<header><h3>Welcome to the most thrilling epic of Anna</h3></header>
This is a titillating tale of trial and tribulation. A sensational story of struggle and strain. A precious parable of precarity and peril. A dramatic narrative of daring and determination. A captivating chronicle of courage and conquest. A fabulous fable of fortitude and fighting spirit.
But of course before we journey through such an apologue we must begin with the premise:
<h2>[[Anna LIKES Vik]]</h2>
↑ you can click words of this color ↑I guess it is silly to state the obvious but sometimes we must. This tale centers around the angelic **Anna** and her attempts to be the person who one day becomes **Vik**'s girlfriend.
<h3>And so **Anna**'s journey begins.</h3>
As noted early this isn't a flowery fable, but one of annihilating adversity. Nonetheless LIKE overcomes.
[[and so we begin.]]Our duo's first encounter begins on a rainy Tuesday in January. Anna had 3 options to choose from this evening:
<div align="center"> <font size="2"> *you need to select one of these options!* </font> </div>
* [[ᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴ 1]] → hopefully it’s Alamo-st done raining
* [[ᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴ 2]] → Haight that it’s cold
* [[ᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴ 3]] → Don’t be a lunatic, puns are great
Vik had suggested that the duo:
<blockquote>can grab a class a wine at Fool’s Errand and then wander to some of the spots on divis. if we are feeling competitive we can go to emporium. also plenty of spots to grab food if we are feeling hungry.</blockquote>
Anna ponders the option. Wine, games, food? It sounds like this guy might be pushing for too much for a first date. What does our affable Anna do?
[[Choose this option]]
(link:"Pick another option!")[(go-to:"and so we begin.")]
Vik's second option entails:
<blockquote> This is pretty close to option one but, we could start at woodside low side for beer / wine and then hit up noc-noc for a funky post-apocalyptic aboriginal vibe or hit up stoa for fancier cocktails. </blockquote>
Anna double takes as she reads this option. A post-apocalyptic aboriginal bar? What sort of ideas is this guy throwing out there?
(link:"Choose this option")[(goto:"Skipped Option")]
(link:"Pick another option!")[(go-to:"and so we begin.")]Vik's third option is:
<blockquote> i can snag us a res at moongate lounge over in Chinatown and then we can explore some other chinatown bars if we are up to it. </blockquote>
Anna thinks, finally something normal! Putting in effort with a reservation, a new area of the city, a low commit single spot, perfect for a first date. Looks like there might be hope for this guy after all!
(link:"Choose this option")[(goto:"Skipped Option")]
(link:"Pick another option!")[(go-to:"and so we begin.")]As the rain pours down on Anna while she walks over, she double thinks if meeting on this rainy tuesday really was the right call. As she arrives, she notices that the wine bar Vik selected is a dimly lit, mini basement with the only open table far in the back. Anna glances around but doesn't seem to find anyone that matches Vik description. Looks like he isn't the most punctual of humans. Rain, a dimly lit basement, and now late, what a start this adventure...
(link: "But she PERSEVERES.")[(goto: "d1p2")]You would think our admirable Anna would choose this option, but alas we readers are not the phenomenal protagonist of this tale. And so we follow Anna's choice to our (link:"first date.")[(go-to:"Choose this option")]Thankfully Vik rolls in a couple mins later and two get seated and start to chat. They both grab a glass of wine and chat about all the things you would on a normal first date: hobbies, work, moving and kombucha. As the date progress our adroit Anna is presented with two options:
[[continue the date with light and playful conversation]]
[[begin to ask questions like it is an interview to really see if this guys is worth his salt]]Well, dear reader, it would seem you are quite versed in dating etiquette or even just general conversation. Unfortunately we are just passengers on this journey and while certain choices seem obvious to us, our heroine sometimes has other plans. Who knows if we will ever fully understand her. Once again this is a story of ADVERSITY.
(link: "and so the interview begins...")[(goto: "begin to ask questions like it is an interview to really see if this guys is worth his salt")]We re-join this daunting development amidst the date and the interview begins. Thankfully entranced by his charming smile, quick-witted jabs and incredible good looks, Anna quickly exits interview mode and our duo spends the next couple hours chit-chatting until the wine bar closes.
