<<if ($flower and $mirror)>>OK, then, that's it for necessities. Should you [[put your jacket on before going out|StartJacket]], or [[head to the park without it|StartNoJacket]]?\n<<endif>>

"Uh, we, uh, can't exactly throw fireballs here?" you say.\n\n"Uh ..." The fox panics. "Look, each of you just take one of my necklaces."\n\n"What's that gonna do, //glitter// it to death?" says Li.\n\n"Something like that! Hurry!" says the fox.\n\n"What?" you say.\n\n<<display "Insider Stuff">> "Look, just take the <<display Interrupt4>>

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"Hope you weren't waiting long."\n\nShe gestures vaguely. "Naw, I snuck out early while my parents were having one of their play-fights."\n\nYou tilt your head, grinning. "That bad, huh?"\n\nLi shrugs, grinning back. "Well, she was laughing her ass off because he was doing his whole 'Xiùlán, //why//-a you do that thing-a!' in his stupid terrible Italian accent, and making a mess of her name, so I just //had// to escape."\n\nYou chuckle. "Uh ... sorta like 'Sheeo lawn', right?"\n\nLi nods. "Yeah," she says. (Her mother was named Hong Xiùlán before she immigrated to America, and changed her name to Shirley Hong because nobody could pronounce "Xiùlán" properly. You used to worry about accidentally offending Li by pronouncing Chinese words and names wrong, but you're close enough that this is no longer a problem.)\n\n[[But before anything else happens ...|Give Gift]]

<<display Attacknames>> swiftly perform an acrobatic series of spins around the Insider, firing lasers whenever you can, in your ''Acrobatic Pirouette'' attack! <<display Fight3Damage>>

<<display Attacknames>> start firing as many shots as you can, in your ''Gatling Magic'' attack! <<display Fight3Damage>>

You and Li <<if $pul is 0>>instinctively <<endif>>high-five each other and take a bow, swinging your wands forward and firing huge pink and yellow lasers at the Insider!\n* ''Love Points'' increased by 5%!<<set $LP = $LP + 5>><<set $pul = $pul + 1>>\n<<display Fight3Damage>>

You put on your jacket, a light blue windbreaker; if it gets to be too warm, you can always take it off. <<set $jacket = true>><<display "Start Park">>

The Insider manages to right himself in midair, and he roars as he starts hovering about ten feet above you! WHOOPS, NEVER MIND!\n* [[Justice|Fight3j][$jusL = true]]\n* [[Pulchritude|Fight3p][$pulL = true]]\n* [[Dance|Fight3d][$danL = true]]

The rainbow light fades, and the two of you find yourself standing in front of the Insider. Your skin is back to normal, at least. Daffodils and chrysanthemums seem to have sprouted from the field for fifty feet around the two of you &mdash; even on part of the football field. Which doesn't make sense, but //since when did any of this make sense, oh god you find a catchphrase starting to rise up in your throat//\n* "[[The warrior of love and ...|Transform2a]]"\n* [[NO! Fight it!|Transform2b]]

"Yeah, no, like hell I'm saying some dumbass anime catchphrase," you say.\n\n"Y-yeah, ahah, there are //much// better ways to be anime than babbling about love and justice," says Li.\n\n"What the actual this how happened," says the Insider, who's even more dumbstruck than you and Li.\n\nLi steps forward, and gestures threateningly with her magic wand, which wasn't a sentence you were expecting to encounter today. "So, I dunno what the hell is going on here, but you //did// just threaten my girlfriend."\n\n"Yeah," you say, stepping forward. "You also threatened //my// girlfriend."\n\nLi poses with her wand. "I think it's time to //kick the Insider out!"//\n\nYou raise your wand as well. "[[Let's rock!|Fight1]]"

You're both engulfed in a rainbow-colored column of light. You can see yourself and Li as indistinct humanoid shapes, seemingly made out of dark blue-green glass.\n\nRibbons of yellow light swirl around you, as pink light swirls around Li. An elaborate daffodil-yellow dress with orange highlights appears on your body, with poofy sleeves and an even poofier skirt. A pair of biking shorts materialize underneath it. Yellow silken gloves appear on your hands, and lace themselves up to your elbows with an orange ribbon. Yellow stockings grow on your legs, running up to your thighs inside the skirt, and orange slippres appear on your feet. An orange heart-shaped brooch appears on your chest, and six petals made of yellow silk grow out around it. Something attaches itself to your ears, and somehow you know it's a pair of daffodil earrings. A yellow and orange wand appears in your hand, with a daffodil-blossom on its tip.\n\nYou see that a similar dress has been growing on Li at the same time, and that hers dress is white with pink highlights. Instead of six petals, dozens of long and slender white petals with pink highlights grow out of her pink brooch, like a chrysanthemum. She has chrysanthemum earrings and a chrysanthemum wand, too.\n\nYou don't know what's going on, who this "Insider" guy is, or how this is happening. But you do know one thing for sure.\n\nYou, Amity Watkins, are now Bloom Warrior Daffodil.\n\nLi Anderson is now Bloom Warrior Chrysanthemum.\n\n[[Together, you are the Magical Bouquet.|Transform2]]

Amity x Li

"The warrior ... of ... oh god I can't say this," you say.\n\nLi blinks and shakes her head. "Wh ... //what//?"\n\n<<display Transform3>>

You successfully refrain from saying the catchphrase!\n\nLi isn't quite as lucky. "Th ... the ... w-warrior ... huh?"\n\n<<display Transform3>>

"//Checkmate//," you say.\n\n"D'oh," says Li. "Wow, that was getting tense."\n\n"Yeah, it was, huh?" you say.\n\nLi says, <<display "MC Win">>

"//Checkmate//," you say.\n\nLi whistles. "Wow. That was //really// tense," she says. "I was actually going to say 'checkmate' on my next turn no matter what."\n\nYou giggle. "Lucky me, huh?"\n\n"Yeah, lucky you," she says. <<display "MC Win">>

