"

    "Her smile widens to a playful grin and I can’t help but join in."

    "Such a beautiful sight to behold..."

    "How can I resist?"

    "I inch closer, and our lips meet..."

    "..."
    stop music fadeout 2.0
    scene black with fade
    pause 2.0
    scene emptyroomday
    show anon neutral flip at acenter
    with fade
    "All in all, it isn’t that bad a night at all."

    "..."
    play music "audio/OST/she_fucks_human_men.ogg" fadein 2.0
    "I woke up absolutely spent."

    "I’m covered in feathers, and Lucy’s ambrosia scent hangs heavy over the bed sheets."

    "Lucy’s already awake, and she’s bathed before me."

    "Now she’s rummaging through my fridge for whatever food we have left."

    hide anon with easeoutleft
    play sound "audio/effects/showerLoop.ogg" fadein 1.0
    "Rather than waste time asking the obvious, I decide to hit the shower."

    scene black with fade
    "As the water strips away last night’s scents off me, I get to thinking how Lucy must be feeling right about now."

    "I imagine what tomorrow will be like, not just for me but also for Lucy."

    "How, suddenly, she’s about to have another big change thrust upon her life."

    "The third or fourth one this year...."

    "From the non-binary thing, to the band, to the betrayal, and finally to having a human boyfriend..."

    "...Only to have him go so abruptly..."

    "I'm surprised she hasn't gone insane after all she’s endured."
    stop sound fadeout 1.0

    scene emptyroomday
    show fang neutral flip at sright
    with fade
    "I open the bathroom door and see Lucy sitting on my bed, staring blankly at her phone and swiping across messages."

    A "What's up?"

    Lucy "Naser said he'll be here in about an hour. Knowing him, it'll probably take forty minutes."

    A "Ten bucks he leaves another set of skidmarks on the road outside."

    show anon neutral at sleft with easeinleft
    "I sit next to her on the bed."

    A "What are you checking?"

    Lucy "Old messages and photos."

    Lucy "You know, it's weird. There's not enough pictures of you in here…."

    show fang happy flip with dissolve
    Lucy "Hold on, let’s fix that!"

    scene emptyroomday
    show anon smiley at acenter
    show photoviewfinder
    with fade
    "Lucy raises her phone and points its camera lens at me."

    Lucy "Stop smiling! You look retarded."
    show anon happy with dissolve
    play sound 'audio/effects/cameraShutterClick.ogg'
    "{i}click{/i}"

    Lucy "Alright, cool."

    scene emptyroomday
    show anon neutral at aleft
    show fang sad flip at scenter:
        xalign 0.7
    with fade
    "We go silent again for maybe a minute or two."

    "The overbearing silence’s broken when Lucy lets out a heavy sigh."

    show fang:
        ease_cubic 0.5 xalign 0.6
    Lucy "...D-do you really have to go?"

    stop music fadeout 5.0

    "I can’t help but let out a heavy sigh of my own."

    A "Today, I'll get on a bus and it'll be a Michael Tarpit movie for a few years."

    A "I honestly never thought these last few months were ever gonna end…"

    "There’s a heavy silence between Lucy and me for a few seconds."

    A "It... {w=0.5}It still feels wrong to me, you know?"

    A "That I'm still too ‘new’ at this boyfriend stuff."

    A "That I’ll never get the hang of it."

    A "That if only I had a few more months of practice… maybe I could be better at it..."

    show fang neutral flip with dissolve
    play music "audio/OST/Skinrow Soul.ogg" fadein 2.0
    "Lucy lets out a short snort."

    Lucy "I mean…{w=0.5} you're not THAT bad at it… {w=0.5}most of the time anyway..."

    "I let out a single bitter chuckle."

    A "I must've been the single most boring guy you've ever dated..."

    show fang unimpressed flip with dissolve
    show fang:
        ease_cubic 0.33 xalign 0.45
        ease_cubic 0.33 xalign 0.6
    "Lucy lightly punches me on the shoulder."

    Lucy "That’s bullshit, and you know it!"

    Lucy "If anything, I'm the boring one!"

    show fang sad flip with dissolve
    "Lucy deflates as she grabs on to her right arm."

