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<<set $performance = 0>>
<<set $money = 0>>
<<set $clementines = 0>>
The sun is bright and the air is crisp. Drums and cymbals crash in time around you, echoing through the streets. The crowd cheers for three [[lions|Lions]] as they do bows and tricks for the opening ceremony.
The rhythm changes. <div class="hidden">You hand your cymbals to a teammate.</div>
Hands push you forward. What do you do?
<<audio bgm play>>
[[Hesitate.|Delayed start]]
[["Go!"|Dance start]]<<set $performance -= 1>>
You and your dance partner nod at each other, then run towards [[Fluffy]]. Whoever's in the back keeps flicking the tail; honestly, it's pretty cute. Out of the corner of your eye, you spot the other two sets of dancers head to [[Charlie]] and [[Ugly]].
<<linkreplace "Focus!">>Focus!
Right.
You tap the other dancer on the <<linkreplace "shoulder.">>shoulder. She ducks out from under the lion head as you slide in to take her position. Behind you, your partner replaces the guy in the tail.
[[Continue.|In the head]]
<</linkreplace>><</linkreplace>>
<<set $performance -= 2>>
You stall, confused. What's happening? What are you supposed to <<linkreplace "do?">>do?
Your other teammates gesture furiously at you. "Get into the lion!"
Your dance partner pulls you towards [[Fluffy]]. Two other sets of dancers run to [[Charlie]] and [[Ugly]].
Heart racing, you tap the other dancer on the <<linkreplace "shoulder.">>shoulder. She ducks out from under the lion head as you slide in to take her position. Behind you, your partner replaces the guy in the tail.
[[Continue.|In the head]]
<</linkreplace>>
<</linkreplace>>
<img src="assets/images/all_three.png" alt="an image of three lion dance costumes" />
These are your team's pride and joy: [[Fluffy]], [[Charlie]], and [[Ugly]].
<<back>><<set $performance += 4>>
Let's be a little fancy! You step in time to the rhythm, raising and shaking the head a few times before going low and sweeping back and forth. When you lunge forward at the end, a small child starts sobbing hysterically.
Good job!
[[Terrorize– uh, entertain some more kids.|The kid]]
[[Mosey over to the adults holding out red envelopes.|The adults]]<<set $performance += 1>>
You swing your upper body and stomp a foot as if the lion is tossing its head. One brave little kid runs over and holds out a <<linkreplace "lucky envelope.">><<set $money to $money + 1>>lucky envelope. You lunge forward, the massive lion head nearly bowling him over, and close the mouth flap over his hand. He screams like he's actually being eaten.
You take the envelope and put it in your shirt.<</linkreplace>>
Another little kid starts shrieking nearby.
[[Terrorize- uh, entertain some more kids.|The kid]]
[[Mosey over to the adults holding out red envelopes.|The adults]]<<set $performance += 3>>
You head deeper into the crowd, ducking low to greet kids here and there. They shriek in delight when you sink to your knees as if the lion is lying down. Tiny hands poke into <<linkreplace "its open mouth.">>its open mouth, their hands clutching paper money and red envelopes.
<<linkreplace "You take the money.">><<set $money += 2>>You take the money in one hand and stuff it into your shirt. With your shoulders and other hand, you bob the head up and down like it's swallowing the offerings.
Earnings secured, you leap to your feet.
<</linkreplace>>
<</linkreplace>>
[[Do a jump!]]
[[Keep walking.]]<<set $performance += 1>>
<<set $money += 4>>
A middle-aged man lifts a young girl to eye level. In slides a red envelope.
As you weave through the crowd, more people offer money and the occasional cabbage leaf.
Someone sticks half a bag of clementines through the mouth and into your face. <<linkreplace "You just roll with it.">>You just roll with it, stamping a foot like the lion is pawing at the ground. One hand supports the head, the other somehow fumbling around until the clementines drop into your shirt.
<<set $money += 6>><<set $fruit += 4>>
You get a lot of laughter and stacks of lucky packets for your efforts.
<</linkreplace>>
[[Bow.]]
<<audio bgm stop>>
<<set $money = $money * 20>>
<span id="score">Score: <<print $performance>></span>
You made $<<print $money>> today. <<if $fruit > 0>>As an added bonus, you even get to share some clementines with your friends!<</if>>
<<if $performance >= 5>>You did great! Your team is <em>so</em> proud of you guys.<<elseif $performance >=0>>It wasn't the <em>best</em> you could've done but you tried and that's what matters.<<else>>You'll have to practice a lot more before you can perform again.<</if>>
[[Restart.|Start]] <<set $performance +=4>>
You jump into the bowing position with one leg before you and one extended behind, bringing the head back, up, and down in a smooth motion. Over the din of the music, you hear noises of approval.
