$title Part 5: Flux
$set_background sit_on_platform
$wait 1.0
$overlay_color #00000000 1.0
$wait 1.5
Bard: Hmm...
Marco: Is something the matter?
Bard: I was just expecting more...you know...sex stuff. Or kinky stuff. Not a book and a box.
Marco: Well, the flows of the Carnal River can be really unpredictable! You can fixate on objects for reasons other than being horny.
Marco: It could be something that brings back painful memories. Or something that leaves a strong impression on someone.
Bard: ...So what you're saying is that they are pretty much random.
Marco: Pretty much! After all, mortals are very complicated. What's trivial to one may be another's deepest fear.
Bard: Y'know, Marco. It sounds like you know a lot about people. Is it all really just from listening to rambling [color=#00ffff]souls[/color] like me...?
Marco: I wouldn't say "ramble"... Ah, and from [color=#ffff00]fishing[/color], too! It's like getting many unconnected glimpses into people's lives.
Marco: But I wouldn't go so far as to say I know a lot... Honestly, with each day, it feels like I know less and less. But I still find it all fascinating.
Bard: Is it really...?
Marco: Yes! A certain soul told me that it sounded to them like putting together a large puzzle, trying to fit the pieces together...
Marco: And then when you find a piece that doesn't fit anywhere, it turns out that the puzzle was much bigger than you imagined!
Marco: ...
Marco: I don't really get how puzzles work or why they would be fun, but I imagine that a fellow soul like you might appreciate the metaphor better than me.
Bard: Yeah...it sounds about right. Life is pretty scary...
Marco: But I've still learned so much! And who knows what else is there to discover...
Marco: Such as vore! Until you explained it to me, I never could've even imagined that it was a real thing...
Bard: Uhhhh... I-I still think that you're putting too much thought into that, Marco. It's not something I really care about.
Marco: Are you sure? Maybe you still have to remember that you did care!
Bard: Y-Yeah, well... My memory isn't really that good. Although, that thing we [color=#ffff00]fished[/color] reminds me–
$start_music loose_thoughts
$set_background cave_wall_2
$set_sprite bard bard/sweat bounce
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/surprised bounce
Marco: Oh! Does that mean you remembered something else? That's incredible, Bard!
Marco: Would you mind telling me more about it?
Bard: [color=#b2b7d2](Gee... Marco really finds this stuff fascinating, huh.)[/color]

# Fork 2
$if route_b == 1 05_f2_prompt_b
$if route_c == 1 05_f2_prompt_c
Bard: I-I guess not...
$prompt
$option 05_f2_route_a Parent and career
$option 05_f2_route_d Cousin and alien
$label 05_f2_prompt_b
Bard: I-I guess not...
$prompt
$option 05_f2_route_b Friend and theater
$option 05_f2_route_d Cousin and alien
$label 05_f2_prompt_c
Bard: I-I guess not...
$prompt
$option 05_f2_route_c Guru and secret
$option 05_f2_route_d Cousin and alien
$label 05_f2_route_a
$increment route_a
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Bard: Seeing all that gold in one place reminded me of my own money situation...
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious_speak
Marco: Oh. Did you struggle with money?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious
Bard: Hmm, not really. My parents weren't wealthy, but we had enough to get by.
Bard: But my parent... They were really obsessed that I'd get an important job that paid a lot.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused_speak
Marco: Hmm... Your religious parent, correct?
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused
Bard: Yeah, that one. They said that I was gifted, since I was always getting high grades in school. That I'd go on and get a diploma in one of the best colleges in the country.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/playful_speak
Marco: It sounds like you were a great student!
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/playful
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: Nah... Only when I actually liked the classes. In fact, there was this one time in high school where I couldn't care less about an exam that was coming up.
Bard: Instead of studying, me and my cousin decided to hang out all night. Obviously, we both flunked it.
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/crossed_arms
Marco: Were you upset?