    Lucy "I mean, take away my spikes, wrist bands, and stompers and what do you have?"

    "The wonderful girl that single handedly changed my life?"

    show fang surprised flip with dissolve
    Lucy "Huh?"

    show anon unimpressed with dissolve
    "God damned mumbling…"

    show anon neutral with dissolve
    A "I, uh...{w=0.5} I never really thought about it..."

    A "I suppose you trying hard at being tough was endearing to me. At least when you weren't physically assaulting me."

    A "There was something else though. I knew it when we were talking on the rooftop."

    show fang neutral flip with dissolve
    Lucy "I wish I knew what that was."

    show fang hiding flip with dissolve
    "Lucy cringed, her hands moving to cover her face."

    "Emotions warred across her face as she tried to form coherent words."

    Lucy "I-I can’t...{w=0.5} can’t stop wondering what you saw in me back then..."

    Lucy "And all this time we've been hanging out, I still can’t comprehend why you stuck around us--me!"

    "I consider for a moment, and a memory smashes it’s way to the forefront of my thoughts..."

    "{i}Glancing at her for a moment, the expression on her face sort of reminds me of something.{/i}"

    "{i}It was probably just leftover embarrassment from the concert, but she seemed to have a lost look on her face.{/i}"

    "{i}Or maybe it was confusion.{/i}"

    "{i}Or a mix of the two...?{/i}"

    "{i}Either way there's something on her mind.{/i}"

    "{i}I can't help but think that that must be how I looked on my first day.{/i}"

    A "I think… {w=0.5}I felt like you..."
    show fang sad flip with dissolve
    "Lucy stares at me pleadingly with those beautiful citrine eyes of hers."

    show anon:
        ease_cubic 1.1 xalign 0.25
    A "For the longest time, I didn’t know who I really was or what I wanted to be…"

    "I tighten my grip on Lucy’s hand and stare deep into her eyes."

    A "Lucy whatever you want to do-"

    show fang very sad with dissolve
    "Lucy, in response, glances away in what almost feels like shame."

    "Almost instantly, I realize why…"

    T "{alpha=0.5}{i}IT WAS YOUR IDEA.{/i}{/alpha}"

    "The two of us wanted so badly to avoid the subject, and yet here I was dredging it up and twisting the metaphorical knife deeper into the wound."
    show fang sad flip with dissolve
    A "I’m sorry… {w=0.5}I didn’t mean to bring her up..."

    Lucy "..."

    Lucy "...Please… {w=0.5}Don't think about Trish that way."

    Lucy "She's not at fault. I'm just a fucking idiot..."

    show anon concerned with dissolve
    A "Lucy..."

    A "I just...{w=0.5} forget that I have to walk on eggshells around certain topics..."

    show fang unimpressed flip with dissolve

    show fang:
        ease_cubic 0.33 xalign 0.45
        ease_cubic 0.33 xalign 0.6
    "Lucy puffs her cheeks and jabs me in the ribs."

    A "Ow!"
    "Lucy crosses her arms and lets out a single scoff."

    Lucy "Like *I* have to be careful when I catch you muttering, watching the newest season of underage panty shot quest and having war flashbacks fits through the night?"

    Lucy "Oh Anon, what's wrong? Please stop crying because you remembered the projector incident!"

    A "War flashbacks? I won’t go to war for at least a month after I pass boot camp. Assuming I pass it, that is."

    "Lucy raises an eyebrow."

    Lucy "Rock bottom, war, vietnam, you know what I'm saying."

    A "I moved on, ok? Just like how YOU moved on from that non-binary, liberal, Trish-militantism, right?"

    Lucy "Who said I did?"
    stop music fadeout 3.0
    show fang sad with dissolve
    "Lucy unfolds her arms and puts her head on her hands."

    Lucy "I..."

    Lucy "{i}*sigh*{/i}"

    Lucy "I didn't work out as a tough person, I didn't work out as a big musician, and I sure as hell didn't work out as a lover, given how many exes I have..."

