Clarify Alex's objection to `GEL OBJECT`

(split off from #195)

This issue includes SPOILERS for Counterfeit Monkey.

You know, I thought I knew a lot about Counterfeit Monkey, but I learned a little something today in my Counterfeit Monkey Invisiclues thread.

https://intfiction.org/t/counterfeit-monkey-invisiclues-hints/44257/21?u=dfabulich

In Cold Storage, you're making a choice about whether to gel Brock or to gel a random stranger. Making this choice causes you to "fuse" together.

What I didn't realize is that if you gel a random stranger, Andra becomes dominant, and if you gel Brock, Alex becomes dominant.

When you gel a random stranger, "A faint spell comes over you and you feel dizzy," and for most of the rest of the game, everything is described in the second person.

Bureau Basement Secret Section The heightened security on this side of the door is obvious everywhere you look.

When you gel Brock, "A faint spell comes over me and I feel dizzy." And then the game is described in the first person.

Bureau Basement Secret Section The heightened security on this side of the door is obvious everywhere I look.

This is fascinating, and it totally went over my head when I played. I understood that the choice itself was what "fused" you, but I didn't realize that picking Brock vs. the stranger caused one or the other of us to become dominant.

I think it would be nice if the game made that a bit more explicit.

Specifically, I think Alex's language here isn't clear enough that we're overriding Alex.

> gel object Hang on — are you sure you want to send one of these poor bastards out there? It would be cruel to get their hopes up just to have them re-arrested, not to mention that it would make my father look like a fool if he arrested a dissident who turned out to have been in storage all along. >> y

I might have written it like this:

No way. You want to send one of these poor bastards out there? It would be unthinkably cruel to get their hopes up just to have them re-arrested, not to mention that it will put my father in danger if he arrests a dissident who turned out to have been in storage all along. You're not going to make us do that, are you? >> y

By contrast, the game does make it clear that Alex is taking over if you gel rock to send out Brock. You don't even get a y/n option. It's clear that Alex is in charge.

We dip out a pea-sized quantity of gel and rub it gently onto the rock. With an audible SPLORT, the rock becomes Brock.

“Hello,” Brock says.

You’re silent. I’m not letting you act again. You’re not stopping me.

“We’re still inside the Bureau basement,” I say. “We just need to head out, separately.”

He looks puzzled. “Aren’t we safer together?”

“No,” I say.

> [This is a fake, non-interactive prompt where you press any key and Alex continues without your input.] “But—”

“Look, just trust me, this once,” we say.

Brock backs out the door. Loud sounds of an arrest ensue. I hear my father’s voice, and two other people. Then finally the sounds die away.

A faint spell comes over me and I feel dizzy.

i7 / counterfeit-monkey

Clarify Alex's objection to `GEL OBJECT` #202