As the two begin their respective treks back home, they hug goodbye. Our amaranthine Anna reflects that she had a wonderful time and looks forward to a potential second date. An option for initiative presents itself!
(link: "send Vik a kombucha meme he asked about as a natural way to start texting each other")[(goto: "d1w1")]
[[Do nothing.]]A strange choice for our protagonist indeed, but luckily for us readers, Vik's love of kombucha (and Anna's charm) led him to ask her for the video anyways.
<video width="300" height="512" controls>
<source src="media/booch.mp4" type="video/mp4">
</video>
And so (link: "our adventure continues...")[(goto: "Date 2")]
Again we would think our alacritous Anna would choose an easy segue into texting but alas this is a story of hard knocks and so our protagonist instead chooses to
[[Do nothing.]] As our duo's texting begins to bubble much like the booch in the video, Vik once again proposes 3 options for their second date. Anna rolls her eyes as she reads thru the corny puns:
(link: "ᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴ 1")[(goto: "d2o1")] → all bets par off for this one
(link: "ᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴ 2")[(goto: "d2o2")] → a quali-tea date
(link: "ᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴ 3")[(goto: "d2o3")] → I am game for some fun!
Vik's first option was to
<blockquote>pop over to ghirardelli square and play some mini golf at sub-par. we can also attempt to optimize getting free chocolate samples or snag some dim sum at Patty’s tea house</blockquote>
Free chocolates?! A man after Anna's heart.
(link: "Choose this one.")[(goto: "d2skip")]
(link: "Pick another")[(goto: "Date 2")]Vik's second option was:
<blockquote>weather permitting we could go to the Japanese tea garden and get some matcha and snacks and then meander the sculpture garden at the deyoung and go up to the observation deck </blockquote>
A tea garden and a museum date?! How cultured!
(link: "Choose this one.")[(goto: "d2skip")]
(link: "Pick another")[(goto: "Date 2")]Vik's third option was to:
<blockquote>embrace our competitive side and head over to either the game parlor or the detour and go head to head in some 1v1 games</blockquote>
Aaah healthy competition, Anna thinks to herself. No better way for two people to know each other than a fierce bout of 1v1 games. Knowing herself to be hyper competitive, Anna knew this option was a perfect way to demonstrate her skill.
(link: "Choose this one.")[(goto: "d2p1")]
(link: "Pick another")[(goto: "Date 2")]It seems we are all of the same mind except our august Anna. And while these options may appeal to us, this is not our story, and so we must sit back and follow along.
(link: "Our adventure continues...")[(goto: "d2p1")]Our duo's second date starts off strong at a game bar. As is tradition it seems, it is another rainy day, but the excitement in the air between these two is enough to push the dull, cloud ridden vibes away.
As they chat over drinks and play some games sparks begin to fly. As Anna begins to feel more comfortable, she thinks now is the perfect time to regale Vik with stories's about how Sully is a universal conversation unifier in her family as well as her love for pokemon ruby. Time flies, but since it's a working day our dynamic duo need to call it for the evening.
Vik offers to walk Anna to the N so she can get home. As they reach the stop, under their umbrellas with light pitter patter of the rain Vik looks deeply into Anna's eyes. Our academic Anna's heart began to flutter. Her mind raced as the intensity of his stare increased. What could possibly be happening?
(link: "This is it, go in for the kiss!")[(goto: "d2kiss")]
(link: "Everybody loves a good hug")[(goto: "d2hug")]Bold. Daring. Assured. We know our alluring Anna should go in for this kiss! The date has gone well, the moment is cute, the atmosphere is right! But I mean
(link: "who doesn't love a good hug")[(goto: "d2hug")]Nerves abound, Anna goes in for a hug while Vik goes in for a kiss. As he tries to switch, so does she, resulting in an adorably awkward waltz of two grown adults attempting to do what high schoolers have down pat. The exchange's awkwardness only builds as the amusing waltz from before causes Anna to miss her train.
Again, truly a story of trials and tribulations! But our protagonist recovers flawlessly as she boldly returns from her missed train. The duo is all smiles, hugs, and kisses before she assuredly makes her next train, but not before setting up plans for their next date!