    Lucy "This whole thing with making everyone's lives around me hell, testing the waters with identifying my gender… {w=0.5}it was a complete disaster..."
    show fang angry flip with dissolve
    Lucy "You can't really compare the damage I did to myself to you jerking off to cartoons, okay?!"
    window hide
    window auto
    pause .5

    show fang shocked flip with dissolve
    pause 0.3
    show fang hiding flip with dissolve
    "Lucy’s eyes widen in horror as she facepalms and falls back on the bed."

    show fang very sad flip with dissolve
    Lucy "...Fuck...{w=0.5} I might have said too much…"

    Lucy "I already ruined our last day together with stories from when I was just a shit person..."

    "Lucy’s eyes start to shimmer."

    show anon neutral with dissolve
    A "Hey! It's fun to compare!"

    A "I still like you, so I guess girls have it easier."

    "Lucy picks herself up and gives me a narrowed-eyed stare."
    show fang sad flip with dissolve
    Lucy "You just ‘like’ me?"

    show fang very sad with dissolve
    "Her eyes droop, and so do her shoulders."

    "I'm not certain if she's serious."

    play music  "audio/OST/Amberlight Brilliance.ogg"
    "But suddenly she tosses herself into my arms."

    hide anon
    hide fang
    with dissolve
    show fang hug at scenter:
        xzoom -1.0
    with dissolve
    "She puts her whole weight into her embrace, almost like she wants to tackle me."
    window hide
    window auto

    show fang hug:
      ypos -0.25
      ease_cubic 1 rotate -90 yalign -0.3

    hide fang hug with dissolve
    pause .5
    "I try to hold us both upright, but the awkward angle and the unevenness of the bed eventually causes us both to fall back into bed."

    "The world really disappears when we're like this. Something I’m infinitely glad for..."

    Lucy "Anon...{w=0.5} do you like me better the way I was before…"

    Lucy "Or do you like me better for who I am now?"

    "I say my next words without hesitation."

    A "You're much better now."

    A "Not cutting weeds in my eyes and kicking me in the face."

    A "Though I guess you miss your old life."

    A "I must feel like a killjoy in comparison..."

    "Lucy slides her head over my shoulder and wraps her arms up from underneath me."

    Lucy "I don't care about that."

    Lucy "This is so much better."

    Lucy "I don't like being forced to care about something I'm usually indifferent towards, or pay attention to what someone thinks is more important than what I'm already thinking about."

    Lucy "I just wanna...{w=0.5}figure it out on my own, you know?"

    A "If you're talking about me wanting us to marathon Lucky Star, then fine, I'll stop."

    "Lucy pulls away from our embrace just enough for me to see the red of her cheeks and tears streaking from her eyes."

    Lucy "Y-you...{w=0.5} fucking dork!"

    "I let out a small chuckle as I wipe away some of her tears."

    A "I just like seeing you ramble."

    A "You'll find stuff that interests you."

    A "Just do you, Lucy!"

    "Our foreheads touch."

    "She grabs my face with both her hands, all the while looking at me like I’m the most precious thing in her life."

    "All I want to do is bring her closer to me."

    "I wanna keep picking apart her brain, become acquainted with every single corner of her mind and still realize there's always something more to her..."

    "I love you, Lucy. So very, very much."

    Lucy "Anon, I… {w=0.5}I love you."

    Lucy "So very, very much…"

    "..."
    stop music fadeout 2.0
    scene black with fade

    scene emptyroomday
    with fade
    play music "audio/OST/Skinrow Soul.ogg" fadein 2.0
    "Naser somehow manages to defy our expectations by being late for once."

    "But that’s good, as it gives Lucy and I a chance to spend the next ten minutes gathering the last of my belongings and trashing what I couldn’t take."

    "With the apartment cleaned and cleared, I leave the keys on the kitchen counter, sparing one last look at the place I called home for the last few months."

    "As much as it sucked, the tiny excuse of a flat had been my sanctuary."

    "Now that I was leaving it, a part of me felt like I was losing a friend."

    "I try not to think too much about it as Lucy and I make our way outside."

    scene skinrow
    show fang sad at sleft:
        xalign -0.2
    show anon neutral at acenter
    with fade

    "Naser isn’t here yet, so we end up standing by the apartment lobby with nothing but our thoughts."

