Counterfeit Monkey — 269 of 292

Section 4 - Lena

The as is a thing. The description of the as is "[one of]It appears to be an as, a [or]A [stopping]Roman coin of very low denomination[one of]. (Your knowledge, not mine. Should I ask how you know such things?)[or].[stopping] It is made of copper and has the letters S C stamped on one side." Understand "roman" or "coin" or "copper" as the as. The heft of the as is 1.

Instead of searching or looking under the as:

say "We inspect both obverse and reverse, but come away none the wiser."

Instead of buying the as:

say "We're much too late for speculation in this particular currency."

Instead of touching or squeezing or rubbing the as:

say "The metal surface is dull and weathered, skin-temperature, all smooth edges."

The greeting of Lena is "'[one of]Happy Serial Comma Day[or]Greetings[or]Hi there[stopping],' she says."

The generic negative of Lena is "[one of]nope[or]nope nope[at random]".

The generic positive of Lena is "[one of]yeeeah[or]mmhmm[or]uh huh[or]sure[at random]".

Instead of Lena discussing something which mentions Slango when Lena does not know trust-me:

say "[one of][lena-distrusts]'Slango?' she asks blankly, for all the world as though she'd had a lobotomy. 'Is that a board game?'[or]'Maybe a Slango is a kind of juice drink?' she suggests.[or]'I have no idea what you're talking about,' she says. Stonewalling.[or]She just shrugs. We're going to have to convince her to trust us first, it appears. How unutterably tedious.[stopping]".

Instead of saying goodbye to Lena when whether she hath seen slango is available and Lena knows trust-me:

say "No, don't! I'm [i]sure[/i] she's about to tell us where Slango's gotten to, and if you've forgotten about getting off this island, I have not."

A plausibility rule for whether she hath seen slango when the player knows lena-distrusts and the player does not know trust-me:

it is implausible.

whether she hath seen slango is a questioning quip.

The printed name is "whether she has seen Slango". The true-name is "whether she hath seen slango".

Understand "has" or "if" or "Lena" as whether she hath seen slango. The comment is "[one of]'You wouldn't happen to have seen Slango about recently?' we ask.[or][if Lena does not know trust-me]'I'm still curious about Slango. Seen him?'[otherwise]'Now, you owe me one Slango,' you say. 'Where'd he get to?'[end if][stopping]".

It mentions Slango.

The response is "'Slango and I were catching up. Bless that man, he's hung like a yak,' she says. 'But he got bad news and had to hurry back to the yacht. Said something about not being able to keep an appointment. I take it you're the appointment? I can try reaching him for you, if you want.'".

It quip-supplies Lena.

[Your faithful researcher investigated the length of yak endowments when writing this passage. It turns out that there's an Asian restaurant that serves various species of phallus, whose website was most informative. THINGS YOU LEARN FROM THE INTERNET.]

who we seem 3 is an informative quip.

The printed name is "who we are". The true-name is "who we seem 3".

Understand "are" as who we seem 3. The comment is "'Lena, it's Andra. And company. Maybe Slango mentioned that I was auditioning a new silent partner.'".

It mentions yourself.

The response is "'I don't know what you're talking about,' she says. 'But since you're here, whoever you are, I wonder whether you'd like to have a look at some merchandise of mine that could use a spruce.' [paragraph break]Aha. She wants us to prove our identity; probably has contraband that needs concealing, and wants us to do the deed as proof of trustworthiness[queue offer-contraband as immediate obligatory].".

It quip-supplies Lena.

offer-contraband is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "Lena goes off into a corner and rummages among the suspicious piles of books, and uncovers a box. 'C'mere,' she says; and obediently I wander over to that area of the store, which incidentally happens to be tucked away and half-hidden by shelves.

'[prepare contraband]See here,' she says. 'See what you can do with it, eh?'"

[where contraband came from is a questioning quip. The comment is "'Where did this stuff come from?' I ask, before you can shut me down.".

It mentions contraband box.

The response is "Lena just gives us a cold glare. Evidently we don't ask this sort of question.".

It quip-supplies Lena.

It indirectly-follows offer-contraband ]

To say prepare contraband:

move the contraband box to the location.