Bard: Upset? W-Well, I would just study harder for the next exam to compensate... or something.
Bard: But I still tried to hide the bad grade, because I knew that my parent would overreact.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious_speak
Marco: Overreact...?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: Yeah. They actually found out later, and got upset.
Bard: But instead of shouting at me, they thought that the teacher had made a mistake. That they had something against me.
$set_sprite bard bard/sweat bounce
Bard: At one point, they went over to the school and started a shitstorm! They kept fighting the school board over it, hoping that the teacher would give me a better grade.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/explain
Marco: Heh. So you got away with it, in the end?
Bard: Oh, no. As soon as my parent confronted me about it, I told them the truth. That I didn't study.
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: But they didn't care, and kept fighting the school until they changed my grade.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/shocked
Marco: Oh wow! They kept fighting the school on your behalf, even though you admitted to it. That's quite the stubbornness!
Bard: It was pretty crazy. 
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious_speak
Marco: Aw... I think it's bittersweet that your parent decided to stand up for you, even if they were pretty misguided.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Bard: Maybe. I felt pretty bad about it, though. If I had just studied for the exam, then none of this would have happened...
$goto 05_f2_end
$label 05_f2_route_b
$increment route_b
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Bard: Th-The briefcase was what jogged my memory.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious_speak
Marco: The gold, you mean?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious
$set_sprite bard bard/sweat
Bard: No, no. The briefcase itself. It reminded me of a play I saw once.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/pensive_speak
Marco: A play...?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/pensive
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Bard: Yeah, like in theater. With a stage and actors and such.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused
Bard: I don't remember what it was called. I just remember that there was this briefcase, and all of the characters wanted to get it for some reason or another.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused_speak
Marco: Oh... Sounds like a complex plot. And what was inside of the briefcase?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused
Bard: That's the thing, nobody knew. Everyone thought it was something different. That was the whole joke.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/laugh
Marco: They all had their reasons to seek it out... That sounds interesting!
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/pensive
Bard: ...Actually, I thought it was pretty bad. The ending was very abrupt and confusing.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/crossed_arms
Marco: Oh.
Bard: I only watched it because my friend dragged me. They were really into theater.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/surprised
Marco: By friend, do you mean the one who you had a crush on?
$set_sprite bard bard/blush
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/playful
Bard: Y-Yeah. They wanted to become an actor, so they dragged me along for all the plays that they could find around town.
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: Some of them were really weird or boring. I only remember the briefcase one because of all of the jokes that we made.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/neutral_speak
Marco: Jokes?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/neutral
Bard: Yeah! It was so bad that we kept making jokes about it the whole week. I remember the jokes better than the plot of the play!
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious_speak
$set_sprite bard bard/blush
Marco: Aw... I think that's bittersweet. Despite you not enjoying the play, you two still managed to find some joy in it!
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/playful_speak
Marco: P-Plus, you got to spend more time with the friend you had strong feelings for.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/playful
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Bard: T-True... But I still think watching that bad play was a waste of time.
$goto 05_f2_end
$label 05_f2_route_c
$increment route_c
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Bard: It's not much, just this movie I saw a while ago. It was about a wizard who only l-learned a single spell–
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious_speak
Marco: Oh! Did he have a book like the one we found?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious
Bard: No, he only had a magic wand. And the only spell it could cast was to...uh...shrink whoever used.
$set_sprite bard bard/blush
Bard: And the premise of the whole movie is that the wizard gets in all sorts of, uh, s-situations because of that spell... But he also uses it to get out of them.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/reflect
Marco: That sounds like an intriguing movie. Did you like it?
Bard: Y-Yeah...a bit too much. I-It kinda made me realize how much I wanted to be like him.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/explain
Marco: You mean, being a wizard who could shrink at will?
Bard: ...
Bard: I-It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but I realized that I had a...let's say, micro k-kink.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/explain
Marco: Hmm... So being small is another fetish for you. Besides vore.