<<display Attacknames>> turn almost horizontal, one leg pointed straight "down" and the other pointed backward, twirling around and firing lasers whenever they happen to be pointed at the Insider in your ''Sideways Arabesque'' attack! He lets out a series of yelps as each one strikes true!<<set $dan = $dan + 1>><<display Fight2Damage>>

<<display Attacknames>> hold your wands at the ready.\n\n"I think we should make an exception<<if $attacknames == 1>>, though<<else>> on the attack-names thing<<endif>>," says Li.\n\nYou shoot her a grin grin. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"\n\n"Oh yeah," she says.\n* ''Love Points'' increased by 10%! <<set $LP = $LP + 10>>\n"DEATH FROM ABOVE!" you both call out, firing a massive barrage of lasers from your wands that pummel at the Insider! (The name of the attack is ''Death From Above''.)<<set $jus = $jus + 1>><<display Fight2Damage>>

You and Li <<if $pul is 0>>instinctively <<endif>>float together for a stylish back-to-back pose, twirling your wands around in your hands, before firing giant pink-and-ylelow orbs of light directly at the Insider, who screams as he gets hit!<<set $pul = $pul + 1>><<display Fight2Damage>>

On the dresser, there is a small elongated box containing a hand-made flower pendant. It actually looks rather gorgeous. It didn't come cheap, but you're pretty sure it'll be worth it. You ... //hope// it'll be worth it, anyway ...\n\nYou stop worrying, since there's really no point to it, and slip it into the backpack <<if not $startSP>>next to the Scott Pilgrim book<<else>>there<<endif>>.<<set $flower = true>>\n\n<<if not $startSP>>- [[Put away the Scott Pilgrim book.|StartSP]]\n<<endif>><<if not $mirror>>- [[Look over at the mirror.|StartMirror]]\n<<endif>><<display "Start Choices">>

You head out.\n\nIt's a bright sunny Saturday, less than a year after your friend helped you discover something about yourself which is quite extraordinary when you think of it now.\n\nIt was certainly unexpected. But now, here you are, heading east down the street to Foxville Memorial Park, which is just down the street from your house. Another girl is waiting there for you, and you now think of this as ... almost ordinary.\n\nYou find her sitting under a tree, just out of sight from the road. Li Anderson is a girl your age who looks partly Chinese, with raven-black hair in a bob cut, green eyes, and wearing a white headband, a conservative white blouse, and a dark blue skirt. She has a backpack of her own sitting next to her, and she's listlessly poring over a math textbook from your math class.\n\n- [[Call out to her.|Li Greet]]\n- [[Sit right next to her and kiss her cheek.|Li Kissgreet]]

<<display "Combat Noscript">><<display Attacknames>> raise your wands, gathering energy into them, and then fire pink and yellow lasers at the Insider, in your ''Charge Up And Then Shoot Lasers'' attack!\n\nThe Insider lets out a scream, shrinking away and ducking in a way that //just// manages to avoid your attacks.<<set $jus = 1>><<display Fight1Damage>>

<<display "Combat Noscript">><<display Attacknames>> each run forward in a synchronized leap, firing lasers from your wands in your ''Grand Jeté'' attack!\n\nThe Insider lets out a yelp as he furiously ducks and dodges and throws himself out of the way!<<set $dan = 1>><<display Fight1Damage>>

----\n''Bloom Daffodil'' //(Amity Watkins):// <<print $amPP>>/<<print $amPPMax>> Plot Armor, <<print $amHP>>/100 Health\n''Bloom Chrysanthemum'' //(Li Anderson):// <<print $liPP>>/<<print $liPPMax>> Plot Armor, <<print $liHP>>/100 Health\n//Love:// <<print $LP>>%\n''Insider Introboss:'' <<print $bossPP>>/<<print $bossPPMax>> Plot Armor, <<print $bossHP>>/<<print $bossHPMax>> Health\s\n<<set $jusL = false>><<set $pulL = false>><<set $danL = false>>

"Good game." When you play games, it's almost a ritual for the loser to say this. She's grinning, of course, even though she lost, because that's just how the two of you play games.\n\n"Yeah, it was," you say. <<set $mcWin = true>><<display "MC Shake">>

<<display "Combat Noscript">>You and Li instinctively strike a dramatic pose, wands pointed skyward, and then swing them downward to point at the Insider, firing out out a massive pink-and-yellow shockwave! The Insider lets out a shriek, throwing himself backward to avoid it!<<set $pul = $pul + 1>><<display Fight1Damage>>

"Got something for you," you say, pulling the box out of your backpack.\n\nLi brightens. "Wow, it's really pretty!" she says, giving you a sunny smile that would've melted your heart if it wasn't already thoroughly liquified. "Thanks, Amity!" She gives you a great big hug, which you eagerly return.\n\n"You're welcome," you say, feeling almost giddy. "Just thought it'd be a nice gift, y'know?"\n\n"Well, yeah!" says Li, kissing your cheek. She takes the pendant out of the box, and puts it on. "Thank you!"\n\n"It looks gorgeous on you," you say.\n\nLi grins. "Mm, thanks!"\n\nYours is the kind of relationship where you can just cuddle and kiss each other's cheeks for ten minutes straight and not get bored at all. Not that you couldn't do anything else, of course.\n\n- [[Play a game.|Mind Chess Start]]\n- [[Talk about family.|Talk Family]]\n- [[Geek talk.|Talk Geek]]\n- [[Sex.|No Sex]]<<set $dune = false>><<set $geeky = false>><<set $chess = false>><<set $family = false>>

<<if $pulL and $pul is 1>>Li frowns. "Wait, how was //that// such a powerful move? We weren't even putting that much into it."\n\nHana replies, ''Your attacks scale up with how much damage they'd conceptually do. The Insiders hate it when someone isn't paying attention to them, and they //really// hate it when someone looks cooler than them.''\n\nYou examine the fashion disaster that is the Insider's clothing. "They think looking cooler than them is //hard?"//\n\n"Hey!" says the Insider.\n\nHana sends out a telepathic chuckle. ''They are not remotely self-aware.''<<endif>>

<<if not $jacket>>You sit back and relax. "Hm ... starting to get chilly," you murmur.\n\n"You should've worn your jacket," says Li.\n\n"Yeah, yeah ..."\n\n<<endif>>Before you can say or do another thing, though, you're suddenly [[interrupted|Interrupt2]].