[A further thoughts rule for Lena:

if Lena can see an undisguised single ream or Lena can see an undisguised odes:

casually queue needs-disguise; [She'll only say this once.]

if Lena can see an undisguised single ream and Lena can see an undisguised odes and Lena recollects needs-disguise:

casually queue still-needs-pasting. ]

A first conversation-reply rule when the current interlocutor is Lena:

[say "STARTING: ";

try checking queue for Lena; ]

let needs more conversation be true;

if Lena is urgently eager-to-speak:

let needs more conversation be false;

if Lena can see an undisguised single ream or Lena can see an undisguised odes-book:

if Lena does not recollect needs-disguise:

queue needs-disguise as postponed optional; [She'll only say this once.]

if Lena can see an undisguised single ream or Lena can see an undisguised odes-book and Lena recollects needs-disguise:

if Lena does not recollect still-needs-pasting or a random chance of 1 in 3 succeeds:

queue still-needs-pasting as postponed optional;

if needs more conversation is false:

make no decision;

[positive feedback before negative...]

if Lena can see the single ream and Lena does not recollect ream-approval:

queue ream-approval as immediate obligatory;

if Lena can see the odes-book and Lena does not recollect odes-approval:

queue odes-approval as immediate obligatory;

if Lena can see the origin paste:

casually queue nice-paste;

if Lena can see the odes-book and Lena can see the ream and the ream is disguised and the odes-book is disguised and Lena does not know trust-me:

queue that-does-it as immediate obligatory;

if Lena can see the modem and Lena is not urgently eager-to-speak:

if Lena does not recollect modem-complaint or a random chance of 1 in 3 succeeds:

queue modem-complaint as immediate obligatory;

if Lena can see the ode and Lena is not urgently eager-to-speak:

if Lena does not recollect ode-complaint:

queue ode-complaint as immediate obligatory;

otherwise if Lena does not recollect second-ode-complaint or a random chance of 1 in 3 succeeds:

queue second-ode-complaint as immediate obligatory;

if Lena can see the preamp and Lena is not urgently eager-to-speak:

if Lena does not recollect preamp-complaint or a random chance of 1 in 3 succeeds:

queue preamp-complaint as immediate obligatory;

if Lena can see the reams and Lena is not urgently eager-to-speak:

if Lena does not recollect reams-complaint or a random chance of 1 in 3 succeeds:

queue reams-complaint as immediate obligatory;

if Lena can see the reams and Lena can see the modems and Lena is not urgently eager-to-speak:

if Lena does not recollect task-reminder or a random chance of 1 in 3 succeeds:

queue task-reminder;

if Lena can see the modems and Lena is not urgently eager-to-speak:

if Lena does not recollect modems-complaint or a random chance of 1 in 3 succeeds:

queue modems-complaint as immediate obligatory;

if Lena can see the preamps and Lena is not urgently eager-to-speak:

if Lena does not recollect preamps-complaint or a random chance of 1 in 3 succeeds:

queue preamps-complaint as immediate obligatory;

if Lena can see the monocle and Lena is not urgently eager-to-speak and lena recollects who we seem 3:

if Lena does not recollect monocle-remark:

queue monocle-remark.

[say "NMC True: ";

try checking queue for Lena; ]

A last conversation-reply rule when the current interlocutor is Lena:

delete postponed optional conversation for Lena.

monocle-remark is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "'Nice monocle, by the way! You do have all the good toys. Suppose it means you can check your work and see whether you've really got enough paste on things.'"

task-reminder is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "[one of]Lena looks from us to [the list of things in the contraband box]. 'So maybe you could do something with these,' she says, looking at us sidelong. I can tell she's starting to wonder whether we're legitimate[or]'If you need to get some tools or something, I'll still be here,' Lena comments. Honestly I am surprised she's so patient about our slowness on her little test[or]Lena looks us up and down as though trying to reconfigure our face into your face, the one she knows[or]Lena is waiting for us to do something to change [the list of things in the contraband box].[stopping]."

modems-complaint is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "[one of][if the odes is seen]'Let's go back to the odes,' Lena suggests.[otherwise if Lena can see the preamps]'Try doing something with the modems,' Lena suggests.[otherwise]'Now the modems,' says Lena. 'Unless you're too tired.'[end if][or]Lena awaits your attention to the modems.[stopping]".

modem-complaint is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "[one of]Lena regards the solitary modem unsympathetically. 'Well, it's shrunk,' she says. 'But that doesn't make it look like what it isn't.'[or]Lena continues to look at the modem with distaste.[stopping]".