    "A part of me thanked Naser for his lateness."

    "It gave Lucy and I some more time together."

    "Lucy’s the first to speak up and break the silence between us."

    Lucy "...What am I going to do when you're gone?"

    show anon neutral flip at acenter with dissolve
    "Lucy’s words surprise me, but I’m ready with an answer this time."

    A "You'll make the right choices."

    A "You're the only smart person I know."

    show fang unimpressed with dissolve
    "Lucy gives me a deadpan look."

    Lucy "I’m being serious here, Anon."

    A "So am I, Lucy."

    A "You're a goddamn Intellectual!"

    show fang considering with dissolve
    "Lucy bashfully turns her head away, appreciating the compliment."

    Lucy "You know, the guys in the army aren't the smartest lot."

    A "I'll manage."

    Lucy "I don't know if I'm supposed to be jealous or fearful."

    show fang happy with dissolve
    "Lucy begins snickering."

    Lucy "They're gonna send you back in a shoebox!"

    Lucy "Hahahahahahaha!"

    "I can’t help but roll my eyes at Lucy’s words."

    A "Thanks for having *so much* faith in me..."

    "Subconsciously, I let out a sigh."

    A "I know you’ll have plenty of fun getting back to your own life, especially since there’s no semester in the fall to hold you back."

    Lucy "Eh, the mosh pits will not be as entertaining without you fumbling around awkwardly in them."

    A "I could do without them."

    A "You, on the other hand, seem eager to go back to that."

    show fang neutral with dissolve
    Lucy "What do you mean?"

    A "Back to the mosh pits, meeting strange people, having fun, maybe going for that solo career I know you can achieve."

    A "You should leave your options open while I'm gone."

    A "I don't want to hold you back or make you waste time waiting for me."

    show anon sad flip with dissolve
    A "...We might not even see each other again..."

    A "But...{w=0.5} I'll never forget you, Lucy..."

    show fang surprised with dissolve
    Lucy "..."

    show fang sad with dissolve
    "Lucy stirs like she just got stabbed in the heart."

    #I hate google docs, this is “” a mistake
    Lucy "Fuck... that hurts like hell..."

    Lucy "It's... I...."

    Lucy  "Damn it, Anon..."

    Lucy "..."

    show fang angry with dissolve
    "Lucy grits her teeth in anger."

    Lucy "I'm sorry, about all my bullshit!"

    Lucy "Please! T-that’s… that’s not me anymore…"

    Lucy "I can't go back to being that thing!"

    show fang surprised with dissolve
    "My voice causes my girlfriend to flinch."

    show anon behind fang:
        ease_cubic 0.5 xalign 0.4
    "I move to place a hand on her shoulder."
    show fang sad with dissolve
    A "Lucy…"

    "Lucy lets out a sigh."

    Lucy "Anon… {w=0.5}I wouldn't feel right going back to how I used to be."

    show fang anguish
    show anon concerned flip
    with dissolve
    Lucy "It's not right."

    Lucy "It was just a phase! I swear!"

    Lucy "I thought what I was donig was completely normal"

    Lucy "It was so humiliating..."

    Lucy "Naser might have known... {w=0.5}and he suffered so much because of it..."

    Lucy "I can't imagine just how much more my parents would've hated if I stuck to being... being..."

    Lucy "I don't even know who I used to be now."

    Lucy "I… {w=0.5}I was just an ungrateful bitch..."

    show fang hiding with dissolve
    "Lucy lets out a groan and facepalms."

    Lucy "I don't know if I'll ever live this shit down!"

    Lucy "Anon, please say you don't think less of me now I've told you all this..."

    Lucy "I'm more than all that!"

    Lucy "I wanna show it to everyone that matters to me!"

    "I reach out and grab Lucy’s hand, squeezing it as tight as I can without causing her discomfort."

    "I consider saying something, but I ultimately decide against it."
    show fang sad with dissolve
    "Instead, I only stare deeply and softly into Lucy’s citrine eyes."
    play sound "audio/effects/tireSqueal.ogg" fadein 3.0

    show anon neutral with dissolve
    "Before I can do anything else with my girlfriend, I hear the sound of tire screeching and the roar of an engine."

