Sat 12/8/2012
5:21 PMHe doesn't notice you right away, so you take some time to look him over.
You immediately notice that he looks different from the others. Some parts of him are obviously put together differently...possibly, evidence of an earlier design. He clearly has been maintained well, but rust is prevalent in several places. He creaks a bit when he moves in certain ways. But for some reason, you have a feeling that he can still get a job done, just as well as the others...
At last, he notices that you're...uh, checking him out.
"Oh...hello. I don't get a lot of attention these days...especially not from beauties such as yourself."
He says it using a very matter-of-fact tone, as if he's not so much flirting as making conversation.
"So, sweetie, what can I do for you?"
- I was wondering if you were up to a certain task...
- Actually, I'd like to get to know you better.
- How old are you?
(Please post a comment in which you select an option)
"Brightsuzaku " (Sat 12/8/2012, 8:27 PM):
"I was wondering if you were up to a certain task..."
I was caught between this, and the second one. The third choice, my best friend and I threw out the window as being a little too rude- it sounded mean! Ahahaha~~~
I think the second choice would naturally follow the first, maybe? :3
"yyr" (Sat 12/8/2012, 9:10 PM):
"I was wondering if you were up to a certain task..."
"Ah, right down to business, are we? Well, I guarantee you, I'm the one for the job. Why, back in '83, I worked on 20 stories on a 5th Avenue skyscraper in New York! In '86, I was the only one they needed to construct a 15-floor apartment complex in Boston! And following that, I was an invaluable member of a travelling crew for over 20 years, taking on projects of all kinds, all sizes..."
- What have you been up to lately?
- Maybe so, but can you still pull that kind of weight?
- WOWWW!! I'm so amazed~
(Please select)
"Brightsuzaku " (Sun 12/9/2012, 8:24 AM):
"What have you been up to lately?"
*blushes* Ermagawd~ He's a bit of a flirt, too, isn't he? Maybe I just read that wrong, but with what he said in the original post... Of course, he's calmed down with time, it seems. >///<
I still think he's flirting for some reason. Hnngh~ I mean, flirting to a crane is probably a little different than that between humans? Weirdly hot... XD
"yyr" (Sun 12/9/2012, 12:51 PM):
"What have you been up to lately?"
"...and during those 20 years, you wouldn't believe some of the jobs we did, some of the things I saw, some of the people I met...some beautiful ladies, that's for sure! Although I honestly can't remember any of them being as cute as yourself..."
- Well...I *am* pretty cute.
- Thanks, but what have you been up to lately?
- Flattery will get you nowhere with me.
(Please select)
"Brightsuzaku " (Wed 12/12/2012, 6:13 AM):
"Well... I *am* pretty cute."
*BLUSH* >/////< Oh... Uh... I was talking about something else! @_@;;
"yyr" (Wed 12/12/2012, 7:13 PM):
((It's okay if you're just answering with the truth, lol ;)))
"Ah, so my flattery is getting me somewhere? That's a good girl...and what an adorable smile, too...let me tell you, dearie, if you pick me to lead your project, there'll be no shortage of flattery, if that's what you like! And not just on your looks, either...obviously, if you pick me, you're extremely intelligent as well! Clearly, you understand that when it comes to this, experience trumps good looks!"
- But you have both...that arm drives me crazy.
- You're certainly impressive. But...
- Isn't that what someone says when their age is showing?
(Please select)
"Brightsuzaku " (Thu 12/20/2012, 10:47 AM):
His flattery is... Wow, a little much? Or sweet? I'm not sure. I'm actually quite dumbstruck by it, and I can't help but fidget. I came here to ask something, and now we're flirting? I csn feel my heart race and stop every now and then.
Then again, he does look good... Actually, he's very handsome. How old was he again? I'm not sure. Does it really matter?
Still flustered, my face all red, I wave my arms, trying to laugh it off, "Y-you're certainly impressive, but..."
I trail off. What did I want to ask, again? He's a little long-winded, but it's actually kind of cute. And, not what I expected. He's so quiet and serious with everyone else.
