Blue Lacuna — 160 of 467

Chapter - Studio

Studio is north of Hut. "[studiodesc].". The printed name of Studio is "Cabin, The Studio". The prose name of Studio is "the studio". To say studiodesc:

say "High, narrow [o]windows[x] ";

if night, say "let dim trickles of starlight";

otherwise say "admit [if twilight or dawn]faint ghost-light[otherwise if sunrise or morning or midmorning]refracted light from the beach[otherwise if raining]moist grey air[otherwise if midday or afternoon]steep slants of daylight[otherwise]angling shafts of gold evening light[end if]";

say " into [if Studio is unvisited]this small porch, the purpose of which seems instinctively clear to you the moment you enter: it is an artist's[otherwise]the[end if] studio";

if night:

say ", its accoutrements vanishing into the darkness.[paragraph break][exits]";

otherwise:

say ". The floor is [if wall to wall workbench is dirty]stained with paint and clay, and artisan [o]tools[x] litter the surface of a wall-to-wall workbench, though everything seems to be under a layer of thick dust, as if undisturbed for years[otherwise]swept clean, though ghosts of paint stains still linger, and the wall-to-wall workbench has been scrubbed and unburdened of its old clutter, ready for use again[hutpaints][end if].[paragraph break]On the rough plank walls [if dir]to the east and west[otherwise]on your left and right[end if], exactly opposite each other, hang two spectacular ";

say "[o]paintings[x].[paragraph break][if Epilogue-Ending-A is happening]And between them, in the center of the room, stands a [o]canvas[x], blank, waiting[else][exits]".

To say hutpaints:

if the number of paintpots enclosed by wall to wall workbench > 0, say ". On the bench [is-are] [the list of paintpots enclosed by location]".

A paintpot is a kind of thing. A paintpot is usually undescribed. The description of a paintpot is usually "A simple clay pot with a snug lid, filled with paint.".

A pot of red paint is a paintpot. A pot of yellow paint is a paintpot. A pot of white paint is a paintpot. A pot of black paint is a paintpot. A pot of green paint is a paintpot. A pot of blue paint is a paintpot.

The exits text of Studio is "The only exit is [dr]back[x] [if dir][south] [end if]to the front room of the cabin".

Studio-stuff is stuff in Studio. Understand "trickles/slants/porch/accoutrements/stain/stains/paint/clay/dust/plank/studio" as Studio-stuff when location is Studio.

Report going from Studio to Hut: say "You return to the larger front room of the cabin."

Check wayfaring when location is Studio: try painting instead.

High narrow windows are a setpiece in Studio. Understand "window/interior" as windows. The description of the high narrow windows is "The roof of the shack extends out beyond the unpaned windows, [if raining]effectively keeping out rain but letting[otherwise]presumably to keep out rain but let[end if] in light. Through the windows you see [if night]only darkness[otherwise if raining]curtains of rain[otherwise if dawn or twilight]only a grey light[otherwise]the beach, and the black lava flow angling away into the distance[end if]." Check entering high narrow windows: say "They are too narrow to squeeze yourself through." instead. Instead of opening or closing high narrow windows: say "There is no glass or shutters on the windows, or at least there aren't any more; they are just rectangular holes in the wall of the cabin.".

A wall to wall workbench is a setpiece in Studio. Understand "bench" or "work bench" as wall to wall workbench. The description is "Just a heavy block of wood, the top planed smooth." The wall to wall workbench is either dirty or clean. The wall to wall workbench is dirty. Understand "clean [wall to wall workbench]" or "clean off [wall to wall workbench]" as a mistake ("[if wall to wall workbench is clean]It's already been cleaned off for you[otherwise]It looks like a long and dirty job that can probably wait till later[end if].") when location is Studio.

Some artisan tools are a minor prop in Studio. Understand "tool" or "clay" or "pot" or "pots" or "paint" or "paints" or "hide" or "hides" or "canvas" or "canvases" or "handmade" or "brush" or "brushes" as the artisan tools. The description is "[if we have not examined the tools]Your heart skips a beat as you realize these are mostly the tools of a painter. Clay pots seem to hold paints of varying shades and consistencies (though long since dried, useless now) and hides scraped smooth to make canvases are strewn around the workbench, along with rotting handmade brushes. It will take some time to put everything in order, but it looks like most of the tools you'll need to move on, when the time comes for that, are here[otherwise]You can take a full inventory later. At the moment you simply take comfort in the knowledge that you will not be stranded here[end if]. ". The dream-text of artisan tools is "clay pots, paintbrushes, mortars and pestle". Check taking artisan tools: say "[if wall to wall workbench is dirty]These tools are a suggestion right now more than a possibility. The paints are dried and useless; the brushes rotting and stale, and you see no blank canvas. But their presence indicates that when the time comes, everything necessary must be here on this island... somewhere[otherwise]Progue has prepped this room for your use, but you still lack a complete set of paints, a brush, and, of course, a canvas[end if]." instead.

Check vague painting when location is Studio: if artisan tools are enclosed by location, try taking artisan tools instead; else say "You'll need a canvas, brush, and paints before you can think about doing that." instead.

The thick dust is a prop in Studio. The description is "It looks as if this room has remained undisturbed for many years. There is a strange, expectant feeling in this place, as if, no matter how briefly, something great once touched it and left a mark for all eternity." Instead of taking or touching the dust, say "The grime and dirt leaves smudges on your fingertips."