ode-complaint is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "'Well, it's portable, and it doesn't look like much, but then again, it doesn't look like much. I mean, I could easily lose it, couldn't I? Just one sheet. And if someone were to ask me why I was carrying it around that would be a little hard to explain. It's not like it's a whole book of [']em, is it?'"

second-ode-complaint is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "'Could you make that ode plural? A whole book of them would be safer, I think. Look less suspicious.'"

odes-approval is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "Lena touches the binding appreciatively. 'You've even got that little bit of creasing in the spine that makes it look used,' she says. 'This is perfect. Only risk is customers wanting to buy it. I've got a couple this would be right up their alley.'"

preamps-complaint is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "[one of]'I'm looking forward to what you do with the preamps,' Lena says. 'They should look... innocent.'[or]Lena awaits our attention to the preamps.[stopping]".

preamp-complaint is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "[one of]'I was hoping you'd make the preamp look less like electronics,' she offers, evidently forgetting the fake off-handedness with which she started this transaction[or]'If you can get the preamp to look like something I might have in the shop, that would be best,' she says[or]Lena nudges the offending preamp with her toe[or]Lena mutters to herself about the preamp still being obviously a problem[stopping]."

reams-complaint is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "[one of]Lena considers the heap of reams contemplatively. 'That's inconvenient, isn't it,' she says. 'And I have a book store, not an office supply shop.'[or]'You don't have a depluralizer, do you?' Lena asks. 'No, I suppose not. But it would be better if there weren't so many of these reams.'[or]'Let's do something with the reams,' Lena says.[or]Lena reminds you that the reams are still stacked up consuming space in her shop. In contrast with the regular merchandise, one supposes.[stopping]"

ream-approval is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "'That works. Kind of thing I might have around for printing invoices on. I was a little afraid there you were going to go for a ram just to spite me. Don't know where I'd put one of those around here.'"

Availability rule for calm Lena:

if the player recollects ream-approval and the player recollects odes-approval:

it is off-limits;

calm Lena is a performative quip. The comment is "'Chill and let the master work,' you say. 'Anyone could pick a few letters out of your contraband. Trick is coming up with output that won't disrupt the Feng Shui of this flea market you've got going on.'".

It mentions Lena, modem, reams, ode, preamp.

The response is "Lena visibly relaxes. 'It's a privilege is what it is,' she says. 'Me letting you [if the player wears the Britishizing goggles]practise[otherwise]practice[end if] on my stuff. And no one said anything about contraband. Contraband's a bad word. Very hard to manipulate.'".

It quip-supplies Lena.

It directly-follows modem-complaint, ode-complaint, preamp-complaint, reams-complaint.

tease Lena about selling office supplies is a performative quip. The comment is "'May I recommend that you branch out into office supply?' you ask. 'It's a lucrative business. Pamphlet-printing is very popular with the subversive element.'".

It mentions reams.

The response is "'Not as lucrative as untariffed electronics,' she says out of the corner of her mouth.".

It quip-supplies Lena.

It directly-follows reams-complaint.

back-to-start is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "'Back to the beginning,' says Lena philosophically. She sucks in a long breath as though she were taking a drag on a cigarette."

Rule for beat-producing when the current interlocutor is Lena and the contraband box is visible:

say "[one of]Someone comes up to the front door of the shop. Lena goes over, wrenches the door open, and leans out. 'We're closed!' she shouts. 'It's #&@%ing Serial Comma Day!'

The door slams behind her and she comes back over[or]Lena taps her finger against her upper lip[or]Abruptly a phone rings [--] though in this mess I can't see where it could be. Lena ignores it[or]Lena wanders around, impatiently rearranging books on the shelves though it is not at all clear that they are more orderly afterward[stopping].[run paragraph on]";

rule succeeds.

needs-disguise is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "'Of course,' she says, contemplating [the list of undisguised fake disguisable visible things], 'this will be pointless unless we can also fool an authentication scope.'"

what she kens about authentication scopes is an unlisted repeatable questioning quip. The printed name is "what she knows about authentication scopes". Understand "knows" or "know" as what she kens about authentication scopes.

It mentions monocle, regulation authentication scope.

The comment is "'Tell me more about authentication scopes,' [you] say.".

