You: Kel, age 19.
Location: Your house. Fellow residents: two moms, two younger sisters.
Goal: Help make dinner for your older sibling's family who are coming to visit!
[[Begin|1]]You've just gotten home from work and joined your family in the kitchen. Before you've even asked how you can help...
Sarrin (mom): "Oh, Kel, stir this for me?"
[[Stir]]
[["Sure, let me just take my shoes off first..."|shoes]](if: not (visited: "shoes"))[$deny1]She abandons the stove, and you step up. The broth smells good, and you slurp a sip from the spoon. Hmm. Could use a little more salt...
[[Add salt|salt]]
[["Okay if I add some salt?"|ask]]
[[Leave it|no salt]]$scold1 $patience1 Sarrin: "Now, please!"
(display: "Stir")Behind you, the sound of shattering ceramic. A piece slides to a stop near your foot.
Trayna(unless: (visited: "no salt"))[ (youngest sister)]: "Shit!"
Sarrin: "Language!"
[[Help clean up|help]]
[[Keep stirring|stir2]]$scold1 $patience1 You kneel to grab the nearest shards.
Sarrin: "Kel, it's going to burn!"
You quickly hand the pieces to Trayna and return to the pot.
[[Finally...|beni]]$grumpy2 $deny1 $patience1 Trayna: "Ow!"
Sarrin: "Of course it's sharp after you just smashed it!"
Trayna: "It wasn't on purpose!"
[[Finally...|beni]]{
<!--$grumpy2 $deny1 Trayna: "Ow!"
Sarrin: "Of course it's sharp after you just smashed it!"
Trayna: "It wasn't on purpose!"
[[Finally...|beni]]-->}Vari steps up to the stove. "Here, I can take over."
Beni (other sister): "Kel, I can't get this cork out, can you...?"
[[Shoes first|shoes2]]
[["Sure!"|cork1]]{(set: $scold to 0)
(set: $scold1 to "(set: $scold to it + 1)")
(set: $scold2 to "(set: $scold to it + 2)")
(set: $grumpy to 0)
(set: $grumpy1 to "(set: $grumpy to it + 1)")
(set: $grumpy2 to "(set: $grumpy to it + 2)")
(set: $deny to 0)
(set: $deny1 to "(set: $deny to it + 1)")
(set: $patience to 4)
(set: $patience1 to "(set: $patience to it - 1)")
(set: $stir to "[[Keep stirring|trayna]]")
}$deny1 You (display: "cork2")$scold1 You grab the salt shaker, but...
Vari (other mom, just coming in from the backyard): "Oh, no, that's being served with the spiced rice, it doesn't need any more salt!"
$stir$deny1 Vari (other mom) comes in from the backyard and places a quick kiss on your temple. Trayna (youngest sister) bickers with Sarrin about counter space.
$stir$grumpy1 $scold1 $patience1 "One sec," you tell Beni, and bend for your laces.
Sarrin: "Kel, help your sister?"
You straighten up again and (display: "cork2")Vari: "Almost ready! Let's get the table set. Kel?"
Sarrin: "Oh, look at the floor... Kel, you got dirt all over!"
(if: $scold >2)[$patience1 You: ... ... ...
[[Leave]]
](else-if: $grumpy >1)[(if: $patience > 2)[(set: $patience to 2)](if: (visited: "ask"))[Vari: "What happened to the soup? It's way too salty!"
]Trayna: "Ugh, this is a disaster!"
You: *discouraged sigh*
<div class="center">ENDING: Everyone's grumpy
(link: "Try again?")[(restart:)]</div>
](else:)[You: "Oh, sorry! Let me sweep it up, it will only take a second."
When your older sib arrives, the floor is clean again and everyone's in a good mood. (if: $deny >2)[$patience1
...Except you. You're not even sure why, but you have a lingering sense of irritation...
<div class="center">ENDING: Self-denial
(link: "Try again?")[(restart:)]</div>](else:)[And you have finally taken your shoes off.
<div class="center">ENDING: Keep the peace
(link: "Play again?")[(restart:)]</div>]]$grumpy2 Sarrin (distracted, chopping greens): "Sure, go ahead."
Salt: added!
$stirBeni finds you in your room (shoes tossed in a corner). You vent a little, and then Sar shows up, ruffling your hair, followed by Trayna and Vari.
You: "What about the food?"
Vari: "It's all ready, just waiting for our guests to arrive!"
You: "Sorry I got mad..."
Sarrin: "*I'm* sorry we didn't give you a moment before putting you to work."
You (smiling): "Next time, at least let me take off my shoes?"
<div class="center">ENDING: Catharsis
(link: "Play again?")[(restart:)]</div>manage to pop the cork free.
"Thanks." Beni smiles before she turns away to pour the water.
[[Continue|dirt]]{(replace: ?Sidebar)[
(unless: (passage:)'s tags contains "time")[
Patience: $patience
(replace:"0")[]
(replace:"1")[⌛]
(replace:"2")[⌛⌛]
(replace:"3")[⌛⌛⌛]
(replace:"4")[⌛⌛⌛⌛]
(replace:"5")[⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛]
](else:)[]]}<br>
<br>
<div class="center">
<div class="title">[''Kel Versus the Kitchen'']</div>
a <a href="https://alyshkalia.itch.io/structural-integrity" target="_blank">//Structural Integrity//</a> game
<br>
[[Play|start]]
[[Credits]]
</div>Written by Tabitha. Many thanks to playtesters Adam and Oliver!
[[Back|title]]