"Found each other, that is such a sweet way to say it. I love that! You found each other." Alex says. Does he really think it is that sweet? I didn't even tell him the story, which is what makes it sweet. Maybe he is a bit of a romantic?
"Aria found me. Was cold. Brr. Now warm. Fed. Happy." Blizzie says, crawling out of my bag and onto my lap. Aria's life seems to have some parallels to mine. Is that one of the reasons that I was able to take her place? Curious. I wonder is Alias would tell me if I asked him. Maybe he would. If he even knows the answer.
"Food is ready!" We hear the lady behind the stand call to us. Oh good. I am a bit hungry. Although isn't it too early for lunch? Oh who cares, it's never too early for food. "And that's what I would say about my cat too." she tells us. "But that's just how it goes. Especially with cats." she adds and we both laugh. It looks like Alex wants to join, but he also doesn't fully seem to get it. Maybe it's a cat owner thing.
Alex and I grab our food and head back to my shop. I wonder if he really wants to know how potions are made or if he is just being nice.
Checkpoint
'Ah does this mean that I am in for another death?'
'No." I hear Alias say, surprising me. 'I mean, maybe. But I just gave you that one because it has been a while. And you never know what could happen. Toodles!'
Toodles huh? Well, that is reasonable. However this week I don't plan to do anything aside from work on this project. Which I guess is a normal Aria move during her birthday week. And birthday week. I hardly celebrate the day, let alone a whole week. Being a princess is so different. Doing my own thing quietly. As long as Alex doesn't turn on me things should be fine, right?
We get back to my shop and I let him into my crafting area.
"Wow, this is so cool!" he exclaims excitedly. "We didn't have anyone back in my hometown who brewed potions. I almost thought that they were a fairy tale. And don't you have to have some magic to be able to make potions."
"Hmm, a bit. It's my charms that I really put magic in to though." I tell him. Potions were mostly just chemistry. I feel that if anyone put the right ingredients together they can create a potion.
"Oh that would make sense. I was wondering if I would be able to make a potion since I have some magic. My element is wind by the way. It helps me be able to shape the glass. It cools it and I can make the wind surround the glass and make some really cool patters. If you want, you can watch me blow glass at some point." he tells me. It sounds like he is hoping that I will say yes.
"Of course I will watch you make something."
We lapse into a comfortable silence, eating our food. Watching Blizzie eat his food brought me joy. I look over to Alex and see joy on his face as well. This man wouldn't kill me, right? My eyes flick up to his bars. Still zero suspicion and his affection bar had gone up a little. It was about one forth full. I wonder if it is going to slowly keep increasing. That would be nice, right? As long as people don't go psycho killer for love I should be okay even if his romance bar maxes out, right? I can't help but wish that there was a third bar. Not just affection bar but a separate romance bar. Three bars may be a lot to look at, but it seems more convenient.
'Romance bar unlocked!' I hear in my head. It didn't really sound like Alias's voice but more mechanical. Almost like a voice you would hear during a game. I can unlock new features?
I look at the newly unlocked bar. His friendship bar was a third full and there was beginning to be some color in his romance bar as well. Neat! I wonder if there will be a feature to hide bars. I don't know if I would choose to ever utilize that feature, but it might help me be a little less obsessive about it. Maybe at some point I will learn something that will make me feel safe hiding some, but not now.
Thinking about the bars I look over at Blizzie. That is when I notice that Blizzie no longer has a bar! I will have to ask Alias about that the next time we speak. Whether that be when I die or when I am sleeping. I prefer sleeping. Who needs dreams when I can chat with my friendly deity.
"I have an idea." I say when we are getting closer to finishing our food. I bet I can turn this moment into an event.
"Oh? What is your idea?" Alex asks me. If he had a tail I believe it would be wagging right now. He is giving off some serious puppy dog energy.
"How would you like to make a potion together with me?" I ask him. That shouldn't be too hard. We can look for an easy one. He said he wondered if he would be able to make a potion, why not allow him to.
'I'm bored.' I head Alias say in my head.
'Didn't you just say toodles?' I ask him.
'I did. But I want to play a game. Can we play a game?' Alias asks me. I have been trusting him thus far, why upset him and make that change. Deities could be capricious. I don't think Alias is, but who knows.
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'Sure Alias. Let's play a game.'
'Yay! We will call this the event game.'
'The event game?' I ask him.
'Yes. I get to help with it. I will give you some options. Like dialog options in a game. I am working on developing an advanced status screen window for you, that way you can see how many love, affection and suspicion points you get from each of your actions. Think of it as starting on the training I am making for you.' he tells me.
'I have been liking the free will option!' I tell him.
'I know. And you will get it for most of the time. Just try this out with me please. I need to test that status window I am creating. I might pop in like this on occasion to make sure that everything is working correctly. Now then, you already agreed. Think of it as a patch? Update? DLC?'
THE EVENT GAME!
I see this pop up just like the checkpoints pop up. Alias really is bored isn't he?
"Are you really okay with making a potion with me?" Alex asks me, clearly very excited.
CHOSE YOUR DIALOG
1. Actually I thought better of it
2. Of course. Let's mix up some love and magic
3. You said you wanted to try to make a potion and it sounds like fun
4. No. I just like saying things to watch people react
5. Meow, I'm a cat
6. I would rather boil my eyes in acid then continue spending time with you
What the heck is with some of these options? Who would choose to say these things? Why? Just... Just why?
"Well... You said that you wanted to try to make a point and I think it sounds like fun." I say, glad that Alias let me add in a few words to make it sounds more natural.
"Yay! I'm almost done with my food. Let's finish and you can teach me all about making potions. And don't worry, I won't start making potions and selling them in my store. I swear it!" he says.
