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!One Week Left High school ended 74 days ago. This means 10.57 weeks have passed since you had class non-stop 7 hours a day. In other words, if each class was 51 minutes, then, instead of screwing around all summer, you could have had 18,867.45 minutes of instruction. You'll regret wasting all that time once your first semester of college gets started. [[Well shit, I guess I should just drop out while I can]] [[Fine, I'll feel awful about myself for the next week in retribution]]

Did you really think that would work? [[Fine, I'll feel awful about myself for the next week in retribution]] [[Can we just move on? Thanks]]

We don't have time for your attitude. If you want to make it through the first semester, you should be prepared. In fact, maybe you should actually pay attention to the 37.5 brochures, pamphlets, affadavits, class actions, and TROs you've received in the mail from Carnegie Mellon University. [[Ok. I'll read a few]] [[I honestly could care less]]

After wading through the 9 levels of crap filling your room, you eventually make it to the center of hell. In other words, you find those brochures (and a few paper cuts along the way). You skip the brochure about dorm hygiene; overrated. You toss out the brochures about finding a mentor or seeking help. You look at the brochure about sexual health for a while, but that's only because it's illustrated. When you get to the bottom of the stack, relieved you can finally move on to feeling awful about yourself, you're greeted by a metallic envelope. [[I stare at it for a while]] [[I open it immediately]]

Time is merely a construct. What does it mean to //have// time? How does your perception of the world change your perception of yourself? As you move through time is it running a marathon past you or enjoying the drops of each moment on a porch in the summer, by the pool, sipping mimosas, with you? ... [[Ok. I'll read a few]]

You don't have time to feel sorry for yourself. In 168 hours and 41 minutes you'll be on a plane with your mom, dog, and security blanket headed to Pittsburgh. College is a big, scary place. Or rather, it is a large collection of 497 anxiety inducing locations. You know, you haven't even read one of the brochures you got in the mail. Maybe that would be a good idea. [[Ok. I'll read a few]] [[I don't have time for that]]

You're getting ready to leave for the airport. As you rush for the door (since you're running late), you notice a metallic envelope sitting under the pile of brochures. [[Ok. I'll open it|I open it immediately]] [[I don't have time for mail right now!]]

No. No, you didn't. This is the first lesson. [[Great|I open it immediately]]

As soon as you undo the flap on the back of the envelope, a hologram appears. A non-binary figure about your age, the size of a power ranger doll, is now standing on the envelope. [[I accidentally drop it because I'm easily startled|This is sick][$reaction to "The figure gives you a moment to calm down. Once you've regained your senses, it begins to speak."]] [[This is sick][$reaction to "The figure takes a deep breath, then speaks."]]

After your obsession with shiny things wears off, you snap to your senses. [[Ok fine, I'll open it|I open it immediately]] [[I didn't really have a choice, did I?]]

Double-click this passage to edit it.

$reaction "You embark on a great journey. You may at times feel something as you go about your tasks at Carnegie Mellon. This is normal. The disconnected call this emotion. As a welcoming gift to our community, we are extending you a free semester of support for all those times when you need a little extra help turning off those troublesome sensations. We're here for you. We're watching out for you. You're one of us now, we're all friends. Take comfort in knowing everything's been thought of for you. We await you. Safe travels. Do you accept this token of our care?✝" [[Yes! Thank you so much]] [[Sure, begrudgingly|Yes! Thank you so much]] [[How do I turn this thing off?|This is sick]] ✝After the first semester, you will be able to renew this service for one quart/month.

In the heart of every house there is a home. At the center of each home, there is a chamber. When you achieved adulthood, you were offered, for the first time, the opportunity to transfigure yourself. To live inside another identity. In fact, you just chose your first identity a month ago. Now you may choose your next. Determine your identity. [[I shall be Retin|Retrieval][$c1 to "Retin"]] [[I shall be Sara|Retrieval][$c1 to "Sara"]] [[I shall be Mona|Retrieval][$c1 to "Mona"]]

Your hand shakes as you select the amulet around your neck to be hold by your hand. You unscrew the organ held within its sterile casing and place it firmly into the metal receptacle. A small gap opens in the machine and, with a hushed gust, liquid nitrogen envelopes it as it retreats into the center cylinder. After a moment, a small arm slowly protrudes from the cylinder. Its hand unfolds to reveal a small pedestal engraved "$c1". You gently lift its contents, screwing the eye into the collar around your neck. As you cross the threshold, leaving the chamber, your thoughts, memories, feelings, they are $c1's. You are $c1. [[Take the step|One Week Left]]