It takes you a full minute of running to reach the school area.<<if $jacket>> You take off your jacket and tie it around your waist by the sleeves as you run, because you're starting to work up a sweat.<<endif>> The football field is to your left.\n\n''AUGH! Okay, I can ... Okay, I can see you now, uh ...''\n\n"Over there!" says Li, pointing. You can see what looks like a guy in some kind of rubber monster costume, running through the field. He's mostly green, with a fish-like head; over the costume, he's wearing a tuxedo jacket, a pair of tan cargo-shorts, and a jewelled crown. He appears to be chasing after a silver-furred fox wearing a bunch of necklaces.\n\n"You cannot run and or you can but hide!" the guy is saying, flailing his arms around. "Insider will stop and end and catch you!"\n\n"What the hell," you say.\n\nYou both stop short when he throws a fireball at the fox, which dodges out of the way at the last second. There's a fair-sized explosion.\n\n"WHAT THE HELL!" you add.\n\nThe monster-guy stops when he sees you and Li, and watches you a moment, waiting. The fox makes a beeline over to the two of you. "Uh, hi," it says, with the voice you'd heard before, "could you kick this guy's ass for me?"\n\n"You're talking!" gapes Li.\n\n"And I'm also running from a guy who wants to //kill me!"// snaps the fox.\n\n- "[[We can't exactly throw fireballs.|Interrupt3what]]"\n- "[[Who's this douchebag?|Interrupt3who]]"

''Hey! Over here!''\n\nYou blink and look over to Li, who looks at you with equal confusion. "Did you just hear ...?" she says.\n\nThe girl's voice continues: ''I know there's at least two of you in range, sitting right next to each other! Let me spell it out for you: HELP! I'm in the baseball field, in the park by the high school!''\n\nThe two of you get up, grab your backpacks, and break into a run, stopping a split second later when you realize that you and Li are running in opposite directions.\n\nThe street runs partly into the park from the west, and there's a wide open field containing two baseball diamonds and what looks like a faded soccer field. To the south, there's a bunch of different schools jammed together in close proximity, with a football field and another baseball field bordering the park.\n\n''Okay, //now// I'm heading for the football field! SOME HELP WOULD BE NICE!!''\n\nYou and Li both start running [[south|Interrupt3]].

"Wanna play Mind Chess?" you say, after a moment of silence. Mind Chess is a game where you and your opponent take turns saying "Check." The winner is the one who says "Checkmate." The goal is to keep the game running as long as possible, and still win.\n\nLi grins. "You're on! //Check//."\n\n- [["Check."|MC Check1]]\n

damn necklaces!" the fox snaps. "Uh, hi, my name's Hana, just take them, and then squeeze the gemstone!"\n\n"I CRUSH!" says the Insider, stalking towards you. "First I break you, then rub this town, then this whole WORLD! I, Insider Introboss, will //strike out!"//\n\nYou grab a necklace with a yellowish gem hanging from it; Li grabs one with a pink gem.\n\n[[You and Li each squeeze your gemstones at once.|Transform1]]

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"//Check//," you say. You're almost sweating now. Well, okay, you totally aren't, <<if $jacket>>even with your<<else>>especially in the cool weather without a<<endif>> jacket, but still.\n\n- [[Li's turn.|MC Next11]]\n

"//Check//," you say. Once again, you feel the tension starting to mount.\n\nLi seems to be of the same mind.\n\n- [[Li's turn.|MC Next10]]

"//Check//," you say.\n\nLi promptly says, "//Checkmate//."\n\n"D'oh," you say, giggling. "Wow, that was //really// tense."\n\nLi giggles back. "Yeah," she says.\n\n<<display "MC Lose">>

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You then shake hands, and sit back.<<set $chess = true>>\n<<if $family or $geeky>>\n<<display "Interrupt1">>\n<<else>>\n- [[Talk family.|Talk Family]]\n- [[Talk geekily.|Talk Geek]]?\n<<endif>>

"I'm also caught up on Sailor Moon Crystal," says Li. "Just watched the fifth episode this morning."\n\n"Oh, that's cool," you say.\n\n"Usagi is adorable and the dorkiest dork who ever dorked while using 'dork' as every part of speech," says Li. "Kind of ... boy-crazy, but I don't mind as much because the other girls are different." She shrugs. "Also, I'm not sure how //freaking obvious// it's supposed to be that Tuxedo Mask is the secret identity of that Chiba Mamoru guy Usagi keeps running into."\n\nYou nod. "Yeah, let's just say, you know those character-profiles Luna was making that showed up at the beginning of episode 4? In the manga, they just said 'Chiba Mamoru, Tuxedo Mask.'"\n\n"Aha," says Li. "I'm still not sure what his deal is, anyway ..."\n\n"A weird version of a mentor figure for Sailor Moon, I guess," you say. "And also her romance option. It'll be explained eventually."\n\nLi sighs theatrically. "I'm going to have to snag your copies of the comics at some point, aren't I."\n\n"Or just read 'em online," you say.\n\n"Whichever," Li agrees.<<set $geeky = true>>\n<<if $chess or $family>>\n<<display "Interrupt1">>\n<<else>>\nYou relax a bit. What other subjects to broach ... \n\n- [[Play a game.|Mind Chess Start]]\n- [[Talk about family.|Talk Family]]\n<<endif>>