The response is "'Main thing I know is that there are more of them in use every day,' she says. 'Keeping our streets and shops clear of fakes. Or so they say.'"

It quip-supplies Lena.

still-needs-pasting is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "[one of]'What those need now is just a touch of paste to obscure [the random undisguised thing in the contraband box] to the authentication scopes, and [it-they] will be ready,' she says[or]'Of course, Origin Paste is expensive and hard to get around here, but [the random undisguised thing in the contraband box] [is-are] worth it,' she comments[or][if the player does not enclose Origin Paste]'Someone at the Counterfeit Monkey might be able to hook you up with a fresh supply of Origin Paste,' she suggests[otherwise]'Fortunate you've already got some paste,' she remarks[end if][or]Lena reflects once more on how useful it would be to put some Origin Paste on [the random undisguised thing in the contraband box][stopping]."

excellent-work is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "'Excellent,' Lena mutters under her breath."

nice-paste is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "'Glad to see you've got plenty of origin paste,' Lena remarks. 'It's such a useful thing to have. Smells so nice.'"

An availability rule for quip-about-paste:

if Lena does not recollect who we seem 3:

it is off-limits;

make no decision.

quip-about-paste is a weakly-phrased performative quip. The printed name is "quip about paste". Understand "quip" or "about" or "paste" as quip-about-paste.

It mentions Origin Paste.

The comment is "'Makes a great facial scrub,' you say. 'I slather the stuff on.'"

The response is "'Well, honey, all I can say is, you look so real.'"

It quip-supplies Lena.

It directly-follows nice-paste.

that-does-it is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "'Perfect,' Lena says, regarding her contraband possessions with satisfaction[trust-me]. 'Welcome back, Andra and Guest[queue whether she hath seen slango].'"

Instead of saying yes when encourage Lena to contact slango is available:

try discussing encourage Lena to contact slango;

Instead of saying no when encourage Lena to contact slango is available:

say "Are you mad? That's exactly what we need her to do.";

encourage Lena to contact Slango is a performative quip. The comment is "'[if immediately]That would be extremely helpful[otherwise]It would be very useful if you could contact Slango[end if],' we say. Perhaps we can finally get off this island and back into our separate skins, which would not be one minute too soon for me.".

It mentions Slango.

The response is "'Very good,' she says. She goes over to one of the free-standing shelves and takes out copies of [a random book which is part of merchandise] and [i]Seventy Ways to Disable an Authentication Scope[/i]. Behind these works of literature she finds what looks like a cellular phone; but it mustn't be one, or at least not of the usual variety, because the Bureau tightly controls such items. [paragraph break]We hear half a conversation. 'It's me. There's someone to see... yes, I had her do the contraband... I don't know, a little taller and a lot less mean... Oh! I see. She looks healthy enough... I'm not running a restaurant! Okay. Okay. I'll talk to you later, sweetie. Bye.' [paragraph break]Without meeting our eye, she buries the phone back in its previous location. Then she says, 'He's coming in direct. He says go over to Counterfeit Monkey and he'll be right over as originally planned, and he's sorry about the wait.'[paragraph break]'Oh! And.' She tosses us a coin. 'Have a drink on me.'".

It quip-supplies Lena.

It indirectly-follows whether she hath seen slango.

Carry out Lena discussing encourage Lena to contact Slango:

move the as to the location;

if the player does not carry the as:

[follow the considerate player's holdall rule;]

move the as to the player;

assign "Finally find Slango at Counterfeit Monkey" at Counterfeit Monkey;

complete "Talk to Lena at the Aquarium Bookstore";

record "arranging contact with Slango through his lady friend" as achieved;

summon Slango.

Instead of answering Lena that "thank you":

try discussing thank Lena.

thank Lena is a performative quip.

It mentions as.

Understand "her" or "thank you" or "thanks" as thank Lena.

The comment is "'Thank you,' we say. 'We owe you one.'".

The response is "She smirks. 'I get my money's worth out of Slango, don't worry.'".

It quip-supplies Lena.

It directly-follows encourage Lena to contact Slango.

Test Lena with "tutorial off / z / open tub / ask about slango / say who we are / z / z / wave m-remover at modems / wave s-remover at odes / gel ode / wave m-remover at modems / wave p-remover at preamps / wave s-remover at reams / put paste on odes / put paste on ream / ask whether / encourage" in the Aquarium holding tub and the origin paste.