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: ...
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/playful_speak
Marco: That's okay! I'm not judging.
...But I guess that one did become a reality, considering how small you are.
$set_sprite bard bard/sweat bounce
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/playful_speak
Bard: ...!
$set_sprite bard bard/blush
Bard: Y-You're right. G-Gosh... Now I'm making this w-weird...!
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/surprised
Marco: Oh, oops. I didn't mean to make you even more flustered! Besides, I said I don't judge, and that's still true.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/explain
Marco: Aaaanyway, you were saying...
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/pensive
Bard: ...A-After that movie, I was feeling kinda embarrassed. I thought about shrinking myself nonstop. I couldn't really talk to anyone about it...except my guru.
Bard: I was really afraid that they'd laugh at me...! B-But they didn't, and I felt so relieved. I was just glad to get it off my chest.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/reflect
Marco: Ah, you mentioned your guru earlier. The one that gave you private counseling sessions, right?
Bard: Y-Yeah... I told them about my micro fetish, but th-there's no way I would tell them about my vore one...!
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/explain
Marco: Why not tell anyone else? Is it really that embarrassing?
$set_sprite bard bard/blush
Bard: ...
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious_speak
Marco: Aw... Well, I think that it's bittersweet that you still had someone that you could confide your secrets to.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Bard: I dunno... Maybe it would be better if my tastes weren't so weird in the first place.
$goto 05_f2_end
$label 05_f2_route_d
$increment route_d
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Bard: But it's not much. Just this cousin that came to visit every now and then.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/reflect
Marco: Your cousin? How did [color=#ffff00]fishing[/color] remind you of them?
Bard: I-It's a long story. My cousin was older than me, but they lived nearby, so they'd come visit every other day.
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: I don't think I told you, but... I was super kinda into space stuff. And it was definitely their fault.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/pensive_speak
Marco: So you two were pretty friendly?
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/pensive
Bard: Yeah! They were like a sibling to me. Or my best friend. I've been thinking a lot about them lately.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/greet
Marco: I'm glad that you're remembering more, Bard!
$set_sprite bard bard/sweat
Bard: T-To answer your question...I guess I remembered them because of the creepy yellow eye on that book.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: My cousin always had the coolest concepts for new alien species, and kept showing me their new doodles.
Bard: There was this alien that they liked the most. It was just a purple blob. It didn't even have a skeleton...just a yellow eye floating inside of them.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious_speak
Marco: A purple blob with a–
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/playful_speak
Marco: ...Oh! That's similar to the cover of the grimoire.
$set_sprite bard bard/normal bounce
Bard: Mhm! So that's how I made the connection, I guess.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/sad
Bard: This alien had a whole tragic backstory, too. Because of her appearance, she was misunderstood by the other aliens, and treated like a monster...
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: ...but in truth, she was a valiant hero, helping others through the galaxy without getting anything in return. Only more insults.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/reflect
Marco: ...A book judged by its cover, as the mortal saying goes.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused_speak
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Marco: So this alien still took the effort to help others? Even though they all treated her poorly?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused
Bard: Yeah. She believed that, deep down, anyone could be a hero. As long as they set their hearts to it.
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: One time, she was hitching a ride in the engine room of a spaceship, hiding until they got to the next spaceport. Then...
$set_sprite bard bard/sweat
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/surprised
Bard: BAM! The spaceship was attacked by bandits! It seemed like they wouldn't be able to survive the barrage of lasers, and the entire engine would fall off.
Bard: But the alien managed to use her glue-like powers to hold the thrusters and the spaceship together, and thanks to her, they all managed to escape safe and sound.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/playful_speak
Marco: Wow! That's quite the action.
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/playful
Bard: Yeah. She saved the day, and yet again, nobody even knew what she did.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious_speak
Marco: Aw... I think that it's bittersweet that the alien still has her resolve to help others, even if she gets no credit in the end.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/laugh
Marco: I guess the story about that alien must have resonated with you that you would remember it so dearly, Bard.