"Still making my way through //Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together//," she says.\n\n"Ah, yeah," you say. "How're you liking it?"\n\nShe gestures vaguely. "I'm not really liking it, to be honest. It's ... really not that great with the gay women. I mean, yeah, <<if $startSP>>Roxie Richter was cool<<else>>it's kinda cool that one of Ramona's exes was an ex-//girlfriend//<<endif>>, but the way Scott called it a 'sexy phase', and, y'know ..."\n\nYou consider this. "Ah, yeah, I can see that," you say. "Yeah, I had to drag myself through that part, too, now that you mention it."\n\n"Still //way// better than the movie, though," she adds.\n\n"Undebatable!" you say. "That was just full-on 'fanservice for the straight guys.' And it did the 'man makes the lesbian straight' thing."\n\n"Ugh, tell me about it," says Li. "She was practically orgasming when he won." She grins. "I think the thing with the L-word had better timing, though."\n\n"'Lesbian?'" you say<<if not $startSP>>, quoting a line from both the comic and the movie in which Scott fails to recognize that the word "love" is under discussion<<endif>>.\n\nLi grins. "'No, the //other// L-word,'" she says.\n\nYou quote a later part of the comic<<if $startSP>> instead of the movie<<endif>>. "'L is for ... //Lisa//!'" you say. "Or ... y'know, in this case, 'Li.'"\n\nShe giggles. "One thing is definitely sure, Amity: I am in lesbians with you." Which is basically //best// line from the movie that wasn't in the comics.\n\nYou giggle as well. "I lesbians you too, Li," you say, and give her [[another kiss|Talk Geek 3]].

"C'mon, Li, do it seriously," you say.\n\nLi frowns. "Seriously?" she says ...\n\n... and then giggles when she sees the twinkle in your eye.\n\n"//Check//," you say, grinning wide.\n\n"//Check//," she agrees.\n\n- [["Check."|MC Check5]]

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"Oh yeah?" you say. "If you're falling for it that easy, I won't have any trouble beating you at all! //Check!//"\n\nLi giggles. "<<if $geeky>>Plans within plans ... wheels within wheels ... the same person with multiple identities which are enemies of each other ...<<else>>My gambit's just getting started!<<endif>>" she says. "//Check.//"\n\n- [["Check."|MC Check5]]

You and Li slip to the side, and the Insider lets out a yelp as his sword passes between you. Then he uses his Desperation Attack, ''Evol Fo Rewop''!\n\nHe withdraws his sword, and it transforms into a bouquet of roses, which he holds out to Li. "Will you go date out with me?" Even from here, you can see that it's full of blades.\n*[[Deflect his attack|Fight4b]]

Li kisses you deeply on the lips. A part of you isn't sure what the point of doing this //right now// is, but you wrap her arms around her and squeeze her close. //God// you love Li. The feeling of her arms around you, and your lips against hers, is just the best thing in the world as far as you're concerned. There's soon lots of tongue.\n\nYou actually manage to forget about the Insider for <<print 1/65536>> seconds.\n*''Insider Introboss'''s Plot Armor failed to protect him! ''Insider Introboss'' loses 4294967296 health!<<set $bossHP = $bossHP - 4294967296>>\n<<display "Combat Data">>\n*[[Next|End1]]

"Nah, I'm already in a relationship," says Li, and flies over to you.\n* You have successfully executed a ''Countertop-Parry'', enabling you to perform a ''Counter-Attack''! ''Love Points'' automatically increased to 100%!<<set $LP = 100>>\n<<display "Combat Data">>\n*[[Love|Fight4c]]\n*Justice //(unavailable)//\n*Pulchritude //(unavailable)//\n*Dance //(unavailable)//

"//Check//," you say ... and now you feel as though you've reached a turning point. Before, if either of you had said "Checkmate," the other would have complained at claiming it too early. Now, however ...\n\n"//Check//," says Li, nodding. From here on out, winning is fair game.\n\n- [["Check."|MC Check6]]\n- [["Checkmate."|MC Checkmate5]]\n

"//Check//," you say. Li starts grinning widely; you start grinning widely in return. Hey, you both like each other's smile, so why not?\n\n- [[Li's turn.|MC Next7]]\n

"//Check//," you say. Li seems to relax from a sudden tension; looks like she's passed the first "real" turn unscathed. But now it's your turn to tense up.\n\n- [[Li's turn.|MC Next6]]\n

"//Check//," you reply, in a measured tone.\n\nLi grins, getting her game face on. "//Check//," she says again.\n\n- [["Check."|MC Check2]]

"//Check//," you say once again, and not for the last time.\n\nLi giggles. "Nice opening gambit, but I can see right through you! //Check//," she says.\n\n- [[Run with the joke. "Check."|MC Check4a]]\n- [[Tease her about the joke. "Check."|MC Check4b]]\n

"//Check//," you say. Thus far, the checks are merely a formality. A win this early cannot be considered a win at all.\n\nYou can see in Li's eyes that she knows this as well as you do. And she knows that you know, and vice versa. "//Check//," she says.\n\n- [["Check."|MC Check3]]\n

"//Check//," you say, once you've sufficiently recovered.\n\n"Mmm." Li seems to recover more quickly.\n\n- [[Li's turn.|MC Next9]]\n

"//Check//," you say. You and Li are both really having a bit of trouble keeping in laughter now.\n\n- [[Li's turn.|MC Next8]]\n

