text: > descend
  Lothlorien co-op, on the dock
  The dock is short, wooden, and rather rickety. An old gnarled tree reaches far out over the water nearby.
  
  The Scholar is pacing back and forth.
  
  Staci is here.
  
  A dog is wandering around on the dock.
  
  > talk to Scholar
  'Lately I've been trying to be active rather than reactive.'
  
  The Scholar wanders off.
  
  > talk to Staci
  Every way you interact with Staci feels easy, natural, and delightful.
  
  > Goals
  You think you can develop your friendship with Xochi more.
  You are looking forward to talking to Xochi again.
  Turning Wheel cycles probably has something new worth checking out. Staci said she was going to be hanging out on the dock.
  
  > visit Staci
  You have another in a seemingly endless series of deligtful days with Staci, just chilling on the co-op porch swing and talking with whatever friends wander by.
  
  The Scholar arrives.
  
  > look
  Lothlorien co-op, on the dock
  The dock is short, wooden, and rather rickety. An old gnarled tree reaches far out over the water nearby.
  
  The Scholar is standing here.
  
  Staci is here.
  
  A dog is wandering around on the dock.
  
  > Pet dog
  As you greet the dog, you hear a voice call out 'Lotus!' from a little further down the shore. To make a long story very short, the voice belongs to a five member traveling punk band called Police Lingo. They need a place to crash, and something makes you offer your house. They have to play a show at the Owl Sanctuary (the what??) and you agree to meet them back on Milwaukee street later. Staci says she will head back to Madcon and meet you later. You should probably head home to get your house ready for guests.
  
  > Xyzzy
  There is a trans-dimensional short-circuit of interactive fiction tradition, and you catch a brief glimpse of a brick building near a stream and a metal grate before you blink and find yourself...
  
  Your section of Milwaukee Street is directly across from a small farm which remains as an agricultural island within the city. An open field and a barn are across the street. Toward the southwest is Atwood Street leading toward downtown. Monona Drive is to the south. The edge of town lies toward the northeast.
  
  > enter
  Paul shows up carrying his acoustic guitar. He turns out to be an excellent blues guitarist, and he talks in a continuous flow of aphorisms and anecdotes. 'I don't need to believe in reincarnation,' he says, looking at a small Vishnu sculpture on your table, 'I've lived fifty lives already in this one.' For much of the past few weeks, you have been the one dominating conversations, and it feels good to focus on listening to someone whose mind is also overflowing with ideas. After a couple hours, your head is spinning but your enlightenment has increased. Rather than as a housekeeper, you hire Paul as a music-and-wisdom coach.
  
  This is a modest one story house, cluttered by a decade of being lived in. Bookshelves line the walls. Your Plan 9 terminal is here, connected to the grid servers downstairs. There is a sign on the wall which says 'Best Spring Ever!' A few trinkets from Astral Enchantments are scattered about. Your dark wooden upright piano has a collection of Schumann's music open on the music rack.
  
  You can see a Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Soap, the Artemis prints, some bookshelves, a terminal and a piano here.
  
  It is a convergence of world-lines. Five young punk musicians, Staci Nook and yourself, and three co-opers who had been tagging along. Many realities diverge here. What are your boundaries? What are you open to? You feel yourself splitting into many selves at this branch point. In some, everyone is completely uninhibited and you all create a transcendent flower of higher-dimensional interpersonal molecular structure, the aliens show up and demand pancakes, and you all agree to move to the lesser Magellanic cloud and open the first non-Earth greasy spoon diner. In others, inhibition and insecurity fracture the social ground beneath you, rifts open, and your life ricochets off in a different direction, a vector of disappointment and regret.
  
  You decide to pilot a middle course in your current storyline, embracing a limited subset of the possible configurations. After a night of little sleep but much love, Police Lingo leaves you with many balloon animals, and Staci and the co-opers return to Madcon. You spend a few minutes cleaning up, and are now ready to head downtown and dive into the convention scene.
  
  > Goals
  You think you can develop your friendship with Xochi more.
  You are looking forward to talking to Xochi again.
  Turning Wheel cycles probably has something new worth checking out. Madcon is happening NE of the Capitol square.
  
  > Inventory
  You're carrying:
  Forsee Why You And I Are To Be One (4CY UNI R2B 1)
  a Viewer Lens
  some Space Pancakes
  a pendant (being worn)
  a rose quartz heart
  a pair of mirror shades
  a wallet
  
  > play the piano
  I heard the song first at fifteen, an echo of a spring so evergreen
  It bridged future and past, spanning unseen
  Reality dream and the space between
  A month of May the year could be any, where every day is a horn of plenty
  Warm night air, the waves on the lake, all right there and make no mistake
  Reeling and rocking past the shadow of doubt
  Nothing like feeling that old in and out
  I know what its like to be alone, no hint of action on your phone
  I know how to groan and bitch and moan
  But it ain't too much dope that's stealing your hope
  In the dark groping for the end of your rope
  With a little bit of luck you'll come unstuck
  Quack like a duck on the strange trip truck
  I'm talking from experience, once you get traction
  Even a middle-aged pianist can get action!
  This month of May was like nothing before,
  Every time that I walked out the door
  I fell in to a brand new story, each moment had its own kind of glory It's hard to believe but my dreams did come true
  No guarantee but it could happen to you
  So keep your ears open for those magic songs
  Spend the years hoping and singing along
  The stories and dreams that bloom in your mind
  The quarry that gleams, the doom that you find
  Flowery beams the moonlight unwinds...
  