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Bard: Nah. I was just thinking about my cousin, really...

$label 05_f2_end
$stop_music
$overlay_color #000 0.5
$wait 0.3
$set_background sit_on_platform
$overlay_color #00000000 0.5
Bard: ...
$wait 2.0
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/greet
Marco: I'm happy that you remembered more, and even decided to share it with me, Bard.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused
Bard: I'm sorry.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused_speak
Marco: Hm? What for?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: For souring the mood. I'm just rambling about some stupid stuff I remember.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/greet
$continue_after_text
Marco: Oh, it's not stupid at all. I think it's very interesting! I'm very fascinated by you–
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/crossed_arms bounce
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
$wait 1.0
Marco: –r experiences. Fascinated by your experiences in the mortal plane.
Bard: [color=#b2b7d2](Hmm? What was that weird pause...?)[/color]
Marco: ...Like I've told you, I've met many [color=#00ffff]souls[/color]. And they all told me their share of what it was like to be alive.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious_speak
Marco: And with each one – with each story –, I feel like I learn a little bit more about the world of the living.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious
Bard: Would you like to go there and see for yourself, one day?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused_speak
Marco: Go...where?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused
Bard: Well, the [color=#00ffff]world of the living[/color], of course. Where I came from.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/crossed_arms
Marco: But I can't simply abandon my job as a [color=#ff00ff]soul ferrier[/color].
Marco: Therefore, my only contact with the mortal plane is hearing what [color=#00ffff]souls[/color] like you tell me... and [color=#ffff00]fishing[/color], of course.
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: Well... At least, it must be nice, not being a mortal. It means that you won't die, or go through the bad parts of life.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/sad
Marco: ...
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Bard: By the way, I noticed that you already knew some of the stuff I was talking about.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused_speak bounce
Marco: Hm? Like what?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused

$if route_a >= 2 05_marco_knew_a
$if route_b >= 2 05_marco_knew_b
$if route_c >= 2 05_marco_knew_c
Bard: Like what spaceships are. Or what an alien even means.
$goto 05_marco_knew_end
$label 05_marco_knew_a
Bard: Like what a school is. Or what grades even mean.
$goto 05_marco_knew_end
$label 05_marco_knew_b
Bard: Like what actors are. Or what a play even means.
$goto 05_marco_knew_end
$label 05_marco_knew_c
Bard: Like what movies are. Or what a fetish even means.

$label 05_marco_knew_end
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused_speak
Marco: Yeah, I learned it before. A [color=#00ffff]soul[/color] like you taught me.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused
Bard: So you learned EVERYTHING just from listening to souls.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/explain
Marco: ...It was a lot of souls.
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: Whew. Th-That's kinda hard to believe.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/greet
Marco: But it's true! I have no reason to lie about that. I haven't been counting, but it must've been hundreds of thousands of–
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/panic
$set_sprite bard bard/sweat bounce
Bard: HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS?!
$start_music afloat
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/crossed_arms
Marco: ...Maybe just over a million.
Bard: That's too many!! And you remember all of them?!
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/laugh
Marco: Heh, no. Of course not. Only the special ones.
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: Then you'll probably forget about me.
# Marco is coy
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/shy
Marco: ...won't...
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Bard: Hm? What did you say?
Marco: Oh, um, it was nothing, Bard.
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: ...
Bard: You must think that the living world sucks.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/shocked
Marco: Why?
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Bard: Because you probably get a lot of dead people complaining about how the world isn't fair, and such.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused_speak
Marco: Is that what you believe? That the world isn't fair?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused
Bard: Yes...i-if my memory serves me right.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/pensive_speak
Marco: Hmm... From what I've heard, I only agree in part. It can be an unjust place, but it seems to have equal parts hurt and beauty.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/pensive
Bard: B-But I only seem to remember the ugly parts.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/playful_speak
Marco: Ugly parts...? But all that you've told me is nice, isn't it? You certainly made them sound like fond memories.