"So how's life?" you say idly.<<set $family = true>>\n\nLi considers this. "It goes," she says.\n\nYou look at her sidelong. "That bad, huh?"\n\nLi giggles. "It's not //bad//," she says. "My sister got accepted to Hampshire College."\n\nHampshire is one of the Five College Consortium in Amherst, Massachusetts. If the colleges were characters from Scooby Doo, Hampshire would be Shaggy. You compare this to Li's older sister Megan, who is basically two steps away from being a stereotypical hippie chick in every respect, only less dirty, and more academic achievements. "Like there was any chance she wouldn't have," you say.\n\n"I'll be honest, I'm kind of apprehensive about my own academic future," says Li.\n\nYou shrug. "We've got time," you say. "I mean, at least another eight months or so before we need to make any decisions."\n\n"Well, it's mostly being in her shadow, y'know?" says Li. "She's my overachieving big sister, and, well ..."\n\n"Are your parents getting on your case about this?" you ask. "Or is it all ..."\n\n"Well, it's //kinda// mostly me," she says. "So ... not really much I can do about it, then."\n\nYou pat Li's shoulder. "Well, you know who to call if you need to talk about it."\n\n"Right," says Li, and she leans in and [[kisses your cheek|Talk Family 2]].

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You say, "Good game." When you play games, it's almost a ritual for the loser to say this. You don't mind losing at all, with Li.\n\n"Indeed it was," she says. <<set $mcWin = false>><<display "MC Shake">>

Yeah, it'll probably still be too warm for more than short sleeves. <<set $jacket = false>><<display "Start Park">>

You glance at //Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together//, which has a generally green color scheme. Scott Pilgrim himself is posing dramatically; in the background, Ramona Flowers is looking generally unimpressed and teal-haired. It is the fourth volume of the comic, in which it is revealed that Ramona's fourth evil ex is in fact an ex-//girlfriend//, Roxie Richter. The whole series is ... imperfect, but you did get a few laughs out of it.\n\nYou think the movie did it a //massive// disservice, though you did get slightly more of a chortle out of "Break out the L-word." "Lesbian?" "... The other L-word." "Lesbians?" "//Love//, Scott." than the corresponding exchange in the original.\n\nYou put it back on the bookshelf between volumes 3 and 5 where it belongs<<if not ($flower and $mirror)>>, then turn back to the room.\n\n<<if not $flower>>- [[Pick up the flower pendant on your dresser.|StartFlower]]\n<<endif>><<if not $mirror>>- [[Check yourself out in the mirror on your wardrobe.|StartMirror]]\n<<endif>><<else>>.\n\n<<endif>><<set $startSP = true>><<display "Start Choices">>

<<script>>\nconfig.saves.isAllowed = null;\n<</script>>\s\nYou and Li hightail it to the woods to the east of the park, using an illusion to make it look like you're headed beyond it to somewhere else, and land where nobody can see you. When you revert back to your civilian forms, you find that you're now wearing the necklaces Hana gave you. Li's actually looks nice with the pendant you gave her.\n\nAnd speaking of which ...\n\n"So, Hana," you say<<if $jacket>>, as you untie your jacket from your waist and put it back on<<else>>. A shiver from the relatively cool air runs through you<<endif>>. You try to figure out the right words, before just deciding on: "What the //hell// is going on, and who are you?"\n\nHana laughs. "Okay, here's the deal: I'm a servant of the Inari, the androgynous deity of foxes, agriculture, industry, prosperity, stuff like that. Zhe sent me and hir other servants to investigate the Insiders, which ... well, none of us have figured out what they are."\n\n"That one just now looked to me like just a rampaging asshole monster from another dimension," says Li. "All couched in this unironic un-self-aware hypocritical bullshit."\n\n"Yeah, I mean //besides// that," says Hana. "What they actually //want// with the human world, and why. Some of Inari's other servants have actually gotten into the Insiders' world, but they haven't found anything conclusive. I mean, that guy said something about conquering, and he seemed to think //you// were destroying //his// world, but ..."\n\n"Is there any evidence that we //are// ruining their world somehow?" you ask sharply.\n\n"No," says Hana. "It's like they just randomly decided that humans were destroying them, and that you neded to be destroyed."\n\nYou and Li nod, digesting this information. "So ... [[why flower-themed magical girls|End2]]?" asks Li.

Hana hops through a portal to report to Inari. "What's our cover story going to be?" asks Li.\n\nYou consider this. "We saw the beginning of the fight from the park, and ran into the woods as soon as things got too hot to handle, which was right away."\n\nLi nods. "And we didn't think to call our parents because ... I was panicking too hard, and you ..."\n\n"... didn't bring my phone because we could theoretically throw a baseball from the park and hit my house," you say.\n\n"Okay, here's my phone," says Hana, taking it out. "I'll start panicking in the ... background ..."\n\nYou hear a jaunty dance tune on a fiddle. You and Li follow the sound, and find an ... androgynous person with bright fuschia hair, sitting in the middle of a clearing and playing the fiddle. He/she stops when s/he sees you, and nods. "Hello," he/she says. "I'm Nero. I'd prefer it if you used plural pronouns instead of gendered ones to refer to me."\n\n"Are you an Insider?" says Li.\n\nNiro laughs, and shakes their head. "No, no," they say. "They're all masculine, I think. Besides, surely you don't think I'm //that// badly-dressed."\n\n"Okay, fair enough," says Li.\n\n"Yeah, what was up with that crown, anyway," you say.\n\n"Actually, it was a tiara," says Nero. "Anyway ... I'm just a bystander. I'm here to make sure things go as they should, but ... it looks like Magical Bouquet has things [[well in hand|End4]]."