1. You better swear. I don't do this for just anyone. Repay me somehow too
2. I know. I trust you. You don't really seem like that kind of person
3. I like rabbits. Do you like rabbits?
4. Man this food it good
5. If you break your promise I will hunt you down. And I will kill you
What kind of sociopathic nonsense is this? It's not like this is kill of be killed. This is more of try to change other people's perceptions of me so that I am able to live.
"I know you won't tell. I trust you. You really don't seem like that kind of person." I tell him. This still feels so unnatural. I don't want to think of this as a game. But if Alias is working on a new system I know that means that he is only trying to look out for me.
"I'm glad that you can already trust me, at least a little bit. That means that we really are already becoming friends. It used to be a little hard for me to like friends. I like cute things and people say that I talk too much."
1. Yeah liking cute things is pretty lame
2. They are right. Do you ever shut up?
3. I really like cute things as well. Also, I don't think you talk too much. It seems like you are just really enthusiastic.
4. Meh. Who cares what others think. You do you boo.
How stupid some of these options are almost makes me want to laugh out load. Who talks like that. I can't stand being mean to other people. Maybe some of these dialog options will help me be mean when I have to be though. That is actively less funny. However, that isn't the situation I find myself in right now.
"You know, I also really like cute things as well. Also, I don't think you talk too much. It seems like you are just really enthusiastic. It is nice to meet such an optimistic person." I tell him. Yay, I like that I am not locked into saying the exact words. That last part had to be added.
"Thanks." he says and I see him begin to blush. I am thankful that I am not in some sort of web cartoon and I don't have to think color in his face means that he has a fever. Some tropes are fun to read, but would suck to have to play out. Reading and living are totally different things.
We quickly finish eating and Alex turns to me expectantly. Let's not let him down!
"What kind of potion can we make?"
POTION OPTIONS
1. A love potion. (Hope that he doesn't drug you and turn you into a love sick zombie of a person)
2. A minor luck potion (Great option. Just hope that he doesn't think that it means that he is going to get lucky with you)
3. A minor speed potion (He can use this when he realizes you are too weird for him. Flee, flee!)
4. A minor potion of walking on water (Hope he doesn't try to walk more than a few steps. This is more of a party trick after all)
"What do you think about making a minor luck potion?" I ask him. Maybe it would have been better to give him the option. "Many people come in to buy a love potion, but I'm not a fan of those. Also I was thinking that a luck potion could help bring more people into your store." I tell him, and wait for his response.
"I think that's a great idea! I'm actually pretty uncomfortable with the thought of love potions." he says, and his face falls a little bit. Oh no, he thinks poorly of me now doesn't he?
1. It's just a love potion. Don't get your panties in a bunch
2. I know. It makes me uncomfortable. However, mine can backfire. It builds on emotions that are already there
3. You don't need to use a love potion on me. Wink!
4. Seriously? Everyone uses them though...
5. Do you not like me now?
Five is actually almost tempting, but it also sounds a little too pouty for me. I'll choose what I actually feel. "I know. It also makes me uncomfortable. However, mine can backfire. It builds on the emotions that are already there. The person who uses the potion has a small window to help those emotions stay real. If they can't manage that, oops." I tell him, hoping the oops wasn't an oops to say.
"Oh. That isn't as bad as I was thinking." he tells me, and I see him perking back up. "I'll never ask you to make one or buy one from you. If people stop buying them then you can stop making them, right?" he asks.
1. You are too naïve. That will never happen
2. Pretty much, yeah
3. That's what I hope for. I am trying to build a life for myself. I guess I got so caught up in having fun making potions that I forgot about the consequences
4. I can use one on you now to prove to you that they really aren't that bad
No system, I am not going to drug this poor man. Honestly! What kind of a monster does this system expect me to be? Aria wouldn't actually say some of these things, would she? Is this why people see her in such a negative light? Because she lets her mouth get the better of her?
"That's what I hope for. I am trying to build a life for myself, outside of the one that is expected of me. I guess that I got so caught up in the fun of making potions that I forgot about the consequences." I tell him. That sounds more like what I would say. I hope. It is how I feel. It's how the original Aria felt as well. I can tell.
"I get it. I am out here trying to make a life for myself too. Well, how about we move on from the topic of love potions. Let's talk about luck potions! How you make them, and what exactly they do!"
1. Don't you want to know what they do before you make one?
2. Yes, make potions first and ask questions later. You really get me!
3. Who says that I will even give you the correct instructions to make the right potion?
4. I don't even know how these things work or what they do. I just make them. That is all. No knowledge or foresight needed here.
Yeah I'm going with option number one please. I'm not the shoot first ask questions later type of person.
"Don't you want to know what the luck potion does before we make one? I really want you to be happy with the potion that we make together."
"Yeah. That is what I meant. I get my words crisscrossed sometimes. What does the luck potion do?" he asks me.
1. It helps you get lucky with the ladies. Wink wink.
2. Nothing. It just smells funny.
3. It gives you the courage to try new things
4. It boosts your luck. When you are trying at something it gives you a small boost towards succeeding in that task
I hope none of the option but four are truly correct.
"It boosts your luck. When you are doing a task that has the possibility of failure the potion boosts your chance of success. It is only a minor potion so it can't affect things in a really big way." I tell him.
"While I want to use that to help people come into my shop I think it would be better served on us making this artifact."
1. I changed my mind
2. That's a stupid thing to use it for. We are awesome and need no assistance
3. Sleep on it. Decide tomorrow. I'm not up for this. You tired me out
4. Let's get started
Again such an obvious choice.
"Let's get started."