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: ...
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/neutral_speak
Marco: Of course, each soul is unique. Some of them tell me good things, like you have! Others only focus on the bad parts.
Marco: But regardless of optimism, all of them seem to regret not doing enough while they were alive, in one way or the other.
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/neutral
Bard: ...D-Do you remember ferrying any remarkable soul?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/laugh
Marco: Oh, there were so many. I don't think I could list them all!
Bard: No, but I mean... Any one that sticks out to you in particular? Someone that you think about a lot?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious_speak
Marco: Hmm... Oh! There was this lady who died of old age. Listening to her recount her own life was quite amazing.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious
Bard: Yeah? What did she do?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/explain
Marco: Nothing.
Bard: ...
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/neutral
Marco: ...
$set_sprite bard bard/sweat bounce
Bard: Nothing at all?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/crossed_arms
Marco: Well, of course she did a lot. She didn't do anything remarkable by YOUR standards, though.
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: [color=#b2b7d2](...Ouch. Perhaps Marco is right, I'm being too judgmental.)[/color]
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Bard: U-Umm... Can you tell me about her?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/explain
Marco: Well, she grew up in her dad's farm, and worked the fields until she got married.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/pensive_speak
Marco: Then she had children, then grandchildren, then great-grandchildren...and then, she passed away. In her sleep, she recalls.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/pensive
Bard: She remembers passing away in her sleep...?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious_speak
Marco: Every soul remembers how they died... But you're the exception, of course.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/curious
Bard: ...That's all? Nothing that sticks out?
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: T-To you, I mean. I just don't understand why you'd remember her out of a million other people...
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/greet
Marco: Well, I wouldn't do her justice if I gave you the short version. You had to hear it straight from her soul!
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/reflect
Marco: Oh, but she had an astonishing memory, too! She kept diaries since she was young, and she wouldn't skip a single day. There wasn't a thing she didn't remember...!
Marco: There were good and bad moments. But she really cherished them both, and seemed content with the life she'd led, and the example she'd set for her children.
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Bard: Hmm... She sounds like the complete opposite of me.
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: I kinda wish that my life had been that simple... On the other hand, I dunno if I could handle a quiet life in a farm.
Bard: So she died with no regrets?
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/confused_speak
Marco: Oh, she still had regrets, like everyone. Her grandchildren moved to the big city, and they kept struggling with money.
Marco: She wished that she could've helped them more with their financial situation.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/crossed_arms
Marco: She also wished that she still had her hearing when her great-grandson was born, so she could've heard him cry for the first time.
$set_sprite bard bard/normal
Bard: Oh... Th-That's so sad.
$set_sprite marco marco_mask/neutral
Marco: It is. But I think she still enjoyed life to its fullest extent. She remarked that the good things and the bad things were important parts of who she grew up to be.
$stop_music
Bard: I-I wish that I could have–
# Silence
$set_sprite bard bard/face_away
Bard: ...
Bard: No, never mind...
Marco: ...?
$overlay_color #000 1.0
$set_background before_command_boat_to_move
$clear_sprites
$wait 1.0
$overlay_color #00000000 1.0
$wait 2.0
Bard: M-Marco, do you think we can fish some more?
Marco: Again, already...? But I don't see anything in the river.
Marco: I can move Akhirah to a different spot and try our luck somewhere else.
Marco: Plus, I could use a break from throwing the net around. My arms are a bit tired.
Bard: Oh, okay...
$collapse_textbox
$hide_textbox
# Marco raises his finger and Akhirah starts moving, before it fades to black
$start_music ambiance_river 5.0
$set_background command_boat_to_move
$wait 2.5
$overlay_color #000 1.0
$reset_background
$wait 0.5
$load 06_decay