"That was my idea," says Hana. "We're also scouting for people to help us fight back against the Insiders. And my name is Japanese for 'blossom', so, yeah. Plus, y'know ... flower-power, the Power Of Love, they all seem to be kind of anathemical to the Insiders' mindset."\n\n"Yeah, I still can't believe we literally flat-out disintegrated that guy by kissing each other," says Li.\n\n"Well, <<if $pul != 0>>like I said, <<endif>>the Insiders //really// hate it when someone isn't paying attention to them," says Hana. "They <<if $pul == 0>> also hate it when someone looks cooler than they do."\n\n"Like that's //hard//," you say, rolling your eyes.\n\n"They're also //really// not self-aware," says Hana. "But they<<endif>>live and breathe in the center of attention. Each other's, mostly. But the fact that you loved each other, with no love whatsoever for the Insider, so much that you momentarily didn't have any attention to spare for //him// ..."\n\nYou consider this. "That sounds weird, but okay," you say. "I mean, we were kind of hurting that guy to begin with, so ..."\n\n"Well, it wasn't hurt //that// badly until you pulled out the Power of Love," says Hana. "And if you want to join up with us in the long term, they'll only get tougher."\n\nYou and Li consider this. "Hm. I'm up for this if you are," she says.\n\n"Same here," you say. "Sure, Hana. We're up for kicking some un-self-aware monster-asshole butt."\n\n"Awesome," says Hana. "[[Welcome to Magical Bouquet.|End3]]"

Nero straightens up, and put the fiddle on their back. "Keep up the good work, and we'll probably meet again." Before you can say a word, they jump into the trees in a single bound.\n\nYou and Li hurry forward adn look up into the trees, but Nero has vanished. "Well, I guess we have <<if $geeky>>our Tuxedo Mask," says Li.\n\n"Well, just as long as neither of us runs off to mack on ... them," you say.\n\n"Nah, we've got each other," says Li. "Besides, neither of us is dorky enough to be Usagi. <<else>>... a mysterious mentor figure," says Li. "<<endif>>Anyway, you should call up my mom."\n\n"Right," you say, accepting her phone. You affect an air of being completely weirded out, as Li starts hyperventilating and whimpering beside you. "Hi, uh, Mrs. Anderson? Something ... really weird happened here ..."\n\n[[The End][$won = true]]

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You look at yourself in the mirror on your wardrobe for the millionth time. Black hair in a ponytail, brown eyes, black skin, wearing a yellow T-shirt and blue jeans. Your hair is tied in a ponytail with a thin blue ribbon. No makeup or lipstick, because your attitude is generally "screw fashion." But overall, you're still presentable enough to meet your friend.<<set $mirror = true>>\n\nYou stop panicking over your appearance.\n\n<<if (not $flower)>>- [[Consider panicking over the flower pendant instead.|StartFlower]]\n<<endif>><<if (not $startSP)>>- [[Put away the Scott Pilgrim book.|StartSP]]\n<<if $flower>>\n<<endif>><<endif>><<display "Start Choices">>

"//Checkmate//," you say.\n\nLi looks momentarily startled. "Aw, man!" she says, as both of you begin giggling. "You just //had// to go for it right away. I mean, that's not much of a win, but ..." She grins, and shakes her head. <<display "MC Win">>

"//Checkmate//," you say, matter-of-factly.\n\n"D'oh," says Li, as both of you begin giggling. "You just //had// to go for it right away." She grins, and shakes her head. <<display "MC Win">>

"//Checkmate//," you say, and you both break out in uncontrollable giggles.\n\nAfter a moment of recovery, Li says, <<display "MC Win">>

* ''Insider Introboss'''s Plot Armor failed to protect him! ''Insider Introboss'' loses 23 health!<<set $bossHP = $bossHP - 23>>\n<<display Pulchritude>><<display "Combat Data">>\n* [[Next|Fight3]]

"//Checkmate//," you say, once you've sufficiently recovered.\n\n"Ahhhhhh," says Li. You both exchange another giggle, then she says, <<display "MC Win">>

"//Checkmate//," you reply.\n\n"D'oh," says Li. You both exchange giggles, then she says, <<display "MC Win">>

<<if $won>>[img[Together2]]<<else>>[img[Together1]]<<endif>>\n<html><h1 style="text-align:left;">Amity x Li</h1><h2 style="text-align:left;">By KimikoMuffin</h2></html>\n[[Website|http://dizzy.pestermom.com?p=amityxli]] | [[@Twitter|https://twitter.com/KimikoMuffin]]\n\n

You sneak up, drop down next to her, and kiss her on the cheek.\n\nLi jumps, startled, and then she giggles. "Well hello there, Amity!" she says as she bookmarks her place and puts the book away. (//God// you love that smile.)\n\nYou giggle in return. <<display "Li Chatter">>

<<if (Math.random() * 10) < 2>>\n"//Checkmate!//" she says, and then you both giggle.\n\n<<display "MC Lose">>\n<<else>>"//Check//," she says, both of your grins widening.\n\n- [["Check."|MC Check8]]\n- [["Checkmate."|MC Checkmate7]]\n<<endif>>

<<if (Math.random() * 10) < 1>>\n"//Checkmate!//" she says.\n\n"D'oh!" you say, as both of you begin giggling. "God damn it, I shoulda known you'd go for it //right away//. I mean, that's //really// not much of a win, but ..."\n\n<<display "MC Lose">>\n<<else>>But then she says, "//Check//," and it's your turn to be relieved.\n\n- [["Check."|MC Check7]]\n- [["Checkmate."|MC Checkmate6]]\n<<endif>>

