Mara's Venture - Prologue 1

"Look, I'm sorry...", Mara starts. "I know this is difficult... //has been// difficult, I mean.." (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-01.jpg">') [[No need to apologize]] [[Thanks. What can we do to fix things?]]

(set: $domainpath to "MarasVenture-pro1-") (set: $domainpath to "//www.scissored.net/Samples/pics/MarasVenture-pro1/MarasVenture-pro1-") (set: $4k to true)

(if: $4k is true) [(link-undo: "Back")]

"No, I do.. I know how much you like wrestling and I'm sorry if you felt I was shutting you out", Mara says. "We just seem to keep butting heads over it, you know?" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-02.jpg">') [[Yeah, I suppose so]]

"That's exactly what I was thinking about", Mara chirps. "We need some way that ''both'' of us can scratch our wrestling itch, without it driving us apart" "And so... I have an idea... that I'm not sure you'll like..", she adds with hesitation. (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-03.jpg">') [[What's the idea?]]

"Right, so I just kept thinking, like.. what if there was something that ''both'' of us could enjoy with wrestling?", Mara asks retorically. "And that got me thinking about something...", she pauses. (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-03.jpg">') [[Thinking about what?->What's the idea?]]

Mara looks away and mutters, "okay, I know you're gonna think I'm nuts, but..." "What if we started our own wrestling league?", Mara asks. (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-04.jpg">') [[That'd be GREAT!]] [[Huh? How would that even work??]] [[You're right. I think you're nuts]] [[That's seriously a terrible idea]]

"Really??", Mara pipes with glee. "You like it???" "I'm soo glad.. I thought it would be perfect!", Mara beams. "Working behind the scenes on a league will let you get your fix of matches to watch, but then I can just jump in when I feel like it" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-05.jpg">') [[Sounds awesome]]

"I mean... I don't know.. We'll figure it out", Mara stammers. "We'll start small" "I just think we're putting too much pressure on each other when it comes to wrestling... with a league, there are other girls that can wrestle when I don't feel like it" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-06.jpg">') [[And I get to watch, hehe]] [[This seems like a lot though. How will we pay for it?]]

"Hahaha, stop!!", Mara laughs. "It'll be great, I promise!" "It'll give us something wrestling-related to work on behind the scenes, and then I'll be able to pop in and have matches on my own schedule", she adds. (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-07.jpg">') [[This seems like a lot though. How will we pay for it?]] [[Yeah, you have a good point->Sounds awesome]]

"I knew you wouldn't like it", Mara sulks. "You always just want what you want and my needs are invisible to you" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-08.jpg">') [[What's that supposed to mean??]] [[I just don't see how this addresses either of our problems]] [[Maybe if you'd explained how we can actually afford to do this, I'd consider it->This seems like a lot though. How will we pay for it?]]

"You ''know'' what it means!", Mara complains. "You treat me like a robot designed to read your mind and do ''every'' fucking ''wrestling'' thing that YOU like!!" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-09.jpg">') [[Well, you USED to love it and now you barely let me near you!]]

"That's fine, but you never offer any other options", Mara says. "You don't contribute anything except waiting for me do what you want!" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-09.jpg">') [[Why don't we just go back to the way it usd to be?->Well, you USED to love it and now you barely let me near you!]]

"If you want to be stuck in the past... then maybe you should go do it with someone else", Mara says quietly. (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-10.jpg">') [[Fine]]

You and Mara leave the cafe separately. Was there another solution? [[Try Again->Intro]] <a href = "//www.scissored.net/stories">Back to Stories</a>

"Exactly!", Mara says. "We'll both have flexibility to dip in and out of it" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-11.jpg">') [[I'm a little worried it'll be a bit... too much for us->This seems like a lot though. How will we pay for it?]] [[What about the wrestlers? A whole league of them?]]

"We can use the spare room in your apartment", Mara replies. "We just need to take baby steps with it" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-12.jpg">') [[Aaand.. the wrestlers?->What about the wrestlers? A whole league of them?]]

"I know, right!", Mara says. "We can use the spare room in the apartment" "I'm actually excited to set it up!" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-11.jpg">') [[What about the wrestlers? A whole league of them?]]

