Violet

*Ziggy* · 01-19-2009, 10:03 AM

Calm down. All you have to do is write a thousand words and everything will be fine. And you have all day, except it's already noon.

*Chris* · 01-19-2009, 10:03 AM

Look

#are we playing?

*Ziggy* · 01-19-2009, 10:05 AM

Calm down. All you have to do is write a thousand words and everything will be fine. And you have all day, except it's already noon.

Violet
A Distraction by Jeremy Freese
Release 1, September 2008
(New readers type ABOUT; HINTS available)

You told me you were making progress. Then I find out you haven't finished a paragraph in five months. What did you expect?

So now here you are, up in your office. I am sorry that today is a Saturday. I am especially sorry that today is your thirtieth birthday. We had all kinds of adventures planned. I refuse to feel guilty.

Of course I am still upset. I will try to set that aside and be encouraging. I really do want you to succeed today.

Please just write.

>

*Chris* · 01-19-2009, 10:06 AM

Hello!

*Ziggy* · 01-19-2009, 10:06 AM

Chris> Hello!

You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what you mean.

>

Erkki · 01-19-2009, 10:07 AM

write

*Ziggy* · 01-19-2009, 10:07 AM

Erkki> write

You're standing. You've been pacing most of the morning, stewing about our fight last night.

I don't myself see why one can't type just as easily standing up as sitting down, but you are adamant that you can only focus enough to write seriously if you are seated.

>

*Chris* · 01-19-2009, 10:08 AM

Sit down

*Ziggy* · 01-19-2009, 10:08 AM

Chris> Sit down

Okay. You are seated at your desk and ready to go. Just write!

>

*Chris* · 01-19-2009, 10:10 AM

Write

*Ziggy* · 01-19-2009, 10:11 AM

Chris> Write

Unfortunately, with all the pacing about and ruminating, you've been here over two hours but haven't actually opened your word processor yet.

>

*Chris* · 01-19-2009, 10:12 AM

Open word processor

#oh, text adventures...

*Ziggy* · 01-19-2009, 10:12 AM

Chris> Open word processor

As you move your hand to open the word processor, you look briefly at the tattoo on the back of your hand.

Open. Chapter 3 of your dissertation awaits. You can do it!

>

*Chris* · 01-19-2009, 10:13 AM

Write!

*Ziggy* · 01-19-2009, 10:13 AM

Chris> Write!

Sorry for being confused, budgie, but you're going to have to use a different verb for me to follow you.

>

Erkki · 01-19-2009, 10:16 AM

just write

*Ziggy* · 01-19-2009, 10:16 AM

Erkki> just write

You start trying to focus on the screen and type, but you are very tired. I realise that you hardly slept last night between being all worked up from our fight and then being banished to the dodgy futon in our living room.

Still. I know you won't let a little grogginess stop you. You are determined. For us! You look again at the tattoo on the back of your hand for inspiration.

>

Erkki · 01-19-2009, 10:17 AM

write

*Ziggy* · 01-19-2009, 10:17 AM

Erkki> write

You are trying, I can tell. But each time you begin to think through the opening sentence you get this dull cloudy tired pain right behind your eyes.

Okay. You want to write. You just need to get yourself more awake first.

Somebody is coming up the stairs. I thought you said no one ever comes in on the weekend?

>

mr.miffmiff · 01-19-2009, 10:20 AM

about

Maybe that'll tell us something.

*Ziggy* · 01-19-2009, 10:20 AM

mr.miffmiff> about

I get sloshed at a dinner party and tell the story, and a few months later I receive an e-mail from a man I don't remember announcing that I'm a "game." I suppose I should be flattered.

Or perhaps you should be flattered. You are the one who gets to pretend to be my boyfriend.

We proceed by you typing what you want to do. Don't get cute: type a verb, or a verb and noun, or maybe verb-noun-preposition-noun. The following are examples of things you can do:

WRITE
EXAMINE DESK (or X DESK)
TAKE ITINERARY
OPEN DRAWER
STAND ON CHAIR
LOOK UNDER DESK
PUT ITINERARY ON CABINET

I'll report what happens, and we go from there. You can probably trip me up if you try to be an arse about it, but what's the fun of that?

You can see an inventory of what you are holding at any time by typing I or EXAMINE ME (X ME). If you want a summary description of the room you're in, just LOOK.

You can save the game by typing SAVE, and restore a saved game by typing RESTORE. I'll be desolate if you QUIT.

What else? CREDITS and COPYRIGHT are available whenever. If you're ever stuck, I can give you a HINT. If you want to take back your last action, UNDO bends space-time to your regretful will.

Finally: you are male by default (curse you, patriarchy!). I'm not changing my gender on your behalf, but you are welcome to change yours. Just type FEMALE or, more stylishly, HETERONORMATIVITY OFF.

I would wish you luck, but you don't need luck. You just need to write.

Virtually yours,
Violet

>

mr.miffmiff · 01-19-2009, 10:22 AM

write This Is A Report by: Mr. Whatevermylastname is.

*Ziggy* · 01-19-2009, 10:22 AM

mr.miffmiff> write This Is A Report by: Mr. Whatevermylastname is.

I only understood you as far as wanting to write.

>

mr.miffmiff · 01-19-2009, 10:23 AM

write: Lalalalala

Sorry, I'm just experimenting, lol.

*Ziggy* · 01-19-2009, 10:24 AM

mr.miffmiff> write: Lalalalala

You're going to have to use a different verb for me to understand what you mean.

>