"Welcome. Safe travels." The figure flickers then recedes into the envelope. Then the envelope catches on fire, for extra effect. To be more precise, it catches on fire 2.0, leaving no ash because matter in fact can be destroyed. You feel... you feel safe. That is all. It's time to leave for the airport now. You don't even have to pack. You're taken care of. [[Great! I love flying. Let's go]] [[I'll be right back, I have to say goodbye to Dad]]

You arrive at Orientation. You wait in line for a while. When you get to the front, a staff member greats you and installs an upgrade to the choker around your neck. In just a few seconds, you've absorbed a week's worth of welcome material. [[Go to your dorm]] [[Get a head start on studying]] [[It's party time]]

Come on! Time waits for no one. When you get to school you must remember this. They'll know every time you're late. [[Ok ok, I'm ready. Let's go!|Great! I love flying. Let's go]]

You hangout for a while in your dorm. You set-up decorations, finish unpacking your memories, and spend a great deal of time staring at the back of your HD eyelids. You get a notification. [[Open it]] [[Nah]]

You head to the library. It's never too early to get a headstart. [[Spend the night studying]]

You go back to your dorm, check things out, then hang out in the hallway. You start chatting with Brad and Charlotte. Brad got invited to a party that evening and says he can bring two friends. Looks like you're in. [[Bottoms up]] [[Should be fun]]

@@.notif; You haven't been hanging out with anyone. Do you want us to find someone for you to chill with? @@ [[Yeah]] [[Maybe next time]]

You get back to watching the film in your eyelids. You hear your roommate come in. You keep watching. They say hello. You raise your hand to wave. [[You fall asleep|Maybe next time]]

Roger is also looking for a friend. Meet him by the fence. He's wearing a red shirt, black glasses, and feeling a little tired. [[Let's go]] [[Hold on, I want to change first]]

You've been laying in your bed for a while. You're starting to get pretty bored. In fact, you soon realize that the entire day has past and it's midnight. You go to the bathroom (those awful communal bathrooms on each floor of the dorms where you kind of know people so you say hi but it's also a bathroom so it's a bit awkward). You brought a basket of toiletries, which you successively apply to your face. As you brush your teeth, wash your face, and count the papules on your face, unbeknownst to you, your experiences of the day are being offloaded through the mirror. In fact, the mirrors around you reflect what the eye in your amulet has seen into the common brain. You can't quiet describe it. But you feel very //seen//. <hr/> [[Try a different path|Great! I love flying. Let's go]]

When you get to the fence, the amulet around your neck buzzes to steer you towards Roger. An image of his face surfaces in your memory, as if you've always known him. In fact, you start to remember you have a long history together. You rush up to him and give him a great hug. He greets you as a long last friend. <hr/> [[Try a different path|Great! I love flying. Let's go]]

You're meeting Roger for the first time. The short time it took you to accept the meeting, your body posture, and your heart rate indicate you want this to go well. To help you make a good first impression, we've selected three garments that match you tastes and will improve your apperance factor. [[I like the red one|Let's go]] [[Hmm, the purple blouse is pretty hip|Let's go]] [[I'll just stick with what I have on|Let's go]]

Many hours later, you're not quite sure how got back to your dorm. You can't remember much of your night. But you had fun. [[Time to go to sleep]]

You meet up with Brad and Charlotte later that evening. You talk about the notification you all received that suggested you be careful at your first college party. Brad and Charlotte are old pros. Brad started drinking when he was 13, Charlotte at 11. You get to the party, everyone else is drinking. You might as well? [[Take your first sip|Bottoms up]]

When you wake-up you're alerted to a new mandatory event on your agenda. You have an alcohol awareness training upload scheduled for 11 am. ... How did they know? <hr/> [[Try a different path|Great! I love flying. Let's go]]

Halfway through the night, you feel a bit depressed. Why can't you be out there with everyone else having fun? School hasn't even started yet. You head back to your dorm. [[Time for bed]]

The next morning you're added to a campus watchlist for potentially ill students. <hr/> [[Try a different path|Great! I love flying. Let's go]]