(link: "Our adventure continues...")[(goto: "Part 3")]As fun as it is to tag along on this illustrious parable we should give our ardent Anna a little bit of privacy as her riveting romance blossoms. But as loyal readers, there are some entertaining nuggets too good to not share. Highlights include:
* Anna describing herself as perfect in every way
* Anna cleverly taking one of Vik's sweatshirts
* Anna suggesting instead of hanging out and watching a TV show that the two of the should "lay"
* Anna and Vik meeting up on Valentine's day but neither of them acknowledging it
And while we may get more insight into these saucy sagas
(link: "our adventure continues...")[(goto: "Part 8")]We catch back up with our protagonist and her interest well into their dating timeline. On this date in particular, blessed once again by the rain and cold, Anna was once again presented with a slew of options to choose from:
(link: "ᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴ 1")[(goto: "d8o1")] → let’s precipidate
find somewhere to have a nice cozy meal. options include skipping thru the rain to Manna for korean tofu soup, embracing the asian noodles dive scene at citrus club or heading over to mangrove kitchen
(link: "ᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴ 2")[(goto: "d8o2")] → i need my thermos-stat
stay in, get cozy, brew some yum teas and watch either a movie or a tv show
(link: "ᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴ 3")[(goto: "d8o3")] → AIn’t mom’s cooking
choose a set of random(ish) ingredients, ask chatgpt to create a recipe, blindly make it, pray it is goodWe once again skip ahead so as to give the duo their privacy but pause at one of the most essential turning points in this story. After their first weekend together, as they lay, the subject of what this relationship is and what the intention behind it is has been broached. After so much time together it is not just Anna who is antsy to know this, but us readers too!
And so the conversation begins. But we do not get the easy conclusion that we all would predict. No, this tantalizing tale is tethered to tribulation and instead Vik suggests to Anna that they enter an "escrow" period. Anna is stunned. She has two choices to make.
(link: "Escrow?? That is so weird. She says no because at this point committing shouldn't be scary.")[(goto: "d10p1")]
(link: "She happily accepts an indefinite escrow period...")[(goto: "End State 1")]
`A wise choice to make. In this day and age, a man shouldn't be afraid to commit. But once more our expectations are subverted and our accepting Anna chooses differently.
(link: "She happily accepts an indefinite escrow period...")[(goto: "End State 1")] But the period of indefiniteness is quickly stopped as our protagonist makes it clear that sooner rather than later this "escrow" deal needs to be closed. Vik, knowing full well how phenomenal a human Anna is, works as fast as he can to deliver. But instead of doing something normal, he sits beside her and waits. As Dr. Dorito quizzically looks at him, he moves to get her a bag of dorito chips...
(link: "OH SLAY, Anna loves doritos")[(goto: "El Fin")]
(link: "Anna tentatively opens the bag and checks what's inside.")[(goto: "El Fin")]
A great choice! With the rain and the cold, getting cozy with some soups and trying out noodles seems like a great way to bond and spend more time together. But again it is not for us to decide and our affable Anna and instead
(link: "Anna decides it's time to see how they are together in the kitchen.")[(goto: "d8o3")]Instead of simply just trying to cook with her interest, Anna has chosen the spiciest option that adds another participant into the date, an AI. After throwing a random ingredient list together our duo (with the help of said AI) has come up with the following menu:
Starter: A leafy greens salad with dorito miso dressing as a side salad.
Main: A miso-glazed, dorito crusted tofu w/ pomegranate and walnut crumble.
You may notice that in this menu one this seems astray or as if it does not belong. Something very dear to our protagonist's flavor palette. A weirdly good addition actually.
(link: "And so our adventure with the protagonist Anna (aka Dr. Dorito) continues...")[(goto: "Part 10")] A perfect suggestion to get cozy on the sofa together, cuddle and otherwise be cute. But this is not a choice we get to make. Instead
(link: "Anna decides it's time to see how they are together in the kitchen.")[(goto: "d8o3")] Where will our duo go from here? As we have seen our protagonist is a little hard to predict, but perhaps as time progresses our story here will too. Thanks for following along :)
El Fin.