"What about your parents?" she asks.\n\n"Not bad," you say. "I asked my dad how his first week of school was, and he said, 'Teaching art at the middle school is the same as it's always been: everyone's adorable, and but the fifth-graders are, ummmm fifth-graders.'" This gets a laugh. "And you know about my mom, of course," you add.\n\n"Of course," says Li. "I mean, y'know, 'oh hello, I'm going out with the daughter of the new district attorney', and, yeah ..."\n\n"Yeah," you say. "I'm staying the hell out of the editorials in the newspapers and stuff, which is ninety percent Republicans just losing it over the fact that the DA is a black woman."\n\nLi manages a sympathetic wince. "Yeah, ow." She shrugs, and shakes her head. "But ... to move the conversation away from that as quickly as possible, there's still a part of me that thinks it's kind of weird that everyone else's parents have such //different// carreers."\n\n"Oh, yeah?" you say, tilting your head.\n\nLi nods. "Like ... my mom's a dentist and my dad's a family practitioner, but I sort of grew up thinking that //everyone's// parents would be, y'know, both doctors, both lawyers, both teachers ..."\n\n"Like how it's a huge surprise when you see your first grade teacher at the supermarket?" you say.\n\n"I guess," says Li. "I mean, //obviously// it doesn't make sense, but ... yeah."<<set $family=true>>\n\n"Yeah," you say.\n\n<<if $chess or $geeky>><<display "Interrupt1">>\n<<else>>- [[Play a game.|Mind Chess Start]]\n- [[Talk geek.|Talk Geek]]\n<<endif>>

<<if (Math.random() * 10) < 4>>\n"//Checkmate!//" says Li.\n\n"D'oh," you reply. She giggles. <<display "MC Lose">>\n<<else>>\n"//Check//," she says.\n\n- [["Check."|MC Check10]]\n- [["Checkmate."|MC Checkmate9]]\n<<endif>>

<<if (Math.random() * 10) < 3>>\n"//Checkmate!//" she says, and both of you start giggling uncontrollably. A moment goes by while you get yourselves under control.\n\n<<display "MC Lose">>\n<<else>>"//Check//," she says, and you both giggle for a moment.\n\n- [["Check."|MC Check9]]\n- [["Checkmate."|MC Checkmate8]]\n<<endif>>

But at the last second, the Insider manages to <<if $drop>>dodge<<else>>right himself in midair, and dodges<<endif>> out of the way!\n* ''Insider Introboss'''s Plot Armor sustains 97 ''Authorial Fiat Points'' of damage!<<set $bossPP = 0>>\n<<display Pulchritude>><<display "Combat Data">>\n* [[Next|Fight4]]

<<script>>\nconfig.saves.isAllowed = null;\nconfig.errors.savesNotAllowed = "You can't save here.";\n<</script>>\s\nYou are Amity Watkins, and you've just started your senior year at Foxville High School in the smallish, obscure town of Foxville, Massachusetts. Today's Saturday, though, and you're off to meet a friend of yours at the park down the street.<<set $mirror = false>><<set $flower = false>><<set $startSP = false>>\n\nIt is a Saturday, two weeks after the start of classes. You are currently in your bedroom. Various posters are on the wall, depicting moderately geeky things, which might surprise some of your other friends. There's a wardrobe against one wall, with a mirror built into the door, and a bookcase and a dresser on the other. A Scott Pilgrim book is lying on your bed, next to a small backpack; the sight of the latter reminds you that you have to deliver a flower pendant which is currently sitting in a box on the windowsill.\n\n- [[Examine mirror|StartMirror]]\n- [[Pick up Scott Pilgrim book|StartSP]]\n- [[Get flower pendant|StartFlower]]

"Who //is// this douchebag?" you ask.\n\n<<display "Insider Stuff">> "But, uh, could you ...?"\n\n"Well how are //we// supposed to fight an asshole who can //shoot fireballs?"// you say.\n\n"Look, just each of you take one of my <<display Interrupt4>>

"Hi, Li!" you say as you approach.\n\nLi smiles up at you. (//God// you love that smile.) "Oh, hey there, Amity." She bookmarks her place, puts the book away, and pats the seat next to her. "C'mon, have a seat."\n\nYou sit next to her, grinning, and //then// kiss her cheek. <<display "Li Chatter">>

<<set $amHP = 100>>\s\n<<set $amPP = 100>>\s\n<<set $amPPMax = $amPP>>\s\n<<set $liHP = $amPP>>\s\n<<set $liPP = $amHP>>\s\n<<set $liPPMax = $amHP>>\s\n<<set $bossHP = 300>>\s\n<<set $bossHPMax = $bossHP>>\s\n<<set $bossPP = 200>>\s\n<<set $bossPPMax = $bossPP>>\s\n<<set $LP = 0>><<set $attacknames = false>><<set $jus = 0>><<set $pul = 0>><<set $dan = 0>><<set $turn = 1>>\s\nThe Insider pounds his chest. "I SMASHIFY EVERYTHING!" Hana just runs for it. The background music changes to a tense action-music song!\n<<display "Combat Data">>\n* Love //(unavailable)//\n* [[Justice|Fight1j][$jusL = true]]\n* [[Pulchritude|Fight1p][$pulL = true]]\n* [[Dance|Fight1d][$danL = true]]

<<set $turn = 2>>"Me turn!" barks the Insider. He inhales, and then breathes out a fireball at the ground between you with his ''Fireball'' attack!\n\nYou and Li scream, leaping into the air just in time to avoid the explosion! //Oh god you're leaping twenty feet into the air!//\n* ''Bloom Daffodil'''s Plot Armor sustains 23 ''Authorial Fiat Points'' of damage!<<set $amPP = $amPP - 23>>\n* ''Bloom Chrysanthemum'''s Plot Armor sustains 25 ''Authorial Fiat Points'' of damage!<<set $liPP = $liPP - 25>>\nYou grab Li's arm, trying to fly. Hey, you can fly! Li manages to go into flying mode herself a second later. "Ah ... thanks!" she says.\n* ''Love Points'' increased by 15%! <<set $LP = 15>>\n<<display "Combat Data">>\n* Love (unavailable)\n* [[Justice|Fight2j][$jusL = true]]\n* [[Pulchritude|Fight2p][$pulL = true]]\n* [[Dance|Fight2d][$danL = true]]

