These Are the Parts They Gave You

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Your parents didn't know
what kind of person you would be
so they did their best
when picking your parts

Your parents didn't know what kind of person you would be so they did their best when picking [[your parts]] <<set $parts_descriptors = ["strong", "quick", "wild", "empathetic", "wise", "based", "rigorous", "transcendental", "cute", "graceful", "lanky", "moonlit", "considerate", "caring", "daring", "plentiful", "gnarly", "sick", "ephemeral", "boring", "regular", "cantankerous", "spritely", "feverish", "foggy", "sun-drenched", "ergonomic", "dandy", "romantic", "rowdy"] >> <<set $left_arm = Array.random($parts_descriptors)>> <<set $right_arm = Array.random($parts_descriptors)>> <<set $left_leg = Array.random($parts_descriptors)>> <<set $right_leg = Array.random($parts_descriptors)>>

these are the body parts your parents gave you: a <<print $left_arm >> left arm a <<print $right_arm >> right arm a <<print $left_leg >> left leg a <<print $right_leg >> right leg [[onwards->a passage]]

You consider yourself pretty lucky your parents are (seemingly) fine with you replacing the parts they gave you Some of your friends' parents aren't as cool with part swapping Some of them hold [[very strong opinions->Scene 1]] <<display "FOOTER">>

You were jealous of those kids who had parents that would let them swap before [[the usual age]] It was very fashionable in school (you never considered yourself fashionable) "Just [[try to be comfortable]] with the body parts you have now" your parents would say <<display "FOOTER">>

Pundits have always argued about what age is too young for a person to decide to [[swap parts->Scene 2]]. <<display "FOOTER">>

When you were older (but not as old as you are now) Your reasons for wanting to swap body parts changed No longer concerned about being fashionable There seemed to be an increase in the moments where you just felt [[uncomfortable]] in the parts your parents gave you. <<display "FOOTER">>

You felt... (even now you struggle to express it) [[guilty?]] [[weird?]] [[ashamed?]] Maybe some combination of all of these feelings or maybe none of these [[feelings->Scene 3]]? <<display "FOOTER">> <<set $part_to_swap = Array.random(["left arm", "right arm", "left leg", "right leg"]) >> <<set $stranger_desc = Array.random($parts_descriptors)>> <<set $temp_desc = "" >> <<if $part_to_swap eq "left arm">> <<set $temp_desc = $left_arm>> <<elseif $part_to_swap eq "right arm">> <<set $temp_desc = $right_arm>> <<elseif $part_to_swap eq "left leg">> <<set $temp_desc = $left_leg>> <<else>> <<set $temp_desc = $right_leg>> <</if>>

Most people your age are okay with swapping [[a lot->alot]] (swapping only a [[few times]] is pretty cool too) A stranger who you might describe as <<print Array.random($parts_descriptors) >> approaches you "Wow your <<print $temp_desc + " " + $part_to_swap>> is so cool... Can I try it on?" You note their <<print $stranger_desc + " " + $part_to_swap>> [[yes->Swap Room]] [[no->don't swap]] <<display "FOOTER">>

There haven't been any deaths related to part swapping in centuries So swapping is a relatively safe activity Everyone has their own reasons for swapping: "I like how it looks" "They offered me a lot of money" "It didn't feel right" "I wanted to be a better [[game developer->Scene 3]]" <<display "FOOTER">>

Sometimes you find that part that just 'clicks' and everything feels right Some people say they feel that way about all of their body You suspect they're lying but you admit that sort of feeling would be [[nice->Scene 3]] <<display "FOOTER">>

You had been steady swap partners with them for a while [[now]] <<display "FOOTER">> <<set $temp_desc2 = $stranger_desc >> <<if $part_to_swap eq "left arm">> <<set $left_arm = $stranger_desc>> <<elseif $part_to_swap eq "right arm">> <<set $right_arm = $stranger_desc>> <<elseif $part_to_swap eq "left leg">> <<set $left_leg = $stranger_desc>> <<else>> <<set $right_leg = $stranger_desc>> <</if>>

I'm sorry it's just your <<print $temp_desc + " " + $part_to_swap>> feels more comfortable [[than we ever did->now]] <<display "FOOTER">>

The stranger's <<print $temp_desc_2 + " " + $part_to_swap>> feels different "Wow this feels really good" the serene look on their face tells you they aren't lying "Wanna swap for keeps?" they ask [[yes->swap for keeps]] [[no->don't swap for keeps]] <<display "FOOTER">>

these are your body parts: a <<print $left_arm >> left arm a <<print $right_arm >> right arm a <<print $left_leg >> left leg a <<print $right_leg >> right leg

You saved up enough money to buy your first body part You take a while to consider what part you will replace: your [[left arm]] your [[right arm]] your [[left leg]] your [[right leg]] [[nothing]] <<display "FOOTER">>