    "A familiar gray-toned car pulls up right next to us, stopping so abruptly that it leaves a set of skid marks."

    "Lucy reaches into her pocket and pulls out a ten dollar bill."

    "I motioned for her to keep it."

    "Something told me that where I was going, I wouldn’t be needing money."
    stop sound fadeout 1.0
    "Soon as the car comes to a complete stop, it’s driver disembarks, all the while munching on the remains of a delectable-looking hot dog."
    show naser explanatory flip at nright with easeinright
    Nas "Sorry I’m late guys. Decided to stop by Tracy’s hot dog cart to get something to eat, but she took a bit longer than usual."

    show naser happy flip with dissolve
    "Naser chomps on the last of this meal and licks his fingers clean with a satisfied smile."

    Nas "Anyway, you two ready to go, or do you guys need a few more minutes?"

    "I look at the time on my phone."

    "Much as I wanted time to stand still, the bus departing to boot camp would be leaving in less than an hour."
    show anon concerned flip with dissolve
    "I give Fang one last look, and she in turn looks at me."

    "We both know what needs to happen next."

    "Doesn’t make it any less painful…"

    scene nascar day with fade
    "Without another word, Lucy and I get in the back of the NasCar."

    "Naser, without a moment of hesitation, floors the gas pedal, and he flies off down Skin Row’s small streets."

    "A part of me bids my old neighborhood - shitty as it was - a final farewell."

    "The drive towards the pick-up spot is quiet."

    "Not one of the three of us wants to say a word."

    "Fifteen minutes of silent driving, and we arrive at my designated pick-up location."

    scene bus_stop
    show naser neutral at nright:
        xalign 1.35
    show anon neutral at acenter
    show fang sad at sleft
    with dissolve

    "The three of us get out of the NasCar and stand around the bus stop, waiting for the inevitable."
    play ambient "audio/effects/windLightLoop.ogg" fadein 2.0
    show fang unimpressed flip with dissolve
    pause 0.5
    hide fang with easeoutleft
    "Lucy mentioned needing to do something, heading into the office."
    show naser considering flip with dissolve
    "The silence between Naser and I is deafening."

    "Naser suddenly clears his throat."

    Nas "Listen, Anon…"

    A "Yeah?"
    show naser neutral flip with dissolve
    Nas "Uhh… {w=0.5}you’re gonna be gone for a while."

    A "... Yeah."

    Nas "Yeah."

    Nas "..."

    Nas "So uh…{w=0.5} rifleman or infantry or whatever it’s called?"

    A "Huh?"

    show naser explanatory flip with dissolve
    Nas "What’re they gonna make you do? Something like digging ditches? N-not to come off as rude or anything."

    "I sigh and shake my head."
    show naser neutral flip with dissolve
    "At least he was starting to catch his poor words now."

    A "I mean, yeah, I’ll be doing that too. But they had me take an ASVAB test. They want me to do some more mechanical stuff."

    A "I think the code thing was 12K…{w=0.5} 19K?"

    A "They were pushing me into being a tank guy."
    show naser explanatory flip with dissolve
    Nas "Can you even drive dude?"

    A "..."

    show naser neutral flip with dissolve
    A "Anyway, I decided something more up my alley."

    "It’s kind of like shitposting. But more official. I think."

    pause 0.5

    show naser explanatory flip with dissolve
    Nas "What’s shitposting?"

    A "N-nevermind.{w=0.5} The number thing is 46R."

    show naser neutral with dissolve
    "Naser nods his head and looks off."

    "Before the silence could set in again Naser speaks up, his voice carrying a tone of relief."

    show naser considering with dissolve
    Nas "I’d been meaning to say for a while."

    show naser neutral flip with dissolve
    Nas "Thanks, Anon. I mean it."

    Nas "I didn’t know what I was doing for a while."

    Nas "If you didn’t take the hit and get us together at Moe’s, I’d still be feeling sorry for myself like some loser."