<<set $turn = 3>>"Why you wear SHORTS on the under your skirtses!?" barks the Insider.\n\nYou and Li burst out laughing. That had seemed weird at the time, but it makes sense now that you know you can fly. "Because you //have to ask that question!"// you say.\n\n"Because we're //flying,"// sas Li, still laughing.\n\nYou hear police sirens in the distance, coming from downtown, and you turn and look. You promptly sense //something// coming from behind, and you spin around and dodge out of the way! The Insider's arms have grown into gigantic vines, each as thick as your neck, and he swings them around trying to hit you and Li with his ''Vine Arms'' attack! Both of you manage to avoid them.\n\n"So, what, we have some kind of spider-sense while we're like this, now?" Li asks, in Hana's general direction.\n\nHana replies, ''Yeah, basically.''\n\nBut then the vines slam into the ground, and the Insider uses them to catapult himself into the air, growing long swords out of his shoulders and swinging them around wildly!!\n\nYou and Li just back out of the way and watch as he sails through the air above you.\n*''Bloom Daffodil'' avoided the attack!\n*''Bloom Chrysanthemum'' avoided the attack!\n<<display "Combat Data">>\n* Love (unavailable)\n* [[Justice|Fight3j][$drop = false; $jusL = true]]\n* [[Pulchritude|Fight3p][$drop = false; $pulL = true]]\n* [[Dance|Fight3d][$drop = false; $danL = true]]\n* [[... Just let him hit the ground.|Fight3s][$drop = true]]

Now you can see the police cars pulling up, along with what looks like a news van. But the Insider is ignoring them. "THIS TAKING TOO LONG!" he roars, retracting his vine-arms and clapping his hands together. "ME CRUSH YOU AND THEN RIP THIS TOWN TO BITS!" A gigantic sword grows out from his arms, and he swings it around towards both of you from above!\n*[[Dodge|Fight4a]]

<<if $attacknames is 0>>"Hey, Hana!" you call out. "Do we have to call out our attack names?"\n\n''Uh, no?''\n\n"Good." <<set $attacknames = 1>><<endif>><<set $attacknames = $attacknames + 1>>You and Li

* ''Insider Introboss'''s Plot Armor sustains 113 ''Authorial Fiat Points'' of damage!<<set $bossPP = $bossPP - 113>>\n<<display Pulchritude>><<display "Combat Data">>\n* [[Next|Fight2]]

Yeah, uh ... no. Each of you has made the first step in the past, but you've both found that you're too embarassed to make any further steps, so it just devolved into cuddles and makeouts. Which you are both perfectly fine with.\n\nSo ... [[game|Mind Chess Start]], [[family|Talk Family]], [[geekery|Talk Geek]]?

The monster-guy announces, "WE ARE INSIDER! We are beyond from this world! Though you have not seen us before we come to conquer!" He points both hands at you and Li. "YOU ARE DESTROYING OUR WORLD, OUR PEOPLE!"\n\n"I'm sorry, //what?"// says Li.\n\n"The insiders //are// kinda dumb, but they're //really// tough," says the fox.

<<script>>\nconfig.saves.isAllowed = function() { return false; };\nconfig.errors.savesNotAllowed = "You can't save during battle.";\n<</script>>

"So, I've been trying to read Frank Herbert's //Dune//," you say.\n\n"Oh? I read that last year," she says. "How are you liking it?"\n\n"Dense," you say. "And it's not letting up on the messiah complex." You shrug. "I think it's kinda heavy on the ridiculous plans, too ..."\n\n"Oh, the whole thing about 'plans within plans, wheels within wheels'?" she says. "Yeah, that was ..."\n\n"See, a so-called 'intelligent plan' doesn't mean 'something ridiculously overcomplicated,'" you say. "It just means 'something that'd //work//'. Making something overly-complex means there's too many things that'd go wrong."\n\n"Like that Star Wars book where Darth Sidious was telling his henchman not let Palpatine know about his plans," says Li.\n\n"No, see, that's fine," you say. "Palpatine ... evil bad-guy Darth Sidious didn't want anyone to know that he's also, y'know, mild mannered good-guy Chancellor Palpatine, and vice-versa, and he didn't want anyone who wasn't in on the Sith stuff to know //any// of it was happening. So, if the news got to Palpatine through normal channels, it'd mean that a whole lot of other people know about it, and the secrecy is officially broken, y'know?"\n\n"Oh, I guess I see," says Li.\n\n"It's just 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer', when you've got a secret identity where 'friend' and 'enemy' is the same person," you say. "And, y'know, if the guy went to Palpatine and said 'Hey, Your Excellency, I want to confess I'm actually working for this Darth Sidious guy' ..."\n\n"... Darth Sidious would be the first to know," Li finishes, nodding.\n\n"It //looks// like it's some impossibly complicated bullshit, though, so people would go 'naw, it can't be true,' so it might work," you say. "So, uh ... [[what about you|Talk Geek 2]]? What are //you// reading these days, Li?"

<<if (Math.random() * 10) < 7.5>>\n"//Checkmate!//" says Li.\n\nYou're almost startled. "D'oh," you reply. "Wow, that was //tense//."\n\nShe giggles. "Yeah, it was, wasn't it?"\n\n<<display "MC Lose">>\n<<else>>\n"//Check//," she says. Oh boy, you're in for it now ...\n\n- [["Check."|MC Check12]]\n- [["Checkmate."|MC Checkmate11]]\n<<endif>>

<<if (Math.random() * 10) < 5>>\n"//Checkmate!//" says Li.\n\n"D'oh," you reply. "Wow, that was getting tense."\n\nShe giggles. "Yeah, it was, wasn't it?"\n\n<<display "MC Lose">>\n<<else>>\n"//Check//," she says, in a way which fails to ease the tension.\n\n- [["Check."|MC Check11]]\n- [["Checkmate."|MC Checkmate10]]\n<<endif>>