((That third one. Wooow. I didn't know whether I wanted to say that, or number 2! He has me tongue-tied. XD Anyways, narrative text, away!))
yyr (Fri 12/21/2012, 1:44 AM):
"Y-you're certainly impressive, but..."
"..."
He hesitates for just a moment before speaking again.
"...well, maybe I got a bit carried away there, sorry... ah, but can you blame me? What would you do in my position? Here I am, just minding my own business, and a friendly, gorgeous lass just happens by, about to ask me to lead a project? Well...that *is* why you're here, right, hon?"
- Of course! I think you're perfect!
- Well...I want to learn more about you, first...
- You're just all talk, aren't you?
(Please select)
"brightsuzaku" (Fri 12/28/2012, 9:38 PM):
"Of course! I think you're perfect!"
It was the least I could say. After going on so long... he clearly has the credentials, the know-how... I can't help that's it's also because he stood out.
You could say I had a good hunch, a good feeling about him. And that had little to do with the flirting!
He "stuck out" not necessarily for any bad reason, per se... How do I say it without seeming rude? Because I *do* quite like him. And when he gets so talkative- it's actually really cute, if not bewildering.
He stuck out *because* he was definitely a bit older than the rest. And he isn't really "too old", but then again, what is aging to a crane, anyways? Especially one so well-maintained as he is?
He clearly takes a lot of pride in his appearance, and not in a bad way. Am I right in taking him on?
I glance back at his work so far. It's not lacking in anything, and he has incredible precision.
Maybe... Yes, maybe this was a good hunch, after all!
yyr (Sat 12/29/2012, 9:59 PM):
"Of course! I think you're perfect!"
"..."
He stands, motionless, for a moment...as if in disbelief. The disbelief slowly turns to pure, absolute elation.
"R--Really? For real, and for true?! I...I can't begin to tell you just...how happy I am, right now..."
You *think* you see something that appears to be water running down the side of him. It's not raining...
"Sweetheart, you won't regret this. I'll have your project built to your exact specifications! It'll be a perfect place, for you and me...as perfect as your smile. I can't wait to see its reflection inside your beautiful eyes..."
((Fade to black.))
-- Ending B --
((Fade in on a scene of two men seated at opposite ends of a desk, talking. The person behind the desk is a rotund 40-something gentleman. The person in front looks like a new recruit. Based on their garb, it's easy to see that they're in construction.))
[Young Man] So you believe that they have personalities?
[Veteran] Oh, absolutely. Like you wouldn't believe. These things *definitely* have their own individual quirks, touches...when you're driving one for long enough, you can totally get a feel for what they're about.
[Young Man] How...do you know?
[Veteran] It's hard to explain. You just...do. Like...okay, here's an example. You know how some mornings, you just...feel different? You try to get out of bed, but you just feel totally blah? Like, gravity feels stronger, or something?
[Young Man] Yeah, I totally know *that* feeling...
[Veteran] But on a different day, you do the same thing--get out of bed--and it *feels* completely different. The motion is the same, but the feeling is not, at all...
[Young Man] Hmmm...but how does that apply to driving a crane?
[Veteran] Well, let's say you go to twist the arm to your left. You pull a lever, right? But depending on the personality...what happens in response to that pull of a lever can feel very different.
[Young Man] You don't say?
[Veteran] Some act deliberately...some, with a bit of hesitation...some, more boldly than others. And it doesn't necessarily have to do with how old, or how big or how powerful it is. They're...personality quirks. It's the best way I can describe it.
[Young Man] Okay...so what would you say has been the most...interesting "personality" you worked with?
[Veteran] "What?" Really, in the case of Xavier, it's more like "who!"
[Young Man] Xavier, hmmm?
[Veteran] Yeah, he was a wild one. He always seemed to be full of energy, no matter how beat we all were. On some days, he managed to motivate us into being a bit more energetic, ourselves...
[Young Man] Cranes can really have that effect on people?
[Veteran] Seriously, he seemed like one of us. Right down to the catcalls.