  > Go east
  Light streams in through the tall glass windows at the front of the cafe. A display case of homemade gelato flavors is by the door. A window for drive-through customers is in the rear corner. Numerous cat-themed decorations adorn the walls and counters.
  
  Xelia is working here.
  
  > talk to Xelia
  You take advantage of a quiet moment in the cafe to talk to Xelia. 'You know this whole summer has been the high point of my life by far,' you begin, 'I went through a lot of years wondering whether what we got out of life was worth the price of the ticket, if that makes sense. But finally, this summer, it all finally came together for me, my life became exactly the story I've always wanted it to be. You and Xochi here at the cafe have been a big part of the magic. Now, I feel like - whatever happens in life from here on out, it's all been worth it. This summer has given me more happiness than I could have ever imagined.'
  
  'I'm really glad its been so good for you, its been fun hearing about your adventures,' Xelia smiles at you. You wander back to your seat, and your words echo in your mind. '...whatever happens...it's all been worth it.' 'But please stay wonderful, life!' you add as a mental postscript. In future days, keeping hold of that feeling will serve as both a comfort, and a challenge.
  
  > take Orrery
  The Metaphysical Orrery is fixed in place.
  
  > examine Orrery
  This astonishing device looks like what would happen if fifteen bicycles were being ridden across the surface of a neutron star and then suffered a catastrophic impact with a ferris wheel. Every variety of rotary and cyclical motion is manifest within the fractal nest of gears, chains, and wheels.
  
  > Go west
  You need to ride a bicycle to continue further towards downtown. If you own one, call it with the command >lunar.
  
  > Lunar
  You call out for your trusty metal steed, and it appears!
  You get onto Lunar Lightning.
  
  > Go west
  You pedal effortlessly.
  
  John Nolen Drive (on Lunar Lightning)
  Adjacent to lake Monona, John Nolen Drive is a wide multi-lane road which passes underneath the curved contours of the Monona Terrace convention center. The view from across the lake looking toward downtown is Madison's skyline-postcard view. A heavily used bike path teems with cyclists and joggers. The Capitol square is north, Williamson St. to the east, and the Miffyland residential neighborwood is west.
  
  Midnight strikes and a new day dawns.
  (This is day number 58)
  
  > Go north
  You pedal effortlessly.
  
  Capitol Square (on Lunar Lightning)
  On a hill in the center of downtown, the Capitol building is a smaller imitation of the federal Capitol building in Washington D.C. The street grid converges to a perfect square around it, and it acts as the 0,0 origin of the street numbering system. Notable streets and landmarks lie south, west, north, and northeast.
  
  > go to the north-west
  You pedal effortlessly.
  You can go n, w, s or check the event center to the ne.
  
  > Go northeast
  You decide making a dramatic entrance on your bike isn't necesssary. (first getting off Lunar Lightning)
  
  Time-travelers, authors, simulators, and adventurers from across the multiverse have gathered here to share stories.
  
  The convention is in full swing as you arrive. After a few introductions, a tall owl of multiple genders transfixes you with glowing orange eyes. 'For safety reasons, everyone agrees that author-level, continuity-breaking information should be wiped from your time-embedded consciousness. The experiences will be stored in your crown, of course, so nothing is lost long-term. Are you ready?' You nod agreement.
  
  It is two days later. You are exhausted but happy. The convention has been AMAZING, especially the part where...where...well, it was definitely amazing. You know that much at least. It seems like time to go relax at Lothlorien.
  
  > Goals
  You think you can develop your friendship with Xochi more.
  You are looking forward to talking to Xochi again.
  Turning Wheel cycles probably has something new worth checking out. Some more time at Lothlorien co-op sounds good to you.
  
  > Plugh
  You speak the magic word, and you catch a glimpse of an ancient realm of college mainframe computers and 5 1/4 floppies...
  
  Lothlorien co-op, in the kitchen
  The kitchen is full of the clutter of heavy use by a housefull of hungry people.
  
  Written on the wall here is an inscription: 'Magic words: XYZZY and PLUGH'
  
  The Scholar is standing here.
  
  The Wizard is here.
  
  > talk to Wizard
  'I'd be honored to work on organizing some interesting esoteric events and ceremonies, I have quite a few ideas in mind. I think a costume-themed party with appropriate cinematic accompaniment would be an interesting experiment.'
  
  The Wizard and Scholar are discussing obscure but crucial events in the history of late 19th century secret societies.
  
  > Up
  Lothlorien co-op, the Great Room (1st floor)
  A huge living room, with two pianos, several couches, bookshelves, assorted art, and a fireplace.
  
  Whirlwind is looking through her shoulder bag.
  
  Nook is taking a brief nap on one of the couches.
  
  Lily is bouncing up and down on a couch, laughing.
  
  Lily wanders off.
  
  Whirlwind is making a series of cryptic hand gestures at Nook.
  
  > talk to Nook
  'I'm not sure just what you're up to with the Loonie Revolution and Plan 9, but I'm glad we have the chance to have this unique friendship.'
  
  Whirlwind is resting her foot on Nook's knee.
  
  > talk to Whirlwind
  'I've got a lot of writing to share if you'd like, and I know my kids are excited to contribute too.'
  
  Whirlwind is resting her foot on Nook's knee.