"Well.. we have our friends", Mara replies thoughtfully. "I know it's not enough, but we can start with that" "And.. honestly, I was hoping you'd be into the recruiting part.. I can help too.. we can find new girls as well.. But I figured between the girls at your office and your connections at Scissored.Net, you could help over time.." (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-13.jpg">') [[True, there's actually a decent pool and now I'd have a reason to ask]] [[I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with that, but I agree with starting small]] [[I dunno, those Scissored.Net girls seem like wimps]]

"Yup!" "Anything else you're worried about?" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-15.jpg">') [[Will I get to be in the league?]] [[Will it be guys against girls, or girls against girls?]]

"Okay, fair enough." "Anything else you're worried about?" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-15.jpg">') [[Will I get to be in the league?]] [[Will it be guys against girls, or girls against girls?]]

"''I'm'' a Scissored.Net girl, buster" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-14.jpg">') [[I know, I was kidding]]

"So was I... sort of", Mara smirks. "Anyways, let me setup the spare room and I'll text you when I'm ready to show you" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-05.jpg">') [[Sure->Sounds good]]

"Hmmmm... I think that will complicate things", Mara says pensively. "Like, unless you're good with me not being in the league" "I just don't think ''both'' of us can run it and participate, or it'll make people feel like there's no neutral party running things", Mara explains. (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-16.jpg">') [[Okay, I'm fine with being the neutral party so that you can be in the league]] [[Will it be guys against girls, or girls against girls?]]

"Ummm... both, I think?", Mara responds. (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-17.jpg">') [[Makes sense->Okay, I'm fine with being the neutral party so that you can be in the league]] [[I'd rather no guys, but I guess I can just skip those ones->Okay, I'm fine with being the neutral party so that you can be in the league]] [[I'd rather mixed matches, but I guess I can just skip the ones I don't like->Okay, I'm fine with being the neutral party so that you can be in the league]]

"Alright... give me some time to setup the spare room and I'll text you when I'm ready to show you" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt0-05.jpg">') [[Sounds good]]

Later... [[Check your phone]]

You check your phone and read a text message from Mara: "Okay!! It's ready!! Come see!" [[Go check it out]]

"Ta-da!!", Mara cheers as you enter the apartment room she's re-styled for your home wrestling league. (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt1-01.jpg">') [[Wow]] [[Nice job->Wow]]

"Not bad for a start, right?", Mara smiles. "So! Shall we start calling up some friends to get this thing going?", she asks. (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt1-03.jpg">') [[Absolutely]] [[Nah]]

"Okay then... I have something for you first though..." (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt1-04.jpg">') [[What is it?]]

"Very funny, silly man", Mara grins. "Fine, I'll make the calls first" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt1-04.jpg">') [[Hah, good luck]]

Mara leans in and gives you a kiss. Time to get the Squeeze League started! (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt1-02.jpg">') [[I've actually got some good news too...]]

Mara takes a seat and makes some calls to friends, as no amount of negativity from you seems to be able to affect her elation to get the Squeeze League going. (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt1-05.jpg">') [[Try Again->Intro]] <a href = "//www.scissored.net/stories">Back to Stories</a>

"Really? What's that?", she asks. (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt1-06.jpg">') [[I talked to the Scissored.Net people and they said they would give me access to some of the girls on their site... One condition though...]]

"That's AWESOME!!", Mara cheers. "But what was the condition they gave?" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt1-07.jpg">') [[I mean, it'll take some time, but their 1 rule was that we have to keep things neutral. They'll let us have space on their website only as long as you don't interfere with matches you're not involved with]]

"Okay, that's fair", Mara says. "I'll make sure my role in the league stays separate from any issues I may have with the girls" "But that's later anyways... For now, let me call some friends and get this going" (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt1-08.jpg">') [[Perfect]] [[I love you, Mara]]

Mara begins calling a friend to give them the news and begin the recruiting process. The Squeeze League is about to begin! (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt1-05.jpg">') <a href = "//www.scissored.net/CYA/KevinvsKara1.html">Continue to Match</a> [[Try Again->Intro]] <a href = "//www.scissored.net/stories">Back to Stories</a>

"I love you more", Mara replies. (print: '<img src="' + $domainpath + 'pt1-09.jpg">') <a href = "//www.scissored.net/CYA/KevinvsKara1.html">Continue to Match</a> [[Try Again->Intro]] <a href = "//www.scissored.net/stories">Back to Stories</a>