[[Continue.|Close out]]<h1>Lion Dance Simulator</h1>
<h4>A game by Ares Do</h4>
Warning: This game contains loud, sudden noises. You may want to turn down your volume.
[[Continue|Start]] It's dark in here and more than a little sweaty. You feel your dance partner's hand settle on your hip– she's ready to move whenever you are. Your heart pounds as you look through the open mouth. It feels like <em>everyone</em> is looking at you.
You're in the spotlight now– it's time to fucking PARTY, babes!
[[Seven-star!]]
[[Shake the head around!]]
[[What's happening?!]]<<cacheaudio "bgm" "assets/audio/tib.mp3">>
<h1>Fluffy</h1>
<img src="assets/images/fluffy.png" alt="an image of a red and yellow lion head" />
It’s red and has yellow fur. You still haven’t figured out if it was originally that color or if it’s just dirty, and at this point you’re too afraid to ask. The string that makes the eyes blink when you pull is oddly short and you’re not really sure why. One of the joints on the mouth flap broke a few months back. If you don't look closely, it's still pretty cute.
<<back>><h1>Charlie</h1>
<img src="assets/images/charlie.png" alt="an image of a yellow and black lion head" />
Your team just got the head this year. It’s yellow, has black fur, and its eyes light up rave-style when you flip the switch inside. Honestly, you think it’s the coolest motherfucker you’ve got. Too bad it’s kid-sized. Only the ten-year-olds get to perform in it.
<<back>><h1>Ugly</h1>
<img src="assets/images/ugly.png" alt="an image of a red and white lion head" />
God. THIS bitch….. This unfortunate bitch. It’s so ugly. It’s red, covered in patchy sequins, and instead of fur it has silver and green tinsel like some kind of incredibly fucked-up Christmas tree. On the bright side, it’s in working condition, which is probably why it hasn’t been retired yet.
Some of your friends insist on renaming it Lucky. The older members, who named it and have been dancing in it for at <em>least</em> a decade, disagree. <strong>Strongly.</strong>
<<back>><<set $performance -= 2>>
You stall. Your dance partner slaps your ass to snap you out of it.
The crowd watches. You're sweating buckets. You feel a little bad for your tail, who's bent in half behind you and is probably suffering.
[[Entertain some kids.|The kid]]
[[Mosey over to the adults holding out red envelopes.|The adults]]<<set $performance -= 1>>
<<set $money -= 3>>
Your partner taps your side twice, letting you know she's ready if you want to <<linkreplace "jump.">>jump. The laughing Buddha actor clears the area around you.
<<linkreplace "You bend your knees.">>You bend your knees.
<<linkreplace "You take a deep breath.">>You take a deep breath.
<<linkreplace "You jump...">>You jump...
...and you fall hard on your ass. Some money falls out of your shirt. <em>Ow.</em>
Luckily, the only thing you actually hurt was your pride. The kids are laughing at you. You (don't) get points for trying.
[[Continue|Close out]]
<</linkreplace>><</linkreplace>><</linkreplace>><</linkreplace>><<set $money += 2>>
<<set $performance += 1>>
You decide you're not ready for jumping onto your partner's thighs today. Instead, you continue pushing through the sea of people, collecting all kinds of offerings on the way.
You make three more kids cry. <<linkreplace "Life is good.">>Life is good... until you feel your partner fall flat on her ass. You join her on the ground, holding the eyes shut and playing it off like the lion is napping.
(Later, you'll find that someone tried to put an eight-year-old on your poor, unsuspecting partner's back, which sent you both crashing to the ground.)<</linkreplace>>
[[Continue|Close out]] Exhausted, you make your way back to the instruments. You see the other two [[lions|Lions]] hot on your heels. As you do vaguely lionlike motions, you feel <<linkreplace "someone tap your shoulder.">>someone tap your shoulder.
It's the third and last set of dancers, here to replace you! You hand her the head and duck out. Behind you, your partner does the same with the tail player. Together you <<linkreplace "run back towards the drum and gong.">>run back towards the drum and gong.
The rest of the ceremony passes in a <<linkreplace "blur.">>blur. The lions do their last tricks and bows, then trot away to the beating drum. For better or for worse, it's finally [[over.|End]]
<</linkreplace>><</linkreplace>><</linkreplace>>