Father came in without knocking. He saw your works. Your name scrawled on paper, your look-a-like doll, your feminine voice, your tawny skirt, your bundle of flowers, and hair tied into cute pig tails.
And father says, |dad>[(link-reveal:"Son, what is this?")+(link-style:(color:#FF8FA2)+(hover-style:(color:#FFC0CB)))[
You can't scream. Father will steal your fear. So you must [[offer him something.->Offering]]]]
(set:$offerings to 0)
(set:$hair to "pigtails")
(set:$name to "Maria")
(set:$voice to "feminine")
(set:$clothes to "skirt")
(set:$flowers to "bundle of flowers")
(set:$toy to "dolls")
(set:$appeasement to (random:1,9))Offer your...
(if:$name is "Maria")[[[Name->Name]]](else:)[~~Name~~]
(if:$toy is "dolls")[[[Dolls->Toy]]](else:)[~~Dolls~~]
(if:$voice is "feminine")[[[Voice->Voice]]](else:)[~~Voice~~]
(if:$clothes is "skirt")[[[Skirt->Skirt]]](else:)[~~Skirt~~]
(if:$flowers is "bundle of flowers")[[[Flowers->Flowers]]](else:)[~~Flowers~~]
(if:$hair is "pigtails")[[[Hair->Hair]]](else:)[~~Hair~~]
(link-style:(color:#FF8FA2)+(hover-style:(color:#FFC0CB)))[(link-goto:"Pray he accepts you.",(either:...(open-storylets:))'s name)]|dad>[The paper is scrawled with your name. A hundred times, a million times. You hoped it'd make you real.
Father rips the paper into shreds. Bits of "Maria" float into the garbage can.
And he says, "Your name is [[Michael.->Offering]]"]
(set:$offerings to $offerings+3)
(set:$name to "Michael")
(hide:?Pass)|dad>[You dressed her as your ideal self. She is 'Lil' Maria.
Father snatches her and gives you a...
|Action>[(link-reveal:"Superhero figure.")[(set:$toy to "superhero action figure")(go-to:"Offering")]]
|Car>[(link-reveal:"Toy car.")[(set:$toy to "miniature car")(go-to:"Offering")]]]
(set:$offerings to $offerings+1)
(hide:?Pass)|dad>[People mistook you for a girl. They always said "Sorry" after. You liked that. You tell father "Sorry" too.
He rips your voice from your throat. "Talk like a man".
You say "I'll do better" and your voice is...
(link:"Manly.")[(set:$voice to "manly")(go-to:"Offering")]
(link:"Boyish.")[(set:$voice to "boyish")(go-to:"Offering")]]
(set:$offerings to $offerings + 3)|dad>[It's brownish-red hue looks like mom's hair. It gave you hope. You remove it, and Father tosses it into the garbage.
Father gives you...
(link-reveal:"Shorts.")[(set:$clothes to "shorts")(go-to:"Offering")]
(link-reveal:"Jeans.")[(set:$clothes to "jeans")(go-to:"Offering")]]
(set:$offerings to $offerings+1)|dad>[They were too pretty not to steal from school. It wasn't nice, but you liked putting them in your hair.
Father takes them all, but you steal a...
(link-reveal:"Lily.")[(set:$flowers to "lily")(go-to:"Offering")]
(link-reveal:"Rose.")[(set:$flowers to "rose")(go-to:"Offering")]
(link-reveal:"Tulip.")[(set:$flowers to "tulip")(go-to:"Offering")]]
(set:$offerings to $offerings+1)|dad>[You never got pigtails quite right. Now you never will.
You undo the elastic and give it to him. "Your hair should be short and..."
(link-reveal:"Shaggy.")[(set:$hair to "shaggy hair")(go-to:"Offering")]
(link-reveal:"Wavy.")[(set:$hair to "wavy hair")(go-to:"Offering")]]
(set:$offerings to $offerings+1)(storylet:when $offerings is 0)
"What?" There is only rage.
"I said no! I'm happy! You won't take this from me".
But father towers over you. No kindness nor mercy exists in his eyes.
And you are only a [[child.->Break]](storylet:when $offerings is 10)|dad>[Michael with his $voice voice, $toy, $clothes, and $hair follows your Father out of the room. A perfect (link-show:"son.",?You)
|You>[(link-show:"You?",?Carcass)]|Carcass>[ You are a forgotten carcass in his room. Only a rotten $flowers [[marks your grave->The End]].]]
(hide:?You)
(hide:?Carcass)(storylet:when $offerings < $appeasement and $offerings > 0)
Father scowls. No child, only a freak. The door closes behind him, leaving you to wallow in the dark.
You, $name, have your $voice voice, your $toy, your $clothes, your $flowers, and your $hair hair.
[[But you didn't give up enough->The End]].(storylet:when $offerings >= $appeasement and $offerings < 10)
Father smiles. He's happy. Relief washes over you. He won't hurt you. You take his hand and leave your room.
You, $name, have your $voice voice, your $toy, your $clothes, your $flowers, and your $hair hair.
[[But did you keep enough?->The End]][[Read Again?->Opening]]|dad>[(link-reveal:"He decapitates 'Lil' Maria")[, (link-reveal:"stomps the flowers")[, (link-reveal:"rips your skirt off")[. He yanks your hair so hard you swear he'll rip your skull out. It is only then do you begin to (link-show:"cry", ?Cry)]]]].
|Cry>[But Father doesn't listen. "You're not my son. Just a freak". The door slams behind him, as you [[sob in the dark.->Recovery]]]
(hide:?Cry)The cost to become Maria is too high.
Your wounds will heal. But now? [[You deserve better.->The End]](append:?SideBar)[\
Father is (if:$offerings < 3)[Furious](else-if:$offerings < 5)[Displeased](else-if:$offerings < 7)[Calm](else-if:$offerings < 10)[Pleased](else:)[Fulfilled]
]