To Your Own Devices by B Pearlstein

To Your Own Devices

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"To Your Own Devices" by Becca Pearlstein

When play begins, say "Jeff graduated from art school two years ago and has since worked a variety of low-wage jobs. He recently used the money he had been saving to buy his first apartment. It was surprisingly affordable; he still half-expects to discover some major problem that the previous owner had neglected to mention.[paragraph break]A more immediate matter, though, is the fact that Jeff has lost his keys."

Living room is a room. The description of Living room is "It's not big, but it doesn't need to be. Jeff's TV is here, across from his couch."
Jeff is a person in living room. Jeff is undescribed.

Reading is an action applying to one thing. Understand the command "read" as something new. Understand "read [something]" as reading.

Readability is a kind of value. Everything has a readability. The readabilities are legible and illegible. A thing is usually illegible.
Instead of reading something which is illegible, say "That's not something readable."

The couch is an enterable supporter in living room. The couch is scenery. The description of the couch is "A green plaid couch, ugly but comfortable-looking. Impressively, Jeff has not lost any change in its crevices."
The cushions are part of the couch. Understand "cushion" and "pillow" and "pillows" as the cushions.
After entering the couch, say "Jeff sits on the couch."
After getting off the couch, say "He had sunken alarmingly deep into the cushions, but Jeff manages to stand up."

The key is a thing. The key unlocks the front door.

The front door is south of living room. The front door is a closed, locked door. Hallway is south of the front door.
Instead of unlocking the front door with the key:
	say "Jeff walks out into the hallway, probably on his way to get something to eat. He locks the door behind him.[paragraph break]You are still here, but alone, there's nothing you can do.";
	end the game saying "END"

Some magazines are things on the couch. The description of the magazines is "A few art magazines and several issues of National Geographic, which Jeff cuts up to make collages." The magazines are legible. Understand "magazine", "art magazines", "art magazine", and "National Geographic" as the magazines.
Instead of reading magazines, say "Jeff has been through these over and over already. It would just be a waste of time to read them again."
Some books are things on the couch. The books are legible. The description of the books is "Books about cartooning, found-object assemblage, and things to do with an apparently useless bachelor's degree." Understand "book", "cartooning book", and "assemblage book" as the books.
Instead of reading books, say "Jeff idly flips through a book before putting it back down. Maybe he'd rather do something else."

Instead of jumping, say "Jeff jumps in place, then looks around, puzzled. That didn't seem to accomplish anything."

Instead of examining yourself, say "You know what you look like."
Instead of examining Jeff, say "Jeff looks sleepy and lost in thought. He always does."
After touching Jeff, say "Jeff doesn't seem to notice."
Instead of taking Jeff, say "Jeff stays in place."

The TV is a device in living room. The tv is switched off. The tv is scenery.
After touching the TV for the first time:
	if the tv is switched on, say "The picture dissolves into static. Jeff stares for a moment, puzzled.";
	if the tv is switched off:
		say "The screen lights up with static. Jeff's shoulders jerk in surprise, and he stares at the TV, puzzled.";
		now the tv is switched on;
	say "[line break]Huh. How about that."
After switching on the tv, say "Jeff presses the power button on the tv (he'll find that remote one of these days), turning it on."
After switching off the tv, say "Jeff presses the power button, and the screen goes dark."

Bedroom is north of living room. "Jeff's bedroom is pretty plain. His laptop is charging on the desk next to his bed."
The desk is a supporter in bedroom. The desk is scenery.
The laptop is a device on the desk. The laptop is switched on. The description of the laptop is "A relatively old laptop, but still in good working condition. There's a Wikipedia article open on the screen."
Instead of taking the laptop, say "Jeff brought it to the park earlier today. He's leaving it plugged in to charge for a while."
The screen is a part of the laptop. The screen is legible. Understand "laptop screen", "article", and "wikipedia article" as the screen.
Instead of reading the screen, say "Jeff was looking at an article about scientific explanations for so-called paranormal phenomena."
Instead of examining the screen, try reading the screen.
The bed is an enterable supporter in bedroom. The bed is scenery. The description of the bed is "The covers are messy but clean. The mattress is very soft and inviting, except for one spot where a spring pokes up."
The covers are part of the bed. Understand "cover", "blankets", "blanket", "sheets", and "sheet" as the covers. Instead of taking covers, try looking under covers.
After entering bed, say "Jeff lies down on the bed. It would be so easy for him to just take a little nap..."
Instead of sleeping while in bed, say "Jeff closes his eyes and tries to go to sleep, but can't. A vague feeling of unease seems to be keeping him awake."
After getting off the bed, say "Jeff hauls himself out from under the covers."

Instead of sleeping while not in bed, say "This isn't the best place for that."

Instead of looking under the bed: 
	say "That's where Jeff's key was! He wonders briefly how it got there, then picks it up.";
	now the player has the key.

Bathroom is west of living room and east of bedroom. "Like the living room, it's small, but it does its job well enough."

The mirror is a thing in the bathroom. The mirror is scenery. Understand "look in [something]" as examining. The description of the mirror is "Jeff looks at his own reflection. He sees nothing unusual."

The faucet is a device in the bathroom. Understand "sink" and "tap" and "water" as the faucet. The faucet is switched off. The faucet is scenery. The description of the faucet is "An ordinary faucet. Jeff should probably clean the sink one of these days."
After switching on the faucet:
	say "Jeff turns on the water, which comes out hot. He looks at his hand in confusion.[line break]The mirror is starting to fog up.";
	now the description of the mirror is "Jeff can see himself reflected through a layer of condensation."
After touching the mirror:
	if the faucet is switched off, say "Nothing visible happens.";
	if the faucet is switched on:
		say "You draw swirling shapes in the condensation. Jeff jumps back and makes a noise of surprise.";
		now the description of the mirror is "Your idle drawings are on the surface of the mirror. Unlike Jeff, you never went to art school.";
		now the description of the screen is "Jeff was looking at an article about scientific explanations for so-called paranormal phenomena. You wonder if he'll find anything to explain this."