[Young Man] What?!
[Veteran] Well, we were a bit of a rowdy bunch back then. We'd...uh, alright, I'll be straight with you: we kind of harassed the more...attractive ladies that happened by. And you know what? Sometimes--I swear this is true--when a beautiful lady happened by, he whistled.
[Young Man] What do mean, whistled? Cranes can't whistle!
[Veteran] Cranes have got all kinds of moving parts, and make all kinds of sounds. And this is why, I'm telling you, they have personalities! I swear to you, he did something and it sounded just like he was whistling at them. And you know what? A few times, they actually turned around! I bet they thought they were going crazy!
[Young Man] Wow! That's...quite a story... ...so, Xavier's retired now, I take it?
[Veteran] Actually, it's kind of sad... yeah, we retired him about five, six years ago, but we didn't have the heart to send him to scrap. So we left him in one of our yards, and checked in on him from time to time...
[Young Man] What happened?
[Veteran] Well, when we retire a crane, we do it for a reason...usually because either something broke and it's too costly to fix, or because it's just too old and rusty to handle the typical kind of work we do here. Good 'ol X was in decent enough shape, but they all rust out eventually...
[Young Man] But he was just sitting in the yard, right?
[Veteran] You know something? I don't know if it was just some kid wanting to take it for a spin, or if someone came in there and actually tried to use him for a project, but...clearly, he was running...and then, his arm must've just snapped off, then shattered into three different pieces when it hit the ground.
[Young Man] Awwww, that's kinda sad...
[Veteran] Yeah, we also found that his engine had blown. That proud bastard...guess he thought that he still had more gas left in the tank than he actually had.
[Young Man] Wow.
[Veteran] But you know? It just means that he went out the same way he always ran... all-out, with confidence and pride. That's just like Xavier. ...I wonder if he got to chat up any ladies before he went? Because, if so...that means he died a happy crane.
[Young Man] Heh...
[Veteran] Yeah... Xavier was definitely one hell of a crane.
~ Thank you for playing ~
"Brightsuzaku " (Sat 12/29/2012, 10:20 PM):
;_; B'AWWWWWWW~!
He really was dedicated, right up until the end! Awwww! He really gave his all to be impressive. Ohmahgawd. But, he was reliving his youth, *and* doing what he loved- isn't that how he'd want to go?
Djkfrhudjub I can't hold these cranefeels, halp! Dammit, now I want to draw a Xavier gijinka~!
yyr (Sat 12/29/2012, 10:24 PM):
I was totally *not* expecting you to take that route, by the way...I expected you to be more of a realist, after which he'd have confessed that he's been out of commission for a few years (with many crane-tears). BUT AT LEAST HE WAS HAPPY. =)
"Brightsuzaku " (Sat 12/29/2012, 10:39 PM):
So, "Ending A" is choice 2 ("Well... I want to learn more about you, first..."), then?
Also, choice 3... Geez, what a way to get him down! D:
yyr (Sat 12/29/2012, 11:31 PM):
The other choices probably would not have led to an ending at all... much like the previous scene you saw. The game only ends when you decide who's building your project! (In other words, who you're "dating.")
yyr (Sat 12/29/2012, 11:37 PM):
By the way: I wrote this as I went along, starting only with an idea of how I wanted the character:
"His career is long and storied...he is proud of his accomplishments...he isn't what he used to be...he has been neglected for some time now..."
"Brightsuzaku " (Sat 12/29/2012, 11:44 PM):
Reading that last sentence, I suddenly feel worse for waffling around in figuring out what to say. *HUUUUUGS*
Xavier... :(
But, within the time frame of the event, it wasn't nearly so long! Ahahaha. He must've felt so appreciated~
yyr (Sat 12/29/2012, 11:51 PM):
So anyway, I started writing these scenarios because you said you wanted a scenario writer. I still want to make a shmup with you someday, as I blabbed about in a now-ancient e-mail, but...I would definitely consider putting this together, too. Ha! I feel like there'd be a twisted sort of niche that might really enjoy something wacky, like this...