    Nas "Honestly… {w=0.5}I’d still be that scared little kid stressing over being something I didn’t need to be."

    A "I didn’t do much at all, it was Moe and Rosa really."

    A "It was you and Lucy that patched things up. And I’m glad you guys made amends."

    show naser happy flip with dissolve
    "Naser gives me a surprised look, but he smiles and nods."

    "We hear the unmistakable roar of a city bus overpowering the other cars as it turns onto the street."

    "It’s still a few lights away though, so Naser gets back in the drivers’ seat to leave Lucy and I alone."
    show fang sad at sleft with dissolve

    "Lucy had come back at some point. I was kind of happy she kept quiet to give me and Naser our moment."
    show anon neutral flip behind fang with dissolve
    "All this time we avoided saying goodbye to each other but eventually it has to happen."
    show naser neutral with dissolve
    A "Lucy."

    Lucy "Anon..."

    "A horrifying tugging pain hits me in the chest."

    A "You'll be fine while I'm gone, right?"

    Lucy "Yeah."

    "I seriously have no idea what's gonna happen to her. I reprehend any thought that something bad might happen to her."

    "But still..."

    A "Can you promise me that..."

    A "...If I do see you again, that you'll be a better person."

    A "Us both. Better persons."

    Lucy "Ok."

    Lucy "I'll be a better person."

    Lucy "But you have to promise me something too."

    Lucy "That you'll come back."

    "I mutter."

    A "Ok."

    "She mutters."

    Lucy "Ok. Good."

    "It's settled, then."
    show fanganonhug at acenter
    hide anon
    hide fang
    hide naser
    with dissolve

    "We hugged once again, but she put some serious muscle into it. I reciprocate."

    "I want to feel the imprint of this embrace for hours."

    "Her heart's racing."

    "Stronger."

    "The bus driver grows impatient and starts honking. The time has come."

    hide fanganonhug
    show anon neutral flip at acenter
    show fang sad at sleft
    show naser neutral flip at nright:
        xalign 1.35
    with dissolve
    "Sure enough, I was still feeling Lucy's hug after we separated. Naser rolls down the window of the car."
    show anon neutral with dissolve
    Nas "Good luck, man."

    A "Same, man."

    "I gripped his hand."

    show naser:
        ease_cubic 0.5 xalign 1.25
        ease_cubic 0.3 xalign 1.3
    "He squeezed my hand in return, and then recoiled. My grip was stronger than he was anticipating."

    "I got inside and waved back at them. I give the driver my regards and laid back, looking at my feet."

    hide anon with dissolve
    stop music fadeout 5.0
    "I must've thought about a lot of things then, like what if I just jumped out the window and ran to her,"
    #Green Day - translators note
    "or if I would die and never see her again like in that Green Snoot music video, I looked back to see if I could still get a glimpse of her..."

    "...my eyes frantically search the small figures, and there she was."

    show fang hiding at scenter:
        xalign -0.1
    show naser sad flip behind fang at ncenter
    with dissolve

    "I caught her in mid-motion, crying in Naser's shoulders."

    scene sidewalk with dissolve
    "And then the bus rounds a corner and they’re gone."
    play music "audio/OST/ballad_of_the_boot.ogg" fadein 2.0

    scene black with dissolve
    "Vanished from each others’ lives."

    scene white
    show anon neutral flip at acenter
    show hotel behind anon
    with dissolve
    "I was dropped at a hotel with the other dudes, a surprisingly diverse crowd of humans and dinosaurs conversed."

    #push transition, idk if it needs a hide
    # hide hotel
    show airport behind anon
    with dissolve
    "We waited there for another bus that took us to an airport."

    show black behind anon
    with dissolve
    "I think I might have slept as soon as I sat on the airplane seat, because I don't remember the take-off or the drill."

    scene fromairplane with fade
    "I was fortunate enough to get a seat by the window, I flipped it up and saw a desert with a two-lane road cutting through."

    "I don't even know where I am now, only that I'm nowhere near Lucy."

    scene black with fade
    "God I hope I see her again."

    #end of new stuff
    stop music fadeout 2.0
    stop ambient fadeout 1.0
    return