spilt milk

spilt milk

an interactive novel made with twine

you are the heir(ess) of a hotel empire enjoying your independence before you eventually assume the role of ceo. with no shortage of money, drink, and warm bodies, you would say you have a pretty good life.

your father, however, would beg to differ, and threatens to cut you off until you demonstrate “some semblance of common sense”—whatever that means. like he does every week.

you didn’t think he would actually do it this time, though.

some scottish guy once wrote “[it’s] no use, however, crying over spilt milk.” but, damn it, you’d like to see someone try and stop you.

genre: lighthearted, comedy, romance, early noughties

rated 16+ [drinking, swearing, spicy content]

features:

☞ a fully customizable player character [appearance, gender, pronouns, personality, all that good stuff]

☞ dynamic relationships and dialogue.

☞ six characters with whom you can build a relationship. four of which are romanceable.

☞ win your father’s approval, or get him to hand the reins to your overachieving younger sister by convincing him you’re a completely lost cause.

☞ get people talking about you, for both the wrong and right reasons.

☞ loads of opportunities for drama, pettiness, and scandal—if you’re into that.

☞ …as well as plenty of chances for social climbing, attracting investors, and improving your reputation if you’re boring not.

☞ a goat. need i say more?

the romance options:

the best friend: rey “santy” de los santos. gender-selectable. your old college roommate and bestie. like every other waiter in new york, their true calling is to be on broadway. unlike every other waiter in new york, they have the connections (you) to pull it off.

straight, platinum blonde hair. tawny skin. brown, almost black eyes. a small beauty mark is nestled just beneath pouty lips.

the rival: bridget brigham–bri to her friends. the future ceo of a competing hotel group. while you’ve technically been set against her since birth, it only became personal after you placed second to her in the fourth-grade spelling bee. to add insult to injury, she is ridiculously [R-I-D-I-K-U-L-U-S-L-Y] likeable.

curly, rich brown hair buzzed close to the scalp. russet brown skin. bright umber eyes. deep dimples punctuate an obnoxiously pretty smile.

the concierge: hawthorne. gender-selectable. their official title is guest liaison officer, but really, they’re your over-glorified chaperone. they’re british, never have any fun, and seem determined to make sure you don’t have any either.

wavy, ash brown hair. a faint dusting of freckles on muted beige skin. surprisingly warm hazel eyes, often narrowed in exasperation.

the reporter: juan esteban “juanes” rivera. a tabloid reporter. publishes under john rivers. he is oddly timid for someone whose job is to sniff out your deepest, darkest, juiciest secrets. not as if that stops him.

auburn hair secured into a bun with a pink mechanical pencil. enviably clear olive skin. pale green eyes partially obscured by frameless glasses. brow slightly furrowed in bewilderment.

the supporting cast:

the sister: beth, short for elizabeth. the good kid. you have a feeling she and hawthorne would hit it off in that awkward way of people who go to the opera and dog shows for fun.

the father: your father. “daddy” if you need money from him, “jim” when he says no. since your mother passed, he has convinced himself he needs to be a parent. about twenty-four years too late.

the goat: your goat. news outlets suggested you were making a “self-aware commentary on the excesses of the one percent” when you adopted him. the truth is not that deep, but no less laughable.

update log 09.06.21: itch.io page finalized.