<<set $purchase = Array.random($parts_descriptors)>> <<set $part to "left arm">> You see a <<print $purchase>> left arm is this what you want? [[yes->buy part]] [[no->left arm]] <<display "FOOTER">>

<<set $purchase = Array.random($parts_descriptors)>> <<set $part to "right arm">> You see a <<print $purchase>> right arm is this what you want? [[yes->buy part]] [[no->right arm]] <<display "FOOTER">>

<<set $purchase = Array.random($parts_descriptors)>> <<set $part to "left leg">> You see a <<print $purchase>> left leg is this what you want? [[yes->buy part]] [[no->left leg]] <<display "FOOTER">>

<<set $purchase = Array.random($parts_descriptors)>> <<set $part to "right leg">> You see a <<print $purchase>> right leg is this what you want? [[yes->buy part]] [[no->right leg]] <<display "FOOTER">>

For reasons only you know you decide not to buy a new body part [[Nifty->Scene 2]] <<display "FOOTER">>

<<if $part eq "left arm">> <<set $left_arm = $purchase>> <<elseif $part eq "right arm">> <<set $right_arm = $purchase>> <<elseif $part eq "left leg">> <<set $left_leg = $purchase>> <<else>> <<set $right_leg = $purchase>> <</if>> You try on the new <<print $purchase + " " + $part>>. [[Nifty->Scene 2]]

You're constantly reminding yourself that your parents did their best picking your parts with very little knowledge about [[what you would be->uncomfortable]]. <<display "FOOTER">>

"Why can't I just be comfortable?" Was the question you asked yourself growing up and try not to ask yourself now that you're supposed to be a confident assertive [[adult->uncomfortable]]. <<display "FOOTER">>

Though you don't remember anyone ever explicitly saying anything you got the feeling that certain parts were for certain people You got these feelings from your parents friends coworkers "Am I allowed to want those [[parts->uncomfortable]]?" <<display "FOOTER">>

They thank you profusely They seem very [[delighted->Scene 5]] <<display "FOOTER">>

"Aw okay" they seem disappointed To your relief they don't [[push the issue->Scene 5]] <<display "FOOTER">> <<if $part eq "left arm">> <<set $left_arm = $stranger_desc>> <<elseif $part eq "right arm">> <<set $right_arm = $stranger_desc>> <<elseif $part eq "left leg">> <<set $left_leg = $stranger_desc>> <<else>> <<set $right_leg = $stranger_desc>> <</if>>

You had a dream once (maybe a nightmare) Where your body felt so overwhelmingly wrong That you let your body fall apart and never before had you felt such satisfaction You never told anyone about this [[dream]] <<display "FOOTER">> <<set $part_to_swap = Array.random(["left arm", "right arm", "left leg", "right leg"]) >> <<set $stranger_desc = Array.random($parts_descriptors)>> <<set $temp_desc = "" >> <<if $part_to_swap eq "left arm">> <<set $temp_desc = $left_arm>> <<elseif $part_to_swap eq "right arm">> <<set $temp_desc = $right_arm>> <<elseif $part_to_swap eq "left leg">> <<set $temp_desc = $left_leg>> <<else>> <<set $temp_desc = $right_leg>> <</if>>

After that dream you would find yourself idly imagining what it would feel like to let your body [[fall apart]] <<display "FOOTER">>

Standing there you touch their <<print $stranger_desc + " " + $part_to_swap>> now your <<print $stranger_desc + " " + $part_to_swap>> Sometimes you wish you could change your feelings as easily as you change your body parts end. <<display "FOOTER">>

Swapping body parts in public is kinda scandalous The stranger motions to a nearby alley but it seems undignified Instead they pay the deposit for a changing room The two of you cram in there and you [[shut the door->yes]] <<set $temp_desc_2 = $stranger_desc >> <<if $part_to_swap eq "left arm">> <<set $left_arm = $stranger_desc>> <<elseif $part_to_swap eq "right arm">> <<set $right_arm = $stranger_desc>> <<elseif $part_to_swap eq "left leg">> <<set $left_leg = $stranger_desc>> <<else>> <<set $right_leg = $stranger_desc>> <</if>> <<set $stranger_desc to $temp_desc>> <<display "FOOTER">>

You got home from work one day to find a note taped to the door where you two lived You didn't [[read the note]] until after you opened the door you turned on the lights you noticed that all of their stuff was missing from the living room Everything except their <<print $stranger_desc + " " + $part_to_swap>> you two swapped this morning before you left for [[work]] <<display "FOOTER">>

Falling apart meant you would have to rely on someone else to put you back together Someone like that would have to be pretty special for you to [[trust them->Scene 4]] <<display "FOOTER">>

"Aw okay" they seem disappointed To your relief they don't [[push the issue->Scene 5]] <<display "FOOTER">>